Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.

0108263 License for publishing multimedia online



Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349
Patriarch Sako Appeals for Unity of Assyrian Churches

Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, the patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, during a celebratory Holy Mass on the anniversary of Saint Meskenta's martyrdom, at the Saint Hannah Monastery for Chaldean nuns in Karada, Baghdad. "Even if we are facing different waves, we are all in the same boat," said the Patriarch of the Chaldean Church, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, in a renewed call for unity to the four Eastern Churches: the Chaldean Catholic Church, the Assyrian Church of the East, the Ancient Eastern Church and the Assyrian Protestant Evangelical Church.

"Unity is the only solution to face the current challenges," stressed the Patriarch in an appeal published through the official communication channels of the Chaldean Patriarchate. "In the profession of its faith," the text says, "the Church of the East continues for centuries and to this day to pray, despite the divisions: 'I believe in One, Holy, Catholic (i.e. universal) and Apostolic Church,' because it is essentially ONE (a word deliberately written in capital letters in the original text, ed.)."

For the cardinal, "the schism is against the will of Christ." Indeed, "words cannot describe the magnitude of the consequences of the division of the Church of the East into four Churches," and it is not excluded that "new Churches may emerge in the future." For now, however, the first three "so-called separate" Churches (the Chaldean, Assyrian and ancient Church of the East) "have a common history, a common tradition, a common rich heritage, a common beauty of art, language and liturgy, and they are close to each other, living in the same geographical area."

But unity, Patriarch Sako emphasizes, "is not a return to what we were, but a focus on what we should be!" And in order to "heal the wounds of schism and pave the way" to "full communion", at least between the "three Churches", the Cardinal proposes six "ideas for study" for a "new vision" of the Church of the East.

"First and foremost", the Cardinal says, "a comprehensive and practical understanding of the unity sought is needed in order to direct all energies towards the realization of Christ's will to have one Church". "In this sense, we recall the joint declaration of the Roman Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East thirty years ago (November 11, 1994), which aims primarily to create a 'suitable environment' to strengthen dialogue on the path to full communion and full agreement in the doctrine of the faith," said Cardinal Sako, who noted the importance of keeping a distinction between matters concerning faith and morals and those concerning the disciplinary and administrative sphere, so to speak "between faith and morals."

Thirdly, "it is necessary to know the just and complete historical reasons for this division, with all its painful consequences," in order to approach the issue "with openness" and "far from preconceived judgments." The fourth proposal of the Patriarch is to open their own churches and places of worship to the brothers and sisters of the other ecclesial structures that have emerged from the Ancient Church of the East, "so that they can participate effectively in the sacraments recognized by the Catholic Church, since there are no dogmatic questions that stand in the way of unity."

The penultimate point is an invitation to the laity not to be guided by ethnic and nationalist identification, while the last point is an invitation to reflect on the "decline of the Christian population in Iraq." The events, Patriarch Sako stresses, "urge us to act together with evangelical zeal against atheists, the lack of interest in the practice of the faith and the scandal of ecclesial divisions."

"We were proud to be a synodal Church even then," able to "walk together and share responsibility for its mission," the Cardinal concluded, "unlike our situation today! That is why we should look to unity as the only solution to today's challenges."
Vincent T. Davis covers the people and life stories of San Antonio. He can be reached at vtdavis@express-news.net.

An Air Force veteran, he started at the San Antonio Express-News in 1999 as a part-time editorial assistant working nights and weekends while attending San Antonio College and working on the staff of the campus newspaper, The Ranger.

He completed a 3-month fellowship from the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute at Vanderbilt University in 2003 and holds a bachelor's degree in communication design from Texas State University in 2006.
Country

United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Zip Code
During the holiday season, officials warn, the risk of fire increases as many people decorate live trees with items that could spark deadly flames. Experts encourage watering live trees regularly. If opting for an artificial tree, buyers should look for a fire-resistant label. Getty Images

Last year, U.S. firefighters received calls for home fires every 95 seconds, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

During the holiday season, officials warn, the risk of fire increases as celebrants string lights and decorate live trees with items that could spark deadly flames.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

As people start decorating for the Christmas season, there are several safety tips to follow that will help keep homes and families safe.

Fire and safety officials offer some advice this holiday season.

Christmas tree safety

The San Antonio Fire Department recommends those buying a live Christmas tree to find one with fresh, green needles, which are more fire resistant than dry, brittle needles. SAFD urges holiday decorators to place the tree at least three feet away from any heat source and check that it doesn't block any exits.

People are encouraged to water their trees regularly, and to make sure all decorative lights are working properly. Residents should unplug holiday lights at night or when leaving their home.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

For artificial trees, the American Red Cross urges buyers to look for a fire-resistant label. Experts discourage the use of lights on metallic trees.

"The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted," said the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors in a news release.

Lights and trinkets

The American Red Cross warns against using old tinsel, which may contain lead.

The nonprofit encourages holiday decorators to wear gloves when handling spun glass decorations, often marketed as "angel hair," to avoid skin irritation. Decorators also should use caution when handling artificial snow to avoid inhaling small fibers.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

If hanging Christmas stockings near a fireplace, the American Red Cross advises it should not be used as a heat source.

When lighting candles, children and pets should be kept at a safe distance. According to the National Fire Protection Association, candles caused one-third of home decoration fires last year. During December, candles typically trigger half of such fires.

While decorating outside a residence, officials said nails or hooks should be insulated to avoid electrocution or potential fire.

"Don't mount lights in any way that can damage the cord's wire insulation," the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors said. "To hold lights in place, string them through hooks or insulated staples--don't use nails or tacks. Never pull or tug lights to remove them."

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Entertaining

Cooking mishaps are the leading cause of home fires in the U.S., according the National Fire Protection Association. While cooking, constant attention should be paid to the stove or other such heating element.

Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve, the association reports.

Residents should check that smoke alarms are working, and ensure matches and lighters are safely put away, out of the reach of children and pets.
Hanover County planners have given their approval, with conditions, for the Iron Horse Business Park along the Hanover-Ashland line to become a massive data center park with some detached single-family homes.

The project has become one of the most complex cases either the county or the town has had to handle. It was originally submitted as a massive mixed-use development including six retail or office buildings along Route 54, with 14 warehouses or business office buildings behind them. Space for a hotel was also included.

Northern Virginia developer WestDulles Properties is now pushing to have the entire 234-acre site rezoned to allow for data centers with a special exception for heights between 75 and 110 feet, plus residential homes.

The large project would include about 3.3 million square feet of data center space. A representative for the developer said WestDulles did not yet know how many buildings that would equate to, as it would take two to five more years to get the centers permitted, and the industry standards evolve so rapidly.

Ashland has already approved the piece of Iron Horse that sits in its district to allow for data centers and new neighborhoods. Hanover is now faced with approving the second portion of the park, which amounts to about 40% of the total acreage.

Hanovers Planning Commission recommended the project for approval, with some conditions. It worried about an exception for 110-foot-tall buildings that might impact surrounding residents. It also had concerns about the residential pieces of Iron Horse, which would build neighborhoods along Mount Hermon Road, said to be one of the more dangerous in Hanover.

Commissioners made their approval contingent on the construction being phased, with portions of the data center being completed before the residential homes start being built.

South Anna commissioner Larry Leadbetter said he liked the project and the fact that switching from a commercial center to a data center campus cut the number of car trips per day by 90%, down to 3,000 per day.

I like the project, Leadbetter said. But Im really concerned about the residential aspect. Mount Hermon Road is a horrendous road. Its probably one of the worst roads in Hanover County, and I have a big issue with the residential side and the road.

He added that if the project was only a data center campus, he would approve it.

Chickahominy commissioner Cliff Parker shared those sentiments, commenting that traffic along Route 54 into Ashland is already bad without the potential for tens of thousands more cars.

Its a perfect site. And economic development is super competitive all across the country, all across the world, and here weve got the perfect site, Parker said. Everybodys hungry for a really good project for their county, and weve got it. So its a huge opportunity.

If we cant take some of the funds from this and fix Mount Hermon Road, then we have a problem.

Residents voiced concerns about the buildings being so tall that they would not be obscured by the trees in the area, making light visible from their homes at night.

They also said the developer could not promise a proposed $54 million annual tax payment to the county because it had yet to recruit any businesses to fill the data center.

Andy Condlin, a representative for the developer, said WestDulles was extremely confident that those numbers would turn out to be accurate. He said the developer had already been approached by several companies interested in signing for space in the data center campus as soon as zoning is approved.

Were ready to go; were ready to go in the town (of Ashland), Condlin said.

The financial analysis was done by Magnum Economics, which specializes in data centers. It reported tax revenues to the county from Iron Horse based on the average data center currently operating in Virginia, Condlin said.

Demand for data centers has exploded in central Virginia recently due to its proximity to the fiberoptic infrastructure. Three subsea cables  two from Europe and one from South America  come ashore in Virginia Beach and travel west along the Interstate 64 corridor to eastern Henrico County before traveling up Interstate 95 into Northern Virginia.

Hanover recently approved a 1,200-acre data center park just north of Ashland that is being developed by Denver-based firm Tract. That $1.8 billion project included estimated tax revenues of $40 million per year over the first five years with between 30 and 38 buildings. It was approved with buildings that were 110 feet tall.

Powhatan County approved a $2.7 billion data center project in late October that includes 1.5 million square feet of space off Anderson Highway.

Hanovers Board of Supervisors will have to make the final approval for the Iron Horse Business Park.

A motion to deny the data center plan was shot down 5-2, with Leadbetter and Beaverdam commissioner Edmonia Iverson voting in favor. The motion to approve passed 5-2, with Leadbetter and Iverson voting against.
Police start investigation into shoot up of home of PDC Commander

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  Solidaridad police have started an investigation into the nighttime shooting of a home belonging to a city police commander. The El Pedregal neighborhood shooting was reported to emergency services Monday night.

Numerous shots were fired at the front of the home belonging to the Municipal Undersecretary of Citizen Security William B. A motorcycle was reported outside the home on 42nd Street around 8:00 p.m. when the firing began.

Ten casings were reported collected from the scene.

In a statement Tuesday, the Fiscalia General del Estado (FGE) said following the gun attack recorded at the home of a commander of the Municipal Police of Solidaridad, who was unharmed, the FGE reports the start of an investigation to find the person or persons responsible for this event.

Personnel from the District Attorneys Office of the Central District are carrying out the corresponding investigations. Experts from different specialties carried out the collection of evidence at the scene of the events in order to integrate them into the investigation file and clarify this event.

This autonomous body condemns the attack and in coordination with authorities from the three levels of government, reaffirms its commitment to Zero Impunity in the fight against high-impact crimes and bringing to justice those who break the law.
Jacob Beltran covers crime, breaking news and general assignments for the Express-News. He can be reached at jbeltran@express-news.net.

A San Antonio native, Jacob began his journalism career in 2010. He's worked for the student-run newspaper for San Antonio College, The Ranger, and for Texas A&M University-San Antonio, The Mesquite.

He enjoys video games, photography and exploring during his free time.
SMN forecasts another blast of winter for Cancun, Riviera Maya

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  A new cold front is heading for Mexico and is forecast to hit the Yucatan Peninsula by this weekend. Another blast of winter will hit Cancun and Riviera Maya with the arrival of Cold Front No. 11.

Areas in the elevated northern regions will continue to record below freezing temperatures, while the Yucatan Peninsula will see another dip in nighttime temps. The chance of rain for the Peninsula will also increase with the arrival of the cold air.

The entry of humidity from the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea will cause rain and showers in coastal states in the south and southeast of the Mexican Republic, as well as the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexicos Servicio Meteorologico Nacional (SMN) says.

On Wednesday, Cold Front 11 will extend with stationary characteristics over the northeast of the national territory, causing strong gusts of wind in the north and northeast of Mexico.

On Thursday, the front will be reinforced by a new mass of cold air and will move over the northeast and east of Mexico, causing strong gusts of wind, rain and showers in the aforementioned regions in addition to a drop in temperature, the National Meteorological Service (SMN) reported.

On Friday, Cold Front 11 will extend over the southwest of the Gulf of Mexico, causing showers and heavy rains in the east and southeast of the Mexican Republic. The associated cold air mass will generate a drop in temperature over states in the north, northeast, east and center of the country.
Suspect wanted in double PDC murders over land dispute captured in Veracruz

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  Police in Veracruz have arrested a man wanted in connection with a double Playa del Carmen murder. On Monday, Pablo N was returned to the municipality of Solidaridad after being picked up on an outstanding arrest warrant in the neighboring state.

Elements of the Investigative Police, in collaboration with their counterparts from the state of Veracruz, executed an arrest warrant against Pablo N for his alleged participation in events possibly constituting the crime of qualified homicide against two male persons and attempted homicide against a third victim, local police said.

Pablo N is accused of killing two people and injuring a third during a dispute over land. The land dispute happened on September 15, 2024 on Benito Juarez Avenue in west Playa del Carmen.

During the dispute, one man was shot and killed. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The second man was shot and rushed to hospital where he later died. A third person, a passing pedestrian, was hit by one of the bullets, treated and later released.

Police say Pablo N was located and captured in the municipality of Aztlan, in the state of Veracruz and transferred back to Quintana Roo to face two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
All modern politics is a clash of totalizing ideologies seeking absolute power. Or at least it seems that way. Christians sometimes find themselves caught in the middle of these culture wars, stuck trying to find compromises between competing goods. Of late, though, increasing numbers of young and restless believers have sought to turn their religion into yet another ideology, itself a tool of war.

Ephraim Radners latest book, Mortal Goods: Reimaging Christian Political Duty, offers a truly radical alternative to this kind of power politics. Already one of the Anglican Communions most important theologians, Radner is well-positioned as a kind of spiritual elder statesman to offer advice to the churchs youth in these times of trouble. At its heart, Mortal Goods is a plea to remember the limits of power and even the human person. In short, man cannot save himselfonly God can. Radner reminds us that any politics that loses sight of this will inevitably fail.

Radners starting point is scriptural wisdom about human nature and the fallenness of the world. Citing both the Old and the New Testament, he maintains that evil days are simply a fact of human existence this side of the eschaton. Politics can never solve this problem, because the people it empowers are inherently imperfect and even incomplete. His is a tragic understanding of the human person, yes, but nonetheless leavened by hope for a time when all things will be made new by a force higher than earthly power.

In many respects, the modest position Radner stakes out in Mortal Goods is reminiscent of earlier, 20th-century Christian humanist ideas about the limits of politics and power. C.S. Lewis, for instance, titled one of his glowing reviews of The Lord of the Rings The Dethronement of Power. The heroes of that novel certainly use a certain kind of strength to fight evil, Lewis noted, but the text itself teaches us that Sauron is eternal; the war of the Ring is only one of a thousand wars against him.  Every time we win, we shall know that our victory is impermanent. Utopian schemes or end of history politics, whatever partisan colors they wear, can never provide the kind of permanent social happiness they falsely promise.

Unlike ideologues of modern liberalism, though, Radners modesty never leads him to an agnosticism about societys purpose, let alone to any of the distressingly popular radical or vitalistic notions about self-creation. Modern dreams of overcoming the givenness of this life, of either a high-minded transhumanist cast or more pedestrian utilitarian aims, will lead only to suffering. That is why mortality is constituted by goods, Radner writes. That is why lifes vocation is the ordering of such goods. And, as a Christian, he insists on a very concrete definition of the Good Lifespecifically the one found in Ecclesiastes 12:13: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Radners conception of politics, which he defines as the deliberate judgments and decisions ordering our corporate existence, certainly falls under this idea of duty. Our lives together must be ordered around this biblical principle just as much as our lives individually, albeit in a different way. As Radner writes, The common vision of the Good Life picks out only a small portion of the complex matter that forms an actual life, a life as it is constituted by the created form given from Gods hand. Politics is a limited vocation.

This is classic Anglican wisdom. Since the days of the Reformation, Radners ancestral coreligionists have been seeking to balance the duties laid out before the individual and society on the basis of their Christian faith. One of the English churchs most brilliant sons, the 18th-century man of letters Samuel Johnson, put the tension into verse:

Vain, very vain, my weary search to find

That bliss which only centers in the mind:

Why have I strayd, from pleasure and repose,

To seek a good each government bestows?

In evry government, though terrors reign,

Though tyrant kings, or tyrant laws restrain,

How small of all that human hearts endure,

That part which laws or kings can cause or cure.

Politics must then be shaped by the permanent things without being mistaken for one of them. As Radner puts it in the introduction: Our Christian calling is to limit our politics to the boundaries of our actual created lives and to the goods that stake out these limits: our births, our parents, our siblings, our families, our growing, our brief persistence in life, our raising of children, our relations, our decline, our deaths. This is as far from utopianism as politics can get. He even argues that the overwhelming pursuit of power in the name of bettering earth and making it more like heaven can be a distraction from the actual service of God.

For this reason, Radner is highly critical of what he calls managerialism. The pursuers of power, left and right alike, believe they can centrally plan human lives and nudge people toward the good. However gentle this nudging is, Radner rightly objects because it places fallen men in a position of power only God should hold. The organization of common life, he writes, cannot finally be manipulated instrumentally in a successful fashion because it is too intricate. He even notes that biblical accounts of mass organization always take shape as some form of blasphemoustyranny or oppressionthe unjust treatment of Gods image-bearers as mere animals.

While much of the managerialism plaguing Western society is inspired by liberal or left-wing ideology, unfortunately a kind of theocratic managerialism also seems to prevail on the edges of Christian circles today. Whether we label it Christian nationalism or integralism, it is the authoritarian product of a great impatience with the imperfection of the world. Advocates of these rising ideologies hold that power can make human beings virtuous, and therefore should be put in their hands so they can rightly order society.

What makes Radners book one of the most persuasive condemnations of this power-worshipping attitude in print is that he recognizes instead the beauty of sacrifice as the highest expression of our duty to God. Authoritarian ideologies that seek to dictate the terms of life are, in fact, the furthest thing from virtue politics. Politics is what the Christian does with others in order to provide such a service of offering, he writes, the well-shaped artifact of a mortal life that properly reflects and names, and thus recognizes, what is, what is true. The State cannot force a person to sacrifice this waythat is to say, live a Christ-like life.

One practical application of this wisdom can be made in regard to school prayer. Many conservatives rightly see its elimination as a step toward the radical secularism now engulfing the West; law is a teacher, they argue, and prohibiting public prayer teaches the wrong values. It does not seem to me that any of Radners political principles would absolutely prohibit a restoration of school prayer. But Mortal Goods should serve as a warning that merely implementing such a policy would not spark widespread religious revival. Faith, and the cruciform life that flows from it, is a gift from Godinternal belief is simply not something the State can ever coerce.

All the same, Radner does not commit the liberal error of banishing religion from politics altogether. He criticizes social contractarians such as Thomas Hobbes and John Locke for their attempt to reduce belief to something merely private. Christian faith, Radner concludes, cries out for the freedom of godly service. Our souls long for something more than the material security of liberal-democratic regimes, and Christians must acknowledge that this longing is collective just as much as it is individual.

What the State can do, then, is protect the persons ability to pursue a good life, especially as Christians understand it. In the first place, it can secure the lives of citizens against mortal threats, external or internal. It can prevent exploitative abuses of power, whether by governmental bodies or market forces, and pursue justice for those who are wronged. Or, as Saint Paul puts it in Romans 13, rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Given this view, perhaps a Christian could say that the just State guards morality without necessarily enforcing it. It properly acts on the basis of a true conception of human dignity.

In the penultimate chapter, Radner sketches out what a Christian approach to living out these duties looks like. While he addresses what it means for particular issues, such as the war in Ukraine, historical injustices committed against minorities, and the homelessness crisis, he largely avoids articulating any kind of all-encompassing platform for his view of Christian politics. Instead, Radner points to the Holy Familys hidden life in Nazareth as an image of what faithful political witness means. Nazareth is a place that proceeds through the generations, struggling over the mortal goods of its inhabitants and neighbors, he writes. To last in this way is its vocation. Politics ought to aim at preserving the communitiesschools, parishes, familieswhere human souls can be shaped toward the good.

Radner is a theologian, not a politician, and it would be wrong to criticize Mortal Goods for lacking a spelled-out political program. But it may be worthwhile to consider what would be required for Christians seeking to preserve their own Nazareths in practice. How can statesmen prudently plan to avoid certain catastrophes or withstand them when they come? How might institutional arrangements prevent the accumulation of power in the hands of sacrilegious tyrants? How should our religion shape the constitution of society?

One unlikely figure with answers to these questions who came to mind throughout Radners book is the 20th-century conservative journalist and anti-totalitarian Whittaker Chambers. Just as Mortal Goods concludes with a beautiful letter from its author to his children about the nature of the good life, the opening chapter of Chambers anticommunist memoir Witness is a letter to his own. Without freedom the soul dies, Chambers wrote to them, but without the soul, there is no justification for freedom. This is why he believed the United States and the free West had to prevail against all forms of totalitarianism.

Freedom is not a word that appears very often in Radners book, but it is an excellent way to describe the true end of the Christian politics he articulates. It is not the false freedom of the ideologue, nor the low freedom of the materialist. Rather, it is the kind of freedom we need to become everything God created us to be.
Mirroring its previous vote in June on the same matter, the Salem City Council voted 3-2 to accept HopeTrees amended rezoning request Monday.

Mayor Renee Turk, Randy Foley and Bill Jones formed the majority. Vice Mayor Jim Wallace and Hunter Holliday were opposed.

The councils meeting room at city hall was nearly full of citizens who hoped to get a chance to speak and witness the vote. City officials have said that this will be the largest project of its kind in Salem, and it has been the citys main source of controversy for months.

HopeTree Family Services  also known as Virginia Baptist Childrens Home  submitted an updated version of its rezoning application on Aug. 30. Other than the property owners name, which was updated to reflect HopeTrees formal name, there are few differences between the original application and the new one.

Holliday made a motion to extend the public comment period during both the meeting on Monday and the meeting on Dec. 9 to give everyone who wanted to speak a chance to do so. Holliday pointed out that, at the time of Mondays meeting, all of the speaking spots for the Dec. 9 meeting were already full. Wallace seconded the motion, but the three in the majority voted against it.

Holliday then made a motion to table the discussion, which Wallace seconded but did not get another vote to carry. Foley made a motion to approve the amended rezoning request and Holliday asked if he would accept an amendment to the motion to include a number of regulations for the project. He proposed seven total amendments, which included limiting construction from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and prohibiting commercial vehicles with more than two axles or trailers over 40 feet long from driving on all streets that provide access to the property. Foley did not accept the amendment and the original motion passed 3-2.

I believe there are many questions that remain unanswered, Holliday said. It is my job as a member of city council to protect the public peace, health, safety and welfare of all the citizens of Salem. It is also my job to protect the city and look out for the city as a whole. In fulfillment of that charge, I am voting against the rezoning and the amendment.

Planning and Zoning Administrator Mary Ellen Wines said that some of what Holliday questioned, such as stormwater management, will be included in the site plan for the project. Turk pointed out that site plans take a while to develop, so they arent usually created before a planned unit development (PUD) is approved, which Wines confirmed.

A PUD is designed to be general in nature, and we get to the specifics on the site plan level, she said.

By a 3-2 vote in June, the council approved HopeTrees request to rezone the property from single family residential to planned unit development. This decision will allow up to 340 homes and a few businesses to be constructed on the property.

Five citizens filed lawsuits against HopeTree and the city council in July. HopeTree resubmitted the application to address alleged procedural errors on the citys part throughout the initial rezoning process.

After a joint public hearing with the council on Nov. 13, the city Planning Commission voted 4-1 to recommend the council approve the updated application. Twenty of the 29 speakers that signed up to speak during the joint public hearing opposed the project.

Council is now scheduled vote on the matter one final time at its Dec. 9 meeting  as is the normal process to take two votes on such matters to finalize them. Some citizens criticized this timeline, alleging that Turk called the meetings in order to ensure the project is approved before the next council  including two new members elected earlier this month  take their seats Jan. 1. However, the votes on the updated application are not necessarily to supersede the precious actions of the council, according to a statement City Attorney Jim Guynn released ahead of the Nov. 13 public hearing.

This council was well-informed, if they wanted to be, Turk said. They could go to meetings, they could meet with whoever they needed to meet with. We spent a lot of time and dedication. This right here is just to correct procedureYou still have a lawsuit. Five lawsuits, in fact, that will take place after the first of the year, or whenever they come about.

Also during Mondays meeting, the council voted 3-2 to raise the mayor and council members salaries. Turk, Jones and Foley voted to increase the salaries; Wallace and Holliday voted against it.

Currently, the mayor in Salem makes $13,000 a year and the council members make $12,000 a year. These salaries are based on limits established by the General Assembly in 1996.

However, new legislation enacted earlier this year increased the salary limits for mayors and council members. The maximum salaries are based on the population of the locality, so in Salem, mayors can now make up to $24,000 a year and council members can make up to $22,000 a year.

A more modest salary will attract people who actually want to serve the city, Wallace said. A larger salary, on the other hand, may attract people who just want the money, he said.

Just because the legislature gave us the ability to almost double our pay doesnt mean we should, he said.

The increases wont take effect until July 1, 2027. Roanoke, Richmond and Danville are among the other cities in Virginia that have voted to raise council members pay.
South San ISD Superintendent Henry Yzaguirre is pictured at a Board of Trustees meeting in this file photo. The district is facing a potential state takeover after failing to meet several exit criteria monitored by a state-appointed conservator over the past year. Robin Jerstad

The leader of South San Antonio Independent School District's board of trustees said he vigorously disagrees with state-appointed conservator Abe Saavedras recommendation for a full state takeover.

Board President Manuel Lopez said the district has improved its academic achievements, enrollment, attendance rates, financial ratings and financial stability this school year.

In my opinion, this is a wrong path our conservator has endorsed, Lopez said during a Nov. 21 board meeting. Instead, I extend my hand to our conservator and respectfully ask him not to quit on the district, but to continue working with the Board of Trustees in the spirit of community-based self-governance.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Saavedra recommended a takeover in a Nov. 7 letter to Education Commissioner Mike Morath, saying trustees have failed to complete mandatory training and maintain proper decorum, had poor attendance and spent on average only a third of their meeting time discussing student outcomes.

Morath hasnt decided yet if a full takeover is warranted, but the Texas Education Agency is nevertheless preparing to seat a board of managers.

The TEA opened the application process on Nov. 18 for community members who want to serve on a state-appointed board of managers, which would replace South San's current elected board of trustees. The application is also available on the South San website.

The placement of a board of managers is the highest level of intervention, and these placements are exceedingly rare. We have in the state of Texas right now only four boards of managers out of over 1,200 school districts, said TEA Deputy Commissioner of Governance Steve Lecholop. There are various reasons why a board of managers might be appointed in districts, but in the case of South San specifically, its the result of what has been a years-long investigation into allegations and behaviors related to board governance and district finances.

The investigation's findings led to the September 2023 agreement placing Saavedra, a former Houston ISD leader, as a conservator for one year. Saavedra had been a board monitor, a lower level of oversight, since 2021.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

A lack of public engagement within South San has been a top concern. Saavedra cast doubt in his letter to Morath on the boards ability to represent community interests because of the board's allegedly insular culture.

The Nov. 5 board election was canceled because three incumbents  and no challengers  filed to run for their board seats and only one community member filed for the remaining open seat.

And no community members attended a special board meeting on Nov. 20 on the districts financial accountability rating. Only Superintendent Henry Yzaguirre and trustee Ernesto Arrellano Jr. sat on the dais.

The boards regular meeting was originally scheduled for the same night, but not enough trustees would be present, so it was moved to the next day. Yzaguirre said several trustees were traveling for business.

The TEA has scheduled two community meetings to provide information and answer questions about the potential board-of-managers takeover: Wednesday, Dec. 4, and Thursday, Dec. 5, both from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the South San Antonio High School Auditorium.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The main goal of the board of managers would be improving student outcomes. It would also oversee the superintendents management of the district, according to an overview of the position. The job of manager requires a time commitment of 30 hours per month for the first six months, and 15 hours per month after that.

After two years, the Texas Education Commissioner would review the districts progress and decide whether to extend the board of managers by another two years, or return to an elected board by reinstating one-third of trustees each year for three years.

Installing a board to takeover South San is one of several options open to Morath. He could also leave Saavedra, the conservator, in place  or remove him, Lecholop said.

I think all options are on the table right now for the commissioner. Its just a matter of analyzing all available data points to come to the most informed conclusion, Lecholop said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The agency is in the process of scheduling a meeting with the board of trustees to giving its members an opportunity to plead their case before making a final decision, Lecholop said.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20241125/washington-court-drops-case-against-trump-over-2021-capitol-riot---document-1121002119.html

Washington Court Drops Case Against Trump Over 2021 Capitol Riot - Document

Washington Court Drops Case Against Trump Over 2021 Capitol Riot - Document

Sputnik International

A Washington court, at the request of the prosecutor's office, has dismissed the criminal case against Donald Trump, who won the US presidential election, for interfering in the electoral process in 2020 and the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, according to a ruling by the court.

2024-11-25T23:21+0000

2024-11-25T23:21+0000

2024-11-26T03:21+0000

americas

donald trump

jack smith

tanya chutkan

justice department

january 6

us capitol

riot

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/0a/1a/1090214575_0:283:3072:2011_1920x0_80_0_0_b5b73ab695db428ff56de60975e565d2.jpg

"For the reasons set forth in the accompanying Opinion, ECF No. 282, the Governments Motion to Dismiss, ECF No. 281, is hereby granted, and the Superseding Indictment, ECF No. 226, is hereby dismissed without prejudice," Judge Tanya Chutkan said in a ruling. Earlier, Special Prosecutor Jack Smith asked the Washington court to drop the criminal prosecution of Trump, who had been accused of interfering in the electoral process in 2020 and of involvement in the Capitol riot. Holding sitting presidents criminally liable is clearly prohibited, but this prohibition also applies to the current situation, Smith said, citing the position of the Justice Department. Trump became the first winner of the presidential election to have criminal cases brought against him and even a guilty verdict from a jury. Two cases are being handled by the special prosecutor's office, and two more are being handled by state law enforcement. The second federal criminal case against Trump concerns violations in handling classified documents.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241108/thousands-of-people-to-join-march-on-washington-ahead-of-trumps-inauguration--reports-1120821581.html

americas

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

trump, president donald trump, investigation, probe, criminal probe, georgia criminal probe, 2020 us presidential election, donald trump's indictment, donald trump's indictments, trump's indictment, donald trump, trump supporters, fulton county jail, trump booked, donald trump indictment, donald trump mug shot, trump fundraising, american democracy, freedom of speech, trump indictment, january 6th
https://sputnikglobe.com/20241126/british-soldiers-freeze-at-15c-then-watch-how-russians-take-the-cold-like-pros-1121010600.html

British Soldiers Freeze at -15C Then Watch How Russians Take the Cold Like Pros!

British Soldiers Freeze at -15C Then Watch How Russians Take the Cold Like Pros!

Sputnik International

Troops from the UK's 19th Regiment Royal Artillery are struggling to survive in Finlands -15C temperatures. But then enter the Russians. Watch how they take the freezing temperatures in their stride like they're nothing! Whos really cut out for Arctic conditions?

2024-11-26T16:54+0000

2024-11-26T16:54+0000

2024-11-26T16:54+0000

military

russia

russian military

russian armed forces

arctic

cold

video

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0b/1a/1121010218_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_7c46dc7f339fbdb27cfc6620d378fec3.jpg

One of the British officers who participated in artillery drills in Finland described the deployment in subzero conditions as quite a culture shock to a lot of our personnel.For the Russian troops seen in this video, however, operating in freezing cold and amid the snow is just another day on the job.

russia

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

Russian soldiers take the cold like pros Sputnik International Russian soldiers take the cold like pros 2024-11-26T16:54+0000 true PT0M42S

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

russian army snow, russian military video
https://sputnikglobe.com/20241126/discussions-on-possible-deployment-of-nuclear-arms-in-ukraine-irresponsible---kremlin-1121005411.html

Kremlin Blasts Irresponsible Talk of Possible Nuclear Arms Deployment in Ukraine

Kremlin Blasts Irresponsible Talk of Possible Nuclear Arms Deployment in Ukraine

Sputnik International

Discussions about the possibility of deploying nuclear weapons in Ukraine are irresponsible, and this is said by those who have a poor understanding of reality, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

2024-11-26T10:23+0000

2024-11-26T10:23+0000

2024-11-26T12:59+0000

military

ukrainian crisis

russia-nato showdown

russia

ukraine

the new york times

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/04/12/1118000174_0:218:2868:1831_1920x0_80_0_0_197003825e3ef91b86222c8cf5ee55de.jpg

Last week, The New York Times reported that some US and European officials are allegedly proposing to return nuclear weapons to Ukraine. To assess the risks of nuclear escalation, it is necessary to study Russia's nuclear doctrine and President Vladimir Putin's statements, as well as actions of the West, the official added., when asked whether the Kremlin sees a danger of nuclear escalation after the use of the Oreshnik missile system.Oreshnik Missile Test Delivered a MessageThe theses voiced by Russian President Vladimir Putin after the Oreshnik missile tests were well heard by countries of the West, there is no doubt about it, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby confirmed on Monday that Ukraine was allowed to use US-made ATACMS ballistic missiles to fire at targets in the western Russian region of Kursk.On NATO Meeting in Brussels The dynamics unfavorable for Ukraine at the front may become the topic of a meeting of NATO ambassadors in Brussels, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.Last week, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that an emergency meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council, initiated by Kiev following Russia's use of a new intermediate-range missile.On Nord Stream 2 Gas PipelineThe Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline does not need to be restored, the pipeline can be launched immediately, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.Peskov added that he has no information about Gazprom's alleged plans to sell the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.On Contacts With Afghanistan Leadership It is important for Russia to establish contacts with the leadership of Afghanistan, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.On Monday, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu paid a visit to Afghanistan, where he met with the country's top leadership. In four rounds of talks, he discussed economic, transport and security issues with deputy prime ministers and ministers."We are talking about the leadership of the country  Afghanistan. These are the forces that hold power in this country. And of course, it is very important to develop contacts with them, to establish contacts. Especially since this is a country that is in a region neighboring us," Peskov told reporters.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241123/how-russias-icbm-design-school-laid-the-groundwork-for-the-oreshnik-hypersonic-ballistic-missile-1120980603.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241124/us-unlikely-to-let-american-investor-buy-nord-stream-2-pipeline-us-itself-destroyed---economist-1120985564.html

russia

ukraine

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

russia-nato showdown, ukrainian crisis, ukraine nuclear weapons, ukraine nukes, russian nuclear doctrine, russian nukes
https://sputnikglobe.com/20241126/senior-uk-embassy-diplomat-carried-out-intel-work-threatening-russias-security---fsb-1121006746.html

Senior UK Embassy Diplomat Carried Out Intel Work Threatening Russia's Security - FSB

Senior UK Embassy Diplomat Carried Out Intel Work Threatening Russia's Security - FSB

Sputnik International

The second secretary of the political department of the UK Embassy, Wilkes Edward Pryor, carried out intelligence and subversive work that threatened Russia's security, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Tuesday.

2024-11-26T12:10+0000

2024-11-26T12:10+0000

2024-11-26T12:10+0000

world

russia

united kingdom (uk)

federal security service

russian foreign ministry

intelligence

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/1f/1117669480_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_5f867bad553cffb02fc22cbb71ba2e87.jpg

The Russian FSB said in a statement that it had "uncovered an undeclared UK intelligence presence under cover of the national embassy in Moscow during counterintelligence work." At the same time, the Russian FSB has identified signs that he is conducting intelligence and subversive work that threatens Russias security, the statement said. UK Ambassador SummonedUK Ambassador to Russia Nigel Casey has been summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik on Tuesday.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241126/eurasian-security-should-replace-bankrupt-euro-atlantic-structures---russian-intel-1121004344.html

russia

united kingdom (uk)

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

uk spy, british spy, intelligence uk, british intelligence, british diplomat detained in russia, fsb british diplomat
https://sputnikglobe.com/20241126/uk-sent-storm-shadow-missiles-to-ukraine-few-weeks-ago-first-time-under-starmer---reports-1121002577.html

UK Sent Storm Shadow Missiles to Ukraine Few Weeks Ago First Time Under Starmer - Reports

UK Sent Storm Shadow Missiles to Ukraine Few Weeks Ago First Time Under Starmer - Reports

Sputnik International

Several weeks ago, the United Kingdom delivered dozens of Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine for the first time since Prime Minister Keir Starmer came to power, Bloomberg reported citing sources.

2024-11-26T02:23+0000

2024-11-26T02:23+0000

2024-11-26T03:44+0000

military

united kingdom (uk)

keir starmer

ukraine

russia

army tactical missile system (atacms)

storm shadow cruise missile

bloomberg

kursk

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0b/0a/1120843703_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_86b14868624bed50096cae6f47e3739f.jpg

It noted that the deliveries had not been publicly announced; they were made several weeks ago after Kiev ran out of long-range missiles and before the recent US and UK decision to allow Ukraine to launch long-range missiles at targets deep inside Russia, the publication says. The exact number of missiles and the date of their arrival in Ukraine were not specified. Russian President Vladimir Putin previously made an address in which he stated that Ukraine had struck targets in the Kursk and Bryansk regions on November 19 using American long-range ATACMS missiles and British long-range Storm Shadow missiles. In response to the use of American and British weapons, Russia launched a combined strike on a Ukrainian military-industrial enterprises on November 21, hitting a large industrial complex in Dnepropetrovsk that produces missile technology and weapons. In combat conditions, one of the newest Russian medium-range missile systems, dubbed Oreshnik, was also tested, in this case  with a ballistic missile in non-nuclear hypersonic equipment.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/zelensky-claims-ukraine-used-long-range-weapons-to-strike-russia-more-than-once-1120958556.html

united kingdom (uk)

ukraine

russia

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

storm shadow cruise missiles to kiev, storm shadows to ukraine, uk aid to ukraine, how many storm shadows does ukraine have, ukraine use of storm shadow missiles
https://sputnikglobe.com/20241126/ukrainian-defense-chief-steps-on-political-tripwire-as-mine-project-exposed-as-dud--mp--1121009828.html

Ukrainian Defense Chief Steps on Political Tripwire as Mine Project Exposed as Dud  MP

Ukrainian Defense Chief Steps on Political Tripwire as Mine Project Exposed as Dud  MP

Sputnik International

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov's position may be jeopardized due to significant issues surrounding the production of 120-mm mines, says MP Oleksiy Goncharenko*.

2024-11-26T15:26+0000

2024-11-26T15:26+0000

2024-11-26T15:26+0000

world

ukrainian crisis

ukrainian defense ministry

ukraine

corruption

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/03/1113096874_0:0:3073:1730_1920x0_80_0_0_c01ed16d03550928797de4e63c530f55.jpg

Referencing a report from the publication "Zerkalo Nedeli" (Mirror of the Week), Goncharenko highlighted that the Ukrainian government had invested substantial sums into developing domestic weaponry, including mines. However, the Ukroboronprom factory responsible for this project lacked the necessary capacity to produce compatible detonators, instead using incompatible ones that failed to operate effectively. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry allegedly kept this information from the public, remaining silent at each stage of the production process. As a result, only one out of ten mines detonated correctly. He further explained that the mines are currently being recalled, while the authorities are rushing to procure foreign alternatives. Previously, a ministry official admitted that there were no quality control systems in place.*Goncharenko is listed as a terrorist and extremist in Russia.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241115/ukraine-cant-build-a-nuke-without-russia-catching-them-top-us-nuclear-scientist-explains-why-1120895319.html

ukraine

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

2024

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

ukraine corruption, ukrainian crisis, ukraine conflict, ukraine fallen state, ukraine mines, ukraine land mines, ukraine umerov corruption, ukraine umerov misconduct
Equine Guelph has announced that Julie Walker and Renee Kierans have been selected to represent the horse racing industry as Industry Ambassadors of an online training initiative this winter focused on industry-identified healthcare priorities.

Trainers, grooms and owners will learn how to maximize horse health and help their racehorses reach full potential through free access to two online courses developed by Equine Guelph: Racehorse Respiratory Health and Racehorse Gut Health & Ulcer/Colic Prevention.

Julie Walker is joining Equine Guelph as the Standardbred Industry Ambassador for the first time. Walker grew up in harness racing and has been training horses since she was 19 years old. Hailing from the Walker family, famed for their work with trotters, Walker has taken up the family reins and is a contending trainer on the Ontario circuit.

I have taken these courses from Equine Guelph and learned a lot of important lessons, said Walker. I look forward to being your Standardbred Ambassador and learning even more about the equine athletes we are lucky enough to work with every day.

Renee Kierans is back again for her fourth year as Thoroughbred Industry Ambassador. She has been involved in the horse racing industry for close to 40 years. Kierans has worn many caps such as exercise rider, pony rider, outrider, starting gate crew, groom school instructor, trainer and owner. She worked for 12 years as an on-air broadcaster and handicapper for Woodbine and Mohawk, covering both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing.

I'm excited to be your Thoroughbred Ambassador again, and we can all learn more about the horse together, said Kierans.

As Industry Ambassadors, Walker and Kierans will act as peer helpers in the two online courses. They will be online to ask practical questions to industry experts on behalf of their sector and encourage lively, robust online discussions between students from the different racing sectors.

Free racing-exclusive courses include:

Sponsored by Central Ontario Standardbred Association, Ontario Racing, Standardbred Canada and the Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association, the two online courses are available free on a first-come, first-serve basis. For those who have never taken an online course before, no prior online learning experience is required.

(Equine Guelph)
Stephen Michael Clare, charged with capital murder, is pictured in August. On Monday, Bexar County prosecutors said they received all evidence and were ready to schedule a new trial date in his death penalty case. Clint Datchuk Stephen Michael Clare, charged with capital murder, is pictured in August. On Monday, Bexar County prosecutors said they received all evidence and were ready to schedule a new trial date in his death penalty case. Clint Datchuk

Attorneys in the capital murder trial for Stephen Michael Clare, a San Antonio nurse practioner accused of stabbing his 11-month-old daughter to death, say they are ready to move forward with his trial.

In a status hearing on Monday, Bexar County prosecutor and First Assistant Tamara Strauch told state District Judge Joel Perez the state received all evidence from law enforcement. She said she shared it with Clare's defense attorneys, Raymond Edward Fuchs and Daniel De La Gaza.

In September, Fuchs and De La Garza said they were still waiting for tests on new evidence from the countys crime lab, including from a weapon allegedly used in the incident. The attorneys also said they were waiting for serology testing, which checks for the presence of blood.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Jury selection for the trial was delayed, which had a tentative date scheduled for Oct. 11 with a possible trial in November.

Currently, Bexar Countys Criminal Investigation Laboratory stands more than a year behind in analyzing crime scene evidence. They have cited staffing and policy issues for the backlog. The lab is responsible for providing prosecutors all evidence in a case before they head to trial.

READ MORE: Bexar County crime lab running more than year behind

However, given that all evidence has been received by both parties, Perez asked the attorneys to submit their scheduling orders to set a date for trial, with a possible trial date in April or August.

The judge said he is hoping for no more delays related to the case.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Clare, 52, is accused of fatally stabbing his 11-month-old daughter, Willow Grace Clare, and injuring her sister, Rosalie, 2 at the time, and shooting his ex-wife, Mariah Lee Gardner, around 7 p.m. on April 10, 2023. Willow died April 11, just two days before her first birthday.

In a multiple-count indictment, Clare was charged with capital murder of a child under the age of 10 in Willows death, attempted capital murder in the critical injuries of Rosalie, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Gardners shooting.

Capital murder is punishable by life in prison without the possibility of parole, or death by injection.

Strauch alleged that Clare went to his former wifes home on Robinhood Place in the Northridge Park neighborhood north of Alamo Heights and said to Gardner, I am going to kill you and kill every one of your kids, as he held a gun to her face.

Testimony at Clares first bond hearing established that he chased Gardner out of her home and shot her. Gardner was shot again as she went back inside the house as she attempted to stop Clare from stabbing their daughters.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Officers found both children lying in a hallway full of blood. Rosalie had a hole in her stomach, and her intestines had been poured out, San Antonio police officer Brandon Lyles told the court at that hearing. Another officer, Bradley Shaw, said Willow was in a similar condition.
As Smyth County continues to recover from damage left by Hurricane Helene, the Board of Supervisors is working to address immediate and long-term needs.

With damages now reaching into the millions of dollars, last week, the supervisors took multiple actions to help citizens, businesses, and service groups.

Fee WaiversFor those who are rebuilding, the supervisors agreed to waive building and zoning permit fees for renovations or reconstruction tied to damage caused by the remnants of Hurricane Helene.

The current cost structure is $0.16 per square foot for construction, in addition to various flat fees for zoning, electrical, HVAC, and other services related to the building code.

In six months, the supervisors will review the waiver.

The supervisors also OKd extending their waiver of tipping fees at the county transfer station for debris and materials coming from Helene damage for another 30 days. However, the board did exclude tires.

That exclusion followed Assistant County Administrator Clegg Williams telling supervisors that an individual had brought in 40 tires one day, even more on additional days, claiming they all were flooded onto his property.

Overall, Williams said, the county has waived fees for 120 tons of trash, writing off $10,406. The normal fee is $80 per ton.

Business

Disaster ReliefLast week, the supervisors also authorized the payment of $200,000 to the Economic

Development Authority to establish the Smyth Strong Small Business Disaster Relief

Fund.

These funds will provide relief by addressing immediate recovery needs, supporting reopening efforts, and ensuring that our local economy remains strong in the face of adversity. We hope that, with these resources, small businesses throughout Smyth County will be able to recover swiftly and contribute once again to our vibrant community, said Director of Community & Economic Development Kendra Hayden in a memo to County Administrator Shawn Utt.

The money was shifted from the Smyth Strong Small Business Grants fund.

Food Pantry HelpIn the hopes of providing additional support to Smyth Countys food pantries, the supervisors gave their OK to seeking a $500,000 2025 Community Development Block Grant

The project, according to a county resolution, would address the needs of the Smyth County food pantries during and after the Hurricane Helene response.

Long-Term RecoveryEmergency Services Coordinator Curtis Crawford told the supervisors Public Safety Committee that a Long-Term Recovery Committee made up of officials and citizens should be established to oversee all long-term recovery efforts related to the Hurricane damage.

Crawford described the committee as a self-healing group that would help shift the focus from government reliance to a grassroots system that would work with multiple agencies, including churches, non-profits, civic groups, and other community organizations.

For the committees lifespan, Crawford said it will be as long as is needed.

At this time, Crawford said, the county is just laying the foundation to move toward rebuilding.

Utt said he expects recovery to take about two years.

Nearing DeadlineThe deadline to apply for FEMA disaster assistance and U.S. Small Business Administration loans is Dec. 2.

Jim Accurso, an SBA agency public affairs specialist, visited the Marion Town Council Monday evening and the Chilhowie Town Council last week. He was working to spread the word that the SBA offers financial help to businesses, homeowners, renters, and non-profits.

Those who apply for the SBA disaster loans, he said, can seek funds to cover physical damage as well as economic injury.

The SBA disaster loans feature no payment due and 0% interest accrued for one year after the first loan disbursement. Loan terms may be up to 30 years. SBA material also says that loans may be sought before insurance settles its process.

Accurso said theres no fee to apply, and theres no obligation to accept the loan if its approved.

He urged individuals who sustained damage from Tropical Storm Helene to talk to an SBA representative to see if the agencys services could be of benefit.

SBA and FEMA representatives are available at the local Disaster Recovery Center at 203 S. Park Street in Marion, the former Marion Lifesaving crew station. Individuals affected by the disaster may visit the center to learn about assistance.

While the office is a place for face-to-face assistance, affected individuals do not have to visit a DRC to register with FEMA, but can call 800-621-FEMA (3362). The toll-free telephone line operates seven days a week. People who use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, may give FEMA the number for that service. Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish and 3 for other languages). Individuals can also register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or through the FEMA App on a smartphone.

Community FoundationThe Smyth County Community Foundation continues to take donations to help with the recovery process. It initially agreed to match donations up to $50,000. However, according to Lynda Helton, the foundations executive director, once that goal was met and exceeded, the foundation agreed to match donations up to $100,000.

Anyone who would like to donate to the fund may do so at https://smythccf.org/donate.

Anyone who would like to volunteer to help with Helene-related projects may sign up through the Chamber of Commerce of Smyth County. Visit the chambers website at https://smythchamber.org/hurricane-helene-relief/. As well, individuals who would like to apply for assistance may do so at the same web location.

DamagesEarly this month, Crawford reviewed damage reports at the time. Residents property damage, not including personal property, vehicles and agricultural losses, had exceeded $11.3 million.

Damages to public systems have reached $2.6 million with the majority being sustained by the Town of Chilhowies sewer system, which lost its three aerial river crossings.

At that time, Crawford praised FEMA representatives for their quick work, noting that they had done 481 house inspections, and 443 reports had been returned. More than 1,340 claims in Smyth County had been filed with the federal agency.

In some hard-hit areas, Crawford said FEMA took flyers door-to-door to let people know about possible assistance.

People are getting the help they need, he said.

Early on after the Sept. 27 storm and flooding, Crawford said $7 million was made available to 16 Virginia counties. Already, he said $1.4 million is in Smyth County. We had the right conduit in place, he concluded.
ZeeVee has announced its distribution partnership in Portugal and Angola with Audium, a pioneering distributor of professional sound, video systems and stage lighting.

Founded in 1981 as a provider of equipment for nightclubs, the companys early success led it to expand its product offerings and become an audiovisual company distributing many of the worlds most prestigious brands. Audium also established a network of sound, light and video resellers throughout Portugal providing complete design, consulting services and technical support for its integration partners and customers.

We are very happy to add ZeeVee to our line of products, said Filipe Andrade Santos, administrator and technical director, Audium. For some 40-plus years, we always challenged ourselves to be at the front of technological development and to provide the best and most up-to-date AV solutions. ZeeVee represents exactly this  leading-edge technology on audio video over IP. We look forward a bright and successful venture together.

Audium now represents and stocks ZeeVees complete line of AVoIP products including the popular ZyPerUHD60 1Gb and ZyPer4K 10Gb encoders and decoders, its advanced SDVoE offerings and its award-winning ZyPer Management Platform (ZMP). The ZMP software helps address a variety of comprehensive AVoIP requirements and makes installations more efficient. Audiums AV integration partners in Portugal and in Angola will benefit from ZeeVees proactive training resources strengthened by Kramers comprehensive support.

In Portugal, Audium is the go-to company for AV technology in a wide range of market segments including auditoriums, assemblies, meeting rooms, hotels, multi-sports pavilions, stadiums and cinemas, said Jan-Arne Rosenstein, managing director, ZeeVee Europe, GmbH. Filipe and his team are well-respected for running a highly competent and ethically driven organization. We look forward to a long-term and successful partnership enabling Audiums clients to benefit from the best engineered and performing AV over IP systems on the planet.

Comprising highly experienced and skilled technicians combined with the high technology of the products and systems it sells, Audium develops sound, lighting and video installation projects using sophisticated computer systems that allow it to simulate its clients needs and define the ideal solution based on their individual circumstances and the results it wishes to obtain.

Audium is located at Rua General Leman, 5 A/B in Lisbon.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Deciding when to bring a hog to market has never been an easy task.

To maximize profits, farmers must gauge changing animal weights, pork prices, feed costs, and pen space, while also keeping an inventory of ready-for-market pigs to meet long-term contractual obligations with meat processors. With so many variables in flux, farmers face what scholars call the "curse of dimensionality"essentially having too much data to best solve a problem analytically. Thus, optimal policies for such problems are essentially unobtainable.

Research co-authored by a UC Riverside School of Business professor, however, leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to break this curse. Using pricing and inventory data from a large hog farm operation in Illinois, the researchers developed a machine learning model to determine when, to whom, and how many pigs to sell to optimize long-term profits. The model recovered about 22% of the profits that farmers typically lose with traditional decision-making.

The paper is published in the SSRN Electronic Journal.

"Traditional farming methods tend to focus on immediate profits, overlooking how today's choices affect future earnings. This short-sightedness can mean missed opportunities and lower overall profits in the long run," said Danko Turcic, a UCR associate professor of operations and supply chain management and paper co-author.

Turcic explained that farmers face critical decisions once pigs reach the "finishing stage," an age of about six months when the hogs achieve a ready-for-market weight of about 200 pounds. It's a time when farmers must decide how many hogs to sell and how many to keep feeding to meet future contractual obligations or perhaps fetch higher profits from bigger pigs on the open market if they anticipate a rise in meat prices.

To help farmers with such decisions, Turcic and his co-authors started with an AI model commonly used in computer games and adapted it to the world of hog farming. This meant adding realistic constraints, like limits on how many hogs could be sold at once due to contracts with meatpackers, and ensuring the AI wouldn't try to sell more hogs than the farmer actually had.

Importantly, they made sure the AI's decision-making process was transparent and understandable. This "interpretability" is crucial in areas like farming and medicine, where users need to trust the AI's recommendations.

By understanding how the AI worked, the researchers discovered why it was so much better at hog selling than current practices. The AI could identify the best times to sell, like when market prices were high enough to offset the penalties for breaking contracts. It also strategically held back some hogs, anticipating either higher prices later or times when there might be fewer hogs available to sell.

While the study focuses on hog farming, its implications extend across industries involving perishable commodities and dynamic inventory management. Turcic suggests that similar systems could optimize decisions in agriculture, retail, and even product launch timing for consumer goods such as smartphones.

"Our work underscores the potential of AI not just to automate but to augment human decision-making with powerful tools that were previously unimaginable," Turcic said.

The study, "An Empirically Grounded Analytical Approach to Hog Farm Finishing Stage Management," is available online and has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Operations Management. Its co-authors are Panos Kouvelis of the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis and Ye Liu of the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.

More information: Panos Kouvelis et al, An Empirically Grounding Analytics (EGA) Approach to Hog Farm Finishing Stage Management: Deep Reinforcement Learning as Decision Support and Managerial Learning Tool, SSRN Electronic Journal (2023). DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4617964
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

A school bus with tourists crosses the Daniel-Johnson dam over the summer.

Hydropower production in Canada is plummeting as extreme weather linked to climate change, particularly sudden swings between drought and flood, hampers output while threatening the structure of dams themselves.

A world leader in hydroelectricity, Canada has also been forced to cut exports to the United States, which have reached their lowest levels in 14 years, according to the national statistics agency.

For three straight months earlier this year, Canada had to import energy from the USa first in eight years, and a role reversal that highlights dramatic shortfalls in hydropower production in Canada and abroad.

The International Energy Agency said 2023 marked "a record decline" in global hydropower generation, with other major producers like China, Turkey and the US also impacted. The IEA tied the declines to "severe and prolonged drought" in major producing regions.

In Canada, which gets 60 percent of its energy from hydropower, drought has hit hard in the key production provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba and Quebec.

Record Lows

Production challenges are being acutely felt at Quebec's enormous Daniel-Johnson dam, northeast of Montreal, which was made with enough concrete to build a sidewalk from the North Pole to South Pole, according to Hydro-Quebec.

The Daniel-Johnson Dam in Manicouagan, Quebec, where engineers say they are starting to feel the impact of climate change on production.

Hydro-Quebec engineer Pierre-Marc Rondeau said the low levels recorded at certain reservoirs in recent years has "broken records."

The public company is "starting to feel" the impacts of climate change, he said.

Water shortages have reduced profits by 30 percent through the first nine of months of this year, the company confirmed this month.

Hydro-Quebec has also had to cut exports to meet local demand this year and in 2023a bitter setback for a company that has invested in new transmission lines and signed long-term supply contracts with customers in New York and Massachusetts.

"We're adjusting the ways we operate the reservoirs to be ready at any time" in the event of flood or drought, Rondeau told AFP.

Flash floods

The combined impacts of extreme drought and extreme floods are "exponentially increasing" the challenges facing the hydropower sector, said Reza Najafi, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Ontario's Western University.

Up to half of Canada's dams are more than 50 years old, and not built for extreme weather swings.

Najafi is part of a group of researchers working on new guidelines for dams in response to the intensification of extreme weather events.

"We found some critical gaps in the current frameworks and practices in both the design and planning management of dams and levees," he said.

Up to 50 percent of the country's dams are more than 50 years old and not designed to cope with extreme weather swings, he explained.

Eloise Edom, of L'Institute de l'Energie Trottier at Polytechnique Montreal, noted flash floods that used to be once-in-a-century events in parts of Canada are now happening twice a decade.

For Philippe Gachon, a professor at the University of Quebec in Montreal, it is crucial that national planning bodies consider the dramatic water cycle changes when contemplating Canada's hydropower future.

"We are going to have volumes of water that we have never seen before," he told AFP.

He noted Hydro-Quebec has already integrated the new reality of weather extremes into its infrastructure plans.

"But will this reflection, this rethinking of infrastructure, keep pace with the changes that are happening? Nobody knows," he said.

 2024 AFP
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

People walk on the Interpol logo at the international police agency headquarters in Lyon, France, on Nov. 8, 2018. Credit: AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani, File

Interpol arrested 1,006 suspects in Africa during a massive two-month operation, clamping down on cybercrime that left tens of thousands of victims, including some who were trafficked, and produced millions in financial damages, the global police organization said Tuesday.

Operation Serengeti, a joint operation with Afripol, the African Union's police agency, ran from Sept. 2 to Oct. 31 in 19 African countries and targeted criminals behind ransomware, business email compromise, digital extortion and online scams, the agency said in a statement.

"From multi-level marketing scams to credit card fraud on an industrial scale, the increasing volume and sophistication of cybercrime attacks is of serious concern," said Valdecy Urquiza, the Secretary General of Interpol.

Interpol pinpointed 35,000 victims, with cases linked to nearly $193 million in financial losses worldwide, stating that local police authorities and private sector partners, including internet service providers, played a key role in the operation.

Jalel Chelba, Afripol's Executive Director, said in the statement: "Through Serengeti, Afripol has significantly enhanced support for law enforcement in African Union Member States,"

Serengeti's results were a "drastic increase" compared to operations in Africa in previous years, Enrique Hernandez Gonzalez, Interpol's Assistant Director of Cybercrime Operations, told The Associated Press.

Interpol's previous cybercrime operations in Africa had only led to 25 arrests in the last two years.

"Significant progress has been made, with participating countries enhancing their ability to work with intelligence and produce meaningful results," Gonzalez said.

In Kenya, the police made nearly two dozen arrests in an online credit card fraud case linked to losses of $8.6 million. In the West African country of Senegal, officers arrested eight people, including five Chinese nationals, for a $6 million online Ponzi scheme.

Chelba said Afripol's focus now includes emerging threats like Artificial Intelligence-driven malware and advanced cyberattack techniques.

Other dismantled networks included a group in Cameroon suspected of using a multi-level marketing scam for human trafficking, an international criminal group in Angola running an illegal virtual casino and a cryptocurrency investment scam in Nigeria, the agency said.

Interpol, which has 196 member countries and celebrated its centennial last year, works to help national police forces communicate with each other and track suspects and criminals in fields like counterterrorism, financial crime, child pornography, cybercrime and organized crime.

The world's biggestif not best-fundedpolice organization has been grappling with new challenges including a growing caseload of cybercrime and child sex abuse, and increasing divisions among its member countries.

Interpol had a total budget of about 176 million euros (about $188 million) last year, compared to more than 200 million euros at the European Union's police agency, Europol, and some $11 billion at the FBI in the United States.

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: AI-generated image

The large language model of the OpenGPT-X research project is now available for download on Hugging Face: "Teuken-7B" has been trained from scratch in all 24 official languages of the European Union and contains 7 billion parameters.

Researchers and companies can leverage this commercially usable open source model for their own artificial intelligence applications. The OpenGPT-X consortiumled by the Fraunhofer Institutes for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems IAIS and for Integrated Circuits IIShave developed an AI language model that is open source and has a distinctly European perspective.

"In the OpenGPT-X project, we've spent the last two years researching the underlying technologies for large AI foundation models and training models with leading industry and research partners. We are delighted to be able to make our 'Teuken-7B' model freely available, providing a public, research-based alternative for use in academia and industry," says Prof. Stefan Wrobel, Director of Fraunhofer IAIS.

"Our model has demonstrated its capabilities across a wide range of languages, and we hope that as many people as possible will adapt and develop the model for their own work and applications. In this way, we want to contribute, both within the scientific community and together with companies from different industries, to the growing demand for transparent and customizable generative AI solutions."

Teuken-7B is currently one of the few large language models developed multilingually from the ground up. It contains approximately 50% non-English pre-training data and has been trained in all 24 official European languages. It has proven to be stable and reliable in its performance across multiple languages.

This provides added value, particularly for international companies and organizations with multilingual communication requirements, products and services. The open source model allows companies and organizations to run their own customized models in real-world applications. Sensitive corporate data can remain within the company.

In addition to model training, the OpenGPT-X team also addressed a number of research questions, such as how to train and operate multilingual AI language models in a more energy- and cost-efficient way. To this end, the project developed a multilingual "tokenizer."

The task of a tokenizer is to break down words into individual word componentsthe fewer tokens, the more (energy-) efficiently and quickly a language model can generate the answer. The developed tokenizer leads to a reduction in training costs compared to other multilingual tokenizers like Llama3 or Mistral. This is particularly valuable for European languages with longer word structures such as German, Finnish or Hungarian.

Teuken-7B is accessible via the Gaia-X infrastructure. Actors in the Gaia-X ecosystem can thus develop innovative language applications and transfer them into concrete application scenarios in their respective domains. Unlike existing cloud solutions, Gaia-X is a federated ecosystem that allows service providers and data owners to connect. Data remains securely with its owners and is only shared under defined conditions.

"I am excited to witness today's publication of Teuken-7B, a large language model based on Gaia-X, and would like to congratulate the OpenGPT-X project on having reached this important milestone.

"A special feature of Teuken-7B is that it enables the secure use of sensitive corporate data, as the Gaia-X standards guarantee data storage and processing in accordance with the strictest European data protection and security regulations.

"This new model and innovations like this strengthen the digital sovereignty, competitiveness and resilience of Germany and of Europe," says Dr. Franziska Brantner, Parliamentary State Secretary at BMWK.

Prof. Bernhard Grill, Director of Fraunhofer IIS, emphasizes the model's potential for safety-critical applications. "With this independently developed language model, the project partners demonstrate their ability to generate their own large models.

"Access to a large language model enables applications that offer much greater control over this technology without the need for opaque third-party componentsfor example, in safety-critical fields such as automotive, robotics, medicine and finance. By training on data relevant to a specific application and using application-specific architectures, companies can create customized AI solutions that do not require 'black box' components."

Generative AI by a strong consortiumwith a European perspective

Important research results from the OpenGPT-X project have been incorporated into the model development, such as tools and technologies for processing large amounts of data, leveraging powerful European HPC infrastructure and performing efficient model training.

Teuken-7B was trained on the JUWELS supercomputer at Forschungszentrum Julich. In addition to the two Fraunhofer Institutes and Forschungszentrum Julich, the consortium's partners include TU Dresden, the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), IONOS, Aleph Alpha, ControlExpert, Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) and the German AI Association (KI Bundesverband).

The technology developed in OpenGPT-X will also provide the partners with a basis for training their own models in the future.

"OpenGPT-X is an example of how the resources of a publicly funded project and the collaborative efforts of a broad consortium can deliver valuable foundational technologyfrom underlying infrastructure to model training to productive applications.

"In the interest of technology and data sovereignty, it is important to build on this foundation: Our hope is that OpenGPT-X will lay the groundwork for many subsequent activities," emphasizes Daniel Abbou, Managing Director of the German AI Association and President of the European AI Forum.

The research project, which was launched at the beginning of 2022, is now nearing completion. It will run until 31 March 2025 so that further optimizations and evaluations of the models can take place.

The path to using Teuken-7B

Interested developers from academia or industry can download Teuken-7B free of charge from Hugging Face and work with it in their own development environment. The model has already been optimized for chat through "instruction tuning." Instruction tuning is used to adapt large language models so that the model correctly under-stands instructions from users, which is important when using the models in practicefor example in a chat application.

Teuken-7B is freely available in two versions: one for research-only purposes and an "Apache 2.0" licensed version that can be used by companies for both research and commercial purposes and integrated into their own AI applications. The performance of the two models is roughly comparable, but some of the datasets used for instruction tuning preclude commercial use and were therefore not used in the Apache 2.0 version.

More information: Model download and model card: huggingface.co/openGPT-X

Model release blog post on the project website: opengpt-x.de/en/models/teuken-7b

OpenGPT-X publications: opengpt-x.de/news-de

European LLM Leaderboard: huggingface.co/spaces/openGPT-  pean-llm-leaderboard

Discord server for community feedback and technical questions: discord.gg/RvdHpGMvB3

Provided by Fraunhofer-Institut fur Intelligente Analyse- und Informationssysteme IAIS
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Australian celebrity and "public relations maven" Roxy Jacenko has said she regrets turning her daughter, Pixie Curtis, into a child social media influencer.

The 13-year-old's Instagram account had long been used by her mother to generate income via brand sponsorships and online businesses such as Pixie's Bows and Pixie's Toys. But Jacenko is now saying the money wasn't worth the negative effects of Pixie's public persona, which included being bullied at school.

This admission, along with the government's decision to ban social media for under-16s, is a timely reminder for parents to reflect on how they share images of their own children onlineeven for those of us who don't intend to make our children influencers.

Parents' views on 'sharenting'

A 2019 survey of 613 Australian parents (mostly mothers) found 15% posted images of their children to Facebook at least once a week, while 13% posted at least weekly to Instagram. Only 20% said they never shared images to Facebook, and 37% never shared them to Instagram.

Research has found parents who choose to not share images of their children are often driven by concerns over privacy and future consequences.

Parent "influencers", however, remain much more likely to do thisand are often unaware of the potential risks. Nonetheless, a number of them are now pushing back against the practice and offering alternatives to posting images of one's children online.

According to research by one of us (Katrin), many Australian parents understand their children's images and details (such as name, address and school) can be considered sensitive information.

They associate this identifiable information with risks posed by bad actors (such as pedophiles) who could identify and follow their children both online and offline. These concerns are further fueled by media reports of such incidents.

Many parents will use strategies to minimize risk, such as by blurring children's faces in online posts, or covering them with emojis. They may also crop the image, or have the child turn away from the camera to protect their identity.

That said, some people may still be able to identity the child in question, such as by feeding the image through an online image search and certain AI tools. An image's metadata may also include details such as where and when a photo was taken, making it easier to trace.

Balancing risks with benefits

Although the concerns are clear, sharing images of one's children in online spaces can also have many benefits for families.

By reducing the information they share about their kids, parents may also miss out on opportunities to gain social support from peers and celebrate major milestones in their kids' lives. After all, many families use social media platforms as digital family albums and tools to archive key memories.

Katrin's research also found that familiesparticularly those from diverse cultural backgroundsmay also use these platforms to maintain important connections with loved ones living overseas.

Similarly, parents from non-traditional family structures, such as same-sex parents, often depend on social media as important spaces to proudly share, advocate for and normalize their experience of family life.

What to ask yourself before you post

Despite the move to ban social media for children under 16, it doesn't look like Australia will follow France's lead in curtailing sharenting through legislation such as a children's image rights law.

In France, this law aims to tackle the risks of sharenting by enshrining children's right to privacy. It means protecting children's privacy is among a parents' legal dutyand that children legally need to be consulted.

Nonetheless, there are several things parents can consider before they share their child's data, including images and video. For instance, they can:

Get consent from a child (if they are old enough) before before posting about them

Share carefully. Try sharing less through public avenues, or be more mindful of your audience. Ensure identifiable information such as school logos are not featured in images. You can even remove a photo's metadata

Review the policies and practices of institutions your child may be part of. Check if they ask for children's consent before taking video or photographic imagesas well as options for opting out

Have a conversation with your child, partner and other family members (such as grandparents) about an approach that feels comfortable when it comes to sharing your child's images. You may ask friends and family members to reduce unnecessary sharing

Consciously select password-protected apps or online platforms to share photos with family and friends, rather than social media

Regularly review each platform's provided privacy settings, and purposefully use these features. For example, you may set your Facebook account to "private," or only participate in private Facebook groups.

Posting content online comes with a range of risks, some of which remain unknown in the face of developing technologies. But it can also have immeasurable benefits. It's important all family members consider these nuances and share the responsibility of making balanced, informed decisions about their online practices.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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:

Two women sit on a bench looking at their phone in central Sydney. The Australian government says a new law aims to protect young people from the perils of social media.

Australia's proposal to ban under-16s from social media platforms is "rushed", social media companies claimed Tuesday, expressing "serious concerns" about potential unintended consequences.

The landmark legislation would force social media firms to prevent young teens from accessing their platforms or face fines of up to Aus$50 million (US$32.5 million).

Platforms such as X, Snapchat, TikTok, and Meta have criticized the 24-hour time frame given for stakeholder comments, claiming a lack of consultation and inadequate details about how the legislation would work.

X said in its submission that it had "serious concerns" the ban would have "a negative impact" on children, adding it breached their "rights to freedom of expression and access to information".

The company added that the proposed law was "vague" and "highly problematic" and that there was "no evidence" that it would work.

Australia is among the vanguard of nations trying to clean up social media, and the proposed age limit would be among the world's strictest measures aimed at children.

The proposed laws, which were presented to parliament last week, would also include robust privacy provisions that require tech platforms to delete any age-verification information collected.

The government is trying to approve the law this week, before parliament breaks for the rest of the year.

Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, said in its submission the ban would "fail" in its current form because there was not enough consultation with stakeholders.

"More time should be taken to get this bill right," it said.

TikTok raised concerns over the privacy provisionsincluding that they overlapped and contradicted other legislationand the limited time to consult stakeholders.

"Its rushed passage poses a serious risk of further unintended consequences," the company's submission said.

Key details about how social media companies are expected to enforce the ban remain unclear.

Some companies will be granted exemptions from the ban, such as YouTube, which teenagers may need to use for school work or other reasons.

Once celebrated as a means of staying connected and informed, social media platforms have been tarnished by cyberbullying, the spread of illegal content, and election-meddling claims.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insisted Tuesday that "social media is causing social harm".

"It can be a weapon for bullies, a platform for peer pressure, a driver of anxiety, a vehicle for scammers and, worst of all, a tool for online predators," he wrote in an opinion piece.

"And because it is young Australians who are most engaged with this technologyit is young Australians who are most at risk."

The laws would give families "peace of mind" that their children's well-being and mental health were being prioritized, he said.

If the proposed law passes, tech platforms would be given a one-year grace period to figure out how to implement and enforce the ban.

The proposal comes just months before Australians go to the polls in a general election that must be held in the first half of 2025.

 2024 AFP
Scott Huddleston is a veteran staff writer, covering education, local history, preservation and the Alamo. He can be reached at shuddleston@express-news.net.

He has been reporting for the Express-News since 1985, covering local government, public safety, criminal justice, flooding, transportation, military, water and the environment. He is a native Texan and a longtime San Antonian.
LA CASITA-GARCIASVILLE, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 26: Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham speaks at a news conference to commemorate state-sponsored border wall construction on November 26, 2024 in La Casita-Garciasville, Texas. The 1,402-acre ranch where border wall construction is taking place was recently offered to the Trump administration to build facilities to coordinate mass deportations. Michael Gonzalez/Getty Images Texas Governor Greg Abbott and incoming Border Czar Tom Homan talk privately at a Thanksgiving lunch event at Forward Operating Base Eagle, a newly built military base serving Operation Lone Star near the Rio Grande River on Tues, Nov. 26, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas. Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer Inside Forward Operating Base Eagle, a newly built military base serving Operation Lone Star near the Rio Grande River on Tues, Nov. 26, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas. Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer Entry gate at Forward Operating Base Eagle, a newly built military base serving Operation Lone Star near the Rio Grande River on Tues, Nov. 26, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas. Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer LA CASITA-GARCIASVILLE, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 26: In an aerial view, the site of ongoing state-sponsored border wall construction where Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham held a news conference on November 26, 2024 in La Casita-Garciasville, Texas. The 1,402-acre ranch where border wall construction is taking place was recently offered to the Trump administration to build facilities to coordinate mass deportations. Michael Gonzalez/Getty Images Texas Governor Greg Abbott and incoming Border Czar Tom Homan make remarks at a Thanksgiving lunch event at Forward Operating Base Eagle, a newly built military base serving Operation Lone Star near the Rio Grande River on Tues, Nov. 26, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas. Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer Texas Governor Greg Abbott and incoming Border Czar Tom Homan make remarks at a Thanksgiving lunch event at Forward Operating Base Eagle, a newly built military base serving Operation Lone Star near the Rio Grande River on Tues, Nov. 26, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas. Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer Inside Forward Operating Base Eagle, a newly built military base serving Operation Lone Star near the Rio Grande River on Tues, Nov. 26, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas. Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer Texas Governor Greg Abbott and incoming Border Czar Tom Homan make remarks at a Thanksgiving lunch event at Forward Operating Base Eagle, a newly built military base serving Operation Lone Star near the Rio Grande River on Tues, Nov. 26, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas. Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer Texas Governor Greg Abbott and incoming Border Czar Tom Homan make remarks at a Thanksgiving lunch event at Forward Operating Base Eagle, a newly built military base serving Operation Lone Star near the Rio Grande River on Tues, Nov. 26, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas. Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer Paul Perez, the president of the National Border Patrol Council, Mike Banks, Texas Border Czar, and outgoing Director of Texas DPS Steven McCraw joins Texas Governor Greg Abbott and incoming Border Czar Tom Homan while they make remarks at a Thanksgiving lunch event at Forward Operating Base Eagle, a newly built military base serving Operation Lone Star near the Rio Grande River on Tues, Nov. 26, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas. Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer LA CASITA-GARCIASVILLE, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 26: The site of ongoing state-sponsored border wall construction where Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham held a news conference on November 26, 2024 in La Casita-Garciasville, Texas. The 1,402-acre ranch where border wall construction is taking place was recently offered to the Trump administration to build facilities to coordinate mass deportations. (Photo by Michael Gonzalez/Getty Images) Michael Gonzalez/Getty Images

STARR COUNTY  Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham said on Tuesday she was looking to offer several other tracts of state land to the incoming Trump administration for its mass deportation efforts.

I meant it when I said that I will do everything in my power to help this administration, Buckingham said, standing on the 1,400-acre ranch she recently offered President-elect Donald Trump to house immigrants with removal orders. And that is why I'm announcing our offer has been extended beyond this property.

READ MORE: Texas land commissioner offers incoming Trump administration border plot for mass deportation effort

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Buckingham officially unveiled the Jocelyn Initiative, an effort by the General Land Office to find more tracts of land to aid Trumps deportations, named for Jocelyn Nungaray, a Houston girl who was killed earlier this year.

Trump has not officially accepted Buckinghams first offer. Buckingham said she had not heard directly from anyone in Trumps camp after sending a letter last week offering the farmland near Rio Grande City, which the state bought last month for $3.8 million.

I mean, they're obviously super busy, and so we're letting them do their thing. We just want to signal out that we're happy to be here and be a good partner, Buckingham said in an interview with Hearst Newspapers. Weve seen their public statements that theyre interested and we'll have those talks when they're ready to have them.

Buckingham said in an interview that she imagined the administration would lease the land from the state for the operation, and that the federal payments would help fund education in Texas, which is a win-win, making Texas safer and funding education.

Tom Homan, who Trump tapped to oversee the mass deportations, has said the administration would absolutely use the land. But Homan did not take the General Land Office up on an invitation to tour the property with Buckingham on Tuesday, even as he was in South Texas for two separate stops along the border with Gov. Greg Abbott  including one in nearby Edinburg.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The dueling events offered a glimpse into how Texas Republican leaders are jockeying to demonstrate their willingness to aid the incoming president in his border crackdown and deportation efforts.

TEXAS POLITICS: Donald Trump picks ally of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to oversee mass deportations

Abbott  who has drawn frequent praise from Trump and Homan for overseeing an $11 billion border security initiative over the last four years  has been publicly quiet about Buckinghams offer to use the land for deportations.

Buckingham said in an interview that Abbotts opinion on her offer doesn't matter.

It's our land, Buckingham said, later clarifying she was sort of teasing.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

She noted that the governor appoints members of the Texas Facilities Commission, which works with the General Land Office. But asked about conversations with the governor about the property in question, Buckingham responded: We steward the 13 million acres of state land. It's in our purview.

Abbott's spokesman Andrew Mahaleris shot back later that afternoon, saying in a statement, "Actually, under the Texas Constitution, any effort to lease or donate Texas land to the federal government must be conducted through the Governor's Office. We look forward to working with the Trump Administration and Texas state officials to find the best use of that land to further protect Texas and the nation."

Neither Abbott nor Homan mentioned the land during public comments to National Guard troops during a Thanksgiving lunch event in Eagle Pass  even as both talked about planning already underway to get Trumps deportation done.

Were not waiting until January. Were already talking, were already planning, Homan said. Let me be clear, there is going to be a mass deportation.

Homan cheered Abbotts border efforts as a model for the rest of the country.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

We want to help Gov. Abbott finish the job he started, but this is a model we can take across the country, he said.

Abbott, meanwhile, thanked the soldiers for their work on the border, where the governor directed them to put up razor wire, fences and more.

No state in America has a National Guard like the Texas National Guard, either in volume or quality or what you provided for our country, Abbott told soldiers in Eagle Pass. Our country  meaning people outside the state of Texas, they know exactly what you have done, the difference you have made.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

While it is unclear whether Trump will use the South Texas ranch, Buckingham said any sort of deportation staging area there would likely consist of soft-sided facilities that can be built quickly.
Gia vang the gioi sang nay ap sat moc 3.000 USD/ounce  muc ky luc chua tung co trong lich su. Trong nuoc cung khong ngoai le, khi lan luot tang tu 700 en 1 trieu ong/luong. "Vang ang trong thi truong tang gia dai han. Chung toi du bao gia se giao dich trong khoang 3.000-3.200 USD trong nam nay", Alex Ebkarian, giam oc ieu hanh tai Allegiance Gold cho biet.
You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber.



Not a subscriber?



Subscribe today for access to:

Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles).


First APAC Fund VCC (Fund), a leading Singaporean investment fund, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to invest up to AED5 billion ($1.36 billion) in Dubai-based AMIS Development.

The partnership reflects the Funds confidence in Dubais real estate market and AMIS Developments reputation for high-value luxury developments.

AMIS Development has multiple upcoming projects in major areas of Dubai that have already received high interest from its customers, investors and partners.

Expanding growth

The investment by First APAC Fund will be used by AMIS Development to further expand its growth, both locally and internationally by growing its land bank, project pipeline, global brand partnerships, project team and investments in technology. AMIS Developments portfolio represents a convergence of innovative design, superior amenities, and prime locations, promising an elevated living experience that exceeds expectations.

The Fund is incorporated in the Republic of Singapore that may form multiple sub-funds, each of which constitutes a separate sub-fund of the Fund (Sub-Fund). It is managed by Pilgrim Partners Asia (PPA), a Singaporean fund management company licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and holds a Capital Markets Services License number CMS100612-1 for fund management under the Securities & Futures Act (SFA), and is also an Exempt Financial Adviser under the Financial Advisers Act (FAA).

The Fund along with PPA is currently in the process of completing its due diligence on AMIS Development. PPA has further appointed Greenback Capital Limited, a CAT 3C firm incorporated as a private company in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Dubai as the Sub Investment Manager (GBCL) to provide sub-investment management services to the Fund Manager, in respect of the Sub- Fund. GBCL will aid in evaluating and structuring the Transaction on behalf of the Sub-Fund.

Recent success

The partnership between AMIS Development and First APAC Fund follows the formers recent success with the Woodland Residences project, a AED425 million development located in District 11 of Meydan, just 12 minutes from Downtown Dubai. The project, which features a 100-metre swimmable lagoon exclusively for residents, was completely sold out within one week of its launch. The development is scheduled for handover in April 2026.

Neeraj Mishra, Founder and CEO of AMIS Development, said: "We are proud to partner with First APAC Fund VCC, a globally respected fund with a proven track record. Their investment reaffirms our focus on luxury real-estate development and increases our ability to launch larger and more exciting projects for our customers. An investment from an international well renowned fund like First APAC Fund also confirms the international investors confidence in our mission to deliver truly exceptional quality of developments and to build well-integrated communities, while also providing high ROI to investors in our units or projects."

Darrell Lim, Founder and Shareholder of the First APAC Fund VCC, added: "This partnership reflects our commitment to identifying high-potential investment opportunities in key markets. Dubais burgeoning real estate sector and AMIS Developments exceptional leadership team, management systems and track record make this collaboration an exciting prospect."--TradeArabia News Service
GlassPoint, the leader in decarbonizing industrial process heat, today (November 26) announced plans to build the world's largest industrial solar thermal project - Maaden I - in the kingdom in partnership with Saudi mining giant Maaden and Spanish utility major Cox.

In addition, the US group has partnered with Spanish utility major Cox, which will be its technical and delivery partner to build the GlassPoint Maaden Technology Showcase (GMTS), as well as several additional solar thermal projects globally.

The GMTS is the first stage in building the mega solar thermal project, Maaden I, being set up a ina $1.5 billion project which will combine direct solar to heat technology with advanced thermal storage to accelerate the decarbonising of Maaden's aluminum supply chain.

Unveiling the next phase of development for the GMTS in partnership with the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA), GlassPoint said it will feature several advanced technology developments from GlassPoint that enable industrial facilities to decarbonize heat by up to 70% while delivering cost parity with legacy gas-powered steam systems.

Breakthroughs in anticlastic polymer membranes, high-performance Niobium mirrors, and ternary liquid salt have enabled the company to reduce parts count by 60% and weight by 75%.

Together these enhancements, built on previous technology improvements revealed last year, have reduced the cost of the solar field by 30% and the cost of the thermal storage subsystem by 50%, it stated.

GlassPoint said that to support these projects for Maaden and to export high technology renewable energy components to the region, it will be joining hands with MISA to build a key solar manufacturing facility in the kingdom.

Khalid Al Falih, the Saudi Minister of Investment, said: "We are pleased to move forward with this important project with GlassPoint. This milestone advances us toward building a cutting-edge concentrated solar power-to-steam manufacturing facility in the kingdom, which will build our leadership across the region while strengthening our economy and creating an independent supply chain."

Bob Wilt, the CEO of Maaden, pointed out that its Technology Showcase with GlassPoint was an important step toward large-scale decarbonization and was strongly in support of meeting the kingdoms net zero target by 2060.

"We are constantly looking at how we can drive operations and integrate technology that delivers more efficiently and more sustainably," he added.

On the mega project, GlassPoint CEO Rod MacGregor said: We are proud to partner with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to develop not only the largest industrial solar thermal project in history, but also a pioneering technology showcase and solar manufacturing facility."

"Decarbonizing industrial heat is essential to manufacture low-carbon materials and meet net-zero commitments, representing a $444B market globally. Together with MISA, Maaden and Cox we are on our way to scale our proven solution to meet the scale of the opportunity," he added.

Enrique Riquelme, Executive Chairman at Cox, said: "We are seeing rising demand for decarbonised heat around the world as industrial facilities seek to cost-effectively meet net-zero goals. GlassPoint stands out as offering the only solution proven at scale to reduce carbon emissions while delivering favorable economics. We look forward to working with them on this lighthouse project with MISA, as well as many more in our shared pipeline."

The GMTS will feature several advanced technology developments from GlassPoint that enable industrial facilities to decarbonize heat by up to 70% while delivering cost parity with legacy gas-powered steam systems.

Breakthroughs in anticlastic polymer membranes, high-performance Niobium mirrors, and ternary liquid salt have enabled the company to reduce parts count by 60% and weight by 75%.

Together these enhancements, built on previous technology improvements revealed last year, have reduced the cost of the solar field by 30% and the cost of the thermal storage subsystem by 50%.

GlassPoint provides direct solar-to-heat technology that generates industrial process heat from sunshine without going through electricity as an intermediate step.

The GMTS will use reflective mirrors inside a glasshouse to focus sunlight onto a pipe carrying liquid salt to capture energy from the sun. GlassPoints Unify storage system uses ternary liquid salts to provide a continuous base load of heat to Maadens refinery at Ras al Khair, which refines bauxite ore into alumina, a core ingredient for aluminum production.

The solution will provide for complete optionality, enabling Maaden to complement solar steam with gas, biomass, electricity, hydrogen or any other fuel as those technologies mature.

According to GlassPoint, the GMTS will provide 1% of the steam required by Maadens bauxite refinery at Ras Al Khair; when complete, the entire project will provide 65% of the steam and reduce carbon emissions by 600,000 tons per year, the equivalent of taking nearly 130,000 cars off the road.

The project supports MISA's Global Supply Chain Resilience Initiative to diversify supply chains, as well as the Kingdoms Saudi Vision 2030 plan to strengthen the economy and the Saudi Green Initiative to accelerate the Kingdoms environmental leadership.

GlassPoints factory in Saudi Arabia will create over 200 green factory jobs in the Kingdom, and export renewable energy components to the GCC, North Africa and Southern Europe, helping the Kingdom expand its non oil & gas economy, it added.-TradeArabia News Service
Maarif Education, one of the largest education companies in Saudi Arabia with a legacy of over 50 years in K12 education, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of Ibn Khaldoun Education Company (IKEC).

The acquisition, which is subject to approval from the relevant authorities, marks one of the largest investments in Saudi Arabia's education sector and will increase Maarifs size by almost 60%. IKEC operates four schools in Riyadh, which offer both national and international curriculums and have a current enrollment of around 13,000 students. Following the deal, the total number of students enrolled in Maarif schools will increase to over 36,000.

The transaction is part of Maarifs ongoing plans to expand its footprint in Saudi Arabia, increasing access to the best quality education and learning experience for the Kingdoms students. It will make Maarif the largest K12 education company in the country by revenue and geographic coverage, creating a true national champion that is ready to become one of the major regional players.

Dr Husam Zaman, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Maarif Education, and Thunayyan al Obaikan, CEO of IKEC, signed the agreement at a ceremony held in Digital City, Riyadh in the presence of Maarif and IKEC Executive Management teams.

Transformative milestone

Eng Ihab Osman, CEO of Maarif Education, said: "Today marks a transformative milestone for Maarif Education as we strategically expand our footprint by acquiring IKEC, building upon our five-decade legacy of shaping Saudi Arabias educational landscape. This investment will significantly expand Maarifs size and provide us with increased capacity, scale and margin enhancements, further cementing Maarif's growing presence in the Kingdom. By aligning with Vision 2030s objectives for the development of the education sector, we are committed to enhancing educational quality and accessibility, ensuring that we continue to empower future generations to thrive in an evolving world."

Al Obaikan commented: "This acquisition by Maarif marks a pivotal moment for IKEC and we are proud to join its portfolio of renowned schools. Maarifs proven excellence in delivering high-quality education and its ambitions to further expand its network open new horizons for our schools and students.

Together, we will harness Maarif's extensive resources and expertise to enhance our educational offerings, ensuring that every student receives the best possible learning experience. We are excited about the future and committed to our shared vision of empowering the next generation of leaders in Saudi Arabia in a nurturing and innovative environment."

The private K12 education sector in Saudi Arabia is projected to see strong growth in the coming years as the kingdom focuses on elevating the quality of education through privatisation. Rapid population growth, rising disposable incomes, Saudis' growing inclination towards private schooling, and the governments initiatives to attract global talent to the country are driving growth in the segment. According to a 2023 study, the kingdoms school-going population has surpassed the GCC school-aged population by almost threefold.--TradeArabia News Service
The week of seesawing temperatures continues as cold fronts move into the Lone Star State.

After an unseasonably warm weekend, near-record highs were recorded ahead of a cold front that approached South Texas on Monday. San Antonio temperatures didnt officially reach the daily record of 86 degrees, set in 1942, but they got close with a high of 84 degrees. Then a quick-moving, dry but windy cold front blew through, producing falling temperatures and blustery north winds by the evening.

We roll downhill on the temperature roller coaster this morning before climbing the hill again tonight. Temperatures peak on Wednesday and then another downhill run is expected just in time for Thanksgiving.

Another strong cold front will move across Texas by Thanksgiving morning. Temperatures will stay in the 60s for the holiday along with breezy north winds. Weather Prediction Center

High atmospheric pressure will quickly build in, accompanied by partly cloudy skies and continued north winds. Well start the morning with temperatures in the 30s across the Hill Country and in the low 50s south of the Alamo City. Afternoon temps will be near climatological normal, with highs in the middle and upper 60s, with a few locations topping 70 degrees.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The cooler northerly winds will quickly turn southerly and warmer by the evening, and then the southwest wind phenomenon will take over, meaning the wind will come from the deserts of West Texas and reinforce dry air, which heats up faster than more humid air.

When this happens, our afternoon temperatures warm up rather quickly and some of our hottest late-November days on record, albeit without a heat index, could occur. This is what is expected on Wednesday with mild morning lows in the 50s and 60s and then a quick climb into the 80s by the afternoon.

The upcoming frontal system is expected to be stronger and last longer than the previous one, leading to a more significant drop in temperatures that will persist for more than just a day or two. It should arrive Wednesday night and bring brisk north winds by Thanksgiving morning.

While no rain is anticipated, we can expect a mix of sun and clouds with temperatures in the mid-60s.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Roller coaster temperatures continue this week as cold fronts move across the state, upending temperatures in South Texas. WeatherBell

One thing responsible for this series of cold fronts is the orientation of the mid-level flow, with the jet stream angled northwest to southeast over South-Central Texas, the National Weather Service wrote in their forecast bulletin Monday. This will result in a dry forecast, but also a cooler forecast through the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

In the first week of December, the weather services Climate Prediction Center hints that cooler temperatures will persist before warming up during the first weekend of the month.
Synergy University Dubai has introduced a new suite of programmes designed to equip students with the skills necessary to succeed in a rapidly evolving job market, and in alignment with the UAE's Education 33 initiative and the nations broader economic goals.

Focusing on high-growth sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, sustainability and entrepreneurship these offerings aim to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and the practical skills demanded by industries worldwide.

With nearly 70% of jobs expected to change by 2030 due to technological advancements and shifting industry needs, the universitys undergraduate, postgraduate and professional development courses are tailored to prepare students to drive innovation, address environmental challenges and lead successful ventures in an increasingly competitive global economy.

These programmes cater to recent graduates and professionals looking to upskill or transition into high-demand fields.

With a blend of theory and practical application, the curriculum focuses on industry-relevant skills. Flexible learning options including online and evening classes accommodate diverse schedules. Students gain hands-on experience through internships and industry collaborations, ensuring they graduate ready to excel in the UAE's competitive workforce.

Ilia Melnichuk, CEO of Synergy University Dubai, said: We are excited to launch these new programs that address the rapidly evolving demands of the UAE job market.

As the UAE continues to position itself as a global leader in innovation and sustainable development, we are committed to providing students with the skills and knowledge that will enable them to succeed.

This initiative supports the UAEs broader goals of fostering innovation, creating new business opportunities and building a workforce that is prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the future.

Synergy University Dubai said its new programmes align with the UAEs vision to become a global hub for innovation and sustainable development.

Designed to meet the demands of a digitalised world, these programmes equip students with the skills needed to succeed in a globalised job market.

With the EdTech sector in the UAE projected to grow at a 6% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2024 and 2030, the university plays a pivotal role in supporting economic diversification by preparing students for future-focused careers in a technology-driven world.  TradeArabia News Service
The Abu Dhabi Investment Offices (ADIO) AgriFood Growth & Water Abundance (AGWA) cluster is set to take centre stage at the 3rd edition of the Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition (ADIFE), one of the largest food and beverage (F&B) exhibitions in the MENA region, a report said.

The event, to be held from November 26 to 28 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), is set to attract over 21,000 visitors and feature 660 exhibitors and 1,900 brands from more than 70 countries, building on the more than AED 3.9 billion in deals signed during the previous edition of ADIFE, Emirates News Agency, WAM, said.

ADIOs participation underscores its commitment to advancing innovation in food systems, reinforcing Abu Dhabis vision to build an ecosystem capable of delivering transformative solutions to food security challenges.

With ADIFE being held in conjunction with the inaugural Global Food Security Summit (GFSS) and the 10th Abu Dhabi Date Palm Exhibition (ADDPE), ADIO will engage in promoting dialogue around advancing cutting-edge solutions and identifying novel food production methods.

Through the AGWA cluster, ADIO will showcase innovative approaches, such as alternative proteins and sustainable farming technologies, set to revolutionise food production and distribution, paving the way for a future defined by food security and climate resilience.

As a global hub for advanced food systems, AGWA is driving the next generation of solutions.

From algae farming to reverse osmosis technologies, the cluster will serve as an innovation ecosystem that connects cutting-edge research, world-class infrastructure and strategic partnerships, creating unprecedented opportunities for investors and innovators.

Fatima Al Dhaheri, Head of the AGWA Cluster, said: Ensuring food security is a necessity, and a cornerstone of social stability, economic growth and community well-being.

Through platforms like ADIFE, we bring together the brightest minds, visionary investors and global policymakers to pioneer transformative solutions that will shape the future of food systems.

Abu Dhabi is poised to become a global leader in addressing food security challenges, and we invite the world to partner with us on this journey.

The AGWA cluster is projected to generate AED 90 billion in incremental GDP by 2045, create over 60,000 jobs and attract AED 128 billion in investments, positively impacting economies and communities worldwide.

ADIFE 2024 will showcase Abu Dhabis competitive advantages, including its robust R&D ecosystem, investment-friendly policies and strategic location bridging East and West.

At this years conference, ADIO will deliver a dynamic programme, featuring thought leadership on transformative initiatives.

Additionally, it will feature a live food station showcasing a unique menu of alternative proteins developed by its partner companies, offering attendees an interactive experience and a taste of the future of sustainable food.

By engaging global stakeholders at this important event, ADIO aims to forge partnerships that transform the agri-food sector and advance Abu Dhabis transformation into a resilient, innovation-driven economy.
ALEC, part of the Investment Corporate of Dubai (ICD), and a leading construction and related businesses group operating in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, has launched its Robotics Strategy, focused on transforming core construction processes through the use of cutting-edge automation solutions.

The programme was unveiled at its annual Innovation Day event, which featured a curated set of 14 construction robotics companies from across the globe that are pioneering the field.

Aligning with the companys broader Innovation Agenda, it will see ALEC forge partnerships with global robotics leaders to implement innovative solutions in its construction projects as well as to bring these technologies to the region, thereby elevating the sector as a whole.

Describing how through this strategy, ALEC is demonstrating its commitment to supporting government initiatives in the region, CEO Barry Lewis said: "Since the construction industry employs a large percentage of the workforce, as a forward-thinking and innovative company, we recognise the importance of integrating robotics into our operations. At the same time, we are working closely with all industry stakeholders."

"A rising tide lifts all boats and an industry-wide increase in automation will address many of our sector's most pressing issues, enhancing sustainability, addressing skilled labour shortages, and meeting tight project details," he stated.

The new strategy extends on the ALEC Robotics Brief which, since its launch in 2017, has seen the company test and conduct real-world deployments of nine innovative robotics solutions.

Doubling down on this momentum, the company will now collaborate closely with government agencies, local and international universities, and robotics companies and start-ups to evaluate up to 20 robotics ideas and partnerships each year.

Over a 5-year period, the company aims to have 5% of its construction activities automated by mature robotic solutions.

In the first phase of its Robotics Strategy, ALEC intends to focus on pioneering the use of already mature robotics technologies from across the world as well as helping accelerate the advancement of more nascent but promising robotics projects.

Some providers of these technologies have already been identified by the company, and several of them were showcased at the companys Innovation Day.

Among the 14 construction robotics pioneers from around the globe present at this event, were NYU Abu Dhabi who have been exploring AI and Robotics for Autonomous Data Acquisition in Construction projects.

HILTI offered an impressive live demo of its Jaibot, a semi-automated construction robot designed for mechanical, electrical, plumbing and interior finishing installation work while Construction Robotics impressed attendees with MULE, a lift-assist solution designed and built to handle and place heavy material on construction sites.

In the rapidly advancing field of drone-based solutions, Angelswing stood out for its innovative drone-based digital twin platform that drives effectiveness throughout a project - from planning to completion.

Imad Itani, the Head of Innovation at ALEC, said: "At the nexus of market shifts, environmental awareness and rapid technological advancement, is the opportunity for the construction sector to surge forward into an era of enhanced efficiency, sustainability and excellence."

"ALEC is leading this transformation, and driven by our dedicated department, innovation has been embedded into the DNA of our organization. Through meticulously detailed frameworks, we have set out clear objectives with tangible milestones that ensure continued improvement," stated Itani.

"As the regions leading construction firm, ALEC recognizes that our successes will stand testament to the value and feasibility of new approaches to construction. Galvanized by this, we will continue to partner will the best talent from across the world to deliver the best solutions and exceed our stakeholders expectations," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Saudi Arabia has set a new Guinness Record for the largest food cluster in the world with the Jeddah Food Cluster, which spans over 11 million sq m and has set a new global benchmark.

Announcing this key achievement, Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (Modon) said it is targeting investments of up to SAR20 billion ($5.32 billion) for the Jeddah cluster as part of its ambitious plan to create 43,000 job opportunities by 2035.

The cluster aims to stimulate economic growth, enhance food security, and support national exports.

Modon pointed out that over the next decade, the Jeddah Food Cluster is projected to contribute SAR8 billion to national exports and add SAR7 billion to the GDP.

The authority will achieve this by investing in advanced infrastructure, shared services and innovative solutions.

By integrating services and optimising supply chains, the cluster aims to reduce operational costs by 5-12%. This will not only benefit businesses but also contribute to strengthening national food security and self-sufficiency in essential commodities, it added.-TradeArabia News Service
The 2nd Edition of the Gladiator Summit 2024 offered participants a roadmap to redefine leadership, purpose, and growth, aligning with the evolving demands of a rapidly changing world.

A multitude of powerful insights emerged, including challenging participants to rethink their paths to success and purpose: reshaping traditional perceptions, embracing innovative approaches to learning, harnessing and channelling energy effectively, leveraging the transformative power of artificial intelligence, and daring to step beyond comfort zones.

This second edition of the Summit brought over 2,000 participants from across the globe and a powerful lineup of 27 global visionaries, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders to inspire, challenge, and transform how individuals feel about leadership, success, and the future of education. The event, five times larger than its debut earlier in 2024, marked a remarkable leap in scale and impact, reflecting the growing resonance of the Gladiator Mindset movement worldwide.

Created by world-renowned entrepreneur and business strategist Dariush Soudi and headlined by luminaries including Vishen Lakhiani, Rene Rodriguez, Mo Gawdat, and Nick Santonastasso, the event became a melting pot of ideas and insights that resonated deeply with attendees from across industries. The conversations ranged from mindset shifts to leveraging energy and attention, providing a roadmap to navigate the evolving challenges of the modern world.

Key takeaways: insights from the experts

The biggest enemy of perfection is comfort, said Soudi. Its crucial to surround yourself with the right peoplethose who foster mutual growth and generate value for one another, much like what weve seen at this summit. Professionals and entrepreneurs must also be ready to pivot and move swiftly when opportunities arise or when situations demand adaptation. Thats the essence of the Gladiator Mindset: resilience, intentionality, and decisive action.

Rene Rodriguez, author of WSJ's Best-Selling Book, Amplify Your Influence, redefined conventional perceptions of passion, framing it as a journey closely tied to suffering. Passion is suffering, he explained. Compassion means to suffer with someone. When we embrace suffering as part of our journey, it transforms into purpose. He emphasised the power of storytelling and the significance of attention as a form of influence. Attention is the most valuable currencywhat you do with it defines your legacy.

Inspirational keynote speaker Nick Santonastassos insights revolved around harnessing energy and exposure as tools for success. He illustrated how personal energy dynamics influence outcomes, urging participants to elevate their energy levels to achieve higher performance. His emphasis on the "law of exposure" highlighted how access to new ideas and transformative information can lead to profound personal growth.

Another key theme was the role of artificial intelligence in shaping humanitys future. Mo Gawdat, former Chief Business Officer at Google [X], highlighted the need for a values-driven approach, stating that while AI offers immense potential, its true impact depends on humanitys ability to foster meaningful connections and ethical innovation. As he noted, the tools of tomorrow will only serve humanity if a renewed focus on community and collaboration guides them.

Empowering a region

With SMEs and entrepreneurs forming the backbone of the UAEs push toward a knowledge-based economy, the Summit delivered a timely message. The event underscored how adopting a growth-oriented and visionary mindset aligns with national strategies, enabling entrepreneurs to contribute meaningfully to their countries ambitions.

The UAE is at the forefront of fostering entrepreneurship, and the Gladiator mindset aligns perfectly with their visions for the future, said Soudi. Our success lies in creating an environment of genuine possibilities, where giving takes precedence over hard-selling. This authenticity draws participants from across the globe. The summit isnt just an eventits a transformative movement inspiring business leaders to think boldly and aim higher.

Looking ahead

As the curtains closed on the 2nd Edition of the Gladiator Summit, it became clear that the region needs more platforms that bring together diverse voices to inspire and empower. Events like these fuel individual transformation and align with the broader aspirations of the UAE and the Middle East to nurture a generation of innovative, purpose-driven leaders.--TradeArabia News Service
Ras Al Khaimah has secured the top position in a survey of the worlds best expat destinations, conducted by InterNations, the largest global expatriate network.

The northern emirate secured the worlds number one spot out of 53 cities in the Expat Essentials Index, conducted annually by InterNations as part of their 2024 Expat Insider report.

The Index is based on four categories: Admin (how easy it is to get a visa, deal with local bureaucracy, open a bank account); Housing (affordability of housing, ease of finding accommodation); Digital Life (availability of government services online, high-speed internet); and Language (how easy it is to integrate without speaking the local language).

This international recognition highlights Ras Al Khaimahs commitment to creating an exceptional living and working environment for its diverse and growing expat community, in line with the strategic vision of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.

Top in overall index

Ras Al Khaimah ranked top in the overall Index and also ranked highly for Working Abroad, where the Emirate came second, in addition to ranking 5th for Ease of Settling In.

Heba Fatani, Director General of Ras Al Khaimah Government Media Office (RAKGMO), stated: This achievement reflects our dedication to creating a safe, welcoming and thriving community that attracts individuals from all around the world. Ras Al Khaimahs unique blend of modern infrastructure, spectacular natural environment, rich history and culture, and thriving business and tourism landscapes contribute to its reputation as a leading global destination for expatriates wishing to live and work, establish or manage businesses here.

In line with this commitment, RAKGMO recently launched Heart of RAK, a comprehensive online platform dedicated to showcasing all aspects of life in the Emirate.

Vibrant community spirit

RAKGMOs Head of Special Projects, Rouba Zeidan, who leads livability initiatives, added: Earning the top ranking in this global survey is a testament to the vibrant community spirit and the collaborative efforts of both public and private sectors to enhance Ras Al Khaimahs appeal-not only as a premier international business hub, but as a place where individuals and families truly feel at home, thrive and belong.

Hearing that those who chose to move to Ras Al Khaimah genuinely feel at home is the greatest affirmation of its welcoming nature and beauty. We are continually innovating to meet the evolving needs of our dynamic and growing communities.

Earning the top ranking in the InterNations 2024 Expat Essentials Index, Ras Al Khaimah is a city where almost three in four respondents say it is easy to find housing: 72% (vs. 45% globally); and when it came to the housing market, local bureaucracy and the language barrier prior to relocating, 69% of respondents did not believe there to be any concerns in these matters in Ras Al Khaimah, compared to 29% globally.

InterNationss global expat community includes more than 5.4 million members in 420 cities and 166 countries.--TradeArabia News Service
Japan and Thailand have ranked as the most popular holiday destinations, for the second consecutive year, according to the UAE-headquartered Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the worlds largest alliance of independent hotel brands, that revealed its GHA Discovery members top destinations and travel motivations for 2025.

China climbed to the third position, overtaking Spain. Australia, New Zealand, and Italy tied for fourth, pushing out 2024 favourites Canada and Hawaii.

Key Findings

Leisure travel continues to dominate, with 99% of members surveyed planning holidays in 2025, while business travel is rebounding  62% are planning work trips, with travellers based in China, Germany, and Spain leading the resurgence.

More than 93% of members are expecting to travel internationally for leisure next year, and 69% expect to do so for business, with business trips largely being within the region of residence, while leisure travel is expanding further, with Europe and Asia being the preferred regions for all source markets.

Travellers plan to take six leisure trips on average (similar to 2024) and more than five business trips with an overnight stay in 2025 (a 13% increase year over year).

Travellers in China anticipate the most business trips (7 trips on average), followed by Germany (6 trips) and Spain (5). For leisure, China dominates again, with members based in this market planning the most stays (7), followed by those in Thailand and the United Arab Emirates with 6 trips planned.

Regional Highlights

Asia: For business travel, 93% of Singaporean members plan international trips. Members in China and Australia focus on domestic business travel, while Australians also target Oceania and Indians the Middle East for work.

Leisure travel shows similar patterns: 75% of Singaporeans plan overseas vacations, while Indians favour the Middle East. Japan is the top holiday destination for members in China, Australia, Thailand, and Singapore, while Japan-based members prefer Thailand and Indians are keen on Europe.

Europe: Travellers from Spain, Germany, and the UK favour Thailand and Japan as holiday destinations for the third year in a row. Renewed interest in Dubai, New York, and the Caribbean replaced last years choices of Spain and Italy.

Business trips will stay within the region, followed by Asia, North America, and, to a lesser extent, the Middle East.

North America: US members are planning vacations domestically as well as across Europe and the Caribbean, with familiar hotspots like Hawaii, Spain, and Italy still popular. While Japan remains on the list, its appeal has slightly declined since 2023. For business travel, domestic trips will dominate in 2025.

Middle East & North Africa: For UAE-based members, Thailand has surpassed Japan as the top holiday destination and Vietnam has emerged as one to watch for 2025.

Intra-regional holidays within the Middle East are also expected to remain popular. On the business front, international travel will significantly outweigh domestic trips.

Motivations, Inspirations and Preferences

Relaxing and unwinding is the leading reason for travel in 2025, with 72% of members prioritising it. This overtakes last years focus on exploring new destinations and cultures, which now ranks second at 62%, followed by escaping everyday life in third (46%).

Family and foodie breaks, as well as city and cultural activities, remain popular, while most members plan to travel with a spouse or partner, mirroring 2024 trends.

Mixing Old with New

Members aim to balance new destinations with revisiting old favourites. Those from India, China, and Spain are more inclined to travel somewhere new, while members in Germany, Singapore, and the UAE prefer a mix.

In line with last years preferences, cities and beaches/tropical destinations dominate, more so than mountains and countryside.

Friends and Family

About 43% of members rely on recommendations from friends and family, whether through word of mouth or social feeds, which follows 2024s trend. Travel magazines continue to influence 20% of members, maintaining their relevance from last year.

Loyalty Platforms Lead the Way

Loyalty programme websites, apps, and social pages are now the top choice for travel research and booking across all regions, continuing the upward trend seen in 2023 and 2024.

More than one-third (35%) of members turn to these platforms to search for hotels, while a striking 50% of travellers in China, India, and the UAE prefer booking through hotel loyalty programme websites or apps.

Online travel agent (OTA) sites remain the second most popular source for research, echoing last years patterns.

When choosing where to stay, travellers prioritise the quality of accommodation, loyalty programme benefits, and the propertys location or neighbourhood, all above the price or hotel brand. This ranking is largely consistent across markets and even across loyalty tiers.

Upgrades and Recognition

Room upgrades, early check-in, and late checkout retain their status as top perks for higher loyalty tiers especially in Japan (94%) and Germany (84%), while member rates and discounts remain the priority for lower tier members.

2025 promises to be a year of exploration, with destinations like Japan, Thailand, UAE and Italy continuing to captivate our members, alongside new favourites like New Zealand, and Vietnam said Kristi Gole, Executive Vice President of Strategy at GHA.

As business travel continues its long recovery and longer leisure stays take centre stage, were seeing a clear shift towards blending work and relaxation. And with loyalty programmes increasingly influencing choice, we are in a prime position at GHA to help our members make the most of their travels across these sought-after destinations.  TradeArabia News Service
Ukrainian drones hit a fuel and energy facility in the Russian region of Kaluga, a source in Ukrainian military intelligence said Monday, in Kyiv's latest attack on Moscow's energy sites.

The claim came as Ukrainian authorities said a Russian missile strike had wounded nearly two dozen people in the eastern city of Kharkiv and that Moscow had launched 145 drones at Ukraine overnight.

Moscow and Kyiv have been intensifying cross border drone and missile attacks and Russia last week launched its new Oreshnik missile on Ukraine, spurring calls for de-escalation.

"As a result of an operation by the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, a fuel and energy facility in the Kaluga region of Russia was hit overnight," the source said.

The Russian governor of Kaluga, which lies just south of the capital Moscow, said air defence systems in the region had downed eight drones and confirmed that an "industrial enterprise" had caught fire.

Unverified images on social media of the alleged attack showed tracer ammunition cutting through the night sky and a large blaze next to two industrial chimneys.

"The target of the attack was an oil depot of Kaluganefteprodukt JSC, which is involved in supporting Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine," the source said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week's strike on the city of Dnipro had tested in combat conditions "one of the newest Russian mid-range missile systems" and pledged further such "tests" would be carried out.

On Monday, AFP journalists in Kharkiv saw residents and rescue workers assessing the damage and clearing rubble after the Russian strike on the town that has come under repeated bombardments since the Kremlin launched its invasion in early 2022.

Mayor Igor Terekhov said 23 people had been wounded and some 40 buildings were damaged, including official or administrative offices.

The Ukrainian air force said it had shot down 71 drones -- including the Iranian-designed Shahed -- launched by Russian forces while another 71 were "presumably" downed using electronic jamming defensive systems.

"Previously, the Shahed attacks were carried out only at night. Now the enemy is using attack UAVs during the daytime as well," the air force said in its statement.

In the southern port city of Odesa meanwhile, authorities said a Russian attack had damaged infrastructure facilities and left some people wounded.

"These Russian attacks on Ukrainian life can be stopped -- through pressure, sanctions, blocking the occupiers' access to the components they use to create the tools of this terror, military aid packages for Ukraine, and a determination that must be unwavering," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
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.
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.
Ronald Bailey, technical advisor, left, and Todd M. Smith, commercial advisor, walk through one of the underground tunnel connections at the Westland Bunker, an underground data center facility in Montgomery. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer West San Antonio has seen a boom in data center construction. Microsoft's center in Texas Research Park is seen in this aerial photo from 2020. Staff file photo Sage Geosystems, a Houston-based geothermal startup, will build a new facility to power Meta data centers, the two companies annnounced Monday, Aug. 26. Courtesy of Sage Geosystems Meta, the Facebook parent company, is opening a new data center in Temple, Texas. Courtesy of Meta Ronald Bailey, technical advisor, left, and Todd M. Smith, commercial advisor, right, talk the underground server cabinets at the Westland Bunker, 550 Club Dr., a data center facility operated by Data Journey Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Montgomery. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

Data centers providing artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency mining are making enormous demands on the nations electric grid, with generators wondering how to produce so much more electricity and environmentalists worried about perpetuating fossil fuels.

The new facilities also threaten to drive up home electric bills by 70% in 2030, the nonpartisan, right-leaning Jack Kemp Foundation calculated. Texas customers who are already paying much more for power due to natural disasters and existing data centers could suffer even more because state leaders are trying to attract even more crypto business.

As data center expansion accelerates, consumers and small businesses are likely to bear the brunt of the consequences through higher electricity costs and brownouts and blackouts across the country, Ike Brannon, co-author of the study, wrote. The average American household could pay over a thousand dollars more each year for electricity by the end of the decade if we dont take urgent steps to resolve these energy shortages.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Texas is especially vulnerable because the state's Public Utility Commission and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas have no authority to stop new data centers from demanding more power. An earlier study by the Electric Power Research Institute found that 279 data centers consumed 4.5% of the electricity Texas generated in 2023 and could require as much as 20% by 2030.

ERCOTs wholesale electricity market raises prices for everyone when demand is high. Prices are set daily by an algorithm that raises prices until generators bid enough power to meet the demand. The grid operator must also meet whatever demand comes along, even if it spikes prices.

The high prices are intended to encourage generators to build new power plants. When data centers add demand to the grid faster than operators can construct new generators, Texas consumers pay perpetually higher prices.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

ERCOTs loose regulations attract companies that use a lot of electricity. Texas is one of 15 states that account for 80% of data center electricity demand, EPRI found. While state officials frequently call for new taxpayer-subsidized power plants to meet the demand created by new data centers, they rarely talk about curtailing it or even energy efficiency.

Crypto advocates argue that data centers help stabilize the grid because they can go offline quickly under emergency conditions. However, they also demand that consumers pay them to shut down, and in August and January, they make more money from going offline than from generating cryptocurrencies.

Miners will likely demand even more money to shut down in the future. The economic imperative to stay online and keep computing is much higher when a Bitcoin today brings in $100,000 than in the winter of 2022 when one was worth only $16,000.

State efforts have failed to win guarantees that data centers will go offline when needed.

The Public Utility Commission of Texas issued new rules this month requiring crypto miners to register with the state, revealing their location, owners, demand for electricity and how much electricity demand they can take offline. Even that was too much transparency for the Texas Blockchain Council, which wanted to keep much of that information confidential.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Engineers know sudden, unexpected drops can crash the grid, but the miners are more worried about keeping their operations secret. In a workshop, ERCOT asked miners to share when they are willing to go offline or at least provide some warning before they do, but the miners objected, saying their strategies were proprietary.

In September, Pablo Vegas, ERCOTs CEO, told me that he still hopes some miners will cooperate to add stability to the grid.

That 500 megawatts can cycle between zero and 500 in the course of a five-minute period, thats a huge impact, Vegas said. Generally, they respond when prices go up. Generally, you start to see their response when they're over $100 or $200 (a megawatt-hour). But it's not guaranteed. So, hope isn't a strategy. I can't hope that they're going to turn off.

Data center operators, meanwhile, are considering alternative energy sources. Nuclear power plants are inviting data centers onto their properties to create private grids. Some data centers are installing natural gas turbines. Others are looking for greener solutions.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
Marissa Butterfuss was just four years old when her family pulled out of the driveway of their Alabama home to join their new church in Oklahoma.

A pair of relatives were there, she said, warning them they were joining a cult, but they went anyway.

About five years later, in 2001, they were on the move again, heading with their Oklahoma congregation to Tucson, where God wanted their pastor to start a church, she recalled.

It would be another 15 years before Butterfuss left  both the church and her marriage to a devout member. Then, in 2021 she did something unimaginable in the sect: She married a woman.

I tried so, so hard. I read the books, I listened to the tapes, I prayed that God would make me understand, Butterfuss said during an interview with her wife Deedee. When I was looking for a husband, I specifically was looking for someone who would be a spiritual leader. And when I met my ex, he was so devout.

The conservative church viewed homosexuality as taboo.

I don't think I really realized what a lesbian was, she said. Looking back, I realize that I had crushes, but I didn't realize that those were crushes until after I left the church.

Butterfuss grew up in a church called Charity Tabernacle and the sect known as The Message, or The Message of The Hour. Its a network of churches, not a formal denomination, whose members view the 20th-century American preacher William Branham as God's prophet.

Branham emerged as a faith healer after World War II and moved to Tucson in 1963, leading to the city becoming a central place for Message believers. Branham died in a car crash on Christmas Eve, 1965, but his doctrine lives on in more than 1,200 recorded sermons.

Butterfuss father, Brad Farrer, heard a recorded sermon by David Musgrove, the pastor of the church he eventually joined, while driving trucks in the 1990s, Marissa Butterfuss said. He decided to join.

Farrer declined a request for an interview.

For young Marissa, the move to Oklahoma meant getting used to rigid new customs.

I remember we stopped wearing pants and stopped cutting our hair, she recalled of the rules for females. We stopped making friends with people outside of the church.

These are common norms in Message churches that took some getting used to, but on the bright side, the church was a welcoming community.

Charity Tabernacle, 4503 S. Mission Road, is part of the Seven Thunders branch of The Message, which views Branham as a prophet and Joseph Coleman, a New York City Message pastor who died in 2012, as an apostle.

When Musgrove announced he was planning to move the church to Tucson, Butterfuss said, it was partly to spread the Seven Thunders message. Musgrove declined to answer questions for this story.

Butterfuss father became a deacon in the church, and as she entered her late teens, she began planning for a traditional Message life. She would marry a man, have kids, and embrace church life.

She met the man who would become her husband at a Message convention in London in 2011. That wasnt a coincidence: She went in part to look for a husband, and she found someone who even exceeded her own religious devotion.

He moved to Tucson, and they had a child, but the relationship was rough, Butterfuss said. And her pastor, she said, didnt help. When she went to him for counseling, he told her to pray and that any man who would wrong her would stop.

I felt like the church kind of abandoned me," she said.

Butterfuss sought a divorce, finalized in 2017, and that ended her attachment to Charity Tabernacle, the Message and her family.

Acting out against the church's strict rules on women's grooming, she went to cosmetology school.

That stupid rebellious act ended up being great because I love doing hair, she said. But yeah, I lost all of my friends and my relationship with my parents. It was really, really rough.

After the divorce, Butterfuss said, she dated a man but wondered if it was more natural for her to date women. In 2019, she jumped on a dating site to try.

"I accidentally stumbled into a wife," she said.

Her first connection was with Deedee Butterfuss, who was living in California but planning to move to Tucson. They connected, first remotely and then in person.

Then an important test came: Marissa Butterfuss and her father met for breakfast, and she came out to him gradually, saying she was bisexual. At first he was accepting, she said, but a couple of days later, he'd changed his view.

He told me that he actually couldn't accept," she said. "If I were to ever bring a girl home, they wouldn't accept her into the house."

That wasnt the last word, though.

Marissas parents told us the day before the wedding that they had left the church, she said. I felt like it was a wedding present.

Added Deedee: It was probably the nicest thing that anyone's ever done.
Kevin Canfield Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Kevin Canfield Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

The people behind the invocation before last weeks Tulsas City Council meeting would like Gov. Kevin Stitt, State Superintendent Ryan Walters and other state officials who are in a tizzy over the prayer to know that it had nothing to do with Satan.

Amy Hardy-McAdams, a high priestess of the Artemisian Faerie Faith, said she is a pagan whose beliefs are rooted in the rites and rituals of the Celtic tradition.

I am a goddess worshiper. I guess you could say its the old religion. Everything I identify with is pre-Christian  basically the reverence of nature, Hardy-McAdams said. Im an animist, so I believe things have their own sentience and energy and inner life. And my invocation was basically calling in the Divine, or God, as I understand God to be, in my own way, to be a blessing on the Tulsa City Council, to help them in making choices and decisions that affect our city at large.

So what my prayer was about was to help them see justice where justice is needed, to lead with strength and compassion and look out for those citizens  not just those in power  but those who need their help.

Outgoing Tulsa City Councilor Crista Patrick, a pagan herself, invited her friend Hardy-McAdams to pray before the meeting. It was the second time she has provided an invocation before the City Council.

I didnt expect this kind of backlash. I dont really understand it. I mean, the invocation was all about asking for the strength to deal with injustice so that we can have true equality and peace, Patrick said. Theres nothing evil about that.

Tweets from Stitt and Walters indicate that they believe otherwise. Both the governor and the state superintendent suggested that the prayer was the work of Satan.

Satan is trying to establish a foothold, but Oklahoma is going to be a shining city on the hill, Stitt tweeted over the weekend. Tulsa City Council needs to stand strong against actions like this, and Tulsans need to remember who allowed this at the ballot box.

Satanic prayers are welcome in Hell but not in Oklahoma, Walters tweeted. Satanism is not a religion. Tulsa should immediately move to ensure this never happens again and the person who allowed it should be held accountable.

Mayor G.T. Bynum, who attended Wednesday nights City Council meeting and stood silently as the prayer was read, declined to answer questions about it or about Stitts or Walters responses.

The City Council is an independent branch of our government. They decide who delivers the invocation at their meetings, and they do not consult me, Bynum said. Anyone with questions about the thinking that led to such an invocation would need to consult the City Council.

The City Council extends an invitation to all recognized congregations to sponsor their pastor, minister, rabbi or other faith leader to provide the invocation prayer, according to City Council rules.

The prayer should be cognizant of the many faiths in our community and shall not be used as an opportunity to proselytize or advance, or to disparage any faith or belief or the particular tenets or beliefs of individual faiths, the rules state.

In her one-minute prayer, Hardy-McAdams called on the Gorgons from Greek mythology, specifically Medusa  the champions of equality and sacred rage  to make councilors to be champions for all in this city, not just those in power.

Shine a light for them that they may walk the path of justice, protected and prepared, illuminating the darkness; endow them with the fire of courage, the waters of compassion, the air of truth and the strength of the Earth itself, as above, so below, as within, so without, as the universe, so the soul, Hardy-McAdams said in the invocation. May there be peace among you all. And so it is.

She said Monday that she could not understand how Stitt and Walters could construe her prayer as Satanism.

Im confused about what that has to do with me, frankly, Hardy-McAdams said. I recognize that point of view. There is this Christian nationalist movement sweeping the country right now, and Im confused how the existence of religions and spiritual paths other than Christianity, by merely existing, is somehow persecuting or somehow infringing on someone elses spiritual liberties that exist.

Were not trying to take away anyones rights. Were not trying to control how you live your life. Im certainly not. Im just over here existing, living my life.

Patrick said Stitts remarks made her sad.

I think that its important to recognize the fact that it is a nationally recognized religion thats very ancient, and  even the U.S. military recognizes paganism, Patrick said. You can get it on your tombstone in Arlington National (Cemetery). It is not Satanism.

Satanism is something incredibly different. But at the end of the day, we have freedom of religion. Thats what our founding fathers wanted, and we all have the right to practice and believe the way that we want to believe, and we dont have to believe alike to love alike, to be kind.

Donald Prudlo, chairman of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at the University of Tulsa, described the Artemisian Faerie Faith as neo-paganism.

There is no organic, historical connection between them and pre-Christian European beliefs, Prudlo said.

The group does not identify as Satan worshippers, Prudlo said, though from the Christian perspective they might be perceived as such.

There are indeed Satan-worshippers who are self-proclaimed and who have similarly offered prayers at civic gatherings, but this is not one of them, Prudlo said.

He added: From an orthodox Christian perspective, their invocation of pagan deities could certainly be interpreted as the worship of demons, even if that is not how they themselves would describe it.

Ironically, the 2014 U.S. Supreme Court case, Town of Greece v. Galloway, that clarified the parameters of religious speech before city councils and other public bodies related to Christian prayer.

In a 5-4 decision, the court ruled that judges cant block public bodies from opening their meetings with an explicitly Christian prayer and that judges are not to act as censors of religious speech.

Once it invites prayer into the public sphere, government must permit a prayer giver to address his or her own God or gods as conscience dictates, unfettered by what an administrator or judge considers to be non-sectarian, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote.
Marissa Luck is a senior real estate reporter at Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at marissa.luck@houstonchronicle.com.

Previously, Luck covered commercial real estate in Texas for CoStar News; real estate for Austin Business Journal; energy for Houston Chronicle; and business news for The Daily News in Longview, Wash. Shes won awards from Society of Professional Journalists and National Association of Real Estate Editors, and her byline has appeared in numerous publications nationally. Originally from Hawaii, Luck grew up in the Pacific Northwest and studied international political economy at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash. She now lives in Midtown Houston.
Vietnam and Bulgaria agreed to take steps toward pushing bilateral trade to US$500 million in the coming time during talks between Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong and his Bulgarian counterpart Rumen Radev on Monday.

The talks took place in Hanoi following a welcoming ceremony hosted by the Vietnamese leader for President Radev and his spouse, who are on a five-day official visit at President Cuong's invitation.

Cuong told Radev that Vietnam always wishes to further cooperation with Bulgaria.

He views Bulgaria as one of the Southeast Asian country's prioritized partners.

President Radev remarked that Vietnam, with its impressive economic progress and growing political influence, has emerged as a key player in the region's development.

He added that Vietnam is a key Southeast Asian partner to Bulgaria and expressed his wish to promote cooperation in all fields between them.

The two leaders discussed major orientations and specific measures extensively to strengthen cooperation and elevate bilateral relations in the coming time.

Regarding trade and investment as a crucial pillar of their bilateral relations, both sides agreed to implement effective measures to enhance market access for each other's goods, with the aim of boosting two-way trade to $500 million in the near future, more than double the 2023 figure of $211.3 million.

Their trade reached $229.2 million in the first ten months of 2024, equal to 108 percent of the turnover of 2023, according to official figures.

The two presidents pledged to step up the execution of existing cooperation mechanisms as well as encourage relevant agencies and businesses to continue to effectively implement the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.

They also shared the need to beef up investment cooperation in areas where Bulgaria excels, such as information technology and supporting industries.

Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong (R, 3rd) speaks at the talks with his Bulgarian counterpart Rumen Radev in Hanoi, November 25, 2024. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

President Radev is accompanied by representatives of many large Bulgarian enterprises which he hopes will set up cooperative agreements in trade and investment with their Vietnamese partners.

The Vietnamese leader thanked Bulgaria for being one of the first EU member states to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement, suggesting that Sofia has a voice in urging the remaining EU countries to follow suit.

He also urged Bulgaria to support Hanoi's efforts to have the European Commission remove the illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing yellow card warning against Vietnamese seafood exports.

Agreeing with his hosts proposals, President Radev stated that Bulgaria, given its strategic geographical position, is ready to serve as a gateway for Vietnam to access the EU market.

He concurred that both sides need to expand cooperation in traditional areas such as defense, security, education, training, science, technology, agriculture, culture, sports, tourism, and people-to-people exchange while fostering collaboration in new spheres such as digital transformation, information technology, mineral processing, and environmental protection.

The two sides agreed to facilitate the issuance of entry visas to citizens of both countries as well as further expand multifaceted cooperation between localities of the two nations.

Regarding politics and diplomacy, both countries consented to continue enhancing contacts and exchanges of delegations at all levels through various channels.

President Radev invited his Vietnamese counterpart to visit Bulgaria, a request which President Cuong gladly accepted.

Following their talks, the two leaders issued a joint statement and co-hosted a press briefing.

They also witnessed the signing and exchange of cooperative agreements in areas such as economics, trade, education, and local collaboration.

Vietnam and Bulgaria established diplomatic relations in February 1950 and are looking forward to celebrating 75 years of their ties in 2025.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Check out the latest news in Vietnam today:

Politics

-- President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev and his entourage visited the Vietnam Military History Museum in Hanoi on Monday. The Bulgarian president is in Vietnam for an official visit until Thursday.

-- Cambodian King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneat Norodom Sihamoni will pay a state visit to Vietnam from November 28 to 29 at the invitation of Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday.

-- Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet, spouse of State President Luong Cuong, and Desislava Radeva, spouse of President Rumen Radev, on Monday visited the Vietnam-Bulgaria Kindergarten in Hanoi. The kindergarten was established on December 23, 1981 as a gift from the Bulgarian Womens Union to Vietnamese children.

Society

-- Authorities in Hanoi are investigating an incident in which four members of a family died with three of them perishing in an irrigation canal and one in hospital. The four and a motorbike were found in the irrigation canal on Sunday night, a local official told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Monday.

-- The Party Civil Affairs Committee of the administration in Ho Chi Minh City has agreed to use the citys budget for the Ben Thanh - Tham Luong metro line No. 2 project. The 11-kilometer metro line needs an estimated investment of some VND47.8 trillion (US$1.9 billion).

-- The Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies on Monday morning coordinated with Singapore's Chandler Institute of Governance to open a training course on the effective management of the public sector.

-- Vietnams central region, specifically Quang Tri Province, Thua Thien-Hue Province, and Da Nang City, are forecast to experience heavy downpours until Thursday this week due to the influence of cold air, according to the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting.

-- Vietnamese laborers average monthly income reached VND8.5 million ($334.2) each in January-September this year, up VND611,000 ($24) year on year, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs reported.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Dozens of Cambodian police officers displayed their dog training skills after completing half of a six-month course provided by the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security's Mobile Police Command.

The demonstration took place on Monday at a training center in Hanoi's Soc Son District.

It featured 29 officers from the Cambodian Ministry of Home Affairs and 29 detection dogs.

This session marked three months since the Mobile Police Command initiated the training course on August 21, aiming to equip trainees with knowledge and skills for raising, training, and using dogs to combat crime.

Cambodian police officers stand alongside their dogs during a practice session in Hanoi, November 25, 2024. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre

After training, these police canines will be able to assist in various tasks, such as searching for drugs and explosives, detecting and preventing crimes, chasing and attacking suspects, and arresting and escorting criminals.

Major General Nguyen Thanh Banh, deputy commander of the Mobile Police Command, said that the course was specifically designed to meet the requests of Cambodian law enforcement officials.

In recent years, the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security has assigned the training center to help the Cambodian Ministry of Home Affairs by providing 10 training courses for a total of 145 police officers and 140 dogs.

A Cambodian police officer orders a police dog to lie on the training ground during a practice session in Hanoi, November 25, 2024. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre

Lieut. Col. Kakada, 30, from the criminal department under the Cambodian Ministry of Home Affairs, extended his thanks to the Vietnamese side for organizing the training courses.

Another trainee, Lieutenant Sok Chia, a mobile police officer, expressed his pleasure to join the current course in Vietnam.

The officer expressed his happiness, stating that after graduation, he will be able to bring the dog he trained back to Cambodia.

A police dog runs back to its Cambodian trainer with an object in its mouth during a practice session in Hanoi, November 25, 2024. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre

Cambodian police officers and their dogs are seen during a practice session in Hanoi, November 25, 2024. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre

A Cambodian police officer sits beside his dog during a practice session in Hanoi, November 25, 2024. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Su-30MK2 fighter jets, accompanied by several Mi-series helicopters, soared over Gia Lam Airport in Long Bien District, Hanoi on Monday as the capital city prepares for the 2024 Vietnam International Defense Expo.

Leading the formation was a squadron of three jets, followed by a second squadron of four.

The display highlighted seven Su-30MK2 fighter jets and seven Mi-series helicopters.

The Su-30MK2 jets departed from Kep Airport in Bac Giang Province, roughly 60 kilometers northeast of Hanoi.

Four Su-30MK2 fighter jets fly over Long Bien District in Hanoi, Vietnam, November 25, 2024. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

The Mi-series helicopters, which took off from Hoa Lac Airport, about 24 kilometers west of Hanoi, also flew in groups of three and four.

These training flights were conducted by the Air Defense-Air Force Services 927th Fighter Regiment and 916th Helicopter Regiment to ensure flawless coordination during the expo's opening ceremony.

The biennial exposition, organized by the Ministry of National Defense, is set to gather leading international manufacturers, defense and security solution providers, and military representatives.

This year's edition coincides with the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam Peoples Army and the 35th anniversary of the Whole-People Defense Festive Day.

The expo is slated to take place at Gia Lam Airport from December 19 to 22, with its opening ceremony featuring an aerial salute by the Vietnam People's Air Force, martial arts, and technical demonstrations by 2,200 special operations troops.

Four Su-30MK2 jets, taking off from Kep Airport in Bac Giang Province, northern Vietnam, return after completing a ceremonial flyover, November 25, 2024. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

There will also be performances by 80 military service dogs under the Border Guard Command.

A highlight of this years expo will be a dedicated display area showcasing advancements by the Cyber Command.

This event is open to the public free of charge from 1:30 pm on December 21-22.

Designed to strengthen international cooperation in the defense industry, the expo is meant to diversify channels for procurement, technology transfer, logistics, and technical equipment to meet the Vietnamese armed force's needs.

It is also intended to provide a platform to showcase Vietnams defense technology, weapons, and industrial capabilities to international partners and the public, while exploring export opportunities for Vietnamese defense products.

Mi-series helicopters join a rehearsal, flying over Hanoi near Gia Lam Airport, November 25, 2024. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

According to Major General Le Quang Tuyen, deputy chief of the General Department of Defense Industry, the exhibition will cover over 100,000 square meters, with 15,000 square meters of indoor displays and 20,000 square meters of outdoor exhibits.

Nearly 200 units and representatives from 27 countries have registered to participate, according to organizers.

The expo has doubled in scale compared to its inaugural iteration in 2022.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The Ministry of Health has ordered immediate action to contain a diphtheria outbreak in Cao Bang Province, northern Vietnam following the death of a 11-year-old schoolchild due to the disease.

The ministrys Department of Preventive Medicine on Monday issued a directive to the provincial health department and the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, emphasizing proactive measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

Health authorities confirmed the death of Giang M.H., a native of Thach Lam Commune in Bao Lam District.

The child exhibited cough and fever symptoms on November 14 but continued attending school.

The patient's condition worsened despite a week of home medication.

On November 21, the family brought the child to the Bao Lam District Medical Center for treatment, but the patient passed away the same day.

The medical center collected and sent samples taken from the patient to the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology for testing, with results confirming that the child was positive for diphtheria.

To prevent the disease from spreading further, the Department of Preventive Medicine ordered health authorities and agencies to identify close contacts of the patient; detect and test suspected cases in the community promptly; provide prophylactic treatment to all close contacts; and disinfect the patients residence and surrounding locations.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals in outbreak zones and nearby areas will be prioritized for supplementary vaccinations.

Areas with low immunization rates will also receive urgent attention.

Hospitals and medical facilities were told to ensure proper triage, emergency care, and treatment protocols to minimize fatalities.

They must also strictly follow infection control measures to prevent cross-contamination, with healthcare workers required to wear personal protective equipment during patient interactions.

The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology will monitor the outbreak closely and provide local authorities with guidance and support.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies in collaboration with Singapores Chandler Institute of Governance opened a public governance course in the Vietnamese city on Monday, with a view to improving public service efficiency in the southern metropolis.

The training program aims to equip local officials, civil servants, and public employees with necessary knowledge and skills to optimize human resource management, contributing to improving the effectiveness of public administration at state agencies and organizations in the city.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Nguyen Duy Tan, deputy director of the municipal Department of Home Affairs, said that the cooperation is expected to help build an effective public service system for the city in the 2024-30 period.

The official hoped that through the training course, trainees will master Singapore's advanced governance models and can apply the knowledge in Ho Chi Minh Citys specific conditions.

Addressing the event, Dr. Truong Minh Huy Vu, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies, said that the city is striving to improve the performance of the public administration apparatus, having researched effective urban management models in the world.

He expressed his hope that the training course will assist the city in boosting the application of information technology in staff performance appraisal.

In the future, other courses will be held in Singapore for Vietnamese trainees based on the citys actual needs, Dr. Vu said.

At the ceremony, the representatives of the two sides signed a bilateral cooperation agreement.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Wastefulness poses a greater threat to Vietnam's development than corruption, according to Party General Secretary To Lam.

Lam recently quoted late President Ho Chi Minh as saying that while wastefulness does not involve embezzling public assets, its consequences are deeply damaging for both the people and the government.

Transparency Internationals Corruption Perceptions Index highlights Vietnam and China's comparable progress in addressing corruption, with their scores improving from 27.9 and 28.8 in 1997 to 41 and 42 in 2023.

Data from the World Bank showed that Chinas gross domestic product (GDP) surged 24.9 times or 8.8 percent per year, while Vietnams respective figures were 10.6 times or 6.4 percent.

The GDP per capita of the two countries was equivalent in 1985, but Chinas tripled that of Vietnam in 2023.

China has moved close to the threshold of a high-income country, which is relevant as economic development is a measurement of the effective use of resources or the level of wastefulness.

Had wastefulness been eliminated, Vietnam could have matched China's economic growth, with its GDP potentially reaching $1 trillion.

Over the past four decades of Doi Moi, the economic reforms launched in 1986 to build a socialist-oriented market economy, Vietnam is estimated to have lost trillions of U.S. dollars to wastefulness.

Without such losses, the Southeast Asian country would likely be significantly more developed and prosperous today.

Party General Secretary Lam has pointed out six types of wastefulness that can be seen everywhere.

One of the most glaring and critical issues lies in the process of issuing policies and piloting new initiatives. The mechanisms for proposing and approving policies are often fragmented and lack clear focus, leading to inefficiencies and missed opportunities.

Japan, South Korea, and China offer successful examples of combating wastefulness by adopting a strategic approach.

These countries studied effective models from around the world and tested them in cities with favorable conditions and strong development potential.

Once the models proved successful, they were scaled up nationwide.

In contrast, when a locality in Vietnam pilots a new mechanism, other regions often rush to propose similar schemes for approval, which has led to an inefficient economy and haphazard land use in urban development, undermining long-term growth and planning.

Vietnam now has hundreds of thousands of hectares of unused land attached to infrastructure at prime sites in urban regions. Nevertheless, more planning is still done on millions of hectares of land, which will be then deserted.

These problems stem from a tendency to follow trends blindly, an obsession with achieving quick results, flaws in planning and policymaking, and the unhealthy dynamics of the real estate market.

To combat wastefulness, Vietnam needs to apply lessons from other countries and mobilize resources to work out breakthrough policies and remove obstacles to create new driving forces for development.

If Vietnam can fully utilize millions of hectares of land with existing infrastructure and invest in developing essential facilities, its GDP could rise by hundreds of billions of U.S. dollars.

Achieving its goal of becoming a high-income country would then be within reach.

To realize this potential, Vietnam should focus on implementing proven successful models rather than relying on special policies rooted in the inefficient proposal-approval process.

* This article was originally written in Vietnamese by Dr. Huynh The Du.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
With less than a month to Christmas, the festive atmosphere is blanketing all the streets in Da Nang City, central Vietnam as many shops and restaurants are covered in Christmas decorations.

A large number of locals and tourists are crowding shops and venues festooned with Christmas items for photoshoots, creating a vibrant atmosphere ahead of the festive occasion.

Over the past few days, many young men in Santa Claus costumes have been going around the city, while multiple decorated Christmas trees are placed at numerous venues.

Da Nang citizens, especially the youth, are eager to stroll and soak in the early festive cheer.

A girl poses for a photo amidst artificial snow at a coffee shop in Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Thanh Nguyen

A coffee shop on Nguyen Huy Tuong Street in Lien Chieu District decorated with twinkling lights, colorful Christmas gifts, and a Christmas tree is luring the sheer number of patrons.

Besides attracting guests with charming decorations, a shop on Nguyen Tri Phuong Street in Thanh Khe District is also using an artificial snow spraying system to gain popularity.

Le Dao Diu, a resident of Lien Chieu District, said that she tried to visit the shop as soon as possible to enjoy the snowy atmosphere, but no tables were left around the time she arrived.

The Christmas atmosphere is spreading across Vietnamese social media, so Im looking forward to taking some photos with snow and Christmas decorations to share, Diu said.

The owner of a coffee shop in the city noted that since early November, many stores and restaurants have eagerly decorated their spaces in preparation for the holiday season, aiming to attract more customers.

Coffee shops in Da Nang, central Vietnam go all out with Christmas decorations to lure residents and tourists. Photo: Thanh Nguyen

Many residents in Da Nang, especially the youth, are eager to go around the city to enjoy the early Christmas atmosphere. Photo: Thanh Nguyen

Many venues featuring the merry-go-round attract young people ahead of Christmas in Da Nang, central Vietnam. Photo: Thanh Nguyen

A merry-go-round area attracts young people ahead of Christmas in Da Nang, central Vietnam. Photo: Thanh Nguye

Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Love Island Australia is drawing the biggest BVOD numbers across its 6 seasons.

On most nights around three quarters of its audience is watching on 9Now, where it premieres first at 6pm.

452,000 have now watched the 2024 launch on 9Now, the highest rating episode on 9Now in the franchises history.

Season 5 is currently averaging 351,000 people via 9Now, up 28% YoY based on 28 Day Consolidated viewing.

Mondays ep also had the biggest overnight BVOD audience, with an average audience of 184,000 on 9Now -twice any other program on air.

Love Island even took out the Top 4 programs of the week last week in the 16-39 demo.

ITV Creative Director Alex Mavroidakis told TV Tonight, In a time when the fight for eyeballs is harder than ever before, it is a rarity to refresh the BVOD numbers and get great news every single morning!

This series we have seen the highest 7 day number, the highest 28 day number and the highest overnight number in the history of the franchise. After 6 series that is an incredible result and we are thrilled to be able to repay Nine for their continued faith in Love Island Australia.

Love Island continues to reign as the World Heavyweight Champion of dating shows. I like to think its continued success is down to keeping our tongue firmly in our cheeks  yes, there is a truckload of drama but also a deep vein of humour and fun. That, to me, is the secret to success in fast turnaround TV. Funny wins!

The series has just unveiled a Hotel Amor twist, which sees couples re-coupled, while a Movie Night and Truth Bike are still to come.

Mavroidakis also acknowledged host Sophie Monk and the post-production team.

We left Spain feeling good . . . But you never really know until you get to the edit and see if all the madness makes sense. And then you never really really know until you go to air and the numbers come in. Luckily, it appears we have a series that is pleasing the loyal fan base and bringing new viewers to 9Now, he said.

Im also thrilled for Sophie Monk, who gets better and better each year. She is a joy to work with.
Neighbours recently screened Lucinda Cowdens final scenes as Melanie Pearson as she headed out of Erinsborough for a fresh start.

Cowden, who will appear briefly in 40th anniversary episodes, told Digital Spy, Its always a possibility once the contracts up  I think all actors are aware of that  but I was not expecting it and it was a bit of a shock. It was hard to not tell anyone about it, because you cant really say anything.

The weirdest thing was that I knew about Ryan [Moloney] leaving as well, and that was a much more important secret to keep! That was hard, because not a lot of people knew that. I was quite open about what had happened, but everyone deals with these things in their own way and their own time.

I found out in December last year, so Ive known for a long time. But this is the industry that we live in and thats the way these things work. Its all part of the rich tapestry of being an actor.

She also confirmed cast and crew are still awaiting a renewal despite often being #1 on Prime Video in the UK.

Its amazing that its done so well. So you think: Why is everyone still in this area of not knowing whats going on? Thats really difficult, as you can imagine, for writers, all of our actors, all of the crew and everyone working on the show, she said.

So its tricky  nobody knows whether theyve got a job, so hopefully somebody confirms something soon in the positive direction!

We always say at work that Neighbours is like Hotel California  you can check out any time you like, but you cant ever leave.
Moana (voiced by Aulii Cravalho) in Moana 2. Disney/TNS

Moana, the plucky Polynesian teenager with a thirst for adventure, is one of Disneys most delightful characters of recent years. She confronted a god and saved her islands people in the first film, 2016s hit animated movie Moana.

Although it wasnt an instant classic like the studios Coco (2017) or Encanto (2021), Moana was pleasant enough and ripe for improvement in the inevitable sequel, given that the first film made nearly $700 million worldwide.

Moana 2 (opening Wednesday throughout Houston) is finally here, ready to assault audiences this holiday season with one of the most ill-conceived sequels in Disney history. It took three directors to sink this movie  Dana Ledoux Miller, Jason Hand and David Derrick Jr.  and its so bad it feels like they did it on purpose.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

'Moana 2' Rated PG: For action/peril Running time: 100 minutes Where: Playing throughout Houston 1/2 (out of 5)

At least three-quarters of this movie is utter confusion. Moana (the engaging Aulii Cravalho returns as her voice) and her ragtag team  which includes demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson)  is called upon to save her people again. This time its to find the sunken island of Motufetu and break its curse so that her people can connect to other Pacific Islanders so that their story doesnt end.

Its nice to know others are out there, sure. But Moanas people seem like happy, contented people, with a booming agricultural and fishing economy and a creative cultural life of art and storytelling. Why does this poor girl have to risk her life again to find this island?

Never mind. All we know is she must  she even sings about it (Mark Mancina, Opetaia Foai, Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear contribute songs, which are fine). She gets the band back together, including Maui, her pet rooster Heihei (Alan Tudyk), old farmer Kele (David Fane) and two teenage friends, Moni (Hualalai Chung) and Loto (Rose Matafeo).

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Once they set out on their search, chaos ensues. Mind-numbing, incomprehensible set pieces come at our heroes fast and furious. Sometimes theres a giant clam that apparently has canyons and rivers and a lot of gastrointestinal trouble; other times theres a floating island of murderous coconuts; and there are many swirling dreamscapes and underwater nightmares, with no clear reason.

Surrealism in animation can be great; take the organized visuals of Pixars Inside Out films, for example. But the visuals in Moana 2 are unfocused, seemingly haphazard.

My theory is that the filmmakers have seen too many Marvel movies, whose visual effects seem darker, hazier and cheaper as the years go by. Its not an aesthetic to aspire to. In Moana 2, I half expected to see Iron Man or Captain Marvel join the mission.

Kids, who have a logic of their own, are sure to love it. The ones at the screening I was at seemed to dig it. But their parents are hereby warned. And the bad news: a post-credits sequence threatens us with a third film.
Southern Cross Media Group Chair Heith Mackay-Cruise told shareholders gathered at an AGM on Monday it had been a challenging year for the company.

The most recent financial year was a challenging and disappointing one for our company, and especially for our shareholders, he said.

There are fears that shareholder anger may imperil SCAs bid to offload its regional TV asset, a transaction deemed necessary to reduce the companys cost base and one the media outfit said in August would be finalised before Christmas. Negotiations with potential buyers Seven West Media and Network 10 had previously stalled.

The Australian reports he told the AGM the sale of the regional television assets was dragging out.

While this process has taken longer than we originally expected, we remain in active negotiations with several parties who are interested in acquiring those assets, he said.

We will update shareholders as those negotiations progress.

SCA has 99 radio stations, including LiSTNR, the Hit Network and Triple M brands, as well as its suite of regional TV assets across Central Australia, and in the regional areas of the eastern states.

Major shareholders initiated a first strike against the companys remuneration report.
Revered production company Working Dog is to receive the AACTA Longford Lyell Award, honouring three decades of film and television successes.

Ed Kavalee and Sam Pang will present the AACTA Longford Lyell Award to Working Dog (Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Jane Kennedy, Michael Hirsh, and Rob Sitch) at the AACTA Awards held at HOTA on the Gold Coast on February 7.

Over the last 30 years they have created, produced, cast and directed The Castle, Thank God Youre Here, Russell Coights All Aussie Adventures, Utopia, Frontline, and The Dish, to name a few.

Past recipients of this award include Catherine Martin, Paul Hogan, Andrew Knight, Cate Blanchett, Jacki Weaver and Peter Weir.

The announcement was made today on the Gold Coast as the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) launcheds its AACTA Festival program which returns to HOTA, Home of the Arts, from February 5  9 2025.

The festival for fans, emerging filmmakers and seasoned industry professionals will include a rare In Conversation

event with the Working Dog team with Ed Kavalee in their session Working Dog Its the Vibe. The discussion will cover where it all began, how they have remained friends, and how they have managed to turn a passion for comedy into a thriving creative production entity. Next year will also commemorate the 25th anniversary of The Dish and AACTA Festival will celebrate with a special outdoor screening.

The Art Of Storytelling

Revered voices including bestselling authors Trent Dalton, Holly Ringland, Benjamin Stevenson, and Shankari Chandran, to legendary screenwriters John Collee (Boy Swallows Universe) and Andrew Knight (Hacksaw Ridge), will reveal the art of crafting powerful narratives and transforming ideas into cinematic stories. Shane & Clayton Jacobson (Kenny), alongside a team of industry experts, will detail exactly what it takes to create and release a hit film. Get an insiders look at storytelling with Inside the Writers Room, featuring acclaimed writers as they dive into the creative process. Then, in the Industry Showrunners panel, learn about the vision and challenges of running a hit TV series. Australias top documentarians, in a special Screen Australia presentation, offer insights into the art of documentary filmmaking. Forefront: Queer and Proud brings together trailblazing voices like Spankie Jackzon and Nina Oyama to explore boundary-breaking work in queer storytelling. First Nations filmmakers share their unique perspectives on preserving culture through film, while the Audition Masterclass provides essential casting tips from industry pros.

Australians Behind Hollywood Mega Hits

An opportunity to understand the technical mastery that brings scripts to life with Oscar-winning Australian cinematographers Greig Fraser (The Batman, Dune, Dune 2) and John Seale (The English Patient, Mad Max Fury Road) who will break down their work on seminal Hollywood blockbusters. A VFX deconstruction with Paul Butterworth, revealing the magic behind iconic Marvel scenes, will also form part of the Festival.

Fear On Film

Australia is a prolific and influential contributor to the Horror genre and 2025s AACTA Festival will include a range of sessions on its growing popularity with masters of the genre, as well as sneak peeks of upcoming horrors Site Unseen, Beast of War, Primitive War, and the horror/comedy Zombie Plane  with stars Sophie Monk and Dan Ewing attending.

The Power Of Sound: How A Musical Score Shapes The Heartbeat Of Film

Experience the sounds of How To Make Gravy, a Binge Original film based on the iconic song by Paul Kelly, with original music performed live by Meg Washington and others. Dive into the globally captivating soundtrack of Heartbreak High with its music supervisor Jemma Burns, while multi-Oscar-nominated filmmaker Scott Hicks (Shine) shares his considerable expertise adding depth to the festivals music strand. Learn about movement and dance from one of the worlds best choreographers, Kate Wormald, and explore Dami Ims remarkable Eurovision journey. Conclude each night at the vibrant Karaoke Bar, where music transforms into a shared, interactive celebration. And dont miss the fabulous Drag Bingo night hosted by Ivyy Monroe and Kathy Pacific for an unforgettable evening of fun and games.

AACTA is also thrilled to announce two new award categories for the 2025 AACTA Awards: Best Original Song and Best Soundtrack. The AACTA Award for Best Original Song will honour the talented songwriters and performers who create songs that enrich a productions impact, while the AACTA Award for Best Soundtrack will celebrate the vital role of music supervisors in shaping unforgettable moments on screen. An expert jury will select nominees for these awards, with the winners determined by AACTA members in Round 2 voting.

AACTA Festival 2025 promises a unique, immersive celebration of the power of music in screen storytelling. Dont miss this celebration of music, creativity, and culture in the heart of the Australian screen industry.

Clicks, Likes, And Cut Through: The Formula For Digital Success

From cut through to clicks, the Digital Creators sessions will uncover the secrets to building global audiences and monetising content. Learn more about the it factor with Millie Ford and join Creator on Creator sessions with influencers Mackenzie Macintyre and Emily Grosser, as they share how to turn passion into profit. Plus, a masterclass on Monetising Your Passion provides essential tips for aspiring creators.

AACTA Festival will also include a live recording of the First Things First podcast with hosts Matty Mills and Brooke Blurton with an unfiltered conversation about culture, relationships, and lifes big questions. This engaging, behind-the-scenes event brings diverse perspectives as proud First Nations voices.

Netflix & Chill Meets Fan Frenzy: Exclusive Screening Events You Cant Miss

AACTA Festival will hold the Queensland Premiere of Spit, the highly anticipated follow-up to Gettin Square, with David Wenham returning as both star and producer. Wenham will share insights into the films creative journey and its deep Queensland roots.

Other screenings include an exclusive behind the scenes with the cast of the new Queensland action film Homeward, featuring actors Nathan Phillips (Wolf Creek) and Jake Ryan (Underbelly), a Q&A of The Aegean with star Costas Mandylor, the Australian premiere of Looney Tunes: The Day The Earth Blew Up at Movie World with a Q&A with Daffy Duck and Porky Pig, a Taylor Swift symposium, a Marvel vs. DC universe, and Supanova and guest cosplayers join our Beyond The Stars and Realms session with practical costume and makeup tips.

Lights, Camera, Action: Building Your Screen Career

Find out everything you need to know about building a career in the exciting screen industry at the 2025 AACTA Screen Careers Expo, presented by Essential Screen Skills on Saturday the 8th of February. An invaluable opportunity for students and career changers alike, attendees will learn about all aspects of the screen industry, the many incredible career pathways on offer, and the education and training available to get them there. With representation for some of Australias leading education institutes and employers as well as informative panel discussions throughout the day.

aactafestival.com

AACTA also made other announcements for 2025 this morning including:

AACTA Festival Ambassadors

AACTAs 2025 Festival Ambassadors are Australian comedians and actors Stephen Curry (The Castle), Nina Oyama (Deadloch) and Shane Jacobson (Kenny) and Talijah Blackman-Corowa (Plum). AACTA also welcomed back the dynamic filmmaking duo, Lachlan and Austin Macfarlane alongside musicians Dami Im and Meg Washington.

Show Me The Money

The dream of a creative career can be financially challenging. The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts is thrilled to announce additional support and development funding over a handful of exciting initiatives. The AACTA Reg Grundy Award returns for a fifth year offering $50,000 in prize money to the best original idea for the nations next favourite production. The Award is open to all Australians with details to be announced at the 2025 AACTA Award Ceremony.

The AACTA Brian Walsh Award for Emerging Talent will return for a second year. Sponsored by actress Nicole Kidman, this prestigious award is aimed at discovering and nurturing the next generation of Australian actors with the recipient receiving $50,000 towards their career development. Entries are now open, head to aacta.org for more information.
Mohammad Aatif Ammad Kanth, TwoCircles.net

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly convened for a four-day session on November 4, marking its first meeting in nearly six years and the first since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. The people of the Union Territory awaited, with eager anticipation, a resolution against this constitutional change  a promise made by Omar Abdullah, the vice president of the National Conference (NC), during his campaign in the recent Assembly elections. Omar had vowed that, if elected, the Assemblys first order of business would be to pass a resolution opposing the revocation of Articles 370 and 35A.

Support TwoCircles



On the opening day, Waheed Para, an MLA from the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), sought to introduce a resolution condemning the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A. However, as he began presenting the resolution, chaos erupted in the Assembly. Members from both the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and the NC vehemently opposed it.

While resistance from the BJP was to be expected, the Opposition from NC members  especially Omar Abdullah himself  was a shocking turn of events for many. Omar and his colleagues dismissed the resolution as a publicity stunt, an unexpected move for a party that had once pledged to oppose the revocation of these critical provisions.

Para, confused and disheartened, clarified that the resolution was meant to reflect the sentiments of the people and to criticise the BJPs actions, not the NC itself. He urged Omar Abdullah and the NC to honour their promise and support the resolution, emphasising that it aligned with the legacy of Sheikh Abdullah, the founder of the NC. I presented the resolution that the JKNC promised and received votes for, Para said. I cannot understand why they did not support it.

The refusal of NC members to back Paras resolution stunned and disheartened the public. The NC, having secured a decisive 42-seat victory, had been seen as the primary force to counter the BJP and defend the interests of Jammu and Kashmir, including the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A  central promises in their election manifesto. Many who had voted for the NC now felt betrayed.

Ahmed Mukhtar (name changed), a man in his mid-thirties who cast his vote for the first time, expressed his deep disappointment. We voted for the JKNC and Omar Abdullah because we believed they would defend our interests and emotions despite their past mistakes. Among the available options, they seemed the best choice, but once again, they have let us down.

Although the NC abstained from supporting Paras resolution, Opposition MLAs Sajad Lone and Sheikh Khurshid, both non-BJP leaders, stood by Para, criticising NCs stance as a betrayal of the people. Sheikh Khurshid, MLA from Langate, argued that the NC, which had a history of betrayals, had once again shown itself to be anti-Kashmir and untrustworthy. Despite ideological differences with the PDP, Khurshid supported the resolution and believed it to be a reflection of the peoples sentiments. He was, however, taken aback when Omar Abdullah dismissed it as a publicity stunt.

Under growing public pressure and social media backlash for not supporting Paras resolution, the JKNC introduced its own resolution on November 6, the third day of the Assembly session. This new resolution called for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmirs statehood and special status. The BJP opposed the resolution, and a ruckus ensued over the demand for special status. However, it garnered support from non-BJP members, including Paras PDP, Sajad Lone and Sheikh Khurshid, and was eventually passed by the Speaker.

BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya responded by calling the resolution a significant shift, noting its complete omission of any reference to Articles 370 and 35A.

The resolution, however, left many non-BJP Opposition members and analysts puzzled as it failed to mention Articles 370 and 35A. This omission was seen as weak and ambiguous, signalling that the NC, under Omar Abdullahs leadership, might be coming to terms with the finality of the removal of these provisions.

Senior journalist Nayeem Mehjoor, who has covered Kashmirs political landscape for over three decades, called the resolution disappointingly weak. He speculated that recent meetings between Abdullah and top BJP leaders could indicate a shift in NCs stance. Not mentioning Articles 370 and 35A in the resolution essentially legitimises the August 5th decision, Mehjoor remarked. This resolution should have been introduced right at the start of the assemblys session on November 4.

The NC defended its position, claiming that the resolution was, in fact, a condemnation of the August 5 decision, asserting that special status inherently referred to Articles 370 and 35A.

Imran Nabi Dar, the NCs state spokesperson, dismissed the criticism, accusing the Opposition of exaggerating the resolutions weaknesses. The Opposition is simply trying to stay in the headlines, Dar said. People chose us to advocate for Jammu and Kashmir. We have begun the democratic fight for restoring Articles 370 and 35A, and we will continue until that goal is achieved.

While the NC continued to assert its commitment to restoring Article 370 and 35A, its ally, the Indian National Congress (INC), took a more reserved approach, focusing on restoring statehood and securing constitutional guarantees without directly addressing these provisions.

Tariq Karra, the INCs Jammu and Kashmir chief, emphasised their focus on statehood restoration, making no mention of Articles 370 and 35A. Dar acknowledged the differing priorities of the parties involved, stating, We do not expect them to align with everything we advocate. They can follow their party line, and we will adhere to ours.

On the final day of the session, five non-BJP Opposition MLAs, who had supported the NCs resolution despite its weak language, introduced what they called the Peoples Resolution. This resolution strongly condemned the unconstitutional abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A and demanded their full restoration, alongside the reversal of the changes introduced by the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019. The resolution was not passed.

Sheikh Khurshid, one of the MLAs behind the Peoples Resolution, argued that had the resolution been passed, it would have sent a clear message across India and the world that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had never accepted the August 5 decision. Passing the resolution would have been a way to express the peoples resentment and formally register a protest, Khurshid stated. It would have sent a clear message. However, by failing to support the resolution, the National Conference has shown that it continually shifts its goals and compromises time and again.

The National Conferences handling of the Article 370 issue left many feeling betrayed and confused, as the partys evolving stance revealed a stark contrast between its pre-election promises and its post-election actions.
Welcome Guest! You are here: Home

Meet 3 ICC Judges who issued warrant against Netanyahu

Read the brief profiles of the three ICC judges - Judge Nicolas Guillou, Judge Reine Alapini-Gansou and Judge Beti Hohler, who were part of ICC Pre Trial Chamber I that issued warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu

Monday November 25, 2024 7:53 PM , ummid.com News Network

[(T) ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan. (From R to L) Judge Nicolas Guillou, Judge Beti Hohler and Judge Reine Alapini-Gansou.]

The Hague: A panel of three judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) refusing to budge despite all kind of pressure tactics and blackmailing issued arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu who is currently heading the far right Zionist brutal regime in Israel on Nov 21, 2024.

The panel of three judges, known as Pre-Trial Chamber I, issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu over a range of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Along with Netanyahu, the ICC also issued the warrants against former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif.

The Israeli Occupation Forces have said Deif has been killed, but Hamas has so far not confirmed the Israeli claim.

Nonetheless, the ICC warrant against Netanyahu is historic as it indicts the notorious Israeli Prime Minister on the charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, West Bank and other occupied Palestinian lands.

Baring the United States and few of its allies, majority of the world leaders - including the United Kingdom and France, have welcomed the ICC warrant against and have even vowed the arrest Netanyahu in case he visits their countries.

The ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu was issued exactly six months after Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan made his recommendations in this regard.

Karim is a British lawyer specialising in international criminal law and international human rights law. He has served as Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) since 2021.

Here is a brief profile of the three judges - Judge Nicolas Guillou, Judge Reine Alapini-Gansou and Judge Beti Hohler, who were part of ICC Pre Trial Chamber I that made the history.

Judge Nicolas Guillou

Judge Nicolas Guillou, from France, is the president of the Pre-Trial Chamber I, which issued the arrest warrant against the Israeli leaders.

He began his term on 11 March 2024.

Guillou previously spent four years as a Pre-Trial judge at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. He also served as chef de cabinet to the president of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (2015-2019) and liaison prosecutor at the US Department of Justice (2012-2015).

Between 2006 and 2012, Guillou worked for the French justice ministry as deputy head of the commercial law section, adviser to the minister on criminal Affairs and diplomatic adviser to the minister.

Judge Reine Alapini-Gansou

Judge Reine Alapini-Gansou, from Benin, is the second vice president of the ICC and a member of Pre-Trial Chamber I.

She was a member of the Pre-Trial Chamber that issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin in March. On 13 November, a court in Moscow ordered her arrest in absentia over what the court said was an illegal arrest warrant issued for Putin.

Alapini-Gansou began her term as an ICC judge on 11 March 2018.

Prior to joining the ICC, Alapini-Gansou served as chair of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, Africa's primary human rights body (2009-2012) and special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders in Africa (2005- 2009 and 2012-2017).

In 2011, she was appointed as a judge at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, the worlds oldest international court.

Alapini-Gansou has served as a Pre-Trial judge in many cases, including situations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, Bolivia and Belarus.

Judge Beti Hohler

Judge Beti Hohler, from Slovenia, is a member of Pre-Trial Chamber I.

She was appointed to the chamber in October, following a sudden request for leave by her predecessor, Romanian judge Iulia Motoc, on health grounds.

Hohler is also a member of Trial Chamber V at the ICC, currently presiding over the Prosecutor v Alfred Yekatom and Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona case.

She began her term as an ICC judge on 11 March 2024. Prior to this, she served as a trial lawyer in the Office of the Prosecutor at the ICC.

Before joining the ICC in 2015, Hohler was an adviser for the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo.

In February 2015, she wrote a legal and policy briefing commenting on Palestines accession to the ICC.

In her analysis, Hohler explained the legal consequences of Palestines membership, how Israel may challenge the court and the extent of the courts jurisdiction over Israelis and non-Palestinians.

She concluded that with Palestines accession to the statute, the legal framework has changed and the parties to the conflict would be wise to accept and respect that.

Hohler began her career in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where she served at the Court of Appeals before working as a senior associate at a law firm.

She regularly trains judges and advocates. Hohler is also co-founder of the Institute for International Legal and Advocacy Training in The Hague.

[With inputs from Middle East Eye.]

Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates.

Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
HA NOI  The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has recently required the Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR) to refine its proposal on establishing a joint venture to develop the railway industry.

The direction was made after the VNR sent a written document requesting the MoT to report to the Prime Minister its proposal on establishing a joint venture to develop the railway industry.

After the amendment, the proposal will be submitted to the Committee for State Capital Management at Enterprises for consideration, then over to the Prime Minister for approval.

According to Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Danh Huy, the VNRs proposal needs to clarify the VNR's current technological level in the railway industry, the production and business lines of the joint venture and the level of product participation and the localisation rate by VNR in the joint venture.

In addition VNR should study and make detailed proposals on the specific pricing policy, which is suitable to reality and ensures compliance with the provisions of law, to submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration.

According to Huy, the laws related to the issue currently do not regulate the ordering and underwriting of railway industrial products. Railway industrial products are goods on the market so they need to meet quality requirements and their prices must be competitive according to market rules.

"Therefore, the VNR needs to clarify the difference between railway industrial products and ordinary goods to make proposal on ordering and underwriting the products," Huy noted.

In the proposal sent to the MoT in September this year, the VNR wants the competent authority to allow it, together with other local railway industrial enterprises and foreign partners to establish a joint venture operating in the railway industry, in which the local party will hold a controlling capital contribution ratio.

In order for the joint venture to stand firm when it comes into operation and at the same time attract big domestic and foreign mechanical names into Viet Nams railway mechanical industrial complex, the VNR proposes three specific policies.

First, ministries and branches need to develop a specific pricing mechanism for railway industrial enterprises when establishing a joint venture. The Government will order and buy products of the joint venture within a certain period of time.

Second, the Government should add railway industrial products to the list of the countrys key mechanical products regulated in the Draft Law on Production of Key Industrial Products.

Finally it will be necessary to develop a mechanism for pricing land and assets of railway enterprises to increase enterprise capital, bring advantages and ensure the rights of Vietnamese enterprises participating in the joint venture.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam spent US$10.48 billion to import nearly 15 million tonnes of steel in the first 10 months of this year, an additional concern of the domestic industry which is struggling to compete with the flood of cheap steel.

According to the General Department of Customs, iron and steel imports soared sharply from the beginning of this year, making it one of the seven groups of products with import value exceeding $10 billion in January  October.

October saw a record steel import volume at 2.41 million tonnes, worth $1.51 billion, representing increases by 55.9 per cent and 41.7 per cent, respectively against the previous month.

Overall, steel import increased by 38.2 per cent in volume and 23.2 per cent in value in the 10-month period.

Notably, steel import from China increased dramatically in the period, by 58.9 per cent in volume to 10.16 million tonnes and 43.2 per cent in value to $6.37 billion, making China the largest steel import market of Viet Nam in the period.

Japan is the second largest steel import market of Viet Nam with 1.7 million tonnes, up 4.6 per cent, followed by the Republic of Korea with 1.05 million tonnes, up 15.3 per cent.

These three markets together accounted for 87.76 per cent of Viet Nams total steel import.

Meanwhile, the country earned $7.96 billion from exporting steel in the period, meaning a trade deficit of $3.1 billion.

According to Viet Nam Steel Association (VSA), Viet Nams steel output is estimated to reach 30 million tonnes this year, up 7 per cent over 2023. However, the recovery is uncertain and steel firms are still struggling with difficulty from the harsh competition of Chinas cheap steel in the domestic market.

China is increasing the export of steel in the context of weak domestic demand. Data of Chinas General Administration of Customs showed that China exported more than 80.7 million tonnes of steel in the first nine months of this year, up 21.2 per cent over the same period last year. Despite an increase in Chinas steel export volume, the export value dropped by 5 per cent, indicating that Chinas steel prices are competitive.

Chinas dumping of cheap steel to many markets over the past two years has increased protectionism around the world. Chinas stainless steel alone is subject to more than 102 trade defence tariffs worldwide, including Viet Nam. China is the worlds largest steel producer with about 500 plants producing around 1.17 billion tonnes per year in 2023, accounting for more than half of the worlds total steel output.

On July 26, 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Trade decided to initiate an investigation for the application of anti-dumping measures on certain hot-rolled steel products originating from India and China in an effort to protect the domestic steel industry.

According to Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, Director of the WTO and Integration Centre under the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, trade defence instruments are legal and effective tools to promote domestic production against unhealthy competition.

VSAs President Nghiem Xuan a said that in addition to measures to prevent unfair competition, it is necessary to stimulate demand for industry, including encouraging a recovery in the real estate market and accelerating public investment.

Steel demand expected to improve

Bao Viet Securities forecast Viet Nams steel output will increase by around 10 per cent this year and 8 per cent in 2025 on improved demand from the domestic economic recovery, especially the real estate market which accounts for 60 per cent of the steel demand.

The enforcements of the Law on Real Estate Business, Law on Housing and Law on Land are expected to remove bottlenecks and promote the development of the real estate market.

In addition, the effort to accelerate the disbursement of public investment in the remaining months of this year will also help promote steel demand.

The disbursement of public investment reached only 52.29 per cent as of the end of October while the Government is determined to achieve the disbursement rate of more than 95 per cent this year.

The Government is planning more than VN790.7 trillion ($31.18 billion) worth of public investment in 2025, higher than this years plan at VN670 trillion.

The global production shift in which Viet Nam emerged to be an attractive destination will also help improve the steel demand. Figures of the General Statistics Office showed that realised foreign direct investment (FDI) reached $19.58 billion in the first 10 months of this year, up 8.8 per cent over the same period last year.

Viet Nam expects to attract $39-40 billion worth of FDI this year and the flow into Viet Nam is forecast to continue the upward trend next year and remain a major growth driver, according to the Central Institute for Economic Management.  VNS
In 2024, Thanh Cao Kinoko Co., Ltd., a company specializing in import-export in Doc Tin Commune, My Duc District, had its Enoki and Oyster mushrooms recognized with a 4-star OCOP certification by Ha Noi authorities.

Leveraging advanced Japanese cultivation techniques and producing an average of 1.5 tonnes of mushrooms daily, Thanh Cao Kinoko is increasingly meeting consumer demands and aiming to penetrate export markets.

Mushrooms are notoriously one of the most challenging crops to cultivate. Despite this, Duong Thi Thu Hue, Director of Thanh Cao Kinoko Company, and her team took on this daunting task of providing consumers with a nutritious and safe food product.

Hue shared that for many years, Thanh Cao Mushroom Farm (the predecessor of Thanh Cao Kinoko Company) only cultivated indigenous Vietnamese mushroom varieties such as reishi, ear mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, straw mushrooms, and shiitake.

After years of accumulating knowledge and capital, in 2016, Hue introduced high-tech Japanese mushroom cultivation technology to Vietnam. On a 3,000 sq.m area, Thanh Cao Kinoko has built a Japanese-technology enoki mushroom factory with a total investment of three million US dollars and a designed capacity of 1.5 to 3 tonnes per day.

Thanh Cao Kinoko Company's production of 4-star OCOP-certified Enoki and Oyster mushrooms follows a meticulous 10-step process, from raw material mixing to harvesting.

The company has invested in advanced machinery to automate most of the production process, ensuring high quality and consistency. By maintaining strict quality control, including using pure water for humidification, the factory has achieved a daily production capacity of over 1.5 tonnes since 2019.

The company's products are exclusively distributed to reputable retailers such as Ideal Food Vietnam Co., Ltd and the VinEco Agricultural Production Investment and Development Company Ltd and can be found in supermarkets and clean food stores in northern provinces and cities and Ho Chi Minh City.

Director Duong Thi Thu Hue shared that Thanh Cao Kinoko is the first company in Vietnam to apply Japanese technology, machinery, and strains for cultivating Enoki and Oyster mushrooms. The company's skilled engineers and workers, with extensive experience in mushroom cultivation, have successfully adapted and refined industrial-scale production processes.

Through ongoing collaborations with research institutions and experts, Thanh Cao Kinoko Company has consistently produced high-quality mushrooms that have earned consumers' trust. The 4-star OCOP certification for the company's Enoki and Oyster mushrooms further solidifies its reputation and product quality in the market.

Looking ahead, Thanh Cao Kinoko Company is dedicated to expanding its market presence through promotions and participation in OCOP fairs and exhibitions, and business networking events in Hanoi and other provinces nationwide, meeting the growing demand for mushrooms domestically and internationally. VNS

*The article is published under the coordination of the Coordination Office of the New-Style Rural Development Programme in Ha Noi.
HA NOI  The central province of Binh inh is gradually striving to position itself as a new economic centre to attract foreign investors, including Thailand.

Thailand is now Viet Nam's largest trading partner in ASEAN and also one of the leading foreign investors.

To date, Binh inh has attracted 10 projects from Thai enterprises with a total investment capital of more than US$106 million, including the CP Group's animal feed factory and the Avani Quy Nhon Resort & Spa.

Meanwhile, the trade value between Binh inh Province and Thailand reached over $5 million in the first 10 months of this year.

Chalermchai Porsiripiyakool, vice chairman of the Thai Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Viet Nam and Head of International Corporate Affairs at Central Retail in Viet Nam, believes investing in Binh inh is the right decision.

"Central Retail is successfully operating the GO! shopping mall in Quy Nhon and is planning to open more GO! mini supermarkets in other localities in the province," he said.

Despite many achievements, the cooperative relationship between Binh inh and Thai businesses still has untapped potential.

The 'Meeting Thai Enterprises' event run last week in Quy Nhon City aims to show Binh inh provinces potential and advantages to Thai enterprises and establish a bridge between Binh inh's enterprises and Thai partners.

Priority investment areas include industry, high-tech agriculture, tourism, logistics and urban development associated with environmental protection.

Completed planning, modern infrastructure and a large clean land fund in Binh inh are favourable factors for drawing investors, including Thai enterprises, into the region. Becamex VSIP Binh inh Industrial Park especially stands out as a bright spot for investment.

Thai Consul General in HCM City, Wiraka Moodhitaporn, said Binh inh has great economic and tourism potential, and is a notable investment destination for Thai enterprises.

Binh inh is an important gateway to the sea in the Central Highlands, and also connects with southern Laos and northeastern Cambodia.

In addition to its geographical advantages, the province has also constantly improved its investment environment, striving to become an attractive destination for domestic and foreign investors.

Ho Quoc Dung, secretary of the Binh inh Provincial Party Committee, said that Binh inh has not only developed a synchronous infrastructure system, but is also building a transparent investment environment. The province will always support businesses, he said.

Tourism is also a promising area for cooperation, as Thailand is among the countries with the largest number of tourists heading to Vietnam in the ASEAN region.

Nguyen Trung Khanh, director of the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism, said that opening a direct flight route between Binh inh and major cities in Thailand will create a big boost for tourism and investment exchanges.

At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen promotional activities to bring Binh inh closer to Thai tourists and investors.  VNS
More than 5000 spectators gathered at a Dickinson overpass to officially open the Gulf Freeway, August 2, 1952. The ceremonies were held on the overpass north of Dickinson Bayou, half way between Houston and Galveston. Gunnar Liljequist, Jr / Houston Chronicle Gunnar Liljequist Jr/Houston Chronicle

Houstons messy freeway system, a behemoth that snakes its way from the regions most outward exurbs to its urban core, can take years to understand for those new to the metro area.

We have two (and a half) beltways, several tollways, multiple interstates and U.S. routes. And so. many. state. highways.

But, as a Houston transplant myself, what most confused me about the citys expansive freeway system when I first moved here in 2015 were all the names (Hi! Im reporter Jhair Romero.) Not the designations, like Interstate 45 or I-10, etc., but the myriad nicknames that have become ingrained in Houstons lexicon and, admittedly, made it harder to find my way around without GPS.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

So how did we end up with names like the Gulf Freeway, Pierce Elevated and others?

To learn more about our highways and their many names, I went back more than 20 years to a beloved piece of local urbanist literature: the 2003 book Houston Freeways by Houston-born author Erik Slotboom.

What I picked up is that we got here because we just kept renaming roads after we, well, didnt name them at all.

Houstons nameless freeway problem

As Slotboom wrote, Houston opened Texas first freeway in 1948, predating even the national Interstate Highway System. (Eventually, the freeway became I-45.)

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

After the highway opened without a name, Houston Mayor Oscar Holcombe called for a contest to name the new interurban highway connecting Houston and Galveston. After sifting through 13,000 entries, the judges settled on the Gulf Freeway, which is still known today.

As more highways were built in the region, more contests were held. In 1953, we ended up with the Eastex Freeway, the stretch of I-69/U.S. 59 that goes from downtown Houston to the areas northern exurbs in Montgomery and Liberty Counties.

It soon became apparent that a formal freeway naming plan would be needed, Slotboom wrote, rather than the existing practice of naming freeways as an afterthought or by their planning names.

Enter the compass-point naming system.

Never Eat Soggy Waffles

In 1956, City Council adopted a naming scheme it hoped would make it easier to navigate the spaghetti bowl of highways being planned and built throughout the Houston region.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

This gave us the geographic names that are still in use for many Houston freeways: Southwest Freeway for I-69/U.S. 59 heading toward the, you guessed it, southwestern suburbs, the Northwest Freeway for U.S. 290, the East Freeway for I-10 east of downtown and the South Freeway for Texas 288.

Personally, the biggest winner from this era of highway-naming discourse was I-45 north of downtown, which ended up with the apt name North Freeway instead of something ridiculous like the Dallas Freeway.

The plan also split up the I-610 Loop (fun fact: it was once set to be called the Defense Loop) into the North, East, South and West Loops because thats not at all confusing.

Predictably, City Councils naming convention did not solve Houstons collective highway disorientation.

TxDOT steps in

After years of confusion, the Texas Department of Transportation proposed new names for five Houston highways in 1965 that focused on cities instead of cardinal directions: Beaumont Freeway instead of East Freeway, for example, or the aforementioned Dallas Freeway to replace the North Freeway.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Houston City Council rejected all but one, adopting Katy Freeway for I-10 west of downtown.

Since then, Houston has only expanded its highway system, with some names still more confusing than others.

The Westpark and Hardy toll roads are straightforward; they were named after existing roadways. Its also easy to understand who and where the Fort Bend Parkway, which opened in 1988, serves.

Beltway 8, Houstons outer loop, was coined in 1969, but the designation now only refers to the frontage roads that run along the main Sam Houston Tollway lanes. And Houstons outer-outer loop, the Grand Parkway, isnt even a full loop yet.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Lets be real for a second, though. Regardless of what we name our highways, traffic and construction always define the driving experience here.
HA NOI  The Philippines has initiated a preliminary safeguard measures investigation on the importation of cement from various countries, including Viet Nam, according to the Viet Nam Trade Office to the Philippines.

The cement covered by the investigation is classified under ASEAN Harmonised Tariff Nomenclature (AHTN) codes 2523.29.90 and 2523.90.00.

The period of investigation covers 2019 to June 2024.

According to the investigation notice from the Philippines Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), a review of evidence made available to DTI showed that the volume of cement imports increased continuously from 2019 to 2023. The share of imports also increased from 30 per cent in 2019 to 47 per cent in 2023 and 51 per cent in the first half of 2024.

The domestic industry has suffered serious injury caused by increased imports, including significant decline in market share, from 78 per cent in 2019 to 68 per cent in 2023 and 66 per cent in the first half of 2024. The domestic industrys sales revenues declined from 2019 to 2023 by around 19 per cent.

DTIs statistics showed that Viet Nam accounted for the largest share of the Phillipines cement importation during the period of investigation.

Viet Nams share was recorded at 4,232.4 tonnes in 2019, or 79 per cent of the Philippines cement imports.

The share from Viet Nam of total cement imports further increased to 91 per cent in 2020, 93 per cent in 2021 and 94.5 per cent in 2022. The country remained the Philippines' dominant supplier in 2023 with 6,878.6 tonnes, or a 98 per cent share.

From January to June, cement imports from Viet Nam accounted for 93 per cent of total cement imports into the Philippines.

Among 38 cement exporters to the Philippines, 18 are from Viet Nam.

According to the Viet Nam Trade Office to the Philippines, a safeguard measures investigation is different from anti-dumping investigations, which can apply different duties to different exporters. In a safeguard measures investigation, however, a common duty will be applied, urging cement exporters to work together to deal with the investigation.  VNS
HAI PHONG  The TECHFEST Vietnam 2024 National Creative Startup Talent Search Competition announced its winners on Tuesday in Hai Phong City, with the top teams recognised for their innovative solutions in healthcare and sustainable green development.

The competition is part of TECHFEST Vietnam 2024, organised annually under the direction of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).

The biotech startup, YEAST ERA, claimed the top spot in the final round. The team is pioneering probiotic protein production by combining modern biotechnology with natural ingredients. Their innovative solution provides immune and digestive health benefits while offering an environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional protein sources.

The second and third prizes went to ENFARM, an agritech company focused promoting sustainable agriculture with affordable precision soil sensor technology, and TUBUDD, a platform connecting travellers with local 'buddies' for authentic travel experiences, respectively.

The top three teams will receive a total of nearly VN16 billion (US$630,000) in cash and in-kind prizes, along with support for market expansion, product promotion and brand building. Additionally, the winners will have the opportunity to participate in training programmes aimed at accelerating their growth and success on the global stage.

The competition aims to nurture the nation's entrepreneurial ecosystem and promoting innovative startups. The event brought together more than top-tier investors, experts and startups, providing a platform to showcase creative solutions in various fields including technology, agriculture, tourism and sustainability.

The competition saw participation from nearly 500 applications from across Viet Nam, with candidates chosen through several rounds of selection.

This years competition also featured the She TechFest initiative, which recognised female-led startups, with the REPEET team, a sustainable fashion company founded by women, winning the Women in Creative Entrepreneurship award for their innovative use of recycled PET bottles.

Director of the Market Development Department under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Pham Hong Quat, praised the competition for reflecting the new momentum of young Vietnamese minds.

This final stage highlights the rising potential of Viet Nams youth, driven by a deep desire to contribute to both domestic and international markets, Quat said.

Techfest Vietnam is a critical platform to showcase Viet Nam's ability to foster a thriving innovation ecosystem.

Director of the Hai Phong Department of Science and Technology Tran Quang Tuan emphasised the citys commitment to creating a dynamic, sustainable startup environment and fostering technology-driven businesses with a global impact.

Techfest Vietnam 2024 also provided a space for networking and knowledge exchange between emerging start-ups, investors and other key stakeholders, creating opportunities for long-term collaboration and business development.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam exported 18,415 tonnes of pepper in October, valued at US$120.6 million, the General Department of Customs has reported.

This represents a 7.7 per cent increase in volume and a 9.1 per cent rise in value from the previous month, marking a 4.8 per cent decline in volume and a significant 65.3 per cent increase in value year-on-year.

For the first 10 months of this year, Viet Nams pepper exports totaled 218,732 tonnes, worth $1.11 billion, reflecting a 3 per cent decline in volume but a 47 per cent surge in value from the same period in 2023.

This marks the first time in a decade that pepper exports have crossed the $1 billion threshold, with projections for 2024 to reach a record $1.3 billion.

The sharp increase in export revenue is attributed to the average export price which rose 51.5 per cent year-on-year to $5,077 per tonne during the first 10 months.

The US was the largest market, accounting for 29.3 per cent of export volume and 30.4 per cent of revenue. Exports to the US reached 64,112 tonnes, valued at $337.8 million, up 48 per cent in volume and 95.2 per cent in value year-on-year.

Germany ranked second, with 14,346 tonnes worth $79.6 million, up 82.3 per cent in volume and 140 per cent in value. The UAE came third with 13,575 tonnes, up 35.9 per cent. Other markets such as the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Thailand also recorded double-digit growth.

Meanwhile, exports to China declined significantly, with the country dropping to sixth place, importing just 9,252 tonnes, an 84 per cent drop year-on-year.

Viet Nam remains the worlds leading pepper exporter, with an estimated harvest of 170,000 tonnes in the upcoming season. Notably, farmers are adopting organic practices to enhance productivity rather than expanding cultivation. Mixed farming, combining pepper with coffee and fruit trees, is becoming more common, improving sustainability and pest management.

Viet Nam has around 200 pepper processing businesses, including 15 key exporters that control 70 per cent of the market. The sector boasts 14 advanced processing plants and five foreign-invested companies, collectively holding 30 per cent of the export share. High-tech factories meeting international standards such as ASTA, ESA, and JSSA turn out diverse products, including black pepper, white pepper, ground pepper, and small packaged goods.

With strategic innovations and expanding global market access, Viet Nams pepper industry is well-positioned to maintain its global leadership.  VNS
HA NOI  An impact assessment study of the Ministry of Finances draft proposal to increase the special consumption (excise) tax on beer was released recently.

A meeting was held in Ha Noi on Monday to discuss the study, featuring experts that conducted the assessment from the Vietnam Institute of Strategy and Policy for Industry and Trade, the Vietnam Beverage Research Institute, the Central Institute for Economic Management, and the General Statistics Office.

The study evaluates the impact of increasing the excise tax on beer on the economy, based on scenarios 1 and 2 in the revised draft Excise Tax Law suggested by the Ministry of Finance, and Scenario 3 proposed by the Vietnam Beer, Alcohol, and Beverage Association.

The draft law was written by a drafting agency under the Ministry of Finance.

Assessment from the independent experts pointed out that the draft law lacks specific quantitative data, despite having outlined briefly some qualitative impacts of the tax increase on businesses, society and the healthcare system.

A representative from the research group said: The drafting agency has provided a short quantitative assessment, which only measures how tax increases will boost State revenue through a simplified method, without considering the relation between the beer industry and the entire economy. Therefore, their proposal is not comprehensive and not scientifically grounded in the macroeconomic context.

According to the proposal, the three goals of increasing excise tax are to reduce beer consumption rates, align with international practices, and contribute to ensuring State budget revenue.

The independent experts argued that the third goal would not be achieved when considering the overall revenue sources in all three proposed scenarios.

Their calculations show that under all scenarios, increasing excise tax on beer would increase indirect taxes on products and services, but would not compensate for the significant reduction in direct taxes on corporate income and personal income.

This would reduce the added value of the beer industry, the economy, and workers' income, leading to a sharp decline in GDP and GDP growth. Specifically, Scenario 2 would cause cumulative GDP to drop by about VN32.5 trillion (US$1.3 billion) between 2026 and 2030, measured with constant prices.

Regarding the goal of reducing beer consumption, experts suggested that the drafting agency should clarify how much consumption would be reduced, by determining the price elasticity of beer demand and identifying changes in beer and alcohol consumption patterns, rather than relying on subjective assessments.

Speaking about the assessment, Dr Nguyen Quoc Viet, deputy director of the Vietnam Institute for Economic and Policy Research, said that it highlights a key principle in tax law-making: sustainability of revenue sources must be ensured.

Sustainable revenue primarily comes from direct taxes on corporate and personal incomes, rather than consumption taxes, he said.

The study has shown that increasing excise tax on beer under the Ministry of Finance's proposals would lead to a sharp decline in direct taxes.

Increasing tax is only one of the measures to reduce beer and alcohol consumption, he said, adding: We need to use and integrate multiple measures and guide people towards responsible consumption.

Beer producers, consumer protection associations, and Government agencies must provide detailed recommendations on the content and level of beer consumption that is beneficial or harmful to health.

Nguyen Thi Cuc, chair of the Vietnam Tax Consultants Association (VTCA), said that expecting tax increases to reduce alcohol consumption is unrealistic since consumer habits are difficult to change.

She pointed out that in many countries, including Viet Nam, beer consumption is seen as part of the culture and a form of refreshment.

Many countries even develop beer products to promote tourism. If tax is increased, high-earners will continue paying, while lower-income individuals may turn to cheaper products from informal markets, she said.

So to reduce alcohol consumption, we need multiple solutions, not just increasing tax.  VNS
BANGKOK Two Vietnamese writers have won the SEA Write Award (or Southeast Asian Writers Award) 2022-2023 granted by the Royal Family of Thailand and the Writers Association of Thailand.

Writer Nguyen Binh Phuong was awarded for his novel Mot Vi Du Xoang (A Mediocre Example), which received the Viet Nam Writers Association Award in 2021.

Writer Nguyen Mot was also honoured for his novel Tu Gio Thu Sau en Gio Thu Chin (From the Sixth to the Ninth Hour), which won the Viet Nam Writers Association Award in 2023 and the ong Nai Literary and Artistic Award the same year.

Phuong, 59, is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Van Nghe Quan oi (Military Literature and Arts) magazine and Van Nghe (Literature and Arts) newspaper.

Often described as someone who confidently navigates both the realms of novels and poetry in his literary journey, Phuong has so far published six novels, including Nhung ua Tre Chet Gia (The Children Who Die Old) and Minh va Ho (Us and Them), as well as five poetry collections, including Buoi Cau Ho Hung (The Indifferent Fishing Session). His works have been translated into English, French and Korean.

Author Mot, born in 1964 in Quang Nam, has authored nearly 20 books across various genres, including novels, short stories, essays and documentary film scripts.

Among his notable works are Truoc Mat La Dong Song (The River in Front), which won the best short story award from the Van Nghe newspaper in 2002; at Troi Van Vu (Heaven and Earth in Tumult), a novel translated into English and archived in the US Library of Congress; and Nguoc Mat Troi (Against the Sun), which won the Trinh Hoai uc Literary and Artistic Award in 2017.

Attending the awards ceremony in Bangkok on November 25, writer Mot has emphasised that the true significance of the SEA Write Award lies in its ability to bring people closer together, fostering understanding and harmonious cultural exchanges through literature.

He expressed hope that Viet Nam will establish a similar award for regional writers to promote cultural exchange, particularly in the field of literature.

The ceremony has gathered 17 writers and poets from nine countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Viet Nam and Thailand, along with a large number of guests, including diplomats, scholars and enthusiasts of Southeast Asian literature and arts.

Speaking at the ceremony, Sumet Tantivejkul, secretary-general of the Chaipattana Foundation established by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, confirmed that the award-winning authors have enriched the minds and souls of people with their unique literary creations. He emphasised that these works nurture imagination and creativity while reflecting the cultures and shared values of ASEAN.

Tantivejkul also asserted that this event will serve as a catalyst to deepen the relationships, identities and values among the 10 ASEAN countries, highlighting the shared heritage and traditions of the region and promoting unity, peace and prosperity across ASEAN.

Established in Bangkok in 1979, the SEA Write Award honours literary excellence in the ASEAN region. The awards have been presented annually to leading poets and writers in the 10 ASEAN countries. VNS
HA NOI  Sen. Lt. General Phung Si Tan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Viet Nam Peoples Army (VPA) hosted in Ha Noi on November 25 a visiting delegation from the Chinese Academy of Military Science led by Major General Huang Wentao, Director of the academys Military Political Work Research Institute.

Tan emphasised that Viet Nam places great importance on strengthening and advancing its friendly and neighbourly relations with China. This includes fostering the Viet Nam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and building a Viet Nam-China Community with a shared future, guided by six key directions of strategic cooperation.

Among these, defence cooperation is a key focus for both sides that are committed to promoting and developing it both extensively and deeply, ensuring it becomes one of the important pillars of bilateral relations, he said.

Tan said that over the years, based on the common perspectives reached by the two countries' high-ranking leaders, defence cooperation has deepened and achieved effective results with numerous delegation exchanges at all levels, especially the high one.

The Ministry of National Defence and the VPAs General Staff highly value the purpose and significance of the joint research collaboration between the Vietnam Defence Strategy Institute and the Chinese Academy of Military Science, considering it as a priority task within the broader defence cooperation between the two nations.

This cooperation will provide documentation serving the education of younger generations on the long-standing tradition of solidarity and friendship between the two countries and the two militaries based on the spirit of being both comrades and brothers, he said.

Tan suggested that the two sides continue to build on their achievements and swiftly complete the joint research task, making it a meaningful contribution to the Viet Nam-China Humanity Exchange Year 2025 and the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Viet Nam-China diplomatic relations (January 18, 1950  2025).

For his part, Huang briefed his host on the positive results of the delegations earlier working session with the Vietnam Defence Strategy Institute, noting that both sides made significant progress in their joint research project and were determined to complete the project report as soon as possible.

Earlier the same day, a delegation from the Vietnam Defence Strategy Institute, led by Major General, Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Cuong Quyet, Director of the institute, held a working session with the Chinese delegation. Both sides reviewed the progress of the joint research task and agreed on the key contents and final deliverables of the project, including the research report, a collection of images, and documentation. VNS
PHNOM PENH  Defence ministers of Viet Nam, Laos, and Cambodia convened their annual meeting in Phnom Penh on November 25 to reinforce trilateral cooperation in the field.

Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang noted that the ties are essential for maintaining peace, stability, and development in each nation. Expressing Viet Nams gratitude for the support from Laos and Cambodia in its past struggle for independence and reunification and current national development, he affirmed the countrys commitment to prioritising and strengthening its trusted and close relationship with the two neighbours.

Lao Defence Minister General Chansamone Chanyalath underscored the military's pivotal role in cultivating and safeguarding the trilateral friendship and solidarity, while his Cambodian counterpart General Tea Seiha praised the effectiveness of such defence collaboration and its contributions to border security, peace, and stability as well as the ASEAN Communitys development.

The three defence ministers reached consensus on several key areas of future cooperation, including the maintenance of the annual meeting mechanism and joint military training and exercises to address non-traditional security challenges as well as the enhancement of public communications and education to reinforce trilateral solidarity and counter misinformation and sabotage from hostile forces. Also important is their border security collaboration, which covers sharing information, conducting joint patrols, and creating conditions conducive to border economic growth. The sides should also continue supporting each other in international and regional forums, particularly within ASEAN mechanisms such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus.

Earlier in the day, the ministers attended a joint rescue exercise in Kampong Chhnang province. Conducted from November 18-25, the exercise focused on disaster response to collapsed structures and involved nearly 700 personnel, including 563 from the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, 64 from the Lao People's Army, and 71 from the Viet Nam People's Army.

The delegations also visited Tep Pranom high school in Kandal province, where General Giang and the Vietnamese delegation donated 30 computers to support its teaching and learning activities. VNS
HA NOI  More than VN26.2 trillion (US$1.03 billion) has been recovered from pursuing corruption cases.

Nguyen Huy Tien, Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Peoples Procuracy, revealed the total during the eighth session of the 15th National Assembly on Tuesday morning in Ha Noi.

During the session, presided over by Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA), Senior Lieutenant General Tran Quang Phuong, the NA deputies heard the Government's report on anti-corruption efforts this year and the related verification report.

Presenting a report on the work of the Supreme Peoples Procuracy, Tien said in 2024, the agency had strengthened its cooperation with the Ministry of Public Security and the Supreme People's Court to accelerate investigations, prosecutions and the trial of numerous large-scale corruption and economic cases.

The cases were under the direct supervision and guidance of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption and Negative Practices.

The process of investigation, prosecution and trial has included measures to ensure the recovery of more than VN26.2 trillion ($1.03 billion).

Also at the session, Chief Justice of the Supreme Peoples Court, Le Minh Tri, said that in 2024, many major economic and corruption cases had been rigorously prosecuted.

The cases included high-profile ones overseen by the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption and Negative Practices and its provincial counterparts.

Many significant cases, causing public outrage and substantial harm, had also been dealt with.

The courts have imposed strict penalties on the masterminds and ringleaders, who exploited their positions to appropriate State assets and differentiated the suspects, ensuring that the punishment was both severe and humane, in line with legal requirements, he said.

In his report on anti-corruption work in 2024, authorised by the Prime Minister, General Inspector of the Government Inspectorate of Viet Nam, oan Hong Phong, said in 2024, the fight against corruption and negative practices had been consistently prioritised by the leadership of the Party and State, particularly the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption and Negative Practices.

Ministries, localities and anti-corruption agencies had deployed decisive measures, yielding notable results that resonated positively within society, with widespread support from officials, Party members and the public.

Challenges

However, Phong also pointed out several ongoing challenges, including the slow pace of addressing gaps and shortcomings in mechanisms, policies and laws.

Some preventive measures against corruption had not been comprehensively implemented. Instances of shirking responsibility and reluctance to take action remained and efforts to apprehend fugitives abroad continued to face significant obstacles.

The value of assets still to be recovered in corruption cases remains substantial, he said.

Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Judiciary Committee, Le Thi Nga, said she agreed with the Governments report on the state of corruption, acknowledging that in 2024, the anti-corruption work continued to make significant strides both at the central and local levels.

Several new policies and regulations have been introduced, implemented and enforced effectively, she said.

However, she added that corruption and negative practices remained severe in certain sectors, with serious issues emerging in areas such as urban planning, construction, energy, bidding, public asset management, land use and natural resource extraction.

Corruption and negativity in the administrative and public service sectors still occur, she said.

Causes, recommendations

The corruption scandals of recent years demonstrated a lack of proper oversight and accountability, particularly from heads in State management roles.

The monitoring of the use of power by officials had not received adequate attention and the issue of civil servants avoiding responsibility, lacking capability or fearing mistakes continued to slow progress.

Many persistent issues in the fight against corruption have been identified for years but remain unresolved, she said.

Therefore, the judiciary committee urged the Government to comprehensively assesse the challenges, identifie root causes and propose breakthrough solutions to enhance the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts.

The Committee also recommended that the Government, the Supreme Peoples Court, the Supreme Peoples Procuracy and the State Audit continue to improve the legal system in accordance with anti-corruption regulations.

The Government should address legal issues concerning the control of assets and income of officials, and improve the management of confiscated property during investigations and trials.

Moreover, the Government should intensify inspections and audits, particularly in areas prone to corruption, such as land management, construction, public asset management and natural resource extraction.

The quality and effectiveness of efforts to detect and prosecute corruption should be further improved, focusing on solving issues with asset valuation and enhancing the professionalism of public servants.

The judiciary committee also called for measures to eliminate delays and the avoidance of responsibility within the civil service and urged further efforts to tackle corruption at all levels.

Agenda for 2025

Talking about the tasks of next year, Phong outlined the Government's priorities for the 2025 anti-corruption agenda, focusing on effectively implementing the 2025 programme of the the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption and Negative Practices and adhering to the resolutions, conclusions and directives from the Party, National Assembly, Government and Prime Minister.

He emphasised increasing accountability among leaders at all levels and addressing the issues, which has hindered progress in the fight against corruption.

The focus for 2025 would also be on strengthening the legal framework, accelerating inspections and audits in vulnerable sectors, and promptly addressing any allegations of corruption and misconduct related to personnel in Party congresses at all levels.

Investigations into complex corruption cases that attract public attention would continue, alongside efforts to curb petty corruption and ensure a more effective anti-corruption efforts at the local level. VNS
HAI PHONG  Secretary of the Hai Phong Party Committee Le Tien Chau introduced the northern port city's potential, advantages and notable achievements to visiting Bulgarian President Rumen Radev at their working session on Tuesday.

Hai Phong, one of the five centrally-run cities, holds a strategically important economic position and serves as the economic locomotive of the northern region of Viet Nam. It boasts the largest seaport system in the North, capable of accommodating ships with a capacity of over 145,000 tonnes and directly connecting to major ports in Europe and America.

In recent years, Hai Phong has consistently ranked among the localities with the highest growth rates in the country. Its GDP has grown consecutively for nine years at double-digit levels, 1.5 to 2 times higher than the national average. The city is striving to realise its goal of "decade of double-digit growth" in 2024.

Hai Phong has also recorded impressive results in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), totaling about US$3.6 billion per year, making it among the top in the country in terms of FDI attraction.

Chau highlighted the friendship cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between Hai Phong and Bulgaria, saying that over the past 20 years, the Viet Nam-Bulgaria Friendship Association organised many activities, becoming a bridge connecting the people of Hai Phong and Bulgaria, and making a positive contribution to promoting the traditional relationship between the two countries.

In terms of economic cooperation, in 2023, Hai Phong's export turnover to Bulgaria reached $0.38 million, while Bulgaria's import value to Hai Phong hit $9.26 million.

Chau said he believed that after President Radevs trip, the two sides will cooperate closely to further promote delegation exchanges at all levels, and people-to-people exchange activities; as well as strengthen cooperation in boosting investment promotion activities and trade and logistics cooperation.

They will also support the connection of associations and businesses to explore investment and business cooperation opportunities, thus contributing to deepening the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries in general, and between Bulgaria and Hai Phong in particular, he added.

President Radev expressed his impression of Hai Phongs socio-economic development achievements. He hoped to share experiences an solutions; and suggested cooperation on industrial development, seaport operation, investment attraction, education  training, with the city.

The Bulgarian leader showed his hope that through his visit, the traditional, trustworthy, and good relationship between the two countries will continue to develop, and achieve greater success in all areas, including politics, trade and investment, education - training, science -technology, culture, and tourism.

On the same day, President Radev and his entourage visited Lan Ha Bay, and a VinFast automobile factory in inh Vu Industrial Park in Cat Hai District.  VNA/VNS
VIENTIANE  General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith hosted a reception in Vientiane on Tuesday for Politburo member, President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA) and Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council Nguyen Xuan Thang.

Thang is leading a delegation of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) to visit the neighbouring country and attend the 11th theoretical workshop between the LPRP and CPV.

At the event, the top Lao leader commended Viet Nam's substantial achievements in domestic and foreign affairs over the recent past, expressing his confidence that under the leadership of the CPV, the Vietnamese people will continue obtaining new results and realising the set goals outlined in the resolution adopted at the 13th National Party Congress as well as successfully organise the upcoming 14th National Party Congress.

Thang congratulated Laos on its recent accomplishments and briefed the host on Viet Nam's socio-economic development as well as the Party and States policies on removing roadblocks to promote innovation and create premise for the nation to enter a new era, the era of the Vietnamese peoples rise.

He reported the outcomes of the talks between the two Central Theoretical Councils, saying he believed that the 11th workshop will shed light on critical theoretical and practical issues arising during each countrys renewal process, including advancing socio-economic development and building an independent, self-reliant economy amidst deep international integration.

Thang affirmed that the two Central Theoretical Councils will continue close coordination, step up the exchange of theoretical information, and share experience in theoretical research and practical review, ensuring the successful implementation of each Partys resolution and effectively preparing for the upcoming 14th Nation Congress of the CPV and the 12th National Congress of the LPRP.

The Lao leader noted that the insights from the workshop will assist theoretical research agencies of both sides in advising the Parties and States on the formulation of policies, guidelines, and strategies, as well as providing practical guidance on developing independent and self-reliant economic models.

He said the two sides should further enhance information sharing and exchange views on topics of mutual interest to clarify critical and pressing issues facing both countries in the current context.

Earlier the same day, Thang and Khamphanh Pheuyavong, Secretary of the LPRP Central Committee, Chairman of its Commission for Propaganda and Training, and Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council of the LPRP, co-chaired the talks between the two councils.

At the event, both sides shared updates on the current situation of each Party and country and reviewed the results of past cooperation. They also agreed on several measures to strengthen cooperation between the two councils, including sharing exepriences in preparing for each Partys upcoming congress.

They affirmed their commitment to continue close collaboration in effectively implementing high-level agreements between the two Parties and States, as well as pacts between their theoretical councils, including enhancing the exchange of information and experience in theoretical research and practical review, contributing to strengthening the Viet Nam  Laos special solidarity and develop it in a deeper and more effective and practical manner.

The same day, Thang and the delegation visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos.  VNA/VNS
Right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones speaks to the press before his bankruptcy hearing Friday, June 14, 2024 at Bob Casey Federal Courthouse in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

A federal judge Monday said he would not immediately step in to stop The Onion, the satirical news website, from buying Infowars, the right-wing website run by provocateur Alex Jones.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez declined to place a temporary restraining order over the results of the auction selling Infowars website, studio and intellectual property and said arguments about the sales process could be hashed out at a hearing to be held in December.

I want to take up the sales hearing and see where that goes, Lopez said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The hearing, among other things, will determine which of Infowars' assets can actually be sold, Lopez said.

The sale is part of bankruptcy proceedings initiated after Jones was ordered to pay nearly $1.5 billion to families of the victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that killed 26 people, 20 of whom were children. Juries in Texas and Connecticut found Jones liable for defamation over his claims that the shooting was a hoax, which he broadcast on his radio show and website.

Jones didnt attend Mondays hearing at the Bob Casey Federal Courthouse.

The Onions parent company, Global Tetrahedron, was picked as the winner of the auction Nov. 14., but Jones and another company that bid in the sale, First United American Companies, decried the sale and called it rigged.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Before the hearing, Christopher Murray, the trustee in charge of the auction, called the objections the action of a disappointed bidder. First United operates an online store that sells nutritional supplements in Jones name.

The Onion offered $1.75 million in cash for the rights to Infowars. It also announced an agreement with more than a dozen of the Sandy Hook families, who said they would give up their claims against Jones if The Onion was the winning bidder. By doing so, the families said more cash would go to other remaining plaintiffs.

Ben Collins, the CEO of the Onion, has said the company intends to turn Infowars into a parody of itself.

First United offered $3.5 million in cash, according to court filings.

MORE ON INFOWARS: Infowars auction could determine whether Alex Jones is kicked off its platforms

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Murray argued that the Onions proposal was a better deal for Jones' creditors.

After the bid was announced, Lopez indicated he had some concerns about the transparency of the auction, though he appeared to temper some of his statements during Mondays hearing and said he wanted to follow the typical pattern of a bankruptcy sale.

I just wanted to make sure there was transparency about what happened, Lopez said Its not unusual for a party to object to the sale. Its not unusual for a party to argue that theres an asset the debtor cant sell.

At the same time, Jones has used his platforms to criticize the sale. Jones lawyers on Monday argued that Murray had told Infowars they were fired, removed items from the business and somehow managed to redirect the companys website to the Onions announcement of the sale. An attorney representing the Connecticut families at Mondays hearing called the claims fun conspiracy theories and said Jones was attempting to keep Infowars on air so he could redirect his fans to a new platform.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

While Lopez didnt issue any orders to Murray, he said Infowars should be returned to status quo pending the outcome of the sales hearing.
PHNOM PENH  Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang made an official visit to Cambodia from November 23 to 26, during which he joined an annual meeting with Cambodian and Lao defence ministers, and witnessed a joint search and rescue exercise between the armies of the three countries.

The Vietnamese minister held several high-level meetings and participated in various bilateral and multilateral activities and events in Phnom Penh and other localities, with the aim of further promoting and deepening the defence cooperation between Viet Nam and Cambodia, as well as strengthen defence cooperation among the three countries.

Giang paid courtesy calls on President of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and President of the Senate Samdech Techo Hun Sen, and Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet. He also held talks with Deputy PM and Minister of National Defence of Cambodia General Tea Seiha.

In his meeting with Hun Sen on November 26, Giang highlighted the traditional friendship and good neighbourliness between the two countries, affirming that Viet Nam always attaches importance and gives the top priority to continuously consolidating and developing the relationship characterised by good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability with Cambodia.

Viet Nam always gives the highest support to the CPP and backs an independent, peaceful, developed Cambodia that plays a greater role in the international arena, he stated.

For his part, Hun Sen affirmed that Giang's visit contributes to further strengthening the friendly and close relationship between the two countries and the two armies. He wished the Vietnamese people, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV), will continue to achieve many new achievements, stressing that Viet Nam's development will also help Cambodia and Laos develop.

Cambodia will always preserve and nurture the relationship between the two parties, the two countries, and their people, he stressed.

The two sides valued cooperation achievements of the two countries during the recent times, expressing deep appreciation for the support, solidarity, and sacrifices made for each other during the struggle for national liberation in the past, as well as the process of national construction and development at present.

Giang informed Hun Sen about the outcomes of his earlier talks with General Tea Seiha, as well as the annual meeting of the defence ministers of Viet Nam, Laos, and Cambodia. He expressed his hope that Hun Sen will support Cambodias relevant agencies to closely coordinate with the three countries defence ministries to effectively and comprehensively implement the defence cooperation agreements achieved during the talks and the meeting.

Receiving Giang on November 24, Hun Manet spoke highly of the increasingly strengthened relationship between Cambodia and Viet Nam across all fields, which, he said, brings benefits to the people of both countries and contributes to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

He expressed his deep gratitude to Viet Nam for its continuous support to his country in the struggle for national liberation, in saving the Cambodian people from the genocidal regime, and in the current cause of national construction and development. The PM affirmed that Cambodia, together with Viet Nam, will protect, preserve, and nurture the bilateral relations, towards elevating it to new heights.

Hun Manet affirmed that Cambodia values strengthening defence cooperation with Viet Nam and will continue to support and provide the best conditions for activities related to the search and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers in Cambodia.

Cambodia supports the Vietnamese army's enterprises which are effectively doing business in the country, and contribute positively to its socio-economic development, he stated.

Giang said he hoped that the Cambodian PM will support and instruct relevant agencies of Cambodia to facilitate and closely cooperate with the defence ministries of the two countries in implementing defence cooperation contents comprehensively and effectively.

At their talks, Giang and Tea Seiha showed their pleasure at the fruitful development of the bilateral defence ties, and the effective implementation of the Protocol on Defence Cooperation for the 2020-24 period between the two nations.

The two sides agreed to deepen and strengthen defence cooperation in the coming time, ensuring it becomes more effective and substantive, and continue to solidify its position as one of the key pillars in Viet Nam-Cambodia relations.

This cooperation will focus on maintaining high-level meetings and existing cooperation mechanisms; enhancing collaboration in political and ideological fields, promoting education and awareness-raising about the history, significance, and importance of the Viet Nam-Cambodia solidarity relationship; strengthening cooperation in managing and protecting land and sea borders, information sharing, and joint patrols; effectively combat cross-border crimes; facilitating economic development of border residents and fishermen; improving the effectiveness and quality of human resource training; continuing mutual support in international and regional issues, thus making significant contributions to the solidarity and central role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The two ministers signed a protocol on defence cooperation for the 2025-2029 period, and a cooperation plan between the two ministries in 2025.

During his stay, authorised by the State President, Giang on November 26 presented a second-class Labour Order to Metfone, a subsidiary in Cambodia of the Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group (Viettel), in recognition of its outstanding contributions over the past 15 years. Metfone has become a symbol of friendship and strong economic cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Earlier, on November 24 afternoon, Giang visited the MB Cambodia Bank, Public Limited Company (MB Cambodia) -- a subsidiary of Viet Nam's Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB), one of the symbols of defence cooperation between Viet Nam and Cambodia in recent times.

Giang and the Vietnamese delegation also visited the Win  Win Memorial monument in the outskirts of Phnom Penh; and offered incense and laid wreaths at the Viet Nam - Cambodia Friendship Monument in the capital city of Cambodia.  VNA/VNS
HCM CITY  HCM City leads the country in voluntary blood donation, accounting for one-fifth of the total blood mobilised nationwide, according to the citys Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation.

It is the first locality to adopt digital transformation in voluntary blood donation mobilisation, contributing to solving the blood shortage in the city, said Tran Truong Son, deputy head of the steering committee.

More than two million people have donated blood voluntarily over the 30 years of the voluntary blood donation movement, including tens of thousands of individuals donating blood over 30 times and some individuals donating over 100 times, Son said at the 30th anniversary of the development of the voluntary blood donation movement in the city on November 22.

The city has organised many large voluntary blood donation campaigns such as Le hoi xuan hong (Red Spring) blood donation campaign, Chu nhat o (Red Sunday) and Hanh trinh o (Red Journey), he said.

It has established 26 voluntary blood donation points across the city.

Nguyen Van Dung, deputy chairman of the citys Peoples Committee, said the citys voluntary blood donation movement has established a strong reputation and contributed to the saving of millions of people's lives over the past 30 years.

Previously, blood donors were mainly young people and students, but now all members of society, regardless of age, gender, profession, ethnicity, or religion, donate blood, Dung said.

He suggested promoting the application of digital transformation in the management of blood donors and donated blood units.

It is necessary to improve the propaganda and mobilisation of blood donation, he added.

On this occasion, the Viet Nam Red Cross Society and the citys People Committee awarded certification for 102 groups and individuals who have contributed to the voluntary blood donation movement in the city, including nine exemplary families who donated blood over 100 times and nine individuals who donated blood over 96 times and above. VNS
MEKONG DELTA  The Coast Guard has seized 85,000 litres of contraband diesel from a iron-hull fishing boat off the coast of the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Kien Giang.

Senior Lieutenant Colonel Phan Nhan Hau, head of the ong Nai Province-based Coast Guard Intelligence Division No. 2, on November 24 said the division is focusing on its fight against crime, including drug prevention, human trafficking, smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods in the last months of the year, ahead of the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.

At 1:30pm on November 22, the divisions patrol team in collaboration with Kien Giang border guards discovered the iron-hull fishing boat KG- 56950 registered in Kien Giang Province, and found oil of unknown origin.

On board were its captain, Nguyen Thi Thu Sau, 52, of Kien Giang Province, while the iron-hull fishing boat KG- 56950 was pumping about 35,000 litres of the oil into wooden fishing boat KG-91482-TS captained by Pham Hoang Anh, 44, of Kien Giang.

Both Sau and Anh failed to furnish documents to prove the origin of the oil, and none of the crew members had the certification required to be a sailor.

At around 6pm on November 23, the patrol team brought the two boats ashore, and handed the cases over to Squadron No 422 under the Coast Guard Region No. 4 Command based on Phu Quoc Island for further investigation.

Earlier, on November 21, the divisions patrol team also seized 55,000 litres of contraband diesel from a fishing boat off the coast of Kien Giang.

The team discovered boat KG-93815-TS registered in the province about 25 nautical miles east Nam Du Archipelago on November 21, on which officer found oil of unknown origin.

The boat's captain, Duong Van Nang, of Kien Giang Province failed to furnish documents to prove the origin of the oil, while none of its four crew members had the certification required to be a sailor.

On November 22, the patrol team brought the boat ashore, and handed the case over to Squadron No. 422 for further investigation.

The Coast Guard Intelligence Division No. 2 is tasked with monitoring the sea from Cu Lao Xanh in the central coastal province of Binh inh to Ha Tien City in Kien Giang Province, including the Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago.

The division is also assigned to directly detect and combat violations of law, such as national security crimes, smuggling, and trade fraud at sea.  VNS
HCM CITY  The LIFE Social Enterprise Co., Ltd launched a project called USAIDs Sustainable Community AIDS Leadership and Empowerment at a workshop in HCM City on Monday.

To be funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the U.S. Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, it was approved by the HCM City Peoples in September.

Its objectives include increasing the use of community HIV/AIDS and other health services by key populations, ensuring financial and operational management of HIV/AIDS prevention services; and promoting the implementation of policies to maintain the delivery of HIV/AIDS-related services and products effectively and sustainably, Nguyen Nguyen Nhu Trang, director of LIFE, said.

The director of USAID Vietnam Mission, Aler Grubbs, said: This project stands as a strong testament to USAIDs commitment to strengthening community-based responses to the AIDS epidemic.

SCALE has ambitious targets like providing HIV screening tests for 57,000 individuals in high-risk groups, identifying 3,500 HIV-positive cases and linking at least 3,300 of them with treatment and connecting 5,800 individuals who test HIV-negative but remain at risk with pre-exposure prophylaxis services.

It will prioritise continuous learning and resource sharing between project teams and partners.

It will promote innovative, sustainable healthcare service delivery models, including HIV prevention, co-infection care and chronic disease management tailored to the needs of target populations.

The workshop attracted 100 representatives from key stakeholders, including the Vietnam Administration for HIV/AIDS Control, PEPFAR, USAID, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the HCM CIty Centre for Disease Control, various government agencies, and domestic and global organisations working in HIV/AIDS prevention.  VNS
SEOUL  The Malaysia-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will be finalised next year, with both countries committed to speeding up any stalled negotiation, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said the agreement is expected to be signed during the return visit of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol to Malaysia.

We (Anwar and Yoon) discussed this (yesterday) morning that we will simplify and speed up the negotiation process related to the FTA. When he (President Yoon) comes to Malaysia next year, we will sign and finalise the FTA, he said at the Malaysia-Korea Business Forum 2024 here.

The government is determined to make whatever changes necessary to make Malaysia attractive (to businesses and investors) with the right policies, appropriate incentives and sufficient infrastructure.

This includes training and professional talent with technical knowledge. These issues are being addressed. Therefore, you can see the (increased) development rate and there is capacity to attract new industries, he said, reported Bernama.

The Malaysia-Republic of Korea Business Forum 2024 was attended by 147 local companies, including 60 manufacturing companies, 78 services, retail and distribution companies and nine business associations.

On another matter, both countries have reiterated their commitment to fostering an investment climate aligned with environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles.

The announcement was made during a bilateral meeting between both leaders yesterday.

In a joint statement following their meeting, the leaders highlighted the importance of advancing research and development initiatives and promoting technological exchanges between businesses in their respective countries.

The focus areas include Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, the digital economy, the halal ecosystem, and the green agenda, the statement said.

The statement also underscored the shared commitment to expanding trade, investment and economic collaboration.

Both sides agreed to expedite the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, which resumed in March 2024, to conclude them by 2025, it said.

The leaders pledged to secure mutually beneficial outcomes for businesses in both nations, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Through the FTA, they are committed to enhancing cooperation in trade and investment and emerging sectors such as the digital economy, green economy and bioeconomy.

Furthermore, both sides recognised the importance of deepening cooperation on economic security, including cooperation in areas and issues such as supply chain resilience.

Noting that collaboration between SMEs and start-ups could reinforce innovation and national competitiveness, both sides agreed to provide further assistance to boost cooperation and exchanges between SMEs and start-ups.

Meanwhile, having commemorated the 40th anniversary in 2023, both sides recognised that the Look East Policy (LEP) has contributed to enhancing the economic relations between the two countries since its inception in 1983.

Recalling the adoption of the Guiding Document of the Second Wave of the Look East Policy (LEP 2.0) in 2014, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to working together to maximise the potential of LEP 2.0 in strengthening economic and trade relations.

Both sides further recognised the significant role of the Economic Cooperation Committee (ECC) in strengthening economic cooperation under LEP 2.0 and reaffirmed their commitment to hold ECC meetings regularly, it said.  THE STAR/ANN
Acecook Vietnam received the award in its first nomination, marking recognition of the outstanding achievements the company has achieved over the years in the Vietnamese market, and bringing happiness to consumers, employees, and society.

The companys Hao Hao instant noodle brand was also honoured with the Inspirational Brand award. After nearly 25 years on the market, Hao Hao has become a familiar name, chosen by millions of Vietnamese families.

Acecook Group, one of the largest instant noodle companies in Japan, has brought advanced production technology from the motherland of instant noodles to Vietnam since the early 1990s.

Shimada Shigeru, general manager of Acecook Vietnam, said, Receiving these awards is a recognition of Acecook Vietnams contributions, and a motivation for us to make more efforts in improving the quality of products and services, contributing to the development of the economy and building a strong brand in the hearts of consumers.

The awards earned are not only a testament to consumers trust, but also a recognition of the businesss positive contributions to building a strong, sustainable brand and demonstrating social responsibility, Shigeru added.

In recent years, Acecook has continuously invested in improving quality and launching new products to meet the increasing needs of consumers, while creating strong impressions through many innovative campaigns, enhancing connections with customers. It has been highly appreciated for its positive contributions to the community, demonstrating its social responsibility in its journey of sustainable development.

In its decades of development, Acecook Vietnam has gained the trust and support of consumers by providing Vietnamese consumers with delicious, quality products that are rich in flavour and diverse in form.

Acecook Vietnam gives priority to investing in technology, modernising machinery, and constantly researching and improving product quality to bring consumers quality, safe, and reasonably priced products.

Its factories have all cost up to tens of millions of US dollars and are equipped with modern imported machinery systems, automated production line equipment, and average productivity of about 600 noodle packs a minute per line.

Every year, the Japanese company supplies the market with more than three billion instant products, in which Pho De Nhat, Siukay Noodles, and Modern Cup Noodles are loved by many. In particular, Hao Hao has been the best-selling instant noodle product in Vietnam for many years and was confirmed by Vietkings as the first Vietnamese instant noodle brand to sell 30 billion packages to the market, equivalent to an average consumption of more than 1.4 billion packages a year.

Acecook Vietnams business philosophy is also established, based on the philosophy of Acecook Group. It aspires to contribute to Vietnamese society, providing high-quality products and services to bring health, safety, and peace of mind to customers. The core value of the company is Cook Happiness, based on bringing happiness to consumers, employees, and society.

To meet the trend of sustainable development and contribute more good value to society, Acecook aims for innovation through product improvements that help bring health benefits to consumers, develop a dynamic working environment, encourage creativity, be active in community activities and environmental protection, and contribute to building a better Vietnamese society.

In addition, Acecook Vietnam takes part in many environmental protection activities such as improving products from plastic to paper cups, using bioplastic forks, and researching environmentally friendly packaging materials,

In particular, the company has gradually limited the use of fossil fuels and uses clean, environmentally friendly energy sources such as solar energy and clean gas. This contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, saving energy, contributing to environmental protection, and combating climate change.

With a vision of long-term sustainable development, the company will continuously improve itself in order to contribute positively to economic development and demonstrate its sense of responsibility, and have a positive impact on the community.

Acecook Vietnam raises food safety awareness Acecook Vietnam, the leading instant noodle manufacturer in Vietnam, is joining hands with the Food Safety Department under the Ministry of Health and womens unions to organise seminars to raise awareness of food safety and proper nutrition for women.
While global trade and investment have been key drivers of economic growth, they have also led to environmental degradation, including pollution and biodiversity loss. According to the World Trade Organization, trade activities contribute 20-30 per cent of global carbon emissions, exacerbating climate change. Although developed nations have adopted measures to reduce emissions, developing countries struggle with limited resources and historically looser environmental regulations

Prof. Peter Richard Draper

Prof. Peter Richard Draper, executive director of the Institute for International Trade at the University of Adelaide, Australia, highlighted several trade policy challenges, including green industrial policies, sustainability due diligence, traditional tariffs, and geopolitical risks.

Draper noted that initiatives such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and Net Zero targets are reshaping global supply chains. Advanced economies use tools such as financial grants and state loansaccounting for 25 per cent or more of green investment in these countriesto meet climate goals. He pointed out that climate policies represent 29 per cent of trade measures in advanced economies, indicating a growing emphasis on sustainability.

Compliance with ethical supply chain standards is becoming a prerequisite for accessing public procurement contracts and avoiding penalties, Draper said. He added that localisation requirements in public procurement often favour suppliers from compliant regions, creating barriers for developing nations.

Tariff changes due to geopolitical tensions, such as those between the United States and China, further complicate trade dynamics. Draper cited the example of US-China tariffs shifting demand for Australian wine and barley, and noted that such tensions also impact tech and defence small and medium-sized enterprises.

For greening trade, it is difficult to predict how market regulations will evolve. Contradictory impulses and declining international cooperation make it challenging. While markets are driving green trade measures, things could easily worsen, Draper said. He stressed the importance of vigilance and promoting trade measures that incentivise sustainable practices.

Prof. Andreas Freytag

Prof. Andreas Freytag, director of Tutwa Europe Institute and professor at Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Germany, addressed the challenges posed by carbon leakage and the intersection of climate policy, development cooperation, and trade. He noted that these critical global challenges have not been sufficiently integrated into policymaking, even in forums like COP29.

More trade means more development and a better climate. Conversely, less trade leads to less development and accelerated global warming, Freytag said. He pointed to the success of carbon taxes and certificates as effective tools, in contrast to less efficient command-and-control measures, which are neither socially equitable nor cost-effective.

Freytag highlighted the systemic inequalities faced by developing nations in global trade policies, noting that industrialised countries often impose discriminatory measures while grappling with their internal and external divisions over trade policies.

The declining division of labour leads to reduced wealth and diminished climate efforts, he said, underscoring the interconnected nature of trade, development, and climate action.

While developing countries have contributed relatively little to cumulative greenhouse gas emissions, they are disproportionately affected by climate change. Freytag emphasised that these nations face severe consequences, including reduced productivity, rising inequality, environmental degradation, and increased risks of conflict and migration.

CIECI 2024 brought together international experts to explore the economic implications of green policies, digital transformation, and strategies for sustainable development. The conference featured six keynote presentations and multiple discussion sessions that examined how to integrate green policies with trade and adapt to global environmental standards such as the European Green Deal.

Experts also highlighted sector-specific insights, including green practices in agriculture, finance, tourism, and logistics. Discussions focused on innovative financial models and digital solutions to meet sustainability goals while maintaining economic growth.

The conference underscored the need for developing countries to adopt adaptive strategies to align with global green standards. However, experts agreed that achieving this balance requires international cooperation, equitable policies, and access to resources to support sustainable development.

As nations continue to grapple with the dual challenges of economic growth and environmental sustainability, events like CIECI 2024 provide valuable roadmaps for addressing these global challenges, ensuring that trade and green policies act as catalysts rather than obstacles for developing economies.

Banking on banks to finance the green transition Vietnams green goals require huge sums in order for them to succeed. Thomas Jacobs, country manager for Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos at the International Finance Corporation, looks at capacity-building measures and the hurdles that must be overcome.

IFCs record climate financing in Vietnam supports green transition Boosting its support for Vietnam's green transition and sustainable development, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) scaled up its long-term investment in the country with a strong focus on climate finance in the last fiscal year.

Banking sector contributes to ESG, green growth, and sustainable development The banking sector has positioned itself as a pioneer in greening investment capital and enhancing social responsibility to achieve green growth and sustainable development goals.
On November 25, the Steering Committee for the "Vietnamese Prioritising Vietnamese Goods" campaign in Hanoi organised a conference to approve the selection results for "Vietnamese Goods Favoured by Consumers" in 2024.

A representative from Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade revealed that by October 15, the organising committee had received nearly 200 enterprise registrations, with 142 enterprises and 276 qualifying products and services, an 84 per cent increase from 2023.

Photo: Ho Ha

Through the selection process, specifically the online voting period from October 1-31, the website featured 18 product and service categories, garnering 304,816 votes for participating offerings, a 5.55 per cent increase from 2023.

Direct voting at public locations during October recorded 231,113 votes, up 5.05 per cent compared to the previous year.

Combining online and offline voting results, the total reached 535,929 votes, a 5.33 per cent increase from 2023.

Based on consumer voting results and jury evaluations, the organising committee identified 150 products from 142 enterprises, categorised into four top consumer-selected product and service rankings in descending order.

Specifically, Top 1 includes 25 products and services from 23 enterprises; Top 2 features 35 products and services from 33 enterprises; Top 3 comprises 40 products and services from 37 enterprises; Top 4 encompasses 50 products and services from 49 enterprises.

The awards ceremony is scheduled for 7.30pm on November 28 at Trinh Cong Son walking street in Tay Ho District.

Speaking at the conference, Nguyen Lan Huong, chairperson of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in Hanoi, said that while Hanoi boasts over 1,000 OCOP items, only 23 were part of the selection process. Most participating products are traditional items, with few from the financial, banking, and digital transformation sectors.

Huong urged the organising committee, departments, branches, and associations to enhance responsibility and clearly define each unit's role in increasing the proportion of new, high-tech products that align with the city's development.

She also recommended proactively discovering and identifying new, high-quality products from enterprises to invite participation, thereby promoting and advertising high-quality Vietnamese goods. Huong agreed to additional display booths at the awards ceremony and suggested that in 2025, marking 15 years of the event, the city could honour enterprises and products that have consistently participated for 15 years, recognising their ongoing commitment to the campaign.

Final round of admin reform competition to take place in Hanoi The final round of an administrative reform initiative competition will take place in Hanoi on November 16.

Hanoi Tax Department pilots AI-powered virtual assistant A virtual assistant designed to provide round-the-clock support for taxpayers has been officially launched and is now being piloted by Hanoi Tax Department.
Following the deal, the company will change its name to Hop Tri Summit JSC.

Vietnam is ASEAN's leading agricultural supplies market, with a market size of approximately 150 billion ($969 million) as of 2023.

Hop Tri Summit JSC is a manufacturer and distributor of crop protection products, fertilisers, and public health products. The company's manufacturing plants and analytical and research laboratory have obtained various international certifications.

In addition, the company has adopted a "Farmers First" corporate policy, deploying 200 sales and technical support members. The team provide meticulous services for sales and marketing activities, making Hop Tri Summit one of the leading companies in Vietnam's agricultural supplies industry.

Summit Agro International Ltd established Summit Agro Vietnam LLC in 2016, and is engaged in crop protection distribution in Vietnam. Summit Agro Vietnam decided to invest in Hop Tri after the firms confirmation of its readiness for the merger and acquisition deal.

Sumitomo Corporation Group plans to invest in other businesses in Asian countries, and Summit Agro International increased its investment in Asia by 3.45 billion ($22.3 million) in September.

By combining Hop Tri's business base rooted in Vietnam with the integrated strengths of Sumitomo Corporation, Summit Agro International and Summit Agro Vietnam will expand their products and services, contributing to agriculture in Vietnam as a comprehensive service provider of agricultural supplies.

Sumitomo-BRG consortium announce plans for North Hanoi Smart City On November 11 in Dong Anh district, Hanoi, the North Hanoi Smart City Development Investment (NHSC) company, a consortium between Vietnam's BRG Group and Japan's Sumitomo Corporation, announced the official implementation of the North Hanoi Smart City, a symbolic project to celebrate 50 years of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties (19732023).

Sumitomo explores mobility business collaboration Sumitomo Corporation has signed an MOU with Green and Smart Mobility JSC (GSM) for the purpose of exploring collaborative opportunities in Vietnams mobility business.
Secretary of the Binh Duong provincial Party's Committee Duong Van Loi (central) visits LEGO Manufacturing Vietnam Co. Ltd. (Photo: VNA)

Binh Duong  LEGO Manufacturing Vietnam Co. Ltd. is seeking hundreds of workers for its 1.3-billion-USD factory in the southern province of Binh Duong which is expected to start operations in early 2025.

The move provides opportunities for local workers and marks an important step in the companys sustainable development strategy.

According to a representative of the companys recruitment unit, it is recruiting from now until the end of January and will hold new recruitment rounds in early 2025. Its long-term goal is to create about 4,000 jobs in Binh Duong.

The company plans to recruit hundreds of workers for key units such as warehousing, packaging, maintenance, and quality management. The basic salary for ordinary workers will be from 9 million VND (353 USD) per month, plus allowances such as attendance, travel and annual bonuses. In addition, the company also provides insurance benefits for employees and their families, as well as special remuneration, creating a stable and developed working environment.

The company also seeks technician and operations engineer positions. It is also committed to providing learning opportunities for those who have no experience through vocational training programmes.

The construction of the factory started in November 2022 at Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park III.

LEGO's $1.3 billion factory to begin production in 2024 Denmark-based toymaker LEGO is on schedule to begin production at its $1.3 billion factory in Binh Duong this year.

Lego profit rises as it gains market share Lego, the world's largest toy maker, said Wednesday that its net profit grew 16 percent in the first half of the year as it gained ground in a slowing market.
Channel Yonko enters the Galveston County Criminal Justice Center on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2024. Yonko is accused of killing her 17-month-old daughter, Hannah, by dropping her from a hotel balcony. Courtesy/i45Now A woman pauses Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at a memorial for Hannah Yonko, the 17-month-old girl found critically wounded Wednesday on 59th Street in Galveston, Texas. Channel Yonko is charged with capital murder in the death of her daughter. (AP Photo/The Galveston County Daily News, Jennifer Reynolds) Jennifer Reynolds/The Galveston County Daily News

A district court judge wants the trial for the woman accused of killing her 17-month-old daughter by dropping her from a Galveston County hotel balcony to start in 2025.

Judge Patricia Grady said she anticipated the girl's mother, Channel Yonko, would be indicted on capital murder charges by a grand jury soon and prosecutors should be ready to try the case sometime in 2025. Yonko, 30, was arrested last month and accused of intentionally dropping her daughter, Hannah, from the third-floor balcony. Police said the infant also may have been stabbed multiple times.

"I want to get this tried within a year," Grady said. Yonko was arrested Oct. 23.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

MORE ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: More than 175 felony charges filed as Houston PD's suspended case review comes to a close

The infant was found critically injured on a sidewalk near the Galveston Seawall and died after being rushed to a hospital. Yonko was arrested after police found her distraught and crying not far from the hotel.

Yonko appeared in Grady's court for the first time Tuesday. She wore a green jumpsuit and only spoke to spell her name for the court. No friends or family were in the gallery during the short hearing.

A memorial with balloons, flowers and stuffed animals continues to grow near the Beachfront Palms Hotel on 59th Street in Galveston, Texas on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. The memorial is for Hannah Yonko, the 17-month-old toddler found critically wounded in the street Wednesday. Her mother, Channel Yonko, is charged with capital murder in her death. (AP Photo/The Galveston County Daily News, Jennifer Reynolds) Jennifer Reynolds/The Galveston County Daily News

Galveston County First District Attorney Kayla Allen told Grady that Yonko's case will likely be presented to a grand jury in coming weeks. Prosecutors have 90 days from when she was arrested to secure an indictment. If they don't get the indictment, Yonko could possibly be released on a personal recognizance bond. Yonko is being held without bond in Galveston County Jail on a charge of capital murder of a person under 10 years old.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

That charges carry the possibility of the death penalty if Yonko is convicted, though Allen said the DA's office hadn't made a decision about whether they would seek her execution during a future trial.

Galveston County prosecutors rarely seek the death penalty in capital murder cases. The last time a person was sentenced to death by a Galveston County jury was Travis Mullis, a Brazoria County man who killed his child in Galveston in 2008. Mullis was executed earlier this year.

Prosecutors have announced plans to seek the death penalty in other cases, including the 2019 murder of three children in Texas City. The defendant in that case, Junaid Hashim Mehmood, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life without parole, according to court records. Prosecutors also sought death against Dominique Stokes, who was accused of killing two people during a home invasion in 2011. Stokes also pleaded guilty before the case reached trial.

The district attorney's office will meet and discuss their position on Yonko's case before making a decision, Allen said. There's no set timeline on when that decision would be made, Allen said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Yonko's next court date is in January.
Sustainable production has become a trend that many manufacturers are pursuing. While some companies view it merely as a PR strategy, NS BlueScope Vietnam, genuinely believes that actions speak louder than words.

NS BlueScope Vietnam factory in Phu My is the first in Southeast Asia to achieve the certification

By pursuing a global certification, NS BlueScope Vietnam became the first steel company in Vietnam and Southeast Asia to earn the ResponsibleSteel certification.

When we began our journey, we did not know we would be the first in Vietnam and Southeast Asia to pursue this certification. Our guiding principle was simply to do the right thing and to spread that ethos throughout the community, said Vo Minh Nhut, president of NS BlueScope Vietnam.

The 370 specific criteria covering environmental, social, and governance aspects such as climate change, emissions, water management, biodiversity, worker safety and rights, and community relations, are all tailored specifically for the steel industry. This certification is also a roadmap for the steel industry to achieve net-zero emissions across the supply chain.

Since its launch in 2019, the certification has become a unified framework for around 80 steel plants in 15 countries, representing approximately 125 million tonnes of global steel production, said Annie Heaton, CEO of ResponsibleSteel.

What makes it unique is that our on-site verification is not just based on the companys reports. We interview local communities, employees, contractors, and other entities to ensure a shared understanding of responsible steel production, Heaton added.

Truong Anh Hai, vice president of NS BlueScope Vietnam, said, We have a carbon emission reduction roadmap in place from very early on, following the comprehensive environmental, social, and governance principles. Our goal is to reduce carbon emissions by 30 per cent per unit of product by 2030.

Promoting awareness

In practice, the ResponsibleSteel assessment process can take 1-2 years, including on-site verification by an independent certification body.

However, NS BlueScope Vietnam is not only daring to take on the rigorous certification but also aspires to become a leader in Vietnam, promoting awareness of this certification within the local steel community.

Achieving certification is only half of our journey. The next step is to spread this certification within the domestic coated steel community, said Hai. It presents a challenging set of criteria for any steel company, but it is also a learning process on how to produce responsibly. Implementing it offers companies the opportunity to refine their internal processes towards sustainable production.

Nhut added, For us, responsible steel production goes beyond a piece of paper; its embedded in every employees spirit and daily activities. We hope to make responsibility a keyword for every leader in the coated steel industry.

According to Heaton, in other countries, when one company achieves this certification, competitors also strive to obtain it to maintain a competitive edge.

However, Vietnam is still in the early stages of responsible steel production, and ResponsibleSteel is not yet a local construction requirement. Therefore, I highly commend NS BlueScope Vietnam for pioneering this effort, she said.

NS BlueScope Vietnam's green factory model on display Vietnam Investment Review and the Vietnam Industrial Real Estate Association (VIREA), along with other businesses, had a tour visit to NS BlueScope Vietnam factory in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province on July 31.
PM Pham Minh Chinh meets Ericsson CEO Borje Ekholm (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh gave a reception in Hanoi on November 25 for Borje Ekholm, President and CEO of Ericsson who is paying a working visit to Vietnam.

The PM expressed his delight at the positive growth in Vietnam-Sweden relations, particularly in politics-diplomacy, development assistance and trade.

Highlighting Ericsson's potential in terms of capital, technology and advanced management, Chinh said he believes that through the Vietnam visit, Ekholm will have in-deep and comprehensive assessments, serving as a basis for the company's future investment and business decisions.

For his part, Ekholm emphasised Ericsson's leadership in deploying 5G and fostering advanced wireless connectivity globally. Operating in Vietnam since 1993, the company has been a key partner to Vietnamese telecom operators and is supporting Vietnam's 5G network development.

He said his company wishes to join efforts to accelerate Vietnam's national digital transformation, and research, develop new technologies and products in the country.

Speaking highly of Ericsson's development plans in Vietnam, especially in providing solutions to digital infrastructure development in Vietnam, promoting national digital transformation, and building the e-government, Chinh said Vietnam identifies digital transformation as an objective requirement, a strategic choice, a top priority, and a new growth driver.

He urged the company to boost cooperation with Vietnam, focusing on building R&D as well as data centres in Vietnam, accelerating technology transfer, as well as on digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, IoT, and next-generation networks like 5G and 6G. Besides, the PM underlined collaboration in training human resources, sharing experiences and policy consultation as well as supporting Vietnamese groups and partners to join global supply chains.

Vietnam wants to exploit outer space, underground space, and marine space, promoting innovation and integration, Chinh said, adding that the country wishes and stands ready for strategic, long-term cooperation with Ericsson.

To accelerate digital transformation, the Vietnamese Government is carrying out many breakthrough programmes and policies, including the completion of numerous legal documents to ease difficulties and create favourable conditions for the process, and pouring significant investments and modernising digital infrastructure, with priority given to digital data development and human resources development for the digital industry.

Ekholm highlighted the importance of the Vietnamese market to Ericsson, expressing his confidence that Vietnam is on the right track and will be a leading country in digital economy.

He reaffirmed Ericsson's commitment to Vietnam, including the development of an R&D centre to create new solutions and export opportunities, leveraging the country's skilled workforce and growing digital economy.

Automating ports with 5G There are around 2,000 ports in the world, and theyre vital for a well-functioning global economy. The shipping industry has experienced significant growth, but to accommodate future traffic, ports will need to become more efficient and automated.
Posco interested in $2.2 billion Quynh Lap LNG thermal power plant. Photo: baodautu.vn

A delegation of Posco International, led by managing director Kim Dae Yeon, met with Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hoang Long on November 20.

Managing director Kim Dae Yeon shared that it gained experience from operating Mong Duong II coal-fired power plant and is willing to help Vietnams energy sector.

Backing the proposal, Long said the ministry would facilitate the operation of South Korean businesses, including Posco. He also asked Posco to study bidding regulations in Vietnam before proceeding with the plan.

Posco earned a profit of KRW17.84 billion ($12.8 million) in the first half of this year from AES Mong Duong Power Co., Ltd., the operator of the $2.1 billion Mong Duong II coal-fired power plant in the northern province of Quang Ninh. The South Korean materials and steel conglomerate holds a 30 per cent stake in AES Mong Duong.

The 1,500-MW Quynh Lap LNG-to-power plant has been a prioritised project in the National Power Development Plan VIII (PDP 8). The facility will comprise an LNG-fired power plant, a gas terminal, a dyke and a receiving terminal.

It will have an LNG input of about 1.15 million tonnes a year and a port to receive ships of about 100,000DWT. It is expected to begin commercial operations before 2030.

According to Nghe An Department of Planning and Investment, Posco is one of five investors who have applied to join the $2.2 billion Quynh Lap LNG-fired power plant project.

The first promising investor is a consortium comprising PV Power - a subsidiary of state-owned giant PetroVietnam, Nghe An Sugar LLC and SK E&S Co., Ltd. has plans to use over 332 hectares, consisting of 60ha of land and 272ha of water surface.

Meanwhile, Power Generation Corporation 1, a subsidiary of state utility Vietnam Electricity, wants 260ha to develop the project, including 60ha of land and 200ha of water surface.

Another promising investor is Japans Sumitomo Corporation, which is expected to be allocated 182ha for the project, including 65ha of land and 117ha of water surface.

Another potential investor is a consortium comprising Viet Thanh Bamboo Energy Investment JSC and Qatars Gulf Petroleum Limited, which has plans to use 176ha, made up of 58ha of land and 118ha of water surface.

Quynh Luu-Thanh Hoa 500kV Circuit-3 transmission line operational The National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT) and the Central Vietnam Power Project Management Board (CPMB) in collaboration with relevant units sent electricity to the Quynh Luu - Thanh Hoa 500kV Circuit-3 transmission line on August 19 morning.

JERA mulls plans for natural gas-fired power plant in Vietnam JERA, Japan's biggest power generator, is planning to invest in a natural gas-fired power plant in Vietnam to capitalise on the country's green energy transition strategy.

Bidding cancelled for proposed $2.4 billion Nghi Son LNG power plant Authorities at Nghi Son Economic Zone have cancelled an invitation to bid, and halted the selection of investors, for the Nghi Son liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fired thermal power plant project.

PV GAS to supply LNG for Quang Trach II LNG thermal power plant PetroVietnam Gas Corporation (PV GAS) signed an MoU with Vietnam Electricity (EVN) on October 14 to supply liquid natural gas (LNG) for Quang Trach II LNG Thermal Power Plant.
A road leading to a border marker in the northern province of Lang Son. (Photo: VNA)

Lang Son - The inauguration ceremony of a road leading to border marker No. 962 was held in Quoc Khanh commune in Trang Dinh district of the northern province of Lang Son on November 22.

The project is a meaningful activity to mark the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam Peoples Army (December 22, 1944- 2024) and the 35th anniversary of All-Peoples National Defence Day (December 22, 1989  2024).

The road, which stretches over 1,900m long and 1.2m wide, is within the border area managed by the Po Ma Border Guard Station under the Lang Son Border Guard Command. Construction of the project began in early May this year with the efforts of more than 1,500 officials and local residents of Trang Dinh district, and border guard officers and soldiers. It has a total investment of over 1.8 billion VND (70,800 USD) and was put into use after six months.

Speaking at the ceremony, Lieutenant General Nguyen Anh Tuan, Political Commissar of the Vietnam Border Guard, highlighted the construction of the road as a practical initiative which exemplifies the effective mobilisation of resources, enthusiastic participation, and responsibility from various sectors, political and social organisations, and the community.

Colonel Trinh Huu Tang, Political Commissar of the Lang Son Border Guard Command, said that over the past two years, the province has successfully raised over 40 billion VND, hundreds of tonnes of materials and over 30,000 work days to build 189 concrete roads leading to border markers to ensure safety when conducting patrols.
The event showcased advanced lighting solutions and provided a platform for businesses to discuss, evaluate, and share effective strategies to accelerate Vietnams journey towards its net-zero goals, with lighting as one of the most impactful solutions leading the way.

This years event is part of the Illuminating Route to Net Zero" campaign, aimed at contributing to the development of sustainable and green urban areas, meeting Vietnam's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions.

This event reaffirms the annual commitment of the Dutch business community to supporting Vietnam in realising this vision by 2050.

Signify Innovation Day is a hallmark event by Signify to promote collaboration between Dutch and Vietnamese businesses, fostering sustainable business growth.

According to Daniel Stork, consul general of the Netherlands in Ho Chi Minh City, Dutch companies in Vietnam are committed to sustainability and actively support Vietnams goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

This commitment highlights the strong cooperation between the Netherlands and Vietnam, reflecting a shared responsibility in addressing global climate challenges and environmental protection, Stork said at the event.

Daniel Stork, consul general of the Netherlands in Ho Chi Minh City, at the event

Dang Hai Dung, deputy director of the Department of Energy Saving and Sustainable Development at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, highly valued Signifys efforts in pioneering energy-saving lighting solutions that safeguard user health and align with Vietnams carbon neutrality goals by 2050.

At the event, business representatives from both nations discussed and shared advanced initiatives and technologies to support the green transition of the economy. The event underscored the role of advanced lighting technology as an effective solution for emission reduction, contributing to the collective commitment to sustainable development, with lighting seen as the fastest path to net zero.

Business representatives from both nations discussed and shared advanced initiatives and technologies to support the green transition of the economy

Phung Hoai Duong, general manager of Signify Vietnam, said that through lighting solutions for offices, factories, public spaces, and homes, the company continues to call on everyone, from businesses to individuals, to join forces starting today. Every choice, from adopting energy-saving lighting to changing daily habits, contributes to building a greener future. Only with collective effort can we create positive and lasting change for the environment, said Duong.

Signify is committed to achieving global net zero by 2040, with a short-term goal of reducing emissions by half by 2030 and cutting emissions across all scopes by 90 per cent by 2040.

In Vietnam, Signify leads the way in introducing energy-saving lighting solutions that protect user health and align with the mission of unlocking the extraordinary potential of light for brighter lives and a better world.

In 2023, products supporting climate action accounted for 6164 per cent of its total revenue, with over 124 million connected light points worldwide.

More green buildings in Vietnam need to be realised Vietnam needs to construct more green buildings to achieve its emission reduction goals, instead of focusing on winning green building recognition certificates.

A tale of two trends: Digital transformation and net-zero transition The world is changing faster than we imagine, and the pace of change is only going to accelerate. Tim Evans, CEO of HSBC Vietnam, explains why we must adapt and find ways to navigate the challenges, as they will ultimately also present opportunities for those prepared for them.
Thailand's BCPG has acquired shares in two wind power plants in Gia Lai. Photo: baodautu.vn

BCPG signed a share purchase agreement worth 4.5 billion baht (nearly $130 million) to invest in two wind power projects, with total production capacity of 99MW, in Gia Lai. The share purchase transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025.

Niwat Adirek, president and CEO of BCPG, disclosed that the company had signed share purchase agreements to invest in the Che Bien Tay Nguyen Wind Power Plant project (49.5MW) and Phat Trien Mien Nui Wind Power Plant project (49.5MW).

The investment is in line with BCPGs strategy to expand our renewable power business and strengthen our revenue and stable returns to shareholders in the long run. After the transaction, the two power plants will start commercial operations immediately to generate cash flow for the company," Niwat said.

As reported by Bangkok Post, BCPG acquired development and operating licences for Monsoon Wind Power Plant, with a capacity of 600MW, and the associated transmission systems in 2023. The construction of the Monsoon wind farm, which will supply electricity to Vietnam's state grid, is now 89 per cent complete. The facility is scheduled to start a trial run early next year, and it is expected to be operational within the second half of 2025.

Renewables projects in Laos and Vietnam are a part of the company's Greener Diversified Portfolio project that will increase the proportion of renewable power to 70 per cent by 2030, up from 62 per cent as of September this year.

Levanta Renewables to acquire rooftop solar system in Vietnam Levanta Renewables, a leading Southeast Asia-focused renewable energy platform backed by Actis, is acquiring a 28.7MWp rooftop solar system from related companies of locally invested Tien Nga JSC.

Singaporean M&As hold wide promise Singapore dealmakers continue to set sights on dealmaking in Vietnam, with transactions in fields ranging from renewable energy to real estate.
The return of Donald Trump to the US presidency signals a renewed focus on trade imbalances that could impact Vietnams booming trade relationship with the US. Last year, Vietnam enjoyed a trade surplus of nearly $100 billion with the US, making it Americas third-largest trade partner after China and Mexico.

While this relationship has propelled Vietnams economic growth, it may also place Vietnam under closer scrutiny, with Trumps administration keen on correcting significant trade deficits.

Michael Kokalari, chief economist of VinaCapital, emphasised Vietnams unique role in helping the US reduce its reliance on China, particularly for low-cost goods.

"Vietnam can be seen as a useful partner for the US, helping reduce dependency on low-cost Chinese goods," he explained, noting that Vietnams high wages and limited skilled factory labour make it less competitive for low-value production.

Kokalari suggested that the US may begin to focus on high-value imports from Vietnam, such as liquefied natural gas and aircraft engines, that could offset the trade imbalance, ultimately reducing the likelihood of severe tariffs targeting Vietnamese goods.

Staying resilient in the face of tariffs

Koh Eng Meng, deputy director of Investment and Asset Management of KTG Industrial

Although Trumps administration has a history of tariffs, experts predict that Vietnam will remain resilient.

Koh Eng Meng, deputy director of Investment and Asset Management of KTG Industrial - a major industrial real estate developer in Vietnam, highlighted Vietnams strategic advantage in Southeast Asia, noting that the country has largely avoided the harshest penalties impacting Chinese exports.

"Vietnams minor trade deficits with the US and its favourable position in Southeast Asia make it an essential destination for foreign investment," he said.

Koh underscored that this resilience stems from Vietnams stable economic policies, which have kept foreign direct investment (FDI) flowing despite global uncertainties.

Moreover, Koh highlights Vietnams rising middle-class and expanding domestic consumer market as pivotal factors in its sustained appeal to investors.

"Vietnam is poised not only to become a regional manufacturing centre but also to grow as a significant consumer market, fueled by the growth of the middle income," he noted.

This development aligns with the 'China + 1' strategy, where companies are diversifying production away from China to other hubs, with Vietnam emerging as a top choice.

Koh explained, "This trend strengthens Vietnam's manufacturing sector while driving consumer growth, making it an attractive destination for multinational companies looking to mitigate risk amid ongoing US-China tensions."

Adding to this optimistic outlook, the World Bank projects Vietnams GDP growth to reach 6.1 per cent in 2024, rising to 6.5 per cent in 2025. Similarly, UOB Bank has revised its 2024 growth forecast upward to 6.4 per cent, higher than its previous projection of 5.9 per cent.

These positive economic forecasts reinforce Vietnams potential to attract foreign investors and cultivate a robust and dynamic domestic market.

Government initiatives to prepare for trade uncertainties

Trumps campaign rhetoric signals a shift towards protectionist policies, raising questions about potential tariffs on Vietnamese imports.

In its latest report, SSI Research cautions that this uncertainty may cause some foreign-invested enterprises to delay decisions, pending clearer guidance from the new administration on tariffs affecting Vietnamese imports.

"Ahead of these challenges, the Vietnamese government is implementing measures to make its economy more resilient and attractive to investors," according to SSI Research.

According to the brokerage, these initiatives include tax incentives for semiconductor manufacturing, amendments to streamline investment certification processes for new industrial zones, and infrastructure investments such as the North-South expressway and rail links with China.

The firm suggested, "These upgrades not only support Vietnams industrial base but also help secure FDI inflows in the face of potential US tariff measures."

KTG Industrial Yen Phong IIC Phase 2 is expected to meet high demand from manufacturing companies in Bac Ninh

Frederic Neumann, chief Asia economist at HSBC, noted that Vietnams diversification efforts could buffer it against trade impacts from the US.

"Vietnam can deepen trade ties with other markets, just as China diversified its export destinations," he said.

"Even if Vietnam were to face certain tariffs, its strong manufacturing base and competitive advantages would allow it to pivot and deepen trade ties with other regions, including Europe and emerging markets," Neumann added.

Similar to how China adapted by diversifying its export destinations, Neumann believes that Vietnam has the potential to mitigate any negative impact by strengthening partnerships beyond the US market.

Vietnams position as a key regional investment hub

Despite the looming threat of trade restrictions, Vietnam continues to solidify its standing as a key investment destination.

Koh Eng Meng believes that Vietnams stable policies and strategic location make it an attractive choice for foreign investors across multiple high-potential industries.

"Vietnam has firmly established itself as a top investment destination, driven by its stable policies, strategic geographic location, and a proactive approach to economic diversification. The country has become a critical hub for industries such as technology, electronics, and renewable energy," said Koh.

Koh Eng Meng spoke at the Enterprise Global Exchange meeting in Shenzhen, China

"Tech and electronics, in particular, face global scrutiny due to political sensitivities, but Vietnams positioning has enabled it to emerge as a leader in these sectors. Additionally, the countrys push towards green energy and sustainable production is opening doors for innovation and investment," he said, before adding that Vietnams potential extends beyond its traditional manufacturing strengths.

"Vietnam is increasingly tapping into emerging sectors like biotechnology, logistics, and digital transformation, which promise robust growth and opportunities for investors looking to diversify into high-value industries," Koh explained.

By leveraging its strategic policies and focus on future-ready industries, Vietnam strengthens its appeal to foreign investors, even in the face of global economic challenges.

Industrial real estate stocks benefit from US election results Industrial real estate stocks are forecast to benefit from a surge in factory relocations driven by increased FDI following Donald Trump's US election victory.
WB Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific Manuela V. Ferro (Photo: VNA)

She made the statement during an exclusive interview with the Vietnam News Agency on November 21.

Vietnam experienced remarkable growth and poverty reduction over the past decades. What were the key factors in this rapid transformation?

Vietnam's development journey is a remarkable success story. Family incomes increased sixfold in 40 years, nearly eradicating extreme poverty. Vietnam stands as a dynamic, modern economy that has attracted major foreign investment.

The resilience and determination of its people played a critical role. A key turning point was the Government's bold move in the 1980s to open up the economy and prioritise exports. Today, exports contribute about half the GDP, and one in every two workers works in the export sector.

One key factor in Vietnams growth so far is the abundant and low-cost labour force and a second element is low energy costs. These factors not only translated into growth and higher incomes but also drove a significant share of the labour force engaged in low value-added activities like final assembly and a high carbon intensity of GDP.

Vietnam has set the ambitious goal of becoming a high-income country by 2045. What is needed to achieve this target and how can the WB contribute?

To achieve its goal of becoming a high-income country by 2045, Vietnam must focus on moving up the value chain and integrate domestic firms with productive foreign firms. The service sector has the potential to serve as an additional engine of growth, especially if it is open to investment and greater competition.

Decarbonisation will be crucial, especially in the energy sector, to enhance competitiveness and reduce the carbon footprint of GDP. Investing in a higher skilled labour force, particularly in engineering and other STEM fields, will be critical to protect jobs from automation and drive production to higher value-added activities.

The WBs report "Vietnam 2045: Trading Up in a Changing World  Pathways to a High-Income Future" outlines strategic choices and pathways. The Government's openness to future planning is a positive sign, and we are optimistic about Vietnam's prospects.

We have partnered with Vietnam since 1978, first through the WBs fund for the poorest countries, International Development Assistance (IDA). We are proud to have supported Vietnam from post-war recovery to today's middle-income status, with investments in education and critical infrastructure, but also with policy advice that helped generate greater economic dynamism and jobs.

Vietnam is now at a different stage of development. The external and domestic context have changed. They require proactive and agile policy making and investments into Vietnams new economy. From the WBs side, we are ready to finance transformative investments in transport, digitalisation, climate resilience and agricultural productivity that can help Vietnam achieve its goal of achieving high-income status in 2045.

During your visit, you went to the Mekong Delta to speak to farmers and agribusinesses that have benefitted from the WB - financed Vietnam Sustainable Agriculture Transformation Project. What did you see there?

During my visit, I saw how Mekong Delta farmers adopted an innovative package of agricultural technologies that are revolutionising rice farming. This method increases yields, reduces pesticide and fertiliser use, and boosts farmer incomes by up to 30%. The method also cuts methane emissions, a significant contributor to climate change. Investments to modern irrigation also allow for growing additional crops, some for export, and generating additional sources of income.

I heard from farmers, cooperatives and agribusinesses how enthusiastic they were about expanding their operations. We are keen to help expand this approach aims to 1 million hectares, which the Prime Minister announced. Vietnam's leadership in agricultural innovation is remarkable and is being copied elsewhere.

The Vietnamese Government has made efforts to decarbonize not only the agriculture sector, but also the whole economy. So what do you think about these efforts?

The energy sector is a major source of CO2 emissions in Vietnam. Decarbonising it while keeping costs low is essential. As global markets begin to favour clean energy-produced goods over those from dirty energy, Vietnam's large export sector needs to adapt. The country should cleaning up transport and agriculture, especially rice cultivation and livestock.

Climate change already affects Vietnam, with salinisation, more frequent floods, and coastal destruction. Continued growth must align with climate-friendly technologies to meet Vietnams ambitious targets.

The WB fund for the poorest, IDA, will be replenished in the Republic of Korea (RoK) in two weeks. How did Vietnam benefit from IDA and what can other developing countries learn from Vietnams trajectory?

Yes, the RoK is hosting the 21st replenishment of IDA in early December. The countrys development experience shows what is possible, with proactive and visionary development policy, and the support for external partners like IDA. There are some parallels between the RoK and Vietnam, with both countries rising from post-war devastation to rapid growth.

Every three years, we replenish IDA to support the poorest countries in the world with low-interest and long maturity loans. The RoK, grateful for IDA's role in its development, is hosting this round and has already announced a 45% increase in its contribution to IDA. Vietnam too has wisely used 18 billion USD from IDA over several decades. Many countries in this region and across the globe still need IDA support.

What is the message you would like to say to the Vietnamese audience?

It is inspiring to witness the determination and strength of the Vietnamese people. Contributing to your nation's progress is not just a pleasure, but a privilege, and we are keen to help you achieve high income status by 2045.

Thank you!
"With a multi-modal logistics solution that integrates technological advancements and sustainable development, along with the ability to connect regional supply chains, Vietnam SuperPort will significantly boost cross-border e-commerce in Vietnam," said Yap Kwong Weng, CEO of Vietnam SuperPort, at the 2024 E-Commerce Connectivity and Development Forum held on November 26 at the Hanoi Museum.

The event focused on the potential, development opportunities, and solutions to support businesses engaging in cross-border e-commerce. At the forum, Vietnam SuperPort's leadership shared comprehensive logistics solutions that will help businesses in Vietnam, as well as the China-ASEAN region, enhancing their integration in the cross-border e-commerce market.

Opportunities and challenges for logistics businesses

In 2023, the total revenue from business-to-consumer transactions on e-commerce platforms registered in Vietnam reached approximately VND498.9 trillion ($19.6 billion). The combined revenue of the top five e-commerce platforms: Shopee, Lazada, Tiki, Sendo, and Tiktok Shop, amounted to VND233.2 trillion ($9.2 billion), a 53.4 per cent increase compared to 2022, according to e-commerce data analytics platform Metric.

According to Deloitte's analysis, Vietnam has a developing e-commerce market and steady growth potential. However, experts argue that the biggest challenge for Vietnamese businesses is the high logistics costs and the logistics infrastructure supporting cross-border e-commerce.

"Cross-border e-commerce requires a transparent and secure logistics system to ensure smooth processes. Additionally, the ability to connect domestic and international supply hubs is also a key issue that needs to be prioritised. Especially in the context of regulations aimed at greening the supply chain from production to the end user, the application of sustainable development solutions in logistics must also receive special attention," said Weng.

Strengthening seamless e-commerce across Asia

Located at the heart of the Northern Economic Corridor, Vietnam SuperPort directly connects to over 20 industrial parks, major seaports, and airports, extending to Yunnan and Kunming in China. The project also plays a key strategic role as a link in the ASEAN Smart Logistics Network, connecting Vietnam with China and other ASEAN countries. Additionally, leveraging YCH Groups nearly 70 years of experience in logistics, Vietnam SuperPort benefits from its connection to supply chain hubs across Asia.

According to Weng, connectivity across Asia and a multimodal approach, integrating road, air, rail, and sea in one-stop, will allow businesses to access supply chain solutions across the region and flexibly choose the most cost-effective and suitable transportation method for their business demands.

Leveraging technological advancements

Previously, at the Innovate Vietnam 2024, this enterprise unveiled a comprehensive digital transformation roadmap which leverages cutting-edge technologies, including AI to drive efficiency and sustainability in the logistics sector. Specifically, Vietnam SuperPort will collaborate with YCH Group to develop AI-driven automation, warehouse robotics, and transport management solutions. These advanced technologies will enhance operational workflows, accelerate order fulfilment, and improve inventory control.

"The integrated digital ecosystem, which includes AI-powered warehouse management and transportation software, will support real-time inventory tracking, demand forecasting, and performance measurement. This ecosystem will also enhance cargo security and assist businesses in developing optimal transportation and business plans," Weng added.

Weng also mentioned an innovative AI-powered logistics marketplace being developed by Vietnam SuperPort and its global partners. This platform is designed to link small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), financial institutions, and logistics providers worldwide, ensuring transparency and facilitating businesses' access to capital. Vietnam SuperPort aims to strengthen cargo capacities at Vietnam's terminals while enhancing support for the growth of SMEs across the country.

The initiative seeks to collaborate with both local and international logistics companies to help develop the SME ecosystem, starting from Vinh Phuc province. In addition, to support its goal of becoming the first net-zero logistics hub in Southeast Asia by 2040, Vietnam SuperPort will also develop a blockchain-based environmental, social, and governance management system to track carbon emissions.

Vietnam SuperPort lives up to name with sustainability drive Vietnam SuperPort, a joint venture between YCH Group of Singapore and Vietnams T&T Group, is at the forefront of sustainability and digital changes to build the first net-zero multi-modal logistics hub in Southeast Asia.

Vietnam SuperPort poised to elevate Vietnam's logistics capabilities Vietnam SuperPort, a joint venture between YCH Group of Singapore and Vietnams T&T Group, is poised to enhance Vietnams logistics capabilities in the global supply chain.
In this file photo from June 2023, a pair of puppies peer out from their kennel at BARC Houston. The agency was open Monday to allow for extra adoptions amid what BARC is calling a "critical" situation.



Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Residents in the market for a new furry friend this holiday season will have the opportunity to adopt one from BARC at a reduced cost during the December Empty the Shelters event, officials announced in a Monday news release.

The event is a part of a national movement organized by the Bissell Pet Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to ending animal homelessness. BARC will be among the 400 shelters across 45 states to offer free adoption for kittens as well as adult cats and dogs during the event, which runs from Dec. 1 to Dec. 17. Puppies, which normally require a $75 adoption fee, will also be available to take home at the reduced cost of $25, BARC said in the release.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"This winter is a critical time for BARC, as our shelter continues to face high intake levels for both dogs and cats," said BARC Shelter Director Jarrad Mears in the release. "As intake grows year after year, strategic partnerships like these are essential to ensuring we find positive outcomes for our shelter pets."

BARC, which is normally closed for adoptions on Mondays, will remain open seven days a week during the duration of the Empty the Shelters Event in a bid to reduce shelter population ahead of the holiday season, according to the agency. Adoptions will be done on a first-come, first-served basis. Residents must be older than 18 and have a valid ID with proof of address to be eligible to adopt.

Shelter population has been a growing concern at BARC and other Houston-area municipal animal shelters recently. Publicly available data indicates BARC is currently at critical capacity for both cats and dogs and has been several months. Previous reporting from the Chronicle found that in October, Harris County Pets housed almost twice the number of dogs its shelter was equipped to handle.

It has been an incredibly challenging year for saving lives, as our nations shelters continue to take in more pets than they are adopting out. Tens of thousands of shelter pets  of all breeds, ages and personalities  are desperately in need of homes, said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Shortly after the population issues at Harris County Pets were made public, the shelter announced an expanded euthanasia policy, which prompted concern from activists and pet lovers alike. Best Friends Animal Society, an animal welfare organization dedicated to ending euthanasia nationwide, the following week said greater community involvement would be needed to address the growing stray population in Harris County.

"Saving the lives of dogs and cats in animal shelters is the responsibility of everyone in every community, said Sophia Proler, a regional director for Best Friends Animal Society. Animal shelters and the staff who work there can only create and sustain lifesaving programs if they have community support and participation.
Emergency personnel are at the scene of a reported explosion in northwest Houston, according to a spokesperson for the Cy-Fair Fire Department. John Lomax/Staff Emergency personnel are at the scene of a reported explosion in northwest Houston, according to a spokesperson for the Cy-Fair Fire Department. John Lomax/Staff Emergency personnel are at the scene of a reported explosion in northwest Houston, according to a spokesperson for the Cy-Fair Fire Department. John Lomax/Staff Emergency personnel are at the scene of a reported explosion in northwest Houston, according to a spokesperson for the Cy-Fair Fire Department. John Lomax/Staff

No one was injured after a reported explosion Tuesday at a business in northwest Houston, Harris County Fire Marshal officials said.

The explosion was reported Tuesday afternoon at 4514 Brittmoore Road at a BiSN, a sealing solutions company for oil and gas operators. Texas Department of Public Safety and Harris County Hazmat were at the company Tuesday afternoon, with Harris County Fire Marshal's Office on the way.

Investigators are now evaluating offsite damage reported that includes shattered windows and minor building damage to building.  @hcfmo (@hcfmo) November 26, 2024

The owner of a business near where the explosion was reported told the Cy-Fair Fire Department the blast broke windows and damaged nearby businesses and homes, the spokesperson said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

COURTHOUSE FIRE: Harris County criminal courthouse evacuated Tuesday after Thanksgiving celebration sparks fire

The fire marshal spokesperson said the explosion was likely due to over-pressurization and did not cause a fire.

At a news conference late Tuesday afternoon, personnel from the Harris County Fire Marshals office and Cy-Fair Fire Department said a preliminary investigation found the explosion occurred during testing of unspecified oil field equipment.

One worker who received minor injuries was released at the scene, and the shock wave from the blast caused slight damage to buildings and cars in the immediate area.

There was some minor damage to the surrounding community, broken windows and stuff like that, said Brandi Dumas, a spokesperson for the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office. Right now its looking very minor.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad



The Harris County Fire Marshals Office is still investigating reports of damaged businesses and homes, and has not yet reached a final determination on the cause of the explosion.
FBI most wanted terrorist arrested in North Wales after over 20 years on the run

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Nov 26th, 2024

An armed and dangerous top 20 most wanted terrorist, missing since 2003, has been arrested in North Wales.

The FBI Most Wanted notice detailed how Daniel Andreas San Diego was wanted for his alleged involvement in two bombings in the San Francisco, California, area. On August 28, 2003, two bombs exploded approximately one hour apart on the campus of a biotechnology corporation in Emeryville. Then, on September 26, 2003, one bomb strapped with nails exploded at a nutritional products corporation in Pleasanton.

The man disappeared in 2003 and had not been seen since.

The National Crime Agency said in a public statement, NCA officers have arrested one of the FBI Most Wanted fugitives in Wales. Daniel Andreas San Diego was detained in an operation supported by Counter Terrorism Policing and North Wales Police yesterday and now faces extradition to the US to face charges.

FBI Director Wray said Daniel San Diegos arrest after 20+ years as a fugitive for two San Francisco bombings shows the Bureaus commitment to justice, stressing that violence is never the right way to express views.

The FBI said in a statement today, Daniel San Diegos arrest after more than 20 years as a fugitive for two bombings in the San Francisco area shows that no matter how long it takes, the FBI will find you and hold you accountable, said FBI Director Christopher Wray. Theres a right way and a wrong way to express your views in our country, and turning to violence and destruction of property is not the right way.

No information has been released by North Wales Police.

Sky News has developed reporting on the case, stating the arrest took place in the Conwy area of Wales. It is understood he was arrested at a property in a rural area next to woodland.

Adding, He appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday as the process to extradite him to the US to face charges begins.

The FBI was offering a reward of up to $250,000 for information leading directly to the arrest of San Diego, it is unclear if that has been claimed.
NHS Wales Award for team behind Hepatitis C micro-elimination at HMP Berwyn

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Nov 26th, 2024

The health team behind the micro-elimination of Hepatitis C at a prison in Wrexham has been recognised for its work at the NHS Wales Awards.

Prisoners at HMP Berwyn, on the Wrexham Industrial Estate, were offered a rapid test within days of arriving at the prison  with treatment being quickly provided for those who need it.

The project was a joint initiative between Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), Public Health Wales and the charity Hepatitis C Trust.

100 per cent of prisoners were offered a test, with 90 per cent of men tested and 90 per cent of those diagnosed with hepatitis C started treatment.

This is known as micro-elimination, meaning that within a particular environment, in this case HMP Berwyn, certain requirements for hepatitis C testing and treatment have been reached.

Now the team behind the project at the UKs largest prison has won the NHS Wales Team Culture Award for its achievement.

The awards were presented at the NHS Wales Award ceremony in Cardiff attended by finalists from across Wales.

Anya Hughes, Blood Borne Virus Nurse, said it had been a huge honour to have taken part in this project.

We had to come up with several different pathways for patients that needed testing and treatment, as the standard pathway did not suit this group of patients, explained Anya.

The stigma has been completely broken down and they became happy to approach me to ask for tests in front of their friends on the wings and encouraged others to be tested.

With HMP Berwyn being the biggest prison in the UK we have many new arrivals here who get screened but would never have had a test previously, and may have had a blood borne virus which they would never have known about.

So, coming to HMP Berwyn and getting tested and treated, may have potentially saved their lives and it has massively decreased transmission.

The team within HMP Berwyn was made up of a blood borne virus nurse, prescribing pharmacists and Hepatitis C Trust peers, and also involved prisoner peers.

The prison has managed to achieve and maintain micro-elimination for the past 14 months.

Anya also won the Rising Star Award at the Health Boards 2024 Staff Achievement Awards for the immediate impact she has made with the project, not only on her patients but within her area of work and on her colleagues too.

Following the awards, Judith Paget Director General for Health, Social Care and Early Years and the NHS Wales Chief Executive, said: Congratulations to the winners but also to everyone who has been shortlisted for an award. The NHS Wales Awards are one of the highlights of my year.

I take great pride in seeing the breadth of quality improvement projects underway across NHS Wales to transform our services for those that we care for.

I hope that you are all deservedly proud of your achievements in these challenging times.

The NHS Wales Awards celebrate quality improvement work that has transformed the experience and outcomes for people in Wales and provides and showcases the talented health and care staff working together to improve services and patient care across Wales.
China a positive force driving global development

15:10, November 25, 2024 By People's Daily reporters ( People's Daily

Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the 19th G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on the morning of Nov. 18, local time.

He delivered an important speech at the Session I of the summit on Fight Against Hunger and Poverty under the title "Building a Just World of Common Development," in which he outlined China's eight actions for global development.

The Peruvian Ministry of Education, in collaboration with a Chinese enterprise, launches a training session for Peruvian students in remote areas. (Photo provided by the Peruvian Ministry of Education)

Today, transformation of a scale not seen in a century is accelerating across the world. Humanity faces unprecedented opportunities and challenges. International personages told People's Daily that Xi's important remarks have charted the course for international cooperation on poverty reduction and pooled strength for global development. They believe that the eight actions will help build a just world of common development.

Xi pointed out that China's story is proof that developing countries can eliminate poverty, and that a weaker bird can start early and fly high, when there is the endurance, perseverance, and striving spirit that enables water drops to penetrate rocks over time and turns blueprints into reality. If China can make it, other developing countries can make it too. This is what China's battle against poverty says to the world.

With a turbulent international landscape, the topic of "Fight Against Hunger and Poverty" holds significant practical significance, said Osmar Junior, executive secretary of Brazil's Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight against Hunger.

President Xi Jinping has led the Chinese people to win the battle against poverty, a remarkable achievement that has drawn global attention, Junior said, adding that Brazil is eager to learn from China's experience.

Henrique Couto da Nobrega, president of the Brazil-China Friendship Association, stated that China has successfully eradicated absolute poverty through decades of efforts, enabling people to live better lives.

Chinese and foreign researchers work in the Kenya-China Joint Laboratory for Crop Molecular Biology at the Egerton University in Kenya. (People's Daily/Huang Weixin)

Nobrega said, China's achievements in poverty alleviation are of global significance, and the Chinese experience is worth learning from for Brazil. Deepening cooperation in this field between Brazil and China will further promote the common development of the two countries, he added.

Hayati Nufus, a researcher at the Research Center for Politics BRIN in Indonesia, pointed out that targeted poverty alleviation proposed by Xi is a crucial concept. By implementing tailored poverty alleviation measures based on local conditions, different groups are provided with customized poverty alleviation solutions. During this summit, China actively supported the establishment of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty. China's ideas and actions contribute to enhancing the capacity building of developing countries, Nufus said.

Nasser Bouchiba, president of the Africa-China Cooperation Association for Development in Morocco, stated that as an important member of the Global South, China, on the G20 platform, calls for the construction of a just world of common development, which demonstrated the sense of responsibility of a major country. Through initiatives such as the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and the three major global initiatives, China has built bridges for cooperation among Global South countries, Bouchiba said.

China actively shares experiences, provides technology, and is committed to ensuring that innovative achievements benefit the Global South, enabling more people in developing countries to lead better lives, Bouchiba added.

"A key factor behind China's success is its ability, rooted in its own history and experience, to resonate with the needs of developing nations, which make up the majority of the global community," said Charbel Barakat, head of Foreign Desk at Aljarida newspaper in Kuwait. He pointed out that by taking a series of measures to promote common development, China has provided strong support for the better development of a large number of developing countries.

Local workers harvest foxtail millet in the China-Uganda Agricultural Cooperation Industrial Park in Uganda. (Photo/Long Wenjing)

China's eight actions for global development outlined by Xi this time include supporting international cooperation on poverty reduction and food security. In response to this, Victor Otazu, a potato expert from Peru who was honored with the Friendship Award by the Chinese government, said, many regions around the world are still suffering from poverty, and the causes of poverty reduction and food security are of great significance in improving people's lives.

The initiatives proposed by Xi, such as the Global Development Initiative, focus on addressing real-world issues, and are bound to have a profound impact globally, Otazu said.

Matangi Tisa Village in Kenya's Nakuru County is designated as the country's first demonstration village for China-Africa agricultural development and poverty reduction. It is currently under construction.

Dennis Munene Mwaniki, executive director of the China-Africa Center at the Africa Policy Institute, stated that China has enabled hundreds of millions of people to get rid of poverty, which is a great achievement.

China is actively engaging in cooperation with Africa through platforms such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, assisting in Africa's modernization efforts, from which many Kenyan people have benefited, he said. He believes that China's advancement in modernization will provide more momentum for global development.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
The Harris County Civil Courthouse, 201 Caroline St., is shown Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

Repeated sexual abuse of a minor in the late 1990s at First United Methodist Church of Pearland was ignored by the churchs former pastor, according to allegations made in a lawsuit against the church and several of its governing bodies.

The Texas Annual Conference of United Methodist Church, one of the defendants, last week submitted a general denial of all allegations and requested a jury trial in the lawsuit filed in Harris County district court in October. The lawsuit claims an adult involved in leading the churchs youth program for middle and high schoolers repeatedly sexually abused a minor and provided him with alcohol.

Denise Gee, who helped the Pearland churchs student ministries, is accused of grooming and abusing the man who filed the lawsuit, listed as John Doe in the court filings, and other young male students. Gee did not respond to multiple voicemail requests for comment.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The lawsuit alleges the church and its governing bodies are liable for negligence in hiring, supervising and retaining Gee, as well as failing to properly monitor her actions.

Other defendants had not filed a response as of Tuesday afternoon.

First United Methodist Church of Pearland and the conference did not respond to requests for comment.

Abuse allegations

Doe joined the student ministry in the late summer of 1994 at 15, prosecutor Sherry Chandler said. The lawsuit described Gee as "an adult woman several years John Doe's senior."

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Its unclear whether Gee was employed by the church or serving as a volunteer, but Chandler said she likely had unlimited access to the church property.

After gaining his trust, Gee allegedly kissed Doe on the mouth, according to the lawsuit.

The student allegedly notified at least one pastor at the time and told him that he felt uncomfortable. In response, the pastor, who is no longer alive, Chandler said, told Doe that he likely misunderstood the interaction with Gee, the lawsuit claims.

After the initial incident, the grooming continued and escalated to more sexual interactions and conduct in and around the church, according to the lawsuit.

In 1995, Gee allegedly provided alcohol to Doe and several other minors before a student ministry outing. Due to Gees level of intoxication, she believed she was unfit to drive and tasked an underage male with driving the group to the event while she rode in the back seat, the lawsuit alleges.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The unlicensed minor then caused a single-vehicle crash in which the riders suffered injuries, according to the lawsuit. The church failed to investigate and report Gees actions, the lawsuit alleges.

As a result of the alleged abuse, Doe suffered debilitating anxiety, depression and drug dependence, the lawsuit reads.

Chandler said her client was not initially aware that he had been groomed and sexually abused by Gee, and that the realization came much later in his life. Texas law allows those who experienced sexual abuse as a child to file a civil lawsuit up to 30 years after they turn 18.

He struggled as a young man, and really didn't know the underlying cause of his struggles, she said. He recently went to therapy, and he was able to talk about it.
Wales set to introduce tourism tax for overnight visitors

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Nov 26th, 2024

A Bill to give local authorities the option to introduce a small visitor levy in their area to re-invest in local tourism, is today introduced by Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford.

The Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill proposes that people staying overnight in Wales and enjoying everything the country has to offer will pay a small charge.

The money raised will go towards supporting local tourism activity and infrastructure.

According to the Welsh Government a Tourism Tax would provide local communities the opportunity to generate additional revenues.

If all Welsh local authorities choose to introduce a visitor levy, it is estimated it could generate up to 33m a year.

The levy would be set at:

75p per person per night for people staying in hostels and on campsite pitches.

1.25 per person per night for those staying in all other accommodation types.

The legislation also includes a requirement to establish and maintain a register of visitor accommodation in Wales, which would  for the first time  provide a register of the broad range of visitor accommodation available across the country.

Local authorities will decide if they want to introduce a levy in their area, based on what is best for their communities. It is estimated the earliest this could happen is 2027 after a local authority has consulted their community.

Visitor levies are used successfully in many parts of the world, including Manchester, Greece, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and California.

The funds raised are used to support a healthy visitor economy by protecting and investing in the infrastructure and services guests enjoy.

Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said: This Bill is rooted in the principle of fairness. We know tourism makes an important contribution to the Welsh economy and to Welsh life. We want to ensure its long-term sustainability.

Thats why we believe it is fair visitors contribute towards local facilities, helping to fund infrastructure and services integral to their experience. Visitor levies are common around the world, benefiting local communities, tourists and businesses  and we want the same for Wales.

Money raised through a levy would be retained by local authorities and re-invested back into their local areas to support local, sustainable tourism. Its a small contribution that could make a big difference.

A statutory registration scheme for all accommodation providers is expected to start operating in 2026 to support the collection and administration of a visitor levy.

It will include details about who is operating in the sector, where they are operating, and how they are operating, and help establish a better understanding of the sector and support future policy decisions at a local and national level.

Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, WLGA Leader, said: This Bill will give councils the option to introduce a visitor levy on overnight stays. Its a way to raise extra funds to support local services and improve amenities that benefit both visitors and the community.

Each council will decide how to apply the levy based on whats best for their area, recognising that it may be suitable in some parts of Wales but not in others. Councils will carefully consider local circumstances and ensure residents are consulted before any decisions are made.

Were glad to have worked closely with the Welsh Government on this and look forward to seeing the draft legislation in the coming weeks, which will mark an important step forward for Wales tourism and local economies.

Response

However the introduction of a Tourism Tax has been met with opposition from the Welsh Conservatives, which have argued that it will hammer the tourism industry.

Peter Fox MS, Shadow Minister for Finance and Local Government, said: This tax is the wrong one for Wales and the wrong one for our tourism industry.

Not only will it impose huge amounts of red tape on small businesses and add significant costs to family holidays, it will also work against its own aims by driving visitors to using more council-maintained facilities.

We should be nurturing our tourism sector, not hammering it with new taxes.

Speaking today the Wales Tourism Alliance said it is disappointed that a number of the key points on which we felt we had reached an understanding with the Welsh Government have not been adequately reflected in the proposed policy.

Rowland Rees-Evans, Chair of the Wales Tourism Alliance said: In particular we feel that the Welsh Government has missed a key opportunity to establish a registration scheme for self-catering accommodation that would have incorporated key health and safety criteria and assured visitors that their accommodation meets basic assurance standards.

What has been proposed will instead increase the costs for tourism and hospitality businesses, which will be passed on to our visitors, without any perceived added value.

We are also disappointed that there is no clear commitment that the funding raised by the levy will be dedicated to improving the visitor experience in Wales. We had emphasised the need for tourism and hospitality businesses and representative bodies to be involved with the decision making process on how the levy would be spent, but see no commitment to this.

This was the Welsh Governments opportunity to deliver a gold standard in tourism and accommodation  setting Wales apart from the rest of the UK. Instead it has merely made Wales more expensive without any perceived added-value for our visitors.
K tc x vung bin tai x Tam Quang, huyen Tuong Duong (Nghe An). Anh: TTXVN phat Chap cnh nhung uoc mo Tai Nghe An hien c 2 m hnh K tc x vng bin do cc on Bin phng trien khai, o au at tai x Tam Quang (Tuong Duong) v Truong Trung hoc co......[Nhieu Hon...]

2025-02-25
A 17-year-old Tomball teen has been charged with manslaughter after he allegedly shot and killed his 16-year-old brother at their home early Monday morning. OnScene TV

A 17-year-old Tomball teen has been charged with manslaughter after he allegedly shot and killed his 16-year-old brother at their home early Monday morning.

According to court documents, Rhyder Tettleton remained in the Harris County Jail Tuesday on a $50,000 bond. Authorities had not released the name of the victim as of Tuesday morning.

According to the Harris County Sheriffs Office, dispatchers received a 911 call around 3:30 a.m. Monday about a shooting in a barn in the 19900 block of Stone Creek Court. Once on scene, deputies found the 16-year-old with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead on the scene by emergency medical personnel.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

During the initial investigation, deputies detained five other teens ranging in age from 16 to 19, including Tettleton, who were at the scene during the shooting. The teens parents were not home at the time of the shooting.

Sheriffs officials learned the teens had been drinking and handling several firearms when Tettleton told deputies he had pointed the gun that he thought was unloaded at his brother and pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the younger teen in the chest.

According to the Harris County District Clerk, the case has been assigned to the 488th state District Court. Tettletons next court appearance is at 9 a.m. Wednesday for bond review.
Arkansas-based Walmart is following in the footsteps of other major U.S. retail chains and rolling back its diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, which have been targeted by conservative activists. Jill Karnicki/Staff photographer

Arkansas-based Walmart is following in the footsteps of other major U.S. retail chains and rolling back its diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, which have been targeted by conservative activists.

According to the Associated Press, Walmart officials confirmed the changes Monday. They include not renewing a five-year commitment for an equity racial center set up in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd and pulling out of a prominent gay rights index. And when it comes to race or gender, Walmart wont prioritize suppliers.

DEI is a set of values and strategies that promote the participation and representation of diverse groups and individuals.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Walmarts move follows similar actions by other corporations.

In June, Tractor Supply ended its DEI goals, followed by Ford, Harley Davidson, and Lowes pulling back policies in August.

Walmarts moves underscore the increasing pressure faced by corporate America as it continues to navigate the fallout from the U.S. Supreme Courts June 2023 ruling ending affirmative action in college admissions. Emboldened by that decision, conservative groups have filed lawsuits making similar arguments about corporations, targeting workplace initiatives such as diversity programs and hiring practices that prioritize historically marginalized groups, the Associated Press reported.

Walmart told the Associated Press that it will better monitor its third-party marketplace items to make sure they dont feature sexual and transgender products aimed at minors. That would include chest binders intended for youth going through a gender change, the company said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer will also review grants to Pride events to ensure that it is not financially supporting sexualized content that may be unsuitable for children.

Additionally, Walmart will no longer consider race and gender as a litmus test to improve diversity when it offers supplier contracts. The company said it didnt have quotas and will not do so going forward. It wont be gathering demographic data when determining grant financing eligibility.

Walmart also said it wouldnt renew a racial equity center that was established through a five-year, $100 million philanthropic commitment from the company with a mandate to, according to its website, address the root causes of gaps in outcomes experienced by Black and African American people in education, health, finance and criminal justice systems.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The company said it would stop participating in the Human Rights Campaigns annual benchmark index that measures workplace inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees.
More than 6 million people in over 60 countries rely on Abbotts technology to manage their diabetes, and global demand is growing. Thats why we recently expanded our manufacturing capacity with the launch of a new 323,000-square-foot site to produce sensors for FreeStyle Libre 3, the latest generation in our world-leading1 line of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems for people living with diabetes.

Abbotts new manufacturing facility is located in Kilkenny, Ireland, and will employ more than 800 people. Abbott has operated in Ireland for almost 80 years and is one of the countrys largest employers. Robert Ford, Abbotts Chairman and CEO, and other members of Abbotts leadership team attended a launch event for the new site. They were joined in Kilkenny by Irelands An Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Simon Harris.

"This is our latest commitment to providing innovative care and supporting people with diabetes to live healthier lives," Ford said. "The state-of-the-art Kilkenny facility will have the highest production of Libre sensors in the world to help meet the growing global demand for our world-leading1 FreeStyle Libre portfolio.

During an earnings call in October, Ford reiterated his bullish outlook for the CGM market, calling it a mass market opportunity with just about 10 million CGM users worldwide out of more than 500 million people with diabetes around the world. Ford said that we expect to close the year with $6 billion-plus in FreeStyle Libre sales and are exceeding our target of 15% compound annual growth.

 We're ahead of that, and we're going to work hard to make sure that we stay ahead of that, and we continue to gain share, he said. We'll add $1 billion of revenue this year [and] add 1 million users.

Diabetes Care is among the top growth drivers in Abbotts industry-leading Medical Devices business, posting 19% organic sales growth for the first nine months of 2024. Year-to-date Diabetes Care revenue is $4.9 billion, and we are on track to achieve our target of $10 billion in annual sales of FreeStyle Libre CGM systems by 2028.

Reference:

1Data on file. Abbott Diabetes Care. Based on the number of patients assigned to each manufacturer.
President-elect Donald Trump arrives to watch SpaceX's Starship rocket lift off for a flight test with Elon Musk from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (Brandon Bell/Pool via AP) Brandon Bell/Associated Press

Hey, dude  hope youre enjoying Mar-A-Lago. And congrats on backing the winner. We have no doubt spending at least $119 million to ensure that Donald Trump returns to the White House will pay off handsomely for you.

We hear youve seized a Rasputin-esque role as the First Buddy on the transition team, floating potential Cabinet appointees and threatening to fund a primary to any senator who stands in their way. There are rumors that even more taxpayer dollars will flow to SpaceX to boost your colony-on-Mars ambitions. We imagine youre whispering sweet nothings in Trumps ear about eliminating the tax credits that benefit Teslas competitors in the electric vehicle market. Surely, youre also going to leverage your role as the co-leader of the new Department of Government Efficiency to snip the red tape that constrains your efforts to create self-driving cars and brain implants.

All of that self-serving enrichment is going to be easy, right? Maybe too easy, even. We know how much you hunger for challenges  to do big things that the world believes are impossible. So we have a dare for you: We bet you can't get your buddy Trump to save the planet.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Remember back in 2016, when nearly 200 countries agreed that, to avoid calamity, average global temperatures must rise no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels? Well, we blew past that threshold a year ago. Human civilization has never experienced a climate this warm in recorded history, which means that droughts, extreme weather, collapse of massive ice sheets and sea level rise could wipe out some of our international neighbors. It also means that Texas, your new home state, will experience many more years of blistering heat that'll make 2023  the hottest year on record here  feel like a cool breeze.



Remember your idealistic youth? According to one of your biographers, your chief concern was global warming; you also worried that the planet might run out of fossil fuels. Since then, your Teslas have showed the world what electric vehicles can do. And you've pioneered battery storage, crucial for capturing the energy generated by wind farms and solar arrays. "Green Tony Stark," people called you  or at least, they used to call you that, before you crossed over into the MAGA-verse.



Sometimes we see glimmers of that superhero still in you. On Saturday, for instance, you looked cool in that meme you tweeted, showing yourself hovering high above skyscrapers, in an Iron Man suit. You joked then that you're "Irony Man." But c'mon: Secretly, wouldn't you actually, earnestly like to save Earth?





I will use the power of irony to defeat villains!



Oh you call yourself The Joker, then why cant you tell a joke! How ironic  pic.twitter.com/6HZ1sLkBAj  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 24, 2024



Elon, we need you. As Trumps BFF, you're in a unique position to nudge the president of the U.S.  the world's most powerful man  toward a clean energy future. Trump sees you, the richest man on the planet, as a fellow Master of the Universe, a corporate exec with a knack for bending federal regulations to his whim. If theres anyone who can match Trumps dragon energy, its you.



Plus, except for you, Trump is surrounded by people whose grasp of science is shaky at best. (We'd love to catch up sometime and hear what you really think about people like your DoGE partner Vivek Ramaswamy, who doesn't think climate change is a big deal.)



Trump listens to you, Elon: After you endorsed him, we noticed how his rhetoric about electric vehicles changed. He went from railing against stupid and gutless automakers ramping up EV production to praising EVs as incredible.

Can you work that same magic and save President Joe Biden's efforts to jumpstart domestic solar manufacturing? Its cheaper in the short-term to get solar panels from China, but that's no way to make America first.

Play to his ego, Elon. Frame it as: Only you can save the world, Donald.



Remaining in the Paris Accords would be Donald J. Trump's big, bold, surprising idea! Who would expect Trump, of all people, to pull the U.S. away from coal and into cool, futuristic forms of energy? To lead the world out of danger? To save us, just in the nick of time, from fires, floods and certain doom?



It'd be a great plot twist, right? Something that no one expects?



Trump loves a plot twist. And so do we.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

And so, we suspect, do you. So please, Elon, surprise everyone. Throw off your supervillain disguise and assume your mantle as a Climate Hero. Show that you're actually a force for good in the world. You once said you cared more about the reality of goodness than the perception of it. Now is your chance to prove it.


Successful Metallurgical Results from the Monte Alto Project

Sydney, Nov 26, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Brazilian Rare Earths Limited ( ASX:BRE ) ( BRELY:OTCMKTS ) ( BRETF:OTCMKTS ) is pleased to announce successful initial metallurgical results from the ultra-high grade REE-Nb-Sc-Ta-U mineralisation at the Monte Alto Rare Earth Project (Monte Alto), located in Bahia, Brazil.



The Monte Alto Rare Earth Project in Bahia, Brazil, has delivered successful results from initial metallurgical leaching studies of the ultra-high grade REE-Nb-Sc-Ta-U mineralisation. The successful test work on non-beneficiated mineralisation confirmed highly efficient rare earth extractions of up to 94% TREO into a stable solution, at atmospheric pressure and low sulfuric acid concentrations.



The ultra-high grade mineralisation was assessed for direct metallurgical leaching of crushed and milled REENb-Sc-Ta-U hard rock mineralisation, without prior-beneficiation (target run-of-mine material with ore-sorting).



This processing pathway has the potential to deliver higher total product yields, at lower capital and operating costs.



The exceptional grades of Monte Alto's mineralisation underpin the flexibility to pursue either direct metallurgical leaching or the potential export of high-grade Direct Ship Mineral (DSM). The REE-Nb-Sc-Ta-U hard rock mineralisation has reported weighted average rare earth grades of 16.4% TREO from drilling to date, including grades of 27,063ppm NdPr and 1,327ppm of heavy rare earths DyTb.



These exceptional grades are primarily within the 'chevkinite' mineral phase, comprising 63%-78% of the REE mineral assemblage and hosting ~80% of total rare earth elements, along with high co-product grades of niobium, scandium, tantalum and uranium.



To assess the potential for a high-grade DSM product, an initial metallurgical test work program by ANSTO Minerals has evaluated the direct leaching performance of Monte Alto's non-beneficiated REE-Nb-Sc-Ta-U mineralisation.



Mineralogical Characterisation



Comprehensive mineralogical studies by SGS Laboratories and ANSTO Minerals have provided detailed insights into Monte Alto's ultra-high grade REE-Nb-Sc-Ta-U mineralisation:



- 'Chevkinite' is the dominant mineral in the ultra-high grade REE-Nb-Sc-Ta-U mineralisation



- Chevkinite is monoclinic REE-Ti-Fe sorosilicate mineral, containing very high concentrations of rare earth elements, niobium, tantalum, scandium and uranium



- Chevkinite has been found as a minor accessory mineral in REE-rich deposits in Russia, China, Greenland and the U.S.A. Chevkinite has also been identified in meteorites and in lunar rocks brought back by the Apollo space missions. Until the discovery of Monte Alto, less abundant chevkinite was typically overshadowed by typically more refractory rare earth minerals such as monazite and xenotime



- The chevkinite mineralisation at Monte Alto stands out for its remarkable scale, with the deposit currently mapped over a strike length of 1 km and true drilling intercepts reaching up to 28 meters in width



- The chevkinite is coarse-grained with over 80% of the chevkinite grains 'sand-sized', and only a negligible amount in the sub-38 um 'slimes' size fraction



- The high-grade monazite sands delineated from surface at Monte Alto, and extensively across the Rocha da Rocha province, are posited to be the weathered expression of the underlying ultra-high grade REENb-Sc-Ta-U 'source rock' Direct Metallurgical Leaching



Initial metallurgical testing by ANSTO Minerals has delivered highly promising results:



- Direct metallurgical leaching of the REE-Nb-Sc-Ta-U mineralisation successfully confirmed efficient rare earth extractions of up to 94% TREO into a stable solution, including up to 94% for NdPr and over 92% for DyTb



- High TREE liquor tenors of over 23 g/L were achieved



- Rapid-leaching kinetics with over 90% extraction within 2 hours



- Efficient leaching achieved at atmospheric pressure with sulfuric acid concentrations at or below 75 g/L



- The primary amphibole gangue-mineral did not consume acid during leaching and reported to solid residue



- Pregnant leach solutions exhibited fast filtration rates, supporting downstream impurity removal



Monte Alto Scoping Study - Stage I



The Monte Alto Stage I Scoping Study, scheduled for completion in Q2 2025, will evaluate an initial operation targeting two saleable export products:



1) High-grade rare earth monazite concentrate: Extracted from the shallow, free-dig, high-grade monazite sand deposit, and processed using industry-standard gravity, magnetic, and flotation methods



2) Direct Ship Mineral (DSM): Run-of-mine, crushed, and ore-sorted hard rock REE-Nb-Sc-Ta-U mineralisation



Future Stage II Scoping Studies will assess the technical and economic feasibility for downstream leaching and separation operations for both high-grade monazite concentrates and REE-Nb-Sc-Ta-U feedstocks



Brazilian Rare Earths' CEO and Managing Director, Bernardo da Veiga, commented:



"We are thrilled with the results of the metallurgical studies from Monte Alto. The results highlight the remarkable efficiency of processing chevkinite-dominant mineralisation under atmospheric leaching conditions.



Our scoping level technical studies remain on schedule, and we look forward to providing further updates as we move closer to defining the economic potential of Monte Alto."



Monte Alto is BRE's most advanced project in the extensive Rocha da Rocha rare earths and critical minerals province. Discovered less than two years ago, the project has been systematically explored and delineated through multiple exploration programs. The current mineralised strike length is over 1 km with a width of 0.5 km.



Drilling has intersected wide zones of ultra-high-grade REE-Nb-Sc-Ta-U hard rock mineralisation from surface to depths of up to 200 metres. The ultra-high grade hard rock mineralisation is overlain by a free-dig, high-grade monazite-sand deposit that extends from surface to depths of around 75 metres.



The Monte Alto deposit is hosted within the Volta do Rio Plutonic Suite (VRPS), a provincial-scale magmatic system that has already yielded multiple discoveries of ultra-high-grade REE-Nb-Sc-Ta-U mineralisation, including at the Sulista and Pele Projects. The hard rock REE-Nb-Sc-Ta-U mineralisation is coeval with the granites of the VPRS and repeats along the prominent geophysical trendline that runs down the extensive spine of the Rocha da Rocha Province.



Comprehensive mineralogical studies on the ultra-high-grade REE-Nb-Sc-Ta-U mineralisation have confirmed the dominant high-grade rare earth mineral is 'chevkinite' (up to 61% by weight).



Chevkinite is a readily leachable rare earth mineral, hosting the majority (~80%) of rare earth elements (REE) and critical co-product elements within the REE-Nb-Sc-Ta-U mineralisation. The accessory mineral apatitebritholite hosts ~10% of the REEs, with the balance hosted by minor REE minerals.



The first phase of metallurgical test work by ANSTO successfully confirmed that rare earths in the REE-Nb-ScTa-U mineralisation can be efficiently extracted into stable solution, using mild leaching conditions and at atmospheric pressures (Figure 1*).



Future Testing Pipeline



The ANSTO testing program is advancing on schedule, with completion anticipated in early 2025. The second phase of the test work program will focus on impurity removal, including the recovery of uranium, prior to producing a mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC).



The key objectives of the future test work program include:



Co-product recovery and impurity management:



- Progress and enhance recovery of the co-products including uranium, niobium tantalum and scandium



- Impurity removal and immobilisation Comprehensive beneficiation studies:



- Hard-rock beneficiation: Ore sorting, gravity concentration, flotation, and magnetic separation



- Monazite sands: Refine and enhance beneficiation process (gravity concentration, flotation, and magnetic separation) and optimise the cracking process for the high-grade monazite sand concentrates



The test work programs are being conducted in both Brazil and Australia to ensure a full evaluation of the process. Mineral concentrates produced from the beneficiation activities may undergo further extractive metallurgical testing in both regions to assess and maximise the economic value of the processes.



*To view the full release including tables and figures, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/9T9O7489





About Brazilian Rare Earths Limited





Brazilian Rare Earths Limited (ASX:BRE) is an Australian company, rapidly advancing its Tier 1 rare earth project in Northeast Brazil.

Company exploration to date has discovered and delineated a globally significant, district-scale mineral province containing large volumes of both heavy and light rare earths critical to advanced industries and applications that will deliver a green energy transition.

The Company is led by a team of experienced mining executives and geologists with hundreds of years of cumulative experience in finding, developing, and operating mineral assets to generate value across a wide variety of jurisdictions, and commodities throughout the globe.

Related Companies


Reward Gold Mine and Company Update

Perth, Nov 27, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Vertex Minerals Limited ( ASX:VTX ) ( VTXXF:OTCMKTS ) is pleased to announce a further update on the Reward Gold mine start up.



HIGHLIGHTS



- All major components are now installed and fitted at the Reward Gold Mine Gravity Plant.



- Electrical fit out is well underway.



- Piping and water reticulation is ongoing.



- Tails lines are being laid to the dry sand stack location.



- Plant power up is planned for mid-December.



- General Manager and other key personnel have commenced employment.



- Ore Sorter structure is under construction and will be installed in January



- The plant will be commissioned on stockpiles located at the plant prior to the Ore Sorter installation.



- Road infrastructure upgraded.



- Portal entry and ore handling area refurbished and expanded.



- Vertex on track for January commissioning of the plant.



Mobilisation of the Gravity Plant from Ballart to site commenced earlier this month (as announced 13 November 2024), with all major components now onsite, installed and fitted at the Gravity Plant. Fitout of ancillary services (including electrical and water) is well underway, with completion and initial powering-up scheduled for mid-December 2024.



All Civil Works for this stage, including the upgrading and refurbishment of Road Infrastructure, portal entry and the ore handling area are also complete.



Ore Sorter and Forward Plan



Compelling results from Ore Sorting testwork (including a 337% increase in grade and 79% mass reduction) as announced on 25th July 2024, resulted in a decision to incorporate pre-concentration into the flow sheet and design for the Hill End project (as announced 11 September 2024). Construction of the Ore Sorter structure has commenced, with installation expected in January 2025. Installation of the Ore Sorter is not expected to delay plant commissioning, with initial processing of existing stockpiles located at the plant location to commence prior to installation and commissioning of the Ore Sorter.



Corporate and Financial



On 7 November 2024, Shareholders voted to approve the second tranche of the Company's 2-tranche share placement announced in mid-August 2024. All funds for the second tranche have been received and allotment is expected shortly.



The Company's Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled for 29 November 2024 and resolutions include approval for the conversion of loan funds received under the capital-raising announced in October 2024. Various option issue approvals were granted in the 7 November Meeting and are being sought at the AGM and a prospectus for the issue of those options is being prepared.



On 27 May 2024 the Company announced that it had signed a terms sheet with Ocean Partners for a US$10M Prepayment Facility, subject to conditions precedent. Following on from the revised mine design and Gravity plant flow sheet, because of the decision to utilise an ore sorter, the capital expenditure required to develop the mine was significantly lowered. A facility of this size is no longer expected to be required by the Company and the parties have agreed that the proposed arrangement will not be completed, with no penalty to the Company. The Company is in negotiations with several parties in relation to a significantly smaller debt or prepayment facility.



Commenting on the progress, Vertex Executive Chairman Roger Jackson said: "We are very excited by the progress that has been made with the Gravity Gold plant installation at our mine ready Gold project.



The installation is well ahead of the time we had scheduled, which has helped recover the time lost due to weather with the civil construction. We are hopeful we can now power the plant up for testing in just a few weeks. We then can commission the plant with the gold ore stockpiles we have sitting at the plant.



I would commend Gekko and our Hill End team for their efforts with this installation."



*To view photgraphs, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/BSH85XZW





About Vertex Minerals Limited





Vertex Minerals Limited (ASX:VTX) is an Australian based gold exploration company developing its advanced Hargraves and Hill End gold projects located in the highly prospective Eastern Lachlan Fold Belt of Central West NSW. Other Company assets include the Pride of Elvire gold project and Taylors Rock gold/nickel/lithium project both located in the Eastern Goldfields of WA. The focus of Vertex Minerals is to advance the commercial production of gold from its NSW projects embracing an ethical and environmentally sustainable approach.

Related Companies
Welcome to the 2024 Actuarial Post Awards. We would like to thank our sponsors who continue to support the awards, Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC), Bolton Associates and Star Actuarial Futures. Helen Kinloch, PIC Talent Acquisition Manager: We are delighted to sponsor Actuarial Posts - Actuary of the Year award 2024 for the first time. PIC is a company with a clear purpose, a strong link to the creation of social value, and a culture that allows our employees to grow with the company and see the contribution they make to our success. PIC pays the pensions of hundreds of thousands of members and former members of UK defined benefit pension schemes. We invest in long-term assets, like UK infrastructure and regeneration projects, to provide the very long-term cashflows we need to pay those pensions over the coming decades. These investments have the beneficial outcome of supporting jobs and apprenticeships, driving economic growth, and creating significant social value. We look forward to announcing the winner! Zoe Bolton, Managing Director at Bolton Associates: As we enter our tenth consecutive year of sponsoring the GI Actuary of the Year award, the team at Bolton Associates continues to grow in our niche sector, focusing on actuarial and analytics within the general insurance market specifically. The recruitment market within the GI Actuarial sector has been frantic this year, and shows no sign of abating. There has been an increase of pricing roles, partly due to tech transformation and also with a substantial amount of movement within reinsurance and casualty. Richard Foulds, Associate Director, Star Actuarial Futures: Were excited at Star Actuarial to sponsor the Sustainability Actuary of the Year Award 2024. In its simplest terms, sustainability is about keeping something going. Business leaders make important decisions daily in response to changing regulatory, economic and societal conditions. All the time trying to keep a fine balance between long term plans and short term actions. All to keep their business going. To some, sustainability is a societal responsibility at the heart of all decisions, to ensure that we have a healthy environment in the future. Others might be more focused on having a business that still exists in the future, in an economically challenging market. And this is what makes this topic so important and interesting. How do we find that real world balance between commercial and environmental priorities? Actuaries are ideally placed to find this balance. Whether youre a financial reporting analyst in the life sector, a pricing actuary in the London Market, or an investment consultant advising a trustee of a pension scheme, you have the skills needed to guide these decisions. These awards offer us all a fascinating opportunity to see and celebrate the profiles of different people who are working in the sustainability space, and learn what has been happening at the individual and company level over the last 12 months. I cant wait to see this years winner! Who will be crowned this year's Actuary of the Year? Make your nominations for each category and check back for who makes it to the shortlist, Will it be your nominee? AP Awards 2024 Vote Now

Click on the award below to make your nomination Actuary of the Year

GI Actuary of the Year

Sustainability Actuary of the Year

Pensions Actuary of the Year

Investment Actuary of the Year

Life & Health Actuary of the Year

Software of the Year

Employer of the Year Actuary of the Year 2023 - David Hamilton, Chief Actuary at Broadstone


Peter Hotez: It's respiratory disease season. Here's what to expect. Sharon Steinmann

Bow-tied researcher Peter Hotez  probably Houstons most recognizable doctor  develops vaccines with his team at Texas Childrens Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, and is the dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.



He keeps a close eye on the spread of communicable diseases, so I asked him for an update. (In Sunday Outlook, we'll also run his thoughts on the public-health challenges that the Trump administration will face on Day 1.)



This interview has been edited for clarity and length.



Q: Were going into the holiday season. Its a joyful time, but also  because of travel and big gatherings  a time when diseases spread fast. What are you watching this season?



A: The holiday season also happens to be winter respiratory virus season. So there are a number of things to be mindful about.



Our levels of COVID have been really low  the lowest weve had since we began measuring it in June July 2020. But my expectation is that theyre going to go up again.



With COVID, the most important thing is to keep up with your immunizations. A new immunization became available in September of this year. If thats when you got it, itll be time soon for a booster. Id suggest getting it around January.



Keeping up with those vaccinations is really important for a number of reasons. It will reduce the likelihood that COVID could put you into the hospital. Plus, there are other benefits. It reduces your risk of getting long COVID. And it reduces your risk of heart attacks and strokes. Thats because COVID is a thromboembolic virus.

HOTEZ ON TRUMP: What Peter Hotez thinks of Trump's health team

The next thing is influenza. Im going to start sounding like a broken record because there, too, the best thing you can do is to keep up with your immunizations. If you havent gotten your annual influenza immunization, nows the time to get it. Were starting to see a pretty sharp uptick in influenza activity, as wed expect. And historically, it gets really bad around January and into February.



The third thing is RSV, respiratory syncytial virus. Thats a bad actor, especially if youre older or debilitated. Not many Americans know about RSV, but it causes between 6,000 and 10,000 deaths a year among adults aged 65 and older. Thats not as many as influenza, but its still significant. So talk with your primary care doctor about getting an RSV vaccine.



Last, be mindful if you have a cold or youre not feeling well. Try not to infect your loved ones. Stay isolated for a few days.



I dont see many people wearing masks on planes anymore. I understand that, because the risk of COVID has gone down. But masks do help you avoid getting other respiratory virus infections too. And who wants to get a bad cold over the holiday season?



Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Dr. Peter Hotez at his Baylor College Of Medicine office in Houston, TX on Monday November 25, 2024. Sharon Steinmann

Q: Ive been reading a lot about bird flu. Should I be worried about that?



A: Avian influenza, or bird flu, is one of the major infectious disease threats that Im worried about. Its coming from wild migratory birds. Theyre infected at high levels now with a virus called H5N1.



Those wild birds are causing a lot of infection among poultry and domestic birds in the western half of the United States and all along the northern part of the U.S. Some of those bird infections are even causing human infection, though theres no human-to-human transmission of that strain of the virus yet.

Theres a second type of bird flu, however, thats gotten into cattle. Its affecting dairy farms in Texas, in the central portion of the United States and elsewhere. That one has been passed to humans, but we're not sure yet how it's been transmitted. Theres worry that the virus is contaminating milk. So it may be important, in the next few weeks or months, that the milk you drink be pasteurized. Pasteurization would kill the virus.



Theres no documented human-to-human transmission of this strain of avian flu either, so you dont have to worry about that now. But viruses mutate, and if you ask me that question a year from now, it may be a different story. So were watching it very closely. Im worried about it as a potential future threat.
Film festivals have always played a pivotal role in celebrating cinematic excellence and fostering cultural diversity. Among them, the Jagran Film Festival stands out as a landmark initiative by the Jagran Prakashan Group, dedicated to uniting diverse cultures through the universal language of cinema. Now in its 12th edition, the worlds largest traveling film festival continues its tradition of celebrating Good Cinema for Everyone. Uniquely, JFF is inaugurated by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, in the nations capital, New Delhi, at the Siri Fort Auditorium.

From an impressive pool of 4,787 submissions, 292 outstanding films, Feature, Shorts and documentaries were selected, representing 78 languages and showcasing the richness of diversity from 111 countries. The festival traverses 11 states over 100 days, highlighting its unparalleled reach and inclusivity. This season, the Jagran Film Festival is travelling to 18 cities, beginning with its grand opening in Delhi and moving through major locations such as Prayagraj, Varanasi, Raipur, Ranchi, Indore, Siliguri, Kanpur, Lucknow, Agra, Meerut, Gorakhpur, Patna, Ludhiana, Dehradun, Hissar, and Darbhanga, before concluding with a grand finale in Mumbai. This extensive itinerary ensures that cinema reaches audiences across diverse demographics, solidifying the festivals legacy of making quality cinema accessible to all. The festival promises a grand cinematic experience in Delhi, graced by esteemed personalities such as Pankaj Kapoor, Manoj Bajpayee, Bhumi Pednekar, Taapsee Pannu, Mukesh Chhabra, Bhuvan Bam, Rajpal Yadav, Rahul Rawail, Rajat Kapoor, Sudhir Mishra. Renowned directors including Padma Shri and Padmabhushan Anil Prakash Joshi, Aaditri Dipika, Onir, and Hari K Sudan will also lend their presence. This edition features a remarkable lineup of 102 films spanning Indian and international origins, covering short films, documentaries, and OTT content from 29 countries in 34 languages.

The festival also includes notable entries such as Kiran Raos official Oscar entry Laapataa Ladies and the Marathi film Gypsy by Shashi Chandrakant Khandare. Documentaries like Ujjal Uttam: Artful Life of Uttam Bahurupi and I Survived the Holocaust bring compelling narratives to the forefront, while short films such as Shashwatam and Amar Dies Today showcase emerging talents. Special screenings include classics like Shyam Benegal's Manthan and initiatives promoting inclusivity. Marking another significant achievement, this edition will feature 17 premieres, including over five world premieres, seven Asia premieres, and five Indian premieres.

This remarkable event will unite an exceptional lineup of actors, directors, influencers, and writers to participate in a series of insightful talk shows. Rajnigandha Achiever Talks, featuring legendary actor Pankaj Kapur, whose Retrospective is being celebrated in this season of the festival, celebrated for his transformative performances that have defined Indian cinema. Another session will spotlight Manoj Bajpayee, renowned for his intense method of acting and acclaimed roles, including his success in The Family Man and his latest film Despatch in the Indian Showcase category. Another highlight would be a Master Class and chat session for a thought-provoking discussion on topics such as the evolving "Grammar of Cinema" in modern filmmaking led by Keval Arora, Mohit Tripathi, and Anasuya Vidya moderated by Samdish Bhatia, followed by "Cracking the Code to Being Cast in Big Films: The Next Breakout Face" will be a session led by Mukesh Chhabra, offering invaluable insights for aspiring cinema enthusiasts and young actors transitioning from theatre to the television industry. It will also feature compelling panel discussions, including a conversation with renowned filmmakers Rahul Rawail and Sudhir Mishra. Alongside celebrating Good Cinema for Everyone, these discussions will provide valuable insights and engaging conversation with the media fraternity and movie buffs alike.

Basant Rathore, Senior Vice President- Jagran Prakashan Limited, shares, The Jagran Film Festival (JFF) has cemented its place as a cherished platform for movie buffs, cine professionals, fraternity, the theatre industry, and aspiring actors, writers, cinemagoers, celebrating the transformative power of cinema to inspire and connect audiences. Renowned as the worlds largest traveling film festival, JFF has become synonymous with its theme, Good Cinema for Everyone, taking world-class cinema from major cities like Delhi and Mumbai to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across India. This season, we are excited to kick off the festival in Delhi from December 5th to 8th at Siri Fort Auditorium, featuring 102 remarkable films across 34 languages and 29 countries. As a flagship initiative of the Jagran Prakashan Group, this festival represents our unwavering commitment to making quality cinema accessible to all, while fostering meaningful conversations about the art and craft of storytelling.

This 12th Season, we aim to build on the overwhelming response from past seasons and deliver an unforgettable cinematic experience that resonates with audiences across India.

Get ready for the worlds largest travelling film festival! The Jagran Film Festival kicks off in Delhi from December 5th to 8th at the Siri Fort Auditorium.

Also Read: Times Now Heroes honors Delhi Police for rescuing 104 trafficked children
The US Justice Department has concluded its case against Google, arguing that the tech giant illegally monopolized online advertising technology. The government seeks a second antitrust win against Google, following a previous ruling against the company's dominance in online search.

The trial, which took place in September, focused on Googles alleged monopoly in three key areas: publisher ad servers, advertiser ad networks, and ad exchanges. The DOJ contends that Googles anti-competitive practices have harmed publishers and advertisers alike.

Google, however, maintains that it operates in a competitive market and that its actions are justified by legitimate business decisions. The company argues that the DOJs case is based on a narrow view of the market and ignores the broader competitive landscape.

The outcome of the case will have significant implications for the future of online advertising and could potentially reshape the digital advertising landscape. If found guilty, Google could face significant penalties, including forced divestiture of certain assets.

Also Read: Google condemns DOJ's proposal as threat to consumer privacy and innovation
AI-driven personalization in marketing has transformed the way marketing strategies are devised. As per a report by McKinsey, brands engaging in personalization gather 40% more revenue than others, and according to a study by Adobe, around 67% of consumers want personalized content and experiences. The global AI-based market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of nearly 13%. The Artificial Intelligence market in India is predicted to reach $6.26 billion in 2024 with a CAGR of around 28.65% within the years 2024-2030, hitting a market volume of nearly $28.36 billion by 2030 as per Statista.

Marketing powered by artificial intelligence enables brands to target their products and services tailoring to the specific tastes and preferences of the consumers with customised product recommendations. AI allows brands to gather and analyze vast amounts of customer data to derive insights about consumer behavior and devise marketing communication strategies accordingly. This results in higher consumer engagement and conversion rates leading to greater revenue and profit levels, reducing the time and capital required to analyze such large volumes of data. As per a report, AI-powered personalization establishes stronger relationships with consumers making them feel understood and valued. This, in turn, results in greater brand loyalty. Moreover, AI has the power to create personalized and diversified content that resonates greatly with the target audience. AI also enables predictive analysis, estimating the purchase behavior of the consumers and reducing chances of customer churn by targeting the right and relevant consumers who are more likely to buy a brands products and services.

For instance, e-commerce platforms such as Myntra, Amazon, Flipkart, etc., utilize AI-driven personalization methods and recommendations for curating products and collections that match the preferences and requirements of the target consumers. Netflix and Spotify utilize AI to recommend content and playlists that match the customer behaviour on the platform, catering to their specific interests and preferences. Personal care brand Sephoras Beauty Insider Program utilizes product recommendations that are personalized to improve customer retention and loyalty. Starbucks mobile app uses AI to provide personalized discounts and offers by tracking the users purchase history, and location and by remembering the favourite drinks of the customers as per a report in PRmoment India. In this way, AI enables one-to-one brand experience and consumer engagement, fostering greater trust for the brands.

Adgully spoke with a cross-section of industry experts who provided valuable insights on how AI-powered personalization is transforming consumer engagement in mobile marketing.

Ayush Nambiar, Director, Flags Communications, noted, AI-powered personalization is truly transforming the way brands engage with consumers. Today, were surrounded by an overwhelming amount of data, and the key for brands is how they mobilize this data. By using techniques like machine learning, brands can capture and analyze vast amounts of consumer data, which allows them to create highly personalized communications. This enables brands to not only connect with consumers in real time but also to address the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that emerge from this data. The real benefit for brands is that it leads to deeper engagement, stronger loyalty, and, ultimately, higher conversion rates.

Manas Gulati, Founder, ARMWorldwide, pointed out how the market today has become highly competitive, with consumers attention span becoming limited. He added, Their choices are vast, which makes it harder for brands to capture and retain their attention. A blanket marketing approach, once considered effective, is no longer enough to keep consumers engaged.

In response, personalization emerged as a powerful strategy, allowing brands to connect with consumers on a more meaningful and individual level. AI-powered personalization transforms how brands interact with consumers in mobile marketing, enabling them to deliver highly relevant content uniquely tailored to individual preferences.

With advanced algorithms and deep consumer data insights, AI allows brands to predict what users want before expressing it. This shift is creating more engaging experiences that resonate with consumers personally. A prime example is Amazon, which uses AI to recommend products based on a user's past interactions, enhancing the shopping experience. Additionally, incorporating AI into mobile marketing opens up numerous opportunities for brands to enhance engagement, refine personalization, and improve ROI. Personalized content, such as push notifications and in-app messages, has proven to drive higher user engagement, leading to repeat purchases. In fact, according to Accenture, 91% of consumers are more likely to engage with brands that offer tailored recommendations and promotions. AI-driven personalization allows brands to deliver highly relevant and customized experiences across all consumer touchpoints, ensuring that the content resonates with users evolving preferences and behaviours, ultimately benefiting the brand. Gulati elaborated.

Karishma Gupta, Partner, Deloitte India, said, AI-powered personalization is revolutionizing mobile marketing by enabling brands to create highly customized and dynamic experiences that foster deeper consumer engagement. Through the use of machine learning, deep learning, and big data analytics, brands can now provide personalized content, offers, and recommendations in real-time.

Enhanced Customer Targeting: By analyzing large datasets, such as browsing behavior, previous purchases, and social media interactions, AI can predict customer needs and preferences. For example, Starbucks Deep Brew platform customizes offers and suggestions based on factors like the customers time of day, order history, and even external influences such as the weather, making the experience more personalized and relevant.

Real-Time Content and Offers: AI enables brands to tailor content dynamically, ensuring that consumers see products that align with their interests. Sephoras Virtual Artist is an example of this, using AI to let users virtually try on makeup and receive personalized product recommendations based on skin tone and preferences.

Localized Marketing Campaigns: AI is also used to adapt marketing strategies based on regional preferences. Swiggy, for instance, customizes food suggestions according to local tastes, while Nike sends location-based promotions, such as running shoes tailored for urban areas.

The AI-driven approach increases engagement by delivering targeted, location-specific offers. AI-driven personalization offers several benefits for brands, enabling them to create more relevant and engaging customer experiences that ultimately drive loyalty and conversions.

Higher Customer Retention: Personalized marketing efforts powered by AI increase relevance, leading to better retention rate. Spotifys AI algorithms curate Discover Weekly playlists based on users listening history, keeping them engaged and increasing retention.

Marketing Efficiency: Flipkart uses AI-driven systems to personalize content and display the most relevant advertisements to users. These systems estimate how likely a customer is to click on an ad and how that click translates into a purchase. By optimizing both the customer experience and revenue generation, Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing how Flipkart operates and enhancing overall efficiency and innovation.

Increased Conversions: Personalization leads to improved customer experiences and higher conversion rates. Myntra, for example, employs AI to provide product recommendations tailored to individual style preferences with its My Stylist AI, reducing cart abandonment and boosting sales.

Prof Ashish Desai, Associate Professor of Information Management and Analytics at SPJIMR, elaborated, When we travel, we create memories; when we speak, we leave impressions; when we walk on sand, we leave footprints. Similarly, using a mobile device leaves a digital footprint through SMS, call records, geolocations, and websites visited. Mobile applications and platforms leverage this data, often referred to as Big Data, for personalization. This data is collected with user consent at the time of app download and processed using advanced computing power and skills. AI enables mobile marketing companies to analyze vast volumes of data in real time, identifying trends and offering personalization. It adjusts content and advertisements based on user interactions. For instance, if a user explores specific products, AI triggers related ads or notifications. Similarly, it can predict user behaviour, such as promoting a music genre a user often plays after ordering a burger, thereby anticipating needs and offering suggestions before users request them.

He further added, Mobile applications do not sell consumer data, but provide marketing services to brands. Brands use this data through Data as a Service to profile customer segments and develop personas that align with their requirements. This helps create engaging, tailored consumer experiences and enables effective calls to action, especially for low-involvement, instant-gratification, or low-cost products. Compliance with data protection laws is crucial. Applications must ensure informed consent, transparency in data collection, and robust security for storage. AI now analyses digital footprints in real time, allowing brands to deliver personalized content and predictive insights. This empowers marketers to anticipate needs and craft strategies tailored to individual users or address a segment of one.

"AI-powered personalization is changing the way we view mobile marketing by enabling brands to create hyper-targeted, contextually relevant experiences at scale. Unlike traditional segmentation, AI allows marketers to analyse massive datasets in real time, learning from user behaviour, preferences, and even micro-interactions to deliver precisely customised content. This leads to increased engagement, higher retention, and improved conversion rates. AI-powered personalization offers several key benefits for brands. It helpsROI by precision targeting, which minimises wasted ad spend and boosts campaign efficiency. Personalised experiences also cultivate stronger customer loyalty by creating deeper emotional connections, making customers feel seen and valued. Furthermore, AI systems enable real-time adaptability, adjusting content or offers based on changing user behaviour to ensure relevance at every touchpoint. In essence, AI-powered personalization is a technological advancement and a paradigm shift in how brands engage with consumers" said Sindhu Biswal - CEO & Founder of Buzzlab.

Rajesh Ghatge, CEO - Wondrlab Technologies & Founding Team Member (Wondrlab) shared: "AI-powered personalization has emerged as a game-changer in mobile marketing. By harnessing the power of AI, brands can now deliver hyper-personalized experiences that resonate with individual consumers. Personalized experiences foster a sense of loyalty and belonging. By tailoring content, offers, and recommendations to individual preferences, brands can elevate customer satisfaction and build lasting relationships. AI-driven personalization enables brands to deliver highly targeted messages at the optimal moment. This precision significantly boosts conversion rates and drives sales. By identifying high-value customer segments, brands can allocate marketing budgets more effectively. This reduces wasted spend and maximizes ROI. Personalized interactions deepen customer relationships, encouraging repeat purchases and brand advocacy. This translates to a higher customer lifetime value. Take the case of a beauty retailer, the brand can leverage AI to analyse customer purchase history, browsing behaviour, and social media activity. This data-driven approach could be used to recommend products, offer personalized discounts, and send targeted marketing messages. This personalized strategy is most likely to increase customer engagement and sales."

"AI-powered personalization is truly an important consumer engagement in mobile marketing. At its core, it enables brands to connect with users on a more individual level by delivering experiences tailored to each person's preferences, behavior, and interactions. For example, studies show that 80% of consumers are more likely to purchase from brands offering personalized experiences (Epsilon). By analyzing real-time behavior, brands not only increase engagement and loyalty but also stay ahead of shifting trends. It's about creating connections that make users feel understood, not marketed to. For brands, the benefits are huge. Personalization boosts engagement by making marketing feel more relevant and timelier, which increases the chances of a conversion. But it doesnt stop there; personalized marketing also builds stronger loyalty, as consumers are more likely to stick with a brand that really 'gets' them. And by understanding consumer behavior in real-time, brands can stay ahead of the curve, adjusting their approach as trends and preferences shift. In short, AI-powered personalization helps brands become more adaptive, responsive, and valuable to their customer" said Sahaan Suman K, Founder of Bubble Network.

Role of AI-driven data analysis in enhancing mobile marketing strategies

AI-driven data analysis plays a pivotal role in fine-tuning mobile marketing strategies, said Ayush Nambiar, explaining, It allows brands to dive deep into consumer behaviour, predict trends, and tailor their messaging accordingly. The real power of AI is that it evolves  learning from the data it processes and continually refining its techniques. AI is nothing but data, responding to data based on data. However, with this power comes responsibility. Brands need to balance personalization with privacy by being transparent about how they collect and use data. Consumers should have control over their information. If handled responsibly, AI-powered personalization can greatly enhance the customer experience without violating privacy.

AIs ability to process vast amounts of data to provide precise insights has the potential to make mobile marketing campaigns more effective and user-centered. Its ability to analyze consumer behaviours, preferences, and trends allows for highly personalized marketing, ensuring that users receive content tailored to their interests. Real-time analysis further enhances this by enabling campaigns to adjust quickly to shifts in consumer behaviour, keeping strategies current and effective.

Manas Gulati elaborated on this, citing the example of a food delivery app predicting when a user is likely to order dinner based on past habits, then send a well-timed notification with a discount on their favorite dish. Moreover, AI improves targeting by identifying specific audience segments, enhances efficiency through automation, and refines user experiences by analyzing feedback to improve app designs. Maybe you have noticed how some apps seem to know exactly what you want  thats AI working behind the scenes to make your experience effortless. For example, Netflixs recommendation engine, driven by AI, suggests content tailored to individual preferences, resulting in 80% of the content watched being influenced by these insights. Additionally, AI allows brands to optimize targeting, improving the relevance and impact of mobile campaigns, he added.

At the same time, Gulati cautioned, However, the use of AI in personalization comes with privacy concerns. Consumers are increasingly cautious about how their data is being used. Studies show that 79% are worried about data privacy. To balance personalization with privacy, brands must adopt transparent data practices. Additionally, offering opt-in choices and clear communication about data usage can help maintain consumer trust. Ultimately, AIs ability to optimize marketing efforts while safeguarding user privacy helps businesses build stronger relationships with their audience. Brands can maintain a competitive edge and cultivate customer loyalty by protecting data and providing relevant content.

Karishma Gupta commented, To enhance mobile marketing strategies, AI-driven data analysis plays a crucial role by delivering real-time insights, forecasting trends, and enabling hyper-targeted campaigns that deeply resonate with customers.

Real-Time Insights and Predictive Analytics: AI continuously analyzes customer interactions, adjusting marketing strategies in real time. Amazons recommendation engine, for example, processes customer actions on the fly to suggest products immediately, resulting in increased engagement and sales. Similarly, Walmarts AI system, for example, predicts when customers are likely to need certain items, sending them personalized promotions and reminders.

Campaign Execution Efficiency: AI identifies high-performing ad formats, channels, and timeframes, enabling brands to allocate budgets effectively and maximize ROI. Simultaneously, AI-powered tools optimize messaging and creatives for different audience segments, ensuring campaigns remain relevant and impactful. (Example: Salesforce Einstein)

Seamless Customer Journey: AI automates data processing and analysis, reducing the time and resources needed to create personalized marketing campaigns. HDFC Banks EVA, an AI-powered virtual assistant, not only improves customer support, but also assists in generating leads and recommending financial products, which boosts efficiency and reduces operational costs.

Sindhu Biswal - CEO & Founder of Buzzlab commented: "AI-driven data analysis acts as the nerve centre of modern mobile marketing strategies. It transforms raw data into actionable insights by identifying patterns, predicting future behaviours, and automating decision-making processes. This capability enables marketers to design campaigns that feel intuitive and preemptive, significantly enhancing user engagement and satisfaction. As the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. So is the case when it comes to balancing personalization with privacy demands. Brands must prioritise transparency by clearly communicating how they collect and use data, garnering trust through openness. Privacy-first personalization techniques, such as federated learning and anonymized data analysis, enable customised experiences without compromising individual privacy. Additionally, adhering to regulatory frameworks like GDPR and CCPA is essential, as compliance is not optional but a fundamental requirement for ethical AI usage. The future will belong to brands that can ethically navigate this dual mandate of personalization and privacy, proving that consumer trust is the ultimate KPI."

Rajesh Ghatge, CEO - Wondrlab Technologies & Founding Team Member (Wondrlab) noted: "AI has revolutionize mobile marketing by enabling hyper-personalized campaigns by Identifying User Segments. By analyzing vast amounts of user data,AI algorithms can identify intricate patterns and behaviors, clustering users into highly targeted segments. This granular segmentation goes beyond traditional demographics like age and gender, considering factors such as:

App Usage Patterns: AI can analyze how frequently users open the app, the time spent within it, and the specific features they engage with.

In-App Purchases: By tracking purchase history, AI can identify high-value customers, impulse buyers, and those with specific product preferences.

Push Notification Interactions: Analyzing user responses to push notifications can reveal preferences for certain messaging styles, times, and content.

Geolocation Data: Understanding users' physical locations can help target location-based promotions and tailor content to local interests.

With these insights, marketers can create highly targeted campaigns that resonate with specific user segments, increasing engagement and conversions.

Further AI-powered predictive analytics can help mobile marketers identify users at risk of churning before they take action. By analyzing a multitude of factors, such as app usage frequency, in-app purchases, and customer support interactions, AI can predict churn probabilities for individual users.

Early detection of churn allows marketers to implement timely retention strategies, such as:

Personalized Offers: Tailored discounts, loyalty rewards, or exclusive content can entice users to stay engaged.

Proactive Customer Support: Reaching out to at-risk users with proactive support can address their concerns and improve satisfaction.

Targeted Marketing Campaigns: Reminding users of the app's value proposition and highlighting new features can rekindle interest.

By proactively addressing churn risks, businesses can reduce customer attrition and maintain a loyal user base."

He further added: " Lastly AI can optimize mobile ad spending by identifying the most effective channels and audiences. By analyzing real-time data on ad performance, AI algorithms can:

Identify High-Performing Channels: AI can determine which channels (e.g., Meta, Google, Instagram) deliver the best ROI, allowing marketers to allocate budgets accordingly.

Optimize Ad Creative: AI can analyze the visual and textual elements of ads to identify the most effective combinations, improving click-through rates and conversions.

Real-Time Bidding: AI-powered bidding systems can automatically adjust bids in real-time to maximize the chances of ad impressions and clicks, ensuring optimal ad spend.

Audience Segmentation: AI can identify the most receptive audience segments for specific ad campaigns, ensuring that marketing efforts are targeted to the right people.

By leveraging AI to optimize ad spend, businesses can maximize their return on investment and achieve better results with their mobile marketing campaigns.

While personalization is a powerful tool, it's crucial to balance it with consumer privacy concerns. To build trust and maintain a positive brand reputation, responsible brands have been seen to prioritise
The Board of Directors of Hindustan Unilever Ltd, at its meeting held yesterday (November 25, 2024), accorded in-principle approval to demerge the Ice Cream business into an independent listed entity. Subject to the necessary approvals and procedures to be followed in accordance with the applicable laws, it is proposed that the shareholders of HUL will receive shares in the new entity in proportion to their shareholding in HUL.

The decision to demerge is subject to approval of the Board and the shareholders to the scheme of demerger to be placed before the Board early next year. The Board considered different modes of separation of the Ice Cream business and after due consideration, with a view to maximise value for all the shareholders, the Board has accorded in-principle approval to demerge the business.

In September, the Board had constituted a committee of Independent Directors of the Company to evaluate the prospects and way forward for the Ice Cream business pursuant to Unilevers decision to separate their Ice Cream business. Based on the recommendation of the Independent Committee, the Board had announced the separation of the business in October 2024.

Ice Cream is a high-growth business, with iconic brands such as Kwality Walls, Cornetto and Magnum operating in an attractive category, and has mid to high single digit profitability. The demerger of Ice Cream business will create a leading listed ice cream company in India, which will have a focused management with greater flexibility to deploy strategies suited to its distinctive business model and market dynamics thus realising its full potential. Further, the business will continue to be equipped with the portfolio, brand and innovation expertise from the largest global Ice Cream business enabling it to keep winning in the marketplace. A separate listed entity will unlock fair value for HUL shareholders and give them the flexibility to stay invested in Ice Creams growth journey. Demerger will also facilitate a smoother transition for business as well as the companys people.

The Board has authorised HULs management to undertake preparatory steps required for the potential demerger of the Ice Cream business, including the drawing up of the scheme of arrangement. HUL shall make necessary disclosures in accordance with the SEBI Listing Regulations and other applicable laws, post consideration and approval of the matter by the Board.

Also Read: HUL Board moves to separate ice cream business for growth and focus
Moneycontrol has bolstered its position as Indias top destination for business, markets, and finance news, beating The Economic Times yet again, according to October readership data released by global digital audience measurement agency Comscore.

Moneycontrol clocked 53.94 million unique visitors in October, as per Comscore, compared to 39.61 million unique visitors on ET. This gives Moneycontrol a commanding audience-share lead, bigger than ET by over 36 percent in unique visitors per month.

Moneycontrol is ahead of ET on every major digital measurement metric. According to Comscore, the platform logged nearly twice as many page views in October 2024, at 491.5 million - compared with ETs 250.8 million page views.

Readers also spent significantly more time engaging with Moneycontrols content, cumulatively spending 458.6 million minutes on the platform in October, as per Comscore. This is over 50 percent higher than the time-spent by users on ET - 294.8 million minutes during the month. This huge gap highlights the depth of Moneycontrols audience connection and engagement.

The latest Comscore numbers cement Moneycontrols position as Indias largest financial platform and go-to destination for trusted business news and insights. They are also a testament to its unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality, authoritative content that resonates with Indias investor and business community.

Earlier in October, Moneycontrol Pro, the platforms subscription offering, crossed 1 million paying subscribers, bolstering its position as Indias largest news subscription platform and emerging among the top 15 worldwide.

Also Read: CNBC-TV18 and Moneycontrol's Global AI Conclave: From Hype to Impact
More than half of Indian (54%) consumers ranked quality of milk as a top priority while purchasing milk. Leading to the National Milk Day on November 26, Godrej Jerseys Milk Report also revealed that Indians are ready to increase milk consumption if they are assured of milk quality and safety.

Titled Bottoms UpIndia Says Cheers to Milk! the comprehensive study covering consumer responses from Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, and Kolkata, provides valuable insights into evolving consumer preferences and industry trends. Beyond quality considerations, the report highlights shifting consumer awareness and expectations in the dairy sector, serving as a crucial resource for industry stakeholders and policymakers.

Commenting on the findings, Bhupendra Suri, CEO, Godrej Jersey said, During the survey we found that consumers milk purchasing, and consumption preference is dependent on hygienic sourcing and processing coupled with packaging and assurance of no adulteration. Hence on the National Milk Day, this data serves as a reminder that the principles of the White Revolution  quality, transparency, and consumer trust  remain as relevant today as they were first championed.

The survey found that hygiene was a key factor while purchasing the milk for the consumers based out of Pune and Chennai (31% each) followed by Bangalore (30%) and Hyderabad (28%). When it came to unadulteration of milk as an important aspect for purchase, consumers from Mumbai and Pune (33% each) followed by Bangalore (29%) and Delhi (28%). Type of packaging was given the least priority while making the purchase of milk across the cities.

Additionally, as per the respondents, their purchase and consumption of milk is also dependent on the advice from doctors and family friends and 70 percent of consumers are willing to pay premium for high-quality and safe milk.

By championing quality and transparency, Godrej Jersey continues to contribute to the growth and development of Indias dairy landscape. The companys programs on integrated animal husbandry, and sustainable farming enable farmers enhance their income levels by adopting best practices in Dairy farming.

Also Read: Over half of retail spend expected to be online in post-pandemic world
Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses government aims to pass the legislation, which proposes some of the worlds strictest regulations on childrens social media usage, before the parliamentary year ends this Thursday. The bill, introduced just last week, allowed for public submissions of opinions for only one day, sparking criticism from stakeholders.

Both Google and Meta highlighted the importance of awaiting the outcomes of an age-verification trial before enacting the law. This system could involve the use of biometrics or government-issued identification to enforce the age restriction. Meta, in its submission, noted:

"In the absence of such results, neither industry nor Australians will understand the nature or scale of age assurance required by the bill, nor the impact of such measures on Australians. In its present form, the bill is inconsistent and ineffective."

Under the proposed law, social media companies, rather than parents or children, would bear the responsibility for implementing age-verification measures. Platforms that fail to comply could face fines of up to A$49.5 million (approximately $32 million).

The opposition Liberal Party is expected to back the bill, but some independent lawmakers have criticized the government for pushing the legislation through in a rushed manner, allowing only about a week for deliberation.

TikTok, owned by Bytedance, raised concerns over the lack of clarity in the bill and the absence of detailed consultation with key stakeholders, including mental health organizations, young users, and social media experts. In a statement, the company said:

"Where novel policy is put forward, it's important that legislation is drafted in a thorough and considered way, to ensure it is able to achieve its stated intention. This has not been the case with respect to this Bill."

Similarly, Elon Musks social platform, X, warned that the legislation could infringe upon the human rights of children, particularly their rights to freedom of expression and access to information. Musk, known for his strong stance on free speech, criticized the bill on social media last week, calling it "a backdoor way to control access to the internet."

The Senate committee overseeing communications legislation is expected to deliver a report on the bill soon, as debate continues over its potential implications and the rapid pace of its introduction.

Also Read: Tech giants fail ad transparency test
Authored by Vidya Dilip, Director, Dentsu Creative PR, Mumbai, India

As we approach the end of 2024, the Public Relations (PR) industry in India finds itself at a significant crossroads. Over the past few years, the industry has undergone a dramatic transformation, fueled by rapid digitalization, evolving consumer behavior, and new methods of storytelling. What was once considered a supportive, behind-the-scenes function has now become a strategic pillar for businesses across sectors. The industry, currently valued at 2,500 crore, is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12-14% in the coming years. This remarkable growth reflects its increasing importance in shaping narratives, driving engagement, and building reputations in an ever-changing communication landscape.

One of the defining characteristics of the PR industry's transformation is the embrace of digital media. Traditional PR practices, which relied heavily on newspapers, magazines, and television, have shifted to include a digital-first approach. Platforms such as LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube have become essential tools for storytelling and engaging with audiences. Additionally, podcasts and influencer marketing have added new layers to the PR mix, offering innovative ways to connect with target groups. According to studies by organizations like Dentsu ,approximately 65% of PR campaigns now place digital media at their core, reflecting the shift toward these dynamic platforms.

This digital evolution has also brought with it the need for integrated communication strategies. In today's interconnected world, the boundaries between PR, marketing, and advertising are increasingly blurred. Brands now demand a cohesive, 360-degree approach that leverages a mix of earned, owned, paid, and shared media. This shift has redefined the role of PR professionals, turning them into architects of brand narratives that span multiple channels. Successful campaigns are no longer confined to press releases or media coverage; they now encompass everything from social media storytelling to influencer collaborations and beyond.

The rise of data-driven decision-making has also played a pivotal role in shaping modern PR practices. Metrics like share of voice, sentiment analysis, and return on investment (ROI) are now critical benchmarks for evaluating the success of PR campaigns. The availability of analytics and real-time monitoring tools has allowed PR practitioners to craft precise, measurable strategies tailored to specific audiences.

At the same time, reputation management has emerged as a cornerstone of PR strategies. In an era where social media amplifies every misstep and fake news can spread rapidly, organizations face unprecedented risks to their reputations. As highlighted by the crisis cell of Dentsu Creative PR and other studies, 60% of organizations now view crisis communication and reputation management as top priorities. PR teams are tasked not only with responding to crises but also with proactively safeguarding the credibility and trust that underpin a brand's long-term success.

Another trend gaining prominence is the focus on thought leadership. In an increasingly competitive marketplace, brands and their leaders are leveraging PR to establish themselves as experts and innovators in their fields. Whether through authored articles in leading publications or speaking engagements at global forums, thought leadership initiatives help position organizations as credible and forward-thinking, enhancing their influence and visibility.

Looking ahead, the PR industry in India is poised for even greater transformation. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation promises to revolutionize how PR campaigns are planned and executed. AI-powered tools are already enabling real-time media monitoring, sentiment analysis, and predictive analytics, streamlining processes and allowing professionals to focus on creativity and strategy. As these technologies evolve, they will further enhance the efficiency and impact of PR efforts.

Another area of growth lies in visual storytelling. Platforms like Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and TikTok have demonstrated the power of video content in capturing attention and engaging audiences. Future PR campaigns will increasingly prioritize visually appealing formats, such as short-form videos, animations, and interactive graphics, to tell compelling stories in a matter of seconds.

Purpose-driven communication is also expected to take center stage. Consumers are increasingly drawn to brands that align with their values and demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility. PR professionals will need to craft narratives that highlight an organization's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals, helping to build goodwill while addressing critical societal issues.

The growing importance of regional markets presents another significant opportunity for the PR industry. With the rapid urbanization of Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, PR campaigns must be tailored to resonate with these emerging markets. Strategies that incorporate local languages, dialects, and cultural nuances will be essential for engaging audiences in these diverse regions. According to research by firms like Deloitte and Nielsen, regional markets now account for 30-40% of PR initiatives, underscoring their increasing relevance.

In addition to external outreach, PR will need to deepen its engagement with internal and external stakeholders. Beyond traditional media relations, the industry must focus on building strong connections with employees, customers, investors, and regulators. This stakeholder-centric approach will be crucial for fostering trust and loyalty in an era where transparency and accountability are paramount.

Upskilling will also play a critical role in preparing PR professionals for the challenges of tomorrow. As the industry evolves, practitioners will need to develop expertise in areas like search engine optimization (SEO), analytics, multimedia content creation, and influencer management. Investment in training programs and certifications will be essential to ensure that PR professionals remain at the forefront of their field.

Emerging sectors such as fintech, edtech, green energy, healthcare, and startups offer new avenues for PR firms to expand their portfolios. By aligning with these fast-growing industries, agencies can cater to a broader range of clients and tap into exciting opportunities. Additionally, influencer marketing will continue to be a key component of PR strategies. While macro-influencers dominate the spotlight today, the future will see a shift toward micro- and nano-influencers, who offer higher authenticity and engagement with niche audiences.

As the PR industry charts its path forward, its growth trajectory is underpinned by compelling data points. Reports from the Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI), and others indicate that the Indian PR market, currently valued at 2,500 crore, is on track for significant expansion. Digital media forms the backbone of approximately 65% of campaigns, while Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities contribute 30-40% of PR initiatives. Reputation management, a critical focus area, is prioritized by 60% of organizations, reflecting the high stakes of maintaining trust in the digital age.

The road ahead for the PR industry in India is filled with opportunities for innovation, creativity, and impact. By embracing technology, prioritizing authenticity, and aligning with societal values, PR professionals can elevate their craft and drive meaningful change. As communication evolves, PR will solidify its role as a vital strategic function, shaping narratives and building connections that stand the test of time. The future of PR in India is not just about telling storiesits about creating them in ways that inspire and resonate across generations.

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and Adgully.com does not necessarily subscribe to it.

Also Read: The aState of Your Platea changes with an increase in your waistline
We are in a new era of Public Relations. In the last few years, the importance of reputation management has undergone a sea change. More brands and clients, especially from the leadership teams, are viewing Public Relations from a close range. The industry has undergone a radical change with the advent of social media, which has to a large extent changed the approach to Public Relations. We have a relatively new and young audience that we need to face in the coming years so there are bigger challenges for brands and PR practitioners, who have to be more agile and proactive in their thinking to draw up business solutions for clients.

In our exclusive weekly column, PR Conversation, Adgully interacts with leading business leaders to gain their exclusive views and insights on various trends in the PR and communications industry.

In an exclusive conversation with Adgully, Sandeepa Santiago, Innovation Architect & Brand Strategist, CommsCredible, discusses in detail the role that PR plays in establishing a startups credibility. She also shares insights into how AI is reshaping the approach communication professionals take towards PR and brand building, as well as the key trends she foresees emerging in PR and communications, and more.

In a competitive market like India, what role does PR play in establishing a startups credibility?

Investing in PR early on can help a company build strong relationships with key stakeholders, which, in turn, helps establish a powerful brand position in the market. PR elevates brand visibility in the lifecycle of any startup; building trust and fostering a positive reputation among key stakeholders.

Storytelling is vital in this context as it helps the company craft compelling narratives that set it apart from its competitors in a dynamic market such as India.

How do you see AI reshaping the way communication professionals approach PR and brand building, and what ethical considerations should be kept in mind when leveraging AI tools in this field?

To say that AI has reshaped the way we engage with our stakeholders, craft stories and study data is not enough. In todays fast evolving and dynamic digital landscape, embracing AI is a necessity for companies aiming to stay competitive and relevant.

AI-powered tools help PR professionals gain deeper insights into consumer behaviour, predict trends and tailor brand narratives that align with stakeholders interest and preference. Content automation has made it easier to generate ideas, as well as create and refine content more quickly and accurately.

Automating PR processes has further improved team efficiency while bringing a greater level of sophistication to PR efforts. This empowers professionals to concentrate on more strategic, high impact activities.

Having said that, AI should be treated as a powerful tool, not a replacement for human skills and emotional intelligence. Companies will thrive when AI capabilities are combined with the creativity and expertise of PR professionals.

What key trends do you foresee emerging in the PR & Communications landscape in India over the next year, particularly for startups?

Startups will increasingly adopt a digital-first approach, leverage data-centric campaigns and collaborate with influencers and micro-influencers to engage with stakeholders. Companies may also prioritize purpose-driven communication, focusing on sustainability, inclusivity, and social impact messaging to connect with consumers. Additionally, video content, particularly short form videos will play a key role in PR strategies.

Could you share an example of a brand or campaign that successfully reinvented itself to stay relevant in a competitive market?

It has to be Vis Be Someones We campaign. By showcasing real-life stories of community support, Vi positioned itself as a brand that prioritises human connection and social inclusion, generating significant engagement on social media. The company went beyond conventional strategies, setting itself apart in a saturated market and transforming a simple telecom messaging into a powerful call for social good.
A mother and son solemnly pay a visit to the memorial at Robb Elementary as the community of Uvalde commemorates the one year anniversary of the school shooting of 19 students and two educators on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. St. Philip?s Episcopal Church honored the victims with a butterfly release. Mariachi Campana de Americas - that performed in Uvalde last year to comfort mourners - played once again at Town Square in honor of the victims and families. The memorial at Robb Elementary remained in place at the one-year mark as people solemnly remembered the victims on Wednesday. Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer Students change class at Churchill High School on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Texas public schools could be guarded by drones armed with pepper spray or Tasers under a new bill filed in the Texas Legislature meant to beef up school security.

The measure would boost funding for safety upgrades and let schools deploy drones in place of the armed guards that lawmakers required on every campus in response to the Uvalde school shooting. Districts have said they dont have the money to make those hires, and Hearst Newspaper previously found many havent complied or have instead armed teachers.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Rep. Ryan Guillen, a Rio Grande City Republican who filed the legislation, did not respond to repeated requests for comment. The bill will be taken up in the legislative session that begins in January.

Defense and security companies have promoted drones as a possible solution for stopping or mitigating school shootings in recent years, though school safety experts question the efficacy.

At least one Texas company appears to be interested in marketing drones for schools.

In an online job posting, Mithril Defense said it was planning to launch an advocacy campaign aimed at getting state lawmakers to greenlight and fund the use of drones to stop school shootings. The defense company, founded last year, said it expects to pilot the technology in several top 10 Texas school districts starting in January but did not identify them by name.

The CEO, Justin Marston, said in an email that the company is still formulating its plans and would not have more to share until sometime early next year.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Employees for the company, which appears to be named after a magical silver-colored metal from Lord of the Rings, are said to include a former Navy SEAL team SIX Command Master Chief, a serial tech entrepreneur, the #1 American drone pilot on ESPN, and various technical teams.

State ethics filings show theyve employed former Texas Secretary of State David Whitley as a lobbyist, who previously served as a top aide to Gov. Greg Abbott, and the job posting says the company is also considering forming a PAC to support the initiative.

Guillens bill says the drones would be armed with less lethal interdiction capability by means of air-based irritant delivery or other mechanisms, and it would require one drone for every 200 students.

The bill would also increase the states funding for school safety tenfold  raising the allotment from $10 per-student to $100. Schools could spend that money on school safety expenses, including hardening their campuses, hiring security guards or starting a drone program.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

School security experts are mixed on whether even the presence of human armed guards plays a meaningful role in stopping school shootings, which have often been carried out by attackers wielding semi-automatic rifles that allow them to discharge dozens of rounds quickly.

School shooting researcher David Riedman, creator of the K-12 School Shooting Database, said there are many unanswered questions about the use of drones for school safety.

Texas has armed school staff, armed teachers, police and armed school guardians. How does the drone distinguish between these armed personnel and an assailant with a gun? he said, adding that theres a risk hackers could access a drone remotely. It seems like the drones create more new risks and complications than potential viable defense against an attack.

In 2022, the CEO and Founder of Axon  a company known for inventing the Taser electrical stun gun and that now sells technology to the police and military  published an online essay calling for new solutions to protect schools, teachers and students, including the use of drones.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The company later announced it had begun development of a non-lethal, remotely-operated TASER drone system as part of a long-term plan to stop mass shootings. The program was stopped after ethics advisers for the company resigned en masse, criticizing the project as an obviously bad idea and absurd, the Washington Post reported in 2022.

Marston, the Mithril CEO, wrote in an emailed statement that his company understands the risks, which must be mitigated carefully in any school deployment, saying that theres also a real risk of friendly fire incidents between police officers who respond to active shootings.

One advantage of less lethal effects is that in a blue-on-blue accident, a law enforcement officer might be covered in pepper spray versus being taken to hospital with gunshot wounds," he said.

Marston also said he had experience from a National Security Agency project with much more stringent cyber security requirements than would be necessary to prevent a school safety drone from being hacked.
BJP Likely to Reject Eknath Shinde as Maharashtra CM: A Power Struggle Unfolds 2

The political landscape in Maharashtra is witnessing intense deliberations over the next Chief Minister (CM) following the Mahayuti Alliances emphatic victory in the assembly elections. Securing 233 out of 288 seats, the alliancewhich includes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Ajit Pawars faction of the NCP, and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Senadelivered a crushing blow to the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). However, the BJPs dominant performance, with 132 seats, has fueled speculation that the party may prefer its own leader, Devendra Fadnavis, over the incumbent CM, Eknath Shinde, for the top post.

The BJPs silence on the CM issue has not gone unnoticed, with growing pressure from its MLAs to install a party leader in the states highest office. Fadnavis, the current Deputy CM, has emerged as the frontrunner, with many MLAs openly advocating for his elevation. Known for his administrative skills and transformative policies during his previous tenure as CM (20142019), Fadnavis is seen as the architect of BJPs record-breaking win in these elections. His return as CM would signal a shift in governance style, aligning Maharashtra more closely with the BJPs national agenda of development and efficiency.

The BJPs reluctance to continue under Shindes leadership stems from a combination of strategic and practical concerns. While the Mahayuti fought the elections under Shindes leadership and delivered a historic mandate, BJP leaders argue that their substantial majority should translate into control of the CMs office. Many within the party feel that after playing second fiddle for 2.5 years as Deputy CM, Fadnavis deserves to reclaim the top position.

Shinde, however, is reportedly unwilling to relinquish the CMs chair. His reluctance is rooted in his belief that his leadership remains vital for the alliances performance in upcoming local body elections, including the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. Shindes appeal among urban and Marathi voters, coupled with his grassroots connections, could be pivotal in consolidating the alliances grip on state politics. His supporters argue that replacing him might disrupt the Mahayutis momentum and alienate a significant voter base.

Shindes tenure as CM has been marked by his ability to connect with the populace, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas. His leadership style emphasizes regional pride and grassroots development, qualities that resonate with a significant segment of Maharashtras electorate. For these reasons, Shindes camp has been lobbying hard to ensure his continuation as CM, viewing it as a strategic move for long-term political gains.

Within BJP circles, the debate over the CM post has become increasingly intense. On one hand, the party recognizes Shindes value as a leader who has proven his ability to mobilize voters and secure victories. On the other hand, there is a strong push for Fadnavis, whose governance track record and political astuteness could bring a fresh, dynamic approach to state administration. Several rounds of discussions, including high-level meetings among BJPs central leadership, have reportedly taken place, but a consensus remains elusive.

The BJP is also mindful of the optics of replacing Shinde, especially given his role in steering the Mahayuti to a landslide victory. Any decision to oust him could be perceived as undermining the alliances collective mandate. However, the scale of BJPs performance in the elections has emboldened party leaders, who see an opportunity to assert their dominance and install Fadnavis as CM. Ultimately, the decision on the CM will rest with the BJPs central leadership and its parliamentary board. The party is likely to consult alliance partners, including the NCP and Shiv Sena factions, to ensure a smooth transition and avoid internal rifts. Given the stakes involved, the leadership is expected to weigh the political and electoral implications of its choice carefully.

Shindes reluctance to step down also stems from a strategic argument: continuity in leadership, he contends, is crucial for maintaining the alliances electoral momentum. By remaining CM, Shinde believes he can strengthen the Mahayutis position in local body elections, particularly in Mumbai, where the BMC elections hold significant political and financial stakes. His supporters argue that his grassroots appeal and regional pride could translate into a clean sweep for the alliance in these polls. However, this perspective contrasts sharply with the BJPs broader political vision. The party sees Fadnavis as a leader who can realign state politics with its national narrative, emphasizing development, economic reforms, and infrastructure growth. Fadnaviss administrative acumen and governance style, which appealed to urban and middle-class voters during his previous tenure, are seen as assets that could further bolster the BJPs position in Maharashtra.

The current power struggle harks back to the political turmoil that followed the 2019 assembly elections. Despite winning a majority in alliance with the undivided Shiv Sena, the BJP was unable to form a government as the Shiv Sena broke away to join the MVA, led by Uddhav Thackeray. This led to a series of dramatic political developments, including the eventual formation of the Mahayuti Alliance under Shindes leadership in 2022. Over the past five years, Maharashtra has seen three different CMs: Fadnavis, Thackeray, and Shinde.

The BJPs central leadership is keen to avoid a repeat of this instability and is focused on ensuring a seamless transition, whether it involves retaining Shinde or reinstating Fadnavis as CM. The tenure of the current Maharashtra assembly ends on Tuesday, adding urgency to the decision-making process. Meanwhile, all 57 Shiv Sena MLAs have been summoned to a meeting in Bandra to elect the legislature party leader. Sources suggest that Shinde may submit his resignation to the governor and continue as caretaker CM until the new government is sworn in.

While Shindes supporters remain optimistic about his continuation, indications from BJP circles point to a strong preference for Fadnavis. The saffron partys leadership appears determined not to delay Fadnaviss return to Varsha, the CMs official residence in Mumbai.

The choice between Shinde and Fadnavis is more than a mere leadership tussle; it represents a broader battle for control over the Mahayutis political narrative. Shindes leadership symbolizes regional pride and grassroots politics, while Fadnavis embodies a governance model centered on development and alignment with BJPs national strategy. The decision will have far-reaching implications, not only for Maharashtras governance but also for the BJPs prospects in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

As the BJP navigates this delicate balancing act, it must consider the impact of its decision on the alliances unity, voter sentiment, and its own long-term political objectives. Whether it chooses continuity with Shinde or a fresh start with Fadnavis, the outcome will shape Maharashtras political landscape for years to come.
Trump's Controversial Tariff Plan: Canada, Mexico, and China Targeted 2

President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to impose significant tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, claiming the measures aim to curb illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and safeguard U.S. interests. The proposed tariffs include a 25% levy on all products from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on Chinese goods.

In a series of posts on Truth Social on Monday, Trump outlined his intentions to sign executive orders enacting these tariffs immediately upon taking office on January 20, 2025.

Targeting Borders and Trade

As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing crime and drugs at levels never seen before. Right now, a caravan coming from Mexico, composed of thousands of people, seems unstoppable in its quest to cross our currently open border, Trump declared.

He vowed, On January 20th, as one of my first executive orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% tariff on ALL products coming into the United States. Trump emphasized that these tariffs would remain until drug trafficking, particularly of fentanyl, and illegal immigration are halted.

Blaming both nations, Trump said, Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to solve this long-simmering problem easily. Until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price.

China in the Crosshairs

Turning his focus to China, Trump accused the country of failing to stop the flow of drugs into the United States, specifically fentanyl. I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs being sent into the United States  but to no avail, Trump claimed.

He alleged that while Chinese representatives had promised to implement strict penalties, including the death sentence for drug dealers, the commitment was never fulfilled. Drugs are pouring into our country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before, he added.

As a response, Trump pledged to impose an additional 10% tariff on all Chinese imports until the issue is resolved. Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% tariff on all of their many products coming into the United States of America, he said.

Day One Action Plan

Trump reiterated that these measures would be implemented on his first day in office. This executive order will be signed on January 20, 2025, to protect the United States from this invasion of drugs and illegal activity, he asserted.

The proposed tariffs have already sparked debate, with critics questioning their potential economic impact and effectiveness. However, Trumps strong rhetoric underscores his administrations intent to prioritize border control and trade issues in his upcoming term.
Leaders in the pro-life movement in Alabama want the Legislature to pass regulations for in vitro fertilization that recognize the Alabama Supreme Court decision that gave frozen embryos the legal status of unborn children.

But Republican lawmakers, who control the Legislature, have not committed to any follow-up to an IVF bill passed in March.

That law, which came in response to the Supreme Court ruling, gives IVF clinics immunity from civil or criminal liability for the death of stored embryos. It allows civil lawsuits with limited damages against manufacturers of goods used in IVF.

The new law does not touch on the question of whether the embryos are extrauterine children, as the justices ruled.

What the Legislature did was a stopgap measure, said Eric Johnston, a Birmingham attorney and president of the Alabama Pro-Life Coalition. And I dont blame them for doing it right away because they just could foresee a whole bunch of lawsuits being filed by these billboard lawyers.

The Legislature moved fast on the immunity bill - it was signed into law less than three weeks after the Supreme Court ruling.

Johnston said the Pro-Life Coalition asked lawmakers to put an expiration date in the bill so they would revisit IVF after some time to research and understand the issues. But the bill had no expiration date.

Now, Johnston and others in the pro-life movement are having trouble finding legislators to support a new bill, or even to study the issues to develop legislation on a complex topic.

Johnston said most people in the pro-life movement do not oppose IVF but want regulations, such as limits on the number of embryos created and a ban on them being used for research.

I have not gotten any kind of firm information from anyone, any legislator, that theyre considering it, Johnston said. I think it really needs to be done. If its not done this coming year, then next year. I dont think it ought to be put off indefinitely.

The leader of the Alabama House Democrats, on the other hand, said he will sponsor a bill to say embryos held in storage are not considered unborn children, the opposite view of the Supreme Court ruling.

Rep. Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, sponsored the same bill this year but it did not advance. Republicans hold three-fourths of the seats in the State House.

I said last (session) I didnt feel that the immunity bill was going to solve the problem, Daniels said. Which it did not. But I know we had to do something. And I think that that something was really nothing.

IVF services remain available in Alabama. Some clinics that had paused services because of the court ruling resumed after the immunity law passed.

Still, Daniels said he hears from people seeking IVF services outside the state or considering a move to another state because of the uncertainty resulting from the Legislatures failure to address the key question.

Daniels bill introduced in February said, Any fertilized human egg or human embryo that exists in any form outside of the uterus of a human body shall not, under any circumstances, be considered an unborn child.

Daniels said he would sponsor the same bill when the Legislature convenes again in February. He said he is open to other proposals.

Im not saying that my idea is the final and best idea, Daniels said. But I havent seen one that solves the problem.

IVF is a series of procedures that involves the fertilization of an egg with sperm outside a womans body to create an embryo, which is then transferred into the uterus. It can help couples who have been unable to conceive children because of health conditions and other reasons become parents for the first time or expand their families.

Medication is used to stimulate the womans ovaries before the retrieval of eggs. The number of eggs retrieved varies but can typically be a dozen or so.

Those that are successfully fertilized become embryos. Evaluations can determine the embryo most likely to result in a successful pregnancy. That embryo is transferred to the womans uterus, typically about five days after fertilization. The remaining embryos can be frozen for possible use later.

In 2021, 86,146 infants born in the United States were conceived through the use of IVF or other assisted reproductive technology, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2.3% of all births.

In February, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled in favor of three couples who filed lawsuits against an IVF clinic in Mobile after a patient wandered into the clinic, dropped their frozen embryos, and destroyed them. The justices ruled that the frozen embryos were unborn children under Alabamas Wrongful Death of a Minor Act, meaning the couples could collect punitive damages for their deaths.

Some IVF clinics in Alabama paused services because of the legal liability resulting from the decision.

The Legislature quickly passed a bill granting immunity after patients and IVF doctors came to the State House to rally for a bill they said was needed to restore services.

The bill says, no action, suit, or criminal prosecution for the damage to or death of an embryo shall be brought or maintained against any individual or entity when providing or receiving services related to in vitro fertilization.

Dr. Randy Brinson, president of the Christian Coalition of Alabama, said even those who reject the idea that embryos should have the legal status of unborn children can recognize the conflict between the immunity law and the court ruling.

Thats going to have to be reconciled at some point, Brinson said. And were hoping that people will be informed and educated on that as they go forward.

Brinson said, so far at least, it has been hard to find lawmakers willing to tackle the topic.

We havent had a lot of success with that just yet because of the proximity to the election and this being such a volatile issue for both sides, the misunderstanding and the politicization of the issue, Brinson said.

Brinson, a gastroenterologist who has led the Christian Coalition since 2006, said he is still talking to lawmakers. He said the premise of the Supreme Court ruling is sound because the stored embryos contain all the genetic material of life.

Its not an egg, Brinson said. Its not sperm. Its not any of those type of things. It has the full component of life.

Brinson said he believes there is a path to legislation that will recognize that and allow IVF services to continue.

The idea is again just to limit the amount of embryos youre creating so you dont have all these different problems with all the liability issues that deal with the destruction of life, Brinson said. Thats the issue. I think the first hurdle is going to be getting the Legislature to understand that passing a statute alone does not change the issue that was determined by the Supreme Court.

Sean Tipton, chief advocacy and policy officer for the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, said it would be a mistake for lawmakers to pass legislation based on the Alabama Supreme Court ruling.

In order to have good policy making, you have to start with a recognition of reality, Tipton said. The Alabama Supreme Court can say that a frozen, fertilized egg is the same as a baby. But anyone who looks at them will know thats not true.

And so, if youre making policy based on something thats not true, your policy is not going to work.

Tipton said it defies biology to claim that an embryo held in storage is an unborn child.

To try to argue thats the same thing as a living baby and should be treated the same way makes absolutely no sense, Tipton said. You cant put a baby in a freezer and have it survive. You can put a fertilized egg in a freezer and have it survive.

Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, a physician who sponsored the immunity bill that passed this year, said he does not plan to bring legislation next year but expects someone will.

Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, who sponsored the immunity bill in the House, said she has no plans to bring a bill. In 2019, Collins was the sponsor of the Human Life Protection Act, which banned abortions in Alabama, with the only exception to protect the mother from serious health risks.

House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, said lawmakers will protect the availability of IVF but did not say he expects legislation next year.

IVF is legal and accessible in Alabama, Ledbetter said. We will ensure that remains the case in our state, and we appreciate the work of President Trump and Senator Britt to ensure that remains the case nationwide.

Sen. Katie Britt, along with Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, has proposed the IVF Protection Act, which would make states that ban IVF ineligible for Medicaid. The three-page bill describes IVF as a safe and reliable way for millions of aspiring parents to experience the miracle of childbirth. It does not address the issue of the legal status of embryos. Democrats in Congress also have an IVF bill.

Johnston, the president of the Alabama Pro-Life Coalition, said he believes IVF regulation is best done on a state-by-state basis, the same as abortion restrictions now that Roe v. Wade is no longer in place. Alabama has a strict ban on abortion, as well as a constitutional amendment approved by 59% of voters in 2018 that says the state recognizes the rights of unborn children.

Theres no federal law on this, Johnston said. And some states would not have a constitutional law like we have and a Supreme Court saying that unborn child embryo was a person in the meaning of law.

So, were dealing with Alabama law here. It doesnt have any effect on any other state or federal law. And I dont really see Congress doing anything with it because it would vary from state to state, just like the abortion issue does.

Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Sheffield, an obstetrician/gynecologist, was the only senator to vote against Alabamas immunity bill because he said the immunity it gives is too broad.

Stutts said he has delivered many IVF babies and referred many patients to IVF services. Stutts said he supports IVF but said the process often involves creating more embryos than are necessary, adding to the dilemma of how to use the ones not transferred.

Theres a moral and an ethical way to do IVF, Stutts said. And what is commonly done now doesnt always meet that criteria.

Stutts sponsored an IVF bill in February, but it did not pass. It said IVF doctors and clinics had criminal and civil immunity to the extent the individual or entity follows commonly accepted practices of providing in vitro fertilization services.

I think there is a commonsense but still ethical and moral solution to it, Stutts said.

Tipton, the advocate for the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, said government should not impose regulations on decisions that he said should be between patients and their doctors, such as how many embryos are created for IVF.

During the course of IVF treatment, you have more than one egg, you have more than one embryo because humans are inefficient reproducers and most of those fertilized eggs will not become children, Tipton said.

Its a scientific reality. Some of them clearly have some genetic flaws or chromosomal abnormalities that can stop it. Some of them, we dont know real well. So because of that, it requires multiple eggs and embryos.

Tipton said the best practices now are selection of the best embryo for implantation and freezing and storage the others if that is what the patient chooses. He said that is the safest and most effective approach.

Because a minority of people have an extreme view that is incorrect scientifically they shouldnt be able to impose their moral views on everybody else, Tipton said. If a patient wants to fertilize one egg at a time, transfer one embryo at a time, they can absolutely do that. What they cant do, is impose that on everybody else.

Brinson said he believes Alabama law can appropriately regulate IVF to align with the court ruling.

I think reason should prevail in this rather than emotion, where we could also deal with the issue as far as the constitutionality of life and personhood of the embryo and at the same time accommodate those who are pursuing IVF, Brinson said.

Were just going to have to win the court of public opinion on this, he said. Because right now we need to make sure people understand the status quo is not palatable. Its not tenable.

This story was corrected to give the correct name for the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
A 40-year-old has been charged with felony murder in a deadly Birmingham shooting, even though he wasnt the one who pulled the trigger.

Brandon Quartez Jemison is charged in the September shooting of Malike Williams, according to court records made public Monday. However, the two are believed to be related, and were in a confrontation with a third man.

Police previously said the third man fired the shots that killed Williams and he was justified in defending himself because Williams was the aggressor.

However, under Alabamas accomplice liability, Jemison is being charged with the death of Williams. That law allows a person to be charged if they are participating in a felony crime that results in a death, whether or not that person actually pulled the trigger.

The shooting happened about 5 p.m. on Sept. 24 at Big Boy Convenience Store on Pearson Avenue.

Williams died en route to UAB Hospital.

Police at the time said the deadly shooting possibly stemmed from a dispute over a social media post.

Officer Truman Fitzgerald previously said, One party had a gun, the second party had a gun, and one of those males fired shots.

Jemison and Williams were the two men involved in the confrontation with the shooter, police said. Jemison fled the scene after Williams was shot.

Charging documents say Jemison caused the death of Williams by participating in the attempted murder of the intended victim, who was able to shoot first and kill Williams.

Jemison is also charged with attempted murder of the intended victim. Jemison was booked into the Jefferson County Jail Friday. He remains held on bonds totaling $60,000.

Williams best friend, 34-year-old Damone Gardner, was shot to death less than four hours later, possibly during an argument over Williams killing. No arrests have been made in Gardners death.
The future of the 192-acre campus is still uncertain. (Hannah Denham / hdenham@al.com)Hannah Denham

The Miles College purchase agreement for Birmingham-Southern College ended Monday, according to a news release from BSC.

The deal ended at 3 p.m. after two extension requests from Miles, according to BSC. The college is valued at $65 million.

The BSC community has great respect for Miles College, its students, faculty, staff, and alumni, and appreciates both the shared roots and the alignment of missions, the news release stated. But to meet its commitments to lenders and other creditors, the BSC Board of Trustees is obligated to sell the 192-acre campus property as quickly as possible.

While we are certainly disappointed by the pause in our efforts to acquire the Birmingham-Southern campus, our commitment to growth and expansion remains steadfast, Mya Jolly, Miles Colleges public relations director, told AL.com.



We will continue to explore every avenue to secure this opportunity in the future, Jolly said. This setback does not deter us; it motivates us to pursue excellence and opportunity with greater determination.

AL.coms Roy Johnson spoke with Miles College president Bobbie Knight, who also expressed optimism the school will secure the deal.



Miles and BSC executed the purchase agreement on Sept. 25 with a closing date for Oct. 25, according to the news release. Miles requested an extension to Nov. 25. Ten days before the deadline, BSC declined a second extension request to Dec. 24.

Its unclear what the status of the campus sale is as BSC declined further comment.

Birmingham-Southern College closed after 168 years on May 31 after a bill to fund the college through a $30 million loan didnt receive sufficient support from the state legislature. Funding woes plagued the Methodist-affiliated college for decades, and support from the state was its last option.

--

This story has been updated with comments from Miles College representatives.
A Florida doctors medical license has been revoked in Alabama after he allegedly caused a patients death in August.

The Alabama Medical Licensure Commission on Monday accepted the surrender of Dr. Thomas Shaknovskys license, according to a press release.

Shaknovsky is accused of removing William Bryans liver instead of his spleen during a surgery in August. The 70-year-old Muscle Shoals man died.

Prior to the surrender of his license, Shaknovsky was already suspended by the licensure commission in October.

The commission said this was done because Shaknovsky, may constitute an immediate danger to his patients and the public.

William Perkins, Executive Director of the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners, said that the boards actions were taken to protect the public.

Our duty is to ensure that physicians licensed in Alabama meet the highest standards of patient care and professionalism, Perkins said. When a physicians actions jeopardize patient safety, we act decisively to safeguard the public.

In September, Florida moved to suspend Shaknovskys medical license and released a 21-page emergency order. The order detailed how Shaknovsky allegedly caused Bryans death and made a similar error with another patient.
CNNs Kaitlan Collins, already busy anchoring the networks news-heavy nightly show, will take on another high-pressure role as chief White House correspondent, the network confirmed Tuesday.

In doing so, the Prattville native will become CNNs first prime-time anchor to also serve as its top White House reporter.

Its a return gig for Collins, who in 2021 became the youngest chief White House correspondent in CNN history. She gave up the position in 2022 to serve as the co-host of CNNs ill-fated morning show, which was based in New York.

Still, that role helped propel her to a spot in the networks evening lineup in the summer of 2023 as the host of The Source with Kaitlan Collins.

Collins and her show will now split time between New York and Washington, where she will be at the center of CNNs reporting on the second Trump administration.

CNN Chairman Mark Thompson said Collins is the perfect person to lead coverage of the new Trump White House.

For the past few weeks, Collins has been anchoring her show from West Palm Beach, Florida, near Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate, where shes been covering the president-elects transition and Cabinet appointments. Collins is expected to continue anchoring from Florida until Trumps inauguration in January. (Semafor first reported that CNN was considering appointing Collins as chief White House correspondent.)

Collins, 32, started her career at the Daily Caller, the right-leaning news website co-founded by Tucker Carlson, where she was promoted after two years from showbiz gossip to the 2016 campaign beat. While covering the Trump White House, she started getting booked for occasional talking-head appearances on CNN before formally joining the network.

Since then, Collins has become one of CNNs most recognizable journalists, so much so that she is regularly spoofed on Saturday Night Live by cast member Chloe Fineman.

While Collinss show attracts a smaller audience than the 9 p.m. offerings on Fox News and MSNBC, she has bucked conventional programming strategy by emphasizing newsmaker interviews rather than commentary or analysis.

Kaitlan is a political journalist of real depth and tenacity who already boasts an amazing record of scoops and exclusive interviews, Thompson said in a statement. Im excited to see what new heights she scales as she combines this key new posting with her duties as a major CNN anchor.

By Jeremy Barr
A 20-year-old Jefferson County mother has been charged in the death of her young son.

Kayla Mariah Nash is charged with felony murder and aggravated child abuse, according to court records made public Tuesday.

Killed was 4-year-old Zane Xavier Nash. Charging documents state Zane died from blunt force trauma.

The child died at 4:15 a.m. Aug. 2 at Childrens of Alabama. The assault is believed to have happened in Forestdale.

Efforts to obtain additional information from the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office were not immediately successful.

Nash was booked into the Jefferson County Jail at 4:31 p.m. Monday. She remains held without bond.

This story will be updated if more information becomes available.
A shooting in the parking lot of a Hoover shopping center involved a teen girl and is believed to have been self-inflicted, according to police.

Hoover police on Monday released new information about the 9 p.m. Sunday shooting at the Village of Lee Branch on Doug Baker Boulevard, near Panera Bread.

Lt. Daniel Lowe said police responded to the scene after officers in the area heard a gunshot and a female screaming for help.

They arrived to find the 16-year-old with a gunshot wound to the face. She was conscious, alert and talking to police when she was transported to the hospital.

Her injuries arent life-threatening.

Lowe said the girls father was there at the time of the shooting. He was detained, questioned, and released with no charges.

While the investigation remains ongoing the preliminary indications are that the gunshot wound was self-inflicted, Lowe said. The victim continues to receive treatment at a local hospital, and because the case involves a juvenile no further information can be released at this time.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 30: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton arrives to court during former U.S. President Donald Trump's trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on April 30, 2024 in New York City. Former U.S. President Donald Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. (Photo by Curtis Means-Pool/Getty Images) Pool/Getty Images

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who spoke at a pro-Trump rally in Washington, D.C. just hours before the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, is still withholding his communications related to that trip, according to a national watchdog group seeking the records for over two years.

American Oversight filed its lawsuit in June 2022, arguing the Texas Attorney General's office and the Texas Governor's office hadn't released all the communications they should have included in response to requests for the state officials' emails and text messages. After a district court judge and the Third Court of Appeals ruled the state needed to provide the court with documents justifying their rationale in withholding records, Paxton took the matter to the Texas Supreme Court, which could weigh in next.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The outcome of the case could have broader implications for Texans' access to public records.

"The lawsuit here is about protecting the public's right to know about what the highest officials in their state are doing," Emma Lewis, an attorney at American Oversight, said.

Lewis said Paxton and Gov. Greg Abbott's arguments against releasing more documents are contrary to the state's public records law, which says the people "do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know."

Tom Leatherbury, director of the First Amendment Clinic at the SMU Dedman School of Law, called it a "very dangerous precedent" for Paxton and Abbott to claim forms of immunity from the Texas Public Information Act.

"The argument that no court can compel the governor to comply with the Texas Public Information Act is antithetical to democracy really," Leatherbury said. "The attorney general's arguments are a little less broad, but still would cripple the operation of the Texas Public Information Act in many instances where now it's effective."

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Paxton's office did not respond to a request for comment.

Lawsuit follows widespread media probes

American Oversight isn't the first group to seek Paxton's records related to his Jan. 6 trip.

Journalists with several newsrooms  the Houston Chronicle, the San Antonio Express-News, the Dallas Morning News, the Austin American-Statesman, the Texas Tribune and ProPublica  banded together after Paxton's office refused to comply with requests. They filed a complaint with Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza's office, which determined Paxton had violated state law and gave him four days to comply with the requests or face a lawsuit.

Paxton's general counsel, Austin Kinghorn, responded in a letter to the district attorneys public integrity unit, calling the claims "meritless" and accusing newspaper editors of conducting a "fishing expedition."

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Garza's office later announced it would not move forward with the lawsuit against Paxton because the journalists who had requested the records were not willing to testify in court, where they could be asked to reveal their sources.

American Oversight stepped in, filing a lawsuit alleging Paxton's office was withholding records in response to its four public records requests. It sued Abbott, as well, claiming the records his office provided in response to three requests were also incomplete.

In court documents, American Oversight detailed the seven requests and the documents they received. In response to a request for Paxton's emails between Jan. 6 and Jan. 8, for example, the attorney general's office produced two records and concluded the rest of the emails could be withheld, according to the group.

American Oversight attorneys regarded the response with skepticism, writing in a brief filed last month with the Supreme Court: "The Attorney Generals position is that despite the Attorney General engaging in official travel to deliver a speech in his official capacity, his office created no records whatsoever before, during, or after that travel that in any way pertained to it. This is not credible."

Future of case in the air

When Paxton and Abbott sought to dismiss the case, 261st District Court Judge Daniella DeSeta Lyttle denied the state's pleas in February 2023, saying the state had not provided documents that would allow her to determine if the offices had responded sufficiently.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

State attorneys appealed the decision, arguing the trial court didn't have the authority to compel Abbott or Paxton to produce the documents because the Texas Constitution states only the Texas Supreme Court has the power to issue the order against the attorney general and no court has that power against the governor. They also argued American Oversight hadn't demonstrated that records were withheld and that the case was moot because the group did receive some documents responsive to their requests.

The Third Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's order, pointing to a provision in the Texas Public Information Act that gives district courts the authority to order compliance with the TPIA. In its ruling, the court reasoned that had the Legislature meant to exempt the governor and attorney general from the public information law, "it would presumably have expressly stated so."
Whether youre making a side dish or helming the kitchen to cook the full holiday meal, planning Thanksgiving dinner is stressful.

Now, how about a curveball-- what about not being able to purchase an ingredient because its been recalled and pulled from grocery store shelves?

The Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture have recently investigated and recalled several products for potential contamination and allergens.

From vegetables to dairy products, here are some items facing recent food recalls.

ORGANIC CARROTS:

California-based Grimway Farms has issued a recall of select bagged organic whole carrots and baby carrots due to a potential E.coli outbreak. The recall includes baby organic carrots with best-if-used-by dates that ranged from Sept. 11 to Nov. 12 and whole organic carrots sold in stores around Aug. 14 to Oct. 23.

The carrots were sold at stores in the U.S. including Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, and Trader Joes under multiple brand names including 365, Bunny Luv, Cal-Organic, and Compliments. A full list of the labels, brands, and dates are listed on the recall notices from Grimway Farms and the FDA.

READ MORE HERE: Carrot recall 2024: Vegetables sold at Walmart, Target linked to deadly E. coli outbreak

GROUND BEEF:

More than 165,000 pounds of ground beef has been recalled due to potential contamination with E. coli.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Detroit-based Wolverine Packing distributed the ground beef to restaurants across the country. The fresh products have a use by date of Nov. 14; frozen products are labeled with a production date of Oct. 22. Both have an establishment number of EST 2574B inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The products were sold under brand names Wolverine Packing Co., 1855 Beef, Davis Creek Meals, Farmers Choice, Heritage Restaurant Brands and Cheney Brothers, Inc.

You can see a full product list here. You can see product labels here.

READ MORE HERE: Ground beef recall warning: 165,000 of ground beef possibly contaminated with E.coli

BUTTER:

Almost 80,000 pounds of butter sold at Costco has been recalled due to an undeclared allergen.

In October, the Food and Drug Administration issued a recall on 79,200 Kirkland Signature butter from Continental Dairy Facilities Southwest LLC due to an undeclared allergen. The recall was reclassified as a Class II on Nov. 7 to indicate the product could cause a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.

The recall covers:

Kirkland Signature Unsalted Sweet Cream Butter, 16 oz. four 4 oz. sticks, UPC 96619-38496

Kirkland Signature Salted Sweet Cream Butter, 16 oz. Four 4 oz. sticks, UPC 96619-38488

READ MORE HERE: Costco butter recalled: 80,000 pounds recalled due to unusual mislabeling

BRIE CHEESE:

Earlier this month Pennsylvania-based Savencia Cheese USA is voluntarily recalling six kinds of soft-ripened cheeses. The products were sold at Aldi, as well as at Market Basket, a supermarket chain in the northeast.

The following cheeses are affected by the recall:

Emporium Selection Brie, 12/8oz Brie

Supreme Oval 7oz, 6/7oz

La Bonne Vie Brie, 6/8oz

La Bonne Vie Camembert, 6/8oz

12/8oz Industrial Brie

Market Basket Brie 6/8oz

READ MORE HERE: Check your fridge: Cheese sold at Aldi, other retailers is being recalled

READY TO EAT MEAT:

Yu Shang Foods of Spartanburg, S.C. has recalled 4,589 pounds of meat and poultry products out of what it describes as an abundance of caution over concerns they could be contaminated with Listeria. The items were shipped to retail locations nationwide and were available for purchase online.

The products include:
Chervon Tanner feels like her heart has been torn into pieces.

The Birmingham mother spent the weekend worrying about her missing son, and then ended the weekend by learning that he had been murdered.

Its a nightmare, Tanner said, and Im still asking someone to wake me up from it.

They took a piece of my heart, she said. My full circle is gone.

Dontrell Gooden, 20, was last seen at about 11 p.m. on Friday. He had been staying with his sister.

She woke up the next morning and realized hed not come home.

The family immediately launched a search for him.

She called my middle son, and they went to the area where his phone last pinged and started searching, Tanner said.

When they still couldnt find him, they called Birmingham police. Officers on Saturday night issued a Critical Missing Alert for Gooden, saying they believed he was in danger.

The body of a 20-year-old man was found Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, two days after he disappeared in east Birmingham.(Carol Robinson)

The police launched their own search. The family continued theirs, and spread word of Goodens disappearance on social media.

About 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, officers looking for Gooden discovered him dead inside his sisters vehicle in a wooded area in the Brummitt Heights neighborhood.

He had been shot.

The discovery was made on Spruce Avenue and Cunningham Street. That location was just a street over from where Goodens family had been searching for him.

Tanner said she believes her son was killed by someone he knew.

He liked to help people, and he trusted too many people, Tanner said.

I think they killed him over a gun over a gun they wanted, she said. They could have just taken it from him, and he would still be here.

Gooden, who had attended Tarrant High School, was the baby of Tanners family.

We spoiled him because his Daddy died when he was 3 years old so all of us just spoiled him, she said, and considered him our baby.

Gooden loved to make people laugh, she said.

He liked to tickle you and play jokes on you, Tanner said.

Gooden adored his 2-year-old twin nieces.

They were his world, and he was their world, his mother said. I just broke down crying when one of them was calling his name last night.

No arrests have been announced.

Dontrell Gooden has been missing since Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.(BPD)

Tanner said shed like to ask the suspect or suspects, Why?

Why would you do him like that when you already knew hed give you the shirt off his back, she said. Why would you do him like that over a raggedy gun?

Tanner said she also wants them to know what they took from her.

I cant begin to tell you how much its hurt our family, she said. He was true friend to the end, and he died over it.

She said shes tired of the violence plaguing Birmingham.

The violence needs to stop, she said. These young men are killing their whole generation.

Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
NEW YORK (AP)  President-elect Donald Trump is threatening to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office as part of his efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs.

The tariffs, if implemented, could dramatically raise prices on everything from gas to automobiles. The U.S. is the largest importer of goods in the world, with Mexico, China and Canada its top three suppliers, according to the most recent Census data.

Trump made the threats in a pair of posts on his Truth Social site Monday evening in which he railed against an influx of illegal migrants, even though southern border crossings have been hovering at a four-year low.

On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders, he wrote, complaining that thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before, even though violent crime is down from pandemic highs.

He said the new tariffs would remain in place until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country! 

Trump also turned his ire to China, saying he has had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States  But to no avail.

Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America, he wrote.

It is unclear whether Trump will actually go through with the threats or if he is using them as a negotiating tactic before he takes office in the new year.

Arrests for illegally crossing the border from Mexico have been falling and remained around four-year lows in October, according to the most recent U.S. numbers

The Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests in October, less than one third of the tally from last October.

Much of Americas fentanyl is smuggled from Mexico. Border seizures of the drug rose sharply under President Joe Biden, and U.S. officials tallied about 21,900 pounds (12,247 kilograms) of fentanyl seized in the 2024 government budget year, compared with 2,545 pounds (1,154 kilograms) in 2019, when Trump was president.

Trumps nominee for treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, if confirmed, would be one of several officials responsible for imposing tariffs on other nations. He has on several occasions said tariffs are a means of negotiation with other countries.

He wrote in a Fox News op-ed last week, before his nomination, that tariffs are a useful tool for achieving the presidents foreign policy objectives. Whether it is getting allies to spend more on their own defense, opening foreign markets to U.S. exports, securing cooperation on ending illegal immigration and interdicting fentanyl trafficking, or deterring military aggression, tariffs can play a central role.

If Trump were to move forward with the threatened tariffs, the new taxes would pose an enormous challenge for the economies of Canada and Mexico, in particular.

They would also throw into doubt the reliability of the 2020 trade deal brokered in large part by Trump, which is up for review in 2026.

Spokespeople for Canadas ambassador to Washington and its deputy prime minister, Chrystia Freeland, who chairs a special Cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations to address concerns about another Trump presidency, did not immediately provide comment.

Trumps promise to launch a mass deportation effort is a top focus for the Cabinet committee, Freeland has said.

A senior Canadian official had said before Trumps posts that Canadian officials are expecting Trump to issue executive orders on trade and the border as soon as he assumes office. The official was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Mexicos Foreign Relations Department and Economy Department also had no immediate reaction to Trumps statements. Normally such weighty issues are handled by the president at her morning press briefings.

___

By Jill Colvin Associated Press

Associated Press writers Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Robert Gillies in Toronto, Mark Stevenson in Mexico City, Fatima Hussein and Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.
The United Methodist Church has filed a lawsuit against a breakaway beach church that dropped UMC affiliation from its charter but kept two appointed clergy on staff and banned denominational officials from setting foot on the campus popular with Gulf Coast residents and tourists.

The Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church has filed a lawsuit against Perdido Bay Methodist Church, challenging the amendment to its incorporation documents that declare it is no longer affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

On Oct. 31, an attorney for the church sent a letter to the conference giving official notice that Perdido Bay Methodist is no longer a member of the denomination.

As you are aware, our client previously submitted clear documentation outlining its doctrinal and theological concerns when considering separation last year, wrote attorney Jonathan Bailie of the National Center for Life and Liberty.

Any attempt by the conference to access church property will result in a request for immediate departure, followed by removal by law enforcement for trespassing if necessary, Bailie wrote in his letter to the conference.

That drew a heated response from Panhandle District Superintendent Jean Tippit of the Alabama-West Florida Conference.

That unholy threat causes me great concern for a multitude of reasons, Tippit wrote to church members, urging them to join her as she led a United Methodist alternative Sunday meeting location at Big Lagoon State Park.

The Alabama-West Florida Conference filed a lawsuit Nov. 21 against the Perdido Bay Methodist board of trustees and two pastors who had been appointed by the conference, Levi Gardner and Scott Hohn, who stayed with the church as it voted to leave the denomination.

The conference asks an Escambia County judge for declaratory relief, quiet title, ejectment, in an effort to gain control of the church property at 13660 Innerarity Point Road in Pensacola, east of Alabamas Ono Island.

Perdido Bay Methodist was one of more than 40 churches in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle whose requests to leave the denomination were stalled before the Dec. 31, 2023 disaffiliation deadline. Paragraph 2553, a special provision allowing disaffiliation due to disagreement over issues such as gay marriage, expired at that point.

The United Methodist General Conference voted in May 2024 to reverse its longstanding bans on gay marriage and ordination of LGBTQ clergy.

The oral and written misrepresentations made by the conference to convince and effectively trick our client to not hold a vote to leave the denomination under rule 2553 while such right existed severely prejudiced and permanently injured our client, Bailie wrote. Since the time of the conferences misrepresentations, the General Conference amended the Book of Discipline, changing its views on marriage and gender that have been held by our client since its establishment, the denomination for over two centuries, and by the church for millennia. These changes are in direct conflict with our clients sincerely held religious beliefs, necessitating their immediate separation from the denomination.

Churches that were not allowed to leave have adopted a new tactic: either suing the conference, saying the church property belongs to the congregation, not the denomination, or simply voting to change the churchs legal documents that have any mention of the United Methodist Church.

United Methodist Bishop Jonathan Holston, who took over as head of the Alabama-West Florida Conference in September, issued a public letter on the Perdido Bay legal standoff.

Regrettably, in the wake of a season of disaffiliation and division for our denomination, the Alabama-West Florida Conference finds itself dealing with a serious legal matter involving Perdido Bay United Methodist Church, Holston wrote. A group of clergy and laity of Perdido Bay UMC has taken unauthorized and illegal actions to change the deed to the church property and prevent conference leadership from entering the property. These improper actions violate the principles that govern our denomination, including the historic Trust Clause.

We are deeply saddened to report to you that the Board of Trustees of the Alabama-West Florida Conference, left with no other choice, has filed a lawsuit against individual trustees of Perdido Bay UMC who participated in these actions, as well as against two former Alabama-West Florida clergy. The lawsuit stems from their attempt to sever ties between Perdido Bay UMC and the conference. While we are confident in the strength of our legal position, it is our prayer that reconciliation and understanding will ultimately prevail, and that we can move forward in faithfulness to our shared mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

See also:

A 198-year-old Methodist church in Alabama asks judge to drop United off legal documents

Elba to Theodore: 9 more Alabama churches sue United Methodists to keep property

Selmas oldest church sues United Methodists in an effort to keep its property

Alabama congregation founded in 1847 sues United Methodists, says it owns church building

Baptists and Methodists helped build Alabama, now they struggle to keep churches, members
Shannon Whitt, the Alabama Republican Partys director of finance and special events, will be taking over as executive director following the departure of current Alabama GOP Director Reed Phillips.

The party announced the transition on Monday and said that Phillips would be leaving the GOP to pursue an exciting new opportunity.

It has been an incredible honor to serve the Alabama Republican Party and work alongside so many talented and dedicated individuals, Phillips said.

I am grateful for the opportunities Ive had to help grow our Party and for the friendships Ive built with members of the State Executive Committee and grassroots leaders across the state. I look forward to seeing the Party continue to thrive in the years ahead.

Phillips, who has been with ALGOP for nearly a decade, first served as political director before being promoted to executive director in 2020, according to the release.

But Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl said he is confident in the partys future under Whitt.

Shannon Whitt is an exceptional leader with a proven track record of success, Wahl said.

Her abilities have empowered the Alabama Republican Party to compete and succeed on a national level within the Republican Party. I have full confidence that her vision, professionalism, and deep institutional knowledge will continue to propel the Party forward.

Alabama and national politics
The Friday after the 2024 presidential election, I met a friend for coffee and commiserating at a local bakery in my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Kentucky is a reliably red state, being within the first few  or even the first  states to be called for Trump in the last three elections. But Kentucky, like the rest of the South, is varied, complex, and misunderstood. Louisville, in particular, is an outlier. Louisville is the most diverse city in a state severely lacking diversity and ranks high on lists of LGBTQ-friendly cities. 57.4% of Louisvillians voted for Kamala Harris. People all around us were as quiet and gray as the city had been since Wednesday morning.

My friend and I sipped our lattes and talked about how we got here and what comes next. As the Director of a local literary nonprofit, she was already worried about the writers she supports, not to mention her staff. She explained how donations started to dry up overnight after Trump was elected in 2016. Before they could fully recover, the pandemic took its toll. Eight years later, hes back in office, and yet again, there are signs that donors will divert their funds elsewhere.

The next week, over dinner, another nonprofit Director, this one in the visual arts. She told me the exact same story. When people who support progressive causes get scared, they pull their support of the arts to focus on supporting places like the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood, and social justice-oriented organizations.

The more I turned those conversations over in my head, the more troubled I became. Those donors are making a well-intentioned mistake. This is when those with the means should lean into supporting the arts, not pull away. Its a potentially disastrous combination if individuals let their support dwindle precisely when government funding of the arts is at serious risk. During his first term, Trump tried to end funding to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). According to their website, the NEAs, an independent federal agency, is the countrys largest funder of arts and arts education. It remains to be seen what his budget will look like this time, along with the impact of having a Republican-controlled House and Senate that will likely support his agenda. The threat goes beyond money. Attempted book bans, for example, increased 65% between 2022 and 2023.

Let me share some data to support the argument that the arts are anything but frivolous. According to Forbes, in 2022, the nonprofit arts and culture sector generated $151.7 billion of economic activity  [and] supported over 2.6 million jobs, provided $101 billion in personal income to residents, and generated $29.1 billion in tax revenue to local, state, and federal governments. Access to the arts has been linked to improved academic performance in children and improved mental health in adults. And when adults actually participate in the arts, studies suggest theres an increase in behaviors that contribute to societal well-beingthings like increased civic engagement and greater social tolerance. There are even some reports out there that indicate the arts can help combat addiction and the opioid crisis, which has devastated Kentucky.

These studies highlight what I know to be true in my bones  the arts benefit both the people who create and the people who experience those creations. The benefit to artists was expressed succinctly in an Instagram post by the writer Sarah Lemon following the election: It feels so dumb to be an artist when the world needs real help, but art saved me more than once, like a lamp handed to me in the dark, so I aim to pass along that light.

Everyone deserves the chance to find that light. And who does or does not get to make art is deeply impacted by resources and money. Children born into families with financial resources are more than twice as likely to become artists, actors, or musicians, according to a study by Harvard. And the disparities when you factor in race are even more pronounced.

According to 2019 Federal Reserve data, the typical white family owns about $184,000 in wealth compared to just $23,000 for Black families and $38,000 for Hispanic families. This wealth gap directly affects who can afford arts education, who can take the financial risk of pursuing creative careers, and ultimately, whose voices get heard in our cultural spaces. When you consider that white families are also five to seven times more likely to be millionaires than Black or Hispanic families, its clear why we see such profound racial disparities in who gets to make art professionally.

Studies and data consistently show that supporting the arts has a positive impact on individuals and communities, including benefits like improved academic performance, enhanced critical thinking skills, increased social cohesion, and economic development, with research highlighting the positive effects of arts education on students academic achievements, creativity, and emotional well-being across various socioeconomic backgrounds; additionally, research indicates that communities with a vibrant arts scene tend to have higher levels of civic engagement and improved quality of life.

But thats not why I found myself worrying over my friends words days later, even after I donated to both of their organizations. Sitting under a print by a local artist, sipping coffee from a handmade mug, with poetry collections from Kentucky natives stacked beside me, I was reminded of the many ways the arts make us human. They connect us: to each other, to our homes, to secret selves we might have never known otherwise. And, perhaps most importantly, they encourage us to think. To dream. How do we make it to something new if we give up the things that make us imagine?

Lucie Brooks is a poet, a professor, and a lifelong Kentuckian. She is the 2022 Kentucky State Poetry Society Chaffin/Kash poetry prize winner and a 2024 Grand Prix poetry prize finalist. You can read her in Taunt, Swing, Pegasus, and more.
By Alan Mauldin

alan.mauldin@albanyherald.com

ALBANY  With December on the horizon, it was the time of year when visions of sugar plums, in the form of funding for big projects, danced in the heads of government officials in Dougherty County.

The annual monetary requests are part of the process for local state legislators ahead of the start of the Georgia General Assemblys work in 2025. The first day of the session is Jan. 13, and the Pre-2025 session held Monday allowed local elected officials and other entities to let legislators know what their plans are for the coming year.

Cuthbert Republican state Rep. Gerald Greene said that he had alerted the officials to focus on a few main priorities instead of presenting a wish list for the upcoming legislative session.

Lawmakers under the Gold Dome will have a priority that will outweigh much of the ordinary business as they deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

Weve got big issues to the east of us to take care of those counties, just like we did when (Hurricane) Michael hit us, Greene said during an interview ahead of the meeting. I was in Vidalia and Augusta. Its just unbelievable the devastation.

Gov. Brian Kemp has declared his intention to provide some $12.8 billion to recovery efforts, said Greene, whose District 154 includes all or part of nine counties, including Dougherty County.

Thats going to be the first priority that happens here, he said.

For the Dougherty County Commission, the top priority presented was a systemwide library improvement plan, including the reconstruction of the West Town Library. The commission is requesting $450,000 for the West Town project, which would be matched with $450,000 in sales tax funds dedicated to the project. The additional $400,000 requested would go toward systemwide lighting, signage, security and safety improvements.

The second county request is $1.5 million to fund broadband internet expansion.

The expansion project is important to the county economically as well as for residents, including Marines who work at Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany, Chairman Lorenzo Heard told Greene and state Rep. Bill Yearta, R-Sylvester, who also attended the meeting.

The countys final request was for a $1 million grant to conduct environmental remediation of brownfield spaces.

For the Dougherty County School System, the top priority was for funding to continue the systems popular pre-K expansion. Even after adding 16 classrooms last year, the system needs more space, Deputy Schools Superintendent Rodney Bullard Sr. said. The expansion included four special education classrooms.

The system has a total of 489 students in its Pre-K program, 29 of whom are special education students.

We have a pre-existing waiting list, Bullard said. We were able to fill up the classes at the Morningside site very quickly.

The school systems other requests included providing additional state funding for economically disadvantaged students, reducing the pace of rising health care costs, addressing the shortage of teachers and more funds for early literacy programs.

For Albany Technical College, the three projects listed come with a total price tag of $23 million. That includes $3 million for the renovation and expansion of the colleges welding lab and classrooms, $17 million for a criminal justice demonstration and VECTR (veterans education career transition resource) center, and $3 million to hire more instructors in nursing to address the need for more nurses that is an issue nationwide.

Other entities that addressed the legislators included Albany State University, the city of Albany, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce and the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission.










English News University of Johannesburg is the new number one in the Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings 2024

Alwihda Info | Par Alwihda - 26 Novembre 2024



University of Johannesburg has overtaken University of the Witwatersrand to become the new South African leader and overall number one in the Times Higher Education (THE) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) University Rankings 2024, released today.

In the second edition of the THE SSA University Rankings, University of Johannesburg has jumped forward one place to take the number one spot. South Africa holds all top three places. University of Pretoria is in second place (up from fourth), and former number one, University of the Witwatersrand, is now in third place.



South Africa also holds tenth place with newcomer institution University of KwaZulu-Natal.



Somalia joins the top 10 with SIMAD University in seventh place. Rwanda boasts the best newcomer with University of Rwanda going straight into the top 10 in sixth place. Rwandas highest ranked institution overall is UGHE  University of Global Health Equity in fourth place, up from eighth.



Ghana has two universities in the top 10, University of Ghana in fifth place up from 17, and Ashesi University in ninth position (no move). Uganda also holds a top 10 spot with Makerere University in eighth position, down from five.



Five new countries join the rankings: Namibia, Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire, Cape Verde and Eswatini. Namibia leads the newcomers with University of Namibia in joint-13th place. Cote dIvoire is represented by four institutions, while each of the other debutant countries have one institution ranked.





Nigeria impresses on representation and in elite top 50



Nigeria is the standout nation in terms of representation with 41 universities ranked, up from 37 last year. This is more than double the amount of any other SSA country. Nigerias highest ranked university is American University of Nigeria at number 12. Kenya has 15 institutions ranked and Ghana follows with 11. Somalia and South Africa each have 10 universities in the table.



Nigeria is the most represented country at the top of the table with 13 universities in the top 50, followed by South Africa with eight and Ghana with seven. In all, 15 of the ranked SSA countries have at least one institution in the top 50.



Nigeria boasts the highest number of newly ranked institutions with 15 debutants, followed by Kenya with 10 new additions.





South Africa, Rwanda, Nigeria and Mozambique all excel in different areas



The THE SSA University Rankings 2024 is calculated using five pillars, with each pillar made up of several metrics given varying weightings. The pillars are: resources and finance; access and fairness; student engagement; ethical leadership; and Africa impact.



South Africa tops both the resources and finance pillar and the access and fairness pillar. University of Pretoria leads on resources and finance with a score of 86.4, while University of South Africa is first for access and fairness with a score of 84.



In the student engagement pillar, Rwanda comes first with UGHE  University of Global Health Equity scoring 97.4. The ethical leadership pillar is led by Landmark University in Nigeria with a score of 96.8. And finally, for Africa impact, Mozambique takes the top spot with Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, which gains a score of 81.8.



Addressing the challenges of higher education in Sub-Saharan Africa through methodology



The SSA University Rankings have been developed specifically to address the challenges faced by higher education institutions in sub-Saharan Africa, in a project initiated by a consortium of African and international higher education organisations and companies. The 2024 rankings is the second edition of the SSA rankings.



In November 2023, we announced improvements to the methodology. New metrics on leadership, ethics and African heritage have been added and, to accommodate these, the overall structure of the methodology has been tweaked. These are substantial changes and mean that results from the 2024 rankings cannot be directly compared with results from the 2023 edition.



Phil Baty, THEs chief global affairs officer, said: The Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings are different from other international rankings as they focus not on metrics developed with an eye on the global norths leading institutions and the global norths priorities, but on metrics that matter most to the development of nations south of the Sahara  including access and inclusion, economic growth, sustainability and African impact.



Times Higher Education is proud to have developed this ranking in deep partnership with African institutions and organisations themselves to deliver a set of benchmarks with real, focussed impact.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > China's economic resilience: overcoming challenges, advancing with confidence High-quality Belt and Road cooperation create opportunities for global growth Chinese modernization: blueprint for global progress Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
Is President Joe Biden out to start a war? Or are his shadow warmongers Anthony Blinken and Jake Sullivan responsible? War can potentially explode regardless of who pulled the pin on the grenade.

Several days ago, the pin was pulled. Reuters reported,

Russia fired a hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday in response to the U.S. and UK's allowing Kyiv to strike Russian territory with advanced Western weapons, in a further escalation of the 33-month-old war.

This was a shorter-range weapon, U.S. officials and NATO echoed Putin's description of the weapon as an intermediate-range ballistic missile, which has a shorter range of 3,0005,500 km (1,860-3,415 miles).

Moscow to New York is about 4,600 miles, meaning that this missile does not threaten the continental U.S., but the rest of Europe and NATO are at risk. This explains why Sweden and Finland are preparing for possible war.

Major EU capital cities could be minutes from obliteration by this Russian missile. With its hypersonic speed, the missile could reach Berlin in 15 minutes and London and Paris in 20 minutes.

Is Russian President Vladimir Putin the instigator, or did the U.S. and NATO poke the bear one too many times? Signs at the zoo warn visitors not to tease or provoke the animals. Those who disregard such advice often learn of their folly the hard way.

How many such missiles does Russia have? Our intel community may or may not know. Government intelligence is often used to create a narrative rather than reflect reality, so we may be in for a future surprise.

Is the Russian missile launch a gambit toward a negotiated peace with a future President Trump? Perhaps. Remember that chess is a national pastime in Russia. Moves and countermoves.

Chess, however, is played with wooden pieces on a small board, not with nuclear weapons capable of destroying civilization. In Dirty Harry fashion, Russia and the U.S. may ask each other, Do you feel lucky today?

Unfortunately, Trump cannot negotiate anything until January 20. All communications from Trump and his entire team are likely being monitored by the same agencies that spied on his 2016 transition, looking for any opportunity to invoke the Logan Act as an excuse not to certify his election. Remember that the president-elect is not simply any citizen corresponding with a foreign government.

Biden is considered a lame-duck president.

In politics, a lame duck or outgoing politician is an elected official whose successor has already been elected or will be soon. A lame duck is free to make decisions that exercise the standard powers with little fear of consequence, such as issuing executive orders, pardons, or other controversial edicts

Does this include starting a war? Lets look at the U.S. Constitution.

The Constitutions Article I, Section 8 specifically lists as a power of Congress the power to declare War, which unquestionably gives the legislature the power to initiate hostilities. The extent to which this clause limits the Presidents ability to use military force without Congresss affirmative approval remains highly contested. Most people agree, at minimum, that the Declare War Clause grants Congress exclusive power. Presidents cannot, on their own authority, declare war.

But that is just what Biden did, not by name but by deed. As the NY Times reported,

Ukraines military used American-made ballistic missiles on Tuesday to strike into Russia for the first time, according to senior U.S. and Ukrainian officials, just days after President Biden gave permission to do so in a major shift of American policy.

These are highly complex missiles. Its not like handing Ukraine a handgun to shoot at Russia. These missiles require sophisticated guidance and launch procedures beyond the capability of the Ukrainian military.

As the Washington Post acknowledges, Ukraines rocket campaign is reliant on US precision targeting. In other words, Ukraine is nothing but a launching pad used by the Biden warmongers to attack Russia, a sovereign country not threatening the U.S. and which also happens to have the largest nuclear arsenal in the world.

Back to the Russian response. It was entirely expected, and the West had better pay attention. As CNN reported,

Although Russias strike was non-nuclear, the missile appeared to carry a MIRV payload, meaning it used multiple warheads to strike separate targets. MIRVS, or Multiple independently targetable Reentry Vehicles, were developed during the Cold War to permit a missile to deliver multiple nuclear warheads to different targets. Although the nuclear payload appeared to have been replaced with a non-nuclear one in this case, the use of the MIRV technology was intended to send a message.

Is Putin sending a message or simply reacting with his available weaponry? Putin claims that the launched missile was a combat test of a new missile system. Was the launched missile one of a handful of prototypes or part of a larger arsenal? We are playing Russian roulette with the Russians.

Is anyone hearing this message? Congress? Bueller? Bueller?

Has WW III begun? Ukraines ex-top general says it has. North Korean troops and Chinese weapons are helping Russia. US and NATO militaries are assisting Ukraine.

How did we get here? Promises made and not kept. From decades ago.

As the LA Times reported,

The United States has failed to uphold a promise that NATO would not expand into Eastern Europe, a deal made during the 1990 negotiations between the West and the Soviet Union over German unification.

American foreign policy hubris is on display once again, spreading democracy and American values to countries that dont share the same views as American progressives, who want to be left alone to select their own leaders and live their lives in peace.

America promised not to expand NATO closer to Russia, yet we did. Putin warned about red lines that America continuously crossed. Then Russia said nyet.

But American politicians on both sides of the political aisle know better and have left a wake of bloodshed and misery across the globe as their gift to the world.

After all, President Trump was impeached over a phone call with the Ukrainian president asking about corruption. Asking a legitimate question is an impeachable offense, but starting an undeclared war with Russia is not? Its an upside-down world we now live in.

Consider this scenario. Russia organizes a color revolution in Canada, replacing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with a pro-Russian puppet. Russias stated goal is to place nuclear weapons in Canada aimed at the U.S. How would the U.S. react? Would they react like Russia is acting today toward Ukraine? Are any of todays actions surprising, or was this entirely predictable?

What is Congress, a supposedly co-equal branch of government to the warmongering executive branch, doing? Do they have more pressing matters than World War III? It seems so.

A newly elected Congress-man from Delaware, who chooses to dress like a woman, is causing bathroom-gate in the halls of Congress. A video of Rep. Nancy Mace bitchslapping an ABC News crank is more newsworthy.

Then there is the question of whether Mat Gaetz dated a 17-year-old girl. Never mind that the highly partisan and politicized Wray FBI and Garland DOJ investigated allegations against Gaetz and found nothing, dropping the investigation.

The world is on the brink of a nuclear holocaust, depending on how much the U.S. and NATO want to continue poking the well-armed Russian bear. Congress is consumed by frivolities, in Hunger Games fashion, over which bathroom a transgender member should use or accusations of whom a former member dated.

Maybe Elon and Vivek, through their DOGE commission, will find that the 535 members of Congress and thousands of staffers are wasteful and irrelevant, recommending replacement with, as William F. Buckley suggested, the first 2000 people in the Manhattan phone book.

Brian C Joondeph, MD, is a physician and writer.

Follow me on Twitter @retinaldoctor

Substack Dr. Brians Substack

Truth Social @BrianJoondeph

LinkedIn @Brian Joondeph

Email brianjoondeph@gmail.com

Image: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service
Image: Public domain.

In May 23, the Polish parliaments upper house  the Senate  unanimously adopted a resolution on Ukraines membership in NATO as a key link in Europes defense. The resolution reads,

Ukraines accession to NATO should be a political decision, as in the case of Finland and Sweden  the result of a strategic analysis of challenges and threats outside the Alliances eastern border, The document notes that Finland and Sweden were invited to NATO by a procedure that had never been used before. The Senate of the Republic of Poland appeals to NATO member states to apply a similar emergency procedure to Ukraine.

It is understandable why the Polish parliament would feel strongly about Ukraines membership in NATO. The Polish government and by all accounts the Polish people view their countrys membership in NATO as a good thing that has greatly enhanced Polish and European security. For them, it follows logically that such a benefit should be extended to their eastern neighbor, Ukraine. However, to determine if this is wise, one should examine the histories of Poland and Ukraine from their emergence as nation states in the aftermath of WWI to the present day.

With their defeat in WWI, the empires of Germany, Austro-Hungary, and the Ottomans dissolved. The Russian Empire had already disintegrated with the Bolshevik revolution and the signing of the treaty of Brest-Litovsk with the Germans. This treaty ceded large tracts of former Russian territory in central and eastern Europe to the Germans just prior to their defeat on the Western front. This left the two remaining members of the victorious Entente, England and France, with a free hand to redraw the map of central Europe at the treaty of Versailles.

From the Versailles treaty emerged what we recognize as the modern states of central Europe with the most prominent addition being the nation of Poland. However, the Polish state that was drawn up at Versailles differs from modern Poland in a very distinctive way. Poland today is essentially ethnically homogenous with other national minorities estimated at no more than 3% of its total population. In contrast, a Polish census in 1931 documented the population as being 14% Ukrainian, 10% Jew, 3% Belarusian, 2% German, and 3% Lithuanian and Czech.

WWII started with the invasion by Nazi Germany of Poland from the west and Soviet Union from the east. During the war, its Jewish population, the largest in Europe, was exterminated by the Nazis in the Holocaust. At the end of war, Stalin, with the aid of the Red Army, installed a communist puppet regime in Poland. With the consent of his WWII allies in the West, he modified its borders making it ethnically homogeneous and excluding large minority communities, most notably Ukrainians. Poland remained ensconced in the Soviet bloc until the end of the Warsaw Pact and Soviet Union in 1991.

Like Poland, Ukraine emerged as an independent state in the aftermath of WWI with the collapse of the Russian and Austro-Hungarian empires. Unlike Poland, Ukraines independence was short-lived. In 1922, it was incorporated as the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic into the Soviet Union. In 193233, the peasantry of Ukraine suffered greatly from Stalins forced collectivization of agriculture that resulted in a widespread famine killing millions. Following the German invasion of Russia and Ukraine in WWII, a Ukrainian nationalist movement emerged briefly that was later to be romanticized by elements of the current Ukrainian government.

In 1991, President Yeltsin of the Russian Republic acquiesced to Ukrainian independence as part of a Faustian bargain that he made with former Soviet party bosses in Ukraine that allowed him to get his Russian republic out from under Kremlin rule. Yeltsins gambit was successful, the Soviet Union collapsed, and independent Russian and Ukrainian republics emerged. However, Yeltsin and his successors would come to regret the deal that they struck allowing Ukrainian independence. Yeltsin had believed that after Ukrainian independence from the Soviet Union, Ukraine and Russia would soon reunite in a strong economic and political union. However, with the collapse of the Russian economy in the aftermath of the Soviet state breakup, the newly independent state of Ukraine viewed partnership with Russia as a less attractive option and turned its gaze toward the West.

Unlike Poland, the newly independent Ukraine was not ethnically homogenous. Large concentrations of ethnic Russians lived in the eastern Donbas region, up to 20% of the total population of Ukraine. This population of ethnic Russians had closer economic and cultural ties with Russia than they did with the rest of Ukraine. This divide manifested itself as discordant internal politics from the start of Ukraines statehood in 1991. It ultimately led to a schism following the Maidan uprising in 2014. Ethnic Russians in Donbas and Crimea pursued political autonomy and a war followed with the Ukrainian government attempting to assert control over the rebellious regions. In 2022, the war escalated with open Russia participation and its annexation of Donbas provinces, Crimea, and a corridor along the Black Sea connecting the two regions.

Since the time of Yeltsin, Russian leaders have decried the encroachment of NATO into the former Russian sphere of interest. In 1999, when Poland joined NATO, Russia was in no position economically or militarily to oppose the West on this issue. Russia was still recovering from the previous decade in which Russias GDP fell by an estimated 40%. However, Russia has recovered under Putin to the point of being able to oppose NATO expansion into Ukraine. Russian intransigence on this point and the large restive Russian ethnic minority in Ukraine provide enough reasons to view NATOs expansion into Ukraine as ill-advised.

Ukraine retaining its status as a neutral buffer state sandwiched between the West and Russia might have averted the current war. Finland adopted a similar strategy of neutrality throughout the Cold War, but Finland never faced the same internal division along ethnic lines as Ukraine. It is now likely that the war in Ukraine will end with a ceasefire that leaves Ukraine in control of a rump state in the west and Russia in control of Ukrainian territory extending along the Black Sea coast, from Russia proper to the Crimean Peninsula  a situation reminiscent of Yugoslavias dissolution in the aftermath of war in the 1990s.
Passwords are important things, especially BIOS passwords, which give unfettered access to voting machines at the most basic level, allowing massive changes with no trail. Colorado voting machine passwords were posted online for as long as five months.

In highly contested Colorado, 664 BIOS passwords were listed in a hidden tab on a series of spreadsheets posted on a page for the Colorado secretary of states website as early as June of this year.

Colorado SOS Jena Griswold has embarked on a full press media crusade to minimize the impact of the breach, slanting and mischaracterizing the facts. Colorado GOP chairman Dave Williams rebutted each of her points.

She claimed that the passwords were only one half of a two-part security system to allow access.

Williams:

These passwords, posted on the internet since at least June, were COMPLETE passwords for hundreds of pieces of equipment. ... It only takes ONE password to get into the system. According to cyber experts and white hat hackers, access to the BIOS passwords makes all other passwords irrelevant.

She claimed that the machines cant be accessed remotely. Williamss response: Remote Access is a legitimate threat. True computer experts will verify the systems can be accessed from anywhere in the world, given the right circumstances.

She claimed that there is no evidence that any systems were compromised. Williams: Cyber experts who have tested election systems and high-level government systems ... advise an average hacker could compromise the machine and leave no trace they had been in the machine.

Griswold said all that is needed to fix the problem is a password change. Williams response: Cyber experts warn these systems must be quarantined, then undergo a total forensic investigation. ... There is no fixing this equipment  it should be scrapped.

Williams has stated,

President Trump is well aware of the issues with our elections systems and procedures. We can expect Election Security will be among the first things he addresses when he is sworn in again on Jan 20th, 2025. Before that happens, Colorado voters deserve a full investigation of the security violations and password compromises due to Secretary Griswolds negligence.

Although Chairman Williams doesnt come out and accuse Griswold of criminal activity, this data breach cant just be an oversight or accident. Spreadsheets dont load themselves onto websites. These passwords could have easily been used by anyone who knew of the data to hack into the machines and set up any number of methods to change the election systems and results, with no chance of detection.

Tina Peters, an election clerk for Mesa County, Colorado, was sentenced to nine years in prison for making a copy of her machines 2020 election data before complying with an improper and illegal demand by Jena Griswold to erase all election data on her system.

For raising questions about election irregularities, she was found guilty on 7 of 10 charges. After her sentencing, Peters released more data to the public for review, with reports at tinapeters.us.

Yet Griswolds cover-up of the BIOS data breach is considered a minor problem. Here is a recording of her discussions with Colorado election officials announcing the breach and getting some serious pushback from her own employees.

Williams may soon be calling for Pam Bondi to launch a full investigation into the way elections have been conducted in Colorado. He says, Recent security failures under Secretary of State, Jena Griswold, including a critical password leak, reveal a troubling level of incompetence that threatens Colorados election integrity. Safeguarding our systems is essential and Griswolds inability to prevent these lapses undermines public trust. Colorado deserves leaders who prioritize security and accountability, and its time for Griswold to address these failures with transparency and effective solutions.

Williams was interviewed on The Grant Stinchfield Show on November 14. Tina Peterss conviction is now under appeal.

A few more thoughts:

Basically, a computer is nothing more than an adding machine, but changing its BIOS means you can make undetectable changes. What if two plus two equals four for Republican candidates, but two plus two equals twenty-two for Democrats?

When an election system is compromised to this extent, all results are suspect and a completely new election should be conducted. This is of nationwide concern. Not only is Colorado electing state and local candidates, but its federal elections could change the makeup of the House and Senate.

It is thought that Jena Griswold will be running for governor of Colorado. Wouldnt it be interesting if her opponent were Tina Peters, running from prison? Youd have the brave whistleblower against the self-serving politician.

Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. A corollary in politics could be conducting different elections but getting the same results. Why is it that most close elections seem to favor Democrats and RINOs?

Its interesting that recounts of paper ballots usually find 120 errors, but reviews of machine counts can find errors and mistakes in the thousands. Its time to mandate paper ballots, with equal numbers from each party monitoring the counting, and election officials ensuring that all voters are American citizens living at their proper addresses. Our votes used to be counted on Election Eve with great accuracy. There should be no more counting days or weeks after the voting stops.

Any deviation from these rules  compromised voting machine security, lost chain of custody of ballots, improper counting oversight, unverified signatures on absentee ballots, must invalidate the entire election immediately. New elections should be conducted with oversight by court-appointed special masters.

Our vote is the fundamental right of all Americans and the foundation upon which our constitutional republic stands. It must be protected at all costs.

Jack Gleason is a conservative, commonsense political writer. He can be reached at jackgleason9@protonmail.com.

Raw Pixel.

" captext=" Raw Pixel " src="https://images.americanthinker.com/imported/2023-11/250165_640.jpeg" />

Image via Raw Pixel.
Im glad I left police work behind decades ago. Not because I didnt enjoy the work or think it noble and vital, but because of the fallout of the defund the police insanity and its offspring: no bail, even for violent criminals. The job has always been difficult and dangerous, but back in the old days, we at least had a reasonable belief we were holding back the criminal tide, helping to make society safe for the decent, hard-working people who paid our salaries. We were the sheepdogs keeping the wolves at bay.

Now, there are fewer willing to accept that dangerous duty, so few that blue cities and states are lowering police hiring standards just to put bodies in blue suits. Thats unwise but necessary, because rational, qualified Americans arent willing to put themselves on the line without the political backing and benefit of the doubt they need. Why arrest violent crooks if soft-headed, even malicious, politicians, prosecutors and judges will release them before the ink on an officers paperwork is dry?

Thats just whats happening across the country, even in places one might not suspect, including Tennessee, where a thug who tried to kill a co-worker was freed on his own recognizance:

Graphic: X Screenshot

A man accused in a Memphis, Tennessee, shooting on October 30 was released without bail, causing outrage among officials. The suspect, identified as 18-year-old Tyreese Earnest, is accused of hunting down a FedEx employee outside a distribution center and shooting him, the New York Post reported on Sunday.

Unsurprisingly, there were co-conspirators, and they were briefly in jail:

The details of the alleged crime, the fact that the victim was ambushed, and the violent nature of it convinces us that this suspect is a threat to public safety, Steve Mulroy, district attorney for Shelby County, said in a statement. Meanwhile, Earnests accused conspirators, twin brothers JaMarcus Odell and JaMarion Odell, are still in jail with $80,000 bonds, according to WREG.

Those bonds didnt last long. Judge Bill Anderson released them on their own recognizance.

Mulroy sounds like a reasonable, hard on crooks, prosecutor, but State Senator Brent Taylor argues his stance is only rhetorical:

Graphic: X Screenshot

Whats restorative justice? Its the idea that because of past discrimination, we must coddle contemporary criminals, amounting to little more than dialogue with violent predators, essentially telling them trying to murder people is bad. Restorative Justice.org argues, in part, this:

Transform Restorative encounters create spaces that lead to transformed individuals victims and offenders  and pinpoint root causes of crime, even systemic and structural issues. Once identified, these systemic issues can be faced, dealt with, and potentially changed to foster more just systems and healthier, safer communities.

Bail, prosecution, significant sentences, are old school, punitive, unnecessary for a socially evolved justice system. Thus, in Tennessee, if a violent criminal says he cant pay a bond, hes freed:

Graphic: X Screenshot

Taylor concludes:

Graphic: X Screenshot

A recording of the hearing may be found here. With what was Earnest charged? Attempted Second Degree murder.

Second-degree murder in Tennessee is the middle ground homicide, below first-degree murder (an intentional and considered beforehand murder), but more serious than voluntary manslaughter (murder committed in the "heat of passion").

The facts of the case suggest the attack on the victimIve not been able to find their name or condition, though theyre apparently still alive--was a premeditated ambush. That too should call into question the prosecutors intentions and judgment.

Bail is intended not to punish the indigent, but to ensure their appearance in court. Criminals freed without bail have little incentive to show up in court or remain in contact with court-appointed attorneys. Bail is also intended to protect the public against sociopaths and psychopaths, violent predators whose actions and intentions represent a clear and present danger.

What evidence did Judge Anderson have that might convince a reasonable jurist Earnest was no danger to the public? Apparently, none. Anyone staging an ambush to murder their victim presents a compelling case for jail pending trial, and likely up to the 60 years Tennessee law allows for conviction on second degree murder.

An allied reality is jail also protect criminals from their victims and from the public at large. When citizens realize the system they fund, and upon which they rely, for protection against criminals refuses to protect them, they move inexorably toward dispensing it themselves. And why should they not? The police, prosecutors and courts are their invention, wielding their power on loan on condition of good behavior.

Obviously, actual vigilantism cant be allowed, but refusal to do the duties the public expects can only lead to the public taking back their loaned power. That sort of justice tends to be final indeed.

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.
President Trump gets continuously bad press from the mainstream media. The Media Research Center reported that a record 85% of the coverage of him was negative, while his opponent Kamala Harris got 78% positive coverage. He wins elections anyway.

Liz Cheney, on the other hand, gets oodles of good press from the mainstream media. Like this from Juan Williams, writing in today's The Hill on who he'd nominate for politician of the year:

This years prize goes to Liz Cheney. The former congresswoman soared sky-high above politics-as-usual in Washington by taking a principled stand that cost her power, friends and the money that comes with status in the capital. Like a living Joan-of-Arc, she defiantly rejected orders from the rich and powerful to close her eyes to all wrongdoing and get in line up behind Trump.

Had enough? I thought so.

But there's more. Here's Whoopi Goldberg on The View touting Cheney as the next attorney general under a Kamala administration, stating: "Your moral core is magnificent."

On "The View," Whoopi Goldberg floats former Rep. Liz Cheney to be Attorney General under Kamala Harris.



Goldberg says she'd "feel a lot better" with Cheney "leading the FBI, the CIA."



Cheney politely responds: "We have to get Vice President Harris elected tomorrow." pic.twitter.com/ZU88sb5c2p  bryan metzger (@metzgov) November 4, 2024

Yet even with this caliber of hagiographic coverage, she loses the election for every politician she touches.

According to a recent study by Data for Progress, she was lethal for Kamala Harris when she went campaigning with her in Pennsylvania.

Breitbart News reported:

Vice President Kamala Harriss campaigning with ousted congresswoman Liz Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, on the presidential campaign trail may have cost her support with swing voters in Michigan and Pennsylvania, new election data reveals. The data, published by Data for Progress, asked voters in Michigan and Pennsylvania if they were more enthusiastic or less enthusiastic about Harris after she campaigned with Cheney.

Seems it wasn't friends she lost, it was voters. And the Harris campaign made a doozy of an error in traipsing around with this Typhoid Mary of lost elections.

Fact is, voters can't stand her. She began her career based on nepotism, owing to her father's position as vice president, to obtain a plum job at the State Department, where she was one of the biggest neocon warmonger policymarkers during the Bush-era nationbuilding wars on terrorism.

A creature of the swamp, she pretended to be a Republican from Wyoming based on the most tenuous of ties, conveniently changing her address to run and faking that residency's duration in order to get a cheaper fishing license as longtime residents normally get. Then she blamed clerks, not herself, for this unexpected turn of luck that just happened to benefit her. Oh, the power of political pull.

As congresswoman, she teamed up with the Democrats to impeach President Trump on phony charges regarding the Jan. 6 crowd control incident at the Capitol. She sanctimoniously lectured the public about "our democracy" and her supposed fealty to it, jumping in front of every fawning camera to do so, but fooled no one as everyone knew she had a pre-existing swamp hate for President Trump. After that, she destroyed exonerating evidence to Jan. 6 defendents, not a lick of conscience to her act.

She got thrown out by voters during the primary after that stunt, in an overwhelming two to one ratio.

Then she came out to support loopy, foolish Kamala Harris for president, anything to get Trump.

The wretched part came when the Harris campaign bought into her phony claims about being all for the Constitution, all for democracy, being oh so principled you see, which matched Harris's argument to voters. Then they invited her to campaign with them -- repelling voters enough for them to change their votes.

The Harris campaign apparently believed all the gushy press about Cheney being a heroine, and imagined that that meant she was popular, a vote-getter, someone to siphon off the rump Nikki Haley vote.

Actually, it chased more of them away. If there's one thing voters can't stand more than a phony like Kamala, it's a sanctimonious phony like Liz Cheney, grudges and corruption all around her.

What idiots these Harris campaigners were to bring her onboard. And now Cheney is getting even more gushing press, meaning, this Venus flytrap of a politician is out there for the next Democrat to bring onboard and campaign with.

By all means, we hope another one does it. Liz may be worthless to voters, but she has her uses.

Image: Twitter screen shot
Was there ever anything fouler, trashier, stinkier, smellier than the six or so lawfare cases directed at President Trump durin his campaign?

I'd say 'no.'

They were politicized justice of the worst sort, the Latin Americanization of U.S. politics, where the outgoing president always has to flee the country.

Now that Trump has won the election against all odds, by the wildest of coincidences, two of these dumpster fire cases, brought on from the flimsiest of charges, have been scrapped. Everyone knows they don't hold water.

According to the New York Post:

A judge Monday dismissed the charges against Donald Trump related to the Jan. 6 riots after Special Counsel Jack Smith threw in the towel  with the president-elect bashing the case as solely political hijacking. Presiding US District Judge Tanya Chutkan of Washington, DC, granted Smiths motion filed earlier Monday seeking to dismiss the charges based on Trumps victory in the 2024 presidential election and the precedent against indicting a sitting US president. Smiths team also separately moved Monday to end its appeal of a Florida judges decision nixing Smiths classified document case against Trump  once considered one of the strongest in a slew of legal indictments against the Republican. These cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought, Trump vented on Truth Social on Monday afternoon.

Political hijacking was right.

All of these cases were coordinated by the White House, with each prosecution team making trips to that temple for instructions. The White House even seeded an operative in one of the New York offices.

They all came at the same time, as if to suggest that suddenly President Trump had turned to a life of crime -- right about when he decided to run for reelection.

They all employed flamingly partisan judges, prosecutors, and juries. Several were plagued with conflicts of interests and even flaming corruption from both the prosecutorial and judicial side. Some of the lawfarists were absolute pigs of no recognizable professionalism.

They all sought to interfere with President Trump's election run, through an artificially speeded up court calender, illegal gag orders, and court dates prohibiting travel for campaigning. That was what it was really about, wasn't it?

Trialwise, they were rigged against the defense, and denied President Trump key witnesses. The charges were invented, never used on anyone in the past, and they even changed laws in order to make those charges. In several cases, they employed massive numbers of felony charges and institute massive unprecedented fines. Trump's political opponents used the term 'felon' against him liberally in the campaign, which was part of the idea.

Once they got what they wanted in one case -- a biased jury denied all the facts -- they danced around at the word 'felon.'

Meanwhile, the mainstream media did all it could to make this descent into third-world justice appear normal, allowing the prosecution and the judges to use them as tools for that purpose, as happened with the abnormal Mar-a-Lago raid -- and everything else, actually.

It was a freak show, and no one was freakier than Jack Smith, whose legitimacy as a special counsel was absolutely not there -- his appointment was the same that as a dude off the street given that he wasn't a government employee when he was appointed to the job, which was prohibited by law.

So now Smith's decided to throw in the towel, with Democrats' claims of threat to democracy somehow going down into the dumpster fire, too.

Oh, how they had their fun, though. They danced a jig at Trump's mug shot and reveled in the prospect of putting him in jail for the rest of his life. They thrilled at the word 'felon.'

It was such a disgusting specter it actually drove support to President Trump, because the public could see that the only way to stop this corruption of justice would be to re-elect President Trump. Trump's support consolidated against his primary rivals and since not a one of them said a thing about this travesty of justice, the public concluded that they wouldn't do anything about it. The only way out was to support Trump and every outrage from this crew, every one of them, led to a bump in the polls for Trump.

Now that Smith is out, it's likely he will do all he can to escape sanction for what is undoubtedly a lot of bad behavior. Which partisan operatives was he palling around with. Did he collude with the deep state? Congress has asked him to preserve all records, but with Smith out of sight, it's hard to believe that that is what will be done. Smith seems to have wanted to get out of town, ahead of the long arm of the law, rightly applied, given the legal travesty he made himself the center of.

Now that it's over, President Trump has rightly called it 'a low point in the history of our country.'

And every last one of these other cases must meet the same fate.

Yes, President Trump should go after Smith and the entire machine surrounding him -- because if he doesn't, it will happen again. Any and all illegalities and riggings need consequences this time -- or the U.S. will become the worst of Latin America, indistinguishable, trashy, comical, and dirty.

Garbage lawfare belongs in only one place: the garbage.

Image: Screen shot from WHAS11 video, via YouTube
If the jury were still out regarding Justin Trudeaus (in)ability to govern, heres the smoking gun: hes a Swiftie. Men should not be into vapid music created for airheaded female teen audiences and if they are, theyre completely unqualified to lead a nation. To be fair, Swifts music does seem like it would be naturally appealing for someone of Trudeaus intellect and (im)maturity.

Or, maybe hes just gayhe has cried a ridiculous number of times on the public stage, he doesnt even know how to hold a hammer, and he always has his legs tightly crossed like a female. (Could go either way, or, maybe its both.)

But back to the initial suggestionaccording to a new report out at Breitbart news yesterday, pro-Hamas rioters burned down (and looted) Montreal over the weekend as they made their case for a dissolved Israel, but Trudeau was nowhere to be foundbecause he was shaking it off at a Taylor Swift concert more than 300 miles away.

Terrorism on our streets and Trudeau doesn't care.



Pro-Hamas riots are taking place in Montreal, meanwhile Trudeau is at a Taylor Swift concert displaying his cringe dance moves. pic.twitter.com/0wpXUgRNFa  Canada Proud (@WeAreCanProud) November 23, 2024

Violent anarchists creating mayhem in a major city, calling for the elimination of Israel and her people? Trudeau didnt see or hear anything.

But truckers congesting the streets in response to draconian Covid-19 mandates that bypass traditional democratic avenues? An immediate invocation of Emergency Powers to deem the protest illegal, with jail time, hefty fines, and police beatings for good measure.

Artur Pawlowski, a pastor and survivor of Soviet communism, defies Trudeaus diktats and continues to hold church services? In come Trudeaus goons to arrest him, and assault his parishioners.

All Turdeau needs now is a powdered wig, maybe a pannier, to really finish off the Quils mangent de la brioche vibe hes got going.

The spirits of Nero and Marie Antoinette live on.

Image: DonkeyHotey, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr, unaltered.

Hat tip to Canuck for sharing with me the great nickname developed by Canadian patriots for their very unesteemed head-of-state.
Shortly after the October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel, FBI Director Christopher Wray appeared before Congress and issued a general warning that the threat of terrorist attacks in America has never been so high. He has since repeatedly issued the same warning, but has always avoided directly attributing that threat level to our wide-open borders. He has absolutely not attributed it to the FBI assigning personnel not to anti-terror and anti-espionage investigations, but to surveilling parents at school board meetings and placing informants in churches, particularly Catholic churches with their nasty and dangerous radical traditional Catholics whogasp!appreciate the Latin Mass.

Graphic: YouTube Screenshot

Why would Wray even bring the issue up? The FBI has long claimed the real dangers to national security are domestic terroristsanyone who disagrees with Harris/Biden policyour military membersactive duty and veteransTrump supporters and the religious. Imagine how panicked the FBI is by military, religious Trump supporters who disagree with Harris/Biden. If they dont much like the FBI to boot, FBI paranoia must be off the charts.

Wray brought it up because as incompetent as the FBI is these days, so skewed is their focus, they know were going to be hit by terrorists and hit hard. They know there are thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of Islamist terrorists and members of the Chinese military in America. They might even know about some of their plans and nation-state backing. They do, rarely, manage to stop a minor terrorist plot or two. Wray is weakly sounding the alarm to cover his ass. He wants to be able to say: see? I told you. Its your fault.

That was before Donald Trump was elected and Wray and other high-ranking FBI apparatchiks began feverishly shredding documents and planning a pre-inauguration escape:

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray refused to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on terrorism threats facing the United States. Just hours before they were set to testify before the Senate on Thursday, a DHS spokesperson said Mayorkas and Wray would not be attending the hearing which was focused on terrorism threats facing the U.S.  including those arriving at the southern border. DHS and the FBI have offered to the Committee a classified briefing to discuss the threats to the Homeland, the spokesperson said in part.

Wait a minute. If Wray has repeatedly, publicly, trumpeted the terrorist danger, why is he suddenly shutting up? Mayorkas is no surprise. Hes always refused to tell the truth. For once, Congress is on the side of the angels:

In response, Ranking Member Rand Paul (R-KY) said Mayorkas and Wrays refusal to testify is unacceptable The American people deserve to hold these officials accountable for their actions under the Biden Administration, Paul said in a statement. Likewise, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) said the pair justified their refusal to testify by saying that the threats facing America are so grave they can only be discussed in a classified setting. If thats true they need to acknowledge that the Biden-Harris administration is responsible for these grave dangers because of their open border policies, Johnson said, while Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) called them cowards.

Donald Trumps impending inauguration is even prying rationality out of congressional Democrats:

Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Gary Peters (D-MI) lashed out at the two men:

Graphic: YouTube Screenshot

Americans deserve transparent, public answers about the threats we face. Secretary Mayorkas and Director Wrays refusal to speak publicly about their departments work will only increase the concerns that many Americans have about our nations security at a challenging time, flout the Committees efforts to conduct responsible oversight, and will deal a serious blow to trust in our government. Their claims that they can only relay such information and respond to questions in a classified setting are entirely without merit.

Why is Wray now determined to keep the public in the dark? Is his motive for denying Americans the transparency for which they pay trying to avoid embarrassment for dereliction of duty and/or prosecution for actual crimes, or is the terrorist threat so severe, the danger to nation security so grave, only classified briefings will do? How can Americans, used to being serially deceived and terrorized by the FBI, believe anything Wray says?

Mayorkas? Hes surely trying to avoid being embarrassed and prosecuted, and we already know the man who has always maintained the border is secure and closed is a liar.

Certainly, theyre trying to distract the public and Congress as they destroy evidence. Classifying government incompetence, malfeasance and crimes is a time-honored practice. Thus the Harris/Biden Administration ends, not with a bang but with the whir of a shredder.

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.
A lot is going on in the tech world right now. Many market observers have accused brands like Apple and Google of having monopolies in different segments. For example, Google is currently facing a legal battle with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) over allegations of monopolistic conduct in the world of online advertising technology. Google will now face a class action lawsuit in the UK for monopoly over search.

Google is facing a nearly $8.8 billion lawsuit in the UK that accuses it of harming users by abusing its search dominance. Last Friday, the UKs Competition Appeal Tribunal aka CAT ruled that the brands case can move forward.

Google will face massive penalties in its UK class action suit over search dominance

The Competition Appeal Tribunal in the UK has given unanimous approval to proceed to trial for the case against Google. The case alleges the company for having a monopoly in the search section. The CAT has certified the 7 billion claim against the search giant brought by Nikki Stopford. For those unaware, Stopford is a consumer rights campaigner who filed the case on behalf of millions of consumers in the UK.

The claim accused the company of exploiting its dominance in the search market. This increased advertising costs, which ultimately impacted its customers. Stopford originally filed this case in September 2023. It also accused Googles anticompetitive practices of making it more expensive for companies to promote their products on the popular platform.

Google continues to rig the search-engine market to charge advertisers more, which raises the prices they charge consumers, Stopford said in a statement. This UK legal action seeks to promote healthier competition in digital markets, and to hold Google accountable.

What did the lawsuit argue?

The lawsuit argues that Google forced Android phone OEMs to ship their devices with Google Search and Google Chrome. The lawsuit also mentions that Google paid Apple billions to make Google the default search engine on Safari.

We still believe this case is speculative and opportunistic  we will argue against it vigorously, Paul Colpitts, Google UKs senior counsel, said in an emailed statement to The Verge. People use Google because it is helpful; not because there are no alternatives.

Notably, the European Union had already accused the search giant of similar practices in the past few years. The EU ordered the company to pay a hefty fine in 2017. Google lost the fight against the massive $2.7 billion EU antitrust fine in September this year.
Google is having a rough few months in court as regulatory agencies have been questioning its practices across multiple business segments. Recently, the Mountain View giant faced an unfavorable ruling concerning its search engine. Now, the EU is forcing Google to change the way the Search service displays results.

A change in Googles algorithm reduced the reach of service providers

Every so often, Google makes tweaks to the algorithm of Google Search. Being the most used search platform in the world, it is normal that even small changes severely affect the reach of hundreds or thousands of websites. That is what has been happening in multiple territories, including Europe, where a group of service providers complained about the situation. According to reports, the algorithm changes brought a reduction in traffic of up to 30% on platforms such as Booking, Expedia, and Airbnb, among many others.

In response, the EU is forcing the company to change the way Google Search displays search results. The commission is asking for multiple changes to try to fix the situation. The list includes allowing businesses to display prices and images directly in search results. Another requirement is that Google services are not particularly prominent in search results with different visual elements. Another requirement is that search results in German, Belgian, and Estonian languages should not display a map with locations.

EUs proposed changes to Google Search results being criticized

The EU commission is using the DMA (Digital Markets Act) rules to force the changes. Those who do not abide by these rules risk severe fines and restrictions. That said, it appears that neither Google nor the companies affected by the algorithm change have been satisfied with the EU remedies.

On the one hand, Google claims that the proposed changes are difficult trade-offs. Plus, Oliver Bethel -legal director at Google- said that such requirements will not have any positive effect on the companies. On the other hand, some companies and experts hold similar views to Oliver Bethels. In other words, the proposed changes do not appear to address the primary issue, which is the new search algorithm.

Critics believe that Googles services will continue to stand out from other search results as well. Some even claim that the EU adjustments will affect small businesses. After all, losing the map in search results could make a business even less noticeable.

Company facing multiple lawsuits related to its business model

Whether Google tries to appeal the decision is still up in the air. Meanwhile, the company is facing challenges in the US, where the DOJ is attempting to compel it to sell Chrome, citing a monopoly in the search engine segment. Theres also an antitrust case against Google in the UK, which is not part of the EU.
Qualcomm is reportedly reconsidering its interest in acquiring Intel Corporation due to concerns over regulatory and logistical hurdles. The discussions, initially fueled by Intels financial struggles and declining market position, have stalled.

Qualcomm reviews Intel acquisition possibilities

Bloomberg reported Monday that Qualcomms earlier enthusiasm for the deal has diminished. The complexities surrounding such a large-scale acquisition and potential antitrust scrutiny are significant deterrents. Reports earlier this year hinted at Qualcomms interest in Intel, particularly after Intels market valuation fell amidst declining revenue and increased competition.

The deal, had it materialized, would have ranked among the most significant mergers in tech history. However, the likelihood of intense regulatory challenges across multiple jurisdictions has tempered Qualcomms ambitions.

The U.S. governments decision to reduce Intels funding under the CHIPS Act added another layer of complexity to the situation. The grant, initially set at $8.5 billion, has been scaled back to under $8 billion. The cut follows Intels delay in launching its Ohio chip facility, now projected for completion by the end of the decade instead of the previously announced 2025 timeline.

The development highlights Intels struggles to maintain its position in a competitive semiconductor market dominated by companies like NVIDIA and TSMC. Intel recently reported a record quarterly loss and warned of further financial challenges.

Qualcomm focuses on strategic alternatives

As Qualcomm reconsiders its interest in Intel, the company is expected to focus on other strategic investments to bolster its market position. Qualcomm has been a significant player in the semiconductor industry, especially in mobile technologies, and any potential acquisition of Intel would have marked a shift toward expanding its capabilities in artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.

While the company remains cautious about the deal, analysts note the potential long-term benefits of acquiring Intels resources, including its expertise in advanced chip fabrication. However, the financial and regulatory risks may outweigh the rewards, leading Qualcomm to explore less complex opportunities.

Intel faces mounting pressure to adapt to a rapidly changing market. The companys delay in capitalizing on the artificial intelligence boom has left it trailing competitors. The companys ability to recover hinges on aggressive restructuring and innovative product development. Recent reports suggest that Apple and Samsung are considering purchasing Intel.
Samsungs Exynos 2600 chipset was rumored earlier this year to be the companys answer to the Apple A19 chip, and a rumor from earlier this week says Samsung was considering its cancellation. That is apparently not the case.

While theres still no official timeframe on the Exynos 2600 release or any official information about what devices will use it, it seems that Samsung is still moving forward with its production. The rumor about the cancellation was initially posted on X, which was then picked up by news outlet Gizmochina. It stated that Samsung was facing manufacturing challenges with its 2nm chip process. This was reportedly resulting in Samsungs consideration of stepping back from the Exynos 2600 manufacturing.

According to Samsung, however, the details about the Exynos 2600 arent true.

Samsung refutes the Exynos 2600 cancellation rumor

According to a Samsung spokesperson, these claims couldnt be further from the truth. I can confirm that the claim that Exynos 2600 production is being canceled is not true and is based on groundless rumors, a Samsung spokesperson told Android Headlines.

Theres nothing mentioned about the challenges with the 2nm chip manufacturing process. That being said, even if Samsung is having challenges with manufacturing, that apparently isnt stopping it from working on this chipset and getting it ready for future devices. As of now, the Exynos 2600 is rumored to be powering the Galaxy S26. If that turns out to be true, it isnt clear if this will end up being all models or just the ones for certain regions.

Samsung has historically used Qualcomms Snapdragon chips for its flagship phones in the US and most other markets. And right now, theres no reason to suspect that it wont continue to do so.

Full steam ahead

At this time its not possible to nail down when exactly the Exynos 2600 will debut. With Samsung stating that cancellation of this production isnt happening, however, theres a chance that the chip will see a release sometime in 2026. As this is the year the Galaxy S26 lineup should be launching. In terms of specifications, theres little known about the chip outside of speculation. Its said to be on Samsungs 2nm process.

At least one rumor from the Samsung forums back in May suggests that it could also come with an in-house designed graphics processing unit. This would be a significant change for Samsung. Past Exynos chips have typically used AMD GPUs. Moving to an in-house GPU would allow Samsung to reduce its reliance on outside parties.

That being said, theres no confirmation (obviously) that this is happening either. For now, its complete speculation. What has been confirmed is that the Exynos 2600 manufacturing is going full steam ahead.
Following the news that actor Jung Woo Sung is the father of social media influencer Moon Gabi's child, the actor has been accused of cheating with at least 3 women.

As the internet is turning up to share their take, information related to the rooted controversy goes viral on the internet.

Jung created a stir when reports came out that he fathered a baby with Moon Gabi, but the two were not in a romantic relationship at the time of her pregnancy.

Although the two did not get married, Jung allegedly had been footing bills for Moon's child.

To complicate matters, social media users claimed that Jung had also been dating a long-standing girlfriend, an accountant he had been dating for a decade.

He was allegedly (and at the same time) dating Moon Gabi and the accountant.

In addition to this, the third woman, a non-celebrity woman who was born in 1998, has also been involved in the scandal.

  .....





10  

98  ()



  ...... pic.twitter.com/UGvL6BP97i   (@_U_topia__) November 25, 2024

Another netizen pointed out information from text messages implying that the accountant looks similar to Jung's ex-girlfriend, actress Lee Ji Ah.

However, the netizen also alleged that the accountant sought legal opinion on the matter of a custody arrangement for Jung's child with Moon Gabi, stating that she was exploring her options after discovering the links to Jung's other relationships.

Source

This has only drawn scrutiny into Jung Woo Sung and his personal life and supposed history of cheating.

He has admitted that he fathered a child with Moon Gabi but so far has not commented on the other cheating allegations.
A federal appeals court will soon make a decision on the fate of TikTok by December 6. The ruling will determine whether ByteDance, the Chinese owner of the popular app, must divest its US operations or face a nationwide ban. The decision could have sweeping implications for national security and digital freedom in the US.

The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia is reviewing challenges to a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikToks US assets by early next year. The law stems from government concerns that Chinese ownership poses a risk to national security due to data access and potential influence from Beijing.

Judges Sri Srinivasan, Neomi Rao, and Douglas Ginsburg are weighing arguments from TikTok, its users, and the Justice Department. Legal experts say the decision could reshape policies governing foreign-owned tech companies.

TikTok decision coming soon: Potential outcomes

Several scenarios could unfold. The court might uphold the law, forcing ByteDance to divest TikToks US operations by January 19. This would validate the governments stance and likely lead TikTok to appeal to the Supreme Court or seek a review by the full appeals court.

Alternatively, the judges could uphold the law but address its fairness. Critics argue the legislation unfairly targets ByteDance, violating the US Constitutions prohibition on Bills of Attainder. If the court flags these concerns, it might mandate additional steps, such as certifying TikTok as a national security threat, potentially delaying the divestment deadline.

If the court deems the law unconstitutional, TikTok could avoid divestment altogether. Such a ruling would affirm ByteDances argument that the law infringes on free speech and represents an overreach against a single platform. However, this outcome would likely prompt an appeal by the US government.

Security and free speech debates

The Justice Department contends TikToks Chinese ownership risks national security, citing potential data misuse and misinformation. Officials argue that divestment is essential to protect US users, which number over 170 million.

TikTok and ByteDance reject these claims, framing the law as an unprecedented attack on an internet platform. They argue it violates free speech rights and could set a dangerous precedent for targeting foreign-owned businesses.

The decision will influence not just the apps future but broader US policies on foreign technology. A ruling favoring divestment could pave the way for stricter oversight of Chinese tech firms, while a decision against it might challenge government authority over digital platforms.
The US government could soon impose additional export sanctions on China. Specifically, 200 Chinese chip makers could face stringent actions, revealed an email.

US trade sanctions havent been as effective as expected

China has faced multiple sanctions during the Biden administration. However, the country, and specifically, its leading tech companies, have managed to circumvent some of the restrictions.

Recently, one of Huaweis devices was discovered with a chip made by TSMC. Needless to mention, advanced products from TSMC arent allowed to be supplied to Chinese companies.

In addition to the opposition, even the members of the Biden administration have criticized the American government for its poorly implemented sanctions. It is indeed concerning to see how well Chinese companies have managed to procure chips designed and manufactured by America and its allies, despite the trade restrictions.

US to impose export sanctions on 200 chipmakers from China?

According to Reuters, the US government may introduce a new series of sanctions affecting at least 200 domestic chip makers in China. The Biden administration may announce new trade restrictions as soon as next week.

The Commerce Department, which oversees U.S. export policy, plans to publish the new regulations before the Thanksgiving break. The proposed action was revealed in an email from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce sent to its members.

This time around, the trade sanctions could majorly focus on the shipments of High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) chips to China. HBM modules are critical to the Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI).

So far, American companies, including NVIDIA, have dominated the HBM market. Tech giants such as Samsung have faltered in this market. However, certain Chinese companies have been scaling up their operations and ramping up R&D to manufacture HBM modules.

It seems America wants to prohibit Huawei from procuring advanced AI chips. The Chinese tech giant recently unrelieved its tri-fold smartphone, which packed a powerful chipset. The US could be hoping to slow down the progress of Kirin SoC and Ascend AI accelerators.
Arctic foxes are a specialized species of fox adapted to live in the harshest and most extreme polar regions of the planets north. In other wordsnot temperate Oregon, where a young Arctic Fox was recently seen wandering around Williamwette Park in Oregon. Though originally mistaken for a native species of wild fox featuring a mutation that would deprive its coat of color, wildlife rescuers soon learned they were dealing with something far more exotic and heartbreakingsomeones escaped or abandoned pet.

A young arctic fox, who was found wandering in southwest Portland last month, has temporarily moved in behind the scenes before she heads to her new home in Wisconsin. pic.twitter.com/sXkvPQ4KxL  Oregon Zoo (@OregonZoo) November 13, 2024

The young fox was found dehydrated and underweight, and its rescuers soon realized that it was not a local wild fox but instead an arctic fox which was for some reason wandering far away from its native range. Its face shape is different from the local foxes, and the hair on its footpads would indicate that its a member of this exotic species.

Related: Arctic Fox and Snowy Owl Playing Together in the Snow Has People Captivated

She was initially captures by the Bird Alliance, a local wildlife group, who determined that the animal had likely been someones pet and was thus incapable of surviving on her own.

After treatment for dehydration and other superficial injuries, the Oregon Zoo was willing to accept the animal on a temporary basis, while they searched for a new home in a zoo or wildlife center that might be able to take on the burden of permanently caring for this wild creature.

All About the Arctic Fox

Arctic foxes are a small, extremely fluffy species of fox who lives all over the northern polar region, with populations in Scandinavia, Siberia, northern Canada, and even Iceland. White Arctic foxes are white during the winter months and get brown patches on their backs during the warmer southern months, while blue Arctic foxes are a slate gray or black color year round. The Arctic fox pelt is thought to be the warmest fur of any arctic animal, and they are hunted and farmed for this fur. Though their range is wide, some local populations of Arctic foxes are considered endangered in their region, largely due to habitat shrinkage and climate change, which favors the red fox encroaching on their territory.

Exotic Pets

Its actually illegal to own an Arctic fox in Oregon, so even if the apparent owners of this animal came forward, they would not be allowed to get their fox back. We may never know the origin of this creature or how it came to be wandering in a park in a city like Portland, but now that she is in the care of trained officials, her future looks bright.

Its wonderful to see her thriving, but this fox should never have been a pet, a zoo official said in a statement. Like many wild animals that wind up in the illegal pet trade, arctic foxes have complex care needs that can only be met by people with specialized training at licensed and properly equipped facilities.

Soon, the fox will be transferred to the Ochsner Park Zoo in Baraboo, Wisconsin, where she will hopefully live happily ever after with another Arctic fox ambassador who makes his home there, a a male fox named Apollo.

For more information on why exotic animals should not be kept as pets, please visit, notapet.net.

Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos.

Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds is set to confirm the Government will consult on easing rules related to the phasing-out of new petrol and diesel cars, the PA news agency understands.

The Cabinet minister is expected to use a speech to the automotive industry on Tuesday night to announce that changes to flexibilities available to manufacturers as part of the zero-emission vehicles (Zev) mandate will be proposed.

Under the mandate, at least 22% of new cars sold by each manufacturer in the UK this year must be zero-emission, which generally means pure electric.

The threshold will rise annually, including to 28% in 2025.

Under the current rules, the mandate will reach 80% by 2030, but the Government has committed to bring the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans forward from 2035 to 2030.

Failure to abide by the mandate or make use of flexibilities  such as buying credits from rival companies or making more sales in future years  will result in a requirement to pay the Government 15,000 per polluting car sold above the limits.

The consultation, which will be launched in the coming weeks, is unlikely to propose changes to the mandates percentages.

It will include amendments to the options for how non-compliant manufacturers can avoid fines.

Mr Reynolds will give a speech to the annual dinner of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) at Londons Grosvenor House Hotel.

Last week, bosses from the SMMT and major manufacturers met Mr Reynolds and Transport Secretary Louise Haigh to discuss the mandate.

They expressed concerns that the policy is putting jobs at risk at UK vehicle factories.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: We do recognise the global challenges the industry are facing, which is why ministers have been getting around the table with key industry figures to discuss how we can ensure the transition delivers for them and the future of UK auto manufacturing.

Well bring forward a consultation on our proposals in this space in due course and how we implement the 2030 transition deadline and ensure that voices and insights from the industry are heard every step of the way.

Dan Caesar, chief executive of campaign group EVUK, said: The switch to electric vehicles is creating jobs now and this will increase significantly in the immediate future, and open up opportunities for the UK.

The Zev mandate is world-leading legislation that will put the UK firmly on the map with green tech investors and send a clear signal that the country means business when it comes to the global energy transition.

Clean air and sustainable employment are surely the legacy we all want, and the existing zero-emission mechanisms are critical.

Quentin Willson, founder of pro-EV group FairCharge, said: Ministers should not dilute the UKs EV ambitions.

Long-term government policy has made us the second-most successful EV market in Europe  an advantage we should strengthen, not weaken.

Our Zev mandate targets are world-leading. Dont let the intense lobbying from legacy auto ruin them.

SMMT figures show registrations of fully electric new cars across the UK rose by 14.2% during the first 10 months of the year compared with the same period in 2023, with a growth in market share from 16.3% to 18.1%.
Government plans to tackle unemployment run counter to a rise in employers national insurance contributions, MPs have warned.

Christine Jardine, the Liberal Democrats women and equalities spokeswoman, told the Commons she saw a contraction in employment policies, while Conservative shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately accused Liz Kendall of having dodged tough decisions.

Ms Kendall, the Work and Pensions Secretary, unveiled a threefold plan on Tuesday as she warned: If you can work, you must work.

Introducing the Get Britain Working White Paper, the minister announced her department would bring together jobcentres and Englands National Careers Service, support a Youth Guarantee led by mayors and local authorities with support for roles in the culture and sports sectors, and launch Get Britain Working trailblazers to link work, health and skills support at a local level.

But Ms Jardine warned: Many of us see a contradiction in this policy and the national insurance changes, because a major employer in my constituency of Edinburgh West tells me its going to cost them a quarter of a million pounds extra a year, and they wont be taking on seasonal workers because they cant afford it.

In Octobers Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled an increase in employers national insurance contributions, which they pay on top of workers earnings, by 1.2 percentage points  to 15%  from April 2025.

Ms Jardine asked: How does that damaging policy for business go alongside trying to encourage more people back out to work?

Ms Kendall replied: Of course, they face these pressures, but I think many businesses also understand you have to  actually have a Government that is looking at the fundamentals, and we did face a problem with the public finances.

Richard Holden, the Conservative shadow paymaster general, pointed to Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecasts that national insurance changes could lead to the equivalent of around 50,000 average-hour jobs being lost by 2029/30, adding: Where are the people that shes hoping to get off benefits and into work going to find employment?

The Work and Pensions Secretary said businesses are thinking about the longer term, the vacancies, how on Earth they get the skills they need that are particular to their own business in that area.

Ms Whately told MPs: Economic inactivity is a problem for our economy and for each and every individual who risks being written off to a life on benefits.

Knowing that, I am disappointed in the substance of what she is announcing today, because far from matching her rhetoric, this appears to be little more than a pot of money for local councils, some disparaging language about the work of jobcentres and a consultation which will be launched in the spring.

Given that theyve had 14 years to prepare for this moment, is that it?

Where are the reforms to benefits that would actually make material savings to the taxpayer, like the 12 billion we committed to save in our manifesto? Where are the reforms to fit notes, which we had handed over all ready to go? Where is her plan for reforming the workplace capability assessment?

She added: The fact is the Secretary of State has dodged tough decisions. Every day she kicks the can down the road costs the taxpayer millions of pounds, at this rate rising to 100 billion on sickness benefits by the end of this parliament.

Ms Kendall responded: The only people who dodged difficult decisions on welfare were the party opposite.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall unveiled the plan on Tuesday (Jacob King/PA)

The Work and Pensions Secretary had earlier said 2.8 million people are out of work due to long-term sickness, and almost a million young people are not in education, employment or training, which is far worse in parts of the country  in the Midlands and the North  that were deindustrialised in the 80s and 90s, the very same places that have lower life expectancy and chronic poor health, areas which the party opposite (the Conservatives) repeatedly promised to level up, but repeatedly failed to deliver.

On disabilities and sickness, the SNPs Kirsty Blackman (Aberdeen North) urged Ms Kendall to consider how disabled people and benefits claimants with ill health can be round the table.

Nadia Whittome, Labour MP for Nottingham East, asked the minister to confirm that no-one will be sanctioned for non-attendance at medical appointments.

Ms Kendall replied: Sanctioning people because they go to the NHS to get themselves as fit and healthy as possible is completely the wrong approach.

I understand why disabled people, when they hear talk about helping people into work or reforms to sickness and disability benefits, why theyre worried because of what happened over the last 14 years  we are determined to break down those barriers to work.

I think many disabled people, given the right help and support and the right flexibility to work, could work and want to work.
Hong Kong businessman and British national Jimmy Lai is being subjected to cruel and unusual punishment given his continued imprisonment, according to the Foreign Secretary.

David Lammy hit out at the treatment of Mr Lai as MPs renewed calls for court proceedings to cease and for the 76-year-old to be released.

Pro-democracy supporter Mr Lai was jailed in late 2020 in Hong Kong, and is currently being held in solitary confinement after being accused of violating the territorys new national security law.

Labour MP Rachel Blake raised the case of Jimmy Lai in the House of Commons (PA)

Mr Lai, who founded the now defunct Apple Daily newspaper, has pleaded not guilty to charges of collusion with foreign forces and sedition, and faces life behind bars if convicted.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer raised Mr Lais case with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the recent G20 summit in Brazil.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Labour MP Rachel Blake (Cities of London and Westminster) said: My constituent, the British citizen Jimmy Lai, is in failing health now and can I thank the Foreign Secretary for his work and his department in upholding his rights under international law.

Can the Foreign Secretary share with us his assessment of the scale of international support for the release of Jimmy Lai?

Mr Lammy said the level of support is massive, including in the United States and European Union.

He added: His trial has begun, hes now well into his 70s and thats why I made the case to the Chinese that he should be released.

This is becoming cruel and unusual punishment, frankly.
A suspected terrorist wanted by the FBI for more than 20 years after bombings in the US has been arrested in North Wales.

Daniel Andreas San Diego, 46, was one of the agencys most wanted fugitives after two bombings in the San Francisco area of California in 2003.

San Diego was detained by officers from the National Crime Agency, supported by Counter Terrorism Policing and North Wales Police, at a property in a rural area next to woodland in Conwy on Monday.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday, where extradition proceedings began.

An FBI appeal poster for Daniel Andreas San Diego (FBI/PA)

The FBI said San Diego, who was born in Berkeley, California, has ties to an animal rights extremist group and there was a reward of 250,000 dollars (199,000) for information leading directly to his arrest.

On August 28 2003, two bombs exploded approximately one hour apart on the campus of a biotechnology corporation in Emeryville, the agency said.

Then, on September 26 2003, one bomb strapped with nails exploded at a nutritional products corporation in Pleasanton, a wanted poster read.

San Diego was indicted in the United States District Court, Northern District of California, in July 2004 over his alleged involvement, the FBI said.

FBI director Christopher Wray said: Daniel San Diegos arrest after more than 20 years as a fugitive for two bombings in the San Francisco area shows that no matter how long it takes, the FBI will find you and hold you accountable.

Theres a right way and a wrong way to express your views in our country, and turning to violence and destruction of property is not the right way.
Farmers are being encouraged to plant trees such as hornbeam, beech and walnut to improve food production, farm businesses, and the environment.

The Forestry Commissions Forest Research agency has developed a new tree species guide for UK agroforestry systems with the University of Reading, providing information on 33 species of trees best suited for planting on farmland.

The guide aims to help inform farmers who are looking at agroforestry  the process of integrating trees into farming systems  choose the right tree species based on the individual needs and conditions of their farm.

The Forestry Commission says trees on agricultural land can offer a range of benefits, including protecting soils, storing carbon, sheltering and shading livestock and diversifying farm incomes into timber, fruit and nuts.

The climate is changing, and so are we  Meet the people working hard this #NationalTreeWeek to safeguard the forests of the future  Watch the full film  https://t.co/y7Rmvj0aa6 pic.twitter.com/Xj5gWhTNLZ  Forestry England (@ForestryEngland) November 25, 2024

Planting the right kind of trees in the right place can help farms be resilient to climate change and the worsening extremes such as flooding and heatwaves it is bringing, and reducing exposure to fluctuating agricultural markets, the agency said.

The guide highlights species such as hornbeams, which are suitable on most farms, live for a long time and can produce specialised timber, and beeches which are suitable for upland farms, have longevity and value for timber.

Walnut and black walnut trees produce nuts and offer benefits to livestock, while goat willow trees can be used for biomass and tannins and common and red alder trees are able to capture nitrogen to improve the soil and forage grassland, the guide says.

Farmers can get grants for planting and maintaining trees on agricultural land including the new nature-friendly farming scheme that is replacing old EU-era subsidies and woodland creation grants from the Forestry Commission.

Cows in a woodland setting (Forestry Commission/PA)

Forestry Commission chief executive Richard Stanford said: Food production and environmental goals are under increasing scrutiny and the effects of climate change are becoming apparent to us all.

Agroforestry can offer improved productivity from livestock and crops and help to build resilience to climate change.

This indispensable guide outlines which tree species are most suited to farmers needs and the conditions specific to their land, he said, adding it would help them benefit from incorporating trees into farmland while maximising food production.

Tom Breeze, from the University of Reading, said: Farming with trees is a great way for farmers to meet environmental goals without compromising food production, but the barriers to entry can feel overwhelming.

Drawing on years of research from the University of Reading, this guide aims to equip farmers with the practical knowledge and tools they need to get started.

Our goal is to make farming with trees more accessible, increase awareness of its benefits, and spark a conversation about how agroforestry can transform agriculture in the UK.
Hayley Scudder pictured with her sons Logan, 12, and George, seven. (Hayley Scudder/SWNS) ((Hayley Scudder/SWNS))

A mum has shared her shock at finding out she had two wombs during a scan while she was pregnant with her second child.

Hayley Scudder, 34, from Stockport, Manchester, had never had any symptoms to suggest she had two wombs and sonographers hadn't picked up anything unusual when she was pregnant with her first son, Logan, now 12. But during an internal scan when she was 12 weeks into her second pregnancy with her youngest child George, now seven, doctors discovered she had two wombs.

"Doctors were shocked," Hayley says of the news. "They sent about 15 nurses and doctors in. It was like I was famous! They were all saying they hadn't seen it before. Apparently it only impacts around one in a million. I call it limited edition! "

Hayley was told the rare condition, known as uterus didelphys, means she could have been pregnant at the same time, in each of her wombs. "I could have been pregnant with one baby in one womb and then could get pregnant in the second womb," she says. "I'm glad that didn't happen!"

The mum-of-two was also told that due to her condition it should have been "near impossible" for her to conceive without undergoing IVF. "I was very emotional for a long period of time after hearing that as I was so grateful," she explains.

Hayley Scudder discovered she had two wombs after falling pregnant naturally with her second child. (Hayley Scudder/SWNS) ((Hayley Scudder/SWNS))

Hayley's first child was born six weeks early with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. "I conceived Logan in the smaller womb and that's why he was born prematurely as there was no room left for him," she explains. "He was in NICU for four days but he went on to make a full recovery. Doctors said I shouldn't have been allowed to give birth naturally, but we didn't know about the second womb at this point."

With her second son, George, Hayley says her pregnancy proceeded as normal until she began bleeding a few months in and an internal scan revealed her son was growing in one of her wombs. "They told me I would have likely have been born with two wombs," she explains. "I didn't believe them at first and had to Google it."

During her labour with George, Hayley was told there was no one qualified to deliver her son naturally. "They told me if I gave birth naturally it could have broken his neck due to the limited space," she explains. "So George was born by C-section."

Hayley's scan reveals a wall in between her two wombs. (Hayley Scudder/SWNS) ((Hayley Scudder/SWNS))

While many people with uterus didelphys, experience many side effects, including heavy periods, Hayley says her periods are always light. "Because there's a wall in between in the two wombs doctors have offered to remove it to make one whole womb, but if it doesn't affect my body then I don't want to mess with it. I don't think I'll have any more children either. After hearing about all the complications I could have experienced I feel like I'm really lucky."

One of the ways her condition does have an impact, however, is during a smear test. "I have to have more regular smear tests," she explains. "And I have to have one in each cervix." Doctors have also warned Hayley may also experience some further side effects when she gets older. "Apparently when it comes to me hitting menopause I'm going to really feel it," she says. "Twice as bad!"

What is uterus didelphys?

Uterus didelphys is a rare abnormality that develops when a baby girl is in her mothers womb.

"The term describes a condition where a woman has a double uterus, double cervix and in some cases even two vaginas," Dr Simran Deo, GP at Zava UK, previously told Yahoo UK. "Uterus didelphys occurs in the womb, and leaves a female foetus with two tubes, which usually fuse together to form a singular uterus."

While women with uterus didelphys often dont have any symptoms, which can make diagnosis tricky, some women experience heavy and painful periods and pain during sex. Some women may experience menstrual bleeding even after shes inserted a tampon. This is because she has placed the tampon inside one of her vaginas but is still bleeding from the other vagina. Dr Deo says the condition is often only discovered during a pelvic examination, or during tests to investigate repeated miscarriages.

While some women can conceive and have children without complication, it may be harder for a woman with uterus didelphys to become pregnant. "The condition is considered to make women affected by high-risk pregnancy, as it is often associated with late miscarriage and also stillbirths," Dr Deo continues. "If you are diagnosed with uterus didelphys and are planning for a baby you should discuss your options with your doctor before trying to conceive. Many women suffering with this condition can go on to have healthy babies, it may just take a little more planning and precaution."

Surgery is possible to correct a double uterus, but it isn't always needed. For women who have a double uterus but are experiencing no symptoms, like Hayley, there is no need to treat the condition. Some women with a double vagina and a double uterus could benefit from surgery to remove the dividing membrane in their vagina as this can make childbirth easier for them.

Read more parenting real lives:
The Duke of Sussexs legal claim against the publisher of the Daily Mail could face a trial in 2026, a High Court judge has suggested.

Harry is among a group of high-profile individuals  including Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish, actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley, and politician Sir Simon Hughes  bringing legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).

They have accused the publisher of allegedly carrying out or commissioning unlawful activities, such as hiring private investigators to place listening devices inside cars, blagging private records, burglaries to order and accessing and recording private phone conversations.

ANL firmly denies the allegations and is defending the legal action, previously telling the court that they are lurid and simply preposterous.

Sir Elton John previously attended a hearing in the case (Aaron Chown/PA)

At a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, which was attended by Lady Lawrence, judge Mr Justice Nicklin said that it was important to progress the case to an eventual trial.

He said: My broad objective is we fix a trial date It will probably start on 14 January 2026.

The judge continued that the date may change and repeated that it was an objective.

He added: I dont know what is going to happen in various stages of the litigation That objective may ultimately be thwarted.

The two-day hearing in London is due to deal with requests for documents, costs and a bid to have part of the case dismissed without a trial.

The hearing before Mr Justice Nicklin and Judge David Cook is due to conclude on Wednesday.
It is vital that action is taken to strengthen the accountability of NHS managers after wrongdoing in the health service including the Lucy Letby case and the infected blood scandal, health leaders have said.

A new consultation document seeks views on the regulation of NHS managers including whether those who have conducted serious misconduct should be barred and whether there should be a professional register of managers.

It also asks about the types of managers that should be regulated  from executive directors and chairpersons down to team managers working within the service  and whether these regulations should also apply to other managers not in direct employment of the NHS.

We're planning to introduce regulation of NHS managers to:  improve patient safety support a culture of transparency This will help us make sure the NHS is fit for the future as part of our 10 Year Health Plan. Details: https://t.co/CtuYNbDyge pic.twitter.com/9CF8YnG5c9  Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) November 24, 2024

The document also asks for views on whether or not there should be education or qualification standards for managers.

Last week the Thirlwall inquiry heard how hospital bosses shut down concerns from senior doctors that Lucy Letby might be murdering babies on a neonatal unit.

Letby, who has been convicted of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others, was moved to clerical duties in July 2016 after the deaths of two triplet boys on successive days.

Cheshire Police were not called in by the hospital until May 2017.

Health officials have said previously that a new statutory duty of candour making health bosses legally accountable for responding to concerns about patient safety could also be introduced as part of the proposals.

The introduction to the consultation states: Several high-profile public reviews over the last two decades have identified serious failures in NHS leadership and the impact this can have on care and patient experience.

Too often in these tragic cases, there has been a sense that leaders who have failed to act appropriately have not been held to account for their actions.

It adds: Despite these measures to improve NHS leadership and leadership accountability, those affected when things go wrong have been left feeling that NHS managers and leaders are not properly held to account for their actions or that people raising legitimate concerns are not always heard.

The ongoing Thirlwall Inquiry into events at the Countess of Chester hospital continues to highlight these concerns.

The Infected Blood Inquiry further highlighted the devastating impacts a lack of senior leadership accountability can have and emphasised the need for candour to apply across the NHS, regardless of position.

It is therefore vital that we take further action to strengthen the accountability of managers, with the overarching aim of ensuring patient safety.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said in a written ministerial statement: Ensuring strong and accountable NHS leadership will be critical to fixing a broken NHS and delivering our Health Mission.

He added: This issue, and the related question of the duty of candour, has been variously highlighted by the Kark review (2019), the Infected Blood Inquiry (2024) and the ongoing Thirlwall Inquiry into events at the Countess of Chester hospital.

The launch of the new consultation comes as a review into duty of candour in the health service found that some believe it is inconsistent and open to misinterpretation.

Only 23% of 261 people who responded to the Governments call to evidence said that the duty is correctly complied with when a safety incident occurs.

Summarising the findings, a Department of Health and Social Care report states: Some felt staff are reticent about complying with the duty for fear that it admits fault and liability and leaves them open to blame.

Others reported instances where staff were empathetic and aimed to follow the process, but senior management did not support them, and they feared not being protected if considered a whistleblower.

Some respondents also believed there to be a culture of covering up incidents, falsification of records and dismissal of complaints.
The UKs financial watchdog has fined Macquarie Bank Limited 13 million after one of its London metals traders booked hundreds of fake trades to cover up losses.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) handed out the penalty for serious failings by the bank to allow the employee to record more than 400 fake trades.

It said Travis Klein, a Macquarie trader at its London metals and bulks trading desk, was able to record and take steps to conceal the fictitious trades in the banks internal systems between June 2020 and February 2022 to hide his trading losses.

The fake trades were not detected earlier because of significant weaknesses in the banks systems and controls, the regulator said.

Mr Klein has also been banned from the financial services industry by the FCA and it would have fined him 72,000 if his application for serious financial hardship had not been successful.

The FCA said the fake trades cost Macquarie around 57.8 million US dollars (45.9 million) to unwind.

But Macquarie stressed that the unauthorised trading did not affect clients or the wider market, and had no material financial impact to the group.

Steve Smart, joint executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said: MBLs ineffective systems and controls meant that one of its employees could, at least for a time, hide trading losses which cost the firm millions to unwind.

This should serve as an example to those we regulate; risk can come from within.

You need the right systems to identify it so it can be tackled early.

a spokesman for Macquarie said: Macquarie Bank Limited, London Branch, acknowledges the FCAs final notice and the associated financial penalty.

This follows Macquaries detection, in February 2022, of a period of unauthorised trading by an individual previously employed by Macquarie, which was self-reported by Macquarie to relevant regulators.

Macquarie takes these matters very seriously and understands the importance to all stakeholders.

As noted by the FCA, we have displayed a high level of co-operation throughout their investigation.

We have focused significant resources on addressing learnings from the incident and implemented a series of improvements to our control environment in response to the incident.
Headlines montage on Pearson case and NCHIs

Police recording of non-crime hate incidents should be scrapped because they have become a vehicle for settling grudges, a former Supreme Court judge has said.

Lord Sumption said police had no business recording non-crime hate incidents, which he warned had become a threat to free speech.

I would just abolish the whole jurisdiction. If they want to make things crimes they should do it, but this kind of intermediate framework of grudge-bearing is just intolerable, he told The Telegraph.

Lord Sumption has joined senior former police leaders in calling for a rethink of non-crime hate incidents in the wake of the row over the police investigation into Allison Pearson, the Telegraph journalist, over an allegation of stirring racial hatred in a tweet a year ago. Essex Police dropped the case last week.

Although Pearson was not investigated for a non-crime hate incidents, the investigation sparked a debate over the way police officers handle hate crimes.

Lord Sumption has joined senior former police leaders in calling for a rethink of non-crime hate incidents - Jonathan Brady/PA Archive

In September, Inspectorate of Constabulary in September found that many forces were still failing to correctly apply the guidance on non-crime hate incidents.

It uncovered evidence that confusion over the rules meant officers were taking a risk-averse approach, summed up as if in doubt, record. As a result, such incidents were too often being logged for complaints that amounted to little more than peoples hurt feelings.

Lord Sumption said: I think, as many people do, that the police have no business to be recording things that are not crimes.

This particular species of activity is so badly defined that it eventually becomes a vehicle for people to visit grudges or for fanatics to try to suppress opposing views. I find that rather distasteful.

Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, has urged police to adopt a common sense and more consistent approach over non-crime hate incidents.

She is looking to lower the threshold for recording anti-Semitic and Islamophobic abuse, which she believes the current guidelines  tightened during Suella Bravermans time as home secretary amid concerns over free speech  may be hampering.

Asked whether he accepted non-crime hate incidents could help detect and tackle abuse that could escalate into violence, Lord Sumption said: I am not an expert in policing, so I dont know how far it is realistic to think it does help.

But to create artificial records simply in order to make it easier for the police to surveil isnt justified. There are more important principles at stake than making life easy for the police.

On Monday, Peter Fahy, the former chief constable of Greater Manchester, said the Government needed to overhaul non-crime hate incidents, which he said were dragging police into politics and diverting officers away from their core duties of investigating and solving serious crimes.

His comments followed calls by Lord Hogan-Howe, the former Metropolitan Police commissioner, for a review of the use of non-crime hate incidents and for it to consider whether police should be investigating the incidents at all.
The federal energy minister, Chris Bowen, said: The review will provide a comprehensive assessment of what the market will need next. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

The Albanese government has launched a review of how the main power grid can accelerate the take-up of renewables when existing support ends. It ruled out examining the imposition of a carbon price on the nations biggest polluting sector.

The federal energy minister, Chris Bowen, on Tuesday revealed the reviews terms of reference and its four-person panel, chaired by energy veteran Tim Nelson. It will report back by the end of 2025  well after the next federal election.

Related: Silent majority of Australian farmers found to support renewable energy transition

The reviews announcement came on a day electricity supplies were strained in New South Wales as a heatwave elevated demand and wholesale power prices. Conditions were likely to remain tight for days but supplies should remain sufficient, the Australian Energy Market Operator (Aemo) said.

The panel will examine settings for the national electricity market (Nem) to ensure it aids investment in clean energy generation backed up by storage after the renewable energy target expires in 2030. Another federal effort, the Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) that will underwrite 32GW of new projects, will also run out by then.

The review will provide a comprehensive assessment of what the market will need next, once the current CIS tenders end in 2027, to ensure that investment pipeline remains strong, Bowen said.

Joining Nelson on the panel will be: Paula Conboy, a former chair of the Australian Energy Regulator; Ava Hancock, an official who helped design NSWs energy roadmap; and Phil Hirschhorn, a petroleum engineer who has worked with Boston Consulting Group.

It is understood the choice of the panel backed by Bowens department surprised observers expecting an organisation such as the Productivity Commission to conduct the review. The announcements timing (about 10 days before 2024s final meeting of state and federal ministers) also caught some officials on the hop.

Dylan McConnell, an energy specialist at the University of NSW, said the first five years after 2030 were likely to be critical. Thats when many of the remaining coal-fired power stations are scheduled to shut.

In recent years, there had also been a hodgepodge of schemes outside the Nem itself, McConnell said. The mechanisms include the South Australian governments recent plans for an extra firming scheme and NSWs long-duration storage tenders.

These are all pointing to the current market design not working or being allowed to work, he said, adding that cooperative federalism had fragmented.

Tony Wood, a senior energy analyst who co-authored a Grattan Institute report earlier this year on the post-2030 grid, said he hoped energy ministers would support the review and its ultimate findings.

If the ministers arent on board, we have a problem from the very beginning, Wood said, noting lack of unanimity had blocked a previous effort by the former energy security board to introduce a capacity mechanism involving gas.

What its really about is how do you get investment in the stuff thats not going to be used very often  when the wind isnt blowing, the sun isnt shining and batteries dont do it, Wood said.

The Grattan report called for a market structure designed for a post-coal market and greater integration of all forms of distributed energy resources, including households rooftop solar and batteries. It also recommended the reintroduction of a carbon price  axed by the Abbott government  to guide investments decisions.

But the reviews terms of reference explicitly exclude a carbon price. The expert panel will not consider options that involve implementation of carbon trading schemes, carbon markets or that entail governments supporting new fossil fuel generation, the government said.

Related: Lets not waste another summer debating climate science  Australias energy transition can work for everyone | Peter Lewis

Rewiring Australia, a group advocating the electrification of the economy using renewables, said the review should put consumers on the same footing as institutional investors and big energy companies, its executive director, Dan Cass, said.



Over the next 20 years, everyday Australians will invest up to eight times more in energy technologies including [electric vehicles] than big institutional investors, Cass said. They must be front and centre of this transition.
Footage showed one boy shouting, I dont know where Im going, as young people were led on to trains at Manchester Victoria station, pictured. Photograph: brinkstock/Alamy

Representatives from Gypsy and Traveller communities have said they want accountability not apologies after children attending the Christmas markets were forced on to trains by police.

National charity the Traveller Movement held preliminary talks with lawyers on Monday, and said it was considering taking legal action over the incident, and supporting affected families.

Some of the parents of children involved as well as community leaders attended a meeting in Manchester on Tuesday afternoon with the deputy mayor, Kate Green, after concerns had been raised about the incident.

Greater Manchester police (GMP) put in a 48-hour dispersal notice on Saturday afternoon, after reports of antisocial behaviour in the city centre, and on trains to Manchester.

Videos posted to social media showed young people being herded on to trains at Manchester Victoria station, with one boy heard shouting: I dont know where Im going.

One parent who spoke anonymously to the Manchester Evening News (MEN) said her 13-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son had ended up more than 100 miles away, in Grimsby.

Yvonne MacNamara, CEO of the Traveller Movement, said that while she was grateful for the meeting, theres more questions at this stage than answers now, and the meeting didnt give us those answers.

Clearly, there has to be accountability here, MacNamara said. Why did this happen? Why were these children racially profiled? Wheres the accountability here? Why on earth did this happen?

It was completely disproportionate, she added. Im kind of lost for words, really, because it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. It was just outrageously overzealous racial profiling of two entire communities  were talking about Romany Gypsies, and Irish Traveller children.

She said some of the children involved were there with older siblings, and were as young as 10 years old.

We cannot have this happening again, for any community, she added. If this was any other community, thered be absolute nationwide outrage.

I have watched the videos circulating on social media with concern and have asked GMP for a full report on the action taken, Kate Green, said on Sunday.

While we will not tolerate lawlessness and antisocial behaviour in Greater Manchester, I want to reassure the community that I expect the police to treat everyone fairly and with respect and I will be inviting community leaders to meet me to discuss what has happened.

MacNamara said that Green, who as an MP was a former co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group for Gypsies, Roma and Travellers (APPG GRT), had taken away their questions, adding that she anticipated the meeting would be the first of many.

Our questions were, what was the legal framework? What were the thresholds that were met for this, MacNamara said. What was the intelligence and, of course, the risk assessment, given the ages of these children?

We need to know why this happened, and we need to know that those children are going to be welcomed back into Manchester, and thats something for the mayors office to look at, she added.

Our priority is always to protect public safety by preventing incidents of violence and disorder, GMPs assistant chief constable Rick Jackson said in a statement issued on Sunday.

Related: Pontins says sorry to Gypsy and Traveller communities over discrimination

Due to intelligence of groups causing antisocial behaviour on trains on the way into Manchester and similar reports rising around the city centre, alongside increasing footfall, we issued a dispersal order. This included plans for officers to reroute arriving groups back home.

Shortly after, officers responded to several disturbances in the city centre and intervened in altercations between groups.

We understand there are feelings of mistreatment and confusion amongst the groups of people for being turned away yesterday, and we are determined to address these concerns by working closely with the mayors office to engage these communities in Manchester and further afield.
Campaigners from Dignity in Dying hold a demonstration outside Westminster - JUSTIN TALLIS

Members of parliament are set to vote on whether to legalise assisted dying on Friday.

The private members Bill would allow doctors to assist terminally ill adults to kill themselves if a majority of MPs vote in favour.

Below, The Telegraph unpacks the main questions surrounding the Bill.

What is the assisted dying Bill?

The assisted dying Bill is a private members Bill introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. It seeks to amend the Suicide Act 1961, which prohibits assisting suicide and carries a penalty of up to 14 years in prison.

The Bill proposes allowing terminally ill, mentally competent adults to seek an assisted death with the approval of two doctors and a High Court judge.

Safeguards ensure the decision is voluntary, informed, and subject to two mandatory reflection periods: seven days after initial doctor approval and 14 days following High Court sign-off. The second period may be waived if the first doctor seen  the co-ordinating doctor  believes natural death is likely within a month.

Kim Leadbeater, centre, and other MPs who support assisted dying visit trees bearing dying wishes placed by campaigners outside Parliament - Michael Leckie/PA Media Assignments

What are the arguments for the Bill?

Supporters argue that it offers a compassionate option for those enduring terminal illnesses, upholding personal choice and dignity. It aims to reduce and alleviate unnecessary pain and suffering, with supporters claiming it is about shortening death, not ending life.

Polling commissioned by Care Not Killing, the anti-assisted dying campaign group, found that 80 per cent of people said that enabling a pain-free death was one of the main reasons people support the Bill, while 76 per cent viewed it as a fundamental right to choose how and when to die

A third said it would help ease pressure on the NHS and social care by not having to provide care for people for longer, while 43 per cent agreed that it was kinder to families of the terminally ill.

What are the arguments against the Bill?

Critics warn that legalising assisted dying could pressure vulnerable individuals  such as the elderly, disabled, and poor  into ending their lives prematurely.

Coercion may be overt, such as from abusive relatives or partners, or more subtle, stemming from societal pressures, including critically underfunded palliative care services, which hinder genuine choice.

There is also evidence of declining end-of-life care standards in some countries that have legalised the practice. Research from The Other Half, a think tank, highlights an unacceptable risk that women are coerced into state death under such laws.

Many argue it undermines the sanctity of life, while also warning of a potential slippery slope, with the law at risk of widening over time, including through successful challenges under the European Convention on Human Rights.

There is also opposition to the Bill being introduced as a private members Bill from people on both sides of the debate, with some MPs saying they dont have enough time to evaluate the evidence.

Who is advocating for the Bill?

Ms Leadbeater is leading the charge, alongside co-sponsors from across Parliament. At least 11 current Cabinet ministers are in favour of Ms Leadbeaters Bill, including Liz Kendall, the Work and Pensions Secretary.

Stephen Kinnock, the Palliative Care Minister, has voiced his support and will lead the implementation if the Bill passes. Esther Rantzen, a journalist and television presenter with stage four lung cancer, is among high-profile advocates for the Bill.

Campaign organisations such as Dignity in Dying, Humanists UK, and Our Death, Our Decision are among its most vocal proponents  although the latter two would prefer legislation to be expanded beyond the terminally ill.

Kim Leadbeater presented the Bill to the Commons on Oct 16 - House of Commons/via Reuters

Who is opposing the Bill?

At least eight Cabinet ministers oppose the Bill, including Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, who has raised concerns about costs and ethical risks, and Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, who warned it could lead to a death on demand.

Gordon Brown, the former prime minister, has also opposed the Bill, stating it would alter societys attitude towards elderly, seriously ill and disabled people, even if only subliminally.

Disability rights groups, including Disability Rights UK and Not Dead Yet UK, oppose assisted dying legislation. The Association of Palliative Medicine also opposes a change in the law.

Former senior judges have argued it will overwhelm the courts, while a former Chief Coroner said it would see a robust safeguard that requires all assisted deaths to be automatically referred to the coroner abandoned. Catholic, Anglican, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Sikh religious leaders have also united against the Bill.

Campaign groups, including Care Not Killing, are vocal opponents, alongside Right to Life, a Christian pro-life organisation also against abortion.

Parliamentary critics argue the Bill, introduced as a private members Bill, lacks the scrutiny and debate a Government-backed legislative process would ensure.

What would assisted dying cost the NHS?

The financial implications remain unclear. Similar legislation in Scotland has been deemed cost neutral, but the situation in England and Wales is uncertain.

The Health Secretary has ordered a cost analysis, voicing concerns that implementing assisted dying could divert resources from other NHS services or necessitate cuts elsewhere. Some argue potential savings from reduced care needs could offset these costs, but no firm figures exist.

Will there definitely be a vote on Friday to allow the Bill to proceed?

No, a vote is not guaranteed. Parliamentary procedure, timing constraints, and opposition tactics could delay or prevent a vote. But Ben Spencer, the Conservative MP, Munira Wilson, a Liberal Democrat, and Labours Anna Dixon have co-sponsored a so-called wrecking amendment that could kill the Bill if it is selected and enough MPs support it on the day -- blocking a vote.

In addition, over 100 MPs have registered to speak in the five-hour debate, and some fear the Bill could be filibustered by opponents seeking to talk it out as the Speaker is not expected to limit speech length. Ms Leadbeater can propose a closure motion to force a vote, but failure to secure support for this would push further debate and a vote to a later Friday session.
The UK will vote on assisted dying on Friday - Lesley Martin/PA

Doctors helped more than 30,000 people to die last year, with a record high for cases of assisted dying and euthanasia in countries where it is legal.

Ahead of a UK vote on legalising assisted dying on Friday, Telegraph data analysis found the number of deaths has doubled in five years.

In some countries, as many as one in 20 deaths are now attributable to assisted dying, according to the findings.

The increase was recorded across countries where assisted dying and euthanasia is legal, including the Netherlands, Belgium, and the US states of California and Oregon.

In Canada, an estimated one in 25 people who died last year were legally killed.

Assisted dying involves giving patients the means to end their own life, usually lethal drugs, while euthanasia is carried out by a doctor, usually by lethal injection.

While legislation was passed in some countries decades ago, numbers are still rising in part because initially strict rules have been watered down and the procedures made more widely available, including to children.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will, if passed, make it legal for terminally ill people over the age of 18 in England and Wales to be given help to die. A similar bill is being debated in Scotland.

Under the Bill, a doctor must prepare the lethal substance but the person must take it.

Patients must be expected to die within six months and two independent doctors and a judge must be satisfied they have expressed a clear, settled, informed and independent wish to die.

A spokesman for Dignity in Dying, a pro-assisted dying campaigning group, said the Bill would be a sea change from the current law, where no safety measures exist.

The spokesman said: In other countries where similar laws are in place for dying people, assisted deaths account for around one per cent of total deaths each year.

It is used by a small number of dying people, but many more take comfort in knowing the option is there if they need it, and having a clear legal framework encourages honest and open conversations with healthcare professionals.

No assisted dying law has been repealed, because the laws work exactly as intended to give dying people the choice they need. Some countries have introduced laws which had broader eligibility criteria from the outset. They are not comparable to proposals being considered across the British Isles.

But critics fear legalising assisted dying in Britain will be a slippery slope, leading to more deaths and restrictions being loosened eventually.

Dr Gordon MacDonald, the chief executive of Care Not Killing, said: These figures show once you legalise assisted suicide or euthanasia, the numbers of those being killed and the reasons why, only ever go in one direction. Just look at Canada.

Its not just Canada where we see problems. In the Netherlands and Belgium, we have seen a massive expansion of who can be euthanised. Chillingly, this includes non-mentally competent adults, people with mental health problems and even young children and disabled babies.

In Oregon, the model for the legislation which is being debated in the House of Commons, arthritis, diabetes and anorexia are all considered terminal conditions and people with them have successfully obtained the death row drugs from the state to kill themselves.

A campaign poster for the legalisation of assisted dying - Amer Ghazzal/Shutterstock

The Netherlands

The Netherlands was the first country to legalise euthanasia for those with incurable illnesses causing unbearable physical or mental suffering in 2002. That year, 1.3 per cent of the population died with medical help, either through euthanasia or assisted dying.

Euthanasia is only legal under certain conditions, including having an incurable illness causing unbearable physical or mental suffering. Now it accounts for 5.4 per cent, equivalent to one in 20 deaths last year in the Netherlands, which has a population of 17.8 million.

Most of the 3,129 cases involved people in their 70s, followed by those in their 80s and 60s. Twelve people were over 100.

Two minors, aged between 16 and 18, were also euthanised. In previous years, five people younger than 30 cited autism as the only or major contributing factor for euthanasia.

Last year, there were 105 cases concerning people aged between 18 and 40. Of those, 52 people were suffering from cancer, while 22 people were euthanised because of a psychiatric disorder, according to official figures. A psychiatric disorder was given by 27 people in their 50s and 27 people in their 60s as the reason they wanted to die.

Some 7,171 of assisted dying patients, 80 per cent of the total, died at home.

In April last year, the rules were widened to allow terminally ill children aged between one and 12 years old to be euthanised if they were experiencing unbearable suffering.

The law already provided possibilities for euthanasia involving terminally ill babies until their first birthday, and for children aged older than 12.

The rules would apply to an estimated group of around five to 10 children per year, who suffer unbearably from their disease, have no hope of improvement and for whom palliative care cannot bring relief, the government said.

Euthanasia has strong public support in the Netherlands. Legalising euthanasia for healthy people over the age of 75 was supported by 86 per cent of people, provided they had consultations with medical professionals first.

The Dutch parliament will soon debate relaxing euthanasia laws to allow healthy old people to choose to die if they believe their life is complete, provided they undergo six months of counselling first.

Belgium

There were 3,423 deaths by euthanasia in Belgium last year, an increase of 15 per cent from 2022. Belgium legalised euthanasia the same year as the Netherlands, but moved more quickly to allow under 18s to be legally killed.

The 3,423 reported cases were equivalent to 3.1 per cent of all deaths in Belgium. The majority of the patients  70.7 per cent  were over 70. Euthanasia among the under-40s represented 1.1 per cent of all cases.

Most  55.5 per cent  were cancer patients, but personality disorders and cognitive diseases such as Alzeheimers represented 1.4 per cent and 1.2 per cent of the cases.

A terminally ill 17-year-old was the first minor to be helped to die in Belgium in 2016, two years after age restrictions were removed. The child, who suffered from muscular dystrophy, was given a lethal injection by a doctor.

In 2018, it was reported two children, aged nine and 11, had become the youngest ever to be euthanised. The nine-year-old had a brain tumour, and the 11-year-old was suffering from cystic fibrosis.

A doctor must ensure a child is in a hopeless medical situation of constant and unbearable suffering that cannot be eased and which will cause death in the short term.

The child must ask for euthanasia in writing and be examined by psychiatrists to ensure they are not being influenced by a third party. Parents can overrule the child and, as in all Belgian euthanasia cases, a commission reviews the case after the process is carried out.

Last year, a Belgian woman who murdered her five children was euthanised on the 16th anniversary of the killings at her own request in what was criticised as a death penalty by the back door.

Genevieve Lhermitte, who was reported to be seriously mentally ill, murdered her son and four daughters, aged three to 14, in Nivelles in February 2007 when their father was away. She was euthanised in prison.

In 2019, Marieke Vervoort, a gold medal-winning Paralympian who suffered from a degenerative disease, was euthanised at the age of 40.

In 2013, deaf identical twins were allowed to die together after discovering they were both going blind. Marc and Eddy Verbessem, both 45, were euthanised by lethal injection at a hospital in Brussels after sharing a cup of coffee and saying goodbye to each other.

Its not simply that they were deaf and blind that they were granted the right to euthanasia. It is that they could no longer bear being unable to hear or see the other, a hospital spokesman said at the time.

Canada

Canadas euthanasia laws, introduced in 2016, are among the worlds most permissive and have sparked criticism for going too far and too fast.

Accessing medical assistance in dying was expanded in 2021 to people with incurable but not terminal conditions. Previously, it was only available to the terminally ill but is now available for disabled people.

In 2016, just over 1,000 people died through euthanasia. Seven years later, this had increased to 15,280, according to preliminary estimates for 2023  around 4.6 per cent of the overall population.

Plans to allow medical assistance in dying to people with mental illnesses were delayed this year. In February, the government said Canadians suffering solely from mental illness will remain excluded from pursuing assisted death until 2027 because the healthcare system is not ready.

Unlike many other countries, Canada does not require that patients exhaust all medical treatments before seeking euthanasia.

That has left doctors wrestling with requests to die from people who could be helped in other ways. Requests have reportedly been made by a homeless man, a severely obese woman, an injured worker struggling to make ends meet and grieving widows.

In October this year, members of the group who helped to legalise assisted dying in Canada admitted assisted dying is being abused in the country, with doctors coercing patients into ending their lives. In one instance, they spoke of a patient who had been approved for assisted dying on the grounds of suffering from hearing loss.

Data revealed by The Telegraph last month showed those on lower incomes who were offered assisted dying were more likely to opt for it.

Rest of the world

Other countries across Europe have enacted assisted dying policies. They include Luxembourg, where 34 people died through euthanasia in 2022, less than one per cent of all deaths.

A recorded 288 deaths happened in Spain in 2022, the second complete year the law was in place, while Portugal is in the process of implementing the law.

In Switzerland, assisted suicide has been legal since 1947, although doctors are not allowed to directly administer life-ending medication.

The home of the Dignitas clinic, Switzerland has been at the centre of death tourism.

According to the companys figures, just six per cent of the 3,916 assisted suicides it has facilitated were of Swiss residents. Germans (37 per cent), Britons (15 per cent) and French (14 per cent) citizens are the most likely to use the facilities.

Similar rules on physician-assisted suicide exist in the US. Death with Dignity, a US pressure group, says 10 states have some form of physician-assisted suicide in place, including California, Oregon and Washington.

These three states saw record numbers in the latest years for which they have figures, although as a proportion of all deaths they are substantially below the Netherlands and Belgium.

In Colombia, euthanasia has existed since 2015, although it is strictly regulated. Last year, however, 271 procedures were performed  a 50 per cent increase on the year before. Ecuador will be the second Latin American country to legalise soon.

Both New Zealand and Australia have legalised assisted dying across the vast majority of territories. In its second year of legality, New Zealand recorded 396 deaths through assisted suicide, equivalent to one per cent of all deaths.
Commentary: China's drive propels G20 cooperation on boosting global development

Xinhua) 08:00, November 26, 2024

This photo taken on Nov. 18, 2024 shows the International Media Center for the 19th G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

At the just-concluded G20 summit, China outlined eight actions for global development, which include pursuing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, implementing the Global Development Initiative, supporting development in Africa, and supporting international cooperation on poverty reduction and food security.

BEIJING, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- At the recently-concluded G20 summit held in Rio de Janeiro, China laid out its actions for global development, and advocated for a fair and equitable global governance system, prompting the G20 to continuously play an exemplary role in striving for the development of all countries and the progress of the entire world.

As an important member of the G20 and the world's largest developing country, China has always been a firm advocate of global development.

Back in 2016 at the G20 Hangzhou Summit, development was brought to the core of the global macro-policy framework for the first time. Eight years on, Chinese President Xi Jinping expounded on China's actions and propositions in Rio de Janeiro aimed at promoting common global development with Chinese wisdom and strength.

China has been promoting the cause of global development with its own growth. China has lifted 800 million people out of poverty and met the poverty reduction target of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ahead of schedule. China's development is an important part of the common development of the world. "China has decided to join the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty," Xi said at this year's G20 summit.

China's story and dedication to global poverty alleviation have inspired many. "China is clearly demonstrating its commitment to the fight against poverty and its real support for the development of countries, especially those in the Global South," said Eduardo Relagado, a researcher at the International Policy Research Center of Cuba, after Xi's speech at the G20 summit.

True development means the common development of all countries. As a stellar example of this, China has always shared its development opportunities with others.

At the summit, China outlined eight actions for global development, which include pursuing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, implementing the Global Development Initiative, supporting development in Africa, and supporting international cooperation on poverty reduction and food security.

A woman walks past a G20 logo near the main venue of the 19th G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Nov. 16, 2024. The 19th G20 summit is scheduled from Nov. 18 to 19 in Rio de Janeiro. (Xinhua/Wang Tiancong)

These actions are a testament to the fact that China will always be a reliable long-term partner of developing countries, and a doer and go-getter working for global development. "China is sharing its development experience with other countries through its development initiatives, which have helped to promote common development," said Straton Habyarimana, a Rwandan economic analyst.

History has shown that a just world of common development is impossible without a fair and equitable global governance system. At the summit, Xi elaborated on China's concept of global governance characterized by cooperation, stability, openness, innovation and eco-friendliness.

The Chinese president's vision drew plaudits from experts across the world. China plays an essential role within the G20 in pushing for a more just and equitable world order, said Ali Oguz Dirioz, an associate professor of international relations at Ankara's TOBB University.

As an important platform for international economic cooperation, the G20 is expected to play a greater role while global development is being confronted with multiple challenges.

The international community hopes that the group can adhere to its original founding aspiration, inject momentum into promoting world economic growth, and play a leading role in enhancing global economic governance. China is prepared to collaborate with all parties to achieve those goals.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A truck drives through floodwater in Northampton days after Storm Bert caused flooding in England and Wales - Neil Hall/Shutterstock

The Met Office has urged people to read the fine print of yellow weather warnings to check whether they are at risk ahead of Storm Conall.

Yellow weather warnings for rain were in place across London and the south of England on Tuesday night and Wednesday, indicating travel disruption, possible power cuts and the likelihood of flooding to a few homes.

This area of low pressure brings rain to southern Britain tonight and deepens further after crossing the UK to bring strong winds across the Netherlands later on Wednesday and into Thursday, the Met Office said.

Earlier in the week the agency came under fire from Welsh politicians after not raising the alert level for Storm Bert.

The storm caused widespread disruption and flooding, but the Met Office said on Tuesday that yellow weather warnings, the lowest of the three alert levels, could indicate anything from minimal to severe disruption.

It said that it was important for residents and local authorities to check the detail of the warnings to understand whether they were at risk.

Yellow warnings can be issued for a range of weather situations, said Oli Claydon, a Met Office spokesman, adding that on the lower end of the scale many people may be able to continue with their daily routine.

He said: Other yellow warnings are issued when the weather could bring much more severe impacts to the majority of people, but the certainty of those impacts occurring is much lower. It is important to read the content of yellow warnings to determine which weather situation is being covered by the yellow warning.

On Monday, Andrew Morgan, the leader of the Rhondda Cynon Taf council, said the absence of an amber warning in his region was one of our concerns in the response to the storm.

Residents in the town of Pontypridd, one of the worst hit by the storm, said they did not receive flood alerts from Natural Resources Wales until the water was ankle-deep, criticising a slow response from the council.

Weather warnings, first introduced in 2011, are issued in the run up to a major weather event, including named storms, and are continually reviewed as the situation develops.

They run on a scale from yellow through to amber and red, meaning dangerous weather is expected, with a risk to life.

The Met Office decides on the risk level based on an assessment of the impact of the weather pattern using local information provided by the Environment Agency or its equivalent, Natural Resources Wales, as well as local authorities and emergency services.

Based on the matrix it uses, extreme wind or rain on a remote part of the Scottish coast, for example, would be given a lower alert level than the same weather in a built up part of the country.

But the system has been criticised for being confusing, particularly over the abundance of yellow level warnings. Prof Hannah Cloke at the University of Reading said there needed to be a review of the system, and said it was problematic if people dont take action because a yellow weather warning is not seen as concerning enough.
Packets of fentanyl and methamphetamine that US Customs and Border Protection says it seized from a truck crossing into Arizona from Mexico. Photograph: Reuters

Donald Trump has imposed tariffs of 10% on Chinese imports, framing the move as a way to pressure China into taking action on fentanyl.

The White House said on Tuesday: Chinese officials have failed to take the actions necessary to stem the flow of precursor chemicals to known criminal cartels and shut down money laundering by transnational criminal organisations.

The statement described tariffs as a powerful, proven source of leverage for protecting the national interest. However, a presidential statement published last month said the destructive trade deficit, rather than fentanyl, was the primary driver of the tariffs.

Related: The China-Mexico fentanyl pipeline: increasingly sophisticated and deadly

Trump has described tariffs as a response to Chinas failure to curb the flow of deadly synthetic opioids into the US.

I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular fentanyl, being sent into the United States  but to no avail, Trump wrote when he raised the issue in November. Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before. Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% tariff.

China has disputed this depiction of the issue. In November a foreign ministry spokesperson said: China is one of the worlds toughest countries on counternarcotics both in terms of policy and its implementation. Fentanyl is an issue for the US. In the spirit of humanity, China has given support to the USs response to this issue.

What is fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is far more powerful than heroin. Although it has legitimate medical uses for pain management, it is also at the heart of the US opioids crisis. Last year, nearly 75,000 people in the US died from a fentanyl overdose. The White House describes fentanyl as a scourge that has no geographic or political boundaries while Vanda Felbab-Brown, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, has said that the crisis is the most lethal drug epidemic ever in human history.

How much of it comes from China?

Fentanyl started arriving in the US from China about 10 years ago. In 2020, the US Drug Enforcement Administration said that China was the primary source of fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances trafficked through international mail. As authorities in the US and China have cracked down on traffickers and criminal gangs, much of that flow has been rerouted through cartels in Mexico. Rather than sending shipments of finished illicit fentanyl directly to the US, drug traffickers and exporters in China send precursor chemicals to Mexico, where they can be turned into fentanyl and sent on to the US.

What has China done to curb the flow of fentanyl into the US?

The 2010s were a bright spot for US-China cooperation on fentanyl. In 2019, at the behest of the US, China scheduled all forms of fentanyl, the only major country to permanently include the drugs on a list of controlled substances. In the US, fentanyl analogues are only temporarily controlled, with the classification set to expire in December 2024.

But in 2022, when the then speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, Beijing responded angrily by cutting off several channels of communication with the US, including counternarcotics co-operation.

It was only last year, when Joe Biden and Xi Jinping met in San Francisco, that bilateral talks on fentanyl were reopened. In the past few months, China has been scheduling fentanyl precursors that have been banned internationally, catching up with moves to block the flow of the chemicals that are used to make fentanyl as well as blocking the flow of the drug itself. This would, in theory, make it easier to crack down on drugs traffickers.

China and the US have also agreed to cooperate on tackling money laundering. Chinese and Mexican organised criminal gangs form the financial backbone of the international fentanyl trade.

But China insists that the fentanyl crisis is, at its heart, a problem of the USs own making. The root cause of the overdose lies in the US itself, which calls for more effective measures from the US government, Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, said last month.
Jim Jordan, chairman of the House judiciary committee, set a Nov 21 deadline for documents to be handed over - Kent Nishimura/Getty Images North America

A powerful Republican-led committee in Congress is investigating claims a Left-wing campaign group co-operated with the Biden administration to kill X.

Jim Jordan, chairman of the House judiciary committee, has demanded the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), hand over all documents detailing contacts it had with the White House.

The move by Mr Jordan earlier this month raised the stakes, with leaders of the group which now operates on both sides of the Atlantic risking jail for contempt of Congress if they refuse to comply.

The group has links to Britains ruling Labour Party, having been launched by Morgan McSweeney, who was appointed the Prime Ministers chief of staff earlier this month.

Its chief executive is Imran Ahmed, the former Labour strategist.

Celebrities support group

The group has also attracted support from Hollywood A-listers, such as the actor Mark Ruffalo, who urged fans to donate to the non-profit, which campaigns for improvements to online safety and previously led criticism of multiple social media sites including Facebook, X and TikTok.

Elon Musks social media channel X, formerly Twitter, is at the centre of a battle between conservatives and left-of-centre media organisations on both sides of the Atlantic.

Since taking over the site, Mr Musk  a key ally of Donald Trump  has made sweeping changes, allowing for a less-regulated platform and inviting back the now president-elect, who was previously removed over his tweets regarding the actions of some of his supporters on Jan 6.

Mr Musk, the worlds richest man, is being brought into Mr Trumps incoming administration to head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

Elon Musk with Donald Trump at the launch of the sixth SpaceX test flight in Texas on Nov 19 - Brandon Bell/via REUTERS

It is unclear whether CCDH complied with the Nov 21 deadline set by Mr Jordan.

In a letter to chief executive Mr Ahmed, Mr Jordan said his committee was examining to what extent the White House had coerced or colluded with companies and other intermediaries to censor lawful speech.

The letter referenced recent allegations as per a report from the Disinformation Chronicle newsletter, which claimed to have uncovered a strategy document from the CCDH which included a plan to Kill Musks Twitter.

In response, Mr Musk accused the CCDH of violating rules against foreign interference in elections. Mr Musk wrote on the social media network: We are going after CCDH and their donors.

In July last year, the billionaire sued the CCDH, alleging that it had cost the social media giant millions of dollars in advertising revenue following its report accusing X of being responsible for disinformation and hate speech.

However, its case was thrown out by California judge Charles Breyer.

Musk clashes with British MPs

Mr Musk also clashed with MPs at Westminster who summoned him to give evidence to the Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee over Xs alleged role in spreading disinformation during the summer riots in the UK.

He bluntly refused, warning the MPs that they will be summoned to the United States of America to explain their censorship and threats to American citizens.

The latest tactic came as no surprise to Christopher Galdieri, professor of politics at Sain Anselm College in New Hampshire

Essentially, were seeing Trump and his allies in and out of government planning to use the powers of the state to punish those who have criticised him and intimidate those who might do so in the future, he told The Telegraph.

The Telegraph has approached Mr McSweeney, the White House and CCDH for comment.

At the time, Mr Ahmed said he would not comment directly on the allegations.

He told The Guardian: We have used internally the concept of Kill Musks Twitter as shorthand for taking on the business model that Musk brought to Twitter when he turned it into X, which says that social media companies should be able to spread hate without accountability, responsibility or transparency. Everything that weve done since then shows thats precisely our strategy.

He added: One of the challenges of dealing with conspiracy theorists is that the battlefield is asymmetric. I operate in the world of facts, demonstrable truth. He operates in the realm of fantasy, the latest conspiracy theories.
Target

Target and Amazon will be put under pressure to drop their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies after Walmart said it would institute a crackdown on woke measures.

Robby Starbuck, the conservative activist who pushed the retail giant into its U-turn, said in a video that we have our eyes on Amazon and Target because they are acting crazy out there with wokeness.

Walmart, the biggest private employer in the US, will phase out terms like diversity, equity and inclusion in company materials and end sales of items such as chest binders for children who express a trans identity, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

Mr Starbuck said he had hadproductive conversations with Walmart executives about the decisions after he warned the retailer that he was doing a story on wokeness there.

The 36-year-old has already managed to push through changes at a series of companies ranging from Harley Davidson to John Deere  and Walmart marks the biggest scalp of the lot.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Mr Starbuck said Amazon and Target were on the list of companies he was investigating.

X/@robbystarbuck

He emphasised that they were not necessarily next up for the anti-woke treatment, saying he did not want investors to take advantage of a potential dip in stock price.

He believes Walmarts move could provoke a seismic shift among businesses and that the majority of companies will have gotten rid of wokeness by the end of next year.

Companies smaller than Walmart, which is most companies, are now going to be looking at this from a different vantage point where they go, Ok even Walmart couldnt fight back against this. Its best if we just submit to this, Mr Starbuck said.

The activist, who has around 700,000 followers on X, has instituted mass boycotts and social media pile-ons against companies which push DEI policies.

He relies on a variety of sources, including whistleblowers, and public information, to lay bare what he calls woke delusions.

Robby Starbuck uses his socia media clout to put pressure on big businesses and their woke policies - Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

Target has already been widely criticised on the issue. Last year, it was the subject of a lawsuit by the America First Policy Institute, a think tank founded by allies of Donald Trump, which argued that it had abandoned its duty to shareholders by flocking to the side of activists.

It accused the retailer of embracing a radical transgender agenda and caused its share value to collapse by $12 billion from May 2023  the largest decline in two decades.

The think tank claimed Target sold controversial items including girls swimsuits with extra crotch coverage for male genitalia, and Satanist-inspired clothing that showed pictures of skulls alongside slogans that included transphobe collector and homophobe headrest.

Mr Starbuck has previously claimed that Amazon had banned his War on Children film, a documentary about how the media, schools and interest groups have pushed gender transitioning on to children.

Is [Amazon founder] Jeff Bezos afraid of people hearing our very mainstream viewpoint shared by half the country or have radicals hijacked his company? he wrote on social media in August.

The conservative activist takes a sophisticated approach in deciding which companies to target  and when.

It is not a coincidence that he moved against Walmarts DEI initiatives shortly before one of the busiest days on the retail calendar: Black Friday.

We have a lot of metrics for how we choose companies, he said. One is what is their consumer demographics, what regions are they most prominent in, what is the make-up of their board, whos on their executive team, what are their backgrounds?

We look at the psychology of the people who are executives of the company too. So were going pretty deep in all of the metrics we look at to decide whos at the top [of the list], and how you go down.

For example, if a company has a large customer base in the conservative south of the US, it is more susceptible to Mr Starbucks approach of using social media anger to generate pressure.

A different business that draws most of its customers from liberal bastions like San Francisco would be a more intractable foe and would feature lower on its list.

While Mr Starbuck is the face of the conservative backlash to diversity measures, libertarian and free-market groups have also been working behind the scenes to push back.

Softening their defences

Stefan Padfield, the director of the Free Enterprise Project (FEP), said his organisation had spent years pressing Walmart to make the changes it has just committed to.

Even whats going on with Robby Starbuck  I think he is the tipping point, the tip of the spear, that is building upon or standing on the shoulders of the work that we and others have done. Sort of softening their defences, he said.

All the credit to him, first and foremost. But I do also think the work that we and others like us have done over the years has definitely primed the pump.

While Mr Starbuck can use his enormous reach on social media to dangle the threat of boycotts, the FEP works by taking share ownership in companies to push against DEI initiatives from the inside.

Among the businesses the group is considering taking on is Starbucks, the worlds largest coffee chain, which last year declared itself a proud ally of the LGBTQIA2+ community and released Pride coffee cups.

In 2021, it pledged $100 million for businesses focused on advancing racial equity and has allowed employees to wear Black Lives Matter shirts and pins. A dress code uniform from the same period stated that accessories advocating a political, religious or personal issue are banned.

Mr Padfield said the FEPs tactics varied based on the leadership of the companies in question, dividing executives pushing woke agendas into four categories: true believers, opportunists, useful idiots and cowards.

If youre talking to a true believer, you basically need to expose them, because they will burn the business down rather than give up on their ideology, he said.

For opportunists you need to change the incentive structure, and as for the useful idiots who think the word diversity is great, you just have to educate them.

As far as the cowards, its about emboldening them, Mr Padfield said.

And I think one of the things youre seeing now is that people were probably concerned about what was going on in the name of DEI for a while, but were afraid to do something. They are being emboldened by seeing others now stand up.

Target, Amazon and Starbucks have been approached for comment.
Giulia Cecchettin was found with more than 70 stab wounds. Filippo Turetta confessed to the killing. Photograph: Family handout

Just a day after being told that her sister Giulia was dead, Elena Cecchettin was interviewed on live TV outside the family home in Vigonovo, a small town close to Venice. Floral tributes were tied to the railings behind her, and a torchlight procession attended by thousands of well wishers was under way. But Elena was not looking for sympathy. Dont hold a minute of silence for Giulia  burn everything, she said. We need a cultural revolution to ensure that Giulias case is the last.

On 18 November 2023, Giulia Cecchettin, 22, became Italys 105th victim of femicide that year. Her body, with more than 70 stab wounds, was found wrapped in black plastic bags in a ditch close to a lake north of Venice. Filippo Turetta, her ex-boyfriend, confessed to killing the biomedical engineering student, who was just days away from graduating.

Prosecutors on Monday asked for Turetta to be jailed for life for voluntary manslaughter  aggravated by premeditation  kidnapping, cruelty, stalking and hiding a corpse. A verdict is due on 3 December.

Cecchettin might have remained a face behind a number  her case, like most other femicides in Italy, warranting only a few column inches in the newspapers. But Elenas eloquent appeal, which included the condemnation of a patriarchal society steeped in rape culture, shook the national conscience, triggering thousands to protest across the country.

I dont know where the courage came from, Elena said in an interview with the Guardian. I just know that I thought of Giulia, and needed to use the moment of visibility to tell things how they are. There are too many people, legitimised by a series of factors in society, who feel they can have the power over somebody elses life.

One year on, that feeling is still raw. Since Giulia, 106 other women have been killed by a man. In the vast majority of cases the suspect was either a current or former partner. Recently, a 13-year-old girl died after falling from a balcony, allegedly pushed by a boy, 15, who was later arrested.

On Saturday in Rome, more than 150,000 people took part in the annual protest about violence against women, holding banners urging: Lets disarm the patriarchy. Machismo, they say, lingers in Italian society.

Their anger is amplified by the incapacity of Giorgia Melonis far-right government to fully grasp the issue, a failure made clear last week when the education minister, Giuseppe Valditara, asserted that patriarchy no longer existed. The comments were made during the launch in parliament of the Giulia Cecchettin Foundation, set up by her father, Gino. Valditara also linked the rise in sexual violence towards women to irregular immigration, with Meloni later expressing her agreement with him.

Elena, 25, criticised the ministers comments on social media, saying: Giulia was killed by a respectable, white Italian man, while also asking: What is the government doing to prevent violence?

Elena, who is studying for a masters in microbiology at the University of Vienna, has used interviews and her social media platform to try to change the narrative around femicides.

On the morning after Giulia disappeared, she woke up early to finish an assignment due that day. It was around 8am when her brother Davide called to ask if she had heard from their sister, who the evening before, accompanied by Turetta, had gone to a shopping mall to buy a dress for her graduation.

Knowing that he was with Giulia, I told my brother to immediately call the police, Elena said. I was terrified of Filippo, and had a feeling that I would never see her again.

A roadside surveillance camera captured Turetta hitting Giulia, who had tried to escape before being forced back into the car. Turetta was arrested in Germany on the same day the body was found. He told a Venice court last month that he planned to kidnap and kill Giulia over her refusal to get back together with him, and then commit suicide. He said he had drawn up a things to do list.

The relationship had lasted about a year before Giulia ended it in August 2023. Elena told the Guardian that the control and manipulation had started early on, with a fit of jealousy after Giulia said she was going to meet a male friend she had known from high school. He had never previously been physically violent, she added, but as with many femicide cases, Turetta could not accept that the relationship had ended. He allegedly threatened to commit suicide.

Giulia didnt want to feel responsible for him killing himself over her, even if it would not have been her fault, said Elena. She was being manipulated, and tended to minimise the problem. This is why psychological abuse is underestimated  sometimes the victim doesnt even recognise themselves as a victim, and as a society we always tend to blame the victim.

As the tragedy was discussed on TV, Elena heard people blaming Giulia. They asked: why didnt she save herself? On the other hand, Filippo was being depicted as a good boy who could never hurt a fly. I found this absurd. The questions that should have been asked were: Why wasnt he educated? How did he arrive at this point?

The main task of the Giulia Cecchettin foundation was to educate in order to bring about change, her father said last week, as gender violence is a collective failure, not just a private matter.

The family is calling for the introduction of sexual and emotional education in schools. It needs to start with children, said Elena.

Since the foundation was launched, the Cecchettin family has been inundated with calls and messages, either from women, or their relatives, who are in dangerous situations.

Elena said that this was a further sign of the frightening institutional gap, also citing the cuts in funding to womens refuges over the past decade. We would like to help everyone, but for goodness sake, we dont have the tools. Self-funded associations are essentially doing the work. The government doesnt seem to care if women are safe and secure.

Giulia had dreamed of becoming an illustrator for childrens books. She was such a good person, almost free of malice, but not in the naive sense. She always tried to see the good in everything, and was positive about the future, said Elena.

Elena is also positive that society has the power to bring about change. But we all need to assume responsibility to resolve the problems, and that means arriving at zero femicides. Until then, for Giulia, burn everything.
An AI generated image under scrutiny by Metas content moderation board Composite: Guardian Design

From fake images designed to cause fears of an immigrant invasion to other demonisation campaigns targeted at leaders such as Emmanuel Macron, far-right parties and activists across western Europe are at the forefront of the political weaponisation of generative artificial intelligence technology.

This years European parliamentary elections were the launchpad for a rollout of AI-generated campaigning by the European far right, experts say, which has continued to proliferate since.

This month, the issue reached the independent oversight board of Mark Zuckerbergs Meta when the body opened an investigation into anti-immigration content on Facebook. The inquiry by the oversight board will look at a post from a German account featuring an AI-generated image emblazoned with anti-immigrant rhetoric.

It is part of a wave of AI-made rightwing content on social media networks. Posts elsewhere from Europes political extremes range from the Italian far rights deployment of photo-realistic images of women and children eating insects to bolster a conspiracy theory about the intentions of a global elite, to Irish far-right images of a police officer stamping on Irelands flag and Islamophobic memes in the immediate aftermath of the Southport knife murders in the UK.

The use of the same models and themes and the same approach to presenting and packaging the images on social media platforms has given rise to a common aesthetic across borders, and in the EU and Britain.

In virtually every case, far-right parties and movements have eschewed the use of any sort of watermarking or identifier on the AI images, according to experts.

What we are seeing is the tip of the iceberg because what is coming from individuals and beyond the official channels is even worse, said Salvatore Romano, the head of research at the nonprofit AI Forensics, which examined the output of parties including Frances National Rally, Reconquete and Les Patriotes.

William Allchorn, a senior research fellow at Anglia Ruskin University, said the ease of use of AI models was appealing to a political fringe that had shown an attitude of pragmatic opportunism to new technology.

AI lowers the barriers to entry for creating content. You dont need coding skills or anything like that to generate these images. It is also symptomatic of far-right views going mainstream or being normalised, he said, adding that the far right appeared to have fewer moral concerns about AI imagery.

Allchorn said more established political parties appeared warier of using AI in official campaigns: Mainstream actors still have ethical concerns about the effectiveness, authenticity and reliability of these models that far-right or extremist actors are not beholden to.

Germany

The German far-right Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) party and supporters of its anti-immigrant stance have been avid users of AI image generators. The image under scrutiny by Metas content moderation board features a blond-haired, blue-eyed woman holding up her hand in a stop gesture, with a stop sign and German flag in the background.

The text over the image says people should stop coming to Germany because the country does not need more gang-rape specialists due to the Green partys immigration policy.

In September, the AfDs Brandenburg branch produced AI-made campaign adverts that contrast an idealised Germany featuring blond-haired and blue-eyed people with scenes of veiled women walking down streets and a person waving an LGBTQ+ flag.

Reality Defender, a US-based deepfake detection firm, said the image could have been produced within minutes.

Other pro-AfD groups on Facebook seen by the Guardian use AI images emblazoned with nativist or anti-immigrant slogans. Another shows a giant pig  an animal whose meat is prohibited from consumption in Islam  chasing a group of people in Islamic clothing, with the slogan Arabic film version of Godzilla.

The UK

In the aftermath of the Southport stabbings, when a teenager killed three young girls, AI was deployed to advertise protests and to post Islamophobic content, based on false assumptions about the identity of the alleged attacker. One image depicted bearded men in traditional Islamic dress outside parliament, with one waving a knife, behind a crying child in a union jack T-shirt. The tweet was captioned: We must protect our children!

The far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has also appeared in AI-generated images and has the technology on his own social media accounts, including one post commemorating D-day that attracted derision because it showed second world war troops marching off the beach and into the sea.

France

Generative AI imagery was identified as an integral part of the campaign strategy of far-fight political parties during this years European and legislative elections in France. Posts on X included images of people approaching a beach on boats, emblazoned with an anti-immigration slogan, and videos criticising the president, Emmanuel Macron.

Only far-right parties consistently used AI-generated visuals to build their websites and represent photo-realistic events that never occurred, making this a distinctive and strategic element of their campaigns, said Romano of AI Forensics.



Ireland

While Ireland has no successful far-right party mirroring those in other EU states, the use of generative AI surged among the countrys emergent far-right street movement after riots in Dublin in November 2023.

A frequent meme has featured Conor McGregor, the former mixed martial arts star who has flirted with far-right language and whose anti-government and anti-migrant messaging resonated with far-right groups.

Ciaran OConnor, a senior analyst at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, said one particularly popular post on X depicted McGregor standing in front of a burning bus  an echo of one of the genuine images from the riots when a vehicle was torched in the city centre.

The image was posted by the far-right UK group Britain First and later tweeted by McGregor himself before he deleted it. It received 20m views.

Since then, OConnor said generative AI had been used in support of anti-immigration protests and groups and to create content to depict specific scenes that appear to be aimed at evoking anti-migrant sentiments.

A campaign by the small far-right Irish People party included a post on X where it acknowledged using an AI-generated image of a supporter saying they hardly recognise where they grew up.



Italy

In Italy, the populist Lega party published anti-trans and Islamophobic AI-generated images including a bearded pregnant man, a group of men in Arab-style clothing burning a copy of Dantes Divine Comedy, and Macron posing as a fictional EU soldier, in a message with anti-EU overtones. The political adverts were published on Facebook and Instagram and on the social media accounts of Legas leader, Matteo Salvini.

Other non-watermarked images on Salvinis account include images of women and children eating insects, a reference to a popular rightwing conspiracy theory that the EU was preparing to make European citizens eat insect-based food.


The Bibby Stockholm at Portland Port. The crew are expected to leave straight after the residents and the vessel will leave port in January. Photograph: Matt Keeble/PA

The final asylum seekers housed on the Bibby Stockholm barge left the boat on Tuesday and crew members are set to leave on Wednesday, with the controversial vessels final day in port expected to be 8 January.

The accommodation on the barge, moored in Portland, Dorset, will now be dismantled after the Labour government decided to discontinue the previous governments contract to house asylum seekers on the vessel.

The last departures bring to an end a 15-month saga over the use of the barge to house asylum seekers, featuring protests, arrests and condemnation from campaign groups.

Last year Leonard Farruku, a musician who was seeking asylum after travelling from Albania, is thought to have killed himself on the barge.

Many of those housed on the Bibby Stockholm had been in the UK for a number of years and had been moved already to two or three different locations.

The news was welcomed by Lloyd Hatton, the local Labour MP for South Dorset, who called the use of the barge an expensive and unworkable gimmick.

A Home Office team has been processing claims from the 400 men housed on the boat. A significant majority are understood to have been granted asylum and most are expected to leave the area for accommodation elsewhere. About eight were left on the vessel when the final residents departed on Tuesday.

The local council has said that none of the men moved from the vessel will be based in other accommodation in Dorset, with reports saying they are likely to be moved to other areas including Cardiff and Wolverhampton.

The barge will be handed back to its owners, Bibby Marine, on 8 January when it will sail from the port as its contract formally expires.

The Home Office said in an announcement in July that ending the use of the Bibby Stockholm formed part of an expected 7.7bn of savings in asylum costs over the next 10 years. Extending its use would have cost more than 20m next year, according to the department.

Hatton said: I welcome the news that the Home Office has processed all of the asylum cases on the Bibby Stockholm barge. They promised to empty the barge by the end of November, and they have made good on that promise.

From the get-go, our entire community knew that this barge was an expensive and unworkable gimmick. The previous Conservative government landed us with this wasteful barge, by closing it down we are saving the taxpayer a small fortune.

Working closely with the new government, I have been able to help shut down the barge for good.

The first asylum seekers were taken on to the barge last year as the Conservative government tried to find alternatives to accommodating people in hotels, prompting protests from campaign groups.

There were also concerns from the Fire Brigades Union, which called the barge a potential deathtrap because of possible overcrowding and a lack of suitable fire exits.

The first group of people were taken onboard in early August last year but were promptly removed again after the discovery of potentially deadly bacteria in the barges water system.

There were protests when asylum seekers were brought on to the vessel again that October. Shortly before the general election, in May this year, police arrested dozens of people who blocked a road near a hotel in Peckham, south London, in an attempt to block their transfer to the barge.

It eventually accommodated 400 people, but within days of the Labour government taking power, ministers said it would no longer be used after the contract ended.

The Bibby Stockholm, an engineless specialist accommodation vessel, was previously used to house oil workers, as well as asylum seekers outside the UK.

The Home Office was contacted for comment.
Irelands three main parties are almost neck and neck in the polls ahead of Fridays general election, as the taoiseach, Simon Harris, struggles to contain the damage inflicted on his campaign by a disastrous interaction with an angry care worker.

In what has been called the Simon slump, Fine Gael, the centre-right party which Harris leads, and which seemed almost certain to top the polls, is now under pressure. An Irish Times poll on Monday showed FG had lost its commanding lead of two weeks ago and was down six points.

With the three largest parties all now within two percentage points of one another, a three-way TV debate on Tuesday night between Harris, Micheal Martin, the leader of his government partner Fianna Fail, and Mary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Fein leader, was seen as critical.

Emblematic of a campaign which has been brief but, critics say, full of missteps, Harriss testy handling of concerns raised by Charlotte Fallon in Kanturk, County Cork, last week has come to dominate recent days coverage.

In footage that went viral after being filmed on Friday, Fallon, a disability care worker, accused Harris of doing nothing for her sector in the budget, adding she was not confident that real changes would be made if he were returned to power.

Harris appeared to dismiss her words, saying thats not true several times before shaking her hand and walking off abruptly. Since then, he has been forced to apologise repeatedly.

On Monday, he admitted he had handled the exchange badly. I got it completely wrong. I was wrong, simple as, he said, adding that he had spoken to Fallon and apologised for falling short.

In the same interview with RTE, he said: I didnt meet my own standards, let alone anybody elses. He was particularly annoyed with himself, he added, because he had a brother with additional needs.

I have been that 16-year-old teenager whos watched my own mother cry with frustration at being a mother of a child with special educational needs, he said. I know what its like.

I know what its like to be in a family where you feel isolated, where you feel let down, where you fight for services. And, on that issue, of all issues, I am so passionate about it.

In an interview with Cork Today radio, Fallon said it was beyond time that the government rectified a difference in pay between disability workers like her and those employed elsewhere in the Irish health service.

Fallon said she couldnt understand why people were congratulating the taoiseach as he walked around the supermarket and that was why she buttonholed him.

With just two days to the election, Harris is struggling to shake the incident off.

The Irish Times/Ipsos B&A poll showed that the momentum has drained from Fine Gael, which is predicted to get around 19% of the vote, with Sinn Fein ahead by one point on 20% of the vote, and Fianna Fail two points ahead at 21%.
Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris. The latest poll showed his party dropping six points - PA

Credit: RTE News

Irelands prime minister has suffered a last-minute collapse in support as rivals Sinn Fein gained ground in the final days of the countrys snap election campaign.

The latest poll showed Simon Harriss party dropping six points following an awkward interaction with a care worker on the campaign trail.

Mr Harris at 37, is the youngest ever Irish prime minister and has overseen a dramatic upswing in Fine Gaels fortunes after succeeding the unpopular Leo Varadkar, who resigned as leader in April.

He overturned a commanding Sinn Fein lead in the polls in June that had lasted for two years and defeated his rivals in local and European elections.

The TikTok taoiseach  so-called for his canny use of social media  called a general election four months early after outflanking Sinn Fein on immigration and launching a giveaway budget.

But on Monday, just four days before Ireland votes, the Harris hop was being dubbed the Simon slump.

The Irish Times/Ipsos poll, the last before the election, had Fine Gael dropping six points from first position in the polls to third and 19 per cent of the vote.

Sinn Fein are up one point at 20 per cent in the Monday poll.

Fianna Fail, led by former taoiseach Micheal Martin, are up two points to become Irelands most popular party on 21 per cent.

It has overtaken Fine Gael, its coalition partner in government, for the first time since Mr Harris became leader.

Mr Harris was forced to apologise after a campaign trail meeting with a disability care worker went viral.

Charlotte Fallon challenged him on low pay for care workers on Friday and told him he was not a good man as a cranky Mr Harris walked away.

After the footage was viewed online more than two million times, Mr Harris said on Monday: The buck stops with me entirely here. Im annoyed with how I didnt give Charlotte the time last night. She deserved that time.

Its not been the only misstep in what was until now seen as a predictable campaign to extend centre-Right Fine Gaels astonishing run of 14 years in government.

Party sources blamed the exhaustion of running a presidential style campaign and Mr Harriss lack of experience.

Mary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Fein leader, said: Its clear now that there can be a government led by Sinn Fein, I believe that momentum will intensify in the coming days.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald visits a Christmas community lunch for the elderly in Dublin - Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters

David Farrell, professor of politics at University College Dublin, told The Telegraph: Fine Gaels campaign has misfired.

A few too many mishaps, too many giveaways which has weakened the case for being a party of prudent economic management and too much frenetic activity, which is very different from the more dignified approach by Fianna Fail.

At the last 2020 general election, Sinn Fein outperformed expectations, including its own.

Had it not fielded too few candidates, it would have been in a strong position to enter government for the first time in the Republics history.

It was instead shut out of power by a coalition of Irelands two establishment centre-Right parties, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, who agreed their party leaders would each have two and a half years as taoiseach.

Dr Theresa Reidy, a senior lecturer in the department of government and politics at University College Cork, said: Sinn Fein diagnosed that actually the housing crisis was very severe and that it was affecting a really significant range of people.

Rents were going up. There was a purchasing crisis. There was nowhere near enough homes being built. And there was no public housing either.

Ronan Lyons, the associate professor in economics at Trinity College Dublin, sat on Irelands Housing Commission.

He said: The 2020 election was sort of a referendum on housing. This is a country with just over two million homes and were probably about 300,000 homes short. Were missing 10 to 15 per cent of our housing stock.

In late 2022, the party was polling at up to 36 per cent.

They were almost at a tipping point. The speculation was if this continues, if they approach 40 per cent, then their ambition of leading a coalition of the Left was realisable, Prof Farrell said.

Ireland, for so long a country of emigration, has never faced comparable levels of immigration, which would emerge as Sinn Feins Achilles heel.

A member of the public approaches Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and local candidate Lorraine Clifford-Lee during a photocall in front of Lusk Round Tower - Liam McBurney/PA

As well as 104,870 Ukrainian refugees, the country of just 5.2 million people saw a 415 per cent increase in asylum applications in 2022.

By the end of August this year, there had already been 14,037 applications, more than the 13,277 in the whole of 2023.

There were anti-migrant riots in Dublin city centre last November, which were blamed on far-Right groups, and asylum seekers accommodation has been targeted in arson attacks.

Housing and migration became completely enmeshed as political issues and Sinn Fein didnt take, to their credit, the easy option. They didnt say the housing crisis is all because of immigrants and if we get elected, well do X, Y, Z, said Prof Lyons.

In doing so, they lost a key part of the people who are definitely never going to vote for the government, but then theyre not going to vote for Sinn Fein either.

Prof Farrell said Sinn Feins support was made up of the original Republicans, progressives attracted to it as a Left-wing populist party and Right-wing populists against globalisation.

Caught out by immigration

Those anti-establishment voters are now thought to have flocked to the independent candidates, on the hard Right and hard Left, that poached Sinn Fein votes in the local elections.

Sinn Fein was definitely caught out by immigration, said Dr Reidy. The party would not go down the anti-migrant route because it would endeavour the progressive wing of their support, she said.

In contrast, Mr Harris  described as a Duracell bunny of a politician who has made new energy his campaign slogan  toughened up on migration as soon as he took power.

Tent cities that had sprung up in Dublin by the asylum office were cleared, while benefits were cut. Meanwhile, Dublin blamed the UKs Rwanda deportation plan for rising numbers of migrant arrivals.

Ms McDonald has had a tough year. Her father died, her husband was diagnosed with cancer and she underwent a hysterectomy but she is back on the campaign trail.

Sinn Fein has now stopped the rot after a string of damaging resignations in September and October, which fuelled suspicions of cover-ups evoking memories of the partys paramilitary past.

Niall O Donnghaile, the former Sinn Fein senator, resigned after sending inappropriate texts to a 17-year-old girl.

A long-standing MP also quit after an unrelated internal party inquiry. Two press officers resigned for giving a reference to a colleague who later admitted attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

Fine Gael has relied on Irelands strong economic performance and healthy employment figures but the cost of living has become the most influential issue for voters, according to the Irish Times poll.

Mr Harris will hope that the election of Donald Trump, and the unpredictability that brings, will convince voters not to take a punt on the untried Sinn Fein.

Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have ruled out going into coalition with Sinn Fein.

However, a Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein coalition could be on the cards if Fine Gael support continues to drop.

With the three main parties within just 2 per cent of each other, Tuesday nights televised leaders debate is being touted as a pivotal clash in what is now a knife-edge election.
Rachel Reeves and Angela Rayner are on a Russian stop list published on Tuesday - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Russia has banned 16 Cabinet ministers, including Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves, from entering the country.

Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, and Ed Miliband, the Climate Secretary, are also on the Kremlins stop list  which was published on Tuesday  alongside the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chancellor.

The politicians, along with business leaders and journalists, were condemned by the Kremlin over reckless policies and anti-Russian activities.

These actions only serve to prolong the Ukrainian conflict, a Russian foreign ministry spokesman said after announcing the latest sanctions, in an apparent reference to Ukraines recent use of British-made Storm Shadow missiles inside Russia.

A Russian foreign ministry statement said: The Russian foreign ministry is once again forced to draw attention to the incessant aggressive anti-Russian rhetoric of the British authorities.

Russophobic policies, which combine attempts to discredit Russias actions and isolate it in the international arena, the dissemination of disinformation about our country, including in the context of a special military operation, coupled with military support for the Ukrainian armed forces, bordering on the direct involvement of Great Britain in the conflict with all the accompanying escalation risks, indicate Londons attitude towards further systemic confrontation with respect to Russia.

Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, and David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, were sanctioned by Moscow in 2022, along with leading Conservative figures who were then in government.

The decision to ban 30 more British citizens from entering Russia comes after a UK diplomat was kicked out of the country after being accused of spying.

A No 10 spokesman said: To be clear, we refute these allegations. Theyre baseless. Were now considering our response.

The FSB, Russias state security agency, said the British official, who arrived in Moscow in August to replace one of six diplomats kicked out over spying allegations, was expelled on Tuesday, state media reported.

The new sanctions are the latest signal of deteriorating relations between London and Moscow, which dramatically worsened after Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine.

Last week, the UK gave Ukraine permission to fire British-made long-range Storm Shadow missiles inside Russia, provoking a furious response from Moscow.

Putin threatened the UK and the US, which lifted restrictions on American-made missiles being fired inside Russia, with military retaliation. Russia then tested a new ballistic missile, nicknamed the Hazelnut, by firing it at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.

Also on Tuesday, it emerged that a Russian court had confirmed that a British man allegedly fighting for Ukraine was captured inside the Kursk border region.

Video of a man identifying himself as James Scott Rhys Anderson, 22, had been circulating online in recent days. The man was seen dressed in military clothing, and said he previously served in the British Army.

A Russian court said it had ordered Mr Anderson to be detained on Monday, alleging he had participated in hostilities in the territory of the Kursk region. He was identified in court as being a British citizen from Banbury, Oxfordshire.

Russian prosecutors have accused him of being a mercenary and of committing a terrorist act. He could be jailed for more than 20 years if convicted.

Ukraine launched a surprise incursion into Kursk on August 6, and still holds territory in the region despite Russian efforts to recapture it.
Free speech is not a nice add-on; it is the core of who we are as a nation, writes Pearson

I stand proudly before you this week as a Non-Crime Non-Hate Non-Incident. Not quite victorious  still a bit too bruised and vulnerable for that  but entirely vindicated. After 11 horrible days, last Thursday afternoon Essex Police admitted what any sane person had known all along. No Further Action, the email to my solicitor said. There was no case against me, and never should have been. Sending two officers to my home on Remembrance Sunday to inform me I was accused by some anonymous victim of stirring up racial hatred in a year-old deleted tweet was such outrageous police over-reach that it made headlines around the world. Britain Polices Speech but Not Much Else, the Wall Street Journal observed tartly. The British bobby, previously armed with only a nightstick and common decency, has become an Orwellian snooper, wrote Dominic Green in the article.

Other reactions from the Land of the Free were equally incredulous. Elon Musk called the UK a tyrannical police state, which may yet have damaging, real-world consequences with our biggest trading partner. (President-elect Donald Trump has already announced tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China; it could happen to Starmers Stasi Britain if right-hand-man Musk encourages Trump to play hardball against the enemies of free speech.)

As my friend and colleague Daniel Hannan wrote on Sunday from South Carolina, Americans simply cannot believe that the home of Magna Carta is pursuing two-tier justice, allowing the bad guys to run free while hounding innocent civilians for saying something that hurt someones feelings.

I was blessed, of course, to have high-profile figures like Lord Hannan, Kemi Badenoch, Nigel Farage, Sarah Vine, Lionel Shriver, Toby Young and the brilliant Free Speech Union (they offered wise counsel and paid for my excellent lawyer Luke Gittos) speaking out with ringing clarity on my behalf. (The Tory leader rang to congratulate me on Thursday evening and I was in such a state of elated relief I was jabbering and could barely hold a conversation with her. Sorry, Kemi.)

The wholehearted support of The Telegraphs editor, Chris Evans, and our phenomenal news desk showed the coppers at Chelmsford HQ what great investigative work should look like. Seemingly more interested in drag queens than drug dealers, the irredeemably woke higher echelons of Essex Police were taught a short, sharp lesson: dont mess with the real boys in blue  our crack team of reporters who exposed the forces pitiful crime-solving statistics. Our campaign has elicited calls from some of the most distinguished coppers in the land for the use of non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) to be urgently reviewed, if not banned altogether.

A great news organisation like this one can shine an unforgiving spotlight on wrongdoing even  make that especially  when the wrong arises in an arm of the state which has a duty to exercise its power with caution and common sense. It may have been my name in the headlines this past fortnight but, make no mistake, The Telegraph was fighting, and continues to fight, for freedom of speech and to protect tens of thousands of men and women (even children for crying out loud) from these ludicrous, draconian instruments. (Do you think there is a bet among police to see who can record the nuttiest NCHI? If so, the dirty pants on a washing line incident has just taken a commanding lead.)

The support of you, my readers, Planet Normal listeners and well-wishers meant the world. True to form, many of you managed to extract bitter comedy from the sinister absurdity imposed on me by the police. Bill wondered: Its so deeply unfunny that I have to ask whether its a crime to hate Non-Crime Hate Incidents? Careful how you go, Bill; jokes are on their little list!

Earlier this week, when the Prime Minister announced that perpetrators of spiking will feel the full force of the law Melanie commented: When I first saw that I thought Starmer said perpetrators of speaking and I wasnt even surprised.

Anna reminded me that one of the tests during witch-hunts in the 16th century was for the accused woman to touch her accuser. If the person said they felt pain at her touch the woman was declared a witch and put to death. Not much change, then, said Anna wryly.

Unsurprisingly, trust and respect for the police are in freefall. Several of you joked that you would have more chance of getting elusive coppers out to your burglary/car theft if you posted something offensive on X (formerly Twitter). Al, a longstanding Telegraph subscriber, spoke for many: In my sixties, white, male, worked hard, paid taxes all my life. As a young man always had a healthy respect for the police. I now feel contempt and hate towards them. Why is that? It should concern them because it doesnt bother me in the slightest.

It really should concern them. Essex Constabulary, and other forces, would do well to remember that, in this country, they police by popular consent. Sir Robert Peel established the nine principles of policing, which were described by Charles Reith in his New Study of Police History as unique in history and throughout the world, because it derived, not from fear, but almost exclusively from public co-operation with the police, induced by them designedly by behaviour which secures and maintains for them the approval, respect and affection of the public.

If the British people believe their police are acting to silence unhelpful dissent among the majority in order to cosset minorities with protected characteristics, at the behest of a repressive state, then friendly co-operation will be withdrawn, and we should all fear what chaos follows.

While prosecutions against mainly white, working-class Southport rioters (and trigger-happy tweeters) were railroaded through in record time, no charges have yet been brought against the men involved in a fight with police at Manchester Airport in July this year, in which a woman police constable had her nose broken.

Police chiefs are fretting about community tensions, I suspect. (This has led Reform UK to take the extraordinary step of threatening to bring a private prosecution.) Im afraid this looks a lot like the opposite of their job description: policing with fear and favouritism.

Responding to widespread criticism of the way officers are recording NCHIs, Lord Herbert, the chairman of the College of Policing, told The Telegraph that trust was being damaged by the perception that forces were getting involved in mere disputes at the expense of tackling crimes. It is not a perception, my Lord. Its now generally accepted that the police show more zeal in tackling bad thoughts than bad men. Officers have largely ignored the statutory guidance introduced in 2023 by Suella Braverman when she was home secretary. I said police should only intervene if there is a serious threat, Braverman told me.

We agreed that, although your columnist can get a bit excitable on occasion, serious threat to society she is not. At the very least, I think I am owed an explanation from Essex Police and Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington. So, here are eight questions:

Who thought it was appropriate to send two officers to my house on Remembrance Sunday? Why was my original Non-Crime Hate Incident escalated to a criminal investigation under the Public Order Act? Who thought that was a credible charge when two former home secretaries, a law lord, a former solicitor general, three KCs, two very senior police officers and the nice man who works in Coral the bookmakers beneath my office all looked at my tweet and said it didnt come near the threshold for criminal investigation? Why did Essex Police say it was unethical for me to write about my deeply upsetting experience and why did you report The Telegraph to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) as if the paper didnt have a perfect right to to expose your behaviour? I understand you confirmed which tweet of mine had supposedly caused offence and the identity of my accuser to the Guardian. Do you think that was ethical? Oh, and why was the redacted transcript of my doorstep conversation with officers leaked to The Sunday Times in a clear attempt to discredit my account? Instead of apologising for what Labour MP Graham Stringer called the Stasi-like behaviour of Essex Police, why did you double down in a further attempt to scare and silence me, announcing that Gold Command was taking over my case? How was that proportionate? Do you feel proud of using police powers to scare a law-abiding middle-aged woman when people in our county cant get your attention for actual crimes? Why did Essex Commissioner for Police Roger Hirst give an interview to LBC in which he talked about crimes like mine attracting prison sentences of up to seven years. I wasnt charged with any crime, was I? Whose decision was it to declare No Further Action? Did the CPS tell you that there wasnt a chance in hell of obtaining a conviction because no one in their right mind thought my tweet incited hatred? More generally, your force records 700 NCHIs every year and that number has been increasing. Do you think that is a good use of police time or do you think the taxpayer would prefer you to track villains not opinions?

Eventually, I will have answers from the police to all those questions. The case is now in the hands of my superb solicitors. But what can we do about the metastasising cancer of Orwellian hate crimes that have such a chilling effect on peoples ability to speak and post freely?

Actually, theres quite a lot we can do. (Look what people power achieved after Nigel Farages debanking scandal.) If you or a family member or a friend has been approached by the police over a hate crime, please get in touch with me. Dont feel ashamed or stigmatised; youre almost certainly not the one who needs to feel shame. Where appropriate, I will draw public attention to specific NCHIs. Together we will fight these insanities one by one, putting the onus onto the police to justify their actions.

You can submit a Subject Access Request (Sar) to your local police force to find out if you have ever been investigated for a hate crime or had an NCHI recorded against your name. If you have, join the Free Speech Union (FSU), which has had quite a bit of success getting them removed from peoples records (I recommend joining the FSU anyway  this nightmare could happen to anyone).

That mirthless munchkin Yvette Cooper was apparently all set to lower the bar for NCHIs so even more unwary tweeters and cheeky kids in the playground could have their collars felt. But the Home Secretary quickly changed her tune after my case drew embarrassing attention to officers wasting their time on trivial cases. She now says police will be told only to record NCHIs when theres a clear risk to community tensions under new common sense guidance.

Twaddle. Such guidance already exists and is ignored by police who are keen to boost their results by nabbing low-hanging fruit like me. How else do you explain an imam who called for attacks on Jewish homes being ignored while I am the one accused of inciting racial hatred? Farcical.

Police should not record any episodes as NCHIs if they conclude no crime has been committed because it will show up if a person has to do an enhanced DBS check when they apply for a job. The police should also be consistent when it comes to which reports of possible hate crimes they investigate: stop treating some ethnic or religious groups as more worthy of protection than others.

One officer, among the scores of police who emailed to commiserate with my predicament, described his foundation degree in policing thus: It was as though they had gathered every Left-wing nut-job they could find and forced us to listen to them and then parrot back what we had been subjected to. One of the main messages permeating through all of it was the need to protect the strands of diversity. I think they had identified seven or maybe nine groups at the time. Black people, religious groups, women and so on. These were like protected species, this diversity drive was massive and constant, we were hardly prepared for day-to-day policing.

Instead of teaching police their job is to protect specific groups from the wicked majority, the College of Policing needs to make sure police are better trained when it comes to understanding the vital importance of free speech and what legal protection it enjoys under the law. Free speech is not a nice add-on; it is the core of who we are as a nation.

Personally, I want to see NCHIs scrapped altogether, and I wont rest until that happens. Ill be damned if theyre going to upset someone like they upset me. Non-crime hate nonsense is fundamentally un-British and encourages a snitch society which is inimical to our national character. Relying on an allegation of hate from a third party and then allowing individual officers to decide what is proportionate is a recipe for injustice as well as a serious threat to liberty. I agree with Young when he says, We should repeal all the laws that have created speech crimes and revert to the English Common Law principle that all political/contentious speech is permitted unless its overwhelmingly likely to lead to an imminent breach of the peace.

As for me, my mood goes up and down; sometimes happy its over, angry it ever happened at all. On Thursday night, I am giving a talk at a sold-out charity do for the Sick Childrens Trust. Normally, I would go along in high spirits to such an event, glad to meet lots of readers and be of use for a great cause. The truth is, after what Essex Police did to me, I will look out over the audience and think, Are there people who think I am the person my anonymous accuser said I was? Thats what a hate crime allegation does.

If I have just one tiny regret at not getting to go for my voluntary interview at the police station, its that Allisons Army never got a chance to assemble outside Chelmsford HQ. Our riot would have been the politest in history, wouldnt it? Sandwiches, thermos flasks, canvas fold-up stools, poo bags. After you, no after YOU! Jolly cross with the police, mind you.

Luke the solicitor and I had planned what we would do when the police asked me questions about the long-forgotten tweet. Instead of saying, No comment, I would reply each time: Its a free country. Its a free country. Its a free country.

And we must go on saying it for as long as we have breath, or theyll take it away. Let them try.
Parents criticised the refreshments at Willys Chocolate Experience, which was axed only hours after opening in February

The man behind the infamous Willy Wonka experience in Scotland has been charged with rape.

Billy Coull, who made global headlines after his botched event left children in tears because of its poor quality, also faces a separate allegation of sexual assault.

The 36-year-old, from Knightswood in Glasgow, made no plea to both charges at a private hearing at the citys sheriff court, where he appeared from custody.

He is known for being behind the 35-per-head Willys Chocolate Experience, held in a Glasgow warehouse in February, which promised a day where dreams come to life and was promoted with elaborate marketing.

However, police were called and it was axed within hours after furious parents complained that their children had been offered half cups of lemonade and small rations of jelly beans, in what one attendee described as little more than an abandoned, empty warehouse.

Decorations at the event, which was held in a warehouse in Glasgow earlier this year - Elaine Wyper/Facebook

The event, and now infamous images of a sad-looking actress portraying an Oompa Loompa and a bizarre masked villain called The Unknown, went viral on social media and featured in outlets including CNN, The New York Times and Rolling Stone.

It also prompted comparisons to other notorious flop events which did not live up to their marketing, such as the 2017 Fyre Festival in The Bahamas, which promised to be a luxury VIP music festival but turned into a disaster.

Coull, a former charity worker, was granted bail by Sheriff Gerard Bonnar and committed for further examination after appearing in the dock.

His next court date over the charges is yet to be determined.
Men with Hezbollah flags parade through Beiruts suburbs as the ceasefire took effect - AFP

Israel has agreed to a ceasefire with Hezbollah that will see both sides withdraw from southern Lebanon.

The US-backed peace deal, which has the full support of Joe Biden, took effect on Wednesday (4am local time).

Mr Biden called it a permanent cessation after the deadliest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in decades.

He warned Israel had the right to self-defence if Hezbollah broke the agreement, but added: It heralds a new start for Lebanon.

Mr Biden said the latest ceasefire deal could be used as a blueprint to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

Israeli troops return from Lebanon after the ceasefire took hold - Shutterstock

Boys arrive in Tyre waving flags - Adnan Abidi/Reuters

He added: Just as the Lebanese people deserve a future of security and prosperity, so do the people of Gaza. They too deserve an end of the fighting and displacement. The people of Gaza have been through hell.

Hamas has refused to negotiate in good faith for months over a peace deal, the US president said. But that could change if the terror group agrees to free hostages it has held captive for more than a year.

Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed the deal but also stressed the length of the ceasefire was dependent on how well it is observed by the Iran-backed terror group.

We reserve the right to use all forms of military force if Hezbollah begins rearming contrary to the agreement, he said.

Speaking to the nation on live TV, the Israeli prime minister said Hezbollah was no longer the same organisation, saying: We set them back decades. We have destroyed many missiles and rockets, we have killed many terrorists.

Mr Netanyahu listed three reasons why Israel is willing to end the war with Hezbollah now, saying: The first reason is to focus on the Iranian threat, and I will not expand on that.

The second, he said, is to give Israeli soldiers a breather and replenish stocks. And I say it openly, it is no secret that there have been big delays in weapons and munitions deliveries.

In what appeared to be a hint at a change in US policy under Donald Trump, the Israeli prime minister added: These delays will be resolved soon. We will receive supplies of advanced weaponry that will keep our soldiers safe and give us more strike force to complete our mission.

Displaced people, like those in the Beqaa valley region of Lebanon, made their way back to their homes - Nidal Solh/AFP

A woman wipes away tears after the ceasefire took hold - Adnan Abidi/Reuters

The third reason, Mr Netanyahu concluded, is for Israel to separate its war fronts and isolate Hamas in Gaza.

From day two of the war, Hamas was counting on Hezbollah to fight by its side. With Hezbollah out of the picture, Hamas is left on its own. We will increase our pressure on Hamas and that will help us in our sacred mission of releasing our hostages, he said.

The deal follows a US ceasefire proposal largely built on UN Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the last war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.

It stipulates that Israel must withdraw its forces from Lebanon, while Hezbollah must remove its forces from the south of the country, north of the Litani river.

In the hours leading up to the ceasefire, hostilities raged as Israel ramped up its campaign of airstrikes in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon.

The Israeli military said it struck components of Hezbollahs financial management and systems including a money-exchange office.

Hezbollah also kept up rocket fire into Israel.

Israels air force intercepted three launches from Lebanese territory, the military said, in an extensive missile barrage on Tuesday night that led to warning alarms in about 115 communities.

Israel was expected to receive assurances from the US that it can act against violations of the deal as long as it is coordinated with Washington. The US will lead an oversight committee in charge of monitoring Hezbollahs activities in Lebanon.

Haaretz, the Israeli newspaper, reported that the ceasefire would be carried out in several stages, eventually leading to negotiations over the land border between Lebanon and Israel, which remains disputed to this day.

Sir Keir Starmer said: Todays long overdue ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah will provide some measure of relief to the civilian populations of Lebanon and northern Israel, who have suffered unimaginable consequences during the last few months of devastating conflict and bloodshed.

A man buys bread on his way back to southern Lebanon, after the ceasefire - Reuters/Adnan Abidi

Vehicles drive near damaged buildings in Beiruts southern suburbs, after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect - REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

The UK and its allies will continue to be at the forefront of efforts to break the ongoing cycle of violence in pursuit of a long-term, sustainable peace in the Middle East. We must see immediate progress towards a ceasefire deal in Gaza, the release of all hostages and the removal of restrictions on desperately needed humanitarian aid.

Mike Waltz, Donald Trumps pick for national security adviser once he returns to the White House, said the president-elect deserved credit for the deal.

Everyone is coming to the table because of president Trump, he said. His resounding victory sent a clear message to the rest of the world that chaos wont be tolerated.

Israelis protested ahead of the ceasefire announcement, demanding the return of the Hamas-held hostages - Stoyan Nenov/Reuters

Im glad to see concrete steps towards de-escalation in the Middle East. But lets be clear  the Iran regime is the root cause of the chaos and terror that has been unleashed across the region. We will not tolerate the status quo of their support for terrorism.

Yair Lapid, Israels opposition leader, criticised Mr Netanyahu following his speech, saying the greatest disaster in Israels history happened on his watch.

No deal with Hezbollah will erase the abandonments. No statement to the press will change history, said Mr Lapid.

Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of the Yisrael Beitenu party, ridiculed Mr Netanyahu, saying he had surrendered to terror.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israels national security minister, also criticised the ceasefire deal, claiming it would not bring back safety to the residents of northern Israel. The Lebanese army does not have the authority at all, and certainly not the ability to overcome Hezbollah, he said.
Daniel Andreas San Diego has been on the run from the FBI for more than 20 years

One of Americas most wanted fugitives, on the run for more than 20 years, has been arrested after being tracked down to a rural part of North Wales.

Daniel Andreas San Diego was wanted by the FBI on suspicion of carrying out two bombings in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2003. The 46-year-old, believed to have had links to animal rights groups, was arrested at a property in remote woodland near Conwy on Monday.

He was detained following a joint operation involving the FBI and officers from the National Crime Agency, Counter-Terrorism Policing and North Wales Police.

Mr San Diego appeared at Westminster magistrates court in London on Tuesday for extradition proceedings, and was remanded in custody. He had been on the FBIs most-wanted list for several years, and there was a $250,000 (200,000) reward for information leading to his arrest.

Mr San Diego, originally from Berkeley, in California was wanted on terrorism charges connected with two bomb attacks in that state.

The first took place at a biotech corporation on Aug 28 2003, and the second occurred a month later at a nearby nutritional products company. They were blamed on animal rights extremists, and while it was not thought anyone was hurt, buildings and equipment were damaged.

The FBIs Most Wanted has now been updated to show Daniel San Diego has been captured - FBI

In July 2004, Mr San Diego was indicted in the United States District Court, Northern District of California over his alleged involvement, and has been wanted by the FBI ever since.

It is not clear when or how he travelled to the UK or how long he had been in North Wales.

An National Crime Agency spokesman said: On Monday November 25, officers from the National Crime Agency, supported by colleagues from Counter-Terrorism Policing and North Wales Police, arrested Daniel Andreas San Diego, aged 46, in the Conwy area of Wales, at the request of the US authorities.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court today [Nov 26] as extradition proceedings began. He was remanded in custody.

Christopher Wray, the FBI director, said: Daniel San Diegos arrest after more than 20 years as a fugitive for two bombings in the San Francisco area shows that, no matter how long it takes, the FBI will find you and hold you accountable.

Theres a right way and a wrong way to express your views in our country, and turning to violence and destruction of property is not the right way.
Pakistani security forces have launched a sweeping midnight raid on supporters of the jailed former prime minister Imran Khan who had earlier forced their way through security barriers and entered Islamabad.

Thousands of protesters had gathered in the centre of the capital after a convoy, led by Khans wife, broke through several lines of security all the way to the edge of the citys highly fortified red zone.

But late on Tuesday, hundreds were arrested and most of the protesters dispersed amid chaotic scenes as security forces launched a massive raid, firing teargas, according to local broadcasters.

At least seven people had earlier been killed and dozens injured in the unrest.

Authorities had enforced a security lockdown in the capital for the last three days after Khan called for supporters of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to march on parliament for a sit-in demonstration to demand his release.

By Tuesday morning, upwards of 50,000 of Khans supporters had broken through the heavily fortified barriers and entered Islamabad, where they marched toward the red zone, an area in the centre of the capital where the parliament, supreme court and prime ministers office are located. The area resembled a fortress of barriers, shipping containers and police personnel in riot gear.

The protesters were led by Khans wife, Bushra Bibi, who was recently released from prison, and Khans key aide, Ali Amin Gandapur, who is the chief minister of the PTI stronghold of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Tens of thousands more were expected to join from neighbouring Punjab and Rawalpindi.

As the protesters approached Islamabads D-Chowk, a roundabout in the heart of the red zone, the area resembled a battleground as police and paramilitary officers rained down rubber bullets and teargas on the crowds. By the afternoon, security personnel had succeeded in pushing back the crowds from D-Chowk but protesters refused to vacate the city and continued to violently push back against the riot police.

PTIs main demand for the protest is for Khan to be released, alleging that the former prime minister is being held as a political prisoner and that the hundreds of charges against him are trumped up by his political opponents.

Voted out of power by parliament in 2022 after he fell out with Pakistans powerful military, Khan faces charges ranging from corruption to instigation of violence, all of which he and his party deny.

Among those who reached D-Chowk was Ibrar Khan, who had travelled from Khans province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in a convoy of protesters to reach the capital. Imran Khan is like a father figure for us and father of the nation. We are here for him. We wont go without releasing Khan, he said.

He said that they had gone up against teargas and live bullets to reach the capital. The government tried their best to stop us but despite all obstacles, we made it here, he said. We are ready to sacrifice our lives for Khan but wont leave without Khan.

The interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, had said earlier that Khans supporters would not be allowed to reach D-Chowk or get close to the red zone or parliament buildings. He said the government would not hesitate to use extreme steps to stop them, which could include imposing a curfew or deploying army troops. We will not let them cross our red lines, he said.

Naqvi said the government had offered PTI a field outside Islamabad to hold their protest and that the offer had been taken to Khan in his jail cell, but they were still waiting for a response.

Related: Imran Khan, Pakistan former PM, sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption

The government, led by the prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, was heavy-handed in its attempt to prevent Khans supporters reaching the capital. Highways into Islamabad were blocked with shipping containers and thousands of police and paramilitary lined the streets, firing rubber bullets and teargas at the protesters. Public transport into the city was also shut down to keep Khans supporters away.

One police officer was shot and killed in the clashes while more than 100 were injured, and 22 police vehicles were torched in clashes just outside Islamabad and elsewhere in the Punjab province, the provincial police chief, Usman Anwar, said. Two officers were in critical condition, he said.

Another four Rangers paramilitary officers were killed on the outskirts of Islamabad, reportedly when they were run over by a car driven by PTI protesters.

According to PTI, two supporters were killed by excessive police violence and scored more had been injured. They are even firing live bullets, said one of Khans aides, Shaukat Yousafzai.

The provincial information minister, Uzma Bukhari, said about 80 of Khans supporters had been arrested but PTI said that about 5,000 had been picked up by police as they marched to Islamabad from across the country.

Gatherings in Islamabad have been banned, while all schools in the capital and the adjacent city of Rawalpindi were to remain closed on Monday and Tuesday, the authorities said.

The march, which Khan has described as the final call, is one of many his party had held to seek his release since he was jailed in August last year. He now faces upwards of 100 charges, all of which he denies.
Some of the staff involved prepare to carry out a post mortem examination on the killer whale - A/NPZ/SM

A killer whale that spent his entire life in captivity and once fatally attacked a trainer has died in Tenerife.

Keto, a male aged 29, died after falling ill at Loro Parque zoo, where he had been kept since being moved from SeaWorld Orlando in 2006.

A total of 21 vets took part in the animals post-mortem examination last weekend, although the cause of death is yet to be confirmed and further tests are being carried out.

Animal rights campaigners said the killer whale was bred with the offspring of his sibling and claimed he was driven insane by his confinement, something the zoo strongly denies.

Peta has criticised the notoriously cruel zoo and other amusement parks for condemning Keto to a lifetime of exploitation.

The animal rights group added: Keto never had the chance to swim great depths in the ocean or forge meaningful relationships with other members of his pod  Loro Parque and SeaWorld denied him any semblance of a natural life.

Peta also claimed his life had been reduced to that of a breeding machine and that he had been forced to perform meaningless tricks, causing him to display unnatural behaviours such as aimlessly floating out of boredom and grinding his teeth on concrete.

Loro Parque said the claims were absurd and denied that their animals were abused.

On Christmas Eve 2009, Keto dragged 29-year-old Alexis Martinez underwater during a rehearsal, causing compression fractures and tearing the Spanish trainers vital organs. He later died of his injuries.

Alexis Martinez was killed while training Keto in 2009 - A/NPZ/SM

Keto was born in captivity at SeaWorld Orlando in 1995 as part of a breeding programme which has since been shut down.

The orcas father, Kotar, died at SeaWorld when a tank gate crushed his skull. Keto was also separated from his mother at the age of four.

After being loaned from SeaWorld in 2006, he was bred with his niece Kohana.

Only one of his three calves, Adan, is still alive and performs in shows at Loro Parque.

The zoo said in a statement: It is with great sadness that we share the news of the loss of our beloved 29-year-old male orca Keto.

It also described Keto as irreplaceable and an extraordinary ambassador of his species whose memory would live on.

Trainers struggle as they attempt to sedate Keto for a medical procedure earlier in his life - A/NPZ/SM

A zoo spokesman said: There are no words to express the depth of this loss for the whole of our Loro Parque team, particularly for the trainers and vets who shared their daily lives with Keto.

The relationship that develops between our animals and all those who work at Loro Parque goes beyond the professional, becoming a deep bond filled with love and mutual respect.

They added that Keto had shown signs of discomfort in the days before his death, but his size had presented challenges to veterinary teams and international specialists.

The average life expectancy of a male killer whale is around 30 years, but they can live up to 60 years.

Earlier this year, Wolfgang Kiessling, the zoos owner, branded animal rights organisations such as Peta eco-terrorists.

In response to the Peta claims a spokesperson at Loro Parque said: Loro Parque has the highest standards of care in the world for all our animals. We are in mourning over the sad passing of Keto who lived for almost 30 years.
Merkel with Barack Obama in 2015. Yes, I am a feminist, in my way, Angela Merkel says in her memoir. Photograph: Michael Kappeler/AFP/Getty Images

Angela Merkel was notoriously discreet and privacy-conscious as Germanys chancellor, rarely veering off message during her 16 years in office.

In her eagerly anticipated political autobiography Freedom: Memoirs 1954-2021, she has hardly turned into a gossipmonger overnight. But across 721 pages  published on Tuesday in German and English thanks to nine different translators working on chunks of the book simultaneously  there are glimpses of a Merkel previously unseen.

Here are eight things we learned.

Regrets? She has very few

Merkels policies on migration, nuclear energy and Russia have come under severe scrutiny in the three years since she left office. But Freedom is not a book of any major mea culpas.

Her decision to accept more than 1 million refugees, mostly Syrian, into Germany in 2015 was not a mistake, she says: The opposite is true. Her 2011 policy U-turn on nuclear energy, leading to the phase-out of the countrys remaining reactors, came about because the accident in Fukushima, Japan, changed my perception of risk posed by nuclear energy. She says she wouldnt recommend the use of nuclear in the future either.

The book presents a number of reasons why she and the then French president, Nicholas Sarkozy, were right to block Ukraine and Georgia from joining Natos membership action plan (Map) in 2008  a decision heavily criticised by Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after Russias 2022 full-scale invasion. With her veto, she says, she was considering not just Ukraines security but also the need to increase the efficacy of Nato as a whole.

... but there are a couple

Britains vote to leave the European Union in 2016 genuinely shook Merkel: she experienced it as a humiliation, a disgrace for us, which left the EU weakened, and she asked herself whether she and other European leaders should have done more to keep Britain in. I was tormented by whether I should have made even more concessions toward the UK, she writes.

Its not a full admission of an error, because she concludes that Brexit was a self-inflicted wound that Britains neighbours could have done little to prevent. By promising a referendum to appease the hardliners in his party, she writes, David Cameron put himself in the hands of those who were skeptical about the European Union, and was never able to escape this dependency.

Merkel also corrects her stance on her domestic fiscal policy, even if this too is not exactly phrased as a regret. The debt brake mechanism, which limits Germanys budget deficit to 0.35% of GDP, was enshrined in the constitution during Merkels first term. It was a totemic policy she steadfastly defended for the rest of her reign, in the face of critics who said it was leading to a chronic underinvestment in infrastructure.

But in her memoir, which comes out three weeks after her successor government collapsed over the debt brake question, she breezily suggests that the mechanism now needs to be reformed, to allow higher levels of debt to be assumed for the sake of investment in the future. A gift to the next German chancellor, who is likely to hail from her Christian Democratic party, or a poisoned chalice?

Never trust a photograph...

There are many photographs and clips of Merkel in power, but not all are what they seem. One viral image from 2015 showed an animated Merkel with outstretched arms, talking to a seated Barack Obama, then the US president, on the eve of a G7 summit in the Bavarian Alps.

After Donald Trumps first election victory in 2016, the image seemed to visualise a line of succession, from one leader of the free world to the next. In fact, she says in Freedom, the snapper had caught her discussing something more banal: not the extent of the geopolitical task on her hands, but the size of an extra-large wicker chair she had squeezed into for a photo opportunity at a previous summit.

 or a video

One video clip was frequently shared not by her admirers but her critics on the far right: filmed on the eve of federal elections in 2013, it shows a stern-looking Merkel take a German flag out of the hands of Hermann Grohe, the CDU general secretary and later her health minister, and chuck it to the side of the stage.

Far from showing her disdain for patriotism, Merkel writes, she found the flag-waving inappropriate because she believed her party should be humble in victory. Even in our hour of triumph we do not forget that not everyone voted for us, and that there are others who are not so happy.

Another widely shared clip from the early years of her tenure showed the then US president, George W Bush, giving Merkel an impromptu shoulder massage as he entered a G8 summit in St Petersburg in 2008. On camera, her awkward reaction suggested that the German leader was far from pleased, but in her telling the footage did not show a sexist infringement: It was a joke that wasnt meant to intimidate or belittle me, she recalls. Bush and I liked and respected each other.

She saw Donald Trump was fascinated by Vladimir Putin (and the pope advised her on how to handle them both)

Unlike Bush, Donald Trump does not elicit sympathy from Merkel. She says she made the mistake of trying to engage with him as if he were someone completely normal. She sees parallels between him and Vladimir Putin, and says Trump is clearly fascinated by the Russian president: I received the distinct impression he [Trump] was captivated by politicians with autocratic and dictatorial traits. Both are childlike in their grievances, she says, and both try to embarrass her in front of the press  Putin once apparently tried to intimidate her with his labrador, Konni, and Trump refused to shake her hand.

Merkel tried to take the high ground with both leaders, letting the provocations wash over her and focusing on joint interests, which mostly meant trade. She cites advice given her by Pope Francis: Bend, bend, and bend some more, but take care it doesnt break. Its a virtuous strategy, but one which did not stop Trump from cancelling the USs participation in the Paris climate agreement, nor Putin from invading Ukraine shortly after she left office.

She felt a lot more patronised by westerners than she let on

Since Merkel left office, a debate around continuing economic and cultural discrimination against people from the former East Germany has gone mainstream in Germany  the Leipzig-based literary scholar Dirk Oschmanns polemic The East: A West German Invention and the historian Katja Hoyers book Beyond the Wall were bestsellers in 2023.

That kind of assertiveness is very different to Merkels attitude while she was in power. After she was elected as a member of parliament in 1990, she found that it was more difficult than I had expected [] to speak openly to the West German media about ones own life in the GDR.

Interviews in which she mentioned her participation in Marxism-infused educational programmes in her youth sent journalists scouring archives for covered-up files from her schooldays.

As a result, she spoke little about her East German identity as she rose through the party ranks. Yet it didnt mean she was immune to real or perceived slights against her upbringing: Freedom seethes with quiet rage at those who patronised her for implying that having been socialised in a dictatorship meant she couldnt be trusted at the head of reunified Germany.

But quite how she ended up growing up in East Germany remains a mystery even to her

Young Angela moved from Hamburg, in the former West Germany, to the East German village of Quitzow in 1954, when she was six months old. The timing of their move  a year after the suppression of a workers uprising in East Berlin, at a time when 180,000 people were moving the other way  has raised retrospective questions about the political character of the household Merkel grew up in.

Her father, Horst, nicknamed Red Kasner, was influenced by Latin American liberation theology and opposed the church tax that paid for the privileges he enjoyed in his parish, she writes. But that didnt endear him to East German authorities, who were state atheist by policy and suspicious of any member of the intelligentsia.

Quite why her father, who died in 2011, had moved her family behind the iron curtain seems to continue to puzzle her: He was convinced that people like him were needed there, she writes in an intriguingly bristly comment. I think it might be called a vocation.

At least, she writes, her father taught her how to fend off East Germanys secret police. When the Stasi tried to recruit her as an informant to monitor her fellow students in the late 70s, she told them: Im a communicative person, and I always have to tell other people whats on my mind  a method also employed by her father. The Stasi, she recalls, immediately backed off.

Shes a feminist (of sorts) after all

As with being East German, so with being a woman. Her first senior position may have been as the minister for women and youth in the cabinet of the chancellor Helmut Kohl, but Merkel never leaned into her sex  she was unwilling, she writes, to be defined as part of a group.

As a conservative, she also disagreed with Simone de Beauvoirs illusion that feminism and a socialist vision of the world belonged together. Even as late as 2017, when she was asked, during a podium discussion with Ivanka Trump, whether she considered herself a feminist, she gave a non-answer and threw the question back at the audience. In her memoirs, she is more assertive.

She gives emphatic credit to her most loyal advisers, Beate Baumann and Eva Christiansen, and to female colleagues whose achievements have gone underappreciated, such as the Swiss diplomat Heidi Tagliavini and the former Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaite. If she were asked if she was a feminist now, she says, she would be (a bit) more unequivocal: Yes, I am a feminist, in my way.
Australian federal police searched an alleged scam compound in the Philippines and seized hundreds of computers and mobile phones. Photograph: Australian federal police

An alleged scam call centre in the Philippines has been busted for targeting Australian men over the age of 35 on dating apps and social media, the the Australian federal police say, resulting in the arrest of more than 250 people.

The alleged scammers would work in shifts from a compound to align with Australian times zones, building trust with the men before asking them to invest their money in a fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platform, police alleged.

Related: Quishing, vishing and AI scams  the new cybercriminal techniques duping Australians

The AFP says it has identified 50 Australians who were targeted by the call centre so far. But based on intelligence provided by Philippine authorities, police say the number of Australians targeted could be in the thousands.

Philippine law enforcement seized more than 300 computer towers, more than 1,000 mobile phones and thousands of sim cards after they executed a search warrant over suspected immigration violations.

Police later arrested more than 190 foreign nationals and 68 Filipino nationals for alleged immigration offences.

The AFP searched the compound soon after under Operation Firestorm, which works to shut down organised crime syndicates that operate abroad and deceive Australians through romance, investment or cryptocurrency scams.

David McLean, an AFP assistant commissioner, said the search of the call centre was the first time investigators had accessed an alleged scam compound under the operation.

We have gathered valuable intelligence on the structure of these types of [alleged] scam call centres, how they are targeting Australians and the ways to help identify victims, McLean said.

An AFP cryptocurrency expert was given a unique insight into the [alleged] financial and money laundering structures operating within these hubs, and that will be immensely helpful in developing our strategies in combatting this crime impacting Australia.

In a statement, the AFP warned Australians to remain vigilant against romance scams, and be skeptical of urgent requests for personal information or money. It also urged people to report any suspicious profiles.

Romance scammers can profess love or strong emotions quickly to manipulate their targets emotionally. Be aware of these signs, the AFP said in a statement.

Always verify the identity of the person youre communicating with online. Request video calls or meetings in person, if possible.

Trust your instincts. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Tourists take photos and selfies at sunset on the Greek island of Santorini, July 2024. The Cycladic island is a popular stop for cruise ships. Photograph: Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket/Getty Images

This summer was the first time 31-year-old Daisie Morrison had been on a cruise when she set sail on a two-week holiday with two friends, also in their early 30s.

One of my friends suggested it, she says. She had seen different influencers on Instagram going on cruises. You go to so many places that we wanted to visit, so we were all quite keen.

The previous summer, Morrison says, she had been on a group holiday around Italy, which in contrast had involved spending a lot of time, money and stress getting around. With the cruise, you just wake up in a new place every day.

Far from being unusual, Morrison is part of a generation of holidaymakers who are at the heart of the expansion of an industry once seen as the preserve of rich retired couples. The number of passengers taking ocean cruises has more than doubled from 13 million in 2004 to nearly 32 million  and that is despite the devastation to the industry during the Covid pandemic.

Cruising is right in your face now. Its in your front rooms, its on your phones, its on TikTok Emma Otter

The Cruise Lines International Association (Clia), which represents the industry, expects this number to approach 40 million in 2027, and says the key to such growth will be attracting millions of new-to-cruise travellers. Millennials, according to its latest report, are the most enthusiastic cruise travellers of the future.

It is not surprising that the industry needs a new target market, when many cruise ships can start to feel a bit like care homes at sea, says Xavier Font, a professor at the University of Surrey, who has studied the cruise ship industry. So the cruise companies need an entirely new brand of ship. They are then turning these into either the party cruise ship, say, or the family cruise ship.

As the industry has expanded and ships have become much more numerous and visible, this has increased concerns about the environmental impact of this type of holiday. But Font believes this is having little impact on the popularity of cruises.

[The thought process is:] Im now going to have a break, just back off, he says. The slogan What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas was brilliant, right? Because this idea that I can be a good person all the time but that one week Im just going to be bracketing it, it seems to me that applies to everywhere in the world, not just Vegas.

Emma Otter, a cruise expert who sells trips through the holiday company Travel Counsellors, provides further evidence of this sentiment. She says the company recently surveyed 2,000 travellers and found that 45% of them said the climate crisis was something they factored in when choosing a holiday. This, she says, increased to 65% of those aged between 25 and 34. But do any of her clients ask her about sustainability when looking at cruise holidays? It rarely comes up, she says.

Morrison, for her part, says she was aware that cruising is the least sustainable way to travel, so I did feel quite guilty about it.

Going on a cruise was not the immediately obvious holiday choice for Tom and Abby, a married couple in their early 30s. It was the first time for both of us, says Tom. In fact, he previously considered cruises to cater chiefly to retirees and elderly people.

When they decided to go on a weeklong tour of the Norwegian fjords in May, rather than embarking on a road trip or flying abroad, it was partly for practical reasons: they had a six-month-old baby.

When you have a baby, your perspective shifts a bit  You value things by convenience a lot more than adventure, says Tom, a construction consultant who lives in Manchester, who preferred that we use his first name only. A cruise seemed to offer the best of both.

Each day allowed them to explore a new location, including historic villages and natural sites such as waterfalls, says Tom. Youd draw back the curtains and there would be a different view out of the window each morning.

Tom looked at the carbon footprint of his trip on his return and was surprised. Youre told flying is bad for the environment and that getting on a boat isnt nearly as bad, he says. But cruise ships carbon footprints are [much higher], which makes sense, since youre taking the hotel with you.

Otter, who has been banging the drum about cruises not just being for old people for the past 30 years, says social media has played a big part in driving up the numbers of younger people taking cruise holidays. Cruising is right in your face now. Its in your front rooms, its on your phones, its on TikTok  Daily, you know you can see that somebody will be on a cruise.

Cruise companies have also become very good at providing something for everyone onboard, she says, and providing it at a price Otter thinks can compare favourably with land-based holidays.

Youve got places that are very Instagrammable, such as Santorini. The cost of going there for somebody on a family holiday can be significant, whereas if they visit it on a cruise, they can say: Yes, weve seen that. And the teenagers are happy as they have done their Instagram reels where theres a picture of them with the Santorini sunset  box ticked.

Related: I feel guilty and angry: the captain turned campaigner trying to keep cruise ships at bay

Targeted at some of the industrys newer, younger cohort is a bold new generation of ships, sometimes referred to as cruisezillas, with the biggest having doubled in size over the last quarter of a century. The biggest, Icon of the Seas, was launched earlier this year with 20 decks and capacity for more than 7,000 passengers. Royal Caribbean, the vessels parent company, has two even bigger ships commissioned to sail in the next two years.

One of the companys aims is to attract a cross-generational audience, so the ships come with areas that have activities specifically targeting teenagers or toddlers. Icons Thrill Island, for example, includes the Flow Rider, a 12-metre-long (39ft) surf simulator, that has been built to face away from the sea so your selfies will be better and your friends will see you against the actual ocean, says Tim Klauda, a vice-president at Royal Caribbean International in a promotional video for the ship.

At the same time, brands such as Virgin Voyages, which launched its first ship in 2021, are unashamedly targeting customers in their 20s and 30s like Daisie Morrison and her friends. Virgin ships are all adults-only and, unusually for cruise itineraries, offer overnight stops at islands such as Ibiza.

While the cruise ship industry is celebrating the growing number and diversity of its travellers, this rapid growth is already proving to be a turnoff for some. When Nick Webb, a 32-year-old design engineer based in Monmouthshire, embarked on an 11-day tour of Venice, Dubrovnik and a handful of Greek islands a few summers ago, he had hoped for a stress-free way to take in the sights. But as cruise ships like his own swelled the numbers of tourists at each port, he quickly found this mode of travel came with its own stresses.

Looking down from Santorini, there were four or five cruise ships, all spewing smog into the air Nick Webb

You know those videos online of people running out to get sun loungers at 6am? It was exactly like that, he recalls. His travel agent sold the voyage as targeted towards adults, but there were still lots of children onboard, he says. They were all in the main pool, which wasnt very big  It wasnt relaxing if you did manage to get a space on the top deck.

Webb wouldnt entirely rule out going on another cruise, he says, but would only do so at an off-peak time. While he appreciated the ease of rolling out of bed at a different location each morning, he was a bit shocked by what he saw. Looking down from Santorini, there were four or five cruise ships, all spewing smog into the air. It was so busy  it was horrible.

Otter has been going on cruise holidays with her two children, aged nine and 11, for the past six years. This year my daughter did say: Mum, do you know, I think I would get bored on a land holiday, she says. It is children like her daughter who are helping to future proof the industry, she adds. When shes 15, when shes 20, when shes 30, shell go on holidays with her friends, and shell say to them: Lets go on a cruise.

 Additonal research by Lauren McAuley. The first-time cruisers in this piece were respondents to a Guardian community callout
Nicholas Reed

Three years after being appointed the societys general secretary, Nicholas Reed was sentenced to a two-and-a-half-year jail term - Alamy

There are passionate voices on both sides of the debate on assisted dying. Among the most fervent supporters of a change in the law is the pressure group Dignity in Dying.

The not-for-profit organisation, which campaigns for the legalisation of assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults, counts a string of high-profile names among its patrons, including the philosopher and author A C Grayling, the actor Sir Patrick Stewart and the comedian Jo Brand.

But the group, which is backing the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill that MPs are scheduled to vote on this week, hasnt always been quite the same outfit that it is today. Until the late 1970s, the Voluntary Euthanasia Society (as it was once known) was a relatively low-key operation. Formed in 1935 by a set of doctors, lawyers and theologians, it was the first organisation to dedicate itself to a campaign for assisted dying.

When a new general secretary was appointed in 1978, things took a different turn. Nicholas Reed, a teacher from Rochdale in his early 30s, had developed an interest in the question of assisted dying after attending a debate on the subject and joined the society in 1970, two years after completing a classics degree at Oxford University.

Eight years on, he had worked his way up to secretary of the society. But just three years later, in 1981, Reed was to quit in disgrace, convicted of aiding and abetting suicide, and sentenced to a two-and-a-half-year jail term.

Labour leader Kim Leadbeater stands with Dignity in Dying campaigners - PA

During his brief tenure, this well-turned-out Labour member of Lewisham council in south London had brought about a shake-up of the society. Its name was changed to Exit, and it became more publicity-hungry, intent on bringing about legislative reform.

In a relatively short time, its membership grew from 2,000 to 12,000 as it spread its message far and wide. It put its case to civic associations, on university campuses and on radio and television shows.

[Reed] has transformed the group from a quiet, upper-class gentlemans philosophical society seeking changes in suicide laws into a broadly based, aggressive and controversial champion of the right of the incurably ill and disabled to end their suffering by suicide, The Washington Post reported in 1980.

He wanted Exit to distribute a self-help suicide handbook to members, an idea that was opposed even by some within the group itself.

If his activism was controversial, it was his actions behind the scenes that landed him in legal trouble. In 1980, police raided Exits offices and took Reed in for questioning.

They were keen to talk to him about the death of a woman with multiple sclerosis in Hendon, north west London. A postmortem examination had found she had died of a barbiturate drug taken with alcohol. Two women who had visited her house the day before she died had told a coroners court that a very scruffy, unshaven man wearing a woolly hat and carrying a carrier bag had visited her. He was identified as Exit member Mark Lyons.

When police searched Lyonss flat in nearby West Hampstead, they found thousands of pills and tablets, and a carrier bag containing tablets, alcohol, plastic bags and rubber bands. This, it transpired, was intended as suicide equipment.

The police investigation reportedly spanned 250 cases of alleged mercy killings. Lyons, 70, and Reed were tried at the Old Bailey and Reed admitted he had sent Lyons on missions to comfort and console people, but insisted he had had no idea Lyons had been helping people take their own lives.

Reed was ultimately convicted of three counts of aiding and abetting suicides and one of conspiracy to aid and abet - Alamy

In the end, Lyons was found guilty of seven counts of aiding and abetting suicides and conspiracy to aid and abet, while Reed was convicted of three counts of aiding and abetting suicides and one of conspiracy to aid and abet.



Due to his age, Lyons was only given a suspended sentence, but Reed was jailed for two and a half years. The trial judge said he had used Exit as a cover to jump the gun on changing the law on euthanasia. Reeds sentence was reduced to 18 months on appeal, but his criminal conviction marked the end of his association with the group.

Exit reprised its original name in the wake of the controversy and then, in 2006, it changed again, to Dignity in Dying. By that stage, its chief executive was Deborah Annetts. She had joined five years earlier, later telling The Guardian that she felt back then that the group was inward-looking and had lost its way.

Annetts has been credited with helping to turn it around, transforming the group into a credible and well-run organisation. Today, it distances itself from its murky 1970s and 80s history.

Dignity in Dying is a professional campaigning organisation working within the law to change the law, a spokesman told The Telegraph this week. No one working in our organisation today was working on these issues in the 1970s or 1980s, including during Nicholas Reeds brief leadership of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society.

We campaign for law change because we want dying people to have safeguarded choice; a reform supported by the vast majority of the British public.

Yet, as the assisted dying debate rumbles on, the memory of Reed and Lyons may haunt both those in favour and those against.
New York, US (PANA) - As Gaza teeters on the brink of collapse, a senior UN official on Monday renewed urgent calls for an immediate ceasefire and action to address the humanitarian crisis
Dame Mary Donaldson, the Lord Mayor of London, in 1983 with the Governor of the Bank of England Robin Leigh Pemberton (left) and his deputy Kit McMahon at the Mansion House in London - PA/PA Archive

Sir Kit McMahon, who has died aged 97, was an Australian-born economist who became deputy governor of the Bank of England, and chairman of the Midland Bank at the low point of its fortunes.

McMahon made his name as the Bank of Englands executive director responsible for overseas matters during the 1970s. He was widely admired for the clarity of his analysis, often pungently expressed.

The Labour chancellor Denis Healey found him the sort of insubordinate intellectual I find most agreeable  noting that they also shared a taste for the work of the American crime writer George V Higgins  and later criticised Margaret Thatcher for not promoting McMahon to Governor in succession to Gordon Richardson in 1983. She chose instead the chairman of NatWest, Robin Leigh-Pemberton (Lord Kingsdown), whose style was very much that of a Tory grandee.

But McMahon was said to have fatally damaged his own chances by dealing brusquely with Thatcher on one occasion when she was opposition leader, and came to be seen by her administration, in Nigel Lawsons words, as an unreconstructed neo-Keynesian who made no secret of his hostility to government policy.

His standing in Downing Street was further damaged by the Johnson Matthey scandal in 1984. Johnson Matthey Bankers (JMB) was a subsidiary of an old-established London dealer in gold bullion. It had lent far beyond prudence to a gaggle of unsuitable customers, the largest of whom was a Pakistani shipowner known as the Cobra  and the Banks supervision department (which was not McMahons responsibility) had failed to give early warning of the problem.

When JMB reached the point of collapse in September 1984, the Bank had to decide urgently whether to save it or let it fall, at risk of provoking a run on other banks. Leigh-Pemberton and McMahon were in Washington for the annual World Bank/IMF meeting, but McMahon flew back to take charge  and decided after fraught weekend negotiations that a rescue should be mounted in which the Bank would buy JMB for 1: I foresaw all the horrors, he said. It was easily the worst night of my life.

More controversy was to follow when it was revealed in November that the Bank had injected 100 million of new capital into JMB on McMahons authorisation while the Governor was again abroad and without telling the Chancellor, Nigel Lawson  who reacted with fury, instigating an enquiry into the Banks handling of the affair and a shake-up of its supervision arrangements.

Speculation in the City that McMahon would not be reappointed in 1985 for a second five-year term as deputy governor proved wrong, but shortly afterwards it was announced that he was leaving to join the board of Midland Bank, with a view to becoming chairman and chief executive at the end of 1986.

Once the biggest bank in the world, Midland had fallen behind its British competitors in the 1970s and had belatedly embarked on an expensive international expansion. Its 1981 acquisition of Crocker National Bank of California, the largest foreign takeover of a US bank ever at that time, was to prove particularly ruinous: Crocker fell into heavy losses and was sold off in 1986, leaving Midlands capital depleted.

McMahons challenge was to restore the balance sheet by raising new capital, selling off peripheral businesses, cutting costs and focusing the group on its core domestic strengths. Initially the City felt that his fiercely analytical approach was just what the bank needed  but later, as the situation deteriorated, he was accused of lacking commercial nous. He was the right man in the wrong place at the wrong time, said one critic. He would have made a good chairman, but not a chief executive.

Midlands depressed share price made it a takeover target in 1987, and a variety of potential predators emerged, including Robert Maxwell and the Saatchi brothers. McMahon opted for the safety of a link with the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank (HSBC), which acquired 15 per cent but agreed to a three-year stand-off. By 1990, however, Midlands condition had been weakened by heavy losses on Third World lending and a misreading of interest-rate movements.

The mooted marriage with HSBC was called off, and pressure mounted on McMahon until he stood down in March 1991, to be replaced at the Bank of Englands instigation by a chief executive from Barclays and a chairman from BP. Midlands dividend was slashed, and talks with HSBC rapidly moved forward again towards a merger in which the name of Midland would eventually disappear. Over the years we have made a lot of mistakes, McMahon acknowledged. I hope to find retirement a little more relaxing.

Christopher William McMahon, always known as Kit, was born on July 10 1927 in Melbourne, where his father was a doctor, and was educated at Melbourne Grammar School. He took a first degree in history and English at Melbourne University and was briefly a tutor in English literature there before moving to Magdalen College, Oxford, to read philosophy, politics and economics, in which he took a First in 1953.

He joined HM Treasury as an economic assistant and served for three years as economic adviser at the British Embassy in Washington before returning to academe as Fellow and Tutor in Economics at Magdalen from 1960 to 1964. He published Sterling in the Sixties in 1964 and Techniques of Economic Forecasting the following year. He had by then joined the Bank of England at the instigation of the Governor, Lord Cromer, with whom he had coincided briefly in Washington when the latter was economic minister there in the late 1950s.

McMahon rose rapidly to become an executive director of the Bank in 1970 and take charge of the overseas division  a role in which, according to one colleague, the greater the difficulties the more buoyant and positive was his response. He in turn found the Bank an extremely stimulating place; the debates are far better than at the Oxford colleges. There is a great esprit de corps, no petty politics.

Early in his deputy governorship, McMahon represented the Bank in protracted negotiations which eventually led to the unfreezing of Iranian assets held in London banks and the release of 52 American hostages who had been held captive for 15 months in Tehran. The good name of the Bank made it an acceptable intermediary to the ayatollahs, though its cautious insistence on the detail of the financial procedures involved an exasperated President Jimmy Carter, who at a late stage exploded: What are they doing, writing it out with a goddamn quill pen?

But the task was achieved and McMahon was among the welcoming party, led by Carter, when the hostages arrived at a US air base at Wiesbaden in Germany on January 21 1981, having been released by the Iranians the previous day, moments after the swearing-in of Ronald Reagan.

After leaving Midland, McMahon took on a portfolio of other boardroom roles. He was chairman of Pentos, a mini-conglomerate which owned Dillons bookshops but which fell into financial difficulties, and of Coutts Consulting, and deputy chairman of the construction group Taylor Woodrow. He was involved in the inception of the Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation in 1993, and was a member of the Group of Thirty, an international body of experts which aims to deepen understanding of international economic issues.

A highly cultured man who gave his recreations as looking at pictures, buying books, and going to the movies, he was a trustee of the Royal Opera House and the Whitechapel Gallery, chairman of the Arc dance company and a director of the Angela Flowers gallery in Cork Street. Knighted in 1986, he was a long-serving governor of Birkbeck College.

Kit McMahon married first, in 1956, Marion Kelso, with whom he had two sons, who survive him. He married secondly, in 1982, Alison Braimbridge, nee Cormie; she predeceased him.

Sir Kit McMahon, born July 10 1927, died November 20 2024
Donald Trumps advisers are said to view the deal with outright hostility

Sir Keir Starmer plans to send his national security adviser to Washington to plead with Donald Trumps team to support his deal to hand over the Chagos Islands.

Jonathan Powell, who negotiated the agreement to transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius, hopes to visit the US capital in the coming days.

It comes amid concern that the president-elect will block the deal over fears it could harm US national security by ceding the islands  where it has a military base  to a country allied with China.

Mr Powell, who is also the Prime Ministers special envoy to the Chagos Islands, held a meeting on Monday with Navin Ramgoolam, the new prime minister of Mauritius.

It had been thought that Mr Ramgoolam had concerns about the deal, but a UK government spokesman said they understood he was supportive.

Jonathan Powell is hoping to visit Washington DC for talks with Trumps team in the coming days - Niall Carson/PA Archive

Mr Powell, who worked for a decade as Downing Street chief of staff for Sir Tony Blair, is understood to be seeking early meetings with Mr Trumps team ahead of his inauguration on Jan 20.

One senior source told The Guardian that the trip, which may involve other government figures, would not be narrowly focused on the Chagos Islands but serve as an opportunity to introduce the Labour Government to the new US administration.

Under the plans for the Chagos Islands, Diego Garcia, the island where the US military base is located, will remain under UK control for at least the next 99 years.

However, Mr Trumps pick for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, warned in October that the agreement posed a serious threat to US national security by giving the islands to a country with close links to China.

Joe Bidens administration has publicly backed the deal.

Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader and friend of Mr Trump, said the US president-elects team viewed the agreement with outright hostility and would try to challenge it.

Diego Garcia was described to me by a senior Trump adviser as the most important island on the planet as far as America was concerned, he told the Commons.

A US B-1B Lancer flies over Diego Garcia - APFootage / Alamy Stock Photo

A protester makes her views known in London last month - Toby Melville/REUTERS

Stephen Doughty, the minister for North America, replied that Mr Trumps administration would be briefed on the full details of the deal to allay any concerns.

He also said it had won backing across the national security apparatus in the United States.

A government source said Mr Powell had held a meeting with the new premier of Mauritius.

They added: It was an opportunity to have a formal conversation with the prime minister in light of his election victory and his indication that he would complete the deal, which had been agreed at a political level with the former prime minister before the election.

On Tuesday, Chagossians gathered outside the British embassy in Mauritius to oppose the handover and demand that Mr Powell break off the talks.

Demonstrators wielded signs that read: Our voices also need to be heard  We demand to be part of the negotiations, and Respect Chagossians voice  Chagossian British remains British.
Supporters from For Women Scotland and Sex Matters, including its director Maya Forstater (far right) holding signs outside the court on Tuesday. Photograph: Martin Pope/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock

The supreme court has been urged to recognise the facts of biological reality rather than the fantasies of legal fiction in a case brought by Scottish campaigners to resolve how women are defined in law.

For Women Scotland is challenging a prior ruling by the court of session in Edinburgh, which found that guidance extending the definition of woman to transgender women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) was lawful.

The supreme court hearing, which began on Tuesday, marks the conclusion of a long-running court action by For Women Scotland over the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018, which was aimed at improving gender balance.

They have argued consistently that this minor piece of Holyrood legislation has wide-ranging ramifications for womens rights under the UK-wide 2010 Equality Act.

Addressing the court, Aidan ONeill KC said that For Women Scotlands submission was that in the Equality Act sex just means sex, as that word and the words woman and man are understood and used in ordinary, everyday language  by ordinary people.

He argued that Scottish ministers position that the Equality Act created a new legal category of certificated sex  determined by what it says on a birth certificate, whether that remains as it was or is later altered by a GRC  was wrong and should be rejected by the court.

Campaigners who argue that the rights of trans women with a GRC could come into conflict with womens rights under the Equality Act  such as over access to single-sex services  are hoping for a definitive ruling on the legal definition of woman. That issue has challenged politicians and policymakers in recent years as concerns about the apparent clash have grown in force.

For Women Scotland, with interventions from other campaign groups including Sex Matters and the LGB Alliance, is appealing against the ruling of Lady Haldane in 2022, who stated in her judgment that the meaning of sex for the purposes of the 2010 act is not limited to biological or birth sex, but includes those in possession of a GRC.

ONeill told the court that historically women had been discriminated against by biological determinism  for example, defining jobs they were deemed capable of doing  but now faced biological denialism.

He said: That is to say that being a woman has nothing to do with biology and it is therefore not open to women to seek to deny men who identify as women and [have a GRC] access to womens spaces.

ONeill argued that to take the Scottish governments view was to capitulate to patriarchy rather than confront it.

The Harry Potter author and activist JK Rowling donated 70,000 to the appeals crowdfunder, which has now raised more than 200,000.

Other prominent campaigners packed the court benches, including Maya Forstater, who founded Sex Matters after winning an employment tribunal that found she was unfairly discriminated against because of her gender-critical beliefs, and the former SNP MP Joanna Cherry, who has been outspoken on the Scottish governments stalled attempts to change the process of gender recognition.

The appeal before Lord Reed, Lord Hodge, Lord Lloyd-Jones, Lady Rose and Lady Simler is expected to last two days, with submissions from Scottish ministers heard on Wednesday.
Abdalraouf Abdallah was jailed for nine and a half years in July 2016 - Manchester Arena Inquiry/PA

A convicted terrorist who was a friend of Salman Abedi, the Manchester Arena suicide bomber, has been freed from prison amid concerns that he remains a high risk to the public and may radicalise others.

Abdalraouf Abdallah was jailed for nine-and-a-half years in July 2016, after being convicted of helping people travel to Syria to join the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).

The 31 year-old, who is a paraplegic after being wounded while fighting in Libya in 2010, was initially released from jail in 2020. After he was shot and paralysed, returning to the UK to undergo life-saving surgery, his father praised him, calling him a cub and praying for his recovery.

Abdallah was suspected of having helped groom Abedi, who murdered 22 people when he detonated a suicide bomb at Manchester Arena after an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017.

Abedi was known to have visited his fellow Libyan, who grew up in the same part of Manchester, in prison in the months before the terrorist attack. An inquiry later concluded that Abdallah had played a significant role in radicalising the Manchester Arena bomber.

Salman Abedi: An inquiry found Abalraouf Abdallah played a significant role in radicalising him - AFP

Abdallah used illicit mobile phones to communicate with Abedi and organise visits. The inquiry also said there was no evidence that he was involved in the attack itself or had any pre-knowledge of it, and he has always denied any role.

He initially refused to co-operate with the inquiry but, when he finally appeared in November 2021, he condemned the terror attack and denied any knowledge of its planning.

However, Sir John Mitting, the inquiry chairman, concluded that contact between him and the bomber in 2016 and 2017 made a significant contribution to consolidating Salman Abedis ideology as he was contemplating the attack, and stiffened his resolve to carry out the atrocity.

Abdallah was recalled to prison in 2021 and ordered to complete his full sentence after breaching the terms of his licence.

Two months ago, the Parole Board refused to release him early, having concluded that he had a propensity to radicalise others. But he was released from Full Sutton Prison in East Yorkshire on Tuesday after completing his full sentence.

A government spokesman said: The Manchester Arena bombing was one of the most tragic and cowardly attacks this country has ever seen, and our thoughts remain with the victims and their families.

The UK has robust measures in place to manage the risk posed by terrorist offenders released from prison and those involved in terrorism related activity in the community.

High risk of serious harm

While in prison, Abdallah had taken part in anti-extremism courses designed to tackle the motivations behind his offending. But his probation officer, prison staff and a psychologist still did not support his release, with assessments determining that he posed a high risk of serious harm to the public.

Psychologists concluded that he continued to show levels of engagement with extremism and intent to commit terrorist-related offending, according to the Parole Board report.

Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, called on Shabana Mahmoud to intervene in the case.

He said: Abdalraouf Abdallahs prison officer, psychologist and parole officer all believe he is high risk, engaging with extremism and intended to commit terrorist-related offending.

This dangerous terrorist poses a clear risk to the public. The Justice Secretary must urgently intervene in this case and keep the public safe.
Ambulances near the site where the boat sank off Egypts Red Sea coast. Photograph: Xinhua/Rex/Shutterstock

Egyptian naval forces recovered four bodies and rescued five more people from the Red Sea a day after a large tourist boat sank in rough waters, officials have said. Seven people are still missing.

The Red Sea governor, Amr Hanafi, said the yacht, called Sea Story, had been struck by high waves on Monday and sank in less than 7 minutes.

The 34-metre boat was carrying 30 tourists from several countries and 14 crew when it sent a distress signal at 5.30am local time (3.30am GMT) on Monday, according to the governorates Facebook page.

No information has been released about the nationalities of the people whose bodies were recovered. Officials previously said the missing people included Egyptians and foreigners. The BBC reported two of the missing were from the UK, although the British government has not confirmed that report.

Statements from rescued crew members and tourists indicated the boat capsized after being hit by fast-moving waves, the governorates statement said. Some of the passengers were inside the cabins when the waves hit the four-decked, wooden-hulled motorised yacht, according to the statement.

Weather forecasters had previously released warnings of rough waters and high winds.

Of the 44 people onboard, 13 were Egyptians, including some crew, and 31 were foreign nationals from the US, Germany, UK, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain and Ireland.

More than two dozen people were rescued on Monday from the vessel south of the coastal town of Marsa Alam, some of them being airlifted to receive medical treatment. Two of those rescued were from the UK, according to the BBC. The UK Foreign Office confirmed it was providing consular support to a number of British nationals and their families after the incident.

A further five people  two Belgians, an Egyptian, a Swiss citizen and a Finnish national  were rescued on Tuesday, the Red Sea governorate said.

The German foreign ministry said three of its citizens were missing, and three others had been rescued. Poland also confirmed two of its nationals, a man and a woman, were missing.

Irelands government confirmed on Tuesday that an Irish citizen who was onboard was safe. My understanding is that the Irish citizen is OK and receiving consular assistance, the foreign affairs minister, Micheal Martin, told reporters in Dublin.

Spains foreign ministry has said five Spanish nationals were rescued and were out of danger.

Renowned for its coral reefs, the Red Sea is a major hub for Egypts tourism industry.

The governorates Facebook page showed photos on Monday of what appeared to be rescued tourists speaking to the governor.

The Sea Story was built in 2022 and can hold 36 passengers. The boat had no technical problems, obtained all required permits prior to the trip, and was last checked for naval safety in March, according to officials. It had left Marsa Alam for a five-day journey.

Egypts meteorological authority on Saturday warned about turbulence and high waves on the Red Sea and advised against maritime activity for Sunday and Monday.

The Egyptian military was coordinating rescue operations with the governorate.

Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report
Boris Johnson, Baroness May and Liz Truss are all against the measures

Three former Conservative prime ministers oppose the assisted dying Bill, The Telegraph can reveal.

Boris Johnson, Baroness May and Liz Truss are all against the proposed legislation, which so far has failed to gain support from any former prime minister.

Gordon Brown, the former Labour prime minister, last week called for a palliative care commission instead of legalising assisted dying. Rishi Sunak, Lord Cameron, Sir Tony Blair and Sir John Major have yet to comment.

Sir Keir Starmer is yet to reveal his position but previously said he favoured a change in the law.

Opposition to the Private Members Bill put forward by Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP for Spen Valley, is intensifying ahead of a Commons vote scheduled for Friday  the first time MPs have debated assisted dying since 2015.

However, a cross-party group of MPs has put forward a wrecking amendment that could see the Bill scrapped before a vote is held.

Liz Truss, Boris Johnson and Theresa May are all against the proposed legislation - Hollie Adams/Getty Images Europe

Baroness May is expected to vote against the Bill, The Telegraph understands. Sources close to the former prime minister said her opposition to assisted dying legislation had not changed since she voted against it in 2015.

Ms Truss told The Telegraph she was completely opposed to the Bill, saying: It is wrong in principle: organs of the state like the NHS and the judicial system should be protecting lives, not ending them.

No doubt, as we have seen in Canada, vulnerable people would be put under appalling pressure to end their lives early. The law would be ripe for being exploited by the unscrupulous. MPs should vote this terrible Bill down and instead focus on improving health services.

The Telegraph also understands that Mr Johnson would not support the proposed legislation as it currently stands.

It is understood that Mr Sunak does not intend to make any comment ahead of the vote. Although he previously said that he would back a change in the law over assisted dying, it is understood that this does not necessarily mean he will support the Bill.

Lord Cameron, who as prime minister did not vote on the 2015 Bill, is closely following the debate and still weighing up the arguments on either side. Sir Tony has not intervened.

On Tuesday, Sadiq Khan, the Labour Mayor of London, said he opposed the Bill, arguing that it could lead to coercive control of vulnerable people.

The Telegraph has also seen a letter sent to a constituent by Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, in which she reveals that she will vote against the Bill.

A further eight shadow cabinet ministers are understood to oppose it, while a further four are leaning towards opposing it. Only two shadow cabinet members are believed to be in favour.

In her letter, Dame Priti wrote: I am worried that by not prosecuting those assisting in the suicide of others, we will encourage demands for legalising assisted dying and euthanasia. The lives of the terminally ill and frail are of equal value to anyone else. They deserve equal protection under criminal law.

It comes as more than 1,000 members of the Anglican clergy signed an open letter describing Ms Leadbeaters proposed legislation as a dangerous threat to society.

Signatories, including the Bishop of London, the Right Rev Dame Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Rev Helen-Ann Hartley, and 13 other diocesan bishops, warned that changing the law would be a perilous journey for our legislature to undertake.

They wrote: Not only will assisted dying become more widely available over time, it will also become increasingly acceptable.

Dominic Grieve, the former attorney general, predicted on Tuesday that the Bill would be blocked by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) if it is passed by MPs.

He is one of five former government law officers who have written to all MPs urging them to vote against the assisted dying Bill on Friday.

Mr Grieve, a former Tory MP, told The Times that the Bills safeguards were not strong enough.

The other four former law officers are Sir Robert Buckland, the former lord chancellor and solicitor-general, Victoria Prentis, another former attorney-general, Robert Courts, a former solicitor-general, and Lord Wallace of Tankerness, the former advocate-general for Scotland.
Donald Trump attends a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket on 19 November 2024 in Brownsville, Texas. Photograph: Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Donald Trump has quickly tapped big donors and political allies for top posts to roll back environmental and health regulations, cut taxes and government spending in ways that will benefit key backers, say government watchdogs.

Armed with blueprints to expand presidential power in aggressive ways and backed by a bevy of billionaire donors and ultra loyalists who helped him win, the president-elects transactional style of awarding powerful posts to backers such as X owner Elon Musk, or allies of others such as fracking mogul Harold Hamm, is seen as unprecedented, and will likely boost their bottom lines, say critics.

Trump has taken the cliche that all politics is local and turned it into all politics is about personal payback, said former Federal Election Commission general counsel Larry Noble.

The naked transactional nature and potentially dangerous conflicts of interests reflected in Trumps ongoing paybacks are unprecedented in modern times.

Among the super-rich donors helping shape the president-elects administration, no one seems to loom larger than Musk, who gave some $200m to a pro-Trump Super Pac. Musk has become a ubiquitous adviser to Trump who tapped him to co-chair an outside federal advisory panel on government efficiency, an effort fraught with conflicts given the billions of dollars in government contracts that Musks companies now boast.

Dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), Musk has suggested his goal is finding $2tn in spending and regulatory cuts which critics say could benefit his company SpaceX, Tesla and other Musk companies.

The panels provenance stems from Musk, the worlds richest man with a fortune of about $260bn, who touted the idea to Trump in August during a two-hour chat they had on Musks X, which served as a major Trump booster while pushing misinformation.

Similarly, fossil-fuel tycoons such as Hamm, a multi-billionaire who leads the fracking giant Continental Resources and donated some $4m to help Trump win while raising millions more from industry friends, are sitting pretty as Trump eyes rollbacks in climate change measures and protecting the environment.

To boost oil and gas interests, Trump has named North Dakota governor Doug Burgum, an industry ally and Hamm friend, to lead the interior department and a new national energy council, positions widely expected to spur more drilling, even though oil and gas output has reached record levels during Joe Bidens presidency.

Overall, oil and gas interests coughed up more than $75m to help Trump win after he repeatedly said he was all for drill, baby, drill policies; and at a Mar-a-Lago dinner last spring Trump exhorted some 20 industry leaders including Hamm to raise $1bn for his campaign.

Further, the burgeoning crypto industry that Trump aggressively courted and whose leaders helped underwrite his campaign with millions of dollars, is poised to reap major regulatory and financial benefits.

Trump pledged at a bitcoin conference in July to make America the crypto capital of the planet and bitcoin superpower of the world, and told industry moguls they were geniuses, despite proclaiming in 2021 that bitcoin was a scam.

To butter up the bitcoin leaders, Trump promised to oust Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chair Gary Gensler, who the industry has viewed as an overly tough regulator for cracking down on some cryptocurrency frauds, and appoint an SEC chair who will build the future, not block the future.

Lighter SEC regulation could personally benefit a new venture of Trump and his sons Don Jr and Eric. Trump announced on X in mid-September that they were launching a cryptocurrency firm, World Liberty Financial, with help from an old Trump friend Steve Witkoff. The New York Times reported further that two little-known crypto entrepreneurs with no experience in running a high-profile business were also involved.

While Trump and his sons reportedly will not own or manage World Liberty, they could receive some compensation, and a white paper for the new firm during his campaign called Trump its chief crypto advocate. Trump said on X: Crypto is one of those things we have to do.

Richard Painter, a law professor at the University of Minnesota who served as the chief White House ethics lawyer for George W Bush, told the Guardian when the venture was revealed: The last thing we need is a candidate for president of the United States or his family going into the crypto business.

Another key figure in Trumps emerging influence network is transition co-chair and billionaire Howard Lutnick, who heads Wall Street powerhouse Cantor Fitzgerald, which boasts sizable business ties to the crypto firm Tether and who Trump chose to lead the commerce department.

Likewise, billionaire Linda McMahon, who now co-chairs the transition, was picked by Trump to head the Department of Education, an agency that he has suggested dismantling.

To help Trump win, McMahon, a former wrestling company executive who ran the Small Business Administration in Trumps first term, ponied up about $21m to his campaign and a pro-Trump Super Pac; Lutnick donated about $6m to boost Trumps win and an allied Super Pac.

In making his rapid-fire appointments, Trump has lavished praise on his nominees qualifications, while singling out Musk in his Mar-a-Lago victory speech by declaring that a star is born.

But government watchdogs say Trump has taken rewarding of major donors and top loyalists to new levels, posing risks of corruption.

Major donors have had a hand in shaping policy in every recent administration, but the unprecedented role that Musk and certain other donors, especially from the tech and finance industries, played in the campaign and are now playing in the transition means that their influence over the incoming administrations agenda is likely to be unprecedented, said Dan Weiner, the director of the elections and government program at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law.

Other campaign finance watchdogs voice similar fears.

While campaigning for the presidency, Trump routinely courted big-money donors with offers of access, influence, and even appointments in his administration, said Saurav Ghosh, the director of federal campaign finance reform at the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center.

He now appears to be wasting no time making good on those promises: Elon Musk, who invested $200m in electing Trump through a Super Pac, has seen an immediate return, both in terms of influence with Trump and by being asked to join Trumps new administration  a proposal that Trump explicitly offered Musk during the campaign.

Ghosh stressed: Trumps transactional approach to governing epitomizes corruption and will sadly ensure that in his second term, big donors interests will continue to come before the needs of millions of Americans.

That transactional approach has been broadened by Trump to benefit political allies who stood with him during his two impeachments in his first term and in this years campaign, but whose appointments have sparked criticism from watchdogs and some Republicans due to their thin resumes for their positions.

Among other new and older allies with weak credentials for their appointed cabinet posts, Trump picked vaccine skeptic and former Democrat Robert F Kennedy Jr to lead the health and human services department (HHS) after he dropped his own long-shot campaign for president and became a vocal Trump backer. Kennedy has sparked hefty criticism for his conspiratorial health views and lack of medical training, which could lead to a tough battle to win confirmation.

Besides RFK Jr, Trumps early picks for his cabinet reveal he is putting a premium on placing strong loyalists above expertise to fill key posts to reduce the risks of policy rifts that he had with several of his top cabinet secretaries during his first term, say watchdogs.

Trump, for instance, tapped Fox News host Pete Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense, and the firebrand ex-congressman Matt Gaetz as his attorney general at the justice department, despite his track record of ethical and legal problems.

After facing mounting political fire over allegations of paying underage women for sex, which Gaetz denies, Gaetz announced on Thursday he was bowing out to avoid being a distraction to Trumps agenda.

Related: Trumps cabinet and White House picks  so far

Within hours, Trump tapped ex-Florida attorney general Pam Bondi, who helped defend him during his first impeachment and worked to contest Trumps loss in 2020, to be his nominee to head the justice department.

Hegseth, too, is facing ethical questions after a police report detailed sexual assault allegations against him in 2017, which he denies. Hegseth may have problems winning Senate confirmation.

In Nobles view, the multiple avenues that Trump is exploiting to reward his big donors and political friends carry huge risks for the future safety of most Americans.

Noble said Trump moved fast to nominate clearly unqualified loyalists in Gaetz to be attorney general, ex-Democrat turned campaign ally Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence, and RFK Jr to lead HHS.

He has also made it clear he wants to appoint people to agencies who will give his billionaire donors what they have long wanted  government policies and deregulation which will allow them to increase their wealth, even if at the expense of the safety and financial wellbeing of the majority of Americans and the countrys national security, Noble added.
Trump campaigns in North Carolina the day before the election. Photograph: Jonathan Drake/Reuters

Donald Trumps team announced on Tuesday it had signed an agreement to start the complex process of transferring control of the federal government to themselves, although the details of the plan suggested some breaks with standard practice.

The incoming White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said the team would now be sending in landing teams into the various departments and agencies as it prepares to take over the bureaucracy of the executive branch.

After completing the selection process of his incoming cabinet, president-elect Trump is entering the next phase of his administrations transition, Wiles said. This engagement allows our intended cabinet nominees to begin critical preparations.

But the agreement with the Biden administration, known as a memorandum of understanding, appeared to be a pared-down version of what is normally signed by presidential transitions with caveats that indicated a departure from usual restrictions.

The signing of the memo normally unlocks up to $7.2m in government funding to help staffing costs and other expenses, as well as the use of government office space through the nonpartisan General Services Administration.

Related: Trump border chief threatens jail for Denver mayor amid deportation dispute

The financial assistance comes with strings attached  the transition team has to agree to disclose its donors and impose a $5,000 limit on contributions  and the agreement was supposed to be signed months before the election.

The transition team is normally supposed to sign an ethics agreement, which paves the way for transition aides to start receiving government information such as classified briefings and the granting of security clearances.

The announcement by Wiles in a press release suggested that the Trump team had negotiated its own language around some of those restrictions.

While the Trump team was committed to making the identities of its donors public, and would not accept any foreign contributions, Wiles said that it would not be using any government money and its entire operation would be privately funded.

Government ethics experts have previously noted that such an arrangement would allow people seeking to curry favor with the Trump White House to donate directly to him, raising concerns about possible conflicts of interest.

Wiles also said that the Trump team had its own ethics plan, rather than the formal government one, leaving unclear whether all relevant transition aides would be eligible to receive full government briefings that included classified information.

That caveat on the ethics plan dovetailed with reporting by the Guardian that the Trump team is planning for political appointees to receive temporary security clearances on the first day and only face FBI background checks after it had taken over the bureau.

Trumps lack of interest in engaging with the formal transition stems from the first Trump administration, when officials turned over transition team records to the Russia investigation, according to people familiar with the matter.

Trump has previously broken convention with the transfer of power. In 2016, his campaign organized what appeared to be a standard process, until Trump fired his transition teams leadership after he won the election and cut off communications with the Obama administration.

In 2020, Trump again seemed to follow standard procedure until immediately after the election, pressuring the General Services Administration to not recognize Joe Bidens election win so his team could not access the federal financial assistance.
Of the approximately 3,500 Hongana Manyawa people, about 500 remain uncontacted, Survival International has said. Photograph: Nanang Sujana/AFP/Getty Images

Uncontacted hunter-gatherers in Indonesia are facing a severe and immediate threat of genocide because of mining for minerals on their lands for use in electric vehicles, a report claims.

In their own language, the Indigenous Hongana Manyawa people, of Halmahera island, call themselves the people of the forest. But their forest home is being destroyed in a rush for nickel, a crucial component in rechargeable batteries, campaigners say.

Of the approximately 3,500 Hongana Manyawa on Halmahera, about 500 remain uncontacted, according to Survival International. Nickel miners now operate on about 40% of the land of the people they say are living in voluntary isolation.

The Halmahera nickel rush, driven by global demand for supposedly environmentally friendly electric vehicles, is creating a growing crisis on the territory of the uncontacted Hongana Manyawa, the NGOs report says.

Survival International is calling for the urgent, immediate recognition and demarcation of their territory, an end to mining on this territory and the establishment of a no-go zone as the only way to ensure the survival of the uncontacted Hongana Manyawa people.

The situation in Halmahera is just one of a number of environmental disputes developing across the world about the extraction of minerals regarded as critical for the transition to low-carbon energy.

From lithium extraction in Serbia and Argentina, to cobalt mining in Congo, communities fear ecological destruction as a result of the increase in demand for minerals for high-capacity batteries, wind turbines and solar panels.

At least 19 companies are operating on the territory of uncontacted Hongana Manyawa, says Survival International. But the largest operation is the PT Weda Bay Nickel (PT WBN) mine, owned by the French miner Eramet, Survival International says.

It adds that Eramet has known of the risks to the uncontacted people living near its mine since 2013, but pressed ahead with development of the mine anyway.

Since then, videos have emerged that the NGO says show tribespeople resisting bulldozers operating in their territory, or being forced out of the increasingly denuded forest into mining camps to beg for food.

A spokesperson for Eramet has disputed the claims made by Survival International, saying some Hongana Manyawa had been in regular and voluntary contact with workers from the Weda Bay mine.

The spokesperson said that studies carried out by the mine had found no evidence that any of the Indigenous people living in or close to its concession were in voluntary isolation. In any case, a protocol had been imposed governing workers interactions with the community.

Under this protocol, when contact is initiated by these groups or inadvertently, PT WBN employees are required to adopt culturally appropriate behaviour, the spokesperson said.

The campaigners say the deforestation and pollution caused by mining is destroying the rainforest the hunter-gatherers live off, and their increasing proximity to outsiders puts them at risk of contracting diseases to which they have no prior immunity.

International experts on uncontacted Indigenous peoples, on disease, and on genocide have all warned that this mining poses an immediate threat of the devastating population collapse of the uncontacted Hongana Manyawa, that is, a genocide, the report says.

By continuing with the mining, Eramet and other companies could be breaking international law, claims Survival International. It says that the lawfulness of any such developments rely on free, prior and informed consent from the people living on the land  consent the Hongana Manyawa are unable to give.

Eramets spokesperson said the company had listened to Survival Internationals concerns in two exchanges with their activists and had taken additional precautionary measures as a result. We would like to reiterate Eramets commitment to international human rights standards, including the United Nations guiding principles, they said.

We have established strict standards and require them to be applied by all our employees and contractors, in all our areas of operation. Our group is also voluntarily committed to the highest international mining standard [the initiative for responsible mining assurance].
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was released from prison in June after a deal that brought an end to an extraordinary 14-year legal saga. Photograph: @WikiLeaks/AP

President Joe Biden has been urged to pardon Julian Assange by two US congressmen who warn they are deeply concerned the WikiLeaks founders guilty plea deal sets a precedent for prosecuting journalists and whistleblowers with espionage offences.

James McGovern, a progressive Democrat from Massachusetts, and Thomas Massie, a libertarian Republican from Kentucky, wrote to the president with the bipartisan request to pardon the Australian publisher earlier in November.

The pair urged Biden to send a clear message that the US government under your leadership will not target or investigate journalists and media outlets simply for doing their jobs.

Assange was freed in June 2024 after pleading guilty to violating US espionage law, in a deal that allowed him to return home to Australia and brought an end to an extraordinary 14-year legal saga.

Assange was charged in connection with the publication of hundreds of thousands of leaked documents about the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, as well as diplomatic cables, in 2010 and 2011.

In a letter dated 1 November, McGovern and Massie expressed appreciation that the criminal case had been resolved and an extradition request to the United Kingdom dropped, bringing an end to Mr Assanges protracted detention and [allowing] him to reunite with his family and return to his home country of Australia.

But the pair said they were deeply concerned the deal required Assange, a publisher, to plead guilty to felony charges.

Put simply, there is a long-standing and well-grounded concern that section 793 [of the Espionage Act], which criminalizes the obtaining, retaining, or disclosing of sensitive information, could be used against journalists and news organizations engaged in their normal activities, particularly those who cover national security topics.

The pair noted that this risk had informed the Obama administrations decision not to prosecute Mr Assange and that Assanges case was the first time the Act has been deployed against a publisher.

They said they share the view of Jodie Ginsberg, the chief executive of the Committee to Protect Journalists, who reacted to the plea agreement by saying while we welcome the end of his detention, the USs pursuit of Assange has set a harmful legal precedent by opening the way for journalists to be tried under the Espionage Act if they receive classified material from whistleblowers.

McGovern and Massie, who previously worked with other members of Congress to call for the charges to be dropped, urged Biden to pardon Assange, arguing a pardon would remove the precedent set by the plea.

Assanges brother, Gabriel Shipton, and his wife, Stella Assange, are in the Australian capital, Canberra, this week and Shipton is returning to Washington in January as part of a Pardon Assange campaign urging Biden to take action before he leaves office.

The pair have asked the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, who said before the plea deal that he had raised Assanges case with Biden, to call for a pardon in his farewell phone call with Biden.

By granting a pardon to Julian Assange, President Biden can not only correct a grave injustice but also send a powerful message that defending democracy and press freedom remains at the core of his presidency, a petition for the campaign argues.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has reaffirms its unwavering support to Libyans in ending all forms of violence, including against women and girls
Premier Jacinta Allan, flanked by attorney general Jaclyn Symes, outlines Labors plans to overhaul Victorias anti-vilification laws Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

The Victorian government has unveiled long-awaited legislation to overhaul the states anti-vilification laws, the culmination of more than five years of work.

The justice legislation amendment (anti-vilification and social cohesion) bill 2024 was introduced to parliament on Tuesday and will be debated in the new year.

Jacinta Allan said the bill  which expands on protection against racial and religious vilification  would cover a broad range of personal attributes including sexuality and disability.

It will keep us safe from vilification and hate in public, on our streets, in our workplaces, in the corridors of universities  everywhere we go to participate in this great community of Victoria as equals, the premier said.

It will also help keep us united against that American-style division that is starting to creep more and more into our community, into our dialogue, into our society, by cracking down on those who try and whip up hatred.

Heres what we know about the bill.

How did this come about?

The push to strengthen the laws began with the former upper house MP Fiona Patten, who introduced her own bill in 2019. She argued that existing laws were inadequate, especially in addressing online abuse and violence targeting women, the LGBTIQ+ community and people with disabilities.

Labor referred the bill to a parliamentary inquiry. In 2021 this recommended broadening the laws to cover these groups and strengthening penalties for vilification, finding there had been only two prosecutions in the 20 years since the laws took effect.

Related: Largest great white shark ever caught in Queensland control program was pregnant with four pups

The government began an extensive consultation process. Ive spent almost two years in consultation with those that are experiencing some of the worst features that can appear in the community, said the attorney general, Jaclyn Symes. It has cemented in me an obligation to act.

She said the laws were designed to protect people who took part in the consultation process, including a Muslim woman afraid to use public transport, Jewish children fearing antisemitism and a queer schoolboy facing severe bullying.

What are the bills key elements?

The legislation will broaden existing legal protection against racial and religious vilification to include disability, gender identity, sex and sexual orientation.

Labor says this will protect drag performers (under gender identity) and include people with mental illness or HIV/Aids (under disability).

The bill also extends protection to those with a personal association to someone with a protected attribute, such as the parent of a disabled child.

That means that all Victorians will now be protected against vilification and hate, Allan said.

What are the penalties?

The bill creates two new criminal offence.

The first will be to incite hatred, serious contempt, revulsion or severe ridicule against another person or group based on their protected attribute, with a penalty of up to three years imprisonment.

The second will be to threaten physical harm or property damage against a person or a group based on their protected attribute, which carries up to five years imprisonment.

These offences will apply in any context  private, public or online.

The existing serious vilification offence requires proof that a person has incited hatred and threatened physical harm or property damage. According to the government, proving both elements made prosecutions difficult.

The bill also removes the requirement for police to seek consent from the director of public prosecutions to pursue offences, except when the accused is under 18.

What about civil laws?

Two new civil protections will be introduced, making it easier for people to pursue legal action for comments made in public spaces, including on social media, as well as the display of symbols or flags.

The government says its priority will be to introduce the criminal offences first, with the civil protections to follow.

What about freedom of speech and freedom of religion?

The bill retains exceptions that protect activities carried out for genuine religious, academic, artistic, public interest or scientific reasons.

Symes said these coveredworshipping, practising, proselytising and teaching religion.

Being able to proselytise what you what your religion stands for is unaffected by this bill, she said. It cant be used as a cloak for unabated abuse.

The bill introduces a political expression defence for the criminal incitement offence, which the government said would protect political communication. But threats of physical harm or property damage would not be considered as having a genuine political purpose.

Other common law defences including self-defence, duress and mental impairment apply.

What has the reaction been?

The government was joined at its press conference with members of several community and religious groups, including the Australian Multicultural Foundation, the Hindu Council of Australia, the head of Women With Disabilities Victoria, the gender equality commissioner and the commissioner for LGBTIQA+ communities.

Related: Trump Pentagon pick attacks UN and Nato and urges US to ignore Geneva conventions

Among this group was a rabbi, Gabi Kaltmann, who welcomed the laws amid a rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia.

Doesnt matter whether you wear a kippa or a hijab, if someone vilifies you, if someone wants to go after you, your faith, your background, your belief, your sexuality, the chances are that they will be charged and go to jail or heavily fined, he said. We all become safer.

Kaltmann urged other religious leaders to support the reforms. The Catholic archbishop of Melbourne, Peter Comensoli, told the Age last week he was concerned the changes could erode freedom of religious expression.

While the church abhors vilification of any kind, Comensoli this week said: We welcome the governments clarification that it intends that Victorians reasonably sharing their faith will continue to be protected by the law and will follow the progress of the bill closely.

When could the bill come into force?

Symes said she expected the bill would pass the upper house in March, meaning the new criminal offences would be in place by September.
Watch: Prince of Wales fires sniper rifle and machine gun with Welsh Guards

The Prince of Wales has joined live firing training with the Welsh Guards, wearing his combat uniform and beret to see how soldiers are preparing for duty in the Field Army.

The Prince, who is Colonel of the Welsh Guard, joined the 1st Battalion on Salisbury Plain as part of a training exercise, sitting down to fire a .338 sniper and lying on his front to use a 7.62 GPMG machine gun.

Peering through the sight before taking aim and firing, he was seen being jolted slightly with each shot before reloading and shooting again.

He was also given a tour of the training ground, while using binoculars, and will view weapons including Small Uncrewed Aerial Systems drones.

Prince William takes aim with a machine gun - Andrew Parsons/Kensington Palace

Safety, competency and knowledge

The battalion has recently been on ceremonial duty, spending the last two years playing their part in events such as the funeral of Elizabeth II, the Coronation and Trooping the Colour. It has also carried out overseas operations in the Falkland Islands and Oman.

They are now transitioning back to the Field Army, with service personnel being given a refresher on how to use different weapon systems to ensure safety, competency and knowledge.

The Prince was expected to watch demonstrations of live firing, but chose to join in himself.

Prince William has completed his own military training, joining Sandhurst after graduating university in 2005 for a 44-week course as an Officer Cadet.

Commissioned as a British Army officer in December 2006, he joined the Household Cavalry, Blues and Royals, as a second lieutenant and was promoted to lieutenant a year later.

In 2008, he served in attachments to the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy, including training in piloting helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, shore training and navigation.

The Prince of Wales launches a drone while training with soldiers - Aaron Chown/PA

He later worked as a search and rescue pilot, first at RAF Valley in Anglesey and then with the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

Prince William joked that he would make sure his father did not squeeze in any more ceremonies requiring the service of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, so that they could get back out into the field now their two-year ceremonial deployment was coming to an end.

The Prince of Wales was escorted to the range out at Westdown Camp on Salisbury Plain by Commanding Officer Lt Col Andrew Breach and Regimental Adjutant Col Guy Bartle-Jones.

He arrived by helicopter in his combats and beret but changed into a protective vest and helmet before being handed a pair of binoculars to view the action.

Absolutely, he said, when asked if he wanted to try the weapons himself. Im just glad you have got nice weather for it given the weekend.

Prince William - who is the Colonel of the Welsh Guards - looked thrilled to try out a drone with the troops - Aaron Chown/PA

The Prince, who has used guns in the Armed Forces before, was invited to sit down on the grass and was shown his sight.

He spent a few minutes lining up his British-made Accuracy International L11583 .338 calibre sniper rifle before releasing the trigger, sending off a puff of smoke.

Afterwards he said: I really enjoyed that. I see you guys have got a lot of great things coming up, thats good.

Chatting to the six-strong sniper team, who were wearing camouflage gear and cannot be identified for security reasons, William asked: Good training? Good to be back in green? Did any of you guys go to Oman? How was that?

A lot of camels, one of the men joked.

William said: Really decent training then? Is it good to be back out? Its good to get out of ceremonial, isnt it. You guys have done more than your fair share of that, Im sorry.

Its been fairly busy this year. Youve only got a few more days.

Its not long. Im going to make sure my father doesnt squeeze in too many more moments!

The royal got to grips with an 81mm mortar - Aaron Chown/PA

The platoon commander, who cannot be named for security reasons, said afterwards that the rifle Prince William fired had a capability of a 400-metre head shot in the first round with 900 metres for a body shot, but can issue harassing fire up to 1,500 metres. The longest confirmed kill is over a mile and a half. The guns have seen operational service most recently in Afghanistan.

Snipers undertake an 11-week basic training course and then develop their skills on the ground constantly within their platoon.

He said that Prince William was aiming at a steel body target poking up out of a tank skeleton around 500 metres away and hit it.

He fired a few rounds and hit. I heard the ping, he said.

Hes got his finger on the pulse

He seemed to really like it. He was asking how training was going and engaging with the blokes. He did well. It meant a lot to us to have him here today. It was brilliant. He is down to earth, he knows the blokes, hes got his finger on the pulse of them and their mentality. He engaged with them really well.

He seemed very concerned with the flooding and wanted to make sure we hadnt been too badly affected.

The battalions senior small unmanned aircraft system operator, who cannot be named for security reasons, assessed Prince Williams handling of the weapons as good.

He could be trained up, he said afterwards. I asked him to attend the systems operators course.

The battalions machine gun platoon commander added: He did really well. He fired a full belt, 200 rounds.

We were using tracer which allows us to see where our rounds are going. He was firing at about 800 metres and hit the target, which was the old tank columns.

Im sure he would have done something like this before [when he was in the military].
Birmingham city council was among those which did not submit any data Photograph: Fabio De Paola/The Guardian

The governments entire public sector financial accounts are not fit for purpose, the official audit watchdog has said after the collapse of the red flag system that scrutinises billions of pounds of spending in local government.

The National Audit Office (NAO) said it was impossible to sign off the governments latest public spending figures as accurate because of the unreliability of financial data relating to hundreds of councils and police and fire authorities.

The NAOs unprecedented decision to disclaim the governments accounts comes amid warnings that the chronic inadequacy of the council audit system  seen as an early warning indicator of financial failure or wrongdoing  could result in more councils going bust.

Just one in 10 local authorities submitted reliable formal accounts of their spending in 2022-23. Of the remaining 90%, half failed to submit any financial data at all and half submitted accounts that had not been audited, the NAO said.

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the chair of the Commons public accounts committee, said it was deeply unsatisfactory the NAO was unable to pass the accounts. If these issues are not addressed, it will become increasingly difficult to hold local leaders to account and more horror stories of failing councils will follow, he said.

The NAO said the shortcomings in council financial data were caused by lengthy backlogs in council audit, with many councils having failed for years to submit accounts, or submitted unaudited accounts, covering tens of billions of pounds of spending and investment decisions.

The 129 English councils which hadnt submitted any accounts for the last two financial years include Woking borough council, and Spelthorne. Birmingham was among 58 further councils failed to submit data for 2022-23.

Separate figures show seven local authorities have failed to audit their accounts for five or more years, including Slough council, which declared effective bankruptcy in 2021, and was later found to have serious and long-embedded failings in financial management and scrutiny.

Spelthorne council in Surrey, which has controversially borrowed more than 1bn to invest in commercial property, has also failed to submit five or more years of financial data. When Woking council went bust in 2023 with 2bn of debts after a wild borrowing spree it emerged it had failed to submit audit figures for four years.

Ministers say Englands broken local audit system was inherited from the Tory government. It is pushing ahead with plans to reset the audit system by in effect allowing councils to push through audited pre-2022-23 accounts without formal signoff, and giving them more time to audit future years accounts.

Although this move may enable local authority audit to be rebuilt over time, it is unlikely to satisfy the NAO, which is likely to continue to refuse to ratify the whole of government accounts, the consolidated set of financial statements for the UK public sector, because of the lack of assurance around council finances.

Ministers are also expected to abolish the Office for Local Government (Oflog), a body belatedly set up 18 months ago by the former local government secretary, Michael Gove, to scrutinise councils. Ministers believe Oflog is inefficient and ineffective.

The roots of the audit crisis  described by one expert as a public administration disaster  date back to the former local government secretary Eric Pickless 2015 abolition of the Audit Commission, which provided oversight of council finances and audit, and create a private market in auditing local authority accounts.

Pickles decision  driven by a desire to cut red tape and save money  is now widely seen as a failure. Big accountancy firms see audit work as unprofitable and there are chronic staff shortages. There are just 106 people in England qualified to work in a market that requires annual audits of hundreds of public bodies.

The whole of government accounts are intended to provide an accurate picture of the nations finances. They cover hundreds of billions of pounds in about 10,000 public organisations, from the NHS and councils to government departments, museums, quangos and holdings in private banks.

Clifton-Brown added: The government should press forward with its plans to permanently resolve the local audit crisis. The whole of government accounts must be made fit for purpose again.

Gareth Davies, the head of the NAO said: It is clearly not acceptable that delays in audited accounts for English local authorities have made it impossible for me to provide assurance on the whole of government accounts for 2022-23. It is essential that the steps being taken by government to restore timely and robust local authority audited accounts are effective.

A Treasury spokesperson said: The whole of government accounts remains a valuable and reliable source of information for a wide range of stakeholders.

We are working with local authorities to improve reporting and transparency and ensure the accounts are as detailed as possible, while making significant additional disclosures to the National Audit Office to address any missing data.
Kiena Dawes, 23, left a note saying: Ryan Wellings killed me. He ruined every bit of strength I had left. Photograph: Enterprise News and Pictures

A young mother killed herself and left a note saying I was murdered after suffering years of abuse at the hands of her ex-boyfriend, a court has heard.

Kiena Dawes, 23, a hairdresser, said in her note that Ryan Wellings killed me, a jury heard.

She continued: He ruined every bit of strength I had left. I didnt deserve it. I hope my life saves another by police services acting faster. Dont let bullies live free.

Wellings, 30, is standing trial for the manslaughter of Dawes. He is also accused of assault and controlling and coercive behaviour towards Dawes during their two-year relationship. He denies the charges.

Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, told Preston crown court that Dawes was a bright and popular young woman who had a nine-month-old daughter.

He said Dawes, from Fleetwood, Lancashire, had driven to a friends home but when she got there, her friend was in the shower. She let herself in and left the baby in her friends home before driving to a nearby railway line and killing herself.

Greaney said Dawes had left her mobile phone alongside her daughter and had written a suicide note on it.

A phone note written by Dawes was shown and read out to the jury. It said: The end. I fought hard, I fought long. I went through pain no one could imagine.

I was murdered. Ryan Wellings killed me. He ruined every bit of strength I had left. I didnt deserve it. I hope my life saves another by police services acting faster. Dont let bullies live free.

Addressing her daughter, she wrote: Im sorry I let you go  Im so sorry I had to go. The world turned their back on me. I was strong. I had dreams. I had a future at one point. That was taken away from me.

She added in the note she hoped her daughter was kept away from the monster who is called her dad.

Greaney told jurors that Dawess own words represented the prosecution case, that her death was caused by Wellingss actions, and he was guilty of her manslaughter.

He said almost from the beginning of their relationship, Wellings had repeatedly subjected Dawes to controlling and coercive behaviour, abuse and violence, over a prolonged period.

Dawes had been diagnosed with an emotionally unstable personality disorder, resulting in increased impulsivity, poor self-esteem and difficulty in relationships, the court heard.

Wellings exploited her mental health condition, jurors were told, and while her condition played a part in her decision to take her own life, so too did his abuse, including a final assault which left her in hospital 11 days before she killed herself, the prosecution said.

The defendant claims Dawess accusations against him are either untrue or exaggerated, and any injuries she suffered before her death were a result of his attempts to restrain her or accidental.

The court heard that Dawes, a hairdresser, and Wellings first met each other through Dawess brother, a friend of the defendant, in January 2020.

An intense relationship began and within weeks Wellings had Dawess name and face tattooed on his body, the court heard.

After the first Covid lockdown began Dawes moved to Dorset and Wellings followed shortly after.

But in May 2020 a friend of Dawes visited the flat to find it smashed up, and Dawes told her friend that Wellings had tried to strangle her with an iPhone charger cable, the jury heard.

On another occasion, Wellings accused Dawes of sleeping with a friend of theirs, screamed at her that she was a slag, threw a stool at her, and told her to kill herself, it is alleged.

Greaney said for more than two years Dawes was in a relationship with a man who assaulted her, bullied and demeaned her.

He added: It is clear, suggests the prosecution, that despite a desire to see her daughter grow up, Kiena could not take any more.

The case continues.

 In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org
A leading human rights lawyer who reviewed evidence that resulted in an international arrest warrant being issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza has insisted no one is above the law.

Last week, judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Mr Netanyahu, former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif, although Israel said Mr Deif had died in an air strike in July.

British human rights lawyer Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws sat on the ICCs panel of experts that reviewed the evidence before the warrants were issued.

The independent crossbench peer has told Parliament that the decision was not about equivalence between Hamas and the Israeli leadership or about disproportionality regarding Israels response to the October 7 2023 attacks.

She said it was very specifically about the failure to provide humanitarian aid, water and so on, and the creation of starvation and malnutrition.

Speaking on a debate about the rule of law in the House of Lords, Lady Kennedy insisted that no one should enjoy impunity and that wealth, power and status should in no way influence the issuing of warrants.

Her comments came after shadow attorney general Lord Wolfson of Tredegar argued that there is a UK law that would give Mr Netanyahu immunity from arrest in the UK.

He said the International Criminal Court Act of 2001 guaranteed immunity for the head of a government of a state that was not party to the Rome Statute under which the ICC was established.

After the arrest warrants were issued on November 21, the UK Government said it respects the independence of the ICC and that the UK will always comply with its legal obligations.

Ministers have said it would be for the courts to decide whether to enforce an international arrest warrant should Prime Minister Netanyahu enter the UK.

Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws (Robert Perry/PA)

Lady Kennedy told peers: To have the confidence of the public, whether the public in this country or internationally, courts have to be seen to be just and fair and the law has to be applied in a way that is impartial.

No one should enjoy impunity, no one above the law  and wealth, power, status and privilege should in no way influence, for example, the issuing of warrants

We cannot have impunity for certain people. There are no children of a lesser god, and a very high percentage of children have died and we have to make sure that there is a just process  and that is what the International Criminal Court is there to provide.

She added: The external evidence review panel was something I was invited to be on for the International Criminal Court in relation to the warrants that were issued against Hamas and against Prime Minister Netanyahu and former defence minister Gallant.

Its not unusual for an independent panel to be invited to review evidence to see whether it reaches the thresholds and to make sure that theres external eyes being applied

And we received the evidence  its what Ive spent my life doing: reviewing evidence to see if it reaches the threshold which is required at different stages in a case.

And I have to say, this was not about equivalence; it was quite different.

The warrants for the Hamas leader were very different to those that were brought together for the Israeli warrants.

And they were individuals who had held real responsibility and they were not allegations about disproportionality of the conduct of the war, it was very specifically about the failure to provide humanitarian aid, water and so on, and the creation of starvation and malnutrition.
Back on November 1st, an Emperor penguin was found on a popular beach in Australia, 2,100 miles away from his home in Antarctica. The video shocked people and left us all wondering how in the world the penguin even got there in the first place. The penguin was given to a local wildlife expert to care for and was named Gus. He was malnourished but doing okay at the time that the first reports started rolling in.

Now, weeks later, people are still wondering how Gus is doing. CBS News shared an update on Saturday, November 23rd, and the news is positive. After 20 days of care, Gus is on the mend and on his way back home. Listen in to hear about the progress he made during his vacation to Australia.

Normally, Gus should weigh about 100 pounds, but when he was found on that Australian beach, he only weighed 51 pounds. In just a few weeks, he's gained 7 pounds and continues to put on weight. Gus was released back into the Southern Ocean to start the long trip back home just days ago. We're all hoping he makes it!

People had a lot to say about CBS News' update. Many were surprised to hear they released Gus without helping him get back home. @seany boy spoke for all of us when he said, "They couldnt give him a ride? Like not even halfway?" and @are you sure responded with, "We don't know where his home is, that's the thing. It's probably not as simple as just finding any colony." Fortunately for all of us, @Erin Samples cleared things up, "For everyone concerned, they released him in the Southern Ocean, which is also known as the Antarctic Ocean. Hes where he belongs."

Related: Workers in Antarctica Halt Snow Clearing So Penguin Can Check Out Their Tools

Emperor Penguin Facts

Emperors are the biggest of all penguins, standing at almost 4 feet tall. They weigh between 50-100 pounds, with males weighing more than females. Even though Gus had lost a lot of weight during his trek, he was in a healthy weight range when they sent him back home.

Emperors feed on fish, squid, and krill, and spend most of their time in the ocean diving and hunting for it. They can dive 1,850 feet below the surface and stay submerged for over 20 minutes at a time. Fact Animal explained, "much of their energy gained from feeding goes towards building up a thick layer of fat to keep themselves warm." Important in Antarctica where icy water temperatures average around 28 degrees Fahrenheit.

Penguins live in colonies that can be made up of more than 5,000 penguins at a time. One thing I've learned since I started writing about animals here is that penguin colonies stink! National Geographic wildlife photographer Bertie Gregory described it as "a complete assault on the senses". Penguins huddle together to protect themselves from the strong Artic winds and to share body heat. Not only that but they also rotate their positions so that they all take turns standing around the edges of the group where the conditions are worst. They keep everything fair and square in those colonies!

Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.
A potentially dangerous bacteria was found in 459 water outlets in Belfasts new maternity hospital, MLAs have been told.

The figure was revealed by DUP MLA Diane Dodds as she launched a motion calling for a full independent inquiry into delays to the completion of the new maternity and childrens hospital projects in the city.

It was revealed earlier this year that the maternity hospital opening was facing a new delay after high levels of the bacteria pseudomonas were found in water systems.

The hospital had been expected to open next year when the Belfast Trust took possession of the new building in March.

However, during testing of its water systems, high levels of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PsA) were discovered, leading the trust to say the project is facing a significant new delay.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is found widely in soil and stagnant water.

It does not usually cause illness in healthy people but can pose a serious threat to people with weak immune systems.

Speaking at the Northern Ireland Assembly, Mrs Dodds said the increases in costs for the new maternity and childrens hospitals were astronomical and were putting intolerable pressure on the health budget.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt (Liam McBurney/PA)

Referring to the maternity hospital, she said: Shortly after the (Belfast) trust took charge of the building, pseudomonas was confirmed in a significant number of water outlets, rendering the hospital unsafe and requiring significant reparative work.

Indeed an answer to a written question I received just today indicates that this is in fact 459 different water outlets and that is 36% of the total water outlets in the building.

Mrs Dodds said she had received further information from Health Minister Mike Nesbitt that the trusts water safety team was not involved in the handover of the building from the contractor in March.

She said: A full independent inquiry should take place, outwith the Belfast Trust and those who participated or acted in a professional advisory capacity in the decision making.

The MLA said she also wanted to know the extent of the risk assessment carried out by the trust before the handover of the building.

She said: Northern Ireland cannot afford losses on this scale.

I do think that those who made these decisions around the handover of the contract and the decision to proceed need to be held accountable.

It is long past time that things did change.

Addressing the minister, she added: You have the opportunity to do that through a full robust inquiry into what happened so we do not repeat continuously the mistakes of the past.

The new maternity hospital is already several years overdue and is well over budget.

A Northern Ireland Audit Office report earlier this year said the hospital was originally expected to be completed by the end of 2015.

Three babies died during a previous outbreak of the bacteria at Belfasts Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital in 2012.
Russia has barred Angela Rayner and other Cabinet ministers from entering the country after expelling a diplomat for alleged spying.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper were among 30 UK citizens put on a stop list published by Russias Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which also included journalists and business leaders.

The ministry said the sanctions were in response to the UKs hostile actions.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner was included on the stop list of 30 British citizens newly barred from Russia (Danny Lawson/PA)

In particular, it pointed to UK sanctions on Russia and military support for Ukraine, which it said was bordering on the direct involvement of Great Britain in the conflict.

Earlier, Russian media reported that a staffer at the UKs embassy in Moscow had been expelled and the UKs ambassador to Moscow had been summoned by Russias Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The moves come amid escalating tensions between Moscow and Western countries over Ukraine.

Board members from drone firm Callen-Lenz and journalists from The Times and Daily Mail were also on the list.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson were also among the Cabinet members listed, as were Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer were already banned from Russia in 2022.

In response to the hostile actions of the British side, a decision was made to include on the Russian stop list a number of representatives of the political establishment, the military bloc, high-tech enterprises, and the British journalistic corps who have demonstrated themselves to be anti-Russian, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Downing Street meanwhile denied allegations that the UK diplomat being kicked out of Russia was a spy.

To be clear, we refute these allegations. Theyre baseless. Were now considering our response, a No 10 spokesman said.

He said he would not pre-empt whether the UK might respond with a tit-for-tat expulsion.

This is not the first time that (Vladimir) Putins government has made malicious, baseless accusations against our staff, the spokesman also said.

He added: Youll remember that the Kremlin baselessly curtailed the accreditation of six UK diplomats in Russia earlier this year following action taken by the UK Government in response to the Russian state directing activity across Europe and in the UK.

Todays announcement is no surprise coming from President Putins government, which has overseen an illegal war in Ukraine.

The UK Government is unapologetic about protecting our national interests and will now respond in due course, and our embassy in Moscow will continue its important work in Russia to support UK interests.

The UK diplomat has had his accreditation revoked and must leave the country within two weeks, news agency Tass reported, citing Russian security service the FSB.

The agency claimed he had provided false information to enter the country and alleged he was engaged in spying and sabotage, according to the report.

Storm Shadow missile (PA Graphics)

The diplomat worked at the embassy in Moscow and had replaced one of the six British intelligence officers who were expelled in August, according to Tass.

The Foreign Office at the time said Russias accusation that those diplomats were spies was baseless and that the expulsions were part of a campaign to deter the UKs support for Ukraine.

The British ambassador to Russia, Nigel Casey, has been summoned by Russias Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Tass.

Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel, who was banned from Russia in 2022 while serving as home secretary, said: Moscow continues with its unjustified campaign of fear and intimidation.

The UK continues to stand strong in our response and our support for Ukraine, and we will not be deterred by this baseless expulsion.

Tensions between Russia and the West have significantly escalated in recent days after US President Joe Biden authorised Ukraine to use American-supplied long-range missiles to attack targets inside Russia.

Storm Shadow missiles supplied to Ukraine by Britain were reportedly fired into Russia last week.

There have been a series of diplomatic rows between Russia and Britain over the past year.

In May, the UK expelled Russias defence attache in London, Colonel Maxim Elovik, claiming he was an undeclared military intelligence officer, removed diplomatic status from several Russian-owned premises, and placed restrictions on Russian diplomatic visas.

In response, Russia expelled Britains defence attache in Moscow, Captain Adrian Coghill.
A prosecutor is seeking to overturn a judges decision to throw out an involuntary manslaughter charge against actor Alec Baldwin, after the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the film set of Rust.

The appeal notice, filed on November 21 but made public on Tuesday, marked another attempt by special prosecutor Kari Morrissey to resurrect the case after Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer brought Baldwins trial to a sudden end in July.

The judge threw the case out based on the misconduct of police and prosecutors over the withholding of ammunition evidence from the defence, while also confirming charges cannot be filed again.

Alec Baldwin practising drawing his revolver on the set of the Rust movie (Santa Fe County Sheriff)

While the court document did not specify the grounds for the appeal, Ms Morrissey has previously claimed that the judge misunderstood the evidence and dropped the Baldwin case without hearing any of the testimony or argument.

Rust debuted at the Camerimage Festival in Poland last week, three years after the prop gun US star Baldwin was holding went off and fatally injured Ms Hutchins on the set of the Western in New Mexico.

Ms Hutchins mother Olga Solovey said she refused to attend the Polish premiere, claiming that Baldwin was seeking to unjustly profit from his killing of my daughter in a statement shared by her lawyers.

On Monday, Baldwin told Variety that the ordeal was the most difficult thing Ive ever dealt with in my life, as he was honoured with a lifetime award at the 42nd Torino Film Festival in Italy.

The actor said he was advised by mental health practitioners and cardiologists not to complete the film after Ms Hutchinss death, because he was very sick afterwards for a while, physically drained and ill.

However, he decided to finish the film and waived his fee to give everything to her husband  who Mr Baldwin claimed now solely owns the film.

Enzo Ghigo, actor Alec Baldwin and director Giulio Base pose for a photo, at the 42nd Turin Film Festival (Matteo Secci/LaPresse via AP)

Baldwin added that the notion anybody had profited from the films sale and distribution was blatantly untrue and absolutely wrong.

Meanwhile, Rust armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is serving an 18-month sentence after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter in March following the death of Ms Hutchins.

She recently had her appeals for a new trial and immediate release from prison rejected, but continues to appeal for her case to be dismissed.

Ms Morrissey and representatives for Baldwin have been contacted for comment.
Taylor Swift has said her last shows on The Eras Tour will close out the most extraordinary chapter of her life so far.

The 14-time Grammy winner, who won seven awards at this years MTV VMAs, embarked on her juggernaut tour in 2023 and has since played in cities across the world, including London, where she performed eight non-consecutive concerts at Wembley Stadium.

On Tuesday, the 34-year-old reflected on her most recent shows in Canada  the country where she will complete her tour.

Our 6 shows in Toronto were so incredible, she said in an Instagram post.

It was awesome to play in Canada after so much time.

As always, the fans in Toronto treated us like it was a hometown show.

Couldnt have asked for more love or generosity from the people who came out.

I got to play a mashup of the *Grammy nominated* song us with @gracieabrams, mashed up with Out of the Woods and I just adore her.

Shes been giving the most amazing performances every night on this tour!!

The emotions have gotten pretty heightened for me and the rest of the team because its gotten extremely real for us: Our next city will be the last one of The Eras Tour, and the closing of the most extraordinary chapter of my life so far.

Taylor Swift attending the MTV Video Music Awards 2024 (Doug Peters/PA)

See you, Vancouver. We cant wait to give you all weve got for three more shows.

Swift wrapped up the European leg of The Eras Tour in August before embarking on further dates in America and Canada across October and November, with her last shows taking place next month.

Hollywood actor Tom Cruise, film director Greta Gerwig, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and the Prince of Wales and his two eldest children were among those who attended her shows in London earlier in the year.

The billion-dollar tour takes fans through her back catalogue, including hits from albums 1989, Red, Midnights and her latest chart-topping 11th studio album  The Tortured Poets Department.

Her last show is due to take place on December 8 at Vancouvers BC Place, where she will be supported by rising star Gracie Abrams, according to her official website.
A seven-year-old boy has died after he fell out of the window of a moving car and was hit by oncoming traffic in Maryland on Sunday evening.

Investigators with the Maryland State Police said the child was hit in Millersville, on the I-97 north of Route 32. Authorities did not release the child's name.

State troopers responded to the scene of the incident just before 7:30 p.m. Sunday evening. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to NBC Washington.

How Did the Child Fall Out of the Car Window?

An initial investigation found that the child was riding in the back seat of a 2011 Mazda 3 driven by his grandmother. It was unclear where they were headed, but they were driving north on the highway. It was also unclear whether the window had been left open or if the child accidentally opened it.

Furthermore, police officers did not say whether the child was in a car seat or booster seat or if he was wearing a seat belt.

The seven-year-old fell out of the Mazda and landed in the roadway, where he was hit by a 2016 to 2019 Honda Civic, per WUSA 9. Authorities believe that the car may have some damage to its front left wheel well.

No other details about the car were provided.

Police said the driver of the Honda Civic did not stop or wait for the police to arrive after hitting the seven-year-old. They are now encouraging the public to contact them for any information about the vehicle by contacting Maryland State Police Glen Burnie Barrack at 410-761-5130.

Authorities are still investigating the case.

Keeping Children Safe in a Moving Car

Generally, children under 13 are considered the safest rising in the back seat and away from airbags. Parents of children under seven or shorter than 145 centimeters are also advised to have a properly secured child car seat to keep their kids safe.

Additionally, parents are advised to always use child safety locks on doors and windows to prevent children from opening them while the car is moving. Many modern vehicles come with these features. However, families with cars without window locks can install window stops that prevent it from opening more than a few inches.
Terrorist Abdalraouf Abdallah, the childhood friend of Manchester Arena attacker Salman Abedi, has been freed from jail.

The 31-year-old was released from HMP Full Sutton in East Yorkshire on Tuesday when his sentence came to an end, the PA news agency understands.

It comes two months after the Parole Board refused to free him early because he was still considered a high risk of serious harm to the public and had a propensity to radicalise others.

Abdallah was recalled to prison for breaching licence conditions in 2021.

Officials fear Abdalraouf Abdallah still poses a high risk of serious harm to the public (Greater Manchester Police/PA)

Despite losing his latest parole bid in September, he is now eligible for automatic release from prison because his sentence  set in court by a judge  has expired.

The Islamic extremist played an important role in Abedis radicalisation, according to a report from the inquiry into the attack.

Abedi visited him in prison and experts believe he groomed the bomber.

But Abdallah  who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after becoming paraplegic when injured fighting in Libya during the countrys 2011 uprising  has denied any involvement in the 2017 atrocity.

He was first released from prison in 2020 after being handed an extended sentence of nine-and-a-half years  including a five-and-a-half-year prison term  in 2016 when he was found guilty of preparing and funding acts of terrorism by helping four others travel to Syria.

According to a report detailing the Parole Boards decision in September, the panel accepted the inquirys finding that Abdallah had played a significant role in radicalising the Manchester Arena bomber, although there was no evidence that he was involved in the attack itself or had any pre-knowledge of it.

While in prison Abdallah took part in courses designed to tackle the motivations behind his offending and the beliefs which enable it, as well as taking part in rehabilitation to manage the risk of individuals who have been involved in extremist or terrorism-related activity.

But his probation officer, prison officer and psychologist still did not support his release, with assessments determining he posed a high risk of serious harm to the public.

Psychologists concluded Abdallah continued to show levels of engagement with extremism and intent to commit terrorist-related offending, the papers said.

A plan for his release presented to the panel was also deemed not robust enough to manage him once he left prison as he retained a propensity to radicalise others  including in any accommodation he is released to or any other person with whom he may come in contact  and there was insufficient evidence to suggest there had been any change in his extremist mindset.

A Government spokesperson said: The Manchester Arena bombing was one of the most tragic and cowardly attacks this country has ever seen, and our thoughts remain with the victims and their families.

The UK has robust measures in place to manage the risk posed by terrorist offenders released from prison and those involved in terrorism related activity in the community.
The number of Colombians claiming asylum in the UK has soared, prompting the Government to impose visa rules on visitors from the country.

The changes, which came into force at 3pm on Tuesday, mean visitors from Colombia will now need a visa to travel to the UK.

Colombian nationals will also need a transit visa if they need to pass through the UK to travel on to another country.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the decision was made in the wake of a significant and sustained increase in asylum claims and high rates of refusals of visitors at the border since November 2022.

In a written statement to Parliament, she said: We are taking this action due to an increase in the number of Colombian nationals travelling to the UK for purposes other than those permitted under visitor rules since the visa requirement was lifted in November 2022.

This has included a significant and sustained increase in asylum claims, and high rates of refusals at the border due to people travelling without the intention of visiting for a permitted purpose.

The rise in claims and refusals has added significantly to operational pressures at the border, resulting in frontline resources being diverted from other operational priorities, Ms Cooper said, as she stressed the decision had been taken solely for migration and border security reasons.

Our relationship with Colombia remains a strong and friendly one. Any decision to change a visa status is not taken lightly and we keep the border and immigration system under regular review to ensure it continues to work in the UK national interest, she added.

The move means plans to allow Colombians to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) from Wednesday, for travel to the UK from January 8, will no longer be introduced.

There will be a four-week, visa-free transition period for those who have already booked travel to the UK prior to 3pm on Tuesday, where visitors are due to arrive in the UK no later than 3pm on Christmas Eve.
The Prince of Wales has spoken about the reality of drone warfare as he tried flying an unmanned aerial vehicle during a training session with the Welsh Guards.

William became colonel of the regiment last year and joined soldiers from its 1st Battalion practising live firing on Salisbury Plain.

Drones have become a significant military weapon on the battlefield in the war in Ukraine, used extensively by both sides in the conflict.

The prince appeared to enjoy flying the aircraft and one of the regiments senior drone operators said afterwards that each one cost 7,000.

He said about the prince: With the drones he was saying whats happening is reality.

The drone operator, who declined to give his name, added: Its a new bit of kit brought into a military context.

Drones have been a thing for years but now were utilising them as an asset on the ground and its proven successful in current affairs thats actually happening now.

The Prince of Wales (left) tries out a general-purpose machine gun (Aaron Chown/PA)

William wore camouflage gear and a beret for his visit to Salisbury Plain and the former Army officer also got to grips with a snipers rifle and fired a machine gun.

The prince crouched down to look through the sights of the machine gun and fire a full belt of 200 rounds at a disused tank almost one kilometre away

The machine gun platoon commander, who cast a watchful eye over William added: He was firing about 800 metres and did well hitting the target.

For the past two years the 1st Battalion has been performing ceremonial duties known as the blue line and from January 2025 will return to green soldiering and spend time on regrowing the regiments specialist weapons capabilities.

William did well hitting the target (Aaron Chown/PA)

Soldiers took part in Queen Elizabeth IIs state funeral, the Kings coronation and Charless first Trooping the Colour ceremony as monarch.

The platoon commander described the royal visit as very special adding: The regiment has a long history with His Majesty the King, formerly the Prince of Wales, and now his royal highness.

And so this is amazing morale for the guys especially when theyve been doing a lot of ceremonial duties and also on a visit like this they can get hands on with him, show him how its done and I think that means a lot to them.
A woman has told of the hell she and her family faced following a dispute with insurers after her mother was hit by a car in the US, suffering a severe brain injury.

Jane Rubens, 73, remains in a coma after she was struck by a large SUV-type vehicle in St Louis, Missouri, on November 1 and has had multiple brain surgeries in the past few weeks.

However, her daughter Cat Rubens claimed insurance company AXA Partners initially told the family her mother would need to be repatriated this week, despite several medical experts advising against it.

She said they were told her mothers insurance policy, which covered emergency medical care up to 15 million, would end if they did not agree.

AXA Partners have since issued a statement apologising for any distress and saying the welfare of Ms Rubens and her family remains our priority.

Cat Rubens took to social media to describe what happened to her mother, whose surgery has included a craniectomy to remove a piece of her skull.

In a post on X, she wrote: As you can imagine, the past few weeks have been hell for me and my family. We are out in America, trying our best to support her.

Ms Rubens said the family received advice from multiple neurology experts, including a neurosurgeon in the US, that it would not be in her mothers long-term best interests to fly her back to the UK at this acute stage of her injury.

She said the neurosurgeon confirmed it would be in her mothers best interests to fly her after the craniectomy has been reversed, which is three to six months down the line.

However, she said the family were told at the weekend that the 73-year-old, who had been visiting relatives in the US, would have to be repatriated to the UK this week or lose the insurance cover.

Ms Rubens, originally from Edinburgh, said the family do want her mother to return home to the Scottish capital  but only when it is in her medical best interests.

She told the PA news agency: The key issue for me is not about whether she is technically fit to fly from A to B in one piece right now.

From an aviation medicine perspective, its about whether this is the right time for her to be flown long haul across the globe when she has a traumatic brain injury.

Ms Rubens, who now lives in London, said the issues with the insurance company have added to the stress of the situation.

Here's an update below from when I was on @GMB this morning. Thanks so much to everyone who has supported and reached out, as well as the well wishes towards Jane. She wouldn't believe it. I am so grateful to everyone who has shared.  https://t.co/rfdqjQcZ4T  Cat Rubens (@catrubens) November 26, 2024

She said: This is already the worst time of my life. You know, Im so worried about my mums future, what her care needs might be, but actually, just whether or not shes actually going to survive this injury at all.

It has also left her frustrated that she had to spend time dealing with the matter when she could have been at her mothers side at Saint Louis University Hospital.

She added: I would have rather been by her bedside, speaking to her, reading to her, that kind of thing, and just holding her hand, to be honest.

Shes opened her eyes a few times over the last few days and if she is able to regain bits of consciousness, I want her to know that Im right by her side.

Ms Rubens said an AXA Partners representative phoned her to apologise for what happened and confirmed she will not be moved this week, but she does not know what the long-term plans will be.

AXA Partners said that, going forward, their medical team and the doctors treating Jane Rubens will decide on the best course of action.

An AXA Partners spokesperson said: We are sorry for the distress Ms Rubens and her family have experienced when making a claim and we sympathise with their situation.

We have spoken with Ms Rubens family and will remain in contact with them over the coming days to support them.

Our medical team and Ms Rubens treating doctors will agree the best course of action going forward.

We are considering all available options and the welfare of Ms Rubens and her family remains our priority.
Wealth Gang / Peter King/Fox Photos/Getty Images / Dennis Oulds/Central Press/Getty Images

Titanic, who? Back in the 60s and 70s, the epitome of luxury cruising was embodied by the Queen Elizabeth 2. The majestic ocean liner, which redefined elegance at sea, was known for its sleek design and luxury amenities that were ahead of its time. Offering a world of glitz and glamour to its passengers, from gourmet dining and chic cocktail lounges to lavish staterooms and spa amenities, the QE2 was seen as the ultimate luxury vessel that attracted celebrities, royals, and high society.

Check out these 15 photos depicting the luxuries of those who sought the ultimate in comfort and style while crossing the Atlantic.

1. Mingling in style aboard the liners golden era circa 1969.

Michael Stroud/Express/Getty Images

2. Because who doesnt love walking down a sleek spiral staircase?

Peter King/Fox Photos/Getty Images

3. Bookworms, rejoice. The QE2 came equipped with a full library.

Peter King/Fox Photos/Getty Images

3. Breaking the ice in style, because even luxury liners can handle a little frost.

Harry Benson/Express/Getty Images

4. Where mid-century modern met the high seas, featuring swivel chairs, leafy decor, and a dance floor.

Peter King/Fox Photos/Getty Images

5. Royal approval at the helm: Queen Elizabeth II gracing the bridge of her namesake ship.

Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

6. A patriotic sendoff for the pride of British cruising.

Sahm Doherty/Getty Images

7. Royal inspection: Queen Elizabeth II takes the helm  well, almost  as the captain offers her a tour of the QE2.

Wood/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

8. Passengers soak in the Manhattan skyline before departing.

Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

9. Who needs a five-star hotel when you can kick your feet up on this floating palace?

Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

10. Wine and dine, with a side of chandeliers and impeccable service.

Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

11. From Champagne flutes to combat boots, the QE2 has seen it all.

Sahm Doherty/Getty Images

12. Soldiers aboard the QE2 catch up on the news on the way to the Falklands.

Sahm Doherty/Getty Images

13. Has anyone figured out why all sea captains have the exact same beard?

Dennis Oulds/Central Press/Getty Images

14. Because even at sea, gourmet meals in the form of lobstah are always on the menu.

In Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty Images

15. Aboard the QE2, even arrivals are done in style.

Dennis Oulds/Central Press/Getty Images

The post 15 Photos of Luxury Cruise Liner Queen Elizabeth 2 in the 60s and 70s appeared first on Wealth Gang.
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Its no secret that we have tons of delicious and healthy recipes, and these 20 dishes have been some of our most popular this year. From flavorful smoothies to cozy soups to creamy overnight oats, theres no shortage of possibilities for every meal. Options like our High-Protein Peanut Butter-Brownie Baked Oats and Weight-Loss Cabbage Soup stole the hearts of EatingWell readers this year, and theyre bound to impress you, too.

Avocado Toast

Ali Redmond

This is the easiest avocado toast recipe youll ever try. We love avocado toast because it is packed with healthy fats and fiber, so youll stay satisfied until your next meal. Memorize this recipe, then use it as a jumping-off point to customize your avocado toastthe variations are endless!

View Recipe

High-Protein Peanut Butter Baked Oats

Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

This brownie-baked oatmeal is a protein powerhouse, made with a blend of peanut butter, strained yogurt and chocolate pudding mix, which adds a sweeter, richer chocolate flavor without the bitterness of traditional cocoa powder.

View Recipe

Weight-Loss Cabbage Soup

Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek,

Loaded with cabbage, carrots, bell pepper and tomato, this healthy cabbage soup recipe packs in lots of flavor and is ultra-satisfying. This easy recipe makes a big batch for lunch or dinner all week.

View Recipe

Orange-Mango Smoothie

Ali Redmond

For Dylan Dreyer, Todays 3rd Hour co-host and NBC News meteorologist, this smoothie is a staple in her household during cold and flu season. The vitamin C from the oranges helps support immune health, so she and her kids can feel their best. Plus, it tastes just like a creamsicle. If you dont have almond milk, any other dairy or nondairy milk will work.

View Recipe

Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan

Photographer: Jen Causey

This one-pan chicken pasta combines lean chicken breast and sauteed spinach for a one-bowl meal that's garlicky, lemony and best served with a little Parm on top.

View Recipe

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Protein Shake

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

This creamy high-protein shake will keep you satisfied for hours and tastes like a chocolatepeanut butter banana milkshake. You don't even need to add protein powder, thanks to the naturally occurring protein in the soymilk, Greek yogurt and peanut butter.

View Recipe

Banana-Bread Baked Oats

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower

Banana-bread baked oatmeal is a breakfast worth waking up for. It combines the warm spices and sweet flavor of banana bread with fiber-rich oats, creating a warm, satisfying start to your day. Serve this baked oatmeal alongside fruit, yogurt and a cup of tea or coffee.

View Recipe

Baked Mahi-Mahi with Garlic-Herb Butter

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

This baked mahi-mahi is cooked on top of lemon slices that impart their flavor to the fish, which is complemented by the buttery garlic-and-herb sauce baked on top. We like the meatiness of mahi-mahi, but this simple technique works well with other fish, too, like salmon, cod or halibut.

View Recipe

Fruit & Yogurt Smoothie

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

This easy fruit smoothie recipe calls for just three ingredients: yogurt, fruit juice and frozen fruit. Mix up your fruit combinations from day to day for a healthy breakfast or snack that never gets boring.

View Recipe

Carrot Cake Oatmeal Bars

Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

Enjoy these delightful carrot cake oatmeal bars, perfect for a snack or dessert alongside a steaming cup of coffee. Made with a blend of shredded carrots, oats and a hint of brown sugar, these easy bars capture the essence of carrot cake, while offering a boost of fiber and less sugar than cake. Portable and convenient, these bars can be enjoyed on the move. To make these bars gluten-free, opt for gluten-free oats.

View Recipe

Lemon-Blueberry Trifle

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling

This lemon-blueberry trifle is a stunning yet simple dessert that features layers of lemon-flavored pastry cream, store-bought angel food cake and fresh blueberries. Fresh-picked blueberries are hard to beat in this easy dessert, but feel free to use any seasonal fruit you may have on hand.

View Recipe

Simple Cabbage Salad

Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ruth BlackBurn , Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Cabbage maintains a nice crunch when it's tossed with an easy dressing in this simple cabbage salad recipe.

View Recipe

Spinach & Mushroom Quiche

Photographer: Jen Causey

This healthy vegetarian quiche recipe is as easy as can be. It's a quiche without the fussy crust! It's filled with sweet wild mushrooms and savory Gruyere cheese. Enjoy it for breakfast or brunch, or serve it with a light salad for lunch.

View Recipe

Chicken Cutlets with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce (Marry Me Chicken)

Blaine Moats

Though a chicken cutlet may be a chicken breast cut in half, this recipe shows how to make chicken cutlets with double the deliciousness. A jar of sun-dried tomatoes does double duty in this healthy dinner. The flavorful oil the tomatoes are packed in is used to saute the chicken, and the tomatoes go into the cream sauce.

View Recipe

Old-Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole

Diana Chistruga

Thanksgiving isn't complete without a homemade sweet potato casserole. We like to sprinkle chopped pecans on top along with the marshmallows for a bit of texture.

View Recipe

Chickpea, Beet & Feta Salad with Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette

Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Addelyn Evans

This chickpea, beet & feta salad is a vibrant blend of flavors and textures, marrying the earthy sweetness of beets with the creamy richness of feta cheese, all tied together with a zesty lemon-garlic dressing.

View Recipe

One-Pot White Bean, Spinach & Sun-Dried Tomato Orzo with Lemon & Feta

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

This one-pot pasta dish with white beans, spinach and sun-dried tomatoes is lively and vibrant and leaves you with an easy cleanup. Toasting the orzo before adding the broth adds another layer of flavor. Another dark leafy green like chopped kale or Swiss chard can stand in for the spinach but may take longer to wilt in the pan.

View Recipe

Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili

Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke

Make a double batch of this quick vegetarian chili, full of black beans and sweet potatoes, and eat it for lunch the next day or freeze the extras for another night.

View Recipe

High-Protein Strawberry & Peanut Butter Overnight Oats

Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Sue Mitchell

These overnight oats get a protein boost thanks to Greek-style yogurt, peanut butter and soymilk, which leads to 17 grams of protein per serving. We mix them up with chopped strawberries, but any berry or chopped fruit will pair nicely with this easy grab-and-go breakfast.

View Recipe

Roasted Honey-Balsamic Cauliflower

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling

These tender cauliflower bites are seasoned with a blend of spices and then coated in batter to ensure the sweet and tangy honey-balsamic drizzle soaks into every bite. They make a perfect side dish for grilled chicken or steak, or you can serve them over rice or noodles for a delicious vegetarian main course.

View Recipe
A 24-year-old California man was electrocuted and died while hanging Christmas lights on Thursday, according to officials.

Antonio Pascual was hanging Christmas lights the morning of Nov. 21 on a roof in Escondido, the San Diego County Medical Examiners Office said in a news release.

He was hanging the lights near a high voltage powerline and when he threw the lights over the powerline, he was electrocuted. Someone called 911 and when paramedics arrived, they found Pascual hanging upside down from a tree, the medical examiners office said.

Paramedics tried to save him and took him to the nearest hospital, but he was pronounced dead at the hospital. The medical examiner ruled his death a high voltage electrocution, according to the news release.

Man was trapped for an hour, loved ones say

According to Juan Pascual, who started a GoFundMe fundraiser in honor of the 24-year-old, Antonio Pascual was trapped in the tree for an hour because first responders had to wait for the power company to turn off the power. By then, it was too late to save him, the fundraiser read.

Local officials did not immediately respond to USA TODAYs requests for comment Tuesday afternoon, but San Diego Gas & Electric or SDG&E said in a statement Tuesday afternoon that the company is saddened by what happened to the man.

"Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our customers and the public," the company said in the statement. "Our hearts go out to this person's family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. Out of respect for the family involved and ongoing investigation, we cannot share specific details at this time."

When asked about how customers can protect themselves when working around power lines, SDG&E said it's important to:

Be aware of your surroundings, especially when working in close proximity to overhead electric lines.

Keep all machinery, equipment and materials such as scaffolding, tools, boat masts, fruit-picking poles, antennas, satellite dishes, pool skimmer handles, metal ladders and people in the area at least 10 feet away from the lines.

If you think lines are in the area you're working in, call SDG&E at 1-800-411-SDGE. Depending on what you're doing, SDG&E may be able to turn off the electricity, cover the lines or move them temporarily while you complete your work.

As for Pascual, his family would like to transport him from California to Guatemala, his birthplace, for burial. Thats also where his mother lives, the GoFundMe read.

According to the organizer, Pascual took good care of his mother and family, and Christmas lights will forever mean something special to his family.

He was a brother, a son and (an) uncle, the fundraiser read. He had so much to live (for), only 24 years old. Forever young he will remain.

This story has been updated with new information.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia  the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.

This story was updated to add a video.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California man electrocuted while hanging up Christmas lights
In this photo provided by the Egyptian Press Center on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, rescuers transport a survivor after a tourist yacht sank in the Red Sea, in Marsa Alam, Egypt. (Egyptian Press Center via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

CAIRO (AP)  Egyptian naval forces rescued five people Tuesday and recovered four bodies, a day after a tourist yacht carrying 44 passengers sank in the Red Sea coastal town of Marsa Alam, officials said, after facing rough weather.

This brings the total to 33 survivors while seven remain missing.

Sea Story, a live-aboard used mainly for maritime activities, sent a distress signal after a large wave crashed into the boat, causing it to capsize, according to survivors' accounts. Some passengers were inside the cabins when the boat overturned within minutes, according to statements.

A rescue operation, still ongoing, was ordered and 28 people were rescued Monday from the vessel.

On Tuesday, the governor of the Red Sea region, Amr Hanafy, said the five survivors were two Belgians, an Egyptian, a Swiss citizen, and a Finnish national. He also said the four bodies are yet to be identified.

The boat carried 13 Egyptians, including crew members, and 31 foreign nationals from the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain, and Ireland.

The German foreign ministry said Tuesday that three Germans remain missing while three others have been rescued.

Meanwhile, Pawe Wronski, Polands Foreign Ministry spokesman, said two Polish nationals, a man and a woman, are also missing and that their families have been notified.

Live-aboards usually depart port for multiple-day excursions. Sea Story left Port Ghalib in Marsa Alam on Sunday and was scheduled to deck in Hurghada five days later. It sank 46 nautical miles away from Marsa Alam, according to the governor.

The boat had no technical problems, obtained all required permits prior to the trip, and was last checked for naval safety in March, officials said. According to the website of the boat operator Dive Pro Liveaboard, the Sea Story was built in 2022 and can hold 36 passengers.

The Egyptian Meteorological Authority on Saturday warned of turbulence and high waves, advising against naval activity on Sunday and Monday.

Marsa Alam is renowned for its pristine beaches, a wide variety of marine life, and regular shark sightings, particularly the curious Oceanic White Tip, drawing in scuba diving enthusiasts worldwide. However, some of the dive sites are challenging, with rough currents, and require advanced certification.

The Egyptian military is also involved in coordinating the rescue operation.



Associated Press news writers Monika Scislowska in Warsaw and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.
A Virginia pilot who devoted his life to rescuing orphaned shelter dogs met a tragic end Sunday when his small plane crashed in the Catskill Mountains  killing him and one of his newly saved pups.

Seuk Kim, a 49-year-old father of three, had been flying three dogs from Maryland to Albany for a not-for-profit that frees dogs from overcrowded shelters and places them in homes.

But the visibility was bad near Windham at about 6 p.m. on Sunday, and Kim asked to change altitude to escape turbulence that struck just before his plane went down in the forest, Fox 5 DC reported.

Volunteer pilot Seuk Kim was killed alongside a dog he was flying from Maryland to Albany to be adopted. Seuk Kim / Facebook

He was only about 35 miles from his destination.

In a statement, the Federal Aviation Administration said it found the wreckage of a single-engine Mooney M20 in Catskill State Park in New York on Monday.

Only the pilot was on board, the agency said. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.

Authorities found Kim dead on the scene, along with one of the dogs.

But there were two survivors: a beautiful Labrador-mix puppy named Whiskey, who suffered two broken legs; and an 18-month-old Yorkie terrier mix named Pluto, who had only minor injuries, according to Animal Shelter of Schoharie County, the group Kim worked with.

Photos showed the adorable pup Whiskey with a bright green cast on his left leg and a cone on his head as he recovered from the crash.

Whiskey, a Labrador-mix puppy, rests at the Pieper Memorial Veterinary Center, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Middletown, Conn. AP

Kim was a married father of three who lived in Virginia. Seuk Kim / Facebook

Kim, who lived in Springfield, Va., was remembered as a bright light in the lives of his loved ones, according to his obituary.

, Kims wife, Anna, wrote that she was heartbroken.

My husband Seuk Kim gained his angel wings doing what he loved, she wrote.

He is my life long partner, my soul mate, father of my children. I miss him and his bright personality, she said.

Kim would volunteer his time flying animals from overcrowded shelters to areas where they were more likely to find a home. Seuk Kim / Facebook

Please pray for him, please pray for us. We will miss him dearly and he will forever hold a special place in our hearts.

His 16-year-old daughter, Leah Kim, told Fox that her father spent his final years doing what he loved, which was saving animals.

Many in the animal rescue community also mourned his unfortunate death.

The crash is being investigated. Seuk Kim / Facebook

Over the years, Seuk helped to save the lives of hundreds of animals who would have otherwise been euthanized due to overcrowding at animal shelters, Maggie Pryor, director of the Animal Shelter of Schoharie County, said in a statement.

Cathay West, who operates the Kuddles & Kisses K9 Rescue in Baltimore, said she last saw Kim in October when he flew a dog just days away from being euthanized from Tennessee to Maryland.

He was bringing me a momma dog and five puppies, West said. He was so involved in trying to get the word out to volunteer, to other pilots. That this is a good thing to save these dogs so that they dont die in shelters.

Kim also used his plane to transport supplies to hurricane-ravaged portions of North Carolina, according to his Facebook page.

Seuk was an angel on earth, Fairy Tails Rescue said in a Monday post on Facebook. This is a tremendous loss.

To Seuk, soar high and take care of all of the animals who cross the rainbow bridge, the group continued. I know your kind smile will be there to greet them.
The World Cheese Awards have declared one cheddar to rule them all.

Courtesy of the Tillamook County Creamery Association

Searching for the best cheddar cheese in the world? You can find it in Oregon, according to the World Cheese Awards held in Viseu, Portugal, earlier this month.

The annual awards  hosted in a different country each year  named the Tillamook County Creamery Association the maker of the Best Cheddar in the World for the 115-year-old farmer-owned co-ops Makers Reserve 2014 Extra Sharp White Cheddar  and weve got the inside scoop on what makes this cheese so special.

Related: Some of Amazon's Best Black Friday Deals Are Already Live, and We Found the 50 Greatest

Tillamook takes the time to age cheeses properly

A decade of aging produced the cheeses extra sharp, complex flavor with notes of brown butter and caramel, prompting 244 international judges to hand the award to Tillamook. This cheese is part of the brands Makers Reserve Program, which focuses on aging cheddars and releases a ten-year vintage each year, alongside three consecutive vintages that have been aged for at least three years each.

Related: Why Every Cheese Fan Needs to Pilgrimage to Cheddar, England

We are so proud of our Tillamook Makers Reserve program and are honored that our 2014 Makers Reserve Extra Sharp White Cheddar took home the award for best cheddar in the world, Jill Allen, Tillamooks director of product excellence, tells Food & Wine. Allen also adds that the creamery association  owned by a large group of farmers on the Oregon coast  invests time in carefully crafting and naturally aging cheeses to give them unforgettable flavor and quality.

Following the natural aging process, Allen and her team of tasting experts grade each batch of cheese to determine the select few that will make the cut for the exclusive vintage program. Products from Tillamooks Makers Reserve program, including the Best Cheddar in the World, are available online for direct purchase from Tillamook and at select grocery retailers across the country.

Courtesy of the Tillamook County Creamery Association This ten-year aged cheese is bright and buttery, with notes of caramel and mascarpone.

Our Makers Reserve Cheddars are truly special and reflect the all-important factor of time, Allen says. Our aging process transforms the cheese into an unforgettable tasting experience.

Along with Tillamooks prize for the best cheddar, the dairy cooperative also nabbed a pair of bronze-level awards for its Farmers Collection Hickory Smoked Extra Sharp White Cheddar and Farmers Collection English-Style Sweet Cheddar.

Tillamook says that as a team of farmer-owners, it believes that healthier cows deliver better milk. Consequently, the Certified B Corporation ensures that all of its farmers meet strict third-party standards for animal care. Its a simple recipe that weve followed for over a century and it has never failed, the brand explains.

Related: 27 Irresistible Baked Cheese Recipes

One more American cheesemaker stood out at the awards

The other American cheesemaker to gain outstanding recognition at the event was Jasper Hill Farm from Vermont, which was awarded a Super Gold medal and the title of Best American Cheese for its Bayley Hazen Blue. The farm also received gold medals for its Harbison cheese and Vault No. 5 cheddar, silver medals for four cheeses (the Cabot Clothbound, Caspian, Moses Sleeper, and Alpha Tolman) and an additional bronze medal for its Barnstorm Blue.

Bayley Hazen Blue is made with raw milk from the farms own herd of cows, as it has been since the dairy company was formed in 2003. While taking inspiration from traditional cave-aged, natural-rind cheeses, the Bayley Hazen Blue recipe is an American original with a fudge-like texture, notes of toasted nuttiness, subtle sweetness, and hints of anise. The farm points out that while the product does have the typical peppery character of a blue cheese, its profile is somewhat subdued, allowing the grassy, nutty flavors in the milk to rise to the top.

The competition was vast this year, marking the largest World Cheese Awards ever with 1,032 companies from 47 countries entering 4,786 cheeses. In all, 50 different American cheese producers earned at least one medal, awarded by judges representing 39 nations. With a total of 160 medals, the United States came in fourth overall behind the top three of Spain, Italy, and Switzerland.

While the cheeses are judged, their maker is kept anonymous, and the products are evaluated based on appearance, aroma, body, texture, and of course, flavor and mouthfeel. Considering its high number of entries from around the world and the attention paid to which products are recognized, its safe to say that any winners you try from this years annual World Cheese Awards will live up to your expectations.
A Greenlandic mother in Denmark had her newborn baby taken away just hours after giving birth for failing a "parenting competency test" that critics claim discriminates against Greenlandic parents.

Keira Alexandra Kronvold, 38, whose first language is Kalaallisut, was subjected to the test conducted in Danish during her pregnancy. Danish authorities removed her newborn daughter on November 7, allowing her only one monitored hour of visitation per week, The Guardian reported. Kronvold has previously lost custody of two other children, reportedly after taking a similar parenting test in 2014.

The parenting competency test, or forldrekompetenceundersgelse (FKU), is criticized for its failure to account for cultural and linguistic differences. A 2022 report by the Danish Institute for Human Rights warned that a low test scores could be an inaccurate representation of a Greenlandic parent's cognitive ability.

"Such potential misjudgments can have far-reaching consequences for both children and parents, as in the extreme they can contribute to the forced removal of a child," the report states.

Advocates for parent and Inuit rights argue that such tests disproportionately lead to forced adoption and family separation among Greenlandic parents. Nearly 5.6% of Greenlandic children in Denmark are in care, compared to 1% of Danish-background children.

In Kronvold's case file, her "Greenlandic background" is noted as a factor that would hinder her ability to prepare a child for "social expectations and codes that are necessary in Danish society."

"My love and tradition were more important than any test score," Kronvold told the Guardian, stating that the local municipality had "coldly assessed my worth as a parent."

"This is one case out of many," said Tina Naamansen of Sila 360. "Greenlandic families are being torn apart by a system that does not understand or respect our culture."

"I would like to encourage the municipalities in cases involving families with a Greenlandic background to concretely consider stopping the use of the criticized tests," Denmark's social affairs minister, Sophie Hstorp Andersen said on Wednesday. The statement followed an urgent meeting with Greenland's children's minister, Aqqaluaq B Egede, who advocated for an outright ban on the test.

Denmark's Thisted municipality defended its decisions, citing the child's best interests, but vowed to ensure proper handling of the case. Protests in Nuuk and Copenhagen demand immediate reform to protect Greenlandic parents from discriminatory practices.

Originally published by Latin Times.
FILE - President Gabriel Boric attends the inauguration of the annual National Meeting of Entrepreneurs in Santiago, Chile, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix, File)

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP)  Chiles prosecutors office confirmed Tuesday that President Gabriel Boric is being investigated for sexual harassment, in connection with a case in which the president says he was systematically harassed via email by a woman over a decade ago.

The countrys attorney general, Cristian Crisosto, said in a statement that prosecutors have opened a criminal case related to" allegations filed by an unidentified woman in September.

The complaint alleges sexual harassment as well as the leaking of private images. Crisosto did not provide details of the alleged events, or say when or where they took place.

Boric, 38, has denied the accusations through his attorney, Jonatan Valenzuela, who in a statement described the president as the victim of systematic harassment via email.

The alleged harassment occurred between July 2013 and July 2014, when Boric was an intern in the southern Chilean city of Punta Arenas, near Patagonia, and was already a well-known figure in national politics thanks to his role in student-led protests a couple of years earlier.

Valenzuela said Boric never had an emotional or friendly relationship with the woman and both have not been in communication since July 2014 when she is alleged to have sent the last of dozens of emails, some with explicit images, to the now president.

Valenzuela said his team handed authorities all communications between Boric and the woman after learning of her complaint, to clarify the status of the president as a victim.

____

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
MMA fighter Conor McGregor responded on social media days after he was found liable for a 2018 sexual assault, saying he "made mistakes" but maintained his innocence.

Nikita Hand said that McGregor "brutally raped and battered her in a Dublin hotel on Dec. 9, 2018. A civil jury of eight women and four men found him liable for assault, and McGregor was also ordered to pay more than $250,000 in damages.

In a social media post, McGregor said he "should have never responded to her outreaches" on the night in question and admitted infidelity.

"I should never have stepped out on the woman I love the most in the world. Thats all on me. As much as I regret it, everything that happened that night was consensual and all the witnesses present swore to that under oath," he wrote.

People want to hear from me, I needed time. I know I made mistakes. Six years ago, I should have never responded to her outreaches. I should have shut the party down. I should never have stepped out on the woman I love the most in the world. Thats all on me.



As much as I  Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 25, 2024

McGregor says he will appeal the decision, instructing his legal counsel to do so.

"I have instructed my legal team to appeal the decision," he wrote. "I cant go back and I will move forward. I am beyond grateful to my family, friends and supporters all over the world who have stayed by my side. Thats it. No more. Getting back to the gym  the fight game awaits!"

McGregor, 36, has a 22-6 MMA record and last fought in July 2021 at UFC 264, losing in a first-round TKO to Dustin Poirier.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Conor McGregor addresses being found liable for sexual assault
In this photo released by Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), a male emperor penguin dubbed Gus, is released back into the ocean off the south coast of Western Australia, Wednesday Nov. 20, 2024. (Miles Brotherson/AP)

The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia was released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach, officials said Friday.

The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on Ocean Beach sand dunes in the town of Denmark in temperate southwest Australia  about 3,500 kilometers (2,200 miles) north of the icy waters off the Antarctic coast, the Western Australia state government said. He was released from a Parks and Wildlife Service boat on Wednesday.

The boat traveled for several hours from the states most southerly city of Albany before the penguin was released into the Southern Ocean, but the government didn't give the distance in its statement.

He had been cared for by registered wildlife caregiver Carol Biddulph, who named him Gus after the first Roman emperor Augustus.

I really didnt know whether he was going to make it to begin with because he was so undernourished, Biddulph said in video recorded before the birds release but released by the government on Friday.

RELATED STORY | First emperor penguin known to reach Australia found on tourist beach

Ill miss Gus. Its been an incredible few weeks, something I wouldnt have missed, she added.

Biddulph said she had found from caring for other species of lone penguins that mirrors were an important part of their rehabilitation by providing a comforting sense of company.

He absolutely loves his big mirror and I think that has been crucial in his well-being. Theyre social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time, she said.

Gus gained weight in her care, from 21.3 kilograms (47 pounds) when he was found to 24.7 kilograms (54 pounds). He stands 1 meter (39 inches) tall. A healthy male emperor penguin can weigh more than 45 kilograms (100 pounds).

RELATED STORY | Penguin poop seen from space may have led to discovery of new colonies

The largest penguin species has never been reported in Australia before, University of Western Australia research fellow Belinda Cannell said, though some had reached New Zealand, nearly all of which is further south than Western Australia.

The government said with the Southern Hemisphere summer approaching, it had been time-crucial to return Gus to the ocean where he could thermoregulate.

Emperor penguins have been known to cover up to 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) on foraging journeys that last up to a month, the government said.
The CEO of the Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF), the philanthropic arm of the Danish Ozempic-making pharmaceutical giant, says Denmark is in a fundamentally different position in regard to the Nokia risk, which caused a significant economic downturn in Finland, thanks to its overreliance on one giant company.

Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, the boss of the foundation, spoke with Fortune in London about how his philanthropic organization is using the success of Novo Nordisk to spearhead social and scientific causes while batting away fears that its influence over the Danish economy is a bad thing.

Novo Nordisk has experienced a meteoric rise on the back of surging demand for its GLP-1 drugs Ozempic, Wegovy, and semaglutide, which have been shown to fight obesity. At a valuation of $373 billion, the pharmaceutical company is now Europes largest by market capitalization and was briefly worth more than the entire Danish economy.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation has become a major philanthropic force as a result, with Novo Holdings 149 billion ($156 billion) in assets under management dwarfing the $75.2 billion endowment of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Cautious analysts have flagged the Nokia risk as a potential danger from the Danish economy becoming too reliant on a single company, in this case, Novo Nordisk.

Finlands economy built a reliance on Nokia at the turn of the century, with the company contributing 25% of Finlands GDP growth between 1998 and 2007. However, Nokias business model collapsed with the proliferation of smartphones, leaving Finlands economy in a yearslong economic mire.

There are parallels between Nokia and Novo Nordisk in their relation to their respective economies, at least in their rise. Denmarks economy would have shrunk by 0.1% last year rather than growing by 1.8% without its pharmaceuticals sector.

Danske Bank expects Novo Nordisk to play a significant part in Denmarks economy, which it forecast in March to grow by an estimated 2.4% this year. The company is also a huge taxpayer, sending $2.3 billion in income taxes to the Danish government in 2023.

It prompts the question of whether a shock or a gradual increase in competition could see Denmark go the same way as Finland.

However, the Novo Nordisk Foundations Thomsen was dismissive of these comparisons.

Denmarks Nokia risk

You cannot compare Novo and Nokia from a dynamic perspective, Thomsen told Fortune. The Nokia risk is fundamentally different.

Because the Nokia, the one we all had, was an old-fashioned but wonderful, robust telephone. Then suddenly comes the first iPhone thats totally changing the technology. Now, you could email, you could do things you never could before with smartphones. And that was a technology disrupter.

Detractors, however, say Novo Nordisk faces a different risk, namely the expiry of its valuable patent on its weight-loss-aiding drugs, with the core patent for Ozempic expiring in 2026. After this point competitors will be able to access these patents to make their own GLP-1s, threatening the companys chokehold on the industry.

You will have Chinese, Russian, Brazilian, Indian companies producing stuff like semaglutide sooner rather than later, but they will [only] be able to fulfill some of the local demands, probably nationally speaking, Thomsen admitted. However, he said that if you look at the history of the diabetes drug insulin, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have continued to operate a duopoly event in the wake of patent expirations.

The same is expectedly going to happen with GLP-1s, said Thomsen. His main argument for this is scale.

Thomsen said that currently, only around 9 million people are making use of Novo Nordisks and Eli Lillys GLP-1s against an estimated 1 billion people living with obesity around the globe.

So you can multiply it by effect to 10, 15, 20, 30, the amount of volumes of these molecules needed to take down the obesity burden, the diabetes burden.

So I think what will happen is theres going to be a massive scale-up, where the biggest contributor to that scale-up will be the existing companies, because they simply have the scale and the technology, while there will be a multitude of small regional players that will be making biosignals. And thats all fine and good, and prices will come down, but thats compensated by huge volumes.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
By Alvise Armellini and Alexander Ratz

FIUGGI, Italy (Reuters) -Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven democracies on Tuesday expressed their support for Ukraine and condemned what they described as Russia's "irresponsible and threatening nuclear rhetoric".

They also warned that North Korean support for Russia marked a dangerous expansion of the conflict, with serious consequences for European and Indo-Pacific security, and called on China, a long-standing ally of North Korea, to act against it.

"Russia's use of an intermediate range ballistic missile on 21 November is further evidence of its reckless and escalatory behaviour," they said in a joint statement at the conclusion of their meeting.

"Our support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence will remain unwavering," they added.

Russia has been making a major push along frontlines in Ukraine's east, where Russian forces have made some of their biggest territorial gains since 2022.

The G7 ministers added that they hoped to start distributing funds from a $50 billion loan package stemming from frozen Russian assets by the end of the year. They also pledged to act against groups helping Russia to evade sanctions imposed on it after its invasion of Ukraine almost three years ago.

Their joint statement was issued at the end of a two-day meeting in Fiuggi, a spa town southeast of Rome, which Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha attended.

Ministers also tried to raise the pressure on Israel to accept a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon, saying "now is the time to conclude a diplomatic settlement."

They called on the Israeli government to facilitate humanitarian assistance to the civilian population in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

"We express our strongest condemnation for the rise in extremist settler violence committed against Palestinians, which undermines security and stability in the West Bank and threatens prospects for a lasting peace," the statement added.

The statement also reinforced a call from the G7 in June for China to refrain from trade practices that distorted markets.

(Writing by Keith WeirEditing by Peter Graff)
In the years following JonBenet Ramseys murder, her mother, Patricia "Patsy" Ramsey, fought to track down her daughters killer  and she always fiercely denied accusations that she and her husband, John Ramsey, had anything to do with JonBenets killing.

Patsy Ramsey died in 2006 from ovarian cancer, but she remains a strong presence in a new Netflix documentary, Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey, which features extensive archival interviews with Patsy Ramsey, her husband, and others tied to the case. John and Patsy Ramseys other child, a son named Burke, declined to participate in the documentary.

John and Patsy Ramsey were charged with child abuse resulting in death and accessory to a crime in JonBenet's murder by a Colorado grand jury in 1999, according to documents released in 2013, per NBC News. Boulder County District Attorney Alex Hunter declined to file charges in 1999 due to a lack of evidence.

Stanley Garnett, Boulder County District Attorney at the time the indictment was published, wrote in an op-ed in the Daily Camera of Boulder that his staff found nothing to pursue among the charges whose statues of limitations had not run out. My, or my staffs view of what the evidence in the Ramsey case proves will only be stated in open court if a case is ever filed, he wrote, saying members of the Ramsey family are entitled to the full presumption of innocence.

Prosecutors cleared John, Patsy and Burke Ramsey in JonBenet's killing in 2008, NBC News reported.

The director of the three-part series, Joe Berlinger, says he is convinced Patsy Ramsey was not guilty of her daughters murder.

It defies logic to think that Patsy could have done this, he tells TODAY.com.

He adds that based on details in JonBenets autopsy, he believes only a skilled killer could have inflicted the injuries that JonBenet suffered.

In May 1997, John and Patsy Ramsey held up a sign offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of their daughter's murderer.

Does anyone really think that Patsy Ramsey had the presence of mind and the ability to torture her daughter in that way with a device thats kind of hard to make? he says, referring to a device called a garrote that was used to strangle the child, per the official autopsy.

Just the autopsy itself tells you theres no way that this could have been done by anything other than a knowledgeable, deeply disturbed person who knew how to do this, he says.

He adds that he created the documentary partly in the hopes of finding justice for John Ramsey, the late Patsy Ramsey and the rest of JonBenets family.

As maker of (true crime) content I always ask myself  are we just wallowing in the misery of other people, or is there a social justice component to telling this story? he says. For me, the social justice component is, lets find out once and for all who the killer is. This family deserves the knowledge.

He also shares his belief that while the Ramseys were never convicted of murder, he believes they were wrongfully convicted in the court of public opinion.

I can think of no other family that has had thats been so brutalized by the American media and by the justice system than this family, he says.

Keep reading to learn more about what happened to JonBenet Ramseys mother, Patsy Ramsey, and what she said about her daughter over the years.

What happened to Patsy Ramsey?

Patsy Ramsey died at 49 from ovarian cancer on June 24, 2006.

She had initially been diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1993, and had been in remission for about nine years before the cancer returned three years before her death, according to NBC News.

Patsy Ramsey died at her fathers home near Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband, John Ramsey, at her side. She was buried in a grave next to her daughter's in Marietta, Georgia.

In the documentary, John Ramsey opened up about the "devastating" recurrence of his wife's cancer, and explains that after attempts to treat her illness, a doctor eventually recommended palliative care.

John and Patsy Ramsey spoke to Colorado media on May 1, 1997, about four months after JonBenet's death.

We werent ready to do that. I wanted her to keep fighting, she wanted to keep fighting. And then it got to a point where I was convinced it was hopeless, and I made the decision to stop, at the doctors recommendation, to stop treatment, he said.

I didnt tell Patsy. The cancer had migrated to her brain so she was not her normal self, so she didnt know that wed given up, he continued. And she would ask, Whens my next treatment? and I knew in my heart there was no next treatment. That was hard.

In the years before her death, Patsy Ramsey remained determined to find the identity of her daughters killer.

Lou Smit, a police detective who long argued that an intruder, not the Ramseys, had murdered JonBenet, once shared Patsy Ramseys last words to him.

The last words she said to me were, Lou, I dont have much time left. Please catch this guy before I die, he said in an interview clip excerpted in the documentary.

In a clip shared in the documentary from a 2006 appearance on New Hope Church TV, Patsy Ramsey shared her belief that she would be reunited with JonBenet after she died, along with her stepdaughter, Beth, who died in 1992 in a car accident.

I dont know how long Ill live. But I know that when Im absent from the body, I will be at home with the Lord, and JonBenet and Beth, and my mother who has since passed away, she said. You know, all the fun people are starting to be over there, so its going to be a glorious reunion.

In the documentary, John Ramsey shared his belief that his late wife now knows what happened to JonBenet.

Weve been asked, You know, its really too bad that Patsy passed away without knowing who killed her child. And she knows now, I believe, he said.

I will see Patsy again. I have no doubt, he continued. I dont know how thats going to work, or how its going to happen. Its too beyond my little brain to comprehend, but I believe that thats a reality for us as humans.

What did Patsy Ramsey say about her daughter?

Patsy Ramsey always maintained that she and her husband had not been involved in JonBenets murder, and pushed for her daughters killer to be found.

She shot down allegations that she had killed JonBenet in a fit of rage after her daughter wet the bed.

Does someone actually think I would kill my child because she wet the bed? Ramsey said in a 1999 CBS News interview. I mean, I have lived through Stage 4 cancer. In the grand scheme of things, bedwetting is not important.

Ramsey also criticized the way her daughters homicide case was handled by law enforcement.

The police that were there the morning of the 26th, taking evidence, have a lot of tangible evidence. They did a good job at collecting evidence. We have fibers. We have DNA. We have a lot of evidence, she said during an appearance on Larry King Live" in 2000. The problem was that then they did not take the evidence to where it would lead.

She also told King that in hindsight, she and her husband should never have moved to Boulder, Colorado.

I mean, if you want to go back  But you cant do that, she said. You have to start with what we have now. We have to move ahead. We have to try to find this killer and get him off the street.

In 2000, John and Patsy Ramsey co-wrote a book about their daughters murder and its aftermath called The Death of Innocence: The Untold Story of JonBenets Murder and How Its Exploitation Compromised the Pursuit of Truth.

In the book, Patsy Ramsey defended her daughters involvement in beauty pageants, saying JonBenet begged her to participate in them. Ramsey, who had also competed in pageants, said she bonded with her daughter over the experience.

I decided if this was what she liked to do, then I would see if I could make it possible. I always worried that my cancer would return someday, so I was glad to have found an activity that we could have fun with together, she wrote in the book.

Mother-daughter experiences were to be treasures for me, now more than ever before," she continued. "If God did take me before she grew up, I reasoned, I could leave her these memories.

After her daughters death, Ramsey shared her appreciation for people who hung angels on the tree above JonBenets grave.

"Everyone misses her, she said on Larry King Live in 2000. She was just a little angel herself. So I think its befitting that all of the angels that started appearing on the tree  the dogwood tree above her gravesite.

Patsy Ramsey also opened up about her belief that she would one day be reunited with her late daughter.

We have to know and believe in our faith that we will see JonBenet again, Patsy Ramsey said on Larry King Live in 2000. She is in Heaven with our Heavenly Father and one of these days  we will be there with her, and we live for that day. Thats what keeps us going.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Pete Hegseth, a Fox News Contributor, visits the 138th Fighter Wing, Detachment 1, at Ellington Field, TX, on Feb. 1, 2017. By Tech. Sgt. Drew Egnoske | U.S. Air National Guard photo

(The Center Square)  Illinois lawmakers disagree on the qualifications of President-elect Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth.

Illinois U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a veteran, on CBS said Hegseth is "flat-out wrong" in his view that women should not serve in the military in combat roles.

Remember that the Pentagon is three million servicemen and women and civilians. It is over a $900 billion budget. He's never run anything anywhere near to that size, said Duckworth, D-Schaumburg. And frankly, women actually make our military more effective. For example, in my unit, I was often the only woman in an all male unit, and my gender wasn't a problem. I just adapted and we continued to perform the mission.

State Rep. David Friess, a veteran, said if he had to guess Duckworth was offended by Hegseths comments he made while on the Shawn Ryan podcast.

"If youre a female, you might take offense when you think women get slighted and I dont think that was Petes motivation. I think he was just talking about physical realities that men are just strong for women, said Friess, R-Red Bud. What I am saying and what I think Petes saying. to be, for example, a Navy Seal, whatever the physical requirements are they should be the same for men and women.

On the podcast, Hegseth said he doesnt like women in combat.

I love women service members who have contributed amazingly, because everything about men and women serving together makes the situation more complicated and complication in combat means casualties for worse, said Hegseth. When you actually break down what they did in the studies to open the door for women in combat they just ignored them. Special Operations have held the line [in regards to women in combat] fairly well. If they were lowering the standard to become a Navy seal just to let women in  thats going to change the capabilities of the Navy Seals.

Earlier this month, Trump picked Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hegseth has drawn criticism for his position on women in combat roles, along with his level of experience.

Duckworth, who in 2004 deployed to Iraq as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot and sustained severe injuries when her helicopter was hit by an RPG, said Hegseth was a pretty low ranking guy in the military, and he never had a command position.

"Having served in combat yourself, what do you think of the idea that women make fighting more complicated? asked a CBS host.

He was a platoon leader, I think, once or twice, but he never even commanded a company. This is a man who is inordinately unqualified for the position, said Duckworth.

Hegseth volunteered to serve in Baghdad and Samarra, Iraq, where he served first as an infantry platoon leader and later as a civil-military operations officer. Friess, who served in Desert Storm, said Hegseth is perfectly qualified and would love to see him in that position.

"Theres only so many positions within every unit, so he very well may have gotten that next promotion had he stayed longer, but if there was somebody there that had more time than him and their both equally qualified, then that person with more time is going to get that promotion over him [Hegseth], said Friess.

Friess said the military kills people and they blow things up and thats all that should be considered when a man or woman goes into the service. Friess suggested Duckworth is likely opposed to Hegseths position that skin color and gender is irrelevant when recruiting new service members or promoting them.
Conference participants photograph one another outside the stadium venue on day five at the COP29 climate conference on Nov. 15 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Credit - Sean GallupGetty Images

No one left this years United Nations climate conference, known as COP29, happy.

Developed countries agreement to help raise hundreds of billions of dollars in annual finance for climate efforts in the Global South fell short of demands. A lack of language reaffirming the need to cut fossil fuel emissions angered countries warning of the need for urgent action. And delegates were deeply divided on new rules designed to spur carbon markets. The 5:30 a.m. Baku finishing time on Sunday, after multiple days of round-the-clock negotiating, also didnt help.

We are extremely hurt, said Chandni Raina, a negotiator for India, in a speech after the finance agreement was gavelled in. The Global South is being pushed to transit to no-carbon pathways even at the cost of our growth.

But, despite the many complaints, it should not be minimized that in the middle of increased populist backlash and rising isolationist sentiment, countries still left the host city of Baku, Azerbaijan, with a deal. Indeed, with the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president casting a pall on negotiations just days before the start of the talks, they could have easily ended in collapse.

We are living in a time of truly challenging geopolitics, and we should simply not have the illusion that it will soon get better, said Wopke Hoekstra, the European Unions commissioner for climate action, at the closing session. Seeing a deal truly is exceptional.

So why didnt the talks collapse? At points, it felt like they might have, but in the end negotiators assessed that an imperfect deal is better than no deal.

Finance has long lingered as a critical tension in climate talks with developing countries arguing that wealthier countries owe them for the damage that they have caused with their historic emissions. The U.S. alone is responsible for 20% of global historic emissions despite being home to around 4% of the worlds population.

In the end, the crux of the finance deal amounts to a commitment for developed countries to help raise $300 billion in annual climate finance for developing countries by 2035 from public sources, namely governments and development banks. While thats far short of the more than $1 trillion annually in public money demanded by many developing countries, its a significant increase from the $100 billion commitment agreed to in 2009 that expires next year. In the face of that expiration as well as the increasing costs of climate change, developing countries insisted that the negotiators urgently replace the $100 billion figure. In the years ahead, developing countries will certainly keep track of whether their wealthier counterparts are meeting the pledgeand hold their feet to the fire if and when they dont.

For developed countries, the money isnt just a giveaway. Because the effects of climate change are felt worldwide, cutting emissions in the Global South helps protect wealthy countries, too, from the coming climate extremes. And those investments also help avoid the climate-linked crises that spill over bordersthink of the mass migration already occurring in part because of environmental shocks. (Its also worth noting that much of the money will be provided as loans and investments that earn a return rather than as free grant money.)

Now the key question is whether those rich nations will follow through. Its worth being cleareyed: the road ahead is a steep one. In Europe, political pressure has led governments to slash international development money. Even if far-right parties are held at bay in countries like Germany and France, governments will face continued pressure to avoid such spending for political reasons. Unsurprisingly, the U.S. picture is even bleaker. The country has struggled to deliver climate finance even under supportive presidents thanks to paralysis in Congress. Trump should be expected to do what he can to slash overseas development money even further.

And then theres the private sector question. The COP29 finance decisionknown formally as the New Collective Quantified Goalincludes a call for $1.3 trillion in annual finance by 2035 from all actors. To get there would mean that the $300 billion in public money would be supplemented by private sector investment as well as capital from countries like China that dont technically count as developed countries in the U.N. framework but still have considerable wealth. To get private sector money moving will require financial innovation and new mechanisms that reduce the risk for private investors.

Such mechanisms were a hot topic in Bakuand indeed they have been frequently discussed in international climate forums in recent years. In an ideal world, government and philanthropic money could be used to reduce the risk of climate adaptation and mitigation projects, thereby allowing money to flow from private sector investors. But, despite all the talk, many in the climate world remain skeptical. Private sector investors simply dont need to look to the Global South to earn a return, leaving them with limited incentives to engage.

It is certainly true that, no matter the outcome in Baku, the barriers to unlocking trillions in investment remains tough. But, at the very least, Baku gives the world a new North Star. The year 2035 is both very close and very far. When we get there, expect countries to be complainingor celebratinghow the world responded to the targets set in Baku.

Write to Justin Worland at justin.worland@time.com.
JERUSALEM (AP)  Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants began a ceasefire Wednesday in a major step toward ending nearly 14 months of fighting as a region on edge wondered whether it will hold.

Some celebratory gunshots could be heard in parts of Beiruts southern suburbs, battered over the past two months, but no immediate violations of the ceasefire were reported.

Israel has said it will attack if Hezbollah breaks the agreement, and an Israeli military spokesman, in an Arabic-language X post in the first half-hour of the ceasefire, warned evacuated residents of southern Lebanon to not head home yet, saying the military remained deployed there.

The ceasefire calls for an initial two-month halt to fighting and requires Hezbollah to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops are to return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troopsand U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor compliance.

The ceasefire began at 4 a.m. Wednesday, a day after Israel carried out its most intense wave of airstrikes in Beirut since the start of the conflict that in recent weeks turned into all-out war. At least 42 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities.

The ceasefire does not address the devastating war in Gaza, where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable.

There appeared to be lingering disagreement over whether Israel would have the right to strike Hezbollah if it believed the militants had violated the agreement, something Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted was part of the deal but which Lebanese and Hezbollah officials have rejected.

Israel's security Cabinet approved the U.S.-France-brokered ceasefire agreement after Netanyahu presented it, his office said. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement good news and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The Biden administration spent much of this year trying to broker a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza but the talks repeatedly sputtered to a halt. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East without saying how, and his team linked the deal to Trump's looming return to office.

Any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year.

Israel says it will attack with might if Hezbollah breaks truce

Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed accomplishments against Israels enemies. He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran.

If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack, he said. For every violation, we will attack with might.

Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal "was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.

Netanyahus office said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.

Lebanons caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the ceasefire and described it as a crucial step toward stability and the return of displaced people.

Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday it had not seen the agreement in its final form.

After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials, Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollahs political council, told the Al Jazeera news network.

We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state," he said, referring to Israel's demand for freedom of action. Any violation of sovereignty is refused.

Warplanes bombard Beirut and its southern suburbs

Even as ceasefire efforts gained momentum in recent days, Israel continued to strike what it called Hezbollah targets across Lebanon while the militants fired rockets, missiles and drones across the border.

An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in central Beirut  the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry.

Israel also struck a building in Beirut's bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site around 400 meters (yards) from Lebanons Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties.

The Israeli military said it struck targets linked to Hezbollah's financial arm.

The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously were not targeted. Residents fled. Traffic was gridlocked, with mattresses tied to some cars. Dozens of people, some wearing pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed overhead.

Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered.

UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said peacekeepers will not evacuate.

Israeli forces reach Litani River in southern Lebanon

The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few kilometers (miles) from the Israeli border.

Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah is required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border.

Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have exchanged barrages ever since.

Israel escalated its bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes.

More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members.

Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the countrys north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon.

___

Chehayeb and Mroue reported from Beirut and Federman from Jerusalem. Associated Press reporters Lujain Jo and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed.

___

Find more of APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Blog Archive: Mar 2025 (75) Feb 2025 (139) Jan 2025 (155) Dec 2024 (144) Nov 2024 (143) Oct 2024 (155) Sep 2024 (149) Aug 2024 (155) Jul 2024 (155) Jun 2024 (150) May 2024 (153) Apr 2024 (149) Mar 2024 (155) Feb 2024 (145) Jan 2024 (155) Dec 2023 (155) Nov 2023 (150) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55)
JERUSALEM  Not long after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he had recommended that his Cabinet approve a ceasefire with Hezbollah to end hostilities in Lebanon, his office announced that the ministers had done just that.

But Israel "reserves its right to act against any threat to its security," his office said.

"The ceasefire allows us to focus on the Iranian threat," Netanyahu said in a televised address. "We will complete the elimination of Hamas, the return of all the hostages and the return of the residents of the north."

The deal, which was brokered by the United States and lauded by President Joe Biden, will be implemented Wednesday at 4 a.m. local time.

Earlier, a high-ranking intelligence official in Israel who was briefed on the ceasefire terms told NBC News that Israel forces would withdraw from Lebanon over 60 days under the deal.

Hezbollah, Irans most important proxy, would also withdraw to the north of Lebanons Litani River and about 5,000 Lebanese army troops will move to the south. The Lebanese military is not officially a party to the conflict.

The aftermath of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Tuesday.

Lisa Johnson, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., submitted the proposal last week to Lebanons Parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, according to an adviser to the speaker, Ali Hamdan.

Hezbollah began trading fire with Israel on Oct. 8 last year, a day after Hamas launched its terrorist attack on Israel from Gaza. Hezbollah says it is supporting the Palestinian resistance; Israel sees it as another attempt by Tehran to attack the Jewish state.

Amid this flurry of diplomatic activity, Israel fired missiles into Lebanon on Monday, killing at least 31 people in Beirut and the port city of Tyre. Meanwhile, Hezbollah fired more than 200 rockets at Israel on Sunday, leaving neighborhoods in flames, according to the Israeli military.

The strategically important Litani River is a key part of any deal from Israel's perspective, Israeli ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon said Monday.

The stipulation that Hezbollah withdraw north of the strategic waterway was also part of the deal that ended the 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon. But Hezbollah remained entrenched in the region. Israel sees its continued presence there as a grave threat.

We are moving forward on this front, Danon told reporters at the U.N. in New York. Our goal was very clear, which is to push Hezbollah north of the Litany River. We havent finalized it, but we are moving forward.

Its important that Hezbollah will not be allowed to come back to the fence, and we will do whatever is necessary to guarantee it, he added.

Israeli government spokesman David Mencer told Reuters that the agreement would also allow Israeli to act in self-defense to remove Hezbollahs threat and enable the safe return of the residents of the north of Israel.

Residents embrace at the site of a Lebanese rocket attack in Rinatya, central Israel on Sunday.

On Monday, three senior Biden administration officials told NBC News that a deal to end the conflict between Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah militia was close but not complete.

Israel has said it will not stop its attacks until the 60,000 residents of northern Israel who have been driven from their homes can return safely. Around 90 Israeli soldiers and 50 Israeli civilians have been killed, according to officials in the country.

More than 3,500 people have been killed in Lebanon by Israeli bombing since the fighting started, according to Lebanons health ministry, a campaign that has displaced some 1.2 million people and unleashed a humanitarian crisis.

In this multifront war in the Middle East, the Lebanon conflict has become a key focus for Israel in recent months. Thats partly down to Hezbollahs mighty missile arsenal, bigger than any other non-state group in the world and thought to be capable of overwhelming Israels missile defense.

Displaced Palestinians gather to receive a hot meal at the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza on Monday.

After Hamas terror attack in which 1,200 people were killed and 250 kidnapped, Hezbollah started firing missiles at Israel, which responded by launching rockets of its own. This then flared to a full-scale war in September, with Israel killing Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and significantly weakening the group.

War is still grinding on in Gaza, where a humanitarian catastrophe is playing out and more than 44,000 people have been killed, according to local officials.

The ceasefire would be limited to Lebanon, meaning it would not bring relief to Palestinians in Gaza or the dozens of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

The families of the hostages said they strongly urge any agreement to include a demand for the release of those who are being held.

The October 7 attack, orchestrated by Hamas and supported by Iran, saw Hezbollah join the conflict, linking its fate to the war in Gaza and the atrocities of the October 7 massacre, the families said in a statement.

The current efforts to secure an agreement ending the war on the northern front present a vital opportunity to bring all hostages home. The northern front and the hostages release are inseparably linked  we cannot and must not treat them as separate issues.

Hala Gorani reported from Jerusalem, and Alexander Smith from London.
Jim Abrahams, a film director and writer behind hit slapstick comedies like Airplane!, Hot Shots!, the Naked Gun series and more, died Tuesday, his son Joseph confirmed to Variety. He was 80.

With his childhood friends Jerry and David Zucker, Abrahams formed the filmmaking trio, called Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker, and popularized the spoof genre of the 1980s.

More from Variety

Jim Abrahams redefined the boundaries of humor through groundbreaking works like Airplane! and The Naked Gun series. Together with Jerry and David Zucker, he transformed satire into an art form, inspiring generations of comedians and filmmakers and leaving an indelible mark on the world of comedy, said the National Comedy Center executive director Journey Gunderson in a statement.

With the Zucker brothers, Abrahams founded the The Kentucky Fried Theater while they all attended college together at the University of WisconsinMadison in 1971. That led to them making their film debut with the indie sketch comedy The Kentucky Fried Movie in 1977. Abrahams wrote the script for the movie, which was directed by John Landis  a year later Landis was tapped to make Animal House after the success of The Kentucky Fried Movie.

The trio, known as ZAZ, went on to make Airplane! in 1980, Top Secret! in 1984 and Ruthless People in 1986. Airplane! earned a BAFTA nomination for best screenplay and marked Leslie Nielsens first comedy role. The slapstick comedy showcased his deadpan chops after beginning his career being considered a dramatic star. The Zuckers and Abrahams talent for word play, sight gags and non-sequiturs became a staple of their humor, with Nielsen as their go-to actor.

Their ABC series Police Squad! starred Nielsen as Detective Frank Drebin and spoofed the police procedural genre. The show was such a hit that it spawned the Naked Gun comedies, including The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988), The Naked Gun 2: The Smell of Fear (1991) and Naked Gun 33+13: The Final Insult (1994). Paramount is releasing a sequel in 2025, starring Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr., directed by Akiva Schaffer and with a story by Seth MacFarlane.

On his own, Abrahams directed Big Business (1988) with Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin; Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990) with Winona Ryder and Jeff Daniels; the Top Gun parody Hot Shots! with Charlie Sheen in 1991 and its 1993 sequel that spoofed Rambo; and the Godfather parody Mafia! in 1998.

Abrahams final writing credit came with Scary Movie 4 in 2006. He also had small acting credits in The Kentucky Fried Movie, Airplane!, Top Secret! and Coming to America.

He is survived by his wife Nancy Cocuzzo, daughter Jamie, sons Joseph and Charlie and grandchildren Caleb, James and Isaac.

Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Sens. John Fetterman, D-Pa., Lisa Murkowski, R-Ark., and Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

WASHINGTON  President-elect Donald Trump is poised to kick off his second term by sending the Senate an unconventional slate of nominees for powerful executive branch positions, seeing his 2024 victory as validation of a voter desire for disruption.

But how much disruption will Americas cooling saucer tolerate?

The soon-to-be Republican-led chamber is already showing it has its limits by effectively sinking Trump's choice of far-right former Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida for attorney general amid allegations of sexual misconduct and concerns about his qualifications.

The Senate will be split 53 Republicans to 47 Democrats in the new session, meaning Republicans can lose no more than three votes to confirm nominees without requiring some bipartisan support. A 50-50 tie can be broken by Vice President-elect JD Vance.

Here are nine key senators to watch in the nomination battles.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine

The five-term centrist Republican is the sole remaining GOP senator representing a blue state. She has survived politically because of her willingness to buck her party at times, such as voting to convict Trump on impeachment charges of inciting an insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021.

Collins intends to run for re-election in 2026 in a state Trump just lost by 7 points, meaning shes certain to be a top Democratic target. Trumps Cabinet picks present an opening for Collins to demonstrate her independent streak if she chooses to vote against some of his more controversial or radical picks.

An added dynamic for Collins: Shes about to become the chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee. That gives her an opportunity to cut bipartisan deals on government spending bills, but it could also deepen her allegiance to the party thats elevating her to that coveted role.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska

A member of an endangered species known as moderate Republicans, Murkowski is set to wield a significant amount of power during Senate votes on some of Trumps more controversial policies and nominees. Murkowski has already shown she will be outspoken in her opposition to Trumps Cabinet picks, telling reporters of the Gaetz choice: I dont think its a serious nomination for the attorney general. Thats Lisa Murkowskis view.

Murkowski is also a rare Republican who supports bringing back the abortion-right protections included in Roe v. Wade, which could play a role in her votes on health care-related personnel and a potential new Supreme Court vacancy. And she isnt up for re-election in deep-red Alaska until 2028.

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.

The incoming majority leader is nobodys idea of an ultra-MAGA Republican, but he understands his assignment: advance the Trump agenda. Thune will have to balance that with the institutionalist instincts that have earned him respect on both sides of the aisle.

The nominations will be the first big test of his leadership style. Where does he defer to Trump? Where does he draw the line? Does he choose to be a heat shield for members who quietly want to buck Trump without doing so publicly? And how does he manage his relationship with Trump?

The answers will set the tone for a long-awaited new era facing the Senate GOP.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

McConnell is the ultimate free agent as he relinquishes the job of Senate Republican leader after a record 18 years. His quarrels and disagreements with Trump are well documented. As GOP leader, McConnells style was usually to read the political winds within his party and follow them. Now, he doesnt have to. He turns 83 in a few months and has two more years on his Senate term. The Cabinet nominees could be an opportunity to flex his muscle and use his vote to shape Trumps agenda.

Will McConnell use his clout and reservoir of goodwill within the caucus to say no to some Trump picks? Or will he err on the side of acquiescence to the MAGA leaders wishes? He's offered one hint so far: Though he didn't say anything publicly, McConnell was one of at least five Republican senators, including Collins and Murkowski, who privately made clear that they would oppose Gaetz for AG.

McConnell is an outspoken Russia hawk who favors NATO and the post-World War II order and has signaled that he plans to use the coming years to battle the isolationist forces that have found a home in Trump's America First agenda. As one example, how will he respond to the Russia-sympathetic views of former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick for director of national intelligence?

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C.

Tillis faces re-election in 2026 after winning his first two elections by less than 2 points. Hell undoubtedly be a Democratic target in an election year where they have few Senate pickup opportunities. North Carolina is a tricky state even for a Republican  hell need to be renominated by a GOP base that can be attracted to far-right figures and balance that with appealing to a general electorate in the purple state.

How closely does Tillis stick to Trump in a cycle where, unlike in 2020, the president-elect wont be on the ballot to give him coattails? The nominations will provide a clue.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La.

Heading into a Trump presidency, Cassidy is expected to be front-and-center as the chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. His committee is expected to look into Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s nomination as the Health and Human Services secretary (though the Senate Finance Committee will be tasked with reporting the nomination to the full Senate). And Cassidy, a physician himself, has kept his cards close on how he feels about the vaccine-skeptic.

As HELP chairman, Cassidy will also be knee-deep in any discussions about the future of health care policy, including Medicare and Medicaid.

He's up for re-election in 2026, and his vote to convict Trump in his impeachment trial for inciting an insurrection, as well as any feud over nominees, could play a part in whether Trump chooses to support Cassidy or a potential primary challenger.

Sen.-elect John Curtis, R-Utah

Stepping into the seat vacated by outgoing Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, many are wondering whether Curtis will be more like the institutionalist senator he is replacing, or fellow Utah GOP Sen. Mike Lee, a hard-right figure who has become a Trump ally. The answer may be something in the middle.

He is not Mitt Romney, and he is not Donald Trump. Hes got his own brand, and he was very clear about that in his primary and his general election, former GOP Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., told NBC News recently.

Speaking during his primary debate in June, Curtis said of Trump, Im not going to give him an unconditional yes to anything that he wants.

Curtis has already made his presence known by joining the private resistance to Gaetz. But Gaetz was just the first real test for Senate Republicans in a second Trump presidency, raising the question: Will Curtis be the same kind of check on Trump that Romney was on both nominees and policy?

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa.

Fetterman has made a name for himself in the halls of the Capitol for his brash, unfiltered way of communicating (and the way he dresses). But Fetterman has also carved out a unique identity by breaking with his party's left  through his unrelenting support of Israel despite the civilian casualties caused by its military campaign in Gaza and his remark that Democrats lost ourselves when it came to key issues like immigration.

In a party thats currently doing some soul-searching, Fettermans voice could play a major role in that conversation for Democrats. And has expressed a willingness to support some of Trumps picks for Cabinet jobs, including for his former 2022 rival, Mehmet Oz, to run Medicare and Medicaid.

Hes going to pick people that are going to disagree with me, and theyre never going to be my first choice," Fetterman told NBC News. "So thats kind of how democracy tends to work. ... Im not going to be part of the collective freakouts.

Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga.

Ossoff faces re-election in 2026 in a state where Trump just snapped a Democratic winning streak that dates to the first-term senators 2020 election win. Hell probably be a top GOP target for defeat next cycle. The executive nominations could provide him some opportunities to show bipartisan bona fides, at least when it comes to Trumps more mainstream picks.

The confirmation battles will also provide some early hints as to how Ossoff is planning to position himself ahead of an undoubtedly difficult re-election bid in Georgia, where Democrats will seek to prove that their victories in 2020 and 2022 were not flukes.
Editor's note: Follow USA TODAY's Wednesday coverage of the Thanksgiving 2024 weather forecast and travel updates.

With the Thanksgiving holiday nearly upon us, weather forecasters now have a good idea of where the likely trouble spots will be for drivers on the days before and after Thursday.

Unfortunately, a cross-country storm is forecast to deliver wet and wintry weather from California to Maine throughout the week, potentially disrupting travel for the millions who plan on traveling on the days surrounding Thanksgiving, according to AccuWeather.

"Significant travel disruptions are anticipated for tens of millions that take to the roads and skies, even in areas where rain and thunderstorms occur instead of snow," said AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski in an online forecast.

Here's how the weather could affect road conditions over what the American Automobile Association has called the busiest travel holiday.

More: Want to travel safer to Thanksgiving dinner? Stay off Instagram

Snow closes roads in the West, slows traffic around Denver

The storm has already begun to rack up road closures in the West as it dumped heavy snow across the Sierra Nevada before moving swiftly along and unloading snow on a busy sector in the Rockies and High Plains on Wednesday.

By Wednesday morning, the Colorado Department of Transportation website showed dozens of roads were closed because of snow, including U.S. Route 50, a major highway that runs across the country from West Sacramento, California, to Ocean City, Maryland.

"Long-duration moderate to heavy snowfall rates will make mountain driving conditions very difficult today," the agency said in a statement Wednesday. "While the heavy volume of snow will contribute to the majority of impacts, stronger winds will also support areas of blowing snow and reduced visibility, especially over the passes in the central and southern mountains today."

One spot where travelers might want to leave extra early is Denver, a major travel hub, which will likely see only a couple inches of snow Wednesday, but it could be enough to delay flights and slow travel along Interstate 25, 70 and 80, AccuWeather warns.

Next, the storm will head east.

Traffic piles up due to the snow on I-43 southbound just north of the Marquette interchange in Milwaukee on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024.

Wet, stormy Wednesday for central US roads

Wednesday will be the stormiest day of the week for the central U.S., as the storm brings a mix of rain and snow from the Upper Midwest to Texas.

According to Weather.com, some light rain and a few thunderstorms are forecast to develop in the mid-Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley and Mid-South region. This activity will spread into the East Wednesday night.

The Storm Prediction Center warns that "Isolated strong to severe storms are possible from the lower Mississippi Valley into parts of Alabama, primarily from late Wednesday night into early Thursday morning." This includes travelers along Interstates 20 and 55 in Mississippi.

Snow could impact roads in the Midwest, Northeast

A swath of accumulating snow is expected from the Midwest to northern New England from late Wednesday into Thanksgiving Day.

In the Midwest, accumulating snow will likely be somewhere along the I-70 to I-80 corridor from Illinois to Ohio.

In the Northeast, moderate to heavy snowfall is most likely over northern New England and the higher elevations in central New England. In between, over Pennsylvania and New York state, the accumulating snow will likely favor the higher elevations, AccuWeather said.

Lake-effect snow could lead to 'difficult to impossible' travel in NY

Finally, in what might be the biggest weather story for the return trip over the weekend, a big lake-effect snow event could wreak travel havoc on Interstate 90 in western New York.

"Travel could be very difficult to impossible with very poor visibility and deep snow cover on roads," the National Weather Service in Buffalo warned. "Some major roadways could temporarily close."

"While there is some risk of a heavy snow band shifting into Buffalo, New York, briefly, most of the time, winds will be from the west and northwest and will direct the heaviest snow from the towns south of Buffalo to western New York's ski country," AccuWeather meteorologist Grady Gilman said.

(This story has been updated to add new information.)

Contributing: Christopher Cann, Zach Wichter and Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Thanksgiving travel road condition news amid busiest travel days
Twenty years after the unprecedented 2004 catastophe, Nemcova shares the painful yet powerful lessons she learned from the disaster that killed her boyfriend

There was no warning before a tsunami consumed Petra Nemcova's vacation bungalow in Thailand on Dec. 26, 2004, where she was staying with then-boyfriend Simon Atlee

"I heard Simon screaming my name," she tells PEOPLE in this week's issue, "and it was the last time I heard him"

Hundreds of thousands of people died, and Nemcova herself barely survived  but in the 20 years since, she has turned tragedy into a source of global philanthropy



Petra Nemcova's pelvis shattered in four places when a tidal wave of roiling black water consumed the bungalow in Khao Lak, Thailand, where she and her then-boyfriend, photographer Simon Atlee, were vacationing in 2004.

It was the day after Christmas, and her life was never going to be the same again.

Nemcova started that day  Dec. 26  by sharing breakfast with Atlee, followed by a peaceful walk on the beach, she tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week's issue. Their holiday had come to an end, and with two hours to spare before they were set to fly home, Nemcova busied herself with some much needed packing while tidying up the bungalow before the couple's departure.

The two were happy and in love, having spent their trip scuba diving, and, unbeknownst to Nemcova at the time, Atlee even had imminent plans to propose.

Their vacation home at the resort faced the swimming pool, which was filled with both relaxing travelers and families entertaining exuberant children. So, when all Nemcova suddenly heard was screaming that morning, she barely had time to catch a glimpse out the window toward the pool before tragedy struck.

For more on Petra Nemcova's account of the 2004 tsunami and other survivor stories, pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, or subscribe.

Mary Beth Koeth Petra Nemcova photographed in Miami on Nov. 18

"Everything happened in split seconds. I looked up to see frantic movement and people jumping and then in the next second, the wave is crashing into the bungalow and breaking all of the glass windows," she recalls.

Shards of glass sliced Nemcova's skin as the entire bungalow went under. She distinctly remembers Atlee calling out for her.

"I heard Simon screaming my name," she says, "and it was the last time I heard him."

Lucie Vitkova/CTK/ABACA Petra Nemcova (left) and Simon Atlee at a charity fashion show in Prague in 2004

What would become known as the world's worst tsunami and remains the most devastating disaster to tear through Asia was triggered by a 9.1 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Indonesia.

The subsequent series of waves  some reaching reported heights of 150 feet  decimated the region, affecting at least 12 countries and killing an estimated 230,000 people, including Atlee, whose body wasn't recovered until months later. Nemcova barely survived.

Scientists were stunned at the scale of the horror: Nothing like this had happened in modern history, and there had been no warning for the people at the water's edge.

Related: Survivors Remember World's Deadliest Tsunami, Which Killed Over 225,000: 'Everybody Lost Somebody' (Exclusive)

Railay Beach in Thailand in Dec. 26, 2004

"At some point I couldn't breathe anymore. And I thought, 'That's it.' That's my last moment. And I let go. And actually, it was the most blissful moment of my life," Nemcova remembers now, describing how she made peace with her own death.

"And then, by some miracle, I was able to see sky again."

Nemcova ultimately grabbed the large leaves of a palm tree, where she clung for "an incredibly long eight hours."

The supermodel couldn't move and couldn't feel her legs. All she was conscious of was the excruciating physical pain of her shattered pelvis  and the emotional toll of what was happening around her. Children's wails filled the air, until, one by one, their deafening silence grew much louder.

Half an hour later, I couldn't hear them anymore. And that meant that they couldn't hold on. I couldnt swim out [to them] because I was trapped by debris, Nemcova says. That day, I couldnt help. I had no choice.

Now, 20 years later, Nemcova is looking back at the "many lessons" she learned from the disaster. She turned personal tragedy into action with her worldwide Happy Hearts Fund, which she founded in 2005 with the aim of supporting children who endure these disasters by rebuilding safer schools in the affected areas.

Hearing children screaming for help and not being able to help them, that leaves such a powerful mark," she says. "Today and every day, I have a choice to help.

Petra Nemcova with All Hands and Hearts in disaster relief location: Yapatera, Peru

Nemcova's organization has since grown into the nonprofit All Hands and Hearts, unique in their ability to help global communities as they arrive on site early and stay late to help rebuild schools and homes in a disaster-resilient way.

"You are helping others to rebuild their lives, but many times your life also gets, in a way, rebuilt, Nemcova says of the volunteer work in more than 28 countries globally. You find a purpose.

She says her life now is one full of just that: purpose and joy.

She married entrepreneur Benjamin Larretche in 2019 and together they share 5-year-old son, Bohdi. They reside in Miami (by the water, Nemcova notes) where she still practices the three things that she says helped her heal so quickly, all those years ago.

Petra Nemcova (right) with husband Benjamin Larretche and their son, Bodhi

"My meditation and energy work, grieving and gratitude practice and then just focusing on positivity," she explains. "The doctors said that it takes many people with the same injuries [I had] two years to recover. I healed in four months."

The first moment she was able, in the spring of 2005, Nemcova traveled back to Thailand to honor Atlee and the other victims and to thank the locals and volunteers. She also chose to face the waves again by scuba diving  the same activity she and Atlee had enjoyed together just days before catastrophe.

"I went under the water and I was panicking," she says. "My heart was going so fast and I just couldn't even breathe properly, but it's very important not to live in a life of any fear. That's why I did it."

Admittedly, Nemcova says, it took her a few years before "the sounds of palm leaves crashing onto the roof of a hotel or a bungalow" didn't send her body into a full panic, but she worked hard to address her fear head-on.

"And then it lost power over me. If you appreciate the gift of air, if you appreciate the ability to move your legs, everything else is much richer. Your life is happier," she says. "Youre living instead of just surviving."
Gov. Jeff Landry testified with Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Chairman Gordy Dove about the state's commitment to rebuilding Louisiana's coast on Nov. 21, 2024. Governor Jeff Landry | X

(The Center Square)  Louisiana lawmakers have finalized a sweeping overhaul of the state's tax system, passing a package of reforms aimed at reducing income taxes, increasing sales taxes, and scaling back or eliminating certain tax credits.

Gov. Jeff Landry is expected to sign the legislation into law, which will significantly reshape the state's fiscal policies and economic landscape.

Central to the package is a reduction of the state income tax rate to a flat 3% for all residents earning over $12,500 annually.

This move, projected to reduce state revenue by $1.3 billion per year, is paired with measures to offset the shortfall. The statewide sales tax will rise from 4.45% to 5% starting in January 2025, remaining at that level for five years before dropping to 4.75% in 2030.

Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, highlighted that the higher sales tax rate incorporates new business tax breaks, meaning it will generate less revenue than initially estimated.

To further address the revenue gap, lawmakers voted to temporarily redirect $280 million from vehicle sales taxes to the general fund, delaying infrastructure projects such as the Interstate 49 expansions and a new Mississippi River bridge in Baton Rouge.

Other changes include a doubled retirement income tax exemption for seniors, raising the threshold from $6,000 to $12,000, and the application of sales taxes to digital goods and services.

However, a proposal to expand the sales tax base to include dozens of new physical services failed to pass but may be revisited in the next regular session.

For businesses, the corporate income tax rate will drop from 7.5% to a flat 5.5%, and the state franchise tax will be eliminated entirely. Originally, Landry's plan proposed a rate of 3.5%.

The aim is to bolster Louisiana's competitiveness and attract economic investment, though some longstanding business tax incentives, like the Quality Jobs program and Enterprise Zone tax credits, will be scrapped.

Three high-profile tax credits  benefiting film and television productions, historic building preservation, and digital and software companies  will remain in place, but will operate with reduced caps.

The Ways and Means Committee heard testimony from representatives of all three, which were the proposals originally intended to eliminate.

"This program is working," Tom Leonard, chief executive officer of HRI, a real estate development company, said of the historic building tax credit.

"I'll lose millions of dollars. And we'll move," said Gerard Ramos, founder of Revelry, a digital technology company whose business heavily relies on the Digital Media Tax Credit.

The state inventory tax and its corresponding credit will also see changes.

Department of Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson acknowledges its removal poses challenges for local governments dependent on the funds. In some parishes, the tax generates over $30 million annually in some parishes but less than $1 million in others.

The proposal offers parishes a lump-sum payment equal to three years of collections if they voluntarily give up the tax, which costs the state over $280 million annually through reimbursement credits.

The Legislature also approved a plan to repeal the state's corporation franchise tax, eliminating a long-standing levy on businesses operating in the state.

Currently, the tax applies to corporations using capital or property in Louisiana, with rates set at $2.75 per $1,000 of taxable capital above $300,000. The repeal also removes eligibility for certain tax credits to be claimed against the franchise tax, though these incentives remain applicable to corporate and individual income taxes.

The change aims to simplify the tax structure and improve the state's business climate.

The reforms have drawn mixed reactions. Democrats have criticized the package for disproportionately benefiting wealthier individuals and corporations while increasing the burden on low- and middle-income residents through higher sales taxes.

"A flat income tax is inherently fair  everyone pays the same rate," argued Daniel Erspamer, CEO of the Pelican Institute. "While higher earners see larger reductions, all taxpayers benefit, and the first $25,000 of income is tax-free, providing significant relief to lower-income families."

Supporters of the reforms emphasize their potential to drive economic growth. Jonathan Williams of the American Legislative Exchange Council compared the package to the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, predicting it could boost investment, create jobs, and ultimately make the tax system more progressive over time.

The Pelican Institute projected that the reforms could generate $4.5 billion in economic activity and create up to 5,000 jobs. He also noted that simplifying Louisiana's complex tax code would reduce compliance costs, particularly for small businesses.

Many of the measures are tied to House Bill 7, which includes rewriting Article 7 of Louisiana's constitution. The bill establishes a $2,000 permanent pay raise for school employees, reduces the income tax rate, and doubles the standard deduction.

Voters will decide in March whether to approve a constitutional amendment to consolidate state funds to pay down teacher retirement debt, a move that would free up school district savings to cover the pay increases.

Landry hailed the reforms as a victory for both residents and businesses. "This tax package is a win for Louisiana," he said. "But there's still work to do."
FILE - Police and protesters converge during a demonstration over the death of Breonna Taylor's, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)  A Kentucky police officer who was shot in 2020 during protests over Breonna Taylors death is suing his department, alleging his superiors discriminated against him after he expressed his opinion about Taylor's shooting.

Louisville Officer Robinson Desroches alleges in the lawsuit that Black officers like himself who discuss race or criticize their experience related to race are vilified as betraying the thin blue line.

In the lawsuit filed in Jefferson County on Monday, Desroches alleges that some leaders tried to push him out of the department after he "firmly stated that the true reason he was shot in the line of duty is because LMPD officers killed Breonna Taylor.' He says one commander criticized his long rehabilitation after he was seriously wounded in the shooting.

Louisville Police declined to comment on the lawsuit Tuesday, but said in a statement that the department strives to create an inclusive environment where employees feel welcomed, valued, and respected. The department takes seriously any accusations of harassment and/or discrimination.

When employees injured in the line of duty are ready to return to work, LMPD strives to provide reasonable accommodations to place the employee in alternative roles in the department until they are cleared by a doctor to return to full duty, the LMPD statement said.

The two officers who shot and killed Taylor in her home during a raid on March 13, 2020, left the department years ago and were not charged with any crimes. Federal and state prosecutors have said Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove were justified in returning fire after Taylor's boyfriend grabbed a handgun and shot Mattingly in the leg. Taylor's boyfriend said he mistook the police for an intruder breaking in after midnight. Two other former Louisville officers are accused in federal court of falsifying the Taylor warrant.

Desroches remains a Louisville police officer but is on workers compensation leave for his physical and mental health, his attorney Sara Collins said Tuesday.

Desroches and another officer were shot during intense street protests in September 2020. The unrest occurred after former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced that a grand jury had declined to indict the officers who shot Taylor during a deadly police raid earlier that year.

Desroches was shot in the stomach, and the bullet traveled close to his spine. It took over a year before he was able to return to work on light duty, the lawsuit says. The other officer was not seriously wounded.

When Desroches returned to duty, he was assigned to the recruitment department and superiors later approached him about taking on a role doing speaking engagements for media coverage.

Desroches says in the lawsuit that he believes the department wanted to use his experience as as Black officer who was shot during the 2020 protests to improve LMPDs publicity and recruitment efforts.

He declined the position, saying he did not want his image and story twisted to portray a false narrative about LMPD, since he held some negative views about the department, the lawsuit says.

Desroches said his superiors soured on him after that, and he was not offered a recruiting position upon returning to full-time status, according to the suit. He alleges he also was told by a command staffer last year that there was a target on his back, the suit says.

The man who shot Desroches, Larynzo Johnson, pleaded guilty in 2022 to two counts of assault, along with dozens of counts of endangerment. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Desroches is seeking punitive and compensatory damages from the Louisville Police department.
Dozens of flights were canceled and thousands were delayed as millions of travelers began their journeys to reach loved ones for what forecasters predict will be a cold Thanksgiving.

The National Weather Service said that a pair of weather systems were expected to bring an "Arctic outbreak" across the Central United States into Thanksgiving.

"A significant arctic outbreak will arrive in the northern Plains on Thanksgiving and advance farther south and east on Friday into the weekend," the weather service said in its national forecast discussion on Tuesday.

Congested highways will mean ground travel will also be difficult during the lead-up to the holiday, and while there haven't been reports of widespread disruptions so far, air travelers in particular may face serious problems.

At Newark Liberty International, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground delay through early Wednesday over a shortage of air traffic controllers. A ground delay at Boston Logan International Airport over visibility expired Tuesday night. And ground stops were possible at busy San Francisco Airport amid lower visibility caused by fog and lingering rain, the administration and the weather service said.

At Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport on Tuesday, unscheduled private aircraft were prohibited from flight amid high demand for air travel, according to the FAA.

Freezing holiday weather

Temperatures in the northern Great Plains will only reach the high teens and 20s Tuesday and Wednesday, 15-25 degrees lower than the seasonal average. The weather service office for the Twin Cities said that Thursday could see lows of zero to 13 degrees Fahrenheit.

In central and southern California, the Great Basin and the Rockies, an atmospheric river event  an airborne flow of moisture that can bring heavy precipitation  was set to bring rain, as well as up to 3 feet of snow, in the southern Sierra Nevada.

It will be a wintry Thanksgiving for parts of the Upper Michigan Peninsular and areas downwind of Lake Ontario, with between 4 and 8 inches of snow expected.

Those hoping to attend the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City may want to pack their umbrellas as rainfall is expected Thursday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said.

Black Friday shoppers won't be spared, either. Temperatures are expected to plunge 15 to 25 degrees below average from the Plains to the Great Lakes region.

"Wind chills will make it feel below zero in the northern Plains and Midwest, and lake effect snow is likely from the upper peninsula of Michigan to western New York," the NOAA said Tuesday.

Weather could affect travel plans

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned that the "cornucopia of hazards," including snow, rain and harsh winds, may impact travel for those in the Northeast, West and Great Plains this year.

On Wednesday, storms will move east across the Rockies and bring rain and snow, with airport delays likely in Denver, Kansas City and St. Louis, NBC News Al Roker said on the TODAY show. Air delays could also hit Dallas, Austin, Houston, Detroit, Chicago, Nashville, Minneapolis and Atlanta, he said.

On the roads, interstates 55, 64, 65, 75 and 80 could all be affected Wednesday. And on Thanksgiving Day itself, the storm will strengthen as it reaches the East Coast and bring heavy rain and snow, making driving difficult along I-95 and several other major routes in the region.

"Our travel weather is going to be a real mess, you're just going to have to pack your patience, take your time, you're going to get to where you're going  it just might not be when you expect to get there," Roker said.

Arrival traffic at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va,, on Friday.

As of 11 p.m. ET Tuesday, 78 flights into, within and departing from the U.S. had been canceled, and more than 4,100 had been delayed, according to FlightAware flight-tracking data.

Travel hubs also seemed to cope with an uptick in passengers Monday. I grew up in Connecticut, so Ive been through this airport thousands of times and Ive never seen it this easy getting through customs  no line today, the Rev. Jeff Couture, a Catholic priest who had just returned from a pilgrimage to Portugal, told NBC New York on Monday.

Janis and Ken Allen were flying to San Francisco from Newark on Monday to visit their daughter  having traveled by train from Philadelphia due to the lack of direct flights from there  and had not experienced any delays. They told NBC New York that they planned their return journey Dec. 3 to avoid the post-holiday crush, as consumer travel groups including the AAA have advised.
State Sen. Jill Carter, R-Granby, and Missouri law enforcement officers travel to Texas to learn of Texas law enforcement efforts to replicate in Missouri. Photo taken in front of Texas Operation Lone Star concertina wire barriers near the Rio Grande River in the Rio Grande Valley. (L-R back) newly elected Newton County Sheriff Matt Stewart, Jasper County Sheriff Randee Kaiser. (L-R front) Sen. Jill Carter, Outgoing Newton County Sheriff Chris Jennings Bethany Blankley for The Center Square

(The Center Square)  Missouri state Sen. Jill Carter, R-Granby, plans to file bills in the state legislature to increase border security measures and ensure law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to combat increasing border-related crimes.

Carter, whos traveled to Texas to meet with officials, including law enforcement, wants to get ahead of a crisis in her district, which includes the counties of Jasper and Newton.

We need to be prepared, she said. One way to do that, she said, is to file legislation similar to what was filed in Texas to address an unprecedented border crisis. Missouri has joined Texas in its border enforcement efforts. Its former attorney general, Eric Schmitt, was among the first to join Texas in suing the Biden administration over border policies. Missouris congressional delegation is also demanding answers about a violent Venezuelan gang now in the state, The Center Square reported.

The border crisis is impacting my community. We are downstream from whats been happening in Texas. Our law enforcement and legislators need to be prepared to understand the reality of what we are facing, she told The Center Square.

While many claim illegal border crossers are families who want a better life, federal data shows the overwhelming majority are single military age men, The Center Square reported.

As illegal border crossings increased under the Biden administration, so also did crime. Four years later, smaller towns thousands of miles from the US-Mexico border are experiencing reverberating effects. This includes Joplin, a southwestern Missouri town located near the Oklahoma and Kansas state lines in Carters district, roughly 1,000 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.

Joplin, Jasper and Newton counties are also in a geographic bullseye, falling between Tulsa and St. Louis along I-44, and south of Kansas City along I-49. Both highways are key thoroughfares used by criminals to move drugs and people identified by law enforcement.

While Carters district hasnt experienced the level of crime that Texas districts have, Jasper County residents were shocked two months ago when an Oklahoma mans body was found off of I-44, allegedly murdered by two Honduran brothers, both in the country illegally.

The murder followed a similar pattern to those in Texas: a body found on the side of the road, a single gunshot to the head, a stolen car, and culprits later connected to multiple violent crimes in other cities and often in other states, The Center Square has reported.

After the murder, one Honduran was arrested for a DWI, another for a carjacking, shooting one woman in the chest and pistol whipping another, according to the Jasper County Sheriffs Office. They fled the scene but were caught by law enforcement, arrested and charged with multiple felonies.

Carter and others are also concerned about the cost to taxpayers for social services and strains on the public school system after thousands of foreign nationals have been brought into her district, including from Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) and State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST).

According to a Joplin Schools Refugee Fact Sheet published by a Joplin-based refugee and immigrant group obtained by The Center Square, 50 Afghan refugees were brought into the community after the Biden administrations 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal. This was after inspector general reports found that the Biden administration did not properly vet Afghans released into the U.S.

In fiscal 2024, 1,484 refugees were brought into Missouri through this one organization. Another 2,735 are expected in fiscal 2025. Among them, roughly 200 were brought into Joplin in fiscal 2024; 250 are expected in fiscal 2025, according to the document.

As a result, the Joplin Public School system had 80 foreign national students enrolled in the spring, and 120 by August when the school year started, according to the document. They are citizens of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, Somalia, the Congo, Haiti, the Ivory Coast, Ukraine, Venezuela, Uganda, Iran, Cuba, and Yemen. There are currently roughly 40 languages now spoken in a public school system that serves a population of roughly 51,000 in a mostly rural farming community.

Under the Biden administration, at least 1.6 million illegal border crossers were publicly reported from four CPCs, The Center Square reported. The U.S. State Department designated 12 countries as CPCs due to their policies of systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom, which includes torture, prolonged detention without charges, forced disappearance, or other flagrant denial of life, liberty, or security of persons. Of the 12, four are designated SSTs: Cuba, North Korea, and Iran.

Those brought into Missouri, according to the document, are from at least one CPC, Pakistan, and two SSTs, Cuba and Iran. They were brought in after Biden extended national emergencies related to terrorism and security threats posed by Iran, the Congo, Afghanistan and others.

Joplin now has students enrolled from countries identified by the federal government as national security threats.

My district, and Missouri, are at a crossroads, Carter told The Center Square. We are committed to being a part of the solution and want to ensure that the effects of the border crisis dont worsen. Four years into the most disastrous border crisis in history, we are seeing worrying trends related to crime and our residents safety and security. Im committed to protecting our residents, all children in the public school system, and ensuring our law enforcement and public services have the resources they need. My goal is to ensure transparency and accountability to Missouri taxpayers through the bills I and others will be filing.
A still from "Moana 2."

Moana 2 is setting sail to movie theaters and making history in the process.

The movie is the first Disney animated feature to release an Indigenous-language version alongside its English counterpart.

The Wednesday global premiere will be accompanied by Moana 2 Reo Maori, a special release Thursday in theaters in New Zealand, featuring voiceovers in the indigenous Polynesian language.

The title translates to "Moana 2 Maori language." The language is sometimes referred to as just "te reo" or "reo Maori."

Moana 2 and Moana 2 Reo Maori reunite Moana  having just received an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors  with Maui three years later for a new seafaring adventure.

The original Moana was also translated into Maori, and both the first and second incorporate Tairawhiti, which is one of several Maori dialects.

Thats the tribe Im from. Its also coastal, director Tweedie Waititi said. So it makes sense, because we are people of the sea. We live on the sea, we live by the sea and also were very much connected to the sea,

Waititi said she was careful when creating a haka, or a ceremonial Maori dance, for the movie. The haka recently went viral after Maori lawmakers performed one in the New Zealand Parliament to protest a proposed bill regarding Indigenous people.

I suppose were going through some very big trials at the moment with our culture and our language at the moment. Haka is the way we express ourselves, Waititi said.

Waititi was also part of a team of cultural experts who guided filmmakers in creating Moana. Disneys creative team created the collective of Pacific Islander cultural experts while studying Polynesian culture to ensure the region was accurately represented.

When youre putting in things like haka and stuff, youve got to make sure that, youve got to understand that the whole worlds gonna then possibly learn that haka  possibly do that haka. And so you need to make it so that people are culturally safe, spiritually safe, Waititi said.

The Maori people are indigenous to New Zealand, or in the Maori language, Aotearoa. The Maori language remains on UNESCOs Atlas of Endangered Languages. Revitalization efforts have been helpful in ensuring that the language doesnt go extinct, but its long-term future remains uncertain, according to UNESCO.

Our language is coming back from a certain death  I dont think even 10 years back that our elders dreamed that therell be any Disney films in our language. Now, were up to six, Waititi said.

In 1972, Maori people worked together to deliver the Maori language petition to the New Zealand Parliament. The petition, which garnered more than 30,000 signatures, urged the government to offer the Maori language in schools, and implement courses teaching Maori culture and history in schools with larger Maori populations.

This is the full-circle moment weve been working toward  our dream to see te reo Maori normalized on cinema screens alongside English, Matewa Media producers Chelsea Winstanley and Mia Henry-Teirney said in a press release.

Other Disney animated films have been translated into te reo Maori after their English release, such as the original Moana, Coco, The Lion King, Frozen, and, most recently, Encanto. The translated films, as well as Moana 2 Reo Maori, were produced by both Walt Disney Animation Studios and Matewa Media, a New Zealand-based media organization dedicated to Maori storytelling.

Our work aims to honor the legacy of those who fought tirelessly for the survival of our language, Waititi said.
A rendering of a proposed Bears stadium in Arlington Heights. Rendering courtesy of Chicago Bears

Bears property tax deal coming together

The Chicago Bears have tentatively reached an agreement with Arlington Heights over the property taxes for the former Arlington Park racetrack. The exact details of the deal were not released, and any deal would still need approval from the Arlington Heights Village Board and three local school boards. The team has failed to land its requested public funding for a new, $4.7 billion stadium just south of Soldier Field.

Testimony continues in Madigan trial

Prosecutors are focusing on real estate developments in Chicagos 25th Ward at the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain. Former Chicago Alderman Daniel Solis resumed his direct testimony Tuesday morning at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago after undercover video of Madigan was shown to jurors.

Thanksgiving food safety urged

The Illinois Department of Public Health is reminding Illinoisans to celebrate the 2024 Thanksgiving holiday safely by taking precautions to protect everyone from foodborne illnesses. Hosts can protect their guests by following basic food safety steps, including keeping hot foods hot, cold foods cold, and properly thawing frozen turkeys before roasting them. Food safety experts recommend thawing turkeys in the refrigerator. It takes about 24 hours for every five pounds of turkey to thaw in the refrigerator, so it can take three days to thaw a 15-pound bird.
VILNIUS (Reuters) -Lithuania has found no evidence of terrorism or sabotage so far in its investigation of a DHL cargo plane crash near Vilnius airport, prosecutors said on Tuesday.

The aircraft's black boxes containing flight data and voice recorders have been found and investigators are preparing to examine the material, the government later said in a statement.

The plane crashed as it came in to land in the early hours of Monday, killing one person on board in what Germany's foreign minister later said might have been an accident or a hybrid attack in "volatile times".

The Lithuanian General Prosecutor's office is leading one of two official probes into the crash of the Boeing 737-400, which was operated by Spanish airline Swiftair on behalf of the German logistics group.

"Our initial information does not indicate that we need to be investigating more serious actions," Prosecutor Arturas Urbelis said in a statement, adding that the probe was still under way.

"We might find signs of activities of other kinds as we investigate," Urbelis said.

(Reporting by Andrius Sytas in Vilnius, writng by Stine Jacobsen and Anna Ringstrom , editing by Louise Rasmussen and Gareth Jones)
Tepary beans come in a wide range of colors, but white and brown are among the most common. (Romulo Yanes/ Conde Nast via Getty Images)

Thanksgiving, our national harvest celebration, is a good day to remember our collective food history, and an even better one to taste it. Teparies are native to the Sonoran Desert in the Southwest U.S. and Mexico, where they were first domesticated at least 4,000 years ago. Twenty-two Indigenous cultures, as well as Mexicans and Anglos, have grown them. Now theyre a crop in low-water, high-heat regions around the world.

These small, variegated and resilient bush beans, dried, are a staple for Tohono Oodham, Akimel Oodham and Pima Indians in Arizona and New Mexico. In one Tohono Oodham story, trickster Coyote flings white teparies into the sky to make the Milky Way. Lakota Sioux chef Sean Sherman recounts that when the Dine  the Navajo  were forced from their homes on the brutal Long Walk of 1864, Indigenous seed savers hid teparies in their clothing for sustenance and tradition.

Native cultivation never stopped, but the fact that teparies are available in grocery stores now (you can order them online too) is largely thanks to nonprofit heirloom seed savers , land back efforts that reconnect Native America n farmers with their homelands and funding help for climate-change-friendly agriculture.

Heat-, drought- and salt-tolerant, teparies thrive in the alkaline desert soil in temperatures that reach more than 125 degrees. They thrive with seasonal monsoon rains, flowering and producing pods when other beans fail. They require one-fifth of the water needed to grow common beans (a.k.a. pinto and kidney beans) and one-fourth the water required for alfalfa to feed livestock  teparies are human food and forage for animals.

Teparies come in a lot of varieties and colors, but white, brown and black are the most common. White teparies are relatively mild, closer in flavor to cannellini beans; the brown and black ones have an earthier, more robust taste. They all keep their shape when you cook them.

Nutty-tasting, satisfying and rich, teparies are packages of powerful nutrients. Higher in protein than most common beans (a.k.a. pintos or kidneys), theyre a great source of calcium, niacin, iron, zinc, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium and fiber, and theyre low on the glycemic index, which means theyre digested slowly and they can help control diabetes, obesity and heart disease.

Tepary beans belong in everyones kitchen; they have a lot to teach us about eating well and living lightly on a hotter, drier planet. Serve them at your Thanksgiving feast; they're something to be thankful for.

Sonoran Tepary Dip

Makes about 2 1/2 cups

This simple dip makes a wonderful appetizer. Use any color tepary you like.

1 cup tepary beans

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 small jalapeno or Anaheim pepper, seeded and diced

 cup fresh lime juice

1 teaspoon ground cumin

 teaspoon chile powder, or more to taste

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Small yellow onion, chopped

1 cup chopped cilantro leaves

2 to 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Pine nuts for garnish

Cook the beans (one cup of dried beans yields two cups cooked). Tepary beans take longer to cook than most dried beans. Soak them, with enough water to cover by 4 inches for at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours. Drain, rinse and return to the pot with water to cover by 4 inches. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer until tender, 2 to 4 hours.

In a large bowl, stir together the cooked beans, garlic, pepper, lime juice, cumin, chile powder, salt and pepper. Using a potato masher or the back of a fork, smash the ingredients until you have a rough paste; add water if necessary. Stir in the onion and cilantro. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with the oil and pine nuts. Store leftovers in a covered container for up to three days.

Beth Dooleys latest cookbook, written with ethnobotanist Gary Paul Nabhan, is Chile, Clove and Cardamom: A Gastronomic Journey into the Fragrances and Flavors of the Desert.



If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By Alexander Ermochenko

AVDIIVKA, Ukraine (Reuters) - In the shattered Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, which Russian forces took in February this year, some of the few residents left said they were trying to rebuild their lives, though the scars of war - and the tears they provoke - remain.

Reuters footage, some of the first visuals by an international media organisation, showed destroyed buildings and vast amounts of rubble dusted with snow. Abandoned family pictures and clothes littered ruined apartments.

In a newly renovated apartment building in the city, Florida Troshina, a Russian-speaking Ukrainian, wept over the death of her daughter, killed just two days before Russian troops arrived.

Others told Reuters of the deprivations of living in a ruined city, which is known as Avdeyevka by Russian speakers.

"I just wanted to get out of the basement," Tatiana Golovina said in Russian, adding that she was pleased to be moving back above ground.

"It is hard there. There is no light, the lighting is bad, we have battery-powered lamps there - at least it is warm here," Golovina said.

Avdiivka, once a city of more than 37,000, was largely abandoned during the fighting though some residents endured the war and stayed.

A Reuters journalist based in nearby Russian-controlled Donetsk travelled to the city without an escort in response to an invitation to local media to see initial renovations by the local authorities.

"I think, starting from next year we will have the opportunity to approach in detail how and at what pace, what Avdiivka will look like in a post-military period, how it will be linked to the development of Donetsk," said Denis Pushilin, the Russian-installed head of the surrounding Donetsk region.

Behind the intense fighting on the front lines, Russia says it has been pouring billions of dollars into the areas of Ukraine it controls to rebuild infrastructure, and President Vladimir Putin has said that housing is a priority.

Russia controls 18% of Ukraine, including just over 80% of the industrialised eastern Donbas region made up of Luhansk and Donetsk, according to open source maps.

Russia says that the region and others it partly controls are now part of Russia, though most of the world recognises them as part of Ukraine which says it will not rest until every last Russian soldier is ejected.

The capture of Avdiivka in early 2024 held particular symbolism for Russia. Located 15 km (9 miles) north of the Russian-controlled Ukrainian city of Donetsk, its Soviet-era coke plant was one of Europe's biggest before the war.

After a pro-Russian president was toppled in Ukraine's 2014 Maidan Revolution, Russia annexed Crimea and began giving military support to pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Those forces in 2014 captured several towns in the Donetsk region including Avdiivka but it was then taken back by Ukraine's forces who built extensive fortifications.

(Reporting by Reuters in Avdiivka; writing by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
By Guy Faulconbridge and Lidia Kelly

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian forces are advancing in Ukraine at the fastest rate since the early days of the 2022 invasion, taking an area half the size of London over the past month, analysts and war bloggers say.

The war is entering what some Russian and Western officials say could be its most dangerous phase after Moscow's forces made some of their biggest territorial gains and the United States allowed Kyiv to strike back with U.S. missiles.

"Russia has set new weekly and monthly records for the size of the occupied territory in Ukraine," independent Russian news group Agentstvo said in a report.

The Russian army captured almost 235 sq km (91 sq miles) in Ukraine over the past week, a weekly record for 2024, it said.

Russian forces had taken 600 sq km (232 sq miles) in November, it added, citing data from DeepState, a group with close links to the Ukrainian army that studies combat footage and provides front line maps.

Russia began advancing faster in eastern Ukraine in July just as Ukrainian forces carved out a sliver of its western region of Kursk. Since then, the Russian advance has accelerated, according to open source maps.

Russia currently controls 18% of Ukraine including all of Crimea, just over 80% of Donbas, which comprises of Luhansk and Donetsk, and more than 70% of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, as well just under 3% of the Kharkiv region, according to open source maps.

Neither side publishes accurate data on their own losses though Western intelligence estimates to casualties to number hundreds of thousands killed or injured, while swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine have turned into wastelands.

RUSSIAN ADVANCE

President Vladimir Putin, who replaced his defence minister in May, has repeatedly said that Russian forces are advancing much more effectively - and that Russia will achieve all its aims in Ukraine.

The thrust of the advance has been in Donetsk region, with Russian forces pushing towards the town of Pokrovsk and into the town of Kurakhove. Russia has increasingly encircled territory and then pummelled Ukrainian forces with artillery and glide bombs, according to Russian analysts.

The General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces said in its Monday update that 45 battles of varying intensity were raging along the Kurakhove part of the front line that evening.

If Russia can pierce the Ukrainian defences around Kurakhove, then they will be able to push westwards towards the city of Zaporizhzhia while securing their rear to allow a swing towards Pokrovsk, Russian war bloggers said.

The Institute for the Study of War report and pro-Russian military bloggers say Russian troops are in Kurakhove. Deep State said on its Telegram messaging app on Monday that Russian forces are near Kurakhove.

"Russian forces' advances in southeastern Ukraine are largely the result of the discovery and tactical exploitation of vulnerabilities in Ukraine's lines," the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said in a report.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has repeatedly said peace cannot be established until all Russian forces are expelled and all territory captured by Moscow, including Crimea, is returned.

But outnumbered by Russian troops, the Ukrainian military is struggling to recruit soldiers and provide equipment to new units.

Zelenskiy has said he believed Putin's main objectives were to occupy the entire Donbas, spanning the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, and oust Ukrainian troops from the Kursk region, parts of which they have controlled since August.

(Additional reporting by Oleksandr Kozhukhar in Kyiv; Writing by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne and Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Angus MacSwan)
GREEN LAKE, Wis.  Ryan Borgwardt, a kayaker from Wisconsin accused of faking his own death and fleeing the country, might not face significant jail time if he returns home, experts say.

Borgwardt was initially reported missing in August after kayaking on Green Lake, a natural inland lake about 100 miles northwest of Milwaukee. But following a monthslong investigation, authorities revealed earlier this month that Borgwardt had staged his disappearance before possibly fleeing to Europe.

Before his disappearance, authorities said Borgwardt took out a life insurance policy and communicated with a woman from Uzbekistan. Last week, authorities announced that they had made contact with Borgwardt  who said he has no intention of returning home or giving up his whereabouts.

Clinical associate professor of law at the University of Wisconsin Law School John Gross said if Borgwardt returns home, he would likely be charged with a Class A misdemeanor for obstruction, but its not certain whether he could be charged with a Class I felony for insurance fraud.

The definition of obstruction, in this case, is when you give false information to an officer or you knowingly place physical evidence with the intent to mislead an officer, so when he dumps his kayak and leaves his wallet, thats knowingly planting evidence, Gross said.

Class A misdemeanors in Wisconsin can result in a fine of up to $10,000, or a maximum of nine months in prison, or both. Insurance fraud is determined to be a Class I felony if the claim is more than $2,500, and the Green Lake County Sheriffs Office said Borgwardt took out a $375,000 life insurance policy with his immediate family as beneficiaries.

The lowest-level felony in Wisconsin, a Class I felony, can carry a prison sentence of up to 3  years. But Gross said even that would be cut in half because the family never tried to claim the policy.

What could make this felony applicable to him is that the insurance fraud statute speaks about presenting fraudulent claim or causing a fraudulent claim to be presented, and if you fake your own death, then you are causing a false claim to be presented, Gross added. But were possibly talking about a year-and-a-half as a maximum penalty.

Bizarre 911 call case: Police capture Tennessee murder suspect accused of faking his own death on scenic highway

What happened to Ryan Borgwardt?

Borgwardt, a 45-year-old married father of three, was originally reported missing on Aug. 12 when he failed to return from kayaking on Green Lake a day earlier. An extensive search involving underwater drones, towable submersible sonar, divers and three K-9 cadaver teams did not turn up Borgwardts body after 54 days.

But a shift in the investigation found that his name had been checked by Canadian law enforcement on Aug. 13 and showed he had a second passport after reporting his first passport as lost. Following a forensic analysis of his laptop, authorities also discovered that Borgwardt was in communication with a woman from Uzbekistan, inquired about moving funds to foreign banks and changed email addresses associated with financial accounts.

Authorities added that in January, Borgwardt took out a $375,000 life insurance policy and purchased an airline gift card.

During a news conference on Thursday, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll revealed authorities have been in daily contact with Borgwardt since Nov. 11 and first reached him via a woman speaking Russian. Borgwardt confirmed law enforcements findings after detailing his plan, which included:

 Stashing an e-bike near the boat launch.

 Paddling a kayak and a child-sized inflatable boat out into the lake.

 Overturning the kayak and dumping his phone in the lake.

 Paddling the inflatable boat to shore and then riding the e-bike through the night to Madison.

 Boarding a bus in Madison, going to Detroit and then heading to the Canadian border.

 Continuing on the bus to the airport and getting on a plane.

Ryan Borgwardt believed to be in Eastern Europe

Although Borgwardt is believed to be somewhere in Eastern Europe, authorities still do not know his exact whereabouts and haven't been able to persuade him to return home. The U.S. does not have an extradition treaty with Uzbekistan or Russia.

U.S. Attorneys Office Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales said the department can't comment "outside of public findings on any specific matter," but revealed there is no specific federal offense for someone faking their death and fleeing the country.

Any federal offense would depend on the details of a case, such as a person committing mail fraud relating to insurance benefits, lying to obtain a fraudulent federal identification document, or lying to immigration officials, according to Gales.

Gross also noted that there could be tax implications if the Internal Revenue Service views this case as attempted fraud. Its not clear whether Borgwardt transferred funds to foreign banks.

Were assuming hes not coming back, but what if he returns in time for tax season and pays his taxes? Gross said. I know people are looking at this as such a huge crime, but you can walk off the grid, go live in a cabin, or join a monastery without telling anyone and technically thats not a crime.

In addition to potential obstruction charges, Podoll said the Green Lake County Sheriffs Office would likely be seeking restitution between $35,000 and $40,000 for the search effort. Those costs do not include any expenses incurred by volunteers such as Bruces Legacy  a nonprofit search-and-rescue organization  and the expert divers, according to Podoll.

Justin Marville reports for the Oshkosh Northwestern.

Contributing: Thao Nguyen and Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY.

Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Ryan Borgwardt: Could Wisconsin man who faked death face jail time?
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  Outgoing North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed legislation on Tuesday that would strip powers from several Democrats elected to statewide office this month, including removing the authority of Cooper's successor to appoint the state elections board.

These and other provisions, contained in a wide-ranging measure stuffed through the Republican-dominated General Assembly in less than 24 hours during a lame-duck session last week, would weaken Gov.-elect Josh Stein, as well as the next attorney general, schools superintendent and lieutenant governor  offices that are slated to be run by Democrats next year.

While the bill contains additional Hurricane Helene relief provisions, critics say the amount is relatively small and most of the relief funds can't even be spent until the General Assembly reconvenes next month. And billions of dollars more in aid may be needed in the coming months.

Democrats and their allies considered disaster items thin window-dressing for a series of partisan power grabs by the GOP before its veto-proof majority potentially goes away at year's end following the certification of the Nov. 5 General Assembly elections, where a few tight races are undergoing recounts.

In his veto statement, Cooper called the bill a sham that doesn't provide the necessary aid to western North Carolina and merely shuffles money from one fund to another in Raleigh instead.

This legislation was titled disaster relief but instead violates the constitution by taking appointments away from the next Governor for the Board of Elections, Utilities Commission and Commander of the NC Highway Patrol, letting political parties choose appellate judges and interfering with the Attorney Generals ability to advocate for lower electric bills for consumers, Cooper said.

The bill now returns to the General Assembly, where Republicans are expected to start their override attempt in Raleigh next week. They usually need all GOP House members and senators present and unified to be successful.

But that could be challenging, as three House Republicans voted no on the bill this month. All three represent areas damaged by Helene's historic flooding. One of them said he voted against the measure because it was rushed through the General Assembly.

While Republicans will still control both chambers come January, Stein could become more successful blocking GOP legislation if Democratic lawmakers remain united to uphold vetoes.

The 131-page bill would attempt to alter yet again how the State Board of Elections is appointed, likely leading to a GOP majority on a panel now controlled by Democrats.

The governor currently makes state board appointments, and the governor's party always holds three of the five seats.

Under the latest bill, starting in May, the state auditor  who will be Republican Dave Boliek  will make appointments to the elections board. The changes likely would mean Republican board control in the near future and filter down to county election boards, too.

Other measures approved by the GOP-controlled legislature since 2016 to change the board's makeup in the interest of bipartisanship have been blocked by courts, including a 2023 law that would move board appointment authority from the governor to the General Assembly.

The vetoed bill also would move up several post-election deadlines in 2025 after Republican complaints that counties took too long this month to count provisional and absentee ballots, especially in light of an extremely close Supreme Court race. Republicans said the changes will lead to more efficient and quicker vote count releases.

The legislation also would weaken the governors authority to fill vacancies on the state Court of Appeals and Supreme Court by limiting his choice to candidates offered by the political party of the outgoing justice or judge.

Stein, the current attorney general, will be succeeded by fellow Democratic U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson. The bill would limit the attorney general by barring him from taking legal positions contrary to the General Assembly in litigation challenging a laws validity.

The bill also would prevent the superintendent of public instruction  a post to be held by Democrat Mo Green  from appealing decisions by a state board that reviews charter school applications.

And the legislation would repeal the Energy Policy Council, of which the lieutenant governor is the chair. Current GOP Gov. Lt. Mark Robinson is giving way to Democrat Rachel Hunt early next year.

The bill did locate an additional $252 million for Helene relief, adding to the over $900 million that lawmakers had already set aside or started spending in previous measures this fall. But most of the money earmarked in the latest bill cant be spent until the General Assembly acts again. Cooper asked the legislature last month to consider an initial Helene spending request of $3.9 billion.
People attend the scene of a building that collapsed in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Steven Genya) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AP)  Rescue operations at a building that collapsed in Tanzania's commercial capital have ended after 10 days as the number of dead rose to 29, the government spokesperson said Tuesday.

The owner of the building in Dar Es Salaams Kariakoo area, which is popular among traders, was arrested and investigations into the Nov. 16 collapse are ongoing, spokesperson Thobias Makoba told reporters.

More than 80 people were rescued from the four-story building that housed dozens of shops.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has ordered an audit of all buildings in the area, where most businesses reopened since the search ended.

Building collapses are common during the rainy season in the East African country and are often blamed on poor construction.


A progressive, living document: President Murmu on 75th Consitution Day President Droupadi Murmu, in her address at the 75th Constitution Day celebrations on Tuesday, hailed the Constitution of India as a "progressive and living document," emphasising its enduring relevance and transformative power in shaping the country's growth. The Constitution Day (also known as Samvidhan Divas) event took place in the Central Hall of Parliament, attended by Vice President and Rajya Sabha Speaker Jagdeep Dhankhar, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and members of both Houses of Parliament.



Along with the ceremonial address, the leaders also launched two books related to the Constitution, marking the historic occasion.



In her speech, President Murmu underscored the significance of the Constitution as the "most sacred book" of the nation.



"Today, we are not just witnesses but partners in this historic event," she said.



"75 years ago, in this very Central Hall of the Parliament, the Constituent Assembly undertook the monumental task of drafting a Constitution for a newly independent country."



Highlighting the contribution of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Constitution, President Murmu added, "Baba Saheb Ambedkar left an indelible mark on our Constitution, making it progressive and all-encompassing."



She went on to reflect on the strides made in recent years, particularly for the welfare of marginalised communities.



"The government has taken several steps for the upliftment of all sections of society, especially the weaker sections. The poor are now getting their own homes, and world-class infrastructure is being developed across the country," she noted.



The President further emphasised that the Constitution remains a "living and progressive document" that has enabled India to achieve the goals of social justice and inclusive development.



"Through our Constitution, we have achieved remarkable progress in social justice and inclusive development," she affirmed.



She urged all citizens to embody the constitutional ideals in their daily lives, stressing the importance of "fulfilling fundamental duties and working towards the national goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047."



"I urge all citizens to adopt these ideals, to work together towards building a prosperous and self-reliant India," President Murmu said.



Addressing the need for cooperation across government branches, she remarked, "As per the Constitution, it is the duty of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches to work together to improve the lives of ordinary citizens."



She also pointed out the landmark economic reform, the Goods and Services Tax (GST), as a major step forward post-independence. "The biggest improvement for the economic rights of our country after independence was the introduction of GST, and in 2008, the National Revenue and Expenditure Act was given constitutional status," she noted.



Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, speaking at the event, called the Indian Constitution a "masterpiece" that reflected the profound foresight and unwavering dedication of the Constitution's framers.



"This masterpiece is a tribute to the vision and commitment of the founding fathers of our Constitution, who, over three years, shaped the nation's future with decorum and dedication, focusing on consensus and understanding," he said.



In a pointed remark directed at the Opposition, Dhankhar said, "Disturbances in the political discourse threaten our democratic institutions. It is time to restore the sanctity of our democratic temples through constructive dialogue, debates, and meaningful discussions to better serve our people."



He also emphasised the deeper significance of the Constitution's opening words: "We the people," which, according to him, establish the citizen as the ultimate authority.



"The Preamble promises justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity to every citizen. It is our guiding star, especially when we face challenges," he said.



Vice President Dhankhar further urged the nation to "prioritise its duties towards sovereignty, unity, national interests, and environmental protection."



"We must commit fully to our fundamental duties, safeguard our national sovereignty, and work towards forging unity and progress," he said. "Our commitment to these values is crucial for achieving our vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047, a nation that embodies progress, inclusion, and sustainability."




Rudy Giuliani

Rudy Giuliani erupted in Manhattan court Tuesday  claiming that the judge was unfairly against him  as he failed to get out of a January trial date in his $148 million defamation case.

Every implication that youve made is against me! Giuliani, the disbarred former US attorney for the Southern District, shouted at Judge Lewis Liman during a hearing in Manhattan federal court.

The 80-year-old former New York City mayor threw a temper tantrum after Liman questioned why Giuliani had not yet turned over the title to his 1980 Mercedes convertible to the two Georgia election workers he defamed after the 2020 presidential election.

Rudy Giuliani shouted at the judge at one point during the proceedings. REUTERS

Your client is a competent person. He was the US Attorney in this district, Liman said, addressing Giulianis lawyer. The notion that he cant apply for a title certificate, he continued  before Giuliani cut him off.

I did apply for it! Giuliani pleaded. What am I supposed to do, make it up myself? Your implication that I have not been diligent about it is totally incorrect.

The embattled former mayor also accused the judge of unfairly characterizing his claim that he has limited access to assets as him crying poverty to the court.

Im not impoverished  Everything I have is tied up, Giuliani claimed. I dont have a car. I dont have a credit card. I dont have cash.

The embattled former mayor accused the judge of unfairly characterizing his claim that he has limited access to assets as telling the court that hes impoverished. REUTERS

Giuliani also claimed, without providing evidence, that someone had placed what he called a stop order on his Social Security account.

The judge then warned him not to speak again.

Next time, hes not going to be permitted to speak, and the court will take action, Liman said.

The atmosphere inside court was tense. William Farrington

Your client can either represent himself by counsel or appear pro se, the judge added, referring to the legal term for self-representation. He cant do both.

The fiery exchange unfolded after a lawyer for the election workers  Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea Shaye Moss  said that Giuliani turned over the keys to the blue convertible and the luxury car itself  but not the title to the vintage vehicle, which Giuliani claims to have lost track of.

The car and the keys, without the title, is meaningless, Liman noted.

Giuliani was ordered to surrender his Mercedes. REUTERS

Earlier in the hearing, Giuliani pouted, cradling his face with his hands, after Liman denied his bid to push back a Jan. 16 trial over whether he can hang on to some prized possessions while he appeals a Washington, DC, trial judgment against him in the defamation case. The trial will center specifically on Giulianis Palm Beach, Florida, condo, and Yankees World Series rings  which he claims were a gift to his son Andrew  that hes been ordered to hand over to the election workers.

Among Giulianis arguments for delaying the trial was that hed like the case to be resolved in time for him to attend President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration on Jan. 20. His lawyer, Staten Island attorney Joseph Cammarata, claimed Giuliani has an involvement with the inauguration, and that he regularly consults with Trump.

But Liman, reading his ruling from the bench, said the defendants social calendar does not constitute good cause to grant the delay. But he said that hed be open to moving the trial up to Jan. 13 or Jan. 14 so that it can finish up in time for Giuliani to theoretically attend the event.

The former NYC mayor erupted in court as the fight over his assets drags on. William Farrington

The jurist also blasted a claim from Cammarata that the case is taking a severe financial toll on Giuliani.

Your clients claims of poverty when there is no evidence before me  is not well founded, Liman said, adding: It doesnt appear that your client is indigent.

Giuliani was ordered last month to surrender his ritzy Manhattan apartment, the Mercedes, prized sports memorabilia and other goods to Freeman and Moss, whom he was found to have defamed by falsely claiming they tried to cheat Trump out of the 2020 election that he lost.

DC federal judge Beryl Howell found Giuliani liable for defamation by default after the ex-mayor broke the courts rules by failing to turn over evidence that hed been ordered to divulge.

A jury then awarded the two workers  who testified about angry mobs of Trump supporters descending on their Georgia home after Giulianis lies about them  $148 million in damages at a December trial.

Liman is a former Manhattan federal prosecutor and corporate defense lawyer who was nominated to the bench by then-President Trump in 2018 at the request of Democrat New York Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kristin Gillibrand.
Photo by GPA Photo Archive / U.S. Department of State (IIP Bureau) on Flickr

(The Center Square)  President-elect Donald Trump wants to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and one of his supporters in the U.S. Senate recently filed a bill to make it happen.

U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., recently filed a bill titled the "Returning Education to Our States Act." His bill would eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and redistribute any "critical federal programs" to other departments, according to a press release from his office.

Created in 1979, the Federal Department of Education was founded to collect data and advise schools on best practices, the release said. However, its role since then has changed.

"In the 45 years since then, it has grown into an oversized bureaucracy with a budget that's 449% larger than it was at its founding," the release said. "Despite the Department spending $16,000 per student per year, standardized test scores have been dropping over the past ten years, further displaying the Department's ineffectiveness on the quality of education for American students. Any grants or funding from the Department are only given to states and educational institutions in exchange for adopting the one-size-fits-all standards put forth by the Department."

Rounds called the federal Department of Education harmful and argued the country would have better education without it.

"The federal Department of Education has never educated a single student, and it's long past time to end this bureaucratic Department that causes more harm than good," Rounds said in the release. "We all know local control is best when it comes to education. Everyone raised in South Dakota can think of a teacher who played a big part in their educational journey. Local school boards and state Departments of Education know best what their students need, not unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C."

Rounds added that he looks forward to working with Republicans in Congress in hopes of making it happen once the party takes back control of the U.S. Senate next year.

"For years, I've worked toward removing the federal Department of Education," Rounds said in the release. "I'm pleased that President-elect Trump shares this vision, and I'm excited to work with him and Republican majorities in the Senate and House to make this a reality. This legislation is a roadmap to eliminating the federal Department of Education by practically rehoming these federal programs in the departments where they belong, which will be critical as we move into next year."

Critics have argued that abolishing the Department of Education would make federal student aid more difficult to get and put certain schools that use federal aid as an outsized portion of their budgets in danger of closing.

The bill Rounds filed would redirect programs he sees as vital to the Departments of Interior, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Labor, and State.

Under his bill, the Department of the Interior would manage the following programs, according to the release: Native American-Serving Institutions Programs, Alaska Native Education Equity Program, American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program, Indian Education Formula Grants and National Activities, Native American and Alaska Native Children in School Program, Native Hawaiian Education, Special Programs for Indian Children, Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Career and Technical Education Program, and Impact Aid Programs.

Similarly, the Department of the Treasury would get these programs, the release said: William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, Federal Family Education Loan Program, Federal Perkins Loan Program, Federal Pell Grant Program, Health Education Assistance Loan Program, and the Education Sciences Reform Act.

Plus, the Department of Health and Human Services would manage the following, the release said: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, American Printing House for the Blind, Helen Keller Center for Deaf/Blind Youth and Adults, Federal Real Property Assistance Program, and Special Education Grants.

Also, the Department of Labor would manage: All Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education programs, the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Randolph Sheppard Vending Facility Program, and Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants, according to the release.

And the Department of State would manage the Fulbright-Hays Program under this bill.

One can read the bill here.
These restaurants, where paella and tapas abound, are guaranteed to deliver authentic Spanish flavor.

Alexander Spatari / Getty Images

There's a sure-fire way for those living in the United States to get a taste of Spain without ever having to take out their passport.

The Restaurants from Spain Certification Program led by Food and Wines From Spain is dedicated to recognizing restaurants around the world for their focus on authentic Spanish cuisine, so diners everywhere can feel like they're eating on the Iberian peninsula. And in the U.S. there are 91 delicious restaurants to explore.

The initiative aims to provide consumers with standards and criteria for finding quality, authentic Spanish ingredients and dishes. Restaurants on the list will also serve as examples of what it means to represent Spain on a plate, hopefully inspiring more businesses to follow suit.

The restaurants include Ser, a "family-owned, award-winning neighborhood restaurant" in Ballston, Virginia, that serves "authentic comfort foods from Spain in a casual and friendly environment," the website explains. Those dishes include a traditional and hearty tortilla de patatas, filled with tender potatoes, poached onions, and fluffy eggs.

Food & Wines of Spain

Then there's Meson Sabika in Naperville, Illinois, which opened its doors in 1990 and has offered "a unique dining experience that blends old-world charm with modern culinary excellence" ever since. Housed in a historic mansion, the paella section of the menu is a must-try, with options ranging from a vegetarian paella with cauliflower and brussels sprouts to the more traditional Valenciana style, featuring chicken, shrimp, mussels, and clams.

Bar Vinazo in Brooklyn, New York, highlights Spanish tapas like gildas and boquerones  perfect for sharing with friends over a drink  along with an excellent selection of Spanish wine. You can sample some Basque country favorites at Zeru in Miami, Florida, which brings together Mediterranean and Cantabrian flavors with a selection of grilled seafood cooked in a josper, a charcoal-fired oven that hails from Spain.

And naturally Jaleo by Jose Andres in Las Vegas, Nevada is on the list, thanks to its wide-ranging showcase of typical Spanish foods, including an excellent array of cured meats and cheeses (manchego, anyone?)

These appetizing establishments are just the beginning. Foods and Wines From Spain created a map to highlight all of its partner restaurants across the United States, making it easy to find one near you  or one worthy of traveling to on your next domestic vacation. Even though you can enjoy them at home, we'll give you a fair warning; All of these restaurants will inspire you to fly off to Spain for a second helping.
Medics and rescue services assembled on the dock to pull survivors from the water - EGYPTIAN PRESS CENTER/SHUTTERSTOCK

Four bodies have been found after a yacht capsized in the Red Sea.

Two British tourists were thought to be among 16 people missing after the sinking of the diving vessel, called the Sea Story, on Monday.

Major General Amr Hanafi, the Governor of the Red Sea area, said naval forces had rescued three people alive  two Belgian nationals and one Egyptian.

In addition, four bodies have been recovered, though their identities have yet to be confirmed.

The Governor said the search continues for nine individuals who remain unaccounted for. One Finnish national, one Swiss national and four Egyptians are believed to be among them.

Distress signals were sent out shortly before dawn on Monday morning after reports of a huge wave hitting the boat.

A search and rescue operation coordinated by the Egyptian military had recovered 28 survivors by Monday night  with some airlifted to safety and others transported to shore by warship.

All 13 of the yachts crew members are Egyptian. The Chinese embassy in Egypt confirmed two of its nationals were in good health after being rescued.

Others said to be onboard include five Spanish, four Germans and other passengers from Poland, Belgium, Slovakia and Ireland.

A search and rescue operation coordinated by the Egyptian military had recovered 28 survivors by Monday night - STR/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The rescue operation was paused at 5pm on Monday evening (3pm GMT) after the 44-metre timber-hulled boat was thought to have capsized near Shaab Satayah, a popular coral reef often visited on diving trips.

Two Britons are among the missing, according to the BBC. The Foreign office confirmed it was supporting a number of British nationals in relation to the incident.

Took only five to seven minutes

Maj Gen Hanafi said the sinking unfolded rapidly following a large wave.

This was the preliminary cause of the incident, according to accounts from both foreign and Egyptian crew members, he said.

The situation unfolded rapidly, taking only five to seven minutes, and some passengers were trapped inside cabins, preventing their escape.

A diving resort manager close to the rescue operation told journalists the Sea Story was hit by a wave in the middle of the night, throwing the vessel on its side, according to an account by a surviving crew member.

Officials said the vessel had embarked on a five-day diving trip, having left the eastern town of Marsa Alam on Sunday.

The Sea Story had embarked on a five-day diving trip after leaving the eastern town of Marsa Alam on Sunday - Red Sea Governorate

Maj Gen Hanafi said the boat had passed its last safety inspection in March 2024, with no technical issues reported.

The boat, owned by an Egyptian national, was 34m long and had received a one-year safety certificate from the Maritime Safety Authority.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident, which occurred during rough weather.

The 28 survivors were rescued with minor injuries and none required hospitalisation.

The 28 survivors were rescued with minor injuries and none required hospitalisation - AFP

The Egyptian Red Sea Ports Authority reported waves of up to 4m and wind speeds of 34 knots (40mph) in the area on Sunday, leading to the closure of maritime traffic.

The Red Sea, renowned for its coral reefs and marine life, is a hub for Egypts tourism industry, which plays a critical role in the countrys economy.

Sea Storys sinking comes a year after three British tourists died when their Egyptian diving boat caught fire off the coast of Marsa Alam.

Videos showed some of the 29 people on board the Hurricane yacht diving into the water to escape flames after a suspected electrical fault in the engine room in June 2023.

In February 2024, the yacht Sea Legend caught fire in Egypt with 17 dive guests on board, resulting in the death of one tourist.

A separate vessel suffered severe damage from strong waves in the area in June this year, although no casualties were reported.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
President-elect Donald Trumps new border czar Tom Homan is putting together an extensive deportation plan for when he hits the ground after they are both sworn into office in January.

Homan spoke to the Center Square about his priorities, illustrating a marked difference from President Bidens border czar, Vice President Kamala Harris, who repeatedly said the border was secure and she didnt need to go there. Under the Biden-Harris administration, the greatest number of illegal border crossers, roughly 14 million, were reported in US history, the Center Square reported.

The overarching theme, Homan said, is millions of people entered this country illegally, which is a crime. The Biden administration argued illegal border crossers have a right to claim asylum and to go before an immigration judge, he said. We gave them that opportunity to see a judge. But we know, based on immigration court data, that nearly nine out of 10 of them will get an order for removal because they simply dont qualify for asylum.

President-elect Donald Trumps new border czar Tom Homan is putting together an extensive deportation plan for when he hits the ground after they are both sworn into office in January. REUTERS

The fact that millions of people illegally entered the US and nine out 10 are ordered removed necessitates a mass deportation operation, he said. Are these dirty words? No. On the end of historic mass illegal immigration with nine out of 10 getting orders for removal, there has to be a mass deportation program. The only other option is to let them stay, which nullifies immigration law and the immigration court system, he argued.

It also sends a message to the entire world that you can enter this country illegally and you can go to court and lose your case and youre still not going to go home, he said. Well never solve the southwest border crisis like that. So, you know what? You cant demand due process and not accept the end result. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas himself has testified numerous times before Congress that for those who dont qualify for asylum, theyd be removed. Well, guess what? Its time to do the removal part.

Removal priorities

The removal process will prioritize individuals based on their threat to society, he said. The priorities will focus on public safety threats, national security threats and fugitives, those who got due process at great taxpayer expense and the federal judge ordered them removed, but they didnt leave, and they became a fugitive.

The overarching theme, Homan said, is millions of people entered this country illegally, which is a crime. The Washington Post via Getty Images

Individuals who are on the federal Terrorist Watch List and Special Interest Aliens (SIAs), those from countries of foreign concern (COFC), are all priorities, he said. Well work very closely with the FBI and intelligence community to identify and find them, he said. We know a record number of people on the terrorist watchlist have crossed the border, he said. Homan has long warned that the border crisis created the greatest national security threat since 9/11.

Within the last year alone, numerous officials issued imminent terrorist attack warnings and Biden extended multiple national emergency orders due to ongoing terror threats since 9/11. Under his watch, the greatest number of known or suspected terrorists were apprehended, with the majority caught at the northern border, the Center Square reported.

Under the Biden administration, more than 660,000 criminal foreign nationals were recently identified to be deported by ICE, including 435,719 convicted criminals, the Center Square reported. ICE agents arrested more than 387,000 criminals in fiscal years 2021 through 2023, the Center Square reported. The majority were citizens of Mexico, Nicaragua, Colombia and Venezuela.

Finding and removing millions of SIAs, those from COFC, criminals released into the US through the CHNV parole program (for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans)  including members of Tren de Aragua, a violent Venezuelan prison gang  and those identified in national security cases will last us for a long time, Homan said.

US military role

The US military will assist in Trumps deportation efforts, Homan said. Title 8 enforcement authority will remain with federal agents from the US Border Patrol, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and US Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Investigations.

Under the Biden administration, more than 660,000 criminal foreign nationals were recently identified to be deported by ICE, including 435,719 convicted criminals. AFP via Getty Images

The military will provide air and ground transportation assistance, work on construction building and intelligence targeting, he said. They can do all kinds of things that dont require immigration authority, he said. Those with immigration authority like HSI agents and ICE agents, deportation officers, theyll be making the arrests. He also pointed out that the DOD has been used in every administration to help with the border. Were just going to expand that enforcement to help with non-law enforcement duties.

However, no ones off the table, he said. If youre in the country illegally, you got a problem. Hes previously warned the millions of the illegal aliens that Joe Biden released in our country in violation of federal law, You better start packing now. Because you are going home.

Homan also encouraged all foreign nationals in the country illegally to voluntarily return to their country of origin because it would be better for them to do so.

If youre in the country illegally and you got an order for removal, or even if you dont have one, if youre in the country, leave on your own. Because when you leave on your own, theres no penalties. But if we actually have to deport you with a formal order for deportation, theres a 20-year ban. That means you cant get a visit visa, you cant get a tourist visa. If you have a US citizen child that lives here, he cant petition for you. So, its better to leave on your own rather than getting a formal order of removal.
Courtesy American Express



"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."



Chef Valerie Chang is wrist-deep in a metal bowl twice the size of her head. With gloved hands, she gently tosses a heap of bay scallops with ingredients like crispy garlic, finger limes, and burnt serrano peppers. She plates the mixture with paper-thin sliced grapes, cilantro Leche de Tigre (a citrusy marinade), and huacatay oil from the Peruvian Andes, forming a version of her scallop cebiche (the Peruvian spelling)a favorite on the menu at Matys, her award-winning Peruvian restaurant in Miami. The dish is melt-in-your-mouth soft, citrusy, and spicy all at once. Its a revelation.

Chang, who grew up in Chiclayo, Peru, and moved to Miami at age 10, is inspired by the Peruvian dishes her grandmother Maty made for her growing up, whether its a whole roasted fish (in this case, a dorade), an oxtail spin on lomo saltado, picarones for dessert, or a choclo with Huancaina sauce that could double as a smoky corn mac and cheese.

Since opening in March 2023, Matys has became one of the countrys buzziest new restaurants, landing on best-of lists from The New York Times , Bon Appetit , and Esquire . This June, Chang also earned a James Beard Award for Best Chef: South. I never imagined that Matys would touch peoples hearts the way that it has, she says.

Prior to Matys, Chang made her mark on the Miami food scene alongside her brother, Nando, and their father, Fernando. Together, they opened Itamae, a Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian cuisine) restaurant, in 2018, and its sushi offshoot, B-Side, one year later. Nando also runs Itamae AO, an omakase tasting room next door to Matys, and has been known to swing by and help his sister in the kitchen. I dont think Matys would be what it is without my brother, Chang says. I mean, he carries a big, big load of it.

Growing up, the siblings accompanied their dad to his job at a sushi restaurant, because he couldnt afford a babysitter. They tagged along to his catering events, and eventually started assisting him. Chang, who was struggling in school, loved the idea of earning her own money instead of going to class. I made $500 one time, and I was like, Im sold. This is a life I deserve, she says.

But the real origin of her long love affair with food began elsewhere in the family: Both of my grandmothers were extraordinary cooks, Chang says. We grew up around food.

At 19 years old, she started working in restaurants. Three years later, at the age of 22, Chang quit her floor manager job and enrolled in culinary school. After graduating from Miami Culinary Institute, she went on to work under renowned chefs like Thomas Keller and Michael Solomonov. All roads led her to Matys, an airy, 150-seat Wynwood restaurant, where vintage photos of her grandmother hang on the walls.

When I meet Chang, she and her cebiche are not in Miami, but on a ranch in Austin, Texas, where an industrial kitchen has been set up on the same grounds as a longhorn pen. She and a few other Matys cooks flew in to serve some of the restaurants signature dishesplus some new creationsas part of an immersive dining experience called World to Table, hosted by American Express and Delta SkyMiles. Its telling that such big companies chose her as the inaugural host for this exclusive new series.

Courtesy American Express

As the sun sets over the ranch, Chang tells her diners that she feels honored to represent her heritage in this way, and so far away from home. I hope that tonight you feel connected to my family, to Matys, and to Peru, she says.

Theres lots in store for Matys, including a new logo, but one thing will remain constant: We stay true to ourselves, Chang says.



Youve received so many accolades, including a James Beard Award and landing on multiple best restaurant lists. How are you processing it all?

I feel super thankful, grateful, and blessed. I never thought that I would get any of it. I wasnt ever really driven by these things. I mean, cooking was literally the only place I fit in. I really struggled in school and college. I ended up dropping out. When I stepped into a restaurant, it was the only place where I was like, Okay, I might be good at something.

So that was my whole focus, and its just beautiful. People are always congratulating me, but its all about the whole team. And it keeps the restaurant busy, which is the only thing that truly matters: that people enjoy the food. That the team weve decided to hire and work withand the team that stays with ushas a job. And that youre able to secure them and, hopefully, as the restaurant grows, youre able to help them grow. Thats the most meaningful part.

Daniel Boczarski - Getty Images

Your grandmother Maty is the inspiration behind the restaurant. What was your relationship like? Did she open your eyes to food and cooking?

She helped take care of four grandkids, and she always cooked Chinese-Peruvian food for us on Sundays. My grandmother taught me how to be optimistic about life and understand that everything is always going to work out. She was also very resilientthe most resilient woman Ive ever met. So I think thats where the biggest inspiration came from for the restaurant: just staying resilient, staying focused, and keeping on track.



Are there any dishes on the menu directly inspired by your grandmother?

She always liked eating a whole fish. We knew we were having a whole fish on the menu. We have an oxtail dish thats an oxtail saltado; usually everybody knows lomo saltado [Peruvian beef stir fry]. [Maty] has passed away now, but I often look at the menu and think, I wonder what she would really like. I wonder what she would think. I know she would be super happy; she would be exactly who she always was. But I do always wonder what she would think of the menu. I wish Id written down more of her recipes.



Courtesy American Express

I love that youre helping keep her memory alive through the restaurant.

Theres a whole wall of her pictures at the restaurant. Theyre all original pictures that she saved. I kind of feel like maybe she thought this would [exist] eventually. But [flipping through family photos and seeing her pictures] was a new experience for me. I had never seen my grandmother as a child. I got to read all the letters between my grandparents when they were courting each other. Being left on read was a thing back then, too. I read letters, and my grandmother was like, If youre going to be busy for the whole month, the least you can do is write me a letter and let me know. I dont appreciate it when you dont respond to me.

Yeah, like, dont ghost me via letter!

Okay, grandma!

Its great that you were able to see all that. Its part of your own history, too.

Yeah. Its made me a lot more curious about my Chinese side.

What is the Chinese-Peruvian community like in Peru?

Its a very big community. Its so common to be Asian in Peru, but our great-grandparents definitely experienced a lot of racism growing up. Its so common being Chinese-Peruvian, but even when youre Chinese-Peruvian in Peru, you only identify as Peruvian. [Editors note: There is a large Chinese diaspora in Peru, stemming from China having sent laborers to Peru in the mid-1800s.]

It was only when I moved to the U.S. that people were like, What are you? And Im like, Peruvian. And theyre like, No, no, but what are you? Im like, I dont even know how to answer this. Or theyll say, Why is your last name Chang? which is something people never questioned when I lived in Peru.

I noticed there are a lot of women in leadership positions at Matys. Is that intentional?

Its hard. Ive always kind of stayed away from these conversations, because I think you can just do what you need to do, and let the restaurant speak for itself. Let the actions speak for themselves; let the team speak for itself. Its not intentional, but its not unintentional. It just kind of works out this way. I have two brothers. So I have a different perspective on these things. Im aware these [topics] are real, pressing issues, of course. I have been in the restaurant business for a while. I know what its like to be a woman in the kitchen. I know what its like to be not just a woman in a restaurant, but also a woman in power. But Ive always believed that the work would show itself.

It says a lot to be recognized for your skills, rather than just your gender.

This conversation is only really hard to swallow from a mans perspective. And it needs to be brought up, and it needs to be cleared up. From my perspective, as a woman, its like, Yeah, duh, weve been doing this. Weve always been here, and we have been the backbone of a lot of things. We have been getting it done, and were as good as anybody else. So why is this even a conversation?

Courtesy American Express

What was your experience after culinary school and training in restaurants, before you opened your own place?

A lot of the women that I looked up to when I was coming up were really hard and mean, because they needed to be. If they were on the hardest stations, they were hard. And so that was really difficult to understand or try to figure out: Who am I going to be? If Im nice, am I weaker than she is?

I had moments, too, when I was coming up where I would just be really, really intense about things and really emotional. And Im sure I still am, but Ive matured and done a lot. I still do a lot of therapy. Ive gotten to a place where I just dont want to yell, and I dont want to be angry, and I dont want to be upset. And I dont want to be really pissed off every day of my life, because Ive been at this for a long time.

Ive been in a restaurant for 15 years now. I want to be in a place in my career where I enjoy things. There are many tough days where I really dont enjoy any of it, for sure, but for the most part, I really drive myself by enjoying the process.

How has that shaped you as a chef and a boss?

Im still trying to figure out my leadership style, because sometimes people say Im too relaxed. Too extreme. When a cook makes a mistake when were really busy, or even when were not, Ive learned to just be like, Hey, you have to go out there. You have to talk to the guest, and you have to explain to them the mistake and then let them know that youre going to remake this. You need to be comfortable with being able to show your face. Its something that we really practice. If you fuck up, youre going out there yourself, but not in a shameful wayin a very responsible way.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

This story is part of our Chefs Kiss series. Click the link below for all the profiles.

READ MORE



You Might Also Like
Walmart must pay almost $35 million to one of its former truck drivers after a California jury found the retailer had falsely accused him of workers' compensation fraud and wrongfully terminated him.

A San Bernardino County jury this week ordered Walmart to pay driver Jesus "Jesse" Fonseca $25 million in punitive damages, plus $9.7 million for future non-economic losses including enjoyment of life and mental suffering. The jury found that Walmart had falsely accused him of violating its integrity policy under its statement of ethics, attorneys for Fonseca said in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch.

Walmart called the verdict "outrageous" and said it "simply does not reflect the straightforward and uncontested facts of this case."

"Accordingly, we will pursue all available remedies," a Walmart spokesperson told CBS MoneyWatch.

Fonseca, who worked at Walmart's Apple Valley distribution center in San Bernardino County for 14 years, was injured when another semi-truck slammed into his Walmart semi-truck from behind during a June 2017 shift for the company, his attorneys alleged in a 2019 lawsuit against the retailer.

He filed a workers' compensation claim for his injuries, and was instructed by doctors not to push, pull or lift anything over 10 pounds, as well as to stop driving a commercial vehicle. Walmart failed to accommodate these work restrictions, the lawsuit alleges.

Fonseca, who was placed on medical leave, was ultimately terminated, allegedly because Walmart surveilled him and discovered he'd driven a personal vehicle, according to his attorneys. Fonseca understood that he was allowed to drive personal vehicles, and was only restricted from driving commercially.

The evidence in the trial "showed that Walmart's defamation of Jesse was part of a broader scheme to use false accusations to force injured truckers back to work prematurely or, if not, terminate them so that Walmart can cut down workers' compensation costs," said Beverly Hills trial lawyer David M. deRubertis, an attorney for Fonseca.

Another attorney for Fonseca, Mohamed Eldessouky of Eldessouky Law, APC, said in a statement provided to CBS MoneyWatch that the verdict "sends a clear message."

"If a company decides to question someone's character and integrity, it must do so carefully and honestly. Walmart should rethink how it treats the hardworking drivers who are the backbone of its business," Eldessouky said.

Lowrider cars celebrated as cultural symbol among Mexican Americans | 60 Minutes

UATX says it fights college censorship culture with a focus on free speech | 60 Minutes

Sneak peek: The Firefighter's Secret
Feliphe Schiarolli | Unsplash

(The Center Square)  Democrats at the Wisconsin Capitol continue to look to spend the states $4 billion budget surplus on the states schools.

Senate Minority Leader Diane Hesselbein became the latest to say lawmakers need to tap the surplus to send more money to public schools.

I would like to put a large portion of that money to the school districts so that they can decide what they need, Hesselbein said in an interview on Wisconsin Public Radio.

Hesselbein is one of many Democrats, including Gov. Tony Evers, who have said the surplus should be spent in the new state budget.

Hesselbein said the recent wave of local school referendums across Wisconsin shows a need for more state education spending.

People have been putting referendums [to voters] just to continue operating costs, Hesselbein said. Were asking all these school district people to raise your taxes because the state wont put the money in to do it.

Republicans, however, have made it clear they are not looking to spend the surplus.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos over the weekend once again said he is looking to give the $4 billion surplus back to taxpayers.

Hesselbein isnt saying just how much of the $4 billion she wants to spend, or how the money would be spent.

She did say, however, that she wants to see the state spend more on special education.

That is a huge issue that we are not funding right now in our state, she explained.

Democrats say Wisconsin schools are left on the hook for about 60% of their local special education costs. Hesselbein is among those calling for the state to pick up more of those costs.

Democrats remain in the minority in the legislature in Madison, though Hesselbein will have more votes in 2025 than she did last spring.

The Republican-led legislature will begin work on a new two-year state budget after lawmakers return to Madison in January.

But the state budget is not expected to finalized until June or July.


Eknath Shinde resigns, will continue as caretaker chief minister Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday resigned from his post and submitted his resignation to Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan. Shinde, who was accompanied by Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, will continue as caretaker chief minister till the new CM takes oath. The Governor handed over the letter to Shinde to continue as the caretaker chief minister.



Shindes resignation was necessitated as the term of the 14th Maharashtra Assembly expired on Tuesday. The 15th Assembly has come into place after the state government issued a gazette notification last Sunday.



Before submitting his resignation, Shinde attended the government function to pay homage to martyrs in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.



Shinde in his emotional appeal made in the midnight urged his supporters not to put up a show of strength in his support. He told the party supporters that Mahayuti has been and will be strong for a prosperous Maharashtra.



Although the Mahayuti recorded a landslide victory in the state Assembly election, the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP have yet to arrive at a decision on the chief ministers post.



The chorus is growing within Shiv Sena for Shinde to continue as the chief minister while BJP leaders and cadres want Fadnavis to be the next chief minister to start his 3.0 innings. In the case of NCP, a section of the party is strongly making a pitch for Ajit Pawar to take over as the state chief minister.



Shiv Sena legislators have already elected Shinde as the state legislature party group leader authorising him to take all decisions with regard to the government formation.



Similarly, NCP legislators elected Ajit Pawar as the state legislature party group leader. The NCP has announced its support for Fadnavis as the chief minister.



However, BJP legislators have yet to meet and elect the state legislature party group leader. Besides, Shinde, Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar have yet to meet the BJPs central leadership, including Home Minister Amit Shah to finalise the cabinet ministry formula and the chief ministers post.




BOSTON - Beatrice Busby will turn 109 this week. She's been going to the same church in Boston now for 100 years!

100 years at same church

If you ever attended Sunday service at the Peoples Baptist Church of Boston at any time over the last 100 years, you're likely to have bumped into or have met Mrs. Beatrice Busby. She's been a member of the church since she was 9 years old, dating all the way back to 1924.

"She actually encouraged her parents to join the church," her godson, Mark Gray, told WBZ-TV. "She's been leading people to this church for some time."

Busby will turn 109 years old this Thursday, on Thanksgiving.

"I feel fine," she told WBZ.

Born in 1915, Busby is truly a Boston native. On Sunday, you'll always find her sitting four pews from the front, worshipping, singing and reading the program book. For her, this church has been a place of comfort and community.

"What does it mean to me? It's like my home," said Busby. "I've been here all my life. I grew up in this church."

"A very faithful member"

Pastor Wesley Roberts has known her for 44 years.

"She has been a very faithful member and we have enjoyed her presence both as a worker, as well as a worshipper, she's always here on Sundays," Roberts told WBZ.

Busby was baptized at the church and married there. On Sunday, the church honored her with a banquet for her 100 years of membership.

"I was looking forward to it. I did what I did because I wanted to do it," said Busby. "And it's my church."

Busby had one son who died 30 years ago. She has a grandson who lives in Colorado, so this community is what keeps her going.

"She's an inspiration and always has been throughout my life," said Gray. "I see her as a beacon of light for someone to follow and example of what she set in her life and the church.

Busby said the secret to her success is praising God and doing good things for people.

Lowrider cars celebrated as cultural symbol among Mexican Americans | 60 Minutes

UATX says it fights college censorship culture with a focus on free speech | 60 Minutes

Will Biden address potential Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal?
A California man who was reported missing 25 years ago is set to be reunited with his sister after a USA TODAY article published in May alerted the woman to her sibling's whereabouts, authorities announced.

The report, which sought to identify an unknown patient at a Los Angeles County hospital, was sent to the woman by a friend of hers, the Lassen County Sheriffs Office in Northern California confirmed on Facebook.

The patient was discovered in South Los Angeles on April 15 and taken to the St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood, California, USA TODAY previously reported.

Officials at the hospital asked for the public's assistance in identifying the man, who is non-verbal and could not communicate his name.

For the next six months, the hospital's social services department was unable to reach any family members for the patient. That all changed on Friday, when his sister told the Lassen County Sheriffs Office that she believed the unidentified patient was her long lost brother.

The St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood, California are hoping to identity a patient they found in South Los Angeles on April 15, 2024.

The sheriff's office has not revealed the name of the man or his family members, citing privacy for the family. Information regarding his health status have also been withheld due to patient confidentiality laws. USA TODAY has reached out to the Lassen County Sheriffs Office and the St. Francis Medical Center for additional information.

Brother reported missing in 1999

The man was reported missing from Doyle, California in 1999 and not heard from since, his sister told the sheriffs office.

Sheriffs Deputy Derek Kennemore contacted the hospital, where staff told him the patient had been transferred to different hospital. The second hospital confirmed that the man was in their care and matched the description of the missing person, according to the sheriffs office.

His identity was later confirmed through a fingerprint test conducted by the Los Angeles Police Department, according to the Lassen County Sheriffs Office.

"The family will be reunited soon," the office wrote. "The Lassen County Sheriffs Office would like to commend Deputy Kennemore on his tenacity with this case. We would also like to thank the Los Angles Police Department for their assistance in identifying the missing man and closing out this 25 year old case."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man missing since 1999 to reunite with sister after USA TODAY report
John Jobbagy, whose family has been working in the Meatpacking District for more than 120 years, is one of the last meatpackers left there. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson

The last meatpackers in NYC's Meatpacking District are getting ready to close shop.

Last month, NYC's mayor announced plans to develop the site near Greenwich Village and the High Line.

Once a meat industry hub, the district now hosts luxury brands and nightlife venues.

The era of New York City's Meatpacking District as a neighborhood where people actually pack meat is coming to an end.

Late last month, New York City Mayor Eric Adams unveiled plans to redevelop the district's last operating meat market after its tenants accepted a deal from the city to move out  and in the market's place could come a 60-story tower.

Once brimming with hundreds of butchers, slaughterhouses, and packing plants, the Manhattan neighborhood now has only a handful of meatpackers left, and they're preparing to close up shop, the Associated Press reported this week in a retrospective looking back at the district.

A section of the Meatpacking District in 1929. New York City Municipal Archives via AP

Under the city's plan, the 66,000-square-foot Gansevoort Market would become Gansevoort Square, which, according to the mayor's office, would feature 600 mixed-income housing units, a new open pavilion, and a culture and arts hub.

And a New York state senator said there's a plan to build a 60-story skyscraper in the area  something a local historic preservation group said was out of scale for a neighborhood with mostly low-rise buildings.

The city hasn't confirmed the plans referenced by State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal in a recent email newsletter he sent to constituents. The community group Village Preservation said Monday that a tower plan would likely be formally announced at an upcoming neighborhood Community Board meeting.

A building that tall would dramatically alter the neighborhood's skyline, where the current tallest structure, The Standard Hotel, is 19 stories tall. The mayor's office didn't immediately return a request for comment on the possible skyscraper development.

A rendering of the vision for Gansevoort Square in the Meatpacking District. City of New York/X

Meanwhile, though an eviction date has not yet been set for the building's meatpacking tenants, they're getting ready to say goodbye.

One of them is 68-year-old John Jobbagy, whose connection to the district goes back more than 120 years. His grandfather started butchering there after immigrating from Budapest in 1900, the AP reported.

Back then, the Meatpacking District looked  and smelled  a lot different from today, where high-end retailers like Gucci and Rolex now line the streets alongside cocktail bars, clubs, and luxury apartment buildings. In 2025, high-end French crystal company Baccarat is moving into the neighborhood, Women's Wear Daily first reported this month.

"I'll be here when this building closes, when everybody, you know, moves on to something else," Jobbagy told the AP. "And I'm glad I was part of it, and I didn't leave before."

Shoppers wait in line for a sample sale in the Meatpacking District in 2024. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson

Jobbagy told the AP that he started working for his father in the area in the late 1960s, at a time when chicken juices dribbled into the streets, and workers relied on whiskey to keep themselves warm in the refrigerated lockers.

Jobbagy later opened his own business there, which he's held onto as the neighborhood changed over the years, the AP reported.

The neighborhood became a gritty nightlife and sex club scene in the 1970s and, by the early 2000s, a hip, up-and-coming area where "Sex and the City's" Samantha Jones chose to live amid sex workers, leather bars, and an incoming Pottery Barn.

In 2009, the railway that once transported millions of tons of meat, dairy, and produce through the district was turned into a public park, the High Line.

A man working in the Meatpacking District in 1927 New York City Municipal Archives via AP

But Jobbagy told local outlet amNY he isn't too broken up about leaving the neighborhood that would now be unrecognizable to his father or grandfather.

"It's been a long time coming," Jobbagy told amNY. "The transformations have been taking place for the last 20 years. We're well aware there are far better uses for this property than an aging meat warehouse. I'm not really sad at all."

Change has always been part of the district's DNA, and New York City's.

"It wasn't always a meatpacking district," Andrew Berman, the executive director at historic preservation group Village Preservation, told the AP. "It was a sort of wholesale produce district before that, and it was a shipping district before that." In the early 1800s, it became home to a military fort, built there over fears that the British would invade during the War of 1812.

"So it's had many lives, and it's going to continue to have new lives," Berman told the AP.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Google has chosen Vocus to build a 42,500 kilometre fibre optic cable in the Indo-Pacific region, extending a preexisting South Pacific link with more connections to Australia as well as Christmas Island and Singapore.

The new fibre optic cable, named Australia Connect, will compliment the previously announced South Pacific-based Pacific Connect cable system with four additional network links connecting Melbourne to Perth, Perth to Christmas Island, Christmas Island to Singapore and Christmas Island to Darwin.

In addition, Perth, Darwin and Brisbane will also become key beneficiaries of the investment as they become key connection points on the global internet network.

Meanwhile, Pacific Connect, which was announced in October last year, links Australia and the West Coast of the US via a multi-terabit ring network through and between Fiji and French Polynesia and landing in Sydney and Melbourne.

The partnership will also put Vocus in a position to be able to supply an initial 20-30 terabytes per second of capacity per fibre pair on the announced systems, depending on the length of the segment, the telecommunication company claimed.

Australia Connect will bolster our nations strategic position as a vital gateway between Asia and the United States by connecting key nodes located in Australias east, west, and north to global digital markets, Jarrod Nink, interim chief executive officer at Vocus, said.
The federal governments Cyber Security Act has passed both houses, with new laws set to come into power to legislate how cyber security incidents are handled.

Passing the Senate on 25 November, the legislation falls under the governments 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy and addresses legislative gaps and claiming to bring Australia in line with international best practice.

This package forms a cohesive legislative toolbox for Australia to move forward with clarity and confidence in the face of an ever changing cyber landscape, said Minister for Cyber Security Tony Burke.

Close co-operation between government and industry is one of our best defences against malicious cyber activity. In the wake of a cyber security incident, businesses need to know that they can call on government to quickly get the support they need.

The Cyber Security Act marks an important step in bringing Australias cyber laws into the 21st century.

Under the passed legislation, the Cyber Security Minister can prescribe mandatory cyber security standards for smart devices.
China pledges to ensure stability of global industrial, supply chains

Xinhua) 08:04, November 26, 2024

Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends a symposium with representatives of enterprises and organizations participating in the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

BEIJING, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- China will continue to take concrete actions to ensure stable and unimpeded global industrial and supply chains, Premier Li Qiang said Monday.

Li made the remarks while attending a symposium with representatives of enterprises and organizations participating in the upcoming second China International Supply Chain Expo.

Present at the symposium were representatives of Apple Inc., Rio Tinto, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. and the US-China Business Council, among others.

Highlighting their full confidence in the Chinese economy and optimism about the huge potential of the Chinese market, corporate representatives said foreign firms in China are willing to expand their investment and deepen their development in the country, strengthen cooperation on global industrial and supply chains, and achieve win-win results.

Li said with the in-depth development of economic globalization, global industrial and supply chains have expanded gradually over the past few decades, promoting the rapid growth of the world economy and benefiting all parties.

While global economic growth now lacks momentum, certain protectionist acts and moves that overstretch the concept of security continue to damage global industrial and supply chains, pushing up corporate costs further, reducing economic efficiency and hindering common development, he said.

Li called for firm efforts to safeguard stable, unimpeded global industrial and supply chains, as well as the common interests of all parties.

The premier noted that China has achieved generally steady economic growth and made further progress this year, saying that more efforts will be made to step up counter-cyclical adjustment and promote sound economic development.

China will accelerate the construction of a modern industrial system, and provide solid support for the efficient operations of global industrial and supply chains, Li said.

Efforts will also be made to strengthen the integration of sci-tech and industrial innovation and to better integrate into international innovation cooperation, he said.

China will promote high-standard opening up steadfastly, expand market access further, and welcome more foreign enterprises to engage in industrial cooperation in the country, the premier said.

He expressed the hope that enterprises continue to support economic globalization firmly, deepen the international division of labor and cooperation, and work together to make global industrial and supply chains more dynamic, resilient and efficient.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends a symposium with representatives of enterprises and organizations participating in the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The Marketing Department

marketing@scsu.edu

Our team of Marketing Ninjas cannot be matched in its creativity and passion for showing what SC State has to offer the world. We provide breathtaking visual elements to market the university to students, parents and other stakeholders with flair. We also offer other SC State departments with their marketing efforts, event management, and adherence to branding requirements.

Our services:

University brand development and protection.

Advertisements.

Graphic design.

Photography & Videography.

Campus television messages.

Events.

Social media.

Marketing service request form

Faculty and staff: To request services: Please complete and submit this form: https://forms.office.com/r/rJiG0JH752

Marketing Team Members

Office of University Relations

We tell your story.

universityrelations@scsu.edu

The Office of University Relations is the worlds conduit to South Carolina State University. Our office is responsible for making sure the SC State brand is well known with a positive vibe not only in South Carolina but also across the United States and around the globe.

We publicize SC States programs, services and achievements to important stakeholders to drive the publics appreciation for what this university does for its students, families and communities. Our University Relations team assists administrators, faculty and staff members with writing and distributing their internal and external communications.

Our staff works in concert with the Marketing Department to ensure that SC State always has its best foot forward, particularly during such key events as Homecoming, Founders Day, and Fall and Spring Commencement.

Our services:

Safety alerts

News releases

Feature articles

News media coordination

Social media management

Newsletters

News photography & vIdeo

Register to get Bulldog News in Your Inbox

Guidelines for News Media

University Relations Team Members
by Sumon Corraya

After bloody clashes between students in the capital, with at least 100 injured, St. Gregory's High School & College was forced to interrupt classes due to damage to its facilities. Its principal, Br Ribeiro, calls it a premeditated assault". The army has restored order. Meanwhile, Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu community leader, was arrested for "sedition" at Dhaka airport. The NGO representing religious minorities laments unprecedented violence.

Dhaka (AsiaNews)  St Gregory's High School & College, a historic Catholic educational establishment in Dhaka founded in 1882. Located in the old city, it has closed its doors indefinitely after it was damaged from recent violence involving thousands of students, with at least a hundred injured, plus widespread destruction of its facilities.

At the same time, a leader of Bangladeshs Hindu minority, the cleric Chinmoy Krishna Das of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), was arrested yesterday afternoon, at the capital's airport, on charges of "sedition".

These two incidents say a lot about the early days of the countrys interim government under Muhammad Yunus. After more than one hundred days, it has failed to stop a rising Islamist wave against minorities, despite several attempts at reforms.

The Nobel Prize laureate who took over the country to lead it towards democratic elections is not living up to the hopes of those who thought that the flight of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, after 15 years in power, would allow Bangladesh to really turn the page, and build a country without discrimination and inclusive of all.

On Sunday, around 5 pm, a mob of more than 500 unidentified people attacked St. Gregory's High School & College. The attackers broke through the security fence, injuring two guards, Nazmul Haque and Suman Gomes, who were hospitalised. The crowd vandalised classrooms, shattered window panes, destroyed documents, and damaged CCTV cameras, even with explosives.

Brother Placido Peter Ribeiro, the principal, expressed his dismay at the destruction. This was a premeditated assault," he said.

He went on to praise the swift intervention of teachers, students, and law enforcement, who brought the situation under control, and call for patience and cooperation, urging all stakeholders to avoid violence.

Restoration work, including cleaning and repairing the extensive damage, is already underway. These efforts are both urgent and time-consuming. We aim to resume normal school activities as soon as the premises are fully restored and safe for students and staff, Br Placido added.

The attack followed a bloody feud that broke out a few days ago between students from Dr. Mahbubur Rahman Mollah College and those from Shaheed Suhrawardy and Kabi Nazrul, two government colleges, which led to an escalation of violence in Dhaka.

Clashes escalated yesterday in and around Mollah College, when more than 20,000 students faced each other for more than four hours, according to witnesses. College authorities also reported thefts during the chaos. The army and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed to restore order.

Although rumours of three dead students have circulated, police have denied any deaths.

The riot began on 18 November after Abhijit Howlader, a student at Mollah College, died at the National Medical College Hospital. Accusing hospital staff of medical negligence, students from the same school staged a protest called "Super Sunday" on 24 November, during which they vandalised the hospital and the nearby Suhrawardy College.

The incident disrupted an ongoing session at Suhrawardy College, where first-year honour students from Nazrul were taking exams. Out of revenge, students from Suhrawardy and Nazrul yesterday held Mega Monday" counter-protest.

St. Gregory's High School & College, which is a historic educational institution in Dhaka founded in 1882 by American missionaries, was caught up in the wave of violence.

Following the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) issued a statement from India calling it "disturbing" news and demanding his immediate release.

"It is outrageous to make baseless allegations that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world. ISKCON, Inc. urges the Government of India to take immediate steps, speak to the government of Bangladesh, and convey that we are a peace-loving Bhakti movement."

The Bangladeshi police confirmed the arrest, claiming that it had acted pursuant to a specific complaint.

In Dhaka, several protesters marched and gathered at the Cheragi intersection, chanting slogans and demanding Dass release. Several videos that went viral on social media late yesterday showed police charges.

"Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was charged with sedition after he led a massive rally of Hindus protesting targeted hate attacks and demanding protection from Islamists. Tallest leader of the Hindu community, Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari is believed to have been taken to Detective Branch of the Yunus regime," said Kanchan Gupta, a senior adviser at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Since the interim government was sworn in on 8 August under the leadership of Muhammad Yunus, the Hindu community has reported incidents of vandalism, looting, arson, land grabbing, and threats urging Hindus to leave the country.

The Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council had already sent an "open letter" to Yunus, expressing "profound sorrow and concern" for the "unprecedented violence" of a particular group against minorities.

Although Yunus and his adviser on religious affairs, A F M Khalid Hossain, said that their government believed in harmony between communities, communal violence continues to cause widespread fear, anxiety, and uncertainty among Bangladesh's minorities, especially Hindus.

(Nirmala Carvalho contributed to this article)
by Stefano Vecchia

The feud between the two political dynasties of the Philippines (allies in the last election) have reached an unprecedented level of verbal violence. Vice President Sara Duterte has threatened to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. killed if she is herself eliminated. According to experts, the daughter of the former president, whose approval ratings are rising, is already looking ahead to next years midterm elections.

Manila (AsiaNews)  The Philippines National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has subpoenaed Vice President Sara Duterte after she threatened to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the first lady, Liza Araneta-Marcos, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Martin Romualdez, if she herself was killed. The NBI took this step today to allow her "to explain her position regarding alleged threats to her own life".

Last Saturday, at an online press conference, while not mentioning any specific threat against herself, the vice president said that she would hire an assassin to kill Marcos, his wife and Romualdez, if she herself were murdered.

Yesterday Marcos said that he would respond to what he called "reckless and troubling threats" against him. While not naming Vice President Duterte, he used strong language to say that he would not take this kind of criminal threat lightly.

Today former President Rodrigo Duterte, Sara's father, called on the Philippine military to protect the Constitution and correct what he calls "fractured governance:

In the face of so many errors there it is only the military who can correct it, Duterte added during a live broadcast on SMNI News Facebook page, without going so far as to call for a coup d'etat.

What is unfolding is a remarkable turn as tensions rise between the two families, who were political allies before Marcoss election in 2022.

These two political dynasties come from geographically opposite electoral fiefdoms: in the North (Ilocos Norte) for the Marcos and the South (the large city of Davao on Mindanao Island) for the Duterte.

Various observers note that for Sara Duterte, the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, it will be hard to move away from her father's methods of exercising power, which played a major role in their political success. The International Criminal Court is currently investigating the senior Duterte for his brutal war on drugs when he was president (2016-2022).

Now she wants, according to experts, to capitalise on the drop in support for Marcos ahead of midterm elections in May next year, and has continued to gain greater confidence and higher approval ratings.

For their part, the authorities have expressed concern about her remarks and President Marcos has given the green light to numerous investigations, now that he no longer seems to need the Duterte family.

Unable to run for re-election, Rodrigo Duterte gave way to his daughter, who decided to support Marcos as his running mate, abandoning the race for the presidency. However, she too is under investigation for misuse of government funds (She was forced to resign in June from the post of Education secretary).

Following the controversy caused by her remarks, she tried to explain them, noting that they were part of a broader speech, but she did not deny making them.
Today's news: Iraqi population rises to 45 million; Vietnamese wandering monk reportedly renounces poverty vow for supporters behind threats from Hanoi; After boycotting the Tokyo ceremony, South Korea yesterday pays tribute to fellow citizens enslaved in Japanese mines during World War II.

CHINA - UNITED STATES

Donald Trump announced extra 10% tariffs on imports of Chinese products (and an extra 25% from Canada and Mexico). This will be one of the first executive orders upon taking office, the president-elect threatens, in response to drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl, and the entry of undocumented migrants. The US and China have a trade volume of about 0 billion; Beijing's immediate retort is that no one will win a trade war or a tariff war.

IRAQ

The population has increased to 45.4 million. This is what emerges from the preliminary results announced yesterday by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, linked to the census held last week. This was the first nationwide count in almost 30 years and represents a crucial step for future policy. Prior to the survey, the population was estimated at 43 million.

VIETNAM

Recently reappeared after four months of silence Thich Minh Tue, whose real name is Le Anh Tu but has become famous by the nickname wandering monk, reportedly wrote a letter stating that he renounced his vow of poverty. However, acquaintances and supporters question its authenticity and accuse the authorities of wanting to isolate him from the public. His ascetic life and walking pilgrimages had made him famous, attracting the attentions of Hanoi, which blocked him.

BANGLADESH

Police detained a prominent Hindu monk who had led protests calling for protection for the minority in the Muslim-majority country. Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesman of a newly formed group that has been demonstrating condemning atrocities against his brethren, was arrested in Dhaka amid rising confessional tensions since the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

SOUTH KOREA - JAPAN

After boycotting one organised by Tokyo, Seoul yesterday held a memorial event for compatriots forced to work in a Japanese mine during World War II, an issue that is still sensitive despite improved relations. The South Korean decision is linked to anticipations that the Japanese government was represented by an official who had visited a shrine symbolic of the Rising Sun's militarist past.

RUSSIA - UKRAINE

The Russians are also persecuting Jehovah's Witnesses in the occupied cross-border areas of Ukraine. They also do so with demonstrative actions such as in the Lugansk region, where the letters posted in an action of patriotic education were removed from the wall of one of their halls and then displayed in a museum of glory in Solnecnogorsk as war trophies for traditional values.

PAKISTAN - TAJIKISTAN - CHINA

Chinese citizens have been attacked or even killed in recent months in Pakistan and Tajikistan, two countries in which China invests billions of dollars for social and economic development projects. Hence the growing fear that Beijing may in retaliation reduce or block this funding, as Frud Bezan writes on Radio Azattyk.
The water outlet tower is seen at Lafayette Reservoir in Lafayette on Feb. 28, 2021. The 170-foot tower built in 1929 must be shortened to meet seismic safety standards, the East Bay Municipal Utility District says. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

The battle over the shortening of a 100-year-old tower that stands within Lafayette Reservoir took center stage Monday night, with East Bay water officials concluding it must be altered while residents and community leaders said not so fast.

The East Bay Municipal Utility District, the owner and operator of both the reservoir and the tower, has told residents over the past year that the tower must be reduced by 40 feet to meet seismic standards in case of a major earthquake.

Built in 1929, the 170-foot tower, which is used to control the water level in the reservoir, has become an iconic fixture to residents and visitors alike. The tower ended up being built too high because the original plan called for building the dam 33 feet higher than its current height  but that was scrapped because the soil couldnt support it.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

EBMUD officials have said that the California Division of Safety of Dams has ordered the tower to be retrofitted and has approved its shortening. Construction on the tower is to begin this spring and last one year, officials said. The $14 million project is fully funded by EBMUD customers.

Current seismic studies indicate that the Lafayette Tower could bend and break during a large earthquake, which could lead to uncontrolled releases of water inundating Lafayette, Walnut Creek, and many downstream communities, EBMUDs website says. Additionally, the conduits at the base of the tower would also become damaged so that the tower and conduits would not be able to function, causing a dam safety concern.

At the council meeting Monday night, Luz Gomez, an EBMUD board member, said the shortening of the tower was the safest and best path forward.

East Bay MUD has analyzed multiple alternatives (designs) to try to maintain the towers height, including those put forward by the citizens advisory committee, Gomez said. Unfortunately, none of them have met the Division of Safety of Dams rigorous safety standards.

Members of a citizens advisory committee formed by volunteer engineers and architects who live in Lafayette disagree with EBMUDs assertion that the tower must be shortened.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Jack Moehle, a member of the committee who is a structural engineer and professor of civil and environmental engineering at UC Berkeley, said at the Monday meeting that the committee presented viable tower strengthening alternatives for EBMUD to pursue but the organization did not present the designs to the Division of Safety of Dams.

The committee met with EBMUD and engineers on multiple occasions, Moehle said. We reviewed their engineering reports and provided oral and written comments. We expressed several doubts about methods and results that were presented to us by East Bay MUD.

He continued, saying Weve heard here tonight that the (Division of Safety of Dams) has only approved the shortened tower. But its my understanding that the (Division of Safety of Dams) only reviews designs presented to them by East Bay MUD.

Members of the citizens committee were not the only ones to speak out against EBMUDs proposal on Monday night.

James Scala, a 90-year-old Lafayette resident, said that shortly after his family moved to the city over 46 years ago, they discovered the reservoirs natural beauty and the tower, a Lafayette landmark like the UC Berkeley tower and the Washington Monument.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Scala said he still walks along the reservoirs paved trail to this day. People enjoy the towers uniqueness and see how it attracts birds, Scala said. Hence, the tower with its height contributes to the reservoirs natural beauty that we all enjoy. I strongly recommend that we keep the tower at its present height.

Another resident, Libby Henry, supported preserving the towers height and expressed disappointment in EBMUDs proposal. She described the organizations representatives at Monday nights meeting as condescending.

I found them condescending and very close-minded, Henry said at the meeting. To dismiss their (citizens committee members) ideas and dismiss the community like what we feel doesnt matter is more than disappointing. I respectfully ask that they (EBMUD officials) reconsider (their plan). I find this very disturbing.

At the end of the discussion, council members moved to invite EBMUD board members to hold a joint meeting with the council in an attempt to find a resolution to the tower conflict. No details were immediately given on when such a meeting would take place.
26 November 2024 14:23 (UTC+04:00)

Full digital access to all news for 1 year

Full digital access to all news for 6 months

Full digital access to all news for 3 months

Full digital access to all news for 1 month

Find the plan that suits you best.

SOCAR Green, a subsidiary of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), has partnered with US-based Schlumberger (SLB) to assess Azerbaijan's geothermal energy potential as part of COP29 initiatives, Azernews reports.

Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention.

Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.

By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.

Subscribe

You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper

Thank you!
26 November 2024 10:45 (UTC+04:00)

A scientific-practical conference dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Azerbaijan's accession to the Framework Document of NATO's Partnership for Peace (PfP) program was held in Baku.

Azernews reports that during the event, the history, current situation, and prospects of our country's partnership with the Alliance, the achievements of the PfP program, our country's contribution to NATO-led peace support operations, and ensuring energy security in the European region, and other issues arising from Azerbaijan's partnership with NATO were discussed.

Anar Mutallimov, Acting Head of the Military-Political Affairs Department of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Burcu San, Deputy Assistant Secretary General of NATO for Operations, members of academic circles in related fields from foreign countries, analysts, as well as representatives from local state institutions and relevant educational institutions took part in the conference.
26 November 2024 13:22 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

The peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia will ensure calm and stability in the Caucasus region, Azernews reports that Turkish National Defense Minister Yasar Guler said this at the discussion of the 2025 budget of the National Defense Ministry in the plan-budget commission of the parliament.

He stressed the importance of signing a large-scale peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan.

The National Defense Minister also reported on the successes achieved in the fight against terrorism. He noted that within the anti-terrorist operations of the Turkish Armed Forces, 2,654 militants of the organizations banned from operating in the region have been neutralized since the beginning of this year.

According to the minister, the Turkish army has changed its strategy for fighting terrorism in recent years.

"Short-term strikes with a well-defined list of targets have been replaced by large-scale operations without predetermined deadlines. Such a strategy made it possible to deal a strong blow to terrorist organizations, especially the PKK," Y. Guler said, stressing his determination to completely eliminate the threat of terrorism against Turkiye.

The Turkish minister drew attention to the importance of cooperation between the countries of the region in the fight against terrorism and said that concrete steps are being taken in this area based on the agreements reached with the Iraqi government.

As for the situation in Cyprus, Yasar Guler noted that Ankara is carefully monitoring "the stability-threatening actions of the Greek community of the island."

The minister added that Turkiye observes "an increase in the activity of foreign countries in the south of Cyprus under the pretext of humanitarian activities".
26 November 2024 14:45 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Representatives of "International Fund of African Children" and "Blood Donors Association" Public Union, who are on a visit to Azerbaijan within the framework of COP29, visited the office of the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum.

Azernews reports that the chairman of the National NGO Forum, Ramil Isgandarli, who participated in the meeting, gave extensive information about the activities of national non-governmental organizations and their future expectations, and considered the cooperation of national NGOs with the civil society of the Global South admirable.

Later, a memorandum of cooperation was signed by Fuad Asgarov, the chairman of the "Blood Donors Association" Public Union, and Angela Josephlan, the president of the "International Fund for African Children".
26 November 2024 16:02 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has pledged financial support for humanitarian demining operations in Azerbaijan, according to the Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA), Azernews reports.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between ANAMA Chairman Vugar Suleymanov and UAE Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohammed Al Blooshi to formalize the cooperation. The support will focus on demining operations, enhancing the agency's technical capacity, procuring essential equipment, and conducting mine awareness initiatives in areas near the former line of contact.

Suleymanov expressed gratitude for the UAE's contribution, highlighting the scale of contamination in liberated territories and ongoing efforts to address the problem. "The importance of international collaboration and resources in tackling Azerbaijans mine problem cannot be overstated," he noted.

Ambassador Al Blushi reaffirmed the UAEs commitment to supporting Azerbaijan in its humanitarian demining activities, emphasizing the bond of friendship between the two nations.

The meeting also included discussions on the progress of demining efforts and opportunities to strengthen cooperation in this critical area.
26 November 2024 17:42 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

With the support of the Culture Ministry, Azerbaijani young talents have distinguished by their success in various fields of culture participated in the "I TURKSOY Turkic World Youth Meeting" held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Azernews reports.

The event aims to strengthen cultural and historical ties among Turkic peoples and to enhance the spirit of brotherhood and unity.

During the meeting, the participants engaged in seminars, discussions, and presentations related to promoting the cultural heritage of the Turkic world, sharing their thoughts.

Young talents put forward proposals for addressing common issues and implementing joint projects, while exploring collaboration opportunities to further strengthen connections among the youth.

The Azerbaijani delegation also contributed by showcasing the country's rich cultural heritage, supporting the development of cultural integration and dialogue as part of the Turkic world.

This event holds particular significance for strengthening the ties of Azerbaijani youth with the Turkic world, facilitating experience exchange, and establishing new friendships.

The International Organization of Turkic Culture, TURKSOY, was established in 1993 upon signature of its founding agreement by the Ministers of Culture of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Turkiye

Over the past years, TURKSOY has made significant contributions to promoting Turkic cultural heritage through different initiatives. Most of these projects have become a tradition and are continued every year.

Since its establishment, TURKSOY has been carrying out activities to strengthen the ties of brotherhood and solidarity among Turkic peoples, transmit the common Turkic culture to future generations and introduce it to the world.

The organization actively collaborates with international bodies like UNESCO and maintains partnerships with institutions such as the Organization of Turkic States and the International Turkish Academy.

Azerbaijan actively participates in TURKSOY's initiatives, hosting events like the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World project in Shusha city.

Many events of cultural significance, including the Kharibulbul International Folklore Festival, the Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival, the Cultural Days of the Turkic People, the Vagif Poetry Days, the International Festival of Children's Creativity, Wonderland Shusha 2023 International Scout Camp, and other events were organized in Azerbaijan's cultural center in accordance with the Action Plan.
26 November 2024 11:26 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Russian gas is not transported to the European Union (EU) through the Southern Gas Corridor, Azernews reports, citing Tim McPhee, the representative of the European Commission on climate and energy issues, as he responded to baseless claims against Baku regarding the supply of Russian gas.

"The Southern Gas Corridor, which provides supplies to the EU markets, is connected only to Azerbaijan's gas fields and is not integrated into the country's wider national gas system. Therefore, Russian gas is not exported to the European Union through the Southern Gas Corridor.

According to our information, in the last two years, Azerbaijan has imported less than 1 billion cubic meters of gas per year from Russia for domestic consumption. However, the total gas export of Azerbaijan is about 24 billion cubic meters, of which about half is sent to EU markets. As I said, our goal to refuse Russian gas is completely clear, and the origin of the gas imported from Azerbaijan is completely transparent," he said in the daily briefing.

In July 2022, Azerbaijan and the EU agreed to increase gas supplies through the Southern Gas Corridor to 20 billion cubic meters per year by 2027 compared to the current level.

The supply of Azerbaijani gas to Europe through the Southern Gas Corridor began on December 31, 2020. The gas pipeline connects the Caspian Sea region to European markets via Georgia and Turkiye.

The 33 billion dollars spent on the realization of the project is much less than the 45 billion dollars previously planned and it is expected that it will pay off within 8-10 years.
26 November 2024 20:05 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

Law enforcement officers recently conducted searches at the Tokyo headquarters of Amazon Japan, the Japanese division of the American corporation, Azernews reports.

According to the TV channel, Amazon Japan is under investigation for allegedly violating antitrust laws. The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) suspects that Amazon's Japanese subsidiary has been pressuring retailers to deliberately set prices for their products lower than those on other competing online platforms.

The company is also accused of coercing retailers to use its logistics services. In return, Amazon Japan reportedly places the retailers' products in more prominent positions on its website, giving them greater visibility to consumers. The JFTC believes these practices could constitute violations of Japan's antitrust laws, which aim to promote fair competition and protect consumers.

This investigation is part of a broader global trend in which major tech companies, particularly Amazon, are increasingly facing scrutiny over their market dominance and business practices. In recent years, Amazon has been under investigation in several countries for similar concerns, including anti-competitive behavior and unfair treatment of third-party sellers.

The case highlights growing concerns about the power of tech giants in the global e-commerce market. Regulators in many countries, including Japan, are stepping up efforts to ensure that large corporations are not using their influence to undermine competition or harm consumers.

In addition to the antitrust concerns, Amazon has also been criticized for its treatment of workers, including allegations of poor working conditions in some of its fulfillment centers. This has led to calls for stronger regulation of the company, both in terms of its market practices and labor policies.
26 November 2024 19:30 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

According to a survey conducted from November 5 to 18 by the international marketing research company Ipsos, the majority of Swedish residents believe that the country should accept fewer refugees than it currently does, Azernews reports.

Only 12 percent of respondents support increasing the intake of refugees, while more than half are in favor of reducing it.

Following the refugee crisis of 2015, when hundreds of thousands of people fled the war in Syria, public opinion in Sweden became more cautious regarding the acceptance of refugees. Even when the war between Russia and Ukraine broke out in 2022, attitudes towards refugees temporarily became more positive. However, this trend quickly reversed in the following year.

Opinions on refugee admissions vary depending on political affiliation. The greatest opposition to increased immigration is found among voters of the far-right, nationalist, and populist Sweden Democrats, as well as the conservative Christian Democrats. While voters from the Left Party and the Green Party represent a smaller portion of the population on this issue, they are generally more supportive of increasing refugee admissions.

There are also notable differences in attitudes towards refugees based on education level and place of residence. Residents of larger cities and those with higher levels of education tend to be more supportive of refugee intake. In contrast, rural residents and people with lower levels of education are generally more skeptical. Additionally, women are more likely to have a positive view of refugee reception compared to men.
26 November 2024 23:29 (UTC+04:00)

The Russian Defence Ministry reported that since the end of last week, the Ukrainian army has been launching missile attacks on the territory of the Kursk region.

Thus, according to the report, on November 23, five ATACMS missiles struck the S-400 anti-aircraft missile division near the settlement of Lotaryovka, three missiles were destroyed, and two reached their target, Azernews reports, citing the official report.

Besides, according to the Rusian Defence Ministry's report, on November 25, eight ATACMS missiles struck the Kursk-Vostochny (Khalino) airfield, 7 missiles were shot down, and one reached its target.

The Russian military department stated that they are preparing some kind of response to the attacks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces with ATACMS missiles in the Kursk region.
San Francisco police announced the arrest of a man suspected in a fatal stabbing downtown. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

Authorities said they arrested a man Sunday who is accused of fatally stabbing a man near the Embarcadero BART Station this month.

At approximately 12:54 a.m. Sunday, BART police arrested Jonathan Calvin Wright, 36, at Bay Fair Station in San Leandro, according to spokesperson Christopher Filippi. Officers spotted Wright during a regular patrol and recognized him as the stabbing suspect. Wright did not have a valid fare when officers detained him, Filippi said.

BART police turned Wright over to the San Francisco Police Department and he was booked into county jail on homicide charges, SFPD said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Wright is accused of a fatal stabbing that occurred in downtown San Francisco earlier this month. On Nov. 13 at approximately 5:49 a.m., police responded to Market and Main streets to find a man bleeding. Despite medical aid, the man was pronounced dead on scene, S.F. police said. His identity was not immediately released.

The Embarcadero BART Station was closed for roughly half an hour and the transit system was delayed in all directions following the stabbing, according to a BART spokesperson.

Earlier this month, police arrested another man accused of a stabbing near a BART station. Jovany Portades, 34, was arrested Nov. 3 for allegedly slashing the throat of a 54-year-old woman on a BART train as it approached the 24th Street Mission Station a day earlier.

Portades is being held without bail on charges including murder. His next court date is scheduled for Dec. 12.
The trend to the right continues in Europe as the right handily won elections this week in Romania and in the Austrian province of Styria. In Romania, the election was for the country's presidency, and in Styria for the provinicial parliament.

The first round of Romania's presidential election produced a runoff between two candidates of the right. Ultra-nationalist independent Cailin Georgescu with 22.9% and former TV presenter Elena Lasconi of the center-right Save Romania Union with 19.1% took the two runoff spots, eliminating the Social Democrat candidate who the media had annointed as the frontrunner but instead ran third. Lasconi's Save Romania Union is the lead party in the United Right Alliance coalition for Romania's December parliamentary election.

Georgescu, who ran his campaign mostly on social media had initially joined the populist nationalist anti-immigration Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) after leaving a series of UN jobs, but fell out with AUR and ran as an independent. AUR had become disturbed at Georgescu's praise of leaders of Romania's World War II fascist Iron Guard and his tendency to be supportive of Putin. AUR's own candidate for president of Romania ran fouth with 13.9% while the traditional conservative PNL, party of the outgoing term limited president, ran fifth.

In Austria, a thumping victory for the populist nationalist anti-immigration Freedom Party in the provincial election in Styria (Steiermark) was both a statement on its stand against illegal immigration and a rebuke to the traditional conservative Austrian Peoples Party over its poor treatment nationally of the Freedom Party after the national parliamentary election. The Freedom Party doubled its vote in Styria from 17.5% to 35% to come in a solid first place. while the Peoples Party dropped 9.2 points to finish second with 26.9%. The far left Green Party lost half its vote to finish at 6.0% while the Social Democrats dropped 1.6 points to finish at 21.4%.

In the national election earlier this year, the Freedom Party won a clear first place finish but the country's president from the Green Party defied all tradition and designated the second placed Peoples Party to try to form a government, and the Peoples Party leader has since ignored the Freedom Party in his attempts to form a government, which are still ongoing. The voters of Styria spoke on this travesty by punishing both the Peoples Party and the Green Party.

The national problem of the Peoples Party seems to revolve around its current national leader and his attitudes. The Freedom Party had loudly blasted him for his Covid lockdowns when he was Health Minister. The Freedom Party has formed national coalition governments in the past with both the Peoples Party and the Social Democrats and is currently in coalition provinical governments with the Peoples Party in four provinces.

National polls are showing that Peoples Party voters are moving to the Freedom Party after this political ambush. The latest national poll puts the Freedom Party at 34%, up 5 points from the 29% it obtained in the parliamentary election, while the Peoples Party is down 3 points to 23%.

https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/right-wing-fpo-crushes-centre-right-in-austrian-regional-elections/
The highly regarded government watchdog group Open the Books has released an article on government censorship efforts under the Biden regime entitled "Taxpayer funded Censorship: How Government is Using Your Tax Dollars to Silence Your Voice". This comes after the Biden regime funded pro-censorship organizations abroad through the USAID and State Department and even attempted to set up a "Disinnformation Control Board" in the US that smacked strongly of Orwell's "Ministry of Truth". This new article delves into the grants funded by Biden to try to control and censor information within the United States.

The article can be read at this link: https://openthebooks.substack.com/p/taxpayer-funded-censorship-how-government

Thankfully, the incoming Trump administration is committed to freedom of speech.
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?
On Nov. 1, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans representing Connecticut, New York and Missouri announced a policy revision set to take effect Feb. 1, 2025. The change will impact anesthesia claims under CPT codes 00100 through 01999.

Under the new policy, Anthem BCBS will use CMS physician work time values to determine the allowable time for anesthesia services. Claims exceeding the predetermined time limits will be denied.

I continue to press for answers to this significant, even detrimental, policy shift when it comes to patient care and outcomes, Dr. Gordon wrote. As a medical doctor, I can provide many real-world examples that demonstrate how predetermined time limits for anesthesiology coverage are unreasonable. Each patient and surgery is unique. I will continue to advocate for patients and collaborate with my medical colleagues to address this situation.

Dr. Gordon has also requested a joint meeting with Anthem BCBS to discuss the policy.

This policy is contrary to providing good and safe medical care for people in Connecticut and other states, Dr. Gordon continued. It could result in avoidable adverse events or unnecessary poor outcomes. Why would Anthem BCBS pursue such a policy?

The American Society of Anesthesiologists has strongly opposed the new policy.

In a statement released Nov. 14, the ASA called on Anthem BCBS to reverse its decision, emphasizing the individualized nature of anesthesia care. According to ASA, the new policy means that Anthem BCBS will arbitrarily pre-determine the time allowed for anesthesia care during a surgery or procedure, potentially denying payment to anesthesiologists for managing complex or prolonged cases.
According to a Nov. 22 news release from the Department of Justice, James McGinnis was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison without parole on Nov. 21. U.S. District Judge Greg Kays also ordered Mr. McGinnis to pay $7,758,908 to the victims, $143,131 to the Internal Revenue Service and $10,787 to the Missouri Department of Revenue.

In April, Mr. McGinnis pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of making false statements on a tax return. He co-founded Medical Cost Sharing, a tax-exempt organization, and served as its COO from 2014 to December 2022. Another co-founder, Craig Reynolds, also of St. Joseph, has pleaded guilty and been sentenced on the same charges.

Both men admitted to using false and fraudulent pretenses to market Medical Cost Sharing as a Health Care Sharing Ministry and defraud hundreds of members out of more than $8 million total in contributions, while paying only 3.1% in health care claims. The co-founders pocketed more than $5 million between December 2015 and December 2022 as a result of the scam.
Heres the three lawsuits:

1. The family of a patient who survived colon cancer surgery in 2021 but died eight days after a follow-up procedure in 2022 is suing the surgeon and Bridgeport, Conn.-based St. Vincents Medical Center, among other entities, alleging medical negligence caused her death.

The lawsuit, filed Nov. 6, names St. Vincents Medical Center, St. Vincents MultiSpecialty Group, Hartford HealthCare Medical Group, Hartford HealthCare Medical Group Specialists and Daniel Lavy, MD, the colorectal and general surgeon who performed a series of surgeries on Luzina Galberth. Ms. Galberth died July 29, 2022.

2. Nitesh Ratnakar, MD, a gastroenterologist in Wheeling, W.Va., has been found guilty of failing to pay nearly $2.5 million in payroll taxes. A federal jury in Clarksburg, W. Va., found him guilty of 41 counts of tax fraud. Dr. Ratnakar was first indicted in February.

Dr. Ratnaker previously operated a gastroenterology practice and a medical equipment manufacturer in Elkins, W. Va. He faces up to five years in prison for each of the first 38 tax fraud counts and two years for the other three counts, totaling a possible 204 years.
Here are 10 things to know about Dr. Makary and his nomination:

1. Dr. Makary is chief of islet transplant surgery and a professor and public policy researcher at Johns Hopkins University.

2. He served in leadership at the World Health Organization Patient Safety Program.

3. Dr. Makary is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, part of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine.

4. He has served as a public adviser for the Paragon Health Institute, a conservative healthcare think tank. His current research is focused on health care transparency and the re-design of health care, according to Paragons website.

5. 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, Mr. Trump said on Truth Social, according to NBC News.

6. Mr. Trump also said that Dr. Makary will be working under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been nominated to lead HHS, and focused on addressing the childhood chronic disease epidemic.

7. Dr. Makary regularly appears on Fox News, according to NBC News, and has made controversial statements about COVID-19. He was a proponent of natural immunity and predicted that the U.S. would reach herd immunity by April 2021. He has also claimed that myocarditis, a rare heart condition, is more common after COVID-19 vaccination, which has been debunked by several studies.

8. Dr. Makary has published over 250 scientific studies and two books. He has also written for the Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and USA Today.

9. He has been a visiting professor at over 25 medical schools and is the recipient of the Nobility in Science Award from the National Pancreas Foundation.

10. In an appearance on Fox News on Nov. 24, Dr. Makary defended Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Trumps HHS nomination, saying that he was the least scary thing happening in the U.S. healthcare system. Paul Offit, MD, a vaccine expert at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, said Dr. Makary is not fit for the role, citing his past comments on COVID-19 and his defense of Mr. Kennedy.
An Atlanta-based Emory University Hospital team became the first in the U.S. to perform a surgical implantation of magnetically levitated ventricular assist device.

Led by Mani Daneshman, MD, the procedure took place Nov. 18 as part of a clinical trial for BrioHealth Solutions' BrioVAD System, according to a Nov. 25 news release from Emory University.



The device employs a magnetically levitated pump to provide mechanical circulatory support and pump blood from the lower heart chambers to the rest of the body, the release said.



Other U.S. institutions participating in the clinical trial for the device are Cleveland Clinic, Durham, N.C.-based Duke University and the University of Chicago.



The aim for the BrioVAD system is for the device to be used instead of transplant, as a bridge to transplant or for heart recovery support, the release said.



Surgeons at Cincinnati-based The Christ Hospital recently performed the fourth successful U.S. implantation of the titanium BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart as part of the FDA's early feasibility study.
Media personality and Trump supporter Caitlyn Jenner made comments on social media that has fueled speculation about a bid for governor in 2026, when Gavin Newsom will be term-limited and unable to seek reelection. Gregg DeGuire

Caitlyn Jenner, the Olympic gold medalist turned media personality, took aim at Vice President Kamala Harris, suggesting she would destroy her in a potential 2026 race for California governor.

In a series of social media posts on Monday, Nov. 25, Jenner addressed mounting speculation about her political aspirations. Responding to a question about a future gubernatorial run, she declared, If I ran, and it was ultimately against Harris, I would destroy her.

While Jenner has not made an official announcement, her comments have fueled speculation about a potential bid for governor in 2026, when Gov. Gavin Newsom will be term-limited and unable to seek reelection.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

A vocal supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, Jenner also took the opportunity to champion her political vision: MAKE CA GREAT AGAIN.

Caitlyn Jenner leaves a media event in San Francisco during her failed gubernatorial run in the 2021 recall election. The Olympic gold medalist turned media personality, took aim at Vice President Kamala Harris, suggesting she would destroy her in a potential 2026 race for California governor. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

Though Jenner has no formal political experience, she previously ventured into California politics in the 2021 recall election. Running as one of several challengers to Newsom, she ultimately garnered just 1% of the vote.

Despite this setback, she remains undeterred. In another post on X, Jenner asked her followers, Should we do it again? Have been getting a lot of calls with a lot of strong opinions. Newscum is out in 2026.

When one follower pointed out her dismal performance in 2021, Jenner brushed off the comparison, noting, Recalls are quite different. Times are also quite different.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Nov. 4. Although Harris has not publicly revealed her plans, sources close to her suggest she may be weighing a run for California governor or even considering a bid for president in 2028. Michael M. Santiago

Another follower questioned whether Jenner, as a transgender woman, would be considered the right Trans by the woke brigades, she quipped, Absolutely not. Which is even more fun.

Despite her brash remarks and frequent criticism of Newsoms politics, Jenner has yet to officially launch a campaign. She currently lacks active political fundraising accounts, which suggests any potential candidacy is still in the speculative phase.

Her comments about Harris come amid increasing uncertainty surrounding the vice presidents political future. Although Harris has not publicly revealed her plans, sources close to her suggested to Politico she may be weighing a run for California governor or even considering a bid for president in 2028.
Palo Alto, Calif.-based Stanford Health Care recently received a federal waiver to provide acute hospital care at home  even though the state of California doesn't allow it.

CMS approved the academic health system for hospital at home in March, but the California Department of Public Health does not have licensing statutes in place for the care model.

"We think this is the right thing to do, and we are ready to do it should the state reverse its position," Stanford Health Care Chief Medical Information Officer Christopher Sharp, MD, told Becker's. "We want to be ready for this opportunity when and should it occur."

For now, Stanford is building up its home-based care overall, including patients transitioning from a hospital stay and 24/7 virtual visits.

"When acute care in the home ideally becomes an option, we will already have a number of capabilities in that domain that we can just move the acute care entity into," Dr. Sharp said.

Executive orders in California paved the way for hospital at home during the pandemic but have since expired. The California Department of Public Health no longer has the "authority to approve these programs," an agency spokesperson told Becker's. "There is no authorization for an acute hospital care at home program within our licensing statutes, and these programs cannot meet the general acute care licensing requirements that are in place."

A change would require a new executive order or legislation, the spokesperson said.

Stanford Health Care is "disappointed" in the state's inaction on hospital at home, and has been voicing its support for the care model on the policy and advocacy fronts, Dr. Sharp said. CMS has granted hospital-at-home waivers to several other California health systems, including Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai and San Francisco-based UCSF Health.

For now, Stanford continues to boost its digital footprint to one day provide a full suite of services in the home. That includes "virtual care platforms, remote patient monitoring, logistics management, scheduling management  things that require pretty substantial technology advancements in places and contexts we haven't done them in before," Dr. Sharp said.
From its EHR system going live in new hospitals to rolling out application programming interfaces that allow app developers integrating with Epic to be compliant with federal interoperability standards, here are eight updates on Epic's operations, software products and partnerships reported by Becker's Hospital Review in November:

On Nov. 26, Epic and startup Particle Health jointly submitted a proposed briefing schedule for Epic's motion to dismiss in their ongoing legal case.



Sarasota (Fla.) Memorial Health Care System said it is investing $160 million to transition to an Epic EHR system.



New Bern, N.C.-based CarolinaEast Health System said it is moving to an Epic EHR system on Nov. 30.



In a Nov. 4 blog post, Epic CEO and Founder Judy Faulkner detailed how the EHR giant came up with a way for physicians to access patient charts at home before interoperability.

On Nov. 4 Epic went live with application programming interfaces that allow app developers integrating with Epic to be compliant with federal interoperability standards.

Albany (N.Y.) Med health System unified its enterprise under the Epic EHR on Nov. 2.



In September, Jennie Stuart Health, based in Hopkinsville, Ky., signed a non-binding letter of intent to merge with Evansville, Ind.-based Deaconess Health System. If approved, the merger would enable Jennie Stuart Health to accelerate its implementation of an Epic EHR system, according to the organization.



Pullman (Wash.) Regional Hospital welcomed Pullman-based Palouse Medical into its Epic EHR.
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center signed a 10-year deal with Siemens Healthineers to accelerate clinical care breakthroughs.

The two organizations have a longstanding strategic relationship and the new deal will foster innovation in diagnostic and therapeutic imaging, AI and machine learning for radiology and radiation oncology in addition to expanding access to care for underserved patient populations. They will create an "imaging center of excellence," according to the health system's announcement.

Under the agreement, dubbed a "Value Partnership," Wexner will purchase equipment and consulting services for the next decade from Siemens Healthineers to improve operational efficiencies and workforce development programs.

"Combining the strengths of both our institutions allows us to achieve more for the benefit of our patients, locally and globally," said John J. Warner, MD, CEO of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and executive vice president at Ohio State. "We have a deep bench of subspecialized scientists working in cancer, heart, neuroscience and other disciplines. Along with Siemens Healthineers, we can solve medical challenges and adapt therapies in real time for the betterment of our patients  and that is a very meaningful opportunity that were excited to take on together."

The partnership is valued at $105 million and the partners will co-develop technologies to improve patient care.
Overland Regional Medical Center in Kansas, part of HCA Midwest Health, has named Jim Boyle, MSN, RN, as chief nursing officer, according to a Nov. 25 news release sent to Becker's.

Mr. Boyle began his career as a bedside nurse more than 26 years ago before advancing into leadership roles. Most recently, he served as CNO of Medical City Weatherford Hospital in Texas, where he led efforts to boost nurse engagement and physician satisfaction with nursing. Prior to that, Mr. Boyle was vice president of clinical operations and assistant CNO at Medical City Arlington. Both hospitals are part of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare's North Texas Division.

In his new role, Mr. Boyle will oversee nursing operations at the 351-bed hospital in Kansas, which is one of seven hospitals within HCA Midwest Health.
The Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, which opened in July 2020 in Pasadena, Calif., graduated its first class in May and received full accreditation in June. This milestone coincided with the appointment of John Dalrymple, MD, as the school's dean and CEO. Dr. Dalrymple, a physician and educator, previously served as senior associate dean for medical education at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

In an interview with Becker's, Dr. Dalrymple discussed the medical school's mission, its curriculum, and strategies to address the physician shortage and enhance patient care.

Editor's note: Responses were lightly edited for length and clarity.

Question: What strategies will you employ to ensure the curriculum stays ahead in preparing future physicians for value-based and patient-centered care?

Dr. John Dalrymple: Our take on medical education goes beyond teaching medical knowledge and clinical skills. We really see this as a transformative process where we help our students develop their professional identities and help shape them into future physicians who are going to be ready to meet the future needs of health and healthcare in America. And we want to make sure that they are able to care for the patients and the communities down the road, recognizing that healthcare is constantly evolving.

With that in mind, we focus on integration and thinking about not only the traditional areas of biomedical science and clinical care, but the integration of a third pillar, which I think is a unique aspect of our curriculum, which is centered on health system science. By combining biomedical science, clinical science and health system science, and doing so in a very intentional way, it allows us to think about the future needs of physicians that are centered on a patient-centered approach, ensuring that the quality of the care meets the needs of the patient, that it's of high value, and that it's equitable and accessible to everyone, all the patients and communities, no matter where our graduates go.

We've just completed four years of our school. And so our curriculum is still new, and as such, we embody an approach that includes continuous quality improvement. Recently, we conducted what we call our curriculum-as-a-whole review, where we looked at our entire boarding curriculum and did a comprehensive review to see what is working? Did our blueprints help meet the mark in terms of our innovative approach? Are we actually meeting the needs of our future physicians?

Our health system science approach to medical education is fairly unique, and I think it is an approach that is revolutionizing how medical educators think about the future education of physicians. As such, we have really taken that on boldly. Within that is certainly a focus on value-based care, coupled with the fact that we are embedded in the Kaiser Permanente healthcare system, where value-based care is central to everything that they do. By positioning our students in that clinical environment, we are really putting our students at the forefront of how medicine and healthcare can be delivered in a meaningful way.

On top of that, teaching intentional skills such as patient safety, quality, community health and health policy, which are really central to our healthcare compliance curriculum. We aspire to ensure that our future graduates are primed and ready to deliver the care for their future patients, no matter where they are, in a sort of future-facing approach.

Q: How will you foster collaborative learning experiences among students from different healthcare disciplines to improve patient outcomes?

JD: In general, collaboration is key and central to everything we do in medicine. It really is the future of healthcare. And thinking about collaboration across different backgrounds, different specialties, different identities, is really essential.

At the medical school, we are deliberate in building a culture where interdisciplinary learning is really the norm. It's not an exception; it's really how we approach everything we do. We recognize that in medicine and in the future of healthcare, it really relies on teamwork and working across disciplines and across backgrounds. That's the only way that we're going to be able to deliver effective, comprehensive, patient-centered care.

So with that, we build intentional learning opportunities in our curriculum. This interprofessional collaborative approach allows our medical students to come in close contact and work alongside students from other disciplines, specifically pharmacy students and nursing students from other programs. We bring them all together and allow them to work in sort of realistic patient-care scenarios, simulation settings, that allow them to practice and develop those skills working across backgrounds and disciplines.

We do it sort of in the simulation setting, and of course, we know in the actual patient-care setting, our students are out in the clinical sites scattered across the Kaiser Permanente medical centers in Southern California. Our students are working alongside physicians who are in the KP system, who themselves are working alongside nursing, pharmacy, allied health, social work, everywhere that healthcare is delivered.

In the real-life setting, our students are exposed to that as well as working with doctors and healthcare professionals from other subspecialties. They also work alongside residents. So it's really core to how we teach systems, like many other medical schools do, of course. But I will say that we initiate these principles on day one in how we provide classroom teaching.

Our curriculum instruction is really focused on small-group, case-based learning such that the students learn from each other. They work together in teams with other students and with their faculty, and that's how they learn medicine, how they learn the biomedical sciences, the clinical sciences and the health system sciences. They learn that approach to team-based learning, which we hope will then continue into the clinical setting and ultimately into their practice moving forward.

Q: What strategies do you have in mind to address physician shortages and encourage graduates to work in underserved areas?

JD: We are absolutely committed to addressing this topic area. I think the latter one  ensuring that our graduates are up to date on underserved and under-resourced communities  is one that we take on front and center.

In fact, it really aligns with our mission. Our mission is to provide a world-class medical education that ignites a passion for learning, a desire to serve, and here's the key part: an unwavering commitment to improve the health and well-being of patients and communities. When we say that last part, we mean all communities.

With that, we are very intentional about ensuring that our students, again through our partnership with Kaiser Permanente, are provided a robust network of opportunities to work in community health settings. Specifically, we have built in a service-learning curriculum, specific activities, and partnerships with federally qualified health centers that every one of our students engages in. Through this, they have direct opportunities to learn about community health, the provision of care and support in under-resourced areas.

We know that those who choose medicine do so because it's a calling. Yes, it is a profession, but it's also a calling. Our goal is to support our students who are inspired to go into medicine, meet them where they are, and give them the chance to learn all that they can. We want to equip them with the tools they need to make an impact. By doing so, we hope and aspire to ensure that our students graduate with the ability to approach the delivery of healthcare in any community, including those that are underserved if that's the area they choose to work in.

The physician shortage is tricky. There are many approaches to that. Certainly, there has been a plethora of new medical schools over the past decade in the U.S. Obviously, we're a new school. We're a bit on the small side with 50 students a year. The topic of increasing class size or expanding the school, I think, is on every school's mind, certainly on ours. Eventually, this will sort of get to the part about addressing physician shortages.

But there are other ways to think about addressing access to physicians, especially in under-resourced areas. That includes thinking about technologies, thinking about collaborative care. We talked about interprofessional collaboration. How can we bring other healthcare providers and physician extenders together to allow physicians to work at the top of their license while others provide care in the community?

Q: Given the ongoing discussions about physician burnout and the role of digital technology in improving workflows, what lessons or strategies from the medical school's model and curriculum do you think health system executives could adopt to enhance care delivery, improve patient outcomes and address workforce challenges?

JD: The great thing about our school being new is that we embrace innovation  not just for innovation's sake, but to really think about how we can move the needle on medical education and, ultimately, physician development and delivery of healthcare.

Certainly, Kaiser Permanente, as a healthcare organization, is at the forefront of thinking about enhancing technology and digital health and other mechanisms to improve the physician experience and the patient experience. They were at the forefront of the electronic health record and other ways of providing asynchronous virtual care and other approaches.

I think for us at the school, we certainly want to think about ways to innovate in how to deliver our curriculum, but also how to ensure that our graduates continue to take that approach and be lifelong learners as they move into practice.

We have to think about ways to integrate technologies such as artificial intelligence and how we can leverage that in a way that helps make the delivery of healthcare on the physician side more efficient and more meaningful. We want physicians to be freed up from too much administrative work and focus instead on the part that technology can't replace: the human touch, the human compassion, the human connection.

There are other ways technology can make our lives easier. We certainly don't want to make it more complicated, and we certainly have to think about the ethical uses of technology. But I think those are some of the approaches we're thinking about at the school on how to integrate that into our curriculum so that way, our medical students can take those learnings and move them into practice and into healthcare programs and communities. That way, they can live productive, meaningful lives as doctors and deliver the best care to their patients and communities.
Michael E. DeBakey, MD, the late legendary heart surgeon, was known for making his residents and fellows sleep in the cardiac ICU at Houston Methodist Hospital when they had patients on the unit.

Sometimes they would work and sleep there for two months at a time. Dr. DeBakey's residents expected those long hours away from home and accepted it as part of the learning process and a well-established rite of passage.

Now generations have passed, and younger physicians are expecting something different  work/life balance.

As The Wall Street Journal recently reported, this generation of young physicians insists on balance, which means less call and less time working after hours in general. According to the article, young doctors' desire to spend more time with family and on personal activities may be creating a generational divide in the physician workforce.

Being on-call at all times of day and night during the pandemic may have exacerbated physician burnout, which is considered the reason for the increased number of doctors retiring now. In the story, young physicians talk about the "outdated expectations of overwork."

The American Medical Association says half of all doctors are experiencing some burnout. A 2020 systematic review published by JAMA looked at the reasons why. From a total of 48 studies, researchers found that the main cause of burnout among trainee physicians is the stress of work demands. Reducing the workload is one way around that, even if older generations of doctors are steadfast that putting the patient first means long hours.

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education has long recognized that the long hours aren't good for doctors or patients and made guidelines that limited residents to 80 hours a week. Did the limits work? This publication reports on the initial outcomes of the hour limits put on residents.

What does it mean to be on call?

On-call work means different things depending on a physician's status. For example, residents who are on call typically spend the night in a hospital. For others it might mean being close to the phone, wherever they are.

On-call typically involves working nights and holidays, responding to calls from other hospital/medical staff to help direct patient care, supporting more senior physicians, staying near the hospital or clinic, and maintaining availability during designated periods.

This traditional system faces challenges from younger physicians seeking better work-life balance.

"With a very peculiar way of life and a paradigm-shifting attitude that challenges the 'pecking order' and the existing medical hierarchy, the digital natives, as they are called, are going to disrupt the medical world," an older physician who published an opinion piece in Frontiers in Public Health last year wrote. "This evolution is forcing managers and healthcare systems to adapt. With the arrival of these young people whose ambitions are different from those of their elders, the medical world will undergo profound changes."

This physician, and others who have opined on this issue, say Generation Z doctors and the older physicians who often practice together, need to learn to live and work together despite different perspectives.

What are the basic characteristics of Gen Z?

Gen Z, born 1997-2010, represents the first truly digital generation. Beyond basic tech fluency, they integrate technology seamlessly into daily life, work, and relationships. This shapes their core characteristics:

Tech savvy (often called the digital natives)

Collaborative

Diverse

Values flexibility

Values self-care

In a Medical News Today podcast, two physicians of different generations compared their experiences as junior physicians. In the beginning, the more experienced doctor said she often worked 135 hours a week. Her friend, a new doctor, said he averages 48 hours a week, and that includes 8 hours of being on call. The retired doctor admitted that she once fell asleep on a patient while listening to his heart.

Are young physicians on to something?

The COVID-19 pandemic intensified scrutiny of physician burnout and its cascading effects on healthcare quality. Research published in the Clinical Case Reports Journal reveals how excessive work hours and disrupted sleep patterns impair physicians' cognitive function, performance, and emotional stability  directly compromising patient safety.

The path to better work-life balance in medicine requires structural changes, according to the research. Medical practices must maintain sufficient staffing levels to distribute on-call responsibilities across more physicians, preventing excessive burden on individuals. Support systems like flexible scheduling and childcare facilities can significantly reduce work-family conflicts, enhancing physicians' psychological well-being. Additionally, giving physicians input into their call schedules creates a more collaborative environment and ensures fair distribution of responsibilities.

Are there alternatives to the on-call model?

There will always be a need for doctors to be on call for emergencies, but there are ways to lessen the burden  mainly through technology and the rise in popularity of hospitalists. Hospital medicine is one of the fastest growing medical specialties in the U.S. This is good news for the primary care doctors who are on-call less because hospitalists can round on their patients.

Technology is reshaping on-call demands as well. Telemedicine platforms enable remote consultations, while artificial intelligence streamlines administrative tasks. Though these advances don't eliminate the need for on-call coverage, they help create more sustainable work patterns for physicians.

This evolution comes at a crucial time: with 38% of Generation Z expressing interest in healthcare careers, adapting to their expectations for work-life balance may be essential for addressing physician shortages. As multiple generations of doctors collaborate in today's healthcare environment, finding ways to honor both traditional dedication to patient care and modern approaches to physician well-being becomes increasingly important.
Terre Haute, Ind.-based Union Health has withdrawn its certificate of public advantage agreement for its proposed merger with Terre Haute Regional Hospital, a 278-bed facility operated by Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare.

Union Health pulled its COPA application  initially filed in September 2023  just nine days before the state was set to make a final decision on the transaction.

The health system plans to resubmit a COPA application for the acquisition of Terre Haute Regional, according to local news outlet WTHI 10. The review process of a COPA document takes the state 120 days to complete.

The move comes amid community backlash and federal scrutiny around the potential antitrust concerns that the transaction could have created in the area.

The Federal Trade Commission in September advised the Indiana Department of Health against approving the deal, arguing that it would "likely impose higher costs and could lead to worse healthcare outcomes for Indiana patients, as well as lower wage growth for hospital workers."

The FTC told Indiana regulators COPAs are "unwieldy," "difficult to manage" and "have failed to protect local communities from the harmful effects of anticompetitive hospital mergers."

"Recognizing the COPA process is a very complex, innovative approach to improving access and quality health care for area residents, we believe it is best to withdraw the current application to allow time for Union Health and Terre Haute Regional to continue to work with IDOH, to ensure the benefits, including improved access, quality, prevention and early intervention, are outlined in the new application," Union Health said in a statement shared with Becker's.

The FTC said is pleased with Union Health's COPA withdrawal and the agency will continue to closely monitor developments with this proposed merger.

"This is good news for patients and healthcare workers in Indiana's Wabash Valley region, because this proposed merger would raise healthcare costs, reduce access to quality care, and depress wages for hospital workers," The FTC said in a Nov. 26 statement. "We are heartened that the Indiana Department of Health appears to be taking seriously the many concerns expressed by the public about this merger, and hope they will ultimately deny the COPA."

Union Health is an independent, nonprofit system with more than 3,000 employees, according to its website. It includes Union Hospital, a 285 bed acute care facility, and Union Hospital (Ind.) Clinton, a 25 bed critical access facility.
Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems' planned $120 million sale of Commonwealth Health to a newly formed nonprofit organization has collapsed.

WoodBridge Healthcare on July 30 signed a definitive agreement to acquire the three-hospital system from CHS. Commonwealth Health's hospitals include:

Regional Hospital of Scranton (186 beds)

Moses Taylor Hospital in Scranton (122 beds)

Wilkes-Barre General Hospital (369 beds)

Both parties "mutually agreed" to terminate asset purchase agreement, according to CHS.

The transaction was terminated due to "WoodBridge's inability to satisfy the funding requirements in the purchase agreement because of certain developments affecting the expected proceeds available to WoodBridge from the issuance of publicly offered tax-exempt and taxable bond," CHS said in a statement.

WoodBridge intended to use bond financing debt to acquire the hospitals. The Wilkes-Barre Finance Authority in September issued a public notice outlining how it would act as the financing system to issue up to $180 million in tax-exempt revenue bonds on behalf of WoodBridge.

The proposed sale of CommonWealth Health was part of CHS' $1 billion hospital divestiture plan and would have cemented the for-profit system's exit from Pennsylvania.

CHS said it will evaluate future options for Commonwealth Health.
Federal officials detained former Dallas-based Steward Health Care CEO Ralph de la Torre the week of Nov. 18 to execute a search warrant and seize his phone as part of an ongoing investigation, The Boston Globe reported Nov. 25.

Federal officials also recently seized the phone of Armin Ernst, head of Steward's international operations, the Globe reported.

"On a scale of 1 to 10, this action by federal authorities brings the Steward scandal to an 11," Douglas Chia, president of Soundboard Governance LLC and a senior fellow at the Center for Corporate Law and Governance at Rutgers Law School, told the Globe.

Steward sought Chapter 11 protection on May 6 and has since shed the majority of its 31 hospitals. In July, CBS News reported that the company was under criminal investigation by the Department of Justice.

Dr. de la Torre "amicably separated" from Steward on Oct. 1, on the heels of a unanimous Sept. 25 Senate vote to hold him in contempt for skipping a Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing that he had been subpoenaed to attend. Dr. de la Torre then sued the HELP committee on Sept. 30 and its members in federal court, alleging their actions were unconstitutional retaliation for him invoking his right to not testify under the Fifth Amendment.

The probe comes after John Boehner, former U.S. House Speaker and Steward board member, testified in mid-November to a federal grand jury in Boston regarding corruption, bribery and potential fraud within the for-profit health system.

While neither Dr. de la Torre or Mr. Ernst has been charged in the U.S. with a crime, they are both at the center of an unfolding criminal corruption case in Malta, where Steward executives allegedly bribed government officials.

Federal officials must have credible evidence to present to a magistrate judge that a specific crime occurred, along with probable cause that crime evidence would be located on a seized phone. Federal officials have also been talking with other Steward top executives, the Globe reported.

"This [search warrant] makes it more likely to me that the prosecutors think that [Dr. de la Torre] is a participant in a crime" not a bystander, Mitchell Epner, a former federal prosecutor in New Jersey, told theGlobe. "Very often in a situation like this, the underlings have already been contacted."

The Globe's Spotlight Team has reported multiple instances where Dr. de la Torre allegedly used Steward's funds for personal expenses, like a private jet for friends, a donation to his children's school and a Madrid apartment while Steward dealt with patient care risks and mounting vendor bills. It was also revealed in February that Dr. de la Torre owned two yachts, valued at $40 million and $15 million, respectively.

Steward did not have a comment for Becker's at this time.
The former chief of cardiology at Trinity Health Muskegon (Mich.) Hospital accused the hospital of firing him for reporting alleged unnecessary surgeries, according to court documents.

Daniel West, MD, worked as a cardiologist for Trinity Health Medical Group for 35 years, according to the lawsuit, which was filed Nov. 19. Dr. West was suspended "without due process and in violation of multiple policies" in late October, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges:

After reporting concerns about another cardiologist, Dr. West was suspended in June on the grounds of a behavior issue.





In July, Dr. West and all other Trinity cardiologists in Muskegon signed and submitted a letter outlining concerns about unnecessary surgeries. The letter was sent to Michigan's attorney general's office and to Trinity administrators.





On Aug. 2, the organization revoked his positions as chief of cardiology and lead partner of the cardiology practice. Dr. West was placed on a "final written warning" status. He returned to work Aug. 5.





On Oct. 28, Muskegon Hospital fired Dr. West without cause.

Dr. West accused Trinity of firing him in retaliation and violating whistleblower protection laws.

Trinity Health Muskegon Hospital declined to address specific questions about the case, including whether it investigated Dr. West's claims or about the other cardiologist's employment status.

"While we are not able to comment on the specifics of active litigation, we will vigorously defend ourselves against any allegations which are inaccurate," the hospital said in a statement. "We remain dedicated in our efforts to uphold high standards and integrity in all aspects of our healing ministry. We will continue to ensure that our actions are in the best interest of the patients and community we serve."
Santa Rosa High School students performed Dog Sees God off-site at the Mercury Theater in Petaluma. Laurel Merrick

When Santa Rosa High School canceled its production of Dog Sees God, events played out according to a pattern long familiar to anti-censorship advocates.

It all happened fast. There wasnt any debate when the play was selected or during early rehearsals; instead, the decision came after the Thursday, Nov. 14, opening night of Bert V. Royals 2004 play, which envisions Charles M. Schulzs Peanuts characters as teenagers. Whoever complained about the play was allowed to be anonymous, and the specifics of the complaint were kept vague. In a letter to parents, the school cited caution and concern in its decision to cancel the show.

But something relatively new about incidents of high school theater censorship  according to independent advocate Howard Sherman, who trains theater educators in heading off and responding to complaints that might lead to censorship  is the publics ability to overturn them.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Censorship is always about the exertion of power, he told the Chronicle by phone from his New York home. It is about someone or some entity in authority that wants to control access to information under the guise of protecting people. In earlier eras, a school board might have had few restrictions on its power, he explained, but now the internet has upset that balance by spreading news far beyond a single community.

Santa Rosa High School students performed Dog Sees God at the Mercury Theater in Petaluma. Laurel Merrick

Thats exactly what happened in the case of Santa Rosa High School, where Jereme Anglin was directing Dog Sees God as part of the schools ArtQuest magnet program. Shortly after the cancellation, the school reversed its decision and invited the actors to perform the show again at a later date, but only before audiences of ages 16 and up. In an email to parents, the district cited an arts organization in Georgia that had rated the play appropriate for that age group. But students rejected the schools offer, partly because they had already made arrangements to perform at an off-site venue, partly because they felt school district leadership had acted in bad faith, and partly because they felt the age restriction was arbitrary.

The ArtQuest program requires every students parents to sign permission slips acknowledging: The sophistication and possibly challenging content of work that ArtQuest students engage with and, in some instances, produce, requires that parents/guardians consent to students exposure to possibly controversial content.

Previous ArtQuest shows with mature, boundary-pushing material have included The Laramie Project  which tells the true story of the hate crime that killed 21-year-old Matthew Shepard in 1998  She Kills Monsters, and works by Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde. Anglin told the Chronicle that none of these sparked a complaint.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Santa Rosa High School students performed Dog Sees God at the Mercury Theater in Petaluma. Laurel Merrick

Additionally, Anglin gave warnings in writing to all theater students parents and daily via the schools public address in the two weeks leading up to performances. But a joint letter from Santa Rosa County Schools Board President Omar Medina and Superintendent Daisy Morales said: Parents and community members, not directly connected to SRHS, were not clearly informed of the plays content prior to last nights performance.

The district did not immediately respond to questions about the source of the complaint, its contents or how school leaders determine a complaints legitimacy. It also did not explain why concerned parents cant simply arrange for their own children not to see the show instead of wiping out months of a class work.

After the cancellation was reversed, district spokesman James Hodgman provided a statement from school officials: We recognize the play should have been suspended rather than canceled while we looked into those concerns, it read. We recognize this decision impacted many in our community and we are committed to being more deliberate and considerate with such decisions in the future.

The statement continued: The arts are a cornerstone of our schools and community. They provide a space for creative expression, a platform to challenge norms, address difficult issues, and reflect complex realities that many of our students face.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

A sign displayed at the performance of Dog Sees God by Santa Rosa High Schools ArtQuest students at the Mercury Theater in Petaluma on Nov. 16. Laurel Merrick

Anglins students had chosen the play at the beginning of the school year from a handful of contenders he suggested.

It was experiences that us as a class have lived through, senior Leila Paine, 17, told the Chronicle. A bully character in the play, Matt, frequently uses a homophobic slur  one that Paine says she was called during middle school. Its definitely an experience that happens often, but I think it has been so normalized that people dont really see the damage that it does, she said.

Peanuts characters (whose creator, Schulz, spent much of his life in Santa Rosa) are associated with innocence, said senior Dean Jahnsen, 17. Seeing them deal with not-so-innocent issues  drug use, sexuality, bullying, homophobia, eating disorders, suicide  can be mind-opening. It really just shows that everyone has these kind of struggles, he said.

After opening night, Anglin was called in to speak with LuzElena Perez, the executive director of Santa Rosa City School District. In that first meeting, he said officials cited the plays profanity, even though the play doesnt endorse its coarse language. Its complete satire, Anglin said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Santa Rosa High School students performed Dog Sees God at the Mercury Theater in Petaluma. Laurel Merrick

But the following week, when he met with officials again, he said he got a different explanation. They were saying that the actual trigger was the suicide in it, he said. I think theyre just changing their mind.

When students learned about the cancellation, they didnt sit around moping. It was honestly really shocking, the mood shift, Paine recalled. Everyone just started making plans. Some alerted other classrooms. Others began contacting school board members. Still others reached out to venues where they might still perform the show.

The Mercury Theater in Petaluma wound up donating space, and two performances of Dog Sees God took place on Saturday, Nov. 16. The students had to restage the play in the hours before they went on. They collected donations for ArtQuest at the door, ultimately raising $9,000  10 times what an individual performance might normally gross on school grounds, Anglin said.

Before the shows, Anglin gave the actors a pep talk. I just told the kids, This is not my show anymore. Its your show, he recalled.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Santa Rosa High School students performed Dog Sees God at the Mercury Theater in Petaluma. Laurel Merrick

At the Mercury, some lines in the script resonated differently, Jahnsen said. One was the moment when spinoffs of Peanuts characters Peppermint Patty and Marcie say, Listen up, school! Were revolting! The other was when bullying drives a character to suicide. Jahnsen felt that, ironically, because of the cancellation and the venue change, the plays real message finally sank in for audiences.

The real purpose of this play is not the swearing and the cussing, he said, but this moment of finding your sexual identity.

If part of the purpose of a high school education is to teach students how to interpret texts, this incident  as in so many incidents of high school censorship  is anti-interpretation. As Sherman pointed out, it doesnt distinguish between the use of a racial slur in an August Wilson play from one in a racist play, or between an anti-gay slur in a homophobic play from those in Dog Sees God. It says an individual word is the issue, and singling it out in the script is a sufficient screening method.

Interpretation  along with professional arts criticism  is time-consuming and expensive. Its also risky: The interpreter bares his or her thinking. The Santa Rosa High School students have made themselves publicly vulnerable, while the complainants have remained anonymous, putting little on the line.

Santa Rosa High School ArtQuest students performed Dog Sees God at the Mercury Theater in Petaluma. Laurel Merrick

Complaining parents and school leadership might benefit from doing what high schoolers are asked to do all the time: read a text, quote from it, hazard an argument about it and defend it with evidence. They might well have valid points about Royals script; perhaps they might sway us. After all, few would argue that all content is appropriate for a K-12 setting. But so far, theres been no effort to try.

In a conversation after the contention over the play, Royal told the Chronicle hes no longer the irreverent youth who penned the script. Now the father of a 17-year-old himself, he sympathizes with other parents content concerns. He said that when schools have contacted him in the past to ask if he can tone down parts of the play, hes tried to work with them, and that now many versions of the script exist.

Still, he recognizes the hypocrisy in that parental urge. If these kids can be involved in active shooter drills, but they cant hear dirty words, weve got a problem, he said.

It would be another matter if concerned parents were at least as vociferous and engaged about the real-life incidents of foul language and bullying that Paine says she faced. But she said thats not what shes experienced.

Santa Rosa High School ArtQuest students performed Dog Sees God at the Mercury Theater in Petaluma. Laurel Merrick

Royal spoke with the students just days after the Mercury performances. I went into that conversation feeling like I knew what I was going to say and just trying to bring the temperature down, he recalled. But the students wound up schooling him. They were coming at this from a place of wanting to really say something, not just get onstage and say crass things.

He said hes long felt afraid of teenagers  for their rowdiness on trains, say  and he felt when he was one, when he wrote the play and more even recently. But revisiting Dog Sees God recently with both ArtQuest and other groups of young artists, he said, made him think, I need to stop with the fear of teens.

The Santa Rosa teens cited their own lessons learned: about their generations power, about the nature of their school leadership, about the times they live in.
A Maryland medical malpractice attorney known for his aggressive tactics faces up to 20 years in prison after a federal jury convicted him of attempting to extort $25 million from the University of Maryland Medical System in Baltimore.

Stephen L. Snyder, 77, whose signature slogan was "Don't sue them, Snyder them," was found guilty Nov. 22 of attempted extortion and seven counts of violating the Travel Act, according to The Baltimore Banner.

Prosecutors proved that between January and October 2018, Mr. Snyder threatened to launch a damaging public relations campaign against UMMS's organ transplant program unless the system paid him $25 million. The effort began in his work representing the wife of a man who died 13 months after a kidney transplant at the system's flagship hospital in Baltimore.

Mr. Snyder's threats included claims that UMMS had knowingly transplanted diseased organs into patients without their knowledge to generate revenue. The payment was to be disguised as a consulting arrangement and would have been separate from any client settlements, according to the indictment.

Representing himself at trial, Mr. Snyder acknowledged his aggressive tactics, but claimed he had no criminal intent and was entrapped by the government. The case began after UMMS reported Snyder's threats to the FBI in 2019, leading to an eight-count indictment in 2020.

Sentencing was scheduled for Feb. 25. Mr. Snyder faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for extortion and for each of seven counts of violating the Travel Act.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has suggested hospitals may risk losing CMS funding if they fail to comply with an executive order requiring hospitals to inquire about patients' citizenship status.

Mr. Abbott took to social media platform X to share the warning, which was prompted by a viral TikTok video from Tony Pastor, MD, who said patients do not need to answer questions about their legal status in the country. Dr. Pastor is a cardiologist at Texas Children's Hospital and assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine, both based in Houston.

"Hey Texas Children's Hospital & Baylor College of Medicine, this doctor is putting your Medicaid and Medicare funding at risk," Mr. Abbott wrote in a Nov. 24 post on X, which linked back to a San Antonio Express-News article about the physician's Nov. 11 TikTok video, which has since been taken down.

"You better think twice & have crystal clear records," Mr. Abbott wrote in the post. "There will be consequences for failing to follow the law in the Executive Order."

In the Nov. 11 TikTok, which had garnered more than 1.2 million views before being taken down Nov. 26, Dr. Pastor said, "We were told today that people do not actually have to answer the question  So my proposal to everyone who's seeing this is, just know that you do not have to answer this question."

As part of an executive order that took effect Nov. 1, Texas hospitals are required to include a question on patient intake forms asking about their citizenship status. Patients are not legally bound to answer the question. Healthcare providers, advocacy groups and health districts have reiterated that patients are not required by law to answer the question, and that their answer will not affect their care.

Texas Children's shared a statement Nov. 25, saying they support and are in compliance with Mr. Abbott's executive order:

"We have worked closely with the Texas Hospital Association and our industry partners across the state to ensure compliance in advance of the effective date. While we recognize that individuals working at Texas Children's hold their own personal views on many topics, those opinions do not necessarily reflect the official position of Texas Children's Hospital. We will continue to prioritize patient care while ensuring we are in full compliance with all laws and legal directives."








Security officers at Rochester Regional Health now have the opportunity to become peace officers, NPR affiliate WXXI reported Nov. 25.

This change comes as a result of a New York state Senate Assembly bill, which was signed into law Nov. 22. The legislation allows trained security officers at the system to issue appearance tickets, make arrests, conduct constitutional searches and confiscate illegal firearms, according to the report.

Tim Tull, vice president of safety and security for Rochester Regional Health, told WXXI the legislation is crucial to the system.

"This milestone is not just about responding to threats, it's about creating an environment where everyone feels secure, where our team members can focus on delivering compassionate care, and our patients can heal without fear," Mr. Tull said.

The system said it will partner with local law enforcement on peace officer training.
In a Nov. 25 letter sent to congressional leaders, the Healthcare Leadership Council pressed legislators to restore pandemic-era pharmacist scopes of practice.

The Healthcare Leadership Council is advocating for leaders in the Senate and House to enact several legislative items before the end of 2024, according to a news release shared with Becker's. One of these pertains to pharmacist-provided services.

The organization is asking Congress to enact the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act. If passed, the bill would expand reimbursement coverage for pharmacists administering vaccines, providing medication therapy management and offering preventive care services in underserved areas, the HLC said.

These flexibilities were greenlit throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and ended when the public health emergency expired June 30, 2023.

"Unfortunately, now pharmacists are once again limited in their ability to leverage their medical training due to an unnecessary barrier that fails to recognize pharmacists as providers in Medicare Part B," the organization said. "We urge Congress to support efforts to designate pharmacists as providers under Medicare Part B."

The HLC is composed of CEOs and C-suite executives across the healthcare industry. Member organizations include AdventHealth, Amazon, Cardinal Health, Epic, Johnson & Johnson, Mayo Clinic and UnitedHealth Group.

The HLC also requests Congress extend or make permanent flexibilities for telehealth services and Medicare's acute hospital-at-home waiver program; extend funding for community health centers; reauthorize the Older Americans Act, which funds several programs for older adults and their caregivers; and reauthorize for the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, which is scheduled to expire Dec. 31.
The practice was alerted to the unauthorized access of a corporate email account Aug. 6, according to a notice on the companys website. On Oct. 28, the practice learned that files may have been removed from the impacted email account by an unauthorized third-party actor between June 20 and Aug. 6.

The information that may have been obtained includes names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, government identification numbers, credit card information, medical information and insurance information.

The practice said it has no evidence that any personal information has been misused.

The incident was submitted to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights Breach Portal Nov. 22.

Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists has four locations in Virginia.
Promo made 23k for charities and saw visitors flock from far and wide to Co Fermanagh pub

Una Burns, owner of Charlie's Bar in Enniskillen, talks to the Belfast Telegraph last year after the bar's video went viral with millions of views on social media. Pic: Peter Morrison

Una Burns, owner of Charlie's Bar, with a German visitor who brought with him a newspaper containing a copy of an article about last year's advert

Actor Martin McManus (right) talks with fellow stars Megan Daley and Alex Middlemas and their dog Missy at Charlies Bar last year. Pic: Peter Morrison

A Northern Ireland pub whose viral Christmas advert helped raise more than 20,000 for local charities last year is preparing to launch a sequel.

Charlies Bar in Enniskillen made headlines across the world in November 2023 when it launched a Christmas video looking at the theme of loneliness during the festive season.

The pub posted the two-minute clip on their social media channels, where it was widely shared and viewed by millions of people around the world, as well as being picked up by media outlets in a number of different countries.

Una Burns, owner of Charlie's Bar, with a German visitor who brought with him a newspaper containing a copy of an article about last year's advert

Now the Co Fermanagh bar is preparing to launch its 2024 instalment, alerting its followers on social media ahead of the release on Friday.

Owner Una Burns said last years video had attracted visitors to the bar from all around the world.

We get so many people coming into the pub even now because of the advert, asking about it and sending messages, she told the Belfast Telegraph.

We had a phone call last week from a lady in Cork asking were we doing one again this year. We had Italians in at the weekend and they were telling me it was being branded in one of their newspapers as the best Christmas ad ever. The weekend before, on the Saturday night, we had a German man come in. He actually brought with him a newspaper dated December 2023 that reported on the advert.

It definitely has brought people from all over the world to our doors.

Actor Martin McManus (right) talks with fellow stars Megan Daley and Alex Middlemas and their dog Missy at Charlies Bar last year. Pic: Peter Morrison

Watch: Northern Irish pub goes viral with heartwarming Christmas advert

The 2023 video depicted an elderly man initially visiting a graveside with a bunch of flowers, before making his way down the town to the pub, passing a number of disinterested passers-by.

He is passed by a young couple and their dog, who  leadless  makes a beeline for the front door of Charlies Bar.

The couple hold the door for the man, who enters the pub and is handed a pint of Guinness by a smiling barman as he takes his seat in front of the fire.

The couples dog then walks over to join the man, who is eventually joined by the young couple themselves.

The video ends with a quote from WB Yeats: There are no strangers here, only friends you havent met yet.

Ms Burns said the campaign brought home the impact Christmas can have on those who are missing loved ones, and also helped raise thousands for local charities.

It was the first time we went down the route of a hard-hitting video; ours are normally quite light-hearted about the pub, music or dancing, she said.

The response was phenomenal, nothing like wed ever experienced before or will experience again.

The biggest highlight was that we were able to use the viral response to raise 23,000 for Age NI and SWAP (South West Age Partnership).

That meant local people benefited, so it wasnt just a message, it was then turned into action. SWAP used the money locally to give hot meals  they are actually still using the money.

The Dementia Singing Choir had been stopped due to lack of funding in December 2023, but because of the funding we gave to them, they were able to start that again. Even the fact John Lewis had recognised that and sent gifts over; for a small, local, family-run business, I dont think anybody would have expected that.

Una Burns, owner of Charlie's Bar in Enniskillen, talks to the Belfast Telegraph last year after the bar's video went viral with millions of views on social media. Pic: Peter Morrison

Ms Burns has remained tight-lipped about the details of the 2024 instalment, which is due to be aired on the bars social media accounts at 7pm on Friday November 29.

She said she had to think long and hard about whether to produce a second video at all.

I was so torn; part of me felt like I didnt want to put anything out because it will never compare to last year, said the owner.

It got such a positive response that I thought it would be a wasted opportunity not to put something out this year. We knew we had a good platform there and if we could use that for some good, then why wouldnt we?

This years video takes inspiration from last years advert and draws on the experience Ive had in the bar from customers over the years.

Christmas can be tainted with sadness and there is again an actionable message in this years advert, but in a different light.

It should be relatable to a lot of people, the message should resonate because it draws on what staff have seen over the years in the bar.

Like last year, there is no big budget and all the people are local, there is no professional acting experience. It was all filmed on an iPhone.

Without saying too much, there is continuity regarding some of the cast from last year, but maybe not in the way people will expect.
Major Belfast housing company blames former PM Liz Truss for profits drop

Lagan Homes report turnover remained same as last year at 130m

Conor Mulligan, managing director of Lagan Homes

James McNaney Tue 26 Nov 2024 at 07:10

A major Belfast housing company has said its results for 2023 show a continued impact from the 2022 mini budget during the tenure of former Prime Minister Liz Truss.
The owner of Proper No Twelve Whiskey is also distancing itself from McGregor

Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin toast his whiskey brand that he later sold

Retailers including Tesco and Musgrave, owners of SuperValu, Centra and Mace in Northern Ireland, have said theyve withdrawn drinks linked with Conor McGregor from their stores.

And it can be revealed that Proximo Spirits, the owner of Proper No Twelve Whiskey since 2021, is also distancing itself from the MMA fighter.

It comes following the decision by a jury in the Republic High Court last week that McGregor had assaulted hair stylist Nikita Hand, to whom he must now pay 248,000 in damages.

A spokesperson for Proximo said: Since 2021, Proximo Spirits has been the 100% owner of Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey. Going forward, we do not plan to use Mr. McGregors name and likeness in the marketing of the brand.

However, on Tuesday afternoon, McGregor was still described as our founder on the Proximo website.

Musgrave, a family-owned company which also owns the Donnybrook Fair brand in the Republic, has removed the drinks products from its stores.

A spokesman for Musgrave in Northern Ireland said: These products are no longer available to our store network. They have also been removed from Musgrave-owned stores in the Republic.

This will affect Forged Irish Stout, as well as Proper No 12 Whiskey and Proper No 12 Apple Whiskey, brands that were launched by McGregor who subsequently sold them but still promotes them on social media.

And Tesco, Northern Irelands most popular supermarket with around 50 stores, said: We can confirm that we are removing Proper No 12 Whiskey from sale in Tesco stores and online.

The Irish whiskey is also being removed from Tesco stores in the Republic and Great Britain, a spokesman confirmed.

Other businesses linked to the fighter are also under pressure to disassociate themselves from his products. Developers of the Hitman game series have said they will drop content featuring McGregor.

Posting on the social media platform X, IO Interactive said that in light of the recent court ruling they will cease collaboration with the athlete, effective immediately.

The developers added that they took the court ruling very seriously and could not ignore its implications.

McGregor was a side character in the most recent game of Hitman, a franchise that has been in operation since 2000.

Proximo Spirits also owns Bushmills whiskey in Northern Ireland.

Proper No Twelve products are also sold in some branches of Spar, Eurospar and Vivo in Northern Ireland.

However, a spokesperson for Henderson Wholesale, which operates the brands, said it does not source or supply any alcoholic products.

They added: Any alcohol available at independently-owned Spar, Eurospar and Vivo stores in Northern Ireland are directly sourced and stocked by the retailer.
Musgrave, owners of SuperValu and Centra, has withdrawn drinks linked with MMA fighter Conor McGregor from its stores.

It follows the decision by a jury in Dublins High Court last week that McGregor had assaulted hair stylist Nikita Hand, to whom he must now pay 248,000 in damages.

A spokesman for Musgraves said it can confirm these products are no longer available to our store network.

This will affect Forged Irish Stout, as well as Proper No 12 Whiskey and Proper No 12 Apple Whiskey, brands that were launched by McGregor who subsequently sold them but still promotes them on social media.

Conor McGregor promotes his whiskey brand

Conor McGregor leaves High Court with partner Dee Devlin

Musgrave, an Irish family-owned company, also owns the Donnybrook Fair brand and its entire network has over 1,250 shops around Ireland.

The company had faced public criticism for stocking products linked to McGregor following the jurys decision in the assault case.

Other businesses linked to the fighter are also under pressure to disassociate themselves from his products. Developers of the Hitman game series have said they will drop content featuring McGregor.

Posting on the social media platform X, IO Interactive said that in light of the recent court ruling they will cease collaboration with the athlete, effective immediately.

The developers added that they took the court ruling very seriously and could not ignore its implications.

McGregor was a side character in the most recent game of Hitman, a franchise that has been in operation since 2000.

The Barry Group, a retail food and alcohol wholesale provider which operates the Costcutter and Carry Out off-licence outlets, has also announced that it has decided to remove both Proper Twelve and Forged Stout from its network.

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre released a statement after the court ruling in which chief executive Rachel Morrogh said there had been, a strong effect across Irish society that we are feeling in Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, with calls to a 24-hour helpline almost doubling over the weekend.

The organisation said it was asking people to stand with Nikita Hand and examine whether the brands they associate with or follow are consistent with their own values and are opposed to violence against women.
Heriberto Rivas sets a table outside North Beach Restaurant in San Francisco in 2023. The 50-year-old restaurant will reopen under new ownership on Dec. 3. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

North Beach Restaurant, which was, until its closure last year, a quintessential gathering place in its eponymous neighborhood, is ready to reopen.

Francesco Covucci, who owns nearby restaurants including Barbara Pinseria and Il Casaro Pizzeria, confirmed to the Chronicle that the restaurant will return on Dec. 3, at 1512 Stockton St., where it will continue to offer Italian dishes. He and his late business partner, Peter Fazio, acquired the restaurant earlier this year from longtime owners the Petroni family.

The history has to continue, Covucci said, and we feel very privileged that the Petroni family gave us the privilege to keep the legacy going.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The Petroni family announced in October of last year they would close the restaurant after a 50-year run, unless they found a buyer to keep the beloved business alive. The Chronicle reported the restaurant and its building had an asking price of $4.5 million; a final purchase price was not disclosed.

Francesco Covucci, left, and his late business partner Peter Fazio pose for a photograph at North Beach Restaurant in January. The venerable restaurant is reopening on Dec. 3. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

The new iteration of North Beach Restaurant will feature a dinner menu that is 90% similar to the original restaurant, Covucci said, with entrees like osso buco, veal chops and seafood pasta in white sauce. One departure, however, will be a brunch menu from Kris Toliao, the chef and co-owner of recently closed nearby restaurant Cassava. Covucci described that menu, which is not yet available, as Italian-oriented brunch. North Beach Restaurant also hired several of Cassavas former workers.

The reborn restaurant will seat 226 inside the two-story, 6,400-square-foot space fitted with three private dining rooms and a bar lounge. The interior got a revamp from local designer Maria Quiros, who aimed to update, but not detract from, its old-school charm. The bar has new shelves that show off prized spirits where wine racks once held bottles on their sides. Updated seating includes slate-blue leather seats. New booths and banquettes in the dining room include velvet seats with leather backing in autumnal colors. Paintings by Italian American artist Robert De Niro Sr., on loan from the Hackett Mill Gallery, hang from the walls.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The restaurant has been ready to open for a few weeks, Covucci said. But his business partner Fazios unexpected death this October, at 87 years old, delayed the opening. It was a big shock, Covucci said. They then planned to open near the end of November, but opted to delay a few days more for the Thanksgiving holiday.

As soon as it opens, Covucci said he hopes North Beach Restaurant will resume its former role in the neighborhood.

We are a historic place in North Beach, so we really want people to relive their memories, he said.
It was a scary week for him and a scary episode but as long as hes alright thats all that matters
The Vice-Chancellor of Ulster University has been told he needs to learn his history or not comment after claiming his predecessor reduced the percentage of students in Derry.

Appearing on BBC Talkback last Thursday, Professor Paul Bartholomew was asked if an independent north west university, which doesnt have the competing priorities of a multi-campus institution with a focus on Belfast, would be a better option for Derry.

Mr Bartholomew dismissed that saying off you go to anyone who believes that option should be explored, suggesting that there is no market for it.

Experts from the Royal Irish Academy, including former UU Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerry McKenna, wrote a report which recommended an ambitious federal cross-border university with coordinated oversight of planning across the north-west region.

Mr Bartholomew told the BBC: The author of that report, Im afraid was Vice-Chancellor for six years and during that period made a choice to reduce the percentage of Ulster University students going to Derry-Londonderry, so, you know, thats not been my track record.

UU has since claimed the percentage share of students going to Derry~Londonderry was reduced by 0.3% during Professor McKennas time.

Professor McKenna was appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) in 1997, Vice Chancellor in 1999 and retired in 2005.

Figures from reports at the time show that full-time student numbers at Magee grew from 1,754 in 1998/99 to 2,893 in 2004/05  a 65% increase.

Total numbers climbed by 990 (35%), from 2,807 up to 3,797 in those six years.

In the almost 20-year period from the end of Professor McKennas tenure until now, UU has grown total numbers by 1,538 (40%) up to 5,335.

The Derry University Group, which campaigns for an independent institution, said Mr Bartholomew needs to learn his history or not comment.

They added that he is clearly unaware of the North Wests autonomous development needs.

When UU was established, its statutes contained a clause that the university should establish an independent review of its activities every seven years to assess how well it was fulfilling its mission and to offer advice for the next seven years.

The third such review took place in 2006 and covered the period 1998-2005.

It was chaired by the eminent academic Sir Graeme Davies, former chief executive of the Higher Education Council for England, and former Vice-Chancellor of the universities of Glasgow, Liverpool and London.

Dr Denis Bradley, then Vice-Chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, was a member.

In its three-volume report, which covers the period Professor McKenna was Vice-Chancellor, it notes that a key achievement was the continuing expansion of full-time student numbers at Magee.

The final report in 2006 also mentioned the active endeavour to establish a medical school at Magee.

A medical school would not open until 2021 and is still awaiting a new-build.

The 2006 report outlined a future strategy with regard to student numbers.

Against the background of recent target overshoots, it will have to reduce full-time undergraduate numbers somewhat in the years immediately ahead, it stated.

Subsequently, it intends to restore and then to maintain current numbers at Coleraine and Jordanstown, to cater for modest growth at Belfast and, as soon as possible, to expand numbers at Magee.

We have drawn attention above to the successful growth of the student population at Magee which has been a striking feature of the universitys performance during the current review period.

There is now a critical mass of disciplines on the campus which will provide a healthy basis for further growth.

We also note that there are now real prospects that the University will be able to augment its estate near Magee.

The importance of a sizeable university base for the economic development of a sub-region has been well attested in numerous studies over the past quarter of a century.

Moreover, there is widespread support both in the university and among stakeholders in the North-West for further expansion at Magee.

A source said the new UU administration, while accepting the findings of the last published seven-year review, largely buried it and then lobbied successfully to remove the statute requiring further seven-year reviews.

By then the plan to move from Jordanstown into Belfast was already in embryo form and ran counter to the recommendations of the Davies review.

The source added that it would have been difficult to explain why the University was embarking upon such a radical and expensive move into Belfast, contrary to the expert advice it had received from Sir Graeme and his colleagues.

A Belfast campus costing around 360m opened in 2022.
Latest | Belfast Trust must take responsibility for new maternity hospital omnishambles, says DUP MLA

Diane Dodds has called on the Health Minister to launch an inquiry

The new Royal Maternity and Children's Hospital

Liam Tunney Tue 26 Nov 2024 at 22:25







The Belfast Trust must answer for its catalogue of failure after serious new problems were revealed at the citys troubled and long-delayed new maternity hospital.
Nurse accused of deplorable overcharging of vulnerable care home patients struck off

She denied the accusations and said she had been scapegoated

Mildred Wylie

Stephen Gordon Tue 26 Nov 2024 at 07:21

A veteran Northern Ireland nurse accused of overcharging vulnerable patients at two care homes she had been involved in running has been struck-off following a long-running tribunal.
A banned driver who took his mothers car without permission and crashed it into walls outside a gospel hall has avoided being sent to jail.

Christopher Porter was given a 12-month probation order for the incident in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim where he got behind the wheel while under the influence.

The 32-year-old, of Knockboy Road in Broughshane, was also disqualified from driving for four years.

Belfast Magistrates Court heard police were alerted on January 4 this year after a Peugeot 5008 collided with a boundary wall at Glengormley Gospel Hall on Ballyearl Drive, causing extensive damage.

When officers arrived at the scene the cars airbags had deployed but no driver was present.

Checks established that the vehicle belonged to Porters mother.

The defendant was located nearby and initially attempted to flee, according to the prosecution.

Crown counsel Stephanie Boyd said: He was clearly intoxicated, unsteady on his feet and initially wouldnt identify himself.

He became highly aggressive and attempted to prevent handcuffs being applied while shouting, swearing and threatening violence towards police.

Porter later accepted taking the car without consent, telling police that he had been having a mental episode.

He stated that he had no recollection of the crash, he admitted drinking and driving, that he was disqualified and had no insurance, Mrs Boyd added.

A defence lawyer told the court Porter accepted full responsibility for offences he has little memory of committing.

This occurred during a period of extremely poor mental health, she said.

Porter pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking causing damage, driving while unfit through drink or drugs, driving while disqualified, failing to provide a specimen of breath, resisting police, and disorderly behaviour.

Based on his admissions, District Judge Steven Keown decided not to impose a prison sentence.

But Mr Keown warned him: If something like this happens again or you dont do the probation order there will be a very high likelihood of custody.

There will be a total of four years disqualification and a 12 month probation order as a direct alternative to custody.
A Co Down couple who died just two days apart have been remembered as inseparable in life and inseparable in death at a joint funeral mass.

James (Jim) MacKeever and his wife Anne lived in Dromore and family and friends gathered at St Colemans Parish Church on Monday to pay their final respects.

James MacKeever, who enjoyed a career as a renowned artist and sculptor, died peacefully at his home in the Co Down town last Tuesday morning, November 19.

Two days later on November 21, his wife Anne, who was originally from Belfast, also died peacefully. A funeral notice said she had died of a broken heart.

A death notice described the devoted couple as the loving parents of Sarah and Ruan, and beloved grandparents to Perrie, Maisie, Ellsie and Ruby.

At a joint funeral mass for the couple, Father Feidhlimidh Magennis told those gathered how the couple had met by chance at a dance, and were married in 1967.

We gather to celebrate a long life lived together, a life summed up by their coming together here today. Death did not part them, he told mourners.

They lived together with a sense of beauty and value about the world around them.

To walk into their home was to walk into a treasure trove of items that reflected the life they lived together, paintings, sculpture, so many pieces from the natural world.

They were able to gaze across the Lagan Valley from their home on Ballymacormick Road. It gave them a long and varied life together with lots of interests, many delights and lots of memories.

For many this will be seen as a tragedy, a double loss, a blow for family and friends, he added.

But it is a sign that death cannot separate us, cannot end our love for one another.

"As they were inseparable in life, they are inseparable in death.

James and Anne MacKeever (Charles Digney and Sons Funeral Directors)

News Catch Up: Tuesday 26th November
A DUP MLA has hit out at pro-Palestinian protesters who entered Stormont as police confirmed they removed a number of people from the building.

The incident is understood to have happened earlier today.

During the Assembly session, north Belfast politician Philip Brett criticised those involved, accusing them of being anti-Israeli and claiming Stormont should not be used or abused by those to express anti-Israeli views.

Speaking in the chamber, the DUP politician said: Could I just take this opportunity to pay tribute to our security team and members of the PSNI who have just been forced to removed anti-Israeli protesters from the Great Hall.

"People in this place are entitled to express their views in a democracy. They are not entitled to access parts of this building where staff are trying to work and interrupt their day.

"I am very proud to represent north Belfast, the home of the synagogue and Jewish community in Northern Ireland. This place will not be used or abused by those to express anti-Israeli views.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

In a statement, a PSNI spokesperson said: A number of protestors who had entered Parliament Buildings were removed by security and police under Art 23 (1) Public Order (NI) Order 1987.

The death toll in the fighting in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000, according to local health officials last 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 deaths are women and children. The Israeli military says it has killed more than 17,000 from Hamas, without providing evidence.

The war began when Hamas-led terrorists 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 ceasefire 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% 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.
Incident at Coleraine bus station

An incident has occurred at Coleraine bus station. The Air Ambulance has been pictured at the scene.

A Translink spokesperson said: We can confirm an incident has occurred involving a car at Coleraine Bus & Rail Centre this morning.

Emergency services were called to the scene and we are assisting the PSNI with their enquiries.

Translink services are currently departing from the front of the station.
The Antrim Road will be partially closed during the investigation (Picture: Kevin Scott)

Police are set to return to the scene of a fatal road crash in Belfast which claimed the life of a teenager last year.

The PSNI said their Collision Investigation Unit would be returning to the scene of the crash on the Antrim Road, which happened on Friday December 22 last year.

At the time the 18-year-old man was hospitalised following the crash between a car and a motorcycle that evening.

He tragically later died in hospital.

Police said new investigations and testing will be carried out and as a result there will be a number of road closures and diversions.

The Antrim Road will be closed between the junctions with the Old Cavehill Road and Donegal Park Avenue.

Meanwhile the North Circular Road will be closed between the junctions with Old Cavehill Road and Antrim Road.

The closures will be in place from 10pm on Wednesday 27th until 4am on Thursday 28th.

A PSNI spokesperson added: We thank the public, including local residents in the area, for their patience as this important testing is carried out.
Detectives are appealing for the publics help on the 50th anniversary of the date two young boys disappeared in west Belfast.

Thomas Spence (11) from Rockdale Street and John Rodgers (13) from Rodney Drive were last seen on the morning of Tuesday November 26, 1974 when they left their homes to walk to the bus stop on the Falls Road to catch a bus to St Aloysius School on Somerton Road.

They never made it to school and have not been seen since.

Fifty years have now passed since that day and detectives from the PSNIs Legacy Investigation Branch are continuing to review the disappearance.

A PSNI spokesman said: The Police Service is very aware of the pain and suffering that the families of Thomas and John continue to feel today, particularly with not knowing the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of these two young innocent boys. Our thoughts very much remain with them at this time.

This remains an open missing persons case with the circumstances around their disappearance still unexplained and potentially suspicious.

"The PSNI will consider all investigative opportunities as part of the review and will consider all potential criminal offences that may be linked to their disappearance.

"If anyone has any information in relation to Thomas and Johns disappearance we would ask them to contact Legacy Investigation Branch where all information will be assessed and considered by investigators.

Detectives can be contacted on 101 quoting reference RM05011374. A report can also be made online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

The lost boys of Belfast

Thomas Spence and John Rodgers.

News Catch Up: Tuesday 26th November
Costco, whose Novato store is seen here during a 2023 protest, opens its latest Bay Area location on Wednesday in Pleasanton. Megan Fan Munce/The Chronicle

The weekend before the opening of the Bay Areas newest Costco brought a now-familiar sight: crowds of people camping out to secure their place in line on opening day. A similar encampment had formed in advance of the opening of the Napa Costco in October  though that hadnt fallen during an atmospheric river.

These campers descend on new Costco stores largely in search of one item: booze, particularly rare bottles of bourbon.

The devoted drinkers have been eagerly speculating online about whether the Pleasanton Costco, which opens Wednesday at 7200 Johnson Drive, might carry bourbons that have been present at other Costco grand openings like Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, Russells Reserve 15 Year and, most coveted of all, Pappy Van Winkle, which notoriously goes for thousands of dollars a bottle from online resellers.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Costco is known to stock these hard-to-find spirits for new store debuts. After the store sells out of its initial run of rare whiskeys, it could be a long time before it restocks any of them. That fleeting window has led obsessive collectors to travel great distances in hopes of being among the first to snag them.

Costco looks at grand openings to bring some excitement to the public, said Selman Medina, a wine steward at the Napa Costco. The people who line up outside the stores before the opening are serious buyers, he added. Theyre not just here to look around.

Selman Medina, seen here on the opening day of the Napa Costco in October, is a wine steward. Jess Lander/The Chronicle

The Pleasanton campers were sent home on Saturday. Our operations team had to ask the line to leave due to a permit issue, said Bay Area Costco wine buyer Mark Kalkbrenner, adding that the lines at new store openings have been getting longer and longer due to demand for the bourbons. The campers would have to return on Wednesday morning and get in line with the rest.

The stakeouts are a gamble: Theres no way to know for sure what bottles a new Costco will stock. Pretty much only the employees who are setting up everything on the floor will know whats coming, Medina said. But a Facebook post last week by Pleasantons Mayor-elect Jack Balch offered some clues. Balch toured the facility on Thursday and posted photos that included displays of two sought-after whiskeys, Blantons Single Barrel Bourbon ($59.99) and Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon ($32.49).

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The prices are notably low, even for Costco. Other stores sell Eagle Rare for $60 or more, said Medina, and the Blantons for $120 or more. The displays in Balchs photos indicated a limit of one bottle of each per membership.

Medina does know about one special item that the Pleasanton warehouse will carry: Sassicaia, a super Tuscan wine  a prestigious category of red blends  from Italian winery Tenuta San Guido. It normally retails for around $300, but Medina expected Costcos price to be closer to $220.

These hyped-up grand openings are lucrative for Costco. The Napa store sold about $500,000 worth of wine and spirits on opening day alone, Medina said. (The wine sales at the Napa store continue to be high, he added. Last week, Napas wine sales amounted to about $137,000, as opposed to some other Bay Area Costcos that typically sell closer to $20,000 to $30,000 worth of wine in a week, according to Medina.)

Once Pleasantons Costco opens its doors, following a 7:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, the rare whiskeys likely wont last long. Napa sold out of its stash in about two days.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
Hundreds of people are expected to take to the streets of Belfast and Derry this Saturday in simultaneous marches to demand an end to gender-based violence.

Yesterday marked International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and saw the start of the international 16 Days of Activism campaign, culminating on Human Rights Day on December 10.

Last night, dozens of people gathered at Writer's Square in Belfast and marched to Laganside Courts to kick-start NIs events organised by the Reclaim the Night movement.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

Saturdays event, the 11th since it was revived in 2014, takes place against a backdrop of increasing violence against women across Northern Ireland, with six women being murdered this year.

Crowds will gather at both Writers Square and Ebrington Square to hear from speakers on issues around gender-based violence, before marching through the city streets.

Tanya Kearns, chairperson of Safe Night NI, who will address the Belfast rally, said: Safe Night NI want everyone to be able to enjoy nightlife without fear and are particularly highlighting the issue of spiking which has been of growing concern in recent years.

The march will also hear from Claire Moore (ICTU), Lauren Bond (SSUNI), Alexa Moore (the Rainbow Project), Dr Naomi Greene and the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland.

Reclaim the Night Belfast will finish with a performance from Juanita Rea who is launching her new single My Body, All Mine following two successful runs of The Vagina In The Room, a multidisciplinary performance piece.

Juanita Rea

Co-organiser Danielle Roberts said that Reclaim the Night movement was building on decades of similar actions by motivated women, adding it was continuing to grow from strength to strength.

While Stormont has returned and has launched the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, which we welcome, we need to see how this will be implemented and resourced.

Helen Crickard, of Reclaim the Agenda, said the movements 16 Days programme will include a range of talks, workshops and webinars.

She added: In the past year, weve seen an increase in racist hate crime and intimidation, a recent string of attacks in Derry, and six women murdered. We also note the disproportionate impact of conflicts around the world on women in places like Palestine, Sudan, Ukraine and many more.

Kellie Turtle

Kellie Turtle, chair of Reclaim the Agenda, added: Reclaim the Night is a chance for us to hear how Gender Based Violence impacts particular groups, as well as a space for us to come together in solidarity with victims and survivors. On Saturday well be raising our collective voices across the province and reclaiming public space for all.

The original Reclaim the Night rally took place on the streets of Leeds in 1977 as a protest against West Yorkshire Polices advice to women to stay at home at night in response to 13 murders carried out by Peter Sutcliffe.

Feminists in Belfast held a number of events in the 1980s before it was revived ten years ago in the midst of rising levels of sexual violence and assault. The campaign has expanded to include all gender-based violence.
Row after Sinn Fein councillor switches on Christmas lights in Co Antrim village

Breanainn Lyness said the event was mostly welcoming but heard someone directing the phrase Sinn Fein murderer at him

Councillor Breanainn Lyness turned on the Christmas lights in Broughshane

Abdullah Sabri Tue 26 Nov 2024 at 17:49







A row has broken out after the Orange Order criticised the switching on of the Christmas lights in a Co Antrim village by a Sinn Fein councillor.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt told MLAs a new problem had arisen with Belfasts new maternity hospital (Liam McBurney/PA)

A further totally shocking problem with Belfasts troubled new maternity hospital building has been uncovered, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said.

The Department of Health confirmed that his comments related to a medical gas pipework issue discovered at the hospital, which has faced a number of delays.

A spokesperson said the problem is believed to be limited to an isolated area of the building but added the minister was deeply dissatisfied by the latest revelation.

It followed the revelation from a DUP MLA that a potentially dangerous bacteria had been found in 459 water outlets in the maternity hospital.

The figure was revealed by Diane Dodds as she launched a debate calling for an independent inquiry into delays to the flagship maternity and childrens hospital project.

It was revealed earlier this year that the opening of the hospital was facing a new delay after high levels of the bacteria pseudomonas were found in water systems.

The hospital had been expected to open next year when the Belfast Trust took possession of the new building in March.

However, during testing of its water systems, high levels of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PsA) were discovered, leading the trust to say the project was facing a significant new delay.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is found widely in soil and stagnant water.

It does not usually cause illness in healthy people but can pose a serious threat to people with weak immune systems.

Responding to the motion at the Stormont Assembly calling for an independent inquiry, Mr Nesbitt said: When I went to bed last night I was not in favour of that, not least because the cost and time associated with a further independent inquiry could be in the order of 3 million per annum with a significant time impact and no guarantee of improvement and it could potentially stymie progress.

However, as of eight oclock this morning I have become aware of another issue.

I know Mrs Dodds is very well informed on these issues so I challenge her, I give her 24 hours to discover what the latest problem is with the maternity hospital.

It is another shocking, another totally shocking revelation.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said: The minister was today informed of a separate medical gas pipework issue within the new maternity hospital building.

The scale of this further problem is believed to be limited to an isolated section of the maternity hospital.

The minister was deeply dissatisfied with the emergence of this further issue, and by the fact he only learned of it today.

Mrs Dodds had earlier told the debate that increases in costs for the new maternity and childrens hospitals were astronomical and were putting intolerable pressure on the health budget.

DUP MLA Diane Dodds (Brian Lawless/PA)

Referring to the maternity hospital, she said: Shortly after the (Belfast) trust took charge of the building, pseudomonas was confirmed in a significant number of water outlets, rendering the hospital unsafe and requiring significant reparative work.

Indeed an answer to a written question I received just today indicates that this is in fact 459 different water outlets and that is 36% of the total water outlets in the building.

Mrs Dodds said she had received further information from Mr Nesbitt that the trusts water safety team was not involved in the handover of the building from the contractor in March.

She said: A full independent inquiry should take place, outwith the Belfast Trust and those who participated or acted in a professional advisory capacity in the decision making.

The MLA said she also wanted to know the extent of the risk assessment carried out by the trust before the handover of the building.

She said: Northern Ireland cannot afford losses on this scale.

I do think that those who made these decisions around the handover of the contract and the decision to proceed need to be held accountable.

It is long past time that things did change.

Addressing the minister, she added: You have the opportunity to do that through a full robust inquiry into what happened so we do not repeat continuously the mistakes of the past.

Mr Nesbitt responded: I am deeply, deeply, deeply uncomfortable with what has happened. The public purse deserves much better.

Speaking frankly, Ive called a number of very challenging discussions about what has happened and about the best way forward.

In fact, there was a very tense meeting in the department earlier this morning.

I want to know how all this happened, what went wrong, what was done, what was not done.

The Belfast Trust needs to determine what happens next to put all this right.

The motion brought by Mrs Dodds was carried by 61 votes to nine.

The new maternity hospital is several years overdue and well over budget.

A Northern Ireland Audit Office report earlier this year said the hospital was originally expected to be completed by the end of 2015.

Three babies died during a previous outbreak of the bacteria at Belfasts Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital in 2012.
Government ministers have rejected assertions that they were asleep at the wheel over sustainably managing migration.

Immigration has emerged as a key issue in the general election campaign ahead of polling day on Friday.

In a debate on RTEs Upfront focused on the matter, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said immigration is a good thing for this country as people come to work and study.

Leader of Aontu Peadar Toibin (Niall Carson/PA)

The Fine Gael deputy leader said inward migration is needed to ensure increased housing delivery, essential services in healthcare, and other sectors.

She defended the current immigration system as rules-based.

Aontu leader Peadar Toibin said there was no doubt that many migrants make really positive contributions to Ireland.

However, the opposition politician accused the Government of being asleep at the wheel by not keeping immigration at what he characterised as sustainable levels.

Mr Toibin said we have to start looking at how many permits are provided to non-essential workers.

Integration minister and Green leader Roderic OGorman said blocking off links to other countries would be fundamentally a wrong approach for an open economy like Ireland.

He accused Mr Toibin of having a deeply divisive proposal.

Fianna Fail representative James Browne, who is the junior minister in the Department of Justice, said the countrys economy is booming in ICT and foreign direct investment.

He added: Shutting down effectively any work permit coming for foreign direct investment will be absolutely, I think, counterproductive and, quite frankly, hypocritical as well.

Leader of the Green Party Roderic OGorman (Niall Carson/PA)

Michael Fitzmaurice of Independent Ireland said most people have no problems whatsoever on people coming in on permits.

However, he said there is a problem around the complicated permit system.

Sinn Fein director of elections Matt Carthy said there was an irony in doctors and nurses who qualified here having emigrated to the far side of the globe over conditions in Ireland.

Mr Carthy said the Government was overseeing crises in housing, health and migration.

What we want to do is put in place a system of rules that are clearly understood and clearly enforced that ensures that there is confidence for everyone involved.

The debate also discussed the Governments response to those seeking asylum and the engagement with communities who host International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) centres.

Mr Carthy said it was hard to overstate how big of a mess the Government had made of the accommodation system, adding that communities were extremely frustrated with being antagonised.

It is Sinn Feins position that IPAS centres should not be put in working class communities and that services should only be located in areas with better ratings on the deprivation index.

Mr Browne said trying to pin down Sinn Feins policy of where asylum seekers would actually be located is like trying to nail jelly to a wall.

Mr Carthy said the Government currently only requires a building to be available, adding that the only community engagement is an email to elected representatives.

He said many communities which were already left without public services such as garda stations and post offices were later told that the last hotel in the town would be used to accommodate asylum seekers.

Mr Toibin agreed that there was no consultation.

Mr OGorman said his party wanted to ensure that international protection accommodation is dispersed around the country.

He said the system was currently entirely dependent on the private sector, adding that criticisms of current processes on that basis were correct.

However, the minister said opposition parties had not set out an alternative.

Colleagues over there are very good at setting out where they dont want international protection applicants  but every day for the last four-and-a-half years, I and my department have had to do the opposite.

Weve had to find accommodation. Weve had to make those difficult decisions.

Mr OGorman has advanced a proposal aimed at moving towards more State-provided accommodation.

He said if the choice was between taking hotel accommodation and leaving people unaccommodated, he had to be honest that he would not choose the latter option.

Mr Carthy contended that this was a false choice while Mr Toibin accused the Greens of unbelievable hypocrisy.

Sinn Feins Matt Carthy (Liam McBurney/PA)

The Aontu leaders assertion was based on a Green TD objecting to housing while the party in Government supported planning exemptions for asylum centres.

Mr Toibins party has suggested implementing a border in the Irish Sea for the movement of people.

Mr OGorman described the proposal as an absolute fantasy.

Ms McEntee said that would essentially dismantle the Common Travel Area.

The minister said Mr Toibin had been living under a rock to suggest everyone crossing the open border with Northern Ireland could be checked.

She said it would be up to the British Government, to which Mr Toibin said the coalition did not have the backbone to even ask.

Mr Browne said putting a metophorical wall between the UK and Northern Ireland is fanciful and not going to happen.

The Aontu leader said checks on foodstuff had been achieved during Brexit negotiations.

Mr OGorman replied: Thats for foodstuff. Were dealing with people, not sausages.

Elsewhere, the integration minister accused Sinn Fein of walking away from the people of Ukraine.

It came after Mr Carthy said that Ukrainians who have fled from the war to Ireland could apply for international protection when the temporary protection directive expires.

Sinn Fein said the emergency directive should not be renewed and that a uniform system for anybody fleeing war to Ireland is implemented.

Mr OGorman said it was an absolutely crazy idea to suggest thousands of Ukrainians should be moved into the international protection system at a time when were starting to get some control over numbers.
Tanaiste Micheal Martin said that the decision to rule out a coalition partnership with Sinn Fein was purely policy based (Liam McBurney/PA)

Fianna Fails refusal to contemplate Sinn Fein as a coalition partner is policy-based and not personal, Micheal Martin has insisted.

Mr Martin again made clear he would not engage with Sinn Fein in relation to government formation post-election.

In response, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald claimed the Fianna Fail leader appeared determined to ensure Fine Gael returned to power alongside him following Fridays General Election.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said that Fianna Fail was determined to allow Fine Gael back into power (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mr Martin and Ms McDonald were both canvassing in the Dublin South Central constituency on Tuesday morning.

The Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Mr Martin was asked by reporters to explain his reasoning for ruling out Sinn Fein as coalition partners.

First of all, we have to deliver on our mandate, were elected by people, he said.

People vote for Fianna Fail and the vast majority of Fianna Fail voters are voting for Fianna Fail on the basis of our clear principles around an enterprise economy, around the positive, pro-European position, around our commitment to home ownership and the democratic nature of our party, and the vast majority favour the position Ive adopted, and its on policy grounds.

He added: The Sinn Fein position on the economy, with 3.5 billion euros of tax increases, would destroy small to medium-sized enterprises.

If you go through the detail of the Sinn Fein manifesto, you will see a recipe for the undermining of small to medium-sized companies and the whole enterprise and entrepreneurial spirit within Irish society. That is my view. Its a strongly held view, and its legitimate in politics to have differences of policy, and thats fair enough.

Asked if it was a hard no in relation to negotiating with Sinn Fein, he confirmed it was.

The same happened in 2020, the same happened in 2016  we didnt engage on policy grounds, he said of the last two general elections in Ireland.

Mr Martin was then asked if he had an issue with personalities in Sinn Fein, such as Ms McDonald.

This isnt personal, he added.

I mean anybody who knows me knows that I focus always on policy and the substance of issues, not on personalities.

Were a democracy here, I respect people, and I respect everybody who goes forward in an election, that can be challenging for every individual.

Later, Ms McDonald pushed back on Mr Martins criticism of her partys policies. In particular, she rejected any suggestion that Sinn Fein was anti-EU, describing her party as resolutely European.

She added: I see that Micheal Martin is absolutely determined to put Fine Gael back in government. I cant fathom that. I think by any measure, if youre actually listening to people out on the ground in the course of this campaign, people are telling him, telling everybody, that they are struggling, that they are suffering in many instances, that they are left behind. Some feel very betrayed by the Government, particularly younger people.

But people are also saying, thankfully in increasing numbers, that they recognise that actually that can change, but its only going to change with a different government.

In regard to its policies on Europe, Ms McDonald said Sinn Fein was not afraid to challenge issues within the EU, citing in particular the stance of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the Gaza conflict.

You know Micheal Martin doesnt actually get to define what being a good European is, she said.

And the best kind of European, in my view, is a European that challenges its own system and its own institutions when theyre clearly doing the wrong things and works constructively for Irish interests and international interests to get things on the right track.
Yachts and boats are docked in the marina at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Hurghada after a tourist boat sank off Red Sea coast (REUTERS/Stringer)

Egyptian authorities say 17 people are missing, including foreigners, and 28 have been rescued after a tourist boat sank in the Red Sea (Red Sea Governorate)

The Irish national who was on board a tourist yacht that capsized in the Red Sea off Egypt is OK, Irish Foreign Affairs minister Micheal Martin has said.

Mr Martin provided the update to reporters in Dublin on Tuesday morning.

My understanding is that Irish citizen is OK and receiving consular assistance from the Department of Foreign Affairs, he said.

Earlier today the governor of the Red Sea region Amr Hanafi said three bodies had been recovered after the yacht capsized on Monday morning.

Mr Hanafi told the Reuters news agency that a search is continuing for 13 people who remain missing. He has said rescuers saved 28 people from the vessel south of the coastal town of Marsa Alam, and some were airlifted to receive medical treatment.

There was at least one Irish citizen on the yacht which sunk off the coast of Egypt as a rescue operation continues to search for 13 missing people.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that it is providing consular assistance to the family members of the Irish citizen(s) on board.

Four British tourists are also feared to be among those missing.

The tourist yacht sank in the Red Sea following warnings about rough seas, Egyptian officials have confirmed.

The Sea Story was carrying 44 people, including 31 foreign nationals from the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain and Ireland.

Mr Hanafi said 31 tourists of various nationalities were on board along with 14 crew.

A spokesperson for travel trade organisation Abta said: We have been in contact with our members to see if they had any customers on the ship affected by this incident.

It has now emerged a distress call was made from the yacht shortly before dawn on Monday.

The vessel had left Marsa Alam for a five-day sailing.

Mr Hanafi said that according to those on board, a high sea wave hit the vessel and caused it to capsize in about five or seven minutes.

Some passengers were inside the cabins, which is why they couldnt get out of the boat, his statement on Facebook said.

Mr Hanafi also ruled out that there was a technical defect to the ship, saying that all the required licences had been obtained for The Sea Story.

The Egyptian Meteorological Authority warned of high waves on the Red Sea and advised against maritime activity on Sunday and Monday.

The yacht was operated by Dive Pro Liveaboard, which is based in the Egyptian resort of Hurghada.

The company said it has no information on the matter.

Rescue operations are being co-ordinated by the Egyptian military and the Red Sea Governorate.

Armed forces aircraft were deployed above the scene as part of the response.

Marsa Alam is a popular destination for tourists embarking on diving holidays, as it is near large areas with coral reefs.

Three Britons died in June last year when the diving boat they were on burst into flames off Marsa Alam.

The fire was caused by a suspected electrical fault.

The Egyptian military was coordinating rescue operations with the governorate.

Many tourist companies have stopped or limited traveling on the Red Sea due to the dangers from conflicts in the region.
Israel has approved a US-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanons Hezbollah, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli warplanes meanwhile carried out the most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs since the start of the conflict and issued a record number of evacuation warnings.

At least 24 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities, as Israel signalled it aims to keep pummelling Hezbollah before the ceasefire is set to take hold at 4am local time on Wednesday.

Another huge air strike shook Beirut shortly after the ceasefire was announced.

Israels security cabinet approved the ceasefire agreement late Tuesday after it was presented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his office said.

US President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement good news and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza.

An Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire would mark the first major step towards ending the region-wide unrest triggered by Hamass attack on Israel on October 7 2023.

But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza, where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable.

US President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East without saying how.

The Biden administration spent much of this year trying to broker a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza.Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year.

Areas in Tyre, south Lebanon, were hit by Israeli strikes with a ceasefire deal under discussion (AP)

Mr Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed a series of accomplishments against Israels enemies across the region.

He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran, which backs both groups.

If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack, he said. For every violation, we will attack with might.

The ceasefire deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swathe of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border.

Thousands of additional Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor all sides compliance.

But implementation remains a major question mark. Israel has demanded the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations. Lebanese officials have rejected writing that into the proposal.

Benjamin Netanyahu spoke in a televised statement (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

Mr Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.

Mr Netanyahus office said Israel appreciated the US efforts in securing the deal but reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.

Even as Israeli, US, Lebanese and international officials have expressed growing optimism over a ceasefire, Israel has continued its campaign in Lebanon, which it says aims to cripple Hezbollahs military capabilities.

An Israeli strike on Tuesday levelled a residential building in the central Beirut district of Basta  the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area.

At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanons Health Ministry. Strikes on Beiruts southern suburbs killed at least one person and wounded 13, it said.

Three people were killed in a separate strike in Beirut and three in a strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon. Lebanese state media said another 10 people were killed in the eastern province of Baalbek. Israel says it targets Hezbollah fighters and their infrastructure.

Rescuers use an excavator as they search for victims at the site of an Israeli air strike in Beirut, Lebanon (Hassan Ammar/AP)

Israel also struck a building in Beiruts bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site that is around 400 metres from Lebanons Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties.

The Israeli military said it struck targets in Beirut and other areas linked to Hezbollahs financial arm.

The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously have not been targeted.

The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks before a ceasefire, sent residents fleeing.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, kept up its rocket fire, triggering air raid sirens across northern Israel.

Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beiruts southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the UN peacekeeping mission, Unifil, is headquartered.

President Joe Biden called the agreement good news (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

Unifil spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told the Associated Press that peacekeepers will not evacuate.

The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few miles from the Israeli border.

Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 20 miles north of the border.

Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its 2023 attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have been exchanging barrages ever since.

Israel escalated its campaign of bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes.

More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon in the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials.

Rescuers search for victims at the site of an Israeli air strike in Beirut (Hassan Ammar/AP)

The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members.

Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the countrys north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv.

At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recommended his cabinet approve a US-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanons Hezbollah, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

In the hours leading up to the cabinet meeting, Israel carried out its most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs and issued a record number of evacuation warnings.

At least 24 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities, as Israel signalled it aims to keep pummelling Hezbollah in the final hours before any ceasefire takes hold.

Israeli jets also targeted a building in a bustling commercial area of Beirut for the first time since the start of the war. The strike on Hamra was around 400 metres from the countrys central bank. A separate strike hit the Mar Elias neighbourhood in the countrys capital.

For the first time in the conflict, Israeli ground troops reached parts of Lebanons Litani River, a focal point of the emerging ceasefire deal.

In a televised statement, Mr Netanyahu said he would present the ceasefire to cabinet ministers later today.

He listed a series of accomplishments against Israels enemies across the region in recent months.

He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and would allow Israel to turn its focus to Iran  Hezbollahs backer and Israels biggest threat in the region. He vowed to strike Hezbollah hard if it violates the agreement.

If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack, he said. For every violation, we will attack with might.

It was not immediately clear when the ceasefire would go into effect, and the exact terms of the deal were not released.

Areas in Tyre, south Lebanon, were hit by Israeli strikes with a ceasefire deal under discussion (AP)

The deal does not affect Israels war against Hamas in Gaza, which shows no signs of ending.

The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously have not been targeted. The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks before a ceasefire, sent residents fleeing.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, kept up its rocket fire, triggering air raid sirens across northern Israel.

Lebanese officials have said Hezbollah also supports the deal. If approved by all sides, the deal would be a major step towards ending the Israel-Hezbollah war that has inflamed tensions across the region and raised fears of an even wider conflict between Israel and Hezbollahs patron, Iran.

The deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swathe of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border.

Benjamin Netanyahu spoke in a televised statement (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

Thousands of Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the US would monitor all sides compliance.

But implementation remains a major question mark. Israel has demanded the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations. Lebanese officials have rejected writing that into the proposal.

Israels defence minister, Israel Katz, insisted on Tuesday that the military would strike Hezbollah if the UN peacekeeping force, known as Unifil, does not provide effective enforcement of the deal.

If you dont act, we will act, and with great force, Mr Katz said, speaking with UN special envoy Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert.

The European Unions top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said on Tuesday that Israels security concerns had been addressed in the deal also brokered by France.

There is not an excuse for not implementing a ceasefire. Otherwise, Lebanon will fall apart, Mr Borrell told reporters in Italy on the sidelines of a G7 meeting. He said France would participate on the ceasefire implementation committee at Lebanons request.

Even as Israeli, US, Lebanese and international officials have expressed growing optimism over a ceasefire, Israel has continued its campaign in Lebanon, which it says aims to cripple Hezbollahs military capabilities.

Rescuers use an excavator as they search for victims at the site of an Israeli air strike in Beirut, Lebanon (Hassan Ammar/AP)

An Israeli strike on Tuesday levelled a residential building in the central Beirut district of Basta  the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanons Health Ministry.

Three people were killed in a separate strike in Beirut and three in a strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon. Lebanese state media said another 10 people were killed in the eastern province of Baalbek. Israel says it targets Hezbollah fighters and their infrastructure.

Earlier, Israeli jets struck at least six buildings in Beiruts southern suburbs. One strike hit near the countrys only airport, sending plumes of smoke into the sky. The airport has continued to function despite its location on the Mediterranean coast next to the densely populated suburbs where many of Hezbollahs operations are based.

Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in the suburbs, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where Unifil is headquartered.

Unifil spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told the Associated Press that peacekeepers will not evacuate.

Other strikes hit in the southern city of Tyre, where the Israeli military said it killed a local Hezbollah commander.

The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few miles from the Israeli border.

Rescuers search for victims at the site of an Israeli air strike in Beirut (Hassan Ammar/AP)

Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 20 miles north of the border.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, the strongest Iranian-backed force in the region, would likely significantly calm regional tensions that have led to fears of a direct, all-out war between Israel and Iran.

It is not clear how the ceasefire will affect the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Hezbollah had long insisted that it would not agree to a ceasefire until the war in Gaza ends, but it dropped that condition.

Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its attack on southern Israel on October 7 2023, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have been exchanging barrages ever since.

Israel escalated its campaign of bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes.

More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members.

Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the countrys north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon.
Russia launched 188 drones against most regions of Ukraine in a night-time blitz, the Ukrainian air force said on Tuesday, describing it as a record number of drones deployed in a single attack (Russian Defence Ministry Press Service/AP)

Russia launched 188 drones against most regions of Ukraine in a night-time blitz, the Ukrainian air force said on Tuesday, describing it as a record number of drones deployed in a single attack.

Most of the drones were intercepted, according to the air force, but apartment buildings and critical infrastructure such as the national power grid were damaged.

No casualties were immediately reported in the 17 targeted regions.

The Russian Defence Ministry, meanwhile, issued a rare official acknowledgement of its assets recently being hit on its own soil by US-made ATACMS missiles, after President Joe Biden authorised Ukraine to use the longer-range weapons to strike deeper inside Russia.

A building destroyed by a Russian strike on a residential neighbourhood in Odesa, Ukraine (Ukrainian Emergency Service/AP)

Russia has been hammering civilian areas of Ukraine with increasingly heavy drone, missile and glide bomb attacks since the middle of the year.

At the same time, Russias army has largely held the battlefield initiative for the past year and has been pushing hard in the eastern Donetsk region where it is making significant tactical advances, according to Western military analysts.

Ukraine faces a difficult winter, with worries about the reliability of the electricity supply amid Russias attacks and how much US support it can count on next year after President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.

The Russian Defence Ministry said five US-made Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles were fired at one of its air defence missile systems in Russias Kursk border region on Saturday.

It said three of the missiles were downed by the Pantsyr short-range air defence systems protecting the position but that two other missiles hit it, injuring an unspecified number of servicemen and damaging the systems radar.

In another attack with ATACMS on Monday, eight of the missiles were launched at the Kursk-Vostochny military air base near Khalino. Seven of them were shot down and one hit the facility, injuring two servicemen and causing minor damage, the ministry said.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

Preparations for retaliatory action are under way, the ministry said without elaborating.

A US official said on November 19 that ATACMS had been fired at targets inside Russia for the first time.

As Russian Shahed drones spread out across Ukraine late Monday, the air raid alert in the Kyiv region overnight lasted more than seven hours. Russia is trying to unnerve civilians and wear down their will to resist in the war, military analysts say.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that each Shahed has 85 foreign components and that Russia obtained them by circumventing international sanctions. He said on the Telegram messaging app that we need more joint effort so that the sanctions work and force Russia to stop this war.

Meanwhile, Ukraines General Staff said on Tuesday that, over the past 24 hours, roughly half of the clashes along the about 600-mile (1,000km) front line occurred near Pokrovsk and Kurakhove in the Donetsk region.

Ukraine has a critical manpower problem on the front line and, though the Russian armys gains have been incremental, its momentum is adding up as the Ukrainians yield ground.

A police forensic expert inspects fragments of a Shahed drone, after a Russian strike on residential neighbourhood in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine (Kateryna Klochko/AP)

The Russian advance is threatening important supply routes in Donetsk, the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said late on Monday.

Ukrainian defences in Donetsk are not in danger of being overrun, however, the think tank said.

It also noted that Russia would need to capture more than 3,000 square mile (8,000 sq km) of territory to achieve the Kremlins goal of seizing the whole of Donetsk.

In other developments, a court in Russias Kursk region has ordered a British national fighting with Ukraine to be held in detention pending an investigation and trial.

The ruling on the Briton, identified by state news agency Tass and other media as James Scott Rhys Anderson, was announced on Tuesday by court officials, who said in an online statement that it was handed down the previous day.

The hearing took place behind closed doors in Leninsky District Court in the city of Kursk.

It was not clear from the statement what charges Mr Anderson is facing and whether he is considered a prisoner of war by the Russian authorities.

He was reportedly captured in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have seized territory following a lightning offensive in August.
The San Francisco Public Works department says the cactus plants outside Cafe Isabella owner Hilda Mendezs business are a danger to public safety and are blocking the sidewalk. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Were it not for the two tall, flowering cactus plants outside, you could easily miss one of Nob Hills hidden gems, tucked into a tiny, unassuming space between old Victorians on Taylor Street.

That would be a shame  not only because Cafe Isabella is renowned for its breakfast burritos and coffee, but also because its owner, Hilda Mendez, represents the best of what San Francisco has to offer.

A hard-working immigrant business owner from Mexico, Mendez seems to know the name and coffee order of everyone who comes into her cafe, which she decorated with bright portraits of Frida Kahlo, painted angels and colorful banners. A single mom, Mendez has poured her heart and soul into the space, named after her daughter, which shes owned and operated for 20 years.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Recently, however, the city hasnt shown her the same generosity.

Due to a 311 complaint and San Franciscos Kafkaesque permitting rules, the tiny restaurant is now at risk of going under.

The cactus plants outside Cafe Isabella have been there for 20 years. The city deemed them in violation of safety rules after a 311 complaint. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

On Nov. 7, the city Public Works department ordered Mendez to remove her cacti  which have been there since the cafe opened  deeming them a danger to the public and alleging they blocked the sidewalk. The city also cracked down on the small tables and chairs that Mendez placed outside her cafe after the pandemic to attract more customers after COVID almost forced her to close.

Mendez was under the impression that the city had waived fees for outdoor seating to help small businesses recover from the pandemic and that it encouraged these types of innovative solutions.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

She was wrong.

On Thursday, another letter from the city came in the mail. It stated that Mendez needed to remove her outdoor tables and chairs until she received a valid permit  which could take two to six months and would likely cost several hundred dollars  and permanently remove those by the curb due to use restrictions. If she didnt remove the tables, she would accrue an escalating daily fine starting at $100.

Attached were multiple surveillance photos of people eating, drinking and laughing at four small tables that in no way blocked the sidewalk.

In the bizarro world of San Francisco bureaucracy, the city appeared to portray the joyful environment outside Mendezs cafe as a crime scene.

Mendez took a deep breath when she saw the letter. She wanted to comply with the rules, but they were confusing, and doing so would be costly. She estimated that losing her outdoor tables  about half her seating  while she waited for a permit could cost her $2,000 per week.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

That would significantly impact her ability to pay skyrocketing rent, utility, trash and grocery bills, Mendez told me, and it could potentially force her to close her business.

I dont want to. I love San Francisco, Mendez told me. My kids love (it) here. But how can we survive?

The reason for this saga: a 311 complaint filed in September 2023 alleging the cafes tables and chairs were blocking the sidewalk and forcing people to walk into the street, according to Public Works spokesperson Rachel Gordon. When an inspector showed up, Gordon said, they also noticed the cacti and asked for them to be removed. Confused and overwhelmed, Mendez didnt apply for a tables and chairs permit or remove the cacti, leading to second notices this month.

There was no fine for the cactus violation, but Mendez was still in disbelief. The plants had been there for 20 years, had never been the subject of complaint and had never injured anyone. She fondly refers to them as my guardian. Her customers love them, too  one even affixed googly eyes to a paddle to give it a quirky personality  and frequently ask if they can take clippings and blossoms home.

Cafe Isabella owner Hilda Mendezs daughter wrote a note about removing the cacti from in front of the shop. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

So why was she now being forced to remove them?

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Gordon told me in an email that both the citys planter regulations and sidewalk landscaping regulations specifically prohibit thorny/spiky plants. She added, injuries have been reported, including one incident several years ago in which a toddler grabbed a cactus located on a sidewalk, causing severe pain and significant trauma.

Be that as it may, its absurd that the city is focusing on regulating plants and tables when it has far bigger issues to prioritize.

I think the city should spend their time on more important things, Elise Odom, whos been going to Cafe Isabella weekly for the past decade, told me as she stopped by to pick up a coffee.

She rattled off a quick list of priorities: crime, homelessness and empty storefronts.

One would think this is so obvious it doesnt need to be said. Our streets arent a national punchline  or a safety hazard  because of a stray cactus or table.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

If the city actually wanted to prioritize safe sidewalks, it could focus on cleaning up the growing amount of feces on our streets and on fixing uneven city pavement  which caused me to fall and fracture both my wrists a few months ago. A whopping 75% of sidewalks evaluated by the City Controllers office in a report last year had moderate to severe pavement defects.

Instead, the city is using scant resources to crack down on a small business already struggling to stay afloat.

The last thing we want is for a business to be shut down, Gordon told me, but we do need people to follow the rules  and keep our sidewalks safe.

Mendez told me she was trying to get in touch with a Spanish-speaking inspector to figure out which permits she needs and how much they would cost. She isnt a native English speaker, making the dense, complex regulations that much more difficult to decipher. Gordon said the department prioritizes language access and will ensure Mendez has assistance.

Mendez described how happy shed been putting chairs and tables outside after the pandemic and seeing customers start to return.

But this is San Francisco, where seemingly no neighborhood beautifying attempt goes unpunished.

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

I feel like I cant fight anymore, Mendez said.
Armagh Georgian Festival: Co-founder celebrates 20 years of event showcasing beautiful city

Event has been showcasing the architecture, history and retail offering of NIs oldest city for 20 years now

Festival-goers in Georgian attire

Aine Toner Tue 26 Nov 2024 at 07:34







An Armagh native and long-time manager of the old TJ Walkers department store in the city brims with pride at how the Armagh Georgian Festival has flourished, growing into one of Northern Irelands most celebrated Christmas events.
Notorious loyalist controls drugs empire in lower Shankill area of Belfast

West Belfast UDA chief William Mo Courtney has been hit with yet another fine, after being caught with cannabis.

The 61-year-old was back in Belfast Magistrates Court earlier this month to be sentenced for possessing the Class B drug in October 2022.
Adobe Stock

The Promised Land plays an important role in the Bible. Its a major biblical theme introduced in the book of Genesis and developed all throughout the Bible, even into the Bibles final book, Revelation. Its the land God promised to Abraham and his descendants, a place where they could live and experience Gods blessings.

The Bible describes it as a land of plenty, stretching from the Nile River to the Euphrates River. But the Promised Land is more than just a placeits a sign of Gods faithfulness to His people. What exactly does the Bible say about this land? And did God give it to Israel forever?

God's Promise to Abraham

The promise of a land for Gods people began with Abraham, a man chosen by God to be the father of a great nation. In Genesis 12:1-3, God tells Abraham to leave his homeland and promises to make him into a great nation, bless him, and make his name great. Later, in Genesis 17:8, God says, "The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you." This promise of land is central to God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants.

While God's promise to give the land to Abraham's descendants is clear, the Bible also shows that Israel's enjoyment of the land depended on their obedience to God. In Deuteronomy 4:40, Moses tells the Israelites, "Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the Lord your God gives you for all time." This suggests that while the land was given to Israel, their continued residence there was linked to their faithfulness to God's commands.

Israel's History in the Promised Land

Throughout the Old Testament, we see that when the Israelites obeyed God, they prospered in the land. However, when they turned away from Him, they faced consequences, including exile. For example, after persistent disobedience, the northern kingdom of Israel was conquered by Assyria, and later, the southern kingdom of Judah was taken into captivity by Babylon. These events highlight the conditional aspect of their occupation of the land.

Despite these periods of exile, God's covenant with Israel remained. In Jeremiah 31:35-37, God reassures Israel of His enduring commitment, saying that as long as the natural order exists, He will not reject the descendants of Israel. This underscores the everlasting nature of His promise, even when Israel faced discipline for disobedience.

Promised Land in the New Testament

The New Testament often shifts the focus from physical territory to spiritual fulfillment. In passages like Hebrews 11:8-10, Abraham's faith is highlighted as he looked forward to a "city with foundations," a heavenly inheritance. This perspective encourages Christians to see the Promised Land not just as a geographical location, but as a symbol of the eternal home that God has prepared for His followers. In our daily lives, this promise invites us to live in a way that reflects our trust in God's faithfulness. It calls us to uphold Christian values, seek justice, and extend love and compassion to others. The land promised to the Israelites serves as a reminder of God's tangible commitment, but it also points us to a greater spiritual reality.

What God's Promise Means For Christians Today

Today, Christians hold various views regarding the promise of the Promised Land to Israel. Some believe that the promise remains valid and see the existence of modern-day Israel as a fulfillment of biblical prophecy. This perspective often includes the belief that the return of the Jewish people to the land of Israel is part of God's ultimate plan, which will culminate in the events described in the book of Revelation. Others interpret the promise more spiritually, suggesting that the "land" now represents the Kingdom of God, accessible to all believers through Christ.

For all Christians, however, the Promised Land symbolizes God's faithfulness and the blessings that come from a relationship with Him. While the physical land of Israel holds historical and spiritual significance, the New Testament invites believers to see God's promises as extending beyond physical boundaries to a spiritual inheritance through faith in Jesus Christ.

God did give Israel the Promised Land as an everlasting possession. However, their enjoyment of the land was tied to their obedience to God. For Christians, this teaches us about God's faithfulness and the importance of living in accordance with His will. It also reminds us that through faith in Jesus, we are heirs to God's promises, which transcend physical land and point to a spiritual inheritance in His eternal Kingdom.

Rachel Adams is a versatile Christian writer who covers a wide range of topics with a faith-based perspective. Her articles aim to inform, inspire, and uplift readers, encouraging them to see God's hand in every aspect of life.
BENNINGTON  An outburst-filled, threatening, and obscenity-laced hospitalization hearing Monday at the Bennington courthouse highlights the delicate three-way balance facing prosecutors, judges, and defense attorneys on a seemingly daily balance between the rights of Vermonts mentally-challenged, violent defendants, the safety of their victims and the community at large

Devin Hanson, 40, of Readsboro was accused in November 2023 of violating his conditions of release by making contact with the victim after he was accused earlier that August of reckless endangerment and assault after allegedly shooting a firearm from inside his vehicle, harassing, threatening, and violently assaulting an older, female neighbor after she tried to return his dog, who had wandered onto her property.

According to a police affidavit, when police located Hanson at his property on King Hill Road in Readsboro soon after the assault, he claimed that one of his dogs ran onto a neighbors property. Hanson claimed he got into his vehicle to look for his dog, spotting the canine on the neighbors porch. Hanson told police the neighbor held onto the dog, not allowing him to return. He also told the cops that he sometimes shoots off a shotgun when his dogs do not return. He then got out of the vehicle and confronted the neighbor, blocking the neighbors cell phone from being used as a weapon [against him] holding the woman at bay in the physical altercation that followed. A surveillance video of the incident showed Hanson swatting her cell phone away as he pushed the woman backward and then striking the woman several times before leaving.

On the surface, this case seems like a simple assault case like hundreds of others in Bennington County, but upon further review of police files, reveals a very real tightrope dance between the legislatures statutes when it comes to criminal mental health cases, prosecutors, who have their sites on the threatened safety of the greater community at large, especially victims of crime, judges deciding complex cases that balance the rights of the mentally ill, and defense attorneys looking to protect those state-sanctioned rights.

Hanson was found to be mentally incompetent to stand trial last spring. A second evaluation found Hanson competent. Yet a third ordered evaluation found him once again incompetent. He was officially found not competent by a Bennington Judge in late October. The procedure in cases where someone is found incompetent is to hold a hospitalization hearing within 21 days to determine whether that individual should be hospitalized involuntarily for a period of time to both protect the victim and the community and seek treatment for the underlying mental health determination.

Mondays hearing was part two of what has now become an ongoing three-part hospitalization process in Hansons case. This is primarily due to Hanson's apparent behaviors at his hearings and his transport back to court.

During Mondays hearing, Hanson was surrounded by five Sheriffs Deputies in full protective uniform, some of which had transported Hanson that morning from the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield under enhanced security measures.

Throughout the hearing, Hanson, at several moments, exploded with curses, shouts, threats, and disruptions aimed at Judge Jennifer Barrett, the victim sitting in the back of the courtroom, States Attorney Erica Marthage, his lawyers, and members of his security detail.

At one point, Hanson made a direct threat to the judge herself, claiming that she was now under a death sentence. When the victim testified that she was scared of what would happen if Hanson was not confined or put inside a hospital, Hanson screamed at her that she was a murderer and an arsonist. He then stared her down as she sat in the back of the courtroom before a deputy stood in his line of view.

The case highlights the difficult task facing all sides when it comes to mental health and the criminal justice system here in Vermont. The state legislature has set up guardrails in their approach to mental health defendants. It takes a great deal of effort to find someone incompetent and, furthermore, a great deal of effort to order them against their will to stay temporarily in Vermonts only mental health hospital in Montpelier. Even when someone is deemed a risk, there is a very limited window for treatment at the hospital before they must either be released, moved to a community-based, minimally secure facility, or released, and the procedure starts all over again.

That often leaves the victims and their families fearful of a criminally violent defendant being released back into the community and a real risk for the rest of the public.

In Bennington in 2021, a well-known case involved a released individual with severe mental health issues being released back into the community by the Department of Mental Health after a finding of non-competence. That individual, Darren Pronto, was found to be not competent after a home invasion attempted murder in Pownal. Soon after he was released, Pronto attacked a young mother along the Riverwalk in Downtown Bennington, slitting her throat. That mother, Emily Hamann, did not survive her attack. It turns out that Pronto had been secretly released back into the community 16 weeks later without DMH alerting the victims or the public.

Part of the problem in the Pronto case was that, at the time, state prosecutors were banned by law from requesting their own competency evaluations. That changed in the following years due in large part to the efforts of Emilys family in changing the law.

On the stand in Mondays hearing, the victim told Judge Barrett that she feared for her life and is scared of Hanson being released. When she was finished testifying, Hanson threatened her once again as she walked back to her seat. Before the hearing ended, a representative of DMH confirmed to the judge that they indeed feel that hospitalization is inappropriate in the case.

State law tends to favor the rights of the mentally ill over public safety when it comes to mentally ill defendants. Kelly Carroll, Emilys mother, is currently pushing for a public safety mandate within the DMH when it comes to these kinds of violent incidents. There is currently no such legislation in front of lawmakers so far in 2024. There seems to be no easy answers on both sides.

My fear is that he is going to kill someone. Hes going to kill the victim, said SA Marthage after the hearing ended. Maybe other innocents as well. The total lack of consideration for public safety by the Department of Mental Health is astounding. Multiple individuals have been repeatedly hospitalized for a week or less that present just like this. They get medicated, and then they get sent right back into the community just to intersect with the criminal justice system, sometimes in very violent ways. This has to change.

A third hospitalization hearing has yet to be scheduled. The Banner will update this story as more information becomes available.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.
Pedestrians use the crosswalk along 19th Street at Valencia Street in San Francisco. A new state law prohibits drivers from parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk, in an attempt to improve safety by keeping pedestrians visible to traffic, known as daylighting. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle 2023

Regarding S.F. to fine drivers who park in thousands of newly illegal spots  but they wont be marked (San Francisco, SFChronicle.com, Nov 20): I never thought I would agree with San Francisco Supervisor Dean Preston, but on this issue he is correct.

The states new daylighting law makes a lot of sense to promote public safety. What doesnt make sense is to expect drivers to know where not to park when there is no red curb.

Every driver knows not to park where the curb is painted red, but this would be the one exception, where only knowledge of the law and good measuring skills will save someone from a parking ticket. It sounds like a great money-making venture for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The city should paint the curbs before handing out tickets.

Sheila Brown, San Francisco

Scrutinize Luries charity

Regarding Daniel Lurie wants private donors to fund his agenda. Will he tap his ultra-rich S.F. neighbors? (San Francisco, SFChronicle.com, Nov. 25): Finally, there is some documentation of what San Francisco Mayor-elect Daniel Luries 20-year-old charity, Tipping Point, has accomplished. It helped build affordable housing at 833 Bryant St. and funded a tiny home village in the city.

During the lengthy election campaign, it seemed strange that there was never an in-depth review or assessment of the effectiveness of Luries charity. There was certainly enough analysis and news about the compromised nonprofits related to Mayor London Breed.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

It is not too late to describe Tipping Point in detail as surely its priorities, methods and contacts will give us considerable insight into how Lurie will proceed as mayor.

Karen Cliffe, San Francisco

Father is influential

It remains concerning that articles continue to focus on San Francisco Mayor-elect Daniel Luries relationship to the Haas family with nary a mention of his fathers influence.

Rabbi Brian Lurie served with distinction at Congregation Emanu-El, was CEO of the Jewish Community Federation in the Bay Area and executive vice president of the United Jewish Appeal in New York. He continues to spearhead national and global initiatives to promote equality for Israeli Arabs.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Rabbi Luries influence and inspiration on the mayor-elect are no less formidable.

Mary Powell, San Francisco

Oakland needs leader

Regarding Barbara Lee has a big decision to make: Does she want the worst job in politics? (Joe Garofoli, SFChronicle.com, Nov. 24): Being mayor of Oakland is indeed a horrible job as anyone familiar with the citys woes knows.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

I dont know who should get the job but definitely not Barbara Lee, who was a wonderful congressional representative for my district following Ron Dellums retirement. Like Dellums, Lee has been a policymaker. Also, like Dellums, she has never been an administrator, which is what the mayor is.

Dellums, as mayor, was clueless, and Lee would be, too. We need a strong administrator to lead us out of our morass of budget woes, homelessness, garbage everywhere, potholes and public safety problems.

I hope someone with administrative skills emerges.

Bernard Gershenson, Oakland

Reimagine S.F. schools

Regarding With the election over, S.F. needs an honest answer  do we or dont we need to close schools? (Emily Hoeven, SFChronicle.com, Nov. 24): Thinking more holistically, strong schools have mutually reinforcing relationships with strong neighborhoods.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

It takes a village to empower education beyond the confines of a building. Every school should be kept and reimagined as neighborhood cores  with mixed uses that centralize existing health care, government, social services, nonprofits, educational startups and more.

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

By sharing prime real estate, buildings and resources, co-tenants rent can stabilize school finances and operations. School hours and schedules can be staggered, flexing staff across multiple locations.

From an urban planning perspective, the nexus of schools and neighborhoods brings the greatest societal good.
GREAT BARRINGTON  Firefighters reported Monday night that patrols and monitoring would continue through Tuesday morning and that hotspots within the contained Butternut Fire area appeared to be shrinking.

And on Tuesday morning, the Great Barrington Fire Department announced that the fire is 40 percent contained and the expectation is that containment will continue to expand. The wildfire is "controlled," but authorities still warn people to stay away from the fire area.

In its 8 p.m. Monday update on the wildfire, the department said that an infrared imaging survey by the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing found fewer hotspots compared with Sunday.

Other positive movement fighting the fire includes a strengthening of fire break lines in some places by crews from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. Those crews also "verified that the lines were strong and holding."

Fire break lines are made by removing all vegetation and other potential sources of fuel for the fire so that it will stop when it reaches the break. Since the fire started, crews have cut a break line that has encircled the fire and contained it.

Great Barrington and Sheffield firefighters on Monday received multiple calls about flareups, but none were found to be a threat.

"We do expect that some of the observed hotspots may show as a glow or a flareup in the affected area," the update said. "This is expected and you do not need to be alarmed."

Fire officials are still encouraging the public to be vigilant and call 911 if there is "immediate danger to a home or property  or if you see fire outside of the known involved area."

The wildfire started the night of Nov. 18, and spread over East Mountain, burning more than 1,300 acres amid a severe drought in the region and outdoor fire bans since early November.

As of Tuesday, the fire perimeter around the fire may be up to 10 miles, firefighters said.

Fire officials and multiple agencies are continuing to monitor the fire from the new command post at Ski Butternut.

They are continuing to collect data and "getting more accurate measurements and GPS locations of the burned area," the Tuesday morning update said.

Officials anticipated that on Tuesday, with expected and welcome rain, they would have a smaller crew and "focus on observing," the update said.

They also noted the "smell of smoke in the area" that is "expected and will linger for days to come."

Authorities said will continue to monitor air quality, and if that deteriorates, the state Department of Public Health would step in with guidance.

As of Tuesday morning air quality is "satisfactory" in Great Barrington, according to real-time air quality website, Purple Air.

Great Barrington Police say they are following leads as they investigate who started the fire.
The project outside Town Hall organized by former state Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli will honor Berkshire County members of the military who died in service to the U.S. from World War I to the present.
PITTSFIELD  There were cars lined up at 6 a.m. outside the South Community Food Pantry on Monday morning  four hours ahead of the scheduled start for its Thanksgiving Angels meal distribution.

By mid-morning, cars snaked around the building on South Street, as they made their way to the head of the line one-by-one.

Co-Chair Gretchen DeBartolo attributed their resolve to food insecurity  they didn't want to miss their chance at a Thanksgiving meal.

It makes you really think about how stressful it must be for them, she said.

The meal distribution program is well on its way to another record-breaking year, DeBartolo said  organizers expect to provide Thanksgiving meal kits to over 2,200 families by noon on Tuesday.

Recipients were able to pick up meals  or have them delivered to their homes  until about 6 p.m. Monday. Distribution resumes at 9 a.m. Tuesday, when volunteers will give away any remaining meals through about noon.

Some items might be a bit more scarce, DeBartolo said, but the meal kits will be stuffed with plenty of ... well, stuffing. The program got a double order of stuffing ahead of the distribution, so that won't be an issue.

As far as the meal kit distribution itself, sailing was relatively smooth as of Monday afternoon, despite a failure to implement a new check-in system.

The pantrys bar code system for checking in recipients  a new feature this year  proved inoperable this morning, according to program co-Chair Hope Amandos. But volunteers shifted gears quickly, setting up a system to check people in using computers at three locations around the pantry.

That was a marked improvement, Amandos said, over the pen-and-paper check-in system that had been implemented in previous years.

The meal distribution program also is steady in its supplies this year, Amandos said. With roughly half of the registered recipients already through, she did not anticipate the need for any late afternoon runs for turkeys or other Thanksgiving staples. In October, DeBartolo said a typical year usually means relays to BJs Wholesale Club later in the day.

Thats not to say there havent been a few shortages  Thanksgiving Angels ran out of butternut squash in its first rush, DeBartolo said. But in keeping with former program Chair Mary Wheats eternally optimistic philosophy, DeBartolo said the organizers are using this years hiccups as a way to guide next years decisions. Its possible, for instance, that butternut squash will be replaced entirely with sweet potatoes next year.

Wheat was notably absent from the meal distribution this year  she recently suffered an injury after a fall at the pantry which prevented her from being there. DeBartolo said that Wheat was recovering and in good spirits  and that she still managed to surprise the organizers with her unstoppable efforts.

DeBartolo was gobsmacked when she went to fill orders at Crescent Creamery, usually handled by Wheat, about two days after the injury. When she called the creamery to inquire about the orders, they told her that Wheat had already called  post-injury  to take care of it.

DeBartolo credited the pantrys everyday staff with the programs success, noting that she relies on regular volunteers like Sue Filippi to give guidance on produce orders and kitchen manager Char Parron to keep volunteers fed during the madness.

Theyre just the best people in the world, DeBartolo said.

The meal distribution also was aided this year by an army of volunteers from Berkshire United Way, including 140 day-of workers in addition to many more who helped with the packing process earlier on.

It was Maria Newmans 12th year volunteering as part of the Thanksgiving Angels effort  she was recruited by Amandos years before she had become the programs co-chair. Newman now takes five days off of work each year to help pack meals in the days leading up to distribution and on the day itself.

Despite working 70 hour weeks in her day job at KJ Nosh, Newman cant stop volunteering with Thanksgiving Angels. She sees it as more than just handing out food  it allows families to have the full Thanksgiving experience, preparing the meal together and smelling the turkey cooking all morning.

Its a sentiment that makes her even more appreciative when she sits down with her family for Turkey Day, she said.

I got hooked on the good feeling, Newman said. If this doesnt make your heart happy, nothing will.
You have permission to edit this article.

Edit Close
Thousands of San Francisco residents are receiving backdated bills, some of them massive, after technical issues at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission meant customers didnt receive bills for months. Paul Kuroda/Special to the Chronicle

More than 8,000 San Francisco residents did not receive water bills for months, some for more than a year, due to problems with aging equipment operated by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.

Now, the agency wants to retroactively charge those customers for the error, putting them on the hook for hundreds or even thousands of dollars in unexpected bills.

This fall, the San Francisco utility began charging monthly installments for the backlogged bills, a move that surprised and enraged some customers.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Why should the consumer be responsible for such an egregious mistake? said Tom Ammiano, a San Francisco resident and former member of the California State Assembly who was among those affected.

Beginning in October 2023, about 4% of the agencys retail accounts  some 8,200 customers  stopped getting water bills due to a backlog in repairs on the automated meters that tell the agency how much water a household is using. PUC spokesperson Nancy Crowley blamed the issue on staffing and equipment shortages that left the agency unable to keep up with the pace of repairing our aging automated metering equipment.

As of Monday, about 5,500 customers had not yet received backdated bills, Crowley said, meaning those households could still be in for an end-of-the-year surprise.

When Judy Sorro stopped getting her usual water bill in the mail last year, the longtime Bernal Heights resident was puzzled. Sorro began calling the agency periodically, she said, to ask what was going on. She said she never got an explanation for the lapse.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Then, this September, she got a retroactive bill for $3,000.

I was like, are you kidding me? she said.

Sorro, who is 83 and lives on a limited income, canceled a planned trip to visit her children in New York City for Christmas, instead opting to pay the agency a $1,500 lump sum. She plans to pay the remainder in installments over the next year on top of her usual water payments for her apartment and her downstairs tenant. The installments will considerably increase her monthly bill.

The agency said some low-income customers may be eligible for discounted bills through its existing Customer Assistance Program.

Sorro said she was stunned that the agency did not inform her and other households for months as unpaid water bills mounted. About 10 months after the issue started, PUC in September sent affected customers notices alerting them to what the agency called a billing delay that was discovered during an audit.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

They should have kept customers notified, she said. To let it go like that and then get hit with this huge bill  its awful. Its irresponsible.

The PUC said it will not charge interest or late fees with payment plans. While some people, including Ammiano, would like the agency to forgive the unpaid bills, representatives for PUC said affected customers  are responsible for paying for services they used.

There are fixed costs for operating our systems, according to PUC. If we were allowed to not charge certain customers for water and sewer services they received, this would ultimately lead to higher rates for everyone.

To address the issue that caused the backlog, PUC reassigned maintenance workers and added more staff to repair the water meter transponders, Crowley said. The agency will also change its system to begin sending estimated bills to customers in the event of future equipment problems.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
A firm that was contracted to supply security staff at a Dublin facility providing accommodation for asylum seekers has been granted an injunction at the High Court to restrain another firm it hired from advertising or publicising a winding up petition taken against it.

In an ex parte motion on Tuesday, where only one side is represented, lawyers for Allpro Security Services Ireland Ltd were granted the motion by Mr Justice Mark Sanfey restraining Top Security Ltd from publishing the petition.

Advertisement

Tomas Keys BL, for Allpro, said the company was tasked with supplying security personnel at the site of the former Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum which was being used to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.

Allpro's client was the Department of Children, Disability, Integration and Youth Integration and the company was engaged by the department in June 2023.

Around the same time, Allpro engaged Top Security to provide security guards at the Dundrum site and agreed a rate of 21 per hour.

Allpro describes itself as a provider of security services to State agencies and private companies with around 1,000 employees and indirectly supports an additional 250 jobs in sectors such as catering, security, maintenance and landscaping.

Advertisement

Mr Keys told the court that Allpro had previously experienced difficulties with other separate sites relating to the number of staff present being less than requested.

The court heard that Allpro's client, the department, had required verification as to the number of security personnel present and for how long.

In October 2023, the plaintiff introduced a clock-in and clock-out system to "ensure that there was an accurate record of how many personnel were on site at any one time" and if there was an adequate security presence.

The system was also to ensure accurate invoicing from third parties engaged by Allpro. Last January, an email was sent by the plaintiff advising Top Security that their personnel were not clocking in or out as they should be.

Advertisement

The email said that this led to a 5K discrepancy between what Allpro believed it owed Top Security and what the defendant had billed.

Top Security informed Allpro that it had its own "geofence" system that used GPS technology to see if staff are on site and for how long.

In his affidavit, Allpro company director Chris Moore saud that as the discrepancies continued he sent an email to Top Security that it was "imperative" the clocking be used and warned that a failure to align invoicing with the records "may result in payment delays".

On January 5th, 2024, Allpro stopped paying Top Security over the clock-in system and in March received a message from Top Security saying 182,000 was due, which was later revised down to 154,000. Allpro says it paid over 123,000, a figure which was not in dispute.

Advertisement

Business Smyths Toys sees revenues rise to 2.49bn Read More

Allpro claims that the publication of the winding up petition would cause "unjustified reputational damage" to the company which he described as being "in a robust financial position".

Mr Keys told the court the publication of the petition would be "very stressful" for employees with Christmas approaching and said that Allpro had a net profit of around 10 million in the last financial year and had paid 1.2 million in tax.

Court papers show that Allpro is claiming damages for "malicious abuse" of the court process over the issuing of the petition and for breach of duty and negligence in the "malicious presentation" of the winding up petition.

Mr Justice Sanfey granted the relief to Allpro and adjourned the matter, for mention, to Thursday.
China-Europe freight-train service boosts shared prosperity

Xinhua) 08:13, November 26, 2024

CHONGQING, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- European and Chinese businesses, along with relevant government departments, are preparing a welcoming ceremony to mark the historic arrival of the 100,000th China-Europe freight train, which is scheduled to reach Duisburg, Germany, this week.

The train, loaded with goods including electronics, vehicles, auto parts, machinery and household appliances, departed from Chongqing Municipality in southwest China last week, marking a significant milestone in the development of the railway service that enhances economic and trade exchanges between China and Europe.

The 100,000th China-Europe freight train, coded X8083, departs from the Tuanjiecun Station in Chongqing, southwest China, Nov. 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

In March 2011, the China-Europe freight train (Yuxin'ou) service was launched from Chongqing to Duisburg, establishing a direct overland trade corridor between China and Europe.

Over the past 13 years, this service has brought substantial benefits to people in countries along its routes, improving logistics and connectivity across the Eurasian continent while advancing high-level opening up in China's inland regions.

FROM LANDLOCKED TO LINKED

Watching the departure of the 100,000th train, Kang Qinbin from Lifan Technology, a motorcycle and automobile manufacturer headquartered in Chongqing, recalled the company's memorable experience as one of the first clients of the China-Europe freight train in March 2011.

The 100,000th China-Europe freight train, coded X8083, waits for departing at the Tuanjiecun Station in Chongqing, southwest China, Nov. 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

"The service solved our logistical challenges," Kang said, explaining that before the service's launch, exports from Chongqing were transported either by the slow maritime routes through coastal regions or by expensive air freight.

Since the freight train's inception, the transit time for Lifan's products bound for Eastern Europe has been cut by over 50 percent, enabling the company to secure a strong presence in overseas markets.

Over the years, cities across China -- particularly hinterland hubs such as Chengdu, Xi'an, Urumqi, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Ganzhou, Kunming and Hefei -- have joined the China-Europe freight-train network, solidifying inland China's connection to global markets.

An aerial drone photo shows trains for China-Europe freight service at Manzhouli Railway Port in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 20, 2024. (Photo by Huang Xu/Xinhua)

Today, more than 50,000 types of goods, including Chongqing's machinery and electronics, Sichuan's ornamental plants, and Jiangxi's daily necessities and furniture, are transported via the service, reaching 227 cities across 25 European countries and over 100 cities in 11 Asian nations.

So far, the service has transported over 11 million twenty-foot equivalent units containers of goods, valued at more than 420 billion U.S. dollars, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway).

Wei Wei, a logistics official from China Railway's Nanchang branch, highlighted the critical role these trains play in fostering economic cooperation between China's inland regions and the rest of the world.

MUTUAL BENEFITS

The benefits of the China-Europe freight trains extend beyond China, fostering growth in countries along its routes.

In Duisburg, Germany, the service has created new logistics activity, new industries, as well as new industrial parks and commercial centers, generating over 20,000 local jobs.

This photo taken on Sept. 24, 2024 shows a view of the Duisburg port in Duisburg, Germany. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)

Markus Teuber, China affairs commissioner of the City of Duisburg, has closely followed the development of the service between China and Duisburg on behalf of the Port of Duisburg.

Teuber said that, initially, there were doubts about the feasibility of such a complex logistics project, however, the operations over the years have proven to be a success, fostering improved trade between Germany and China, offering both ecological and economic benefits for companies in both countries.

"The train connection has definitely led to a win-win situation for both countries," he said, adding that he is confident that the service will continue to thrive, as its benefits for imports and exports remain strong, and more companies are recognizing its value.

Markus Bangen, CEO of Duisburger Hafen AG (Duisport), a German company running the port of Duisburg, said that the railway service is strengthening ties between Europe and China, opening up a new international transport market that benefits both economies. Duisburg's profile is steadily growing as a key stop on the railway, attracting investment, creating job opportunities and driving growth in the logistics sector, he added.

The train service is playing an increasingly important role in stabilizing global supply chains in a complex geopolitical environment, he noted.

An aerial drone photo shows a train for China-Europe freight service pulling out of Tongjiang North Railway Port in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Aug. 9, 2024. (Photo by Wu Yunan/Xinhua)

"The China-Europe freight-train network connects domestic and international regions, establishing a comprehensive logistics system that spans the Eurasian continent," said Zhang Xiaotao, head of the School of International Trade and Economics at the Central University of Finance and Economics.

"It has strengthened trade ties and promoted deeper economic integration across Eurasia," Zhang said, adding that the network is expected to become more sophisticated, offering diverse services.

An aerial drone photo shows the 100,000th China-Europe freight train, coded X8083, departing from the Tuanjiecun Station in Chongqing, southwest China, Nov. 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

Li Chao, a spokesperson for the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said that "the 100,000th China-Europe freight train is just the beginning."

"The China-Europe freight-train service is expected to continue improving and expanding. The NDRC, in collaboration with China Railway and other relevant parties, will focus on boosting efficiency, enhancing safety management, diversifying transport routes and driving innovation. Efforts will also be intensified to accelerate the expansion of the international cooperation network, fostering the safe, stable and high-quality development of the China-Europe freight train network," Li said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
SFO now offers travelers the option to check their bags remotely at the rental car center and the long-term parking garage before heading to their terminal. Courtesy of SFO Visitors check in at the rental car center at San Francisco International Airport in 2018. Many travelers at SFO can now check their bags remotely at the rental car center and the long-term parking garage before heading to their terminal. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle Many travelers at SFO can now check their bags remotely at the long-term parking garage and the rental car center before heading to their terminal. San Francisco International Airport

In time for the busy holiday season, San Francisco International Airport has rolled out a new remote bag check service to streamline the travel experience and reduce congestion in crowded terminal areas.

The service, provided free of charge by travel service company Bags Inc., allows passengers to check in and drop off their luggage at convenient airport off-site locations before heading to their terminal to pass through the security checkpoint.

Read also: SFO is one of the worst U.S. airports for holiday travel. These charts show why

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Heres how it works.

The new service is available at two designated locations: the long-term parking garage (Level 5, before the AirTrain station) and the rental car center (Level 1 hall). After checking in for their flights and dropping off their luggage, travelers can hop on the free AirTrain, which offers quick access to the terminal.

A new program at SFO offers travelers the option to check their bags remotely at the rental car center and the long-term parking garage before heading to their terminal. Courtesy of SFO

Currently, remote check-in is available for domestic flights on four major airlines: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and JetBlue. While the service is complimentary, passengers will still be responsible for airline-specific baggage fees.

The remote bag check locations are open daily from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m., and travelers must check their bags at least 90 minutes before their scheduled flight departure.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

For those dropping passengers off at the airport, SFO recommends using the Kiss & Fly area at the rental car center to avoid the congestion often found at terminal curbs. After drop-off, passengers can head inside the rental car center to check their bags before continuing to the terminal via the AirTrain.

Note that during the peak Thanksgiving travel period from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1, access to the long-term parking garage will be limited to those with advance parking reservations.

SFO is bracing for a surge of holiday travel, with an estimated 6.3 million passengers expected to pass through its terminals between Thanksgiving and New Years Day  a 15% increase over last holidays figures, according to spokesperson Doug Yakel.

He said the remote bag check service, which started Nov. 19, is a pilot program planned for eight months to evaluate usage and effectiveness. Southwest and United Airlines are expected to join in December.

Airport officials emphasized the program does not replace in-terminal or curbside bag check services, but simply offers travelers another option.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
A High Court judge has ordered that 11.3m must be paid by Patrick Cox junior and a company in a dispute alleging concealment and competition by Mr Cox when he worked for developer Michael OFlynns group.

Mr Justice Michael Quinn found that Mr Cox and his Rockford Advisors Ltd firm, hold 11.3m in profits from a student accommodation development in Dublin on trust for OFlynn Capital Partners and four other companies.

Advertisement

Mr Cox Jr is son of former MEP Pat Cox who provided a consultancy service, along with his son, for the O'Flynn Group between 2007 and 2009.

The judge said he intends to make an order that Mr Cox Jr and Rockford pay the five plaintiff firms the 11.3 million, together with yet to be calculated interest which will be dealt with when the case returns next month.

In a statement, Michael OFlynn said: This was a hugely important case for me with trust and integrity at the heart of it. These are core values to me and the OFlynn Group and I am clearly very pleased with the Courts judgment.

The case was brought by Victoria Hall Management Ltd (VHML), Palm Tree Ltd, Grey Willow Ltd, Albert Project Management Ltd, O'Flynn Capital Partners and O'Flynn Construction (Cork).

Advertisement

It was against Mr Cox Jr, Rockford, Liam Foley, Foley Project Management Ltd, Eoghan Kearney, Carrowmore Property Ltd, Carrowmore Property Gardiner Ltd and Carrowmore Property Gloucester Ltd.

VHML and the five other plaintiff property development companies claimed that Patrick Cox Jr and Mr Foley and Mr Kearney, also former O'Flynn Group employees, had acted in breach of their respective contracts of employment and in breach of other duties.

The judge found no cause of action had been made out against Mr Kearney and Mr Foley or against the Foley and Carrowmore companies.

It was alleged that Mr Cox Jr actively competed with the plaintiffs and allegedly concealed and diverted significant investment opportunities for his own benefit or for the benefit of the other defendants.

Advertisement

It was further alleged Mr Cox Jr appropriated or failed to return and used a substantial amount of confidential documentation relating to the business of the OFlynn Group. It was claimed that information may have allegedly been used to benefit the personal defendants and defendant companies of which they were ultimate beneficial owners.

The dispute centred on a student accommodation development in Gardiner Street, Dublin, which was completed in 2017 and earned profits after tax of 11.33 million.

Mr Justice Quinn said the opportunity for this development came to Mr Cox Jr in 2014, when he was employed in what was described by the plaintiffs as a "senior and trusted position" in the OFlynn Group. He was also providing services to non-group companies, including VHML and others.

The defendants denied they owed any contractual or other duties. Mr Cox Jr said he was only employed by the O'Flynn Group, of which not all the plaintiffs were members.

Advertisement

He also said his relationship with the plaintiffs was never more than that of a consultant, and he was paid consultancy fees.

Mr Cox Jr said he was employed by another company, Tiger Developments Ltd, to undertake on his own account commercial property development in Dublin and that he had the consent of John Nesbitt, managing director of Tiger and long-time business friend of Mr OFlynn, to do so.

The judge said the defendants admitted that documents were taken by Mr Cox Jr and circulated among them but said that, with certain exceptions, the documents were not confidential and were not used or required by them to undertake the Gardiner Street development.

Among their other claims, the defendants also contended the plaintiffs had sought to mislead the court about the circumstances in which the plaintiff companies were established, the relationship between the plaintiffs and the OFlynn Group, and other important facts.

Advertisement

It was claimed that in their presentation, the plaintiffs relied on fabricated and false evidence.

In his judgment, Mr Justice Quinn found Mr Cox Jr was a fiduciary of the plaintiffs.

Business Smyths Toys sees revenues rise to 2.49bn Read More

In breach of fiduciary duties he concealed from the plaintiffs the opportunity to develop the Gardiner Street scheme and diverted its profits to himself and his co-defendants, he said.

He also found that in taking documents and information of the plaintiffs without their consent, retaining them for a year after his resignation from the OFlynn Group and returning them when called on to do so, Mr Cox acted in breach of his fiduciary duties.

The plaintiffs did not act illegally or fraudulently in the transaction for the sale of sites at Birmingham and Coventry in England, or otherwise, he said.

They also did not mislead the court or give false or fabricated evidence, he said.
Minister Paschal Donohoe has agreed to take part in a TV debate after being accused of chickening out by Sinn Feins finance spokesman Pearse Doherty.

It follows Mr Doherty telling reporters that he had heard Mr Donohoe would no longer be taking part in the debate after initially agreeing to the appearance.

Advertisement

Mr Doherty said: He has chickened out.

I would call on Paschal Donohoe to meet me and debate how he has failed the Irish people over and over again on the issues of the cost of living.

Turn up to tonights debate. It is not acceptable that you have now chickened out twice on this issue.

Pearse Doherty accused Paschal Donohoe of chickening out Photo: Liam McBurney/PA.

When first asked if Mr Donohoe had dropped out of the show, a spokeswoman for the Fine Gael minister said he had taken part in a number of other debates during the campaign.

Advertisement

The spokeswoman said the minister had taken on Sinn Fein in terms of the damage that party would inflict on our economy if in power and would take part in another debate and any other opportunity in the coming days.

Fine Gael later confirmed that Mr Donohoe would take part in the Tonight Show debate as originally planned on Tuesday night, after rectifying a scheduling issue on the ministers part.

Mr Donohoe and Mr Doherty are also due to take part in a debate on RTEs Claire Byrne radio programme on Wednesday morning.

The Sinn Fein representative also accused Fine Gael of having a brass neck.

Advertisement

He pointed to a representative of Fine Gael leader Simon Harris contacting national broadcaster RTE over a video clip of him walking away from an interaction with a carer.

Mr Doherty said: I think it would be really important now, given the enormity of this, I think it was watched eight million times, that Fine Gael actually clarifies what were they leaning on RTE to try and achieve?

Ireland DPP clarity on McGregor decision would be helpful... Read More

Were they trying to make sure that the package wasnt aired?

I think that the conversation should now be made public by Fine Gael.

Advertisement

He added: When it comes to Fine Gael, theyve got a brass neck.
Government ministers have rejected assertions that they were asleep at the wheel over sustainably managing migration.

Immigration has emerged as a key issue in the general election campaign ahead of polling day on Friday.

Advertisement

In a debate on RTEs Upfront focused on the matter, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said immigration is a good thing for this country as people come to work and study.

Leader of Aontu, Peadar Toibin (Niall Carson/PA)

The Fine Gael deputy leader said inward migration is needed to ensure increased housing delivery, essential services in healthcare, and other sectors.

She defended the current immigration system as rules-based.

Aontu leader Peadar Toibin said there was no doubt that many migrants make really positive contributions to Ireland.

Advertisement

However, the opposition politician accused the Government of being asleep at the wheel by not keeping immigration at what he characterised as sustainable levels.

Mr Toibin said we have to start looking at how many permits are provided to non-essential workers.

Integration minister and Green leader Roderic OGorman said blocking off links to other countries would be fundamentally a wrong approach for an open economy like Ireland.

He accused Mr Toibin of having a deeply divisive proposal.

Advertisement

Fianna Fail representative James Browne, who is the junior minister in the Department of Justice, said the countrys economy is booming in ICT and foreign direct investment.

He added: Shutting down effectively any work permit coming for foreign direct investment will be absolutely, I think, counterproductive and, quite frankly, hypocritical as well.

Leader of the Green Party Roderic OGorman (Niall Carson/PA)

Michael Fitzmaurice of Independent Ireland said most people have no problems whatsoever with people coming in on permits.

However, he said there is a problem around the complicated permit system.

Advertisement

Sinn Fein director of elections Matt Carthy said there was an irony in doctors and nurses who qualified here having immigrated to the far side of the globe over conditions in Ireland.

Mr Carthy said the Government was overseeing crises in housing, health and migration.

What we want to do is put in place a system of rules that are clearly understood and clearly enforced that ensures that there is confidence for everyone involved.

The debate also discussed the Governments response to those seeking asylum and the engagement with communities who host International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) centres.

Advertisement

Mr Carthy said it was hard to overstate how big of a mess the Government had made of the accommodation system, adding that communities were extremely frustrated with being antagonised.

It is Sinn Feins position that IPAS centres should not be put in working-class communities and that services should only be located in areas with better ratings on the deprivation index.

Mr Browne said trying to pin down Sinn Feins policy of where asylum seekers would actually be located is like trying to nail jelly to a wall.

Mr Carthy said the Government currently only requires a building to be available, adding that the only community engagement is an email to elected representatives.

He said many communities which were already left without public services such as garda stations and post offices were later told that the last hotel in the town would be used to accommodate asylum seekers.

Mr Toibin agreed that there was no consultation.

Mr OGorman said his party wanted to ensure that international protection accommodation is dispersed around the country.

He said the system was currently entirely dependent on the private sector, adding that criticisms of current processes on that basis were correct.

However, the minister said opposition parties had not set out an alternative.

Colleagues over there are very good at setting out where they dont want international protection applicants  but every day for the last four-and-a-half years, I and my department have had to do the opposite.

Weve had to find accommodation. Weve had to make those difficult decisions.

Mr OGorman has advanced a proposal aimed at moving towards more State-provided accommodation.

He said if the choice was between taking hotel accommodation and leaving people unaccommodated, he had to be honest that he would not choose the latter option.

Mr Carthy contended that this was a false choice, while Mr Toibin accused the Greens of unbelievable hypocrisy.

Sinn Feins Matt Carthy (Liam McBurney/PA)

The Aontu leaders assertion was based on a Green TD objecting to housing, while the party in Government supported planning exemptions for asylum centres.

Mr Toibins party has suggested implementing a border in the Irish Sea for the movement of people.

Mr OGorman described the proposal as an absolute fantasy.

Ms McEntee said that would essentially dismantle the Common Travel Area.

The minister said Mr Toibin had been living under a rock to suggest everyone crossing the open border with Northern Ireland could be checked.

She said it would be up to the British Government, to which Mr Toibin said the coalition did not have the backbone to even ask.

Mr Browne said putting a metophorical wall between the UK and Northern Ireland is fanciful and not going to happen.

The Aontu leader said checks on foodstuff had been achieved during Brexit negotiations.

Mr OGorman replied: Thats for foodstuff. Were dealing with people, not sausages.

Elsewhere, the integration minister accused Sinn Fein of walking away from the people of Ukraine.

It came after Mr Carthy said that Ukrainians who have fled from the war to Ireland could apply for international protection when the temporary protection directive expires.

Sinn Fein said the emergency directive should not be renewed and that a uniform system for anybody fleeing war to Ireland is implemented.

Mr OGorman said it was an absolutely crazy idea to suggest thousands of Ukrainians should be moved into the international protection system at a time when were starting to get some control over numbers.
Minister Paschal Donohoe has been accused of chickening out of debates by Sinn Feins finance spokesman Pearse Doherty.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Mr Doherty said the cost-of-living crisis will be a key factor in voters decisions on Friday.

Advertisement

He said he had heard that Mr Donohoe wanted to debate him on the economy, but added: Ive been there in the Virgin (Media) studio when he wasnt, and tonight he was supposed to turn up, and now we hear that he has chickened out.

Pearse Doherty. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA.

I would call on Paschal Donohoe to meet me and debate how he has failed the Irish people over and over again on the issues of the cost of living.

Turn up to tonights debate. It is not acceptable that you have now chickened out twice on this issue.

Mr Doherty also accused Fine Gael of having a brass neck.

Advertisement

He pointed to a representative of Fine Gael leader Simon Harris contacting national broadcaster RTE over a video clip of him walking away from an interaction with a carer.

Mr Doherty said: I think it would be really important now, given the enormity of this, I think it was watched eight million times, that Fine Gael actually clarifies what were they leaning on RTE to try and achieve?

Were they trying to make sure that the package wasnt aired?

I think that the conversation should now be made public by Fine Gael.

Advertisement

He added: When it comes to Fine Gael, theyve got a brass neck.

Election 2024 McDonald says reports Fine Gael contacted RTE abou... Read More

A spokeswoman for the Fine Gael minister said he had taken part in a number of debates taking Sinn Fein head on in terms of the damage that party would inflict on our economy if in power.

The spokeswoman said: Minister Donohoe looks forward to doing so again (on Wednesday) morning and at any other opportunity across the coming days.

Mr Donohoe and Mr Doherty are due to take part in a debate on RTEs Claire Byrne radio programme on Wednesday morning.
The UK Government is not minded to fund the North correctly, Mary Lou McDonald claimed as she defended Sinn Feins record in the power-sharing Executive.

Ms McDonald made the remarks as she seeks to lead Sinn Fein to victory in the general election on Friday, and become Taoiseach.

Advertisement

The Sinn Fein leader was responding to questioning on how the party could stand over pledges on housing delivery on the Republic of Ireland, given under supply in Northern Ireland.

The housing portfolio north of the border was previously held by Sinn Fein MLA Deirdre Hargey.

Ms McDonald said Ms Hargey had set out a hugely ambitious, transformational plan during her time in the role.

However, she added: The Tories, sadly, who unfortunately hold the purse strings, and now the successor government, under (Sir) Keir Starmer, are not minded to fund the North correctly.

Advertisement

Thats at the root of the problem.

Ms McDonald said the picture of the public service in Northern Ireland is generally not good, adding that to compare the two jurisdictions is like comparing apples and oranges.

Speaking on RTEs Six One News, she added: North of the border, there is not the capacity to raise or vary taxes.

You are looking at an entirely different scenario and I regret that deeply.

Advertisement

Im a united Irelander, but sadly, at this point in time, our country is partitioned.

Ms McDonald said First Minister Michelle ONeill and other Sinn Fein members of the Executive aim high when making demands from the UK Government, adding that they are constantly putting pressure on the Treasury.

She said: Its a matter of great frustration to me as a Republican and a united Irelander, that on the one hand the British government, the system, insists that it remain and hold jurisdiction in the North, and yet it wont fund the place correctly.

Ms McDonald said Sinn Fein has delivered in spades in very challenging circumstances in the multi-party power-sharing arrangement.

Advertisement

Ireland '0%' of people have confidence in ability of FF or... Read More

She argued that this showed Sinn Feins ability to hold things together.

Asked about complaints that Northern Irelands health service is not provided adequate funding by the Sinn Fein Finance Minister, Ms McDonald said Caoimhe Archibald can not do a loaves and fishes job.

She added: Shes a brilliant, brilliant woman and a brilliant minister, but she does not have the power of miracles, unfortunately.
Taoiseach Simon Harris has paid tribute to former Fine Gael minister Gemma Hussey.

Hussey was the State's first female Minister for Education and Fine Gael's first female Cabinet minister.

Advertisement

The Irish Times reported that Hussey passed away following a short illness at the age of 86.

Born in Bray, Co Wicklow, Hussey had a successful career in business before entering politics.

She became a senator, initially as an independent, in 1977 and joined Fine Gael three years later. In 1981, she became Government leader in the Seanad.

She was elected to the Dail as a candidate for the party in 1982 and served as a TD until 1989.

Harris said Hussey was a "trailblazer", and "a passionate progressive for womens rights, education reform and Irelands place in the world, particularly the potential of European Union membership".

Harris said Hussey's work and long service in his own native Wicklow is "remembered to this day".

"But above all Gemma was a patriot, a Fine Gael stalwart and a kind and generous person. I was one of the people lucky to enjoy her company, her advice and her good humour," he said.

"To all of her family, colleagues and friends, l am truly sorry for your loss. May she rest in peace."
Major retailers across the UK and Ireland are to stop selling alcoholic drinks associated with Irish fighter Conor McGregor.

The decision by Tesco, Musgrave, Spar, Eurospar, MACE, Londis, and XL stores, came after a woman who said Mr McGregor raped her won a civil claim for damages against him.

Advertisement

Nikita Hand, who accused the sportsman of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018, won her claim against him for damages in a case at the High Court in Dublin.

In a statement, a spokesman for Musgrave said: Musgrave can confirm these products are no longer available to our store network.

The network includes SuperValu, Centra, Daybreak, and MACE.

A spokesperson for BWG Foods said: The products are no longer listed for distribution across our network of Spar, Eurospar, MACE, Londis, and XL stores.

A Tesco spokesperson said: We can confirm that we are removing Proper No Twelve Whiskey from sale in Tesco stores and online.

Advertisement

Nikita Hand outside the High Court in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

It is understood that other retail outlets, including Costcutter and Carry Out will also stop stocking products linked to Mr McGregor.

He and some of his business partners sold their majority stake in the Proper Number Twelve Irish whiskey brand.

He was reported to have been paid more than 103 million from the sale to Proximo Spirits in 2021.

On Monday, a popular video game developer decided to pull content featuring the MMA fighter.

Advertisement

The Irish athlete has featured in multiple video games, including voice-acting a character bearing his likeness in additional downloadable content in the Hitman series.

Mr McGregors character featured as a target for the player-controlled assassin in the game.

IO Interactive, the Danish developer and publisher of Hitman, said in a statement: In light of the recent court ruling regarding Conor McGregor, IO Interactive has made the decision to cease its collaboration with the athlete, effective immediately.

We take this matter very seriously and cannot ignore its implications.

Advertisement

Ireland Crowd marches in Dublin to show solidarity with i... Read More

Consequently, we will begin removing all content featuring Mr McGregor from our storefronts starting today.

Last Friday, the High Court jury awarded damages amounting to 248,603.60 to Ms Hand.

Mr McGregor made no comment as he left court but later posted on social media that he intended to appeal against the decision.
A third person has died as a result of a Co Donegal road crash on Friday night, November 22nd.

Two friends died in the two-car collision in the village of Liscooley just after 10pm.

Advertisement

Ryan Glenn (25), and Gordy Galbraith (30s) died at the scene.

A couple in their 70s were also seriously injured in the crash.

They were rushed to Letterkenny University Hospital where they were transferred to the Intensive Care Unit.

However, it has been confirmed that one of those people has also passed away.

He was a male in his 70s.

The latest death was confirmed by gardai in Co Donegal.

"A woman and a man (both 70s) from the second vehicle were taken to Letterkenny Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. The man has since sadly passed away in hospital," said a spokesperson.

His wife continues to be treated for her injuries in hospital.

The number of people who have died on Donegal's roads so far this year now stands at 17, up from 10 for all of 2023.
The Irish Times lead with an election story saying that a Fianna Fail-Fine Gael coalition is still the preferred option, a story about solicitor Cahir O'Higgins' jail sentence, and a story about senior officials at Children's Health Ireland resigning.

The Irish Examiner leads with a story about violence against women, a story about planning refusal blocking 1,800 Cork apartments, a story about peacekeepers returning from Lebanon, and a story about Micheal Martin ruling out a Fianna Fail-Sinn Fein coalition. It also features a story about the inquest of Shane O'Connor and a story saying that at least one Irish person is feared to be lost after a yacht sank in the Red Sea on Monday.

Advertisement

The Echo leads with an election story, a story about a large scale residential development for Glanmire, and story about postmasters asking for government funding.

The Irish Independent leads with a story saying that Tanaiste Micheal Martin has ruled out a coalition with Sinn Fein.

The Irish Daily Mail leads with a story claiming that Fine Gael sent frantic messages to RTE about how they were going to handle the now-viral video of Taoiseach Simon Harris and a care worker in Cork.

The Herald lead with a story about solicitor Cahir O'Higgins' jail sentence.

Advertisement

The Irish Daily Mirror lead with a story about the rally that took place in Dublin on Monday evening in solidarity with Nikita Hand.

The Irish Daily Star lead with a story saying that the director of My Left Foot was spotted filming with Gerry Hutch, but also feature a story on the march in Dublin on Monday.

British newspapers

Business backlash to Labours October Budget continues to dominate Tuesdays British newspaper headlines.

The UK Daily Mail claims Chancellor Rachel Reeves has ruled out further tax rises in the face of a growing backlash.

Advertisement

The Daily Telegraph says businesses have turned on Ms Reeves, saying she has six months to win them over after Octobers Budget.

TELEGRAPH: Reeves tax rises are milking us, say bosses #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/YdOXPlPZQq  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) November 25, 2024

However, the i reports that public spending cuts are on the way from 2026 after the Chancellors vow against further tax rises.

Tuesday's front page: Public spending cuts on the way from 2026 as Reeves vows no more tax rises#Tomorrowspaperstoday



Latest by @hugogye: https://t.co/UaQOYTeexf pic.twitter.com/4Pj3qwT99c  The i paper (@theipaper) November 25, 2024

The Guardian writes Labour has pledged to ensure no young person is left behind amid a new drive to get teens into the workforce and higher education.

GUARDIAN: Labour makes pledge to ensure no young person is left behind #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/GZoBQjRZeC  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) November 25, 2024

Prime Minister Keir Starmer says Britain isnt working, calling on employers to do more to keep those battling long-term illnesses in their roles, according to The Times UK.

Advertisement

TIMES: Britain isnt working, admits PM in jobs push #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/BqaOF5eszF  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) November 25, 2024

Metro leads on a pledge from the Prime Minister, who has promised to make drink spiking a specific criminal offence.

Tomorrow's Papers Today 



STARMER: I'LL MAKE SPIKING A CRIME



 As Metro launches 'This Is Not Right' campaign#tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/oxgRRdaj0N  Metro (@MetroUK) November 25, 2024

The Financial Times leads on a new report from MPs and Lords, warning the Financial Conduct Authority is incompetent at best and dishonest at worst.

Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Tuesday 26 November https://t.co/6BCGrEmUY2 pic.twitter.com/ZQPlsw1SlG  Financial Times (@FT) November 25, 2024

The Daily Express touts an exclusive, reporting Britain will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two with extra bank holidays.

EXPRESS: Bank holiday thank you to nations heroes #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/wPnBEjVYmc  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) November 25, 2024

The UK Daily Star reports the number of pets abandoned before the holiday season has risen by 50% as owners struggle with the cost of living.

Lastly, the UK Daily Mirror splashes on clean-up efforts from Storm Bert, days after it wreaked havoc across the UK.
A bankruptcy judge has ordered a new hearing in conspiracy theorist Alex Jones effort to stop the satirical news outlet The Onion from buying Infowars and turning it into a parody.

Jones alleges fraud and collusion marred the bankruptcy auction in which The Onion was named the winning bidder on November 14 over a company affiliated with him.

Advertisement

US bankruptcy judge Christopher Lopez had been scheduled to hear an emergency motion to disqualify The Onions bid, but decided to put it off until either December 9 or December 17. That is also when the judge will hear arguments on a request to approve the sale of Infowars to The Onion.

Mr Lopez said similar arguments are being made in both requests.

He could allow The Onion to move forward with the sale, order a new auction or name the other bidder as the winner.

At stake is whether Mr Jones gets to stay at Infowars studio in Austin, Texas, under a new owner friendly to him, or whether he gets kicked out by The Onion.

Advertisement



Right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones speaks to the media after arriving at the federal courthouse for a hearing in front of a bankruptcy judge (AP/David J Phillip)

The other bidder, First United American Companies, runs a website in Mr Joness name that sells nutritional supplements.

Regardless, Mr Jones has set up a new studio, websites and social media accounts that would allow him to keep airing his show.

His personal account with 3.3 million followers on the social platform X was not part of the sale, although Mr Lopez will be deciding whether it should be included in the liquidation and sold off later.

In a new court filing on Monday, lawyers for X objected to any sale of the accounts of both Mr Jones and Infowars, saying X is the owner of the accounts and that it has not given consent for them to be sold or transferred.

Advertisement

Mr Jones has praised X owner Elon Musk on his show and suggested that Mr Musk should buy Infowars. Mr Musk has not responded publicly to that suggestion and was not among the bidders.

Mr Jones bankruptcy and the liquidation of his assets came about after he was ordered to pay nearly 1.5 billion dollars (1.19 billion) to relatives of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

Mr Jones was found liable for defamation and emotional distress damages in lawsuits in Connecticut and Texas for repeatedly calling the 2012 shooting that killed 20 first graders and six educators a hoax staged by actors to increase gun control.

Proceeds from the liquidation are to go to Mr Joness creditors, including the Sandy Hook families who sued him.

Advertisement

Mr Jones alleged The Onions bid was the result of fraud and collusion involving many of those families, the humour site and a court-appointed trustee who is overseeing the liquidation.

First United American Companies submitted a 3.5 million dollar (2.7 million) sealed bid, while The Onion offered 1.75 million dollars (1.3 million) in cash.

But The Onions bid also included a pledge by Sandy Hook families to forego some or all of the auction proceeds due to them giving other creditors a total of 100,000 dollars (79,400) more than they would receive under other bids.

The trustee, Christopher Murray, said that made The Onions proposal better for creditors and he named it the winning bid. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Advertisement

Mr Jones and First United American Companies claimed that the bid violated Mr Lopezs rules for the auction by including multiple entities and lacking a valid dollar amount.

Mr Jones also alleged Mr Murray improperly cancelled an expected round of live bidding and only selected among the sealed bids that were submitted.

Mr Jones called the auction rigged and a fraud on his show, which airs on the Infowars website, radio stations and his X account.

In a court filing, Mr Murray called the allegations a disappointed bidders improper attempt to influence an otherwise fair and open auction process.

Mr Lopezs September order on the auction procedures made a live bidding round optional.

It gave broad authority to Mr Murray to conduct the sale, including the power to reject any bid, no matter how high, that was contrary to the best interests of Mr Jones, his company and their creditors.





Hi friends!



I wanted to give a quick update on The Onions purchase of InfoWars, which we cant wait to relaunch as the dumbest site on the internet.



Long and short of it: We won the bid and  you're not going to believe it  the previous InfoWars folks aren't taking it well.  follow @bencollins on bluesky (@oneunderscore__) November 16, 2024

But at a November 14 hearing, Mr Lopez said he was concerned about the process and transparency.

Were all going to an evidentiary hearing and Im going to figure out exactly what happened, he said. No one should feel comfortable with the results of this auction.

The assets of Infowars parent company, Free Speech Systems, that were up for sale included the Austin studio, Infowars video archive, video production equipment, product trademarks, and Infowars websites and social media accounts.

Mr Jones is appealing the 1.5 billion dollar (1.19 billion) in judgments citing free speech rights but has acknowledged that the school shooting happened.

Mr Jones has brought in millions of dollars a year in revenue by hawking nutritional supplements, clothing, survival gear and other merchandise from his Infowars Store website, according to court documents.

Many of Mr Jones personal assets, including real estate as well as guns and other personal belongings, also are being sold as part of the bankruptcy.
The worst weather will be in the northeast on Thanksgiving. Baron/Lynx

Another atmospheric river-fueled storm is bringing continued rain to the Central Coast and San Joaquin Valley and snow to the southern Sierra Nevada on Tuesday. But conditions are expected to improve Wednesday, with mainly dry weather statewide for Thanksgiving.



Still, an East Coast storm Thanksgiving day will bring active weather to Californians visiting family and friends far afield.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

California holiday weather

Tuesday will be the worst day for holiday travel around California, with improvement thereafter.

The atmospheric river will remain pointed at Central California on Tuesday, with another quarter- to three-quarters of an inch of rain expected in Merced, Fresno and Bakersfield. Light rain in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles will add up to a quarter- to half-inch, while Orange County will only experience drizzle.

Light rain will be focused across Southern California on Tuesday, with heavy snow falling at high elevations in the Sierra. Baron/Lynx

A foot or more of fresh powder at Tahoe ski resorts will come just in time for some resort openings. Snow showers may linger Wednesday afternoon, but dry, bluebird days are in store for the holiday weekend.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

By Wednesday afternoon, dry conditions will prevail across California and continue through Thanksgiving weekend.

Travelers through the Central Valley may encounter hazardous conditions Friday, Saturday and Sunday due to dense tule fog. Visibility below a quarter-mile is possible along Interstate 5, Interstate 80 and Highway 99, especially in the San Joaquin Valley and Sacramento River delta in the mornings.

Temperatures are expected to climb through the holiday weekend. On Wednesday, highs will only be in the mid- to upper 50s in the Bay Area and Central Valley, with 60s in Southern California. Thanksgiving day will be relatively problem free of any weather disruptions across the state.

By Sunday, highs will return to the upper 50s to mid-60s in San Francisco and San Jose and the low 70s in Los Angeles. Dense tule fog may keep Sacramento and Fresno chilly, in the 50s through the weekend.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Overnight lows will be chilly to cap off November, in the teens and 20s in the Sierra, the 30s in the valleys and 40s and 50s at the coast.

Stormy, snowy conditions nationally

The atmospheric river will help spawn a low-pressure system over the Intermountain West, bringing several feet of snow to the higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains in Utah and Colorado on Tuesday and Wednesday. Denver and Salt Lake City are also expected to receive a few inches of snow. Pre-Thanksgiving snowfall is predicted across the southern Sierra Nevada, Rocky Mountains, Great Lakes and northern New England.

Snowfall forecast across the country for Thanksgiving week. Baron/Lynx

A strong cold front will sweep across much of the country this week, ushering in low temperatures in the 20s and 30s across the Midwest and extending into Texas and parts of the South on Thanksgiving. High temperatures will trend downward throughout the week, settling about 15 degrees below normal across the Southeast by Friday and into the weekend.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

This weeks main weather concerns will center on the Upper Midwest and the East Coast. A storm system Tuesday will move quickly through the Great Lakes, dropping 1 to 2 inches of snow across Michigan and parts of Illinois and Indiana. Chicago is likely to see a light dusting. The storms interior track will keep most of the East Coast on the warm side, bringing light rain to New York City and Boston on Tuesday.



More impactful weather is expected on Thanksgiving when around an inch of rain will fall in Washington D.C., Philadelphia and Boston. On the storms backside, cold air will lead to several inches of snow in upstate New York, higher elevations in Massachusetts and northern New England.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recommended his cabinet approve a US-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanons Hezbollah, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

In the hours leading up to the cabinet meeting, Israel carried out its most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs and issued a record number of evacuation warnings.

Advertisement

At least 24 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities, as Israel signalled it aims to keep pummelling Hezbollah in the final hours before any ceasefire takes hold.

Israeli jets also targeted a building in a bustling commercial area of Beirut for the first time since the start of the war. The strike on Hamra was around 400 metres from the countrys central bank. A separate strike hit the Mar Elias neighbourhood in the countrys capital.





For the first time in the conflict, Israeli ground troops reached parts of Lebanons Litani River, a focal point of the emerging ceasefire deal.

In a televised statement, Mr Netanyahu said he would present the ceasefire to cabinet ministers later today.

Advertisement

He listed a series of accomplishments against Israels enemies across the region in recent months.

He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and would allow Israel to turn its focus to Iran  Hezbollahs backer and Israels biggest threat in the region. He vowed to strike Hezbollah hard if it violates the agreement.

If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack, he said. For every violation, we will attack with might.

It was not immediately clear when the ceasefire would go into effect, and the exact terms of the deal were not released.

Advertisement



Areas in Tyre, south Lebanon, were hit by Israeli strikes with a ceasefire deal under discussion (AP)

The deal does not affect Israels war against Hamas in Gaza, which shows no signs of ending.

The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously have not been targeted. The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks before a ceasefire, sent residents fleeing.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, kept up its rocket fire, triggering air raid sirens across northern Israel.

Lebanese officials have said Hezbollah also supports the deal. If approved by all sides, the deal would be a major step towards ending the Israel-Hezbollah war that has inflamed tensions across the region and raised fears of an even wider conflict between Israel and Hezbollahs patron, Iran.

Advertisement

The deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swathe of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border.



Benjamin Netanyahu spoke in a televised statement (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

Thousands of Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the US would monitor all sides compliance.

But implementation remains a major question mark. Israel has demanded the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations. Lebanese officials have rejected writing that into the proposal.

Israels defence minister, Israel Katz, insisted on Tuesday that the military would strike Hezbollah if the UN peacekeeping force, known as Unifil, does not provide effective enforcement of the deal.

Advertisement

If you dont act, we will act, and with great force, Mr Katz said, speaking with UN special envoy Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert.

The European Unions top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said on Tuesday that Israels security concerns had been addressed in the deal also brokered by France.

There is not an excuse for not implementing a ceasefire. Otherwise, Lebanon will fall apart, Mr Borrell told reporters in Italy on the sidelines of a G7 meeting. He said France would participate on the ceasefire implementation committee at Lebanons request.

Even as Israeli, US, Lebanese and international officials have expressed growing optimism over a ceasefire, Israel has continued its campaign in Lebanon, which it says aims to cripple Hezbollahs military capabilities.



Rescuers use an excavator as they search for victims at the site of an Israeli air strike in Beirut, Lebanon (Hassan Ammar/AP)

An Israeli strike on Tuesday levelled a residential building in the central Beirut district of Basta  the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanons Health Ministry.

Three people were killed in a separate strike in Beirut and three in a strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon. Lebanese state media said another 10 people were killed in the eastern province of Baalbek. Israel says it targets Hezbollah fighters and their infrastructure.

Earlier, Israeli jets struck at least six buildings in Beiruts southern suburbs. One strike hit near the countrys only airport, sending plumes of smoke into the sky. The airport has continued to function despite its location on the Mediterranean coast next to the densely populated suburbs where many of Hezbollahs operations are based.

Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in the suburbs, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where Unifil is headquartered.

Unifil spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told the Associated Press that peacekeepers will not evacuate.

Other strikes hit in the southern city of Tyre, where the Israeli military said it killed a local Hezbollah commander.

The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few miles from the Israeli border.



Rescuers search for victims at the site of an Israeli air strike in Beirut (Hassan Ammar/AP)

Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 20 miles north of the border.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, the strongest Iranian-backed force in the region, would likely significantly calm regional tensions that have led to fears of a direct, all-out war between Israel and Iran.

It is not clear how the ceasefire will affect the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Hezbollah had long insisted that it would not agree to a ceasefire until the war in Gaza ends, but it dropped that condition.

Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its attack on southern Israel on October 7 2023, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have been exchanging barrages ever since.

Israel escalated its campaign of bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes.

More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members.

Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the countrys north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon.
Natos new secretary-general has said the alliance needs to go further to support Ukraine in its fight against a Russian invasion and accused Moscow of dangerously escalating the conflict by bringing in thousands of North Korean troops.

In pursuing its illegal war in Ukraine, Russia makes use of North Korean weapons and troops, Iranian drones and Chinese dual-use goods for its defence industry, Mark Rutte said during a visit to Greece on Tuesday.

Advertisement

This is a dangerous expansion of the war and a challenge to global peace and security.

Mr Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister who took over as Nato chief last month, met Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens and thanked him for Greek support for Ukraine that includes weapons and ammunition, as well as training for F-16 pilots and technicians.

Our support for Ukraine has kept them in the fight, but we need to go further to change the trajectory of the conflict, Mr Rutte said.



Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Athens on Tuesday (Petros Giannakouris/AP)

Greece spends more than 3% of its gross domestic product on defence, above the 2% committed minimum for Nato members, and is seeking a change in European Union budget rules to allow for greater military spending. It also wants to help create a common European air defence system.

Advertisement

Mr Mitsotakis said: We agree on one of the fundamental priorities for all allies: the need to strengthen our collective defence, a goal that requires a strong defence industry with significant investments.

He added that Athens backs a more functional relationship between Nato and the European Union, to further strengthen the European pillar of the alliance.

Europes Nato members have been discussing plans to boost defence investments for months due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and uncertainty surrounding the incoming US administration following the election victory of President-elect Donald Trump.

Mr Ruttes visit to Athens follows meetings with Mr Trump in Florida and Turkish leaders in Ankara on Monday.

Advertisement

He also held talks with Greek foreign affairs minister George Gerapetritis and defence minister Nikos Dendias.

Several thousand protesters marched through central Athens in opposition to the Nato chiefs visit.

The largest rally was organised by a Communist-backed trade union, at which protesters chanted: Give us money for health and education, not Nato killers.
Georgias newly-elected parliament opened its inaugural session on Monday as opposition politicians and the president boycotted it and thousands of protesters, watched by riot police, rallied outside and accused the ruling party of rigging the vote under Russian influence.

The October 26 election that kept the Georgian Dream party in power was widely seen as a referendum on the countrys effort to join the European Union.

Advertisement

Opposition parties refused to participate in the parliaments activities, and only 88 politicians, all Georgian Dream members, were in the hall as the 150-seat parliament held its first session.

Nika Melia, leader of Coalition for Changes, vowed the opposition will do everything to defeat the so-called government, the self-proclaimed government.

This is the fight between people fighting for freedom against people who are trying to entrench the deeply authoritarian regime, he said.



Police block protesters gathered in a street near the Parliament building in Tbilisi during a rally to demand new elections in Georgia (Zurab Tsertsvadze/AP)

President Salome Zourabichvili, who has rejected the official results and refused to recognise the parliaments legitimacy, did not attend the opening session.

Advertisement

Ms Zourabichvili, who holds the mostly ceremonial position, said on social media platform X that the parliament is unconstitutional because of evidence of electoral fraud and her refusal to open the session as required by the constitution.

She has filed a lawsuit at the Constitutional Court, arguing that two fundamental principles guaranteed by the constitution  the secrecy of the vote and its universality  were violated.

In a televised statement, she declared that today the parliament of Georgia no longer exists because Georgian Dream has trampled the constitution.

I feel sorry for all these parliamentarians who sat there today with frozen expressions, because they know they are the result of falsified elections, and they know they will be locked in this hall for several months or weeks, where none of them has any rights, she said.

Advertisement

She hailed civil society and in particular the youth for standing up to Georgian Dream, declaring: The old era reflected in todays parliament has truly come to an end.

Ms Zourabichvili was elected by popular vote, but Georgia has approved constitutional changes that abolish the direct election of the president and replace it with a vote by a 300-seat electoral college which consists of members of parliament, municipal councils and members of legislatures of autonomous regions.



Protesters with EU and Georgian national flags rest during a rally to demand new parliamentary elections (Shakh Aivazov/AP)

On Tuesday, the parliament set December 14 as the date for a 300-seat electoral college consisting of members of parliament, municipal councils and regional legislatures to elect a new president.

It is a new procedure, which will be used for the first time since a 2017 constitutional reform eliminated direct elections for the presidency.

Advertisement

Georgian Dream has a majority in the electoral college and is expected to choose an ally to replace Ms Zourabichvili.

The outgoing president was elected by popular vote in 2018, and her six-year term will end in December. The new president will be elected for five years.

Georgian Dream kept Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in office and its members voted to allow parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili to keep his seat. The ruling party also controls all key parliamentary positions.

Several thousand protesters, some of them waving Georgian and EU flags, rallied outside the parliament in the pouring rain, facing phalanxes of riot police.

Advertisement

The government has stolen elections from us, said student Vakho Sebiskveradze. Its not only about the elections  this is about stealing the European future from the Georgian people, the Georgian nation, and the Georgian youth.



Police block a street in Tbilisi, Georgia, during a rally to demand new parliamentary elections (Zurab Tsertsvadze/AP)

The Central Election Commission said Georgian Dream won about 54% of the vote in October. Its leaders have rejected opposition claims of fraud.

European election observers said the balloting took place in a divisive atmosphere marked by instances of bribery, double voting and physical violence.

Critics have accused Georgian Dream  established by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a shadowy billionaire who made his fortune in Russia  of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted towards Moscow. The party recently pushed through laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down on freedom of speech and LGBTQ+ rights.

The EU suspended Georgias membership application process indefinitely in June after parliament passed a law requiring organisations that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as pursuing the interest of a foreign power, similar to a Russian law used to discredit organisations critical of the government.

Badri Japaridze, leader of Strong Georgia Coalition, pledged that members of opposition parties elected to parliament will stay away from it.

We are not going to enter this parliament, we boycott it, we do not acknowledge it, he said.
Ricardo Salinas Pliego is no stranger to controversy and crisis. Over decades, the entrepreneur has feuded with business partners, investors and regulators as he built an empire that has made him Mexicos third-richest person.

But even for Salinas, the current financial predicament is dire  and also a little odd.

Ricardo Salinas Pliego is in a financial predicament. Credit: Bloomberg

Thats because the bulk of his $US10.5 billion ($16.3 billion) wealth is tied up in a company, Grupo Elektra, that is poised to plunge in value as soon as it begins trading again on the Mexican stock exchange. This is where things get weird. Officials have been trying for days to lift the halt on the stock that was imposed in July, only to give up once buy orders hit trading screens in the pre-market auction.

The problem: the bids are so shockingly low, coming in at less than 50 per cent of the stocks value in July, that the market circuit breaker designed to limit volatility is immediately tripped, and the stock is halted again without a single transaction taking place. So for official bookkeeping reasons, Elektras shares are still worth the same 944.95 pesos they were quoted at on July 26, and Salinas wealth remains, precariously for now, intact.
Please stop it. No more Glicked references.

In case youve missed it, Glicked is the clumsy, try-hard combination of Gladiator II and Wicked, two hotly anticipated, contrasting Hollywood blockbusters that have just opened in cinemas.

The gl in Glicked: Paul Mescal as Lucius and Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius in Gladiator II. Credit: Aidan Monaghan

Last year, Barbenheimer was coined just before two other hotly anticipated, contrasting Hollywood blockbusters, Barbie and Oppenheimer, opened on the same day.

Margot Robbie, who produced and starred in Barbie, has said the simultaneous release came after she refused a suggestion from an Oppenheimer producer to move their date then realised its a perfect double billing.
The child who died after hours alone in a parked car in north Queensland yesterday has been identified as a two-year-old girl.

Police were called to the vehicle on Rankin Street, Innisfail, about 1pm on Monday. The toddler was unresponsive and could not be revived.

Superintendent Mick Searle today said the car was in the parking lot of Cassowary Coast Regional Council chambers, but would not say if the parents were local government employees.

He also would not be drawn on the possibility of criminal charges.

The parents were at work and looking after their family, Searle told reporters.

Were now conducting a very complex and detailed investigation.

Theres further details that I just wont go into at this stage for the nature of the investigation to be preserved.
Brisbane buses are not suffering from excessive overcrowding, despite more people using public transport since the introduction of 50 fares.

And while the lure of working from home continues to put a dent in patronage, the bus to the University of Queensland and a late-night service from the nightclub district are among the most in-demand routes.

Exclusive figures provided to Brisbane Times have revealed the proportion of south-east Queensland routes that Translink-contracted urban bus services travelled while full during peak hours in October.

New figures reveal south-east Queensland buses are no more crowded than they were last year, despite the introduction of 50 fares. Credit: Courtney Kruk

In the morning weekday peak, only 0.06 per cent of the kilometres travelled by buses were at full capacity (seats occupied and people standing in the aisle). In the evening, that figure was 0.02 per cent.
Were bringing our blog to a close for today, thanks for joining us.

However, we will leave you with two breaking stories, the first of which concerns the biggest headline of the day  polling which spruiked Basil Zempilas as an electoral saviour for the WA Liberal Party and sparked an (ultimately unsuccessful) leadership challenge.

Well, we can now reveal the polling in question was facilitated by the marketing company owned by Zempilas mayoral campaign manager, Cam Sinclair.

Sinclair is a longtime Liberal party member and runs Perth agency Ammo Marketing, which helped build both Zempilas Churchlands campaign website and Liberal leader Libby Mettams website.

He confirmed to WAtoday that his agency was behind the Sodali & Co polling but that it was commissioned by an Ammo Marketing client and was provided only to them  not Zempilas.

Read the full story here.

Meanwhile, as we leave you, a bushfire emergency warning remains in place for parts of Wedge Island, Cooljarloo and Nambung as a fire burns out of control.

Indian Ocean Drive is closed between Ocean Place and Cervantes Road, and an evacuation centre has been opened at Juren bay Sport and Recreation Centre on Bashford Street. Cervantes Primary School will also be closed on Wednesday.

Remember, for the most up-to-date information, visit Emergency WA, call 13 DFES (13 3337), follow DFES on Facebook, listen to ABC Local Radio, 6PR, or news bulletins.

Thank you again for joining us, and well see you tomorrow morning for more news you need to know.
Chinas chief diplomat in Australia has expressed regret at Beijings crippling former restrictions on Australian exports, as he urged the nation not to let Donald Trumps US election victory upend its improved relationship with China.

With Trump about to return to the White House with a promise to impose sweeping tariffs on Chinese imports, Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian said it was more important than ever for Australia and China to deepen their economic ties after years of turbulence.

Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian said he regretted the imposition of trade restrictions on Australian goods. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Despite improved trading ties, troublespots remain in the bilateral relationship, with Xiao calling on the federal government to be more welcoming towards students from China and expressing dismay that many Australians regard China as a military threat.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, who has noticeably softened his rhetoric on China, would be welcome to visit the country next year regardless of the federal election result, Xiao said at a press conference at the Chinese embassy in Canberra.
Property prices in Sydney and Melbourne are tipped to fall by up to 5 per cent next year, even as Australia-wide home prices are expected to record a moderate rise.

The average capital-city property price across Australia is predicted to rise by 1 to 4 per cent, SQM Researchs Housing Boom and Bust Report 2025, published on Monday, forecast.

While that increase would be driven by smaller capitals, Sydney and Melbourne are expected to decline further, with both forecast to fall between 1 and 5 per cent over the year.

It assumed the Reserve Bank would cut the cash rate by between 0.25 percentage points and 0.5 percentage points by the middle of the year.
A section of Highway 175 is seen submerged in flood water from the nearby Russian River in Hopland (Mendocino County) on Nov. 22. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

An atmospheric river fueled downpours that drenched Northern California last week, with parts of the North Bay tallying historic amounts of rainfall that caused rivers to spill over and roads to flood.

But the deluges also provided benefits, with waters rising in the states biggest reservoirs. Rainfall also set the stage for continued gains in the coming months.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Storms like these help wet the soils in the mountains so that future rain and snowmelt in the spring or summer results in runoff and is not lost to dry soils, said Tracy Hinojosa, water operations manager for the California Department of Water Resources State Water Project, by email. However, to maintain these benefits, we need consistent storms throughout the fall and winter months that keep soils saturated.

Across the state, reservoir storage was estimated at 22.9 million acre-feet of water Monday, or 115% of average for this time of year. One acre-foot is equivalent to 325,851 gallons, or just under half the volume of an Olympic swimming pool.

Rain poured across Northern California last week, especially from Wednesday through Friday. Reservoirs across the state gained 600,000 acre-feet from Nov. 19 to Nov. 25.

Lake Oroville water levels rose over 22 feet during this period, corresponding with a gain of almost 218,000 acre-feet that came with the atmospheric river-charged storms.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The reservoir has a storage capacity of 3.4 million acre-feet, making it the biggest in the State Water Project, and the second-largest in California. The increase in the past week reflects a change from 48% of total capacity to 54%.

DWR is taking advantage of the recent storm systems to capture as much water as possible in Lake Oroville, within flood control guidelines set by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hinojosa said. Between October and April, DWR is required to maintain storage space in Lake Oroville to capture rain and future snowmelt. However, Lake Oroville water levels remain below the conservation space, in which flood control releases would be required.

Lake Oroville in Butte County is currently at 105% of normal for this time of year. The reservoir was full in May, marking the second year in a row the reservoir reached full capacity.

Water levels in Shasta Lake in Shasta County, the states biggest reservoir, rose by over 8 feet from Nov. 19 to Nov. 25, a gain of nearly 174,000 acre-feet.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The reservoir, which is part of the federally managed Central Valley Project, is at 59% of total capacity, 111% of normal for this time of year.

Lake Sonoma in Sonoma County logged a rise of nearly 13 feet from Nov. 19 to Nov. 25, corresponding with a gain of just over 33,000 acre-feet. The reservoir jumped from 58% of total capacity to 66%, which corresponds with 129% of historical average.

The timing when reservoir levels rise each year depends on the weather. Lake Oroville only experienced minor increases in December 2022, before a parade of atmospheric rivers in January 2023 produced a significant increase.

By comparison, during the following water year, Lake Oroville logged steady increases beginning in mid-December 2023, with higher gains in late January 2024. How the current water year plays out depends heavily on weather in the coming months,

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
The grieving families of two backpackers who died after a suspected mass methanol poisoning have returned to Australia after living every parents nightmare over the past fortnight, as it emerges a third Australian has also fallen ill.

The families of Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles travelled from Bangkok to Melbourne on Tuesday night, bringing home the bodies of the two 19-year-old girls.

Bianca Jones (left) and Holly Bowles died after a suspected mass drink poisoning.

Biancas father Mark Jones, flanked by Hollys father Shaun Bowles, urged authorities to do everything they could to raise awareness of the dangers of methanol poisoning to ensure no families experienced the same heartache they had.

We miss our daughters desperately, Jones said.
It really demonstrates the craziness weve seen in property prices over the last five years, said Nicola Powell (pictured above), Domains chief of research and economics. While its tough for first-home buyers, falling prices also negatively impact sellers, leading to financial strain for some households.
Philosophy, Politics and Economics program to hold forum on inclusion

We want to work toward creating an inclusive community capable of welcoming new arrivals, particularly immigrants and refugees. 

The Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) program will host a forum exploring ways to create more inclusive communities for refugees and immigrants on Dec. 6 at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Welcoming New Arrivals to Western New York is co-sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation, Justice for Migrant Families WNY and Journeys End Refugee Services.

The main goal of this forum is to promote engagement within our communities, says David Gray, associate teaching professor of philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences, and one of the forums co-organizers. We want to identify possible actions that we can take, both as individuals and as a group, to provide a support system that addresses existing gaps and barriers to inclusion.

We want to work toward creating an inclusive community capable of welcoming new arrivals, particularly immigrants and refugees.

More than 10% of Buffalos population was born outside of the United States, nearly half of whom arrived here in the past 15 years. Some came to work or study, others to join family members, and still others to flee violence, war or persecution. In 2023 alone, 1,312 refugees arrived in Erie County, primarily from Afghanistan, Burma, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Syria.

New arrivals face many challenges, from language barriers to earlier trauma. At the same time, they help to revitalize neighborhoods, foster economic growth and deepen the areas cultural diversity.

The forum will bring together scholars, leaders of civic organizations, immigrants and others from the Buffalo community.

These different stakeholders can contribute a range of perspectives on inclusion and therefore expand our understanding of what it takes to build an inclusive community, says Alexandra Oprea, assistant professor of philosophy and the forums other co-organizer.

Inclusion, as Oprea explains, is about more than legal permission to travel to the U.S. or the right to stay here once someone arrives.

Inclusion can involve acceptance, belonging, equality, rights, freedom, resources, responsibility, relationships and community, she says. It can mean different things to different people.

Welcoming New Arrivals is among the many projects being developed from PPEs $2.5 million grant from the John Templeton Foundation that aims to provide liberalism  the political philosophy focused on individual rights, equity, freedom and consent of the governed  with a more secure foundation that reveals how diversity, disagreement and dynamism contribute to its success. The project team includes co-PIs in the Department of Philosophy  Ryan Muldoon, professor; Justin Bruner, associate professor; and Alexander Schaefer, assistant professor  as well as Jacob Neiheisel, associate professor in the department of political science.

There is no better way to understand dynamism and resilience than to see how a community takes up new residents, especially those that come from far away with very different social norms, Oprea says.

The forum also contains a research component, with participants completing surveys both before and after the event. Organizers hope to learn more about how inclusive communities have been built in Buffalo, which can help them extend what they discover to new contexts.
The 18th edition of the World Branding Awards honoured the success and achievements of some of the Worlds Best Brands as National, Regional, and Global Winners. The 2024-2025 World Branding Awards saw over 927 brands from 66 countries nominated as Brand of the Year. Of these, less than 100 were declared Winners.

The prestigious Award Ceremony was held at the Tower of London, United Kingdom. It welcomed over 80 guests worldwide and was hosted by acclaimed British television broadcaster, David Croft.

Global winners who proved excellence and impeccable branding in their industry include Yakult (Japan), Lurpak (Denmark), Sennheiser (Germany),Spotify (Sweden), BYD (China), and Heinz (United Kingdom).

National Tier winners includeAbsolut (Sweden),Airland (Hong Kong),Aurora (Thailand), Bank of Taiwan (Taiwan), Boots (United Kingdom), Cafe Amazon (Thailand), Farm Fresh (Malaysia), Flimty (Indonesia), GasKita (Indonesia), GIG (Kuwait), Natural Aqua Gel Cure (Japan), King Power (Thailand), Partners (Philippines), Rotiboy (Malaysia), Thai Life Insurance (Thailand), Sukiya (Japan), and VISTRA (Thailand), to name a few.

Just 20 brands were selected to receive the Regional tier award this year, including M-150 (Thailand), Tsui Wah (Hong Kong), Nippon Rent-A-Car (Japan), and MR DIY (Malaysia). These brands were voted as consumers' favourites in 4 or more countries across 3 or more areas in a specific geographic region.

Winning the Brand of the Year, with 70% of the voting power in the hands of consumers, is a testament to a brand's ability to resonate with its audience. It's recognition that a brand has not only met but exceeded its customers' expectations. It's a badge of honour that signifies a brand's commitment to providing exceptional value, building trust, and creating lasting relationships, said Mr Richard Rowles, Chairman of the World Branding Forum.

More than 100,000 consumers participated in the nomination process globally this year. On average, there are only 5 winning brands in each country, proving that winning a World Branding Award is a remarkable accomplishment.

For more information and the full list of winners, visit awards.brandingforum.org.

ABOUT WORLD BRANDING AWARDS

The World Branding Awards is the premier awards of the World Branding Forum, a registered non-profit organisation. The awards recognise the achievements of some of the worlds best brands.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldbrandingforum/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WorldBranding

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldbranding/

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/world-branding-forum

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125724686/en/
A federal judge in Kentucky issued an injunction Monday against a U.S. Department of Labor rule that gives foreign farmworkers union rights, dealing a second blow to Biden administration H-2A regulations.

The rule violates the National Labor Relations Act, which excludes farmworkers from collective-bargaining rights, said U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves in Lexington, Ky.

Reeves struck down several other provisions of the rule, including one that forces farms to let union representatives visit on-farm housing.

The judge stopped short of issuing a nationwide injunction, but it will cover members of the National Council of Agricultural Employees, and the Worker and Farm Labor Association based in Lacey, Wash.

The councils president and CEO, Michael Marsh, said the organizations members hire 90% of H-2A workers. The Labor Department will have to decide whether to enforce the rule on the remaining employers, he said.

It would be very few, Marsh said. I wouldnt be surprised if DOL formally withdrew the rule.

The Labor Department referred questions to the Department of Justice. The Justice Department did not have an immediate comment.

The Labor Department adopted the rule last spring, saying it will protect foreign farmworkers. Without the rule, farms would have an incentive to hire foreign farmworkers over U.S. workers, according to the department.

U.S. District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood in Southern Georgia last summer issued an injunction barring the rule from being enforced in 17 states, including Idaho. Godbey limited the injunction to the states that brought the suit.

The Labor Department went ahead with the rule in the 33 other states, including Washington, Oregon and California. Farmers and groups filed lawsuits in Kentucky, North Carolina and Mississippi to expand the injunction.

Judges in North Carolina and Mississippi have yet to rule. Reeves ruling extends the injunction to Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia, as well as members of five associations involved in the lawsuit.

Worker and Farm Labor Association CEO Enrique Gastelum said he hoped the Labor Department wont try to enforce parts of the rule in parts of the country. That would be ridiculous, he said.

The Labor Department contended the rule does not grant farmworkers collective-bargaining rights. Both judges have rejected the departments claim.

The department did not use the words collective bargaining, but prohibited farms from acting against farmworkers who organize unions and take collective action to better working conditions and wages.

The final rule not so sneakily creates substantive collective bargaining rights for H-2A agricultural workers through the prohibitions it places on the employers, Reeves wrote.

The department failed to give good enough reasons for aspects of the rule, including one that makes farms responsible for making sure farmworkers wear seatbelts in company vehicles, according to Reeves.

Monitoring the use of seatbelts by adults does nothing but make working conditions degrading, the judge stated.

Granting union leaders access to farmworker housing violates a U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down a California regulation, Reeves stated. The regulation was an unconstitutional taking of property, the court ruled.

Reeves also struck down requiring farms to pay piece-rates rather than an hourly wage if piece-rates resulted in higher pay. The department failed to give sufficient reason for dictating pay methods, according to the judge.
While the focus has been on unauthorized immigration as Donald Trump returns to the White House, legal immigration is also in the crosshairs, according to a nonpartisan research foundation.

With so much attention focused on the border, its easy to forget that usually over 1 million people legally immigrate to the U.S. each year, said Stuart Anderson, executive director of the think tank National Foundation for American Policy.

People who want to restrict immigration have focused on the legal immigration system because they assume it would be easier to get a handle on, he said during a virtual news briefing hosted by Americas Voice, a nonprofit that advocates immigration reform.

Restrictions

That happened during the first Trump administration, he said. Legal immigration was restricted in several ways, including reducing refugee admissions to historically low levels and banning Muslims from the U.S.

There were also several policies that they hoped to implement in a wide-ranging way  and a health insurance mandate that was not put into effect for very long because it was blocked in court, he said.

The foundation estimates that about 770,000 fewer people immigrated legally to the U.S. during the Trump administration compared to the previous four years.

In fact, there were two executive actions using  presidential authority that actually blocked the entry of almost all categories of immigration and almost all categories of work visa holders, he said.

University of North Florida economist Madeline Zavodny found that real Gross Domestic Product growth in 2022 as a result of Trump administration policies and COVID was only 1.9%.

Thats because labor force growth is an important part of economic growth, he said.

Labor force

Another foundation study found that in the last five years, 88% of U.S. labor force growth has been due to immigrants. If it werent for immigrants and their children there would have been no labor force growth in the U.S., he said.

By 2052, its likely the only source of labor force growth will be immigration, he said, adding thats a reflection of the aging U.S. population and lower birth rate.

In the more immediate term, therell likely be disappointed Americans who are looking to sponsor immigrant loved ones and disappointed employers and American consumers who wont be able to get some of the services they want, he said.
Washington Farm Bureau members reelected Rosella Mosby as state president at the groups annual meeting Nov. 21 in Wenatchee.

Bridget Coon was reelected first vice president, and Anne Lawrence was reelected second vice president.

This officer team is committed to advancing the mission of Washington Farm Bureau, Mosby said in a statement.

With the support and engagement of our members, well continue to advocate for policies that strengthen agriculture, connect our members to essential resources for success, and empower farming families across Washington, she said.
SCHOOL children, community groups and businesses have all been beavering away behind the scenes, creating Christmas trees of all shapes and makes for an upcoming event that promises to bring plenty of festive cheer.

The Carlow Union of Parishes is hosting its annual Christmas Tree Festival in St Marys Church, Haymarket, Carlow over the weekend beginning Friday 29 November from 11am to 7pm and continuing on Saturday and Sunday, with Sunday also featuring a special service at 10.45am.

Lots of local groups have volunteered to make Christmas trees for the special event, so expect to see all types of wonderful creations on display. There will also be live music from local choirs, refreshments and a raffle.

Fabulous prizes

The Church of Ireland congregations of Staplestown, St Mary's and Urglin, along with the Park Hotel, Dungarvan, Seven Oaks Hotel, Reddys pub, the Woodford Dolmen Hotel, Cindys Cafe, SpecSavers and Rory Healy have all provided generous hampers, sponsorship and fabulous prizes for the raffle.

The Christmas Tree Festival is supported by Carlow County Council and Carlow Tourism.

Itll be officially opened by Bishop Adrian Wilkinson at noon on Friday and all are welcome to pop in over the three days to soak up the atmosphere.

Entry fee is 5 for adults and children go free.
High Court Reporters

Law points relating to legal challenges brought by various airlines to passenger caps at Dublin airport may have to be referred to the European court.

A High Court judge on Tuesday said the challenges seem only to be resolvable by referring European law questions to the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU).

Mr Justice Barry ODonnell agreed with Aer Lingus and Ryanair that the most efficient use of court time involves the parties and the court dealing with the form of a potential reference ahead of the general hearing of the cases next week.

He said EU law points that have never before been clarified by the CJEU are at the heart of the airlines cases against the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). A reference to the court is "almost an inevitability", he said.

National courts can refer questions on unclear European law to the CJEU whose interpretation is then binding throughout the EU.

Aer Lingus, Ryanair and Airlines for America, which represents US carriers, are challenging the IAAs imposition of a passenger cap at Dublin Airport for the winter and summer seasons.

They claim there was no basis for it incorporating a 2007 planning condition, which contains a separate annual passenger cap, in its assessment of the airports capacity.

Earlier this month, Mr Justice ODonnell acceded to the airlines urgent request to pause the effects of the IAAs decision to limit passenger numbers to 25.2 million for the summer period, which runs from late March to October.

His order, which is due to last until the cases are resolved, came just days before the IAA cap was due to be applied to a process of allocating the airports summer take-off and landing slots.

On Tuesday, the judge said the airlines cases involve EU law issues that have not been addressed before and are not acte clair, meaning they are not clear enough to refrain from referring them to the CJEU.

He said it seems clarity can only be obtained by a reference to the European court.

The substantial challenges to the IAAs summer and winter passenger caps were due to be heard over four days from next Tuesday.

The judge agreed to push the hearing back to Wednesday, with the parties to first address him on Aer Lingus and Ryanairs request for a CJEU reference.

Earlier, Mr Justice ODonnell heard from Suzanne Murray, senior counsel for Aer Lingus, who argued that dealing with the reference question ahead of the substantial hearing was the most efficient use of time.

Barrister Frank Crean, for Ryanair, agreed with her reasoning, submitting that a reference in the cases is inevitable as the CJEU has never before interpreted the EUs slot regulation, which imposes rights and rules regarding airlines take-off and landing slots at European airports.

The facts of the cases are not in dispute, so this is an appropriate situation for the court to refer EU law issues ahead of a full High Court hearing, he said.

The IAA and the operator of Dublin Airport, DAA, expressed concern that the reference issue could throw the substantial hearing off course.

In making its decisions on the airports capacity, the IAA said it considered technical, operational, environmental and local planning constraints, including An Bord Pleanalas imposition of a separate annual 32 million passenger limit when it approved Terminal Two in 2007.

The DAA has separately challenged the IAAs 14.4 million seat cap for the winter period, running from now until March 2025, alleging it is not restrictive enough to prevent the airport from breaching the 2007 planning condition.

The operator has said the EU slot regulation prohibits it from unilaterally reducing passenger numbers to comply with the planning condition.

The DAA has separately applied to the local planning authority, Fingal County Council, seeking an increase of the 32 million limit to 40 million.
By Cate McCurry, PA

A government propped up by Independent TDs could be a recipe for absolute chaos, according to the Green Party.

Leader Roderic OGorman warned of the consequences of having what he described as right-wing independents making up the government formation after Fridays election.

Mr OGorman made the comments in Dublin on Tuesday, three days before the Irish public go to the polls.

Support for Independent candidates has jumped in recent times, as indicated in opinion polls.

I think government propped up by right-wing independents, which if you look at the polls, and if you look at some of the music coming from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, seems to maybe be their priority. I think that would be a recipe for absolute chaos, Mr OGorman said.

We saw how government relying on independents was consistently undermined, was consistently not able to deliver key decisions between 2016 and 2020.

We have the evidence of a government supported by independents, it doesnt work. It doesnt deliver. This government has delivered. The Green Party has delivered.

Weve delivered our policies, but we delivered stability as well in really difficult times.

Mr OGorman repeated his partys position that it is making a 10 billion investment in public transport a red line in any government formation talks.

He said that changes to emissions cannot be made unless there is major funding allocated to public transport.

Any party that goes into negotiations, if theyre doing it in good faith, has to recognise theres compromise, he said.

Weve set out one clear red line, and thats that 10 billion in public transport investments.

We cannot make the change, we cannot make the cuts in our transport emissions, and we cannot give the Irish public the option of good public transport in Dublin, in cities across the country and in rural Ireland, if we arent prepared to allocate that funding.

Were saying 10 billion into public transport, thats an absolute red line for the Green Party.
Sonya McLean

A man who burgled a number of occupied homes in the middle of the night, with one elderly woman waking to find him in her bedroom, has been jailed for three years.

Brandon Carey (24) of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a number of burglaries and attempted burglaries in various areas in Dublin 9 on January 31st, 2024.

He has 67 previous convictions.

Garda Ben Grimes told Jane Murphy BL, prosecuting, that an 86-year-old woman woke to find Carey going through her wardrobes. She was alone in the house at the time as her husband was in hospital.

Carey turned to the woman and asked her: Are you dreaming? He had gained access through an open window and had left blood on the windowsill. He stole a bag of coins, an ID card and a bank card.

Gda Grimes said another homeowner, who was also 86 years old, was woken up by a noise and found Carey coming out of the kitchen.

Carey demanded money before stealing the house keys and fleeing the scene. He had smashed a back kitchen window to gain access to the house and droplets of blood were later found on the ground.

Another homeowner later told gardai that their security cameras picked up on a person trying to gain access to their home, but the doors were locked, and he wasnt successful in breaking in.

Carey was later found by gardai with visible fresh injuries to his hands and face. His DNA was found at the scene of a number of the burglaries after the blood left behind at the scene was examined.

Carey also had the ID card and bag of coins that he had stolen from the elderly womans home.

Gda Grimes said Carey was initially found to be too intoxicated to be interviewed by officers but when he was questioned later, he made full admissions. He identified himself on CCTV footage and denied that he had deliberately targeted elderly people.

Gda Grimes agreed with Luigi Rea BL, defending, that his client had trained as a chef and had initially done well until he fell into drug addiction. He said his client wished to apologise to the court for his behaviour.

Judge Orla Crowe said the aggravating factors were that these were burglaries and attempted burglaries on occupied premises in the middle of the night.

She noted that there were confrontations when Carey came into contact with the homeowners but acknowledged that he had not been physical with the victims.

Judge Crowe accepted that Carey had not deliberately targeted the homes of elderly people but stated that as Carey had burgled a more settled area of Dublin, there were higher chances that the homeowners would be elderly people.

She accepted that Carey had shown remorse but said he had violated the homeowners' sense of safety.

Judge Crowe said a headline sentence of six years was warranted before she imposed a sentence of four and half years.

The final 18 months of the sentence were suspended after the judge noted that Carey is working on his drug rehabilitation.
By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

Detectives have made a new appeal for information on the 50th anniversary of the disappearance of two young boys in west Belfast.

The PSNI said the disappearance of Thomas Spence, 11, and John Rodgers, 13, in 1974 remains unexplained and potentially suspicious.

Thomas, from Rockdale Street, and John, from Rodney Drive, were last seen on the morning of Tuesday November 26 when they left their homes to walk to the bus stop in the Falls Road to catch a bus to St Aloysius School in Somerton Road.

They never made it to school and have not been seen since.

A PSNI spokesman said: Fifty years have now passed since that day and the police service is very aware of the pain and suffering that the families of Thomas and John continue to feel today, particularly with not knowing the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of these two young, innocent boys.

Our thoughts very much remain with them at this time.

This remains an open missing persons case with the circumstances around their disappearance still unexplained and potentially suspicious.

The spokesman added: The PSNI will consider all investigative opportunities as part of the review and will consider all potential criminal offences that may be linked to their disappearance.

If anyone has any information in relation to Thomas and Johns disappearance, we would ask them to contact Legacy Investigation Branch where all information will be assessed and considered by investigators.

Detectives can be contacted on 101, quoting reference RM05011374.

Police dug up properties in 2001 as part of a bid to find the boys bodies. Photo: Paul Faith/PA)

In 2001, police dug up the back yards of two houses in Rodney Drive as part of a bid to find the bodies of the two boys.

A man was questioned about their disappearance but was not charged.

The dig, codenamed Operation Galena, involved more than 100 officers, some whom took part in the search for mass graves in Kosovo, together with experts flown in from England.
WHAT you did to your friend was a nasty, vicious assault as a result of being drunk. Theres no point in calling her your friend. Locking yourself away, drinking, will not help, said Judge Eugene OKelly in Carlow Circuit Court on Friday to defendant Sandra Doyle.

Ms Doyle was before the court to be sentenced for stabbing her friend twice in her breast in a row over a mobile phone.

The defendant, with an address at Church Street, Graigueucllen, pleaded guilty at the July sitting of the circuit court to assaulting the woman, causing her harm and to producing an article, namely a blade, during a dispute at New Oak Estate, Carlow on 10 September 2021.

Judge OKelly was told that 51-year-old Ms Doyle had accused the injured party of stealing her phone and had gone to her house in New Oak Estate to get it back. The injured party told gardai that Ms Doyle pushed her and that she turned away from her, but when she turned back Ms Doyle had a knife, stabbing her twice with it.

A witness told gardai that Ms Doyle threatened to kill the injured party if she didnt give her back her phone and that after Ms Doyle stabbed the injured party, she saw her breast tissue hanging out.

The court heard that the woman sustained a 7cm laceration to her left breast and a 10cm wound under her right breast.

Ms Doyle admitted to gardai that she hit the injured party once or twice with the knife, using a swinging motion rather than a stabbing motion.

Judge OKelly had adjourned sentencing Ms Doyle so that a probation report could be prepared, and last week defence counsel Tara Geoghegan told him that her client had come on in leaps and bounds since engaging with the Probation Service. Ms Geoghegan continued that Ms Doyle and the injured party had been friends for years and that Ms Doyle had since written to her to apologise for stabbing her.

Ms Geoghegan continued that the defendant had been upset at the injured party for taking the phone because there were pictures of her late brother, who had died in custody, and her late father on the phone. She said that Ms Doyles family were very well known to the gardai.

Criminality has been entrenched in her life and has been since she was a young age, said Ms Geoghegan.

The court also heard that the defendant had mental health and addiction problems, that she is now on a methadone programme and that the Probation Service has organised a full programme of care for her.

Ms Geoghegan said that Ms Doyle had complex mental health problems but that she was now living independently in her own home, which she was afraid of losing if she was sent to prison. She also said that her client did not do well in prison.

Judge OKelly replied that, according to the probation report, Ms Doyle was drinking a bottle of vodka several times a week, taking medication and washing it down with vodka. He also noted that the defendant had 24 previous convictions and that the easiest thing of all would be to put her into prison to dry her out.

Shes 51 years of age and instead of trying to do something, shes locked herself up in her house as a recluse, drinking and sending people out to do her shopping. When Ms Geoghegan told Judge OKelly that Ms Doyle had started to attend AA meetings, he said that he wanted to hear direct evidence of that from her.

Ms Doyle told the judge that she did not leave her house because she was afraid of bumping into people and that she had begun attending AA meetings the previous week.

Judge OKelly said he would finalise sentencing Ms Doyle at the next sitting of the circuit court in February next year and ordered an updated doctors report to focus on Ms Doyles issues with alcohol.
Advertisement

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has launched an investigation into alleged 'excessive' cement imports in the Philippines amid concerns over their impact on the local cement industry.

The Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) has welcomed the move, citing growing import volumes as a threat to domestic production and employment. CeMAP President, Reynaldo Cabat, said the investigation was a critical step to ensure fair trade and protect local manufacturers.

The probe will evaluate the volume and pricing of imports, particularly from Vietnam, and their potential to cause material injury to the domestic industry. Cement imports have surged in recent years, with some reportedly priced below market value.

The DTI's findings, expected in the coming months, may lead to safeguard measures such as tariffs or quotas to support local production. This investigation comes as Philippine cement manufacturers face increasing pressure from global competition.
Advertisement

Irans cement industry faces deepening energy challenges as fuel restrictions impact production, according to the Secretary of the Cement Industry Employers Association (CIEA). Cement plants near key cities, which are not able to switch to diesel as alternative fuel, have been forced to cut production by 50 per cent as the supply of gas is restricted. Plants away from cities continue operations using diesel but face supply shortages and increased transportation costs.

In October, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the cessation of heavy fuel oil usage in power plants in cities such as Arak, Karaj, and Isfahan, citing public health concerns. He remarked: Some people are not going to die until we have electricity.

Moreover, the CIEA secretary said that electricity supply problems have also exacerbated energy issues experienced by the cement plants. Restrictions, which had started in mid-June, peaked in August, resulting in the closure of 70 per cent of cement kilns at a time when local demand increases, putting pressure on the market. Power supply improved at the end of the summer, stabilising cement prices in the commodity exchange, reports Iran News Update.

If current fuel policies remain unchanged, the cement industry could face a severe production crisis, warned the CIEA secretary. Plants are required to source fuel from distant hubs such as Mahshahr or Bandar Abbas, with high transportation costs and a shortage of fleets adding to the logistical bottleneck.
Advertisement

Cement sales in Indonesia amounted to 6.423Mt in October. This is a decrease of 0.2 per cent YoY compared to the 6.435Mt reported a year earlier.

The strongest growth was reported in Kalimantan where the development of Indonesias new capital, Nusantara, is ongoing. Sales there rose 9.8 per cent YoY in October to 597,858t, up from 544,606t a year earlier. Java, the countrys largest market, accounting for 51 per cent of all sales, saw dispatches rise 1.5 per cent YoY to 3.288Mt from 3.239Mt. Sales also expanded a modest 0.1 per cent YoY to 1.388Mt in Sumatera, up from 1.387Mt in October 2023.

Sales reported the deepest declines in Sulawesi, falling 13.2 per cent YoY to 547,991t from 631,035t. Bali-Nustra reported a 5.3 per cent YoY decline to 386,924t from 407,987t, and Maluku-Papua saw sales fall 4.6 per cent YoY to 215,482t in October from 225,877t a year earlier.

Bagged sales dominate dispatches in Bali-Nustra, accounting for 93 per cent of total sales volumes. Bulk sales are greatest in Java, accounting for 37 per cent of total sales.

Cement production in Indonesia rose 0.9 per cent YoY to 6.477Mt, from 6.167Mt in October 2023. Clinker production increased 6.3 per cent YoY to 5.444Mt, up from 5.341Mt previously.



In October, cement exports rose 1.7 per cent YoY to 116,189t, up from 114,291t a year earlier. Meanwhile, clinker exports jumped 40.2 per cent YoY to 931,049t from 664,023t a year earlier. Bangladesh remained the key export market in October, accounting for 66 per cent of total exports, followed by Australia (15 per cent) and Taiwan (11 per cent).

January to October 2024

Cement sales in Indonesia in the first ten months of 2024 amounted to 53.212Mt, an increase of 0.7 per cent YoY compared to the 6.167Mt recorded in the same period of 2023.

Java accounted for just over half of all sales during the period (52 per cent) followed by Sumatera (22 per cent) and Kalimantan (9 per cent).

Bagged sales were down 2.1 per cent YoY to 36.716Mt, accounting for 69 per cent of total sales during the period, bulk sales rose 7.9 per cent YoY to 16.495Mt.

Cement production amounted to 55.842Mt in January to October.

Total cement and clinker exports amounted to 9.6Mt in the January to October period, with Bangladesh, Australia and Taiwan the main export destinations. Cement exports fell 21 per cent YoY to amount to 904,000t, while clinker exports rose 10.6 per cent YoY to 8.7Mt.


Four members of Georgia Northwestern Technical Colleges faculty and staff were featured speakers at the Technical College System of Georgias Georgia Fall Leadership Conference in Atlanta.Those speakers were Leyner Argueta, program director and instructor of Business Management; Medina Safic, coordinator of Career Services; Dr. Pam Turner, program director and instructor of Social Work Assistance; and Trish Wiggins, director of Student Engagement.Mr. Arguetas presentation Leading in Diverse Environments emphasized the importance of appreciating different perspectives, fostering an inclusive environment and improving communication to build strength and unity.Rather than focusing on our differences, we should embrace them as leaders, Mr.Argueta said. My favorite part was during the Q&A session when a student asked how to address a company that might not understand their differences. I responded by sharing what I look for in an employer: I dont want someone to tolerate my differences, but rather celebrate them.Mr. Argueta was named TCSGs 2019 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year; he has been an instructor at GNTC for 10 years. He earned a masters degree in business administration from Shorter University. The son of immigrants, he is bilingual in English and Spanish.Ms. Safic and Ms. Wiggins discussed Understanding the Assignment: The Value of Professional Communication. The presentations topics included email etiquette and artificial intelligence.In our presentation, students got practical tips on professional communication, focusing on how to speak and write clearly and respectfully, Ms. Safic said. From connecting with classmates to reaching out to instructors or colleagues, the session showed how small changes in tone and structure can make a big difference in building strong, professional relationships.Ms. Safic has been employed at GNTC for two years. Her previous employment includes serving as a social services specialist with the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services. She received a bachelors degree in human development and family studies from Penn State University.When GNTC faculty and staff attend Student Leadership Conferences, they can connect closely with GNTC students outside of the classroom, as well as students from all over Georgia, Ms. Wiggins said. Investment in technical education students is important for their professional development and encourages them that they have allies and support systems all over the state, not just in their own community.Ms. Wiggins has worked at GNTC for nearly six years. She previously served as residence life coordinator at Carson-Newman University and Berry College. She earned a masters degree in education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a bachelors degree in counseling psychology from the Baptist University of Florida, then the Baptist College of Florida.Dr. Turner shared Tips for Effective Networking. She holds a doctoral degree from Capella University, is a published author and has worked in the social work field for more than 25 years, 15 of which have been in academia.Attending the conference provided Dr. Turner with opportunities to do the kind of networking she described in her presentation. Roughly 70 percent of jobs are found through professional and social networks, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.By attending presentations and engaging with other professionals, I am able to share valuable insights with both my students and colleagues, Dr. Turner said. GNTCs Social Work program, which is offered online, serves students throughout Georgia and neighboring states. These connections often lead to internship opportunities and, ultimately, job placements for our students.
Energy and Water Appropriations Chairman Chuck Fleischmann applauded the Nuclear Regulatory Commissions approval for Kairos Power to build the Hermes 2 Demonstration Plant with two new nuclear reactors in Oak Ridge at the Heritage Center Industrial Park. As chairman of Energy and Water Appropriations, Congressman Fleischmann is the leading advocate in Congress to expand new civil nuclear energy in Tennessee and nationwide, his office said.

I congratulate Kairos Power on their approval to build Hermes 2 at Oak Ridges Heritage Industrial Park," said Rep. Fleischmann. "I also congratulate the NRC for their efficient approval of the construction permits to make this milestone for new nuclear a reality. The construction of two Gen IV advanced molten salt-cooled reactors, the first to produce electricity anywhere in the United States, is a major step towards expanding clean, reliable, affordable, and abundant nuclear power nationwide and creating Americas New Nuclear Future.

Also, importantly, the Hermes 2 reactors are being built on land in Oak Ridge that was previously contaminated during the Manhattan Project and Cold War and has been expertly and thoroughly cleaned by the Department of Energy-Environmental Management and United Cleanup Oak Ridge, an initiative I have led in my role as chairman of Energy and Water Appropriations. This land was previously unusable due to legacy Manhattan Project and Cold War-era weapons efforts back when our engineers and scientists were still learning and unlocking the best practices of nuclear manufacturing, but it is now free of contamination and the home to a new generation of civil nuclear technologies and manufacturing that will grow our economy and protect our environmental heritage.

As the leading nuclear energy champion in Congress, I will continue to advocate for expanding nuclear energy nationwide to meet Americas energy needs and the worlds growing demand for power. Nuclear power is affordable, abundant, clean, and reliable and the best way to power our nation and the world through the rest of the 21st Century and into the 22nd. For America to re-industrialize and end the Free Worlds dangerous dependence on Communist China, we need an abundance of new electricity generation that will require a nuclear foundation. Because of the work to expand new nuclear in Oak Ridge and throughout East Tennessee, Americas long-term energy independence, national security, and future prosperity will be secured for generations to come.
The Meigs County Grand Jury has determined that the drowning deaths of deputy J.R. Leonard and prisoner Tabitha Smith in the Tennessee River was "a terrible accident."

The panel recommended the placing of barriers or a gate, along with warning lights, to prevent a similar accident from happening again.

Another recommendation was that GPS systems be placed in all Meigs County patrol vehicles.

The incident happened last Feb. 14 when the new deputy took a wrong turn in the dark at Blythe Ferry Landing at Highway 60.

Ms. Smith was handcuffed in the back seat.

The deputy's wife, Christa Leonard, said he stopped by the house for dinner, and received a call about a woman on a bridge. At 10:03 p.m., she got a message that said "arrest." Authorities said his vehicle "hit the water" 46 seconds later.

A 9th District District Attorney report said Meigs County has few residents and the Sheriff's Office is underfunded. It says none of the patrol vehicles had factory GPS systems.

It says the deputy stopped by for the Valentine's Dinner to spend time with his wife and five children.

He then went to the Highway 60 bridge where there were reports of someone walking into traffic. He took Ms. Smith into custody, saying it appeared she was on some type of drugs.

The report said Ms. Smith has an extensive criminal record with 29 separate charges.

He then took a wrong turn off Shadden Road and headed for the river in the foggy night. He was able to radio a single word "water" after doing so.

The vehicle was discovered upside down in the river the next day after a search began at daylight. The body of deputy Leonard was found outside the vehicle. Ms. Smith's body was in the back seat with her feet and legs out an open window.

An autopsy showed Ms. Smith with THC, methamphetamine and amphetamine in her system.

The report says, "Deputy Leonard was new to patrolling Meigs County. He was originally from New York having lived there his entire life before moving to Tennessee around 2022."

Both of those who died in the incident were age 35.

A Highway Patrol reports says there are several warning signs ahead of the concrete boat ramp where the patrol vehicle went into the water.

A Highway Patrol investigator said the incident was apparently caused by the new deputy's unfamiliarity with the roads and by possible distraction from using his cell phone.

According to Deputy Leonards wife, he had purchased a GPS device out of pocket to use for navigation while on duty. The initial inventory of the vehicle concluded that there was no navigation system located in the vehicle.
The impact of our words is profound. They represent the most potent force at our disposal as humans. We can wield this power constructively, uplifting others, or destructively, causing harm. Just a handful of words can inflict pain, and while those wounds may eventually heal, the scars often remain.

Our words carry significant weight; they can either nurture or damage, mend or injure, elevate or dismantle, connect or isolate, support or challenge. In politics, our leaders have the power to either impose harm or bring healing through their actions and words on the critical issues that challenge us.

Many believe that Tennessee public schools are filled with radical educators using their resourcesclassroomsfor political purposes. However, that narrative is inaccurate and is often used by lawmakers to gain power and control the narrative. This has a certain Justice Potter Stewart feel to it, explaining the definition of obscenity: I cant define it, but I know it when I see it.

Schools often become political battlegrounds, reflecting the values and ideologies of various groups. Politicians and interest groups engage in contentious debates over education policies, funding, and curriculum choices, which can ultimately affect the quality of education. It is essential to strive for a balanced education system that prioritizes the needs and well-being of students over political agendas.

Are some teachers liberal? Indeed, many are very conservative as well. They reflect the views found in their community and the general population. Since 2010, Republicans have held control of the Tennessee General Assembly and the Governors Office. Governors appoint the Commissioner of Education, who has influenced education policies in Tennessee for the past 14 years. They are now responsible for the education issues and challenges of these policies.

Curricula design and implementation can differ widely due to state standards and district policies, often overlooking individual teacher preferences. States establish standards, approve instructional materials, and influence teacher preparation and professional development. A well-structured curriculum should align with these standards, guiding educators to ensure students acquire the essential knowledge and skills for their grade level. However, educators need flexibility, as varying curriculum deployment can impact educational quality.

Initially, public education aimed to foster a literate American citizenry capable of participating in democracy. Our founders recognized that for citizens to shape government through elections, they needed a solid knowledge base. Public education is still part of the solution, as today's challenges stem not from a lack of funding but from a lack of trust in our institutions, including government and education.

Lets be clear: there will never be a one-size-fits-all model for public education, and no single academic model can work in a state or nation with a diversified population. That is why it is critical to collaborate among educators, parents, citizens, and businesses to transform education at local levels based on the needs of each community. That is absolute local control.

Over the years, I have been critical of many things in public education, including lack of focus, poorly defined goals, disagreement with curriculum, and outside political influence. However, I have always tried to do what my wife always advised: If you are going to criticize, offer a solution. Teddy Roosevelt said, It is not the critic who counts, but the man who is actually in the arena.

Critics of public education often focus on the wrong issues, relying on incomplete or faulty information. Many lack knowledge in the areas they critique, which is concerning.

While public education isn't without faults and should continue evolving, we must avoid being change-resistant. With 90 percent of children educated in public schools, citizens should support public education. We must be transparent. A successful education system is essential for our children's future and the economy. This message deserves more focus.

Your words hold incredible power and can impact the lives of those around youfamily, friends, educators, and children. You can choose to uplift and inspire or to harm and diminish. Remember, once spoken, words cannot be taken back. Be mindful of your language, whether as an educator or a policymaker.

JC Bowman

Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee






Since the 1980s, its been known that a mysterious contaminant forms in chloraminated drinking water, but only now has a Swiss-American research team been able to identify the unknown product in US drinking water systems.

A team of researchers from the United States and Switzerland have reported the discovery of a previously unknown compound in chloraminated drinking water. Inorganic chloramines are commonly used to disinfect drinking water to safeguard public health from diseases like cholera and typhoid fever. Its estimated that more than 113 million people in the United States alone drink chloraminated water.

The researchers have now identified chloronitramide anion, chemically expressed as ClNNO2, as an end product of inorganic chloramine decomposition. While its toxicity is not presently known, its prevalence and similarity to other toxic compounds is concerning and warrants further study to assess its public health risk.

Simply identifying the compound has been both a challenge and breakthrough write the authors in a paper published in the journal, Science. The compound has been known to form in chloraminated drinking water since the early 1980s. Later studies in the 1990s tried to determine its structure, but were not successful due to an incomplete understanding of the chemistry surrounding chloramine decomposition and limitations in analytical instrumentation, notes Kristopher McNeill, Professor of Environmental Chemistry at ETH Zurich and one of the lead authors of the study.

His colleague Julian Fairey, an Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Arkansas, adds, Its a very stable chemical with a low molecular weight. And its a very difficult chemical to find. The hardest part was identifying it and proving it was the structure we were saying it was  Fairey himself began trying to unravel the mystery 10 years ago.

This included being able to synthesize the compound in his lab, which had never been done before. Samples were then sent for analysis to his colleague and co-first author on the paper, Juliana Laszakovits, a postdoctoral researcher in the McNeill lab at ETH Zurich. In 2022, Fairey visited McNeill at ETH Zurich as part of his sabbatical where they worked with Laszakovits on this study.

Chloraminated drinking water is common in North America, but chloramination is not really practiced in Switzerland, and theres no chloronitramide anion in Swiss waters, Laszakovits says. This actually allowed us to use Swiss tap water as a control in the study, McNeill adds.

The current paper focused on water systems in the US. However, Italy, France, Canada, and other countries also use chloramination and could be potentially affected as well, according to McNeill.

Toxicity is unknown at this point Inevitably, there will be questions about the health risks posed by this new compound, which could not be previously evaluated in any toxicity studies.

Fairey, who studies the chemistry of drinking water disinfectants, explains: It's well recognized that when we disinfect drinking water, there is some toxicity that's created. Chronic toxicity, really. A certain number of people may get cancer from drinking water over several decades. But we haven't identified what chemicals are driving that toxicity.
Advanced Automation Technologies, a platform of laboratory-automation brands backed by global investment firm Battery Ventures, announced an agreement to acquire GERSTEL GmbH & Co. KG and its international subsidiaries.

GERSTEL, headquartered in Mulheim an der Ruhr, Germany and with sales subsidiaries in the USA, Switzerland, Japan, Singapore, and China, specializes in automated solutions for gas and liquid chromatography. GERSTEL develops and manufactures systems for sample preparation, thermal desorption and odor analysis, primarily focusing on GC/MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) and LC/MS (Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry). Their products are designed to enhance precision and efficiency in laboratories. GERSTEL offers a range of solutions tailored to meet the specific needs of various industries, including fragrance, environmental testing, food and beverage, and forensics. GERSTEL's systems help streamline workflows, reduce manual intervention, and improve the accuracy and reproducibility of analytical results.

GERSTEL will join AATs existing brands  Skalar Analytical, LCTech, PromoChrom Technologies, EST Analytical and tsHR  providing a highly complementary product offering for commercial and industrial laboratories globally. GERSTELs strength in Europe, North America and Asia also bolsters AATs presence in these regions and greatly expands regional sales and service capabilities.

Ive been contacted by Battery Ventures, and other investment firms, persistently for many years, but never considered selling the business, as I was planning to keep it in the family forever, said Holger Gerstel, GERSTELs Owner & MD. My view changed after seeing the complementary group of companies Battery brought together, so I knew AAT would be a good future home for GERSTEL. I am excited to see GERSTEL continue to flourish alongside the AAT family.

The transition will be actively supported by the former owner, Holger Gerstel, and the current managing director, Peter Wiersdorfer.

"I am delighted that GERSTEL is joining the AAT family of brands," said Amod Kher, CEO of the AAT. GERSTEL is an iconic company with a great brand, global reach and technological leadership. It is well positioned in the food, flavor and fragrance markets. GERSTEL is an excellent complement to our existing AAT brands. As part of AAT's laboratory automation platform, Gerstel employees will have the opportunity to leverage the power of Masterworks, AAT's business system, which will help accelerate growth through new product innovation, sales, marketing, and service excellence, as well as its strength in continuous margin expansion".

GERSTEL represents the fourth add-on acquisition for AAT and is expected to close before the end of 2024, subject to customary regulatory filings.
The Cherokee Nation and state of Oklahoma announced a tentative agreement to amend and extend their motor vehicle tag compact. The new compact goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez(from the left) meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia on November 22, 2022. | photo credit: Presidential Executive Office of Russia (www.kremlin.ru.)

Christian leaders in Cuba are strongly condemning the government for its violations of religious freedom, criticizing fines on religious leaders and restrictions on worship in a joint statement.

The Alliance of Christians of Cuba (ACC) has stated that the government's actions are hindering religious groups ability to provide humanitarian aid during a deepening national crisis.

The ACC, an independent network of religious leaders established in 2022, released a declaration last week denouncing the Cuban government's refusal to legalize unregistered places of worship and the imposition of hefty fines on religious leaders. As reported by the U.K.-based group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Signed by 63 religious leaders, the declaration described these governmental measures as a direct assault on the freedom to worship.

We observe with dismay that the Cuban state refuses to open spaces for the exercise of fundamental rights such as freedom of association. This limits churches ability to provide support and social aid to those most in need, the statement read.

According to the ACC, the government has collected over 1 million Cuban Pesos, approximately $42,000, in fines from religious leaders, actions that are characterized as punitive against those trying to support their communities. CSW has documented a minimum of 69 incidents since January in which religious leaders, including those from both registered and unregistered Christian and Afro-Cuban groups, faced fines across 11 provinces.

In June, the leader of an unregistered Christian group in Matanzas was fined 20,000 CUP, or $850, for not vacating a property where they held religious services, despite having legal ownership documents and being denied official permission to meet there.

Additionally, leaders of two registered Christian groups in Camaguey and Holguin were fined 15,000 CUP, or $650, and 50,000 CUP, or $2,100, respectively, for conducting renovations without authorization.

These fines are being levied during a period when Cuba is struggling with severe economic turmoil, compounded by natural disasters and frequent power outages.

Cuba is experiencing a crisis unlike anything it has seen in decades, stated Anna Lee Stangl, co-director of advocacy for CSW. Instead of opening space to independent civil society, including religious groups, to allow them to provide much needed humanitarian aid to the wider community, the government under President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez is tightening restrictions on all freedoms.

Stangl emphasized that CSW stands with the ACC in urging the Cuban government to honor fundamental human rights, particularly the right to freedom of religion or belief as guaranteed under Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The increased crackdown on religious freedom in Cuba follows significant protests in July 2021, when thousands demonstrated against the government's management of economic and political challenges. A prior report by CSW noted 622 violations of religious freedom in 2023, compared to 657 cases in 2022 and 272 in 2021, indicating a persistent level of repression.

The report highlighted tactics such as surveillance, interrogation, and threats directed at religious leaders and their congregations, especially those who assist the families of political prisoners or provide humanitarian aid. Leaders of unregistered groups face ongoing harassment and threats, and children from religious families have experienced verbal abuse in schools because of their beliefs.

Although the Cuban government established the Department for Attention to Religious Institutions and Fraternal Groups in 2022, religious leaders have informed CSW that the Office of Religious Affairs of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party remains the primary authority, continuing to adopt an antagonistic stance towards religious groups.

The U.S. State Department has classified Cuba as a country of particular concern(CPC) for religious freedom, ranking it alongside countries like China, Iran, and North Korea as one of the most significant offenders of human rights.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. | Courtesy of Lambeth Palace

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, leader of the Church of England and the global Anglican Communion, has announced his resignation amid widespread outrage over a scandal involving a cover-up of abuse.

In a statement posted to the Church of Englands website on Tuesday, Welby disclosed his decision to step down, having received the gracious permission of King Charles III.

The Makin Review has exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth, remarked Welby, reflecting on his knowledge of the situation and stating, When I was informed in 2013 and told that police had been notified, I believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow.

Welby acknowledged his responsibility, saying, It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatizing period between 2013 and 2024.

He expressed hope that his resignation would showcase the Church of England's understanding of the need for change and its commitment to creating a safer environment, asserting, This decision makes clear how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change.

He continued, The last few days have renewed my long felt and profound sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England. For nearly twelve years I have struggled to introduce improvements. It is for others to judge what has been done. Welby emphasized his commitment to meet with victims and stated that he would delegate his current safeguarding responsibilities until the necessary risk assessment process is complete.

Earlier this month, an independent investigation released the Makin Report, which revealed that John Smyth had likely abused over 100 boys and young adult men at Christian camps from the late 1970s into the early 1980s. Smyth passed away in 2018 at the age of 75 while living in Zimbabwe, with British authorities reportedly in the process of extraditing him to the UK to face charges.

The investigative report noted, Despite considerable efforts by individuals to bring to the attention of relevant authorities the scope and horror of Smyths conduct, including by victims and by some clergy, the steps taken by the Church of England and other organizations and individuals were ineffective and neither fully exposed nor prevented further abuse by him, as quoted by Episcopal News Service.

Many have accused Welby of failing to act appropriately when credible abuse allegations were first reported to him and other church leaders in 2013, leading to mounting calls for his resignation. An online petition was launched last week demanding Welby step down, collecting over 13,000 signatures by the time he agreed to resign.
Former Vice President Mike Pence addressed the President's Speakers Series at Colorado Christian University on November 15, 2024. | photo credit: Colorado Christian University

Former Vice President Mike Pence recently encouraged college students in Colorado to become champions for God and His Gospel, as he kicked off a new speaker series at a Christian university.

His remarks were made during the inaugural session of the President's Speaker Series hosted by Colorado Christian University (CCU) on November 15, where he and his wife, Karen Pence, addressed hundreds of attendees during a luncheon followed by a keynote speech.

In his speech, Pence urged the students to embrace integrity and take the messages they learn into their workplaces and public life. You are being shown the foundation and being called now to become leaders  men and women of integrity who are taking the message that you hear into the workplace and the world and public life, he stated.

He further emphasized, When you make yourself available to God to be a champion for His son, for His Gospel, for the freedom that I believe was His idea for all mankind, He's going to take you places you could never imagine. And you will lead us to a boundless American future, so help you, God.

CCU President Eric Hogue explained to The Christian Post his motivation for inviting the Pences to speak, saying he believes they embody the essence of Evangelical Christian leadership in today's culture.

He cited Pence's actions on January 6, 2021, as a notable example of historic leadership. Facing pressure from then-President Donald Trump to reject electoral votes from states accused of voter fraud, Pence proceeded with counting the votes even after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol.

Hogue likened Pence's actions to the situation of Abraham Lincoln's victory during the 1860 presidential election, pointing out that one of Lincolns opponents, Democrat John C. Breckinridge, certified the vote in favor of Lincoln rather than obstructing it. Pence repeated history in leadership, and I think he displayed history in current culture, Hogue emphasized.

Approximately 200 people attended the luncheon, while around 425 students, faculty, and community members were present for Pence's keynote address. During the event, Karen Pence also took the opportunity to encourage CCU to continue offering biblical education and effective communication skills to its students.

As a teacher who has taught for 30 years in both public and private and Christian settings, I have come to realize that one of the most important things that I can impart to my students is teaching them how to think in today's world, Karen stated.

She added, Our students are being bombarded with images and messages constantly trying to influence them, but giving them the tools to discern and inspiring them to love the Lord and to look to the Bible for truth is the very best way to equip them.
Bishop T.D. Jakes is preaching on the purpose of suffering from Ephesians 3:7-12 at the Potter's House of Dallas in Maryland on October 27, 2024. | Screenshot / T.D. Jakes YouTube Channel

Bishop T.D. Jakes, the founder of The Potter's House megachurch in Dallas, Texas, is reported to be in stable condition following a slight health incident that occurred after he prayed during Sunday morning service.

In a statement on Facebook, The Potters House of Dallas addressed the situation, stating, During todays service, Bishop T.D. Jakes experienced a slight health incident and received immediate medical attention following his powerful hour-long message. Bishop Jakes is stable and under the care of medical professionals.

The entire Potters House family is grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support from the community. Thank you for your understanding and continued prayers, the Church stated.

A video posted on YouTube captured Jakes's health incident, showing him sharing his love for preaching just moments before exhibiting seizure-like symptoms on stage. It was a pleasure. I still love to preach. I ain't tired of preaching. I miss you. I miss you, Jakes expressed to the congregation.

He elaborated, Have you ever gone to a hospital to visit somebody and you thought you were going to encourage them, and they encouraged you? That's what preaching is. Like you think you're giving out something, you're getting back more than you gave. I love you, as he appeared to tremble while speaking.

Jakes then prayed, Now Lord let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight oh Lord my strength, and My Redeemer let him go in peace.

Shortly after this prayer, prompting those on stage to rush to his aid as congregants began praying, leading to a disconnect of the live stream. Many viewers, both in the audience and online, speculated that Jakes may have experienced a stroke.

Earlier in 2024, during a revival service in Maryland, Jakes expressed concern over societal tendencies, saying We like our heroes dead, while mentioning the death of Moses and the leadership transition to Joshua.

Meanwhile, recent unverified claims surrounding his relationship with music mogul Sean Combs (Diddy) surfaced, which the church strongly denied as unequivocally false and baseless.
The Rev. Junghyun John Oh (fourth from the left), Bp Tendero (center), and others pose for a commemorative photo following discussions about the WEA General Assembly plans at Sarang Church on March 30, 2024. | Facebook

Just weeks after the conclusion of the Fourth Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in Incheon, South Korea, the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) is set to announce plans for its next General Assembly in Seoul from October 27 to 31, 2025.

However, prior to the official announcement ceremony scheduled for this Friday, several Christian groups in the country have criticized the plans and called for them to be put on hold.

According to reports from Korean Christian media, these groups expressed concerns about the secretive planning process, claiming it excluded the Christian member bodies in South Korea that the WEA had previously collaborated with. They also highlighted longstanding theological disagreements with some of WEAs leaders, asserting that these issues must be addressed before any planning for a General Assembly can proceed.

As reported by Christian Today Korea (CT-K), the Rev. Junghyun John Oh, senior pastor of Sarang Church in Seoul, is expected to lead the preparations for the upcoming WEA GA, with support from Yoido Full Gospel Church, the largest Pentecostal church in the world.

Sarang Church announced a thanksgiving worship service to mark the launch of the 2025 WEA Seoul General Assembly Organizing Committee on Friday, with Yoidos Senior Pastor Younghoon Lee delivering the sermon.

CT-K notes that the announcement follows what it describes as months of behind-the-scenes negotiations between the WEA and Sarang Church.

Initially, Bp Efraim Tendero, the former secretary general and current global ambassador of the WEA, along with then-Secretary General Thomas Schirrmacher, met with Lee to discuss hosting the WEA GA in South Korea. However, when these discussions did not yield an agreement, the two WEA leaders reportedly approached Rev. Oh and requested a venue and financial support, which he responded positively to.

Nevertheless, CT-K points out that the decision to collaborate with a local church without involving its national member body did not adhere to the WEAs regular procedures, raising concerns about potential backlash. As a global association, the WEA comprises nine regional and 143 national Evangelical Alliances, and Individual churches and national denominations cannot directly be part of the WEA, according to its bylaws.

In South Korea, the Christian Council of Korea (CCK) became the WEAs member Alliance in 2009, but internal divisions later led to the formation of the Communion of Churches in Korea (CCIK), which was recognized as a member body in 2022. The Korea Evangelical Fellowship (KEF) has also long been affiliated with the WEA.

However, sources indicate that neither CCK, CCIK, nor KEF has held official discussions with WEA on hosting the assembly, with discussions reportedly limited to certain WEA leaders and Sarang Church. Concerns have been raised that excluding these organizations from such significant decisions could lead to considerable backlash.

Criticism has also been directed at Rev. Oh for his premature decision to move forward with hosting the WEA GA, especially given the ongoing transitional leadership within the WEA and uncertainties regarding financial support from the Korean church.

Hours after the CT-K article was published, a group of 1,000 pastors, elders, and professors issued a full-page advertisement in Kukmin Daily, a Korean church newspaper, with a statement titled Reasons Why the Korean Presbyterian Church HapDong Cannot Engage with the WEA.

Authored by leaders from the HapDong-affiliated Kwangshin Theological Seminary, the statement outlined issues they believe are incompatible with the Reformed faith, particularly criticizing the WEA for its connections to the pope and the World Council of Churches, as well as its engagements with Muslim leaders, which they view as indicative of religious pluralism.

Later that day, CCK President the Rev. Seo-young Jeong publicly voiced his opposition to the WEA GA, warning that the planned event risks exacerbating divisions among Korean churches.

When the CCK previously attempted to host the WEA General Assembly [in 2014], the WEA sought a united Korean church for the assembly, not one marked by division. With the WEAs pluralistic tendencies now even more pronounced, hosting the WEA Assembly in a way that risks further church discord is undesirable, and we cannot stand by and watch as division deepens, Jeong stated.
Home News Baptist university removed from academic probation amid financial struggles

A university affiliated with the Missouri Baptist Convention has been removed from academic probation by an independent high education accrediting agency.

Hannibal-LaGrange University, which has over 450 undergraduate students and 165-acre campus, announced last week that the Higher Learning Commission has removed a sanction on the Christian academic institution regarding financial health.

HLGU President Robert Matz said the commission's decision was "a testament to the hard work and dedication of our administration, faculty, and staff."

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

"Our entire campus community has been deeply committed to putting HLGU on a stable financial foundation that supports our mission of academic excellence and faith-centered learning," stated Matz.

"We are grateful to everyone who contributed to this successful turnaround and look forward to a future of growth and opportunity."

Earlier this month, HLC President Barbara Gellman-Danley sent a letter to Matz stating that the university "is no longer out of compliance with the Criteria for Accreditation and removed the Institution from Probation and assigned interim monitoring."

The commission officially changed the university's status effective Oct. 31, going from "Accredited  Probation" to "Accredited."

HLGU, founded in 1858, had taken steps to address previous concerns over financial health and accountability, including changes to staffing and governing board duties, Gellman-Danley's letter states.

However, the commission maintained some concerns regarding financial health, noting that "the ongoing impact of the Institution's historical financial challenges will continue."

"The Institution has implemented strategies to improve its financial position, including through reducing its debt to the endowment," wrote Gellman-Danley. "These strategies will have an important impact on addressing the debt, but also means that the endowment will have limited growth for several years."

"The Institution has made progress with respect to systematic and integrated planning and improvement, but there remains much work ahead for it to be sustainable financially."

In November 2022, HLC placed Hannibal-LaGrange on a two-year probation, citing concerns surrounding the university's publicized financial issues and poor board governance.

The decision came months after Rodney Harrison, the university's interim president, publicly acknowledged that HLGU had been financially struggling for some time, reported Muddy River News.

Harrison led an on-campus event in March 2022, telling students and staff that HLGU was facing "imminent disaster" due to financial mismanagement. He confessed that university leaders "have not been always faithful stewards of the resources that God has given to this university," MRN reported.

Matz was elected university president by the board of trustees in October 2022. He previously served as vice president of Academic Administration, dean of the Faculty, and professor of Theology and Preaching at HLGU.
Home News Israel, Hezbollah reach ceasefire deal; Netanyahu will 'respond forcefully' to violations

Israel and the Lebanon-based, Iranian-backed Islamic militant group Hezbollah have reportedly reached a ceasefire arrangement brokered by the United States and France to end over a year's worth of fighting, which, if honored, will last for 60 days.

The agreement is slated to take effect early Wednesday morning, with it being quickly given an approval vote from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet, reports The Associated Press.

"The length of the ceasefire depends on what happens in Lebanon," Netanyahu said during a speech Tuesday. "We will enforce the agreement and respond forcefully to any violation. We will continue united until victory."

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

"With the United States' full understanding, we maintain full freedom of military action. If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to arm itself, we will attack. If it tries to rebuild terrorist infrastructure near the border, we will attack. If it launches a rocket, if it digs a tunnel, if it brings in a truck carrying rockets, we will attack."

In a statement, U.S. President Joe Biden said the agreement followed "weeks of tireless diplomacy."

"The announcement today will cease the fighting in Lebanon, and secure Israel from the threat of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations operating from Lebanon," Biden said. "This announcement will create the conditions to restore lasting calm and allow residents in both countries to return safely to their homes on both sides of the Blue Line. The United States and France will work with Israel and Lebanon to ensure this arrangement is fully implemented and enforced, and we remain determined to prevent this conflict from becoming another cycle of violence."

Netanyahu's chief reasons for seeking a ceasefire agreement included wanting to "focus on the Iranian threat," to "give our forces a breather and replenish stocks" and to "separate the fronts and isolate Hamas."

A Hezbollah senior official said Hezbollah leaders had yet to see the written agreement in its final form.

"After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials," Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah's political council, told Al Jazeera, according to AP.

"We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state" of Lebanon, he said. "Any violation of sovereignty is refused."

Regional unrest has seen Israel battling Iranian-backed terror groups on multiple fronts following Hamas' unprovoked Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel that resulted in nearly 1,200 dead, mostly civilians. Among those killed were 40 Americans. Around 250 were taken hostage by Hamas, a terror group that has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007.

Israel struck back with multiple air strikes in Gaza, followed by a ground offensive, which had as its stated goals the destruction of Hamas and the rescue of the hostages.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, run by the Hamas government, over 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began. However, those figures do not differentiate between unarmed civilians and armed combatants.

In addition, Israel has been trading rocket fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon since October 2023. Fighting escalated this September as Israel launched a limited ground offensive and increased bombardments.

The ceasefire comes amid a rising number of attacks across the border, as Hezbollah had reportedly fired thousands of rockets into northern Israel, prompting many to flee south.

Lebanese officials say over 3,000 people have been killed during the uptick in fighting, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced. The conflict has been described as Lebanon's deadliest in decades. Israel has already killed much of Hezbollah's senior leadership, including its leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
Home News Judge denies citys motion to dismiss churchs lawsuit for shutting down food ministry

A judge has ruled that an Arizona city cannot stop a church from suing them for shutting down a ministry that provided food to hundreds of needy families near the U.S. southern border.

Senior United States District Judge G. Murray Snow, a George W. Bush appointee, issued an order last Friday denying the city of San Luis request to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Gethsemani Baptist Church.

According to Snow's ruling, the Church has a plausible claim that it maintains the legal right to continue operating its ministry and that the congregation sufficiently plead facts to establish a plausible entitlement to relief.

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

Gethsemani Baptist Church is being represented by the First Liberty Institute (FLI), a law firm that has won First Amendment cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The city should vigorously support a church that meets the needs of those going hungry without using government resources, said Camille Varone, associate counsel with FLI, in a statement released Monday.

Its indefensible that a city would purposefully stop a ministry that feeds the hungry. We hope to allow Gethsemani Baptist Church to once again provide care for the vulnerable, hurting people in the surrounding communities.

In March, Gethsemani filed a complaint in federal court against the city of San Luis, Mayor Nieves G. Riedel, Acting City Manager Jenny Torres and City Code Enforcement Officer Alexis Gomez Cordova.

According to the suit, the city shut down the food ministry, which had operated since 1999 and has reportedly helped hundreds of families by distributing food and sharing the Gospel.

After Riedel's election in 2022, according to the complaint, the city argued that the outreach program violated zoning laws, such as having semi-trucks in a residential area. City officials deemed the church to be engaging in "commercial-level food distribution."

"Since 2012, when the City adopted its current Zoning Code, the Church and its Food Ministry were treated as a 'legal nonconforming use,' meaning that it could continue to operate in the residential zone," the complaint read.

"While the Food Ministry has certainly grown in scale in the years since its founding, requiring larger trucks as early as 2002 to effectively transport food and supplies, it has not dramatically changed in scope or character since the Zoning Code was adopted."

In late July, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a statement of interest in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, explaining that the churchs activities were legitimate under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000.

Federal law provides broad protection to religious exercise, including for ministries that serve people who are hungry or in need of basic supplies, said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the DOJ Civil Rights Division in a statement.

Once a municipality applies its zoning code to restrict religious exercise, impacted groups do not need to jump through procedural hoops to obtain relief in federal court. The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that religious groups can properly exercise their rights under RLUIPA.
Home News Fostering hope: Ohio church to give away 20K pounds of food for Thanksgiving

An Ohio church will be handing out 20,000 pounds of food, including 300 turkeys, to families in need this Thanksgiving.

Rust City Church, a congregation based in Niles that averages around 1,000 worship attendees weekly, will be distributing the food on Wednesday evening as part of an event they call Give Back Before You Kick Back.

In addition to food, church volunteers will be providing other family necessities, including diapers to parents with babies, according to Pastor Karl Wendel of Rust City Church.

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

Wendel told The Christian Post that Rust City Church was able to amass so much food through a combination of generous donations from our congregation, partnerships with local businesses, and our collaboration with Second Harvest Food Bank, whose support has been instrumental in helping us reach this milestone.

The food distribution will be held at the Eastwood Mall parking lot, the mall being the location of the church campus, with food and other items being distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

In addition, the church will provide hot cocoa and have a hot dog cart to feed visitors. Those arriving to receive free food will also be offered prayer from volunteers.

At last years Give Back Before You Kick Back event, the church distributed food to around 350 local families in need. Organizers expect the number to reach 400 this year.

According to Wendel, in contrast to the Thanksgiving giveaway events of previous years, the scale has grown significantly, reflecting our churchs deepened commitment to serving the community and addressing food insecurity.

We hope to convey Gods love and care through this outreach, reminding people they are seen, valued, and not alone, said Wendel. This is about more than meeting physical needs  its about fostering hope and connection.

In addition to its annual Thanksgiving food giveaway, Rust City Church also provides weekly aid to the needy in the community via its Midweek Outreach, which provides groceries to as many as 150 families a week.
Home News Plurality of Americans view Trump's high-profile cabinet picks as 'good choices'

A new poll reveals that more Americans approve of President-elect Donald Trumps cabinet picks than disapprove of them as the former president is set to reassume his old post in less than two months.

The CBS News survey of 2,232 American adults conducted from Nov. 19-22 asked Americans for their thoughts on Trumps handling of the presidential transition and sampled their opinions on a few of his cabinet picks.

Fifty-nine percent of respondents indicated that they approved of Trumps handling of the presidential transition compared to 41% who disapproved. When asked if the United States Senate should hold confirmation hearings for Trumps cabinet nominees before they assume their posts, the overwhelming majority (76%) answered in the affirmative. The remaining 24% expressed support for allowing the president-elect to appoint cabinet nominees without confirmation hearings.

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

The fate of Trumps cabinet picks ultimately lies in the hands of the Senate, where Republicans will have a 53-47 majority in the forthcoming 119th Congress. CBS News found that more Americans have favorable views of some of the more prominent nominees than have disfavorable opinions of them.

When asked for their feelings about Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who Trump has chosen to serve as secretary of state, 44% described him as a good choice for the position. Twenty-five percent characterized him as not [a] good choice for the cabinet, while the remaining 31% insisted that they havent heard enough to decide one way or another about the nominee. A former candidate for the Republican nomination for president, Rubios confirmation is expected to receive bipartisan support.

Nearly one-half of respondents (47%) described former Democratic-turned-independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as a good choice to serve as secretary of Health and Human Services, the position Trump has nominated him for. Thirty-four percent disagreed, calling him not [a] good choice. The remaining 19% maintained that they havent heard enough to form an opinion on the nominee.

Although he has received a favorable reception from many on the political right due to his anti-interventionist views on foreign policy and opposition to the worship restrictions and lockdowns imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kennedys nomination has received pushback from some Republicans due to his documented support for abortion. Former Vice President Mike Pence, who served during the first Trump administration, has urged the Senate to reject Kennedy for the post of HHS secretary.

While a plurality of those surveyed (39%) told pollsters they havent heard enough about Trumps Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth, a slightly higher share of respondents (33%) viewed him as a good choice than not [a] good choice (28%). Hegseth, a veteran of the Armed Forces who co-hosts Fox & Friends Weekend on Fox News, generated headlines for his opinion that we should not have women in combat roles.

It hasnt made us more effective, hasnt made us more lethal, has made fighting more complicated, he maintained. Weve all served with women, and theyre great. Our institutions dont have to incentivize that in places where traditionally  not traditionally, over human history  men in those positions are more capable.

An equal share of those surveyed (36%) characterized Tulsi Gabbard as a good choice to serve as the director of national intelligence and said they havent heard enough about her. The remaining 28% believed she was not [a] good choice.

A former Democrat who represented Hawaiis 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for four terms, Gabbard has emerged as a staunch critic of interventionist foreign policy. After unsuccessfully seeking the Democratic nomination for president in 2020, Gabbard left the Democratic Party to become an independent and officially joined the Republican Party earlier this year.

The survey did not ask the American public for their opinions about Matt Gaetz, the former Republican congressman from Florida who Trump tapped to serve as attorney general shortly after winning the 2024 presidential election. Viewed as the cabinet nominee with potentially the highest hurdles for confirmation, Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration for the position on Thursday, two days after CBS News began administering the survey but one day before the news organization stopped conducting it.

This CBS News survey had a margin of error of +/-2.3 percentage points.
Home News John MacArthur briefly returns to pulpit for Thanksgiving service amid health issues 'Sometimes trials are blessings in disguise,' pastor, 85, tells congregation

"I should go away more often."

It may have been a punchline of sorts for Pastor John MacArthur following his return to the pulpit Sunday evening after a months-long absence due to health issues, but the 85-year-old pastor of Grace Community Church (GCC) in Sun Valley, California, couldn't have delivered a more fitting response.

MacArthur, who appeared visibly thinner but in good spirits, received a half-minute standing ovation from the congregation upon his return during the Los Angeles-area church's Thanksgiving Communion Service, a significant moment that marked both his recovery and, as he shared, a deepened walk with the Lord through a myriad of health challenges, including undergoing three heart surgeries and procedures on his lungs.

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

"I'm still here, and thankful to the Lord for that," MacArthur, who hadn't preached during a Sunday service since July, remarked, visibly moved by the warm reception. He said that while it wasn't his choice to be away from the pulpit for so long, he recognized that "sometimes trials are blessings in disguise" and that God's purposes often unfold in ways we would never expect.

"God has purposes that we would've never been able to fulfill if we weren't put into some kind of stress," he added.

MacArthur's reflections centered on the theme of gratitude, especially in the face of adversity.

"When people ask me how I feel, I say I'm thankful," he said. "I'm just thankful I see the good and gracious and kind and providential hand of God in every vicissitude in my life, every hard experience, every challenge  whatever that challenge may be."

He added his health challenges have presented him with the opportunity to witness the "good hand of divine providence" working in ways that would not have been possible without the difficulties.

"I can be grateful because I know the outcome of everything," he said. "The outcome of everything is to the glory of God and the benefit of His children, right? So I want to make sure I allow my own heart to rejoice in the fact that God will perfect me and will bring glory to Himself through my trials, probably more than any other way."

His appearance at the communion service was the first since he gave the congregation a health update on Oct. 20, in which he recounted an episode in January 2023 when he experienced trouble breathing before preaching a Sunday service, forcing him to seek medical attention.

"It's been a long siege of not breathing normally," MacArthur shared.

After undergoing a series of heart procedures, including the placement of four stents in his arteries, MacArthur said doctors discovered fluid in his lungs, after which he underwent another procedure.

Now at 85, it's unclear whether MacArthur will return to full-time preaching or in another capacity.

CP reached out to a spokesperson Monday for more information about MacArthur's health status. This story will be updated if a response is received.

On Sunday, he shared that whatever comes next, his gratitude has only increased with the testing.

"One thing that I have found is that my thanksgiving has increased because it's in the trials when you're face to face with things that could easily overpower you, and you have now particular control over them at all, that you find your faith is tested," he said.

"And out of that testing has come an immense amount of gratitude to the Lord. He has revealed Himself in all these issues, all these trials, in so many ways that I can't even begin to count."

MacArthur's health issues have largely insulated him from the controversy surrounding Texas Pastor Steve Lawson following Lawson's removal in September as lead pastor at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas due to his admission of "an inappropriate relationship with a woman."

Lawson previously served as a dean at Grace Community Church's The Master's University and Seminary.

Earlier this month, an image of Lawson sitting next to a young woman with her face blurred out surfaced on social media after it was originally shared and taken down by the Grace Community Church Crossroads Instagram account.

Phil Johnson, executive director of Grace to You, MacArthur's media ministry, later confirmed the woman was a "student at The Master's College during some of the time that they were engaged in this adulterous affair."
Home News Pa. woman gets 5 years probation for stealing $21K from church

A Pennsylvania woman has been sentenced to five years probation for stealing $21,000 from a church where she had been serving as treasurer.

Cheryl M. Garnett, a 75-year-old resident of East Deer, was sentenced last Friday to five years' probation and ordered to pay $21,471 in restitution to Vermont Baptist Church of New Kensington.

Once the restitution is paid in full, the probation will be terminated, the sentencing order stated, according to the Pittsburgh-based Triblive.com.

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

Last year, Garnett was arrested and charged with stealing money from Vermont Baptist Church over several years, beginning in 2018.

According to police, Garnett had written numerous checks and withdrawn money from the churchs bank account via ATMs. She had personally signed the checks and was the only person who had access to the church's bank debit card.

In April of last year, church leaders reached out to authorities regarding suspicions they had about Garnett. She was subsequently charged in May 2023, Triblive reported at the time.

According to the complaint quoted by Triblive, when church officials confronted Garnett about the withdrawals, she reportedly responded by saying, I guess I got a little carried away.

Garnett eventually pleaded guilty to a theft charge, which allowed her to avoid going through a trial. A charge of receiving stolen property was dropped by prosecutors.

A small congregation, Vermont Baptist Church has a history of financial struggles and had to cease using their church building in East Deer in 2014 due to its crumbling infrastructure.

It's bad, said the Rev. Clifford L. Manley, an associate pastor and longtime parishioner of the church, in an interview with Valley News Dispatch in 2014. It's really bad. I wouldn't give this building another 18 months.

In 2015, they began using the campus of First Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Kensington for worship, having previously investigated a possible deal with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.

According to a 2017 study by Lifeway Research, nearly 10% of Protestant pastors responded that their church had witnessed someone embezzle funds, with churches that have at least 250 members being slightly more likely than smaller churches to say this has occurred.

"Churches run on trust  but they also know people are imperfect and can be tempted," said Lifeway Executive Director Scott McConnell, as quoted in the report. "That's why safeguarding a church's finances is an important part of ministry."
Home News Trump nominates author of federal pro-life protection to lead CDC

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated a staunch pro-life advocate to serve as the next director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the pro-life movement has expressed concern about his pick to lead the agency that oversees it.

In a statement Friday, Trump announced his nomination of former Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla., for the position of CDC director in his forthcoming administration.

Trump identified Weldon, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995-2009, as a Medical Doctor for 40 years and an Army Veteran who has been a respected conservative leader on fiscal and social issues.

Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

The 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 those diseases, Trump wrote. As a father of two and a husband for 45 years, Dave understands American Family Values, and views Health as one of utmost importance. Dave will proudly restore the CDC to its true purpose, and will work to end the Chronic Disease Epidemic, and Make America Healthy Again.

While Trump mentioned that Weldon successfully worked with the CDC to enact a ban on patents for human embryos, he did not mention the former congressmans role in creating the Weldon Amendment that bears his name.

As explained on an archived version of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website, the Weldon Amendment was originally passed as part of the HHS appropriation and has been readopted (or incorporated by reference) in each subsequent HHS appropriations act since 2005.

The text of the Weldon Amendment states, None of the funds made available in this Act may be made available to a Federal agency or program, or to a State or local government, if such agency, program, or government subjects any institutional or individual health care entity to discrimination on the basis that the health care entity does not provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions.

Proponents say the Weldon Amendment is a conscience protection to ensure that healthcare providers do not have to perform abortions if doing so goes against their deeply held religious beliefs. It has been targeted for elimination by congressional Democrats in recent years.

While a spending bill approved by the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives during the first year of the Biden administration did not contain the longstanding rider, the evenly divided U.S. Senate restored the conscience protections of the Weldon Amendment in its version of the bill.

Trumps selection of Weldon to lead the CDC comes amid concerns within the pro-life movement about his nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead HHS, which oversees the CDC.

Former Vice President Mike Pence, who served alongside Trump during his first administration, released a statement describing the RFK Jr. pick as an abrupt departure from the pro-life record of our administration that should be deeply concerning to millions of Pro-Life Americans who have supported the Republican Party and our nominees for decades.

For the majority of his career, RFK Jr. has defended abortion on demand during all nine months of pregnancy, supports overturning the Dobbs decision and has called for legislation to codify Roe v. Wade, Pence warned, referring to the respective U.S. Supreme Court decisions determining that the U.S. Constitution does not contain a right to abortion and the previous ruling that established a right to abortion nationwide.

Pence expressed concern that Kennedy would be the most pro-abortion Republican appointed secretary of HHS in modern history. He urged the U.S. Senate to reject this nomination and give the American people a leader who will respect the sanctity of life as secretary of Health and Human Services.

The fate of both Weldon and Kennedy now lies in the hands of the U.S. Senate.

In the forthcoming 119th U.S. Congress, Republicans are slated to hold the majority with 53 Senate seats, while Democrats will have 47 seats. The confirmation of both cabinet nominees requires the support of a simple majority of 51 senators, meaning that they could easily secure the votes required even if they only receive support from Republican senators. Weldon is expected to face an easier path to confirmation than Kennedy.
(Photo: Getty/iStock)

Fresh polling has revealed widespread concern about plans to legalise assisted suicide ahead of a debate in Parliament this Friday on changing the law.

Asked about the statement, "Before parliament considers introducing assisted dying, there should be a Royal Commission to examine the future of palliative and end of life care," seven in 10 agreed.

The survey of over 5,000 British adults also noted scepticism about promised protections, with a majority (59 per cent) saying that it was "impossible to create safeguards that would always prevent people from being coerced into assisted dying". Only a quarter (24 per cent) disagreed.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater's Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill would require two doctors and a High Court judge to sign off on applications for assisted suicide. Applicants would have to be terminally ill and have the mental capacity to make the decision.

The survey carried out by Focaldata on behalf of the Care Not Killing coalition found that three quarters of respondents (73 per cent) supported a change to the law. However, after they were presented with 10 arguments against assisted suicide, the proportion who did not change their mind to oppose assisted suicide or answer 'don't know' fell to only 11 per cent.

It also revealed confusion about what the term 'assisted dying' means, with one in six (17 per cent) wrongly thinking it included hospice care and around half (52 per cent) thinking it involved "life-prolonging treatment".

There was also concern about people being put at risk with over half (58 per cent) saying it was "inevitable that some of the most vulnerable people in society, such as the elderly, people with disabilities or mental health conditions would feel pressured into an assisted death".

Over half (56 per cent) felt that if assisted suicide were legalised, the current state of the NHS would likely push some people into assisted suicide, while a similar proportion (57 per cent) agreed that its lower cost compared to palliative care would put pressure on the NHS to offer it.

Dr Gordon Macdonald, CEO of Care Not Killing, said the findings showed that the British public "want parliamentarians to fix the NHS, properly funding palliative and social care, not introduce a dangerous and ideological policy that would pressure the vulnerable, the elderly and disabled people into ending their lives prematurely".

"This major new poll blows apart the arguments so often advanced by advocates of state-assisted killing that the public backs changing the law. But this support is based on a superficial question that relies on the public's understandable lack of knowledge about what happens in the small number of countries that have legalised assisted suicide or euthanasia," he said.

"When members of the public hear that some countries have extended laws on assisted dying to include children under 12; that some people have felt pressure to opt for assisted suicide or euthanasia because they feel they are a burden on loved ones and how in the UK a clear majority of palliative care doctors oppose changing the law, support drastically deteriorates."

He added, "The message could not be clearer, we need care, not killing."
(CP) T.D. Jakes, founder of The Potter's House megachurch in Dallas, Texas, is in "stable" condition after suffering "a slight health incident" after praying Psalm 19:14 during his Sunday morning service, his church has confirmed.

"During today's service, Bishop T.D. Jakes experienced a slight health incident and received immediate medical attention following his powerful hour long message.

"Bishop Jakes is stable and under the care of medical professionals," The Potter's House of Dallas said in a statement on Facebook.

"The entire Potter's House family is grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support from the community. Thank you for your understanding and continued prayers."

A video clip of the health incident posted on YouTube shows Jakes sharing how much he loved preaching and wasn't tired of his job before experiencing seizure-like symptoms on stage.

"It was a pleasure. I still love to preach. I ain't tired of preaching. I miss you. I miss you," Jakes told the congregation.

"Have you ever gone to a hospital to visit somebody and you thought you was going to encourage them, and they encourage you? That's what preaching is. Like you think you're giving out something, you're getting back more than you gave. I love you," he said as his hand appeared to tremble.

He then prayed Psalm 19:14.

"Now Lord let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight oh Lord my strength, and My Redeemer let him go in peace," Jakes said.

Moments after that it became clear to his members that something was wrong and people on the stage rushed to his aid and surrounded him while his congregants immediately began praying before the livestream was disconnected.

 The Christian Post
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

Go to form
CH-4 UAV receives special airworthiness certificate

Xinhua) 08:37, November 26, 2024

BEIJING, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Caihong-4 (CH-4) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has become the first large civil UAV in China to receive a special airworthiness certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

According to the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics, the developer of the Caihong series of UAVs, efforts to secure a standard airworthiness certificate for the CH-4 UAV are progressing in an orderly manner.

The CH-4 previously obtained an authorized flight certificate for large civil UAVs from the CAAC Northeast Regional Administration in 2021.

The Caihong, or Rainbow, series of UAVs have pioneered civil aviation innovations in China, including emergency communications, marine monitoring, and artificial rain enhancement, while conducting regular flight operations.

China's UAV industry has averaged more than 20 percent annual growth in recent years, becoming a new driver for the world's second-largest economy.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The UAE made headlines by becoming the first nation to appoint a Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence in 2017. This move underscores the countrys commitment to embedding AI at the highest levels of government, ensuring that AI policies and initiatives receive focused attention and resources. The country also launched Smart Dubai, an initiative under the Dubai Future Foundation, Smart Dubai aims to transform Dubai into the worlds smartest and happiest city. AI is at the core of this vision, driving smart governance, efficient resource management, and enhanced quality of life for residents and visitors alike.

According to Boston Consulting Group (BGC) survey, artificial intelligence isnt new, but broad public interest in it is. The survey found that people are surprisingly knowledgeable and excited about AI and business leaders should understand and not underestimate consumers when developing and deploying AI-enabled solutions. Overall, 75% of survey respondents have used ChatGPT or another AI-driven tool. In markets such as India, Brazil, and the United Arab Emirates, AI usage exceeds the levels in so-called mature markets. In the UAE, 91% of consumers know GenAI and 34% use these technologies.

Governments like the UAE showcase robust AI engagement, with initiatives like the Falcon 2 AI model, designed to compete with Meta and Open AI. Positioning the country at the forefront of AI development. This highlights the regions commitment to integrating AI across industries.
The UNHCR Respresentation in Moldova invites local qualified companies to submit a quotation in response to the RFQ No. 855 for the supply of adult diapers (approx. 420 packs).

To access the RFQ documents and submit a quotation, please access the UNHCR ERP Supplier portal.

If you have never registered before, register a profile using the registration link shared via the procurement notice or following the instructions in guides available on the UNHCR website: How to become a supplier | UNHCR. Do not create a new profile if you already have one. Use the forgotten password feature in case you do not remember the password or the username from previous registration.

Please note that all communication should happen via the Supplier portal.

The deadline for submitting quotations via the Supplier portal is 28/11/2024, 17:30 EEST.

If you experience issues accessing the UNHCR Supplier Portal, please contact mdachsupply@unhcr.org

Alte articole de la acest autor:
Project Name: Make food, make sense! - Improving the nutritional situation for a healthy nutrition of 1000 children in rural areas of the Republic of Moldova.

Project Donor: The project is being financed by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), co-financed by ChildFund Deutschland and AO Katalyst.

Auditing period: 01.12.2023  31.12.2024

Total Budget: 225.000,00 Euro

Objective of the audit: The primary objective of this external, independent audit is to assess and verify the financial management and use of project funds for the "Make Food - Make Sense" project, funded under the BMZ funding. The audit is to ensure compliance with BMZ regulations, verify the proper use of funds, and provide an attestation that certifies financial accuracy, compliance, and transparency.

Background: The project "Make Food - Make Sense" aims to implement sustainable food practices in Moldova, is implemented by AO Katalyst in cooperation with ChildFund Deutschland e.V. with financial support from BMZ. The projects financial audit will be performed in line with the guidelines established in the BMZs funding title for Private Partner projects (esp. sections 6.2, special provision no. 1 to 6.2, Annex IV). The external audit is required to ensure that the project funds were managed according to BMZ standards and that all relevant project documents, expenditures, and income are accurately accounted for and reported.

Scope of the audit: The external audit will cover the following key areas:

Selection criteria for external auditor: The audit firm or individual auditor must meet the following criteria:

Detailed audit requirements: The audit should include, but not be limited to, the following activities:

Required audit report: The external auditor must deliver a detailed audit report, which should contain:

Submission of report and language requirements: The audit report, including all findings and recommendations, may be provided in English. If a different language is used, core audit findings and the final audit opinion should be translated into English or German to ensure accessibility for client review.

Compliance and documentation retention: AO Katalyst reserve the right to conduct additional inspections if necessary. All project records, including financial documents, contracts, and audit reports, must be securely retained by AO Katalyst for a minimum of five years after project completion, or as required by national regulations.

Responsibilities of AO Katalyst: AO Katalyst must ensure that all necessary documentation is readily available for the auditor and provide comprehensive support to facilitate a thorough audit. Any delays or lack of compliance with audit requirements could result in delayed funding or other consequences.

Deliverables and timeline

How to apply:

Alte articole de la acest autor:
Peste o mie de copii din raionul Criuleni vor avea acces gratuit la un spatiu modern pentru joaca si lectura
Charity Commission chair Orlando Fraser has announced he will step down as chair of the regulator next year.

Speaking at the commissions annual public meeting in London today , Fraser said he had agreed with culture secretary Lisa Nandy to hand on the baton to a successor at the end of my term in April.

Fraser, who was a commercial barrister for nearly 30 years, said he planned to go back to the private sector at the end of his three-year term at the commission.

Nandy said in response: I am grateful to Orlando Fraser for his service to the Charity Commission as chair and board member, and for his work towards a fairer, balanced and independent Charity Commission.

200 cases opened following Middle East escalation

In his final speech as chair, Fraser said the commission had opened more than 200 regulatory cases relating to public statements or alleged support for terrorist groups by charities since the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East in October 2023.

He said the commission has made over 40 referrals to the police in connection with such cases.

Fraser also referred to the commissions recent action taken over the Captain Tom Foundation, Fashion for Relief, and Burkes Peerage and the Mahfouz Foundation, which he said shows that fame, celebrity and connections are no protection against the law or our regulatory oversight.

He added: Sometimes in a challenging case, as with Mermaids recently, the right regulatory approach has to be an intelligent balance of support and enforcement.

Here we were publicly clear as to where they had got it wrong, and where they hadnt  and used the opportunity to make it clear that we expected charities in this sensitive area to pay due regard to the conclusions of the authoritative Cass Review.

Philanthropy mission

Fraser also said he had made it a mission to encourage a new age of philanthropic giving in our country and had taken steps towards this goal including by persuading philanthropist Rory Brooks to join the commissions board.

Support from successive governments on this issue means that philanthropys important role in our societys success is increasingly more acknowledged, and less ignored, he said.

He repeated his support for the contribution made by charitable think tanks of different perspectives against critics who would silence them for ideological reasons, as well as speaking out in favour of the work of our international aid charities against their own ideological critics.

And Fraser said the commission has been increasingly holding banks to account for their often poor service to charities.

We continue to work with the financial services sector to help ensure that all charities have access to adequate banking services, with some signs of progress, he said.

Fraser said trust in the charity sector is now at a 10-year high and on an upward trajectory.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe has unveiled an extensive restructuring plan that will dramatically reshape its workforce and production capacity over the coming years. The steel giant aims to reduce its employee count from 27,000 to 16,000, representing a reduction of 11,000 positions by 2030. This substantial downsizing includes the direct elimination of 5,000 jobs and the outsourcing of an additional 6,000 positions. The restructuring also involves scaling back annual steel production from 11.5 million tons to approximately 9 million tons, as the company grapples with persistent global competition pressures and market overcapacity. Green Steel Transformation Continues Despite these significant cost-cutting measures, Thyssenkrupp remains committed to its environmental transformation goals. The company is proceeding with the construction of its direct reduction facility in Duisburg for green steel production, supported by 2 billion in government funding from federal and state sources. This strategic pivot towards sustainable steel production occurs alongside ongoing discussions with Czech energy corporation EPCG, which is expected to increase its stake to 50 percent as part of the steel divisions path to independence. Ad Thyssenkrupp Stock: New Analysis  27 November Fresh Thyssenkrupp information released. Whats the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends. Read our updated Thyssenkrupp analysis

Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe has unveiled an extensive restructuring plan that will dramatically reshape its workforce and production capacity over the coming years. The steel giant aims to reduce its employee count from 27,000 to 16,000, representing a reduction of 11,000 positions by 2030. This substantial downsizing includes the direct elimination of 5,000 jobs and the outsourcing of an additional 6,000 positions. The restructuring also involves scaling back annual steel production from 11.5 million tons to approximately 9 million tons, as the company grapples with persistent global competition pressures and market overcapacity.

Green Steel Transformation Continues

Despite these significant cost-cutting measures, Thyssenkrupp remains committed to its environmental transformation goals. The company is proceeding with the construction of its direct reduction facility in Duisburg for green steel production, supported by 2 billion in government funding from federal and state sources. This strategic pivot towards sustainable steel production occurs alongside ongoing discussions with Czech energy corporation EPCG, which is expected to increase its stake to 50 percent as part of the steel divisions path to independence.

Ad

Fresh Thyssenkrupp information released. Whats the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends.
Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter.

On Monday evening, media figures gathered at the Sheraton Grand in London for the annual awards of the Foreign Press Association. Among the nominees for one of the categories, the Thomson Foundation Young Journalist of the Year, which recognizes reporters under the age of thirty, were two female Pakistani investigative journalistsand the eventual winner, an Afghan reporter, whose work is so dangerous that she couldnt be identified at all.

Maryam, which is not the reporters real name, is one of the few female journalists left in Afghanistan who report primarily on womens issues. She told CJR that she works anonymously for her own protection and that of her subjects. She rarely meets with sources in public, and sometimes doesnt even reveal her true identity to the people she interviews. To keep her identity a secret, she did not attend the awards ceremony. (When she was announced as the winner, the association replaced its live broadcast with a message on the screen noting that she was not being named because of the restrictions on women imposed by the Taliban.)

Life in Afghanistan has become increasingly difficult for women in the years since 2021, when the Taliban came back into power after two decades of American military control. The group banned women from attending university and required them to fully cover their bodies and faces when out on the streets. This August, the Taliban announced that it would ban womens voices from being heard in public. Journalists have also faced a crackdown, including a prohibition on live broadcasts of political shows and criticism of the regimeAfghanistan is currently the third-lowest-ranked country in the World Press Freedom Index.

Despite the dangers, Maryam has continued to shine a spotlight on the plight of women living under Taliban rule. My goal is to raise the voices of women, she said. This is not just a job for me, it is a responsibility. And for that reason, I am not scared of doing my job. When Afghanistan experienced flash floods, in May, Maryam spoke to women in stricken regions who were struggling to access sanitary products; her article, published at the Afghan Times, an online news site that includes a special focus on the stories of Afghan women, noted that some of them felt uncomfortable talking about their periods with aid workers and local authorities who could be Taliban-linked. In July, she reported on the forced closure of women-only restaurants, describing them as one of the few safe places left for Afghan women workers.

By necessity, Maryams reporting process is far from typicalshe takes great pains to keep the authorities from knowing who she is, and has to work with a male family member to secure interviews. Sometimes, the process of scheduling an in-person meeting can resemble a game of telephone: she asks her brother to call a male relative of the potential subject to make the arrangements. When she wants to meet with a source in person, she must bring along a man to chaperone. Shell also ask around to assess if the person shes supposed to meet can be trusted to keep her identity a secret. Its really hard for me, she said.

Once the piece is ready to be published, Maryam removes all traces of her reporting from her devices, including deleting every email and call log, except for contacts with her immediate family. If the Taliban checks my phone [and finds something], it will not be good for me. So, I delete everything, she said. She only publishes the article after she has confirmed again that her subjects are comfortable with everything theyre quoted as saying. Its my job to keep her safe, she said.

Maryam decided she wanted to be a journalist when she was studying at university, at the time the Taliban regime banned higher education for women. I cried for five days, she said. And then she got to work. I wanted to be a voice of women, share their problems, and work on womens rights in the Afghan community.

Sign up for CJRs daily email

But working anonymously also carries a costto her career and her pride. Its terrible for me that my classmates, relatives, and friends dont know that I am a journalist working for womens rights, she said. I wish I could tell them about my work. I wish I could work freely like women journalists in other countries who are doing their job openly. I wish to be a free journalist. But I cantI have to hide myself, hide my name, and hide my personality.
In scoring "Gladiator 2," Harry Gregson-Williams faced the delicate task of honoring Hans Zimmer's original score from the original movie while crafting a new musical identity for the sequel.

The movie, directed by Ridley Scott, picks up two decades after the first, following Lucius, played by Paul Mescal, as he battles in the gladiator arena after an invasion.

Gregson-Williams understood the assignment required him to embody the essence of the first movie while moving into a new narrative space. He told Variety he recognized early on that he would need to compose at least 100 minutes of music.

A pivotal moment in Gregson-Williams' creative process was sparked by a line in the script that said, "Lucius becomes Maximus." This inspired him to go deeply into the original score, particularly the main theme characterized by a descending seventh motif.

"It has a noticeable leap, and I thought if I could embrace that in Lucius' theme, I might be able to pull this off."

While Gregson-Williams was intentional about referencing Zimmer's main theme, he approached it with caution.

He stated, "We decided if we were going to use it, we'd use it very sparingly and very precisely."

To convey Lucius' emotional journey, Gregson-Williams used a variety of instruments. He introduced a ney flute, primarily used in Persian music, layered with the voice of Ethiopian vocalist Gigi.

He explained, "I found if I layered this vocalist on top of Lucius' thematic material, it would keep her spirit alive."

For flashbacks of happier times, he used a "consort of viols," collaborating with the London-based group Fretwork to achieve an ancient yet edgy sound.

Gregson-Williams also explored ancient war-like horns in Northern Spain, which made "a ferocious sound."

His collaborative approach with Scott focused on storytelling, focusing pace, tone, color, light, and darkness, ultimately shaping the movie's emotional landscape through music.
November 25, 2024: The Russian military is trying to obtain recruits in Africa, but not so much to fight as to perform support activities. Russia realizes that African support for Russia is based on the work of Russian Orthodox Church activities since the late 1880s.

Currently Africa has over 730 million Christians, the largest number of any region in the world. Russian Orthodox Church missionaries are actively seeking new converts from other Christian sects as well as Moslem Africans. Since the Russian Orthodox Church is a government controlled organization, when reinforcements were needed in Ukraine, Russian Orthodox Church missions overseas were expected to help. The Russian Orthodox Church was one of the many Christian sects that have been active in Africa. These foreign missionaries concentrate on improving the lives of those they convert. This is an excellent way to obtain more converts.

Then came the war in Ukraine and the Russian Orthodox Church found itself with some serious internal problems. Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, initially criticized the war in Ukraine. Since he was a government employee, he quickly fell into line and supported the war. At the same time, many Russian Orthodox Church clergy openly opposed and denounced the war. The Ukrainian branch of the Russian Orthodox Church severed its connections with the Russian Church.

The overseas missionaries were few in number and had more important things to than criticize the war in far off Ukraine. After more than two years of war, the Russian Orthodox Church is being called upon to help the war effort in Ukraine. The Russian Orthodox Church has ceased to openly oppose the war and is willing to assist the government. The church was asked about recruiting African converts to perform non-combat jobs in Russia, so Russian men could fight in Ukraine. The Africans would be safe and earning more money than they could ever make in Africa.

There were still problems with this plan because it was widely known that previous foreign volunteers had ended up in Ukraine, although few were in combat or injured in any way. Some African students studying in Russia have joined the Russian army and ended up in Ukraine. There are about 10,000 foreigners working for the Russian military in Ukraine. Some have ended up in combat units, perhaps enticed by the large cash payments. The money has enabled African soldiers to buy things, like cellphones for themselves and their families back in Africa. Some of these African soldiers have been killed but there have been now official statistics on how many Africans are in Ukraine and what the casualties are. This will probably not be known until the war is over or until someone distributes cell phone photos via the internet showing African soldiers in Ukraine.
November 25, 2024: Russia, desperate to find more manpower to reinforce their troops in Ukraine, has turned to its small Cossack population. Russia made a deal with the Cossack leadership to persuade the millions of Ukrainian and Russian Cossacks living in Russia to support the Russian war effort in Ukraine. Prior to 2024 Russia had not sought to recruit Cossacks. This was part of an effort to maintain and improve good relations with Cossacks in Russia. So far this year over 50,000 Cossacks have served in the Russian forces in Ukraine or the forces gathered to push Ukrainian forces out of Russias Kursk province. The Ukrainians entered Kursk in August. Russia is also using 12,000 North Korean mercenaries for the Kursk counterattack. As of November 2024, the Ukrainians are still in Russia.

Russia has not tried to involuntarily mobilize Cossacks into the army, as that could antagonize Cossacks in general and possibly cause loyalty problems with Ukrainian Cossacks living in Russia. There are over five million Ukrainian and Russian Cossacks living in different parts of Russia. Both Ukrainian and Russian Cossacks consider themselves Cossacks first. Russian officials understand that and since late 2023 have persuaded over 20,000 Cossacks to fight in Ukraine. Russia hopes to recruit more because Russia is running out of Russian soldiers. The Cossacks and their leaders are aware of the high Russian casualty rate in Ukraine. That makes it difficult to persuade more Cossacks to fight in Ukraine.

When Russia first invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukrainian response was Cossack in the way Cossack tactics were used successfully against the Russian invaders.

These 21st Century Ukrainian Cossacks performed like the first Cossacks did 500 years ago, traveling light and using whatever weapons they could carry and use on foot or on horseback. The 2022 Ukrainian used pickup trucks and cars for transport and a lot of NATO supplied anti-tank weapons to supplement the Ukrainian made ones.

The original Cossacks were most effective at raiding and restricting the movements and capabilities of a larger force. Cossacks would raid supply columns and force the enemy to use more troops for guard duty and larger reconnaissance patrols. Cossacks could weaken a larger force and reduce its offensive capabilities.

Its not surprising that these modern Cossacks would emerge in Ukraine during the 2022 invasion, This sort of speedy improvisation by a largely recent volunteer force of civilians is one reason the Russians have been losing. The Ukrainians know what they are fighting for while most of the Russian troops who initially invaded were unaware they were invading Ukraine until hastily organized and armed Ukrainians began ambushing them with effective anti-tank weapons and superior tactics and communications. Initially most Russian troops were unsure why they are invading Ukraine while the Ukrainians were defending themselves any way they could. Now Russia is trying to create its own Cossack force. How successful that will be remains to be seen.

These neo-Cossacks, in the form of small, mobile motorized forces, were first developed by the British during World War II in North Africa. German and Italian forces established airfields and supply storage sites out in the desert that were lightly guarded because any ground force would be spotted from the air before it got near. To get around that Britain developed the LRDG/Long Range Desert Group consisting of small units of a dozen or so men in wheeled vehicles modified for off-road use in desert terrain. The troops were volunteers trained to use these vehicles and navigate in the desert. While raids on remote airfields and supply depots were the most dramatic operations, the most valuable role of the LRDG was collecting information on enemy strength, dispositions and movements. This often involved monitoring enemy traffic on the coastal roads, which were the primary traffic route in North Africa. Out of this came the British SAS/Special Air Service commandos and the maritime version, the SBS/special boat service. After World War II other nations based their special operations forces on the British model.

American Special Forces and similar commando groups in other NATO countries are also able to operate in the Cossack fashion and regularly train that way based on their experience of the Ukrainian Cossacks. While NATO has donated over $100 billion military and economic aid to Ukraine, the Ukrainians have shared their combat experiences with NATO as well as details of new weapons Ukrainians have designed and built. The war in Ukraine is the first war between technological equals since World War II. Thats over 60 years with much change in weapons or tactics. Now, in less than three years the war in Ukraine has revolutionized how wars are fought and established the parameters for 21st Century warfare.
Bluesky, the rapidly growing social media platform, is violating EU regulations by failing to disclose important details, a European Commission spokesperson told reporters during a daily briefing on Monday.

"All platforms in the EU even the smallest ones which are below the threshold, which is the case for Bluesky, have to have a dedicated page on their website where it says how many user numbers they have in the EU and where they are legally established. This is not the case for Bluesky as of today," the spokesperson said.

He also stated that since Bluesky falls below the threshold and is not classified as a Very Large Platform under the EU's Digital Services Act, the commission has not yet reached out to the company. Instead, it has contacted the 27 national governments to check "if they can find any trace of Bluesky."

Bluesky did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

"All platforms in the EU even the smallest ones which are below the threshold, which is the case for Bluesky, have to have a dedicated page on their website where it says how many user numbers they have in the EU and where they are legally established. This is not the case for Bluesky as of today," the spokesperson said.

He also stated that since Bluesky falls below the threshold and is not classified as a Very Large Platform under the EU's Digital Services Act, the commission has not yet reached out to the company. Instead, it has contacted the 27 national governments to check "if they can find any trace of Bluesky."

Bluesky did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Kenneth "Ken" Leech, chief investment officer at Western Asset Management unit of Legg Mason Inc., speaks during the UBS CIO Global Forum at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., on Tuesday, June 28, 2016.

Kenneth Leech, the former co-chief investment officer of Western Asset Management Co, was criminally charged on Monday with running a more than $600 million "cherry-picking" scheme where he fraudulently favored some clients' accounts over others when allocating trades.

Leech, 70, was charged with four counts of fraud and one count of making false statements by the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan, and also faces related U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission civil charges.

Franklin Resources , the owner of Western Asset Management, better known as Wamco, was not charged.

Authorities said that between January 2021 and October 2023, Leech improperly steered U.S. Treasury derivative trades that performed well on their first day to favored portfolios, while allocating worse performing trades to other portfolios.

Investors were allegedly kept in the dark, and Leech allegedly lied to the SEC by testifying that he knew where he planned to allocate trades when he placed them.

"The scale and duration of Leech's allegedly fraudulent conduct amounts to a shocking betrayal of his fiduciary obligations to his clients, who paid dearly for his transgressions," Sanjay Wadhwa, acting director of the SEC enforcement division, said in a statement.
Signage atop the Adani Group headquarters in Ahmedabad, India, on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. Bonds of the Indian billionaires flagship firm plunged to distressed levels in US trading, and the company abruptly pulled a record domestic stock offering.

Adani Group is staring at trouble on several fronts as investors and partners rethink ties with the Indian conglomerate in the wake of bribery and fraud accusations by U.S. authorities.

Projects and investments tied to the Indian conglomerates' businesses spanning across the world have come under the spotlight, following the U.S. indictment of its billionaire founder last Thursday.

"The US indictment is likely to constrain the group's access to new financing in the near term, particularly in the offshore capital markets, Leonard Law, a senior credit analyst at Lucro Analytics told CNBC. The group has denied any wrongdoing.

The allegations are "more serious" than those from short-seller Hindenburg Research's report in 2023, and the legal proceedings are likely to be protracted, he added.

Fitch Ratings has put several dollar bonds issued by Adani Group companies on its negative ratings watchlist, which means the bonds could potentially be downgraded.

The action reflects higher corporate governance risk and "potential contagion risk" that could affect access to funding and liquidity.

Following the bombshell indictment last week, which triggered a selloff in the group's stocks, Kenyan president William Ruto scrapped airport and electricity deals worth about $2.5 billion with the group, Reuters reported.

In another blow to the conglomerate, French energy giant TotalEnergies , on Monday suspended new investments linked to Adani Group and claimed it was not informed of the investigation into the alleged corruption scheme.

"Until such time when the accusations against the Adani group individuals and their consequences have been clarified, TotalEnergies will not make any new financial contribution as part of its investments in the Adani group of companies," the French company said.

Shares of the French oil major, which owns a 19.75% stake in Adani Green Energy and a 50% holding in joint ventures with Adani Green, fell 2.4% on Monday.

The U.S. International Development Finance Corp has also said it would review its prior agreements to lend $553 million to a Sri Lankan port development that's backed by the Adani Group.

"DFC is aware of the recent allegations related to Adani and is actively assessing the ramifications in light of the recent DOJ announcement," an official with the development agency said in a statement.
Boxes of Ozempic and Wegovy made by Novo Nordisk are seen at a pharmacy in London on March 8, 2024.

Millions of Americans with obesity would be eligible to have popular weight-loss drugs like Wegovy or Ozempic covered by Medicare or Medicaid under a new rule the Biden administration proposed Tuesday morning.

The costly proposal from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sets the stage for a potential showdown between the powerful pharmaceutical industry and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an outspoken opponent of the weight-loss drugs who, as President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to lead the agency, could try to block the measure.

While the rule would give millions of people access to weekly injectables that have helped people shed pounds so quickly that some have labeled them miracle drugs, it would cost taxpayers as much as $35 billion over the next decade.

"It's a good day for anyone who suffers from obesity," U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra told The Associated Press in an interview. "It's a game changer for Americans who can't afford these drugs otherwise."

A bipartisan coalition of congressional members have lobbied for the drugs to be covered by Medicare, saying it could save the government from spending billions of dollars on treating chronic ailments that stem from obesity. While it's unclear where Trump himself stands on coverage of the weight-loss drugs, his allies and Cabinet picks who have vowed to cut government spending could balk at the upfront price tag.

Under the proposal, only those who are considered obese  someone who has a body mass index of 30 or higher  would qualify for coverage. Some people may already get coverage of the drugs through Medicare or Medicaid if they have diabetes or are at risk for stroke or heart disease.

Becerra estimated that an additional 3.5 million people on Medicare and 4 million on Medicaid could qualify for coverage of the drugs. But research suggests far more people might qualify, with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimating roughly 28 million people on Medicaid are considered obese.

Medicare has been barred from offering the drugs under a decades-old law that prohibits the government-backed insurance program from covering weight-loss products. The rule proposed by the Biden administration, however, would recognize obesity as a disease that can be treated with the help of the drugs.

The anti-obesity drug market has expanded significantly in recent years, with the Food and Drug Administration approving a new class of weekly injectables like Novo Nordisk 's Wegovy and Eli Lilly 's Zepbound to treat obesity.

People can lose as much as 15% to 25% of their body weight on the drugs, which imitate the hormones that regulate appetites by communicating fullness between the gut and brain when people eat.

The cost of the drugs has largely limited them to the wealthy, including celebrities who boast of their benefits. A monthly supply of Wegovy rings up at $1,300 and Zepbound will put you out $1,000. Shortages of the drugs have also limited the supplies.

Kennedy, who as Trump's nominee for HHS secretary is subject to Senate confirmation, has railed against the drugs' popularity. In speeches and on social media, he's said the U.S. should not cover the drugs through Medicaid or Medicare. Instead, he supports a broad expansion of coverage for healthier foods and gym memberships.

"For half the price of Ozempic, we could purchase regeneratively raised, organic food for every American, three meals a day and a gym membership, for every obese American," Kennedy said to a group of federal lawmakers during a roundtable earlier this year.
The price of bitcoin retreated further from the psychological $100,000 milestone, as investors booked profits from the cryptocurrency's gains following the presidential election.

The largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization was recently lower by more than 4%, at $90,999.30, according to Coin Metrics. Earlier, it fell as low as $90,702.27. The CoinDesk 20, an index measuring broader cryptocurrency performance, fell 4.78%.

Coinbase and MicroStrategy , equity market proxies for crypto assets, fell 6% and 12%, respectively.

"Bitcoin has been on a tear since Election Day  with very few pullbacks, but the $100,000 mark remains a formidable psychological barrier," Mati Greenspan, founder and CEO of Quantum Economics, told CNBC by email. "While breaking through now would be a major bullish signal, a brief pullback may be needed to gather momentum before the next attempt."

With bitcoin regularly hitting new records this month, long-term holders have increasingly been selling in the spot market in larger amounts. That selling pressure has so far been absorbed by inflows into bitcoin exchange-traded funds, which ended a five-day advance Monday and logged $438 million in outflows, and large purchases by MicroStrategy. CryptoQuant typically defines long-term holders as entities that have held bitcoin for 155 days or more.
November 26, 2024: Russia is running out of soldiers for its war in Ukraine. Now in its third year, the war has cost Russia at least 600,000 dead and wounded soldiers. The economy went from rebuilding in 2021 to contraction and substantial reorganization by 2024. These heavy military and economic losses can no longer be ignored or misrepresented inside Russia. Over a million Russian men have served in Ukraine and more than half have been killed and wounded. By the end of 2022 Putin outlawed any reporting of Russian casualties in Ukraine. For most Russians the high casualty rate in Ukraine was no secret. Too many Russians knew men who had gone to Ukraine and either came back in a coffin or disappeared. About two percent of military age Russian men have been in Ukraine, usually only 200,000 at a time.

By late 2023 most Russians realized that service in Ukraine was guaranteed to get most men killed or wounded. Enough came back to reveal what was actually happening there. While Putin controlled the mass media, he did not control the internet and that is where Russians could get timely and accurate information about what was happening in Ukraine. Putin tried to keep that information from appearing on the Russian internet. He had some success but such censorship was a sign that the situation was bad in Ukraine for Russians. Soon Russian hackers had found ways to evade the government censorship and let the truth in.

From the beginning Russian soldiers were ordered not to bring their cell phones to Ukraine. Many did so anyway and were able to obtain sim chips that provided access to the international internet. There were many Russian language news services available outside Russia providing a more accurate account of what was happening in Ukraine. Russian soldiers with cell phones told friends and family back home what was actually happening. Putin found that his draconian censorship could not be enforced without putting millions of Russians in prison. A few prosecutions were carried out. It was not enough to stop Russians from getting accurate news of the mess in Ukraine.

The situation became desperate after a Ukrainian invasion of Russia in August 2024. The invasion force is still there because Russia could not gather enough troops to force them out. In a desperate move, Russia hired 12,000 North Korean soldiers. Since the 1990s Russia has hired North Korea workers to replace Russians who could no longer be coerced by the defunct Soviet Union to live and work in the Russian Far East. North Korea needed the money and had hungry workers available. The government kept most of the workers pay but left them enough to encourage more North Korean workers to volunteer for jobs in Russia. The North Korean workers were accompanied by secret police guards to make sure none of the workers tried to escape control of the North Korean dictatorship.

Russian losses were so heavy in Ukraine because replacement troops sent in were given little training and were poorly equipped. Some were seen wearing World War II style steel helmets that Russia had kept in storage just in case of another military disaster. That was what Ukraine turned out to be for Russia, who had to send some 1950s era T-55 tanks into Ukraine to face Ukrainian Leopard 2 tanks and M-1s supplied by Germany and the United States.

The Russian situation in Ukraine is desperate and Russian plans to replace its losses and rebuild its military are equally desperate. First, they have to stall the Ukrainians and their massive amounts of NATO weapons and munitions. That was done with anti-tank mines and lots of trenches and other tank obstacles. Russian combat engineers are first rate and use specialized equipment to quickly dig trenches and build fortifications. The front line is a thousand kilometers long and not all of it is fortified. The areas covered by only a few troops and artillery are now patrolled 24/7 by drones. If a surprise attack was attempted, both sides have large supplies of drones that could quickly intervene.

Russia wont admit it, but they are losing in Ukraine and the Ukrainians are attacking and regaining more ground. Russia still launches offensives but only takes heavy losses with little to show for it. Currently the Russians are trying to assemble enough troops to drive the Ukrainian forces out of Kursk province. The Ukrainians have been there since August. So far Russian efforts have recovered about 40 percent of the Ukrainian occupied territory. The Russian offensive is stalled because of a lack of troops. The North Korean are supposed to help with that but so far, the Russian counteroffensive in Kursk is not making much progress.

The Ukrainian invasion was embarrassing for Russian president Vladimir Putin. This is the first invasion of Russia since the Germans invaded in 1941. Back then, Russia lost 27 million soldiers and civilians defending Russia and driving the Germans out and advancing on Germany, Back then Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union and Ukrainian soldiers were among the most effective in the Russian Red Army. The Ukrainians are still tough fighters but now they are fighting Russians and winning. Many Russians disapprove of the Ukraine War because Russian troops are not defending Russia but fighting to expand Russia. This is what Putin wants and a growing number of Russians, including Putins economic oligarch allies believe the cost is too high and victory is unachievable. During World War II it was substantial American military aid that enabled the Soviets to defeat the Germans. Now that aid is going to Ukrainians fighting a Russian invasion. This is not World War II and Russia is not facing a powerful foreign invader. Instead Russia has violated the post-World War II European peace that lasted 77 years until Russia invaded Ukraine. Now most NATO nations are rearming by expanding and upgrading their armed forces. Russia will not only lose in Ukraine, but also face a much stronger NATO that is heavily armed and determined to maintain economic sanctions on Russia until Russia adopts a less threatening foreign police. That includes getting out of Ukraine.
Oil giant Chevron's discount relative to peers has created an attractive entry point, according to Citi. Analyst Alastair Syme upgraded shares to buy from neutral. He also raised his price target to $185 from $145, indicating 15.4% upside potential from Monday's close. Chevron is up just 7.5% year to date, lagging the S & P 500's 25% advance in that time. Rival Exxon Mobil has also outperformed Chevron, up 20% in 2024. Syme forecasts the valuation gap between Chevron and Exxon Mobil to reach "a historically wide gap" of 20% as soon as 2026. CVX .SPX,XOM YTD mountain Chevron versus the S & P 500 and ExxonMobil in 2024 Syme cited Chevron's relative stock weakness to the company's fight with Exxon Mobil regarding ownership of Hess' oil assets in Guyana . If the arbitration panel rules in favor of Exxon, Chevron's merger deal with Hess, announced earlier this year, will not close. "It is this valuation gap that we think positions investors to take a view around the unknown outcome of the Hess arbitration in 2025; the downside looks protected, the upside is significant. Added to that is the potential of high-impact exploration in Namibia in the coming months," Syme wrote in a Tuesday note. Chevron's exploration of the Tengiz Field in Kazakhstan next year will also deliver on growth and provide a "critical element of de-risking in this growth story," per Syme. Shares of Chevron rose 1% Tuesday before the bell.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
Eli Lilly shares soared Tuesday on a one-two punch of good news. Investors may debate just how good  but Jim Cramer lands firmly among the bulls. The news The Biden administration proposed a rule change that would enable Medicare and Medicaid to cover obesity drugs starting in 2026  potentially giving millions of Americans enrolled in the two government health programs access to pricey treatments sold by Eli Lilly and its chief rival in the weight loss market, Wegovy maker Novo Nordisk . Lilly is known for Zepbound. The Biden administration estimates that the change would impact about 3.4 million Medicaid enrollees and an additional 4 million people on Medicaid, NBC News reported , citing a White House official. Medicare, the federally run insurance program for seniors, has historically been barred by law from covering drugs used exclusively for weight loss. The Biden administration is offering a reinterpretation of that law, citing "the prevailing medical consensus towards recognizing obesity as a disease." The proposal would specifically "permit coverage of anti-obesity medications for the treatment of obesity when such drugs are indicated to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long-term for individuals with obesity," according to a fact sheet provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. That change in approach would have ramifications for Medicaid, which is administrated by states and provides health insurance to low-income people. If implemented, Medicaid programs would need to cover obesity drugs, CMS said. Currently, it's optional. In 2024, fourteen states provide no coverage at all, including populous New York and Texas, according to the STOP Obesity Alliance , an advocacy group. The second positive development for Eli Lilly comes from Amgen , which reported mid-stage trial results for its experimental obesity treatment known as MariTide. On average, adults with obesity lost up to 20% of their body weight after 12 months on the drug without plateauing  which, the company said, indicates additional reductions could take place with a longer treatment period. Patients received injections of MariTide monthly or, in some cases, a less frequent dosing. Amgen is moving MariTide into phase-three trials, the next step in applying for regulatory approval. Nevertheless, shares of Amgen fell more than 11% on the results, in a sign that MariTide didn't meet the loftiest of expectations on Wall Street. Lilly shares rose more than 6% Tuesday. Novo Nordisk added more than 2.5%. Big picture The prospect of across-the-board coverage of obesity drugs for Medicare and Medicaid enrollees would be a financial win for Eli Lilly, particularly on the Medicare front. One benefit of Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk conducting trials to show that their obesity drugs improved other health outcomes  such as reducing the risk of cardiovascular events and treating a type of sleep apnea  was that securing additional approvals from U.S. drug regulators could provide a backdoor around the Medicare restrictions. While the status quo prevented coverage of weight loss treatments exclusively, drugs that were cleared to treat multiple conditions were a different ballgame. Indeed, Novo's obesity drug Wegovy secured approval, known as an expanded label, for cutting heart disease risks earlier this year . For its part, Eli Lilly has said regulators could expand Zepbound's label to cover obstructive sleep apnea by year-end. Zepbound also has shown heart health benefits . The key question for the Biden administration's proposed rule change is whether it will actually go into effect, given President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. "We do not know this yet because the incoming administration may have the real say in this," analysts at Wells Fargo told clients Tuesday. "We think this proposal could still put pressure on the incoming administration to cover it. Having said that, the nominated HHS secretary is not a big fan of weight loss drugs," analysts wrote, referring to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Trump picked Kennedy  a critic of the pharmaceutical industry and obesity drugs in particular  to run the Department of Health and Human Services, which sits atop both CMS and the Food and Drug Administration. Kennedy needs to be confirmed by the Senate. Wells Fargo analysts said the proposed coverage change is nevertheless positive, but they argued label expansion for obesity drugs may prove to be more consequential for driving future sales. The release of Amgen's trial results shines a spotlight on another important topic for investors in Lilly: the threat of competition. Amgen is among the companies trying to join Lilly and Novo in the fast-growing obesity drug market, which some on Wall Street expect to be worth $100 billion by the end of the decade. In a note to clients, analysts at Leerink said MariTide's "only differentiation" appears to be it's taken less frequently than Eli Lilly's tirzepatide, which is a weekly injection. Tirzepatide is the scientific name for the active ingredient in Zepbound. It also is sold under the Mounjaro brand for type-2 diabetes. Other analysts were more positive, with Piper Sandler contending patients' weight reduction on MariTide occurred "much faster" than tirzepatide. Patients with obesity who took the highest dose of tirzepatide lost an average of 22.5% of their body weight over a 72-week trial . Both Leerink and Piper agreed that MariTide's safety profile looks worse than tirzepatide. In MariTide's trial, the discontinuation rate due to adverse reactions such as nausea and vomiting was about 11% compared with roughly 7% in a large-scale trial of tirzepatide. Bottom line Jim Cramer said he sees both developments  the Biden proposal and Amgen's results  as being favorable for Eli Lilly, a longtime Club holding that we bought more during Monday's session. "Better lucky than good," Jim quipped Tuesday, regarding the timing of our purchase. Indeed, the only reason we hadn't added to our position sooner to take advantage of Lilly's recent swoon was our trading restrictions that prevent us from trading stocks for 72 hours after Jim mentions them on CNBC. Securing Medicare coverage, in particular, has been "the holy grail" for the obesity drug industry, Jim said. He noted that it would also put pressure on private insurers to follow suit. While it remains to be seen whether the proposed Medicare changes will be implemented, at the least, it certainly advances the narrative in a positive way. During the Morning Meeting, Jim said he views Amgen's mid-stage data on MariTide as "less than competitive" compared with Zepbound. Lilly's incumbency advantage is an important factor, he said. One more thing: The comparisons of MariTide to Zepbound are understandable, given Zepbound is the current standard-bearer, but Lilly has a next-generation obesity drug , retatrutide, that looks even better than its current offering. In a mid-stage study released in June 2023, patients with obesity who took the highest dose of retatrutide lost an average of 24.2% of their body weight over a 48-week trial. Its large-scale, phase three study looking at retatrutide is expected to end in February 2026. Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the length of a tirzepatide trial. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long LLY. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.

An Eli Lilly & Co. Zepbound injection pen arranged in the Brooklyn borough of New York, US, on Thursday, March 28, 2024. Shelby Knowles | Bloomberg | Getty Images
LONDON  Heathrow's chief executive said Monday he would push the U.K. government for a final decision on construction of a third runway at the London airport by the end of 2025, adding that the latest discussions had seen "positive momentum."

Thomas Woldbye told the Airlines 2024 conference that the airport needed additional capacity and that this would support the government's economic growth and industrial strategy. However, he said it was ultimately up to the state to approve the plans, which have been highly controversial for decades.

"Heathrow is running out of capacity... So if we want to go beyond a certain number at Heathrow, whether that is 90 million passengers or anything around that, we need a third runway, that's not a discussion," Woldbye said.

"So the next thing is, how do we then realize that, if that's what we want. 'We' here is not just Heathrow, that's the airlines, it's government, it's parliament, it's everybody around us. Because if the U.K. does not want a runway, why would it be built? And that's not for Heathrow to decide. We're the executors ... But transportation strategy is a government issue," Woldbye said, acknowledging it was "not an easy decision."

"The project is there, we know how to build it. It has been there for a long time," he continued. "I'm going to [the U.K. government] and saying all this, the demand is there. But this would be one of the biggest infrastructure projects in U.K. history, so we have to ask government, are you along for the journey? If not, we forget it."

Woldbye added that there was "definitely positive momentum" behind such discussions with the new Labour administration, and that he expected a final decision by the end of 2025 "one way or another."

"Otherwise we keep wasting money and time. I'm serious about getting a decision and about getting the right decision," which would be one guided by overall U.K. strategy, he said. Woldbye explained that if the project did gain government approval but no public funding, then the airport would have to present a clear, costed proposal to Heathrow shareholders which he believed would find support.

The airport is attempting to increase capacity as much as possible through efficiency measures on its existing two runways and is developing a growth plan that does not involve a third runway, he said.

U.K. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, speaking earlier in the day at the same conference, said: "I will always support airport expansion as long as it grows our economy and meets our environmental commitments."
London-based hedge fund Granular Capital has revealed a renewed interest Borr Drilling , saying the offshore drilling company's shares could increase by up to 300% or 400%. Granular is the largest shareholder of Borr Drilling, which provides offshore drilling vessels for hire to large companies in the oil and gas industry on a fixed-term basis for a set fee. The hedge fund's thesis centers on Borr's fleet of 24 modern jack-up rigs  specialized vessels used to maintain oil and gas production in shallow waters. The investment case is strengthened by several fundamental market dynamics, according to Granular's founder and Chief Investment Officer Thiago Mordehachvili. BORR YTD line First, there's been no new jack-up rig construction in over a decade as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns have caused banks to withdraw from the drilling sector, according to Mordehachvili. Additionally, about one-third of the global jack-up fleet is approaching or has exceeded retirement age, suggesting a likely decrease in available equipment going forward. "The supply is all but gone," Mordehachvili told the Sohn Conference London on Wednesday. "There have been no new orders over the past decade. The banks are out of the drilling business due to ESG concerns." Granular also believes that new jack-up rigs are unlikely to be built in the current economic environment due to low single-digit returns  making the existing fleet more valuable. The fund estimates that even if new rigs are built at $300 million apiece, the rental cost for hiring vessels will need to rise drastically from current levels to yield good returns. An increase will also lift the prices for Borr's existing fleet, adding to its cash flow. Borr Drilling, founded by chair Tor Olav Trim in Norway and listed on the NYSE, currently trades at around 4 dollars per share, having declined about 45% year to date. Arctic Securities analyst Sebastian Grindheim maintains a price target of $7.50 on the stock, representing 85% upside from current levels, despite noting "slightly more subdued" outlook comments from the company in the recent quarter due to customer caution about excess oil supply. Saudi Aramco, a major player in the sector, has postponed its production growth plans for at least 12 months, leading to some contract suspensions. However, Borr also secured three contract extensions, including agreements with Exxon Mobil in Malaysia, Valeura Energy in Thailand, and Fieldwood Energy in Mexico, providing some revenue visibility through 2026. The median price target of five analysts polled by FactSet is $6, or 48% upside from current levels. Fearnley Securities analyst Truls Olsen was the most conservative, with a 28% upside, while Evercore ISI's Jason Bandel analyst had an upside of 122%. Mordehachvili also dismissed any concerns about the transition to greener energy sources having a negative impact on Borr in the near and medium term. "We like shallow water because those are basically brown fields, and much cleaner hydrocarbons than elsewhere, also cheaper to extract," Granular's Mordehachvili told CNBC Pro on the sidelines of the conference. "They will be the last oil to be drilled. So we were talking about being the bottom of the cost curve." The market dynamics have been made more complicated for competitors as shipyards willing to build such vessels have also shrunk, according to Mordehachvili. Singapore, which previously constructed 50% of global jackup rigs, has largely converted its manufacturing capacity to other uses. The few remaining shipyards capable of building these specialized vessels are shifting focus toward renewable energy projects, as evidenced by Seatrium 's recent pivot following its merger with Keppel Offshore and Marine. However, there are certain risks for investors to be aware of. This week, Seatrium signed an agreement with India's Cochin Shipyard to build jack-up rigs, potentially at a lower cost in the future.
My top 10 things to watch Tuesday, Nov. 26 1. The outgoing Biden administration proposed a rule that would expand access to obesity drugs for millions of Americans enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid. If implemented, that would be great news for Eli Lilly , a longtime Club name we bought more of on Monday. Shares of Lilly and chief rival Novo Nordisk were higher on the news. 2. Amgen shares tumbled more than 11% after its weight-loss treatment helped patients lose up to 20% of their body weight on average over 12 months. Investors had high hopes for the drug, known as MariTide. It may not be as effective as Lilly's and incidences of sickness look worse than Lilly's. 3. President-elect Donald Trump pledged to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, along with an additional 10% levy on goods from China, upon taking office in January. Notable that Trump's threats on Mexico and Canada are bigger than China, although there are higher tariffs on Chinese goods left over from his first term. Are we going soft on China? Could be negotiating. 4. Kohl's CEO Tom Kingsbury is leaving in January. Michaels CEO Ashley Buchanan is replacing him. Kohl's doesn't know what to do with itself. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal published a devastating piece on Target and how the retailer lost out  expensive groceries and locked-up items, like at drugstore chains, were cited. 5. FedEx spinning off its freight business would unlock a huge amount of money for shareholders. Barclays estimated between $10 billion to $20 billion in incremental value. Analysts kept an overweight buy rating and price target of $365 a share. FedEx has said it will finish an assessment of its freight business by year-end. 6. Pandemic darling Zoom reported a better-than-expected quarter alongside current quarter guidance that was essentially in line. Still, shares were down almost 10%. The stock had been creeping up ahead of the quarter, up almost 23% over the past month through Monday. 7. HSBC downgraded Goldman Sachs and Club name Morgan Stanley to hold ratings, arguing their recent big rallies has diminished the risk-reward outlook. Separately, a negative report in the WSJ raised concerns about Morgan Stanley's anti-money laundering controls. I am not so sure it is reflective of the current state of Morgan Stanley. 8. Citigroup upped its price target on Club name Coterra Energy to $32 a share from $28, betting that recent efficiency trends can continue. Even with its decline Monday, Coterra has been one of our top-performing stocks since Election Day. Citi also upgraded Chevron to a buy. 9. Stifel raised its price target on Marriott to $283 a share from $252, which is below where the stock closed Monday's session. Analysts have a hold rating on the hotel operator. Although Marriott had a light quarter earlier this month, like American Express , it can't be stopped because travel can't be stopped. 10. JM Smucker did what it said it could do, reporting 17% net sales growth that was aided by the Hostess acquisition. That is looking good for them. Earnings topped estimates in the quarter, along with a nice full-year forecast boost. Sign up for my Top 10 Morning Thoughts on the Market email newsletter for free (See here for a full list of the stocks at Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.

An Eli Lilly & Co. Zepbound injection pen, March 28, 2024. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

My top 10 things to watch Tuesday, Nov. 26
An exterior view of the Kohl's store at the Paxton Town Centre near Harrisburg.

Kohl's on Tuesday forecast a bigger drop in annual sales than previously expected, a sign the department-store chain is struggling to draw in shoppers as it navigates a CEO change ahead of a deal-heavy holiday shopping season.

Shares of the Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin-based company fell 18% before the bell, as it also reported worse-than-expected third-quarter results.

The weak forecast underscores an uncertain holiday season for the retail sector, which could lean in favor of competitors such as Walmart and Amazon.com , as customers turn increasingly bargain-focused.

Kohl's, whose stock has declined 36% in value this year amid its turnaround efforts, announced the exit of CEO Tom Kingsbury a day earlier. He will be succeeded by Ashley Buchanan, retail veteran and Michaels Companies' chief, in January.

The company now enters the critical and shorter holiday period, with retailers offering aggressive discounts to entice consumer spending early in the season.

"Our third-quarter results did not meet our expectations, as sales remained soft in our apparel and footwear businesses," CEO Kingsbury said.

Kohl's launched a three-day Black Friday early access event between Nov. 8 and 10 and is running Black Friday deals between Nov. 24 and Nov. 29.

Strong beauty sales from the company's collaboration with beauty retailer Sephora are also starting to fade as Kohl's finishes rolling out 140 Sephora small-shop openings this year.

"The revenues really struggled as they (the company) finished the (Sephora) rollout. Basically, the low-hanging fruit seems to be gone," said M science analyst Matthew Jacob.

Kohl's comparable sales dropped 9.3% for the quarter ended Nov. 2, its eleventh consecutive quarter of decline. Analysts on average had expected a 5.1% fall, according to data compiled by LSEG.

It earned 20 cents per share, missing an estimate of 28 cents.

The company now expects full-year net sales in the range of a 7% to 8% decline, compared to its prior forecast of a drop between 4% and 6%.
In this article MSFT

ORA-FR

META Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT

The logo of telecoms giant Orange displayed at Mobile World Congress 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. Joan Cros | Nurphoto via Getty Images

French telecoms giant Orange on Tuesday said it's partnering with Microsoft -backed OpenAI and Facebook-owner Meta to build custom artificial intelligence models designed to better understand regional African languages. Orange said it's working with OpenAI and Meta to develop custom AI models built on their respective Whisper and Llama open-source AI models  openly available systems that can be adapted to meet specific needs  that can understand West African languages not understood by most conversational systems. Currently, much of the data major AI companies train their algorithms on originates in the United States, which means their models can lose important context, such as culture and language, when it comes to different regions like Europe, the Middle East and Africa. That means it can be hard for those models to understand text and voice-based communications composed in less well-represented languages, according to Steve Jarrett, Orange's chief AI officer. "Having an open model, you're able to do what's called fine tuning, where you you introduce additional information to the model that wasn't included when it was first trained," Jarrett told CNBC in an interview. "We're adding the recognition of West African regional languages that are not understood today by any AI."

watch now

Orange plans to start by rolling out AI models that incorporate two West African regional languages, Wolof and Pulaar, which are spoken by roughly 16 million people and six million people, respectively, in early 2025. Wolof is a language spoken in Senegal, the Gambia and southern Mauritania, while Pulaar is mostly spoken in Senegal. The open-source AI models will be provided externally by Orange with a free license for non-commercial uses including public health and education, the company said. Orange plans to expand its custom AI model initiative to eventually cover all 18 West African countries. "We're operating in West African countries where a lot of these regional languages are being spoken in our contact centers, but where the current AI models don't understand what these people are typing or saying," Jarrett told CNBC. Major large language models like OpenAI's GPT, Meta's Llama and Anthropic's Claude aren't well suited to Africans' needs as they weren't trained specifically on data originating from the region, according to Orange's AI chief.

'Sovereign AI' push

The move taps into a concept that's been gaining traction globally, known as "sovereign AI."

The term refers to the idea that individual countries and regions should seek greater control over the core technological infrastructure upon which AI systems are built, by localizing data storage and processing to ensure they represent specific languages, culture and history. Orange is also looking to localize data processing and the hosting of OpenAI's models in European data centers. This, Orange said, will give it early access to OpenAI's latest and most advanced AI models and help it build new applications such as AI-powered voice systems for customer service. Jarrett said Orange is committing to using AI "responsibly" and "not always using the massive, large language model [LLM] for every problem" given environmental concerns associated with the technology's huge energy requirements. In addition to using AI systems to improve customer service, Orange is also using the tech to improve a core part of its business: mobile networks. "On the network side, we use [AI] to not only optimize how we plan the network, but also how we operate the network right," Jarrett told CNBC. "The volume of data is so large coming from all the network equipment that with AI systems, we can help identify those patterns in the data that could help us identify and predict failures even before the customer notices."
A Senate subcommittee on Tuesday slammed U.S. airlines large and small over fees to pick seats on flights.

Between 2018 and 2023 American , Delta , United , Spirit and Frontier brought in $12.4 billion in seating fees, including for seats with extra legroom as well as those in "preferred" locations that are closer to the front of the plane, or window or aisle seats, said the report from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

Last year, United's revenue from seating fees totaled $1.3 billion, the first time since at least 2018 that category surpassed checked bag-fee revenue, the report said.

While most major U.S. airlines have gotten rid of ticket change fees for standard economy tickets, they have added fees to select more popular or roomier seats on board. Carriers have also been racing to add more premium seats on board to increase revenue.
European auto-maker Stellantis said on Tuesday it planned to shut its Vauxhall van factory in Luton, southern England, putting more than 1,000 jobs at risk.

The company, which also owns the Peugeot, Citroen, Chrysler and Fiat brands, said it would consolidate its British production of light commercial vehicles at its Ellesmere Port site in northern England, where it is investing 50 million pounds ($63 million) in an all-electric vehicle hub.

The Milan-listed company said it planned to relocate "hundreds of jobs" from Luton to Ellesmere Port, and it had started a consultation with employees and unions.

The British government said: "While it's encouraging to see Stellantis investing in the future of its Ellesmere Port plant, we know this will be a concerning time for the families of employees at Luton who may be affected."

The company did not state how many jobs would be impacted.

In June Stellantis called on the government to do more to boost demand for electric vehicles (EVs) to help it comply with rules requiring automakers to sell more EVs, cautioning that inaction could lead to a halt of its UK production.
Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading: Kohl's  Shares tumbled 18% after the retailer cut its sales outlook amid an uncertain holiday backdrop . The latest quarter's earnings and sales fell short of Wall Street analysts' estimates, and the CEO will step down in January. Amgen  The biotech fell more than 3% after an experimental weight loss drug helped patients lose up to 20% of their weight after a year, the low end of investor expectations. Some analysts had been hoping for weight loss up to 25% in the phase two trial. Morgan Stanley  The Wall Street investment bank pulled back more than 2% after HSBC downgraded it to hold from buy, citing a less attractive risk-to-reward balance. Best Buy  The electronics retail chain slumped 7% after slashing its full-year sales forecast . Best Buy now expects comparable, same-store sales to pull back by 2.5% to 3.5%, worse than a prior forecast. Franklin Resources  The money manager sank more than 3% after federal prosecutors charged the former co-chief investment officer of its Western Asset Management subsidiary with fraud. Dana Inc.  Shares added 9% after the auto parts supplier named a new CEO and announced a restructuring, including the sale of its highway business and a $200 million cost-cutting campaign. Abercrombie & Fitch  Shares tumbled about 5% after the apparel retailer's third-quarter earnings topped forecasts but failed to surpass Wall Street's highest estimate. Abercrombie earned $2.50 per share, above the $2.39 per share consensus among analysts surveyed by LSEG. Revenue of $1.21 billion was higher than the $1.19 billion expected, and guidance for holiday sales and full-year results was stronger. Royal Caribbean  The cruise line advanced 2% after Bernstein initiated research coverage with an outperform rating. Stellantis  The Chrysler and Jeep owner dropped more than 5% after President-elect Donald Trump said he planned to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada. Stellantis had already been considering revising its plan to expand further in Mexico in response to the potential tariffs. General Motors and Ford slipped more than 8% and 2%, respectively. Rivian Automotive  The electric vehicle maker added 2% after receiving conditional approval for a government loan of more than $6 billion, with the funds intended to support production capacity. Fluence Energy  Shares of the battery storage company fell more than 16% after third-quarter revenue of $1.23 billion missed a forecast of $1.28 billion from analysts surveyed by FactSet. Zoom Communications  The online meeting tech provider fell 8% despite stronger-than-expected third-quarter results, after soaring 60% from its recent low in August. Zoom earned an adjusted $1.38 per share on $1.18 billion in revenue, against Street estimates of $1.31 in earnings per share and $1.16 billion in revenue. Novo Nordisk , Eli Lilly  The maker of diabetes and weight loss drugs rose between 2% and 5%. The Biden administration introduced a new rule allowing Medicare and Medicaid to the cost of weight loss treatments for Americans suffering from obesity .  CNBC's Hakyung Kim, Pia Singh, Samantha Subin and Jesse Pound contributed reporting.
November 26, 2024: The Suez canal blockade by Yemens Iran-backed Shia Houthi militia and shipping continues. Ships traveling north in the Red Sea towards the Suez Canal have been under attack by the Houthis since late 2023. The Houthis are at war with Israel and still fire at ships more or less at random, though they contend they only fire on ships serving Israel. So far over 60 ships have been attacked and half of them damaged. Two ships were sunk while two others were boarded by Houthi gunmen and captured. One was later released but the other one is still being held. Four sailors have been killed and eight wounded. Several ships have been hit this month but all have continued to the Suez Canal.

The U.S. Navy sent a carrier task force to launch air strikes on Houthi targets with predictable minor effects. That led to more frequent and aggressive attacks which reduced Houthi activity.

On July 19th, one of the Houthi drones hit a building in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, killing one civilian and wounding several others. The next day, Israel sent F-15 and F-35 fighter-bombers to destroy several economic targets in the Yemen Red Sea port of Hudaydah. This is where weapons arrive from Iran for the Houthis to use against Red Sea shipping. The airstrikes destroyed fuel storage sites as well as port facilities, including the difficult-to-replace ship unloading cranes. If the Israelis leave the port alone this work could take up to a year. The Israelis and other nations are not leaving the port of Hudaydah alone as long as the Houthis are using it.

Yemens Shia rebels, led by the Houthi tribe, have used their large stockpile of Iranian missiles to try and block access to the Suez Canal. This capability developed over the last decade as the rebels launched attacks on more distant targets. The rebels obtained more powerful weapons as well, including Iranian ballistic missiles, which were disassembled so they could be smuggled from Iran to Yemen, where Iranian technicians supervised the missiles being assembled and launched into Saudi Arabia. In the last few years, the rebels have received longer range ballistic missiles fired from northern Yemen across Saudi territory to hit Saudi and UAE oil production facilities on the Persian Gulf coast. The rebels also acquired the reconnaissance capability to accurately fire missiles at ships passing through the narrow, 26 kilometers wide, Bab-el-Mandeb straits off southwestern Yemen and force ships to take the longer and more expensive and time consuming route around the southern tip of Africa. This has always been a potential threat to ships using the Red Sea to reach the Suez Canal in Egypt, at the north end of the Red Sea. Transit fees from ships using the canal are a major source of income for Egypt, bringing in about $10 billion a year. Egypt and Iran are enemies and reducing Suez Canal income is a win for Iran, which supported the Yemen rebels for more than a decade to make such an interdiction possible.

Western nations reacted slowly to this interdiction effort but by the end of 2024 were launching regular airstrikes on Houthis targets, coordinating their efforts with the Israelis and U.S. carrier task forces operation in the region. In October 2024 American B-2 bombers dropped penetrating bombs on Houthi underground facilities, destroying missile stockpiles and headquarters for the rebels. This reduced the number of missiles available. This was seen in lower frequency of attacks. A naval blockade of Yemen was i Yemen was tightened, with more frequent inspection of fishing boats and coastal freighters.

Western warships close to the Yemen shore continue using their defensive weapons to defeat attacks launched from the Yemen coast. The United States currently has several destroyers based off Yemen.

The war in Yemen drags on into 2025 or until Iran decides to halt support for the Houthi. Before the Israeli attacks on Gaza and Iran-backed militias in Lebanon, Iran was under widespread internal pressure from Iranians protesting the expensive foreign wars in Syria and Yemen. Until 2024 Iran smuggled in more and more weapons. These were not intended for the ongoing Yemen civil war but for use against targets designated by Iran. Iran suddenly had its own domestic uprising to deal with back home. The Iranian religious dictatorship held onto power and supported more violence against real or perceived enemies of Iran. The blockade of late 2024 and continuing naval patrols near all Iranian ports is also limiting missile shipments to Yemen.

In early 2015 Iran admitted it had been quietly supporting the Houthi Shia rebels for a long time but after that was open about it. Many Yemenis trace the current crisis back to the civil war that ended, sort of, in 1994. That war was caused by the fact that, when the British left Yemen in 1967, their former colony in Aden became one of two countries called Yemen. The two Yemens finally united in 1990 but another civil war in 1994 was needed to seal the deal. That fix didn't really take and the north and south have been pulling apart ever since. This comes back to the fact that Yemen has always been a region, not a country. Like most of the rest of the Persian Gulf and Horn of Africa region, the normal form of government until the 20th century was wealthier coastal city states nervously coexisting with interior tribes that got by on herding or farming or a little of both plus smuggling and other illicit sidelines. This concept of nationhood is still looked on with some suspicion by many in the region. This is why the most common forms of government are the more familiar ones of antiquity like kingdom, emirate, or modern variation in the form of a hereditary secular dictatorship.

For a long time, the most active Yemeni rebels were the Shia Houthis in the north. The Houthis have always wanted to restore local Shia rule in the traditional Shia tribal territories, led by the local imam, a religious leader who was a Houthi. This arrangement, after surviving more than a thousand years, was ended by the central government in 1962. Yemen also became the new headquarters of AQAP/Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula when Saudi Arabia was no longer safe for the terrorists after 2007. Now there is ISIL/Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and an invading army composed of troops from oil-rich neighbors like Saudi Arabia, which was very upset by Iranian/Houthi missile attacks.

By late 2017 the rebels were slowly losing ground to government forces who, despite Arab coalition air support and about five thousand ground troops, were still dependent on Yemeni Sunni tribal militias to fight the Shia tribesmen on the ground. While the Shia are only a third of the population, they are united while the Sunni tribes are divided over the issue of again splitting the country in two and with no agreement on who would get the few oil fields in central Yemen. Many of the Sunni tribes tolerate or even support AQAP and ISIL. The Iranian smuggling pipeline continued to operate, and the Yemen rebels were able to buy additional weapons from other sources because they received cash from nations or groups hostile to the Arab Gulf state, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The Shia Houthi rebels were from northern Yemen and controlled the border with Saudi Arabia. Over the last decade the rebels launched more and more attacks on Saudi targets and in later 2023 and into 2024 that violence escalated.
Check out the companies making headlines before the bell: Abercrombie & Fitch  Shares slipped nearly 4% despite the apparel retailer's earnings beat and strong holiday guidance . Abercrombie & Fitch reported third-quarter earnings of $2.50 per share, topping the $2.39 per share LSEG consensus estimate. Revenue was $1.21 billion, versus the $1.19 billion expected. The company also raised its full-year guidance. Best Buy  Shares slid 7.4% after Best Buy posted third-quarter results that missed analysts' expectations and cut its full-year sales forecast. Adjusted earnings of $1.26 per share came in below the estimate of $1.29 in earnings per share expected by analysts polled by LSEG. Revenue of $9.45 billion missed the $9.63 billion consensus estimate. Kohl's  Shares plummeted nearly 17% following the retailer's weaker-than-expected third-quarter earnings. Kohl's earned 20 cents per share on revenue of $3.51 billion for the period, while analysts surveyed by LSEG had penciled in 28 cents per share on $3.64 billion in revenue. Stellantis  Shares of European and Japanese automakers slid after President-elect Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post on Monday that he plans to raise tariffs on products from China, Mexico and Canada. Many carmakers have factories in Mexico. Stellantis, which is considering revising its plan to expand manufacturing into Mexico, saw shares dip more than 3.5% on the news. Automakers General Motors and Ford Motor also edged more than 4% and 2%, respectively. Dick's Sporting Goods  Shares of the sporting goods retailer jumped 6.6% after the company's quarterly results beat expectations and indicated a strong holiday shopping season outlook. Dick's raised its full-year guidance and said it now expects fiscal 2024 same-store sales to grow between 3.6% and 4.2%, up from a previous range of 2.5% to 3.5%. Zoom Communications  Shares slipped roughly 10.5% after the video software maker gave fiscal fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share guidance that was roughly in line with estimates. Zoom exceeded Wall Street's profit and revenue estimates for its fiscal third quarter, however. Amgen  Shares fell more than 3% after the company said its experimental weight loss drug helped patients lose up to 20% of their weight after a year. However, those trial results appeared to be on the low end of investor expectations. Rivian Automotive  Shares of the electric vehicle maker rose about 9% after the company said it received conditional approval for a government loan of up to $6.6 billion to support its production capacity, including the construction of its Georgia EV plant. Fluence Energy  The energy storage stock fell about 4% after the company's fourth-quarter revenue missed expectations. Fluence reported $1.23 billion in revenue for the quarter, below the $1.28 billion expected by analysts, according to FactSet. Earnings per share of 34 cents was ahead of the 28 cents per share expected by analysts. Novo Nordisk , Eli Lilly  Shares of drugmakers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly rose more than 2.5% and 4.7%, respectively, after the Biden administration proposed a new rule that Medicare and Medicaid would cover costly weight loss drugs for Americans with obesity . Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Zepbound weekly injectables treat obesity.  CNBC's Sarah Min, Sean Conlon, Fred Imbert, Jesse Pound and Michelle Fox Theobald contributed reporting.
A view of the exterior of the China International Exhibition Center (Shunyi Hall), venue for the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), on November 26, 2024 in Beijing, China.

American business leaders are in China this week for meetings with officials and a high-profile supply chain expo as trade threats from a second Donald Trump presidency mount.

Among them is Apple CEO Tim Cook, who will be in attendance for the second annual 'China International Supply Chain Expo,' which kicked off Tuesday. The trip marks his third visit to the country this year and his first time attending the expo, underscoring the importance of the market to Apple's sales and supply chains.

"We're very committed to China, that's the reason I have been here three times," Cook said in a video interview with Chinese state media on Monday, adding that he expects the relationship to "only get better."

Ahead of the expo, the CEO met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang alongside other top executives from global companies, the American Chamber of Commerce in China said in a social media post. CNBC has reached out to Apple representatives for comment.

The meeting, focused on strengthening economic and trade collaboration, reportedly included representatives from American multinational technology company Corning; Rio Tinto, the world's second-largest miner; and Chinese computer maker Lenovo .

Organized by the China International Exhibition Center Group, the second CISCE expo will focus on key supply chains, such as advanced manufacturing, green and digital technology as well as supply chain services.
With a Republican sweep in Washington, Donald Trump 's raft of tax cuts that were set to expire at the end of 2025 might stick around  and that could be good news for investors who were sprinting to overhaul their financial planning. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which went into effect in 2018, overhauled the federal tax code. The legislation roughly doubled the standard deduction, tweaked the individual income tax brackets and trimmed rates. It also applied a $10,000 cap on the state and local tax deduction, and it nearly doubled the estate tax exemption. Investors, financial advisors and tax professionals were closely watching the election, as a swath of provisions in the so-called TCJA are going to sunset at the end of 2025. "We were having the issue of having to take quick action by year-end if the outcome had been different," said Stephen Bigge, CPA and partner at Keebler & Associates in Green Bay, Wisconsin. "But we have the Republican sweep for at least the next two years, so the biggest thing on the horizon is whether or not the president and Congress can get together and overhaul the TCJA either by fully adopting and extending it  or by taking parts of it and extending it and letting portions lapse," he said. Indeed, Republicans have slim margins in the House and Senate, so passage of a full extension of the legislation is no guarantee  and the discussions could be contentious. Prepping for 2025 Investors can set up their portfolios for success heading into 2025, especially now that they still have some certainty on the tax climate for next year. For starters, assess your big winners and losers in your portfolio for 2024. The S & P 500 has put on a spectacular performance, touching fresh highs this week and rallying 26% this year. "There's a lot of things, even with this election, that give us hope for a continued run of this bull market," said Rafia Hasan, certified financial planner and chief investment officer of Perigon Wealth Management, which is headquartered in San Francisco. "See where you have had some opportunities, where you've had losses in the portfolio, because not all stocks are up on a year-to-date basis," she added. Tax-loss harvesting, a move in which an investor realizes losses in underperforming positions and then uses them to offset gains elsewhere in their taxable account, is a move that can help trim taxes. If the losses exceed the gains, the investor can use up to $3,000 in losses to offset ordinary income. Remaining losses can also be carried forward into future years. Avoid violating the wash-sale rule. The Internal Revenue Service can block you from claiming the loss if you sell an asset at a loss and buy it back within 30 days before or after the sale. Even as the S & P 500 has been a strong performer in 2024, there are some losing names that could be solid for selling, including Moderna (off about 58% year to date) and Intel (down 52% in 2024), Hasan said. Bear in mind when you purchased the stock and your cost basis to see the extent to which you've lost money on paper. "Whether you have losses in these securities depends on when you bought them," she said. Investors can then replace the name they've sold with a sector ETF that's in the same space, which helps them maintain their asset allocation, Hasan added. Donate sensibly As for the hefty gains you may be carrying in your portfolio, a charitable gift of low-basis and highly appreciated stock might allow you to thin out concentrations and capture a tax benefit for doing so. "If you're charitably inclined and you have a position that has gained so much over the last year or more that it now occupies an outsized place in your portfolio, this is a great time to use it for charitable giving," said Rachel Elson, CFP and wealth advisor at Perigon. Investors can contribute assets to these accounts, collect an upfront charitable deduction and then make grants to charities. Get a bigger bang for your buck by making several years' worth of charitable donations in one shot to your donor advised fund, a move called "bunching." Older individuals  that is, those who are aged 70 and up  who are also charitably inclined may also want to look at tax-free qualified charitable distributions out of their individual retirement accounts. While distributions from an IRA are taxable, a so-called QCD is tax-free if it's sent to a qualified charity by the trustee. "For the clients who don't need the money, it's the easiest thing we go to first if you're 70," said Bigge. Eligible IRA owners can exclude up to $105,000 in QCDs from their taxable income in 2024.
Here are the biggest calls on Wall Street on Tuesday: Wells Fargo upgrades Eastman Chemical to overweight from equal weight Wells Fargo says the chemical company is "attractive." "We believe EMN can continue to generate steady EPS growth in this difficult macro, with attractive mid-cycle EBITDA in a recovery." UBS upgrades Hanesbrands to buy from neutral UBS says the undergarment company is in the middle of a turnaround. "We believe sentiment will improve significantly as HBI's organic sales growth rate accelerates, its EBIT margin expands, FY25 EPS grows 50%, its net debt/ EBITDA ratio falls to 3.0x from 4.3x in 3Q, and its dividend gets reinstated over the next 12-18 months." HSBC downgrades Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to hold from buy HSBC said the risk/reward is less attractive. "More positive on fundamentals, less positive on stocks.  We are even more positive today on fundamental outlooks and raise EPS estimates for both GS and MS to incorporate higher investment banking (IB) and asset /wealth management fees and much higher buybacks." Baird initiates Rambus as outperform Baird says the memory interface chip company is an under-the-radar data center beneficiary. " Rambus' technology and IP is central to the AI-driven performance increase in data centers, with first-to-market solutions addressing performance bottlenecks between processor and memory." Bernstein initiates Royal Caribbean as outperform Bernstein said it sees burgeoning earnings per share growth for the cruise company. " Royal Caribbean has hit cruising speed faster with its record margins and ROIC by investing in larger ships and private islands." KeyBanc reiterates Nvidia as overweight The firm says it sees "limited competitive risks" for Nvidia shares. "We maintain our estimates and price target of $180, based on 36x our FY26 EPS estimate of $5.01. We remain Overweight." Bank of America reiterates Amazon as buy Bank of America says it is bullish on Amazon's logistics operation. "We think Amazon is well positioned to capitalize on the global growth of eCommerce and other secular trends such as cloud computing, online advertising and connected devices." Evercore ISI upgrades Zoom to outperform from in line Evercore ISI upgraded the stock following earnings on Monday. "Zoom delivered yet another very solid quarter, marked by consistent operational execution, and impressive momentum across their newer product offerings." Citi upgrades Chevron to buy from neutral Citi says the oil giant is undervalued. "While Chevron equity has bounced a little in the last 2M [months], it has still substantially underperformed key peer ExxonMobil and SPX through 2024." TD Cowen initiates Pinterest as buy TD Cowen initiated the stock with a buy and says it is a "margin story." " Pinterest is a visual search and discovery platform where users explore their interests, seek inspiration, and browse items they may want to purchase." Wells Fargo reiterates Starbucks as overweight Wells Fargo raised its price target on the stock to $115 per share from $110. "As news circulates of SBUX exploring strategic options for its China business, we see a no-lose situation, as both JV or spin/sale scenarios could boost LT margins/EPS. P/E sits +19% vs LT avg, but the '25 bar is low & China de-risk a pot'l catalyst." Guggenheim upgrades Capri to buy from hold Guggenheim said the owner of brands such as Michael Kors is a "Black Friday holiday stuffer." "This morning, we are upgrading shares of Capri Holdings to Buy from Neutral given its depressed valuation (versus its historical earnings) and our belief this management team can take steps to increase shareholder value." Barclays reiterates Apple as underweight The firm says there could be some fallout for Apple due to the Alphabet and Department of Justice case . "While AAPL is not directly involved in the Google/DoJ case, the outcome could have a meaningful impact on its model. While the initial read is fairly negative for AAPL revenues and earnings, there will likely be changes, and also AAPL could back fill lost revenues with its own ad stack over time." UBS reinstates United, Delta and Alaska Airlines The firm says all three airlines are firing on all cylinders. " UAL , DAL, & ALK (all Buy-rated) screen positive on all four of the parameters." Redburn Atlantic Equities reiterates Amazon as buy The firm raised its price target on the stock to $235 per share from $225. "Full-stack vertical integration stands out as a defining advantage, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) continues to solidify its leadership in this area." Morgan Stanley reiterates Anheuser-Busch InBev as overweight The firm says the beverage giant has "strong cash flows" and is a top pick. "While we cut 2025 EPS by 10%, to 3% below consensus, we still see ABI as the most attractive proposition within beverages given strong cash flows - enabling share buybacks and early debt retirement - and valuation." Evercore ISI reiterates Foot Locker as outperform Evercore ISI added the stock to its top five list and says investors should buy the dip. "We add FL to our Top 5 Outperform list, and remove GAP after that stock's run on EPS last week. ... .Stock Weakness Based on a Backwards-Looking Focus on Sept/Oct Trends FL had solid sales in 3Q when it mattered with a great Back to School."
Walmart on Monday confirmed that it's ending some of its diversity initiatives, removing some LGBTQ-related merchandise from its website and winding down a nonprofit that funded programs for minorities.

The nation's largest employer, which has about 1.6 million U.S. workers, joined a growing list of companies that have stepped back from diversity, equity and inclusion efforts after feeling the heat from conservative activists.

Some have also attributed changes to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision last year that struck down affirmative action programs at colleges.

Those companies include Tractor Supply , which said in June it was eliminating DEI roles and stopping sponsorship of Pride festivals. Lowe's, Ford and Molson Coors have also walked back some of their equity and inclusion policies in recent months.

Others, such as Anheuser-Busch-owned Bud Light and Target , have faced sharp backlash and falling sales after marketing campaigns or merchandise focused on the LGBTQ community.

In a statement, Walmart said it is "willing to change alongside our associates and customers who represent all of America."

"We've been on a journey and know we aren't perfect, but every decision comes from a place of wanting to foster a sense of belonging, to open doors to opportunities for all our associates, customers and suppliers and to be a Walmart for everyone," the statement said.

Among the changes, Walmart will no longer allow third-party sellers to sell some LGBTQ-themed items on Walmart's website, including items marketed to transgender youth such as chest binders, company spokeswoman Molly Blakeman said.

She said it also recently decided to stop sharing data with the Human Rights Campaign, a nonprofit that tracks companies' LGBTQ policies, or with other similar organizations.

Additionally, the big-box retailer is winding down the Center for Racial Equity, a nonprofit that Walmart started in 2020 after George Floyd's murder sparked protests across the country. At the time, Walmart and the company's foundation pledged $100 million over five years to fight systemic racism and create the center.

Over the past year, the company has phased out supplier diversity programs, which gave preferential financing to some groups, such as women and minorities, after the Supreme Court decision striking down affirmative action.

It's also moved away from using the term "diversity, equity and inclusion" or DEI in company documents, employee titles and employee resource groups. For example, its former chief diversity officer role is now called the chief belonging officer.

Blakeman said Walmart will continue to award grants, disaster relief, and funding to events such as Pride parades, but with more guidelines on how funding can be used.

Some recent changes came on the heels of pressure from conservative activist Robby Starbuck, who threatened a consumer boycott of Walmart. Starbuck, a vocal DEI opponent who had also put heat on Tractor Supply, touted Walmart's changes in a post on X, describing them as "the biggest win yet for our movement to end wokeness in corporate America."

Walmart had conversations with Starbuck over the last week and already had some DEI-related changes underway, Blakeman said.

Walmart's DEI changes were first reported by Bloomberg News.
Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!

Your notification has been saved.

There was a problem saving your notification.

{{description}}

Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Another week, another record was broken by the top cryptocurrency in the world, Bitcoin, as it is now sitting comfortably at the $90,000 threshold and was close to breaking the $100,000 valuation leading this edition of CryptoWatch. Moreover, there was also the former chief technology officer of FTX, Gary Wang, who was not given a prison sentence after his recent hearing.

Lastly, get updated on the latest top coin prices available in the market after another massive week of improvements led by Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and more which are enjoying a significant rise.

Bitcoin is Close to Achieving $100k, Now Lounging at $90k

The cryptocurrency industry is booming in the market, with Bitcoin significantly leading the charge as it was seen rallying yet again last week and was close to achieving a $100,000 valuation. This massive climb by Bitcoin also reached a new all-time high at around $99,000 but was only a few hundred dollars short of breaking the wall as the market closed last weekend.

It was seen as an impressive feat after significantly climbing in the market last early November and according to the report by Bloomberg (via Yahoo Finance), its rise is still tied to President-elect Donald J. Trump's massive rise.

Many are expecting that Bitcoin will soon break the $100,000 threshold after a significantly promising rally in the market only last week, and it is now closing into the new record expected by year's end.

Read Also: 5 Tips Every iPhone Bitcoin Trader Needs to Hear

Former FTX CTO Gary Wang Avoids Jail Time

The former FTX CTO Gary Wang has successfully avoided jail time after he was given by US District Judge Lewis Kaplan a free pass following a recent hearing in Manhattan, New York. Wang is known for his significant help to Bankman-Fried in defrauding FTX customers and investors by creating the program that allowed the former CEO to steal as much as $8 billion.

Reuters reported that SBF's close ally was the last to know about the fraudulent actions by the executive, centering on the crimes that were being committed under everyone's noses, back when FTX was still operating.

Wang, like Caroline Ellison, was known for testifying against Bankman-Fried during last year's hearings and his testimonies helped in convicting the former CEO. However, unlike Ellison, Wang was not given a sentence to serve behind bars.

Top Coin Prices in the Market Now

Towards the last week of November, the cryptocurrency market saw another significant rise in the market for the third consecutive time, with Bitcoin and Ethereum leading the massive rally. Based on the charts by CoinMarketCap, all coins in the top ten list saw promising numbers over the past seven days except for the stablecoin USDC which saw a slight dip.

That being said, Cardano which took the ninth spot on the list was the top-performing crypto with a 42.98 percent climb over the past week.

Bitcoin (BTC) - Price: $98,260.18 | 9.04 percent increase over the past seven days Ethereum (ETH) - Price: $3,473.91 | 13.79 percent decrease over the past seven days Tether (USDT) - Price: $1.00 | 0.06 percent decrease over the past seven days Solana (SOL) - Price: $252.40 | 4.15 percent increase over the past seven days Binance Coin (BNB) - Price: $664.26 | 7.96 percent decrease over the past seven days
The largest South Asian country, India, remains stern on its plans to pursue its antitrust case against Apple after turning down its request to investigate its anti-competitive behavior in the nation. This means that Apple's antitrust case against iOS' App Store dominance in the country and for allegedly exploiting its significant position to undermine its customers, developers, and more.

It was revealed that this case against Apple dates back to 2021, but Cupertino wanted India to suspend the investigations for now as the Indian watchdog reportedly shared 'commercial secrets' with other companies.

India Pushes for Apple App Store Antitrust Case

India's regulator, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), recently denied Apple's request to hold the country's investigation regarding the antitrust complaint against the company, Reuters reported. This was revealed by a recently seen internal order from the Indian watchdog by the news publication after Cupertino asked the country's authorities to "withhold the revised report."

This follows up on India's antitrust complaint against Apple that stems back to three years ago which also involved another Big Tech company, Match, best known as the owner of the online dating site, Tinder.

Because of this, India's CCI senior officials are now moving toward reviewing the investigation report on Apple and making their decisions on the final ruling that will conclude the antitrust case in the country.

Apple Wants India to Suspend Investigations

According to the report, Apple wants India to suspend reviewing the investigation report as Cupertino previously complained against the main plaintiff, Together We Fight Society (TWFS), an Indian non-profit. Cupertino claimed that TWFS did not comply with the directives to ensure that old investigation reports were destroyed.

Moreover, Apple complained about the CCI for disclosing 'commercial secrets' to competitors that should have been redacted, and the second most valuable company argued against taking action against TWFS for non-compliance.

As per the CCI's investigation, Apple was said to have 'exploited' its dominant position on the market on iOS app stores, but Cupertino brushed off these allegations claiming that Google and Android are the more dominant in the country.

Apple App Store Antitrust Complaints

Apple and its App Store dominance have been a massive focus by global authorities for its alleged anti-competitive behavior and monopolistic tactics that hurt its users, developers, and partners in the process. In the United States alone, it is expected that Apple will have to fight for its business 'for many years' against the Justice Department for its 'iPhone dominance' which trumps the competition.

Moreover, the ramping Digital Markets Act (DMA) from the European Commission is one of the top threats against Apple's operations in the region, particularly as it previously asked Cupertino to apply changes to its business or face significant fines. It is known that Apple has been given a 'gatekeeper' status for its operations, including its App Store dominance that long prevented third-party payment platforms and app marketplaces for EU users.

That being said, Apple is also facing hot waters over at Asia with Japan and South Korea's ramping campaign against Cupertino's monopolistic behavior, with the company also facing antitrust complaints. Another massive Asian country is known for its antitrust complaint against Apple, with India recently denying its request to halt the investigation and continuing for now.
The story of Trey Parker and Matt Stones restaurant is far from over

Trey Parker and Matt Stones giant pink novelty restaurant has been generating a lot of news stories this month  from the announcement that Casa Bonita would be selling Christmas candles that smell like Casa Bonita, to reports that the venue was forced to evacuate diners due to a nauseating sewage odor, which presumably didnt help with candle sales.

But more consequentially, there has now been a major development concerning Casa Bonita employees efforts to secure better wages and the right to not be put in danger while entertaining children/drunken South Park fans.

As we mentioned last month, Casa Bonitas resident performers (meaning the cliff divers, puppeteers, musicians, actors, magicians etc.) were beginning the process of unionization, citing the need for fair pay and the unaddressed safety concerns, which ranged from carbon monoxide levels in certain rooms, to insufficient training for staff members.

Don't Miss

Now, according to a recent press release, Casa Bonitas onstage and backstage workers have to unionize with Actors Equity Association and IATSE Local 7, respectively. And the vote wasnt close. In fact, it was unanimous. We love Casa Bonita, the workers noted in a public statement, 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."

If that didnt sound fair enough already, workers demands arguably just line up with what Parker and Stone have been saying publicly about Casa Bonita for a while now. The recent documentary Casa Bonita Mi Amor! made a big to-do about how much safer the restaurant would be following the duos exhaustive renovations. But as one Casa Bonita actor, William Riley Holmes, told Denver7 news, there were still issues, including that the cliff divers had no emergency action plan in place in case of an accident.

Holmes also disclosed that Casa Bonita performers are assaulted pretty routinely while on the job, and explained that the behind-the-scenes push for a union gained traction when a particular management team ignored employees concerns.

Advertisement

And while Parker and Stone got a lot of publicity for promising to pay servers a living wage (minus tips) prior to the restaurants opening, Holmes also pointed out that the average entertainer makes $23 an hour, which is even below the living wage rate for a single adult with no children.

Plus, Parker has repeatedly likened Casa Bonita to Disneyland. So it should really come as no surprise that the performers are now joining the same union that represents Disneys theme park actors.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Now the contract bargaining between the union and management will begin. Hopefully Casa Bonitas workers will get a fair deal from the restaurant that sells $43 candles.
Kendrick Lamar said that its time to stop supporting unfunny white comedians who degrade Black women, and now Andrew Schulz feels attacked.

On Friday, hip-hop giant Lamar surprise-dropped his sixth studio album, GNX, his first full-length record following his highly publicized feud with Drake earlier this year. Never afraid of a fight, the Compton, California-born rapper used GNX to go on the attack against other high-profile artists whom he thinks misuse their platform, rapping on the opening track wacced out murals that he wants to make Katt Williams proud, a reference to the comics many hilarious viral accusations against his line-stepping peers. Lamar then proclaimed, Dont let no white comedian talk about no Black woman, thats law.

Don't Miss

Despite the fact that Lamar didnt actually name any white comic guilty of trashing Black women, Schulz has apparently decided that an attack on one douchebag comedian  even an unnamed one  is an attack on all douchebag comedians. When podcaster DJ Akademiks asked Schulz about the track, he accused Lamar of being too woke to understand a joke, as if a bar that weak could ever hurt the rapper who made Not Like Us:

Like many conservative comedy podcasters, Schulz jumped at the chance to elevate his platform during the recent election cycle by inviting President-Elect Donald Trump onto his show Flagrant to listen to Schulz B-minus abortion jokes and court his sizable following of impressionable young white men without pushback. Schulz is one of the most successful second-wave Manosphere podcasters who copied Joe Rogans homework en route to creating a high-volume content mill where podcast clips with titles like Woke Hollywood Proves Liberals Are the Real White Supremacists amass millions of views, and, with the Trump seal of approval, the New York-born stand-ups SEO-optimizing brand of comedy is now more visible than ever. But popularity comes with criticism, both implied and imagined.

Advertisement

If Lamar was referencing Schulz in the wacced out murals lyric as the comic seems to believe, its likely because of a Flagrant episode Schulz recorded with British podcasters James Duncan and Fuhad Dawodu in September wherein the group talked about the Black Girlfriend Effect that was popular on TikTok at the time. Instead of rehashing all the jokes the internet already made about buzz-cuts and beards, as is Schulz typical approach to trending topics, Schulz went on a rant about how white guys who date Black women shave their hair because they start losing it from being so stressed, being around this Black girl thats complaining about shit all the fucking time.

Advertisement

They grow a beard because theres more cushion when they get slapped, Schulz said of the race-mixers who earned his ire. I think the Black Girlfriend Effect might be a protective instinct.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Schulz has refused to apologize for his anti-Black-women, anti-miscegenation jokes, but Duncan and Dawodu quickly washed their own hands of the ugly incident. Andrew was making a joke, frankly a racist joke, and we were laughing at it, Duncan said on the next episode of the duos ShxtsNGigs podcast. Were sorry. For me its one of them ones where you dont realize that, when youre part of a community, you dont realize you can hurt your own community."

Now, Schulz is claiming that Lamar cant take a joke, despite the fact that Schulz clearly cant even hear a diss without telling on himself.
No more Joe Biden? No problem for Dana Carvey, who debuted his weirdo Elon Musk impression in the first post-election episode of Saturday Night Live. Jumping up and down in his all-black Musk gear, Carvey did a victory lap. Check it out, Dark MAGA! Carvey said in a heavy, inconsistent accent. Yeah, but seriously, I run the country now.

The real Elon Musk was not a fan. Dana Carvey just sounds like Dana Carvey, he complained on Twitter when someone asked his opinion of the impression. SNL has been dying slowly for years, as they become increasingly out of touch with reality. For the record, Musk hosted the comedy show himself in 2021, with his own ideas for how to add a little R-rated comedy to the 50-year-old institution.

Now someone else is coming forward to criticize Carveys Musk impression: Dana Carvey himself. I cant do Elon Musk very well, he admitted to David Space on a recent episode of their Superfly podcast. But I can do something that sounds not like anything. He has an incredible accent  South Africa via Canada via Pennsylvania. Its almost like, its a little bit of Australian in there, a little bit of British, but hes not totally that.

Don't Miss

Better was Carveys Biden, a popular impression after several celebrities and SNL cast members have taken their shots since the Obama administration. I didnt see it out there enough, a Biden impression, he told Spade on an earlier Superfly episode. (There are) a lot of brilliant Trumps  Shane (Gillis), James Austin Johnson. Biden is trickier, getting that high-energy part of him, and that didnt come out until maybe six months into his first term when they asked him some question and he got kind of mad.

It sounds kind of corny, he added, but the true North Star is to try to make it funny and not really get it to be a political message, per se.

Advertisement

Carveys cameo parade has turned into a full-time gig this year, appearing in every single episode so far in Season 50. And hes returning for more, he told Spade. Im going back in December.

Has the old dog learned any new tricks upon his return? I'll tell you a fun fact, Carvey said. When you leave the good nights at SNL, sometimes you do it with the host. You go sort of under the bleachers and you come out. So I think it was John Mulaney, he just went right before me and then he started skipping. So I started skipping too and skipping feels really good compared to walking or even running. So now, if you ever seen me on SNL, you see me come off the stage just remember within seconds, I will be skipping for quite a while.
2 Palestinians shot dead by Israeli army in N. West Bank

Xinhua) 08:39, November 26, 2024

Mourners attend the funeral of two Palestinians killed by Israeli forces during a raid in Jenin, northern West Bank, on Nov. 25, 2024. A Palestinian teenager and a young man were shot dead on Sunday night by the Israeli army during a raid on the town of Ya'bad, south of Jenin, in the northern West Bank, according to a Palestinian medical official on Monday. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian teenager and a young man were shot dead on Sunday night by the Israeli army during a raid on the town of Ya'bad, south of Jenin, in the northern West Bank, according to a Palestinian medical official on Monday.

Director of Jenin Governmental Hospital, Wissam Bakr, told Xinhua that a boy was shot with live ammunition in the chest and face, and another young man was shot in the head and taken to a medical center in the town.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health identified in a brief statement the two Palestinians as 13-year-old Muhammad Rabi' Jamal Hamarsheh and 20-year-old Ahmad Mahmoud Zaid.

Local Palestinian sources said that Israeli forces stormed the town and opened fire at them, resulting in their deaths.

The Israel Defense Forces said its soldiers spotted that the pair were carrying explosives, which they hurled at security forces, and soldiers then opened fire, killing both of them, according to Israeli media on Monday.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, the West Bank has been witnessing an increasing escalation that has killed more than 770 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Relatives mourn during the funeral of two Palestinians killed by Israeli forces during a raid in Jenin, northern West Bank, on Nov. 25, 2024. A Palestinian teenager and a young man were shot dead on Sunday night by the Israeli army during a raid on the town of Ya'bad, south of Jenin, in the northern West Bank, according to a Palestinian medical official on Monday. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Eswatini shall never be the same.

I wish to be around in 2054. I want to see what generation we shall be having - their attitudes and approach to issues of national significance. The civil unrest of 2021 in Eswatini represents a pivotal moment in the nations historya moment where the collective consciousness of some of its people awakened to the possibility of a different future.

The demand for political reform and the push for an inclusive dialogue are steps towards reclaiming agency over their governance. Eswatini erupted in civil unrest as citizens took to the streets to protest against the high rate of unemployment and others called for political reforms. Before the civil unrest, I could say emaSwati were not a nation that would, in a twinkle of an eye, stand up in large numbers to force the State and government to accede to demands that are political in nature.

The excitement by some emaSwati that they are travelling to KaMhlushwa in South Africa to attend a political rally organized by the Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) is enough evidence of the political consciousness I am talking about today. The silence surrounding issues of governance had compounded over the years, with many citizens feeling powerless to effect change. However, the events of 2021 starkly contrasted this narrative. For many Eswatini citizens, the protests brought a realisation that their voices mattered and that collective action was a potent tool against bad governance.

The mobilisation of thousands, especially the involvement of young people, indicates a shifting perspective among the populace. Yes, there is a shift. This generation, raised amid socio-economic challenges and equipped with access to information via social media, began questioning the status quo and demanding accountability from their leaders.

The protests acted as an eye-opener, igniting political discussions that had long been non-existent, propelling Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of South Africa, the late former President of Namibia and Hage Gottfried Geingob to visit the country to hold talks with His Majesty the King. Social movements and civil society organisations played a noticeable role in articulating the demands for reform, thus transforming political disengagement into active participation.

However, as the unrest intensified, the government responded with a heavy hand to violent scenes that caused destruction of property estimated at E3 billion, the equivalent of US$167 million. The protests, initially sparked by grievances around the political system and economic conditions, demonstrated a collective yearning for change. That we should not deny. At the height of the civil disobedience, many of our people almost went into exile. The situation on the ground influenced them into thinking that the current leadership had collapsed.

Backed by three lawmakers in Mduduzi Magawugawu Simelane, Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube, citizens, particularly the youth, found their voices and took a stand against the governments service delivery, which they described as poor. The demands for democracy, accountability, and transparency resonated across various segments of society, breaking down barriers of apathy that had long plagued the nation.

This awakening underscored the necessity for a critical dialogue on political reforms, as well as the dangers of violence and retaliatory measures that could further deepen the crisis. The unrest, therefore, underscored the necessity for the dialogue. I do not agree with political analysts and activists that the King holds immense power. One would be astonished if I were to sit him down, show him some influential emaSwati working for government and State who defy the Kings instructions.

Reports of alleged brutality against protesters and tragic incidents of violence raised alarm among local and international observers to issue statement of condemnation. These actions not only further alienated the populace but also underscored the urgent need for dialogue. The cycle of violence birthed by retaliatory measures could exacerbate tensions, leading to further instability and suffering among the very citizens the government purported to protect.

Other analysts are of the view that the civil unrest highlighted the deep-seated frustrations within the populace regarding unemployment, inequality and political freedoms. It is an indisputable veracity that the protests did not adhere to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini which spells out clearly the processes that must be followed to initiate political reforms in the country.

Of course, there is no denial that we were historically regarded as a peaceful and respectful nation that did not confront elders or take to the streets whenever they were issues of concern. Post-civil unrest, emaSwati are no longer the same. Those who have attended community meetings can tell a story on how outspoken they are now. Now, they do not fear to tell a chief that he is out of order.

I presume that the resulting turmoil served as a catalyst for political awareness among many citizens, raising crucial questions about governance, rights, and the future of the nation. On the other hand, the Tinkhundla System of Government defends itself from utterances that are prone to undermining its credibility and relevance to the digital world. Therefore, dialogue was thought to be fundamentally essential in addressing the political unrest and formulating the necessary reforms.

The State and Government convened the Peoples Parliament, known as Sibaya, to address the political and economic concerns. The national meeting or Peoples Parliament was held inside a cattle byre at Ludzidzini Royal Residence.Government pointed out that Sibaya served as the dialogue for which certain emaSwati and international community were advocating. This was disputed by political parties and civil society. I must mention that open communication between the government and the citizens is crucial to rebuilding trust and promoting a cooperative approach towards governance.

Political reforms that genuinely reflect the will of the people are vital for Eswatinis stability and progress. Initiating an inclusive dialogue platform, where all stakeholdersincluding civil society, opposition parties, and the monarchycan engage, is imperative for laying the groundwork for a more democratic society. As a nation, let us not procrastinate as the problem may become insurmountable in future and very complicated to solve.

It is against this background that a focus on dialogue can break down the divisions created by conflict and foster a culture of understanding. As seen in many nations emerging from political strife, the willingness to talk and negotiate often paves the way for sustainable solutions. In Eswatini, establishing dialogues can help address the root causes of discontent, allowing the government to respond proactively to issues such as perceived or alleged human rights abuses, economic inequalities, and access to political representation.

Violence

Moreover, it is critical to warn against the allure of violence and assassinations as avenues for change. While frustration and despair can lead individuals towards violent paths, history has repeatedly shown that violence begets more violence. Engaging in acts of revenge or retaliation hinders progress and deepens the societal rifts that must be healed for genuine reform. Instead, the focus should remain on peaceful protests, advocacy, and negotiation as powerful means to effect change without further loss of life or liberty.

Furthermore, the international community's role cannot be overlooked in these discussions. Solidarity with the people of Eswatini in their pursuit of democracy is vital. Pressure on the government to engage in meaningful dialogue can help shape a conducive environment for political reforms. International watchdogs and organizations can provide support to civil society, amplify the voices of the citizens, and hold the government accountable for human rights violations.

In conclusion, the civil unrest has politicised the youth and marginalised voices of Eswatini, bringing to light the pressing need for reforms and a restructuring of the political landscape. Dialogue remains a fundamental prerequisite for the necessary changes, emphasising the importance of peaceful means to address grievances and foster a society rooted in democracy, tolerance, love, humility and respect. The journey towards a democratic Eswatini will require persistence, a commitment to peaceful dialogue, and an unwavering belief that a brighter future is attainable.

RESPECT IN POLITICAL DEBATES CRUCIAL

In the intricate tapestry of democratic governance, the threads of respect and dissent weave together to form a robust and resilient fabric. The significance of respecting one another and embracing dissent in political debates cannot be overstated, as they are essential components in the preservation and advancement of democracy.

By fostering a culture that values these principles, societies can better navigate the complexities of political discourse, bridge divides, and cultivate a more inclusive and representative political landscape. At its core, democracy thrives on the participation and engagement of its citizens. Political debates serve as important platforms for expressing diverse perspectives, enabling elected representatives and the public to engage in dialogue about policies and the future of their communities.

Respect in these debates is crucial; it establishes a foundation upon which meaningful discussions can occur. When individuals approach political discourse with respect for one another, it sets the tone for civil engagement, encouraging participants to listen actively and consider viewpoints different from their own. This respectful exchange of ideas fosters mutual understanding, reduces animosity, and promotes cooperation across ideological lines.

Respect, however, should not be mistaken for conformity or the suppression of dissent. In fact, embracing dissent is equally vital in political debates. Dissent is the catalyst for change, innovation, and progress within a democratic society. It challenges prevailing norms, sheds light on overlooked issues, and pushes boundaries to create more equitable policies. By welcoming dissenting voices, democracies reaffirm their commitment to pluralism and freedom of expression. This inclusivity ensures that marginalised groups have a seat at the table and that their concerns are addressed, ultimately strengthening the social fabric.

Moreover, dissent in political debates acts as a safeguard against authoritarianism and groupthink. When dissent is stifled, societies risk creating echo chambers where only dominant viewpoints are amplified, leading to a homogenisation of ideas that can erode democratic institutions.I must say that encouraging dissent helps to diversify the marketplace of ideas, ensuring that policies are rigorously tested and refined before implementation. This process not only enhances the quality of governance but also reinforces public trust in democratic systems, as citizens see their leaders willing to consider and incorporate a wide array of perspectives.

The interplay between respect and dissent plays a pivotal role in promoting healthy political debates. Respect ensures that dissenting opinions are not dismissed outright but are given the consideration they deserve. The challenge lies in maintaining this delicate balance, where differing viewpoints can coexist and thrive in a respectful environment. To achieve this, educational institutions, media, and civic organisations must actively champion media literacy, critical thinking, and empathy.

These skills empower individuals to engage in thoughtful and informed political debates, fostering a culture of mutual respect and understanding. Political leaders and public figures must model respectful behaviour in their interactions.In conclusion, by demonstrating a willingness to listen, question, and collaborate across party lines, they set a precedent for civil discourse that resonates throughout society.
On Sunday morning I was on Laura Kuenssberg's BBC politics show alongside Piers Morgan. I've met Piers a number of times in recent years and got to know him a little.

Serious and professional on screen, he is good company off it  and you don't have to spend long with him to understand how he became a broadcasting success. He streams his show, Uncensored, on YouTube, and gets millions of views. Even if you are offended by what he says, you know he passionately believes it.

We both arrived early and chatted about the US election which Piers had covered from New York. He told me about the response to the Democrat campaign advert in which Kamala Harris said, among other things, that transgender prisoners would have taxpayer-funded access to full sex-change surgery while locked up.

The Republicans hit back with a brilliant ad which said: 'Kamala is for they/them, Trump is for you.' That is one election slogan I can promise you will never see the Labour Party copy.

Piers, who knows Donald Trump well from their time together on the American version of The Apprentice, said that the mood in the US was broadly positive: Trump had squarely won a mandate to govern.

We shared our experiences of the meltdown of the Lefties during and after the US election. Emily Maitlis had a near breakdown on the Channel 4 election-night programme and co-presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy had to tell her off for swearing live on air.

If anyone is a deal maker, surely it's Donald Trump, the phenomenally successful businessman and author of the bestseller, The Art Of The Deal

The not-so-clever duo of former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell and ex-Tory MP Rory Stewart had predicted with arrogant assuredness that it would be a clear win for Kamala Harris, treating us all to their smug political analysis and providing the evidence as to why this would be the case.

At the very least, they showed themselves up to be members of an elite liberal-Left metropolitan class completely out of touch with ordinary voters.

The substance of my chat with Piers, though, was about Trump's assertion that he would end the Russia/Ukraine war in a day  a claim that's been widely mocked by high-minded know-alls.

None of their ilk has been talking about the fact that a Trump victory could actually bring about world peace and prosperity, but I really think it might.

Let me explain why.

If anyone is a deal maker, surely it's Trump, the phenomenally successful businessman and author of the bestseller, The Art Of The Deal.

Piers told me he spoke four times to Trump during the election period, and while he sounded hoarse and exhausted, he was by all accounts sanguine.

There is a huge difference between Trump today and Trump in his first presidential term. This time round, he is fully prepared after four years of waiting and has a strong team around him, raring to go.

He also has by his side his 'First Buddy' Elon Musk  the richest and perhaps most successful man in the world.

But can he really end the Russia/Ukraine war in a day? I wouldn't be surprised if he already has the peace process under way before he moves into the White House in January.

Look at the facts. Putin, a man with whom he has a personal relationship, is suffering. Sanctions are damaging the Russian economy as he resorts to paying huge sums of money to boost enlistment into the Ukraine 'meat grinder'.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainians are awash with grief at the escalating number of their own losses in a war they never asked for. President Zelensky, in turn, cannot win the war without financial support from the US and the West.

All of which means Trump is possibly the only man in the world who can bring both sides to the table and cut a deal. He's already achieved the seemingly impossible, having pulled off the biggest political comeback of all time.

He knows war is bad business and costs money and lives. He could lift sanctions on Russia in return for an end to Russian hostility. He could perhaps persuade Ukraine to cede land in exchange for peace, allowing Putin to save face, while offering to divert financial support from arms to rebuilding the country.

Trump could well be the man who brings to an end talk of nuclear missiles and cyber attacks and who heralds in an era of peace and security.

If he also brings about a resolution to the war between Israel and Hamas, then he could feasibly win the Nobel Peace Prize. Just imagine how the Left would react to that!

Welcome to the Trumpswolds

Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres at the 2021 People's Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California

Former US chat show host Ellen DeGeneres (above right, with wife Portia de Rossi) is moving to the Cotswolds, reportedly to escape Trump's presidency.

I'm really looking forward to bumping into her at my Bamford Club spa's reformer Pilates class, or maybe in Jeremy Clarkson's pub, The Farmer's Dog. One thing I am sure of is that her immediate neighbours are all Trump supporters and she's going to find as many MAGA fans here as there were in the US.

However, we are all far too polite to mention it, so she will live among us all, blissfully unaware.

Scousers always win out

I'm blown away by Coleen Rooney in I'm A Celebrity. I have always been a huge fan. Coleen and I are from the same gene pool, born in Liverpool and of immediate Irish heritage. We even lived in the same Cheshire village for a while.

I've long admired her for being a great mum, an advocate for loyalty and a wholesome family life, whilst at the same time pursuing her path as a businesswoman and coping with a wayward husband. And now she's a jungle celebrity on our screens.

No one knows better than I do that Scousers are often underestimated. Do that, at your peril (Emily Maitlis, take note!).

It's advice someone should have given to Rebekah Vardy long before she thought of taking Coleen to court in the Wagatha case and becoming a very public loser.

E-scooters are a nightmare on our streets and pavements, with thousands of accidents being reported. I witnessed an accident myself in London just the other day.

If those who used them didn't have a taste for speed and were safety aware, there wouldn't be a problem.

Sadly, the country is full of idiots and this can only end one way, with e-scooters being banned.

A coward for too long

Last week in my column, I wrote about the abuse I had suffered at the hands of a Church of England vicar when I was nine years old.

It wasn't the smartest thing for me to have done in the week I launched my book, Downfall: The Self-Destruction of The Conservative Party, but I couldn't not do it after the reports of yet more cases of abuse in the Church and the resignation of Justin Welby.

Kind people tell me how brave I have been, but that's not the case. I have been a coward for too long. Deterred by my own feelings of shame, I let the perpetrator  Reverend James Cameron  and his depraved acts win for all these years.

I've now learnt that the more you speak openly about the demons of your past, the quicker they fade. A lesson I wish I had learnt far sooner.
With huge fanfare, the Government today launches an ambitious drive to get Britain working again.

The aim, to drag two million people off sickness and employment benefits and into jobs, should be welcomed.

It would give those coming off the dole the dignity of labour, slash the eye-watering welfare bill and fuel economic growth.

Just one question: Where are all these job vacancies going to be found?

Having promised to be more pro-business than Tony Blair, Rachel Reeves has produced a Budget that milked companies with a punishing National Insurance rise.

At the CBI conference, angry firms left the Chancellor in no doubt what this meant. Coupled with the cost of a higher minimum wage and new workers rights, companies are cutting jobs or not hiring new staff.

As a result there will be fewer positions to fill  even if the Governments back-to-work blitz succeeds. This is another example of Labours conflicting policies. As becomes ever clearer, one hand doesnt seem to know what the other is doing.

A delicate dilemma

The clock is ticking remorselessly down to the first Commons vote on assisted dying in nearly a decade.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater in her office in the Houses of Parliament, London, as she discusses her private member's bill, The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

On Friday, MPs will decide whether terminally ill adults with less than six months to live should be allowed, with medical and legal approval, to receive lethal drugs

On Friday, MPs will decide whether terminally ill adults with less than six months to live should be allowed, with medical and legal approval, to receive lethal drugs. Perhaps the most consequential legislation since capital punishment was abolished, it would change our society.

Yet many dont truly understand the issue. While two-thirds support state-assisted suicide, this falls to just 11 per cent when people learn what it entails. Many wrongly think it involves life-prolonging treatment.

There are passionate voices on both sides. Many who back the Bill will have watched a loved one die in agony. Others fear it could usher in death on demand, as the elderly feel they have become a burden. Others worry palliative care is too patchy to offer the terminally ill a proper choice.

So it is disheartening that a debate which should be nuanced, and draw heavily on the knowledge of experts, has been squashed into just a few weeks.

And surely this legislation merits more than a five-hour discussion in Westminster. It is too sensitive to be rushed.

Classroom bullies

The Left-wing education establishment has for years been itching to dismantle vital reforms brought in by recent Tory governments to drive up school standards.

They bitterly resented the introduction by Michael Gove, as education secretary, of tougher testing, firm discipline, academic rigour and, above all, high expectations.

With the teaching unions grip on schools weakened, Britain shot up the international league tables. But now a sympathetic and pliable Labour government is in power, the militants believe they can reassert control.

The National Education Union wants ministers to scrap Sats, reduce the number of exams and slim down the curriculum

The National Education Union wants ministers to scrap Sats, reduce the number of exams and slim down the curriculum.

A reduced workload would, of course, suit the unions members. But ripping up the Tories good work would have a baleful effect on the education of Britains children.

Having watered down Ofsted inspections, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has already appeased the teaching unions.

This time she should not cave in. Poverty of ambition was at the heart of this countrys educational failure for decades. Pupils suffer when standards are dumbed down.
Almost a year ago now, when Dame Esther Rantzen first launched her campaign for a free vote on assisted dying in Parliament, I was very much in favour of decriminalisation.

I felt (and still do) that too many people suffer exhausting, highly medicalised and drawn-out deaths, often fraught with frustration and humiliation.

Having witnessed several friends battle incurable, degenerative diseases  in particular multiple sclerosis, one of the cruellest illnesses  I thought that a legal framework allowing patients to exercise a greater degree of control over the manner of their own exits would be a good thing.

Now that the hour of the Commons vote is finally approaching on Friday, I'm not so sure.

The basic principles have not changed. It's still the case that doctors can now prolong life as never before. But it is also the case that, all too often, such lives can be very poor-quality. Is it really 'living' if the person is unconscious, or in constant excruciating pain, or unable to move, speak or feed themselves? If they must subject themselves to daily physical intrusions, if the machinery of their body has broken down to such an extent as to make the very act of taking the next breath a torture?

From a purely intellectual point of view, it seems right  indeed necessary  to ask those questions. But what I've come to realise over the course of the past year, as the arguments for and against have unfolded, is that it is not an intellectual question we're trying to answer here, but a human one.

And I don't think humans  let alone politicians - can be trusted not to muck this one up.

Not that I'm one of those 'only God can decide' types - although I respect that view. But while I firmly believe that most of humanity is generally good and kind, a significant minority are not. There are far too many who prey on the weak and the vulnerable - and the risk of coercive control in these cases cannot be ignored.

Protesters stage a demonstration outside Parliament in opposition to the assisted dying Bill

It's not just the obvious  the pensioner pressurised into making an early exit by unscrupulous family, for example. What really worries me, particularly in the current political climate, is cultural and political coercion - the idea that we face certain insurmountable social and financial pressures and that therefore there is something expedient about legalising assisted dying as a way of reducing the bill.

I am reminded of that deeply unsettling scene in Midsommar (the 2019 film starring Florence Pugh about a murderous Swedish cult) in which two elders, having reached the end of their 'useful' lives, commit suicide by jumping off a cliff on to the rocks below. One dies instantly, the other survives, their screams of agony echoing throughout the valley until eventually the other cult members crush them to death with a mallet.

The risk is we end up with a sanitised version of that. Especially if you look at assisted dying not only in the context of this government's general incompetence, but also its clear disdain for old people - as expressed through the removal of the winter fuel allowance, the tax raid on pensions and the fact that the employers' national insurance hike will inevitably lead to care home closures.

Add to that the changes in inheritance tax for farmers, and from the point of view of some government bean counters at least, encouraging old people to remove the burden they represent might seem like an attractive solution.

It's also of a piece with this Labour administration's general socialist world view: the idea that human beings are just widgets, part of a worker collective with an economic utility that, once exhausted, is expendable. If legislation is passed, who's to say that people  not just the elderly but the disabled, too  wouldn't feel under pressure to end their lives?

The other problem is the culture around assisted dying. This week a crop of adverts appeared on the London Underground for an activist organisation called Let Us Choose. One of them featured a vivacious blonde in striped pink pyjamas dancing around her kitchen, with a caption (since covered up by the Samaritans) that read 'my dying wish is my family won't see me suffer  and I won't have to'.

A poster on the London Underground as part of a campaign in favour of the Bill

Setting aside the fact that the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, won't allow junk food advertising on the Tube and yet is apparently perfectly happy to promote legalised suicide - or that the Tube network itself is sadly no stranger to suicides - framing assisted dying as a fun, glamorous choice is grotesque.

What next, the rise of the 'deathfluencer' on social media? Will people be live-streaming their final moments to their followers? Will ITV commission a series called 'Death Island', in which a group of attractive terminally ill young people competes to see who gets 'eliminated' last? And how about the people peddling those mini gas chambers as the latest 'business opportunity'? You can just see where all this is heading, and it's not very pretty.

Assisted dying legislation would only work if it's done in a very restrained and respectful manner, and so far, everything we've seen from the pro lobby would indicate that the opposite will be true. That's why I've changed my mind.

I still think we urgently need to tackle the issue of end-of-life care and find a way of ensuring people's suffering is not prolonged unnecessarily. And I still have the utmost respect for Dame Esther. But this is far too important an issue to get wrong. And I for one trust neither this government's motives nor its methods.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has the trickiest job in the Starmer Cabinet: trying to buoy employment while Rachel Reeves and Ed Miliband brew their job-squandering nostrums.

When I lived in Ireland there was the story of a petrol station attendant whose pump was hand-operated.

A fella turned up in a Rolls-Royce and said top her up without switching off his engine.

The lad pumped like billy-o but it was no good, as he shouted to the Rollss owner: Shes gainin on me, sir!

How can poor Ms Kendall create enough employment to match the economic wreckage of the Budget and Mr Milibands bulgy-eyed eco-enthusiasms?

It did not help that Ms Kendall  even as she lectured us about the importance of a healthy workforce  was suffering from a cold.

It made her voice creaky in a 1960s Hollywood vamp way. If you closed your eyes it could have been Zsa Zsa Gabor speaking.

She should have been at home in bed with a mug of hot water and lemon, but the Whips must have insisted she could not pull a sickie for this supposed get tough on shirkers announcement.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall (pictured) has the trickiest job in the Starmer Cabinet: trying to buoy employment while Rachel Reeves and Ed Miliband brew their job-squandering nostrums

It did not help that Ms Kendall  even as she lectured us about the importance of a healthy workforce  was suffering from a cold. It made her voice creaky in a 1960s Hollywood vamp way. If you closed your eyes it could have been Zsa Zsa Gabor (pictured) speaking

A job centre plus in Glasgow. Ms Kendall should have been at home in bed with a mug of hot water and lemon, but the Whips must have insisted she could not pull a sickie for this supposed get tough on shirkers announcement about getting people into work

Was there much in her Get Britain Working statement? Not that I could discern.

A few million quid were going on fresh schemes, one of which would involve the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon. Clever.

The prospect of being sent to the super-woke RSC should be enough to make shirkers accept the grottiest position.

Jobcentre: Well send you to the RSC. Theyre rehearsing an allfemale, colour-blind, disability-positive production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

Unemployed bod: Er, is that zero-hours Bicester bog-cleaner job still going?

Labour greasers were on parade to cheer Ms Kendall and heckle her Tory opponent. Theres so much good stuff! said twerpish Mark Sewards (Leeds South-West and Morley) as he gushed over the proposals. Andrew Pakes (Lab, Peterborough) hailed a momentous White Paper by a momentous secretary of state.

A more level Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim) noted that Ms Reevess Budget was going to make it more difficult for companies to hire workers.

Ms Kendall did not exactly deny this. I dont think so, anyway, but by the end she was so hoarse that whole words were pinking.

By cruel fate, furthermore, the Get Britain Working announcement was preceded by a virtuoso performance from every anti-western despots favourite Westminster performance artiste, Ed Mil.

Red Ed Miliband (pictured) was unstoppable. He was a bottle of shaken Asti Spumante, cork shooting to the ceiling, fizz unleashed

Labour greasers were on parade to cheer Ms Kendall (pictured) and heckle her Tory opponent

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim) noted that Ms Reevess Budget was going to make it more difficult for companies to hire workers

He told the House about the COP climate meeting at Baku, that beano attended by Sir Keir Starmer, the Taliban, a few ex-Soviet boxheads but none of the big-polluter countries leaders.

Mr Miliband threw himself into the fray with his habitual relish. He splothered and spluttered, covering the Tory front bench with a spindrift of saliva as he enthused about his climate mission and the Global Clean Power Alliance, and how we in the West are going to give $300 billion (239.5 billion) to the Global South. Those billions rather dwarfed Ms Kendalls demure millions.

Red Ed was unstoppable. He was a bottle of shaken Asti Spumante, cork shooting to the ceiling, fizz unleashed.

He waggled his left forefinger at the Tories and denounced their climate scepticism, saying this was why they had suffered an electoral wipeout.

The exact opposite could be true. If they hadnt done all that Net Zero stuff, maybe they could have been re-elected.

Standing at the despatch box the tall Miliband bent his knees and seemed almost to flex at another set of hinges in his shins. He swivelled so fast that his dawdling tongue nearly gave him whiplash. His bony fingers crabbed and danced.

He placed a hand on one hip, wonderfully camp, and he gazed cross-eyed at some invisible speck of dust a foot or so below his nose, such was his astonishment, his disbelief, at his own prophetic destiny.

Do you think the Old Testaments Noah was this peculiar? If so, it might explain why he failed to persuade his neighbours to join him in the Ark.
Contains affiliated content. Products featured in article are selected by our writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, Dailymail.co.uk will earn an affiliate commission. Click here for more information.

December is just around the corner, which means the countdown to Christmas is about to begin.

While some still stick to traditional everyday chocolate advent calendars, more and more people are wanting to try something a bit different, or luxurious.

Calendars of all shapes and sizes are now available, and this year's selection includes treats for foodies, beauty fans and craft beer connoisseurs alike.

But which ones are worth their price tags? Team FEMAIL has opened, analysed, tasted and constructed all the advent calendars that might be on your festive countdown wish-list.

Here, we round up some of the best (and worst!) advent calendars on offer on the British High Street and online...

Rave Coffee's 2024 Advent Calendar

Rave Coffee's 2024 Advent Calendar was awarded five stars by the team at Femail

Rating: 5/5

Inside: 24 chocolate coffee treats in six flavours

Cost: 29.95

Verdict: If you're a fan of coffee and chocolate, then this cannot be beaten.

Top tier chocolate with gorgeous truffle coffee filling. There is nothing out there like it.

Each chocolate is filled with a delicious coffee infusion that's strong enough to kick-start your day. It's like having a mini mocha fix, wrapped in chocolate, to keep you warm and merry throughout the winter.

The flavours are simply divine: a luxurious rotation of white, dark, milk, and blonde chocolate, with different combos to keep it exciting each day.

The white chocolate is velvety and sweet with that hint of coffee zing, the dark is intense and smooth, and the milk chocolate is decadently creamy. But the real surprise is the blonde chocolate, which has a unique caramelised sweetness that marries perfectly with the rich coffee filling.

Advent calendar is leagues ahead of anything else on the market. While other coffee advent calendars may leave you wanting more, Rave has nailed the balance of flavour, texture, and caffeine content.

Each chocolate is substantial and has a lingering richness that keeps you energised, making it the perfect little morning pick-me-up as you countdown to Christmas.

The only slight drawback? The packaging. The cardboard is on the flimsy side, which means this calendar doesn't transport wellso make sure you keep it in one place once it arrives (and one of my chocs actually fell out of place).

Despite this minor hiccup, Rave Coffee's 2024 Advent Calendar is the one to beat this year!

Whisky Tour of the World 2024 Advent Calendar

This festive countdown includes 24 whiskies in 50ml bottles and two whisky glasses plus an illustrated book

Rating: 5/5

Cost: 229.95

Inside: 24 whiskies in 50ml bottles and two whisky glasses plus an illustrated book.

Verdict: This advent calendar is the most luxurious, beautiful and magnificent one I have ever come across. Worthy of its hefty price tag, it offers the wow-factor as soon as you start to open this spectacular product.

Presented in a handmade, engraved wooden bookcase, it features five linen-bound and gold-foiled books featuring small bottles of whiskies from all around the world.

If that wasn't enough extravagance, there's also two whisky glasses plus a book on the 24 distilleries, the whiskies and tasting notes.

The whisky tour takes you to awarded distilleries from locations such as Scotland, Japan, India, Ireland, Peru, Germany, Denmark, Australia, Canada, England, Sweden, New Zealand, Mexico, America, France, and Italy.

You don't need to be the biggest whisky fan in the world to appreciate just how impressive this advent calendar is.

The thought that has gone into this product, and the outstanding quality of it, ensures it's a real crowd-pleaser - and if you were looking for an extra special treat to start off your festive period, there's not many people who wouldn't find something to love with this one-of-a-kind offering.

BrewDog craft beer advent calendar 2024

UK craft beer brand BrewDog's advent calendar puts a diverse mix of stouts, IPAs and lagers in the offing

Rating: 5/5

Cost: 55

Inside: A BrewDog glass and 24 different beers...including stouts, flavoured IPAs and rare lagers

Verdict: If you're gifting this to a beer fan with a universal appreciation of quality ales and stouts then you won't go far wrong; there's an exciting enough mix of things you won't see on the supermarket shelves to make it feel special...and bags of variety.

What does it look like? A big festive cardboard box with 24 windows, and an extra one for the glass - and it's emblazoned with the words 'The most wonderful time for a beer'.

The calendar costs 55, and includes favourites such as Wingman, Hazy Jane and Punk IPAs

It kicks off December with a Wingman, the brewery's popular session IPA (4.3%), before mixing it up with a Hazy Jane Peach (5%) and Shore Leave Amber Ale (4.3%)...and then there's everything from Cold Beer Lager (3.4%) to Black Heart stout (4.5%) as Christmas Day rolls into view.

On the 19th and 23rd, there's even a couple of festive tipples too, a Hoppy Christmas IPA (6%) and an Elf lager (4.5%).

The only potential hiccup? If your giftee is an out-and-out purist, who rarely wavers from straightforward IPAs, they may baulk at the plentiful fruity kicks - and the most out there can included, Rocky Road marshmallow stout. Dubbed a 'dessert in a can', there's punches of marshmallow, brownie, vanilla extract and raspberry and a real bolt of booze too; it's 6.8%.

All in all though, the selection has clearly been carefully thought out - and it's hard to imagine craft ale fans not loving this calendar.

Fattoria La Vialla's Advent in the Farm Shop

This stunning advent calendar features 24 products from Fattoria La Vialla

Rating: 5/5

Cost: 156

Inside: 24 products from Fattoria La Vialla.

Verdict: It's December, and most people aren't going on sunny holidays abroad anytime soon as they spend the festive period with their family in the wet, windy and wintery UK.

But if you're dreaming of your next trip to the Mediterranean, then this advent calendar from Fattoria La Vialla, a family-run farm and wine estate in Italy, might just be the perfect option.

Boasting homemade pastas galore, chocolate coated almonds (some of the best we'd ever tasted), several wines, rich sauces and delicious biscuits, not only does this make a great advent calendar, but would also be a brilliant Christmas gift.

The packaging is just as beautiful as the products it houses, with items arriving in a painted box, depicting gorgeous scenery and a beautiful farm shop.

While some may pause at seeing the price, the quality of the items, and the stunning overall appeal of the gift, make it worth the cost for those looking to treat their relatives to an authentic Italian food experience.

Cox & Co 60% Dark Chocolate Advent Calendar

This calendar features 24 dark chocolate cacao in Neapolitan squares, made from plain single origin 60 per cent dark chocolate

Rating: 5/5

Cost: 15

Inside: 24 dark chocolate cacao in Neapolitan squares, made from plain single origin 60 per cent dark chocolate

Verdict: If you're a fan of high-quality dark chocolate, the 60 per cent Dark Chocolate Advent Calendar from Cox & Co is the perfect alternative to a sweet milk chocolate treat.

With 24 perfectly crafted pieces of rich, velvety chocolate behind each door, this calendar offers a sophisticated twist on the traditional festive countdown for fans without a sweet tooth.

From the very first bite, you're hit with the deep, indulgent flavour of premium cocoa. The 60 per cent dark chocolate strikes that perfect balancesmooth, not too bitter, and with just the right amount of sweetness to make it a real treat without being overpowering.

Each piece feels like a little luxury, you can really taste the complexity of the flavour profile.

Unlike other advent calendars that skimp on quality, Cox & Co delivers consistently smooth and silky and deliciously bitter chocolate that tastes as if it's been made by true artisans. It's not just about getting your daily chocolate fix; it's about savouring each bite and enjoying a moment of pure indulgence.

For those who prefer rich, complex chocolate over the typical sugary offerings, this advent calendar is a decadent, top-tier choice.

Newby Tea Advent Calendar

Newby Tea Advent Calendar (pictured) features 96 bags of luxury, rare tea

Rating: 5/5

Cost: 85

Inside: 96 bags of luxury, rare tea

Verdict: While 85 for tea might seem steep, this is the kind of indulgence that is completely worth it.

With the chilling December mornings, a cup of tea is the perfect pick me up and this offers a great range of flavours - Indian breakfast, earl green, peppermint, masala chai. There's even four bags for each day, so no arguing over who gets the treats. You have 96 teas in total - only 88p a cup!

This would be a great gift for a tea lover. It looks really nice on the kitchen counter. And it's high quality enough to be reused year on year.

It's made from thick cardboard with pull out drawers and could easily be reused and filled with your own treats.

Mattel Frozen Advent Calendar

This delightful advent calendar includes 24 toys to create a Frozen-themed dinner party for your Anna and Elsa dolls

Rating: 5/5

Cost: 30

Inside: 24 toys to create a Frozen-themed dinner party for your Anna and Elsa dolls.

Verdict: This charming advent calendar is sure to impress any Frozen fan. As you open up the days in the calendar, you're treated to several toys that make up a cute Frozen-themed dinner party for your Anna and Elsa dolls.

The offering even comes with a cardboard dining room table so kids can play with their tiny, colourful cups of tea, cakes and desserts.

There's also snowflake inspired chairs for the characters that are included in the calendar, such as Sven, Olaf, Anna and Elsa.

Before I opened the 24 doors on the vibrant cardboard box, I pessimistically thought that the toys would be unimpressive, cheap and something that would hold a child's attention for a minute or two, before being discarded in the bin.

But I was pleasantly surprised as soon as I saw the figurines, they appeared well-made, a good quality and with a brilliant amount of detail.

The young Frozen fan in my family enjoyed playing with the mini toys for ages, and I'd definitely recommend to any parent looking to swap the chocolate with a more exciting option.

ChloBo Advent Calendar

This gift houses 12 products from ChloBo, a UK-based jewellery company that designs and produces handmade items

Rating: 5/5

Cost: 399

Inside: 12 products from ChloBo, a UK-based jewellery company that designs and produces handmade items.

Verdict: This advent calendar arrives in a gorgeous pink box, designed to be reused as a storage facility for your jewellery boxes.

It houses 12 products from ChloBo, including a triple heart bracelet, a feather ring, sparkle star stud earrings, hoops, bracelets, a 30 gift card and a polishing cloth.

Each item is placed in its own little gift bag, making the experience of opening each one similar to opening a luxurious present on Christmas Day.

When priced individually, the products are worth 835, according to the website, but the calendar sells for 399.

The pieces are varied enough that there's likely numerous products that will soon become part of your everyday look, and the idea that the gifts last long after the festive period is over is appealing.

Lego Star Wars 2024 Calendar

The Lego Star wars Christmas calendar is priced at 30 and you get five collectable figures

Rating: 5/5

Cost: 29.99

Verdict: Although the box says 6+, this calendar is made for Star Wars fans of all ages.

I had a lot of fun building together all of the pieces of Lego, from the fun characters like Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia (who are both wearing Christmas jumpers) to the X-Wing and the iconic Millennium Falcon.

Each window has basic instructions on how to assemble the pieces, along with some spare parts which will no doubt come in handy.

I never had Lego growing up and although I'm in my twenties even I was excited by - the concept so I can only imagine how a child might feel.

I think it's reasonably priced at 29.99 as it is a gift in itself that children will use for years to come.

It's also great to add to any Lego collection because there are five collectable mini figures, including Ahsoka Tano.

Jurlique Advent Calendar

This stunning festive offering includes 24 Jurlique favourites

Rating: 5/5

Cost: 110

Inside: 24 Jurlique favourites.

Verdict: As a lover of natural skincare, I can't think of a better advent calendar. While the price point is high at 110, the quality of the product really comes through.

It includes products for multiple skin concerns, using a range of ingredients, including rose water and lavender. And with products including essential oils and body care, it sets you up with an entire new self-care regime.

I also loved the packaging - each box comes with a little note with words of wisdom. Plus, the box is pretty enough to keep it as storage for all the new goodies.

If you love a good self-care regime and fancy splurging on a treat, these wellness goodies won't disappoint.

The Cartwright & Butler Advent Calendar 2024

This impressive festive gift includes 24 full-sized Cartwright & Butler products

Rating: 5/5

Cost: 200

Inside: 24 full-sized Cartwright & Butler products.

Verdict: Upon arrival, the huge size of this advent calendar had my whole household excited.

'What's in it?', 'Are they full-sized products?', 'We could reuse this again and again as an advent calendar', 'Oh, what lovely packaging, such festive colours,' were some of the quick reviews given and questions asked by my loved ones when they saw the festive offering sitting in our lounge.

The calendar boasts 24 full-sized Cartwright & Butler products including shortbread, fudge, cakes, tea, toffees, sweets and prosecco - and in my house, there was a race to capture your favourite item as soon as the boxes on this calendar opened. It seemed to be a hit with all.

The products were a brilliant range, with something for everyone - and pleasantly, it was a mix between sweet and savoury treats.

Boasting 24 sliding drawers, it would be easy to refill year after year, and would make a brilliant gift for a loved one this Christmas.

Lindt Chocolate Factory Advent Calendar

The Lindt Chocolate Factory Advent Calendar was a real crowd-pleaser

Rating: 5/5

Cost: 20

Inside: 24 Lindt chocolates

Verdict: Lindt is always a favourite as an advent calendar option in our house - and there's always a fight over who is going to have which one, since there's a brilliant collection to pick from.

This year, I tried the Lindt Chocolate Factory Advent Calendar - and it didn't disappoint.

The festive scene of the chocolate factory embellished onto the packaging, complete with a snowman, chefs, Christmas trees and a little golden wrapped chocolate teddy, was delightful.

Equally impressive was the sweets inside the calendar, including the classic milk chocolate treats that the brand is famous for. Really, there was nothing to be disappointed about with this festive offering.

Cadbury Heroes Advent Calendar

The Cadbury Heroes Advent Calendar has been awarded five stars by team Femail

Rating: 5/5

Cost: 6.00

Inside: 24 Cadbury chocolates

Verdict: You can't really go wrong with a box of Heroes. There's something for everyone and it's only a matter of time before you stick your hand in the tin and pull out one of the chocolates you like.

The same goes for the advent calendar; you might not like what's behind the door one day, but the likelihood is, tomorrow's window holds something significantly more delicious.

Among the goodies up for grabs are the Creme Egg Twister, a Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Caramel and a Double Decker - what's not to like?

ARRANs Perfume and Fragrance Advent Calendar

Featuring contents worth over 180, this spectacular advent calendar contains a range of items from ARRAN

Rating: 5/5

Cost: 80

Inside: 25 products from ARRAN

Verdict: Featuring contents worth over 180, this spectacular advent calendar contains a range of items from ARRAN, a Scottish-based brand that creates bath, body and home fragrance products.

The festive calendar is made up of a stylish purple and gold patterned box, the kind that you would want to keep on show in your living room, its that pretty.

The collection inside the cardboard packaging is equally stunning, with perfumes featuring unique wooden lids, and tiny soaps that smell delightful.

Theres shower gels too, and candles as well, to ensure you and your home both smell just as good.

Overall, a lovely choice for those that absolutely love fragranced products - because these are some of the best Ive experienced on the market.

Craft Gin Club Advent Calendar

Priced at 89.99, the Craft Gin Club advent calendar includes 25 miniature bottles of different craft gin

Rating: 4/5

Cost: 89.99

Inside: 25 different 5cl miniature bottles of the craft gins

Verdict: The countdown to Christmas is guaranteed to be a merry one with the Craft Gin Club advent calendar.

I've tasted some delicious craft gins through this calendar, with personal highlights including Wabi Sabi Gin and Sloe Gin. Each bottle includes a double shot serving, so it's enough to truly get a feel for each spirit on offer. On taste alone, I'd give the calendar five stars.

What does it look like? A large cardboard box dressed as a festively decorated house with 25 windows, including a picture of a Christmas tree and presents.

The drawbacks? Buying my own tonic water! For this price, I'd expect a little can of tonic to pair with each gin. Plus, it's also a bit of a pain to open - I ended up tearing into the box.

Overall, it's an excellent choice for a gin lover and you get to taste moreish options from small, local businesses that you might not otherwise think to try.

Bird And Blend Matcha Advent Calendar

Inside this product is 24 different flavours of matcha green tea - each container holds two portions of tea so the package has 48 servings in total

Rating: 4/5

Cost: 52

Inside: 24 different flavours of matcha green tea - each container holds two portions of tea so the package has 48 servings in total.

Verdict: This one is a must for matcha lovers sick of the long queues at Blank Street and who resent paying 6 for one anywhere else.

As a self-confessed lover of green tea, I was obsessed with this advent calendar. Opening each door felt like waking up on Christmas morning with a new flavour for each sleep closer to the big day.

Often advent calendars will offer up two or three of the same flavour when there are 24 doors to fill but Bird and Blend had a new invention for each day.

The flavours were exciting and the portions generous. Each little tin contained enough for two portions so you can enjoy with a loved one or save half for another day.

The flavours themselves were good, some better than others with creations like the 'pumpkin spice' and 'mince pie' failing to impress. Though I love the creativity, green tea is already an acquired taste and doesn't really work with other strong flavours.

But others, like the 'salted caramel' and 'banana bread', were better balanced with sweeter tastes.

Overall, this is a really fun gift that gives you something new everyday. The price tag is high, but if you have the patience to make your own matcha at home, it would save you a lot more than buying from a coffee shop.

Benefit The Gorgeous Grocer Beauty Advent Calendar

Worth 295, this offering is the beauty advent calendar of dreams, according to team Femail

Rating: 4/5

Cost: 156

Inside: Includes 24 fan-favourites from Benefit

Verdict: Worth 295, this offering is the beauty advent calendar of dreams. The basket of bestsellers featured everything a person could wish for to revitalise their makeup bag.

From must-have eyebrow products, to an array of mini blushes and several lip tints, the calendar offered a perfect collection of Benefit items, and I loved the thought behind the whole range.

It really did seem like there was everything to start off someones makeup collection, rather than random items just placed together.

The packaging was creative, colourful and fun, with the basket proving to be a great storage container.

However, there were a lot of cardboard boxes, and many seemed so big compared to the mini product they stored. Thankfully, they could all be recycled.

Id definitely buy the Benefit advent calendar again and again - it seemed mostly worth the price for the massive range of items youre given.

Bonne Maman 2024 Advent Calendar

The Bonne Maman Advent Calendar is a delightful treat that brings a touch of elegance to your holiday countdown

Rating: 4/5

Inside: 23 mini jars of Bonne Maman spreads and a 'surprise gift'

Cost; 25

Verdict: The Bonne Maman Advent Calendar is a delightful treat that brings a touch of elegance to your holiday countdown. Filled with an array of delicious jams and spreads, it's like waking up in a fancy hotel every morning, ready to indulge in a gourmet breakfast.

The products themselves are top-notch, showcasing the brand's commitment to quality. Each jar bursts with flavour, from classic strawberry to exotic fig, making every breakfast a little celebration. It's the perfect way to elevate your morning toast or croissant!

However, I have to knock a star off as the quality of the calendar itself leaves something to be desired.

While the contents are fantastic, the packaging feels a bit flimsy and doesn't quite match the luxurious experience you'd expect from Bonne Maman. A sturdier design would really enhance it (but I guess for less than 25 that's to be expected).

Despite this, the joy of discovering a new treat each day more than makes up for it, just be prepared for a bit of a mismatch between the contents and the casing!

The Netflix Advent Calendar

This advent calendar features 24 exclusive collectibles from top Netflix shows

Rating: 4/5

Cost: 99

Inside: 24 exclusive collectibles from top Netflix shows

Verdict: This advent calendar, without a shadow of a doubt, features one of the best openings possible. Forget simply opening up a cardboard box and delving into the 24 segments inside.

Instead, this offering is an experience as soon as you untie the ribbon keeping the two sides of it together and unveil the numbered boxes inside. Warning: This is about to be a huge spoiler for anyone hoping to purchase this calendar.

For as soon as you open up the product, the famous Netflix tune plays - and honestly, I'm not ashamed to admit that we were so taken aback by this lovely addition that, before we continued testing out the item, we reopened the box around three times in surprise and excitement, to hear the noise once again.

Once the box is opened, it reveals numbered sections, all featuring artwork correlating to the series that the collectible would be based on.

For instance, the final box, number 24, had an image for Bridgerton, and behind the door was an item inspired by the popular programme.

The products include postcards by independent artists, figures, a notebook, a bookmark, keychains, a bandana, a bottle opener, a sword-shaped pen, a coaster and badge sets.

While all this is delightful, the only downside is that you want to hope you like Stranger Things, Bridgerton, One Piece, Squid Game, Outer Banks, Rebel Moon, and The Witcher, otherwise some of the gifts become a little useless, which isn't the best outcome considering the price tag.

I'd have preferred more of a selection, from a wider range of shows, so that I wasn't stuck with several items from one series, that I'm not a fan of or haven't watched. But if this is the kind of calendar you want to share with loved ones, I'm sure they'll be something for all.

Love Cocoa's Chocolate Truffle Advent Calendar

Love Cocoa's Chocolate Truffle Advent Calendar includes 23 truffles and a mini chocolate bar

Rating: 4/5

Cost: 29.95

Inside: 23 truffles and a mini chocolate bar.

Verdict: Ever since I was introduced to this brand, founded by James Cadbury, whose great-great-great grandfather, John Cadbury, set up Cadbury chocolate 200 years ago, it has never failed to impress. Its advent calendar this year certainly doesn't disappoint.

The beautifully illustrated, plastic-free offering features 23 indulgent truffles and a surprise mini chocolate bar. It includes four flavours; giant hazelnut crunch, hazelnut praline heart, spiced gingerbread and salted caramel.

Each flavour is as good as the next, particularly the salted caramel, which proved to be a real crowd-pleaser.

The packaging showcases a picturesque shopping scene, complete with a red double decker bus, and the box opens thanks to a lovely ribbon holding it together.

Everything about this calendar is lovely from start to finish and it'd be a great treat for any chocolate lover.

Yankee Candle Passport To The Holidays 24 Day Advent Book

Yankee Candle Passport To The Holidays 24 Day Advent Book is filled with 12 mini-filled votive candles and 12 tea lights

Rating: 4/5

Cost: 49.99

Inside: 12 mini-filled votive candles and 12 tea lights.

Verdict: This advent book screams festive, with the cover featuring a pretty Christmas tree and the background filled with elegant buildings and Christmas market huts. To add to the festive scene, snow falls across the images.

Then each dated box is filled with a candle boasting a festive scent, from cinnamon stick to silver sage and pine.

There's also black cherry and amber and sandalwood. The candles differ in sizes, from tea lights to mini-filled votive candles, whilst there's also a star embellished glass tea light holder to add that extra sparkling touch to the offering.

All in all, this calendar was a pleasant experience - once you managed to get the candles out of their homes, which proved difficult on some occasions.

Nespresso Original Advent Calendar

The Nespresso Original Advent Calendar includes 24 Nespesso pods and a festive mug

Rating: 4/5

Cost: 38

Inside: 24 Nespesso pods and a festive mug



Verdict: That's that me Nespesso! This is a chic advent calendar and great alternative to chocolate for any caffeine fiend.

High quality and filled with a different flavoured coffee every day - it's a great way to try out new flavours for anyone with a Nespresso compatible machine.

It also looked great on my kitchen table, a pretty Christmas scene with the packaging!

Cadbury Santa's Workshop Chocolate Advent Calendar

Cadbury Santa's Workshop Chocolate Advent Calendar

Rating: 4/5

Cost: 11

Inside: 24 x Cadbury treatsize bars.

Verdict: The advent calendar has a makeover with this towering creation containing 25 doors hiding delicious treats.

It contains the same chocolates you'd find in a selection box, but prizing open the doors in this contraption makes it a lot more fun.

You could find a Curly Wurly, a Fudge Bar or a classic Freddo behind its doors; all crowd pleasers in my eyes.

I'd recommend this one for children who will love the novelty of it - but the only downside is that it can actually be quite tricky to get the doors open.

Dairy Milk Advent Calendar

The Dairy Milk advent calendar features 24 chocolate pieces

Rating: 3/5

Cost: 3.29

Inside: 24 chocolate pieces.

Verdict: The humble Dairy Milk is delicious as it is; but this upgraded advent calendar gives you a little bit more choice with your chocolate treat on a chilly December morning (or whenever you choose to open your door).

You can have a plain (but delicious) square of the chocolatey goodness, a caramel-filled treat, or a Cadbury Whole Nut variety - so, while delicious, this one definitely isn't suitable for people with nut allergies.

If your loved one doesn't have any allergies and you want to treat them this Christmas, you can't go wrong with this one.

Joe & Seph's Gourmet Popcorn Advent Calendar 2024

Joe & Seph's Gourmet Popcorn Advent Calendar is priced at 30 for 175g of popcorn

Rating: 3/5

Cost: 30

Verdict: If you're sick of chocolate but still want to wake up to a sweet treat every day, this might be the calendar for you.

There are 24 windows of the gourmet handmade popcorn and you get 19 different flavours to try. They are quite innovative too. From vanilla cheesecake to brandy butter, each day of December brings a new, fun taste.

If you're a coffee lover, there's a tiramisu bag, but if you prefer fruit, there is also a caramel, white chocolate and raspberry flavour.

Each bag weights seven grams, meaning you get around six or seven kernels per packet.

My personal favourite were pumpkin spice and toffee apple and cinnamon. Each one tasted spot on to the actual dish or drink.

The design of the calendar itself is beautiful and very festive, showing the inside of the Joe & Seph's factory, with the cooks hard at work under the Christmas lights.

However, I am unsure whether it is worth the 30 price tag for 175g of popcorn, but some retailers, like Ocado, are selling it cheaper at 22.

It would've been better if each packet was a different colour, as they are currently all red with the flavours printed small on the front.

Ilchester Cheese Advent Calendar

The Ilchester Cheese Advent Calendar includes 24 individually wrapped cheeses

Rating: 3/5

Cost: 9

Inside: 24 individually wrapped cheeses

Verdict: While I think this is a fun and different way of welcoming in each day of December, it's not something I would necessarily rush back to next year.

The advent calendar is packed with 24 individually wrapped fingers of cheeses, all which are about the size of about the equivalent size of a Babybel.

The cheeses themselves are tasty and good quality but I have to admit I was disappointed that there wasn't more flavours.

There are seven different flavours overall - plus a couple of 'aged' versions of some - so plenty of repeats over the course of the month which makes it slightly less exciting if you ask me.

Considering there are so many varieties of cheese out the in the world, I do feel like they could have made more effort to include more varieties but for 9, you can't complain too much.

Overall, this is a fun and unique calendar and the products inside are of a good quality - it just needs a bit variation.

Abel & Coles The 12 Days of Christmas Calendar

12 Abel & Cole products feature in this vibrant festive offering

Rating: 3/5

Cost: 55

Inside: 12 Abel & Cole products.

Verdict: Boasting a pleasant wreath design on the front of a bright yellow background, this advent calendar is filled with luxurious products that are sure to delight the adults in your family.

Theres clotted cream fudge, plum and cranberry chutney, dark chocolate buttons, shortbread and a milk chocolate Santa lolly, to name just a few of the gifts nestled inside the festive box.

However, for the price of the calendar, there wasn't necessarily for me a wow-factor when opening any of these items.

But still, my personal favourite was the deluxe organic Orange Melts from Island Bakery that melted in the mouth.

Half-dipped in deliciously smooth organic Belgian milk chocolate, the all-butter biscuits are delightfully fruity thanks to the pure organic orange oil flavouring.

If you order this advent calendar, be sure to have the kettle ready as you indulge in a cup of tea and these fabulous biscuits.

Beauty Bay Advent Calendar

Beauty Bay Advent Calendar

Rating: 3/5

Cost: 100

Inside: 25 luxury products that include full-sized buys and travel minis.

Verdict: This advent calendar is truly the gift that keeps on giving, featuring popular items such as the Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, Urban Decay's All Nighter Setting Spray and The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum.

Theres also products from Bondi Sands, Supergoop and Laneige, as well as By Beauty Bay items - including a stunning eyeshadow palette.

It's a real must-have if you're into skincare, as there seemed to be plenty of products for that, and a few for beauty too.

My biggest gripe with the calendar is the packaging. The gifts are placed in an exciting purple box, featuring two drawers that can be reused as the perfect place to keep your beauty products.

However, the individual cardboard boxes for each item seemed a little unnecessary, and it possibly couldve been a smaller overall calendar if they hadnt used such big boxes for each product (although, I did manage to recycle the cardboard).

Little's Coffee Capsule Advent Calendar

Little's Coffee Capsule Advent Calendar

Rating: 2/5

Inside: 24 coffee capsules in nine flavours

Cost: 25

Verdict: A little too short and sweet! If you're a coffee snob, like I am, the Little Coffee Advent Calendar might not be your cup of coffee.

While the festive packaging and the promise of new flavours every day are appealing, the reality falls a bit flat for those with a refined palate.

The coffee itself tastes strikingly similar to instant coffee, which is disappointing considering the variety of flavours on offer. Each day reveals a different coffee, but instead of bold, rich brews, you're met with overly sweet concoctions that can be cloying.

The flavours, while fun and quirky, tend to overpower the coffee itself, making it feel more like a sugary treat than a true coffee experience.

For those who prefer their coffee with a more nuanced profile and less sweetness, this might not be the right fit. It's a solid option for anyone who enjoys novelty and doesn't mind the instant coffee taste, but serious coffee connoisseurs will likely find it underwhelming.
Barbara Taylor Bradford, the multi-millionaire author of A Woman Of Substance and 39 other bestselling novels, and owner  rumour has it  of more Cartier, Bulgari and Piaget jewellery than she could ever wear, at least 2,000 pairs of shoes and a Connecticut lake which was heated in winter to protect her beloved swans, has died, aged 91.

During her writing career, she sold more than 90 million books, was published in more than 40 languages and 90 countries and, in the past 24 hours, has been described as the grand dame of blockbusters, a force of nature, a pioneering feminist  for smashing through the glass ceiling on Fleet Street  and a shocking anti-feminist  for telling women to pick up their [husbands] f****** socks.

But Barbara was never someone to care what people thought. Or apologise for her extravagant lifestyle and riches (said at one time to be second only in Britain to our late Queen). Or, for that matter, her antiquated  but oddly brilliant  advice on marriage, which she was increasingly happy to share.

So yes, she splurged on antique furniture  my luxury  was usually festooned in jewellery and Hermes bags, adored champagne and staying in her usual suite at Claridges with her beloved husband Bob Bradford. And she viewed the woke brigade with their delicate sensitivities and aversion to hard work with mounting horror.

Nothing worth having  whether a good marriage or a great career  comes easily! she liked to say.

Barbara Taylor Bradford and her Bichon Frises on the sofa in the library of her home

And Barbara should know  having achieved both.

She had an astonishing and unbendable work ethic. No matter how many millions she banked  reports vary from 100 to 600 million  or how many books she sold, she was in her office, at her typewriter (she loathed computers) every day, often from 4am and for up to 14 hours, bashing out doorstop bestsellers.

Invariably, they were populated with luscious men with eyes as blue as the speedwells that grow in the summer meadows or hair a stunning burnished gold.

But  much more importantly  dogged, driven, sexy heroines perhaps with auburn hair, deep green eyes and an English rose complexion, who had worked their way up from working-class backgrounds to success, happiness and great riches.

Just like her.

The writer receives an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace for services to literature

Barbara was born in Leeds in 1933 to Freda, a nurse, and Winston Taylor  a dashing engineer, who had lost a leg in the First World War but not his roving eye.

Their firstborn  a boy  had died of meningitis, which led to her mother putting all her frustrated love into little Barbara.

She gave me the greatest gift a mother can give a child, the desire to excel, Barbara once said. She taught me to read before I was four and force-fed me Dickens.

And she also stressed the importance of being beautifully turned out. I was ironed and starched and puffed out, she said. And never without a Whitsuntide bonnet.

Looking happy with her husband Bob (American film producer Robert Bradford). They were married for 56 years and together for 58 before he died suddenly, in 2019

Freda was also wildly ambitious for her only child. She whipped Barbara out of the local nursery school  where Alan Bennett was a pupil  and into private school.

At the weekends, she took her to the cinema, the opera, the Russian ballet and on long tours around local stately homes, such as Harewood House, where she was told thats a Constable and thats a Gainsborough and thats a bit of Chippendale.

(An odd way to spend the weekends  but perhaps explained by the suggestion, years later, from Barbaras biographer, that Freda was the illegitimate daughter of the Marquess of Ripon, for whom her mother  Barbaras grandmother  had worked as a servant.)

Freda even moved out of the marital bed and into the spare room because she didnt want any more children; nothing was going to stop her from giving me a better life, Barbara once said.

So it must have come as a body blow when, after selling her first story, aged ten, for seven shillings and sixpence and buying Daddy some handkerchiefs and Mummy a green vase, Barbara swapped their plan of Leeds University for hers of a career in journalism and joined the Yorkshire Evening Post, aged 15, as a typist.

But Barbara  like all her scrappy heroines  was headstrong and driven, as well as a cracker, absolutely gorgeous  and knew her own mind.

Within six months she was a cub reporter, covering local stories, sharing a desk with Keith Waterhouse  who went on to become a celebrated novelist and Mail columnist  and fending off invitations to the cinema from Peter OToole, who was not looking his best at the time  lanky and dishevelled with acne is how she remembers the great heart-throb.

In any event, her mother had given her very firm instructions: Keep your head down and dont flirt at work. Your attitude towards men will dictate their attitude towards you.

The author aged three with her mother Freda

It was, Barbara roundly declared, the best advice I ever had. It certainly didnt hurt. Three years later, she was the papers youngest ever womens editor. A year after that, she was cutting a swathe through Fleet Street.

Not that she ever considered herself a feminist. I didnt need a movement to liberate me; I liberated myself, shed say, hotly.

She certainly had no interest in settling down, or babies, and was appalled when anyone suggested it.

But in 1961, aged 28 (practically an old maid back then), she met Bob Bradford, an American film producer, and fell in love. She was impressed he was wearing a tie when they first met and declared him movie-star gorgeous  and they were married on Christmas Eve 18 months later.

It was a marriage made to last and last. The sort that all her spunky heroines deserved. Full of love and kindness; nicknames (he was General Bismark because of his German origins, and she, Napoleon), and a self-imposed rule that he buy her extremely fine jewellery five times a year, every year.

They were married for 56 years and together for 58 before he died suddenly, in 2019. As she put it: He had a stroke in the night. His last words were, I love you. Im so glad I told him, I love you too, darling. A week later he was gone.

And she was so devastated that it was six months before she could write another word.

A glamorous-looking Barbara Taylor Bradford on her 21st birthday

But for now, lets head back to 1964 when, newly-wed, they moved to New York. Which for some young women, could have been the end of the story. After all, Bob had produced El Cid, starring Charlton Heston, so was already rich and successful. Barbara could have switched to lunching and shopping. But she loathed both.

I always feel I could do something better with my time, like write a book, she said.

Instead, she wrote an interior design column that was syndicated to 183 newspapers, tried and failed with four crime suspense novels until, in her late 30s, she sat down, gave herself a good talking to and decided to write a novel about something she knew  Yorkshire. And a young, driven woman.

When it was published in hardback in 1979, A Woman Of Substance  the story of Emma Harte, a downtrodden Yorkshire housemaid who pulls herself up by her bootstraps and, thanks to her amazing business acumen, becomes astonishingly rich  was a success.

But in paperback, sales went berserk. It was on the New York Times bestseller list for 55 weeks, broke records around the world and ended up selling 30 million copies.

The mini-series  starring Jenny Seagrove (who adored Barbara) and Liam Neeson, and directed by lovely Bob  was just as successful. After that, the books came thick and fast  many with titles that mirrored her approach to life 

To Be The Best, Everything To Gain, Her Own Rules. Each one dedicated to Bob and then adapted by him for the screen.

Her 1979 novel A Woman Of Substance is the first of a seven-book saga about the fortunes of a retail empire over three generations

Barbara was not the sort for self-doubt. Or writers block. She just banged them out. One a year, usually straight into the bestseller list.

Of course, with success came extraordinary wealth. And the rumours, such as that she kept a second suite at Claridges for her clothes (untrue, it was for photographs). And the heated lake at their Connecticut pile  which really annoyed her. Apparently, it was just a small, heated area so the swans could survive the winter.

She did have a library in their 5 million, 5,000 square foot Manhattan apartment, with the shelves filled with copies of her own books in every language, from Hebrew to Finnish.

Oh, how those Finns love me! shed cry.

And she was quick to admit that, when she went on holiday, she took her own books, as she had no real time to read them otherwise.

Over the years, there were three deeply loved Bichon Frise dogs, called Gemmy, Beaji and Chammy, all with beautifully blow-dried coats. But sadly no children.

I had two miscarriages and never got pregnant again. I was devastated at the time, but I couldnt let that define me. We both had our careers and so I pushed ahead, she once said.

And although some people in that situation quarrel and break up, we clung together. I would have liked a child; I didnt have one. What am I going to do? Ive got Bob.

It must have been heartbreaking, but she was just as strong and no-nonsense about it as youd expect from any of her heroines.

Or perhaps she was inspired by her father who, as his leg was amputated, simply said: Well, half a loaf is better than none!

In later life, like many people who have somehow managed long and happy marriages, she was happy to dish out advice.

If one wants ones marriage to survive, one has to be very clever, she said in an interview with Celia Walden in the Daily Telegraph in 2017. Its about mothering men without them knowing theyre being mothered.

Control yourself when youre annoyed about something  hold it in until youre not so fraught and you can have a discussion, rather than an argument, about it. Edit yourself: and do try never to look slobby in front of your husband - it isnt just a turn off for him, but for oneself.

So put a nice kaftan on, comb your hair and wash your face  and a little spritz of perfume never hurts. Oh yes, and pick up his f****** socks.

I think the sort of woman who would quibble over who picks up a shirt or a pair of underpants really needs to grow up, she said.

Some might say, all very sensible. But, of course, many who read it were appalled and kicked up a right old stink.

But perhaps not quite as appalled as Barbara was by todays wokery and general floppiness. There seems to be such a sense of entitlement in the young now! she said.

You couldnt say that about her. Just over a year ago, she was still hard at it.

Aged 90, still putting in eight to ten-hour days at her trusty typewriter, on her 40th book, the third in her Victorian family saga House Of Falconer series. Setting an alarm every two hours to remind herself to get up and stretch her stiff back.

Always beautifully presented. Dripping in Cartier. Beloved Bichons at her feet. Dreaming up more strong, young, beautiful women  as she once was  who grab life and conquer it.
The homemaking has a never-ending list of recipes for the all important holiday

Martha, 83, is no stranger when it comes to preparing a lavish dinner party

There's no denying that Martha Stewart is the original influencer - and the queen of entertaining - and with Thanksgiving just around the corner, many will be looking to the billionaire businesswoman for inspiration.

Martha, who recently slammed her self-titled Netflix documentary, has been sharing her top tips for the November holiday for many years now and can advise on everything from the best way to prep a turkey to the perfect way to set the table.

The 83-year-old star won't actually be in the United States for Thanksgiving this year, after she confirmed she's leaving for a trip to Italy with her family, but she's still on hand for all things hospitality for November 28.

However, although she will be away for Thanksgiving, the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia founder is planning to get right back to holiday hosting once she lands back home.

And she even told People that it's important to have one specific treat out for guests who come over to your home during the holiday season.

'If somebody comes over in the afternoon, you have to have homemade Christmas cookies lying around,' Martha said. 'You just have to, and you have to have a couple dinners for your family and friends.'

Of course, Martha is the expert when it comes to hosting a dinner party, but she's aware that prepping a Thanksgiving feast can be stressful to say the least - and that's why there needs to be a plan in place.

Here, FEMAIL takes a look at Martha's hourly top tips to ensure Thanksgiving runs as smoothly as possible.

Martha Stewart is the queen of entertaining and has many tips and tricks to ensure Thanksgiving runs as smoothly as possible

The billionaire businesswoman is no stranger to hosting a dinner, and is pictured here in the kitchen in August 1976

Here's the important thing to prepare as soon as you wake up on Thanksgiving Day

After enjoying your morning cup of coffee and some breakfast, Martha suggests prepping the potatoes as soon as possible.

The mother-of-one recommends peeling them, popping them in a pot or another large container with water, covering it with a lid or a wrap, and letting them sit at room temperature until it's time to cook them.

When it comes to potatoes, Martha has an array of recipes to choose from - so if you want to deviate from the typical roasted ones, take your pick.

As well as Sour-Cream and Chive Mashed Potatoes, she also offers up recipes including Sweet Potato Fries With Brown-Butter Marshmallow Sauce and Muffin-Pan Potato Gratins - however, these may take longer to prepare.

After prepping the potatoes, Martha suggests that you'll want to prepare the other vegetables next, including trimming and peeling the carrots as well as the Brussels sprouts and green beans.

She recommends refrigerating them in a zip-top bag and then chilling drinks that you want to serve to your guests cold, such as wine and beer.

Martha knows how to prep a turkey and is pictured here on NBC's Today show demonstrating how

The 83-year-old stat recommends prepping the potatoes first thing in the morning and has plenty of recipes to choose from

With four hours to go before your feast, it's time to turn your attention to the turkey

When it comes to Thanksgiving, it's all about the big bird in the center of the table - and Martha says you should get the turkey in the oven at least four hours before you want to sit down and eat.

There's plenty of things to consider before this though, such as bearing in mind how long it takes to thaw a frozen turkey and why you should never wash it in the sink.

Martha also warns against stuffing the turkey in advance and recommends measuring your oven and refrigerator before purchasing your bird, to ensure it will fit.

Her website states that 'it can take anywhere from two hours and 30 minutes to six hours to roast a turkey, depending on how big it is.'

In fact, a 15-pound bird (which is the average weight of turkeys bought at Thanksgiving) needs about three hours and 45 minutes at 325 degrees, according to the USDA.

Perhaps Martha's post signature recipe for cooking the most delicious turkey is her cheesecloth method, which includes a quadruple blanket of cheesecloth that holds the butter-and-wine basting mixture on the skin to keep the meat moist while still allowing it to brown.

However, she has various techniques -including cooking the turkey upside down to avoid overcooking it - and also grilling it and deep-drying it - so take your pick!

The mother-of-one pictured here on Thanksgiving back in 1986 for her series Holiday Entertaining with Martha Stewart

When the three hour countdown begins, it's time to think about what's in the refrigerator

When there's only three hours to go before you plan to sit down and feast, Martha says you should consider taking certain items out of the refrigerator.

This might include removing cheese and any other appetizers that should be served at room temperature.

She also says you should remove the cranberry sauce and the butter that will accompany your dinner rolls out of the refrigerator.

This rule also applies to any pre-made foods, so they're not so cold when you place them in the oven later to reheat.

These might include canapes that will be served up first, or an array of delicious appetizers that your guests can nibble on.

Martha has a never-ending recipe list for such foods, including Gooey Gouda Puff-Pastry Bites, Potato-Chip-and-Pimiento Mini Crab Cakes and Pear, Walnut, and Ricotta Crostini.

Think about getting your kitchen in order when there's just a couple of hours to go

With just a couple of hours to go before everyone is sat around the table and tucking into your delicious dinner, Martha suggests having a clean up.

Your guests might be about to arrive, so this is the perfect opportunity to get your kitchen in order before having to engage in conversation.

Her websites says to 'wash any pots that have stacked up in the sink; run the dishwasher so you'll be able to empty it before dinner,' and then once you've finished cleaning, you can set out appetizers and snacks for your guests to enjoy.

However, don't get so engrossed in having a sparkling kitchen that you forget to check on the meat in the oven.

Martha stresses: 'Whatever you do, don't forget to keep an eye on the turkey as it could cook faster than you were anticipating.'

There's plenty of tips and tricks that you can follow hour-by-hour to ensure that your Thanksgiving goes to plan

Martha advises letting your turkey rest for a minimum of 30 minutes before carving it up

When there's only 60 minutes left until show time, it's important to let the turkey rest

With only 60 minutes to go before enjoying the turkey and all the trimmings, you'll want to think about letting the turkey rest on a carving platter.

Martha advises letting it rest for a minimum of 30 minutes before slicing it up for everyone's individual plates.

And now that the bird's out of the oven, you can now switch the racks and divide the oven into thirds and reheat your sides at 350 degrees.

During this crucial hour before dinner, Martha recommends making your all-important gravy - or if you've already made it, popping it in a saucepan and starting to warm it up.

Of course, Martha also has various recipes for the sauce and has a straightforward four-step process for making standard gravy - and suggests taking it to the next level with fresh herbs or white wine.

Last but certainly not least, you should consider opening red wine in order to let it breathe in this final hour and also start filling your guests' water glasses - before sitting down with your loved ones to enjoy an epic Thanksgiving feast.
MZINTI - Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) President Mduduzi Gawuzela Simelane has declared that those searching for him would not find him because he is a ghost.

He described himself as a dead man walking, claiming he died long ago, when emaSwati lost their lives during the infamous 2021 civil unrest that resulted in widespread property destruction and loss of life. Unfortunately you do not threaten a ghost with death. I long crossed my Damascus moment. he said. Simelane was speaking yesterday during the SWALIMO prayer event dubbed The Gathering of the Nation; which was held in South Africa at KaMhlushwa.Simelane shared that he left the country and South Africa for the United Kingdom after receiving a divine instruction, to go out to the world and mobilise against Eswatini.

Challenges

Recounting his journey to KaMhlushwa, he said it was not easy and faced a lot of challenges but did not elaborate on those. Other challenges he had to deal with was the very event, which was initially banned from being hosted in a stadium, then locked out in the second venue, the Holiness Church by the South African police. The SWALIMO event was delayed, after police refused them permission to host in the church stating that organisers did not have permission to host in the venue. Liberation not fuelled by hate Speaking at the event, Simelane said his quest for the liberation of emaSwati was not fuelled by hatred but love for freedom, prosperity and peace for the nation.

He said this would be achieved through multiparty democracy. The country is the only country in the world that people are fingered to positions. EmaSwati need multiparty democracy, which they spelt out in 2018-23 Parliament, where they sent MPs myself, Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube to request that the country be ruled through a constitutional system, where the head of government is elected by the people, who then forms a government, he said during his speech. He expressed gratitude to those who attended the event and recounted the difficulties he faced, alleging that he had to dodge would-be assassins, who he claimed, had been hunting him since his arrival. The exiled leader spoke yesterday at his partys prayer event, which drew over 3 000 emaSwati and South Africans who were dressed in SWALIMO colours of red, blue and white at the Holiness Church hall.

Detail

The were more than 6 000 watching online. His security was ensured by a heavily armed detail of about 20 men. Tensions escalated when a man attempted to breach the security line protecting Simelane but was apprehended in a dramatic display, causing a brief commotion. The interruption occurred just as Simelane finished urging the nation to be resilient in confronting various community issues. The man was forcefully escorted away amid screams from the crowd. The event was attended by a majority of leaders under the Mass Democratic Movement, proved to be a success and lived up to the hype surrounding it on social media platform Facebook. Simelanes presence marked a turning point for the anxious crowd, many of whom had doubted he would show.

Despite challenges faced by the organisers, the event proceeded smoothly, with threats and sabotage effectively managed, as revealed by Paul Matimela, SWALIMOs Secretary General. Matimela disclosed to reporters that the event nearly fell through due to alleged sabotage. We were forced to move the event from the stadium after police informed us that we did not have permission to host it there, he said. He expressed concern that this information was relayed to the organisers at the last minute, just a day before the event. The secretary general noted that the leadership was in a state of urgency, scrambling to find an alternative venue, and ultimately secured accommodation from a church in the KaMhlushwa area. He added that even during the event, organisers faced frustration when police blocked access to the church on the morning of the gathering, despite prior agreements.

Event

Thanks to the intervention of some members of the Mass Democratic Movement (MDM), the church was eventually opened for the event. However, South African police (SAPS) maintained a watchful presence, enforcing strict timeframes dictated by security officers. The confusion surrounding the venue reportedly reached Eswatini, causing some attendees preparing attend to the event to learn about the impasse between SAPS and the organisers. SWALIMO believes this confusion contributed to the lower turnout at the event. Some notable figures at event included Monty Nkosi, a freedom fighter based in Washington DC. It was a solemn moment when activist Monty Nkosi saw his mother Ntombi at the event after five years.

Also in attendance was Bishop Mpendulo Nkambule, Pastor M Khoza, Bonginkhosi IB  Dlamini, Swaziland Democratic Movement Barnes Dlamini leaders of Economic Freedom Fighters Eswatini and others.
Before porn was as easily accessible as it is now, there was the Girls Gone Wild franchise: a series of videos that showed college-aged women baring their breasts for the camera.

The company was launched by now-disgraced mogul Joe Francis in 1997, and it went on to become one of the biggest phenomena of the early 2000s.

The concept was simple - Joe would find college-aged women at parties during spring break and ask them to expose their chests on camera in exchange for free merchandise.

The women would willingly take off their tops and make out with their friends, usually in a public setting like a club or party.

Joe would then turn compilations of the footage into long-form videos that he would then sell to the public.

It was a massive success, but just as quick as its dazzling rise to the top, came its dramatic fall from grace.

The multi-million dollar company eventually became shrouded in scandal, facing a slew of lawsuits from women who accused it of 'violating their privacy' and 'filming them without consent.'

The franchise ultimately filed for bankruptcy after it was forced to fork over millions when the court ruled that it 'failed to create and maintain age and identity documents for performers in sexually explicit films,' according to a DOJ press release.

Before porn was as easily accessible as it is now, there was the Girls Gone Wild franchise: a series of videos that showed college-aged women baring their breasts for the camera

The company was launched by Joe Francis (seen in 2003) in 1997, and it went on to become one of the biggest phenomena of the early 2000s before facing a dramatic downfall

To make matters worse, creator Joe soon endured his own controversial downfall, as he faced a series of charges including false imprisonment, assault, child abuse, and prostitution charges in the years that followed.

He eventually fled the US to live in Mexico after a warrant was issued for his arrest, and he now resides at a luxurious resort with his wife and two kids.

Now, he is set to speak out for the first time in over a decade for Peacock's upcoming docuseries, Girls Gone Wild: The Untold Story.

As the world gears up for the new show, FEMAIL has recapped the Girls Gone Wild franchise's wild rise and fall from start to finish.

From how the footage 'haunted' participants for decades to what happened to Joe after his empire came crashing down, here's an inside look into the dark history of the Girls Gone Wild videos.

Dazzling rise to the top: How Joe Francis launched a multi-million dollar soft porn business fresh out of college

Joe, now 51, started his career off by working as a production assistant at Real TV after he graduated from the University of Southern California in 1995.

He launched the Girls Gone Wild franchise in 1997, and within its first two years, the company had raked in a whopping $20 million.

The concept was simple - Joe would find college-aged women at parties during spring break and ask them to expose their chests on camera in exchange for free merchandise

The women would willingly take off their tops and make out with their friends, usually in a public setting like a club or party. Joe would then sell the videos to the public

The videos gained attention thanks to a series of informercials that would air late at night on TV.

The company became so big it even collaborated with stars like Snoop Dogg (seen), and launched its own magazine and clothing line

It was said that Joe was one of the first to take advantage of direct-response marketing techniques, and that he spent more than $20 million in advertising during the height of Girls Gone Wild's success.

His tactics paid off because by 2008, it was reported that his net worth had risen to roughly $150 million.

The company became so big it even collaborated with stars like Snoop Dogg, who appeared in a few of its videos throughout the 2000s, and Eminem, who reportedly filmed footage for a Girls Gone Wild video that never got released.

It was even announced in 2002 that MGM Studios had 'signed a deal' with Girls Gone Wild to bring its concept to the big screen, but the movie never ended up coming out.

'It's going to be a fictionalized version of Girls Gone Wild with love stories and everything in between,' Joe told Hollywood Reporter of the film at the time.

In addition, Girls Gone Wild had its own magazine and clothing line. It also expanded with Guys Gone Wild, which was the same concept but with men instead.

Controversial fall from grace: Girls Gone Wild faced a slew of lawsuits before Joe ultimately fled the US

The company eventually became shrouded in scandal, facing a slew of lawsuits from women who accused it of 'violating their privacy' and 'filming them without consent'

The franchise filed for bankruptcy after the court ruled that it 'failed to create and maintain age and identity documents for performers in sexually explicit films'

Despite the popularity, the company was facing a slew of controversies and lawsuits behind-the-scenes.

In the early 2000s, Girls Gone Wild was sued by a college student named Becky Lynn Gritzke, who claimed the company 'violated her privacy rights' by using photos and videos of her flashing her breasts to promote its videos. They settled the lawsuit privately, SPLC reported.

Then, in 2006, the company plead guilty 'to charges that it failed to create and maintain age and identity documents for performers in sexually explicit films that it produced and distributed, and that it failed to label its DVDs and videotapes as required by federal law.'

It was ordered to pay fines and restitution totaling $2.1 million, per a press release from the Department of Justice.

A woman named Ashley Dupre also sued the company in 2008, claiming that she was filmed without consent, but she later dropped the case.

In addition, another claimant named Tamara Favazza said that 'her bare breasts were recorded without permission' and used in one of the Girls Gone Wild videos in a 2008 lawsuit.

She alleged that she was partying at a St. Louis bar when 'someone lifted her tank top' and 'exposed her breasts' while another person filmed it, Huffington Post previously reported. She was ultimately awarded $5.8 million.

In 2013, Joe was sentenced to 270 days behind bars after he was found guilty of false imprisonment, assault, and dissuading a witness over an incident inside his Bel Air mansion in 2011.

To make matters worse, creator Joe (seen in 2008) faced a series of charges including false imprisonment, assault, child abuse, and prostitution charges in the years that followed

Prosecutors said at the time that he had taken three women home following a night out and refused to let them leave. He was also charged with attacking one of them.

Following his conviction, he told The Hollywood Reporter: 'I want that jury to know that each and every one of you are mentally f**king retarded.

In 2013, Joe was sentenced to 270 days behind bars after he was found guilty of false imprisonment, assault, and dissuading a witness over an incident in 2011

'You should be euthanized because, as Darwin said, you have naturally selected yourself.'

He later apologized for his tirade, describing his comments as 'hurtful' and that they did not reflect his true feelings.

That same year, Girls Gone Wild filed for bankruptcy. Joe then sold the company to the pornographic film studio Bang Bros in 2014, in a move that was an attempt to block Las Vegas kingpin Steve Wynn and his company from taking its assets.

Steve had been trying to claim the assets as a form of repayment for Joe's gambling bill and other debts, which had climbed to over $30 million.

In 2015, Joe pleaded no contest to child abuse and prostitution charges stemming from a Girls Gone Wild taping in Panama City, Florida, in 2003.

That same year, a warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to hand over two luxury cars to lawyers 'who sold the Girls Gone Wild name out of bankruptcy,' the Wall Street Journal reported.

He eventually fled the US to live in Mexico after a warrant was issued for his arrest, and he now resides at a luxurious resort with his wife and two kids

Despite his numerous run-ins with the law, Joe has enjoyed a close relationship with stars like Mario Lopez (seen), the Kardashians, Jennifer Aniston, Eva Longoria, and Demi Moore

He reportedly said he couldn't return the cars because a strip-club owner in Mexico took them after several Girls Gone Wild promotions fell through.

He now lives in exile in Mexico at the luxury Cara Aramara resort that he built in the beach town of Punta de Mita with his wife, Abbey Wilson, and their two children.

Extradition is unlikely in his case as the warrant issued for his arrest is for civil contempt, which is not an offense in Mexico.

Despite his numerous run-ins with the law, Joe has enjoyed a close relationship with the Kardashian clan, who have frequently stayed at his resort in Mexico.

Other guests who have stayed at his luxurious 40,000-square-foot property include Jennifer Aniston, Eva Longoria, Demi Moore, Lady Gaga, and Charlie Sheen.

Speaking out: New docuseries will include in-depth interview with Joe for the first time in over a decade

Now, Joe has agreed to sit-down for his first in-person interview in over a decade for a new Peacock docuseries, entitled Girls Gone Wild: The Untold Story

In addition, the series will offer a behind-the-scenes look at Girls Gone Wild, and will feature interviews with former employees and women who were featured in the videos

One woman (seen) could be heard saying in the trailer, 'I never thought that that would come back and haunt me for 20 years,' while another stated, 'I was too young to be taped'

Now, Joe has agreed to sit-down for his first in-person interview in over a decade for a new Peacock docuseries, entitled Girls Gone Wild: The Untold Story, which will premiere on December 3.

In addition, the series will offer a behind-the-scenes look at Girls Gone Wild, and will feature interviews with former employees and women who were featured in the videos.

'Before the spread of social media and easy access to online porn, Joe Francis' multi-million dollar Girls Gone Wild franchise, a series of tapes sold on late night television that featured young spring breakers baring their breasts for T-shirts and hats, had a shocking grip on popular culture,' reads the official description.

'Including Joe's first in-depth, in-person, on-the-record interview with a journalist in almost a decade, as well as exclusive access to his former employees, enemies, and survivors, Girls Gone Wild: The Untold Story offers an astonishing and wide-ranging account of a man whose impact on American culture cannot be overstated, whose alleged sins are numerous, and who now lives in exile on a sprawling estate in Mexico amidst the rubble of his once mighty empire.'

One woman could be heard saying in the trailer, 'I never thought that that would come back and haunt me for 20 years,' while another stated, 'I was too young to be taped.'

An unnamed man also told filmmakers, 'It blew my mind what Joe Francis was able to convince these young girls to do.'
Remi Jo Bader sparked concern from fans after she unveiled her bruised face on TikTok and Instagram.

The model and influencer, 29, first alarmed her followers on Sunday when she posted a video of herself with a black eye.

'Remi nooo I hope youre okay,' wrote one fan, while another shrieked, 'WHAT HAPPENED GIRL?!'

Remi then revealed that she'd tripped over and hit her face while out in Brooklyn over the weekend.

'I was with my two guy friends, hanging out, and it's just like very embarrassing,' she said.

'Like, I literally am not a tripper. Like, I don't trip, I don't fall. And I tripped and fell...' she continued.

Remi explained that her nose hit the corner of a glass table after she slipped in her boots.

'My nose was bleeding for an hour,' she added.

Remi Jo Bader sparked concern from fans after she unveiled her bruised and battered face on TikTok and Instagram

'Remi nooo I hope youre okay,' wrote one fan, while another shrieked, 'WHAT HAPPENED GIRL?!'

The Manhattan-based influencer then said that the humiliating mishap was 'karma' because she'd previously made fun of Brooklyn.

'I was talking s**t on Brooklyn and this is what I get. This was literally my karma,' she said.

In a series of posts to Instagram, Remi confirmed that she was getting an X-ray and had been treating her swelling with an ice pack.

The comments come after Remi faced backlash over her comments about Brooklyn, with fans calling out the influencer on the Reddit subreddit r/NYCInfluencerSnark after she said 'Brooklyn isn't the place for me'.

'Every day I wake up in Brooklyn I thank god that I won't run into Remi Bader on the street,' one critic said, while another wrote: 'Very elitist and bizarre when people say stuff like this.'

Remi previously disclosed that her doctor put her on Ozempic in 2022 but the semaglutide only made her binge-eating disorder worse.

She told the Not Skinny Not Fat podcast that when she quit the type 2 diabetes drug three months later, 'I gained double the weight back.'

It's only been two years since the Sam's Club collaborator - who also suffers from depression - was so overwhelmed with her binge eating that she sought 'serious outpatient treatment at a facility.'

Remi is one of the biggest influencers in the industry right now, boasting over three million followers between TikTok and Instagram.

She officially confirmed her split from boyfriend Keyveat Postell earlier this year - two weeks after posting (then deleting) a TikTok alleging he broke up with her via text.

Remi revealed that she'd tripped over and hit her face while out in Brooklyn over the weekend

Remi is one of the biggest influencers in the industry right now, boasting over three million followers between TikTok and Instagram

'Yes, guys, I am single. I took down that video the other day that I'm sure a lot of you saw, because I am not going to be the person to badmouth someone online [who's] been in my life for almost two years,' the influencer cried in a four-minute video.

'It's just not what I'm going to do. That's why I wanted to come on here when I was a little more stable to say, yes, I'm single,' she continued.

'I literally keep re-recording this because I didn't want to cry. This is someone that I thought I was gonna marry. This was my best friend.

'I've never been so close to someone in my life and I really, really just wanted to believe that this was who I would spend the rest of my life with.'
The model's collection with Zara will be available from 30 November

Kate Moss will likely send her fans into a frenzy on Saturday when her debut collection with high street brand Zara lands in stores and online.

In and amongst the fashionistas keen to sport a design approved by the Croydon-born supermodel, 50, will be some savvy customers set on reselling the Fall-Winter 24/25 collection for a much higher price.

The glamorous 'party capsule' collection was designed by mother-of-one Kate, Marta Ortega Perez, the chair of Zara owner Inditex, and Kate's long-term collaborator and stylist Katy England.

In a versatile, wearable, cross-generational collection, Kate has taken her knowledge, banked from her life at the highest tier of fashion, and translated it into a contemporary collection of classic party pieces.

Thanks to the clout that Kate's name grants, items will undoubtedly appear on eBay, Vinted, and Depop at inflated prices for many years to come.

It's a phenomenon evident from the supermodel's old Topshop collections, with items from the 2000s still selling for hundreds on eBay, including a 320 leather fringed leather jacket, which first sold in 2014 for 190.

However, in an era where the public queues up to resell Aldi's wooden toys for hundreds of pounds, getting your hands on Kate's Zara collection will be a competitive mission.

To help get customers ahead of the curve, fashion expert and stylist Lisa Talbot has revealed her top tips for customers wanting to buy the collection and for those who will later resell pieces for double the original price.

Supermodel Kate Moss is set to create a storm this week with the release of her debut Zara collection

The glamorous 'party capsule' collection was designed by Kate and her long-term collaborator and stylist Katy England

Talking exclusively to Femail, Lisa said: 'The Kate Moss X Zara collection is poised to be an attraction and even more of a resale sensation, echoing the enduring appeal of her earlier collaboration with Topshop.'

'Limited-edition collections tied to fashion icons like Kate Moss create a perfect storm of desirability, exclusivity, and timeless style, which drives up demand in the resale marketrightly or wrongly.'

The expert explained how Kate's longstanding career in the fashion industry means the collection will have higher resale price points compared to other celebrity collaborations with high street stores.

The items with the 'highest resale appeal' will be those that mirror the model's individualistic style. Lisa said: 'Pieces that echo Kate Moss's signature style - boho glam, rock chic, or minimalist tailoring are particularly promising.

'Items with distinctive details, [including] embellishments, unique cuts, or limited-edition branding, will attract resellersthis is a great way to get a piece of Kate.'

'To maximize profit, shoppers should focus on versatile pieces with broad appeal. Think tailored blazers, classic dresses, or standout statement items that align with Moss's effortless, edgy aesthetic.

'Pay attention to details like original tags and condition to maintain maximum resale value, and consider resale platforms where vintage designer collaborations perform particularly well.

'The key is spotting the pieces that will hold their value long after the Zara stores have sold out.'

The 50-year-old supermodel slipped into a number of outfits for her debut collection for the high street brand for Fall-Winter 24/25

Ebay user @aleks4947 is selling a 'rare Kate Moss and Topshop cropped tassel leather jacket' for 320

Elsewhere, eBay seller @kanyeffi is hoping to grab 170 for a pink Kate Moss X Topshop ruffle dress

In terms of potential resale earnings, Lisa said: 'Zara's pricing for this collaboration will likely fall in the mid-range, with items ranging from 60-250.

'On the resale market, certain pieces could fetch two to three times their original price - possibly 500 or more for standout items, but this depends on the demand.

Lisa added: 'As with her Topshop range, which still commands impressive resale prices over a decade later, it's critical to act quickly when the collection launches, as sell-out items can often triple or quadruple in value within weeks.'

Back in 2014, Kate's Topshop collection caused chaos on London's Oxford Street, with hordes of fans lining outside the former flagship store to purchase the festival-inspired collection.

Kate's appearance at the event made the release day an even bigger sensation. She joined Radio One DJ Nick Grimshaw on stage, saying to fans: 'Happy shopping'.

She then disappeared after her brief appearance to go for a private dinner with friends and supporters.

Friends and family caught and early glimpse inside for a special VIP preview, with guests including Mary McCartney, sister of designer Stella McCartney, and Sienna Miller.

The model's SS14 collection brimmed with seventies style pieces, including fringed suede jackets, jump suits and maxi dresses.

Back in 2014, Kate's Topshop collaboration caused chaos as fans attempted to secure her collection on London's Oxford Street

Crowds lined the street in 2014 waiting for Kate to launch her Topshop collection at the brand's former flagship store on Oxford Street in London

Pictured: Kate taking to the stage in a gold and black striped suit to launch her collection at Topshop Oxford Circus in 2014

The collection also included embroidered smock-tops, silk blouses and graphic print kaftans that went on sale in high street stores globally and online.

Kate, who first collaborated with Topshop in 2007 before taking a break to work on other projects, was said to have taken inspiration from her own wardrobe, which, despite her status as a supermodel, isn't solely comprised of designer labels.

At the time, Topshop's Sir Philip Green, who counts the model as a friend, said he was delighted at Kate's decision to collaborate with to the fashion label.

He said: 'I am personally thrilled that Kate wanted to come back to Topshop to work with us again.

'The first time around was such a lot of fun and she has been sorely missed. The Topshop business has developed extensively around the globe since we launched with Kate in 2007.'

Kate added: 'I have really missed being involved in the design process and working with the team at Topshop. I am very excited to create a new collection that bears my name.

'Now more than ever with London being at the forefront of fashion as it feels like I'm back home.'

Some ten years later and the supermodel, who this year celebrated her 50th birthday, has joined forces with Zara for what is her first clothing collection since her 2014 partnership with Topshop.

Kate's modern take on eveningwear is evident in her Zara collection, which features a shiny, silver tuxedo jacket (left) and a dazzling crystal bralette (right)

The supermodel's party collection with Zara is set to include a mini skirt covered in black sequins

Discussing the upcoming collaboration, UK stylist Rochelle White said: 'I feel that her collection being with Zara shows her evolution.

'Zara is high end high street and a great fit for her and her festival glam look and lifestyle. It's like glamour basic wear for everyday and the past seasons.

'So many cross over pieces that are great for every day. She still has a cult like following and is still seen as a British icon. It is worth the investment.. and is a step up from Topshop from back in the day.

While Kate insisted she's 'not a designer' in a recent interview with Vogue, she explained how the Zara capsule was inspired by pieces she picked out of her own archive.

She added: 'I'm styling up a storm, I should be working in the shop!'

Kate's 'party capsule' features versions of some of her most distinctive looks from over the past few decades, including the gold Lurex minidress that she was photographed in at Glastonbury 2005.

'The Kate Moss x Zara collaboration will resonate because it combines her timeless personal style with Zara's global accessibility,' fashion expert Lisa said.

She concluded: 'Limited-edition collections tied to high-profile names create instant demand. Shoppers know pieces are likely to sell out and appreciate the exclusivity that translates to resale appeal.'
William 42, was flying solo during his visit as Colonel of the regiment

Prince William marvelled at high-tech drones and tried his hand at firing a sniper's rifle as spent the morning with the Welsh Guards in Salisbury today.

William, 42, donned combats this morning when he spent time with the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards in his capacity as colonel of the regiment - a ceremonial role he has held since December 2022.

Tuesday's visit to the Salisbury Plain marks William's second royal engagement in as many days, after he inaugurated a new environmental project together with Oman's Crown Prince in London yesterday.

For the past two years, the Battalion has led a number of historical ceremonial events - including the funeral for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, and as Trooping their Colour for His Majestys first Birthday Parade last year.

Additionally, the regiment has been carrying out overseas operations in the Falkland Islands and Oman.

But they are now transitioning back to Field duties and Williams visit was designed to see how the officers have been dealing with the change in pace - particularly regrowing the regiments specialist weapons capabilities to bolster their work abroad and in the UK.

William was dressed in combats and a beret as he arrived at the Salisbury Plain by helicopter, before changing into a protective vest and helmet - ready for an action-packed day at Westdown Camp.

William, 42, donned combats this morning when he spent time with the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards in his capacity as colonel of the regiment - a ceremonial role he assumed in December 2022

After arriving in Salisbury by helicopter, William (left) changed into a protective vest and headgear - ready for an action-packed day at Westdown Camp

Members of the Welsh Guards seen preparing a general-purpose machine gun (GPMG) for William to test out

William in conversation with the Welsh Guards' six-person sniper team

William (right) appeared to enjoy a lighter moment with soldiers from the regiment, as he learnt about the Welsh Guards' artillery

The prince - who has used guns in the armed forces before - was then invited to sit down and shown his sight.

He spent a few minutes lining up his British-made Accuracy International L11583 .338 calibre sniper rifle before releasing the trigger, sending off a puff of smoke and air.

Afterwards, William said: I really enjoyed that.'

William then met the Welsh Guards' sniper team, who were wearing camouflage gear, before acknowleging the regiment's officers have 'done more than your fair share' of ceremonial events.

He continued: 'Its been fairly busy this year. Youve only got a few more days. Its not long Im going to make sure my father doesnt squeeze in too many more moments!

The platoon commander told MailOnline that the rifle William fired had a capability of a 400m metre head shot in the first round with 900 metre for a body shot, but can issue harassing fire up up to 1,500 metres.

He added that William was aiming at a steel body target poking up out of a tank skeleton around 500 metres away and hit it, adding he 'seemed to really like' the training.

While visiting the Welsh Guards, William (right) was also offered the chance to fly one of the battalions new 7,500 drones which are transforming warfare

William seen here watching as the senior small unmaned aircraft system (sUAS) operator demonstrates how to operate the high-tech piece of equipment

William watching the drone mid-flight in this image from his visit to the Welsh Guards in Salisbury

William pictured here examining the drone more closely before he tried his hand at flying it

Drones like the one William is holding provide significant advantage to commanders and soldiers on the ground

William is seen here with one of the regiment's drones

The drone leaving William's hand as officers watch on. This is William's second time meeting the Welsh Guards as their colonel this year

Soldiers watching closely as the Small Unscrewed Aerial System (sUAS) in William's hand (centre-right) takes off safely

One of the highlights of William's visit to the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire was presumably the opportunity to watch these new drones in action

William photographed here smiling slightly as the sAUS climbs higher

'It meant a lot to have him here today,' the platoon commander, who cannot be identified for security reasons, continued.

'It was brilliant. He is down to earth, he knows the blokes, he's got a finger on the pulse of them and their mentality. He engaged with them really well.'

While William is flying solo today, he was accompanied by Princess Catherine as they honoured the Welsh Guards during the St David's Parade in Windsor last March - which marked William's first time visiting the Battalion since assuming his royal role.

In a short speech at the time, William said he was 'honoured and delighted' to be their new Colonel, taking over the ceremonial role held by his father, the former Prince of Wales, Charles.

William - who was himself commissioned from Sandhurst and joined the Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals) as a troop tank commander before joined RAF Search and Rescue - added that it must be good for morale that the battalion was back in the field during Tuesday's visit.

He was later invited to join a group firing 7.62m General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs).

That sounds awesome, he said.

This time, the prince - who was also sporting ear defenders - lay down to grab hold of the gun and rattled off a complete round.

The battalions senior small unmaned aircraft system (sUAS) operator explained afterwards that the prince operated the drone on follow me and cameraman mode

The prince looking excited as he expertly controls the drone, as the sUAS operator told MailOnline he was 'really impressed' by it

William also asked the men whether they got enough time off to spend with their families.

Dont worry, hes too far away, he cant hear you, the prince said, jerking his head back towards the commanding officer, prompting guffaws of laugher.

While visiting the Welsh Guards, William was also offered the chance to fly one of the battalions new 7,500 drones which are transforming warfare. He held up the drone as it took off and then took hold of the controls.

I bet theres a lot of paperwork on this, he joked.

The battalions senior small unmaned aircraft system (sUAS) operator explained afterwards that the prince operated the drone on follow me and cameraman modes, which allows them track individual enemies.

'He was really impressed by it,' he added, referring to William's reaction to the high-tech piece of equipment.

The sUAS operator told MailOnline that having William present for training 'is great morale and great leadership'.

The battalions machine gun platoon commander told the Mail that the gun fired by William was a staple weapon that had been used for more than half a decade and creates a beating zone, an oval-shaped area where the bullets dont land in the same place.

It has a range of 1,800 metres through its iron sight, which the prince was using today.

The prince - who has used guns in the armed forces before - was then invited to sit down and shown his sight

William spent a few minutes lining up his British-made Accuracy International L11583 .338 calibre sniper rifle before releasing the trigger, sending off a puff of smoke and air

William also joined a group firing 7.62m General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs). This time the prince - who was also sporting ear defenders - lay down to grab hold of the gun and rattled off a complete round

The battalions machine gun platoon commander told the Mail that the gun fired by William (left) was a staple weapon that had been used for more than half a decade and creates a beating zone, an oval-shaped area where the bullets dont land in the same place

Prince William (left) firing a machine gun

Prince William (left) was named colonel of the Welsh Guards in 2022

While William was flying solo today, he was accompanied by Princess Catherine as they honoured the Welsh Guards during the St David's Parade in Windsor last March

The guns are used whenever troops are moving to suppress the enemy and stop them firing on their men.

After he commended William's shooting skills, the officer said it is 'very special' to have the royal 'as our colonel'.

He continued: 'Its amazing for morale for the guys, especially when they have been doing a lot of ceremonial duties, [for him to] come down on a visit like this. It is special.

We can get hands-on and show him what is done. That means a lot to them.'

William's trip to the Salisbury Plain comes one day after he joined Oman's Crown Prince His Royal Highness Theyazin bin Haitham to inaugurate an ambitious new environmental initiative at London's Royal Geographical Society on Monday.

As co-patrons of the Jewel of Arabia Expedition, William and Theyazin unveiled the project that aims to highlight both Oman's rich biodiversity and heritage,m as well as the environmental pressures facing the country.

The trek has been designed to promote the biodiversity and heritage of Oman but also highlight the environmental pressures facing the country.

The expedition team will be retracing the steps of British explorer Bertram Thomas who made the journey in 1928. Thomas kept diaries of his travels, accompanied by photographs and detailed maps of the area.

William (centre) previously said he was 'honoured and delighted' to be the new Colonel of the Welsh Guards, after taking over the ceremonial role held by his father, the former Prince of Wales, Charles

William speaking with personnel from the Specialist Platoons

During his trip, William learnt about the work the regiment has been doing as they steer themselves away from ceremonial duties and back to the Field Army

William seen wearing protective gear before joined the soldiers for a series of live firing practice drills

The Prince, who himself went through Sandhurst and then joined the Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals) as an officer where he worked as a troop tank commander, also observed how various other weapons are used by the Welsh Guards

William during his visit to the Salisbury Plain, where the Welsh Guards have been carrying out live firing training, on Tuesday

William's rugged appearance will no doubt leave royal fans delighted, as the father-of-three sported a full beard

The Prince of Wales received a briefing on the work the regiment has been carrying out and met personnel from the Specialist Platoons

Prince William, Prince of Wales and Colonel of the Welsh Guards (C) speaks with military personnel from the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards

While Prince William does not plan to fly to Oman in January to join the expedition, he told guests he would 'try and make something happen' in the future as regards a visit.

The prince added: 'We're in the planning process.'

Williiam was invited by his Omani counterpart to be a co-patron of the expedition because of his focused conservation efforts and activism - including launching the Earthshot Prize in 2019 when he was the Duke of Cambridge.

Speaking at the London launch of the Jewel of Arabia expedition, William said he was 'delighted' one of the previous winners of his Earthshot Prize hailed from Oman.
Less than three decades ago, the world was rocked by the tragic case of a six-year-old child pageant queen who was found dead in her home.

JonBenet Ramsey was reported missing after her family found a ransom note demanding $118,000 for the child's return inside their Boulder home in Colorado on December 26, 1996.

The child's body was later found by her father in the basement of the family's home, brutally beaten and strangled to death.

The case became one of the highest-profile mysteries in the US, not only because of her age, but due to the brutal circumstances of her murder, the glamorous pageant photos that accompanied news reports and the fact her killer was never caught.

Now, a new Netflix docuseries explores her death in detail, offering a fresh perspective on the family's decades-long quest for justice.

Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey is now available to watch on the streaming platform, having launched on November 25.

Directed by Joe Berlinger, the three-part series investigates the mishandling of the case by law enforcement and the media.

As the series follows the Colorado authorities' quest to bring JonBenet's killer to justice and 'allow her family to finally have peace of mind,' FEMAIL explores the tragic circumstances behind the pageant princess' death 28 years ago.

JonBenet Ramsey was reported missing after her family found a ransom note demanding $118,000 for the child's return inside their Boulder home in Colorado on December 26, 1996

Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey is now available to watch on the streaming platform, having launched November 25

Who was JonBenet Ramsey?

JonBenet Ramsey was an American child pageant queen who died aged six in Colorado on December 26, 1996.

JonBenet was born in August, 1990, in Atlanta, Georgia, and was the younger of two children of Patricia 'Patsy' Ramsey and John Bennett Ramsey. She had an older brother named Rurke, who was born in 1987.

During her young years competing in pageants, she'd been crowned Little Miss Colorado, Little Miss Charlevoix, Colorado State All-Star Kids Cover Girl, and National Tiny Miss Beauty.

How did JonBenet Ramsey die?

The six-year-old beauty pageant contestant was murdered on December 26, 1996, in her Boulder, Colorado home.

JonBenet had been reported missing by her parents, Patsy and John, earlier that day.

Her mother called 911 to say her daughter was missing and a ransom note demanding $118,000 for the child's return had been left behind.

Police arrived on the scene on the night of December 25, but did not find JonBenet until 1 pm the following day in the basement of the family's home.

The girl was bludgeoned and strangled - upon discovery, it was determined that JonBenet had a broken skull and had died of asphyxiation through the use of a garrote.

JonBenet Ramsey was an American child pageant queen who died aged six in Colorado on December 26, 1996

JonBenet was born in August, 1990, in Atlanta, Georgia, and was the younger of two children of Patricia 'Patsy' Ramsey and John Bennett Ramsey

She was covered by a white blanket with a nylon cord around her neck, her wrists bound above her head and her mouth covered by duct tape.

There was no clear-cut evidence of rape, but police did not rule out sexual assault.

Her death was ruled a homicide, but nobody was ever charged for her killing.

The only people known to be in the Ramsey house at the time were Patsy, John, and their 9-year-old son, Burke.

Who killed JonBenet Ramsay?

Although JonBenet's killer has never been identified, the director of Netflix's new documentary has revealed why he believes the family of the murdered six-year-old is innocent.

Speaking to the New York Post, Joe said: 'I am firmly convinced that the Ramsey family is innocent. And I am also firmly convinced that this case can be solved, if the Boulder Police Department finally does what it's supposed to do.'

He added that he believes all suspects should be 'put back on the table' as many 'likely suspects' were ruled out at the time because of the faulty DNA analysis.

However he did acknowledge that even the Ramsey family should also be DNA tested again because they would be more than happy to assist.

Pictured: The site where six-year-old JonBenet Ramsey was killed in Boulder, Colorado, 1996

Bereaved father John Ramsey, 80, took part in the Netflix documentary in the hopes it could find the answers to his daughter's murder case.

Joe said: 'John Ramsey agreed to sit down with us, did not ask to be paid, and was not paid  we don't pay our subjects  and asked for no editorial input.

'No questions were off limits. To me, that is an 80-year-old guy who wants to get that case solved. It's just unthinkable that the family had anything to do with this.'

Joe told the publication that he believes an intruder entered the home and murdered the little girl, calling it 'a much more plausible scenario'.

The district attorney at the time of JonBenet's death said her parents were under 'an umbrella of suspicion' early on.

JonBenet's parents gave several televised interviews, but resisted police questioning except on their own terms.

Theorists have also questioned whether their son Burke, who was aged nine at the time of JonBenet's death, killed his sister accidentally in a moment of rage, and his parents covered it up.

But tests in 2008 on newly discovered DNA on her clothing pointed to the involvement of an 'unexplained third party' in her slaying, and not her parents or Burke.

The district attorney at the time of JonBenet's death said her parents were under 'an umbrella of suspicion' early on

Officials in 2006 announced that suspect, John Mark Karr (pictured centre), had been arrested in Bangkok, Thailand, but DNA tests failed to link him to the crime scene

Among the suspects was convicted paedophile Gary Oliva (pictured), who allegedly confessed to the killing

The grave of JonBenet Ramsey in Marietta, Georgia, pictured

That led former district attorney Mary Lacy to clear the Ramseys of any involvement, two years after mother Patsy died of ovarian cancer in 2006, calling the couple 'victims of this crime'.

Investigators had identified other suspects, and developed a theory about an intruder, or several intruders, entering the home and killing the pageant princess.

Among the suspects was convicted pedophile Gary Oliva, who allegedly confessed to the killing.

Others included the Ramsey's housekeeper, as well as the man who portrayed Santa Claus at a holiday party the youngster attended.

Officials in 2006 announced that another suspect, John Mark Karr, had been arrested in Bangkok, Thailand.

He'd allegedly told an American investigator that he drugged JonBenet and sexually assaulted her before accidentally killing her.

But prosecutors dropped that probe after DNA tests failed to link him to the crime scene.

Investigations are ongoing. Police and officials in Boulder in December 2021 said they'd processed 1,500 pieces of evidence and analysed nearly 1,000 DNA samples in their hunt for the killer.

Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsay is available to watch on Netflix now.
Kate Moss is arguably one of the most famous faces in the world after her rise to stardom aged 14 when she was scouted at JFK Airport.

She has since risen through the ranks, modelling for some of the most famous designers in the world, such as Burberry, Chanel and Calvin Klein.

Now, Kate - who hails from Croydon, London - has sat back into the stylist's seat to design her own line with Zara, in a follow up to her lines with Topshop and Mango.

Kate's range - which is launching on November 30 - is for Fall-Winter 24/25 and boasts cape dresses and embellished bralettes, reminiscent of the early 90s.

Describing her motivation behind the launch, she added: 'For this collection, I wanted to create the perfect party capsule - pieces that feel effortlessly chic but with an edge. Mixing classic cuts with just the right amount of glam to take you through the party season.'

The glamorous 40-piece 'party capsule' collection was designed by herself, Marta Ortega Perez, the chair of Inditex (which owns Zara), and her long-term collaborator and stylist Katy England.

But this isn't the first time that the 50-year-old has caused a commotion with her collection. In 2007, fans of the supermodel queued for ages at the Topshop flagship store on Oxford Street, hoping to bag themselves something the icon had designed.

So, does Kate Moss still have an eye for chic clothing 17 years later? Fashion experts from some of the biggest publications have reviewed the collection and given their honest thoughts.

The Daily Mail: 'Supermodel sparkle'

The collection is inspired by Kate's own archival wardrobe and clothes that are still her go-to pieces, more than two decades on

ELLE journalist Alexis Bennett Parker said of the collection: 'Christmas has early this year'

The Daily Mail said Kate has cut to the chase and given fans what they want by releasing a party collection

Fashion and lifestyle writer Shane Watson pointed out that Kate Moss is one of the original party girls and would be seen at all the hottest bars and clubs.





Shane says that while the mother-of-one has had many collections over the years, with Mango and Topshop, this upcoming range cuts to the chase and gives fans what they want - Party Kate.

Shane said: 'She knows how women want to feel at parties: not girly, not dressy, not done up to the nines, but confident, attractive, sexy, and always ALWAYS glamorous.'

She even compared the supermodel's collection with Nineties It-girl Sienna Miller's clothing range with Marks and Spencer.

'Sienna Miller has great style; Kate has the style that inspired designers and young women on the street for a couple of decades. She's simply the best,' she said.

Shane said that no Kate Moss collection would be complete without some form of leopard-print, which has been a popular choice lately.

She has released a double breasted peacoat style in the animal print which Shane noted is 'pretty much guaranteed to be an instant sell-out'.

ELLE: 'Christmas has come early'

Kate Moss models her new shimmery silver dress, similar to the one she wore at Glastonbury in 2005

ELLE called the collection 'supermodel chic' for the High-Street band Zara

The fashion and beauty magazine said that the 90s was the only decade that will 'always feel timeless'.

Therefore Kate has picked the right era to base her whole line around, as journalist Alexis Bennett Parker said: 'Christmas has early this year'.

The collection is inspired by Kate's own archival wardrobe and clothes that are still her go-to pieces, more than two decades on.

She told the publication: 'There was the dress from my 19th birthday party, with the shoes that I would've worn that night. It was so nice rediscovering so many old pieces.'

Alexis said that supermodel fashion at the end of last century 'dominated' the industry, especially looks worn by Kate herself which tended to be minimalist ensembles with a 'hint of bohemian glam'.

The Times: 'Her looks are set to inspire scenes of fashion frenzy'

Kate's range - which is launching on November 30 - is for Fall-Winter 24/25 and boasts cape dresses and embellished bralettes, reminiscent of the early 90s

Fashion editor Harriet Walker points out that it was Kate Moss who helped take Topshop from 'High Street' to 'hyped chic' in the Noughties and she thinks the same may happen to Zara

Kate Moss models her new Zara collection, which launches on November 30

The Times said that Kate is the latest 'big hitter' joining forces with Inditex, who owns Zara

Fashion editor Harriet Walker for The Times notes that it was Kate Moss who helped take Topshop from 'High Street' to 'hyped chic' in the Noughties.

And she thinks that the same thing will happen again, as the London model attempts to create a resurgence of simple vintage style.

Harriet points out that those who adored the pansy-print dress at Topshop in 2007 might find themselves longing for the 'poppy-strewn ruffled maxi'.

She said the designs seemed to have 'purposefully matured at the same rate as their original target demographic'.

Another piece that caught her attention was the metallic silver minidress, which is strikingly similar to the one that Kate wore at Glastonbury in 2005.

'It will lure both those who remember the original and those for whom it has taken on retro-cool status,' Harriet said.

But the fashion expert also noted that Kate is the latest 'big hitter' joining forces with Inditex, who also own Massimo Dutti, Stradivarius, Pull&Bear and Oysho

Harriet mentioned that Zara 'approach of dropping 'newness' every two weeks while remaining vague on eco credentials has given rise to accusations of 'greenwashing' in the past.'

She also noted that collaborator Katy England is married Bobby Gillespie and was also a close friend of the late designer Alexander McQueen.

Harried said: 'If this sounds like industry name-dropping, that is exactly what Zara wants: the best photographers, coolest stylists, most recognisable models  and now the most bankable.'
Princess Martha Louise of Norway and her new husband Shaman Durek have still not paid of their vendors from their August wedding and owe more than a million kroner, Norwegian media has claimed.

The daughter of King Harald, 53, and her American husband, 50, celebrated with a a lavish wedding in the coastal Norwegian town of Geiranger in the summer.

Alongside Martha's three daughters from her first marriage, the couple were joined by Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden as well as Prince Carl Philip, and his wife Princess Sofia.

Martha-Louise's parents, the King and Queen of Norway and her brother and sister-in-law Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit were also among the 300 guests who enjoyed an afternoon and gala dinner.

The four-day celebration celebration was captured by Hello Magazine and filmed by a Netflix crew. They had their own gin designed as well as a cipher.

But three months on, many of the vendors are still awaiting payment - according to Se og Hor.

The Norweigan paper claims 'several' local businesses have been left frustrated with 'unpaid bills'.

Princess Martha Louise and Shaman Durek have been contacted for comment.

Princess Martha Louise of Norway and her new husband Shaman Durek have still not paid of their vendors from their August wedding and owe more than a million kroner, Norwegian media has claimed

The daughter of King Harald , 53, and her American husband, 50, celebrated with a a lavish wedding in the coastal Norwegian town of Geiranger in the summer

They claim the royal couple owe more than one million kroner (71,496) to three business. Some, it is believed, have initiated formal collection claims.

'I just have to admit that we were really looking forward to being part of the celebration, and we prepared well.

'Then it is not nice that the time afterwards has become less pleasant. It is indecent not to make amends. It simply feels as if the princess has run away from the bill,' one business owner says.

Hotel Union, where many of the guests stayed, is believed to have had 'long discussions' with Martha's manager about the 'final bill'.

Other companies awaiting are reportedly LYD AS, who supply lighting and sound equipment as well as a smaller local company.

The couple gave guests detailed instructions of how the day will play out, starting with a breakfast at 8am and wrapping up when the bar closes in the wee hours of the next morning

On the final day of the wedding they wrapped up the festivities starting with breakfast from 8am-10am

The dress code for the four-day celebration was 'cool and sexy'. Norwegian designer Tina Steffenakk Hermansen made Martha Louise's gown, while she added a Garrard pearl and diamond tiara, which was an 18th birthday present.

It is traditional for Norwegian weddings to open bars, but guests at the royal wedding yesterday were reportedly given five drink vouchers.

After the vouchers ran out, guests could purchase drinks from a menu, featuring cocktails made with the couple's customised gin they made with Oslo Handverksdestilleri. The drinks were priced at 16.50 (NOK 225).

The gin itself has provoked criticism of the royal: earlier this year, it was reported that the couple had been involved in creating the beverage which was made by Oslo Handverksdestilleri (OHD).

The label on the gin bottle said: 'We created this gin for the wedding of Princess Martha Louise and Durek Verrett in Geiranger in August 2024.'

Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel walk outside Hotel Union at Vinjevollen on the day of the wedding of Norway's Princess Martha Louise and Durek Verrett

Princess Martha Louise is not allowed to use her title for commercial gain, and it was at first reported that while OHD generally collaborates on products it makes with celebrities, the couple's gin had already been in the brand's line before it was associated with them.

However, according to a letter written by (OHD) to the Norwegian directorate of health, seen by Aftenposten, the princess may have been more involved in the creation of the product than initially thought.

Durek Verrett, who recently denied sexually assaulting a Swedish father-of-two, during a 'spiritual session', claims to be a sixth-generation shaman from California.

The couple have attracted headlines with their alternative beliefs. Perhaps most controversially, Durek says children's cancer is caused by unhappiness.

She is fourth in line to the Norwegian throne but said in 2022 that she'll no longer officially represent the Norwegian royal house.

Martha, who describes herself as 'spiritual' and claims to be a clairvoyant, got into a relationship with Durek after overcoming the loss of her first husband, Ari Behn

The princess - she has retained the title - has said she can talk with angels, while Verrett claims that he communicates with a broad range of spirits and has a medallion which helps ward off spells and cure diseases.

They became engaged in 2022. Following their marriage, Verrett will not have a royal title or official duties.

In a 2019 deal, Martha Louise and Verrett agreed not to use her connection to the royal house or her title for commercial purposes.

But earlier this year Martha Louise labelled bottles of gin with her title and launched the brand in time for the wedding, defying King Harald's directive that she should not profit from her royal status. The label was eventually changed.

Martha Louise has three children from her previous marriage with author and playwright Ari Behn, whom she divorced in 2017 after 14 years of marriage. He died by suicide on Christmas Day in 2019.
The mother of Liz Hatton, the 17-year-old terminally-ill photograher who inspired the Princess of Wales, has revealed the family's heartbreaking Christmas plans in light of her daughter's health battle.

Vicky Robayna, who travelled to Windsor Castle with Liz, said that 'we will celebrate Christmas early as a family' because 'we know our time is short now' in an emotional post on X.

Vicky's update on Liz's condition comes after the aspiring photographer, who is battling a desmoplastic small round cell tumour, a rare and extremely aggressive form of cancer, hosted her very own photography exhibition in London last week.

The teenager from Harrogate, Yorkshire, made headlines last month after she was invited to photograph an investiture, where she found herself meeting the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Liz, who now reportedly has weeks to live, discussed with Kate their mutual passion for photography and shared a warm embrace with one another - a tender moment that was documented in photos later shared by Kensington Palace.

Liz's meeting with Kate was the first time that the princess had been pictured since she announced she was planning a slow and measured return to work following her own cancer diagnosis in February.

Reflecting on Liz's indomitable spirit and her many accomplishments since being diagnosed with cancer, her proud mother Vicky shared that Liz has become 'increasingly tired' since the exhibition last week.

Writing on X, she said: 'Liz had her very own exhibition last week, the perfect culmination of her incredible achievements.

Liz Hatton, the teenager with cancer who met Kate at Windsor Castle earlier this year, will be celebrating Christmas with her family this weekend, her mother has revealed

'As I walked around looking at her pictures, thinking about the circumstances many were taken under, I was more in awe of her than ever.'

Vicky said that the triumph of last week's exhibition was 'accompanied by the fact that Liz has become increasingly tired', explaining the family's decision to celebrate Christmas earlier than usual this year.

She wrote: 'At the end of this week, we will celebrate Christmas early as a family. We know our time is short now.

'To all of you who have supported her work and cheered for her on from afar, please know how much you mean to us,' she continued, expressing gratitude for the outpouring of love and support for her daughter since her story came to light.

Vicky concluded: 'She has lived a wonderful life and that is in no small part down to you. Thank you.'

It is understood that it's the wish of Liz's little brother, Matteo, to celebrate with his mother, father Aaron, and sister Liz while they still can.

Liz, pictured with her mother Vicky, stepfather Aaron and little brother Mateo in Disneyland

Liz is an aspiring photographer and has been living out her wish list over the last few months. Pictured at the Venom premiere

Her post was accompanied by a stunning, smiling photograph of Liz, wearing a burgundy jumper and holding up her camera - one that has captured the heart of the nation.

X users sent their 'love and best wishes to the family' in the comments section, with one person writing: 'Liz is a remarkable young lady and a great credit to you.'

Another comment read: 'What Liz has achieved is utterly amazing. Sending my love and best wished for a wonderful Christmas celebration.'

A third user added: 'Liz and your whole family are such an inspiration to us all. She has achieved so much in such a short time and, despite what you are all going through, you remain positive and determined to make the most of it.

'Have a wonderful celebration and make more memories to cherish.'

The teenage cancer patient was invited to Windsor Castle in October after William heard about her diagnosis and love for photography.

However, Liz told MailOnline, she had no idea her invite included a private meeting with the Prince and Princess of Wales, describing the day as 'truly incredible'.

She said: 'Of course I didn't expect anything like this to happen - I didn't even expect to be able to fulfil any of my original bucket list - never mind additions like this that were so far beyond our wildest imagination.

'The day was truly incredible. I was practically shell shocked every other minute as they told us what we were going to be doing, especially so when the Prince and Princess walked into the room.

'So I am beyond honoured to have had this experience and very thankful that my family could join me and experience it as well.

Vicky, who was at the meeting along with her husband Aaron, Liz's step-father, and her younger brother, Mateo, eight, previously revealed to the Mail that her daughter and Catherine spent 'lots of time talking about photography'.

'She was really lovely and asked Liz lots of questions about things she might like to photograph, which was really kind of her,' she added.

'They didn't speak about their health. Liz is very keen to say that she is not defined by her cancer. So they spent time talking about the things they enjoyed.

'The Princess asked lots of lovely questions, in fact they were both really good, particularly at including our little boy in the conversation. They were such lovely, kind, genuine people. '

Liz was diagnosed with desmoplastic small round cell tumours (DSRCT), which is a rare type of cancer that develops in the soft tissues of the abdomen and pelvis, in January.

Speaking to Good Morning Britai host Rob Rinder, alongside her mother Vicky Robayna, Liz shared how the family dealt with her diagnosis.

The brave teenager said: 'We just have to try to remain positive because what's the point in wasting what little time I have left.'

Vicky added: 'Because Liz's cancer has gone to her liver we knew her chances of survival was nil so it was really important that we live each day as if it was our last.

'When we ask how we do it we don't think any far forward than the next exciting thing we have planned. If we look to the future, that's too scary and we would sit in bed and not get up.'

Liz - who said she is not scared of dying - said she was given the option to continue with chemotherapy or to stop having treatment.

She said: 'Because of the chances of them working being so slim, I wanted to spend time with my family and enjoy the time I have left, instead of spending it stuck in hospital and feeling even more terrible and dealing with side effects.

'I chose to stop my chemo and just live my life at home and just deal with whatever comes.'

The talented amateur photographer drew up a wish list of events to snap after being diagnosed in January - and told that she could have between six months and three years to live.

She has been living out her bucket list, in which she hoped to photograph behind the scenes of a West End show and film set.

GMB said Six, the West End musical, found out about Liz's list and invited her to photograph the pre-show warm up and the cast.

In another 'bucket list' moment for the teen, Liz was spotted last month working alongside photographers to capture celebrities attending the UK premiere of Tom Hardy's Venom: The Last Dance.

Liz told the Mail that she hadn't even considered including meeting royalty on her bucket list.

She said: 'It was great to talk to Princess Catherine about photography because I know she loves it to and it is always great to talk about what you love or enjoy, and of course photography is my passion. '

Elsewhere, she joked the experience of meeting the Princess of Wales was 'mind-blowing'.

The meeting came about - her mother Vicky explained - after someone working for the London Air Ambulance charity, of which Prince William is patron, spotted a social media post she had put up on behalf of her daughter earlier this year asking for help in completing her 'bucket list'.

'They then got in touch with the Palace who invited her in June but couldn't make the date because she was having chemo those days,' she told the Mail.

'But they were really, really lovely and said not to worry, they would try again. That invitation was to take photos of the investiture, we knew nothing about meeting the Prince and Princess. She was very excited about it all anyway.

'They kept in touch and asked a couple of weeks ago if she could make October 2. We said absolutely she could! We set off just thinking she was going to take photos of the investiture and then ended up meeting the prince and princess and spent about half an hour chatting to them. Which was truly incredible.'

After their meeting with Liz, William and Kate thanked the budding photographer for 'sharing your photos and story with us' in a message posted on Kensington Palace's official social media handles.

'A pleasure to meet with Liz at Windsor today. A talented young photographer whose creativity and strength has inspired us both. Thank you for sharing your photos and story with us. W&C.'

After their meeting, Vicky told The Times that Kensington Palace is 'checking in daily' to check on the family after doctors said Liz now has between 'three to four weeks'.

'It is uncertain how long I have, how long I'll live,' Liz told the outlet.

'But it is certain that it won't be for a long time. And so because of that, I feel like the only thing you can do is do as much as possible, as much as possible of what you want to do and what you enjoy.

'And to spend it with the people you love.'
Fans of the highly-anticipated Wicked film were left baffled over the weekend by an 'uncomfortable' interview with its two stars - who discussed 'holding space' for the lyrics of 'Defying Gravity'.

Wicked: Part One - which opened in cinemas on 22 November - is an adaptation of the much-loved stage musical, that first debuted on Broadway more than 20 years ago.

In an interview for Out Magazine, journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist mentioned the film's closing number - 'Defying Gravity' - and claimed people are 'taking the lyrics' and 'really holding space with that'.

During footage of the discussion, Cynthia Erivo, 37, who portrays Elphaba Thropp, holds her hand to her chest, and says: 'I didn't know that was happening. That's really powerful. That's what I wanted.'

The exchange quickly gained traction on social media, with fans of the film baffled by what the conversation actually meant.

One person wrote on X: 'I've watched this like 30 times, and I still can't parse a single thing going on here.'

Now, Tracy has added some context to the viral interview - which has been viewed 66 million times on X alone - after Variety asked the journalist exactly what she meant by 'holding space'.

She said: '"Holding space" is being physically, emotionally and mentally present with someone or something. For me, it means being in the moment, not being distracted and feeling something on a cellular level.'

Fans of the highly-anticipated Wicked film were left baffled over the weekend by an 'uncomfortable' interview with its two stars - who discussed 'holding space' for the lyrics of 'Defying Gravity'

Tracy added that she believes a song, even one you've heard before, can 'take on new meaning when youre a queer person'.

The journalist claimed the 'Trump administration is targeting LGBTQ+ people' and that when Erivo sings the lyric 'I'm through accepting limits', it resonates with 'anyone who is marginalised'.

Tracy continued: 'Of course, there are cynics and haters out there but Im really just trying to not pay too much attention to that.

'This was for us, for queer people who understand what I meant by holding space - or really, for anybody who feels marginalized and can relate.'

The journalist admitted, however, that the 'couple of posts' she referred to in the viral clip when explaining to the singing sensation about the 'holding space' reaction, actually mostly came from a conversation with a friend.

After watching the bizarre exchange, one viewer said on X: 'I'm holding space for the video about holding space for the Defying Gravity lyrics.

'I don't understand what holding space means or why it's so powerful but I'm holding space for the potential to understand the space I'm holding.'

A second asked if the cast of 'Wicked' are okay. She said: 'I am obsessed with whatever on Earth is going on with the cast of Wicked. Every press interview I've seen has been bizarre.

In an interview for Out Magazine, journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist mentioned the film's closing number - 'Defying Gravity' - and claimed people are 'taking the lyrics' and 'really holding space with that'

Wicked: Part One - which opened in cinemas on 22 November - is an adaptation of the much-loved stage musical, that first debuted on Broadway more than 20 years ago

'Are they okay? What is happening?' Another person said the interview in general had 'weird and uncomfortable vibes'.

Others simply mocked the language used by Tracy, with the phrase 'holding space for the lyrics of Defying Gravity' quickly becoming a joke on social media.

But some pointed to another strange moment in the same interview, in which Ariana Grande - who plays Glinda Upland in the film - appears to caress her co-star's finger as she speaks.

Grande, 31, also appeared emotional over the 'Defying Gravity' remarks, and reached out to grab her co-star's pointer finger in an apparent display of support.

'What was this?' one person wrote on X alongside a screenshot of Grande's hand wrapped around Erivo's finger. 'Is this a sketch comedy show or something?' asked someone else.

Another user added, 'The finger grab,' along with a skull emoji. 'Watching this makes me feel like I'm huffing gasoline, it's so surreal, like why is Ariana holding her singular finger like that?' read a fourth tweet.

In the interview, for Out Magazine, journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist mentions the film's closing number - 'Defying Gravity' - and claims people are 'taking the lyrics' and 'really holding space with that'

The exchange quickly gained traction on social media, with fans of the film baffled by what the conversation even means - and the fact it relates to a 20-year-old song

This interview is far from the first time Erivo and Grande have raised eyebrows for their behaviour while on a busy global press tour for Wicked.

During a slew of interviews and red carpet events, the stars have broken down in tears on multiple occasions - even once apologising for doing so.

'We've cried 500 times today. And honestly, this is a PSA. So sorry guys,' Grande told E! News earlier this month.

'It is what it is,' her British-born co-star Erivo added. 'There's just nothing we can do about it.'

Earlier, she had sought to explain why she and Grande have broken down in tears on so many occasions while promoting the film.

Speaking on the Heart Breakfast show, Amanda Holden told Erivo: 'Every interview I've read Cynthia of you and Ariana, it just says that you end up in tears all the time.'

Erivo replied: 'We do!

Some pointed to another strange moment in the same interview, in which Ariana Grande - who plays Glinda Upland in the film - appears to caress her co-star's finger as she speaks

'And I think it's because people have come in with such energy and they come in, their responses, their emotional responses come into the room with us, it's the first time we've been able to talk about it, so we're both reliving and rehashing all the things we've been through and the journey we've been on.

'We can't help it. We get very emotional about it.'

Holden added: 'Yeah, I don't blame you.

'You went through Covid, you went through strikes, there was all kind of obstacles to overcome to make this movie.'

For some fans though, the tear-jerking moments have been a little too much.

'Does anyone else find it bizarre that the press tour of Wicked just seems to be the actresses bawling crying all the time,' one wrote on X.

For some fans, the tear-jerking moments have been a little too much

This interview is far from the first time Erivo and Grande have raised eyebrows for their behaviour while on a busy global press tour for Wicked

'Literally the only press videos from Wicked I've seen are of these two crying,' another added.

Echoing a similar sentiment, a third said: 'Genuinely what is going on with this Wicked press tour, like are these girls okay????? They're always bawling their eyes out.'

The filming of the 2024 film adaptation of the Broadway musical Wicked took about a year, with principal photography starting in December 2022 in England.

The shoot was paused in July 2023 due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, only to pick back up after the winter holidays of that same year and eventually conclude in January 2024.

The filming of the 2024 film adaptation of the Broadway musical Wicked took about a year, with principal photography starting in December 2022 in England

Critics' reviews for Wicked have already poured in and for the most part they have applauded the leading stars' performances

Director Jon M. Chu decided to film the adaptation in two separate movies, so that means the cast and crew will be doing all the promotional interviews all over again this time next year.

Wicked is the origin story of 'a green-skinned woman who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West' and serves as a prequel to The Wizard Of Oz, exploring the narrative before Dorothy's arrival and delving into the former friendship between the characters Elphaba and Glinda.

Critics' reviews for Wicked have already poured in and for the most part they have applauded the leading stars' performances.

The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw described it as a 'sugar-rush fantasy with the overpowering star presence of Cynthia Erivo; it basically dunks you face-down in a hyperreal ball pit of M&Ms for two and three-quarter hours.'

Praising Erivo's performance he added: 'Erivo's charismatic Elphaba exerting a planetary pull over a star-studded cast'.

The Daily Mail's Brian Viner wrote: 'It's a fabulous spectacle, which demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible.'
Angela Merkel has revealed in her new memoirs, released today, the sexism she faced during her time as Germany's chancellor - including how a photographer once lay on the floor under a table trying to take photos of her 'wonky' shoes.

The ex-German Chancellor's autobiography, Freedom, details her birth in East Germany and her rise to the top of global politics - and lifts the lid on her various encounters with royalty and world leaders, including being surprised by George W. Bush with a massage at the G8 summit in 2006.

Merkel also reveals how she was subjected to constant comments about her approach to fashion, including her work attire and her hair style.

The now 70-year-old, who was in office for 16 years and 16 days, says she was aware, particularly in her homeland, of jokes that circulated - such as 'What does Merkel do with her old clothes? She wears them' - while she was in Germany's top job.

One chapter recounts how a female photographer once 'hurled' herself to the floor to try and take shots of Merkel's crooked shoes; elsewhere, she discusses the trouser suits that she became famous for wearing and how she ditched skirts and dresses almost entirely during her time in power.

Merkel also discusses the surreal moment then US President George W. Bush began massaging her shoulders at the G-8 summit in St Petersburg in 2006 - but says she doesn't think the bizarre encounter was sexist.

According to German publication Bild, Merkel writes that she had 'expected anything in that second, but not that' and says she threw her arms up 'in shock' as Bush put his hands on her shoulders, but clarifies that 'not for one moment' did she regard Bush's actions as anything other than a jape.

Merkel concludes: 'It was a joke, not meant to intimidate or belittle me, but just a bit of fun in the midst of dry and serious deliberations. Bush and I liked and respected each other.'

Angela Merkel's candid memoirs, Freedom: Memories 1954 - 2021 lift the lid on her life as one of the most powerful politicians in the world (Pictured with ex British PM David Cameron in 2012)

Fun - but not sexist: Merkel's memoir see her explain how she felt during one of the more bizarre moments of her time in office - when George W. Bush, then US President, gave her a massage during the G8 Summit in 2008

And Donald Trump's apparent defiance in the face of Ms Merkel - famously captured in this 2018 photo taken at the G7 summit in Canada - is also touched upon, with the former German Chancellor saying America's President Elect views every encounter as a competition

The 70-year-old reveals in the book her frustration that her work - and leisure attire - has sometimes been the main focus of attention

Merkel at the opening of the Oslo Opera House in Norway in 2008; she became known for her affection for practical trouser suits but did occasionally don glad rags during her time in office

Donald Trump also features in the memoir, as Merkel recounts how he flung two Starburst sweets across a table at her during the G7 summit in Canada in 2018, saying: 'Here, Angela, so you can't say I never gave you anything'.

A famous photo shows Trump, arms crossed, looking defiant as other world leaders surround him, but the former German Chancellor plays down the incident, saying Trump was showing his annoyance at how many German cars were in New York and that she came to realise America's President Elect views every encounter as a 'competition'.

She revealed how she scolded herself for prompting him to shake her hand in front of cameras when they met in 2017 before realising his rudeness was deliberate.

'He wanted to create conversation fodder through his behaviour,' she writes, while she was acting 'as though I were having a discussion with someone completely normal'.

She concluded from her Washington visit: 'There could be no cooperative work for an interconnected world with Trump.'

Gender-based comments that did get to her included jokes about her hair and frequent remarks about the colour and style of her clothes, including her fondness for cardigans and skirts while she served in the German cabinet.

Faithful to practical business attire - she first began wearing trouser suits after breaking a leg and fearing a skirt would leave her exposed, she remained just as committed to robust leisurewear too in her time off.

Merkel famously wore the same holiday outfit - a red checked shirt and light-coloured walking trousers - five years in a row while hiking with her husband Joachim Sauer in northern Italy's Ortles Mountains.

Trump was keen on creating 'conversation fodder through his behaviour', says Merkel; the pair pictured in 2019 at the G7 summit in Biarritz

Merkel's book covers her life from 1954, including being born in what was then East Germany, to 2021

Merkel pictured with the late Queen Elizabeth in 2021; Merkel admired how astute England's then monarch was, she says in the book

Over and out, the Chancellor left office in 2021, and her new book has been published in 30 languages, reflecting her role as a global player

There's special mention for the late Queen Elizabeth too, who Merkel met many times.

She writes of her admiration at just how astute the nation's monarch was, saying: Through a series of questions and brief comments, she demonstrated how closely she observed what was going on in the world. '

The book also heavily features Brexit, including Merkel's feelings that it was a 'humiliation' and a 'disgrace' to the European project.

The former German chancellor revealed Britain's decision to leave the European Union 'changed' the bloc 'in the view of the world'.

'We were weakened,' she reflects in excepts of her new book, shared ahead of publication tomorrow, adding: 'The UK's 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,' she wrote.

'I would much rather have continued working with them within the European Union than lose them as a member.'

Ms Merkel said that after the 2016 referendum she was 'tormented' by whether to grant 'even more concessions' to keep the UK in the bloc, but eventually judged there wouldn't have been 'any reasonable way' to prevent Britain leaving.

Once heralded as the de facto leader of the EU, Ms Merkel spent 16 years in power before leaving office in 2021.

Angela Merkel and David Cameron during a visit to Berlin in May 2015

Boris Johnson (R) greets German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) as leaders arrive to attend the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow on November 1, 2021

President Vladimir Putin (R) and then Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel giving a joint press conference after their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow in January 2020

In her new book, Freedom: Memories 1954-2021, Ms Merkel said she viewed the UK as an 'indispensable part of the peace project' and cited the role of Winston Churchill to bringing the EU into existence.

'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,' she said, weighing that the UK's economic strength 'made the European single market stronger'.

Ms Merkel lamented how Britain ultimately decided to leave the union in 2016, by 52 per cent to 48, deeming it a 'bitter lesson'.

'Even with the best political will, mistakes of the past could not be undone,' she wrote.

Ms Merkel's memoir follows her climb from childhood in the German Democratic Republic and memories of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 to becoming Chancellor in 2005.

She also shares recollections of her meetings and conversations with some of the world's most powerful people, and passes judgements on her experiences of leaders from Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin.

'He saw everything from the perspective of the property developer he was before entering politics,' she wrote of President-elect Trump, now returning to the top role.

'Each parcel of land could only be sold once, and if he didn't get it someone else did. That's how he saw the world.'

She wrote how Trump did not shake her hand for photographers at a White House meeting in 2017 even after she whispered to him that they should.

'As soon as I said that, I shook my head inwardly at myself. How could I have forgotten that Trump knew exactly what effect he wanted to achieve.'

She also suggested Trump was intrigued by Vladimir Putin, with whom he spoke numerous times as President.

Trump went on to defend Putin against allegations of electoral interference against his own FBI in 2016, after he won.

Russia was likewise alleged to have interfered in the Brexit referendum.

'[Trump] was obviously very fascinated by the Russian president,' Ms Merkel assessed.

'In the years that followed I had the impression that politicians with autocratic and dictatorial traits captivated him.

'We talked on two different levels. Trump on an emotional level, me on a factual one.

'For him, all countries were in competition with each other, in which the success of one was the failure of the other.

'He did not believe that co-operation could increase the prosperity of all.'

Donald J. Trump (R) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a joint news conference in Washington, March 17, 2017

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, shakes hand with Britain's King Charles III, centre, and Camilla, the Queen Consort, during the State Banquet in Berlin, March 29, 2023

Angela Merkel and David Cameron visit the British Museum during her visit to London, 2015

Angela Merkel talks with a soldier of the German Bundeswehr in protective clothes, November 14 2006 in Letzlingen

Angela Merkel receives flowers from her successor, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, December 8, 2021

Merkel also wrote on her interactions with Vladimir Putin, making reference to the infamous encounter where he brought a dog to a meeting in 2007, having allegedly already learned of her phobia.

She described Putin as: 'Someone who was always on his guard to avoid being treated badly and always ready to dish it out, including power games with dogs and making others wait for him.

'You could find all this childish, reprehensible. You could shake your head at it. But it didn't take Russia off the map.'

'He was not interested in building democratic structures or prosperity for a well-functioning economy in his country or elsewhere,' she said.

'Rather, he wanted to counter the fact that the United States had emerged victorious from the Cold War. He wanted Russia to remain an indispensable pole in a multipolar world after the end of the Cold War.

'To achieve this, he primarily drew on his experience in the security services.'
MBABANE  Judge Titus Mlangeni yesterday sentenced Advocate Lucas Maziya and his instructing attorney, Luke Malinga, to seven days imprisonment.

This was after the judge found them to be in contempt of court. Judge Mlangeni gave the pair an option of a fine of E3 500 each. The contempt of court emanates from the matter that saw the incarceration of another Lawyer, Machawe Sithole, also for contempt, by the same judge. Sithole was released after less than 24 hours behind bars. He challenged his incarceration in court.



Failed



The order which Advocate Maziya and Malinga are said to have failed to comply with states that: All counsel present, including L. Malinga, are hereby ordered and directed to travel to where the goods are said to be, to inspect them and take pictures for the courts attention. The goods in question are items that were removed from a house situated on Lot. 30, at Mountain View, in Ezulwini. The house was occupied by Lungile Dlamini. Sithole obtained an eviction order at the magistrates court against Lungile. The court heard that a messenger of the court, Wiseman Dlamini, failed for months to evict her and she allegedly insulted and threatened him with a name of a traditionalist. Another messenger of the court, Msimisi Shongwe, is said to have managed to evict Lungile by force in line with a court order.



Lungile, who is represented by Advocate Maziya, on the instruction of Malinga, is seeking a rescission, among other prayers, following the granting of the eviction order. She was evicted in favour of Ntekati Trust Fund. Sithole disputed that he was in contempt and argued that he complied with the order to evict Lungile. However, according to Sithole, each time he removed Lungiles items from the house, they would be taken back and it appeared as if he was not complying with the order. This resulted in Sitholes incarceration. In the case of Advocate Maziya and Malinga, Judge Mlangeni, before issuing the order which they were found to have not complied with, said, in chambers, the advocate requested his recusal from the matter on the basis that he had information that the household goods that were removed from the house were taken to his (judges) homestead.



The advocate, according to the judge, said the goods were kept at the judges homestead and as of November 19, 2024, they were still there. Judge Mlangeni stated that the misinformation was corrected and Advocate Maziya was told where the goods were kept and that they could be inspected immediately. Mr Maziya and Mr Malinga were reluctant to have the goods inspected where they are. It is the courts view that this inspection is necessary in order to clear any doubt about where the goods are being kept, the judge noted. Judge Mlangeni then ordered all counsel to go and inspect the goods where they were, but that did not happen, hence the contempt of court and order for the duos imprisonment. Meanwhile, the property is owned by the Ntekati Trust Fund for the time being. The current owner was given possession of the property in September 2024, through Attorney Derrick Jele and I am made to believe that Mr Jele has then hired security guards to keep the property safe. According to the current occupant, the orders that are sought by Lungile are incompetent to be granted by the High Court.



Property



The new owner submitted that Lungile is neither the owner of the property nor is she claiming any title to it and she was not a lawful possessor for the court to protect her legal interests.

The applicant (Lungile), from the facts of the matter, was an illegal occupier and has no right to be in my house. The applicant was also lawfully evicted through court orders from courts of competent jurisdiction. The applicants application is none other than an abuse of the process of the court and it stands to be dismissed with costs at attorney and own client scale, reads the respondents answering papers, in the proceedings where Lungile is challenging her eviction.




The Dutch royal looked cool in camel as she hosted a charity event today

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands cut a sophisticated figure as she attended a charity event in Utrecht with King Willem-Alexander today.

The royal, 53, opted for a timeless camel ensemble to present certificates on behalf of the Oranje Fonds Growth Program at Centraal Museum.

The mother-of-three looked stylish in a camel jacket, with a wide belt that accentuated her waist, and a shimmering gold brooch attached to the lapel.

Maxima paired her trendy jacket with some matching wide-leg trousers and patent camel high heels embellished with bows.

As she arrived at the museum, the European Queen was pictured with a double breasted knee-length coat - in a slighter darker shade of camel - draped over her shoulders.

The style-conscious royal complemented her camel outfit with a champagne-coloured leather bag by the Greek designer Marina Raphael, which retails for $469 (371).

The monarch completed her outfit with some statement hoop earrings, which perfectly matched her brooch.

Having swept her blonde hair into an elegant updo, Maxima opted for her signature smokey brown eye look and was also pictured with a burgundy manicure.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands (pictured right) cut a sophisticated figure as she attended a charity event in Utrecht with King Willem-Alexander (left) today

The Oranje Fonds (Orange Fund) was created in 2002 as a wedding gift to Maxima and Willem-Alexander, who was the Prince of Orange at the time, from the people of the Netherlands.

The social welfare charity supports thousands of programmes across the Netherlands and the Caribbean.

Today, the royal couple presented a certificate to Carlijn van den Berge, who has been running a new intergenerational socialising programme, which began in the city of Eindhoven.

The 'Boefjes and Baristas' initiative has brought together young children, parents and the elderly for regular coffee mornings and now travels around care homes around the country.

As well as drinking coffee, the events also encourage guests - who may be struggling with loneliness - to take part in crafts, exercise and socialise.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima are patrons of the Oranje Fonds, which celebrated the Boefjes and Baristas volunteer scheme today.

This is the second time in recent days that Maxima has opted for a tailored look while on royal duty.

Last week, Maxima travelled to the northern Dutch city of Assen to attend the 50th anniversary of the Northern Development Company.

The royal, 53, opted for a timeless camel ensemble to present certificates on behalf of the Oranje Fonds Growth Program at Centraal Museum

The style-conscious royal complemented her camel outfit with a champagne-coloured leather bag by the Greek designer Marina Raphael, which retails for $469 (371)

The mother-of-three looked stylish in a camel jacket, with a wide belt that accentuated her waist, and a shimmering gold brooch attached to the lapel

Having swept her blonde hair into an elegant updo, Maxima opted for her signature smokey brown eye look and was also pictured with a burgundy manicure

For the occasion, the Queen opted for a red checked suit with matching red leather gloves and boots.

Maxima wore a set of chic gold earrings and a blood red broach in the shape of a coneflower.

The Queen wore her typical glam makeup look with a full glowing base and dark lined eyes. She sealed the deal with a smattering of illuminating highlighter and rose pink lipstick.

She wore her sleek blonde tresses in an up do beneath her stylish wide brimmed hat.
A couple who were relentlessly trolled after sharing photographs of their wedding day have revealed the eye-watering cost of undergoing IVF - and the fear that has come with it.

Lauren Evens, 31, and Hannah Kaye, 29, married at their local registry office in September and announced in October they are expecting triplets.

While the couple are thrilled to welcome their new additions to the family, they admit they're apprehensive about the criticism they may face from haters.

'People think I married a schoolboy and am having his children. They are ridiculous and uneducated,' Lauren, who also has also has a 10-year-old son and a nine-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, told the US Sun.

The soon-to-be mom-of-five added: 'I know the abuse will only get worse now that Im pregnant.'

The UK-based couple faced a barrage hurtful online comment after trying the knot, with Lauren falsely accused of being a pedophile because her wife looks so young.

Despite the onslaught of disparaging comments, the happy couple are now expecting triplets through IVF, using Hannah's eggs and a sperm donor, with Lauren carrying the babies.

Lauren and Hannah spent $11,300 on reciprocal IVF, which is a fertility treatment option available for same-sex female couples.

In reciprocal IVF, one woman supplies her eggs, which are retrieved and fertilized by donated sperm in IVF, with the resulting embryo (or embryos) implanted into her partner for pregnancy as a gestational carrier, according to Fertility New Jersey.

The couple started their journey in January 2024, deciding to undergo the treatment in Cyprus after realizing it would be far more expensive in the UK.

A video posted to social media earlier this month showed Hannah having her eggs collected, with three embryos retrieved.

'They gave us a 75 per cent chance one embryo would stick if we implanted all three embryos,' Lauren explained in the video.

Miraculously, all three stuck and the couple were delighted to find out they're expecting triplets.

'We knew the odds of the three embryos staying in the womb were incredibly slim and the clinic doctors advised us it was the best decision to make,' Lauren said.

After undergoing the egg retrieval and implantation in September, the couple were told to wait two weeks to take a pregnancy test.

But Lauren couldn't wait, taking a test three days later.

However, the UK-based couple faced a barrage of online comments, with Lauren was falsely accused of being a pedophile because her wife looks so young

Despite the onslaught of disparaging comments, the happy couple are now expecting triplets through IVF, using Hannah's eggs and a sperm donor, with Lauren carrying the babies

Lauren and Hannah spent $11,300 on reciprocal IVF, which is a fertility treatment option available for same-sex female couples

They underwent the treatment in North Cyprus

Lauren was falsely accused of being a pedophile by hundreds of Instagram users for 'marrying someone so young' - despite Hannah being 29 years old

'I just had a feeling,' she recalled.

'When the test turned positive, Hannah and I were overwhelmed.

'To get a positive pregnancy result three days after implantation is unheard of. It was a miracle.'

Lauren is under strict observation, with the risk much higher for three babies, and the couple warned the risk of losing one or more of the babies and triplets can often result in a premature birth.

'To reach the three-month mark and all babies to be developing happily is another miracle,' she explained.

She added they're 'prepared for anything and hoping for the best possible outcome.'

The couple first met on Tinder two years ago, with Hannah proposing in January 2024.

The couple faced an onslaught of horrible comments after tying to know in September.

Lauren was falsely accused of being a pedophile by hundreds of Instagram users for 'marrying someone so young' despite Hannah being 29 years old.

'Some people said it was cute that my 10-year-old son was walking me down the aisle. Others said it was disgusting that I was kissing a young boy,' Lauren said.

Other vile comments left by the trolls include: 'I thought she married a child,' 'Why does he look like a 13-year-old boy?' and 'Is he old enough to get married?'
McDonald's Australia has released it's summer menu for 2024

McDonald's Australia has revealed its highly anticipated summer menu shakeup - with new burgers and a slew of tropical sweet treats.

Several pineapple-themed items are hitting Aussie stores this week, a summer fruit thousands have dubbed 'the most controversial of all time'.

'Never-before-seen' snacks include three tangy burgers which are sure to drum up a heated debate among foodies.

The Hawaiian BBQ Deluxe boasts 100 per cent Aussie beef patty topped with a juicy pineapple ring along with bacon, fresh vegetables, Jack cheese, and smoky BBQ sauce.

The Hawaiian McCrispy and Hawaiian McSpicy burgers feature juicy Aussie chicken with McDonald's signature deliciousness.

For those who need a quick solution to beat the heat, they can purchase a popular returning favourite: a sundae covered in pineapple sauce and chunks - with the choice of the iconic vanilla or chocolate soft serve for the base.

A brand new dessert is a world-first collaboration between Australia's top chocolate bar and Macca's.

The Cadbury Cherry Ripe McFlurry features a creamy soft serve topped with dark chocolate flakes and drizzled in a rich cherry sauce.

'Never-before-seen' snacks include three tangy burgers which are sure to drum up a heated debate among foodies

McDonald's Australia has revealed its highly anticipated summer menu shakeup - with brand new burgers and a slew of tropical sweet treats

A surprising new dessert is the limited edition Frozen Coke Oreo Zero Sugar - but the special treat is only available at certain participating locations.

The controversial flavour was dubbed a 'must try' at least once by foodies.

Another returning favourite on the summer menu are the cheesy jalapeno pops Aussies have been eagerly anticipating all year.

Amanda Nakad, Marketing Director for McDonald's Australia, said: 'Whether you're a Cherry Ripe fan or love a little pineapple on your burger, we're ready to serve up the tropical summertime vibes with our brand new summer menu, no matter the time of day.

'If it's a post-swim soft serve, cheeky late-night Hawaiian BBQ Deluxe or a road trip Drive-Thru, we're here for it all and usually right around the corner.'

What's new on the McDonald's summer menu in 2024?

Hawaiian BBQ Deluxe

Hawaiian McCrispy

Hawaiian McSpicy

Cadbury Cherry Ripe McFlurry

Frozen Coke Oreo Zero Sugar

What's returning to the McDonald's summer menu in 2024?

Cheesy jalapeno pops

Pineapple sundae

McDonald's Australia has released its new loose change menu just in time for summer - promising ice cream cones for just 50c and hamburgers for $2

McDonald's Australia also recently released its new loose change menu just in time for summer - promising ice cream cones for just 50c and hamburgers for $2.

The loose change menu, which has become a favourite among fans of the fast-food giant, includes 8 popular items for under $4.

For breakfast (4am til 11.30am) there are $2.50 ham and cheese pockets and $4 sausage muffins on offer.

From 10.30am until midnight the cheap ice creams come into play alongside $1 small frozen drinks and $2 apple pies.

There's also $2 hamburgers and $3.50 chicken and cheese burgers available.

McPops, small cakes, are available all day for just $2.

The loose change menu offering are available across Australia at the retailer's 10,025 stores.

The loose change menu kicks off on November 20.
It might seem like a treat at the end of the day.

But Britain's 'wine o'clock' culture may be partly to blame for an alarming trend that has seen deaths from chronic liver disease rocket five-fold since the 1970s.

Liver cirrhosis  scarring caused by continuous, long-term liver damage  strokes and cancer are already well-established risks of excess boozing.

Yet, research suggests it doesn't take a huge amount of alcohol to trigger the condition.

It comes as BBC Panorama journalist, Hazel Martin, was shocked to discover she was suffering from alcohol-related liver fibrosis  or extreme scarring on the liver  at the age of just 31.

The Scottish mum-of-one said she never drank alone. Instead, she enjoyed it as a social activity.

By definition, however, her consumption from her late teens to late 20s would be considered binge drinking.

Experts have also recently sounded the alarm over a 'concerning' uptick of booze-related fatalities among middle-aged women.

It comes as BBC Panorama journalist, Hazel Martin, was shocked to discover she was suffering from alcohol-related liver fibrosis  or extreme scarring on the liver  at the age of just 31

The Scottish mum-of-one (left) said she never drank alone. Instead, she enjoyed it as a social activity

Your browser does not support iframes.

Exactly how much alcohol can trigger irreversible liver damage does vary person by person given genetics, drinking experience and weight all play their role.

But one shock study found just 21 binge drinking sessions over seven weeks  three binge episodes per week  was enough to cause symptoms of early-stage liver failure.

Binge drinking was defined as five beers, a bottle of wine or five shots of hard liquor among men. For women, it stood at four or more drinks in two hours.

In the study on mice, US researchers found liver triglycerides  a type of blood fat  were almost 50 percent higher in binge drinkers' livers compared to mice that abstained from alcohol.

They also discovered just one single binge drinking episode elevated the levels of the liver enzyme CYP2E1.

This metabolises alcohol into toxic by-products that can cause cell and tissue damage.

Writing in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, the researchers said: 'Our results strongly suggest that repeated, excessive alcohol drinking, even without alcohol dependence, can cause fatty liver, evidence of early alcohol-related liver dysfunction.'

According to the British Liver Trust, drinking over 4 units of alcohol per day (about two glasses of wine) will also lead to some build-up of fat in the liver.

The NHS recommends people drink no more than 14 'units' of alcohol  around six glasses of wine, or pints of beer  per week

If the damage caused by drinking continues, the liver becomes inflamed and will start to produce scar tissue as it tries to heal itself  fibrosis.

And another concerning study earlier this year found Brits who engaged in heavy binge drinking  12 units in a single day  were three times as likely to develop alcohol-related cirrhosis than those who spread the 12 out over a week.

The researchers, who tracked more than 300,000 adults, also said those who binge drink and had high genetic predisposition were four times more likely, while people with type two diabetes had double the risk.

Dr Gautam Mehta, study co-author and hepatologist at University College London, said: 'Only one in three people who drink at high levels go on to develop serious liver disease.

'While genetics plays a part, this research highlights that pattern of drinking is also a key factor.

'Our results suggest, for example, that it would be more damaging to drink 21 units over a couple of sessions rather than spread evenly over a week.'

Experts have long warned that British women are coming under increasing pressure to drink after being 'targeted relentlessly' by alcohol companies, cheap supermarket deals and offers of boozy brunches.

Hospitality workers and alcohol awareness charities have repeatedly called on the Government to create tighter marketing restrictions and for minimum unit pricing to be introduced in England to prevent avoidable alcohol-related health conditions.

Paola Mosquera, from Brighton, said she feels more sociable when she drinks as it helps her meet new people

Michelle Pattison, 47, a carer from Newcastle, said: 'Women may drink more because they often take on full-time jobs as well as caring for children and the household. They have a lot of added stress'

Speaking to young women about how their drinking habits have changed, many have previously told MailOnline they wind down with alcohol because it helps them destress after a long day, gives them confidence meeting new people.

Paola Mosquera, 30, a massage therapist from Brighton, previously told MailOnline: 'I drink when I go out because it gives me more confidence.

'I feel more sociable and it helps me meet new people. I think this is a common thing to do in England especially, it's just the culture here.

'When women are raising families, have a career and are doing chores at home, it can be very stressful.

'I know for me, sometimes when it has been very busy, all I want to do is go home and have a bubble bath with a glass of red wine. I think a lot of women would agree.

'It's not good to have a drinking problem but I think it's OK if women just want to have a drink to relax, and if it is in moderation.'

Meanwhile, Michelle Pattison, 47, a carer from Newcastle, said: 'I would drink quite a bit. I would have alcohol before I left the house and drink more when I was out.

'Women may drink more because they often take on full-time jobs as well as caring for children and the household. They have a lot of added stress.'

Your browser does not support iframes.

Your browser does not support iframes.

The mother-of-two added that the drinks women are more likely to choose is part of the problem.

'Women are also more likely to drink wine and spirits which has more units.

'People also drink fruity cocktails which taste like juice so you don't realise you're drinking that much. It's also very easy to finish a bottle of wine.'

Last year an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report revealed one in four British women now binge drink at least once a month  the highest proportion of the 29 countries looked at.

Over a quarter also admit to consuming six or more alcoholic drinks on a single occasion, more than double the average rate of 12 per cent.

Experts slammed the 'intentional marketing campaign by the alcohol industry' to 'pink up' drinks as part of a 'relentless' campaign to target women.

Others have also warned that an increase in the size of wine glasses over time had played its part, as well as women misinterpreting NHS guidelines on drinking alcohol.

Under health service guidance, both men and women shouldn't drink more than 14 units a week, with single small glass of wine (125ml) equivalent to 1.5 of those.

Last year an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report revealed one in four British women now binge drink at least once a month  the highest proportion of the 29 countries looked at

But, 'some women think it is alright to consume 14 units in one session rather than spread these over a week,' Ian Hamilton, an addiction expert at the University of York, told MailOnline today.

'Many people don't understand what constitutes a unit,' he added.

Some may have been interpreting any glass of wine being 1.5 units, for example, regardless of whether it's 150ml, 200ml or more.

'Many women associate problems with alcohol being about drinking daily rather than binge drinking,' Professor Hamilton said.

'So they think that if they have alcohol free days they don't have a problem.

'This is clearly not the case as it is a stereotype to associate alcohol problems with daily consumption.

'For many people it is about drinking patterns rather than frequency of consumption.'

Leading experts have also argued about the harms of moderate drinking for decades.

It came under the spotlight last year when WHO officials warned that no amount of alcohol is safe.

Scientists across the board agree that excessive alcohol consumption can cause an array of cancers and drive up blood pressure.

It puts a strain on the heart muscle and can lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD), which increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.

The World Health Organisation estimate alcohol kills three million people around the world each year.
Experts have revealed a surprising cure for methanol poisoning after alcohol contaminated with the substance killed six people Laos, and hospitalised a further dozen.

Methanol, a potent chemical found in paint thinner, is often mixed into counterfeit booze to boost profits in some parts of the world, as it is cheap to produce.

Just a mouthful can be enough to kill and two teaspoons can make you go blind.

But a surprising cure for methanol poisoning is the very chemical it is designed to mimic; alcohol.

Delivered via an IV drip, or just by drinking in a clinical setting, alcohol can delay the breakdown of methanol, which is responsible for its toxic effects.

This gives medics extra time for them to save a potential victim's life.

However, patients may need to be kept drunk for up to a week  and under strict medical supervision  to ensure correct dosage in order to clear the methanol from their system.

It comes after a Laotian medic who treated one of the victims said he originally treated her with fluids and vitamins, suspecting she had consumed too much cannabis.

A surprising cure for methanol poisoning is the very chemical it is designed to mimic, alcohol. Stock image

The patient, Holly Bowles, 19, later died in hospital.

Alcohol is considered one for the frontline treatments for suspected methanol poisoning in many parts of the world.

It works thanks to an interaction between methanol, the liver and alcohol.

Methanol, by itself, isn't toxic to the body. It's only when broken down by the liver that its chemical components start to wreak havoc.

These components cause the blood to become acidic, damaging cells and organs.

If left untreated, this can result in permanent damage or death.

Professor Alastair Hay, an expert in environmental toxicology at the University of Leeds, explained that alcohol, known chemically as ethanol, stops methanol being processed by the liver.

'The principle behind administering ethanol is quite simple; it delays methanol metabolism,' he said.

He explained that both substances are broken down by the organ in the same way, but as alcohol is done so more efficiently it is prioritised by the body.

Professor Hay said this preference for alcohol gives the body time to get rid of methanol in other ways that don't result in organ damage, such as via urination and sweat.

British lawyer Simone White, 28, from Orpington in Kent (pictured) died after drinking free shots allegedly laced with deadly methanol

Melbourne teenagers Holly Bowles (left) and Bianca Jones (right), both aged 19, died following a night out in the party town of Vang Viang this month after drinking tainted alcohol

In more mild cases, and if delivered quickly enough, alcohol may be the only treatment a patient requires to recover.

'If the poisoning is not too severe, and only blood tests will determine this, ethanol alone may suffice, Professor Hay said.

In more severe or delayed cases, keeping a patient 'mildly drunk' can give other treatments like dialysis to clean the blood of the methanol toxins time to work, he said.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, recommends alcohol as a potential treatment for methanol poisoning.

Dr Knut Erik Hovda of MSF described it as the 'most important antidote' in comments to the BBC.

However, a medication called fomepizole, which works on the same chemical principal as alcohol, is preferred in all circumstances if it's available.

Medics consider it more effective as it's easier to control the dose to counteract methanol. It also has fewer side effects than alcohol for patients, which include sedation or behavioural changes.

However, it's expensive, costing nearly 4,000 a dose in some parts of the world, meaning alcohol is, generally, more readily available.

Here, we reveal how the substance can wreak havoc on the body within just hours of taking it, leaving drinkers paralysed, unable to breathe and at risk of losing their sight

It comes as Dr Yaher, who treated one of the Australian victims of the Laotian poisonings, 19-year-old Holly Bowles, told The Times that when he first examined the young woman she was 'confused' and 'sleepy'.

'We asked her what she had eaten or drunk, but she didnt know what had happened,' he said.

He said medics initially suspected Bowles had consumed too many cannabis edibles which were popular with tourists.

'We treated her symptomatically. We put her on an IV drip and gave her vitamins. But after 30 minutes she had a seizure and went into a coma.'

She became the sixth victim, with her death following that of her friend Bianca Jones, also 19, as well as British lawyer Simone White, 28, from Orpington, Kent.

Three other fatalities  two Danes and one American  have also been recorded in relation to the drinks served in the Laotian town Vang Vieng, which is popular with backpackers.

Medics and experts are keen to highlight that time taken to seek medical help is by far the most critical factor for outcomes of methanol poisoning and urge travellers to be aware of the potential signs.

Symptoms of methanol poisoning typically develop after 12 to 24 hours after drinking which differentiates it from alcohol poisoning which typically occurs earlier.

However, symptoms can emerge even after 24 hours if enough alcohol was consumed to delay the initial breakdown of the methanol, similar to how it is used as a treatment.

Signs of methanol poisoning include confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, vomiting, vision changes and abdominal and muscle pain.

Patients often complain of a severe or unusual 'hangover' in the initial stages which is then followed by breathing problems, vomiting and abdominal pain as well as vision problems.

If a patient doesn't receive treatment they can then fall into a coma as their body begins to shut down.
We are all too familiar with the term 'pandemic', but experts fear Britain could be facing a 'quad-demic' this winter  with a surge in cases of four winter bugs, each capable of leaving us bedbound  hitting all at once.

Already rates of norovirus (also known as the winter vomiting bug)  which can cause violent vomiting and diarrhoea  have jumped by 40 per cent in recent weeks, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

But experts fear the numbers infected with flu, Covid and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a bug which usually causes a mild cold or cough but can also lead to severe pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs), will also soar in the coming weeks as colder weather forces more of us indoors, allowing viruses to spread more easily.

As well as leaving many people feeling awful, it could result in excess winter pressure on the NHS from extra workload and staff sickness.

Meanwhile, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems (including cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy), could be at risk of one infection after another, which in some cases could be life-threatening. Every year around 12,000 mostly elderly people a year in the UK are admitted to hospital due to the effects of norovirus symptoms, such as severe dehydration, which can sometimes be fatal.

Experts fear the numbers infected with flu, Covid and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) will soar in the coming weeks

In January, at the peak of the winter bug season, there were 688 patients in hospital each day with severe norovirus, almost 4,000 with Covid and 2,226 with flu, according to NHS England figures. This winter the fear is it could be even worse.

Not only has there been an unseasonably cold snap, but the pattern of illness in Australia's recent winter  which is from June to the end of August and tends to foreshadow what happens here  suggests the worst is yet to come in the UK.

Figures from Australia's National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System  a database of contagious illness  show its winter bug season peaked later and lasted longer than in 2023, when flu infections, for example, peaked in May at around 220,000 cases for the month. This year they didn't peak until July  hitting a high of 316,000 for the month.

And the surge coincided with a rise in other winter infections, including Covid, RSV and an outbreak of whooping cough in children. This is a highly contagious bacterial infection, also known as pertussis or the 100-day cough (because of how long it takes to recover from it).

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners said many people there spent the winter battling one bug after another.

'RSV tends to affect the lower respiratory tract [tissue deep within the lungs],' says Eleanor Riley, a professor of immunology and infectious diseases at the University of Edinburgh

Dr Anju Aggarwal, deputy chair of the college, said recently: 'It starts with one infection and then your immune system is a bit compromised. Then the second takes over  then the third. So people get a little bit better and then they get worse again.'

The UKHSA has renewed calls for all those eligible for vaccines against winter infections to have them as soon as possible.

There is no NHS jab against norovirus (though an experimental one is soon to be tested in a trial at the Royal Free Hospital in London), but vaccines are available for flu, Covid and RSV (for the latter, only for pregnant women and those turning 75 on or after September 1 2024, as older people are most at risk from serious complications).

While the symptoms of norovirus are normally obvious, it's often less easy to tell which respiratory virus you have.

'RSV tends to affect the lower respiratory tract [tissue deep within the lungs],' says Eleanor Riley, a professor of immunology and infectious diseases at the University of Edinburgh. 'Classic symptoms include a cough and shortness of breath. But flu and Covid tend to affect the upper respiratory tract, or the throat, nose and mouth, with symptoms that can include sneezing, coughing and a sore throat.'

Professor Riley says if patients vaccinated against Covid do still pick up the infection, it usually appears as a mild upper respiratory tract infection  making it hard to distinguish from flu or a cold. 'It can be very difficult to separate out the three,' she says.

The chances of catching all three respiratory bugs at the same time are incredibly slim, she adds. 'That's because we know viruses tend to compete with each other when trying to get into the body to multiply.

'If, for example, you catch a cold, the immune system triggers an inflammatory response to try to flush out the virus. It's this inflammation that gives you a bit of a temperature and a runny nose.

'That inflammation then makes it much harder for a different virus to successfully invade the body  you would pretty much have to be exposed to all of the viruses at exactly the same time, which is extremely unlikely.'

But there is a real risk of sequential infections  or one bug straight after another  as happened in Australia.

'Say, for example, you catch Covid and it does temporary damage to your upper respiratory tract,' she says. 'During the recovery period, the inflammation it triggered gradually dies down.

'If during that time you get exposed to a second virus  let's say, flu  there's no inflammation in the airways to stop it and it's also more likely to infect your respiratory tract because you're still suffering damage there from the Covid infection.'

Professor Riley says this is why taking it slow during recovery is so crucial  overdoing it too soon is more likely to weaken the body's immune response to second or third attacks.

She adds: 'It's important not to go back to work too soon or start doing long runs. Just take it slow and you will actually recover more quickly.'

And for some people, it's not just exposure to second or third viruses that are the threat when they get ill.

Winter bugs can also trigger an abnormal response in bacteria that, when we are healthy, live harmlessly in, or on, our bodies.

This is often the reason why viral bugs, such as flu or even a bad cold can, in some cases, lead to a bacterial chest infection that needs treating with antibiotics.

'It's almost like these bacteria, which usually do no harm,

sense the body is under attack from a virus and seize the opportunity to try to start growing and spreading,' says Professor

Riley. 'That's why, in patients who have a history of chest infections, GPs will often prescribe antibiotics, even though they know it's almost certainly a virus causing the primary infection  it's called 'antibiotic cover'.'

How you can protect yourself

Wear a face mask when travelling on planes, trains and buses, or in crowded indoor areas; it may not offer complete protection, but might reduce the risk of mostly airborne bugs such as flu, Covid and RSV, says the UKHSA.

Wash your hands thoroughly and with soap several times a day. Not only will it get rid of any norovirus that might be lurking on your skin, but it banishes flu or Covid particles that you might accidentally then rub in your eye, or spread to your mouth or nose by touching them. Hand sanitiser is better than nothing if that's all you have access to, but it won't be as effective at ridding the hands of bugs.

At work, use alcohol wipes to regularly clean shared surfaces, such as doorknobs, light switches and keyboards.

Do the same at home if someone you live with has a respiratory or stomach infection  including the TV remote control. Kitchen worktops should be wiped down with bleach-based products if someone you live with has norovirus.

Don't share towels with anyone who has signs of flu, Covid, RSV or norovirus.

Rinse all fruit and vegetables thoroughly, even before cooking them, as they may harbour infected particles.

If someone in your household is ill, wash all clothing and bedding in a 60c degree cycle.

If it's you who's sick with a tummy bug, avoid cooking or preparing meals for others until at least 48 hours after all symptoms have disappeared.
They've been billed as the cure-all for weight loss, but doctors are warning millions of patients are not shedding fat while taking weight-loss drugs like Ozempic.

Obesity experts have come forward warning about 20 percent of patients do not respond well to the medications - and a smaller number actually put on weight.

About 31million Americans have ever taken weight-loss drugs, meaning millions of people are 'non responders' and not reaping the intended benefits.

Experts say this is especially concerning given how expensive the drugs are - more than $800 for a month's supply without insurance - and the fact that many people need to take them for life to avoid regaining any lost weight.

Still, the Biden administration announced plans this week to expand Medicare and Medicaid coverage to include these drugs, despite many figures in Donald Trump's incoming health team expressing skepticism about the drugs.

Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are all injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists, and they work by imitating a hormone in the body that controls the rate food gets processed in the gut - slowing this process down. This reduces appetite and helps people eat less.

In clinical trials, most people taking the drugs for obesity lost an average of 15 to 22 percent of their body weight.

Recent research, however, suggests the non responders fall far short of the average loss, losing just five percent of their body weight.

Other people struggle to lose weight using the drugs. Comedian Tracy Morgan said despite initial changes in appetite, he 'out-ate' Ozempic, and gained 40 pounds while on the drug

Your browser does not support iframes.

Scientists aren't sure what exactly happens in non responders, but think it has to do with the unique biology of the body.

Dr Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity expert at Massachusetts General Hospital, told the Associated Press obesity varies drastically from patient to patient and doctors warn people should not expect the same dramatic results as some of their favorite celebrities.

Obesity is influenced by genetics, hormones and how a person's brain functions and regulates body processes.

Dr Stanford said: 'It's all about explaining that different people have different responses. This is a disease that stems from the brain. The dysfunction may not be the same [from patient to patient].'

Underlying conditions can also affect how a person responds to these drugs, Dr Gitanjali Srivastava, an obesity specialist at Vanderbilt University, previously told Dailymail.com.

Dr Srivastava said: 'Oftentimes these patients have very complicated conditions.

There are a lot of factors going on, including probably very strong genetics that are at play.

This includes common complications like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and hypothyroidism - two conditions that affect weight gain - and are suffered by an estimated 5million and 29million Americans, respectively.

Comedian Tracy Morgan, 56, shared in Spring 2024 that he 'out-ate' Ozempic, and actually gained 40 pounds while on the drug.

And James Corden said: 'I tried Ozempic, and it won't be surprising to you when you look at me now, that it didn't really work.'

James Corden admitted to using Ozempic but said 'it didn't really work'

He continued: 'I tried it for a bit and then what I realized was I was like, "Oh no, nothing about my eating has anything to do with being hungry."

'All it does is make you feel not hungry. But I am very rarely eating [just because I'm hungry].'

Kandi Buress also said she tried Ozempic last year but didn't lose any weight.

She said on PageSixs Virtual Reali-Tea podcast: 'My doctor was like, "I dont know what the problem is. Im not seeing this in other people."

'It didnt curb my appetite. I know some people are like, "Oh, I cant eat." Not me. I was eating appetizers, a regular meal and dessert, okay? It didnt stop anything for me.'

And many social media users shared similar stories, with one person saying they gained 13lbs while taking a weight-loss drug.

TikTok user Shelly said the medication wasn't working for her so she increased to the highest dose for five months but still did not see results.

Even people who do respond initially are increasingly reporting when they cease taking the drug, their weight comes back.

Of the many GLP-1 drugs that have hit the market, Wegovy and Zepound have been designed specifically for weight loss. Ozempic, Mounjaro and Trulicity were originally designed to treat diabetes, but are sometimes prescribed by doctors to treat patients off-label

An April 2022 study found when some people discontinue the drug, they regain two thirds of their original body weight.

Additionally, side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and depression lead users to discontinue the medications.

Then, there are more rare, serious conditions.

About one in 100 GLP-1 users develop a condition called gastroparesis - stomach paralysis. This can cause stomach pain, vomiting, nausea, bloating, constipation and loss of appetite.

Over time, a back up of stomach contents can cause severe dehydration, malnutrition and blockages in the digestive tract, according to Yale School of Medicine.

If someone begins showing signs of this condition, their doctor may recommend they taper off their GLP-1 drug.

If someone has a bad response to one of these drugs but still wants to try using the medications, doctors sometimes prescribe them a different brand.

Some of these contain different active ingredients and others have different dosages or side effects.

So while the drugs are promising for a large number of people, increasing evidence shows they aren't necessarily a cure-all.
Common prescription and over-the-counter drugs could be unknowingly increasing your risk of dementia, a doctor has warned.

The disorder blights the lives of millions worldwide, slowly robbing them of their memories and independence.

Yet, four in ten cases could be prevented with simple lifestyle changes, according to research.

There are some factors such as smoking and drinking that can increase the risk of developing dementia  but so can some medication.

Dr Zain Hasan, a Los Angeles-based anesthetist, told his 635,000 followers on TikTok that there are at least five drugs linked to the condition  including some antidepressants, painkillers and allergy meds.

The first drug he included in his warning was antihistamine medication used to help ease the symptoms of allergies, as well as anticholinergics, also used to treat allergies.

These medications, some of which are available over the counter, are used to treat hayfever, eczema, hives, and conjunctivitis, which causes red and itchy eyes.

However, Dr Hasan said long-term use has been linked to dementia.

PILLS THAT GIVE YOU CHILLS: Dr Zain Hasan, a Los Angeles-based anesthetist, is warning about the common meds linked to dementia

One 2015 US study tracked the brain health of more than 3,400 participants over 65 years old between 1994 and 2012.

Researchers found there was a link between increased doses of anticholinergics and those that developed dementia.

A separate 2024 study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology also revealed a link between antihistamines and dementia.

Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from Taiwans National Health Insurance Research Database from 2011 to 2017.

It included more than 700,000 patients with recently-onset allergic rhinitis. They were split into groups  those that didn't take antihistamines and those that did.

After making adjustments for preexisting medical conditions, the researchers found there was a dose-dependent increase in dementia risk.

Another medication that is thought to cause dementia is opiates, often used as painkillers after surgery, serious injury or for cancer patients.

Dr Hasan said: 'This is pretty common knowledge but if you take any opiates like morphine regularly they affect your brain, they cause sedation and anything that causes sedation for a long period of time can probably end up causing dementia.'

A 2024 study, which looked at data of more than a million patients with chronic pain, of which 21,000 were opiate users, found those who used opiates had a 15 per cent higher risk of developing dementia.

Researchers excluded patients that had been diagnosed with cancer, who underwent surgery and those who had a family history of dementia.

Another medication was omeprazole, which is widely used to treat indigestion and heartburn.

He said: 'If you take omeprazole regularly it can increase the amount of beta-amyloid in your brain, which can lead to dementia.

There are five medications that could cause dementia  including antidepressants, painkillers and antihistamines, according to the doc (with his wife)

'It works as a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), it decreases acid inside your stomach. It is actually surprising to me, I had no idea it was linked to dementia.'

One 2023 study published in the journal Neurology reported that this type of acid reflux medication has been linked with a higher risk of dementia.

Proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, work to reduce acid in the stomach by inhibiting an enzyme that triggers the creation of acid.

The study involved 5,712 people who were tracked over 45 years.

Researchers reviewed the medications people were taking and divided them into four groups; those that had not taken PPIs, those that had for more than two years, up to four years and over four years.

At the end of the study ten per cent of the patients had developed dementia. The researchers adjusted the data for several demographic and health factors and found PPI users who had taken the drugs for more than four years had a 33 per cent higher risk of developing dementia in comparison to those who never took the drug.

However, the theory that PPIs increases the amount of harmful protein in your brain therefore increasing your risk of dementia has only been shown to be the case in mice.

Scientists also theorise that PPIs may lower levels of nutrient absorption, such as lowering vitamin B12  an essential vitamin for brain health.

A group of sedative drugs used to treat anxiety, insomnia and seizures called benzodiazepines  such as Valium and Xanax  are also thought to raise dementia risk if taken over a long period of time.

Several studies back the doctor's claims

Dr Hasan said: 'It makes sense, it goes into your central nervous system it numbs your entire brain, it helps with anxiety, it helps with alcohol withdrawal.

'If you take them for a long period of time especially to help you sleep at night, they can induce dementia.'

Several studies have shown a link between the drug and dementia. In one benzodiazepine study a team of researchers from France and Canada selected 2,000 people with Alzheimer's disease and 7,000 without it.

Researchers found those who had taken benzodiazepines for three to six months had a 32 per cent greater risk of developing Alzheimer's, and those taking one for more than six months had an 84 per cent greater risk than those who hadn't taken one in their lifetime.

Dr Hasan also highlighted that taking tricyclics antidepressants (TCAs)  a less commonly prescribed mental health drug compared to SSRIs  could also cause dementia.

He explained that the theme for all these medications is they directly impact your brain, with the exception of omeprazole.

'They all affect your brain they cross the blood brain barrier, anything that sedates your brain for a long period of time including anesthesia can cause dementia,' Dr Hasan warns.

He urged those who are taking these medications to always speak to a doctor before stopping, especially medications like opioids and benzodiazepines.

Dr Hasan also suggested those who are 'scared or worried about dementia in the future' to speak with a doctor about the risks.

There are currently estimated to be 982,000 people with dementia in the UK. This number is expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040.

An estimated 6.7million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's dementia today. This number could grow to 13.8 million by 2060.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting between 50 and 75 per cent of those diagnosed.
It's the trendy health kick making a splash in the UK.

But almost one in ten wild swimming spots in England contain potentially life-threatening bacteria, concerning data revealed today.

Dozens of locations along coasts, lakes and rivers failed to meet the minimum water quality standard for 2024, meaning they contained disturbingly high levels of faecal matter.

It marks a two-fold rise on the number rated 'poor' in just a year and is the highest figure recorded since the current rating system was introduced in 2015.

Officials blamed the surge on 27 new bathing sites, 18 of which did not meet the threshold in their first year of testing.

But ministers, who today labelled the figures 'unacceptable', warned it highlighted just how much pollution is being pumped into England's rivers and estuaries.

Environment Agency Chairman, Alan Lovell, also conceded there was still much work to do to tackle pollution.

The figures, compiled by the agency, test for harmful bacteria during the official swimming season  May and September.

Almost one in ten wild swimming spots in England contain potentially life-threatening parasites, concerning data revealed today

Your browser does not support iframes.

These tests monitor for sources of pollution known to be a risk to bathers' health, specifically E. coli and intestinal enterococci, before each bathing site is given a ranking of excellent, good, sufficient or poor.

The bug E. Coli usually causes a fever, sickness and diarrhoea. In the majority of cases, symptoms fade naturally within days.

However, for vulnerable populations, the infection can get into the blood and travel to the organs, causing catastrophic damage.

A handful of Brits die from complications of an E.coli infection every year.

Large amounts of rain water can cause an increase in the presence of bacteria such as E. Coli because of the UK's water laws.

Water companies are permitted to spill sewage into open waters following heavy rainfall to prevent the system becoming overloaded.

But these spills are happening too often, according to campaigners.

Officials also say water pollution can come from agricultural and road run-off as well as even dogs and wildlife such as seagulls.

Your browser does not support iframes.

According to the figures released by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), 8.2 per cent or 37 sites of the 450 tested were rated 'poor' for water quality in 2024.

Some 91.8 per cent met at least the minimum standards for clean water, with 64.2 per cent rated 'excellent'.

The data also revealed a disparity in water quality between coastal bathing waters, where 95 per cent met the minimum standards, and inland waters such as rivers, with just over half (53 per cent) classed as sufficient.

Rivers often have poorer bathing water quality compared to the sea which benefits from the natural disinfection of salt water and greater dispersal of pollutants.

West Midlands recorded the highest rate of filthy bathing water. Not a single one of its three spots met the minimum standard.

These included the River Teme in Ludlow, River Severn in Ironbridge and River Severn in Shrewsbury.

The Thames Valley followed with half of its four spots  Wolvercote Mill Stream and Wallingford Beach  failed to meet the threshold.

Cullercoats in Tyne and Wear also failed for the fifth year in a row, meaning under the current system it automatically loses its designated bathing water status.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Large amounts of rain water can cause an increase in the presence of bacteria such as E. Coli because of the UK's water laws

Campaigners today, who labelled the results an 'international embarrassment', also claimed the DEFRA classification system wasn't 'just inadequate, it's misleading'.

Giles Bristow, chief executive of Surfers Against Sewage, pointed to Trevaunance Cove in Cornwall, which received an excellent rating in this year's results.

Community testing, however, has consistently highlighted high levels of pollution in a stream running on to the beach.

He said: 'The consultation to reform the regulations is vital and must deliver a year-round bathing season, with year-round testing.

'We need multiple monitoring points and testing for a wide range of pollutants,' he said.

Meanwhile, River Action chief executive James Wallace the data shows 'that swimming in our inland bathing sites poses serious health risks, highlighting the failure of regulators to protect waterways from polluters'.

He added: 'Awarding bathing water status should ensure that water companies clean up their act urgently.'

The number of times sewage has been released into England's waters has jumped 24-fold since 2016, according to official figures.

Water Minister Emma Hardy said: 'These figures are unacceptable and show that too many of our popular swimming spots are polluted.'

The Government was putting water companies under special measures through the Water Bill, she added, which would strengthen regulation of the industry, and has launched a major review of the water sector.

Environment Agency Chair Alan Lovell said: 'While overall bathing water quality has improved in recent decades due to targeted investment and robust regulation, today's results show there is much work still to do, particularly to bring our inland bathing waters up to standard.

'We are working with the water industry, farmers and local authorities and are investing in our regulation, with more people on the ground, updated digital assets and new legal powers to improve our bathing waters for all.'

Open water swimming has surged in popularity in recent years.

Proponents of the sport claim it helps boost the immune system, speeds up weight loss, improves your mental health and even increases your sex drive.

Research has suggested managed cold water exposure can trigger the release of fat-busting hormones, which can help to protect against obesity and heart disease.

In 2022, a review of 104 studies looked at the effects of cold water blood circulation, the immune system, inflammation and oxidative stress.

Taking a dip in water with temperatures below 20C (68F) was found to activate brown adipose tissue, a type of body fat which burns calories to maintain body temperature.

It also increased production of adiponectin, a protein which plays a key role in protecting against insulin resistance, diabetes and other diseases.

As well as this, some experts have also said the shock of cold that comes from outdoor swimming can boost levels of dopamine and the release of endorphins  feel-good hormones  in the brain.

Some GPs in England actively prescribe cold water swimming on this basis.

But no studies have shown that cold water immersion alone boosts mental health.
President Joe Biden has committed what some believe is an act of sabotage on the incoming Trump Administration's health team.

Biden today proposed a new rule that would make weight-loss drugs like Wegovy or Ozempic free to obese Americans on Medicare or Medicaid

The rule, if finalized, would help an estimated million more people - seniors enrolled in Medicare and poor people enrolled in Medicaid - gain access to drugs.

But the proposal comes with a hefty price tag and bound to annoy Robert F Kennedy Jr who has been nominated to head the Health and Human Services (HHS).

Expanded coverage to Medicare is projected to cost the government around $35billion over a decade, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

And RFK Jr has taken a strong anti-Ozempic stance and one source close to him told DailyMail.com they view the weight loss drug as an 'impending health crisis.'

The incoming health team wants to focus on diets and exercise rather than pharmaceutical options.

The rule is still just a proposal and wouldn't go into effect until 2026, meaning the Trump administration would be the one to finalize it.

The Biden administration estimated that 3.4million Americans on Medicare would be eligible for the drugs (File image of Biden on the South Lawn of the White House on November 25)

Ozempic and Wegovy have helped people shed pounds so quickly that some have labeled them miracle drugs (File image)

The new administration will have to weigh the massive popularity of the drugs with the fact that, at a list price of more than $1,000 monthly per patient, the move would mean government programs spend an additional tens of billions of dollars.

There is also no guarantee that RFK Jr would agree to enact such a rule, given his longstanding opposition to weight-loss drugs.

Mr Kennedy, who clashes frequently with big pharma, said: 'They [Novo Nordisk, its manufacturer] are counting on selling it to Americans because we're so stupid and so addicted to drugs.'

Roughly 42 percent of all Americans are overweight or obese, increasing the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, breathing problems, strokes and some cancers, according to thee CDC.

A bipartisan coalition of congressional members have lobbied for the drugs to be covered by Medicare, saying it could save the government from spending billions of dollars on treating chronic ailments that stem from obesity.

While it's unclear where Trump himself stands on coverage of the weight-loss drugs, his allies and Cabinet picks who have vowed to cut government spending could baulk at the upfront price tag.

'It's a good day for anyone who suffers from obesity,' current HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra told The Associated Press in an interview.

'It's a game changer for Americans who can't afford these drugs otherwise.'

Under the proposal, only those who are considered obese - someone who has a body mass index of 30 or higher - would qualify for coverage.

Some people may already get coverage of the drugs through Medicare or Medicaid, if they have diabetes or are at risk for stroke or heart disease.

Medicare has been barred from offering the drugs under a decades-old law that prohibits the government-backed insurance program from covering weight-loss products. The rule proposed by the Biden administration, however, would recognize obesity as a disease that can be treated with the help of the drugs.

The anti-obesity drug market has expanded significantly in recent years, with the Food and Drug Administration approving a new class of weekly injectables like Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Zepbound to treat obesity.

People can lose as much as 15% to 25% of their body weight on the drugs, which imitate the hormones that regulate appetites by communicating fullness between the gut and brain when people eat.

The cost of the drugs has largely limited them to the wealthy, including celebrities who boast of their benefits.

A monthly supply of Wegovy rings up at $1,300 and Zepbound will put you out $1,000. Shortages of the drugs have also limited the supplies.

Heathcare analytics company PurpleLab also found that 85% of prescriptions for Wegovy and Ozempic went to white people.

Kennedy, who as Trump's nominee for HHS secretary is subject to Senate confirmation, has railed against the drugs' popularity. In speeches and on social media, he's said the US should not cover the drugs through Medicaid or Medicare. Instead, he supports a broad expansion of coverage for healthier foods and gym memberships.

'For half the price of Ozempic, we could purchase regeneratively raised, organic food for every American, three meals a day and a gym membership, for every obese American,' Kennedy said to a group of federal lawmakers during a roundtable earlier this year.
MBABANE  Men have expressed frustration over the perceived financial demands placed on them by their partners, including expectations of girlfriend allowances and other monetary support.

This is according to Nomzamo Dlamini, the Gender Coordinator in the Deputy Prime Ministers Office (DPMO). Dlamini was speaking during the launch of the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence (GBV) which was held at the UN House in Mbabane yesterday. The 16 Days of Activism against GBV was launched under the theme: Together, let us end GBV/Sisonke, which is a local theme. The 16 Days of Activism is a global initiative that seeks to raise awareness, promote advocacy and inspire action to combat GBV. Dlamini revealed that public consultations have highlighted several factors contributing to the alarming rise in GBV cases in Eswatini.



She shared insights from their engagements with different stakeholders and members of the public, where she stated that societal attitudes and behaviours play a significant role in perpetuating GBV. According to Dlamini, one concern raised by the public is the commercialisation of relationships. She said men, particularly expressed frustration over the perceived financial demands placed on them by their partners, including expectations of girlfriend allowances and other monetary support. This, according to Dlamini, has led to a sense of entitlement and control, where men believe that financial contributions grant them ownership of their partners.



money



Some believe that if they give you money, it means that you belong to them. You listen to my terms and my money determines the terms for this relationship, Dlamini said.

Adding, she said the pervasive issue of substance abuse, particularly among young people, has been identified as also a major contributor to GBV. Dlamini noted a growing trend of young people engaging in risky behaviours, such as excessive alcohol consumption and drug abuse.Young people, some in schools are seen to be also hooked on these issues of drugs and alcohol abuse, yet they also contribute to issues of GBV. Young people put themselves in the risk of being abused.



We are going for the festive and what young people are seen doing is inappropriate, whereby they host end-of-year parties, book guest houses and lock themselves in these rooms to drink alcohol. As parents, we need to be mindful of such issues and the new trends that young people are doing. As parents, we are very strong in giving them money without asking them to account for the money, she said. Dlamini went on to mention that the public also raised the issue of infertility. According to Dlamini, misconceptions and societal pressures surrounding fertility can lead to marital discord, domestic violence and even abandonment. She also highlighted that the enforcement of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act has also been a subject of concern.



She explained that some individuals believe that the law favours women and girls and does not adequately protect men and boys. Some have raised concerns to say, sometimes, when they try to seek services with the different forefront liners, they are never received well, instead they are made mockery of or the law is not applied to the grievance, Dlamini said.

Furthermore, she mentioned that in their engagements with stakeholders, they shared issues of child maintenance as also a contributing factor to GBV. She stated that the issue of protection orders was also raised where it was said that, they are withdrawn easily. On the same note, she said they have seen an increase in the withdrawal of GBV cases.

They also shared that perpetrators of GBV skip borders once their cases are reported. There is a growing tendency once they have committed some of these cases, and reported, they skip borders to our neighbouring countries, she said.



Meanwhile, the Deputy Prime Minister, ThulisileDladla, who was represented by the Minister for Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Jane Simelane, said violence against women and girls remains alarmingly prevalent across private and public spaces, including its most extreme manifestation through gender-related killings of women and girls known as femicide.

Dladla said, recently, the country continues to witness brutal killings of women at the hands of their loved ones. This is further confirmed by the daily headlines shared by the media.

The government of Eswatini strongly condemns such and pleads with the nation to seek help or mediation where misunderstanding is foreseen, Dladla said. She stated that the use of weapons and anger on womens bodies is not the answer.



Today, I plead with all emaSwati to unite against GBV. Let us commit to making Eswatini a safe space for women and girls. The family, as the cornerstone of society, must lead the way in instilling values of respect, dignity and equality. Homes should be spaces where children are taught that violence is never acceptable, where boys and girls alike, learn about consent, empathy and the importance of treating everyone with dignity, she said. She stated that community leaders, educators and faith-based organisations must leverage their influence to challenge harmful norms, dismantle patriarchal systems that enable abuse and create environments where survivors feel supported rather than shamed.



awareness



She went on to state that schools and workplaces, too, have a role to play in fostering awareness and providing safe spaces for prevention and intervention.As we observe the 16 Days of Activism, let this not merely be a campaign but a call to sustained action. We must move from awareness to tangible outcomes  creating communities where violence is condemned and equality is celebrated. Each of us has a role to play. By speaking out, supporting survivors and challenging harmful practices, we can make a difference. Together, we can break the cycle of violence and build a future where everyone, regardless of gender, lives free from fear and harm, she said. Furthermore, she reminded the nation that their strength lies in unity and action, saying that the campaign should inspire them to go beyond the 16 days, turning these efforts into a lasting movement for change.



The United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator George Wachira also echoed Dladlas sentiments, saying it is impossible to escape the strong feeling of frustration at the continuing scourge of terror against our women and girls. Our Newspapers have been awash with consistently shocking horror stories of the violence our sisters, mothers, daughters and friends continue to endure, Wachira said. Wachira said much has been said and written, yet, little has changed and, as they launch the 16 Days campaign, it must not be one of those things they do every year simply because it is on their calendar, with little hope that anything will change.



Instead, we must allow ourselves to be uncomfortable, even indignant. We must infuse our observances with meaning and urgency. Our calls to action must be accompanied by the right strategies, plans and resources, he said. He mentioned that the epidemic of violence against women and girls shames humanity. He explained that no country or community is unaffected, and the situation is worsening. Almost thirty years after the Beijing Declaration, it is beyond time to deliver on the promise to eliminate this scourge. We must not despair at the enormity of the challenge and the slow progress. It is not as if Eswatini does not know how to go about these kinds of challenges; on the contrary, we have a tested roadmap, Wachira stated.Furthermore, Wachira called upon every stakeholder to intensify our efforts, saying that government must lead the roll-out of the campaign, invest in prevention strategies, survivor support and legal systems that hold perpetrators accountable.



silence



Communities and traditional leaders must break the culture of silence and lead in challenging the harmful norms such as tibi tendlu, loosely translated as the idea that treatment of women, including violence, is a family matter that should not be made public. Violence is not a private matter; it is simply against the law, he said. He also stated that men and boys must take the lead in promoting respect and equality. We must not leave our boys behind but must deliberately nurture them to be the men we need in our societies. Women and girls must be empowered to raise their voices; confident they will be heard and protected, he shared. To further amplify their message, the DPMs Office and other stakeholders took to the streets of Mhlaleni, engaging with motorists and pedestrians. Through song, chants and eye-catching banners, they urged the public to take a stand against GBV. Messages such as Stop Rape! and There is no excuse for Gender-Based Violence resonated with passers-by, sparking conversations and raising awareness.
Brits were today warned of a 'triple threat' of lethal viruses that have spread to more than a dozen countries worldwide.

The clade I strain of mpox, Marburg and Oropouche virus have now been spotted in 17 nations between them, including one Caribbean hotspot.

Officials are especially spooked by rising cases of Marburg, one of the deadliest pathogens ever discovered.

It has already killed at least 15 people in Rwanda, with hundreds of people being monitored for suspected infection.

It is feared the virus, which causes sufferers to bleed from the eyes, may spread to other African nations.

Oropouche virus  nicknamed 'sloth fever'  meanwhile, has spread outside of its usual South American range to the Caribbean winter hotspot, the Dominican Republic.

Clade I, a separate mutant form of mpox is currently spreading rampantly in Africa, with a handful cases also logged in Canada, the UK and Sweden.

The alert was issued by Travel Health Pro, a website commissioned by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), to help keep Brits informed of the latest travel health advice.

Marburg virus, a relative of Ebola, causes people to bleed from their orifices and kills up to 9 in 10 of those infected

Marburg has a mortality rate of up to 88 percent. There are currently no vaccines or treatments approved to treat the virus

It said: 'A Marburg virus disease outbreak has been reported in Rwanda.'

'Multi-country outbreaks of mpox clade I and Oropouche are also ongoing.'

Marburg is a haemorrhagic fever  where organs and blood vessels are damaged, causing bleeding internally or from the eyes, mouth and ears.

The virus, which has no licensed vaccine, can be spread by touching or handling body fluids of an infected person, contaminated objects or infected wild animals.

Infected patients become 'ghost-like', often developing deep-set eyes and expressionless faces.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says it has a case-fatality ratio (CFR) of up to 88 percent, meaning it can kill nearly 9 in 10 people it infects.

Travellers to Rwanda should 'arrange an appointment with their health professional at least four to six weeks before travel', Travel Health Pro said.

While abroad, Brits should also avoid participating in funeral or burial rituals, visiting traditional healers and handling, cooking, or eating wild meat.

Marburg virus (MVD) is initially transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials.

They should also steer clear of visiting mines or bat caves and contact with all wild animals; alive or dead, particularly bats, they added.

'If you decide to visit mines or caves inhabited by fruit bat colonies, wear gloves and other appropriate protective clothing, including masks.'

Oropouche virus, meanwhile, has sparked alarm with more than 10,000 cases confirmed this year alone.

In 2024, specific outbreaks have been recorded in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Peru, and Panama.

The virus  named after the animal it was initially spotted in  has no vaccine or specific treatment.

It is known to cause a headache, muscle aches, stiff joints, nausea, chills, sensitivity to light and vomiting.

However, it can quickly cross the blood-brain barrier and enter the central nervous system, where it can cause meningitis and, in extreme cases, kill.

Travel Health Pro advised those in the areas listed to wear insect repellent, long-sleeved shirts and long trousers to reduce the risk of bites.

Oropouche virus, nicknamed 'sloth fever', has sparked alarm with more than 10,000 cases confirmed this year alone

They added: 'Due to the recent finding of Oropouche virus in semen, travellers and their partners concerned about possibly spreading Oropouche through sex, should consider using condoms or not having sex during travel and for six weeks after returning from travel.'

Analysis of the current Oropouche strain suggests it has grown to become more efficient at infecting people and this could be behind the rise in cases and in areas it hasn't been seen in before.

The clade I strain of mpox has also been spotted in Rwanda, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya and Uganda.

In August, the WHO declared the strain a public health emergency of international concern.

Mpox causes characteristic lumpy lesions, as well as a fever, aches and pains and fatigue.

However, in a small number of cases, it can enter the blood and lungs, as well as other parts of the body, when it becomes life-threatening.

Current mpox vaccines, which are designed to work on smallpox a close relative of the mpox virus, were used during the 2022 outbreak against the milder strain.

But they have yet to be widely tested against the more potent clade 1b strain.

A confirmed case of clade Ib mpox was recently reported in the UK, after an unidentified individual visited a country where 1b had been reported.

Three further cases have since been detected in household contacts of the first case.
For two couples in California who were victims of an IVF mix up, Thanksgiving looks a little different than most.

Alexander and Daphna Cardinale birthed a stranger's baby in 2019 and raised her, May, as their own for months until DNA tests revealed their embryos had been swapped with another couple's - who was now raising the Cardinale's biological daughter, Zoe, as their own.

When DNA tests revealed May belonged to Annie and her husband, who used a nickname and remained anonymous for privacy reasons, both couples decided to turn over their daughters to the biological parents.

For the last five years, the Cardinales and Annie and her husband, who live just 10 minutes apart, have been navigating a blended family and co-parenting as each couple wanted to remain involved in the life of the child they had raised for the first three months of her life.

Alexander said: There's no person to give you advice. So we ended up just sort of huddling together, the four of us, and it's a blessing that we all are on the same page.

We've spent every holiday together since then. We've spent every birthday together since then  and we've just kind of blended the families.

Despite the switch, the families never wanted to sever ties. The girls went to the same preschool and both signed up for ballet so they could see each other more often.

Playdates are a common occurrence and the families even joined together as one blended family in a formal ceremony officiated by the same pastor who married Daphna and Alexander.

Alexander Cardinale met his biological daughter Zoe when she was three months old. The two families ultimately decided to switch their girls so that May, whose embryo was mistakenly implanted in Daphna Cardinale, would go back to her genetic mother Annie

Daphna gave birth to May (shown right) in September 2019. Her older daughter Olivia (shown left) instantly bonded with her little sister

Before the devastating revelation, Daphna was overjoyed when she and her husband welcomed their daughter into the world, the New York Times reported.

But it didnt take long for Alexander to notice their newborn May had jet black hair, nothing close to her mothers red hair or her fathers light features.

The suspicion lingered for Alexander for weeks and he used dark humor to joke about a possible mix-up. Friends and family constantly remarked on the lack of a resemblance, but Daphna tried to quell their concerns.

It wasnt until a close friend told her what Alexander had been suggesting  one of them was not Mays biological parent.

They ordered an at-home DNA test, which revealed a 99.9 percent likelihood that neither parent was biologically related to their newborn.

Annie and her husband fought the same suspicions. Their daughter Zoe was fair-haired with deep blue eyes. She looked nothing like her mother, a Latina, or her father, who is Asian-American.

Annie was assured by Zoes pediatrician when she was two months old that her deep blue eyes were the result of the rare passage of a recessive gene. But friends comments about her babys looks nagged at her.

After reading the DNA results, Daphna and Alexander feared it was only a matter of time until May's biological parents sought to take her away from them.

She told People: I carried this child. I birthed her. She felt so familiar to me that it didn't even occur to me that she couldn't be ours.

But the Cardinales knew it was only right to reach out to the other couple. So they informed their fertility clinic who then told Annie and her husband.

The day after Christmas in 2019, the couples met at a law firm to discuss how to move forward.

Alexander was the first to voice what they were all thinking but afraid to say - they should switch their babies.

The couples agreed on a gradual transition that started with day visits then sleep overs and would eventually culminate in a permanent swap.

When the families decided that May would go to her biological mother, and the baby Annie birthed, Zoe, would go to Daphna, Olivia took it especially hard

The switch was difficult.

While Alexander said holding Zoe instantly felt right, the mothers were having a more difficult time adjusting: The moment my hands went under my daughter's arms and we locked eyes, something powerful and unexpected washed over me. I knew this child.

At the same time, Daphna and I were so devastated and sad about losing our birth daughter.

After the swap Daphna struggled to build the kind of bond with Zoe shed had with May and sometimes, when she would feed Zoe in the early morning hours, she would be stricken with panic, thinking she had the wrong baby.

When the families would visit with each other, Annie would have to resist running to Zoe when she cried. Daphna had invasive thoughts at night that May needed her.

They struggled with the decision theyd made and both families wondered if the mix up would have long-lasting effects on the girls.

By the time both couples met each other's babies, Zoe and May were three months old, hardly old enough to be fully awake to the world but still aware enough to beam at Annies and Daphnas faces when they saw them and recognize their smell and touch.

Beatrice Beebe, a psychology professor at Columbia Universitys medical school who studies infant development, told The New York Times: 'It's a difficult change - but doable. The baby would have to learn a whole new set of patterns, but babies are fantastic learners.'

The switch was also hard on each familys older children  Daphna and Alexanders daughter Olivia and Annies son, whose name she withheld due to privacy concerns.

Your browser does not support iframes.

The two families remained close, however, and one day, Annie texted Daphna: We can definitely visit each and check how our girls are doing. Its so hard. I dont know how to let go.

Daphna said: What if we dont let go? What if we just have 2 babies? We share them.

We have to find a way to have both babies. Spend a lot of time together. Raise these girls together.

Annie agreed immediately: Yes, lets raise them together. Lets have two babies.

The families met often. May and Zoe went to the same preschool, and when they went to separate schools for kindergarten, they still saw each other at least once a week.

Birthdays and holidays were shared and both families' older children also became close friends.

The families felt their situation became more normal gradually. May still calls Alexander Daddy Xander and Daphna Mama Daphna, Zoe addresses Annie and her husband the same way.

The Cardinales filed a suit against the clinic, alleging medical malpractice, negligence, and breach of contract.

They settled their lawsuit out of court in 2022, primarily out of concern that Oliva would have to take the stand. Details of the settlement are not available to the public, but a lawyer for the clinic told The New York Times the parties settled amicably.

And Annie added that May and Zoe, now five, are still working it out.'
Boston International Airport was at the center of a 'poisoning' scare on Sunday after reports that passengers on two separate flights fell mysteriously ill.

Unverified reports online claimed one Delta flight coming from Paris at 1.53pm had 10 ill people on-board, while 10 minutes later a second Avianca flight from El Salvador was reported to have seven sick passengers, including a vomiting child.

Users on X reacting to the news blamed everything from carbon monoxide poisoning to contaminated ice machines or even an infectious disease.

There was just one problem with the reports, they were almost completely wrong.

Officials at the airport did confirm by Monday that officials had met people coming off the Delta flight and that the CDC had been contacted 'out of an abundance of caution'. But they also said the illnesses were much less widespread.

On the Delta flight, two attendants were taken to the hospital after suffering from 'lightheadedness' and later discharged  the CDC said.

And on the Avianca flight, a vomiting child was seen by medical workers at the airport, before then being sent to their transfer to Oslo, Norway.

No other injuries or illnesses were reported by the CDC, airlines or airport.

Boston International Airport was at the center of a alarm over an alleged 'poisoning' on Sunday after reports that passengers on two separate flights were ill (stock)

The claims were posted online by the X account 'Boston Area Public Safety Alerts', and viewed more than 1.2million times.

The account  which has 15,000 followers  is run by Dean Malloy, 51, who is a digital product owner for a large financial services company.

He says the information on the channel is unofficial, but is picked up from listening to scanners  radio receivers that allow someone to listen to two-way radio calls from emergency services. None of the information on these is confirmed as fact.

The CDC told the Boston Globe in a statement that 'two airline crew members experienced lightheadedness' on the Delta flight.

'They were transported to a local hospital for further evaluation,' it said. 'The hospital found no evidence of a contagious disease of public health concern, and both crew members were discharged.'

On the Avianca flight, they added: 'The child had no other known symptoms or exposures. The child quickly recovered and was not transported to a hospital.'

A spokeswoman for Massport, which runs the airport, said: 'Massport responded to two flights (Delta and Avianca) that came in around the same time yesterday afternoon with various illnesses.

'We reached out to the CDC out of an abundance of caution.'

A spokesperson for Delta also said: 'No customers reported any illness.'

One person responding to the post on X said: 'Sounds like Covid. Thanks to the airline company CEOs, mask mandates on airplanes were abandoned. This is your new normal. Enjoy!'

A second said, 'Did they eat the fish?', and a third added, 'quarantine these people until you know what illness is spreading'.

Boston Logan International Airport was at the center of concerns in January 2020 at the start of the Covid pandemic, after a student infected with the virus traveled through it on the way to one of the area's university's.
Black Friday is almost here, and with it the promise of cheap online shopping deals - but are these offers all they're cracked up to be, and how can you tell?

Black Friday is a sales period that has become the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season.

The trend started in the US, and has grown from being a single day of sales to several weeks, with many major retailers taking part. This year, Black Friday falls on 29 November.

While the Black Friday festival of consumerism can offer some genuine bargains, research has found that most advertised 'deals' do not offer shoppers any meaningful savings they can't get at other times of the year.

Not only this, but the shopping period also comes with a higher risk of fraud, overspending and debt.

This is everything you need to know about safely navigating the Black Friday sales - and how to tell a real bargain from a fake one.

An arm and a leg?: Black Friday sales have been criticised by retail experts, who say they are often not the amazing offers that consumers are led to believe

Does Black Friday really have the best prices?

Most Black Friday offers seem too good to be true for a simple reason - they are.

In fact, nine out of 10 Black Friday offers are the same price or cheaper at other times of the year, according to research from consumer organisation Which?.

While retailers rarely claim that Black Friday deals offer the greatest savings, Which? said that 'shoppers could be forgiven for believing this' due to heavy marketing around the sales period.

Which? looked at deals on 227 products in last year's Black Friday fortnight between 20 November and 1 December.

It found that 92 per cent of these deals - all from major retailers - could be found at the same price or less at other times of the year.

Shockingly, Which? found also 14 'deals' where the alleged 'before' price of a discounted item had never been charged in the preceding year, meaning the offer was not as good as advertised.

Even more shockingly, many websites host 'fake sales' where prices are deliberately inflated before Black Friday, in order to make subsequent 'discounts' seem better, according to price-checking website PriceSpy.

PriceSpy analysed almost five million prices and found that, since 1 October, 33 per cent (1.6 million) prices have increased. Sixteen per cent of prices rose by more than 10 per cent.

How do I know if a Black Friday discount is a good deal?

There are two ways of looking at this question.

The simple way is to say that if you see an item in a Black Friday sale that you wanted anyway, and you are happy with the price, then it is a good deal.

The thriftier way is to question whether the advertised Black Friday sale price is the best possible price, and whether it is worth buying the item now or waiting.

If you take the latter view, and you are shopping online, then your best friend should be price-tracking tools which compare the cost of items over time.

If you are shopping on Amazon, the Camel Camel Camel website tells users when items are cheap, as well as when prices have been changed and by how much.

The websites Idealo, Pricechecker, Pricerunner and PriceSpy compare the cost of the same item across multiple retailers - and even in physical stores.

If you are shopping in a bricks-and-mortar store, the Idealo app lets you scan a bar code for an item and check if it can be bought for cheaper elsewhere.

If you know exactly what you want and do not need it right away, the Alertr website can track an item and start giving you updates on the best prices for it after 48 hours.

Beware of Black Friday scams

With so many Britons looking for a bargain on Black Friday, experts are urging shoppers to beware of fraudsters attempting to part them from their cash.

It is particularly important to take care with online shopping, as you are much more likely to be scammed.

The Black Friday period is custom-made for online scammers, especially as the time-limited nature of the sales period can encourage shoppers to buy items without much thinking time.

Consumer expert Helen Dewdney and security professional James Bore say that Black Friday is a 'prime time' for fraud.

Their tips for staying safe from fraud include:

1) Beware of cloned and fake shopping websites. A possible sign of a website being legitimate is that it has a secure padlock, especially on any page that involves payments - though this is not a guarantee of safety when shopping.

2) Check feedback and reviews on online shops you haven't used before.

3) Consider using a credit card for online purchases, as these offer more consumer protection than debit cards. Section 75 protection means if a consumer buys something on a credit card worth between 100 and 30,000, the lender and seller are equally liable to sort the problem out if something goes wrong.

At risk: Northamptonshire residents are the most-scammed in the UK says Idealo

4) If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Dewdney says: 'Companies will not offer 50-80 per cent discounts on products that are in high demand.

'Fraudsters will use these offers to try and trigger excitement and an emotional response, which limits critical thinking and makes people more likely to buy before they think things through.'

Residents of Northamptonshire are the most at risk for online shopping scams, according to Idealo.

Even once you've successfully purchased an item, you may still have to think about the risk of it being stolen before you receive it.

Dan Smith, security specialist at Checkatrade's Smith & Greens Security, said 'porch pirates' can easily steal packages that are left unattended by delivery drivers.

Smith recommended homes install a lockbox where packages can be safely left, and that they should consider home improvements such as lighting, doorbell cameras and gravel drives.

Keep within your spending limits

Despite Black Friday supposedly being about bargains, the array of discounts can end up leaving shoppers financially worse off if they overspend.

Tesco Bank savings and payments director Chris Henderson said: 'With new discounts and deals everyday in the run-up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it can be tempting to spend, spend, spend.

'And while shopping in the sales can mean savings, especially when it comes to Christmas shopping, it's important to take a step back and check that you are sticking to your budget, and what feels affordable.'

Effective ways to keep on top of this is are things which are common sense, but which can be easily forgotten when faced with a pressured, time-sensitive sales situation.

These included avoiding impulse purchases, only shopping for things you really need, shopping around and comparing prices to make sure you really are getting a good deal.

The only thing worse financially worse than overspending is then getting into debt as well.

This is a particular risk when buying items using credit cards.

While credit cards do offer a degree of financial protection for purchases, they also pose the risk of not being able to afford repayments, with interest building up too.

Moneyfacts finance expert Rachel Springall said: 'Consumers waiting to make expensive purchases will no doubt be eyeing up the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.

'However, it's vital to take a step back to ensure they can comfortably afford any purchases or have a sensible repayment plan in place to cover the costs, particularly if they are buying electronics.'
My dad was a big fan of the Beatles in his youth, and we have some memorabilia we'd like you to value.

We have three signed, colour photographs of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. One has my dad with them, one has some other friends, and one is just John and Paul.

They were taken in February 1963 when the Beatles played at the Azena ballroom in Sheffield, and signed later in Liverpool. This was just before they hit the big time.

We also have a vinyl copy of their debut album, Please Please Me, from the same year, which is signed (personalised to my dad) by John and Paul.

The photographs are in excellent condition, the album good condition. Simon

On the cusp: This image was taken in Sheffield in early 1963, just before the Beatles released their first album and were catapulted into global stardom

Dan Hatfield, our resident valuation expert, replies: The Beatles didn't just make music, they created a movement that transformed culture and informed society.

Everything about them had an impact, from their mop-top hairstyles and tailored suits that changed the landscape of fashion, to the music that influenced and reflected the countercultural and peace movements of that era.

Baby boomers idolised the Fab Four, making anything they touched, signed, and owned worth incredible amounts of money

The Beatles meant, and still mean, so much to so many people. They invaded the USA and reversed the dominance of American artists, paving the way for British bands to break away from the domestic market and conquer the world.

The Beatles are arguably the most influential and popular band of all time. With 22 number one hits in the US and 17 in the UK, this band weren't merely big, they were colossal.

Memories of this band linger fondly in the hearts of baby boomers who idolised the Fab Four, making anything they touched, signed, and owned worth incredible amounts of money.

I find memorabilia in general fascinating and there are millions of pieces worldwide which vary greatly. The market for music memorabilia is thriving, driven by a mix of nostalgia and investment opportunity.

Globally, the collectables market is worth just north of 296 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach 416 billion by 2028.

A combination of the worlds biggest-ever band and a market that is growing at an incredible rate means there is exciting potential where your Beatles memorabilia are concerned.

I think your items could be worth decent money, most certainly more than they would have been worth a decade ago.

With such a booming market, I always secure a second opinion on my valuations to ensure my knowledge is robust and that I'm doing best by my clients.

So, I spoke to my good friends at Tennants Auction house in North Yorkshire which has sold plenty of Beatles memorabilia over the years.

Keegan Harris, the collectables specialist at Tennants agrees with my analysis. He says: 'Beatles memorabilia really is an evergreen collectable  with new generations of collectors continually entering into the market, just as fascinated by the Fab Four.'

In the presence of greatness: This photo features our reader Simon's dad with Paul and John

Inked: All of the pictures have been signed by both Paul McCartney and John Lennon

Delving deeper, I explored other signed memorabilia from The Beatles to see what prices it has secured in Tennants auctions. They have strong results in this area, for example selling a set of four autographs for 3,000.

Items that really sell are ones that stand out from the crowd, though. Keegan says: 'Rare items, naturally, tend to be the most sought after, with complete sets of signatures commanding a premium'.

We know with your items that you unfortunately don't have all four autographs, but none the less, I am excited, tantalised, enthusiastic about your fabulous memorabilia.

The photographs of your dad and his friends posing with Paul and John are simply captivating. Taken in Sheffield before The Beatles hit number 1 in the charts, they capture a fleeting moment of normalcy before the explosion of Beatlemania.

What stands out is their unpolished charmthese aren't the global superstars we now revere, but young musicians on the cusp of greatness.

Photos like these are highly collectible, even when they include non-Beatles individuals. I'd estimate the group shots at around 800, with the solo image of Paul and John fetching between 1,000 to 1,200 at auction.

Your signed Please Please Me album is a treasure. This debut LP marked the beginning of everything, making it highly desirable among collectors.

The album has been personally dedicated to your Dad. Personalisation can often reduce the value of a collectible but as Beatles memorabilia is so popular we don't foresee any negative financial impact in this case.

Keegan at Tennants values this piece between 1,200 and 1,800, depending on its condition. In my view, with its historical significance and the emotional pull it holds for baby boomers, I'd be confident that it can reach the higher end of that estimate.

Our valuations are based on you selling them though a reputable auction house like Tennants, who deal with items like this on a regular basis.

Personalised: The album was signed to Simon's father, Barry - but Dan Hatfield says this shouldn't affect its value, as Beatles memorabilia is so popular with collectors

Iconic: The front cover of the Please Please Me features the Fab Four in a stairwell

You could go it alone and try to sell them privately which sometimes can secure a slightly higher price tag because there are no auction fees.

But the sheer global reach of an auction house can entice buyers from around the world helping you secure a great sale. Opting for a high-end auction house also provides with you end-to-end support which makes it an attractive and safe choice.

It goes without saying, that all memorabilia needs to be authenticated before we can guarantee the true value - but I don't think this will be a problem with your items.

Your dad's love for The Beatles didn't just bring him joy - it left a legacy of historical significance and financial potential.

Whether you choose to sell or treasure these items, one thing is certain, the Fab Four's magic is still working its wonders.
Cancelled flight? Faulty appliance? Dodgy insurance small print? For most of us, the thought of having to make a compensation claim against a company for substandard products or services can be daunting at best.

So imagine if there was a company whose sole purpose was to coordinate group claims, where hundreds, thousands or even millions of people take on big companies, headed up by experts with decades of experience championing consumer rights. And at no point is there a charge.

Step forward Nikki Stopford and Alex Neill.

Both regular presenters on the BBC's Rip Off Britain, they have formidable career credentials to leave even those companies with the deepest pockets and most ruthless legal teams sitting up to take note.

In early 2023, the pair launched their pioneering start-up Consumer Voice. The first company of its kind in the UK, it operates as an online community connecting individuals to the relevant law firms acting on behalf of a group claim.

'We talked to countless law firms about group claims and the general consensus was that there was a need for them to engage with consumers in a different way. Historically, when consumers engage with legal teams on a case-by-case basis, it's horribly expensive. Which is where Alex and I come in,' says Nikki.

'Too many consumers experience problems every day when dealing with businesses in the UK and all too often don't get back the money they're owed,' explains Alex, who was previously CEO of a consumer dispute resolution platform and a managing director at consumer champion Which?

'This means rule-breaking businesses owe an eye-watering amount of money - thought to be in the region of 54billion - for everything from delayed flights to faulty products. However, most people aren't aware of the claims process and we want to make access to justice easy for consumers.'

In early 2023, Alex Neill (left) and Nikki Stopford (right) launched Consumer Voice, an online community connecting individuals to the law firms acting on behalf of a group claim

Nikki was previously group director of research and publishing at Which?, and is the current chairman of the British Standards Institute Consumer Forum, bringing together consumer advocacy organisations, government departments, regulators and enforcement agencies to strengthen the UK consumer voice in standards.

Take them on at your peril.

There are currently 56 group claims against big consumer brands that have been filed with the specialist competition court in London which, in theory, could equate to every adult in the UK being owed money as a result of being eligible for compensation.

These cases have been filed on behalf of UK consumers by campaigners  including Alex and Nikki  accusing big brands like Amazon, Apple, BT, Facebook, Google, Mastercard and Sony PlayStation of breaching competition law and ripping off customers.

If won, these claims could lead to billions being owed in compensation. Of the 12 claims that are currently going to trial, consumers are owed 22billion alone.

Still, the likelihood is that this is news to most people.

'Our extensive research found that on average 74 per cent of UK consumers have never heard of most of these big claims and 25 per cent have no idea what a group claim is,' Nikki explains. 'Only a quarter of the population said they were very familiar with collective legal actions in the UK.

'We also know from our survey that 50 per cent of people spend money with six or more of the 30 top brands across key consumer sectors. This means that as more lawsuits are filed, the payout for individual consumers is likely to grow.

Alex says businesses owe an eye-watering amount of money - thought to be in the region of 54billion - for everything from delayed flights to faulty products

'We want to ensure people who've been ripped off are ready to step forward when these group cases are won. Consumer Voice is independent, unbiased and will tell people when the companies they buy from have broken the law, helping you to work out whether you're entitled to compensation and how to claim. The ultimate aim is to help consumers get money they're owed.'

If you're rightly wondering, what's the catch? There isn't one.

Nikki and Alex make an income from consultancy work and by providing consumer-friendly communications and engagement services to law firms.

'We'll make it easy for you to get back what you're owed and hold companies to account when they do things wrong,' Nikki continues.

Alex attests: 'I was first involved in this area with my own claim against Sony PlayStation which goes to trial in March 2026 on behalf of 8.9million customers. They could be owed a share of up to 5billion (around 560 each) for being charged too much for digital games or in-app purchases.

'It became increasingly obvious that there wasn't a single strong place where consumers' interests were being represented and that people weren't pursuing claims as they were convinced it would be too time consuming and expensive.'

Already commonplace and hugely successful in the US, group claims allow vast swathes of people to be compensated in one go.

For example, more than 17million people claimed compensation from a 725million pot following a Facebook settlement over the Cambridge Analytica scandal. This was when, from 2010 onwards, personal data was collected by the British consultancy firm to be used in the US for political advertising.

More than 17million people claimed compensation from a 725million pot following a Facebook settlement over the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Pictured, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg

While regulators like the Competition and Markets Authority can hold firms to account and put documentation in place to prevent further law breaking, they don't have the power to mandate compensation claims.

The first group claim to go to trial in the UK is a 1.3billion compensation claim against BT, taking the company to task over offering cheap broadband bundles to attract new customers, but keeping prices high for existing customers until Ofcom, the communications watchdog, ordered them to stop.

If successful, three million customers could receive on average of 400 in compensation. The trial ended in March and the hotly anticipated court judgment is due any day.

'It's very much a test case in the UK. It's based on those existing customers  many of whom were elderly, vulnerable and not in a position to shop around  who lost out financially without being paid compensation,' Alex explains. 'At its crux is the legal exposure of a company that abused its huge market share by charging too much.'

Similar cases have also been raised in the UK, including a 1.5billion claim against Apple's App Store for overcharging and a similar 920million claim against Google Play Store.

Both go to trial next year.

'While it's not against the law for big tech brands to monopolise markets, they need to do so in a fair way and not be allowed to charge what they want, which is why competition laws are in place to prevent this from happening,' Alex adds.

'Many people who join the Consumer Voice community via the website have beef with digital tech companies who've dominated and haven't had to be competitive, leaving people feeling powerless.

'Nikki and I are on a mission to show consumers that there is a way to bring these big companies to heel because most don't tend to know claims cases are even going on.

'During the lifespan of a case  which can take years  we want consumers to know that we'll keep them updated on progress so that they don't have to think about it.

'For group action to be successful, consumers need to step forward and lay claim to the compensation on offer. Low take-up rates of people getting on board with a claim will prompt the big companies to brush them off on the basis that ''it's just a few people and most aren't getting compensation''.'

Nikki and Alex have launched an eligibility checker on their website specifically for the BT case so that the average person can log on, enter a few straightforward details and learn within a few minutes whether they were affected by it and if they're eligible to join the group claim for compensation.

'Firstly, go to our website and join the 20,000 people who've already signed up to our newsletter, the tool we use to guide people to specific claims and make them aware of new ones coming up,' says Alex, re-emphasising that there's zero cost for consumers engaging with them. More than 100,000 people have visited their website in the last two months.

'You don't have to join a claim, you might just want to use one of our template letters about the likes of flight delays and car finance to make your own complaint direct to a company, for example. I've just used it myself to write to a car finance company.

'There's low trust of claims management firms and even law firms, which is why we've built the Consumer Voice platform to build trust and help people in their day-to-day consumer rights challenges. We'll never send out spam emails and our focus is on consumer power, engagement, why a claim exists and how to get back what you're owed. Who wouldn't want that?'

Nikki adds: 'We're not a claims management company, so people know we're approachable. Our stance is very much these are your rights and if you're not getting the standards you are entitled to by law, then this is how we can help you.'
The financial regulator is 'incompetent at best, dishonest at worst' according to a scathing assessment of its record by a group of MPs and peers.

In a report published today, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is found to have suffered from 'very significant shortcomings' in its ability to tackle fraud and other issues while its leadership remains 'opaque and unaccountable'.

An almost three-year-long investigation into the regulator, which gathered evidence from 175 whistleblowers, fraud victims and former FCA staff, revealed a culture in which 'dishonesty and deceit' is commonplace.

The FCA is 'widely seen as incompetent', the report declared.

Toothless: In a new report, the Financial Conduct Authority is found to have suffered from 'very significant shortcomings' in its ability to tackle fraud and other issues

Those who raised issues at the organisation said they were 'criticised, bullied and sidelined' and alleged that the regulator 'actively discourages staff from raising serious and challenging questions'.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Investment Fraud and Fairer Financial Services, which authored the report, is comprised of around 30 MPs and a dozen peers from the House of Lords.

The report concluded that the picture painted of the FCA 'was not pretty' and that its investigation had uncovered 'tragic tales of regulatory failure causing enormous financial and emotional distress'.

Current and former employees described the watchdog as having the 'worst staff culture' they had ever experienced, characterised by a 'lack of trust' and 'astonishing arrogance'.

Others accused the regulator of acting 'in bad faith' and being 'culturally and economically aligned with banks and other large authorised firms' making it 'disinclined to act against their interests'.

'The picture painted is not pretty,' the report said. 'The FCA is seen as incompetent at best, dishonest at worst. Its actions are slow and inadequate, its leaders opaque and unaccountable.'

The committee called for a series of reforms and, if it resisted the changes, suggested a Royal Commission be set up to take responsibilities away from the FCA and give them other institutions.

But an FCA spokesman said: 'We sympathise with those who have lost out as a result of wrongdoing in financial services, however we strongly reject the characterisation of the organisation. We have learned from historic issues and transformed as an organisation.'
Rachel Reeves said in her Budget speech that becoming Britains first female Chancellor showed young girls that there should be no ceiling on their ambitions.

So her critics say it is a bitter irony that her 25billion National Insurance tax raid  and particularly the lowering of the threshold at which the levy kicks in  will take its heaviest toll on female workers.

Those in the firing line include hair salons  a service Reeves made the most of ahead of the Budget as she dyed her hair red before reverting to a chestnut shade, closer to her original colour.

Industry groups say those working part-time in the sector, where nine out of ten are women, will be the first people to be let go as firms grapple with higher payroll costs.

Budget cuts: Chancellor Rachel Reeves dyed her hair red ahead of the Budget before reverting to a chestnut shade, closer to her original colour

About 90 per cent of our industry is female and 65 per cent are part-time, said Millie Kendall, head of the British Beauty Council.

Baroness Altmann, a pensions minister under David Cameron, said: Its women that will be disproportionately impacted by these changes. Its really puzzling that this seems not to have been sufficiently considered.

Sarah Willingham, boss of bar chain Nightcap and a former Dragons Den investor, said: If you employ lots of people that work part-time hours, for instance mums, then these people are going to become a lot more expensive to hire.

'This Budget disproportionately targets sectors that are recruiting these women.
Barclays has been fined 40million after raising cash from Qatar.

Regulators said the move was reckless and lacked integrity.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) told the banking giant that it should have provided more details about an emergency cash injection that helped it avoid a taxpayer bailout during the 2008 financial crisis.

The Government took large stakes while bailing out Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland as the industry teetered on the brink of collapse more than a decade ago.

The Treasury is still a major shareholder in NatWest, as RBS is now called, with a stake of just under 11 per cent.

Barclays stayed out of taxpayer hands, however, as it raised 11.8billion through two share sales to foreign investors in 2008.

Regulators said Barclays should have provided more details about the 40m cash it raised from Qatar that helped it avoid a taxpayer bailout during the 2008 financial crisis

As part of the rescue package, Barclays paid 322million worth of advisory fees to a Qatari state-backed firm that helped organise the deal, allegedly in return for a 4billion investment. But other shareholders were not told about the fees.

The FCA launched an investigation into the fundraising in 2013 but it was held up by a probe by the Serious Fraud Office.

The FCA fined Barclays 50million in 2022 over the scandal but the bank appealed.

And its challenge at the Upper Tribunal was due to begin yesterday with former boss John Varley appearing as a key witness  but it was dropped by the bank at the last minute.

The FCA yesterday reduced the fine to 40million while declaring that Barclayss conduct in its October 2008 capital raising was reckless and lacked integrity.

Steve Smart, the FCAs joint executive director of enforcement and market oversight, said: Barclays misconduct was serious.

However, the events took place over 16 years ago and we recognise that Barclays is a very different organisation today.

A Barclays spokesman said it does not accept the FCAs findings but wished to draw a line under the issues.

The bank also said it had earmarked funds to cover the financial penalty in 2022, so it will suffer no material financial impact from the fine.

Barclays decision finally closes the book on a legal battle which left the reputations of both the bank and the FCA hanging in the balance.

Varley, who ran the bank from 2004 to 2011, became one of the first British bankers to face criminal charges over financial crisis-era conduct when he and senior colleagues were taken to court by the SFO in 2019 over their role in the fundraising.

But Varley, Roger Jenkins, Thomas Kalaris and Richard Boath were ultimately acquitted. Charges against Barclays itself were also dropped before the trial.
OVO Energy boss Stephen Fitzpatrick has given up control of the flying taxi start-up he founded as part of a 40million rescue deal.

Bristol-based Vertical Aerospace has secured an emergency cash injection from US investor Mudrick Capital that will allow it to survive until the end of next year.

The deal will see Fitzpatricks stake fall from 70 per cent to 20 per cent and he will remain on the board in a strategic role.

Mudrick Capital, founded by American financier Jason Mudrick in 2009, is the majority shareholder with a 71 per cent stake.

Rescue deal: Bristol-based Vertical Aerospace has secured an emergency cash injection from US investor Mudrick Capital that will allow it to survive until the end of next year

The future of Vertical Aerospace, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and employs around 300 staff, has been in the balance for months.

The deal includes 20million in upfront funding and an additional 20million, that will be reduced by any amounts raised from third parties.

It also includes the option for Fitzpatrick to invest a further 20million.
The mystery of Lord Lucan - the infamous aristocrat suspected of murdering his children's nanny and trying to knock off his wife - has obsessed and enthralled the UK for five decades.

But the trail for the world's most wanted man appeared to have finally run cold after years of sightings in every corner of the globe turned up nothing but shadows and whispers.

That was, until 2020 when the murdered nanny's adopted son alleged a British-born Aussie monk was really Lucan in disguise and in turn, reignited one of the UK's most enduring mysteries.

Now the accused monk, who lives in a retreat in rural Queensland, has spoken out in a bid to put the allegation to bed - and has revealed details of his equally colourful life.

Christopher Newman, a British-born Buddhist living in Bundaberg in Queensland's south east, was wrongly believed to be Lord Lucan - an infamous aristocrat and gambler who vanished from London on November 7, 1974 after being suspected of killing his children's nanny, Sandra Rivett, and the attempted murder of his wife, Veronica.

A car belonging to Lord Lucan, whose real name was Richard John Bingham, was found abandoned and soaked in blood in Newhaven, a port town on England's south coast, the following day.

No further trace of the mustachioed peer has ever been found.

Despite this, the mystery disappearance has captivated the British public for the last half century, with dozens of breathlessly reported sightings of Lucan living under a new identity in far-lung locations including Cape Town, Hong Kong and the Bahamas making headlines over the years.

Christopher Newman (pictured), a British-born Buddhist living in Bundaberg in Queensland 's south east, was wrongly believed to be Lord Lucan - an infamous aristocrat and gambler who vanished from London on 7 November 1974 after being suspected of killing his children's nanny

A car belonging to Lord Lucan, whose real name was Richard John Bingham, was found abandoned and soaked in blood in Newhaven, a port town on England's south coast, the following day. No further trace of the mustachioed peer has ever been found (pictured: Lord Lucan with his wife Veronica)

But a major breakthrough came in the case when Neil Berriman, the son of Sandra Rivett - the nanny who was bashed to death - claimed to have found an almost-exact facial match for Lucan living Down Under in 2022.

After 17 painstaking years, he identified Christopher Newman, an 89-year-old Buddhist monk currently being cared for in a retreat outside Bundaberg, as the man responsible.

There are a number of uncanny similarities between Mr Newman and the missing Lord Lucan beyond sharing the same age and similar features, which a respected facial recognition expert claimed 'indicated they were conclusively the same individual'.

These include a cut on his left nostril, the fact he speaks with a posh British accent and attended the same school as Lucan, while also claiming to have hobnobbed with members of the Royal family in his youth.

He also admits to having changed his name on multiple occasions and living under different identities, first in Nepal before moving to Australia and living in Buddhist communities in Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane.

Mr Berriman's dogged detective work, which is now the subject of a three-part documentary series on the BBC called 'Lucan', culminates in a tense face-off with the man he believes murdered his mother.

Alongside his mother's former boyfriend, Mr Berriman travelled to Mr Newman's rural Bundaberg home.

There ensued a heated, off-camera encounter where the frail monk allegedly told Mr Berriman: 'And what if I am Lord Lucan? What the f*** are you going to do about it? Put me in prison?'

This publication subsequently disproved Mr Berriman's theory by consulting a UK Government-approved team of facial recognition experts in November 2022 who definitively ruled out Mr Newman as Lord Lucan.

Glen Campbell, an investigative journalist featured in the BBC program, also discovered that Mr Newman starred in a drag queen show called Facade in Canada under the names Peter Jason/Jenny Romain.

The show was performed in 1969 - five years before Lord Lucan committed the murders, thus casting yet more doubt on whether it could be him.

Mr Newman eventually did agree to do a rambling, sit-down interview on camera with the program's producer where he claims to have been 'birthed into Stonehenge and brought up by the druids'.

He told the program that his biological father was a puppeteer who performed for the young princesses Elizabeth (the late Queen) and Margaret at Buckingham Palace and claimed he had changed his name so often to cast off 'different energies'.

His birth certificate names him as Derek Crowther, born in Islington, north London, in 1936, the son of a railway carriage cleaner.

A major breakthrough came in the case when Neil Berriman (pictured), the son of Sandra Rivett - the nanny who was bashed to death (pictured below) - claimed to have found an almost-exact facial match for Lucan living Down Under in 2022

Lord Lucan was named as Ms Rivett's killer in an inquest into her death in 1975

He also claimed to have been a 'female impersonator' in Canada before moving to India where he was regarded as the 'western incarnation of the Dalai Lama'.

But pressed on whether he is Lucan, Mr Newman finally loses his monkish patience.

I do not know who the hell Lord Lucan is, okay?', Mr Newman snapped.

'Now, if youre finished, I am getting bored with this interview.

The producer then asked if there was a Buddhist approach for Mr Berriman to find peace after his 17-year search for his mother's killer reached a dead end.

But Mr Newman failed to offer any spiritual comfort.

Are you aware that the world is about to go through a tremendous collapse?', he said.

'The whole human race, millions of years of evolution is about to terminate. All of you.

He later shouted: Im not a f***ing Buddhist. Im not anything.

Once more, he categorically denied that he is Lord Lucan.

Wherever you are Neil, I can assure you Im not that man, never have been, never will be,' he said.

Despite the weight of evidence proving otherwise, Mr Berriman remains convinced that he is Lucan.

Lord Lucan was named as Ms Rivett's killer in an inquest into her death in 1975.

In 2016, a court issued a 'presumption of death' certificate for Lucan, a ruling that cleared the way for his son, George Bingham, to become the 8th Earl of Lucan.
A free speech warrior from the US was a 'secret weapon' in derailing the Albanese Government's misinformation bill, but warns the fight against censorship is far from over.

After Greens, Coalition, and crossbench senators announced they would oppose the bill beefing up a watchdog to police the internet for 'harmful mis or disinformation', the Albanese Government was forced to withdraw the legislation on Sunday.

Visiting US activist Michael Shellenberger met with a number of senators in Canberra last week to lobby against the misinformation bill, with some such as Victorian independent crossbencher David Van tweeting thank yous.

However, even with the proposed laws rejected, Mr Shellenberger said 'there's still a lot of work to be done to detoxify the institutions'.

'There's only one thing to counter misinformation, that's accurate information, censorship is not a strategy to counter misinformation, censorship simply represses. It is an act of power and oppression,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'There's a generation of young people that don't get that yet.'

He also warned against the Albanese Government's attempt to ban people under 16 from social media, which appeared set to become law this week with the support of the Coalition.

'I am a father and have two kids who are negatively impacted by social media, so I am very sympathetic to the goal,' he said.

US free speech advocate Michael Shellenberger (pictured right) met with Victorian independent Senator David Van last week in Canberra to lobby against the misinformation bill

'But you have to ask how are they going to enforce this and are they going to enforce it in ways that are going to allow censorship through the back door.

'I think the people of Australia should be suspicious of anything this prime minister tries to do.'

Mr Shellenberger, who started the hugely successful news and opinion outlet, Public, and has authored three books on politics, said it was particularly galling the orginal misinformation bill exempted governments from the censorship.

'There is no greater purveyor of misinformation than government and if governments are now going to censor they are going to censor the truth,' he said.

'You had the governments say Covid came from a wet market, well most intelligence agencies now think it came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

'The US Government said Iraq had weapons of mass destruction that led to the invasion of Iraq. That turned out to be misinformation.

'They want to censor the accurate information because that is what threatens their ability to propagandise and get their way.'

Mr Shellenberger said free speech is vitally important but is under worldwide attack.

'Free speech is the key to everything. It is the first freedom, and we need to get back on the front foot,' he said.

'Everywhere in the world, you have deep-state swamp creatures who think they have some right to decide what people are allowed to say.

Mr Shellenberger (pictured left) debates American TV science show presenter Bill Nye on stage

'When people realise what the deep state is trying to do, they rise up, they become outraged, and that is happening in Australia.'

Mr Shellenberger, who boasts over 1.5million followers across his various social media, first got involved in politics in the deeply progressive Californian university town of Berkeley.

After being part of left-leaning environment groups Mr Shellenbeger ran as Democratic candidate for California Governor in 2018 but said he now struggles to understand why the political left has become the major threat to free speech.

'I have changed my mind over various issues over the years, but I have never changed my mind on free speech. I have been in favour of free speech my whole life,' Mr Shellenberger said.

'The left are the heirs of the civil rights movement, the gay rights movement, every single one of those movements required free speech, and every single one of them was fighting censorship.

Mr Shellenberger said Elon Musk (pictured left) buying Twitter and Donald Trump winning back the US presidency were turning points in winning the war against the censors

'Now the progressives' caring and compassion are only for so-called victims. They became woke and woke is a victimhood theology and a victimhood theology divides all people in victims and oppressors, you are a victim or you are an oppressor.'

He issued a warning, sharing his belief that George Orwells predictions in the novel 1984 resonate powerfully with the current state of society today.

'I re-read George Orwells 1984 a few months ago and it was shocking to me how relevant it was. It did not feel like an old book it felt like a book that could have been written about what is happening now.

'Orwell said that totalitarianism would come out of the bureaucracy. The left controls the administrative state, the professional managerial class, and they want power.'

Mr Shellenberger and US podcaster Joe Rogan

Mr Shellenberger said two cataclysmic events have disrupted the left's war on free speech - Donald Trump being re-elected and Elon Musk buying Twitter, now known as X.

'Previously, politicians were able to control the media, and the media was able to control the politicians. Social media has been a gamechanger,' Mr Shellenberger said.

'The deep state's control over Twitter was a lot like the Catholic Church's control over doctrine.

'It lasted for a while, but at a certain point, Martin Luther came along and used the printing press against the church. That's what Elon Musk is, he is the Martin Luther of social media.

'He turns this powerful technology into a tool of the people.'

Mr Shellenberger was brought to Australia by right-wing think tank the Institute of Public Affairs, as part of its campaign against the misinformation bill.

He has departed for England to challenge the UK Government's hate speech laws, following a series of prosecutions over social media posts in the wake of riots earlier this year.
One of the FBI's most wanted fugitives has been arrested more than 20 years after going on the run - with police tracking him down in a remote north Wales forest.

Daniel Andreas San Diego, 46, was listed as one of the US's 'most wanted terrorists' after two bombings in San Francisco, California, in August 2003.

Two devices had been detonated on an Emeryville campus - a biotechnology corporation - an hour apart in the summer of that year, Sky reports.

The second bomb, which was discovered by authorities, blew up before it could be defused,

The bureau said the incident suggested the explosive may have been placed with the intention of targeting emergency services.

Then, the following September, a bomb wrapped in nails blew up at a nutritional products corporation in Pleasanton.

Thankfully, no one was injured.

The US intelligence agency issued a warrant for San Diego's arrest in October 2003, but he vanished before he could be taken into custody.

Daniel Andreas San Diego, 46, (pictured) was among the FBI's 'most wanted terrorists' following two bombings in the area of San Francisco in August 2003

The National Crime Agency - the UK's law enforcement agency - alongside the North Wales Police and the Counter Terrorism Policing apprehended Mr San Diego on Monday near Conwy

The alleged terrorist was found in a rural property near a woodland in the area of Conwy

The National Crime Agency, alongside North Wales Police, arrested the 46-year-old on Monday near Conwy.

It is believed that he was found at a property located in a rural area near a forest

According to his FBI most wanted profile, San Diego reportedly has links to 'animal rights extremist groups' and was known to possess a handgun.

There was also a reward of $250,000 (199,000) on offer for details leading to his arrest.

On Tuesday, he appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court as the procedure for his extradition to face charges in the US starts.

According to the FBI, San Diego was indicted in the United States District Court, Northern District of California in relation to his alleged involvement with the bombings in July 2004.

The bureau also said the 46-year-old was known to follow a vegan diet and would not eat meat or food containing animal products.

He was also known as a skilled sailor and had travelled internationally, the bureau said.

San Diego also had numerous tattoos, which may have been 'significantly altered or covered with new tattoos', the agency said.

In the centre of his chest one tattoo had a round image of burning hillsides alongside the words 'it only takes a spark'.

The ex- computer network specialist also had tattoos of burning and collapsing buildings on his abdomen and lower back, as well as a single leafless tree on his lower back.

Daniel Andreas San Diego pictured throughout the years on the top,alongside several computer touch ups showing what he could possibly look like

He has been allegedly linked to a bombing in Emeryville at a biotechnology corporation (Pictured in 2003)

In September 2003, a bomb wrapped in nails blew up at a nutritional products corporation in Pleasanton, however no one was injured, according to the FBI (Pictured: Emergency response in Emeryville in 2003)

It is believed Mr San Diego at links to 'animal rights extremist groups' according to the FBI (Pictured: Emergency services in Emeryville in 2003)

There was also a reward of $250,000 (199,000) on offer for details leading to his arrest, as the alleged terrorist was known to possess a handgun (Pictured: The biotech firm in California)

Assistant Director of the Counterterrorism Division Michael J. Heimbach announcing that San Diego had been arrested today

A billboard at today's conference showcasing the FBI's most wanted terrorists alongside an image of Daniel Andreas San Diego

FBI Director Christopher Wray said: 'There's a right way and a wrong way to express your views in our country, and turning to violence and destruction of property is not the right way.'

'Daniel San Diego's arrest after more than 20 years... shows that no matter how long it takes, the FBI will find you and hold you accountable.'

An NCA spokesperson said: 'On Monday 25 November 2024, officers from the National Crime Agency, supported by colleagues from Counter Terrorism Policing and North Wales Police, arrested Daniel Andreas San Diego, aged 46, in the Conwy area of Wales, at the request of the US authorities.

'He appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court today (26 November) as extradition proceedings began. He was remanded in custody.'
Tucker Carlson stunned a podcast host as he revealed he believes Satan himself is really running Joe Biden's White House.

The former Fox News host said that the recent move by Washington to provide the Ukrainians with landmines to use against Vladimir Putin's troops changed his mind.

Carlson said he previously would have believed Secretary of State Antony Blinken was running the show, but after this decision he believes 'dark forces' are at work.

'Now I would say Satan because I really think that you've got dark forces in charge,' he said on the Redacted podcast.

'There's no justification for using anti-personnel mines in this conflict, which can't hope to be solved.

'The only effect of that move is to kill innocents, period. That's it, that's the only effect - and they know that. And so they're doing it anyway because killing is the point.

'So it's evil. I think we should say that. I don't think it's a matter of defending democracy.'

The US approved sending anti-personnel mines to Ukraine to repel Russian invaders inside the country and slow their advance last week.

Tucker Carlson claims Satan himself is running the White House because it allowed Ukraine to use landmines and long-range missiles against Russia

Biden also gave Ukraine permission to fire American-made ATACMS missiles, which have a range of 190 miles, into Russia last week.

Ukraine used some of the weapons to bomb Tula, a city with one of Russia's biggest ammunition production industries about 100 miles south of Moscow.

The landmines provided by Washington are not allowed to be used near civilians and won't have the same issues as the older landmines still killing people around the world years after conflicts ended.

The mines are 'non-persistent' and become inert after a preset period - they require a battery to detonate, and will not explode once the battery runs out.

Ukraine has used NATO-made anti-tank mines for much of the war, but Biden said he would not give Ukraine anti-personnel mines, until last week's U-turn.

Carlson, who has perpetuated unfounded Russian claims about Ukraine since before the invasion even began, then lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

'The president of Ukraine is not elected. He's a dictator. He literally passed his term and kept serving,' he said.

Zelenskyy's term as president ended on May 20, but as martial law was declared in 2022 when the invasion began, the election wasn't held.

ATACMS - Army Tactical Missile - being fired from an M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System

Instead, the Ukrainian parliament voted to delay the election by 90 days several times, most recently putting it off until February 7.

Ukrainian opposition parties largely have not opposed leaving him in power, citing the extreme difficulty of conducting a fair election while under attack and with so many citizens displaced from their homes or under occupation.

The country's laws also allow elections to be suspended during martial law and for the administration to be legitimate during that time.

'[Ukriane] shut down a Christian denomination  put priests in jail. How many more markers of dictatorship do you need to call it what it is? Which is totalitarian. So everything about it is horrifying,' Carlson continued.

He was likely referring to senior Ukrainian Orthodox cleric Metropolitan Pavlo, who was jailed in July after being under house arrest since April.

Pavlo is charged with inflaming religious hatred and justifying Russia's invasion of Ukraine, crimes under wartime laws.

Ukraine has been cracking down on the Moscow-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church, claiming it is pro-Russian and collaborating with Moscow.

The church denies that and says it cut all ties with Moscow last year, but many of its churches have been searched and dozens of clergy have faced charges.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy's term as president ended on May 20, but as martial law was declared in 2022 when the invasion began, the election wasn't held

Ukrainian Orthodox cleric Metropolitan Pavlo was jailed in July after being under house arrest since April, charged with inflaming religious hatred and justifying Russia's invasion of Ukraine

However, the religion has not been 'shut down' or suppressed in any way for ordinary worshippers, and Orthodox is Ukraine's biggest faith.

Carlson went on to claim Western civilization was 'a dying empire' that was 'collapsing demographically' and based on a 'totally pointless' finance-based economy with 'no self-respect at all'.

'There's something about the final days of a dying civilization that causes it to lash out in this orgy of killing for its own sake, it's really the darkest thing I could imagine,' he said.

'The end of an empire is a kind of murder-suicide where the formerly great power kills itself and then takes a lot of people out as it does.'

Russia unilaterally started the war when in invaded Ukraine in February 2022, which has killed at least 12,162 Ukrainian civilians, according to the UN.
EXCLUSIVE

A Sydney restaurateur who was said to have checked into an Indian ashram after his conviction for waving a Nazi sign has been spotted at Bondi Beach with his family.

Al Yazbek and his wife Rebecca were photographed with their three children in the ritzy eastern suburbs as they unloaded their $200,000 Mercedes Benz SUV.

But just three weeks ago, his wife issued a statement saying her husband was flying out to a spiritual retreat in India after Yazbek had made a grovelling apology.

She said he was going off to the ashram in shame ahead of his sentencing on December 10 for displaying a makeshift Israeli flag daubed with the blue swastika.

Ms Yazbek claimed the top chef was being removed as a company director and shareholder of their Nomad restaurant chain, which was being renamed Edition Hospitality.

However Yazbek was spotted at the beachside suburb over the weekend - and company insiders revealed he never actually left the country after admitting his guilt.

It is understood the share transfer - cutting him out of the business - has been delayed and Yazbek has instead remained in Australia while it goes through.

Al Yazbek and his wife Rebecca were photographed with their three children in the ritzy eastern suburbs as they unloaded their $200,000 Mercedes Benz SUV.

Mr Yazbek (pictured holding sign) was arrested on October 6 for displaying a Nazi symbol at a pro-Palestine protest in Sydney. He will be sentenced on December 10

During Sunday's heatwave, the couple were seen unpacking towels, boogie boards, a picnic lunch and shade cabana before hitting the beach.

The family had parked their car in North Bondi which has one of the largest Jewish populations in Sydney.

The Nomad director was arrested following the pro-Palestine protest march in Sydney on October 6 to mark the one-year anniversary of Israel's war in Gaza.

He was seen in the crowd holding a sign made to look like the Israeli flag, but with a swastika replacing the Star of David, alongside the words 'Stop Nazi Israel'.

Yazbek was 'escorted out of the protest by event organisers' and then arrested, with police seizing his sign and phone, court documents revealed.

'The Nazi symbol depicted on the corflute board was offensive and prohibited to display in public,' police told Yazbek, according to the agreed facts.

'The accused said to police, Whats the offensive symbol? and police informed him that the swastika was the offensive symbol.

'The accused said the symbol was an "Israeli swastika".

'The accused was given a direction to stop displaying the swastika and became argumentative, however, complied, and stopped displaying the symbol.'

The family had parked their car in North Bondi on Sunday, which has one of the largest Jewish populations in Sydney.

Al Yazbek was also pictured holding a yellow flag similar to the Hezbollah flag but with Ned Kelly on it at the protest in Hyde Park

Yazbek was later charged with displaying a Nazi symbol and pleaded guilty when he appeared in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court last month.

Yazbek announced he was no longer company secretary director of the restaurant empire, which includes Nomad Sydney, Nomad Melbourne and Reine & La Rue in Melbourne.

In the wake of his arrest, he said he apologised 'unequivocally for my actions at the demonstration on Sunday where I carried a sign that is deeply offensive to the Jewish community'.

He added: 'Friends and acquaintances who know me  both Jewish and gentile  know that I am not an anti-Semite.

'They also know how passionate I am about supporting diversity and equality in both my personal life and within the Nomad group of businesses.'

Wife Rebecca later annoucned she would become sole director of the rebranded Edition Hospitality as part of the damage control in the wake of the outrage.

Ms Yazbek admitted her husband's behaviour had offended many people.

'We deeply regret the impact his actions have had on the community, and for that, we sincerely apologise,' she said.

'As both his wife and business partner, I was furious with his actions and heartbroken by the harm they caused.

'I fully understand the disappointment and frustration felt by those affected, and I am committed to doing everything possible to restore your trust.'

Yazbek announced he was no longer company secretary director of the restaurant empire, which includes Nomad Sydney, Nomad Melbourne and Reine & La Rue in Melbourne

Sydney restaurateur Alan Yazbek outside court

In the wake of the swastika furore, it was also alleged Yazbek had previously called his Jewish landlords 'Shylock & Shylock'.

The Australian newspaper reported Yazbek also described one of the landlord's employees as 'the little bald Jewish guy who works for you'.

Yazbek was the only person charged after an estimated 10,000 protesters attended the Sydney rally on October 6.

He is due to be sentenced on December 10 and faces a maximum sentence of 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $11,000.
He is one of Britains most recognisable actors on stage and screen with high-profile roles in hit television dramas Happy Valley, Grantchester and McMafia.

But James Norton has revealed his public humiliation at feeling snubbed by Leonardo DiCaprio.

The 39-year-old who played psychopathic killer Tommy Lee Royce in Happy Valley, had attended the party with Mamma Mia star Amanda Seyfried, who starred alongside James in the 2021 horror mystery Things Heard & Seen.

But when the pair approached the most absurd seating area filled with Hollywood A-listers including 50-year-old DiCaprio, Spiderman star Tobey Maguire and Oscar winner Brie Larson, James said Leo only made room for the women.

Recalling the embarrassing incident during an interview at the Leicester Square Theatre last weekend, Norton said: I had the most awkward conversation, the most horrible celebrity encounter. It was so painful.

James Norton has revealed his public humiliation at feeling snubbed at a party by Leonardo DiCaprio. The 39-year-old who played psychopathic killer Tommy Lee Royce in Happy Valley, had attended the party with Mamma Mia star Amanda Seyfried

James Norton is one of Britains most recognisable actors on stage and screen with high-profile roles in hit television dramas Happy Valley, Grantchester and McMafia (Pictured: James Norton as Tommy Lee Royce in Happy Valley)

James Norton pictured with Mamma Mia star Amanda Seyfried while filming the 2021 horror mystery Things Heard & Seen

Leo looks towards me and Amanda and says, Amanda, come in, come in and stands up and makes room for her.

So she walks into the booth and sits next to Leo and then Leo stands there, looking at me going [shrugs his shoulders].

The unwelcome gesture left the heartthrob feeling awkward and he walked out.

Theres no room for me, basically. So Im standing in this booth, all of these people looking at me.

I'm there with my glass, and eventually Im like, Oh, dont worry. And I kid you not, I turned around and walked straight home. I went, I left.

Norton was speaking at The Theatrical Guilds An Audience With event last Sunday, which attracted a sell-out audience of 400 people and saw Norton interviewed by his childhood friend, actress Claire Cartwright.

The intimate chat saw the actor laugh at the absurdity of being labelled a heartthrob  and open up about being bullied at his Roman Catholic boarding school, Ampleforth College, in York.

The school wasnt so pleasant for me, he said. Ive come to realise, through good therapy, that a lot of actors are running away from some version of themselves, which the acting is a sort of anaesthetic for.

Agreeing to taking on the challenging role of Jude St Francis in last years stage adaptation of Hanya Yanagiharas bestselling novel, A Little Life was, in part, about putting my bullied child on stage, he said.

Theres this misconception that if youre a successful actor, you get to escape into roles. While theres a lovely form of escapism, theres also the other part of it.

'When youre on a billboard, the little bullied child in you goes, Wow, Im now unbullyable. Im now very powerful.

James Norton revealed his humiliation at feeling snubbed by Leonardo Di Caprio (pictured) at a party filled with Hollywood A-listers

Heartthrob James Norton (pictured in McMafia) is also grateful that he was not handed professional success too early. I dont pity the Timothee Chalamets of the world, he admitted

Norton is now dating Prada model Charlotte Rose Smith, 29 (pictured) after his engagement to actress Imogen Poots ended last year

He shared a bittersweet anecdote about his first billboard appearance. An ex-girlfriend once said, "Why dont you do an anti-bullying campaign? Stand under the billboard and do this," mimicking a defiant middle finger.

I never did itI wish I had.

His role in A Little Life famously involved appearing naked  which he found terrifying - and confronting difficult topics including sexual abuse.

It led to him experiencing two weeks of such intense stage fright he nearly walked off stage.

I think I had a panic attack on stage, he said. It was the scariest thing in the world. My whole stomach started sweatingand some big voice was going, youre going to f*** it up. Once you let that demon in, it takes hold it was horrible.

Norton is now dating Prada model Charlotte Rose Smith, 29, after his engagement to actress Imogen Poots ended last year.

But he insisted he was a gangly, spotty teenager and added: I had no success with girls at all.

He is also grateful that he was not handed professional success too early.

I dont pity the Timothee Chalamets of the world, he admitted.

Im sure theyre having a lovely time, but personally, Im grateful Ive had a little experience on every rung of the ladder. That kind of incremental rise has been great for my work, but also just my own mental health and my own consensus of individuality.

One of the first was being cast as villainous George Wickham in a childhood production of Pride and Prejudice  despite coveting the role of aristocratic Mr Darcy, made famous by Colin Firth in the BBCs 1995 television adaptation.

I often get roles where they present as nice guys but have a heart of stone, he said.

I dont know what that says about me trying to hide my psychopathy.

The good news for Happy Valley fans is that he has not ruled resurrecting Tommy Lee Royce for a prequel  should writer Sally Wainwright ever pen one.

Whenever you do something special youre greedy for more, obviously, he says. And if they called me up and said a prequel or something
The moment a cow hilariously leaned into a woman's car in Virginia and gave her a fright was captured on video.

The pair's intimate encounter was captured by Richard Ross, the woman's son, while his mother held a container of food and fed it to the furry brown cow in early October.

But the cow seemed to want more than food.

The hysterical footage showed the cattle as it dipped its head fully in the passenger side window with its tongue extended after being asked if he wanted any more.

But the adorable farm animal completely ignored her handful of grain and proceeded to lick her hand and shoulder instead.

The camera then panned to a closer view of the open-mouthed cow while the woman can be heard in the background laughing so uncontrollably that it sounded like she was wheezing.

The cow's tongue remained completely out of its mouth - seemingly trying to find a spot to lick the chuckling mother.

Her son joked to Storyful and said that he believed the sweet cow was asking his mother for a kiss the entire time.

Video footage captured the moment a cow hilariously leaned right into a woman's car while she was feeding it grains in Virginia
It sounds like the plot of The Day of the Jackal: an expert assassin coming within a hair's breadth of killing French president Charles de Gaulle.

But on August 22, 1962, that is exactly what happened, as de Gaulle and his wife were being whisked by car through Paris.

Georges Watin, who saw himself as the inspiration for Frederick Forsyth's Jackal and was known as 'The Limping One' due to a disability, was one of several right wing extremists who fired more than 150 bullets at the president's car.

Although the volley largely failed to penetrate the armoured Citroen, a bullet from Watin's machine pistol came close to piercing de Gaulle's heart and another whizzed by the politician's head before ending up in the door frame of the car.

Despite claims to the contrary, Forsyth, now 86, insisted that Watin - who went on to mastermind another failed attack on de Gaulle after escaping to Switzerland - was not the inspiration for the near-flawless assassin in his debut novel.

But as a journalist working in Paris at the time, Forsyth had personally reported from the scene of the attack.

He went on to incorporate it into the start of his 1971 novel, which he wrote in just 35 days.

And now Sky's TV adaptation of the story is proving a hit with viewers, as Eddie Redmayne portrays a modern-day Jackal.

Georges Watin, who some described as the 'real Jackal', was one of nine right wing extremists who tried to kill Charles de Gaulle in August 1962

Eddie Redmayne stars as the Jackal in Sky's TV adaptation of Forsyth's novel

His target is a billionaire tech entrepreneur portrayed by Khalid Abdalla, whilst Forsyth's intrepid French detective who ultimately foils the Jackal's plot has been replaced by Lashana Lynch's MI6 agent Bianca Pullman.

The 1962 attack was masterminded by Jean-Marie Bastien-Thiry, a member of the far-right Secret Armed Organisation, which was known by its French acronym OAS.

They were incensed by De Gaulle's decision to grant independence to Algeria after a brutal eight-year liberation war.

The hit squad was made up of a mix of 'pieds-noirs' - Europeans born in Algeria during French rule which lasted from 1830 to 1962 - as well as former soldiers and students. The youngest was just 20 years old.

They opened fire first with a machine gun from a yellow van, then from a second vehicle parked further down the road. The attack lasted just 45 seconds.

There were eight impacts on the car body. One bullet went through to the back passenger seat, shattering the window by the president and his wife, who were showered in glass.

'They're such bad shots!,' De Gaulle later joked of the attack, which he used as a reason to boost the powers of his office.

Yvonne's immediate concern was for the jellied chicken she had in the boot of the car, having stocked up on the delicacy while in the capital.

On August 22, 1962, French President Charles de Gaulle and his wife were being whisked by car through Paris for a flight back to their country home when they were attacked. Above: A bullet hole is seen in the Citroen DS, with its tyre also flat

A policeman examines a bullet hole in the side of the armoured car that was carrying de Gaulle and his wife. The president came within inches of death

A bullet hole seen on the cover of the car's petrol cap. Also seen is the vehicle's flat tyre

The attack was masterminded by Jean-Marie Bastien-Thiry, a member of a far-right paramilitary group incensed by De Gaulle's decision to grant independence to Algeria after a brutal eight-year liberation war. Bastien-Thiry was the last person to be executed by firing squad in France

De Gaulle was elected French president in 1959, after leading Free France from London during the Second World War. Above: The president during a TV speech on the eve of the New Year on December 31, 1962

French gendarmes stand alert at the scene after members and supporters of the OAS made an attempt on the life of France's Charles de Gaulle, August 1962

Policemen stand guard at the scene and examine bullets on the ground shortly after the attempt on De Gaulle's life

Frederick Forsyth at the premiere of Sky's adaptation of The Day of the Jackal in October, and right in 1979

The couple owed a debt of gratitude to the composure of their driver Francis Marroux, who had also been at the wheel a year earlier when the presidential car survived a first assassination attempt - later attributed to Bastien-Thiry - in the northeastern village of Pont-sur-Seine.

Marroux managed to keep control of the vehicle and sped off on two flat tyres under more fire.

De Gaulle's son-in-law Alain de Boissieu also played a key role. Sitting in the front of the car he shouted 'Get down, father!' to France's leader.

The unflappable De Gaulle, aged 71 at the time, initially acted as if nothing has happened. On arrival at Villacoublay military airport he reviewed the troops as usual.

But when boarding the plane with Yvonne he admitted to de Boissieu: 'This time, it was a close shave!'

Jean-Noel Jeanneney, French historian and author of a book on the attack, said a combination of factors explained the failure of the 1962 hit, notably that none of those involved were ready to die for the cause.

Interviewed by AFP in 2012, one survivor of the cell blamed weapons jamming and shooters not being sufficiently trained.

News of the assassination attempt spread quickly. Later it emerged that a man driving in the opposite direction was hit on the hand by a stray bullet but only lightly injured.

Police officers examine the van that was used and later abandoned by the terrorists. Interviewed by AFP in 2012, one survivor of the cell blamed weapons jamming and shooters not being sufficiently trained

De Gaulle and his wife are seen posing for a photo with the Queen and Prince Philip during the couple's visit to Britain in 1960

The hunt for the culprits was swift and efficient, with one of the suspects spilling the beans on the whole operation after his arrest.

Bastien-Thiry became the last person to be executed by firing squad in France on March 11, 1963 at the age of 35.

Ever the strategist, De Gaulle harnessed public outrage over the attack to build support for a constitutional amendment to have the president elected by popular vote, rather than by an electoral college.

He later confided to one of his ministers that the attack came 'at just the right time.'

But Watin - who was condemned to death in his absence - had escaped to Switzerland.

There, he masterminded a plot the following year that would have seen de Gaulle get shot by a sniper as he carried out an inspection of the troops at the Ecole Militaire in Paris.

But police were tipped off and de Gaulle again was unhurt.

Watin was tracked down to Switzerland but the authorities refused to extradite him. He was pardoned in 1968.

He later claimed that the 1962 car attack was an attempt at kidnapping de Gaulle so he could be put on trial and executed as a war criminal.

Lashana Lynch is the police officer on the tail of the Jackal in Sky's adaptation

Like in the novel, Redmayne's Jackal is an expert in the art of killing

The Daily Mail's front page reporting the attack on de Gaulle in August 1962

The Daily Mail's report telling how one bullet missed de Gaulle by two inches

The report on the day Jean-Marie Bastien-Thiry was executed

Watin died of a heart attack in exile in Paraguay in 1994, aged 70.

Forsyth said shortly after his death: 'Watin said he thought he was the model for the Jackal, but he wasn't.

'There were three people in all who believed it was them. Watin is actually mentioned in the Jackal, so he's clearly a different character.'

De Gaulle was first elected as French president in 1959, after leading Free France from London during the Second World War.

He towered over French politics until 1969, when he resigned. He passed away unexpectedly the following year from an aneurysm.
When Donald Trump got word that federal prosecutors were going to drop two cases against him on Monday afternoon, his first telephone call was to Boris Epshteyn, the adviser who had built his legal teams.

The call was to congratulate him and thank him for his work, according to two sources familiar with the conversation.

But it also sent another signal around the Trump universe: Boris had survived.

For two weeks rivals leaked details of his clashes with other members of the team at Mar-a-Lago.

And the sniping erupted into full public view on Monday with well-sourced stories that the Trump transition had investigated claims that Epshteyn was seeking money in return for his influence over top administration picks.

In particular, it probed whether Epshteyn had asked Scott Bessent, eventually picked last week for Treasury secretary, to pay him in return for floating his name with Trump and other key figures.

There was no allegation of criminal wrongdoing.

But insiders said they were furious that an adviser was allegedly offering his influence in return for cash.

Boris Epshteyn is Donald Trump's top legal adviser and built the teams that defended the former president through four criminal cases during the past two years

Trump has been holed up at his Florida headquarters Mar-a-Lago since his Nov. 5 election win, building his White House and Cabinet ahead of January's return to office

'This is what pisses off the base,' said one source.

In a public statement Epshteyn dismissed the claims as 'fake.'

An affidavit obtained by DailyMail.com also raises doubt about some of the allegations.

Lawyer Gregory Roeberg described being in Epshteyn's car on Nov. 14 in Florida.

Epshteyn appeared to be having a hands-free phone conversation with Bessent, who he said 'abruptly altered the course of the conversation' to tell Epshteyn he wanted 'consulting.'

Roeberg said he understood that mean an 'improper payment' for help getting Bessent a post in the administration.

'Mr. Epshteyn at that point in the conversation grew extremely agitated with Mr. Bessent and communicated that the subject being discussed was completely inappropriate at that point in time and Mr. Epshteyn expressed offense that Mr. Bessent would suggest that arrangement,' he said in his signed statement.

'Mr. Epshteyn used phrases like, 'I'm Boris f***ing Epshteyn, you can't buy me,' among other such terms. The conversation, after briefly turning contentious, ended.'

The review was conducted by the transition teams top lawyer David Warrington.

Epshteyn was at Mar-a-Lago on election night, seen here behind Trump, UFC chief executive Dana White, and SpaceX billionaire Elon Musk in a VIP area

Investor Scott Bessent on th e campaign trail with Trump, who last week tapped him to become his Treasury secretary

And, according to CBS News, it included a sworn statement by former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens.

'Mr. Epshteyns overall tone and behavior gave me the impression of an implicit expectation to engage in business dealings with him before he would advocate for or suggest my appointment to the president,' he said.

However, Greitens' name often provokes sniggers among Trump loyalists. He was forced to resign as governor amid multiple scandals.

He was accused of invasion of privacy after a 2015 affair in which his former hairdresser claimed he tied her, forced her to have oral sex and threatened to blackmail her with photos. All the charges were eventually dropped, but it was enough to derail the career of a rising star.

When the Trump transition issued its verdict from the review, the statement was surprisingly bland.

'As is standard practice, a broad review of the campaigns consulting agreements has been conducted and completed, including as to Boris, among others,' said transition

'We are now moving ahead together as a team to help President Trump Make America Great Again.'

A source familiar with talks said Bessent and Epshteyn had made up.

'These are false rumors being peddled by jealous nobodies,' he said, 'Scott and Boris have a great personal relationship, that's been ongoing since Super Tuesday. They are working together to Make America Great Again.'

"These are false rumors being peddled by jealous nobodies. Scott and Boris have a great personal relationship, that's been ongoing since Super Tuesday. They are working together to Make America Great Again."

At around the same time, suggestions that Epshteyn was to be sidelined appeared to evaporate when Special Council Jack Smith announced he was dropping two legal cases: One involving Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election, and one centered on government documents found at Mar-a-Lago.

Trump quickly thanked his top legal adviser, who had built the teams that defended him in court, and put into practice a strategy of deny, deflect and delay that kept him out of jeopardy until the time he would take over the Department of Justice.

Epshteyn is seen here with Trump's legal team in the Manhattan Federal Courthouse in New York during the former president's arraignment in April 2023

Epshteyn was ever present during Trump's hush money trial in New York this year

'Boris has done this longer than a lot of these other faces and will be around long after they've gone,' said a former Trump administration official.

Another said: 'We're all moving on.'

The struggle also illustrates how the cohesion of team Trump has weakened after Election Day. Without the shared struggle to defeat first Joe Biden and then Kamala Harris, some of the old divisions that plagued Trump's first term have resurfaced.

Epshteyn knows the dangers more than most. He arrived in the early days of the first Trump campaign, after getting to know Eric Trump during their shared time at Georgetown University.

He was one of the loyal advisers who stuck with Trump during his exile years at Mar-a-Lago after the 2020 election defeat and Jan. 6 violence.

He was instrumental in building the legal teams that defended Trump in four criminal cases relating to the election, government documents found at his Florida home, and a hush money case.

That has given him a special place in Trump world, where the president-elect's favor can at times be mercurial.

Since the Nov. 5 election victory he has succeeded in placing two allies into key positions. Todd Blanche, from Trump's New York legal team, was named deputy attorney general, although his other pick, Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration to be U.S. A.G. after eight turbulent days.

And his star should have been at its highest on Monday, when Special Council Jack Smith announced that he was dropping two federal cases against Trump.

Instead, he was fighting off the latest round of briefing against him in a sign of how Trump world is fragmenting.

'Boris is a cockroach, despised by everyone,' said a source. 'He blatantly sells access and jobs.'

But his defenders point to his value to Trump, is spearheading his legal memebers.

'Boris is one of the most effective members of the Trump team and anyone trying to capitalize on these ridiculous allegations by stating them as fact is talking out of their own ass,' said a source close to the Trump inner circle.

Insiders described rival spheres of influence competing at times for Trump's attention.

Epshteyn is one of the survivors from Trump's first term. He is seen here with other advisers at Ohio State University in November, 2016

Epshteyn with Matt Gaetz, who stepped down last week as Trump's nominee for attorney general as it became clear he faced a difficult confirmation

Trump supporters gathered at the causeway leading to Mar-A-Lago

One is made up of the MAGA hardcore, led by Trump's eldest son Don Jr., and includes Vice President elect J.D. Vance and ideological warrior Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host.

On the other side are the more conventional figures, led by Trump's White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, along with her trusted campaign lieutenants, as well as transition head Howard Lutnick, who is chief executive of financial firm Cantor Fitzgerald.

Then there are the free floaters such as Epshteyn and billionaire Elon Musk, who has taken on an increasingly visibly position as the self-proclaimed 'first buddy,' and who rely on their direct relationship with Trump for influence.

Those two clashed last week amid reports that the Trump campaign's coherence was starting to break down in the scramble for jobs.

This week, Trump responded to the allegations against Epshteyn with a weary statement that only one person made decisions about personnel, and it wasn't one of his aides.

'I suppose every president has people around them who try to make money off them on the outside. It's a shame but it happens,' he told Just The News.

'But no one working for me in any capacity should be looking to make money. They should only be here to Make America Great Again.'
The man behind a viral petition demanding a General Election has revealed why he started - as it clocks over more than 2.5million signatures.

Pub landlord Michael Westwood said he decided to launch the petition having seen Keir Starmer and his MPs go back on their manifesto promises and repeatedly talk down the prospects for the country.

The poorly received budget from Rachel Reeves that saw employers hit with an increase in national insurance tax was a key factor in his decision to launch the petition.

The chance for a political do-over has way surpassed the 100,000 signature threshold it needs to be debated in the House of Commons.

As many as 400,000 people a day are backing the landlord's call for a new election, illuminating the depth of anger the public have with the Prime Minister and his Government.

A new MailOnline map allows you to see exactly how many people in your area desire a second vote, just months after Sir Keir reigned victorious on July 4.

For example, more than 5,600 people have signed in South Shropshire, making up more than 5 per cent of the area's population.

'Fed-up' Michael said: 'I just thought they were being so negative all the time. They were putting the fear of God into people that everything was so bad. They had also gone back on their manifesto promises.

Pub landlord Michael Westwood (pictured) said he decided to launch the petition having seen Keir Starmer and his MPs go back on their manifesto promises

Your browser does not support iframes.

Michael said that more than 400,000 people a day backing his call for a new election showed the depth of anger the public have with Starmer and his Government

The viral petition has so far received more than 2.5 million signatures

'I was just frustrated at what I was seeing and hearing it all the time and it really annoyed me.

'I just typed into Google 'how to change the Prime Minister' and it came back with start a petition. So that's what I did.'

Michael, who runs three pubs in the West Midlands, said he has been 'staggered' by the support for the petition but said he is far from political.

'I'm not political at all but just very patriotic and I didn't like the way they were talking down the country.

'It's a great place to live, or was. We shall see how it is in a couple of years while Labour are running it.'

He admits to voting Conservative at the July election but said: 'I am not trying to force my opinion on anyone. All I wanted to say is if you agree with me then sign the petition.

'There are a lot of people in this country who can't be bothered with politics, but with so many signing the petition it shows they are unhappy with the way things have been going.'

Now the petition has passed the threshold to be heard in the Commons, father-of-two Michael said doubts Starmer will turn up to hear people discussing his job.

'He is too arrogant and I can't see him debating about his job, but what the petition shows is that there is a lot of people who are unhappy with the way things have gone,' he said.

'Not just those who did not vote for him, but lots of Labour voters as well.

The petition on the Parliament website complains that Keir Starmer (pictured watching Arsenal play on Saturday) has 'gone back on promises'

Michael, who runs three pubs in the West Midlands, said he has been 'staggered' by the support for the petition but said he is far from political

Your browser does not support iframes.

'Since they won the election all they have done is talk down the country and they have not been truthful.

'They said their manifesto was fully costed and then there is a 22bn black hole.

'They just said what people wanted to hear to get the votes and now they are doing what they want. They have not been truthful and they should have been more transparent.

'Reeves said there was a 22bn black hole in the finances which is doubtful, and then all the union members get pay rises. They just have not told the truth to the public.'

Michael runs a beer distribution company that he founded 11 years ago and is the leaseholder of three pubs, including the Waggon and Horses in Oldbury, West Midlands.

It has been described as Britain's cheapest pub with a pint costing 2.30 but there is no mistaking its loyalty to the King and Country.

A Union Jack and Cross of St George adorn an upstairs pool room while a commemorative banner for the 80th anniversary of D-Day takes pride of place in the small bar.

As a small business owner Michael will be impacted by the increase in employer's national insurance by 1.25 per cent. He was also unhappy about other unpopular Labour government policies like the scrapping of the winter fuel allowance for some pensioners, increasing capital gains tax and the introduction of VAT on private school fees.

Michael said that Starmer got off to a bad start when he became embroiled in the freebie row when it emerged that he attended a Taylor Swift concert at Wembley and used labour donor Lord Alli's 18 million Covent Garden penthouse when his son was studying for his GCSEs.

Michael has 15 people working at his pubs and beer distribution company and the national insurance rise for employers will hit him hard.

'My accountant is still working how much more I will be paying, but as we are hearing from other businesses the increase will mean fewer jobs and that is hardly good for growth,' he said.

The poorly received budget from Rachel Reeves (pictured) that saw employers hit with an increase in national insurance tax was a key factor in Michael's decision to launch the petition

The petition has passed the 100,000 signature threshold to be debated in the House of Commons

'It is just going to make it harder for small businesses and there will come a time when many just say 'I've had enough' and call it a day.'

Asked if Starmer would be welcome at his pubs he hesitates before saying: 'I'd like to sit down with him and hear him explain himself.

'He told the public he was going to do one thing and then when he's in power he's doing the opposite.

'My main worry is for my two daughters and what the future holds for them.'

Michael said when he launched the petition on November 20 he expected just to get a few dozen signatures.

But within hours it had taken off  with even Twitter/X owner Elon Musk commenting on it.

'I'm not on any social media so had no real idea how widely it was being talked about. It really is amazing that so many people have signed with tens of thousands every day.

'Never in my wildest dreams did I expect it to get over 2million. It just goes to show that people are not happy.'

Michael added: 'Labour's strategy was to say whatever we want to get into power. It will be two years of doom and gloom, saying how bad a shape the Tories left the country in and the following two years it will be about Labour saying they are getting things back on track. Then in the final year before an election there will be tax cuts and all kinds of stuff to show how well they have done. Its all about staying in power.'

Michale said he voted Conservative as it was 'better the devil you know' but admits they had failed to live up to their promises and it was no surprise they lost.

He said the economy and immigration will be the two policies that will dominate the coming months.
Moscow, Nov 26 (UNI) The European Union plans to impose restrictions on more than 45 Russian oil tankers as part of the 15th package of sanctions against Russia, Bloomberg reported citing documents.

More than 50 individuals and about 40 organisations may also be subject to sanctions, the report said,

The new set of measures, which can still be changed, also includes a ban on entry to European ports and access to risky shipping for more than 45 Russian oil tankers, the agency said.
The mother of one of the members of the Bali Nine has tragically passed away before she could see her son return home to Australia.

Matthew Norman is one of the five remaining members of the Bali Nine, set to be sent home to Australia from Indonesia next month.

Indonesian authorities have confirmed they're in the process of striking a delicate deal with the Australian government, after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese asked for the prisoners' release.

How the inmates will be returned, and whether or not they will have to serve the remainder of their time in Australia, remains unclear. But it could happen before the end of the year.

The news will be bittersweet for the family of Norman, who was 18-years-old when he was arrested in 2005, and has been in prison for nearly twenty years.

Norman's wife, known as Anita, told a Bali correspondent for Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday that time was running out for him to reunite with his surviving father.

'I feel sorry about him,' she said.

'His mother passed away last year, and he has already been here for 20 years. And now his father is very old. It would be a shame if he could not see him.'

Matthew Norman's wife, known as Anita, says his mother passed away last year

Even if Norman must continue serving his time in Australia, the transfer would at least give his father access to see him.

His mother, Robyn Norman, had previously attended his court proceedings in Indonesia, and told reporters she was relieved that her son would not be executed.

An appeal to the Indonesian Supreme Court in 2006 resulted in his life sentence being upgraded to the death penalty, but another appeal, and a confession by Norman of his part in the plot, led to his original sentence being reinstated.

Anita dropped food to the prison for Norman on Monday, but she did not seem to know what his reaction had been to the news, or whether he was preparing for the transfer.

'I don't know yet,' she said. 'We keep praying. We believe that our President is a good person.

'We don't know yet, we just continue to pray until the day.'

But on Saturday, a prison doctor at Bali's Kerobokan jail where Norman and fellow Bali Nine member Si Yi Chen is held, reportedly said Norman had cried tears of joy at the possibility of returning home.

'Norman said that he felt too happy and it made him cry, Dr Agung Hartawan told the ABC.

Matthew Norman (pictured in 2006) was arrested in Indonesia when he was 18-years-old

'Matt is trying to keep calm as he understands that there are not yet any letters that show they could really go back to Australia. They feel hopeful but anxious.'

The crime that rocked Australia

In 2005, Norman was arrested at the Maslati Hotel at Kuta Beach.

He and eight other Australians were involved in a plan to smuggle more than 8.3kg of heroin out of Indonesia and into Australia, where it would have been worth $4 million.

But Indonesian police, with a tip from the Australian Federal Police, foiled the plot before they managed to leave Indonesia.

Norman, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, Scott Rush and Michael Czugaj are all serving life sentences in Indonesia.

Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died from cancer in 2018, while Renae Lawrence was released in the same year after her life sentence was reduced to 20 years on appeal.

The masterminds of the drug plot, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, were executed by firing squad in 2015 on Nusa Kambangan or 'Prison Island'.

Then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott appealed in vain to the then-Indonesian president to stop the executions.

Norman has been teaching English and printing T-shirts while in prison. Anita said 'everyone can see' that he had shown good behaviour.

Kerobokan Prison Governor Kristyo Nugroho has also noted in the past that Norman is well-behaved.
The political staffer at the centre of the latest bullying claims embroiling federal parliament had played important roles in Labor's past two federal election campaigns.

Jo Tarnawsky, chief of staff to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, alleges her boss' media director Kate Hanns ignored and belittled her at work.

She also claims Ms Hanns, who was one of Labor's deputy communications chiefs for the 2022 election, excluded her from crucial information within the office.

Ms Tarnawsky has filed a Federal Court lawsuit against the federal government, Mr Marles and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's chief of staff Tim Gartrell, claiming she was subjected to 'adverse action' under the Fair Work Act.

The former diplomat alleges Mr Marles removed her from her $270,000 job after she complained about Ms Hanns seven months ago.

Ms Tarnawsky's statement of claim alleges Ms Hanns bullied and harassed her from May last year and froze her out of office culture.

She claims she was denied access to Mr Marles' diary, removed from team emails and that 'her dog pictures had been removed from the office's shared pet wall'.

Ms Tarnawsky says she was treated in 'an abrasive, hostile and exclusionary manner' and from May last year was subjected to an 'escalating course of conduct' by Ms Hanns.

Jo Tarnawsky, chief of staff to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, alleges her boss' media director Kate Hanns (above) ignored and belittled her in their workplace

Ms Hanns has worked for Mr Marles since 2019 when the ALP was in opposition and before that was on the staff of Labor MP, now Social Services Minister, Amanda Rishworth.

Her first political job was as a media adviser to former Labor MP David Feeney in 2014. She previous worked for 21st Century Fox and Southern Cross Austereo.

Ms Hanns is not the only person Ms Tarnawsky accuses of bullying and harassment but was 'primarily responsible', according to her statement of claim.

'Ms Hanns meant so much more to Mr Marles than just an important staff member,' that statement says.

The claim further state Ms Tarnaswky received 'regular praise for her high performance' in her role and was given 'no negative performance reviews or feedback'.

Ms Tarnawsky's solicitor Michael Bradley, from Marque Lawyers, told Daily Mail Australia his client was 'frozen out' of her job after complaining to Mr Marles.

The chief of staff had travelled to the UAE, Turkey, Poland and Ukraine with her boss and other staff in April.

'She messaged Marles while they were on a plane flying back from a trip to Europe,' Mr Bradley said.

Jo Tarnawsky (above) has filed a Federal Court lawsuit against Mr Marles and the prime minister's chief of staff, claiming she was subjected to 'adverse action' under the Fair Work Act

'He responded favourably and said they'd talk the next day - but the next day he basically booted her.

'The deputy prime minister told her he didn't want her working for him any more and from that point she was frozen out.'

Ms Tarnawsky claims Mr Marles spoke to Mr Albanese's chief of staff, Tim Gartrell, on April 29 and 'informed him that he no longer wanted her in his office.

From April 30, Ms Tarnawsky was denied access to her office, and her personal belongings were still in there, Ms Bradley said.

Ms Tarnawsky has not suggested Mr Marles bullied her, and her claims have been disputed by his office.

She was still employed on 'miscellaneous leave' but had been 'effectively removed' and replaced by an acting chief of staff, Ms Bradley said.

Mr Bradley said Ms Tarnawsky was exercising a workplace right when she made the bullying complaint and Mr Marles allegedly forcing her out of her role was 'adverse action,' unlawful under the Fair Work Act.

Delivering a statement at Parliament House, Ms Tarnawsky told reporters she was not aware of any investigation having been made into the alleged bullying.

'It has now been more than 200 days since I raised my concerns privately with the deputy prime minister about bullying behaviour in his office,' she said.

'I was then exiled as a result. My workplace situation remains unresolved. Not a single member of the government has reached out to check on my wellbeing.

Ms Tarnawsky, a former diplomat, alleges Mr Marles removed her from her $270,000 job after she complained about Ms Hanns seven months ago. Mr Marles and Ms Hanns are circled

'After the window dressing of parliamentary workplace reforms has been put in place, the government is testing in real time what it can get away with.'

Ms Tarnawsky, who is seeking unspecified damages, claims she has suffered financial loss including medical bills, as well as enduring hurt, humiliation and reputational damage.

The allegations come after the government passed legislation establishing a new independent body to crackdown on bad behaviour in parliament.

Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission (IPSC) began operations on October 1.

Mr Marles was forced to address the allegations during Question Time last month when Coalition MP Sussan Ley asked whether he felt he had complied with his ministerial obligations to maintain a safe and respectful workplace.

The House of Representatives fell silent as he struggled through his response, telling the chamber: 'To state the obvious, in this moment, I feel very sad that events have got to where they have.'

'It is obviously very difficult.

'Let me say that in the way in which I have tried to manage this, I have done so with Jo's welfare in mind at every moment, as I would try to manage things on that basis for all of my staff.'

Mr Marles said he admired Ms Tarnawsky's commitment to social justice and described her as a 'wonderful person.

He added: 'As is evident, this matter is now in the hands of lawyers - of course that is absolutely Jo's right but it does mean that it is difficult for me to say anything more on this.'

Ms Tarnawsky is the most senior female political staffer in the government.
Public support for legalising assisted dying falls to just 11 per cent when people learn what it actually involves, a major new poll reveals.

While almost three quarters of compassionate Britons back changing the law in principle, this support collapses when they are told how assisted dying works in other countries.

The survey of more than 5,000 people also reveals a widespread misunderstanding of what assisted dying means, with four in ten people unable to identify what will happen if the law is changed.

Almost 20 per cent of people wrongly believe assisted dying includes hospice care and over half think it includes life-prolonging treatment, the polling found.

Campaigners say this means the debate has not been conducted for long enough, or thoroughly enough for the public to understand the realities of changing the law.

Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP behind the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, has defended it as the most robust in the world with three layers of scrutiny.

Under the Bill, terminally-ill adults with less than six months to live and a wish to die would be eligible for an assisted death if signed off by two doctors and a High Court judge. On Friday MPs will vote on allowing assisted dying for the first time in almost a decade.

A series of recent polls have put public support for legalising assisted dying at between 60 per cent and 73 per cent in favour.

Dignity in Dying campaigners gather in Parliament Square last month in support of the 'assisted dying bill'

Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP behind the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, has defended it as the most robust in the world with three layers of scrutiny

However the new survey of 5,033 people by Focaldata and commissioned by Care Not Killing, which opposes the legislation, found there are prevailing concerns amongst the public about safeguards around assisted dying, even if they back it initially.

Six in ten people agree that it is impossible to create safeguards that would prevent the vulnerable from being coerced into ending their lives, it found.

Meanwhile 58 per cent are concerned that it is inevitable that some of the most vulnerable in society, including the elderly and disabled, will feel pressured into an assisted death.

It found that when presented with ten basic arguments against assisted suicide - based on experiences from other countries such as Canada where the practice is allowed - support collapses.

In this case the proportion of supporters who did not switch to oppose or say dont know fell to just 11 per cent, the polling found. Support fell in every social category by between 17 and 49 percentage points.

Andrew Hawkins, who founded ComRes and now leads polling consultancy Whitestone Insight, said that while public support is driven by compassion the polling shows the public have never really got to grips with what assisted dying means.

He added: The more people learn about the process and the detail of what it actually means, the more they recoil in horror and the more you see support bleaching away.

The polling also shows that the public overwhelmingly backs calls from several politicians, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting, for the Government to instead prioritise palliative care.

Under the Bill, terminally-ill adults with less than six months to live and a wish to die would be eligible for an assisted death if signed off by two doctors and a High Court judge

It found that 70 per cent want a Royal Commission on end of life care - a figure reference by Gordon Brown when he declared his opposition to legalising assisted dying last week.

The former prime minister said the tragic loss of his newborn daughter taught him that end of life care must be prioritised instead, adding: We need to show we can do better at assisted living before deciding whether to legislate on ways to die.

Dr Gordon Macdonald, chief executive of Care Not Killing, said: This major new poll blows apart the arguments so often advanced by advocates of state-assisted killing that the public backs changing the law.

When members of the public hear that some countries have extended laws on assisted dying to include children under 12; that some people have felt pressure to opt for assisted suicide or euthanasia because they feel they are a burden on loved ones and how in the UK a clear majority of palliative care doctors oppose changing the law, support drastically deteriorates.
A young mom who was living in a polygamist cult with her husband and his two other wives has been found guilty of stabbing her baby to death.

Chloe Driver, 24, was on trial in Georgia accused of murdering 13-month-old Hannah in December 2020.

Although she did not deny killing the infant and writing disturbing letters in which she confessed to the crime, she pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

But after hearing from 21 witnesses at the end of a six-day trial, after just three hours of deliberating, a jury found her found guilty beyond reasonable doubt but mentally ill on all charges.

The jury rejected Driver's insanity plea finding her criminally responsible for her actions.

Driver was just 20 years old when she killed her daughter. She met her husband, Benyamin Ben Michael, when she was 17 and he was 38, the court heard.

He was known as 'Z' or 'Benyamin', and created contracts for each of his young wives and 'indoctrinated' Driver into his 'whacky beliefs.'

The polygamist group did not believe in modern medicine, and little baby Hannah did not have a birth certificate, nor had she ever been to a doctor.

Chloe Driver, 24, on trial in Georgia accused of murdering 13-month-old Hannah in December 2020 has been found guilty of her murder

The polygamist group did not believe in modern medicine, and little 13-month-old Hannah did not have a birth certificate, nor had she ever been to a doctor

Driver was just 20 years old when she killed her daughter. She met her husband, Benyamin Ben Michael, when she was 17 and he was 38, (pictured on the day of his daughter's death, with blood spatter on his shirt)

Driver was so blinded by the cult she believed she was 'pouring' evil into her baby when breastfeeding her.

The court also heard her the three wives and their husband 'participated in alternative healing practices like drinking their own urine and sensory deprivation.'

Driver's defense was that she was driven to insanity during her time in the cult, and therefore could not be held criminally responsible for her actions.

Prosecutors said that Driver had been motivated to kill her baby because she wanted her husband, the baby's father, all to herself instead of having to share him with his two other wives.

The jury heard how Driver struggled with an unstable childhood and had a history of mental illness which only worsened during her 'abusive and oppressive' marriage.

She finally 'snapped' stabbing her baby and herself in December 2020.

Her defense tried to portray her as a woman who had been abused and coerced by her cult leader husband.

It was, they claimed, a combination of mental illness and her extreme beliefs that ultimately resulted in baby Hannah's death.

Driver was so blinded by the cult she believed she was 'pouring' evil into her baby when breastfeeding her

In a distressing letter revealed in court, Driver wrote: 'He didn't do it, I did it. 'I was going insane and no longer wanted to be with his friends but kept coming back for him. I only wanted my baby and husband but he refused'

Driver was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, borderline personality disorder, and cannabis use disorder.

The defense attributed Driver's mental health struggles to a traumatic childhood and abusive relationships.

'She had a very unstable childhood,' Dr. McLendon Garrett told the court.

'Her family was cold, and she left them multiple timesliving with boys, even leaving the state to move in with one. She experienced suicidal ideation early on and engaged in self-harm, including cutting and attempting to overdose on sleeping pills.

'She was incredibly isolated. She wasn't allowed to speak to others unless it was for recruitment purposes. She couldn't go to stores, use money, or have a phone without supervision. Her only jobs lasted about two weeks, and those were out of necessity,' Dr. Garrett said.

During the trial, one of the frantic 911 calls played in court was made by Jessica, the second wife of the group.

She provided Driver's name, and told the dispatch officer 'I think a baby just died, and I think a woman is responsible for it.'

After several minutes on the line, dispatch officer Caylee McNealy said: 'I don't know what's going on, I need to know what's going on. You're not telling me any information, can you tell me how the baby is doing?'

Jessica answered: 'I don't believe she is breathing... I believe she was slit across the throat.'

She told authorities that Driver was still with her baby, as was Joyce. In a separate 911 call, distressing screams and sobs were audible in the background as an officer was told 'she just killed a baby.'

'She's 13 months old. She looks dead.'

The crime occurred inside the Canton, Georgia home of a friend of Driver's husband

Driver kept her head low and looked on the verge of tears as certain details were heard in court

Police told how Hannah suffered multiple stab wounds to the neck. Driver then stabbed herself in the neck.

She'd obtained the knife from the kitchen while her sister wives were napping and her husband was distracted.

Driver proceeded to lock herself and baby Hannah inside an upstairs bedroom, where she committed the crime.

When police arrived on the scene, they found Driver lying on a mattress next to baby Hannah who was covered in blood. Both were rushed to the hospital where the baby died from her injuries.

In a distressing letter revealed in court, Driver wrote: 'He didn't do it, I did it.

'I was going insane and no longer wanted to be with his friends but kept coming back for him. I only wanted my baby and husband but he refused.'

The prosecution told the jury, 'she wanted to be with him and he was never going to give up his polygamist cult lifestyle that they had adopted.'

Driver is now in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections. She will be sentenced on December 12

The jury heard how Driver struggled with an unstable childhood and had a history of mental illness which only worsened during her 'abusive and oppressive' marriage

She'd gotten the knife from the kitchen while her sister wives were napping and her husband was distracted

Driver proceeded to lock herself and Hannah inside an upstairs bedroom, where she committed the crime

Baby Hannah suffered multiple stab wounds to her neck. Driver then stabbed herself in her neck

Katie Gropper, for the state of Georgia, said: 'She wanted him, she wanted to be with him. She was the first of this group of three wives and the two others came after her.

In the weeks leading up to Hannah's death, Driver had searched the internet to lean 'how to snap a neck', and researched the phrase 'killing somebody to save them.'

Prosecutors said Driver was not mentally ill when she chose to kill her baby, and was instead motivated by her desire to be alone with her husband and their baby daughter.

During the trial Driver kept her head low and looked on the verge of tears as certain details were heard in court while at other moments, she stared coldly ahead, unresponsive as chilling details of Hannah's death were shared.

Before the jury went away to consider their verdict, Driver's defense team urged them to find her guilty by reason of insanity, arguing how was in a delusional state at the time of the baby's death and was unable to tell right from wrong.

'Justice for Hannah in this case is getting her mother the treatment she needs,' they argued - but it was an argument the jury did not buy.

Driver is now in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections. She will be sentenced on December 12.
An 18-year-old's naked rampage through a busy Westfield has raised serious questions about the centre's security response after a group of shoppers were forced to perform a citizen's arrest on the teenager.

The teen, dressed only in socks, started smashing glassware and coffee mugs inside Westfield Marion, Adelaide's largest shopping centre, on Monday.

Witnesses said the teenager confronted a woman in a pram before three bystanders, including a woman with a shopping trolley, wrestled him to the ground.

It's understood the man has autism and was in the midst of a mental health episode.

A woman who recorded the incident was heard asking 'where's security?' as the man continued to throw glassware.

'We saw two security guards just standing there,' witness Michelle Palmer said.

'(They) didn't have their hands on him.'

The man was not charged, with police treating it as a mental health incident and assisting the man's carers taking him home.

The man (pictured middle) started smashing glassware inside Westfield Marion on Monday

Several shoppers were forced to perform a citizens arrest on the man inside the shopping mall

It comes just months after three teens allegedly brandished machetes and batons at Westfield Marion, sending the shopping centre into lockdown and triggering a heavily armed police response.

The NSW Coroners Court is undertaking an inquest into potential failings in the mental health system and shopping centre security protocols after April's mass stabbing at Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre.

Six people died and many more were injured.

The centre did not sound an alarm until a minute after the perpetrator, Joel Cauchi, was shot dead by police.

A spokesperson for the Scentre Group, which operates Westfield Australia, said: 'Our security relies upon the engagement, collaboration, and co-operation of government law-enforcement agencies to provide safety to our customers, particularly in incidents that necessitate the use of physical force.'

'Following the horrific attack at Westfield Bondi, we further heightened our security presence across all our Westfield destinations.

'We have introduced additional personal protective equipment including vests for all security team members, which has enhanced the prominence and visibility of our security team.'
David Koch has warned the cost to insure and repair electric cars is through the roof compared to petrol vehicles as EVs continue to grow in popularity in Australia.

Chinese made electric cars such as BYD have entered the market alongside established brands like Tesla and pushed the cost down, with the country on track to hit a record 100,000 EV sales this year, according to the Electric Vehicle Council.

The showroom price might be enough to sway buyers to make the environmentally friendly choice but, down the road, EVs could burn a hole in their owner's wallets with the average EV costing 43 per cent more to insure than a petrol car.

Data from Compare The Market looked at the insurance premiums of the five most popular EVs alongside similar petrol models from Toyota, Audi, Hyundai and Mazda, using the example of 34-year-old Brisbane man with good driving history.

'On average across 12 insurers studied, it's anywhere between seven per cent to 97 per cent more expensive to cover the top five best-selling full EV models compared to a similar petrol-powered model,' Compare The Market's economic director David Koch said.

The biggest difference was between the popular Tesla Model Y RWD, which costs on average $3,434.98 a year to insure, and its SUV rival the Toyota RAV4 Cruiser 2WD, which costs about half that to insure at $1,744.95 a year.

For a sedan, the Tesla Model 3 RWD costs on average $3,888.55 a year to insure, while an Audi A3 costs $2,101.04.

Among the cheaper EVs to insure were, perhaps surprisingly, some of the newer Chinese models such as the Zeekr X and XPeng G6 which costs $2,043 and $2,017 a year respectively, which is in the ballpark of similar petrol SUVs.

David Koch (pictured) warned that while electric vehicles are getting cheaper to buy they on average cost much more than petrol cars to insure

Koch said electric vehicles were generally more expensive to insure because repairers were far less equipped to deal with them in comparison to traditional petrol vehicles.

'This is because the battery pack creates more complexity for repairers, many EV-specific parts need to be imported from overseas, and there's a skills shortage with fewer qualified smash repairers for electric cars in Australia, which contributes to delays in repairs and inconvenience for owners,' he said.

'In the United Kingdom, we have already seen some underwriters refuse cover for certain Chinese-made models due to an allegedly insufficient availability of parts, almost non-existent repair information, and a lack of knowledge of how the European repair market works.'

Koch said that hybrid vehicles were also more expensive to insure - about 5 per cent above comparable petrol models - but full electric vehicles were where the real difference could be seen.

He said while EVs do cost more to insure, the savings in running costs such as fuel can make up for this over time.

Koch suggested insurers could offer 'green car' discounts to specifically encourage buyers to take up at environmentally friendly options.

Some banks are already offering similar discounts on car loans.

Tesla has dropped the price of its Model Y (pictured) in Australia three times since March with its base model now costing just $55,900 before on-road costs - a $13,000 discount

The Electric Vehicle Council said that 'the facts are that EVs are still cheaper to own and run than petrol cars, they reduce air pollution and they're essential to reducing carbon emissions.

'We need to see the EV market grow to meet our climate targets  the national Vehicle Efficiency Standard will play a vital role but there is much more that needs to be done to reduce the nation's transport emissions.'

Australia's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard has passed federal parliament and will be applied to new cars sold from July next year.

The standard regulates a cap for manufacturers on fuel emissions for their new cars in an effort to help reach net zero by 2050.
Russell Crowe has argued that the rise of independent politicians are better representing the views of everyday Australians, unlike the two-party-dominated system in the United States.

The Oscar-winning actor made the claim in response to podcast host Joe Rogan complaining that Americans were 'completely trapped in the two-party system'.

'We have the same sort of situation, but we have a very interesting thing that's happening in Australia at the moment, which is the rise of independents,' Crowe countered.

'The main parties have to deal with the fact those independents have to bring a non-party-line series of points to the argument.

'And it's working well. It's working for us. In that it's making both of the main parties re-examine who they are and what they stand for.

Rogan mused 'we could use that here, for sure', highlighting how US politics is completely dominated by the Democrat and Republican parties.

There are other parties, including the Green, Libertarian, and Reform parties, but these receive vanishingly few votes in comparison.

Independent candidates can also stand and have been known to perform well on occasion.

The Oscar-winning actor (pictured ) made the observation in response to podcast host Joe Rogan who complained that Americans were 'completely trapped in the two-party system'

Joe Rogan (pictured) is one of the most powerful media figures in the world

Civil rights opponent George Wallace ran a third-party campaign in the 1968 US election which saw him garner 10 million votes and take five southern states, while another disaffected Democrat, Strom Thurmond, in 1948 carried four southern states on a similarly racist platform but with only a million votes.

The nephew of a president, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was poised to get on the ballot in dozens of states as an independent candidate before he pulled out and backed Republican Donald Trump.

He has now been appointed Health secretary in Trump's incoming cabinet.

Trump himself had previously belonged to the Reform Party.

The former New York property developer had even considered running for president in the 2000 election under the banner of that movement - formed by former third-party presidential candidate Ross Perot, who won 19 per cent of the popular vote in 1992 but gained no electoral college votes.

Perot was the most popular minority party candidate since former Republican president Teddy Roosevelt in 1912 ran as the Bull Moose Party candidate - carrying six states including California and coming second ahead of Republican William Taft.

Australia has seen a rise in recent years of nominally independent politicians who have taken votes away from the two traditional parties of Labor and the Liberal-National coalition

This situation is helped by a strong Green party who now have 12 senators and four members in the House of Representatives.

Zali Steggall (pictured) became the first 'teal' independent to achieve huge success when she ousted former prime minister Tony Abbott in his seat in Sydney's northern beaches at the 2019 election

Meanwhile, independent candidates who run on strong climate platforms but are fiscally conservative have been labelled 'teal' candidates.

This is because they have combined their 'green' views on climate with the traditional 'blue' approach of the centre-right Liberal Party on economics.

Zali Steggall became the first teal independent to achieve huge success when she ousted former prime minister Tony Abbott in his seat in Sydney's northern beaches at the 2019 election.

In similar fashion, Monique Ryan won the traditionally Liberal seat from former treasurer Josh Frydenberg at the 2022 election.

She was one of seven teals elected, swelling the lower house crossbench to 16, with this tally including the four Greens, three conservative independents and progressives Andrew Wilkie and Helen Haines.

Crowe's three-hour conversation with Rogan, which was first aired in August, has recently resurfaced in teal social media adverts.

They are being pushed by Melbourne philanthropist Simon Holmes a Court, who founded Climate 200, which has given campaign funding to some teal candidates.

Not all the 12 independents elected in 2022 were teals, however.

Maverick independent Bob Katter has just celebrated 50 years in parliament (pictured: being congratulated by prime minister Anthony Albanese)

Dai Lee, a former state Liberal candidate, defeated former Labor frontbencher and former NSW Labor premier Kristina Keneally in the south-west Sydney seat of Fowler.

And, of course, maverick Bob Katter who has just celebrated 50 years in parliament, spending 20 years as a Queensland state MP before serving the past three decades in federal parliament as the MP for the regional far north Queensland electorate of Kennedy.

Among his many mad-hat policies over the years include a bid to teach school kids how to fire rifles and a desire to build a missile shield across northern Australia.

The House of Representatives crossbench grew to 17 in late 2022 when Andrew Gee quit the Nationals in protest at its opposition to the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

The Greens and independents make up 11 per cent of the 151-member lower house - the highest proportion of non major party MPs since Federation in 1901.
Google 'rigged the rules' of online display advertising for years and must be held 'accountable,' lawyers for the U.S. Department of Justice told a court.

The tech giant was accused of operating a 'rapacious' monopoly and being an 'authoritarian intermediary' as it controls how publishers and advertisers interact.

DOJ lawyers set out their case in closing arguments on Monday following a three-week antitrust trial that took place in September.

The case centers on the billions of adverts that are bought and sold daily on web pages, including those of news publishers.

Sales are 'programmatic,' meaning automated auctions taking milliseconds are held.

Google owns the biggest ad server, the technology tool used by publishers to sell the space on their sites, which is known as DFP.

It also runs the main tool used by advertisers to buy the space, called Google Ads.

And it has the largest exchange where the instantaneous auctions take place, which is called AdX.

Fees for the three technology tools mean Google keeps over 30 cents of every advertising dollar that goes through them.

The case is being heard by Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside Washington D.C.

Aaron Teitelbaum, for the DOJ, told the court: 'For more than a decade Google has rigged the rules of the road, restricting customers' freedom of choice, and extinguishing better ad tech products through acquisitions. Google is once, twice, three times a monopoly.'

Google 's alleged monopoly of online display advertising is negatively impacting the ability of news organizations to invest in journalism, a senior publishing executive told the trial

He added: 'As a result, Google's customers have no realistic alternatives to doing business with Google.

'Google didn't achieve this trifecta of monopolies by accident.'

Mr Teitelbaum said Google had been 'saddling customers with product features they don't want' and publishers were 'stuck using DFP - they can't go anywhere else.'

He said: 'Google is saying to its customers "Google knows best". But that's not correct. Competition knows best, freedom of choice knows best.

'We are here to hold Google accountable for its rapacious, anti-competitive conduct over a decade. The result has been less innovation, less consumer choice, and higher prices in these markets."

He urged to judge to 'hold Google accountable for the harm it has caused.'

Google CEO Sundar Pichai who was not present at court

Julia Wood, also for the DOJ, added that the trial reminded her of Charles Dickens' 'A Tale of Two Cities'.

'Is it the best of times or the wort of times?' she said. 'You were told one tale by publishers, who were not paid to be here.'

A different tale was told by witnesses who were 'receiving money from Google,' she said.

Google had been acting as an 'authoritarian intermediary' in online advertising and 'the facts of this case are overwhelming,' she added.

Karen Dunn, for Google, told the court: 'The law simply does not support what the plaintiffs are arguing in this case.'

She said the tech giant had 'grown the pie for everyone' and that 'Googles conduct is a story of innovation in response to competitive forces.'

Ms Dunn argued that the DOJ 'gerrymandered' a narrow market of 'open web display advertising' for the court to consider.

Google legal team members wait outside the courthouse

Google was part of a broader advertising market where it was facing competition from Microsoft, Facebook, Amazon and others, she said.

When that broader market was considered Google's share of digital advertising was going down, she added.

She said advertisers were also moving away from display adverts on websites to social media, and the growth of advertising on TikTok had been 'astronomical.'

She added: 'There are millions of publishers who are integrated into the Google ecosystem. The court never heard from the publishers who are happy with what they are getting.

'The antitrust laws do not say you have to share your technology on terms that other people want.'

During closing arguments Judge Brinkema noted as 'very significant' evidence heard in the trial that Google had a policy of automatically deleting employees' chat records after 24 hours.

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

She will now decide if Google has a monopoly on display advertising.

If so, she would then consider prosecutors' request to make Google at least sell off its publisher ad server and ad exchange.

The judge has said she will deliver her opinion swiftly, as early as next month.

Whatever the outcome it will almost certainly be appealed, prolonging a process that could go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
A beloved Aussie mum is being mourned by her two daughters after she died in a horror car crash on the way to a Year Six graduation ceremony.

Rebecca Smith, 40, died when the Toyota HiLux she was driving crashed and flipped at Taldora, about 1,500km northwest of Brisbane, on November 19.

The outback mail worker had been on her way to attend the Year Six graduation ceremony of her youngest daughter Lacy, 12, when she crashed.

Emergency services attended the scene, but the mum-of-two could not be saved.

Lacy and her 18-year-old sister Kaylah, who is her mother's next-of-kin, are now mourning the loss of their 'happy' and 'vibrant' mum.

Kaylah lives in Herberton in Queensland's Tablelands region with her partner.

Her father, Steven Dotchin, who first met Ms Smith when they were 16-years-old said Ms Smith's family and the tight-knit community were devastated.

'It's a heavy, heavy thing to swallow,' he told the Courier Mail.

Rebecca Smith (pictured) was killed in a horror car crash on the way to a graduation ceremony

Ms Smith, an outback mail worker, crashed and flipped near Taldora, Queensland, last week

'She worked for the mail run and dropped the mail off at cattle stations and was trying to make it back to the graduation and had a tragic car accident,' he said.

'It was a horrible night, and being out in Julia Creek they are in the middle of nowhere.'

Mr Dotchin said Ms Smith had lived in the outback town for some time and would be remembered as 'vibrant' and the 'life of the party'.

He has started a GoFundMe to raise funds for Kaylah and Lacy.

'In light of this devastating event, her two daughters are not only grappling with the emotional impact of losing their mother but also facing the challenges associated with financial stability and housing arrangements,' he wrote.

'The funds raised through this campaign will be directed toward securing the girls' futures, as well as facilitating their relocation, along with that of their horses and dogs,' he wrote.

Mr Dotchin said Kaylah is Ms Smith's next-of-kin and will raise Lacy with her partner.

Ms Smith will be cremated in Townsville and will be farewelled at a funeral service in Julia Creek on Tuesday.
A Supreme Court hearing that will determine the definition of a woman begins today in a case with major implications for female-only spaces.

The case  which has been brought by gender-critical activists  will see five justices consider the question: 'Is a person with a full gender recognition certificate which recognises that their gender is female, a 'woman' for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010?'

Feminist group For Women Scotland (FWS) will argue that trans women should not be able to fill roles meant for biological women under legislation designed to ensure equal numbers of men and women on company boards.

The Scottish government, which is contesting the case, insists the term woman includes a 'person issued with a full GRC in the acquired gender of female'.

Gender-critical activists fear that, if they lose, it will render the definition of 'woman' in the Equality Act essentially meaningless.

They also argue that it will undermine women-only spaces and potentially trigger legal challenges over whether male-bodied criminals with a GRC should be held in a women's prison.

A Supreme Court hearing determining the definition of a woman will begin today

Among donors to feminist group For Women Scotland (FWS) is Harry Potter author JK Rowling

Susan Smith of FWS said the case would have 'huge implications' for women-only spaces and groups

A final ruling after the two-day hearing is not expected until next year. Harry Potter author JK Rowling has donated to FWS, saying last week: 'If a man is a woman, there's no such thing as a woman.'

Susan Smith, of FWS, said the case will have huge implications for women-only spaces and groups.

If FWS is unsuccessful 'it will mean a lot of the advances and a lot of the progress that many women have made over the last few decades will be wiped out', she added.

Helen Joyce, of human rights charity Sex Matters, said the case was 'forcing the legal system to face up to the destructive ambiguity... concerning the legal definition of the word 'woman', which has done great harm to the rights of actual, flesh and blood women'.
New Delhi, Nov 26 (UNI) The Ministry of External Affairs and the International Solar Alliance signed an agreement under the Quad Climate Working Group Initiative to execute new solar projects in the Indo-Pacific countries of Fiji, Comoros, Madagascar, and Seychelles.

The Wilmington Declaration released at the Quad Leaders Summit in Delaware, USA on September 21 this year, stated that the Quad countries will work together, through policy and public finance, to operationalise their commitment to catalyse complementary and high-standard private sector investment in allied and partner clean energy supply chains.

To this end, India has committed to invest USD two million in new solar projects in Fiji, Comoros, Madagascar, and Seychelles.

On 26 November 2024, the Project Implementation Agreement was signed between Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and International Solar Alliance (ISA) to execute the projects in these Indo-Pacific countries. The ISA, as the Project Implementing Agency (PIA) would provide programmatic assistance to Comoros, Fiji, Madagascar and Seychelles with financial support from India, a statement said.

As per a study undertaken by the ISA, the countries under consideration for solar projects have energy issues related to perishability of agriculture products, unreliable electricity supply in health centers and for irrigation purposes in remote areas where grid power supply or solar mini grids are not available yet.

Based on discussions with the project recipient countries, solar projects in the areas of cold storage, solarization of health care facilities and solar water pumping systems are under consideration. The successful execution of these projects is expected to enhance energy access, create employment, and provide reliable and quality power supply in these Indo-Pacific countries.

Unequal access to reliable, and secure sources of energy and electricity has inhibited holistic economic development and social justice for nations and communities across the world. Solar energy is a viable solution to help these countries address climate change-related challenges. The latest round of clean energy investments by India in these countries shall help strengthen the commitment of the Quad to address the challenges posed by climate change and facilitate their transition to a clean energy economy for the people, planet and our shared prosperity.

The MEA spokesperson posted on X:

A new chapter in Quad Climate Initiatives.

A Project Implementation Agreement was signed between Ministry of External Affairs and International Solar Alliance to operationalise solar projects in Comoros, Fiji, Madagascar and Seychelles.

These projects underscore Indias Quad commitment to renewables and just energy transitions in island nations of the Indo-Pacific.

UNI RN

UNI RN
An unprecedented whooping cough epidemic is spreading throughout Australia, alarming health authorities who are grappling to contain soaring infection rates following the death of a two-month-old baby.

There were nearly 42,000 cases of the highly-infectious disease recorded in 2024 up to November 8, according to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.

The baby died in Queensland where at least 12,500 infections have been recorded in 2024, up from 549 cases at the same time last year.

The youngest are the most at risk and children aged younger than 15 comprise up 60 per cent of all 2024 cases.

'This epidemic is the worst year for whooping cough in Queensland on record,' Chief Health Officer John Gerrard told AAP.

'The surge in cases we've seen since February this year is continuing unabated ... if anything, it's getting worse.'

The epidemic is driven by a combination of factors including the natural disease cycle of the deadly cough peaking every three to five years, along with immune deficiency drive by isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The most concerning factor, though, is dropping vaccination rates.

A massive spike in whooping cough has been recorded in Queensland with the number of cases nearly 23 times higher than last year

According to Queensland Health data, 70.7 per cent of pregnant women were vaccinated for the cough in 2023, down from 77.2 per cent in 2020.

'We want maternal vaccination rates about 90 per cent ... this decline is deeply concerning,' Dr Gerrard said.

'People may not realise this epidemic is still ongoing.

'It's vital that mothers are informed so they can make the best decisions to protect their children.'

Whopping cough can be life-threatening for babies and young children.

Babies in particular can be vulnerable to severe complications like pneumonia, seizures and brain damage caused by prolonged coughing fits.

The disease is primarily spread through respiratory droplets or direct contact with infected people.

Thirty-seven babies younger than six months old have been admitted to Queensland hospitals this year, compared to 14 in 2023.

Vaccination rates for whooping cough have dropped among pregnant women in Queensland

Maternal vaccination during pregnancy protects both mother and baby, reducing the risk of infection for newborns by 75 per cent, until they can be immunised at six weeks.

Vaccination rates among pregnant women across regional Queensland have dipped below 65 per cent in several areas.

The rates also declined among one and two year olds, dropping by about four per cent between December 2018 and September 2024.

Whooping cough vaccinations are recommended as part of a five-dose schedule for young children, with boosters for adolescents and adults every five to 10 years.

Additional vaccines are available for people over 65 and who are at higher risk of severe illness.

The low vaccination rates mirror global trends and officials worldwide are re-evaluating their communication around vaccinations,

'The mantra in public health now is we should focus on informing rather than persuading,' Dr Gerrard said.

Paul Griffin, director of infectious disease at Queensland's Mater Hospital, said a reduction in public vigilance to prevent illness was a contributing factor.

'We're doing the least we've done to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases in years,' he told ABC radio.

'If you have symptoms, get tested and isolate until those symptoms settle down.

'We didn't see much whopping cough when we were doing those things really well.'
The looming release of the surviving Bali Nine inmates has reignited debate about the role of a father and Australian police in tipping off Indonesian authorities to the drug smuggling plot, leading to two executions and long imprisonments.

Lee Rush, father of jailed Bali Nine member Scott Rush, contacted the Australian Federal Police requesting they stop his son from leaving Australia, desperate to prevent him from getting involved in any drug activity.

That contact helped expose the group's 2005 plan to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin from Indonesia back to Australia.

The AFP forwarded that information to Indonesian authorities who pounced on the group arresting Rush, who is still serving a life sentence in Indonesia along with Matthew Norman, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen and Michael Czugaj.

Rush's lawyer claimed in 2005 that the AFP had reneged on promises to stop the group from leaving Australia, instead letting them fly to a country that they knew could execute the smugglers.

Subsequent arrests at Bali's Denpasar Airport and other locations in Indonesia saw the plot foiled, and ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were sentenced to death.

Both were executed by firing squad in April of 2015.

In 2015, the AFP denied moral complicity in that sentence, saying Indonesian authorities were acting on more information about the group than just the tip-off from the worried dad.

'I want to take the pressure off Scott Rush's father,' then AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin said at a press conference.

'A lot of the way it's been reported is that his tip-off led to this. It didn't. I feel for Mr Rush that it's been portrayed that way.

'The AFP was already aware of, and had commenced investigating, what we believed was a syndicate that was actively recruiting couriers to import narcotics to Australia at the time of Mr Rush's contact with the AFP.'

Scott Rush (pictured left) with his dad Lee Rush who tipped off the Australian Federal Police about his son's drug smuggling plan

Commissioner Colvin also insisted there had not been enough evidence to arrest the Bali Nine members before they left Australia, and that allowing them to travel exposed the wider syndicate.

'At the time, we were working with a very incomplete picture. We didn't know everybody involved, we didn't know all the plans, or even what the illicit commodity was likely to be,' Commissioner Colvin said.

He said it was 'operationally appropriate' for the AFP to then cooperate with, and seek help from Indonesia.

Commissioner Colvin said it was beyond their jurisdiction to request Indonesian authorities allow the drug couriers to fly back to Australia and arrest them there.

'This is the harsh reality for Australians who go overseas and become involved in serious crimes,' he said.

Then AFP Deputy Commissioner Michael Phelan indicated that the AFP needed more information about the wider syndicate.

Scott and Lee Rush (also pictured right Scott's mum Christine) talk in 2005 shortly after the arrest of the Bali Nine

'To let them come back through to Australia, we may have grabbed a couple of mules, but we would not have been able to have any evidence in relation to the wider syndicate,' he said.

However Mr Phelan admitted he felt conflicted about handing the information to the Indonesians.

'I've agonised over it for 10 years now, and every time I look back, I still think it's a difficult decision,' he said.

'But given what I knew at that particular time, and what our officers knew, I would take a lot of convincing to make a different decision.

'I've seen the misery that drugs causes to tens of thousands of families in this country.'

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

Mr Phelan said he was under no illusion about what handing over the information could mean.

'Yes, I knew full well that by handing over the information and requesting surveillance and requesting evidence gathered, if they found them in possession of drugs they would take action and expose them to the death penalty,' he said.

'I knew that, I went in with an open mind.'

Of the other Bali Nine members arrested in the original bust, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died from cancer in 2018, while Renae Lawrence was released that year after her life sentence was reduced to 20 years on appeal.

Daily Mail readers commenting on Bali Nine stories have had mixed reactions to the alleged involvement of Lee Rush and the AFP.

'Tipped off by Scott Rush's father who, I believe, begged the federal police to intervene and stop his son from destroying his life. As a parent, I've always felt the FP betrayed that poor father,' one commented.

'Rightly or wrongly I can't help being p***ed off by that.'

Mick Keelty was Australian Federal Police commissioner at the time of the Bali Nine's arrest

'What a betrayal by the AFP, they knew what would happen to them if they were arrested in Bali, why not arrest them as they arrived in Australia?' another asked.

'There was potential deaths in the future with the heroin, but the Bali bombers who did murder with intent served less time.'

Some blamed the AFP Commissioner at the time of the arrest, Mick Keelty.

'The Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty was entirely responsible for this shambles and subsequent executions of Chan and Sukumaran,' one wrote.

'He alerted the Indonesian police of the plot to bring heroin into Australia, knowing full well the consequences to those Australians.

'The word AUSTRALIANS should not be overlooked. It would have been so so easy to arrest them all in Australia and they would have been subject to Australian law.'

'Taking drugs OUT of a country should not have been resulted in the deaths of Chan and Sukumaran,' another said.

'Clearly, all of the Bali 9 could have been rehabilitated....they were so young, stupid and naive.'

The Australian government has now requested the remaining Bali Nine be allowed to return home, and it is expected Indonesian authorities will allow them to be extradited later this year.
Labours workers rights revolution is set to cost even more than the 5billion ministers estimated, a watchdog has warned.

Job losses and wage cuts may also have been underestimated in the Governments impact assessments of its plans, the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) said.

In a withering report yesterday, the regulator said Whitehalls impact assessment for Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayners Employment Rights Bill was not fit for purpose.

The Government had admitted the workers rights overhaul could cost businesses up to 5billion a year, but the RPC said this figure may need clarifying.

In particular, it highlighted the cost of an agreement on adult social care pay which may be much higher than the 1billion the Department for Business and Trade claimed.

Ms Rayners overhaul contains more than 70 measures aimed at improving conditions for employees and boosting trade union power.

They include ending exploitative zero-hours contracts, establishing day-one rights for paternity and parental leave, and making flexible working the default where practical.

The watchdog deemed eight of the 23 individual impact assessments into the measures not fit for purpose. Because six are in the highest impact category, the overall opinion was that the impact assessment as a whole is not fit for purpose, the RPC said.

Angela Rayner's workers' rights overhaul will cost more than the 5billion estimated by ministers, a watchdog has warned

The Regulatory Policy Committee said the cost of an agreement on adult social care pay may be much higher than the 1billion the Department for Business and Trade claimed

The skyline of the City of London Square Mile. Business groups issued fresh warnings about Labour's plans last night and warned ministers to not take a 'cavalier approach to jobs and work'

It added the estimate does not account for the likelihood employers may offset the costs of regulation and mandated benefits through wage adjustments, benefit reductions or other compensatory mechanisms which would eventually be borne by the employee.

Last night, business groups issued fresh warnings about the impact of Labours plans.

The Federation of Small Businesses said the RPCs findings were a sharp wake-up call for ministers, who must think again about the dangers of a cavalier approach to jobs and work.

Policy chairman Tina McKenzie said: The country cannot afford to pile further cost and risk on to small employers based on such an overwhelmingly weak evidence base.

Tory business spokesman Andrew Griffith said: Businesses up and down the country knew this already. Just like the National Insurance jobs tax, this Bill is the second wave of an attack on job creators.

The Prime Ministers spokesman said: These initial indicative assessments of the primary legislation represent the best estimate of likely impact at this stage. However, we intend to refine our analysis and conduct further assessments.
Democratic National Committee workers are asking for charitable donations after making significant layoffs in a dramatic downsizing after Vice President Kamala Harris lost the election.

The pleas for donations sparked outrage on social media, as memories of the massive $1 billion Kamala Harris campaign spending spree were still fresh, including millions of dollars spent to host celebrity filled town halls for the vice president.

Two-thirds of DNC staffers were laid off as part of the downsizing on Wednesday, with only one day's notice and no severance, according to the union.

'These cuts go far beyond typical campaign turnover and impact employees who were previously told their positions would be retained after the election,' the statement from the union protesting the layoffs read.

The DNC union fund portrayed laid off workers as victims of the party, urging individuals to send donations to soften the blow.

'We are heartbroken to see our colleagueswho dedicated countless hours to electing Democrats up and down the ballotdepart under these circumstances, and we are furious with DNC leadership for failing to provide severance to those affected,' the union fundraiser read.

The goal set by organizers is $25,000, but at the time of publication, only $15,816 has been raised.

'We want to be clear: the funds raised from this GoFundMe are not a replacement for the severance we are still fighting for on behalf of our colleagues,' the message read.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris arrives on Air Force Two

DNC officials told Fox News that the party had met the collective bargaining agreement, stressing that the layoffs were part of the normal post-election downsizing.

"Every cycle, political organizations scale up to meet the demands, and as the cycle comes to a close, it's a tough reality of our industry that we must part with talented, hardworking staff," a DNC spokesperson said in a statement.

The union stressed they would continue fighting to get the laid-off employees a severance payment from the party.

'We want to be clear: the funds raised from this GoFundMe are not a replacement for the severance we are still fighting for on behalf of our colleagues,' the message read.

News of the fundraiser prompted outrage on social media.

'Just look how they treated their own staff! Thank God Harris didn't win,' wrote X user 'Audie.'

'This shows the typical Democrat mismanagement of funds and broken promises,' wrote X user 'Americat.'

Kamala Harris is now on vacation in Hawaii, after losing her presidential race to Donald Trump

DNC requests GoFundMe donations

Others referred to Harris' long Hawaiian vacation, while her staffers were laid off.

'Wow. Great job, Kamala. We all hope youre enjoying your Hawaiian getaway,' X user Brian wrote.

Others blamed the union for the employee problems.

'I feel sorry for the people laid off but this is hilarious. A union of the DNC is reduced to having a GoFundMe page for the people they laid off??? wrote user @OldBabyBoomer1.

Some believed that wealthy Democratic supporting celebrities should help pay the staffers' bills.

US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris (L) joins US television producer Oprah Winfrey at a 'Unite for America' live streaming rally

'Hey ask Oprah, Clooney, Beyonce, for $$,' wrote Judith Drew.

Oprah Winfrey's production company made at least $2.5 billion in payments for the event, according to reports.

The failed Harris presidential campaign is reportedly already $20 million in debt, despite spending $1 billion from donors in just 15 weeks.

The White House punted questions about the laid off staffers to the Democratic National Committee, defending President Joe Biden's brand as the 'most pro-union president ever.'

'Let's not twist this in so many knots here,' White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters during the White House press briefing before punting the question to the party committee.
President-elect Donald Trump threatened Monday to slap a 25 percent tariff on Mexican and Canadian goods as long as the countries allowed immigrants to flow over the U.S. border.

He also said he'd impose an additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods over the Chinese government's refusal to make good on a promise to use the death penalty on drug dealers.

These actions, Trump said, would take place on the first day of his administration.

Trump outlined the drastic measures in two Truth Social posts Monday night, as he worked on the presidential transition from Mar-a-Lago.

He said the Mexican and Canadian tariffs would apply to 'ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders.'

'This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!'

The president-elect also suggested that Mexico and Canada had 'the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem' - indicating he wanted the neighbors to do more to patrol their borders so migrants couldn't sneak into the United States.

Trump also voiced frustation that the deadly drug fentanyl was still seeping into the U.S. from China.

Former President Donald Trump is photographed standing in front of the border wall in August during his reelection bid. The now president-elect has vowed to slap a 25 percent tariff on Mexico and Canada, suggesting they should be the ones to curb border crossings

Trump referenced a 'caravan' of migrants heading to the U.S. border through Mexico. This photograph was taken Wednesday in Tapachula, Mexico

'I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States  But to no avail,' Trump wrote.

'Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before,' the incoming president complained.

'Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America,' Trump said.

'Thank you for your attention to this matter,' he added.

Trump previously pledged to end China's most-favored-nation trading status and add tariffs that would be in excess of 60 percent - a rate much higher than they were during his first term.

He was reelected earlier this month with many Americans attracted to his tough talk on illegal immigration and stopping the flow of fentanyl into the nation.

During his campaign, the Republican pledged to lead the largest deportation in American history.

On Truth Social Monday night, Trump spoke of droves of immigrants heading to the border ahead of his January 20th swearing-in.

'Right now a Caravan coming from Mexico, composed of thousands of people, seems to be unstoppable in its quest to come through our currently Open Border,' Trump said.

A caravan has been spotted weaving its way through Mexico en route to the United States.

President Joe Biden previously tried to dissuade migrants from illegally crossing into the U.S. by saying that they would no longer be eligible for asylum if they came in between ports of entry.

That policy change decreased illegal crossings by 40 percent over the summer.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris also chided Trump for derailing a bipartisan immigration bill that would have bolstered border security.

Trump now plans to hold America's neighbors responsible for this problem.

The Republican was also elected in part thanks to the perception that he would be better at curbing inflation than Democratic nominee Harris.

Americans have grumbled about the high cost of living during Biden's term in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pollsters have found that many believe Trump will be able to bring down costs.

But a number of experts have warned that steep tariffs could end up actually punishing the American consumer - as costs would be passed on to them.
Daily Mail Australia has recorded an outstanding increase in readership and noticeably bucked the trend of declining audiences among other news publishers.

The latest figures recorded by market research company Roy Morgan showed Daily Mail Australia with an 18 per cent increase in audience over the past year.

That put its average monthly audience in the year to the end of September at 6.86 million.

'This significant growth shows readers are flocking to Daily Mail Australia to get all the latest breaking news, showbiz, sport and lifestyle,' Editor Felicity Hetherington said.

'The figures are a reflection of our highly talented newsroom and deep understanding of our readers' likes and dislikes.

'Our new premium Mail+ stories, showing off some of our best stories and hardest-hitting columnists, have also found a deeply engaged readership.'

By contrast to Daily Mail Australia's improvement, four other major news publishers each recorded year-on-year declines.

The Daily Mail Australia homepage

The news.com.au website was down four per cent year-on-year, while nine.com.au had a steeper 7.6 per cent drop.

ABC News (-6.1 per cent) and the Sydney Morning Herald (-4.9 per cent) also saw their audiences decline while 7News had the sharpest drop of 20.5 per cent in a year.

A number of widely-read exclusives have boosted Daily Mail Australia's audience rise, including a series of scoops about the Queensland RAAF airman accused over the death of his wife, and the tragic bullying suicide of schoolgirl Ella Catley-Crawford.

The DMA's showbiz team also boasted exclusives on actor Samuel Johnson becoming a country postie, pictures of Tammy Hembrow's wedding, and celebrity news from the spring racing carnivals in Melbourne and Sydney.

Meanwhile, Daily Mail Australia is enjoying growth in its brand new shopping vertical.

'Our shopping channel has been going from strength to strength since its launch in October - and is already showing enormous promise for 2025,' Hetherington said.
A teenager who went out to celebrate her 16th birthday with friends sent her mother a chilling text just hours later: 'I got shot. Mama. Plz. Help me.'

Naomi Briggs is now fighting for her life in an Oregon hospital after becoming the victim of a tragic shooting in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Her mother, Drea Briggs, was horrified to receive the chilling text and rushed to the hospital where her daughter was receiving life-saving treatment.

'If she hadnt made it to the hospital, she wouldnt have survived,' Drea Briggs told The Oregonian. 'She lost so much blood.

The sequence of events that led to the tragedy began innocently enough. On Wednesday evening, Naomi went out with her friends around 9:30pm.

At some point during the night, she texted her mother, Drea Briggs, asking for gas money to get back home to Gresham, but she later returned the cash saying she had found a ride.

But by 5am Naomi was still not home. Her mother was suddenly jolted awake by her daughter's desperate text message and rushed to OHSU Hospital in Portland, to where Naomi had been taken by ambulance.

By the time Drea arrived on the scene at 6am, her daughter was in critical condition, clinging to life having been struck in the stomach by a bullet at close range in the town of Beaverton, a leafy Portland suburb.

Naomi Briggs,16, had been out with her friends celebrating her birthday last week and now fighting for her life in an Oregon hospital after she was shot. Pictured alongside her mom, Drea

The first Naomi's family heard of the terrifying ordeal was after her mother, Drea Briggs, received a chilling text with a plea no parent should ever have to receive

Naomi Briggs has been through four surgeries in three days and was due a fifth on Monday

The shooting has left Naomi in intensive care.

'She's hooked up to machines, and her whole abdomen is still open,' the mom said.

'The doctor did tell me there was a chance she might not make it and so it's just been a struggle,' Drea added..

Naomi has since undergone four surgeries to repair the extensive internal damage caused by the bullet, with a fifth surgery scheduled for this week.

Doctors say her recovery will be a long and arduous journey and she remains in critical condition as she fights to recover from catastrophic injuries.

Authorities have arrested 18-year-old Sky Korbut in connection with the shooting.

He faces charges of third-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon with his bail set at $10,000.

Korbut is alleged to have purchased the firearm used in the shooting on the street in Portland's Old Town Chinatown area.

Korbut is said to have paid $650 for the weapon after failing to pass a background check to purchase a shotgun.

Authorities have arrested 18-year-old Sky Korbut in connection with the shooting. He has claimed the gun went off accidentally

The incident began innocently enough when on, Wednesday Naomi went out with her friends around 9:30pm

At one stage Naomi asked her mother for some money for gas but returned it after finding a ride home

Korbut had been giving Naomi a ride home when his gun went off.

Mom, Drea, is now at her daughter's bedside and grappling with the reality of her child's trauma.

'I kind of do feel like it's a nightmareI'm still trying to process it. I'm still in shock. I never thought this would happen ever,' she said to KGW 8.

'She's only 16 years old, and now her whole life has changed forever,' she said. 'This never should have happened. Know who your kids are hanging around. This is the tragedy of guns.'

Naomi is now at the Oregon Health & Science University Hospital in Portland

Mom, Drea, is now at her daughter's bedside grappling with the reality of her child's trauma

Naomi was described as a typical teenager who loves her friends, animals, and children, now faces years of recovery

Naomi, described as a typical teenager who loves her friends, animals, and children, now faces years of recovery.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support her medical expenses and rehabilitation.

'The support we've received is overwhelming,' Drea said. 'It's what's keeping me strong for her.

'Hold onto your kids, you never know like what's going to happen,' Drea said.
The government's primary reason for imposing social media age limits is to protect children, so Anthony Albanese says.

The proposed new laws carry enormous penalties for big tech companies that don't ensure compliance. Fines going into the tens of millions of dollars for breaches.

But if the primary purpose of these new laws is to protect children when they go online, why won't the government include online pornography sites in the legislative ark?

The original laws were going to include YouTube before a backlash saw that video sharing site excluded.

The laws will apply to the likes of Facebook, Snapchat and Twitter, all of which include the capacity to share videos as well as message.

But as Nationals Senator Matt Canavan was asking in senate hearings, what about Pornhub?

The online video sharing pornography site has next to no protections preventing children access to some pretty disturbing and graphic video content.

All you have to do is click a button confirming that you're over 18. No checks are required, no providing evidence to confirm your age.

If Labor is really serious about the end goal of protecting Australian children from harmful content online, it is pretty hard to understand why banning social media sites matters but allowing free accessibility to Pornhub is fine and dandy.

The government's primary reason for imposing social media age limits is to protect children, so Anthony Albanese says

Senator Canavan pressed the ACMA representative fronting his senate committee as to why the laws didn't restrict and oversee Pornhub.

'We wouldn't see Pornhub as falling within the scope,' he was told. 'It's not seen as a social media platform.'

But that doesn't make it any less harmful to children. Nor does it mean the current accessibility settings are okay.

Why won't Labor legislatively do anything about that? It boggles the mind.

The contradiction really does expose the vacuous nature of the government's claims that these proposed social media laws are all about protecting the next generation from harm.

It exposes that they aren't really all that serious about protecting kids from harmful online content.

What's really going on here is Labor wants to appease traditional media companies who have a beef with big tech organisations like X (formerly known as Twitter) and Meta for other reasons.

Perhaps in the hope that grateful legacy media businesses will show their appreciation come the election campaign.

Pornhub has next to no protections preventing children access to some pretty disturbing and graphic video content

Nationals Senator Matt Canavan asked in senate hearings why it didn't extend to Pornhub

If Labor is really serious about protecting Australian children, it is hard to understand why banning social media sites matters but allowing free accessibility to Pornhub is fine and dandy

That might also be why the Coalition is supporting the new laws, guaranteeing their passage through parliament this side of new year.

In fact Peter Dutton has been quick to claim Labor stole this policy from his back pocket when it was first announced, echoing sentiments he'd previously shared publicly.

Labor is always trying to balance between its right and left flanks.

Perhaps it doesn't want to protect Australian children from harmful pornography - by tightening age restrictions to involve more than clicking a button to confirm you're over 18 - because doing so will cause ructions in sections of the left.

Whatever the reason, for Labor to be so incurious as to rush these social media laws through the parliament, rather than expand their scope to more seriously protect children from harmful content like Pornhub, is borderline neglectful.

Ask any parent what they think is more harmful to their children's well being: easy access to graphic online pornography, or easy access to a messaging system that largely mirrors text messaging, and you know what the answers will be.

Yet here we are. Labor allowed all of one day for community consultation for its new social media laws, such was its disregard for feedback before pressing ahead.

When questioning why Pornhub hasn't been included in the ambit of the proposed legislation, Senator Canavan told his senate committee: 'It's very vague and unclear to any reasonable person about what's in and what's out'.

Indeed it is.
Natasha OBrien stood in solidarity with Nikita Hand at a protest in Dublin yesterday evening, saying, I know what its like.

Ms OBrien gave a speech outside City Hall as people gathered to protest the failure of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to take a criminal case against Conor McGregor.

Ms Hand won her civil claim for damages for sexual assault against the MMA star on Friday. She was not present at the march but watched the entire thing via livestream as she needed time to recover, organisers said.

Ms OBrien told the Irish Daily Mail: Im here today to stand with Nikita in solidarity for the harrowing trial that she had to fight through with every piece of her.

Two years ago, the 24-year-old was punched until she blacked out by 22-year-old soldier Cathal Crotty after she asked him to stop shouting homophobic abuse in the street. He gloated about it on social media afterwards.

He was given a three-year suspended sentence earlier this year, avoiding prison. Ms OBrien has since became a national figure for activism on violence against women.

She said: I was recently a victim of the system because lets not even talk about being the victim of the crimes that we suffered.

I was a victim of the system and Nikita was a victim of the system and Im here today because the system is creating more victims, it is compounding the traumas of victims and adding more suffering to the suffering that they are already going through.

Natasha O'Brien at a protest in support of Nikita Hand outside City Hall. Two years ago, the 24-year-old was punched until she blacked out by 22-year-old soldier Cathal Crotty

Women at a protest outside City Hall to the DPP office over the handling of the Nikita Hand/ Conor McGregor case

March organisers ROSA Socialist Feminist Movement had already planned the protest to coincide with yesterdays International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

She added: It is just so important for me to stand up here in solidarity with Nikita and give her my whole support because I know what its like.

I know what its like to feel abandoned, I know what its like to feel voiceless and I know what its like to get up there and try to have your voice heard and Nikita has literally shown the whole world that no matter who you are, no matter what somebody has done to you and who they are, that you still have a voice.

No matter who ignores you, you still have a voice. And you just have to keep fighting because there are always people in your corner and there are always people that are going to support you and lift you up and thats why Im here.'

March organisers ROSA Socialist Feminist Movement had already planned the protest to coincide with yesterdays International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

But Ms Hands victory against McGregor last Friday changed the focus of the march.

The office of the DPP told Ms Hand in 2020 it would not prosecute a criminal case against McGregor or his co-accused James Lawrence because it felt there was not enough evidence.

Protesters marched from City Hall to the office of the DPP, shouting chants like, We dont care about your fame when you lie and victim blame and, Stand with Nikita.

Rose of Tralees 2024 Kerry Rose Emer Dineen and Cavan Rose Grace Farrelly also came to show support.

Protesters marched from City Hall to the office of the DPP, shouting chants like, We dont care about your fame when you lie and victim blame and, Stand with Nikita

Nikita Hand has been awarded nearly 250,000 (210,000) in damages after a jury at Dublin's High Court found Mr McGregor assaulted her in a Dublin hotel in 2018

Ms Dineen told the Mail: Everybody in Ireland has a different story, every woman, and so its so important that we show up and we say that we stand with them.

Ms Farrelly echoed this, saying to the Mail: Every woman in Ireland is able to tell you a time they were either verbally, sexually or physically harassed or assaulted. I think its too normalised in our society and theres not a whole lot done about it.

I just think its scary. When I go out on a night out theres so many precautions I have to take compared to my two brothers.

Protesters banners referenced the words of Gisele Pelicot, reading, Shame must change sides. Ms Pelicot is the survivor of mass rape attacks organised by her husband who is currently on trial in France.

Ruth Coppinger  co-founder of organisers the ROSA Socialist Feminist Movement who is standing as a Solidarity party candidate in Dublin West  told the Mail of Ms Hand having to take a civil case against McGregor: She shouldnt have had to do that.

It was inexplicable, she said, that the DPP thought there was not enough evidence when somebody had clearly had so many injuries, physical injuries and there seemed to be quite a lot of evidence of not consenting.

Ms Coppinger said this case has actually blown up so many issues that need to be addressed  and we need answers, adding this is not the first DPP decision of its kind when it comes to survivors cases.
A top NATO chief has urged business leaders to begin preparing for a 'wartime scenario' following rising tensions across the world.

The warning comes as Germany announced it was drawing up a list of bunkers and other underground facilities that could provide shelter for civilians in the event of an attack.

Speaking in Brussels yesterday, Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer warned that NATO members needed to adjust their production and distribution lines in order to be less vulnerable to blackmail from countries such as Russia and China.

The chair of NATO's military committee said: 'If we can make sure that all crucial services and goods can be delivered no matter what, then that is a key part of our deterrence.'

Speaking at an event of the European Policy Centre think tank, he described deterrence as going far beyond military capability alone, since all available instruments could and would be used in war.

'We're seeing that with the growing number of sabotage acts, and Europe has seen that with energy supply,' Bauer said.

Meanwhile, Germany is exploring methods of keeping their civilian population safe in the event of a conflict.

This would involve reopening Germany's 579 World War Two and Cold War bunkers and repurposing underground car parks and metro stations as shelters.

Speaking in Brussels yesterday, Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer (pictured) warned that NATO members needed to adjust their production and distribution lines in order to be less vulnerable to blackmail from countries such as Russia and China

Russian President Vladimir Putin. In October, German intelligence chiefs warned that Russia would probably be capable of launching an attack on the military alliance by 2030

An American-made missile being test in New Mexico. The rising global tensions come after Ukraine began using American and British missiles to hit targets within the Kursk region of Russia

Germany is also planning to release an app to help the public find emergency shelters in the event of an attack.

The Guardian reported that a digital directory of bunkers and emergency shelters will be drawn up so people can find them quickly using a planned phone app.

The new plans have been drawn up during escalating tensions between the West and Russia over the ongoing Ukraine war.

In October, German intelligence chiefs warned that Russia would probably be capable of launching an attack on the military alliance by 2030.

Bauer has also warned of the dangers facing the West from China.

He said: 'We thought we had a deal with Gazprom, but we actually had a deal with Mr Putin. And the same goes for Chinese-owned infrastructure and goods. We actually have a deal with (Chinese President) Xi (Jinping).'

Highlighting western dependencies on supplies from China, with 60 per cent of all rare earth materials produced and 90 per cent processed there, Bauer claimed it was 'naive' to think China might not use this dependency to its advantage.

'We are naive if we think the Communist Party will never use that power. Business leaders in Europe and America need to realise that the commercial decisions they make have strategic consequences for the security of their nation,' Bauer stressed.

The entrance to a metro station in Berlin (stock image). Germany is exploring methods of keeping people safe in the event of a conflict. This would involve reopening Germany's World War Two and Cold War bunkers and repurposing underground car parks and metro stations as shelters

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy meets with Chairman of NATO's military committee, Admiral Bauer. He has urged business leaders to begin preparing for a 'wartime scenario' following rising tensions across the world

'Businesses need to be prepared for a wartime scenario and adjust their production and distribution lines accordingly. Because while it may be the military who wins battles, it's the economies that win wars.'

The rising global tensions come after Ukraine began using American and British missiles to hit targets within the Kursk region of Russia.

During a strike on November 20, where British Storm Shadow missiles were allegedly used, top Russian general Lt-Gen Valery Solodchuk and 500 North Korean soldiers were killed.

Russia's ambassador to the UK declared that Ukraine's use of Storm Shadow missiles on Russian territory meant Britain 'is now directly involved in this war'.

His comments came as British and European leaders decried a 'clear and deeply concerning escalation' in the Ukraine conflict by Vladimir

Putin after Russia's forces struck the city of Dnipro with a never-before seen hypersonic ballistic missile last Thursday.
Is there a hidden agenda at Newsweek targeting Olivet University, the Christian college now thrust into controversy?

Olivet University, a bastion of Christian higher learning, is battling a storm of serious accusations, from financial missteps to human trafficking.

At the heart of the controversy is Naveed Jamali, Newsweek Editor-at-Large, whose suspected involvement in triggering inquiries with questionable claims has come under the microscope.

The Genesis of the Allegations From Newsweek

On June 28, 2022, Naveed Jamali fired off an email to the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE), lighting a fuse on an inquiry into Olivet University.

In the email, he alleged federal probes into money laundering, trafficking, and visa fraud. While these claims stray from the BPPE's purview, they led the bureau to initiate a probe into the university's compliance with state educational standards.

Further emails reveal Jamali's active efforts to push other regulatory bodies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and state agencies in California and Tennessee, to wrongfully scrutinize Olivet.

His correspondence with New York State Education Department (NYSED) officials, highlighted below, shows a pattern of leveraging unverified accusations to provoke investigations, aligning with his reporting for Newsweek.

Questionable Tactics and Unethical Practices

Jamali's approach raises serious concerns about journalistic integrity. In an email dated June 28, 2022, he offered to share "off-the-record" information with NYSED officials, implying he possessed unpublished details that might sway their opinion.

This blending of investigative journalism with active advocacy undermines the principle of impartial reporting. By positioning himself as both a provocateur and reporter, Jamali blurred the line between objective journalism and personal agenda.

Moreover, Jamali's claims lacked substantiation. Despite repeated references to federal investigations, there is no evidence in the disclosed communications or reports to support the allegations of trafficking or financial misconduct. The investigation by the BPPE, detailed in Document 2, Page 3, eventually shifted focus to routine compliance checks on educational quality, far removed from the sensational claims initially made by Newsweek.

A Pattern of Media Manipulation

The controversy surrounding Olivet University is part of a larger pattern. A deeper dive into Newsweek's reporting reveals a recurring trend of exaggerated and misleading narratives targeting the institution. For instance, the magazine published stories accusing Olivet of "human trafficking," only to quietly reframe these allegations as "labor trafficking" without acknowledging the lack of evidence for the original claim. This rhetorical shift, as noted in other analyses, demonstrates Newsweek's tendency to amplify unverified allegations while avoiding accountability.

One example of this pattern is a civil lawsuit brought against Olivet by four former students. Newsweek's coverage of the case, led by reporters including Jamali, hinted at collusion between the publication and the plaintiffs' legal team.

This close coordination, coupled with Newsweek's previous reporting on similar themes, raises questions about the integrity of its coverage and the potential orchestration of narratives to fit a predetermined agenda.

Regulatory Fallout and Legal Battles

Jamali's email to the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education directly influenced the bureau's decision to assign special agents to investigate Olivet, as acknowledged by an investigation report obtained by the International Business Times.

Following surprise site visits to Olivet's campuses, the BPPE filed an accusation against the university in March 2023. Jamali and another Newsweek reporter, Alex Rouhandeh, quickly published an article announcing California's move to shut down Olivet.

This sequence of events underscores Newsweek's dual role in initiating and amplifying regulatory action.

The repercussions for Olivet have been severe. The university has faced heightened scrutiny from multiple state agencies, as well as reputational damage fueled by Newsweek's reports. In response, Olivet has filed defamation lawsuits against the publication, alleging a coordinated campaign to tarnish its credibility and disrupt its operations.

A Covert Inner Circle?

The allegations against Newsweek extend beyond the actions of individual reporters. Critics point to a covert inner circle within the publication that appears to drive these stories, possibly as part of internal power struggles. One theory links the attacks on Olivet to Newsweek CEO Dev Pragad's business interests, suggesting that the university became collateral damage in a larger corporate conflict.

This theory gains traction when considering the disproportionate focus on Olivet by Newsweek, compared to other media outlets. Despite the gravity of the allegations, no other major publication has reported on them with the same intensity or frequency. This exclusivity raises concerns about Newsweek's motives and whether the narrative has been manufactured to serve ulterior purposes.

Conclusion: A Manufactured Crisis?

The ongoing investigations into Olivet University appear to stem not from evidence-based concerns, but from a deliberate campaign by Newsweek to stir controversy. Naveed Jamali's role as both instigator and reporter exemplifies the ethical dilemmas inherent in such practices. For a publication that claims to uphold journalistic integrity, Newsweek's actions raise serious questions about its credibility and motivations.

Olivet University's legal battle against Newsweek and Jamali may ultimately shed light on these practices. Until then, the case serves as a cautionary tale about the power of media to shape perceptions and the importance of accountability in journalism.

As this story unfolds, University Herald will continue to investigate the implications of this controversy, striving to uncover the truth behind the headlines.
A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah could see the terrorist organisation leave southern Lebanon and the IDF withdraw its troops.

The deal, which reportedly has the support of Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, could see the nearly two-month military incursion to come to an end.

A source within the government told the Daily Telegraph that the Israeli cabinet will vote on the proposals drawn up by the United States today.

This new ceasefire plan, largely built on a UN Security Council resolution, says that Israel must pull its forces from Lebanon, while Hezbollah must leave the south of the country.

If it backs the deal, Israel is expected to receive assurances from the US that it can act against violations of the deal as long as it is coordinated with Washington.

At the same time, a US lead oversight committee will be in charge of monitoring Hezbollah's activities within Lebanon.

The Lebanese Government has expressed support for the deal but they have objected to any future violations of their sovereignty.

It is within Israel that opposition to the proposal is most potent, with the far-Right security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, calling it 'a big mistake'.

A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah is in the works - and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) is said to support it

Hezbollah fighters. This new ceasefire proposal, largely built on a UN Security Council resolution, says Israel must withdraw its military from Lebanon, while Hezbollah must remove its forces from the south of the country

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh, in Beirut, Lebanon, on November 25. To date, the Lebanese health ministry estimates that at least 3,754 people have been killed in the country since October 2023, most of them since September this year

Others have objected to the involvement of France in negotiating the deal after Paris threatened to arrest Netanyahu should he visit.

This comes following the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for Netanyahu.

Israeli media has reported that the ceasefire would be the first step of the peace deal which if successful could see negotiations begin over the countries long disputed land border.

It calls for an initial 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.

The US is leading diplomatic efforts to end the fighting in Lebanon, where Israel in late September escalated its air campaign and launched a ground offensive into the south after nearly a year of cross-border fire with Hezbollah.

To date, the Lebanese health ministry estimates that at least 3,754 people have been killed in the country since October 2023, most of them since September.

On the Israeli side, 82 soldiers and 47 civilians have been killed in 13 months.

Israel has sought to oust Hezbollah from its strongholds in southern Lebanon and the suburbs of Beirut with some 60,000 people displaced from northern Israel by the conflict.

It is within Israel that opposition to the proposal is most potent, with the far-Right security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir (pictured), calling the deal 'a big mistake'

Joe Biden with Netanyahu. The United States is leading diplomatic efforts to end the fighting in Lebanon, where Israel in late September escalated its offensive against Hezbollah

Damaged buildings in Gaza. Currently, no deal has been agreed to bring to an end the Israel-Gaza war. Earlier this month Qatar suspended its work as a mediator between the two

In recent months, its military has killed nearly all of the group's leaders. But international pressure mounts amid fears of the conflict spilling into a regional war.

The withdrawals would be accompanied by an influx of thousands more Lebanese army troops, who have been largely sidelined in the war, to patrol the border area along with an existing UN peacekeeping force.

The deal echoes the existing Resolution 1701, that critics say did little to keep Hezbollah at bay.

Hezbollah never ended its presence in southern Lebanon, while Lebanon says Israel regularly violated its airspace and occupied small patches of its territory.

Since the October 7 attacks by Hamas in 2023, Hezbollah has fired at least 13,000 missiles and drones into Israel, killing 75 people.

Currently, no deal has been agreed to bring to an end the Israel-Hamas war. Attempts have struggled to make any progress. Earlier this month Qatar suspended its work as a mediator in ceasefire and hostage release talks between the two.

This follow reports that US officials reportedly said they would no longer accept the presence of Hamas representatives at the talks while accusing the group of rejecting fresh proposals to end the war.

Since the conflict started over 43,000 Palestinians and 1,706 Israelis have died.
WhatsApp messages are increasingly being used as evidence during bitter employment tribunals, with companies warned they could be at risk of having to pay out hefty fines if they aren't monitored.

The number of tribunals that have referenced the messaging app has almost tripled since 2019, from 150 to 427 hearings in 2023, according to figures from the HM Courts and Tribunals Service.

The data was obtained by law firm Nockolds as employers were warned misuse of the platform could see them having to pay out thousands of pounds in compensation.

NatWest this month announced it was banning staff from using WhatsApp, Skype and Facebook in an effort to stick to rules over workers' use of unauthorised electric messaging as well as to avoid fines.

Lawyers have warned employees could be sacked for sending derogatory private messages about their managers or colleagues.

Making jibes about someone's age, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, or religious beliefs could also land staff in hot water.

Jokes about someone's appearance are also 'big risks' as they could be seen as offensive.

WhatsApp messages are increasingly being used as evidence during bitter employment tribunals (file image)

Ian Jones, the director and principal solicitor at Spencer Shaw, told The Telegraph: 'If there is a sufficient work connection to the WhatsApp group, almost inevitable if the members are a group of work colleagues exclusively, then any wrongdoing by employee  harassing comments, discriminatory behaviour (even if unintended), bullying, reference to sex or sexual issues  will mean that the employee may be liable to disciplinary or even legal action.'

Dawn Dickson, a partner at Anderson Strathern, added that it didn't matter what the sender intended but how the message is perceived and the impact it had.

'If this kind of behaviour continues unchecked, it could lead to harassment claims or even constructive dismissal, which can be expensive for employers,' she warned.

A judge ruled in October 2023 that excluding colleagues from WhatsApp group chats can be discrimination.

Employment Judge Sarah George said bosses need to have a good justification for failing to include staff in chat groups  even if they are absent.

Being left out of messages while workmates are included can be viewed as an 'unfavourable act', she added at an employment tribunal hearing in Watford.

NatWest this month announced it was banning staff from using WhatsApp, Skype and Facebook in an effort to stick to rules over workers' use of unauthorised electric messaging as well as to avoid fines (file image)

A judge ruled in October 2023 that excluding colleagues from WhatsApp group chats can be discrimination (file image)

Her ruling came in the case of Mark Brosnan, 60, who was awarded compensation after claiming he was discriminated against while suffering from a bad back.

One of Mr Brosnan's complaints was that he was left out of a work group chat to 'communicate important safety information' because he was off sick with the recurring injury. And a tribunal agreed that being left out was unjustified.

He was awarded 134,411 in compensation for the company's 'completely unreasonable' conduct in proceedings where they did 'literally nothing' to aid his ability to return to work.

This included 15,000 in injury to feelings, 7,000 personal injury and over 25,000 in loss of future earnings.
A headline-grabbing vegan activist has been ordered to pay $280,000 to a vet she accused of 'eating (her) own patients'.

Tash Peterson, who has achieved notoriety for her often scantily-clad publicity stunts in support of her animal-loving cause, stormed into the Perth-based Bicton Veterinary Clinic in September 2021 to accuse its owner Dr Kay McIntosh of 'enslaving' two pet birds.

The bizarre encounter, which was filmed by Peterson's partner Jack Higgs, was shared with the notorious vegan's 84,000 Facebook followers.

But, in a judgment handed down by the Supreme Court of Western Australia on Monday, Chief Justice Peter Quinlan ruled that the pair had used 'provocative and inflammatory' language towards Dr McIntosh and her husband Andrew.

The court ordered Peterson to pay $280,000 in damages to the husband and wife.

The saga began when Peterson and her partner visited a cafe next door to the vet clinic and noticed the two cockatiels, named Bruce and Gandalf, in a cage that was 60 cm wide, 60 cm deep and 130 cm tall.

Dr McIntosh had inherited the animals, believed to be around 14-years-old, when she took over the business in January 2020.

The birds became a 'local attraction', with children often visiting to the practice to see them, and were allowed to fly outside of their cage within the clinic.

Tash Peterson (pictured), who has achieved notoriety for her often scantily-clad publicity stunts in support of her animal-loving cause, stormed into the Perth-based Bicton Veterinary Clinic in September 2021 to accuse its owner Dr Kay McIntosh of 'enslaving' two pet birds

The bizarre encounter, which was filmed by Peterson's partner Jack Higgs, was shared with the notorious vegan's 84,000 Facebook followers (pictured: the vet clinic)

They were often left outside in their cage on the street in front of the clinic.

'Bruce and Gandalf were, nevertheless, domesticated birds,' the judgment noted.

'Dr McIntosh gave evidence, which I accept, that they would not be able to survive outside (i.e. in the wild).'

The birds were outside the store in their cage on the day Peterson and Higgs first noticed them.

They briefly complained to the receptionist but were told the birds were well cared for.

Unsatisfied, they returned the next day with Peterson filming a piece to camera outside the clinic in which she accused them of committing 'slavery'.

Peterson then entered the clinic and asked Dr McIntosh if she 'eats her own patients' and accused her of 'enslaving animals', the court heard.

The exchange became heated and Paterson and Higgs were asked to leave.

During the trial in June, Peterson and Higgs had argued the post was protected by qualified privilege and were justified as honest opinion

But in a judgment handed down by the Supreme Court of Western Australia on Monday, Chief Justice Peter Quinlan ruled that the pair had used 'provocative and inflammatory' language towards Dr McIntosh (pictured) and her husband Andrew

The police were called but the pair had left by the time they arrived.

Peterson later shared a clip entitled 'Exposing Vets for Being Hypocrites' to her Facebook page, where it racked up almost 80,000 views.

'Birds should not be bred to spend their entire lives in enslavement living in a cage,' the accompanying caption read.

'Seeing birds in a cage is so normalised, many find it difficult to see how immoral it is.'

The video included Peterson's bizarre allegation that Dr McIntosh 'eats' the animals she treats.

During the trial in June, Peterson and Higgs had argued the post was protected by qualified privilege and were justified as honest opinion.

Their legal team argued that the content was a matter of public interest.

But Mr Quinlan rejected those defences, ruling that Peterson and Higgs had published defamatory claims.

The judge was very critical of the suggestion brought up in cross-examination by McIntosh's legal team that she had not paid income tax on her OnlyFans earnings.

Describing it as a 'serious attack on Peterson's character and credibility', Mr Quinlan praised Peterson as a 'calm, confident and respectful witness'.

'The combined OnlyFans income declared in both Peterson and V-Gan Booty Pty Ltd's tax returns for the year ended 30 June 2022 was therefore $383,900, a figure remarkably close to the plaintiffs' own calculation of $385,000,' Mr Quilan noted.

'Contrary to the suggestion put to Peterson in cross-examination, I find that all of the OnlyFans income for that year was properly declared and accounted for.'

In a statement published on social media, Peterson appeared undeterred by the enormous bill she has been ordered to pay.

'You can take all of our money but you will NEVER take away our voice for non-human people,' she wrote on social media.

'We will endure the stress of a litigation time and time again. It's nothing in comparison to the abuse and murder animals are subjected to because of nonvegans.'

In a statement published on social media (pictured), Peterson appeared undeterred by the enormous bill she has been ordered to pay

Peterson is no stranger to controversy.

Her antics have led police and policymakers in WA to describe her as 'Australia's biggest pest'.

Peterson has copped numerous fines for her semi-nude demonstrations and protests in designer stores, restaurants and supermarkets.

She once worked as a pool lifeguard before sharing racy content to OnlyFans where she reportedly made as much as $40,000 per month.

In August, Peterson paid a heavy price for storming a restaurant, sparking a cheeky response from the owner.

She pleaded guilty to two trespass and disorderly behaviour charges for two separate stand-offs at Fyre restaurant in the northern Perth suburb of Connolly last year.

Peterson was banned from leaving Western Australia due to a six-month community-based order issued by a magistrate in Joondalup Magistrates Court, and was also hit with thousands of dollars in fines.
A remarkable cache of love letters from Albert Einstein to his first wife have revealed details of secret daughter - but the penned notes also told a tale of heartache.

The genius mathematician told Mileva Maric that he is 'very sorry about what happened with Lieserl'.

'Scarlet fever often leaves some lasting trace behind,' Einstein, who was known to have two sons, wrote.

Mileva is believed to have fallen pregnant during a stay in Lake Como and gave birth to their daughter in early 1902 - but his family had tried to keep them apart.

After her birth, a proud Einstein sent sweet letters asking 'What kind of little eyes does she have? Whom of us two does she resemble more?'

The letters also revealed his raunchy as he told Mileva in one eyebrow-raising letter he couldn't wait for her to visit him in Lake Como so they could 'wrap together in his dressing gown'.

Einstein also provided glimpses of his ingenious thinking while discussing his early academic career in the collection of 43 letters dating from 1898 to 1903.

Einstein's love letters are being sold at Christie's and have a valuation of up to 1million.

A remarkable cache of love letters from Albert Einstein (pictured) to his first wife revealing his raunchy side have emerged for sale for 1m

In April 1901 he told Mileva (pictured, left) of his excitement at her impending visit to Lake Como, writing suggestively: 'Come to me to Como and bring along my blue dressing-gown, into which we can wrap ourselves'

The letters give an insight into Einstein - and his families' lives

In one letter he wrote: 'My broodings about radiation are starting to get on somewhat firmer ground.'

In another, he stated: 'I am more and more convinced that the electrodynamics of moving bodies, as presented today, is not correct, and that it should be possible to present it in a simpler way.'

He expanded on this theory in his groundbreaking 1905 paper on Special Relativity.

The letters to his 'doll', which are signed 'Albert' and written in an old German gothic style, are set to spark a bidding war at auctioneers Christie's, of London.

Einstein was a 16-year-old student at Zurich Polytechnic in Switzerland when he met Mileva, one of the earliest female pupils on the physics and mathematics course.

Mileva, who was Serbian, was three years older then Einstein and their first letters in 1898 were quite formal.

As time passed, the letters reveal their relationship becoming personal, to the disapproval to Einstein's family.

Einstein confided in Mileva that his mother told him: 'You are ruining your future...That woman cannot gain entrance to a decent family.'

But Einstein, displaying his stubborn streak, ignored her pleas and by the beginning of 1901 was applying for teaching posts so he could earn enough money to marry Mileva.

In April 1901, he told Mileva of his excitement at her impending visit to Lake Como, writing suggestively: 'Come to me to Como and bring along my blue dressing-gown, into which we can wrap ourselves.'

Einstein provided glimpses of his ingenious thinking while discussing his early academic career in the collection of 43 letters dating from 1898 to 1903

Einstein was a 16-year-old student at Zurich Polytechnic in Switzerland when he met Mileva, one of the earliest female pupils on the physics and mathematics course

In a letter from that October, Einstein shared his excitement at impending fatherhood and refers to their unborn baby as Lieserl.

Mileva gave birth to their daughter in 1902, by when Einstein was settled in Bern and waiting to start his job at the Patent Office.

On February 4, 1902, he proudly wrote: 'You see, it has really turned out to be a Lieserl, as you wished.

'Is she healthy and does she already cry properly?

'What kind of little eyes does she have? Whom of us two does she resemble more?'

Einstein and Mileva married in January 1903 and the last letter references her second pregnancy, a son named Hans Albert.

He also mentions that Leiserl had been ill with scarlet fever, which tragically is thought to have killed her shortly afterwards.

Einstein and Mileva had a third child, Eduard, in 1910 but they divorced in 1919 after she learnt that he had been unfaithful with his cousin, Elsa Lowenthal.

He was awarded the Nobel Prize for physics two years later and, as agreed in the divorce settlement, gave Mileva his winnings.

The letters remained in the family until they were sold at auction in 1996, where the vendor acquired them.

The auctioneers say that it is extremely rare to find Einstein correspondence from before 1905 which reveal so much about his 'formative' years.

Thomas Venning, manuscripts specialist at Christie's, said: 'The letters give you the whole picture on what Albert Einstein was like in his formative years.

'It is very rare to find letters from him pre-1905 and for it to be such significant correspondence, to such a significant recipient, is just wonderful.

'Even though he was just a teenager when he began writing them, you sense that he was already asking questions on different areas of physics.

'He would not just accept previous scientific thought and wanted instead to push the boundaries and challenge conventions.'

Einstein died in 1955.

The sale takes place on December 11.
A man is facing up to 47 years in prison in the US after being charged with involvement in a 9million cryptocurrency fraud.

Tyler Buchanan, 22, is accused of being part of a hacking group that carried out a sophisticated scam which accessed the personal financial information of thousands of people.

He and four others are alleged to have sent phishing text messages to victims mobile phones warning that their accounts would be deactivated.

The links in the SMS messages directed them to websites - which looked legitimate - requesting personal log-in information.

It is alleged the hackers used the data to access cryptocurrency accounts and steal 9million worth of virtual currency.

Buchanan, of Dundee, was arrested in Spain earlier this year and is in custody awaiting extradition to the US to face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

The charges were announced following an investigation involving the FBI, Police Scotland and The United States Attorneys Office for the Central District of California.

A man is facing up to 47 years in prison in the US after being charged with involvement in a 9million cryptocurrency fraud. Pictured: Footage released by Spanish Police of the arrest of Tyler Buchanan

Buchanan and four others are alleged to have sent phishing text messages to victims mobile phones warning that their accounts would be deactivated. The links in the SMS messages directed them to websites - which looked legitimate - requesting personal log-in information (stock image)

Those targeted in the alleged fraud worked for various technology companies across the US.

United States Attorney Martin Estrada said: We allege that this group of cybercriminals perpetrated a sophisticated scheme to steal intellectual property and proprietary information worth tens of millions of dollars and steal personal information belonging to hundreds of thousands of individuals.

As this case shows, phishing and hacking has become increasingly sophisticated and can result in enormous losses. If something about the text or email you received or website youre viewing seems off, it probably is.

Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBIs Los Angeles Field Office, said: The defendants allegedly preyed on unsuspecting victims in this phishing scheme and used their personal information as a gateway to steal millions in their cryptocurrency accounts.

These types of fraudulent solicitations are ubiquitous and rob American victims of their hard-earned money with the click of a mouse.

Im proud of our stellar cyber agents whose work led to the identification of the alleged schemers who are facing significant prison time if convicted.

The other men charged in relation to the alleged fraud are Ahmed Elbadawy, 23, of Texas, Noah Michael Urban, 20, of Florida, Evans Onyeaka Osiebo, 20, of Texas, and Joel Martin Evans, 25, of North Carolina.

According to court documents, from at least September 2021 to April 2023, the defendants conducted phishing attacks by sending text messages to mobile phones of numerous companies employees that purported to be from the victim company or a supplier.

The phishing text messages stated that the employees accounts were about to be deactivated and provided links to authentic looking websites to lure the recipient into providing confidential information, including account login credentials.

Some employees went to the phishing websites, entered their credentials, and sometimes authenticated their identities using a two-factor authentication request sent to their mobile phones.

If convicted, each defendant would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, up to five years in federal prison for the conspiracy count, and a mandatory two-year consecutive prison sentence for aggravated identity theft.

Buchanan would face up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud count as well.
Australia's east coast has been struck by its first blackouts as a heatwave grips the country and the weather bureau warns storms are set to smash 'every state and territory'.

A total of 347 sites suffered blackouts during an unplanned outage in Sydney's CBD at 3pm on Tuesday, according to an update from Ausgrid. Power is expected to be restored by 5.30pm.

NSW Premier Chris Minns on Monday acknowledged the electricity grid would be under pressure.

'We will be as quick as possible with updates to the community about potential interruptions with supply,' Mr Minns said.

Authorities have also issued blackout warnings for Queensland this week, with the highest-risk of blackout times between 3.30pm and 7.30pm.

It comes as a heatwave warning remains in place for areas of NSW on Tuesday, including a severe warning for the Mid North Coast, Hunter, Metropolitan, Illawarra, South Coast and Southern Tablelands Districts.

On Tuesday, Sydney's CBD was tipped to hit 31C, Adelaide to swelter with 33C heat, while Perth is expected to reach 35C on Friday.

The unplanned outages on Tuesday afternoon was in

A heatwave warning remains in place for areas of NSW on Tuesday and is expected to worsen on Wednesday before easing later in the week (pictured, Bondi Beach on Sunday)

NSW residents in Batemans Bay, Bowral, Camden, Liverpool, Penrith, Campbelltown, Hornsby, Nowra, Parramatta and Richmond will sweat on Wednesday when temperatures are tipped to reach 40C on Wednesday.

These unusually hot days are 6C to 10C higher than the typical seasonal average.

The mercury could potentially exceed more than 40C for parts of Sydney as the heatwave continues along the NSW coast this week.

Forecasters are also expecting heavy rain and the chance of severe thunderstorms for all states and territories for the rest of the week.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Jonathan How said warm ocean waters around Australia were driving the unsettled conditions, with sea temperatures reaching 32C off Western Australia's north coast.

'As sea surface temperatures rise, the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere, or moisture increases and this is fuel for thunderstorms,' Mr How said.

'By Wednesday, we could see accumulated rainfalls exceed 50mm across parts of Victoria and the Northern Territory.

'From Thursday and Friday, that's when we start to see rainfall totals building in NSW and southern Queensland.'

Meteorologist Jonathan How (pictured) warned heavy rain and the chance of severe thunderstorms was expected for all states and territories

Sydney

Tuesday: Sunny. Chance of a thunderstorm. Winds up to 30km/h. Max 31C.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 21C Max 33C.

Thursday: Showers, up to 10mm of rain. Chance of a thunderstorm. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 22C Max 30C.

Friday: Showers, up to 20mm of rain. Chance of a thunderstorm. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 20C Max 25C.

Melbourne

Tuesday: Medium chance of shower, up to 5mm of rain. Chance of a thunderstorm. Max 25C.

Wednesday: Showers, up to 9mm of rain. Chance of a thunderstorm. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 21C Max 28C.

Thursday: Slight chance of showers. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 16C Max 24C.

Friday: Medium chance of showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 16C Max 26C.

Brisbane

Tuesday: Slight chance of a shower. Winds up to 20km/h. Max 29C.

Wednesday: Medium chance of showers. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 21C Max 29C.

Thursday: Medium chance of showers. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 23C Max 30C.

Friday: Medium chance of showers. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 23C Max 29C.

The severe thunderstorms are set to bring damaging winds, large hail and heavy rainfall, with the risk of flooding to some parts of the country (pictured, forecasted storms across Australia)

Canberra

Tuesday: Medium chance of showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. Winds up to 30km/h. Max 31C.

Wednesday: Showers, up to 10mm of rain. Chance of a thunderstorm. Winds up to 30km/h. Min 17C Max 28C.

Thursday: Medium chance of showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 15C Max 29C.

Friday: Showers, up to 20mm of rain. Chance of a thunderstorm. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 14C Max 27C.

Hobart

Tuesday: Slight chance of a shower. Winds up to 20km/h. Max 24C.

Wednesday: Showers, up to 20mm of rain. Chance of a thunderstorm. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 15C Max 24C.

Thursday: Showers. up to 15mm of rain. Winds up to 30km/h. Min 12C Max 17C.

Friday: Slight chance of a shower. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 11C Max 18C.

Adelaide

Tuesday: Showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. Winds up to 25km/h. Max 33C.

Wednesday: Showers, up to 5mm of rain. Chance of a thunderstorm. Winds up to 30km/h. Min 15C Max 23C.

Thursday: Slight chance of a shower. Winds up to 25km/h. Min 13C Max 22C.

Friday: Slight chance of a shower. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 13C Max 25C.

Mr How added large parts of the country could reach and even exceed the average monthly rainfall for November by Friday night (pictured, CBD workers in Brisbane dodge the rain)

Perth

Tuesday: Sunny. Winds up to 40km/h. Max 25C.

Wednesday: Sunny. Winds up to 30km/h. Min 13C Max 28C.

Thursday: Sunny. Winds up to 30km/h. Min 16C Max 32C.

Friday: Slight chance of a shower. Chance of a thunderstorm. Winds up to 30km Min 21C Max 35C.

Darwin

Tuesday: Showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. Max 32C.

Wednesday: Showers, up to 10mm of rain. Chance of a thunderstorm. Min 25C Max 32C.

Thursday: Showers, up to 10mm of rain. Winds up to 20km/h. Min 26C Max 33C.

Friday: Showers, up to 15mm of rain. Chance of a thunderstorm. Min 26C Max 33C.
A photo of a man just centimetres from the edge of a Gold Coast high-rise has sparked an urgent warning against 'balcony hopping' at Schoolies celebrations.

It's understood the young man was captured casually walking barefoot along the ledge while several storeys above the ground at Surfers Plaza Resort.

As the final week of the end-of-school celebrations winds down in Queensland, police are urging young people to steer clear of walking on the outer barriers of balconies, especially when alcohol is involved.

'Look, there are barriers on balconies for a reason. It's to keep you safe,' Queensland Police Superintendent Peter Miles told reporters on Monday.

He said balcony hopping can be especially dangerous if a person is intoxicated.

'If you've got alcohol onboard or drugs, you really are playing with fire and that will end tragically,' Supt. Miles said.

'Not too many people fall from a seven, eight or nine-storey building and survive. The friends of these people, tell them it's not a good idea that they wander outside on the balcony.

'It's a recipe for disaster. So really think about the actions that you're about to take.'

This picture of a man 'balcony hopping' has prompted authorities to issue a warning

The official Schoolies social media pages also warn against balcony hopping, warning school leavers could be evicted or fined by their hotel.

'It's dangerous and could lead to serious injury or even death. Don't let your mate make a deadly mistake,' the post reads.

'Be smart. Be safe. Watch your mates.'

The Safe Schoolies website warned there will be 'zero tolerance for Schoolies 'behaving irresponsibly on balconies'.

'Balconies can become especially dangerous after drinking alcohol or using drugs,' the website states.

Following the first week of Schoolies, no major incidents were reported to police.

Supt. Miles gave teenagers an 'A+' for the first week with police making 93 arrests, of which only a third involved school leavers.

Paramedics treated about 350 people, with 50 taken to hospitals.
A Chechnyan refugee who got a Sunday school job to allegedly teach young children to wage Jihad said her support of violence only applied to Russia's invasion of her homeland.

Dzhamilya Timaeva, 20, told the Old Bailey she believed Chechnyan men must fight a 'Jihad' against Russians to secure their independence.

But prosecutors say when she took up a teaching job in Windsor she had the aim of influencing pupils to wage Jihad against all non-Muslims.

Prosecutors argue Timaeva, who also works as a dental nurse in south London, wanted to use her position at the Windsor Muslim Association and the Tawheed Islamic Education Centre in Maidenhead, to spread terrorist ideology.

She is accused of teaching Muslims pupils it was their 'duty' to wage war against the West and disseminating terrorist documents between October 2022 and February 2023.

But she insisted yesterday that her focus was on Russia only for invading Chechnya in 1994.

Sunday school teacher Dzhamilya Timaeva, 19, is standing trial at The Old Bailey on a terror charge

Timaeva explained her father was a Chechnyan freedom fighter who was tortured by Russians when he was captured.

She said: 'We believe the men fighting for the independence of Chechnya were doing Jihad. We believe they died as martyrs.'

When asked if she supported infamous terrorist attacks such as the 2001 World Trade Centre disaster or the 2015 Bataclan attack she denied that she did.

Asked by her lawyer Ed Butler if she believed in spreading extremist ideology she answered: 'I do not believe it is responsible.'

Giving evidence in a blue denim skirt, a blue shirt and a white head scarf, she added there was a Chechnyan 'code of honour' which required men to fight for their homeland.

The Tawheed Islamic Education Centre, a Sunday school in Maidenhead where Timaeva was due to begin teaching

'Chechnyan men are raised in a certain manner, with certain characteristics and if you do not have them you are not considered to be a Chechnyan man.

'These are being religious, being fearless, being masculine, being skilled in martial arts and being skilled in an area of work,' she added.

Timaeva, who is on bail, denies disseminating terrorist documents and possessing a document for terrorist purposes between October 2022 and February 2023.

The jury heard she arrived in Britain as a refugee in 2013 and spent six years living in Cardiff until her claim for asylum was granted in 2019 and she moved to Windsor with her family.

The court heard while her family travelled through Europe and Asia looking for asylum she spent two months in Chechnya, where she cannot return because it is not safe.

The trial continues.
The length of a Welcome to Country ceremony delivered at a Sydney Anzac commemoration has sparked backlash after it lasted for nine minutes.

The address was given by a Gadigal Elder at the commemoration of the 90th anniversary of Sydney's Hyde Park Anzac Memorial on Sunday night.

2GB radio host Ben Fordham on Tuesday questioned the appropriateness of the drawn-out ceremony.

Fordham said that while the speaker did mention her ancestors' involvement in the war, the length of the address was excessive and detracted from the event.

'It was meant to be about the Anzacs, but attendees had to sit through a nine-minute Welcome to Country. You don't need nine minutes to welcome people,' he said.

'One person contacted us saying it didnt fit with the tone of the event. Its not about diminishing the speakers efforts, but nine minutes is too long.

'Some attendees thought it was excessive and self indulgent, many are already uneasy about being welcomed to their own country. Making them sit through nine long minutes is not going to help the cause.'

A year on from the failed Voice referendum, the value of Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country ceremonies are still being widely debated in Australia.

The address was given by a Gadigal elder at the commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the Hyde Park Anzac Memorial

The renewed scrutiny began in September with the Giants versus Lions AFL semifinal in Sydney, where Aboriginal Elder Brendan Kerin said the ceremonies 'weren't to cater for white people'.

'It's a ceremony we've been doing for 250,000 years BC - and the BC stands for Before Cook,' he told the crowd, referring to Captain James Cook's arrival in Australia in 1770 ahead of European settlement.

'Prior to colonisation, you could get in a lot of trouble for walking on someone else's lands without being welcomed onto those lands,' the Marrawarra and Barkindji man said.

But the modern form of a Welcome to Country was invented in 1976 by Dr Richard Walley's Middar Aboriginal Theatre group, after Maori and Cook Islands visitors to Perth Arts Festival requested a ceremonial welcome.

The musician, dancer and writer invoked a blessing in the local language, sang a Nyoongar song celebrating their lands and the troupe did a ceremonial dance, all of which was a huge success and struck a chord in the Indigenous community.

It was later adopted by the Northern Territory Tourism Board, then the Australian Tourism Commission and earned a global platform when it was included in the Miss Universe beauty pageant held in Perth in 1979.

Since then the ceremonies have grown to become a regular feature of everyday life in Australia, and are seen as a sacred tradition to launch public events.

But some Aussies continue to find them grating. Earlier this month a ceremony performed in Azerbaijan was dubbed a 'complete farce'.

The modern form of a Welcome to Country was invented in 1976 by Dr Richard Walley's Middar Aboriginal Theatre group

Delegate Dr Clare Anderson performed an acknowledgement of country to a near empty-room in the former Soviet republic as part of the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

'To start - whilst we're not on Australian land - I'd still like to start with acknowledging the traditional owners of Australia and the Torres Strait Islands and pay my respects to their elders, past, present and emerging,' Dr Anderson said.

Critics found Dr Anderson's performance of the ceremony so far from Australia nonsensical.

'What a complete farce - here's a video from the "Australian Pavilion" at the climate w***fest at Baku - funded by Australian taxpayers,' fumed former Liberal and United Australia Party MP Craig Kelly.

'Imagine, all that coin to pay for constructing an exhibition stand, flying a delegation half way around world, setting up video facilities to record it all - and they get five people to attend,' Mr Kelly continued.

'Why are Australian government officials doing a welcome to country in Azerbaijan,' Coalition senator Matt Canavan also asked.

Another point of controversy with Welcome to Country ceremonies is their public cost.

Brisbane City Council has shelled out $135,000 of ratepayer money on the ceremonies in the last two years.

.
Trains have resumed at one of Brisbane's busiest train stations after a person was hit by a train on Tuesday morning.

Emergency services were called to South Bank Station in Brisbane shortly after 9am after reports someone had been hit by a train.

A spokesperson for Queensland Ambulance Service told NewsWire that paramedics were treating a person with head injuries at Colchester Street.

The person has since been transported to Princess Alexandra Hospital in a life-threatening condition.

A spokesperson for Queensland Rail confirmed trains on the Cleveland Line between Roma Street and Park Road had been temporarily suspended while authorities were on the scene, with delays of up to 60 minutes expected.

Train lines have since resumed and are operating as usual.

The man sustained head injuries in the collision at Brisbane's South Bank Station (pictured)
A former drug dealer who rehabilitated himself to become a self-styled whistleblower on San Francisco's escalating drug and homeless crisis, has been charged on suspicion of pimping and pandering.

Ricci Wynne, 39, who frequently appears on Fox News as he pinpoints the Democrat city's major problems is well known for his fiery rhetoric and unfiltered videos exposing the city's open-air drug markets.

But on Saturday night Wynne was arrested on felony charges of pimping at San Francisco Airport.

Law enforcement officials allege how Wynne exploited vulnerable individuals for financial gain, a charge that starkly contrasts with his public persona as a reform advocate.

Details of the case are still emerging, but authorities have pointed to evidence linking Wynne to activities that exploited individuals struggling with homelessness and addiction  the very demographics he claimed to champion.

Wynne along with a 30-year-old woman whom police believe he was using for sex work, were detained at San Francisco International Airport at 8:50pm on Saturday, having arrived on a flight from Miami.

The woman was released, and Wynne was arrested after officers developed 'probable cause'. Maxie said.

Wynne was booked into San Francisco County jail on Monday morning just after 2am.

Ricci Wynne, a former drug dealer who rehabilitated himself to become a self-styled whistleblower on San Francisco's escalating drug and homeless crisis, has been charged on suspicion of pimping and pandering

Wynne, 39, frequently appears on Fox News as he pinpoints the Democrat city's major issues

Wynee appears on Fox News regularly and is well known for his fiery rhetoric and unfiltered videos exposing the city's open-air drug markets

Police then carried out a search at Wynne's home in the city where they found more than $79,000 in cash in the apartment where investigators believe sex work occurred.

With more than 100,000 followers on Instagram and 29,900 followers on X Wynne was able to give a voice to those living in the shadows and helped pressure city officials to acknowledge the crisis with his videos of homeless people and drug users on the streets of downtown.

Wynne's videos forced uncomfortable conversations about the state of San Francisco and highlighted the human cost of the city's ineffective policies.

Critics argued his approach was without nuance and empathy, focusing more on shock value than any meaningful or sustainable solutions, leading to accusations of opportunism.

Wynne rose to prominence following a troubled past that included his own struggles with addiction and incarceration.

As a former drug dealer he pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and was released from jail in December 2021 and sentenced to three years of probation.

He turned to social media as his platform and looked to be determined to shed light on the issues plaguing his city,

His videos captured the grim realities of neighborhoods like the Tenderloin, where drug use and drug dealing thrived out in the open.

Wynne's videos forced uncomfortable conversations about the state of San Francisco and highlighted the human cost of the city's ineffective policies

Wynne rose to prominence following a troubled past that included his own struggles with addiction, his work as a drug dealer and subsequent incarceration

Wynne's videos would help showcase the issues with San Francisco particluarly when it comes to the city's drug problems

On social media Wynne appeared to want to get women off the streets and into rehab

Wynne was even pictured during the most recent election campaign helping toe get Daniel Lurie into office and become the city's new mayor

Wynne has more than 100,000 followers on Instagram and 29,900 followers on X

Wynne's raw footage and candid commentary struck a chord with viewers.

'I've lived this life. I've been there. I'm not just some outsider coming in to criticize,' Wynne said in an interview last year. 'This is about holding people accountable.'

His critiques often targeted city officials and harm reduction policies, which he claimed enabled the drug crisis to continue rather than alleviating it.

But as Wynne's posts gained traction he also became a polarizing figure acting as a hero to some who admired his unvarnished activism, and a troublemaker to others who found his methods to be sensationalist.
Greens housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather has been confronted about why he does not own a home despite earning more than $233,000 a year.

The 32-year-old MP for Griffith, in inner-city Brisbane, was put on the spot at the National Press Club on Tuesday about why, despite being among the top two per cent of earners in Australia, he still does not own a home.

'Out of curiosity, you're a very highly paid senator, on a $220,000 plus salary, but you are a renter, why haven't you purchased a home?' asked Nick Bonyhady, a journalist for the Sydney Morning Herald.

Mr Chandler-Mather, a lifelong renter, revealed how he had been giving up a proportion of his income to charity, and that he was priced out of a home in his electorate.

'Look, honest answer, small family, we're on a single income and I give up about $50,000 of my salary to run all the free meal programs in the electorate,' he said.

'Using that money we serve about 50,000 free meals, including our free weekly breakfast in state schools.

'My view is when I got elected, I was elected by a lot of people who are low-income renters and it wasn't right for me not to give up a big portion of my salary to people who are low income.

'Because of giving up that money and being on a single income, and in an inner-city electorate with very, very high median house prices, it is difficult to buy a house there.

Greens housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather (pictured) was quizzed on why he did not own a home despite being among the top 2.3 per cent of income earners in the country

Greens housing spokesman Mr Chandler-Mather is pictured with his partner

'I want to be clear though, I'm not the one doing it tough, but I am answering your question.'

An MP on a base salary of $233,660 is among the top two per cent of income earners.

Greater Brisbane's median house price of $974,025 would require someone to earn $149,850 just to qualify for a mortgage with a 20 per cent deposit.

But in his Griffith electorate, an upmarket suburb like Bulimba on the Brisbane River has a very unaffordable mid-point house price of $2,068,461.

Someone would need to earn $318,225 - and be among the top one per cent of income earners - to even get a mortgage.

However, Mr Chandler-Mather would likely be able to buy a smaller unit within his electorate.

During the National Press Club debate, Mr Chandler-Mather lashed the two major parties for blaming the housing crisis on migrants - even though a record 500,000 have arrived in a year during a rental crisis.

'The reason they go after and demonise migrants and try to blame them for a crisis they had nothing to do with is because it's an excellent way to distract from the fact that the Commonwealth Bank in the middle of the housing crisis just last year made a $10billion record profit,' he said.

Mr Albanese and Labor have accused Mr Chandler-Mather of whipping up outrage about housing in order to further his own political ambitions (pictured: Mr Chandler-Mather's infamous altercation with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last year)

'That property investors will get $176billion in tax handouts from this federal government, supported by both the Liberal and Labor parties.'

He said the Greens wanted to 'stop treating housing as a lucrative financial asset for the banks and property industry'.

On Monday night, Mr Chandler-Mather became emotional as he spoke about how the housing crisis is impacting his generation after being accused of 'letting down young voters' by capitulating to Labor.

Mr Chandler-Mather was questioned by interviewer Sarah Ferguson on Monday night's episode of ABC's 7.30 Report about whether the Greens, by agreeing to pass two Labor housing bills, had failed the party's base of younger voters.

'Everyday we don't solve the housing crisis I feel like I have let them down a little bit,' an emotional Mr Chandler-Mather said.

'My generation for the first time are probably going to be worse off than our parents. I feel that acutely.'

Mr Chandler-Mather's voice wavered as he revealed he had 'friends who have been kicked out of their homes because they can't afford the rent or have given up on ever being able to buy a home'.

'And it hurts me a lot, actually, to see that. I find it really hard,' he said.

The Greens delayed the Albanese Government's Help to Buy and Build-to-Rent bills for months, pushing for changes to property investor tax concessions and rent rise caps.

However, they ultimately supported the bills despite these demands not being met.
A 66-year-old man has died after his e-bike smashed into a wall in Canberra's south.

The rider is believed to have crashed in an underpass on the Athllon Drive bike path in Kambah at 5.10pm on Sunday.

The man died shortly after being treated by paramedics at the scene.

E-bike and e-scooter accident deaths have become increasingly common in recent years.

A recent study by St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney found that more than 500 e-bike riders had required critical care in emergency rooms as a result of accidents.

This latest tragedy follows the death of Khye Brickwell, a 12-year-old boy from Victoria whose e-scooter collided with a car on Wednesday night.

The young boy spent five days in hospital after the crash at Mill Park, in Melbourne's north-east, and his organs were donated.

The crash marks the 10th fatality on ACT roads in 2024.

The 66-year-old man died after he smashed into a wall located in an underpass on the Athllon Drive bike path (pictured) in Kambah, south Canberra, at 5.10pm on Sunday
A California teenager appeared shirtless in court to face charges for allegedly murdering his ex-girlfriend and three others in her rental home, which he then set on fire.

Miguel Sandoval, 19, has been accused of killing Matthew Montebello, 21; his partner Janvi Maquindang, 21; his sister, Christine Aca-ac, 26; and her fiancee Edwin Garcia , 24, inside their Lancaster home on November 16.

He allegedly entered the home while everyone was asleep, and fled the scene after the shooting, but was arrested several hours later, KTLA reports.

An unidentified 16-year-old sister of Aca-ac and Maquindang was uninjured after she hid in the closet and called 911.

When Los Angeles Sheriff's Department deputies arrived at the scene at around 1.30am, they found the house engulfed in flames.

Five gunshot victims were found inside, three of whom were pronounced dead at the scene, and a fourth of whom later succumbed to their injuries at a local hospital.

Cops have claimed Sandoval also shot three dogs dead in the horrific spree.

The motivation for the grisly killing is unclear, but Matthew Montebello's mother told KABC she knew of Sandoval as the scorned ex-boyfriend of one of the younger siblings who lived in the house.

Miguel Sandoval, 19, appeared shirtless in court to face charges for allegedly murdering his ex-girlfriend and three others in her rental home, which he then set on fire

He allegedly entered the home while everyone was asleep, and fled the scene after the shooting, but was arrested several hours later

Sandoval was taken into custody by the LASD, but was not charged for the grisly scene until Monday.

Montebello's family says they are now struggling to wrap their heads around the tragedy, with his mother, Celeste, noting they had just celebrated the 21 year old's birthday six days before.

'The house is a safe place for us, supposedly, and for someone to go there and do this to him while they were sleeping, it hurts,' she said.

Matthew's brother, Andrew, also said they were best friends and called the pain 'unimaginable.'

'Parts of me have died or are dying,' he told KTLA. 'I don't think I'm ever going to be the same.'

He described his brother as an origami master and a math whiz who was highly creative and earned many accolades, even as a child.

Montebello, who was the one who was raced to a hospital following the shooting, was also described in an online fundraiser as a 'great brother and loving son, always considering his own family and setting aside time despite their distance.

'He was a great artist and musician, who was able to convey his reality and memories through his art.'

Christine Aca-ac, her partner Edwin Garcia, (pictured together) were shot dead alongside her brother and her brothers' fiancee in a horror mass shooting last week in Lancaster, California

Christine's brother Janvi Maquindang and his fiancee Matthew Montebello (pictured together) were also killed in the spree along with the family's three dogs

It noted that while in the hospital, Montebello was left in a vegetative state for a time as his kidneys were donated to one of his mother's friends.

'I want him to be remembered as a kind, loving child,' Celeste told KABC. 'Very respectful, caring, as a brother, as a gentle soul, very smart, very talented.'

She noted that the housemates enjoyed making music together.

'That's how they hung out. They tried to be creative,' she said.

Edwin's family also described him as a 'pillar of joy and happiness', who 'had great aspirations to pursue a career as a educator both in academics and music.'

Meanwhile, in a GoFundMe set up to help Aca-ac and Maquindang's family, a relative said the 'loss is overwhelming, and the pain of their absence is something we are struggling to bear every day.'

Sandoval allegedly set the home on fire and fled the scene before he was arrested hours later

It said Christine was the legal guardian to two of her younger siblings, and 'was a loving sister and a funny, vibrant, and deeply caring friend.'

'She was loved by many for her infectious laughter, generosity, and ability to make everyone feel welcome', it read, saying as legal guardian she 'devoted her life to raising them in a loving, stable home.'

Janvi was also praised as a 'bright and successful' young man who graduated as a valedictorian of his high school class.

They said he was also a 'special soul' to the two young siblings Christine was legal guardian for, who have now been 'left without their protector and guiding force.'

Now, Celeste and Andrew say they have one final message to Sandoval.

'I want this evil man to know that you failed,' Celeste said. 'He didn't succeed in doing this.'
A single phone call from a quick-thinking Westpac employee has saved an customer from losing a eye-watering $1.2million deposit to scammers.

The Westpac customer was purchasing the property through a trusted conveyancer he had dealt with previously when his email account was targeted by cyber criminals in a payment redirection scam.

'He had used the conveyancer before and was settling on a property, so he was anticipating an email from her with instructions on transferring money for the settlement,' Westpac Private Wealth banker Diane Zhou told 7News.

Ms Zhou said the customer received an email from who he thought was his conveyancer which laid out payment instructions.

'He was busy and had assured me that the details sent from his conveyancer were legitimate - received via an email from the conveyancer's correct email address, at about the right time just before the settlement date.'

Even though the man was convinced the email was legitimate, Ms Zhou offered to call the conveyancer to double check the details.

'When I spoke with the conveyancer, I was shocked to learn that she had never sent the client an email with payment instructions, and the bank account details provided in the email were not hers,' Ms Zhou said.

Westpac Private Wealth banker Diane Zhou (pictured) saved a customer from being scammed out of a $1.2million deposit for a new property

The conveyancer told Ms Zhou that several fraudulent emails had circulated from her office after her account had been compromised.

Ms Zhou's diligence saved the client $1.2 million, and she is urging everyone to double-check details prior to any major transfer, even if it appears invoices have been sent by a trusted source.

'I am pleased that I was able to help protect my client's money - and hope by telling people about this story that we save others from losing money to scams,' Ms Zhou said.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) advises if you have been targeted by a scammer to contact your bank immediately.

It also advises to seek support from the national identity and cyber support service IDCARE and report the scam to Scamwatch.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) advises if you have been targeted by a scammer to contact your bank immediately (pictured, Westpac in Sydney)
A toddler who died after she was found abandoned in a parked car had been left there for a 'significant time' while her parents were 'at work and looking after family'.

The two-year-old girl was found by emergency services in a vehicle in Innisfail's Cassowary Coast Council car park near Cairns in far north Queensland.

They were called out to conduct a welfare check just before 1pm on Monday after worried locals raised the alarm as temperatures soared past 30C

Paramedics treated the girl at the scene before she was rushed to Innisfail Hospital in a critical condition, but could not be revived.

Queensland Police Superintendent Mick Searle described the investigation as 'complex and detailed' and said the toddler had been there for a 'significant period of time'

'Were being assisted by the family and other specialist police and that investigation will continue for quite some time,' he said.

'Support is being provided to the family and friends and the Innisfail community, and our heartfelt sympathy goes out to all the people involved in this matter.'

He said it was too early to comment on whether any charges were expected to be laid, but confirmed the parents said they were working and with family at the time.

A toddler has died after being found unresponsive in a car in Queenslands north

Support is being offered to first responders

Mourners left a floral tribute where the car was parked

He said it was a difficult time for first responders and support was being provided to them.

Speaking yesterday, Cassowary Coast Mayor Teresa Millwood said it was a tragic event.

'The Cassowary Coast Regional Council would like to extend our condolences to the family involved and if there's anything we can do, we are happy to help them,' she said.

Mourners flocked to social media to offer their condolences to the family, with some laying flowers where the car was parked.
EXCLUSIVE

Molly the Magpie and her Staffordshire Terrier best friends could be separated once again after the granting of a wildlife carers' licence to a Gold Coast couple was overturned in court.

Molly and her canine companions Peggy and Ruby live with Juliette Wells and Reece Mortensen at their Gold Coast home and have become social media stars.

The magpie was removed from their home in March when authorities learnt Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen had no permit to care for native wildlife, but the bird was returned six weeks later after a public outcry.

However legal firm XD Law & Advocacy launched Supreme Court action in September against Queensland's Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) for granting the couple a 'specialised licence'.

The firm was acting on behalf of an unnamed wildlife rescue volunteer who had the support of dozens of other animal carers, many of whom had been targeted by online trolls over the row.

Jack Vaughan from XD Law and Advocacy told Daily Mail Australia the Supreme Court overturned the granting of the specialised licence to Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen on Monday.

He said the court's order was made with the consent of DESI, which would now determine what happened to Molly after conceding it made a mistake.

'In trying to protect the welfare of the bird - which has always been our highest priority - we made an error, and we are currently considering next steps,' a departmental spokesman said.

Molly the Magpie and her Staffordshire Terrier best friends Peggy and Ruby could be separated once again after a court overturned a Gold Coast couple's licence to keep the bird. Juliette Wells is pictured with Molly in her home

In a later, further statement the spokesman added: 'The department is currently reviewing the court decision.'

The wildlife volunteer who took court action previously told Daily Mail Australia that magpies were not suitable pets and suffered when kept in domestic captivity and that Molly - who is male - would likely not survive.

That was also DESI's original position when it first removed Molly from Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen's home.

'It is alleged that the bird was taken from the wild and kept unlawfully, with no permit, licence or authority being issued by DESI,' a departmental spokesman said at the time.

DESI had independent veterinary advice Molly could never be returned to the wild as he would be unable to fend for himself, so he would need to be sent to a sanctuary or euthanised.

Molly and Peggy have 1.3 million followers on Facebook and almost 1 million more on Instagram, and the resultant public backlash led to an extraordinary intervention by Queensland's then-premier, Steven Miles.

Mr Miles dismissed criticism he had caved in to social media pressure by allowing Ms Wells and Mortensen to keep Molly, and said granting them a permit was the 'common sense' approach.

'I'm not a bird expert but he looks really well and healthy to me,' Mr Miles said when he visited Molly in the couple's home.

Molly and her canine companions, Peggy and Ruby, live with Juliette Wells and Reece Mortensen in their Gold Coast home and have become social media stars

DESI granted Ms Wells a permit to keep Molly after they agreed to conditions including not profiting from the magpie or its image, undertaking the appropriate training and advocating for wildlife.

XD Law & Advocacy argued that decision was made on political grounds due to media pressure and set a precedent for anyone to keep a wild animal.

'We became involved when we saw volunteer wildlife carers being pilloried and abused for sticking up for the laws of Queensland preventing wildlife being turned into pets,' lawyer Jack Vaughan said.

'These are the people who arrive in the middle of the night when you find an injured animal by the road. They do it for nothing. More often than not they pay for the medicines and food needed as well.

'They represent the best of Australia and yet some of them were receiving death threats for suggesting that the department's actions were illegal. We agreed with them and it seems the court does too.'

Mr Vaughan said DESI had been 'given the opportunity to show it followed the proper processes and standards in granting the carer's licence'.

'To show that it was not just giving a compliant nod to a premier who wanted photos of himself with a magpie on his head and a couple of social media influencers,' he added.

'They failed to show proper reasoning for the licence according to their governing legislation.'

The volunteer who took action said she was grateful to the Supreme Court and 'proud of all the wildlife carers who stood up for the law when the department and the former premier failed to do so'.

The magpie was seized in March after authorities learnt Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen had no permit to care for native wildlife, but the bird was returned six weeks later after a public outcry

'We are the ones who deal with the wreckage of the social media fad of capturing baby magpies and training them to do cute tricks,' she said.

'There is nothing cute about wings and legs bitten off by family pets. There is nothing cute about seeing a domesticated magpie ferociously attacked by a wild flock when they first interact.

'To see the former premier encouraging this idiocy in a desperate attempt to gain votes and a social media following was pathetic.

'To see the Department of Environment go along with the circus and start issuing licences was a step too far.'

The volunteer said she would not comment on what should happen to Molly.

'This action was not about one Magpie - it was about reinforcing Queensland's wildlife protection laws and the integrity of the wildlife licensing system,' she said.

Ms Wells and Mr Mortenson had been distraught over the legal challenge to take Molly from their home yet again.

'Molly's 100 per cent, and always has been, our focus. We just want to just move on and just get on with it,' Mr Mortensen told A Current Affair in September.

'Four years ago yesterday, when we came across a little magpie, who would have thought we'd be standing in front of the Supreme Court here in Brisbane,' Ms Wells said.

Your browser does not support iframes.

'Molly's happy, healthy and alive. Bossy, barking and being Molly.'

Mr Mortensen added: 'Every time we're in the public sight, it raises awareness for people to get out there and do something to help wildlife and become involved.

'We want to try and get as many people involved as we possibly can in helping wildlife, because there aren't a great deal of wildlife carers out there.'

Daily Mail Australia has contact the couple for comment.
Gavin Newsom is plotting to defy Donald Trump while stiffing key MAGA ally Elon Musk, as California plans an electric vehicle rebate program that intentionally leaves out Tesla.

The California governor is planning to introduce a state tax rebate on purchasing electric cars if the Trump administration eliminates the federal tax cut.

Newsom even bragged that his policies have made Tesla and Musk 'so damn successful.'

The new rebates could exclude Tesla and other automakers with a large market share in an effort to promote more competition, the governor's office said. But that is subject to negotiation with the state Legislature.

Tesla holds 55% of California's EV market share, down from 64% a year ago. Hyundai and BMW are the next two biggest EV sellers in the state, at just 6.4% and 5.5%, respectively.

Musk, whose company is the only one that actually manufactures EVs in the Golden State, clearly felt singled out and slammed Newsom's proposal.

'Even though Tesla is the only company who manufactures their EVs in California! This is insane,' he wrote on X.

A Musk fan posted a video to the social media site showing Newsom actually gloating about being responsible for Musk and Tesla's riches.

'It's one of the reasons guys like Elon Musk and others have become so damn successful,' Newsom said in October. 'It's because we've set price signals, we've created markets, we've created opportunities for investments. We're the number one manufacturer for a reason. We continue to be the envy of the world.'

Gavin Newsom's attempts to defy Donald Trump have now hit key ally Elon Musk, as California is planning an electric vehicle rebate program that doesn't include Tesla

Musk, whose company is the only one that actually manufactures EVs in the Golden State and holds 55% of California's EV market share, slammed Newsom's proposal

About 42% of rebates went to people buying or leasing Tesla vehicles under the state's previous clean vehicle rebate program, according to data from the California Air Resources Board.

Newsom is essentially asking to create a new version of the states Clean Vehicle Rebate Program, which was phased out in 2023 after funding 594,000 cars and saving what they claim is 456 million gallons of fuel. The program offered rebates on electric cars as high as $2,500.

'Consumers continue to prove the skeptics wrong - zero-emission vehicles are here to stay,' Newsom said in a statement.

'Were not turning back on a clean transportation future - were going to make it more affordable for people to drive vehicles that dont pollute.'

Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Trump's transition team, said the president-elect would deliver on his campaign promises, 'including stopping attacks on gas-powered cars.'

'When he takes office, President Trump will support the auto industry, allowing space for both gas-powered cars AND electric vehicles,' she said in a statement.

Money for the new rebate system could come from the state's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which is funded by polluters under the states cap-and-trade program, the governor's office said.

Officials didnt say how much the program would cost or how the rebates would work.

A Musk fan posted a video to the social media site showing Newsom actually gloating about being responsible for Musk and Tesla's riches

Trump has softened his stance as Tesla CEO Musk became a supporter and adviser

Gavin Newsom is such a clown. He tried to take credit for Elon Musks success.



The lawfare against Elon Musk and his companies in California is not only unethical but also unlawful. Newsom should be immediately removed from office as governor.



pic.twitter.com/Qdp6f7ErPv  DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) November 26, 2024

California has surpassed 2 million zero-emission vehicles sold, according to Newsom's office.

The state has passed policies in recent years to transition away from fossil fuel-powered cars, trucks, trains and lawn mowers.

Trump previously vowed to end federal electric vehicle tax credits, which are worth up to $7,500 for new zero-emission vehicles.

Theres also a $4,000 credit for used ones. But Trump later softened his stance as Tesla CEO Musk became a supporter and adviser. Musk has said he supports ending subsidies for EVs, oil and gas.

The proposal is part of his plan to protect California's progressive policies ahead of Republican President-elect Donald Trump's second term.

He called the state Legislature to convene in a special session to help 'Trump-proof' state laws by giving the attorney generals office more funding to fight federal challenges.

But a budget shortfall could complicate Californias resistance efforts.

Early budget projections show the state could face a $2 billion deficit next year, according to a report released last week by the nonpartisan Legislative Analysts Office.

Trump previously vowed to end federal electric vehicle tax credits, which are worth up to $7,500 for new zero-emission vehicles

About 42% of rebates went to people buying or leasing Tesla vehicles under the state's previous clean vehicle rebate program, according to data from the California Air Resources Board

Thats an improvement from an estimated $46.8 billion deficit the state faced last year, but the shortfall could still curtail the states ability to expand new programs and fight federal legal challenges.

Legislative leaders in both chambers have said the state needs to stay prudent in anticipation of future budget deficits.

Trump criticized Newsom on social media after the governor called for a special session, calling out the high cost of living in California and the states homelessness crisis.

The president-elect said Newsom was 'stopping all of the GREAT things that can be done to `Make California Great Again.'

Newsom said on his podcast earlier this month that he reached out to Trump after the election.

He said at a news conference last week that he still hadnt heard back from the president-elect.

Musk and Newsom have clashed over state policies such as shutting Tesla's Fremont factory during the pandemic and California's approval of a bill on transgender kids.

In 2021, Tesla moved its headquarters from California to Texas, and Musk said this year that his other companies such as SpaceX and social media platform X will follow suit.
A superyacht tour operator has been jailed for more than 11 years over the botched importation of millions of dollars worth of cocaine that turned deadly after it 'failed spectacularly'.

James Blake Blee, 64, appeared in the NSW District Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to people smuggling and importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.

The court heard he was approached by someone in Indonesia who offered him large sums of money to become involved in what Blee described as a 'nefarious' scheme.

He agreed and smuggled Brazilian nationals Bruno Borges Martins and Jhoni Fernandes Da Silva on his boat from Indonesia into a port at Darwin in April 2022.

The court heard Blee was offered $300,000 for his role in the importation of up to 70 kgs of cocaine, but that he didn't know which border controlled drug the package contained or how much.

Judge Troy Anderson said Blee's diving and boating skills meant he had a 'relatively unique skill set which no doubt justified in the minds of the syndicate his high price tag'.

The court heard he was only paid $200,000, some of which was spent on co-ordinating and facilitating the collection of the drug packages.

James Blake Blee has been sentenced for smuggling people into Australia to facilitate cocaine importation.

He won't be eligible for parole until 2029

Blee trained the two divers and equipped them with scuba diving equipment so they could dive in the Port of Newcastle to retrieve dozens of bricks of cocaine stashed underwater in the hull of a container ship.

On May 9, Mr Martins' body was found floating in the Port surrounded by 42 packages of the illicit drug with his diving mask still attached. Da Silva went missing and is presumed dead.

Blee was arrested at Cairns airport two days later as he prepared to board a one-way flight to Singapore.

Judge Anderson said he had been motivated by financial difficulties to take 'a calculated risk, which as it turns out failed spectacularly'

James Blake Blee is pictured being questioned by detectives at Mascot police station in 2022

'I accept the conduct is an aberration,' he said.

'He was not motivated by greed but by a sad, misconceived and desperate financial gamble.'

He sentenced Blee to 11 years and three months behind bars, which was backdated until he was taken into custody in 2022.

Taking into account the time served, Blee will spend a further five years in custody before he is eligible for parole in 2029.
The author of the letter is left stunned

A wine bottle with a letter inside has washed up on an Aussie beach more than a decade after it was dropped into the Atlantic Ocean on the other side of the world.

Local Tony made the astonishing discovery while he was walking along the beach in Peterborough, in Victoria's south-west, on Monday.

He later shared photos of the green glass bottle, which was covered in dozens of shells on one side on Facebook.

The bottle was dropped into the ocean around 50km off the coast of Brazil between Rio de Janeiro and Salvador on November 3, 2008.

'Greetings, your curiosity has paid off. Thank you for recovering this bottle and taking [the] time to see what was inside,' the letter read.

'I have placed bottles like this one in several oceans at many different locations all over the world in the hope that people like you might find this bottle and return the note to me in the United States.'

The author was US man Joe Johnson, who has dropped dozens of empty wine bottles into oceans around the world while on overseas cruises.

Mr Johnson said he threw the bottles in the hope that someone would find them and return to him.

The empty wine bottle (pictured) was found on a beach in Peterborough, in Victoria's south-west, on Monday

'I would appreciate you sending me this note so I can find out how far the bottle travelled and for how long,' he wrote.

'To make it worth your while to participate in my experiment, I will send you $20 (US) upon receipt of this note'.

Mr Johnson, who lives in the small Maryland town of Towson, was shocked to learn that his letter washed up on Australia's shores.

'My wife and I took an awful lot of cruises, I don't remember that specific bottle,' he told ABC Radio Melbourne on Tuesday.

'It's so interesting ... especially since it came from Brazil to Australia.'

Rio De Janeiro is more than 13,100km away from the Victoria beachside town of Peterborough.

Mr Johnson, who wrote the letter (pictured), stated he would give $20 (US) to the person who found the parchment and returned to him in the US

Mr Johnson added that it's very rare for someone to notify him that one of the hundreds of bottles that he has discarded had been found.

The veteran traveller vowed keep his word when asked whether he would come good on his promise to give beachgoer Tony $20.

Shocked social media users were quick to express their enthusiasm over the rare discovery.

'How fantastic - I love that!' one person wrote.

Another added: 'Made its way to Australia - how amazing!

'Wow that's a long time bobbing up and down in the ocean,' a third chimed in.

Many urged the local who found the bottle to claim the money promised.

Others were fascinated by how far the bottle travelled.

'That's a really fascinating find! To think it has survived 16 years in the ocean,' one person wrote.

This is amazing! What a find. If only that bottle could talk, what an adventure,' another person wrote.
Beijing, Brussels may meet halfway on EV tariffs

08:40, November 26, 2024 By Wang Keju ( China Daily

The prospect of China and the European Union nearing an alternative solution to the EU's imposition of extra tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles will provide a much-needed buffer to avoid the escalation of trade tensions between the two economic powerhouses, analysts said.

China and the EU meeting each other halfway on the tariff issue would not only benefit the EV industry on both sides, but also contribute to the broader bilateral economic relationship, they added.

Bernd Lange, chair of the Committee on International Trade of the European Parliament, told German broadcaster n-tv on Friday that Brussels and Beijing are close to reaching a deal that would see China commit to offering EVs in the EU at a minimum price, although he did not provide any further details on the specifics of the arrangement.

Amid simmering tensions for months over unfounded allegations of the so-called unfair subsidies in China's EV industry, the EU completed its probe on Oct 29, placing additional tariffs of up to 35.3 percent on Chinese EV imports for five years, on top of the standard 10 percent import duty.

Despite the tariff imposition, Chinese and EU technical teams engaged in five rounds of discussions in Beijing from Nov 2 to 7, as well as video talks in the following week, aiming to reach a potential price undertaking agreement.

Under this arrangement, China would agree to a mutually acceptable export price and volume for its EVs in exchange for the EU removing the tariff hikes.

A source familiar with the matter told China Daily earlier this month that China and the EU reached a "technical consensus" after the talks, particularly on the framework for the price undertaking agreement and its implementation mechanism.

Building on the progress, both parties expressed willingness to focus on negotiating issues related to their core interests and reach a mutually beneficial agreement, the source said.

Neither the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, nor China's Ministry of Commerce had commented on Lange's remarks as of press time on Monday.

The deal, if finalized, could satisfy the EU's demands for shielding its local automotive sector, while preventing the levying of steep tariffs on Chinese EV imports, said Sang Baichuan, dean of the University of International Business and Economics' Institute of International Economy.

The price undertaking agreement could provide temporary relief for European carmakers, but Sang noted that building a local value chain that could truly support the sustainable growth of the EU's electric vehicle industry is a long-term endeavor.

Simply suppressing supply from China is not the way out, said Sang, who added that European companies should evaluate their competition and collaboration with Chinese companies in a more calm and rational manner.

According to a report published in April by the International Energy Agency, China currently dominates the battery supply chain, with nearly 85 percent of global battery cell production capacity.

"The price undertaking will ultimately revert to market-based pricing in the long run," Sang said, adding that this is expected to prompt Chinese automakers to reevaluate their product positioning, cost structures, and various aspects of their value chains.

Cui Hongjian, director of Beijing Foreign Studies University's Center for European Union and Regional Development Studies, said the EU official's statement indicates a push within the group to arrive at a consensus with China at an early date.

Given the economic challenges confronting Europe and the opposition from multiple member states, it is strategically prudent for the EU to steer clear of escalating trade tensions, which could potentially inflict more severe repercussions on its economy, Cui added.

The Chinese government, in line with regulations, is imposing temporary anti-dumping measures on selected EU brandy imports, as announced by the Ministry of Commerce in early October. This action coincides with the ongoing investigations into EU imports of pork, pork byproducts, and dairy products.

Furthermore, Chinese officials are considering heightened tariffs on imported fuel-powered vehicles with large-displacement engines from the EU, according to the ministry.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
A disgraced former nurse who received more than $1million of inheritance from an elderly patient she'd met less than four weeks before his death has been ordered to surrender the remaining funds to his family.

A lawyer representing a relative of Lionel Cox, a 92-year-old Melbourne man who passed in 2015, claimed the will leaving ex-nurse Abha Anuradha Kumar the large inheritance was created under 'the most suspicious circumstances imaginable'.

Last week, Supreme Court Justice Melissa Daly ordered the grant of probate be revoked, which gave Kumar the power to manage Mr Cox's estate.

Although the value of the estate has dropped due to a series of transfers made by Kumar to cover legal fees, the more than $880,000 that remains will be disbursed to Mr Cox's cousins, The Age reported.

Kumar was a manager at Cambridge House, a residential aged care facility in Collingwood - in Melbourne's inner-city, when she met Mr Cox in 2015, according to court documents.

She quickly learned the elder had no immediate family or will but owned a valuable property in nearby Fitzroy.

Kumar bought a will kit within three days of learning the ill and frail man's situation and three weeks later persuaded two other staff members of Cambridge House to witness his handwritten will, it was alleged in a statement of claim.

However, she failed to tell either that she was listed as the executor and sole beneficiary to Mr Cox's estate.

Melbourne man Lionel Cox, 92, (pictured) left his estate to ex-nurse Abha Anuradha Kumar

Kumar bought a will kit (pictured) for Mr Cox three days after learning he owned property but had no immediate family

Mr Cox passed following a short battle with pneumonia on August 9, 2015.

Kumar was allegedly not working on the day of his death but called Cambridge House to demand a junior staffer search his belongings for his house key, before his body had been moved to a funeral home.

The nurse quickly became the 'informant' on Mr Cox's death certificate and obtained a grant of probate from the Supreme Court in November 2015.

Mr Cox's estate valued totalled well over $1million with Kumar gaining $1,117,000 from his Greeves Street home when it sold in 2016, $36,277 cash and personal items valued at $3,000.

The lawyer representing his cousin Geoffrey Cox, a beneficiary of last court's decision, argued that Kumar's actions were elder financial abuse.

Abha Anuradha Kumar (pictured) was accused of being named the sole beneficiary of Lionel Cox's estate under 'the most suspicious circumstances imaginable'

'It's an important reminder that the law can and will catch up with you eventually,' James Dimond from the law firm Moores told the publication.

'This is a rare situation involving a medical professional, but elderly and vulnerable people are separated from their assets or pressured to sign dodgy wills and other legal documents all the time.

'The court system is rife with elder financial abuse cases, usually involving close family members.'

Kumar was served with a 'summons for revocation' in a Supreme Court action launched by State Trustees, owned by the Victorian Government, in August 2021.

The Trustee's lawyers alleged Kumar did not execute Mr Cox's will in compliance with legislation and acted against the elder's wishes.

The Supreme Court's decision last Thursday came five years after Kumar was banned from being a registered health practitioner.

An investigation by the Nursing and Midwifery Board found she had engaged in professional misconduct.

The remains of Mr Cox's (pictured) estate will be disbursed to his surviving cousins

A Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing in 2019 heard Kumar was a 'deeply flawed character' and posed a risk to the public as she 'lacks trustworthiness and integrity'.

'The conduct in this case constituted determined, goal-directed actions by Ms Kumar to ensure that Mr Cox - a vulnerable, elderly man in her care - made a will in her favour, and that no one knew he had done so until after he died,' its ruling said.

Kumar was banned from working or volunteering in any aged care facility or being a registered health practitioner for five years.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Kumar's lawyer for comment.
Homeowners claim that a solar panel installation firm has trapped them into a 25-year lease and forced them to pay up to 1,200 to stop pigeons landing on their roofs.

A number of customers say they agreed to the installation after A Shade Greener representatives promised them free panels and cheap electricity bills.

More than 1,800 have joined a Facebook group dedicated to complaints about the firm - with many members threatened with legal action by the company over their negative reviews.

Ralph Wilson had previously told MailOnline that the company said he had no right to switch off the panels in his late mother's home because of the long-term lease she had signed in 2014.

This was despite the property becoming vacant after the 74-year-old moved into care.

A number of customers say they agreed to the installation after A Shade Greener representatives promised them free panels and cheap electricity bills (pictured: Ralph Wilson's late mother's home)

Ralph Wilson, who switched off the panels in his late mother Valerie Wilson's home, alleges the company said he had no right to do this

More than 1,800 have joined a Facebook group dedicated to A Shade Greener complaints - with many members threatened with legal action by the company over their negative reviews

A Shade Greener vehemently denies the allegations made against it - stressing that those who agreed to solar panel installation were 'landlords' and not customers.

Judy Clemenson, 58, told the Telegraph that she ignored her gut feeling and agreed to sign up to the panels after being given a 'hard sales' pitch on her doorstep.

But she, like many others, is now regretting the decision after finding out she would have to fork out for fees - which she believed the company would pay for.

The company's sales team has been accused of signing homeowners up to the deals without making sure they understood the full terms of the contract.

The company, which has since stopped new installations, claimed to be Britain's 'largest' solar panel installer and is currently being investigated by energy watchdog Ofgem.

The solar panel firm said it provided leaflets and sales materials to landlords when they signed up which made clear their responsibilities.

Their 'rent-a-roof schemes' boomed in popularity during the 2010s, when door-to-door solar panel sales were commonplace.

Company boss Stewart Davies, the ex-chairman of Darlington FC, took advantage of the Government's Feed-in Tariff scheme, which enabled solar panel owners to sell unused energy to electricity suppliers.

Customers gave up any right to this money when signing contracts with A Shade Greener, because they didn't own the panels.

But they did benefit from the free installation and cheaper bills because the house would use electricity from the panels directly.

The company had installed panels on over 70,000 roofs within a few years, but complaints soon began to mount.

A Shade Greener vehemently denies the allegations made against it - stressing that those who agreed to solar panel installation were 'landlords' and not customers

A common issue with the solar panels seems to be pigeons nesting beneath them

Mrs Clemenson's main issue after having her panels installed in 2015 was that they attracted a flurry of pigeons who are drawn to their warmth and shelter.

Her neighbours complained about finding dead birds on their property, leading the Derby resident to contact the company asking them to install a bird guard.

A Shade Greener told her she would have to pay for a bird expense herself  for which she says she was quoted 1,200.

She said: 'My neighbours rang me up crying a week and a half ago. They've both been very, very ill, and they think it is the mess that they are getting from the dust and the pigeons.

'So I am paying now, actually, out of my own pocket to have these bird guards put up, just to protect my neighbours.'

Providing bird guards was 'not a service which was either promised or provided free-of-charge', A Shade Greener spokesman said, adding that there is no legal obligation for them to do so.

Mrs Clemenson then received a legal complaint from A Shade Greener concerning her involvement in a Facebook group of fellow complainers.

The company has previously attracted fierce criticism for threatening customers who complain.

The company told her they would be pursuing her for defamation and accused her of being personally responsible for posts which were 'inaccurate, negligent, incite illegal action and are defamatory'. She denies these claims.

Mr Davies told Mrs Clemenson that he wanted to 'increase communications' between her and A Shade Greener in two personal messages sent after he had attempted to become friends with her on Facebook.

A Shade Greener is run by ex-Darlington FC chairman Stewart Davies, 73 (pictured)

Mr Davies told Mrs Clemenson that he wanted to 'increase communications' between her and A Shade Greener in two personal messages sent after he had attempted to become friends with her on Facebook (note: This is not the actual friend request sent Mrs Clemenson)

The social media messages left Mrs Clemenson feeling 'uncomfortable'.

According to A Shade Greener's estimates, Mrs Clemenson saved 10,263.36 on her energy bills because of the solar panels.

Mrs Clemenson's complaints were echoed by Mr Wilson, whose 74-year-old mother Valerie Wilson had the panels installed in 2014 after signing a 25-year lease.

Mr Wilson turned off the panels once he had moved his mother into care and he alleges the company said he had no right to do this, despite his safety concerns.

He had previously told MailOnline that the sale of his mother's property was made more difficult by the solar panels - a claim denied by A Shade Greener.

He said: 'This is only going to get bigger and bigger. There are more and more of these properties. I despise them and their practices. Despise isn't really strong enough.'

Mr Wilson's mother had saved 9,467.52 on her bills as a result of the panels, according to A Shade Greener estimates.

Feed-In Tariff schemes becoming less generous are believed to have been the reason for the issues seen at A Shade Greener.

Mrs Clemenson's complaints were echoed by Mr Wilson, whose 74-year-old Valerie Wilson had the panels installed in 2014 after signing a 25-year lease

In 2012 the rate was cut from 43p per kilowatt hour to 21p and dropped again to less than 5p in 2016.

it was in that year that the company stopped installing free solar panels. Then in 2019, the subsidy was dropped entirely.

This meant growth stagnated for solar panel leasing companies, such as A Shade Greener.

The Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero said the accusations were being 'urgently' investigated by Ofgem.

A spokesman said: 'These are concerning allegations and Ofgem is urgently looking into the accusations levelled against the company. If it finds any act of non-compliance, we will not hesitate to support Ofgem in using all its powers appropriately.'
The public and editors chose the same word

Macquarie Dictionary has unveiled its Word of the Year, which exposes the resentment among Aussie consumers about the reliability of tech platforms.

The term 'enshittification' was chosen by the dictionary's selection committee and the public as the Word of the Year for 2024.

It was the first time in the competition's 18-year history that the same word was picked by both the editors and the public.

The term refers to 'the gradual deterioration of a service or product brought about by a reduction in the quality of service provided'.

The definition of the word extends specifically to the deterioration of 'an online platform as a consequence of profit-seeking'.

The dictionary's committee said the word 'captures what many of us feel is happening to the world and so many aspects of our lives at the moment'.

Macquarie Dictionary managing editor Victoria Morgan said the word personifies how the owners of tech companies tamper with the platforms.

She explained that while these subtle changes improve the profitability of these companies, they do not improve the service for millions of consumers worldwide.

The word 'enshittification' was chosen in reference to the growing resentment among Aussie consumers about the reliability of major tech platforms (stock image)

The definition of the word extends specifically to the deterioration of 'an online platform as a consequence of profit-seeking'

'All the streaming channels making you pay extra to not have ads is the perfect example of enshittification,' Ms Morgan told radio station 3AW on Tuesday.

'It's usually associated with (making money).

'They get the customer base in and everyone is pretty happy, but then they (try) and find a quick way to make money.'

The term was first used by British-Canadian blogger and journalist Cory Doctorow in 2022 to describe how tech platforms change for the worse without proper regulation.

The phrase 'brainrot' came second while the Committee's Choice also gave honourable mentions to the terms 'right to disconnect' or RTD and 'rawdogging'.

Brainrot describes low quality social media content and the 'supposed diminished mental capacity' it triggers in those, who consume it.

The term RTD was selected after the federal government introduced new laws in August, which gives employees the right not to be contacted after working hours.

The selection committee of the dictionary, which is internationally recognised as the standard reference of Australian English, chose the phrase 'cozzie livs' as the word of the year in 2023.

The colloquial term refers to the cost of living.

Macquarie Dictionary said the word personifies how the owners of tech companies tamper with the platforms to increase profits. Pictured is X owner Elon Musk

Macquarie Dictionary's word of the year reveal comes after researchers at the Australian National University (ANU) selected 'Colesworth' as their Word of the Year for 2024.

The term, which is a combination of Coles and Woolworths, was picked in reference to the anger over the dominance of the two supermarket giants.

The word is a popular phrase on social media with dozens of Aussies using the term to vent at the soaring cost of grocery prices at both supermarket stores.

Macquarie is one of several dictionaries worldwide that release words of the year.

The UK's Oxford dictionary is taking votes online for its own, with 'brainrot', 'demure', 'dynamic pricing' and 'slop' all in the running.
A world famous London hotel has listed over 3,000 items for sale including 1,371 pieces of furniture and 344 works of fine art ahead of its latest renovation.

The Savoy, located in the Strand, has always been determined to stay ahead of the times and as it looks to renovate once more, it's furnishings are going up for auction.

It has seen four major refurbishments over its 135-year history, in 1910, 1936, 1950 and 2010  and 2024 is no exception.

Decorative art, curtains, collectables, textile items and furniture are among the thousands of items up for grabs next month.

They are available to view on the BidSpotter website, including a portrait of Charlie Chaplin and a Georgian Chippendale-style Donghia camelback sofa.

The hotel announced in August: 'The Savoy has also confirmed a refurbishment of rooms and suites as part of a continued commitment to invest in the property and ensure the best experience for guests.

'This has commenced and is to be done in stages to have little to no impact to the operational running of the hotel. The first new rooms and suites will be revealed in August 2025.'

However, it has remained quiet on what the refurbished rooms may look like.

The Savoy, located in the Strand, has always been determined to stay ahead of the times and as it looks to renovate once more, it's furnishings are going up for auction

The hotel has seen four major refurbishments over its 135-year history, in 1910, 1936, 1950 and 2010  and 2024 is no exception. Pictured is the Monet suit which is being refurbished

Pictured: A portrait of Charlie Chaplin which is going up for sale at the auction next month

The Times reported one of the suites under renovation is named after soprano Maria Callas.

Remnants of her time at The Savoy are up for sale including a framed portrait of her and framed copy of the score of the opera Anna Bolena.

Callas' 1957 performance of the tragedy, composed by Gaetano Donizetti, is considered one of the highlights of her career.

Another print which is up for sale depicts the Lyceum Theatre in London on March 21, 1817, when it hosted an exhibition of the writer and inventor inventor Adam Walker's eidouranion, which is a type of solar system.

Furniture going up for auction include pieces by Italian luxury designer Francesco Molon. His items have also graced the Ritz-Carlton in New York and the Palazzo Portinari Salviati in Florence.

The Savoy recently reopened its Thames Foyer following a significant renovation.

The glass-domed atrium has been serving afternoon tea for over a century and reopened under the new name of Gallery this weekend.

A Georgian Chippendale-style Donghia camelback sofa (pictured) which is going up for sale as part of the auction

Decorative art, curtains, collectables, textile items and furniture are among the thousands of items up for grabs next month

Commenting on the renovation, managing director, Franck Arnold, says, 'This is going to be a complete transformation of the Thames Foyer and Upper Thames and we are so excited to unveil our new, vibrant dining destination and outlets later in the year.

'The new dining concept will harmoniously blend tradition with innovation, ensuring our guests have the perfect setting in which to relax, drink and dine, and enjoy a truly unique Savoy experience'.

The Savoy is a haunt for the great and good and has seen many stars pass through its doors over the years, including Marilyn Monroe, The Prince of Wales (later Edward VII), Coco Chanel and Fred Estaire.

When it opened in 1889 it was Britain's first luxury hotel including many innovations such as electric lights, electric lifts, bathrooms in most of the rooms and constant hot running water.

The Thames Foyer paved its own way in history, hosting the first ever dinner dance in 1912, when a daring couple got up to dance in a small gap between tables, while world-renowned dishes such as Peach Melba were created by legendary chef, Auguste Escoffier, during his time at the hotel from 1890 to 1898.
Multiple staff from a backpacker hostel at the centre of a suspected mass poisoning in Laos, which claimed the lives of six foreign tourists, have been arrested by police.

Eight men aged 23-47, from the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng are in custody following arrests by police on Monday, a local news site reported.

All of those detained by Vang Vieng police are believed to be Vietnamese nationals.

Melbourne teenagers Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both aged 19, were among six foreign tourists who died last week after falling ill while staying at the hostel.

The best friends were evacuated to separate hospitals in Thailand on November 13.

Ms Jones died surrounded by loved ones in Udon Thani hospital last Thursday before Ms Bowles died in nearby Bangkok Hospital the next day.

Their bodies were onboard a repatriation flight home to Australia on Tuesday night, with their parents also on the same flight.

Two Danish women Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Frela Vennervald Sorensen, 21, US man James Louis Hutson, 57 and British lawyer Simone White, 28, also died from after drinking contaminated drinks.

Melbourne teenager Bianca Jones (pictured) died after a suspected mass methanol poisoning in Laos

Eight staff from the Nana Backpacker Hostel, where Melbourne teenager Holly Bowles (above) died after drinking a contaminated beverage, were arrested on Monday

Local reports suggest another 12 foreign tourists were hospitalised after drinking at the Nana Backpacker Hostel.

Early testing indicated methanol was present in beer and spirits at the venue.

It's understood some guests staying there were given free shots at the hostel bar on November 11, before a number of backpackers, including Bowles and Jones, continued onto other bars before falling ill the following day.

Nana Backpackers has since been shut down while the investigation into the deaths continues.

Those arrested included a 'Mr Yeungvanhoun, 34, Mr Hongieng Manhoung, 38, Mr Bouyvandat 35, Mr Jikkauk, 23, Mr Yeungduktoun 47, Mr Hngiengsuieng, 28, Guang Chung 44, along with an eighth man, 42, Lao Phatthana News reported.

Those arrested included general staff and managers.

There is no suggestion that those detained are responsible for the tourists' deaths.

Despite six deaths being linked to methanol poisoning, police only referred to three deaths in their official statement,

Early testing indicated methanol was present in beer and spirits served at the Nana Backpacker Hostel (pictured)

The report did not include the Australian teenagers or the British victim Ms White.

'The initial cause of the death of the number of tourists is expected because of drinking poisonous drinks and other problems caused three deaths,' the report said.

'Investigation Unit is still in the process of co-ordinating with ministries, departments, agencies and relevant stakeholders to collect data and collect samples to find out unidentified information on deaths of foreign tourists this time to be clarified quickly on the basis of inspection, verifying the results of scientific research.'

News of the arrest emerged as allegations collected in a survey by a grieving backpacker who was friends with the two deceased Danish women - claimed staff failed to help the pair when they became ill.

One of the women he surveyed claimed she'd helped Ms Coyman and Ms Sorensen when the pair began showing signs of methanol poisoning said the hostel refused to call an ambulance for them, even when one began having a seizure.

Instead, a female worker allegedly began massaging the seizing woman's toes and feet while saying, 'I'm saving her, don't worry', the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Staff also allegedly claimed Ms Coyman and Ms Sorensen were suffering panic attacks, rather than fatal poisoning.

The woman's story contradicts the account shared by state-owned media that the Danish women were found by staff on the floor of their bathroom.

It comes three days after the Laos Government broke its silence on the suspected mass poisoning.

Bianca Jones (left) died surrounded by loved ones in Udon Thani hospital last Thursday before her best friend Holly Bowles (right) died in nearby Bangkok Hospital the next day

On Saturday, authorities vowed to 'bring the perpetrators to justice' and said they were 'deeply saddened' by the tragedy.

'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,' it said.

'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 chilling audio recording of the moment DHL cargo plane crashed and sparked a massive inferno in Lithuania yesterday has only served to deepen the mystery around the shocking explosion.

The Boeing 737-400 had travelled from the German city of Leipzig to the Lithuanian capital Vilnius and was just one mile from touching down on the runway when the fiery crash occurred around 5.30am local time (3.30am GMT) on Monday.

A security camera overlooking the scene captured the plane gliding in toward Vilnius Airport at a dangerously low altitude.

Suddenly the aircraft pitched to the right with the wingtip angling down and dove into the earth, erupting in a huge fireball that lit up the early morning sky.

But the communication between the cockpit and air traffic control appeared completely normal as the pilots provided no warning whatsoever that they were experiencing any difficulties before they hit the ground.

Minutes before the crash, the pilot greeted air traffic controllers with a 'good morning' and established the correct runway seemingly without any issue.

Yet as the plane banked south and made its final approach, the comms went silent and attempts to raise the pilot went unanswered.

Then air traffic control realised the DHL plane had careened into the earth a mile from the airport. The recording captured the controller frantically doling out messages, warning other planes to abort their landing or takeoff as the emergency situation unfolded.

'Cancel your start-up, go back to your stand... we just got a crash of an aircraft on final... a Boeing 737,' the tower controller said solemnly.

Marius Baranauskas, head of the Lithuanian National Aviation Authority, highlighted the strange nature of the cockpit recording.

'In the recording of the conversation between the pilots and the tower, the pilots until the very last second did not tell the tower of any extraordinary event,' he said.

'We need to examine the black boxes to know what was happening in the aircraft.'

The Boeing 737-400 had travelled from the German city of Leipzig to the Lithuanian capital Vilnius and was just one mile from touching down on the runway when the fiery incident occurred

The aircraft pitched to the right with the wingtip angling down and dove into the ground, erupting in a huge fireball that lit up the early morning sky

This photograph taken on November 25, 2024 shows burning goods following the crash of a cargo plane

Shocking images from the scene of the crash showed debris strewn about frost-covered ground as firefighters raced to extinguish the blaze.

The plane narrowly avoided hitting a major motorway and instead came down in a wooded area, skidding several hundred metres before finally stopping when it collided with a two-storey residential property.

Miraculously, three of the four people on board survived the ordeal, albeit with significant injuries, according to Lithuanian Police Commissioner General Arunas Paulauskas, who told national broadcaster LRT that rescuers managed to pull them from the wreckage.

One member of the four-person crew - a man with Spanish nationality - was reportedly found dead at the scene, Lithuanian media reported, but 12 people were evacuated from the stricken building without incident.

The cause of the crash remains a mystery as Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre deployed experts to investigate.

There was no data to suggest that there had been an explosion prior to the crash, head of the centre Vilmantas Vitkauskas told LRT.

'According to the initial version, the incident may be related to technical problems. However, it is too early to talk about anything more precise,' he said.

But Vilnius resident Kotryna Ciupailaite, who said the aircraft flew low over her car as she was driving to work, said she noticed something trailing from the right wing moments before the crash.

'The right wing of the plane turned down before it crashed, as if it was trying to turn. There was something shiny coming out of the right side of the plane, like sparks or a flame, before it hit the ground,' said Ciupailaite.

The incident follows reports in recent months that mysterious explosions had occurred at DHL warehouses in Leipzig and Birmingham amid fears of a Russian covert sabotage operation intended to explode aircraft flying in the West.

Police Commissioner Paulauskas said investigators have not ruled out the possibility of a terrorist act.

'This is one of the versions that must be studied and checked,' he said, but added: 'It was most likely due to a technical fault or a human error.'

A security camera overlooking the scene captured the plane gliding in toward Vilnius Airport but at a dangerously low altitude

Miraculously, both pilots miraculously survived the ordeal, albeit with significant injuries, though one crewmember was killed

Lithuanian Emergency Ministry employees work at the site where a DHL cargo plane crashed into a house near Vilnius, Lithuania

The moment a DHL cargo plane with four crew crashes into a Vilnius residential building leaving at least one crewmember dead

A Police officer guards the DHL cargo plane crash site near Vilnius International Airport, Lithuania November 25, 2024

Burning packages and wreckage of the DHL cargo plane are seen at the crash site near Vilnius International Airport, Lithuania November 25, 2024

The explosion from the crash lights up the early morning sky in Vilnius

Flight-tracking data from FlightRadar24 showed the aircraft made a turn to the north of the airport and lined up for landing before crashing a little more than 1.5 kilometres, or one mile, short of the runway.

'The plane was due to land at Vilnius airport and crashed a few kilometres away,' Renatas Pozela, the head of the firefighting and emergency services unit said, confirming that one person in the four-member crew died.

'It fell a few kilometres before the airport. It just skidded for a few hundred metres - its debris somewhat caught a residential house.

'Residential infrastructure around the house was on fire, and the house was slightly damaged, but we managed to evacuate people,' Pozela said.

Other officials were careful not to jump to conclusions.

State Security Department chief Darius Jauniskis said: 'We cannot rule out the case of terrorism. We have warned that such things are possible, we see an increasingly aggressive Russia... but we cannot make any attributions or point fingers yet.

'It is premature to associate (the crash) with anything or to make any attributions,' Jauniskis told reporters.

'In the current geopolitical context, we look at every incident differently than before, but I ask you to refrain from jumping to conclusions,' the outgoing prime minister, Ingrida Simonyte, said in a statement on social media.

Emergency service workers attend the scene of the crash in a woodland near Vilnius

Lithuanian rescuers are seen working next to the wreckage of a cargo plane following its crash near the Vilnius International Airport in the country's capital this morning

The plane had been travelling from the German city of Leipzig to the Lithuanian capital and was just one mile from touching down on the runway when the fiery crash occurred

A medic was seen taking a photo at the scene of the crash which killed at least one person

Three crew members were also said to be injured and 12 residents of a home evacuated

A cordon is seen around the affected area with plane wreckage visible among the trees

Firefighters are seen at a property near the crash site with smoke continuing to rise in the background

One eyewitness, who gave her name only as Svaja, ran to a window when a light as bright as a red sun filled her room, and then heard an explosion followed by flashes and black smoke.

'I saw a fireball,' she told an AP reporter at the scene. 'My first thought is that a world (war) has begun and it's time to grab the documents and run somewhere to a shelter, to a basement.'

'We were woken by an explosion. Through the window, we saw the wave of explosions and a cloud of fire. Like fireworks,' Stanislovas Jakimavicius, who lives near the crash site, told AFP.

German logistics company DHL said the aircraft was operated by its partner SwiftAir and had been attempting an 'emergency landing'.

'We can confirm that at approximately 4.30 am CET, a Swiftair aircraft, operated by a service partner on behalf of DHL, performed an emergency landing about one kilometre from VNO Airport (Vilnius, Lithuania) while en route from LEJ Airport (Leipzig, Germany) to VNO Airport,' it said in a statement.

A German transport ministry official said the country's Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation 'will support the investigation on site'.

Defence Minister Laurynas Kasciunas told reporters that the probe to establish the cause of the crash could take 'about a week'.

'So far, there are no signs or evidence suggesting this was sabotage or a terrorist act,' he said.

Local Police Chief Paulauskas said investigators had gone to the hospital to talk to the pilots.

This photograph taken on November 25, 2024 shows the wreckage of a cargo plane in the courtyard of a house following its crash near the Vilnius International Airport in Vilnius

A pilot of the plane heading to Vilnius airport is reported to have been killed in Monday's crash

Smoke is seen billowing following this morning's crash south of the Lithuanian capital

Meanwhile, Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas declared an emergency situation following the crash, with traffic restricted on several roads near the airport and crash site.

'We will urgently declare an emergency situation in the area to ensure the rapid liquidation of the consequences of the accident  cleaning up the territory, collecting harmful materials,' Benkunskas said in a statement released this morning.

The Lithuanian airport authority identified the aircraft as a 'DHL cargo plane flying from Leipzig, Germany, to Vilnius Airport'.

An airport spokesperson said: 'The city's special services are working at the scene and leading the rescue efforts, as well as crews from the Vilnius Airport Fire Service.'

The DHL aircraft, a Boeing 737-400, was operated by Swiftair, a Madrid-based contractor.

The Boeing 737 was 31 years old, which is considered by experts to be an older airframe, though that is not unusual for cargo flights.

DHL official Ausra Rutkauskien confirmed the plane belonged to the company, while Boeing offered a short statement saying it was ready to help with investigations into the crash.

Weather at Vilnius airport this morning was around freezing temperature, with clouds before sunrise and winds said to be at 30kph (18 mph).

At the scene of the crash, frost was seen coating the ground not already covered by the wreckage of the plane or burning, ruined goods.

Vilnius Airport continued operating as usual following the incident, though some flights were delayed.

Emergency workers comb through the wreckage of the cargo plane

A Lithuanian medic takes a photo on his mobile phone of the wreckage of a cargo plane following its crash near the Vilnius International Airport in Vilnius on November 25, 2024

Lithuania's public broadcaster LRT, quoting an emergency official, said the aircraft smashed into a two-story home near the capital Vilnius's airport

The plane appeared to be lining up for landing, before crashing a little more than 1.5km, or one mile, short of the runway

The DHL aircraft, a 31-year-old Boeing 737, was operated by Madrid-based contractor Swiftair

Western officials have previously this month expressed fears that Russia is behind plots to plant bombs on passenger planes flying to the US and Canada after electronic massagers exploded in a warehouse.

Two incendiary devices were shipped via a DHL logistics centre on July 22 to Birmingham, England, and Leipzig, Germany, resulting in a fire.

Four people were arrested in connection with the blaze and charged with participating in sabotage or terrorist operations on behalf of a foreign intelligence agency.

No injuries were reported, with the incident dealt with by staff and the local fire brigade.

But investigators believe there could have been far more serious consequences had the devices ignited while in flight. The plane's takeoff was delayed, preventing such an incident from taking place.

Head of Poland's foreign intelligence agency, Pawel Szota, blamed Russia, although a statement from the Polish prosecutor's office did not name a foreign government suspected of directing the operations.

Images released by the Wall Street Journal, provided by an unnamed European security official, appear to show the massage pillows, suspect and the moment of the explosion.

The only official statement in the UK about the alleged plot was made last month, when counter-terror police confirmed a device had caught fire in Birmingham, nobody was hurt, and it was dealt with 'by staff and the local fire brigade at the time'.

Russia denied involvement in the alleged plot.

'These are traditional unsubstantiated insinuations from the media,' Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the Wall Street Journal.

Two incendiary devices had been shipped via a DHL logistics centre on July 22 to Birmingham, England, and Leipzig, Germany, resulting in a fire

The alleged suspect is spotted in security camera footage

Massage pillows and other erotic gadgets were reportedly found in a shipment that concealed incendiary devices that later detonated in British and German DHL depots

Concerns over Russia's suspected involvement come as Western officials are increasingly fearing the country may be responsible for similar sabotage acts.

German intelligence service chief Thomas Haldenwang previously said Russian 'aggression' was 'putting people's lives at risk' as well as affecting 'all areas of our free society'.

Meanwhile, defence officials have warned that Europe is not ready for Russia's tactics of hybrid warfare

A former senior European official told the Guardian that the EU is 'totally unprepared' to confront Moscow in its campaign of 'hybrid' warfare, lacking the resources to effectively counter sabotage, arson, assassination and attacks on infrastructure.

They said Europe could expect more 'hybrid' attacks to unfold on the continent in the wake of the decision to permit usage of long-range US and UK-supplied missiles against targets deep inside Russia.

Russia has been accused of trying to destabilise the West and allies since the war in Ukraine began by allegedly 'weaponising mass migration' along its western border, influencing elections in Moldova and Georgia, jamming aircraft GPS and even sending exploding sex toys to Western Europe.
Vladimir Putin's new 'wonder-weapon' caused little damage when he unleashed it on Ukraine, satellite pictures show, despite Russian claims that a defence plant in Dnipro was 'erased to dust'.

Furious Russian pro-war military pundits are questioning if they have been misled by Putin's boastful claims over the 'unstoppable' Oreshnik.

Dramatic footage showed the weapon releasing six separate warheads during an attack on Yuzhmash plant, also known as Pivdenmash.

Putin claims the missile is 'unstoppable' by Western and Ukrainian air defences, and has vowed to increase production of the weapon following Thursday's launch.

The despot added that the new weapon travelled at 10 times the speed of sound, rendering Ukrainian air defences powerless to shoot it down.

Russian sources said the range was 3,100 miles, with defence officials pointing out that this would allow it to strike anywhere in Europe and the west coast of the United States.

Russian accounts suggested that the Dnipro defence plant had been 'completely destroyed' and a 'black hole' had formed at the site of the attack.

But the Kyiv Post reported: 'The images do not support the Russian claims that the plant was "erased to dust".'

BEFORE: The site of the facility in Dnipro which Putin's forces targeted with their new Oreshnik missile

AFTER: Satellite images appear to show limited damage to the facility following Thursday's strike

Pictures show Putin's new Oreshnik hypersonic super-weapon attacking a defence plant in Dnipro, Ukraine on 21 November 2024

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

Russian war blogger Romanov Light complained: 'Satellite images of Yuzhmash have emerged following a strike by Oreshnik.

'The workshops remain intact. Nothing has been 'reduced to dust'.

'However, it seems the private residential area above sustained some damage.'

Putin said: 'Modern air defence systems cannot intercept such missiles. That's impossible As of today, there are no means of counteracting such a weapon.'

The hypersonic missile was reported to be able to hit Britain 20 minutes after being launched.

Putin said the non-nuclear Mach 10 hypersonic strike on Dnipro was a test, and the launch was a 'success'.

The Oreshnik was unleashed in response to the use of US and British missiles by Ukraine to strike Russian territory, he said, referring to ATACMS and Storm Shadow.

Putin alleged that US and UK servicemen were behind the targeting of the precision and damaging attacks.

'Experts are well aware, and the Russian side has repeatedly emphasised this, that it is impossible to use such weapons without the direct involvement of military specialists from the countries producing such weapons ,' said Putin.

Parts of a ballistic missile, which Russia used in a strike towards Dnipro city last week, are displayed, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, at an undisclosed location in Ukraine

In revenge 'on the territory of Ukraine, in the city of [Dnipro], one of the largest and well-known industrial complexes from Soviet times, which even today produces missile equipment and other weapons, was hit.

'I repeat, we are conducting live tests of the Oreshnik missile system in response to the aggressive actions of NATO countries against.'

Some Russian sources claim the goal was to demonstrate the power of the weapon, and show its accuracy and speed.

Others said that the Oreshnik is supposed to cause damage underground which may not be visible on the surface.

Russian forces staged their largest ever drone attack on Ukraine overnight, cutting power to much of the western region of Ternopil and damaging residential buildings in Kyiv region, Ukraine's officials said on Tuesday.

Intensified nightly drone attacks on Ukrainian cities are coinciding with a major push by Russia along frontlines in Ukraine's east, where Russian forces have made some of the largest monthly territorial gains since 2022.

Of 188 drones used overnight, Ukraine shot down 76 and lost track of 96, likely due to active electronic warfare, the air force said. Five drones headed towards Belarus.

'The enemy launched a record number of Shahed attack UAVs and unidentified drones ...,' it said. Russia uses cheaply-produced 'suicide' drones and low-cost 'decoy' drones, which tie up Ukrainian air defences.

'Unfortunately, there were hits to critical infrastructure facilities, and private and apartment buildings were damaged in several regions due to the massive drone attack,' an air force statement said, adding that no casualties had been reported.

This is the moment missiles believed to be British Storm Shadow missiles struck inside Russia

As aerial warfare in the conflict intensifies, a top NATO official yesterday warned that Russia's ground forces are expanding.

The Chair of NATO's Military Committee, Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer said Moscow's land forces are bigger now than when the full-scale invasion of Ukraine was launched in February 2022

But, 'the quality of those forces has gone down,' he said, referencing the state of the force's equipment and the level of training of its soldiers.

'At the moment, the Russians are not the same threat as in February 2022, so we have a bit of time to prepare ourselves,' he said, adding that this meant ramping up investments into the defence industry.

NATO is expected to hold emergency talks with Kyiv today to discuss the escalation of the conflict, which has seen some 10,000 North Korean troops deployed to support Russian forces.

Soldiers sent by Pyongyang are believed to be in Russia's Kursk region, which is partly occupied by Ukraine, and will be ready to enter combat inside Ukraine 'soon', according to Lloyd Austin, the US defence secretary.

Meanwhile Britain has urged Kyiv's allies to continue to support its fight against Russia, with foreign minister David Lammy today telling G7 countries to stand with, and equip, Ukraine for as long as it needs.
An Uber driver has been killed after he was shot in the neck during a deadly road rage incident on the Vegas Strip.

The victim, believed to be a white male in his 50s, was found dead at the scene at around 4pm when police responded to a shooting report in front of the Palazzo on the Las Vegas Strip.

When officers arrived, they discovered a grey Jeep Cherokee and the lifeless body of the driver lying in the road with a severe neck injury.

Police revealed that prior to the shooting, the Uber worker, who had two passengers in his vehicle, was embroiled in a road rage incident with the suspect which stretched on for around a quarter of a mile.

The victim was driving behind the suspect's vehicle and when both cars came to a halt, the victim stepped out of his vehicle before approaching the driver's side door and banging on the window.

Cops said this was the moment the suspect shot the Uber driver in his neck.

The victim had also reportedly pulled out his own firearm, but collapsed before he was ever able to pull the trigger.

The assailant, who had been driving a silver Subaru WRX, fled the scene before officers arrived, but they were quickly able to identify the suspect's license plate.

An Uber driver was killed after being shot in the neck on Monday in front of the Palazzo on the Las Vegas Strip

The victim, believed to be in his 50s, was caught up in a road rage incident before he died

Las Vegas Boulevard was closed in both directions from Spring Mountain Road to Venetian Entrance on the day of the shooting

After hunting down the plate, police were able to trace the vehicle to a home in the Washington and Torrey Pines area.

They then arrested a woman in her 20s without incident, police said, and she is now in custody.

Earlier Monday, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada warned drivers of 'heavy construction delays' in the same area where the shooting later happened.

At that time, southbound Las Vegas Boulevard was reduced to a single lane from Spring Mountain Road to Harmon Avenue.

LVMPD Homicide Lieutenant Jason Johansson emphasized patience as the construction works took place.

'The biggest message to carry forward to me is, look there is a lot of construction going on in the valley right now,' he said.

 Breaking: LVMPD is investigating a deadly road rage shooting on the Las Vegas Strip.  @News3LV pic.twitter.com/nhni1n9WWR  George Acosta (@georgeacostatv) November 26, 2024

'We are starting to see an increase slightly in some of these road rage incident type of shootings, a couple of murders,' Johansson added.

'It wasn't worth somebody's life.'

Las Vegas Boulevard was closed in both directions from Spring Mountain Road to Venetian Entrance on the day of the shooting.

Sands Avenue was also closed in both directions between Las Vegas Boulevard and Koval Lane, and drivers were advised to use other routes.

As of Tuesday, both lanes on Las Vegas Boulevard are now open.

Monday's incident was the first of two deadly shootings in the central valley that day with the second taking place almost 45 minutes later, and around a mile away, at McDonald's on Paradise Road.

A man was shot inside the fast food restaurant at around 4:45pm before being dashed to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
This is the shocking moment a wounded elk turned the tables and charged a huntsman, nearly stomping it to death as his terrified friends watched on.

Footage shows two hunters closing in on the elk with their hunting rifles drawn.

But after one of them fired at the elk without killing it, the animal launched a ferocious counterattack, charging directly at him.

It struck the hunter with its antlers and hooves, as the man lied helplessly on the ground and attempted to defend himself.

The second hunter, witnessing the massive elk pummeling his friend, hesitated to shoot, seemingly fearing the animal might turn on him instead.

Meanwhile, a third hunter, who was filming the incident from inside a vehicle, attempted to scare off the enraged elk.

The video of the snowy field in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), in Russia's Far East, was taken earlier this month.

Local media did not disclose whether the hunter sustained any serious injuries or if he required medical attention following the attack.

Footage shows two hunters closing in on the elk with their hunting rifles drawn. But after one of them fired at the elk without killing it, the animal launched a ferocious counterattack, charging directly at him

It struck the hunter with its antlers and hooves, as the man lied helplessly on the ground and attempted to defend himself

The elk (cervus canadensis) is the second largest species within the deer family and one of the largest terrestrial mammals in its native range of North America and Central and East Asia.

While the elk's antlers and velvet are used in traditional medicines in parts of Asia it is mostly hunted as a game species.

This comes after an archery hunter was gored to death by an enraged elk in Oregon, US, three years ago.

Mark David, 66, shot at and wounded the elk with a bow and arrow in Trask Road area, Tillamook County, in August 2020.

David, from Hillsboro, had been hunting on private property when he fired at the bull elk but failed to kill the animal one night.

The hunter couldn't find the injured animal before nightfall and decided to look for it the next day, according to Oregon State Police.

He set out with the property owner to find the elk the next morning, but they found the animal alive.

David attempted to kill the elk with his bow but the enraged animal charged at the hunter and gored him in the neck with his antlers.

The second hunter, witnessing the massive elk pummeling his friend, hesitated to shoot, seemingly fearing the animal might turn on him instead

Mark David, 66, was gored to death by an elk (pictured) in Trask Road area, Tillamook County in August 2020

The property owner attempted to intervene but David suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene.

'The landowner attempted to help David but he sustained fatal injuries and died,' Oregon State Police said.

The elk was killed and the meat was donated to the Tillamook County Jail following the investigation, police said in a statement.
Smirking at the camera for a police mug shot, this was the smug pose adopted by a 'violent coward' who stabbed his former partner to death in broad daylight while she was out with friends.

Logan Burnett, 27, launched the frenzied attack on mother-of-three Courtney Mitchell, 26, after subjecting her to a campaign of harassment which included causing a flood in her home.

Friends of Ms Mitchell told police how jealous Burnett had refused to accept it when she dumped him after a relationship and wanted to rekindle the affair.

He was due to face trial but admitted her murder and possession of two knives when he appeared at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday.

The court heard how he chased Ms Mitchell before stabbing her repeatedly in front of her horrified friends and passers-by in Ipswich at 7.10pm on August 6.

Police arrived within minutes following a 999 call to find her fighting for her life with critical stab wounds as she lay on a pavement. She died a short time later in Ipswich Hospital.

Friends said at the time that she had two sons aged eight and one and a four-year-old daughter.

Burnett, who fled the scene, was immediately identified as the suspect and was arrested the following day at an address in the Suffolk town.

Logan Burnett, 27, pictured, launched the frenzied attack on mother-of-three Courtney Mitchell, 26, after subjecting her to a campaign of harassment which included causing a flood in her home

Friends of Courtney Mitchell, 26, pictured, said at the time that she had two sons aged eight and one and a four-year-old daughter

Police arrived within minutes following a 999 call to find her fighting for her life with critical stab wounds as she lay on a pavement. She died a short time later in Ipswich Hospital.

He was taken into custody where he stared defiantly at the camera as his mug shot was taken.

Following the court hearing, he was told he would be sentenced in February next year.

Judge Martyn Levett told him: 'The only sentence I can pass is one of life imprisonment.'

He added: 'You need to anticipate a very long prison sentence.'

Burnett's jealous campaign against his ex included wrecking water pipes in her home, which caused widespread damage, one friend said.

Detective Superintendent Nicola Wallace, the Senior Investigating Officer, said after the hearing: 'This was a completely senseless loss of life which has devastated Courtney's family.

'Logan Burnett is a violent coward who murdered a defenceless woman in front of her friends and members of the public in broad daylight.

'At least by admitting his guilt, Burnett has spared Courtney's family the additional trauma of a trial, but the pain and anguish his actions that evening have caused will live with them for ever.'

Ms Mitchell's family released a statement through Suffolk Police after her murder, saying: 'Her contagious smile lit up any room and her laughter was the sweetest sound in our home. Her kindness had no limits, she was always there for everybody, family, friend, or stranger.

'She was helpful in every way possible; her empathy knew no bounds. She was fun, fierce and extremely loyal.

'She was a daughter, granddaughter, a mummy, a sister, niece, aunty, cousin and a best friend to all. She had time for everybody and would go above and beyond the scale to help others in need and always offered support in any way possible.

'Courtney was a great mum with two beautiful sons and one beautiful daughter who love her immeasurably.

'We miss you and you are forever in our hearts and as a family we are completely and utterly devastated and broken. A void will always be left and a place at the table will always be set for you.'

A moving tribute posted on Facebook by a friend of Courtney said: 'I hope you find your peace. You were too good for this world and the monsters that lurk amongst us. You were so loved and by so many.'

Burnett pleaded guilty to an unrelated charge of assault by beating of an emergency worker in Ipswich on June 9 this year when he first appeared before magistrates charged with murder. He was given one day in detention for the offence.

A family statement said: 'Courtney was a great mum with two beautiful sons and one beautiful daughter who love her immeasurably'

Burnett, who fled the scene, was immediately identified as the suspect. Picture: Police cordon after the stabbing

Burnett, pictured, was identified and was arrested the following day at an address in the Suffolk town

The assault on the woman special constable could not be previously reported for legal reasons.

Prosecutor Wayne Ablett said the assault which did not result in injuries happened after police were called to a disturbance at a residential address.

Officers knocked on the door of a flat after hearing shouting and screaming from inside, but got no reply.

Mr Ablett said officers were concerned about the occupant and forced entry to check on their welfare.

He added: 'Mr Burnett was present on the bed under a duvet. He did not know where the occupant was, and officers tried to engage with him.'

Mr Ablett said Burnett kicked out at the special constable, making contact with the top of her right leg.

He was put in handcuffs and repeatedly tried to bite the officer, but no contact was made before he was taken to a Police Investigation Centre in Martlesham.

Mr Ablett said that Burnett had been due to appear in court on the assault charge on the day Ms Mitchell died, but failed to attend and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

David Allen, defending Burnett, said credit should be given for him pleading guilty to the assault charge at the earliest opportunity.

He said: 'He is disturbed in bed and woken up somewhat befuddled. He kicks the officer and makes contact but there is no injury.'

Mr Allen said that Burnett had kicked out while barefooted.

Presiding magistrate John Beamish said: 'We are going to take a pragmatic view considering the fact that you will be remanded into custody to the crown court.

'For the offence of assault of an emergency worker, the sentence is one day's detention.'

Mr Beamish made no order for compensation or a victim surcharge before remanding him in custody on the murder charge.
Cardiff's Labour council is facing a furious backlash over proposals to slap SUV drivers with a 'Land Rover tax' that would force them to pay more for parking.

Similar policies have already been introduced in several major European cities, including Paris, where parking rates for SUV owners have tripled in recent times.

Labeled the 'Land Rover tax', the new two-tiered charges would in reality impact a host of other brands too such as Kia, Hyundai and Volvo.

Described as 'an attack on motorists', the move would see vehicles weighing over 2.4 tonnes pay more for parking permits, with the Labour-run council arguing they take up more space.

'Parking spaces across the city are limited and can cause tension between commuters, residents, businesses and other road users,' the council said. 'Our new approach attempts to reduce these issues'.

The council added that these charges would aid in prioritising parking for blue badge holders and residents by encouraging vehicle turnover and increased use of public transport, alongside a general reduction in congestion levels.

The proposed scheme comes after a new default speed limit of 20mph was imposed on Cardiff streets by the Welsh government, following in the footsteps of London and other major English cities.

Cardiff's Labour Council have faced a torrent of criticism after it was revealed that they are proposing the introduction of a 'Land Rover tax'

Cardiff Council have defended the move, stating that by changing parking permits to reflect vehicle size would allow for better and more efficient management of spaces

Reacting to Cardiff Council's permit plans, local Propel Councillor Neil McEvoy blasted what he sees as being an unjustified fee increase which will disproportionately impact working class communities.

'The wealthy woke Labourites here like taxes, because they can afford to pay them from their large public sector salaries. The money raised funds Wales' new parasite class connected to devolution', Councillor McEvoy stated to the MailOnline.

'The attacks on drivers in Cardiff are severe. Working class areas like Splott see unused cycle lanes empty and lines of traffic spewing out more pollution caused by traffic jams by design.

'Blocked roads also mean we have to drive miles out of our way. Good luck also if you want to take public transport', the Councillor added.

Also included in Cardiff Council's proposals is the possibility that properties constructed after September 2024 would not be able to apply for any parking permits in newly drawn up zones.

Additionally, trucks weighing in excess of 3.5 tonnes would be banned from a number of areas in Cardiff City Centre altogether.

These Paris-styled parking policies have previously been praised by a number of leading Labour politicians, including London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

'I'm a firm believer in stealing good policies', Khan said earlier this year as he branded the French capital's scheme as 'innovative'.

Similar initiatives have already been introduced by some London councils such as Haringey and Lambeth, which are both set to up charges for larger vehicles.

Paris is one of a number of major European cities which have seen rates for larger vehicles increase- SUV drivers parking charges have now tripled in the French capital

A number of leading Labour politicians have backed the introduction of increased charges for larger vehicles, with London mayor Sadiq Khan earlier this year referring to them as 'innovative'

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is another Labour politician who has previously spoken of his desire to reach net zero on British roads and phase out larger fossil fuel-powered cars

Conservative Party Councillor Calum Davies is another local representative who has pushed back against Cardiff Council's 'anti-car agenda'.

'We've already had a default 20mph speed limit imposed across Wales and cycle lanes installed in Cardiff creating congestion for buses and drivers, which is bad enough', Councillor Davies told the MailOnline.

'Now Cardiff Council is determined to strike another blow with this tax. This is on top of a potential congestion charge and a new parking strategy that harms small businesses and discriminates against students.

'The simple truth is Labour wants to control, tax, and punish drivers, imposing a moral value on you for daring to have a car', the Tory Councillor added.

The RAC Foundation have also expressed their concern over the potential impact of Cardiff Council's parking plans on local businesses, with its director Steve Gooding telling the MailOnline: 'It is understandable that the council wants to recognise residents' desire to park near their homes, but if they also want to encourage a thriving and vibrant city centre with successful entertainment and commercial activity then access for occasional visitors is also important.

'Charging a premium that penalises larger cars, potentially including electric vehicles, might be just enough to persuade people to take their custom elsewhere'.

When contacted in relation to the backlash which Cardiff Council's parking plans have received, a Council spokesperson said: 'The council encourages everyone that lives, works or studies in Cardiff to take part in the parking consultation.

'The Council has set our transport vision for the city through the Transport White Paper. In this document, it clearly states the council will 'Introduce a comprehensive approach to parking across the city, including addressing unmanaged street parking in areas where local residents are regularly inconvenienced.

'The consultation explores a variety of ways this could be achieved, in the form of various zones and permits to achieve our aims, which is to look at ways in which we can better promote active and sustainable travel within the city. No decisions have yet been made and we urge everyone to take part in the consultation, so their voice is heard. The consultation ends on December 1st.'
Hawaiian woman Hannah Kobayashi has been missing for nearly three straight weeks, sending her family into a frenzied search for her across Los Angeles.

Hannah, a 31-year-old aspiring photographer, was meant to be in New York on November 8, travelling to the city from her native Hawaii to see family.

Instead, missing her connecting flight in LA, she spent several days in the California city, last being seen with an unidentified man at a metro station near LAX on November 11.

While there have been a clutch of disparate clues, including mysterious, out-of-character texts sent from her phone to her loved ones, fleeting appearances on CCTV across LA, and a plane ticket from LA to New York used by her ex-boyfriend, no one has yet figured out what happened to Hannah, or where she is now.

And in a tragic twist that has compounded the Kobayashi family's heartbreak, Hannah's father, 58-year-old Ryan Kobayashi took his own life, and was found dead at the bottom of an LAX parking building early on Sunday morning, after arriving in the city to search for her.

His family said he had been searching for her for 13 days before his suicide.

Relatives told DailyMail.com that the search for his daughter, who he had been estranged from for several years, was 'too much to bear.'

Hannah's disappearance and Ryan's suicide have since been marred by wild conspiracy theories, which have grown in the vacuum of information surrounding the case.

Here, DailyMail.com looks at the key questions looming over the Kobayashi case that have still not been answered.

Why did Hannah leave LAX instead of getting on her connecting plane?

Hawaiian woman Hannah Kobayashi (pictured, left) has been missing for nearly three straight weeks

She was seen leaving LAX airport on November 8, wearing a black hoodie and tie-dye sweatpants

Hannah was seen on CCTV leaving her Maui-LAX plane that landed in California at 9:53pm on November 8.

Her family said she missed her connecting flight to New York because of a tight 42-minute layover.

But her family also said that her ex-boyfriend, who was travelling on the same route to New York at the same time as her, using tickets he bought with her while they were still together, was able to catch the connecting flight.

Also unknown is why Hannah left the LAX area so late at night.

Dozens of hotels sit right next to LAX, many of which she could've stayed in after missing her flight.

Why didn't Hannah go back to LAX on November 9 and 10 after leaving?

In a YouTube video outside of an event in Los Angeles on November 10, Hannah can be seen wearing the same clothing she had on at LAX

Timeline of disappearance November 8 - Kobayashi was spotted at The Grove shopping mall between midday and 3pm. November 9 - Kobayashi was spotted at The Grove shopping mall between midday and 3pm November 10 - She appeared in the background of a video outside a Nike event featuring LeBron James at 3:30pm November 11 - Kobayashi was spotted boarding an LAX Metro C line at Aviation/Century Station Advertisement

Hannah twice visited The Grove, the upmarket shopping mall in downtown LA, first on November 9 and then again on the 10th.

Her aunt Larie Pidgeon said of her first appearance: 'She went to the bookstore and asked employees to charge her phone. So she charged her phone there for an hour and a half while she got food.

'She even filled out a mailing list with her Hawaiian address, and it's in her hand writing.'

At 2:43pm she snapped a picture and sent it to her aunt, before returning to the airport where she is believed to have spent the night.

Her appearance at a high-end shopping mall the day after she was missed a flight appears ordinary enough.

But questions over why she reappeared the following day, in the same clothes she had worn two days prior, have emerged.

In a YouTube video outside of an event in Los Angeles on November 10, Hannah can be seen wearing the same clothing.

She was spotted at a Nike event featuring LeBron James in LA, where she was wearing the same dark hoodie and headphones she wore at the airport, at around 3:30pm.

Kobayashi also shared a post on her Instagram from the event with an eye emoji as the caption.

Why were the Kobayashi family receiving strange texts from Hannah?

Hannah sent friends and family texts that they said were out of character

She apologised for her 'craziness' in one text to a loved one

One of Hannah's friends received strange texts from Kobayashi's phone - indicating that she may be in trouble

In the days after she was meant to have been in New York, Hannah sent a series of increasingly bizarre, disconnected and out-of-character texts to her loved ones.

Her strange texts came on the Monday after she missed her flight to New York.

One text read: 'Deep Hackers wiped my identity, stole all of my funds, & have had me on a mind f**k since Friday.'

Kobayashi's mother, Brandi Yee, also sent her a text message asking if she made it to New York.

She responded simply: 'Not yet.' Another early-morning text mentioned how she was in the midst of a 'spiritual awakening.'

A third sent to a friend in part read: 'I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds.' A second message said: 'For someone I thought I loved.'

All the texts came with little to no context, and her family was immediately concerned.

Her aunt Larie said: 'We started getting texts saying that she didn't feel safe, that someone was trying to steal her funds, that someone was trying to take her identity.

'Weird things, calling us babe, things that weren't quite the normal way that she speaks.'

Her family added that her final texts were absent of emojis, which was highly unusual for Hannah.

Kobayashi's sister, Sydni Kobayashi, said the texts were 'really weird.'

'It's weird to me because it doesn't sound like her, like there's just something off about it,' she said. 'So I wasn't too sure. I don't know if it's her or if someone else was texting.'

The family became so concerned that they filed a police report on November 11.

Why was her boyfriend on the same flight as her, despite their breakup?

Hannah Kobayashi (pictured) went missing after missing her connecting flight to New York from LAX on November 8

'Please help her, if you can. If you know where she's at, or you have the chance to just help her, please. We just want to bring her home,' Hannah's mother said

Hannah was travelling to New York from Hawaii to see her family.

But also travelling with her was her ex-boyfriend. His appearance on the plane is yet to be explained.

Before his death, Ryan Kobayashi revealed that the ex-boyfriend, who has not yet been named, was travelling on a ticket that he bought with Hannah prior to their breakup.

The duo reportedly did not speak, not did they sit together

Ryan said that her ex-boyfriend has been extremely responsive and cooperative with the investigation.

'A lot of worrying, a lot of confusion. Everything is just a blur it seems because I haven't slept well since I've heard the news, and I really don't know  it's just really concerning.

'We're just trying to get us as much information as we can,' he said.

It is not currently known why the ex-boyfriend was travelling to New York.

Who is the unidentified person she was last seen with on November 11?

At 10pm on November 11, Hannah was seen in CCTV footage leaving the Pico Metro Station with an as-yet-unidentified man, the family said.

While the video has not yet been released publicly, the family said in a statement: 'It is evident that Hannah does not appear to be in good condition and she is not alone.'

The identity of the man, what he was doing was Hannah, how he knew her and what role, if any, he played in her disappearance is still not known.

Why did it take the LAPD so long to get an investigation going?

Hannah had been flying to meet another aunt in New York when she missed her connecting flight in Los Angeles

LAPD detectives waited ten days from when she was last heard from to interview the family of missing Hannah Kobayashi, her worried family revealed

As of today the police have reached out to family members who last spoke with Hannah, her aunt Larie Pidgeon told DailyMail.com on Thursday.

We want them to take it a bit more seriously.

We think they realize were not going away and were going to be really loud. Were going to do something until they do something.

I think now they are beginning the process of what we began six days ago.

The entire world is looking for you (Hannah) because thats how special you are.

We are not going to stop until we find you. We love you.

Hannahs father, Ryan Kobayashi, told DailyMail.com before his death: We will do everything we can until we have found her. We just need to get the word out there about her.

Shes a wonderful person who brings joy to so many people.
The discovery of a giant oil field in the Falkland Islands has grown even more promising with islanders eager to cash in on the value of their natural resources in spite of the British government's war on fossil fuels.

The Sea Lion oil field, first discovered in 2010 in the North Falkland Basin roughly 135 miles (220 kilometres) offshore, was hailed at the time as potentially the biggest discovery of its kind since North Sea Oil.

But an updated report conducted in October by a top energy analysis firm estimated that some 917 million barrels of oil could be recovered from Sea Lion - roughly twice the annual output of the entire North Sea.

Rockhopper Exploration, the company leading the development, now plans to extract 532 million barrels - a substantial increase from its earlier estimate of 312 million that could lead to a potentially enormous economic boon for the British Overseas Territory.

The Falklands Islands Government (FIG) greenlit the exploitation of Sea Lion earlier this year after a consultation with the population of around 3,500 was reportedly met with widespread support.

A final decision on proceeding with drilling is expected next year with the first exploration of the field expected as early as 2027.

But the plans represent a significant thorn in the side of Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government which banned the issuing of new drilling licenses to oil and gas firms eager to exploit the North Sea days after taking office in July.

Labour is also racing to reduce carbon emissions by at least 68% by 2030, compared to a 1990 baseline as part of a wider goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

As a result, the government will not provide any financial support to the Falklands plan after Foreign Secretary David Lammy declared in September: 'Action on the climate and nature crisis will be central to all that the Foreign Office does.'

The discovery of a giant oil field in the Falkland Islands has grown even more promising with islanders eager to cash in on the value of their natural resources

An updated report this year estimated that some 917 million barrels of oil could be recovered from Sea Lion - roughly twice the annual output of the entire North Sea

The Falklands remains one of the few territories that refused to sign the Paris Climate Agreement

The Falkland Islands constitute a British Overseas Territory and the UK is responsible for its engagement in foreign affairs and for its defence.

But power over governance of the islands domestic affairs is devolved to the FIG, so Westminster has no say over internal matters.

A statement released by a FIG spokesperson said: 'The matter of development of the natural resources of the Falkland Islands is a devolved matter and is for the people of the Falkland Islands to decide.

'Given the UK's robust and continued support to uphold the Falkland Islanders right to determine their own future we would expect this to extend to our freedom to choose whether or not to develop a hydrocarbon industry, subject to all of the appropriate checks and balances.'

The Falklands remains one of the few territories that refused to sign the Paris Agreement - a treaty setting out climate change action to which more than 190 countries are signatories, as well as the European Union.

Meanwhile, a foreign office spokesperson told the Telegraph: 'As the Foreign Secretary set out in his speech on the climate crisis, we are resetting the UK's approach to climate and nature by rapidly delivering new more efficient ways to reduce emissions,' he said.

'Since 2001, the UK has ceased financial support for the fossil fuel energy sector, including in its overseas territories.

'The natural resources of all UK Overseas Territories belong to the individual territories. Exploration of natural resources on the Falkland Islands is a matter for the Falkland Islands government and the private companies concerned.'

The diplomatic tension over the development of the Sea Lion field comes as the domestic debate over fossil fuels and the transition to clean energy rages in Britain.

The UK government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer is charting a dramatically different course to the Falklands, seeking to phase out fossil fuels and bolster renewable energy production.

As part of the ambitious path to reduce carbon emissions by at least 68% by 2030, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has spearheaded policies to redirect investment from the oil and gas sector toward renewable energy projects with a particular focus on solar and wind energy.

The Labour government has also promised substantial funding for Great British Energy - a planned clean energy company that will be publicly owned.

A general view of oilfield platforms in the North Sea

Labour's plan to decarbonise the energy network by 2030 could mean households will have to ration electricity usage (file photo)

A worker in the National Grid control room in Sindlesham, Berkshire. A new report suggests that households may have to unplug electric cars or stop using domestic appliances when renewable energy is running low

A report released earlier this month by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) said Labour's ambitious 2030 climate targets are achievable, but at a significant cost.

Energy Secretary Miliband has touted the report as 'conclusive proof' that Labour's plan to make the UK a 'clean energy superpower is the right choice', defending the march toward renewable energy by arguing: 'Clean energy we produce at home is cheaper than fossil fuels and more secure because dictators can't control it.'

But the uncompromising stance has sparked backlash from fossil fuel companies, union leaders and politicians representing oil-dependent regions, particularly in Scotland.

According to the report, the UK would need to invest around 40billion annually by the end of the decade, the report states, which will be passed onto taxpayers in the form of higher bills.

Meanwhile, consumers would have to reduce their energy usage at peak times.

The report also says that a massive expansion of countryside and sea wind turbines and fields of solar panels is required.

Around 4,500km of undersea cables will have to be installed along with 1,000km of new power lines, including pylons - doubling the total amount built in the past ten years.
Sadiq Khan has unveiled plans to build new rent-controlled homes that will only be available to key workers earning less than 67,000-a-year.

The London Mayor is seeking to build at least 6,000 'Key Worker Living Rent' homes by 2030 in a bid to tackle the capital's housing crisis.

Mr Khan claims these properties will be 'genuinely affordable' and could save key workers up to 600 per month on their rent.

Professions eligible to rent these properties include solicitors, barristers and judges, actors, authors, psychologists and senior police officers.

The homes will be available for long-term rent for any key worker with an income of up to 67,000 a year, which is the threshold for accessing intermediate rented housing in the capital.

Mr Khan has proposed that rents for each property will be capped at 40 per cent of an average key worker household income after tax.

He is also proposing that rents be subject to increases in line with wage growth.

The Mayor has launched a consultation on his new proposals and is keen to hear from key workers and developers to find out how them a 'success'.

Sadiq Khan (pictured) has unveiled plans to build new rent-controlled homes that will only be available to key workers earning less than 67,000-a-year

Professions eligible to rent these properties include solicitors, barristers and judges, actors, authors, psychologists and senior police officers (Stock image)

Mr Khan, said: 'I am determined to do everything in my power to make housing more affordable for Londoners.

'The housing crisis in our capital doesn't just affect those on the lowest incomes, it impacts those on ordinary incomes who struggle to meet high housing costs in London.

'That includes the everyday heroes who are the backbone of our city  our nurses, teachers, bus drivers, shop workers, and cleaners.

'To deliver on my manifesto commitment, we want to introduce new rent-controlled homes for Londoners, which could save key workers up to 600 per month on their rent.

'I welcome views from all Londoners on how we can make this new type of housing a success, for the thousands who need and deserve a more affordable home, as we build a fairer London for everyone.'

UNISON London regional secretary Jo Galloway said: 'This is a crucial step in tackling the housing crisis facing London's key workers.

'It should help deliver more safe, secure and affordable homes for staff who keep the capital's vital public services running.

'UNISON has long campaigned for a fairer rental market and for essential workers' voices to be heard and represented.'

Vets will also be eligible to rent one of the new 'Key Worker Living Rent' homes, which are being built to tackle the capital's housing crisis (Stock image)

Regional Director for the Royal College of Nursing London region, Lisa Elliott, said: 'Accommodation costs in London are rising at an astronomical rate and nursing pay has not kept pace.

'More and more nursing staff are telling us that high accommodation costs are pushing them into financial difficulty. In a survey of our members earlier this year, 56% said they plan to leave London in the next five years, and 58% of these cited the lack of affordable housing as the main reason.

'London's health and care system desperately needs to retain its nursing staff. It's crucial that politicians, employers, and other key stakeholders work constructively together to make homes genuinely affordable for London's nursing community, and we want to support that ambition.'
Opening more asylum hotels will act as a 'massive incentive' for small boat crossings, Labour has been warned.

Home Office minister Dame Angela Eagle revealed last week that asylum hotel use had risen since Labour entered government, with seven new hotels being brought into use since the general election in July.

In the Commons yesterday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper reminded her shadow counterpart Chris Philp of his plan to stop the boats with 'giant wave machines' as he accused her of opening more asylum hotels 'instead of closing them'.

But during Home Office questions, Tory MP Julia Lopez said: 'In recent weeks Channel crossings have been far higher than the Home Office expected, and that is why we have seen ministers rapidly approving new asylum hotels.

'We're told this situation is temporary, because asylum claims are apparently now being processed faster, moving people through accommodation faster too.

'What reassurances can the minister give my constituents that the faster processing of asylum claims, with no deterrent in the system, will not simply act as a massive incentive for more people to come here on small boats?'

Around 300 asylum seekers are being housed at the Cresta Court Hotel in Altrincham, near Manchester

Migrants board a smuggler's boat in an attempt to cross the English Channel, on the beach of Gravelines, near Dunkirk, northern France

During Home Office questions, Tory MP Julia Lopez suggested new asylum hotels would provide a motive for migrants to come to Britain

Ms Cooper replied: 'Unfortunately, before the last election the previous government cut asylum decision making by 75% in the run-up to the election, took away case workers, and that is why the backlog was soaring.

'We have now put case workers back into place so that we can start clearing the backlog, because asylum hotels are costing the taxpayer huge amounts a month.'

Earlier Mr Philp belatedly congratulated Ms Cooper on her appointment as Home Secretary, saying he knows 'how difficult' her job is from his time spent as a Home Office minister in the last government.

He said: 'Since the election, 19,988 people have dangerously and illegally crossed the Channel, a 23% increase on the same period last year. Why does she think the numbers have gone up so much on her watch?'

Ms Cooper replied: 'I think (Mr Philp) described his time in the Home Office as his best ministerial job ever, which, given that he was the chief secretary under Liz Truss, you can perhaps wonder why.

'He was also the immigration minister who, I might remind him, told the Commons and the select committee that he would not rule out using giant wave machines as the way to stop small boat crossings.

'We inherited record high levels of small boat crossings in the first half of this year, we have taken action to fix their chaos.'

Mr Philp referenced the previous government's Rwanda deportation scheme, saying Ms Cooper had 'cancelled the Rwandan deterrent before it even started' and the Government is 'opening up new hotels instead of closing them down'.

Ms Cooper said: 'The highest level on record was the last six months of the last Conservative government while he was in government, and in fact, the numbers since the summer are not the highest on record that, unfortunately, was his legacy.

'And while he was the immigration minister, he increased the number of asylum hotels 500% and increased the number of people in asylum hotels by over 900%.

'So seriously, he should not try and give lectures to anybody else at all.'

The Mayor of Calais recently labelled British calls for French border police to be tougher on illegal migration as 'pure hypocrisy' and pushed to scrap a deal between the two countries aimed at cracking down on Channel crossings

Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe said 'good government is transparent government' as he called on the Home Office to publish 'the number of crimes committed by illegal migrants'.

Dame Angela confirmed there will be 'a huge statistical drop of immigration-related national statistics coming at the end of this week.'

Elsewhere in the session, the Tories called on the Government to go further to protect firearms officers when it comes to misconduct investigations.

Shadow Home Office minister Matt Vickers told the Commons: 'I know the Home Secretary understands the importance of our brave firearms officers in dealing with serious and organised crime when they pose a danger to the public.

'I welcome the measures to provide anonymity, however, will they consider going further by allowing a defence to misconduct or criminal proceedings if an officer can show they've followed their training and procedure?'

Ms Cooper said the Government intends to strengthen the law, adding: 'The system needs to work much more speedily to support officers in very difficult, split-second decisions.

'We have currently a review under way involving Tim Godwin and Sir Adrian Fulford that is looking at many of these issues.'

It comes after the Mayor of Calais labelled British calls for French border police to be tougher on illegal migration as 'pure hypocrisy' and pushed to scrap a deal between the two countries aimed at cracking down on Channel crossings.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Natacha Bouchart asked why France should shell out millions of euros to prevent the crossings of small boats over the Channel only for migrants to be allowed to work illegally with little chance of being deported when they land on British shores.

'When the migrants arrive in Britain they work easily without documents. The British government must stop being in denial.

'In reality, they accept migrants passing through Calais so they have to change the system. The UK should be stopping people, not us.

'We think the French government and Europe aren't being tough enough on this toward the British government,' she told BBC Radio 4.

Bouchart's latest comments come weeks after she called for a 'showdown' between Britain and France to decide a new migration policy, while Didier Leschi, France's Director General of the Office for Immigration, declared that migrants see Britain as an 'El Dorado' - a mythical country of riches.

'The issue for England is to have an internal system that appears to be an El Dorado - and probably wrongly so - since it's a country where you can work very easily without having a residence permit,' he said in September.

The UK saw the biggest rise in legal immigration of any major country last year, according to a report.

Overall OECD countries saw a total inflow of more than 6.5million people in 2023, up 10 per cent on the previous year and 28 per cent from 2019

The OECD put Britain at the top of the international table after long-term inflows increased by nearly 53 per cent to a record 750,000.

That was a larger increase than any other European state, and a more significant jump than the 13.4 per cent seen in the US.

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he is 'not relaxed' about net migration levels - which are forecast to fall, but remain at an historically-high 315,000 a year in the medium term.

The latest report ignores Ukrainians seeking asylum amid the fallout from the Russian invasion.

Overall OECD countries saw a total inflow of more than 6.5million people in 2023, up 10 per cent on the previous year and 28 per cent from 2019.

'Following an unprecedented increase in 2023, the United Kingdom rose to second place with a record 750,000 new migrants (250 000 more than in 2022, +52 per cent),' the report said.

'Germany, which had been the second OECD destination since 2012, fell to third place despite an increase of 4 per cent and nearly 700,000 new permanent-type entries.

'Canada followed with 470 000 new permanent migrants (+7.8 per cent), and Spain recorded a 12 per cent increase to 360 000.'

The report pointed out that as well as the UK, Australia, Canada, France, Finland, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg and Switzerland all registered record immigration in 2023.
A San Diego man has tragically died after he was electrocuted while setting up Christmas lights near a high-voltage power line.

Antonio Pascual Mateo, 24, was hanging the festive decorations on the roof of in his Escondido home on Thursday November 21 at the time of the incident.

According to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office, Mateo was found hanging upside down from a tree.

'The decedent was hanging Christmas lights on the roof while near a high voltage powerline.

'The decedent threw the lights over the powerline resulting in electrocution. 9-1-1 was activated. Paramedics arrived on scene to find the decedent hanging upside down from a tree', the Medical Examiner's Office said in a statement.

'After recovering the decedent, paramedics initiated advanced cardiovascular life support and transported the decedent to the nearest local hospital.

'Despite aggressive resuscitative efforts, death was pronounced by the emergency department physician.'

A GoFundMe has been set up to help Mateo's family with funeral costs.

Antonio Pascual Mateo was found hanging from a tree upside down after he was electrocuted while hanging up Christmas lights

The fundraiser is also aiming to raise enough funds to transport Mateo's body to his birthplace of Guatemala, where his mother resides.

'He fell down and stayed in the tree, trapped for an hour. Rescue team was forced to wait until the power company had to turn off power. To late to save, forever young he will remain', wrote Juan Pascual, the organizer of the fundraiser Juan Pascual wrote.

'Christmas lights forever having a meaning to us, he will remain in our hearts for eternity.'

The post also paid tribute to Mateo: 'He was a brother, a son, and an uncle. His name was Antonio Pascual. He had so much to live, only 24 years old.

The GoFundMe had raised almost $10,000 as of Tuesday morning.
Weapons inspector David Kelly was the decent man apparently hounded to suicide after exposing Tony Blair's lies on Iraq.

But the crusading MP Norman Baker felt sure there was something more to his death - and gave up his front-bench role to investigate the case.

In the Mail he revealed extraordinary evidence that he believes proves Kelly did not take his own life and was instead murdered by Iraqi dissidents. Here, he reveals how the murder may have been carried out . . .

While investigating the death of Dr David Kelly I have made many strange discoveries, not least some disturbing parallels with the case of a young American journalist named Danny Casolaro.

Mr Casolaro made himself deeply unpopular with elements in the murky world of U.S. defence by probing too deeply into their activities.

One morning in August 1991, he was found dead in a hotel room near Harpers Ferry in Virginia. He was in the bath, naked, with his wrist slashed.

There were no signs of bruising or other marks on the body and the police concluded that he had committed suicide.

But this was totally false according to Dr Christopher Green, who was the CIA's chief forensic pathologist for decades.

Weapons inspector David Kelly was the decent man apparently hounded to suicide after exposing Tony Blair's lies on Iraq

Dr Green participated in Casolaro's autopsy and last year he told veteran White House reporter Sterling Seagrave that the young journalist had been killed before being stripped, put in a full bath, and his left wrist cut in precisely the same manner as Dr Kelly's.

And as with Dr Kelly, there was remarkably little blood, bar a small amount smeared on the edge of the tub, suggesting that the wrist wound had been inflicted after the heart had stopped pumping.

This compelling demonstration of how effectively a murder can be disguised as suicide drove me on in my search for the truth about Dr Kelly, who was found dead in an Oxfordshire wood on July 18, 2003, having apparently taken his own life.

Before Danny Casolaro died, the journalist had been investigating the activities of America's private security companies which, according to Sterling Seagrave, are linked to the 'Grey Ghosts' - an army of professional killers commissioned by the Pentagon to carry out assassinations.

The similarities between the two men's deaths led Seagrave to suggest that Dr Kelly might also have fallen victim to these shadowy figures.

After all, he was the source behind a BBC report that the British government had 'sexed up' intelligence about Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction in order to justify the invasion of Iraq. This can hardly have been well received by the White House.

As I explained in the Mail previously, my own information strongly suggests that those behind Dr Kelly's death were Iraqi dissidents opposed to Saddam Hussein's regime and angry at Dr Kelly for undermining the case for toppling him.

A well-placed source also told me that the British police or security services had been warned of a likely assassination attempt but were not in time to stop it.

While investigating the death of Dr David Kelly I have made many strange discoveries, writes NORMAN BAKER

Did they then try to disguise the murder as suicide for reasons of political expediency?

To understand what may have happened, we must return to Thursday, July 17, the day Dr Kelly disappeared. That morning he was at home with his wife Janice in the village of Southmoor and it must be said that none of his behaviour fits the profile of a man about to commit suicide.

In her evidence to the Hutton inquiry into Dr Kelly's death, his wife said he was 'tired, subdued, but not depressed'. Indeed, it seems it was Janice Kelly, not her husband, who was more seriously under par.

During phone calls that morning, Dr Kelly told a colleague that he was basically 'holding up all right', but that his wife was having a difficult time, both physically and mentally, under the pressure of long-standing ill health and the political storm that had engulfed them.

At lunchtime she went to bed with a nauseous headache and arthritis pains. He, on the other hand, appears to have carried on working normally, eaten some lunch and taken the trouble to go upstairs to check on his wife, shortly before 2pm, to see how she was feeling.

Given his obvious concern, it hardly seems likely that he would want to exacerbate matters for her by committing suicide that day.

Dr Kelly told his wife he would be going out for one of the regular walks he took to help his bad back. These were normally short affairs lasting no more than 25 minutes.

Mrs Kelly estimates that her husband left the house shortly after 3pm. With him, we are led to believe, he had the knife later found by his corpse and three packets of the painkillers his wife took for arthritis. These would later be discovered in his jacket pocket - empty but for one of the 30 tablets.

According to the Hutton inquiry, Dr Kelly set out on that walk intent on killing himself.

But, if so, why does he appear to have waited so long before doing it?

Since the pathologist inexplicably failed to take Dr Kelly's body temperature when he first arrived on the scene the following day - a standard procedure which would have helped give an accurate time of death - we have to make our own deductions about when he died.

What happened to Dr Kelly in the missing hours - at least seven of them - between leaving home and supposedly killing himself?

The pathologist offered a wide window of between 4.15pm on Thursday and 1.15am on Friday. But there is every reason to think this window is far too wide.

The Hutton inquiry heard that after Dr Kelly's body was found on Friday morning, two paramedics moved his arm away from his chest at about 10am so that they could attach electrodes and confirm that he was dead.

Clearly, rigor mortis - the stiffening of the body - had not yet fully set in. Since it is generally accepted that it reaches its peak after 12 hours, we can assume that Dr Kelly most likely died at some time after 10pm on the Thursday night, and quite possibly much later.

What then happened to him in the missing hours - at least seven of them - between leaving home and supposedly killing himself?

The last person known to have seen Dr Kelly alive was his neighbour, Ruth Absalom, who met him about three-quarters-of-a-mile from his home.

They passed the time of day briefly before going their separate ways. Dr Kelly's parting words were: "See you again then, Ruth."

According to Ms Absalom, he was heading towards the nearby village of Kingston Bagpuize.

That would be consistent with a circular half-hour walk back to his house - but in quite the wrong direction to reach Harrowdown Hill, the lonely area of woodland where his body was discovered.

One of the few clues to what happened next is that Dr Kelly's phone was switched off when a colleague from the Ministry of Defence tried to call him between 5pm and 6pm.

This was odd. Dr Kelly himself would tell friends that his mobile was always on and, given that he had been in regular contact with the MoD that morning, and that the furore surrounding him was developing from hour to hour, it seems unlikely that he would have turned it off or let the battery run down.

If he did indeed intend to commit suicide, turning off his phone could be seen as a preliminary step. But for reasons I have made clear, I do not believe suicide is a credible explanation for his death.

This leaves us with an alternative possibility. Did someone else turn Dr Kelly's phone off so that his movements could not be traced via signal kept by the phone company? In other words, was he forcibly abducted?

If he headed in the direction Ms Absalom described, his walk would probably have taken him along Appleton Road, a quiet and rather empty stretch with only sporadic development alongside.

From there he is likely to have turned right into Draycott Road, which is even more deserted. A no-through road with some derelict buildings part-way down, it peters out into a footpath at the end.

On either of these roads it would certainly have been relatively easy for determined abductors to have forced the 59-year-old weapons inspector into a van without anyone seeing.

According to the information I have been given, the murder itself was carried out by a couple of not very well-paid hired hands.

As to the method used, I am told that they gave Dr Kelly an injection in his backside, which perhaps points to the use of succinylcholine, a white crystalline substance that acts as a muscle relaxant.

For less beneficent purposes, it can be used to induce paralysis and cardiac arrest and frequently goes undetected in post-mortems.

I asked Thames Valley Police whether the body had been checked for the presence of this or a similar substance. They told me that they did not know.

If this was not the substance used then, alarmingly, there appear to be a large number of other ways in which Dr Kelly might have been killed that would be difficult or even impossible to trace.

For this we can no doubt partly thank the work of Project Coast - a highly unpleasant chemical and biological warfare programme run by the South African government from 1981 onwards to develop exactly such capabilities.

With aims including the creation of a biological weapon designed to attack the black population while leaving whites unscathed, its prime mover was Dr Wouter Basson, variously described as 'the South African Mengele' and 'Dr Death'.

Ironically, in the week before Dr Kelly died, it is alleged he was due to be interviewed by MI5 about his links with Dr Basson, who in 1985 had visited the Porton Down research centre, where Dr Kelly was then head of the Chemical Defence Establishment.

This visit had happened at a time when Mrs Thatcher's government claimed that the South Africans were developing biological and chemical weapons solely for defensive purposes.

Only later was it revealed that they were working on chemicals such as parathion, an organophosphate that can be introduced into the body through hair follicles, perhaps under the arm or around the crutch.

This causes vomiting - evidence of which could be seen on Dr Kelly's body - and leads to a respiratory attack. It is extremely difficult to detect traces of such a chemical in the body, unless you know what you are looking for.

When I tracked down Wouter Basson at his home in the Western Cape earlier this year, I asked him if he thought Dr Kelly had been murdered.

He paused, as if choosing his words carefully, then replied that Dr Kelly 'didn't seem the sort to commit suicide'.

He was also in no doubt that the UK, and indeed other Western countries, have a capacity for assassination.

Other possible methods of killing Dr Kelly included the use of saxotoxin, found in some shellfish and known as the CIA Shellfish Toxin, after its alleged use by that agency to kill one of their targets. Even a tiny amount is effective seconds after injection and is completely untraceable after autopsy.

One private detective even suggested to me that Dr Kelly's killers might have made gruesome misuse of the equipment employed by undertakers in embalming, placing a tube into an artery and forcibly pumping the blood out of the body.

This would cause unconsciousness and then death, and reinforce the assumption that the victim had lost a lot of blood through a cut - the conclusion reached by Lord Hutton in Dr Kelly's case.

The detective told me that this process did not need access to a main artery like the jugular, but could be achieved through, say, the ulnar artery.

This was the one slashed with a knife in Dr Kelly's wrist. Was that incision an attempt to cover up the artery's previous use?

Another ghastly suggestion came to me from someone who signed themselves only as 'Nemesis'. Their letter alleged that he or she had been told by a 'member of the non-English diplomatic corps' that air had been introduced into Dr Kelly's bloodstream through a needle in a vein.

Apparently, if present in sufficient quantities, air in the major organs will kill and leave no scar. 'Nemesis' was in no doubt that this was how Dr Kelly's life had ended. "His heart and lungs were full of air," the letter said.

We know that the pathologist did retain one of Dr Kelly's lungs and some blood to test for substances such as chloroform but Assistant Chief Constable Michael Page, who gave evidence at the Hutton inquiry, revealed that the tests to the lung had not actually been carried out.

This was, he said, because no suspicious substances had shown up in the blood tests.

Whatever method might have been used to murder Dr Kelly, we have to wonder why those responsible did not kill him immediately. There would have been no insurmountable obstacles to doing so, after all.

Perhaps his kidnappers wanted an opportunity to take him into the woods at Harrowdown Hill under cover of darkness to minimise the chances of being spotted or disturbed.

It certainly would not have been difficult to have given him a shot to render him temporarily unconscious until his assailants forced him to walk to the spot where he would be killed and found the next day.

If they drove him there, the closest they could have got by road was about half a mile from where his body was found.

That walk is rather a public one, but there is another route and one seemingly not investigated by the police.

This path runs from a remote reach of the River Thames, about 500 yards away, up through a field and into the woods. With no houses or other dwellings nearby, anybody walking here is unlikely to be seen, particularly in the dead of night.

Intriguingly, this area was searched the following morning by Louise Holmes and Paul Chapman, the two volunteers who eventually found Dr Kelly's body.

They told the Hutton inquiry that some time after beginning their search at 8am they came across a group of three or four people in a boat and had a brief conversation with them.

Who they were, and what they were doing on the river at that time of the morning, has never been established. They could, of course, have been holidaymakers. But was the truth more sinister?

 The Strange Death of David Kelly by Norman Baker (Biteback, 10.99).  Norman Baker 2024. To order a copy for 9.89 (offer valid to 07/12/24; UK P&P free on orders over 25) go to www.mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937.
A surge of wealthy older people is preparing to leave Britain before April to take advantage of an inheritance tax loophole introduced in last month's Budget.

Tax advisers said they had clients who were planning to move overseas 'almost straight away' as a result of an IHT exemption that has been opened up by Labour's chances to non-dom rules.

Rachel Reeves confirmed the long-trailed abolition of the non-dom system, which exempts UK tax residents whose permanent home or 'domicile' is abroad from paying British tax on their foreign income.

Her Budget also introduced new rules that require people to live outside the UK for three to 10 years before they can avoid having to pay inheritance tax (IHT) on their foreign assets at a rate of 40 per cent.

However, if someone emigrates in the current tax year they will only be liable for IHT on their overseas possessions for three years.

Tax advisers said they had clients who were planning to move overseas 'almost straight away' as a result of an IHT exemption that has been opened up. File pic

Rachel Reeves confirmed the long-trailed abolition of the non-dom system, which exempts UK tax residents whose permanent home or 'domicile' is abroad from paying British tax on their foreign income

'[The rules are] basically saying if you want to go, you have to go this tax year,' Philip Munro, partner at law firm Withers, told the Financial Times, adding that the new provision had 'crystallised' many non-doms' decision to leave Britain.

Edward Hayes, director at London law firm Burges Salmon, said the rule change meant 'a lot of clients are in the position where they either leave almost straight away... or stay longer and face the maximum 10-year [wait] when they go in the future'.

Labour had previously wanted to make non-doms emigrating from Britain liable for IHT on their international assets for 10 years after leaving.

But following lobbying she changed this timeframe to between three and 10 years, depending on how long the person has lived in the UK.

Non-dom, short for non-domiciled, relates to someone who lives in Britain but whose permanent tax residence is registered abroad. Those with the status do not have to pay UK taxes on their foreign earnings and assets.

At present, an individual's domicile is where they consider their permanent home to be.

It is possible to change a UK-domiciled status by acquiring a 'domicile of choice' in another country, but this is a complicated process.

Experts have previously warned that Ms Reeves' decision to abolish non-dom status in her Budget will spark an exodus of wealth creators.

Maxwell Marlow, of the Adam Smith Institute, said: 'The abolition of the non-dom regime will drive away highly mobile wealth creators and so their tax contribution will decrease and they will invest less in our economy.'

Nigel Green, chief executive of financial advisory firm deVere Group, warned the exodus will leave 'lasting scars on Britain's economy'. He added: 'The UK has long benefited from the economic contributions of non-doms, whose direct and indirect investments and business activities have been integral to the nation's prosperity.

'The allure of the non-dom tax status has been a pivotal factor in attracting international talent and creating a dynamic business environment.

'Its removal is likely to signal a shift in the global perception of the UK as a favourable destination for wealth creation and business development.'

The new system replaces domicile with residency, meaning the majority of people who have lived abroad for more than 10 years will not pay IHT on their foreign assets

Former Conservative chancellor Jeremy Hunt introduced plans to scrap the regime in his Budget earlier this year. But Ms Reeves has gone further to close a so-called loophole that allowed those with the tax status to protect their assets in an offshore trust.

She has unveiled a replacement scheme to encourage wealthy foreigners and overseas investors to come to Britain temporarily.

But official estimates forecast that more non-doms will leave the country under Ms Reeves' plan than the one announced by Mr Hunt in March.

The Office for Budget Responsibility said her decision will 'slightly increase migration' relative to the changes announced by Hunt earlier this year. It estimated that 12 per cent of non-doms who are ineligible for the new regime will leave the country  up from 10 per cent following Mr Hunt's plan.

Marcelo Goulart, of the First Alliance group, said the reform was a 'colossal misjudgement'. He added: '[It has] exacerbated the damage that has already been done to the UK's reputation as a prime jurisdiction for wealthy international people.'

An HM Treasury spokesperson said: 'Replacing the outdated non-dom tax regime with a new internationally competitive new residence-based system addresses unfairness in our tax system, attracts the best talent and investment to the UK, and ensures everyone who is a long-term resident in the UK pays their taxes here.

'This was a once-in-a-Parliament Budget to wipe the slate clean, and our package of changes to this regime in the Autumn Budget is forecast to raise 12.7 billion over the next five years to help fill the 22 billion fiscal hole and rebuild our public services.'
From flirty exchanges with colleagues to shameful messages and offensive jokes swapped with office pals - WhatsApp chats can prove to be a HR nightmare.

But messages are now increasingly being used as evidence during bitter employment tribunals, which has led to more workers being fired.

Among those to have fallen foul includes a primary school teacher sacked for being part of a 'barbaric' WhatsApp group called the 'Nip Clockers' and a cleaner who was unfairly discriminated and fired by her boss over WhatsApp for being pregnant.

The news has fuelled warnings for staff to avoid using the social media app altogether to avoid being sacked.

It comes as the number of tribunals that have referenced the messaging app has almost tripled since 2019, from 150 to 427 hearings in 2023, according to figures from the HM Courts and Tribunals Service.

The data was obtained by law firm Nockolds as employers were warned misuse of the platform could see them having to pay out thousands of pounds in compensation.

NatWest this month announced it was banning staff from using WhatsApp, Skype and Facebook in an effort to stick to rules over workers' use of unauthorised electric messaging as well as to avoid fines.

Lawyers have warned employees could be fired for sending derogatory private messages about their managers or colleagues.

Making jibes about someone's age, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, or religious beliefs could also land staff in hot water. Jokes about someone's appearance are also 'big risks' as they could be seen as offensive.

Cleaning firm manager Antonia Ogilvie, 29, (pictured) was fired by her female boss while she was pregnant via WhatsApp with the message 'things have been getting too much for you'

WhatsApp messages are increasingly being used as evidence during bitter employment tribunals (file image)

It comes amid a swathe of unsavoury chats were exposed, including a 'barbaric' WhatsApp group that led to a primary school teacher being banned from the classroom.

Matthew Clare, 36, was part of the 'barbaric' 'Nip Clockers' group chat at Engayne Primary School in Upminster, east London, alongside 'three other colleagues'.

In a slew of grossly offensive messages received by Mr Clare, female colleagues were branded as 'kinky s***s', 'pure filth' and 'f***buddy material', the Teaching Regulation Authority (TRA) said.

One comment comparing the figures of two different female teachers, sent to Clare by an unknown member of the group, read: 'She top (redacted) on the filthy scale She's be a dirty f***'.

Another homophobic jibe received by Clare referred to a colleague as a 'skin head carpet muncher' while other posts discussed what they thought might be colleagues' preferred sexual positions - with the vile chat leaving shell-shocked staff at the primary 'appalled'.

A misconduct hearing carried out by the TRA heard that Clare admitted the messages gave the impression he was regularly ogling his female colleagues breasts.

One read: 'Clocked the Ns massively coming on from lunch. This cold weather.'

Clare has now been banned from teaching while all the others involved in the chat have resigned from the primary - with one of the disgraced educators now teaching at a new job at a London prep school.

Matthew Clare, 36, was banned from teaching after becoming involved in an offensive WhatsApp chat called Nip Clockers. He worked Engayne Primary School, in east London (pictured)

In a separate case, a pregnant cleaner who was sacked by her female boss with the message 'things have been getting too much for you' was awarded a 25,000 compensation payout.

Antonia Ogilvie, 29, was dismissed by Kendra Mann after going off sick with a bad back, an employment tribunal heard.

Ms Mann told the mother-of-three she was letting her go as she had been making her health her 'main priority'.

Ms Ogilvie sued for pregnancy discrimination claiming her boss's actions had left her feeling her feeling 'worthless', 'distressed' and in need of counselling. She was awarded 25,777 in damages.

The tribunal heard Ms Mann runs a domestic cleaning business, Evora Contracts, from her home in Wormit, in Fife, Scotland.

Ms Ogilvie started working as a cleaner on a zero hours contract in August last year, but was then offered an alternative role as an assistant manager and agreed a salary of 350 per week.

Two months later, Ms Ogilvie, from Dundee, found out she and boyfriend Jason Irvine, 52, were expecting and told Ms Mann immediately.

She received the previously agreed salary until November 2022 when Ms Ogilvie suffered morning sickness and was off work for five weeks as she received statutory sick pay.

Ms Ogilvie (pictured) sued for pregnancy discrimination claiming her boss's actions had left her feeling her feeling 'worthless', 'distressed' and in need of counselling. Now, she has been awarded 25,777 in damages

The panel heard when she returned to work in January 2023, she was paid less than the agreed 350 up until February, and was told it was because the business 'did not have the funds'.

Ms Ogilvie went off sick again with pregnancy-related back pain - again receiving statutory sick pay.

In March of last year, Ms Mann sent Ms Ogilvie a message terminating her contract with 'immediate effect'.

The message claimed it was 'due to your medical conditions and your health has to be a priority', but also mentioned 'customer satisfaction' which had been 'discussed before'.

In a similar case, a pregnant carer won more than 40,000 in compensation after she was sacked by WhatsApp after she told her manager she was expecting a child.

Jade Hodkinson was told she was being dismissed by text from her care home position because she had not completed her training.

However, an employment tribunal found the real reason for her 'shocking' dismissal was her pregnancy, coming just weeks after she had informed her boss of the good news.

The tribunal, held in Manchester, heard that Miss Hodkinson was hired by the care home as a senior care assistant in October 2021.

She successfully sued B&R care for pregnancy discrimination and unfair dismissal. Now, the mother-of-four has been awarded 40,349.81 in compensation.

Other workers have seen themselves being sacked after a series of flirty exchanges over WhatsApp.

One such incident saw a recruitment director - who rejected her male boss' sexual advances after swapping raunchy text messages - winning a sexual harassment claim.

Goran Hankic climbed into bed with Georgina Roberts after the pair exchanged a string of messages about erotic romance novel Fifty Shades of Grey which ended in them both admitting they were 'turned on', an employment tribunal in Leeds heard.

Boss, Goran Hankic (pictured), climbed into bed with Georgina Roberts - recruitment director - after the pair exchanged a string of messages about erotic romance novel Fifty Shades of Grey which ended in them both admitting they were 'turned on'

The conversation had begun with Mr Hankic consoling Mrs Roberts after she had broken up with her wife but became sexually charged after she asked him: 'Do you know I fancy both?'- despite him being present at her wedding, the tribunal heard.

A month after the chat, Mr Hankic got into bed with Mrs Roberts and 'grabbed' her breasts following a work social.

When the managing director's advances were not reciprocated, he stormed out and became 'hostile' towards her at work, the tribunal was told.

In a bitter campaign Mr Hankic delegated work away from Mrs Roberts and completely 'blanked' her - when they had previously declared themselves to be each other's 'best friends'.

Mrs Roberts is now in line for compensation after winning claims of unfair dismissal and sexual harassment with a judge ruling the 'die was cast' for her after she rejected his sexual advances.

Leaving a colleague out of a WhatsApp chat can also lead to workers being sacked.

Darren Case, a housing officer, was fired after setting up a WhatsApp group called 'Wolfpack', inspired by a name given to a group of pals in the Hangover film franchise.

Inappropriate messages were sent by Case in the chat about a female colleague who had been specifically excluded from the group.

Welsh social housing provider Tai Tarian was alerted of its employee's messages by a member of the group in April 2018.

A judge ruled in October 2023 that excluding colleagues from WhatsApp group chats can be discrimination (file image)

Case was accused of bullying the woman by posting messages about on her weight, speech and personal hygiene, describing her as 'autistic' and encouraging games to be played at her expense.

He was found guilty of gross misconduct and a tribunal backed the dismissal.

Ian Jones, the director and principal solicitor at Spencer Shaw said more people were being sacked due to inappropriate WhatsApp messages.

He told the Telegraph: 'If there is a sufficient work connection to the WhatsApp group, almost inevitable if the members are a group of work colleagues exclusively, then any wrongdoing by employee  harassing comments, discriminatory behaviour (even if unintended), bullying, reference to sex or sexual issues  will mean that the employee may be liable to disciplinary or even legal action.'

Dawn Dickson, a partner at Anderson Strathern, added that it didn't matter what the sender intended but how the message is perceived and the impact it had.

'If this kind of behaviour continues unchecked, it could lead to harassment claims or even constructive dismissal, which can be expensive for employers,' she warned.

A judge ruled in October 2023 that excluding colleagues from WhatsApp group chats can be discrimination.

Employment Judge Sarah George said bosses need to have a good justification for failing to include staff in chat groups  even if they are absent.

Being left out of messages while workmates are included can be viewed as an 'unfavourable act', she added at an employment tribunal hearing in Watford.

NatWest this month announced it was banning staff from using WhatsApp, Skype and Facebook in an effort to stick to rules over workers' use of unauthorised electric messaging as well as to avoid fines (file image)

Her ruling came in the case of Mark Brosnan, 60, who was awarded compensation after claiming he was discriminated against while suffering from a bad back.

One of Mr Brosnan's complaints was that he was left out of a work group chat to 'communicate important safety information' because he was off sick with the recurring injury. And a tribunal agreed that being left out was unjustified.

He was awarded 134,411 in compensation for the company's 'completely unreasonable' conduct in proceedings where they did 'literally nothing' to aid his ability to return to work.

This included 15,000 in injury to feelings, 7,000 personal injury and over 25,000 in loss of future earnings.
Keir Starmer is facing humiliation after Scottish Labour vowed to force a vote on reinstating the winter fuel allowance.

The PM's own party north of the border is campaigning to widen the scope of the payments that were axed for millions of pensioners following the election.

Ministers have been stubbornly refusing to reverse the policy, despite internal estimates that it will push 100,000 more older people into poverty.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the winter fuel payment would be means-tested within weeks of taking power.

Last week Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called for redesigned payments, saying it would lower the bar for getting them if it wins the 2026 Holyrood election.

And the party announced yesterday it will try to force a Holyrood vote during stage three of the Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill.

Keir Starmer is facing humiliation after Scottish Labour vowed to force a vote on reinstating the winter fuel allowance

Last week Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called for redesigned payments, saying it would lower the bar for getting them if it wins the 2026 Holyrood election

Amendments submitted by the party would require ministers to make regulations so all pensioners are eligible for winter heating assistance.

There would be a mechanism for payments to be recovered if the recipient's household income exceeds an amount set by ministers.

Scottish Labour's social security spokesman Paul O'Kane said: 'Scottish Labour has been clear that if wins the 2026 election, we will reinstate the winter fuel payment for thousands of pensioners  but people shouldn't have to wait that long.

'Next week will we have an opportunity to take a different approach in Scotland and ensure that every pensioner who needs a payment gets one.

'Across the UK Labour is cleaning up the mess left behind by the Tories, but Scotland needs a change of direction too.

'The SNP has offered a lot of warm words on Winter Fuel Payments, so it would be a gross betrayal if the SNP fails to back these amendments.

'Already the SNP has failed to pass on to 41 million of support intended for the most vulnerable people in Scotland this winter.

'We have the money and the powers we need  now is the time for action.'

Scotland's Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: 'This is hypocrisy on stilts from Labour.

Ministers have been stubbornly refusing to reverse the policy, despite internal estimates that it will push 100,000 more older people into poverty

'After betraying millions of pensioners by taking away their winter fuel payment, they now expect people to believe that they can be trusted to stand up for pensioners.

'After voting against an SNP Government motion calling for the Winter Fuel Payment to be reintroduced, they now demand a vote on the Winter Fuel Payment.

'And after promising that people's energy bills would fall if they were in government, they now have to explain why bills have already risen by 150  and are set to rise again in January.'

She said Labour is 'absolutely panicking as they haemorrhage support in communities across Scotland'.
Residents of a small country town are rallying against the closure of Australia's most famous rock climbing location amid fears it could kill the close-knit community.

Up to half the tracks around Mount Arapiles in western Victoria will be closed to protect Aboriginal artefacts, scarred trees and rock art recently discovered by the Victorian government.

The area is regarded as the heart of Australian rock climbing, which provides the financial life blood to the nearby town of Natimuk, 300km from Melbourne.

Local publican Bill Lovell said the Arapiles closure would devastate the town of around 500 residents.

'If the climbers don't come here, the staff don't get hours,' he told A Current Affair.

Amanda Wilson from Lister House Medical Clinic in nearby Horsham, said that four of her 17 doctors relocated to the area specifically to be close to the rock climbing landmark.

'To lose 25 per cent of our doctors, we would have an impact on 30,000 patients,' she said.

Wayne Webb has built his entire livelihood around the town's climbing enthusiasts.

The small town of Natimuk fears it will 'die' if Mount Arapiles is closed to rock climbers (pictured, locals protesting)

Parks Victoria found tens-of-thousands of Indigenous artefacts, scarred trees and rock art around Mt Arapiles, a popular rock climbing destination

He runs a climbing gear shop and spends every day talking to climbers who feel 'connected' to the mountain.

'This isn't just a ban on climbers. It's a ban on everyone,' Mr Webb said.

Locals are bewildered that the closure of the tracks comes as the government plans to spend $1.7 million on new amenities in the park surrounding the mountain.

The project includes new barbeques, tables, toilets, car parks and signs.

'For decades, people have fought to infrastructure away to keep it pristine,' Mr Webb said.

A petition created by locals to keep the mountain open to rock climbers has already attracted more than 8,000 signatures and closes on January 31.

The Victorian government's closure announcement earlier this month came shortly after Premier Jacinta Allan had promised community access.

'As Premier, and as a proud country Victorian, I will never put a padlock on our public forest,' she declared in August.

'I know there are some people who are worried about the future of our state's forests. And I understand there needs to be a balance. There are pockets that we need to protect, areas we must conserve.

'But, to me, the most important thing we can do for our bush is make sure it's enjoyed.'

Local publican Bill Lovell (pictured) said Mount Arapiles' closure to climbers 'could be the death of the town'

Up to half of the tracks around Victoria's Mount Arapiles will be closed following the discovery of its connection to Indigenous heritage

Opposition spokesman James Newbury responded by saying the Premier had been caught 'speaking out of both sides of her mouth again'.

'Despite promising not to lock up our parkland, her government has been caught doing secret lockout deals. And within weeks, Labor has admitted they will be ramming new laws through parliament that lock up parks further. Jacinta Allan's promises are worthless.'

It is likely the artefacts found around Mt Arapiles are predominantly stone chips. Scar trees are found throughout western Victoria but rock art is much rarer.

It's understood most of the rock art found in the national park is not visible to the naked eye.

A petition created by locals to keep the mountain open to rock climbers and hikers has more than 8,000 signatures

Parks Victoria said its investigation, completed in conjunction with the local Barengi Gadjin Land Council, was conducted between November 2020 and February 2023.

'These surveys were intended to record cultural heritage, regionally significant threatened plants and investigate the impacts of recreational activities on this rich cultural and environmental landscape,' it said.

'The study's specific focus was climbing areas identified through the Crag  a global online database of climbing and bouldering areas  and the informal trail network that has been created linking climbing areas to each other and to the formal track network.

'Located on the sandstone escarpments on the eastern side of Dyurrite (Mount Arapiles) and the sandstone escarpments of Mitre Rock, the study area included 153 climbing areas and more than 35 kilometres of informal walking tracks leading to, and between these climbing areas.'

The state government recently confirmed it would create legislation for a new Wombat-Lerderderg National Park and Mount Buangor National Park by November from the Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park.
Samaritans helpline posters have been slapped over the controversial assisted dying law adverts on the London Underground.

Many were left furious after the ad - created by Let Us Choose, a campaign to legalise assisted dying - was spotted at stations across the Tube network on Monday.

They were described as 'completely tasteless' and 'shocking' by those on both sides of the assisted dying debate on social media.

But commuters in stations such as Westminster soon spotted that someone had mysteriously plastered Samaritans suicide prevention posters over the top of them.

The smaller green posters contained the charity's phone number and offered mental health help with the words: 'Whatever you're facing, we're here to listen.'

It is unclear who authorized and carried out this rebellious act, after a Samaritans spokesperson told MailOnline it had not sanctioned any fly posters on the Underground.

But the move has been welcomed by people online, with one X user posting: 'Well that didn't take long On my way home and the assisted suicide propaganda has been covered up with suicide prevention posters. Love it!'

Commuters in stations such as Westminster soon spotted that the assisted dying law adverts had Samaritan helpline posters mysteriously slapped over the top of them

The advert - created by the Let Us Choose - Legalise Assisted Dying campaign - has left a number of people furious after it was spotted at stations across the Tube network on Monday

Another commented: 'The depths of despair the someone on minimum wage in London must feel as they pass through this oppressive tunnel every day to get to work, and Khan is advertising assisted suicide.

'This is real love: Telling people they are not alone, not telling people to end themselves.'

A third simply put: 'Brilliant, well done whoever did that.'

On one of the adverts, a woman is shown dancing around a kitchen in striped pink and white pyjamas, next to the words: 'My dying wish is my family won't see me suffer. And I won't have to.'

In another, a man is pictured posing next to the words: 'My dying wish is to know I have a choice. My dad didn't.', while a third ad shows a female guitarist with the words: 'My dying wish is to play out with the ones I love.'

Sadiq Khan and Transport for London have been slammed for allowing the adverts to go up as MPs brace themselves for a tense debate on Friday over the proposed assisted dying bill, with a potential vote on the matter possible for the first time in nearly a decade.

The Private Members' Bill proposed by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater has sparked deep splits in the Cabinet, and across the political spectrum.

The legislation put forward by Ms Leadbeater would allow terminally ill adults expected to die within six months to get help to end their life.

But opponents are concerned legalising assisted dying in any form could be a slippery slope that could lead to people with non-terminal illnesses or even mental health issues being allowed to end their lives.

One of the posters shows a man is pictured posing next to the words: 'My dying wish is to know I have a choice. My dad didn't'

A third ad shows a female guitarist with the words: 'My dying wish is to play out with the ones I love'

The smaller green ads contained the charity's phone number and offered mental health help with the words: 'Whatever you're facing, we're here to listen.'

One poster was spotted by author Adrian Hilton, who posted on X: 'Who at @TFL thought it was remotely appropriate to promote assisted suicide on the London Underground?'

The adverts have been condemned by those on both side of the assisted dying debate, with one writing on X, formerly Twitter: 'I'm not against assisted dying in certain circumstances, but to advertise like this is unbelievably crass and insensitive.

'It makes me feel sick to be honest.'

Another added they had been in Oxford Circus station when they had seen the adverts while on the escalator.

They said: '[Assisted dying] is now being promoted in the same way as a trip to the theatre to see Wicked or the Lion King. Pure evil.'

Some users took aim at Mr Khan, with one user writing: 'London Mayor @SadiqKhan is ultimately responsible for allowing grotesque 'assisted dying' advert on the underground.

Another wrote: 'Just when you thought it was impossible, TfL and Sadiq Khan plummet to new deaths. Any train driver will tell you, the tube is not the place to promote assisted dying.'

Others were left confused that the London Mayor had allowed for the posters to be put up, after he had previously banned ads that 'shame' Londoners over their bodies from the Tube and bus network.

These sightings had led to a number of angry social media posts directed at the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who is also the chairman of TfL

One user said: 'Sadiq Khan within days of becoming London Mayor: 'Remove all posters of women wearing bras, bikinis, underwear generally.'

'It's 'unhealthy! Puts slimming demands on girls & women!'

Current TFL poster-young white woman ecstatically happy on ad for assisted dying? Fine?'

A spokesperson for the Mayor said: 'The Mayor has no involvement in approving or deciding which ads run on the TfL network, and TfL's policy reflects legal requirements.'

It comes amid a heated debate over the proposed policy, which has divided both Cabinet and Parliament.

It's understood the eventual vote on the bill will not be whipped by the main political parties, meaning MPs are free to vote with their conscience rather than facing pressure to follow a certain party line.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has branded the policy a 'slippery slope towards death on demand' in a letter to her constituents.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has also been critical, but Keir Starmer has hinted he will back the plan - which gained momentum after a campaign by terminally ill TV star Esther Rantzen.

As politicians wrestle with their positions, polls have suggested that the public supports the principle of assisted dying - although there are doubts about how it would be implemented in practice.

Sir Keir Starmer previously indicated he would support the bill in the face of cabinet opposition

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has branded the policy a 'slippery slope towards death on demand'

Research by More in Common has found nearly two thirds favour the idea, with just 13 per cent opposed and 22 per cent unsure.

The poll found the majority of Brits regard strict safeguards as 'essential' to an assisted dying law.

However, 71 per cent said it was possible to create policy with the right protections, against 29 per cent who thought it was not.

The bill was seen as happening at about the right pace by 51 per cent, while a further 13 per cent said it was too slow. Nearly a fifth said it was happening too quickly.
Three bodies have been recovered from a capsized tourist boat that sank off Egypt's Red Sea coast yesterday, with 13 people still missing, according to Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi.

The boat named Sea Story reportedly sank near Shaab Satayah, a coral reef popular for diving trips, off the tourist resort of Marsa Alam in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Two British tourists were rescued, while another two Britons are among the missing, according to reports.

The nationalities of the three people whose bodies have been found have not yet been confirmed.

Rescue teams had been 'intensifying efforts' to find those who had gone missing after the 34-metre-long boat sank.

Those who escaped the vessel said a 'high sea wave' had hit it and caused it to capsize in 'about five or seven minutes', Mr Hanafi said.

Some passengers were inside the cabins, 'which is why they couldn't get out of the boat', he added in a statement on Facebook.

The incident occurred during rough weather conditions, with the Egyptian Red Sea Ports Authority reporting wave heights of 10-13 feet and wind speeds of 34 knots in the area on Sunday, leading to the closure of maritime traffic.

The boat named Sea Story (pictured) had 31 tourists of different nationalities as well as 13 crew members on board when it sank

Medics and people wait for possible survivors after a boat sank at a harbour in Marsa Alam, Red Sea Governorate, in Egypt, 25 November 2024

Survivors of the sinking boat rest at a harbor in Marsa Alam, Red Sea Governorate, in Egypt, 25 November 2024

The boat was carrying 31 tourists of various nationalities - among them four Britons and two Americans - as well as 13 Egyptian crew members on board, according to local media outlet Masrawy (pictured: people waiting on the beach for survivors)

Medics wait for possible survivors after a boat sank at a harbour in Marsa Alam, Red Sea Governorate, in Egypt, 25 November 2024

A surviving crew member said the boat was 'hit by a wave in the middle of the night, throwing the vessel on its side', according to a manager of a diving resort close to the rescue operations.

The boat departed on a diving trip from the port of Ghalib in Marsa Alam on November 24 and was scheduled to arrive at Hurghada Marina on November 29.

Some of the survivors were reportedly flown back to shore by a helicopter to receive medical care, while others were transported via another boat.

The search was reportedly made more difficult due to bad weather, which comes after authorities in the Red Sea capital of Hurghada on Sunday shut down marine activities and the city's port - also due to 'bad weather conditions'.

But winds around Marsa Alam had remained favourable until Sunday night, the diving manager told AFP, before calming again by morning.

By Monday afternoon, it became increasingly 'unlikely that the 17 missing would be rescued after 12 hours in the water,' he said, requesting anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

The firm that operates the yacht, Dive Pro Liveaboard in Hurghada, Egypt, said yesterday it had no information on the matter.

Hanafi said the boat had passed its last safety inspection in March 2024, with no technical issues reported. The boat, owned by an Egyptian national, was 34 meters long and had received a one-year safety certificate from the Maritime Safety Authority.

Ship tracking website Marine Traffic showed the last location shared by the boat as somewhere off Hurghada.

The Sea Story is a 144ft pleasure craft built in 2022, which can carry up to 36 passengers

The Sea Story is a 144ft, four-deck pleasure craft built in 2022, which can carry up to 36 passengers.

The boat has a total of 18 twin cabins with en-suite bathrooms on board, which are used for tourists on diving trips hoping to explore the Red Sea reefs.

Authorities have not confirmed the nationalities of the tourists and it is unclear who is among the rescued and who is still missing.

The Chinese embassy in Egypt said Monday two of its nationals were 'in good health' after being 'rescued in the cruise ship sinking accident in the Red Sea', Chinese state media reported.

Ship tracking website Marine Traffic showed the last location shared by the boat as somewhere off Hurghada

The dining room for the passengers on the Sea Story is pictured above

Polish foreign ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski said authorities 'have information that two of the tourists may have had Polish citizenship'.

The Finnish foreign ministry confirmed to AFP news agency that one of its nationals is also among the missing.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told MailOnline: 'We are providing consular support to a number of British nationals and their families following an incident in Egypt and are in contact with the local authorities.'

It is not the first time this year a diving tour boat sank in the Red Sea. Earlier this month, 30 people were rescued from a sinking dive boat near the Red Sea's famous Deadalus reef.

In June, two dozen French tourists were safely evacuated before their boat sank in a similar accident.
The heartbroken father of Hannah Kobayashi who went missing two weeks ago revealed he and his daughter had been estranged 'for a while' before he took his life.

Ryan Kobayashi, 58, was found dead after jumping from a parking garage at Los Angeles Airport at around 4am on Sunday after his daughter, 30, was last heard from on November 11.

Kobayashi had traveled to California to assist in the search for the missing woman where he handed out 'Find Hannah' flyers over a 13 day period.

But before his tragic suicide, Kobayashi had spoken to the media on behalf of his concerned family and pleaded for help from the public, though he admitted he and his daughter 'hadn't had contact for a while'.

Speaking to CNN last week, the devastated father said: 'Hannah loved to travel. She loved photography, art, music. I wasn't too close with her  growing up. We hadn't had contact for a while.

'I'm just trying to make up. I'm trying to get her back. That's my main focus'.

Although Kobayashi and his missing daughter - who he said brought 'joy to so many' - were estranged for some period of time, Hannah's aunt Larie Pidgeon told DailyMail.com yesterday that nothing would have stopped him joining in the search.

'He was estranged from his daughter,' she said, 'They didn't have the best relationship and he wasn't there for her growing up but (in the end) he was there for her when it mattered. He came here when it mattered'.

Ryan, 58, took his own life early Sunday morning at a building near LAX, one of the last places Hannah was seen, after admitting he and his daughter had been estranged for some time

Hannah Kobayashi, 31, disappeared three days after missing a connecting flight from her native Maui in Hawaii en-route to New York City on November 8

This is the last known image of her leaving LAX, after she missed her connecting flight to New York to visit family

Ryan Kobayashi, center, holds a picture of his missing daughter Hannah Kobayashi outside Crypto.com Arena, on November 21

Hannah Kobayashi disappeared three days after missing a connecting flight from her native Maui in Hawaii en-route to New York City on November 8.

She had been on the same plane as her ex-boyfriend who had booked the tickets for each of them before they broke up.

But the pair did not sit together or speak during the flight, it has been reported.

The boyfriend had continued the journey on to New York and is 'cooperating with the police' after a series of chilling texts about how she had undergone a 'spiritual awakening' were sent from Hannah's phone before she vanished.

Hannah was seen in security camera footage disembarking her flight at LAX at around 10pm, and the next day was seen at a Taschen bookstore at The Grove shopping mall where she charged her phone.

According to her sister Sydni Kobayashi, Hannah sent a Venmo payment to two people whose names the family did not recognize.

Hannah is then believed to have spent the night at the airport where she called her aunt to tell her she was still trying to reach New York.

A video was later posted on YouTube on November 10, showing Hannah at a Nike event featuring LeBron James in the same shopping mall, and wearing the same clothing as the night before.

An image of the event was also posted on her Instagram account, captioned with an eye emoji.

Missing Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi's sister has shared details of every last known sighting as her family continue their agonizing search

Parts of the video also show Hannah outside of an event in Los Angeles

Her final post was shared on November 11. It is understood she was attending an event in Los Angeles at the time

Her family received strange texts from her phone number, leading them to believe they had not been sent by Hanna

The next time Hannah was seen was at around 5pm the same day, talking to a ticketing agent at LAX.

Timeline of disappearance November 8 - Kobayashi was spotted at The Grove shopping mall between midday and 3pm. November 9 - Kobayashi was spotted at The Grove shopping mall between midday and 3pm November 10 - She appeared in the background of a video outside a Nike event featuring LeBron James at 3:30pm November 11 - Kobayashi was spotted boarding an LAX Metro C line at Aviation/Century Station Advertisement

Her family then filed a missing persons report during what they described as uncharacteristic correspondence from Kobayashi.

One of her text messages read: 'Deep Hackers wiped my identity, stole all of my funds, & have had me on a mind f**k since Friday.'

Her mother, Brandi Yee, also sent her a text message asking if she made it to New York.

She responded simply: 'Not yet.' Another early-morning text mentioned how she was in the midst of a 'spiritual awakening.'

The following day, on November 11, Hannah was spotted boarding an LAX Metro C line at Aviation/Century Station.

She got on board at 9:02pm, before transferring to a different train at the Rosa Parks Station.

Hannah was finally seen leaving the Metro Pico Station with the unidentified person at 10:03pm.

Both Hannah's mother and sister also believe that the messages 'did not sound like her' and wonder if it was Hannah who sent them.

'None of the texts are getting delivered. We can't locate her phone.'

She also sent messages to a friend saying she didn't feel safe, and that someone was trying to steal her identity and funds.

One of Hannah's friends received strange texts from Kobayashi's phone - indicating that she may be in trouble

'Deep Hackers wiped my identity, stole all of my funds, & have had me on a mind f**k since Friday,' one message to a friend said.

Another message said, 'I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds,' followed by one saying, 'For someone I thought I loved.'

On November 15, the LAPD missing persons unit created a poster about Hannah's disappearance, saying she was last seen at the airport, has freckles on her face, and a tattoo on her forearm.

As the search for Hannah continues following the tragic death of her father, the Kobayashi family said in a statement: 'The Kobayashi family endured a devastating tragedy today.

'After tirelessly searching throughout Los Angeles for 13 days, Hannah's father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically took his own life. This loss has compounded the family's suffering immeasurably.

'What the family needs most in this difficult time is for all communities to rally around them with support, compassion, and prayers. Please be considerate with your comments and posts.

'The trauma they are enduring is profound, and they now face the additional burden of grieving the loss of their family's pillar and navigating next steps.'
This is the bizarre moment that a man was seen repeatedly kicking a seat on a plane before he was restrained and tied up by three other passengers.

The video was recorded on a United Airlines flight from Austin to Los Angeles on November 16.

The individual can be seen holding both an aisle and exit row seat while kicking the chair in the middle with enough force to knock it back into the empty row behind.

Wearing a dark jumper, grey sweatpants and white Nike trainers, the man continually uses his right foot to stamp on the seat.

Video footage showed the same sequence of events occurring for around 25 seconds, before the clip ends with the man jumping on the seat in what appeared to be a final attempt to dismantle it.

The reasons for why the man was acting in such a manner remain unclear.

Following the incident, United Airlines confirmed that the individual had been banned from taking any further flights with the carrier.

The clip was recorded by Gino Galofaro, who is based in San Diego, California and works as an addiction counsellor, says that he woke up to the activity and had to help restrain the man.

A man was seen repeatedly kicking a seat on a plane before he was restrained and tied up by three other passengers on a United Airlines flight from Austin to Los Angeles on November 16

The individual can be seen holding both an aisle and exit row seat while kicking the chair in the middle with enough force to knock it back into the row behind

The clip ends with the man jumping on the seat in what appeared to be a final attempt to dismantle it

Gino, who runs addiction treatment service Hope Interventions, said: 'I woke up to him kicking the seat. The flight attendant walked by a couple times, nobody was doing anything.

'I restrained him and two other passengers were already getting zip ties so we zip tied his hands an feet and seat belted him to the seat. We were 40 minutes from LAX.

'Police came onboard when we landed.'

Gino adds that he hopes to be in communication with the man's family to see if he can offer any help.

United Airlines reported there were 76 passengers on the airplane with five crew.

A spokesperson said: 'On November 16, local law enforcement met United flight 502 upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport after a customer became disruptive.

'We thank our crew for helping address the situation and working to ensure the safety of everyone on board. We've banned this customer from future United flights.'

It comes after passengers onboard an American Airlines flight were seen restraining a man sitting in first class who was allegedly violent with his female travel companion.

Video shared online shows several men leaning over a man seated in the first row of the flight from Miami, Florida to Charlotte, North Carolina on Wednesday October 2

Video shared online shows several men leaning over a man seated in the first row of the flight from Miami, Florida to Charlotte, North Carolina on Wednesday.

One sternly tells the passenger to take his hands off the woman sitting next to him as a female flight attendant tries to mediate.

'Do not f***ing touch her,' one man could be heard shouting in the passenger's face, before he apparently gave an inaudible excuse.

'I don't give a f***,' the man responds as the passenger argues that he took his hands off the woman. 'Look at me, you f***ed up, You don't f***ing touch her.'

At that point, a second man warns that the apparently handsy passenger would be arrested if he touched the woman again.

'Get your f***ing hands off of her right now,' he said. 'You touch her again, you're gonna get f***ing arrested, a**hole.'

The passengers were seen yelling at the passenger to take his hands off the woman sitting next to him as a female flight attendant tries to mediate

The first man could then be seen asking the woman if she is OK, before the passengers tell her to move to another empty seat - away from her travel companion.

As she moved across the aisle, the alleged aggressor yells that he was the one who was assaulted by the woman - which she fiercely denied.

'No you weren't assaulted,' the woman shot back. 'I put my hand over your mouth to make you shut up.'

But the man held firm, screaming: 'You slapped me!'
A transgender police officer who allegedly assaulted two colleagues with a penis pump after drugging them has been elected as women's representative on her police force.

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

The men reported having sustained serious injuries, including to their genitals, from the alleged assault with a penis pump 'among other things', as reported by German outlet Bild.

Judy S. had recently run for deputy women's representative within Berlin's police force and the election results were only announced after she had already been suspended.

The transgender policewoman received 638 votes, which earned her second deputy women's representative.

She now has at least a week to accept the election and if she takes on the role, she will be appointed if the first deputy is unable to attend.

'This is something that many colleagues find offensive, mainly because of the investigations against her,' one female officer told Bild.

Judy S. is the first transgender woman who ran for the position within Berlin's force, but her colleagues are now concerned over her not disclosing her change of gender identity during the election.

The suspect had recently become the first transgender woman to run for a police deputy role in Berlin. Her campaign poster is pictured above

'It would have been fair if she had spoken openly about it. How am I, as a woman, supposed to talk to a woman who was born a man about my menstrual problems or my problems during the menopause? She can't understand that at all,' the officer said.

The woman added that Judy S. didn't have to announce the change in her gender identity, but that transparency 'would have been nice' as she ran for a top position.

The men, who worked with Judy S. at the federal police, 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 alleged victims may have seen Judy S.'s campaign posters after the alleged assault, as the election campaign went on until November 20 - more than a week after the allegations were reported

Police raided the home of Judy S. in Berlin on November 11 after the two men, 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 Judy S.'s flat.

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

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

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

They were not aware at the time of their 'drugs and sex' date that Judy S. had changed her gender identity, Bild reports.

The KitKat 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 dress code 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.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has claimed that illegal immigrants are responsible for higher incidences of rape in Italy and that police presence in cities must be upped to make public spaces safer.

Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with Italian women's magazine Donna Moderna yesterday - the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women - Meloni acknowledged she would be labelled a racist for delivering the message so bluntly.

The Italian Premier said that combatting mass illegal immigration would help contribute to efforts to make public spaces safer for women.

'Now I will be called a racist, but there is a greater incidence, unfortunately, in cases of sexual violence, by immigrants', particularly by those 'who arrived illegally,' Meloni said.

'Clearly, when you have nothing, a ''degeneration'' occurs that can lead anywhere', she added, before going on to say that the legal system must seek to properly punish those who commit gender-based violence.

'We need to guarantee the presence of the police, guarantee that there are crimes, guarantee that when someone commits a crime they pay for that crime,' she concluded.

But Riccardo Magi, leader of Italy's 'More Europe' party, has chastised Meloni's government for claiming the nation is seeing a rise in sexual violence due to illegal immigration as he declared the Interior Ministry's own figures suggested the overwhelming majority of rapes and femicide are committed by Italian citizens.

Meloni acknowledged she would be labelled a racist for delivering the message so bluntly

People take part in a rally ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, in front of the Colosseum in Rome, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024

People take part in a protest against patriarchal violence called by feminist group Non Una Di Meno (Not One Less) prior to the 'International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women' in Rome, Italy, 23 November 2024

The row over gender-based violence is a hot topic in Italy at present.

Last week, a foundation was launched in memory of Giulia Cecchetin, a 22-year-old Italian woman who was kidnapped and brutally murdered by her ex-boyfriend last year.

At the memorial foundation's opening, Italian Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara released a video in which he made a claim similar to Meloni's yesterday, prompting a major backlash.

'We must not overlook the fact that the rise in incidents of sexual violence is somehow linked to forms of marginalisation and perversion stemming from illegal immigration,' Valditara said.

More Europe leader Magi quickly bit back, sharing a social media post that accused Valditara of spreading 'fake news'.

'(The education minister's) statement is contradicted by all statistics, the data released by the Ministry of the Interior speak clearly: over 80% of femicides in Italy are committed by Italian citizens.

'Valditara should be ashamed: his is just a shameless racist exploitation,' he concluded.

According to a report by Euronews citing figures from Italy's national statistics agency (ISTAT), the country saw 334 murders in 2023, up 3.7% from the year before.

Around 94% of the Italian women killed that year were victims of fellow Italians, according to the agency.

Though femicide and rape are two different crimes, ISTAT's figures also acknowledged that most reported cases of rape in Italy in 2023 were committed by people known to the victim.

The perpetrator was a partner in 62.7% of reported cases, with friends or relatives of the victim accounting for another 13%.

Meanwhile, only 4.4% of women who said they were raped by an Italian filed a complaint about the incident, compared to 24.7% of those claiming the perpetrator was foreign, ISTAT revealed.

Riccardo Magi, leader of Italy's 'More Europe' party, has chastised Meloni's government for claiming the nation is seeing a rise in sexual violence due to illegal immigration as he declared the Interior Ministry's own figures suggested the overwhelming majority of rapes and femicide are committed by Italian citizens

Women hold a banner as people from Non Una di Meno (Not One Less) movement and feminist collectives take part in a protest ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, in Rome, Italy, November 23, 2024

Women attend a rally to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024

The installation 'Wall of Dolls,' commemorating victims of gender-based violence, is on display on the facade of the Liguria region palace on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in Genoa, Italy, 25 November 2024

This past weekend saw tens of thousands of people march in Rome on the eve of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to protest gender-based violence, which in Italy so far this year has claimed the lives of 99 women, according to a report last week by the Eures think tank.

Similar protests erupted in countries around the world as well as in France which is currently witnessing one of the most heinous rape and sexual abuse trials in its history.

Prosecutors yesterday said 71-year-old Dominique Pelicot, a self-confessed rapist who allowed scores of men to rape his wife after drugging her over a decade, should spend the rest of his life in a cell.

Speaking at the Vaucluse Criminal Court, in Avignon, Attorney General Laure Chabaud said: 'The maximum sentence is 20 years of criminal imprisonment, which is both a lot and too little in view of the seriousness of the repeated attacks.'

Ms Chabaud said Dominque's wife Gisele Pelicot, a mother of three, had been reduced to an 'object' by men who just 'used her for easy sex' over almost a decade.

Her ex-husband contacted them all online, and then invited them back to the family home in Mazan, near Avignon, where they raped his drugged wife.

Dominique Pelicot (Top R) during his trial in which he is accused of drugging his wife Gisele Pelicot (Bottom C) on November 25

Gisele Pelicot arrives at the criminal court in Avignon, France, 25 November 2024

Dominique Pelicot is accused of allowing multiple men to rape his wife while she was sedated

'Gisele Pelicot's state, close to a coma, should have raised the alarm,' said Ms Chabaud.

'Rape is characterised by a lack of consent,' she added, saying there was no possibility that the victim had voluntarily taken drugs to put her to sleep, as part of a 'libertine game', as the defence has suggested.

'What pleasure can she sincerely get from it, without counting the side effects the next day?' said Ms Chabaud.

Ms Pelicot suffered significant health issues including several sexually transmitted diseases as a result of the abuse.

Jean-Francois Mayet, the second attorney general at the case, said '20,000 photos and videos' were found in a catalogue of the abuse on Mr Pelicot's devices.

Almost all of them showed an unconscious Ms Pelicot being subjected to horrific acts.

Both the Pelicots gave final statements in court, with the trial expected to conclude next month.
The UK's beleaguered stats agency has come under yet another attack from the Bank of England, as it was revealed ministers grappling with the UK's productivity crisis may not have accurate figures about the country's workforce for another three years.

Dr Swati Dhingra, who sits on the bank's rate-setting monetary policy committee (MPC) hit out at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) over inaccuracies in its labour force survey.

At a conference in London she accused the ONS of losing 'the will to do it as carefully' as it used to be done. The LFS was suspended in October 2023 over concerns about the accuracy of its data.

The Indian-born economist contrasted the situation with that of her huge native country, saying: 'There are a billion people there. We managed to get the labor force survey answered. I don't find it particularly plausible that that's hard to do.'

It came as ministers launched a major new drive to try to get people back into work - but means they may not accurately know how many there are in the first place.

The ONS has faced criticism over the LFS. Last week the Resolution Foundation think tank said almost one million workers in Britain's jobs market have been 'lost' because of poor data.

And at a meeting in July first reported by Bloomberg, the UK Statistics Authority, which oversees the ONS, admitted that a reliable 'transformed' survey may not be available until 'mid-2027'.

It comes as the ONS faces strike action from staff over plans to make them work in the office two days per week. Staff have been continuing to work from home after refusing to spend at least 40 per cent of their time in the office.

Dr Swati Dhingra, who sits on the bank's rate-setting monetary policy committee (MPC) hit out at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) over inaccuracies in its labour force survey.

The ONS has faced criticism over the LFS. Last week the Resolution Foundation think tank said almost one million workers in Britain's jobs market have been 'lost' because of poor data .

The ONS has been warning over the accuracy of its main LFS data for some time, because of poor response rates to the survey since the start of the pandemic, with economists increasingly becoming reluctant to place any weight on the statistics.

Last week the Resolution Foundation suggested it had been misrepresenting trends in the jobs sector through inaccurate figures, which it said underestimated growth in employment by 930,000 workers since 2019.

It claims that the response rate to the ONSs jobs survey has slumped to just 13 per cent from 39 per cent between 2019 and 2023, which has seen workers less disproportionately likely to respond, while it has also struggled to reflect the growing importance of workers from outside the European Union.

The ONS said it was aware of issues with the LFS data and has been placing more weight on other statistics, such as the more timely payroll data from HMRC.

It also stressed that recent improvements to increase response rates have seen the number of interviews carried out rise from 44,238 to 59,139.

The Resolution Foundation think tank said the Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) had underestimated growth in employment since 2019 by 930,000 workers

In a new report, they accused the ONS of misrepresenting trends in the jobs sector through inaccurate figures from its Labour Force Survey (LFS)

They created their own alternative estimate of employment across the UK, which suggested the employment rate could be around 76% - higher than the official rate of about 75%

Dr Dhingra in not the first BoE figure to complain about the statistics. Governor Andrew Bailey, in his annual report at the start of November, said it was currently 'difficult to gauge the underlying state of labour market activity'.

'In light of this, the MPC has needed to rely more heavily than usual on alternative sources of information to inform its judgements on the labour market, including business surveys and intelligence from the Banks Agents around the country,' he added.

In a recent ballot, ONS staff backed taking strike action if bosses don't back down on forcing them to return to their workplaces.

An ONS spokesman said: 'We have been clear for some time that we believe the trends in employees produced from the HMRC tax information and our own separate survey of employers are likely to be painting a more accurate picture than that currently presented by the LFS.

'Our ongoing work to improve the LFS estimates by increasing the sample, reintroducing face-to-face interviews, increasing incentives for those taking part and reweighting the data using the latest population information will all help to improve the quality of the survey.'

The ONS added it was 'working with outside experts to assess if any further action may need to be taken'.
The devastated owners of Molly the Magpie have broken their silence as they face the prospect of the bird being separated from his Staffordshire Terrier best friends Peggy and Ruby once again.

Juliette Wells and her partner Reece Mortensen could have Molly removed from their Gold Coast home after a wildlife carers' licence that was granted to the couple was overturned in court.

Daily Mail Australia revealed on Tuesday that legal firm XD Law & Advocacy launched Supreme Court action in September against Queensland's Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) for granting the permit.

The couple issued an emotional statement on Tuesday night to thank Aussies for their continued support.

'A big thank you for the outpouring of support and love as we face yet another bump in the road,' a post on the Peggy and Molly Instagram page read.

'Some anonymous people challenged DESIs decision to grant us a specialised licence so Molly could come back to a family who love him in the Supreme Court.'

The couple told the account's 982K followers that the ruling means the license has been rendered ineffective.

'That also means that your application for a specialised licence made on 11 April 2024 remains undecided,' the statement continued.

Juliette Wells (left) and Reece Mortensen (right) have broken their silence as Molly the Magpie faces the likelihood of being separated from staffies Peggy and Ruby once again

They anxiously await for the next course of action, which remains up in the air.

'In the meantime, let's live in the moment & enjoy the time we have together and let everything else go,' the statement ended.

The post was accompanied with a heartwarming video of Peggy and Molly playing together to the Louis Armstrong hit What A Wonderful World.

Molly was seen nibbling at Peggy's ears and paw as the pair gazed adoringly into each other's eyes several times during the clip.

Hundreds of followers rallied behind the couple as they fight to keep Molly and her best friends together.

'Sending much love to you all. You are doing such a wonderful job and Molly is clearly living his best life,' one commented.

Another added: 'This breaks my heart. Sending love and all my positivity for a favourable outcome'.

A third wrote: 'Surely Molly is free to go wherever he chooses? He chose you lovely people.'

Others labelled the move 'outrageous' and expressed their disbelief the controversial ruling had been made.

'I cannot believe this ... this bird chooses to be with you. Stay strong and fight. Nothing should break apart this bond, it's wholesome,' another follower urged.

XD Law & Advocacy revealed on Tuesday that it was acting on behalf of an unnamed wildlife rescue volunteer, who had the support of dozens of other animal carers, many of whom had been targeted by online trolls over the row.

The post, which was accompanied by a heartwarming video of Peggy and Molly (pictured) playfully together, explained the specialised license has been rendered ineffective

Molly the Magpie and her Staffordshire Terrier best friends Peggy and Ruby could be separated once again after a court overturned a Gold Coast couple's licence to keep the bird. Juliette Wells is pictured with Molly and Peggy

Jack Vaughan from the law firm told Daily Mail Australia that the Supreme Court overturned the granting of the specialised licence to Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen on Monday.

Molly had previously been removed from the couple in March when authorities learned they had no permit to care for native wildlife.

The bird was returned six weeks later after a public outcry.

Mr Vaughan said the court's order was made with the consent of DESI, which would now determine what happened to Molly after conceding it made a mistake.

'In trying to protect the welfare of the bird - which has always been our highest priority - we made an error, and we are currently considering next steps,' a departmental spokesman said.

In a later, further statement the spokesman added: 'The department is currently reviewing the court decision.'

The wildlife volunteer who took court action previously told Daily Mail Australia that magpies were not suitable pets and suffered when kept in domestic captivity and that Molly - who is male - would likely not survive.

That was also DESI's original position when it first removed Molly from Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen's home.

'It is alleged that the bird was taken from the wild and kept unlawfully, with no permit, licence or authority being issued by DESI,' a departmental spokesman said at the time.

DESI had independent veterinary advice Molly could never be returned to the wild as he would be unable to fend for himself, so he would need to be sent to a sanctuary or euthanised.

Molly and his canine companions have become social media stars. Molly and Peggy have amassed a massive 1.3 million followers on Facebook and almost 1 million more on Instagram.

The resultant public backlash led to an extraordinary intervention by Queensland's then-premier, Steven Miles.

Mr Miles dismissed criticism he had caved in to social media pressure by allowing Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen to keep Molly, and said granting them a permit was the 'common sense' approach.

'I'm not a bird expert but he looks really well and healthy to me,' Mr Miles said when he visited Molly in the couple's home.

Molly and his canine companions, Peggy and Ruby, live with Juliette Wells and Reece Mortensen in their Gold Coast home and have become social media stars

DESI granted Ms Wells a permit to keep Molly after they agreed to conditions including not profiting from the magpie or its image, undertaking the appropriate training and advocating for wildlife.

XD Law & Advocacy argued that decision was made on political grounds due to media pressure and set a precedent for anyone to keep a wild animal.

'We became involved when we saw volunteer wildlife carers being pilloried and abused for sticking up for the laws of Queensland preventing wildlife being turned into pets,' lawyer Jack Vaughan said.

'These are the people who arrive in the middle of the night when you find an injured animal by the road. They do it for nothing. More often than not they pay for the medicines and food needed as well.

'They represent the best of Australia and yet some of them were receiving death threats for suggesting that the department's actions were illegal. We agreed with them and it seems the court does too.'

Mr Vaughan said DESI had been 'given the opportunity to show it followed the proper processes and standards in granting the carer's licence'.

'To show that it was not just giving a compliant nod to a premier, who wanted photos of himself, with a magpie on his head and a couple of social media influencers,' he added.

'They failed to show proper reasoning for the licence according to their governing legislation.'

The volunteer, who took action, said she was grateful to the Supreme Court and 'proud of all the wildlife carers who stood up for the law when the department and the former premier failed to do so'.

The magpie was seized in March after authorities learnt Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen had no permit to care for native wildlife, but the bird was returned six weeks later after a public outcry

'We are the ones who deal with the wreckage of the social media fad of capturing baby magpies and training them to do cute tricks,' she said.

'There is nothing cute about wings and legs bitten off by family pets. There is nothing cute about seeing a domesticated magpie ferociously attacked by a wild flock when they first interact.

'To see the former premier encouraging this idiocy in a desperate attempt to gain votes and a social media following was pathetic.

'To see the Department of Environment go along with the circus and start issuing licences was a step too far.'

The volunteer said she would not comment on what should happen to Molly.

'This action was not about one Magpie - it was about reinforcing Queensland's wildlife protection laws and the integrity of the wildlife licensing system,' she said.

Ms Wells and Mr Mortenson had been distraught over the legal challenge to take Molly from their home yet again.

'Molly's 100 per cent, and always has been, our focus. We just want to just move on and just get on with it,' Mr Mortensen told A Current Affair in September.

'Four years ago yesterday, when we came across a little magpie, who would have thought we'd be standing in front of the Supreme Court here in Brisbane,' Ms Wells said.

'Molly's happy, healthy and alive. Bossy, barking and being Molly.'

Mr Mortensen added: 'Every time we're in the public sight, it raises awareness for people to get out there and do something to help wildlife and become involved.

'We want to try and get as many people involved as we possibly can in helping wildlife, because there aren't a great deal of wildlife carers out there.'

Daily Mail Australia has contact the couple for comment.
The medals and logbooks of a fearless First World War fighter ace who clocked up 29 kills have emerged for sale for 20,000.

Captain Percy 'Pip' Clayson, of 1 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, terrorised German aircraft during dogfights in the summer of 1918.

He shot down ten of the enemy in just one month and was regarded by some peers as 'better than the Red Baron'.

Captain Clayson never took a backward step even when heavily outnumbered and 'invariably succeeded in inflicting serious losses'.

During one sortie in June 1918, he took on 13 German scouts at once, shooting two of them down and emerging unscathed.

His medal group, including a Military Cross and Distinguished Flying Cross, is going under the hammer at London-based auctioneers Spink & Son.

The medals and logbooks of a fearless First World War fighter ace who clocked up 29 kills have emerged for sale for 20,000. Captain Percy 'Pip' Clayson, of 1 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, terrorised German aircraft during dogfights in the summer of 1918. Above: The soldier beams on the day he was awarded the Military Cross

Also being sold is a photograph album that includes pictures (above) of crashed Allied planes in Egypt

They have been consigned by a private collector.

Marcus Budgen, head of the Spink & Son medals department, said: 'Captain "Pip" Clayson flew with some of the legends of aviation above the trenches in the Great War and was without a doubt one of the finest.

'To down 29 enemy aircraft and live to tell the tale is no mean feat - his medals are the living memorial to this amazing man.'

Capt Clayson was born in 1986 in Deptford, south London, and joined the Royal Naval Air Service in 1914.

He joined No 1 Fighter Squadron in France in October 1917 and claimed his first victory, an Albatross, in February 1918.

He took part in bombing patrols in March 1918, destroying railways and enemy trenches at Farbus and Beaucourt.

His medal group is going under the hammer at London-based auctioneers Spink & Son. Above from left: the Military Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal, the Victory Medal, the Defence Medal, the War Medal 1939-45

Captain Percy 'Pip' Clayson poses with his cane and a cigarette in his hand

Captain Clayson wears his formal uniform for an official photograph

As the months passed he became ever more deadly, claiming eight kills in May 1918.

He was awarded a Military Cross in June 1918 for his 'conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty'.

On June 2, he engaged 13 Pfalz Scouts above Ploegsteert Wood, shooting two of them down.

In total, he claimed 10 kills that month, including a thrilling scalp when he chased four Fokkers and came up behind one of them before firing 100 rounds into its rear from close range.

The enemy aircraft flipped over and disintegrated into pieces, killing its pilot.

Capt Clayson's final kill, another Fokker, was claimed on July 14 and as he headed back to Britain, where he was informed that the King would be presenting him with a Distinguished Flying Cross at Buckingham Palace.

His citation reads: 'A patrol leader of great skill, and a skilful marksman, whose personal fighting successes have proved of much value to his squadron.

'Captain Clayson's patrol frequently encountered enemy formations in superior numbers, but invariably succeeded in inflicting serious losses.'

Capt Clayson joined the Home Establishment in August 1918 and was granted a permanent commission at the end of the war, serving with No 6 and No 70 Squadrons.

Captain Clayson with RAF comrades in his later RAF career

Captain Clayson re-mobilised for service with the RAF Volunteer Reserve in 1941 during the Second World War. Above: The airman in later life

He had a 1921 posting to Egypt and later joined the RAF depot in Iraq.

He retired in 1929 but re-mobilised for service with the RAF Volunteer Reserve in 1941 during the Second World War, relinquishing his commission in 1954.

Michael Shaw said of Capt Clayson in his book, The History of No 1 Fighter Squadron: 'Throughout the summer combats of 1918, the same names recur like a ticking clock, 74 Squadron had Mannock, 64- Tempest, 85- Major Billy Bishop; and for Number One - Clayson.

'There is no doubt that Clayson would have ranked with the highest scorers had time and circumstance not been against him.

'Richthofen got most of his 80 kills against defenceless two seaters.'

The sale takes place on November 28.
A former top judge today warned MPs about the impact of assisted dying laws on the court system ahead of an historic House of Commons vote.

Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, the Lord Chief Justice in England and Wales from 2013 to 2017, said 'no-one has grappled with the detail' of how courts will be affected.

'The process and the impact on the court system is really something about which there should be information before we decide in principle to proceed,' he said.

MPs are due to vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on Friday following a debate in the Commons.

The proposed legislation aims to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales and has been introduced to Parliament as a private members' bill.

It will be the first time MPs have voted on the issue of assisted dying since 2015.

The Government has taken a neutral stance ahead of Friday's debate and MPs are being granted a 'free vote', meaning they won't by told how to vote by party whips.

But there have been ructions within Labour ranks after top Cabinet ministers revealed they would be voting against the Bill.

A spat between Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Labour peer Charlie Falconer deepened after it emerged allies of the minister had complained to the party's chief whip.

Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, the Lord Chief Justice in England and Wales from 2013 to 2017, said 'no-one has grappled with the detail' of how courts will be affected

A spat between Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Labour peer Charlie Falconer deepened after it emerged allies of the minister had complained to the party's chief whip

Lord Falconer, an ally of PM Sir Keir Starmer, sparked fury by claiming ministers should not 'impose' their religious beliefs on others ahead of Friday's vote

The Bill has support from the Dignity in Dying campaign group, members of which gathered outside Parliament last month

Lord Falconer, an ally of PM Sir Keir Starmer, sparked fury by claiming ministers should not 'impose' their religious beliefs on others ahead of Friday's vote.

It came after Ms Mahmood, the first Muslim to become Lord Chancellor, said she was 'profoundly concerned' by the Bill.

She said the 'state should never offer death as a service' and warned MPs would be placing Britain on a 'slippery slope towards death on demand' if they back new laws.

Lord Falconer, a longstanding supporter of a change in the law, said there were 'religious and spiritual reasons' for Ms Mahmood's opposition to the Bill.

His intervention was condemned as 'hugely offensive and discriminatory' by Ms Mahmood's fellow MPs, and also drew criticism from religious leaders.

According to BBC Newsnight, allies of Ms Mahmood have now complained to Labour's chief whip, Sir Alan Campbell, following Lord Falconer's outburst.

It is understood that the Justice Secretary has made no complaint herself.

The proposed legislation to be debated by MPs will mean the process of assisted dying must involve two independent doctors being satisfied that the person is eligible.

A person must be terminally ill and expected to die within six months.

Further to this, a High Court judge must hear from at least one of the doctors regarding the application, and can also ask questions of the person who is dying as well as anybody else they consider to be appropriate.

Lord Thomas told BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning: 'It seems to me that the one really difficult question that hasn't been addressed in this is how is the judge to proceed, as it cannot possibly be a rubber-stamping exercise.

'There has to be a process, by which the evidence is put before the judge, and the judge will need help  will need either the official solicitor or some other body that can bring the evidence before him.'

He added: 'What is not possible is to assess from the Bill the impact this has.'

The judicial process is an 'integral part of the process, in working out precisely how it's to be done', Lord Thomas said.

'As far as I can see, no-one has grappled with the detail.' he continued.

'And of course, as it's an integral part of the Bill, you can't say, 'well, look, this is to be sorted out later'. It seems to me it needs to be grappled with now.'

He later added: 'The process and the impact on the court system is really something about which there should be information before we decide in principle to proceed.'

Employment minister Alison McGovern told Sky News that she is still undecided about how she is going to vote on Friday.

She said: 'I haven't decided how I'm going to vote. I've listened to my constituents who have been so kind and so generous to share with me their experiences, and I want to listen to my colleagues in the debate in full and decide how to vote.'

She added: 'I think it's so important that people are able to have a good death and that families feel that their loved one was able to die in the most peaceful way possible in accordance with their views, but I haven't decided on this issue.'

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband have all said they will back the law.

Others, including Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, have been less explicit but indicated their support for the measures in the Bill.

Meanwhile, Ms Mahmood, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds have said they will reject the legislation.

Supporters of the Bill are optimistic that it has enough backing for the legislation to pass its second reading in the House of Commons on Friday.

But the result will not be known until a division list is published after the vote, showing which way MPs voted.

Campaigners say existing legislation fails to respect patient autonomy and discriminates financially between those who can afford to travel abroad to end their lives within the law and those who cannot.

But many of those opposed to a law change have voiced concern about the potential for coercion and mission creep, and say the legislation has been rushed.
Millions of Aussies have been warned more power outages are likely as an ongoing heatwave raises electricity demands to their highest levels since June.

NSW's limited power supply will be put to the test from Wednesday afternoon onwards as residents escape the blistering heat by turning up the aircon days out from summer.

The intensifying heatwave is expected to see temperatures in Sydney's densely-populated western suburbs soar to as high as 40C on Wednesday and Thursday.

Sweltering conditions have struck during scheduled maintenance at three of the state's four coal-fired power stations, which remain the state's primary power source.

The strained power supply is expected to be at 'risk' on Wednesday and Thursday, according to Australian Energy Market Operator.

An urgent warning has been to issued to those who rely on electricity-powered medical equipment to have a back-up plan in case of an outage.

NSW energy and environment Minister Penny Sharpe urged households to use less power and went as far as suggesting the exact temperature to set air conditioning units.

'On really hot days do you really need to have every single light on in the house?' she told reporters on Tuesday.

A heatwave is set to bring temperatures up to 40C to parts of Sydney on Wednesday and Thursday

NSW's limited power supply combined with increased demand from air conditioners could result in widespread blackouts. Pictured are beachgoers at Bondi on the weekend

'Do you need to have your air conditioning down at 19 degrees? You don't. But, you know, I'm not giving official advice at this point.'

It comes after several parts of Sydney, including the CBD, lost power on Tuesday afternoon.

The outages caused havoc for thousands of Aussies, including a TikTok star shopping for snacks at a CBD Woolworths.

Influencer Chichiireanus posted a video of herself and other shoppers evacuating the Pitt St Woolworths, with the usually brightly lit supermarket shrouded in darkness and an alarm going off.

'What the hell?' she's heard in the video.

Energy distributor Ausgrid confirmed that more than 300 customers lost power along Sussex Street, King Street and parts of Pitt Street just after 3pm.

'Ausgrid emergency crews worked through the afternoon to restore power across the CBD,' an Ausgrid spokeswoman said.

'Power was restored to all customers by 7pm.

'The cause of the outage is a suspected underground cable fault - and was not heat related.'

Chichiireanus, who boasts nearly 13,000 followers on the popular social media channel, captioned her video with: 'All I wanted was my salad and my funday sweets'.

'Of course a blackout happens as soon as I'm shopping for my lunch,' she wrote.

Minister Penny Sharpe's comments urging households to use less power in the coming days sparked backlash from Sky News host Chris Kenny on his program on Tuesday night.

'I expect to put a light on if I want to put a light on,' he said.

'You and I might suggest a modern country needs to ensure it's got enough power when it needs it, but these people want us to stop using electricity.

'Make up your minds people. One minute you want us all using electric cars and using electric stoves instead of gas cookers and now its switch your electricity and your appliances off.'

Shoppers evacuated the Woolworths at Pitt St during a blackout in Sydney's CBD on Tuesday

Kenny warned that further blackouts and power shortages could have dire political consequences for Labor with a federal election looming.

'If we get a normal summer, theres every chance well be hit by power shortages on hot days in January and February and if that happens  well, Lord help the Albanese Labor government going to an election a month or two later,' he added.

Demand for electricity is expected to increase by at least five per cent on Wednesday, the highest since June.

While NSW was previously able to cope with sudden jumps in demand, the closure of three major coal-fired power stations over the last 12 years - in Munmorah, Wallerawang and Liddell - weakened supply.

The NSW government will decide on Wednesday morning whether to instruct staff in public buildings, including museums, to reduce power usage.

AEMO claimed 'ongoing heatwave conditions combined with significant generation outages' could cause more blackouts in the next 48 hours.

'AEMO is actively managing the situation and has issued updated Lack of Reserve notices, urging industry participants to respond to projected demand requirements in the coming days,' it said.

'Additional measures may be necessary if supply forecasts worsen due to unexpected generation or transmission outages, or if demand rises beyond current expectations.

'AEMO has not currently asked residents or businesses in NSW to use less energy during these heatwave conditions.'

The intensifying heatwave is expected to cause significant temperatures throughout Sydney's densely-populated western suburbs on Wednesday and Thursday

Sydney

Wednesday: Mostly sunny day. Slight chance of a shower in the evening. Light winds becoming north to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h in the morning then tending north to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the evening. Min 21. Max 34.

Thursday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds. Min 22. Max 30.

Friday: Cloudy. High chance of rain, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening. Min 21. Max 26.

Melbourne

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm, possibly severe. Winds north to northeasterly 25 to 35 km/h tending north to northwesterly in the morning then becoming light in the late evening. Min 20. Max 28.

Thursday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm about the nearby hills in the morning and afternoon. Light winds becoming southeast to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the early afternoon then becoming light in the late evening. Min 16. Max 26.

Friday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the afternoon. Min 17. Max 29.

Brisbane

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the late evening. Min 21. Max 29.

Thursday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then becoming light in the evening. Min 22. Max 30.

Friday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening. Min 23. Max 29.

The NSW Government will consider on Wednesday morning whether to instruct staff in public buildings, including museums, to reduce their power usage

Perth

Wednesday: Sunny. Winds east to southeasterly 25 to 35 km/h becoming light in the evening then becoming easterly 20 to 30 km/h in the late evening. Min 13. Max 29.

Thursday: Sunny. Winds easterly 25 to 40 km/h becoming light in the evening then becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening. Min 17. Max 33.

Friday: Mostly sunny day. The chance of a thunderstorm in the northeast in the afternoon and evening. Winds easterly 20 to 30 km/h tending northeasterly during the morning then shifting south to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon. Min 21. Max 37.

Adelaide

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the early morning. Winds west to northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h becoming northwesterly 35 to 45 km/h in the morning then turning west to southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h during the afternoon and evening. Min 15. Max 23.

Thursday: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning and early afternoon. Winds southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h turning southerly 15 to 20 km/h in the evening. Min 14. Max 22.

Friday: Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning. Mostly sunny afternoon. Light winds becoming southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day then turning south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening. Min 13. Max 24.

Hobart

Wednesday: Cloudy. The chance of morning fog. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then tending southerly 15 to 25 km/h in the late evening. Min 15. Max 23.

Thursday: Cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds southerly 20 to 30 km/h turning east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day. Min 13. Max 17.

Friday: Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds easterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light during the evening. Min 12. Max 19.

Canberra

Wednesday: Cloudy. Very high chance of rain, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h in the morning then becoming light in the late evening. Min 17. Max 29.

Thursday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the evening. Min 15. Max 31.

Friday: Cloudy. Very high chance of rain, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening. Min 16. Max 25.

Demand for electricity is expected to increase by five percent on Wednesday, the highest since June, due to high temperatures (pictured, forecast for midday Wednesday)

Darwin

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the late morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds. Min 25. Max 32.

Thursday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the late morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds. Min 26. Max 33.

Friday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds. Min 26. Max 33.
His roles in Trainspotting and Greys Anatomy have earned him a plethora of plaudits and awards.

But Scottish actor Kevin McKidd said it was the cast and crew of Greys Anatomy who deserved the most praise last week after revealing they rallied around him following the death of his father.

The Elgin-born star co-directed Season 21, Episode 8 of the hit show, which premiered on November 21  less than one month after losing his father Neil on October 24.

And McKidd, 51, said the themes of grief, love, acceptance and kindness throughout the episode helped him cope with his emotions as he dealt with his grief.

Taking to social media to praise his colleagues, the 51-year-old said: Words cannot express my love for these fine, bright, talented, passionate, giving and above all, kind people.

They truly helped me going through shooting tonights episode.

The entire cast and crew rallied around me at this time of my life, held me up and made it possible to carry on.

He also thanked other members of staff for allowing him to travel back to Scotland to be with his family and his acting colleagues for continuing to shoot scenes without him.

Kevin McKidd pictured with his late father Neil and his mother Kathleen

McKidd said his co-stars on hit TV drama Grey's Anatomy had 'rallied round' him

McKidd rose to fame after starring in movie Trainspotting alongside Ewan McGregor

McKidd shot to fame in Irvine Welshs Trainspotting alongside fellow Scots Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle and Kelly MacDonald almost 30 years ago.

His performance as Tommy MacKenzie  who quickly descended from a fit and healthy young man to a severely troubled heroin addict - is seen as one of the most shocking aspects of the film which won various awards such as the BAFTA for Best Screenplay in 1997.

McKidd has since made a name for himself Stateside, with his role as Dr Owen Hunt in the Greys Anatomy his biggest success after taking the job in 2008.

Now living in Los Angeles, his partner Danielle Savre has also featured in the Greys Anatomy spinoff show, Station 19, and on the main series.

Most of McKidds family still live in and around Elgin, with the actor having previously said he believes it is important for his children to visit their ancestral home despite being American citizens.

In a post written on his blog, McKidd had said: Although I enjoy life in America, I go back to Elgin as much as possible,

We usually spend a bit of the summer and Christmas here with my family.

Elgin is what I know and what is most familiar to me. Coming back is like putting on an old pair of jeans.

When I go to the pub, I hear a lot of the people complaining that nothing has changed, but I take comfort from that.

McKidds parents, Kathleen and Neil, raised him on a council estate in Elgin before he left to study drama at Edinburghs Queen Margaret University.

In a separate social media post following the death of his father last month, he thanked his Dad for making his mum so happy during their 56 years together.
Russia has expelled a British diplomat after accusing him of espionage it was revealed today, amid icy relations between East and West over Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine.

The FSB security service claimed the diplomat 'intentionally provided false information when receiving permission to enter our country, thereby violating Russian legislation'.

The TASS news agency cited Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying that the ministry had summoned the British ambassador Nigel Casey over the accusations.

According to the FSB, the British diplomat was a replacement for one of six UK diplomats expelled in August, also on espionage charges, and carried out espionage and sabotage activities while on Russian soil.

'A decision was taken to withdraw his accreditation and he was ordered to leave Russia within two weeks,' said the FSB.

'Signs of intelligence and subversive work threatening the security of the Russian Federation have been revealed,' a statement added, while providing no details of the accusation.

There was no immediate comment from Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The British embassy in Moscow did not respond to a request for comment.

Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Arkhangelsk Region Governor Alexander Tsybulsky during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024

A general view on the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia

Relations between Britain and Russia have plunged to post-Cold War lows since the start of the Ukraine war.

Britain has joined successive waves of sanctions against Russia and provided arms to Ukraine.

Russia has refused to renew the accreditation of many UK diplomats in Moscow amid icy relations over Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine, and British assistance to Kyiv.

Russia said Ukraine fired British Storm Shadow cruise missiles at its territory last week for the first time.

President Vladimir Putin cited that, and the launching of U.S. ATACMS ballistic missiles by Ukraine, as the reason Russia responded by launching a new hypersonic missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Nov. 21.
THE family of a comatose Scots pensioner claim they were told to fly her home against doctors advice or risk losing medical cover.

Jane Rubens, from Edinburgh, was struck by an SUV while on holiday in St Louis, Missouri, on November 1. She was hit at a pedestrian crossing, leaving her with severe brain injuries.

Since then, the 73-year-old has been under the care of neurologists who have told the family it will not be safe to fly for several months.

But her family claim insurance firm AXA were demanding she be repatriated to Scotland this week or her medical cover would end.

Despite pleading with the insurers, the family say they were backed into a corner and felt they had to agree or face paying millions of pounds in hospital fees.

Mrs Rubens daughter Catriona said it was only after a post by her on social media was seen by 2million viewers that the insurance firm backed down and agreed to speak with the doctors treating the OAP, as well as medics in the UK.

Ms Rubens told STV News: We had neurologists and a neurosurgeon saying to us its going to be in her best interests to wait three to six months in terms of her neurological recovery.

'We want to do all we can to maximise that, but we cant have her staying without her medical expenses being covered and she did have good travel insurance to cover for these types of eventualities. It was just the most stressful day of my life.

Cat Rubens (left) and her mother Jane (right) in happier times before the accident that left 73-year-old Jane in a coma

Cat says the family felt 'backed into a corner' after their insurer AXA insisted they fly comatose Jane home for treatment - against the advice of neurological specialists in both the US and UK

She added: Even if this wasnt happening with AXA, this would still be the worst time of our lives and its not something we want, to be spending time fighting with an insurer.

'My social media got some attention and the head of service delivery at AXA called today said not to put her on a flight.

Theyre going to speak to the treating clinicians and the hospital in UK.

In her posts, Ms Rubens explained her mother had received multiple brain surgeries since her accident, including a craniectomy to remove a piece of her skull. She remains in an induced coma.

Her daughter, who has flown to the US to be with her mother, said sharing images on social media of Mrs Rubens at her most vulnerable was not something she did lightly.

But as the firm showed no empathy as they dealt with the darkest time of their lives, she felt it necessary.

She said even after a neurologist from the hospital contacted AXA to inform them of her mothers condition, the company still refused to change its position.

An AXA Partners spokesperson said: 'We are sorry for the distress Ms Rubens and her family have experienced when making a claim and we sympathise with their situation.

'We have spoken with Ms Rubens family and will remain in contact with them over the coming days to support them. Our medical team and Ms Rubens treating doctors will agree the best course of action going forward.

'We are considering all available options and the welfare of Ms Rubens and her family remains our priority.'
The hero dance teacher who risked her own life to shield children during the knife killings in Southport has revealed she has 'lost faith in the world'.

Leanne Lucas, 35, was critically injured after she leapt in to try to protect innocent youngsters when a knifeman went on a rampage on July 29, killing three schoolgirls.

Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, were named as the tragic victims of the incident the following day.

Leanne, who was one of the organisers of the Taylor Swift-themed holiday class, underwent life-saving surgery in the hours after the rampage.

The teacher was quickly hailed as a hero after reports emerged that she used her body as a shield to protect children.

She told LBC: 'It has just made us feel very unsafe.

'My purpose was creating wellbeing events for children and families, and for that to happen where I was, and for the words I spoke and the children spoke, for that to be trampled over has really dampened all of our spirits.

'It left us feeling unsafe, feeling like we just lost faith in the world.'

Teacher Leanne Lucas, who bravely helped protect children in the Southport attack

The three victims in the Southport attack from left to right: Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine

Axel Rudakubana has been charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder

The killings sparked large scale riots, fuelled by misinformation on social media, in towns and cities across the UK.

The following day after the attack a far-Right riot saw more than 50 officers injured in the disorder, which later spread to other regions.

A wave of carnage then unfolded in areas such as Manchester, Bolton, Hull, Liverpool, Bristol, Blackpool and Belfast.

Migrant hotels were also targeted in Tamworth and Rotherham - with bins and generators set alight and officers left injured.

Merseyside Police made a total of 151 arrests, with 107 people charged and 82 sentenced to a total of 172 years and seven months in prison so far. Nationally, there have been roughly 2,000 arrests.

Despite this, Ms Lucas told the news organisation: 'There's been a lot of love come from Southport, a lot of love come from all over the world. The impact has been tragic but there has been some goodness at times.'

Earlier this month, it was revealed that prosecutors delayed charging Southport murder suspect Axel Rudakubana for up to fortnight due to fears it may spark riots.

The 18-year-old, who is accused of murdering three girls during a knife rampage in July, was due to be charged with making the highly toxic poison ricin and possessing a study of an al-Qaeda training manual on October 18.

The CPS and Attorney General stalled due to fears it would lead to disorder.

Emergency services near the scene in Hart Street, Southport, where three children died after a knife attack

Rioters in Rotherham in August. The mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on July 29 sparked riots across Britain

Rioters in Rotherham in August. Migrant hotels were targeted in Tamworth and Rotherham - with bins and generators set alight and officers left injured

Police chiefs feared it would cause further unrest and accordingly made preparations to cancel police leave across the country over the weekend of October 19.

At the time chief constables were also worried about the prospect of firearms officers downing their weapons in protest across the UK if Scotland Yard marksman Martyn Blake were to be found guilty of murdering gangster Chris Kaba in an unrelated police vehicle stop in September 2022.

Blake was acquitted at the Old Bailey just days later which meant fears of a national firearms officer walkout did not materialise.

The postponement in announcing charges, which came more than two months after the teenager was charged with three counts of murder and ten attempted murders sparked immediate claims of a cover up.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, has been charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder.

He will next appear at Liverpool Crown Court on December 12.
The UK spending watchdog has refused to sign off the government's books for the first time ever.

The National Audit Office has 'disclaimed' the Whole of Government accounts, slamming dodgy figures from councils.

NAO head Gareth Davies said only 10 per cent of local authorities had provided 'reliable data', due to a huge backlog in conducting audits.

The latest accounts only cover 2022-23 as it takes so long to assemble the WGA, but the report said the same issues meant it is 'unlikely' the 2023-24 accounts will be cleared.

The WGA is intended to give the clearest possible picture of the public finances.

It combines the accounts of over 10,000 public bodies, including central government departments, devolved administrations, the NHS and academy schools.

However, Mr Davies said he was 'unable to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence upon which to form an opinion'.

The National Audit Office has 'disclaimed' the Whole of Government accounts, slamming dodgy figures from councils

NAO head Gareth Davies said only 10 per cent of local authorities had provided 'reliable data', due to a huge backlog in conducting audits

Barely 10 per cent of England's 426 local authorities submitted 'reliable' figures.

Of the 90 per cent who did not, nearly half - 196 - submitted unaudited information.

Another 187 did not submit any material at all.

The Government has been trying to whittle down the audit backlog, including by introducing fixed dates for completing scrutiny.

But the NAO warned that is only likely to change the situation in the 'medium term'.

Mr Davies said: 'It is clearly not acceptable that delays in audited accounts for English local authorities have made it impossible for me to provide assurance on the Whole of Government Accounts for 2022-23.

'It is essential that the steps being taken by Government to restore timely and robust local authority audited accounts are effective'

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Chair of the Commons Public Accounts Committee, said: 'The Whole of Government Accounts should provide an accurate picture of the nation's finances.

The latest accounts only cover 2022-23 as it takes so long to assemble the WGA, but the report said the same issues meant it is 'unlikely' the 2023-24 accounts will be cleared

The WGA is intended to give the clearest possible picture of the public finances

'It is deeply unsatisfactory that failures in the local authority audit market have meant that the Comptroller and Auditor General is unable to give any formal audit opinion on the accounts for the first time ever.

'If these issues are not addressed, it will become increasingly difficult to hold local leaders to account and more horror stories of failing councils will follow.'

The Tory MP said: 'The government should press forward with its plans to permanently resolve the local audit crisis. The Whole of Government Accounts must be made fit for purpose again.'
Joe Biden's entourage has been dramatically evacuated from the White House Osprey after it caught fire, according to a witness.

The plane was poise to ferry government staff and officials from a Thanksgiving event in New York on Monday before it was grounded due to a safety concern.

A journalist traveling with the president reported seeing a fire beneath the right engine shortly before staff were notified about the issue.

Employees were removed from the plane, which is part of the Marine Corps HMX-1 presidential helicopter fleet, before being transferred to a second Osprey.

They were on the way out of Staten Island after joining outgoing President Biden, 82, at a 'Friendsgiving' event with members of the US Coast Guard.

The debacle caused a minor delay for Biden's return to Washington on Monday evening, officials said.

'The issue occurred during startup and was immediately addressed per established procedures,' John Caldwell, deputy director of communications at the US Marine Corps told DailyMail.com in a statement around 5pm on Monday.

'No one was in danger, and the squadron executed the backup plan for transportation, which resulted in slight travel delay.

'The aircraft is still aboard Miller Field, Staten Island. The squadron, HMX-1, sent another MV-22 today from Quantico with parts and maintainers to fix and recover the aircraft.'

Joe Biden 's entourage has been dramatically rescued after the White House Osprey caught fire mid-flight, according to a witness

The plane was ferrying government staff and officials to a Thanksgiving event (pictured) with the President in New York on Monday before it was grounded due to a safety concern

On the same day, lawmakers sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asking him to re-ground the military's entire fleet of V-22 Ospreys over a litany of serious safety concerns.

The letter was prompted by an Associated Press investigation into the aircraft's accident record, which revealed disturbing safety and design flaws.

In the letter sent Monday to Austin, Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, and Rep. Richard Neal, all Democrats from Massachusetts, said that 'given the current concerns about the safety of the V-22, the aircraft should be grounded'

They added that it 'should not be deployed again until the platform's significant deficiencies are fully addressed.'

Some 46 people have been killed in Osprey accidents over the past 30 years.

The whole fleet was grounded for three months this year following a deadly crash in Japan in November 2023 that killed eight service members, including one from Massachusetts.

Ospreys, which are operated by the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps and used in the presidential fleet, have now returned to flight operations, with some restrictions.

Osprey pilots have told the AP they do not want to see the aircraft grounded, despite safety concerns, because of its unique capabilities.

Program officials have said they are working on fixes to improve the V-22's safety and reliability.

Pictured: A search team scouring the scene after an Osprey crash in Japan which killed eight service members, including one from Massachusetts, in November 2023

The Monday incident wasn't the first time White House staff or reporters have had to be removed from an Osprey during a trip due to safety concerns.

In November 2023 an Osprey ferrying White House reporters and staff returned to the ground shortly after takeoff after four loud 'pops' were heard and smoke was seen.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter.

The lawmakers also cited the AP's reporting that pilots are having to push the V-22's 'interim power' feature to be able to land safely  but are advised against it because it can wear down parts.

Interim power was a factor in the most recent accident in October when a Japanese self-defense forces Osprey violently tilted and struck the ground on takeoff.

An investigation determined the pilots were to blame for not turning on the interim power during takeoff.

'The reality for pilots is that they have to push the aircraft to its limits to stay safe,' the lawmakers wrote.
Los Angeles officials have doubled-down on 'sanctuary city' policies - despite statistics showing a slew of disturbing illegal immigrant arrests.

The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously this past Tuesday to do so - an apparent sign to President-elect Donald Trump they will not cooperate with looming federal laws.

The landslide 13-0 vote upheld an executive directive issued by then-Mayor Eric Garcetti in 2019, a little over a year before Joe Biden took office.

The US is now in the midst of a migrant crisis - and Trump, on Monday, made clear he would use the power of the military to carry out promised deportations. Mayor Karen Bass, in a statement days earlier, appeared to swear to fight back.

Seeking to undo damage done by his predecessor, his vow came on the heels of some startling new numbers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

They show how, this year, Los Angeles ERO has arrested 1,263 illegal immigrants in the metro area alone. Of those more than half, 715 migrants, already had criminal convictions. None have been named.

Among them were a 47-year-old Mexican wanted in Mexico for human trafficking and a 36-year-old wanted for homicide. A 39-year-old El Salvadorian was also cuffed, ICE said - after he was found guilty of forcing a child under 14 to engage in oral sex.

In January, a total of 26 illegals facing charges or convictions involving murder or attacks on kids were arrested in a matter of days - as part of a single operation.

Los Angeles officials have doubled-down on 'sanctuary city' policies last week - despite statistics showing a slew of disturbing illegal immigrant arrests. This photo released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shows an illegal alien being arrested in LA

The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously this past Tuesday to do so - an apparent sign to President-elect Donald Trump they will not cooperate with looming federal laws

'The men and women of ERO Los Angeles are mission-driven and dedicated to the safety of our communities and neighborhoods,' ERO Los Angeles acting Field Office Director Ernesto Santacruz wrote in a press release describing the arrests in LA.

'The outcome of this operation is another example of their continued professionalism, integrity and commitment to safeguard the homeland.'

Days later, the agency would arrest another El Salvadorian pedophile - a 27-year-old living in LA after already being convicted - in a US court - of lewd acts with a child under 14 years.

He had also already been found guilty of being in possession of child pornography, ICE agents said at the time - still having yet to release his name.

Such is the case with the other culprits, as the newly passed ordinance continues the ban on the city's collection of information on individuals' immigration station - and bars the city from notifying feds about the release of detention of illegals.

It also prohibits school district employees from cooperating with any future federal immigration enforcements - such as Trump's promised deportation order.

Superintendent Alberto Carvalho will now have to develop a plan within 60 days to implement the policies before Trumps administration takes office, paving the way for some pushback from the federal government.

An attorney detailed what could happen next in statements to Fox News, warning that it could warrant 'a federal lawsuit to find out the constitutionality of sanctuary cities when it impedes the federal government's rights.'

The landslide 13-0 vote upheld an executive directive issued in 2019, a little over a year before Joe Biden took office

An attorney detailed what could happen next, warning Tuesday that it could warrant 'a federal lawsuit to find out the constitutionality of sanctuary cities when it impedes the federal government's rights'

Meanwhile, Los Angeles ERO has arrested 1,263 illegal immigrants this year in the metro area alone. A total of 715 already had criminal convictions. None have been named. An ICE raid in Santa Ana is seen here

'[Trump could] file a federal lawsuit to find out the constitutionality of sanctuary cities when it impedes the federal government's rights,' Los Angeles-based attorney Leo Terrell told the station Tuesday - a week after the guidance was passed.

He added how LA officials were essentially 'protecting criminals from being deported' by making the move, and that the federal government's powers supersedes the city's.

He went on to declare how the decision will make LA 'a magnet for criminals' - after it was revealed the alleged killer in the Rachel Morin case, 23-year-old El Salvadoran Victor Martinez-Hernandez, was wanted in LA in the weeks before the 37-year-old's murder in Maryland last year.

Morin's mother, 64-year-old Patty Morin, was one of several to deliver emotional testimony at a congressional hearing this past September about the effects of lax immigration laws.

Pouring her heart out before a packed auditorium on Capitol Hill, Patty blamed her daughter's death on decisions made by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, saying it, and so many others, 'were 100-percent preventable.'

'The American people need to hear, know, and understand the truth of the horrendous war zone we call the southern border,' Morin began, pleading with the American people to hear her calls for increased border security.

'President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harriss open border policy is having a devastating impact across our great nation,' she continued, revealing how she and her family lives an astronomical 1,800 miles from the southern border in a small town in northern Maryland.

Los Angeles-based attorney Leo Terrell said the decision will make LA 'a magnet for criminals' - after it was revealed the alleged killer in the Rachel Morin case, 23-year-old El Salvadoran Victor Martinez-Hernandez (pictured) - was wanted in LA in the weeks before the murder

Patty Morin was among several mothers of woman allegedly slain by illegal immigrants to speak before Congress in September about the dangers of the US's current approach to crossings at the southern border. She blamed her daughter's death on Joe Biden

Morin was allegedly raped and murdered by the illegal migrant, at the age of 37 on a hiking trail in Maryland last year

Anyone who can identify this unknown male, or has additional information, is asked to contact the Harford County Sheriffs Office at our tip line (410) 836-7788 or via email at RMtips@HarfordSheriff.org. pic.twitter.com/U1niUnCmwB  Harford Sheriff (@Harford_Sheriff) August 18, 2023

Still, 'a man who was wanted for murder in El Salvador made his way to my community and ambushed my daughter on a quaint walking trail in broad daylight,' she told those convened.

'Im here today to make sure that my daughter is remembered as more than a victim.

'I hope that her story will be the wake-up call that this country needs to secure its borders and protect American citizens.'

Hernandez illegally crossed the southern border months before the August 2023 murder, in February 2023 - after he allegedly murdered a woman in El Salvador a month earlier.

He has also accused of attacking a nine-year-old girl and her mother in Los Angeles just weeks before.

Morin's mom was among eight people invited to speak at the hearing to share their insight into the negative impacts of border management over the past 44 months, from drugs and human trafficking to violent crime miles away from any crossing.

The mother of 20-year-old Kayla Hamilton, who was raped and killed by an MS-13 gang member in 2022 eight months after she filed suit against feds for failing to stop him at the border, also spoke.

Alexis Nungaray, the mother of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, who was allegedly killed by two Venezuelan nationals in Houston earlier this summer before being tossed into a creek partially naked.

Her mom was among eight people invited to speak at the hearing to share their insight into the negative impacts of border management over the past 44 months, from drugs and human trafficking to violent crime miles away from any crossing

Tabby Nobles, wThe mother of 20-year-old Kayla Hamilton, who was raped and killed by an MS-13 gang member in 2022 months after she filed suit against feds for failing to stop him at the border, also spoke, as did Alexis Nungaray, the mom of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray

Pictured, 12-year-old Nungaray, who was killed while going to a corner store near her home in June

The lawsuit from the mother of 20-year-old Hamilton named both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Health and Human Services as defendants

'I believe the Biden-Harris Administrations open border policies are responsible for the death of my 12 year old daughter,' she said, citing how suspects Johan Jose Martinez Rangel, 22, and Franklin Pena Ramos, 26, had been enrolled in an Alternatives to Detention program due to 'Catch and Release' policies.

This meant the duo could be released into the interior of the United States in May, Nungaray said - adding how it was 'not even a full three weeks later that they would take [her daughter's] life.

'They saw a young girl, my daughter Jocelyn, and placed a target on her without her even knowing,' she said, citing surveillance footage showing the pair stalking the preteen as she walked to local a corner story where she was eventually snatched.

'The program the two illegal immigrants were enrolled in failed my daughter.

'Im here to use my voice and raise awareness of how broken our country has become with our open border policies.'

Trump, on Monday, promised to reverse such policies - while vowing to use every asset at his command, including the US military, to carry out the unprecedented deportation plan.

His promises for a return to stricter polices at the border seemed to sway voters during this month's election, after touting the 'zero tolerance' approach that saw some parents separated from their children during his first term.

Doubling down, he further claimed migrants were 'poisoning the blood of the US' at legal immigrants' expense.

In January, LA ICE agents arrested a total of 26 illegals already facing charges or convictions involving either murder or attacks on kids were arrested in a matter of days - as part of a single operation

Trump has promised to reverse such policies - while vowing to use every asset at his command, including the US military, to carry out the unprecedented deportation plan

Doubling down, he further claimed migrants were 'poisoning the blood of the US' at legal immigrants' expense.

Within month, the president-elect managed to soundly beat Kamala Harris - after being backed by 46 percent of all Latino voters.

The number was the most obtained by any Republican in modern history - a result that surprised some.

Latino voters from battleground states such as North Carolina and Pennsylvania - many of whom fled their countries of origin in search of a better life - appeared to take note, however, with a recent Siena poll showing how more than 40 percent of Latino and Hispanic voters supported Trump's plans to build a wall

A further 63 percent said they did not 'feel like [Trump] is talking about me' when he discussed his plans surrounding immigration.

Last week, Trump's newly appointed Border Czar, Tom Homan, made it apparent he did not approve of Los Angeles actions.

'Federal law trumps state and local law every time, so if youre not gonna help, get the hell out of the way,' Homan said last week.

'Were coming, were doing it, and theyre not going to stop us,' he went on, going as far to promise to send more agents to Los Angeles.

Last week, Trump's newly appointed Border Czar, Tom Homan, made it apparent he did not approve of Los Angeles actions, promising to send more federal agents to LA if needed

Mayor Karen Bass, in a statement days earlier, indicated the exact opposite, seemingly vowing to fight back. The council still needs to vote again in the coming weeks to finalize the passage

'In the face of growing threats to the immigrant communities here in Los Angeles, I stand with the people of this city,' she said of the then-looming vote. 'This moment demands urgency'

'If Ive got to send twice as many officers to L.A. because were not getting any assistance, then thats what were going to do. Weve got a mandate,' he said.

'President Trumps serious about this, Im serious about this. This is going to happen with or without you.'

Mayor Bass, in a statement days earlier, indicated the exact opposite.

'In the face of growing threats to the immigrant communities here in Los Angeles, I stand with the people of this city,' she said of the then-looming vote.

'This moment demands urgency.'

The council still needs to vote again in the coming weeks to finalize the passage.
'Wicked' buffs in witchy costumes have been swarming theaters to watch the highly anticipated musical - with some fans really getting into character and painting their entire bodies green.

But one California 'Elphaba' was forced to wipe off the green makeup covering her face and arms before enjoying the film at the AMC Burbank 16.

'PSA: DO NOT SHOW UP TO AN AMC WEARING FACE PAINT THEY WILL NOT LET YOU IN,' wrote Jamie Forst in a TikTok post.

In the shocking video, Jamie wore a pink sweatshirt and tiara, emulating Ariana Grande's Glinda.

Her friend Kaylee Ruval was wearing a complementary costume: all black clothing with all green skin, channeling Cynthia Erivo's iconic character, Elphaba.

Kaylee used a rough brown paper towel to frantically scrub at her skin, trying to get the pigment off before the movie started.

Even though she still had a light green tint to her skin on some parts of her face after trying to get the paint off, she was able to see the movie.

In a follow-up TikTok on Kaylee's account, she shared photos of her makeup ordeal, captioned 'What the hell AMC. Wicked was sooo good tho.'

Kaylee Ruval, who was excitedly dressed as Elphaba, was shocked when she was told she had to remove her green face paint

AMC movie theaters have a policy that prohibits guests from wearing face paint or anything that covers their face

'We love it when our guests dress up for the occasion, however no weapons, even "prop" weapons, can be brought in,' reads AMC Theatres' costume policy

'Also, face paint, helmets, masks (except for standard face masks used explicitly for health and safety reasons), or anything that covers the face are prohibited.'

In the comment section of Jamie's original TikTok, people speculated about why Kaylee was asked to wipe off her green coloring.

'As a movie theatre employee, its because of the dark knight incident,' one commenter said. 'Weve had to be extra cautious, especially since the new joker movie and smile 2 coming out.'

Hundreds of other comments pointed to the 'Dark Knight' shooting, which occurred at an Aurora, Colorado movie theater on July 20, 2012 and left 12 people dead.

James E. Holmes, 24 at the time, committed a mass shooting at the Century 16 theater during a screening of the Batman film, 'The Dark Knight Rises.'

Chris Ramos, who was inside the theater when the deadly massacre occurred, told CNN it was 'straight out of a horror film.'

Holmes had his face and body completely concealed behind protective gear, including a helmet, black gloves and a gas mask when he committed the heinous crime.

He also had his hair colored red and told police he was 'the Joker.'

Before spraying bullets and striking nearly everybody in the room, Holmes set off two tear gas canisters

He used an AR-15 rifle, a 12-gauge shot gun an at least one .40 caliber handgun, police reported at the time.

The youngest person who died was six-year-old Veronica Moser-Sullivan.

Kaylee scrubbed at her face using a movie theater bathroom paper towel and was able to get most of the green off

Out of excitement for the 'Wicked' film, fans have been going to theaters across the country dressed in elaborate costumes

James E. Holmes appeared in court after he rained bullets through a Colorado theater (pictured). Commenters on Jamie's TikTok pointed to the 'Black Knight' shooting to explain why Kaylee had to take off her green face paint

Aside from those who lost their lives, 70 others were injured.

'He was just literally shooting everyone, like hunting season,' Ramos said.

Holmes surrendered to the police within minutes after they arrived. Police searched his booby-trapped apartment and found homemade explosives.

Nearly three years after the horrifying mass shooting, the culprit was found guilty on all 165 charges brought against him.

These included 24 first-degree murder charges, 140 counts of attempted murder, and one counts of possession or control of an explosive or incendiary device.

He is currently serving a life prison sentence without the possibility of parole.
Her casting as the love interest of Harry Potter in the blockbuster movie franchise saw her subjected to hateful online abuse.

Now, Scots actress Katie Leung has said she has taken an entirely different approach to her current role in what is thought to be the most expensive animated TV series ever made.

Leung has voiced one of the leading characters in Netflix animation Arcane, which is said to have cost a record 10million per episode.

Based on a hugely popular computer game, her character  Caitlyn - has been voiced by another actress for years with fans likely to have formed very definite ideas about how the role should be portrayed.

However, Leung, 37, has said that she consciously avoided being drawn into any expectations or details of how the character has been played before.

Leung endured horrific cyber bullying and racist abuse after her part in the Harry Potter movies was announced.

Now, in an interview about her current role, she said she was conscious not to try and 'please everyone' in order to protect her mental health.

In an interview with Esports, Leung said: [I] was conscious not to do too much research on Caitlyn because there are so many different interpretations.

Scots actress Katie Leung is currently starring in Netflix animation Arcane

Leung, who rose to fame in Harry Potter, has said she endured racist hate on fandom' sites

Leung is voicing the part of Caitlyn in the animation, which costs 10million per episode

Having played a character before where it was based on the adaptation of a book I know that would be kind of the wrong way to go down for me.

She added: For mental health reasons, because it would just not serve me as an actor to kind of try and please everyone, basically.

Leung endured a vitriolic hate campaign online after she took on the role of Cho Chang in the Wizarding franchise.

Speaking about the issue on a podcast in 2021, the actress described the backlash she received from people claiming to be Harry Potter fans when news of her role emerged.

She had said: I was like, Googling myself at one point and I was on this website, which was kind of dedicated to the Harry Potter fandom, and I remember reading all the comments. It was a lot of racist s***.

And then somebody had actually created a website, a hate site  it was like, if you disagree with this casting, then click on this button and then it would just be like a count of how many people disagreed with the casting and you would just see a number. I know, its awful. Its so awful.

Dundee-born Leung, who said she didnt have any media training at the time, has claimed she approached a publicist about the online abuse, but was told not to talk about it to the press.

She recalled: I remember them saying to me, Oh look, Katie, we havent seen these websites that people are talking about. And if you get asked, then just say its not true. Say its not happening.

And I just nodded my head. I was like, Okay, Okay, even though I had seen it myself with my own eyes. I was like, Okay, yeah, Ill just say everythings great.

Cho Chang was Harry's first crush - and his first kiss.

In the Order Of The Phoenix the character sobbed through a kiss with Harry, but any budding romance was abandoned after she betrayed Dumbledore's Army.

And if the success of Harry Potter wasn't, Leung's part in Arcane sees her involved in yet another hugely popular show.

The animated series made by video game company Riot Games has become the highest rated Netflix show of all time - knocking Squid Game off the top spot.

Based on the video game League of Legends, it secured a 98/100 score on IMDB - the highest for any Netflix original - and was also the most watched show of all-time on the streaming service within three days of its release

While many British viewers won't be aware of it, the show, which is about two orphaned sisters fighting civil unrest in the fictional cities of Piltover and Zaun, debuted at number one on the Netflix charts in 37 countries.
Four people have been found alive more than a day after Egyptian tourist boat capsized, according to reports, raising hopes for two British nationals who are believed to be among the nine people still missing.

Rescue teams have found two Belgian tourists, a Swiss citizen and an Egyptian national alive, bringing the total number of survivors to 32, according to the governor of the Red Sea.

Meanwhile four bodies have been recovered from the boat, according to the authorities, with rescue teams still searching for nine missing people.

The boat named Sea Story sank near Shaab Satayah, a coral reef popular for diving trips, off the tourist resort of Marsa Alam in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Two British tourists were rescued, while another two Britons are among the missing, according to reports.

The nationalities of the four people whose bodies have been found have not yet been confirmed.

Rescue teams had been 'intensifying efforts' to find those who had gone missing after the 34-metre-long boat sank.

Those who escaped the vessel said a 'high sea wave' had hit it and caused it to capsize in 'about five or seven minutes', Mr Hanafi said.

Some passengers were inside the cabins, 'which is why they couldn't get out of the boat', he added in a statement.

The incident occurred during rough weather conditions, with the Egyptian Red Sea Ports Authority reporting wave heights of 10-13 feet and wind speeds of 34 knots in the area on Sunday, leading to the closure of maritime traffic.

The boat named Sea Story (pictured) had 31 tourists of different nationalities as well as 13 crew members on board when it sank

Medics and people wait for possible survivors after a boat sank at a harbour in Marsa Alam, Red Sea Governorate, in Egypt, 25 November 2024

Survivors of the sinking boat rest at a harbor in Marsa Alam, Red Sea Governorate, in Egypt, 25 November 2024

The boat was carrying 31 tourists of various nationalities - among them four Britons and two Americans - as well as 13 Egyptian crew members on board, according to local media outlet Masrawy (pictured: people waiting on the beach for survivors)

Medics wait for possible survivors after a boat sank at a harbour in Marsa Alam, Red Sea Governorate, in Egypt, 25 November 2024

A surviving crew member said the boat was 'hit by a wave in the middle of the night, throwing the vessel on its side', according to a manager of a diving resort close to the rescue operations.

The boat departed on a diving trip from the port of Ghalib in Marsa Alam on November 24 and was scheduled to arrive at Hurghada Marina on November 29.

Some of the survivors were reportedly flown back to shore by a helicopter to receive medical care, while others were transported via another boat.

The search was reportedly made more difficult due to bad weather, which comes after authorities in the Red Sea capital of Hurghada on Sunday shut down marine activities and the city's port - also due to 'bad weather conditions'.

But winds around Marsa Alam had remained favourable until Sunday night, the diving manager told AFP, before calming again by morning.

The firm that operates the yacht, Dive Pro Liveaboard in Hurghada, Egypt, said yesterday it had no information on the matter.

Hanafi said the boat had passed its last safety inspection in March 2024, with no technical issues reported. The boat, owned by an Egyptian national, was 34 meters long and had received a one-year safety certificate from the Maritime Safety Authority.

Ship tracking website Marine Traffic showed the last location shared by the boat as somewhere off Hurghada.

The Sea Story is a 144ft pleasure craft built in 2022, which can carry up to 36 passengers

The Sea Story is a 144ft, four-deck pleasure craft built in 2022, which can carry up to 36 passengers.

The boat has a total of 18 twin cabins with en-suite bathrooms on board, which are used for tourists on diving trips hoping to explore the Red Sea reefs.

Authorities have not confirmed the nationalities of the tourists and it is unclear who is among the rescued and who is still missing.

The Chinese embassy in Egypt said Monday two of its nationals were 'in good health' after being 'rescued in the cruise ship sinking accident in the Red Sea', Chinese state media reported.

Ship tracking website Marine Traffic showed the last location shared by the boat as somewhere off Hurghada

The dining room for the passengers on the Sea Story is pictured above

Polish foreign ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski said authorities 'have information that two of the tourists may have had Polish citizenship'.

The Finnish foreign ministry confirmed to AFP news agency that one of its nationals is also among the missing.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told MailOnline: 'We are providing consular support to a number of British nationals and their families following an incident in Egypt and are in contact with the local authorities.'

It is not the first time this year a diving tour boat sank in the Red Sea. Earlier this month, 30 people were rescued from a sinking dive boat near the Red Sea's famous Deadalus reef.

In June, two dozen French tourists were safely evacuated before their boat sank in a similar accident.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has butted heads with Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr. over the Biden Administration's costly electric vehicle program.

President-elect Donald Trump is being pushed to reverse Biden's 'radical' electric vehicle (EV) policies within the first 100 days he's back in the White House.

The Biden administration issued one of the most significant climate regulations in the nation's history in 2022.

It was designed to ensure that the majority of new passenger cars and trucks sold in the United States are all-electric or hybrids by 2032.

The Department of Transportation, led by Buttigieg, launched the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program to build EV charges around the country in 2021.

Buttigieg, Don Jr. and Musk got into a spat over the program after the president-elect's son commented on the transportation secretary's legacy.

'Does not seem like a great return on investment but hey he checked a woke box so its totally worth it,' Don Jr. said as he re-shared another tweet that claimed $7.5 billion had been spent on just eight charging stations.

Buttigieg replied, 'The tweet you quoted is false.'

Pete Buttigieg has butted heads with Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr. over the Biden Administration's costly electric vehicle program

Buttigieg, Don Jr. and Musk got into a spat over the program after the president-elect's son commented on the transportation secretary's legacy

That is when Musk weighed in with, 'Well, please post the rebuttal. Then, Community Notes will take care of the rest.'

'To start with, $7.5B has not been spent, nor anything like that. Thats the entire program budget for the NEVI program, which is to help build out a national charging network by 2030,' Buttigieg said.

'Secondly, there are chargers now operational in nine states (which does not mean 9 chargers, to be clear). These are only the first handful though. Most are to be built in the 2nd half of the decade.

'Third, in this program the chargers are built by the states, not the federal government. And while it takes time to get a novel multi-billion dollar program going across 50 states, the states are on track.'

NEVI's total budget is $7.5 billion with $5 billion allocated to building charging stations on highways across the country and $2.5 billion for grants, according to PlugInAmerica.

As of October, 20 NEVI-funded chargers are operational nine states including Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah and Vermont, reported Atlas EV Hub.

The Biden administration's EV invasion by 2035 could hit a roadblock with America's already stressed power grid, experts have warned.

That is because America's electrical network has not been updated in over 25 years, and is in need for more transmission lines to power millions of new green energy-powered vehicles - all of which could cost more than $2.5 trillion.

The Department of Transportation, led by Buttigieg, launched the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program to build EV charges around the country in 2021

Musk weighed in with, 'Well, please post the rebuttal. Then, Community Notes will take care of the rest'

The demand for power will account for about one-third of electricity growth within the next decade as Princeton University projected the nation will use up 3,360 percent more electricity to meet the president's goal.

'In our projections, EVs cause electricity demand in the transportation sector to grow between five-fold and 10-fold by 2035,' an EIA spokesperson told DailyMail.com.

There were roughly 2.4 million registered EVs in the US at the end of last year, which isn't enough to overwhelm the electrical grid yet but could cause major problems in the future if the infrastructure isn't updated, experts warn.

The International Energy Agency's Global EV Outlook predicted that EV sales could reach 17 million in 2024 and projects that electric vehicles will likely account for half of all cars sold by 2035.

IEEE Spectrum, a publication of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, published a report on EV transition, published a study in 2023 that found that 8,000 power-generation units and 600,000 circuit miles of AC transmission lines will need to be replaced or improved by 2035.

In addition to 70,000 substations to support increased renewable energy and battery storage - brining the cost to more than $2.5 trillion.
A killer whale that spent its whole life in captivity and fatally attacked its trainer in 2009 has died at a Tenerife zoo.

Male orca Keto passed away aged 29 after 'showing signs of discomfort in recent days,' according to Loro Parque in northern Tenerife, where 6,600lb Keto lived since 2006 following his move from Seaworld in Orlando.

A total of 21 vets took part in the necropsy at the weekend, although the cause of death has not yet been made public and further tests are now taking place which are expected to take around a week to conclude.

Animal rights organisation PETA has now lashed out after Keto had to spend a 'lifetime of exploitation and confinement to tiny tanks at various "abuse"ment parks'.

At Loro Parque, Keto reportedly displayed unnatural behaviours like biting on concrete, which caused his teeth to be completely or partially worn down. Keto also appeared to be 'aimlessly floating' out of boredom and anguish, PETA said.

On Christmas Eve 2009 it launched a bloody attack on one of his trainers, 29-year-old Alexis Martinez who had worked with orcas for several years.

The pair were working together on that year's Christmas show in a training pool when Keto pulled him under water.

Alexis' injuries including multiple compression fractures, tears to vital organs and bite marks.

A total of 21 vets took part in Keto's necropsy at the weekend, although the cause of death has not yet been made public and further tests are now taking place which are expected to take around a week to conclude

Male orca Keto (pictured) passed away aged 29 after 'showing signs of discomfort in recent days,' according to Loro Parque in northern Tenerife

On Christmas Eve 2009, it launched a bloody attack on one of his trainers, 29-year-old Alexis Martinez (pictured) who had worked with orcas for several years

Heartbreaking footage resurfaced earlier this year of the experienced trainer in action. He had confided in his girlfriend before the tragedy 'something could happen at any time.'

SeaWorld briefly stopped water work with whales at three of its parks in the immediate aftermath of Alexis' death.

It occurred two months before Seaworld trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed in front of thousands of spectators at the Orlando attraction in an incident that made headlines around the world.

Loro Parque made no mention of Keto's former trainer's death in a long statement confirming the animal had passed away.

It said: 'It is with great sadness that we share the news of the loss of our beloved 29-year-old male orca Keto.

'Born on 17th June 1995, in SeaWorld Orlando, Keto became part of the Loro Parque family in 2006, where he served for years as an extraordinary ambassador of his species, captivating everyone with his commanding presence and unique personality.

'There are no words to express the depth of this loss for the whole of our Loro Parque team, particularly for the trainers and vets who shared their daily lives with Keto.

'The relationship that develops between our animals and all those who work at Loro Parque goes beyond the professional, becoming a deep bond filled with love and mutual respect.

Four trainers were needed to handle 6,600lb Keto to sedate him for an endoscopy procedure (pictured above)

'In recent days, Keto had shown signs of discomfort. Our veterinary team and international specialists took every action they could to help.

'Sadly, despite intensive efforts and exhausting all available resources, this tragic outcome could not be prevented. From a veterinary diagnostic perspective, orcas - particularly large individuals like Keto - present unique challenges.

'Their anatomy complicates the use of tools like ultrasounds, which cannot reach their internal organs, and their size makes examinations with technologies such as CT scans difficult.'

Additionally, orcas tend to hide signs of illness - an instinctive behaviour to avoid showing weakness within their group - which further complicates their veterinary care.

'We will conduct a thorough pathological examination in collaboration with experts from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to determine the cause of his death,' the park said.

'Keto lived for almost 30 years before his sad passing  studies show that the average life expectancy for males in the wild is 29 years, placing Keto within the average for his species.'

Loro Parque said Keto's mother Kalina was the first orca born in a Seaworld theme park.

The statement continued: 'For the Loro Parque family, Keto was not just an ambassador of his kind but an irreplaceable being who left an indelible mark on our hearts.

'His memory will live on in those who were fortunate to know him and in all those who, thanks to him, learned to admire orcas. Rest in peace, dear Keto. We will always remember you with the greatest love and gratitude.'

Keto was one of four orcas kept at Loro Parque, two males and two females.

Earlier this year's the zoo's owner Wolfgang Kiessling launched a controversial attack on animal rights' organisations like PETA and WAP which have been highly critical of orcas being kept in captivity, branding them 'eco-terrorists.'
A former beauty queen was forced to barricade her doors while she slept in a Dominican Republic resort room during a nightmarish trip.

Whitney Sharpe, 30, was staying at the Majestic Mirage in Punta Cana with roughly 90 guests in a wedding party when she and others began experiencing thefts and break-ins, she claimed in a TikTok video.

'RUN!!!! I felt like I was in a scary movie,' she wrote on Trip Advisor.

'I was there for a wedding and I think we were trying our best to make sure our friends that were getting married had a really amazing time,' she said in the TikTok video.

'So we were obviously trying to not make it as big of a deal as to what was actually going on... But it was a nightmare of a vacation. It was so unsafe.

'I was barricading my doors before I slept at night. I even took the belt of the bathrobe and tied the doors to use as a lock.'

The former 2016 Miss Massachusetts shared photos of her barricaded door, where she placed chairs and tables in front of it to block anyone from entering her room after others, including the bride's grandma, had their rooms broken into while they were sleeping.

Sharpe also claimed she had a $4,000 Van Cleef necklace stolen from her luggage - although she wasn't as hung up on the missing jewelry as her ex-boyfriend had purchased the item for her.

Whitney Sharpe, 30, was staying at the Majestic Mirage in Punta Cana with roughly 90 guests in a wedding party when she and others began experiencing thefts, break-ins, and more, she claimed in a TikTok video

The former 2016 Miss Massachusetts felt like she was in a 'scary movie' and that she even 'took the belt of the bathrobe and tied the doors to use as a lock'

Sharpe shared photos of her barricaded door, where she placed chairs and tables in front of it to block anyone from entering her room after others, including the bride's grandma, had their rooms broken into while they were sleeping

In a long Trip Advisor review - which was only posted to the site after Sharpe complained in her TikTok video - she claimed the resort was 'beyond dangerous.'

'Majority of us had something stolen,' she wrote. 'The brides grandma had her room broken into while she was sleeping and they even stole her CPAP machine that helps her breathe. Our friend in the room next door had laptops stolen.

'Because of this, I chose to have the do not disturb sign on my room.'

Despite the extra precautions, her necklace was still stolen. She also claimed resort staff were 'swiping wallets and phones out of bags' during the reception after guests left them on tables, and that she had charges on her bill she didn't make.

'They tried to show me receipts I apparently signed that was not in my handwriting,' she wrote on Trip Advisor.

She also claimed when she fled the hotel after checkout, that the 'taxi driver was in on it' and forced her to pay hundreds of dollars to be dropped off at the airport.

Sharpe also said she experienced cat-calling 'by almost every worker there,' and as a single woman, she felt that 'eyes are on you all the time and men [were] being aggressive.'

Her nightmare didn't end there, as the food was 'inedible,' she was given the wrong room and forced to sit in a 'holding room' for 90 minutes while they prepared another that smelled of 'musty mildew mold,' and had water 'flooding through the recessed lighting' that forced her to allow staff in unattended during the wedding.

Sharpe also claimed she had a $4,000 Van Cleef necklace (pictured) stolen from her luggage - although she wasn't as hung up on the missing jewelry as her ex-boyfriend had purchased the item for her

She believes the expensive necklace was stolen while she was at the wedding and had to allow staff to come into her room unattended to fix a water leakage problem. She also claimed the bride's grandmother had her CPAP machine stolen by staff

In a long Trip Advisor review - which was only posted to the site after Sharpe complained in her TikTok video - she claimed the resort was 'beyond dangerous.' She wrote: 'RUN!!!! I felt like I was in a scary movie'

She also claimed resort staff were 'swiping wallets and phones out of bags' during the reception after guests left them on tables, and that she had charges on her bill she didn't make (pictured: Majestic Mirage)

'I assume this is when my Van Cleef necklace was stolen. Its the only time I had to authorize people in my room and of course it was during the wedding so I couldnt be in there with them,' she wrote.

She ended her review with a final complaint: 'The bedding was itchy and thin.'

Although the former beauty-queen-turned-corporate-sales woman said she could have complained a lot more: 'I could go on but I'm at a character limit.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Sharpe and Majestic Mirage for comment.

Sharpe isn't the only person who has claimed thefts have taken place at the resort, as a Victims of Majestic Mirage Punta Cana Thefts online group exists with nearly 60 members.

Plenty of people shared similar statements to Sharpe, claiming they had cash stolen out safes in their rooms and their bags checked by staff after claiming theft.

'Money,' Marta Belyakova wrote in the group after being asked what she had stolen. 'To be exact, every penny I had.'
The Muslim schoolgirl who accused her teacher of Islamophobia and began rumours that led to a jihadist decapitating him in the street in France has admitted lying and apologised to the victim's family in a remarkable court hearing today.

History and geography teacher Samuel Paty was murdered on October 16, 2020 by Abdoullakh Anzorov, an 18-year-old Islamist radical of Chechen origin.

Anzorov tracked down 47-year-old Paty and brutally hacked his head off after seeing pictures and videos of him circulated on social media as part of a ruthless campaign of harassment.

It began after the schoolgirl in question claimed that Paty had ordered Muslim students to leave his classroom while he showed the rest of the class caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad by satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo.

But she revealed today that she had not even been present in the class and invented the lie, fearing repercussions from her parents after she was suspended two days for bad behaviour.

The student, who was 13 at the time of the murder and whose identity remains protected due to her age, cried as she addressed Paty's family.

'I know it's hard to hear, but I wanted to apologise... I wanted to apologise sincerely. I'm sorry for destroying your life,' she reportedly said through tears.

'I apologise for my lie that brought us all back here,' she added, admitting to those in attendance, including the accused: 'Without me, no one would be here.'

The schoolgirl's father, Brahim Chnina, is accused of launching the online harassment campaign against Paty, while other teen students were tried last year after they identified him for the attacker in exchange for a few hundred euros.

Anzorov, who had requested asylum in France and travelled more than 60 miles to cut down Paty in public, was killed by police shortly after the murder near the school in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine west of Paris.

History and geography teacher Samuel Paty, 47, was decapitated outside a school near Paris

Pedestrians pass by a poster depicting French teacher Samuel Paty on November 3, 2020, following the decapitation of the teacher on October 16

General view of the courthouse on the Ile de la Cite on the first day of the trial of eight people accused of involvement in the beheading of French history teacher Samuel Paty by a suspected Islamist in 2020 in an attack outside his school in the Paris suburb of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine

Paty is regarded as a free-speech hero by many in France.

He had shown the Charlie Hebdo caricatures to students as part of an ethics class in which his pupils were discussing the fallout of the 2015 terror attack on newspaper's offices in which 12 people were murdered by extremists.

But he had not ordered any students to leave the room, instead telling them what he was going to do as part of the ethics lesson before inviting them to turn away if they thought they would be offended by the caricatures.

Seven men and one woman are appearing at the Special Assize Court in Paris amid the trial over his murder, which is set to last until December 20.

Chnina is one of them, facing charges of association with a terrorist organisation for his alleged involvement in the online campaign targeting Paty.

Six students, including Chnina's daughter, were tried last year for their role in Paty's death.

The schoolgirl had accompanied her father to file a complaint at the time. 'I wanted to tell my parents that it was false, I knew that my father was not going to do anything to me , but I was afraid to say it,' she said in court today.

After Paty's murder, she was taken into police custody, during which time she continued to lie. 'My teacher had been decapitated, my father was in police custody, I couldn't say it was false,' she said.

She finally confessed the truth after 30 hours and two police interviews.

The schoolgirl received an 18-month suspended sentence for the slanderous allegations she made against Paty that ultimately proved the catalyst for his murder.

Her five co-defendants, all of whom were aged 14 or 15 at the time of the murder, faced charges of criminal conspiracy with the aim of preparing aggravated violence.

Four were handed suspended sentences but one received a six-month term with an electronic tag after being identified as the person who pointed Paty out to Anzorov.

This court sketch made and published on November 4, 2024, shows (L-R) defendants Abdelhakim Sefrioui, Louqmane Ingar, Azim Epsirkhanov, Priscilla Mangel and Yusuf Cinar sitting during the trial of eight adults charged with contributing to the climate of hatred that led to an 18-year-old Islamist radical in the 2020 beheading teacher Samuel Paty

Paty was violently stabbed to death and then decapitated by 18-year-old Chechen refugee Abdoullakh Anzorov on October 16, 2020

Hundreds of people gather on Republique square during a demonstration Sunday Oct. 18, 2020 in Paris in support of freedom of speech and to pay tribute to a French history teacher who was beheaded near Paris

Flowers and signs reading 'I am Samuel Paty' are displayed at a makeshift memorial during a march (marche blanche) in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, northwest of Paris, in tribute to French teacher Samuel Paty

Also on trial at the court in Paris is Abdelhakim Sefrioui, a 65-year-old Franco-Moroccan Islamist activist.

He and Chnina spread the teenager's lies on social networks with the aim, according to the prosecution, of 'designating a target', 'provoking a feeling of hatred' and 'thus preparing several crimes'.

Both men have been in pre-trial detention for the past four years.

Between October 9 and 13, Chnina spoke to Anzorov nine times by telephone after he published videos criticising Paty, the investigation showed.

Sefrioui meanwhile posted a video criticising what he considered to be Islamophobia in France and describing Paty as a 'teaching thug'.

He insisted to investigators he was only seeking 'administrative sanctions' against Paty, not violence.

Two young friends of the attacker are facing even graver charges of 'complicity in terrorist murder', a crime punishable by life imprisonment.

Naim Boudaoud, 22, and Azim Epsirkhanov, 23, a Russian of Chechen origin, are accused of having accompanied Anzorov to a knife shop in the northern city of Rouen the day before the attack.

'Nearly three years of investigation have never managed to establish that Naim Boudaoud had any knowledge of the attacker's criminal plans,' his lawyers Adel Fares and Hiba Rizkallah said.

Boudaoud is accused of accompanying Anzorov to buy two replica guns and steel pellets the day of the attack.

Epsirkhanov admitted he had received 800 euros from Anzorov to find him a real gun but had not succeeded.

People look at flowers layed outside the Bois d'Aulne secondary school in homage to slain history teacher Samuel Paty, who was beheaded by an attacker for showing pupils cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in his civics class, on October 19, 2020, in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, northwest of Paris. Eight people aged 22 to 65 are appearing before the special assize court in Paris starting on November 4, 2024

Relatives and colleagues hold a picture of Samuel Paty

French lawyer for the French Association of Victims of Terrorism (AFVT) Antoine Casubolo Ferro answers journalists as he arrives for the trial of eight adults for the murder of teacher Samuel Paty

Four other defendants interacted with Anzorov online prior to Paty's murder.

Yusuf Cinar, a 22-year-old Turkish national, shared a jihadist Snapchat account with him, that later published images of Paty's killing.

Ismail Gamaev, a 22-year-old Russian of Chechen origin with refugee status, and Louqmane Ingar, also 22, exchanged jihadist content on a Snapchat group with Anzorov. The first posted an image of Paty's head with smiley faces after the killing.

The only woman on trial is 36-year-old Priscilla Mangel, a Muslim convert who conversed with Paty's killer on X, describing the teacher's class as 'an example of the war waged by (France's) Republican institutions against Muslims'.

Thibault de Montbrial and Pauline Ragot, lawyers for Mickaelle Paty, one of the sisters of the murdered teacher, said his killing had highlighted the 'depth of Islamist infiltration in France'.

The trial should 'allow our society to become aware of a mortal peril', they added.
A man accused of heartlessly gunning down a mother and her infant son inside a car in Connecticut was apprehended days later in Puerto Rico, federal officials said.

Lance 'Macho' Morales, a native of the Dominican Republic, was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals at a home in the eastern town of Fajardo on Saturday.

Morales reportedly drove up to the car on November 19 following a dispute over a vehicle and opened fire, striking Jessiah Mercado, 20, her four-month-old son, Messiah Diaz, and a man in his 20s.

The driver, who was not harmed, drove to Hartford Hospital, where Mercado and Diaz died. The male passenger survived and is recovering.

Morales fled the scene of the shooting and abandoned his vehicle in Waterbury, where it was located Thursday.

He is is being held by the Fajardo Police Department on $3 million bond and was charged as a fugitive from justice.

Morales is facing multiple charges, including two counts of murder.

A U.S. Marshals spokesperson told DailyMail.com that Morales is currently awaiting extradition to Connecticut.

The spokesperson added that Morales appeared before a judge Monday but was unsure if Morales is going to waive his extradition.

Lance 'Macho' Morales, a native of the Dominican Republic, was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals at a home in the eastern town of Fajardo on Saturday

Jessiah Mercado and her four-month-old son, Messiah Diaz, were killed on November 19 in Hartford, Connecticut

The Harford Police Department said Morales was released from jail earlier this year after serving three years for attempted assault.

'Since the commission of this senseless and heinous act of violence, investigators from the Hartford Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Fugitive Task Forces in Connecticut and Puerto Rico have tirelessly worked around the clock to bring the suspect to justice,' said acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Connecticut Lawrence Bobnick.

Mercado previously resided in Hartford and was enrolled in an antiviolence program that provides services to young women, CT Insider reported.

The young woman moved to Springfield, Massachusetts in 2023 to escape a culture of violence, the program's director, Sunindiya Bhalla told the outlet.

A spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families revealed Friday that Diaz was a foster child.

Jessiah Mercado previously resided in Hartford and was enrolled in an antiviolence program that provides services to young women

Child welfare authorities said Messiah Mercado was a foster child and they are investigating why the baby was in Hartford, Connecticut with Mercado, his biological mother

Lance 'Macho' Morales was released from prison earlier this year after spending three years behind bars for attempted assault

Hartford authorities and the child welfare agency are looking into why the baby was with Mercado, his biological mother.

The family set up a GoFundMe to cover the expenses of Mercado's and Diaz's funeral services.

'Jessiah was a beloved daughter, mother, niece, sister, and friend. If you had the pleasure of knowing her, you know she was one of the strongest young women who did not always have life so easy,' the campaign's organizer wrote.

'However, she put her heard [sic] into everything she set out to do. Messiah brought so much joy to Jessiah and there is no doubt heaven just became even more beautiful with them both there.'
A Sex Education star accused of a string of sex offences against women and children apologised to a budding teen actress for 'acting in a predatory way' but denied he meant 'sexually', a court heard.

Alexander Westwood, 24, has taken to the stand to give evidence for the first time in his trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

The Netflix actor, who also starred in BBC's Doctors, is charged with 26 sex offences, including rape, relating to two children, a woman and pupils he gave acting lessons to.

The court heard how he forced students in his drama class to recite Shakespeare naked and also engaged in nude role-play scenarios.

It is alleged he sexually assaulted one girl over a seven-year period and his criminality stretches back to when he was just 10-years-old.

Jurors also heard how he had written to one alleged victim apologising for his 'inappropriate behaviour' adding: 'I am sorry for acting in a predatory way.'

Giving evidence, Westwood, of Albrighton, Shropshire, told the jury his father had made him write the letter and he didn't mean 'predatory in a sexual way'.

He said: 'I did not want to write the letter... I held out for three days but he had words with me. And it was his house, so it was his rules.'

Sex Education star Alexander Westwood leaves Wolverhampton Crown Court on November 21

The 24-year-old has gone on trial charged with 26 sex offences against women and children

Jurors were told how he forced pupils in his drama class to recite Shakespeare naked and also engaged in nude role-play scenarios

When asked by Judge Neil Chawla whether predatory meant sexually predatory, Westwood replied: 'I did not mean it in a sexual way, I meant it on targeting or picking on someone.'

Westwood also claimed the alleged child victim had been 'an annoyance', had bitten him and had to be told off for their behaviour.

Asked whether he had also written that he was 'a liar all his life', Westwood replied: 'Absolutely not.'

The actor also denied sexually abusing a pupil who he gave one acting lesson to after being asked by his mother to help her.

He told the jury: 'I did make an inappropriate comment, but it was not sexual, it was about the kind of roles she might expect to get.

'I have always sounded blunter than I mean to.'

He also gave evidence relating to a woman who accused him of abusing her for seven years.

When asked by his lawyer James Bloomer KC 'did you ever ask her for oral sex?' Westwood said: 'No.'

Westwood is seen appearing on the set of Sex Education on Netflix, and reportedly starred in 17 episodes of the raunchy comedy

The Netflix actor - who also starred in BBC 's Doctors - sexually assaulted one girl over a seven-year period, the court was told

The actor is seen leaving Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday November 7

He gave the same answer to the question 'did you ever offer her condoms?' When asked 'did you ever speak to her in a sexualised way?' Westwood replied: 'Never'.

The court was told previously how Westwood wrote the letter to one of his victims saying sorry for 'his predatory behaviour'.

Prosecutor Andrew Wallace said: 'He wrote letters, in his own words, describing himself as a predatory.

'He wrote to his victim "first and foremost I apologise' now he is accusing her of being a liar".

'He continued "I apologise for being so irresponsible inconsiderate. I apologise for everything, I really do. I cannot imagine the effect it must have had on you".'

Westwood continued in the letter: 'There is no arguing, my behaviour was wrong, moving forwards I will be speaking to professionals.

'I never considered the full impact my actions could have. My actions were wrong.

'I have been in denial about this for some time because I did not want to face up to bullying a harassing behaviour that you were the sole target.

'I hope this apology will bring some closure about what happened. My predatory actions have caused great distress and upset.'

Mr Wallace added: 'What is he apologising for? Now in this trial he is calling his victim a liar.

'He is dragging this out.'

Westwood denies all charges and the trial, which is due to last a month, continues.
Video footage has revealed the chilling moment a nanny in California was caught allegedly abusing a helpless two-day-old baby.

The parents of the newborn have revealed their two-day-old daughter appeared to be brutally abused by a trusted nanny just hours after coming home from hospital.

The Bay Area parents, identified only as 'D' and 'T', were left devastated after reviewing baby monitor footage showing their newborn daughter, 'Baby H', being violently shaken, struck and thrown across the room, they revealed in an ABC7 exclusive.

The full extent of the abuse is too graphic to be shown to the public.

'It's definitely horrifying for any parent and family to go through,' the father told the outlet.

'We all thought we could trust her. Never imagined something like this could happen,' he added.

San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe described the case as extraordinarily serious.

'What struck me overwhelmingly as soon as I read the case was the age of the victim. That's what's so unusual for us,' he told ABC7.

Video footage has revealed the chilling moment a Nanny in California was caught abusing a 'helpless two-day-old baby'

The Bay Area parents, identified only as 'D' and 'T', were left devastated after reviewing baby monitor footage showing their newborn daughter, 'Baby H', being violently shaken, struck, and allegedly thrown across the room, they revealed in an ABC7 exclusive

Wagstaffe warned the alleged abuser could face serious prison time.

'If we can convict them, for me, prison is the only answer for someone who would do something such as this repeatedly - not one time in anger or loss of self-control, but repeated,' Wagstaffe said.

'If the evidence supports it, this person would be going to prison for double-digit years, easily.'

The nanny, who was hired through a reference on social media, has not been identified or charged yet.

The parents said that she seemed 'legit' from their phone call before hiring her.

'From the phone call we had with her, it sounded very legit, and she seemed like a good nanny,' the father told the outlet.

'Of course, we interviewed the nanny as well,' he said.

The full extent of the abuse is too graphic to be show the public

The parents said that she seemed 'legit' from their phone call before hiring her

But they noticed 'aggressive behavior' and after firing her, they reviewed the footage when they discovered the shocking acts of abuse.

'Of course we feel guilty as parents,' the father said.

'My goal is to warn parents about this nanny. I don't want any family, baby or mom to experience this again,' the child's mother added.
A war widow has been accused in court of launching a 'relentless' drunken attack on her second husband - allegedly kicking, scratching and biting him.

Christina Schmid, 49, was described as 'behaving like a dog' by husband Adam during a row at their home in Ugborough, Devon, one night last September.

She began campaigning for families of those killed in military service after her Army bomb disposal expert first husband Sgt Olaf 'Oz' Schmid died while trying to defuse an IED device in Afghanistan on the day before he was due to return home in 2009.

Today a court in Newton Abbot, Devon, watched videos taken by alleged victim Adam Plumb who recorded part of an attack she is accused of carrying out.

Footage showed the defendant wearing her nightdress and shouting at her husband to give her back her mobile phone.

He insisted he did not have the device and court was told it was later found on a bedside table.

In the recording, she is heard saying: 'I want my phone back. You are blackmailing me. I am not attacking you, I want my phone back.'

The recording included Mr Plumb replying: 'You are sick. Get off me. The police are coming.'

Christina Schmid is pictured waiting outside Newton Abbot Magistrates Court in Devon today

The Afghanistan war widow whose first husband died defusing a Taliban bomb appeared in court on a charge of assaulting her second husband

Christina 'Plumb' Schmid with husband Alan Plumb - he has given evidence today accusing her of a 'relentless' and drunken attack on her at their home in September last year

Her Army bomb disposal expert first husband Sgt Olaf 'Oz' Schmid (pictured) died while trying to defuse an IED device in Afghanistan

And he later shouts: 'Leave me alone. You f***ing bit me, you horrible, horrible woman.'

Prosecutor Alistair Verheijan told the court that the defendant had drunk a large amount of gin when she got into bed and tried to cuddle her husband but he did not respond.

He said 41-year-old Mr Plumb went to go to another bedroom to sleep but she began kicking him in the back and pulling off the bed covers.

They ended up in a dressing room where the Crown alleges the defendant bit his back and ripped off his T-shirt.

Mr Plumb told the prosecutor that at the time of the incident, after they had gone to bed, Christina was 'under the influence of alcohol'.

He said: 'You could smell it in her breath. I was trying to sleep and she was poking me with her nails.

'I got out of bed and tried to sleep in another bedroom. She was grabbing me and putting her cold feet in my back. I told her to leave me alone.'

Mr Plumb said she blew her nose on his top and was 'grabbing me and hitting me', adding: 'She was just attacking me.

Christina Schmid, 49, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault by beating Adam Plumb, 41 - she is seen here leaving Newton Abbot Magistrates Court in May this year

'She was full of rage, scratching, kicking out at me relentlessly. I put my hands out to stop her but it did not work.'

He said he was trapped in a small dressing room, adding: 'She ripped the T-shirt off me. I could not get out of the corner.

'She was pushing forwards and forwards all the time. I could not get her off me.'

He told the court Plumb was 'scratching, hitting, kicking' and 'bit me in the middle of the back' and the court was shown some photos of an alleged bite injury to his back and scratch mark to his chest.

They were said to have been caused during the assault he described as lasting for between 10 and 20 minutes.

The defendant claimed her husband bit her on the nose during the incident and that he trapped her fingers in a door, but he denied both accusations and said she had sustained no injuries.

Under cross examination by barrister Francesca Whelbell, Mr Plumb denied that he was in a new relationship at the time of the incident.

The court heard the Plumbs were separated at the time and Mr Plumb said it was he who wanted a divorce after he claimed he had been abused by his wife for the previous two years.

Ms Schmid has appeared in court papers under her married name Plumb. Pictured: Leaving Newton Abbot Magistrates Court in May this year after entering a not guilty plea

He said the police had been called out on five previous occasions to their home and accused Christina of being a 'violent person'.

Mr Plumb denied defence suggestions that he had pulled off the bed covers because he was annoyed because she had booked an appointment the next day about getting a divorce.

He said he sent recorded clips from his phone of the incident to the police, but denied they were selective clips to 'make things look bad for Christina'.

And he denied 'goading and pushing Christina' and being the aggressor and also denied biting her.

Mr Plumb said they had financial ties and he had bankruptcy meetings.

When asked why he did not walk out of the Ugborough House property and wait for police who had been called, he answered: 'She was behaving like a dog. The police had been there five times before.'

The Plumbs had been married for three years and Mr Plumb told the court: 'I had seen what she did to her late husband, I was not going to allow it to happen to another man.'

PC Alex Lyons-Martin, who went to the scene, described Christina Plumb as 'extremely emotional, crying and almost hysterical'.

Christina Schmid is pictured here in 2010 collecting the George Cross at Buckingham Palace on behalf of her late first husband Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid

He said: 'She said she was the victim of serious domestic violence by Adam. I did not see any injuries on her as far as I can recall.'

The officer said she was 'shocked' when they arrested her and 'her hysteria became worse' as she was led away in handcuffs and still screaming.

The defendant became a campaigner for those bereaved by service personnel losses after her husband Staff Sergeant Olaf 'Oz' Schmid died during his final day of duty in war-torn Afghanistan on October 31 2009.

She denies two charges of assault by beating and the trial before District Judge Stuart Smith continues.
Dozens of British troops have been drafted in to help the United States Air Force find out who is responsible for drones flying over three air bases in England, amid fears it could be linked to a 'sinister' plot.

A small number of drones have again been detected near three bases in eastern England that are used by American forces.

Drones were spotted overnight flying over RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk and RAF Feltwell in Norfolk, USAF confirmed.

About 60 British troops have now reportedly been scrambled to help USAF with its probe of the incident.

Some of the troops, believed to be air defence specialists, are reportedly armed with the RAF's new ORCUS counter drone weapons,which can jam the signal to hostile devices, allowing friendly forces to take over the controls.

A former British Army intelligence officer has told MailOnline the unmanned devices could have been deployed by Russia's spy agency, the GRU - although US military sources say the UAVs were 'not identified as hostile'.

USAF has not identified who is believed to be behind the spate of sightings however a UK military source said the activity could be related to something 'sinister'.

They would not be drawn on whether Russia was suspected to be involved. The source told the Times it could be a 'bunch of f***wits' who were responsible, 'or it could be more sinister and someone is paying them to do that'.

RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk is home of the United States Air Force's 48th Fighter Wing and has been earmarked as a storage facility for US nuclear warheads

Lakenheath is a site of major strategic significance as the US moves to bolster its European presence in the face of Russian expansionism

American Air Force Base RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, one of the three US airbases where unidentified drones were spotted

USAF said the number of sightings 'fluctuated and varied between the bases' but the drones have not been identified as hostile.

It comes days after it was confirmed that a small number of 'unmanned aerial systems' were spotted in the vicinity of the three bases between Wednesday and Sunday.

UK authorities are working to ensure the safety of the sites.

In a statement on Tuesday, a spokesperson for USAF in Europe said: 'We can confirm there were sightings yesterday during night-time hours and can only confirm that the number fluctuated and varied between the bases over the night.

'Since November 20, there has been no impact to residents or infrastructure and they have not been identified as hostile.

'However, they are still continuously being monitored to ensure the safety and security of the installations.'

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: 'We take threats seriously and maintain robust measures at defence sites.

'We are supporting the US Air Force response.'

An aerial View of RAF Mildenhall shows the sheer scale of the site, making it challenging for USAF to monitor

Radar domes comb the skies at RAF Feltwell in Norfolk

Spymaster Colonel Philip Ingram, who was a British military intelligence officer, claimed Russia could potentially be behind the incident.

Speaking to MailOnline, the defence expert said: 'This would fit with the GRU and how it operates. I don't think they're necessarily trying to gather intelligence but they could be looking to test responses.

'It's not about disruption. It's just them doing this out of "badness". It will be little schoolboys doing something in the playground and giggling about it.

'This could be part of escalatory tactics by Russia. We have had bomb scares around railway stations in London and elsewhere - we will see an increase of this as Putin sees more pressure in Ukraine.'

The drones were actively monitored after they were seen in the vicinity of and over the three bases between Wednesday and Friday last week.

The Air Force hasn't identified who is believed to be behind the incursions, but measures are believed to be underway to neutralise them.

Lakenheath, Mildenhall and Feltwell, located close to one another in the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk, are Royal Air Force bases used primarily by the U.S. Air Force.

Lakenheath is home to the 48th Fighter Wing, which the U.S. Air Force describes as the foundation of its combat capability in Europe.

Colonel Philip Ingram, a former officer in British military intelligence, claimed Russia's spy agency the GRU could potentially be behind the drone sightings above US military bases

It also appears poised to house US nuclear weapons for the first time in 15 years and a site of major strategic significance as the US moves to bolster its European presence in the face of Russian expansionism.

Mildenhall hosts the 100th Air Refueling Wing, and Feltwell is a hub for housing, schools and other services.

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.

'There's not enough air defence assets out there,' Major General John T Reim, the Picatinny Arsenal's 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 we're seeing from our adversaries.'

The incident comes days after a mystery drone which resisted attempts to jam it when it flew over Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, during the flagship vessel's visit to Hamburg last week.

The flights coincide with outrage in Moscow over the decision to allow Ukraine to fire British and American-made cruise missiles at targets deep inside Russia.

The latest drone sighting on Wednesday came hours after Ukraine launched and American ATAMCS missiles at an ammunition dump in Russia's Bryansk.
After Vice President Kamala Harris' sweeping defeat in the 2024 presidential election, politicos suggested the Democrats should have put up another candidate against President-elect Donald Trump.

Now, however, stunning new polling reveals that the any Democrat was likely doomed to defeat - and that Americans think Harris, despite her resounding defeat, might be the best the party has got.

YouGov conducted a post-election poll to see how voters were feeling. It found 46 percent voted for Harris while 48 percent voted for Trump - in line with the results.

But the polling also asked Harris voters whether there was another candidate who they would have rather voted for in a race against the Republican nominee and that's where other potential candidates came up short.

President Biden - who originally was the nominee but was forced to drop out of the race in July amid fallout over concerns about his ability to run, let alone lead, after his disastrous debate against Trump in late June - polled at 41 percent against the president-elect.

Other potential candidates including Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro also trailed Trump in the end.

Whitmer polled at 38 percent and Shapiro at 37 percent, though both are lesser known currently among voters.

Post-election polling showed Vice President Harris had the best shot against President-elect Donald Trump

And while a lot will happen over the next four years, another new poll, from Emerson College, found Harris, despite a resounding loss, is still the early favorite when it comes to potential Democratic presidential candidates in 2028 at 37 percent among Democratic primary voters.

Other big Democrat names trail well behind her - failing to even break the single digits.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom came in at just 7 percent, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 4 percent, and supposed party stars Whitmer and Shapiro garnered just 3 percent each in the Emerson survey.

Trump was able to lock in not just the Electoral College votes with his victory but swept all seven battleground states.

He also clinched the popular vote by a slim majority for the first time as even blue strongholds saw shifts further red across the country.

Democrats' post-election autopsy will need to include not only who their candidate was but also their policy platform and how messaging was delivered to the American people.

Some state Democratic leaders are already gearing up to fight back against Trump and congressional Republicans' conservative policy agenda as the president-elect prepares to retake office in January.

The party will take formal steps to elect new party leadership to head the Democratic National Committee on February 1.

But when it came to the November election, there was little Democrats did right, the surveys suggest.

The YouGov poll found Harris did better against Trump than any of the other hypothetical Democrats as the nominee across race, gender and age groups.

A post-election poll of registered voters conducted Nov. 6-12

And the Emerson survey found that since the election, Trump's favorability rating has increased.

He saw a six-point increase to 54 percent - up from 48 percent. But his favorability varies with gender, race and age.

Men favor him 61 percent while his favorability among women is just 48 percent.

But Trump is term-limited, meaning speculation has already begun over 2028 for both major political parties.

A clear indicator that it will be open season heading into the next presidential election is just how many Democratic voters are undecided at this stage about 2028 - 35 percent.

A poll by Emerson College shows Harris and Vance are the early favorites to run for president in 2028. Harris led at 37 percent among Democratic primary voters while Vance led among 30 percent of Republican primary voters. But a significant number of voter including 35 percent of Democrats and 51 percent of Republicans are undecided about 2028 at this early stage

When it comes to Republican primary, even more GOP voters are undecided about 2028 without Trump in the picture with 51 percent.

Vice President-elect J.D. Vance comes in second with 30 percent and is by far in the lead among potential candidates at this early stage.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis who ran in the 2024 GOP primary against Trump has just 5 percent while fellow 2024 candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has 3 percent.

Nikki Haley polls at just 2 percent, the same number as Robert Kennedy Jr., who up until recently was a Democrat.
Morrisons has been hit by food shortages across a number of its UK stores, after the software system used to control its supply chain was targeted by hackers.

Customers have taken to X, formerly known as Twitter, to complain about the lack of fresh produce at the supermarket over the last few days, as well as via online orders.

It comes after a ransomware attack on the third-party company Blue Yonder caused issues with the supply chain leading to shortages of fruit, veg and meat in stores.

One customer shared an image to X with empty crates of veg with the caption: '10.30 Monday morning 25 November Morley store... wonder why I decided to go, plenty of other empty shelves.'

Another person wrote who took a picture of the empty shelves wrote: 'More reasons not to shop at Morrisons, empty shelf after empty shelf at Blaydon Morrisons.

'Is this the result of particularly poor stock control in this branch or is it systemic?

'Whichever, trying to shop there today was a waste of time and a waste of petrol...'

Morrisons has been hit by food shortages across a number of its UK stores, after the software system used to control its supply chain was targeted by hackers

One customer took to X to share pictures of the empty shelves at the Morrisons store in Blaydon

One customer took to Facebook to share their frustration and said: 'Morrisons you can't genuinely think this is acceptable.

'It's like the customers have to choose between stock or staff, as you can't have both!! Absolutely diabolical!'.

Another customer said: 'Morrisons what is going on with your Haverfordwest store?

'We shop there every week and it used to be a pleasure, but now its awful.

'Empty shelves, aisles like obstacle courses, some seemingly uninterested staff.. Please sort it out.'

Another customer shared an image of the empty shelves in their local Morrisons store

Another said: 'Disgusting experience this morning at my local shop. We have snow for one day and then we are faced with empty shelves, not even the basic provisions available. Potatoes, chicken, carrots. Get your act together!'

Morrisons has not said how many of its stores were impacted.

The Sun reported only fresh produce had been effected and that dried and frozen goods had the usual stock levels.

A spokesperson for Morrisons told the newspaper: 'Ambient and frozen are unaffected.

'We are currently operating satisfactorily on our back up systems and we're working very hard to deliver for our customers across the country.'

The spokesperson said issues surrounding the software had now been resolved.

Blue Yonder, which is an Arizona-based subsidiary, supplies software to several grocery chains including Tesco, Starbucks and Sainsbury's.

Sainsbury's was earlier hit by the cyber attack, but said it had procedures in place to mitigate any impact.
CNN darling Kaitlan Collins will have to work overtime to help the struggling network cling on to viewers.

The network confirmed today on a morning call that in addition to hosting her own show, The Source, Collins will also resume her old role of Chief White House Correspondent.

It means splitting her time between New York City and Washington DC, and returning to her old stomping ground in the White House briefing room.

Collins, who makes $3million-a-year, is one of the few CNN success stories of the last few years.

She rose to notoriety during the first Trump administration with bold line of questioning in the White House briefing room.

She and Trump clashed regularly. She was eventually banned from events for her relentless grilling of him about his friendship with Putin.

Collins was part of the doomed facelift former boss Chris Licht implemented. She co-hosted a morning show with Don Lemon and Poppy Harlow which resulted in Lemon's firing from the network.

Now, as CNN desperately tries to move away from the constant Trump bashing that has turned viewers off, network executives are hoping Collins and her contacts can save the day.

CNN star Kaitlan Collins will resume her old role of Chief White House Correspondent in addition to anchoring her own show

She, like several other members of the media, has been camped out there for days, as Trump continues to hold court from his compound in Mar-a-Lago.

The Semafor piece further stated how there's been some 'internal buzz' surrounding the prospective shuffle within the network's DC bureau, which has already been graced with a new boss in the form of DC bureau chief David Chalian.

Chalian previously served as Yahoo! News' Washington bureau boss, but was fired from after he was caught on a hot mic saying then-candidate Mitt Romney was 'not concerned at all' and 'happy to have a party with black people drowning' during Hurricane Isaac.

He went on to head CNN's political coverage from 2014 until this past week, when he was tapped to oversee the networks D.C. bureau and all of CNNs Washington political news coverage.

This comes in addition to his role as overseer of CNNs daily political reporting across all platforms, where he is also in charge of the editorial content for special political programming.

He will also remain CNNs political director in his new role, as 'multiple' insiders disclaimed to Semafor that the network hasnt made any other official decisions yet.

If the move surrounding Collins goes through, she and her eponymous primetime show - currently being broadcast out of Florida - would have to relocate from New York to Washington.

Any programming changes or staffing beyond the appointment were not detailed.

Collins already hosts her own show, The Source, weeknights at 9pm

The most notable - and likely the reason for former CEO Chris Licht's ouster - was a widely seen faceoff between the two at a town hall last year, where Trump branded Collins 'a nasty woman.' The event saw CNN criticized for alleged bias and an unprofessional line of questioning

Collins, meanwhile, is in the midst of a meteoric rise that has seen her rub shoulders with not one but two administrations, all while surfacing as a new recognizable face.

Today, she commands a salary of $3million, and has, for a little more than a year, hosted The Source with Kaitlan Collins on primetime.

The show airs on weekdays between Anderson Cooper 360 and CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip, the latter of which has occasionally performed better in ratings despite being in a later timeslot.

By appointing her to the new position, CNN is attempting to mimic success seen during Trumps first term, when coverage of the president drew record numbers on a nightly basis.

Doing so with a journalist who has a checkered history with the conservative is akin to 'walk[ing] a tightrope', the Semafor report conceded when it comes to Trump coverage - pointing to CNN's old approach of mostly panning the then-president.

CNN boss Mark Thompson has made it clear the station's new mission is to not default toward anti-Trump coverage, in contrast to former CNN president Jeff Zucker.

Replacement Chris Licht attempted the same, but was fired after less than a year in June 2023 following a series of layoffs and a botched town hall that coincidentally had been headed by Collins.

The latter has been pegged as one of the primary reasons for Licht's ouster, as it was widely panned for Collins' hapless efforts to fact-check the president.

The news also comes as veteran anchors Jake Tapper and Wolf Blitzer were reportedly recently denied raises - after already raking in salaries of $3million and $7million, respectively

Veteran news anchor Chris Wallace has also left CNN after several years - and after making an $7million salary. Insiders previously said they were pondering a pay-cut for the 77-year-old

Collins, despite being a relative newcomer, remains not far behind, with a take-home of $3million. She is currently in West Palm Beach covering the president-elect

As a result, the live event teetered on the edge of chaos, and days after it wrapped, spawned a 15,000-word profile in The Atlantic from journalist, Tim Alberta, who called into serious question Lichts ability to lead the organization.

Within the week, Licht was fired, after finding success leading 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' and producing MSNBCs 'Morning Joe'.

Meanwhile, the widely criticized town hall did succeed in one thing showcase a reporter Licht had sought to elevate into a star in Collins.

Within months, her then-new prime-time show would air as planned, and it continues to do so to mixed ratings.

And while a recently-instilled Thompson is reportedly working hard to correct the climate left by his predecessors, ratings have fallen more than 20 percent in the year since.

A particularly pronounced drop-off was seen the Thursday after the election, when the network's numbers fell from 6million daily viewers Tuesday to just 596,000

Fox News, meanwhile, remained the top choice for viewers on the big night and well after, after averaging 10.3 million on Tuesday, and a total of 2.6million viewers Thursday.

The latter was more than 10 times what MSNBC had achieved, and even more when compared to CNN.

Doing so with a journalist who has a checkered history with the conservative is akin to 'walk[ing] a tightrope', the Semafor report conceded when it comes to Trump coverage - pointing to CNN's old approach of mostly panning the then-president

Days earlier, The Ankler reported that officials had been mulling a pay cut for Wallace, who had been making $7 million-a-year.

Puck was reportedly told by insiders that Wallace was told by CNN brass that his two struggling shows would be nixed and his salary clashed if he would sign on for another year.

Meanwhile, famous faces like Anderson Cooper and Erin Burnett are taking home annual salaries of $20million and $6million, respectively.

Collins, despite being a relative newcomer, remains not far behind.
Horrific scenes of a bus rolling down the road completely engulfed in flames before smashing into a utility pole in Brazil were captured on terrifying video.

A public transport bus, operated by SPTrans, caught fire after suffering from an electrical failure early Monday afternoon - frightening passengers and residents of the Cidade Dutra region in the south of Sao Paulo, Revista Oeste reported.

The appalling video footage captured the abandoned bus as it rolled down the street scorched in flames while huge clouds of black smoke poured out of the vehicle's roof and windows - all while the public screamed in horror.

But the bus only stopped moving when it hit a power pole and building just seconds later - triggering a massive explosion.

Video captured sparks erupting off the inferno and flames flying even higher in the air - leaving behind plumes of thick, heavy smoke.

Car alarms and horns can be heard roaring in the background as several people began to hose down the intense blaze.

The driver of the bus said he had pulled the handbrake and turned off the engine to let passengers out when he realized the vehicle 'had a problem', the outlet reported - but it began moving on its own after the fire started shortly after.

The military mobilized four vehicles to act on the scene and extinguish the fire, which left behind a gutted bus with only steel frames for seats.

Miraculously, no one was injured from the incident.

Horrific scenes of a bus rolling down a street in Brazil while completely engulfed in flames was captured on terrifying video footage
Survivors of the Egyptian tourist boat tragedy have described their horror as the boat capsized and filled with water, with one of the British tourists who made it out alive detailing how he got free.

An experienced diver who was on the tour reportedly said: 'I heard screams coming from the cabins, but many could not get out because the doors were closed and the room was filled with water.'

Another of the survivors, a British tourist, added: 'It was dark and the water suddenly surrounded us on all sides. I tried to swim to the surface, but the current was very strong and I felt like I was about to suffocate.'

The man credited his life jacket with saving him by keeping him buoyant before the first rescue teams arrived.

Five people have been found alive today, some 24 hours after the boat capsized, raising hopes for two British nationals who are thought to be among those still missing.

Rescue teams found two Belgian tourists, a Finn, a Swiss citizen and an Egyptian national alive today, bringing the total number of survivors to 33, according to the governor of the Red Sea. Two British tourists were among those rescued yesterday.

Meanwhile four bodies have been recovered from the boat, according to the authorities, with rescue teams still searching for nine missing people.

The boat, named Sea Story, sank near Shaab Satayah, a coral reef popular for diving trips, off the tourist resort of Marsa Alam in the early hours of Monday morning.

Rescuers and medics are seen on a pontoon after the boat capsized early yesterday morning

A file photo dated November 20, 2024 shows an aerial view of the Red Sea pier where Sea Story was docked

Medics and people wait for possible survivors after a boat sank at a harbour in Marsa Alam, Red Sea Governorate, in Egypt, 25 November 2024

The boat named Sea Story (pictured) had 31 tourists of different nationalities as well as 13 crew members on board when it sank

Survivors of the sinking boat rest at a harbor in Marsa Alam, Red Sea Governorate, in Egypt, 25 November 2024

The boat was carrying 31 tourists of various nationalities - among them four Britons and two Americans - as well as 13 Egyptian crew members on board, according to local media outlet Masrawy (pictured: people waiting on the beach for survivors)

Medics wait for possible survivors after a boat sank at a harbour in Marsa Alam, Red Sea Governorate, in Egypt, 25 November 2024

The nationalities of the four people whose bodies have been found have not yet been confirmed.

Rescue teams had been 'intensifying efforts' to find those who had gone missing after the 34-metre-long boat sank.

Those who escaped the vessel said a 'high sea wave' had hit it and caused it to capsize in 'about five or seven minutes', Mr Hanafi said.

Some passengers were inside the cabins, 'which is why they couldn't get out of the boat', he added in a statement.

The incident occurred during rough weather conditions, with the Egyptian Red Sea Ports Authority reporting wave heights of 10-13 feet and wind speeds of 34 knots in the area on Sunday, leading to the closure of maritime traffic.

A surviving crew member said the boat was 'hit by a wave in the middle of the night, throwing the vessel on its side', according to a manager of a diving resort close to the rescue operations.

The boat departed on a diving trip from the port of Ghalib in Marsa Alam on November 24 and was scheduled to arrive at Hurghada Marina on November 29.

Some of the survivors were reportedly flown back to shore by a helicopter to receive medical care, while others were transported via another boat.

The search was reportedly made more difficult due to bad weather, which comes after authorities in the Red Sea capital of Hurghada on Sunday shut down marine activities and the city's port - also due to 'bad weather conditions'.

But winds around Marsa Alam had remained favourable until Sunday night, the diving manager told AFP, before calming again by morning.

The firm that operates the yacht, Dive Pro Liveaboard in Hurghada, Egypt, said yesterday it had no information on the matter.

Hanafi said the boat had passed its last safety inspection in March 2024, with no technical issues reported. The boat, owned by an Egyptian national, was 34 meters long and had received a one-year safety certificate from the Maritime Safety Authority.

Ship tracking website Marine Traffic showed the last location shared by the boat as somewhere off Hurghada.

The Sea Story is a 144ft pleasure craft built in 2022, which can carry up to 36 passengers

The Sea Story is a 144ft, four-deck pleasure craft built in 2022, which can carry up to 36 passengers.

The boat has a total of 18 twin cabins with en-suite bathrooms on board, which are used for tourists on diving trips hoping to explore the Red Sea reefs.

Authorities have not confirmed the nationalities of the tourists and it is unclear who is among the rescued and who is still missing.

The Chinese embassy in Egypt said Monday two of its nationals were 'in good health' after being 'rescued in the cruise ship sinking accident in the Red Sea', Chinese state media reported.

Ship tracking website Marine Traffic showed the last location shared by the boat as somewhere off Hurghada

The dining room for the passengers on the Sea Story is pictured above

Polish foreign ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski said authorities 'have information that two of the tourists may have had Polish citizenship'.

The Finnish foreign ministry confirmed to AFP news agency that one of its nationals is also among the missing.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told MailOnline: 'We are providing consular support to a number of British nationals and their families following an incident in Egypt and are in contact with the local authorities.'

It is not the first time this year a diving tour boat sank in the Red Sea. Earlier this month, 30 people were rescued from a sinking dive boat near the Red Sea's famous Deadalus reef.

In June, two dozen French tourists were safely evacuated before their boat sank in a similar accident.
Moscow has warned that retaliatory actions are being prepared after accusing Ukraine of launching another round of ATACMS strikes into Russian territory.

Russian military on Tuesday pledged a response to the fresh air attacks using the US-supplied missiles, which Russia's defence ministry said were carried out on November 23 and 25.

'Retaliatory actions are being prepared,' it said in a post on Telegram, without providing any further details.

In a rare admission, Russia said the fresh strikes had caused damage to military hardware and wounded some of its personnel on the ground.

A strike on the Kursk Vostochny air base wounded two servicemen, the defence ministry said, while a strike on an air defence battery damaged a radar system and also caused 'casualties'.

It said three of the five missiles fired in the first strike were shot down, while seven of the eight used in the second were destroyed.

Moscow rarely provides such specific details on Ukrainian aerial attacks and almost never admits missiles have reached their intended target.

The defence ministry also posted photos of what it said were the missile fragments, showing large casings with English-language inscriptions on the side.

Remains of US-produced ATACMS missiles, fired by Ukrainian armed forces on November 25, according Russia's defence ministry, are seen at the Kursk-Vostochny airport (Khalino) in the Kursk region, Russia, on November 26

Russia's defence ministry said three of the five missiles fired in the first strike were shot down, while seven of the eight used in the second were destroyed

US Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) is seen in action

The United States gave Ukraine permission to use the weapons to hit Russian territory just over a week ago, after months of requests from Kyiv.

The latest attacks come after war-torn country launched its first strike on Russian territory using the US-supplied long-range missiles last week.

An explosion at an ammunition depot in Karachev around 75 miles from the Ukrainian border in Russia's Bryansk region lit up the night sky in the early hours of Tuesday morning on what was the 1,000th day of the war.

The reports emerged within minutes of the Kremlin threatening a 'nuclear response' should Ukraine hit targets on Russian soil with Western-supplied long-range munitions.

'The Russian Federation reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression against it with the use of conventional weapons,' Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Russia this morning.

His statement followed Vladimir Putin's approval of an updated nuclear doctrine that allows his strategic forces to deploy nuclear weapons if Russian or Belarusian territory is threatened by a non-nuclear nation supported by a nuclear power.

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

A Ukrainian strike on Russian territory with US-supplied missiles meets these criteria, raising fears that Moscow may now consider a dramatic escalation in the conflict.

The strike carried out by Ukraineon November 20 was the first time UK Storm Shadow missiles had been used blast targets deep inside Russia. One image following the attack showed a written indentation on a chunk of metal reading: 'Storm Shadow'

Now, as fears grow over the potential fallout of Western missiles striking targets in Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is insisting that 2025 will prove a 'decisive year' in determining who wins the war.

'In the decisive moments - and they are coming next year - we must not allow anyone in the world to doubt the resilience of our entire state,' the Ukrainian president told Parliament in a rousing address today.

'At this stage, it is being decided who will prevail.'

On November 20, Ukraine then used British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles in Russia for the first time when 12 rockets were fired at targets in Kursk  the southern Russian province where Kyiv troops have seized territory.

The attacks were reportedly personally approved by UK PM, Sir Keir Starmer.

The rockets destroyed a building with an underground 'control room' where Russian and North Korean military officials were believed to be holed up, according to Ukrainian defence experts.

Britain conceded permission to use the Storm Shadow missiles against attacks within Ukraine earlier this year.

The missiles will allow Ukraine to take out military targets and airbases previously unreachable, capable of hitting hard into Ukraine.

Storm Shadow's are capable of dodging air defences - making them a nightmare attack weapon for their enemy.

This is the moment missiles believed to be British Storm Shadow missiles struck inside Russia

Britain's Storm Shadow missiles are capable of dodging air defences - making them a nightmare attack weapon for their enemy

The 800,000 rockets use GPS technology to precisely blast targets, and can travel through the air at 600mph.

When quizzed on letting Ukraine use the UK-made missiles, the PM last week said: 'I've been doubling down in my clear message that we need to ensure Ukraine has what is needed for as long as needed to win this war against Putin.

'I am not going to go into operational details. You would not expect me to. The only winner in that would be Putin and it would undermine Ukraine.

'The single simplest way to end this conflict is for Russia to stop the aggression and to stop it today. We are on day 1,000 of that aggression'.

Russia then responded to the strikes by launching Putin's hypersonic Oreshnik missile at Ukraine on November 21.

The debris from the medium-range ballistic missile that was fired at the city of Dnipro on Thursday is now being studied by Ukrainian investigators as it historically became the first time such a powerful weapon has been used in the war.

Ukraine said the weapon reached a top speed of more than 8,000mph as it headed towards Dnipro.

Zelensky called the use of the weapon, which is capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads, a severe escalation and urged his allies to respond.

Following the series of air attacks, there are growing concerns around the potential beginnings of World War Three.

The moment Russia used the Oreshnik for the first time to strike Dnipro, on November 21

A view shows a site of a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipro

Russia on November 21 fired an experimental missile at Ukraine, officials from Western governments said. Ukraine initially accused Russia of firing in an attack on Dnipro an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in combat for the first time in history

Fragments of a rocket which struck Dnipro on November 21 are seen at a center for forensic analysis in an undisclosed location in Ukraine, November 24

Russian T90M tank firing towards Ukrainian positions, at an undisclosed location in Russia

Ukraine's former military chief on Friday warned that WW3 is already underway - with Vladimir Putin's autocratic allies, North Korea, Iran and China, openly supporting his forces on the battlefield.

Valery Zaluzhny, who is now Ukraine's envoy to the United Kingdom, told the UP100 award ceremony in Kyiv: 'I believe that in 2024 we can absolutely believe that the Third World War has begun.'

The General said that as of this year, 'Ukraine is no longer facing Russia. Soldiers from North Korea are standing in front of Ukraine.'

He made the comments after reports emerged that around 10,000 soldiers had been sent by Pyongyang to fight alongside Russian troops in the Kursk region, as Moscow aims to replenish its forces and reclaim the territory taken from it three months ago.

It comes after Moscow's ambassador to the UK declared that Britain is now 'directly involved' in the war after Kyiv's Storm Shadow attack on Russian territory.

Asked if the UK is 'at war', the Starmer told BBC local radio: 'We're not at war, but Ukraine certainly is.' Sir Keir slammed Putin's 'irresponsible rhetoric'.

'Russia is the aggressor,' he said. 'This war could end today if Putin stopped being the aggressor.'
Rail passengers endured a miserable commute to and from work in London today after the main section of the Elizabeth line was suspended for the entire day.

No trains could run between Abbey Wood and Paddington due to a fault with the signalling system on the 19billion network which travels through the capital.

National Rail initially said the disruption would end by 10.30am, then this was pushed back to 11am, then 12.30pm, then 4pm and then 'until the end of the day'.

The issue also led to severe delays on the western section between Paddington, Heathrow and Reading, and the eastern section from Liverpool Street to Shenfield.

Commuters vented their fury at the latest outage on the line which has suffered numerous reliability issues since Mayor Sadiq Khan launched it in May 2022.

Passengers shared photos of shuttered stations and packed platforms as they tried to board Underground trains operating similar routes which also became very busy.

Among the frustrated travellers was Danielle Alexander who said: 'Imagine it takes a whole day to not even fix the Elizabeth line. @TfL is a scam and @MayorofLondon begs for more funding for it but can't actually deliver competent services.'

Ian Fincher wrote: '@TfL @MayorofLondon wastes millions of pounds on a vanity project renaming Overground lines making it more confusing for many.

Passengers try to board a packed Central line train at Stratford station today after Elizabeth line services were suspended between Abbey Wood and Paddington due to a signal fault

The shutters to Liverpool Street Underground station are closed amid the Elizabeth line chaos

Commuters instead had to take Docklands Light Railway trains today from Woolwich Arsenal

'Yet the unreliable Elizabeth line is suspended this morning due to signal problems along the other close. Priorities all wrong as per usual.'

He was referring to Mr Khan's 6.3million controversial rebranding of the London Overground with renamed lines and colours which went live on November 20.

Pritam Das posted a photo of closed shutters at the entrance to Woolwich station today, saying: '@MayorofLondon @TfL Elizabeth line has become a joke. A day without disruption is less likely than a sunny day in London. And not a single staff member to be seen at 9am! What a waste of taxpayers.'

Another traveller wrote: '@Keir_Starmer and @MayorofLondon need to sort out the ongoing issues with the Elizabeth line @TfL which is without a doubt the most problematic underground line.'

And a fifth said: '@TfL love the Elizabeth line when it works... seems there's always signal problems which for a brand new line is poor. Need to sort this out - embarrassing!'

Closed shutters at Woolwich today after the main section of the Elizabeth line was suspended

National Rail said customers for Reading or Heathrow should board an Elizabeth line service from Paddington high level platforms 1 to 14. Customers for Shenfield should board an Elizabeth line service from Liverpool Street high level platforms 16 and 17.

Elizabeth line passengers were also allowed to use their tickets on services run by other operators including c2c, Greater Anglia, Great Western Railway, Southeastern and Thameslink.

Howard Smith, director of the Elizabeth line, told MailOnline: 'We apologise to customers for the disruption on the Elizabeth line. We are working with Siemens, our signalling supplier, to resolve issues that resulted from overnight maintenance of the system.

'We advise customers to plan ahead, allow extra time for their journeys, and check before they travel using our website or the TfL Go app.'

Five Underground lines also faced severe delays at times today - including the Bakerloo line between Harrow and Wealdstone and Stonebridge Park due to a power supply issue.

The District line was disrupted between Earl's Court and Ealing Broadway due to a signal failure, while the Northern line had problems between Camden Town and Battersea Power due to 'difficult track conditions caused by significant leaf fall'.

And the Piccadilly line had delays between Acton Town and Uxbridge due to a signal failure, as well between Northfields and Heathrow Airport due to train cancellations.

Rail workers turn passengers away from an Elizabeth line station during today's suspension

Departure boards told passengers that Elizabeth line trains were disrupted this morning

Passengers instead tried to board Underground trains which saw stations become very busy

Meanwhile the Metropolitan Line had delays between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Watford due to a gas leak.

And there were severe delays on the London Overground's Windrush line between Sydenham, West Croydon and Crystal Palace due to a customer incident.

It comes after Mr Khan last week ditched the network's current Chinese state-owned operator MTR in favour of a new consortium including the Tokyo Metro operator.

Transport for London (TfL) said it had awarded the contract to the group which also includes Japanese conglomerate Sumitomo and UK rail and bus firm Go Ahead. The new consortium will take over from the existing operator in May 2025.

The operator will also help prepare for and implement extra services to Old Oak Common when the new 1.7billion station in Acton opens around the year 2030 to connect with High Speed 2 (HS2) services to and from Birmingham.

While the Elizabeth line has faced regular complaints from passengers about delays, it has also proven to be hugely popular and now carries around 700,000 people per day. By this May, it had seen more than 350million journeys in its first two years.
Conservative commentator Scott Jennings sparked a heated debate during a CNN panel after he called X the 'most ideologically balanced' social media platform.

Panelists on Monday's NewsNight guest anchored by Audie Cornish discussed billionaire MAGA darling Elon Musk flirting with the idea of buying MSNBC.

Cornish questioned Jennings on whether or not the billionaire, who will co-head the new Department of Government Efficiency, purchasing media would turn it into propaganda.

'I mean, is the concern that certain media outlets would become propaganda arms of political ideologies? Don't we already have that in this country at a large scale? Also, I hear what you're saying about X, I saw a survey this week, it's now the most ideologically balanced user platform,' Jennings said.

CNN contributor Cari Champion interrupted saying, 'Scott, Scott, stop, it's too early. I just sat down. I've only been here for two minutes, you cannot say that. Who's the source?'

He replied, 'We've reported on this network.' Champion said, 'It's not accurate and you know it.'

Jennings's was referring to report from CNN data guru Harry Enten that said X users are made up of an even split of Democrats and Republicans, according to Mediaite.

'Look at where we are today. Just a completely different picture now. It's basically split between Democrats at 48 percent, Republicans at 47 percent. And what I should note, Mr. Berman, is this. now, this new overall makeup matches the overall electorate far better and more than that,' Enten told anchor John Berman on November 19.

Republican commentator Scott Jennings sparked a heated debate during a CNN panel after he called X the 'most ideologically balanced' social media platform

Guest anchor Audie Cornish questioned Jennings on if billionaire closely linked to the government purchasing media would turn it into propaganda

Earlier this month, Jennings poked fun at his colleagues for describing President-elect Donald Trump as 'Hitler' and a 'fascist' during the presidential campaign.

After playing clips of Trump and Biden criticizing each other on the campaign trail, the CNN panel discussed the successful meeting between Biden and Trump at the White House.

Meghan Hays, a former Biden White advisor, said that Biden did not traditionally hold grudges and was ultimately a dignified statesman in the end.

'I'm shocked,' Jennings said, holding up a copy of the Wall Street Journal featuring a picture of the two men together. 'I mean, did you ever think you'd see literal Hitler in the Oval Office - with the President United States?'

'C'mon, Scott,' Hays protested.

'It was the underpinning of the Democratic campaign, that Donald Trump is a fascist,' Jennings continued. 'And what I see in this is I'm glad it's happening ... but what it tells me and what it ought to tell Democrats is they didn't mean any of it. It was all campaign rhetoric.'

After Trump's landslide election win, CNN chairman and CEO Mark Thompson reportedly hosted an all-hands meeting to tell staff not to obsess over drama surrounding the incoming president for the next four years.

Thompson reminded staff that there are 'a lot of other stories out in the U.S. and around the world' and 'it was clear that audiences were sick of the way the media covers politics' according to Puck.

'I'm shocked,' Jennings said, holding up a copy of the Wall Street Journal featuring a picture of the two men together

He also said he wanted to get more 'people we don't normally hear on CNN' - perhaps alluding to more right-wing pundits like Jennings, who was recently praised by viewers for his commentary on the election which stunned his fellow panelists into silence.

As CNN desperately tries to move away from the constant Trump bashing that has turned viewers off, they announced on Tuesday that darling Kaitlan Collins will resume her old role of Chief White House Correspondent.

It means splitting her time between New York City to host her show The Source and Washington, DC, and returning to her old stomping ground in the White House briefing room.

Collins, who makes $3 million a year, is one of the few CNN success stories of the last few years.

She rose to notoriety during the first Trump administration with bold line of questioning in the White House briefing room.

She and Trump clashed regularly. She was eventually banned from events for her relentless grilling of him about his friendship with Putin.
Turkey supplier Butterball has been besieged by trolls after a shocking PETA investigation showed animal abuse inside the company's factory ahead of Thanksgiving.

After gut-wrenching footage recorded by PETA two decades ago showed brutal abuse and torture of turkeys, angered fans have been trolling the food giant's social media pages as they demand Butterball own up.

'Ok, you better be ready to answer for that video that PETA just released!' one Instagram user commented. 'I don't agree with everything that PETA does, but you better damn well believed I'll be boycotting you for this!'

One user even said they 'threw away my Butterball turkey and will never be buying from you again,' as calls for a boycott continue to rise just days before Thanksgiving.

'What type of employees do y'all hire?' another questioned.

It comes after PETA's investigation showed workers sitting on turkeys, smacking and humping the animals, and sexually abusing them at the Ozark, Arkansas location in 2006.

An undisclosed investigator revealed the alleged atrocities he witnessed as workers 'shackled and slaughtered' more than 50,000 turkeys each day, according to PETA.

In the shockingly graphic video, the investigator claimed he saw a Butterball employee shoving his finger up a turkey's cloaca, or vagina, for 'fun.'

After gut-wrenching footage (pictured) recorded by PETA two decades ago showed brutal abuse and torture of turkeys, angered fans have been trolling the food giant social media pages as they demand Butterball own up

One user even said they 'threw away my Butterball turkey and will never be buying from you again,' as calls for a boycott continue to rise just days before Thanksgiving

Another worker allegedly 'humped' a turkey while it was restrained.

The investigator recalled another haunting instance when a 'worker was taunting another worker by holding a bird by the legs and jerking her back and forth.

'The second guy just grabbed the bird and punched her.'

Footage showed workers aggressively handling multiple turkeys - throwing, striking and hanging them to death.

Since then, people have been quick to call the company a 'literal disgrace' and wished 'shame' on them.

'Disgusting! I hope PETA ends [you],' one wrote.

Many former Butterball fans were upset the company wasn't speaking out on the matter and went to great lengths to 'hide' comments criticizing it's brand on Instagram.

'So, you guys are just gonna not do anything about the fact that your workers are raping and torturing turkeys?!!!!!!'

'Ok, you better be ready to answer for that video that PETA just released!' one Instagram user commented. 'I don't agree with everything that PETA does, but you better damn well believed I'll be boycotting you for this!'

A woman dressed as a turkey outside Joe Biden's National Thanksgiving Turkey Pardoning event on Monday during a PETA protest

'You're gonna keep quiet? Well then I hope you go bankrupt.'

'I'm done @butterballturkey. You're workers ABUSE innocent LIVING animals, they are disgusting demons!!!'

Leading up to the holiday, PETA has been sharing social media content urging viewers to skip out on the poultry staple this year.

'It's never too late to go out there and grab that vegan roast,' Amber Canavan, the Vegan Campaign Project Manager for PETA, told DailyMail.com. 'Spare that turkey from the horrors of the slaughterhouse.'

In response to the online backlash the company is receiving, a Butterball representative wrote to DailyMail.com: 'We are aware of a video from nearly 20 years ago, which is being re-shared across social media.

'This video is not current and in no way reflects our animal welfare policies.

'Animal care and well-being is central to who we are as a company, and we are committed to the ethical and responsible care of our flocks. That means maintaining the health and well-being of our turkeys is an ongoing effort.'

The spokesperson added that Butterball has yearly audits conducted by a third party to make sure facilities are complying with the '200+ science-based standards of best practice for care of turkeys.'

The investigator recalled another haunting instance when a 'worker was taunting another worker by holding a bird by the legs and jerking her back and forth

Since then, people have been quick to call the company a 'literal disgrace' and wished 'shame' on them

She added: 'Butterball was the first and remains the only turkey company that is American Humane certified. We are proud to be one of every three turkeys on the table this Thanksgiving.'

This month alone, Butterball has sold about 15million turkeys across the country, Fleet Owner reported.

PETA claims that its expose from nearly two decades ago is not a one-off.

'PETA has conducted even more recent investigations that are still showing that abuse is rampant,' Canavan said.

She pointed to another PETA investigation from 2021 into Plainville Farms, which 'also documented workers simulating sex acts on turkeys.'

As a result of the investigation, workers at the Pennsylvania facility faced several felonies and 141 charges.

No charges against Butterball came from the 2006 investigation, but charges were brought against employees years later for a separate situation.

In 2011, a North Carolina Butterball plant was raided after workers were caught abusing turkeys.

In an investigation similar to PETA's, nonprofit Mercy for Animals went undercover and witnessed several instances of animal cruelty.

Multiple workers were hit with charges related to the reported abuse. They were caught on video kicking and stomping on the helpless birds.
Famous London celebrity haunt The Groucho Club has been forced to close over allegations it is involved in 'serious crime'.

Westminster City Council suspended the Soho club's licence with immediate effect following a request from the Met Police.

A notice has also been placed in the club's window saying that 'the Police believe that the premises have failed to uphold the prevention of crime and disorder licensing objective'.

The Groucho has now closed its doors and is cooperating with the council.

The Met Police say that the decision to revoke the club's licence was made 'on the grounds that the venue had breached its licensing conditions and had been the scene of a recent serious criminal offence'.

Originally conceived in the 1980s as a bohemian antidote to the stuffiness of traditional private members' clubs, The Groucho has seen the likes of Bill Clinton pass through its doors at 45 Dean Street.

A council spokesman told Mail Online: 'Following a request from the Metropolitan Police and with the agreement of the operator, the Council's Licensing Sub-Committee has decided to suspend The Groucho Club's licence with immediate effect on the basis that the premises is associated with serious crime.'

The Groucho, pictured, was originally conceived as an antidote to the stuffiness of traditional London members' clubs

A notice placed in the window of The Groucho Club reads: 'The Police believe that the premises have failed to uphold the prevention of crime and disorder licensing objective'

The Groucho Club, the louche Soho joint where hard-living artist Damien Hirst once put his 20,000 Turner Prize winnings behind the bar, was a favourite haunt of Kate Moss (pictured in November 2009)

Erin O'Connor and Jasmine Guinness at a Models One bash at The Groucho Club in 1998. Right, Liam Gallagher strolling out of the club in the same year.

George Michael and Liza Minnelli appeared to hit it off when they met for the first time at The Groucho Club in 1990, just five years after it opened its doors

Lily Allen, left in 2008, and Sienna Miller, right in 2005, are among the famous faces who have partied in The Groucho Club over the decades

The Groucho has now closed its doors and is cooperating with the council

'This decision follows reports that a serious crime may have taken place at the premises in circumstances linked to a breach in the premises licencing conditions.

'The allegations are subject to an ongoing police investigation and we cannot comment further at this stage.'

A full hearing will now be held by the councils licencing sub-committee. It must take place within 28 days of the date the police submitted the review application.

The club, which has been a magnet for A-listers for 39 years, has hosted famous visitors including George Michael, Bono, Rita Ora, Cara Delevingne, Lily Allen and Noel Gallagher among many others.

The fashionable central London joint, where artist Damien Hirst once put his 20,000 Turner Prize winnings behind the bar, now has thousands of members.

Elli Jafari, the CEO of the Groucho Club, told MailOnline: 'Our license has been suspended by agreement, pending a full license review.

'Due to this, I am unable to comment or share any further details regarding this.'

In an email to members, the FT reports, she added: 'We are sorry to inform you that we have made the decision to temporarily close the club. We have received an application to review our licence which we take very seriously.

Celebrity pals Rita Ora, Cara Delevingne and Ellie Goulding pile into a car following a night out in The Groucho Club in 2013 before stopping off for a McDonald's takeaway in 2013

The Groucho Club was the brainchild of a group of publishers including Carmen Callil, left, Ed Victor (right with Marie Helvin) and Liz Calder and literary agent Michael Sissons, who wanted somewhere comfortable, intimate and stylish to meet, work and socialise

A giggling Keira Knightley perches in the back of a taxi following a night at Groucho in 2014

Jack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie leave The Groucho Club in 2014. Royals including Princess Diana are said to have visited the club

The venue of The Groucho Club was once Gennaro's, pictured, an Italian restaurant where royalty dined alongside opera stars, but had fallen into disrepair

'As a consequence, the clubs licence has been suspended by agreement with Westminster City Council and we have made the decision to close the club pending a full hearing before Christmas.'

The Met Police added: 'On Wednesday, 26 November, a Westminster Council licensing hearing ruled that the licence for The Groucho Club should be suspended for up to 28 days, until a full hearing can take place.

'The suspension will take effect immediately and follows an application made by the Metropolitan Police Service on the grounds that the venue had breached its licensing conditions and had been the scene of a recent serious criminal offence.

'The investigation into that offence is ongoing and as a result, there is a limit to the detail that can be provided. Todays hearing was held in private for the same reason.

'Further details will be released when possible.'

The Groucho gained its first ever female CEO earlier this year, announcing plans to open a new venue in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

And just months ago Ewan Venters, the CEO of its parent company Antfarm and former head of Fortnum and Mason, revealed he was leaving the company.

Dominic Lawson with TV cook, Nigella Lawson, writer Salman Rushdie and actress Padma Lakshmi at a book launch at The Groucho Club in July 2001

Actor Tom Hardy arrives at The Groucho Club in 2015. Right, Chris Evans in 2013

There has been a feeling in recent years that the club has 'lost its unique feel', which had once so appealed to the likes of Queen's Freddie Mercury and Liza Minnelli, and hosted Bob Geldof's stag party. Pictured, Courtney Love leaves The Groucho Club after a night out in 2009

Pictured: Damien Lewis, an actor and musician, sings in The Groucho in 2005

The Groucho Club was the brainchild of a group of publishers including Carmen Callil, Ed Victor and Liz Calder and literary agent Michael Sissons, who wanted somewhere comfortable, intimate and stylish to meet, work and socialise. Pictured: Denise Welch leaving the club in 2004

Pictured: Chelsea Clinton on a night out when she visited The Groucho Club in 2001

The Groucho Club was the brainchild of a group of publishers including Carmen Callil, Ed Victor and Liz Calder and literary agent Michael Sissons, who wanted somewhere comfortable, intimate and stylish to meet, work and socialise.

The building was once known as Gennaro's, an Italian restaurant where royalty dined alongside opera stars, but it had fallen into disrepair years before it became The Groucho Club.

According to the official Groucho Club history, there were also 'tales of dark deeds' at the building, including a shooting in one of the rooms which is said to be haunted to this day.

After initially struggling to find investment, the club was eventually funded by a group of some 400 publishers, artists and media types.

The prospectus, which included cartoons by Quentin Blake, presented a vision for an all-day drinking and dining establishment open to men and women where there would be a bar, restaurant and eventually bedrooms.

The Groucho Club was sold in 2022 in a deal worth 40million to Iwan and Manuela Wirth, whose company Artfarm owns the world-renowned contemporary art gallery Hauser & Wirth and venues such as Roth Bar & Grill in Bruton, Somerset.

When it was sold, Mr Venters promised to return to the 'eclectic appeal and maverick ethos' that appealed to the likes of Queen's Freddie Mercury and Liza Minnelli.

Before the sale, it was reported that some members felt the venue had 'lost its unique feel' as it opened its membership up to corporate city types.
Three men have died in a road accident after their car's sat-nav sent them careening off the 30ft-high edge of an unfinished bridge.

Kaushal Kumai, Vivek Kumar, and Amit Kumar were travelling back from Gurgurgam, southwest of New Delhi, India to Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, after attending a wedding when they drove off a bridge connecting Faridpur and Dataganj over the Ramganga River at 2:30pm on Saturday.

Their bodies, trapped inside the mangled car, weren't discovered until 9:30am the next day, local media reported.

Investigators found that the trio had been following an out-of-date map on Google Maps at speed.

The mapping service allegedly told them to travel down the bridge, which had no signs indicating it was out of use after it suffered a collapse in 2022 following heavy flooding.

Unaware they weren't meant to be driving down it, let alone at speed, the drivers plummeted to their deaths.

The three men all worked as security guards, according to local media. Their bodies were transported by boat to the nearby city of Faridpur for a formal post-mortem examination.

Since the tragedy, four engineers and an as-yet-unidentified Google Maps engineer were called in for questioning by local cops, the Times of India reported.

The men drove off a bridge connecting Faridpur and Dataganj over the Ramganga River (Pictured)

Outraged by the incident, family members of the victims and residents in the area criticised local authorities for failing to close off the incomplete bridge.

'The officials must be held accountable for this negligence. Why was the bridge left incomplete and why were there no safety measures in place?' one relative of the victims told The Hindustan Times, adding that a formal investigation is needed.

A Google spokesperson told local media in a statement: 'Our deepest sympathies go out to the families. We're working closely with the authorities and providing our support to investigate the issue.'

MailOnline has contacted Google for comment.
An abandoned car and human remains at the bottom of a Georgia pond have been linked to the 44-year-old case of a missing oil executive and his wife.

Retired Sinclair Oil executive Charles Romer, 73, and his wife Catherine, 75, shockingly disappeared in 1980.

Charles and Catherine were longtime friends who got married in 1974. They were on their way home to Scarsdale, New York from Miami, Florida before they vanished.

They stopped along their route at a Holiday Inn in Brunswick, Georgia - which was one of the last places the lavish couple was seen.

Hotel staffers raised alarms and reported the Romers missing when they noticed their bed had not been slept in.

Employees found unpacked bags, tax returns and a bottle of scotch inside the vacant room, the New York Times reported.

Their black custom model 1979 Lincoln Continental was also nowhere to be found.

Catherine was wearing $81,000 in jewelry when she disappeared with her husband, according to the Associated Press.

Catherine and Charles Romer went missing in 1980 while stopping in Georgia on their way home from Miami

Catherine was reportedly wearing $81,000 in jewelry when the couple vanished

A car submerged in a Georgia pond with a human bone inside had been linked to the Romer's cold case

But on Friday, the decades old dead-end case was resurfaced when a Florida Sound Navigation and Ranging (Sonar) search team found a car believed to be theirs submerged in a pond off of the Interstate 95 in Brunswick.

A Glynn County Police Department spokesperson told CNN on Tuesday: 'Ultimately a match must be determined by the VIN number and it has not been possible yet to get that from the vehicle found in the pond.'

The team made the discovery around 10 am, according to a Facebook statement from the Sunshine State Sonar.

The statement reads: 'We initially visited this location based on a tip regarding a submerged vehicle, which was subsequently identified as a 1970s Ford sedan.

'Further investigation led to the discovery of an additional vehicle, ultimately determined to be the vehicle belonging to Charles and Catherine Romer.

'We promptly notified the Glynn County Police Detectives of the discovery, including the 1970s Ford sedan.'

Taking a deeper look, one human bone was found inside of the car. But according to the Sunshine State Sonar team, the DNA results are pending.

In other words, it is not confirmed if they belong to Catherine or Charles.

The Glynn County Police Department also addressed the situation in a Facebook release, revealing there will be a search for more remains.

Charles and Catherine's disappearances have baffled family members and investigators for decades

The couple drove a black custom model 1979 Lincoln Continental, which resembled the car dug up on Friday

The couple got married in 1974 - just six years before they were last seen - after being longtime friends

'At this time there is no conclusion about the identity of the remains that were found,' the department wrote.

'The pond is being drained and special equipment is being utilized to allow for a thorough investigation by GCPD and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.'

Although no solid conclusion has been drawn about the circumstances surrounding the vanished wealthy couple, investigators, Brunswick locals and family members have speculated over the years.

'We all felt with our experience that these people had been kidnapped and killed for her jewelry, and the vehicle and the bodies were hidden in the water,' rescue diver George Baker, who searched for the car over the years, told the AP in 1998.

Former Holiday Inn employee Andy Mavromat told Action News Jax: 'He was in the oil industry; he was worth a bunch of money. When I worked at Holiday Inn, it was the big thing, and we never knew happened to them.

'We figured with all the money they had, someone followed them and robbed them.'

Given the recent discovery, Mavromat also said that maybe the couple lost control of their car and fell into the lake.

In 1985, Charles was officially declared dead, leaving his two sons with a $1.2 million estate, the New York Times reported at the time.

Catherine's nine grandchildren have taken the discovery to heart and reflected on their late grandmother.

People have thought about what may have happened for years. The car's discovery has shed new light on the circumstances for family members

The Sonar team from Florida was searching the pond for another car when they discovered the Lincoln

'All the investigations and psychics and everything, the police, they worked so hard, and Blackwater divers have been searching for years. And they thought it was foul play,' Christine Seaman Heller, Catherine's granddaughter, told ABC7.

Seaman Heller revealed she found some comfort in the discovery and is hoping to gain some final closure.

She told ABC 7: 'I was talking about it yesterday with a friend of mine because it's always been such a mystery. So, it would be so wonderful to find out, just have some peace. You know maybe it wasn't a horrible ending, maybe it was just an accident.'
A 'hero' of the Manchester Arena bombing was killed in a tragic road accident caused by a car driver's fatal impatience, a court heard today.

Darron Coster, 54, was test driving the 'dream' motorbike he was considering buying when he was hit and fatally injured by a car travelling on the wrong side of the road on a country lane.

Motorist Jacqueline Higson, 65, should have 'exercised patience' behind a cyclist but instead carried out an overtaking manoeuvre before the brow of a hill when she couldn't see traffic coming in the opposite direction, Bradford Crown Court was told.

Mr Coster was driving safely and sensibly but had 'no time to react or see' the Vauxhall Corsa before the collision.

Judge Jonathan Rose said Higson was solely to blame for the 'terrible incident' but allowed the motorist to walk free from court because of her 'exemplary character' and her role as a carer for her mother and brother.

Higson pleaded guilty to an offence of causing death by careless driving. She was given a 12 month jail sentence suspended for two years, along with 180 hours of unpaid work, 20 rehabilitation activity days and a two year driving ban.

The judge told Higson the damage she has done is 'irreparable' as the victim's family has 'suffered enormously.'

Darron Coster, 54, pictured, was test driving the 'dream' motorbike he was considering buying when he was hit and fatally injured by a car travelling on the wrong side of the road

Motorist Jacqueline Higson, 65, pictured, should have 'exercised patience' behind a cyclist, a court heard

The victim's wife Alison Coster, right, said her life and that of her son Charlie, who was 24 at the time, had been devastated by his tragic loss.

He said: 'The responsibility for his loss is yours and yours alone.'

Mr Coster, a married father-of-one, was an HGV driver who had spent years in motorcycle display teams during an earlier career in the Royal Military Police.

He was hailed as a 'hero' by the inquiry into the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing for his actions on the night.

Mr Coster was waiting to collect his son from the Ariana Grande concert and used his military first aid training to treat injured casualties and closed the doors to protect onlookers from trauma.

Sir John Saunders, chair of the inquiry, said at the time of Mr Coster's death: 'I described him at the conclusion of his evidence as a hero for what he did on the night of May 22, 2017, and I don't think anyone could or would disagree with that description.'

The court heard Higson was driving two family members to lunch when the accident happened near the village of Wigglesworth, North Yorkshire, in July 2021.

Mr Coster had picked up the Ducati motorbike for a test ride and had asked the owner to 'dial it down' so it couldn't go in 'fast mode.'

The judge said he was 'averse to risk' and there was no evidence he was 'in any way responsible' for the accident that cost him his life.

Harry Crowson, prosecuting, said Higson overtook one cyclist and was driving behind a second on the 'undulating' country road when she attempted to overtake again before the 'crest' in the road.

Until that point she had been driving sensibly and was not speeding or under the influence of alcohol, he said.

'Miss Higson was on the wrong side of the road. She pulled out at a time when she couldn't see what was coming in the opposite direction.'

The victim's wife Alison Coster said her life and that of her son Charlie, who was 24 at the time, had been devastated by his tragic loss.

She said in a statement: 'I have been at a total loss without my husband and have been for the last three years.'

Outside court Mr Cotter's sister Debra Coulson said the sentence was what the family expected while wearing a T-shirt with the words 'dangerous driving kills'

'Losing Darren was and still is the hardest and most profound life-altering event that has happened in my life.'

Adding: 'He was my soulmate, my forever. I will never be the same again.'

John Dye, for Higson, said she had an unblemished driving record and had never been in trouble with the police before.

He said she was 'extremely remorseful' and the accident was 'on her conscience on a daily basis.'

'She is absolutely devastated,' he said.

Mr Dye said Higson made a 'momentary misjudgement' and shouldn't have overtaken when she did.

The judge suspended her jail sentence after hearing how Higson worked as a carer in a hospital for 37 years and was now the sole carer for her 91-year-old mother and her brother with learning difficulties.

Outside court Mr Cotter's sister Debra Coulson said the sentence was what the family expected.

Wearing a T-shirt with the words 'dangerous driving kills', she said the family wanted to spread the message to motorists to 'think twice.'

'Be more cautious, give yourself that extra ten minutes or so for your journey.'
Five cousins who were cut out of an 800,000 will after a 92-year-old relative ripped it up on her deathbed claim the document is still valid because she did not tear it all the way through.

Carry Keats, who owned and ran a successful caravan site, ripped up the pages of her will during her final illness in hospital.

Under a Victorian law passed in 1837, any person can legally revoke a will they have made by ripping it up, so long as the act is carried out within certain guidelines.

This meant Mrs Keats died without a valid will and so her younger sister Josephine Oakley stood to inherit everything she owned.

She left behind an 800,000 fortune, mainly tied up in her home and land at 'Carron' in the Wiltshire village of Nomansland.

If Mrs Keats had kept the will intact, her five distant cousins which include David Crew, her cousin once removed, David's sister Angela Crew, plus cousins twice removed Kevin, Jason and Leon Whitehorn, would have split most of her fortune.

They decided to bring the matter to court, claiming the dying pensioner did not validly revoke the will because she only ripped it three-quarters of the way through with her own hands, with the rest being ripped at her request by her solicitor.

But, Mrs Oakley insisted her sister knew what she was doing and had decided to cut out her cousins after they proposed putting Mrs Keats into a nursing home.

Carry Keats (pictured) ripped up the pages of her will during her final illness in hospital, sparking a family feud between her five distant cousins and her younger sister

eft behind an 800,000 fortune, mainly tied up in her home (pictured) and land at 'Carron' in the Wiltshire village of Nomansland

Mrs Keats died without a valid will and so her younger sister Josephine Oakley (pictured) stood to inherit everything she owned

Deputy Master John Linwood ruled in favour of Mrs Oakley in the landmark case, finding that her sister had wished to disinherit the cousins and did so lawfully.

Master Linwood has handed the estimated 200,000 bill for fighting the case to the cousins and refused them permission to appeal his decision, despite their lawyers telling him that he 'got it all completely wrong'.

London's High Court heard during the trial of the case that Carry Keats died, aged 92, on 15 February 2022, less than three weeks after tearing up her last will as she lay dying in hospital in Salisbury.

The will, which was made eighteen months earlier, split almost everything she owned between her five distant cousins, spearheaded in the court fight by David Crew.

However, towards the end of her life, she grew closer to her younger sister Josephine - nine years her junior - with whom the court heard she had a 'love-hate relationship'.

The court heard Josephine took her sister roast dinners every Sunday whilst she was still at home during her last years and visited her in hospital almost every day during her final illness.

During the same period Mrs Keats - who was described in the judgment as 'stubborn' with old-fashioned views, a 'feisty old bird' and a 'self sufficient, resilient and proud New Forester' - fell out with David Crew and his sister Angela 'after they indicated that they were going to put her in a nursing home if she had another fall,' Mrs Oakley's lawyers told the judge.

These changes in the family dynamics led to a dramatic scene in January 2022, involving the ailing Mrs Keats sending for her long time lawyer Hafwen Webb as she lay in her deathbed in Salisbury Hospital and tearing her will in front of her.

David Crew, who is Mrs Keats' cousin once removed, with his sister Angela Crew

Jason Whitehorn, who is Mrs Keats' cousin twice removed, pictured outside court

Ms Webb was called upon to complete the tearing of the will as Mrs Keats was too weak to manage herself, leading the cousins to challenge the validity of its destruction.

But ruling against them, the judge said: 'In my judgment there was actual tearing combined with intent...Carry did sufficiently destroy the will as it was entirely torn in half as she intended.

'I find there was a positive communication and not mere acquiescence, as Carry looked at Mrs Webb and responded to her direct offer with a physical command or instruction reflecting her wish that Mrs Webb should actively assist her to complete the tearing in half of the will.'

Turning to Mrs Keats' motivation for her dramatic change of mind, the judge referenced the 'fatal' falling out with her cousins over the care home proposal and, quoting a judge's comments from an 1821 will dispute, added: 'It is one of the painful consequences of extreme old age that it ceases to excite interest and is apt to be left solitary and neglected.

'The control which the law gives to a man to dispose of his property is one of the most efficient means which he has in protracted life to command the attentions due to his infirmities.'

He added: 'Nothing in human nature has changed over the last 200 years since that was said, nor I presume will it in the future.'

In another hearing, he has now ordered the cousins to pay Ms Oakley's costs of the case along with their own bill, estimated at a total of 200,000-plus by lawyers outside court.

The judge ordered the cousins to make an up-front payment on account of 90,000, giving them six weeks to raise the cash.

Leon Whitehorn, who is Mrs Keats' cousin twice removed, outside London's High Court

Simon Sinnatt, for the cousins, also asked the judge to grant them permission to appeal against his own ruling, telling him: 'I always find it a huge embarrassment to turn round to a judge at the end of the hearing and say you've got it all completely wrong.'

He raised ten grounds of appeal and went on to tell the judge that he had not considered 'a critical document' which he compared to 'a smoking gun' when making his decision.

He also claimed that the judge interpreted the law incorrectly in finding that Carry Keats' 'nod' to Hafwen Webb was a permitted form of communication that she wanted the will destroying.

He said such a non-verbal sign was impermissible according to case law because Carry was still capable of verbal communication.

But refusing permission to appeal, the judge told him: 'I've been through the grounds of appeal and overall I consider the decisions I made were correct on the facts as I found them.'

He went on to tell the cousins that was not the end for their challenge however, telling Mr Sinnatt: 'Your application can be renewed before a single judge of this court'.

In his earlier ruling finding that the will was legally destroyed with Mrs Keats' authority, the judge had said:

'This claim concerns whether the deceased had sufficient mental capacity to make a deathbed revocation of her will by tearing it in half, thereby causing her estate to pass by intestacy to her sister, Mrs Josephine Oakley, as opposed to the other parties to this claim, who are, unlike her, beneficiaries under the will.

'In other words, it is all or nothing for Mrs Oakley or those other parties.

'Behind this simple act of tearing is enmity in the wider family involving allegations of undue influence, greed and bullying, with an unseemly scrabble for the assets of the deceased in the last couple of years of her life and after her death.'

He added that the turning point in Mrs Keats' testamentary intentions was, as Josephine's lawyers had argued, 'a serious falling out between Carry and the Crews' over them 'proposing to put her in a nursing home if she had another fall'.

'Carry knew her own mind,' the judge went on.

'It is pellucidly clear from the evidence of Mrs Webb that Carry understood her entire estate would pass to her sister.

'The strong desire to exclude and disinherit the Crews was clear from her instructions two months before at their meeting on 16th November 2021

'I find that Carry had a sufficiently lucid interval during which the revocation took place...I find Carry had capacity in that narrow window.'

In relation to the 'nod' with which she indicated her solicitor should finish treating through the will, the judge said:

'In these facts and circumstances, I find there was a positive communication and not mere acquiescence, as Carry looked at Mrs Webb and responded to her direct offer with a physical command or instruction reflecting her wish that Mrs Webb should actively assist her to complete the tearing in half of the Will.

'I think it would be artificial not to permit a testator to communicate as they wished in those circumstances at that time.

'The communication must be positive and discernible, which I find the nod is in these factual circumstances and it may be non-verbal, as here.

'Carry properly authorised Mrs Webb to complete the destruction of the will for the reasons above. Her nod was not a mere acquiescence but a positive and discernible non-verbal communication.

'In my judgment there was actual tearing combined with intent.

'Carry did sufficiently destroy the will as it was entirely torn in half as she intended.

'In summary I find Carry had testamentary capacity to revoke the will, the intention to do so and revoked it by destruction in accordance with the Wills Act 1837.

'I therefore dismiss the claim and find for Josephine on her counterclaim,' the judge concluded.
UK and EU shares fell today after Donald Trump announced tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China.

The US president-elect pledged levies on goods coming to America until the countries clamped down on drugs and people smuggling.

The 25 per cent tariffs are set to be slapped on Mexico and Canada from January. Mr Trump added in the statement overnight that he was planning on forcing 'an additional 10 per cent tariff, above any additional tariffs' on China.

He has previously threatened to end Beijing's 'most-favored-nation' trading status and hit imports with an excess of 60 per cent.

The bombshell news sparked sharp drops for car manufacturers, while European shares suffered from mounting fears that other economies will be targeted next.

The FTSE 100 was down around 0.35 per cent this afternoon, with France's CAC 40 falling half a percent. The DAX in Germany dipped more than 0.3 per cent.

UK and EU shares fell today after Donald Trump announced tariffs on Canada , Mexico and China

The FTSE 100 was down around 0.35 per cent this afternoon

According to Politico, the UK has looked at re-engaging tariffs on Harley Davidson motorbikes and Jack Daniel's whisky if British goods face levies.

However, Keir Starmer and Labour ministers have been keen to play down the prospects of a tit-for-tat as the world waits for Mr Trump's return to the White House.

Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown: 'The President-elect's scorched-earth approach has stoked fears of a trade war, with investors increasingly wary that Europe could be next in his crosshairs.'

In a post to Truth Social, Trump said: 'I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States  But to no avail.

'Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before.

'Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America.'

Few were happy about the announcement, with the Wall Street Journal reporting that Mexican peso and Canadian dollar weakened in the wake of the proposed tariffs, least of all China.

A Chinese embassy spokesman in Washington said economic and trade cooperation was mutually beneficial.

'No one will win a trade war or a tariff war,' Liu Pengyu said.
A popular Mexican YouTuber was found dead on a dirt road with his hands tied and eyes taped shut, as police he believe was tortured by notorious drug gang Los Chapitos.

Miguel Vivanco, also known as 'El Jasper', was found in the early hours of Saturday morning on a road in the city of Culiacan, northwestern Mexico, just two days after he was reported missing.

According to Spanish-speaking news outlet Infobae, 29-year-old Vivanco had at least 70 bullet wounds when he was found by his relatives.

His family claim that a group of hitmen had forced their way into the YouTuber's home on November 21, located in the Quila area of Sinaloa, and had not seen him since.

But when his body was found, traces of torture became apparent as his eyes had been covered with green tape and he had been handcuffed and wrapped in a sheet.

Vivanco, who is originally from Culiacan, became famous in Sinaloa after uploading content to YouTube and TikTok.

He also shared a close friendship with Marcos Eduardo Castro, another influencer known as Markitos Toys.

Both Castro and Vivanco have previously been linked to a criminal group in the area known as 'Los Chapitos'.

Mexican YouTuber Miguel Vivanco was found dead on a dirt road on Saturday and it is feared he might have been tortured by drug gang 'Los Chapitos'

He appeared to have suffered from 70 gunshots

Members of the National Guard and personnel from the prosecutor's office arrive at the scene, who have carried out investigations on the scene and ordered the removal of the body

The criminal organisation, considered to be among the most influential in Mexico, was formed by the sons of the now-jailed former Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquin Guzman Loera, more commonly know as 'El Chapo'.

At the end of September this year, the Office of Control of Foreign Assets (OFAC) added Viivanco to its list of sanctioned people under the illicit drugs program.

It is unclear who was involved in the YouTuber's murder, but an investigation is ongoing.

Details have not been confirmed by the authorities

Meanwhile, another content creator and close friend of Vivanco, Cristo Rich, shared an emotional message on Instagram, paying tribute to him.

He wrote: 'Brother I will love you all my life with all my heart.'

'You took a part of me with you. I know we will see each other again brother.

'I hope we will always be together like we always were just us.

'You are the best brother I could have had of that there is no doubt, always helping me.

'You were a very special person to me. No one can ever replace you.

'I will love you all my life brother and I will miss you like you have no idea, only you and I know brother.'
This is the incredible moment Ukrainian soldiers faced explosions erupting around them without flinching as they carried a wounded comrade.

The new footage showing the harsh realities of frontline combat captures the group of soldiers displaying unwavering courage near Kharkiv, and Chasiv Yar, in Donetsk Oblast.

In the gripping clip, troops from the 8th Special Operations Forces Regiment are shown carrying out a crucial evacuation while being the target of heavy Russian gunfire.

They were also seen running through debris and buildings engulfed in an orange blaze as they repelled enemy attacks and cleared residential areas destroyed by artillery.

As the group of soldiers made their way through the burning homes, crushed cars and mountains of rubble, they seem unfazed by the chaos, moving forward with courage and purpose.

With thick clouds of smoke filling the air, two soldiers can be seen firing off into the distance before the footage cuts to a clip of the fighters running into a partially-collapsed house to investigate.

Two heroic soldiers are then filmed carrying either side of a stretcher as an injured comrade lays bloodied on top.

Bright orange flashes erupt around them in the nearby trees but the military personnel do not even flinch as they continue onward.

Incredible new image from the frontlines show brave Ukrainian soldiers carrying a wounded comrade on a stretcher through Russian gunfire without flinching

The soldiers moved walked though debris and litter as they were targeted by Russian artillery

Buildings and cars were seen crushed and destroyed in the clip posted by the 8th Special Operations Forces Regiment

Buildings in the area were seen engulfed in flames as the soldiers made their way through the chaos, seemingly completely unfazed

The soldiers were seen in the video firing back at the enemy as they rescued one of their fellow comrades

The fighting can be seen intensifying as it continued on into the night, with black sky illuminated with the glow of flares and gunfire flashes.

In another segment of the incredible footage, soldiers can be seen moving stealthily through tunnels and clearing residential areas of enemy forces.

The regiments bravery, teamwork, and tactical precision are displayed in abundance in the video, showing the resolve of the war-torn country's special operation unit.

Their courage was praised on Instagram after the 8th Regiment uploaded the video to their official account with one comment reading: 'Hearts of Gold, Balls of Titanium. Glory to Ukraine!'

Another wrote: 'Evacuation of the wounded under enemy fire without blinking an eye'.

A third added: 'How they didnt flinch when the arty round hit in front of themboss moves'.

It comes after Russia fired the new Oreshnik missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday, after Ukraine fired American ATACMS and British Storm Shadow long-range missiles deep into Russian territory beforehand.

The strike carried out by Ukraine was the first time UK Storm Shadow missiles had been used blast targets deep inside Russia. One image following the attack showed a written indentation on a chunk of metal reading: 'Storm Shadow'

Images shared on social media showed what appeared to be fragments of a British Storm Shadow missile in Marino, Kursk, on November 20

The Oreshnik, which means hazel tree, travels at speeds of around 8,370 miles per hour, and is capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads.

But Putin told the Russian nation in a televised address that the missile fired at a military-industrial site in Dnipro used conventional warheads.

After firing the Oreshnik, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned Britain and America of their 'reckless' action in supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine.

Peskov said: 'The main message is that the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries that produce missiles, supply them to Ukraine, and subsequently participate in strikes on Russian territory cannot remain without a reaction from the Russian side.'

Over the weekend, Putin boasted that no country in the world has the power to intercept the Oreshnik missiles, which fly at ten times the speed of sound.

He said: '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.'

He added: 'No one in the world has such weapons. Sooner or later other leading countries will also get them. We are aware that they are under development.'

The debris from the medium-range ballistic missile is now being studied by Ukrainian investigators as it historically became the first time such a powerful weapon has been used in the war.

The moment Russia used the Oreshnik for the first time to strike Dnipro, on November 21

Fragments of a rocket which struck Dnipro on November 21 are seen at a center for forensic analysis in an undisclosed location in Ukraine, November 24

Russia on November 21 fired an experimental missile at Ukraine, officials from Western governments said. Ukraine initially accused Russia of firing in an attack on Dnipro an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in combat for the first time in history

A view shows a site of a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipro

This is the moment missiles believed to be British Storm Shadow missiles struck inside Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the use of the weapon, which is capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads, a severe escalation and urged his allies to respond.

Following the series of air attacks, there are growing concerns around the potential beginnings of World War Three.

Ukraine's former military chief on Friday warned that WW3 is already underway - with Vladimir Putin's autocratic allies, North Korea, Iran and China, openly supporting his forces on the battlefield.

Valery Zaluzhny, who is now Ukraine's envoy to the United Kingdom, told the UP100 award ceremony in Kyiv: 'I believe that in 2024 we can absolutely believe that the Third World War has begun.'

The General said that as of this year, 'Ukraine is no longer facing Russia. Soldiers from North Korea are standing in front of Ukraine.'

He made the comments after reports emerged that around 10,000 soldiers had been sent by Pyongyang to fight alongside Russian troops in the Kursk region, as Moscow aims to replenish its forces and reclaim the territory taken from it three months ago.

It comes after Moscow's ambassador to the UK declared that Britain is now 'directly involved' in the war after Kyiv's Storm Shadow attack on Russian territory.

Asked if the UK is 'at war', the Starmer told BBC local radio: 'We're not at war, but Ukraine certainly is.' Sir Keir slammed Putin's 'irresponsible rhetoric'.

'Russia is the aggressor,' he said. 'This war could end today if Putin stopped being the aggressor.'
One of Canada's most notorious serial killers is set to appear before a parole board today to learn his fate.

Paul Bernardo was convicted of sexual assault, kidnapping and murder in the early 1990s in one of the most 'sensational and sinister cases in Canadian history.'

The 60-year-old convict, who has been denied parole twice before, is currently serving an indeterminate life sentence for the kidnapping, sexual assault and murder of 15-year-old Kristen French and 14-year-old Leslie Mahaffy in Ontario.

Bernardo was also convicted of manslaughter following the death of his then-wife Karla Homolka's sister, Tammy, in December 1990.

The Tuesday hearing will take place before the Parole Board of Canada at the La Macaza Institution in Quebec.

Bernardo was transferred to the medium-security La Macaza institution following a stint in a maximum-security facility in Ontario, a move that garnered public outcry last year.

The parole hearing featured victim impact statements, though only Leslie Mahaffy's mother appeared in-person before the board. Others delivered their statements virtually.

Paul Bernardo, who was convicted of sexual assault, kidnapping and murder in the early 1990s

The 60-year-old convict , who has been denied parole twice before, is currently serving an indeterminate life sentence for the kidnapping, sexual assault and murder of 15-year-old Kristen French (left) and 14-year-old Leslie Mahaffy (right)

Bernardo was transferred to the medium-security La Macaza institution following a stint in a maximum-security facility in Ontario, a move that garnered public outcry last year

Through the hearing, the board is seeks to asses Bernardo's risk to the public if he is to be released on parole.

By law, commissioners have 15 days to render a decision. However it is possible they make a decision immediately.

The Tuesday hearing saw statements from six different individuals, all deeply and forever impacted by the horrendous crimes committed by Bernardo and his accomplice.

Leslie Mahaffys brother, Ryan Mahaffy who was only seven at the time of his sisters untimely death, is now 40-years-old and once-again having to rehash his sister's gruesome murder.

I was just 7 when Leslie was abducted, raped, murdered, dismembered and discarded in concrete blocks.

I was 11 when I wrote and read a victim impact statement, to the murderer who ripped her from my life at his sentencing. Today, Im 40.'

'Since then, my parents have borne the brunt of these matters to help shield me from the continuing agony of this dangerous offenders existence. My mother, in particular, has fought for more than twice my sisters short lifetime, hoping to keep him where he belongs,' he added.

Donna French, Kristen Frenchs mother, delivered her statement virtually: As of this date it has been 11,680 days that I have had to live without my sweet, beautiful daughter, she wrote preparing her statement on October 3.

Each day Im not able to hug her, kiss her, tell her how proud I am of her and how very much I love her. For a mother, that is an agony for which there are no words.

She described all of the would-have-been moments, like her daughters high school graduation, wedding or the children she would hopefully bear one day.

Ive longed for the girlish giggles of Kristen and her friends at her birthday parties, the sleepovers, the skating competitions, the pool parties, school concerts, and family vacations.

Kristens friends are all now married and have children. Her boyfriend is now a grandfather; and one of her best friends is a grandmother. They are GRANDPARENTS! Kristen never even got the opportunity to become a MOTHER! French added.

Speaking in person was Leslie Mahaffys mother, Debbie, who made it clear this would be her third time delivering a victim impact statement since her daughters horrific murder in 1991.

I am writing this, my third Victim Impact Statement for the third parole hearing for Paul Bernardo who murdered our daughter and sister, Leslie Mahaffy in June of 1991.

'Once again, I am searching for the most compelling words to convey to you the impact of Leslies abduction, torture, rape, murder and the desecration of her body after her death has had on her father, brother and myself, her cousins and friends and our community,' she added.

'Simply put, the impact of the death of our Leslie remains painful and most difficult.'

Mahaffy went on to describe her deep-rooted dissatisfaction with Bernardos regularity of entitlement to such hearings, adding that the convicts privacy rights outweigh her right to know.

There is another aspect to the impact of Paul Bernardos offences that have a profound impact on me, such as the regularity of his entitlement to parole hearings; the short notice given to us for the scheduled hearing date; the absence of accommodation to change the hearing dates when Paul Bernardo can and has changed his hearing dates on multiple occasions; the absence of transparency in transferring him from maximum security to medium security; the absence of transparency in providing us with information and documents relied upon for this parole hearing because his privacy rights outweigh our right to know and the publics right to know.'

Bernardo's now-infamous killing spree began back in 1987 when in just 13 months he allegedly sexually assaulted several women before joining forces with his then-fiancee, Karla Homolka, in 1990.

Together, the 'young and beautiful' couple, who came to be known as the 'Barbie and Ken' killers, kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and murdered two young women.

The pair met when Homolka, originally from St. Catharine's, Ontario, was just 17 years old and Bernardo, from the Scarborough area of Toronto, was 23.

The two quickly fell in love - but while their romance was blossoming, Bernardo was secretly attacking women across southern Ontario.

According to a 2022 documentary, Bernardo had a difficult childhood; his mother was verbally abusive and at age 16, he found out that his father wasn't actually his biological dad - something that's been said to have greatly affected him.

As a teen, it was reported that he started looking through his female neighbors' windows while they undressed. But despite his inappropriate behavior behind closed doors, he was able to keep it a secret from everyone around him.

During his high school and college years, he had several girlfriends who all later accused him of becoming 'abusive.'

Bernardo's now-infamous killing spree began back in 1987 when in just 13 months he allegedly sexually assaulted several women before joining forces with his then-fiancee, Karla Homolka, in 1990

Together, 'young and beautiful' couple Bernardo and Homolka (right), known as the 'Barbie and Ken' killers, kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and murdered multiple young women - including Karla's own sister - in one of the most 'sensational and sinister cases in Canadian history.'

The pair met when Homolka, originally from St. Catharine's, Ontario, was just 17 years old and Bernardo, from the Scarborough area of Toronto, was 23. They later married in 1991

Throughout late 1987 and early 1988, 11 different women across the Scarborough-area were attacked by a man who had become known as the Scarborough Rapist.

The attacker would grab the women at night, and sexually assault them from behind so they couldn't see his face.

'This was a very dangerous sub-type of rapist. He was very anger-based, perhaps even sadistic in nature,' Gregg McCrary, former FBI profiler who worked on the case, revealed.

Eventually, one of the women was able to get a look at her attacker's face and she helped the police create a composite sketch that was later released to the public.

Immediately, many of Bernardo's friends noticed a resemblance between him and the sketch - and they contacted authorities, who brought him in for questioning.

The police then took some of his DNA and sent it away for testing - but the sample mysteriously disappeared.

Homolka soon started to learn about her then-fiance's sadistic sexual deviations, and according to the documentary, two days before Christmas in 1990, she agreed to help him drug her then-15-year-old sister, Tammy, so that he could have sex with her.

'He talked about how he really liked her and how she was getting really cute,' she told police of Bernardo's fascination with Tammy.

'He kept on pushing and pushing and pushing. Finally I said, "OK," thinking it would just be one time, that's it, it would shut him up,' she added of her decision to help him rape her sister. 'I figured he'd stop bothering me and hurting me.'

Together, the pair laced Tammy's drink with sleeping pills.

Bernardo allegedly raped the teenager while Homolka held her down, and he then ordered his then-fiancee to rape her too - while videotaping the entire thing.

Afterwards, Tammy began to vomit and she tragically choked on her own throw up, resulting in her suffocating to death.

Homolka soon started to learn about her fiance's sadistic sexual deviations, and according to the documentary, two days before Christmas in 1990, she agreed to help him drug her then-15-year-old sister, Tammy (pictured), so that he could have sex with her

The alleged rapist would grab the women at night, and sexually assault them from behind so they couldn't see his face. Eventually, one of the women was able to get a look at her attacker's face and she helped the police create a composite sketch - which was released to the public

On June 15, 1991, just days before their wedding, Bernardo woke Homolka up in the middle of the night with a present - a young girl he had kidnapped.

He had taken 14-year-old Leslie Mahaffy from the backyard of her home in Burlington, Canada, and had planned to keep her as his sex slave.

He, with with Homolka's knowledge, held her captive for hours, repeatedly assaulting her and recording the attacks on video - and less than 24 hours later, she was strangled to death.

It's unclear which of them killed Leslie, but Homolka told police that she never touched the young girl, just watched while her husband did.

Two weeks later, on the day of their wedding, Leslie's body was found chopped up into small pieces by fishermen at Lake Gibson.

On April 16, 1992, the newlyweds abducted 15-year-old Kristen French while she was walking home from school.

According to eyewitnesses, Homolka asked the teen to come over to their car because they needed help with directions, when Bernardo grabbed her and forced her into the vehicle.

Karla admitted to 'holding Kristen's head down' during the car ride, as well as unplugging their phones, closing their blinds, and locking their doors once they got to their house, police footage revealed.

The couple kept Kristen in their home for days, where she was raped, sodomized, beaten, and eventually strangled to death. Her body was discovered in a ditch on the side of the road days later.

Again, Homolka claimed that she didn't touch Kristen during that time - but that she was present as her husband committed the terrible crimes.

She also told police that she helped guard the teenager, who was bound with electrical cord, by watching over her with a rubber mallet when he would go on errands.

In January of 1993, she decided to leave her husband after he allegedly beat her with a flashlight, leaving her with two black eyes and a broken rib

After they got caught, Homolka claimed that 'physically and verbally abusive' Bernardo made her commit the gruesome crimes with him, and that she too was a victim

Around the time Homolka left him, Paul's DNA sample - which had been collected two years earlier while police were investigating the Scarborough Rapist - was finally processed

She said she grew close to the victim during their time together, since they would have 'girl talk,' which made it 'hurt more' when he killed her.

Homolka recalled Paul 'anally raping' Kristen in front of her before 'strangling' her to death.

'Her feet were tied with electrical chord, and there was electrical chord around her neck,' she told police.

'He anally raped her and then he strangled her after he was done. It stands out really clear in my head because the night before I left him he did the exact same thing to me only he didn't kill me.'

In January of 1993, she decided to leave her husband after he allegedly beat her with a flashlight, leaving her with two black eyes and a broken rib.

Around the same time, Bernardo's DNA sample - which had been collected two years earlier while police were investigating the Scarborough Rapist - was finally processed.

After they got caught, Homolka claimed that a 'physically and verbally abusive' Bernardo made her commit the gruesome crimes with him, and that she too was a victim.

She was offered a plea deal from prosecutors in exchange for her testimony against her then-husband.

Karla was convicted on two counts of manslaughter and received a 12-year sentence.

However, it wasn't until after she had been sentenced that police found the video tapes the couple had taken while committing the crimes, which showed her not only helping Paul in his acts, but also participating in some of them herself.

The case, and Homolka's sentence, swept the nation, becoming one of the most controversial rulings Canada has ever seen.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her country could retaliate with tariffs of its own to Donald Trumps threatened tariffs as the president-elect picks a fight with the U.S.'s top trade partners in a move that could have dramatic economic consequences for both sides.

Sheinbaum responded to Trump's threat at her daily press conference in Mexico City on Tuesday where she read from a letter she plans to send to the president-elect.

'One tariff will be followed by another in response, and so on until we put common companies at risk,' Sheinbaum said.

'The main exporters from Mexico to the US are General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford Motor Company, which arrived 80 years ago. Why put in place a tariff that puts them in risk?' she asked.

Sheinbaum was responding after Trump took to social media Monday evening and threatened 25 percent tariffs on all products coming in from Mexico and Canada as he claims people are pouring into the U.S.

'This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!' he wrote.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum speaking at her press conference in Mexico City on November 26 where she said Mexico would retaliate if the U.S. imposed 25% tariffs as Trump threatened

Sheinbaum said her letter called for joint discussions on migration and fentanyl. She said she hoped her team and Trump's would be able to meet soon.

Sheinbaum argued Mexico has taken steps to stem the flow of migrants and said the caravans Trump claimed were headed toward the U.S. from Mexico already no longer make it to the border.

Images from Tehuantepec, Mexico on November 24 show migrants who took part in caravans to reach the U.S. lining up to get on buses to go to other parts of Mexico after accepting help from Mexico's National Migration Institute.

It suggests the flow of migrants heading north is being addressed as Sheinbaum claimed.

Sheinbaum called the flow of drugs into the U.S. as a 'problem of public health and consumption in your countrys society.'

Drugs like deadly synthetic fentanyl are being manufactured by Mexican cartels using chemicals imported from China.

She also argued that Mexico suffers from the influx of weapons that are smuggled south into the country from the U.S.

Migrants who took part in caravans toward the U.S. board buses bound for different cities in Tehuantepec, Mexico on November 24. Mexican President Sheinbaum said Mexico was already taking steps to stop the caravans headed toward the U.S. before they reach the border

Migrants lined up to board buses in Tehuantepec, Mexico to other parts of the country after participating in caravans. They received help from Mexico's National Migration Institute

President-elect Trump threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all products from Mexico and Canada in a Truth Social post on Monday evening. He also threatened additional 10% tariffs on products from China in a separate social media post

Trump's threat to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada, which are the largest importers of goods into the U.S. along with China, is the latest in a series of threats Trump has made to impose tariffs during his 2024 presidential campaign.

He has used such threats as a negotiating tool to try and made demands of adversaries and allies alike, but should tariffs be imposed, it would have a dramatic impact on American consumers with prices soaring.

Mexico and the U.S. auto industry would be particularly vulnerable if a trade conflict escalates as plants on both sides of the border rely on each other for parts. A trade war could grind production to a halt.

Mexican factories that export electronics and other goods to U.S. consumers would also be at risk.

But Mexico and Canada are also top purchasers of U.S. goods taking in more than $688 billion this year to date, according to Census Bureau data.

After Trump's threat of tariffs on Monday, the Mexican peso and Canadian dollar slumped.

Sheinbaum's response to Trump on Tuesday suggests the president-elect could face a much different type of Mexican leader from when he was first in office.

In 2018, former Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador developed a friendly relationship with Trump. They were eventually able to strike a deal to address migrants with Trump backing away from threats.

Sheinbaum, who took office in October as the country's first woman president, appears less likely to coddle the president-elect.

'We negotiate as equals. There is no subordination here because we are a great nation,' Sheinbaum said.

She added she thinks they will reach an agreement.

On Monday, Trump threatened to slap the 25 percent tariffs on all products from Mexico and China as one of his first executive orders on his first day in office on January 20.

The president-elect in a separate post threatened to slap an additional ten percent tariff on top of other tariffs on al products from China until the flow of drugs into the U.S. stops.
A Dutchman charged with murder for the killing of an 11-year-old British girl in France has died in prison, his lawyer revealed on Tuesday.

Dirk Raats opened fire on a British family in June 2023 following a neighbourly feud over noise in Plonevez-du-Faou, a village in the western French region of Brittany.

In the shooting - sparked according to prosecutors by the Dutchman's 'exasperation' over persistent chainsaw noise from the neighbouring property - the suspect killed the young girl, Solaine Thornton, and shot her father, 50-year-old Adrian, in the head.

Solaine's mother Rachael was lightly injured and her sister, Celese, then eight, managed to flee.

'Celeste had dodged a bullet and ran for her life up here saying: "They've killed my sister, and the man shot my dad",' the Thornton's family friend Pierre Leroy told The Daily Telegraph at the time.

'We went straight over there and the girl was dead and the mother was cradling her in her arms and screaming.'

'Over the years, there was deep exasperation that led to the drama,' Brest prosecutor Camille Miansoni said at the time.

The prosecutor said the couple were irked by the 'numerous jobs (the British father) was carrying out on his property' such as pruning and clearing undergrowth, Miansoni said.

Dirk Raats (pictured) opened fire on a British family in June 2023 following a neighbourly feud over noise

He killed British girl Solaine Thornton (pictured) by shooting her as the family enjoyed a barbecue

Adrian Thornton (pictured) was shot in the head by Dirk Raats

The suspect, a former teacher in his 70s, and his Belgian partner tested positive for cannabis and alcohol use.

Two rifles were seized from their home, including a .22 Long Rifle believed to have been used at the scene.

The partner was charged with a failure to provide assistance to a person in danger, and placed under judicial supervision.

Raats's lawyer, Anne Guillerme, confirmed his death in jail, and made no further comment.

Solaine was shot just two weeks before she and the rest of her family were due to visit Britain for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.

A source told the Mirror at the time that the family had just received their passports before the tragic incident.

'They were so excited. They seem like such a close family and Covid parted them for so long.

'It was only a couple of weeks away and now this, their whole lives touched by evil,' the neighbour said.

The shooting took place in Plonevez-du-Faou, a village in the western French region of Brittany

Tributes left for the 11-year-old British girl who was gunned down by an angry neighbour

Solaine Thornton, 11, was killed by a single shot as her family enjoyed a barbecue

Irvin Thornton, the family's grandfather, told MailOnline shortly after the shooting of his grief and devastation upon learning that Solaine had been killed.

He said: 'We don't know exactly what has gone on. We didn't know anything about a dispute. How can a 71-year-old man shoot a little girl?

'There might have been dispute over land but you do not do that. She didn't stand a chance. And in front of her sister. How is she going to get over that? It will live with her forever.'

Grandma Christine Rhodes  known as Grams to her granddaughters  previously paid tribute to Solaine.

She said: 'Solaine was such a sweet girl. The last time I spoke to Solaine, she told me that she had been writing for her school newspaper and she was so upset.

'She said "Grams, I have written in the newspaper about a girl who was 13-year-old and had been bullied and she took her own life" and then she was dead that night.

'She was a special little girl. She loved everybody. She loved everyone. She loved her animals and didn't have a bad bone in her body. She had lovely big eyes and skipped about.

'She was so loving. She would just come up and hug you and she would speak to me on the telephone and tell me all sort of tales about her animals.'
Gail's shareholders have hired Goldman Sachs to run an auction of the bakery chain after it sparked a gentrification row.

Gail's parent company, Bread Holdings, appointed the wall street bank 'in recent days' to oversee a sale next year, according to Sky News.

The business is part-owned by entrepreneur Brexiteer Luke Johnson who has been heavily critical of the Covid lockdowns and Net Zero 'stupidity'.

The move will allow the company's current backers to make a partial or full exit from the business, sources told Sky.

Analysts anticipate Gail's could be worth as much as 500m, which is a significant increase in windfall for the company that was valued at 200m in 2021.

At the time, Gail's had just over 70 bakeries in the UK. Now it has more than 130 and is seen by many as the successor to Waitrose.

It opened in 2005 in Hampstead, north London, and slowly began to spread across the capital before cherry picking new towns and cities to set up in.

The bakery chain became embroiled in a gentrification row earlier this year over its plans to open a new site in Walthamstow Village.

A number of locals came out against the move and started a petition to stop the shop from opening.

Gail's shareholders have hired Goldman Sachs to run an auction of the bakery chain after it sparked a gentrification row (Stock image)

The wall street bank 'in recent days' to oversee a sale next year (Stock image)

The organiser of the petition, James Harvey, argued that if the brand opened, then local alternatives would be forced to close and the village would lose its character.

Addressing the row at the time, Gail's founder Tom Molnar told The Times: 'We build small sites so they are a part of a diverse high street, so whenever I build a Gail's I think what it would be like if I was a resident here.

'I'd encourage people to look at what we're trying to do, rather than taglines.

'There's good independents and bad, and good chains and bad chains.'

The company sparked controversy again earlier this month after announcing plans to open a new branch in Primrose Hill.

Locals claim its picturesque shopping hub could soon be 'steamrollered' by plans to open a new branch of upmarket bakery store.

Community campaigner Phil Cowan claimed it 'represent[ed] yet another rung on the ladder towards identikit retail environments'.

Mr Cowan told the Camden New Journal: 'The proposed store will represent yet another rung on the ladder towards identikit retail environments, which is both sad and ironic considering that people so enthusiastically celebrate Primrose Hill just as it is  a proudly independent village.'

Gail's has more than 130 and is seen by many as the successor to Waitrose (Stock image)

The bakery chain became embroiled in a gentrification row earlier this year over its plans to open a new site in Walthamstow Village (Stock image)

Primrose Hill was made famous in the 1990s by party-loving celebrities such as rock stars Noel and Liam Gallagher, model Kate Moss, actor Jude Law and actress Sadie Frost - who were regularly photographed together drinking and smoking at the time.

It is still known to be a neighbourhood full of famous faces, housing stars such as Daisy Lowe, Matt Smith, Lily James, Douglas Booth and Claire Foy.

Despite plans to open other shops in London, managers at Gail's do not consider themselves a chain.

In an interview with trade publication British Baker, Marta Pogroszewska said she believed 'scale' was an uncomfortable term and the company will always focus on being a 'neighbourhood bakery' rather than a chain.
Video footage has captured the chilling words of a Kentucky mom following the cold-blooded murder of her two young sons.

Tiffanie Ann Katherine Lucas, 32, was sentenced to two consecutive life terms after the fatal shooting of her sons, Maurice 'Peanut' Baker Jr., 6, and his half brother, Jayden Howard, 9, in Shepherdsville.

Bodycam footage obtained by Law and Crime revealed the bizarre response she gave when asked why she murdered her two young sons.

'I love my children,' the convicted murderer said.

'I love my boys so much,' she added. 'I wouldn't have hurt them but I just felt like I was letting them play the video games and I wasn't like focusing how I was supposed to, you know?'

She then blamed her evil act on wild theories about technology 'manipulating' her children through video games, WiFi and YouTube.

'Video games and the YouTube and the kids, it just messes their minds up to where people can manipulate their parents or do whatever they want.

'I feel like someone put something upon my house or me or something. I just don't feel right. I don't do this. I love my kids.'

Tiffanie Lucas, 32, was charged with two counts of murder for the shooting of her two children Maurice Baker Jr, 6, and his half-brother Jayden Howard, 9

She was sentenced to two consecutive life terms after the fatal shooting of her sons

Lucas displayed what appeared to be a lack of remorse and instead fixated on a deputy's finger movements during questioning.

'I'm watching you on camera move your fingers several times,' she told an officer in the video. 'You just keep moving them. Stop. I'm watching. It's not right.'

'I know I look crazy, but I'm not crazy,' Lucas told detectives in a rambling interview just hours after allegedly killing her own children.

After the deputy left the room, Lucas reportedly admitted to firing four shots in 30 seconds, insisting the shooting 'was an accident,' according to the outlet.

She said she was 'manipulated through Facebook, through the internet or through Wi-Fi [] into doing what she did.'

The tragedy occurred on November 8, 2023, when Lucas' neighbor called 911 after she collapsed on their driveway, hysterically screaming that her children 'were dying'.

Police rushed to the scene on Brentwood Drive to discover the two boys had been fatally shot in the head.

Bodycam footage obtained by Law and Crime , revealed the bizarre response she gave when asked why she murdered her two young sons in shocking police interrogation footage

She then blamed her evil act on wild theories about technology 'manipulating' her children through video games, wifi and YouTube



She was then charged with two counts of capital murder, as the stepmother to one of the two boys said the family will accept nothing less than the death penalty.

Her neighbor had pulled into his driveway when he saw Lucas walking down the stairs of his porch and had told him that her 'kids were dying' before collapsing.

The boys were discovered inside the home with gun wounds, and a gun left on the bed, after four shots were heard from a neighbors Ring camera footage.

Lucas had said she was given the gun, and admitted no one else had been home that day. When questioned by police she had said she was 'in such a bad spot' and claimed the shooting was an accident.

'I'm so stupid,' she added. 'I would never do anything like this unless someone manipulated me.'

Lucas displayed what appeared to be a lack of remorse and instead fixated on a deputy's finger movements during questioning

The boys bodies were discovered when a neighbor entered their home and found them in a bedroom with a gun on the bed

Bullitt County detective Richard Beahl testified that Lucas 'made statements that she was being manipulated through Facebook, through the internet or through Wi-Fi... into doing what she did.'

The boys were taken to a hospital in Louisville, and ultimately died from their wounds.

'We wanted them. We would have taken them with open arms. We loved them so much,' said Jayden's brother Durrell Howard.

On Facebook, Lucas would often post heavily edited photos of herself and her two boys.

'I love my babies everyday of the year, I will always use any excuse to celebrate them and show them how special they are,' she wrote on Valentine's Day 2022.

In another post, she proclaimed: 'I love my kings different and that's why Jayden & Peanut are different types of children. They are GOD SENT & every wrong I have ever done or any hurt I have ever caused I am so focused on correcting and loving them longer and deeper.'

She continued: 'I can not guarantee a lot of things in life BUT I can guarantee the mother I will always be, the love I will always share, and the best I can ever give and do will be PROMISED to you my love, Jayden & Peanut!'

Tiffanie Lucas (pictured), 32, intends to plea insanity at trial over the November 2023 shooting of her two young sons

Michelle Rice who was a stepmother to Maurice says Lucas should be put to death.

Rice said that the smiling pictures were nothing more than an act designed to fool others that she was 'normal'.

'A lot of people see the social media side of her but it's not really how she was off camera. In her personal relationships you would see her the crazy side of her,' Rice explained.

'She did things because she wanted people to see her as a certain way but that's not really how she was. That's just how she wanted to be seen on social media.

'Nobody knew of her drug issues. She never had a job. She never worked. Things like that. The boys were taken from her previously when they were smaller because of drugs.'

Police said the mother initially claimed the shooting was an accident and that she was manipulated into doing it

In court, Lucas' lawyers played a video revealing footage of her and her two sons at a waffle house the day before the brutal murder, showing her seemingly unstable mental state.

Waffle house staff recalled her acting like she was in her 'own world' and couldn't comprehend what was going on, as reported by WLKY.

She also reportedly asked a neighbor for help and told them that God was 'talking to her.'

'You need me?' the neighbor asked.

'I need an anchor. I need a good friend. I need a good person in my life,' Lucas replied.

Lucas pleaded guilty in October to two counts of first-degree murder after initially attempting to mount an insanity defense.
Groups of young burglars in Brazil are disguising themselves as observant Jews to gain access to buildings in an area of Sao Paulo known for its Jewish community.

The suspects have been seen wearing accessories such kippahs (caps) and tzizits (fringes), to trick doormen in the neighborhood and then ransack apartments of their valuables, police said.

'They wear clothes to blend in with the Jewish community, usually a white shirt, dress pants, a wig  to keep their hair straight,' detective Guilherme Sabino told Brazilian news outlet Metropoles.

'Because they look like the young people from the community, the doormen end up letting their guard down and opening the door.'

At least three such home invasions have been reported since October, according to Sao Paulo Public Security Department data.

During the first attempt on October 2, the suspects identified themselves as the nephews of a tenant but abandoned the plan after they were denied entry.

The suspects successfully struck on October 18, when one of the thieves gained access to a condo near their initial target and stole $48,000 worth of jewelry and watches while two accomplices stood watch outside.

They later targeted another building and were not allowed inside, but were able to enter a third building, where one of the suspects stole money and jewelry from two apartments.

Authorities in Brazil are investigating several home invasions involving young men disguising themselves as observant Jews. Two suspects (pictured) attempted to break into a home in Sao Paulo on November 2 before a tenant alerted building security

Sao Paulo authorities recovered jewelry and gold bars that were reportedly stolen from homes by a group of thieves who disguised themselves as observant Jews to convince doormen to allow them inside buildings

One of the brazen attempts was caught on camera November 2, when two young men were seen entering a building in Higienopolis, a neighborhood in downtown Sao Paulo known for its Jewish community.

The doorman thought the suspects had just moved into a condo there and allowed them inside.

The doorman was later alerted by a tenant after the men attempted to break into their apartment.

The two suspects were about to walk out through the front entrance when they were intercepted by the doorman.

One of the thieves who was able to walk out of the condominium returned with two of accomplices and used an iron bar to break a glass door and attack the doorman.

Building manager Severino da Silva said the apartment had not been occupied by tenants a week before the burglary attempt.

'This duo attacked the building just a week after the property had been rented,' da Silva told the news outlet UOL.

'They only managed to get in because they identified themselves as the new tenants. Since the doorman didn't know them yet, he ended up letting them in.'

On November 5, Sao Paulo law enforcement served a search warrant at the home of two of the suspects and recovered a cellphone that contained photos of jewelry allegedly stolen from several homes

A doorman (pictured in the dark clothing) confronts a burglary suspect after a tenant alerted the worker of a robbery attempt at their home in the Sao Paulo neighborhood of Higienopolis on November 2

The Sao Paulo Civil Police identified three of the suspects and searched the home of two siblings, aged 21 and 22, on November 5.

They recovered a fake gun, a wig, jewelry, gold bars, the cover of a bulletproof vest and cellphones.

One of the phones contained images of the suspects flashing the jewelry they intended to sell using social media.

Investigators discovered that one of the two brothers had recently purchased a vehicle for 100,000 Brazilian reals, or around $17,000.

Brazilian criminal analyst Guaracy Mingardi told UOL that the thieves area very well trained in pulling off the heists.

'The members of this gang know how to blend in, as if they were part of the environment,' Mingardi said.

'When they walk around in a Jewish neighborhood in an upscale area of Sao Paulo wearing a kippah, they avoid arousing suspicion, even from the police.'
A blue-blooded influencer with a swimwear line has sparked concern after posting a bathing suit 'inspired by how [her] boyfriend would dress [her.]'

The finished-product from 29-year-old Jordan Kanegis is a barely there, Bianca Censori-esque creation - capped by a ski mask that fully obscures the face.

Donning the swimsuit herself, she wrote in an accompanying caption: 'New @Netta [her brand]. Inspired by how my bf would dress me if there were no rules.'

The assertion, joking or not, has sparked a storm of backlash on Reddit against the NYC-based influencer and her designer boyfriend Andrew Wharton-Bickley.

'That caption is a little concerning,' one top commenter wrote in response. 'Its giving Bianca and Kanye.'

'I'm all for everyone being able to wear what they want,' they went on to add.

'But something about men wanting to dress women in a way that objectifies them and her thinking its cool is weird.'

Other onlookers said more of the same, all in response to a re-posted grab of influencer's Instagram story that had gone up just hours earlier.

influencer Jordan Kanegis has sparked concern after posting a new bathing suit she designed for her swimsuit line - 'inspired by how [her] boyfriend would dress [her]', she wrote

Donning the swimsuit herself, she wrote in an accompanying caption: 'New @Netta [the name of her brand]. Inspired by how my bf[sic] would dress me if there were no rules.' Kanegis, a 29-year-old model-turned-designer based in New York and Florida, is seen her with her boyfriend

'Thats sad that she thinks its a flex that her bf would cover her mouth and expose her,' someone said.

'I always think how hard women fought for their rights in the past to have a voice, choices, dreams.. just for little twits like her to promote dumb shit on internet.'

Another wrote: 'Wow her bf is a misogynist with no style? Shocker.'

'[T]his is some Kanye West sh*t,' added yet another - as others slammed the suit as a red flag.

'Thought this was Bianca,' said another Reddit user - apparently not alone in her assessment, as a plethora said the same.

'Temu Kanye and Bianca from Wish found at the Salvation Army,' one jokester sniped.

'What is this lingeries[sic] to rob a bank in?' a more puzzled passerby said, pointing to what appeared to be leg warmers on Kanegis's feet.

'This is so weird,' they concluded.

The design appeared to take a page out of also 29-year-old Bianca Censort's book, which several have claimed is the work of husband Kanye West

That fact was not lost on Reddit users who started a thread Tuesday to react to the post, shared only hours earlier

Kanegis, meanwhile, has more than 40,000 followers on social media, where she regularly posts other risque photos and records of her exploits in New York and West Palm Beach, where she is based.

Splitting her time between the two cities, she recently started a model agency in the Big Apple called The Killer Agency, which she runs in addition to Netta, which she founded in 2018.

The line is now sold by selective retailers like Moda Operandi and Paltrow's Goop, with the actress even following Kanegis on Instagram.

The two are also cousins, making Kanegis the niece of WeWork founder Adam Neumann, who is married Paltrow's first cousin Rebecca.

Posting from posh SoHo eateries while sometimes bragging about being mistaken for Kendall Jenner, Kanegis regularly publishes photos with boyfriend Andrew.

She has a townhouse in Gramercy as well, and is originally from Bedford - a small, affluent town about an hour north of Manhattan.

Rebecca Neumann - nee Paltrow - grew up in Bedford as well, and is the daughter of Evelyn and Bob Paltrow, who was the brother of Gwyneth's dad Bruce, a film and television producer in Hollywood.

Her childhood home is now valued at $3.56 million. The town currently houses stars such as Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, Glenn Glose, Chevy Chase, Martha Stewart, and Ralph Lauren.

Kanegis, meanwhile, has more than 40,000 followers on social media, where she regularly posts other risque photos and records of her exploits in New York and West Palm Beach, where she is based. She grew up in Bedford and comes from a famous family

Splitting her time between the two cities, she recently started a model agency in the Big Apple called The Killer Agency, which she runs in addition to Netta, which she founded in 2018

The line is now sold by selective retailers like Moda Operandi and Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop, with the actress even following Kanegis on Instagram

The two are also cousins, making Kanegis the niece of WeWork founder Adam Neumann, who is married Paltrow's first cousin Rebekah. The pair are seen together in a recent event in New York last year

WeWork founder Neumann and wife Rebekah - nee Paltrow - grew up in Bedford as well, and is the daughter of Evelyn and Bob Paltrow, who was the brother of Gwyneth's dad Bruce, a film and television producer in Hollywood.

Rebekah was born Rebekah Victoria Paltrow, the daughter of Evelyn and Bob Paltrow - and the cousin of Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow

Kate and Rooney Mara, Nicola Peltz, and Felicity Huffman all grew up in Bedford as well.

'Her mom came from a lot of money and they had a huge piece of property, a big beautiful house,' Gwyneth told Porter magazine of Rebekah's childhood in an interview in 2015.

'Her mother Evelyn has amazing taste: every linen perfect. They had a lot of help and every comfort.'
New York Police Department has warned that violent Venezuelan super gang Tren de Aragua is recruiting child gang members from migrant shelters.

The notorious organized crime group has reportedly enlisted a squad of children as young as 11 known as the 'Little Devils of 42nd Street' to rob shops and members of the street with guns and knives.

'We have 39 members of TdA that have been identified and we have an additional four members that have been identified of a subgroup called Little Devils of 42nd Street. Those are much younger kids,' NYPD chief of detectives Joseph Kenny said.

He added that cops had identified scores of gang members attempting to blend in with asylum seekers in shelter.

In addition police said more than 800 gang-related crimes have taken place this year in the Big Apple, which has doubled from 2023.

NYPD's warning comes after Homeland Security officials said last week that the Venezuelan gang had expanded to take foothold across 16 states across the US.

TdA territory now covers half of America's population, posing challenges for law enforcement agencies across the US who are trying to combat the mob's wave of crime.

The gang has spread its tentacles across Virginia, Washington DC, Montana and Wyoming, according to an internal Homeland Security department intelligence memo obtained by The New York Post.

Tren de Aragua is a transnational criminal organization from Venezuela. It is believed to have over 5,000 members

The violent Venezuelan super gang Tren de Aragua has expanded to take foothold in 16 states across the US, Homeland Security officials have warned

Officials warn that TdA's arrival in the US capital and nearby Virginia coincides with 'increases in migrant populations' in the area, the memo states.

TdA is reportedly targeting DC because the city provides easy travel access to wealthy northern Virginian suburbs where gangsters are carrying out thefts, robberies and assaults.

The mob's bloodthirsty members have also increased their 'violent tendencies' and has become more engaged with 'lower-level fraud and theft schemes' that allow them to send stolen funds 'back to South America as a means of financing additional criminal enterprises', according to the intelligence document.

Homeland security officials warn that as the 'population of Venezuelan nationals continues to increase, the potential for violent TdA migrants is highly probable'.

In addition to its expanded territory, TdA also holds footholds in New York, New Jersey, California, Florida, Illinois, Georgia, Louisiana, Nevada, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and Colorado.

The Venezuelan gang has recently been in the spotlight after nursing student Laken Riley was brutally murdered by TdA gang member Jose Antonio Ibarra earlier this year.

Riley fought for an excruciating 18 minutes before Ibarra snuffed her life out.

Her body was found less than an hour after she was reported missing, near a lake on the University of Georgia campus. Authorities determined she died of blunt force trauma to the head and asphyxiation.

Venezuela's most violent gang Tren de Aragua has moved its headquarters to just across the US border in the Mexican town of Ciudad Juarez

Member of Tren de Aragua Jose Ibarra made headlines after he brutally murdered nursing student Laken Riley earlier this year

Laken, pictured, died of blunt force trauma to the head and asphyxiation. Her body was found less than an hour after she was reported missing, near a lake on the University of Georgia campus

Ibarra , an undocumented migrant, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole last week.

Riley's horrific killing shocked the nation and fueled the immigration debate during the US presidential election.

Donald Trump, whose successful campaign for the White House rested largely on an anti-immigration platform, railed against illegal migrants, blaming them for 'poisoning the blood' of the country and likening them to 'animals' and 'monsters'.
The team of Democratic political consultants that ran Kamala Harris' losing campaign against Donald Trump have spoken out for the first time since the election about why things went so horribly wrong for them.

Harris campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon, senior political advisor David Plouffe, and campaign advisors Quentin Fulks and Stephanie Cutter appeared on the 'Pod Save America' podcast with host and former Barack Obama political advisor Dan Pfeiffer to pore over their resounding electoral defeat.

But the quartet of campaign veterans spent the better part of 90 minutes blaming everyone but themselves - or their failed candidate - for losing to Trump.

And the Harris aides even suggested the hurricanes that devastated portions of the U.S. during the campaign and what they labeled a 'sexist' media were responsible for the crushing defeat - and not their operation.

'This political environment sucked, okay? We were dealing with ferocious headwinds,' whined Plouffe, who ran Obama's 2008 campaign and then served as a White House advisor.

Plouffe, who rage-quit X after Democrats criticized him online about the failed campaign, also insisted that Biden was so unpopular when he dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris that it was a difficult task to improve her ratings.

He noted that Harris began the race with approval ratings only in the 33-35 percent range and although they improved her numbers by 15 points, they did not have enough time to sell her to voters.

And Plouffe oddly complained about how difficult it was for Democrats to win support from independents in battleground states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania - despite that being the job at hand, and one the team assured Democrats across the country they were capable of doing.

'It's really hard for Democrats to win battleground states,' Plouffe maintained, noting that those states were more conservative than the average blue state and that even the moderates there tended to lean right.

Top Harris staffers break their silence on how the campaign went off the rails

Kamala Harris advisor David Plouffe joined the panel via Zoom and griped: 'This political environment sucked, okay?'

But he admitted they also fell short in big cities like Philadelphia and Detroit.

And he also defended the decision for Harris to campaign with Republicans like former Rep. Liz Cheney as a way to appeal to more moderates - which appeared to backfire.

Liberal supporters of Harris were incensed by the party's embrace of Cheney and her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney.

Plouffe emphasized it was folly for strategists to focus only on pleasing Democratic and left-leaning people in the states.

'The math just doesn't f***ing work,' he said. 'Okay?'

Meanwhile, campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon repeatedly complained about the lack of time they had to make Harris a winner in the 107-day campaign that began in July when Biden finally dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris.

She defended their approach of highlighting how Harris was 'different' than both Biden and Trump and a candidate for the 'future' instead of trying to differentiate herself from Biden, whose approval rating were epically low.

Campaign advisor Stephanie Cutter confirmed that Harris was 'unwilling' to separate herself from Biden.

She had a huge deficit in favorability, because either people didnt know about her or what they did know about her was because of negative media, she said.

Campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon talks about the failed Kamala Harris campaign

Kamala Harris advisors Quentin Fulks and Stephanie Cutter

But the campaign veterans didn't say what efforts they made to try and get Harris to separate herself from the president, effectively saddling her with blame for the two biggest voter issues - the rising prices of everyday goods and the burden of mass illegal immigration.

The group agreed on one thing their opponents did that really hurt Harris: Trump's 'they/them' ad highlighting Harris' support for taxpayer-funded transgender surgeries for prisoners.

'She was on tape. Surgery for people who wanted to transition in prison was part of the Biden-Harris platform in 2020, it was part of what the administration did,' Plouffe admitted.

Quentin Fulks said the ad was used to suppress the vote from black voters, and that it was effective at sending the message that the Harris campaign did not care about voters.

'The way in which they targeted this ad, they were trying to make our job harder with black voters, I'm just going to say it point blank... specifically black men,' he said.

US Vice President Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris waves at supporters at the end of her concession speech at Howard University in Washington, DC, on November 6, 2024

Cutter agreed.

'Their strategy isn't to pull in new voters to them, they're trying to mess with us,' Cutter said.

Cutter and O'Malley Dillon also complained about corporate media for creating a narrative that Harris was unwilling or unable to do interviews.

She hinted at Harris suffering from a 'double standard' because the vice president was not doing interviews after becoming the nominee.

'The questions were small and process-y,' Dillon said.

'Dumb,' Cutter interjected. 'Just Dumb.'

'Being up against a narrative that we weren't doing anything or that we were afraid to have interviews is completely bullshit...' Dillon said bitterly.

The Harris team's navel gazing was roundly mocked on social media.

'We are listening to someone talk about how to win an election that they literally just lost,' Keith Orejel, a political history professor at Wilmington College, posted to X.

And consultant Don Ford wrote on X: 'WE LITERALLY JUST LOST WITH THIS STUPID ATTITUDE.'

Canadian political commentator Immanuel Ballerstein labeled the discussion 'more delusional than normal for the Pod Save crowd.'

'This is perhaps the worst podcast Ive ever heard. Just smug people telling other smug people what a great job they did even though they lost,' Glenny Lennox replied.

Meanwhile, despite the Democratic campaign vets' frustrations with the establishment media, they admitted that they were unable to make an impact on popular podcasts like Trump did - in some cases for simply refusing to accept invites.

The group defended the campaign decision not to go on the Joe Rogan podcast, but insisted it was only a difficulty over scheduling and time.

'It's pretty simple. We wanted to do it, but it was a very short race with a limited number of days, but for a candidate to leave and go to Houston, getting that timing right is really important,' Cutter said, repeating that Rogan, 'wanted us to come on.'

They admitted that Harris did take a day off to go to Houston to campaign on abortion rights with Beyonce, but they were unable to visit Rogan's studio in Austin while they were already in Texas.

Vice President Kamala Harris delivers a concession speech for the 2024 presidential election

Jen O'Malley Dillon, campaign manager for Democratic presidential candidate US Vice President Kamala Harris

They said they tried to get Harris on other popular internet shows like 'Hot Ones' but that they were turned down because of the show's disinterest in engaging with politics.

Trump was reaching young voters on TikTok, Cutter admitted, in ways that Harris was not breaking through.

Cutter also said that Trump resonated on social media because he portrayed a 'very masculine strong figure' that appeared at UFC fights and continued picking fights with Democrats.

Democrats, she said, were perceived as 'squishy' and were forced to having conversations about transgenders in bathrooms.

'I'm not saying we mimic that, we don't want to mimic that but we have to pay attention to why people find that appealing,' she concluded.
Two young girls were killed in a tragic drunk driving accident that also hospitalized their father.

Alinah Flores, 3, and her sister Neveah, 4, died on Sunday night after their family's vehicle was crushed near Walnut and Riverside avenues in Rialto, reported KABC.

The Rialto Police Department said the girls were riding with their parents, 24-year-old Valencia Avilez and 25-year-old Marky Flores, in the family's white Honda Accord when they made a left turn onto Walnut Ave.

Then a speeding blue Dodge Ram allegedly driven by a suspected drunk driver ran a red light, broadsided the Honda and caused it to hit a tow truck.

While both girls were in car seats, one of them was ejected from the vehicle and both were pronounced dead at the scene.

Photos of the horrific damage show the rear of the car was completely smashed through and the doors were knocked off.

Avilez was not injured, but Flores is undergoing surgery for a broken femur and will be unable to work until completely healed, according to the family's GoFundMe.

Police said the suspect, identified as 28-year-old Alexis Garcia, fled the scene, but was later apprehended and found to be under the influence of alcohol.

Alinah Flores, 3, and her sister Neveah, 4, died Sunday night after their family's vehicle was crushed near Walnut and Riverside avenues in Rialto

Photos of the horrific damage show the rear of the car was completely smashed through and the doors were knocked off

Garcia was charged with two counts of murder, one count of DUI and one count of felony hit-and-run. He was booked into West Valley Detention Center without bail.

The girl's step-grandmother, Lisa Taylor Avilez, told Fox 11 the family is devastated by the loss.

'I'm lost for words. I just had them two weeks ago. Just went out and bought Christmas clothes for them' she said.

'It's a tragedy. Two innocent babies got their lives taken away. They were a joy. We would have tea parties, riding bikes, I'm at a loss for words.'

Their aunt, Emma Jean, said she will remember the girls as being 'very lovable, sweet. Very smart. Smiling, always laughing! Always doing everything... they'd do a lot.'

In October, a California firefighter cadet was left in a coma after being hit by a suspected drunk driver, just months after being declared cancer-free this year.

Christian Bedolla, 21, was picking up food late at night with a friend after spending time at his girlfriend's house.

The 20-year-old suspected drunk driver ran a red light and crashed into Bedolla's car in in Laguna Nigue.

Police said the suspect, identified as 28-year-old Alexis Garcia (pictured), fled the scene, but was later apprehended and found to be under the influence of alcohol

While both girls were in car seats, one of them was ejected from the vehicle and both were pronounced dead at the scene

The friend was able to get away with minor injuries, but Christian was sent to the ICU in critical condition with significant injuries to his collarbone, pelvic bone, vital organs including a bruised heart and brain.

Bedolla was described as a 'true warrior' by his girlfriend Beeta Safouri, 20, having been diagnosed with a rare lymphoma cancer in 2019 and beating the illness four times.

He applied to return to work with the OCFA after becoming cancer-free from a bone marrow transplant in January.

Bedolla has an Instagram where he would update his followers about his cancer journey. His last post before the crash from September 28 showed the young man with his girlfriend in Europe.
A Canadian man who pushed his girlfriend down the stairs before dropping her dead body off in the woods and lighting her house on fire received a shockingly light sentence for his crimes.

Philip Toner, 44, was convicted of aggravated assault on Monday and sentenced to eight years for his role in 35-year-old Brenda Ware's 2021 death after he pleaded guilty.

Toner, who was originally charged with second-degree murder, was granted time served, leaving only two years and nine months left on his sentence, according to CBC.

The murder charge was dropped after the medical examiner couldn't determine Ware's cause of death as her body was found in a wooded area with a bear.

Toner had left her body in the woods after loading it into his Jeep and setting several fires in her home, which the Crown said was to conceal evidence, according to CBC.

Ware and Toner had gotten into an argument inside her Sundre home on May 5, 2021, and he admitted to police that he hit her and caused her to fall down a flight of stairs, where she landed unconscious.

He later fell asleep beside her and when he woke up, he found his girlfriend dead, according to CBC.

Toner attempted chest compressions, according to Rocky Mountain Outlook. He did not seek medical assistance.

Philip Toner, 44, was convicted of aggravated assault on Monday and sentenced to eight years for his role in 35-year-old Brenda Ware's 2021 death after he pleaded guilty

Toner had left her body in the woods after loading it into his Jeep and setting several fires in her home, which the Crown said was to conceal evidence

He then loaded her up body up in his car and drove to British Columbia. Toner eventually grew tired and slept near Highway 93.

Toner's car was stuck when he woke up and he dragged her body more than 160 feet into the woods before walking to a nearby town.

'Mr. Toner ultimately walked out of the house with a body and then had to burn it to cover up a crime scene,' Prosecutor Ryan Seifried told the court.

Her body was found with blunt force trauma to her head and ribs and she had a number of sharp-force injuries, according to the medical examiner.

She always also discovered by a bear, and the medical examiner was unable to determine what damage the bear caused and what Toner did, according to CBC.

When Toner discovered his ex's body had been discover, he hitchhiked to Lake Country in British Columbia, where he was arrested.

The career criminal has been convicted of a series of violent crimes in the past, including five assault-type convictions, sexual assault, and uttering threats, according to CBC.

Ware's father, Don, remembers his daughter as 'my little bundle of joy' and said he was 'lost and lonely' since her passing.

The murder charge was dropped after the medical examiner couldn't determine Ware's cause of death as her body was found in a wooded area with a bear

Ware and him had gotten into an argument inside her home and he admitted to police that he hit her and caused her to fall down a flight of stairs, where she landed unconscious. After discovering her dead in the morning, he dropped her body off in the woods

'I stare out the window waiting for her,' his victim impact statement read, according to CBC. 'My little helper around the farm is gone.'

Her mother, Karla, expressed similar statements in her impact statement and expressed feeling despair and loneliness without her daughter. She also said it felt like her daughter's 'life was being erased' after Toner set fire to her home.

Her parents had been the one to discover her missing after she didn't show up to work. When they arrived to her farmhouse, they discovered it on hire and her missing.

Toner blamed drugs for his decision to harm Ware and called her a 'fantastic human being,' according to CBC.

Just a mere six weeks before her death, Toner had finished serving a five-year sentence for drugging and raping a 15-year-old girl in 2015, according to CBC.

Between 2019 and 2020, Toner had been released from prison three times and reoffended for issues all involving women, drugs, and violence, according to the outlet.
A former Trump aide has been admonished live on air after calling a Democratic strategist 'dear' during a heated debate about Matt Gaetz.

Bruce LeVell, National Diversity Coalition executive director during Donald Trump's presidency, was arguing with Julie Roginksy on CNN.

The pair were at odds over the strength of sex trafficking claims against Gaetz that forced him to withdraw from being Trump's attorney-general pick on Thursday.

Gaetz was investigated by the Department of Justice after a 17-year-old girl claimed she was trafficked to have sex with the former congressman in 2017.

LeVell noted the DoJ decided not to press charges against Gaetz, saying the investigation found there 'was nothing there'.

But Roginksy insisted that didn't mean the alleged misconduct didn't happen.

'They said they didn't have enough to indict - that shouldn't be the standard,' Roginksy said.

'No, to charge, dear,' LeVell shot back, throwing the panel into uproar.

Bruce LeVell (right), National Diversity Coalition executive director during Donald Trump's presidency, was arguing with Democratic strategist Julie Roginksy (left) on CNN

'Dear? Excuse me? Well thank you for the misogyny,' Roginksy replied, before host Abby Phillip stepped in to dress LeVell down.

'I'm just going to stop it right here because we're not going to get off on a wrong foot. Please do not address a grown woman as dear in a condescending tone, do not do that at my table. You can continue,' she said.

LeVell looked embarrassed as Phillip admonished him, but did not say anything beyond 'OK' and the panel moved on.

The exchange happened during CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip on Wednesday, but sparked outrage online after it was later posted on social media.

Gaetz was also investigated by the House Ethics Committee over the sex trafficking claim and other alleged misconduct.

He resigned from Congress after Trump nominated him for attorney-general, days before the committee's report was due, meaning it may never see the light of day.

Phillip has been more proactive about stepping into heated discussions on her show since kicking out a guest last month.

Republican commentator Ryan Girdusky disappeared from the panel after telling 'I hope your beeper doesn't go off' to Muslim panelist Mehdi Hasan.

Abby Phillip stepped in to dress LeVell down live on air as he squirmed with embarrassment

Matt Geatz was investigated by the Department of Justice after a 17-year-old girl claimed she was trafficked to have sex with the former congressman in 2017

His joke was in reference to Mossad's operation to assassinate Hezbollah members by detonating explosives hidden in their pagers, that killed 42 people in Lebanon.

'Did your guest just say I should be killed on live TV?' Hasan asked Phillip, and CNN abruptly cut to advertising.

When the show returned, Girdusky was gone and Phillip read out an apology. Girdusky was banned from appearing on CNN again.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs absurdly compared himself to soon-to-be president Donald Trump in a desperate attempt to be bailed out of jail before Thanksgiving.

The disgraced rapper's lawyers cited Trump in a Monday court filing, pointing out the similarities between their respective legal situations.

Lawyers quoted an appellate decision from Trump's election interference case regarding the First Amendment.

'Only a significant and imminent threat to the administration of criminal justice will support restricting Mr. Trump's speech,' the DC Circuit Court of Appeals wrote in December, as recited in Combs' filing.

Lawyers claimed that Combs has 'a greater constitutional claim than other trial participants...to speak out against the prosecution and the criminal trial process that seek to take away his liberty.'

'Accordingly, the Court should apply Trump's heightened standard when considering Mr. Combs' speech here,' the filing asserted.

This legal briefing was in response to prosecutors accusing the alleged sex-trafficker of trying to influence potential jurors through a 'public relations campaign' on his children's social media pages.

The allegation stemmed from seven of his children to posting a video marking his birthday on November 4.

Disgraced rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs absurdly compared himself to the soon-to-be president in a Monday court filing

Combs' lawyers responded to prosecutors accusations that Diddy ran a 'public relations campaign' through his children by citing a document from Donald Trump's election interference case

In December, Trump's lawyers argued the 'only a significant and imminent threat to the administration of criminal justice will support restricting Mr. Trump's speech'

His son Justin Dior Combs, 30, and six of Diddy's other kids, including his baby daughter Love, two, sat around a birthday cake while Love sang 'Happy Birthday.'

In the clip, Diddy could be heard speaking in the background, the first time his voice had been heard since his arrest.

Diddy said: 'I love y'all so much. I can't wait to see y'all. I just want to say I'm proud of y'all, especially the girls. I mean all of y'all but just for being strong.

'Thank y'all for being strong and thank y'all for being by my side, supporting me. I love y'all.

'I got the best family in the world. My birthday. I'm happy. Thank y'all for giving me this call. I love y'all'.

Combs allegedly used an app banned by the Bureau of Prisons called ContactMeASAP.com to arrange for these videos to be posted online, Business Insider reported.

Diddy allegedly paid off one witness after calling and texting her a staggering 128 times over four days from his jail cell to persuade her to support him.

Diddy allegedly paid off one witness after calling and texting her a staggering 128 times over four days from his cell to persuade her to support him

Prosecutors claim that he tried to influence potential jurors in his trial by getting seven of his children to post a video marking his birthday on November 4th

Prosecutors also claimed he used other inmates' phone accounts to make calls to people he is not allowed to speak with and to 'avoid law enforcement monitoring.'

Diddy was federally charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution on September 17.

The rapper has been accused of arranging 'Freak Offs,' described as 'elaborate and produced sex performances' arranged and directed by Combs while he masturbated and often recorded them.

He has pleaded not guilty to charges alleging 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.

Dozens of people, some of whom were minors at the time, have sued Diddy in civil courts for a string of offenses, which he also denies.

Combs is currently on his third bid to be granted bail and recently claimed his 'reputation has been destroyed.'

In court on Friday, his lawyers argued he should be eligible for bail and stay in his New York City apartment on house arrest.

Combs is incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn after being repeatedly denied bail

The fallen hip hop mogul said that the 'allegations and aggressive and deceptive media tactics' by prosecutors had already shredded his public image and only an acquittal could reverse that.

Diddy claimed the charges that he ran a decade-long criminal enterprise were 'fictional' and that prosecutors were putting a 'theatrical spin' on the truth.

He remains incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn after being repeatedly denied bail.

Diddy is set to go to trial in May, 2025.
Cable news network MSNBC claims it was blindsided to learn that a non-profit founded by longtime on-air personality the Rev. Al Sharpton received half a million dollars from Kamala Harris' campaign just before he interviewed her.

The donations that flowed in just before the New York activist's conversation with Harris have brought up questions about the news outlet's credibility.

The National Action Network, a civil rights non-profit that was founded by Sharpton in 1991, received $500,000 from the Harris campaign just weeks before the MSNBC host conducted a highly-anticipated sit-down with the Democrat.

Campaign finance records from the 60-year-old's campaign reveal that two separate payments went to National Action Network.

One payment for $250,000 was sent to the non-profit on Sept. 5 and another for the same amount was sent on Oct. 1.

The softball interview with Sharpton occurred on Oct. 20, just weeks after the second payment.

MSNBC is widely known to be a liberal-leaning channel, and the fact that one of its top talents took in a huge amount of cash just before a consequential interview has caused backlash from journalists who say the outlet's now got a 'black eye.'

During the rosy interview, the MSNBC host lavishly praised Harris' 'extraordinary historic campaign' while simultaneously decrying Donald Trump as 'hostile and erratic.'

A non-profit started by MSNBC host Al Sharpton recieved half a million dollars from Kamala Harris' presidential campaign weeks before he interviewed the Democrat

The sit-down was widely seen as a a softball interview where Sharpton was sympathetic to many of Harris' goals. At one time he even insulted Donald Trump as 'hostile and erratic'

2020 Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Rev. Al Sharpton exit after having lunch at Sylvia's Restaurant in Harlem, February 21, 2019 in New York City. According to Sharpton's civil rights organization National Action Network, the two discussed criminal justice reform and other critical issues

When pressed on the donations to Sharpton's group by the Free Beacon, MSNBC did not respond for weeks.

Finally, the outlet responded pleading the fifth.

A spokesman for MSNBC stunningly told the Free Beacon that it was 'unaware' of the Harris campaigns donations to National Action Network.

'MSNBC was unaware of the donations made to the National Action Network,' the spokesman told the outlet.

The employee then declined to share whether MSNBC would take any actions against Sharpton.

He said that the company does not comment on 'personnel matters.'

The Society of Professional Journalists slammed MSNBC for not knowing about the donations to Sharpton's group.

'This kind of entanglement harms the credibility of the journalist, the news organization, and journalism overall, and credibility is difficult to restore,' they told the Free Beacon. 'While Sharpton may not consider himself a journalist, many viewers do.'

Rev. Al Sharpton listens as Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during the funeral service for Tyre Nichols at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis, Tenn., on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023

Vice President and 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris (C) hugs Al Sharpton at the funeral of US Representative Sheila Jackson Lee at Fallbrook Church in Houston, Texas, on August 1, 2024

'When TV news broadcasters do not report their conflicts of interest, or conduct their work in ways that run counter to ethical journalism, it builds distrust among their audiences and places a black eye on both their network and the profession,' the group said.

Previously, MSNBC took punitive actions against hosts that donated to political efforts.

In 2010, then-President of MSNBC Phil Griffin suspended popular 'Morning Joe' host Joe Scarborough after it came to light he gave over $4,000 in political donations.

That same year former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann was also suspended for making political donations to Democrats.
Terrorist Abdalraouf Abdallah, the childhood friend of Manchester Arena attacker Salman Abedi, has been freed from jail.

It is understood the 31-year-old, who played an 'important role' in radicalising Abedi, was released from HMP Full Sutton in East Yorkshire on Tuesday when his sentence came to an end.

It comes two months after the Parole Board refused to free him early because he was still considered a 'high risk of serious harm to the public' and had a 'propensity to radicalise others'.

Abdallah was recalled to prison for breaching licence conditions in 2021 after being jailed for helping people going to Syria to join the Islamic State group.

Despite losing his latest parole bid in September, he is now eligible for automatic release from prison because his sentence - set in court by a judge - has expired.

The Islamic extremist played an 'important role' in Abedi's radicalisation, according to a report from the inquiry into the attack.

Abedi visited him in prison and experts believe he groomed the bomber.

But Abdallah - who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after becoming paraplegic when injured fighting in Libya during the country's 2011 uprising - has denied any involvement in the 2017 atrocity.

He was first released from prison in 2020 after being handed an extended sentence of nine-and-a-half years - including a five-and-a-half-year prison term - in 2016 when he was found guilty of preparing and funding acts of terrorism by helping four others travel to Syria.

Terrorist Abdalraouf Abdallah (pictured), the childhood friend who played an 'important role' in radicalising Manchester Arena attacker Salman Abedi, has been freed from jail

Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi posing with a '50 calibre machine gun' in Libya

Abdalraouf Abdallah is seen giving evidence during the Manchester Arena Inquiry on November 25, 2021

According to a report detailing the Parole Board's decision in September, the panel accepted the inquiry's finding that Abdallah 'had played a significant role in radicalising the Manchester Arena bomber, although there was no evidence that he was involved in the attack itself or had any pre-knowledge of it'.

While in prison Abdallah took part in courses designed to tackle the motivations behind his offending 'and the beliefs which enable it', as well as taking part in rehabilitation to 'manage the risk of individuals who have been involved in extremist or terrorism-related activity'.

But his probation officer, prison officer and psychologist still did not support his release, with assessments determining he posed a 'high risk of serious harm to the public'.

Psychologists concluded Abdallah continued to 'show levels of engagement with extremism and intent to commit terrorist-related offending', the papers said.

A plan for his release presented to the panel was also deemed 'not robust enough' to manage him once he left prison as he 'retained a propensity to radicalise others' - including 'in any accommodation he is released to or any other person with whom he may come in contact' - and there was insufficient evidence to suggest there had been any change in his extremist mindset.

Pictured: The 22 victims of the terror attack during the Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena in May 2017
Angela Rayner, Rachel Reeves and Yvette Cooper are among a number of Labour ministers to have been banned from entering Russia.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Chancellor and Home Secretary are among 30 Britons put on a 'stop list' by the Kremlin's foreign affairs ministry.

The list, which also includes journalists and business leaders, was issued tonight in response to what Russia claimed was Britain's 'hostile actions'.

The ministry pointed to UK sanctions on Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine, as well as Britain's support for Kyiv during more than 1,000 days of war.

It claimed this was 'bordering on the direct involvement of Great Britain in the conflict'.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Health Secretary Wes Streeting were also among the Cabinet ministers listed.

Board members from drone firm Callen-Lenz and journalists from the Daily Mail and The Times were also on the list.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy were already banned from Russia in 2022.

Angela Rayner (left), Rachel Reeves (right) and Yvette Cooper are among a number of Labour ministers to have been banned from entering Russia

The Deputy Prime Minister, Chancellor and Home Secretary (pictured) are among 30 Britons put on a 'stop list' by the Kremlin's foreign affairs ministry

The list, which also includes journalists and business leaders, was issued in response to what Vladimir Putin's regime claimed was Britain's 'hostile actions'

The Kremlin pointed to UK sanctions on Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine, as well as Britain's support for Kyiv. Pictured: Ukrainian troops fire towards Russian invaders in Donetsk

Russia's ministry of foreign affairs said: 'In response to the hostile actions of the British side, a decision was made to include on the Russian 'stop list' a number of representatives of the political establishment, the military bloc, high-tech enterprises, and the British journalistic corps who have demonstrated themselves to be anti-Russian.'

It came as Downing Street denied allegations that a UK diplomat being kicked out of Russia was a spy.

Russian media reported that a staffer at Britain's embassy in Moscow had been expelled and the UK's ambassador to Moscow had been summoned.

A No10 spokesman said: 'To be clear, we refute these allegations. They're baseless. We're now considering our response.'

Downing Street said it would not pre-empt whether the UK might respond with a tit-for-tat expulsion.

'This is not the first time that (Vladimir) Putin's government has made malicious, baseless accusations against our staff,' the spokesman added.

'You'll remember that the Kremlin baselessly curtailed the accreditation of six UK diplomats in Russia earlier this year following action taken by the UK Government in response to the Russian state directing activity across Europe and in the UK.

'Today's announcement is no surprise coming from President Putin's government, which has overseen an illegal war in Ukraine.

'The UK Government is unapologetic about protecting our national interests and will now respond in due course, and our embassy in Moscow will continue its important work in Russia to support UK interests.'

The UK diplomat has had his accreditation revoked and must leave the country within two weeks, state-owned news agency Tass reported, citing Russian security service the FSB.

The agency claimed he had provided false information to enter the country and alleged he was engaged in spying and sabotage, according to the report.

The diplomat worked at the embassy in Moscow and had replaced one of the six British intelligence officers who were expelled in August, according to Tass.

The Foreign Office at the time said Russia's accusation that those diplomats were spies was baseless and that the expulsions were part of a campaign to deter the UK's support for Ukraine.

The British ambassador to Russia, Nigel Casey, has been summoned by Russia's foreign affairs ministry, spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Tass.

Tory shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel said: 'Moscow continues with its unjustified campaign of fear and intimidation.

'The UK continues to stand strong in our response and our support for Ukraine, and we will not be deterred by this baseless expulsion.'
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed a ceasefire after months of bitter fighting and stalled negotiations.

The decision comes after Israel's security cabinet today voted 10-1 in favour of a deal aimed at a 60-day truce that could form the basis of a lasting peace deal.

It came into effect at 4am local time, 2am GMT today.

The cabinet convened to vote on the terms of the US-led deal as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Lebanese government gave their approval.

US President Joe Biden hailed the ceasefire as 'good news', while stressing that Israel 'retains the right to self defence' if Hezbollah breaks the terms of agreement.

He said it 'heralds a new start for Lebanon', beleaguered by months of bombardment and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.

Netanyahu's office said: 'Israel appreciates the contribution of the United States in the process, and maintains its right to act against any threat to its security.'

Hezbollah is yet to comment.

Netanyahu urged that the deal would allow thousands of families to return to their homes after months displaced by the conflict on the northern border.

He stressed the deal would depend on 'what happens' and said Israel would maintain 'full' freedom to act in Lebanon, pushing back on cynicism over the terms.

Netanyahu added that a truce would allow Israel to 'focus on the Iranian threat' and put pressure on Hamas after more than a year of conflict.

He spoke on Tuesday after weeks of discussions over a deal mediated with Hezbollah by the government of Lebanon.

The agreement is understood to be based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the war between Hezbollah in Israel in 2006.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference in Jerusalem on September 2, 2024

Smoke billows above Beirut's southern suburbs following an Israeli airstrike on November 26

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut's southern suburbs on November 26

Israeli soldiers work on a tank, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, by Israel's border with Lebanon in northern Israel, November 26, 2024

Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system operates for interceptions as projectiles are launched from Lebanon towards Israel, in northern Israel, November 26, 2024



Netanyahu said the truce will allow Israel to focus on the looming threat from Iran, which struck Israel with missiles on October 1 and April 13 - the first direct attacks from Iran in Israel's history.

What is Resolution 1701? UN Resolution 1701 ended the 2006 Lebanon war between Israel and Hezbollah with the agreement that all Israeli forces would withdraw to be replaced by Lebanese and UNIFIL peacekeepers. Keeping a distance between the two groups, long threatened by the presence of the other, is still considered to be the brightest prospect for long-term stability between Israel and Lebanon. The Resolution called for the disarmament of all armed groups including Hezbollah in the region, stipulating that only UNIFIL and the Lebanese military could station armed forces south of the Litani River. Hezbollah and other armed groups in southern Lebanon have not withdrawn, per the agreement. It did agree to disarm south of the river, but not to pull out of southern Lebanon altogether. It then continued to grow and rearm itself 'exponentially', per Foreign Policy. When Israel announced it would enter Lebanon again on October 1, 2024, it cited the UN's failure to uphold the resolution as its casus belli. Under the terms of the agreement, Israel cannot enforce the Resolution itself. But with tens of thousands of civilians displaced from northern Israel by the conflict, the government finds itself under huge pressure at home. The 15 parties present in 2006 voted unanimously for the resolution. None voted against and none abstained. Advertisement

He also cited the military, saying the cessation of hostilities will allow them to take a 'breather' and 'replenish stocks'.

He added that it will allow Israel to 'separate the fronts', as 'Hamas was counting on Hezbollah to fight by its side'.

'With Hezbollah out of the picture, Hamas is left on its own. We will increase our pressure on Hamas and that will help' free the remaining hostages in Gaza, he said.

Israeli forces have been locked in intense clashes with Hezbollah since late September, escalating their campaign with a ground offensive into the south after nearly a year of cross-border exchanges.

Lebanese officials echoed support for a deal after months caught in the crossfire.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the deal was a 'fundamental step' towards regional stability.

He added that Lebanon was committed to strengthening the presence of its army in the south, per the terms of the agreement.

Strikes nonetheless continued to pound Beirut into Tuesday evening.

To date, the Lebanese health ministry estimates that at least 3,823 people have been killed in the country since October 2023, most of them since September.

Israel has sought to oust Hezbollah from its strongholds in southern Lebanon and the suburbs of Beirut with some 70,000 people now displaced from northern Israel by the conflict.

In recent months, its military has killed nearly all of the group's leaders. But international pressure mounts to de-escalate amid fears of the conflict spilling into a regional war.

The deal to end the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah calls for an initial two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces will withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah will end its armed presence along the southern border, south of the Litani River.

The withdrawals will be accompanied by an influx of thousands more Lebanese army troops, who have been largely sidelined in the war, to patrol the border area along with an existing U.N. peacekeeping force.

The deal echoes the existing Resolution 1701, that critics say did little to keep Hezbollah at bay.

When Israel entered Lebanon earlier this year, it cited perceived inaction from the United Nations to keep Hezbollah from expanding beyond its agreed borders.

Hezbollah never ended its presence in southern Lebanon, while Lebanon says Israel regularly violated its airspace and occupied small patches of its territory.

But under the 2006 agreement, Israel was also not supposed to intervene directly to push Hezbollah back.

Netanyahu spoke tonight of a 'paradigm shift in security for Israel', and will hope to convince Israelis that the new deal will pave the way for a stronger resolution than 1701 that overcomes its shortcomings.

'If Hezbollah violates the agreement and attempts to rearm, we will strike,' he insisted.

People flee their homes and spend the night on the streets in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, due to the threat of possible airstrikes by the Israeli army, on November 26

A Lebanese displaced person holds a portrait of late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah while celebrating following a ceasefire announcement on November 26

Lebanese Civil Defense teams launch a search and rescue operation in Beirut on Tuesday

US President Joe Biden speaks about a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, in the Rose Garden of the White House on November 26

Edmund Fitton-Brown, Senior Advisor to the Counter Extremism Project and former Ambassador of the UK to Yemen, told MailOnline: 'This is pretty much a total Israeli victory. Hezbollahs leadership, infrastructure, communications and weaponry have been severely damaged.

'Hezbollah initiated the intensification of hostilities 13 months ago, linking their campaign with the Palestinian cause. Now they have agreed to stop with their Hamas allies still being pummeled.

'Netanyahu has rubbed this in by saying a calming on the northern front will free up resource and bandwidth for intensified action against Hamas and Iran.'

He noted that the deal may be 'fragile', placing a lot of responsibility on the Lebanese authorities, who are expected to work closely with the US to hold up their end of the deal.

'Israel will not leave anything to the UN in future - nor will the incoming US Administration ask them to.

'Israel will use its 60 day withdrawal period to make certain Hezbollah has withdrawn completely north of the Litani River.'

Mr Fitton-Brown suggested Hamas, the Houthis and Iran's Shia militias will likely be 'disappointed' by Hezbollah's approach to the ceasefire.

He also warned other groups within Lebanon may now look to 'see whether they can loosen Hezbollah's (and Iran's) grip on Lebanon.

Alon Pinkas, an Israeli diplomat and former ambassador, told Al Jazeera the deal still looks 'very fragile' because it looks 'very difficult to maintain and sustain in the long run'.

He told the outlet the clauses in the deal are 'unenforceable', and cited mounting opposition from both the centre-left and right within Israel.

American officials, leading the talks, nonetheless spoke optimistically of progress towards securing lasting peace.

President Biden said this evening the deal was 'good news', and confirmed both Israel and the Lebanese government had accepted a proposal to 'end the devastating conflict between Israel and Lebanon'.

He reiterated that Israel could still retaliate if Hezbollah 'or any other group' breaks the terms of the 60-day deal.

'Let me be clear, if Hezbollah or anyone else breaks the deal and poses a direct threat to Israel, then Israel retains the right to self defense, consistent with international law.'

'Since the war with Hezbollah began, over 70,000 Israelis have been forced to live as refugee in their own country, helplessly watching their homes, their businesses, their communities as they are bombarded and destroyed,' he said on Tuesday.

'And over 300,000 Lebanese people have also been forced to live as refugees in their own country.

'All told, this has been the deadliest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in decades.'

He added that the people of Gaza also 'deserve an end of the fighting and displacement' after more than a year of near-relentless air strikes and incursion.

He said the deal with Hezbollah 'brings us closer to realising the affirmative agenda' of his presidency, urging 'a future where Palestinians have a state of their own' that 'fulfills its people's legitimate aspirations' and cannot 'threaten Israel or harbour terrorist groups with backing from Iran.'

Biden added that the US would lead a new 'push' for a ceasefire in Gaza - as he looks to leave a lasting influence before handing over to president-elect Trump in January.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said today that a deal could help end the Gaza conflict 'by de-escalating tensions in the region', despite Netanyahu's comments.

Blinken said that after months of 'intensive diplomatic effort' with partners including France, working with Lebanon and Israel, he hoped to reach a conclusion 'very soon'.

'It will make a big difference in saving lives and livelihoods in Lebanon and in Israel. It will make a big difference in creating the conditions that will allow people to return to their home safely in northern Israel and in southern Lebanon,' he said.

The United States and France will work 'to ensure this arrangement is fully implemented' and lead international efforts for 'capacity-building' of the Lebanese army, Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron said in a joint statement.

Keir Starmer said the 'long overdue' ceasefire would 'provide some measure of relief' to the civilian populations of both Lebanon and Israel after months of 'devastating conflict and bloodshed'.

He stressed the need for the deal to be 'turned into a lasting political solution in Lebanon, based on Security Council Resolution 1701' that would allow civilians to return 'permanently' to their homes and for communities to rebuild.

'The UK and its allies will continue to be at the forefront of efforts to break the ongoing cycle of violence in pursuit of a long-term, sustainable peace in the Middle East,' he said.

'We must see immediate progress towards a ceasefire deal in Gaza, the release of all hostages and the removal of restrictions on desperately needed humanitarian aid.'

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen hailed the 'very encouraging news', saying the deal would increase Lebanon's 'internal security and stability'.

The announcement was welcomed 'first and foremost for the Lebanese and Israeli people affected by the fighting,' Von der Leyen said on X.

'Lebanon will have an opportunity to increase internal security and stability thanks to Hezbollah's reduced influence.'

A United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) armoured vehicle drives through the southern Lebanese city of Sidon on November 25, 2024

Smoke billows from buildings after the Israeli army launched an airstrikes on the Dahieh district in Beirut in Lebanon, on November 26, 2024

People inspect the damage at the site of an overnight Israeli airstrike that targeted the Shayyah neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs on November 26, 2024

A person gestures as people protest demanding the release of hostages who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, ahead of a possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, in Tel Aviv, Israel, November 26

Amelia Whitworth, Head of Policy, Campaigns and Youth at global children's charity Plan International UK, told MailOnline: 'We welcome the news of a ceasefire in Lebanon.

'Today's agreement must act as a vital step towards a sustained, permanent ceasefire - both in Lebanon and across Gaza and the wider Middle East region.

How the world reacted Israel Israeli president Isaac Herzog said the deal was 'correct and important' while stressing it will be measured by how well it 'guarantees full security' for citizens in northern Israel. PM Netanyahu thanked Biden for the US involvement and understanding that 'Israel will maintain freedom of action' in its enforcement. Lebanon Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the truce was 'a fundamental step towards establishing calm and stability in Lebanon' and 'helps to establish regional stability'. He also reiterated his government's commitment to 'strengthen the army's presence in the south'. US President Biden said the truce was 'good news' but stressed Israel could strike back if the terms of the deal were broken. UK Keir Starmer said the ceasefire will provide 'some measure of relief' to civilians on both sides, adding the UK would continue to push for regional peace UN UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, welcomed the deal but said 'considerable work lies ahead'. EU Ursula von der Leyen hailed the 'very encouraging news', saying the deal would increase Lebanon's 'internal security and stability'. France President Macron said late Tuesday that the deal should 'open the path' for ending the war in Gaza. Germany Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the deal was a 'ray of hope for the entire region' and a 'success for diplomacy'. Advertisement

'The horrors must stop immediately: all children deserve to enjoy their childhood free from the threat of violence.'

Ms Whitworth noted that the 'extreme violence' had already seen more than 3,000 people killed, including at least 200 children.

The number of internally displaced people within Lebanon has reached almost 900,000, while more than half a million have fled the country.

Lebanon was home to thousands of displaced people from regional conflicts including the Syrian Civil War before fighting broke out.

Between September 23 and October 25, nearly 350,000 Syrians returned to war-torn Syria to avoid the conflict in Lebanon, Lebanese authorities report.

As the announcement came, sirens sounded in central and northern Israel, according to the Israeli army.

'Three projectiles that crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory were successfully intercepted by the IAF (Israeli air force),' it announced.

Strikes also continued to rock Beirut in the hours before the ceasefire took effect.

Some of the strikes came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the security cabinet was set to agree to the truce.

Israel's military had earlier issued an evacuation warning ahead of the strike, sparking panic as people tried to flee the area amid heavy traffic.

A Lebanese security source, requesting anonymity, told the AFP news agency the strike targeted 'a money exchange and transfer company'.

Moments after Biden said Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to the deal, attacks shook an apartment in the Khandaq al-Ghamiq area of Beirut, MTV Lebanon News reported.

Despite the success in agreeing a ceasefire with Hezbollah, Benjamin Netanyahu separately faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his conduct in Gaza.

It said there were 'reasonable grounds to believe' that both Netanyahu and his former defence minister, 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.

Israel began its offensive after the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people in southern Israel, with more than 250 others taken hostage, Israel has said.

The ICC also named Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri, citing the mass killings of the October 7 attacks. Israel says it has already killed Masri.

The decision obliges the 124 states party to the treaty to act on arrest warrants it issues.

The EU's foreign policy chief reiterated that the decisions are binding and leaders cannot pick and choose while warrants to act upon.

'The states that signed the Rome convention are obliged to implement the decision of the court. It's not optional,' Josep Borrell, the EU's top diplomat, said during a visit to Cyprus this week.

A Palestinian child stands between makeshift tents at a camp in Deir al-Balah, November 26

Palestinians watch smoke rising during an Israeli airstrike on the Al Farouq Mosque in the Al Nuseirat refugee camp on November 23

An injured child is brought to the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital for medical treatment after an Israeli attack on Sheikh Radwan, November 25

Palestinians displaced by the war live in a camp flooded by sea water on the coast of Khan Yunis, on November 26

Several EU states have said they will meet their commitments under the statute if needed, but Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has invited Netanyahu to visit his country, assuring him he would face no risks if he did so.

The United States rejected the ICC's decision and Israel said the ICC move was antisemitic.

Neither are party to the Rome Statute.

'Every time someone disagrees with the policy of one Israeli government - (they are) being accused of antisemitism,' said Borrell, whose term as EU foreign policy chief ends this month.

'I have the right to criticise the decisions of the Israeli government, be it Mr Netanyahu or someone else, without being accused of antisemitism. This is not acceptable. That's enough.'
A pilot known for flying dogs across the country to be adopted has been killed after a plane crash in a remote area of New York.

Seuk Kim, 49, died on impact as well as one of the canines he had been transporting in his Mooney M20J Sunday.

Two other dogs managed to survive - found during a subsequent search of the crash site in the Catskill Mountains.

Cops went on to reveal how Kim had been ferrying the animals from Maryland to Albany - something not unusual for the father-of-three.

Countless Facebook posts from the credentialed pilot show him flying other rescues across the US and setting them up in forever homes - however far-flung they may be.

He had lived nearly 400 miles from where his plane went down around 6:10pm - which spurred a frantic search for survivors.

One dog, a lab mix puppy, was found with two broken legs, while another that was initially reported missing, was found the next day with minor injuries.

The animal was taken in for veterinary care, while Kim's body was extracted for an autopsy. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were still on the scene Tuesday, cops said.

Seuk Kim, 49, died after his plane crashed in the Catskill Mountains Sunday - as was the case with one of the three canines he had been ferrying from Maryland to Albany to be adopted

Two dogs managed to survive, including this lab-mix who was found with two broken legs

'The plane, which was initially reported to be a Cessna, is actually a Mooney M20J. While investigators were working at the scene they found the third dog with minor injuries,' the most recent statement from the Greene County Sheriff's Office read.

'The dog was transported by Hyer Ground Rescue along with PAW (Partners for Animal Welfare) for veterinary care.

'The pilot has been extricated and transported to Ellis Hospital for an autopsy.

'The NTSB and the FAA are still on the scene.'

Statements from cops previously identified Kim as the pilot, with photos on his social media showing him in front of the same plane mentioned by authorities.

Other posts show how he had flown hundreds of dogs for rehoming without incident - as investigators now look into what caused the plane to crash.

The area where the plane went down, at the time, was experiencing clear skies and no inclement weather.

Photos shared Tuesday showed one of the four-legged survivors, the lab-mix named Whiskey, receiving treatment at the Pieper Memorial Veterinary Center Tuesday. He is expected to make a full recovery.

The puppy, named Whiskey, was seen receiving treatment at the Pieper Memorial Veterinary Center Tuesday

A day before - a day after the crash - a third dog initially reported missing, was found the next day with minor injuries (seen here)

Kim was a licensed pilot known for flying dogs across the country - all to find them forever homes more efficiently. His body has been taken in for an autopsy, cops said - adding only that he died on impact

Tributes that have poured in since Kim's death have painted him as a selfless animal lover who died doing what he loved. The FAA and NTSB are looking into what caused the crash

He was a father-of-three, and had hailed from Burke, Virginia. He leaves behind a wife as well, along with his two sons and one daughter

Tributes, meanwhile, continue to pour in for Kim after his death - including from his eldest Leah, who is just 16.

'He died doing what he loved, which was saving animals,' she told Fox 5 DC Monday.

'He always made sure to be available because this is something he cared about.'

On social media, she added: 'Hug your loved ones all a little bit tighter because my father didn't wake up yesterday thinking it would be his last day on earth.'

Anna Kang, Kim's wife, added in her own post: 'Please hug your loved ones a little tighter tonight. Please remember Seuk. Please comment and let me know how you crossed paths with him.

'I want my kids to know how selfless and fabulous their dad was,' she concluded.

Christine Kim, another relative, added: 'Seuk was more than just a pilot; he was a champion for others, a friend to all, and a deeply loved member of his family.

'His bodacious spirit, generous heart, and endless capacity for love will be profoundly missed by his wife, three kids, parents, sibling, extended family, and countless friends.

Barely a month ago, Kim wrote how he was flying four dogs - one of which is seen here - from Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine in Tennessee to Virginia for adoption. His body has been taken to Ellis Hospital in Schenectady for an autopsy, cops said

Whiskey, who broke his two back legs, is seen here again on Tuesday. Feds are vetting what caused the crash

'As we grieve, we take solace in knowing that Seuk lived fully, loved deeply, and left a legacy of kindness and courage,' she added. 'He reminds us to embrace life with enthusiasm, to take bold leaps, and to always lend a hand to those in need.'

Barely a month ago, Kim himself wrote how he was flying four dogs from Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine in Tennessee to Stafford, Virginia for adoption.

'Ive flown hundreds of dogs and never has one chewed and gnawed through a crate to get out and stand on it, looking so proud like she had conquered it,' he wrote with an accompanying photo at the time.

'Could have gone badly I suppose if she wasnt such a great dog.

'Velma (the wiry escape artist) is available to adopt out of Stafford/Fredricksburg area if anyone is interested,' the former partner and vice president at public relations firm SunStar Strategic said.

His body has been taken to Ellis Hospital in Schenectady for an autopsy, deputies said.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the FAA for an update.
The British teenager facing 20 years in prison in Dubai over a holiday romance with a 17-year-old girl has been deliberately victimised by local police who recorded his age a year older than it really is - and said his nationality is Pakistani so that he is treated more harshly, it has been dramatically claimed.

Marcus Fakana, 18, a construction apprentice from Tottenham, is currently locked in a cell in the UAE awaiting sentence for having underage sex with a 17-year-old girl from London who was holidaying with her parents - something that would not have been criminal in the UK.

Now the campaigning group which first revealed his arrest has claimed that Marcus has been deliberately targeted by Emirates police to try to ensure that he faces the biggest sentence possible.

Their claim is based on two anomalies in prosecution case notes that they believe were made deliberately: Marcus's age and nationality are both wrongly recorded.

Instead of 18, Marcus had been listed as a year older which would mean he could be referred to a higher court in Dubai which is empowered to levy a heavier sentence - akin to being sent to a Crown Court rather than Magistrates in the UK.

And his nationality had been described as Pakistani rather than British which, campaigners say, in practice means he would face a tougher sentence.

The pressure group Detained in Dubai said Marcus, who is due to go on trial on December 9th, believes both these mistakes - which have now been amended - were purposely made by local police.

Radha Stirling, founder of Detained in Dubai who is assisting the Fakana family said: 'Marcus told them his age, yet they noted it as 19 years of age. Rather than a small gap between the two, it looks far worse being a two year gap.

Campaigners say British teenager Marcus Fakana, 18, who is facing 20 years in prison in Dubai over a holiday romance with a 17-year-old girl has been deliberately victimised by local police

'That has now been corrected and the court will see that.'

She went on: 'The UAE is racist and it was deliberate that his nationality was put down as Pakistani as to the court this would appear to be much worse than British.'

Marcus's family have raised nearly 27,000 from a GoFundMe account to pay legal fees and his accommodation.

Ms Sterling said Marcus has been 'too afraid' to go out while staying on his own in Dubai in a rented flat.

His family put up bail of 2,600 so that he did not spend any time in jail. Marcus was held initially in Dubai's 'notorious' Al Barsha Police Station for several days.

Ms Stirling said: 'I am hoping that when he comes to trial he will be fined and then deported, but his lawyer is not so confident.'

The teen had been in Dubai with his parents for a family reunion and to celebrate his father's birthday when he struck up the friendship with the girl.

Under UAE law only tourists aged over 18 are legally allowed to sleep together.

Marcus pictured with his family, who have raised 27,000 to help toward his legal fees

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

The holiday romance  with both teens staying at hotels with their parents  lasted ten days.

Since returning to the UK the girl, who has not been identified, has turned 18.

The 'strict' mother of the girl contacted police in Dubai on their return after finding messages and photos from Marcus on her phone.

The police investigation revealed that the sex between the pair was consensual after they examined all the messages the pair had exchanged during their time together.

They have also recovered CCTV footage from Dubai hotels that show the couple together.

It was on the teen's initial arrest that his age was put down on the charge sheet as 19 years of age meaning the gap with the girl was two years and not a few months.

His nationality was also written down as Pakistani despite presenting his British passport.

He left school this summer and is on an apprenticeship scheme for work in the construction industry.

It was on the teen's initial arrest that Marcus' age was put down on the charge sheet as 19 years meaning the gap with the girl was two years and not a few months. His nationality was also written down as Pakistani despite presenting his British passport

His family released a statement late last night which said: 'We are praying for the day we can be returned with Marcus.'

'We've sought assistance from Foreign secretary David Lammy to ensure his right to upheld and we ask HH Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, to please let our boy come home.

'This ordeal has caused us terrible emotional and financial strain and every day is an emotional battle.'

Setting up a GoFundMe page to raise money for legal fees to bring him home, Marcus' family added: '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.

'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.

Marcus and his family are calling on Foreign Secretary David Lammy to help the teenager

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.

Marcus has previously told 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.

'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 Ms Stirling, a human rights advocate.

Her 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.'

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.'
Labour's smoking crackdown last night cleared the first Commons hurdle as ministers aim to stop kids aged 15 or younger from ever buying cigarettes.

The House of Commons overwhelmingly approved the Tobacco and Vapes Bill at second reading, which was championed by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

MPs voted 415 to 47, a majority of 368, to approve it.

But Tory leader Kemi Badenoch voted against the legislation with a spokesperson for the Conservative Party yesterday saying Labour has made a 'bad Bill even worse'.

Tory MPs were given a free vote on the legislation.

Ms Badenoch voted against the Bill when it was first introduced in April under Mr Sunak's premiership and voiced concerns that it would give people born a day apart permanently different rights.

Former Foreign Secretary Suella Braverman, and former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith were among the 35 Conservatives to vote against the Bill.

Former Health Secretary Victoria Atkins was one of 23 Conservative MPs to vote in favour. No votes were recorded for 59 Tories.

It effectively bans young people from ever being able to smoke legally with Health Secretary Wes Streeting saying it will give children and young people the protection they need to 'avoid a life imprisoned by addiction'.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting says the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will give children and young people the protection they need to 'avoid a life imprisoned by addiction'

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch voted against the legislation with a spokesperson for the Conservative Party yesterday saying Labour have made a 'bad Bill even worse'

Labour's smoking crackdown cleared the first Commons hurdle as MPs voted by 415 to 47 to give their backing to the plan (Pictured left to right: 'Yes' tellers Christian Wakeford and Kate Dearden, and 'No' tellers Sir Edward Leigh and Sir Christopher Chope)

The legislation was picked up by Labour following the party's landslide victory at the general election.

A total of 82 Labour MPs failed to record a vote on Tuesday night.

The Bill faced criticism during its second reading, with Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell arguing that people should be able to make their own choices, and the Liberal Democrats claiming it 'raises issues of civil liberties'.

Mr Streeting said the number of children vaping is 'growing at an alarming rate' and it is 'unacceptable' that vapes are being deliberately targeted at children with flavours like 'gummy bear and rainbow burst'.

The Bill prevents anyone born after January 1 2009 from legally smoking by gradually raising the age at which tobacco can be bought.

It also restricts sweet vape flavours and will review the packaging of e-cigarettes to reduce their appeal to children and young people.

The legislation includes a total ban on vape advertising and sponsorship, including displays seen by children and young people such as on buses, in cinemas and in shop windows, bringing them in line with current tobacco restrictions.

Disposable vapes will be banned from June 2025 under separate environmental legislation, while the sale of vapes in vending machines and their free distribution will be stopped.

Mr Streeting said: 'The number of children vaping is growing at an alarming rate and, without urgent intervention, we're going to have a generation of children with long-term addiction.

'It is unacceptable that these harmful products are being deliberately targeted at children with brightly coloured packaging and flavours like 'gummy bear' and 'rainbow burst'.

'The Tobacco and Vapes Bill provides the protection that children and young people need to avoid a life imprisoned by addiction. That's why it's so incredibly important it is voted through.'

The Bill prevents anyone born after January 1 2009 from legally smoking by gradually raising the age at which tobacco can be bought

The House of Commons this evening overwhelmingly approved the second reading of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which was championed by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

A moving billboard for Cancer Research UK outside the Houses of Parliament in April this year

As part of measures aimed at continuing to support smokers to quit, the Government will provide 70 million for stop smoking services, the Department of Health said.

This is in addition to hospitals being asked to talk about smoking with patients while delivering routine care, 'making every clinical consultation count'.

Some 10 million is also being given to Trading Standards to crack down on illegal trade.

Opening the second reading debate, Mr Streeting said: 'This Bill will come down on the vaping industry like a ton of bricks to prevent a new generation of children and young people from getting hooked on nicotine.'

Conservative MP Bob Blackman called for the legislation to go further to include a levy on tobacco companies' profits to hold them responsible 'for the blight on our population's health'.

'Both of my parents died from smoking-related cancer. My late mother was only 47, and she was a very heavy smoker all her life. I was then left as a 23-year-old with three younger sisters to bring up as a family,' he said.

'I don't want any families in this country to have to go through what our family went through then. So this for me is personal, as well as political.'

The MP for Harrow East, and chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for smoking and health, called for the 'implementation of a polluter pays tobacco levy on the profits of big tobacco, addressing issues of both market prices and limiting the profitability of the industry'.

Romford MP Mr Rosindell said 'banning things very rarely works', adding: 'Surely we should be promoting the concept of freedom with responsibility and allowing people to make choices about their own lives?'

Responding to the intervention, Mr Streeting said tobacco is 'uniquely addictive, uniquely harmful', adding: 'There is no liberty in addiction. There is no freedom in addiction, and the logical extension of the libertarian argument he puts forward would be the end of the ban on indoor smoking.'

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said: I voted against the Bill before. I will do so again. Educate more, ban less. Say no to the nanny state.

Tory MP Christopher Chope said: People wont be able to buy cigarettes, but they will still be able to smoke and obtain cigarettes off other people  this is a half-baked measure.

The Liberal Democrats' health spokeswoman Helen Morgan said: 'The introduction of a phased smoking ban is problematic and not because Liberal Democrats want to see people smoke themselves into an early grave - far from it - but because it raises issues of practicality and raises issues of civil liberties.'

She warned that the Bill 'raises the prospect of an ID card, because those people who do choose to start smoking will potentially be forced to carry an ID card or some other form of ID with them for the rest of their lives, and that is a concern for a Liberal Democrat who is strongly opposed to requiring people to carry their ID around with them for various issues of privacy and personal liberty'.

England's chief medical officer, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, said ahead of the vote: 'If this major piece of legislation is passed, it will accelerate a smoke-free generation'

Reform UK MP James McMurdock urged the Government to 'think very carefully' about its 'remit'.

He said: 'I would just ask everyone in the room to consider what kind of world and country we actually want to live in, one where we could send one of the kids down to the shop, pick something up for us, or one where we literally are forced to police people's behaviour in parks?

'And I think we should think very carefully about what our remit is as a Government.'

Earlier in the debate, Mr Streeting told the Commons that the Government 'will consult on banning smoking outside schools, hospitals and in playgrounds, protecting children and vulnerable people from the harms of second-hand smoke', as part of the Bill.

He also confirmed the consultation will not be extended to pubs and other outdoor hospitality spaces.

The Bill also includes powers to introduce a licensing scheme for retailers to sell tobacco, vape and nicotine products in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

New data shows more than a million illicit vapes were seized inland by Trading Standards in 2023-24, a 59pc increase compared with the previous year.

On-the-spot fines of 200 are included for any shopkeepers found to be selling to anyone under age.

England's chief medical officer, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, said ahead of the vote: 'If this major piece of legislation is passed, it will accelerate a smoke-free generation and lead to children never being trapped by addiction to cigarettes with lifelong harms to their health.

'The rising number of children vaping is a significant concern, and the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will help prevent marketing vapes to children, which is utterly unacceptable.

'Smoking results in direct harm across a person's life course but also causes harms to others around them, including children, pregnant women and the medically vulnerable.

The Bill also restricts sweet vape flavours and will review the packaging of e-cigarettes to reduce their appeal to children and young people

'Reducing the number of vulnerable people exposed to second-hand smoke, as well as preventing non-smokers taking up vaping is important and will improve the health of the nation.'

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill also gives the Government the powers to extend the indoor smoking ban to outdoor spaces  with children's playgrounds, outside schools and hospitals all being considered in England, subject to consultation.

These places could also be made vape-free under the proposals.
Angela Merkel is coming to George W. Bush's defense after over an awkward photograph where he appeared to be giving her a back massage at the G7.

The former Chancellor's new autobiography Freedom shares her life story, along with several of her experiences as leader of Germany from 2005 through 2021.

One moment Merkel detailed was when former President Bush raised eyebrows when be caused her to stiffen when rubbing her neck during a meeting between world leaders.

The moment in 2006 happened in St. Petersburg when the G7 was known as the G8 when Russia temporarily joined the group that also includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K and the U.S.

The viral moment was seen as an inappropriate physical contact by the U.S. president, but Merkel defended her friend.

'The scene with the shoulder grab that went around the world is a very good example of the fact that the context is always important in such moments,' Merkel wrote in her new book.

'Bush and I, however, had basic trust in each other and have now experienced how misleading images can be when they are detached from the place and the people involved.'

She concluded: 'It was a joke, not meant to intimidate or belittle me, but just a bit of fun in the midst of dry and serious deliberations. Bush and I liked and respected each other.'

Fun - but not sexist: Merkel defends in her memoir the moment when George W. Bush, then the U.S. President, gave her a back massage during the 2008 G8 Summit in Russia

Merkel also talked about another viral moment at the G7 with then-President Barack Obama in 2015 in Germany where she said she was not angry, just recounting the size of a beach chair

Merkel writes that she had 'expected anything in that second, but not that' and says she threw her arms up 'in shock' as Bush put his hands on her shoulders, but clarifies that 'not for one moment' did she regard Bush's actions as anything other than a jape.

This is just one of the few stories Merkel is sharing insight into in her new book.

She also spoke about the photo that went viral of her and former President Barack Obama where she looked angry with outstretched arms while speaking with him sitting on a bench at the G7 summit in her home country in 2015.

According to the former German leader, she was merely recounting the size of a beach chair.

Merkel has revealed in her new memoirs the sexism she faced during her time as Germany 's chancellor - including how a photographer once lay on the floor under a table trying to take photos of her 'wonky' shoes.

The autobiography details her birth in East Germany and her rise to the top of global politics - and lifts the lid on her various encounters with royalty and world leaders, including the moment was surprised by Bush with a massage at the G8 summit nearly two decades ago.

She said the moment was not sexist, as some perceived it.

But Merkel did reveal how she was subjected to constant comments about her approach to fashion, including her work attire and her hair style.

The now 70-year-old, who was Chancellor for 16 years and 16 days, says she was aware of jokes that circulated about her.

One chapter recounts how a female photographer once 'hurled' herself to the floor to try and take shots of Merkel's crooked shoes; elsewhere, she discusses the trouser suits that she became famous for wearing and how she ditched skirts and dresses almost entirely during her time in power.

Then-President George W. Bush also puts his hands on the shoulders of German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Stralsund on July 13, 2006 during a two-day visit to Germany

Donald Trump's apparent defiance in the face of Ms Merkel - famously captured in this 2018 photo taken at the G7 summit in Canada - is also touched upon, with the former German Chancellor saying America's president-elect views every encounter as a competition

Merkel at the opening of the Oslo Opera House in Norway in 2008; she became known for her affection for practical trouser suits but did occasionally don glad rags during her time in office

Donald Trump also features in the memoir, as Merkel recounts how he flung two Starburst sweets across a table at her during the G7 summit in Canada in 2018, saying: 'Here, Angela, so you can't say I never gave you anything'.

A famous photo shows Trump, arms crossed, looking defiant as other world leaders surround him, but the former German Chancellor plays down the incident, saying Trump was showing his annoyance at how many German cars were in New York and that she came to realise America's President Elect views every encounter as a 'competition'.

She revealed how she scolded herself for prompting him to shake her hand in front of cameras when they met in 2017 before realising his rudeness was deliberate.

'He wanted to create conversation fodder through his behaviour,' she writes, while she was acting 'as though I were having a discussion with someone completely normal'.

She concluded from her Washington visit: 'There could be no cooperative work for an interconnected world with Trump.'

Gender-based comments that did get to her included jokes about her hair and frequent remarks about the colour and style of her clothes, including her fondness for cardigans and skirts while she served in the German cabinet.

Trump was keen on creating 'conversation fodder through his behaviour', says Merkel; the pair pictured in 2019 at the G7 summit in Biarritz

Merkel's book covers her life from 1954, including being born in what was then East Germany, to 2021

President Vladimir Putin (R) and then Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel giving a joint press conference after their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow in January 2020

Merkel's memoir follows her climb from childhood in the German Democratic Republic and memories of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 to becoming Chancellor in 2005.

She also shares recollections of her meetings and conversations with some of the world's most powerful people, and passes judgements on her experiences of leaders from the likes of Trump to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

'He saw everything from the perspective of the property developer he was before entering politics,' she wrote of President-elect Trump, now returning to the top role in January.

'Each parcel of land could only be sold once, and if he didn't get it someone else did. That's how he saw the world.'

She wrote how Trump did not shake her hand for photographers at a White House meeting in 2017 even after she whispered to him that they should.

'As soon as I said that, I shook my head inwardly at myself. How could I have forgotten that Trump knew exactly what effect he wanted to achieve.'

She also suggested Trump was intrigued by Putin, with whom he spoke numerous times as President.

'[Trump] was obviously very fascinated by the Russian president,' Merkel assessed. 'In the years that followed I had the impression that politicians with autocratic and dictatorial traits captivated him.'

'We talked on two different levels. Trump on an emotional level, me on a factual one,' she continued. 'For him, all countries were in competition with each other, in which the success of one was the failure of the other.'

'He did not believe that co-operation could increase the prosperity of all.'
If you want to know how deeply John Swinney regrets the impact of incoherent gender ideology on Scotlands government, consider the First Ministers silence on the matter of an ongoing court hearing in London.

Judges at the Supreme Court have been asked by feminist campaign group For Women Scotland to rule, definitively, on the definition of woman in the context of the law.

Should, the organisation wants to know, a male-bodied trans woman be allowed access to single-sex spaces and services if they are in possession of a gender recognition certificate?

The judges ruling  regardless of their view  will have huge repercussions for Mr Swinney. Yet weve heard not a peep from him on the matter. How times have changed in the SNP.

It was former leader Nicola Sturgeon who led the capture by trans activists of her partys policy machine.

Under Ms Sturgeon, the SNP made reform of the Gender Recognition Act its political priority. But despite cross-party support for allowing trans people to self-identify into the legally-recognised sex of their preference, a change in the law was blocked last year by then Scottish Secretary Alister Jack on the grounds that it was incompatible with the UK-wide Equality Act.

Of course, there was much outrage from Nationalist Towers about a Conservative minister intervening in a matter of Scottish democracy but, privately, many senior SNP figures were rather relieved.

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has been vocal on the court case and its implications

Women's Rights supporters protest outside the hearing at the Supreme Court in London

First Minister John Swinney has been quiet on the court case in London, writes Euan McColm

Ms Sturgeons obsession with gender ideology had set the Scottish Government at odds with the majority of Scots who, while very much believing in the principle of live-and-let-live, did not share her laissez faire attitude to the prospect of male-bodied people being allowed entry into domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centres.

In private, some senior Nationalists said Mr Jack had helped them dodge a bullet.

The judges ruling on the question of what is a woman stands  at the very least  to impact on the delivery of services across the public sector.

There is every reason for the First Minister to be explaining his governments position to us all.

Despite this, Mr Swinney has decided on a nothing to see here approach.

The problem for the First Minister is that voters, quite understandably, think there is quite a lot to see. Not for the first time in his career, Mr Swinney is playing the role of a hapless cop failing to wave onlookers away from a burning fireworks factory.

From the intolerably reckless stupidity of housing male-bodied sex offenders in womens prisons to the scandal of rape crisis centres refusing to guarantee female-only counselling services, a number of high-profile cases have made Ms Sturgeons wild-eyed adherence to incoherent gender ideology all the more foolish.

The former First Minister, gripped by the moral certainty of the zealot, saw to it that the activist mantra trans women are women became SNP dogma.

Almost two years after Ms Sturgeon resigned as First Minister, the gender question continues to be a problem for the SNP.

Mr Swinney may, as some party sources tell me, not share Ms Sturgeons fashionable views about the existence of multiple, ever-shifting genders, but hes timid indeed about raising his voice on the subject.

The First Minister considers himself a man of the centre-Left (though those of us whove followed Mr Swinneys career for decades might argue the soubriquet Tartan Tory was made for him) and, like others of his ilk, he finds himself confronted with an ideology that  for no reason other than the say-so of activists  is seen as being avowedly of the Left.

Its no surprise this version of the truth has caught on. It nestles perfectly in the current political landscape where no party is more fully captured by gender gibberish than the far-Left Greens while, at both Holyrood and Westminster, its the Conservative Party thats spoken out most loudly against allowing the frequently contradictory tenets of gender ideology to impact on policy-making.

Perhaps the most effective achievement of the trans activist movement has been not only to have made the world believe their cause is inherently Left-wing but to have convinced a substantial part of it that disagreement with their objectives is a hard-Right position.

This is hysterical rhetoric not only on social media but within the political bubble.

A generation of senior politicians such as Mr Swinney is paralysed with fear when it comes to discussing gender ideology because they know that to dissent from the position that someone is whatever sex they say they are is to risk the wrath of their own activists.

The effect of this is that politicians of the Left such as Mr Swinney, Scottish Labours Anas Sarwar, and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton are currently failing to address  or even consider  the perfectly moderate, and widely held, view that biology matters when it comes to providing single sex spaces and services.

One only has to look at some of those accused of being far-Right for refusing to accept the demands of trans activists to see how laughable a charge it is.

Are we really to accept that the feminist writer and activist Julie Bindel, who has campaigned for four decades against male violence against women, is a Right-winger?

Are we truly supposed to entertain the notion that novelist JK Rowling has abandoned decades of Left-wing principles because she thinks rape victims shouldnt have to share safe spaces with those born male?

There is, of course, nothing Right (or, for that matter, Left) wing about having concerns over the implications of gender ideology.

It is not Right-wing to think that there are very good reasons for the exclusion of anybody born male  no matter how they may identify  from places such as womens refuges, nor is it Right-wing to be concerned about the impact of powerful puberty-blocking drugs on confused young children.

Until politicians who lead for the Left begin to accept these facts, they risk losing voters. Why would a lifelong feminist of the Left stand by Labour if the party decides her years of activism and her principles mean nothing?

Why should a committed Nationalist give their vote to the SNP if theyre told their concerns about rapists in female prisons make them a Nazi?

The First Minister, in common with Mr Sarwar, seems to think that if he ignores the impact of gender ideology, it will cease to be important.

If this truly is what both men believe, then they are sorely mistaken.

The question of whether male-bodied people should be allowed into single-sex spaces such as rape crisis centres is not some fringe issue. If it were, then the Scottish Government would not have devoted so much time to trying to introduce self-ID, would it?

Regardless of how the Supreme Court ultimately rules on the question of what a woman is, trans rights activists will continue to insist that their critics are Right-wingers.

No matter how much John Swinney might wish it would, this issue is not going to go away.

Most people dont think it Right-wing to exclude male-bodied people from female spaces. They just think its right.
A mother cleared of a gruesome unsolved murder pretended she had a baby in order to dupe elderly and vulnerable men into giving her cash.

Fraudster Angela Newlands also conducted a lengthy campaign of theft  including of eight cockapoo puppies.

The 34-year-old conned numerous victims into giving her cash for her non-existent baby and used stolen bank cards to steal hundreds of pounds.

She targeted victims as old as 85 by pretending she was interested in relationships with them, and robbed a volunteer at a food bank.

Newlands also faked injury to persuade drivers to let her into their cars  before robbing them and using their bank cards.

Fiscal depute Sam Craib yesterday told Dundee Sheriff Court of her crime spree in Angus between August 2022 and May 2024.

The court heard her victims included a retired police officer, whose car she had climbed into at traffic lights claiming she had a blood clot after giving birth. She then stole his phone and bank cards.

At the Royal British Legion in Forfar, she stole volunteer Samantha Young-Gillians phone and purse, using her card to pay for a taxi and shopping worth 130.

Angela Newlands said she recognised her actions will leave scars for her victims

Newlands was cleared of the murder of Annalise Johnstone five years ago after a judge at the High Court ruled there was insufficient evidence to convict her

The court heard that Newlands, of Forfar, also stole eight puppies from a kennel.

She was found carrying two of them in Forfar town centre and when questioned by police, she confessed to hurling the others over a fence. They were found in an adjacent field.

Mother-of-five Newlands, who accepted full responsibility for the offences, had sentence deferred after admitting 17 separate offences around Forfar and Kirriemuir between August 29, 2022 and May 11, 2024.

Sheriff George Way kept her in custody while he considered the length of sentence.

Newlands was cleared of the murder of Annalise Johnstone five years ago after a judge at the High Court ruled there was insufficient evidence to convict her and the victims brother, Jordan Johnstone.

The body of the 22-year-old was found dumped at the Maggie Wall Witch Monument, in Dunning, Perthshire, in May 2018. Her throat had been cut.

No murder weapon has been found and the investigation remains open.
Motorists are being hit with a record 41,000 parking tickets a day - despite repeated Government promises to crackdown on bandit operators.

Shocking figures reveal ruthless private companies issued 3.8million tickets to drivers between July and September - or one every two seconds on average.

A further 3.4million were issued between April and June this year, according to official figures.

It means the parking firms are on track to issue demands for up to 1.5billion in fines this year (2024/25) as the number slapped on drivers is on course to hit a record 14.6million.

This would be up from the record 12.8million issued last year (2023/24) and 11.1million in 2022/23.

And the figures apply only to car parks run by private firms, not councils.

Ministers tonight faced renewed calls to get tough on cut-throat firms causing misery for millions of motorists with their army of traffic wardens amid the cost of living squeeze.

It comes after the previous Tory Government withdrew a long-awaited code of practice aimed at protecting drivers from cowboy operators. Former ministers caved in after parking firms launched a judicial review of the proposals, which included slashing the maximum fines from 100 to 50 and banning debt collectors from hounding motorists who do not pay within a time limit.

Motorists are being hit with a record 41,000 parking tickets a day - despite repeated Government promises to crackdown on bandit operators (stock image)

Shocking figures reveal ruthless private companies issued 3.8million tickets to drivers between July and September - or one every two seconds on average. A further 3.4million were issued between April and June this year, according to official figures

The number of tickets issued for the second quarter of this year (2024/25) has more than doubled since 2018, when 1.7million were doled out during the same period.

If this years increase continues at the same rate, it will reach a record high of nearly 14.6million tickets issued in 2024/25 - 1.8million more than the current record high of 12.8million in 2023/24.

With fines capped at 100, private firms are on course to issue demands for up to nearly 1.5billion worth of fines this year.

Motorists have been waiting years for a Government-devised code of practice to crackdown on cut-throat private parking firms, amid complaints of bad practices such as deliberately poor signage and not allowing grace periods if motorists dont return to their cars in time through no fault of their own.

A Bill to enable the introduction of a new code of conduct received royal assent in March 2019.

But the code was withdrawn by the Conservative government in June 2022 after a legal challenge by parking companies.

In June, industry bodies the British Parking Association (BPA) and the International Parking Community published their own code of practice.

It included requirements for consistent signage, a single set of rules for operators on private land and an appeals charter.

But motoring groups criticised it for not including a cap on fines or the removal of debt recovery fees.

It means parking firms look set to rake in bumper profits from fines on motorists for some time.

AA president Edmund King said: When we managed to get cowboy clampers outlawed, we warned that some of the unscrupulous clampers would enter the private parking territory, and this has been proved right.

We accept drivers should never park when they like, and where they like, but far too often cowboy enforcement companies act like Dick Turpin. Better regulation to outlaw some of these bandits is long overdue.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is also the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. A spokesperson for the ministry said: Motorists must be protected when using private car parks and we are determined to drive up standards in the industry

RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding added: Private parking is clearly one sector of the economy which appears to be booming but at the expense of millions of motorists each year.

These numbers suggest that big questions remain about the way the current system is working - or failing.

Drivers must be very wary of where they leave their vehicles as they head out to do their Christmas shopping because these numbers suggest that even the smallest indiscretion is likely to lead to a fine which will erase any sense of festive cheer.

If ministers wanted to give motorists a Christmas present they should crack on with implementing the long-promised reforms to parking management which have now been on the statute book for more than five years.

The figures were based on the number of records obtained from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) by companies chasing vehicle owners for alleged infringements in private car parks, such as at shopping centres, leisure facilities and motorway service areas.

Some 172 parking firms requested access to documents, with ParkingEye the most active between July and September - buying 594,000 records.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: Motorists must be protected when using private car parks and we are determined to drive up standards in the industry.

We know how much of an issue this is for drivers, which is why we will set out further details on the private parking code of practice as soon as possible.
Anthony Albanese has faced another setback with a staggering number of Aussies believing the country is headed in the wrong direction, according to a new poll.

A Redbridge poll released on Wednesday showed nearly half of the 1,500 voters surveyed between November 13 and 20 shared the bleak sentiment.

More than 50 per cent believed the Albanese government did not have the right focus.

When asked if it had the right priorities, 25 per cent of Australians said they 'strongly disagree' and 27 per cent disagreed.

A mere six per cent of voters claimed to 'strongly agree' and about 30 per cent of people viewed the government's priorities in a positive light.

Redbridge Director Tony Barry said it was a worrying sign for the prime minister ahead of the federal election due to be held by May 2025.

'With 48 per cent of voters believing Australia is on the wrong track, and a majority thinking the Prime Minister is focused on the wrong priorities, there is a very strong mood-for-change sentiment in the electorate,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

The poll revealed Labor was losing some of its traditional voter base as just one per cent of blue collar voters 'strongly agreed' that the government had the right priorities compared to 21 per cent of professionals and managers.

Anthony Albanese has faced another setback with a staggering number of Aussies believing the country is headed in the wrong direction, according to a new poll

About 38 per cent of professionals and managers believed the government had the right focus - almost double their blue collar counterparts (20 per cent).

The dwindling support from blue collar Aussies is a massive blow for Mr Albanese who likes to present himself as having strong ties to the working class.

He continuously revisited stories from his childhood during his election campaign - recalling how he was raised by a single mother in commission housing.

The Prime Minister even labelled himself a 'working class boy from public housing'.

'Labor's problem is that Albanese is a white-collar person's idea of a blue-collar person and a perception among their base that his priorities are not aligned with theirs,' Mr Barry said.

'If they can't reconnect with their base in coming months there's a real danger that some Labor seats that aren't normally in play might be on the table during the campaign.'

Some 57 per cent of Aussies surveyed claimed they felt worse off today than when Mr Albanese was elected two-and-a-half years ago.

The figure dwarfed the 31 per cent of voters who thought they were better off now than when Mr Albanese was elected.

The poll also recorded a shift in the public perception of whether Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was ready for office.

For the first time, the number of voters who believe Mr Dutton was ready to lead the country had outweighed those who thought he was not.

In November last year, the difference between participants who thought Mr Dutton was ready was at 20 points against him.

This drastically shrunk to nine per cent in April and further decreased to six per cent in July, this year.

'There is a growing cohort of Dutton-curious voters who are more prepared to accept the proposition that the Coalition are ready for government,' Mr Barry said.

'In the last seven months on the ready-for-government measurement, the Coalition has moved from net -9 to net +1, representing a 10-point movement which in political tracks is a very significant movement.'
The early release of hundreds of criminals from Scottish jails is misguided and will put the public at risk, a senior police officer warned last night.

Rob Hay, president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS), launched an unprecedented broadside against the SNP governments bid to tackle prison overcrowding by stepping up the early release of inmates, including violent thugs.

He said it was another challenge dumped on the doorstep of the already critically overstretched police service which would spark an increase in crime.

The attack on the SNP by one of the countrys highest-ranking officers came as emergency legislation was approved by MSPs, allowing up to 390 short-term prisoners to be freed from February.

Hundreds were let out early in the summer in a bid to ease pressure on jails  but one in eight of them were sent back to prison after reoffending.

Chief Superintendent Rob Hay made an unprecedented intervention over the early release of prisoners

Justice Secretary Angela Constance in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday ahead of the debate and vote

Scottish Tory MSP Liam Kerr described a previous release as 'reckless'

Last night Mr Hay said of the SNPs latest move: This will lead to further offending behaviour and the revolving door of crime continues.

We know from the last round of releases that many of those who are freed will end up back in prison.

The public are being put at risk. Every crime committed and every victim who suffered at the hands of those criminals represent an avoidable consequence of this misguided Scottish Government policy.

To release prisoners early, knowing further offending is likely to occur, piles pressure on a police service already stretched to breaking.

Mr Hay, who will meet Justice Secretary Angela Constance tomorrow to outline the ASPSs concerns, added: It is just another challenge dumped on the doorstep of the already critically overstretched police.

It is disingenuous to suggest overcrowding is a new problem  this has been known about for years and it is the result of woefully poor planning.

There has been a lot of discussion about the efficacy of prison but for a lot of communities jail provides much-needed respite from repeat offenders. In terms of protecting the public from career criminals, prisons are 100 per cent effective.

His comments came as the Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill was passed last night in Holyrood after Green MSPs backed the SNP.

Labour, the Tories and the Liberal Democrats voted against the legislation.

Under the plans, between 260 and 390 prisoners would be released by February in three tranches over six weeks.

The Bill permanently changes the automatic release point for sentences of four years or less from 50 per cent to 40 per cent of their term  although those convicted of sexual or domestic violence would be excluded.

Tory MSP Jamie Greene tabled an amendment to revert to the current release point if the prison population dropped to a stable level, but his move fell.

Labours Pauline McNeill said she also had concerns about there being no prospect of going back to early release at 50 per cent of a short-term sentence.

MSPs want to release prisoners early from their sentence to ease overcrowding in jails

Ms Constance insisted the new law would give ministers the power to change release points through regulations  and that could be used to make sentences longer. Mr Greene replied: If you believe that youll believe anything.

Jail bosses will no longer get a veto over which prisoners are let out  as they did in the summer. The cost to the public purse of releasing the criminals in the New Year is estimated at up to 2million.

Phil Fairlie, assistant general secretary of the Prison Officers Association, described the Bill a step in the right direction in helping to reduce prisoner numbers.

Kate Wallace of Victim Support Scotland said the lack of a governors veto would endanger victims and the wider public.

Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said the SNPs reckless plan was a weak surrender to criminals.

The Scottish Government said: In the long term, the changes could result in asustained reduction of around 5 per cent to the sentenced prison population.
Survivors of the Egyptian tourist boat tragedy were found inside the overturned vessel after rescuers broke into a room not yet filled with water, an official has revealed as the hunt for two lost Britons continues.

The 'Sea Story' had been carrying 31 tourists of multiple nationalities and a 13-member crew when it was hit by a large wave near Marsa Alam in southeastern Egypt early on Monday, causing it to capsize.

A government source close to rescue operations said the five survivors were found on Tuesday morning inside the boat, which the governor said had been thrown on its side by an early morning wave but had not completely sunk.

'They were found inside one of the rooms which had not filled with water,' the government source told the AFP news agency, requesting anonymity because he was not authorised to brief the media.

The group had spent at least 24 hours in the overturned vessel after authorities first received distress calls at 5:30 AM local time on Monday.

'Rescue operations are ongoing today, supported by a military helicopter and a frigate in addition to multiple divers,' Red Sea governor Amr Hanafi said today, declining to provide any further details about the operation.

A military-led team rescued two Belgians, one Swiss national, one Finnish tourist and one Egyptian, the governor said, bringing the total number of survivors from the accident to 33.

Rescuers and medics are seen on a pontoon after the boat capsized early yesterday morning

Medics wait for possible survivors after a boat sank at a harbour in Marsa Alam, November 25

A file photo dated November 20, 2024 shows an aerial view of the Red Sea pier where Sea Story was docked

Medics and people wait for possible survivors after a boat sank at a harbour in Marsa Alam, Red Sea Governorate, in Egypt, 25 November 2024

The four bodies recovered on Tuesday were also located inside the stricken vessel.

The boat had embarked on a multi-day diving trip on Sunday and had been due to dock on Friday at the town of Hurghada, 200 kilometres (124 miles) north.

The governor on Monday said it capsized 'suddenly and quickly within 5-7 minutes' of the impact with the wave, leaving some passengers - among them European, Chinese and American tourists - unable to set out of their cabins in time.

Rescuers from the military and a passing tourist boat pulled 28 people from the water on Monday.

According to a source at a hospital in Marsa Alam, six tourists and three Egyptians were admitted with minor injuries and discharged on Monday.

The tourists included 'two Germans, two Britons, one Spaniard and one Swiss national,' the hospital administrator told AFP, requesting anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.

According to the governor's office, the boat was carrying tourists from Belgium, Britain, China, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland and the United States.

Among the missing are two Polish tourists and one from Finland, according to both countries' foreign ministries.

Survivors earlier described their horror as the boat capsized and filled with water, with one of the British tourists who made it out alive detailing how he got free.

An experienced diver who was on the tour reportedly said: 'I heard screams coming from the cabins, but many could not get out because the doors were closed and the room was filled with water.'

Another of the survivors, a British tourist, added: 'It was dark and the water suddenly surrounded us on all sides. I tried to swim to the surface, but the current was very strong and I felt like I was about to suffocate.'

The man credited his life jacket with saving him by keeping him buoyant before the first rescue teams arrived.

The boat named Sea Story (pictured) had 31 tourists of different nationalities as well as 13 crew members on board when it sank

Survivors of the sinking boat rest at a harbor in Marsa Alam, Red Sea Governorate, in Egypt, 25 November 2024

The boat was carrying 31 tourists of various nationalities - among them four Britons and two Americans - as well as 13 Egyptian crew members on board, according to local media outlet Masrawy (pictured: people waiting on the beach for survivors)

Medics wait for possible survivors after a boat sank at a harbour in Marsa Alam, Red Sea Governorate, in Egypt, 25 November 2024

The nationalities of the four people whose bodies have been found have not yet been confirmed.

Rescue teams had been 'intensifying efforts' to find those who had gone missing after the 34-metre-long boat sank.

Those who escaped the vessel said a 'high sea wave' had hit it and caused it to capsize in 'about five or seven minutes', Mr Hanafi said.

Some passengers were inside the cabins, 'which is why they couldn't get out of the boat', he added in a statement.

The incident occurred during rough weather conditions, with the Egyptian Red Sea Ports Authority reporting wave heights of 10-13 feet and wind speeds of 34 knots in the area on Sunday, leading to the closure of maritime traffic.

A surviving crew member said the boat was 'hit by a wave in the middle of the night, throwing the vessel on its side', according to a manager of a diving resort close to the rescue operations.

The boat departed on a diving trip from the port of Ghalib in Marsa Alam on November 24 and was scheduled to arrive at Hurghada Marina on November 29.

Some of the survivors were reportedly flown back to shore by a helicopter to receive medical care, while others were transported via another boat.

The search was reportedly made more difficult due to bad weather, which comes after authorities in the Red Sea capital of Hurghada on Sunday shut down marine activities and the city's port - also due to 'bad weather conditions'.

But winds around Marsa Alam had remained favourable until Sunday night, the diving manager told AFP, before calming again by morning.

The firm that operates the yacht, Dive Pro Liveaboard in Hurghada, Egypt, said yesterday it had no information on the matter.

Hanafi said the boat had passed its last safety inspection in March 2024, with no technical issues reported. The boat, owned by an Egyptian national, was 34 meters long and had received a one-year safety certificate from the Maritime Safety Authority.

Ship tracking website Marine Traffic showed the last location shared by the boat as somewhere off Hurghada.

The Sea Story is a 144ft, four-deck pleasure craft built in 2022, which can carry up to 36 passengers.

The boat has a total of 18 twin cabins with en-suite bathrooms on board, which are used for tourists on diving trips hoping to explore the Red Sea reefs.

Authorities have not confirmed the nationalities of the tourists and it is unclear who is among the rescued and who is still missing.

The Chinese embassy in Egypt said Monday two of its nationals were 'in good health' after being 'rescued in the cruise ship sinking accident in the Red Sea', Chinese state media reported.

The Sea Story is a 144ft pleasure craft built in 2022, which can carry up to 36 passengers

Ship tracking website Marine Traffic showed the last location shared by the boat as somewhere off Hurghada

The dining room for the passengers on the Sea Story is pictured above

Polish foreign ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski said authorities 'have information that two of the tourists may have had Polish citizenship'.

The Finnish foreign ministry confirmed to AFP news agency that one of its nationals is also among the missing.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told MailOnline: 'We are providing consular support to a number of British nationals and their families following an incident in Egypt and are in contact with the local authorities.'

It is not the first time this year a diving tour boat sank in the Red Sea. Earlier this month, 30 people were rescued from a sinking dive boat near the Red Sea's famous Deadalus reef.

In June, two dozen French tourists were safely evacuated before their boat sank in a similar accident.
The US Supreme Court has refused to hear the case of an elderly homeowner left with a $69,000 bill for damage caused by police when they ransacked her home because a fugitive was hiding in her attic.

Vicki Baker, 80, watched in horror as law enforcement officers virtually demolished her McKinney, Texas, home while searching for a wanted man in July 2020. Now she's been told she must foot the enormous repair bill herself.

Despite fighting for more than four years, Baker has been left with just $500 in her retirement fund. The rest has been spent on home repairs and legal battles, forcing her to sell her beloved home at a reduced price.

Baker attempted to bring the case to the US Supreme Court, but the justices refused to hear it on Monday.

'I was hoping the Supreme Court would take up my case, so what happened to me would never happen to anyone else, so it's disappointing that they decided not to hear it,' Baker said in a statement on Monday in response to the ruling. 'If police can destroy my home and leave me with the bill, it can happen to anyone.'

However, two justices - Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gorsuch - have raised alarm over a legal gray area that could leave victims paying for government property destruction.

They said the case 'raises a serious question: whether the Takings Clause permits the government to destroy private property without paying just compensation, as long as the government had no choice but to do so.'

The US Supreme Court has refused to hear the case of an elderly homeowner who was left with a staggering $69,000 bill for damage caused by police when they ransacked her home because a fugitive was hiding in her attic

Despite fighting for more than four years, Baker has been left with just $500 in her retirement fund. The rest has been spent on home repairs and legal battles, forcing her to sell her beloved home at a reduced price

Baker's attorney, Jeffrey Redfern, said: 'At some point, the Supreme Court will need to grapple with the fact that there is a circuit split and that the lower courts are divided on this issue.'

'The constitution makes it clear that the government must compensate people for such takings, and your ability to receive such compensation shouldn't depend on where in the country you live,' he added.

The nightmare began when a man who had worked on her property, Wesley Little, stormed into her home with a teenage girl he had kidnapped in July 2020.

Baker was able to get out and call 911 to alert the police, and gave them the code to access to the property in McKinney, Texas. But her home was practically demolished when the SWAT team later stormed in using 'highly destructive tactics'.

Lawyers from the Institute for Justice, who represent Baker, then asked for another hearing as they prepared to take their demands for compensation to the Supreme Court.

Baker's daughter, Deanna Cook, was the only person at the home at the time but knew that Little was on the run with the girl after seeing information from the teen's mother on Facebook.

Allowing the pair in the house, Cook claimed that she needed to go to the store and left. It was then that she called her mother and authorities.

Vicki Baker, 80, watched in horror as law enforcement officers virtually demolished her McKinney, Texas home while searching for a wanted man in July 2020 - and now she's been told she must foot the enormous repair bill herself.

Baker, Cook and the police met at a local Walmart where the homeowner passed along the code for the authorities to gain access to her house.

Police arrived at the property and surrounded it, working to negotiate the release of the teenage girl.

Eventually the teen was able to exit the property, alerting authorities that Little had seven firearms inside. He later took his own life.

The original lawsuit that Baker had filed alleging a violation of her Fifth Amendment rights said: 'Eventually, the McKinney police decided to storm the house, using highly destructive tactics.

'They knocked down the backyard fence with a BearCat (essentially a tank). They fired approximately 30 tear gas canisters through the windows of the house. They knocked down the front door and the garage door.'

'The damage to the house was extensive. Every window needed to be replaced. A hazmat remediation team needed to clean the entire house because of the tear gas. Appliances were destroyed.'

Vicki Baker's McKinney, Texas, home was practically demolished on July 25, 2020, after she called 911 to tell them of the armed fugitive

In the original suit, Baker said officers knocked down the backyard fence with a BearCat, seen here, and fired approximately 30 tear gas canisters through the windows of the house

The suit continued: 'The front door and garage needed to be replaced. Tear gas canisters had smashed through the drywall.

'Carpets, blinds, and ceiling fans needed to be replaced. The damage totaled at least $50,000.'

Speaking about the incident, Baker told Fox News: 'What I was told was the reason they did a lot of that was to bring about confusion to the perpetrator inside.

'They call it shock and awe, so while they were doing all this damage to my house. He apparently killed himself.

'Tear gas got my daughter's little Chihuahua, so he had to be put to sleep. Everything you have in house went.'

Her insurance policy excluded damages caused by the government, so Baker attempted to file a property damage claim with the city who refused to pay out.

Baker then proceeded to sue to the city with the help of the Institute of Justice who successfully argued that the city had a right to seize the property, but that she should be compensated.

Police arrived at the home and surrounded it, working to negotiate the release of the teenage girl

Carpets, blinds, and ceiling fans needed to be replaced with the damage totaling at least $50,000

The city then offered to pay out the full amount in damages, but Baker's lawyers refused to settle until the city had changed policy so it wouldn't happen again.

A federal judge also sided with Baker, and a jury awarded her $59,656.59 in damages.

The city then appealed this decision, and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the previous ruling.

In November 2023, Baker, who is a cancer survivor, vowed to challenge the appeals court's ruling stating that she is not entitled to a $60,000 payout.

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the month prior that it was necessary for police to use the measures to resolve a standoff at Vicki Baker's home and that she should not be compensated for the damage.
A drunk OnlyFans creator in Brazil was arrested for trying to kidnap a three-year-old boy and attacking his nanny after a night out partying, authorities said.

Surveillance video footage captured the moment Diego dos Santos, 29, approached the pair in Sao Paulo on November 20 as they were walking along a sidewalk on a busy street.

Dos Santos was seen stopping them and appearing to engage the woman in conversation when he reached to grab the boy's hand.

The concerned babysitter picked up the child and began to walk in the opposite direction as dos Santos followed them.

He then turned violent, pulling the woman by the hair and slamming her to the ground.

Dos Santos was then seen kicking the woman and grabbing the boy before walking off with him.

Within seconds, a man identified by police as dos Santos' friend raced over and restrained him as the nanny snatched the child from dos Santos' arms.

OnlyFans model Diego dos Santos is facing attempted kidnaping and child endangerment charges in Brazil

Authorities said do Santos (right) had partied at a rave and was drunk when he assaulted a nanny (left) and tried to kidnap the three-year-old boy (center)

Dos Santos has yet to provide an explanation as to why he attempted to kidnap the boy

Dos Santos was located by authorities Friday and placed under arrest.

A Sao Paulo Civil Police report indicated that dos Santos had questioned the nanny over her relationship with the boy.

Civil Police Chief Luiz Eduardo told Brazilian news outlet Metro that dos Santos was drunk and was on his way home from a night out clubbing when he tried to abduct the boy.

His friend was questioned by police and was unable to explain why he attempted to take the boy.

'This young man cooperated a lot. They were together, left a rave, (stayed) all night, and left in the morning,' Eduardo said.

'He prevented the major crime. The Civil Police are treating him as a witness.'

Prosecutors were expected to file a motion in court requesting that dos Santos be placed in pretrial detention.

He is facing attempted kidnaping and child endangerment charges.

Dos Santos was restrained by his friend while the nanny snatched the three-year-old boy away from the man's arms moments after he attacked the woman and tried to abduct the child

Diego dos Santos, an adult content creator, was arrested by Brazilian authorities after he attempted to kidnap a three-year-old boy on a street in Sao Paulo

'He doesn't say anything, he has no explanation for the act he committed,' Eduardo said.

'(He) could have been run over with that child.'

Dos Santos also created adult content for Privacy, a Brazilian social media platform that is similar to OnlyFans.

His account on X was immediately taken down following a series of complaints issued by his followers.
The Chief Rabbi warned last night that MPs legalising assisted suicide could 'turn life into a commodity like any other'.

Ephraim Mirvis said he had 'deep concerns' about landmark legislation to be debated by MPs on Friday which would allow the terminally ill to end their own lives.

In an email to MPs last night, Sir Ephraim said he felt a 'moral obligation' to speak out about a proposal which would 'impose a new and immeasurable pressure upon terminal patients who are already extremely vulnerable'.

He said the gravity of the choice meant it 'simply cannot be protected against all manner of external influences, regardless of the proposed safeguards'.

The Chief Rabbi said evidence from Oregon, upon which the legislation is modelled, suggested that almost half of those choosing to end their lives 'cite the encumbrance upon their friends and family as one of their reasons'.

Warning of a 'slippery slope' he said that in Belgium and the Netherlands it 'did not take long for 'mental anguish' to become a legal and legitimate cause for assisted dying'.

He added: 'The 'medicalisation' of death, in which dying becomes just another treatment option... represents a major paradigm shift in the values that underpin our society. The purpose of medicine is and always has been to heal and ease pain - never to end life.

'It is surely not inconceivable that, in the course of time, financial and capacity constraints within the health system could become relevant considerations, thus turning life into a commodity like any other.'

Ephraim Mirvis (pictured) said he had 'deep concerns' about landmark legislation to be debated by MPs on Friday

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater in her office in the Houses of Parliament, London, as she discusses her private member's bill, The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

It came as assisted dying adverts plastered around London Underground stations were covered up with anti-suicide messages from Samaritans following a backlash.

The adverts urging the public to support legalising the controversial practice appeared in some of the capital's busiest tube stations - Westminster - on Monday.

The posters declare 'legalise assisted dying' and bear the logo of Dignity in Dying - one of the largest campaign groups pushing for a change in the law.

One shows a woman jumping for joy in her kitchen next to the words: 'My dying wish is my family won't see me suffer.'

The ads sparked a backlash after experts pointed out that dozens of people attempt to take their lives on the London Underground each year.

And just hours after they had been put up the adverts were covered by posters from suicide prevention charity Samaritans that read: 'Whatever you're facing, we're here to listen. Call free day or night on 116 123.'

The chief Rabbi's intervention came as a former Lord Chief Justice warned that assisted suicide cases could clog up the courts for years.

The legislation will leave High Court judges to give the final sign off in cases where terminally ill people want to end their lives.

Dignity in Dying campaigners gather in Parliament Square last month in support of the 'assisted dying bill'

Former Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas yesterday warned that supporters of the plan had given too little thought to the impact on the courts, which are already suffering major backlogs.

Lord Thomas said High Court judges could not be expected to engage in a 'rubber stamping' exercise and would have to get involved in the details of each case.

The former head of the judiciary said it was clear that judges would be an 'integral part of the process' and warned that their role cannot be 'sorted out later'.

He added: 'The process and the impact on the court system is really something about which there should be information before we decide in principle to proceed.'

Sir Gerald Barling, a retired High Court judge, described the assisted dying legislation as 'arbitrary and defective' and warned it would be difficult for judges to decide whether 'there is this clear, settled and informed decision to end their own life' without seeing the patient.

The legislation, to be debated on Friday, is being brought forward by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. The Government has adopted a 'neutral' position, with MPs and ministers given a free vote.

Unlike normal government legislation there has been no formal assessment of the impact on either the NHS or the courts.

Under the Bill, terminally-ill adults with less than six months to live and a wish to die would be eligible for an assisted death if signed off by two doctors and a High Court judge

Sir Gerald told Times Radio that the process was likely to have a significant impact on court time, adding: 'There will almost certainly have to be a hearing. I don't see how without seeing the patient, the judge can decide that there is this clear, settled and informed decision to end their own life.'

Meanwhile, a leading anti-suicide campaigner warned against the legislation, saying it would undermine efforts to prevent people from taking their own lives.

Sir Louis Appleby, who leads the National Suicide Prevention Strategy, said: 'Proponents of assisted dying point to the limited scope of the Bill: terminal illness. But once the principle behind suicide prevention has been set aside, once any part of the ground has been ceded - not only to allow suicide but to assist it - we have lost something we may not get back.

'There are countless causes of irremediable hardship, many reasons people may want to make despairing choices. Could they become exceptions to suicide prevention too?'
A third Australian is recovering in hospital after a suspected mass methanol poisoning in Laos.

Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19 and from Melbourne's Bayside, and four other foreign tourists have died after falling ill in Vang Vieng, a popular tourist town in Laos.

The bodies of the best friends were flown home to Melbourne on Tuesday night.

It has since been revealed a third Australian also fell ill in the suspected mass poisoning.

They are reported to be in stable condition and are receiving support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Local media has reported that eight people have been detained over the deaths of an American man and two Danish women in Van Vieng, but there was no mention of the two Australians or a British woman who also died of methanol poisoning.

The men detained were identified as hotel staff and management.

Australian Federal Police has offered to help the Laos investigation, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese telling parliament the government had made it clear to officials they expect a thorough and transparent investigation.

Melbourne teenager Bianca Jones (pictured) died after a suspected mass methanol poisoning in Laos

Eight staff from the Nana Backpacker Hostel, where Melbourne teenager Holly Bowles (above) died after drinking an allegedly contaminated beverage, were arrested on Monday

Early testing indicated methanol was allegedly present in beer and spirits served at the Nana Backpackers Hostel (pictured)

Friends of Ms Jones and Ms Bowles, from Beaumaris in Melbourne's southeast, have adorned their suburb with blue and yellow ribbons, the colour of the teenagers' football team.

The pair were on holiday in Laos when they became ill and failed to check out of Nana Backpackers Hostel on November 13 after a night at nearby Jaidee Bar.

They were evacuated to Thailand and died in separate Bangkok hospitals after their parents raced to be by their bedsides.

DFAT said in a statement that Australian representatives were assisting local authorities and it had provided consular assistance to the families of the two teenagers.

'Australian officials in Laos and Thailand are working closely with local authorities. Investigations are underway and we are offering any assistance we can provide.'

After her body landed in Melbourne, Ms Jones' father Mark said his family would try to put their lives back together after the tragedy.

'We want to grieve, we miss our daughters desperately,' he told reporters at Tullamarine airport.

The two girls' fathers Shaun Bowles (left) and Mark Jones (right) at Melbourne airport after bringing the bodies of their daughters home

However, he said more needed to be done to ensure those responsible for the suspected contamination of beer and spirits were held to account.

'I was happy to hear that there's been some movement over in Laos, I will continue to urge our government to pursue whoever was responsible,' Mr Jones said.

'We cannot have our girls passing and this continuing to happen.'

A fundraiser for the families had raised $330,000 as of Wednesday morning, prompting loved ones to expand their efforts to raise awareness of methanol poisoning.

Its three goals are to relieve financial burdens for the families, support methanol poisoning education measures and fund awareness campaigns.

The grieving families are now seeking to raise $500,000.

'Your contributions, kind words, and willingness to share their story have inspired us beyond measure,' the Jones and Bowles families said in a statement released on their GoFundMe page on Tuesday.

'Every dollar raised will go towards making a lasting impact and ensuring that their story saves lives. We're so grateful for your support and hope you'll continue to stand with us as we work towards this larger goal.'
This video is no longer available

This video is no longer available

A teary-eyed Nat Barr has expressed her heartfelt wish for justice after two Australian women died in a suspected mass methanol poisoning in Laos.

Melburnians Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19, and four other foreign nationals died in recent weeks after falling ill in Vang Vieng, a popular tourist town in Laos.

The bodies of Bianca and Holly landed at Melbourne airport on Tuesday, with their parents on the same flight.

'We want to grieve, we miss our daughters desperately,' father Mark Jones said, speaking to the media on arrival.

Seeing the fathers speak made Barr emotional on her Sunrise show, where she praised the fathers' courage in facing the media.

'Watching those two dads have to do that and have to face the media, it's just amazing, isn't it?' the Sunrise host said on Wednesday morning.

'Our hearts go out to all those families and the friends affected. Let's hope justice is served here.'

A fundraiser in honour of the two Australians had raised $320,000 as of Tuesday evening, prompting their loved ones to expand their efforts to raise awareness of methanol poisoning.

Nat Barr became teary-eyed as she commended the courage of Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles' parents

Mark Jones (right) said he want(s) to grieve, pictured alongside Shaun Bowles (left)

The fundraiser's three goals are to relieve financial burdens for the families, support methanol poisoning education measures and funding awareness campaigns.

The grieving Jones and Bowles families are now seeking to raise $500,000.

'We are truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and generosity you have shown in supporting our campaign in memory of Bianca and Holly,' the Jones and Bowles families said in a statement released on their gofundme page on Tuesday.

'Your contributions, kind words, and willingness to share their story have inspired us beyond measure.'

Local media reported eight people were detained over the deaths of an American man and two Danish women in Van Vieng, but there was no mention of the two Australians or a British woman who also died of suspected methanol poisoning.

The men detained were identified as hotel staff and management.

Australian Federal Police has offered to help the Laos investigation, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese telling parliament the government had made it clear to officials they expect a through and transparent investigation.

Friends of the teens from Beaumaris, in Melbourne's southeast, have adorned their suburb with blue and yellow ribbons in their memory.

Melbourne teenager Bianca Jones (pictured) died after a suspected mass methanol poisoning in Laos

Eight staff from the Nana Backpacker Hostel, where Melbourne teenager Holly Bowles (above) died after drinking an allegedly contaminated beverage, were arrested on Monday

Early testing indicated methanol was allegedly present in beer and spirits served at the Nana Backpackers Hostel (pictured)

The friends were on holiday in Laos when they became ill and failed to check out at the Nana Backpacker Hostel on November 13 after going to the Jaidee Bar.

Ms Jones and Ms Bowles were evacuated to Thailand and died in separate Bangkok hospitals after their parents raced to be by their bedsides.

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 further 14 tourists who had been drinking in the area developed methanol poisoning within days of each other.

It has since been revealed a third Australian also fell ill in the suspected poisoning incident and is recovering in hospital.

They are reported to be in stable condition and are receiving support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

A New Zealand citizen who was among those poisoned has also reportedly left Laos and returned home, according to the country's embassy in Bangkok.
Chinese FM holds talks with deputy PM of Luxembourg

Xinhua) 08:56, November 26, 2024

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel in Beijing on Monday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that the bilateral relations have achieved long-term and steady development since the establishment of diplomatic ties more than 50 years ago.

China speaks highly of Luxembourg's positive and practical policy toward China, and stands ready to work with Luxembourg to consolidate political mutual trust, enhance complementarity, create new growth points for green development cooperation, increase people-to-people exchanges and push for further progress in bilateral relations, he said.

Wang noted that next year marks the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations. China and the EU are partners not rivals, he said, expressing the hope that the EU side will uphold its strategic autonomy. China is willing to work with Luxembourg to promote the sustained and sound development of China-EU relations, Wang said.

Bettel said that Luxembourg firmly adheres to the one-China principle and looks forward to closer cooperation with China. As one of the founding members of the EU, Luxembourg is willing to enhance EU-China mutual trust and promote EU-China partnership.

Bettel noted that China is a major country worthy of trust, voicing the hope that China will play a bigger role in world peace and stability.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Incoming White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles announced Tuesday that the Trump team had signed a 'Memorandum of Understanding' with President Joe Biden's White House to get the presidential transition rolling after a three-week delay.

The announcement ends the stand-off between the outgoing and incoming administrations, but Trump's team indicated they will not be handling the transition in the traditional fashion.

They will not sign a separate MOU with the General Services Administration, which has office space and secure IT support at the ready.

They vowed to abide by their own pre-existing 'Ethics Pledge' and will continue to use private funding for the transition efforts - but said they would disclose the names of donors to the American public - claiming 'we will not require additional government and bureaucratic oversight.'

'The Transition will not utilize taxpayer funding for costs related to the transition, which is consistent with President Trump's commitment to save taxpayers' hard-earned money,' the announcement said.

The White House confirmed to DailyMail.com that the MOU had been signed, but expressed reservations.

'While we do not agree with the Trump transition team's decision to forgo signing the GSA MOU, we will follow the purpose of the Presidential Transition Act which clearly states that "any disruption occasioned by the transfer of the executive power could produce results detrimental to the safety and wellbeing of the United States and its people,"' said White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma.

She added that the Biden White House felt they had little choice but to go along with the wishes of the incoming president's team.

President-elect Donald Trump (left) shakes hands with President Joe Biden (right) during their Oval Office meeting on November 13. The transition had been held up because Trump's team refused to sign three MOUs with the federal government

'The fact is that on January 20 at 12 p.m., President Trump and his team will be in seat,' she said in a statement. 'We have 2 options. Option one is no transition, potentially risking the security of the American people and our country.'

'Option two is conduct a smooth transition with safeguards in the White House MOU to protect non-public information and prevent conflicts of interest,' she continued.

'Option two is the responsible course and in the best interest of the American people,' she added.

Trump's team was supposed to sign three agreements to kick off the traditional transition process - one with the White House, one with the GSA and a third with the Department of Justice so that the president-elect's Cabinet picks could get vetted by the FBI, which has historically been needed for Senate confirmation.

White House officials said Tuesday that the DOJ MOU 'is not signed but progress has been made towards an agreement.'

The DOJ is 'ready to process requests for security clearances for those who will need access briefing materials and national security information once the MOU is signed,' officials said.

Trump has long been skeptical of the so-called 'deep state,' and has suggested that his many indictments were proof that Biden's DOJ was after him - so it's not surprising that there was reluctance to sign an agreement with the Justice Department.

But one of the crucial findings of the September 11 attack's report was that the drawn-out 2000 election - and delayed transition - contributed to President George W. Bush's team not being prepared for the Islamic terror threat.

Incoming Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, pictured on the campaign trail in July, was quoted in the announcement put out by the Trump transition on Tuesday

One of the biggest reasons to get the transition moving is to allow Trump's people access to vital national security information so they're prepared on day No. 1.

Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren called attention to this issue in a stern letter to the GSA last week, asking the agency to articulate the serious problems that could crop up from team Trump's refusal to sign the agreements.

'President-elect Trump is undermining his administrations ability to manage urgent national security threats, health and safety threats, and serious conflicts of interest starting on day one of his presidency,' she said.

In a follow-up statement provided to DailyMail.com, Warren said Tuesday's announcement 'fails to answer key questions about national security threats and FBI vetting of nominees, and increases concerns about corruption.'

'There appear[s] to be serious gaps between the Trump transition's ethics agreement and the letter of the law,' the Massachusetts Democrat said. 'The reliance on private donors to fund the transition is nothing more than a ploy for well-connected Trump insiders to line their pockets while pretending to save taxpayers money.'

White House officials said Tuesday that the MOU would allow incoming Trump officials to access non-public information, but it also provided guardrails.

'In the event it is necessary to share classified information with a transition team member, the relevant government agency must establish that the transition team member has the security clearance necessary to have access to that information, the requisite need to know, and has signed the requisite non-disclosure agreements,' officials said.
US podcaster Joe Rogan has told his massive audience that he would not move to Australia because the country put people in 'concentration camps' for 'a cold' during the Covid lockdowns.

He also said that kind of repression was only possible because Australia prevented its people having guns.

The remarks came during Rogan's conversation with retired Mixed Martial Arts fighter Royce Gracie as they discussed a perceived reduction in personal freedom in the US amid rising crime.

'I keep telling people if America falls I think the whole world will fall, the rest of the world will fall,' Gracie said.

'Yeah, maybe that's the plan,' responded Rogan, who has over 14.5million followers for his podcasts on Spotify.

'There's no place that has this kind of freedom,' he added as Royce continued to ask 'where would you go'?

Eventually Rogan said he once considered Australia was a viable alternative to the US but his mind had since changed.

US podcaster Joe Rogan has told his massive audience that he wouldn't move to Australia after seeing what happened during the Covid pandemic

Joe Rogan is pictured with Donald Trump

'I used to think Australia but then I saw how they handled the pandemic I was like '"oh f**, that well that's what happens when no one has guns",' he said.

'Yep the army just rolls in and tells you what to do and puts you in concentration camps because you have a cold, like it's crazy.'

During the Covid pandemic Australia quarantined people arriving in the country for weeks before they were able to enter the community.

Most were put in hotels but some were also housed in temporary isolation camps.

Australia's specialised national quarantine facility, Howard Springs on the outskirts of Darwin, hosted around 64,000 people for a mandatory two-week isolation period.

The Howard Springs quarantine centre on the outskirts of Darwin, hosted around 64,000 people during the Covid period

Opponents of the quarantine arrangement described the Howard Springs centre as a 'concentration camp'.

These quarantined at Howard Springs were charged for the cost of accommodation, food, medical support, policing and security.

They were charged $2,500 per person, or $5,000 for a family of two or more people, for the 14 days.

Even members of Australia's Olympic team returning from the Tokyo Olympics did 14 day stays at the facility.

Australia gained worldwide headlines during the pandemic period for deporting Serbian tennis superstar Novak Djokovic for not taking the Covid vaccines.

Djokovic was forced to leave Australia just days before he was scheduled to walk on court as the defending Australian Open champion in January 2022 because he entered the country unvaccinated during pandemic border restrictions.

In an interview with US TV network CBS in December Djokovic revealed the experience still scarred him.

'I was basically declared as a villain of the world,' he said.

Djokovic admitted that although he has often not been a crowd favourite, what happened to him in Australia was a different level of antagonism.

'I had that kind of experience on the tennis court with, with crowds that were not maybe cheering me on, but I never had this particular experience before in my life,' he said.

Djokovic was asked by interviewer Jon Wertheim if he 'misread' the mood of the Australian public who 'felt very strongly about vaccination' and did not like the perceived Serbian star's 'exceptionalism'.

'It was not up to me to read an anybody,' Djokovic stated.

'I got the permission to come into the country and, and so of course, it escalated to the highest of the highest levels globally.'

Melbourne, where the Australian Open is staged, was locked down for a record 262 non-consecutive days during the pandemic.

The measures at time included a curfew and orders for residents not to breach a 5km radius from their place of residence.

Australians lost many of their rights to own high caliber weapons after a shooting massacre in 1996 left 35 dead at the tourist destination of Port Arthur in Tasmania.

It was the world's biggest mass shooting at the time and saw legislation enacted to remove semi-automatic weapons and crack down on gun ownership generally.

Laws have tightened in the years since and in NSW, the most populous Australian state, those wanting a gun must supply genuine reason for owning a firearm.
Militant union bosses were tonight accused of creating a 'hostile' atmosphere for British Jews by organising pro-Palestine demonstrations in hospitals and schools.

Thousands of NHS staff, teachers and civil servants are expected to take part in the 'workplace day of action' on Thursday in protest at the war in Gaza.

They have been encouraged to turn up to work wearing red, green and black clothing and badges in support of the Palestinian cause.

But critics tonight said the demos were ill-advised and divisive and will only serve to 'intimidate' Jewish and Israeli doctors, patients, students and public sector workers.

The protests are being organised by Trades Union Congress (TUC), Unison, National Education Union (NEU), along with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and Stop The War Coalition (SWC).

Robert Jenrick, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, said: 'These protestors are enforcing their divisive politics on patients and children.

'There is a place for political protest, but the school gates are not it. Labour should be issuing guidance to schools and hospitals that these protests should not go ahead.'

Many workers are expected to attend rallies outside NHS hospitals, public schools and councils during their lunch breaks.

Militant union bosses were tonight accused of creating a 'hostile' atmosphere for British Jews by organising pro-Palestine demonstrations in hospitals and schools. They have been encouraged to turn up to work wearing badges in support of the Palestinian cause

Pro-Palestine demonstrations in London. Critics tonight said the demos were ill-advised and divisive and will only serve to 'intimidate' Jewish and Israeli doctors, patients, students and public sector workers

Protests and vigils are being planned outside at least six NHS hospitals, including St Mary's Hospital in London, the Manchester Royal Infirmary and the Bristol Royal Infirmary in what organisers are describing as 'the biggest day of action yet'.

Ahead of the protests, Jewish groups have written to the Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson to highlight the damaging impact they believe the demonstrations will have on 'community cohesion'.

Lawyers have also contacted headteachers around the country to remind them of their legal obligation to ensure that pupils are offered a balanced presentation of opposing views in schools.

A spokesperson for the Board of Deputies of British Jews said: 'This [workplace day of action] represents a continued failure of unions to support workers if they are Jewish.

'It is time for these unions to decide, are they there to support workers or to play student politics on a conflict on whose facts they appear to be plainly ignorant.'

Alex Hearn, a spokesperson for Labour Against Anti-Semitism, said the unions needed to start focusing on 'safeguarding their Jewish members'.

NEU members working at scores of Sixth Form colleges are also expected to demonstrate 'their support for Palestine' while striking as part of a separate pay dispute.

Yesterday, a spokesperson for the Union of Jewish students said the day of action by unions risked 'deepening the alienation of Jewish students and staff'.

Robert Jenrick, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, said: 'These protestors are enforcing their divisive politics on patients and children. 'There is a place for political protest, but the school gates are not it'

Ahead of the protests, Jewish groups have written to the Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson (pictured) to highlight the damaging impact they believe the demonstrations will have on 'community cohesion

A pro-Palestine rally in October. Many workers are expected to attend rallies outside NHS hospitals, public schools and councils during their lunch breaks

A spokesperson for the Jewish Leadership Council added: 'We have written to Bridget Philipson to raise our concerns regarding the NEU's plan for a day of 'workplace action'.

Caroline Turner, a spokesperson for UK Lawyers for Israel said: 'If a group of NHS staff protest at hospital entrances wearing Palestine paraphernalia this is likely to create an intimidating and hostile atmosphere for Jewish and Israeli staff and patients wanting to enter the building. It may prevent some staff from coming to work, or some patients wanting to enter the hospital.

'We have written to head teachers reminding them of their legal obligation to ensure that pupils are offered a balanced presentation of opposing views..'

A Unison spokesperson said members were not being asked to wear pro-Palestine attire when dealing with patients.

He added: 'Union branches are being encouraged to show support for a ceasefire by taking a photo during their lunch break'.

A spokesperson for the TUC said: 'The day of action is focused on the TUC's call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and the release of all hostages and political prisoners.

'We are advising trade union members to undertake the action respectfully, and to discuss with colleagues what action is best suited to their workplace.'

The Department for Education and the Department for Health have been contacted for comment.

A spokesman for the Stop the War Coalition said: Our workplace day of action will involve many Jewish students, doctors, lecturers and other workers.

Actions mostly involve bake sales to raise money for Palestinian people and moments of silence for the children killed in Gaza.

Cakes and silences are entirely peaceful and hardly likely to intimidate anyone.

A government spokesperson said: 'There is absolutely no place for antisemitism in our society, and it is essential that everyone regardless of race, religion, or background, feels safe.

'Schools and healthcare settings are places of protection. The law is clear that schools must remain politically impartial, and the General Medical Council has advised that doctors must not express their personal beliefs, whether political or otherwise, to patients in ways that could reasonably cause them distress.

'All citizens are entitled to their political opinions and have the right to campaign on issues, but we expect any action to be conducted respectfully.'

Unison, NEU and PSC have been contacted for comment.
A man has been killed after a falling tree branch crushed his vehicle at a camping ground during a severe storm in Victoria's north.

Emergency services responded to the incident at the Loop Track camping area at 7.10pm on Tuesday, with police confirming 'a large tree branch had fallen onto a moving vehicle during a significant weather event'.

A teenage boy and a woman in her 50s were also injured and both were taken to Northeast Health Wangaratta to be treated for upper body injuries.

An Ambulance Victoria spokesman confirmed the woman was 'in a serious but stable condition', while the boy's condition was described as 'stable'.

The identity of the man is yet to be confirmed, as are the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Yarrawonga on Tuesday night, with residents urged to 'shelter indoors immediately'.

The fallen tree was one of 30 that was reported to Victoria's State Emergency Service overnight as storms caused havoc across the state.

Part of northwest Victoria received unseasonably heavy rainfall at the start of this week as a trough travelled down from northern Australia.

The incident occurred at the Loop Track camping area in Yarrawonga (a map is pictured)

A man has been killed after a falling tree branch crushed his vehicle at a camping ground during a freak storm (pictured, storm damage in Queensland)

Weatherzone meteorologist Anthony Sharwood said northeastern parts of Victoria and the High Country are 'in line for a good soaking'.

Victoria is in for a warm and humid day on Wednesday with severe thunderstorms forecast for central and eastern areas of the state.

Storms are also forecast for Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Albury-Wodonga and the Latrobe Valley.

A severe weather warning for damaging winds is current for the state's northeast alpine areas with winds expected to get up to 110km/hour on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, temperatures are expected to get up to 40C across parts of NSW as the state sweats under a sticky heatwave on Wednesday.

Millions of Aussies have been warned more power outages are likely as an ongoing heatwave raises electricity demands to their highest levels since June.
Sixty RAF electronic warfare specialists have been deployed to protect US-British airbases from possible Russian drone attacks.

The highly trained troops were scrambled to the top secret Lakenheath, Mildenhall and Feltwell sites in East Anglia after the drone sightings on Monday.

They have been ordered to intercept any Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) posing a threat to aircraft or military personnel and to preserve operational security. The deployments follow sightings last week after Vladimir Putin vowed British and US military facilities were valid targets for Kremlin attacks.

The Russian President issued the chilling threat after Ukraine fired UK and US missiles into Russia for the first time. Russia responded to the Storm Shadow and ATACM salvos by firing a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile into Ukraine.

Today, Sir Keir Starmer attended an Armed Forces chiefs stocktake meeting at Downing Street, alongside General Sir Roly Walker, and Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin.

The Mail understands the RAF specialists have been drawn from the services 34 Squadron, based at RAF Leeming, in North Yorkshire. These personnel are equipped with thermal-imagining cameras, radio frequency and acoustic sensors, GPS jammers and long-range anti-drone guns.

Last night, US and UK military spokespersons confirmed the joint operation. In a statement, a spokesman for the US Air Forces in Europe, said: We can confirm there were sightings yesterday during night-time hours and can only confirm that the number fluctuated and varied between the bases over the night.

Sixty RAF electronic warfare specialists have been deployed to protect US-British airbases from possible Russian drone attacks (pictured: American F15 and F-35 jets were seen training at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk)

General Sir Roly Walker, Sir Keir Starmer and Admiral Sir Tony Radakin at Downing Street

The highly trained troops were scrambled to the top secret Lakenheath, Mildenhall (pictured) and Feltwell sites in East Anglia after the drone sightings on Monday

Radar domes comb the skies at RAF Feltwell in Norfolk

Since Nov 20, there has been no impact to residents or infrastructure, and they have not been identified as hostile. However, they are still continuously being monitored to ensure the safety and security of the installations.

An anonymous US official said the drones were coordinated and not the work of hobbyists but that it was too early to say who was responsible. While none of the suspicious drones have been confirmed as Russian, Kremlin UAVs have recently been identified in Latvia and Romania.

In Ukraine, drones dominate the battlefield. On Monday night, Russia used a record 188 drones in a single attack. Last week saw an uptick in drone activity around Lakenheath, Mildenhall and Feltwell  the three bases are highly sensitive, and symbolic for the Kremlin.

Last night, the RAF said: We take threats seriously and maintain robust measures at defence sites. We are supporting the US Air Force response.
Keir Starmer has held secret talks with farming leaders about the impact of the governments family farms tax - triggering speculation he is clearing the way for a climb down.

Downing Street yesterday confirmed that the Prime Minister held private talks with NFU president Tom Bradshaw on Monday.

No 10 said the government remained determined to press ahead with the controversial Budget move to slash inheritance tax relief for farms, which has triggered fury in rural communities.

But Mr Bradshaw said he had emerged hopeful of action to soften the impact, saying the PM had been very much in listening mode.

He said he had explained to Sir Keir the very real human impact, the viability of family farms and the low returns from producing the countrys food.

He added: The PM engaged with us and I really hope this marks a moment where we can move forward and reach an outcome that works for everyone.

No 10 had previously indicated that Sir Keir had no plans to meet with farming leaders, saying that Environment Secretary Steve Reed was handling the issue.

But Downing Street last night confirmed that he had held an undisclosed meeting with Mr Bradshaw following last weeks protest by thousands of farmers in London.

Downing Street last night confirmed that Starmer had held an undisclosed meeting with Mr Bradshaw following last weeks protest by thousands of farmers in London (pictured)

The two men discussed food security, trade, and other issues affecting farmers but No10 insisted the government will not back down on the inheritance tax (pictured: Keir Starmer)

A spokesman described the talks as constructive, adding: They had a wide-ranging conversation in which the Prime Minister recognised the strength of feeling about the changes to agricultural property relief set out in the Budget and listened to the NFUs concerns.

The two men also discussed food security, trade, and other issues affecting farmers.

No 10 insisted that the government will not back down on the inheritance tax change, which the Treasury hopes will generate 500 million.

We are not considering mitigation for the policy, the spokesman said. We are fully committed to implementing it as set out.

However, ministers are under mounting pressure to soften the policy, or scrap it altogether.

The government claims that the vast majority of farms will not be affected by the introduction of inheritance tax on agricultural land worth more than 1 million. From 2026, farming families will pay inheritance tax at 20 per cent above this threshold.

But critics have warned that the governments estimates include many small hobby farms.

A new analysis by the National Farmers Union found that three-quarters of commercial family farms are likely to be hit with huge tax bills which could force them to sell off land. It added: Put simply, the majority of farms dont earn enough money to pay the potential Inheritance Tax Bill without selling off some of their land or business, which in turn makes the farm business unviable.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw (pictured) said he had emerged hopeful of action to soften the impact, saying the PM had been very much in listening mode

The government claims that the vast majority of farms will not be affected by the introduction of inheritance tax on agricultural land worth more than 1 million (pictured: The farmers rally on November 19 outside Westminster)

The Institute for Fiscal Studies highlighted this week that the sudden change meant some farmers would be unable to use normal tax planning to avoid the charge, as assets can only be passed on free of inheritance tax if the gift occurs at least seven years before death. The think tank suggested ministers should consider allowing farmers a one-off exemption to pass on assets.

The Treasury has denied persistent reports that it is working on options to defuse the row.
Butterball - the largest producer of turkey products in the United States - has spoken out amid furor over a shocking PETA video that is damaging its reputation just days before Thanksgiving.

The company noted that the footage posted PETA's Instagram page last week that showed workers sitting on turkeys, smacking, humping and sexually abusing the birds at the Ozark, Arkansas plant was from 2006.

That was years before Butterball was privatized and certified by American Humane.

'We are aware of a video from nearly 20 years ago, which is being reshared across social media,' a spokesperson for the company told Scripps News.

'The video is not current and was taken prior to Butterball becoming a private company and prior to engagement certification through American Humane.'

'Animal care and well-being is central to who we are as a company and we are committed to the ethical and responsible care of our flocks,' the spokesperson insisted.

'Eleven years ago, Butterball was the first, and remains the only, turkey company to be American Humane certified,' they noted.

'That means we have yearly audits conducted by a third-party to ensure compliance with our 200-plus science-based standards or best practice for care of turkeys, well exceeding industry best practices.

'We are proud of this designation that no other turkey company can claim, and have a zero tolerance policy for animal mistreatment.'

Butterball - the largest producer of turkey products in the US - has spoken out about a video showing workers allegedly sexually abusing the birds in 2006

But in the disturbing footage, an undercover investigator claimed he saw a Butterball employee shoving his finger up a turkey's cloaca, or vagina, for 'fun' and witnessed another worker humping a turkey while it was restrained, according to the animal rights group.

He also recalled seeing a 'worker... taunting another worker by holding a bird by the legs and jerking her back and forth.'

Footage included in the video also showed employees manhandling multiple birds - striking, throwing and hanging them to death.

'Do you know what happened to your Butterball turkey before they were killed?' PETA wrote in the caption, without specifying that the content was filmed 18 years ago.

Still, many online were quick to call out the company for the abuse, labeling it a 'literal disgrace' and wishing 'shame' on the turkey manufacturer as they announced they were boycotting the company.

'Disgusting! I hope PETA ends [you],' one person commented on the video.

'I'm done @butterballturkey. You're workers ABUSE innocent LIVING animals, they are disgusting demons!!!' another shared, while a third noted that he threw away the Butterball turkey he bought for Thanksgiving 'and will never be buying from you again.'

The disturbing footage posted to PETA's Instagram last week showed workers sitting on turkeys, smacking and humping the birds and sexually abusing them at the Ozark, Arkansas plant in 2006

Many online were quick to call out the company for the abuse

One Instagram user said he threw out his turkey after seeing the video and will not be buying from the company ever again

The video had been part of PETA's strategy to get Americans to skip out on the Thanksgiving Day staple this year.

'It's never too late to go out there and grab that vegan roast,' Amber Canavan, the Vegan Campaign Project Manager for PETA, told DailyMail.com. 'Spare that turkey from the horrors of the slaughterhouse.'

She then went on to claim that PETA's expose from nearly two decades ago is not a one-off.

'PETA has conducted even more recent investigations that are still showing that abuse is rampant,' Canavan said, pointing to a separate PETA investigation from 2021 into Plainville Farms, which 'also documented workers simulating sex acts on turkeys.'

As a result of the investigation, workers at the Pennsylvania facility faced several felonies and 141 charges.

No charges against Butterball came from the 2006 investigation, but charges were brought against employees years later for a separate situation.

In 2011, a North Carolina Butterball plant was raided after workers were caught abusing turkeys.

In an investigation similar to PETA's, nonprofit Mercy for Animals went undercover and witnessed several instances of animal cruelty.

Multiple workers were hit with charges related to the reported abuse. They were caught on video kicking and stomping on the helpless birds.
Rachel Reeves' vow not to raise taxes is in turmoil today after a Cabinet colleague failed to repeat it.

The Chancellor made the pledge on Monday as she sought to placate business leaders about her 25billion raid on employer national insurance - part of an overall 40 billion tax-raising Budget.

She told the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) annual conference: 'I'm really clear, I'm not coming back with more borrowing or more taxes.'

Economists cast doubt on the commitment, with spending plans branded 'front loaded' and 'implausible'. Tories pointed out that Labour had already broken election promises over tax.

And yesterday, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds appeared to contradict Ms Reeves by suggesting instead that any tax hikes would be on a lesser scale.

Mr Reynolds told MPs: 'What the Chancellor was saying at the CBI was to make clear... that there will not be a further ask of the business community comparable to what we had to do at the beginning of this parliament.'

It came as economists voiced significant doubts about the Chancellor's pledge not to cut taxes, saying the remarks could 'come back to haunt her' and that she would need to 'get lucky' with better growth to fulfil it.

Ben Zaranko, Associate Director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, a leading economic think-tank, said that with pressures mounting on the public sector it would be 'extremely difficult' to stick to present spending plans.

'It wouldn't be at all surprising if those plans get topped up,' Mr Zaranko said.

Rachel Reeves made the pledge on Monday as she sought to placate business leaders about her 25 billion raid on employer national insurance

But Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds appeared to contradict her by apparently suggesting instead that any tax hikes would be on a lesser scale

If the economy improves, Ms Reeves would have more money to pay for the extra spending but that is not guaranteed.

'The question then is whether the Chancellor gets lucky on growth or whether she has to come back with more tax rises,' said Mr Zaranko.

Business leaders are furious with Ms Reeves over the NI hike which they say poses a grave threat to jobs. They have warned it will be passed on in the form of lower wages and higher prices.

Paul Dales, chief UK economist at consultancy Capital Economics, said: 'I can see why she said it.

'The Budget hasn't gone down well and she needs to convince everyone that it was a one-off so people can move forward without worrying about a repeat. But there's a chance it will come back to haunt her.'

Already, the cost of government borrowing on financial markets has risen in reaction to Ms Reeves's spending splurge, reducing the Chancellor's 'headroom' to meet her rule on balancing the books, Mr Dales noted.

He said it 'wouldn't take much more' of such increases, or a weakening of the economy 'to mean that the rule will be broken unless she raises taxes or cuts spending'

'So she's skating on thin ice already,' Mr Dales added. 'It's certainly a risky strategy.'

Despite Ms Reeves saying the spending 'envelope' for departments is now fixed, the respected IFS think-tank has warned that the government's plans are 'front-loaded' and look 'implausibly tight'

Julian Jessop, economics fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs, a free-market think-tank, said the pledge not to raise taxes further 'lacks credibility'.

'Her own fiscal rules mean there are many scenarios in which taxes could have to rise further,' Mr Jessop added.

And it comes after Labour has already broken its promise not to put up national insurance.

'The breach of the manifesto and election campaign commitments on tax (in spirit if not necessarily the letter) have undermined trust in anything the new government says,' said Mr Jessop.

He said Mr Reynolds 'rowing back' was a 'more credible position', suggesting that Labour will not again raise 40 billion in a single Budget but 'still leaves the door open for many smaller rises'.

John Roberts, AO chief executive, was asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme yesterday whether he was reassured on the tax front.

'I don't think there's very much that's reassuring frankly at the minute,' he said.

'I don't think that it's a job creation, and I don't think that it's a growth budget.

'The truth will be when we see the government's plans for what they plan do with the debt that they are saddling the country with.

'The focus is on is the government going to spend that money wisely. I haven't seen any indication of that from a business point of view.'

Tory MP Neil Shastri-Hurst said: 'We have all heard this one before. At the General Election, Labour said they would not raise taxes.

'Yet, they raised a record 40billion through tax rises in their first Budget. Labour's anti-growth agenda means they will always be forced to turn to the taxpayer.'
Customers of one of Australia's biggest banks have been hit by an outage for the second time in a month.

ING Australia acknowledged the technical problem on Wednesday.

'We are aware that some customers are currently experiencing issues accessing the ING app and website,' the post on X read.

'Our teams are investigating this issue and we will provide further updates shortly.

'We are extremely sorry to any customers who have been impacted.'

The DownDetector website received over 1,000 notifications since 7.30am on Wednesday.

Angry customers took to social media to complain.

'How long can we expect to wait? I can't start my day because I can't login to transfer money,' one customer wrote.

ING Australia announced on social media platform X on Wednesday that customers had reported difficulty accessing the banking app and website (stock image)

'Looks like I'm not buying anything this morning. Come on guys not good enough,' another wrote.

ING Australia later posted an update saying that services were 'returning to normal'.

'Most customers should now be able to access the ING app and online banking and make payments and transfers,' it read.

'As we complete the restoration, some overseas customers may be experiencing some issues accessing the app and website and we will provide updates on this shortly.'

The latest incident comes four weeks after ING customers were hit by a similar outage.

At its peak, over 2,300 customers reported issues accessing ING Australia's online services.

Following last month's outage, ING warned customers about scammers contacting them and offering to restore access.

'ING will never call you about online banking services and all updates about this issue are being shared from our official social media pages and on our website.'

Daily Mail Australia contacted ING Australia for comment.
Labour was hit by a fresh backlash from business leaders on Tuesday in a new blow to ministers as they launched a drive to get more people back into work.

Industry chiefs told a Parliamentary committee they were suffering a 'triple whammy' from both Angela Rayner's workers' rights revolution and Rachel Reeves' tax raid.

Employers' groups and MPs also warned that the impact of the Budget risked undermining the new Get Britain Working white paper, which aims to tackle joblessness and reduce the spiralling benefits bill.

And a senior figure at the Bank of England admitted that the increase to employers' National Insurance contributions would put companies off hiring more staff.

It came just a day after Chancellor Rachel Reeves attempted to quell a growing revolt against the 40billion tax raid in her maiden Budget a month ago by promising 'I'm not coming back with more borrowing or more taxes'.

In a more than five-hour hearing of the Employment Rights Bill Committee, industry chiefs warned that measures contained in Ms Rayner's workers' rights overhaul, coupled with the Budget changes, would make it riskier for a business to take someone on.

Alex Hall-Chen, principal policy advisor at Institute of Directors (IoD), told MPs: 'A key fear for us is the cumulative impact of all the 28 reforms in this Bill, coupled with everything else happening in the employment space so far, and that taken as a whole the measures make hiring someone riskier and more expensive for businesses.

'Our research has shown that as a result businesses will hire fewer people.'

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has published a white paper which she said represented the 'biggest reforms to employment support in a generation'

Ms Kendall also said visiting the employment offices too often felt like 'you're back in the 80s or 90s'

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has attempted to quell a growing revolt against the 40billion tax raid in her maiden Budget a month ago

At the Budget, Ms Reeves launched a 25billion raid on employers' National Insurance contributions (NICs) and hiked the national living wage by 6.7per cent.

Following the committee, British Chambers of Commerce director general Shevaun Haviland criticised the 'scale and scope of the changes' in the Bill.

'The Budget has already left many firms feeling bruised, and if this legislation is enacted as it stands, it could hamper growth, restrict recruitment and lead to job losses,' she said.

Business groups also warned that young people would be 'disproportionately' affected, as a result of the changes to national insurance, the living wage and workers' rights.

Matthew Percival, future of work director at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), told MPs that the impact of the changes would be 'concentrated in sectors which currently employ a large number of young people'.

'The Bill also ends up focusing on the same area, and those businesses often speak about a 'triple whammy' because they are also the same businesses that are affected by the national living wage increases.

'So in all three aspects, you end up with a similar group of businesses who are particularly facing costs and therefore, where there are unintended consequences, they are disproportionately likely to be faced by young people.'

However, union leaders welcomed the changes in the Bill, with RMT general secretary Mick Lynch saying it could increase collective bargaining while TUC leader Paul Nowak said it would likely increase unionisation.

Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith said Labour's 'union paymasters are licking their lips at the prospect of these measures becoming the law'.

'They will hand massive powers to the unions, making it easier for them to hold organisations and their consumers to ransom and take us back to the 1970s.'

In a separate Parliamentary hearing, Bank of England chief economist Huw Pill told the Lords economic affairs committee that the NI hike was a 'disincentive to employment'.

Meanwhile, industry chiefs warned that measures contained in Angela Rayner's workers' rights overhaul, coupled with the Budget changes, would make it riskier for a business to take someone on

Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith (pictured) said Labour's 'union paymasters are licking their lips at the prospect of these measures becoming the law'

'We do recognise that an increase in national insurance contributions widens the wedge between the producer wage - the wage paid by firms - and the consumer wage - the wage received by wage earners.

'And that is a disincentive to employment at some level. That probably is weighing at the margin against participation in the labour market.'

Meanwhile Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall published a white paper which she said represented the 'biggest reforms to employment support in a generation'.

She said the toll of 2.8million people out of work because of long-term sickness and almost 1million young people not in education, employment or training had created an economic and 'social crisis' as well as a welfare bill expected to rise by 26billion within five years.

But she was warned in the Commons that her plans - including an overhaul of Jobcentres and more NHS appointments in worklessness hotspots - risked being defeated if bosses cannot afford new staff as a result of the Budget.

Ms Kendall was told by her Tory counterpart Helen Whately that while she 'tries to get people into work, her Chancellor is busy destroying jobs'.

'If the Secretary of State wants to get more 18-year-olds into work, she should have a word with her Chancellor, who has made it so that from April it will cost 5,000 more for a business to employ them.'

Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine said: 'Many of us see a contradiction in this policy and the National Insurance changes, because a major employer in my constituency of Edinburgh West tells me it's going to cost them a quarter of a million pounds extra a year, and they won't be taking on seasonal workers because they can't afford it.'

Chief Economist and Executive Director for Monetary Analysis and Research at the Bank of England, Huw Pill said the NI hike was a 'disincentive to employment'.

Business groups made the same point with the CBI's Matthew Percival saying: 'Employers have a key role to play in supporting the delivery of the government's objectives. There's no doubt that rising taxes and employment costs will make it more difficult for them to do so.

'That's why it's so important business and government work together to join the dots across the policy landscape in order for policy intent to translate into long-term impact.'

Prof Len Shackleton of the IEA think-tank said: 'It is a disappointing package, unlikely to stimulate the inactive back into work.

'It is questionable that there would be enough jobs for them in any case, given that the budget and minimum wage increases have sharply raised the cost of employing people, especially the young, while new employment rights from Day One mean that employers face greater risk in taking on those without a sound employment record.'

The white paper also raised the threat of fresh 'sin taxes' on unhealthy food as part of efforts to get people off sickness benefits.

It stated: 'The Government is committed to reducing the number of people becoming overweight and obese and wants to work with the sector to consider all levers to further encourage food and drink reformulation to help tackle obesity, in a way that protects consumers and with a focus on voluntary and regulatory measures.'
Top Democratic megadonor John Morgan says Kamala Harris should be disqualified from running for president 'forever' and fumed at the way her campaign churned through more than $1 billion while losing to Donald Trump.

Morgan, a wealthy trial lawyer, fumed about the spending spree in an appearance on Chris Cuomo's show 'CUOMO' on NewsNation.

'All of a sudden, everybody's got the keys to the candy store, ad buyers, talent consultants. There's 100 days to do it, and the money started pouring in, pouring in,' he said.

He bemoaned some of the profligate spending decisions, like lighting up the Las Vegas 'Sphere' to the tune of $900,000, plus ad-buys in his home state of Florida and wall-to-wall ads in the unsuccessful bid to prevent Donald Trump's return to the White House.

He suggested ill motives for some of the costs. 'She had all these consultants. And if you don't run the ads, you don't get paid for the buy,' he fumed.

'Nine hundred thousand to put her face on the sphere in Las Vegas! The ego, the crazy, the commissions,' he compalined.

He said he was at the White House, where President Biden held a huge 'thank you' party for staff, campaign aides, and donors.

Top Democratic donor John Morgan, a wealthy attorney, ripped into Vice President Kamala Harris for churning through campaing funds

'There's a lot of whispers. There's a lot of names about who got paid this, who got paid that, and a lot of people got rich on the back of donors trying to stop Trump. And I think this disqualifies her forever. Forever. If you can't run a campaign, you can't run America, and that would be the argument just Day One,' he said.

HIs tirade came after a series of reports on how the Harris camp burned through more than $1.4 billion.

Now, in the aftermath of her defeat, her campaign continues to send out a string of solicitations to raise money to try to pay off a campaign debt reported to be as high as $20 million.

VP Harris's campaign paid about $1 million to Oprah Winfrey's production company, in an effort that tried to use celebrity endorsements to help propel her

Morgan ripped the campaign for paying to put Harris's face on the Las Vegas Sphere, in an eye catching ad in battleground Nevada

Other expenses that have raised eyebrows have included up to $4 million on private jets, $1 million to Oprah Winfrey's production company Harpo studios, $5,000 to a California nail artist, and more.

Other expenses include $654 million on advertising, according to AdImpact.

It was all part of a campaign that relied on big rallies, frequent trips to swing states, and no small measure of celebrity and support from A-list musicians and actors.

Meanwhile, with her campaign over, some DNC staffers have been laid off without severance. Harris gave it a worse look by taking a family vacation in Hawaii.

Harris had to jump into the race last summer after Joe Biden's sudden withdrawal following his debate disaster.

She ended up keeping most of his campaign apparatus in Delaware while bringing on some of her own advisors.

But her political options are far from over. She led the field in a recent poll for 2028, notwithstanding the gripes of the party apparatus.

Advisers and allies say they have been instructed by the vice president to 'keep her options open' according to Politico.

She could even pursue an open governor seat in her home state of California in 2026. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who came up through California politics with Harris, is term limited and may eye a 2028 run for White House himself.
A blonde temptress who used her good looks to lure a man to her home before he was robbed by her lover is set to escape jail largely because of her low intelligence.

Shanae Heers, 22, pleaded guilty in the County Court of Victoria on Tuesday to unlawful imprisonment, robbery and possessing methamphetamines and cannabis.

Heers was originally charged with luring in several men but a prosecution deal saw her only face court over a single victim.

And she escaped jail after a judge found her astonishingly low IQ required a special sentence tailored to her limited intellect.

The court heard a 36-year old man had met up with Heers after responding to her online ad inviting men to her house to hook up in the week before Christmas 2021.

The court heard her victim agreed to pay Heers for sex, but when he arrived at her Corio home in Geelong, an hour west of Melbourne, he found another man already on her couch.

The court heard Heers told the man the mystery man was her brother and they needed to leave the house as their mum was on the way home.

But when the pair made their way to his car, things turned sinister when it became clear her 'brother' was Heers' lover and was working with her to rob their victim.

Shanae Heers, 22, pleaded guilty in the County Court of Victoria on Tuesday to unlawful imprisonment, robbery and possessing methamphetamines and cannabis

The court heard Heers and her lover became increasingly aggressive until he suddenly produced a gun and pointed it at their hapless victim.

He then threatened to shoot her online date in the legs if he didn't hand over cash.

Even Heers was surprised when the gun appeared, the court heard, and told the gunman to put it down.

After stealing the man's wallet, he was marched off to Corio Village shopping centre where Heers attempted to withdraw money with her victim's bank card.

The court heard the bumbling crook, who the court was told has an IQ of just 63, had no idea how to use it, and forced her victim to exit his car and enter the pin number.

But while they were at the ATM, her partner in crime made off in the victim's car, abandoning both Heers and her terrified victim.

The runaway gunman was later jailed for two years in 2022 after pleading guilty to armed robbery and related offences.

After refusing her victim's offer to go to the local police station with him, Heers escaped the scene in a taxi with the $100 she had extracted from the ATM.

When police finally caught up with her, Heers confessed immediately and identified her partner in crime to police.

The court heard her victim agreed to pay Shanae Heers for sex, but when he arrived at her Corio home in Geelong, an hour west of Melbourne, he found another man already on her couch.

She spent 21 days behind bars before being released on bail.

Her barrister, Sandra Wendlandt, told the court her client had suffered a shocking childhood and remained 'vulnerable'.

Now a mother of a young child, Heers continued to struggle with drug abuse, with her low intelligence qualifying her as living with a fully-fledged intellectual disability.

Judge Gerard Mullaly said it was this disability that ought to see her released back into the wild on a special community correction order tailored for low intellect criminals.

Judge Mullaly said the 'avoidance of jail was a high priority' in Heers' case, due to her age, lack of prior convictions and intellectual disability.

He ordered Heers be assessed for such an order before returning to court for sentence in February.

Heers' bail was extended to that date.
The Albanese government's radical plan to double taxes on Australians with more than $3million in superannuation looks dead in the water because it doesn't have the votes to pass the Senate.

The Greens are opposing the proposal on the grounds that it does not go far enough and independent crossbench senators have also flagged issues of principle with the bill that could result in them blocking legislation.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has now indicated he would be unwilling to compromise with the Greens to get the bill through before the next election, which is due by May 2025.

'The Greens want to vote against fairer taxes on people with millions in super,' he said on Tuesday morning.

Dr Chalmers likened the Greens opposing this bill to the minor party earlier blocking Labor's Help to Buy and Build To Rent plans.

'This is housing all over again, with the Greens saying they want fairer taxes then choosing to vote against them,' he said.

'They shouldn't need us to sweeten the deal in order to do the right thing.'

In a confusing signal, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher declared Labor was still pushing ahead with its superannuation plan in the face of continuing Senate opposition.

'We're in negotiations to get as much of that through as we can, but that certainly remains Labor policy,' she told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.

Labor's radical plan to double taxes on Australians with more than $3million in super looks set to be ditched because of opposition in the Senate (pictured are shoppers in Sydney's Pitt Street Mall)

'I'm not giving up until the close of bells on whenever we finish this week on getting all of our legislation through.'

The government on Sunday announced it was dropping its misinformation and disinformation bill after the Greens declared their opposition, but it has yet to officially capitulate on its superannuation policy.

Labor early last year announced the government would double to 30 per cent - from 15 per cent - the concessional rate on the top 0.5 per cent of superannuation balances.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government argued this policy, to double taxes on super earnings, would affect just 80,000 people with more than $3million in retirement savings.

The proposed law also included an unprecedented plan to tax unrealised gains.

This would effectively see Australians pay tax on the increased value of an asset they still owned and had yet to sell if they had superannuation assets above that $3million threshold.

The Labor proposal is radical because individuals are normally taxed on an asset after it has been sold - not before.

This policy, never done anywhere else in the world, would have forced Australians with self-managed super funds to sell things like property or farms.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has now indicated he would be unwilling to compromise with the Greens and independent senators to get this bill through before the next election

While European countries have taxed unrealised gains on wealth, they haven't targeted retirement savings.

The Greens in March last year declared they would oppose Labor's plan to double taxes on super earnings because they wanted the threshold for the 30 per cent tax rate to kick in at $1.9million with the extra revenue used to boost social security payments.

Teal MPs were opposed to taxing unrealised gains with Allegra Spender, who represents the wealthy Sydney eastern suburbs electorate of Wentworth, working with Canberra-based independent senator David Pocock to stop that policy going though.

Labor's package was designed to raise $2billion a year in otherwise foregone revenue.

But with the Greens and independent crossbench senators opposed to the bill, Labor could ditch the policy on high super earnings before the next election.

The Coalition was opposed to Labor's super policies from the start.

The SMSF Association last month called on the Senate to reject Labor's legislation in full, after the bill passed the House of Representatives.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese 's government argued Labor's policy, to double taxes on super earnings, would affect just 80,000 people with more than $3million in retirement savings

Your browser does not support iframes.

Chief executive Peter Burgess said Labor's retirement savings bill would be bad for farmers with self-managed super funds, who would be forced to sell agricultural assets that are tied up in their superannuation.

'In all likelihood, the fate of this bill now rests in the hands of the Senate crossbench, and we are urging them to listen to the concerns raised by a growing number of constituents,' he said.

'Despite all the evidence about unintended consequences that have been presented to the government since this tax proposal was first mooted in early 2023, it seems determined to press ahead with the taxation of unrealised capital gains that will be disastrous for thousands of primary producers and small and family businesses who will be impacted by this tax.'

If Labor proceeds with this bill and seeks a mandate from the people, it would also be facing a negative campaign from the self-managed super fund lobby leading up to an election - echoing what happened in 2010 when Labor proposed a mining tax.
There's no doubt that the late Queen warmly welcomed Meghan Markle into the Royal Family when she and Prince Harry began dating in 2017.

But the relationship seemed to dwindle and within only a few years, the American actress and her husband had bitterly walked away from their roles as working royals.

They moved to California and quickly began to publicly criticise the institution Elizabeth II had spent her life serving.

The moment where things went wrong for the pair's relationship has puzzled royal experts, but now the Daily Mail's Richard Eden has studied the evidence in the Mail's new YouTube television series - Reading The Royals.

Speaking on the show, he said the moment the relationship first seemed to show cracks was after a row broke out over Meghan's tiara for her May 2018 wedding.

In the lead-up to the big day, the Queen had graciously offered Meghan access to her collection of tiaras during what Harry later described as an 'extraordinary morning'.

She allowed her to try them on in front of her and her devoted dresser and friend Angela Kelly, as well as a royal jewellery expert in her private dressing room.

But Meghan wanted to try the tiaras on when her hairdresser was visiting as they are quite complicated to wear and require a fitting beforehand.

In the new YouTube show, Richard Eden said the moment the relationship between the Queen and Meghan seemed to first show cracks was after a row broke out over Meghan's wedding tiara

Meghan waving with the tiara on her head at her wedding in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018

Queen Elizabeth II and Meghan watch a flypast to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on July 10, 2018

However something went badly wrong as when Meghan tried to arrange a fitting with Kelly, it was difficult to agree to a date, and the tone of the messages between the couple and the Palace seemed to annoy Kelly.

Perhaps accustomed to ordering around underlings on a television shoot, Meghan may not have been used to dealing with someone such as Kelly, who - although a servant - was also a confidante of the Queen.

Harry denied in his memoirs, Spare, that he angrily told Kelly, 'What Meghan wants, Meghan gets.' He did, however, admit they had been exasperated by the dresser, who 'fixed me with a look that made me shiver'.

He added: 'I could read in her face a clear warning. This isn't over.'

Eden claims the tiara episode was an example of Harry feeling as though Meghan was not given the respect she deserved - setting a bad tone for her relationship with the entire Royal Family.

But the row was just one of the many ups and downs between the Queen and Meghan's relationship, which is explored in its entirety on the latest episode of Reading the Royals.

It comes as Meghan, 43, was most recently seen without her husband in Los Angeles on November 14 at the launch of her friend's haircare brand.

The event took place at the celeb-loved restaurant Gjelina where she supported the launch of her A-lister hairdresser Kadi Lee's new Highbrow Hippie hair wellness range.

The Duchess is an investor in Lee's new collection.

The late Queen's closest adviser and dresser Angela Kelly seemed to have been annoyed with how she was treated by Meghan during the tiara try on. Pictured on December 11, 2018

Meghan is pictured on her first engagement, a visit to Chester with Her Majesty in June 2018

The Duchess of Sussex (pictured left), 43, supported her friend and A-lister hairdresser Kadi Lee (picture centre) in Venice, California on November 14 at a glitzy launch event. Pictured right, celeb hairstylist Serge Normant

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Serge Normant, Kadi Lee and Myka Harris attend the Launch of Highbrow Hippie Haircare & Wellness at Gjelina on November 14, 2024

The Duchess, who is also an investor in trendy oat latte brand Clevr Blends, as well as handbag label Cesta Collective, said about her latest investment: 'I am so proud to invest in [Kadi] as a friend and as a female founder.

She told InStyle: 'Kadi [Lee] has a mastery of hair health, and her Highbrow Hippie collection is a perfect reflection of that.'

The hairdresser - whose salon is based in the bohemian LA neighborhood of Venice - boasts several famous clients, such as Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt and Sigourney Weaver.

Meghan was joined by friend and makeup artist, Daniel Martin, as well as celeb hairstylist Serge Normant, who famously styled the mother-of-two's hair for her wedding ceremony in 2018.

Normant is believed to have introduced Meghan to Lee, who has often posted on social media about coloring the Duchess' hair.

The hairdresser and her friend Myka Harris founded their salon in 2019 following the success of their shared blog.

Their webpage - which also reveals the owners' star signs - reads: 'Highbrow Hippie was created to fill a void. Our goal is to expand the definition of a salon and return to its historical meaning - a gathering place to exchange thoughts and ideas.

'Creating a sense of community, self care and a way to drop out for a few hours and focus on yourself.

The Duchess of Sussex (center) with very glamorous Instagram poet Cleo Wade (left) and celebrity colourist Kadi Lee (right) to celebrate her 42nd birthday

Meghan, pictured Thursday, November 14, with Serge Normat, was seen smiling and clapping at the Highbrow Hippie launch event

'Our intention is to refocus on self care, community and experience. What works best for our customers is always top of mind and we hope that people will leave feeling inspired, connected, grounded and maybe having learned something new - either about themselves or someone else.

'These small steps and attention to detail equal a huge amount of luxury in today's fast paced and overly connected world.'

Their new collection will include the Root Replenish Active Growth Serum ($88.00) and the Essential Wellbeing Complex supplement ($118.00) to start with.

Sign up for Richard Eden's Royal Newsletter. Click here .
The king's all-powerful private secretary and sworn enemy of Prince Harry could soon be retiring, a royal expert has claimed.

Sir Clive Alderton, 57, has worked for Charles since 2006, eventually landing the top job of Private Secretary in 2015 to become his right-hand man.

The Duke of Sussex has repeatedly clashed with Sir Clive and it is understood the courtier played a crucial role in blocking attempts to arrange solidarity meetings between Charles and his son.

Harry was repeatedly critical of him in his memoir Spare, disparagingly dubbing him 'The Wasp', and branding him 'weedy' and 'arrogant'.

If Sir Clive were to step down, reconciliation between King Charles and Prince Harry would be easier, according to Princess Diana's biographer Tina Brown.

The always well-informed Brown, who was a close friend of Diana's, cited an 'intimate royal source' when she wrote in her new Substack blog Fresh Hell that Sir Clive 'is considering retirement'.

She writes that the general public doesn't often realise the degree to which the royals are run by their private secretaries who are able to 'gatekeep' the access of people.

Brown points out that Sir Clive and Harry are 'avowed' enemies and if he was replaced by a figure who may be more receptive toward Harry, it could 'create a new, friendlier path for negotiations'.

The king's all-powerful private secretary and sworn enemy of Prince Harry, Sir Clive Alderton, 57, (pictured at Royal Ascot in 2022) could soon be retiring, a royal expert has claimed

The Duke of Sussex has repeatedly clashed with Sir Clive and it is understood the courtier played a crucial role in blocking attempts to arrange solidarity meetings between Charles and his son (pictured together in 2018)

Clive Alderton accompanies King Charles and Queen Camilla during a visit to the Bundestag, the German federal parliament, in Berlin on March 30, 2023

The pair have a long-running feud, with Harry writing in blockbuster tell-all memoir Spare in January 2023: 'The Wasp [Sir Clive] was lanky, charming, arrogant, a ball of jazzy energy. He was great at pretending to be polite, even servile.

'Because he seemed so weedy, so self-effacing, you might be tempted to push back, insist on your point, and that was when he'd put you on his list.

'A short time later, without warning, he'd give you such a stab with his outsized stinger that you'd cry out in confusion. Where the f*** did that come from?'

His departure would be a huge shock to the royal system which Brown believes could be the first step in a rapprochement between father and son as there remains a 'Harry-Sized Hole' in the family.

She writes: 'It could also represent a great face-saver for Meghan who must realize by now that the dull demands of second-division royalty are less onerous than grinding out serial rebranding flops.

'Enough with the feuds. Families, including this one, need to stick together. William, whatever his abiding resentments toward Harry for his intemperate broadsides in Spare, should now suck it up and let his father give Harry something to do.

'No one would have been happier about a rapprochement than Queen Elizabeth, who took a harsh position on Megxit, but in times of crisis evolved her positions, albeit at a glacial pace, as she did when she finally allowed Prince Charles to marry his mistress in 2005.

'What was always paramount for her was the health of the crown. And right now, the crown needs Harry.'

The always well-informed Tina Brown (pictured in 2022), who was a close friend of Diana's, cited an 'intimate royal source' when she wrote in her new Substack blog Fresh Hell that Sir Clive 'is considering retirement'

Sir Clive Alderton, David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon, Prince William and King Charles III walk behind Queen Elizabeth II's coffin as it is transported on a gun carriage from Buckingham Palace on September 14, 2022

Sir Keir Starmer and Sir Clive Alderton at an event for The King's Trust to discuss youth opportunity, at St James's Palace in central London on July 12, 2024

Sir Clive Alderton greets Sir Keir Starmer as he arrives at Buckingham Palace for an audience with King Charles III where he was invited to become Prime Minister following the landslide General Election victory for the Labour Party on July 5, 2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is greeted by Sir Clive on February 8, 2023

Sir Clive welcomes in the war leader as he arrives for an audience with the King at Buckingham Palace

Sir Clive Alderton and Sophie Densham (Private Secretary to Camilla, Queen Consort) attend a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Queen Elizabeth II in Edinburgh on September 12, 2022

In September there were rumours Sir Clive was being groomed to become Britain's next ambassador to Washington.

The trusted courtier once held a Foreign Office role, living in various countries at the start of his career including Singapore, Poland and France.

If he leaves his role, it could make shockwaves through the royal world.

However, the royal biographer Robert Hardman recently told The Daily Beast consent from Prince William would still be required for meaningful discussions between Charles and Harry to occur.

'Whatever the King does needs to be done in tandem with both brothers, not just one,' Hardman said last week.

'He can't have unilateral discussions if William isn't in agreement.'

A royal source told the Daily Mail's Richard Eden earlier this year that the Sussexes were making increasingly 'desperate' efforts to extend olive branches across the Atlantic.

And the same insider said earlier this month: 'We can expect to see more of Harry back in Britain in years to come.'

It comes as since the election of President-elect Trump, more pressure has been placed on Harry and Meghan's position in California due to their repeated run-ins with the Republican politician.

A royal source told the Daily Mail's Richard Eden earlier this year that the Sussexes were making increasingly 'desperate' efforts to extend olive branches across the Atlantic

The re-elected President is seen here beside the Queen during a visit to the UK in 2019. He was challenged for walking in front of Her Majesty

When she was still an actress, Meghan described Trump Snr as 'divisive' and a 'misogynist'.

While living in Toronto during the filming of the legal drama Suits, she declared she might prefer to stay in Canada rather than return to her American homeland with Trump as President.

And the Trumps have hit back, with President-elect's son Eric calling the Duke and Duchess 'spoiled apples' in August and echoing his father's claims that Harry could be deported if the Republicans won.

Prince Harry's memoir Spare he was critical of Sir Clive

'You can happily have those two,' Eric added. 'We might not want them any more; it feels like they're on an island of their own.'

Donald Trump had previously suggested that Harry  who has lived in the celebrity enclave of Montecito in California since 2020  would not get 'special privileges' and indeed may be deported if he is found to have falsified information on his visa form.

In his memoir, Spare, the prince revealed that he formerly took drugs including cocaine, cannabis and psychedelic mushrooms  which under US law would typically be grounds for a visa application to be rejected.

Last month, a conservative US think-tank attempted to reopen its court case to force the Department for Homeland Security to disclose the prince's immigration records, on the basis that it had not been allowed to see private submissions to the judge made by the Biden administration.

The previous case brought by the Washington DC-based Heritage Foundation had been dismissed in September, after an almost two-year legal battle, when the judge ruled there was not a strong public interest in releasing the records.

The brothers are together at Westminster Abbey in March 2020. It is the last official engagement for Harry and Meghan - and the mood was sombre

Rift: Harry and William during the unveiling of a statue of their mother, Princess Diana, at Kensington Palace in 2022

Someone who worked for the royals while the couple were still part of 'The Firm' told Richard Eden in August: 'It seems quite clear that the Sussexes are desperate to start healing the rift [with the Royal Family].'

As evidence, the source pointed to the string of stories that had recently appeared in People magazine, a favoured outlet of Harry and Meghan.

They included an article in July about Harry's despair that his father was not accepting his phone calls and another claiming that his rift with Prince William was not 'irreparable'.

The comments came after an interview Harry gave in February, suggesting that the King's cancer diagnosis could help them put their differences aside.

If Charles's 'Waspy' gatekeeping right-hand man was to stop down, reconciliation could be a lot easier for the fallen Prince.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
A retired FBI agent has revived interest in an alleged case of stolen Civil War-era gold hidden for over 160 years in Pennsylvania.

'This is a conspiracy theory that keeps me up at night,' confessed retired bureau Special Agent Stewart Fillmore, now a 'true crime' author and podcaster.

A treasure hunter claimed he had found buried gold in 2018 and tipped off the FBI to help recover the treasure, but 'nothing was found' after a three-day investigation.

The treasure, worth $41 million in today's dollars, had been destined for the Philadelphia Mint in 1863, where it would help support the Union's 'enormous cost of conducting the war,' per official US Army War documents.

But the shipment vanished, allegedly stolen by a Confederate secret society, the 'Knights of the Golden Circle,' who were said to have buried the gold in a rural part of Elk County.

The treasure hunter, Dennis Parada, worked with the FBI six years ago, with the agency identifying 'a large mass of some kind at the site underground,' said Fillmore.

'The FBI also used pretty high-tech equipment, determining there was a presence of gold,' he added.

Fillmore's assessment of the mystery is accurate: allegations that FBI officials absconded with any treasure they may have uncovered.

According to legend, a Union Army wagon train was carrying two tons of gold on a 400-mile journey between Wheeling, West Virginia, and Gettysburg. The gold was sent by President Abraham Lincoln to pay Union soldiers (pictured, at the Battle of Gettysburg) but first had to stop at the US Mint in Philadelphia

FBI Agent Jacob Archer said he believed a significant cache of gold is secreted in the underground cave' in Dent's Run, holding 'one or more tons' belonging to the U.S. government'

'I don't understand why the site survey shows presence of gold, a large mass under the ground and then they find absolutely nothing,' Fillmore said in a short summary of the mystery to his followers on TikTok.

Fillmore spent nearly three decades with the bureau before exploring similar intriguing cases from history for his series Texas Crime Travelers, with one of the latest episodes focusing on the Civil War gold.

The story began in 2018, when Parada used ground penetrating radar to see below the surface in a region of the woods, finding indications that a large mass that he believed was the buried gold.

The treasure hunter sought help from the FBI, due to the potential gold sitting on public land.

The agency commissioned scientific tests, revealing an object with a mass up to nine tons and a density consistent with gold.

A few days later, the FBI showed up with more than 50 agents and construction equipment to dig 12 feet into the ground. But the dig was a bust, or so it was claimed.

And when the FBI turned over a trove of records from the dig, they were incomplete, the treasure hunter claimed.

However, a local town official said that she saw lights and heard agents working late at night, while others reported seeing armored vehicles in the town, which has for years fueled the conspiracy theory that the FBI stole the gold.

And Kem Parada, Dennis' son, reported that he was also told to 'stay in his car' for the duration of the dig, preventing him from observing what the FBI was up to.

The FBI based its request for a seizure warrant partly on work done by Dennis (right) and Kem (left) Parada: a father-son pair of treasure hunters who had made hundreds of trips to the area

Fellow treasure hunter Kem Parada has reported that he was told to 'stay in his car' for the duration of the dig (pictured above), preventing him from observing what the FBI was up to

Anne Weismann, the treasure hunters' attorney, told DailyMail.com in 2023 that it would be unusual for a federal investigation not to be logged meticulously.

'From a forensic perspective, you would think that they would use the time and date stamp,' she said. 'To me, that's a big oversight.'

Weismann also believes the FBI is withholding communications it had with the firm whose scientific testing suggested the presence of gold at the site and prompted it to file an affidavit asking for a warrant to seize goods belonging to the US Treasury.

'They get a Writ of Entry that gives them access to the land. They do a three-day search for this, using an excavator and all kinds of techniques, to try to locate this stuff,' Fillmore shared in the video.

Grainy 'black and white' images released of the dig site by the FBI in 2022 - as a result of their court feuding with local treasure hunters - has only fueled further speculation over what had or hadn't been found in the search for this long lost Union treasure of stolen Civil War gold

Scientific tests on the site commissioned by the FBI hinted at an underground object with a mass of up to nine tons and a density consistent with gold. The FBI used the consultant's work to obtain a warrant to seize the gold - if there was any to be found

One photograph released by the FBI shows a hole they buried while looking for the treasure

'Very well documented, I have to say. Very thoroughly documented,' he continued, 'and they found nothing.'

This month, Parada told the the Finders Keepers fans and supporters that 'Our FBI case is still on hold' and he is 'waiting word from the Federal Judge in DC.'

'Then, we will take this case to the Senate,' Parada announced.

Warren Getler, a former Wall Street Journal reporter who helped Parada identify the site, told the Journal he too had 'come to the unavoidable conclusion that the FBI did take the treasure under cover of darkness.'

The treasure hunter has maintained that the episode smacks of a 'major coverup.'

Weismann said the FBI has only provided the site analysis provided by the surveyor and refuses to acknowledge any subsequent contact.

'They want us to believe that after they found nothing, there was never any follow up with that company,' Weismann said.

Getler said the treasure hunters may never be able to prove the FBI made off with a pot of gold.

But he added: 'What we can prove is that the FBI did conduct a night excavation, despite their denial.'
NASA staff have slammed the space agency for what they have described as a 'DEI takeover' that is compromising the 'real work' done by scientists.

One former employee said that NASA's focus on diversity, equality and inclusion is 'destroying America's ability to compete with China in space because the Biden-Harris administration will only fund programs that feature it.'

Several disgruntled members, speaking on condition of anonymity, blamed 'middle managers' for the 'bulls*** DEI policies.'

'The DEI thing can create an environment where things are not focused and accountability gets diluted,' another NASA employee, who still works at the agency, said.

'Real scientists don't give a hoot about DEI or other hyper-political c***.

'There are good scientists doing real, good work there. [NASA] has become extremely bureaucratic.'

NASA is spending $22.4 million per year on programs that involve inclusive hiring, employee resource groups and environmental justice research.

DailyMail.com uncovered millions of taxpayer dollars were spent on DEI data analytics and to help the agency 'embark on a venture to incorporate and deeply engrain diversity, inclusion, equity and accessibility in the culture and business.'

NASA staff are blaming 'middle managers' for the agency's push into DEI programs, saying they are to blame for NASA's downfall

NASA receives, on average, about 0.4 percent of what the US government spends each year, but is still given a budget of at least $20 billion.

While the space agency has dished out millions for DEI, its data showed it generated more than $75.6 billion in economic output across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., in fiscal year 2023.

NASA has engaged in DEI efforts for over a decade, first creating the Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Implementation Plan in 2012.

In its 'Strategic Plan for DEIA, for fiscal years 2022 to 2026' it lays out four main goals: workforce diversity; workforce equity and inclusion (employee experience); accessibility and accommodation; and DEIA integration into the NASA mission.

DailyMail.com has contacted NASA for comment.

NASA's DEI spending from 2022 to present has largely focused on environmental programs.

More than $1 million in grants went to 'assessing environmental justice in air quality, 'advancing environmental justice in Los Angeles and 'examining environmental justice through open source cloud native tools.'

One grant, surpassing $150,00, was given to Cleveland State University to improve monitoring and management of urban tree equity.

NASA has requested $22 million each year that would go specifically to DEI programs

Oregon State University was awarded a commitment of more than $450,000 to study refugee farming decisions in Uganda.

The grant's description showed that the results of the project will 'directly support place-based information of refugee self-sufficiency that is called for in Uganda's refugee response plan.'

It's unclear how the findings would advance NASA's aims.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of dollars were given to the Oceanography Society for 'building diversity, equity and inclusion in ocean sciences.'

LMI consulting received over $2 million in 2023 for NASA to 'embark on a venture to incorporate and deeply engrain diversity, inclusion, equity and accessibility in the culture and business.'

Another $3 million went to Booze Allen Hamilton in March to support NASA's 'Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity DEI data analytic specialty,' and $7 million was announced last month for six 'minority-serving institutions.'

'What I do see is that budgets are tight (and so timing and planning takes a hit in our case),' the NASA employee said.

'We have a difficult project in a very small window. Further, I'm aware that they have gone through at least two rounds of layoffs this year. I can tell they are very constrained and not running optimally.

Amid these expenditures, staff have voiced concerns online about budget shortages, citing struggles with 'limited funds' due to 'wasteful spending.'

'I worked for NASA and I have friends that still do. NASA has become an inefficient government bureaucracy. It's sad but there's no use denying it,' a former employee shared on X.

William F Cook posted: 'I grew up in Clear Lake and my mother worked in the space program for 35 years. Even *she* recognizes that NASA has lost its way and seems to be more focused on DEI and community outreach than actually going into space.'

A report from the Congressional Budget Office, released in July, showed that NASA had nine programs in 2023 that were approved by the government for more than $25 million.

However, the time period for those authorizations has expired, yet Congress is still giving NASA money for them.

The space agency had another nine a year later valued at over $24 million.

'If the spending isn't authorized, then we shouldn't be spending it,' Ramaswamy posted on X last Thursday. 'That shouldn't be controversial.'
The idea of a killer asteroid smashing into Earth might sound like the plot of the latest science fiction blockbuster.

But it could become a reality, according to NASA, which puts the chance of a deadly asteroid striking Earth in any given year at roughly one in 300,000.

Before you panic about our impending doom, there's good news.

A scientist from the University of Murcia has come up with an equation to spot killer asteroids heading for our planet.

Professor Oscar del Barco Novillo's equation is based on the gravitational bending of light, and will allow scientists to pinpoint the precise positions of minor objects in the solar system.

This includes objects in the Kuiper Belt  a region of icy objects including Pluto and other dwarf planets beyond the orbit of Neptune  and a vast, frozen, spherical shell called the Oort Cloud, which is the most distant region in our solar system.

In turn, that could allow planetary defence networks to spot and prepare for any asteroids which could collide with Earth.

This advanced warning could be the difference between having time to deflect the asteroid onto a safe path and a cataclysmic impact.

The idea of a killer asteroid smashing into Earth might sound like the plot of the latest science fiction blockbuster. But it could become a reality, according to NASA, which puts the chance of a deadly asteroid striking Earth in any given year at roughly one in 300,000 (stock image)

Before you panic about our impending doom, there's good news. A scientist from the University of Murcia has come up with an equation to spot killer asteroids heading for our planet

Normally, light takes a straight path from an object to our eyes, meaning where we see the image is where the object really is.

However, this isn't the case for distant objects like asteroids because of a phenomenon called 'gravitational deflection'.

When a beam of light passes through a strong gravitational field like the one around our sun it leaves its straight path and follows a curved trajectory.

You can think of this like a ball following a curving path as it rolls over some uneven ground.

The idea that gravity might bend passing beams of light was first proposed by Sir Isaac Newton in 1730.

However, it wasn't until Albert Einstein proposed his theory of general relativity in 1916 that scientists were able to confirm this was really the case.

The issue for astronomers is that gravitational deflection means that the image we see of a distant object doesn't line up with where the object really is.

Professor Novillo told MailOnline: 'When the sunlight is reflected on the minor objects in the solar system, such as asteroids, the light beams we receive on Earth are deflected due to the Sun and major planets such as Jupiter.

Normally, light takes a straight path from an object to our eyes, meaning where we see the image is where the object really is. However, this isn't the case for distant objects like asteroids because of a phenomenon called 'gravitational deflection'

The 6 asteroids that could hit Earth 1. Bennu Diameter: 1,574 ft Odds of collision: 1/2,700 on September 24, 2182 2. 1950 DA Diameter: 6,561 ft Odds of collison: 1/34,500 on March 16, 2880 3. 2023 TL4 Diameter: 1,083 ft Odds of collision: 1/181,000 on October 10, 2119 4. 2007 FT3 Diameter: 2,165 ft Odds of collision: 1/11.5 million on October 5, 2024 5. 2023 DW Diameter: 166 ft Odds of collision: 1/1,584 on February 14, 2046 6. 1979 XB Diameter: 2,165 ft Odds of collision: 1/1.8 million on December 14, 2113 Advertisement

'In this sense, the actual positions of these minor bodies are shifted, so this effect should be taken into account in the equations of motion of these minor bodies.'

For most applications that might not be an issue, but when it comes to calculating the orbit of a potentially hazardous asteroid even a small miscalculation could be fatal.

Professor Novillo's solution, published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, is to treat gravity as if it were a physical medium like water to work out how much light bends as it passes through.

Using this formula, Professor Novillo calculated the angle of deflection for light beams coming from Mercury at different points in its orbit.

Comparing the results to those based on Newtonian and Einsteinian equations, he found there was up to a 15.8 per cent difference when Mercury was at its greatest distance from the Sun.

Professor Novillo says that the most important consequence of this discovery is to enable 'a better calculation of the orbits of minor objects in the solar system, which could be potentially hazardous to the Earth.'

While it won't help detect asteroids in the first place, it will help determine a more precise location for these objects and, consequently, a better estimation of their orbits.

Space agencies such as NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are currently investigating ways that humanity might be able to avoid colliding with an asteroid.

Just like in the movie Armageddon (pictured), humanity may be able to deflect an incoming asteroid so long as there is time to organise a response

For example, the ESA's DART mission used a fridge-sized satellite to slam into the space rock Dimorphos to see if an asteroid could be knocked from its path.

While the results are due to be confirmed by the Hera mission late next year, early observations show that the impact did deflect Dimorphos' orbit.

In theory, humanity could use a similar kamikaze satellite to deflect the orbit of a hazardous asteroid on its way to Earth.

However, doing this would require years of prior warning to give space agencies time to plan the mission and for the asteroid to drift out of Earth's path.

That is why it is so critical for space agencies to have an accurate way of assessing the locations and orbits of asteroids drifting through the solar system.

Beyond planetary defence, this equation could also be used to deepen our understanding of the universe.

The hope is that scientists will now be able to calculate the exact location of the nearest star to Earth, Proxima Centauri.

Proxima Centauri is 4.25 light-years away and is thought to have three exoplanets orbiting around it.

This discovery could also be used to determine the exact location of Proxima Centauri B (artist's impression). If this exoplanet is in its star's habitable zone, it could be the closest Earth-like planet to our sun

If its location could be precisely determined, that would also help scientists accurately study the orbits of its planets to learn whether they do indeed sit within their star's habitable zone.

Additionally, Professor Novillo's discovery could even help scientists map the most distant reaches of space.

Professor Novillo says: 'Distant galaxies, which are distorted and magnified by large amounts of intervening mass, such as galaxy clusters, might be precisely located with this new exact equation.'

Over the next six years, the ESA's Euclid mission will observe the shapes, distances and motions of billions of galaxies out to 10 billion light-years  with the goal of creating the largest cosmic 3D map ever made.

Armed with this equation, scientists could produce even more accurate maps which might help understand how dark matter and dark energy have shaped the Universe into what we see today.
It's a common misconception that crabs and lobsters scream as you plunge them into boiling water to cook.

But even if this myth isn't true, scientists say there is still good reason to avoid this classic kitchen technique.

Zoologists from the University of Gothenburg are calling for an immediate ban on boiling crabs alive after making a groundbreaking discovery.

The researchers have proven that crabs really can feel pain just like any other animal, meaning that being boiled is likely to be an excruciatingly painful death.

Lead author Eleftherios Kasiouras, a PhD student at the University of Gothenburg, told MailOnline: 'We believe that the boiling crustaceans alive should be banned and other techniques such as electro stunning should be applied the moment that the crustaceans are caught.

'There is more and more evidence emerging, including our research, that decapods [crabs] experience pain so we should treat them as we would treat other animals.'

In their study, the researchers used brain scans to see how crabs' nervous systems react when they are exposed to painful stimuli.

This revealed the first evidence that crabs process pain in the exact same way as humans.

Researchers are calling for an urgent ban on boiling crabs alive as a shocking study proves that they really can feel pain (stock image)

The researchers took partially paralysed shore crabs, also known as European green crabs, and attached electrodes to clusters of nerves called ganglia which make up their central nervous system.

The crabs were then subjected to painful chemical or physical stimulation using solutions of acetic acid and specialised probes.

They discovered that damage or stress to the claws, antennae, and legs caused a spike of electrical activity in the associated ganglia.

Mr Kasiouras says: 'Our findings showed that when a painful stimulus was applied to the tissues of shore crabs, that stimulus was conveyed to the brain. These responses were prolonged and intense.'

The researchers also tested the same areas with non-painful stimuli such as salt water but didn't see the same kind of reaction.

'We didnt receive any responses so what we saw was definitely not a reflex. From our findings, we saw that these were responses to pain,' says Mr Kasiouras.

Earlier research has shown that it is likely crustaceans like crabs, shrimp, and lobsters do experience pain.

However, these studies focussed on observational methods and looked at evidence like increased touching of the affected area or trying to avoid the danger.

Researchers recorded the brain activity of paralyzed crabs as they were subjected to painful stimulation from acid and physical probes. They discovered that these tissues contained pain receptors which sent messages to the brain when stimulated

This graph shows the spike in brain activity produced when acetic acid was applied to the leg of a shore crab. The red vertical line shows the moment the acid was applied

How to humanely kill and cook a crab Stun the crab by cooling it down in the freezer to around 2C (35F). Once the crab is in a torpor, kill it by driving a spike through the two main parts of its central nervous system. Turning the crab over, you should find a small hole beneath the tail which sits over the hind nerve centre. There will also be a shallow depression near the head which is above the front nerve centre. Drive a sharp screwdriver through both points until you hit the other side of the shell, twisting the spike to destroy the never centres. Return the crab to the freezer to ensure it is humanely euthanised. Source: Hatfield Marine Science Centre Advertisement

What makes this recent study different is that it is the first to record how a crustacean's nervous system really responds to damaging stimuli.

In our bodies, and in the bodies of many other animals, specialised receptors called nociceptors detect damage and send signals to the central nervous system which are interpreted as pain.

In their paper, published in the journal Biology, the researchers argue that the existence of nociceptors is a 'key criteria' for an animal to feel pain.

The neural activation observed by the researcher is a strong indication that there must be pain receptors in its tissue which are sending responses up to the central nervous system.

And, what is true for crabs is almost certainly true for other crustaceans with a similar structure and nervous system.

This, therefore, is strong evidence that crabs, shrimps, crayfish, and lobsters are all capable of feeling and processing pain.

In light of these findings, the researchers say there is an urgent need for more legal protections for crabs' welfare.

Co-author Dr Lynne Sneddon, an expert on animal pain at the University of Gothenburg, says: 'We need to find less painful ways to kill shellfish if we are to continue eating them.

Although they are not currently covered by EU animal welfare legislation, the researchers say their study finds that crustaceans including crabs such as the European green crab used in the trail (pictured), lobsters, shrimp, and crayfish all feel pain when killed

The researchers are calling for crabs to be stunned with electricity when caught so that they do not suffer a painful death by boiling or suffocation (file photo)

'Because now we have scientific evidence that they both experience and react to pain.'

In the EU, crustaceans are one of the few animals not covered by welfare laws meaning there are no guidelines on how to handle them in the lab or in the kitchen.

That means it is legal to cut up or boil crabs while they are still alive, which is not the case for any of the mammals we eat.

While the researchers acknowledge that their own research was no doubt painful, they insist that as few crabs as possible were used in the hope of improving the welfare of all crustaceans in the future.

Mr Kasiouras adds: 'In the UK, decapod crustaceans are considered sentient so definitely the animal welfare legislations should be extended to cover these groups of animals too.

'More research is needed on that topic and we hope that we can announce some guidelines in the future.'
A retired Air Force Captain  who claims to have witnessed a UFO deactivate 10 nuclear missiles in 1967  believes its 'alien' occupants have a simple, three-word message for humanity: 'WTF!?'

'I'm sorry. Did I say something wrong?' Captain Robert Salas joked after delivering the blunt opinion to Congresswoman Nancy Mace during an episode of the podcast Total Disclosure.

At the height of the Cold War, a then 26-year-old USAF Lieutenant Salas was underground while overseeing Malmstrom Air Force Base's nuclear equipped intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in Montana.

He claimed an eerie red glowing UFO above the base's front gate temporarily disabled 10 ICBMs on the night of March 24, 1967.

'They knew exactly how our systems worked. Exactly,' Capt Salas told South Carolina Representative Mace, speaking about the UFO's mysterious pilots.

Capt Salas was grilled by Rep Mace about what he thought the UFO's pilots were trying to convey.

''WTF!? You have nuclear weapons,'' he said, paraphrasing these appalled, pacifist aliens. 'That's what I think [they meant] .Of course, it's just my opinion.'

Retired US Air Force Captain Robert Salas personally witnessed a UFO deactivate 10 nuclear missiles in 1967 at a US Air Force base in Montana. He spoke to South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace, after this month's shocking UFO hearing on November 13

Above, a missile combat crew member at Captain Salas' old post - Malmstrom Air Force Base - prepares to close a three-foot thick door inside a nuclear launch control center 70-feet underground

Both Rep Mace and Capt Salas spoke on the podcast Total Disclosure for an episode released online November 24, 2024.

In his analysis of the Malmstrom AFB incidents, the retired official was adamant the nonviolent, nondestructive nature of the UFOs interactions might be a clue as to the potentially extraterrestrial occupants' peaceful intent.

'No equipment was fried. Nothing was damaged,' Capt Salas told Rep Mace.

'It was simply intermittent electrical pulse that was delivered to a particular part of the guidance system, called the logic coupler,' he explained.

'And this was proven by Boeing. Boeing did a test of this so-called logic coupler.'

'Without that piece of equipment working properly, the guidance system would not properly work,' he continued. 'So, the missile shut itself down.'

'The missiles were all brought back up on alert within 24 hours,' he noted.

Both Representative Mace (above) and USAF Captain Salas spoke on tape for an episode of the podcast Total Disclosure - for an episode published online November 24, 2024

'No equipment was fried. Nothing was damaged,' Capt Salas told Rep Mace. 'It was simply intermittent electrical pulse that was delivered to a particular part of the guidance system.' Above an ICBM nuclear missile at Malmstrom AFB which is home to the 341st Missile Wing

Air Force veterans have repeatedly testified about their experiences of UFOs interfering with US nuclear missiles - some occurred at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana (pictured)

At the time of the 1967 UFO incursions, Capt Salas said he was also told the incident had been classified and that he was forbidden from speaking about it.

'I signed a non-disclosure agreement,' he said. 'Didn't start talking about it 'til 1996.'

The veteran later learned that his crew commander had dealt with a unnerving and virtually identical UFO episode on the nuclear base just eight days prior to his own.

Capt Salas, who has long advocated for government transparency on UFOs, told Rep Mace that he has published a recent book digging into '13 similar cases that happened all over the world, including Russia.'

'In none of those incidents was any significant damage done,' as he emphasized to the congresswoman this month.

'To me, that says they're sending us a message about nuclear weapons.'

In March 2023, Salas and another Air Force veteran told DailyMail.com that they had taken their testimony to the Pentagon's UFO-hunting All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) expressing concern over UFOs ability to interfere with US nukes.

One now public email confirms that AARO staff contacting former Salas to gather information about his chilling encounter with the orange-red glowing 'disc' that inexplicably turned off 10 warheads at Malmstrom AFB.

US Air Force ICBM launch officer Robert Salas (pictured left, and as a young man, right) told of his encounter with an orange flying disc that turned off 10 warheads at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana in 1967

Although Salas described those early interactions with AARO officials as 'very magnanimous,' he has since told the media that he's disappointed in the office.

The Air Force veteran described the Pentagon office's March 2024 'historical records report' on UFOs since the Cold War as 'a 'Steaming pile of ...'

'I gave AARO a two hour PowerPoint presentation on the Malmstrom AFB incidents where twenty ICBMs were disabled during UFO encounters,' Salas said on the social media site X, speaking to incidents at the base beyond 1967.

'The USGOV owes us, the informed public, much more respect on this subject than offered by AARO's steaming pile of insults,' he concluded.
A NASA scientist has discovered a defunct Cold War military base hidden deep beneath the Greenland ice sheet.

Chad Greene, a cryospheric scientist at the Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), was flying a plane over the enormous glacier when the radar unexpectedly detected something buried within the ice.

Previous radar imaging of Camp Century looked like nothing more than a 'blip,' but the new map revealed 3D structures that aligned with the design and structure of the base.

The camp was spotted around 150 miles east of Pituffik Space Base in northern Greenland.

'We were looking for the bed of the ice and out pops Camp Century,' said fellow JPL cryospheric scientist Alex Gardner, who co-lead the project. 'We didn't know what it was at first.'

Camp Century, also known as 'the city under the ice,' was a US military base built in 1959. It consists of of 21 tunnels drilled just below the surface of the ice sheet, spanning a total length of 9,800 feet.

It was used as a front for Project Iceworm, which aimed to install a vast network of nuclear missile launch sites that could target the Soviet Union.

But due to the instability of the ice sheet, the project - and Camp Century - was ultimately abandoned in 1967, gradually becoming buried in snow and ice.

NASA scientists captured an image of an abandoned US military base that has been hiding under ice in the

Chad Greene, a NASA JPL cryospheric scientist, was flying a Gulfstream III over the enormous glacier when the radar unexpectedly detected Camp Century

The facility's infrastructure now lies beneath at least 100 feet below the surface of the ice sheet.

Previous airborne surveys that flew over Camp Century have detected signs of the base within the ice.

But those flights used conventional ground-penetrating radar, which points straight down and produces a 2D profile of the ice sheet, according to a NASA Earth Observatory statement.

The latest discovery used radar to map the surface of an ice sheet, its internal layers and the bedrock below, similar to the way that doctors use ultrasound to see inside the human body.

Greene's flight, which took place in April 2024, used NASA's Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) mounted onto the bottom of the aircraft.

This system doesn't just look downward, it also captures a side-view to image solid structures with more dimensionality.

'In the new data, individual structures in the secret city are visible in a way that they've never been seen before,' Greene said in the statement.

The scientists used this data to map the structure of this lost base, and they appeared to match historical records of the planned layout.

Camp Century is a US military base built in 1959 that consists of a network of 21 tunnels but just below the surface of the ice sheet ice, spanning a total length of 9,800 feet

Previous airborne surveys that flew over Camp Century used conventional ground-penetrating radar, which points straight down and produces a 2D profile of the ice sheet

When it was built, Camp Century was publicized as a demonstration for affordable icecap military outposts and a base for scientific research.

The US Army only revealed its true purpose after it was abandoned, informing the Danish Government - which administered Greenland - of Project Iceworm's aim.

Camp Century was one of the first facilities to be powered by a portable nuclear reactor, which supplied electricity and heat.

When the camp was decommissioned, the reactor was removed and its hazardous waste buried. The remaining infrastructure was left to be enveloped in layers of ice and snow.

Previously, scientists used conventional radar imaging to estimate the depth of Camp Century.

This work provides crucial information about when melting and thinning of the ice sheet could re-expose the camp and any remaining biological, chemical, and radioactive waste it contains.

The new UAVSAR image, however, was captured completely by accident.

'Our goal was to calibrate, validate, and understand the capabilities and limitations of UAVSAR for mapping the ice sheet's internal layers and the ice-bed interface,' Greene said.

'Without detailed knowledge of ice thickness, it is impossible to know how the ice sheets will respond to rapidly warming oceans and atmosphere, greatly limiting our ability to project rates of sea level rise,' Gardner added.
Contains affiliated content. Products featured in this article are selected by our writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, Daily Mail Australia will earn an affiliate commission. Click here for more information.

If you're planning a getaway any time soon then why not take advantage of big savings on flights and holidays with Flight Centre's epic Cyber sale.

The travel giant has slashed the price of flights, holiday packages, cruises and tours all over the world, with some offerings discounted by 50 per cent.

Travel enthusiasts can snap up heavily discounted flights to incredible destinations all around the globe, as part of the sale which ends on December 3rd.

Families looking for an hassle free escape can enjoy big discounts on curated family friendly trips, so there's no need for endless searching to find the best deal.

With packages available for holidays here in Australia, across the pond in New Zealand and further afield with Bali, London and even iDisneyland, California, there are options to suit every family and budget.

Throughout the sale period there will also be daily flash deals offering massive bargains for the first 50 customers only and once they're gone they are gone so you'll need to move quick to snap one up.

There are plenty of return flight deals to amazing travel spots across America, South Pacific and Asia for well under $1000.

Flight deals include Sydney to Singapore from $755* return, Brisbane to Hawaii from just $997 or Melbourne to Fiji for just $655.

There are also bargains to Europe too with Melbourne to Paris from just $1821* return as well as multi-stop flights like Sydney to Honolulu and New York City from just $1992* return, perfect for anyone look to explore the world next year.

Shoppers can also score big discounts on amazing holiday packages to brilliant destinations all around the globe.

There is an eight night trip to a Phuket resort which includes a Banana Beach Snorkelling Trip from $1099* for two people for the stay package.

Italy for less: Deals are available from holiday packages, tours and cruises all around the world including $866 off a Rome to Amalfi adventure

There is an eight night trip to a Phuket resort which includes a Banana Beach Snorkelling Trip from $1099* for two people for the stay package

You can enjoy the azure waters of the Cook islands with a seven night stay at the The Edgewater Resort & Spa from just $1,000* per person.

If you've ever wanted to visit the Big Apple, now is your chance and you can save $1360 on a five night trip to New York* staying in the heart of the action at the Stay at the Hyatt Centric Times Square New York.

If you're looking for an unbelievable deal on a tour then you can enjoy deals like $866 off a Rome to Amalfi adventure, or enjoy a scenic Switzerland trip by train over a nine day exploration, with $560* off as part of the sale.

Terms and conditions apply and you can find answers to all of the most frequently asked questions regarding the sale here.

Check out all of the deals in the Flight Centre Cyber sale here.
Advertisement

British Airways has revealed a brand-new first-class seat for the Airbus A380  and the Mail has given it a try.

The airline - a partner carrier with American Airlines - unveiled the suite at a glitzy ceremony on Monday night at its Waterside HQ next to Heathrow.

Harriet Sime and Laura Sharman from the Mail's travel team tested it out.

After 'listening to colleagues and customers to help shape design elements', BA is calling the suite a 'game-changer'.

But what did Harriet and Laura think?

Deputy Travel Editor Harriet said: 'The seat is plush, with elegant curves and ambient lighting. It felt like a cocoon, with wide seats and acres of space on either side and in front.'

Assistant Travel Editor Laura remarked: 'It felt like stepping into a sophisticated hotel suite. The seat was plush and cosy, both as a chair and when fully reclined as a bed. It certainly oozes luxury and style.'

Let's run through some of the specifications.

British Airways has revealed a brand-new first-class seat for the Airbus A380 (above)

After 'listening to colleagues and customers to help shape design elements', BA is calling the suite a 'game-changer'

The suite features a 32-inch 4K TV screen and adjustable mood lighting including scenes such as 'relax', 'dine' and 'cinema', with customers cocooned within a 60-inch curved wall, for 'ultimate privacy'

The Mail's Laura Sharman gives the new first-class suite a try. BA - a partner carrier with American Airlines - unveiled the suite at a glitzy ceremony on Monday night at its Waterside HQ next to Heathrow

In a statement, BA revealed that the seat is 'ultra-wide'  36.5 inches  with a bed length of 79 inches (6ft 6in) and featuring a 'multi-purpose ottoman'.

It also features a 32-inch 4K TV screen and adjustable mood lighting including scenes such as 'relax', 'dine' and 'cinema', with customers cocooned within a 60-inch curved wall, for 'ultimate privacy'.

On the privacy front, BA added: 'The soft panelling inside the seat helps with acoustics and absorbing sound, which adds to the sense of being in a cocooned, private space. Customers can also use the seat's brand-new "do not disturb" functionality on its wireless control tablet, which notifies crew if they wish to maximise their rest on board.'

For customers travelling together in the centre of the cabin, the divider slides open to create a shared lounge space, and they can now wheel their luggage into a personal luggage space on the outside of the suite, 'making it even easier to settle in before their flight'.

Harriet and Laura agreed that this feature looks handy.

BA added: 'The seat has been beautifully curated by expert designers and world-class manufacturers from all corners of Great Britain and Ireland, including London, Glasgow, West Yorkshire, Kilkeel and Dublin.

'We worked closely with world-class manufacturer Collins Aerospace to create the First seat, following its involvement in carefully crafting British Airways' Club Suite and short-haul aircraft seats earlier this year.'

Customers can now wheel their luggage into a personal luggage space on the outside of the suite

In a statement, BA revealed that the seat is 'ultra-wide'  36.5 inches  with a bed length of 79 inches (6ft 6in) and featuring a 'multi-purpose ottoman'

Deputy Travel Editor Harriet said: 'The seat is plush, with elegant curves and ambient lighting. It felt like a cocoon, with wide seats and acres of space on either side and in front'

Assistant Travel Editor Laura remarked: 'It felt like stepping into a sophisticated hotel suite. The seat was plush and cosy, both as a chair and when fully reclined as a bed. It certainly oozes luxury and style'

British Airways' Chief Customer Officer, Calum Laming, said: 'We're incredibly proud to launch the next era of First that pushes the boundaries of comfort, luxury and modernity'

Rhys Jones, Aviation Editor at frequent flyer website headforpoints.com, said: 'The new cabin is a level-headed approach to first class'

Any thoughts from frequent fliers?

Rhys Jones, Aviation Editor at frequent flyer website headforpoints.com, didn't attend the launch event, but told MailOnline Travel that he thinks the new seat is taking BA in the right direction.

He commented: 'British Airways has cleverly decided not to go head-to-head with the ultra-luxury offerings from Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines, some of which offer multi-room apartments to passengers.

'The new cabin is a level-headed approach to first class with nods to the Ozwald Boateng-designed uniforms.

'Compared to the existing seats, the new cabin should be more spacious. The question now is whether BA can deliver a service and soft-product to match [what looks like] an impressive new seat. The launch of a new First Service Specialists training program at BA should help elevate inconsistent service from crew.'

British Airways' Chief Customer Officer, Calum Laming, said: 'We're incredibly proud to launch the next era of First that pushes the boundaries of comfort, luxury and modernity, taking into consideration customer preferences and expectations to the finest detail.'

The new cabin is expected to take to the skies in mid-2026. It may also feature in the new Boeing 777X.

Watch this space.
There were no shortage of reactions on social media after the shocking death, which sets a dark and sinister tone for the last three episodes.

The actor who was killed off has now opened up about the unceremonious death and what they have coming next.

The character was none other than Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri), a ruthless lawyer for Market Equities who paid a shadowy company to kill Montana governor John Dutton (Kevin Costner).

The actress, 43, who previously played Claire Dutton on the Yellowstone prequel 1883, also revealed her new gig, a role on another series from Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan: Paramount Plus' Lioness.

Yellowstone fans were left stunned at the end of Sunday's new episode when a pivotal character was killed off

The actor who was killed off has now opened up about the unceremonious death and what they have coming next

The character was none other than Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri), a ruthless lawyer for Market Equities who paid a shadowy company to kill Montana governor John Dutton ( Kevin Costner)

The actress, 43, who previously played Claire Dutton on the Yellowstone prequel 1883, also revealed her new gig, a role on another series from Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan: Paramount Plus' Lioness

Olivieri's Sarah Atwood was introduced in the second episode of Season 5 back in 2022, when her company Market Equities summoned her to Montana to deal with the Dutton family.

She quickly set her sights on Jamie, who she insisted was falling for the Montana Attorney General for legit reasons and he quickly fell for her.

Towards the end of the first half of Season 5, Sarah floated the idea of having John Dutton killed, stating she knew of a company that could make it look like an accident or even a suicide.

When the show finally returned after a nearly two-year hiatus, it was revealed John Dutton had died, seemingly by suicide, before Sarah revealed to Jamie that this was her doing.

That plan hit a serious setback in Sunday's new episode, when Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) pointed out a number of things to the medical examiner that made her change her cause of death from suicide to homicide.

The mysterious company Sarah hired started tying up loose ends, having a seemingly normal couple kill Sarah in her car while she was at a stop sign and talking on the phone with Jamie.

'I always sort of know its coming. And to read it is like, "OK, here we go." We got what we all wanted. I think everyone is happy that the train station came,' she said, referring to the 'train station' being Yellowstone code for murder.

'I tend to play that character that you love to hate, and that character is always setting up the hero to win. And, how does the hero win? Its sort of the symbiotic relationship that goes part and parcel with the villain, or the antagonist. I always sort of know its coming, and to read it [in the script] is like, OK, here we go,"' she said.

Olivieri's Sarah Atwood was introduced in the second episode of Season 5 back in 2022, when her company Market Equities summoned her to Montana to deal with the Dutton family.

She quickly set her sights on Jamie, who she insisted was falling for the Montana Attorney General for legit reasons and he quickly fell for her

'Dying as an actor is really an interesting journey, because I really try to go as deep as I possibly can and I make it as real as I possibly can. And so to have died as many times as I have died in my career  [the saying is to] die before you die, Im just getting a chance to do it professionally!' she joked.

She added that series creator Taylor Sheridan is 'special,' adding that, 'a death for me just means a life somewhere else, and he immediately moved me to another show. So, its a fun thing to read and then be like, Oh, Im doing a different thing now.

That 'different thing' is another Sheridan show, Lioness, which she'll make her debut on Sunday, December 1, as she revealed why her casting wasn't announced.

'They didnt want to announce that beforehand, because that would be a spoiler and tip everyone off,' to Sarah Atwood's ultimate demise.

When asked about her Lioness character, Olivieri wouldn't say much, except that the role is, 'totally different' from Sarah Atwood.

'Taylor calls me his Swiss Army knife. Hell text me and say, Yo, Swiss Army knife. I need ya. And I say, Reporting for duty. My last text to him was literally, You tell me what and where, and Im there. And thats it, thats my response. Another show, another day, another character,' she said.

One of the biggest questions for Sarah was whether her involvement with Jamie was genuine or if she was just trying to manipulate him on behalf of her company.

When asked if she actually loved him, Olivieri said, 'Look, the funny thing about love is that you can define it in whatever way it makes sense to you. And based on the trauma you live in your own life, you can decide if love is a transaction or constant affection.'

'Dying as an actor is really an interesting journey, because I really try to go as deep as I possibly can and I make it as real as I possibly can. And so to have died as many times as I have died in my career  [the saying is to] die before you die, Im just getting a chance to do it professionally!' she joked.

'I think that was her way of love, and I think Jamie responded to that. We were able to see that he also spoke that language, and that was the connection they had. They could have been an insane powerful couple, who would have been very scary to be working up against!' she said

'But the truth is that a lot of people as they live their life end up having skewed perspectives. To touch someone who has been molested is almost like a pain, right? Can you image? So sometimes you get these interesting psyches where to open up is painful, or not safe, or trauma,' she said.

She added, 'So to her, power is love and the transaction is what feels like love: You care about me if you win with me, or if you listen to everything I say.'

'I think that was her way of love, and I think Jamie responded to that. We were able to see that he also spoke that language, and that was the connection they had. They could have been an insane powerful couple, who would have been very scary to be working up against!' she said.

She also stars in the upcoming film Homestead alongside Neal McDonough, in theaters December 20.
A fracas at the prison, a shock at the solicitors and a new future for Gail unfolds next week on Coronation Street.

See our round-up of the most explosive Weatherfield moments about to hit screens.

1. Rowan in the dock

As the day of Rowan's trial arrives, tensions run high as his barrister questions Amy, Nick and Leanne.

While Amy hopes to get the money back she invested in The Institute, Leanne prays that justice will be done.

But will smooth-talking Rowan win the court around?

As the day of Rowan's trial arrives, tensions run high as his barrister questions Amy, Nick and Leanne

2. Leanne loses her cool

Leanne takes the stand, but her blood boils when she sees Rowan letting slip a smug smile.

She loses her temper and flies into a rage.

As court is adjourned, Leanne worries her outburst has scuppered things.

Later, she asks Nick to go for a drink and we also see her upload Toyah's passport to a website.

What is she up to?

Leanne takes the stand, but her blood boils when she sees Rowan letting slip a smug smile

3. David's secret revealed?

David and Shona have a meeting with the prison governor, where it's revealed that Clayton issued two visiting orders and had someone come to visit him.

The governor refuses to tell Shona who the visitor was, and David quickly manages to usher Shona out.

However, Shona is suspicious and demands to know if David was Clayton's visitor.

How will David hide the truth?

David and Shona have a meeting with the prison governor, where it's revealed that Clayton issued two visiting orders and had someone come to visit him

4. Kit's date disaster

Kit's flirting with Daisy starts to pay off when he suggests they go on a date and Daisy accepts.

As they head for the Bistro, Max approaches them and blames Kit for Lauren being in a prison cell on her birthday.

Kit shows little sympathy, leaving Daisy unimpressed by his attitude.

Is the date over before it has begun?

Kit's flirting with Daisy starts to pay off when he suggests they go on a date and Daisy accepts

5. Shona's prison visit

David confesses to Max about his visit to Clayton but begs him to keep it a secret from Shona.

Later, Shona jumps in Steve's cab and asks him to take her somewhere.

When Steve tells Max that he drove Shona to the prison, Max gets Steve to take him there and they discover Shona outside the prison gates.

When Steve tells Max that he drove Shona to the prison, Max gets Steve to take him there and they discover Shona outside the prison gates

6. Max reveals the truth?

At the prison, Shona starts to argue with the governor over Clayton's mystery visitor.

As things turn heated, the war of words escalates and Shona loses her temper, violently shoving the governor.

Desperate to stop things getting out of hand, will Max reveal David's secret to placate Shona?

Later, Shona heads into town alone. What is she up to?

As things turn heated, the war of words escalates and Shona loses her temper, violently shoving the governor

7. Leanne revenge?

Nick comforts Leanne at Les' will reading, something which doesn't go unnoticed by Toyah.

At the meeting, it's revealed that the abattoir where Les worked has offered 50k in compensation over his death.

Nick comforts Leanne at Les' will reading, something which doesn't go unnoticed by Toyah

Later, Leanne is irked when Toyah asks for the same dates off work as Nick, knowing they are planning a secret holiday together.

Soon, we discover that Leanne has opened a bank account in Toyah's name, clearly plotting something.

8. Bethany hides the truth

Still struggling to adjust to life with her stoma bag, Bethany attends her support group.

Still struggling to adjust to life with her stoma bag, Bethany attends her support group

However, it's clear that she's still lying to the group leader about the reason her bag was fitted.

Can Bethany move on with her life if she's not being honest?

9. A name to blame?

Bethany and Sarah are intrigued when they read a report about Bethany's Turkish clinic botching another liposuction operation.

Bethany and Sarah are intrigued when they read a report about Bethany's Turkish clinic botching another liposuction operation

Adam advises Bethany and Sarah to demand compensation as there is a director of the clinic who lives in the UK.

However, there's a shock when he reveals their name

10. Gail and Jessie look to the future

As they dream of their new life together, will the lovebirds consider a move away from Coronation Street?

In the Rovers, Gail and Jesse discuss what they should do with the money from his house sale.

As they dream of their new life together, will the lovebirds consider a move away from Coronation Street?

Coronation Street airs on ITV and ITVX.
This Morning has been hit by a wave of backlash, after controversial OnlyFans star Bonnie Blue appeared on the show on Tuesday, to defend her sleeping with 'barely legal 18-year-olds'.

The adult content creator, 25, claims to make 600,000 a month through her X-rated account, where she is famed for seducing students into sleeping with her on camera and posting the footage onto the subscription site.

She recently bedded hordes of teenage men at Nottingham Trent University Freshers Week and revealed plans to go to Australia for a repeat performance during 'Schoolies', a week-long holiday for high school graduates after their final exams in late November and early December.

After receiving overwhelming criticism and accusations of being a 'predator', Bonnie defended her 'career' on This Morning, as she insisted her actions were legal and claimed they were 'educational'.

She said: 'I'm still learning every day. But my content is educational to those that I'm sleeping with, and those that are watching it'.

She went on: 'People say it's an unsafe environment, but I can't think of one situation where an 18-year-old has had sex where they've had to bring a passport, they've had to sign consent forms, they've had to do a breathalyzer.

This Morning has been hit by a wave of backlash, after controversial OnlyFans star Bonnie Blue appeared on the show on Tuesday, to defend her sleeping with 'barely legal 18-year-olds'

The adult content creator, 25, claims to make 600,000 a month through her X-rated account, where she is famed for seducing students into sleeping with her on camera and posting the footage onto the subscription site

After receiving overwhelming criticism and accusations of being a 'predator', Bonnie defended her 'career' on This Morning, as she insisted her actions were legal and claimed they were 'educational'

'And then they're sleeping with someone who is education and understands the industry. What part of that is unsafe?'

But viewers watching at home, were not convinced, and were furious that ITV had 'sunk to the lowest depths' by allowing Bonnie on the show.

They fumed: 'The fact this morning has given Bonnie Blue a platform to talk is disgusting; ITV and #ThisMorning giving the predator Bonnie Blue air time is shameful. Literally everyone has disassociated from her yet you're promoting this.'

'Whoever invited Bonnie blue on this morning needs sacking #ThisMorning absolutely VILE; @thismorning why are you giving Bonnie Blue airtime? Youve sunk to the lowest depths. Vile!'

'#Bonnie Blue uses interviews like this rage bait and get more views. Shame on #ThisMorning for giving her a platform. I don't think 18 year old boys can fully consent to having a video posted online FOREVER & what about STI's.... She is abusing them.'

'@thismorning why are you allowing Bonnie blue on the show? Shes literally been kicked out of two countries for using vulnerable teenagers for sex; Are this morning for real giving Bonnie Blue air time? What the hell?!'

@ITV @thismorning Re- Bonnie Blue.. disappointed that you gave that airtime, then again alot of people will have seen her for what she is all about money and a danger to young people actually!

While many praised Ashley James for poking holes in the OnlyFans star's defence, as they branded Bonnie as 'dangerous' to both young men and also other women, with her comments about how girls were 'lazy' if they didn't please their men.

But viewers watching at home, were not convinced, and were furious that ITV had 'sunk to the lowest depths' by allowing Bonnie on the show

While many praised Ashley James (pictured right) for poking holes in the OnlyFans star's defence

They raged: 'Bonnie Blue is one of the most disgusting opportunistic predator. She is vile. Morally disgusting and void of conscience. Lights are on but nobody is home.'

'Ashley has done her research today, love it! This Bonnie woman is a predator, taking advantage of stupid young men. She's making a fortune and the boys are just being used to line her pockets and satisfying her nasty perversions!'

'Bonnie Blue slept with a father and son at the same time - I think thats one very mixed up woman who has no boundaries. She needs to be prosecuted not prostituted'.

'#Go on Ashley. This Bonnie Blue character is deluded and embarrassing. Why is she even on? Wrapping up what she does as education. Madness!'

'Bonnie Blue saying women are lazy if they're not doing enough to please men, that's such a derogatory stance and unsupportive of women, especially those in abusive or controlling relationships. Words have consequences.'

'#ThisMorning that segment with Bonnie Blue. Seems she was so defensive when Ashley made some valid points, like how she does women no favours. So she educates boys by showing them money can buy sex. Instead of them experiencing meeting and falling in love the natural way.

'That Bonnie Blue or whatever she is ...is dangerous she's found a gap in the market and using it with phrases like barley legal will attract all sorts of people potentially pedophiles! Also she's insulting women who probably cannot do xyz for medical issues'.

'"Karen's at home complaining to their husbands" uhm no, I'm a single, young woman. I think she's vile and a predator and she looks RIDICULOUS. She's delusional that she thinks woman are somehow jealous of her? Or the hussle? Not everything revolves around men, Bonnie.'

'#ThisMorning at the end of this interview its clear Bonnie Blue takes no accountability and theres no remorse or emotion. Complete psychopath.'

They branded Bonnie as 'dangerous' to both young men and also other women, with her comments about how girls were 'lazy' if they didn't please their men

Ashley refuted Bonnie's claims that she was being 'educative' as she said: 'Women are not the sexual property of men and women don't exist to pleasure men and I never hear you talk about female pleasure'

Bonnie hit back, as she insisted: 'I'll educate you on the true story of it. There is no content online for 18-year-olds or even people that are new to sex'

Ashley refuted Bonnie's claims that she was being 'educative' as she said: 'There are lots of us that are fully supportive of sexual liberation. The issues that people have with you specifically is the fact that you use terms like 'barely-legal', you use 'baby-sitting for adults' in a podcast with Lottie Moss.

'You say you're educating, but who are you educating? Because a lot of your audience are teenagers and we live in a society where incel culture is on the rise there's a real fear not only for our daughters, but also for our sons.

'And when you say you're educating what kind of messaging are you putting out there? Because also I've heard you say phrases such as women are lazy if they're not going to give sex to their husbands, then those husbands dads and barely legal teenagers have a right...

'Women are not the sexual property of men and women don't exist to pleasure men and I never hear you talk about female pleasure.'

Bonnie hit back, as she insisted: 'I'll educate you on the true story of it. There is no content online for 18-year-olds or even people that are new to sex.

'You go from at school where you learn about how get pregnant basically, how just have to safe sex. But then they go from watching content online which is rough - choking, slapping, hair-pulling.

'So are we only wanting our sons or the younger generation to watch that and try and perform that in a bedroom, because that's dangerous for women.'

But Ashley replied: 'I think you're misunderstanding my point here. Of course I don't want anyone watching rough pornography, my point here is what are you doing to teach young boys and girls, that women do not exist to please men. Men do not have a right to cheat with partners.

When host Andi Peters (left) asked if she thought morally what she did was right, Bonnie replied: '100 per cent. There's a massive gap for it. I'm doing what I do best which is pleasuring and educating'

She has set her sights on breaking the world record for sleeping with the most number of men in a 24-hour period next year, with the current record at 919

'But also how are you teaching young boys that male pleasure is not the ultimate, there's also female pleasure, there's also respect. What are you doing to teach young men that they don't just have an automatic right to sex?'

When host Andi Peters asked if she thought morally what she did was right, Bonnie replied: '100 per cent. There's a massive gap for it. I'm not saying women are here just to pleasure men, but I'm a content creator and I love pleasuring men.

'So the bigger picture, that's not my problem, I'm doing what I do best which is pleasuring and educating'.

Andi admitted: 'I can't decide if you are a genius marketer. You present very well, which makes me think the whole thing is very clever.'

Bonnie confessed: 'It's all the Karens sat at home that are going to complain about me being here that are making me rich.

'Because they make it blow up and then when they're are sat at home complaining about it to their husbands, they're then wanting to come and subscribe so it sort of helps.'

Earlier this month, Bonnie spoke to the Mail and voiced her defense for seeking out 'barely legal' teenagers for her most prolific and controversial content.

She argued: 'There's two reasons. One: the teen category has been the most searched category online for a very long time, people have always done schoolgirls.

Earlier this month, Bonnie spoke to the Mail and voiced her defense for seeking out 'barely legal' teenagers for her most prolific and controversial content

'And I was like, there's a gap in the market for someone being with a schoolboy. If that's how we want to word it.

'From a business point of view, I knew there was a massive, massive gap that I could [exploit]. And sleeping with 18-year-olds makes the content a lot more relatable to the subscribers, who are younger.'

And she attacked critics who have slammed her as 'disgusting', 'weird', and an example of a 'society that has lost its morals'.

Bonnie said: 'These 18-year-olds can go to the Army, they can drive, they can drink, they're choosing their careers for the rest of their life. If they want to use their own bodies to come and sleep with me, that is their decision.'

'We seem to say 18-year-olds don't know better. But if an 18-year-old commits a crime, the first thing they would say is that they're an adult, they should know better. So we seem to pick and choose when we like to treat them as kids.'

Asked about parents' concern for their young adult sons, she went on: 'I can see when they think of their 18-year-old boy, they want to wrap him in bubble wrap and they think they're the most innocent sweet child that has ever existed. That's not the case.

'They're going off and they're drinking, they're doing drugs and they're having one night stands that are unprotected and they tend to be having sex when they've had drinks, under the influence.

'However, when they sleep with me, it is in a controlled environment. There is security at the door, you're filling in consent forms and you're seeing someone that gets tested for STDs on a regular basis and is also an expert in the industry. So when you word it like that and take away the taboo subject of it, you take away the shame.'

Bonnie has now set her sights on breaking the world record for sleeping with the most number of men in a 24-hour period next year, hoping to reach 1000

Bonnie has now set her sights on breaking the world record for sleeping with the most number of men in a 24-hour period next year.

The current record is held by an American adult film star Lisa Sparks, who bedded 919 men in a day.

Bonnie said: 'I plan to do 1,000 in 24 hours to beat the world record. I'll need a lot of pain killers and a hot water bottle after that.'

At the Nottingham freshers fortnight, she says she slept with 158 different men over the course of two weeks, which - she admits - was exhausting.

She confessed: 'There's not much time between people and definitely, towards the end, you're getting a bit tired. But when you see they're so excited it recharges my batteries.'

Bonnie's real-name is Tia Billinger and she was previously married to her childhood sweetheart, Oliver Davidson, tying the knot in 2022 just before moving to Australia.

It was there that she abandoned her job in recruitment and launched her career as a 'cam girl' on porn sites.

Bonnie claims her then-husband supported her decision, however, the pair have since broken up after nine years together.'

The ex-boyfriend is really proud,' she says. 'We didn't have a bad breakup. We are still really good friends.'

Bonnie's real-name is Tia Billinger and she previously married to her childhood sweetheart, Oliver Davidson in 2022 before moving to Australia, where she abandoned her job in recruitment and launched her career as a 'cam girl' on porn sites

Bonnie has previously caused controversy by boasting that she sleeps with married men, but she says she doesn't feel guilty because she thinks its better that they cheat with her if 'the wife's not bothered about having intercourse or having an intimate relationship'

Her mum and dad were less open-minded when they found out about their daughter's new career choice after one of her sex tapes was sent to them.

'They were shocked, but not disappointed,' says Bonnie. 'I think, because I'd gone from an office business job to then suddenly [becoming] a sex worker, in their eyes I was a prostitute.

'But it just showed me how much I needed to teach them. For the older generation it's so new. Now they're so supportive, it's changed their life completely for the better. They go on lovely holidays. They have no money problems.

'They don't work and they don't have a mortgage. My mum works for me. My mum makes signs for me to hold on camera and books my appointments. She was even handing out condoms to students for marketing.'

Bonnie has previously caused controversy by boasting that she sleeps with married men, but she says she doesn't feel guilty because she thinks its better that they cheat with her if 'the wife's not bothered about having intercourse or having an intimate relationship'.

She said: 'If that's the case, the men are going to cheat whether you like it or not. They are the statistics and that is what people do. And I also think they deserve to enjoy sex.

'It's a natural instinct to want to have sex, so if wives aren't going to pleasure husbands, let them go elsewhere. There's no intimacy, I can't remember their face by the end of the night.

'If they're not sleeping with me, they're probably having an affair in the office or in the gym. With me it's just an act, I am a girl that sleeps around a lot. The husbands and partners mean nothing to me.'
Ricky Gervais left The One Show viewers in stitches on Monday evening, as he made a cheeky jab at fellow guest Bob Geldof.

The comedian, 63, employed some of his usual acerbic wit to target the musician, 73, and received a frosty response back.

Ricky was telling hosts Alex Jones and Angellica Bell about how he got his start in comedy, but couldn't resist taking the opportunity to poke fun at Bob's looks.

The Office star said: 'The funniest people you know aren't a professional comedian, they're they're your grandad or your mate, because you've got that knowledge of them.

'And I was always mucking around, I was always cheeky at school. It was just that I didn't think it was a possible vocation until I was about, I think about 37.

'I was made redundant and I said I give myself six months to give this a go and it sort of worked out.'

Ricky Gervais left The One Show viewers in stitches on Monday evening, as he made a cheeky jab at fellow guest Bob Geldof

The comedian, 63, employed some of his usual acerbic wit to target the musician, 73, and received a frosty response back

Ricky was telling hosts Alex Jones and Angellica Bell about how he got his start in comedy, but couldn't resist taking the opportunity to poke fun at Bob's looks

Ricky added: 'I mean I could be sleeping in a car now you know what I mean?' before pointing at Bob and quipping: 'Like him. But it all worked out well.'

As a shocked Angellica put her face in her hands, Bob pointedly gave Ricky an icy glare, causing the actor to burst into laughter.

Chuckling, he patted the Boomtown Rats star on the knee, and joked: 'It's scary when he looks at me like that. He's got a lot power this man.'

Fans watching the scene at home were in hysterics over the funny moment, taking to social media to comment on Bob's reaction, saying he did not look 'impressed' nor 'amused'.

They wrote: 'Ricky Gervais is getting it after this. Bob Geldof does not look amused; He just says what hes thinking. So funny I was belly laughing'

'Bob looks miffed, if looks could kill; Ricky G tells the truth with a side of humour, how can you not respect that. Hes absolutely hilarious.

'Geldof's face. Just imagine coming to a TV programme unsuspectingly and meeting Gervais. Final boss; Dont wind Geldof up.on a Monday !!!'

'Comedy genius. I watched this tonight and they both had a great dynamic. Id expect them to be involved in something together in the near future; Hes so cheeky, isnt he?!'

Ricky added: 'I mean I could be sleeping in a car now you know what I mean?' before pointing at Bob and quipping: 'Like him. But it all worked out well'

Bob pointedly gave Ricky an icy glare, causing the actor to burst into laughter and pat him on the knee, while joking: 'It's scary when he looks at me like that. He's got a lot power this man'

'Brilliant - Bob wasnt happy; Bob weren't impressed, Love it from Ricky Gervais; Now I can see why he doesn't like Mondays!'

'His face! He didn't find that remotely funny; Classic. Made me chuckle; Love or hate Ricky Gervais, this dig at Bob Geldof is gold.'

It comes after Bob revealed he has reached out to Ed Sheeran over criticisms aimed at the new Band Aid charity single - but is still waiting for a chat.

The co-writer of Do They Know It's Christmas? told how he had put in a call to the Shape Of You popstar who has spoken out against a 40th anniversary rerecording.

Ed, 33, announced last week he would have preferred his vocal contributions from a 2014 recording were not used on the new version released this week.

Bob has also been defending the song against criticism that it fuels 'pity rather than partnership' while promoting harmful stereotypes about Africa.

Fellow musicians have turned on Ed in the escalating controversy, with Spandau Ballet's Tony Hadley telling him to 'shut up' - but Bob today suggested he wanted a more amicable 'debate' with the younger star.

Trevor Horn, producer of the fresh 40th anniversary version having previously performed the same role in 1984 for the original single, has also now responded to Ed after his Instagram comments last week.

Fans watching the scene at home were in hysterics over the funny moment, taking to social media to comment on Bob's reaction, saying he did not look 'impressed' nor 'amused'

A devastating famine in Ethiopia inspired Bob to launch Band Aid in 1984, writing Do They Know It's Christmas? alongside Ultravox frontman Midge Ure and then organise the fundraising Live Aid concerts staged in July 1985.

But the song has been accused of fuelling 'pity rather than partnership' while promoting harmful stereotypes about Africa.

And Ethiopia's prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, has condemned the anniversary rerelease for focusing memories again on Ethiopia's dark days when more than 1million people starved.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner accepted that the original 1984 single was 'well meaning at the time' but blamed it for perpetuating what he called 'reductionist and dehumanising narratives'.

Ed revealed last week his unhappiness about his vocals being used in the new rerecording which is being officially made available this Friday.

He said he would have 'respectfully declined' permission for re-use of his contribution to the 30th anniversary production from 2014 - while other critics in the past have included Lily Allen and Damon Albarn.

Ed revealed how his concerns about the song followed points made by his friend Fuse ODG, a London-born Ghanaian-English rapper.

Fuse ODG - real name Nana Richard Abiona - spoke out last week, as he released a response called We Know It's Christmas and urged the BBC not to promote the song.

It comes after Bob revealed he has reached out to Ed Sheeran over criticisms aimed at the new Band Aid charity single - but is still waiting for a chat (pictured at 2014 recording)

Ed, 33, announced last week he would have preferred his vocal contributions from a 2014 recording were not used on the new version released this week (pictured in May)

Ethiopia's prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, has condemned the anniversary rerelease for focusing memories again on Ethiopia's dark days when more than 1million people starved (pictured 2018)

Ed originally featured on the 2014 version of the track alongside the likes of Sting and Harry Styles which aimed to raise money for the Ebola relief efforts.

Taking to his Instagram stories on Sunday last week, Ed posted: 'My approval wasn't sought on this new Band Aid 40 release and had I had the choice I would have respectfully declined the use of my vocals.

'A decade on and my understanding of the narrative associated with this has changed, eloquently explained by @fuseodg. This is just my personal stance, I'm hoping it's a forward-looking one. Love to all x.'

Fuse ODG himself rejected an offer to take part in the 2014 version of Do They Know It's Christmas? on which Ed featured.

The rapper wrote on his Facebook page last week: 'Ten years ago today, I said NO to Bob Geldof's Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas project due to the fact it's a campaign that dehumanises Africans and destroys our pride and identity in the name of 'charity'.'

But on Tuesday's Lorraine, Bob said he was happy to debate with Ed while also promoting the impact the single with its fundraising power provides for humanitarian disaster victims still starving.

When asked by host Lorraine Kelly whether he found criticism of Band Aid 'irksome', Bob insisted: 'No, genuinely not.

'The necessary part of this is that opinions have changed over the years. Sentiment changes, sensibility changes, opinion changes over 40 years  and that's correct, you can't stay static.

London-born Ghanaian musician Fuse ODG has spoken out against the Band Aid charity single Do They Know It's Christmas?, accusing the song of 'dehumanising' African people

But on Tuesday's Lorraine, Bob said he was happy to debate with Ed while also promoting the impact the single with its fundraising power provides for humanitarian disaster victims still starving

'You've got to find different ways of combating these issues and different ways of talking about them and what we're celebrating here is  none of these arguments would get any oxygen if Band Aid didn't come out.

'Ed says, 'This is what I feel now'. I've put in the call  he's a really lovely man, he's an intelligent guy, he's a major artist and we'll have a chat and either agree or disagree but we talk about it.

'The debate must be made and it means we can argue our point of view even more strongly  so that's where I'm at with this.'

Bob went on to urge people to purchase the new release and help back Band Aid's work providing much-needed food and relief for people, adding: 'It's really simple for me  there's a hungry child and there's a meal and this record interposes them. If you love the song, buy it.

'It's a little piece of rock and roll history, buy it just for that, but understand  genuinely understand  that the moment you get this record you've interposed your himself between that meal and that hungry child.

'And I swear to you, I swear to you, that money you've spent on that track will go to that meal and will go to that child and they will go to bed tonight or tomorrow more protected and able to maybe give them back their dignity, give them back their agency, get back on their feet and hopefully start their journey back too.'
Jordan Banjo has revealed life in the I'm A Celeb camp is worse than viewers think and shared a string of jungle secrets exclusively with MailOnline.

The Diversity star, 31, who appeared in the 2016 series and last year's all stars version, recalled numerous moments he'd sooner forget, including when Carol Vorderman was forced to listen to him poo.

Jordan said viewers would be surprised with just how small the camp is, leaving the celebs with almost no privacy.

Speaking on behalf of SKY's new voice command feature said: 'It's awkward, when you're busting for the loo and Carol Vorderman is three foot away brushing her teeth, it's always going to be awkward, but you've just got to embrace it'.

'You've got the dunny, and literally theres a cloth in front of you and the other side of that cloth, a couple of feet is where everyone is brushing their teeth, it's not ideal'.

Jordan Banjo, 31, has revealed life in the I'm A Celeb camp is worse than viewers think and shared a string of jungle secrets exclusively with MailOnline

The DJ recalled numerous moments he'd sooner forget, including when Carol Vorderman was forced to listen to him poo (pictured together on 2023's All Stars series)

Jordan explained that there was little to no privacy for the celebs and said viewers would be surprised by just how small the camp is (pictured on the show in 2016)

Jordan also remembered just how 'shockingly' everyone stunk as a result of the Bushtucker Trials and poor washing facilities, saying their only saving grace was the campfire, which at times masked the stench.

'I've never been so relieved to stink of a campfire in all of my life, some of those trials you go to, I can't tell you how bad they are, even before filming you are heaving before you start the challenge'.

While fans may assume hunger is the worst part of jungle life, Jordan revealed it was actually boredom: 'You're just sitting there and if you're not doing trials, you see like 45 minutes of a show, half of which is Ant and Dec chatting and the trial.

'So if you're not doing a trial for that day, if you are not doing chores, you will sit in that space that entire time. it's so boring'.

Before adding: 'You almost want to do trials to get out of camp, which is the weirdest thing, please lock me in a tank with snakes to ease the boredom'.

Jordan and brother Ashley are working with Sky, who recently revealed the most meme'd, quoted, and repeated phrases from an amazing year of TV, including Tony Bellew's declaration of 'I'm The Daddy' from his on I'm A Celeb.

The broadcaster is celebrating these unforgettable lines by adding a selection into Sky TV's voice control glossary, making it easier than ever to dive into beloved shows and relive iconic scenes.

To try out the new commands, simply say Be honest, Dearest Gentle Reader or Give over! into your Sky Glass or Sky Stream remote to bring up the shows. New voice commands also include classic TV lines that remain iconic and part of our everyday language, including Here's one I made earlier (Blue Peter), I've got a text (Love Island), and Winter is Coming (Game of Thrones).

He said: 'It's awkward, when you're busting for the loo and Carol Vorderman is three foot away brushing her teeth, it's always going to be awkward, but you've just got to embrace it'.

'You've got the dunny, and literally theres a cloth in front of you and the other side of that cloth, a couple of feet is where everyone is brushing their teeth, it's not ideal' (Carol pictured)

Jordan also remembered just how 'shockingly' everyone stunk as a result of the Bushtucker Trials and poor washing facilities

New research by Sky TV reveals the most popular TV phrases from the last year which have penetrated the cultural vernacular and become a part of everyday conversations.

Top 10 Popular TV Phrases of the Year 1. Gladiators ready - Gladiators 2. I am a faithful - Traitors 3. Sent from iPhon -Baby Reindeer 4. Give Over! - Brassic 5. Be honest - Beckham 6. I think I love you - Love is Blind 7. Yes Chef! - The Bear 8. Im the daddy - Im a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here 9. Dearest gentle reader  Bridgerton 10. No war so bloody as a war between dragons - House of the Dragon Advertisement

Gladiators Ready (Gladiators) was voted the most popular TV phrase from the last year by nearly a fifth of TV lovers sampled, with I am a Faithful (Traitors) in a close second.

'Sent from iPhon' (Baby Reindeer) the third most popular. Sky also tested for the most popular classic lines from the small screen, to find Lovely jubbly (Only Fools and Horses), Get outta my pub (Eastenders) and How you doin'? (Friends) among those resonating the most with the British public.

Ben Case, Managing Director at Sky TV says: 'As we wrap up an incredible year in television, we're thrilled to celebrate some of today's most iconic TV phrases by integrating them into our Sky TV voice control glossary'.

'Ashley and Jordan have brilliantly highlighted the phrases that resonate most with fans, adding a personal touch through their content. We're also excited to include timeless classics that continue to inspire viewers to tune into TV's most beloved showstruly capturing the essence of TV culture'.

Jordan who finished in ninth place, behind Carol in 2016, previously admitted his first stint in the jungle was like seeing a 'different person'.

Following his exit he said: 'Looking back at - it being out of it for so long now - I'm like mate I don't even know how I did it!

'That's a different person!'.

Discussing the trials, he reflected on particularly terrifying task, Tomb Of Torment, where he was plunged in darkness whilst 120,000 critters climbed over him, Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt, ex-Strictly professional Ola Jordan, and Olympic gold medal winner Sam Quek.

He admitted: 'You almost want to do trials to get out of camp, which is the weirdest thing, please lock me in a tank with snakes to ease the boredom'

Jordan who finished in ninth place, behind Carol in 2016 (pictured) previously admitted his first stint in the jungle was like seeing a 'different person'

Jordan (L) and brother Ashley (R) are working with Sky, who recently revealed the most meme'd, quoted, and repeated phrases from an amazing year of TV, including Tony Bellew's declaration of 'I'm The Daddy' from his on I'm A Celeb

However, it wasn't the critters that proved to be the most troublesome, as he admitted: 'I've got scars on my neck from when the rats scratched me!'

Despite doing so well in the tasks, he hasn't inspired fellow Diversity star Perri to take part, as the dancer quipped: 'I'll stay well away!'

Jordan was the fourth celebrity to be eliminated on I'm A Celebrity, and immediately after leaving the jungle, he described the experience as 'overwhelming'.

Chatting to Ant and Dec in his exit interview, he explained: 'The whole experience has been so overwhelming. To walk up that bridge is so surreal!

'Saying bye, I can't believe it they look so depressed without me.'
Eamonn Holmes looked unamused as he left an office in London on Monday, after opening up about having a 'tough year'.

The TV star, 64, split from his wife of 14 years Ruth Langsford, before embarking on a romance with dating counsellor Katie Alexander, 43.

Eamonn was seen leaving a studio in Soho in a motorised wheelchair, after revealing he 'can no longer walk or look after himself' amid his health woes.

The GB News presenter was assisted into a car which was waiting for him outside the studio, accompanied by a team of men.

He recently shared his gratitude and opened up on his 'tough year' as he attended his first event with his new girlfriend earlier this month.

Eamonn Holmes looked unamused as he left an office in London on Monday, after opening up about having a 'tough year'

The TV star, 64, split from his wife of 14 years Ruth Langsford, before embarking on a romance with dating counsellor Katie Alexander, 43

He has been dating Katie since his split from Ruth and had her by his side as he hosted the Irish Post Awards in London.

Eamonn has battled many health woes this year and after surgery on his back in 2022 for a slipped disc, the GB News host has not been able to walk unaided and often relies on a wheelchair.

Speaking at the event Eamonn admitted he was glad to see the end of 2024, while being supported by his girlfriend.

Speaking to The Sun On Sunday, he said: 'Its been a tough year and Ill be glad to see the back of it.

'But there are lots of things to be grateful for and I hope that my health improves next year.'

Eammon and Katie made their first appearance as a couple at The Irish Post Awards, but the former GMB presenter requested that photographers not take pictures of them together.

An on looker added: 'Katie certainly seems to be able to put a smile back on Eamonns face. They seem genuinely besotted with each other.'

Eamonn and Loose Women star Ruth announced their plans to divorce in June after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together.

Eamonn was seen leaving a studio in Soho in a motorised wheelchair, after revealing he 'can no longer walk or look after himself' amid his health woes

The GB News presenter was assisted into a car which was waiting for him outside the studio, accompanied by a team of men

He recently shared his gratitude and opened up on his 'tough year' as he attended his first event with his new girlfriend earlier this month

He has been dating Katie since his split from Ruth and had her by his side as he hosted the Irish Post Awards in London

Eamonn has battled many health woes this year and a fter surgery on his back in 2022 for a slipped disc, the GB News host has not been able to walk unaided and often relies on a wheelchair

Now, Katie, who enjoyed a romantic cruise with the TV star earlier this year, has told friends she is in for 'the long haul' with Eamonn.

She has been helping Eamonn through the split from Ruth, but her friends say she is at pains to point out that their friendship has only grown close once the marriage was over in May.

In September the former This Morning presenter emotionally revealed he can no longer look after himself.

In an emotional video, Eamonn admitted his former days of independence have come to an end as he pleaded his followers to adopt a dog as he petted his pooch Bella.

Eamonn, who used to share a rescue dog, Maggie, with his ex-wife Ruth, also revealed that losing his ability to walk also had an impact.

Eamonn shared his gratitude and opened up on his 'tough year' as he attended his first event with new girlfriend earlier this month

Eammon and Katie (pictured) made their first appearance as a couple at The Irish Post Awards

Speaking at the event Eamonn admitted he was glad to see the end of 2024, while being supported by his girlfriend

He captioned the clip: 'Think about giving Bella a home. If I could walk and look after myself she would be mine but instead you could be me. Talk to @TheK9Angels . Absolutely lovely Doggie.'

Eamonn uses a wheelchair due to chronic back pain as well as undergoing painful physio sessions.

Speaking in January he said the 'harsh reality' could be that he may never be able to walk unaided again.

In 2016, Eamonn underwent a double-hip replacement operation lasting three-and-a-quarter hours after living with acute pain for many years.
Russell Crowe is looking for a buyer for his spectacular harbourside apartment in Sydney.

The Gladiator star has listed the exclusive pad with a price guide of $42million to $50million.

Now buyers agents have advised that that eye-watering figure has been scaled back to a listing price of $42million - $45million.

Situated on Finger Wharf in upscale Woolloomooloo, just 2km from the CBD, Crowe's apartment occupies an entire floor of an exclusive building.

One source revealed to The Wentworth Courier that Crowe's flat has been listed 'off-market' through McGrath real estate,.

Meanwhile, buyers agents serving upscale clients told the publication that A-listers are 'lining-up' to eye off Crowe's sprawling property.

Insiders have confirmed that Russell Crowe is looking for a buyer for his spectacular harbourside apartment in Sydney. Over the weekend, it was reported that the Gladiator star has listed the exclusive pad off-market with a price guide of $42million to $50million. (Pictured)

Now buyers agents have advised that that eye-watering figured has been scaled back to a listing price of $42million - $45million. One source revealed to The Wentworth Courier on Monday that Crowe's flat has been listed 'off-market' through McGrath real estate but agents from the firm are yet to comment. Pictured: The Finger Wharf development

Sources say that Crowe has not renovated the apartment since he bought it for $14.35 million in 2003.

The impressive property spans 1,000sqm and was initially designed to accommodate four separate private apartments.

Featuring 11 bedrooms, it is situated on the forth floor of the exclusive Finger Wharf development.

Facing straight over the harbour, the home offers amazing water views.

The title includes a 35-metre marina berth and seven car spaces.

Crowe may have been persuaded to part with his prized apartment following the sale of a penthouse and sub-penthouse at the exclusive One Sydney Harbour block which fetched an eye-watering $140million in 2019.

Last year, a 513square metre apartment in the same building owned by recently retired media veteran John Laws, went under the hammer for $12.5million.

In 2017, Crowe rejected a $25 million offer for his beloved Finger Wharf residence.

Buyers agents serving upscale clients told the publication that A-listers are 'lining-up' to eye off Crowe's sprawling property. Pictured: Finger Wharf

Situated on Finger Wharf in the upscale Woolloomooloo area, just 2km from the CBD, Crowe's apartment occupies an entire floor of an exclusive building looking over the water

Hoping to nearly double his initial investment, Crowe listed the apartment for up to $30 million.

However, when he did not receive this amount he decided to take it off the market.

According to Domain, the flat's original owners were Nutrimetics founder Imelda Roche and her late husband, Bill Roche, who purchased it off the plan in 1998 for $9.8 million.

Additionally, there were reports that Crowe received a $13 million offer in 2018 for two titles within the property.

The offer was made by Sam Barnett, the son of former Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett.

However, Crowe's management confirmed there was no offer because the flat was not for sale at that time.

In 2021, Crowe made headlines when he installed a Scandinavian barrel sauna on the balcony of the apartment.

At that time, this type of sauna was being sold for over $10,000.

Crowe boasts quite the property portfolio, including a sprawling 400 hectare Nana Glen rural property near Coffs Harbour on the NSW north coast.

The property also features it's own chapel where he married ex-wife Danielle Spencer in 2003.

Crowe is now in a relationship with Britney Theriot, who he's been dating since 2020.
Dominic Purcell has penned a heartbreaking tribute to his late father, Phil Myrtvedt, four years after the death of his mother Maureen.

The 54-year-old Prison Break star's father tragically died in April, while his mother passed away in February 2020.

On Monday, the actor took to social media and expressed his heartbreak over the loss of his dad seven months on.

'Dad. A wise gentle humble man. Just a big Shout out to ya mate miss ya heaps. You were flying then boom gone. Just so f***ed up,' he wrote alongside a photo of the two together.

'2024 what a f***in mess. F**k off.'

Just weeks earlier, Dominic grieved the loss of his mother, who'd previously undergone a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Dominic Purcell has penned a heartbreaking tribute to his late father, Phil Myrtvedt, four years after the death of his mother Maureen. The 54-year-old Prison Break star's father tragically died in April, while his mother passed away in February 2020. Pictured with Tish Cyrus (left)

'It's about family. Once they're gone. You know. Love you mum,' he captioned his post.

Dominic's father died aged 80 in April, two weeks after being admitted to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin with unspecified health issues.

Posting a photo of himself and wife Tish Cyrus, 57, posing with his late father, Dominic penned a lengthy caption honouring his father's legacy as a 'deeply respected' patriarch.

'My dad passed tonight', he began, before praising the medical professionals who tended to Joseph during his stint in hospital.

'For what it's worth. As a father I believe the greatest gift he can receive from his child is the knowing he is deeply loved. Deeply respected,' he continued.

'Surely a father's only wish for his child is to grow, flourish and better him. That was his wish. It came true. I know very clearly I can not better him but I can try and be like him.'

Dominic also spoke fondly of Tish's close relationship with her father-in-law, writing: 'To my beautiful wife. It's very easy to love you. It's a simple thing.'

'The connection and deep love you had for my dad, and he for you, (the both of you) was magnificent. 'As he said, "What did I do to deserve these two beautiful angels?",' he wrote.

Just weeks earlier, Dominic grieved the loss of his mother, who'd previously undergone a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer

The Australian actor also thanked his wife (who is the mother of Miley Cyrus) for performing music to Joseph during his time in hospital, writing: 'The songs were perfect. They brought him peace in his final hours. It was a beautiful gesture. Thank you.'

Continuing his gut-wrenching essay, Dominic then praised Joseph for showing 'courage, dignity and stoicism' in the face of 'great pain'.

Dominic said he hopes Joseph's strength, dignity and humility will be honoured by his father's many grandchildren.

'VIVAMUS, MORIENDUM EST. (Let us live, since we must die). Go with mum, dad. Your loving son Dom,' he concluded.

Tish was quick to express her heartbreak in the comments, revealing the origin of the happy family snap Dominic had used in his post.

'The day this picture was taken was one of the best days of my life. Dom and I got our marriage license and then walked down Sunset Blvd with Joe,' wrote Tish, who wed Dominic last year.

'He was so happy and full of life. It's a day I'll never forget. To know Joe was to love him. The kindest most gentle soul I will ever know. Being loved by him is something I'll never take for granted.'

In 2020, The Flash star paid tribute to his 'extraordinary' mother, Maureen, after she passed away.

Dominic also spoke fondly of Tish's close relationship with her father-in-law. Tish is the mother of US pop star Miley Cyrus

He shared an image of himself and his mother enjoying a night out together on Instagram.

'She was a beautiful human, cool as f**k and a real beauty,' he said of Maureen.

After sharing a special moment from her life where she wagged school to meet The Beatles and 'flirted' with John Lennon, he went on to reveal the sacrifices she'd made for her family.

'A single mum, five kids, no money. Worked two jobs, one cleaning toilets. A woman that sacrificed so much so we could eat and play without fear,' he wrote.

He explained it was his mum who taught him what really mattered in life - 'unconditional love' and how to be a man.

'She taught me what it is to be a man - the true essence of masculinity. No muscles, no posturing. No violence. Just a simple instinctive need to provide, to protect and love my own babies as she did us,' he said.

'You did it, mum. A giant in life. A giant in greatness. You had the last laugh, hey mum, cheeky,' he concluded.

Last August, Tish and Dominic married at a small poolside ceremony in front of family and friends at her daughter Miley's home in Malibu, California.
Gwyneth Paltrow and SNL star Chloe Fineman were spotted filming a Goop commercial featuring Polestar.

The 52-year-old Goop founder and the 36-year-old comedian bundled up for the holiday themed advertisement as cameras rolled in New York City on Monday.

Paltrow  who recently revealed her global list of top restaurants  looked radiant, modeling a woven sweater with black slacks and boots as she chatted with the Megalopolis star.

She was spotted stepping out of a white Polestar SUV and heading to one of her Goop boutiques in the Big Apple.

Fineman looked glamorous in a black coat and leather skirt with a sexy center slit teamed with heeled boots.

She then changed into an elegant dark brown blazer and matching long skirt and carried a binder.

Gwyneth Paltrow and SNL star Chloe Fineman were spotted filming a Goop commercial featuring Polestar in NYC on Monday

The 52-year-old Goop founder and the 36-year-old comedian bundled up for the holiday themed advertisement as cameras rolled

She was also spotted carrying two Goop bags to a car for the commercial, insinuating she shopped at the boutique for her new office-ready look.

It is unclear when the ad will premiere.

Back in October, we saw the Iron Man star filming a different holiday commercial for her brand in which she posed at the same Goop storefront with an adorned Christmas tree.

Gwyneth launched the wellness and lifestyle brand back in 2008. The company started as a weekly health newsletter which she wrote while she lived in London with her family.

She took the title of CEO in 2016 and promotes the brand frequently on social media. It's wide variety products include skincare, jewelry, facial serums, brushes and body butters.

The company moved its headquarters from New York to Santa Monica in 2016. It's brick-and-mortar are located in New York City, Los Angeles, Montecito, Sag Harbor, Mauna Lani and Larkspur, California.

Goop has previously been under fire for mainstream fringe health practices, such as selling crystals for vaginal insertion and a a $725 pajama set.

According to PitchBook Data, the brand is valued at $250M and has raised over $82 million from venture capital firms and private investors.

Goop has proven to be successful as its beauty products increased revenue by 40% since last year.

Paltrow owns a personal stake of about 30%.

When she is not busy promoting her business, the mother-of-two has her hands full with her son Moses, 18, and daughter Apple, 20.

Back in May, she admitted to Cultured Magazine she is getting more savvy online and is grateful her teenagers keep her in the loop.

She was spotted stepping out of a white Polestar SUV and heading inside one of her Goop boutiques

Fineman wore an elegant dark brown blazer and matching long skirt and carried a binder

The commercial hinted that she shopped at the boutique for her new office-ready look

She looked glamorous in a black coat and leather skirt with a sexy center slit teamed with heeled boots

It is unclear when the ad will premiere

Gwyneth launched the wellness and lifestyle brand back in 2008

The company started as a weekly health newsletter which she wrote while she lived in London with her family

She took the title of CEO in 2016 and promotes the brand frequently on social media

Goop's sells a wide variety products include skincare, jewelry, facial serums, brushes and body butters

The company moved its headquarters from New York to Santa Monica in 2016

It's brick-and-mortar are located in New York City, Los Angeles, Montecito, Sag Harbor, Mauna Lani and Larkspur, California

Goop has previously been under fire for mainstream fringe health practices, such as selling crystals for vaginal insertion and a a $725 pajama set

When asked how she will manage the internet when her kids go off to college she said, 'Luckily, I talk to my daughter multiple times a day, and Im sure when Moses goes it will be the same.'

Paltrow shares Moses and Apple with ex-husband Chris Martin from Coldplay  the pair said 'I do' in 2003 before ending their marriage in 2016.

Of their relationship she told British Vogue, 'We just didn't quite fit together. But man, did we love our children.'

In 2018, Gwyneth married screenwriter Brad Falchuk after hitting it off on the set of Glee.
Real Housewives of Miami star Alexia Nepola is still devastated by her divorce from estranged husband Todd Nepola.

Todd, 52, filed for divorce from the Bravolebrity, 57, in April but, while speaking on a panel at last weekend's Bravocon in Miami, Alexia insisted, she was 'still married.'

'I am not dating anyone,' she said. 'I'm still married. I'm wearing my ring.'

Later, she said she would quit the Real Housewives franchise if it meant she and Todd could work things out.

'I love Todd,' Alexia told Page Six's Virtual Reali-Tea' podcast co-hosts Danny Murphy and Evan Real.

'I've always said that we love each other. It was just [that] we have had a lot [of issues because of] the show,' the reality TV star said.

Real Housewives of Miami star Alexia Nepola, 57, said she is 'still married' despite her ex Todd Nepola, 52, filing for divorce; Seen here at Bravocon 2024 in Miami

Todd filed for divorce from the Bravolebrity in April but, while speaking on a panel at last weekend's Bravocon in Miami, Alexia shared she was still wearing her wedding ring; They are seen in 2019

She went on to note that her ex is 'not such a fan of the show,' and he 'doesn't like it.'

'It's hard to do these shows on your own if your husband doesn't support it,' she explained, explaining that the reality TV series put 'a lot of pressure' on them.

The couple started dating in 2017 and tied the knot in 2021. Alexia was heartbroken and blindsided when Todd filed for divorce in April.

'I still love him, and we still love each other,' the Real Housewives of Miami OG star - said on the April 29 episode of her iHeartMedia podcast Ay Por Favor.

'It's not because we don't love each other, but it's just very sad that, I guess, we couldn't figure out a way to fix things. And that's why I was in such shock because I'm a fighter.'

Alexia thought 'things were good' and admitted she's 'devastated' but 'pretending to be okay' admitting: 'I cry a lot. I stay busy which helps me a lot. I just can't afford to be in bed. That's not how I heal.'

Nepola is her third husband and their relationship started a year after her 12-year marrage to Herman Echevarria.

Her first husband, Peter Rosello, Jr. is the son of Pedro 'Pegy' Rosello, a Cuban-American drug trafficker during the 1980s. Their union lasted from 1992 to 1996.

'I am not dating anyone,' she said. 'I'm still married. I'm wearing my ring'; they are seen on December 8, 2022

Later, she said she would quit the Real Housewives franchise if it meant she and Todd could work things out; Seen here January 31, 2023

Court papers filed by Todd Nepola on April 11 call the marriage 'irretrievably broken' (Pictured in New York in February 2023)

The couple wed during a quiet ceremony in St. Barts in late December 2021 and traveled to Italy a year later to celebrate their first anniversary

Rosello and Alexia share two sons from their four-year marriage, Peter Rosello III, 31, and Frankie Rosello, 27.

'Even though we were married for two years and three months, because I count every day, you just can't help yourself but to go back to those seven years and say, "What went wrong?"' Alexia marveled on her podcast.

'I find myself lost. It's been very, very difficult. It's been very painful, hurtful, and I'm just getting through it.'

Nepola added: 'I'm a positive person, so I try to think about all the beautiful times we had together  all of our beautiful trips.

'I don't want to have any anger, but I understand that anger is one of the grieving stages.'
Brad Pitt is planning to have an intimate Thanksgiving celebration with his girlfriend Ines de Ramon amid his estrangement from his and ex Angelina Jolie's children.

The 60-year-old actor is reportedly going to spend the holiday with de Ramon, 31, who he started dating in 2022.

A source told People that the happy couple, who have been living together since February, 'will be spending Thanksgiving together and want to be cozy with their families.'

'They both love to cook and will be cooking together for everyone,' the insider revealed.

Meanwhile, his six kids Maddox, 23, Pax, 20, Zahara, 19, Shiloh, 18, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 16, will most likely be spending the day with their mother.

Pitt and Jolie's acrimonious legal battle has also torn apart their relationship with his parents, who 'have not been able to see their beloved grandchildren for around eight years.'

Brad Pitt is planning to have an intimate Thanksgiving celebration with his girlfriend Ines de Ramon amid his estrangement from his and ex-wife Angelina Jolie's children; seen in 2024

A source told told DailyMail.com exclusively, this week, that prior to the former couple's separation, their grandparents 'were a part of the kids lives and they all spent a lot of time together.'

'It is one thing for the kids to not see their father, but for Jane and Bill to not have any contact with their precious grandkids is sad,' the insider stated. 'They are in their 80s and to think that they would never be able to spend time with the kids again is just unbelievable.'

The report comes just weeks after People reported that the Oscar winner and jewelry executive are 'incredibly happy' in their nearly two-year romance.

In addition to becoming 'each other's biggest cheerleaders,' a source noted that they are clearly 'in it for the long haul.'

While Brad was busy filming his Formula 1 project in Mexico, Ines made the most of her time back in L.A., reconnecting with friends and enjoying some solo time, according to the source.

'She's fully supportive and knows how important this project is to him,' the insider said, adding that Pitt 'likes her independence' much like she 'loves how driven he is.'

Despite Pitt's global filming schedule, the source explained that they enjoy traveling together and supporting each other's careers.

The news follows DailyMail.com's exclusive report that Ines has made it clear to her friends, family, and work contacts that her relationship with Pitt is off-limits for discussion.

The 60-year-old actor is reportedly going to spend the holiday with de Ramon, 31, who he started dating in 2022 (pictured September)

Meanwhile, his six kids Maddox, 23, Pax, 20, Zahara, 19, Shiloh, 18, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 16, will most likely be spending the day with their mother (seen in 2021)

The entrepreneur even required her business contacts to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to ensure that no details about her personal life are leaked.

Ramon reportedly takes these precautions to avoid giving the actor any impression that she's using their relationship to gain fame.

'Ines has told all her pals to never ever leak any information of any sort about her or them,' a source told DailyMail.com.

'She is playing it very safe because she loves Brad and wants him to trust her as she hopes to marry him one day,' added the source. 'She really cares about him.'

It has also been reported that Brad is considering starting a family with Ines, amidst his ongoing legal battles with ex-wife and his separation from their six children.

Pitt and Jolie's acrimonious legal battle has also torn apart their relationship with his parents , who 'have not been able to see their beloved grandchildren for around eight years' (seen in 2015)

He's reportedly '100% on board' with starting afresh with Ines and has even confided in friends that he believes she would be a 'wonderful mother.' according to a pal of the star.

A friend of Pitt told DailyMail.com: 'It's devastating for Brad that he basically had no relationship with his kids, but Ines has been a real source of comfort and it's actually brought them closer together.

'Having more kids in his life is not out of the question. Ines is young and Brad said he's 100% on board if she wants to have kids. He loves the idea of building a life with Ines and nothing is off the table.

'Brad said Ines would be a wonderful mother. She's patient, easy going and has a great sense of humor.

The report comes just weeks after People reported that the Oscar winner and jewelry executive are 'incredibly happy' in their nearly two-year romance (pictured in September)

In addition to becoming 'each other's biggest cheerleaders,' a source noted that they are clearly 'in it for the long haul' (pictured in September 2024)

Brad and Ines were initially seen spending time with one another at a November 20, 2022 Bono concert in Los Angeles (pictured on September 9)

'In other words, their relationship is smooth sailing and drama free. He's in it with Ines for the long run,' the friend added.

Brad and Ines were initially seen spending time with one another at a November 20, 2022 Bono concert in Los Angeles.

They shared seats with celebs including Sean Penn, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber.

Before dating Pitt, de Ramon - an executive for Anita Ko Jewelry - was married to Vampire Diaries actor Paul Wesley, 41.

Ines and Wesley finalized their divorce over a year and a half after announcing their split in late 2022.
Critics of Band Aids 1984 charity single are woke do-gooders who should get out and do something themselves, the promoter of Live Aid has said.

Harvey Goldsmith, 78, hit back after Ed Sheeran joined a growing list of people criticising the song Do They Know Its Christmas? for perpetuating damaging stereotypes about Africa.

Band Aids 1984 single raised money to relieve famine in Ethiopia and was rebooted by Sheeran and others in 2014 to help tackle the Ebola crisis.

The megastars words from that recording have been reused for a 40th anniversary mix which blends various versions of the charity single together.

Sheeran said on Instagram that had he been asked for permission to use his vocals again, he would have politely declined.

Goldsmith told Times Radio: All these busybodies and woke people and do-gooders who know everything, let them get out and do something.

We wanted to do something to help. Its as simple as that.

Harvey Goldsmith (pictured) hit back at a growing list of people criticising the song Do They Know Its Christmas ? for perpetuating damaging stereotypes about Africa.

Sheeran posted on Instagram on Sunday: 'My approval wasn't sought on this new Band Aid 40 release and had I had the choice I would have respectfully declined the use of my vocals'

Bob Geldof, who co-wrote the song with Midge Ure, has been defending the charity initiative

There is not one penny of overhead ever taken other than the audit fee and some odd legal bills. And we continue to do so. And we do this on a voluntary basis. And in the last two weeks, Ive written cheques out, or signed cheques for about 300,000.

If you talk to the charities that are constantly pitching us for funds to help with their projects, youll understand from their point of view what the need is.

Governments arent doing it so if these busybodies think its wrong, well, good luck to them.

Sheeran, 33, said his view on Do They Know Its Christmas? Had been changed by friend and Ghanaian-English rapper Fuse ODG, who pulled out of Band Aid 30 over its lyrics.

He said previously that he was shocked and appalled by the line: There is no peace and joy in west Africa this Christmas.

Directly addressing Sheerans opposition, Goldsmith said it was tough.

Do They Know It's Christmas? was co-written by Midge Ure (left) and Bob Geldof (right) - the pair are seen here at the recording of the Band Aid 30 version in London in November 2014

Pictured: Sir Bob Geldof (second left), along with other artists recording the first ever Band Aid single, Do They Know It's Christmas

Ed Sheeran is entitled to his voice, he added. And hes said his piece, and hes listened to somebody called Fuse, who personally Ive never even heard of, who wants to make his point. Good luck to them.

Band Aids first version offered a snapshot of some of the 1980s biggest stars, with names including George Michael, Boy George, Spandau Ballet and Banarama all featuring.

A second recording of the track was released in 2004, and featured Noughties favourites such as Busted, Robbie Williams, Daniel Bedingfield, Snow Patrol and The Sugababes.

In 2014, the last version of Band Aid was released, and despite featuring names such as One Direction, Olly Murs, Paloma Faith and Rita Ora, though lyrics were changed to reflect its effort to raise funds for the Ebola outbreak in Africa.

Fuse ODG, who worked with Ed on the track Boa Me, posted a statement claiming the famous song perpetuates damaging stereotypes.

The artist, who this year released his own track We Know Its Christmas, penned: Ten years ago, I refused to participate in Band Aid because I recognised the harm initiatives like it inflict on Africa.

While they may generate sympathy and donations, they perpetuate damaging stereotypes that stifle Africas economic growth, tourism and investment, ultimately costing the continent trillions and destroying its dignity, pride and identity.

By showcasing dehumanising imagery, these initiatives fuel pity rather than partnership discouraging meaningful engagement.
Charlotte Dawson showed off her blossoming baby bump at the Beauty Awards in London.

The reality star, 32, turned heads as she proudly showed off her growing belly on the red carpet on Monday.

The brunette beauty put on a daring display as she flashed her legs in a sheer maroon lace mini dress.

The stunning outfit included fur cuffs and a long train that trailed behind the reality star as she posed for photographers.

Charlotte added to her bold outfit with a pair of dangling silver statement earrings and a pair of matching maroon heels complete with furry pompoms over the toes.

But the Ex On The Beach star's main accessory of the evening was her bump which she took as her plus one, leaving her fiancee Matt Sarsfield seemingly at home.

Charlotte Dawson, 32, showed off her blossoming baby bump at the Beauty Awards in London

The brunette beauty but on a daring display as she flashed her legs in a sheer maroon lace mini dress

The stunning outfit included fur cuffs and a long train that trailed behind the reality star as she proudly posed for photographers

Charlotte revealed in August that she and Matt , 33, were expecting their 'surprise' third child - just weeks after news broke he had been sexting another woman.

Charlotte has since reconciled with her partner and said Matt is banned from using social media as she admitted it's taking her a 'long time to rebuild the trust' with him.

But after she posted some pictures of them together on her Instagram grid as they dressed up as Barbie and Ken for Halloween Charlotte hit back at some negative comments.

She said on her Story: 'Some of the comments are absolutely vile... This is why I've not bothered. But I get abuse for ''hiding him away'' which I'm not he doesn't want to be on.

'But then called a mug & I'm not setting a good example to my children by taking him back? I can't in.

'I get it I put myself out there etc and I expect backlash but come on remember I am extremely hormonal and pregnant dealing with it all! Be kind it's not that hard!'

When she originally posted them together on her grid she wrote at the end of her Halloween caption: 'Ps you have nothing nice to say on the video just please don't, be kind it's not that hard x.'

It comes after Charlotte told The Sun earlier this month: 'We're just seeing how things go really, still taking it very very slow. I think the thing is, trust takes a long time, I wouldn't say it's fully there yet, but it's just taking it day by day, step by step.

Charlotte added to her bold outfit with a pair of dangling silver statement earrings and a pair of matching maroon heels complete with furry pompoms over the toes

But the Ex On The Beach star's main accessory of the evening was her bump which she took as her plus one, leaving her fiancee Matt Sarsfield seemingly at home

'He's not back on social media and he won't be for a while, maybe never. And it's probably better for him as well, because he used to look at peoples lives.

'You know what it's like...you end up in a rabbit hole on social media, scrolling - so it's probably better. He's a lot happier as well not being on it.'

Charlotte made light of Matt's sexting scandal recently as she showcased their hilarious his 'n' hers Halloween costumes last month.

But despite the troubles in their romance, Charlotte proved that she has a wicked sense of humour as she stood over his 'dead body' in mock revenge for his actions.

Charlotte has been with the rugby league player for eight years, but was left hurt and humiliated after discovering he had sent intimate texts to another woman.

Earlier this year it was revealed the star's fiance had been sexting another woman with Charlotte addressing the devastating news on her podcast My Naughty Corner.

But just weeks after the news broke, Charlotte shocked fans by revealing she is pregnant with their third child - already sharing sons Noah, three, and one-year-old Jude.

Giving an update on the pair's relationship, Charlotte admitted the pair were taking each day as it comes and admitted he is 'trying' to fix things.

Charlotte revealed in August that she and Matt , 33, were expecting their 'surprise' third child - just weeks after news broke he had been sexting another woman

But Charlotte made light of Matt's sexting scandal recently as she showcased their hilarious his 'n' hers Halloween costumes last month

She explained: 'Yeah, it's been It's been emotional, but it's been like an actual rollercoaster everything. But now I feel a lot better.

'I feel a bit like everything's been lifted a little bit. We're taking each day as it comes obviously we have children together and obviously got another baby on the way and he is trying so I just want to shake him.'

Commenting on her decision to talk about her difficult personal life on her podcast she said: 'I'm open and honest. I think that's just the way I've always been.

'It was difficult for me to be so open about my private life because I know I'm, like, open about fun, things and stuff. So it was quite hard for me, and I felt like the podcast was the best place to do it. It's like my safe space.

'I had to address it obviously because everyone was talking about it.'
Netflix has gone to court to reveal the identity of the user responsible for the early leak of Squid Game Season 2 footage.

Footage from the highly-anticipated season and other Netflix Originals leaked on Discord back in August, posted by a user with the pseudonym Jace Johnson.

The individual claimed responsibility for what he or she called 'the worst leak in streaming history' in a Telegraph interview in September.

However, that Discord account (@jacejohns4n) has now been deleted, and the user's real identity was never discovered.

Last week, a court in Northern California issued a subpoena to Discord, demanding that they reveal this individual's identity, via Polygon.

Netflix has gone to court to reveal the identity of the user responsible for the early leak of Squid Game Season 2 footage .

Footage from the highly-anticipated season and other Netflix Originals leaked on Discord back in August, posted by a user with the pseudonym Jace Johnson

Whether or not Discord will comply with the subpoena remains to be seen, though the company has recently been fighting Korean game publisher Nexeon.

The gaming company wants Discord to provide information on its users that are infringing upon Nexeon's intellectual property.

A Discord lawyer fired back in a July letter, 'Discord is committed to fulfilling its obligations under the law, but acting as your copyright assertion partner is not one of them.'

The attorney called Nexons demands improper and overly burdensome and said Discord already provided Nexon with Basic Subscriber Information for a distinct set of 64 User IDs' following an October 2023 subpoena.

As for this case, the Discord user who goes under the Jace Johnson pseudonym leaked footage not only from Squid Game Season 2 back in August, but also footage from Arcane Season 2, Heartstopper Season 3, The Plankton Movie, Terminator Zero, Dan Dan Dan and others.

'Jace' claimed in the Telegraph interview that he has a friend who works for the international dubbing company Iyuno, 'and I somehow got access to their database then I Leaked those shows/movies on 4chan before posting them on Twitter.'

He added, 'I didn't expect It to go viral the way it did. I like to be known that's why I'm using a fake name.'

Still, the individual said, 'I'll continue to leak more movies/shows. I'm currently planning my next big leak.'

As for this case, the Discord user who goes under the Jace Johnson pseudonym leaked footage not only from Squid Game Season 2 back in August, but also footage from Arcane Season 2, Heartstopper Season 3, The Plankton Movie, Terminator Zero, Dan Dan Dan and others

'Jace' claimed in the Telegraph interview that he has a friend who works for the international dubbing company Iyuno, 'and I somehow got access to their database then I Leaked those shows/movies on 4chan before posting them on Twitter.'

Season 3 of Heartstopper debuted in October, while Season 2 of Arcane debuted earlier this month and Season 2 of Squid Game is set for December 26

Iyuno released a statement in August that read, 'Iyuno is aware of a recent security issue, involving unauthorized access to confidential content.

'Protecting our clients' confidentiality and ensuring the security of their content is our highest priority,' the statement added.

'We are actively investigating this security breach to mitigate any potential risks and identify the responsible parties. When there are material changes or information we will make further statements,' they concluded.

Season 3 of Heartstopper debuted in October, while Season 2 of Arcane debuted earlier this month and Season 2 of Squid Game is set for December 26.
Jane Seymour was glamorous in green on Monday as as she attended the the 52nd International Emmy Awards in New York City.

The 73-year-old actress was clad in a plunging green sequined gown at the event at the New York Hilton, where she was scheduled to be a presenter in the Best Actor Category.

The English beauty wore her light brown locks down with bangs and rounded out her stylish ensemble with gold heels as she walked the red carpet.

The Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman star accessorized with a bracelet and earrings at the event in the Big Apple.

Seymour is a past Emmy winner herself, as she won the honors for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special at the 1988 Primetime Emmys for her role as Maria Callas in Onassis: The Richest Man in the World.

Among the other slated presenters at Monday's event included Omar Sy, Michael Pressman, Ali Ahn, Ken Leung, Laura Benanti, Armin Amiri and Wendi McLendon-Covey, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Jane Seymour, 73, was glamorous in green on Monday as as she attended the the 52nd International Emmy Awards in New York City

The 73-year-old actress was scheduled to be a presenter at the event at the New York Hilton

Also slated to present, according to the outlet, included Isadora Cruz, Rhenzy Feliz, Damian Hardung, Skye P. Marshall, Juliana Aiden Martinez, Folake Olowofoyeku and Lorraine Toussaint.

The Live and Let Die actress took to Instagram Stories to document her preparation on the busy day, as she had her hair and makeup done.

'It's very lovely to be back in New York,' Seymour said in a car ride to the event, in which she was accompanied by her son Kristopher, 28.

Kristopher, an investment counselor, said he was excited to meet the actors, filmmakers and fans at the event.

Seymour is mother to six adult children, in all: Jenni, 44, Katherine, 42, Sean, 39, Kalen, 56, and twins John and Kristopher, 28.

While she was at the event, Seymour said she thought she was 'channeling Wicked' in her green ensemble.

Seymour is dating musician John Zambetti, 75, who has performed for decades with the band The Malibooz.

The Somewhere in Time actress's most recent romance prior to the musician was with movie producer David Green, as they dated for nearly a decade.

The English beauty wore her light brown locks down with bangs and rounded out her stylish ensemble with gold heels as she walked the red carpet

The Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman star accessorized with a bracelet and earrings at the event

The Live and Let Die actress took to Instagram Stories to document her preparation on the busy day, as she was joined by son Kristopher at the event

Seymour told The Times in April 2023 that Green, 76, had proposed to her in the past, but she felt exchanging vows with him 'would be the most horrible thing in the world' in terms of the dynamics of their relationship.

She added, 'I just said I would never put a number on his name.'

Seymour has been wed four times in the past: to Michael Attenborough between 1971 to 1973; Geoffrey Planer between 1977 to 1978; David Flynn, from 1981 to 1992; and James Keach from 1993 to 2015.

She told The Times that despite the divorces, she remained 'very, very close to all the men I was married to and every man I ever dated.

'Every time I see someone I used to be involved with, even if it was for a short time, I'm close to them. You see, I think it's hard to be with somebody who's well-known and on the red carpet.'

Speaking with People in 2012, Seymour said that the most important lesson she took from her marriages was 'to let go' of painful things and 'try to find a way to communicate and keep what was good in the relationship.'
Liberty Poole put on a very busty display as she attended the star-studded 2024 Beauty Awards in London on Monday evening.

The Love Island star, 25, looked sensational in a white sequinned co-ord which featured a cleavage enhancing bustier and figure-hugging skirt.

Liberty's top flashed a glimpse of her midriff as she set pulses racing while posing up a storm on the red carpet.

The stunner completed the ensemble with a silver tiara while styling her blonde blonde locks into loose waves.

Earlier this month Liberty showcased her curves as she shared a slew of bikini-clad snaps, embracing all her body insecurities.

Liberty Poole, 25, put on a very busty display as she attended the star-studded 2024 Beauty Awards in London on Monday evening

The Love Island star looked sensational in a white sequinned co-ord which featured a cleavage enhancing bustier and figure-hugging skirt

She took to her Instagram to post a string of jaw-dropping snaps, flaunting her ample cleavage and pert bottom in a tiny blue two-piece.

Liberty posed up a storm at indoor pool in a London hotel, proudly capturing snaps from all angles and refraining from editing the shots to show her natural beauty.

Captioning the photos, she shared a powerful body positive message about self-love, as she insisted a person's value is not tied to their looks.

The blonde beauty penned: 'Love every back roll, crease, tummy fold, scar. Weight fluctuates your worth doesnt'.

She was flooded with messages of praise from her followers, including fellow reality star pals Chloe Ferry, Charlotte Dawson and Jess Gale.

While Liberty also insisted that she had not followed the celebrity trend of resorting to weight loss jabs, like Ozempic, to shed the pounds.

Ozempic is a diabetes medicine that works by suppressing the appetite and has become a Hollywood favourite for those attempting to slim down.

One fan took to the comments to ask Liberty if she had opted to take the drug, writing: 'You have lost tons of weight Liberty, have you been on the weight loss jabs?'

Earlier this month Liberty showcased her curves as she shared a slew of bikini-clad snaps, embracing all her body insecurities

She took to her Instagram to post a string of jaw-dropping snaps, flaunting her ample cleavage and pert bottom in a tiny blue two-piece

But she replied: 'no I dont do ozempic not against people that do it but just a personal choice of mine. I do go gym and healthy eat. Working out to love your body not because you hate it is my mindset'.

It comes after Liberty opened up on her battles with body positivity and 'social anxiety' in a candid Q&A last month.

Explaining she had recently returned from holiday, the star encouraged her fans to send her questions, writing: 'Let's talk body positivity, friendships, confidence, mental health'.

One of the first things she was asked about was for any advice on 'staying body positive and confident'.

Filming a response video, Liberty replied: 'I don't think body positivity is about feeling good in your body 100% of the time.

'I think is about being real with yourself and putting less expectations on your body.'

Speaking about her own experience, she went on: 'For my journey personally I suffered very bad with bloating because of my period.

'With certain foods, it was horrendous. I would go like double the size. I guess some days I do feel down about it and I'm like ''Ah, I don't look good today''.

'But then I think it's important in these cases to remember that people are not analysing your body.

'Two, is all about how you feel in your body, not trying to conform to beauty standards that people can't conform to. Beauty standards change so much!

'If you try to stick to it is just not going to work and you are going to put immense pressure on yourself.'
Christina Haack pulled the big guns by firing Dearmey Law APC and hiring 'Disso Queen' Laura Wasser to represent her in her divorce battle against estranged third husband Josh Hall.

'Christina was not happy with the progress or lack thereof,' a source told Us Weekly on Monday.

'She decided to go with the best divorce attorney out there to try and wrap this up quickly and fairly.'

The 41-year-old interior designer officially filed a change of attorney with the Superior Court of California in Orange County last Friday.

The 56-year-old Wasser, Cooperman & Mandles partner has previously repped celebs like Angelina Jolie, Ryan Reynolds, Britney Spears, Johnny Depp, Gwen Stefani, Kim Kardashian, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Garner, Kevin Costner, Heidi Klum, and Maria Shriver.

Laura told The Helm in 2019 of her $25K retainer and $900/hour rate: 'I have no shame in asking for that amount. When I look at what my colleagues are charging, I think it's a deal.'

Christina Haack (M) pulled the big guns by firing Dearmey Law APC and hiring 'Disso Queen' Laura Wasser (R) to represent her in her divorce battle against estranged third husband Josh Hall (L)

The 44-year-old Foundry Group realtor - who allegedly 'turned down a seven-figure plus settlement' - filed for divorce from Christina on July 16 after less than three years of wedded bliss.

Haack did not have a prenup with Josh, who's asking for alimony and 'all rights to any HGTV and/or Discovery Network shows or specials they produced' including Christina in the Country, Christina on the Coast, and The Flip Off - according to TMZ.

'When someone is insecure by you and doesn't like to watch you win, that really puts a damper on everything,' the Anaheim-born blonde lamented to ET on November 15.

'I feel like I was not shining as bright, to try to not make him feel emasculated. But who wants to live like that? It was not fun, to be honest. I did not enjoy filming with him, so having split up made this, to be honest, so much easier and so much better in every way.'

On Sunday, Christina flaunted her slim 5ft9in bikini body in vacation snaps from her girls trip to Punta Mita, Mexico earlier this month.

Haack - who boasts 1.8M Instagram followers - captioned her slideshow: 'Scorpio season was good to me.'

The Christina & Kylie co-founder also posted a selfie with her nine-year-old son Brayden James El Moussa and five-year-old son Hudson London Anstead.

Christina also mothered 14-year-old daughter Taylor Reese El Moussa during her seven-year marriage to ex-husband Tarek El Moussa, which amicably ended in 2018.

Indeed, Haack has had no issues filming with her 43-year-old ex-husband #1 and his second wife Heather Rae as well as her ex-husband #2 Ant Anstead on the set of HGTV's The Flip Off.

The Christina Collection Flooring founder the 45-year-old Englishman - now dating Oscar winner Renee Zellweger - ended their 21-month marriage in 2021.

A source told Us Weekly on Monday: 'Christina was not happy with the progress or lack thereof. She decided to go with the best divorce attorney out there to try and wrap this up quickly and fairly'

The 56-year-old Wasser, Cooperman & Mandles partner has previously repped celebs like Angelina Jolie, Ryan Reynolds, Britney Spears, Johnny Depp, Gwen Stefani, and Kim Kardashian

Laura told The Helm in 2019 of her $25K retainer and $900/hour rate: 'I have no shame in asking for that amount. When I look at what my colleagues are charging, I think it's a deal'

The 44-year-old Foundry Group realtor (L) - who allegedly 'turned down a seven-figure plus settlement' - filed for divorce from the 41-year-old interior designer (R) on July 16 after less than three years of wedded bliss

Christina did not have a prenup with Josh, who's asking for alimony and 'all rights to any HGTV and/or Discovery Network shows or specials they produced' including Christina in the Country (pictured), Christina on the Coast, and The Flip Off

Haack lamented to ET on November 15: 'When someone is insecure by you and doesn't like to watch you win, that really puts a damper on everything. I feel like I was not shining as bright, to try to not make him feel emasculated...I did not enjoy filming with him'

On Sunday, the Anaheim-born blonde (3-R) flaunted her slim 5ft9in bikini body in vacation snaps from her girls trip to Punta Mita, Mexico earlier this month

Christina - who boasts 1.8M Instagram followers - captioned her slideshow: 'Scorpio season was good to me'

Haack also posted a selfie with her nine-year-old son Brayden James El Moussa and five-year-old son Hudson London Anstead

The Christina & Kylie co-founder also mothered 14-year-old daughter Taylor Reese El Moussa (R, pictured September 22) during her seven-year marriage to ex-husband Tarek El Moussa (L), which amicably ended in 2018
Miley Cyrus is fighting back against plagiarism claims over her hit single Flowers, denying accusations that she copied Bruno Mars' 2012 track When I Was Your Man.

Cyrus' lawyers dismissed the copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Tempo Music Investments in September, arguing that the company lacks the standing to sue, per documents obtained by People on Wednesday.

Tempo Music, which holds a portion of the copyright to Mars' song through co-writer Philip Lawrences catalog, is not affiliated with the track's other co-writers, Ari Levine and Andrew Wyatt.

Cyrus legal team contends that only those with exclusive rights to a song can file such a lawsuit, and since Tempo is only an assignee of one co-writer, they argue it has no legal grounds to sue.

The lawsuit, which claims that Flowers plagiarizes Mars' ballad, was filed after fans and critics drew comparisons between the two tracks.

However, Cyrus' attorneys have requested the case be dismissed, emphasizing that 'an assignee of only one co-author lacks exclusive rights and, therefore, also lacks standing to sue for infringement,' according to the outlet.

Miley Cyrus is fighting back against plagiarism claims over her hit single Flowers, denying accusations that she copied Bruno Mars' 2012 track When I Was Your Man; (seen in February)

Cyrus' lawyers dismissed the copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Tempo Music Investments in September, arguing that the company lacks the standing to sue, per documents obtained by People on Wednesday; (Mars in 2017)

In its lawsuit, Tempo Music claims that Miley 'intentionally copied' Mars' 2012 hit When I Was Your Man for her chart-topping single Flowers, citing substantial similarities between the two songs.

The investment firm argues that both the melody and harmonies in Flowers bear a striking resemblance to Mars' track, particularly in the verses and chorus.

Additionally, Tempo asserts that the chord progressions in Cyrus song, co-written with Aldae (Gregory Hein) and Michael Pollack, echo those in Mars ballad, and some of the lyrics in Flowers are similar to those in When I Was Your Man, which Mars co-wrote with Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, and Andrew Wyatt.

Tempo's lawsuit goes as far as to state, 'It is undeniable based on the combination and number of similarities between the two recordings that Flowers would not exist without When I Was Your Man.'

Both songs were major hits, each topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

While When I Was Your Man' earned a 2014 Grammy nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance, Flowers went on to win Record of the Year  the same category Mars was nominated for  and was also nominated for Song of the Year, though it didnt take home the win.

The lawsuit accuses Cyrus, her producers Kid Harpoon and Tyler Harper, as well as her label, of having access to Mars' song, despite the fact that When I Was Your Man has been widely available for years through physical media and streaming.

Tempo Music is seeking unspecified damages and, more drastically, is asking for 'Flowers' to be removed from digital platforms and future physical releases of Cyrus 2023 album Endless Summer Vacation.

Tempo Music, which claims to own part of Mars' copyright, says Flowers has major similarities to When I Was Your Man's melody, harmonies, chord structure and lyrics; Cyrus pictured in the Flowers video

Mars' song was a chart topper in 2013 but failed to win a Grammy. Cyrus' song also topped the Billboard Hot 100, but she also won Record of the Year (for songwriters) and Best Pop Solo Performance, which Mars was nominated for but lost; Mars seen in 2021 in LA

The firm is also pushing to prevent Cyrus from performing the song in the future.

Interestingly, it is Tempo Music  rather than Mars himself  that has filed the lawsuit, following its acquisition of part of the song's copyright.

In 2021, Mars sold a portion of his catalog to Warner Music Group, though he reportedly retained majority ownership.

Tempo, which was founded by Warner and Providence Equity Partners in 2019 with an initial investment of $650 million, focuses on purchasing song catalogs, including both master recordings and publishing rights.

While its common for older artists to sell portions of their catalogs for substantial paydays, its less typical for younger stars like Mars to do so, especially while retaining majority rights to their work.
Christie Swadling has hit back at fans after they called her out for not taking her pet dog Harley on walks.

The influencer shared a video to Instagram on Tuesday as she went for a stroll and explained why she leaves her French Bulldog behind.

'A lot of people get angry when I'm not walking with Harley. Just do some research on Frenchies before ya'll slamming,' Christie, 27, wrote.

'If it's too hot or my [walks are long] I will not take her as she could die so stfu.'

She then explained her fiance Joel Price wakes up early each morning to take Harley on a walk.

'Best to walk French bulldogs early before the heat comes. So I leave that up to the human who naturally wakes up at 4.30am... her dad Joel,' she continued.

Christie Swadling has hit back at fans after they called her out for not taking her pet dog Harley on walks

The post comes after Christie was roasted after announcing her pregnancy with Joel last month.

She shared a video to Instagram, which showed her placing red roses in front of a large glass sign that read 'Baby Price, Due May 2025'.

'Words can't describe our happiness right now. Baby Price Due May 2025,' she wrote in the caption.

However, some fans questioned the 'bizarre' video and said it looked like the couple were announcing a loss.

'It looks like a grave stone,' one person wrote on social media.

'When I first saw it I thought they were announcing a [death],' a second person commented.

'Wtf is with the announcement? It looks like someone's just died,' another said.

'I thought, like it was a loss announcement or something,' one agreed.

The influencer shared a video to Instagram on Tuesday as she went for a stroll and explained why she leaves her French Bulldog behind

She then explained her fiance Joel Price wakes up early each morning to take Harley on a walk

In her post, Swadling explained she was preparing to start her IVF journey when she took a pregnancy test.

'A day before we had an appointment with our Dr to start our IVF journey I went to take another pregnancy test from feeling ALL the symptoms known to a pregnant woman,' she began.

'And there I found a pre positive test I did a few weeks back but inpatient me after the numerous negative tests I've had previously just seen one line first and put it straight back in the draw after 6 more positive test that night I was finally convinced my dreams have became reality.'

'Joel has been my biggest supporter through this journey and I've known since day 1 he is who I am doing life with, I am so excited for this new chapter of our life.'

'Best to walk French bulldogs early before the heat comes. So I leave that up to the human who naturally wakes up at 4.30am... her dad Joel,' she wrote

The announcement came months after Price was served with a restraining order and charged with domestic violence-related common assault.

Price, 38, was served an interim Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) by NSW Police on behalf of Swadling in April. He pleaded not guilty to the assault charge.

Daily Mail Australia understands the matter was heard in court on August 6.

The pair began dating in 2020 before Price got down on one knee and proposed the following year.
Nicholas Chavez shocked fans when he made an unexpected appearance at a Melbourne cafe over the weekend.

The Monster star, 25, is currently Down Under filming a horror movie and stopped off at some local spots while enjoying some time out from his filming schedule.

Nicholas, known for his portrayal of killer Lyle Menendez in the hit Netflix series, visited the cafe Little Collins Melbourne, leaving onlookers completely stunned.

Waitress Elena took to TikTok to share a video of her encounter with the actor as he stopped to smile for photographs with the delighted fan.

Alongside the video, shared to her page @elenaabellinaso, she penned: 'POV: You moved to Melbourne and Nicholas Chavez stops by the place where you got a job.'

Nicholas has been keeping details of his visit Down Under very low-key, but his girlfriend Victoria Abbott took to Instagram to share an array of snaps from the trip.

Nicholas Chavez shocked fans when he made an unexpected appearance at a Melbourne cafe over the weekend

Nicholas is currently filming a reboot of the 90s classic horror film, I Know What You Did Last Summer (pictured on set), in Sydney along with a string of Hollywood stars

The couple looked loved-up as they posed arm-in-arm during a hot air balloon ride at sunset in one adorable snap.

They were also seen feeding kangaroos and petting koalas as they got up close and personal with the local Australian wildlife.

Nicholas is currently filming a reboot of the 90s classic horror film I Know What You Did Last Summer in Sydney along with a string of Hollywood stars.

Matty Healy's model fiancee Gabbriette Bechtel is also starring in the release, along with The Summer I Turned Pretty actress Lola Tung.

Also making up the cast are Outerbanks' Madelyn Cline, Bodies Bodies Bodies star Chase Sui Wonders and One Tree Hill icon Austin Nichols.

Austin, 44, best known as Julian Baker in The CW drama series, has also been documenting his visit to Australia on his Instagram page.

He shared a video of himself feeding two cockatoos on the balcony of his city centre accommodation as he appeared to be having the time of his life.

The Day After Tomorrow star also posted a photograph of a note from the film's producers welcoming him to Australia as he teased the upcoming project.

Nicholas has been keeping details of his visit Down Under very low-key, but his girlfriend Victoria Abbott took to Instagram to share an array of snaps from the trip (both pictured)

The Monsters star was also seen feeding kangaroos and petting koalas as he got up close and personal with the local Australian wildlife during a break from filming

One Tree Hill icon Austin Nichols (pictured) is also starring in the horror movie reboot and has been taking to Instagram in recent days to document his time in Australia

The 1997 classic I Know What You Did Last Summer follows four teenagers who accidentally run over a man and dump his body to conceal their crime, before being stalked by a murderer who knows of their secret

The reboot of the 1997 thriller is slated to arrive in cinemas on July 18, 2025, with filming currently taking place in Australia.

The release is being directed by Thor: Love and Thunder co-writer Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, according to Deadline.

Original stars Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt are also both 'expected to return' to the film franchise for the reboot.

The pair famously portrayed Ray Bronson and Julie James respectively in the original 1997 cult classic, while Sarah Michelle Gellar was also among the cast.

A reboot featuring the original stars has been in the works for a while, with reports indicating they were in talks to come back to the franchise as far back as February 2023.

The thriller follows four teenagers who accidentally run over a man and dump his body to conceal their crime, before being stalked by a murderer who knows of their secret.

The smash hit suspense film spawned the sequels I Still Know What You Did Last Summer in 1998 and Ill Always Know What You Did Last Summer in 2006.

It was also the source material for a 2021 Amazon Prime series that ran for just one season, with Madison Iseman and Brianne Tju in the lead roles.
Kourtney Kardashian treated fans to a rare glimpse inside her life with her adorable son Rocky Thirteen on Monday.

The 45-year-old POOSH mogul, who recently stunned in a Skims ad alongside sister Kim Kardashian, shared a carousel of heartwarming snaps on Instagram, featuring her youngest child with husband Travis Barker.

In all the frames, her son's face is hidden. Her decision to keep her youngest child's face out of the spotlight marks a major parenting shift, given her older three children were thrust in front of TV cameras from the moment they were born.

In one of the cutest shots, Rocky, one, hides behind an Inside Out 2 book while rocking his pajamas and sitting on the floor in pure toddler bliss.

Another picture shows Kourtney cradling her little one during a serene beach strollproof that even a Kardashian needs a moment to slow down and soak in some fresh air.

The post also features a couple of family pics, including a nod to Kourtney's momager, Kris Jenner, in celebration of the matriarch's recent 69th birthday.

The last snap was a cheeky shot of Kourtney's Tesla sporting a 'Kravis' license plate, with the caption, 'Everything is romantic.'

Kourtney Kardashian treated fans to a rare glimpse of her adorable son Rocky Thirteen on Monday

The 45-year-old POOSH mogul, who recently stunned in a Skims ad alongside sister Kim Kardashian , shared a carousel of heartwarming snaps on Instagram, featuring her youngest child with husband Travis Barker

In addition to Rocky, Kourtney is mom to Mason, 14, Penelope, 12, and Reign, 9, whom she shares with ex-boyfriend Scott Disick.

Shes also stepmom to Travis Barkers two kids, Landon, 20, and Alabama, 18, from his previous marriage to Shanna Moakler.

Kourt also shares a close relationship with his stepdaughter, Atiana De La Hoya, 25.

Kourtney and Travis welcomed Rocky Thirteen Barker on November 1, 2023.

They tied the knot in Italy in 2022 after a year-long courtship and a years-long friendship.

After several failed IVF attempts, the Lemme founder and music artist conceived naturally.

Parts of their journey to becoming parents together were documented on the Hulu reality series The Kardashians.

The two still have not shown their baby boy's face publicly, opting instead to only post photos teasing the back of his head.

In one of the cutest shots, Rocky, one, hides behind an Inside Out 2 book while rocking his pajamas and sitting on the floor in pure toddler bliss

The last snap was a cheeky shot of Kourtney's Tesla sporting a 'Kravis' license plate, with the caption, 'Everything is romantic'

Kourtney, who is a huge Disney lover, also enjoyed a trip to the theme park with her family in honor of her son's birthday

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Travis said: 'Unfortunately, someone finally got a photo of him, but we'd rather keep him out of the spotlight.'

The rock star admits he wishes he kept his older children out of the spotlight, adding, 'If I could do everything different, I would have done the same thing with my [older] kids.

On the latest season of the show, the firstborn of the Kardashian/Jenner clan confessed that she wants to be a 'stay-at-home mom.'

She also told viewers that she had been in a 'blissful baby bubble' and that she was 'loving being at home right now with my baby, going on walks, living in pajamas.'
Eva Longoria Baston and her son Santiago Enrique Baston enjoyed a VIP meet and greet with the Disney princess herself at the Hollywood premiere of Moana 2, which was held at El Capitan Theater on Monday.

The 49-year-old Land of Women producer-star held hands with her six-year-old mini-me, whom she coordinated with in blue-denim attire.

Eva covered up her petite 5ft2in figure in a boxy black blazer over a matching top, straight-leg jeans, and black booties selected by stylist Maeve Reilly.

Baston styled her long hair extensions in waves and she overlined her glossy pout for the animated sequel hitting US theaters this Wednesday and UK theaters this Friday.

The My Mexican Kitchen author raised eyebrows on November 13 when she told Marie Claire she was 'privileged' enough to be able to 'escape' this 'dystopian country' following President Donald Trump's re-election.

Two days later, Eva - who owns homes in Beverly Hills, Mexico, and Spain - called The View: Behind the Table podcast host Ana Navarro to clarify her remarks.

Eva Longoria Baston (L) and her son Santiago (M) enjoyed a VIP meet and greet with the Disney princess herself at the Hollywood premiere of Moana 2, which was held at El Capitan Theater on Monday

'Will you please let them know I didn't move out of the United States because of Trump?' Baston pleaded over speakerphone.

'I've been in Europe for almost three years. That's in the article, by the way, the article says that. People just grabbed some clickbait stuff to be divisive. Which makes me so sad that everything you say is just meant to be divisive when we can't be that way right now.'

The Kamala Harris campaigner continued: 'I didn't leave because of the political environment. I left because my work took me there. I'm a proud American. I've always been a proud American.

'Proud Texan, proud American. I didn't want it to be taken that I left because of Trump  absolutely not  or because of the elections.'

Eva flew to California to attend the glitzy 2024 ELLE's Women in Hollywood event held at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles last Tuesday.

Missing from Baston's side on Monday was her third husband - Televisa president Jose 'Pepe' Baston - whom she's been married to for eight years.

The Masked Singer producer-host Nick Cannon escorted his babymama Brittany Bell and their threee children - son Golden, 7; son Rise, 2; and daughter Powerful, 3 - to the Moana 2 premiere.

The fertile 44-year-old spends well over $3M a year on child support for all 11 of his children with six different women - according to The Neighborhood Talk.

The 49-year-old Land of Women producer-star held hands with her six-year-old mini-me, whom she coordinated with in blue-denim attire

Eva covered up her petite 5ft2in figure in a boxy black blazer over a matching top, straight-leg jeans, and black booties selected by stylist Maeve Reilly

Baston styled her long hair extensions in waves and she overlined her glossy pout for the animated sequel hitting US theaters this Wednesday and UK theaters this Friday

The My Mexican Kitchen author raised eyebrows on November 13 when she told Marie Claire she was 'privileged' enough to be able to 'escape' this 'dystopian country' following President Donald Trump's re-election

Two days later, Eva - who owns homes in Beverly Hills, Mexico, and Spain - called The View: Behind the Table podcast host Ana Navarro to clarify her remarks

Baston pleaded over speakerphone: 'Will you please let them know I didn't move out of the United States because of Trump? I've been in Europe for almost three years...I didn't leave because of the political environment. I left because my work took me there'

The Kamala Harris campaigner flew to California to attend the glitzy 2024 ELLE's Women in Hollywood event held at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles last Tuesday

Missing from Eva's side on Monday was her third husband - Televisa president Jose 'Pepe' Baston - whom she's been married to for eight years

Bialik Breakdown podcaster Mayim Bialik wore a long-sleeve black maxi-dress with creepers to the family film festivities.

The 48-year-old former Jeopardy host has two sons - Miles, 19; and Frederick, 16 - from her nine-year marriage to Michael Stone, which ended in 2013.

Access Hollywood host Mario Lopez and his second wife Courtney Mazza Lopez brought along their three children - daughter Gia, 14; son Dominic, 5; and son Santino, 11 - to the Moana 2 premiere.

Vanderpump Rules alum Stassi Schroeder Clark and her husband of four years - commercial casting director Beau Clark - introduced their three-year-old daughter Hartford to the Disney princess, who gifted her a 'Heart of Te Fiti' necklace.

My Next Act producer-star Tia Mowry looked pretty in a pink maxi-teddy coat over a silk blouse, sequin mini-skirt, and stilettos selected by stylist Judy Kaufman.

The 46-year-old former child star brought along her six-year-old daughter Cairo and 13-year-old son Cree from her 14-year marriage to Divorce in the Black actor Cory Hardrict, which ended in 2023.

Game of Thrones alum Alfie Allen cutely held hands with his six-year-old daughter Arrow from his two-year romance with babymama Allie Teilz, which ended in 2019.

Searching for a Serial Killer star Karrueche Tran showed a little leg in a LBD beneath a matching leather duster and brown knee-high boots selected by stylist Bryon Javar.

The Masked Singer producer-host Nick Cannon escorted his babymama Brittany Bell and their three children - son Golden, 7; son Rise, 2; and daughter Powerful, 3 - to the Moana 2 premiere

The fertile 44-year-old reportedly spends well over $3M a year on child support for all 11 of his children with six different women

Bialik Breakdown podcaster Mayim Bialik wore a long-sleeve black maxi-dress with creepers to the family film festivities

The 48-year-old former Jeopardy host has two sons - Miles, 19; and Frederick, 16 - from her nine-year marriage to Michael Stone, which ended in 2013

Access Hollywood host Mario Lopez and his second wife Courtney Mazza Lopez brought along their three children - daughter Gia, 14; son Dominic, 5; and son Santino, 11 - to the Moana 2 premiere

Vanderpump Rules alum Stassi Schroeder Clark and her husband Beau Clark introduced their three-year-old daughter Hartford to the Disney princess, who gifted her a 'Heart of Te Fiti' necklace

My Next Act producer-star Tia Mowry looked pretty in a pink maxi-teddy coat over a silk blouse, sequin mini-skirt, and stilettos selected by stylist Judy Kaufman

The 46-year-old former child star brought along her six-year-old daughter Cairo and 13-year-old son Cree from her 14-year marriage to Cory Hardrict, which ended in 2023

Game of Thrones alum Alfie Allen cutely held hands with his six-year-old daughter Arrow from his two-year romance with babymama Allie Teilz, which ended in 2019

The Kardashians star Malika Haqq coordinated in brown jackets with her four-year-old son Ace from her on/off 19-month relationship with babydaddy O.T. Genasis, which ended in 2019.

Oppenheimer actor David Dastmalchian's seven-year-old daughter Pennie (from his 11-year marriage to wife Evelyn Leigh) dressed up like Elsa from Frozen to meet Moana.

Inside Out 2 actress Kensington Tallman, 16; wore mismatched pumps with a b&w Khoon Hooi mini-dress selected by stylist Amanda Lim.

Descendants: The Rise of Red star Malia Baker, 17; went for schoolgirl chic in a black V-neck sweater over a pleated mini-skirt selected by stylist Marc Eram.

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series actor Matt Cornett opted for a blue button-up with white slacks and matching sneakers.

Dwyane Wade's 17-year-old daughter Zaya Wade glammed up in gold and her six-year-old half-sister Kaavia Union Wade wore $192 Petite Maison Kids 'Marshmallow Wool Dress' to the film festivities.

Alien: Romulus director Fede Alvarez posed beside a little girl in a silver ruffled dress, who appeared to be his daughter.

Searching for a Serial Killer star Karrueche Tran showed a little leg in a LBD beneath a matching leather duster and brown knee-high boots selected by stylist Bryon Javar

The Kardashians star Malika Haqq coordinated in brown jackets with her four-year-old son Ace from her on/off 19-month relationship with babydaddy O.T. Genasis, which ended in 2019

Oppenheimer actor David Dastmalchian's seven-year-old daughter Pennie (from his 11-year marriage to wife Evelyn Leigh) dressed up like Elsa from Frozen to meet Moana

Inside Out 2 actress Kensington Tallman, 16; wore mismatched pumps with a b&w Khoon Hooi mini-dress selected by stylist Amanda Lim

Descendants: The Rise of Red star Malia Baker, 17; went for schoolgirl chic in a black V-neck sweater over a pleated mini-skirt selected by stylist Marc Eram

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series actor Matt Cornett opted for a blue button-up with white slacks and matching sneakers

Dwyane Wade's 17-year-old daughter Zaya Wade glammed up in gold and her six-year-old half-sister Kaavia Union Wade wore $192 Petite Maison Kids 'Marshmallow Wool Dress' to the film festivities
Gwyneth Paltrow looked fantastic on Monday evening as she attended a holiday party for her lifestyle brand Goop in New York City.

The 52-year-old actress-turned-entrepreneur  who filmed a Polestar commercial earlier in the day  arrived in style and flashed her megawatt smile.

She was clad in a long, black, double-breasted coat, which she layered over a high-waisted, long, dark skirt and a plunging white top.

The Iron Man siren wore her signature long and lustrous frosty blonde hair in a deep center part as it flowed over her chest in a pin-straight look.

Paltrow's ensemble was punctuated by pointy-toe black heels and she accessorized with a gold chain necklace.

The Hollywood fixture looked typically pretty with subtle, pink-toned makeup accentuating her natural beauty.

Gwyneth Paltrow looked fantastic on Monday evening as she attended a holiday party for her lifestyle brand Goop in New York City

The 52-year-old actress-turned-entrepreneur arrived in style and flashed her megawatt smile

It comes days after Goop released it's highly-anticipated annual holiday gift guide.

'Gwyneth knows what you want this holiday season. #goopGiftGuides,' read a caption on a Goop Instagram post.

The roundup features a host of sex products, including 11 vibrators, $55 sex oil, and a sex pillow.

The inclusive list also touts an Arcwave Ion  'an air-pulsing sex toy for penis owners'  for $199.

Those who check out the list will also find more expensive items, such as an $18K Nina Runsdorf diamond and gold ring.

For food recommendations, Paltrow has highlighted Russian Osetra Caviar at a price point of $630 for 125 grams, and a $79 Levain Bakery Signature Cookie Assortment.

A box of citrus from Ojai is $88, and a Celestial Star Signs Chocolate Gift Box retails for $81. There is also a loaf of bread from Italy that costs $65.

And included in the wellness brand's index are plenty of luxury clothing items, like a $600 cashmere turtleneck.

Also in attendance at the event, which was hosted with beauty brand Violet Grey, was Carole Radziwill

Stylist Elizabeth Sulcer dressed to the nines for the holiday party

Actress Jaimie Alexander was cloaked in a plush tan coat and she added black accents

Also in attendance at the event, which was hosted with beauty brand Violet Grey, were Carole Radziwill, Elizabeth Sulcer, and Jaimie Alexander.

Radziwill, a former Real Housewives of New York City personality, looked sleek in a black leather mini dress and textured brown coat.

She added a touch of shimmer to the wintery look with gold-accented black heels.

Stylist Elizabeth dressed to the nines for the holiday party in a one-shoulder black dress with a ruffled diagonal hemline.

She added sheer black pantyhose, a pointy-toe black heel, gold jewelry, and a bold red lip.

Alexander, an actress, was cloaked in a plush tan coat and she added black leather boots and a black clutch.
Jude Law 'burst the bubble' when he spilled filming secrets from his Christmas classic The Holiday on BBC Radio 2.

The actor, 51, shared behind-the-scenes details about the film, which was released in 2006, with host Zoe Ball and comedian Kerry Godliman on Friday.

Jude starred as a widower named Graham who falls in love with Amanda (Cameron Diaz) when she house swaps with Surrey-based journalist Iris (Kate Winslet).

Speaking about the picturesque cottage where Amanda holidays, Kerry asked: 'Can you Airbnb that cottage?', while Zoe replied: 'I think so', Jude told them the truth.

'That cottage doesnt exist. So the director, she's a bit of a perfectionist, toured that whole area and didn't quite find the chocolate box cottage she was looking for,' he revealed.

'So she just hired a field and drew it and had someone build it. But here's the funny thing if you watch it.

Jude Law 'burst the bubble' when he spilled filming secrets from his Christmas classic The Holiday on BBC Radio 2 and revealed Rosehill Cottage [pictured above] never existed

Jude revealed the cottage was constructed after Nancy Myers couldn't find the 'chocolate box' property she was looking for

Speaking about the picturesque cottage where Amanda holidays, Kerry asked: 'Can you Airbnb that cottage?', with Jude replying: 'That cottage doesnt exist'

'So, we were shooting in the winter here and every time I go in that door, we cut and we shot the interiors in LA about three months later.'

Stunned, Zoe said: 'We dont want to hear anymore. We cant bear it', while Kerry added: 'That's very upsetting'.

Looking sheepish, Jude replied: 'Just burst the bubble, sorry.'

Despite Rosehill Cottage not being real, the cast did film in the Surrey villages of Shere and Godalming.

The Honeysuckle Cottage in Holmbury St Mary, which was put up for sale in 2021 and now an Airbnb, provided the inspiration for the crew who designed it.

Rosehill Cottage became somewhat of a phenomenon after the film was released, with fans calling it the perfect English dream home for Christmas.

While the exterior was lightly dusted in snow, the inside had a roll top bath and a shabby chic kitchen.

Back in June, Jude confirmed he would be up for starring in a sequel of The Holiday.

'So, we were shooting in the winter here and every time I go in that door, we cut and we shot the interiors in LA about three months later', Jude revealed (pictured with Cameron)

The Honeysuckle Cottage (pictured) in Holmbury St Mary, which was put up for sale in 2021 and now an Airbnb, provided the inspiration for the crew who designed it

The construction was documented by the production, with Universal Pictures sharing how the cottage was built in a behind-the-scenes feature on the DVD

Jude revealed Rosehill Cottage was only an outside exterior, with the cast later shooting interior scenes in LA months later

Rosehill Cottage became somewhat of a phenomenon after the film was released, with fans calling it the perfect English dream home for Christmas

While the exterior was lightly dusted in snow, the inside had a roll top bath, cosy furnishings and a shabby chic kitchen

Cameron's character chose the cottage, bedroom interior pictured, as an escape from her fast-paced life in the US

Amanda wraps up as she heads out from the fictional Rosehill Cottage, which was based on Honeysuckle Cottage

The actor, 51, shared behind-the-scenes details about the film, which was released in 2006, with host Zoe Ball and comedian Kerry Godliman

Speaking to E! News at the New York City's Tribeca Festival, Jude said: 'I love the idea.'

Although he admitted he would have to ask director and writer Nancy Meyers first, he added: 'Why not?'

The Holiday told the tale of Surrey-based journalist Iris (Kate Winslet) who swaps homes with Amanda, a movie producer from Hollywood, following respective heartbreaks.

While in Surrey, Amanda finds romance with Iris's book editor brother, widower Graham while Iris meets Miles (played by Jack Black) and dates him.

Back in June, Jude confirmed he would be up for starring in a sequel of The Holiday

Graham is father to children Olivia and Sophie, played by Miffy Englefield and Emma Pritchard.

Graham's daughter's also fall in love with Amanda as they accept her into their family.

Despite his on screen daughters being grown up now, Jude believes the plot could still be revisited as he added that he doesn't believe his character will have changed much.

'I think Graham still has cardigans and glasses, and reads,' he joked. 'He's probably worried sick about the girls, right? The daughters will be 28, 29.'
Poppy Delevingne dressed to impress in a black blazer and matching trousers as she co-hosted an exclusive dinner with Vanguart at Sale e Pepe in Knightsbridge, London on Monday.

The socialite, 38, looked incredible as she flashed her bra under the stylish jacket which boasted dazzling beaded detailing down the arms.

Poppy opted for a pair of matching wide legged trousers by Celia Kritharioti and elevated her frame in a pair of coordinated boots.

Leaving her long blonde tresses loose, the model toted her belongings around in a small glittering 595 Aspinal handbag as she posed for photos.

Poppy looked in good spirits as she modelled a Vanguart watch and accessorised with a pair of dazzling stud earrings.

Poppy Delevingne dressed to impress in a black blazer and matching trousers as she co-hosted an exclusive dinner with Vanguart at Sale e Pepe in Knightsbridge, London on Monday

The socialite, 38, looked incredible as she flashed her bra under the stylish jacket which boasted dazzling beaded detailing down the arms

Guests were treated to Italian dishes, alongside luxury prosecco from Della Vite, which is the joint venture from the Delevingne sistersChloe, Poppy, and Cara Delevingne.

Poppy later posed with Lady Emily Compton who cut a styling figure in a suede black jacket and leather trousers.

Meanwhile Olivia Buckingham showed off her incredible figure as she went braless under a daring black halterneck bodysuit which boasted a plunging neckline.

The socialite teamed the number with blue denim jeans, black stilettos and a chunky pair of gold hoop earrings.

Olivia draped a coordinated blue denim jacket over her shoulders as she posed for photos ahead of sitting down for the luxury meal.

French actress Morgane Polanski looked effortlessly chic for the evening as she wore a checked blazer and miniskirt.

She rocked a lace black bodysuit with the co-ord and elevated her frame in a pair of black knee high boots.

Australian model Tahnee Atkinson looked glamorous in a fur jacket and brown leather trousers.

Poppy opted for a pair of matching wide legged trousers and elevated her frame in a pair of coordinated boots

Leaving her long blonde tresses loose, the model toted her belongings around in a small glittering Aspinal handbag as she posed for photos

Poppy looked in good spirits as she modelled a Vanguart watch and accessorised with a pair of dazzling stud earrings

Guests were treated to Italian dishes, alongside luxury prosecco from Della Vite, which is the joint venture from the Delevingne sistersChloe, Poppy, and Cara Delevingne

Poppy later posed with Lady Emily Compton who cut a styling figure in a suede black jacket and leather trousers

Meanwhile Olivia Buckingham showed off her incredible figure as she went braless under a daring black halterneck bodysuit which boasted a plunging neckline

The socialite teamed the number with blue denim jeans and draped a coordinated jacket over her shoulders as she posed for photos ahead of sitting down for the luxury meal

French actress Morgane Polanski looked effortlessly chic for the evening as she wore a checked blazer and miniskirt

She rocked a lace black bodysuit with the co-ord and elevated her frame in a pair of black knee high boots as she posed with Poppy

Australian model Tahnee Atkinson looked glamorous in a fur jacket and brown leather trousers

Poppy posed with friends at the event; pictured L-R Jessica Clarke, Poppy Jamie, Poppy Delevingne and Kesewa Aboah

Olivia and Lady Emily looked in good spirits as they beamed for photos

It comes after Poppy put on a very busty display in a sizzling red dress as she attended the launch of 'DeBute' last month.

The actress looked sensational as she wore a structured figure-hugging body con which feature a daringly high split.

For the fashion event, hosted at The Canteen, she flaunted her assets in the garment which featured a bra-like design.

Adding inches to her statuesque physique, she paired her dress with black leather knee-high boots.

Letting her ensemble speak for it self, the star opted to abandon the accessories and slick her blonde tresses back into a sophisticated bun.
Cynthia Erivo has revealed she felt 'trepidation' about coming out as she shared rare insight into her sexuality in a new interview.

The Wicked star, 37, said on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast that that she feared she would 'offend people' when she decided to share that she was bisexual, but she now feels 'very, very in her skin and in her body.'

Cynthia first came out back in May 2022 during an interview with British Vogue, and has since said she's 'really proud' of the way she shared it.

She said: 'I feel very powerful. I feel very, very in my skin, in my body. And I love it. And I think the thing that has been really heartening is watching other young people go, ''oh my gosh, She's like me. She gets it.''

'There's something really wonderful about watching someone who is just living, enjoying her life, working, creating, and just being. I think that that's something that I don't take for granted at all, but I do think it's important for other young queer people who just are trying to find their way to themselves to see.

'It's been a really interesting journey also, because sometimes you approach it with a fair amount of trepidation like, ''Are people going to be okay with me? How are people going to be, if I say the word queer, are people going to be offended?'' And then you sort of stop caring that much about that cause it's just who I am. It's just part of the tapestry of the human being that is in front of you.'

Cynthia Erivo, 37, has revealed she felt 'trepidation' about coming out as she shared rare insight into her sexuality in a new interview

'It takes a long time to get to a place like that. It also takes determination to get there. My life has not been perfect, let's put it that way.

'I've had any number of big giant knocks and big rejections and serious hurts and all of that. But if you're willing to allow those things to grow you instead of shrink you it sort of keeps revealing different pages of who you are and those things come away.

'And if you don't allow the words that people say sometimes stick and it takes time to let them come off you, when you do, you realise that most of those words are just reflections of themselves, of other people.

'And once you take off all of the stuff that other people put on you, you show up. And hopefully you get to a place where you find yourself feeling comfortable enough to take that version of who you see into every room you walk into.

'You feel even more confident when you take that version of who you are into a room that you walk into, let them stay there. Don't change them. Don't shift. Don't bend. Just be. I've learned to really enjoy being and like watching people just accept it.'

During the interview, Cynthia also shared that she enjoyed intimate chats with her Wicked co-stars Jonathan Bailey and Lenah Waithe about being queer, while they worked on the much-anticipated adaptation of the 2003 musical.

She continued: 'I've had some really good chats with Johnny Bailey. I've had some wonderful chats with Lena Waithe who is a good friend as well just thoughtful deductions of what the world is and I think that's what we end up talking about.

'Johnny and I had a really wonderful conversation about queerness and what that means for us and how we move through the world in our own queerness.

The Wicked star said on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast that that she feared she would 'offend people' when she decided to share that she was bisexual

During the interview, Cynthia also shared that she enjoyed intimate chats with her Wicked co-stars Jonathan Bailey and Lenah Waithe about being queer

'He's so passionate about making sure that there's space for all of us I think it was like an eye opening conversation because it was the first time I really got to know him and I really liked that human being.'

Cynthia has already earned critical praise for her performance as Elphaba, starring alongside Ariana Grande who plays the iconic witch Glinda.

It comes after a rumoured list of the cast's salaries for Wicked sparked a frenzy on social media.

While the numbers have not been confirmed and it's unclear who shared the list first, many people are commenting on the reports and sharing their thoughts.

In the alleged salary report, the musical movie's leading star, Cynthia was reportedly paid $1 million while the supporting actress Ariana is making over tenfold the same number.

The pop sensation is reportedly getting paid $15 million for her part in the musical movie adaptation  which broke records in its opening weekend numbers for any Broadway movies.

Meanwhile, Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum, who play Madame Morrible and the Wizard, respectively, are reportedly earning $2 million each.

As for the rest of the main cast members, the list alleged that Jonathan Bailey, also known for playing Prince Fiyero, is reportedly earning just under half a million.

His rumored pay is $450,000 while Ethan Slater, who plays Boq and met his now-girlfriend Grande while working on the movie, is reportedly earning $350,000.

Marissa Bode and Bowen Yang's reported salaries are $250,000 each, per the rumored list.

Wicked is the origin story of 'a green-skinned woman who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West.'

It serves as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, exploring the narrative before Dorothy's arrival and delving into the former friendship between the characters Elphaba and Glinda.

The upcoming two-part feature is adapted from the long-running Broadway musical and is a sequel and prequel to The Wizard of Oz.

The motion picture is slated to arrive in theaters with release dates of November 22, 2024 for Wicked: Part One, and November 26, 2025 for Wicked: Part Two.
Penelope Cruz has graced the cover of the latest issue of Vogue Hong Kong in a series of incredible Chanel looks from their new Cruise collection.

The Spanish actress, 50, attended the Chanel Cruise 2024/25 Hong Kong Replica Show at the Design Institute earlier this month.

So naturally the Chanel muse modelled a selection of the fashion house's looks for her appearance in the November edition of the fashion bible.

Penelope looked incredible in a off white belted swimsuit and black bow, which was styled with one of the brand's signature tweed blazers.

In another shot, Penelope wore a figure-hugging black and white swimsuit with a selection of pearl necklaces to accessorise the look.

Penelope's locks were styled in a dramatic voluminous look for the shoot, while her naturally striking features with enhanced with glamorous make-up.

Penelope Cruz has graced the cover of the latest issue of Vogue Hong Kong in a series of incredible Chanel looks from their new Cruise collection

The Spanish actress, 50, attended the Chanel Cruise 2024/25 Hong Kong Replica Show at the Design Institute earlier this month

Penelope's locks were styled in a dramatic voluminous look for the shoot, while her naturally striking features with enhanced with glamorous make-up

Elsewhere in the shoot, Penelope modelled a black bodysuit with a pair of leather trousers and a black and white trim cardigan.

Other looks included a pair of denim dungarees and jacket, which were accessorised with a Chanel brooch and necklace.

Speaking recently about her relationship with Chanel to Style: 'I grew up admiring the brand very much but I didn't know that one day I would be able to wear their designs and be an ambassador for the house.

'I didn't even dare to dream of something like that. Now it's been many years together and I love working with them and what the house represents, and their values and the talent and their respect for everyone's work inside the company.

'I know people who've been working at Chanel for 30 years or longer and that says a lot.'

Earlier this month, Penelope looked typically chic as she attended the Chanel Cruise 2024/25 Hong Kong Replica Show.

She elevated her height in platform heels and toted her belongings in a stylish white Chanel shoulder bag.

Penelope hid her eyes behind dark cat eye sunglasses and accessorised with dazzling silver jewellery, while her long brunette locks were styled in loose curls.

Elsewhere in the shoot, Penelope modelled a black bodysuit with a pair of leather trousers and a black and white trim cardigan

Other looks included a pair of denim dungarees and jacket, which were accessorised with a Chanel brooch and necklace

Speaking recently about her relationship with Chanel to Style: 'I grew up admiring the brand very much but I didn't know that one day I would be able to wear their designs and be an ambassador for the house

She was joined by William Chang Suk-Ping, Jasmine Tan, Carina Lau and Chow Yun-fat at the lavish event.

It came after it was revealed Penelope and Johnny Depp are slated to work on their fourth film together.

The Oscar-nominated actor, 61, and Oscar-winning actress, who were pictured together last month in her native Spain, will star in the action thriller Day Drinker, with Marc Webb, 50, directing, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The Lionsgate movie will be sold internationally at the forthcoming American Film Market film festival beginning November 5 in Las Vegas , according to the outlet.

The motion picture will mark Depp's biggest-yet attempt to revive his silver screen career amid years of scandal in the wake of his contentious split with Amber Heard .

Depp and Cruz have previously appeared in the films Blow (2001), Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011) and Murder on the Orient Express (2017).

Depp starred in the French movie Jeanne du Barry in 2023, and directed this year's independent film Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness.

THR noted that both projects 'were not commercial plays' and financed by European investors.

She said: 'I didn't even dare to dream of something like that. Now it's been many years together and I love working with them and what the house represents'

It came after it was revealed Penelope and Johnny Depp are slated to work on their fourth film together

Penelope looked typically chic as she attended the Chanel Cruise 2024/25 Hong Kong Replica Show at the Design Institute on November 5 (pictured)
Featuring lots of romance, stunning scenery, and heartwarming storylines, The Holiday has cemented itself as a classic Christmas comfort film that all generations enjoy.

Brits still sit down to watch the iconic rom com throughout the festive season, 18 years after its release in 2006 - but it turns out that all is not what it seems.

The beloved movie sees chronically unlucky in love Amanda (Cameron Diaz) plan a house swap and spend the holidays in a cute country cottage in the UK, which belongs to journalist Iris (Kate Winslet).

Surrey-based Iris ditches her pictuesque English home for Amanda's Hollywood mansion and both lovelorn women are swept off their feet with an exciting new romance when they meet Graham and Miles.

However, the perfect bubble was burst for some fans when Jude Law spilled filming secrets from the Christmas classic on BBC Radio 2 this week and revealed the cottage owned by Kate Winslet's character Iris is not even real.

Following the surprising admission, MailOnline has rounded up all of the aspects of The Holiday that are not realistic...

Iris worked for a newspaper and could afford THAT cottage

Time and time again over the years, fans of the movie have hilariously pointed out that there is no way Iris would have been able to afford her countryside cottage on a journalist salary

Rosehill Cottage became somewhat of a phenomenon after the film was released, with fans calling it the perfect English dream home for Christmas

While the exterior was lightly dusted in snow, the inside had a roll top bath, cosy furnishings and a shabby chic kitchen

Time and time again over the years, fans of the movie have hilariously pointed out that there is no way Iris would have been able to afford her quaint countryside cottage on a journalist salary.

Despite it not being real, the cosy cottage that inspired it sold for a whopping 675,000.

Not to mention the lengthy commute into central London from Surrey every day - the area she lives in does not look like it's home to much public transport.

Rosehill Cottage was so stunning that it became somewhat of a phenomenon after the film was released, with fans calling it the perfect English dream home for Christmas.

While the exterior was lightly dusted in snow, the inside had a roll top bath and a shabby chic kitchen.

One seconds-long scene took a whole week to shoot

Although the scene only lasts a matter of mere seconds on screen, Cameron Diaz has revealed that it took a whole week, and lots of pain, to shoot

Although the scene only lasts a matter of mere seconds on screen, Cameron Diaz has revealed that it took a whole week, and lots of pain, to shoot

At the end of the film, Amanda dramatically stops the car that was driving her to the airport to go back to LA.

She insists the driver lets her out so she can sprint miles back to Graham at the cottage, all while wearing high heels.

Although the scene only lasts a matter of mere seconds on screen, Cameron Diaz has revealed that it took a whole week, and lots of pain, to shoot.

The actress told Vulture: 'Oh, girl. I was running, like, seven miles a day in heels. That whole scene took a week to shoot. That wasnt even in the script.

'They only used two shots, but we shot like ten shots of me running across ten different fields.

'And Im wearing that Valentino cashmere, wool trench coat, a turtleneck cashmere sweater and jeans, and my high-heeled boots.'

The picturesque cottage was fake

Jude Law, who starred as widower Graham who falls in love with Amanda in the movie, recently shared a shocking behind-the-scenes detail about the cookie cutter cottage

Speaking about the picturesque cottage where Amanda holidays, Kerry asked: 'Can you Airbnb that cottage?', with Jude replying: 'That cottage doesnt exist'

Jude Law, who starred as widower Graham who falls in love with Amanda in the movie, recently shared a shocking behind-the-scenes detail.

The actor, 51, appeared on BBC Radio 2 with host Zoe Ball and comedian Kerry Godliman on Friday.

Speaking about the picturesque cottage where Amanda holidays, Kerry asked: 'Can you Airbnb that cottage?', while Zoe replied: 'I think so', Jude told them the truth.

'That cottage doesnt exist. So the director, she's a bit of a perfectionist, toured that whole area and didn't quite find the chocolate box cottage she was looking for,' he revealed.

'So she just hired a field and drew it and had someone build it. But here's the funny thing if you watch it.

'So, we were shooting in the winter here and every time I go in that door, we cut and we shot the interiors in LA about three months later.'

Jude revealed Rosehill Cottage was only an outside exterior, with the cast later shooting interior scenes in LA months later

'So, we were shooting in the winter here and every time I go in that door, we cut and we shot the interiors in LA about three months later', Jude revealed (pictured with Cameron)

Stunned, Zoe said: 'We dont want to hear anymore. We cant bear it', while Kerry added: 'That's very upsetting'.

Looking sheepish, Jude replied: 'Just burst the bubble, sorry.'

Despite Rosehill Cottage not being real, the cast did film in the Surrey villages of Shere and Godalming.

The Honeysuckle Cottage in Holmbury St Mary, which was put up for sale in 2021 and now an Airbnb, provided the inspiration for the crew who designed it.

Rosehill Cottage became somewhat of a phenomenon after the film was released, with fans calling it the perfect English dream home for Christmas.

The home swap was organised within 24 hours

The speedy home swap between Iris and Amanda, which is central to the movie's plot, was arguably the most unrealistic part of the film

Taking impulsive to the next level, the whole arrangement was cemented less than a day after they decided to go for it

The speedy home swap between Iris and Amanda, which is central to the movie's plot, was arguably the most unrealistic part of the film.

Both women have full time jobs, with Iris working as a journalist at the Telegraph, meanwhile Amanda is a movie trailer editor.

Despite this, the characters managed to organise their annual leave, not to mention book flights, within 24 hours.

Taking impulsive to the next level, the whole arrangement was cemented less than a day after they decided to go for it, seemingly with no obstacles at all.

They also played a risky game by conducting zero research about who they were letting into their home, with not even a quick Google search in sight.

Based on Iris' elated reaction upon arrival to Amanda's mansion, it was clear she had not even seen any pictures of the place.

The snow was mostly fake

In the same interview, the actress revealed that the gorgeous blanket of snow covering the hills surrounding the cottage, was also fake

Despite Cameron insisting that doesn't snow in England, the crew did reportedly experience three small snowfalls during filming so some of it was real

In the same interview, the actress revealed that the gorgeous blanket of snow covering the hills surrounding the cottage, was also fake.

She told the publication: 'And we covered all the hillside with this fake snow, which was totally biodegradable. It was the most incredible  it doesnt snow in England. It rains in England. But there are swabs of snow.'

Despite Cameron insisting that doesn't snow in England, the crew did reportedly experience three small snowfalls during filming so some of it was real.

However, a snow machine had already been hired and brought along as no one thought it actually would.

The timeline is all over the place

At the beginning of The Holiday, Iris' boss at The Telegraph tells her: 'We are going to try and get by this week with a smaller-than-normal staff'

Cosmopolitan worked out that this would have been Friday December 22, as a newspaper office, if closing at all, will be closing as close to Christmas as possible

At the beginning of The Holiday, Iris' boss at The Telegraph tells her: 'We are going to try and get by this week with a smaller-than-normal staff'.

Cosmopolitan worked out that this would have been Friday December 22, as a newspaper office, if closing at all, will be closing as close to Christmas as possible.

So, this means that one day later the women would be starting their homeswap holiday on December 23.

With this timeline in mind, it would mean that the movie's most important events, such as Amanda going on a date with Graham, happen on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, with no mention of it being those days in the movie.

Not to mention Graham's two children and where they are, while the single father is off with Amanda.

Graham's young daughters both have cell phones in 2006

Finally, plenty of eagle-eyed viewers have been left puzzled by the fact that Graham's five and seven year old daughters in the movie, Sophie and Olivia, have cell phones

In the movie, Amanda grows suspicious when Graham keps receiving calls from mystery women, which turn out to be his daughters

Finally, plenty of eagle-eyed viewers have been left puzzled by the fact that Graham's five and seven year old daughters in the movie, Sophie and Olivia, have cell phones.

While a lot more youngsters own a mobile now, it was quite uncommon in 2006 for children under the age of 10 to have them.

In the movie, Amanda grows suspicious when Graham keps receiving calls from mystery women, which turn out to be his daughters.

However, when she does eventually meet them, the phones they are supposed to have are also nowhere in sight.
Peaky Blinders star Paul Anderson showed off his shock new hairstyle on Tuesday as filming continues on Immortal Man.

The actor, 42, who is known for portraying Arthur Shelby Jr in the series, has ditched his usual look in favour of a platinum blonde style.

Earlier this year, he raised fears about his acting future as a drug conviction in January and allegations of bad behaviour on set threatened his participation.

The hugely popular BBC crime drama, set in Birmingham during the city's early 20th century industrial revolution, ended its six series run in 2022.

The forthcoming film, titled The Immortal Man, has been filming in the Dudley canals this week, with Cillian Murphy seen on set as criminal kingpin Tommy Shelby.

Meanwhile, Paul looked worlds away from his character as he shared his transformation to Instagram.

Peaky Blinders star Paul Anderson showed off his shock new hairstyle on Tuesday as filming continues on Immortal Man (pictured in 2019)

The actor, 42, who is known for portraying Arthur Shelby Jr in the series, has ditched his usual look in favour of a platinum blonde style

Hinting at a possible new photoshoot, he captioned the post: 'New chop. Front cover game COME ON!!'

The forthcoming Peaky Blinders film, titled The Immortal Man, will also feature newcomers Tim Roth, Rebecca Ferguson and Barry Keoghan.

It was confirmed in June that the original writing and directing team would be returning alongside Cillian for a Netflix film adaptation of the hit series.

The streaming service confirmed the news on X with a photograph of the script, while the Oscar winning actor told Deadline: 'It seems like Tommy Shelby wasn't finished with me

'It is very gratifying to be re-collaborating with Steven Knight and Tom Harper on the film version of Peaky Blinders. This is one for the fans.'

Director Tom shared: 'When I first directed Peaky Blinders over 10 years ago, we didn't know what the series would become, but we did know that there was something in the alchemy of the cast and the writing that felt explosive.

'Peaky has always been a story about family - and so it's incredibly exciting to be reuniting with Steve and Cillian to bring the movie to audiences across the world on Netflix.'

Peaky Blinders launched in 2013 and garnered huge audiences both in Britain and overseas, attracting roles for silver-screen stars such as Tom Hardy and Anya Taylor-Joy.

Earlier this year, he raised fears about his acting future as a drug conviction in January and allegations of bad behaviour on set threatened his participation (pictured in 2019)

The forthcoming film, titled The Immortal Man, has been filming in the Dudley canals this week, with Cillian Murphy seen on set as criminal kingpin Tommy Shelby (Cillian and show creator Steven Knight pictured recently)

The programme is loosely based on a real Birmingham gang of the same name operating from the 1880s to the 1920s who took part in similar illegal activities.

Peaky Blinders aired six series over nine years and ended with Tommy, who had been tricked into believing he had a terminal illness, surviving an assassination attempt orchestrated by his own nephew before killing him and moving away for a new life.

But the news sparks concerns for the welfare of Paul Anderson who plays Cillian's older brother in the show, Arthur, after he pleaded guilty to possession of crack cocaine earlier this year.

The actor was also found to have amphetamines, plus diazepam and pregabalin on him.
Yazmin Oukhellou showed off her 'sore' and 'swollen' face on TikTok as she recovered from her latest cosmetic surgery in Turkey on Tuesday.

The reality star, 30, has been keeping her followers up-to-date after jetting to Istanbul for a 4,150 rhinoplasty surgery and a 1,750 chin liposuction procedure.

Rhinoplasty a type of plastic surgery that changes your nose's shape and size and Yazmin previously underwent the operation for the first time back in 2017.

Yazmin admitted day three post surgery 'was the worst day so far' as she uploaded a clip wearing a number of bandages on her face, following the liposuction, which removes pockets of fat in the chin.

The former TOWIE star said: 'Today is worst day so far. Have a lot of swelling and so much pressure in my head. Eyelids bruised and swollen. Apparently day three and four are worst for swelling then should subside.'

In another video, Yazmin explained how she hasn't changed her nose too much as she 'liked the old shape'.

Yazmin Oukhellou showed off her 'sore' and 'swollen' face on TikTok as she recovered from her latest cosmetic surgery in Turkey on Tuesday

The reality star, 30, has been keeping her followers up-to-date after jetting to Istanbul for a 4,150 rhinoplasty surgery and a 1,750 chin liposuction procedure

She said: 'I'm so pleased with the results, on the right side where I couldn't breath there was like a massive ball of scar tissue. I haven't had to much changed cause I liked the shape of my old nose.

'It takes one year to see the final nose result and it'll change all the time but I haven't had the tip changed so it shouldn't be to different.'

Taking to the comments, one fan asked how long she has to keep the head strapping on, Yazmin replied: 'I think 6 weeks doll but Ill find out on Wednesday when I have my last appointment with the surgeon xx'

Ahead of the procedure, Yazmin admitted she was 's***ing' herself and had 'anxiety' but she soon shared an update from her hospital bed.

She said: 'Keeping you updated has stopped me from feeling lonely, I felt really down before. Overthinking is such a bad thing.

'I cannot give one fault about this place, one lady held my hand until I was out.

'I'll probably regret posting this stuff I'm so delirious with all the medicines but I think it's nice for you all to see the real Yaz'.

As she posed for a mirror selfie before bed, Yazmin was seen wearing a nose bandage as well as a bandage wrapped around her face.

Before departing her home, the TV personality admitted she was 'worried' about people judging her for the cosmetic surgery but revealed she wanted to be 'honest and transparent' about the journey.

Yazmin has revealed that day three post surgery 'is the worst day so far' as she uploaded a clip wearing a number of bandages on her face

Ahead of the procedure, Yazmin admitted she was 's***ing' herself and had 'anxiety' but she soon shared an update from her hospital bed

As she posed for a selfie in bed, Yazmin was seen wearing a nose bandage as well as a bandage wrapped around her face

Speaking in a video, Yazmin said: 'It's something I've wanted to do for ages and I keep putting it off because I'm worried about people judging me but I'm now doing it because it'll make me happy, it's my face and body.

'I like to be transparent and honest with my followers and I'm going to document the whole experience.

'I know I'll get some hate for it but I can also help others getting it done or it might put some off from having it done. Life is to short, why am I worrying what people think and I've decided I'm going to live for me. I'll keep you posted on the journey'.

In 2020, Yazmin secretly had a Brazilian bum lift and liposuction with a Turkish surgeon  despite promoting 'fitness' by owning a wellness retreat.

She underwent the surgery and flaunted her newly enhanced body while holidaying in Dubai.

Yazmin had a bum lift, despite fronting The Wellness Retreat Marrakech that encourages leading a 'healthy lifestyle.'

Cosmetic surgeon Dr Kerim Unal shared a video of Yazmin in a bikini, captioning the post: 'High Definition Lipo and BBL [Brazilian bum lift] for my lovely patient showing off her results 3 weeks post surgery.'

The video of Yazmin was uploaded to the surgeon's profile on December 18, 2020 and the reality star commented three love heart emojis.

Before departing her home, the TV personality admitted she was 'worried' about people judging her for the cosmetic surgery but revealed she wanted to be 'honest and transparent' about the journey

Yazmin removed her head bandage as she relaxed in her hotel room

Giving a day four update, Yazmin headed out and about in Turkey sporting a nose bandage

Previously in 2020, Yazmin secretly had a Brazilian bum lift and liposuction with a Turkish surgeon  despite promoting 'fitness' by owning a wellness retreat

Dr Kerium, who is based in Turkey, also used a number of hashtags on the post, including 'butt lifting, liposuction, tummy tuck, nose job and new nose,' hinting that Yazmin may have had more work done to her face.

One social media user commented 'How much is this?' with the surgeon replying '3,000 UK pounds.'

Yazmin, who joined the cast of TOWIE in 2015, has previously spoken to her fans about going under the knife by having two boob jobs and a nose job.

The surgery on her nose was said to have taken place to rectify a bump following an injury from childhood.

She's also confessed to having fillers and Botox done over the years but in 2018 Yazmin decided to have her lip enhancements removed, opting for a more 'natural look.'

Defending her surgery, she previously said: 'If you want to get surgery, have been thinking about it for a long time and like me I had no other option then people should feel comfortable to and feel they won't be judged.

'This is the reason I have decided to be so open about it and not lie like others have.

'It's my body and my choice and people need to stop judging other people's choices, shaming bodies and appearances and just get on doing you.'

A Brazilian bum lift (BBL) is where fat from areas of the body where it's not wanted is injected into the buttocks.

It has been described as the 'deadliest form of plastic surgery' and has caused death in one in 3,000 cases, a statistic reported in 2018.
DJ Tigerlily is set to welcome her second child.

The performer, who is one of Australia's biggest DJs, already has a two-year-old son, Lando, with her husband, Scott Lawson.

The 32-year-old shared the good news of her impending arrival in an Instagram post on Tuesday.

'We couldnt keep this a secret any longer another disco baby joining our family in 2025,' she wrote.

In the tags, the blonde revealed that she is currently 16 weeks pregnant.

The series of images showed her blossoming belly while she cuddled up to her husband and toddler son.

DJ Tigerlily is set to welcome her first child. The performer, who is one of Australia's biggest DJs, already has a two-year-old son, Lando, with her husband, Scott Lawson. All pictured

The 32-year-old shared the good news of her impending arrival in an Instagram post on Tuesday

'We couldnt keep this a secret any longer another disco baby joining our family in 2025,' she wrote

One sweet photo showed little Lando leaning in to kiss his mother's baby bump.

The announcement comes just weeks after Lawson had emergency surgery to remove her appendix.

In mid-September, she shared a series of photos from her time in hospital and explained to her followers she'd initially been having a regular day spending time with her one-year-old son Lando.

'One minute you're painting with your son at playgroup, and the next you're being sent to ED for emergency surgery to take out your appendix,' she captioned her post.

'The last few days have been a wild ride there have been tears, some new scars, and a rollercoaster of emotions.'

Surgery to remove an appendix is considered largely safe during pregnancy, and Lawson would have been just a few weeks along at the time.

Speaking to Stellar Magazine earlier this year, the star revealed how she balances motherhood and her jet setting career.

'[My son] Lando has come to a couple of gigs with me. My mum comes, too,' Dara said of juggling her demanding schedule.

In the tags, the blonde revealed that she is currently 16 weeks pregnant

The announcement comes just weeks after Lawson had emergency surgery to remove her appendix in September

Lawson said she just booked her first international gig - with her mother coming along for that set, too.

'I've actually just booked my first international show since having a baby, in the Philippines in December, so Mum is coming with us,' she said.

She admitted her DJ work is usually done when Lando is asleep, which also helps.

'Fortunately when I'm doing the forward-facing part of my work, he's hopefully asleep' she said.

'I'm feeding him before I leave, going to the club, playing, coming back and feeding him again. It does work,' she finished.

Posing for Stellar magazine this week, Dara wore baggy forest green pants and a matching jacket along with a canary yellow singlet.

The music producer announced in November, 2022 that she was expecting her first child in April 2023, sharing a reel to Instagram for the announcement.

'DISCO BABY - COMING APRIL 2023,' she captioned the post, revealing in the hashtags that she was 15 weeks along.

The DJ married her long term partner Scott last year in a romantic ceremony, exchanging their vows in Sydney's Duffys Forest.

The pair tied the knot on March 5 in 2023, surrounded by family and friends.

'Our dream day, in our dream location, with our most loved friends and family... Scott and I are on cloud 9,' Tigerlily wrote in her Instagram at the time.

DJ Tigerlily and Scott announced their engagement in March 2021.
Danny Jones's mother, Kathy, has arrived in Brisbane Airport to support him on in the I'm A Celebrity jungle and will greet him off the bridge when he leaves.

With backing from McFly's die-hard fans, the frontman has been the favourite to win the show and Kathy gushed over her son's successful jungle stint.

She told MailOnline: 'Danny's amazing, he's doing amazing. I loved the snake down his trousers and it's really unusual of him not to wash his pants for three days, he's usually very hygienic.'

'When he was crying in camp that got me a little bit. I was laughing when there was the snake down his trousers, wetting myself...

'And then the after I was crying with him, I just wanted to hug him. I don't like seeing him upset. You don't like seeing your kids upset do you?

When asked if her son has what it takes to win, she said: 'Of course, I think he could win. Tulisa and Danny are finalists.

Danny Jones 's mother, Kathy, has arrived in Brisbane Airport to support him on in the I'm A Celebrity jungle and will greet him off the bridge when he leaves

With backing from McFly's die-hard fans, the frontman has been the favourite to win the show and so will most likely at the end of next week, meanwhile Kathy will enjoy the sunny weather on Australia's Gold Coast

Danny is one of the favourites to be crowned jungle champion next week

'He's the nicest man I know apart from Harry, Danny and Tom [McFly] they're also really nice.'

The mother-of-two revealed that she hadn't heard from his bandmates personally but she had seen their videos on social media and loved them.

Kathy touched down sporting a Bruce Springsteen band T-shirt with a pair of black flared trousers, with a statement belt and orange bag.

She added a white cap and a pair of big black shades to the look, while also adding a pair of silver hoop earrings to finish it off.

Her arrival in Australia comes after Danny, 38, broke down in tears as he opened up about his life-long anxiety during Wednesday night's episode.

Danny was overcome with emotion as he discussed his mental health with his campmates, admitting he has had therapy since he was 19-years-old.

Fans praised the star for being so honest and open about his mental health, after Strictly's Oti Mabuse, 34, stressed the importance of men talking about their feelings.

During the very emotional chat, Oti was brought to tears as she revealed her half-brother Neo committed suicide and admitted he probably would still be alive if 'he had spoken to someone about what he was feeling'.

She told MailOnline: 'Danny's amazing, he's doing amazing. I loved the snake down his trousers and it's really unusual of him not to wash his pants for three days, he's usually very hygienic'

When asked if her son has what it takes to win, she said: 'Of course, I think he could win. Tulisa and Danny are finalists.

The mother-of-two revealed that she hadn't heard from his bandmates personally but she had seen their videos on social media and loved them

Explaining that one of his tattoos says 'Don't Worry, Be Happy', Danny said: 'It's because I'm always constantly worrying, but that's what I'm working on.

'I've been in therapy since I was 19 for anxiety.'

Danny recalled a moment where he had a panic attack on live TV while being interviewed.

He said: I was freaking out and I couldn't answer the question that got asked to me. [My] Heartrate goes crazy.'

As Jane asked whether he thought he had anxiety from a child or from being in a band, he said: 'I think I escaped a lot.'

It comes after Danny's wife has revealed the star 'double bluffed' viewers by telling Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here bosses a cheeky fib.

He secured eight stars for his campmates on Friday when he took on the High Street Of Horrors Bushtucker Trial, with his wife Georgia, 37, now saying his supposed 'fears are bull****.'

Speaking with Hannah Cooper on the Never Have I Ever podcast, she revealed how Danny told the show's boss he was was afraid of snakes before entering the jungle.

However Georgia admitted: 'He's lied, and he said he's scared of snakes. Bulls***. World exclusive: bulls***. So, everyone vote for the tasks that don't involve snakes, please!

Kathy touched down sporting a Bruce Springsteen band T-shirt with a pair of black flared trousers, with a statement belt and orange bag

She added a white cap and a pair of big black shades to the look, while also adding a pair of silver hoop earrings to finish it off

Danny Jones wife has claimed that he lied to Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here bosses and 'double bluffed' viewers (pictured with their son Cooper, six)

'Hes not scared of snakes, but he said he is  thats a double bluff.'

She added: 'So, he's now going to get tasks with snakes I think they think Danny's a really genuine guy!

'The only problem with Danny is he's not great when he's hungry or tired, and he's going to be hungry and tired.'

Elsewhere, Georgia also revealed she had hard time picking out Dannys luxury items for the show and hasn't chosen what he would himself.

She explained: 'Because if I tell you this, this man has never fussed so much over the fact that he can't tape his mouth in the jungle.

'He tapes his mouth at night. He tapes his mouth. Its meant to have many, many health benefits Its literally like a piece of gaffer tape. It's like a massive plaster of your lips.'

Danny had been dating Georgia for four years when he proposed to her in 2013 on holiday in Cyprus.
Davina McCall's best friend has shared a photograph of her first visit to see the presenter at home where she is recovering from major surgery.

The presenter, 57, had shock brain tumour operation just over a week ago after discovering a 'very rare' colloid cyst that affects only three in a million people.

Davina's close friend Sarah Hiscox was one of the first to see Davina after the operation and posted a photo of her visit to social media on Tuesday.

Alongside a selfie of the two women together, Sarah, wrote: '1st Home visit. Major brain surgery but still serving style. I love you so much.'

Underneath the post, in which Davina was sporting a faux fur jacket and fedora hat, the TV star admitted the visit was 'just the tonic' she needed.

In a separate comment, she added: 'You are the best Sarah. Through thick and thin.'

Davina McCall's best friend Sarah Hiscox has shared a photograph of her first visit to see the presenter at home where she is recovering from major surgery

Alongside a selfie of the two women together, Sarah, wrote: '1st Home visit. Major brain surgery but still serving style. I love you so much'

The new image comes after Davina posted an emotional update after undergoing shock brain tumour surgery just over a week ago

The new image comes after Davina posted an emotional update after coming out of her successful six-hour surgery.

Taking to Instagram on Monday, she fought back tears as she thanked her friends and family for their support and candidly updated fans on how she is doing as she recovers.

Speaking in the video message filmed from her bed, she said: 'Hi, I just thought I'd check in and say an enormous heartfelt thank you to everybody who's messaged me or been in touch.

'It's meant the world. It's been mad and it's just really nice to be back home. I'm on the other side. My short term memory's a bit remiss but that is something that I can work on so I'm really happy about that.

'I'm writing down everything that I'm doing to keep myself feeling safe and I'm being brilliantly looked after by Michael and my mum.

'I'd quickly like to say big up the stepmums. I don't really say thank you to Gabby enough. She's been an amazing rock my whole life.'

She emotionally continued: 'I was talking yesterday to somebody, I said I've got a massive dose of vitamin G. I think when something like this happens I just feel so grateful. I've always been grateful, I've been really lucky in my life.

'But I feel unbeliveably grateful right now. So thanks for everything all of you. I'm on the mend, I'm resting, I'm sleeping loads and I feel really good. I just feel very lucky.'

Underneath the post, in which Davina was sporting a faux fur jacket and fedora hat, the TV star admitted the visit was 'just the tonic'

The presenter, 57, underwent the operation after revealing she had a 'very rare' colloid cyst that affects only three in a million people

She added in the caption that the support of everyone has 'meant the world'

Speaking in the video message, she added: 'Hi, I just thought I'd check in and say an enormous heartfelt thank you to everybody who's messaged me or been in touch'

The presenter said: 'It's meant the world. It's been mad and it's just really nice to be back home. I'm on the other side'

Davina's celebrity pals rushed to the comments to wish her well

In the caption, she added: 'Hey!!!  thank you. For the messages . Its meant the world. Just want to thank @mdlondon, who gets best boyfriend ever award. Voted for by me and everyone that knows us.

'Also  best mum ever award  goes to @gabbamccall. Thank you mumma. For being best grandma  and mumma ever.

'I am feeling much better. Had a great nights sleep in my own bed. Have a couple of sleeps during the day which keeps my brain clear  slowly slowly huge gratitude, and love for the world and my life and the beautiful people in it.

'Thank you to all my friends. You are the best. Thank you to @clevelandclinic and my amazing neurosurgeon. Kevin. I love you. Thank you Sydney, sarah, and all the amazing beautiful souls that cared for me.

'Get used to this. Its going to be pouring out of me.'

Davina's celebrity pals rushed to the comments to wish her well, with Olly Murs penning: 'Awww so happy youre back home Davina x  we all love ya!!'

Ruth Langsford wrote: 'Good to see your lovely face. Rest up and let those lovely people take care of you '

Craid David added: 'Youre amazing Davina. And we all love you so much.'

'Get better soon superstar ,' penned Alison Hammond, while Paloma Faith quipped: 'What a brilliant and beautiful woman you are  we are all rooting for you xxx'

Earlier this week Davina's partner Michael Douglas issued a huge update

He penned on her Instagram following the surgery: 'Update folks. Thanks so much to all the well wishers'

Laura Whitmore wrote: 'Sending all the love you magnificent woman' and Ashley Roberts gushed: 'Love you'

Earlier this week Davina's partner Michael Douglas issued a huge update, and penned on her Instagram following the surgery: 'Update folks. Thanks so much to all the well wishers.

'She really has made an enormous leap forward in the last 24 hours. She is out of ICU She is 'loving awareness' Thank you xx Michael.'

The grid post then read: 'Update - Mega progress these last 24 hours. Massive relief to see some light breaking through. Thanks for all the good vibes coming in from all angles. Up and Up.'

Her fans were quick to comment on the post sending their love and sharing their relief she was okay.

Over the weekend it was revealed that she was out of surgery and 'recovering in ICU'.

Sharing another health update following her surgery, Michael said that the operation was 'text book' and she was grateful for everyone's support.

He wrote: 'Hey all, Davina is out of surgery and according to the surgeon it was textbook!

'She's currently recovering in ICU as a precaution, as you can imagine she's utterly exhausted.'

Michael added: Thanks so much for all the love from everyone on here... it's super powerful stuff, we are super grateful. Michael xx'

Davina explained that she received the diagnosis by chance after booking in for a 'health scan'.

Davina said in a video: 'I was offered a health scan which I thought I was going to ace but it turned out I had benign brain tumour which is very rare, three in a million.

'I slightly put my head in the sand for a while, I saw a few neurosurgeons, had quite a lot of opinions and realised I needed to take it out.

'It's quite big, it's 14mm wide and it needs to come out because if it grows it would be bad. I'm having it removed.'

She added: 'Say a prayer for me. I'm in good spirits.'

Davina explained that while she was at no immediate risk, doctors were concerned that the tumour could grow larger and cause complications.

She revealed she had been feeling 'up and down' and explained she would be in hospital for at least nine days before coming home.

A colloid cyst is a slow-growing tumour typically found near the centre of the brain. The benign growth contains gelatinous material.

Sharing another health update following her surgery, Michael said that the operation was 'text book' and she was grateful for everyone's support'

Before the surgery, Davina had kept her health private for several months after the benign tumour was discovered during a scan

They are often asymptomatic and found incidentally during imaging tests.

If symptoms do occur as the tumour grows, they are commonly reported to include headaches that are most severe in the morning upon waking, nausea and blurry vision, with other key signs including vertigo and double vision.

Most patients present with headaches, although other symptoms including vertigo, memory problems and double vision can occur.

If large enough, a colloid cyst obstructs the movement of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain which leads to a high risk of sudden death.

Davina's partner Michael uploaded the video for her, captioning the post: 'Hey everyone. Michael here. She will be 'off grid' for a bit while she recovers from this brain operation.

'She is in great shape and in very good hands. I'll do the odd update from her account here for anyone interested.

'I'm sure she'll read all the comments when she's able to so feel free to send love . The support of people is amazingly powerful. Have a great day everyone. Michael xxx'.

The most recent update comes just after the star made a surprise appearance on I'm A Celeb on Saturday - less than two weeks after undergoing the surgery.

The most recent update comes just after the star made a surprise appearance on I'm A Celeb on Saturday - less than two weeks after undergoing the surgery (pictured earlier this year)

She left show hosts Ant McPartlin (L) and Declan Donnelly (R) both stunned and thrilled as she joined their Instagram live following the main show

(L-R) Ant, Davina and Dec pictured together at 2014's BAFTA Tv Awards

She left show hosts Ant and Dec both stunned and thrilled as she joined their Instagram Live following the main show.

And amid her recovery she sent the duo a message which read: 'Hey everyone! Still here' alongside a laughing emoji, as cheers broke out in the I'm A Celeb studio, according to The Mirror.

Delighted Dec said: 'Hey Davina McCall is here everybody!' before Ant chimed in: 'Hope you are feeling well, sending you lots of love from the jungle.'

As members of the crew shouted 'We love you Davina!' the Former Big Brother host then posted that she was 'signing off'.

While Ant joked: 'We were too much for her, we were too loud.'
Tulisa Contostavlos has chosen her best friend Michelle McKenna and Michelle's partner Danielle Johnson to greet her off the I'm A Celebrity bridge and the pair have arrived at Brisbane Airport.

Michelle and her partner touched down in Australia at the same time as Loose Women star Jane Moore's two daughters.

Jane's daughters Ellie and Grace have landed ahead of their mother's first Bushtucker trial on Tuesday night's show.

Ellie, 32, and Grace, 20, will greet the TV star and columnist when she crosses the bridge as the first vote offs are looming.

The journalist hasn't been afraid to voice her opinions as she called her campmate Barry McGuigan, 63, 'ageist' and 'misogynistic' after she was put on dirty dishes duty.

Tulisa Contostavlos has chosen her best friend Michelle McKenna and Michelle's partner Danielle Johnson to greet her off the I'm A Celebrity bridge and the pair have arrived at Brisbane Airport

Michelle and her partner touched down in Australia at the same time as Loose Women star Jane Moore 's two daughters

Tulisa seen in camp

Jane's Bushtucker Trial will see the presenter and Maura Higgins put their communication skills to the test as they try to navigate a complex series of pipelines full of creepy crawlies.

Jane's daughters confirmed to MailOnline that she 'hates' doing the washing up and doesn't do it at home amid row with Barry over the camp chores during which she called him 'ageist' and 'misogynistic'.

Ellie said: 'I think that emotions are running high. I think they're probably all quite hungry but she's doing amazingly, we're all very proud of her.'

Grace added: 'It's been great seeing her go full mum mode, I feel like her and GK Barry are great, we love watching them together.

'When mum went straight for GK in the first trial we were like 'yay'.'

Ellie continued: 'I personally love the fact that people are seeing mum as really strong which she is, she has very strong opinions but she's also very caring, very nurturing. So it's nice that people are seeing both sides of her.'

Meanwhile Michelle, Tulisa's close pal, was on Lorraine last week and urged people 'to be kind' to the N-Dubz star, 36, over the cosmetic surgery she's had done to balance the appearance of her Bell's Palsy.

Revealing why she thinks Tulisa decided to enter the jungle, Michelle said: 'Years ago she would have been terrified of the public reaction to her.

Michelle, Tulisa's close pal, was on Lorraine last week and urged people 'to be kind' to the N-Dubz star, 36, over the cosmetic surgery she's had done to balance the appearance of her Bell's Palsy

Revealing why she thinks Tulisa decided to enter the jungle, Michelle said: 'Years ago she would have been terrified of the public reaction to her'

She wore a casual ensemble as she arrived at Brisbane airport to support the star during her time on the show

Jane's daughters Ellie and Grace have landed ahead of their mother's first Bushtucker trial on Tuesday night's show

Ellie, 32, and Grace, 20, will greet the TV star and columnist when she crosses the bridge as the first vote offs are looming

Jane seen in camp

Jane shares her two daughters with her ex husband Gary Farrow (seen in 2006)

'She's like a big sister type and I think that will keep her going. To be a mothering-like figure to her campmates.

'Not a lot of people get to see that side of her, that softer side. I'm so happy that people will get to see that mothering side.'

The couple will be staying at the Marriott on Australia's Gold Coast, speaking about their trip out, Tulisa said: 'They get a lovely holiday, and I get to suffer and get covered in crazy stuff.'

N-Dubz fans will be disappointed not to see Tulisa's bandmates Dappy and Fazer greeting her off the bridge, but Tulisa told MailOnline: 'I didn't tell Dappy and until the last minute because Dappy would have not been able to hold it down.

'He would have told everyone from excitement and joy, of course, but I can tell you, Dappy is so excited about me going in there.

'He's absolutely buzzing and Fazer is just pretty chilled, I don't think he even really watches the show that much.

'He's like, 'What are you doing that for? Why are you going in there? Why do you want to get covered in critters?' I'm just like, oh, never mind. But Dappy is absolutely buzzing.'

Jane's daughters confirmed to MailOnline that she 'hates' doing the washing up and doesn't do it at home amid row with Barry over the camp chores during which she called him 'ageist' and 'misogynistic'
Maura Higgins is expected to make around 1.5 million from brand deals off the back of her I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! stint.

The reality star, 34, who celebrated her birthday in the jungle during Monday's episode, is among the favourites to be named Queen of the Jungle after being a late entrant to camp last week.

And companies are said to be 'queuing up to work with her' as she prepares for a huge payday when she returns from her down under adventure.

A source close to Maura told The Sun: 'Beauty brands, fashion labels and TV execs in the UK and US are already queuing up to work with her. She's had some incredible offers.'

Maura is said to be 'excited' about new opportunities following her jungle jaunt with a source saying brands including M.A.C, Calvin Klein and Hugo Boss have been in touch.

The source added: 'This next chapter is going to be huge for her. She's excited about the opportunities coming her way.'

Maura Higgins is reportedly expected to rake in huge payday after her I'm A Celeb appearance as she lines up exciting brand deals

The reality star, 34, is among the favourites to be named Queen of the Jungle and is expected to make around 1.5 million from brand deals off the back of her jungle stint

MailOnline have contacted Maura's representatives for comment.

As one of Love Island's most successful exports, Maura has accrued an impressive fortune as one of the UK's biggest brand ambassadors.

The Irish beauty boasts a reported net worth of 3.2million and has worked with brands including Mermade Hair, Youth To The People, Mars The Label, Cosmetips and Ann Summers, who she continues to work with a 150,000-per-year deal.

As well as a previous stint on Dancing On Ice, Maura has also been trying to crack the US, appearing as the social ambassador of Love Island USA, and the host of its spin-off show Aftersun.

Maura is the sole director of a media company The Flutter Effect Ltd, which filed profits of 152,000 in 2022, according to its last accounts.

And the star is already tipped to win the jungle crown after joining the jungle as a latecomer last week alongside Reverend Richard Coles.

In an unexpected twist, the Irish TV personality has netted more likes on her Jungle announcement than any other contestant this year, more than Coleen Rooney, 39, and GK Barry's, 25, combined.

A TV source told MailOnline: 'At the beginning, everyone thought it was going to be Coleen or GK Barry that was the hook for this series, but it appears it's going to be Maura.

'She's got that perfect 'second wave' energy and it's so funny she's coming in with a Reverend, it's going to be amazing.

As one of Love Island's most successful exports, Maura has accrued an impressive net worth of 3.2million as one of the UK's biggest brand ambassadors (pictured on Love Island in 2019)

As well as a stint on Dancing On Ice, Maura has also appeared as the social ambassador of Love Island USA, and the host of its spin-off show Aftersun (pictured at the BAFTAs in May)

And the star is already tipped to win the jungle crown after joining the jungle as a latecomer last week alongside Reverend Richard Coles

'Firecracker energy is what's needed in the camp right now as they all seem to be getting on a bit too well

'There are a lot of strong women in there so the race for Queen of the Jungle is going to be a tough one, especially now that she's [Maura] in the mix.'

On the I'm A Celebrity Instagram page, the announcement yesterday that Maura was entering the Jungle has already received 223,000 likes - head and shoulders above the existing campmates.

Gen Z TikTok star, GK Barry, was leading with 150,000 likes, followed by super Wag, Coleen Rooney who netted 45,000, and then the former X-Factor judge, Tulisa Contostavlos, with 39,000.

If Instagram likes are anything to go by, it seems it's the women's year when it comes to popularity, as the man with the most likes was McFly's Danny Jones who received 20,000.

And the support from her dedicated fan base has already been felt by Maura as she told MailOnline: 'I just don't want to let people down because everyone's been DMing me, and there's been so many people like, 'Oh my God, I hope you're doing the show. I can't wait to see you on the show.'

'And I'm like, I don't want to back out of the trials and be the biggest wimp in the camp.

'It's been five years since I've been on TV. That's a long time, it's crazy.'
Machine Gun Kelly commented for the first time on Megan Fox's pregnancy news after her stunning outing in a sheer dress.

The 34-year-old pop punk rapper took to X (formally Twitter) to announce that he was about to work on his next album and finally address that he is having his first child with his 38-year-old famous actress girlfriend.

He wrote: 'isolating myself in the desert next week to restart this album from scratch.

'when inspiration flows through me unblocked, we will reach the destination in no time.

'dont worry. after all, im about to be a dad again!'

This came after Megan showcased her growing baby bump in a completely sheer dress as she stepped out in LA this week.

Machine Gun Kelly commented for the first time on Megan Fox 's pregnancy news after her stunning outing in a sheer dress

The actress, who announced she was expecting her first child with partner MGK earlier this month, flashed her blossoming stomach as well as her lingerie as she made a glamorous appearance at The Grove,

The burgundy dress was paired with towering black heels and a matching leather coat - with the star cradling her bump on the red carpet.

She wore her tresses in an elegant updo and sported a glamorous palette of make-up.

Fox, who shares three children, Noah, 11, Bodhi, nine, and Journey, seven, with ex-husband Brian Austin Green, revealed her pregnancy on November 11, sharing a sexy photo of herself covered with black paint and showing her baby bump.

It was accompanied by a picture of a positive pregnancy test. 'Nothing is ever really lost. welcome back ' she wrote announcing the good news.

The announcement was soundtracked to the MGK song Last November, which refers to the miscarriage she previously suffered with the musician.

She opened up about the experience in her 2023 book of poetry, Pretty Boys Are Poisonous.

Megan wrote about an ultrasound of a baby girl at 10 weeks and a day, per excerpts from People, and said: 'maybe if you hadn't... maybe if i had...'

The 34-year-old pop punk rapper took to X (formally Twitter ) to announce that he was about to work on his next album and finally address that he is having his first child with his 38-year-old famous actress girlfriend

This came after Megan showcased her growing baby bump in a completely sheer dress as she stepped out in LA this week.

She continued, 'I want to hold your hand / hear your laugh, but now / I have to say / goodbye,' and later adds, 'I close my eyes and imagine holding you tight against my chest as they rip you from my insides'.

Elsewhere in the book, she wrote, 'I will pay any price. Tell me please / what is the ransom / for her soul?'

During an interview on Good Morning America at the time, Megan said she had 'never been through anything like that before in my life'.

'It was very difficult for both of us,' she explained. 'And it sent us on a very wild journey together and separately, and together and apart, and together and apart, and together and apart, trying to navigate, "What does this mean? Why did this happen?'"

Megan and MGK had never discussed the pregnancy loss prior to the poetry book, however the 'Bloody Valentine' hitmaker did appear to allude to it at the Billboard Music Awards in May 2022, dedicating his performance to Megan and adding, 'This is for our unborn child.'

Megan also suffered an ectopic pregnancy years earlier.

In an interview with Good Morning America, Fox explained how the pregnancy loss had affected their relationship.

'I had never been through anything like that before in my life,' she explained.

The child will be her fourth and MGK's second (pictured 2022)

'I have three kids, so it was very difficult for both of us, and it sent us on a very wild journey together and separately and together and apart  trying to navigate, "What does this mean?" and "Why did this happen?"'

MGK, whose legal name is Colson Baker, is dad to 15-year-old Casie, whom he shares with his ex Emma Cannon.

The couple have been together since 2020 and got engaged two years later, but have yet to tie the knot.

Their due date is in March.

The parents-to-be reportedly know the baby's gender, but are not revealing it.

Megan and MGK have had a passionate and rocky relationship.

They first met on the set of Midnight in The Switchgrass before getting engaged in 2022.

When announcing their betrothal on Instagram, Megan said she and MGK 'drank each other's blood' to celebrate the occasion.

But just over a year later, Megan sensationally hinted she had split from MGK as she shared a cryptic Instagram post before completely deleting her account.

The actress posted a video in which she appeared to burn a letter in a bonfire, along with a bag.

She also uploaded a very raunchy string of mirror selfies while joined by a male pal, in which she put on a busty display in a plunging black top and cut-out trousers.

Megan wrote in her caption, 'You can taste the dishonesty/ its all over your breath,' which are lyrics from Beyonce's 2016 track, Pray You Catch Me, about her husband Jay Z's own affair.

She then removed all traces of Machine Gun Kelly from her Instagram grid, having unfollowed him before deleting her account altogether.

Fox revealed her pregnancy joy on November 11

Fox and Kelly at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in 2021

Ultimately they seemed to patch things up and things appear to be all well between them now, with the couple being seen together ever since.

The rapper also recently tattooed his entire upper body in black ink, reportedly to prove to Megan that he is 100% committed to their relationship.

In March, during an appearance on Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy podcast, Megan revealed she and MGK had ended their engagement at some point.

'I feel like everyone has such an opinion on your guys relationship. You got engaged, then I think it was called off, then we don't know what's going on with you. How would you describe your relationship with MGK?' host Alex Cooper asked.

Megan responded: 'I think that what I've learned from being in this relationship is that it's not for public consumption, so I think as of now, I don't have a comment on like the status of the relationship per say.

'What I can say is that is what I refer to as being my twin soul and there will always be a tether to him no matter what. I can't say for sure what the capacity will be, but I will always be connected to him somehow.

'Beyond that I'm not willing to explain. But all those things you said were accurate things that have occurred and I can see them being confusing or interesting to people and them being like, "What's up?"'

Her final comment confirmed speculation she had ended her engagement from Kelly.

Megan was previously married to Green from 2010 to 2021. They welcomed three children together during their marriage before their union officially ended.

Brian has been with DWTS professional Sharna Burgess since 2020 and they have son Zane Walker Green, two, together.
The actress, 39, has reflected on the franchise that made her a household name

Keira Knightley has ruled out appearing in a franchise again after starring in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, revealing that the 'insane' schedule takes 'years of your life.'

The Oscar-nominated actress, 39, famously starred as Elizabeth Swann in the first three Pirates of the Caribbean films from 2003 to 2007 alongside Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom.

Reflecting on her experience of those movies, Keira alluded to feeling powerless over her life.

She also said that despite the films catapulting her to worldwide fame, she'd been left 'confused' because she was also 'taken down so publicly' for appearing in them.

'It's a funny thing when you have something that was making and breaking you at the same time,' she said in a recent interview with The Times.

'I was seen as s*** because of them, and yet because they did so well I was given the opportunity to do the films that I ended up getting Oscar nominations for [Pride & Prejudice and The Imitation Game].

Keira Knightley has ruled out appearing in a franchise again after being in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies

She famously starred as Elizabeth Swann with Orlando Bloom, who played Will Turner

'They were the most successful films I'll ever be a part of and they were the reason that I was taken down publicly.

'So, they're in a very confused place in my head.'

Keira made her Pirates of the Caribbean debut in the 2003 original Curse of the Black Pearl.

She would later reprise her role in the 2006 film Dead Man's Chest, and then again in the 2007 film At World's End.

But that's it for Keira, who has stated she will never do a franchise again.

'The hours are insane,' she added to the publication.

'It's years of your life, you have no control over where you're filming, how long you're filming, what you're filming.'

Last year, Keira opened up about how she sought to broaden her career after her breakout role portraying Elizabeth Swann.

'They were the most successful films I'll ever be a part of,' Keira said of the franchise

Keira (center) appeared in the films alongside Johnny Depp (right) and Orlando (left)

'She [Elizabeth Swann] was the object of everybody's lust,' she told Harpar's Bazaar.

'Not that she doesn't have a lot of fight in her. But it was interesting coming from being really tomboyish to getting projected as quite the opposite. I felt very constrained. I felt very stuck.

'So the roles afterwards were about trying to break out of that.

'I didn't have a sense of how to articulate it. It very much felt like I was caged in a thing I didn't understand.'

Keira was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet in the 2005 period piece Pride & Prejudice and also was an Oscar nominee for Best Supporting Actress for playing Joan Clarke in the 2014 film The Imitation Game.

Keira has been married since 2013 to British musician James Righton, 41, and they have daughters Edie, nine, and Delilah, five, together.
Ruth Langsford appeared to take a subtle dig at her ex Eamonn Holmes on social media on Sunday.

The Loose Women host, 64, announced her split from the broadcaster, also, 64, in June after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together.

Taking to her Instagram Stories, Ruth shared a snap of her lunch which consisted of tomatoes, avocados, and olives.

She also had a cup of tea in a mug stamped with the word 'Happy!'

The TV presenter captioned the snap: 'Yum,' with the song Brunch time by Hello EMC played over the post.

Last Friday, Ruth sat down in the hairdressers chair to undergo a glamorous makeover.

Ruth Langsford appeared to take a subtle dig at her ex Eamonn Holmes on social media on Sunday

The Loose Women host, 64, announced her split from the broadcaster (pictured), also, 64, in June after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together

Taking to her Instagram Stories, Ruth shared a snap of her lunch which consisted of tomatoes, avocados, and olives. She also had a cup of tea in a mug stamped with the word 'Happy!'

As she had extensions fitted she explained on Instagram: 'Apparently there's been a 60% increase in women seeking help for hair loss.we talked about it on Loose Women on Tuesday and we all had our own stories.'

Ruth continued: 'My hair got thinner during menopause which is why I started having hair extensions.not for length, but for thickness.

'I had clip in pieces first, then I progressed to tapes and now I have LOTS of keratin bonds, really small ones so they're very discreet.

'Just wanted to show you my natural hair before I get my extensions done again tomorrow.'

Eamonn recently shared his gratitude and opened up on his 'tough year' as he attended he attended his first event with his new girlfriend earlier this month.

He has battled many health woes this year and recently revealed he 'can no longer walk or look after himself.'

After surgery on his back in 2022 for a slipped disc, the GB News host has not been able to walk unaided and often relies on a wheelchair.

Speaking at the event Eamonn admitted he was glad to see the end of 2024, while being supported by his girlfriend.

It comes after Ruth showed off her brand new hairstyle last Friday

As she focuses on herself, Ruth sat down in the hairdressers chair to undergo a glamorous makeover

Ruth continued: 'My hair got thinner during menopause which is why I started having hair extensions.not for length, but for thickness'

Speaking to The Sun On Sunday, he said: 'It's been a tough year and I'll be glad to see the back of it.'

He added: 'But there are lots of things to be grateful for and I hope that my health improves next year.'

Eammon and Katie made their first appearance as a couple at The Irish Post Awards, but the former GMB presenter requested that photographers not take pictures of them together.

An on looker added: 'Katie certainly seems to be able to put a smile back on Eamonn's face. They seem genuinely besotted with each other.'

Eamonn and Loose Women star Ruth announced their plans to divorce in June after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together.

Now, Katie, who enjoyed a romantic cruise with the TV star earlier this year, has told friends she is in for 'the long haul' with Eamonn.

Eamonn recently shared his gratitude and opened up on his 'tough year' as he attended his first event with his new girlfriend earlier this month

The TV star has been dating counsellor Katie, 43, since his split from Ruth and had her by his side as he hosted the Irish Post Awards in London

She has been helping Eamonn through the split from Ruth, but her friends say she is at pains to point out that their friendship has only grown close once the marriage was over in May.

In September, the former This Morning presenter emotionally revealed he can no longer look after himself.

In an emotional video, Eamonn admitted his former days of independence have come to an end as he pleaded his followers to adopt a dog as he petted his pooch Bella.

Eamonn, who used to share a rescue dog, Maggie, with Ruth, also revealed that losing his ability to walk also had an impact.

He captioned the clip: 'Think about giving Bella a home. If I could walk and look after myself she would be mine but instead you could be me. Talk to @TheK9Angels . Absolutely lovely Doggie.'

Eamonn uses a wheelchair due to chronic back pain as well as undergoing painful physio sessions.

Speaking in January he said the 'harsh reality' could be that he may never be able to walk unaided again.

In 2016, Eamonn underwent a double-hip replacement operation lasting three-and-a-quarter hours after living with acute pain for many years.
Fans were left in shock after Paul McCartney snuck into the Beatles '64 documentary premiere at Hudson Square Theater in New York City on Sunday.

The musician, 82, looked relaxed as he settled into a random seat in the middle of the venue alongside his wife Nancy, 65, and behind comedian Chris Rock.

While the crowd around him remained calm, Paul was seen waving to a few fans before watching the new film which is produced by famed filmmaker Martin Scorsese, 82.

It was announced that Paul was in attendance right before the screening started, but the majority of the crowd saw him as they were taking their seats.

Overwhelmed by Paul's appearance, the fan wrote: 'trying to watch the new beatles documentary and HE SHOWS UP'.

She added in the caption: 'and if i said i cried during the first ten minutes'

Fans were left in shock after Paul McCartney snuck into the Beatles '64 documentary premiere in NYC on Sunday alongside his wife Nancy

The musician, 82, looked relaxed as he settled into a random seat in the middle of the venue alongside his wife Nancy, 65, and behind comedian Chris Rock

Other fans couldn't believe he had snuck into the theatre as they took to the comments to share their surprise.

They penned: 'Nah but imagine watching the beatles documentary and PAUL MCCARTNEY sits next to you';

'omfg yall are breathing the same air'; 'No matter how rich and famous a person can be. When Paul walks in the room everyone else looks smaller.';

'Paul McCartney is the one celebrity I would absolutely die if I saw in person'.

Others joked: 'he probably whispered "i know them" to the person sitting next to him, pointing at john ringo n george'; 'there to fact check'.

Earlier in the night the star took to the red carpet with his wife as he donned a mixed-material jacket with grey tweed and light-wash denim details along the cuffs, collar and buttons down the center.

He looked effortlessly stylish in a light blue button-down, dark-wash jeans and black, suede sneakers for the premiere.

At his side, Nancy put on a chic display in an all-black outfit featuring a long, lace cardigan.

Meanwhile, Scorsese looked dapper in a navy blue suit, which he paired with a matching button-down shirt and contrasting scarlet red, polkadot tie.

Overwhelmed by Paul's appearance, the fan wrote: 'trying to watch the new beatles documentary and HE SHOWS UP'

Other fans couldn't believe he had snuck into the theatre as they took to the comments to share their surprise

Earlier in the night the star took to the red carpet with his wife as he donned a mixed-material jacket with grey tweed and light-wash denim details

The legendary filmmaker also brought along his daughter, Francesca Scorsese, 25.

She sported a button-down shirt dress with the imagery of The Beatles' iconic Abbey Road album cover.

The actress completed her look with sheer tights and knee-high, black boots.

In one photo, she stood in the middle between McCartney and her father for a group red carpet snap.

Later, inside of the venue, McCartney posed for a photo with Steven Van Zandt and Chris Rock.

Van Zandt, 74, donned a black, velvet coat over a purple, patterned button-down.

The musician, who plays the guitar and madolin in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, also coordinated with a violet bandana and tinted sunglasses.

They were also joined by filmmaker Martin Scorsese, 82. He looked dapper in a navy blue suit, which he paired with a matching button-down shirt and contrasting scarlet red, polkadot tie

The filmmaker also brought along his daughter, Francesca Scorsese, 25. She sported a button-down shirt dress with the imagery of The Beatles' iconic Abbey Road album cover

McCartney and Scorsese also posed for a photo alongside the documentary's director David Tedeschi on the red carpet

Later, inside of the venue, McCartney posed for a photo with Steven Van Zandt and Chris Rock

When Rock was arriving at the premiere, he put on a cozy and casual display in a navy blue Moncler puffer jacket as he entered the venue, walking and talking on the phone.

He donned a brown, knit sweater teamed with black jeans and white sneakers.

The comedian accessorized with black frame glasses and a silver cross bracelet.

Arriving around the same time as the Everybody Hates Chris creator were Amy Schumer, 43, and Bravo head honcho Andy Cohen, 56.

For the special occasion, Schumer put on a stylish display in an olive-green rain coat, which she layered over a dark gray top and medium-wash jeans.

The stand-up comedian also sported camel brown Chelsea boots and pushed back her blonde hair with an orange, patterned bandana.

Cohen was also seen arriving around the same time with a coffee cup in tow.

The Real Housewives executive producer donned a taupe-colored knit sweater, which he paired with a navy blazer and a deep blue bandana around his neck.

He completed his look with straight-leg jeans and all-white sneakers.

He donned a brown, knit sweater teamed with black jeans and white sneakers

For the special occasion, Schumer put on a stylish display in an olive-green rain coat, which she layered over a dark gray top and medium-wash jeans

She pushed back her blonde hair with an orange, patterned bandana

Andy Cohen was also seen arriving around the same time with a coffee cup in tow

The Real Housewives executive producer donned a taupe-colored knit sweater, which he paired with a navy blazer and a deep blue bandana around his neck

The upcoming documentary series captures The Beatles' 1964 United States debut amid fan frenzy and their unprecedented rise to global fame  often referred to as Beatlemania; (L-R) Ringo Starr, John Lennon, McCartney and George Harrison pictured in 1965

Beatles '64 premieres on November 29 and will be available to stream on Disney+ on Thanksgiving weekend

The stars were all in attendance for the premiere of Beatles '64.

The upcoming documentary series captures The Beatles' 1964 United States debut amid fan frenzy and their unprecedented rise to global fame  often referred to as Beatlemania.

The film features new interviews with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr as well as archival interviews from their late band members John Lennon and George Harrison.

Beatles '64 premieres on November 29 and will be available to stream on Disney+ on Thanksgiving weekend.
Wendy Williams has been left 'permanently incapacitated' by her dementia battle, her guardian has claimed in the latest legal wrangle over the star's tell-all documentary.

Host Williams, 60, was diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia in May 2023. The diagnosis came one year after Wendy was placed under a court-ordered legal guardianship that oversees both her finances and health.

Where Is Wendy Williams?, which aired in February, was set to explore Williams' life as she prepared to launch a new podcast- but featured shocking scenes showing the former host drinking vodka in bed and having panic attacks - leading to fan backlash against Lifetime.

Her guardian Sabrina Morrissey is now locked in a legal battle with the network over the documentary.

In a filing obtained by The US Sun, Morrissey's attorneys called Williams 'an acclaimed entertainer who, tragically, has been afflicted by early-onset dementia and, as a result, has become cognitively impaired and permanently incapacitated.'

Wendy Williams has been left 'permanently incapacitated' by her dementia battle, her guardian has claimed in the latest legal wrangle over the star's tell-all documentary

'In January 2022, after becoming aware of a pattern of disturbing events concerning [Wendy's] welfare and finances, Wells Fargo took the highly unusual step of initiating a guardianship proceeding on its own initiative in the Supreme Court of New York, New York County (the 'Guardianship Proceeding'), to seek the court appointment of an independent guardian for [Wendy's] financial affairs.

The filing further asks for parts of the case about Williams' 'health, familial relationships, and finances" to be redacted to protect her privacy.

'We respectfully request that the Court grant Plaintiffs motion for limited redactions to protect non-public information from the Guardianship Proceeding that has been placed under seal by the court overseeing that proceeding.

New York lawyer Morrissey was assigned as her guardian after Wells Fargo froze her accounts in 2022, as a result of her financial adviser at the time claiming that she was of 'unsound mind.'

In March, it was reported that Wendy was allegedly paid $100,000 per episode for her involvement in the four-part docuseries titled Where Is Wendy Williams?

At the same time, it was revealed that Wendy's guardian had filed a lawsuit against the parent company of Lifetime, A&E Television Networks with allegations of 'blatant exploitation' in 'disgusting' fashion.

The guardian, Sabrina, filed the lawsuit under temporary seal (which keeps details in the case protected from the public) last month, but the docs were unsealed and reviewed by The Hollywood Reporter, revealing explosive accusations in the case.

'This blatant exploitation of a vulnerable woman with a serious medical condition who is beloved by millions within and outside of the African American community is disgusting, and it cannot be allowed,' the legal team for Williams' guardian told the court.

Where Is Wendy Williams?, which aired in February, was set to explore Williams' life as she prepared to launch a new podcast- but featured shocking scenes showing the former host drinking vodka in bed and having panic attacks - leading to fan backlash against Lifetime

In a filing obtained by The US Sun, guardian Sabrina Morrissey's attorneys called Williams 'an acclaimed entertainer who, tragically, has been afflicted by early-onset dementia and, as a result, has become cognitively impaired and permanently incapacitated'

Sabrina told the court that the talk show host 'did not have the capacity to consent,' according to THR, and producers did not get her consent, as her court-appointed guardian, to produce it.

Williams was misled by producers into thinking that the documentary would be a 'positive and beneficial' project for her public image and reputation, the suit stated.

Williams' publicist has also blasted the Lifetime documentary that she signed her famous TV client up for. Shawn Zanotti placed blame on the producers of the series, alleging the TV icon believed she was filming a program about her comeback - only for filmmakers to capture 'a circus to her downfall.'

Zanotti, who has been working as a publicist for Williams since 2021, spoke with NBC News about her grievances with the making of Where is Wendy Williams?, a four-part documentary now airing on Lifetime.

In an interview with the outlet, Zanotti claimed: 'I felt that [Williams] was being exploited.'

In August Williams was spotted in public for the first time in over a year at a herbal supplement shop in Newark, New Jersey

'She thought we were focusing on the comeback of her career. ... She would be mortified. There's no way you can convince me that she would be OK with looking and seeing herself in that way.'

She also told PEOPLE that she felt 'lied to' about it.

Despite having encouraged her client to sign up for the show, Zanotti now says: "I would never let Wendy put her name and brand on the line like that ever. She's an icon. It's not the story we signed up for and I feel lied to.'

Adding: 'It's so difficult for me to even watch. Wendy would be mortified.'
Pete Wicks has revealed he has been on the receiving end of nasty death threats during his time on Strictly Come Dancing.

The former TOWIE star, 36, opened up on his Staying Relevant podcast on Saturday while discussing having made it all the way to the quarter final stages of the hit BBC dance show.

The reality star was talking about his time on the show with his professional dance partner Jowita Przystal, 30.

The ballroom dancer was standing in for Pete's co-host Sam Thompson, 32, who is currently in Australia, hosting the I'm A Celeb spin-off show, I'm A Celebrity... Unpacked.

During their discussion, Pete told his partner: 'You're the only person I can dance with, I can't dance without you.'

Pete Wicks, 36, has revealed he has been on the receiving end of some nasty death threats during his time on Strictly Come Dancing

The former TOWIE star opened up on his Staying Relevant podcast on Saturday while discussing having made it all the way to the quarter final stages of the hit BBC dance show

The reality star was talking about his time on the show with his professional dance partner Jowita Przystal , 30 when he shared some of the disgusting comments aimed at him

And while the two were full of praise for each other, the reality star also opened up about the difficulties of appearing on the show.

He told Jowita that he had been the subject of trolling and even death threats, confessing: 'Since Strictly, there have been some real crackers.

'Someone actually wished death upon me on the dance floor the other day.

Yet he then spoke about the darker side of his dance show experience, including the trolling.

Jowita replied: 'Really?' before Pete continued to detail the hate mail he had received.

He also revealed another comment a troll had made which shocked his dance partner.

He said a troll had written on social media: 'Lets all keep our fingers crossed that he gets booted out and breaks both legs slipping on the floor.'

The star's confession comes after fans have been left furious and wondering how Pete has managed to stay to he competition for so long.

He told Jowita that 'Someone actually wished death upon me on the dance floor the other day' because of his progress to the quarter finals on Saturday

He said another troll had written on social media: 'Lets all keep our fingers crossed that he gets booted out and breaks both legs slipping on the floor.'

Pete's highest score of the series so far was 36 during week 8, but he remains the show's lowest-scoring contestant having been awarded just 22 points on two occasions.

And fans have questioned why Pete and Jowita haven't yet found themselves in the bottom two.

Having been consistently saved from the dance off by the public vote, it has now been revealed that his clever marketing campaign could be the reason.

Pete's celebrity pals have rallied around him, with the likes of Sam Thompson, Zara McDermott and Vicky Pattison urging their followers to vote for him.

A source told The Sun: 'Beyond soap stars, Strictly has never seen such an effective campaign as Pete's.

'His celebrity pals span reality TV, music, social media stars and beyond and all of them love him.

'Every Sunday night that reality telly army is canvassing for votes for Pete and urging their own passionate fan bases to back their mate.'

Strictly fans were shocked by Sunday's dance off this week, as they questioned why Pete and Jowita weren't in the bottom two.

The TOWIE star and his partner finished bottom of the leaderboard on Saturday night, but made it through on the public vote.

The star's confession comes after fans have been left furious and wondering how Pete has managed to stay to he competition for so long and avoid the dreaded dance off

Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas and Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe faced off in the dance off, with Jamie ultimately being sent home by the judges (left)

Fans were left furious after Jamie and his partner Michelle became the ninth couple to leave the competition during Sunday night's results show and took to social media to share their frustration

Instead Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas and Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe faced off in the dance off, with Jamie ultimately being sent home by the judges.

The results of Sunday's show saw fans criticise the judges' decisions to 'constantly down-mark' the actor.

On Saturday, the soap star sent fans into overdrive after performing a Foxtrot with pro partner Michelle Tsiakkas to Ben E King's classic Stand By Me.

Despite many viewers raving over the soap star's dance, Jamie was once again harshly critiqued by the judges - prompting some to accuse the panel of 'favouritism'.

Viewers took to X to vent their irritation with many calling for Pete Wicks to have been eliminated instead.

They wrote: 'How, HOW the actual heck did Pete escape the dance off??!?!? Montelle and Jamie did not deserve to be there, this isn't fair

While another said: 'Absolutley gutted Jamie went home. Shouldn't have been in the bottom 2, let alone go!! He had my vote every week. I loved his dancing and his partnership with Michelle. I wanted him in the final Bloody joke #strictly'

And a third complained: 'Well that's strictly over for me this year poor Jamie'
Gemma Arterton showed off her impeccable sense of style on Tuesday as she joined Richard E. Grant at The Fayre of St. James's Christmas Carol Concert in London.

The actress, 38, looked incredible as she cut a stylish figure in a black faux-fur collar coat.

She teamed the suede coat with a black wrap mini dress which boasted a turtleneck and donned a pair of sheer polka dot tights.

To complete her look, Gemma added a slight inch to her frame with a pair of black leather Mary Jane pumps and wore a swipe of red lipstick.

Meanwhile, Richard, 67, looked incredibly dapper in a blue checked suit which consisted of a single-breasted blazer and tailored trousers.

Gemma Arterton, 38, showed off her impeccable sense of style at The Fayre of St. James's Christmas Carol Concert in London on Tuesday

The actress was also joined by Richard E. Grant, 67, who looked incredibly dapper in a blue checked suit which consisted of a single-breasted blazer and tailored trousers

He opted for layering up from the cold with a grey and black knitted scarf before completing his look with a pair of Loro Piana suede ankle boots.

Claudia Winkleman's sister Sophie Winkleman, 44, and her husband Lord Frederick Windsor, 45, also attended the event.

Sophie exuded elegance in a green and blue checked blazer dress which boasted a belt at the waist.

She added inches to her frame with a pair of black court stiletto heels and toted her essentials in a navy blue handbag.

Meanwhile, her husband cut a dapper figure in a dark grey suit and a crisp white shirt which he teamed with a dark green striped tie.

According to Quintessentially Foundation, The Fayre of St. James's is the charity Christmas event of the year in London and delivers a magical, star-studded evening of performances, readings, carols, and Christmas cheer.

Quintessentially Foundation is a charitable foundation set up to tackle child poverty and the limitations it places on the futures of children and young people.

Gemma's appearance comes after she joined her co-stars Ian McKellen and Mark Strong at The Critic European premiere at The Curzon Mayfair earlier this year.

Gemma teamed her stylish suede coat with a black wrap mini dress which boasted a turtleneck and wore a swipe of red lipstick

Meanwhile, Richard layered up from the cold with a grey and black knitted scarf as he posed up a storm for the cameras

The actress opted for a sleek of-the-shoulder black dress which showed off her gorgeous curves as she posed up a storm.

The flowing number featured a sheer panel over her midriff to flaunt her toned abs and was teamed with a pair of simple pointed heels.

She wore her short brunette tresses slicked back and opted for a glowing makeup look complete with a slick of light pink lipstick.

The new movie is set in 1930s London following the life of theatre critic Jimmy Erskine portrayed by Sir Ian, 85.

In The Critic, a whirlwind whodunnit storyline starts to unravel as the newspapers and actors of the day, including Gemma who plays actress Nina Land in the film, attempt bribes and blackmail to stop the scandalous reviews from surfacing.

The film is an adaption of the 2015 novel Curtain Call by Anthony Quinn.

Earlier this year Gemma spoke very candidly about the sexism still present in the film industry and slammed the 'dinosaurs' still working with outdated attitudes.

The actress admitted she was told to be less vocal about feminism before the #MeToo movement and shared her frustration about the 'hypocrisy' in the industry.

She said although things are getting better, there are still 'old dinosaurs' who have outdated attitudes and behaviours and said it is 'tragic' that people are still facing sexism.

Claudia Winkleman's sister Sophie Winkleman, 44, and her husband Lord Frederick Windsor, 45, also attended the event

Sophie exuded elegance in a green and blue checked blazer dress which boasted a belt at the waist

Gemma's appearance comes after she joined her co-stars Ian McKellen and Mark Strong at The Critic European premiere at The Curzon Mayfair earlier this year (L-R: Gemma, Ian, and Mark)

Speaking on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast, she said: 'There are certain dinosaurs that are still working to this day.'

'It has changed a lot thankfully since the sixties but there's definitely still things where I feel like it's more about the old dinosaurs that are still working where you kind of have to shake them and go, "Hello this is 2023, we don't do that anymore!"'

Gemma revealed she was also told to be less opinionated about feminism by a Hollywood manager and said she was told it could 'hold' her career back.

She fumed over the 'hypocrisy' in the industry as she said the same manager then supported the #MeToo movement years later when feminism became 'fashionable'.

She said: 'I think back when all of this Times Up, #MeToo stuff was happening, it just felt like this is the time to speak up but even before then, I was speaking up and I remember I was speaking up about equal pay or something, you know, just feminist s**t.'

'And this American manager came to see me in a show and he literally said, "Can you stop the feminism thing because it's not doing you any favours".
Sofia Boutella looked effortlessly chic as she joined her co-stars for a screening of the second series of SAS Rogue Heroes.

The Algerian actress, 42, who plays Eve Mansour in the BBC series, was among the stars in attendance for the screening at BFI Southbank in London on Tuesday.

She was joined on the red carpet at the screening by her co-stars, including Skins' Jack O'Connell and Sex Education star Connor Swindells.

The first series was based on the book by journalist Ben Macintyre and told the story of how the SAS was formed during the Second World War.

It is not all true to the novel, with a fictional female character called Eve, played by Sofia, introduced. She is a French spy, introduced into the series by writer Steven Knight.

Sofia Boutella looked effortlessly chic as she joined her co-stars for a screening of the second series of SAS Rogue Heroes in London on Tuesday

The Algerian actress, 42, who plays Eve Mansour in the BBC series, was among the stars in attendance for the screening at BFI Southbank

For the screening, Sofia turned heads in a multi-coloured geometric patterned pleated chiffon dress, complete with a high racer neckline.

Sofia paired the dress with a collection of diamante gold bangles and stud pearl earrings, as well as wearing her brunette locks down in loose waves.

Also in attendance were Jack Barton, Bobby Schofield, Gwilym Lee, Anna Manuelli and Matteo Franco.

The first series of SAS Rogue Heroes re-told the story of the previously top secret origins of the Special Air Service, which was formed in North Africa in 1941 by Lieutenant-Colonel David Stirling.

It depicted the real-life events that were revealed at great length by historian Ben Macintyre in his 2016 book of the same name.

Stirling, who was described by Britain's most senior military officer as 'quite mad', is played by Connor, with Jack playing Mayne and Games of Thrones' Alfie Allen depicting Lewes.

The series was created by screenwriter Steven Knight, who was behind the hugely popular series Peaky Blinders.

A synopsis for the show read: 'Cairo, 1941. David Stirling (Connor Swindells) - an eccentric young officer, hospitalised after a training exercise went wrong - is bored.

The first series was based on the book by journalist Ben Macintyre and told the story of how the SAS was formed during the Second World War

Sofia wore her brunette locks down in loose waves

For the screening, Sofia turned heads in a multi-coloured geometric patterned pleated chiffon dress, complete with a high racer neckline

Sofia paired the dress with a collection of diamante gold bangles and stud pearl earrings

She was joined on the red carpet at the screening by her co-stars, including Skins' Jack O'Connell and Sex Education star Connor Swindells, as well as Gwilym Lee

Also in attendance were Jack Barton, Bobby Schofield, Gwilym Lee, Anna Manuelli and Matteo Franco

It is not all true to the novel, with a fictional female character called Eve, played by Sofia, introduced

Sofia's character is a French spy, introduced into the series by writer Steven Knight

'Convinced that traditional commando units don't work, he creates a radical plan that flies in the face of all accepted rules of modern warfare.

'He fights for permission to recruit the toughest, boldest and brightest soldiers for a small undercover unit that will create mayhem behind enemy lines.

'More rebels than soldiers, Stirling's team are every bit as complicated, flawed and reckless as they are astonishingly brave and heroic.'

Connor's character, Colonel David Stirling, was a founding member of the SAS, a commando force that operated behind enemy lines during the North African campaign of the Second World War.

The first series of SAS Rogue Heroes re-told the story of the previously top secret origins of the Special Air Service, which was formed in North Africa in 1941 by Lieutenant-Colonel David Stirling

It depicted the real-life events that were revealed at great length by historian Ben Macintyre in his 2016 book of the same name

Stirling, who was described by Britain's most senior military officer as 'quite mad', is played by Connor, with Jack playing Mayne and Games of Thrones' Alfie Allen depicting Lewes

The SAS began with five officers and 60 other ranks when it was first conceived, and their first mission was a parachute drop supporting Operation Crusader in 1941 which ended in disaster, and may well be what Jack and Connor were filming.

During their first skirmish 22 men were killed or captured, however their second mission was a huge success after the SAS successfully destroyed 60 aircraft over three airfields.

Stirling was captured by enemy combatants in 1943 and Paddy Mayne, played by Jack, replaced him as commanding officer of the SAS, which was split into two factions the Special Raiding Squadron (SRS) and the Special Boat Section.
Naomi Watts looked somber as she shopped for flowers in New York City on Tuesday - two days after the death of her grandmother at 101.

The actress, 56, wore a tan coat over black leggings with study-looking work boots.

Her hair was pulled back into a low ponytail as she perused the buckets of flowers.

On Monday the 21 Grams star announced the passing of her grandmother and paid tribute.

The Watcher star, who is married to actor Billy Crudup, 56, shared a snap of her beloved grandmother holding up a telegram from King Charles brandishing the royal seal.

In two other frames, Naomi is seen celebrating her grandmother's 100th birthday milestone with family and friends.

Naomi Watts looked somber as she shopped for flowers in New York City on Tuesday - two days after the death of her grandmother at 101

'Our Granny Watts made it to 101 and a half,' her post began. '

'She got her letter from the King to celebrate her century.

'Last night she rested in peace. RIP,' she continued alongside a pink love heart emoji.

Currently, Naomi is filming the Ryan Murphy legal drama All's Fair in Manhattan.

The upcoming Hulu series also stars Kim Kardashian, Glenn Close, Sarah Paulson, Niecy Nash and Teyana Taylor.

Kardashian is executive producing the upcoming series and her mother Kris Jenner also appears in it.

The series centers on an all-female law firm, and is described as a high-end, glossy and sexy adult procedural.

All's Fair was first announced in December, the first series under Murphy's new overall deal at Disney.

Her hair was pulled back into a low ponytail as she perused the buckets of bright and fresh flowers

On Monday the 21 Grams star announced the passing of her grandmother and paid tribute

Naomi offered sweet words as she paid tribute to her paternal grandmother

The show will follow Kim playing a powerful divorce lawyer in Los Angeles who runs a successful all-female law firm.

Kim's role is reportedly partly inspired by Kardashian's actual lawyer, Laura Wasser, who represented her in divorce proceedings with Kanye West and Kris Humphries.
Maura Higgins showcased her incredible figure as she exfoliated with an old sock in the shower on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! on Tuesday.

The former Love Island star, 34, faced her worst fear of spiders in the Bushtucker Trial Fright At The End of The Tunnel.

And when she returned to camp alongside Loose Women host Jane Moore, Maura wanted to wash the trauma of the trial off her.

The Irish beauty looked sensational as she donned a black bikini to hop into the infamous jungle shower.

Ahead of her arrival in the jungle, Maura admitted to MailOnline that she 'hasn't thought much about jumping in the jungle shower', made famous by Myleene Klass's white bikini moment in 2006.

Teasing that it could be more chaos than sexy, she joked: 'I mean, I'd probably fall over and break my leg. Like, that's probably what happened to me.

Maura Higgins showcased her incredible figure as she exfoliated with an old sock in the shower on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! on Tuesday

And when she returned to camp alongside Loose Women host Jane Moore, Maura wanted to wash the trauma of the trial off her

'I've packed my bikinis, but I haven't really thought much about it. I'm a bit worried about that water being freezing cold.

'I hate cold water, so, um, I could be the girl that doesn't shower the whole time.'

In previous years the likes of Vicky Pattison, Myleene Klass and Jorgie Porter have been amongst those braving the freezing waterfall in skimpy swimwear.

As Maura and Jane made their way down to the Trial clearing, Ant and Dec were waiting for them, and Ant had an observation for them based on the Fright Bus the night before, as he said: 'You're probably the screamiest bunch of celebrities we've ever had on this show!'

Explaining what was in store for them, Ant and Dec told them that the Trial was made up of two tunnels: one above ground, and one below ground.

The celebrity above ground would need to find the secret code words hidden in their tunnel, reading them out to the celebrity below ground who would be underwater and would need to use the code words to unlock the stars.

Maura took the above ground tunnel, and Jane the below water based tunnel.

With 12 minutes to collect 12 stars, the klaxon sounded and Maura had to move through the tunnels, searching through the sand on the floor of each part for hidden code words, while joined by a different guest in each, including toads, lizards, and her worst fear - spiders.

Maura almost stripped down to her birthday as she celebrated turning 34 with a freezing jungle shower on Monday

Meanwhile, Jane swam through the water tunnels but struggled with the water element when her goggles steamed up and she struggled to keep her head down underwater for the time needed to unlock the stars.

In the end, Jane and Maura won 6 out of 12 stars for camp, and got praised by Ant and Dec who said: 'That was a very, very tough Trial, so I think you did remarkably the pair of you, you should both be very proud.'

On the way back, an emotional Maura got teary over conquering her fears.

Maura is expected to make around 1.5 million from brand deals off the back of her I'm A Celebrity stint.

The reality star, who celebrated her birthday in the jungle during Monday's episode, is among the favourites to be named Queen of the Jungle after being a late entrant to camp last week.

Maura got more than she bargained for during Tuesday night's tough Bushtucker Trial

Maura and Jane Moore learned they had received the most votes and would therefore be taking on Fright At The End of The Tunnel together

Explaining what was in store for them, Ant and Dec told them that the Trial was made up of two tunnels: one above ground, and one below ground

Maura took the above ground tunnel where she had to face her fear of spiders

Jane swam through the water tunnels but struggled to keep her head down underwater for the time needed to unlock the stars.

Maura is reportedly expected to rake in huge payday after her I'm A Celeb appearance as she lines up exciting brand deals

And companies are said to be 'queuing up to work with her' as she prepares for a huge payday when she returns from her down under adventure.

A source close to Maura told The Sun: 'Beauty brands, fashion labels and TV execs in the UK and US are already queuing up to work with her. She's had some incredible offers.'

Maura is said to be 'excited' about new opportunities following her jungle jaunt with a source saying brands including M.A.C, Calvin Klein and Hugo Boss have been in touch.

The source added: 'This next chapter is going to be huge for her. She's excited about the opportunities coming her way.'

MailOnline have contacted Maura's representatives for comment.
Susannah Constantine has admitted that she 'blacked out' and broke her back at the lowest point of her battle with alcohol.

Now, her daughter Esme Bertelsen, 23, has revealed that she is facing her own struggles with booze.

'I binge drink, not in the week because I know how it will affect me, but when I go out drinking, I just always want to be up,' says Esme, whose father is Susannah's husband, the Danish businessman Sten Bertelsen.

'If I have one drink, I'll drink it so fast and carry on drinking, because then I won't have to think about having control of what I'm doing next.'

Speaking on the ADHD Chatter podcast, she says: 'If I'm having one pint, I'll be, like, 'Guys, what are we doing next?'. I have to know what I'm doing next.

'If they go, 'No, we're going to have to go home', then I'll be sober enough to face the actual reality of getting into bed and then thinking about things and my mind racing the whole time.'

Esme Bertelsen, 23, (pictured left and mother Susannah right) has revealed that she is facing her own struggles with booze

Susannah has admitted that she 'blacked out' and broke her back at the lowest point of her battle with alcohol

Esme has been diagnosed with ADHD and suffers from anxiety. She says that alcohol helps her to have a good night's sleep, free from overthinking.

'If I'm so p*****, I can go to bed and sleep and my mind doesn't wander at night. It's freedom from my thinking. I don't have to think about anything. So maybe I do have a problem.'

Revealing a family history of struggles with booze, Susannah, 62, says on the podcast: 'I was born an alcoholic, my mum was an alcoholic and my grandmother was an alcoholic.'

She speaks openly about this with her children, adding: 'I just say that alcoholism is a genetic disorder and it's a mental disorder  drinking too much is a symptom and you might have the same gene.

'Just be aware and if you're worried, I've been through it, I've got the medal, come to me.'

Lydon's tune change as he 'eyes an MBE'

John Lydon has been accused by this former bandmate of sucking up to the Establishment to secure an honour

John Lydon sang about Queen Elizabeth's 'fascist regime' on the Sex Pistols' God Save The Queen.

But the punk band's bassist Glen Matlock has accused him of sucking up to the Establishment to secure an honour.

After the Queen's death, Lydon described the track as 'anti-royalist, but not anti-human'. Matlock says: 'He's trying to get an MBE and was backtracking. It's pretty anti-Establishment.'

Baby joy for child star of Nanny McPhee

Eliza Bennett has given birth to her first child, a girl (whose name she has not disclosed), with her husband

As a star of the hit film Nanny McPhee, she was among the unruly children needing discipline from Dame Emma Thompson's character.

And now Eliza Bennett has a baby of her own.

I hear the actress, 32, has given birth to her first child, a girl (whose name she has not disclosed), with her husband.

She says of her labour: 'My birth was not ideal  40 hours long and ending in an emergency C-section  it left me in shock for a while.' However, Eliza, pictured far right, admits it was worth it for her 'squishy and cute' baby.

Stevie Nicks voices anger at being stopped from taking private jet to Britain to see Christine McVie

Stevie Nicks wanted to fly in a private plane to see Christine McVie on her deathbed

Fleetwood Mac star Stevie Nicks has voiced her anger at being prevented from taking a private plane to Britain and singing to her former bandmate on her deathbed.

Nicks, 76, said that before Christine McVie died two years ago aged 79, she wanted to fly over from America to see her in hospital.

However, Christine's family said this would convince her she was at death's door. 'My plan was to sit on her bed and sing Touched By An Angel,' Nicks says. 'I didn't get to do that, and I was angry.'

Pop producer Mike Stock criticises Bob Geldof

Pop producer Mike Stock has criticised Bob Geldof for reducing his Band Aid II track to a 'footnote'.

Geldof is promoting Band Aid 40, a new version of Do They Know It's Christmas?, which blends voices from the 1984 original with versions from 2004 and 2014.

But Band Aid II, which featured the likes of Sir Cliff Richard and Kylie Minogue, was not included.

Bob Geldof during the first Band Aid in 1984. Pop producer Mike Stock has criticised Geldof for reducing his Band Aid II track to a 'footnote'

Geldof suggested this was because Stock's co-producer Pete Waterman couldn't find the tape. Stock responds: 'The thing is Sir Bob, while you were being fawned over by the press, I was the one putting the thing together.'

Early Xmas gift? Sock it to us, say Kelly and gang

Socks may not be the most exciting festive present, but this group of women were delighted with their gift of funny footwear. From left, Kelly Hoppen, Lauren Silverman, Alesha Dixon, Katrina Shalit, Melissa Odabash and Amanda Holden

Kelly Hoppen, 65, a favourite interior designer of the Princess of Wales, enjoyed a pre-Christmas lunch this week at Annabel's in Mayfair, where she and her friends were each given a pair of red socks printed with images of their smiling faces

Socks may not be the most exciting festive present, but this group of women were delighted with their gift of funny footwear.

Kelly Hoppen, 65, a favourite interior designer of the Princess of Wales, enjoyed a pre-Christmas lunch this week at Annabel's in Mayfair, where she and her friends were each given a pair of red socks printed with images of their smiling faces.

Joining Hoppen were Britain's Got Talent judges Alesha Dixon, 46, and Amanda Holden, 53, swimwear designer Melissa Odabash, 60, Simon Cowell's fiancee Lauren Silverman, 47, and showbusiness agent Jonathan Shalit's wife Katrina, 63.

'Best lunch with best friends,' says the interior designer.
Walmart has joined a growing list of major corporations and rolled back its diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

The move by the world's largest retailer marks a seismic shift in corporate strategy that comes after attacks by conservatives and activists at the company's 'woke' policies.

Some of the sweeping changes include abandoning a $100 million racial equity center set up in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd and leaving a prominent LGBTQ+ gay rights index.

The retail juggernaut also won't be giving priority treatment to suppliers that are 51 percent-owned by women, minorities, veterans or members of the LGBTQ community.

Walmart's pivot is the latest domino to fall in a growing conservative crusade against DEI initiatives and underscores the increasing pressures faced by corporate America as it continues to navigate the fallout from the Supreme Court's ruling in June 2023 that ended affirmative action in college admissions.

Emboldened by that decision, conservative groups have filed lawsuits making similar arguments about corporations, targeting workplace initiatives such as diversity programs and hiring practices that prioritize historically marginalized groups.

Right-wing groups have relentlessly targeted corporate diversity efforts, branding them as 'woke overreach.' Separately, conservative political commentator and activist Robby Starbuck has been going after corporate DEI policies, calling out individual companies on X.

Several of those companies have subsequently announced that they are pulling back their initiatives, including Ford, Harley-Davidson, Lowe's and Tractor Supply.

In a jaw-dropping reversal, Walmart , the world's largest retailer, is rolling back its diversity, equity and inclusion policies

When it comes to race or gender, Walmart won't be giving priority treatment to suppliers that are 51 percent-owned by women, minorities, veterans or members of the LGBTQ community

Walmart, which employs 1.6 million workers in the U.S., is the largest company to abandon its DEI policies

Boeing also took apart its DEI department reassigning staffers to teams within the company's human resources department

Bud Light beer lost its spot as the top-selling beer in the U.S. in 2023 following a controversy over a social-media promotion with a transgender influencer.

In the summer of 2023, Target's sales fell after coming in for criticism of its Gay Pride month merchandise displays.

But Walmart, which employs 1.6 million workers in the U.S., is the largest one to do so. The company typically tries to stay neutral on hot-button social issues to appeal to a broad spectrum of shoppers and workers.

'This is the biggest win yet for our movement to end wokeness in corporate America,' Starbuck wrote on X, adding that he had been in conversation with Walmart.

'No retail company wants a story about them from us ahead of Black Friday,' he said.

Walmart also agreed to stop using the terms 'DEI' and 'Latinx' in official communication.

Starbuck congratulated Walmart for its new direction.

'I have to give their executives major credit because this will send shockwaves throughout corporate America. This is the biggest win yet for our movement to end wokeness in corporate America,' he said while warning other corporate giants.

Cnservative political commentator and activist Robby Starbuck has been going after corporate DEI policies, calling out individual companies on X, including Walmart

Elon Musk was quick to note that Walmart's shelving of DEI was a watershed moment

Plenty of Musk's followers agreed with Walmart's decision to rid itself of DEI initiatives

'We've now changed policy at companies worth over $2 Trillion,' he wrote. 'Companies like Amazon and Target should be very nervous that their top competitor dropped woke policies first. I think Target specifically will suffer serious sales problems as a result and Walmart will benefit.'

Elon Musk also chimed in stating, 'The tide has turned', following Walmart's decision.

Walmart has said that it will better monitor its third-party marketplace items to make sure they don't feature sexual and transgender products aimed at minors.

That would include chest binders intended for youth who are going through a gender change, the company said.

The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer will also be reviewing grants to Pride events to make sure it is not financially supporting sexualized content that may be unsuitable for kids.

For example, the company wants to makes sure a family pavilion is not next to a drag show at a Pride event, the company said.

The changes don't stop there. Walmart has scrapped any use of race or gender as a criterion in awarding supplier contracts, signaling a stark departure from efforts to improve diversity in its business partnerships.

The company said it didn't have quotas and will not do so going forward.

Additionally, it will cease tracking demographic data for grant eligibility and funding decisions.

Walmart also said it wouldn't renew a racial equity center that was established through a five-year, $100 million philanthropic commitment from the company with a mandate to: 'address the root causes of gaps in outcomes experienced by Black and African American people in education, health, finance and criminal justice systems.'

In the summer of 2023, Target's sales fell after coming in for criticism of its Gay Pride month merchandise displays

These swimsuits included a label which advertises the 'tuck-friendly construction' and 'extra crotch' coverage led to a huge backlash from once loyal Target shoppers

Bud Light's popularity and its sale plummeted after conservative consumers boycotted the drink over its partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney

The beer giant's PR disaster went from bad to worse when it swiftly broke off the contract with Mulvaney, and former Bud Light employees accused leaders of 'cowardice' for failing to support the influencer

And it would stop participating in the Human Rights Campaign's annual benchmark index that measures workplace inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees, signaling a chilling blow to inclusivity.

Critics argue Walmart's capitulation undermines years of progress toward equity in corporate America.

'We've been on a journey and know we aren't perfect, but every decision comes from a place of wanting to foster a sense of belonging, to open doors to opportunities for all our associates, customers and suppliers and to be a Walmart for everyone,' the company said in a statement.

The changes come soon after an election win by Donald Trump, who has criticized DEI initiatives and surrounded himself with conservatives who hold similar views.

They include his former adviser Stephen Miller, who leads a group called America First Legal that has challenged corporate DEI policies.

Trump named Miller to be the deputy chief of policy in his new administration.

With Trump allies celebrating Walmart's pivot as a triumph, critics fear the tidal wave of 'anti-woke' rhetoric is only gaining momentum.

Conservative activist Robby Starbuck has managed to get major firms to ditch DEI simply by revealing details of these efforts on X

in August Ford became latest high-profile American company to pump brakes on DEI

Harley-Davidson ditched ts diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) goals in August

Last summer Home improvement chain Lowe's scaled back its diversity, equity and inclusion policies, joining the ranks of several other companies

In June Tractor Supply said it would be eliminating all of its diversity, equity and inclusion roles while retiring current DEI goals

A Walmart spokesperson said some of its policy changes have been in progress for a while.

For example, it has been moving away from using the word DEI in job titles and communications and started to use the word 'belonging.'

It also started making changes to its supplier program in the aftermath of the Supreme Court affirmative action ruling.

Walmart's stunning reversal will send shockwaves across corporate America, leaving DEI advocates scrambling to salvage initiatives in an increasingly hostile environment.

Some have been urging companies to stick with their DEI policies.

Last month, a group of Democrats in Congress appealed to the leaders of the Fortune 1000, saying that DEI efforts give everyone a fair chance at achieving the American dream.
College is notoriously expensive in the US, but some towns offer their young residents the chance of free tuition.

The tradition dates back to the 19th century when prestigious Dartmouth College owned the tiny town of Wheelcock in Vermont.

In 1830 the then-Dartmouth President, Nathan Lord, made a policy of offering free tuition for children from the town that qualified to attend.

The college's offer remains in place today, which means high schoolers from the town that get into Dartmouth could save $264,000 in tuition fees over four years.

Wheelcock's population is just 768, and the acceptance rate to Dartmouth hit a record low for the class of 2028, at just 5.4 percent of applicants.

However, with free four-year scholarships to the $66,123 per term school, saving a quarter of a million dollars may be worth moving for.

Moreover, houses in the area are considerable more affordable than the average home across the country.

The median list price in Wheelcock is $150,000, compared to the average $424,950, according to data from Realtor.com.

Resident of Wheelcock, Vermont, can attend Dartmouth College for free if they get in

The minimum income needed to live comfortably in the town is also considerably lower than most areas, at $33,180, Realtor.com reported.

With mortgage rates at almost 7 percent and home prices continuing to climb ever higher, families may wish to consider moving to other towns that offer free tuition deals.

Detroit benefits from the Detroit Promise, a program that gives recent high school graduates from Detroit free college education at 26 local community colleges and universities.

Detroit is also an affordable place to consider buying a property, with a median list price of $96,850, according to Realtor.com.

Chicago is another major city that offers a similar assistance program.

The Chicago Star Scholarship gives Chicago residents who graduate from city high schools with at least a 3.0 GPA the chance to attend the City Colleges of Chicago with no tuition costs.

The cost of a home in Chicago, however, is a little more pricey than other cities that offer assistance programs.

It has a median list price of $372,000, which is still below the national average of $424,950, according to Realtor.com.

Rockford, which is about an hour from Chicago, is another Illinois city that has a generous college assistance program.

The Detroit Promise gives high school graduates from Detroit free college education (Pictured: Streets of east side Detroit)

The Chicago Star Scholarship gives residents the chance to attend Chicago colleges with no tuition costs (Pictured: the North Center neighborhood of Chicago)

The city gives students who attended all four years at a Rockford public high school and maintained a 3.0 GPA the chance to study all four years at Northern Illinois University free of charge.

It also has a median home list price of $168,675, which is far below the national average. And to live comfortably there, you only need a minimum income of $37,311, according to Realtor.com.

In Michigan, the small city of Kalamazoo offers graduates from its public school free tuition fees to any in-state public community college or university for four years.

The city is also relatively affordable, with median home list prices at $281,825 and the minimum income needed to live comfortably around $62,340 a year.

Kalamazoo in Michigan offers local graduates free tuition fees to any in-state college

San Francisco also has scholarship offers for its local high school graduates

Despite being one of the most expensive cities in the country, San Francisco also has scholarship offers for its local high school graduates.

The San Francisco Promise offers scholarships to graduates from the San Francisco Unified School District who go on to attend San Francisco State.

The scholarships can cover all four years of tuition so long as the recipient maintains a GPA of 2.5 or higher.

It comes as the average annual cost of attending college in the US - including tuition, fees, books, supplies, and room and board - clocks in at a huge $38,270 per student, according to the Education Data Initiative.

Over four years, that hits a total of $153,080, on average.
Embattled billionaire Gautam Adani's group on Tuesday said French energy giant TotalEnergies' decision to pause new investments in the group will not have any material impact on operations and growth plans as no new funding was under discussion.

TotalEnergies SE had on Monday stated that it was not aware of the corruption investigation its partner Adani group's founder chairman was facing in the US and that it is pausing fresh investments in the conglomerate pending the outcome of the charges.

"We wish to clarify that there is no new financial commitment under discussion with TotalEnergies," Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL) said in a stock exchange filing.

It was clarifying on TotalEnergies' statement of November 25.

"Hence, the press release (through which the French firm announced its decision) will not have any material impact on the company's operations or its growth plan," AGEL added.

TotalEnergies is one of the biggest foreign investors in Adani's business empire and had previously taken stakes in the group's renewable energy venture AGEL and city gas unit Adani Total Gas Ltd (ATGL).

In a statement on Monday, the French firm had said it learnt of US authorities indicting Gautam Adani and two other executives for allegedly paying USD 265 million bribes to Indian officials to secure solar power supply contracts for AGEL.

"This indictment does not target AGEL itself, nor any AGEL-related companies," TotalEnergies had said. "Until such time when the accusations against the Adani group individuals and their consequences have been clarified, TotalEnergies will not make any new financial contribution as part of its investments in the Adani group of companies."

Adani group has dismissed the allegations brought in the US court as baseless and has said it would seek all possible legal recourse.

TotalEnergies holds 19.75 per cent stake in AGEL - the renewable energy arm of the Indian group. It also has a 50 per cent stake in three joint venture companies that produce electricity from sunlight and wind with AGEL.

The French firm also holds a 37.4 per cent stake in Adani Total Gas Ltd, which retails CNG to automobiles and pipes natural gas to households for cooking.

TotalEnergies, France's largest oil and gas company, first joined hands with Adani in 2018 for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) venture before buying a 19.75 per cent stake in AGEL and a stake in three solar assets for USD 2.5 billion in 2020-21.

The French energy giant had in February last year put on hold a planned investment in Adani Group's USD 50 billion hydrogen project pending results of an audit launched following allegations by a US short-seller.

While the partnership, where the French oil giant was to take a 25 per cent stake in the hydrogen venture of the Adani Group, was announced in June 2022, TotalEnergies had not yet signed a contract.

As per the June 2022 announcement, TotalEnergies was to take 25 per cent equity in Adani New Industries Ltd (ANIL)  the Adani Group firm that is investing USD 50 billion over 10 years in a green hydrogen ecosystem, including an initial production capacity of 1 million tonne before 2030.

The announcement by Total adds to the woes of Adani. The crisis around the group, which began when Hindenburg released a damning report in January 2023, has also been used by the opposition parties to attack the government, alleging that the tycoon's rise was primarily because of his association with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government has rejected the allegation.

Hindenburg's allegations of accounting and financial fraud unleashed an over USD 150 billion rout in market value across Adani's companies. Adani Group has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them malicious and an "attack on India".

The group stocks had recovered most of the losses before last week's indictment in a New York court.
Will Olis stance on the BRI and his decision to prioritise China over India define his political legacy or deepen Nepals internal divides?

In Kathmandu, I observed that Nepal Prime Minister KP Olis visit to China has become a hot potato in the chilly Kathmandu valley. The China visit is being portrayed by his Unified Marxist Leninist Party (UML)-led coalition government as a bold initiative by Oli to resolve the long-pending BRI Implementation plan. The BRI Framework Agreement 2017 signed by Nepal figured during the maiden visit of President Xi Jinping in 2019 when Xi announced NC Rs 60 bn in grants under BRI. Since 2008, China has announced NC Rs 80 bn in grants. It seems the government could not use the aid for projects under BRI due to some issues.

Several delegations from both countries have interacted over the BRI Implementation plan for a long but the plan has not been signed.

Oli last visited China in 2016 after the Indian blockade and signed several agreements including energy trade but almost none has materialised. China is insisting that BRI projects that were truncated at Beijings request from 35 to 9 be under loan whereas Nepal, especially Nepali Congress, the senior coalition partner, wants them under grant. There were fears Oli might sign in to please the Chinese which resulted in considerable squabbling between them. A high-level task force of the two parties has been meeting to arrive at a consensus. Opposition lawmakers wanted all the agreements signed so far to be made public and discussed in Parliament and with civil society. At a UML meeting, Oli recently announced he would not sign BRI for the sake of coalition unity.

Chinese envoy Chen Song who had been lobbying with lawmakers to sign the BRI plan has clarified that Chinese-built Pokhara airport would not be converted from loan to grant. Foreign Minister Arzu Rana is going to China on November 28 to prepare for Olis visit with some plans on BRI.

The other troubling issue was the first where  China or India visit of Oli. Traditionally barring two exceptions  Prime Ministers Tanka Prasad Acharya and Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) - all others on becoming PM have first gone to New Delhi. Prachanda had clarified that his was not a state visit to China but he had gone for the Beijing Olympics. India has not invited all PMs  like Madhav Nepal, Jhalanath Khanal, and Sushil Koirala  from both Left and Centre-Right parties but New Delhi has historically favoured Nepali Congress. Oli had said some pretty undiplomatic, even unkind things about India during his second term as PM after he had internationalised the Kalapani dispute and made it into a national issue. But later, Oli did work with India. Oli going to China without Beijing making any concession on BRI is cocking a snook at India.

During the annual Kantipur Conclave in Kathmandu this month, he clarified that as a sovereign nation, a PM can visit any country first. He compared the first visit India or China conundrum to visiting Nizamuddin or Ajmer Sharif first: which made little impact on the mainly Nepali audience, adding that his visit to China will not harm relations with India.

For Nepal maintaining balance between India and China is a vital strategic mission that the founding father of Nepal, Prithvi Narayan Shah had described as a yam between two boulders. Geography and social and cultural factors have favoured India. The dethroned Maoist leader and four-time PM Prachanda, Olis erstwhile short-term partner, accused him in an interview with an Indian journalist who had come for the Kantipur Conclave, of playing the China card. UML was incensed by the allegation, demanding an apology from Prachanda.

At the Kantipur Conclave, Prachanda informed the audience that he was happy he was no longer heading the government as he could atone for his partys mistakes and serve the people better. He clarified that with 32 seats, he had never sought power but others (NC and UML) had come to him to form the government.

He asserted he had made a direct assault on corruption  the no 1 bane of Nepal  and put many corrupt leaders including members of his party, and those who had supported his government in jail. This included the newsmaker and former Home Minister, Rabi Lamichhane from the Rashtriya Swatantra Party who is at present in jail, being investigated for fraud. In Kathmandu, I discovered that Lamichhane has created a problem for the government on which jail he should be lodged in, due to massive protests by his supporters. They took him to the Terai towns but not to his citadel in Chitwan and brought him back to Pokhara as they were unable to present him before a Kathmandu court to avoid creating law and order issues. Every other day there are massive traffic jams in Kathmandu over some issue or the other.

Oli was cool about Rabi, saying at the Kantipur Conclave that he had once given Rabi a job (in Nepal Television) but did not know much about his case. The parliamentary probe that was ordered on him as demanded by the Nepali Congress was at the behest of PM Prachanda and Rabi himself who was the Home Minister in the coalition government. He added: let law take its course. Olis China conundrum was grabbing headlines. By declaring he wont sign the BRI Implementation plan on Chinese terms for coalition unity he has taken the fizz out of the champagne that was to be popped after his visit.

(The writer, a retired Major General, was Commander, IPKF South, Sri Lanka, and founder member of the Defence Planning Staff, currently the Integrated Defence Staff; views are personal)
Achieving the ambitious goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047 demands a decisive overhaul of current economic policies

The world is undergoing rapid political changes. With these geopolitical changes underway, it becomes imperative to relook at the current strategy for economic development to meet the declared target of achieving a developed nation status by 2047. It becomes necessary to realign and readjust the policy points with the changing circumstances. Countries become rich by producing and selling globally valuable and value-added products. Indias share in global trade has to grow rapidly from the present measly 1.8 per cent in goods exports and 2.8 per cent in goods imports. In the service sector too, India needs to enhance its share of delivered services upwards from the present 6 per cent. How will this happen? We need to take quantum measures and hard steps without caring for internal political expediency. Global political scenario may affect the choice of strategic steps but it can have, at best, limited effect if we as a nation are determined, focused and forthright.

Nothing can come in the way if we act united and our government performs its actions without fear or favour. The governments backtracking on the Agriculture and Farm Bills of 2019 was an unfortunate incident. Such incidents should not recur. The government buckled under the fake protests by agro market middlemen masquerading as farmers who created a false show of protests to put spokes in the wheel of the Bills and sabotage them. The government, under fear of bourgeoning vandalism by anti-national elements to prevent the promulgation of Bills, backed by foreign enemy countries capitulated and rolled back the Bills. This should not have happened. The country paid a heavy price for this as agriculture is still the mainstay of Indias economy. If only those important Bills had been passed, we would have witnessed an economic growth rate increase of at least 2 per cent over the existing. Let our government bring back those Bills at the earliest appropriate time to provide a vital booster to our economy. The other important area that needs the urgent attention of the government is the MSME sector which continues to lie stagnant. This sector is the prime driver of employment growth and needs steps to facilitate the establishment of new units and expansion of the existing ones. These steps arebureaucratic reforms to cut red tape and reduce unnecessary regulatory compliances that engender corruption and impede growth. To boost Indigenous manufacturing and increase the share of manufacturing in the national GDP from 16 per cent (almost stagnant since 2015) to upwards of 20 per cent, rebooting the entire Make in India program is needed. The blueprint of this otherwise visionary plan was, alas, not implemented seriously.

Too much dependence on foreign capital and FDI was never forthcoming and efforts should have been made to utilise domestic capital. The central sector and state sector Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) should have taken the initiative in enhancing domestic manufacturing. Also, Make in India should have emphasised Make by India. Bureaucratic reforms, an increase in domestic manufacturing especially by PSUs by increasing import tariffs and further increasing fiscal concessions are some of the steps needed. Good work has been done in the area of defence and space in this context by encouraging and promoting startups.

This should be extended to other sectors of the economy. Value-added manufacturing in agriculture, food, healthcare and education will go a long way in boosting indigenous manufacturing and even exports. It is quite a pity that in spite of the wonderful success of the BJP government in the cleanup of the Banks, its benefit has not percolated to domestic manufacturing. Why out of the 100 smart cities conceived in 2014, only about 20 have seen the light of the day and that too partially? The establishment of special economic zones and specialised product production zones was blueprinted but its implementation has also got stuck in the legislative and bureaucratic quagmires. Bureaucratic reforms, I reiterate, are an emergent necessity. Large imports from China over the last ten years have indeed prevented the growth of MSMEs in the country. Many pre-existing factories faced closure and many manufacturers turned traders. Indias exports to China in 2023-24 were USD 16.65 billion, while imports stood at USD 101.75 billion, leaving a trade deficit of more than USD 85 billion. Efforts were made by the ruling NDA government to contain Chinese imports. But most of the curtailment took place in lower-end consumer goods and less dent could be made in import of industrial goods. Irrespective of government policy, if our countrymen had decided to boycott Chinese goods that can be produced in India, we would have made a huge dent in Chinese imports and facilitated the growth of the domestic manufacturing industry. But this did not happen.

The land acquisition Amendment Bill was presented in Parliament on 10 March 2015 but could not be passed due to opposition by non-BJP lawmakers in the Rajya Sabha where the ruling NDA lacked a clear majority in numbers. The opposition party MPs called the proposed amendments anti-farmer and anti-poor. The proposed amendments sought to remove requirements for approval from farmers to proceed with land acquisition under five broad categories of projects. Its passage continues to hang fire. It is the foundational base of the Make in India program. When will it be passed? Political expediency has been truly the bane of our country and the main impediment to our fast-track economic progress.

In the above context, it would be appropriate to mention that strongly nationalistic citizens can collectively create conditions conducive to the growth of the domestic industry. The economic resurgence of Germany and Japan post World War 2 are case in point. Though the USA lent economic support to these countries, their citizens were patriotically driven to establish their domestic manufacturing base and the countries developed into major industrial and economic powers in a period of barely two decades following their defeat and total devastation in 1945, the end year of the war. Both these countries lay stress on manufacturing, innovation and technology development. Their emphasis was on production and value-added exports. A similar strategy is needed. India has been the worlds major economic power for millennia and in keeping with its inherent potential; it is capable of a long-term economic growth rate of 12 per cent.

For this to happen, the aforesaid steps brook no delay. In the destiny of nations, there are some phases when it becomes necessary to take bold steps in line with progressive principles of economic development rather than get bogged down by over-strategising and political expediency. Our revered political and economic scholar Chanakya had stated that Dharma (righteousness) should take precedence over everything else in governance and even strategy should be aligned with universal divine Dharma. We need to proceed further in our economic journey accordingly.

(The author is a management consultant based in New Delhi; views are personal)
Stand-up comic and actor Vir Das says his maiden hosting stint at the 52nd edition of the International Emmy Awards "went well".

Das, who won an International Emmy last year for his stand-up special "Landing", shared his picture from the red carpet event ahead of the ceremony in New York in an Instagram Story on Monday night.

"It went well @iemmys," he wrote.

After the awards, Das shared a clip on social media from his hosting monologue, in which he referenced the infamous incident from the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony where Hollywood star Will Smith slapped colleague Chris Rock for cracking a joke on his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

"All the major platforms are here tonight and humbly I think next year one of you should really broadcast this show. What do you think?

"Who does Will Smith have to slap tonight for us to get some eyeballs? I'm kidding. We're foreigners, you can't slap foreigners with anything (else) but with sanctions. Sorry, tariffs," the comic can be heard saying in the video.

For the International Emmy Awards, Das wore a monochrome ensemble by Shubhangi Bajpai, a budding designer from Delhi. In September, the actor invited aspiring designers, labels and students to design an outfit for him for the ceremony.

In an Instagram post, Das said he kept his promise and was set to wear a garment by "a brand new designer" for the Emmys.

"As promised, I know nothing about fashion. But she does and she worked super hard. Her name is Shubhangi Bajpai and she is from Delhi. Happy to show you her work soon. Do keep in mind, she doesn't have much to work with here," he wrote.

Bajpai, an NIFT-Delhi graduate of the 2008 batch, was selected out of 4,000 entrants, added Das.

She expressed gratitude to the comic on Instagram, writing: "Got to stitch my favourite and can only say I am grateful to bits for this opportunity @virdas @zazu.Production @shreejarajgopal."
Taking strong exception to attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, India on Tuesday noted with deep concern the arrest, and denial of bail, to Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das there and urged authorities there to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities.

Bangladesh police on Monday arrested Das, the leader of the Hindu group, Sammilita Sanatani Jote, from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area in Dhaka.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it has noted with deep concern the arrest and denial of bail to Das who is also the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote. This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh, it said.

There are several documented cases of arson and looting of minorities homes and business establishments, as well as theft and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples, the MEA flagged.

It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings, the statement said.

The MEA also noted with concern the attacks on minorities protesting peacefully against the arrest of Das. We urge Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression, it added.

Das was reportedly arrested on charges of sedition and his bail application was rejected by the Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate Court. The court, noting that the police did not request Das remand, ordered his transfer to judicial custody.

It also directed that he be granted all religious privileges during his detention. He was arrested on charges of disrespecting the Bangladeshi flag during a rally he addressed in October, according to Bangladeshi media reports.

Hindus in West Bengal have announced plans to protest and block the Petrapole Border if bail is not granted to ISKCONs Chinmoy Das.

Meanwhile, Suvendu Adhikari, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, said the party would hold protests in front of the West Bengal Assembly over the situation in Bangladesh. A torch rally is also planned.

Concerned at the arrest of Swami Chinmoy Krishna Das a senior sadhu of International Society of Krishna Consciousness, Bangladesh the ISKCON has appealed to the Indian Government to take up the issue with the Government on the other side of the border so as to secure the release of the monk at the earliest.

In a strongly worded post on the X the Vaishnava order wrote, We have come across disturbing reports that Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das one of the prominent leaders of Iskcon has been detained by the Dhaka Police... It is outrageous to make baseless allegations that Iskcon has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world. Iskcon inc. urges the Government of India to ... Speak to the Government of Bangladesh and convey that we are a peace-loving Bhakti movement.

The BJP and the Hindu Jagaran Manch in Kolkata also warned of a strong movement if the Iskcon monk was not released immediately. Bengal Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday took out a procession condemning the arrest and said his party would gherao the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission if the Indian Sadhu was not released. All the Sanatanis will descend on the streets and the BJP will lead this movement as the TMC will not act due to its votebank politics... we will gherao the Deputy High Commission and even blockade the Petrapole border, Adhikari posted.
On a day when he continued to put up covert resistance to Bharatiya Janata Partys plans to name its senior leader Devendra Fadnavis as the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde on Tuesday tendered his resignation as the CM, to Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan after the completion of the five term of the outgoing government. However, the Governor asked Shinde to remain as the caretaker CM till the new government assumed office in the State.

Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, both of whom are Deputy CMs in the outgoing government, were present when Shinde tendered his resignation from his post as the CM to the Governor at Raj Bhavan. The Governor has asked the Chief Minister to continue to hold the charge of his post till alternate arrangements are made, a communique from Raj Bhavan said.

There was speculation during the past two days that Shinde, Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar would meet Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah to formalise the nomination of the CM candidate. However, no such meeting has taken place during the last three days. With no intervention by the central BJP leadership, Shinde, Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar stayed put in Mumbai, resulting in the delay in the nomination of a chief ministerial candidate.

Informed sources said that Shinde was yet to come to terms with the reality that the BJPs central leadership preferred Fadnavis over him as the new chief minister of Maharashtra and that he (Shinde) would have no other choice but to accept the decision by the BJPs leadership.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Social Justice Dr. Ramdas Athawale went on record saying that the BJPs central leadership had already conveyed to Shinde that it wanted Fadnavis to be the next chief minister. He advised Shinde to step aside to facilitate Fadnavis take over as the CM... If he (Shinde) does not work under Fadnavis as the deputy chief minister, he should move to the Centre and become a Union Minister, Athawale said.

However, the Shinde Sena leaders, including Deepak Kesarkar, gently rubbished Athawale for interfering in matters between their party and the BJP. In a related development, outgoing State Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar denied the speculation that Shinde was unhappy with the BJPs decision to appoint Fadnavis. Eknath Shinde is not at all unhappy. Nor is the Shinde Sena unhappy. Shinde has already made it clear to the central BJP leaders that he would accept whatever decision to be taken by them in matters relating to the formation of a new government. We are hopeful that the BJPs central leadership will take a favourable decision.

It may be recalled that the BJP-led Mahayuti staged a spectacular comeback in the Maharashtra Assembly polls, by winning 230 seats in the 288-member house. In the polls, the ruling BJP won an astounding 132 seats out of the total 288-member State Assembly, as against 57 seats won by the. Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and 41 seats by the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). On its part, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP has reportedly thrown its weight behind Fadnavis for nomination as the next CM of the State.
The descendants of Rajput ruler Maharana Pratap, who fought against the mighty Mughal emperor Akbar nearly 450 years ago, have now had to deal with a family to complete the rituals of accession to the throne in Udaipur. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Vishvaraj Singh Mewar, was challenged by his uncle Arvind Singh Mewar and his son Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar who allegedly denied him entry to the dhuni (sacred fire) temple in the palace premises and then to Eklingnath Ji temple to finish the ritual.

This led to a heated confrontation on Monday night as tensions flared between two factions of the erstwhile royal family of Mewar, resulting in stone pelting, injuring several persons and a standoff at the historic City Palace.

The clash followed the coronation of BJP MLA Vishvaraj Singh Mewar as the 77th Maharana of Mewar earlier that day at Chittorgarh Fort. On Tuesday, the district administration of Udaipur appointed a receiver to manage a disputed area of the City Palace. The issue stands unresolved. However, the situation is under control, district officials said.

Property dispute is at the core of this entire episode, which apparently has turned into the battle of supremacy. City palace and Eklingnathji temple are under the control of Arvind Singh. A stand-off between Vishvaraj Singh and his cousin Dr Lakshay Raj Singh Mewar followed at the gates of the historic city palace after Vishvaraj Singh Mewar was refused entry into the palace, which is now run by a trust managed by his cousin and uncle Shreeji Arvind Singh Mewar.

The row it sparked escalated as the day progressed. Post-10 pm, the MLAs supporters started throwing stones and attempted to storm the palace gates. Others are retaliating from inside the palace.

Vishvaraj Singh Mewar was anointed as the titular head of the erstwhile royal family after his father Mahendra Singh Mewars death on November 10. However, the ceremony was overshadowed by a long-standing feud between Mahendra Singh, and his estranged younger brother, Arvind Singh. Both are descendants of the Rajput king Maharana Pratap.

In the ceremony, Vishwarajs Tilak was done by the head of erstwhile Salumbar royal family, Devvrat Singh who slashed his finger on a sword and anointed him in blood- a tradition which has been followed for hundreds of years.

Vishvraj and others had plans to go to pay obeisance at the Dhuni in Udaipur city palace and at Eklingnathji temple but both the places are under the control of Arvind Singh. The latter, through his lawyer, reportedly got two public notices published in local newspapers on Monday to warn of legal action on trespassers and those damaging the property.

When Vishvaraj and others reached the city palace, they were denied entry by the local police. Vishvraj waited for several hours at Jagdish Chowk to enter the city palace, but tension escalated in the night when there was stone pelting from both sides. After Dhuni, Vishvaraj was scheduled to go to Eklingnathji temple in Udaipur where he was to be given a Chhadi or stick of silver as a symbol of Deewan of Eklingnathji. However, Vishvaraj Singh, who was waiting in Jagdish Chowk, returned to his residence in Udaipur at 1.30 am Tuesday without visiting the city palace.

Mewars pagari dastur or coronation ceremony was held at the 7th-Century Chittorgarh Fort. Members of erstwhile royal families from across India attended the ceremony marked by a 21-gun salute. What Lakshayraj Singh has done is a blot on the history of Mewar. By not allowing Vishvaraj Singh to pay obeisance at the Dhuni, he has not only hurt the glorious legacy of Mewar but has also disgraced himself, Randheer Singh Bhindar, the head of erstwhile royal family of Bhindar, said.

We asked him that Vishvraj will return after having darshan of the Dhuni and no one will be occupying that place. The Rajput community is furious with him, he said. Bhindar, a former MLA, said that Lakshyaraj might have thought that if Vishvaraj is allowed to enter the City Palace and he completes the ritual then it will be validated that he is the head of the family.

The Mewar family head used to be called Maharana, a title which was abolished by the government of India in 1971. However, in community and social circles, many still regard the head as Maharana. When Mewar was a princely state before integration of Rajasthan, the Maharana used to have 16 Umrao (or ministers), 32 Thikanerdar (Battisa) and several Gol sardars for ruling the state.

District Collector Arvind Poswal said that talks with both the sides have been going on to resolve the issue. Udaipur Police superintendent Yogesh Goyal said Mewar was unable to perform the ritual at the palace due to the dispute.
In a bid to woo the slum voters ahead of the Delhi assembly elections slated to be held next year, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and workers on Tuesday went on a Ratri Pravas Samvaad (night stay dialogue) with the Jhuggi Cluster residents across the city in around 250 listed jhuggi clusters while playing games and interaction about their problems.

This overnight stay programme of leaders in jhughis is a part of the ongoing Delhi BJP campaign called Jhuggi Vistar Abhiyan under which the party has appointed jhuggi vistarks and jhuggi palaks.

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva went on an overnight stay at Nehru Camp of Vinod Nagar in Patpadganj Assembly area of East Delhi. Talking to the media, Sachdeva said, It seems former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has lost his political mental balance fearing defeat and therefore giving irrelevant political statements.

He added that till couple of years back the jhuggi clusters were Kejriwal's political stronghold but both in 2022 MCD Polls and in 2024 Loksabha Polls, the ruling party lost most the wards and assembly areas dominated by jhuggi residents which has given a big political setback to Kejriwal.

He condemned Arvind Kejriwal for saying that BJP leaders are on political tourism in jhuggis for election and said, Kejriwal who just got bail should check about how long BJP leaders have been engaged with jhuggi dwellers - Manoj Tiwari did first Ratri Pravas in Inderpuri jhuggi cluster on 31st December 2016 and kept repeating his ratri pravas series during his tenure in different areas of Delhi.

While their overnight stay, Sachdeva and other leaders had a dialogue with jhuggi cluster heads and other citizens to resolve basic issues and thereafter went door to door discussing local problems and their suggestions especially with the jhuggi dweller women.

Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra, who visited Kalandar Colony in Shahdara, said, Jhuggi dwellers in Delhi very well remember that during covid phase it was BJP workers who stood by them when AAP MLAs went missing and they will give maximum jhuggi cluster dominated seats to BJP in Assembly 2025 Polls.

Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta went to Kheda Colony, Northeast MP Manoj Tiwari went to Indira Vikas Basti, South Delhi BJP MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri went to Gola Kuan Camp, Northwest Delhi BJP MP Yogendra Chandolia went to Bawana Ward 30, West Delhi BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat went to Goela Diary Camp, Chandni Chowk BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal went to Sewa Bast Lawrence Road and New Delhi BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj went to Ravi Das Camp at R.K. Puram.

The BJP leaders assured the slum dwellers that come what may BJP will stand by them and ensure that all jhuggi clusters remain where they are. BJP once in Delhi Government will make DUSIB provide best civic services to jhuggi residents and fight for the cause of jhuggi residents, the BJP leader said.

As the elections are coming closer, the BJP is trying to attract the voters of slums, who are conventionally Congress and AAPs vote banks. Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri informed the Lok Sabha in February in 2022 that Delhi has 675 listed and 82 unlisted jhuggi jhopdi bastis on the land of various government agencies, including Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB).

Officially, there are about 750 big and small slums in Delhi, which have at least 350,000 families (3.5 lakhs) including 20 lakhs people living in them.
A day after the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) election results were declared, the Delhi University (DU) on Tuesday cancelled the election of two central councilors for violating codes after they took out a procession in large vehicles and waving pamphlets in the air.

This comes on the recommendations of the Delhi High Court and the Linghdoh Committee. The university came down heavily on the elected student leaders for violating codes even as the election results were halted for about two months.

Originally, the DUSU results were scheduled to be announced on September 28, a day after the elections took place. However, it was delayed due to a Delhi High Court order which had stalled the declaration of results until the defacement caused during the election campaign was cleaned.

The principal of Kirori Mal College, under DU, took action against both students elected central councillors. The order issued by Professor Dinesh Khattar, said both these posts have been vacated. Khattar has cancelled the election of Chirag and Gurdeep Chawri, both pursuing BA in the first year citing the recommendation of the Lingdoh Committee. They contested the elections with support from BJP's students wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishads (ABVP).

After winning, supporters of the duo celebrated by taking out a procession in big vehicles and throwing pamphlets in the air. This attracted the High Court's ire which came down heavily on the duo for dirtying the campus, which led to a delay of two months for the counting of votes which finally happened on November 24 for 47 colleges and five departments. The voting was held on September 27, 2024.

DU vice-chancellor Prof Yogesh Singh shared his displeasure over the magnanimous celebrations post declarations of results following the decision to cancel the winners. Earlier, the DU had asked all candidates contesting the students' union elections to sign an affidavit pledging to refrain from using dhols, loudspeakers, firecrackers or pamphlets, both in open and closed premises, after the declaration of results.

The affidavit read, That I shall not use or allow my supporters the use of Dhols, Loudspeakers, Firecrackers and Pamphlets in the open or closed premises of College/Department/Institution/Centre after the declaration of results.

It also prohibited candidates from organising roadshows or rallies to celebrate their victory. According to the affidavit, failure to comply with these conditions can result in the cancellation of a candidate's victory or removal from their elected post.
Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday said India has emerged as a vibrant democracy and a geopolitical leader, and the Constitution of the country has helped in this transformation.

India has had a transformative journey from a nation, which under the aftermath and horrors of partition saw widespread illiteracy, poverty, lack of robust democratic system of checks and balances, to one which has now become a self-assured leader, the CJI said.

"But at the back of it is the Constitution of India, which has helped this transformation. It is today a way of life that has to be lived up to," Justice Khanna said, while speaking at the Constitution Day function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) at the apex court.

Since 2015, November 26 is observed as Constitution Day to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India by the Constituent Assembly in 1949. Earlier, the day was observed as Law Day.

Attorney General R Venkataramani, SCBA president and senior advocate Kapil Sibal also addressed the gathering.

In his address, Justice Khanna highlighted the importance and contribution of the Bar and said, "We often refer to the judiciary as persons in robes, that is, the judges, but judiciary equally represents the Bar".

"I cannot visualise the judiciary where the members of the Bar are not a part and parcel of it. You are as much part of the judiciary as the judges," he said.

The CJI said he was a member of the Bar from 1983 to 2005, when he got elevated as a judge, and his tenure as a member of the Bar is longer than his tenure as a judge.

"Judges come from the Bar and go back to the Bar. We belong to the Bar. The better the Bar, the better the judges," he said.

Justice Khanna said the Supreme Court has had a very strong and good legacy and there are decisions right from environmental law, privacy laws, fundamental rights to the basic structure doctrine.

"Many of these decisions, I do not think would have been possible without the contribution and efforts of the member of the Bar," he said.

Justice Khanna said since he has taken over as the CJI, he has made various attempts to look into the issues and problems faced by Bar members.

He referred to the steps taken, including setting up notice boards outside the courtrooms where physical cause list is shown and improving the Wi-Fi services in the top court.

"I have one request to make and I hope it will be taken in the right spirit. I have been repeatedly getting requests for re-circulation of letters of adjournment. I have looked into the data," Justice Khanna said while pointing out that the data showed there were about 9,000 to 10,000 applications or letters for adjournments being circulated every three months.

"So, it is not going to be possible for us to go back to the earlier system. Whatever system we have now adopted, we can, if you come up with some suggestions for improvements, look into it, but going back to the earlier system may be counter-productive," he said.

The CJI said the apex court received about 1,400 applications in the new system in the last 11 months.

"You can see the difference. From 100 applications a day to about 150 applications a month. That's a huge change and let us, therefore, go with the right spirit," he said.

Justice Khanna said today is the day to introspect, to look into and assess the strong points and weaknesses.

"As the Attorney General has rightly pointed out, it is a day when we look at the scorecard. We don't think the scorecard is blank. We have good scores but there are issues which we have to tackle. And let us unifiedly tackle those issues with the members of the Bar and the judiciary both contributing to this...," he said.
The AAP has emerged stronger due to its "honesty and love of the people", party supremo Arvind Kejriwal said on the foundation day of the party on Tuesday, asserting the fight to save the Constitution and democracy will continue.

Addressing an event at the party headquarters here, Kejriwal, who is the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), highlighted that the party's foundation day coincides with the Constitution Day.

"It cannot be a coincidence that our party was born on Constitution Day. God knew the Constitution was going to be in danger," Kejriwal said, lauding the AAP's governance model, which he said was rooted in honesty and focused on the common man.

"The biggest achievement of the AAP is that we gave an honest model of governance. We provided basic facilities like education and health to the people while enhancing Delhi's infrastructure, he said.

Criticising opposition parties, Kejriwal warned against "Jhuggi tourism" being done by their leaders.

Some leaders come to slums for show but later send bulldozers to destroy the homes there. People must be cautious of such hypocrisy, he said.

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi also addressed the gathering, highlighting AAP's emphasis on "development-orientated" politics.

Our party showed in 2020 that elections can be won based on development work and honest governance, she said.

She pointed to the transformation of Delhi's government schools as a benchmark for progress.

Before 2015, there was talk of shutting down government schools. Today, our work has inspired states across India to improve their education systems. This is the Delhi model, she said.

Earlier in the day, Kejriwal in a post on X, said the common man found its strength with the founding of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) 12 years ago.

He said the journey so far was filled with the stories of struggle, sacrifice and victory.

"In the last year lakhs of attempts were made to finish us but our honesty, love of the people and morale of the workers made us stronger. We stand stronger than before against injustice and dictatorship", Kejriwal said in a post in Hindi.

The fight of the AAP to save the Constitution and democracy will go on, he said.

He called upon the party leaders and workers to resolve to work for the betterment of the country.

AAP leaders have emphasised their commitment to grassroots development intending to secure a third consecutive term in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections.

The party had registered a landslide victory in the 2020 polls, securing 62 of the 70 Assembly seats.
The Delhi High Court has stayed clean energy agency SECI's decision to bar Anil Ambani group firm Reliance Power Ltd from participating in auctions for three years, the company said on Tuesday.

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) had earlier this month barred Reliance Power and its units from participating in auctions for three years over allegations of submitting a fake bank guarantee to support its bid for a recent battery storage tender.

"High Court of Delhi, in its hearing held today, has granted stay on notice of debarment and public notice issued by SECI against the company, including all its subsidiaries except Reliance NU BESS Limited (formerly known as Maharashtra Energy Generation Limited)," the firm said in a stock exchange filing.

Reliance NU BESS had submitted a bank guarantee purportedly issued by the FirstRand Bank through its branch supposed to be located in Manila City, Manila, the Philippines.

Upon detailed investigation, it was confirmed by the Indian branch of the above Bank that there does not exist any such branch of the bank in the Philippines, prompting SECI to conclude that the BG submitted was a fake document.

On November 6, SECI announced debarring Reliance Power and Reliance NU BESS from participating in SECI tenders for three years for submitting "fake documents".

Reliance Power said it had challenged the notice of debarment by SECI in the Delhi High Court.
The Narendra Modi government's "zero-tolerance" policy against terrorism has been appreciated by the entire world and India has become a world leader in anti-terror initiatives, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday as he paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the Mumbai terror attack.

Shah said cowardly terrorists shamed humanity by killing innocent people in Mumbai on this day in 2008.

"I pay my emotional tribute to the soldiers who attained martyrdom while fighting terrorists in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and pay homage to those who lost their lives," he said in a post on X in Hindi with the hashtag #MumbaiTerrorAttack.

Terrorism is a blot on the entire human civilisation and the Modi government's "zero-tolerance" policy against terrorism has been appreciated by the entire world. Today, India has become a world leader in anti-terror initiatives, the home minister said.

Ten terrorists from Pakistan carried out the worst-ever terror attack in India on November 26, 2008, in Mumbai that left 166 people dead.
Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday paid floral tributes to the martyrs who made the ultimate sacrifice while fighting terrorists during the Mumbai terror attack in 2008.

Deputy chief ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar also paid tributes at the martyrs' memorial in the premises of the Police Commissioner Office in south Mumbai, where senior police officials were also present.

Family members of the policemen, who lost their lives during the November 2008 attacks, also paid tributes to the martyrs.

As many as 166 people lost their lives and over 300 were injured after 10 terrorists from Pakistan launched simultaneous attacks in several parts of Mumbai on November 26, 2008.

Ten armed militants from the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) entered the city via the sea and carried out a series of coordinated attacks across multiple high-profile locations, including the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, CST Railway Station, and Nariman House.

The attacks prompted global condemnation and led to significant changes in India's counter-terrorism measures.
A DHL cargo plane crashed on approach to an airport in Lithuanias capital and skidded into a house Monday morning, killing a Spanish crew member but not harming anyone on the ground. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

A surveillance video showed the plane descending normally as it approached the airport before sunrise, and then exploding into a huge ball of fire behind a building. The moment of impact could not be seen in the video.

The crash occurred at a time that Western security officials suspect that Russian intelligence is carrying out sabotage against their nations in retaliation for their support for Ukraine  including arson attacks, disinformation and by putting incendiary devices in packages on cargo planes. In July one caught fire at a courier hub in Germany and another ignited in a warehouse in England. Polish prosecutors said last month that parcels with camouflaged explosives were sent via cargo companies to EU countries and Britain to test the transfer channel for such parcels that were ultimately destined for the US and Canada. Lithuanian officials acknowledged that one line of inquiry will be whether Russia played a role given its suspected involvement in other cases of sabotage  although they stressed that there is no evidence pointing to that yet. Without a doubt, we cannot rule out the terrorism version, said Darius Jauniskis, chief of Lithuanian intelligence.

We see Russia becoming more aggressive, he said. But for now, we really cannot make any attributions or point fingers at anyone, because there is no information about it.

The Lithuanian airport authority identified the aircraft as a DHL cargo plane arriving from Leipzig, Germany, a major freight hub, and one of the injured was a German citizen.

The German transportation ministry said that experts from the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation would be sent to Lithuania to help with the investigation. Officials there also cautioned against trying to draw conclusions before all the evidence has been examined.

No statements can yet be made about the cause of the accident. Whether it was an accident or whether another cause led to the crash of the cargo plane is the subject of the current investigation, German Interior Ministry spokesperson Mehmet Atta said at a briefing in Berlin.

The head of Lithuanias firefighting service said that the plane skidded a few hundred meters (yards), and photos showed smoke rising from a damaged structure in an area of barren trees.

Thankfully, despite the crash occurring in a residential area, no lives have been lost among the local population, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said after meeting with rescue officials.

Rescue workers sealed off the area, and fragments of the plane in DHLs trademark yellow could be seen amid wreckage scattered across the crash site.

The cargo aircraft was carrying four people when it crashed at 5:30 a.m. local time. One person, a Spanish citizen, was declared dead and the other three crew members  who were Spanish, German and Lithuanian citizens  were injured, said Ramunas Matonis, the head of communications for Lithuanian police, in an email.

The DHL aircraft was operated by Swiftair, a Madrid-based contractor. DHL said in an emailed comment that the plane made a forced landing about a kilometer (half a miles) from the Vilnius airport, adding: The cause of the accident is still unknown and an investigation is already underway. Swiftair did not comment.

Residential infrastructure around the house was on fire, and the house was slightly damaged, but we managed to evacuate people, said Renatas Pozela, chief of the Fire and Rescue Department.

One eyewitness, who gave her name only as Svaja, ran to a window when a light as bright as a red sun filled her room and she heard an explosion, followed by flashes and black smoke.

I saw a fireball, she said. My first thought is that a world (war) has begun and its time to grab the documents and run somewhere to a shelter, to a basement.

Laurynas Kasciunas, the Lithuanian defense minister, said there were definitely no external factors that could have damaged the plane.

We can clearly see that, Kasciunas said. However, to find out what happened inside the plane, it will be necessary to interview the surviving crew members. And of course, the black box. That will take some time.

Flight-tracking data from FlightRadar24, analyzed by the AP, showed the aircraft made a turn to the north of the airport, lining up for landing, before crashing a little more than 1.5 kilometres short of the runway.

Weather at the airport was around freezing at the time of the crash, with clouds before sunrise and winds around 30 kph.

The Boeing 737 was 31 years old, which is considered by experts to be an older airframe, though thats not unusual for cargo flights.

The prime minister cautioned against speculation, saying investigators needed time to do their job.

The responsible agencies are working diligently, Simonyte said. I urge everyone to have confidence in the investigating authorities ability to conduct a thorough and professional investigation within an optimal timeframe. Only these investigations will uncover the true causes of the incident  speculation and guesswork will not help establish the truth. (AP)
Last Wednesday night (November 13), the ballroom at the Halifax Convention Centre was lit up  with decorative green and yellow lights, with enthusiasm for renewable energy, with a vision for a greener future. The occasion was the Halifax Chamber of Commerces annual fall dinner, with nearly 500 members of the citys business community in attendance. Over dinner, they heard a suite of talks about Halifax-based efforts to deliver clean energy locally, nationally, and globally. And Dalhousie was centre stage.

Nova Scotias clean energy plan is committed to reaching 80 per cent renewables by 2030, and were not going to get there on imported solutions alone  the work starts here, said Eniko Zsoldos, a PhD candidate in the lab of Dalhousie battery researcher Dr. Jeff Dahn and one of the two co-hosts for the evening.



Charged and ready to go

Dr. Dahn, NSERC/Tesla Canada Industrial Research Chair, was one of the events speakers. A leading pioneer in lithium-ion battery technology, his lab is world-renowned for its work to develop batteries for electric cars and grid storage that are cheaper, safer, faster charging, and longer lasting. Read also: Longlasting impact: Battery research icon earns top international award (June 2023) He discussed his longstanding partnership with Tesla (recently renewed until 2031), the continued testing of the so-called million mile battery, and the opportunities in V2G  vehicle-to-grid. Dr. Jeff Dahn

If you have a battery strong enough that you cannot wear it out in a vehicle, you can use it for other purposes, he explained. When the vehicle is plugged in, it can store energy from the sun or the wind and deliver it back to the grid when those are not available. Dr. Dahn also shared with attedees a quick look at the forthcoming Dal-based Canadian Battery Innovation Centre, a new $20-million facility announced earlier this year with funding from the National Reserach Council, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, ACOA, Emera Inc., Tesla and other partners and expected to open in 2026. Chamber Dinner guests watch Dr. Dahn's presentation.

Read more: Powering up: FirstinCanada battery innovation centre to provide critically needed facility for research and industrial development (March 2024) Any startup across the country or any university lab can come and use this lab It will be right at Dalhousie University and open for business.

Growing industrial success in Nova Scotia

The event featured two industry speakers highlighting just some of whats happening in Nova Scotian clean energy: Dr. Chris Burns of Novonix Ltd. and Matt Borys of Everwind. Dr. Burns, a Dalhousie PhD graduate, co-founded Novonix in 2013 building off of the work he had done in Dr. Dahns lab. While still based in Halifax, the company now also has an extensive facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee as it manufactures ultra-high precision charger systems for battery research and manufacturing labs globally. Read also: Spotlight  Chris Burns (Dal Magazine, FW'22)

The biggest battery companies in the world, and they do work here in Nova Scotia, said Dr. Burns, who talked about his companys development in relation to the basic science at its core. Dr. Chris Burns

Its all been about developing IP and patents for work that all stems back to the need to continue to invest in research and development," he said. "And that's why I've been so excited to see Jeff's lab continue to grow over time, and to have more people enter our industry  students and postdocs to tackle new problems that we're going to continue to face as we grow the industry." Matt Borys is vice-president of corporate development at EverWind, North Americas leading independent green hydrogen developer. While hydrogen fuel is often used in a wide variety of large-scale industrial processes, it requires CO 2 to separate hydrogen from oxygen. In contrast, green hydrogen uses a process called electrolysis to achieve this without fossil fuels. Matt Borys

"What's interesting, what's new and revolutionary is the process and being able to do that process in commercial scale," said Borys, who argued Nova Scotia is ideally positioned to be a global player in green hydrogen for a variety of reasons, including its strong natural resources (particularly in wind power), its promity to Europe ("the spark plug of the industry") and, perhaps most of all, its people. "You need a lot of people and a lot of smart people rowing in the same direction. It's great to have the ecosystem we have with Dalhousie, the schools, universities and the technical expertise that often gets underappreciated  the same skill set we've been shipping off to Alberta to work in oil and gas, those are the folks that we can bring back home and that we can use here."

Supporting a green energy ecosystem

Dalhousie has a number of connections to the emerging green hydrogen industry, from a collaboration between Dr. Michael Pegg's lab and the Nova Scotia-based Eastward Energy to a two-year National Research Council project, co-led by Drs. Mita Dasog and Michael Freund that is poised to enhance the region's green hydrogen foundations by studying affordable catalysts for production. "For every new sector built around an innovation, there's almost always a university attached," said Dr. Alice Aiken, Dalhousie's vice-president research and innovation. "There's a reason for this: universities are part of an ecosystem designed to ensure research discoveries benefit society.

Dr. Alice Aiken

Dr. Aiken's speech tied together many of the evening's themes, exploring the wide-ranging connections involved in transforming research discoveries into real-world applications  and illumating how many of those connections can be traced back to universities like Dalhousie. "We're home to leading edge research, an innovation ecosystem with a successful track record of promoting commercialization, highly specialized talent from around the world, and a long history of partnering with industry to fuel enterprises," she said. The event appeared to leave the capacity crowd energized with a sense of possibility and potential for what green energy could mean for Nova Scotia's future  summed up well by co-host Dr. Sarah Martell, a Mitacs postdoctoral researcher who has worked with Dr. Dasog's lab.

"This is a place that has built ships, dug coal, cultivated forests  and now were taking the lead in figuring out how to fuel a better life for everyone... Whether youre already connected into the green energy industry or not, this is an emerging economy where theres space for everyone to get involved."
With more of the world participating in nationwide votes than any previous year in history, 2024 has been dubbed the year of elections.

And what a year it has been. Incumbents around the world have been unseated in often dramatic fashion. But the outcome of one election in particular, the U.S. presidential election, has prompted more discussion than most.

This years annual Stanfield Conversation at Dalhousie centred around the U.S. election and democracy's global fate. The conversation, held Wednesday (Nov.20), aimed to address the question on everyones mind: What does Donald Trumps re-election as president mean for the trajectory of democratic processes worldwide?

Hosted annually by Dals Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Department of Political Science with support from CBC, the Stanfield Conversations: Talking Democracy series presents timely public panel discussions on the state of global democracy.

Piya Chattopadhyay, host of CBCs The Sunday Magazine, and guest moderator of this years conversation, posed questions about the U.S. election outcome and the increasingly widespread erosion of democratic values and institutions globally to a panel comprised of two of Canadas brightest minds in political science and journalism:

Doug Saunders, Globe and Mail international affairs columnist





Dr. Debra Thompson, Canada Research Chair in Racial Inequality in Democratic Societies and Associate Professor of Political Science at McGill University

Here are five major takeaways from the conversation. You can watch the full event at the bottom of this article.

Democratic backsliding



To begin the conversation, Saunders introduced the concept of democratic backsliding  a process that typically starts with a candidate or party winning an election and then manipulating and shutting down democratic institutions, stacking courts, altering constitutions, disenfranchising opposition parties, disempowering media outlets, and rejecting election results.

He attributes this set of strategies to what the U.S. experienced under President-elect Trump's first term, and what they could potentially face during his next.



Doug Saunders.

The turn away from democracy is not driven by citizens or voters who have been failed by liberal democracy, said Saunders. Rather it is driven by parties and leaders who take advantage of the chaos and vulnerability of voters.

"Democracy erodes from the top, not from the bottom up. It will win again when we stop tolerating anti-democratic forces, he says.

Is democracy at risk in the U.S.?



As President-Elect Trump prepares to take office in January 2025, Dr. Thompson explained how his second term could be significantly different than his last.

She outlined three initiatives President-Elect Trump will prioritize during his term: mass deportations, the implementation of tariffs, and a newly formed department of government efficiency. She emphasized that all will carry huge ramifications for domestic governance.

The types of mechanisms we relied on in 2016 to keep Donald Trump in check just arent there anymore and that is very concerning, she said.



Dr. Debra Thompson.

She points to his recent proposed cabinet picks, noting that he is not constrained in the way that his inner circle in 2016 worked to temper his worst impulses.

Despite these challenges, Dr. Thompson remains optimistic. We have done impossible things before in the service of progressive ends and social justice, and we will continue to do that, she said.

Will Canada experience democratic backsliding?



Chattopadhyay brought the conversation home when she asked the panelists: Where does Canada fit into this puzzle?

While Dr. Thompson believes it is a bad time for incumbent politicians such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, she does not think Canada is at risk for democratic backsliding.

She described the voting tendencies of Canadians as akin to a pendulum that swings from one party to another and that the electorate routinely votes out incumbent parties after a period of ten years.

The idea that one party can control the federal legislature for a long period of time, Thompson says, that's not an anti-democratic impulse, I think that's a democratic impulse.

She adds that while the door for debates on topics such as reproductive rights or same-sex marriage remains open in the U.S., especially with Trumps power to overrule, in Canada, these questions are no longer on the table to be attacked.

Canadas involvement in international collaboration to support democracy



During the first Trump term, the U.S. pulled out of several major international agreements  the Paris Climate Agreement, military alliances, and a negotiated preventing Irans development of nuclear weapons.

"We need to be uniting with other functional democracies to prevent the U.S. under Trump from coming down on us like a ton of bricks, said Saunders.

In the next 11 months, Canada and Germany will enter election periods. Saunders suggested it would be helpful if domestic leadership uncertainty was resolved prior to international negotiations.

If our trade relations are destroyed in the midst of an election, it's not going to be good. We dont want to be fighting each other when its all coming down on us.

Saunders remains optimistic that European countries will unite in the absence of U.S. trade, climate action, and military defense. There are ways that the functioning democracies of the world, including Canada can come together to face the international challenge of the threat to the democratic order he said.

What now? What next?



To Chattopadhyays question, What else can we do to shore up democracies' crumbling foundations? Saunders said citizens need to be educated about the consequences of their vote.

People today don't really believe that the government does much in their lives or is important, he said. They don't notice how much [is] dependent on things done in government.

During this challenging period in politics, Dr. Thompson said, I am hopeful that we will find ways to resist, to build solidarity, to keep going as we always have.
Chinese vice premier calls for enhanced cooperation with Luxembourg

Xinhua) 08:59, November 26, 2024

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

BEIJING, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang met with Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel in Beijing on Monday.

Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that China and Luxembourg represent a fine example of harmonious coexistence and win-win cooperation between big and small countries. He said that under the strategic guidance of their leaders, the two countries have maintained sound momentum in the development of bilateral ties and achieved fruitful outcomes in cooperation on multiple fronts.

China is ready to continue being a good friend that offers mutual support, and a good partner in seeking common development, he said. It is willing to deepen cooperation constantly in such fields as the Air Silk Road, industrial and supply chains, scientific and technological innovation, and green transformation, and it stands ready to work together to oppose protectionism, aiming to share the opportunities and dividends of open cooperation, he added.

Bettel said that Luxembourg is committed to extending cooperation frontiers with China constantly, and to enhancing cooperation in such fields as finance, logistics and new energy. The country is willing to play a positive role in promoting Europe-China cooperation, he added.

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Two teenage girls from County Derry are quickly making a name for themselves on the local modelling scene.

Cara Donnelly, from Desertmartin, and Hannah Rose McDaid, from Ballinascreen, both students of the Northern Ireland School of Modelling, led by Ann Connor, had success at the recent Miss International 2024 competition.

Cara (16) was crowned the winner of the prestigious modelling competition, held in Belfast's Clayton Hotel on November 17.

Meanwhile, Hannah Rose (17) was presented with the Miss Fashionista title and and was also placed first runner-up in her category.

Both girls only joined the modelling agency earlier this year and are already making waves in the industry.

ABOVE: THE GIRLS PICTURED BEFORE THE COMPETITION.

Cara, a sixth form student at St Pius X College in Magherafelt, got her first taste of modelling at a fashion show organised by her former school, St Colm's in Draperstown.

Despite being nervous before taking to the catwalk, the former cheerleader said she fell in love it and couldn't wait to experience more.

While searching for a formal dress in 2023, Cara paid a visit to 'She's Fabulous' boutique in Garvagh where she found her perfect dress. Cara, who works part time at iMed Healthcare in Draperstown and Splash NI in Moneymore, was delighted when 'She's Fabulous' owner Kathryn asked her if she would model some of her dresses in a photoshoot.

In May this year, Cara applied to become a student of the Northern Ireland School of Modelling.

I couldn't believe my luck when I got accepted and began a six week intense training programme. We learned so many new skills during this time and I learned a lot, especially catwalk skills, posture, discipline and tips and tricks to calm the nerves. Ann Connor's daughter was brilliant at learning us how to be at ease on the catwalk and how to hold ourselves. The group of girls I have trained with are and will be lifelong friends. Everyone supports each other and encourages each other, Cara said.

Since joining the agency, Cara has taken part in photoshoots in Ballycastle and Lloret De Mar in Spain, where she spent four days modelling on the beach and at various landmarks.

Cara returned home craving more and was delighted to be accepted as a finalist in the Miss International 2024 competition.

We had to take to the catwalk first in formal wear, again 'She's fabulous' kitted me out in the most beautiful gown, and my partywear for the second part of the competition was very kindly given to me by a friend. I even got to model DV8 clothes on the night as well, she said.

ABOVE: CARA PICTURED ON THE CATWALK.

The night itself was an unreal experience, wearing beautiful clothes  it was an experience you only dream of. Standing waiting to go on was the part where the nerves got me the most, that and of course waiting on the results. Though thanks to one of our mentors, Steph, I didn't fall to pieces.

Cara said she couldn't believe it when the judges crowned her the winner of the competition.

Getting placed first was something I never thought for one minute would happen and I am still so shocked but so happy to have my beautiful crown, sash and a free trip to Spain next year, all thanks to the Northern Ireland School of Modelling, she added.

Cara's proud mum Donna has nothing but praise for the modelling agency her daughter has joined.

From a young age, like every other girl, Cara loved all things fashion, make-up and loved cheerleading. As Cara said before, she got her first taste of modelling when Kathryn from 'She's Fabulous Formal Wear' gave her the opportunity to model dresses for her, said Donna.

When she asked to apply to model for Northern Ireland School of Modelling, I initially had reservations because of the horror stories you read about trolls online, body shaming and girls not eating to become models. However, these fears could not be further from the truth. I was instantly put at ease and told that this was not ever going to be the case and that the girls are always encouraged and praised, not frowned upon, and told to change this or that. A child's happiness is what every parent strives for and I can hand on heart say Cara is very thankful and happy to be part of this great agency. Dreams do come true thanks to Ann Connor and her team.

Beauty Therapy student Hannah Rose, who turns 18 in January, said she first came across the Northern Ireland School of Modelling while browsing Instagram and was signed up earlier this year.

Last weekend's competition was the second that she has entered and had success in.

I had my first experience on the catwalk in March this year taking part in the Miss Winter Wonderland competition. I was crowned Miss Photogenic and then came second runner-up in my category. In October this year I also travelled with the modelling school to Lloret De Mar in Spain for a fashion shoot, said the NRC student, who works part-time in her mum's catering business.

As I attend the modelling school I had the opportunity to enter the Miss International competition. The competition involved two parts, the first was party wear and the second was formal wear. We then took part in a fashion show showcasing clothes from DV8.

I got on really well in the competition. I was crowned Miss Fashionist and then I placed first runner-up in my category.

ABOVE: HANNAH ROSE PICTURED AFTER BEING CROWNED MISS FASHIONISTA.

I really enjoyed it from start to finish. I met some really great girls and lifelong friends. We have had some great times from March up until now  from my first competition, training school and the best trip to Spain  great fun was had and great memories made.

Hannah Rose, who plans to pursue a career in the beauty industry but wants to continue to model, added: I want to thank Ann, Steph, Meghan and Colleen from the modelling school for all their help, training and pep talks. It has been the best experience.

Hannah Rose's proud mum Siobhan said the experience has really helped to build her daughter's confidence.

I was really excited for Hannah Rose to take part and I was very proud of her to have the courage to get up and model in front of others, said Siobhan.

It has really helped to build her confidence which will help to develop other areas of her life as she gets older.

I am very proud of what she has achieved so far and can't wait to see what the future holds for her.
As part of Peace Summit 2024, the John and Pat Hume Foundation, with the support of the International Fund for Ireland, is organising an event to 'Recognise The Quiet Peacebuilders' this afternoon in the Guildhall.

John & Pat Hume Foundation Foundation Secretary, Tim Attwood said: "The John and Pat Hume Foundation and the Peace Summit Partners wanted to recognise the Quiet Peacebuilders, who during the Troubles and today, quietly and courageously promoted peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and on cross border."



Mr Attwood added: The BBCs Fergal Keane once said Blessed are the peacemakers who were there from the start. We owe a debt of gratitude to the men and women who in their streets and communities, in NI and on a cross border basis, promoted peace and reconciliation in the darkest days of the violence and continue to show exemplar leadership today.



Paddy Harte, IFI Chair said: The International Fund for Ireland is proud to support this important event which acknowledges quiet peacebuilders.

"These individuals have been instrumental in delivering the relative peace that we all take for granted today. They are the real heroes of the Peace Process and continue to deliver positive leadership and community transformation every day.



Speakers at today's event, include: Mayor of Derry Lillian Seenoi Barr, Paddy Harte, Chair IFI and Daphne Trimble.



There will be a conversation with several of the Quiet Peacebuilders on the day.
A 17-year-old youth has been told that 'his days of thumbing his nose at the court will soon be over' as he is due to turn 18 next month.

The youth appeared at Derry Magistrate's Court charged with breaching his bail on November 26.

A police officer told the court that the youth had breached his curfew and couldn't be located for a number of hours.

District Judge Barney McElholm was told that the youth would be turning 18 in December.

He said that he was obliged by what he described as 'ludicrous' legislation to grant the youth bail.

But he warned him 'from there on in he will be 18 and the rules will change'.

The youth will appear again on December 3.
A man who was facing two counts of fraud by false representation has had his charges dismissed at Derry Magistrate's Court.

Paul Morrow (37) of St Jude's Parade in Belfast was charged with the offences that were alleged to have occurred on March 14 2021.

The court heard that the man used a card in a Strand Road off-licence to buy drink and get cashback on two occasions.

Subsequently the transactions did not go through.

Defence counsel for Morrow, Damien Halleron, said that the man had presented his card and tapped it something most of us do every day with no issue.

District Judge Barney McElholm said that there was no evidence that the card was stolen or that Morrow knew there was no money in the account .

He said there would have to be a dismissal in the case as there was 'simply no evidence '.
Police are to increase patrols in retail areas over the festive period.

Launching its annual Christmas operation, a senior PSNI officer also urged the public to be aware of crime prevention measures.

There will be increased police visibility throughout December in main shopping areas in town and city centres, night-life hospitality hotspots and major car parking facilities.

Chief Superintendent Stephen Murray, lead for operation seasons greetings, said: The enhanced action will contribute towards tackling criminality through greater engagement with local communities, businesses and strategic associates.

For the month of December, our focus will be on public safety across a range of priorities including roads, shopping destinations, nightlife and public spaces, public transport and violence against women and girls to ensure your overall safety when out and about.

We will also be encouraging the public to adopt simple crime prevention measures regarding personal property and home safety, particularly those who plan to travel away over the festive period.

Today weve launched our Christmas policing operation which aims to keep people safe over the festive season. Read more at https://t.co/FvRFcP9Hze#OpSeasonsGreetings pic.twitter.com/AeB2qdr7kR  Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) November 26, 2024

Mr Murray added: In the past we have seen an increase in domestic abuse incidents over the Christmas period and we want all victims to know that we are here for them no matter the time of day.

If you need police assistance, please call us on 101 or report online. Always call 999 in an emergency. We will take active steps to support all victims of domestic abuse.

The PSNI is partnering with Retail NI and Translink for the operation.
A further totally shocking problem with Belfasts troubled new maternity hospital building has been uncovered, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said.

The Department of Health confirmed that his comments related to a medical gas pipework issue discovered at the hospital, which has faced a number of delays.

A spokesperson said the problem is believed to be limited to an isolated area of the building but added the minister was deeply dissatisfied by the latest revelation.

It followed the revelation from a DUP MLA that a potentially dangerous bacteria had been found in 459 water outlets in the maternity hospital.

The figure was revealed by Diane Dodds as she launched a debate calling for an independent inquiry into delays to the flagship maternity and childrens hospital project.

It was revealed earlier this year that the opening of the hospital was facing a new delay after high levels of the bacteria pseudomonas were found in water systems.

The hospital had been expected to open next year when the Belfast Trust took possession of the new building in March.

However, during testing of its water systems, high levels of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PsA) were discovered, leading the trust to say the project was facing a significant new delay.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is found widely in soil and stagnant water.

It does not usually cause illness in healthy people but can pose a serious threat to people with weak immune systems.

Responding to the motion at the Stormont Assembly calling for an independent inquiry, Mr Nesbitt said: When I went to bed last night I was not in favour of that, not least because the cost and time associated with a further independent inquiry could be in the order of 3 million per annum with a significant time impact and no guarantee of improvement and it could potentially stymie progress.

However, as of eight oclock this morning I have become aware of another issue.

I know Mrs Dodds is very well informed on these issues so I challenge her, I give her 24 hours to discover what the latest problem is with the maternity hospital.

It is another shocking, another totally shocking revelation.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said: The minister was today informed of a separate medical gas pipework issue within the new maternity hospital building.

The scale of this further problem is believed to be limited to an isolated section of the maternity hospital.

The minister was deeply dissatisfied with the emergence of this further issue, and by the fact he only learned of it today.

Mrs Dodds had earlier told the debate that increases in costs for the new maternity and childrens hospitals were astronomical and were putting intolerable pressure on the health budget.

Referring to the maternity hospital, she said: Shortly after the (Belfast) trust took charge of the building, pseudomonas was confirmed in a significant number of water outlets, rendering the hospital unsafe and requiring significant reparative work.

Indeed an answer to a written question I received just today indicates that this is in fact 459 different water outlets and that is 36% of the total water outlets in the building.

Mrs Dodds said she had received further information from Mr Nesbitt that the trusts water safety team was not involved in the handover of the building from the contractor in March.

She said: A full independent inquiry should take place, outwith the Belfast Trust and those who participated or acted in a professional advisory capacity in the decision making.

The MLA said she also wanted to know the extent of the risk assessment carried out by the trust before the handover of the building.

She said: Northern Ireland cannot afford losses on this scale.

I do think that those who made these decisions around the handover of the contract and the decision to proceed need to be held accountable.

It is long past time that things did change.

Addressing the minister, she added: You have the opportunity to do that through a full robust inquiry into what happened so we do not repeat continuously the mistakes of the past.

Mr Nesbitt responded: I am deeply, deeply, deeply uncomfortable with what has happened. The public purse deserves much better.

Speaking frankly, Ive called a number of very challenging discussions about what has happened and about the best way forward.

In fact, there was a very tense meeting in the department earlier this morning.

I want to know how all this happened, what went wrong, what was done, what was not done.

The Belfast Trust needs to determine what happens next to put all this right.

The motion brought by Mrs Dodds was carried by 61 votes to nine.

The new maternity hospital is several years overdue and well over budget.

A Northern Ireland Audit Office report earlier this year said the hospital was originally expected to be completed by the end of 2015.

Three babies died during a previous outbreak of the bacteria at Belfasts Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital in 2012.
HIGHLIGHTS Apple has unveiled the 45 finalists for its 2024 App Store Awards. These awards highlight apps that excel in design, functionality, and user experience. This year, there is a new Apple Vision Pro category.

Apple has unveiled the 45 finalists for its 2024 App Store Awards, celebrating the most innovative and user-centric apps and games from developers worldwide. These awards highlight apps that excel in design, functionality, and user experience. This year, the spotlight includes a new Apple Vision Pro category, recognising achievements in spatial computing. Winners from these distinguished finalists will be announced in the coming weeks.

Lets take a look at the full list of the nominees for the 2024 App Store Awards.

2024 App Store Awards Finalists

iPhone App of the Year Finalists

Kino

Runna

Tripsy

iPhone Game of the Year Finalists

AFK Journey

The WereCleaner

Zenless Zone Zero

iPad App of the Year Finalists

Bluey: Lets Play

Moises

Procreate Dreams

iPad Game of the Year Finalists

Assassins Creed Mirage

Disney Speedstorm

Squad Busters

Apple Arcade Game of the Year Finalists

Balatro+

Outlanders 2

Sonic Dream Team

Mac App of the Year Finalists

Adobe Lightroom

OmniFocus 4

Shapr3D

Mac Game of the Year Finalists

Frostpunk 2

Stray

Thank Goodness Youre Here!

Apple Watch App of the Year Finalists

LookUp

Lumy

Watch to 5K

Apple Vision Pro App of the Year Finalists

JigSpace

NBA

What If? An Immersive Story

Apple Vision Pro Game of the Year Finalists

Loona

THRASHER

Vacation Simulator

Also read: Tim Cook plans to increase investment in China, what it means for Apples Make In India ambitions?

Apple TV App of the Year Finalists

DROPOUT

F1 TV

Zoom

Cultural Impact Finalists

Arco

The Bear

BetterSleep

Brawl Stars

DailyArt

Do You Really Want to Know 2

EF Hello

NYT Games

Oko

Partiful

Pinterest

The Wreck

Were thrilled to celebrate this years App Store Award finalists, whose imagination and craftsmanship have produced amazing apps that users love, said Carson Oliver, Apples head of Worldwide App Store. From games that transport players to fantastical new worlds, to apps that fuel creativity, these developers are delivering remarkable experiences that captivate and inspire.
Trump's push for autonomous vehicle regulations reshapes US self-driving landscape

A comprehensive federal framework for autonomous vehicles is reportedly being planned by President-Elect Donald Trump's transition team to accelerate adoption and revitalize US leadership in advanced self-driving technology. Previous efforts under both the Trump and Biden administrations have failed, but the initiative is once again under the spotlight as China shifts focus from electric vehicles to intelligent driving.

Safety standards under scrutiny

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) strict guidelines have hindered innovation, with industry insiders suggesting that federal regulation could provide a broader platform for scaling self-driving systems. The potential regulatory changes could benefit Tesla and other dormant high-level autonomous tech players.

Regulatory challenges intensify

Autonomous driving faces heightened scrutiny in the US, notably after a 2023 Cruise Robotaxi incident, which led NHTSA to tighten oversight. Tesla's unveiling of the Cybercab, a steering wheel- and pedal-free autonomous vehicle, underscores the regulatory challenges ahead, with global deployment hinging on approvals. Industry observers note that Trump's potential regulatory overhaul could boost the prospects for widespread deployment.

Market demands versus current limitations

While NHTSA permits up to 2,500 self-driving vehicles annually under exemptions, the market pushes for 100,000a goal blocked by legislative inertia. Earlier bipartisan efforts to expand deployment failed in both the Trump and Biden administrations due to liability disputes and automaker demands to limit lawsuits.

Industry growth barriers

Waymo and Cruise are leading autonomous taxi deployments in the US, but broader industry growth is stifled by strict safety standards and a lack of economies of scale. The sector faces challenges from unclear commercialization models and funding constraints, further exacerbated by the rise of AI diverting capital away from advanced self-driving ventures.

Path forward

Trump's proposed regulations may mirror China's demonstrative operations approach, relaxing rules in specific areas to train AI and develop vehicle networks. However, US-China differences in infrastructure, policy, and market dynamics suggest this model will require significant adaptation in the American context.
Save my User ID and Password

Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site.

Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site.
Huawei unveils its 'most powerful' new device ahead of expanded US ban

Huawei's product launch event took place on the afternoon of November 26, showcasing what it claims to be the "most powerful" Mate in history, along with the fourth iteration of Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance"Maextro," developed in collaboration with JAC Motors. This announcement comes just before the US is expected to announce an expansion of its restrictions against China, drawing significant attention from the public and industry observers.

The Huawei Mate brand ceremony was held on the afternoon of the 26th. Richard Yu, executive director and chairman of Huawei's consumer business group, stated that this release features the most powerful Mate ever. The Mate 70 series has already begun pre-orders, which include three versions: Mate 70, Mate 70 Pro, and Mate 70 Pro+. As of November 26, pre-order numbers have surpassed 3.2 million.

According to incomplete statistics, the Huawei Mate 60 series, which entered the market in early September 2023, had total sales exceeding 14 million units by mid-November, surpassing supply chain expectations. The launch of the Mate 60 coincided with US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo's visit to China, interpreted as a demonstration of China's technological prowess directly countering the ineffectiveness of US sanctions, leaving visiting officials somewhat embarrassed.

Coincidentally, reports indicate that the US will announce an expansion of chip bans against China within this week. The timing of the Mate 70's debut seems to further highlight Huawei's resilience under intense pressure from the US.

Market sources also report that components for the Mate 70 series have started shipping, with initial stock levels higher than those of the Mate 60 series. As a flagship model from a domestic manufacturer, the introduction of Huawei's new device could drive trends toward localization in high-end smartphone parts and chips.

Key suppliers for the Mate 70's chips include SMIC, Southchip, and BES. Lens module suppliers comprise Ofilm, Luxvisions, Sunny Optical, and AAC, while display and screen module suppliers include BOE, Visionox, and Tianma.

Additionally, in terms of software, the Huawei Mate 70 series smartphones will further solidify Huawei's expansion into the commercial realm of its native HarmonyOS. Launched on October 22, Huawei's HarmonyOS NEXT is China's first domestically-developed mobile end-user operating system (OS), now recognized as the third-largest mobile operating system globally after iOS and Android, achieving the goal of self-sufficiency in local operating systems.

Market analysts believe that under Huawei's leadership in promoting localization, the native HarmonyOS will increasingly participate in China's domestic information technology innovation PC market. It is anticipated that Harmony PCs will soon accelerate their rollout, allowing the Harmony ecosystem to extend beyond smartphones into the PC domain.
Taiwan's chip industry unfazed by Trump's trade policy, says former TSMC chairman Mark Liu

On November 25, newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump announced plans to sign an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada and raising tariffs on Chinese products by 10%. The next day, November 26, speaking at the Wen-Yuan Pan Prize ceremony, former TSMC Chairman Mark Liu downplayed the potential impact on Taiwan, stating, "Taiwan primarily produces intermediate goods, so the effect will be minimal."

Addressing concerns about shifts in Taiwan's semiconductor industry under Trump's trade policies, Liu added, "There won't be significant changes." He emphasized the symbiotic relationship between Taiwan's manufacturing prowess and the US's design leadership, a partnership that underpins America's dominance in the semiconductor sector. "The two industries complement each other," he remarked.

Liu also shared insights on global engineering talent, acknowledging regional strengths while noting the challenges Taiwan faced in its early industrial days, such as labor shortages in the 1990s. He expressed confidence in Taiwan's ongoing development, stating, "With effort, our capabilities will expand further."

Post-retirement, Liu plans to return to his US alma mater (UC Berkley) to explore establishing a think tank focused on US industrial policy. He aims to foster rational and secure policymaking in an increasingly uncertain economic and political climate.

The ceremony saw Liu receiving the 2024 Wen-Yuan Pan Prize, the foundation's highest honor. Liu's career at TSMC, beginning in 1993, saw him spearhead the company's first eight-inch wafer fab and lead the integration of Worldwide Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation following its acquisition in 2000. His leadership earned the trust of founder Morris Chang, paving the way for his succession as chairman in 2018.

Liu, who retired following TSMC's June 2024 shareholders' meeting, played a pivotal role in navigating the global chip shortage during the pandemic. Under his leadership, TSMC stabilized production and coordinated vaccine donations with the charity foundation Tzu Chi and Foxconn. The company has also expanded its advanced manufacturing footprint domestically while pursuing global strategies.

The Pan Wen-Yuan Prize, established in 2004, celebrates excellence in technology leadership, honoring figures like Morris Chang, Stan Shih, and Ming-Kai Tsai. Liu's recognition underscores his contributions to Taiwan's semiconductor dominance and its stature in cutting-edge technology.
Powering breakthroughs in age of artificial intelligence to ensure PCB and substrate manufacturers achieve optimal results with MKS instruments

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and the new energy / autonomous vehicle industry presents both challenges and exciting opportunities for the printed circuit board (PCB) and packaging substrate manufacturing business. These dynamics create enormous opportunities and an appetite for fast, efficient, and massive computing resources. The mega-monolithic silicon chip is being replaced by 3D heterogeneous integration of multiple chiplets assembled on an organic build-up substrate platform.

MKS Instruments is leading the way in PCB, package substrate, and many areas of wafer-level packaging. At the TPCA Show Taipei 2024, the company presented a wide range of solutions from its Atotech and ESI Laser Systems brands for the industry, from wet chemical processes and production systems to auxiliary equipment, laser drilling systems, and software solutions, demonstrating their new synergies and expanded capabilities to provide manufacturers with improved production results in terms of higher yield, reliability, and operational efficiency.

In an interview at the MKS booth, Dr. John Lee, President and CEO of MKS Instruments, discusses the company's strategy to help customers design and manufacture specialized PCBs and package substrates for AI and automotive applications, and to scale operations globally. He explains that more than 85% of the semiconductor front-end applications and more than 70% of the critical steps in package substrate and PCB manufacturing use MKS products. "Our enabling technologies are essential to the development of next-generation electronic devices, from semiconductors to advanced printed circuit boards," he notes. The following summarizes what Dr. Lee shared.

Optimize the Interconnect Powering the Future of Electronics

Surround the Wafer and Surround the Workpiece is MKS's key strategy to address the needs of the semiconductor, advanced electronics, and packaging markets by providing customers with the key components, systems, and services to enable the successful implementation of these solutions. As the advanced packaging and heterogeneous integration technologies continue to follow Moore's Law and improve the performance of multiple silicon dies in a single package, high-speed and reliable interconnects between different dies play an important role.

The challenges are many, including multilayer, small alignment, fine line spacing, new materials, and rapid technology upgrades. The industry needs better equipment, tools, and chemistry to meet these needs. MKS has the broadest portfolio of capabilities in the industry and the ability to do it all. The company leverages its expertise in lasers, optics, motion, process chemistry, and equipment to differentiate itself in the marketplace with the ability to Optimize the Interconnect, a key driver for the coming era of advanced electronics, characterized by increasing miniaturization and complexity.

Key MKS Solutions at the TPCA 2024 Show

On the chemistry side, highlights in surface treatment include EcoFlash S300, a new differential etch solution suitable for advanced package substrates, and our new high-tech inner-layer adhesion promoter for high-speed AI applications. For metallization, our highlights include Printoganth MV TP2, a high-performance electroless copper process specifically designed for SAP fine line applications, and our even more enhanced Printoganth MV TP3 process, which enables ultra-thin Cu deposition for fine lines down to 2/2 m L/S, ideally combined with Cupraganth MV, our new and revolutionary copper-based activation system. For electrolytic copper plating, we highlight our new reverse pulse plating solution for inclusion-free, high aspect ratio through hole filling of package substrate cores, Inpulse 2THF2, and our production-proven InPro SAP3 process for BMV filling with best surface distribution at high current densities. For conformal high-hole density package substrate core plating we are promoting Cuprapulse XP7-IN, our new solution for excellent plating uniformity.

For final finishing, highlights range from the OSP solution OS-Tech SIT 2, the new Aurotech G-Bond 3 versatile gold bath for nickel/gold, nickel/palladium/gold, and palladium/gold plating to Stannatech for flex PCBs, as well as for thick tin plating of -LEDs or solder depot plating and Stannatech IC for package substrates.

PCB equipment systems promotions include G-Plate, a new HVM tool for PTH processes of next-generation package substrates enabling the highest yields and cutting-edge fine line capability targeting L/S <5/5 m, vPlate, a new vertical continuous plating tool for advanced HDI and package substrate for best-in-class surface uniformity. And last but not least the new Uniplate, the company's flagship HVM system and industry-leading horizontal plating equipment for next-generation HDI PCBs and package substrate manufacturing.

Laser equipment promotions include the latest Capstone, a high-performance/throughput productivity breakthrough for flex PCB UV drilling, and Geode (CO2 and UV laser for HDI and package substrate applications). A special show highlight is Geode A, our new CO2 laser system for high-precision and high-speed ABF build-up laminate processing. Geode G2 is our new CO2 laser system for high-precision and high-speed HDI and mSAP via drilling. The Geode platform provides 15% higher optical transmission, 21% less total service area, and up to 65% lower power consumption.

These innovative production solutions and process chemicals, such as the above-listed equipment of the horizontal Uniplate for next-generation HDI PCB and package substrate manufacturing, are not only designed for maximum yield and effective fluid performance but also go a step further to significantly reduce water consumption and increase of energy efficiency.

As another example, as advanced technology in PCBs moves closer to the semiconductor industry, MKS has developed a wide range of solutions for the next generation of package substrates, which use high-end SAP technology requiring less than 5/5m lines and spaces. These breakthroughs leverage MKS' unique portfolio of combined services in local technical centers, enabling the company to reduce the cycle time for a typical ABF sample from three months or more to less than one month. In addition, MKS is currently working with industry partners to enable 20/20 m lines and spaces for substrate-like PCBs using mSAP technology.

In addition, MKS supplies several key products for surface treatment, desmear and metallization, electrolytic copper plating, and final finishing to meet the growing demand for FC-BGA and FC-CSP. And the new advances are also being implemented in new materials such as glass substrates and the associated wet chemical processes and manufacturing systems that enable the fine line and high-speed applications of the future of advanced packaging and heterogeneous integration technologies.

This is because MKS offers a one-stop-shop destination for pre-treatment, via formation, plating, and final finishing with fast turnaround times that do not interrupt production, enabling customers to achieve better yields, productivity, and performance.

New expansion to capitalize on opportunities in Southeast Asia

MKS continues to provide industry-leading products and support to customers in the APAC region. There are currently 14 manufacturing facilities in Asia, including China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. In addition, MKS has established various locations throughout the region, including R&D and engineering centers, manufacturing plants, tech centers, and sales and service offices.

Much like the semiconductor industry, the printed circuit board, package substrate, and advanced packaging industries are increasingly demanding smaller features, higher density, better performance, and greater manufacturing capacity. The PCB manufacturing landscape in Southeast Asia is undergoing a significant shift, with Thailand quickly becoming the next PCB manufacturing hotspot, attracting significant investment from Chinese, Korean, Taiwanese, and Japanese PCB manufacturers. While cost efficiency has traditionally been a key driver of manufacturing relocation, the market shift to SEA, and Thailand in particular, is being driven primarily by supply chain diversification.

Two major announcements in October 2024 highlight new investments from MKS. Firstly, MKS will begin construction of a new Super Center factory in Penang, Malaysia, to support wafer fabrication equipment manufacturing in the region and globally. With proximity to customers and suppliers and a robust technology infrastructure, MKS has chosen Penang as its home to support strong semiconductor ecosystem partners.

This expansion in Malaysia is an important milestone for MKS as it continues to expand its capabilities as a leader across a wide range of semiconductor manufacturing applications. This Super Center in Malaysia will better serve the APAC semiconductor market and enable MKS to meet the skyrocketing demand for AI, high-performance computing, automotive technologies, and industrial Internet of Things solutions.

A second significant development was the announcement that MKS is opening a technical center and manufacturing facility in Samut Prakan, near Bangkok, Thailand, to serve the growing PCB and package substrate industries in Southeast Asia. Increased competition in the region could lead to accelerated technological advancements in PCB manufacturing, and the emergence of Thailand as a PCB hub could further support the growth of the Southeast Asian electronics sector.

While MKS has a strong presence in SEA today, particularly in Thailand, it is well placed to welcome and serve PCB manufacturers, particularly Chinese companies, overseas. "We will continue to invest in China and build more chemical production facilities to serve Chinese PCB customers. Our deep commitment to APAC is more than just strategic; it is the foundation of our future," said Dr. Lee.

"As semiconductor packaging and heterogeneous integration technologies become more advanced, the need for innovation in PCB and package substrate technology is accelerating. MKS has a well-established and industry-leading presence in APAC and here in Taiwan, with sophisticated equipment process expertise and highly skilled teams of experts. These investments in Asia reflect MKS' commitment to supporting the growth of the semiconductor, PCB, and package substrate markets to drive innovation and to be a key player in the future of technology. We look forward to continuing to invest in Asia's bright future," Dr. Lee concluded.

Group picture for John, Gary, and MKS teams

MKS CEO Dr. John Lee interviewed by DIGITIMES Gary Cheng
Government ministers have rejected assertions that they were asleep at the wheel over sustainably managing migration.

Immigration has emerged as a key issue in the general election campaign ahead of polling day on Friday.

In a debate on RTEs Upfront focused on the matter, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said immigration is a good thing for this country as people come to work and study.

The Fine Gael deputy leader said inward migration is needed to ensure increased housing delivery, essential services in healthcare, and other sectors.

She defended the current immigration system as rules-based.

Ms McEntee said: If somebody is coming and applying for a work permit, the job has to be there.

If somebody is coming in here as a student, were very clear that you are coming to study, that you are not coming here to work, that youre not coming to use the study visa.

She added that by and large most people agree that migration has been a positive for the country.

Aontu leader Peadar Toibin said there was no doubt that many migrants make really positive contributions to Ireland.

However, the opposition politician accused the Government of being asleep at the wheel by not keeping immigration at what he characterised as sustainable levels.

Mr Toibin said we have to start looking at how many permits are provided to non-essential workers.

Integration minister and Green leader Roderic OGorman said blocking off links to other countries would be fundamentally a wrong approach for an open economy like Ireland.

He accused Mr Toibin of having a deeply divisive proposal.

Fianna Fail representative James Browne, who is the junior minister in the Department of Justice, said the countrys economy is booming in ICT and foreign direct investment.

He added: Shutting down effectively any work permit coming for foreign direct investment will be absolutely, I think, counterproductive and, quite frankly, hypocritical as well.

We do need people coming into this country. Its at full employment and it helps our economy and our society to grow.

Michael Fitzmaurice of Independent Ireland said most people have no problems whatsoever on people coming in on permits.

However, he said there is a problem around the complicated permit system.

Sinn Fein director of elections Matt Carthy said there was an irony in doctors and nurses who qualified here having emigrated to the far side of the globe over conditions in Ireland.

Mr Carthy said the Government was overseeing crises in housing, health and migration.

What we want to do is put in place a system of rules that are clearly understood and clearly enforced that ensures that there is confidence for everyone involved.

He added: We need to have a managed migration system that ensures that those sectors that need employees are able to access them in a way that doesnt actually burden the overstretched services that we have, that doesnt actually add to our housing crisis that we already have.

So we have to be cognisant of all of that and recognise the value of people who are coming here and maintaining our health services and other essential services.
Minister Paschal Donohoe has been accused of chickening out of debates by Sinn Feins finance spokesman Pearse Doherty.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Mr Doherty said the cost-of-living crisis will be a key factor in voters decisions on Friday.

He said he had heard that Mr Donohoe wanted to debate him on the economy, but added: Ive been there in the Virgin (Media) studio when he wasnt, and tonight he was supposed to turn up, and now we hear that he has chickened out.

I would call on Paschal Donohoe to meet me and debate how he has failed the Irish people over and over again on the issues of the cost of living.

Turn up to tonights debate. It is not acceptable that you have now chickened out twice on this issue.

Mr Doherty also accused Fine Gael of having a brass neck.

He pointed to a representative of Fine Gael leader Simon Harris contacting national broadcaster RTE over a video clip of him walking away from an interaction with a carer.

Mr Doherty said: I think it would be really important now, given the enormity of this, I think it was watched eight million times, that Fine Gael actually clarifies what were they leaning on RTE to try and achieve?

Were they trying to make sure that the package wasnt aired?

I think that the conversation should now be made public by Fine Gael.

He added: When it comes to Fine Gael, theyve got a brass neck.

A spokeswoman for the Fine Gael minister said he had taken part in a number of debates taking Sinn Fein head on in terms of the damage that party would inflict on our economy if in power.

The spokeswoman said: Minister Donohoe looks forward to doing so again (on Wednesday) morning and at any other opportunity across the coming days.

Mr Donohoe and Mr Doherty are due to take part in a debate on RTEs Claire Byrne radio programme on Wednesday morning.
The UK Government is not minded to fund the North correctly, Mary Lou McDonald claimed as she defended Sinn Feins record in the power-sharing Executive.

Ms McDonald made the remarks as she seeks to lead Sinn Fein to victory in the Republic of Irelands General Election on Friday, and become the countrys Taoiseach.

The Sinn Fein leader was responding to questioning on how the party could stand over pledges on housing delivery on the Republic of Ireland, given under supply in Northern Ireland.

The housing portfolio north of the border was previously held by Sinn Fein MLA Deirdre Hargey.

Ms McDonald said Ms Hargey had set out a hugely ambitious, transformational plan during her time in the role.

However, she added: The Tories, sadly, who unfortunately hold the purse strings, and now the successor government, under (Sir) Keir Starmer, are not minded to fund the North correctly.

Thats at the root of the problem.

Ms McDonald said the picture of the public service in Northern Ireland is generally not good, adding that to compare the two jurisdictions is like comparing apples and oranges.

Speaking on RTEs Six One News, she added: North of the border, there is not the capacity to raise or vary taxes.

You are looking at an entirely different scenario and I regret that deeply.

Im a united Irelander, but sadly, at this point in time, our country is partitioned.

Ms McDonald said First Minister Michelle ONeill and other Sinn Fein members of the Executive aim high when making demands from the UK Government, adding that they are constantly putting pressure on the Treasury.

She said: Its a matter of great frustration to me as a Republican and a united Irelander, that on the one hand the British government, the system, insists that it remain and hold jurisdiction in the North, and yet it wont fund the place correctly.

Ms McDonald said Sinn Fein has delivered in spades in very challenging circumstances in the multi-party power-sharing arrangement.

She argued that this showed Sinn Feins ability to hold things together.

Asked about complaints that Northern Irelands health service is not provided adequate funding by the Sinn Fein Finance Minister, Ms McDonald said Caoimhe Archibald can not do a loaves and fishes job.

She added: Shes a brilliant, brilliant woman and a brilliant minister but she does not have the power of miracles, unfortunately.
My name is David Brennan and I am proud to stand as an independent candidate in the Louth constituency in the upcoming general election.

Mavis and I are married 55 years. We have two children and five grandchildren. I am a businessman with 47 years experience and many years before that in farming.

In 1978 I was recognised as Entrepreneur of the Year and since then I have continued to build and sustain a thriving business, creating employment for people in County Louth and beyond.

As a lifelong resident of County Louth, I am dedicated to fostering economic opportunity, employment and positive development in our community.

I am concerned with the direction the country is moving in and how it will affect my grandchildrens future and future generations. As a country we are facing many challenges  Housing, Immigration, how some Government Departments are wasting money, how our financial institutions are operating - to name but a few. 47 years experience of growing and managing successful enterprises, has given me a deep understanding of the challenges faced by families, entrepreneurs, farmers and communities across Ireland.

I believe in a practical, business-minded approach to politics  one focussed on efficiency and accountability. I am committed to listening to and acting on the needs of constituents to improve our community.
Among the General Election candidates fighting for one of the five seats up grabs in Louth is Ardee-based Independent Albert Byrne.

Byrne says that he brings with him a wealth of experience from across many sectors such as education, healthcare, business, software development and chemical dependence treatment.

Byrne is currently a nutritional therapist and naturopath, proprietor of Ardee Therapies and a consultant software developer.

One of the focal points of the Independent candidate's campaign is the reformation of an Garda Siochana.

Byrne states: "I am asking for your Number One vote to bring about fundamental change in the work culture of an Garda Siochana."

READ NEXT: Meet the Louth election candidates: David Bradley - Independent

He continues: "The time has come to put an end to harassment and intimidation by organised crime working with criminal elements in an Garda Siochana, protected by a culture of silence that punishes those who speak out. Neither the government nor GSOC are willing to tackle this problem."

Byrne argues that this fundamental transformation of an Garda Siochana directly relates to the possibility of a United Ireland, saying it is "crucial in a peaceful path toward unification."

Speaking on this matter, Byrne says: "I believe the future is best served by a federal system of government that maintains the institutions of state, with an expanded Dail to cater for members from Northern Ireland.

"Presently, the UK provide 1015 billion in annual support to Northern Ireland. By agreeing to maintain the institutions of state, I believe this support should continue and form part of any unification agreement.

"Unification should be seamless, with zero net impact on the budget, to ensure peace and stability on the island of Ireland and to protect the most vulnerable who stand to be impacted by any budgetary constraints. Unification need not be traumatic."

According to Byrne: "By voting for me, you will send a strong message to Dail Eireann that we will no longer accept the status quo within an Garda Siochana, nor will we accept constitutional arrangements foisted upon us that do not protect the best interests of every man, woman, and child who form the backbone of this state."

With voting taking place on Friday, 29 November, Albert Byrne is asking the people of Louth to "come out on polling day and make your vote count. Your future depends on it."
The family and friends of John Quail, a well-known figure from Louth Village, are rallying together to bring him back home to Ireland after a devastating health crisis while on holiday in the United States.

John was in Nashville, Tennessee, to celebrate his wife Jacinta's 50th birthday on November 4th. What was meant to be a dream trip quickly turned into a nightmare when John suddenly collapsed due to a massive brain aneurysm while walking into town.

Rushed to TriStar Hospital, John underwent immediate surgery to address the life-threatening condition. After 10 days on life support, John faced multiple surgeries, including a procedure to clip the aneurysm and the insertion of a shunt to relieve pressure on his brain. Despite the severity of his condition, John is now out of the ICU but faces a long and difficult road to recovery, including intensive physiotherapy and speech therapy.

Read Next: Fine Gael candidate not telling Louth voters to support John McGahon

His family, including his wife Jacinta and sister Rosie, have been by his side throughout this harrowing ordeal. However, the financial burden of ongoing medical care in the U.S. has become overwhelming. With the cost of an air ambulance to bring John back to Ireland, as well as rehabilitation and recovery expenses, his loved ones have turned to the community for support.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover the costs of John's medical expenses and his return home. "Any donation, big or small, will be a massive help and greatly appreciated," his family said in the fundraising appeal.

To donate, visit the GoFundMe page set up by John's family and friends at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/e26zh-get-john-home?attribution_id=sl:5fad8e1d-fcd7-4260-9cf6 6f9666b1b3cc&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link
State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Postal Code
A West Cork village on the most southwestern tip of Ireland is set to host its first ever Christmas fair.

Almost 40 artisan stalls have been sold already for the four-day event that will take place on the first two weekends of December in Crookhaven.

Santa himself is due to appear to give out presents to local children and visitors and there will be a live Nativity scene as well.

Residents have been busy making jams and pickles to sell on the stands and Bulmers will be keeping everybody warm with glasses of hot cider.

There will also be street food, a karaoke caravan, Christmas carols and live music.

The fair will take place on the weekend of Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 and the following weekend of Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 December, with foods and crafts stalls each day in Nottages pub and The Crookhaven Inn.

The fair, which will be officially opened at 5pm on Friday 7 by Fine Gael councillor Caroline Cronin, will run from 3pm to 8pm on Saturdays and 12pm to 5pm on Sundays.

The four-day event will see the launch of the Crookhaven pontoon appeal to replace an ageing 25-year-old pontoon used by local people and holiday makers alike.

The appeal has a target of 75,000 and there is already 20,000 in the kitty thanks to donations from customers and organisations.

Organiser Linda Kennedy, who is married to publican Dermot OSullivan, said she had always believed Crookhaven could host a wonderful Christmas Fair.

Our village is so beautiful, it lends itself to the charm and excitement of Christmas. I cant wait to see our new lights and decorations, she said.

We are only charging 10 for stalls and all the entertainment will be free. We want this to be a family event, accessible to everybody.

There will, however, be a bucket collection to raise money towards the pontoon fund.

For more information and stall booking, contact Linda at crookhavenpontoon@gmail.com.
A 24-year-old woman accused of stealing 426 worth of goods from one Ballincollig shop and 380 worth of groceries from another was granted bail on her undertaking to stay out of the town.

Maria Muntean, with an address at Sheares St, Cork, was charged today by Detective Garda Gary Brennan with allegedly stealing 380 worth of groceries from SuperValu on Main St, Ballincollig, on July 27.

Garda John Harrington charged her with another offence.

On May 19 earlier this year, at Mr Price, Westside Retail Park, Ballincollig, she is alleged to have stolen 426 worth of shampoo and toiletries.

Sergeant Gearoid Davis applied to have the cases adjourned until January 13, 2025, for the accused to decide if she is going to plead guilty or not guilty.

Prosecution statements in the case are to be sent to solicitor Dennis Healy.

Sgt Davis said the State required a bail condition that the accused would stay out of Ballincollig between now and January 13, 2025.

The young woman gave that undertaking to stay out of the town.

Mr Healy asked for a Romanian interpreter to be assigned for the next date in Cork District Court.

Judge Mary Dorgan acceded to that application.
A stash of cocaine was uncovered in a garda operation and now the man responsible for the drugs has been given a three-year suspended jail term. The culprit was described as a storeman who was being paid in cocaine.

Judge Dermot Sheehan imposed the sentence on Leo Boyland of Kilgobbin, Ballinspittle. The young man entered his guilty pleas at Cork District Court and affirmed them at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where he was sentenced.

He admitted to having cocaine and being in possession of the drugs for the purpose of sale or supply at a container in Fota Point Enterprise Park, Carrigtwohill, on February 21, 2023.

Detective Garda Ruairi McGovern said some of the cocaine was concealed within a hat in the container. Also there at the time was a weighing scales and related paraphernalia associated with drugs. When interviewed later the accused man took responsibility for the cocaine and other items. His explanation to gardai was that he would provide storage for the drugs and he would get cocaine for his own use in return. He also had a 6,000 debt and he was storing the drugs in order to have that debt reduced. He was addicted to drugs at the time but he has not come to the attention of gardai since the date this occurred.

Judge Sheehan noted that the accused was doing very well in employment. At the time you were a storeman and your payment was in cocaine  that was the garda view of the situation, the judge said.
There was a wonderful symmetry at play as Corks first citizen visited Chicago to pay tribute to a Cork-born woman who made her mark there.

On November 16 last, the Lord Mayor of Cork, Dan Boyle, visited the future site for the erection in 2025 of the sculpture of Mother Jones in the Windy City.

The Lord Mayor had returned on an official visit to the city where he was born and he was welcomed by members of the Mother Jones Heritage Committee along with one of the sculptors, Kathleen Farrell, who are in the final planning stage of erecting this landmark sculpture near the famous Chicago Watertower.

Rosemary Feurer, the Chicago project director who attended the first Mother Jones festival in Cork in 2012, in welcoming the Lord Mayor pointed out that the project of a sculpture of Mother Jones was inspired and initiated following her visit to this festival in Shandon, close to the birthplace and baptism of Mary Harris in Cork.

Mary G Harris Jones was born in 1837 but only became known as Mother Jones from 1897 onwards.

She was an Irish-born American who became a prominent union organiser, community organiser, and activist.

James Nolan, spokesperson for the Cork Mother Jones Committee said: We were surprised and honoured to hear Ms Feurer acknowledge that the Mother Jones festival here in Shandon in 2012 provided the inspiration for her Heritage Committees work to erect a magnificent sculpture at the Water Tower to Mary Harris, a girl born and baptised in our community in 1837 who was largely forgotten in the city of her birth.

I am so proud of everyone here in Cork for preserving the amazing story of Mother Jones through our annual festival, who is now an international icon for the social justice and the labour movement.

I wish to thank the Lord Mayor of Cork for meeting with the Chicago committee and for his support and goodwill for this project which will see a native of Cork city and an emigrant of the Great Hunger being honoured in a magnificent manner in the Windy City.

The Cork Mother Jones Committee has announced that the 2025 Spirit of Mother Jones Festival will take place in and around the Shandon Historic Quarter over three days from Thursday, July 24, to Saturday, July 26.

The Cork Mother Jones committee is asking people to suggest ideas for topics, possible speakers or issues they might wish to see at the 2025 festival.

Proposals should be based on material which is relevant, interesting and challenging and they promise to consider all suggestions.

They should be sent to motherjonescork@gmail.com.

Updates on the festival can be found www.motherjonescork.com

40th anniversary for Blackpool area community centre

Blackpool, Glen, and Farranree Youth Community Training Centre, which has improved the lives of hundreds of people to date, will celebrate 40 years on December 10.

You will have read of the achievements of many of the learners at the centre, including many who have gone on to steady employment and have even opened their own businesses.

The centre has a long history of supporting education pathways on the northside and many learners have gone on to further education, full-time employment, and even started their own businesses.

The centre operates all year round and provides a learner-centred approach to early school leavers in a stimulating and supportive environment.

Highly-skilled staff help learners develop their potential, gain nationally recognised qualifications, and progress toward employment.

Courses available include catering, computer applications, multi-skills/woodwork, hairdressing, and retail.

The centre is open to males and females, aged 16 to 21.

Courses are full-time and free.

Training allowances are paid weekly by the Cork Education Training Board and recruitment is continuous.

Earlier this year, learners were honoured at City Hall with awardees receiving certificates in general learning QQI Level 4, information and communication, technology skills QQI Level 4, catering support QQI Level 4, retail skills QQI Level 4, and diploma in hairdressing, VTCT Level 2.

Call 0214395447 or email admin@blackpoolgfctc.ie for details on courses.

The celebrations will kick off on December 10 at 11am.

Look out for pictures from the celebration event on The Echo Blackpool page next month.

Alex awarded community person of the year award

The Joe Sheehan Community Person of the Year 2024, sponsored by Cathedral Credit Union Ltd, was recently awarded to Alex Foley to acknowledge his volunteer work with the Shandon Area Renewal Association (SARA) and the Shandon Tidy Towns Committee over many years.

Alex Foley presented with his award.

The award is open to anybody living in the North Cathedral, Middle Parish, Sacred Heart, Sundays Well, St Marys, Popes Quay, and Blarney St communities.

Manager Eoin Newman said the award is for ordinary people who, by their voluntary efforts, have made a difference in either a community, sporting, educational, or indeed any field of endeavour. As a community and voluntary organisation, we understand and appreciate the often thankless efforts many people put into community based organisations.

Shakespeares Twelfth Night

Cork Shakespearean Company presents Shakespeares comedy of gender confusion at Cork Arts Theatre, in which a girl disguises herself as a man to be near the count she adores, only to be pursued by the woman he loves.

After being separated from her twin brother Sebastian in a shipwreck, Viola disguises herself as a boy and finds employment with the Duke of Orsino, who uses her as a go-between in his attempted wooing of the Lady Olivia. Meanwhile, Olivias pompous steward, Malvolio, falls prey to a cruel deception on the part of Feste the Jester and the wassailing, neer-do-well, Toby Belch.

The show takes place this Thursday to Saturday.

See www.corkartstheatre.com for ticket details or call 021 4505624.

Leeds AFC advertising slots

Ballyvolanes Leeds AFC recently installed new fencing and are offering advertising opportunities to raise funds for the club.

The advertising signs cost 200 with an annual subscription fee of 200. However, if you book your sign before December 31, the fee is just 300 for both the sign and subscription.

Contact Conor on 087-9201440 or send the club a direct message on Facebook.

Blackpool Mens Shed made a beautiful wooden crib and presented it to the Blackpool Knitting Group who had knitted a nativity scene which they will raffle at the Blackpool Christmas Market on December 6. Noel Donovan of Blackpool Mens shed presented it to Shirley Whelan of Blackpool Knitting Group.

Parish lotto jackpot over 11k

The parish lotto jackpot remains at the very tantalising sum of 11,600, with a 400 consolation prize also up for grabs.

You can watch the winners draw today on the Blackpool Facebook page at facebook.com/bbgparish, or on the cathedral Facebook page at facebook.com/corkcathedral.

Blackpool Christmas Market

Blackpool Christmas Market takes place December 6 at the plaza outside the local church. Carol singing, sweet, and savoury treats, knitting, crochet, and Christmas ornaments will all be on offer from 10am to 1pm.

CE role open at The Everyman

The Everyman on MacCurtain St is hiring a maintenence person.

The position is a developmental opportunity on the community employment scheme, no experience necessary. Accredited training will be provided to support your career. It is a temporary position.

Full details here: https://tinyurl.com/bde5vhxk

Have Blackpool, Shandon and Ballyvolane news to share? Contact robert.mcnamara@theecho.ie
Tanaiste and Cork South-Central TD Micheal Martin could be in line to be the next taoiseach, as support for Fine Gael looks to have dropped, according to most recent figures.

Following the latest opinion poll  which shows that Fianna Fail is leading the way at 21%  Micheal Martin said he is not getting excited ahead of Fridays general election.

According to the Irish Times/Ipsos B&A survey, Fianna Fail is up two points on the last poll two weeks ago, Sinn Fein is up one on 20%, while Fine Gael is on 19%  down six points since the November 14 poll.

The weekend Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks opinion poll, however, put Fine Gael support at 22%  down four percentage points  Sinn Fein up two points to 20% and Fianna Fail unchanged on 20%.

You can go up or down 2%, so Im not getting in any way excited about these polls, Mr Martin said yesterday. We would have always felt that the three parties, Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, and Sinn Fein were in about the 20.

Theres a lot of votes to be won yet, and there are a lot of issues on the doorstep.

He added: It would be very, very foolish to read too much into the two polls weve had this weekend.

Fianna Fail councillor and Cork North Central candidate Tony Fitzgerald pictured in Cork with Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin. Picture: Donal O'Keeffe

Ive been really concentrating on ensuring that our teams across the length and breadth of the country get out to knock on doors, to get the message out, to get our candidates over the line.

Ive experienced this before last election and so on, when the last number of days can be crucial in terms of maintaining clarity on the message  Were very clear that we have a lot of work to do.

Sinn Fein, meanwhile, has welcomed the recent polling results, as the party remains hopeful it will lead the next Government after winning just one less seat than Fianna Fail and two more than Fine Gael in the last general election.

Read More Election 2024: See the full list of candidates in your constituency

Cork South-Central Sinn Fein TD Donnchadh O Laoghaire told The Echo: I think the polls reflect what we are seeing on the ground. As it gets closer to polling day, people are analysing different policies and I think coming to the conclusion that there needs to be a change of Government. The people who can deliver that change in Government are Sinn Fein.

Its clearly all to play for, nothing is decided yet, and its looking very tight between the three main parties, but were fielding the most candidates we ever have and we are hopeful that we can lead the next Government. Were going to be out canvassing night and day, trying to get as many people as we can elected and hopefully deliver the change people need in terms of housing and health.

People are frustrated with this Government, and I think theres been evidence of that in recent days  they have come across as out of touch and like they feel entitled to lead the Government.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald with Cork South Central candidates Michelle Cowhey Shahid and Donnchadh O Laoghaire TD, and Cork North Central candidates councillor Joe Lynch and Thomas Gould TD in CastleWest Shopping Centre. Picture: Donal O'Keeffe

The slump in Fine Gael support shown by both polls comes on the foot of an apology from Taoiseach Simon Harris, who faced criticism for his handling of an encounter with a disability care worker while canvassing in Kanturk on Friday.

The care worker, Charlotte Fallon, said on C103s Cork Today show: The money we were promised hasnt come to us and our lads deserve better. I [saw] people congratulating him and shaking his hand, and that kind of put the fuel to my fire. It just came out of me.

Ms Fallon added that she was taken aback by the initial response from Mr Harris, but since understands his position following a phone call she had with him after the interaction.

A still from the video clip of Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris meeting disability worker Charlotte Fallon in Kanturk, Co Cork, on Friday night. Picture: RTE News

Since the clip gained traction online, Mr Harris has appeared on RTEs Today with Claire Byrne to discuss the interaction, saying that he was deeply annoyed with himself.

Theres no one more annoyed with me than me  I know what its like to be in a family where you feel let down and where you fight for services, he said. The point is, I was wrong. I didnt meet my own standards, let alone anybody elses, I really came up short.

This is one of several incidents that have put Fine Gael under pressure during the election campaign, including comments about teachers made by Ryanair boss Michael OLeary and the partys selection of John McGahon as a candidate in Louth.

The latest Irish Times/Ipsos poll has the Green Party on 4%, Labour on 4%, Social Democrats on 6%, People Before Profit on 3%, Aontu on 3% and Independents (including Independent Ireland) down three percentage points on 17%.

In terms of personal favourability, Mr Harriss popularity is down from 50% to 46%, while Mr Martin is on 44%, down one point. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald is unchanged on 31%.

The Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll, meanwhile, has Independents up three points to 19%, Aontu up to 5%, Social Democrats on 5%, Labour on 4%, the Greens on 3% and People Before Profit-Solidarity on 2%.
A 38-year-old man was in such a bad condition from drug addiction when he was arrested in Cork city centre in May that he might not be alive today only for the fact that he was taken into custody.

Defence barrister Paula McCarthy said the gardai were of this belief in relation to Keith Heaphy because of his condition last May.

Now at Cork Circuit Criminal Court he has been sentenced to a total of three years in prison by Judge Dermot Sheehan arising out of three different incidents, in respect of which he pleaded guilty to a variety of charges.

The most recent incident occurred on May 21 this year when gardai on duty on Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork, and observed him walk into Centra attempting to discard crack cocaine.

The small amount of that drug was discovered along with 3,500 worth of heroin.

Ms McCarthy said: He knew there were undercover gardai in the area and he tried to discard the drugs in Centra on Oliver Plunkett Street.

He was in particularly poor condition. Gardai were of the view that if he had not been picked up on that occasion he might not be here today.

In another incident on August 30 2023 he drove off at lunchtime on Blackrock Road when he saw gardai but he crashed into a wall.

He was taken from the crashed car and found with a variety of tablets and other drugs to a total value of 1,200.

Later at a house at Upper Convent Road, where he was living, there was a search and drugs were found - cannabis and Alprazolam tablets with a street value of 4,500.

He admitted a number of counts of having drugs for sale or supply.

The third incident was his part in a robbery at OKeeffes shop in St Lukes on January 16 this year. Two men arrived, one held door and the other went in and threatened the owner with a knife and took the till. Keith Heaphy was the person at the door during the robbery.

Garda Barry OShea said Mr Heaphy had 241 previous convictions, including five for drug-dealing, one for robbery, another for attempted robbery and 11 for burglary.

Garda OShea said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that by his own admission, Mr Heaphy is a drug addict and told gardai several times in interviews that he sold drugs to feed his own habit.
Train services between Mallow and Tralee were suspended this morning for a time.

It comes following a "serious incident on the line".

Correction: Services between Mallow and Tralee are suspended until further notice due to a serious incident on the line. Update to follow.@TFIupdates

-AB https://t.co/T4Oscvbvs3  Iarnrod Eireann (@IrishRail) November 26, 2024

A spokesperson for Irish Rail told The Echo that a person was fatally struck shortly after 9am this morning.

The incident took place near Killarney.

Emergency services attended the scene.

Services are expected to resume shortly between Mallow/Tralee.

The 13:25 Mallow/Tralee service has departed Mallow station and is operating approximately 10 minutes behind schedule
The smell of cannabis from a car prompted gardai to conduct a search and they found the front seat passenger had a Lidl bag containing a stash of drugs and in a follow-up search of his home they found a crossbow and more drugs.

Artur Prokopowicz pleaded guilty to several charges arising out of the incident. He was also caught money-laundering in respect of approximately 3,000 in cash.

Judge Dermot Sheehan imposed an overall sentence of three years which he suspended at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

The car in which the accused was a passenger was stopped at a checkpoint at Tullagreen, Carrigtwohill, County Cork, on Sunday October 2 2022.

Garda Dylan Murphy said the Hyundai car was stopped at 1pm on that date and the front seat passenger was very nervous and his hands were shaking. Six packages of cannabis wrapped in cling film inside a Lidl bag were found in a search and the defendant admitted moving these drugs for others.

In a follow-up search under warrant at his home in Beechgrove, Herons Wood, Carrigaline, County Cork, in Mr Prokopowiczs bedroom 4,600 worth of cannabis, scales, bags, vacuum-packers, a tick-list in a notebook and a crossbow and four crossbow bolts were found. The cash was also found.

In another incident some six months later on March 2 2023 the same man had 1,200 worth of cannabis for sale or supply  again in his bedroom. At the sentencing hearing for the October 2022 drug dealing the defendant was appealing a four-month suspended sentence imposed on him at district court level for the March 2023 offence.

William Bulman defence barrister said the defendant put his hands up and cooperated with the investigation and the reason he got involved in the March 2023 drug-dealing was because of the debt he accrued as a result of having the cash and drugs seized six months earlier.

In respect of the crossbow he purchased it and did not realise he needed a licence for it. He said that it Poland it would not need a licence. There was no malicious intent with the crossbow. It was for killing game more than else  it was more naivety than anything that he had no licence for it.

Judge Sheehan said: Originally from Poland he is here 20 years so he is well settled here. I am told he was a drug addict and he was doing this to clear a drug debt due by him

And that was also the explanation for what he was found doing in Macroom six months later.

He is working He was an addict working at a fairly low level. Probation are willing to work with him.

I will suspend all sentences for a period of three years, for him to come under the direction of the probation service.
A Mallow woman who was on bail in a case where she had concealed over 8,000 worth of cocaine in a babys nappy was caught drug-dealing again where she had drugs in her car and hidden inside her underwear.

40-year-old Fiona Twomey, of Rathcoole Mallow, was already serving 18 months for the cocaine in the nappy when she came forward for this latest sentencing for the more recent crime.

Being an offence committed on bail she was at risk of having the new sentence made consecutive to the existing jail term. Defence barrister Paula McCarthy asked for the consecutive sentence to be suspended.

Judge Dermot Sheehan acceded to this defence application and imposed 18 months consecutive but suspended this period on her release from prison.

In effect she is now serving the 18 months imposed earlier this year for the cocaine in the nappy. The new sentence of 18 months will hang over her as a sentence suspended from when she is released from prison.

Detective Garda Shannon Ryan said the latest offence was detected at St. Johns Well, Millstreet, County Cork, at 6.25 p.m. on July 2 2023.

Gardai stopped and spoke to the occupants of a car driven by Fiona Twomey and noticed a strong smell of cannabis. They informed her that a drugs search was about to be undertaken and she handed over quantities of cannabis and cocaine. A follow-up search of her person by a female garda uncovered more cocaine in her underwear. The total value of all the drugs was 1,200.

Det. Garda Ryan said that while the value of the drugs was not high the case was before the circuit rather than district court in light of previous drug-dealing.

Ms McCarthy barrister said there were very favourable reports on how well the accused was using her time in prison to benefit herself and others.

Detective Garda Ryan also gave evidence earlier this year in the other case where the accused was stopped driving in the Rathcoole area on February 2 2023.

Approximately 500 worth of cannabis was found during an initial search.

Asked if there were any more drugs in the car she replied that there were none. So a search was started and what appeared to be a used babys nappy was found in the boot of the car. This was opened by gardai who found the package of cocaine concealed inside. On analysis it consisted of 117 grammes of cocaine with a street value of 8,246.

At this stage in the search the defendant reached into her underwear and handed over cash in the amount of 3,800.

She pleaded guilty to money-laundering in respect of that amount of seized cash. And she also admitted having cocaine for sale or supply and having the smaller amount of cannabis for sale or supply also.

The judge was told that the 40-year-old had addiction issues and was addressing these, that she showed remorse and cooperated with the investigation.
Jennifer Thomas, 46, whose dangerous driving caused the death of her best friend was heard at the scene of the fatal crash in Glanmire hysterically repeating, Please wake up. How can I live without her?

Since the crash took the life of her friend, 50-year-old Sheila Dunne, Ms Thomas was admitted to hospital  on October 24  after making an attempt on her own life, saying it would have been better if she had also lost her own life in the crash in February.

Judge Helen Boyle heard the evidence throughout this afternoon and said there was a lot to consider so she said she would impose sentence on Thursday.

For the avoidance of doubt she said it would be a custodial sentence. Ms Thomas was then remanded in custody at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Lilley Dunne, 23, daughter of the late Sheila Dunne said today: Jennifers malicious lies trickled out to media vultures, compounding our grief.

"Newspapers and social media outlets covered the story and reported that my Mom was the driver of the car. Jennifers complete fabrication painted a picture of my Mom, Sheila, that was far from the truth, sensationalising the tragedy and stripping away her dignity and worsening our family suffering.

Its heartbreaking to see how easily someones untruthful words can overshadow all the goodness and integrity my Mom embodied.

Detective Garda Mark Durcan testified that on Sunday February 11 this year at around 7.30 p.m. the jeep driven by Jennifer Thomas, after drinking 12 alcoholic beverages in the course of the day, crashed and turned over causing injuries to her friend and front seat passenger, Sheila Dunne, as a result of which she died.

The two women had been friends for up to 20 years and on that day went to the 12 Tables restaurant in Douglas for lunch, followed by the Pier Head in Blackrock and The Castle Bar in Glanmire.

Ms Thomas drove a number of times during that day until she drove after 7 p.m. that evening with Ms Dunne her front seat passenger. On the journey home after being stopped in traffic she failed to drive off for over eight minutes, causing traffic from behind to beep and pass her. One motorist looked into the vehicle and said Jennifer Thomas was asleep at the wheel and it was clear that both driver and passenger were intoxicated, Det. Garda Durcan said.

At a later point in the journey the vehicle was seen going on to the incorrect side of the road and later stopping for five minutes. The jeep then hit a number of traffic cones, knocking them over. One citizen was so concerned they drove after the car.

The detective said Ms Thomas narrowly missed two pedestrians correcting the vehicle at the last moment.

Jennifer Thomas then drove around a left bend, failed to straighten the vehicle, (went on to a grass verge, mounted a walled kerb) and overturned on to the drivers side at 7.31 p.m.. Her phone was on Bluetooth and auto-contacted emergency services by 999, he said.

The detective said that Ms Dunne fell down on top of Ms Thomas in the drivers seat when the jeep-type vehicle landed on the drivers side. He said Ms Thomas was agitated and upset, repeatedly asking how Ms Dunne was.

When fire officers at the scene asked who was driving Ms Thomas told them she was driving. A short time later she told Garda Eric Stafford in response to the same question, that Sheila Dunne was driving because she had more control.

The detective said that Jennifer Thomas was wearing a seatbelt at the time and the late Ms Dunne was not, putting her 600% more at risk of serious injury, Det. Garda Durcan said.

Later again Ms Thomas said she could not remember who was driving. When questioned afterwards she accepted she was the driver at all times. Her senior counsel Tom Creed said she admitted she was driving and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

He said she also apologised to the family of the late Sheila Dunne and hoped they would find the space to heal. I am totally sorry in more ways than I can express."

Mr Creed said defence solicitor Eddie Burke had to write to media organisations as a result of reporting rumours from social media in this case, where a false allegation was made that a call was made to someone about moving a body  an allegation which he described as completely malicious. Mr Creed said that she was not the one who spread these rumours and in fact tried to stop them spreading.

VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENTS

The deceased womans mother, Esther OBrien, 74, said in her victim impact statement, I stand before you as a heartbroken mother who has lost her daughter, Sheila, to a drunk driver on February 13 2024. This loss has not only shattered my life but has also left two precious grandchildren without their mother.

My daughter was my biggest support. We shared a deep bond, she was my confidante, my source of strength.

The tragedy extends far beyond our little family. My daughters absence has left a profound emotional scar on all of us. I find myself constantly worrying about my grandchildrens wellbeing and their future.

This is something no mother could anticipate. I grapple with anger and sadness, not just for my daughter but also for the reckless choice that led to this loss. Its hard to trust and feel safe in the world when someones selfish decision has had such devastating consequences Only for (grandchildren), life is not worth living. I will carry this pain with me for the rest of my life.

Lilley Dunne spoke on behalf of herself and her younger brother TJ about the impact that losing their mother in this way has had on them.

As a 23-year-old girl, I have already faced the unbearable loss of my Dad and now to experience the agonising loss of my Mom feels like a cruel twist of fate that I cannot comprehend.

The month of February is traditionally known as the month of love. But February for me now only represents tragedy and death. On February 9 2021 my dad died unexpectedly from COVID. We had to watch him take his last few breaths after they removed his ventilator, and then on February 13 2024 I had to watch this all over again  watch my Moms heartbeat slow to a halt after they removed her ventilator.

This experience is what I can only describe as hell on earth and something that I wish no one would ever have to go through.

My beautiful Mom was taken from us far too soon at the young age of 50. In a car crash caused by a reckless decision made by a selfish individual. This choice has altered our lives forever.

I have known Jennifer for many years. It haunts me that on the day of the crash I repeatedly tried to contact Jennifer as I couldnt get through to my Mom as her phone was flat. I felt a huge worry as it was totally out of character for my Mom.

It was later verified to me that Jennifers phone was not flat and so I could only feel as though I was being ignored. The betrayal I feel is indescribable and it has broken my sense of safety and trust in everyone.

Jennifers partner and daughter told me my Mom was the one driving the car. I never believed this and this made an unimaginable tragedy even more painful for me and my family.

We spent two days at my Moms bedside hoping for a miracle. Out of respect, I made the decision to allow Jennifer to come in to say goodbye to my Mom. Knowing what I know now my decision would have been different.

Instead of honouring our Moms memory, Jennifers narrative aided the press in turning her death into a spectacle, further deepening our wounds and robbing us of the peace we desperately sought and still seek to this day.

Jennifer initiated contact with me during the most painful time of my existence. She asked for forgiveness but never took responsibility for her careless actions. She never said sorry.

Jennifers absence of remorse has made this grieving process so much more challenging. It is incredibly painful to know that someone, who I thought I knew, would withhold the truth in such a devastating way and it makes it harder to heal from this loss.

My mother was the heart and soul of our family, the core of our existence. She was my rock, my best friend, the one that stood by me through everything and losing her so soon and so tragically is so unfair.

This accident happened 1.2 km from our home on a road we would have used every day. I cannot bring myself to drive this road anymore.

My Mom Sheila Dunne embodied love, care and kindness in every aspect of her life. As a wife, a Mom, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a friend, an SNA and a pillar in the community, how does one possibly fill these shoes? I wish we could just have our Mom back. Our Moms death is a hole that no amount of time or apology can ever fill and no justice will bring her back.

Jennifer Thomas of 10 Oakfield View, Glanmire, Cork, pleaded guilty previously to the charge that on February 11 at L2973, Sarsfield Court, Glanmire, she drove in a manner that was dangerous to the public thereby causing the death of Sheila Dunne.

She will be sentenced on Thursday.
The Sinn Fein leader has described reports that Fine Gael contacted the state broadcaster about a video of Simon Harriss encounter with a care worker in Cork as chilling.

The Fine Gael leader accepted that party officials contacted RTE about the video, claiming it was to provide details about his plans for carers and disability services.

Mr Harris said he spoke to Charlotte Fallon, a disability worker with St Josephs Foundation, 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.

Mr Harris responds by saying no, not at all and thats not true several times before shaking her hand.

It was reported on Tuesday that members of Fine Gael contacted the broadcaster to express concern over the video.

Asked about these reports, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said it was chilling.

On Tuesday, Mr Harris told South East Radio he was not aware of any attempts by his party to stop the video being posted.

No, I dont believe so. This was a very serious moment on the campaign and it was quite right it was broadcast, he said.

I always expected it to be the case. However, in an interview with Joe Finnegan on Northern Sound radio, he said he understood contact had been made.

Theres always constant contact between political parties and RTE and journalists during the course of an election campaign, and I understand that there may have been contact in terms of offering RTE a statement or further detail about what my party intended to do around carers and around disability services.

But lets be honest, RTE is fully independent and it is entirely appropriate for that clip to be shown. It was an important interaction on the campaign trail. Asked if contact was made about the video clip and how it might be handled by RTE, he said: No, I wouldnt accept that characterisation. It comes after Fine Gael criticised Sinn Feins manifesto proposal to have an independent review of RTEs coverage of Gaza and other conflicts in the Middle East.

Mr Harris said: Perhaps most chillingly, in their manifesto there are a number of very concerning developments around the media itself.

Have we ever heard a political party in this country say that we should all get together and check if RTE, or indeed anybody else, is being objective on an issue. Fine Gael colleague Paschal Donohoe said any contact between Fine Gael and RTE would be appropriate.

Its the kind of exchange that happens normally, he added.
The clean-up from Storm Bert continues in communities across the country this week.

I am thinking of the heart-heavy people sweeping muck out of their homes and businesses and throwing possessions in skips.

With the red weather warning and incessant wind and rain over the weekend, I was reminded of a story I covered on a recent episode of RTEs 10 Things To Know About, about how we make sure we keep babies and young children fed safely during an emergency.

Emergencies can present themselves in many different forms, sudden or slow burning.

Floods forcing home evacuations and extreme storms causing power and water supply outages are among the more acute emergencies. The arrival of large numbers of refugees needing accommodation, or a global pandemic which shuts down society, are the more slowly unfolding crises.

Babies and young children are some of the most vulnerable in society and can be affected by these emergencies in unexpected ways. A family can be forced to leave their house in a hurry for many reasons, and if there are babies and young children in tow, it can be incredibly stressful to make sure they are safe and cared for in whatever temporary accommodation is available.

Babies under six months rely on either breast milk or infant formula as a sole source of food, which puts them at serious risk if they are separated from their mother or if the supply of infant formula is compromised during an emergency. Without proper support, they face serious risks such as infections, malnutrition, and illnesses like diarrhoea.

Its not often I get to coo over adorable babies at work, but earlier in the year I was fortunate to spend a morning admiring babies and interviewing their mothers at a baby yoga class about the topic of feeding babies during emergencies.

Like me, it wasnt something they had given much consideration to until we started thinking of various emergency scenarios.

For breastfeeding mothers, there is great comfort in knowing they are able to feed their babies anywhere. However, access to good breastfeeding support in the early days and weeks after birth is critical.

During the covid-19 pandemic, the shutdown of health facilities left many mothers without access to specialist help, leading to stress and worry, or, at worst, early cessation of breastfeeding.

For parents who choose to feed their baby formula, their stress and worry in an emergency focuses on access to clean water and electricity to prepare a bottle safely, and access to formula itself if there is a shortage of supply or getting to a shop is difficult.

In too many Irish communities local water supplies are regularly disrupted, with boil water notices or discoloured water leading to anxiety about accessing safe water to make up a bottle.

Many of the mothers I spoke to had luckily never experienced an emergency situation with their babies, but recognised that having a contingency plan is a good idea.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged all Member States to develop preparedness plans for infant feeding during emergencies. Ireland doesnt have one yet, but researchers in TU Dublin and Queens University Belfast are developing an All-Island plan by early 2025 to address this gap.

Bringing together experts in nutrition, public health, climate change, law, and policy, the project will develop a cross-border strategy to make sure emergency support is not delivered in an ad-hoc way in the future.

Go Vote

There is fierce interest in the General Election in our house.

My kids are thrilled with the extra day off school on Friday and can name all the Cork South Central constituency candidates because their posters line the walk to school and the flyers keep piling up in our letterbox.

Weve also had candidates call to the door and myself and my husband (not ones to keep our opinions to ourselves!) have had lengthy chats on the doorstep with whoever calls looking for a vote.

My kids even drew up their own election posters - their slogan, Vote for me or else!

A menacing motto would not pass muster with most, but at least they have a basic understanding of the workings of democracy.

However, not everyone is engaged with the political process. At the last general election in February 2020, 37% of voters didnt make their voice heard on how they wanted the country run in the next five years.

Of course there will be attrition, people who are away or unable to vote on polling day for whatever reason, but other European countries like Belgium, Denmark, and Sweden enjoy turn-outs of over 80% of the electorate. Is there a general trend of voter apathy and disillusionment in Ireland?

In the Irish local elections back in June, voter turn-out was 49.4%, marking the first time participation fell below 50% in such elections.

In the last 20 years, voter engagement peaked in the 2011 post-crash election followed by a steady decrease in subsequent elections.

The 2020 general election was the lowest turn-out in 20 years.

How do we remind people that if you care about what the country is going to be like in the next 5, 10, 15 years, then engaging in the political process is essential?

Higher voter turn-out reflects a society where people feel their voices matter and are actively involved in shaping their communitys future.

If Ireland is to face the challenges of poly-crises of housing, health, and climate, it needs citizens who understand the stakes and vote for the person or party they want to create a better future for all.
Ellen O'Donoghue

The two most senior officials of the body overseeing the new National Children's Hospital have resigned.

The acting chief executive and interim deputy chief executive of Children's Health Ireland are both stepping down from their roles.

The role of CHI chief executive was vacant from last November after Eilish Hardiman went on medical leave. In January, Fiona Murphy was appointed as acting chief executive and staff were told in April that Ms Hardiman had been reassigned to a new role of strategic programme director.

Earlier this year, the board began a recruitment process to fill the chief executive role on a permanent basis. The HSE has said an announcement on this appointment is imminent.

In a memo to staff on Monday morning, Dr Jim Browne, chairman of the board for CHI, announced Ms Murphys resignation, stating it would be effective from February 2025. It is understood Ms Murphy resigned due to a job opportunity in the private sector.

Separately, Stephen Flanagan, interim deputy chief executive and chief financial officer of CHI, has also resigned from his post, with his last day of work being this Wednesday.

Mr Flanagan has been chief financial officer since 2019, having previously been financial director at CHI Crumlin and financial controller at St Jamess Hospital in Dublin.

The resignations come at a critical time for the hospital, which is trying to be finished by next year.
By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

A potentially dangerous bacteria was found in 459 water outlets in Belfasts new maternity hospital, MLAs have been told.

The figure was revealed by DUP MLA Diane Dodds as she launched a motion calling for a full independent inquiry into delays to the completion of the new maternity and childrens hospital projects in the city.

It was revealed earlier this year that the maternity hospital opening was facing a new delay after high levels of the bacteria pseudomonas were found in water systems.

The hospital had been expected to open next year when the Belfast Trust took possession of the new building in March.

However, during testing of its water systems, high levels of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PsA) were discovered, leading the trust to say the project is facing a significant new delay.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is found widely in soil and stagnant water.

It does not usually cause illness in healthy people but can pose a serious threat to people with weak immune systems.

Speaking at the Northern Ireland Assembly, Mrs Dodds said the increases in costs for the new maternity and childrens hospitals were astronomical and were putting intolerable pressure on the health budget.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA.

Referring to the maternity hospital, she said: Shortly after the (Belfast) trust took charge of the building, pseudomonas was confirmed in a significant number of water outlets, rendering the hospital unsafe and requiring significant reparative work.

Indeed an answer to a written question I received just today indicates that this is in fact 459 different water outlets and that is 36% of the total water outlets in the building.

Mrs Dodds said she had received further information from Health Minister Mike Nesbitt that the trusts water safety team was not involved in the handover of the building from the contractor in March.

She said: A full independent inquiry should take place, outwith the Belfast Trust and those who participated or acted in a professional advisory capacity in the decision making.

The MLA said she also wanted to know the extent of the risk assessment carried out by the trust before the handover of the building.

She said: Northern Ireland cannot afford losses on this scale.

I do think that those who made these decisions around the handover of the contract and the decision to proceed need to be held accountable.

It is long past time that things did change.

Addressing the minister, she added: You have the opportunity to do that through a full robust inquiry into what happened so we do not repeat continuously the mistakes of the past.

The new maternity hospital is already several years overdue and is well over budget.

A Northern Ireland Audit Office report earlier this year said the hospital was originally expected to be completed by the end of 2015.

Three babies died during a previous outbreak of the bacteria at Belfasts Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital in 2012.
By Josh Payne, PA Chief Reporter

Four bodies have been recovered and three more people have been rescued as the search continues for missing tourists, including an Irish citizen, aboard a yacht that sank in the Red Sea.

The Irish national who was on board is OK, Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin said.

The Sea Story was carrying 44 people, including 31 foreign nationals from the UK, the US, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain and Ireland, when it was struck by a large wave on Monday.

The governor of the Red Sea, Amr Hanafi, said in a statement that nine people are still missing.

Amr Hanafi speaks to survivors (Egyptian Press Centre/AP)

The identity of those who have been recovered from the water is unknown, he added.

The UK foreign office said consular support is being provided to a number of British nationals and their families after the vessel capsized south of the coastal town of Marsa Alam.

Mr Hanafi said those who had previously been rescued were in good health.

The Sea Story had its last safety inspection in March, the governor said.

Rescuers wait on the beach of Marsa Alam (AP)

In a statement, he added that according to those on board the ship, a large wave was the reason the vessel capsized, and some were inside cabins which meant they could not get out.

A distress call was made from the yacht shortly before dawn on Monday.

The vessel had left Marsa Alam for a five-day trip.

Mr Hanafi ruled out any technical defect on the ship, saying all required licences had been obtained.

The Egyptian Meteorological Authority warned of high waves on the Red Sea and advised against maritime activity on Sunday and Monday.

The yacht was operated by Dive Pro Liveaboard, based in the Egyptian resort of Hurghada.

Survivors rest at a coffee shop in Marsa Alam (AP)

The company said it has no information on the matter.

Rescue operations are being co-ordinated by the Egyptian military and the Red Sea Governorate.

Armed forces aircraft were deployed as part of the response.

Marsa Alam is a popular destination for tourists on diving holidays as it is near large areas with coral reefs.

Three Britons died in June last year when the diving boat they were on burst into flames off Marsa Alam.

The fire was caused by a suspected electrical fault.
High Court Reporter

Glenveagh has settled its 8 million High Court claim against two Co Meath residents it alleged serially objected to its planning applications as part of an alleged attempted shakedown.

Mr Justice Richard Humphreys agreed to make orders, with consent from both sides, cancelling the planned two-week hearing due to start on Tuesday and for Glenveaghs legal costs to be covered by defendants Pat Lynch and Denise Leavy.

The courts order on consent also noted that Mr Lynch and Ms Leavy accept that the within proceedings do not constitute strategic litigation against public participation.

No further details of the settlement were outlined to the court.

Mr Lynch, an insurance consultant, and Ms Leavy, a retired bank official, continue to strongly deny all the allegations against them.

Glenveaghs case is believed to have been the first developer legal action in Ireland alleging abuse of the statutory planning process by way of tortious interference with its business interests.

It claimed the duos actions were predominantly aimed at leveraging an improved bargain for Mr Lynch in his bid to secure better terms in selling 16 acres of his land to Glenveagh.

A 7.8 million price tag had previously been agreed in principle, the firm claimed.

The developer alleged the defendants were highly targeted in making submissions and appeals on its projects across the country as part of an alleged shake-down attempt while costing Glenveagh millions.

Mr Lynch and Ms Leavy, who both have addresses in Batterstown, Proudstown, Navan, Co Meath, were set to contest the case over two weeks without the assistance of lawyers in what they characterised as a David and Goliath showdown.

They had asked the court on many occasions to delay the hearing for a chance to fight this as their previous lawyers, FP Logue, ceased representing them, and they were struggling to find a replacement legal team.

They maintain that their objections had no vexatious intent and were made as per planning laws. The developers case against them was entirely groundless, they claimed.

Last April, Mr Justice Humphreys rejected an application from Mr Lynch and Ms Leavy seeking to have the case thrown out at an early stage because, they claimed, it amounted to abusive strategic litigation against public participation (Slapp).

The judge said the construction firms case raised complex issues and required further investigation by way of a full High Court trial, when disputes over factual claims could be teased out.

The defendants were at that point represented by solicitors and a junior and senior barrister.

Glenveagh Homes denies its case was Slapp or designed to intimidate. It was represented by Michael Howard SC, Niall Handy SC and Kevin Bell, instructed by AMOSS solicitors.

The case will be mentioned before the court in May 2025.
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.

Party delegates including Wopke Hoekstra (C-R, standing), European commissioner for climate action, applaud in the early hours during the second part of the closing plenary at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan on Nov. 24, 2024. Sean Gallup / Getty Images

In an agreement struck during overtime at the United Nations COP29 Climate Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Sunday, the worlds wealthiest nations agreed to a combined annual contribution of at least $300 billion to assist developing nations with tackling the impacts of the climate crisis.

Developing nations had sought more than $1 trillion per year in assistance, and called the deal insultingly low, arguing it would not provide enough essential resources to adequately address climate change, reported UN News.

An agreement at COP29 was absolutely essential to keep the 1.5 degree limit alive, said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a statement. I had hoped for a more ambitious outcome  on both finance and mitigation  to meet the great challenge we face. But this agreement provides a base on which to build.

Following two weeks of negotiations, COP29 delegates agreed to the annual climate financing pledge, with an overarching funding target of at least $1.3 trillion by 2035, UN News said.

The existing $100 billion funding target is set to expire next year and will be replaced with the new collective quantified goal (NCQG).

The NCQG must be honoured in full and on time. Commitments must quickly become cash. All countries must come together to ensure the top-end of this new goal is met, Guterres said.

While cheers and applause followed the announcement, many nations were frustrated.

The amount that is proposed to be mobilised is abysmally poor. Its a paltry sum, Leela Nandan, Indias secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, told the conference, as BBC News reported.

Small island nations also expressed dismay with the $300 billion deal.

After this COP29 ends, we cannot just sail off into the sunset. We are literally sinking, a small island nations representative said, as reported by UN News. The representative added that the result highlighted what a very different boat our vulnerable countries are in, compared to the developed countries.

African countries were disappointed with the outcome, which Sierra Leones representative said signals a lack of goodwill by developed countries, adding that the agreement was less than a quarter of what science shows is needed and barely enough to forestall a climate catastrophe.

Striking a more positive tone regarding the new goal, a European Union representative said it simply will bring much, much more private money on the table, and that is what we need. And with these funds, we are confident we will reach the 1.3 trillion objective.

In a speech on Sunday, Simon Stiell, UN Climate Change executive secretary, described the new financing target as an insurance policy for humanity.

This deal will keep the clean energy boom growing and protect billions of lives. It will help all countries to share in the huge benefits of bold climate action: more jobs, stronger growth, cheaper and cleaner energy for all. But like any insurance policy  it only works  if the premiums are paid in full, and on time, Stiell said.

At the climate summit, nations agreed on rules for a global carbon market backed by the UN to facilitate the trading of carbon credits. However, some have expressed fears that the carbon credit scheme will lead to the greenwashing of countries climate goals.

These latest international talks failed to solve the question of climate finance, said Mike Childs, head of policy at Friends of the Earth, as BBC News reported. Instead they have again kicked the can down the road.
The White House is reducing Intels CHIPS Act award by over $600 million. Initially set to receive $8.5 billion from the domestic silicon production bill, the company will get up to $7.85 billion instead. On Tuesday, The New York Times reported that Intel has extended some plant openings beyond 2030 government deadlines. However, the Commerce Department said the funding reduction was instead due to a $3 billion military contract Intel was awarded.

Intel posted its biggest-ever quarterly loss last month after announcing 15,000 layoffs in August. The chip-makers struggles have reportedly led some government officials to worry about its ability to deliver as a central component of the Biden White Houses CHIPS Act.

Intel will receive at least $1 billion in CHIPS Act funding before the end of the year. The company plans to invest $90 billion in the US by the decades end, a reduction from its initial goal of $100 billion in the next five years. The Commerce Department said the chip maker is still on schedule to invest the full $100 billion on projects in four states: Arizona ($3.94 billion), Oregon ($1.86 billion), Ohio ($1.5 billion) and New Mexico ($500 million).

ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement

One of the outgoing Presidents landmark bills, the CHIPS Act is projected to create over 125,000 jobs across 20 states while spurring US silicon manufacturing and decreasing reliance on foreign manufacturers. Intel is the largest recipient of CHIPS Act money.

The Commerce Department has reportedly moved quickly to finalize awards with the bills recipients before the second Trump term begins in January. The President-elect attacked the legislation and its cost during his campaign, and House Speaker Mike Johnson said at the time Republicans probably will try to repeal the CHIPS Act. However, Johnson later walked back his remarks, and analysts predicted after the election that the legislation would likely survive.

Earlier this month, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the worlds leading advanced chip maker, was the first to have its grants finalized. It will receive $6.6 billion (including at least $1 billion before the end of the year) for three plants in Arizona, which are expected to create tens of thousands of jobs by the end of the decade.

US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo has reportedly urged tech companies  including Apple, Amazon, NVIDIA, AMD and others  to work with Intel because the 56-year-old company is the only US-based logic chip maker. However, most companies were said to have rejected her pleas because Intels chip-making techniques are not as sophisticated as TSMCs, according to a NYT report last month.

Although Taiwan is an ally and economic partner of the US, the Biden administration reportedly views reliance on it as increasingly risky as China poses a continual threat to take over the self-governing island. Last month, China held military drills in the sea and sky surrounding Taiwan as a warning after the islands president, Lai Ching-te, reasserted the islands independence in a holiday speech. The US State Department said it was seriously concerned about the show of force.
If you ask Drake, Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us isn't as popular as it seems. The Canadian rapper has filed a petition in New York's Supreme Court, accusing Universal Music Group of using bots and paying Spotify, Apple and other entities to "artificially inflate the spread of Not Like Us and "deceiving consumers" into believing that "it was more popular than it was in reality." Universal Music Group represents both Drake and Lamar.

"In 2024, UMG did not rely on chance, or even ordinary business practices, to 'break through the noise' on Spotify, and likely other music platforms. It instead launched a campaign to manipulate and saturate the streaming services and airwaves with a song, Not Like Us. in order to make that song go viral, including by using 'bots' and pay-to-play agreements," the petition reads. Drake's camp filed the petition to seek pre-action discovery in order to prepare a lawsuit accusing UMG of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).

The music label allegedly charged Spotify 30 percent less for the right to stream Not Like Us in exchange for the streaming service recommending the song to users looking for other artists and tracks. Neither party has disclosed the deal. UMG also used bots to boost the song's popularity, the complaint says, citing a podcast wherein an individual reportedly said that Lamar's label paid him to use bots to achieve 30,000,000 streams on Spotify within the first few days of the song's release.

ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement

UMG also paid Apple to have Siri "purposely misdirect" users to Lamar's song, the complaint alleges. Apparently, Siri starts playing Not Like Us, "which contains the lyric 'certified pedophile' that's an allegation against Drake," when a user asks it to play Drake's Certified Loverboy album. In addition, Drake accused UMG of paying radio promoters to increase the song's airplay and influencers to review the song without disclosing that money had changed hands.

The complaint says the company's executives launched the scheme to maximize their profits. UMG apparently refused to engage in negotiations even though Drake's camp has been trying to get them to sit down and talk over the past few months. In his complaint, Drake claims that UMG has taken steps to conceal its scheme, including firing personnel close to him. "The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue," the company's spokesperson told The Verge. Spotify has decline to comment about the issue.
The US Federal Trade Commission published a paper that found 89 percent of connected devices do not detail how long the item will receive software support. The study examined product websites looking for specifics about how long the company expected to support the device. Within the 11 percent of product sites that shared this information, the review found cases with ambiguous language as well as inconsistencies in where dates were displayed. As a secondary test, the researchers conducted basic Google searches for information about support dates and couldn't quickly find answers for 67 percent of the devices.

"Consumers stand to lose a lot of money if their smart products stop delivering the features they want," said Samuel Levine, director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the FTC. "When shopping for smart devices, consumers should ask questions and consider how long their product will last."

The 89 percent figure sounds like a pretty damning rate, but there is a major caveat to this research. The FTC only looked at 184 products, and they fell across a huge range of categories. The review excluded laptops, personal computers, tablets and automobiles, but any other "connected device" was covered. So while the real percentages are likely hazier than this report suggests, the FTC's point about considering ongoing product support is still a good one.

It's becoming more common for smartphone manufacturers to say upfront how long they'll support the device; for instance, Samsung will keep the S24 line updated for seven years. The wave of right to repair laws that have been passed in a few states, most recently in California, could also point toward longer lifespans for hardware. However, that practice clearly hasn't spread to all personal and home tech. Today's paper from the FTC doesn't advise any action on the topic, but it does highlight a need to set expectations around how and when companies will offer support for their software-driven products.
With launch of its Mate 70 and foldable Mate X6 smartphones, Huawei unveiled its latest mobile OS that it says no longer uses any Android open-source code, Bloomberg reported. HarmonyOS Next was supposedly built entirely in-house as part of Huawei's plans to do build a platform entirely free of major US tech sources, both for hardware and software.

The Mate 70 series arrives in China on December 4 as follow up to the Mate 60. The latter model was also significant as it was the first Huawei smartphone to use a processor that was fully made in China, showing the company could get around US trade restrictions. However, Huawei will be limited to 7-nanometer tech for the next couple of years, while rival Apple is getting ready to move to 2-nanometer chips.

Having in-house chips and software has long been Huawei's aim. The company first announced its own operating system way back in 2012, anticipating that partners like Google "won't let us use their system[s] one day." Seven years later the company confirmed that it did have a homemade operating system later revealed as HarmonyOS. That still used a lot of open-source Android code, but Huawei says the latest version is fully Android-free.

ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement

Despite the company's claims of in-house chip manufacturing, it was discovered recently that TSMC chips were possibly shipped illegally to Huawei via a third-party company. The US imposed trade restrictions on Huawei in the first place after it tried to steal trade secrets from T-Mobile and bypass Iran sanctions.

Huawei said that the new OS still needs several months of refinement to improve the user experience, but the aim is to install it on all future smartphones. The Mate 70 models will start at $760 for the 6.7-inch edition and go up for the pro models, with Huawei promising a 40 percent performance bump, partially due to the new OS.

If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission.
Wendy Williams is "permanently incapacitated" according to a recent filing from Wiliams' guardian, Sabrina Morrissey.

The shocking admission was revealed in court documents by Morrissey, who is currently in a legal battle with Lifetime network following the documentary "Where Is Wendy Williams?.'

Morrissey describes the 60-year-old acclaimed media personality as an "entertainer who, tragically, has been afflicted by early-onset dementia and as a result, has become cognitively impaired and permanently incapacitated," according to the court documents obtained by the 'U.S. Sun.'

"In January 2022, after becoming aware of a pattern of disturbing events concerning [Wendy's] welfare and finances, Wells Fargo took the highly unusual step of initiating a guardianship proceeding on its own initiative in the Supreme Court of New York, New York County (the 'Guardianship Proceeding'), to seek the court appointment of an independent guardian for [Wendy's] financial affairs," the filing details further.

The news outlet reported that Williams' legal team has plead with the court for particular portions of her case to remain under wraps  including "health, familial relationships, and finances  all allegedly for the purpose of protecting her privacy.

"We respectfully request that the Court grant Plaintiff's motion for limited redactions to protect non-public information from the Guardianship Proceeding that has been placed under seal by the court overseeing that proceeding," the papers requested.

'ENSTARZ' reported back in June when Williams' best friend Regina Schell expressed concern for the former WBLS radio host, claiming that her guardianship is "worse" than Britney Spears  who endured a controversial conservatorship for 13 years.

Read more: Jennifer Lawrence Reacts to Critics of Her Talking Politics After She Dropped Out of School at 14

"This is a Britney Spears thing, only it's worse since it's not even Wendy's family who has control," Schell said. "At least with Britney Spears, it was her dad, it was her family. This is a woman who's not even family. And how does this guardian get all this standing?"

In May, it was reported that the same guardian, Morrissey, sold Williams' dream abode -- her apartment in Manhattan -- which she acquired for $4.5 million back in 2021.

This case originally stems from Morrissey's attempt to stop Lifetime from releasing their documentary back in February by way of restraining order, per the 'U.S. Sun.' The request was appealed by a judge who maintained that stopping the documentary would be an "impermissible prior restraint on speech that violates the First Amendment of the institution."

"The Wendy Williams" talk show host was placed under legal guardianship back in 2022 following a diagnosis of alcohol-related brain damage. She was last spotted in Newark, New Jersey visiting a holistic wellness store alongside her son, Kevin Hunter Jr.

The store employee on shift during that time said that Williams appeared to be "sharp, upbeat and aware," per 'Extra.'
At least 17 people are missing after a tourist yacht sank in the Red Sea following warnings about rough seas, Egyptian officials said Monday. The governor of the Red Sea region, Amr Hanafy, said rescuers saved 28 people from the vessel south of the coastal town of Marsa Alam, and some were airlifted to receive medical treatment.
Hundreds of mourners gathered on Monday in the pouring rain for a ceremony ahead of the funeral of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who was killed in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE said Monday police arrested three Uzbek nationals following the death of Zvi Kogan, who ran a kosher grocery store in Dubai.
Tuesday, November 26, 2024

I gotta tell you, theres a lot of bad selling going on out there.

I think Ive lost count of the poorly written, cold emails that hit my inbox. Most describe a desire to help with my e-commerce site  but I dont operate one.

Theres also the lucrative partnership opportunities from retail tech vendors.

I can easily translate that to its true meaning: open up your rolodex, make introductions, and get a cut of any deal that comes from it.

First, I dont know anything about you or your product. Second, if youre not much of a closer, then what shall I do with that lucrative 0% commission?

I guess I become irritated at this as I used to carry a quota and made a very good living from cold-calling as a B2B sales rep.

One thing that was repeatedly drilled into my brain was the need to build credibility in the sales process.

Its not a one time thing. It needs to be done continuously, from cold call to close.

This is accomplished through a variety of means not limited to: your preparation, handling of objections and empathy.

One of the ways to flex the empathy muscle is not just to think about your customer, but to think about your customers customer.

Think of it this way: B2B Buyers must assess various risk factors when considering a buying decision. One risk to consider is How will this purchase impact my customers?

What will customers think of my business if I buy this product/solution?

And so on.

There are numerous examples of where a B2B buyer must consider their customers perception of the purchase.

Nowhere is this more pertinent than when a brand wants to sell into a wholesale partner. The brand needs to understand that a retail buyer must serve the customer of the retailer. As such, how does the product (or products) fit into their overall assortment?

Retail tech is no different. Sellers need to discuss how the software will impact the experience for the customer of the retailer.

Often times, this discussion means the seller might have to teach the retailer something about their customer that they previously did not know.

When I used to call upon small/medium retailers to sell software, I often had debates on the merits of customer loyalty programs or the emerging demand for small retailers to sell online.

This was intended to help my prospect learn something about their customers.

That, in fact, customers indeed had an affinity for loyalty programs and that they would look favorably on buying products online from a local business.

In turn, this helped my prospects make a favorable buying decision.

But here is something else to think about  bad selling prevents retailers from evolving.

Here is what I mean: Salesforce, in their recent State of Sales report, indicated that 67% of sales reps dont expect to meet quota this year while 84% missed it last year.

On the next page of the report you find this statement:

Buyers expect trusted advisors and reps dont show this.

Moreover, 86% of buyers say that they are more likely to buy when their goals are understood. On the other hand, almost 60% of buyers say reps dont take the time to do this.

So, bad selling might be delaying critical buying decisions for technology and other products/services that retailers need. T

hat should signal to sellers just how important their role is and be sufficiently motivated to up their game.

After all, life is too short for bad selling.

Especially when youre the one being sold to.
The issue of agricultural fraud is in the spotlight after one farmer lost 16,000 when criminals hacked his emails to tamper with genuine invoices.

The incident was discussed on the BBC's recent Countryfile programme, as part of the broadcaster's ongoing Scam Safe week.

Two farmers spoke about how scams affected them, and Harper Adams criminologist Dr Kreseda Smith shared her research into how such crimes affect victims.

BBC presenter Tom Heap met with farmers Alan Steven, from St Andrews in Fife, and Rob Alderson, from Ludlow in Shropshire.

Alan was the victim of invoice fraud, where criminals hacked his emails to tamper with genuine invoices.

Adding their bank details, the fraudsters put in two invoices, for 12,000 and 16,000  and while Alan received some of the money back, he still lost 16,000.

Meanwhile Rob found himself caught out by a Facebook page which was offering a machine he hoped could help him during that years busy harvest.

The machine appeared to be in Scotland  which was too far for Rob to travel during harvest  but the page and the machine looked convincing enough for Rob to pay more than 6,000  at which point the seller vanished.

Rob eventually got his money back, but both he and Alan described how affecting it had been for them to be targeted by the criminals.

The programme set out how around 50m was lost to invoice scammers last year  and highlighted a recent investigation which discovered at least one in three Facebook Marketplace listings could be fraudulent, costing those affected almost 60m.

To find out how these various scams can affect those targeted, Tom visited Harper Adams to speak with Dr Smith, where she set out her research into the issue and how serious the impact of these crimes can be.

She said: "Research that I've done in the past with farmers has indicated that this can range anything from anxiety, paranoia, lack of sleep, right through to the extremes of suicidal behaviour, which is a horrendous thought.

We hear it a lot - when victims of fraud and scams say things like how could I be so stupid to fall for that?

Because of this, she added that fraud was "probably one of those crimes that is an extreme example of under-reporting".

It's important not to think that you're an idiot for falling for this. Criminals are clever - [they] have a good idea of the agricultural calendar. so they know harvest time is a great time to try.

Criminals are very quick to respond to changes in the environment. The recent budget is front and centre of farmers minds at the moment, and I think criminals are aware of that.

"And I think this whole issue around inheritance tax may raise the opportunity for criminals to perpetrate some kind of scam, whether it's a way of helping farmers to reduce their liabilities, or some other form. That is a potential."

Dr Smith concluded: This just shows how flexible criminals are  so they can work very quickly to create a new scam.
A new comprehensive guide has been launched to help newcomers into the rapidly expanding UK vineyard sector.

The guide is primarily aimed at new growers coming into the sector, but also provides a useful 'aide memoir' to those with more experience.

It covers everything from soil preparation before planting, rootstock selection and ongoing nutrition, through to pest, disease, and weed control.

There is also advice on sprayer calibration and tank mix sequences, plus conversion tables and an annually updated section listing approved crop protection materials, along with an outline spray programme.

There are now more than 1,000 vineyards registered in the UK, and a lot of those are small, family-owned sites.

The average size is around 4ha, but this masks considerable variation, from large commercial producers to relatively small-scale sites covering less than a hectare.

The latter could be more of a diversification activity for the main farming business, or perhaps a lifestyle choice.

Agronomy firm Hutchinsons, which launched the guide, says a lot of growers may not necessarily be able to justify full in-person agronomy support.

This guide is part of a new service Hutchinsons is offering to provide those smaller-scale growers with access to sustainable, high quality agronomy advice and ongoing support," the firm says.

Seasons such as the one just gone have really highlighted the importance of good crop management and well planned crop protection in maintaining a productive vineyard."

Growers who would like to receive a copy of the free guide can register for it via Hutchinsons' website.
Researchers have received over 500,000 from the government to help 'transform' lowland and upland livestock farms for net zero goals.

Scientists at Scotlands Rural College (SRUC) will use the funds to measure greenhouse gas emissions from grazing livestock.

The researchers, who have received a 566,000 grant from the UK government, will also analyse soil health and carbon storage in lowland and upland grass.

It is part of a wider project which aims to help the UK achieve its mitigation goals, with the potential to help the UK save more than 1.6 billion annually.

At SRUCs research centre near Loch Lomond, scientists will assess effects of different grazing strategies in upland lamb production on soil, greenhouse gas emissions, productivity and efficiency.

Self-selection of where to graze by individuals within the flock of 600 hill sheep will be monitored via animal locational recording and GPS tracking.

Methane emissions will be measured from individual sheep using the portable GreenSheep facility, alongside growth, body conditions, maternal traits, and welfare.

On SRUCs farm in Aberdeen, the project will utilise a long-term experiment to investigate the carbon storage potential of short-term leys in arable rotations.

Researchers say this experiment offers a unique opportunity to follow grazed mixed herbal leys through their lifetime and subsequent incorporation for arable production.

Gaseous losses of carbon and nitrogen will be measured throughout the entire rotation.

SRUC will also lead one of six UK Land Use Clusters for Agroecology (LUCAs), each designed to engage with a range of farmers and land managers.

The Scottish cluster will address the use of rotational grazing and agri-tech for improved grassland management and understanding the role of vegetation type in soil carbon storage.

Working with a wide group of stakeholders to identify public priorities and trade-offs with respect to ecosystem services, researchers say the valuation of ecosystem services will help to inform future support measures.

Professor Christine Watson, who is leading the SRUC research, said it was a 'really exciting' project.

"We are able to contribute a considerable range of expertise, across grasslands, ecology, animal science and modelling, in helping to truly understand the climate change mitigation potential of UK grassland.
NFU Scotland has made its case for the Scottish government to 'secure the future' of farming and crofting, as farmers are set to rally outside Holyrood.

Ahead of the protest, the union has today outlined a 'clear case' for increases to investment in both agriculture and rural development.

The demonstration, which starts on Thursday (28 November) at 11:30am, is being held ahead of the Scottish governments budget on 4 December.

This pivotal moment comes as funding responsibilities for agricultural and rural policy are now entirely devolved to the Scottish government.

For the 2025-26 fiscal year, the Scottish government will receive an increased block grant from Westminster, including the 620m previously ring-fenced for the Agriculture and Rural Economy (ARE) portfolio.

While the 620m has been rolled over, it is no longer ring-fenced, leaving its allocation entirely at the discretion of Scottish government.

NFU Scotland is calling for an increase in the ARE budget in addition to the promised return of 46 million previously deferred from agricultural funding.

According to the union, such an increase would help maintain and expand the contributions of Scotlands farmers to food security, economic growth, and climate and biodiversity goals.

Farmers and crofters from across Scotland will gather outside Holyrood on Thursday to urge the Scottish government to deliver these demands.

NFU Scotland director of policy, Jonnie Hall said farmers and crofters 'deserve' such a budget.

Our figures show that a modest budget increase in the agricultural portfolio would deliver a strong return on investment, fostering employment and growth in areas with limited economic alternatives."

As the Scottish government now has full control over agricultural funding, Mr Hall said the Scottish budget was a 'test of their commitment to Scotlands rural future.'

He said: That is why we are calling on all farmers and crofters and all those from industries upstream and downstream to rally outside the Scottish parliament on Thursday.

"Our farmers and crofters are ready to deliver for Scotland, but they need the financial backing to do so. The time for Scottish government to act is now.

It follows thousands of farmers across the UK protesting in London earlier this week, as anger brews over the Labour government's 20% inheritance tax and the direction of future policy.

Inherited agricultural assets worth over 1 million, which were previously exempt, will have to pay inheritance tax at 20% from April 2026 - half the usual rate.

The protest also took place against continued high costs, tightening margins and uncertainty over future government policy.

Elsewhere, in Northern Ireland, over 6,000 farmers gathered at an event organised by the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) due to concerns at the 'flawed' changes to agricultural property relief (APR).

What is NFU Scotland calling for?

The union's budget submission includes the following key asks for the 2025-26 Scottish budget:

 Full rollover of 620 million  the 620 million allocated in the block grant for agricultural and rural development must be maintained in its entirety.

 Additional investment  a further 50 million, reflecting the block grant increase, should be added to the baseline funding.

 Restoration of uncommitted funds  the remaining 46 million of uncommitted funds removed from previous budgets must be returned.

 Annual contributions sustained  the Scottish Governments annual contribution of approximately 60 million to agricultural funding continues.

 Ring-fenced support  budgetary allocations for farming and crofting must be safeguarded to ensure consistent support.

 Multi-annual funding commitments  future budgets should include multi-annual commitments to provide financial stability for farmers and crofters.
Polands apparel imports from Turkiye stood at $1.021 billion in the first eight months of the current year. The later country was the third largest supplier with a share of 10.81 per cent in the formers apparel imports, which were totalled $9.448 billion in the same period. Larger suppliersBangladesh and Chinacontributed more than 45 per cent in Polands apparel imports.

According to Fibre2Fashions market insight tool TexPro, the imports from Turkiye increased by 5.83 per cent from the inbound shipment of $965.251 million in January-August 2023. Turkiyes share was 11.14 per cent in Polands total apparel imports of $8.667 billion during the period last year.

Poland imported $1.021 billion worth of apparel from Turkiye in January-August 2024, making Turkiye its third-largest supplier with a 10.81 per cent share. Imports rose 5.83 per cent from $965.251 million in 2023. Poland also imported $75.389 million of fabric from Turkiye, down from $89.373 million last year. Turkiye's share in Poland's total fabric imports was 9.71 per cent.

In 2023, Turkiyes contribution was 11.91 per cent in Polands total apparel imports of $13.673 billion. The imports from Turkiye were valued at $1.628 billion.

Polands imports from the partner nation have seen consistent growth in the last several years. The imports grew 61.11 per cent to $803.847 million in year 2020 year-on-year. It further jumped 51.19 per cent to $1.215 billion in 2021. The inbound shipment inched up 3.89 per cent to $1.262 billion in 2021 and further increased by 28.97 per cent to $1.628 billion in 2022, as per TexPro.

Poland also imported fabric of $75.389 million from Turkiye in January-August 2024, which was 9.71 per cent of its total fabric imports of $776.126 million in the period. Turkiye was the third largest supplier in the inbound trade. The imports were noted at $89.373 million in the same period of the last year. The country had imported fabric of $126.795 million from Turkiye in 2023, when its fabric imports totalled $1,220.634 million.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
President-elect Donald Trump recently said that immediately after he assumes charge on January 20, he will sign an executive order imposing a 25 per cent tariff on all goods coming from Mexico and Canada and an additional 10 per cent tariff on China until the government there blocks smuggling of synthetic opioid fentanyl.

The tariffs on Mexico and Canada will stay in place till they clamp down on drugs and migrants illegally crossing the border, Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Donald Trump has said that immediately after he assumes charge on January 20, he will sign an executive order imposing a 25-per cent tariff on all goods coming from Mexico and Canada and an additional 10-per cent tariff on China until smuggling of fentanyl is blocked. He also attacked Beijing for not doing enough on the latter's promise to award death penalty to those caught dealing with fentanyl.

"Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem," he was quoted as saying by US media outlets. "It is time for them to pay a very big price!"

In another post, Trump attacked Beijing for not doing enough on the latters promise to award death penalty to those caught dealing with fentanyl.

During his election campaign, Trump threatened Mexico and China with tariffs of up to 100 per cent, if he deemed those necessary. In 2018, he had cited national security justifications to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, Mexico and the European Union.

Trump has also said he will end China's most-favoured-nation trading status with the United States.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Rapper Badshah is in the news once again but this time not for his work. Unfortunately, a blast occurred near one of his restaurants in Chandigarh. Two low-intensity blasts were reported at two bar-cum-lounges in the city and one of them belongs to the rapper.



A restaurant employee was quoted by media reports saying, "We rushed out after hearing a loud explosion. The glasspanes were shattered. We immediately informed the police. There were eight workers inside the (DeOrra) restaurant when the blast took place. No one was injured."

As per police sources, two unidentified men on a motorbike set off an explosive device outside Seville (Badshah's bar & lounge), followed by a blast in De'Orra which is near Seville. It occurred at around 3 am. However, there is no CCTV footage of the first blast. The second blast was captured on camera. Luckily, no casualty has been reported but the glass panes of De'Orra shattered after the explosion.A forensic team was called on the spot to investigate the incident.
Naga Chaitanya - Sobhita Dhulipala wedding rights bagged by netflix for a whopping aA50 cr. pic.twitter.com/w6P4x1i9ZK  Manobala Vijayabalan (@ManobalaV) November 26, 2024

As per a trade expert, Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipalas wedding film rights were sold to Netflix for Rs 50 Crore. That being said, neither of the actors has commented on the same.Recently, Nayantharas wedding film was released as a part of her documentary film Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale. It chronicled her life, career and love story with her husband Vignesh Shivan.Sobhita and Naga are preparing for their wedding celebrations that will take place in Hyderabad. Sobhita has already picked her wedding trousseau without the help of a stylist. She also packed over 100 customised wedding invites for the guests.
China's visa-free policy sparks widespread attention, kindles interests from countries involved

Global Times) 09:47, November 26, 2024

China's recent expansion of its visa-free policy has captured wide attention from various countries involved, as numerous local media have covered the surging interests. Concurrently, there has been a marked increase in search queries, propelling Chinese destinations to the forefront of searches on travel platforms.

In order to further facilitate personnel exchanges between China and other countries, China has decided to expand its visa-free arrangement to include more countries, said spokesperson Lin Jian on Friday. He noted that from Nov 30, 2024, to Dec 31, 2025, visa exemption will be applied to ordinary passport holders from Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia and Japan on a trial basis.

The addition will expand the coverage of China's unilateral visa-free policy from 29 to 38 countries.

Ve ernji List, a Croatian media outlet, said on Friday that the visa-free news is great for Croatian citizens. In the comments section of the news, a netizen said that this is exactly what they need - to visit China and experience its high-speed trains and metropolitan cities.

Shortly after the announcement of the visa-free policy 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, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Japan was one of the three countries with visa-free entry before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the government had repeatedly requested an early resumption, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters, according to Associated Press.

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 94.63 million inbound trips, up by 78.8 percent year-on-year.

China's implementation of a visa-free entry policy for South Korean citizens from November 8 has significantly boosted demand for travel to China, according to South Korean media outlet AJU Press on Monday. Data from Hana Tour, one of South Korea's largest travel agencies, shows that within just three weeks of the policy's implementation, bookings for travel to China increased by 75%, with some travel products seeing growth rates exceeding 100%.

Popular destinations include Zhangjiajie (28.8%), Changbai Mountain (9.2%), Qingdao (11.1%), and Shanghai (9.6%).

A Hana Tour representative said to AJU Press, "In the past, travelers to China accounted for over 30% of our outbound tourists, making it a highly significant market. The implementation of this visa-free policy will drive strong market demand."

The Star news in Malaysia also noted China's efforts in promoting people-to-people exchanges among students, academics, and others.

As the adage goes, "seeing is believing." Experts said to the CCTV news that China's visa-free policies have made it easier for foreign tourists to explore and understand the country. Independent and immersive travel are now the top choices for inbound tourists, helping more people discover a diverse and authentic China.

S.L. Kanthan, an influencer on Twitter with 154.9k followers, posted: "Stop believing Western lies and see it for yourself!" Other users interacted with the post, commenting, "That's a big move for travel!" and "That's so cool!"

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2024) - Besra Gold Inc. (ASX: BEZ) (Besra or the Company) is pleased to announce the planned commencement of a drilling programme consisting of deep diamond drillholes in readiness for metallurgical test work planned to commence in early 2025.

Under the guidance of North Borneo Gold's (NBG) newly appointed Managing Director, Mr Matthew Antill, the Company has undertaken a comprehensive review of the Jugan Project, pending the renewal of ML 05/2012/1D. The review included preliminary conceptual mine designs and internal desktop modelling which has prompted a new mining strategy that incorporates a smaller open pit at Jugan, followed by potentially up to a 400 metre deep underground development utilising modern mechanised mining methods.

The advantages of this strategy (when compared with the 2013 Feasibility Study, which included a very large open pit and required large areas for waste dumping and tailings storage), include;

Smaller area of surface disturbance required for open pit mine area, waste dumping area and tailings storage facility area;

Much lower volume of tailings storage required with tailings utilised in cemented stope fill underground.

Lower impact on local community landowners.

Reduced environmental impact; and

Less land acquisition is required to execute the mining activities.

NBG's Managing Director, Mr Matthew Antill, said:

"It has been a pleasure joining the team on site in Sarawak, who have done an impressive job increasing the drilling density at Jugan in readiness for a resource update that is planned for early next year. The team are also eagerly awaiting the commencement of construction of the Jugan Pilot Plant, pending the anticipated renewal of ML 05/2012/1D. The plant is literally sitting in sea containers only a few kilometres from site awaiting the green light.

"The proposed development at Jugan will be a showcase for the Company by demonstrating the achievement of our gold mining ambitions while supporting the local community, creating jobs and utilizing best and sustainable mining and exploration practices in accordance with the Sarawak Government's revenue re-engineering initiatives.

"With an updated resource intended to be tailored for underground mining planned for release early next year, we expect to confirm from the 2013 Feasibility Study large zones of mineralisation modelled from 10 metres to 80 metres wide, with strike lengths ranging from 200 metres to over 400 metres in length - lending itself to a very low cost bulk underground mining method. At current gold prices, combined with Jugan being in a low mining cost jurisdiction, we expect to see a relatively low cut-off grade resulting in higher tonnage and ounce profiles.

"The Company is further investigating the possibility of utilising 100% hydropower supplied from the Sarawak grid, which lies just 250 metres from the Project site at its closest point."

20 sea containers located at Bau, storing the Jugan Pilot Plant

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3448/231273_3badad9cb4aaf91e_005full.jpg

This announcement was authorised for release by the board of Besra Gold Inc.

Michael Higginson

Company Secretary

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231273

SOURCE: Besra Gold Inc.
Justera Health Ltd. (CSE:VTAL)(OTC PINK:SCRSF) ("Justera"or the"Company") announces that the Board of Directors has revised the vesting schedule of the Restricted Share Units ("RSUs") granted on November 8, 2024, to meet the CSE policy 6.1(4). The new vesting schedule is 50% of RSU will be vested four (4) months plus one (1) day from the issuance date, on March 9, 2025, and the remaining 50% of RSU will be vested six (6) months from the date of issuance, on May 8, 2025.

About Justera Health

Established in 2020, Justera is a Canadian company focused on health and wellness. Through its services, innovative products, strategic partnerships, Justera empowers individuals to prioritize their well-being. With four subsidiaries, it offers personalized healthcare services and solutions, such as IV Vitamin Therapy, premium nutritional supplements through its Naturevan Nutrition brand, a full 360-degree wellness and spa experience through Juillet Wellness that provides registered massage therapy, acupuncture, and new retail stores in Vancouver. Justera's mission is to enhance Canadians overall well-being with diverse solutions catering to individual needs.

For additional information on Justera Health and other corporate information, please visit the Company's website at https://www.justerahealth.com/

For more information about the Company, please refer to the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

For further information:

Investor Relations & Communications

Paul Haber, CFO

Tel: (416) 318-6501

Email: info@justerahealth.com

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information, including statements relating to the future development of Justera's business. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking ?statements, including but not limited to: the terms, timing and completion of the Transaction, if the Transaction is to close at all, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and CSE approvals, authorizations and consents in connection with the Transaction, and the completion or waiver, as applicable, of all conditions precedent required for the completion of the Transaction; the anticipated business plans, management structure, and future activities of the Company and Port North, including the Company's intention to integrate Port North into its business; and the anticipated benefits and synergies to be derived from the Transaction on the business of both Port North and the Company; and the date in which the Payment Shares may become free-trading.

Forward-Looking Statements are based on assumptions, estimates, analyses and opinions of management of the Company at the time they were provided or made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, including: (i) successful completion of the Financing; (ii) successful completion of the Transaction and the integration of the business of Port North in connection therewith; (iii) the ability to manage anticipated and unanticipated costs; (iv) achieving the anticipated results of the Company's strategic plans; (v) obtaining and maintaining all required licenses, approvals and permits, including regulatory approvals required to complete the Transaction; and (vi) general economic, financial market, regulatory and political conditions in which the Company operates.

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. The actual results of Justera could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of the inability of Port North to complete the Financing, the inability to consummate the Transaction, including the inability to obtain required regulatory approvals and third-party consents and the satisfaction of other conditions, inputs, suppliers and skilled labour being unavailable or available only at uneconomic costs; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets, changes in applicable laws generally and adverse future legislative and regulatory developments involving medical and recreational marijuana, competitive factors in the industries in which Justera operates, prevailing economic conditions, changes to Justera's strategic growth plans, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Justera.

Management of Justera believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information herein 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 Justera's expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. Justera disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

###

SOURCE: Justera Health Ltd.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 25, 2024) - Sol Strategies Inc. (CSE: HODL) (OTC Pink: CYFRF) ("Sol Strategies" or the "Company"), a publicly traded, Canadian holding company that invests in the Solana blockchain and ecosystem, today announced the completion of its previously disclosed definitive agreement to acquire four blockchain validators (the "Validators") and certain assets related to the Validators from Cogent Crypto (the "Completed Acquisition").

The integration of Cogent Crypto's operations is expected to deliver immediate value to Sol Strategies by increasing validator capacity and boosting staking revenue. The Company plans to maintain Cogent Crypto's operational excellence while leveraging its resources to scale its validator network further.

The Completed Acquisition increases the total SOL delegated to the Company's Solana validators to 941,224 SOL, valued at CAD $336,180,652. Validators on the SUI, Monad, and Arch blockchains carry additional token delegations valued at CAD $172,024,602.

According to Cogent Crypto's Validator Profit Calculator, the expected yearly net income from Cogent's Solana validator operation is currently projected at $6,783,157 CAD, showcasing the potential of the validator's economic contributions to Sol Strategies' business model.

This projection is based on current market conditions, staking levels, and Solana network performance, and is subject to change due to factors such as validator uptime, network activity, and fluctuations in token prices.

CAD to USD calculations in this news release are based on quotes from Google Finance as of November 25, 2024. SOL to CAD and SUI to CAD calculations are based on the Coinbase converter as of November 25, 2024, at 2:30 p.m., eastern time. Solana validator numbers are found on stakewiz.com and SUI validator numbers are found on https://suigo.app/.

Effective immediately, Sol Strategies has assumed full operational control of Cogent Crypto's Validators, following the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange and the announcement of today's Completed Acquisition.

Leah Wald, CEO of Sol Strategies, commented: "As interest in Solana continues to expand, solidifying its position as a premier blockchain for decentralized finance, we remain focused on planting our flag firmly within the ecosystem. The acquisition of Cogent Crypto's validators marks a pivotal moment in Sol Strategies' mission to drive the growth and adoption of the Solana ecosystem. By expanding our staking capabilities, we are enhancing our ability to deliver value to shareholders while solidifying Solana's role as a cornerstone of the digital asset landscape."

About Sol Strategies

Sol Strategies is a publicly traded holding company committed to the continued development of the Solana blockchain and ecosystem through its private equity and financial markets activities. Sol Strategies seeks to leverage investment opportunities in staking rewards and Solana-based projects, allowing shareholders to indirectly participate in decentralized finance. The Company is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, and is publicly listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the ticker HODL and on the OTC market under the ticker CYFRF.

To learn more about Sol Strategies, please visit www.solstrategies.io. A copy of this news release and all the Company's related material documents regarding the Company may be obtained under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements and information relating to (i) expectations regarding the characteristics, value drivers, and anticipated benefits of the Completed Acquisition, (ii) expectations regarding the Company's future development opportunities in connection with Completed Acquisition; and (iii) expectations concerning the Company's business plans and operations. Forward-looking information can also be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or indicates that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be" taken, "occur" or "be achieved".

Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding completion of the Completed Acquisition and its intended impact on the Company, the Company's future investing plans and staking plans. There is no assurance that the Company's plans or objectives will be implemented as set out herein, or at all. Forward-looking information is based on certain factors and assumptions the Company believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.

The purpose of forward-looking information is to provide the reader with a description of management's expectations, and such forward-looking information may not be appropriate for any other purpose. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by law. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements.

Disclaimer:

Sol Strategies is an independent organization in the Solana ecosystem. Sol Strategies is not affiliated with, owned by, or under common control with Solana Foundation (the "Foundation"), and the Foundation has not entered into any association, partnership, joint venture, employee, or agency relationship with Sol Strategies.

None of the Foundation or its council members, officers, agents or make any representations or warranties, recommendations, endorsements or promises with respect to the accuracy of any statements made, information provided, or action taken by Sol Strategies and expressly disclaim any and all liability arising from or related to any such statements, information or action.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231366

SOURCE: Sol Strategies Inc.
MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / November 25, 2024 / Alphinat Inc. (TSXV:NPA.H:NEX) is pleased to announce being awarded the contract to build of new Customer Identity Access Management Solution based on our SmartProfile - SINGLE SIGN ON (SSO) solution for a GTA area municipality already leveraging SmartGuide technology.

The SmartProfile solution will deliver a user-friendly citizen identity access management solution and comprehensive digital SSO platform that provides easy enrollment to essential municipal services and information. SmartProfile provides our customers with a secure way to authenticate users across different applications using a single username and password.

Built on Alphinat SmartGuide platform the solution can be delivered on-premises or in protected cloud-based environments as per customer requirements. Alphinat state-of-the-art technology will facilitate quick multi-factor authentication across selected devices, information retrieval and intuitive navigation, ensuring a seamless user-centric experience. The SmartGuide platform by Alphinat will serve as the technological foundation for this ambitious project.

In partnering with this municipality, Alphinat demonstrates its commitment to facilitating citizen centric solutions. This collaboration highlights Alphinat technological capabilities and dedication to promoting global understanding and cooperation on our Shared Municipal Services Platform where all our members can benefit from shared efforts to advance the Smart City. The new SSO platform will enhance transparency and accessibility by providing streamlined, comprehensive digital profiles that summarize each end-user's access rights and available information.

"We are honored to again collaborate this municipality and further enhance our Shared Municipal Services Platform to better serve citizens and stakeholders" said Denis Michaud Alphinat Chief Solutions and Security Officer "The combination of SmartProfile and SmartGuide technology is a perfect match for secure digital services access. This project allows us to empower citizens and professionals alike with the information they need for better online service and satisfied end-users." he added.

About Alphinat

At Alphinat, we are driven by the passion to make application development easy for everyone and system interoperability issues a thing of the past. We enable people with the vision of how a finished application should look and behave to be a major part of the development process. After all, what better way to ensure favourable outcome than to provide those closest to an application's end-users with a vested interest in its success throughout its development.

That's why we bring you new ways to empower the right people at the right time in the application development process. At the same time, we're constantly working to reduce the need to code in order to make application development and maintenance simpler and less error prone.

So, whether you choose to develop your applications with the help of our low-code platform SmartGuide, kickstart your project using one of our pre-built apps or engage us or one of our partners to do the work for you, we're here to help you deploy better applications in record time. Visit us at https:// www.alphinat.com for more information. We look forward to hearing from you.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this document, including those which express management's expectations or estimations with regards to the Company's future performance constitute "constitute forward-looking statements" as understood by applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are, of necessity, based on a certain number of estimates and hypotheses; while management considers these to be accurate at the time they are expressed, they are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and risks on the commercial, economic and competitive levels. We advise readers that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other known and unknown factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. A number of factors could cause significant differences between actual results and those described in forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, the Company's capacity to increase acceptance of its products on the market, and to penetrate new markets; the potential existence of defects or undetected problems in the Company's products; the Company's ability to manage its growth; the Company's ability to compete with others; potential commitments; maintaining the Company's intellectual property rights and defending against litigation putting those rights in question; the Company's reliance on the knowledge of its key personnel; and the Company's access to sufficient capital to finance its future needs. This is a partial and non-exhaustive list of factors that could bear on any of our forward-looking statements. Investors are advised to not rely unduly on the forward-looking statements. This advisory applies to all forward-looking statements, whether expressed orally or in writing, attributed to Alphinat or to any individual expressing them in the name of the Company. The Company is under no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events, or other circumstances. Risks and uncertainties that bear on the Company are described in greater detail in the Company's Annual Report.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information please contact:

Ms. Mahtab Abbasigaravand

Chief Executive Officer

Alphinat Inc.

(514) 398-9799

SOURCE: Alphinat, Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com


EQS Newswire / 26/11/2024 / 10:34 UTC+8



Zurich, Switzerland - November 26, 2024 - ( SeaPRwire ) - Orderfox Schweiz AG, a leading provider of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for the B2B and industrial sectors, has officially surpassed a 1 billion valuation, achieving the coveted status of Unicorn. This significant breakthrough of Orderfox to Unicorn status results from its commitment to integrating advanced AI into industrial and B2B operations.

By managing and interpreting massive datasets, the company delivers customized market intelligence to clients across various sectors, from manufacturing to logistics. Its innovative tools help businesses optimize operations, cut costs, and stay agile in today's highly fluid market environment.

"Achieving Unicorn status is more than just a financial milestone. Rather, it is a recognition of our ongoing mission to revolutionize the use of AI in industrial decision-making," says Derek Tanner, CEO of Orderfox. "Our products, such as Partfox and Gieni, are providing companies with individualized access to market data, empowering them to make smarter, more insightful choices."

Partfox, which enables procurement professionals to source parts and manage supply chains more effectively, and Gieni, which offers AI-powered market intelligence across multiple sectors, have become essential tools for businesses looking to thrive in the face of global supply chain challenges. With a database of over 20 million profiled companies and more than 470 million individual profiles, the firm's platform offers clients a comprehensive and highly detailed view of the industry.

As the company celebrates its Unicorn status, Orderfox plans to expand its global presence and accelerate the development of new AI solutions. The company also plans to enhance its product offerings, broadening its reach to even more industries and geographical markets.

"We are in the initial stages of transforming the industry in positive ways," says Timur Goreci, CRO at Orderfox. "With our unique approach to AI and data analytics, we're confident that Orderfox will continue to drive innovation and create even more value for our clients in the coming years."

For more information, visit the Orderfox Schweiz AG website .

About Orderfox Schweiz AG

Orderfox Schweiz AG is a technology company based in Zurich, Switzerland. It specializes in providing AI-driven solutions designed to help businesses in the industrial and B2B sectors optimize their operations and improve decision-making. With an extensive database of global companies and markets, the brand empowers its clients with actionable insights that drive strategic growth and operational efficiency. The company's products-including Partfox and Gieni-are trusted by professionals in procurement, manufacturing, logistics, and various other industries worldwide.

Media Contact

Brand: Orderfox Schweiz AG

Contact: Dhiviyaa Satkunanathan

Email Address: press@orderfox.com

Website: https://www.orderfox.com/

26/11/2024 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Media archive at www.todayir.com


BENGALURU, India, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Microland, India's leading IT infrastructure services company, has been conferred with the Best Performance in High Growth in Exports - IT/ITES award for its category at the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) Karnataka IT Export Awards for the year 2023-24. This recognition highlights Microland's contribution to IT / Electronic Hardware Companies of Karnataka under STPI.

The award ceremony was held on 20th November 2024, as part of the 27th edition of the 'Bengaluru Tech Summit' event.

For over two decades, the STPI IT Export Awards have been a symbol of excellence and influence in the tech world, celebrating companies that achieve groundbreaking success in IT and ITES exports.

Sam Mathew, President, Microland, said, "We are excited to receive the prestigious recognition from STPI. Microland is committed to delivering world-class services to our clients and raising the bar with every milestone we achieve."

Rajesh Kharidehal, Chief Financial Officer, Microland, added, "It is an honor to receive this award from STPI. At Microland, we constantly strive to deliver value to our stakeholders and this award is validation of the work we are doing for our clients."

In early August 2024, Microland was awarded the prestigious World Class 5-star rating by the Service Desk Institute (SDI) for the quality of IT service and support operations. Microland is the third company globally and the first company in India to attain this accolade. Microland has also achieved a gold rating from EcoVadis, underscoring its exceptional performance in Environment and Sustainable Procurement, reflecting its commitment to high Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards.

Earlier this year, Microland achieved certification as a Great Workplace by Great Place To Work for the second time.

About Microland

Microland is a pioneering IT Infrastructure services and consulting company headquartered in Bengaluru, India, with a proven track record of delivering tangible business outcomes for 35 years. Today, as enterprises recognize that networks underpin the functionality and efficiency of modern digital systems and support innovation, we provide next-generation technologies such as AI, automated operations, and platform-driven solutions - which drive operational excellence, agility, and productivity for organizations worldwide. Our team of over 4,600 experts delivers services in over 100 countries across Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America, offering cutting-edge solutions in networks, cloud, data centers, cybersecurity, services management, applications, and automation. Recognized by leading industry analysts for our innovative strategies, Microland is committed to strong governance, environmental sustainability, and fostering an inclusive workplace where diverse talent thrives. When businesses work with Microland, they connect with the best talent, technologies, and solutions to create unparalleled value.

For more information, visit www.microland.com

Contact: sobia.sahar@microland.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2483706/Microland_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/microland-honored-with-stpi-karnataka-it-export-awards-2023-24-302315571.html
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26, 2024 - (ACN Newswire) - GoKardz, a trailblazing platform in digital business networking, proudly announces the launch of its Enterprise Module, an innovative solution designed to empower companies to create their company pages, onboard employees seamlessly, and maximize the potential of digital business cards. This addition merges traditional networking with advanced digital solutions to enhance connectivity and maintain brand identity, all while giving companies full control over their organizational presence.Enterprise Solutions for Modern BusinessesWith GoKardz's Enterprise Module, companies can create customized company profiles and onboard employees effortlessly, equipping them with unique and customizable digital business cards that reinforce their brand identity. Employers gain full control over onboarding, ensuring a smooth, centralized process that guarantees all employees are equipped and up-to-date.Beyond individual digital business cards, businesses can now:- Promote Products and Services: Increase brand exposure and engagement through GoKardz's marketplace, showcasing offerings for maximum visibility.- Advertise Open Positions: Post full-time, contractual, or freelance job opportunities, attracting top talent to meet business needs.- Leverage Analytics: Gain actionable insights into visitor interactions, such as views of employee cards and clicks on links (e.g., website, email, phone), analytics that were previously impossible with traditional paper business cards.- Reallocate Cards: Seamlessly transfer cards to new employees during transitions, maintaining continuity without any gaps in information.Seamless Digital ExperienceThe platform's intuitive interface ensures companies can manage their digital assets and branding consistently across the organization. Employees can easily share their digital business cards through QR codes, NFC technology, Apple Wallets, and other methods, facilitating instant, scalable sharing while reducing environmental impact from traditional business cards.A Sustainable and Data-Driven Approach to NetworkingAs businesses increasingly turn to digital solutions, GoKardz leads the way in aligning technological innovation with environmental responsibility. By embracing digital business cards, companies not only improve their networking efficiency but also take a step towards sustainability. The analytics tools further support data-driven decision-making, empowering businesses to refine their outreach strategies based on real-time engagement metrics.A Word from Our LeadersAmaresh, Co-Founder of GoKardz, shared his vision: "At GoKardz, we're committed to redefining professional networking with sustainable, data-driven solutions. Our enterprise tools help businesses modernize, reduce their environmental footprint, and optimize outreach strategies for greater impact."Kuber Ventures, the venture studio that invested in GoKardz, emphasized: "Our investment in GoKardz stems from its ability to address a key gap in digital networking. The new Enterprise Module amplifies this vision by providing companies with innovative and efficient solutions that foster sustainable business growth."With GoKardz, companies can confidently modernize their approach to networking, reduce their environmental impact, and gain valuable insights previously lost with traditional methods.GoKardz is available on iOS and Android, ready to transform the way professionals and businesses network and grow.For more information, visit www.gokardz.comMedia Contact: komal@mianext.comSource: GoKardzCopyright 2024 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
EPIC Suisse AG / Key word(s): Quarter Results

EPIC Suisse releases high level Q3 2024 numbers in line with majority shareholder's reporting obligations



26-Nov-2024 / 06:45 CET/CEST

Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Media release - Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

Zurich, 26 November 2024

EPIC Suisse releases high level Q3 2024 numbers in line with majority shareholder's reporting obligations

EPIC Suisse AG (the "Company" and "EPIC", the consolidated group; SIX: EPIC), publishes today high-level figures [1] for the period 1 January 2024 to 30 September 2024 in parallel with its indirect majority shareholder, Alrov Properties & Lodgings Ltd (the "Alrov Group"):

Fair value of the portfolio as at 30 September 2024 totals CHF 1.591 billion split into Investment properties in operation at CHF 1'451 million (31 Dec 2023: CHF 1'441 million) and Investment properties under development / construction at CHF 140 million (31 Dec 2023: CHF 94 million)

Total income (defined as rental income and other income) for Investment properties in operation for the 9-month period 2024 amounts to CHF 50.5 million (9-months 2023: CHF 50.4 million)

Total bank debt as at 30 September 2024 is CHF 655 million (31 Dec 2023: CHF 610 million)

The IFRS NAV stands at CHF 802 million as at 30 September 2024 (31 Dec 2023: CHF 805 million)

Financial calendar

Annual Report 2024: 5 March 2025

Annual General Meeting of Shareholders 2025: 28 March 2025

Contact information

Valerie Scholtes, CFO, EPIC Suisse AG, Phone: +41 44 388 81 00, E-mail: investors@epic.ch

About EPIC Suisse AG

EPIC Suisse AG is a Swiss real estate company with a high-quality property portfolio of about CHF 1.6 billion in market value. It has a sizeable development pipeline and a strong track record in sourcing, acquiring, (re)developing and actively managing commercial properties in Switzerland. EPIC's investment properties are mainly located in Switzerland's major economic hubs, specifically the Lake Geneva Region and the Zurich Economic Area. Listed on SIX Swiss Exchange since May 2022 (SIX ticker symbol EPIC; Swiss Security Number (Valorennummer) 51613168; ISIN number CH0516131684). More information: www.epic.ch

Disclaimer

This publication may contain specific forward-looking statements, e.g. statements including terms like "believe", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may result in a substantial divergence between the actual results, financial situation, development or performance of EPIC Suisse AG and those explicitly or implicitly presumed in these statements. Against the background of these uncertainties, readers should not rely on forward-looking statements. EPIC Suisse AG assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements or to adapt them to future events or developments.

[1] In line with the Q3 / 9-month 2024 report published today by EPIC co-founder and indirect majority shareholder Alrov Group on the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange.
Clean Invest Africa Plc - Performance Issue of Shares to Employees and Contax Partners Reversal Share Sale to COO of CoalTech

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, November 26

26 November 2024

Clean Invest Africa Plc

("CIA", the "Company" or the "Group")

Performance Issue of Shares to Employees

Contax Partners Reversal Share Sale to COO of CoalTech

Clean Invest Africa Plc, the mineral fines waste processing company quoted on the Aquis Growth Market, is pleased to announce that the Company has approved the request by Mr. Filippo Fantechi, on behalf of Contax Partners Inc., to transfer to each of Ms. Roxanne Vanessa Chavez, Mr. Aaron Paul Manio and Mr. Rajesh Kumar Ramasamy 10,000,0000 Ordinary shares, for nil consideration as a discretionary bonus.

The Company has also been notified that Contax Partners Inc. (majority controlled by Filippo Fantechi, Chief Executive Officer of the Company) has reversed the sale of 60,069,500 Ordinary shares from Mr. Aurelio Di Fresco. Contax Partners had transferred these ordinary shares to Mr. Aurelio Di Fresco, as announced on 3 March 2024.

Filippo Fantechi stated: "We are extremely pleased with Vanessa, Aaron and Rajesh's outstanding performance and support of the Company and we look forward to many more years together building a successful business. As a result, Contax Partners Inc, given the long-standing relationship with the employees, even before their paid involvement in the Company, has decided to reward their commitment and loyalty."

Following the transfers, Contax Partners Inc., will be interested in 635,316,150 Ordinary Shares representing 27.76% of the issued share capital of the Company.

Following the transfers, each of Ms. Roxanne Vanessa Chavez, Mr. Aaron Paul Manio and Mr. Rajesh Kumar Ramasamy will be interested in 10,000,000 Ordinary Shares each, representing 0.44% of the issued share capital of the Company.

Following the reversal of the Share transfer, Aurelio Di Fresco does not have any equity interest in the Company.

The sale of ordinary shares from Filippo Fantechi, CEO of the Company, to Ms. Chavez, Mr. Manio and Mr. Ramasamy, constitutes a Related Party Transaction for the purposes of Rule 4.6 of the Aquis Growth Market Access Rulebook. Shaikh Mohammed Abdulla Khalifa AlKhalifa, the Director of the Company independent of the sale, has confirmed that, having exercised reasonable care, skill and diligence, the related party transaction is fair and reasonable insofar as the shareholders of CIA are concerned.

About CoalTech technology ("CoalTech")

In the context of the global policy of environmental improvement, reconditioning of polluted areas and development of sustainable solutions for those industries (such as, but not limited to, coal) which have an impact in terms of environmental pollution, but which, at least for the next two to three decades, will have to continue to produce in order to sustain the demand for energy, CoalTech believes that the application of its technology, in addition to meeting the Global Environmental Improvement Policy, also effectively addresses the following problems:

(i) how to clean up/dispose of the more than 30 billion tonnes of coal dust now found worldwide as an unavoidable residue of coal mining processes, and

(ii) how to minimize the accumulation of further coal dust in those areas where coal mining ponds are still active and/or at the loading/unloading hubs of the coal trade routes such as ports and/or stations and/or in those industries that still use coal.

In other words, even if the ecological transition is making great strides, coal dusts will continue to damage the environment if they are not removed or minimised in cases where industries use coal (e.g. power plants, steel mills, etc.) and these last will takes years to complete the ecological transition with less polluting technologies, if available.

CoalTech uses the agglomeration process (pelletizing) to transform coal dust into spherical agglomerates (pellets) through the rotational and inclination forces generated in a Pelletizer and the amalgamation action of an organic, non-polluting agent developed in-house. The transformation process is then finalised by drying treatments to make the pellets transportable and reusable in various industrial applications.

CoalTech technology is the right balance for merging energy demand with governments' commitment to a clean world. In particular, it is a valuable vehicle for achieving goals #8, #9 and #15 of the UN 2030 Agenda combining the useful with the enjoyable. Useful because it is certainly effective in carrying out the initial reclamation of the land and/or the hubs of the trade routes and/or the coal storage areas of the power stations where tonnes of unused and environmentally harmful coal dust are still being deposited. Enjoyable because it is a business with a potential of millions of dollars as the process used does not alter the original characteristics of the coal (e.g. the calorific value and the chemical composition) and therefore the pellets produced, becoming transportable, can be sold on the market and have multiple uses, such as for example:

- be introduced into the coal market by blending with the original raw material, thus solving at the root the problem of coal dust accumulation and, in time, reducing the existing accumulation at the washing and/or storage plants

- be introduced into the circuit of those industries that use coal to produce other products such as: the steel industry to produce coke and the chemical industry for the production of ammonia, hydrogen, synthetic products such as solvents, dyes, pesticides, synthetic rubbers, explosives, plastics, medicines, and others

- originate a circular economy system as from the distillation of coal, it is also possible to obtain tar, benzol, phosphates, nitrates, sulfates, naphthalene, celluloid

- to become a raw material in the coal gasification process for the production of syngas; and

- to support, during the transition period, the less affluent populations that still live-in rural areas where the energy distribution network is not yet in place and will require years of work to make it available, so becoming a source of energy and house heating through the use of domestic stoves, already existing on the market, which, in addition to heating, can also produce a few kW useful to turn on a few light bulbs.

The directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

ENQUIRIES:

Clean Invest Africa plc

Filippo Fantechi - Chief Executive Officer: +973 3 9696273

Peterhouse Capital Limited +44 20 7469 0930

Aquis Growth Market Corporate Adviser

Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation EU 596/2014 as it forms part of retained EU law (as defined in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018).

NOTIFICATION AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF TRANSACTIONS BY PERSONS DISCHARGING MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERSONS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THEM

1. Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated a) Name: Aurelio Di Fresco 2. Reason for the notification a) Position/status: Non Main Board Chief Operating Officer (Coaltech Limited, wholly owned by the Company) b) Initial notification/Amendment: Initial notification 3. Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name: Clean Invest Africa plc b) LEI: 213800WAVVOPS85N2205 4. Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument:



Identification code: Ordinary shares of 0.25 pence each



GB00BF52QX07 b) Nature of the transaction: Relinquish of Ordinary Shares c) Price(s) and volume(s): Issue of shares Price(s) Volume(s) Nil Consideration 60,069,500 Issue of warrants Price(s) Volume(s) N/A N/A d) Aggregated information:

Aggregated volume:

Price: Single transaction as in 4 c) aboveIssue of shares Price(s) Volume(s) Issue of warrants Price(s) Volume(s) N/A N/A e) Date of the transaction: 25 November 2024 f) Place of the transaction: Aquis Growth Market

NOTIFICATION AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF TRANSACTIONS BY PERSONS DISCHARGING MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERSONS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THEM

1. Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated a) Name: Filippo Fantechi 2. Reason for the notification a) Position/status: Chief Executive Officer b) Initial notification/Amendment: Initial notification 3. Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name: Clean Invest Africa plc b) LEI: 213800WAVVOPS85N2205 4. Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument:



Identification code: Ordinary shares of 0.25 pence each



GB00BF52QX07 b) Nature of the transaction: Purchase of Ordinary Shares c) Price(s) and volume(s): Issue of shares Price(s) Volume(s) Nil Consideration 60,069,500 Issue of warrants Price(s) Volume(s) N/A N/A d) Aggregated information:

Aggregated volume:

Price: Single transaction as in 4 c) aboveIssue of shares Price(s) Volume(s) Issue of warrants Price(s) Volume(s) N/A N/A e) Date of the transaction: 25 November 2024 f) Place of the transaction: Aquis Growth Market

NOTIFICATION AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF TRANSACTIONS BY PERSONS DISCHARGING MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERSONS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THEM
Progress on share buyback programme

ING announced today that, as part of our 2.0 billion share buyback programme announced on 31 October 2024, in total 5,642,295 shares were repurchased during the week of 18 November 2024 up to and including 22 November 2024.

The shares were repurchased at an average price of 14.88 or a total amount of 83,943,079.35. For detailed information on the daily repurchased shares, individual share purchase transactions and weekly reports, see the ING website at www.ing.com/investorrelations.

In line with the purpose of the programme to reduce the share capital of ING, the total number of shares repurchased under this programme to date is 22,908,278 ordinary shares at an average price of 15.17 for a total consideration of 347,488,959.74. To date approximately 17.37% of the maximum total value of the share buyback programme has been completed.

Note for editors

For more on ING, please visit www.ing.com. Frequent news updates can be found in the Newsroomor via X @ING_newsfeed. Photos of ING operations, buildings and its executives are available for download at Flickr.

Press enquiries Investor enquiries Christoph Linke ING Group Investor Relations +31 20 576 5000 +31 20 576 6396 Christoph.Linke@ing.com (mailto:Christoph.Linke@ing.com) Investor.Relations@ing.com (mailto:Investor.Relations@ing.com)

ING PROFILE

ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering banking services through its operating company ING Bank. The purpose of ING Bank is: empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. ING Bank's more than 60,000 employees offer retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 40 countries.

ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam (INGA NA, INGA.AS), Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange (ADRs: ING US, ING.N).

ING aims to put sustainability at the heart of what we do. Our policies and actions are assessed by independent research and ratings providers, which give updates on them annually. ING's ESG rating by MSCI was reconfirmed by MSCI as 'AA' in August 2024 for the fifth year. As of December 2023, in Sustainalytics' view, ING's management of ESG material risk is 'Strong'. Our current ESG Risk Rating, is 17.2 (Low Risk). ING Group shares are also included in major sustainability and ESG index products of leading providers. Here are some examples: Euronext, STOXX, Morningstar and FTSE Russell. Society is transitioning to a low-carbon economy. So are our clients, and so is ING. We finance a lot of sustainable activities, but we still finance more that's not. Follow our progress on ing.com/climate.

Important legal information

Elements of this press release contain or may contain information about ING Groep N.V. and/ or ING Bank N.V. within the meaning of Article 7(1) to (4) of EU Regulation No 596/2014 ('Market Abuse Regulation').

ING Group's annual accounts are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union ('IFRS- EU'). In preparing the financial information in this document, except as described otherwise, the same accounting principles are applied as in the 2023 ING Group consolidated annual accounts. All figures in this document are unaudited. Small differences are possible in the tables due to rounding.

Certain of the statements contained herein are not historical facts, including, without limitation, certain statements made of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to di?er materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Actual results, performance or events may di?er materially from those in such statements due to a number of factors, including, without limitation:

This document may contain ESG-related material that has been prepared by ING on the basis of publicly available information, internally developed data and other third-party sources believed to be reliable. ING has not sought to independently verify information obtained from public and third-party sources and makes no representations or warranties as to accuracy, completeness, reasonableness or reliability of such information.

Materiality, as used in the context of ESG, is distinct from, and should not be confused with, such term as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or as defined for Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') reporting purposes. Any issues identified as material for purposes of ESG in this document are therefore not necessarily material as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or for SEC reporting purposes. In addition, there is currently no single, globally recognized set of accepted definitions in assessing whether activities are "green" or "sustainable." Without limiting any of the statements contained herein, we make no representation or warranty as to whether any of our securities constitutes a green or sustainable security or conforms to present or future investor expectations or objectives for green or sustainable investing. For information on characteristics of a security, use of proceeds, a description of applicable project(s) and/or any other relevant information, please reference the offering documents for such security.

This document may contain inactive textual addresses to internet websites operated by us and third parties. Reference to such websites is made for information purposes only, and information found at such websites is not incorporated by reference into this document. ING does not make any representation or warranty with respect to the accuracy or completeness of, or take any responsibility for, any information found at any websites operated by third parties. ING specifically disclaims any liability with respect to any information found at websites operated by third parties. ING cannot guarantee that websites operated by third parties remain available following the publication of this document, or that any information found at such websites will not change following the filing of this document. Many of those factors are beyond ING's control.

Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of ING speak only as of the date they are made, and ING assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or for any other reason.

This document does not constitute an o?er to sell, or a solicitation of an o?er to purchase, any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction.

Attachment
TOKYO, Nov 26, 2024 - (JCN Newswire) - Eisai Co., Ltd. and Biogen Japan Ltd. announced today that Eisai has entered into a research collaboration agreement with the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry to conduct apolipoprotein E (APOE) genetic testing in the dementia research and development program, "Development and Analysis of a National Clinical Registry of Disease-Modifying Therapies for Alzheimer's Disease" ("AD-DMT Registry"). The research will be implemented by the Japan Agency forMedical Research and Development (AMED), with NCNP as the lead research institution.The APOE gene is known to be a risk factor for the onset of Alzheimer's disease and is also associated with the frequency of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) in anti-amyloid  antibody treatments such as lecanemab (LEQEMBI).(1)In Japan, at present, APOE genetic testing is not available for routine clinical practice under National Health Insurance. For thisreason, by using APOE genetic information collected in the AD-DMT Registry, Eisai and NCNP can further study the relationship between the APOE genotype and the safety and efficacy of treatment with lecanemab.Based on this research collaboration agreement with NCNP, Eisai will cover the cost of the APOE genetic testing conducted in the AD-DMT Registry. The findings, along with data collected from the lecanemab-specific post-marketing surveillance (all-casesurveillance), will be part of the reexamination of lecanemab's application by the Japanese Pharmaceuticals and MedicalDevices Agency (PMDA) to ensure the label reflects the latest scientific understanding with the goal of improving patientoutcomes.Eisai and Biogen Japan will continue to contribute to the advancement of Alzheimer's disease treatment through ongoing collaboration with academia.Eisai serves as the lead of lecanemab development and regulatory submissions globally with both Eisai and Biogen Inc. (U.S.)co-commercializing and co-promoting the product and Eisai having final decision- making authority. In Japan, Eisai and Biogen Japan will co-promote lecanemab, with Eisai distributing the product as the Marketing Authorization Holder.(1) Foley KE and Wilcock DM (2024). Three major effects of APOEepsilon4 on Abeta immunotherapy induced ARIA. Front. Aging Neurosci. 16:1412006. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1412006About the "Development and Analysis of a National Clinical Registry of Disease-Modifying Therapies for Alzheimer's Disease"The National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP) is the lead research institution for the dementia research and development program "Development and Analysis of a National Clinical Registry of Disease-Modifying Therapies for Alzheimer's Disease" under the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED). The research is being conducted with the aim of collecting clinical information and test data obtained from routine medical care using treatments including anti-amyloid  antibody drugs such as lecanemab, evaluate the efficacy and safety of these drugs, and perform blood sampling for APOE genotyping and measurement of other biomarkers in patients receiving the drugs. Some of theseresults will be reported to the participating patients, and the safety and efficacy of the drugs will be examined based on APOE genotype and other factors. Eisai plans to conduct large-scale and efficient research by sharing data of patients who have given their consent from the specific post-marketing surveillance.For more details on AMED's dementia research and development program, please visit the AMED website (www.amed.go.jp/en/program/list/14/05/012.html).About EisaiEisai's Corporate Concept is "to give first thought to patients and people in the daily living domain, and to increase thebenefits that health care provides." Under this Concept (also known as human health care (hhc) Concept), we aim toeffectively achieve social good in the form of relieving anxiety over health and reducing health disparities. With a global network of R&D facilities, manufacturing sites and marketing subsidiaries, we strive to create and deliver innovative products to target diseases with high unmet medical needs, with a particular focus in our strategic areas of Neurology, Oncology and Global Health.Theoria technologies Co., Ltd., a member of the Eisai Group, operates the dementia portal site "Theotol" (https://theotol.soudan-e65.com/), which provides easy-to-understand contents and services for the general public aboutMCI and various types of dementia, their causes, treatments, as well as caregiving methods and personal experiences. (Japanese only)About Biogen JapanFounded in 1978, Biogen is a leading biotechnology company that pioneers innovative science to deliver new medicines to transform patients' lives and to create value for shareholders and our communities. We apply deep understanding ofhuman biology and leverage different modalities to advance first-in-class treatments or therapies that deliver superior outcomes. Our approach is to take bold risks, balanced with return on investment to deliver long-term growth.We routinely post information on Biogen Japan that may be important to investors on our website at www.biogen.com/ and social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, LINE.Media Contacts:Eisai Co., Ltd.Public Relations DepartmentTEL: +81 (0)3-3817-5120Biogen Japan, Ltd.Corporate AffairsTEL: +81-70-1501-4315E-mail: Japan-PA@biogen.comSource: EisaiCopyright 2024 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
University of Exeter academic Aritra Ghosh tells pv magazine a multidiscipline approach is required to unlock the full potential of agrivoltaics. Discussing a new paper comparing static and tracker agrivoltaics systems in the United Kingdom, the researcher argues better understanding of microclimates under modules and how PV affects crop biochemistry is needed. A better understanding of microclimates and the effects of overhead PV on crop biology is needed to improve the land use efficiency of agrivoltaics installations, according to UK-based researcher Aritra Ghosh. Speaking with pv magazine ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Diane Lansard, further expands Premialab's marketing footprint bringing in her extensive banking and asset management expertise to the fintech dedicated to quantitative investment strategies.

LONDON, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Premialab announces the appointment of Diane Lansard, as Head of Marketing. Based in London, Ms. Lansard will lead the marketing strategy of the leading independent platform dedicated to quantitative strategies. Before joining PremiaLab, Ms. Lansard served a wide range of institutional clients in buy-and sell-side leadership roles at BNP Paribas, AXA, Bloomberg, and M&G Investments.

Ms. Lansard has over 15 years' experience in banking, asset management and fintech solutions. She will be responsible to execute and scale Premialab's marketing initiatives, providing data and analytics solutions to asset managers, pension funds, insurance companies and sovereign wealth funds globally.

Adrien Geliot, CEO of Premialab, said: "We are thrilled to welcome Diane to our team as we continue to scale our presence globally. Her extensive experience in finance and innovative approach to marketing, will play a pivotal role in driving our growth efforts. Diane's expertise will further strengthen our position as a leader in data and analytics for institutional investors."

The announcement follows recent senior appointments at Premialab including John Macpherson, former Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, Citibank, and Nomura; Marc Fisher, former Managing Director at Citibank with a prior position at Deutsche Bank; and Georgios Sittas, former Managing Director at HSBC, Standard Chartered, and previously a director at Lehman Brothers.

Recognized as the leading independent platform for data and analytics on quantitative strategies, Premialab's capital markets infrastructure is currently used by leading institutional investors, accelerating their digitalization and enhancing performance and risk control while reducing costs. The Platform is already providing data to institutional clients representing over $20 Trillion of assets under management.

Notes to Editors

About PremiaLab

Premialabis the leading independent platform providing data, analytics and risk solutions on quantitative and multi-asset strategies in collaboration with leading investment banks and institutional investors globally. Combining intelligent technology with a unique source of information the platform empowers asset allocators to make better investment decisions whilst achieving utmost time and cost efficiency.

With offices in London, Paris, New York, Hong Kong, Sydney, and Dubai, its international team is dedicated to supporting a global client base with the most up-to-date QIS dataset, advanced portfolio construction, performance and risk analytics. The firm has established strong partnerships with the top 18 investments banks, global asset managers, pensions funds and insurance companies.

For more information please visit: www.premialab.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bnp-paribas-axa-and-bloombergs-former-executive-joins-fintech-premialab-302315533.html
NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Steering Committee of the Ad Hoc Group of Sri Lanka Bondholders (the "Ad Hoc Group" or the "Steering Committee") is pleased to announce its support for the restructuring terms of all 11 series of Sri Lanka's c.$12.55 billion in outstanding sovereign bonds, as detailed in the Republic of Sri Lanka's Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation Memorandum (the "Invitation") published today.

The Ad Hoc Group represents a diverse and significant cross-section of international holders of Sri Lanka's sovereign bonds, collectively holding approximately 40% of Sri Lanka's total outstanding sovereign bonds. The Steering Committee of the Ad Hoc Group includes, among others, funds and/or accounts managed or advised by Amundi Asset Management, Barings LLC, BlackRock and its subsidiaries, Eaton Vance Management, Fidelity International, Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co. LLC, HBK Capital Management, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Neuberger Berman, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., and Wellington Management. The Ad Hoc Group is advised by White & Case LLP as its legal counsel, and Rothschild & Co. as financial advisor.

In the two and a half years following Sri Lanka's default in 2022, the Ad Hoc Group has engaged in constructive dialogue with the Sri Lankan authorities to define the terms of a bond restructuring aimed at returning the country to the path of debt sustainability and ensuring fair and balanced treatment of bondholders. The Ad Hoc Group has also cooperated with the Local Consortium of Sri Lanka ("LCSL"), which is understood to consist of 11 members and controls approximately 12% of Sri Lanka's outstanding sovereign bonds, to seek a comprehensive and joint solution for Sri Lanka. Together, the Ad Hoc Group and the LCSL members represent over 50% of the total outstanding amount of Sri Lanka's sovereign bonds.

This dialogue led to the Agreement in Principle (the "AIP") on the core terms of the sovereign bond restructuring announced on September 19, 2024, reached with both the Ad Hoc Group and the LCSL. The IMF has subsequently confirmed that the terms are consistent with the debt targets and other key parameters of Sri Lanka's IMF-supported program, and Sri Lanka's Official Creditor Committee confirmed that the terms meet the comparability of treatment principle.

Early in the negotiations, the Steering Committee introduced two new instruments - Macro-Linked Bonds (MLBs) and Governance-Linked Bonds (GLBs) - whose payouts are linked, respectively, to the economic performance of Sri Lanka during the IMF program period and the achievement by Sri Lanka of certain concrete governance objectives. The Steering Committee is pleased that these innovative instruments have been included as key pillars of the restructuring solution reflected in the Invitation.

Since the announcement of the AIP, the Steering Committee and its advisors have worked collaboratively with the Sri Lankan government and its advisory team to refine the terms of the new securities to be offered to bondholders as part of the Invitation, whilst maintaining close cooperation with the LCSL.

The Steering Committee strongly supports the terms of the bond restructuring outlined in today's Invitation, which reflect the key legal and financial terms outlined in the AIP. Members of the Steering Committee confirm their intention to participate in the Invitiation by tendering their outstanding bonds and providing their consents. They believe that the successful completion of the transactions contemplated by the Invitation and the debt relief provided under the restructuring terms will make a substantial contribution to ensuring the sustainability of Sri Lanka's external debt in the medium term, paving the way for the country to achieve strong, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth.

The Steering Committee encourages all holders of Sri Lanka's international bonds to review the documentation published by Sri Lanka today, note the respective instructions and deadlines embedded in the Invitation, and participate in the exchange as early as possible.

Inquiries relating to the position of the Steering Committee set forth in this announcement may be directed to the Group's financial or legal advisors at srilan.bondholders@rothschildandco.com and/or WCSriLankaBondholderGroup@whitecase.com.

Media inquiries should be directed to Greenbrook at the addresses below:

Email / Telephone: GBSriLankaBondholderGroup@greenbrookadvisory.com / +44 (0) 20 7952 2000

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/steering-committee-of-ad-hoc-group-of-sri-lanka-bondholders-announces-support-for-sri-lankas-debt-restructuring-terms-302315956.html
Real-world evidence bolsters the efficacy of ORSERDU for the treatment of patients with ER+/HER2- ESR1-mut advanced or mBC.

Updated results of elacestrant in combination with abemaciclib show favorable efficacy regardless of the ESR1 mutation status, with a manageable and predictable safety profile in patients with ER+/HER2- mBC.

FLORENCE, Italy and NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Menarini Group ("Menarini"), a leading international pharmaceutical and diagnostics company, and Stemline Therapeutics, Inc. ("Stemline"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Menarini Group, focused on bringing transformational oncology treatments to cancer patients, will present new and expanded data on ORSERDU (elacestrant) at the upcoming 2024 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), December 10-13, 2024. Of note, the company will bring real-world progression-free survival (rwPFS) results of ORSERDU in adult patients with ER+/HER2-, advanced or metastatic breast cancer (mBC). Additionally, the company will present updated efficacy results of elacestrant plus abemaciclib, along with a pooled safety analysis from phase 1b/2 of both the ELECTRA and ELEVATE trials.

ORSERDU Real-World Progression-Free Survival Data

ORSERDU is the first and only oral estrogen receptor antagonist (SERD) approved to target ESR1-mutated tumors, which occur in up to 50% of ER+, HER2- advanced or mBC tumors, as a result of prior exposure to endocrine therapy (ET) in the metastatic setting. Since its approval by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in January 2023, sufficient time has passed to be able to characterize the real-world use of ORSERDU in the current mBC treatment landscape.

Results to be reported at SABCS 2024 show the efficacy of ORSERDU in the real-world setting in patients with ER+/HER2- advanced or mBC. The overall population analysis demonstrated median rwPFS of 6.8 months. Median rwPFS for patients with 1-2 lines of prior ET in mBC was 8 months. The rwPFS observed is consistent across the subgroups in the analysis. Updated results and additional information from other patient subgroups will be presented at the congress.

The full abstract (SESS-1876) can be viewed here (page 1748).

"These exciting data show clinically meaningful real-world progression-free survival with ORSERDU monotherapy," said Virginia Kaklamani, MD, DSc, breast medical oncologist and professor of medicine, UT Health San Antonio, MD Anderson Cancer Center. "As a practicing physician, these results underscore the need to test patients' tumors for the ESR1 mutation at each disease progression using liquid biopsy, so that we can appropriately tailor their treatment and optimize their care."

Elacestrant Plus Abemaciclib Combination Study

Both the ELEVATE and ELECTRA phase 1b/2 studies were designed with the objective to evaluate patient outcomes through combination treatment options, by overcoming a tumor's resistance to ET.

Results to be reported at SABCS 2024 include updated efficacy results from the ELECTRA study which demonstrate favorable progression-free survival (PFS) data. In all efficacy-evaluable patients, median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 8.6 months. In patients with an ESR1 mutation, mPFS was 8.7 months. In patients without an ESR1 mutation, mPFS was 7.2 months.

Additionally, a pooled safety analysis of patients from ELECTRA and ELEVATE show a manageable and predictable safety profile in patients with ER+/HER2- mBC that is treated with elacestrant plus abemaciclib, and who previously received one or more lines of prior therapy. Safety was evaluated in all patients who received this combination and was consistent with the known safety profiles of both compounds. The most common all-grade adverse events (AEs) (=20%) were diarrhea, nausea, neutropenia, vomiting, fatigue, anemia and decreased appetite. No Grade 4 AEs were observed.

The full abstract (SESS-1910) can be viewed here (page 3330).

"These updated results on the combination of elacestrant plus abemaciclib continue to show encouraging progression-free survival data, and a favorable safety profile, without any new toxicity signals when using these agents in combination," said Hope S. Rugo, MD, Professor of Medicine and Winterhof Family Endowed Professor in Breast Cancer, Director, Breast Oncology and Clinical Trials Education, University of California San Francisco. "Elacestrant continues to show potential to become an endocrine therapy backbone for combination regimens in metastatic breast cancer, and we are excited to explore this treatment combination further as these trials move forward."

"It is exciting to see these progression-free survival outcomes in a real-world setting, which shows ORSERDU brings a meaningful benefit for oncologists to offer their patients," said Elcin Barker Ergun, CEO of the Menarini Group. "We are committed to advancing our robust clinical research program on elacestrant and unlocking its full potential, both in monotherapy and combination treatment settings, with the goal of bringing ORSERDU to new patient populations which may benefit."

Menarini Stemline will also share results of other relevant data from the Phase 3 EMERALD trial, as well as several trials in progress.

Complete List of Menarini Stemline Abstracts:

Title: Elacestrant real-world progression-free survival (rwPFS) of adult patients with ER+/HER2-, advanced breast cancer: a retrospective analysis using insurance claims in the United States

Poster Number: P3-10-08

Date & Time: Thursday, December 12, 12-2 PM CST

Location: TBC

Presenting Author: Elyse Swallow

Title: Elacestrant plus abemaciclib (abema) combination in patients (pts) with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), HER2-negative (HER2-) advanced or metastatic breast cancer (mBC)

Poster Number: PS7-07

Date & Time: Thursday, December 12, 7-8:30 AM CST

Location: TBC

Presenting Author: Hope Rugo

Title: Elacestrant combination in patients with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), HER2-negative (HER2-) locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (mBC): Update from ELEVATE, a phase 1b/2, open-label, umbrella study

Poster Number: PS7-06

Date & Time: Thursday, December 12, 7-8:30 AM CST

Location: TBC

Presenting Author: Hope Rugo

Title: Elacestrant vs SOC in ER+, HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer (mBC) with ESR1-mutated tumors: ESR1 allelic frequencies and clinical activity from the phase 3 EMERALD trial

Poster Number: P1-01-25

Date & Time: Wednesday, December 11, 12-2 PM CST

Location: TBC

Presenting Author: Aditya Bardia

Title: ELEGANT: Elacestrant versus standard endocrine therapy in women and men with node-positive, estrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative, early breast cancer with high risk of recurrence in a global, multicenter, randomized, open-label phase 3 study

Poster Number: P2-08-21

Date & Time: Wednesday, December 11, 5:30-7:30 PM CST

Location: TBC

Presenting Author: Aditya Bardia

Title: ADELA: A randomized, phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of elacestrant plus everolimus versus elacestrant in ER+/HER2-advanced breast cancer (aBC) patients with ESR1-mutated tumors progressing on endocrine therapy (ET) plus CDK4/6i

Poster Number: P2-10-21

Date & Time: Wednesday, December 11, 5:30-7:30 PM CST

Location: TBC

Presenting Author: Antonio Llombart-Cussac

Title: ELCIN: Elacestrant in women and men with CDK4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i)-naive estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), HER2-negative (HER2-) metastatic breast cancer (mBC): An open-label multicenter phase 2 study

Poster Number: P2-08-20

Date & Time: Wednesday, December 11, 5:30-7:30 PM CST

Location: TBC

Presenting Author: Virginia Kaklamani

About The Elacestrant Clinical Development Program

Elacestrant is also being investigated in several company-sponsored clinical trials in metastatic breast cancer, alone or in combination with other therapies. EMERALD (NCT03778931) is a randomized Phase 3 trial, open label, active-controlled study evaluating elacestrant as second- or third-line monotherapy in ER+, HER2- advanced/metastatic breast cancer patients. ELEVATE (NCT05563220) is a phase 1b/2 clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of elacestrant combined with alpelisib, everolimus, capivasertib, palbociclib, ribociclib or abemaciclib. ELECTRA (NCT05386108) is an open-label phase 1b/2, multicenter study evaluating elacestrant in combination with abemaciclib in patients with ER+, HER2- breast cancer. The phase 2 portion evaluates this treatment regimen in patients with brain metastases. ELCIN (NCT05596409) is a phase 2 trial evaluating the efficacy of elacestrant in patients with ER+, HER2- advanced/metastatic breast cancer who received one or two prior hormonal therapies and no prior CDK4/6 inhibitors in the metastatic setting. ADELA (NCT06382948) is a phase 3 randomized, double-blinded trial evaluating elacestrant in combination with everolimus in patients with ER+, HER2- mBC with ESR1-mut tumors. ELEGANT (NCT06492616) is a phase 3 study evaluating elacestrant versus standard endocrine therapy in women and men with node-positive, estrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative, early breast cancer with high risk of recurrence. Elacestrant is also being evaluated in additional investigator-led trials, in trials conducted in collaboration with other companies, in metastatic breast cancer as well as in early disease.

About ORSERDU (elacestrant)

U.S. Indication: ORSERDU (elacestrant), 345 mg tablets, is indicated for the treatment of postmenopausal women or adult men with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, ESR1-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer with disease progression following at least one line of endocrine therapy.

Full prescribing information for the U.S. can be found at www.orserdu.com.

Important Safety Information

Warning and Precautions

Dyslipidemia: Hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia occurred in patients taking ORSERDU at an incidence of 30% and 27%, respectively. The incidence of Grade 3 and 4 hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia were 0.9% and 2.2%, respectively. Monitor lipid profile prior to starting and periodically while taking ORSERDU.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Based on findings in animals and its mechanism of action, ORSERDU can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise pregnant women and females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ORSERDU and for 1 week after the last dose. Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ORSERDU and for 1 week after the final dose.

Adverse Reactions

Serious adverse reactions occurred in 12% of patients who received ORSERDU. Serious adverse reactions in >1% of patients who received ORSERDU were musculoskeletal pain (1.7%) and nausea (1.3%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 1.7% of patients who received ORSERDU, including cardiac arrest, septic shock, diverticulitis, and unknown cause (one patient each).

The most common adverse reactions (=10%), including laboratory abnormalities, of ORSERDU were musculoskeletal pain (41%), nausea (35%), increased cholesterol (30%), increased AST (29%), increased triglycerides (27%), fatigue (26%), decreased hemoglobin (26%), vomiting (19%), increased ALT (17%), decreased sodium (16%), increased creatinine (16%), decreased appetite(15%), diarrhea(13%), headache (12%), constipation (12%), abdominal pain (11%), hot flush (11%), and dyspepsia (10%).

Drug interactions

Concomitant use with CYP3A4 Inducers and/or inhibitors: Avoid concomitant use of strong or moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors with ORSERDU. Avoid concomitant use of strong or moderate CYP3A4 inducers with ORSERDU.

Use in specific populations

Lactation: Advise lactating women to not breastfeed during treatment with ORSERDU and for 1 week after the last dose.

Hepatic Impairment: Avoid use of ORSERDU in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C). Reduce the dose of ORSERDU in patients with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B).

The safety and effectiveness of ORSERDU in pediatric patients have not been established.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Stemline Therapeutics, Inc. at 1-877-332-7961 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

About The Menarini Group

The Menarini Group is a leading international pharmaceutical and diagnostics company, with a turnover of $4.7 billion and over 17,000 employees. Menarini is focused on therapeutic areas with high unmet needs with products for cardiology, oncology, pneumology, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, diabetology, inflammation, and analgesia. With 18 production sites and 9 Research and Development centers, Menarini's products are available in 140 countries worldwide. For further information, please visit www.menarini.com.

About Stemline Therapeutics Inc.

Stemline Therapeutics, Inc. ("Stemline") a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Menarini Group, is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel oncology therapeutics. Stemline commercializes ORSERDU (elacestrant) in the U.S. and Europe, an oral endocrine therapy indicated for the treatment of postmenopausal women or adult men with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, ESR1-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer with disease progression following at least one line of endocrine therapy. Stemline also commercializes ELZONRIS (tagraxofusp-erzs), a novel targeted treatment directed to CD123 for patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), an aggressive hematologic cancer, in the United States and Europe, which is the only approved treatment for BPDCN in the U.S. and E.U. to date. Stemline also commercializes NEXPOVIO (selinexor) in Europe, an XPO1 inhibitor for multiple myeloma. Stemline also has an extensive clinical pipeline of small molecules and biologics in various stages of development for a host of solid and hematologic cancers.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2296569/4833355/Menarini_Industrie_Farmaceutiche_Riunite_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/menarini-group-presents-new-and-expanded-data-at-the-2024-san-antonio-breast-cancer-symposium-reinforcing-the-role-of-orserdu-elacestrant-for-patients-with-er-her2--advanced-or-metastatic-breast-cancer-mbc-302316326.html


EQS Newswire / 26/11/2024 / 17:15 UTC+8

Results Highlights Our brand transformation journey, aimed at elevating brand desirability, gained strong momentum during the first half of FY2025 ("1HFY2025"). The Group's operating profit grew 4.0% to HK$6,776 million with a 400-basis-point expansion in operating profit margin to 17.2%. Coupled with the benefits from the gold price increase, gross profit margin improved considerably by 650 basis points to 31.4% during the period. Yet, in face of the challenging market environment, our revenue decreased 20.4% to HK$39,408 million in 1HFY2025

The use of exquisite craftsmanship with a meticulous blend of different precious materials in our fixed-price gold jewellery sustained good sales momentum and traction with customers in 1HFY2025. During the period, we launched various product offerings of different value propositions to meet customer preferences

Our signature CTF Rouge Collection continued to receive a strong response from customers, exceeding HK$1.5 billion Retail Sales Value ("RSV") during this period since its launch in April

Our first new concept store in Central, Hong Kong has received positive feedback since its grand opening in September

As part of the Group's commitment to enhancing total shareholder returns, the Board has proposed an interim dividend of HK$0.20 per share (payout ratio of approximately 78.9%) for 1HFY2025 and announced a proposed share buy-back with a total amount of not exceeding HK$2 billion

We stay confident in the long-term prospects of the industry and will diligently execute our five strategic priorities to further reinforce our market leadership, positioning for sustainable growth in the future and creating long-term value for our stakeholders

Financial Summary For the six months ended 30 September 2024

HK$ million 2023

HK$ million YoY Change Revenue 39,408 49,526 -20.4% Gross profit(1) 12,378 12,311 Gross profit margin 31.4% 24.9% Operating profit(2) 6,776 6,514 +4.0% Operating profit margin 17.2% 13.2% Profit attributable to shareholders of the Company(3) 2,530 4,551 -44.4% Earnings per share (HK$) 0.25 0.46 -44.3% Interim dividend per share(4) (HK$) 0.20 0.25 N/A (1) Gold loan impact was reclassified from cost of goods sold ("COGS") to "other gains and losses" for 1HFY2024 and before (2) Aggregate of gross profit and other income, less selling and distribution costs and general and administrative expenses (3) The decreased was mainly due to the loss arising from the revaluation of gold loan contracts amid considerable volatility in international gold prices during the period, while there was a gain from the revaluation of gold loans for the same period last year (4) The payout ratio for 1HFY2025 approximated 78.9%

(Hong Kong, China, 26 November 2024) Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited ("Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group", the "Group" or the "Company"; SEHK stock code: 1929), today announces its interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2024 ("1HFY2025"). Focus on Higher Earnings Quality with Improved Operating Profitability Although the macro-economic externalities and high gold price volatility weighed on consumer demand in our key markets in the first half of the financial year, the diligent execution of our five strategic priorities sustained the Group's momentum towards quality earnings and enhanced efficiency, positively impacting our performance. Despite a 20.4% decrease in revenue to HK$39,408 million in 1HFY2025 (1HFY2024: HK$49,526 million), our operating profitability remained resilient. With ongoing disciplined cost management, operating profit grew 4.0% to HK$6,776 million (1HFY2024: HK$6,514 million) while the operating profit margin improved 400 basis points to 17.2% during the period. Gross profit margin improved by 650 basis points to 31.4% during the period, thanks to the improved retail like-for-like margin amid the gold price surge and a higher contribution from fixed-price gold products. This is a testament to our focus on higher earnings quality. The Board has proposed an interim dividend of HK$0.20 per share (1HFY2024: HK$0.25), reflecting our commitment to sustainable value creation for all our stakeholders. The payout ratio was approximately 78.9% in 1HFY2025. The Board has also proposed share buy-back with a total amount of not exceeding HK$2 billion from internal resources. This takes into careful consideration the capital requirements of the business to invest in growth and our commitment to enhance total shareholder returns. This also reflects our confidence in the long-term business prospects. Dr. Henry Cheng, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Chairman, said, "As we continue to navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving market environment, we remain committed to driving the sustainable growth and long-term resilience of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery. By prioritising our brand transformation, we are enhancing our competitiveness to capitalise on emerging opportunities in China and beyond." Differentiated Product Offerings to Suit Customer Preferences The Group remains agile, proactively adapting product and pricing strategy to align with customer demand. The use of exquisite craftsmanship with a meticulous blend of precious materials, and designs that embrace Chinese culture in our fixed-price gold jewellery generated good sales momentum and traction with customers in 1HFY2025. With product offerings featuring diverse value propositions, we delivered strong sales performance in fixed-price gold products, with the sales mix in gold jewellery and products RSV doubling year-on-year to 14.2% during the period. The successful launch of our signature CTF Rouge Collection generated remarkable sales during the period, exceeding HK$1.5 billion RSV since its launch in April. During the period, we also released the Chow Tai Fook Palace Museum Collection and CTF Bond Collection. The former is a unique representation of Chinese heritage and craftsmanship while the latter is inspired by the olive tree as a symbol of eternity with the highlight being the elegant 2-Prong Bond Ring. These new collections validate the Group's pivot in product and pricing strategy in response to market dynamics, providing a differentiated offering to customers. Same Store Sales Declined Narrowed Sequentially In 1HFY2025, both Mainland and Hong Kong and Macau registered Same Store Sales ("SSS") declined. Yet, in Mainland China, the magnitude of the SSS decline narrowed sequentially from the first quarter to the second quarter. SSS of our self-operated points of sales ("POS") in the Mainland fell 25.4% in 1HFY2025. Separately, sales of franchised POS calculated on same store basis was down 19.6% during the period, due to the higher proportion of newer stores. In Hong Kong and Macau, SSS was down 31% in the period. SSS in Hong Kong declined 27.6% while that in Macau fell 40.7%. Other markets continued to grow, with a 8.5% increase of RSV, excluding China Duty Free stores. Key markets including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Japan all delivered positive RSV growth thanks to the resurgence of travel retail and robust domestic demand for jewellery products, as we proactively seek new growth opportunities in overseas markets. Effective POS management to Maximise Capital Efficiency and Productivity With an emphasis on improving earnings quality, our current priorities are to sustain our market leadership and maximise the overall financial health of our retail network. We have been optimising our POS network and streamlining underperforming POS with a focus on store productivity. As of September this year, we had almost 7,000 CHOW TAI FOOK JEWELLERY POS in the Mainland, a net closing of 239 stores during the period. Meanwhile, we are preparing for the launch of a new five-storey store in Shanghai in 2025, which will be the Group's first flagship store in Mainland China. We will also continue to open new stores on a selective basis, adopting a data-driven approach that also takes into consideration industry trend. In Hong Kong and Macau, we closed a net of 3 POS in 1HFY2025. In other markets, we opened 3 stores, including 1 duty-free shop in the Mainland and 2 POS in Japan to capitalise the emerging opportunities from retail demand in these markets. During the period, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery opened our first new concept store in Central, Hong Kong, representing a significant milestone in the brand's transformation journey. Showcasing jewellery collections in a gallery-like setting, this reimagined store embodies refreshed standard operating procedures and enhanced store ambience that resonates with the brand essence. Moving forward, we will efficiently deploy resources for a progressive rollout of refreshed stores over the next five years, calibrated and aligned with market conditions. Business Outlook We stay nimble and vigilantly monitor market dynamics and consumption trends which will inform the ongoing calibration of our growth strategy amidst market uncertainty. This also sees us prioritising financial and operational resources in strengthening business resilience and competitiveness. Based on our current observations and expectation of a narrowing Same Store Sales decline and moderated POS closure rate for 2HFY2025, business fundamentals should improve sequentially from 1HFY2025, barring market externalities and unforeseen circumstances. We will continue to focus on the overall financial health of our retail network to ensure margin resilience and maintain financial discipline in cost management and capital expenditure to deliver high earnings quality. Going forward, we stay confident in the long-term prospects of the industry. We will diligently execute our five strategic priorities to further reinforce our market leadership, positioning for sustainable growth in the future and creating long-term value for our stakeholders. ### Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (the "Group"; SEHK stock code: 1929) was listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in December 2011. The Group celebrates its 95th anniversary this year and forges ahead into a new chapter of success, guided by a vision: "To be the leading global jewellery brand that is a trusted lifetime partner for every generation". Founded in 1929, the Group's iconic brand "CHOW TAI FOOK" has become an emblem of tradition, celebrated for its bold designs and an unwavering attention to detail. Building upon a rich heritage and a foundation of trust, the Group is not only widely recognised for honouring traditions but also for fostering deep, meaningful connections with a diverse customer base through its exquisite jewellery. The Group's long-standing commitment to innovation and craftsmanship has been integral to its success over time and has become synonymous with excellence, value and authenticity. As a leading Chinese jeweller, the Group believes in blending contemporary cutting-edge designs with traditional techniques to create jewellery that can be passed down from generation to generation. Every collection is thoughtfully conceived and crafted to reflect the stories of our customers, celebrating the special moments in their lives. Committed to growing alongside our customers, the Group embraces a spirit that aspires to inspire and captivate generations to come, weaving the story of CHOW TAI FOOK into the fabric of their lives. Offering a wide variety of products, services and channels, the Group's brand portfolio comprises the CHOW TAI FOOK flagship brand with curated retail experiences, and other individual brands including HEARTS ON FIRE, ENZO, SOINLOVE and MONOLOGUE. The Group is committed to delivering sustainable long-term value creation for its stakeholders by enhancing the quality of earnings and driving higher value growth. With an extensive retail network of around 7,500 stores across China as well as multiple locations globally, and a growing e-commerce business, the Group is implementing targeted online-to-offline ("O2O") strategies to strengthen its competitiveness in today's omni-channel retail environment. Media Enquiries: Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited

Haide Ng Associate Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Tel: (852) 3115 4402 Email: haideng@chowtaifook.com Acky Chan Senior Manager, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Tel: (852) 3115 4403 Email: ackychan@chowtaifook.com 26/11/2024 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Media archive at www.todayir.com


Volkswagen's stock experienced a significant downturn, dropping 2.7% following announcements of new trade policies that could substantially impact the automotive giant's North American operations. The proposed 25% tariff on Mexican imports poses a particular threat to the Wolfsburg-based manufacturer, which maintains crucial production facilities in Mexico. This development has sparked broader concerns across the European automotive sector, which recorded the largest sectoral decline at 2.1%. Initial market optimism regarding moderate financial leadership has given way to sobering reality as these aggressive trade measures are set to be implemented as immediate leverage rather than as a last resort in negotiations.

Financial Sector Implications

The automotive manufacturer faces additional challenges as it grapples with its investment portfolio. As the primary stakeholder with a 21% ownership stake in a major Swedish battery producer, Volkswagen must now process substantial value adjustments following the battery company's recent insolvency declaration. These developments occur against a backdrop of broader economic challenges, potentially affecting investor confidence in the company's market position.

Ad

Fresh Volkswagen information released. What's the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends.

Read our updated Volkswagen analysis...
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Google LLC, affiliated to Alphabet Inc. (GOOG), Tuesday said it has proposed more changes to European search results as comparison sites are insisting, after the Digital Markets Act or DMA required substantial changes to the services it can provide in Europe.The company said that with the additional changes, it is trying to accommodate requests by the comparison sites, while still meeting the goals set by the DMA.The firm has expanded and equally formatted units that allow users to choose between results that take them to comparison sites and results that take them directly to supplier websites when they are searching for products, restaurants, flights or hotels.The changes also include other new formats that allow comparison sites and suppliers to show more information about what is on their websites, like prices and pictures; as well as new ad units for comparison sites.Google said it has already made many changes over the past year to comply, including significantly redesigning certain features and completely removing others in Europe.This includes more than 20 modifications to Google Search, like the introduction of dedicated units and formats to boost the prominence of comparison sites for free in categories like flights, hotels, and shopping, among others.The company has also removed useful features from the search results page, like features that show flight information, and reduced functionality for some of its clickable maps - changes that have negatively impacted the experience of European users.'While many of these changes have benefited large online travel aggregators and comparison sites, there's a different set of businesses that are unfortunately losing traffic as a result: it's now harder for airlines, hotel operators, and small retailers to reach customers. They have reported that free direct booking clicks are down as much as 30% since we implemented our original changes,' Google noted.Google further said it needs to understand how such changes would impact both the user experience and traffic to websites. To do this, the company will be running a short test to remove the free hotel features from Google Search for users in Germany, Belgium, and Estonia.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
LONDON, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lexar, a leading global brand of storage solutions, unveiled an array of innovative products at the flagship store of DJI-RETAIL on Regent Street, one of London's most famous shopping streets located in the heart of the city.

Driven by a steadfast commitment to innovation, Lexar continues to expand its footprint, delivering industry-leading storage solutions to over 60 countries worldwide. In 2023, Lexar experienced significant growth, achieving a 60% year-over-year increase in global business. Europe, as a key strategic region for the Lexar brand, saw an impressive 159% year-over-year growth and is on track to maintain this momentum with a 100% year-over-year growth during the first half of 2024.

Lexar delivers best-in-class products that provide unwavering reliability and superior customer service. This commitment has garnered recognition from users and partners. The Lexar Professional 1066x microSD Card is officially recommended by DJI for storage solutions on their official website.

-ARMOR Series-

A striking ice sculpture at the store highlighted Lexar's groundbreaking ARMOR Series, showcasing the ARMOR 700 Portable SSD alongside the ARMOR GOLD and SILVER PRO SD memory cards. Engineered for durability in extreme outdoor conditions, these products set new standards for toughness and performance.

The ARMOR SD cards are the world's first made from stainless steel, offering unparalleled resilience. The ARMOR 700 Portable SSD, rated IP66, ensures robust protection against water and dust, making it a reliable companion for on-the-go creators. These premium products are now available at the flagship store of DJI-RETAIL.

-Memory Cards & Readers-

The Lexar SILVER PLUS microSD UHS-I Card, also available in-store, delivers exceptional performance with maximum read speeds of 205MB/s to expedite transfers and reduce wait times, as well as write speeds of 150MB/s to capture fast action. When paired with the Lexar Professional USB-A/C Dual-Slot Reader, which supports simultaneous reading of SD and microSD cards, users can achieve optimal speeds and multitask with ease.

-Portable SSDs-

Highly portable and designed for mobile creators, the Lexar Professional Go Portable SSD with Hub and the SL500 Portable SSD with Magnetic Set empower professionals, particularly iPhone users, to seamlessly capture and store 4K ProRes videos on the go. The Professional Go Portable SSD with Hub, which raised over $1 million on Kickstarter, is a versatile solution that integrates perfectly with handheld devices such as DJI Ronin stabilizers, offering unmatched convenience for creators.

Innovative Collaboration

This partnership between Lexar and DJI-RETAIL introduces a new audience to Lexar's innovative storage solutions, helping content creators and professionals push the boundaries of their craft. By empowering users to capture, store, and share their creative works with confidence, Lexar reaffirms its commitment to excellence and innovation in the storage industry.

Media Kits

Press Images

About Lexar

For more than 25 years, Lexar has been trusted as a leading global brand of memory solutions. Our award-winning lineup includes memory cards, USB Flash Drives, card readers, solid-state drives, and DRAM. With so many options, it's easy to find the right Lexar solution to fit your needs.

For more information: lexar.com

Instagram: instagram.com/lexarmemory_eu

X(Twitter): twitter.com/lexarmemory_eu

Facebook: facebook.com/LexarMemoryEurope

YouTube: youtube.com/c/LexarMemoryOfficial

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/lexarmemory

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2566321/Lexar_Showcases_Cutting_Edge_Storage_Solutions_DJI_Retail_Flagship_Store_Regent.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2498763/Lexar_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/lexar-showcases-cutting-edge-storage-solutions-at-flagship-store-of-dji-retail-on-regent-street-in-london-302316344.html
The sustainable data center business reinforces its commitment to advancing Denmark's digital infrastructure as part of its continued investment into the country.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- atNorth, the leading Nordic colocation, high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence service provider, has announced its joining of the Danish Data Center Association (DDI) as part of its continued investment into the country's data center industry.

The business recently announced the development of its second site in Denmark, DEN02 and its first site, DEN01, is due to be operational by Q2 2025. atNorth has also recently announced the appointment of Jeff Kjeldsen as Operations Director for Denmark?as it aims to deliver large-scale infrastructure operations that demonstrate leading technologies and adhere to stringent industry standards.

The DDI aims to create stakeholder opportunities by promoting sustainability, best practice operations and cross sector collaborations. These are factors that are a core part of atNorth's business ethos and the business is proud to help shape a thriving future for the country.

"The Danish Data Center Industry is expanding rapidly but it is important that we evolve in a sustainable way," says Henrik Hansen, CEO at the Danish Data Center Industry. "We welcome Nordic data center leader, atNorth, as a member of our organization and hope we can capitalize on a shared ethos of technical excellence and environmental protection."

"We are proud to join the Danish Data Center Industry Association," says Jeff Kjeldsen, Operations Director for Denmark at aNorth. "Denmark, alongside its Nordic neighbours boasts ideal conditions for data center development. The country's beneficial climate, excellent connectivity and an abundance of renewable energy has fuelled the rapid expansion of the industry and we are delighted to help guide the process to ensure sustainability and best practice excellence."

About atNorth

atNorth is a leading Nordic data center services company that offers sustainable, cost-effective, scalable colocation and high-performance computing services trusted by industry-leading organizations. The business acquired leading High Performance Computing (HPC) provider, Gompute, in 2023 enabling a compelling full stack offering tailored to AI and other critical high performance workloads.

With sustainability at its core, atNorth's data centers run on renewable energy resources and support circular economy principles. All atNorth sites leverage innovative design, power efficiency, and intelligent operations to provide long-term infrastructure and flexible colocation deployments. The tailor-made solutions enable businesses to calculate, simulate, train and visualize data workloads in an efficient, cost-optimized way.

atNorth is headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland and operates seven data centers in strategic locations across the Nordics, with additional sites to open in Helsinki, Finland in and Ballerup, Denmark in early 2025, as well as its tenth under construction in Kouvola, Finland and its eleventh site in lgod, Denmark.

For more information, visit atNorth.com or follow atNorth on LinkedIn or Facebook.

Press Contact:

Caroline Brunton

Kite Hill PR for atNorth

+44 (0) 7796 274 416

caroline@kitehillpr.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/atnorth/r/atnorth-joins-danish-data-center-industry-association-,c4071278

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/18907/4071278/3133371.pdf Release https://news.cision.com/atnorth/i/ddi,c3354980 DDI

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/atnorth-joins-danish-data-center-industry-association-302316346.html
Running until 30 April 2025, this showcase features curated installations and performances, making art accessible to all

ABU DHABI, UAE, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Experience Abu Dhabi, the destination brand of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), has launched the inaugural Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial, as part of the Public Art Abu Dhabi initiative. This landmark event transforms Abu Dhabi and Al Ain into vibrant open-air galleries, celebrating creativity and culture.

Running until 30 April 2025, the Biennial explores the concept of 'public' in the context of Abu Dhabi, showcasing how art cultivates connections across communities. Designed with accessibility in mind, the exhibition is strategically located in the downtown areas of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain to welcome visitors and residents alike to engage and explore with its installations.

Visitors and residents can explore works by over 70 artists from around the world. The Biennial brings together site-specific installations and performances that directly engage with communities and reflect on the intersection of community, environment and identity.

Key highlights include:

Farah Al Qasimi's Homesickeness: An auditory sculpture immersing listeners in ocean sounds, symbolising the sea's cultural and environmental significance in the region.

An auditory sculpture immersing listeners in ocean sounds, symbolising the sea's cultural and environmental significance in the region. Seema Nusrat's Floating Fragments: Depicting a terracotta-roofed house submerged by an imagined flood, it explores urban life and the increasing risks of flooding due to climate change.

Depicting a terracotta-roofed house submerged by an imagined flood, it explores urban life and the increasing risks of flooding due to climate change. Christopher Benton's Where Lies My Carpet Is Thy Home : A transformation of the traditional Carpet Souk to a vibrant community space, encouraging attendees to engage and connect with the community.

: A transformation of the traditional Carpet Souk to a vibrant community space, encouraging attendees to engage and connect with the community. Afra Al Dhaheri's D-constructing Collective Exhaustion : A thought-provoking piece which draws on time, presence, and attention in an immersive installation made of wooden structures, tangled ropes, light, and sound.

: A thought-provoking piece which draws on time, presence, and attention in an immersive installation made of wooden structures, tangled ropes, light, and sound. Wael Al Awar's Barzakh: The installation refers to a boundary or liminal space, and rethinks how these materials and processes could shape future architecture.

Designed to be explored on foot or by car, the Biennial's especially curated routes invite visitors to discover prominent landmarks and hidden gems, all through an artistic lens. Even as Abu Dhabi continues to grow, its warm welcome and generous spirit remain at its heart. The Biennial celebrates these cherished traditions, sharing them with the world.

The Biennial will unveil another wave of art installations and activities beginning in January 2025, kicking off the second phase of the exhibition.

The Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial provides a unique opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in the city's culture and connect with its vibrant community, making it a must-visit attraction for tourists in the city from November - April 2025. For more information on the Biennial artists, programming, and locations, please visit: https://paad.ae/biennial

For more high-res launch weekend images please click here

About the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi:

The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi's culture and tourism sectors and its creative industries, fuelling economic progress and helping to achieve Abu Dhabi's wider global ambitions.

By working in partnership with the organisations that define the emirate's position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the emirate's potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies and systems to support the culture and tourism industries.

DCT Abu Dhabi's vision is defined by the emirate's people, heritage and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi's status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives and creative thought.

For more information about the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi and the destination, please visit: dct.gov.ae and visitabudhabi.ae

About Public Art Abu Dhabi

Public Art Abu Dhabi is the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi)'s new initiative under its ongoing commitment to commissioning public art for the emirate. Integral to this initiative is its community engagement efforts. The initiative advances the creative legacy, cultural infrastructure, liveability, and wellbeing of the UAE capital's residents through placemaking and collective memory. An investment of over 35 million US dollars is dedicated to the initiative annually, to support the emirate's wider creative industries through public art.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2567527/PAAD_24_Afra_Al_Dhaheri_DCT.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2567524/PAAD_24_Christopher_Joshua_Benton_DCT.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2567523/PAAD_24_Farah_Al_Qasimi_DCT.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2567522/PAAD_24_Seema_Nusrat_DCT.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2567521/PAAD_24_Wael_Al_Awar_DCT.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/experience-the-first-public-art-abu-dhabi-biennial-new-displays-turn-abu-dhabi-and-al-ain-into-open-air-galleries-302316348.html
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Oil prices traded higher on Tuesday, after having fallen nearly 3 percent in the previous session following reports that Israel and Hezbollah are likely to reach a cease-fire agreement within the next few days.Benchmark Brent crude futures rose 0.4 percent to $72.79 a barrel in European trade while WTI crude futures were up 0.7 percent at $69.42.'The atmosphere is positive, and cease-fire discussions have reached an advanced stage. It's only a matter of hours before an agreement is finalized and announced if progress continues as expected,' a Lebanese parliamentarian said Monday.Israeli media outlets Haaretz, Walla, Ynet, Kan and American news website Axios also reported progress in the U.S.-led ceasefire talks.Elsewhere, Russian forces are advancing in Ukraine at the fastest rate since the early months of the war, according to a respected U.S.-based thinktank.Reports indicate that Moscow is edging closer to the key logistics town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk.Reuters reported that OPEC+ plans to hold its Dec. 1 oil policy meeting online rather than in-person as originally indicated.It is very likely that the group will consider keeping production cuts in place from January 1.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Gold prices steadied on Tuesday after plummeting during Monday's session on news of the nomination of Scott Bessent as the Treasury Secretary for Trump's administration and possible ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel.Spot gold was marginally lower at $2,25.14 per ounce in European trade while U.S. gold futures were up 0.3 percent at $2,650.70.'The atmosphere is positive, and cease-fire discussions have reached an advanced stage. It's only a matter of hours before an agreement is finalized and announced if progress continues as expected,' a Lebanese parliamentarian said Monday.Israeli media outlets Haaretz, Walla, Ynet, Kan and American news website Axios also reported progress in the U.S.-led ceasefire talks.In economic releases, U.S. building permits for October, house price index for September, U.S. Consumer Board's consumer confidence for November, U.S. new home sales for October and U.S. Richmond manufacturing index for November are slated for release in the New York session.At 2:00 pm ET, the minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee's Nov. 6-7 meeting will be published.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) is hosting the first-ever International Conference on Conjoined Twins in Riyadh on November 24-25, 2024, marking the 30th anniversary of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Programme. Among the distinguished participants, the delegation from Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London stands out as the largest international contingent, bringing their expertise to this groundbreaking event.

The GOSH delegation, comprising world-renowned specialists, will play a pivotal role in the conference, with several members scheduled as notable speakers across various sessions. Their participation underscores the global collaborative effort in advancing conjoined twin separation techniques and patient care.

On the first day of the conference, Mr. Simon Blackburn, Consultant Neonatal and Paediatric Surgeon at GOSH, will present "Ethical aspects of conjoined twins separation". Dr. Felice D'Arco, Consultant Pediatric Neuroradiologist at GOSH, will present "Multiparametric Imaging for Presurgical Planning of Craniopagus Twins," sharing insights into cutting-edge imaging techniques crucial for complex surgical procedures. Professor Paolo De Coppi, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon at GOSH, will discuss "Virtual reality and regenerative medicine: the future in planning and executing the separation," highlighting innovative approaches.

On the second day of the conference, Professor Owase Jeelani, Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon and Head of the Department of Craniofacial Surgery at GOSH, will share his experience with craniopagus cases, offering valuable insights from one of the world's leading pediatric hospitals. Prof. Silvia Schievano, Professor of Biomedical Engineering at UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science and GOS Institute of Child Health, will present on "Surgical planning and 3D reconstruction," demonstrating the critical role of advanced technology in complex surgical procedures.

"GOSH is one of the few places in the world that has so many skilled teams under one roof to care for conjoined twins and give them the best possible treatment. We are proud of our long-standing relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and are delighted to share our expertise celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Programme and the United Nations World Conjoined Twins Day," said Chris Rockenbach, the Managing Director International and Commercial at GOSH.

"This conference marks a significant milestone in our journey of providing world-class care for conjoined twins. The Saudi Conjoined Twins Programme has evaluated about 143 cases from countries around the world, reflecting our commitment to humanitarian efforts and medical excellence. We are honored to host experts from GOSH and other international institutions, as their participation will undoubtedly enrich our discussions and contribute to advancing this specialized field of medicine," said Dr. Abdullah Al Moallam, the Director of Health and Environmental Department at KSrelief.

The conference will feature humanitarian and scientific sessions, bringing together experts from around the world to discuss advancements in conjoined twin separation and related humanitarian efforts. The event aims to showcase Saudi Arabia's leadership in the humanitarian and medical fields, particularly through its conjoined twins program.

This international gathering aligns with Saudi Vision 2030's goals of enhancing the quality and efficiency of the Kingdom's healthcare and humanitarian sectors. The participation of the GOSH delegation, along with other international experts, is expected to contribute significantly to the conference's outcomes, fostering global collaboration and knowledge exchange in this specialized field of medicine.

The International Conference on Conjoined Twins promises to be a landmark event, bringing together the world's leading experts to share experiences, discuss innovative techniques, and chart the future of conjoined twin care and separation.

About Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH) in London is an international centre of excellence in paediatric care, globally recognized as one of the few world-class hospitals for children with rare, complex or multiple conditions. Founded in 1852, GOSH is a globally renowned children's hospital and the leading paediatric hospital in Europe, championing education, research and innovation across 67 clinical specialties. Our dedicated International and Private Care service is tailored to international patients, treating children from over 90 countries, ensuring a nurturing and family-centered patient experience. To learn more visit: www.gosh.nhs.uk

About KSrelief:

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), established under the guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, represents Saudi Arabia's commitment to global humanitarian efforts. Inaugurated in May 2015, KSrelief has provided impartial humanitarian aid and relief to over 100 countries in cooperation with local, regional and international organizations.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2566126/International_Conference_on_Conjoined_Twins_Logo.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2567635/NHSGreatOrmond_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/great-ormond-street-hospital-delegation-participates-in-international-conjoined-twins-conference-302316399.html
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 26, 2024) - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company"), a leading consolidator of emerging food brands is pleased to announce in partnership with Cadillac Fairview ("CF") the opening of three of our portfolio brands at CF Shops at Don Mills. IQ Foods, Heal Wellness and Rosie's Burgers are all set to open at the centre in 2025.

"Our partnership with Cadillac Fairview reflects our commitment to expand in key urban markets with best in market real estate," said Sean Black, Chief Executive Officer of Happy Belly. "CF Shops at Don Mills is a premier GTA dining destination, and we're excited to extend our reach to serve new diners and those who already love our brands."

"We are thrilled to partner with Happy Belly Food Group to amplify the fast casual dining options we have at the centre," said Ilene Klein, General Manager, CF Shops at Don Mills. "Dining continues to be a focal point of our retail mix, and I know the local community will respond positively to these new additions."

This marks the second (2nd) net new store location for IQ Foods since acquisition on September 18th, 2024, bringing the brands store count to six (6). IQ Foods is a flagship brand in Canada's premium healthy eating market serving a variety of delicious and wholesome food options such as healthy bowls, smoothies, sandwiches, soups, and salads, along with other flavorful clean-eating dishes that the whole family can enjoy. IQ caters to thousands of health-conscious customers fostering strong brand recognition and a loyal customer base driven by word-of-mouth and most importantly, satisfied customers.

IQ Foods

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6625/231394_d4c176a4647a5ac8_002full.jpg

This marks the forty-seventh (47th) location for Heal Wellness, a QSR founded with a passion and mission to provide quick, fresh wellness foods that support a busy and active lifestyle. We currently offer a diverse range of smoothie bowls and smoothies. We take pride in meticulously selecting every superfood ingredient on our menu to fuel the body, including acai smoothie bowls, smoothies, and super-seed grain bowls. Our smoothie bowls are crafted with real fruit and enriched with superfoods like acai, pitaya, goji berries, chia seeds, and more.

HEAL Wellness

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6625/231394_d4c176a4647a5ac8_003full.jpg

IQ Foods and Heal Wellness will open in a shared 1,500 square foot store, making this particular combination the first of its kind. Happy Belly's real-estate playbook is routed in shared space combinations, allowing us to strategically acquire premium locations of almost any size and brand combination, a key differentiator in today's market.

CF will be home to Rosie's ninth (9th) retail location. Rosie's Burgers is a nod to the enduring tradition of genuine hospitality serving quality smashed burgers, sides and milkshakes. Inspired by the simplicity of the classic diner, the menu is uncomplicated and effortlessly delicious. Rosie's is your neighbourhood burger shop serving up nostalgic flavours you know, love, and crave. From our Smashburger's and French fries to strawberry shakes and onion rings-we're all about keeping things simple and perfecting tradition. Because the classics were made classic for a reason, right?

Rosie's Burgers

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6625/231394_d4c176a4647a5ac8_004full.jpg

IQ Foods, Heal Wellness and Rosie's Burgers will join an established roster of restaurant and food operators at the centre including Eataly, Joey, The Good Son, Taylor's Landing, Scaddabush, Anejo, MADO, Starbucks, Chipotle and many more.

"We currently have 421 contractually committed retail locations from area developers across all emerging brands in the Happy Belly Portfolio-whether in development, under construction, or already open. As we open new stores, the Happy Belly footprint continues to grow. Our team is committed to sourcing and evaluating real estate, reviewing franchisee applications, and collaborating closely with area developers to support our asset-light franchising model. At present, five of our restaurant brands are simultaneously under construction, and we are excited to announce multiple brand openings throughout 2024-2025. By focusing on securing high-quality franchisees and prime real estate locations across Canada, we will further strengthen our expansion efforts."



We are just getting started.



About Cadillac Fairview

Cadillac Fairview (CF) is one of the largest owners, operators, investors and developers of best-in-class office, retail, multi-family residential, industrial and mixed-use properties in North America. CF Shops at Don Mills is home to 85 stores, restaurants and services and is Ontario's first open-air lifestyle centre. For more information and to stay up to date on other retail openings, news, and events at CF Shops at Don Mills, visit cfshopsatdonmills.ca.

Wholly owned by the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, with assets under management of more than $30 billion, CF manages over 36 million square feet of leasable space at 69 landmark properties across Canada, including Toronto-Dominion Centre, CF Toronto Eaton Centre, Tour Deloitte, CF Carrefour Laval, CF Chinook Centre and CF Pacific Centre. Driven by its purpose of Transforming Communities for a Vibrant Tomorrow, CF is continually striving to make a positive impact in communities where it operates by promoting social connection, growth, and a sustainable future. Visit cadillacfairview.com for more information.



About Happy Belly Food Group

Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company") is a leading consolidator of emerging food brands.

Happy Belly Food Group

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6625/231394_d4c176a4647a5ac8_005full.jpg

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-Looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur and include the future performance of Happy Belly and her subsidiaries. Forward-Looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the business plans for Happy Belly described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are posted on www.sedarplus.ca.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231394

SOURCE: Happy Belly Food Group Inc.
MANILA, Philippines, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- GCash, the Philippines' leading finance super app and largest cashless ecosystem, further expands its presence overseas, particularly in the United Kingdom and Europe, through the new UK/EU Bank Cash In feature, revolutionizing remittance for around two million Filipinos in Europe.

Starting in November, overseas Filipinos in the UK and Europe will be able to seamlessly link their international bank accounts to GCash, making it easier and more convenient to send remittances to the Philippines.

Previously, sending money from the UK and Europe to the Philippines has been a complex and time-consuming process, often involving expensive fees and multiple intermediaries. With the new feature, Filipinos can enjoy lower fees and faster transaction times when sending money home, as well as competitive exchange rates and real-time access to funds.

"Many Filipinos have chosen Europe and the United Kingdom as their home. GCash hopes to provide their needs and help them connect with their loved ones, as a trusted digital finance partner made for Filipinos, by Filipinos," said Paul Albano, GCash International General Manager.

Floris de Kort, CEO of Thunes, added, "We are expanding our collaboration with GCash, a long-standing valued Member of our Direct Global Network, to transform digital wallet top-ups. Through Thunes' Direct Global Network, we are now delivering an instant top-up service that simplifies cross-border transactions. Our alliance with GCash is a testament to our passion for innovation, the versatility of our proprietary network, and our dedication to financial inclusion through money movement around the world."

Through its vision of making 'Finance for All' a reality for its users around the world, GCash has recently become the Philippines' first and only $5 billion unicorn. With its relentless push for financial inclusion and strong growth prospects, it recently gained new investments from Japan's largest banking group Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), and Ayala Corporation one of the Philippines' biggest and most enduring conglomerates.

"At GCash, we prioritize finance for all Filipinos whether they are in the Philippines or abroad. We know our countrymen in Europe and the UK work hard to provide for their families back home," says Albano. "We want to make their lives easier by looking for more convenient ways to help them send money back to their families."

About GCash

GCash is the Philippines' #1 Finance Super App and Largest Cashless Ecosystem. Through the GCash App, users can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills via partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 6 million partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, loans, insurance and invest money, and so much more, all at the convenience of their smartphones. Its mobile wallet operations are handled by G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt, the first and only $5 billion unicorn in the Philippines.

About Thunes:

Thunes is the Smart Superhighway to move money around the world. Thunes' proprietary Direct Global Network allows Members to make payments in real-time in over 130 countries and more than 80 currencies. Thunes' Network connects directly to over 7 billion mobile wallets and bank accounts worldwide, as well as 15 billion cards via more than 320 different payment methods, such as GCash, M-Pesa, Airtel, MTN, Orange, JazzCash, Easypaisa, AliPay, WeChat Pay and many more. Thunes' Direct Global Network differentiates itself through its worldwide reach, in-house SmartX Treasury System and Fortress Compliance Platform, ensuring Members of the Network receive unrivaled speed, control, visibility, protection, and cost efficiencies when making real-time payments, globally. Members of Thunes' Direct Global Network include gig economy giants like Uber and Deliveroo, super-apps like Grab and WeChat, MTOs, fintechs, PSPs and banks. Headquartered in Singapore, Thunes has offices in 15 locations, including Abidjan, Barcelona, Beijing, Dubai, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, London, Manila, Nairobi, Paris, Riyadh, San Francisco, Sao Paulo and Shanghai. For more information, visit: https://www.thunes.com/

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2567632/GCash_x_Thunes_2.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/gcash-enables-seamless-linkage-of-overseas-filipino-remittances-with-uk-and-eu-bank-cash-in-302316421.html
The recognition of the Gulf Cooperation Council will guarantee several commercial benefits and will improve the Group's operational efficiency

Racing Force Group is proud to announce that its subsidiary Racing Force International W.L.L., based in the Kingdom of Bahrain, was certified, by the Customs Administration, as a member of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) Authorised Economic Operator programme This is a prestigious recognition for Racing Force International's excellent management of import and export procedures, supply chain, as well as full adherence to the requirements of the World Customs Organization, and for the positive economic spin-offs resulting from its activities in the Arabian Gulf region.

Having obtained the GCC AEO certificate will allow Racing Force International, and the whole Group in general, to take advantage of various facilitations in terms of procedures, security, taxation and customs controls. To date, Racing Force Group exports to 85 countries, nurturing relationships with an extensive network of dealers, partners, customers and suppliers.

Thanks to the GCC AEO certificate, the Group will be able to speed up the time in the import-export processes to all over the world, as well as to reduce the associated cost, becoming even more competitive in the global motorsport safety equipment market, and in managing its diversification projects.

Founded in 1981, the Gulf Cooperation Council (full name: Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf) is a regional international organization and free trade area that brings together six countries in the Arabian Gulf: Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.

The presence in the Kingdom of Bahrain once again proves to be a highly strategic one for Racing Force. At the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir is located the R&D and production center of the Bell Racing Helmets brand. The construction of a second floor was recently completed, expanding the total area to 12,000 square meters, with the aim of meeting the increasing demand. Meanwhile, the groundbreaking also took place for a second facility, adjacent to the existing one, which will be dedicated to the production of a selection of OMP-branded products.

The Kingdom of Bahrain also boasts a free trade agreement with the United States, to which exports can be made without incurring customs charges, fully supporting the ambitious expansion strategy put in place by Racing Force in one of the most important markets in motorsport. Negotiations are also underway between the countries of the GCC area, including the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the United Kingdom, to initiate a free trade agreement with another country of primary relevance in the industry, being home to most Formula 1 teams.

The Authorized Economic Operator certificate of GCC was presented in an official ceremony of the Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Bahrain by Shaikha Muneera bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Director-General of Customs Clearance and Service, to Aref Yazbek, Chief Business Officer of Racing Force Group & Managing Director Bahrain.

Aref Yazbek, Chief Business Officer & Managing Director Bahrain of Racing Force Group, said: "The Authorized Economic Operator certificate received from the Gulf Cooperation Council is another proof of the excellence we pursue in every aspect of our business. Behind the victories we achieve in motorsport, or the technological milestones we set, there is also a fundamental work of import-export and logistics management, through which we can access the best materials and equipment for our production, and subsequently ensure the highest level of service for customers, partners and distributors around the world. We are incredibly proud of this recognition obtained from the Gulf Cooperation Council, and I deeply thank all the employees in our Sakhir headquarters for making this possible. In the meantime, we are closely monitoring the possibility of GCC members signing a free trade agreement with the United Kingdom, one of the nations where we export products in the largest volume."

------------------------

This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ".

- SECURITY MASTER Key:

lGltZZdoYmvHx2pukspmZ5ZqZ2djlmedmGPJyGlxlZ7KmZtjmplqb5TIZnFpnW5s

- Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com.

------------------------



 Copyright Actusnews Wire

Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free

Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-88896-241126-eng-racing-force-gets-certification-in-bahrain-as-authorized-economic-operator-by-the-gcc.pdf
The LutefishTM Stream is officially on sale.

Today, Lutefish is releasing their highly anticipated online music collaboration device, the Lutefish Stream. The Lutefish online musician community, where you can meet other musicians, post gigs and promote shows has been available in beta form for several months, and can now be paired with the Lutefish Stream, allowing you to jam online, in time with your musician connections.

"Our team consists of musicians who understand the challenges of commuting, moving equipment, finding other musicians, and the hassle and cost of securing rehearsal space," said Patrick Finn, business manager at Lutefish. "We know these factors result in less time and fewer opportunities to actually create music. The Lutefish Stream and Lutefish online community provide a solution that enables people to focus on what truly matters: making music."

The Lutefish Stream leverages 48K audio that allows you to stream music over the internet and play in time, online. With a good internet connection, you will not experience the latency often observed on other platforms up to about 500 miles away. "We have achieved audio latency levels under 30 milliseconds," added Finn. "It is like you're in the same room playing together."

When purchasing the Lutefish Stream, musicians receive the device plus 5GB storage, wired headphones, a USB-C power supply and cable, plus a 15-foot Ethernet cable. You will also receive access to the free online community, where you can search and find like-minded musicians to play with. "We knew it was critical to not only create a comprehensive, easy-to- use device with the highest audio quality, but also to foster a thriving online community where you can find other musicians with the same interests and play more frequently," said Finn.

To celebrate this milestone, Lutefish is offering 20% off the Lutefish Stream through Cyber Monday. Lutefish is also offering 2 free months of subscription service, which will allow an unlimited number of live online jam sessions and up to 5 users per session, all while maintaining the highest audio quality. Upgrading to a premium subscription allows for up to 50 users in select markets.

###

About Lutefish

Lutefish is more than a company - we're a community of musicians driven by a shared passion for creativity, innovation, and the power of music. Based in Minnesota, Lutefish was founded by musicians who saw the gaps in tools and resources that could help musicians connect, create, and make more music. Our mission is simple yet profound: to empower musicians of all skill levels to play music more often by making collaboration easier and more accessible for everyone. Join us today and get ready to jam. All together now. www.lutefish.com. Contact:

Whitney Bauer Winkels

507-774-8333

Whitney.Winkels@lutefish.com SOURCE: Lutefish

View the original press release on accesswire.com
The QKS Group SPARK Matrix provides competitive analysis and ranking of the leading User Authentication vendors.

HID, with its comprehensive technology and customer experience management, has received strong ratings across the parameters of technology, excellence and customer impact.

MIDDLETON, Mass., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- QKS Group has named HID as a technology leader in their 2024 SPARK Matrix analysis of User Authentication market.

The QKS Group SPARK Matrix evaluates vendors based on technology excellence and customer impact. It offers an in-depth analysis of global market dynamics, major trends, vendor landscapes, and competitive positioning. By providing a competitive analysis and ranking of leading technology vendors, the SPARK Matrix delivers strategic insights that help users access provider capabilities, differentiate competitively, and understand market positions.

HID was chosen as a leader in the 2024 SPARK Matrix: User Authentication, 2024 due to its outstanding capabilities in providing robust security features, seamless integration with existing systems, and comprehensive management tools that ensure secure and efficient identity verification and access control for resources.

QKS Group defines User Authentication as "A solution that empowers organizations to identify, authenticate and authorize users which are connected to network resources through OTPs, TOTP and passwordless authentication. It provides secure access to the authorized users which have access to the privileged resources, mitigates account takeover, also prevents phishing activities, information theft and fraudulent transactions by blocking unauthorized users in real-time. It strengthens IT security by enhancing networks, applications, data security and addresses IT security regulatory compliances. Additionally, user authentication helps to manage digital identities that can be accessed through cloud, mobile and on-prem environments."

According to Sanket Kadam Analyst at QKS Group, "HID's Authentication Platform covers the full identity journey beyond passwordless by enabling the creation, use and management of secure identities in the cloud or on-prem. The platform supports multiple form factors such as physical access cards, FIDO and PKI-enabled smart cards and security keys, hardware OTP tokens, as well as multiple authentication methods, including biometrics, push-based mobile authentication, behavioral analytics, risk-based authentication, and out-of-band authentication. These capabilities help organizations safeguard sensitive data and manage secure access for users across diverse systems."

"We want to enable enterprise organizations to find the passwordless journey that best fits their needs to enhance their customer and employee experiences without compromising on security. We do that by offering flexibility with the broadest range of authentication methods, and by leveraging our 20+ years expertise to meet today's security needs while accelerating tomorrow's path to passwordless," says Sean Dyon, VP & Head of the Authentication Business Unit at HID. "Our ongoing collaboration with industry leaders and partners like Microsoft, and adoption of key standards such as FIDO, underscores our commitment to driving innovation in this space."

The user authentication market is evolving rapidly due to the increasing reliance on digital interactions across sectors, creating a heightened need for secure, seamless, and user-friendly authentication solutions. Market dynamics in user authentication are heavily influenced by the growing volume of cyber threats, regulatory compliance requirements, and the rise of digital transformation initiatives. Organizations are shifting from traditional password-based authentication to more robust methods like multi-factor authentication (MFA), biometric authentication, and adaptive authentication to safeguard their digital assets while enhancing user experience. As businesses digitize their operations, they seek authentication solutions that not only secure access but also provide an optimal user journey.

Additional Resources:

For more information about HID

About HID:

HID powers the trusted identities of the world's people, places and things. We make it possible for people to transact safely, work productively and travel freely. Our trusted identity solutions give people convenient access to physical and digital places and connect things that can be identified, verified and tracked digitally. Millions of people around the world use HID's products and services to navigate their everyday lives, and billions of things are connected through HID's technology. We work with governments, educational institutions, hospitals, financial institutions, industrial businesses and some of the most innovative companies on the planet. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, HID has over 4,500 employees worldwide and operates international offices that support more than 100 countries. HID is an ASSA ABLOY Group brand. For more information, visit www.hidglobal.com.

Vendor Media Contact:

HID

Matt Winn

mwinn@hidglobal.com

About QKS Group:

QKS Group is a global advisory and consulting firm focused on helping clients achieve business transformation goals with Strategic Business and Growth advisory services. At QKS Group, our vision is to become an integral part of our client's business as a strategic knowledge partner. Our research and consulting deliverables are designed to provide comprehensive information and strategic insights to help clients formulate growth strategies to survive and thrive in ever-changing business environments.

For more available research, please visit https://qksgroup.com/

Media Contact:

Shraddha Roy

PR & Media Relations

QKS Group

Regus Business Center

35 Village Road, Suite 100,

Middleton Massachusetts 01949

United States

Email: shraddha.r@qksgroup.com

Press Release Source: https://qksgroup.com/newsroom/hid-positioned-as-the-leader-in-the-2024-spark-matrixtm-for-user-authentication-by-qks-group-877

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/qksgroup

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2501519/QKS_Group_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hid-positioned-as-the-leader-in-the-2024-spark-matrix-for-user-authentication-by-qks-group-302316404.html
MUEHLHEIM (dpa-AFX) - Brenntag SE (BNTGF.PK) Tuesday said its Chief Executive Officer Christian Kohlpaintner has decided not to extend his contract, which ends on December 31, 2025, for personal reasons.'Christian Kohlpaintner has informed the Supervisory Board of Brenntag at an early stage of his decision, which will immediately initiate an orderly process for succession to the position of CEO,' the company said in a statement.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
STUTTGART, Germany, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Exyte, a global leader in the design, engineering, and delivery of high-tech facilities, was presented with the Outstanding Supplier Performance Award in Supplier Diversity at the Micron Supplier Day 2024. The event, held in San Francisco, CA, USA, was attended by top-level management of Micron and its suppliers, including Exyte. This award highlights Exyte's commitment to excellence in quality, innovation, and collaboration with Micron, a global leader in memory and storage solutions.

"I am truly grateful and honored to be receiving this award on behalf of Exyte. It is always great to receive such recognition directly from our clients, more so from an industry leader like Micron. I am very proud of our employees involved, that their exceptional hard work and commitment to deliver for Micron are highly appreciated," commented Dr. Wolfgang Buchele, Exyte Group Chairman and CEO, in his award acceptance speech.

The Micron Global Supplier Award is an annual accolade that celebrates outstanding supplier performance across twelve categories. The awards are determined through a comprehensive evaluation process that scores suppliers on various criteria.

Exyte's long-standing collaboration with Micron stretches back for more than a decade. Exyte has fostered a strong cooperation with Micron through major projects in both Asia and the USA.

For over 45 years, Micron's innovative memory solutions have been instrumental to the world's most significant technological advancements. Exyte is privileged to play a role in helping elevate the capabilities of customers such as Micron as Exyte continues with its mission of creating a better future for all, together.

"My heartfelt congratulations to all our team members for winning this award. I am extremely thrilled for them as this win is a remarkable testament to the collective effort and dedication they bring to their work at Micron," lauded Mark Garvey, Exyte Executive Board Member and CEO of Global Business Unit Advanced Technology Facilities. "I would also like to thank Micron for their continuous support and in recognizing the contributions of their suppliers. I look forward to reinforcing Exyte's collaboration with Micron in 2025 and beyond," Garvey added.

About Exyte

Exyte is a global leader in the design, engineering, and delivery of ultra-clean and sustainable facilities for high-tech industries. With cutting-edge expertise developed over more than a century, the company serves clients in the sophisticated markets of semiconductors, battery cells, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and data centers. Exyte offers a full range of services from consulting to managing the implementation of turnkey solutions with the highest standards in safety and quality to its customers worldwide. Exyte creates a better future by enabling key industries to enhance the quality of modern life. In 2023, the company generated sales of 7.1 billion with around 9,700 employees worldwide.

Contact

Samy Abdel Aal

Public Relations Manager

Mobile: +49 172 840 33 01

Phone: +49 711 880 44 696

samy.abdelaal@exyte.net

www.exyte.net

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2567626/Exyte.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2567627/Exyte_1.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1487100/5048559/Exyte_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/exyte-receives-microns-outstanding-supplier-performance-award-in-supplier-diversity-302316477.html
SANTANDER (dpa-AFX) - Asset manager Blackstone Inc. (BX) Tuesday announced that its credit investor, Blackstone Credit & Insurance or BXCI, will acquire interests in a $1 billion portfolio of high-quality infrastructure loans from Spanish financial services Group Banco Santander S.A. (BNC.L, BSBR, SAN).The portfolio includes loans that fund assets in Western Europe and the US across digital infrastructure, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and transportation.Robert Horn, Global Head of Infrastructure & Asset Based Credit of BXCI, said, 'This transaction is consistent with our approach to working with leading financial institutions on large-scale, long-term, efficient solutions that support their capital goals.'Monday, BX had closed its regular trading 2.98% lesser at $193.12. In the pre-market trading, BX was down 0.41% to $192.71.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
DUBLIN, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BrowserStack, the world's leading software testing platform, today highlighted its comprehensive visual testing suite-Percy, App Percy, and Visual Scanner, designed to help businesses maintain visual perfection across their digital properties and prevent revenue loss from poor user interfaces.

Research shows users take just 0.05 seconds to judge a website's visual appeal, with 60% of consumers abandoning purchases due to poor website interfaces. This costs businesses an average of $72,000 annually in lost sales. While functional testing ensures features work correctly, it doesn't catch visual inconsistencies and can accumulate significant UX debt over time. In addition, manual testing and open-source solutions often lack the scalability needed for complex testing scenarios.

"Visual testing has become critical for businesses to maintain a consistent user experience across thousands of device-browser combinations. BrowserStack's visual testing suite helps teams reduce functional testing time by 50%, ensuring pixel-perfect experiences," said Nakul Aggarwal, CTO of BrowserStack.

The suite's advanced capabilities include:

Percy Visual AI Engine detects crucial visual changes while filtering out non-deterministic rendering noise

Visual Scanner helps auto-detect and monitor visual changes in your websites periodically without writing a single line of code

Real device testing across 20,000+ devices ensures consistent experiences across device-OS combinations

Seamless CI/CD integration enables visual review with every code commit

Collaborative review tools facilitate quick team alignment on visual changes

Intercom leverages Percy's Storybook for React and Capybara for Rails integrations to streamline visual testing. By running automated tests on CircleCI builds and reviewing component-level changes, they deploy faster and maintain visual consistency across their application.

Take the first step towards flawless UI-try BrowserStack's visual testing suite for free.

About BrowserStack

BrowserStack is the world's leading software testing platform powering over two million tests every day across 19 global data centers. BrowserStack helps Amazon, NVIDIA, MongoDB, Microsoft, X and over 50,000 customers deliver quality software at speed by moving testing to their Cloud. BrowserStack's platform provides instant access to 20,000+ real mobile devices on a highly reliable cloud infrastructure that effortlessly scales as testing needs grow. With BrowserStack, Dev and QA teams can move fast while delivering an amazing experience for every customer.

Founded in 2011, BrowserStack is a privately held company backed by Accel, Bond, and Insight Partners. For more information, visit https://www.browserstack.com.

Media Contact:

press@browserstack.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2490455/4878503/BrowserStack_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/browserstacks-ai-powered-visual-testing-suite-ensures-zero-visual-bugs-302316465.html
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 26, 2024 / (TSXV:OGN)(OTCQX:OGNRF) Orogen Royalties Inc. ("Orogen" or the "Company") is pleased to report financial results from its operations for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024.

Q3-2024 Highlights

All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.

Royalty Revenue: Royalty revenue of $2,117,552 (2023 - $1,628,409) was earned with 614 (2023 - 614) attributable gold equivalent ounces ("GEOs") sold at average price of US$2,474 (2023 - US$1,928) per ounce, up 30% from 2023 and 11% from the previous quarter driven by higher gold prices.

Net Income Before Tax : the Company generated net income before tax of $254,504 (2023 - $675,989) for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, down 62% compared to the same period in 2023 due to a non-cash write down of $689,763 in carrying value of projects sold during the quarter.

Net Comprehensive Loss: after income tax expense of $614,048 (2023 - $Nil), a net comprehensive loss of $359,544 was incurred during the quarter compared to a net comprehensive income of $675,989 generated in the same period last year.

G&A Expenses : General and administrative expenses of $1,054,257 (2023 - $858,323) were incurred in the current period, up 23% compared to 2023. This was mainly due to an unrealized foreign exchange loss from the depreciation of the Mexican peso against the Canadian dollar since last quarter.

Cash flow : During the quarter, $948,173 of cash was generated from operating activities compared to $714,547 of cash used in operating activities last year. Year to date, the Company generated cash of $2,610,120 (2023 - $928,111) from operating activities. Excluding changes in non-cash working capital, cash of $3,142,177 (2023 - $1,941,529) was generated from operating activities, up 62% from 2023.

Working Capital: The Company has working capital of $23,472,759 on September 30, 2024, compared to $18,254,073 at the beginning of the fiscal year, an increase of $4,948,686. The Company has no long-term debt.

Paddy Nicol, CEO of Orogen Royalties, commented, "We are reporting another quarter of record royalty revenue from the Ermitano mine that is supported by consistent production, high gold and silver prices, and strong recoveries. We are pleased that royalty revenue has remained strong since production began in 2021 and that First Majestic has continued to invest capital in operational optimization, exploration and underground development of the Ermitano mine. This has resulted in the discovery of the Navidad gold and silver mineralized vein system, as previous announced, that could have further positive impact on this royalty." Paddy also commented, "The scarcity of capital and the weak conditions of the junior mining and exploration market have reduced the number of transactions completed and have impacted the profitability of our prospect generation operations during the current quarter. However, we have a number of unique projects in our portfolio including those that host Expanded Silicon Project analogues that are prospective and are currently in our deal pipeline."

For complete details of the Company's financial results, please refer to the condensed interim consolidated financial statements and MD&A for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2024, and 2023. The Company's filings are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on Orogen's website at www.orogenroyalties.com. Please also see non-IFRS Measures at the end of this news release.

Summary of Results

Ermitano Royalty - Sonora, Mexico

First Majestic Silver Corp. ("First Majestic") operates the Ermitano gold-silver Mine, where the Company holds a 2.0% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty. For the three-month period ended September 30, 2024, $2,117,552 (2023 - $1,628,409) in royalty revenue was generated from the Ermitano mine, up 30% from 2023 and 11% from the previous quarter. This represented 614 GEOs (2023 - 614 GEOs) based on an average price of US$2,474 per ounce (2023 - US$1,928). The increase in revenue was due to improvement in silver recoveries, and higher gold and silver prices. The mill processed a total of 259,919 tonnes, a small increase from last quarter of 256,427 tonnes. Average silver and gold head grades during the current quarter were 68 grams per tonne ("g/t") and 3.50 g/t, respectively, compared to average silver and gold head grades of 69 g/t and 3.52 g/t of the previous quarter. Silver and gold recoveries averaged 67% and 94%, respectively, compared to recoveries of 66% and 94% from the previous quarter.

During the three-month period ended September 30, 2024, First Majestic incurred US$2.9 million in exploration costs and completed a total of 2,263 metres of underground development at the Ermitano mine where nine drill rigs including seven surface rigs and two underground rigs completed 14,796 metres of exploration drilling. This followed 15,591 metres that were drilled in Q2 and 9,911 metres drilled in Q1. The total exploration cost for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2024, was approximately US$8.1 million.

Expanded Silicon Gold Project, Nevada, USA

Orogen holds a 1% NSR royalty on the Expanded Silicon project in Nevada, USA comprising the Silicon and Merlin gold deposits. Operator Anglogold Ashanti NA ("AngloGold") has reported the prefeasibility study on the Merlin and Silicon deposits is underway with a focus on analyzing various development options at Merlin. During the first nine months, resource definition drilling continues with focus on the higher-grade core at Merlin with additional rigs testing areas to the west. The pre-feasibility study is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2025.

Resources on the Expanded Silicon deposit include 9.05 1 million ounces (inferred) on the Merlin deposit, and 3.4 2 million ounces indicated and 800,000 2 ounces inferred on the Silicon deposit.

Qualified Person Statement

All technical data, as disclosed in this press release, has been verified by Laurence Pryer, Ph.D., P.Geo., VP Exploration for Orogen. Dr. Pryer is a qualified person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101.

Certain technical disclosure in this release is a summary of previously released third-party information and the Company is relying on the interpretation provided. Additional information can be found on the links in the footnotes.

About Orogen Royalties Inc.

Orogen Royalties is focused on organic royalty creation and royalty acquisitions on precious and base metal discoveries in western North America. The Company's royalty portfolio includes the Ermitano gold and silver Mine in Sonora, Mexico (2.0% NSR royalty) operated by First Majestic Silver Corp. and the Expanded Silicon gold project (1.0% NSR royalty) in Nevada, U.S.A, being advanced by AngloGold Ashanti NA. The Company is well financed with several projects actively being developed by joint venture partners.

On Behalf of the Board

OROGEN ROYALTIES INC.

Paddy Nicol

President & CEO

To find out more about Orogen, please contact Paddy Nicol, President & CEO at 604-248-8648, and Marco LoCascio, Vice President of Corporate Development at 604-248-8648. Visit our website at www.orogenroyalties.com.

Orogen Royalties Inc.

1015 - 789 West Pender Street

Vancouver, BC

Canada V6C 1H2

Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this presentation, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that Orogen Royalties Inc. (the "Company") expect 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.

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 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.

Forward-looking information in this news release includes disclosures regarding NSR royalty payments to be paid to the Company by First Majestic Silver Corp. ("First Majestic") the owners and operator of the Ermitano mine located in Mexico and that the forecasted revenue which are based on First Majestic "NI 43-101 Technical Report on Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Estimates" having an effective date of June 30, 2021. In addition to the technical report, the disclosure herein also contains and the updated mineral reserve and resource estimates for the Ermitano mine based on the Santa Elena Mineral Reserve, Resource Estimates with an effective date of December 31, 2023 as announced by First Majestic on April 1, 2024 and as disclosed in their December 31, 2023 AIF, and First Majestic's MD&A for the period ended December 31, 2023. Forward-looking statements are based on several material assumptions, which management of the Company believe to be reasonable, including, but not limited to, the continuation of mining operations in respect of which the Company will receive NSR royalty payments, that the commodity prices will not experience a material adverse change, mining operations that underlie the royalty will operate in accordance with the disclosed parameters and other assumptions may be set out herein.

Except where otherwise stated, the disclosure in this news release relating to properties and operations in which Orogen holds a royalty are based on information publicly disclosed by the owners or operators of these properties and information/data available in the public domain as at the date hereof, and none of this information has been independently verified by Orogen. Specifically, as a royalty holder and prospect generator, the Company has limited, if any, access to properties on which it holds royalty or other interests in its asset portfolio. The Company may from time to time receive operating information from the owners and operators of the mining properties, which it is not permitted to disclose to the public. Orogen is dependent on, (i) the operators of the mining properties and their qualified persons to provide information to Orogen, or (ii) on publicly available information to prepare disclosure pertaining to properties and operations on the properties on which the Company holds royalty or other interests, and generally has limited or no ability to independently verify such information. Although the Company does not have any knowledge that such information may not be accurate, there can be no assurance that such third-party information is complete or accurate. Some reported public information in respect of a mining property may relate to a larger property area than the area covered by Orogen's royalty or other interest. Orogen's royalty or other interests may cover less than 100% of a specific mining property and may only apply to a portion of the publicly reported mineral reserves, mineral resources and or production from a mining property.

Non-IFRS Measures

The Company has included certain results in this news release that do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") including total GEOs sold, average realized gold price per GEO, and cash flow from operating activities excluding changes in non-cash working capital adjustments. The Company's royalty revenue is converted to a gold equivalent ounce by dividing the royalty revenue received during the period by the average gold price of the period. The Company has also used the non-IFRS measure of operating cash flows excluding changes in non-cash working capital. This measure is calculated by adding back the decrease or subtracting the increase in changes in non-cash working capital to or from cash provided by (used in) operating activities.

References

https://thevault.exchange/?get_group_doc=143/1708693258-PreliminaryFinancialUpdate2023-Report.pdf https://reports.anglogoldashanti.com/22/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/AGA-RR22.pdf

SOURCE: Orogen Royalties Inc

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 26, 2024) - Silver47 Exploration Corp. (TSXV: AGA) ("Silver47" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce the final results from the 2024 exploration program at the Company's wholly-owned flagship Red Mountain Project in Alaska, USA. Two infill-confirmation holes drilled at the western extent of the Dry Creek resource intersected broad zones of polymetallic sulphide mineralization with multiple high-grade massive sulphide intervals. A total of 1,039 metres of drilling was completed in 6 holes at the Dry Creek, West Tundra Flats, and Kiwi prospects combined.

Highlights

DC24-104 returned 15.24 m grading 545.5 g/t AgEq from 14.3 m depth

(106 g/t silver, 0.45 g/t gold, 6.4% zinc, 2.2% lead, and 0.19% copper)

Including 6.0 m of 1,248.4 g/t AgEq from 15.9 m depth

(231.1 g/t silver, 1.04 g/t gold, 14.7% zinc, 5.3% lead, and 0.46% copper)

DC24-105 returned 22.32 m of mineralization grading 601.0 g/t AgEq from 18.9 m

(150.6 g/t silver, 0.82 g/t gold, 5.9% zinc, 2.6% lead, and 0.13% copper)

Including 4.25 m of 1,255.5 g/t AgEq from 20.3 m depth

(238 g/t silver, 1.57 g/t gold, 14.1% zinc, 5.9% lead, and 0.17% copper)

And 2.66 m of 1,801.2 g/t AgEq from 29.1 m depth

(599.4 g/t silver, 2.37 g/t gold, 14.5% zinc, 6.9% lead, and 0.64% copper)

Mr. Alex Wallis, P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration, stated: "Holes 104 and 105 confirmed infilled broad intervals of silver-gold enriched VMS style mineralization in the western portion of the Dry Creek resource, supporting the 3D modelling of historic data. Mineralization shows both stratigraphic and structural control in this zone. This new data from the 2024 drilling exploration campaign will aid in future infill drilling of high-grade zones."

Dry Creek Infill-Confirmation Drilling

Two drill holes were completed to confirm the broad, high-grade mineralization encountered by historical holes DC98-40, DC98-60, and DC99-64, which intercepted up to 40 m of semi-massive to massive sulphide in the Fosters lens of the Dry Creek deposit. The Dry Creek mineralization consists of multiple horizons of semi-massive to massive sulphides within the metavolcanics and metasediments of the Totatlanika Schist which can be traced for 4,500 m and dips steeply to the north. The Fosters and Discovery lenses of VMS mineralization make up the central 1,400 m of the Dry Creek North Horizon occurring as massive to semi-massive silver-zinc-lead-gold-copper sulphides. The lenses pinch and swell along strike and down-dip, as is typical of VMS deposits.

Figure 1. Plan map of drill holes at Dry Creek and West Tundra Flats resource areas

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10967/231396_cc6f509b648818ef_001full.jpg

Table 1. Significant intervals for holes DC24-104 and DC24-105 at the Red Mountain Project

Hole ID From

(m) To

(m) Interval

(m) ZnEq

(%) AgEq

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) Au

(g/t) Zn

(%) Pb

(%) Cu

(%) DC24-104 14.30 29.50 15.24 11.40 545.50 106.00 0.45 6.40 2.20 0.19 including 15.90 21.90 6.00 26.10 1248.40 231.10 1.04 14.70 5.30 0.46 DC24-105 18.93 41.25 22.32 12.57 601.00 150.60 0.82 5.86 2.60 0.13 including 20.31 24.56 4.25 26.25 1255.50 238.00 1.57 14.09 5.90 0.17 and 29.10 31.76 2.66 37.70 1801.20 599.40 2.37 14.50 6.90 0.64

Assay intervals are weighted average and are drilled lengths, true widths cannot be determined at this time.

Notes:

g/t=grams per tonne; AgEq=silver equivalent; ZnEq=zinc equivalent; m=metres; Ag=silver; Au=gold; Cu=copper; Zn=zinc; Pb=lead; 1ppm=1 g/t

Equivalencies are calculated using ratios with metal prices of US$2,750/tonne Zn, US$2,100/tonne Pb, US$8,880/tonne Cu, US$1,850/oz Au, and US$23/oz Ag and

Metal recoveries are based on metallurgical work returned of 90% Zn, 75% Pb, 70% Cu, 70% Ag, and 80% Au.

Zinc Equivalent (ZnEq %) = [Zn (%) x 1] + [Pb (%) x 0.6364] + [Cu (%) x 2.4889] + [Ag (ppm) x 0.0209] + [Au (ppm) x 1.923]

Silver Equivalent (AgEq g/t) = [Zn (%) x 47.81] + [Pb (%) x 30.43] + [Cu (%) x 119] + [Ag (g/t) x 1] + [Au (g/t) x 91.93]

Figure 2. Drill Hole DC24-104 and DC24-105 Cross Section

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10967/231396_cc6f509b648818ef_003full.jpg

Mr. Gary R. Thompson, P.Geo., CEO of Silver47 Exploration Corp., commented, "We are pleased with the results from this summer's drill program at West Tundra Flats and Dry Creek, which further confirm the high-grade polymetallic mineralization and significant potential of the Red Mountain Project. These results strengthen our exploration strategy and enhance our confidence in the scale of the resource. Moving forward, our focus will be on integrating the new data into an updated geological model for planning further drilling to expand the resources along strike and down-dip. Secondary objectives for the next program will be drill testing for new discoveries like the Galleon and Horseshoe showings, as well as testing the infill potential of the 2.7 km gap between the two resource areas."

Technical Discussion on Hole DC24-104

Hole DC24-104 was planned to confirm the broad, near-surface sulphide mineralization encountered in historical hole DC98-40 in the western area of the Dry Creek deposit. The hole passes through regionally metamorphosed metasediments and metavolcanics. The top of the hole had no recovery to 14.33 m and fragmented recovery until 32.61 m with evidence of significant post-mineralization faulting through the entire hole. Mineralization was intercepted as semi-massive sulphides in metarhyolite from 15.9 m - 19.0 m and as massive sulphides from 19.0 m - 21.30 m. The 15.2 m interval from 14.3 m to 29.5 m returned a grade of 545.5 g/t AgEq, with a 6.0 m high-grade zone from 15.9 m grading 1,248.4 g/t AgEq. The semi-massive sulphides have increasing sulphide bands with depth into the massive sulphide mineralization with sparse 1 centimetre intervals of rhyolite. The sulphides are comprised of aphanitic to fine pyrite, sphalerite, galena and minor chalcopyrite. The hole is mainly composed of metarhyolite with some intervals of grey aphanitic phyllite with lesser graphitic intercalations and beds, ending in tuffaceous phyllite. The entire hole is heavily foliated with frequent intervals of fault gouge and rubbly fragments.

Technical Discussion on Hole DC24-105

Hole DC24-105 was drilled from the same pad as DC24-104, with a steeper dip to confirm continuity of high-grade mineralization between holes DC98-40 and DC98-60. Hole 105 passed through the same lithologic units as hole 104, as well as similar post-mineralization faulting. The hole is composed of mixed intervals metarhyolite and grey aphanitic phyllite with lesser graphitic intercalations and beds. The entire hole is heavily foliated. Mineralization was intercepted after a metarhyolite unit as three intervals of pyrite-sphalerite-galena and minor chalcopyrite massive sulphide interspaced with felsic phyllite: 20.3 m - 21.1 m, 22.3 m - 27.8 m, and 29.1 m - 32.6 m. These high-grade lenses are encapsulated by a 22.3 m interval returning a grade of 601 g/t AgEq, including 2.66 m of 599.4 g/t silver, 2.37 g/t gold, 14.5% zinc, 6.9% lead, and 0.64% copper.

Figure 3. Drill Core DC24-105 of deformed massive sulphide at 27.5 m

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10967/231396_cc6f509b648818ef_004full.jpg

Figure 4. Drill Core DC24-105 laminated massive sulphide as sphalerite-galena-pyrite at 29.3 m

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10967/231396_cc6f509b648818ef_005full.jpg

Table 2. 2024 Drill Collar Information, Red Mountain Project

Red Mountain 2024 Diamond Drill Hole Collars Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation (m) Azimuth Dip Depth (m) Zone Status DC24-104 480364 7088200 1218 180 -45 112 Dry Creek Reported Here DC24-105 480364 7088200 1218 180 -75 120 Dry Creek Reported Here KW24-03 470228 7085491 1561 180 -50 283 Kiwi Reported Here WT24-33 483950 7090863 982 0 -90 185 West Tundra Flats Previously Reported WT24-34 484196 7090851 968 38 -78 146 West Tundra Flats Previously Reported DC24-106 481059 7088384 1233 170 -72 192 Dry Creek Previously Reported

Note: Easting and northing in metres, NAD27 zone 6 UTM coordinates

Exploration Targets

Silver47 mobilized field teams to three high-priority exploration targets to determine their viability for immediate or near-term drill testing. Kiwi, Galleon, and Horseshoe were selected based on the good to excellent grades in surface sampling, and geophysical anomalies identified from modern survey methods.

Table 3. 2024 Geochemical Rock Sampling Highlights

Sample ID Sample Type Prospect AgEq

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) Au

(g/t) Zn

(%) Pb

(%) Cu

(%) Sb

(ppm) H648017 Rock Grab Galleon 329.66 132.00 1.26 1.17 0.80 0.02 453.00 H648018 Rock Grab Galleon 92.53 42.20 0.18 0.39 0.46 0.01 206.00 H648019 Rock Grab Galleon 87.44 28.60 0.31 0.44 0.30 0.01 337.00 H648022 Rock Grab Kiwi 1959.17 218.00 3.19 0.22 0.50 11.95 110.50 H648024 Rock Grab Kiwi 1269.29 177.00 1.31 8.42 0.85 4.57 39.80 H648026 Rock Grab Kiwi 1589.49 165.00 0.96 0.98 0.54 10.70 61.20 H648027 Rock Grab Horseshoe 294.81 36.60 0.78 2.49 1.92 0.07 147.50 H648030 Rock Grab Horseshoe 101.69 21.00 0.04 0.40 1.80 0.02 24.80 H648031 Rock Grab Horseshoe 193.62 18.25 0.15 2.15 1.84 0.02 30.80

Galleon Silver Target

The Galleon Target is a high-priority silver target, with historical samples returning up to 1,265 g/t silver, 2.1 g/t gold, and 5% combined zinc and lead. The semi-massive sulphide is hosted in a metarhyolite of the Mystic Creek Member, on the north limb of the Bonnifield East Syncline, a similar depositional setting to the Dry Creek mineralization. Historic work includes, mapping, trenching, 3.9 km of IP survey, and several short drill holes completed in 1981 with a Winky drill. The 1981 drilling failed to intercept mineralization, but frequently had zero core recovery for many intervals.

In 2024, Silver47 collected 101 soil samples for analysis by XRF in the field, and 8 rock grab samples. The soil samples identified several areas of anomalous zinc and lead in the soil/talus fines around the Galleon Target and three of the rock samples returned significant polymetallic grades. The location of historical high-grade samples was inaccessible due to significant degradation of the trench workings. However, a sub-crop rock sample taken from a historical trench/drill pad returned 132 g/t silver, 1.26 g/t gold, and 1.9% combined zinc and lead. Three samples also returned anomalous values for critical minerals antimony and rubidium.

Horseshoe SEDEX Target

The Horseshoe Target was identified in 2020 with rock and soil sampling covering approximately 200 m of gossanous exposure. Located within the Keevy Peak Formation, the host rocks exhibit more clastic composition than the Totatlanika Schist, suggesting potential for sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) mineralization. Historic samples have returned up to 37.9 g/t silver, 3.81 g/t gold, and 6.8% combined zinc and lead.

In 2024, Silver47 collected 94 soil samples for XRF analysis, and six rock grab samples. Elevated zinc and lead concentrations were detected throughout the soil grid, with higher values coinciding with the gossan zone. Three rock samples returned values maintaining Horseshoe as a high-priority exploration target, with the best sample grading 36.6 g/t silver, 0.78 g/t gold, 4.4 combined zinc and lead, and 147.5 ppm antimony. Detail outcrop structural mapping, with tighter-spaced soil-rock geochemistry is planned to further develop Horseshoe into a drill-ready target.

Kiwi Target Drilling and Geochemical Sampling

The Kiwi Target was identified by the previous operators from surface boulders of high-grade copper-silver rock samples, including a high of 16.2% copper and 316 g/t silver. Two historical drill holes KW21-01 and KW21-02 were drilled to test the potential source of this mineralization. Neither historical hole intercepted sulphide mineralization comparable to the surface samples. A 2021 fixed loop electromagnetic survey was completed over the target, with the results showing a strong conductive anomaly east of holes KW21-01 and KW21-02. Hole KW24-03 was drilled to a depth of 283 m to test this conductive feature. While narrow intervals of sulphide mineralization including chalcopyrite were encountered in the hole, no significant results were returned.

Prior to the 2024 drilling, Silver47's geologists prospected down the western slope of the Kiwi zone to confirm the historic rock samples. Of the seven rock samples collected, three returned high-grade copper, silver, and gold values, including 2 samples over 10% copper and silver values of 165 g/t and 218 g/t. Extensive follow-up sampling and structural mapping is needed to guide future drilling at the Kiwi Target. However, given the high number of targets on the Red Mountain Project and the lackluster drill results here, the Kiwi Target has been reduced to a lower priority ranking.

About the Red Mountain VMS-SEDEX Project - Alaska, USA

Silver47's flagship Red Mountain property covers 633 square kilometres of Alaska State-managed land 100 km south of Fairbanks, Alaska. The project is well situated for infrastructure, 30 km east of the community of Healy which has power, rail and state highway access to Alaska Route 3, providing a valuable connection to Anchorage and tide water. The Company has an approved permit to conduct advanced exploration, including drilling, across the property.

Red Mountain hosts a NI 43-101 inferred mineral resource estimate of 15.6 Mt at 7% ZnEq for 1 Mt of ZnEq or 335.7 g/t AgEq for 168.6 Moz AgEq at the Dry Creek (DC) and West Tundra Flats (WTF) resource areas as combined open pit and underground. DC and WTF are the two most advanced mineralized zones at Red Mountain, with at least 20 additional mineralized prospects discovered on the property to date over the 60 km of highly prospective geology.

For more information, see the Red Mountain NI 43-101 technical report titled "Technical Report on the Red Mountain VMS Property, Bonnifield Mining District, Alaska, USA" dated January 12, 2024, prepared by Apex Geoscience Ltd., which can be found on the Company's website https://silver47.ca/ and SEDAR+.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Quality assurance and quality control (QAQC) protocols for drill core sampling at the Red Mountain Project followed industry standard practices. Core samples were typically taken at 1.0m intervals in mineralized zones, and 3.0m intervals outside of mineralized zones. Sample lengths were adjusted as necessary so as not to cross lithologic and mineralogic boundaries. QAQC check samples were inserted into the sample stream with one blank, one duplicate (coarse), and one certified reference material (CRM) occurring within every 20 samples. Drill core was cut in half, bagged, sealed and delivered directly to ALS Minerals Fairbanks, Alaska for transport to the ALS Minerals Laboratories labs in North Vancouver, British Columbia. ALS Minerals Laboratories are registered to ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 17025 accreditations for laboratory procedures. Core samples were analyzed at ALS Laboratory facilities in North Vancouver using four-acid digestion with an ICP-MS finish. Gold analysis was by fire assay with atomic absorption finish, or gravimetric finish for over-limit samples. Over-limits for silver, zinc, copper, and lead were analyzed using Ore Grade four-acid digestion. The standards, certified reference materials, were acquired from CDN Resource Laboratories Ltd. of Langley, British Columbia and selected to represent expected mineralization.

Qualified Person

Mr. Alex S. Wallis, P.Geo., the Company's Vice President of Exploration is a "qualified person" as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Wallis has verified the data disclosed in this press release, including the sampling, analytical and test data underlying the technical information and has approved the technical information in this press release.

About Silver47 Exploration Corp.

Silver47 wholly-owns three silver and critical metals (polymetallic) exploration projects in Canada and the US. The Flagship Red Mountain silver-gold-zinc-copper-lead VMS-SEDEX project in southcentral Alaska hosts a NI 43-101 inferred mineral resource estimate of 15.6Mt at 7% ZnEq for 1Mt of ZnEq or 335.7 g/t AgEq for 168.6 Moz AgEq at the Dry Creek (DC) and West Tundra Flats (WTF) resource areas as combined open pit and underground. Silver47 shares trade on the TSX-V under the ticker symbol AGA. For more information about Silver47, please visit our website at www.silver47.ca.

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this release. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, including statements relating to the trading of the Company's common shares on the TSXV, the prospective geology and composition of its properties, anticipated results of further exploration on its properties, or other similar expressions and all statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein. By their nature, forward- looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: the need for additional financing; operational risks associated with mineral exploration; regulatory risks; fluctuations in commodity prices; title matters; litigation risks; and the additional risks identified in the Company's long form prospectus dated October 25, 2024 filed under its issuer profile on SEDAR+ and other reports and filings with the TSXV and applicable Canadian securities regulators. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231396

SOURCE: Silver47 Exploration Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 26, 2024) - Bear Creek Mining Corporation (TSXV: BCM) (OTCQX: BCEKF) (BVL: BCM) ("Bear Creek" or the "Company") reports its interim condensed consolidated financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2024 ("Q3 2024").

This news release should be read in conjunction with the Company's interim condensed consolidated financial statements and management discussion and analysis ("MD&A") for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, which are available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and the Company's website (www.bearcreekmining.com). Monetary amounts in this news release are in United States dollars unless otherwise stated and all capitalized terms herein have the same meaning as defined in the Q3 2024 financial statements.

Eric Caba, President & CEO, states, "We are very happy to report that Bear Creek recorded a gross profit of $5.9 million during the quarter, and for the first time since acquiring Mercedes, a profit after operating expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024. Our ongoing efforts to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and our application of operational discipline resulted in an increase in gold and silver production during the quarter. Undoubtedly, the current strength in metal prices also had a positive impact on achieving this exciting financial milestone. We continue to adapt and improve the mining methods to suit the ore bodies, and we anticipate this will further reduce dilution and contribute to improvements in profitability in 2025. The ongoing operational improvements at Mercedes, the identified exploration targets, and the inclusion of the oxide resource in Corani, leave us very excited for the year ahead."

Selected Q3 2024 Financial and Production Results

Bear Creek's Mercedes gold mine, located in Sonora, Mexico, produced 10,751 ounces of gold and 76,939 ounces of silver during the three months ended September 30, 2024. During this period 11,066 ounces of gold were sold, of which 825 ounces of gold were delivered under streaming arrangements. Cash costs and AISC per ounce of gold sold were $1,285 and $1,697, respectively. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures", below.

Mercedes Operating Highlights Q3 2024 Year to Date Gold ounces produced 10,751 32,283 Silver ounces produced 76,939 161,872 Gold ounces sold 11,066 32,900 Cash costs per gold ounce sold (1) $1,285 $1,349 AISC per gold ounce sold (1) $1,697 $1,755 Tonnes mined 103,889 303,348 Tonnes processed 102,535 307,541 Average gold grade mined (g/t) 3.36 3.51 Average gold grade processed (g/t) 3.40 3.45 Recovery rate gold 96% 95% Average realized gold price (2) $2,469 $2,266 Development (meters) 2,025 7,374

Financial Results

(millions of dollars, except share and per share amounts) Three Months Ended

September 30, 2024 Revenue $29.7 Gross Profit $5.9 Profit before "other items" $0.4 Comprehensive earnings (loss) after taxes $(7.0) Comprehensive earnings (loss) per share (3) $(0.03) Adjusted earnings (loss) after taxes (1)(4) $(2.2) Adjusted earnings (loss) per share (1)(3)(4) $(0.01) Weighted average shares during period 227,658,982 Shares issued and outstanding at end of period 227,725,785

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2024 Cash generated from (used in) operating activities $12.6 Cash generated from (used in) investing activities $(8.2) Cash generated from (used in) financing activities $(0.6) Net increase (decrease) in cash $3.8

(1) Non-GAAP Measure. Please see "Non-GAAP Measures" below for further information.

(2) Inclusive of final settlement adjustments on sales for non-streamed ounces.

(3) Per share amounts are based on weighted average shares during the period.

(4) Adjusted earnings excludes non-cash items that are significant but not reflective of the underlying operational performance of the Company and are a useful metric as they are an important indicator of the strength of operations and the performance of the Company's core business. Additional information is provided in the Company's Q3 2024 MD&A.

Mercedes Mine, Mexico

The Mercedes mine, in the state of Sonora, Mexico, is a fully mechanized, ramp-access operation that produces gold and silver. Eleven individual deposits have been mined, of which five are actively in production.

The Mercedes Mine had one lost time incident ("LTI") and no reportable environmental incidents during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.

Exploration

Mercedes exploration efforts during Q3 2024 focused on underground Mineral Resource extension and infill drilling at the Marianas, Diluvio West and Barrancas deposits. Data obtained from infill drilling will assist in the upgrading of new Mineral Resources and the conversion of Resources to Mineral Reserves. Surface Mineral Resource exploration & extension drilling programs at the Diluvio Northwest and Lagunas West targets also continued during Q3 2024. Expenditures on exploration drilling during the quarter totaled $0.5 million and underground delineation drilling expenses totaled $1.34 million.

As a result of initiatives to identify new near-mine and district-wide exploration targets undertaken during Q2 and Q3 2024, six high priority brownfield targets and eight greenfield targets have now been identified in the Mercedes concessions. The Company is currently evaluating and prioritizing these targets for potential inclusion in its 2025 surface and underground exploration drilling programs. The 69,284-hectare Mercedes property is located at the convergence of discrete porphyry, epithermal & orogenic belts - a geologically highly prospective setting that is largely underexplored outside of the Mercedes mine area.

Development

Development totaled 2,025 meters during Q3 2024, a slight decrease from past quarters as development in the Marianas deposit was limited in favour of driving the new lateral ramp. This ramp was completed during the quarter and production from Marianas resumed toward the end of September 2024. Portal access to the Rey de Oro Alta deposit was also initiated during Q3 2024.

Planning for a new tailings storage facility ("TSF3") continued during Q3 2024. A land use permit for TSF3 was issued during Q1 2024, however final permitting has been impacted by bureaucratic delays in the implementation of Mexico's new mining law announced in 2023. Alternative plans for the deposition of tailings are underway, including utilizing a third-party engineering firm to engineer and design a dry stack tailings disposal option that is expected to move into the permitting phase during Q1 of 2025.

A focus on fundamental changes to the cost structure and operating protocols continued to dominate management's efforts to improve outcomes from the Mercedes mine. Initiatives completed or further advanced during Q3 2024 include the restructuring of mining contracts to help replace aged machinery with equipment that is right sized for the extraction and exploitation of the Marianas ore body.

Production

Mercedes' Q3 2024 production was comprised of contributions from four main deposit areas: San Martin, Marianas, Diluvio and Lupita and totalled 10,751 ounces of gold and 76,939 ounces of silver. During the three months ended September 30, 2024, 103,889 tonnes of ore were mined at an average mining grade of 3.36 g/t gold and 43.77 g/t silver, and 102,535 tonnes of ore were processed at an average grade of 3.10 g/t gold and 47.91 g/t silver. The average gold grade of ore processed during Q3 2024 was largely in keeping with the last two quarters, continuing the improvement in grade in comparison to the 2023 average of 2.77 g/t. The San Martin deposit continued to contribute the majority of Mercedes' Q3 2024 mined and processed tonnage.

Gold production improved during Q3 2024 relative to the previous quarter as a result of an increase in mined and processed tonnage coupled with slightly higher gold recovery rates. Notably, silver production totaled almost 77,000 ounces during the third quarter, a substantial increase over each of the first two quarters of 2024 as well as the average quarterly silver produced from Mercedes since Bear Creek acquired the mine in 2022, as a result of favorable mineralogy at San Martin that allowed to significantly improve silver recovery rates.

Outlook

Production from the San Martin is expected to wind down during Q1 of 2025. Both the Marianas and Rey de Oro Alta deposits are expected to begin contributing ore in the later part of 2024 and be significant contributors in 2025. During the transition of production to these deposits in the near term, we expect production levels to be highly variable as we sequentially advance through differing grades in San Martin and advance the development in Marianas and Rey de Oro.

Upgraded geological and Mineral Resource block models for all Mercedes deposits are progressing in preparation for a 2024 update on the Mineral Resource estimate and subsequent conversion to Mineral Reserves. Modifying factors used in the resource and reserve estimates, including gold and silver prices, are being updated and the 2024 Mineral Resource and Reserve estimates will inform the mine planning, production scheduling and ultimately, determination of mining costs to be incorporated into a new 2025 economic model for the Mercedes mine. The continued focus on development as well as Resource delineation and exploration Resource extension drilling will support the plans for short and medium-term production planning as well as the 2025 budgeting process.

The Company has commenced a program to delineate new prospects, with the potential to lead to discovery of new Mineral Resources proximal to Mercedes' current operations, to be followed by a second phase of work aimed at expanding the existing interpretation of the remainder of the Mercedes concessions with a view to defining key mineralized systems and including new mineralization models.

Corani Project

Activities at the Corani Property during the three months ended September 30, 2024 focused primarily on assessment of the "Oxide Opportunity" (see news release dated September 9, 2024), which has the potential to enhance life of mine silver production, improve already robust economic returns, and meaningfully lower the initial capital required to commence operations at Corani. The Company is working toward completion of a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") that will consider a development plan for Corani consisting of an initial phase of mining near-surface, silver-rich oxidized material (the "Oxides") to be followed by the development and extraction of the silver-lead-zinc sulfide resources outlined in the 2019 Corani Feasibility Study technical report (available on the Company's website and SEDAR+). The results of the PEA, and the technical report supporting them, are expected to be announced prior to the end of 2024.

The Company is continuing to investigate financing alternatives to fund development of the Corani mine, supporting prior early works initiatives such as road access and completion of electrical transmission lines, and focusing on maintaining the Corani permits and the project's strong social license.

Overview of Results of Operations, Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company recorded revenue of $29.7 million from the sale of gold and silver during the three months ended September 30, 2024 (compared to $18.8 million for the comparative period of 2023). The cost of goods sold was $16.5 million and depletion, amortization and depreciation amounted to $7.2 million during Q2 2024. Gross profit from operations was $6.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to a gross loss of $6.8 million for the same period in 2023.

The Company recorded a profit (before other items) of $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 (compared to a loss (before other items) of $11.7 million the same period a year earlier).

Adjusted Earnings for the three months ended September 30, 2024 totalled $(2.2) million or ($0.01) per share. Adjusted Earnings are a non-GAAP financial measure (see "Non-GAAP Measures", below) which excludes items that are significant but not reflective of the underlying operational performance of the Company.

Spending on the Corani property totalled $1.8 million during the three months ended September 30, 2024, a small decrease compared to the same period a year earlier (Q3 2023: $2.0 million) due to decreased consulting costs. The Corani expenditures comprise both direct project expenditures and corporate overhead costs. Exploration costs, including maintenance of the Company's Peruvian property interests and exploration at Mercedes, totaled $1.9 million during the quarter (Q3 2023: $1.1 million). This increase is due to increased exploration drilling at Mercedes.

The Company fair values the conversion feature of its convertible debentures, and call options granted as part of notes payable at each period end and recorded a loss of $1.2 million (Q3 2023: gain of $1.3 million) presented as a change in fair value of the derivatives embedded into the Equinox Note and Sandstorm Loan. The major factor impacting this loss was the change in share price of the Company during the quarter.

The Company fair values the warrant liability associated with financing in Q4 2023 and recorded a loss of $0.3 million (Q3 2023: nil) due to the fluctuations in the Company's share price.

The difference between the Q3 2024 profit (before other items) and the after-tax net loss is primarily attributable to a $(3.4) million change in the fair value of stream arrangements recorded during the quarter (compared to a $0.6 million gain in Q3 2023) due to increases in metals prices, remaining deliveries and the discount rates utilized.

After operating expenses, other income and expenses, tax expenses and recoveries the Company recorded a comprehensive net loss of $7.0 million ($0.03 per share) for the three months ended September 30, 2024 (Q3 2023: $9.8 million and $0.06 per share). The $2.8 million decrease in comprehensive loss period over period is primarily due to the $6.9 million increased loss on the valuation of embedded derivatives, stream arrangements and warrant liability and $1.1 million decrease in foreign exchange gain offset by the higher profit of $12.0 million.

On September 30, 2024, the Company held cash and short-term investments totaling $7.7 million, an increase of $3.8 million over the cash and short-term investments on December 31, 2023 of $3.9 million.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company had a cash inflow from operating activities of $12.6 million (2023: inflow of $2.0 million); a cash outflow from investing activities of $8.2 million (2023: outflow of $12.2 million); and an outflow of $0.6 million from financing activities (2023: outflow of $8.4 million).

The Company's interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 were prepared following accounting principles applicable to a going concern, which assumes the Company will be able to continue operations for at least twelve months from September 30, 2024 and will be able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the ordinary course of operations.

On September 30, 2024, the Company had a working capital (current assets minus current liabilities) deficiency of $93.2 million (December 31, 2023: $89.7 million), which was impacted by the amendments to IAS 1 - Presentation of Financial Statements, requiring reclassification of equity-settleable convertible notes and warrant liabilities totaling $57.2 million (December 31, 2023: $47.4 million) from non-current liabilities to current liabilities.

Non-GAAP Measures

This news release includes disclosure of certain financial measures or ratios, as such terms are used in National Instrument 52-112 - Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure, including Cash Cost, All-In Sustaining Cost ("AISC") and Adjusted Earnings. These Non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized financial measures under IFRS Accounting Standards ("IFRS") and might not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The Company believes that these measures and ratios provide investors with an improved ability to evaluate the prospects of the Company as they provide additional information related to operating performance and are widely used in the mining industry.

For further information regarding these non-GAAP financial measures including reconciliations of these measures to the applicable costs items as reported in the consolidated financial statements for the respective periods, please see the information under the heading "Cash Cost and All-in-Sustaining Cost ("AISC") for Mercedes" and "Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted Earnings per Share" in the Company's MD&A for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2024, available on the Company's website and on SEDAR+.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Eric Caba

President and CEO

NI 43-101 Disclosure

Unless otherwise indicated, the technical and scientific information provided in this MD&A related to the Company's mineral projects is based on work programs and initiatives conducted under the supervision of, and has been reviewed and approved by, Donald Mc Iver, Fellow SEG and Fellow Aus IMM. Mr. Mc Iver is Vice President, Exploration and Geology of Bear Creek Mining Corporation and is a qualified person ("QP") as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding: the ability of the Mercedes mine to generate free cash flow; expectations for future reductions in dilution and improvements in profitability at the Mercedes mine; expectations regarding the completion of updated estimates of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves at the Mercedes mine and the implications of these new estimates on future mining plans, economic models and mining costs; anticipated exploration plans at the Mercedes property and the goals thereof; the evaluation of exploration targets and the potential for additional mineralization, yet undiscovered, within the Mercedes property; expectations regarding volatility in near term production results; the development of contingency plans for the disposal of tailings at the Mercedes mine and the viability of such contingencies; the expected contributions of various deposits to Mercedes' future production; expectations regarding the timing and outcomes of the Corani Oxides PEA; plans to re-initiate Corani project financing discussions; and expectations regarding the maintenance of Corani permits and social license. These forward-looking statements are provided as of the date of this news release and reflect predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events based on the Company's beliefs at the time the statements were made, as well as various assumptions made by and information currently available to them. In making these forward-looking statements, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to: that the Company will be able to meet its debt and stream obligations; that unforeseen factors will not impede the anticipated performance of the Mercedes mine; that development work at Mercedes will continue as planned and result in contributions to production as anticipated; and that exploration drilling plans will transpire as and when predicted. Although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and the risk exists that estimates, forecasts, projections, and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions on which they are based do not reflect future experience. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the expectations expressed in them. These risk factors may be generally stated as the risk that the assumptions expressed above do not occur, but may include additional risks as described in the Company's latest Annual Information Form, and other disclosure documents filed by the Company on SEDAR+. The foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. Investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on behalf of the Company, except as required by law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231357

SOURCE: Bear Creek Mining Corporation
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 26, 2024) - Protium Clean Energy Corp. (CSE: GRUV) (FSE: G071), a leading resource company focused on clean energy and sustainable resource development, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Consulting Agreement with Desi Sketchley, an expert in Indigenous relations and mineral tenure management. This agreement underscores the Company's commitment to fostering meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities and securing strategic opportunities for growth.

Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Sketchley will provide consulting services to support the Company's Indigenous relations strategies. His scope of work includes identifying prospective properties in British Columbia for staking, developing and implementing Indigenous engagement strategies, facilitating communication with Indigenous communities, and advising on regulatory and compliance matters.

In recognition of Mr. Sketchley's expertise and contributions, the Company has agreed to pay $10,000 in cash and issue 1,200,000 Restricted Share Units (RSUs), subject to the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE). The RSUs will vest in monthly increments of 200,000 over the term of the agreement, with a hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance.

Additionally, the agreement grants Protium Clean Energy Corp. a right of first refusal over four mineral tenures held by Mr. Sketchley covering approximately 569.56 hectares in British Columbia. The acquisition of this right of first refusal aligns with the Company's previously announced strategy of developing areas of interest in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta (see press release dated November 19, 2024).

"We are excited to welcome Mr. Sketchley to our team and look forward to benefiting from his deep expertise in Indigenous relations and mineral tenure management," said Marc Branson, CEO of Protium Clean Energy Corp. "This agreement represents a significant step forward in our mission to build strong, collaborative relationships with Indigenous communities while advancing our resource development objectives."

The agreement is effective as of November 13, 2024, and will initially run for a six-month term, renewable at the option of the Company.

In addition, the Company announces that announce that its Board of Directors has approved the adoption of an Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). This Plan is designed to enhance the Company's ability to attract, retain, and motivate qualified directors, officers, employees, and consultants while aligning their interests with those of shareholders. The Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan provides a flexible and comprehensive framework for granting equity-based awards, including stock options, restricted share units (RSUs), performance share units (PSUs), and deferred share units (DSUs). The Plan aims to reward eligible participants for their contributions to the Company's success and to encourage long-term investment in Protium's shares.

The Plan reserves up to 10% of the Company's total issued and outstanding shares for awards under the Plan, adhering to the "evergreen" structure. Shares subject to expired or terminated awards will become available for future grants.

Awards under the Plan are subject to a range of vesting schedules and performance criteria as determined by the Company's Board of Directors or its delegate.

Specific limits ensure compliance with regulatory standards, including restrictions on grants to insiders, consultants, and those engaged in investor relations activities.

In addition to the RSUs to be granted to Mr. Sketchley, the Company announces, subject to CSE approval, the grant of 2,500,000 additional RSUs to a strategic consultant to the Company. These additional RSUs will vest four months and one date from the date of grant.

About Protium Clean Energy Corp.

Protium Clean Energy Corp.is a junior exploration and development company focused on identifying, acquiring, and exploring prospective minerals in Canada's extensive natural resources portfolio. We focus on exploring and developing our 100% owned Nakina Lithium and Firstbrook Hydrogen properties in Ontario, located in Northern Canada, and identifying and pursuing further opportunities by region using various satellite surveys. This allows Protium Clean Energy Corp. to evaluate large tracts of land quickly and cost-effectively to delineate targets for natural gasses and critical minerals required for the modern world.

Forward-Looking Information Cautionary Statement

Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law including statements relating to fostering relationships with indigenous communities and identifying properties. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the CSE, failure to realize the benefits of the consulting agreement, difficulties making inroads with certain communities, defects in title and, failures to maintain titles in good standing. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the business plans for the Company as described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are available at www.sedarplus.ca.

The CSE and Information Service Provider have not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231408

SOURCE: Protium Clean Energy Corp.
Wilmington, Delaware and Wan Chai, Hong Kong--(Newsfile Corp. - November 26, 2024) - QGP, a leading link-building provider committed to helping businesses improve their online presence, is thrilled to announce the launch of its revolutionary SEO Academy.

The training program is led by online entrepreneur, SEO expert, and trainer Greg Morrison, who brings over 15 years of experience in the SEO industry to the table.

Widely recognized for his successful SEO programs, such as OMG (the original One Man Gang), Traffic Tsunami, Fusion, Traffic Hacks, Forge, and Accelerator, Morrison brings unparalleled expertise and a proven track record to the Academy.

The SEO Academy is designed to help businesses navigate the complexities of search engines, equipping them with the skills, strategies, and tools needed to improve their online visibility.

The complimentary courses include a range of helpful, easy-to-follow SEO advice on what actually works in today's SEO landscape, including:

Domain analysis

Backlink evaluation

Website health

"The SEO Academy represents the culmination of years of dedicated expertise and a deep passion for empowering others through SEO education. Our mission is to deliver unmatched value to those striving to master the complexities of digital marketing and achieve meaningful success online," said QGP founder and CEO Kosta Hristov.

Businesses can join the academy and start learning here.

About QGP:

QGP is a leading link-building and SEO strategy consulting provider specializing in white hat link-building through guest posts, niche edicts, and homepage link strategies. With the expertise to build effective, healthy SEO campaigns, its platform has become the go-to link-building provider for various highly successful SEO training programs.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231267

SOURCE: DesignRush
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 26, 2024) - American Eagle Gold Corp. (TSXV: AE) (OTCQB: AMEGF) ("American Eagle" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed the previously announced non-brokered private placement pursuant to a subscription agreement (the "Agreement") with a wholly owned subsidiary of South32 Ltd. ("South32" - ASX:S32). Pursuant to the Agreement, South32 purchased 33,321,577 common shares in the capital of the Company ("Common Shares") at a price of C$0.875 per Common Share, for gross proceeds to the Company of C$29,156,379.88 (the "Offering").

Under the terms of the Agreement, American Eagle will use the proceeds from the Offering to fund drill program expansions in 2025 and 2026. Further details on the 2025 drill program will be shared once assays from the 2024 program are received.

No warrants are included in the Offering, and no finder's fees or commissions were paid. The Common Shares will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day following the date hereof.

Early Warning Requirements

As required by National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues, South32 has filed an Early Warning Report in connection with its acquisition of the Common Shares pursuant to the Offering. The Common Shares were acquired by South32 Group Operations Pty Ltd., a company organized and existing under the laws of Australia and a wholly owned subsidiary of South32, with a registered address of Level 35, 108 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000, Australia.

Prior to the completion of the Offering, South32 did not directly or indirectly own or exercise control over any Common Shares, nor any securities exercisable into Common Shares. Following the completion of the Offering, South32 indirectly owns and exercises control over 33,321,577 Common Shares, representing approximately 19.9% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares, for total consideration of C$29,156,379.88. South32 did not and does not hold any warrants before or after the completion of the Offering.

The Common Shares were acquired for investment purposes. South32 currently has no other plans or intentions that relate to, or would result in the matters listed in clauses (a) to (k) of item 5 of Form 62-103F1, except that pursuant to an investor rights agreement dated the date hereof between American Eagle and South32 (the "Investor Rights Agreement"), South32 has the right to nominate one individual to the Board of Directors of American Eagle as long as it holds at least 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Issuer (on a non-diluted basis), which as a result of the Offering South32 may now exercise. However, South32 may acquire additional securities of American Eagle, dispose of some or all of the existing or additional securities it holds or will hold, or may continue to hold its current position, depending on market conditions, reformulation of plans and/or other relevant factors, subject in each case to applicable securities law. The Investor Rights Agreement also provides South32 with certain additional rights relating to its investment in the Issuer, including anti-dilution and information rights, as more thoroughly discussed in American Eagle's news release dated November 11, 2024.

Copies of the Early Warning Report with respect to the foregoing will appear on the Company's profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval at www.sedarplus.ca. A copy of the report may also be obtained by contacting Anthony Moreau, Chief Executive Officer, via the contact information below for American Eagle.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or the securities laws of any state of the United States, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration requirements.

About American Eagle's NAK Project

The NAK project is located within the traditional territory of the Lake Babine Nation and lies within the Babine copper-gold porphyry district of central British Columbia. It has excellent infrastructure through all-season roads and is close to the towns of Smithers, Houston, and Burns Lake, B.C., which lie along a major rail line and Provincial Highway 16. Historical drilling and geophysical, geological, and geochemical work at NAK, which began in the 1960's, tested only to shallow depths. Still, the work revealed a very large near-surface copper-gold system that measures over 1.5 km x 1.5 km. Drilling completed in 2022, 2023, and 2024 by American Eagle has returned significant intervals of high-grade copper-gold mineralization that reach beyond and much deeper than the historical drilling, indicating that zones of near-surface and deeper mineralization, locally with considerably higher grades, exist within the broader NAK property mineralizing system.

For the latest videos from American Eagle, Ore Group, and all things mining, subscribe to our YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@theoregroup

About American Eagle Gold Corp.

American Eagle is focused on exploring its NAK copper-gold porphyry project in west-central British Columbia, Canada.

American Eagle Gold Corp

Suite 1805, 55 University Avenue

Toronto, Ontario

M5J 2H7, Canada

About South32 Ltd.

South32 is a globally diversified mining and metals company. South32's purpose is to make a difference by developing natural resources, improving people's lives now and for generations to come. South32 is trusted by its owners and partners to realise the potential of their resources. South32 produces commodities including bauxite, alumina, aluminium, copper, silver, lead, zinc, nickel and manganese from its operations in Australia, Southern Africa and South America. South32 also has a portfolio of high-quality development projects and options, and exploration prospects, consistent with its strategy to reshape its portfolio toward commodities that are critical for a low-carbon future.

Q.P. Statement

Mark Bradley, B.Sc., M.Sc., P.Geo., a Certified Professional Geologist and 'qualified person' for the purposes of Canada's National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Properties, has verified and approved the information contained in this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information in this press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the intended use of proceeds and intended drill program or its anticipated results at the Company's NAK project, the ability of the Company to make the qualifying expenditures as anticipated by management, and other matters ancillary or incidental to the foregoing. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results might differ materially from those suggested in forward-looking statements. American Eagle Gold Corp. assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to American Eagle Gold Corp. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in filings by American Eagle Gold Corp. with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available under American Eagle Gold Corp. profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the TSX Venture Exchange policies) accept 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/231383

SOURCE: American Eagle Gold Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 26, 2024) - Golden Spike Resources Corp. (CSE: GLDS) (OTCQB: GSPRF) (FSE: L5Y) ("Golden Spike") is pleased to provide an update on its ongoing drilling program at the Gregory River Property ("the Property"), located on the west side of Newfoundland. The Company has successfully completed five diamond drill holes at the Steep Brook volcanogenic massive sulphide ("VMS") target, totaling approximately 921 meters ("m"), and has now mobilized the drill rig to the next priority target, Lode 9.

Highlights:

Five holes completed at Steep Brook totaling approximately 921 m (Figure 1).

Intervals of disseminated and fracture/veinlet-hosted pyrite and/or chalcopyrite mineralization, logged in holes GR-24-03 and GR-24-05.

Core samples from the initial few holes have been submitted to the laboratory.

The drill rig has been moved to the Lode 9 Target and drilling is underway.

Keith Anderson, President and CEO of Golden Spike Resources, commented:

"We are excited to have completed this inaugural phase of drilling at the Steep Brook Target and are now shifting our focus to Lode 9, the second of three promising areas to be tested during this drilling campaign. To have intersected zones of pyrite and/or chalcopyrite mineralization in two of the initial holes is a very positive start to our drilling program, especially since Steep Brook is still at an early stage of exploration and has only seen a few historical campaigns of exploration, and only one historical drill hole. Our team is committed to working with the drill results and other data to enhance our understanding of Steep Brook's mineralization potential and to continue to advance the drill program efficiently and responsibly. We look forward to sharing assay results with our stakeholders as soon as they become available."

Within drill hole GR-24-03 two zones of sulphide mineralization were geologically logged in the hole. The first occurs between approximately 9 m and 30 m, as a mix of disseminated and minor blebs of pyrite and chalcopyrite in chlorite altered pillowed basalt, as well as some sections of fracture-controlled sulphide stringers and sulphide mineralized quartz-carbonate veinlets. Visual estimates of chalcopyrite mineralization are variable and range from trace amounts, up to 7%, over narrow, 10 to 20 cm intervals. Further down the hole, between approximately 62 m and 89 m a second zone of sulphide mineralization was logged, hosted in fine-grained massive basalt, with minor sub-units of pillowed basalt and gabbro.





Figure 1: Location of Steep Brook Drill Holes

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8310/231336_81287ac0b4ea2bf6_001full.jpg

Note: Soil samples and a portion of the rock samples are historical and since the companies that collected the data were mid-size to large, reputable companies that would have had sampling methodologies and quality control processes in place that were considered industry-standard for that time, the QP feels that it is reasonable to report these results as historical and provide a use guide for future exploration at these prospects.

Mineralization occurs as a mix of fracture-controlled sulphides, quartz-carbonate veinlet-hosted sulphides, and sulphide-rich fragments and disseminated specks in breccias. Visual estimates of chalcopyrite are variable, ranging between trace and 1%, with higher percentages ranging between 3% and 50% over 5 cm to 2m intervals.

Drill hole GR-24-05 intersected one main sulphide zone, from the base of the overburden at about 10 m, to approximately 42 m down the hole. The top 10 m of this interval are logged as fine-grained gabbro, followed by a sequence of fine-grained massive basalt and breccia. All units show pervasive chlorite-silica alteration throughout. Sulphide mineralization consists of breccia matrix hosted blebs of semi-massive pyrite and chalcopyrite, along with a component of fracture-hosted and fine disseminated sulphides. A visual estimate of chalcopyrite mineralization over this interval ranges between 1% and 6%.

The Company cautions that with respect to reporting of any visible sulphide mineralization, including pyrite or chalcopyrite, or other visual mineralization indicators such as alteration, visual observations and estimates are uncertain and should not be taken as a substitute for geochemical analyses. The estimates of sulphides were observed and reported in drill hole logs by the onsite project geologist and are subject to final analytical results and interpretations and do not represent anticipated grades of copper, or other metals within the mineralized intercepts. Analytical results will be reported once they have been received, validated and interpreted by the Company.





Photos 1 and 2: Photo 1 (left), selected interval from GR-24-03 at about 71m depth showing disseminated and blebs of pyrite and chalcopyrite. Photo 2 (right), selected interval from GR-24-05 at about 12m depth showing brecciated basalt with infilling of quartz-carbonate and pyrite-chalcopyrite mineralization. Note that these intervals are not representative of the entire drill hole, nor the entire mineralized interval.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8310/231336_goldenspikefigure2.jpg

Steep Brook Target Drilling Information

Diamond drilling at Steep Brook was conducted by Rally Drilling Services Inc., from October 28 to November 16, 2024, during which time five holes totalling 921 metres ("m") were completed (Figure 1). The drill holes were designed to test multiple anomalies, including first priority Induced Polarization/Resistivity ("IP") anomalies (refer to press release "Golden Spike Announces IP Survey Results from Gregory River, October 17, 2024) and surface rock sampling results (refer to press release "Golden Spike Announces Start of Drilling, and Rock and Soil Sampling Results from Gregory River, October 29, 2024) from our summer exploration program, along with historical drill results (Duval, 1985), historical soil anomalies (Noranda, 1991), and additional historical rock samples from various campaigns.

Since the companies that collected the historical drilling data and surface samples were mostly mid-size to large, reputable companies that would have had sampling methodologies and quality control processes in place that were considered industry-standard for that time, the QP feels that it is reasonable to report these results as historical and to use them as a guide for on-going exploration at these prospects. During this summer's sampling program, a portion of the historical sample sites were re-sampled by Golden Spike, further supporting the general range of grades historically reported. Furthermore, during January 2023 the Company relogged and sampled a portion of historical drill hole CC-2, returning a similar range of copper values and providing support for the historical grades in this hole.

All of the recent holes were drilled at moderate dips, ranging between -47 and -55 degrees, to down-hole depths ranging between 172 m and 206 m. Drill holes GR-24-01 to GR-24-04 were drilled towards the east, while GR-24-05 was drilled towards the west. Drill hole sample lengths range between 0.44 m and 2.25 m, but average around 1.0 m. Table 1 summarizes the drill hole details and Figure 1 shows the locations of the drill holes.

Although sample core cutting is still underway, samples from the initial few holes have been submitted to SGS Natural Resources ("SGS") in Grand Falls, Newfoundland for preparation and analysis. SGS is an internationally recognized laboratory and is independent of Golden Spike. SGS conforms to the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017. Scopes of Accredited tests are site specific, please visit Accredited Organizations | Standards Council of Canada (scc-ccn.ca).

At the preparation laboratory, samples will be crushed to 75% passing 2mm, and a 250 g split will be pulverized to 85% passing 75 microns. The pulp will be shipped directly by SGS to their laboratory in Burnaby, BC, where samples will be analysed for gold by 30-gram fire assay with an AAS finish and for 33 elements by ICP-AES, using a 4-acid digestion. The ICP analysis will include target elements such as copper, zinc and silver, as well as various pathfinder and other elements.

All analytical results from the Steep Brook holes are still pending and results will be released once they have been received, validated and interpreted by the Company.

Table 3: Steep Brook Target Diamond Drilling

Drill

Hole UTM

EAST UTM

NORTH Elevation

(masl) Length

(m) Azimuth

(degrees) Dip

(degrees) Assay

Status GR24-001 415840 5461029 285 206 90 -55 Pending GR24-002 415581 5460829 229 175 90 -50 Pending GR24-003 415989 5461129 288 172 90 -51 Pending GR24-004 416037 5461329 341 172 90 -50 Pending GR24-005 416005 5460629 193 196 270 -47 Pending Total Drilling





921







Notes: Collar coordinates are measured by handheld GPS and will be more accurately surveyed at a later date; UTM coordinates are reported using NAD83.

Next Steps

With the completion of the drilling at Steep Brook the drill rig has been mobilized to Lode 9 drilling, where approximately 4 holes will be completed totaling 900 m. Following Lode 9, the rig will be moved to the final priority target, the Vein Zone, where an additional 4 holes will be drilled totaling approximately 830 m. Drill hole samples will be shipped to the laboratory on a regular basis and the assays from the initial holes are expected to be returned in approximately 4-6 weeks. All analytical results will be released as they are received, validated and interpreted by the Company.

QA/QC and Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved for disclosure by Mr. Robert Cinits, P.Geo, a director of the Company and a "Qualified Person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

The Company has incorporated a rigorous quality assurance/quality control ("QA/QC") program during the drill hole sampling, which includes the regular insertion of Company standards, blanks and duplicates at a frequency of approximately 1 per 20 regular samples.

JEA Program

Golden Spike Resources Corp. is deeply appreciative of being selected as a recipient of the Newfoundland Junior Exploration Assistance (JEA) Program. The anticipated financial support of $95,691.86 represents a crucial step in advancing our exploration initiatives in Newfoundland, and we are incredibly grateful for the support provided by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. This opportunity strengthens our commitment to responsible and innovative exploration in the region, and we look forward to the positive impact this assistance will have on our efforts. We thank the government for their trust and confidence in our vision and ongoing work.

About Golden Spike

Golden Spike Resources Corp. (CSE: GLDS), (OTCQB: GSPRF), (FSE: L5Y) is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on identifying, acquiring and unlocking value in mineral opportunities in Canada and other low-risk jurisdictions. The Company currently holds 100% interest in the 5,175-hectare Gregory River Property in Newfoundland, strategically centered over an approximate 11-kilometre-long stretch of the Gregory River VMS-belt, a north-northeast trending corridor of very prospective ground with potential to host Cyprus-type polymetallic VMS deposits. In addition, the Property hosts a cluster of historically explored, high-grade, copper gold vein structures. Golden Spike Resources remains dedicated to sustainable exploration practices and continues to collaborate with local communities, consultants, and stakeholders as it progresses its exploration initiatives.

For further information, please contact: Keith Anderson, President, Golden Spike Resources Corp. Tel: 604-786-7774, Email: kanderson7774@gmail.com

Website: https://www.goldenspikeresources.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" occur.

Additionally, forward-looking information involve a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation: the volatility of global capital markets, political instability, unanticipated costs, risks relating to the extent and duration of the conflict in Eastern Europe and its impact on global markets, the lack of availability of capital and financing, general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather conditions, failure to maintain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to maintain community acceptance (including First Nations), increase in costs, litigation, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, failure of the exploration program, including the recent IP survey and the current drilling program to result in the discovery of significant precious and/or base metal mineralization, and those risks, uncertainties and factors set forth in the Company's disclosure record under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information contained herein. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement or forward-looking information disclosed herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231336

SOURCE: Golden Spike Resources Corp.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 26, 2024) - Xigem Technologies Corporation (CSE: XIGM) (FSE: VZ6) ("Xigem" or the "Company"), is today pleased to provide its unaudited interim financial information for the three and nine-month fiscal periods ending September 30, 2024. In its third quarter of 2024, the Company realized gross sales of $167,624 with net sales of $5,028, as compared with gross sales of $0 and net sales of $0 for its third quarter of 2023. For the nine-month period ending September 30, 2024, the Company realised gross sales of $1,581,967 with net sales of $47,458, as compared with gross sales of $439,684 and net sales of $13,191 for the same period in 2023; representing an increase of approximately 260% for the nine-month period ending September 30, 2024.

Further, the Company recorded a reduction of 57% in its net fiscal loss in its third quarter of 2024 ($125,497) when compared to the same period in 2023 ($289,552). For the nine-month period ending September 30, 2024 the Company recorded a reduction of 60% in its net fiscal loss ($413,937) compared to its net fiscal loss of ($1,039,972) for the same period in 2023

Xigem's sales performance in its third quarter and the nine months ending September 30, 2024 is attributable to its EchoDigital Saas-based platform asset. EchoDigital uses a proprietary AI to assist in seamlessly capturing and converting leads from traditional sources, it then also assesses and qualifies the leads and in part determines their aptitude matching them with the most suitable customer sales representative ("CSR") - necessary to complete a sale. EchoDigital is currently employed with a dealer of pre-owned cars in the greater Toronto area. The Company continues to intend to make EchoDigital available to other dealers of pre-owned cars and other CSR-dependent sectors in the future.

About Xigem Technologies Corporation

With software capable of improving capacity, productivity, and overall operations for businesses, consumers, and organizations Xigem aims to position itself to become a leading technology provider for the near trillion-dollar remote digital economy. iAgent, the Company's patented technology and EchoDigital, its SaaS automotive shopping platform are intended to provide organizations, businesses, and consumers with the tools necessary to thrive in a vast array of digital working, learning, shopping and treatment environments while the Company continually looks to aggregate a portfolio of innovative technologies capable of disrupting traditional business models.

www.xigemtechnologies.com

Instagram: @xigemtechnologies

Twitter: @XigemTech

Facebook: @xigemtechnologies

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/xigem-technologies

Further Information

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 these securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The market data presented in this press release is not indicative of the Company's future performance and in no way should be interpreted as such.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking statements.

Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "appears to be", "likely, "plans","looks to", "possible", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". The forward-looking information and forward- looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: future market data for the global automotive industry; the future products and performance of the Company and the ability of the Company to continue adding innovative technologies to its portfolio.

Forward-looking information in this news release is based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; the commercial viability and growth in popularity of the Company's applications; the Company's ability to continue to develop and acquire revenue-generating applications; continued approval of the Company's activities by the relevant governmental and/or regulatory authorities; the continued development of the Company's technologies; the Company having sufficient funds to continue operations as planned; growth of the global automobile industry as currently anticipated or at all; the impact of growth of the global automotive industry on the Company's operations; and the continued growth of the Company in general.

These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: uncertainty with respect to the future growth of the global automobile industry and/or any other industry group or subset relevant to the Company's operations; uncertainty to predict the Company's ability to compete with other participants in the industries in which it operates; the potential inability of the Company to continue as a going concern; the risks associated with Software-as-a-Service ("SaaS") and technology industries in general; increased competition in the SaaS and technology markets in general; the potential future unviability of the Company's product offerings; risks associated with potential governmental and/or regulatory action with respect to the Company's activities; risks associated with a potential collapse in the value of SaaS services and the SaaS market; risks associated with the Company's ability to generate a profit; the inability of the Company to add innovative technologies to its portfolio; the Company not having adequate resources, financial and otherwise, as required to continue its operations as planned; and risks with respect to market demand for the Company's products. Furthermore, the market data presented in this press release is not indicative of the Company's future performance and in no way should be interpreted as such.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange 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.

SOURCE: Xigem Technologies Corporation

On behalf of the Company:

Brian Kalish, Chief Executive Office

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231344

SOURCE: Xigem Technologies Corporation
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 26, 2024) - Stardust Solar Energy Inc. (TSXV: SUN) ("Stardust Solar" or the "Company"), a leading provider of residential solar energy solutions, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement dated November 25, 2024 (the "Definitive Agreement") between, inter alia, the Company and Solar Grids Development LLC ("Solar Grids") to acquire 100% of the assets of Solar Grids, a U.S.-based solar energy company specializing in solar installations and franchise development (the "Acquisition"). The Company anticipates the Acquisition will close on or prior to November 30, 2024.

The Acquisition is expected to accelerate Stardust Solar's expansion into the U.S. solar market, adding an expected 49 new franchise territories and increasing the Company's total franchise network to approximately 80 locations across North America. Solar Grids currently operates in the high-demand regions of Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, which are expected to contribute immediately to Stardust Solar's revenue growth.

"This Acquisition will represent a significant step forward in our strategic plan to expand our franchise footprint and accelerate solar energy adoption across North America," said Mark Tadros, Chairman and CEO of Stardust Solar. "Solar Grids has established a strong brand with a well-organized franchise network, and we are excited to integrate their operations and expertise into our growing ecosystem."

Synergies and Strategic Benefits



The Acquisition is expected to present significant synergies for Stardust Solar and its franchise network. By integrating the new franchises under its franchise agreement, Stardust Solar is expected to enhance its purchasing power, adding margin from product sales to the latest U.S. Franchises while enabling franchisees to offer competitive pricing to their customers. Additionally, the Acquisition is expected to allow newly integrated franchises to become certified Tesla Powerwall distributors, among other partnership benefits offered by Stardust Solar to franchisees, creating new potential revenue streams and strengthening the product offering across the network.

"Joining forces with Stardust Solar provides an excellent platform for growth," said Justin Kaiser, CEO of Solar Grids. "The combined franchise model empowers us to concentrate entirely on growth, accelerate scaling efforts, and create greater opportunities for success while expanding our capacity to drive the transition to solar energy across the U.S."

Terms of the Acquisition:

Pursuant to the terms of the Definitive Agreement, Stardust Solar will acquire, among other things:

All rights, titles, and interests in Solar Grids' assets, including franchise agreements, intellectual property, and goodwill.

Digital and physical assets contributing to the Solar Grids brand identity.

Websites, training curricula, and business management systems supporting franchise operations (collectively, the "Purchased Assets").

As consideration for the Purchased Assets, the Company will issue to Solar Grids an aggregate of 4,000,000 common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Consideration Shares") at a deemed price of $0.25 per Consideration Share (subject to the policies of the TSXV). 85% of the Consideration Shares (the "Closing Shares") will be issued on the closing date of the Acquisition (the "Closing Date"), and the remaining 15% of the Consideration Shares will be issued on the date that is thirty-sixth months following the Closing Date (provided that if such date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or statutory holiday, the applicable Consideration Shares shall be issued on the following business day).

The Acquisition is an arm's length transaction for the purposes of the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") and no finder's fees are payable in connection with the Acquisition. The Company expects that the Acquisition will meet the criteria of an "Expedited Acquisition" under TSXV Policy 5.3 - Acquisitions and Dispositions of Non-Cash Assets and remains subject to the TSXV's final acceptance. All securities issuable in connection with the Acquisition will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day after the date of issuance. In addition, the Closing Shares will be subject to voluntary restrictions on transfer commencing on the date of issuance, with 400,000 of such Closing Shares being released from such voluntary restrictions on the Closing Date and an additional 600,000 of such Closing Shares being released from such voluntary restrictions every six (6) months thereafter for a period of thirty (30) months from the Closing Date.

In addition to the Definitive Agreement, Justin Kaiser and Larry Schroder, the Solar Grids founders, will enter into three-year consulting agreements with Stardust Solar. Their roles will focus on driving new franchise sales in the U.S. market, with commissions based on sales leads.

The closing of the Acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of TSXV approval and other regulatory approvals.

New Franchises Acquired:

State Franchisees Territories Year Established Colorado Areno Kirkendoll II and Solar Grids Development LLC 1 2023 Michigan Michigan Solar and Roofing, LLC and Solar Grids Development LLC 40 2023 Iowa Solar Grids Quad Cities and Solar Grids Development LLC 1 2023 Florida MMS Solar LLC and Solar Grids Development LLC 1 2023 Nebraska Tim Coleman and Solar Grids Development LLC 1 2020 Pennsylvania Topp Home, LLC and Solar Grids Development LLC 5 2022

About Solar Grids Development LLC

Solar Grids is a leading franchise system that specializes in solar energy installations. The company has built a strong brand presence and customer loyalty among its franchisees, providing solar entrepreneurs with nationwide training, support, and infrastructure.

About Stardust Solar

Stardust is a North American franchisor of renewable energy installation services, including solar panels (PV), energy storage systems, and electric vehicle supply equipment. Stardust lends its brand and business management services to entrepreneurs looking to enter the renewable energy industry. Stardust franchisees install and maintain clean energy systems for residential and commercial purposes. As a franchisor, Stardust supplies its franchisees with the following products: solar PV equipment, energy storage equipment, and electric vehicle supply equipment. In addition, Stardust supports its franchisees with many services from corporate headquarters, including marketing, sales, engineering, plan sets, customer service, and project management.

Media and Investor Contacts:

Mark Tadros

Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Director

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

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 statements, including statements relating to the Company's business plans and expected future growth, the completion of the Acquisition on the terms described herein or at all, the expected closing date of the Acquisition and the expected benefits of the Acquisition. 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, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention. It assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements 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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231395

SOURCE: Stardust Solar Energy Inc.
Introducing The Pigna Design Experience at Parsons and Pratt

NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 26, 2024 / In line with its commitment to support New York City's art community, the iconic Italian stationery brand Pigna is launching a design contest for students from two of the city's leading art institutions, Parsons School of Design and Pratt Institute. The winning design from each school will be featured on the cover of a PdiPigna notebook, produced and distributed globally.

This opportunity not only provides students with financial support and exceptional international exposure, but also connects them to a brand with a legacy of tradition, artistry, and excellence. Since 1839, Pigna remains dedicated to setting industry standards and empowering the next generation of creative talent.

Sever Garcia, General Manager for North America with Pigna, stated: "For the iconic Italian company Pigna, a notebook has a special meaning for any creative mind. This is why we developed the PdiPigna collection, created and used by artists. Collaborating with Parsons and Pratt comes as a natural partnership between institutions that seek to contribute to the art community."

Jessica Walker, Director of the Parsons BFA Illustration Program declared, "Parsons is thrilled to partner with Pigna, a historic leader in stationery. Our global collaboration and student contest provide an invaluable opportunity for our emerging illustrators to work on a real-world project with tangible results, and we're so excited to see our students inspire people with their designs. This partnership embodies the university's commitment to fostering educational experiences that prepare illustrators for their entry into the design industry."

Dr. Susan Young, Chair of the Pratt AOS Program stated, "At Pratt, we are deeply committed to fostering innovation and providing our students with opportunities to connect with industry leaders. Collaborating with Pigna offers our talented students an invaluable chance to have their work showcased on an international platform, supporting their growth as artists and designers".

About the Parsons School of Design

Parsons is the number one design school in the U.S., and the first to offer programs in fashion design, interior design, graphic design, and advertising. As a division of The New School, Parsons draws on a range of academic fields to deliver a uniquely interdisciplinary education across 30 degrees, enriched by the resources of its home in New York City and branch campus in Paris.

About Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute is a world-class, internationally ranked college offering programs in art, design, architecture, liberal arts and sciences, and information studies. With nearly 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, Pratt Institute stands as a beacon of creativity, nurturing students to become leaders in their fields and make impactful contributions to society.

About PdiPigna

PdiPigna is the premium brand of Cartiere Paolo Pigna, the leading Italian stationery company, founded in 1839 in Bergamo, close to Milan, Italy. PdiPigna is the expression of the high quality, design, and craftsmanship "Made in Italy".

PdiPigna notebooks and diaries use natural paper, strictly aligned with B-Corp and FSC standards.

Contact Information

Juan Carlos Arteaga

Marketing Coordinator

jc.arteaga@sgn-holding.com







Source: Pigna USA
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 26, 2024 / At Griffith Foods, we are committed to advancing our workplace health and safety standards. Our Health and Safety Management Program (WHS) is aligned with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Standard, ensuring that we adhere to all applicable health and safety laws and regulations. Currently, five of our 20 sites are ISO 45001 certified, and we are actively working toward certifying additional locations. Through regular risk assessments, hazard identification walk-throughs, and audits, we continuously strive to enhance our safety measures.

Achievements and Strategic Improvements

In fiscal year 2023, we made significant strides in improving our health and safety performance:

Reduction in Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR): We successfully reduced our global TRIR by more than 35% from FY22 to FY23, demonstrating fewer injuries requiring medical treatment per 1 million hours worked.

Zero-Injury Target: We have made notable progress toward eliminating life-altering events and reducing lost-time injuries. Our unwavering focus remains on providing a safe and accessible workplace for all employees.

Policy and Management Enhancements in 2023

Our efforts to cultivate a culture of safety include several key initiatives:

Cultural and Behavioral Safety Enhancements

"Safety Built In" workshops: These two-day leadership workshops aim to drive safety performance through cultural improvement. They have been held in Scarborough, Canada; Alsip, Illinois; Lithonia, Georgia; and Costa Rica, with plans to expand to more locations in FY24.

Employee engagement: By involving employees in our safety strategy through regular workplace observations and continuous improvement processes, we enhance their participation in reducing incidents.

Ergonomic risk reduction: We have implemented a global systematic approach to reduce ergonomic risks associated with material handling, promoting safer work conditions.

Global Safety Systems

New technology: We upgraded to an improved software system for tracking incidents, implementing corrective and preventive actions, and soliciting employee safety concerns.

Workplace Health and Safety Perception Survey: The results of our inaugural survey have been shared with employees. Actions are being taken at all manufacturing locations to enhance safety performance based on the feedback.

Continuous Improvement and Compliance

Our commitment to continuous improvement and compliance is reflected in our health and safety committees:

Health and Safety Committees: These facility-level committees are essential in implementing our health and safety policies. They identify specific challenges and lead local training initiatives. They report to our Global Workplace Health and Safety Committee, which meets monthly, and to our WHS Community, which convenes quarterly.

By fostering a culture of safety, Griffith Foods ensures that all employees work in an environment where their health and wellbeing are prioritized. We will continue to build on these achievements and strive for excellence in workplace safety.

Our Sustainability Journey

At Griffith Foods, we are committed to driving positive impact through a regenerative mindset. Sustainability is connected to everything we do as a business, and by 2030, we are dedicated to significantly improving the future with a singular sustainable business strategy that we call our 2030 Aspirations. To learn more about Griffith Foods and its current sustainability efforts, visit them online and download the 2023 Sustainability Report.



About Griffith Foods

At Griffith Foods, our purpose defines who we are, what we do, and why we exist, highlighting what makes us distinct and authentic in the marketplace. We help our partners meet the evolving needs and desires of consumers in ways that respect and sustain the planet. Our care and creativity mean we'll find the right mix of global reach and local impact to serve the earth and nourish all of us who call it home.

View original content here.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Griffith Foods on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Griffith Foods

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/griffith-foods

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Griffith Foods

View the original press release on accesswire.com
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 26, 2024 / Subaru of America, Inc.

Originally published on ASPCA.org

Pigs may not be flying yet, but these dogs certainly are! And they're not just flying to shelters, they're getting adopted so fast, they're practically flying into homes!

This June, 40 dogs were flown from Mobile SPCA in Mobile, Alabama, to the Laurence G. Hanscom Field in Bedford, Massachusetts, where they were then transported by ground to MSPCA-Angell: Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire SPCA (NHSPCA) in Stratham, New Hampshire. In total 33 dogs (28 puppies and 5 adults) went to the MSPCA, while seven dogs (2 puppies and 5 adults) went to the NHSPCA.

This flight and animal transport, sponsored by our longtime partner Subaru of America, Inc., was part of our Animal Relocation Program, which works with overcrowded shelters to relocate animals to other shelters with space, resources and a high demand for adoption.

This transport was vital to Mobile SPCA as their shelter has been experiencing overcrowding, with a high number of puppies and dogs consistently in their care. The transport increased Mobile SPCA's capacity to assist more community animals in need in their community and gave the relocated animals a better chance at finding the loving homes they deserve.

Which is exactly what happened after they reached the Northeast! All 33 dogs that went to MSPCA-Angell have since been adopted, including Leonardo, one of 28 puppies who made the flight.

Looking for Leo

Hitesh and Swapnali V. were on the MSPCA-Angell website in search of a Labrador Retriever-mix puppy when they came across Leo.

"When we first met him, his energy and vibe matched ours perfectly," said Hitesh. "The connection was instant. He greeted us with such excitement, we knew he was the one."

Already in love with their new furry friend, the couple adopted Leo and brought him home that day.

As he adjusted to his new home, Leo was anxious at first, always needing to be able to see Hitesh and Swapnali. But with time, Leo began trusting his pet parents and became super comfortable and playful.

"He was bold and energetic when we met him. Now, he's even more playful, vocal and enjoys his 'me time,'" Hitesh told us.

Hitesh and Swapnali couldn't be happier with their decision to adopt Leo.

"He's added so much joy into our home," Hitesh said. "His energy and intelligence keep us on our toes, and we love every moment with him."

Leo's journey and adoption are a part of what we call The Rescue Effect - a ripple effect through shelters that is created when a dog is either fostered or adopted. These actions allow space for shelters to help more animals in need during a time when most facilities are at capacity. Leo's journey cleared space at Mobile SPCA and then Hitesh and Swapnali's actions created more space at MSCPA-Angell - that's The Rescue Effect.

Without the Subaru-sponsored relocation flight and transport with the ASPCA, Hitesh and Swapnali would have never met Leo, which is why we're so proud of all the work our Animal Relocation team does to give homeless animals second chances and new beginnings.

The ASPCA Relocation Program is the country's largest national transporter of animals, having transported over 270,000 animals since its inception. Our program also provides resources, support and training to both source and destination shelters with the goal of not only reducing overcrowding at partner shelters, but also helping shelters create and strengthen programs that will have a long-term effect on animal welfare in the surrounding communities.

The ASPCA and Subaru

The ASPCA has worked with Subaru for over a decade and is the national partner for the Subaru Loves Pets program, through which Subaru and its retailers are committed to improving the lives of as many shelter animals as possible. Every October, Subaru celebrates Subaru Loves Pets with over 600 Subaru retailers partnering with local animal shelters to provide direct financial assistance to aid in shelter support and pet adoptions.

In addition, we are also celebrating the 6th annual National Make a Dog's Day today, October 22! This day was created by Subaru to encourage all dog lovers across the country to do something special for their canine family members or support a local animal in need. This year, the ASPCA and Subaru are using this month and this celebratory day to encourage people across the country to consider adopting or fostering a dog in need.

Subaru is especially passionate about supporting some of the most vulnerable shelter animals - older and disabled dogs, which we lovingly call the 'Underdogs.' These dogs are often overlooked and stay longer in shelters as they wait to find a loving home.

How to Make an Impact This Month

Looking to join us and Subaru on our mission by adopting a dog? Check out our adoptable dogs in New York City or Columbus, Ohio! Not in these areas? Check out your local shelter!

Not ready to commit to adoption just yet? Try fostering! You can foster dogs through the ASPCA in New York City or Columbus, Ohio, or through your local shelter.

You can also learn more about adoption and fostering and their impact on overcrowded local shelters by visiting www.aspca.org/therescueeffect.

Continue reading here.



image courtesy of ASPCA.org

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Subaru of America, Inc. on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Subaru of America, Inc.

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/subaru-america-inc

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Subaru of America, Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Funds will support more than 50 feeding programs as holidays approach and communities recover from Helene

Efforts begin with Yam Jam, a volunteer event in Greenville that packages 50,000 pounds of sweet potatoes for the hungry this Thanksgiving

GREENVILLE, SC / ACCESSWIRE / November 26, 2024 / Every community in South Carolina is home to families who face hunger. The statistics are startling - nearly 700,000 of our friends and neighbors lack consistent access to high-quality meals. That's 1 in 8 people facing hunger in our state every day, and 1 in 6 of those are children.

As the holidays and colder weather approach, those families and more are also still reeling from a major natural disaster as communities work to restore, rebuild and renew after the historic impacts from Helene.

"Those statistics are the unfortunate baseline for many families in South Carolina," said Tim Pearson, Duke Energy's South Carolina state president. "That's why it's important for Duke Energy to support the organizations who do the great work to fight hunger across our state."

This week, Duke Energy and the Duke Energy Foundation kick off a monthlong campaign to support organizations in South Carolina that address food insecurities and inequities across the state. The monthlong initiative will provide over $500,000 to more than 50 feeding programs through Giving Tuesday and will support organizations including Mill Village Farms, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, FoodShare South Carolina, Harvest Hope Food Bank and AIM, among many others.

"Our hope is by shining a light on these organizations they will continue to receive the support they need to help reduce and hopefully one day eliminate hunger in our communities," Pearson said. "They are fighting the good fight every day in our communities, but they cannot do it alone."

To celebrate the start of the monthlong campaign, Duke Energy joined Mill Village Farms, WYFF and Bon Secours Wellness Arena for this year's Yam Jam on Nov. 7 in Greenville. The community event brought together 170 volunteers from companies and organizations around Greenville. Participants bagged nearly 50,000 pounds of sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving food boxes to be distributed by FoodShare South Carolina hubs and other food programs across South Carolina. Additionally, the Duke Energy Foundation is contributing $100,000 to FoodShare South Carolina organizations across the company's service territory, including $30,000 to Mill Village Farms.

"As we enter the holiday season and navigate the ongoing effects of Hurricane Helene, Mill Village Ministries is doubling down on our commitment to food access for every resident in our community," said Dan Weidenbenner, executive director of Mill Village Farms and Mill Village Ministries. "Mill Village Farms' FoodShare program is central to this mission, bringing fresh produce to communities - no matter their location or income level. In these challenging times, we're grateful for the dedicated support from Duke Energy, allowing us to reach even more neighbors with the healthy food they deserve."

In addition to presenting Yam Jam, Duke Energy employees will also provide their time and talents volunteering with organizations throughout the month to assist in packing and distributing food boxes, preparing backpacks for weekend food programs for students and providing sweat equity to senior mobile food programs and other feeding initiatives in their neighborhoods.

"We also know customers struggling to put food on the table are making decisions about what bills to pay at home, including their electricity bill," Pearson said. "That's why it's important for us to also share information that can assist families to manage their energy bills when times are tough." To learn more about these programs, visit duke-energy.com/SeasonalSavings.

Duke Energy Foundation

The Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition, keeping reliability, affordability and accessibility at the forefront as the company works toward net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including expanded energy storage, renewables, natural gas and nuclear.

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition.

Contact: Ryan Mosier

24-Hour: 800.559.3853

View original content here.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Duke Energy on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Duke Energy

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/duke-energy

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Duke Energy

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 26, 2024) - Energy Plug Technologies Corp. (CSE: PLUG) (OTCQB: PLGGF) (FSE: 6GQ) ("Energy Plug" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) model, an integrated advanced battery storage system, blockchain technology, and cryptocurrency ecosystem. This transformative approach delivers energy reliability, cost efficiency, and financial optimization, marking the Company's new development in decentralized energy solutions.

Energy Plug's EaaS model combines energy savings, blackout/brownout protection, and a cryptocurrency-driven treasury system to create a seamless, scalable, and transparent energy platform. This innovation can help customers to benefit from a reliable power supply while unlocking new monetization opportunities for commercial, industrial and residential customers through blockchain-enabled efficiency.

Energy Plug's ground-mounted battery systems are designed to store surplus energy from renewable and non-renewable sources, enabling its use during peak demand periods and can reduce reliance on traditional power grids and lowers energy costs for users. Complementing this is the Company's Energy Management System (EMS), which can balance supply and demand in real-time, optimizing energy distribution and enhancing overall efficiency. Additionally, Energy Plug's battery systems can provide critical outage resilience ensuring uninterrupted power for commercial and industrial clients during blackouts and brownouts, thereby minimizing costly operational disruptions.

The EaaS model offers subscription-based pricing, making energy solutions affordable by reducing upfront capital costs. Backed by Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with performance metrics, customers gain a consistent, high-quality energy service tailored to their needs.

Energy Plug's integration of cryptocurrency is poised to redefine energy finance by introducing efficiency, flexibility, and transparency. Fast transactions enable near-instantaneous settlements, reducing friction in energy trading and management. Furthermore, blockchain-based treasury systems may be able to ensure traceable and transparent financial operations, ensuring trust and accountability for all stakeholders.

Brodie Gunning, President and CEO of Energy Plug Technologies Corp., highlighted the model's impact, "Our EaaS model embodies the future of energy innovation, combining cutting-edge technology with financial empowerment. By integrating blockchain and cryptocurrency, we are creating a platform that can democratize energy access, drive sustainability, and deliver value to our customers."

Energy Plug is dedicated to promoting decentralized, sustainable energy solutions. By leveraging blockchain technology and renewable energy systems, the Company seeks to empower communities to achieve energy resilience while contributing to a greener future.

About Energy Plug Technologies Corp.

Energy Plug Technologies Corp. is an energy technology company dedicated to innovation and sustainability. With a focus on residential, commercial, and utility energy storage applications, our goal is to advance battery technologies to enhance energy management and grid resiliency. Based in British Columbia, we seek to leverage strategic partnerships with Indigenous communities and the development of a vertically integrated supply chain involving industry-leading companies in Taiwan to provide advanced solutions to our customers and partners. For more information about Energy Plug, visit our website at https://energyplug.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "will", "proposes", "expects", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", "aim", or variations (including negative and grammatical variations) of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding any objectives and strategies of the Company) are forward-looking information.

The forward-looking information in this news release includes but is not limited to the statements about the benefits of the Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) model, EaaS application to the blockchain technology, addressing critical global challenges in energy accessibility and efficiency, future sales, financing, development and construction of the Malahat Battery Plant and other large scale energy projects, production and sale of cutting-edge battery systems to AI and blockchain companies, utilities and other customers.

The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking information as a result of various risk factors, including, but not limited to ability to develop, implement and apply the EaaS model, obtaining financing, ability to build the battery assembly factory on Vancouver Island, ability to secure suppliers of batteries and obtaining batteries at desired prices, supply chain disruptions, changing government plans, policies regarding clean energy, batteries, electric vehicles and other electric transportation devices, elimination or reduction of government subsidies for electric vehicles and other electric transportation devices, solar panels, and wind power installations; changes in the Canadian and/or the US Government policies, rules and regulations, and potential war conflicts which may disrupt supply of the components required to produce batteries.

The material assumptions used to develop forward-looking information include, but not limited to general business and economic conditions, financial markets conditions, the Company's ability to fund its operations through financings and joint ventures, procurement of consulting, technical and related services and supplies on favourable terms, attraction and retention of key staff members, market demand for the Company's products, growth prospects in the market for its products, accessibility of raw materials and battery pack supplies to meet market demand, facility profitability, the anticipated terms of the consents, permits and authorizations necessary to carry out the planned operations and the Company's ability to comply with such terms on a cost-effective basis, and the ongoing relations with the industry regulators.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intention to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Investment in the securities of the Company is risky.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231413

SOURCE: Energy Plug Technologies Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 26, 2024) - DARK STAR MINERALS INC. (CSE: BATT) (FSE: P0W) (the "Company" or "Dark Star") is pleased to announce that it is undertaking a non-brokered private placement financing (the "Offering") of up to $500,000, consisting of the issuance of 10,000,000 units (each, a "Unit") of the Company at a price of $0.05 per Unit. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share (each, a "Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Share (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.075 per Warrant Share for a period of two years following closing. Insiders may participate in the Offering. Finder's fees may be paid in connection with the Offering.

Proceeds of the Offering will be used for exploration of the Company's current properties and for general working capital.

All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day after closing of the Offering. Any participation by insiders in the Offering will constitute a related party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") but is expected to be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101.

None of the securities sold in connection with the Offering will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and no such securities may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news 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 Dark Star Minerals Inc.

Dark Star Minerals Inc. is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of critical mineral resources.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the expectations of management regarding the Offering, the expectations of management regarding the use of proceeds of the Offering, closing conditions for the Offering, the expiry of hold periods for securities distributed pursuant to the Offering. Although the Company believes that and the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements including that: the Company may not complete the Offering on terms favorable to the Company or at all; the proceeds of the Offering may not be used as stated in this news release; and those additional risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except where required by law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. .

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231361

SOURCE: Dark Star Minerals Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 26, 2024) - Doubleview Gold Corp. (TSXV: DBG) (OTCQB: DBLVF) (FSE: 1D4) (the "Company" or "Doubleview") is pleased to announce that it has completed another successful drill season at its 100% owned Polymetallic Hat porphyry project, located in northwestern British Columbia. As previously announced, on October 16, 2024, the objectives of this drill season were to confirm the Mineral Resource Estimate's ('MRE') block model, proof further the continuity of mineralization, increase the resource model integrity, and test new areas.

In this 2024 drill season, the Company again drilled more than 10,000 metres in 18 drill holes. 5,627 drill core samples weighing over 23 tonnes were shipped to an accredited analytical laboratory. Doubleview's QA/QC sampling and assaying protocols are shown below. Highlights of the initial assay results from drill holes H072, H073 and H074 from the October, 16th 2024 News Release are:

Drill hole H072:

686.0m of 0.23% Cu, 0.16 g/t Au, 64 g/t Co, 0.33 g/t Ag and 25.7 g/t Sc (0.38% CuEq*)

including 154.0m of 0.66% Cu, 0.46 g/t Au, 112 g/t Co, 0.96 g/t Ag and 24 g/t Sc (1.07% CuEq*)

including 62.0m of 1.12% Cu, 0.79 g/t Au, 173 g/t Co, 1.62 g/t Ag and 23.9 g/t Sc (1.81 % CuEq*)

including 2.0m of 5% Cu, 2.96 g/t Au, 511 g/t Co, 5.03 g/t Ag and 7 g/t Sc (7.48% CuEq*)

Drill hole H073:

109m of 0.29% Cu, 0.21 g/t Au, 83 g/t Co, 0.47 g/t Ag and 6 g/t Sc (0.5% CuEq*).

Drill hole H074:

128 m of 0.18%Cu, 0.14 g/t Au, 82 g/t Co, 0.29 g/t Ag and 29 g/t Sc (0.33% CuEq*)

(* Note 1: CuEq currently does not include the Scandium)

(Refer to the news release October 16th, 2024 for details)

As predicted in Doubleview's MRE block model, drilling successfully encountered mineralization in previously un-drilled areas which also confirmed the model. In addition, three other areas were drilled. One, located at the east side of the project had been drilled previously by one hole, but this season's drill holes explored an area of about 125m to the north of the drill site. Doubleview also stepped out 300m to the north and northwest of the Lisle Deposit to test anomaly E. Visual inspection of the drill core from these areas confirms continuity of pyrite and chalcopyrite mineralization that is characteristic of the Hat deposit.

Farshad Shirvani, president & CEO of Doubleview, stated: "We set out with several goals this season and I am pleased to announce that all objectives have been met. I sincerely appreciate the hard work of our field crew who tirelessly worked to achieve the 10,000-metre milestone again. I am looking forward to receiving the results. The continued development of our remarkable Polymetallic Hat project is bringing the spotlight to the mineral wealth of the region and the entire province of British Columbia. It takes projects like the Hat to secure important critical minerals such as copper, cobalt and scandium for the green evolution in North America and elsewhere."

H077, depth 251.5m: potassic alteration and chalcopyrite mineralization in an epidote vein

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8003/231397_fd21d95da4c73a37_001full.jpg

The Hat deposit now extends over an area of about 1.6 x 1.7 kilometers, No boundaries of mineralization have been encountered.

H075, depth 230.4m: massive chalcopyrite mineralization

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8003/231397_fd21d95da4c73a37_002full.jpg

Doubleview is awaiting the analytical results from the laboratory which will be announced as soon as the usual data compilation and QA/QC procedures are completed. These results are going to contribute to the updated mineral resource estimate ('MRE 2.0').

Quality Assurance and Quality Control:

Hat Project drill cores are processed at Doubleview's camp where they are photographed, measured and logged by our technical staff and then divided using a diamond bladed saw. One half is placed in a stout bag to form the assay sample that is forwarded securely to the independent analytical lab. The remaining half core is stored on site where it is available for further examination and sampling. The assay cores are subject to a Chain of Custody routine as they are shipped from camp to a bonded carrier for delivery to the lab.

Core samples are analysed at the North Vancouver facility of ALS Canada Ltd. using their PREP-31, PGM-ICP24, ME-MS61, and ME-ICP06 packages. Each core sample is dried, then crushed to 70% passing a 2mm screen. All material is processed in an automatic Riffle splitter to yield a 250g homogenized, representative sample. This sub-sample is then pulverized to 85% passing a 75-micron screen. All samples are analyzed for Au, Pt, Pd by 50g fire-assay fusion/ICP-ES finish, using PGM-ICP24 package. A separate 0.25g pulp split is analyzed by Four Acid digestion/ICP-MS finish, reporting 48 elements. Over limit elements are analyzed by Ore Grade Four Acid digestion/ICP-ES finish using ME-OG62 assay package. All of Doubleview's core samples are analyzed or assayed at independent ISO 17025 and ISO 9001- certified laboratories.

When initial assays are received and accepted by our staff, a certain fraction of the samples will be sent to a second ISO-certified lab for check assay and verification purposes. Assays will be reported in News Releases.

Doubleview maintains a website at www.doubleview.ca.

Qualified Persons:

Erik Ostensoe, P. Geo., a consulting geologist, and Doubleview's Qualified Person with respect to the Hat Project as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed, and approved the technical contents of this news release. He is not independent of Doubleview as he is a shareholder in the company.

About Doubleview Gold Corp

A mineral resource exploration and development company is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is publicly traded on the TSX-Venture Exchange (TSXV: DBG), (OTCQB: DBLVF), (WKN: LA1W038), and (FSE: 1D4). Doubleview focuses on identifying, acquiring, and financing precious and base metal exploration projects across North America, with a strong emphasis on British Columbia. The company enhances shareholder value through the acquisition and exploration of high-quality gold, copper, cobalt, scandium, and silver projects-collectively critical minerals-utilizing cutting-edge exploration techniques.

Doubleview's success is deeply rooted in the unwavering support of its long-term shareholders, supporters, and institutional investors. Their ongoing commitment has been instrumental in advancing the company's strategic initiatives. Doubleview looks forward to further collaborative growth and development, and continues to welcome active participation from its valued stakeholders as the company expands its portfolio and strengthens its position in the critical minerals sector.

About the Hat Polymetallic Deposit

The Hat Deposit, located in northwestern British Columbia, is a polymetallic porphyry project with major resources of copper, gold, cobalt, and the potential for scandium. As one of the region's significant sources of critical minerals, the Hat deposit has undergone targeted exploration and development. The 0.2% CuEq cut-off resource estimate, as of the recently completed Mineral Resource Estimate and the Company's July 25, 2024, news release, is summarized below:

Average Grade Metal Content Open Pit Model Hat Resource Category Tonnage CuEq Cu Co Au Ag CuEq Cu Co Au Ag Mt % % % g/t g/t million lb million lb million lb thousand oz thousand oz In Pit Indicated 150 0.408 0.221 0.008 0.19 0.42 1,353 733 28 929 2,045 Inferred 477 0.344 0.185 0.009 0.15 0.49 3,619 1,945 91 2,328 7,575

Scandium potential for the Hat Deposit is estimated to be 300 to 500 million tonnes at an average grade of 40 ppm (0.004%) Sc2O3.

For further details of the MRE, please refer to the Company's July 25, 2024 news release.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information." In particular references to the private placement and future work programs or expectations on the quality or results of such work programs are subject to risks associated with operations on the property, exploration activity generally, equipment limitations and availability, as well as other risks that we may not be currently aware of. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231397

SOURCE: Doubleview Gold Corp.
EQS Post-admission Duties announcement: Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act]

Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd.: Announcement on Publication of Circular on Hong Kong Stock Exchange regarding the upcoming Extraordinary General Meeting



26.11.2024 / 15:59 CET/CEST

Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Announcement on Publication of Circular on Hong Kong Stock Exchange regarding the upcoming Extraordinary General Meeting

Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt / Hongkong, 26 November 2024 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (the "Company" or "Haier Smart Home", D-share 690D.DE, A-share 600690.SH, H-share 06690.HK) today published a Circular regarding its upcoming Extraordinary General Meeting scheduled for 20 December 2024 on the website of Hong Kong Stock Exchange in accordance with applicable trading rules of Hong Kong Stock Exchange.



The full announcement is available at:

https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2024/1126/2024112601000.pdf

IR Contact:

Haier Smart Home Hong Kong

T: +852 2169 0000

Email: ir@haier.hk

Press Contact:

CROSS ALLIANCE communication GmbH

Sara Pinto

pi@crossalliance.de

T: +49 89 1250903 35

About Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.:

Haier is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household appliances with a focus on smart home solutions and customized production. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. develops, produces and distributes a wide range of household appliances. These include refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, water heaters, kitchen appliances as well as small household appliances and an extensive range of intelligent household appliances. The Company distributes its products through leading household brands such as Haier, Casarte, Leader, Candy, GE Appliances, AQUA and Fisher & Paykel. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. has launched Smart Home Experiential Cloud in the Chinese market, which connects homes, users, enterprises and ecosystem partners, and facilitates the integration of Haier's online, offline and micro-store businesses and supports user interaction to further optimize the user experience.

26.11.2024 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


TURIN, Italy, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MUVIQ, a pioneer in delivering state-of-the-art sustainable mobility solutions, recently participated in the second edition of "Towards Sustainable Vehicle Era" hosted by Politecnico di Torino (PoliTo) in Italy on November 8, 2024. The event gathered academia, innovators, and industry experts, aiming to bring together emerging sustainable technologies and address the environmental challenges of the mobility industry.

During the show, MUVIQ marked its presence with its strategic partners Monet and Tecno System as a system integration leader and exhibited innovative and customizable MUVIQ P2 Hybrid Module, MONET's AC/DC converter (low and high voltage), control unit (known as "Open ECU's"), DCDC converter along with Tecno System's electronic solutions, which supports in transforming the automotive industry towards sustainable mobility. MUVIQ's participation in the event highlighted its ongoing commitment to the development and integration of sustainable transportation technologies focussed on reducing carbon emissions, optimizing fuel savings, enhancing system uptime, and optimal energy efficiency.

"We are pleased to participate at PoliTo's Sustainable Vehicle Era event with our partners Monet and Tecno System, demonstrating cutting-edge technologies that drive the future of sustainable mobility," said David Servouze, Director - R&D at MUVIQ. "As a system integrator, we showcased MUVIQ P2 hybrid module that reduces CO2 emissions up to 70%, MONET ACDC/DCDC converter, and control unit along with Tecno System electronic solutions, which are highly efficient and reliable electrified solutions for light and heavy-duty applications." David added: "These advanced and modular technological innovations result in improved system performance and increased powertrain life which adds a high-value technology differentiation to OEMs and customers across the world, all while reducing carbon footprints and protecting the environment."

"We at Tecno System are delighted to partner with MUVIQ and Monet in PoliTo's event. It was a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas with industry experts, academia, and researchers while showcasing our high-performing sustainable electrified solutions that enable the automotive industry's transformation toward a greener, zero-emission mobility," said Tiziano Ianni, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Tecno System Group.

Giovanni Barba, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Monet added: "We congratulate Polito on the success of the second edition of Sustainable Era. Encouraging this collaboration of thought leaders, innovators, and young minds redefines the approach of automotive mobility and embraces more sustainable solutions to adapt to new market needs, optimizing energy consumption and reducing environmental impact."

MUVIQ partner Ningbo Physis Technology Co., Ltd. (Physis) was also present during the event and showcased the e-motor technology strengthening their position to deliver electrification solutions most efficiently and sustainably.

MUVIQ is committed to delivering premium and high-performing engine-drive products and its participation with strategic partners Monet and Tecno System further solidifies its position as a key player in sustainable electrified solutions with unmatched reliability, efficiency, and customer experience, bringing the transportation revolution.

About MUVIQ

MUVIQ is a global pioneer in the research, design, and manufacturing of essential drive systems for truck, construction, agriculture, automotive, and industrial applications.

Leveraging its global R&D capabilities, MUVIQ is driving the future of mobility with passion and performance. With over 25 years of experience, we have emerged as the leading global system solution provider for hybrid and ICE engines, known for our expertise in transferring power quietly and efficiently. MUVIQ's highly engineered drive systems allow us to meet diverse customer-specific requirements around the world, spanning commercial, automotive, and industrial segments with excellence and reliability. MUVIQ's local-for-global strategy empowers us to deliver a full range of solutions tailored to the needs of local markets. With our diverse, passionate teams across the globe, united by a strong vision and shared values, we consistently outperform with continuous learning, respect one another, and deliver on our promises with unwavering excellence.

MUVIQ has not only advanced the way the world moves but has also pioneered innovations in products, systems, and partnerships designed for longevity. MUVIQ is revolutionizing the world of mobility, with a presence in more than 13 global locations with over 1,600 associates. For more information about MUVIQ, visit www.muviqofficial.com.

About Tecno System Group

Tecno System, a global electronics company founded in 1990, offers solutions that cover the entire life cycle of an electronic product: feasibility project analysis, engineering, industrialization, certification, electronics production, finished products and systems realization, and after-sales services.

The headquarters located in Mercenasco, in the district of Turin, coordinates and supports over 400 people working in the IATF-certified plants situated in Italy (Mercenasco, Druento and Carini), in Tunisia (Nabeul) and India (Bangalore).

For more information about Tecno System Group, visit the company's website at https://tecnosystem.it/en/

About Monet Srl

MONET, founded in 2001, is a provider of solutions and services in electronic design, hardware and software development, prototyping, and homologating of complex products for automotive, railway, industrial, and aviation applications. Monet offers innovative products for hybrid and electric vehicles and develops solutions to increase the experience in wireless solutions to gather IoT opportunities (service and products). In 2015 the Tecno System Group became a shareholding partner of Monet Srl.

For more information about Monet Srl, visit the company's website at https://www.monet-tech.it/company

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/muviq-partners-with-monet-and-tecno-system-to-showcase-innovative-electrified-solutions-at-politos-sustainable-vehicle-era-event-302316493.html
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global surgical staplers market is projected to reach USD 7.29 Billion by 2029 from USD 5.15 Billion in 2024 at a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period. Advances in the technology of surgical stapling, including powered and advanced feedback mechanisms-equipped staplers, are transforming modern surgical practices into better precision and speed recovery of patients. Powered surgical staplers automate stapling, hence permitting standard performance and minimizing the possible results of human error especially in pressure-packed surgical situations. These devices are highly advantageous in minimally invasive surgeries due to their minimal visibility and restricted access, requiring great accuracy. With the next generation staplers, advanced feed-back mechanisms will be displayed, which include tissue thickness, pressure, and the stapling force in real time. It will ensure the best closure of the tissue, most likely avoid staple line failure, and will result in lower postoperative complications such as bleeding and leakage. All these features will benefit the surgeon by giving him more confidence and increasing his ability to treat complex cases. For example, bariatric surgeries and gastrointestinal and thoracic resections have been done better with these innovative tools. These advancements also reduce the risk of complications, which contributes to the hospital stay and even the time taken to recover for the patients. As these advantages reduce the overall cost of healthcare, the stakes on patient safety and evidence-based technologies in adoption have risen. Therefore, more healthcare providers are ready to adopt these advanced stapling solutions, which require more sophisticated devices in the surgical market. This staple may lead to complications such as staple line leaks, infections, and bleed especially when the application is improper. Such risks can discourage adoption among surgeons and healthcare facilities, thus hindering the growth of the market.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=79557149

Browse in-depth TOC on "Surgical Staplers Market"

280 - Tables

60 - Figures

300 - Pages

The surgical stapler's market is segmented into linear surgical staplers, circular surgical staplers, skin surgical staplers, and other surgical staplers based on type. Linear surgical staplers accounted for the largest share of global surgical staplers' market. Linear staplers, in gastrointestinal surgery, are indispensable for bowel resections and anastomoses, which are amongst the commonly performed surgical procedures. Their ability to deliver consistent and reliable tissue closure is a critical factor in these delicate surgeries and greatly contributes to better patient results and procedure success. Skin surgical staplers, meanwhile, are expected to grow at the highest CAGR because they offer reduced scarring and faster healing times, which appeal to patients undergoing cosmetic, dermatologic, or trauma-related procedures, thus driving the market growth of skin staplers.

The surgical stapler's market is segmented into manual and powered based on technology. Manual holds the largest market share of surgical stapler's market. Manual surgical staplers are relatively inexpensive, and this fact makes them an attractive option for facilities that have very tight budgets, especially in developing regions. Staplers provide consistent performance in general and gastrointestinal cases and gynecological work without the added cost of power-assisted technology. Staplers allow more advanced surgical instruments to reach smaller hospitals and clinics, thereby expanding more-reach healthcare to more patients. The manual stapler also is less complicated in design, which would mean maintenance is less costly and easier to learn. This element contributes to making them more practical when used in settings with limited resources. The cost advantage significantly drives their adoption, especially in price-sensitive markets.

The surgical stapler's market is segmented into disposable and reusable based on usability. Disposable holds the largest share in the global surgical staplers' market Disposable surgical staplers, preset with staples, have many advantages related to ease of use and efficiency within the time available in surgery. For example, throwaway staplers minimize cross-contamination risks; the product is used once, then discarded, representing a nearly infection-free solution. This becomes highly significant in surgical arenas, where the diminishment of any risk factor is favourable. Their consistency in performance because staples are preloaded and calibrated to achieve precise tension ensures that tissue closure is reliable and enhances the patient outcome. These benefits explain the growing preference for disposable staplers in every branch of the surgery practices.

The surgical stapler's market is segmented into abdominal & pelvic surgery, general surgery, cardiac and thoracic surgery, orthopedic surgery and other surgical applications based on application. Abdominal & pelvic surgery accounted for the largest share in the global surgical staplers' market and expected to grow at the highest CAGR. Diseases like colorectal cancer, obesity, hernia, and gastrointestinal disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent, thereby adding to the abdominal surgeries, which increases the demand for surgical staplers. Most of these diseases require complex surgical interventions such as bowel resections, gastric bypasses, and repair of hernias, and the role of the surgical stapler is highly essential in efficiently closing tissues and providing stable anastomoses. As the diseases increase globally in terms of commonness, especially with aging and lifestyles, the surgeries also increase in volume. The same feeds the complex stapling devices to increasing demands for precision, safety, and reliability for a promise of good outcomes of patients, low complication rates, and high success in critical surgeries.

The surgical stapler's market is segmented into hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers (ASC), and another end user based on end user. Hospitals accounted for the largest share in the global surgical staplers' market and expected to grow at the highest CAGR. The most common sites for conducting large volumes of various surgeries, including complex ones, such as gastroenterology, orthopedic, and cardiothoracic, are hospitals. They require high precision and reliability related to tissue closure, which, in turn, is best done with the use of surgical staplers. Their increasing incidence, partly due to aging populations and increased instances of chronic diseases among them, drives demand directly for staplers. Surgical staplers result in quicker, safer surgeries with fewer complications; this contributes to better patient results as well as recovery times, which again indicates greater hospital use.

The surgical stapler's market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa and GCC Countries based on geographic region. North America holds the largest share of the surgical stapler's market in 2023. North America, particularly the United States and Canada, hosts some of the world's best equipped health care facilities. They employ surgical instruments of high quality and make vast use of these in numerous operations. While high-quality care with effective surgical instruments ensures perfect outcomes for the patient, advanced staplers are inevitable for high precision, efficiency, and reliability during a surgical procedure. In addition, the intensity of surgical procedures in these geographies and the emphasis of the healthcare sector on innovation has ensured continued support for the market of advanced surgical staplers in North America.

Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=79557149

Prominent players in this market include Medtronic Plc (Ireland), Johnson & Johnson (Ethicon, Inc.) (US), Lepu Medical Technology (Beijing) Co.,Ltd. (China), Intuitive Surgical Inc (US), 3M Company (US), CONMED Corporation (US), B. Braun SE (Germany), Smith+Nephew (UK), Welfare Medical Ltd. (UK), Reach Surgical (China), Meril Life Sciences Pvt Ltd. (India), XNY Medical (China), Purple Surgical (UK), Frankenman International Ltd. (China), Lexington Medical (US), Ningbo Verykind Medical Device Co., Ltd (China), Waston Medical Corporation (China), Suture Planet (India), Dolphin Suture (India), Touchstone International Medical Science Co. Ltd. (China), NewGen Surgical (US), Edges Medicare Private Limited (India), Golden Stapler Surgical Co., Ltd., (China), Victor Medical Instruments Co., Ltd. (China), and Volkmann Medizintechnik GmbH (Germany).

MEDTRONIC PLC (IRELAND):

It operates in high-turbulence markets driven by fast-paced technology advances that call for continued product development improvements and innovation to sustain leadership in the market. R&D efforts at Medtronic Plc are strictly aligned with the objective of attaining technological superiority to guarantee patients receive the most up-to-date, effective forms of treatment. It embraces strategies for the amelioration and expansion of the uses of products, new therapies, and third-party cooperation in co-funding the advancement of technology based on innovation, productivity, and clinical needs to support the improvement in patients' care and establish a new level of care. In May 2024, Covidien Japan, Inc., a subsidiary of Medtronic, entered into a service agreement with HOGY Medical Co., Ltd. to market, together, SureFinD, a marking device for lung cancer patients. When used with Medtronic Covidien's Endo GIA Surgical Stapler, the aim is to provides a holistic approach to resection of the lesion.

JOHNSON & JOHNSON (ETHICON, INC.) (US):

Ethicon leverages the global infrastructure of Johnson & Johnson to sell its wares while availing itself of symbiotic benefits of shared resources in R&D, technological know-how, strategic initiatives, and project execution. Such critical R&D activities are carried out through innovation centers located in Somerville and Cincinnati, U.S., Norderstedt, Germany, and Suzhou, China. Ethicon closely collaborates with surgeons on new product development; in particular, it launched the ECHELON LINEAR Cutter with 3D-Stapling Technology and Gripping Surface Technology (GST) last May for better staple line security. Ethicon boasts strong representations in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa, with high investments in R&D and sales, especially in emerging economies.

LEPU MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD. (CHINA):

Lepu emphasizes cost-effective innovation in its products. They design advanced, but low-cost solutions, customized for the growing markets, where cost can be a critical factor. The company has also invested heavily on R&D to develop safe and user-friendly products which are on a par with international standards yet meeting local requirements. In 2023, Lepu invested USD 124 mln in R&D. It has developed wide distribution networks around Asia and, indeed, gone into international markets but only through partnership and collaboration for its spreading and strengthening global presence.

For more information, Inquire Now!

Related Reports:

Wound Care Market

Surgical Sponges Market

Minimally Invasive Surgical Instruments Market

Surgical Suction Instruments Market

Spinal Implants Market

Get access to the latest updates on Surgical Staplers Companies and Surgical Staplers Market Size

About MarketsandMarkets:

MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report.

MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients.

Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes.

The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry.

To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Contact:

Mr. Rohan Salgarkar

MarketsandMarkets INC.

1615 South Congress Ave.

Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445

USA: +1-888-600-6441

Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com

Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1951202/4609423/MarketsandMarkets.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/surgical-staplers-market-to-hit-usd-7-29-billion-by-2029-with-7-2-cagr--marketsandmarkets-302316307.html
LONDON, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- London Blockchain Conference (LBC) is proud to announce that the London Blockchain Summit: Blockchain in Government and Public Sector was held in the House of Lords, UK Parliament on Monday, 25th November.

This exclusive, invite-only gathering brought together leading policymakers, technology pioneers, and industry experts to explore the critical intersection of blockchain technology and governance frameworks. The event provided a unique opportunity to discuss DEI strategies, the power of blockchain and AI to reduce bias, and how Web3 and blockchain can drive more equitable access.

The summit kicked off with an introduction by Lord Wharton of Yarm and Baroness Charlotte Owen setting the tone for an evening of meaningful conversations around the potential of blockchain.

The key highlight of the summit was the "Driving Inclusive Innovation: DEI Strategies for Blockchain, Web3, and AI in the UK" panel discussion. The panellists included:

Dr . Maxine Room CBE , Unyted

, Unyted Jo Stansfield , Inclusioneering Ltd.

, Inclusioneering Ltd. Stephanie Ramezan , The Crypto Collective

, The Crypto Collective Chrissy Hill, Parity Technologies

The panel, moderated by Alex Stein, Conference Director for LBC, was structured into three segments: Policy Frameworks for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Addressing Bias in AI, and Equitable Access in Web3 and Blockchain. The discussion delved into importance of embedding DEI into tech policy frameworks, addressing systematic AI biases through ethical benchmarking, the role of blockchain in ensuring transparency and equitable access to data, the importance of partnerships in funding, digital literacy programs, and democratising access with secure technology solutions. The panellists emphasised fostering innovation through diverse leadership, leveraging data to drive impactful decisions and tackling challenges such as digital poverty and gender disparity in the tech space.

Some of the additional key discussion points were:

Less than one-third of the tech workforce comprises women, highlighting the gender divide that must be addressed to bring more women into tech and blockchain

Education systems need disruptive innovation to integrate technology and blockchain to foster equitable digital literacy, especially for under-represented groups

AI and blockchain together can help reduce bias, but frameworks and accountability are needed to ensure ethical implementation and equitable access

Organisations must adopt operational practices and blockchain-based solutions that support DEI and encourage diversity of thought to foster innovation

The panel also highlighted actionable strategies such as using procurement processes to prioritise DEI, creating inclusive AI training datasets, and establishing equitable educational opportunities across demographics. They also discussed strategic interventions that organisations should prioritise to create equitable opportunities in Web3 and blockchain.

The London Blockchain Summit was a resounding success with engaging conversations and insights from both the panellists and the audience, that are set to shape the future of blockchain technology in government and public services.

About the London Blockchain Conference

UNITING ENTERPRISE, AI & WEB3

At the London Blockchain Conference, we show how Blockchain will change the world and help people see another way to manage data, build scalable on-chain solutions and achieve great things. We do this by creating valuable, insightful, and engaging events that educate and inform, allowing you to connect and network to build strong business relationships. Our conference is the best avenue to see blockchain innovations, big ecosystem announcements, new product launches, technology updates, keynote speeches, panels, and fireside chats from blockchain leaders. Join us and experience it for yourself.

Notes to Editors:

Dr. Maxine Room, CBE, a trailblazer in education and equality, diversity, and inclusion. With an extensive career leading Further Education colleges and a passion for anti-racism and mentoring, Maxine now applies her expertise to innovative technologies like blockchain and digital literacy.

Chrissy Hill is the General Counsel at Parity Technologies and a champion for diversity of thought. Chrissy has an impressive background spanning law, investment banking, and Web3, and she's dedicated to creating inclusive, long-lasting business solutions-always with a smile.

Stephanie Ramezan is a seasoned entrepreneur and thought leader in the digital assets space. As the former CEO of Gemini UK and one of the 'Most Influential Women in Blockchain,' Stephanie is passionate about empowering female founders and driving equitable opportunities in emerging tech.

Jo Stansfield is the founder of Inclusioneering and a Business Psychologist with a deep background in engineering. Jo's focus is on embedding diversity and inclusion into the technology and engineering sectors, drawing on her experience and her groundbreaking research into gender and racial diversity.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/london-blockchain-summit-blockchain-in-government-and-public-sector-successfully-convenes-at-the-house-of-lords-302316610.html
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MarketsandMarkets, the only Indian-origin startup to feature in the Forbes list of 'America's Best Management Consulting Firms 2023', has appointed Nirmal Ramesh Shani as Managing Partner.

Nirmal joins MarketsandMarkets from S&P Global to lead its real-time megatrend disruption impact platform for the global energy sector. He has over 23 years of experience with IHS Markit, Dun & Bradstreet, and Times of India. During his formative years, he supported his family business, exporting Indian handicrafts to Japan and USA.

Sandeep Sugla, Founder and CEO of MarketsandMarkets, said: "It's my pleasure to welcome Nirmal to MarketsandMarkets. His leadership further strengthens our ability to address customer needs at a time when the global energy, power, chemical, material, and industrial sectors are undergoing unprecedented transformations. We estimate approximately USD 25 trillion emerging from new revenue sources by 2030 as megatrends like AI, clean tech, blockchain, IoT, etc., disrupt current revenue streams of customers and the customer's customers."

Milan Rao, COO and CRO of MarketsandMarkets, said, "Nirmal joins a growing list of global leaders who are committed to taking our AI-enabled platform, KnowledgeStore, and our cutting-edge growth and disruption consulting capabilities to over 13,000 clients globally. His knowledge and expertise will add significantly to our presence in the energy and ESG sectors worldwide."

Nirmal is passionate about energy and sustainability; in his most recent role at S&P Global, he helped create landmark platforms - such as the CERAWeek Asia Pacific Energy Forum in Houston, the India Energy Forum in New Delhi, the partnership with PETRONAS for Energy Asia in Kuala Lumpur, and with Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) for the Asia Green Growth Partnership Ministerial Meeting (AGGPM) - to elevate the Voice of Asia within the global energy system towards an 'Equitable Energy Transition for All'.

On his appointment, Nirmal said: "MarketsandMarkets helps progress my mission to the next level. I haven't seen any other platform in the world that provides such a telescope for global energy, chemical, and industrial leaders to analyze the impact of disruptive shifts in real-time and in an interconnected way. The proprietary tools combined with exclusive on-demand access to research, and a dedicated growth program manager ensures our clients avoid missing blind spots and gain early mover advantages."

Nirmal is an alum of Narsee Monjee College and Welingkar Institute of Management. He serves on the Board of Advisors/Governing Council of Umang Foundation, a non-profit organization with whom he has been associated since 2009. His philanthropic initiatives focus on education and health-related issues in rural India.

About MarketsandMarketsTM

MarketsandMarkets, recently featured on the Forbes list of America's Best Management Consulting Firms, is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management with the widest lens on emerging technologies, leveraged through a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of USD 25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. MarketsandMarkets works with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies, helping them monetize this USD 25 trillion opportunity-through TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing-and stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. MarketsandMarkets' cutting-edge AI-powered KnowledgeStore platform (Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates research and facilitates analyses of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry.

To learn more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Media inquiries:

Mr. Rohan Salgarkar

USA: +1-888-600-6441

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2567625/Nirmal_Shani_MarketsandMarkets.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2567576/Aman_Sandeep_Nirmal_MarketsandMarkets.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1951202/4609423/MarketsandMarkets.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/marketsandmarkets-appoints-nirmal-shani-as-managing-partner-in-dubai-in-line-with-ipo-plans-302316430.html
CAMBRIDGE, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 26, 2024 / Peer To Peer Network, Inc. (OTC:PTOP) is thrilled to announce the granting of a U.S. Provisional Patent (Application No. 63/699,009) for its groundbreaking technology, titled "A Cryptocurrency-Based Platform for Connecting Companies and Social Media Users for Targeted Marketing Campaigns." This provisional patent represents a major step forward in PTOP's journey as a pioneer in the cryptocurrency and digital marketing space and strengthens the company's intellectual property portfolio.

The new cryptocurrency based targeted marketing campaign will work by allowing any user to market companies and be compensated via cryptocurrency. Very similar to the way Uber allows anyone with a vehicle to transport people and make money. The idea would be that companies would deposit funds into the smart contract to market their company via various social media platforms. These platforms will allow the company to set marketing thresholds and as these thresholds are met by users marketing the said company the smart contract would automatically fund their crypto wallet. The smart contract is very robust and takes a lot of other factors into consideration, but the idea is to allow anyone to make a living by connecting companies with online marketers with a hands-free approach to funding. In a sense this is a grass roots style of marketing that will spread like wildfire. This use case will be integrated into the Mobicard app and utilized with our token. This game-changing use case for our token should also provide great value, given that we have provided a channel for companies to purchase and deposit tokens to utilize them in their marketing strategies. With companies purchasing and marketers cashing out, this creates a economically balanced token that will grow substantially.

The addition of this patent to PTOP's intellectual property is a significant asset on the company's balance sheet, positioned in the plus category under intangible assets. By securing this provisional patent, PTOP is building a foundation to leverage advanced blockchain technology in the expanding cryptocurrency industry-a field that is projected to experience considerable growth under the potential policies of a new Trump administration.

Owning intellectual property of this nature provides PTOP with a unique advantage in the crypto and targeted marketing sectors. With the potential for favorable cryptocurrency regulations, a future Trump administration could help drive mainstream adoption and create new opportunities for platforms like PTOP's to flourish. PTOP anticipates that these proposed policies-aimed at reducing regulatory hurdles and promoting innovation in cryptocurrency-could significantly increase interest in the cryptocurrency market, potentially driving PTOP's stock price higher.

Following this provisional patent, PTOP is preparing to launch the MOBICOIN Rewards Token, an innovative feature that will allow users to earn and redeem cryptocurrency tokens through targeted marketing campaigns. The launch of MOBICOIN after the patent grant positions PTOP to tap into the powerful demand for cryptocurrency-based loyalty programs. The last time PTOP introduced a MOBICOIN as a reward token, it propelled the stock price up 993.75% in a single day on November 28, 2017, showing the immense potential that targeted and strategic product launches can have on investor sentiment.

"I have spoken to our Senior Architect Jay Wallace who is a genius at what he does and he knows that we plan to Launch Mobicard 1.7 with the MOBICOIN fully implemented shortly after the New President is sworn into office. I think this is a great time to reintroduce the world to MOBICOIN regardless of how I, or anyone feels about politics we can't deny the Crypto markets exceptional increase in anticipation to major regulatory transformations. I made it very clear to our Tech Team leader that this is a must to launch Mobicard 1.7. Our new version of our flagship digital business card product shortly after the new President is sworn in, and he agreed 100%. I think that the last time we saw our stock price go from $0.0005 to a high of $0.06 per share it all started with the launch of MOBICOIN and it is my belief that combined with a much newer, and superior version of our app, combined with the reward token MOBICOIN incorporated into the app, we have the potential to hit all new highs breaking old records," declared Joshua Sodaitis Chairman & CEO.

The MOBICOIN Rewards Token program is set to benefit from PTOP's provisional patent by enhancing security, ease of use, and value for participating brands and users. This launch reflects PTOP's commitment to leading the cryptocurrency-based marketing space by combining innovation with strategic intellectual property assets.

"We needed a boost to keep us ahead of the technology curve and revitalize interest in Mobicard. Not only did we need a way to drive users our way, but we also needed to drive business and new shareholders. I have been working in the crypto space creating smart contracts and working with some of the top crypto developers in the world and felt that with the ability that crypto has to streamline economics with functionality, we had to find a way to bring our application to web 3.0. I started thinking about creative ways to bring big business together and increase marketing for not only the business but the ecosystem itself. So I decided to create a digital marketing commerce for everyone to benefit from each other. Everyone wins in this system, the companies participating get the marketing they are looking for and the users get compensated for marketing said company. All without putting a name to the face, the smart contracts receive deposited tokens to market and are made payable to the wallet that marketed said company. Everything done by wallet address and the smart contract will track all transactions and marketing thresholds which will be visible by each wallet address," explained Mobicard tech team leader, Nicholas Santana.

"Look the Mobicard Reward system is simple. We had something like it previously implemented back in 2017. If a MOBICARD user shares his MOBICARD 50 times in one week then he will be rewarded with 50 MOBICOIN's. If a MOBICARD user attends a conference and shares his digital business card MOBICARD with 100 people he will be granted 100 MOBICOIN's. Its that simple. It pushes people to use the app MORE, and for every new person that a MOBICARD shares their card with, its another potential new user for MOBICARD. It essentially is an advertising campaign but in an interesting way for people to actually get paid by being allowed to sell their MOBICOIN in a secondary market after earning them real world cash. The new provisional patented MOBICARD marketing system I figured would function similarly, except instead of sharing your own card you would be sharing someone else's or a companies card, earning them business and getting paid in MOBICOIN's for your marketing. Since I had brainstormed the 3rd party share feature on our MOBICARD, this was kind of a next step to allow for other people to have an incentive to market your MOBICARD for you. With the release of MOBICOIN coming soon I expet a gigantic new interest from a cross over from the Crypto world to start paying attention to PTOP's stock. This patent will ensure we are the only business card app where you can get paid to market someone else's MOBICARD for them. Keeping us 3 steps ahead of our competition," concluded Chairman & CEO Joshua Sodaitis.

About Peer To Peer Network, Inc.

Peer To Peer Network, Inc. (OTC:PTOP) is a pioneering company in the digital business card and cryptocurrency spaces, dedicated to developing innovative technology solutions for targeted marketing, brand loyalty, and social media engagement. With its MOBICARD and now MOBICOIN offerings, PTOP continues to drive value for shareholders and redefine connections between companies and consumers in the digital age.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties.

Contact Information

Jessica Lombao

jessica.lombao@issuerdirect.com

Peer to Peer Network Inc.

Investor Relations

info@ptopnetwork.com







Source: MobiCard
SWAN / Key word(s): Personnel

Swan Announces Appointment of Camille Tyan as Deputy CEO



26-Nov-2024 / 16:45 CET/CEST



Swan Announces Appointment of Camille Tyan as Deputy CEO Renowned fintech entrepreneur Camille Tyan will bring his payments expertise to help Swan become the European leader in embedded banking. Paris, November 26, 2024 - Swan, a European fintech specializing in embedded banking, is pleased to announce the appointment of Camille Tyan as Deputy CEO. After founding three successful fintechs (Payplug, Numeral, Marble), Camille Tyan's mission is now to drive Swan's growth and accelerate its international expansion. "Nicolas Saison and I have known Camille Tyan for ten years and have always admired him. He is the missing piece we were looking for to accelerate our growth. His analytical skills, insight, and ability to lead effectively are exactly what Swan needs for this new phase," says Nicolas Benady, Co-founder and CEO of Swan. As Chairman of the Supervisory Board since 2020, Camille Tyan has been involved from the company's inception, supporting the founders in strategic decisions and fundraising. He joins Swan as Deputy CEO to support its development alongside Nicolas Benady, who remains CEO. His main mission will be to work closely with all teams to ensure the execution of strategic objectives, monitor performance, strengthen internal collaboration, and implement organization-wide processes. He will also oversee central functions, including finance, human resources, strategy, and data, to effectively support all teams. "I am incredibly excited about Swan's potential," explains Camille Tyan. "The embedded banking market is booming, and Swan has all the assets and potential to become its undisputed leader. The product, the growth already achieved, and the talent of the teams have deeply impressed me. I look forward to contributing to Swan's rise to new heights."

Camille Tyan, 41, Deputy CEO of Swan Camille Tyan is an entrepreneur recognized for his expertise in fintech and creating innovative companies. He has founded several successful fintechs, including PayPlug, the first payment solution dedicated to SMEs in France, Numeral, and Marble. Camille began his career at McKinsey & Company and Google, where he gained solid experience in strategy and technological innovation. Since 2020, he has served on Swan's Supervisory Board and is now dedicated to its growth and sustainable development in the embedded banking market. Camille Tyan holds degrees from Harvard University and McGill University. His profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camilletyan/ About Swan : Swan is a European fintech specializing in embedded banking services. Businesses of all types can unlock the full potential of their product by integrating Swan's banking features, such as accounts, cards, and payments. Founded in 2019, Swan processes over 1 billion in monthly transactions for more than 150 companies-like Pennylane, Indy, Agicap, Libeo, and Lucca and operates in 30 European countries. The company has received growth capital from leading investors such as Lakestar, Accel, Creandum, and Bpifrance. Swan is a principal member of Mastercard and a licensed financial institution, regulated by the French banking authority (ACPR). The company is also labeled FT120 and in the top 3 of Sifted 50 in France. Press Contact: Cecile Lipovetzky, PR Consultant

lipovetzky.cecile@gmail.com +33 (0)6 09 84 01 08



Dissemination of a Financial Wire News, transmitted by EQS Group.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.




WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - After reporting a significant rebound by U.S. consumer confidence in the previous month, the Conference Board released a report on Tuesday showing consumer confidence continued to improve in November.The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index rose to 111.7 in November after surging to an upwardly revised 109.6 in October.Economists had expected the consumer confidence index to climb to 112.3 from the 108.7 originally reported for the previous month.'Consumer confidence continued to improve in November and reached the top of the range that has prevailed over the past two years,' said Dana M. Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference Board.She added, 'November's increase was mainly driven by more positive consumer assessments of the present situation, particularly regarding the labor market.'The report said the present situation index, which is based on consumers' assessment of current business and labor market conditions, jumped to 140.9 in November from 136.1 in October.The expectations index, which is based on consumers' short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions, showed a more modest increase, inching up to 92.3 in November from 91.9 in October.The Conference Board noted the expectations index is well above the threshold of 80 that usually signals a recession ahead.Last Friday, the University of Michigan released revised data showing consumer sentiment in the U.S. improved less than previously estimated in the month of November.The University of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index for November was downwardly revised to 71.8 from the preliminary reading of 73.0.While the downward revision surprised economists, who had expected the reading to be upwardly revised to 73.7, the index is still above the final October reading of 70.5.Despite the unexpected downward revision, the consumer sentiment index is also still at its highest level since hitting 77.2 in April.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - A report released by the Commerce Department on Tuesday showed a substantial pullback by new home sales in the U.S. in the month of October.The Commerce Department said new home sales saw a 17.3 percent nosedive to an annual rate of 610,000 in October after spiking by 7.0 percent to a rate of 738,000 in September. Economists had expected new home sales to decrease by 1.1 percent to a rate of 730,000.New home sales pulled back well off their highest level in over a year, plunging to their lowest level since hitting an annual rate of 596,000 in November 2023.New home sales in the South led the way lower, plummeting by 22.7 percent to an annual rate of 339,000. New home sales in the West also dove by 9.0 percent to an annual rate of 152,000.Meanwhile, new home sales in the Northeast skyrocketed by 53.3 percent to an annual rate of 46,000, and new home sales in the Midwest jumped by 1.4 percent to an annual rate of 73,000.The report also said the median sales price of new houses sold in October was $437,300, up 2.5 percent from $426,800 in September and up 4.7 percent from $417,500 in the same month a year ago.The estimate of new houses for sale at the end of October was 481,000, which represents 9.5 months of supply at the current sales rate. The months of supply are up from 7.7 in September and 7.9 a year ago.Last Thursday, the National Association of Realtors released a separate report showing existing home sales in the U.S. rebounded by more than expected in the month of October.The report said existing home sales surged by 3.4 percent to an annual rate of 3.96 million in October after slumping by 1.3 percent to a revised rate of 3.83 million in September.Economists had expected existing home sales to jump by 2.3 percent to a rate of 3.93 million from the 3.84 million originally reported for the previous month.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
Tampa, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - November 26, 2024) - The AI King, a leading artificial intelligence solutions provider, today announced the expansion of its AI-powered business solutions and the launch of new faith-based support technology. The company's innovations span from AI call centers for businesses to specialized support systems for religious organizations.





The AI King founder Russ Ward shares insights on revolutionizing lead management and customer engagement as a panelist at Perry Belcher's AI Bot Conference.

The AI King's call center technology uses advanced AI voice bots to engage with potential customers, qualify their interest, and facilitate appointments or live transfers to business owners.

"At the heart of what we're doing is the belief that businesses shouldn't have to sacrifice customer service for cost-efficiency," says Russ Ward. "AI bridges that gap, ensuring leads are handled quickly and professionally, no matter the time of day."

The company has launched the AI Agency Blueprint, a comprehensive system for implementing AI solutions in marketing agencies. "This blueprint creates a win-win for agencies and their clients," Russ explains. "By automating these processes, agencies save time, reduce costs, and deliver an exceptional customer experience."

More information about the AI Agency Blueprint can be found at https://theaiking.ai/aiblueprint.

Additionally, The AI King has introduced the Prayer Bot, a faith-based AI support system offered complimentary to churches. The system provides scripture-based assistance and ongoing support for users seeking spiritual guidance.

"This bot is deeply personal to me," Russ shares. "When I was in a dark place, I didn't want to talk to anyone, but I could have used support. This bot provides that lifeline, and I'm honored to help others overcome sadness, loneliness, and depression."

Churches interested in the Prayer Bot can learn more at https://homeservicebots.com/pastorai.

The AI call centers have demonstrated significant results, including:

Faster Lead Response Times : Engage leads before they grow cold.

: Engage leads before they grow cold. Cost Efficiency : Replace expensive call centers and receptionists.

: Replace expensive call centers and receptionists. Scalability : Handle unlimited calls simultaneously.

: Handle unlimited calls simultaneously. Seamless Customer Experiences: Personalize interactions with advanced AI technology.

"AI is not just about efficiency-it's about connection," Ward says. "Whether it's helping businesses thrive or supporting someone in their darkest hour, the potential of AI is limitless."

The company's additional innovations include:

The Lead King : A proven system for generating high-quality leads for businesses. Learn more at https://theleadking.com.

: A proven system for generating high-quality leads for businesses. Learn more at https://theleadking.com. The Solar King : Dedicated lead generation and marketing solutions for solar energy businesses. Visit https://thesolar.net.

: Dedicated lead generation and marketing solutions for solar energy businesses. Visit https://thesolar.net. iMessage Blue for High Level : A feature that enables businesses to send iMessage (blue bubble) messages through High Level. Discover it at https://bizdombots.com/imessage.

: A feature that enables businesses to send iMessage (blue bubble) messages through High Level. Discover it at https://bizdombots.com/imessage. Identity Resolution : A tool that turns invisible website visitors into visible leads at https://theleadking.com/ir.

: A tool that turns invisible website visitors into visible leads at https://theleadking.com/ir. AI Real Estate Marketing: Advanced AI solutions for real estate professionals at https://theleadking.com/pb-real-estate.

About The AI King

The AI King, led by Russ Ward, has created over 1,000 AI bots and established numerous AI call centers since 2023. The company was featured at the AI Bot Summit in Las Vegas, where Ward and his associates shared insights on AI-powered customer engagement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231419

SOURCE: The AI King
ESPOO, Finland, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In this week's Black Week sales, there is an exciting novelty: a nonfiction comic book that has proven to fascinate many who do not usually read books. Now at a 30% discount on Amazon, the book "The Mind of a Horse. Science Meets Comics" has got an enthusiastic reception from readers ranging from 10-year-olds to adults.

Praised by educators

'The Mind of a Horse' is an exciting new book that anyone involved with horses needs to read. Scientific information presented in a cartoon format is such a creative and effective idea. This book is easy and enjoyable to read for all ages, which is why it is so fantastic,' says Dr. Susi Cienciala, Education Chair of Canadian Pony Club and equine veterinarian at Deep Creek Veterinary Services.

Rider safety, horse wellness, and much more

The book's structure is unique. It delivers plenty of knowledge on how horses think and feel, how to improve rider safety, and how science works, by using a beautifully illustrated story with relatable characters. Each chapter ends with a text page with in-depth information. The book continues online: the reader can delve deeper into scientific knowledge via the exclusive links and QR codes provided in the book.

Created by top professionals

The author and artist team brings together renowned experts in scientific storytelling. The author, Dr. Helena Telkanranta, is an animal behavior scientist who has worked at the University of Bristol, UK, and won several awards in public communication of science. Ville Sinkkonen is an artist whose work has been commissioned by the BBC and Field Museum of Chicago, among others. Maija Karala is a science journalist and illustrator, likewise in high demand.

The book's publisher, Arador Publishing, is part of the science communication company Arador Innovations Ltd. The company's mission is to give anyone easy access to the science of animal minds via visual and interactive media.

Black Week sale: 30% off until 1 Dec 2024

Find out more:

https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Horse-Science-Meets-Comics/dp/952652991X/ref=sr_1_1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mind-Horse-Science-Meets-Comics/dp/952652991X

https://www.amazon.ca/Mind-Horse-Science-Meets-Comics/dp/952652991X

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Mind-Horse-Science-Meets-Comics/dp/952652991X

Contact details: Helena Telkanranta, helena.telkanranta@arador.fi, +358 505 445 840

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/arador-publishing/r/a-new-approach-to-comics-became-a-popular-christmas-present-for-animal-lovers,c4071867

The following files are available for download:

https://news.cision.com/arador-publishing/i/the-book-has-been-popular-among-readers-of-many-ages-,c3355406 The book has been popular among readers of many ages. https://news.cision.com/arador-publishing/i/the-team-has-developed-new-ways-to-combine-comic-book-art-with-fact-checked-knowledge-,c3355404 The team has developed new ways to combine comic-book art with fact-checked knowledge. https://news.cision.com/arador-publishing/i/with-the-80-pages-consisting-mainly-of-comic-book-storytelling--the-book-has-captivated-many-who-do-,c3355405 With the 80 pages consisting mainly of comic-book storytelling, the book has captivated many who do not usually read nonfiction.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/arador-publishing--a-new-approach-to-comics-became-a-popular-christmas-present-for-animal-lovers-302316690.html
PowerChina has unveiled plans for a 300 MW offshore PV pilot project in the Bohai Sea, using advanced solar panels designed to endure extreme marine conditions. PowerChina has unveiled plans for a 300 MW offshore solar pilot project in the Bohai Sea, southeast of Changli County, Hebei province. The project, located about 7. 3 km offshore in the Bohai Sea, will cover 957 sqm with water depths of 6 meters to 12 meters. It will use n-type heterojunction (HJT) bifacial dual-glass modules with a minimum output of 715Wp and 210 mm cells, targeting a purchasing capacity of 339. 68 MWp. The high-efficiency ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies says addressing hydrogen leakage across the supply chain is crucial to making hydrogen a sustainable energy vector. Italy, meanwhile, has unveiled its national hydrogen strategy, with a focus on its role in the Mediterranean. The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (OIES) said that the effectiveness of hydrogen as a sustainable solution largely depends on addressing the environmental challenges posed by hydrogen leakage throughout its supply chain. "As hydrogen reacts with hydroxyl radicals, it extends the atmospheric lifetime of methane, a potent greenhouse ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 26, 2024 / Regions Bank

Hiring our heroes, serving customers and strengthening our teams.

By Evelyn Mitchell | November 7, 2024

Regions Bank recognizes Veterans Day Nov. 11 and celebrates military veterans and their families all year long. Through a variety of recruitment, development and mentoring programs, Regions seeks to build the best team through hiring and developing military members, military veterans and military spouses.

I AM. WE ARE. - Celebrating Regions Associates

Our collective history is part of who we are, and Regions is a stronger company today because of our associates.

Meet Siddharth

Siddharth, a Business Intelligence Analyst, shares his I AM. story.

Meet Angela

Angela, a Regions Business Capital Account Specialist, shares her I AM. story.

I AM a Veteran of the United States Air Force. It was an honor to serve our great country.

I AM an advocate for homeless veterans, the larger veteran community, and for anyone who may be in need.

I AM a stepmom, grandma and a great friend.

I AM a lover of music; I love to sing even though I really can't.

I AM a giver. I give back by planning events like toy drives, school supply giveaways, and basically anything I can do to help my community.

I AM a licensed minister.

I love to travel. People who know me well, know that I am an avid cruiser. I try to take a cruise at least twice a year.

Every Veterans Day, I love to meet others who have served our country. The bond we share as a community is a special one, that I'm honored to be a part of. No matter what branch of service, no matter our experience or job, we are all brothers and sisters. Fly. Fight. Win.

Because of who I AM, we are more passionate, intentional, purposeful.

Military Friendly Employer

Regions has been designated a Military Friendly Employer by Military Friendly, an organization that measures the commitment of companies to create professional opportunities that leverage military experience.

Learn more about Regions Military Recruiting.

BRAVE Military Program for Veterans and Military Spouses

Regions is committed to supporting U.S. Military veterans and their families, both during their service and after they transition to civilian life. Our military transition program is called BRAVE - Building Regions Associate Veteran Experience. The objective of BRAVE is to support veterans and military spouses seeking career opportunities at Regions.

The BRAVE program includes:

Hiring, onboarding and training support.

Learning and development tailored to transitioning veterans.

Veteran-to-veteran and military spouse to military spouse mentoring and guidance

Resources to help ease transition, including Employee Assistance Program (EAP), military leave and accommodations for disabled veterans

Community involvement opportunities

Military recruiting events

Through the BRAVE program, Regions matches the talents and experiences of transitioning military members to opportunities at Regions and provides support to overcome challenges that come with transitioning to a civilian job.

Military Banking Benefits and Services

At Regions, we want to make banking easier for the members of the Armed Forces and their families. Financial benefits and resources including a dedicated Service Members and Veterans Affairs Manager are part of our commitment to customers.

In the Community

Regions is proud to work with EANGUS, Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States. Regions provides a virtual monthly financial wellness seminar to EANGUS members.

Send a Veterans Day Ecard

Say thank you to a military veteran with a Veterans Day ecard.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Regions Bank on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Regions Bank

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/regions-bank

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Regions Bank

View the original press release on accesswire.com
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 26, 2024 / Schneider Electric

By Manish Pant

Schneider Electric's Access to the Future

Today, over 1.5 billion people are unable to access reliable energy, mostly in developing countries. It demands immediate action: expanding access to reliable and affordable clean electricity everywhere. A swift energy transition, packed with initiatives to address energy poverty, will transform the lives of millions while mitigating climate change.

Here, renewable energy systems - like minigrids, stand-alone, and off-grid systems - play a key role. They generate and distribute energy independently, making them a great option for areas with little to no access to traditional power grids.

Studies show that by 2030, Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) could bring power to around 500 million people. Not only can it replace 'dirty' diesel generators, but does so while making power more reliable and affordable for homes and businesses. Its installation and maintenance can also create high-quality, local jobs. The International Energy Agency suggests that off-grid solutions are the most cost-effective way to electrify nearly half of the world's unconnected population by 2030.

Minigrid vs microgrid

A minigrid is a small, independent power network that usually integrates with the main grid, but can also work alone when needed. It provides power to different users like homes, businesses, and industries in a specific area. Minigrids are especially useful in rural or semi-urban areas where it's too expensive or difficult to expand the main grid.

A microgrid is a smaller version of a minigrid, with less power and fewer users. The main difference is that microgrids serve a smaller area or just one place, like a hospital, university, or military base.

Both minigrids and microgrids decentralize energy generation and provide reliable, affordable power to underserved populations. This makes them essential for achieving global energy access goals. But despite their promise, the adoption of minigrids in developing countries has been stunted.

The challenges facing minigrids

A report published by BloombergNEF and SEforALL noted three critical challenges: the need for regulation to protect cash flows, affordability, and the limitations of smaller-scale projects. Other barriers include:

Customizing to local conditions increases engineering and design costs, which impacts project viability.

High initial technology and equipment costs hinder widespread adoption.

Difficulty in securing affordable financing slows project implementation.

Limited purchasing power affects project financial sustainability.

Underdeveloped social engineering ecosystems impact community engagement and sustainability.

Overcoming these challenges requires a broad approach that reduces costs, creates financing mechanisms, and enhances social engineering while ensuring affordability for local communities.

Key drivers

The World Bank's Energy Sector Management Assistance Program highlights five drivers to help the minigrid market achieve its full potential:

Lowering the cost of electricity from solar hybrid minigrids to $0.20/kWh by 2030 would provide life-changing power to half a billion people for just $10 per month.

Building portfolios of minigrids, instead of one-off projects, could increase deployment to 2,000 minigrids per country per year.

Providing reliable electricity to communities would expand the operations of 200,000 schools and clinics, and create demand for three million income-generating appliances and machines.

Attracting private sector finance with development partner funding and government investments. This could raise $127 billion in investments for minigrids by 2030.

Establishing supportive policies, adaptive regulations, and minimizing bureaucratic red tape in countries with low access.

Innovative solutions to payment barriers

In India, the 'Climate Smart Village Solution' pilot lets farmers use solar power for various needs, boosting income while cutting costs with inverter-less and battery-less solutions. This makes renewable energy more affordable and better suited for rural economies.

Scaling to achieve SDG 7

To achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7), an estimated 100,000 minigrids are needed annually in Africa alone. This ambitious scale means standardizing designs and products, to allow for quick plug-and-play installations without complex engineering and design processes. In India, we've seen promising outcomes from solar installations ranging from 50 kW to 3 MW. These projects have an average payback period of 3 to 3.5 years, with lifetime savings typically 8 to 10 times the initial investment.

How does a minigrid enhance living conditions?

By supplying reliable power where it's needed most, mini grids can often mean the literal difference between life and death. For example, we set up an 8.7KW solar and storage minigrid at a birthing hospital in Kisii, Kenya, alongside local partner PowerPoint Systems. This meant the facility could open 24/7, increasing average monthly deliveries from 5 to 20 - 60% of which occur at night. And while operational hours expanded, monthly energy costs sank.

Over on Kenti Island, Myanmar, our solar minigrid project with Techno-Hill Engineering brought 24/7 renewable energy to 300 households, a clinic, a high school, and two primary schools, along with streetlights and enhanced equipment for local businesses. The project has allowed the local economy to thrive. In particular, this has benefitted women, who have started home-based businesses such as sewing shops or freezer leasing.

Benefits of standardized minigrid systems

Standardizing minigrid designs and producing them at scale have multiple benefits, including:

Cost reduction of minigrids and electricity, through economies of scale.

Simplified manufacturing and deployment , ensuring consistency, quality, and reliability across different installations.

Higher confidence for investors and financial institutions, making funding easier to obtain.

Stronger influence on regulations, providing a clear basis for policy development.

Better safety asprotocols are integrated into designs, ensuring high standards and minimizing risks.

Simplified maintenance and operation processes, guaranteeing availability of spare parts.

Seamless integration with the main grid when needed, eliminating complexity and costs.

Standardization represents a long stride toward our energy access goals, both on a global and community level. It allows us to clear heavy roadblocks for widespread minigrid adoption. By standardizing, we can greatly accelerate the expansion of minigrids, promoting energy access, economic development, and living standards on a massive scale.



View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Schneider Electric on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Schneider Electric

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/schneider-electric

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Schneider Electric

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Dr. Roy Rubinfeld, an internationally renowned corneal surgeon and innovator, has developed a groundbreaking epithelium-on corneal cross-linking procedure that promises to transform the treatment of keratoconus.

He was recently featured in a cover story in Ocular Surgery News titled, "Rubinfeld leads disruption in corneal cross-linking", discussing his major progress in the field.

Keratoconus is a common, painless, progressive eye condition where the cornea bulges into a cone-like shape. This can cause significant vision distortion problems, with millions of people losing their sight from this disease.

The original, traditional Epithelium Off developed in the 1990s, corneal cross-linking (CXL) treatment aims to halt the progression of keratoconus by creating new collagen bonds in the cornea. This older technique surgically removes the surface protective corneal epithelium layer so recovery is often long and painful often requiring opioids waiting for the protective surface to grow back over weeks. Complication include infections, haze, scarring and more.

After 15 years of dedicated research and development, Dr. Rubinfeld has pioneered a patented Epithelium-on cross-linking procedure that does not require surgical removal of the protective surface of the eye. Patients are back to work or school generally the next day and this new method has been shown in large, published studies to be more effective than traditional epithelium-off methods.

"I didn't invent cross-linking," Rubinfeld said. "I've just spent a great deal of time trying to make it safer and easier on patients and doctors to change the risks, benefits and treatment paradigms."

Key advantages of this patented, novel Epithelium-on procedure include:

Minimal discomfort: Patients typically return to work the next day, requiring only over-the-counter pain relief like a single Tylenol tablet. Same-day bilateral procedures: Unlike epithelium-off methods with long recovery times, both eyes can be treated in one session, saving time for patients. Improved safety and effectiveness profile: A very large study of 2,228 patients showed no treatment-related significant adverse events. This is different from the older Epithelium Off CXL. As well, more patients found their vision stopped worsening with the new technique than the older, more invasive, Epithelium Off CXL treatment.

Rubinfeld's proprietary epithelium-on procedure challenges the conventional approach of waiting for further vision loss before treatment. "The idea of waiting until people get worse before you treat them really seems counterintuitive, if not negligent," Rubinfeld stated. After initially receiving a cool reception, his hard work over the years earned his procedure entry into final FDA phase 3 trials in 2023.

Dr. Rubinfeld's innovation addresses the growing recognition of keratoconus as a more prevalent condition than previously thought, suggesting it affects between 7-10% of the population in the developing world and millions of Americans. With its potential for early intervention, this epithelium-on cross-linking technique could have far-reaching implications for reducing the social, economic and developmental burden of keratoconus worldwide.

Contact Information

Source: Re:Vision
Pantheon to Present at Sidoti Small-Cap Virtual Investor Conference on 4 December 2024

Pantheon Resources plc (AIM:PANR)(OTCQX:PTHRF) ("Pantheon" or the "Company"), an oil and gas company developing the Kodiak and Ahpun oil fields in close proximity to pipeline and transportation infrastructure on Alaska's North Slope, announces that management has been invited to present at the Sidoti Small-Cap Investor Conference, being held between 4-5 December 2024.

Executive Chairman, David Hobbs, is scheduled to host virtual one-on-one meetings with institutional investors throughout the event, and will host a virtual presentation as follows:

Sidoti Small-Cap Conference

Date: Wednesday 4 December 2024

Time: 9:15 a.m. Eastern Time

Webcast: https://sidoti.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_57BFClQKSCCbTwpbG-0Vvg

All interested media and investors are invited to join this online presentation. Please join at least five minutes before the start of the presentation to ensure timely participation.

A live audio webcast and archive of the presentation will be available using the webcast link above. Registration is mandatory for conference participation. For more information or to schedule a meeting with management, please contact MZ Group at PTHRF@mzgroup.us.

For further information, please contact:

Corporate Contact

Pantheon Resources plc

+44 20 7484 5361

contact@pantheonresources.com

Nominated Adviser and Broker

Canaccord Genuity Limited

Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor, James Asensio, Charlie Hammond

+44 20 7523 8000

Public Relations Contact

BlytheRay

Tim Blythe, Megan Ray, Matthew Bowld

+44 20 7138 3204

Investor Relations Contact

MZ Group

Lucas Zimmerman, Ian Scargill

+1 949 259 4987

PTHRF@mzgroup.us

About Pantheon Resources

Pantheon Resources plc is an AIM listed Oil & Gas company focused on developing its 100% owned Ahpun and Kodiak fields located on State of Alaska land on the North Slope, onshore USA. Independently certified best estimate contingent recoverable resources attributable to these projects currently total c. 1.6 billion barrels of ANS crude and 6.6 Tcf (trillion cubic feet) of associated natural gas. The Company owns 100% working interest in c. 259,000 acres.

Pantheon's stated objective is to demonstrate sustainable market recognition of a value of $5-$10/bbl of recoverable resources by end 2028. This is based on bringing the Ahpun field forward to FID and producing into the TAPS main oil line (ANS crude) by the end of 2028. The Gas Sales Precedent Agreement signed with AGDC provides the potential for Pantheon's natural gas to be produced into the proposed 807mile pipeline from the North Slope to Southcentral Alaska during 2029. Once the Company achieves financial self-sufficiency, it will apply the resultant cashflows to support the FID on the Kodiak field planned, subject to regulatory approvals, targeted by the end of 2028 or early 2029.

A major differentiator to other ANS projects is the close proximity to existing roads and pipelines which offers a significant competitive advantage to Pantheon, allowing for shorter development timeframes, materially lower infrastructure costs and the ability to support the development with a significantly lower pre-cashflow funding requirement than is typical in Alaska. Furthermore, the low CO2 content of the associated gas allows export into the planned natural gas pipeline from the North Slope to Southcentral Alaska without significant pre-treatment.

The Company's project portfolio has been endorsed by world renowned experts. Netherland, Sewell & Associates estimate a 2C contingent recoverable resource in the Kodiak project that total 1,208 mmbbl (million barrels) of ANS crude and 5,396 bcf (billion cubic feet) of natural gas. Cawley Gillespie & Associates estimate 2C contingent recoverable resources for Ahpun's western topset horizons at 282 mmbbl of ANS crude and 803 bcf of natural gas. Lee Keeling & Associates estimated possible reserves and 2C contingent recoverable resources totalling 79 mmbbl of ANS crude and 424 bcf natural gas.

For more information visit www.pantheonresources.com.

This information is provided by Reach, the non-regulatory press release distribution service of RNS, part of the London Stock Exchange. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: Pantheon Resources PLC

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Simi Valley, California--(Newsfile Corp. - November 26, 2024) - Hummingbird Networks, a trusted and select certified Cisco Meraki partner, unveils its tailored IT services to help businesses with their technological challenges, enabling them to focus on their growth strategies. To solve tech complexities, the company presents its four pillars of IT Mastery offers for a simpler, more strategic future: BuyIT, DesignIT, DeployIT, and ManageIT.

Hummingbird Networks

"We aim to provide a white glove service experience by providing the expertise needed to get the job done, the most valuable educational content, tools, resources, and the most easily accessible way for our customers to attain their goals alongside Cisco and Meraki products. Hummingbird Networks is the ultimate source for all things Cisco Meraki," said Hummingbird Networks co-founder John Ciarlone.

The 4 Pillars of IT Mastery

As a Cisco reseller, Hummingbird Networks harnesses the capabilities of Cisco Meraki to drive its mission of helping businesses achieve efficient IT management. With Cisco Meraki, the company came up with its offers: The 4 Pillars of IT Mastery:

White Glove IT Concierge BuyIT: This offer is for businesses that already know what they need and how to set up a reliable IT infrastructure. For Cisco Meraki firewalls, wireless access points, switches, cameras, cellular gateways, sensors, and licenses, this bundle is for companies that have already done the legwork and are ready to execute streamlined and hassle-free IT management and processes.

White Glove IT Concierge DesignIT: For businesses that need help figuring out the best IT solutions for their nature or framework, DesignIT adds expert consulting, technical design, and validation. Hummingbird Networks' engineers are ready to give advice to ensure that any IT setup vetted is ready to succeed.

White Glove IT Concierge DeployIT: This offer includes BuyIT and DesignIT features-plus on-site or remote network assessments, installation, software configuration, and deployment.

Coming soon:

White Glove IT Concierge ManageIT: For those who want full peace of mind, the ManageIT plan takes care of everything. From initial consultation, network design, hardware procurement to installation, configuration, ongoing managed services, and future-proofing a network. Sit back and watch your business grow as Hummingbird Networks aims to handle IT management so their clients never have to worry about their Cisco Meraki network again.

All four services offer the white-glove approach. This means that Hummingbird Networks, as a Cisco partner, delivers meticulous attention to detail, expert guidance, and a seamless experience tailored to the customer's needs.

With simplified IT infrastructure, businesses can streamline operations, enabling them to perform strategies for growing their profits and revenues. Some of the key benefits of its products include:

Reduced complexity: Minimize downtime and increase visibility with the Cisco Meraki dashboard. With uninterrupted processes, employees are on track to achieve projected business results. Turn businesses into a well-oiled machine that supports growth.

Maximized ROI: Invest more time in growing the business rather than solving technical issues that may come back repeatedly.

Restored Balance: Free up time to network, develop more strategies, and get a full night's sleep with one of the three products placed by an authorized Cisco Meraki reseller.

For more information about the company's IT Mastery Pillars, visit https://www.hummingbirdnetworks.com.

About Hummingbird Networks

Hummingbird Networks is a privately held, woman-owned enterprise established in 2004 in Simi Valley, California. The company provides Wi-Fi networks, network security, and IT network infrastructure products from top brands, such as Cisco, HPE, Microsoft, and more. An authorized reseller partner for over 50 brands, the company is also a hub for products from IT manufacturers worldwide. With an expansive product catalog featuring over 40,000 items in stock, the company ensures its team is ready for quick delivery and deployment. The company's environmental sustainability programs also help people trade in old devices for credit on new ones.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/230847

SOURCE: Brand Featured
Warsaw, Poland--(Newsfile Corp. - November 26, 2024) - Storyby's product, DramaShorts, releases two new original short series, "The Billionaire's Backup Bride" and "The Mafia Boss". Both are bite-sized stories about love, power struggles, and big money. The series are already available via the iOS, Android, or the web version.





Image by DramaShorts



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8871/231003_drama1en.jpg

DramaShorts offers iOS and Android apps that get users into the immersive world of dynamic storytelling. Film series unfold in bite-sized episodes inspired by the best of AlphaNovel and literary masterpieces.

The Billionaire's Backup Bride

Elena Wilshire finds herself caught in a perilous dilemma, trapped between her deep affection for her boyfriend, Nicholas, and a dangerous proposition from the enigmatic CEO, Sebastian. As secrets unravel and power dynamics intensify, Elena is thrust into a world of deceit, passion, and manipulation.

With everything on the line, she faces a heart-wrenching decision that could alter her life forever. In Sebastian's realm, love and betrayal dance perilously close, and Elena quickly discovers she may be a part of a bigger drama.

The series is based on the novels by prominent authors whose stories were written using Storyby's flagship product, AlphaNovel Writer.

The Mafia Boss

The story features Ukrainian actor Daniel Salem as Luciano Romano, a mafia leader involved in the power struggles within his tribe.

Disguised cop Talia Rici finds herself in a perilous game as she gets close to the infamous mafia boss, Luciano. Her mission to eliminate him becomes a thrilling tale of passion and high stakes. As Talia dives deeper into the world of criminal politics, she faces an agonizing choice. How far will she go to maintain her cover? Are her feelings for Luciano even real?

This story is set to help viewers decide if love can still blossom amidst betrayal.

Why Short Vertical Format is on the Rise

These two series follow the market need to fill a niche of binge-watching content. As viewers become increasingly short on time, the short vertical format comes out on top.

Artem Kutukov, Storyby's CEO and co-founder, comments on the release of the series: "In 2024, we're embracing the evolution of bite-sized storytelling with full force. Get ready for a wave of captivating tales, each crafted from the best-selling masterpieces of our authors, reimagined for a fast-paced world."

Since April 2024, DramaShorts has been cutting the edge of the short series market. The product offers original shows packed with drama, a state-of-art recommendation system, and seamless streaming on any mobile device.

The team has released six original series based on worldwide bestsellers. Product's movie shelf now accounts to a total of 35 stories.

Other famous series by DramaShorts include "Taming Mr. Black", "Alpha Rick", and "Rejecting My Lycan Mate".

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231003

SOURCE: PRNews OU
Renowned Facial Plastic Surgeon Dr. Rubinstein has been selected to train professionals on FDA-approved BOTOX Cosmetic for neck rejuvenation in New Jersey.

Dr. Ran Y. Rubinstein of Rubinstein Plastic Surgery Center in Montvale, NJ, has been selected as a trainer for the newly FDA-approved BOTOX Cosmetic treatment of platysma bands. With over 20 years of experience as an Allergan trainer, this achievement aims to enhance the skills of healthcare professionals in administering Botox for neck rejuvenation, focusing on the treatment of platysma bands-a significant concern for many patients seeking aesthetic improvements.

Dr. Ran Rubeinstein

Dr. Ran Rubinstein selected to train professionals on FDA-approved BOTOX Cosmetic for platysma bands for neck rejuvenation in Montvale, NJ.

Renowned Facial Plastic Surgeon Selected to Train Newly FDA-Approved BOTOX Cosmetic Application for Platysma Bands

The recent FDA approval of BOTOX Cosmetic for the treatment of platysma bands marks a significant advancement in non-surgical neck rejuvenation. This milestone offers patients a safe and effective alternative to invasive procedures for achieving a smoother, more youthful neckline.

Dr. Ran Y. Rubinstein's selection to train other professionals in this newly approved application reflects his dedication to education and his expertise in providing advanced, precise treatments.

Dr. Rubinstein Brings Over 20 Years of Experience to Specialized BOTOX Cosmetic Training

With over two decades of experience, Dr. Rubinstein is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon and has been an Allergan trainer nationally for 20 years. His expertise in facial anatomy and soft tissue injections makes him uniquely qualified to educate healthcare professionals on the intricacies of treating platysma bands with BOTOX Cosmetic. Participants in his training sessions will benefit from his comprehensive knowledge and experience, gaining the skills needed to achieve precise results while prioritizing patient safety.

Offering Comprehensive Training on FDA-approved BOTOX Cosmetic Applications

The training provided at Rubinstein Aesthetic Training Specialists will focus on the newly FDA-approved application of BOTOX Cosmetic for platysma bands. Participants will learn advanced techniques specific to neck rejuvenation, including how to manage potential adverse reactions and how to tailor treatments to individual patient needs. Understanding these critical elements can enhance practitioners' ability to deliver effective treatments that address this common aesthetic concern.

About the FDA Approval of BOTOX Cosmetic for Platysma Bands

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved the use of BOTOX Cosmetic for the treatment of platysma bands, vertical neck bands that can contribute to an aged appearance. This approval opens new avenues for non-surgical neck rejuvenation, providing patients with an effective treatment option with minimal downtime. As an Allergan trainer, Dr. Rubinstein will play a pivotal role in educating practitioners on this new application, ensuring they are well-equipped to offer this treatment to their patients.

About Allergan Aesthetics

Allergan Aesthetics, an American pharmaceutical company, is renowned for its development and marketing of brand-name medical devices and drugs, particularly in medical aesthetics. Its mission is to enhance patient outcomes through innovative treatments, including training programs for BOTOX Cosmetic and injectable soft tissue fillers. With the recent FDA approval for the treatment of platysma bands, Allergan continues to lead the industry by providing education and resources to healthcare professionals worldwide.

About Rubinstein Aesthetic Training Specialists

Rubinstein Aesthetic Training Specialists in Montvale, NJ, offers comprehensive training for medical professionals in aesthetic medicine. Led by Dr. Ran Rubinstein and physician associate Stephanie Kramer, the center provides courses ranging from beginner to advanced levels, covering neurotoxin and dermal filler injections, biostimulators for facial and body treatments, liquid rhinoplasty, PRP for hair loss, and energy-based device training. The programs emphasize personalized, hands-on instruction to ensure participants develop practical skills for exceptional patient outcomes.

Enhancing Skills for Facial and Neck Rejuvenation Techniques

Dr. Rubinstein's training program places a strong emphasis on advanced techniques for facial and neck rejuvenation, particularly the newly FDA-approved use of BOTOX Cosmetic for platysma bands. The program also covers the management of individual patient risk and potential complications, such as skin sensitivity and muscle weakness. By mastering these techniques, practitioners can provide treatments that lead to significant improvements for patients seeking neck rejuvenation.

Elevating Aesthetic Medicine Education in New Jersey

Dr. Rubinstein's expertise, combined with his role as a national clinical trainer for Allergan over the past 20 years, provides participants with top-tier education in comprehensive facial anatomy and advanced injectable treatments. The center strives to improve aesthetic medicine education and equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills needed for success, particularly in light of the recent FDA approval expanding treatment options.

About Dr. Ran Rubinstein

Double Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon

Dr. Ran Y. Rubinstein is a leading facial plastic surgeon at his practice, Rubinstein Plastic Surgery Center, LLC , in New Jersey, with over two decades of experience in both surgical and non-surgical aesthetic treatments. His expertise in facial anatomy and soft tissue injections has established him as one of the most sought-after plastic surgeons and physician trainers in the Northeast.

Dr. Rubinstein's credentials are impressive. He is double board-certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Additionally, he is an active member of the American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery and the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS).

Expert in Non-Surgical Aesthetic Treatments

For over 15 years, Dr. Rubinstein has served as an assistant clinical professor at Columbia University-New York Presbyterian Hospital, contributing to the education of future surgeons. He introduces aspiring medical professionals to advanced laser and injectable procedures, emphasizing the importance of understanding facial anatomy and potential adverse reactions.

About Rubinstein Plastic Surgery Center

The Rubinstein Plastic Surgery Center, led by Dr. Ran Y. Rubinstein, offers a comprehensive range of surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures. Dr. Rubinstein has extensive expertise in facial and body procedures such as deep plane facelifts, rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, liposuction, tummy tucks, and mommy makeovers. The center also provides advanced medical spa services, including BOTOX Cosmetic and injectable fillers, hair restoration, skin treatments, and non-surgical skin tightening and body contouring.

Contacting Dr. Ran Rubinstein at Rubinstein Plastic Surgery Center, LLC

Dr. Ran Rubinstein can be reached at the Rubinstein Plastic Surgery Center, LLC, for inquiries related to aesthetic treatments, including the newly FDA-approved BOTOX Cosmetic treatment for platysma bands by calling (201) 391-1135. Those looking for more information or would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Rubinstein can call for an appointment or use their online form .

For training opportunities, contact the Rubinstein Aesthetic Training Specialists. Located at 160 Summit Ave., Suite 202, Montvale, NJ , the center serves as a hub for advanced training in aesthetic medicine. Healthcare professionals interested in learning about Allergan Botox training are welcomed.

Contact Information

Jenilee Rodriguez

Office Manager

jrodriguez@yourfacemd.com

(201) 391-1135

Source: Rubinstein Plastic Surgery Center
Leading Accounting Firm Opens in Moreno Valley to Offer Strategic Financial Solutions to the Thriving Business Community

MORENO VALLEY, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 26, 2024 / As Moreno Valley's economy continues to experience robust growth , Accountant Partners has launched a new office in the city to provide specialized accounting services for small businesses. The firm's arrival is well-timed, as Moreno Valley's economic development initiatives are enhancing support for local businesses through various incentives, infrastructure improvements, and workforce programs. With a wealth of resources, affordable real estate, and access to major transportation corridors, Moreno Valley presents an ideal environment for business expansion, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises.

This growth-focused environment creates unique opportunities for businesses, and Accountant Partners, as a trusted Moreno Valley small business accountant, is committed to helping entrepreneurs harness these advantages. "Our goal is to offer financial guidance tailored to Moreno Valley's vibrant business landscape, from proactive tax planning to strategic advisory services," said Allan Bayer, a senior partner at Accountant Partners. "With Moreno Valley's rapid development, businesses need reliable financial support to navigate growth and achieve long-term stability."

Strategically positioned near major transport routes like I-215 and SR-60, Moreno Valley provides seamless access to key markets across California, Nevada, and Arizona. The city's affordable and diverse real estate options, coupled with a local workforce exceeding one million within a 20-mile radius, make it an attractive location for expanding businesses.

As a Moreno Valley small business accountant, Accountant Partners brings expert financial services to business owners in the region, empowering them to capitalize on this prime location and growing economic profile.

Entrepreneurs in Moreno Valley seeking to leverage financial insights and navigate local incentives are encouraged to connect with Accountant Partners for a free consultation. For more information, visit https://accountantpartners.com/small-business-accountant-moreno-valley/ or call (623) 267-3399.

About Accountant Partners:

Accountant Partners is a leading small business accounting firm helping business owners in Moreno Valley, CA, save up to $1M per year in taxes through partner-level accounting, reporting, and strategic advisory. With 27 years of experience, Accountant Partners specializes in best-in-class tax minimization strategies, personalized advisory, and technology-driven efficiency.

Contact Information

JP Richards

Director of Communications

releases@drakedigital.com

844-703-0880







Source: Accountant Partners
NB Advisors delivers strategic financial solutions for Cape May's unique coastal economy

CAPE MAY, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / November 26, 2024 / NB Advisors, a top-tier small business accountant firm, proudly announces the opening of its new office in Cape May, New Jersey. This expansion allows NB Advisors to bring specialized accounting and financial guidance to Cape May's dynamic business environment, supporting local entrepreneurs as they navigate the area's unique economic landscape and rising costs.

Recent data presented by Oliver Cooke, associate professor of economics at Stockton University, at the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce's membership luncheon, highlighted key economic trends impacting the region. Cooke emphasized that the health of the local economy-closely tied to the national economic trends-hinges on factors such as consumer resilience and housing market stability , both critical for Cape May's continued economic prosperity.

As a leading Cape May small business accountant, NB Advisors provides comprehensive services designed to support small businesses at every stage of their growth. From precise bookkeeping and proactive tax planning to advanced controller services and strategic CFO advisory, NB Advisors delivers tailored solutions that empower businesses to navigate Cape May's competitive market. With rising living and operating costs, adopting strategic financial practices is more critical than ever, and NB Advisors stands ready to help local businesses achieve lasting success.

"Cape May's economy is closely tied to broader economic trends, especially in housing and consumer activity," said Ryan Niedoba, Managing Partner at NB Advisors. "Our team is dedicated to equipping local small businesses with the financial expertise and support they need to maximize opportunities and sustain growth amidst Cape May's economic shifts. We are thrilled to bring our services to Cape May and support the region's vibrant small business community."

Cape May's picturesque setting and steady rise in living costs underscore the importance of financial resilience for local businesses. With its deep expertise, NB Advisors will offer Cape May's small business owners essential services, including tax planning, quarterly financial reviews, and strategic guidance to ensure compliance and optimize profitability in an evolving economic environment.

Local business owners are invited to schedule a free consultation with NB Advisors to learn more about how customized accounting services can support their growth. For more information on this Cape May small business accountant, visit https://nbcpa.us/small-business-accountant-cape-may/ or call (856) 263-2626.

About NB Advisors:

NB Advisors is a fourth-generation family-owned accounting firm headquartered in Philadelphia, PA dedicated to helping small businesses minimize their tax burden and maximize profitability. With decades of experience, they offer personalized and innovative strategies to save clients $100K to $1M in taxes while ensuring sustainable business growth. Led by Ryan and Kevin Niedoba, NB Advisors takes pride in treating each client's business as their own, offering proactive, world-class service with a commitment to transparency and excellence.

Contact Information

JP Richards

Director of Communications

releases@drakedigital.com

(877) 393-7030







Source: NB Advisors
The CDC estimates approximately 385,000 needlestick and sharps-related injuries among U.S. healthcare workers each year

BEAUMONT, TX / ACCESSWIRE / November 26, 2024 / Due to an alarming rise in needlestick injuries, BioMedical Waste Solutions, a leading national provider of medical waste disposal services with locations in Beaumont, TX, is aggressive in its commitment to enlightening the public about the risks involved with improper medical waste disposal, particularly of needles.

The CDC reported that about 385,000 needlestick and sharps-related injuries affect healthcare workers in the U.S. annually. This number is likely lower than the actual count due to underreporting, particularly in private homes where the elderly and 38.4 million Americans (11.6% of the population) with diabetes depend on needle usage daily.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reiterates the risks of sharps injuries in spreading severe diseases, with global annual infection rates among healthcare professionals reported as:

Around 2,005,000 HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) cases

66,000 hepatitis B virus (HBV) cases

16,000 hepatitis C virus (HCV) cases

These infections puts one at risk of death or severe, long-lasting health issues. Many of those affected suffer from lifelong disabilities.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that one-third of all sharps injuries arise during disposal, bringing attention to the need for rigid medical waste disposal practices to safeguard healthcare workers and the public.

In response, the Beaumont medical waste disposal company BioMedical Waste Solutions released The Definitive Guide to Medical Waste Disposal in 2024. This guide offers clear instructions on safely disposing of needles, syringes, and other sharp objects, reflecting the company's desire to enhance safety and prevent infections through proper waste management.

There are five crucial pointers showcased in this guide on avoiding needlestick injuries:

Utilize FDA-approved sharps disposal containers Avoid filling disposal containers to the brim Do not put your hands into disposal containers Never recap needles Prevent children from accessing sharp objects and disposal containers with proper storage

JP Richards, Director of Communications at BioMedical Waste Solutions, commented, "The high incidence of needlestick injuries and their serious effects on healthcare workers and the community are major concerns. Our guide is essential for preventing these injuries and ensuring the safety of healthcare providers and individuals using needles at home. We're here to offer reliable Beaumont medical waste disposal solutions. Together, we can reduce the risks associated with needlestick injuries."

Leading the industry in Beaumont medical waste disposal, BioMedical Waste Solutions reminds healthcare facilities, professionals, and individuals using needles to consult their helpful guide for properly disposing of sharps and medical waste. Their industry knowledge and experience guarantees the secure handling, transportation, and disposal of medical waste, aligned with the highest national, state, and local standards.

For further details on safe medical waste disposal or to view the guide from BioMedical Waste Solutions, please visit their website at https://www.biomedicalwastesolutions.com/medical-waste-disposal/ or reach out directly at 346-660-4994 or JPRichards@BioMedicalWasteSolutions.com .

About BioMedical Waste Solutions:

BioMedical Waste Solutions is a leading medical waste disposal company dedicated to providing safe and reliable solutions for the management and disposal of medical waste. With a commitment to environmental responsibility and public health, the company serves healthcare facilities, private practices, dental offices, veterinarians and laboratories across America. BioMedical Waste Solutions offers comprehensive services to ensure the proper collection, transportation, and disposal of medical waste, including sharps, in compliance with all regulatory requirements.

Contact Information

JP Richards

Director of Communications

releases@drakedigital.com

(346) 660-4994







Source: Biomedical Waste Solutions
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 26, 2024) - Lavras Gold Corp. (TSXV: LGC) (OTCQX: LGCFF) ("Lavras Gold" or the "Company") announces that, as a result of a review (the "Review") of the existing Butia and Cerrito Technical Reports by staff of the Ontario Securities Commission (the "OSC"), the Company is issuing the following news release regarding disclosure on the Butia and the Cerrito Projects.

In connection with the Review, the Company has filed: (i) an amended technical report entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report Mineral Resource for the Cerrito Gold Prospect Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil dated November 15, 2024 with an effective date of May 31, 2022 (the "Cerrito Technical Report"); and (ii) an amended technical report entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report Mineral Resource for the Butia Gold Prospect Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil dated November 15, 2024 with an effective date of January 25, 2022 (the "Butia Technical Report").

The Company is amending both reports according to the OSC suggestions following their staff review. There is no change to the size or scope of either the Butia or Cerrito resource estimates. The Cerrito Technical Report and the Butia Technical Report include additions to disclosure of: (i) the assumptions used to support the cut-off grade; (ii) constraining the mineral resources within a conceptual pit shell to demonstrate reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction; (iii) rounding of the mineral resource estimates to significant figures; and (iv) clarifying that the independent qualified person is responsible for all items of the Technical Reports.

In addition to filing the Cerrito Technical Report and the Butia Technical Report, the Company has revised its website and corporate presentations pertaining to the use of the phrase "NI 43-101 compliant" related to estimation of mineral resources, adding inferred resources to other categories of resources prohibited by paragraph 2.2(c) of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), and use of the term "potential world-class" related to the Issuer's Lavras do Sul property.

The Cerrito Technical Report and the Butia Technical Report are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.lavrasgold.com.

Michael Durose, President & CEO for Lavras Gold Corp., is the qualified person ("QP") as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release.

About Lavras Gold

Lavras Gold Corp. (TSXV: LGC) (OTCQX: LGCFF) is a Canadian exploration company focused on realizing the potential of a highly prospective gold district in southern Brazil. Its Lavras do Sul Project is located in Rio Grande do Sul State and is primarily an intrusive hosted gold system of possible alkaline affinity. More than 24 gold prospects centred on historic gold workings have been identified on the property, which spans more than 23,000 hectares. Follow Lavras Gold on www.lavrasgold.com, as well as on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

On Behalf of Lavras Gold Corp.

"Michael Durose"

President & CEO

DISCLAIMER AND FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements, including those on planned exploration activities and goals, are only objectives and predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information, including the risks and factors that generally affect exploration and the uncertainty of exploration results. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business, refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis recently filed under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231439

SOURCE: Lavras Gold Corp.
The annual event at the Santa Clara Convention Center convened over 1,200 attendees.

MEDevice Silicon Valley, ?the leading West Coast event connecting MedTech professionals and medical device suppliers, wraps with over 150 exhibiting companies covering all sectors of medical manufacturing including 3D printing, materials and adhesives, medical device components and AI technology.

Attendees experienced 20 hours of education across three theaters, discussing pressing topics from wearable devices for cardiovascular health to leveraging technologies propelling marketing strategies in MedTech. The U.S. makes up over 40% of the global market , making it the largest medical device market in the world with Silicon Valley as a major U.S. healthcare hub, positioning MEDevice as a key outlet for essential conversations on the future of the industry.

Keynotes included Jennifer Samproni, Chief Technology Officer of the Health Solutions business at Flex, discussing how Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) are an integral part of the healthcare ecosystem, empowering patients and paving the way for better medical outcomes. With the rise of chronic illness, the need for effective disease management is also increasing. Through connected health technologies, patients are able to use natural language to tell medical devices exactly how to provide care.

Ashley Mancuso, Vice President, MedTech BISO & Product Security, Johnson & Johnson, as keynote, explored technological advances with the risk of cyber threats, underscoring the importance of protecting medical environments and patient personal data through cybersecurity tools and education. Noting partnerships between healthcare institutions as critical to tackling threats, focus is placed on enhanced controls, lifecycle management and organizational maturity, to build customer trust as well as protect brand reputation and create resiliency in the industry.

Additional education highlighted "Women Leading Innovation in MedTech and BioScience," positioning women at the forefront as driving innovation in the rapidly evolving medtech space, sharing experiences and strategies for the next generation of industry leaders. Advancements in AI and robotics, as well as in-home patient care shared as top-of-mind verticals, provided insight into products and solutions pioneering the future of the medical landscape.

"Across the multiple tracks of education and conversations from early-stage businesses in the Start-Up Stadium, this year's MEDevice observes an increased emphasis specifically on technological innovations, aiming to place patient experience at the core of the healthcare journey," says Melissa Magestro, VP, Informa Markets Engineering. "Tech empowers personalized patient care and MEDevice hosts the brightest minds across Silicon Valley and the globe to connect and discuss the solutions that are changing the way health is delivered."

This year's Innovation Showcase highlighted new and unique exhibitor solutions in the market, followed by an attendee vote on the best-in-show selections. Canon Medical Components U.S.A., Inc. won Product of the Year, featuring the SV-2000 Flex, a customized video solution for medical device manufacturers. Hukui Biotechnology Co., Ltd. won Innovation Excellence by Popular Vote showcasing a wireless handheld ultrasound device displaying high-resolution real-time ultrasound images.

MEDevice Silicon Valley will return to the Santa Clara Convention Center Nov. 19-20, 2025.?

MD&M West, the largest and most influential B2B event on the West Coast for medical technology and manufacturing, takes place Feb. 4-6, 2025 in Anaheim, California. To learn more or to register to attend please visit www.mdmwest.com .

About MEDevice

MEDevice, an MD&M event, is the leading North American event brand for the medical technology industry, connecting engineers and cutting-edge medtech companies annually in the most prominent U.S. healthcare hubs. Visitors at the MEDevice events will learn from hands-on demo's, presentations from OEMs, keynote presentations, innovation showcases, an all-new medical adhesives pavilion, matchmaking and networking opportunities. MEDevice is organized by Informa Markets Engineering and includes MEDevice Boston and MEDevice Silicon Valley, as well as MD&M West, MD&M South, MD&M Minneapolis and MD&M East. Official listed media partners include Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry (MD+DI) and DesignNews. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com .

About Informa Markets Engineering?

Informa Markets' Engineering portfolio, a subsidiary of Informa plc (LON:INF), is the leading B2B event producer, publisher, and digital media business for the world's $3-trillion advanced, technology-based manufacturing industry. Our print and electronic products deliver trusted information to the engineering market and leverage our proprietary 1.3-million-name database to connect suppliers with buyers and purchase influencers. We produce more than 50 events and conferences in a dozen countries, connecting manufacturing professionals from around the globe. The Engineering portfolio is organized by Informa, the world's leading exhibitions organizer that brings a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com .

Media Contact

Informa Markets Engineering PR

EngineeringPR@informa.com

SOURCE: INFORMA MARKETS - ENGINEERING

View the original press release on accesswire.com
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The California Department of Public Health announced that the avian flu virus was detected in the retail sample of raw milk from a California-based dairy farm.The impacted sample, which came from Fresno-based Raw Farm, was detected by officials from the Santa Clara County public health office. Later, the results were confirmed in the state's food safety lab.The health officials urged people to avoid drinking a batch of whole raw milk from the farm, which is located in California's Central Valley.Mark McAfee, owner of Raw Farm, told the Los Angeles Times that this is the first time any of his company's products have been tested positive for the bird flu virus.Meanwhile, the company issued a voluntary recall on the affected batch of milk, following the state's request. Notably, no human illnesses have been reported.The California Department of Agriculture commenced bulk raw milk sample testing every week since the virus first started infecting the state's dairy cattle.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Whitby, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 26, 2024) - Environmental Waste International Inc. (TSXV: EWS) (the "Company" or "EWS"), is pleased to announce that the plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") of Company involving Hydrotrux Group Ltd. ("Hydrotrux") has been overwhelmingly approved by Company securityholders at an annual and special meeting (the "Meeting") held yesterday. At the Meeting, approximately 98.5% of the votes cast by Company securityholders, voting as a single class, and 98.7% of the votes cast by Company shareholders were voted in favour of the Arrangement.

Under the Arrangement, Hydrotrux will acquire all of the common shares of Company that are issued and outstanding at the effective time of the Arrangement and Company shareholders will be entitled to receive, in respect of each Company common share held at the effective time of the Arrangement, C$0.0035 in cash per share under the proposed Arrangement.

The Company also received a final order of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) (the "Court") approving the Arrangement at a hearing held today. It is currently expected that the transaction will close on or around November 28, 2024.

Full details of the Arrangement and certain other matters are set out in the management information circular of EWS dated October 18, 2024 (the "Information Circular"). A copy of the Information Circular and other meeting materials can be found on Company's website at www.ewi.ca or under Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Environmental Waste International Inc.

Environmental Waste International Inc. specializes in eco-friendly systems for the breakdown of organic materials, including tires. The Company has spent over 15 years engineering systems that integrate the EWS patented Reverse Polymerization process and proprietary microwave delivery system. EWS's unique microwave technology safely processes and recycles waste tires, while recovering highly valuable commodities, including carbon black, oil and steel. Each unit is designed to be environmentally safe, energy efficient, and economically profitable for the operator. For more information please visit, www.ewi.ca.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

www.ewi.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of such statements under applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company appears in the Company's continuous disclosure filings, which are available at www.sedarplus.ca.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231474

SOURCE: Environmental Waste International Inc.
HERZLIYA, Israel and CALGARY, AB, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Innocan Pharma Corporation (CSE: INNO) (FSE: IP4) (OTCQB: INNPF) ("Innocan" or the "Company"), a pioneer in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, is pleased to report positive results from a basic safety assessment study, evaluating LPT-CBD administered as a single injection in Gottingen minipigs.

The drug was administered in three ascending doses, and the animals were closely monitored over a 28-day period for key safety parameters. These included clinical observations, vital signs, blood parameters, and local injection site reactions. Encouragingly, no adverse events were recorded during the study. All animals exhibited normal weight gain and demonstrated excellent tolerance to the drug, with no local reactions observed at any of the administered dose sites.

Minipigs are breeds of miniature domestic pigs which are recognized by the FDA as a robust translational model due to their anatomical, physiological, and biochemical similarities to humans. They provide valuable insights into pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and drug efficacy.

"We are thrilled that LPT-CBD once again demonstrates a promising safety profile, particularly in minipigs, which are widely regarded as a strong toxicology model," said Prof. Chezy Barenholz, Chief Scientific Officer of Innocan Pharma.

Dr. Eyal Kalo, Innocan's R&D Director, added: "These results are immensely gratifying as they provide strong feasibility for LPT-CBD's safety evaluation, supporting our upcoming regulatory milestones and paving the way for its ultimate approval."

LPT-CBD is an innovative injectable liposomal formulation designed for the sustained release of CBD, targeting the treatment of chronic pain. Previous preclinical studies in various animal models have demonstrated prolonged CBD pharmacokinetics, delivering long-term efficacy.

About Innocan Pharma:

Innocan is a pharmaceutical tech company that operates under two main segments: Pharmaceuticals and Consumer Wellness. In the Pharmaceuticals segment, Innocan focuses on developing innovative drug delivery platform technologies comprises with cannabinoids science, to treat various conditions to improve patients' quality of life. This segment involves innovative drug delivery technology: LPT CBD-loaded liposome platform facilitating exact dosing and the prolonged and controlled release of CBD into the blood stream. The LPT delivery platform research is in the preclinical trial phase for Chronic Pain Management. In the Consumer Wellness segment, Innocan develops and markets a wide portfolio of innovative and high-performance self-care products to promote a healthier lifestyle. Under this segment Innocan carries on business through subsidiary, BI Sky Global Ltd. that focuses on developing advanced targeted online sales. https://innocanpharma.com/

Contact Information:

For Innocan Pharma Corporation:

Iris Bincovich, CEO

+1 5162104025

+972-54-3012842

+442037699377

info@innocanpharma.com

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain information set forth in this news release, including, without limitation, the Company's plans for human trials of its LPT-CBD platform, is forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. By its nature, forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond Innocan's control. . The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by Innocan, including expectations and assumptions concerning the anticipated benefits of the products, satisfaction of regulatory requirements in various jurisdictions and satisfactory completion of production and distribution arrangements.

Forward-looking information is subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed in this news release. The key risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: global and local (national) economic, political, market and business conditions; governmental and regulatory requirements and actions by governmental authorities; and potential disruption of relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, customers, business partners and competitors. There are also risks that are inherent in the nature of product distribution, including import/export matters and the failure to obtain any required regulatory and other approvals (or to do so in a timely manner). The anticipated timeline for entry to markets may change for a number of reasons, including the inability to secure necessary regulatory requirements, or the need for additional time to conclude and/or satisfy the manufacturing and distribution arrangements. As a result of the foregoing, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information contained in this news release. A comprehensive discussion of other risks that impact Innocan can be found in Innocan's public reports and filings which are available under Innocan's profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Readers are cautioned that undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information as actual results may vary materially from the forward-looking information. Innocan does not undertake to update, correct or revise any forward-looking information as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2046271/3968398/Innocan_Pharma_Corporation_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/innocan-pharma-announces-encouraging-results-from-a-safety-assessment-study-of-lpt-cbd-on-minipigs-302316808.html
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 26, 2024) - Great Pacific Gold Corp. (TSXV: GPAC) (OTCQX: FSXLF) (FSE: V3H) ("Great Pacific Gold," "GPAC," or the "Company") is providing a corporate update on its Wild Dog Project ("Wild Dog"), its ongoing diamond drilling program at the Kesar Project ("Kesar") and its recently held Annual General Meeting (the "AGM").

Highlights

GPAC executive team recently visited Kesar and Wild Dog

Kesar Anteruno diamond drilling program progressing well: ~1,000 meters of drilling completed to-date with two diamond rigs turning Holes KDH-01 and KDH-02 tested NW-SE Anteruno structures drilling from North to South Hole KDH-03 is testing a parallel structures drilling South to North 2,500 meters of drilling and five holes expected to be completed by year-end, with drilling planned to continue through Christmas and into January East Vein Target mapping and soil sampling underway with drilling expected in Q1 2025

Wild Dog Site Visit reiterated that Wild Dog is a mid-stage exploration project with high-grade and bulk tonnage potential Previous small scale open pit mining has revealed a high-grade gold-copper system with intense alteration and brecciation Epithermal/oxide system open along strike and at depth

Post the 2024 completion of various road access projects, Wild Dog 2025 program developed to include: infrastructure establishment and data consolidation, and diamond drilling focused on 3km portion of Wild Dog structure

GPAC's AGM was held on November 26, 2024 and all proposed resolutions were approved including the re-election of the five Directors

"The executive team's inaugural visit to Wild Dog, alongside our in-country GPAC personnel, provided an invaluable opportunity to see the tremendous potential of this project firsthand," said Greg McCunn, CEO of Great Pacific Gold. "Joining me on this visit were our new Vice President of Exploration, Callum Spink, Vice President of Corporate Development, Mick Carew, and Director Chris Muller. After the visit we planned out an extensive exploration program for 2025 focused on a 3km portion of the Wild Dog corridor. This area had historical mining operations which exposed intense and extensive brecciation, alteration and veining, pointing to a substantial hydrothermal system as indicated by high-grade intervals from previous drilling."

Mr. McCunn continued, "Meanwhile, at our Kesar Project, diamond drilling is progressing well, with two drills active and approximately 1,000 meters completed to date. We are encouraged by the visual results and are planning to extend the program into 2025 to include testing the highly prospective East Vein Zone, located 2 kilometers north of current drilling at Anteruno. We look forward to updating the market with results as they become available."

Annual General Meeting

GPAC is also pleased to announce the results of the AGM held on November 26, 2024. At the AGM, shareholders approved all motions put forth including re-election of Greg McCunn, Chris Muller, Robert McMorran, Iain Martin and Charles Hethey. The shareholders also approved the appointment of BDO Canada LLP as the auditors of the Company, as well as the 10% rolling stock option plan and the securities-based compensation plan ("SBC Plan").

The SBC Plan permits the grant of Restricted Share Units (as defined in the Equity Plan) and Deferred Share Units (as defined in the SBC Plan) (Restricted Share Units and Deferred Share Units collectively referred to as "Awards"). The maximum number of shares issuable pursuant to the Awards that may be granted under the SBC Plan is fixed at 10,022,854. Further, the maximum number of shares for which Awards and other share compensation issuable to: (i) any participant shall not exceed 5% of the outstanding shares within any one-year period, (ii) a consultant shall not exceed 2% of the outstanding shares within any one year period; and (ii) insiders as a group shall not exceed 10% of the outstanding shares. No persons providing investor relations activities may be granted Awards under the SBC Plan. All Awards are subject to a mandatory one year vesting requirement. Additional details of the SBC Plan are set forth in the Company's information circular dated October 24, 2024.

In conjunction with the AGM, the GPAC Board approved the granting of 775,000 restricted share units to current and newly hired management and consultants.

On behalf of Great Pacific Gold

Greg McCunn

Chief Executive Officer and Director

About Great Pacific Gold

Great Pacific Gold has a portfolio of exploration stage projects in Papua New Guinea ("PNG") and Australia. The Company is focused on developing gold-copper resources from its highly prospective land packages. Its core projects include:

Kesar - located in the Eastern Highlands province of PNG and contiguous with K92 Mining's mine tenements, Kesar is a greenfield exploration project with several high priority targets in close proximity to the property boundary with K92. Multiple epithermal veins at Kesar are on strike and have the same orientation of key K92 deposits such as Kora. Exploration work to date by GPAC at Kesar has shown that these veins have high grades of gold present in outcrop and very elevated gold in soil grades, coincident with aeromagnetic highs.

located in the Eastern Highlands province of PNG and contiguous with K92 Mining's mine tenements, Kesar is a greenfield exploration project with several high priority targets in close proximity to the property boundary with K92. Multiple epithermal veins at Kesar are on strike and have the same orientation of key K92 deposits such as Kora. Exploration work to date by GPAC at Kesar has shown that these veins have high grades of gold present in outcrop and very elevated gold in soil grades, coincident with aeromagnetic highs. Arau - located in Eastern Highlands province of PNG, the Arau Project contains the highly prospective Mt. Victor exploration target with potential for a high sulphidation epithermal gold-base metal deposit. A Phase 1 Reverse Circulation drilling program was completed at Mt. Victor in August 2024, with results pending. The Arau project includes the Elandora licence which also contains various epithermal and copper-gold porphyry targets.

located in Eastern Highlands province of PNG, the Arau Project contains the highly prospective Mt. Victor exploration target with potential for a high sulphidation epithermal gold-base metal deposit. A Phase 1 Reverse Circulation drilling program was completed at Mt. Victor in August 2024, with results pending. The Arau project includes the Elandora licence which also contains various epithermal and copper-gold porphyry targets. Wild Dog - located in the East New Britain province of PNG, Wild Dog is a brownfield exploration project with a history of small-scale gold mining. The project contains numerous epithermal and porphyry hydrothermal-magmatic targets evidenced by previous exploration and operations. The Company completed a road refurbishment in August 2024 and access to the project has been established for baseline environmental and exploration work.

located in the East New Britain province of PNG, Wild Dog is a brownfield exploration project with a history of small-scale gold mining. The project contains numerous epithermal and porphyry hydrothermal-magmatic targets evidenced by previous exploration and operations. The Company completed a road refurbishment in August 2024 and access to the project has been established for baseline environmental and exploration work. Lauriston - located in the state of Victoria, Australia, the Lauriston project is located on the southern extension of the Fosterville Goldfield Belt and is adjacent to Agnico Eagle's extensive Fosterville tenements and mine operations. Lauriston contains the Comet-Trojan target, a 4.5km long epizonal orogenic system. The discovery hole at Comet intersected 8m at 105 g/t gold and a follow-up drilling program was completed in Q3 2024. The Company is consolidating its information on the Lauriston project and expects to publish an NI 43-101 compliant technical report.

located in the state of Victoria, Australia, the Lauriston project is located on the southern extension of the Fosterville Goldfield Belt and is adjacent to Agnico Eagle's extensive Fosterville tenements and mine operations. Lauriston contains the Comet-Trojan target, a 4.5km long epizonal orogenic system. The discovery hole at Comet intersected 8m at 105 g/t gold and a follow-up drilling program was completed in Q3 2024. The Company is consolidating its information on the Lauriston project and expects to publish an NI 43-101 compliant technical report. Walhalla - located in the state of Victoria, Australia, the Walhalla project consists of over 1,400km2 of concessions including the numerous historical mining operations and the recently acquired Woods Point land package. The Company is consolidating its information on the Walhalla project and expects to publish an NI 43-101 compliant technical report. Walhalla contains a high-priority greenfield target called Pinnacles. Extensive soil geochemistry has highlighted a 400m x 1,100m gold mineralized aplitic dyke which contains disseminated sulphides and outcrops at surface. The Pinnacles target is fully permitted and ready for drilling.

The Company also holds a number of other exploration projects including the recently acquired Tinga Valley Project.

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Great Pacific Gold cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by many material factors, many of which are beyond their respective control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Great Pacific Gold's limited operating history, its exploration and development activities on its mineral properties and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Great Pacific Gold does not undertake to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231462

SOURCE: Great Pacific Gold Corp.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 26, 2024 / CNH

With the 2024 harvest in full swing across Australia's grain growing regions, CNH brand, New Holland, is helping its customers to make the most of every grain.

New Holland's Twin Rotor CR combines are renowned for delivering top grain quality with minimal losses, while the brand is committed to maximising uptime with strategically stocked 'critical for function' parts at locations around Australia for distribution to dealers as needed.

Product & Portfolio Manager - Crop Harvesting ANZ, Marc Smith, said from the design of the CR combine itself, through to the brand's parts and service availability, everything is geared around getting more quality grain in the tank.

"If a farmer can't get a crop off before weather, whether it's rain or heat, every day the crop is sitting in the ground and not in storage it is potentially diminishing in quality," said Marc.

Grain quality is further enhanced by award winning features including the Opti-Clean and Opti-Fan systems, while the award-winning IntelliSense combine automation system, Dynamic Flow Control remotely adjustable rotor vanes, concave reset, the deep cut Dynamic Feed Roll technology and the all-new patented Opti-Spread Plus super wide spreading residue management system, continue to ensure that the CR range is among the most advanced and productive harvesters in the world.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CNH on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: CNH

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cnh

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: CNH

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Zeus North America Mining Corp. (CSE:ZEUS)(OTCQB:ZUUZF)(FRANKFURT:O92) (the "Company" or "Zeus") reports that the Management Information Circular, Notice of Meeting and proxy form (collectively, the "Materials") for the upcoming Special Meeting to be held at 11:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) on December 19, 2024 at 780 - 789 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia were mailed to the registered shareholders on November 14, 2024. However, due to the ongoing Canada Post strike, the delivery of the Materials may be delayed.

Registered shareholders and beneficial shareholders can retrieve the Materials from www.sedarplus.com under the profile of Zeus North America Mining Corp. or request the Materials from the Company by contacting the Company by email at investors@zeusminingcorp.com.

Registered shareholders are encouraged to contact National Securities Administrators Ltd., the transfer agent of the Company, by sending an email at proxy@endeavortrust.com to obtain an electronic copy of their form of proxy or their control number and password to vote their shares by internet.

Proxies submitted must be received by 11 a.m., Pacific Time, on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.

Shareholders who hold Company's shares in a brokerage account (beneficial shareholders) should contact their broker for details on how to vote their shares.

At the Meeting the shareholders will be asked to approve the plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement"), announced by the Company on August 26, 2024. The Meeting Materials provide the details of the Arrangement.

On behalf of the board of directors.

"Dean Besserer"

President and CEO

For more information, please contact the Company at info@zeusminingcorp.com

FOR INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:

Kin Communications Inc.

Ph: 604-684-6730

ZEUS@kincommunications.com

About Zeus North America Mining Corp.

Exploring in Idaho's newest Copper Belt. The Company is focused on its exploration properties in the state of Idaho, USA known as the: Cuddy Mountain; Selway; and Great Western properties, respectively. The Idaho properties consist of 102 (Cuddy Mountain), 57 (Selway) and 38 (Great Western) lode mining claims respectively and cover a cumulative area of approximately 4,200 acres. The Company's flagship Cuddy Mountain Property is adjacent to Hercules Metal Corp.'s Leviathan Copper Porphyry discovery. The Company is in the business of mineral exploration.

Forward Looking Statements

When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements and information in this news release include, amongst others, the Company's plans regarding the Arrangement and exploration plans. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: currency fluctuations; limited business history of the parties; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities and development of projects; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs; shareholder, court and regulatory approvals; and general development, market and industry conditions.

The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of its securities or its financial or operating results (as applicable). The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. The Company does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE: Zeus North America Mining Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Cardless, a San Francisco, CA-based fintech provider developing co-branded credit card solutions, raised $30M in funding.

The round was led by Activant Capital, with participation from new and existing investors including Mischief, Industry Ventures, Thayer Ventures, Assurant and American Express.

The company intends to use the funds for the continued development of co-branded credit card and loyalty products, ongoing talent hiring in engineering and operations, and expansion into major retail, e-commerce, and SMBs.

Led by President Michael Spelfogel, Cardless is a provider of a credit card experience integrated into a mobile app or website, allowing to adapt the style and integrate it into customers ecosystem, or build one around it.

In 2024, Cardless continued to expand its portfolio of co-branded credit cards with a series of launches. The company partnered with airlines like Avianca and Qatar, the latter of which won Worlds Best Airline for the 8th time at the 2024 World Airline Awards, managed by Skytrax. These additions build on Cardless existing partnerships with LATAM and TAP Air Portugal, bringing their total number of airline co-branded partners to four.

Additionally, the company ventured into the business and e-commerce space by partnering with Alibaba to introduce its first business credit card, designed for small and medium-sized businesses.

FinSMEs

26/11/2024
Fresho, a London, UK-, Melbourne, Australia- and Aukland, New Zealand-based fresh food technology platform provider, raised $17M in Series B funding.

Backers included Geoff Tarrant. Tarrant, who also served as director of ASX-listed Adbri, will join Freshos Board of Directors. The round brought total investment to date to $50M.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate its investment in AI and emerging technologies, while driving further growth in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. Fresho will also establish on-ground presence in the US market in 2025, building on launches with customers in Texas, New York, and California over the past two years.

Founded in 2015 by James Andronis and Huw Birrell, Fresho provides an order management platform for fresh food wholesalers to operate efficiently and service their restaurant customers. The AI-powered system automatically converts incoming orders into structured data, while giving restaurants direct access to live pricing and availability through its app.

The platform has been adopted by Michelin-starred venues such as Wild Honey within Sofitel St James in London, Cote and Le Bernardin in New York City, and restaurants like Bennelong and Cafe Sydney in Australia.

FinSMEs

26/11/2024
Ikin Global, a Mumbai, India-based IoT smart lock brand, raised $1M in Pre-Series A funding.

The round was led by Unicorn India Ventures and Callapina Capital with participation from existing investors.

The company intends to use the funds to enhance the current product line with new launches that would offer AI-powered analytics, advanced sensor technology and industry specific solutions.

Ikin Global, a subsidiary of SectorQube Technolabs Pvt. Ltd., is a provider of smart security solutions for the logistics, retail, and warehousing sectors. The company leverages AI and IoT to deliver GPS-enabled smart locks, AI-driven intrusion detection, and cloud-based dashboards. Ikin Global has achieved traction in India and is now expanding into the USA and the Middle East to offer advanced asset protection solutions worldwide. The company works with top tier e-commerce, QComm and logistics companies.

FinSMEs

26/11/2024
Its not possible to overstate how tons Hungarys Golden Visa has modified the way humans make investments in actual estate.

The Hungary Golden Visa for investors is a one-of-a-kind risk to take advantage of the countrys investor-friendly program, which requires a minimal investment in authorities bonds in order to get a residence permit. With a visa that lets them stay in Hungary and pass inside the Schengen Area, traders can discover new areas and provide their household participants the risk to stay with them besides having to meet language requirements. Hungarys attraction is multiplied through its fairly low price of living, which makes it an accurate preference for humans searching to stay there completely or make investments there.

Foreign Investment in Hungary Real Estate

As the region will become extra famous as an actual property hub, it is clear that extra and extra foreigners are getting into the market. The program, which requires minimal funding in authorities bonds, has made it simpler to get a residence permit and inspired many foreigners to seem to be into actual property alternatives in the country. This assignment no longer solely helps the actual property market; however, it additionally helps the countrys financial system grow, which brings in a huge variety of humans searching for protection and increases opportunities.

The demand for actual estate in Budapest, the capital, has long past via the roof due to the fact of its energetic culture, ancient beauty, and low costs in contrast to different European cities. The governments attempts to make it less difficult for foreigners to purchase property have made a famous preference for humans who prefer to take advantage of the markets potential. Its central area in Europe, along with its enhanced infrastructure and connectivity, make it even more attractive to foreigners searching for long-term actual property possibilities. Its a true preference for human beings who prefer to discover worthwhile possibilities in the actual property quarter due to the fact the authorities are secure and help business-friendly policies. International consumers searching for special and culturally rich alternatives are fascinated by the developing trend of restoring historical constructions and turning them into modern, elegant apartments.

Hungary Golden Visa Attracts Buyers

The visa lets buyers stay in and cross inside the Schengen Area. This one-of-a-kind advantage of the Golden Visa Program has been a large draw for human beings from around the world who choose to make investments in or begin a commercial enterprise in the country. People who get this visa can no longer solely stay and journey its prosperous way of life and history; however, they can additionally pass freely inside the Schengen Area, which is made up of 26 European countries. This freedom to cross around inside the European Union is a large plus for proprietors who favor developing their groups around the world whilst nevertheless residing a desirable life.

In addition to letting humans into the Schengen Area, the Golden Visa Program has an easy-to-use registration procedure that has been attracting humans from around the world who prefer to stay in Europe. Investors who desire to get a European residency permit are fascinated by this program due to the fact it has easy steps and life-like spending requirements. With the capability to stay in and tour inside the Schengen Area and the ease of getting a visa via the Golden Visa Program, this has emerged as a famous preference for humans looking to settle down in Europe.

Impact of Residency on Property Prices

Residences with the aid of funding applications are becoming more famous around the world due to the fact they can be excellent for each customer and host country. People in Hungary are fascinated by how residency by means of funding impacts domestic expenses due to the fact it has a huge impact on the actual property market. One special element about Hungarys application is that household participants can additionally emerge as residents. This makes it an attractive desire for traders who favor to impenetrable a future with their cherished ones. Also, candidates do not have to meet any language requirements. This makes the procedure even less complicated and encourages extra foreigners to purchase property in Hungary. The truth that funding packages make it effortless to get residency has delivered a lot of cash into the country, which has raised property costs and modified the way the housing market works.

Further information:

Hungarys residency by using a funding application offers traders the hazard to get a European Union Schengen document, which lets them pass inside the Schengen Zone. People who pick to grow to be residents of Hungary via funding can take advantage of the countrys true tax policies, which makes the program extra attractive overall. Residency through funding packages has delivered in a lot of overseas investors, which has now not solely pushed up property fees but additionally expanded Hungarys economy, developing jobs and advertising nearby growth. Hungarys authorities continue to enhance its residency by using funding program to convey in extra-rich people. This will increase demand for actual property and help the countrys financial system develop as a whole.

Exploring Growth in Hungary Property

The pretty low price of residing makes it a top desire for long-term living. Compared to many different European countries, it is less expensive to stay right here due to the fact housing, food, transportation, and different requirements are cheaper. This makes it viable for humans and households to stretch their budgets even in addition and possibly purchase a residence or different belongings to keep for the future. This countrys pleasant people, prosperous culture, and available place in Central Europe make it even more attractive to humans who desire to settle down in a pleasant and low-cost place.

Also, the actual property market in this area has been progressively developing over the previous few years, growing many probabilities for developers. The want for properties and organizations in famous locations like Budapest continues growing. This is due to matters like extra humans shifting to cities, greater tourists, and greater overseas impact. With authorities applications aimed at higher infrastructure and the actual property market, this is a proper vicinity for humans who choose to make cash in the altering property market. People can make clever alternatives that will assist them in gaining from the robust actual property market by means of searching into these increased chances and keeping up with market trends.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Hungarys Golden Visa program is an appropriate threat for humans who choose to stay in a low-cost European that is a section of the Schengen Area. People who favor continuing to be in Hungary for a lengthy time will like that the application solely requires them to make investments in authorities shares and that household participants can remain with them. There are additionally no language requirements.
The actress also shared some videos and pictures on her Instagram stories read more

Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan have been in the news for quite some time due to their divorce rumours.

In an interview back in 2022 during Dasvi promotions, Nimrat Kaur complimented Abhishek Bachchan on completing 15 years of marriage with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan during Dasvi promotions and the actor blushed.

And now, amid her link-up rumours with the actor, Nimrat attended Diljit Dosanjhs concert and also shared some videos and pictures on her Instagram stories.

Advertisement

Diljit Dosanjh commented on Nimrat Kaurs pictures from his concert in Pune. He wrote, Tusi Aeye c? Stage te aa jana c.. (You were there? You should have come to the stage).

@diljitdosanjh that stage and spotlight belonged only and only to you!! Main taan bauhaut lucky si kay finally tuhanoo main live vekh payee, thank you tuhadi pure brilliance layee," wrote Nimrat.

While the duo has yet to address the claims, an old video interview featuring Abhishek and Nimrat Kaur from their Dasvi promotions is going viral on the internet. In it, the actor praises his wife, Aishwarya.

My wife is exceptional at that. Shes always been an amazing emotional support for me. Ive been very lucky, my entire family has been. The wonderful thing about having a life partner like Aishwarya is that she is from the business. She gets it. She has been doing it slightly longer than I have. So, she knows the world. She has been through it all. So, its nice when you come home and if youve had a challenging day, you know that theres somebody who gets it, said Junior Bachchan in an interview with Bollywood Hungama.
Malaika recently spoke about finding strength to GlobalSpa Magazine and said, You have to dig deep within to find strength read more

Arjun Kapoor confirmed that he is not dating Malaika Arora anymore and the duo has parted ways. Amid this news, Malaika has shared a cryptic post on social media about joy, which has grabbed everyones attention.

Taking to her Instagram stories, Malla shared a post that features a quote by the CEO of Apple, Tom Cook, which read, Let your joy be in your journey. Not in some distant goal.

And in a recent interview with Masha bale India, Kapoor said he reached out to his ex at 3 am and also revealed he is single now.

Advertisement

Malaika recently spoke about finding strength to GlobalSpa Magazine and said, You have to dig deep within to find strength. While my family, friends, and work are significant sources of peace and resilience, the people around me also play a crucial role in helping me stay grounded and strong. Their support has an immense influence on my ability to keep it all together.

Speaking about facing criticism on he relationships and life choices, she said, In the best way I can. There are times when you feel things dont bother or affect me, but of course they do.

She added, I have also figured out a way to deal with it, get strong about it and not let it pull me down, govern me or get the better out of me. I have figured out a way to insulate me to all of it. Yes, its part and parcel of our lives, there is constantly something, criticism, trolling but you just need to block out the noise, the negativity and move on with whatever is positive in your life.
The veteran opened up about his journey in films and also shared interesting anecdotes from his growing up years read more

Anupam Kher began his journey at the age of 29 by playing a 60-plus retired common man in mentor Mahesh Bhatts aching Saaransh. Cut to 2024, he has been hailed as the most profitable actor many times, has successfully completed more than 500 films, written two very inspirational books, hosted a chat show about the inner personalities and hidden struggles of actors and filmmakers, and hosted a show called Manzilen Aur Bhi Hain.

Advertisement

The 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), is currently being held in Goa, and Kher was one of the speakers at the festival. The veteran opened up about his journey in films and also shared interesting anecdotes from his growing up years. Anupam Kher said, I wanted to leave Bombay as I was not happy. The last local comes at 1:30 and the first around 4:30. I wanted to go back to Shimla or anywhere else.

Kher added, I then received a letter from my grandfather at Kirron Khers house who was my friend then. He asked me to wait for a little longer and told me Bheega hua aadmi baarish se nahin darta.

The actor also said he was denied work as he was balding and had no hair left. He said, Despite being a gold medallist in acting, I was asked to become a writer or an assistant director. My savings began to get over and the people who fed me that time also got exhausted. There came a time when I had to sleep on a railway platform because I had no place to go for 27 days, but I was not indulging in self-pity.
Ahead of Naga Chaitanyas marriage with Sobhita Dhulipala, Samantha Ruth Prabhu spoke about the fallout of her divorce with the Bangarraju star. The Citadel: Honey Bunny star spoke about the labels she got for being a divorcee and owned them despite letting them hurt her.

When a woman goes through a divorce, there is a lot of shame and stigma attached to that. I get a lot of comments saying, second hand, used, wasted life. You are pushed into a corner where you are supposed to feel like a failure. You are supposed to feel guilt and shame that you were once married, and now you are not. It can be really hard for families and girls who have gone through that, said Samantha to Galatta India.

Advertisement

Initially, it hurt. Then I decided to flip it. Ill own it. I am separated, I am divorced. Things havent been a fairytale, but that does not mean I sit in a corner, cry about it, and never have the courage to live again. It wasnt any kind of revenge or anything although it looked like it. It was just that yes, this happened but it doesnt mean my life ends there. It begins where it ends. I am happy, doing good work, with incredible people, and looking forward to the next phase of my life, she continued.

When spies get spy-cy, it's very rapid, very fiery!#CitadelHoneyBunnyOnPrime, watch now! pic.twitter.com/dNXZx5D55g  prime video IN (@PrimeVideoIN) November 23, 2024

On the professional front, Samantha was last seen in Citadel: Honey Bunny, which also featured Varun Dhawan, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon, Simran, Sikandar Kher, Saqib Saleem, Soham Majumdar, Shivankit Singh Parihar and Thalaivaasal Vijay in prominent roles. The web show is directed by Raj & DK, who are known for helming Guns & Gulaabs, Farzi, The Family Man franchise and others.
On November 26, 2008, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists laid siege to Mumbais iconic Taj Hotel. At least 33, including patrons and staff, were killed during the attack and several were held hostage. As rescue operations continued for three days, Ratan Tata, chairman of the Taj-owned Tata Group, stood outside the hotel. Later, Tata vowed to support the families of staff who lost their lives in the terror attack read more

Ratan Tata stood like a pillar even as black fumes rose from the hotel, and the rescue operation went on to save those stranded in the hotel. Image Courtesy: @RNTata2000/X

It has been 16 years since the horrific terror attacks that shook Indias financial capital, Mumbai, on November 26, 2008.

Commonly referred to as the 26/11 terror attacks, the 12 coordinated shootings and bombings were carried out by a group of 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists.

The Pakistan-based terrorists, who arrived by hijacking an Indian fishing boat via Colaba, attacked the citys iconic locations such as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Leopold Cafe, Nariman House, and two luxury hotels  the Oberoi Trident and the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.

Advertisement

The Taj Hotel was the main site of the assault, which killed 175 and injured more than 300 people.

In the wake of the fateful event, Ratan Tata, the Tata Groups Chairman at the time, showed incredible courage.

Lets take a look.

26/11 terror attacks on Taj Hotel

The attacks began at around 9.30 pm on November 26, 2008, when gunmen stormed the Taj Hotel, taking hostages and engaging in intense firefights with security forces.

There were six explosions reported at the iconic hotel, including blasts in the lobby, elevators, and restaurants.

The hotel remained under a 60-hour siege and 33 out of the 166 people were killed, including guests.

On November 26, 2008, 10 armed terrorists belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba sailed to Mumbai unleashing one of the most brutal attacks in the history of India. Reuters/File Photo

According to Harvard Business Review, about 11 hotel employees laid down their lives while helping over 1,200-1,500 guests escape. The staff asked guests to hide under tables, offered water, and formed a human cordon to evacuate them in an orderly manner before turning to help the firefighters.

If it (the hotel) goes down, I will be the last man out, Tajs general manager, Karambir Singh Kang, famously told his father over a phone call despite having lost his wife and two young children.

Security personnel and firefighters worked tirelessly to rescue hostages; however, the situation was brought under control only after three days.

Ratan Tatas resilience tested

Ratan Tata, who passed away on October 9, 2024, at the age of 86, was then serving as the Chairman of Tata Group, which owns the iconic hotel.

The Padma Vibhushan recipient, who led the group for over two decades, stood like a pillar even as black fumes rose from the hotel, and the rescue operation went on to save those stranded in the hotel.

Tata acknowledged that it was a personal tragedy that had a profound impact on him. Very emotional and even I find it difficult to control, thinking back to the misery that was caused by such a needless, mindless loss of life, Tata had told NDTV in a 2010 interview, adding, There was not a single toughest night, but there were several instances where had to turn to tatters to bolster ourselves or to backstop the situation.

Advertisement

Tata spent the entire day at the hotels Colaba end as the rescue effort went on, occasionally by himself and other times with staff and aides.

The late industrialists resilience was put to the test by the brutal attacks, but he remained strong and stated, What was meant to break us, become the source of our strength.

Advertisement

Firefighters try to douse a fire at the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai November 27, 2008. Reuters

Later, Tata recalled the event and said, About 37 or 40 in our hotel were shot and killed for no reason. And then it became an issue that you stand by it and let this happen or go into the midst of what was like a war zone and stand with your employees and go to the homes of people who were killed.

Even in the darkest hours of 26/11, Ratan Tata showed the world what true leadership looks like. Not just rebuilding the Taj, but standing by every victim and family, embodying resilience and humanity. A legacy of courage amidst chaos. #MumbaiTerrorAttacks #NeverForget2611 pic.twitter.com/jqN4nN2hN9  Surya Ananthula (@cosmictales03) November 26, 2024

Advertisement

I chose to do the latter to go every day to the hospital to meet the people who were injured. And there again, it gives a lasting impression on you in terms of what happened, what could have been done to avoid it and how could you deal with this and what is the best form of support you can give to your people? Those instances stand out as being challenging moments in ones career, he added.

Advertisement

Taking to X, actor Kamal Hasaan said, In the immediate aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, I met him while staying at the iconic Taj Hotel. In that moment of national crisis, the titan stood tall and became the embodiment of the Indian spirit, to rebuild and emerge stronger as a nation.

Tata shared a post on Instagram in November 2019 to mark 11 years of the attacks, saying that the memory of standing outside helpless and of the carnage and loss of life, are still fresh and painful. We will not forget the scars and the needless suffering caused at the hospital, the railway station, the hotels and across the city. But most importantly, we remain proud of the spirit and the sense of unity displayed by Mumbai in all its power on that day. I will say it again: We can be hurt, but not knocked out.

The following year, he shared a hotels painting with a caption, We remember.

In 2020, he said that the wanton destruction that took place 12 years ago today will never be forgotten. In an Instagram post, he further praised the people of Mumbai for casting aside all differences and its unity.

Restoring Tajs grandeur

The hotel, which was established in 1903 by Ratan Tatas great-grandfather, Jamstedji Tata, had never closed its doors in over a century. In fact, during World War II, the hotel served as a makeshift hospital.

The Mumbai terror attacks were the first time in its history that it was forced to shut down.

Despite tremendous damage, the Taj Hotel reopened just a month after the attack.

However, it took longer to restore its legacy In 21 months, Tata spent more than $1 billion to finish the restoration of the hotel.

Labourers work on the damaged part of the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai December 14, 2008. Reuters

The 26/11 attacks impacted the hospitality end of our business, the steel market collapsed worldwide, the banking system vapourised; so we got hit in the worst way from all sides. I had in fact, a double responsibility. One is to see the companies through. And secondly, to make sure it did not in any way endanger the security of Tata Sons. I think that is my toughest period," Tata told NDTV in 2010.

One year after the attack in 2009, Tata unveiled a memorial at the hotel to honour the employees and guests who lost their lives in the attack.

The industrialist also pledged to take care of the families of those killed and injured.

According to the BBC, he paid the relatives of those killed the salaries they would have earned for the rest of their lives, and also ensured their children received proper education. Some reports even say that Tata had visited the homes of the victims to ensure their well-being.

Candles and flowers placed for victims of the Mumbai attacks are seen in front of the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai November 30, 2008. Reuters

In a few months, the Tata Group formed The Taj Public Service Welfare Trust (TPSWT) to provide humanitarian support during disasters.

Mourning Tatas demise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, and said, For crores of Indians, Shri Ratan Tatas patriotism shone brightest in times of crisis. His swift reopening of the iconic Taj Hotel in Mumbai after the 26/11 terror attacks was a rallying call to the nation  Indian stands united, refusing to yield to terrorism.

With inputs from agencies
On Monday, Special Counsel Jack Smith moved to drop two cases against US President-elect Donald Trump. The development is in line with the longstanding Justice Department policy which states that sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted. From the January 6 election interference case to the Georgia election trial, lets take a look at the cases against Trump and their status read more

President-elect Donald Trump took to Truth Social to crow about the development. AP

Special Counsel Jack Smith has moved to drop two cases against Donald Trump.

The development comes as Trump, the president-elect, prepares to take office in January.

It is in line with longstanding Justice Department policy which states that sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted.

The moves by Smith, who was appointed in 2022 by US Attorney General Merrick Garland, represents a remarkable shift from the special prosecutor who obtained indictments against Trump in two separate cases accusing him of crimes that threatened US election integrity and national security.

Advertisement

Prosecutors acknowledged that the election of a president who faced ongoing criminal cases created an unprecedented predicament for the Justice Department.

Trump, taking to his Truth Social website, crowed, I persevered, against all odds, and won."

These cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought, Trump added.

But what do we know about the status of the cases against Trump?

Lets take a closer look:

January 6 election interference case

This case against Trump has been dismissed after an approval from to US District Judge Tanya judge.

The election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing Trump as he tried to reclaim the White House.

As per Forbes, Smith and prosecutors wrote in their brief that the country has never faced the circumstance here, where a federal indictment against a private citizen has been returned by a grand jury and a criminal prosecution is already underway when the defendant is elected President.

He was indicted for plotting to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in 2020, an effort that climaxed with his supporters violent attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Advertisement

But the case quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Trumps sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House.

An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of US President Donald Trump riot at the US Capitol Building in Washington, US, January 6, 2021. File Image/Reuters

The US Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial.

The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this years election. Smiths team in October filed a lengthy brief laying out new evidence it planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of resorting to crimes in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will of voters after he lost to Biden.

Advertisement

The Justice Department policy that the prosecutors cited dates back to the 1970s. It holds that a criminal prosecution of a sitting president would violate the US Constitution by undermining the ability of the countrys chief executive to function.

In dismissing the case, Chutkan acknowledged prosecutors request to do so without prejudice, raising the possibility that they could try to bring charges against Trump when his term is over. She wrote that is consistent with the Governments understanding that the immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office.

Classified documents case

As per Axios, Smith on Monday filed a separate motion asking that Trump be dropped as co-defendant in the classified documents case.

Advertisement

The case had been widely seen as legally clear cut, especially because the conduct in question occurred after Trump left the White House and lost the powers of the presidency.

The indictment included dozens of felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding classified records from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructing federal efforts to get them back. He has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing.

The case was dismissed by judge Aileen Cannon in July.

Cannons rulings  which came slowly and delayed the case  played into Trumps strategy of pushing off deadlines in all his criminal cases.

Advertisement

Aileen also entertained defence motions and arguments that experts said other judges would have dispensed with without hearings.

A general view of President-elect Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago property, in Palm Beach, Florida. It is believed to be worth $325 million. File image/Reuters

In May, Aileen indefinitely cancelled the trial date amid a series of unresolved legal issues before dismissing the case outright two months later.

Smith had appealed her decision.

However, Smith had asked the federal court to pause his appeal in the aftermath of the election.

Smiths team said it was leaving intact charges against two co-defendants in the classified documents case  Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira  because no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.

Hush money case

The New York case involved hush money payments.

It resulted in Trump being convicted on all 34 felony charges of falsifying business records to make a payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

It was the first time a former president had been found guilty of a crime.

As per Axios, Judge Juan Merchan has indefinitely postponed the sentencing in the case.

Trumps lawyers are trying to have the conviction dismissed before he takes office, arguing that letting the verdict stand will interfere with his presidential transition and duties.

Merchan has told Trumps lawyers to file the motion by December 2 and the prosecution to respond by December 9.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office is fighting the dismissal but has indicated that it would be open to delaying sentencing until Trump leaves office.

Bragg, a Democrat, has said the solution needs to balance the obligations of the presidency with the sanctity of the jury verdict.

Georgia election trial

Trump was also indicted in Georgia along with 18 others accused of participating in a sprawling scheme to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election there.

Any trial appears unlikely there while Trump holds office.

The prosecution already was on hold after an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case.

As per Axios, arguments in the case are set to be heard on December 5.

Four defendants have pleaded guilty after reaching deals with prosecutors. Trump and the others have pleaded not guilty.

Steven Cheung, Trumps incoming White House communications director, said Americans want an immediate end to the political weaponisation of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country.

Trump has long described the investigations as politically motivated, and he has vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office in January. Now he will start his second term free from criminal scrutiny by the government that he will lead.

With inputs from agencies
The Israeli Cabinet will vote on a ceasefire deal in Lebanon today after it was reportedly approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in principle. In India, President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are set to attend a special event celebrating the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution at the Central Hall of the old Parliament building read more

A view shows the moment of an Israeli strike on a building, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in the Chiyah district of Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, on November 25. Reuters

Tuesday, November 26, will be a busy day with multiple key events taking place.

President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are set to attend a special event marking the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution.

India will also observe the 16th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks today, which took place in 2008.

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel will release her memoir today, discussing her interactions with leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Donald Trump during her 16 years in office.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, Israels newly appointed foreign minister is scheduled to brief the public on the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

A hearing in Prince Harrys lawsuit against Rupert Murdochs News Group Newspapers (NGN) is set to take place today.

Lets take a look at these events:

President, VP, PM Modi to celebrate Constitution Day

President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend a Constitution Day event today, marking 75 years since the adoption of the Indian Constitution by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949.

President Droupadi Murmu will lead the celebrations at the Central Hall of the old Parliament complex. PTI

A commemorative coin and stamp will be unveiled during the ceremony, alongside copies of the Constitution in Sanskrit and Maithili. The event will be held at the Central Hall of the old Parliament Building, now known as Samvidhan Sadan.

Notably, PM Modi had designated November 26 as Constitution Day during his first term in office.

16 years of 26/11

Today also marks the anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that occurred in 2008.

On that day, 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists from Pakistan infiltrated Mumbai by sea and launched a huge attack, killing 166 people, including 18 security personnel, and injuring many others during a 60-hour siege.

Members of the anti-terror squad in front of the Taj Hotel in Mumbai November 28, 2008. Reuters/File Photo

The terrorists targeted iconic locations, including the Taj and Oberoi Hotels, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Jewish centre at Nariman House, and the Leopold Cafe, all popular among Europeans, Jews, and Indians.

ALSO READ | Who is Tahawwur Rana, the 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused, who can now be extradited to India from the US?

Advertisement

While nine of the attackers were killed, Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, the only surviving gunman, was captured after the assault at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. In 2010, Qasab was sentenced to death, and he was executed two years later in Pune.

Israeli Cabinet to meet to okay Lebanon ceasefire deal

A senior Israeli official said that Israels Cabinet would meet on Tuesday to approve a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah. According to a Lebanese official, Beirut was told by Washington that an accord could be announced within hours.

Israeli officials had said earlier that a deal to end the war was getting closer though some issues remained, while two senior Lebanese officials voiced guarded optimism even as Israeli strikes pounded Lebanon anew.

US news website Axios, citing an unnamed senior U.S. official, said Israel and Lebanon had agreed to the terms of a deal, and a senior Israeli official told Reuters Tuesdays meeting was intended to approve it.

Advertisement

Former German Chancellors memoir release

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkels memoir, detailing her interactions with world leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Donald Trump during her 16 years of tenure, will be released today.

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the German Basic Law in Berlin, Germany May 23, 2024. Reuters

Titled Freedom: Memories 1954-2021, the memoir will be released in over 30 countries. A week later, Merkel will launch the book in the United States, where she will be joined by former President Barack Obama for an event in Washington. The two leaders had established a close political relationship during Merkels tenure.

Israeli briefing on ICC arrest warrants against Netanyahu, former defence minister

Israels new Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, is set to give a briefing today regarding the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

Notably, the warrants, issued last week, accuse Netanyahu and Gallant of using starvation as a method of warfare by blocking humanitarian aid and intentionally targeting civilians during Israels military operations against Hamas in Gaza. Israeli officials have strongly denied the allegations.

Hearing in Prince Harrys case against UK Tabloid

The latest hearing in Prince Harrys lawsuit against Rupert Murdochs News Group Newspapers (NGN) over allegations of unlawful information-gathering by journalists and private investigators is scheduled for today.

Harry, 40, the younger son of King Charles, is suing the publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World at the High Court in London, accusing NGN of unlawfully obtaining private information about him between 1996 and 2011.

Advertisement

His case is one of around 40 lawsuits filed against NGN, with all but one other litigant - former Labour Party deputy leader Tom Watson - having reached settlements, according to Harrys lawyer.

With inputs from agencies
Germany is ramping up civil defence efforts amid rising tensions with Russia, repurposing metro stations and basements as emergency shelters. With only 579 public bunkers for a population of 84 million, officials are addressing a critical shortfall. A new app and public awareness campaign aim to guide citizens during crises, as neighbours like Poland and Sweden set proactive defence benchmarks read more

A sign for Mohrenstrasse subway station is seen in central Berlin, Germany, July 15, 2020. File Image/Reuters

Prompted by the ongoing war in Ukraine and the heightened rhetoric from Moscow, the German government is re-evaluating its preparedness for potential military conflict, including airstrikes and other large-scale crises.

This has led to Berlin embarking on an ambitious plan to enhance its civil defence infrastructure, a move reflecting a broader European trend of reactivating Cold War-era strategies to address modern threats.

Germanys existing network of public bomb shelters is alarmingly inadequate for its population of over 84 million. With only 579 designated shelters providing space for approximately 480,000 individuals, less than 0.6 per cent of citizens can currently be accommodated in the event of a large-scale emergency.

Advertisement

This shortfall stems from a 2007 decision to decommission much of the countrys Cold War-era shelter infrastructure under the assumption that Europe faced minimal risk of large-scale conflict.

An entire generation may pass before Germany can fully rebuild its bunker network, warned Ralph Tiesler, head of the Federal Office for Civil Protection. The lack of preparedness is a critical concern as Russias aggression in Ukraine raises the specter of a broader conflict, particularly in light of Vladimir Putins threats toward nations supporting Kyiv militarily.

In response, Germany is taking immediate measures, such as identifying alternative spaces that can be converted into temporary shelters. These include underground car parks, subway stations, and public basements. A comprehensive mobile app is being developed to guide citizens to the nearest safe location during emergencies.

What we know about Operation Plan Germany

Germanys readiness measures fall under a broader confidential strategy known as Operation Plan Germany. This involves federal and state governments, the military, security agencies, and emergency services coordinating to fortify the nations defence capabilities.

While the details of the plan remain classified, reports suggest that it includes regular consultations between military representatives and businesses to prepare for wartime scenarios.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu and British Defence Secretary John Healey attend a joint press statement after talks about strengthening security and defence in Europe, at Ministry of Defence in Berlin, Germany, November 25, 2024. File Image/Reuters

Reuters quoted a German defence ministry spokesperson who confirmed that these meetings are designed to help organisations adjust their production and logistics to withstand crises, including potential economic blackmail from adversarial powers like Russia and China.

Advertisement

A Nato military official highlighted the importance of such preparations, urging businesses to adopt a wartime footing to minimise vulnerabilities.

A broader trend in Europe

Germanys efforts mirror similar initiatives across Europe, where countries are proactively enhancing their civil defence capabilities.

Sweden and Finland: Modernising total defence

Sweden recently of its Cold War-era civil defence booklet, In Case of Crisis or War, to households nationwide. The guide, twice the size of its predecessor, includes detailed instructions on handling military conflict and surviving power outages.

It prominently states, If Sweden is attacked by another country, we will never give up. All information to the effect that resistance is to cease is false.

Swedens Civil Defence Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin has warned that there could be war in Sweden, urging faster progress in rebuilding the countrys civil defence infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Finland, which shares a long border with Russia, has maintained robust defence measures since World War II.

A new digital guide outlines steps for citizens to endure prolonged crises, including sub-zero temperatures and nuclear incidents. Essential items like iodine tablets, backup power supplies, and non-perishable foods are part of Finlands recommended survival checklist.

Advertisement

Poland and Norway: Setting standards

Poland has taken a proactive approach by identifying temporary shelters such as metro stations and tunnels, which could protect its entire population in emergencies. From 2026, all new buildings in Poland will be required by law to include access to shelters.

Andrea Lindholz, a member of Germanys opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU), praised Polands foresight, stating, We need to significantly increase capacity in Germany. Even though we hope this situation doesnt arise, we must be prepared to protect the public in the event of an emergency.

Also Read | Russia begins production of mobile bomb shelters capable of withstanding nuclear, chemical threats

Norway, which began similar campaigns in 2018, recently mailed a detailed self-preparedness guide to 2.2 million households.

This guide recommends citizens store enough food, water, and medicine to survive independently for at least three days. Norways Directorate for Civil Protection stated the increased risks posed by climate change, extreme weather, and geopolitical instability.

Advertisement

What Germany is planning

While long-term efforts focus on rebuilding the countrys shelter network, Germany is pursuing interim solutions to address its pressing needs.

In addition to identifying metro stations and public buildings for conversion, citizens are being encouraged to create makeshift shelters at home. Basements, in particular, are being promoted as viable options for temporary safety.

To facilitate these measures, Germany plans to launch a public awareness campaign. A civil protection app, currently under development, will provide real-time information on available shelters and offer advice on crisis management. This is part of a broader strategy to ensure citizens are better equipped to handle emergencies, from airstrikes to natural disasters.

Also Watch:

However, critics argue that Germanys response is fragmented compared to the comprehensive systems seen in countries like Finland and Poland.

Advertisement

The renewed focus on civil defence across Europe highlights the growing realisation that conflict is no longer a distant possibility. Germanys efforts, though belated, are a critical step toward safeguarding its population.

Also Read | Russia warns West of its nuclear prowess at UN, says Europe plans to throw itself in suicidal escapade

With inputs from agencies
Elon Musk has sparked speculation about acquiring MSNBC after jokingly asking, How much does it cost? on X. While Comcasts recent spinoff plans for MSNBC into a new entity, SpinCo, have fuelled rumours, insiders insist the network isnt for sale. Musks memes and mockery have stirred debates about media control and power, reminiscent of his $44 billion Twitter purchase read more

US President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk watch the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket in Brownsville, Texas, US, November 19, 2024. File Image/Reuters

Elon Musk, the worlds richest man and owner of X (formerly Twitter), has fired up speculation and anxiety about purchasing MSNBC.

What began as a series of memes and seemingly flippant remarks has spurred widespread debate about whether Musk, a prominent figure on the right and close ally of United States President-elect Donald Trump, has serious intentions to acquire the liberal-leaning network.

How did it come to this?

The rumours started last week when Comcast, MSNBCs parent company, announced plans to spin off its cable networks, including MSNBC and CNBC, into a separate entity dubbed SpinCo.

This restructuring aims to enhance shareholder value and provide more focused investment opportunities for the new entity. However, it also fuelled speculation about the potential sale of individual channels.

Advertisement

Musk joined the fray after Donald Trump Jr posted on X, tagging the billionaire and saying, Hey @elonmusk I have the funniest idea ever!!! Musk replied with, How much does it cost?

How much does it cost?  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 22, 2024

This response, coupled with Musks history of jokingly inquiring about purchasing Twitter years before actually buying it, raised eyebrows. Musk further fuelled the chatter with another post stating, The most entertaining outcome, especially if ironic, is most likely, followed by a laughing emoji.

The most entertaining outcome, especially if ironic, is most likely  https://t.co/YX2EznXfoF  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 22, 2024

Advertisement

How did social media react to the Musk-MSNBC news?

Musks interest  or mock interest  quickly snowballed into a social media frenzy. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO posted a series of memes mocking MSNBC, including one featuring a provocatively dressed woman labelled with the MSNBC logo tempting a celibate priest. Musk captioned it, And lead us not into temptation.

And lead us not into temptation  pic.twitter.com/0FG24fdwUc  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 24, 2024

Meanwhile, Musks allies joined in the ridicule. Joe Rogan joked, If you buy MSNBC, I would like Rachel Maddows job. I will wear the same outfit and glasses, and I will tell the same lies.

Advertisement

If you buy MSNBC I would like Rachael Maddows job. I will wear the same outfit and glasses, and I will tell the same lies.  Joe Rogan (@joerogan) November 22, 2024

Trump Jr chimed in with, Since this is getting interesting, Ill throw my hat in the ring as well. Ill mimic Lawrence ODonnell minus the castration of course. Thats a bridge too far.

Advertisement

Ok @elonmusk & @joerogan. Since this is getting interesting Ill throw my hat in the ring as well. Ill mimic Lawrence ODonnell minus the castration of course. Thats a bridge too far. https://t.co/nYUQTYJKdn  Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 23, 2024

Adding to the chaos, a doctored video of MSNBC host Rachel Maddow supposedly crying on air over Musks antics went viral. The clip, which falsely included a chyron reading Elon Musk Posts Dangerous Meme, was later debunked as an old segment from 2018 when Maddow became emotional discussing the Trump administrations immigration policies.

Advertisement

Despite a Community Note clarifying the videos origins, it was widely shared by Musks supporters, sparking further mockery.

Whats happening inside MSNBC?

Inside MSNBC, staffers reportedly expressed anxiety about the potential implications of Musks antics and the broader uncertainties posed by SpinCos creation. However, industry insiders clarified that Comcast has not placed MSNBC on the market.

Financial analysts, such as Benjamin Swinburne of Morgan Stanley, noted that SpinCos structure as a tax-free spinoff limits immediate divestitures due to tax implications. Swinburne explained in a note to investors last week, Typically, we would expect a two-year waiting period before any potential further strategic action by SpinCo to preserve the tax-free nature of the spin.

Also Read | How Trump 2.0 doesnt guarantee Musk a cakewalk

Executives at SpinCo have signalled their intent to strengthen the network rather than sell it off. The goal is to be predators, not preybuying new channels, not selling off old ones bit by bit, CNN quoted executives close to the matter.

Some MSNBC insiders even expressed optimism about the spinoff, hoping it would lead to increased investment in their operations.

Is Comcast even selling MSNBC?

Comcasts leadership, led by CEO Brian Roberts, has not entertained the idea of selling MSNBC. The decision to form SpinCo is a strategic move to streamline operations and enhance profitability, not an indication of imminent sales.

Media analyst Craig Moffett told CNN, There are only two media entities that Donald Trump dislikes more than CNN. One is MSNBC, and the other is NBC.

For now, Musks comments about MSNBC appear to be in jest, but given his track record, many are hesitant to dismiss the possibility entirely. As Mark Cuban, another billionaire, told CNN, I dont think there is anything anyone can do to change the impact of linear TV news What could they do differently? Manufacture conspiracy theories? Go all in on crypto?

Is Elon Musk trying to control power through media?

Musks memes and mockery align with a broader trend that critics have labelled media capture. This phenomenon, seen in countries like Hungary under Viktor Orban, involves powerful figures consolidating media control to advance specific political agendas.

On a recent episode of Vanity Fairs Inside the Hive, Ian Bassin of Protect Democracy said, I think we are in danger of seeing that happen across the American marketplace in all sorts of sectors. Similarly, Gabor Scheiring, a former Hungarian MP, wrote in Politico that liberal-minded billionaires in the US must take proactive steps to prevent right-wing dominance of the media landscape.

While Musk has not confirmed any genuine plans to acquire MSNBC, his behaviour mirrors his approach to Twitter.

In 2017, Musk casually asked, How much is it? in response to a suggestion he should buy Twitter. Five years later, he purchased the platform for $44 billion, fundamentally reshaping its operations.

Musks unpredictable history ensures that the speculation wont die down anytime soon.

With inputs from agencies
Israels war Cabinet will vote today (November 26) on a ceasefire deal with Lebanon after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to it in principle. The deal, brokered by the US, includes a 60-day truce between Israel and Hezbollah. But what else has been proposed in the agreement and will both sides adhere to it? read more

Destroyed buildings stand on an area of a village in southern Lebanon as seen from northern Israel. Today, Israel's Cabinet will sign off on a ceasefire deal with Lebanon. AP

Is it the beginning of the end? Is Israels war against Hezbollah finally coming to an end? Today, November 26, marks a crucial day, as the Israeli Cabinet will vote on a ceasefire deal after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the plan in principle.

This major development comes after Israel has waged a long and bloody war in Lebanon against Hezbollah, which has claimed the lives of over 3,700 people.

On Monday, Reuters reported that US President Joe Biden and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, are expected to announce a ceasefire in Lebanon against Israel and Hezbollah. Interestingly, news of the ceasefire came as the Israeli military said it carried out a wave of strikes, hitting around two dozen Hezbollah targets across Lebanon in one hour.

Advertisement

But whats in the deal that has nearly been finalised? Will the proposed deal bring peace to the region?

We explore and get you the answers.

Whats in the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah?

Earlier on Monday, reports emerged that Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had indicated that he was open to a ceasefire deal with Lebanon, and by extension with Hezbollah. But whats in the US-brokered deal?

The deal brokered by the United States begins with 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  which is situated about 18 miles from the border with Israel.

Once the withdrawal of soldiers on either side is complete, thousands of Lebanese would be deployed in the area, alongside the UN observer force that is already in place.

News agency AP reports that an international committee would be set up to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which was passed in 2006 to end a month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah but never fully implemented.

Thick smoke, flames and debris erupt from an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Tayouneh, Beirut, Lebanon. AP

The deal also allows Lebanese civilians to return to their homes in the southern Lebanon villages and towns they evacuated.

According to Israels Channel 12, Lebanon has also committed to overseeing all arms purchases and arms production in the country to ensure that nothing reaches Hezbollah.

However, Michael Herzog, Israels ambassador to Washington, told Israeli Army Radio that while the deal is almost finalised, there are some sticking points that need to be ironed out. For instance, Israel wants the freedom to strike in Lebanon if they believe Hezbollah is violating their agreement deal. However, Lebanese officials have said agreeing to such a deal would violate Lebanons sovereignty. Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem has said the terror group would not accept an agreement that does not entail a complete and comprehensive end to the aggression and that does not protect Lebanons sovereignty.

Advertisement

To this end, the US has said that Israel will be allowed to act whenever it sees an immediate threat from Lebanon.

The ceasefire deal also states that the US will head the international body overseeing the deals implementation, while France will also be involved. Earlier, Lebanon and Israel had disagreed over which countries would be part of the panel, with Israel opposing France owing to the rise in mistrust. On the other hand, Lebanon has rejected Britain to be a part of the body.

Has Netanyahu approved the ceasefire deal?

After months of discussions and intense negotiations, Israeli officials said on Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to it in principle and has convened a high-level security cabinet in Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening to agree to it.

However, the official stressed that Israel was accepting a cessation of hostilities, not an end to the war on Hezbollah. We dont know how long it will last, the official said to Times of Israel of the ceasefire. It could be a month, it could be a year.

Advertisement

Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved the ceasefire deal with Hezbollah in principle. File image/AP

A US official, who has been involved in the discussions, also was quoted as saying, We think we have a deal. We are on the goal line but we havent passed it yet. The Israeli Cabinet needs to approve the deal on Tuesday and something can always go wrong until then.

How have others reacted to the ceasefire deal?

It appears that while Netanyahu is ready to accept this deal, not everyone is happy with it. Itamar Ben Gvir, Israels National Security Minister, has called it a big mistake and said it would be a historic missed opportunity to eradicate Hezbollah.

He urged Netanyahu to listen to the commanders fighting in the field precisely now, when Hezbollah is beaten and longs for a ceasefire, it is forbidden to stop.

Benny Gantz, who resigned from Israels war Cabinet, called on the prime minister to make the details of the ceasefire deal public. It is the right of the residents of the north, the fighters and the citizens of Israel to know, Gantz said.

Advertisement

Some northern residents have also expressed concerns as to whether a ceasefire was the right way to go. In my opinion, it would be a serious mistake to sign an agreement as long as Hezbollah has not been completely eliminated, said Maryam Younnes, 29, an Israeli-Lebanese student from Maalot-Tarshiha to AFP. It would be a mistake to sign an agreement as long as Hezbollah still has weapons.

Dorit Sison, 51, a teacher displaced from Shlomi, said: I dont want a ceasefire, because if they do it along the lines that theyve announced, well be in the same place in five years.

A man holds up a board that reads in Russian, Arabic, Hebrew and English: Yes to peace during a small protest against Israels military operations in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. File image/AP

Does the deal mean peace will return to the region?

A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, if agreed, will bring calm to the region that has been ravaged by war. However, its not clear how it would affect the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

One diplomat feared that if a ceasefire wasnt reached now, it would expand into Syria and Iraq. Israel has carried out regular airstrikes on Iran-linked groups in Syria and has threatened to strike in Iraq, where Iran-backed militias have periodically launched drone attacks on Israel.

Advertisement

Geir Pedersen, the UN special envoy for Syria, said during a visit to Damascus on Sunday that ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon are critical to avoid Syria being dragged even further into the conflict.

With inputs from agencies
Three days to the results, the Mahayuti is yet to declare its chief ministerial face for Maharashtra. While the BJP leaders are backing Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Sena is pushing for Eknath Shindes name. Ajit Pawar of the NCP, the third partner in the alliance, is reportedly rooting for Fadnavis. Heres why read more

Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde has resigned as Maharashtra chief minister, paving the way for the formation of the new Mahayuti government. The alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) scripted a landslide victory in the recently concluded Maharashtra Assembly elections.

It has been three days since the results but the Mahayuti has not declared its chief minister face yet. While the BJP cadre is rooting for Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Sena leaders are pressing for Shindes continuance in the top post.

Advertisement

Ajit Pawars Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has reportedly backed Fadnavis return as Maharashtra CM. Heres why the Baramati MLA will prefer the BJP leader for the job.

Strained ties with Eknath Shinde

Tensions between Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde go back to the tenure of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, reports say.

According to India Today, Shinde was unhappy with Thackeray for letting Pawar wield significant authority in the state administration. Eventually, Shinde rebelled and split the then-united Shiv Sena, leading to the collapse of the MVA government in June 2022.

Shinde then came to power with the help of the BJP, which was believed to be behind the revolt in the Shiv Sena. Fadnavis had to be content with the post of Deputy CM.

When junior Pawar rose against his uncle, Sharad Pawar, and broke away from the NCP to join the Shinde-Fadnavis government last July, Shinde was not pleased, as per the report.

Why Ajit Pawar will back Fadnavis

NCPs Pawar has cordial ties with Fadnavis and would be happy with Mahayuti picking the BJP leader for the top post. Ajit Pawar had taken oath as Fadnavis deputy in 2019 but the government lasted only 80 hours, as the NCP leader pulled out and went back to his uncle.

As per The New Indian Express (TNIE) report, the NCP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are pushing for Fadnavis elevation to the Maharashtra CM post.

The newspaper reported citing sources that Pawar is more comfortable with Fadnavis as the CM.

Pawar convened a meeting of newly elected NCP MLAs at his official bungalow recently. At the huddle, the election results were discussed, wherein the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 132 seats. Shindes Shiv Sena got 57 seats and the NCP 41.

Advertisement

In the meeting, it was also discussed that, if necessary, they would pass a resolution and extend their support to Fadnavis as CM. We are waiting for the top leadership of the BJP to make a decision regarding the Chief Minister post. After that, a decision will be taken in our party, a senior NCP leader told TNIE on the condition of anonymity.

Ajit Pawar has cordial ties with Devendra Fadnavis and is rooting for him as Maharashtra CM over Eknath Shinde. File Photo/PTI

There was consensus on supporting Fadnavis for the CM post at internal meetings, NCP leaders said, as per Indian Express. An NCP spokesperson said the Ajit Pawar-led party has made it clear to the BJP leadership that Fadnavis should be the first preference as CM.

Advertisement

While the three parties have insisted that the Mahayuti leaders will pick the CM together, the final decision lies with the BJP top brass.

If Shinde becomes the CM, the Shiv Sena would have an edge over the NCP in the Mahayuti government. As Indian Express noted, Pawars party is not in a position to demand the same stature in the government as the BJP given the huge difference in their seats.

Reports say the most likely scenario is that Fadnavis would be CM, with Shinde and Pawar set to be his deputies. As per a Times of India (TOI) report, the BJP has conveyed the decision to go ahead with Fadnavis name for the top job to the NCP, which is on board.

Advertisement

The same will be communicated to the Shiv Sena.

What has Shiv Sena said?

So far, the Shiv Sena has not budged from its demand to retain Shinde as the Maharashtra chief minister.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Naresh Mhaske on Monday (November 25) batted for Shinde to continue as the CM citing the Bihar example. We feel Shinde should be the chief minister, just like in Bihar where BJP did not look at the numbers but still made JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar the CM. Senior leaders of the Mahayuti (in Maharashtra) will ultimately take a decision, he was quoted as saying by PTI.

However, BJP MLC Pravin Darekar supported Fadnavis to helm the new government, dismissing Mhaskes comments as his personal opinion and not the partys stand.

People have given [the] mandate to Devendra Fadnavis. The people of Maharashtra stood behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said the BJP leader.

Advertisement

Owing to its massive mandate, the BJP is not heavily reliant on its allies to touch the majority mark of 145 in the Maharashtra Assembly. With the NCP on its side, the saffron party can comfortably stake claim to form the government. Both the Shiv Sena and NCP will, however, try to get as many ministerial berths for their parties as they can.

VIDEO | Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde (@mieknathshinde) submits his resignation to Governor CP Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai.#MaharashtraNews



(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/MSIbsNw1cb  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 26, 2024

As the suspense continues, Shinde, who submitted his resignation to Governor CP Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhawan today (November 26), has urged his supporters not to gather outside his official residence Varsha in south Mumbai to press for his continuation as the CM.

Shinde will serve as the caretaker CM until the new government is formed.

With inputs from agencies
The Union Cabinet has given the green light to the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme. The initiative seeks to provide students, faculty, and researchers access to globally renowned scholarly articles and journals read more

The scheme aims to provide students, faculty, and researchers with access to high-impact scholarly research articles. Image courtesy: Pixabay/Representational

The Union Cabinet has approved the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme, aimed at providing nationwide access to scholarly research articles and journal publications.

Under this Central Sector Scheme, Rs 6,000 crore has been allocated for three calendar years: 2025, 2026, and 2027.

The Department of Higher Education will operate a unified portal, One Nation One Subscription, allowing institutions across the country to access journals seamlessly.

Cabinet approves One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)



The Prime Minister in his address to the Nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on 15th August, 2022, had pointed out the importance of Research and Development in our country in the Amrit Kaal. He had given the clarion call pic.twitter.com/mXnJm7ZQ3m  Ministry of Education (@EduMinOfIndia) November 25, 2024

Advertisement

ALSO READ | What is MATES, Australias new work scheme for young Indians?

So, how can you benefit from this scheme, and what should you know about it?

1. The One Nation One Subscription scheme will benefit all higher educational institutions managed by the Central or state governments, along with research and development institutions of the Central government. Access will be provided through a national subscription coordinated by the Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET), an autonomous inter-university centre under the University Grants Commission (UGC), according to an official statement.

2. The scheme aims to provide students, faculty, and researchers at these institutions with access to international, high-impact scholarly research articles and journal publications.

This move will allow institutions across the country to access journals seamlessly. Image courtesy: Pixabay/Representational

3. This initiative will support over 6,300 institutions, including government universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories, benefitting more than 1.8 crore students, faculty, and researchers. Further, the ONOS scheme will extend its reach to tier-2 and tier-3 cities, offering access to interdisciplinary and advanced research across various fields.

4. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) will periodically assess the usage of the One Nation One Subscription scheme and monitor publications by Indian authors from these institutions. State governments will also be encouraged to carry out awareness campaigns to maximise usage of this facility by students, faculty, and researchers at all government institutions, the statement added.

5. The scheme aims to democratise access to academic resources, providing nearly 13,000 high-impact e-journals from 30 leading international publishers. By eliminating barriers to quality academic materials, the initiative will aim to promote both core and interdisciplinary research.

ALSO READ | Shaping India: 23 key schemes in Modis journey from Gujarat CM to Indias PM

Advertisement

6. A dedicated portal, One Nation One Subscription, will be the main access point for institutions to explore these resources. To ensure widespread awareness, the Department of Higher Education, along with state governments and relevant ministries, will conduct Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaigns.

7. During his Independence Day address on August 15, 2022, Prime Minister Modi spoke about the important role of research and development in Indias progress. Inspired by this vision, the National Education Policy (2020) has placed research at the core of achieving educational excellence and national development.

8. Presently, ten separate library consortia under various ministries provide access to journals for higher education institutions within their administrative scope, The Indian Express said in a report. Further, individual institutions subscribe to journals independently. However, with the implementation of ONOS, all government higher education institutions, including universities, colleges, and institutions of national importance, will have unified access to both national and international journal publications.

Advertisement

#Cabinet approves One Nation One Subscription (ONOS), a new Central Sector Scheme for providing country-wide access to scholarly research articles and journal publications with a total outlay of Rs. 6,000 crore



-Union Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw#CabinetDecisions pic.twitter.com/9ni6h8Wsxo  PIB India (@PIB_India) November 25, 2024

9. Publishers included in the scheme include Elsevier ScienceDirect, Springer Nature, Wiley Blackwell Publishing, Sage Publishing, Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Taylor & Francis, and BMJ Journals.

Advertisement

10. The scheme aims to expand access to research journals for institutions that previously lacked adequate resources. The platform is scheduled to become operational on January 1, 2025.

One Nation One Subscription is a timely step towards establishing India in the global research ecosystem by bringing ease of doing research to the doorstep of all students, faculty and researchers in the government institutions, a press release read.

It further stated, One Nation One Subscription will build on and further enhance the scope and reach of the range of initiatives undertaken by the Government of India over the past decade in the domains of education, for maximizing access to quality higher education for the youth of India.

Advertisement

This will supplement the ANRF initiative to promote research and development and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout government universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories.

With inputs from agencies
A South Korean mans attempt to evade military service by binge eating to obesity has sparked debate over conscription in the country. Sentenced to a one-year prison term, the man doubled his meals and gained over 102 kilogrammes to avoid combat duty read more

South Korean soldiers participate in an anti-terror drill, as part of the country's annual Ulchi civil defence exercise, at Jamsil Sports Complex in Seoul, South Korea, August 20, 2024. File Image/Reuters

A South Korean mans unusual attempt to evade mandatory military service by deliberately gaining weight has resulted in a conviction, stirring public debate over the countrys conscription policies.

The 26-year-old man, whose identity has not been disclosed, was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years, by the Seoul Eastern District Court under the Military Service Act.

This law mandates all able-bodied male citizens aged 18 to 35 to serve at least 18 months in the military, with penalties of up to three years in prison for evasion without a valid reason.

Advertisement

How the South Korean man attempted to evade military service

The court found the man guilty of deliberately manipulating his body weight to be deemed unfit for combat duties. Initially assessed as Level 2  qualifying for combat service  during a 2017 physical examination, the man later received a Level 4 classification during his June 2023 examination, which categorised him as obese.

His weight had ballooned to over 102 kilogrammes (225 pounds) at a height of about 5 feet 5 inches, resulting in a BMI of 35.8, classifying him as clinically obese.

The defendant consumed high-calorie foods, approximately doubled his meal portions, refrained from physically demanding jobs such as parcel delivery work, and drank large amounts of water right before measurements to deliberately increase his weight, the judge stated in the ruling.

This weight gain exempted him from combat duties and relegated him to a non-combat administrative role at a government agency, where he could commute from home.

The mans binge-eating strategy was reportedly suggested by a friend, who provided him with a detailed plan to gain weight, reported The Korea Herald. The friend also faced legal consequences, receiving a six-month prison sentence for aiding and abetting the offense.

However, the friend denied the charges, claiming he didnt think he [the convicted] would go through with it.

Both individuals received relatively lenient sentences due to their lack of prior criminal records and their remorseful attitudes. The court official noted, Most of all, [the man] accepted his wrongdoing and vowed to serve his military duty sincerely.

Advertisement

How draft dodging is a persistent issue in South Korea

This case is far from isolated in South Korea, where military service is a contentious topic. In 2017 alone, 37 per cent of the 59 detected cases of draft evasion involved deliberate weight manipulation, according to the Military Manpower Administration.

Other methods have included feigning mental illness, registering false disabilities, and even intentionally breaking bones.

Also Read | Germany mulls compulsory military service: Is conscription returning to Europe?

In recent years, the prosecution of draft dodgers has intensified. For example, in 2022, a professional volleyball player was charged with faking epilepsy to avoid conscription. Similarly, a former professional gamer was sentenced to one year in prison earlier this year for pretending to have an IQ of 53 to obtain a mental disorder diagnosis.

Historically, some young men have gone to extremes, such as paying brokers to learn how to raise blood pressure by chain-smoking, drinking excessive coffee, and depriving themselves of sleep before their physical assessments.

Advertisement

Is the mandatory military service law in South Korea controversial?

Since the Korean War, South Korea has maintained compulsory military service as a safeguard against North Korean threats. However, the policy has long been controversial.

Conscientious objectors, primarily citing religious or political reasons, have faced imprisonment, though a 2018 Constitutional Court ruling mandated alternative civilian roles for such individuals.

High-profile cases have also highlighted how conscription disrupts careers, as seen with global K-pop stars like BTS, who had to suspend their activities to fulfill their duties.

K-pop boy band BTS member J-Hope waves after being discharged from his 18 months of mandatory military service outside a military base in Wonju, South Korea, October 17, 2024. File Image/Reuters

The draft has also become a flashpoint in gender debates. Women are exempt from mandatory service, leading to arguments of gender inequality.

In a 2018 survey, 72 per cent of South Korean men in their 20s considered the draft discriminatory, and 65 per cent believed women should also be conscripted.

Also Read | South Korean military concerned about spying, removes 1,300 Chinese-made cameras from bases

Advertisement

With inputs from agencies
"In China, For China, With China," says Corning Display Technologies China senior executive

09:48, November 26, 2024 By Wu Chengliang, Zhao Tong, Zhang Wenjie, Su Yingxiang, Liu Yi and Zhong Wenxing ( People's Daily Online

For more than 170 years, Corning, one of the world's leading innovators in materials science, has combined its unparalleled expertise in glass science, ceramics science, and optical physics with deep manufacturing and engineering capabilities to develop life-changing innovations and products, solve tough problems, and improve people's lives.

Corning's journey in Chongqing, southwest China, began in 2015 with an investment in a display glass substrate finishing line project in Chongqing Liangjiang New Area. This facility achieved mass production by early 2017, marking the starting point of Corning's commitment to the region.

In September 2021, Corning expanded its investment in Chongqing by signing an agreement with Chongqing Liangjiang New Area to launch the Corning cover glass project. "This is the first manufacturing facility of Corning Gorilla glass in the Chinese mainland with mass production on December 18, 2023," said Daniel Tseng, President and General Manager of Corning Display Technologies China. "That is a great milestone," he emphasized.

Daniel Tseng, President and General Manager of Corning Display Technologies China. (People's Daily Online/Liu Yi)

From 2015 to 2023, Corning continues to invest in Chongqing from all dimensions, empowering the development of a complete display ecosystem in Chongqing.

"In total, We have already invested about 1.5 billion US dollar in Chongqing area," said Tseng.

Tseng explained Corning's decision to continue its investment in Chongqing is underpinned by solid strategic considerations. "Firstly, the perfect location. Secondly, the policy. Lastly, the future developing powers," he stated.

Chongqing's geographical advantage as a transportation hub, coupled with its commitment to developing electronic information industry clusters and supportive business environment, align seamlessly with Corning's development strategy in China. Optimism surrounds Chongqing's 33618 industry development plan, with expectations of further synergies driving Corning's growth trajectory.

Tseng believed that China's significance in Corning's global strategy cannot be overstated. Corning has been rooted in China for 44 years and has formed a complete layout of R&D, manufacturing, and commercial.

Daniel Tseng, President and General Manager of Corning Display Technologies China, introduces products of Corning to People's Daily Online. (People's Daily Online/Liu Yi)

Apart from the United States, the Chinese market is the only place where has all of Coring's 5 major businesses, covering Display, Optical Communications, Automotive, Life Sciences, and Mobile Consumer Electronics. These are aligned with China's industry focus with leading manufacturing capability and great potential.

Tseng commended Chongqing's initiatives to build a market-oriented, legal and international first-class business environment. "We are fully assured of the local business environment. Corning has been developing in Chongqing for nearly 10 years. During this period, we benefited a lot from Chongqing's initiatives and execution in continuously optimizing its business environment," said Tseng.

Corning has benefited from Chongqing's efficient and pragmatic government support, robust protection of intellectual property rights, and a commitment to creating a favorable business climate.

Looking ahead, Tseng is optimistic about the development of China's economy and the opportunities it presents. Corning's focus remains steadfast on innovation, value creation, and sustainability, aligned with China's economic goals.

"In China, For China, With China," Tseng concluded, reaffirming Corning's commitment to local development and deepening cooperation in the region. Corning is poised to continue its growth and contribute to China's economic future, leveraging its strategic investments and innovations.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chengliang)
Udaipur saw a major clash between two factions of the Mewar royal family when Rajsamand MLA Vishvaraj Singh Mewar, the newly crowned Maharana of Mewar, was stopped from entering the City Palace over a property dispute. The situation quickly escalated as his supporters began protesting, throwing stones, and attempting to enter through the palace gate read more

Violent clashes took place outside the City Palace in Udaipur, Rajasthan. Image courtesy: Screengrab/ANI

Udaipurs City Palace was the centre of rising tensions on Monday when BJP MLA Vishvaraj Singh was denied entry, a few hours after being anointed the ceremonial leader of the Mewar royal family.

Violent clashes took place outside the City Palace and incidents of stone-pelting were also reported.

The row occurred after Vishvaraj Singhs anointment as he succeeded his late father, Mahendra Singh Mewar, who died earlier this month.

Visuals from the scene, which have now surfaced on social media, showed the tense situation near the palace.

Advertisement

#WATCH | Udaipur, Rajasthan: BJP MLA from Rajsamand and newly crowned Maharana of Mewar, Vishvaraj Singh Mewar and his supporters camp outside the City palace after they were stopped from entering the palace.



Vishvaraj Singh Mewar, the 77th Maharana of Mewar had a stand-off with pic.twitter.com/zRASFAoKfI  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2024

ALSO READ | 3 dead, internet suspended: How a mosque survey in UPs Sambhal led to violent clashes

What happened?

Following Vishvaraj Singh Mewars coronation as the 77th Maharana of Mewar, a fight broke out at the gates of Udaipurs historic City Palace. Singh was denied entry to the palace, which is now managed by a trust overseen by his cousin Lakshay Raj Singh Mewar and uncle Arvind Singh Mewar.

Tensions escalated throughout the day before turning violent after 10 pm. Supporters of the MLA began pelting stones and tried to breach the palace gates, while people inside retaliated. Dramatic visuals from the scene showed stones being hurled from both sides.

Three people were injured as police intervened to control the unruly mob.

As the situation intensified, Udaipur District Collector Arvind Poswal and Superintendent of Police Yogesh Goyal arrived to control the standoff.

Condemning the clashes, Singh said it was unjust to prevent the performance of royal rituals, India Today said in a report. Further, senior officials, including District Magistrate Arvind Poswal and SP Yogesh Goyal, spoke to Singh and his supporters to defuse the situation.

Advertisement

Property disputes are a different matter. But whatever is happening is wrong, both from traditional and legal points of view. Its not right to prevent me from going to the temple, he was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

#WATCH | Udaipur, Rajasthan | 'Raj tilak' and turban ceremony of the erstwhile Mewar royal family member, Vishvaraj Singh Mewar was held at Chittorgarh Fort today. It took place after the death of his father and former MP Mahendra Singh Mewar.



After the coronation ceremony, he pic.twitter.com/Juo01VsdK5  ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) November 25, 2024

Meanwhile, the Udaipur Police, addressing concerns about law and order, posted on X, Police officers along with the force are present on the spot, the situation is under control.

Speaking to reporters, District Collector Arvind Poswal assured, The law and order situation is well under control. Talks were going on with palace representatives as well as the society representatives. We have agreed on certain issues, while talks are still going on for certain others.

What caused the clashes in Udaipur?

The clashes were a result of a long-running family dispute within the Mewar royal lineage. Tensions escalated when Vishvaraj Singh Mewar, the newly declared heir to the Mewar dynasty, was blocked from entering the City Palace, leading to a confrontation with his cousin Lakshay Raj Singh Mewar and their uncle Arvind Singh Mewar.

Supporters of Vishvaraj Singh tried to force their way into the palace, resulting in a clash and stone-throwing between both sides.

A BJP MLA from Rajsamand Vishvaraj Singh was formally crowned as the 77th Maharana of Mewar at a traditional ceremony in Chittorgarh Fort, 12 days after the passing of his father, Mahendra Singh Mewar.

Advertisement

Supporters of Vishvaraj Singh break police barricade after he was denied entry into Udaipur Palace, Nov. 25, 2024. PTI

Notably, Vishvaraj Singhs wife Mahima Kumari is the sitting MP from the Rajsamand seat.

The coronation, which took place based on centuries-old traditions, included a blood ritual known as the raj tilak. During this ceremony, an aristocrat cut his finger with a sword and used the blood to anoint Vishvaraj, NDTV reported.

Following the ceremony, Vishvaraj Singh wanted to seek blessings from the family deities  the Dhooni Mata temple inside the palace and the Ekling Shiv temple, which is nearly 50 km from Udaipur.

However, his entry to the City Palace was denied as the temples are managed by a trust led by his cousin and uncle. Efforts by the officials to allow only a few people to accompany him into the palace were also unsuccessful.

Advertisement

Notably, the Mewar royal familys new generation has been involved in a legal dispute over the management of royal properties, including palaces, temples, and forts, which are now overseen by nine trusts, all controlled by Vishvarajs relatives, the media outlet reported.

The conflict dates back to 1984 when the former Maharana of Mewar, Bhagwat Singhji, appointed his younger son Arvind Singh as director of the trusts, sidelining his elder son, Mahendra Singh, and resulting in ongoing tensions over control of the royal assets.

Now, the Maharana Mewar Charitable Trust has issued a public notice warning against any attempts to enter the trust premises, fearing it might be an attempt to trespass and damage royal property, NDTV reported.

What did the administration say about the situation?

After being denied entry to the palace, Vishvaraj Singh and his supporters moved to Jagdish Chowk, which is located just a few metres from the City Palace.

Amid the escalating tensions, police submitted a report to the additional district magistrate, recommending the appointment of a receiver for the area from Bali Pol to Dhuni within the City Palace premises.

#WATCH | Udaipur, Rajasthan: Dispute within the former royal family turned violent as supporters of BJP MLA Vishvaraj Singh Mewar, who was crowned as the 77th Maharana of Mewar, clashed with City Palace representatives, leading to stone-pelting.



After the coronation ceremony pic.twitter.com/4KU6nASAUE  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2024

Senior police officials also spoke to Arvind Singhs son to control the situation, however, the talks remained unresolved.

District Collector Arvind Poswal said that negotiations between the two parties were ongoing.

It is expected that the parties will reach a conclusion soon, Poswal told The Indian Express.

He further stated that the district administration had taken the disputed Dhuni Mata Temple site into receivership.

The district administration has moved to take the disputed site of Dhuni Mata Temple into receivership. If either of the two groups wants to register a case, it will be registered, Poswal said.

With inputs from agencies
A report published by the US Senate on Tuesday showed that five US airlines earned $12.4 billion in revenue from 2018 to 2023 merely from seat fees alone. The report, put out by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations headed by Senator Richard Blumenthal, recommended that the Transportation Department collect data on these fees read more

The report comes in the backdrop of the outgoing Biden administration attempting to crackdown on junk fees in several industries. Reuters

US airlines are making billions of dollars  and its all from junk fees.

A report published by the US Senate on Tuesday showed that five US airlines have earned $12.4 billion in revenue merely from seat fees alone.

The report found that United Airlines alone made over a billion dollars a year from seat fees  more than what it earned from fees in checked bags.

It comes in the backdrop of the outgoing Biden administration attempting to crackdown on junk fees in several industries.

Advertisement

But what do we know about this?

Lets take a closer look:

What does the report say?

The report was put out by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations headed by Senator Richard Blumenthal.

The report stated that the airlines collected $12.4 billion in revenue from seat fees between 2018 and 2023.

United Airlines, for example, charged $319 for a seat with extra legroom seat, while Spirit Airlines charged $299, Delta Air Lines charged $264, Frontier Airlines charged $141 and American Airlines charged $140.

Seat fees have grown more expensive and farther-reaching, the report states, as per CNN. These five airlines charge passengers extra for additional legroom, aisle and window seats, or even selecting a seat in advance, compelling parents with minor children to pay to sit together.

United itself earned $1.3 billion in seat fees  more than the $1.2 billion it earned from checked bag fees, the report said.

Blumenthals panel spent a year investigating, finding carriers are increasingly using algorithms to set fees, targeting pricing based on customer information and said some carriers may be avoiding federal transportation excise taxes by labelling some charges as non-taxable fees.

His committee found ultra-low cost carriers Frontier and Spirit paid $26 million to gate agents and others between 2022 and 2023 to catch passengers allegedly not paying for bag fees or having oversized items.

Frontier personnel can earn as much as $10 for each bag a passenger is forced to check at the gate, the report said.

Advertisement

One Frontier official told the Subcommittee that bag policy enforcement was necessary because the airline does not want customers to be taking more or stealing from the airline, the report noted.

As per the Wall Street Journal, the report recommended that the Transportation Department collect more data on seat fees  as it does for baggage fees.

It also slammed Spirit and Frontier for offering commissions for upselling or catching passengers trying to get around carry-on bag charges.

What are the airlines saying?

Spirit and United did not comment.

Airlines for America, a trade group, said the optional fees that customers can choose, adding average domestic round-trip fares, including fees, were 14 per cent lower in 2023 real terms versus 2010.

Advertisement

The organisation told CNN that its members comply with all laws and regulations, including those on taxes and fees.

Frontier said, The commission for gate agents is simply designed to incentivise our team members to ensure compliance with bag size requirements so that all customers are treated equally and fairly.

Frontier works every day to increase consumers access to affordable air travel and to ensure that it provides the best possible value to its customers. Our unbundled services model has democratised air travel, enabling millions of individuals, families, and small businesses who otherwise would not or could not afford to travel the opportunity to travel by air, its statement said.

Advertisement

Airlines for America added, The subcommittee clearly lacks appreciation for the fact that air travel today is democratised, allowing Americans across all income levels to fly. Today, because of the revolution in air travel, nearly ninety percent of Americans have flown. That is because Americans have the power of choice to pay for the services they want and forgo those they dont.

The report found that United Airlines alone made over a billion dollars a year from seat fees  more than what it earned from fees in checked bags. Reuters

Spirit Airlines said in a statement that it disagrees with much of the report and is transparent about our products and pricing, our airport policies ensure Guests are treated fairly and equally, and we comply with all tax laws and regulations.

Advertisement

Delta said it is committed to providing a choice of fare products that best meets our customers specific travel needs.

Blumenthal said Congress should require airlines to provide more detailed fee disclosures. He said the USDOT should investigate potential abuses in incentive-based collection of fees.

Blumenthal said the air carrier executives will be called to testify on December 4.

Blumenthal, who chairs the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, will convene a hearing titled The Skys the Limit  New Revelations About Airline Fees with senior executives from American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Spirit Airlines and Frontier.

I know that some airline CEOs have expressed hopes that the next administration will be less passenger-friendly and more corporate-friendly than this administration, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said at a news conference last week.

The passenger protections that we have put in place deservedly enjoy broad public, bipartisan support.

Biden administration war on junk fees

The Biden administration in April published a Transportation Department rule requiring airlines to more clearly disclose fees when they advertise prices for a flight.

It published the rule, alongside another dealing with airline refunds, in April as part of a campaign against what it calls junk fees.

The decision was blocked by an appeals court which found the rule to be too detailed in its restrictions.

The court granted a request by airlines to temporarily block the rule while a lawsuit filed by the carriers plays out.

Under the rule, airlines and ticket agents would be required to disclose fees for checked and carry-on bags and canceling or changing a reservation. Airline websites would have to show the fees the first time customers can see a price and schedule.

Six carriers including American, Delta and United, along with Airlines for America, sued in May to block the rule. The trade group said then that the rule would confuse consumers by giving them too much information when buying tickets.

Airlines sued to block USDOTs new rule on upfront disclosure of airline fees, while airline CEOs in 2018 successfully lobbied against bipartisan legislation to mandate reasonable and proportional baggage and change fees.

With inputs from agencies
US President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to carry out the largest mass deportation programme in history after returning to power. Now, several universities have been emailing international students asking them to return to campus before the presidential inauguration on January 20. But why is this happening? read more

Students walk past the "Great Dome" atop Building 10 on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus in Cambridge, Mass, April 3, 2017. AP File

Ahead of Donald Trump taking office in January, universities are warning their students to return to their campuses.

Trump, who is US President-elect, has vowed to carry out the largest mass deportation programme in history after returning to power.

Trump has even pledged to use the US military to do so.

But why are universities worried? What do we know?

Lets take a closer look:

What happened?

According to BBC, a number of universities have been emailing international students asking them to return to campus prior to the presidential inauguration on January 20.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst last week in a travel advisory to its international students and faculty called on them to strongly consider returning to the US prior to the inauguration, as per Huffington Post.

Advertisement

The school, which has over 5,000 students, said it was doing so out of an abundance of caution.

It cited the previous travel bans ordered by Trump.

Given that a new presidential administration can enact new policies on their first day in office (January 20), and based on previous experience with travel bans that were enacted in the first Trump Administration in 2016, the Office of Global Affairs is making this advisory out of an abundance of caution to hopefully prevent any possible travel disruption to members of our international community, the UMass office said in a statement.

We are not able to speculate on what a travel ban will look like if enacted, nor can we speculate on what particular countries or regions of the world may or may not be affected.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst isnt the only one doing so.

The famed Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has also issued a similar advisory.

The university said Trumps executive orders could hamper travel and visa processing times.

Trumps original travel ban barred nearly all immigrants and travellers from seven countries with majority Muslim populations.

Advertisement

The policy was revised amid court challenges, but the US Supreme Court ultimately upheld it in June 2018.

How many international students are in the US?

The US has over 400,000 undocumented students enrolled at its institutes of higher learning, the outlet quoted data from the Higher Ed Immigration Portal as showing.

According to Huffington Post, the US this year had over 1.1 million international students  a record number.

Total admissions increased by seven per cent, it quoted data from the National Center for Education Statistics as showing.

Most students were from India and China  29 per cent and 25 per cent respectively.

India has sent over 331,600 students to the US in 2023-2024. Pixabay

Most of them were enrolled at New York University, Northeastern University, Columbia University and Arizona State University.

As per Hindustan Times, India has sent over 331,600 students to the US in 2023-2024  the most students of any country and the first time since 2009.

Advertisement

Thats a 23 per cent spike over the 2022-2023 academic year.

India, for the second straight year, has sent the most masters and PhD-level) students to the US.

How are students feeling?

All international students are worried right now, University of Colorado Denver professor Chloe East told the BBC.

Students are incredibly overwhelmed and stressed out right now as a result of the uncertainty around immigration, East added.

A lot of students have concerns about their visas and whether theyll be allowed to continue their education.

Aoi Maeda, an international student from Japan at Earlham College in Indiana, told BBC, I am planning to graduate in May 2026, but now that the administration is going to be a little bit more dangerous, Im less hopeful about things going well, she said.

Advertisement

[Trump] claims that he is only interested in keeping illegal immigrants out of the country, but he also kind of tries to move the goal post a lot of times, Maeda continued.

I feel like us international students with a visa might get affected, and itll become easier to deport us.

With inputs from agencies
Warren Buffett, the 94-year-old billionaire investor, has unveiled his most detailed plan yet for distributing his $150 billion fortune after his death. In a candid letter, Buffett revealed that his three children will have a decade to allocate his wealth, with successor trustees named in case they cannot fulfill the task read more

Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, speaks during a game of bridge after the annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 5, 2019. File Image/AP

Warren Buffett, the 94-year-old billionaire investor and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, marked this Thanksgiving with another massive act of generosity, donating over $1.1 billion in Berkshire Hathaway stock to four family-run foundations.

This move is part of a larger vision to distribute his wealth, now estimated at over $150 billion, in ways that align with his philanthropic philosophy.

Since 2006, Buffett has pledged to donate more than 99 per cent of his fortune, a commitment that has already seen him give away over $58 billion, including $43 billion to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Advertisement

This years Thanksgiving donation included 1,600 Class A Berkshire shares, converted into 2.4 million Class B shares. Of these, 1.5 million shares went to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, named after his late first wife, while the remaining 300,000 shares were divided among foundations led by his three children: Susie, Howard, and Peter Buffett.

Father Time always wins

In a letter to shareholders released alongside the announcement, Buffett addressed his advancing age and the inevitability of mortality with his characteristic candor. Father time always wins, he wrote.

But he can be fickle  indeed unfair and even cruel  sometimes ending life at birth or soon thereafter while, at other times, waiting a century or so before paying a visit. To date, Ive been very lucky, but, before long, he will get around to me.

The children of Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett, from left, Howard Buffett, Susie Buffett, and Peter Buffett, pose for a photo at the CenturyLink Center exhibit hall in Omaha, Nebraska, US, May 1, 2015. File Image/AP

Reflecting on the realities of aging, Buffett acknowledged that his children  aged 71, 69, and 66  may not outlive the 10-year timeline he has set for distributing the remainder of his fortune.

To address this possibility, he has named three successor trustees who, though unnamed, are younger and well-known to his family. Ive never wished to create a dynasty or pursue any plan that extended beyond the children. But these successors are on the wait list, Buffett added.

The philosophy behind Buffetts giving

Buffetts wealth distribution plans are deeply rooted in his belief that children of the ultra-wealthy should inherit enough to pursue anything they wish but not so much that they can afford to do nothing.

He famously summarised this philosophy, saying, Hugely wealthy parents should leave their children enough so they can do anything but not enough that they can do nothing.

His giving strategy began in earnest following the death of his first wife, Susan, in 2004. The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation has since played a significant role in reproductive health initiatives.

Advertisement

Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett attends the Berkshire Hathaway Inc annual shareholders meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, US, May 3, 2024. File Image/Reuters

His other family foundations focus on early childhood education (Sherwood Foundation), combating global hunger and human trafficking (Howard G Buffett Foundation), and empowering marginalised women and indigenous communities (NoVo Foundation).

Buffetts practical approach to wealth management extends beyond philanthropy to estate planning. He strongly advises families to discuss their wills openly during their lifetimes. When your children are mature, have them read your will before you sign it, he advised.

Be sure each child understands both the logic for your decisions and the responsibilities they will encounter upon your death. He noted that he had followed this advice himself, valuing his childrens feedback. There is nothing wrong with my having to defend my thoughts. My dad did the same with me.

Advertisement

Path forward for Berkshire Hathaway

Buffett has led Berkshire Hathaway since 1965, turning it into a $1 trillion conglomerate encompassing businesses like Geico and BNSF Railway and substantial investments in companies such as Apple and American Express.

Despite his advancing age, Buffett remains at the helm as chairman and CEO, with no plans to retire. Greg Abel, who currently oversees Berkshires non-insurance operations, is designated as his successor.

After Buffetts death, his three children will have a decade to unanimously decide how to allocate the remaining wealth.

What could be more satisfying than well-discussed testamentary decisions bringing a family closer in the end? Buffett mused in his letter, recalling both the tragedies and triumphs he and his late business partner Charlie Munger witnessed in estate planning.

What could have been but was made sure it was not

If Buffett and his first wife had never given away any Berkshire shares, their family fortune would be worth $364 billion today, making him the worlds richest person.

However, Buffett has no regrets. As a family, we have had everything we needed or simply liked, but we have not sought enjoyment from the fact that others craved what we had, he reflected.

Advertisement

Here's the full letter Warren Buffett sent out to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders pic.twitter.com/RRZsZ5phKc  Evan (@StockMKTNewz) November 25, 2024

The billionaires journey is a testament to the power of compound interest, long-term investments, and a life lived with purpose. As he put it, You dont want your children asking Why? in respect to testamentary decisions when you are no longer able to respond.

Advertisement

With inputs from agencies
In a five-page letter, Lt General Rajeev Puri has voiced his concerns about the performance of women commanding officers in the Indian Army. The top-ranking official has complained that some of the women had an uncontrolled urge to make derogatory statements and often exhibited a misplaced sense entitlement. The internal communication, which has been leaked, is bound to trigger a debate read more

In a five page letter, Lt General Rajeev Puri has outlined how women COs have poor interpersonal relations, an exaggerated tendency to complain and a lack of empathy. Representational image/PTI

In 2020, the Supreme Court paved the way for women to take up command roles in the Indian Army when it gave a nod to permanent commission for women. Now, four years later, a top Army official has provided stinging feedback on women in combat leadership roles.

According to Lt General Rajeev Puri, the outgoing Corps Commander of the 17 Corps, women commanding officers (COs) had various leadership shortcomings, including poor interpersonal relations, an exaggerated tendency to complain and a lack of empathy for officers and troops in their units.

Advertisement

Lt General Rajeev Puri in a letter addressed to General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, Lt General Ram Chander Tiwari on October 1 reviewed eight Colonel-rank women officers under his command. His letter, which is five pages long, was also addressed to senior officials at Army Headquarters, reported the Times of India.

The letter is likely to create a huge debate once again on whether women should be permitted in the Indian Army in senior roles and their efficiency in leading men in combat.

We take a closer look at the concerns flagged by the top army official.

Many concerns over women COs

In his letter, Lt Gen Rajeev Puri flagged serious concerns regarding interpersonal relations and a lack of tact and understanding among the Colonel-rank women officers.

He wrote, During the last one year, there has been an increase in the number of officer management issues in units commanded by women officers. These are indicative of serious concerns regarding interpersonal relations. Most cases pertain to a lack of tact and understanding of the personal requirements of unit personnel, especially officers. The emphasis is more on conflict termination through might, rather than conflict resolution through mutual respect. A prejudice and mistrust was evident in few of the cases in the recent past.

He also noted that the women COs have an uncontrolled urge to make derogatory statements regarding juniors to usurp credit, rather than encouraging them, is routine.

In his review of the women officers, Lt Gen Puri also noted that some of them even had a misplaced sense of entitlement. Citing an example of this, he wrote that one woman CO insisted that a subedar major (SM) open her vehicle door whenever she arrived, despite orders to the contrary. Occasionally, when the SM would get delayed in doing so, the CO would continue sitting in her vehicle and not disembark, Lt Gen Puri noted.

Advertisement

In 2023, a total of 108 women officers were cleared for the rank of colonels by a special selection board. Representational image/PTI

He added that the women COs exhibited an exaggerated tendency to complain to senior commanders about their subordinates. Furthermore, according to him, the Colonel-rank women officers had a my way or highway approach, which led to a lack of trust among officers.

He also pointed out that in some cases they sought immediate gratification for minor achievements.

The top Army official also pointed out that these behavioural traits or styles of leadership could be attributed to the fact that they were trying to prove themselves. The desire to prove oneself in a field which was supposed to be a male bastion is likely a driver behind the over-ambitiousness in some women COs In order to be perceived as strong individuals and avoid being judged as soft-hearted, women COs handle HR issues with a firmer hand than their male counterparts, he wrote.

Advertisement

He concluded his letter by writing that the Indian Army needed to shift away from gender equality to gender neutrality. Gender equality primarily translates to providing equal opportunity for all genders, gender neutrality lays emphasis on equality in dealing and progression irrespective of gender, he wrote, suggesting that gender-neutral policies should be prioritised in officer postings and selection profiles.

Reactions to the letter

Shortly after the letter was made public, it sparked strong reactions from many. Sources from the defence establishment maintained that the letter was meant to improve training army. The training of women officers is an ongoing process and leadership roles need to be based upon years of experience in junior leadership roles to prepare officers for command. The suggestions made were meant to improve the training standards within the Army in order to further integrate women into the force, a source told NDTV.

However, women officers who saw the letter were dismayed by it. One such woman officer told Hindustan Times that it was bitterly disappointing and smacking of blatant sexism. She told the daily that it was disturbing as it has called into question their work ethic.

Advertisement

l

Indian women army cadets march during their graduation ceremony at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai. Women are dismayed by the senior officials letter reviewing women COs. Representational image/AFP

On social media too, reports of the letter prompted some anger, while others expressed support for it. Man Aman Singh Chhina, who reports on defence and national security affairs wrote on X, The letter written by Lt Gen Rajeev Puri is a disgrace has been deliberately leaked as part of agenda to discredit women Army officers. To stereotype all women COs in one letter is just stupidity. The inability to think beyond women being different just reflects how entrenched the old boys club in Army is. And to look at all women officers as one homogenous unit demonstrates a fairly serious lack of intellect.

Advertisement

Others on X said that the general brought up valid points and that women shouldnt be given leadership roles in the fighting forces.

Women in senior leadership roles in Army

It was in February 2020 that the Supreme Court of India passed a landmark judgment, ruling that women officers would be eligible for permanent commissions, allowing them to be in commanding roles. The ruling allowed all women officers to be on par with men when it comes to promotions, ranks, benefits and pensions.

Until this decision, women were inducted into the Army through the Short Service Commission (SSC) and didnt qualify for a permanent commission.

Women Army officers with lawyer and BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi (centre) at the Supreme Court. File image/PTI

Following this judgment, in 2023, a total of 108 women officers out of 244 were cleared for the rank of colonels by a special selection board. They then took up their command roles in various Army units, including air defence, signals, ordnance, intelligence, engineers and service corps across the country.

In March last year, the government announced that there were a total of 7,093 women serving in the Indian Army. Of this, 6, 993 were officers, including Army Medical Corps (AMC)/ Army Dental Corps (ADC) and Military Nursing Service (MNS) officers, whereas 100 others belonged to the Other Ranks.

With inputs from agencies
Researchers have come up with capsules, modelled on cephalopods like squids and cuttlefish, that directly release drugs inside the stomach and other parts of the digestive system. These pills can be an alternative to injections read more

Getting jabs can be a fearsome experience for some people. Those who have to inject needles daily to receive insulin or for cancer treatments cannot avoid it and have to bear the discomfort.

But researchers have developed a method which could become an alternative to these injections for delivering drugs. They have come up with ingestible capsules, inspired by cephalopods like squids and cuttlefish, that release a burst of drugs directly inside the stomach and other parts of the digestive system.

Advertisement

We will take a look.

Squid-like pills to deliver drugs

Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Brigham and Womens Hospital and the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk took inspiration from squids to develop these ingestible capsules.

The study, published in the journal Nature last week, said that these devices used jets, modelled after the cephalopods that regulate the pressure and direction to shoot jets of ink. These capsules use squid-like jets to spray the drug into tissue, as per the Singularity Hub report.

The researchers used this idea to distribute drugs in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. By shooting the medication directly into the gut, researchers ensured that more drug is absorbed before it was broken down by the body, the report noted.

Researchers say these innovative devices deliver drugs directly into the gut without needles. They created two mechanisms for these devices to mimic the jetting action of squids and octopi.

These ingestible capsules are inspired by cephalopods like squids and cuttlefish. Representational Image/Pixabay

One is fuelled by coiled springs and the other by compressed carbon dioxide.

Researchers used compressed carbon dioxide or tightly coiled springs to generate the force needed to propel liquid drugs out of the capsule. The gas or spring is kept in a compressed state by a carbohydrate trigger, which is designed to dissolve when exposed to humidity or an acidic environment such as the stomach. When the trigger dissolves, the gas or spring is allowed to expand, propelling a jet of drugs out of the capsule, according to the MIT News report.

Researchers also designed the pills to target different parts of the digestive tract. One works for larger organs, such as the stomach and colon, while the other is for smaller organs like the oesophagus and small intestine.

Why it is significant

Jabs are needed to administer hormones like insulin, vaccines, or antibodies. Injections are used instead of pills as once swallowed, large molecules are generally destroyed in the digestive tract, restricting their efficacy, noted Singularity Hub.

In simpler terms, while pills can deliver drugs orally, less of the medication reaches the bloodstream, according to STAT News.

Advertisement

This new device will help in delivering the drug orally and more conveniently into deeper tissues.

These ingestible capsules can replace injections one day. Representational Image/Pixabay

When we want to deliver drugs, we have to bring real, full innovation and creativity to the table, and thats exactly what this team has shown, Samir Mitragotri, a bioengineer at Harvard University who was not part of the new study, told STAT News. Im very excited about the doors this opens up both for research as well as clinical care.

These capsules, made of metal and plastic, were tested on dogs and pigs. Researchers showed they can use these pills to deliver insulin, GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, and RNA-based molecules.

Advertisement

In contrast to a small needle, which needs to have intimate contact with the tissue, our experiments indicated that a jet may be able to deliver most of the dose from a distance or at a slight angle, study author Graham Arrick said in a press release.

Omid Veiseh, a professor of bioengineering at United States Rice University, who was not involved in the study, told MIT News that these pills are a significant leap forward in oral drug delivery of macromolecule drugs While many approaches for oral drug delivery have been attempted in the past, they tend to be poorly efficient in achieving high bioavailability [a drugs ability to be absorbed and used by the body]. Here, the researchers demonstrate the ability to deliver bioavailability in animal models with high efficiency.

Advertisement

It is hard to say when needle-free drug delivery will become a reality. For now, more testing is required and human trials need to be conducted to determine the efficacy of these capsules on people.

Speaking to STAT News, Veiseh said the study is a great new avenue of research. However, he added, What happens if you keep taking these pills for one year, three years, five years, thats something that I think obviously wasnt studied as part of this work, because I think they were trying to demonstrate that this concept works.

With inputs from agencies
Responding to Rahul Gandhis Opposition work on the behalf of media and judiciary, ex-CJI Chandrachud said people should not presume that the judiciary should be performing the role of the opposition in Parliament or the State legislatures read more

Former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has said that it is wrong to assume that the judiciarys role is to play the role of the Opposition in the Parliament or state legislatures as he responded to Congress MP Rahul Gandhis recent remark.

People should not presume that the judiciary should be performing the role of the opposition in Parliament or the State legislatures. Too often, theres a misconception that the judiciary has to play the role of the Opposition in legislatures, which is not so. We are here to scrutinise laws, he told ANI.

Advertisement

Earlier, the Leader of Opposition had said, We are alone working on the behalf of media, investigative agencies and judiciary also. This is the reality of India.

The former CJI added, We are entrusted with the duty to scrutinise executive action on whether it is consistent with the law, and whether it is consistent with the Constitution. Theres a different space in a democracy for the political opposition.

Responding to the controversy over Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting Chandrachuds house earlier this year over Ganpati Puja celebration, he said, Look at the work which we have done. I think assess us in terms of the work which we have done. I think something which is, you know, a social visit, a sociable visit, and this is not unique. Ive said this before, prime ministers visit people in the homes of judges on social occasions, sometimes on sad occasions as well. This is the element of elementary social courtesy which is followed within the system.

With inputs from ANI
The 26/11 Mumbai attacks shattered lives, but they also revealed the deep humanity and bravery of countless individuals who put others lives before their own, leaving behind a legacy of strength and compassion read more

A police officer pays his respects at a memorial to mark the 12th anniversary of the November 26, 2008 attacks, in Mumbai

The 26/11 Mumbai attacks were a series of devastating terrorist strikes that began on the evening of November 26, 2008, and continued for over 60 hours. A group of 10 armed terrorists from the Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba entered Mumbai by sea and launched coordinated strikes on prominent locations, targeting both locals and foreigners. The attacks left the city in shock and claimed hundreds of innocent lives.

Over the course of four days, the city was under siege as the attackers targeted prominent locations in South Mumbai, including the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), and Nariman House.

Advertisement

The first strikes occurred at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), a busy railway station, where two gunmen opened fire on passengers, killing and injuring many. Simultaneously, shootings erupted at the popular Leopold Cafe and attacks unfolded at the luxurious Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and the Oberoi-Trident Hotel, where hostages were taken and parts of the buildings were set on fire. Another group of terrorists targeted the Nariman (Chabad) House, a Jewish community centre, taking hostages and engaging in a deadly standoff.

Indian security forces, including the National Security Guard (NSG) commandos, launched a massive operation to rescue hostages and neutralise the attackers. By the time the siege of Mumbai ended, 166 people were killed and over 300 were injured. One of the terrorists, Ajmal Kasab, was captured alive, providing critical evidence about the attackers and their plans.

The 26/11 attacks deeply impacted Mumbai and the nation. Today, we remember those who lost their lives and honour the sacrifices of those who risked everything to protect the city. Their courage continues to inspire and reminds us of the strength in unity and endurance against terror.

The memory of the 26/11 attacks continues to be honoured annually, not only remembering the lives lost but also the heroism displayed by those who fought to protect others.

A suspected gunman walks in the premises of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus or Victoria Terminus railway station in Mumbai Photo Credit: Reuters

The first place where the attack occurred was Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. Ajmal Kasab along with his men, opened fire on passengers at the station. The attack led to the death of 58 people and 100 people got injured.

Advertisement

Customers are reflected in a glass pane with bullet holes in Cafe Leopold as it re-opened after recent militant attacks in Mumbai December 1, 2008. REUTERS/Arko Datta (INDIA)

One of the most popular cafes, Leopold Cafe, became the target of the terrorists. The cafe was filled with locals and tourists when attackers started shooting aimlessly. This marked the beginning of the most extensive siege during the attacks.

Taj Mahal Hotel. 2008 Mumbai Attack

The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel became the primary target of the attackers. The hotel was filled with guests and staff, many of whom were trapped inside. As the attackers held the hotel under siege, fire and smoke were seen from the upper floors creating a scene of chaos and horror. The armed terrorists attacked the hotel and guests and staff were taken hostages.

Advertisement

A view of the shattered windows at the lobby of Trident-Oberoi hotel, a day-after the operations to dislodge militants ended in Mumbai, November 29, 2008.REUTERS/Greg Beitchman

The second hotel under siege was the Oberoi Trident where gunfire in the lobby and hallways could be seen. The attackers held hostages and fired on hotel staffs and guests. Guests were trapped inside their rooms as the gunmen were roaming in the building. Explosions and gunfire erupted inside, adding to the terror of the night.

A National Security Guard commando aims towards a window after an explosion on the fourth floor of the Nariman House where suspected militants are hiding, in Mumbai, November 28, 2008. REUTERS/Punit Paranjpe

The attackers also seized Nariman House, a Jewish community centre. Two hostages, a Rabbi and his family, were killed during the attack. The battle between commandos and terrorists lasted for hours. The centre became a focal point of the international aspect of the tragedy, as it involved foreign nationals.

Advertisement

A bullet hole is seen in a window at a railway station in Mumbai after shootings by unidentified assailants, November 26, 2008. REUTERS

Indian police, including the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), rushed to the scene. Up to 18 security personnel were killed in the attack. Among the first responders was Hemant Karkare, the ATS chief, who lost his life during the attack. His bravery symbolised the courage of many officers who risked their own lives to save others.

National Security Guard (NSG) commandos relax after the successful operation to dislodge militants at the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai, November 29, 2008. REUTERS/Punit Paranjpe

The National Security Guard (NSG) commandos, Indias counter-terrorism unit, arrived in Mumbai. The city was lit up with flames and gunfire as the commandos began their attacks on the Taj and Oberoi hotels, aiming to neutralise the terrorists and free the hostages.

Indian National security Guard commandos rappel down from a helicopter onto the roof of Nariman House, which houses a Jewish center, in Mumbai, November 28, 2008. REUTERS

Indian security forces attempted to rescue the hostages. The attackers continued to hold portions of the Taj and Oberoi hotels, while negotiations with the terrorists were attempted. After a 60-hour siege, the NSG commandos entered the two hotels and neutralised the terrorists. In total, nine of the 10 attackers were killed during the operations, and one, Ajmal Kasab, was captured alive. Hostages were freed as commandos worked tirelessly to neutralise the terrorists, rescuing survivours and bringing them to safety.

Advertisement

A view of the interior of Taj Mahal hotel, after the operations to dislodge militants ended in Mumbai, November 29, 2008. REUTERS

Over 170 people were killed, including 18 security personnel, and more than 300 were injured. The tragic loss of life, along with the attack on foreign nationals, sparked outrage worldwide.

Ajmal Kasabs trial and subsequent execution in 2012 brought some closure, but the attack left deep scars on the city and its people.

Local residents hold candles during a peace rally beside the Mumbais landmark Marine Drive, in memory of those killed in the Mumbai militant attacks, November 30, 2008. REUTERS/Jayanta Shaw

People came together in unity, lighting candles, holding memorials, and honouring the victims. The citys spirit remained unbroken, proving that terrorism could not defeat the heart of Mumbai. The city mourned the loss of over 170 lives. Public tributes were held at various locations, including CST, the Taj, and other memorials across the city. The event changed the city forever and led to a reevaluation of Indias counter terrorism strategies.
Despite Western sanctions during the conflict with Ukraine, India and Russia have maintained their longstanding historical relations read more

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Russia from 8 December 2024 to 10 December 2024, Russias TASS state news agency reported on Tuesday, citing a source in military circles in New Delhi.

Singh will visit Moscow and Russias European exclave of Kaliningrad, TASS reported.

This follows PM Narendra Modis BRICS Summit visit to Russia.

Despite Western sanctions during the conflict with Ukraine, India and Russia have maintained their longstanding historical relations. It is unclear how things will turn out now that Donald Trump will be in the White House for the next five years, even though India also developed ties with the US throughout this time.

Advertisement
26/11, often called the 9/11 of India, was a dark chapter in Indias security history, an event that shook the collective security consciousness of India and changed the security paradigm in the region forever read more

The night of November 26, 2008, 10 terrorists from the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group of Pakistan entered Mumbai city across the sea route in inflatable speedboats after embarking from Karachi in a trawler on November 21. File image

There are points in a nations history that become watershed moments from where the trajectory of a nation takes an irreversible turn. In the history of independent India too, there have quite a few such path-breaking events. If the first war between India and Pakistan triggered by an infiltration by tribal militias Kabalias in October 1947 hastened the amalgamation of Kashmir into the Indian Union, the 1971 war led to the birth of a new nation, Bangladesh, and the 1999 Kargil War led to a complete review of border security and intelligence infrastructure along the northern Kashmir.

Advertisement

However, if there was one event that shook India and has transformed the Indian security mindset, it has to be the Mumbai terror attack of November 26, 2008. It was not as if this was the first terror attack outside Jammu & Kashmir because the Parliament attack of December 2001 or the Pune German Bakery Blast of February 2010 were significant too. But the manner in which India fought back and the fact that the 26/11 attacks specifically targeted places frequented by foreigners, especially Jews, made it even more significant in terms of a security landmark.

What Happened That Day?

The night of November 26, 2008, 10 terrorists from the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group of Pakistan entered Mumbai city across the sea route in inflatable speedboats after embarking from Karachi in a trawler on November 21. Having entered Mumbai fairly undetected and uncontested, they split into small teams to carry out coordinated attacks in carefully chosen places to cause maximum impact. Over the course of the next four days, they killed 166 people and injured 300. The targetsthe Taj and Oberoi Hotels, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Railway Terminus, the Jewish Centre at Nariman House, and the Leopold Cafewere carefully chosen, surveyed in detail, and targeted specifically, since these places were often frequented by foreigners, especially Europeans and Jews.

Among the 166 killed were 141 Indians and 25 foreign nationals, including 6 Americans and 4 Israelis. According to transcripts of phone calls between the terrorists and their handlers during the attack, terrorists were specifically instructed to kill foreigners, especially Jews. Nine terrorists were eliminated while Ajmal Kasab was captured alive, who later confessed to the conspiracy being hatched in Pakistan and executed by LeT.

What Changed Thereafter

26/11 was not the biggest terror attack in India and not the last too. The 1993 Mumbai serial attacks had killed 257 people, while the 2006 Mumbai train attack had killed 209 people. 14 months later, the Pune German Bakery Blast in February 2010 too resulted in 18 deaths, including 5 foreign nationals. However, what perhaps changed after 26/11 was the way it shook the national security consciousness. Having witnessed the visuals live on television over four days, it became embedded in public memory forever too.

Advertisement

There were two other major structural changes that took place, among many others. Firstly, a specific focus was now put on coastal security, with the Indian Navy being entrusted with the overall responsibility of maritime security, including coastal security and offshore security, while the Coast Guard was to guard the territorial waters. The National Command Control Communications and Intelligence (NC3I) Network was set up as part of the maritime security measures.

Surveillance across the long coastline was a challenge. Coupled with satellite coverage, many other measures were instituted, including the fact that all boats with a length greater than 20 meters were required to have an Automatic Identification System (AIS). Systems for better coordination between local police and other security and intelligence agencies too were put in place with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) being set up in December 2008. The National Security Guard (NSG), which operated from Delhi earlier, now had new bases across the country for faster response.

Advertisement

However, the biggest change for India that happened as a result of the attack was that for the first time since the 1990s, when Indias fought against terror took shape, there was a near unanimous global acceptance that India was fighting its war against terror. Earlier, despite volumes of evidence of Pakistan-based terror attacks in India, most countries and global platforms were rather dismissive about Indian claims, leaving India to fight its battle alone.

The 26/11 also led to greater intelligence sharing mechanisms between the countries, especially the US, EU, Israel, and Russia, as well as the West Asian region. The acceptance of the Indian line on terror had another significant outcome, something that the Modi government fully capitalised on after 2014, which led to vastly enhanced relations with countries in West Asia and built a number of strategic partnerships.

Advertisement

Against a compulsive show of Muslim solidarity with Pakistan earlier, thereby limiting the options to enhance ties with India, there was now a unanimous acceptance of Indias position on terror, and on more than one occasion thereafter, the countries in the region have strongly supported India. Whether it was Uri, Pathankote, or Pulwama, countries in the region, especially Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar, not only condemned the attacks strongly but extended support to India in any action (including military) that it took to fight and eradicate terror.

The Pakistan Factor

A significant result of 26/11 has been Indias stance towards Pakistan and its no talks till no terror policy and nullifying the Pakistan Factor in all forums in all possible ways. It has not only led to the isolation of Pakistan in the region but has starved it economically too. The proofs of financial support by Pakistan to terror submitted by India and other global agencies have led to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global body that investigates and grades nations on issues of combat money laundering and terrorist financing, sanctioning Pakistan multiple times in the past decade and placing severe restrictions on international aid into the country.

Advertisement

In addition, Pakistan, which was the poster boy of US policy and the fight against terror in Afghanistan in 200809, now finds itself completely out of favour. To add to its woes, with the US-led international forces having left Afghanistan in August 2021, Pakistan is not only left high and dry from a financial point of view but has to also contend with terror attacks on its own soil frequently. Plus, due to Indias success in de-hyphenating its ties from the Pakistan factor with the countries in West Asia, the blanket support and aid that Pakistan got from the region earlier is no longer forthcoming.

Perhaps the biggest change has been in the policy mindset of the Indian security establishment. Whether it was Uri in 2016, Pathankot in 2016, or Pulwama in 2019, India, through prompt and effective surgical strikes, has made it clear that Pakistan cannot get away with terror attacks any longer. Also, the nuclear bogey of Pakistan too has been called out, with the air strike deep into Pakistan in Balakot being a clear example of it.

Conclusion

26/11, often called the 9/11 of India, was a dark chapter in Indias security history, an event that shook the collective security consciousness of India and changed the security paradigm in the region forever. It also made India realise that terror cannot be taken in the stride any longer and that any future attack has to be replied with strong punitive measures in a whole of nation approach.

The changed approach in Kashmir, with a focus on two-pronged strategy: focus on economic development and infrastructure development on the one hand and very close coordination between the security agencies on the other, has resulted in a drastic reduction in terror threats manifesting within India over the years. The abrogation of Article 370 from Kashmir in August 2019 too has contributed to ensuring closer integration of the region with India. Who knows how much and how soon these changes would have happened if 26/11 had not forced us to wake up?

Col Rajeev Agarwal is a military veteran and West Asia expert. During his service, he has been Director in Military Intelligence as well as Director in the Ministry of External Affairs. His X handle is @rajeev1421. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
By 2027, India will be the worlds third largest economy. Only the US and China will be larger. The rear view mirror in both Washington and Beijing shows an accelerating Indian economy growing at nearly twice Chinas rate and thrice Americas read more

Never before has a former European colony, impoverished and subjugated for centuries as India was, risen to the status of an economic power.

By 2027, India will be the worlds third largest economy. Only the United States and China will be larger. The rear view mirror in both Washington and Beijing shows an accelerating Indian economy growing at nearly twice Chinas rate and thrice Americas.

That wasnt part of the geopolitical script. The US and China are predatory powers. America rose from a European settler-colony to a great power using brutal instruments of slavery and indigenous land theft.

Advertisement

China overcame poverty, famine and a devastating civil war to emerge as a challenger to US economic and technological supremacy.

For both superpowers, India is a distraction. It still too small to be taken seriously as a future great power. But it is too big to be ignored. If its economy continues to grow at 7-8 per cent a year, India will be more than a distraction for Washington and Beijing.

There are entrenched interests in both countries that go to great lengths to slow the geopolitical rise of a potential rival. America has tried to weaken Russia ever since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

China has tried to do the same with India. The Galwan Valley clash in 2020 did not come as an after-thought. The confrontation at the LAC was planned meticulously in advance by Beijing.

The only reason China retreated at the LAC last month was worries over its own structurally slowing economy and President-elect Donald Trumps impending harsh tariffs on Chinese exports. For China, making temporary peace with India removes one distraction as it concentrates on fighting Trumps sanctions.

For Washington, India is a prickly ally. It is independent-minded. Washington is used to snapping its fingers at allies to do its bidding. Indias autonomous foreign policy irks it.

The Narendra Modi government has however played its cards adroitly with Washington, forming an alliance with the US on technology, defence and security. Washington too has indulged Modi, inviting him to address a joint session of the US Congress (twice) and supporting Indias presidency of the G20.

Advertisement

In Americas crosshairs

The deep state that inhabits the entrails of Washingtons labyrinthic lobbies is not happy with Indias aggressive pursuit of extremists on US soil.

The spate of US court indictments of Indians follows a pattern. The incarceration of businessman Nikhil Gupta without trial since June 30, 2023 is an abuse of international law that the US expects others to follow. The indictment of the Adani group over bribery allegations was ready a year ago. But the deep state times its hits with practised precision.

As soon as the US presidential election results confirmed that Donald Trump would win, the faceless bureaucrats in the Department of Justice (DoJ) went public with the charges against Adani.

Advertisement

Why Adani? And why now?

Trump has promised to clean up the deep state as soon as he takes office on January 20, 2025. Democratic Party neocons in the deep state had a one-month window to get the Adani indictment done before Washington breaks for the long Christmas holidays in mid-December and gets busy with Trumps inauguration in January.

What does the Adani indictment mean for India? Will it slow Indias infrastructural rise? As TK Arun wrote in The Economic Times last week: Only about 1 per cent of SECs enforcement actions come under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and these tend to lead to the largest fines. At the same time, 98 per cent of SECs actions end up in settlements, with or without fines and with or without admissions of guilt.

Advertisement

The narrative that Gautam Adani could be arrested following summons issued to him and others by US authorities was debunked by this independent New York-based report:

The US SEC will have to serve the summons on the Adani group founder and chairman Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar in the alleged $265 million (Rs. 2,200 crore) payoffs through proper diplomatic channels as it has no jurisdiction to summon a foreign national directly. The request will have to follow the established protocol of routing it through the Indian Embassy in the US and following other diplomatic formalities. The US SEC has no jurisdiction over foreign nationals and cannot send anything by post to them.

Advertisement

Deep State vacuum-cleaned

Under the Trump administration the deep state is set to be vacuum-cleaned. Since senior CIA and FBI agents are a part of this notorious government-within-a-government, they will be the first to be hung out to dry.

Tulsi Gabbard will play a key role in this. As Trumps nominated Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Gabbard will oversee 18 US intelligence agencies, including the CIA and FBI. Both have thwarted Indias security agencies from bringing to book anti-India extremists operating on US soil.

An increasing segment of Western opinion now believes that despite poverty and social challenges, Indias economy, markets and digital technology make it a natural balancing pivot in the evolving US-China duopoly.

This is a deeply discomfiting thought for Western historians like Niall Ferguson. Fergusons book, Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World, reflects the hubris that still infects Western minds.

Those minds have finally begun to realise that the Wests global influence is in terminal decline. China and India contributed over 50 per cent to global economic output in 1750. They will do so again in 2050.

The writer is an editor, author and publisher. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The DoJ argues that Google manipulated the online advertising ecosystem to maintain its dominance and eliminate competition. DoJ lawyer Aaron Teitelbaum accused Google of rigging the rules of the road, describing the company as a monopolist in several key areas read more

Notably, this isnt Googles first offer to divest portions of its ad business. In response to a European Union investigation earlier this year, Google proposed selling its ad exchange, but the offer was rejected by European publishers as inadequate. Image Credit: Reuters

The long-running US antitrust battle against Alphabets Google over its dominance in online advertising has reached its final stages. Closing arguments were presented in a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, with the Justice Department (DoJ) and Google making their last attempts to sway US Judge Leonie Brinkema.

The case centres on allegations that Google unlawfully monopolised multiple facets of the online ad market, including publisher ad servers, advertiser ad networks, and ad exchanges, which mediate between advertisers and publishers.

Advertisement

DoJs accusations of a rigged Ad ecosystem

The DoJ argues that Google manipulated the online advertising ecosystem to maintain its dominance and eliminate competition. DoJ lawyer Aaron Teitelbaum accused Google of rigging the rules of the road, describing the company as a monopolist in several key areas of the ad tech market. Prosecutors urged the court to hold Google accountable, alleging that its practices harmed publishers and advertisers by restricting options and inflating costs.

Julia Tarver Wood, another DoJ lawyer, characterised the trial as a pivotal moment for deciding the future of the ad market, framing the dispute as a choice between competing narratives  Googles portrayal of a competitive market versus the DoJs claim of monopolistic control.

Googles Defence: A competitive market

Googles legal team, led by Karen Dunn, pushed back against the DoJs claims, asserting that prosecutors failed to meet the legal burden of proof. Dunn argued that the governments case relied on a narrow view of the online advertising market, ignoring broader competition and the legitimacy of Googles business decisions. According to Google, the market remains robust, with fierce competition from rivals.

The tech giant also pointed to its consistent innovations and business efficiency, arguing that the governments demands would punish success rather than foster fair competition. Googles defence emphasised that its actions fell within the boundaries of antitrust law, calling the DoJs case an overreach.

Potential fallout for Google

If the court rules against Google, Judge Brinkema will consider the DoJs request for structural remedies, including the forced sale of Google Ad Manager. This platform comprises Googles publisher ad server and ad exchange, both central to the case. While such measures could disrupt Googles advertising business, analysts view this case as less financially threatening than a separate DoJ antitrust trial concerning Googles search monopoly, which could lead to the sale of its Chrome browser.

Notably, this isnt Googles first offer to divest portions of its ad business. In response to a European Union investigation earlier this year, Google proposed selling its ad exchange, but the offer was rejected by European publishers as inadequate.

Broader implications

The trial marks another high-profile antitrust challenge for Google, as governments worldwide scrutinise its business practices. For publishers and advertisers, the case could redefine how they interact with online ad platforms. If the DoJ succeeds, it could signal a shift in how tech giants are held accountable, potentially reshaping the digital advertising landscape.

A ruling is expected soon, and it could have far-reaching consequences for Googles ad empire and the broader tech industry. Meanwhile, Alphabets shares rose 1.4 per cent amid the closing arguments, reflecting investor confidence despite the legal uncertainties.
In Rajasthans Bikaner, one victim fell prey to this ploy, losing Rs 4.5 lakh from his bank account just days after opening a fraudulent wedding card file from an unknown sender read more

According to the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), over Rs 1,750 crore was lost to online scams in the first four months of 2024 alone. Image Credit: Pexels

Scammers in India have found a clever new way to deceive victimsfake wedding invitations. These seemingly innocent-looking PDF files, often shared through WhatsApp or email, are laced with malware designed to infiltrate devices. In Rajasthans Bikaner, one victim fell prey to this ploy, losing Rs 4.5 lakh from his bank account just days after opening a fraudulent wedding card file from an unknown sender.

Authorities in states such as Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat have issued urgent warnings against opening unsolicited wedding card files. The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Department has highlighted that many of these files come in APK (Android Package Kit) format, which auto-installs malicious software on Android devices when clicked.

Advertisement

How scammers exploit APK Files using fake wedding invitations

An APK file is typically used to distribute apps on Android devices, but scammers leverage its vulnerabilities to avoid scrutiny from platforms like Google Play Store. These malicious APK files can take complete control of a victims phone, granting attackers access to sensitive apps like net banking, WhatsApp, and SMS. They can even intercept OTPs, enabling them to drain bank accounts.

Maharashtras special inspector general of police explained that such scams are not entirely new. Over the years, scammers have used various seasonal baits, including lottery tickets, utility bills, and e-commerce gift cards. The wedding card tactic, however, plays on personalisation and emotional appeal, making it highly effective at catching people off guard.

Rising cybercrime trends in India

India is witnessing a surge in cyberattacks as criminals adopt increasingly sophisticated methods. According to the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), over Rs 1,750 crore was lost to online scams in the first four months of 2024 alone. Among these, fake wedding card scams are notable for their deceptive simplicity and high success rate.

Scammers now personalise their attacks, using victims names, family details, and other personal information to build trust. These tailored approaches lower suspicion, especially with emotionally resonant hooks like wedding invitations. This shift reflects the decline of traditional OTP-based frauds, thanks to increased awareness among citizens.

How to stay safe from wedding invitation scams

Cybersecurity experts stress the importance of vigilance and proactive measures. Installing malware protection apps and avoiding unsolicited files or links can help reduce the risk. Officials also recommend staying cautious of files that come from unknown sources, especially those in APK format.

Once malware is installed, the consequences can be severe. Scammers not only gain access to personal data but can also impersonate victims, spreading the scam further to their contacts. As these attacks grow in sophistication, awareness and preventive action remain crucial to safeguarding personal and financial data.
The agreement is tailored to ensure robust mechanisms for crew and module recovery under the Gaganyaan programme. Australian authorities will work closely with ISRO to address contingencies, particularly in scenarios requiring recovery operations near Australian waters read more

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Australian Space Agency (ASA) have signed an Implementation Agreement (IA) to support Indias Gaganyaan mission. This milestone collaboration focuses on the recovery of the Gaganyaan crew and spacecraft upon their return to Earth, marking a significant step in international cooperation for human space exploration.

The agreement was formalised last week, with ceremonies held in Bengaluru and Canberra, led by D.K. Singh from ISROs Human Space Flight Centre and Jarrod Powell from ASAs Space Capability Branch.

Advertisement

Supporting safe crew recovery

The agreement is tailored to ensure robust mechanisms for crew and module recovery under the Gaganyaan programme. Australian authorities will work closely with ISRO to address contingencies, particularly in scenarios requiring recovery operations near Australian waters during the missions ascent or re-entry phases.

This partnership is expected to significantly enhance the operational safety of the mission, aligning with ISROs goal to ensure a seamless and secure recovery process for its astronauts.

Indias ambitious Gaganyaan mission

The Gaganyaan project aims to send a crewed spacecraft into Low Earth Orbit, marking Indias first human spaceflight mission. Designed to carry up to three astronauts, the spacecraft will remain in orbit for up to three days before returning safely to Earth.

As a landmark endeavour for India, the mission showcases the countrys growing capabilities in space exploration and technology, setting the stage for future advancements in human spaceflight.

Strengthening Indo-Australian space ties

The agreement reflects the growing strategic partnership between India and Australia, with both nations recognising the importance of collaboration in space technology. This cooperation builds on shared ambitions to advance scientific and technological progress in the field of space exploration.

By working together on Gaganyaan, the two countries are paving the way for broader cooperation in other space-related domains, underscoring the value of international alliances in addressing complex challenges like human spaceflight.

As India prepares for its historic Gaganyaan mission, the partnership with Australia highlights the critical role of global collaboration in achieving success in space exploration. This agreement not only strengthens bilateral ties but also reinforces the shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of science and technology.
NVIDIAs Fugatto offers a range of applications for professionals in fields like music, language education, and game development. Music producers, for example, can use the AI to quickly draft song prototypes, experimenting with styles, voices, and instruments read more

NVIDIA has not yet disclosed plans to make Fugatto publicly available. However, the models potential to revolutionise sound design is clear. Image Credit: Reuters

NVIDIA has launched Fugatto, a groundbreaking generative AI model capable of transforming text prompts into audio. Officially named the Foundational Generative Audio Transformer Opus 1, this experimental model has been designed to handle a variety of audio-related tasks, from creating music to modifying existing sounds.

Described by NVIDIA as a Swiss Army knife for sound, Fugatto showcases advanced multilingual and multi-accent capabilities, thanks to its development by a global team of AI researchers.

Advertisement

Audio creation for professionals and beyond

Fugatto offers a range of applications for professionals in fields like music, language education, and game development. Music producers, for example, can use the AI to quickly draft song prototypes, experimenting with styles, voices, and instruments. Educators might find it useful for creating language-learning tools, tailoring audio to specific voices or accents. For game developers, Fugatto could dynamically adjust pre-recorded audio to align with gameplay changes, enhancing player immersion.

Beyond these direct applications, Fugatto can also handle complex tasks that combine instructions from its training data. For instance, it can create speech that conveys specific emotions, such as anger, in a chosen accent, or craft soundscapes that evolve over time, like a rainstorm moving across a landscape. These features demonstrate the AIs adaptability and creative potential in audio generation.

A competitive space in generative AI for audio

While Fugattos capabilities are impressive, its entering a growing field of AI-driven audio tools. Meta has previously released an open-source AI kit for text-to-sound generation, and Googles MusicLM allows users to create music from text prompts via its AI Test Kitchen platform.

NVIDIAs model, however, stands out with its emphasis on natural, human-like sound generation and its ability to modify existing audio files with precision.

No plans for public access

NVIDIA has not yet disclosed plans to make Fugatto publicly available. However, the models potential to revolutionise sound design is clear. From simplifying workflows for professionals to enabling more personalised audio experiences, Fugatto is another step forward in merging AI with creative expression.

Whether or not it becomes accessible to the public, the model highlights NVIDIAs ambition to redefine whats possible in audio innovation.
Media in general is in a dismal status in Afghanistan where journalists and reporters have to seek prior approval from authorities to run certain reports and are also subjected to other forms of censorship read more

Reporting in Afghanistan is a risky business. A new report by the UN says that the Taliban administration in the country has arbitrarily detained journalists 256 times since they took over in 2021.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the UN Human Rights Office said that Journalists in Afghanistan worked under challenging conditions, adding, They often face unclear rules on what they can and cannot report, running the risk of intimidation and arbitrary detention for perceived criticism.

Advertisement

Roza Otunbayeva, the special representative of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the de facto authority in Afghanistan to ensure the safety and security of all journalists and media workers and recognise the work done by women in media.

Media in shambles

The report mentioned an example of arbitrary detention when the Talibans intelligence agency arrested at least seven journalists across the country for allegedly providing information to diaspora media abroad in 2023.

Media in general is in a dismal status in Afghanistan where journalists and reporters have to seek prior approval from authorities to run certain reports and are also subjected to other forms of censorship. Media cannot publish on topics that could have a negative impact on public opinion or could weaken peoples morale.

Prior to the Talibans rise to power, Afghanistan boasted more than 500 media outlets. However, by November 2021, nearly half had ceased operations due to dwindling donor funding, stricter regulations imposed by the Taliban, and the emigration of numerous journalists.

Kabul denies report

In a reply accompanying the report, the Taliban-led foreign ministry denied having arrested that number of journalists and added that those arrested had committed a crime.

In its response, the ministry said women continued to work in the media, subject to certain conditions to meet religious morality rules, such as covering their faces and working separately from men.

It described the UN report as being far from actual realities and said security forces were working to protect journalists. The Afghan information ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Advertisement

With inputs from Reuters
The United States, European Union, United Nations and G7, among others, have pushed for a halt to the long-running hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which escalated into full-scale war in late September. read more

A displaced boy covers his head with a pan as he runs from the rain past building rubble at the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on November 24, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group. Image- AFP

Israels security cabinet met on Tuesday to discuss a potential ceasefire in its conflict with Hezbollah amid intensified airstrikes on Beirut. The conflict, which escalated into full-scale war in late September has drawn calls for a truce from the US, EU, UN, and G7.

Israeli airstrikes targeted Hezbollah strongholds in southern Beirut on Tuesday including Burj al-Barajneh, Haret Hreik and Hadath, creating what Lebanons state-run National News Agency described as a belt of fire.

Advertisement

Strikes also hit central Beiruts Nweiri neighborhood, destroying a building housing displaced civilians. Lebanons health ministry reported seven fatalities and 37 injuries from the attack.

The air campaign marks the heaviest bombardment since the escalation, raising pressure for a resolution as casualties and destruction mount.

We were blown away and the walls fell on top of us, said Rola Jaafar, who lives in the building opposite.

The Israeli army warned residents of four neighbourhoods of central Beirut to evacuate their homes, the first such warnings it had issued for the city centre in two months of war.

#                            :

 





 



          pic.twitter.com/MtTfkxvFY7    (@AvichayAdraee) November 26, 2024

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said the air force was conducting a widespread attack on Hezbollah targets across the city.

Advertisement

The Iran-backed Hezbollah has kept up rocket fire into Israel.

The UN rights chief voiced concern about the escalation of bloodshed in Lebanon and his office said nearly 100 people had been reported killed by Israeli airstrikes in recent days, including women, children and medics.

Security cabinet meeting

Israels security cabinet gathered in Tel Aviv to begin discussing the proposed truce in Lebanon, an official in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office told AFP on Tuesday afternoon.

After the meeting, the prime minister was to issue a public statement, scheduled for 8 pm (1800 GMT), his office said.

The United States and France have spearheaded the truce efforts, and G7 foreign ministers called on Tuesday for an immediate ceasefire, saying in a statement: Now is the time to conclude a diplomatic settlement.

US news outlet Axios reported that the draft agreement included a 60-day transition period.

Advertisement

During that time, Israeli forces would withdraw, the Lebanese army would deploy along the border and Hezbollah would pull its heavy weapons back north of the Litani River, some 30kilometres (20 miles) from the frontier, Axios said.

A US-led committee would oversee implementation, with provisions allowing Israel to act against imminent threats if Lebanese forces failed to intervene.

Defence Minister Israel Katz told the UNs Lebanon envoy Tuesday that Israel would have zero tolerance when defending its security interests, even after a truce.

If you do not act, we will do it, forcefully, Katz told Janine Hennis-Plasschaert during a meeting in Tel Aviv, a statement from his office said.

Advertisement

Israeli media have reported that Netanyahu is likely to endorse the US ceasefire proposal.

The missiles are chasing us

Israel has dealt Hezbollah massive blows since going on the offensive against the group in September, killing its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and other top commanders, and pounding areas of Lebanon where the group holds sway.

Regarding the ceasefire, I think it will be implemented. Both sides are tired, said Selim Ayoub, a 37-year-old mechanic from Beiruts southern suburbs.

Hezbollah launched some 250 rockets on Sunday in one of its heaviest barrages yet. The northern Israeli city of Nahariya came under more rocket fire overnight.

Diplomacy to end the fighting has focused on restoring a ceasefire based on U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the last major war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006.

Israels ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said on Monday that Israel would maintain an ability to strike southern Lebanon under any agreement.

Advertisement

Lebanon has previously objected to Israel being granted such a right and Lebanese officials have said such language is not included in the draft proposal.

Two Israeli officials told Reuters that Israel has a side agreement with the U.S. allowing it to take action in Lebanon against imminent threats.

Hezbollah, seen as a terrorist group by Washington, has endorsed its ally Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to negotiate.

Death and destruction

Israel Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said that while there were other missions Israel could undertake in Lebanon to dismantle Hezbollah, it preferred a diplomatic solution if possible.

Over the past year, more than 3,750 people have been killed in Lebanon and over one million have been forced from their homes, according to Lebanons health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its figures.

The widespread destruction left by Israeli airstrikes has brought into focus a huge reconstruction bill awaiting cash-strapped Lebanon, with many left homeless heading into winter.

Hezbollah strikes have killed 45 civilians in northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. At least 73 Israeli soldiers have been killed in northern Israel, the Golan Heights and in combat in southern Lebanon, according to Israeli authorities.

A ceasefire would pave the way for 60,000 people to return to homes in northern Israel, which they evacuated as Hezbollah began firing rockets in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas a day after that groups Oct. 7, 2023 assault.

Israel says it aims at military targets in Lebanon and Gaza and takes steps to mitigate the risk of harm to civilians. It accuses Hezbollah, like Hamas in Gaza, of hiding among civilians, which they deny.

With inputs from agencies.
Even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to be onboard with the proposal for a ceasefire with Lebanon-based Hezbollah, there is growing opposition against the move among his extremist ministers and right-wing MPs of Likud party read more

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene the Israeli Cabinet on Tuesday (November 26) evening to vote on the proposal for a ceasefire with Hezbollah.

Even as Netanyahu appears to be convinced with the ceasefire proposal, not everyone in the Cabinet or his Likud party appears to be on board. Hardliner voices insist that the war should be pursued in Lebanon till Hezbollahs annihilation.

The ceasefire proposal on the table is a result of mediation by US and French governments. While the specifics of the plan have not been released, it has so far been reported that it proposes an initial 60-day truce during which Israeli forces will withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah will withdraw from southern Lebanon bordering Israel. Then, Lebanese forces will take over the area vacated by Hezbollah and the arrangement will be verified by international observers.

Advertisement

Despite opposition from quarters, the Israeli Cabinet is set to approve the ceasefire proposal, an official told The Times of Israel.

Last week, a Lebanese official mediating between US negotiators and Hezbollah had said that Hezbollah had accepted the ceasefire proposal on the table.

Once Israel formally approves the ceasefire proposal, US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron are expected to announce the ceasefire in a joint statement.

Right-wing MPs & ministers oppose ceasefire

Even as Netanyahu is said to be onboard with the ceasefire proposal, an increasing group of right-wing figures have come out in opposition, including powerful far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

Ben-Gvir dubbed efforts for ceasefire a grave mistake and a historic missed opportunity to eliminate Hezbollah, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Ben-Gvir said that we need to listen to field commanders and local leaders and added that at this stage, with Hezbollah battered and eager for a ceasefire, we must not stop.

Smotrich went on to say that even if a ceasefire is approved, it would be essentially meaningless.

No agreement. If signed, it will be worth the paper its written on. It doesnt matter. What matters is that weve dismantled them, and well continue dismantling them, said Smotrich, as per The Post.

Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter said that if the agreement would be based on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1701, he would not support it.

Dan Illouz, an MP from Netanyahus Likud party, said in a post on X that the proposal grants Hezbollah strategic achievements and endangers Israels security instead of leveraging Israels advantageous position in the war.

Advertisement

Separately, Amit Halevi told Maariv newspaper that the agreement in the making legitimises Hezbollah and nothing less than the removal of Hezbollah from Lebanon should be acceptable.

The reported settlement raises serious questions  What exactly are we settling? It seems like we are legitimising Hezbollahs status in Lebanon, its continued control of the parliament and government, and the implementation of the Ayatollahs Shiite vision with the strongest military power left in Lebanon. This is a moment of truth. Israel must not settle for anything less than the removal of Hezbollah from Lebanon and the liberation of the Lebanese people from the captivity of the murderous Iranian regime. Otherwise, our children will face a future 7/10 scenario with a fully armed political and military Shiite terror state, said Halevi.

Advertisement

Another Likud MP, Moshe Saada, compared the proposal as a surrender to the murderous organisation and said that instead of conceding to the terrorist group, Israel should commit to the defeat and dismantling of Hezbollah.

Past experience shows that every surrender and Israeli retreat only invites the next round of fighting and constitutes a gamble with Israeli citizens security. Therefore, only the continued destruction of Hezbollah will bring northern residents back to their homes and remove the rocket threat over the rest of the country, said Saada.

Despite such an opposition, the government is hopeful the Cabinet would approve the proposal. An official told The Times of Israel, There are ministers who speak to their base, and we take it into consideration. But Ben Gvir understands the importance. Its in Israels interest.

Advertisement
Chinas military criticised a US Navy plane flying over the Taiwan Strait, saying the US was misleading the world and misrepresenting the law read more

Chinas military said on Tuesday it deployed naval and air forces to monitor and warn a US Navy patrol aircraft that flew through the sensitive Taiwan Strait, denouncing the United States for trying to mislead the international community.

Around once a month, US military ships or aircraft pass through or above the waterway that separates democratically governed Taiwan from China - missions that always anger Beijing.

China claims sovereignty over the island of Taiwan and says it has jurisdiction over the strait. Taiwan and the United States dispute that, saying the strait is an international waterway.

Advertisement

The US Navys 7th fleet said a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft had flown through the strait in international airspace, adding that the flight demonstrated the United States commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations, it said in a statement.

Chinas military criticised the flight as public hype, adding that it monitored the US aircraft throughout its transit and effectively responded to the situation.

The relevant remarks by the US distort legal principles, confuse public opinion and mislead international perceptions, the militarys Eastern Theatre Command said in a statement.

We urge the US side to stop distorting and hyping up and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.

Taiwans defence ministry said the P-8A flew in a northerly direction through the strait and that the Taiwanese military monitored it, adding the situation was as normal.

In April, Chinas military said it sent fighter jets to monitor and warn a US Navy Poseidon in the Taiwan Strait, a mission that took place just hours after a call between the Chinese and US defence chiefs.

Advertisement

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
The Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep disappointment and concern, stating that Sri Chinmoy Krishna Dass arrest has been misrepresented by some, despite him being detained on specific charges read more

Police personnel baton-charge protesting supporters of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a jailed Hindu monk leader, member of the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote group and former member of ISKCON, during a demonstration after court denied his bail in Chittagong on November 26, 2024. AFP

A lawyer was killed on Tuesday after a scuffle broke out between protestors and security forces in Bangladesh over the denial of bail to Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari.

Brahmachari, of the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote group, was arrested as he travelled from the capital Dhaka to Chittagong on Monday.

On Tuesday, supporters angry that bail was denied, surrounded the prison van carrying him away from court in Chittagong. Others hurled rocks.

Advertisement

A police inspector, Nurul Alam, told AFP that the victim has been identified as Saiful Islam Alif, a public prosecutor. He had deep injuries on his head, said hospital director Taslim Uddin.

The Indian foreign ministry has expressed concern over the arrest of ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das. This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

Brahmachari, of the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote group, was arrested on sedition charges as he travelled from the capital Dhaka to Chittagong on Monday.

Arrest misconstrued

Responding to Indias reaction to Das arrest, the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, It is with utter dismay and deep sense of hurt that the Government of Bangladesh notes that the arrest of Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das has been misconstrued by certain quarters since he has been arrested on specific charges.

It added, The government maintains that such unfounded statements not only misinterpret facts but also stand contrary to the spirit of friendship and understanding between the two neighbouring countries.

The ministry defended Bangladeshs resolve to allow every Bangladeshi, regardless of his or her religious identity, has the right to establish, maintain or perform respective religious rituals and practices or express views without hindrance.

The foreign ministry also expressed deep concern over the death of the public prosecutor.

Yunus ordered probe into killing

Meanwhile, interim governments chief Muhammad Yunus has ordered an investigation into the killing of Saiful Islam Alif.

Yunus urged people to keep calm, vowing that the government is committed to ensuring and upholding communal harmony in Bangladesh at any cost.

Advertisement

With inputs from agencies
Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer told Western businesses that their commercial decisions have strategic implications and warned them to prepare for a wartime scenario regarding threats from China and Russia read more

A top Nato official has warned Western businesses about threats from China and Russia.

Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer on Monday told Western business leaders that their commercial decisions have strategic implications and warned them to prepare for a wartime scenario regarding threats from China and Russia.

Flagging the Wests dependence on Russia for energy and China for supply chains, Bauer said that it would be naive to think that these countries would not use such dependency to their advantage.

Advertisement

Speaking at an event European Policy Centre, Bauer noted that China produces up to 60 per cent and processes up to 90 per cent of all rare earth minerals. He further said several things of everyday use, such as ingredients for critical medicines such as sedatives, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and blood pressure medicines also come from China.

If we can make sure that all crucial services and goods can be delivered no matter what, then that is a key part of our deterrenceWe are naive if we think the Communist Party will never use that power. Business leaders in Europe and America need to realise that the commercial decisions they make have strategic consequences for the security of their nation, said Bauer, who serves as the Chair of the North Atlantic Treaty Organizations (Nato) Military Committee, as per Reuters.

Bauer went on to note that such a scenario has already been seen regarding Russia in the sphere of energy supplies.

Bauer said, Were seeing that with the growing number of sabotage acts and Europe has seen that with energy supply. We thought we had a deal with Gazprom, but we actually had a deal with Mr Putin and the same goes for Chinese-owned infrastructure and goods. We actually have a deal with (Chinese President) Xi (Jinping).

Bauer said that businesses need to prepare their production and distribution lines as per wartime scenario and highlighted the importance of economies in wars.

Businesses need to be prepared for a wartime scenario and adjust their production and distribution lines accordingly. Because while it may be the military who wins battles, its the economies that win wars, said Bauer.

Advertisement
Even as Israeli, US, Lebanese and international officials have expressed growing optimism over a ceasefire, Israel has continued its campaign in Lebanon, which it says aims to cripple Hezbollahs military capabilities. read more

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday said efforts to secure a ceasefire in Lebanon were in the final stages, and added that a deal could help end the Gaza conflict.

Were not there yet, but I believe we are in the final stages, Blinken told reporters after a meeting near Rome with G7 counterparts, adding that by de-escalating tensions in the region, it can also help us to end the conflict in Gaza.

Advertisement

Even as Israeli, US, Lebanese and international officials have expressed growing optimism over a ceasefire, Israel has continued its campaign in Lebanon, which it says aims to cripple Hezbollahs military capabilities.

An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in the central Beirut district of Basta  the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near the citys downtown. At least three people were killed and 26 wounded, according to Lebanons Health Ministry.

It was not immediately clear if anyone in particular was targeted, though Israel says its airstrikes target Hezbollah officials and assets.

Earlier, Israeli jets struck at least six buildings in Beiruts southern suburbs. One strike slammed near the countrys only airport, sending plumes of smoke into the sky. The airport has continued to function despite its location on the Mediterranean coast next to the densely populated suburbs where many of Hezbollahs operations are based.

With inputs from agencies.
China considers Taiwan to be part of its territory and claims jurisdiction over the body of water separating the two. read more

China said on Tuesday that it deployed air and naval forces to monitor a U.S. military aircraft flying over the Taiwan Strait, a politically sensitive waterway that Beijing claims as its own.

The United States and its allies frequently navigate the 180-kilometer (112-mile) strait by ship or plane to emphasize its international status, a move that consistently provokes Beijings ire. China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and asserts jurisdiction over the strait, rejecting foreign military transits in the area.

Advertisement

Responding to such operations, Beijing regularly sends fighter jets and warships near Taiwan as a demonstration of its claims while opposing U.S. and allied military activities in the region.

A US Navy P-8A Poseidon transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace on Nov. 26, 2024 (local time), the US Navys 7th Fleet said in a statement.

The aircrafts transit of the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

China said it had monitored the aircraft and condemned the flight for being openly hyped.

US remarks distort legal principles, confuse the public and mislead international perception, said Cao Jun, a senior colonel and spokesman for Chinas Eastern Theatre Air Force, in a statement.

Beijing had organised naval and air forces to monitor and guard the trajectory of the US aircraft and effectively responded and dealt with it, Cao added.

During a previous transit by a US P-8A Poseidon in September, the Chinese military tailed the aircraft.

The United States is Taiwans most important security partner, but like most other countries it does not have official diplomatic relations with Taipei.

Advertisement

Taiwans defence ministry said Tuesday that the US P-8A aircraft flew from south to north through the Taiwan Strait in the morning.

The Taiwan military fully monitored the movements in the surrounding sea and airspace, and the situation remained normal, the ministry said in a statement.

With inputs from agencies.
In a series of posts to his Truth Social account, Trump on Monday vowed to hit some of the United States largest trading partners with duties on all goods entering the country. read more

China issued a stark warning on Tuesday, saying that no one will win a trade war, following US President-elect Donald Trumps pledge to impose hefty tariffs on imports, targeting China and other countries over issues like fentanyl smuggling and immigration.

China believes that China-US economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature, Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for Chinas embassy in the United States, said in an email to AFP.

Tariffs are a key part of Trumps economic agenda, with the Republican vowing wide-ranging duties on allies and adversaries alike while he was on the campaign trail.

Advertisement

Washington has long accused Beijing of complicity in the deadly fentanyl trade that has ravaged communities across the country. The embassy in Washingtons Liu rebuffed those claims in his statement, detailing steps that Beijing was taking to help curb the trade.

All these prove that the idea of China knowingly allowing fentanyl precursors to flow into the United States runs completely counter to facts and reality, he said.

The statement came after Trump in a pair of posts on his Truth Social site Monday evening, railed against an influx of illegal migrants, even though southern border crossings have been hovering at a four-year low.

Trump also turned his ire to China, saying he has had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States  But to no avail.

Until they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America, he wrote.

On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders, he wrote, complaining that thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before, even though violent crime is down from pandemic highs.

Advertisement

With inputs from agencies.
Towering balls of fire and white fumes rose from the Tanegashima Space Center, according to the footage from national broadcaster NHK read more

A fire that broke out during an engine combustion test of its Epsilon S rocket under development is seen at Tanegashima Space Center on the southwestern island of Tanegashima, Japan. Kyodo/via Reuters

A major fire erupted Tuesday at a Japan space agency site as it tested a solid-fuel Epsilon S rocket, television footage showed.

There were no reports of any injuries in the incident in the remote Kagoshima region of southern Japan.

Towering balls of fire and white fumes rose from the Tanegashima Space Center, according to the footage from national broadcaster NHK.

There was an abnormality during todays combustion test. We are trying to assess what happened, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) told AFP in a statement.

Advertisement

No injuries have been reported at this point. The cause is also under investigation.

NHK says the fire happened during a combustion test that began at around 8:30 am (2330 GMT), with media stationed around 600 metres (yards) away.

About 30 seconds later, a large explosion was heard, and what appeared to be something on fire flew toward the sea, NHK said.

The Sankei Shimbun reported that orange flames burst out from the rocket engine placed on a horizontal platform before the explosion.

Tuesdays fire is not the first time JAXA has experienced setbacks in its rocket programmes.

In July 2023 one engine of an Epsilon S exploded during a test around 50 seconds after ignition.

That was one in a string of failures for the countrys space agency JAXA, including launch attempts for its next-generation H3 rocket.

JAXA managed a successful blast-off in February this year for the H3, its new flagship rocket that has been mooted as a rival to SpaceXs Falcon 9.

That followed Japan successfully landing in January an unmanned probe on the Moon  albeit at a crooked angle  making it just the fifth country to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface.

Advertisement

In March a rocket made by a private Japanese company exploded seconds after launch.

Tokyo-based Space Ones 18-metre (60-foot) Kairos rocket blasted off in the coastal Wakayama region of western Japan, carrying a small government test satellite.

But around five seconds later, the solid-fuel rocket erupted in fire, sending white smoke billowing around the remote mountainous area as orange flames raged on the ground, live footage showed.

Burning debris fell onto the surrounding slopes as sprinklers began spraying water, in dramatic scenes watched by hundreds of spectators gathered at public viewing areas including a nearby waterfront.

Space One said at the time that it had taken the decision to abort the flight and details were being investigated.

Advertisement
Russia has been making a major push along frontlines in Ukraines east, where Russian forces have made some of their biggest territorial gains since 2022. read more

Russia has been making a major push along frontlines in Ukraines east, where Russian forces have made some of their biggest territorial gains since 2022. Representative Image- Reuters

Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) countries voiced strong support for Ukraine on Tuesday and condemned Russias irresponsible and threatening nuclear rhetoric.

The ministers also expressed concern over North Korean support for Russia, warning that it could dangerously expand the conflict with significant implications for both European and Indo-Pacific security. The ministers called on China, a long-time ally of North Korea, to act against this development.

Russias use of an intermediate range ballistic missile on 21 November is further evidence of its reckless and escalatory behaviour, they said in a draft statement at the conclusion of their meeting.

Advertisement

Our support for Ukraines territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence will remain unwavering, they added.

Russia has intensified its offensive along the frontlines in eastern Ukraine, making significant territorial gains in the region, some of the largest since 2022.

G7 foreign ministers have expressed hope to begin distributing funds from a $50 billion loan package, sourced from frozen Russian assets, by the end of the year. Additionally, they committed to taking action against entities assisting Russia in evading sanctions imposed following its invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago.

Their joint statement was issued at the end of a two-day meeting in Fiuggi, a spa town southeast of Rome, which Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha attended.

Ministers also tried to raise the pressure on Israel to accept a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon, saying now is the time to conclude a diplomatic settlement.

They called on the Israeli government to facilitate humanitarian assistance to the civilian population in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

We express our strongest condemnation for the rise in extremist settler violence committed against Palestinians, which undermines security and stability in the West Bank and threatens prospects for a lasting peace, the statement added.

Advertisement

The statement also reinforced a call from the G7 in June for China to refrain from trade practices that distorted markets.

With inputs from agencies.
All of the other G7 countries are members of the ICC  meaning they would have to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he travelled there read more

G7 foreign ministers said Tuesday they will comply with our respective obligations regarding the arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The Group of Seven industrialised nations brings together Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Japan, host Italy and the United States.

We reiterate our commitment to International Humanitarian Law and will comply with our respective obligations, the ministers said in a joint statement issued following two days of talks near Rome.

The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu last week, prompting outrage from Israel and its allies  including the US, which is not a member of the ICC and has rejected its jurisdiction.

Advertisement

All of the other G7 countries are members of the ICC  meaning they would have to arrest Netanyahu if he travelled there.

The ICC also issued warrants for Netanyahus former defence minister and for Hamass military chief Mohammed Deif, whom Israel claimed was killed in an air strike in Gaza in July. Hamas has not confirmed his death.

The G7 statement said the foreign ministers underline that there can be no equivalence between the terrorist group Hamas and the State of Israel.

In exercising its right to defend itself, Israel must fully comply with its obligations under international law in all circumstances, including International Humanitarian Law, the statement said.

The Hague-based ICC says the warrants for Netanyahu and his former minister were for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024.

Italy had asked for a discussion on the ICC warrants at the G7, after apparent splits within Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis government over what it meant for Netanyahu.

A diplomatic source said the discussion in Fiuggi was much broader and more strategic than what ended up in the final statement, without revealing details.

War has raged in Gaza since Hamass October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which resulted in 1,207 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Advertisement

Israels retaliatory campaign has killed at least 44,249 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territorys health ministry that the United Nations considers reliable.
The Iskcon has urged the Indian government to take immediate steps and engage with Bangladesh for the release of their prominent priest Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was detained in Bangladesh on Monday read more

The Iskcon has urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Indian government to take immediate steps and speak to the Bangladesh interim government for the release of their priest and prominent Hindu spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, who was detained and taken into custody by the Dhaka police on Monday.

In a post on social media platform X, International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) has called the allegations claiming their involvement in terrorist activities worldwide as baseless.

Advertisement

We have come across disturbing reports that Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das, one of the prominent leaders of Iskcon Bangladesh, has been detained by the Dhaka police. It is outrageous to make baseless allegations that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world, ISKCON said.

Iskcon,Inc. urges the Government of India to take immediate steps and speak to the Government of Bangladesh and convey that we are a peace-loving Bhakti movement, they further said.

Release Chinmoy Krishna Das immediately

The Iskcon further said that they want the Bangladesh government to immediately release Chinmoy Krishna Das. Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the protection of these devotees, they further said.

We have come across disturbing reports that Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das, one of the prominent leaders of ISKCON Bangladesh, has been detained by the Dhaka police.



It is outrageous to make baseless allegations that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world.  Iskcon,Inc. (@IskconInc) November 25, 2024

As per reports in local media, Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is commonly known as Krishna Prabhu Das, was taken into custody by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday (November 25) at 4:30 pm.

A report in Bangladeshs leading daily Dhaka Tribune quoted Additional Commissioner of DB, Rezaul Karim Mallik, as confirming Chinmoy Krishna Dass detention and saying that it was based on a requisition related to a complaint.

Advertisement

Mallik further mentioned that Chinmoy Krishna Das would be handed over to the related police station. However, the specific details of the complaint against him were not immediately disclosed by the DB official.

Also Read: ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari detained in Bangladesh: Reports

As per a report in Daily Star, a sedition case was filed by authorities on October 31 against 19 individuals, including Chinmoy, who previously served as divisional organising secretary of Iskcon, Chattogram.

The case statement details an incident from October 25, where a group of youths reportedly placed a saffron-coloured flag over the Bangladeshi flag on the Independent pillar (Shadhinata Smathamva) at Zero Point near the New Market intersection during a rally organised by the Hindu community under the banner Sanatan Jagaran Mancha.

Advertisement

After the news of his arrest, several people took to the street and protested at the Cheragi intersection in Dhaka, chanting slogans and demanding his release.

Videos that went viral on social media late Monday showed Bangladeshi policemen targeting the protestors who were marching towards the Cheragi intersection.

Who is Chinmoy Krishna Das?

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was earlier known as Chandan Kumar Dhar.

As per a report in AFP, Krishna Das Prabhu is a prominent Hindu leader in Bangladesh and a member of the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote group. He has also worked as the spokesperson of Iskcon.

Chinmoy Krishna Das has been a vocal advocate for Hindu rights in Bangladesh and has also been a vocal critic of targeted hate attacks and religious discrimination in the country.

Advertisement

Over the past few days, he organised multiple rallies in Bangladesh to condemn the alleged atrocities against fellow devotees.

With inputs from agencies.
Head of the US National Counterterrorism Center Brett Holmgren has said that ISIS has prioritised Africa as a growth opportunity, and that could spell trouble for the US, according to a report read more

Nigeriens, some holding Russian flags, participate in a march in Niamey, Niger, on July 30, 2023. Islamist militants are sowing chaos across regions of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali and are setting their sights farther south in coastal West Africa. AP File

The top US counterterrorism official has warned that the Islamic State terror group has set its sights on Africa as its new frontier and is likely going to pose an increasing threat to the US with its growing activities there.

In an interview to Politico, Brett Holmgren, the head of the US National Counterterrorism Center, or NCTC, said, The ISIS threat in Africa, in our view, is potentially one of the greatest long-term threats to US interests.

Advertisement

Theyve clearly prioritised Africa as a growth opportunity, added Holmgren.

ISIS in Africa isnt new, but it has rarely been talked about by top US officials in public national security discussions.

Holmgrens warnings stand in contrast to Washingtons focus on shifting priorities, such as the great power competition with China and Russia, emphasised by both the Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration.

For now, Holmgren said that ISIS African branches pose mostly local threats, aiming to spread their ideology, exploit ethnic and social divisions, and topple weak governments. However, he warned that if left unchecked, these groups could eventually pursue broader, more dangerous ambitions.

That could include going after US interests and targets in Africa, or if they bring in foreign fighters, as weve seen in other conflicts, at that point it could become more of an external threat to the United States, Politico quoted Holmgren as saying.

Islamist militants are wreaking havoc across Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, and are increasingly targeting coastal West Africa. This includes ISIS branches and al-Qaeda affiliates, such as Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin in Mali. ISIS also operates in Nigeria, the Lake Chad basin, Congo, Mozambique, and Somalia, with some factions emerging from splits within existing al-Qaeda-linked groups, reported Politico.

Advertisement

However, some counterterrorism officials argue that its a major challenge to allocate sufficient US resources to address the terror threats in the Sahel, especially given the overwhelming global crises facing Washingtons national security leaders and the transition between two administrations with starkly different priorities and worldviews, added the report.

I hate to use this cliche, but it really is a ticking time bomb, Politico quoted another senior US counterterrorism official as saying.

The CT world gets it, but most of Washington is consumed by Ukraine or China or the Israel crisis. If we let this threat in the Sahel metastasise, well really come to regret it, added the official.

Advertisement

According to the Politico report, Trumps transition team declined to comment on its counterterrorism priorities, offering the same response it has to other foreign policy inquiries: that Trump will restore peace through strength around the world.

On Friday, Trump announced that Sebastian Gorka, a prominent conservative commentator and former White House national security official, would serve as his senior director for counterterrorism once he assumes office.

Holmgren and other Western security officials have drawn parallels between the territorial expansion of ISIS in the Sahel region of Africa and its rise in the Middle East about a decade ago.

The scale and the threat of ISIS operations in Africa right now remind me, eerily so, of what we saw in Iraq and Syria in 2013 and 2014, Politico quoted Charles Lister, a counterrorism expert at the Middle East Institute, as saying.

Advertisement

I mean, an army of ISIS is basically marching at will through the Sahel and taking over military bases, added Lister.

The Sahel region has become one of the worlds most volatile, further complicated by geopolitical moves from US rivals like Russia. Recent coups in Mali and Niger ousted pro-Western governments, replacing US and French troops with Russian-aligned mercenaries to support the new juntas.

Fatalities linked to militant Islamist groups in Africa have surged by 60% from 2021 to 2024, according to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies.

J Peter Pham, former US special envoy for the Sahel under Trump, criticised the Biden administrations handling of the situation.

Advertisement

For all of its boasting about diplomacy is back, the Biden administrations record in the Sahel has been pitiful. It never appointed a successor to me as special envoy for the Sahel, Pham told Politico.

Asked about the threat from ISIS in Africa, Pham said, I have no doubt that, in time, they will realise their ambition to strike targets farther afield, including Europe and even America.

In response, Politico quoted a spokesperson for the National Security Council as saying, We are clear to West African partners: the US is committed to regional security and to address the terrorist threats emanating from the Sahel.

Since the beginning of the administration, President Biden has led a process to refocus US counterterrorism efforts and promote civilian-led development and good governance approaches to counter insecurity, the spokesperson added.

After being expelled from Niger, the United States has repositioned some of its military assets to other countries, including Chad, and deployed special forces to coastal African nations like Cote dIvoire and Benin to train and advise their forces, according to a senior US counterterrorism official.

Lt. Col. Bryon McGarry, a Pentagon spokesperson, declined to comment on specifics, stating that adjustments to the US military presence in the region requires careful consideration as well as detailed and confidential discussions with prospective host nations.

There have been no final decisions on adjusting the disposition of DOD forces in West Africa, he was quoted as saying.

Gen. Michael Langley, the top US Africa Command general, visited Gabon, Liberia, and Nigeria earlier this month to discuss security threats from extremist groups with officials from those countries.

Russian mercenary groups in the Sahel have faced significant setbacks since replacing Western counterterrorism forces, including a deadly ambush of Wagner mercenaries in northern Mali in July.

In the areas where Wagner has operated most significantly  and I think Mali is a fairly good example, Burkina Faso is another  as it turns out, the terrorist threats are growing, Holmgren said.

But for the Kremlin, Holmgren added, it was never about counterterrorism.

This was about propping up local governments, but also about pursuing Russias kind of strategic economic and security interests in the region. Maybe under the guise of counterterrorism.

With inputs from agencies
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday that he had a good conversation with Donald Trump following the president-elects surprising announcement of new tariffs aimed at Canada read more

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday that he had a good conversation with Donald Trump following the president-elects surprising announcement of new tariffs aimed at Canada.

We talked about how the intense and effective connections between our two countries flow back and forth, AFP quoted Trudeau as telling reporters in Ottawa.

We talked about some of the challenges that we can work on together, he said, adding, It was a good call.

Advertisement

The call followed Trumps warning that he would impose a 25 per cent tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, alongside new levies on products imported from China.

The United States, Mexico, and Canada are bound by the USMCA, a free trade agreement renegotiated under Trump after he criticized US businesses, particularly automakers, for losing out.

On Tuesday morning, a senior government source told AFP that Trump and Trudeau had a productive and constructive conversation focused on trade and border security and pledged to stay in touch.

Trudeau is scheduled on Wednesday to hold a meeting with Canadas provincial premiers, many of whom expressed alarm at the possible trade impacts, to discuss the Trump salvo.

In a country that relies on trade with the United States, with some 75 per cent of its exports US-bound, the news created shockwaves.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault said the announcement represented an enormous risk to the Canadian economy.

His counterpart in British Columbia, David Eby, said Ottawa must respond firmly.

With inputs from agencies

Advertisement
Jordan has been air-dropping aid and sending convoys westward overland to the Palestinians in Gaza throughout the war that erupted in October 2023 between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist group that has been ruling the enclave. read more

Jordanian military planes dropped aid into northern Gaza on Tuesday for the first time in five months to address the worsening humanitarian crisis, according to the Jordanian army.

The two C-130 aircraft delivered nearly seven tonnes of food and essential supplies to areas identified by the UN as facing the greatest need. Jordan has been consistently providing humanitarian assistance since the outbreak of the war in October 2023 between Israel and Hamas, conducting approximately 400 aid missions by air and land in collaboration with allied nations.

Advertisement

The kingdom is maintaining an air and land corridor as part of its efforts to step up aid, an army source told Reuters

King Abdullah has accused Israel of placing obstacles to deliveries and has called on the international community to put pressure on Israel to allow uninterrupted aid flows.

Washington has prodded Israel to expand the use of a land corridor through Jordan that first began late last year. The World Food Programme (WFP) wants it to be a major conduit for the supply of U.N.-funded food and humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Israeli officials deny accusations they are deliberately using aid as a political weapon and say they have been seeking to alleviate the humanitarian situation since the start of the war.

With inputs from agencies.
Activists have planned to protest around Athens to denounce Ruttes visit and oppose Greeces growing cooperation with Nato read more

Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte will travel to Greece on Tuesday as protestors plan to organise a demonstration against his visit.

Rutte will meet Greeces Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and its foreign minister during his visit to the capital city of Athens.

Why are there protests?

Activists have planned to protest around Athens to denounce Ruttes visit and oppose Greeces growing cooperation with Nato.

The Communist Party of Greece will also take part in the protests and has called Ruttes visit to the country unwelcomed.

Earlier, Ruttes visit to Turkey was also protested by many including the Communist Party of Turkey which said, This visit is taking place at a time when nuclear war is being talked about. Moreover, the NATO secretary is making his visit immediately after his meeting with Trump, who is preparing to take the US presidential seat soon.

Advertisement

It added, While wars continue in the south and north of us, and these wars are gaining new dimensions with the introduction of new weapons, Ruttes visit will of course be related to the role our country will take in these bloody wars.

Nato and Ukraine hold talks

Meanwhile, ambassadors from Ukraine and NATOs 32 members met Tuesday in Brussels over Russias firing last week of an experimental hypersonic intermediate-range missile.

Kyiv says it hopes to get concrete and meaningful outcomes after calling the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council.

But diplomats and officials at NATO have played down expectations for any major results from the consultations on Tuesday afternoon at the alliances Brussels headquarters.

The most that is expected is a reiteration of NATOs earlier insistence that Moscows deployment of the new weaponry will not deter NATO allies from supporting Ukraine.

With inputs from agencies
Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will begin his maiden overseas visit with China from December 2. This is a departure from the long-held practice by a Nepalese PM to visit India first taking oath read more

Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will be in China next week on his maiden foreign trip after being sworn in as the head of the new government for the fourth time in July, replacing the Left coalition government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda).

Olis visit to Beijing is being seen as a visible break from the tradition of the Nepal prime ministers undertaking their first foreign trip to India. He is likely to break away from the practice long-held by his predecessors.

Advertisement

Oli will be in China between December 2 and 6. According to a report by Nikkei Asia, during his visit, the Nepal PM is expected to request a waiver for the $216 million loan for Pokhara International Airport, which was built with loans from the Chinese government.

Why is Oli visiting China before India?

A report by The Hindu quoted officials as saying that Oli chose to visit China after he was not extended an invitation from New Delhi.

Normally, India extends an invitation to Nepals new prime minister. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is believed to have told Oli when they met in September in New York that he would soon be visiting Nepal.

However, global political experts and analysts see Olis move as a symptom of strain in India-Nepal ties on various issues, including Indias objection to Chinese investment or components in India-Nepal projects, and Nepals pending request for additional routes for overflight from India for newly built airports that are running into losses.

Oli follows Muizzu

Oli is the second leader after Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu to not make India his first destination for an overseas visit after taking oath. Muizzu, who became the president last year, had travelled to Turkey, the UAE, and China before visiting India in October this year.

Visiting China to make friendship further multi-dimensional

On Monday, Oli said that Nepal has a long and friendly relationship with China. I am visiting the northern neighbour to make the friendship further multi-dimensional, he further said.

Oli went on to say, Irrespective of the country we chose for our first visit, we keep sovereignty, independence and freedom as well as national welfare along with global welfare in top priority.

He also said that Nepal had the same friendly ties with India, and underlined the need to take benefit of cordial ties with both countries for Nepals economic development.

With inputs from agencies.
As Israel reportedly reached a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon, paving the way to end the conflict with Hezbollah, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said that Hezbollah is not the same Hezbollah anymore and that Israel has pushed the group decades back read more

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, Israel, on Oct. 27, 2024. AP File

As Israel reportedly reached a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon, paving the way to end the conflict with Hezbollah, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said that Hezbollah is not the same Hezbollah anymore and that Israel has pushed the group decades back.

In a television address, Netanyahu said he would put the ceasefire accord to his full cabinet later in the evening.

Israeli TV reported that the more restricted security cabinet had earlier approved the deal.

Advertisement

Netanyahu said Hassan Nasrallah, the head of the snake, has been killed as has all of the leaders of Hezbollah.

Weve destroyed most of the rockets and missiles. Weve killed thousands of terrorists, and we destroyed the underground and terrorist infrastructure near our borders, said Netanyahu, adding, all of this sounded like science fiction just three months ago, but we made it.

Netanyahu said he is determined to keep Israels soldiers alive and safe.

Thats why tonight, I will bring before the full cabinet a plan for a ceasefire in Lebanon, he said.

Netanyahu said the duration of the ceasefire depends on what happens in Lebanon.

He said Israel has an understanding with the US, and that it will maintain its full liberty to take military operations if Hezbollah tries to attack us.

If Hezbollah tries to attack us, if it arms itself and rebuilds infrastructure near the border  we will attack. If they launch missiles, if they dig big tunnels  we will attack, said the Israeli PM.

With Israeli approval, the agreement is set to lead to an official ceasefire declaration by US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, Reuters quoted a senior Lebanese officials as saying.

However, despite the diplomatic progress, hostilities continued as Israel significantly increased its airstrike campaign across Beirut and other areas of Lebanon.

Advertisement

There was no indication that a truce in Lebanon would hasten a ceasefire and hostage-release deal in devastated Gaza, where Israel is battling Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The Lebanon ceasefire agreement requires Israeli troops to withdraw from south Lebanon and Lebanons army to deploy in the region, officials say. Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the border south of the Litani River.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said the Lebanese army would be ready to have at least 5,000 troops deployed in southern Lebanon as Israeli troops withdraw, and that the United States could play a role in rebuilding infrastructure destroyed by Israeli strikes.

Israel demands effective UN enforcement of an eventual ceasefire with Lebanon and will show zero tolerance toward any infraction, Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday.

Advertisement

In the hours before the announcement, Israeli strikes smashed more of Beiruts densely-populated southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold. The Israeli military said one barrage of strikes had hit 20 targets in the city in just 120 seconds, killing at least seven people and injuring 37, according to Lebanons health ministry.

Israel issued its biggest evacuation warning yet, telling civilians to leave 20 locations. Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said the air force was conducting a widespread attack on Hezbollah targets across the city.

The Iran-backed Hezbollah has kept up rocket fire into Israel.

The UN rights chief voiced concern about the escalation of bloodshed in Lebanon and his office said nearly 100 people had been reported killed by Israeli airstrikes in recent days, including women, children and medics.

Advertisement

Israel has dealt Hezbollah massive blows since going on the offensive against the group in September, killing its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and other top commanders, and pounding areas of Lebanon where the group holds sway.

Over the past year, more than 3,750 people have been killed in Lebanon and over one million have been forced from their homes, according to Lebanons health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its figures.

Hezbollah strikes have killed 45 civilians in northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. At least 73 Israeli soldiers have been killed in northern Israel, the Golan Heights and in combat in southern Lebanon, according to Israeli authorities.

Advertisement

With inputs from agencies
Authorities have accused Netanyahu of receiving items such as cigars, champagne, bracelets, handbags, and luxury clothing. He was also accused of interfering in investigations and judicial proceedings for personal gain read more

Just a week before he was supposed to testify in the corruption case against him, a court on Tuesday granted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu eight more days to prepare his testimony.

Netanyahu will now face the court on December 10 instead of December 2, the date set for hearing previously. The Jerusalem District Courts order came after the prime ministers defence team sought a 15-day delay in the hearing citing Netanyahus intense schedule owing to the war.

Advertisement

The court noted that circumstances hadnt changed since it previously rejected a longer delay, but it decided, not without doubts, to grant the request. This was partly because the defense promised not to seek further delays.

What is the case?

Netanyahus troubles began in 2016 when allegations surfaced that he had accepted favors from wealthy businessmen in exchange for gifts.

Authorities accused him of receiving items such as cigars, champagne, bracelets, handbags, and luxury clothing. He was also accused of interfering in investigations and judicial proceedings for personal gain.

In 2018, the police recommended his prosecution, and in 2019, he was formally indicted. His trial began in 2020.

What are the charges?

Netanyahus corruption trial combines three separate cases, known as Cases 1000, 2000, and 4000.

Case 1000 alleges that Netanyahu accepted gifts worth nearly $300,000 from Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer. In return, he is accused of lobbying the Finance Ministry to extend a tax exemption for expatriate Israelis, benefiting individuals like Milchan upon their return to the country.

Case 2000 centers on Netanyahu allegedly negotiating a quid pro quo deal with the publisher of Yediot Aharonot, Israels leading newspaper, in exchange for favorable media coverage.

Case 4000 involves accusations that telecom mogul Shaul Elovitch sought Netanyahus influence to protect his business interests in Israel.
Local media reports say that Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is commonly known as Krishna Prabhu Das, was taken into custody by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday (November 25) at 4:30 pm read more

The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday expressed concern over the arrest of a Hindu priest and ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das.

This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings, MEA said in a statement.

The Ministry urged Bangladeshs interim government to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities in the country.

Advertisement

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness ( ISKCON) has called for immediate steps by the Indian government to release Das after he was detained by the Dhaka police on Monday.

We have come across disturbing reports that Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das, one of the prominent leaders of Iskcon Bangladesh, has been detained by the Dhaka police. It is outrageous to make baseless allegations that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world, ISKCON said in a statement on X.

Local media reports say that Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is commonly known as Krishna Prabhu Das, was taken into custody by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday (November 25) at 4:30 pm.

According to a report by Daily Star, Das was reportedly named in a sedition case filed against 19 individuals last month.

The case statement details an incident from October 25, where a group of youths reportedly placed a saffron-coloured flag over the Bangladeshi flag on the Independent pillar (Shadhinata Smathamva) at Zero Point near the New Market intersection during a rally organised by the Hindu community under the banner Sanatan Jagaran Mancha.

Advertisement

Brahmachari, of the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote group, was arrested as he travelled from the capital Dhaka to Chittagong, a senior leader of the group told AFP.

We are not aware of the charges brought against him, the committee member Proshanto Kumar Haldar told AFP, saying the group would stage rallies demanding he be released.
Analysts said that Russian forces are making their fastest progress in Ukraine since the start of the war, now moving closer to the important town of Kurakhove read more

Russian forces have been advancing in Ukraine at the fastest pace since the early months of the war, are moving into the strategic town of Kurakhove and have been exploiting vulnerabilities of Kyiv troops, analysts said on Monday.

Russian forces recently have been advancing at a significantly quicker rate than they did in the entirety of 2023, analysts at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said in a report.

The report noted recent confirmed battlefield gains near Vuhledar and Velyka Novosilka, which are in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.

Advertisement

The Russian army captured almost 235 square kilometres (91 square miles) in Ukraine over the past week, a weekly record for 2024, according to a report published by the independent Russian news group Agentstvo.

Agentstvo analysed data from Deep State, a group with close links to the Ukrainian army that studies combat footage and provides frontline maps.

The Institute for the Study of War report and pro-Russian military bloggers say Russian troops are in Kurakhove, which represents a stepping stone towards the logistical hub of Pokrovsk in Donetsk. Deep State said on its Telegram messaging app on Monday that Russian forces are near Kurakhove.

Deep State data analysed by Agentstvo showed that Russia has captured more territory in Ukraine since the beginning of November than in the whole of October, which had seen the fastest pace since the early months of Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Russian forces advances in southeastern Ukraine are largely the result of the discovery and tactical exploitation of vulnerabilities in Ukraines lines, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War said in their report.

Outnumbered by Russian troops, the Ukrainian military is struggling to recruit soldiers and provide equipment to new units, with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy relentlessly pleading with Kyivs Western allies for more military aid.

Advertisement

Zelenskiy has said that he believed Russian President Vladimir Putins main objectives were to occupy the entire Donbas, which consists of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and oust Ukrainian troops from the Kursk region, where they have been controlling parts of that territory since August.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
Russia on Tuesday banned 30 British nationals including Britains cabinet ministers, including UK Deputy PM Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for the Home Department Yvette Cooper, from entering the country in response to what it called Londons Russophobic policies, according to a report read more

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the government via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, Russia, on Wednesday. AP File

Russia on Tuesday banned 30 British nationals including Britains cabinet ministers from entering the country in response to what it called Londons Russophobic policies.

According to a Moscow Times report, among those now banned from entering Russia are UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for the Home Department Yvette Cooper, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, as well as other senior British officials, military personnel, politicians, business leaders and journalists.

Advertisement

The outlet could not immediately confirm whether all the individuals listed are British citizens, as Russia has previously misidentified citizenships in similar entry ban announcements.

Russias Foreign Ministry accused the 30 British nationals of engaging in anti-Russian activities, citing this as the basis for their inclusion in Moscows so-called stop list.

The ministry said it felt compelled to draw attention to the ongoing aggressive anti-Russian rhetoric from the UK authorities, the systematic imposition of illegitimate unilateral sanctions by London and the reckless policies of the British leadership in supporting the neo-Nazi Kyiv regime.

Russia also criticised the UK for its commitment to systematic confrontation with Russia, urging British officials to abandon this approach in favor of mutual respect and constructive engagement, to promote global security and stability.

Since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has banned hundreds of foreign nationals, including individuals from the US and the UK. In February, Moscow blocked entry to 18 British nationals.

With inputs from agencies
Russia said it was expelling a British diplomat on Tuesday for alleged spying, in the latest blow to the already dire state of relations between the two countries read more

A flag flies above the British embassy in Moscow, Russia, on September 13, 2024. Reuters File

Russia said it was expelling a British diplomat on Tuesday for alleged spying, in the latest blow to the already dire state of relations between the two countries.

The FSB security service said the diplomat, whose photo was splashed across TV news bulletins, had intentionally provided false information when he entered the country.

During counterintelligence work, the Russian Federal Security Service has discovered an undeclared British intelligence presence under the cover of the national embassy in Moscow, it said.

Advertisement

At the same time, the Russian FSB has discovered signs of the said diplomat conducting intelligence and subversive work that threatens the security of the Russian Federation, it said in a statement.

It named him as Edward Wilkes and said he was a second secretary, a relatively junior diplomatic rank.

A spokesman for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was unaware of the reported diplomatic expulsion. There was no immediate comment from Britains Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The British embassy in Moscow did not respond to a request for comment.

The TASS news agency cited Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying that the ministry had summoned the British ambassador, a step that host governments often use to express a strong protest.

The envoy, Nigel Casey, was shown by Russian state media arriving at the foreign ministry in Moscow.

According to the FSB, the British diplomat was a replacement for one of six British diplomats expelled earlier this year, also on espionage charges.

Reacting to the earlier expulsions in September, Britain rejected the spying allegations against its diplomats as malicious and completely baseless and said Russias behaviour was completely unacceptable.

Advertisement

Relations between Britain and Russia have plunged to post-Cold War lows since the start of the Ukraine war. Britain has joined successive waves of sanctions against Russia and provided arms to Ukraine.

Russia said Ukraine fired British Storm Shadow cruise missiles at its territory last week for the first time. President Vladimir Putin cited that, and the launching of U.S. ATACMS ballistic missiles by Ukraine, as the reason Russia responded by launching a new hypersonic missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Nov. 21.
A Russian court has identified James Scott Rhys Anderson being a British citizen from Banbury, Oxfordshire. Russia suspects him of committing a set of particularly serious crimes that pose a particular public danger to the public read more

22-year-old James Scott Rhys Anderson said in the video that he regretted signing up to fight for Ukraine. Source: Blog via Public Telegram

A Russian court on Tuesday confirmed that a British soldier allegedly fighting for Ukraine in Russias western Kursk region had been detained.

The UK man, James Scott Rhys Anderson, will remain in custody for participating in armed hostilities on the territory of the Kursk region, the court ordered.

A video circulating on social media showed Anderson, 22, saying that he had previously served in the British army.

Who is he?

The court identified Anderson being a British citizen from Banbury, Oxfordshire. Russia suspects him of committing a set of particularly serious crimes that pose a particular public danger to the public.

According to a report by TASS, the 22-year-old man had served as a signalman in the British Army for four years before joining the International Legion of Ukraine.

Advertisement

In Ukraine, Anderson was employed as an instructor for Ukrainian troops and was allegedly deployed in the Kursk region against his will.

Begged him not to go

Andersons father Scott Anderson, told DailyMail, that he had begged his son not to go to Ukraine.

He wanted to go out there because he thought he was doing what was right. Im hoping hell be used as a bargaining chip, but my son told me they torture their prisoners and Im so frightened hell be tortured, he said.

Russia launches drone barrage

Russia launched a record 188 drones at Ukraine overnight, Kyiv said Tuesday, amid growing international tensions after Russia fired a nuclear-capable missile that could reach European cities.

The Kremlin declined on Tuesday to confirm that Ukrainian forces had again launched US-provided long-range ATACMS at Russia this week but blamed Washington for escalating the conflict nonetheless.

During the night attack, the enemy launched a record number of Shahed strike unmanned aerial vehicles and unidentified drones, the air force said Tuesday, referring to Iranian-designed drones and putting the overall number fired at 188.

The air force said it had shot down 76 Russian drones in 17 regions, while another 95 were either lost from their radars or downed by electronic jamming defensive systems. It did not specify what happened to the remainder.

With inputs from agencies
The Kremlin on Tuesday said that it is preparing retaliatory measures after Ukraine fired US-made ATACMS missiles into the Kursk region twice in three days, according to a report read more

This photo released by Russian Defense Ministry official Telegram channel on Tuesday shows the fragments of a missile fired by Ukraine at the territory of Kursk airport in Russia. AP

The Kremlin on Tuesday said that it is preparing retaliatory measures after Ukraine fired US-made ATACMS missiles into Russia twice in the past three days.

According to The Guardian report, Moscow said that both strikes targeted air defence positions in the Kursk region, claiming that one or two missiles hit their targets, while the majority were intercepted.

Russias defence ministry said the first strike took place on November 23, and two out of five missiles launched at a Russian S-400 air defence system hit the target, damaging its radar system.

In the second attack on November 25, eight missiles were aimed at the Kursk-Vostochny airport, which also hosts a military airbase. One missile reached the target, wounding two soldiers, Reuters quoted the ministry as saying in a statement.

Advertisement

The ministry is in control of the situation, and retaliatory measures are being prepared, it was quoted as saying.

The United States gave Ukraine permission to use the weapons to hit Russian territory earlier this month after months of requests from Kyiv.

Moscow rarely provides specific details on Ukrainian aerial attacks and almost never admits missiles have reached their intended target.

The defence ministry also posted photos of what it said were the missile fragments, showing large casings with English-language inscriptions on the side.

AFP was unable to immediately verify the images.

The strikes come with tensions having ratched up dramatically in the near three-year conflict over the last few weeks.

Putin last week signed a decree lowering the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons, days before launching the nuclear-capable hypersonic Oreshnik missile at Ukraine.

With inputs from agencies
Zvi Kogan, 28, an ultra-Orthodox rabbi who went missing on Thursday, ran a kosher grocery store in the city of Dubai, where Israelis have flocked for commerce and tourism since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in the 2020 Abraham Accords read more

A rabbi delivers an eulogy next to the coffin containing the remains of Israeli-Moldovan rabbi Zvi Kogan in Kfar Chabad, Israel. AP

The United Arab Emirates said Monday police arrested three Uzbek nationals for the killing of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi, an attack thats raised concerns for the burgeoning Israeli community in the country.

The statement from the countrys Interior Ministry offered no motive for the slaying of Zvi Kogan, though an Israeli Foreign Ministry official later told The Associated Press that he simply had been killed because of who he was.

Kogan, 28, an ultra-Orthodox rabbi who went missing on Thursday, ran a kosher grocery store in the city of Dubai, where Israelis have flocked for commerce and tourism since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in the 2020 Abraham Accords.

Advertisement

The agreement has held through more than a year of soaring regional tensions unleashed by Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack into southern Israel. But Israels devastating retaliatory offensive in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon, after months of fighting with the Hezbollah militant group, have stoked anger among Emiratis, Arab nationals and others living in the UAE.

The Interior Ministry statement identified the three men as Olimboy Tohirovich, 28, Makhmudjon Abdurakhim, 28, and Azizbek Kamilovich, 33. The state-run WAM news agency carried images of the three men, blindfolds covering their faces in prison uniforms and flip flops.

The preliminary probe into the men is in preparation for referring them to the public prosecution for further investigation, the Interior Ministry said.

It wasnt immediately clear if the three men had lawyers or had sought consular assistance in the UAE, an autocratically ruled nation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. The Uzbek Consulate in Dubai did not respond to a request for comment regarding the arrests.

Israeli media reports, citing unnamed security officials, had alleged Uzbeks were involved in Kogans killing. Uzbeks and other transnational criminal gangs previously have been hired in Iranian plots targeting dissidents and others.

Iran, which supports Hamas and Hezbollah, has also been threatening to retaliate against Israel after a wave of airstrikes Israel carried out in October in response to an Iranian ballistic missile attack. Irans Embassy in Abu Dhabi has denied Tehran was involved in the rabbis slaying.

Advertisement

While the UAE statement did not mention Iran, Iranian intelligence services have carried out past kidnappings in the UAE.

Western officials believe Iran runs intelligence operations in the UAE and keeps tabs on the hundreds of thousands of Iranians living across the country.

Israels U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon told reporters Monday that the terrorists who killed the rabbi would be brought to justice and pointed a finger at the axis of evil  a phrase Israel has used to refer to Iran and its allies. That echoed remarks Sunday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also used the phrase axis of evil.

Kogans wife, Rivky, is an American citizen. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nayhan, the UAEs foreign minister, to condemn Kogans killing.

Advertisement

Blinken expressed appreciation for the UAEs close security cooperation with the United States and other partners in the region, as well as its long-standing tradition of and commitment to tolerance and freedom of worship, the State Department said.

Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President-elect Donald Trump who helped broker the Abraham Accords, pledged $1 million to Chabad UAE, the religious organization for which Kogan worked. Kushners brother Joshua pledged another $1 million.

Let us come together from all faiths to pick up where Rabbi Kogan left off and bring his work, and the work of those building the UAE into a thriving destination of tolerance, bridge building and mutual benefit, to new heights, Jared Kushner wrote on the social platform X.

Advertisement

Ivanka and I are saddened by the loss of Rabbi Kogan, who was senselessly murdered to stop the historic bridges he was building between Jews and Muslims in the UAE. The success of his work, in partnership with the bold and positive vision of the Emirati government, has been a  Jared Kushner (@jaredkushner) November 25, 2024

Kogans body was flown back to Israel on Monday ahead of a planned funeral the following day. His casket, covered in a prayer shawl, arrived to Kfar Chabad, Israel, on Monday night in front of a crowd of hundreds who gathered in the rain to honor him.

How long will Jews continue to die for the sanctification of God? Rabbi Yosef Yitzhak Aharonov asked those gathered.

The procession then took Kogans body to be buried at the Mount of Olives in east Jerusalem.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry official, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation and diplomatic matters, said authorities believe Kogans death came from his identity as an ultra-Orthodox Jew, not anything else.

He was attacked because of who he was, the official said.

Since the Oct. 7 attacks, Israelis and Jews in the UAE have been on edge. Worship, which typically requires 10 Jewish men to happen, still takes place but not at sites previously used by the community, the official said.

The official acknowledged that tensions likely boil beneath the surface in the UAE, but praised the Emirati government for their investigation into Kogans killing. Israeli security services have been involved in the probe, the official said. That likely includes the Mossad, Israels foreign intelligence service.

The UAE, while strenuously criticizing the conduct of the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip, has maintained its diplomatic relations with Israel. Israeli diplomats also have returned to Bahrain, the official said.

They might not agree with what we do in the war  but the dialogue allows them to send in all the humanitarian aid, the official said of the Emirati government.

The official added: Its been challenging to the relationship, but in a way, that keeps it strong.

The RANE Network, a risk consultancy, separately warned that countries like that UAE that have normalized ties with Israel will likely face a similarly low risk of attacks by lone actors, small cells or jihadist groups against Israeli, Jewish or even Western individuals and businesses allegedly associated with Israel.

The incident highlights heightened anti-Israeli sentiment in the region over the war in Gaza, as well as the ongoing shadow war between Iran and Israel, it added.
The proposed law has polarised opinion and has split the governing Labour Party. Lawmakers will vote on the proposed law on Nov. 29, almost 10 years since parliament rejected an earlier bid to legalise assisted dying. read more

The assisted dying Bill, proposed by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults, could be scrapped before it is voted on, as a group of cross-party MPs has introduced a fatal reasoned amendment to block it.

MPs are set to vote on the Private Members Bill this Friday. Leadbeater has called the Bill very robust, saying that it includes multiple safeguards to protect vulnerable individuals, who some critics fear might feel coerced into ending their lives if assisted dying becomes legal.

Advertisement

Under the proposed law, assisted dying would only be available to mentally competent adults with terminal illnesses and a prognosis of six months or less to live.

But Ben Spencer, the Conservative MP, Munira Wilson, a Liberal Democrat, and Labours Anna Dixon have co-sponsored the so-called wrecking amendment that could kill the Bill if enough MPs support it, reported by The Telegraph.

The amendment comes amid growing concerns in the Commons about the proposed change being introduced as a Private Members Bill, which limits the opportunity for thorough debate and scrutiny of its provisions.

If the amendment is selected, it will be voted on during the second reading of Kim Leadbeaters assisted dying Bill on Friday, before any vote on the Bill itself. If the amendment receives majority support from MPs, it would prevent the Bill from proceeding to a vote.

The amendment states: This House declines to give a Second Reading to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill because the Houses procedures for the consideration of Private Members Bills do not allow for sufficient debate on and scrutiny of a Bill on a matter of this importance.

It goes on to highlight the importance of having a fully informed debate and vote on assisted dying, which should follow an independent review and public consultation on the existing law and proposals for change. The amendment calls for the review and consultation to be informed by an independent assessment of palliative care for terminally ill adults.

Advertisement

Dr Spencer, the MP for Runnymede and Weybridge told The Telegraph: Irrespective of ones view on the rights and wrongs of assisted dying legislation, this area should be scrutinised and debated properly prior to a vote in Parliament.

There have been concerns raised from a range of professionals, including judges and medics, around the provisions of the Bill and that this is being rushed through.

He added: This amendment calls for the groundwork to be done first, including legal review, consultation and assessment of palliative care provision, so that Parliament can have a properly-informed debate and vote on assisted dying.

While I strongly support the principle of bodily autonomy of people with full decision-making capacity, I have substantial concerns about this Bill.

Advertisement

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said politicians will be able to vote with their consciences on the matter, rather than along party lines. He has supported changing the law in the past while health minister Wes Streeting has said he will oppose it.

Should the proposal, known as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Members Bill, pass a first vote, it would kick off the formal process for a law change, subjecting it to further scrutiny and requiring approval by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the upper house of parliament.

In 2015, British lawmakers voted 330 to 118 against the second reading of proposed legislation to legalise assisted dying.

Advertisement
After Special Counsel Jack Smith moved to dismiss both the federal cases against US President-elect Donald Trump, a judge agreed to dismiss the election interference case read more

Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump speaks at the Bitcoin 2024 event in Nashville, Tennessee, US, July 27, 2024. File Image/Reuters

A US judge has dismissed the 2020 election interference case against President-elect Donald Trump.

Special Counsel Jack Smith on Monday (November 26) filed motions with judges in Washington DC and Atlanta to dismiss federal cases against Trump related to election interference and mishandling of classified documents. Following the motions, Judge Tanya S Chutkan, who had been presiding over the election interference case in Washington, agreed to dismiss the case.

The election interference case against Trump is related to his efforts to unlawfully overturn the 2020 election result in his favour.

Advertisement

After Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, Trump refused to concede and falsely maintained that the election was stolen from him. On January 6, 2021, as the Senate was certifying the election result, Trump egged on a mob of supporters who went on to the attack the US Capitol with the intention of hijacking the Senate proceedings and overturning the result illegally in his favour.

The classified documents case against Trump is related to the huge trove of classified documents found at his private residence in Florida that he should have handed over after leaving office in 2021. There have been reports that he used those documents for personal benefits after leaving office.

Smith filed for the dismissal of federal cases against Trump because a longstanding Department of Justice (DoJ) policy says that a sitting president cannot be prosecuting. In his filing, Smith maintained that the dismissal was not based on the merits of the case but on this policy alone.

The Departments position is that the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated. This outcome is not based on the merits or strength of the case against the defendant, said Smith in the filing to Chutkan, according to CNN.

Smiths moves effectively bring the unprecedented legal proceedings involving Trump to a close on the federal level. Two state case, the Stormy Daniels case in New York and another election interference case in Georgia, will continue for the moment  even as the sentencing in the Daniels case has been delayed. Trump is the first president to be indicted and the first felon to become the president.

Advertisement

Any proceedings against Trump would now be limited by the Supreme Court ruling that granted immunity to a president for acts in official capacity.
While the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1701 has long been seen as a way for peace between Israel and Lebanon, it has also been criticised for being ineffective in checking the activities of Iran-backed, Lebanon-based terrorist group Hezbollah read more

As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convenes his Cabinet to vote on a proposal for a ceasefire with Lebanon-based Hezbollah, the attention has turned to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1701.

The ceasefire proposal on the table, crafted by the United States, broadly draws upon the UNSC Resolution 1701 of 2006.

Netanyahu faces the uphill task of convincing the far-right wing of the Cabinet regarding the proposal. The UNSC Resolution 1701 has been unpopular in Israel, which was adopted by the UNSC in 2006 to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah, the terrorist group backed by Iran.

Advertisement

The Times of Israel has reported that the Cabinet meeting is expected to last for up to four hours.

In July 2006, Hezbollah killed eight Israeli soldiers and abducted two in a cross-border attack. While Hezbollah had hoped that the abduction would make way for a negotiated prisoner-swap, it misjudged the Israeli response.

Instead of a prisoner-swap, Israel responded with devastating bombardment followed by a ground invasion of Lebanon to fight Hezbollah. The war went on for more than a month and ended with the UNSC Resolution 1701.

What is UNSC Resolution 1701?

Under the terms of the UNSC Resolution 1701, Israel was to vacate the Lebanese territory captured in the 2006 war and withdraw southward of the Blue Line whereas Hezbollah was to vacate southern Lebanon bordering Israel and move northward of the Litani river.

The Blue Line is the ceasefire line between Israel and Lebanon and is the de facto border of the two countries.

The UNSC Resolution 1701 also mandated that regular Lebanese military would be deployed in southern Lebanese territories vacated by Hezbollah. Moreover, it mandated that a UN peacekeeping force would be deployed between the Blue Line and Litani river to monitor the ceasefire.

The UNSC Resolution 1701 also mandated that the Lebanese government should be in control of all Lebanese territories and borders. It also mandated the disarmament of all groups in Lebanon and mandated that only the Lebanese military and UN peacekeepers should bear arms within Lebanon.

Why is UNSC Resolution 1701 criticised?

While the UNSC Resolution 1701 has long been considered the basis for a peaceful settlement between Israel and Lebanon, it has also been criticised within both Israel and Lebanon for being highly ineffective.

The UNSC Resolution 1701 has been a failure as it has never been implemented. While the resolution mandated the withdrawal of Israel southward of the Blue Line and the withdrawal of Hezbollah north of Litani river, it was only Israel that withdrew.

Advertisement

In violation of the terms of the UNSC Resolution 1701, Hezbollah neither withdrew northward of Litani river nor surrendered its arms.

Moreover, the UNSC Resolution 1701 remains unimplemented as the Lebanese government is not in control of vast tracts of country, including the southern part of the country when Hezbollah holds sway and has entrenched itself militarily.

Moreover, Hezbollah remains a state within a state in Lebanon as it is entrenched socially, politically, economically, and militarily in the country.

For these reasons, critics of the UNSC Resolution 1701 in Israel say it is a non-starter as an inspiration for any ceasefire agreement. In Lebanon, critics have long alleged that the resolution failed to check Israels violation of Lebanese airspace.

Advertisement

UNSC Resolution 1701 and Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire

The current proposal for the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah broadly draws inspiration from the UNSC Resolution 1701.

Even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to be onboard with the ceasefire proposal, there are voices within his government and Likud party that continue to oppose the proposal.

While the specifics of the ceasefire proposal have not been revealed, it has been reported that the plan proposes an initial 60-day troops during which Israeli forces will withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah will withdraw from southern Lebanon bordering Israel. After such a withdrawal, Lebanese government forces will take over the area vacated by Hezbollah and the arrangement will be verified by international observers.

Ahead of the Israeli Cabinets vote on the matter, The Jerusalem Post reported Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter as saying that if the ceasefire proposal would be based on the UNSC Resolution 1701, he would not support it.

Advertisement

Far-right ministers in Netanyahus Cabinet, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, and a bunch of Likud MPs have come out in opposition of the proposal.

While Ben-Gvir called efforts for ceasefire a grave mistake and a historic missed opportunity to eliminate Hezbollah, Smotrich said even if a ceasefire is approved, it would be essentially meaningless.

No agreement. If signed, it will be worth the paper its written on. It doesnt matter. What matters is that weve dismantled them, and well continue dismantling them, said Smotrich.
Hundreds of thousands of people in Japan visit museums and memorials dedicated to pilots who mounted suicide missions in World War II read more

Three people look at photos of Japanese kamikaze pilots in a museum display in Chiran on June 6, 2007. (Photo: AP)

While tourists across the world throng to scenic hills, breezy beaches, national monuments, or historic sites, Japanese have a unique interest in places associated with suicides.

Yes, people in Japan throng to sites associated with suicides  way back in World War II.

Japan has a fascination with kamikaze pilots, who mounted suicide attacks against Allied nations during World War II. There are museums dedicated to such pilots where their photos and documents are exhibited.

Advertisement

The fascination is not a result of simple commemorative spirit for the nations history but has been systematically cultivated with a constant dose of popular culture and political environment that has glorified kamikaze pilots.

Who were kamikaze pilots?

Kamikaze pilots were Japanese pilots who flew suicide missions during World War II.

The word kamikaze means divine wind and is rooted in two legendary typhoons of the same name in 13th century that sunk Mongol ships invading Japan at the time, according to Britannica Encyclopaedia.

In World War II, kamikaze pilots flew suicide missions in which they would ram their planes in Allied ships of onshore facilities. Planes of kamikaze pilots would often be loaded with more fuel or bombs so as to maximise the damage  not unlike present-day suicide bombings by vehicles or humans.

The USS Bunker Hill is hit by two Japanese kamikaze aircraft off Kyushu, Japan, on May 11, 1945. (Photo: Reuters)

As many as 4,000 kamikaze pilots undertook suicide missions during World War II. The youngest of such pilots was just 16-year-old.

There emerged a unique culture around these suicide pilots. The Imperial War Museum notes that there used to be a ceremony before such pilots went on their suicide missions in which they drank sake and ate rice. It adds that they used to get a medal and a katana sword during these ceremonies. It further says that these pilots used to carry their beloved possessions on the missions with them.

How kamikaze suicide tourism developed in Japan?

In recent years, a number of films featuring kamikaze pilots have glorified them.

Last year, the film Till We Meet Again on the Lily Hill featured a troubled teenager who travels back in time to World War II to fall in love with a kamikaze pilot.

Similarly, Godzilla Minus One, which attracted international attention, featured a failed kamikaze pilot seeking redemption.

The film Godzilla Minus One, written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki, was an international hit in 2023 and picked up an Oscar earlier this year. Its about a failed kamikaze pilot seeking redemption.

Advertisement

In 2013, the film Eternal Zero, based on the novel of the same name, was centered around kamikaze pilots and became one of the biggest hits in Japan of all time. The novel is also said to have sold millions of copies. Other films involving aerial and maritime suicidal missions have also been made, such as For Those We Love (2007) and The Firefly (2001).

Such a fascination has led to municipalities in Japan opening museums commemorating kamikaze pilots, such as Chiran Peace Museum in southwest Japan.

Journalist and former British Navy officer Alexander Wooley noted in an article for Foreign Policy that walls at the museum feature photographs of young kamikaze pilots. He describes a teen girl and her parents as being clearly so absorbed by the museums walls of young male faces.

Advertisement

Wooley noted that the museum holds original last wills and letters of these pilots, which were often beautifully written in calligraphy.

During April 2023-March 2024, around 338,000 people visited the museum, which was an increase from around 290,000 the previous year, noted Wooley, who further observed that the figures from 2024 would be even higher. This suggests the rising popularity of kamikamze pilots in Japan.

Ironically, such suicide tourism is driven primarily by municipal governments who have made memorials and museums related to the World War II and kamikaze pilots with little focus from the federal Japanese government, according to Wooley.

Museums like the one at Chiran secured letters, wills, and mementoes directly from the families of kamikaze pilots with no role from the Japanese government, noted Wooley.

Advertisement

Kamikaze pilots are shown in artworks as souls ascending to heaven, or their bodies turned into cherry blossoms or fireflies, as per Wooley.
The Samsung Galaxy A56 5G has surfaced in CAD-based renders, thanks to @OnLeaks. This shows a familiar design on the front with a punch-hole, but there is a new camera deco around the triple rear cameras, but the position of the flash has not changed.

There is no change in ports, and should come with a metal frame and a glass back. Earlier rumours revealed a 50-megapixel main camera, 12-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 5-megapixel macro camera, similar to the A55 and A54. However, it is said to get a new 12-megapixel sensor for the front camera.

Benchmark listing already revealed Exynos 1580 (s5e885) chip with Xclipse 540 GPU from AMD. It also revealed 8GB of RAM and Android 15. Similar to the A16 5G, the Galaxy A36 5G is also expected to come with 6 OS updates, and it should run One UI 7.0 out of the box when it launches sometime in Q1 2025.

Source
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
Forget the pandemic boom in marijuana sales  Colorado now collects fewer marijuana tax dollars than it did in 2018.

About half the country now has joined Colorado in legalizing recreational marijuana, with a total of 24 states and Washington, D.C., regulating cannabis. The spread of legalization has taken a toll on Colorados more established market, with the wholesale price of legal marijuana falling to its lowest recorded level, according to state budget documents.

But a new analysis by Joint Budget Committee staff found that theres another factor to blame for the decline of Colorados marijuana industry: the rise of intoxicating hemp.

In 2018, Congress legalized hemp through the federal Farm Bill, a change that was aimed at allowing its use for things like textiles, not recreational drugs.

Theres a limit on how much THC can be present in legalized hemp. But the federal changes have nonetheless resulted in the creation of a $2.2 billion quasi-legal market for intoxicating hemp products, including THC-infused seltzers, brownies and gummies that are now popping up in gas stations, farmers markets and CBD stores across the country.

Youve put a pretty robust regulatory structure in place around marijuana, and you have this product that is sort of laughing in the face of that structure, Craig Harper, the JBC staff director, told lawmakers at a budget hearing last week.

Californias governor recently issued an emergency order banning intoxicating hemp products, while Colorado in 2023 passed a bill to restrict them to licensed marijuana sellers. Intoxicating hemp is produced by converting CBD derived from hemp, which is legal, into chemicals similar to the THC contained in cannabis.

State attorneys general, including Colorados Phil Weiser, are pushing Congress to put stricter limits on hemp, saying their own efforts to crack down on the industry have been stymied by legal uncertainty.

But in the meantime, Colorados legal marijuana sellers are seeing less consumer interest in their highly regulated products.

Marijuana sales  and the tax revenue they generate  peaked in Colorado in the 2020-21 budget year, when the state collected $424 million in sales and excise taxes. That fell 41% to $248 million in the 2023-24 budget year.

For years, budget officials have warned that the boom times would not last once consumer behavior returned to pre-pandemic levels. Today, however, marijuana tax collections have even fallen below what they generated in 2018 and 2019  and its not clear if weve reached rock bottom.

The governors Office of State Planning and Budgeting expects revenue will finally level off this budget year, increasing slightly to $267 million, then $285 million next year. But Colorado Legislative Council Staff isnt so sure; theyre projecting tax collections to fall again this budget year to $242 million, before ticking up to $250 million next year.

Not all of that money winds up in the Marijuana Tax Cash Fund, either. In last years budget, lawmakers had about $131 million in the fund to spend on things like health services and law enforcement. The rest gets transferred to schools and local governments.

Marijuana taxes are among the few sources of state funding that can grow without restriction in Colorado, because voters exempted them from the Taxpayers Bill of Rights revenue cap.

So in a year where the TABOR cap is going to force the legislature to make around a billion dollars in spending cuts, the marijuana tax downturn stings.

Last budget cycle, lawmakers already had to cut services funded by marijuana taxes  including a $20 million payment to BEST, a public school construction grant program that the JBC voted to delay until the 2025-26 budget year.

Expect more cuts in the 2025 legislative session.

For starters, Gov. Jared Polis has proposed cutting the BEST payment again  but even that might not be enough to balance the marijuana fund budget.

As of now, JBC staff projects that lawmakers must cut an additional $19 million in marijuana spending from Polis budget request to avoid dipping into the funds reserves. And thats under the more optimistic forecast from the governors office. If the legislative staff forecast is closer to reality, lawmakers could need to cut more than double that amount.

Colorados not alone; other states that were early legalizers of marijuana have seen revenues plummet as well. Sales have fallen 3.3% this year in Washington state, which legalized the drug in 2014, while Californias sales declined 3.4%, according to Cannabis Business Times. But no state saw a decline as large as Colorados 8% drop, which saw the industry lose $100 million in annual sales.

The downward trend has put new pressure on budget writers to enact new guardrails around how the money can be spent.

After voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2012, the General Assembly passed a law directing the tax dollars it generated to a handful of areas related to drug use: prevention and treatment programs, public health and safety, and efforts to protect youth from drugs.

But over time, lawmakers have expanded the possible uses for marijuana taxes to as many as 21 categories, including housing, entrepreneurial programs, trial courts and veterans services.

My first few years in the legislature, it was seen as, oh, thats where you go to pay for your bills, because theres not enough general funds, said JBC chair Jeff Bridges, a Democratic senator from Greenwood Village. It wasnt a good thing. And now theres a bunch of stuff in there that maybe shouldnt be in there.
Cargo Plane Crash In Vilnius Raises Question About Possible Link To Sabotage

By RFE/RL November 25, 2024

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the deadly crash of a cargo plane in Lithuania on November 25 could have been a "hybrid incident" with outside involvement.

"We must now seriously ask ourselves whether this was an accident or whether it was another hybrid incident," Baerbock told reporters at a G7 foreign ministers meeting in Italy.

"We have recently seen multiple hybrid attacks in Europe, often targeting individuals and infrastructure, whether underwater or hard infrastructure," she said, alluding to the recent severing of telecom cables in the Baltic Sea that officials have said could have been sabotage.

German authorities are working very closely with the Lithuanian authorities to get to the bottom of the crash, she added.

Lithuanian authorities have so far stopped short of making the same link.

"We cannot reject the possibility of terrorism.... But at the moment we can't make attributions or point fingers because we don't have such information," Lithuanian counterintelligence chief Darius Jauniskis told reporters.

Marius Baranauskas, head of the Lithuanian National Aviation Authority, said the communications between the pilots and the control tower indicated nothing extraordinary, adding that investigators need to examine the black-box recordings to know what was happening in the aircraft.

Many Western intelligence agencies have accused Moscow of involvement in sabotage acts in Europe, which they have said are aimed at destabilizing allies of Ukraine as it relies on Western governments in its war against Russia's full-scale invasion.

The cargo plane, which belonged to global courier DHL, crashed as it attempted to land at Vilnius airport, killing the jet's Spanish pilot and injuring another Spanish crew member, a German, and a Lithuanian, according to airport and police officials cited by Reuters. At least one of the injured was in critical condition.

The plane, a Boeing 737-400 jet that had departed Leipzig, Germany, about 90 minutes before the crash, hit several buildings as it skidded hundreds meters, according to the police and DHL. A spokesperson for the governmental National Crisis Management Center said one of the buildings hit was a house whose occupants survived.

Firefighters were not able to determine whether the plane began burning or breaking up while still in the air, and authorities were still looking for the black boxes that record flight data.

A DHL statement said the plane "made a forced landing" about 1 kilometer from the Vilnius airport and the cause of the crash was still unknown.

Lithuanian Commissioner-General of Police Arunas Paulauskas said surviving crew members told investigators there was no smoke, fire, or other emergency situation in the cabin prior to the crash. He also said the probability of an external force impact was very low.

The crash came after a series of fires at DHL depots in Britain and Germany during the summer. Western security officials were quoted in a news report earlier this month linking the fires to a test run of an alleged Russian operation aimed at igniting fires on cargo or passenger aircraft bound for North America.

The Wall Street Journal quoted security officials as saying that devices that ignited in July in DHL depots in Leipzig and the British city of Birmingham were part of the test run.

Last month, Polish officials said four people had been detained as a result of the investigation into parcels that caught fire while en route to United States and Canada.

The activities of the four people "consisted of sabotage and diversion related to sending parcels containing camouflaged explosives and dangerous materials via courier companies to European Union countries and Great Britain, which spontaneously ignited or detonated during land and air transport," Polish prosecutors said in a statement on October 25.

"The group's goal was also to test the transfer channel for such parcels, which were ultimately to be sent to the United States of America and Canada," the statement said, adding that foreign intelligence services were to blame. The statement did not directly accuse Russia of involvement.

Canada in early November expressed concern to Russian officials after he arrests were announced. Russia responded by summoning a Canadian diplomat on November 8 to rebut allegations that Russia's secret services had orchestrated the campaign to mail explosive packages.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-sabotage- dhl-crash-lithuania/33215501.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Trump cleared of federal indictments before he takes office

By Ken Bredemeier November 25, 2024

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will no longer be under federal indictment when he is inaugurated as the country's 47th president on January 20.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington quickly dismissed charges Monday that Trump illegally tried to upend his 2020 reelection loss. She did so after U.S. special counsel Jack Smith acknowledged in a court filing that long-standing Justice Department policy precluded prosecution of a sitting president.

In another court filing, Smith also asked an appellate court in Atlanta to remove Trump from a pending appeal. The prosecutor had originally filed the appeal seeking to reinstate dismissed charges that Trump hoarded hundreds of classified national security documents at his oceanside estate in Florida when he left the presidency in 2021.

The prosecutor said he stood behind the merits of both indictments against Trump, even as he said the charges should be dropped.

Trump, on the Truth Social media platform, declared, "These cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought."

He said that more than $100 million in taxpayer money "has been wasted in the Democrat Party's fight against their Political Opponent, ME. It was a political hijacking, and a low point in the History of our Country that such a thing could have happened, and yet, I persevered, against all odds, and WON."

During his campaign, Trump vowed that if he was elected for a second nonconsecutive term, he would fire Smith "within two seconds" of assuming the presidency again. But U.S. news accounts say Smith plans to leave the Justice Department ahead of Trump's taking office.

In the Washington case, Trump, a Republican, was accused of pressuring state officials after the 2020 election to change election results that showed Democrat Joe Biden had defeated him and of spreading lies that Biden won only because of massive vote fraud and election irregularities.

The prosecutor asked Chutkan to dismiss the case "without prejudice," leaving open the possibility that the charges could be renewed after Trump leaves office a second time in January 2029.

As Smith's lengthy investigations have wound on without the cases going to trial, some U.S. legal analysts have said Trump, when he assumes office again, could try to pardon himself to end his legal jeopardy with certainty, an action no president has ever tried before.

In Atlanta, Smith asked a federal appellate court to drop Trump as a co-defendant from the special counsel's appeal of a ruling by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon.

Cannon, a Trump appointee, had dismissed the classified documents case on the ground that Smith had been illegally appointed as special counsel.

The decision by Cannon broke with legal precedent, which sanctioned the appointment of special counsels, to agree with Trump's lawyers that Smith was unlawfully appointed.

Trump was accused in the case overseen by Cannon of hoarding classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, his home and private club alongside the Atlantic coastline in Florida.

Trump and co-defendants Carlos De Oliveira and Waltine (Walt) Nauta were accused of trying to obstruct government efforts to retrieve the documents, which U.S. law mandated be turned over to the National Archives as Trump left office in January 2021.

Smith asked the appeals court to remove Trump from the case but to leave his co-defendants in the case, which could allow the appeal of Cannon's dismissal to continue after Trump assumes power again.

In his filing in Washington, Smith said the Justice Department's prohibition on taking sitting presidents to trial "is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government's proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind."

The cases being heard by Chutkan in Washington and Cannon in Florida had dragged on for months, with Trump's lawyers filing numerous legal challenges to the charges.

Trump eventually won a broad ruling from the Supreme Court earlier this year, saying that Trump and all former presidents were immune from prosecution for any official actions they had taken while president but not for unofficial acts.

Until Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 election and foreclosed Smith's prosecution of the 2020 election interference indictment, the prosecutor was recasting his election interference case against Trump to account for the restrictions imposed by the Supreme Court.

In a statement after Smith's two court filings, Trump's running mate in the election, Vice President-elect JD Vance, cited Trump's legal peril as he ran for a new four-year term in the White House.

"If Donald J. Trump had lost an election, he may very well have spent the rest of his life in prison," Vance said on social media, adding, "It's time to ensure what happened to President Trump never happens in this country again."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






CENTCOM Commander Concludes Series of High-Level Visits with Key Leaders During Middle East Trip

U.S. Central Command

Press Release | Nov. 25, 2024

USCENTCOM

Nov. 25, 2024

Release Number 20241125-01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA, Fla. -- Commander, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla completed a series of high-level meetings with several key leaders in six Middle East nations, during a seven-day trip through the region, Nov. 16-22.

Gen. Kurilla met with senior military and government officials in Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and Israel to reaffirm U.S. commitment to regional stability, bolster military-to-military partnerships, and discuss actions required to address current security challenges.

From Nov. 16-18, Gen. Kurilla hosted the CENTCOM Commander's Conference (CCC) at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Leaders from CENTCOM component and subordinate commands, the interagency, and the Joint Staff discussed the current state of security in the CENTCOM area of responsibility (AOR), opportunities to strengthen security cooperation, and efforts to counter violent extremist organizations (VEOs), such as ISIS and Iranian-backed Houthis.

After the CCC, Nov. 18, Gen. Kurilla met, separately, with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheik Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al-Thani and Chief of Staff Qatari Armed Forces Lieutenant General Jassim Mohammad al Mannai, both of whom are new in their respective positions. The leaders discussed the security situation in the region, their mutual commitment to regional stability, and expanding interoperability and cooperation, such as additional mil-to-mil exchanges and exercises. Qatar is an important strategic U.S. partner, and CENTCOM is firmly committed to building on the strong relationship and shared commitment to regional security.

From Nov. 18-19, Gen. Kurilla visited Bahrain and met with the National Security Advisor, Sheikh Nasser bin Hammad Al Khalifah, as well as Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defense Force (BDF), and members of the BDF staff, where they discussed strengthening cooperation between the U.S. and Bahrain. Gen. Kurilla also emphasized that Bahrain is a vital partner and agreed to continue enhancing interoperability of U.S.-Bahrain forces, which supports readiness and deterrence. Sheikh Nasser and Gen. Kurilla spoke about the many possibilities that the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA), signed in September 2023 between the United States and Bahrain, can bring to the Kingdom. They also agreed on the importance of a strong and prosperous Bahrain for the benefit of the entire region.

On Nov. 19-20, Gen. Kurilla visited the UAE and met with Emirati National Security Advisor Sheik Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Emirati Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt Gen Eisa Sayf Al-Mazouri. The leaders discussed challenges in the region, including the malign and reckless activities by the Houthis, and building on opportunities such as UAE's strategic relationship with partners throughout the region. Both sides agreed to continue deepening the U.S. security partnership and cooperation with UAE, which was recognized as one of only two Major Defense Partners of the United States.

On Nov. 20-21, Gen. Kurilla traveled to Saudi Arabia, where he met with Gen. Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwayli, Chief of General Staff of the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces and his key staff. The focus of the visit was focused on gaining the Saudi perspective on the regional situation and proposed ways ahead. The leaders discussed the regional security challenges and opportunities to reduce and reset tensions in the region. While in Saudia Arabia, Gen. Kurilla also met with Lt. Gen. Sagheer Hamoud Ahmed Aziz, the Chief of Staff of the of the Yemini Armed Forces, who traveled from Yemen for the visit. The leaders discussed insights into the Iranian-backed Houthis and increased efforts to combat Houthi attacks against on military and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Bab Al Mandeb.

On Nov. 21-22, Gen. Kurilla traveled to Jordan and met with His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein and Maj. Gen. Yousef Al-H'naity, Chairman of the Jordanian Joint Chiefs of Staff. The leaders discussed building on the long history of cooperation between the two countries, which established diplomatic ties in 1949. The leaders also discussed efforts to enhance regional cooperation and further strengthen the U.S. relationship with the Jordanian Armed Forces, which continues to serve as a reliable strategic partner for peace and stability in the region.

On Nov. 22, Gen. Kurilla traveled to Israel and met with Israeli Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi, Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF), Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, the IDF Northern Commander, and other key IDF staff to discuss strategic security issues, preparedness against regional threats, Gaza, and efforts toward a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Gen. Kurilla also reiterated the ironclad military-to-military relationship between the U.S. and Israel, before departing the region.

"In these challenging times, it is vital to maintain strong and effective relationships with our partners in the region to safeguard stability and counter malign influence," said Gen. Kurilla. "Only by sitting down with our partners and seeing the region through their eyes can we truly understand the complexity and nuance that define this critical part of the world. The human connections we forge and the cultural context we gain all contribute to a deeper understanding that can't be achieved through maps, reports, or briefings alone."



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






State Secretary Kravik's remarks at the Review Conference of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention

Government of Norway

Speech/statement | Date: 25/11/2024

By State Secretary Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik

State Secretary Andreas Kravik's High-level segment of the Review Conference of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention in Siem Reap, Cambodia, 25 November 2024

I am honoured to be here and to share Norway's commitment to the Mine Ban Convention with the Presidency and the larger Convention family of member states, civil society and observers. I would like to pay a special tribute to the many survivors and representatives of victims' associations present here today.

Mr. President, it has been an honour to work closely with you and the rest of the Cambodian presidency team for the 5th Review Conference. Cambodia was the very first country where Norway started funding clearance operations in 1992. The terrible legacy of anti-personnel mines in Cambodia, in terms of high casualty rates and socioeconomic impact on communities, are felt until this day. Massive clearance has taken place over decades, and Cambodia is a prime example of what can be achieved where mine action policy is a clear national priority. The key lies in its implementation.

This Conference will adopt a new action plan to guide implementation of all the obligations of the Convention for the next five years. It will also adopt a political declaration to reaffirm the commitment of all states parties. This year, 25 years after the entry into force of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, we reaffirm our commitment to a universal ban on weapons which kill and maim indiscriminately. We reaffirm that we adhere to international humanitarian law and to a common set of values that underpin these instruments. The norm established by the Mine Ban Convention against any use is more relevant than ever.

The role of action Plans is to provide new energy and direction to the implementation of this convention. Norway will actively contribute to a strong outcome this week, and to build further on the Oslo Action Plan adopted five years ago. In Oslo, we agreed to highlight relevant best practices, and we introduced indicators to measure progress. We focused on progress in clearance of landmines, addressed the use of landmines of an improvised nature, highlighted the need for mine risk education and prevention measures for at-risk populations, and affirmed the integration of a gender perspective in all aspects of mine action.

Mr President, we are convinced that the Oslo Action Plan has in fact had a positive impact on mainstreaming gender equality and inclusion of the diverse needs and experiences of affected populations, and we look forward to carrying this work forward in the Siem Reap-Angkor Action Plan.

This Convention has established a strong norm against any use of anti-personnel landmines. Norway condemns the use of anti-personnel landmines by any actor in all circumstances. Norway expects all States Parties to comply with their legal obligations under the Convention. Any use or transfer by States not party to the Convention does not diminish or revoke the obligation of States Parties to uphold their commitments.

Let us remember that the ban on use is adhered to by many more countries than the States Parties alone. We see this is in the voting pattern for the annual UN resolution on the implementation of the Convention, which receives strong support every year.

I need not remind you that many established norms and rules of warfare are currently being challenged by a lack of compliance with international humanitarian law. This is unacceptable. We see it in Ukraine, the Middle East and in Sudan, to mention a few. We must defend these values and principles that various humanitarian instruments, including the Mine Ban Convention, are based on.

The Mine Ban Convention was adopted to address the need to protect people from weapons that continue to kill and injure long after a conflict has ended. Any mines or explosive devices that are designed to be detonated by a person fall under this Convention and are banned. It does not matter how they are produced, or why they are used.

The protection dimension of the Mine Ban Convention has been fundamental to Norway since the beginning. We have not forgotten the rallying cry from Maputo in 2014: "a mine-free world by 2025". A mine-free world remains our common objective. At the same time, a mine-free world does not mean a world without landmine victims and survivors. This convention recognises the rights of victims and survivors. This means access to health services, education, and employment in their communities.

Mr President, the Mine Ban Convention sets clear deadlines for clearance, and all member states have a responsibility to help those affected. 58 countries and 2 other areas remain contaminated by landmines. 36 of these are party to this convention. 94% of all anti-personnel mines cleared in the world last year took place in countries which are states parties to this convention.

Funding for mine action is required, but funding on its own is not enough. We also need policies and national commitment. We need an accurate picture of the extent of contamination, and we urge all governments in affected countries to intensify their efforts in this area.

Norway has supported mine action for more than 30 years and is one of the top five donors for global mine action. We are currently funding mine action in 20 countries and areas, in partnership with humanitarian NGOs. In many affected states, landmine contamination is low or modest, and with the right commitment and resources, clearance could be completed within months or a few years. Far more experience, technological advances and improved methods are available to the mine action sector today than was the case when the Mine Ban Convention was first adopted in Oslo in 1997.

A handful of donors contributed 72% of all international funding for global mine action in 2023. There is considerable opportunity for other state parties to the Mine Ban Convention to contribute to help speed up the pace of clearance. Norway supports innovative funding mechanisms, including the establishment of a fund to support mine action in countries that are on the right track to completion, but receive little or no funding.

Let me close by assuring you, Mr. President, of Norway's continued commitment to the norm established by the Mine Ban Convention and to support for affected countries to cross the finishing line.

I thank you.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Cambodian PM denies funding troubles for Funan Techo canal

Hun Manet says mega project going ahead as planned without any hindrance

By RFA Khmer 2024.11.25 -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has rejected media reports that the Funan Techo canal project is experiencing financial problems as funding from China "dries up."

Reuters reported last week that China's financial contribution remained in doubt after it "expressed misgivings about the project and has not made definitive commitments on its funding."

Beijing seems to be drastically downsizing its overseas investments as its domestic economy struggles, even in countries it considers strategic partners, such as Cambodia, the news agency reported.

Hun Manet said in his speech at an event on Saturday that there was nothing to hinder the project's implementation, according to a video clip of the speech posted on his Facebook page.

The prime minister said at the closing ceremony of a National Assembly of Buddhist Monks that his government was "implementing the project carefully, following clear instructions to reduce impacts on the people at the grassroots level."

Phnom Penh "has a clear master plan with several backup development partners," Hun Manet said, turning to China's ambassador, Wang Wenbin, who was at the event.

The canal, officially known as the Tonle Bassac Navigation Road and Logistics System Project, was proposed and approved when his father Hun Sen was prime minister, and is being publicly acclaimed as one of the veteran leader's great legacies.

The construction of the 180-kilometer (112-mile) waterway that will connect the capital, Phnom Penh, with the Gulf of Thailand began in early August. Cambodia hopes the canal will end its dependence on Vietnamese ports to the south.

Instead of being a foreign-invested project - a Chinese state company was initially reported to be the main investor under the Belt and Road Initiative - the canal is now being built mostly with domestic funding, with Cambodian sources expected to make up a controlling 51% share of the US$1.7-billion investment needed.

Radio Free Asia has reported on questions about the viability of the project.

Little progress

More than three months after groundbreaking, there are no signs of progress across the project.

RFA Khmer reported that there was no machinery or workers at the ceremony site in Prek Takeo village, Kandal province, in late November.

Villagers told RFA that they were worried about their relocation and compensation as they had heard little from the government.

Hun Manet said government officials "need to clearly define the procedure, review the location and address its impacts on citizens, before permitting the excavators to dig the canal."

He added that as it is the rainy season now, the water level in the rivers and lowlands is high, making it difficult to dig.

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport also released a statement saying its technical team had completed detailed research and in-depth assessment of the project's impact in close collaboration with relevant institutions, both Cambodian and international.

The ministry accused media outlets of "spreading false and unfounded information with the intention of undermining the construction process."

Seng Vanly, a Cambodian political analyst, told RFA Khmer that the government should not accuse the media of inciting discontent but should instead expedite the construction of the project as soon as possible to maintain its image.

Edited by Mike Firn.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content November not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Pro-Russian Candidate In Shock Win, To Face Former Small-Town Mayor In Romania's Presidential Runoff

By RFE/RL's Romanian Service November 25, 2024

BUCHAREST -- Pro-Russian far-right candidate Calin Georgescu has won a surprise victory in the first round of EU and NATO member Romania's presidential vote and will face pro-Western center-right candidate Elena Lasconi in the December 8 runoff.

Complete preliminary results of the November 24 election showed independent Georgescu -- who has been criticized for his anti-NATO and anti-Semitic statements -- won with 22.94 percent of the vote.

Lasconi, a former TV journalist and small-town mayor for the center-right Save Romania Union (USR), trailed in early results reporting, but edged ahead of the initial favorite, leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.

With 19.17 percent of the vote, Lasconi secured a wafer-thin advance over Ciolacu's 19.15 percent, which prompted Ciolacu to concede and announce his resignation as leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD). The margin between the two was just 2,742 votes.

"I sent a message to Mrs. Lasconi and extended my congratulations," Ciolacu told the media.

Ciolacu's third-place finish means that for the first time since 1989, the PSD, the heir to Romania's Communist Party, won't have a candidate in the presidential runoff.

Lasconi has yet to declare victory, telling journalists just that "it's been devilishly difficult."

The runoff will be held a week after the parliamentary elections on December 1 -- a face-off the media is portraying as a battle between East and West.

George Simion of the ultranationalist Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) had 13.86 percent, a surprisingly low score after many predicted he would advance to the runoff together with Ciolacu.

Critics have charged Simion with also being Russian-friendly and, while he wants Romania to remain in NATO, he has also said Bucharest should be neutral.

The winner of the second round will succeed the outgoing center-right incumbent, Klaus Iohannis, who is completing his second and final term after a decade in office.

Fourteen candidates officially registered in the race, but liberal ex-Prime Minister Ludovic Orban last week announced he was withdrawing and threw his weight behind Lasconi.

Election officials put the turnout at just over 52 percent, or about 9.44 million voters casting their ballots.

In 2019, total first-round turnout was 51.18 percent. In the second round, it rose to 55.1 percent.

Georgescu, an obscure figure who held positions in Romania's Foreign Ministry and at the UN environmental agency UNEP, started as a member of AUR and was twice put forward as a possible prime minister by Simion's party.

But Georgescu's anti-Semitic statements made him too radical even for AUR, which eventually broke with him when the authorities opened a criminal investigation on his radical views.

However, even without the overt backing of a party, Georgescu performed unexpectedly well both inside the country and in Romania's Western diaspora, where he took more than 43 percent of the vote, ostensibly by using the TikTok social media platform to call for an end to Romania's aid to Ukraine.

Under the incumbent Iohannis, Romania has turned into a key ally of Ukraine, not only providing training and military equipment but playing a key role in transporting Ukrainian grain and other agricultural goods to global markets.

The 62-year-old, who has been criticized in the Romanian media for his pro-Russian and anti-NATO statements, claimed his shocking victory was a vote for "peace," echoing statements by other pro-Moscow European leaders such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

"Tonight, the Romanian people cried out for peace. And they shouted very loudly, extremely loudly", he said late on November 24.

In previous interviews, Georgescu urged closer ties with Moscow, claiming that "Russian wisdom" was Romania's best chance, although he has not publicly backed Russia's war in Ukraine.

Asked about Georgescu's upset victory, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on November 25 said Russia did not know much about him or his opinions.

"I would not make any predictions yet. We probably cannot say that we are that familiar with the world view of this candidate as far as relations with our country are concerned."

Lasconi, a former small-town mayor and TV journalist, was the only presidential candidate who opposed the idea of Ukraine giving up land to Russia in a peace deal, saying doing so would embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"If Ukraine cedes territory, Putin won't stop," she had said. "We need to help Ukraine win this war," she said during the only presidential debate, held last week.

She was also the most bullish among the top candidates on NATO, calling for the military alliance to have a greater presence in Romania.

Lasconi garnered 56 percent of the Romanian vote in Moldova, where more than 80,000 Romanian passport holders showed up to vote. Moldova was part of Romania before World War II and the countries share a common language and history. Many Moldovans have acquired Romanian citizenship, which gives them the right to travel and work in the West.

Some analysts said Georgescu's shock victory was also a result of mounting disillusion with Romania's entrenched political elites among young Romanians, many of whom leave the country because of what they say is a lack of opportunities.

Rima, a voter at a Bucharest polling station, told RFE/RL, "There should be more opportunities for young people, so we don't have to leave the country after we graduate from high school or college."

"The president should be more open-minded on some topics, especially international ones. That's what I want: to live in a free country where we as young people have a voice," she said, without specifying her candidate.

Romania's president has significant decision-making powers, including on matters of national security and foreign policy. Elected for a five-year term, the president can also reject party nominees for prime minister and government nominees for judicial appointments.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-friendly- candidate-takes-surprising-lead-in-romanian-presidential- vote-runoff-expected-/33214579.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Protesters Pelt Georgian Parliament With Eggs During First Session Since Disputed Election

By RFE/RL's Georgian Service November 25, 2024

Georgia's new parliament met for its first session since the Moscow-friendly Georgian Dream party won elections last month that ignited calls for fresh polls amid accusations the balloting was rigged, as protesters gathered outside and pelted the building with eggs.

Opposition lawmakers boycotted the session on November 25 after calling on foreign diplomats not to legitimize the new parliament by attending the first session.

EU and other Western officials have expressed serious doubts about the October 26 elections in which Georgian Dream officially won 53.9 percent of the vote.

The first item on the agenda for the opening session, which will be attended by the head of the Central Election Commission (CEC), is recognizing the authority of all 150 parliament members. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, however, has refused to recognize the result validated by the CEC.

Zurabishvili has filed a lawsuit in the Constitutional Court "requesting annulment of the election results as unconstitutional."

Protesters allege there was widespread fraud during the campaign and vote and that Russia heavily influenced the outcome favoring Georgian Dream, which has been in power since 2012. They gathered outside the parliament but were not able to block the entrance amid a heavy police presence.

"Black Monday in Georgia: Police...guarding the doors behind which 'Georgian Dream slaves' are killing our Constitution and making a mockery of our Parliament," Zurabishvili said in a post on X.

Police have moved quickly -- sometimes using violence -- to shut down previous demonstrations, but no altercations were reported on November 25.

Georgian Dream's billionaire founder and "honorary chairman," Bidzina Ivanishvili, attended the session and holds the right to nominate a prime minister.

Ivanishvili, who is widely regarded as dominating the government even though he does not hold an official position, is expected to push for MPs to approve current Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to continue as head of the government.

Georgia has been a candidate for EU membership since last year, but a "foreign influence" law and anti-LGBT measures enacted under Georgian Dream's leadership have stalled that effort.

The United States in July announced it would pause more than $95 million in assistance to the Georgian government, warning that it was backsliding on democracy.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/protesters-pelt- georgian-parliament-with-eggs-as-lawmakers-hold-first-session -since-disputed-election-/33214957.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Blinken's Call with Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

November 25, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Secretary condemned the kidnapping and murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan citizen living in the UAE. Secretary Blinken commended the swift actions taken by the UAE's law enforcement authorities in response to the murder. The Secretary expressed appreciation for the UAE's close security cooperation with the United States and other partners in the region, as well as its long-standing tradition of and commitment to tolerance and freedom of worship.

The Secretary and Foreign Minister also discussed ongoing efforts to end the war in Gaza, secure the release of all hostages and establish governance, security, and reconstruction in a post-conflict period.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






An immediate ceasefire and the immediate release of hostages is the best way to achieve peace: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East Peace Process.

25 November 2024

First, the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic and unacceptable. Famine is likely imminent in some areas and the unthinkable hardship that millions of civilians, including children, are already facing in Gaza is set to get even worse as winter continues.

As my Foreign Secretary reiterated last Monday to this Council, there is no excuse for Israeli restrictions on humanitarian aid. We need much better protection of civilians in Gaza, a huge surge in aid, and for the UN and humanitarians to be able to operate in safety.

An immediate and unconditional ceasefire and the immediate release of hostages is the best way to achieve this.

Second, as we have repeatedly said, the UNRWA bills that Israel's Knesset has passed are gravely concerning and risk jeopardising the entire international humanitarian response in Gaza, and delivery of essential health and education services in the West Bank.

UNRWA is indispensable.

No other agency can get aid into Gaza on the scale needed or replace its mandate to serve Palestinian refugees. Israel must ensure that UNRWA can continue its vital operations.

Third, we remain deeply concerned by instability in the West Bank. The economic situation is dire.

We urge the Government of Israel to extend Correspondent Banking Relations for at least one year, to immediately release withheld clearance revenues, and to stop settlement expansion on Palestinian land, which is illegal under international law.

The rate of expansion is unprecedented, and it undermines stability and the prospects for peace. We have announced three tranches of sanctions targeting illegal settler outposts and organisations that have supported and sponsored violence against communities in the West Bank.

Palestinians must be able to live without fear of violence or intimidation.

Colleagues, we must continue to work together to end the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, to secure the release of all the hostages who are living an unimaginable horror and to stop the suffering of civilians.

Too many people have lost their lives. The region needs a lasting peace, with a two-state solution at its core.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






No end in sight to 'horror' in Gaza, UN official tells Security Council

25 November 2024 - As Gaza teeters on the brink of collapse, a senior UN official on Monday renewed urgent calls for an immediate ceasefire and action to address the humanitarian crisis.

Briefing Ambassadors on the Security Council, Muhannad Hadi, Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, outlined the impact of the conflict, which is now in its second year.

"As winter approaches, the horror in Gaza continues to grind on with no end in sight," he said.

Sparked by last October's terror attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in southern Israel, the conflict has reportedly claimed the lives of over 44,000 Palestinians and 1,700 Israelis and foreign nationals.

Tens of thousands more have been injured, and more than 100 Israelis hostages remain in Gaza under dire conditions.

Situation remains dire in Gaza

Mr. Hadi highlighted the devastating impact of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operations in northern Gaza, which have led to mass displacement and scores of fatalities, including women and children.

Humanitarian assistance to those in need has also been severely impacted, with UN convoys of lifesaving aid looted by armed Palestinian groups.

A UN convoy of 109 trucks carrying food was looted on November 16, with 97 trucks lost. Days later, over 20 individuals were reportedly killed during operations targeting looters, led by Gaza authorities.

"Attacks on humanitarians and humanitarian convoys must cease immediately. Law and order must be restored, and the civilian population must have safe access to vital aid," Mr. Hadi said.

Violence escalating in the West Bank

Mr. Hadi further informed the Security Council about increasing violence in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

Thirty-two Palestinians were killed during Israeli security operations over the past few weeks, and Israeli settler attacks on Palestinian communities, particularly during the olive harvest, have escalated.

Shooting and ramming attacks by Palestinians also continued, though no fatalities were reported in the occupied West Bank or Israel, he said.

He added that Israel's advancement of settlements and demolition of Palestinian-owned structures also continued, with some ministers "now openly calling" for the annexation of the occupied West Bank.

"I reiterate that annexation constitutes a violation of international law and must be firmly rejected," he noted.

Impact on the wider region

Mr. Hadi also noted the impact of the conflict in Israel, where civilians continue to face attacks from both Hamas and Hezbollah.

"Regrettably, the situation remains grave across the region. Israeli military operations continued across the Blue Line with Lebanon, as did the firing of rockets by Hezbullah toward Israel, including a barrage this weekend," he said.

He welcomed the ongoing diplomatic efforts to reach a cessation of hostilities and urged the parties to accept a ceasefire "anchored in the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701."

Call for ceasefire

Mr. Hadi also warned that developments across the occupied Palestinian territory suggested "an imminent risk of losing the frameworks" we have been operating under since 1967 and 1973 when the Security Council adopted the resolutions "aimed at laying the foundations for a just and lasting peace".

"We continue to call for an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and the de-escalation of tensions around the region," he added, appealing for political and security frameworks that would help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, ending the occupation and achieving a two-State solution.

To avert further escalation, he urged the international community to renew its commitment to diplomacy and support measures that ensure long-term safety and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

"We need a ceasefire; we need to get the hostages out; we need life-saving support delivered safely now," Mr. Hadi added.

Final reflections

Also speaking, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland reflected on the challenges facing the region and the international community's efforts to address the ongoing crisis.

He echoed the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza and the delivery of critical humanitarian aid as he acknowledged the difficulties.

"We have demonstrations in the field and in the Council how difficult this situation is at the moment...I am deeply frustrated from my visits to Gaza to see that despite all efforts...it has not been possible to deliver aid and assistance in the amount needed for the civilians living in Gaza."

Marking his final appearance at a formal Security Council meeting, Mr. Wennesland thanked Council members, the UN Secretariat and all colleagues for their collaboration and support.

In conclusion, he emphasised the need for sustained international engagement in the search for a just and lasting resolution to the crisis

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






China, Singapore pledge to deepen cooperation on industrial park

Xinhua) 09:51, November 26, 2024

SUZHOU, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met with Senior Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong on Monday in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province.

He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the two sides should focus on the new positioning of bilateral relations, make full use of cooperation platforms such as the Suzhou Industrial Park, and work together to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries.

Noting that Singapore-China relations have been deepening with strong development momentum under the guidance of the two countries' top leaders, Lee said Singapore is willing to work with China to push for new development in major cooperative projects, and further consolidate and upgrade bilateral relations.

The two senior officials also attended the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park High-Quality Development Forum on Monday. The two sides comprehensively reviewed the achievements of the park in the past 30 years, and mapped out the direction and focus of cooperation for its next stage.

They agreed the two countries should give better play to the pioneering role of the park, deepen institutional reform, and work together to build a world-class science and technology park that is open and innovative.

They also witnessed the signing of cooperation documents.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Lebanon: UNIFIL concerned by attacks on Lebanese Armed Forces

25 November 2024 - The United Nations remains concerned by the escalation of hostilities in Lebanon between Hezbollah and the Israel Defense Force (IDF), as well as the widespread destruction and death across the Blue Line, the Secretary-General's Spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said on Monday.

The UN Interim Force Lebanon (UNIFIL) is also seriously concerned by numerous strikes on the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) despite their declared non-involvement in the hostilities, he added.

The LAF have reported that at least 45 soldiers have been killed in recent attacks.

Deadly escalation

Mr. Dujarric stressed that such attacks targeting the LAF in Lebanese territory constitute a flagrant violation of Security Council resolution 1701, as well as international humanitarian law, which prohibits the targeting of those not participating in hostilities.

He said the UN remains deeply alarmed by the escalation of hostilities and the widespread destruction and loss of life across the "Blue Line" that separates Lebanon and Israel.

Negotiations, not violence

"We urge all parties involved in the conflict to address their differences through negotiations - not through violence," he continued.

He noted that the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, is on a visit to Israel and was scheduled to meet with senior Israeli officials that day, with talks centred on the current crisis, the urgent need for a ceasefire, and the comprehensive implementation of resolution 1701.

Read our explainer about the resolution here.

Deadliest period in decades

The UN aid coordination office, OCHA, warned that Lebanon is facing its deadliest period in decades, with an unprecedented humanitarian crisis affecting more than a million people.

Over the past three days, southern suburbs of the capital, Beirut, have been hit by relentless attacks, resulting in extensive damage and significant casualties, as well as forcing people to flee their homes.

On average, 250 people have been killed every week this month, bringing the death toll to more than 3,700 since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023, OCHA said, citing national authorities.

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) reports that between 22 and 23 November this year, at least nine boys and girls were killed, some of whom were sleeping in their beds.

Overall, at least 240 children have been killed since last October.

In response to the escalating violence, the Lebanese authorities have announced the closure of schools in Beirut and surrounding areas, shifting to remote learning as of this Monday, representing a further disruption to education.

Commitment to deliver

Despite ongoing security concerns, the UN and partners remain on the ground to try to scale up efforts to continue providing critical assistance.

UNICEF has safely carried out 14 humanitarian convoys as of 19 November, reaching some 50,000 people in hard-to-reach areas. The agency has also helped displaced families living on the streets of Beirut to find shelter.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has delivered 48 tonnes of medical supplies to support the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health's Chronic Medication Programme, ensuring that 300,000 people with chronic conditions have continued access to essential medicines.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Days after United States Vetoes Security Council Resolution Calling for Immediate Gaza Ceasefire, Special Coordinator Warns against Undoing Decades of Work towards Peace

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9794th Meeting (AM)

SC/15911

25 November 2024

Meeting on the heels of yet another thwarted attempt to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire and an end to the war in Gaza, the Security Council heard a last time from Tor Wennesland, outgoing Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, who voiced deep frustration over the failure of combined efforts to broker a ceasefire, and urged Council members and Member States to guard against the "unravelling of decades" of hard-fought multilateralism.

He noted in particular the frameworks put in place in 1967 and 1973, when the 15-nation organ adopted the resolutions aimed at laying the foundations for a just and lasting peace.

"As winter approaches, the horror in Gaza continues to grind on with no end in sight," Mr. Wennesland said, in a statement delivered by Muhannad Hadi, Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. The treacherous dynamics described a week ago by Mr. Wennesland continue to unfold in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and the broader region. "Regrettably, the situation remains grave across the region," he said, outlining continuing Israeli military operations across the Blue Line with Lebanon and "a barrage of rockets" fired by Hizbullah towards Israel this weekend. As well, he welcomed ongoing diplomatic efforts to reach a cessation of hostilities, recalling that, in over 13 months of conflict since Hamas's attacks inside Israel in October 2023, some 44,000 Palestinians and 1,700 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed.

Against this backdrop, he urged the parties to accept a ceasefire anchored in the full implementation of Council resolution 1701 (2006). He also reiterated key principles that would lay the groundwork for a viable, sustainable political future for Israelis and Palestinians, renewing the United Nations' call for an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and the de-escalation of regional tensions. Further, he repeated his demand for immediate steps to improve humanitarian aid delivery, "which is failing to meet even the most basic needs of Gaza's population" and called for political and security frameworks that would advance a resolution to the conflict, ending the occupation, and achieving a two-State solution.

As 101 Israelis remain in horrific conditions in Gaza, in recent weeks, "mass casualty incidents" are occurring with alarming frequency amid the Israeli Defense Forces' (IDF) devastating intensification of operations in North Gaza, he said. Among other incidents, he cited the killing of 36 Palestinians  including women and children  on 10 November when a multi-story building was hit in Jabalya Al Balad and the killing of 65 Palestinians when two Israeli airstrikes hit buildings hosting internally displaced persons in Beit Lahiya. "These are but a small fraction of the deadly incidents that have occurred in recent weeks," he stressed, also recounting displacement and destruction of civilian infrastructure "on top of the daily carnage".

Rapid, Unimpeded Humanitarian Access Must Resume

"Repeated evacuation orders issued by the IDF have triggered over 100,000 people to be displaced from North Gaza southward," since the recommencement of ground operations by Israeli forces on 6 October, he went on, stating that the resulting influx into Gaza City and surroundings has swelled the population to some 375,000 people, with only an estimated 75,000 remaining in North Gaza. Citing the daily struggle and risk of accessing humanitarian aid, amid violent looting of supplies by armed Palestinians, he called for the restoration of law and order and urged Israel to fulfil its obligations to facilitate the rapid, unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief into and throughout Gaza, noting that it is "deplorably inadequate to meet the overwhelming needs of the population".

He also condemned the widespread killing and injury of civilians in Gaza and the endless displacement of the population, and voiced concern over a long-term reduction in Palestinian territory, due to the apparent creation of buffer zones in North Gaza. As well, he voiced concern over the increasingly dangerous dynamics unfolding in the occupied West Bank, with violence at alarming levels, citing the killing of 32 Palestinians during the reporting period, and the Israeli Government's unrelenting advancement of settlements and its policy of evictions and demolitions of Palestinian-owned structures, amid open calls by Israeli ministers for the annexation of the occupied West Bank. "I reiterate that annexation constitutes a violation of international law and must be firmly rejected," he added.

He went on to relay a few "final reflections" on behalf of Special Coordinator Wennesland, who stressed, "Amidst the unimaginable horror of the past more than one year, I fear that even after the guns fall silent, we will have lost hope for a better future" and decades of hard-fought gains for institutions.

State of Palestine's Speaker Says Genocide Transforming Middle East for Generations

"This war, this genocide, is transforming the Middle East for generations to come, with the gravest implications for our region and the world," said the Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine, warning that "this fire will devour everything on its path if it is not urgently stopped". In this context, he emphasized that every Member State "has a decisive choice to make, whether to defend the rule of international law and the common institutions of humankind or to defend the massacres perpetrated by this Israeli government". To those politicians who have difficulties making the right and evident choice, he said, "Our children should not be sacrificed for the sake of your political calculations and ambitions."

"The ICC [International Criminal Court], the ICJ [International Court of Justice], this Council and the General Assembly, the Secretary-General and the United Nations are not anti-Semitic, and [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's efforts to frame efforts to uphold international law as anti-Semitic must be firmly rebuked," he stressed. Addressing "the mighty Security Council," he said, "You must act now to restore primacy to international law, to the humanitarian and human rights laws that Israel is shredding to the detriment of all." The Israeli war machine must be stopped in Palestine and Lebanon, he said, calling on the international community to undertake "decisive actions" to uphold UN resolutions and International Court of Justice rulings. "Surrender is not an option," he added.

Israel's Speaker Criticizes International Criminal Court's Issuance of Arrest Warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Countering that, Israel's delegate asked, "When will you address Hamas in your speeches?" Calling for accountability for the recent "barbaric" kidnapping and murder of rabbi Zvi Kogan in the United Arab Emirates, he called on the Council to "face the reality of who the true aggressors are", pointing out that while his Government is moving towards a ceasefire in Lebanon, in the past 24 hours, Hizbullah has launched 500 rockets towards Israel in its continued attempts to commit mass murder. Taking aim at the International Criminal Court's issuance in recent days of arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, he rejected the suggestion that democratically elected leaders "acting in defence of Israel following the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust" should be placed alongside an "arch-terrorist", Hamas leader Mohammed Deif.

Asserting that his country is not a party to the Rome Statute, he stated that the Court ought to be named the "International Circus Court" for its "diplomatic terrorism". To his Palestinian counterpart, he said, "You come [to the Council] with venom and blame", stating that his speeches justified Hamas and lacked tangible solutions to improve Palestinian lives. Last week's attempted ceasefire resolution was a near-historic mistake due to its abandonment of the hostages, he said, adding that his Government would never stop fighting for their release.

In a further exchange of words, the speaker for the State of Palestine asserted that Israel is not listening even to countries that support it, citing the support voiced for the International Criminal Court by its European Union members. To Israel's delegate, he responded: "You listen to the noise in your head, but you don't listen to the distinguished members of the Security Council," some of whom are in solidarity with Israel  citing their calls for an end to the war crimes, and the killing and starvation of the Palestinian people.

United States Representative Urges Increased Pressure on Hamas

In the ensuing debate, many delegates voiced regret over the 2 November draft resolution put forth by the 10 elected Council members and vetoed by the United States delegation, with the speaker for that country stressing that the Council is obliged "not to let Hamas off the hook" for the misery, death and destruction it sparked 13 months ago. He therefore called for pressure to be increased on the group to ensure implementation of Council resolution 2735 (2024), stressing that only then will it be possible to "chart a new path forward in Gaza that enables Palestinians to rebuild their lives free from Hamas' tyranny".

Council Members Denounce Israel's Proposals to Annex West Bank and Construct Settlements in Gaza

He also joined many other speakers, including those from Malta, China, Algeria and Switzerland, in voicing his opposition to proposals to annex the West Bank or construct Israeli settlements in Gaza, adding that, if implemented, such actions would be inconsistent with international law and create new obstacles to Israel's full integration into the region. Voicing concern over an uptick in extremist settler violence in the West Bank, he cited recent attacks by extremist settlers on Palestinians in Jurat Al Khiel, near Hebron, where they damaged property, assaulted civilians and released dogs on residents.

Such attacks are also preventing Palestinians from harvesting their olive crops, he said, underscoring that Israel's Government must deter extremist settler violence, including through intervening in, preventing and stopping attacks. In this context, he cited his Government's imposition of sanctions on 17 individuals and 16 entities for their actions in the West Bank, including Amana, the largest organization involved in settlement and illegal outpost development there.

Similarly, the United Kingdom's representative, Council President for November, also announced three tranches of sanctions targeting illegal settler outposts and organizations that have supported and sponsored violence against communities in the West Bank. Voicing concern over the instability and dire economic situation there, she urged Israel to extend correspondent banking relations for at least one year, immediately release withheld clearance revenues and stop settlement expansion on Palestinian land, which is illegal under international law and undermines prospects for peace.

Among delegates voicing regret over the failed ceasefire measure were the speakers from the Republic of Korea, Guyana and Malta, with the latter emphasizing that the text represented "the bare minimum of what is needed to begin to address the desperate situation on the ground". Also urging rapid de-escalation and full recommitment to diplomacy, he stated that an effective political framework must be accompanied with support for a revitalized Palestinian Authority  an appeal also made by other delegations  which integrates Gaza and the West Bank and includes a sustainable recovery plan for Gaza.

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East's Crucial Role in Humanitarians Operations Underscored

Japan's delegate was among a handful of delegations underscoring the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East's (UNRWA) crucial role in humanitarian operations, warning that Israel's Knesset's recent bills targeting the Agency would have a devastating impact on UNRWA and those who depend on it. While calling for a concerted international effort to avoid the implementation of those measures, he underscored that UNRWA should take steps to ensure its neutrality.

Slovenia's representative, reiterating the need to respect international law, emphasized, "International law is not a menu to choose from and it should know no double standards." Voicing support for the International Criminal Court, she called for its decisions and advice to be respected, including arrest warrants, adding: "We built this system to serve humanity."

Israel Must be Held Accountable

Algeria's representative, pointing out that the Middle East is at a crossroads, whereby either international law is upheld or might and impunity prevail, also underscored the need for accountability. Israel must be held accountable, including at the International Criminal Court, otherwise, it will be emboldened to continue its aggression, he stressed, pointing out that the country's authorities prefer to boast about, rather than hide, their "despicable, racist project". Nonetheless, the Council's hands have unfortunately been tied, being unable to put in place an immediate, permanent ceasefire, he said, adding that this raises questions about the point of international law.

In a similar vein, China's delegate, pointing to the Council's paralysis amid a "war machine going at full throttle", said: "Insisting on preconditions for a ceasefire means condoning the continued killing of innocent civilians and giving the greenlight for prolonging the war." He called on an "individual country" to face up squarely to its responsibility and support the Council in "using all options in the toolbox" to secure an immediate ceasefire and restore peace.

Calls for Two-State Solution

The Russian Federation's representative also took aim at that country, stating that, having received carte blanche from Washington, Israel has been knowingly worsening the situation since October last year. Its gross violations of international humanitarian law constitute a tactic, he said, pointing to the obstruction of humanitarian operations in Gaza by Israeli authorities. "The Israeli authorities are planning for a Gaza empty of Palestinians," he stressed, calling for the fulfilment of a two-State solution, a call also echoed by the delegates of Ecuador and Switzerland, with the latter warning against measures that would introduce permanent changes, notably demographic and administrative, both in Gaza and in the West Bank.

France's delegate, also voicing support for a two-State solution, emphasized that the Palestinian Authority must have a central role. As well, he called for Council resolutions to be fully implemented and for the obstacles to the delivery of humanitarian aid to northern Gaza to be lifted without delay.

Meanwhile, Mozambique's representative underscored the need for more diplomatic action, a point echoed by Sierra Leone's representative, who said his delegation looked forward to the urgent resumption of the diplomatic negotiations facilitated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US: 'Significant progress' made toward Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in Lebanon

By Nike Ching, Margaret Besheer November 25, 2024

The United States is close to securing a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants, according to officials from the White House and the State Department.

Speaking to reporters during a press call on Monday, national security spokesperson John Kirby described recent talks in Beirut led by U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein as "constructive," adding, "We believe that the trajectory of this is going in a very positive direction."

In New York on Monday, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said negotiations toward a ceasefire, aimed at ending the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese Shia militia, are "moving forward" but have not been "finalized."

He added that Israel would retain the ability to strike southern Lebanon under any agreement.

Ahead of a U.N. Security Council meeting, Danon said he expected Israel's Cabinet to convene on Monday or Tuesday to discuss the cease-fire deal.

"We will make sure that we will have the ability to neutralize any threat that will not be dealt [with] in southern Lebanon. I hope that the Lebanese army will take care of that in the future, but if they will fail, again, we will be there," Danon said.

Meanwhile, Lebanon's deputy speaker, Elias Bou Saab, said there are no major obstacles to implementing a U.S.-proposed cease-fire deal, which requires Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon and Lebanese troop deployment within 60 days.

A five-nation committee, chaired by the United States and including France, will oversee the process, according to Bou Saab.

At the State Department, officials declined to comment on the details and terms of the ceasefire proposal but acknowledged that "significant progress" has been made toward an agreement.

"We don't believe we have an agreement yet. We believe we're close to an agreement. We believe that we have narrowed the gap significantly. But there are still steps that we need to see taken," spokesperson Matthew Miller said during a briefing on Monday, without specifying what those steps are.

Earlier on Monday, Israeli forces carried out airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs in attacks that followed Israeli warnings for people to leave the area.

The Israeli military said in its warning that Hezbollah militants were operating in Haret Hreik, and a short time later at least two strikes sent heavy smoke rising into the sky.

An Israeli military spokesperson said the strikes targeted Hezbollah military command headquarters.

The attack came a day after Hezbollah militants fired about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel in response to an Israeli attack on Beirut that killed at least 29 people.

Some of the Hezbollah strikes reached the Tel Aviv area in the heart of Israel and wounded seven people. The assault was one of the largest Hezbollah has mounted since it started firing on Israel more than a year ago in support of Hamas militants, who attacked Israel in October 2023 and have been warring with Israel in Gaza since then.

The fighting has caused a humanitarian crisis, displacing hundreds of thousands.

On Monday, the United Nations World Food Program announced that it has provided emergency aid to more than a half-million people in Lebanon since the conflict began. The WFP said it plans to reach 1 million people and is continuing to work tirelessly to deliver critical assistance to affected communities.

But Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy chief, dampened hopes for a halt to the fighting.

"I am not convinced it is going to happen," Borrell told reporters Sunday evening after a day of meeting with Lebanese officials. "I do not see the Israeli government interested clearly in reaching an agreement for a cease-fire."

Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and captured about 250 hostages in their October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the current war in Gaza. Israel says it believes Hamas is still holding 101 hostages, including 35 the military says are dead.

Israel's counteroffensive in Gaza has killed at least 44,235 Palestinians, according to the territory's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count.

Hamas and Hezbollah have been designated as terror groups by the United States, the United Kingdom and other Western countries.

Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Horn of Africa forum opens in Djibouti amid Ethiopia-Somalia tensions

By Mohamed Olad Hassan November 25, 2024

Somali scholars, politicians and traditional leaders from across the Horn of Africa gathered in Djibouti on Monday for a three-day forum on strengthening regional stability.

The annual forum, the eighth of its kind, was organized by the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies in Somalia, an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan research group in Mogadishu. Mursal Saney, executive director of the institute, said the forum is providing an opportunity for Somalis from across the region to discuss issues of concern.

"We have invited nearly 300 delegates including regional experts to provide them an opportunity to discuss and exhibit constructive ideas on how the Horn of Africa region can strengthen its stability and the importance of rule of law," Saney said.

This year's forum comes at a time of growing tension between Somalia and Ethiopia over a port deal Addis Ababa signed in January with Somaliland, a breakaway region. Mogadishu sees Somaliland as a part of Somalia.

The deal so far, in the form of a memorandum of understanding, gives landlocked Ethiopia a 50-year lease for a Red Sea port from Somaliland in exchange for possible recognition of Somaliland's independence. The deal has angered Mogadishu, which has described it as an assault on Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Ethiopia maintains that it does not infringe on Somalia's sovereignty.

Somaliland declared its independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991, following the collapse of the military government led by late dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.

Somalia has never accepted Somaliland's secession, nor has Somaliland received international recognition.

In July and August, two rounds of talks between Ethiopia and Somalia, mediated by Turkey, failed to solve the dispute, with Somalia demanding Ethiopia withdraw from the deal. The issue has raised fears of fresh conflict in the Horn of Africa region.

"Because of its strategic location in the region and the fact that it is coming out of a conflict era, Somalia is thirsty for peace and regional stability, respecting the international law and the rule of law," Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi said at the start of the forum.

Also on Monday, Mumin Hassan Barre, Djibouti's minister of justice and religion, said experts attending the forum should contribute to the well-being of the region.

"We see experts that know the region well, and I think the peace, stability and the solution of the region's problems lie in the hands of its people, including the experts who gathered here," Barre said.

Somalis representing Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia are attending the event, as well as those from across the region and the diaspora communities in the United States, Europe and elsewhere.

Mohamed Sheikh Nor contributed to this report. Some information came from Reuters.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






On-the-Record Press Gaggle by White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby

November 25, 2024

Via Teleconference

12:20 P.M. EDT

MODERATOR: Hey, everyone. Thanks for joining. We do not have anything here at the top, so we'll go straight into questions.

Trevor with Reuters, if you want to start us off.

Q Hey. Thanks for doing this. First, do you have any comment about this DHL plane that crashed on the way to Lithuania and if there was any suspicion about Russian involvement?

And then second, just any update on Lebanon ceasefire talks. There's some reporting that suggests that that's towards the end of the process there.

MR. KIRBY: So, on your first question, Trevor, what I can tell you is that the FAA and NTSB are cooperating in the investigation that the Lithuanians are just now conducting. This is pretty fresh stuff here; it just happened. So we're certainly not going to get ahead of that investigation and where the facts are going to lead them, but we are contributing some expertise on these kinds of things to help them through that. And I'm sure that the Lithuanian authorities, as appropriate, will keep people informed about what they're learning.

On your second question, look, I've seen the press reporting and the comments by anonymous officials. I think you can understand that where we're going to be today is that this remains a top priority for the President, has for some time and certainly is today as we speak, to get this ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah so that the rockets and the missiles stop and so that people can start moving back to their homes and restarting their lives along that Blue Line. And we are actively involved in trying to bring that about. But nothing is negotiated until everything is negotiated.

And as you and I are speaking here this morning, Trevor  I'm sorry, this afternoon  those conversations are ongoing.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next  sorry, some user issue here. Our next question will go to Zeke with AP.

Q Thanks, John, for doing this. Just following up on your answer to Trevor there. Can you discuss what remaining sticking points there are? What is still being negotiated, if not everything is yet negotiated?

And then, is there anything in detail about the President's personal involvement? We know Amos has been in the region, but what has the President's involvement been in these talks? Thank you.

MR. KIRBY: The President has been monitoring this very, very closely. He's been in direct touch with Amos. Amos is back now.

I'm not going to get into the details. You know, there's still some process things that I think that they're working through, and it just wouldn't be wise of me to go into much detail at this particular point.

Look, I can tell you that the discussions that Amos had were constructive, and we believe that the trajectory of this is going in a very positive direction.

But, again, nothing is done until everything is done. Nothing is all negotiated until everything is negotiated. And, you know, we need to keep at the work to see it through so that we can actually get this ceasefire for which we've been working for so long and so hard.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to MJ with CNN.

Q Hi, John. A bunch of weeks ago, the U.S. had put out this Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire proposal, which was very publicly rejected by the Prime Minister. Can you just talk to us about 

MODERATOR: Sorry, MJ, your audio cut out. Would you mind starting again?

Q Yeah. I said that a bunch of weeks ago, the U.S. had put out this ceasefire proposal, which was publicly rejected by the Prime Minister. So I wondered if you could talk to us about the timing. Assuming that this does come together, why now? What's different now versus back then, when you all, again, first put this proposal out there?

And then secondly, Mike Waltz said that he has now met with Jake Sullivan. Can you give us the top lines? Who attended this meeting? What were the issues discussed? The Congressman also sort of leaned into this idea that the current and the incoming administrations are working hand in glove as one team. What exactly are you all working on together at this point? Thanks.

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, MJ. So, on the first question, the why now is because we are at a certain point in the discussions where, again, we believe that things are moving in a very positive way. It's not  I mean, your question presupposes that, you know, we sort of put an anchor on the calendar and said, "Well, you know, we got to have it by, you know, before Thanksgiving." And that's not the thinking here.

You know, with all these negotiations, including the ones that we've been trying to get, you know, with Hamas, it's try, try again. Keep putting things on the table. Keep exploring things. Keep moving things back and forth as both sides are presenting their requirements to you. And we are mediating this, and we are where we are today because of a lot of back and forth, a lot of discussions, a lot of work, principally by Amos, of course. And we believe we've reached this point where, you know, we're close.

But, again, I want to be careful and cautious here in how I characterize it, because until you get everything done, you don't have a deal. So that's kind of where we are.

You talked about it being rejected earlier, but there's been back and forth with both sides now for many weeks to get us to this point.

On the Waltz meeting, I can confirm that Jake did meet with Congressman Waltz, but I'm not going to get into the private conversation, and I need to really just leave it there.

On your second question, or your third question, I guess, on transition, the President has been consistent on this that he wants to make sure across the administration, and that certainly includes us here at the National Security Council, that we are doing everything that we can to effect a professional and an orderly transition.

And we continue to urge the incoming team to take the steps that are necessary to be able to facilitate that on their end as well.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Barak with Axios.

Q Hi, John. Thank you for doing this. Two quick questions. First on the follow-up on Jake's meeting with Waltz. I was told that one of the issues they discussed is how the current administration and the incoming administration can work together to push for a Gaza hostage deal in the less than two months that are left until January 20th. Can you confirm that?

And second thing: The U.S. is going to give Israel a letter of assurances, a letter of guarantees, whatever you want to call it, about Israel's freedom of operation in Lebanon, if it sees any imminent threats after a ceasefire is reached. Can you say anything about that?

MR. KIRBY: No and no. I'm sorry, Barak, but I really can't be more helpful to you on either one of those ones.

The only thing I will say is, you know 

Q (Laughs.) I tried.

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, you did. It was a  it was a good effort.

(Inaudible) rumors of a letter of guarantees (inaudible) and to protect their people. And in those efforts, they'll continue to get support from the United States.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Danny with AFP.

Q Hi, Admiral. Thanks for doing this. A couple of things. Firstly, just for the avoidance of any doubt, when you say, you know, we believe we've reached this point where we're close, you mean close to a deal. Is that right?

MR. KIRBY: That's correct.

Q Oh, thanks.

MR. KIRBY: That's correct.

Q And secondly, there are reports in the region that President Macron of France is involved in this deal and indeed that there are plans for him and President Biden to announce it tomorrow. Any comment on either of those aspects?

MR. KIRBY: No, but except to say: I think you all know that the President spoke with President Macron last week, and, of course, they talked about a lot of things, including the war in Gaza and how much they both want to see this conflict end and tensions to be taken down and a ceasefire to be reached, in this case particularly between Israel and Hezbollah. But beyond that, I won't comment.

Q Thanks.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Neria with Channel 13 Israel.

Q Hi, Kirby. Thank you so much for 

Hey, Admiral. Thank you so much for doing this.

I wanted to ask: U.S. officials approached the Lebanese today and told them that Israel is on board. Did you get any response from the people in that  from the government in Lebanon, from Hezbollah?

And also, Netanyahu wants to know when he will be able to go back into a war, if he'd like to, if the Israeli government would think that's necessary. And I understand this is one of the latest things that are not completed yet. Can you elaborate more on that, please?

MR. KIRBY: Hey, I'm not going to be very helpful here. This kind of gets, you know, to Barak's question about this rumor of a letter of guarantees.

Q Yeah, we didn't hear your answer there. You muted your Zoom or something, when Barak asked the question.

MR. KIRBY: Oh, my answer to Barak was no, and I think he acknowledged that.

But, look, I understand the great interest in this, and I really won't go beyond what I've said before. We believe we're close. The conversations that Amos had were very positive. And as I said earlier, we believe the trajectory is going in the right direction here to potentially getting this ceasefire done. But it's not done. And the last thing that I'm going to do publicly is speak about the details of it and what components are in there so that I don't in any way sabotage the efforts to actually complete it.

This remains an important priority for President Biden. That's why we have been working hard to mediate this deal so that people can return to their lives and their homes around the Blue Line, and the rockets and missiles can stop.

So, again, I do understand where all the questions are coming from. They're all fair, they're all right, they're all the right questions to ask today, but I'm just not going to be able to get into too much of the details. Actually, I'm not going to get into any of the details here unless or until we've got more to say.

Q And one last question, if that's okay, Admiral, about the new administration. We do hear that Trump's administration is getting messages from Israeli officials about  saying that most of the hostages are dead, maybe trying to convince them not to try to push to a deal. Do you know anything about it? Do you give the new administration any info about the hostages that are still alive?

MR. KIRBY: I don't know anything about those conversations. And as I said earlier to a question about Congressman Waltz's meeting with Jake, we continue to urge the incoming team to take the steps necessary so that we can help effect an orderly, efficient, complete, and comprehensive transition to them, which includes being able to provide them the kinds of briefings, and the context, and the material that we believe will be important to help inform their decisions as they come into office. So that's where we are.

Q Thank you so much.

MR. KIRBY: Yes, ma'am.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Nadia.

Q Thank you. Thank you for doing this. I want to follow up on a few of the questions about Lebanon.

Number one, John, can you just confirm once and for all that, actually, we do not expect any announcement between the President and Macron, not tomorrow, but maybe in the next few days? Because now everybody talks about the kind  maybe there is a kind of announcement, maybe not tomorrow or the day after, but soon.

MR. KIRBY: All I can tell you, Nadia, is what I've been saying here for 15, 20 minutes. You know, we believe we're close, and there's been an awful lot of work done. And when we have something we can announce and we can speak to, well, by goodness, we'll do that, and we'll do that as soon as it is practical to do so.

But I couldn't sit here and look at the calendar over the next day or two and tell you exactly when that might be.

Q Okay. Fair enough. How close does Mr. Hochstein coordinate with the Trump transitional team on Lebanon, and at what level?

MR. KIRBY: I'm not going to get into the private conversations that Mr. Hochstein has been having as he's been working to try to get this deal. He's been very, very focused on primarily discussing what he's doing  or what he's trying to do with our Israeli counterparts and, of course, his counterparts on the Lebanon side. And I'm just going to leave it at that.

Q Okay. And just one last question. I know you said you don't want to talk about any letters of guarantees, but in general, is this any role that the U.S. playing in this mediation, beyond the facilitating both points of views, whether in execution later on or whether in some kind of guarantee to both sides, not just the Israelis?

MR. KIRBY: I'm not sure I understand your question. I mean, as the mediator of this, we're obviously trying to get a ceasefire over the finish line.

Q Sure, but let me explain what I meant. I meant there is lots of reports saying basically that the U.S. will guarantee  will give to Israel the right to monitor Lebanese airspace to make sure that Hezbollah is not going to launch rockets from there, and that will be by U.S. supervision. While now you're saying there is no letter, there's nothing like this. And vice versa  they were saying that they will make sure that during the 60 days ceasefire, that there's no violation; the U.S. will guarantee that by monitoring what's happening and reporting it.

MR. KIRBY: What I said was I'm not going to confirm reports that there's some sort of letter out there. I'm not going to confirm any of the details that have been discussed between the two sides and the United States. We are not there yet. And if we're able to get there, as soon as possible we will lay it all out for everybody. And you'll get to see for yourself, you know, what was negotiated.

But the last thing I'm going to do is get into speculation from press reports about what is or what isn't in this deal at this particular point. I'm just not going to do it.

Q Okay. Thank you.

MR. KIRBY: Yes, ma'am.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Marek with Polskie Radio.

Q Thank you, Sam. Hi, John. I have a question on the Russia threats against Poland. Moscow says that the new U.S. missile defense base that was just recently opened in Redzikowo in Poland is considered a priority target. So may I ask you for a comment on that?

And my second question is: What's your assessment on the effectiveness of the use of ATACMS by Ukraine? In the past, you kind of downplayed potential impact of the ATACMS on the battlefield and warned that allowing Ukraine to strike deep into Russia could lead to escalation by the Kremlin. How do you see it now?

MR. KIRBY: Right now, they are able to use ATACMS to defend themselves, you know, in an immediate-need basis. And right now, you know, understandably, that's taking place in and around Kursk, in the Kursk Oblast. I'd let the Ukrainians speak to their use of ATACMS and their targeting procedures, and what they're using them for and how well they're doing.

But nothing has changed about the  well, obviously we did change the guidance and gave them guidance that they could use them, you know, to strike these particular types of targets.

On your  what was your first question again? I knew I was going to forget.

Q Just about Russia's threats against Poland, the new missile defense (inaudible) put on the target list.

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, we've seen those comments, and, obviously, you know, you have to take those kinds of threats seriously, and we do. As reckless and irresponsible as they are, we obviously take it seriously.

President Biden has been rock-solid. We're going to do everything we have to do to make sure our troops on the European continent are safe and secure. And just as importantly, you know, we take our Article Five commitments to our NATO Allies incredibly seriously. It's rock-solid, and that's not going to change.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Hiba.

Q Thanks, John. I want to try again, John, to understand where do things stand now. From what we've learned, there was an Israeli response that was then relayed to the Lebanese. If Israel hasn't made any amendment to it, the agreement remains as is. Now, did you receive anything from the Lebanese? Where is the agreement now? On the Lebanon side? On Israel side?

Second, my second question: Is it an agreed ceasefire? And within these 60 days or whatever, the negotiations will continue for a broader deal?

And my third question, please, if I may: Will this ceasefire agreement or deal, or whatever, go to the U.N. Security Council, considering that you will soon preside over it in December? I mean, will we have a resolution? Will we have a statement from the U.N. Security Council after this? Because the Lebanese were opposing that. Thank you.

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, Hiba, look, I'm simply not going to talk about where we are in the negotiation process. As I said several times here on this call, we believe we're close. The conversations that Amos had in the region were constructive. I'd go so far as to say we believe they were productive.

But nothing is done until it's all done, and it's not done right now. And if we can get there, as soon as possible we'll be able to talk in more detail with all of you about the contents of this. But I hope you understand how irresponsible it will be  irresponsible it would be for me in an on-the-record gaggle to lay out for you and confirm every single press report out there about what is in or what is not in this deal. I'm just not going to do it.

And I don't have anything to talk to you today about, you know, if we get a deal, what a broader timeline (inaudible). All that gets into the parameters of the deal itself. So, again, I'm just not going to go there.

MODERATOR: Thank you. And unfortunately, that's all the time we have for today. As always, if we weren't able to get to your questions, please reach out to our distro, our NSC press distro. And I think Kirby has a few words here before we fully go.

MR. KIRBY: Yep, just two things. One, look, I know you all had lots of very detailed questions, and you're coming away from the gaggle, I'm sure, unsatisfied, and I understand that.

I just  as I said many times, I hope you understand why. I'm not trying to obfuscate, certainly not trying to be an obstacle or make things difficult for you. What I was trying to do is characterize sort of where we think we are but not do anything or say anything that might torpedo our chances.

And obviously, the most important thing here is that we try to get this ceasefire, because it will mean, literally, that lives will be saved and, hopefully over a period of time, that livelihoods will be restored. And again, last thing any spokesman wants to do is be in the way of that. And so, I just want you to understand where I was coming from.

The last thing is: I don't know if we're going to have a chance to talk before Thanksgiving. If not, I just want to wish everybody a happy holiday. And if you're traveling, please do so safely.

And thanks for all this engagement. I know it's been a while since we did a gaggle. And hopefully after the holiday is over, we can get back on to a more normal schedule.

But anyway, Happy Thanksgiving to all of you if I don't get a chance to talk to you before then. Thanks.

MODERATOR: Thanks, everyone.

12:44 P.M. EDT

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Indonesia hasn't signed a new weapons deal with Russia: ministry

Russian media said last week Indonesia had asked to buy weapons.

By RFA and BenarNews staff 2024.11.26 -- Indonesia's defense ministry has not signed any new documents to purchase weapons from Russia, it said in a statement.

Last week, Russian media reported that Jakarta sent an official request for weapons and military equipment from Russia over the 2025-2030 period and that the request was under review.

The Indonesian ministry of defense, while not denying the reports directly, said it "has not officially submitted any plans to sign an MoU regarding the purchase of weapons or new defense industry cooperation with Russia." An MoU, or Memorandum of Understanding, is a document specifying the intentions and objectives of both sides.

"Any future cooperation will continue to consider Indonesia's national interests, both from an operational needs perspective and in terms of developing the national defense industry," the ministry said in a statement sent to BenarNews, a Radio Free Asia affiliate.

It reaffirmed that Russia was one of Indonesia's strategic partners in the defense sector, particularly in providing defense and security equipment used by the Indonesian armed forces, but added that Indonesia was open to defense cooperation with various countries, "as long as the cooperation adheres to the principles of transparency, accountability, and respect for the sovereignty of nations."

Indonesia began receiving arms and military equipment from the Soviet Union in 1958. From 1992 to 2018, Russia delivered weapons worth more than US$2.5 billion to Indonesia, including armored personnel carriers, assault rifles, aircraft, and other weapon systems and military hardware.

The defense ministry in its statement emphasized the importance of cooperation that involves the transfer of technology in order to improve Indonesia's defense industry independence.

As territorial disputes and other geopolitical challenges rise in the region, Indonesia's defense sector is expanding, with its arms trade estimated at US$9.25 billion in 2024, and reaching $10.66 billion by 2029, according to the Indian firm Mordor Intelligence.

Indonesian companies are "expanding their expertise in various defense sectors, including land vehicles, arms, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles, with plans to develop more complex systems in the future, Mordor Intelligence said.

Recently Indonesia transferred military aid worth $500,000 to the Cambodian army, including 150 SS2-V5 A1 rifles, 20 G2 elite pistols, 500,000 M16 bullets and 500,000 pistol bullets.

Pizaro Gozali Idrus in Jakarta contributed to this report.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization.

Edited by Mike Firn.



Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content November not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on November 25, 2024

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: November 25, 2024 19:17

CCTV: It's reported that the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) held in Baku agreed on the new collective quantified goal. How does China view the results of the meeting and what role will China play in the implementation of the outcomes?

Mao Ning: On November 24, the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) was concluded in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan. After two weeks of tough negotiations, parties reached consensus on the new collective quantified goal, the operationalization of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and other issues. The outcomes of the meeting embody the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and demonstrate global effort and aspiration for climate response.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to COP29. President Xi Jinping's Special Representative, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang attended and addressed the World Leaders Climate Action Summit held during COP29. Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang also attended events hosted by China, including the High-Level meeting on "Early Warnings for a Climate-Resilient Future" and the Launch Conference of the International Zero-Carbon Island Cooperation Initiative. The Chinese delegation shared information on the Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization and China's achievements in climate actions, participated in consultations on various topics in a comprehensive and in-depth manner, contributed constructive plans for negotiations on key issues, and promoted all sides to expand common ground while resolving differences, making important contributions to reaching the outcomes of the meeting.

The new collective quantified goal reached at COP29 requires developed country Parties to take the lead in providing and mobilizing at least US$300 billion per year by 2035 for developing country Parties for climate action. It is a continuation of the commitment of mobilizing US$100 billion per year made by developed countries in 2009. The COP29 meeting also called on all actors to work together to enable the scaling up of financing to developing country Parties for climate action from all sources to at least US$1.3 trillion per year by 2035.

Climate finance is crucial to supporting developing countries' climate response. China calls on developed countries to earnestly fulfill their obligations and responsibilities of providing funding support to developing countries to boost global climate actions. China will continue to enhance South-South cooperation and provide as much support as we can for the climate response effort of fellow developing countries.

Reuters: What is the latest update on the Chinese ship Yi Peng 3 that was anchored between Denmark and Sweden? Are you able to tell us whether the ship is staying voluntarily or if it is being detained and if the crew is being questioned?

Mao Ning: As I have learned, China maintains smooth communication with relevant parties of the incident through diplomatic channels. As for specifics about the Chinese vessel, I have no more information to share and would like to refer you to competent authorities.

KBS: In accordance with China's criminal law, the South Korean citizen detained for violating the anti-espionage law must stand trial within this year. Can you update us on the investigation progress?

Mao Ning: I'm not familiar with what you mentioned. On the specifics about how the case is being handled, I'd refer you to competent Chinese authorities.

TV Asahi: Last Friday, China issued its unilateral 30-day visa-free policy for Japan. Previously, China's stance was to jointly facilitate cross-border travel and require reciprocal visa exemption measures. Why did China change its stance?

Mao Ning: The Chinese government always attaches high importance to the facilitation of cross-border exchanges. We hope that Japan will work with us in the same direction and jointly facilitate cross-border travel between our two countries.

Rudaw Media Network: Iraq is an important economic and trade partner for China. Israel is threatening to attack regions in Iraq. Do you believe such an action could harm China's interests there? Has China taken any steps through the United Nations Security Council or other diplomatic channels to prevent such attacks on Iraq?

Mao Ning: China opposes infringement upon other countries' sovereignty and security and opposes arbitrary use of force. As tensions in the Middle East are running high, relevant parties need to avoid further increasing the overall security risks in the region. The recent series of incidents once again highlight the urgency of realizing a ceasefire. The international community, major countries with influence in particular, need to play a constructive role and create necessary conditions for cooling down the situation in the region. China will continue to leverage its influence and contribute to keeping the region peaceful and stable.

AFP: A spokesman for Afghanistan's foreign ministry posted on X today about an apparent meeting between top Taliban diplomat Amir Khan Muttaqi and China's special envoy for Afghan affairs Yue Xiaoyong. Can you tell us more about the content or outcomes of this meeting?

Mao Ning: Special Envoy on Afghan Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yue Xiaoyong visited Afghanistan recently and met with high-level officials of the Afghan interim government, including Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, to exchange views on the bilateral relations and practical cooperation in various areas.

Shenzhen TV: The Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit was successfully held from November 18 to 20 in Hong Kong. The annual meeting of the International Financial Forum was also held for the first time in Hong Kong from November 22 to 23. The two important meetings had the participation of senior financial officials as well as heads of financial institutions from a good number of countries and regions, and received widespread attention. What's the Foreign Ministry's comment?

Mao Ning: We congratulate Hong Kong on successfully hosting these two important meetings in international finance, which represents a vote of confidence from the international community for Hong Kong's status as an international financial center, its bushiness environment and development outlook. Facts prove that with the safeguards of One Country, Two Systems, the strong support of the nation and concerted efforts of all sectors, Hong Kong will maintain lasting prosperity and stability and it will better leverage its role as an international financial center. China welcomes companies and talents from across the world to invest, do business and tap full potential in Hong Kong. They will surely benefit from Hong Kong's development and One Country, Two Systems.

Reuters: The Biden administration is set to unveil new export restrictions on China as soon as next week, the US Chamber of Commerce said on Thursday. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on this?

Mao Ning: China is firmly opposed to the US overstretching the concept of national security, abusing export control measures and making malicious attempts to block and suppress China. Such moves seriously violate the laws of market economy and the principles of fair competition, disrupt international economic and trade order and the stability of global industrial and supply chains, and will eventually harm the interest of all countries. China will take resolute measures to firmly defend the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies.

China News Service: It's reported that on November 24, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko told TASS in an interview that "Naturally, the issue of Taiwan is in the exclusive competence of our Chinese colleagues. However, we see that Washington, in violation of the one-China principle, is strengthening military-political contacts with Taipei under the slogan of maintaining the 'status quo', and increasing arms supplies. The goal of such obvious US interference in the region's affairs is to provoke China and generate a crisis in Asia to suit its own selfish interests." What's China's comment?

Mao Ning: We noted the reports. The one-China principle is a prevailing international consensus and a basic norm governing international relations. China highly commends Russia's just position of staying committed to the one-China principle and opposing the attempt of using Taiwan to contain China.

AFP: According to Japanese media, the United States is working with Japan on contingency plans for a possible future emergency involving Taiwan. These plans would see the United States deploy missile units on Japan's Nansei Islands as well as in the Philippines. Is China aware of such plans and does it have any comments on the report?

Mao Ning: Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the Taiwan question is China's internal affair. The key to upholding cross-Strait peace and stability is to remain committed to the one-China principle. China firmly opposes relevant countries using the Taiwan question as an excuse to strengthen military deployment in the region, heighten tensions and confrontation, and disturb regional peace and stability.

Bloomberg: Lithuania's incoming Prime Minister said he is open to restoring diplomatic relations with China three years after a trade dispute led to Beijing downgrading its ties. The incoming Prime Minister signals support for repairing ties by returning envoys to both capitals, but he stressed that his administration won't reverse course on current policies that include maintaining trade links with Taiwan. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment?

Mao Ning: We noted relevant statement from the Lithuanian side. As is widely known, Lithuania's wrongful acts on issues concerning Taiwan are the root cause of the fraught relations between China and Lithuania. China's door remains open to dialogue and we hope that Lithuania will return to the right path of upholding the one-China principle, abide by the political commitments in the communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Lithuania, and accumulate enabling conditions for the normalization of bilateral relations.

Kyodo News: A follow-up to the question raised by TV Asahi. Has China asked Japan to offer visa exemptions for its nationals?

Mao Ning: We hope that Japan will work with us in the same direction and further facilitate cross-border travel between the two countries.

AFP: Taiwan defense ministry said today that it had detected a Chinese balloon passing over waters yesterday northwest of the island. This is the first such balloon it has reported since April. Can you provide details about the situation or do you have any comment?

Mao Ning: First of all, there is no such thing as "Taiwan defense ministry" and the question is not related to foreign affairs.

Global Times: Yamandu Orsi, candidate for the Frente Amplio (Broad Front), a coalition of major opposition parties was reportedly leading in the second round of votes in Uruguay's presidential election. The candidate of the ruling National Party conceded defeat and the incumbent Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou has sent a congratulatory message to Yamandu Orsi on his election. Do you have any comment?

Mao Ning: We express congratulations for this smooth and successful presidential election in Uruguay and congratulate Mr. Yamandu Orsi on his election as the new president. China attaches high importance to growing relations with Uruguay and stands ready to work with Uruguay to further strengthen mutual political trust, deepen cooperation and exchanges in various fields, have closer communication and coordination in international and regional affairs, and work for the sustained and in-depth development of our comprehensive strategic partnership to the benefit of the two peoples.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US bars 29 more Chinese companies over Uyghur slave labor

The move brings the total number of blacklisted companies to over 100.

By Alex Willemyns 2024.11.25

WASHINGTON -- The United States has banned another 29 Chinese companies from exporting their goods to America due to their alleged use of Uyghur slave labor. It's the largest single blacklisting since the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act became law in 2021.

The listing, announced late Friday by the Department of Homeland Security, brings the total number of Chinese companies barred from exporting to America due to Uyghur forced labor to 107, following the blacklisting of three other Chinese companies earlier this month.

The companies include producers of agricultural, aluminum and polysilicon products, as well as copper, gold and nickel miners, it says, accusing them of "working with the government of Xinjiang to recruit, transfer, and receive workers, including Uyghurs, out of Xinjiang."

Washington accuses Beijing of carrying out a "genocide" of the mostly Muslim Uyghur ethnic minority in far-western Xinjiang, including by forcing Uyghurs to work for little or no pay. Chinese officials deny the claims and say many Uyghurs are in fact in vocational training.

But that has done little to convince U.S. lawmakers. The 2021 Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which was passed on a bipartisan basis, allows the Department of Homeland Security to ban Chinese firms that it believes are using slave labor from selling their goods to Americans.

The blacklisting also comes amid an ongoing investigation by the bipartisan House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party into claims that U.S. venture capital firms are funding companies involved in Uyghur slave labor and thereby financing "genocide."

Pressure campaign

In a statement, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said that the latest bulk blacklisting shows Washington's resolve "to ensure that goods made from the forced labor of Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minorities in Xinjiang do not enter the United States."

Rishat Abbas, the chairman of the Washington-based Uyghur Academy, told Radio Free Asia that the blacklisting represented "a critical move in the fight against forced labor in supply chains" in China.

"By restricting goods from over 100 Chinese companies linked to the exploitation of Uyghurs in East Turkistan, this action sends a strong message to the Chinese Communist Party," Abbas said, using the preferred Uyghur name for the Xinjiang region of China.

Abbas added that the mounting international pressure was pushing Beijing toward a position where it may soon be forced "to reassess its policies of oppression toward the Uyghur population."

Edited by Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content November not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Israel sanctions oldest newspaper over critical coverage

By Liam Scott November 25, 2024

Israel's Cabinet unanimously voted Sunday to boycott the country's oldest newspaper, Haaretz, citing its critical coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict and comments by the outlet's publisher calling for sanctions on top government officials.

In a statement on Sunday, the office of Shlomo Karhi, the communications minister, said that his proposal against Haaretz had been unanimously approved by the other ministers.

"We will not allow a reality in which the publisher of an official newspaper in the state of Israel will call for the imposition of sanctions against it and will support the enemies of the state in the midst of a war and will be financed by it," the statement said.

The proposal will end government advertising in the left-leaning newspaper, owned by the Schocken family, and cancel all subscriptions for state employees and employees of state-owned companies.

"We advocate a free press and freedom of expression, but also the freedom of the government to decide not to fund incitement against the state of Israel," the statement from the communications minister's office also said.

Widely respected internationally, Haaretz has been critical of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his current rightwing coalition government. The newspaper has also provided critical coverage of the Israel-Hamas war and investigated abuses allegedly committed by the Israeli military.

In a statement on Sunday, Haaretz accused Netanyahu of aiming to "dismantle Israeli democracy."

"Like his friends Putin, Erdogan, and Orban, Netanyahu is trying to silence a critical, independent newspaper. Haaretz will not balk and will not morph into a government pamphlet that publishes messages approved by the government and its leader," the statement said.

To justify the government's boycott of Haaretz, the office of Karhi, the communications minister, pointed to comments made by Haaretz publisher Amos Schocken at a news conference organized by the newspaper late last month in London.

In the speech Schocken called for international sanctions on Israeli leaders. He also accused the Israeli government of "imposing a cruel apartheid regime on the Palestinian population" and said it was "fighting the Palestinian freedom fighters, that Israel calls terrorists."

Following pushback, Schocken clarified that he was not referring to Hamas but rather was referring to Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank.

The Israeli government has faced criticism over its press freedom record throughout the Israel-Hamas war, which has been the deadliest on record for journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, or CPJ.

As of Monday, at least 137 journalists and media workers have been killed in the war, including 129 Palestinians, two Israelis and six Lebanese, according to CPJ data.

On top of that, Israeli authorities shuttered Al Jazeera's West Bank bureau in September and Israel offices in May.

Officials said the closings were needed because Al Jazeera was a threat to national security. Press freedom groups rejected those claims as false.

Last week, Israeli lawmakers voted to extend the law's duration to six months, and increase the law's main provision  a broadcasting ban on any foreign media outlet deemed detrimental to national security by the security services  from 45 days to 60.

"Netanyahu's government is openly targeting media independence and pluralism in Israel," Anne Bocande, editorial director at Reporters Without Borders, said in a statement last week.

"The free press in a country that describes itself as 'the only democracy in the Middle East' will be undermined," Bocande added.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Can Israeli strikes in Syria undermine Iran-backed militias?

By Sirwan Kajjo November 25, 2024

Strikes carried out by Israel in recent weeks in Syria have significantly weakened Iranian-backed militant groups, though they continue to pose a threat, experts say.

Since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, and the ongoing hostilities between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israeli strikes in Syria have become more frequent, according to monitoring groups.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), which has researchers across Syria, reported last week it has documented over 150 Israeli strikes in Syria so far in 2024. The strikes have hit targets belonging to Iranian-backed militias in several Syrian provinces, according to SOHR.

Iran, a key backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government, has built a significant military presence in Syria in recent years, supported by dozens of proxy groups, including Hezbollah and several Iraqi militias.

Last week, the Syrian government blamed Israel for an attack in the ancient town of Palmyra in central Syria that killed at least 36 people and wounded 50 others. SOHR, which gave a much higher figure on casualties, said one of the strikes targeted a meeting involving some commanders of Hezbollah and the Iraqi group al-Nujaba.

Both Hezbollah and al-Nujaba are U.S.-designated terrorist organizations.

The Israeli military declined to comment on the attack, but it has previously acknowledged conducting strikes against Iranian-linked groups in Syria.

Phillip Smyth, an expert on Iranian-backed militias, said the Israeli strikes "are demonstrative of their goals to degrade the leadership elements within Lebanese Hezbollah" and other pro-Iranian militant groups in Syria.

"This would include those in Lebanon and Syria, particularly the latter, given how Hezbollah still needs to command its 3,000-7,500 [militants] that currently occupy the country," he told VOA.

"These types of strikes eliminate people who are irreplaceable in other respects," Smyth said. "They are loyal, are part of the early generations of leadership and have a good amount of control over a very closed organization."

Another Israeli strike earlier this month hit a suburb near the Syrian capital, Damascus, killing at least 15 people, according to Syrian state media.

The Israeli military said the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group was the target of that attack, adding that it "inflicted significant damage to the terrorist organization's command center and to its operatives."

Ahmed Rahal, a former Syrian military general who defected from the army in 2012, stated that such attacks have created new dynamics for Iran and its proxies in Syria.

"Iran has moved some of its military advisers out of Syria," he told VOA, noting that, "recent strikes against Islamic Jihad and even elements of the Syrian military show that Israel isn't only targeting Iranian and Hezbollah forces but anything it deems a threat."

Local media reports in Syria last week said that amid increased Israeli strikes, Iran transported some of its proxies from Syria to Iraq, including at least a dozen high-ranking military advisers who had been deployed in Damascus and Palmyra.

Seth Frantzman, an adjunct fellow at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, offers a different explanation for the movement of Iranian proxies in the region.

"Iran may be moving proxies around Iraq and Syria in order to threaten Israel and may feel the need to move them more often so that they preserve operational security in case of Israeli retaliation," he told VOA.

"Iran also likely wants to mobilize proxy forces in case of a ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah so it can increase threats to Israel on other fronts," Frantzman said.

Iran's Foreign Ministry recently said there has been no change in the status or number of their military advisers in Syria.

Other experts argue that as long as pro-Iranian militias control the Iraq-Syria border, Israeli strikes are unlikely to prevent Tehran from sending weapons to Hezbollah and other proxies.

"These strikes may briefly disrupt the transport of men and weapons between Iraq and Syria, but these groups have shown their ability to adapt and resume their activities quickly," said Omar Abu Layla, director of Deir Ezzor 24, a news and research network focused on eastern Syria.

Zana Omer in Qamishli, Syria, contributed to this story, which originated in VOA's Kurdish Service.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary General in Turkiye: Strong Turkish defence capabilities contribute to a strong NATO

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

25 Nov. 2024

During a one-day visit to Turkiye, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan and Minister of National Defence Yasar Guler in Ankara on Monday (25 November 2024).

The Secretary General praised Turkiye for its commitment to the Alliance's collective security. He highlighted that Turkiye has the second-largest army in NATO and spends over 2% of GDP on defence.

Mr. Rutte also congratulated Turkiye for successfully concluding its command of NATO's KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, stating that "your consistent contribution of troops is crucial in maintaining a safe and secure environment for all in Kosovo."

The Secretary General and President Erdogan addressed Russia's war in Ukraine. Mr. Rutte commended Turkiye for its firm support of Ukraine's defence industry with the ammunition, artillery and aid it needs, also by playing a key role in initiatives like the Black Sea Grain Deal and other diplomatic efforts.

In his meetings with Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan and Minister of National Defence Yasar Guler, the Secretary General addressed a range of issues, including Turkiye's contributions to NATO security, defence industrial cooperation, the situation in the Middle East, terrorism, and Allied support for Ukraine.

Mr. Rutte thanked Turkiye for the major role it plays in the fight against terrorism, including in NATO's mission in Iraq. The Secretary General reiterated his solidarity with Turkiye and expressed his condolences regarding the terrorist attack on the facilities of the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI-TUSAS) in Ankara on 23 October. "We strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms" said Mr. Rutte.

During his official stay in Ankara, Mr. Rutte also paid a visit to the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, a memorial site dedicated to honouring the legacy and contributions of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






UK and its allies must stay one step ahead in new AI arms race

UK announces new Laboratory for AI Security Research at NATO Cyber Defence Conference

25 November 2024

AI "revolutionising many parts of life - including national security" - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to say

New Laboratory for AI Security Research that will partner with world-leading experts from UK universities, the intelligence agencies and industry to boost Britain's cyber resilience and support growth launched by government

New research will receive around 8m of initial government funding, with industry encouraged to invest in the partnership to support future research.

"NATO needs to continue to adapt to the world of AI, because as the tech evolves, the threat evolves", the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will tell the NATO Cyber Defence Conference at Lancaster House on Monday.

To help the UK stay ahead in the "new AI arms race" the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will announce a new Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR) to protect the UK and its allies against new threats, saying:

The lab will pull together world-class industry, academic and government experts to assess the impact of AI on our national security. While AI can amplify existing cyber threats, it can also create better cyber defence tools and presents opportunities for intelligence agencies to collect, analyse, and produce more useful intelligence.

The Laboratory for AI Security Research will employ a 'catalytic' model, receiving an initial 8.22m round of government funding, inviting further investment and collaboration from industry.

Partners will include the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, the Department for Science Innovation and Technology, Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), National Cyber Security Centre, the MOD's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, the Alan Turing Institute, the AI Safety Institute, the University of Oxford, Queen's University Belfast and Plexal. The laboratory will seek collaboration with like-minded partners, starting with the Five Eyes countries and NATO allies.

Addressing cyber and defence experts, he will say that:

Cyber war is now a daily reality. One where our defences are constantly being tested. The extent of the threat must be matched by the strength of our resolve to combat it and to protect our citizens and systems. 75 years after its foundation, it is clear we need NATO more than ever. NATO has stayed relevant over the last seven decades by constantly adapting to new threats. It has navigated the worlds of nuclear proliferation and militant nationalism. The move from cold warfare to drone warfare.

The gathering is the second ever NATO Cyber Defence Conference and the first to be held in London. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will caution:

AI is already revolutionising many parts of life - including national security. But as we develop this technology, there's a danger it could be weaponised against us. Because our adversaries are also looking at how to use AI on the physical and cyber battlefield.

And he will say:

Be in no doubt: the United Kingdom and others in this room are watching Russia. We know exactly what they are doing, and we are countering their attacks both publicly and behind the scenes. We know from history that appeasing dictators engaged in aggression against their neighbours only encourages them. Britain learned long ago the importance of standing strong in the face of such actions. That's why we support Ukraine in its fight to decide its own destiny. Putin is a man who wants destruction, not peace. He is trying to deter our support for Ukraine with his threats. He will not be successful.

He will also reflect that:

Last year, we saw the US for the first time publicly call out a state for using AI to aid its malicious cyber activity. In this case it was North Korea who had attempted to use AI to accelerate its malware development and scan for cybersecurity gaps it could exploit. North Korea is the first, but it won't be the last.

Alongside the new laboratory, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will also announce a new 1m incident response project to share expertise so that allies can respond to cyber incidents more effectively.

Stephen Doughty, Minister for Europe, North America and UK Overseas Territories, will also attend the conference at Lancaster House. He said:

AI has enormous potential. To ensure it remains a force for good in the world, we need to understand its threats and its opportunities. Today we have launched a new, world-leading research lab to enhance AI security to ensure the UK and our allies reap the benefits of AI, while detecting, disrupting and deterring adversaries who would use it to undermine our national security and economic prosperity.

LASR builds on the UK's position as the global birthplace of modern computing, following the pioneering legacy of Alan Turing. It is part of the government's wider work to improve the UK's cyber defences and grow the economy, which includes the forthcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill and recent designation of data centres as critical national infrastructure.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russian Defence Ministry reports on repelling AFU attempt to invade Russian territory in Kursk region (24 November 2024)

24.11.2024

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise an enemy group, which broke into the territory of Kursk region.

Units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of the 21st, 41st, 44th, 47th mechanised brigades, 17th Heavy Mechanised Brigade, 5th Tank Brigade, 80th, 82nd, 95th Air Assault Brigade, 36th Marine Brigade, 112th, 116th, 117th, and 129th territorial defence brigades of the AFU near Aleksandriya, Kruglenkoye, Lebedevka, Leonidovka, Mirny, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Novoivanovka, Sverdlikovo, Plyokhovo, and Staraya Sorochina.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the enemy near Aleksandriya, Viktorovka, Guyevo, Daryino, Zaoleshenka, Kazachaya Loknya, Kositsa, Kruglenkoye, Kurilovka, Lebedevka, Leonidovo, Malaya Loknya, Martynovka, Mirny, Nizhny Klin, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Nikolsky, Novoivanovka, Plyokhovo, Sverdlikovo, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye as well as near Belovody, Zhuravka, Miropolye, and Yunakovka in Sumy region.

Over the past 24 hours, the AFU losses amounted to more than 260 troops. One tank, one armoured fighting vehicle, five motor vehicles, and one mortar were destroyed.

Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to more than 35,310 troops, 216 tanks, 149 infantry fighting vehicles, 120 armoured personnel carriers, 1,193 armoured fighting vehicles, 1,022 motor vehicles, 300 artillery guns, 40 MLRS launchers, including 11 of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, 13 anti-aircraft missile launchers, seven transport-loading vehicles, 70 EW stations, 13 counter-battery warfare radars, four air defence radars, 27 units of engineering and other materiel, including 13 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, six armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle.

The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Lithuania hands over power generators, spare armored vehicle parts, different types of weapons and weapon parts to Ukraine

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2024-11-25

International cooperation

Lithuania continues delivering unwavering support to Ukraine: earlier this week Lithuania's latest contribution of power generators, M113 spare parts and different types of weapons and weapon parts reached the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Responding to Ukraine's declared needs Lithuania has already delivered 155 mm ammunition, M133 armored vehicles, drone jamming systems, winter clothing sets and gear, ammunition of the Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle, RISE-1 smart initiation system, power generators, loaders, trailers, field beds, and other aid.

Since the outbreak of the war Lithuania has supported Ukraine with over EUR 705 million worth of military aid. The long-term general Lithuania's support to Ukraine is at the moment over EUR 1 billion.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Seoul confirms casualties among North Korean troops in Russia

South Korea's confirmation comes after media report of 500 North Koreans killed by British missiles.

By Taejun Kang for RFA

2024.11.25

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- South Korea's National Intelligence Service, or NIS, said on Monday it had "specific intelligence" that North Korean forces in Russia had suffered casualties but it did not comment on a media report that 500 North Koreans had been killed in a Ukrainian attack with British missiles.

The U.S. and South Korea have said that North Korean troops had been fighting against Ukrainian forces in Kursk. The U.S. has estimated more than 10,000 North Korean soldiers had been sent to Kursk and they had begun combat operations alongside Russian forces.

Neither Russia nor North Korea have confirmed the presence of North Korean troops.

Videos circulated by pro-Russian war bloggers indicated that up to 12 British Storm Shadow missiles struck a target believed to be a command headquarters in the village of Maryno on Wednesday.

The site might have been used by North Korean and Russian officers, the defense news publisher Global Defense Corp reported.

South Korea's NIS, while confirming it had "specific intelligence" to confirm North Korean casualties, did not provide any estimated casualty toll. It said it was closely monitoring the situation.

Separately, The Wall Street Journal, citing Western officials, said the attack on the command headquarters also killed one high-level North Korean official.

Ukraine's military confirmed the use of the British missile, while Britain has not commented.

Anti-air missiles, air defense equipment

South Korea's top security adviser said that in exchange for sending its troops to help Russia, North Korea had received anti-air missiles and other air defense equipment.

"Russia is believed to have provided equipment and anti-air missiles to strengthen Pyongyang's vulnerable air defense system," National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik said during an interview with the South Korean broadcaster SBS on Friday.

"Following North Korea's failed military spy satellite launch on May 27, Russia had already declared its intention to support satellite-related technologies [to the North], and it reportedly supplied various military technologies," Shin said.

"We believe that there has also been economic aid in various forms," he added.

When asked about the possibility of the Russia-Ukraine war expanding into a wider war, Shin said it was unlikely.

"Especially, it is very difficult for Russia to actually use nuclear weapons," Shin said.

On the possibility of North Korea sending additional troops to Russia, Shin said: "We cannot completely rule that out, but we have no confirmed information at this stage."

"Russia currently does not have the multiple rocket launcher system and it remains to be seen whether all or part of the operational troops will go, but if all the assigned personnel were to go, it would be around 4,000 people at most," he explained.

The NIS confirmed last week that North Korea had exported additional artillery ammunition and launchers to Russia, including 170-millimeter self-propelled howitzers and 240 mm multiple rocket launchers, which raised a speculation that Pyongyang might send an additional artillery unit to Russia.

Russian warning

Russia warned that it would respond strongly if South Korea supplies lethal weapons to Ukraine, saying it would "fully destroy relations between the two countries."

"Seoul must realize that the possible use of South Korean weapons to kill Russian citizens will fully destroy relations between our countries," said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko in an interview with state news agency TASS on Sunday.

"Of course, we will respond in every way that we find necessary. It is unlikely that this will strengthen the security of the Republic of Korea itself."

The Republic of Korea is South Korea's official name.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said in a press conference on Nov. 7 that while Seoul had provided humanitarian and economic support to Ukraine, the situation has changed with the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia.

"If the North Korean military gains experience in modern warfare, it could become a critical problem for our security," said Yoon.

"So we will now change the support method from the previous humanitarian nature to match the level of involvement of the North Korean military. We will not rule out weapons support to Ukraine."

Edited by Mike Firn.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content November not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






EU To Target Chinese Firms With Asset Freezes, Visa Bans For Aiding Russia In Ukraine

By Reid Standish November 25, 2024

The European Union has proposed for the first time to target Chinese companies and individuals with visa bans and asset freezes over their dealings with Russian firms linked to Moscow's war effort in Ukraine, according to RFE/RL.

The new measures, which are laid out in a draft proposal reviewed by RFE/RL, are part of a proposed 15th sanctions package recently put forward by Brussels that aims to target six China-based companies with asset freezes and one Chinese citizen with a visa ban, among other entities.

While the EU has hit Chinese entities in the past with sanctions as part of Brussels' effort to curtail evasion, those measures have consisted of bans that prevent EU companies from having business dealings with those firms. This proposal marks the first effort to blacklist Chinese companies or individuals with visa bans and asset freezes over helping Russia procure dual-use goods that can be used on the battlefield.

If approved, such a move would prevent individuals associated with the company from entering the EU and would freeze each firm's EU-based funds.

The draft sanctions package comes as Russia has managed to overcome sweeping EU and U.S. technology sanctions aimed at stifling its military-industrial complex by rerouting crucial goods like microprocessors through friendly third countries or sourcing from them directly.

China, in particular, has played a leading role in boosting Russia's economy since its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and Western officials have said that Chinese support in circumventing sanctions has had a major effect in helping Moscow on the battlefield.

The only Chinese individual proposed for a visa ban is a "Chinese businessperson" that represents a firm engaged in mainland China and Hong Kong, the draft document states, which has "infringed prohibitions against circumvention of the EU's restrictive measures regime imposed on the Russian Federation," including companies that are part of Russia's military-industrial complex.

The proposed document lists 54 persons for visa bans and 29 entities for asset freezes in total, the majority of which are based in Russia and are Russian citizens.

Among the six firms based in China or Hong Kong that are proposed for asset freezes, one of them is owned by a Russian national.

The company, the draft document states, "has been the largest supplier of sanctioned microelectronic components to Russian companies since the beginning of the war of aggression against Ukraine, which are used for the fabrication of Orlan drones which are used by the Russian military in Ukraine."

In addition to the asset freezes and visa bans, the new package also takes aim at 33 companies mostly based in Russia that are under export restrictions, but also includes firms based in China, Iran, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates.

The document also lists 44 entities as part of an effort to impose sanctions on Russia's so-called "shadow fleet," the term meant to refer to ships that are engaged in illegal operations for the purposes of circumventing sanctions.

The draft version of the sanctions package was first shared with EU countries on November 22 and would still need to be approved by all 27 member states in order to come into effect.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-china-sanctions-asset- freeze-visa-ban-russia-ukraine/33215326.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






British Man Fighting For Ukraine Reportedly Captured In Russia's Kursk

By RFE/RL November 25, 2024

A British national fighting for Ukraine has reportedly been captured by Russian forces in Russia's Kursk region, marking a significant development in the ongoing war.

A video released on pro-Russian Telegram channels and TASS news agency over the weekend shows a man in a military uniform identifying himself as 22-year-old James Scott Rhys Anderson from the United Kingdom.

Speaking with a clear English accent, Anderson says he previously served as a signalman in the British Army until 2023 and later joined Ukraine's International Legion to fight against Russia. The footage has not been independently verified, and it remains unclear when or where the video was recorded.

Anderson's alleged capture highlights the broader involvement of foreign volunteers in Ukraine's resistance against Russia. Since Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's 2022 call for international recruits, thousands of fighters have joined the conflict, many enlisting in the International Legion, a highly selective unit integrated into Ukraine's ground forces.

The British man's capture also comes at a time of shifting dynamics in the Kursk region. While Ukraine initially gained significant ground in its August offensive, recent reports suggest it has lost over 40 percent of the territory it seized.

Russia's apparent use of North Korean soldiers in the region and its push to reclaim lost ground signal a deepening of the war, while Ukraine's cross-border operations represent a bold challenge to Moscow's defenses. As the war drags on, the fate of foreign fighters like Anderson remains emblematic of the broader stakes and human costs of this conflict.

With reporting by TASS and The Guardian

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/briton-ukraine- kursk-capture-james-anderson-internaional-legion/33215103.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ukraine Says It Hit Russian Oil Depot, Other 'Important Targets'

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service November 25, 2024

Ukraine's military said it struck an oil depot overnight in Russia's western Kaluga region and "a number of important targets" in two other Russian regions after Russia shelled the center of the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a statement on social media that the early morning attacks focused on Bryansk, Kaluga, and Kursk.

"There is confirmation of a successful impact of the oil base in the Kaluga region," it said.

Vladislav Shapsha, the governor of Kaluga, said on Telegram that eight Ukrainian drones were shot down in the region, with debris from one of the downed drones sparking a fire at an industrial site. The fire has been extinguished, and no casualties were reported, Shapsha said.

Unconfirmed reports from the Telegram channels Ostorozhno, novosti, and Baza claim the fire affected a tank at a local oil depot and the Kaluga instrument-making plant Typhoon. Videos allegedly showing the fire at the refinery have surfaced online, though official verification is pending.

The attack came as the mayor of Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, said at least 15 people were wounded in an attack that targeted residential areas, adding to the series of strikes the city has faced in recent weeks that have caused significant casualties and damage to civil and energy infrastructure.

In Ukraine's southern Mykolayiv region, Russian strikes hit energy infrastructure overnight, regional Governor Vitaliy Kim reported. Engineers managed to restore power to most affected areas, and no casualties were reported.

Meanwhile, in the southeastern Zaporizhzhya region, Russian forces launched attacks on industrial facilities using "dozens of drones," according to regional Governor Ivan Fedorov. One child was reportedly wounded in these strikes.

Sources at the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense (HUR) told Ukrayinska pravda that the attack on the Kaluga oil depot was planned by Ukrainian special services. The targeted depot is reportedly linked to Russia's military operations against Ukraine.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that on the night of November 25, air-defense systems intercepted and destroyed 23 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions. These included eight drones over Kaluga, seven over Kursk, five over Bryansk, and three over Belgorod, the ministry said.

The overnight strikes highlight the growing intensity of Ukraine's efforts to stop Russia's ongoing invasion that Moscow launched in February 2022. The situation continues to evolve as both sides accuse the other of escalating the violence.

With reporting by Ukrayinska pravda

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kharkiv-mykolayiv-zaporizhzhya- ukraine-russia/33214784.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






UNICEF Expands Support for Vulnerable Categories of Ukrainians

President of Ukraine

25 November 2024 - 17:03

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is increasing its support for vulnerable categories of Ukrainians. Representatives of the fund announced this during a meeting with Iryna Vereshchuk, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.

Specifically, assistance will continue for families with children living within a 30-kilometer zone of the front line in seven regions. These families will receive 21,800 UAH to prepare for winter.

Over 103,000 people, including 44,000 children, have already received payments, and this number is expected to grow. Additionally, nearly 5,000 families have been provided with household fuel.

Another program will also continue, providing one-time payments of 10,800 UAH to families with children who have evacuated from communities in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions where mandatory evacuation has been declared.

Furthermore, the number of schools in frontline areas receiving financial grants from UNICEF to upgrade kitchen facilities and prepare for winter will increase from 350 to 800.

Iryna Vereshchuk expressed gratitude to Munir Mammadzade, Head of the UNICEF Country Office in Ukraine, for the support provided to hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian families with children. She also called for further deepening of cooperation.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy system risks nuclear disaster: rights experts

25 November 2024 - Independent UN human rights experts have warned of an escalating risk of nuclear disaster in Ukraine following Russia's continued attacks on the country's electrical infrastructure, with the most recent strike occurring on 17 November.

Their warning comes amid growing international concern about the vulnerability of Ukraine's nuclear facilities which rely on a stable power grid to maintain critical safety systems.

"The latest large-scale Russian missile attack on Ukraine's electricity system has led to further significant damage to electric substations that are essential to the operation of Ukraine's nuclear power plants," the experts emphasised.

Severe damage, civilian casualties

The strikes occurred overnight and reportedly caused severe damage, power outages and civilian casualties. The timing of this attack raises additional concerns as Ukraine enters the winter months, when power demands typically surge.

This latest assault came despite earlier warnings from 13 UN Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups, who had formally communicated with Moscow on 22 October about the prohibition of such attacks under international humanitarian law.

Further, the attacks occurred despite earlier arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in June 2024 for high-ranking Russian government officials specifically related to strikes against Ukraine's electric power infrastructure.

Adding to the nuclear safety concerns, the UN Human rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has documented extensive civilian harm from these long-range attacks on the power system.

Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant concerns

The experts further recalled credible allegations of Russian forces subjecting staff at Europe's biggest nuclear energy facility, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), to intimidation, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance and torture.

"Having reportedly lost two-thirds of its power generation capacity, further damage to Ukraine's electricity system could lead to an electricity blackout which would increase the risk of operating nuclear reactors losing access to the grid for powering their safety systems," the experts cautioned.

They warned that such a scenario could trigger a nuclear disaster potentially exceeding both the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi accident in Japan and the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine.

While the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) agreed to expand its mission to Ukraine to include inspection of electric substations, progress has been limited.

"Despite the urgency of the situation, full implementation of an expanded monitoring mission had yet to be announced by the IAEA," the experts noted. Only one mission was completed in October 2024, with no subsequent missions scheduled.

Stop attacks, avert risk

"We reiterate our urgent appeal for Russian armed forces to immediately cease their attacks against Ukraine's power generation plants, substations, transmission and distribution lines and other energy infrastructure and to avert the risk of nuclear disaster," the experts concluded, emphasising the immediate need for action to prevent catastrophic consequences.

Independent experts are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor and report on specific country situations or thematic issues. They work on a voluntary basis, are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work.

Hostilities ongoing

Meanwhile, the UN humanitarian affairs office OCHA said attacks and hostilities across Ukraine continued over the weekend and on Monday

The attacks resulted in scores of casualties, including children, and significantly damaged civilian infrastructure, particularly in Kharkiv, in Odesa and Zaporizhzhia, according to local authorities and UN partners on the ground.

As a result of the damage, nearly 150,000 families, as well as hospitals, schools and businesses, are currently without heating in the Dnipro and Ivano-Frankivsk regions, where temperatures have dropped below zero degrees centigrade, OCHA said, citing local authorities.

Humanitarian organizations mobilized swiftly and provided emergency assistance in Kharkiv and Odesa, among other affected areas, delivering food, repair materials and psychosocial support.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russian aerial attack injures at least 15 in Kharkiv

By VOA News November 25, 2024

Ukrainian officials said Monday a Russian attack on the northeastern city of Kharkiv injured at least 19 people.

Oleh Syniehubov, governor of the Kharkiv region, said on Telegram that Russian forces hit a courtyard in central Kharkiv, damaging more than 40 houses.

In Ukraine's Odesa region, Governor Oleh Kiper said a rocket attack hit the city of Odesa and that there were casualties.

Another Russian attack, in the Zaporizhzhia region, injured a child and damaged several houses, according to Governor Ivan Fedorov.

Mykolaiv Governor Vitaliy Kim said Monday on Telegram that Russian drone attacks targeted energy infrastructure and disrupted electricity services.

Ukraine's air force said Monday it shot down 71 of more than 140 Russian drones used in the latest string of overnight attacks.

"These Russian strikes on Ukrainian lives can be stoppedwith pressure, with sanctions, by blocking the occupiers' access to the components they use to manufacture the means of this terror, by providing arms packages for Ukraine, and with a determination that must be unwavering," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Russia's Defense Ministry said Monday it shot down 23 Ukrainian drones in overnight attacks.

Russian air defenses downed eight of the drones over the Kaluga region, the ministry said, along with seven over Kursk, five over Bryansk and three over Belgorod.

Officials in Kaluga said falling drone wreckage damaged an industrial facility.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






North Korea sent 100 ballistic missiles to Russia: Ukraine

A Ukrainian defense intelligence unit said Pyongyang also sent military specialists to help Moscow.

By Taejun Kang for RFA

2024.11.26

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- North Korea has sent more than 100 KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles to Russia, along with military specialists, to support its war with Ukraine, said a Ukrainian defense intelligence unit, about a week after South Korean confirmed that the North had exported additional artillery systems to Russia.

North Korea has been suspected of sending weapons to Russia to support its invasion of Ukraine. The South said last month that North Korea had sent about 7,000 containers of suspected weapons to Russia over the last two months, bringing the total number of containers to 20,000.

"The aggressor state of Russia has received more than 100 such missiles from the DPRK. The enemy first used these weapons in the war against Ukraine at the end of 2023," said the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK, is North Korea's official name.

"Along with the missiles, Pyongyang then sent its military specialists to Russia to service the launchers and participate in war crimes against Ukraine," the institution said.

The KN-23 and KN-24 are North Korean short-range ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, known as Hwasong-11 variants.

The intelligence unit reported that the missiles, responsible for numerous civilian casualties, were discovered to contain components manufactured by foreign companies, including from Britain, China, Japan, Switzerland and the United States.

One missile was found to include a voltage converter produced in February last year, bearing the label of the British company XP Power.

The unit urged stricter controls on the export of such components.

The British arms watchdog Conflict Arms Research said in April it had analyzed 290 parts from a North Korean missile used by Russia against Ukraine and concluded that the missile was believed to be a North Korean short-range ballistic missile, either the KN-23 or KN-24.

At that time, the watchdog said it identified parts from companies based in the U.S., China, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland and Taiwan.

In response to the report, a representative of a Japanese company, whose name and identification number were engraved on one of the missiles, told media that the item was "counterfeit," noting that the engraving style differed from that of the authentic product.

The Ukraine intelligence unit's report came about a week after South Korea's spy agency confirmed that North Korea had exported additional artillery ammunition and launchers to Russia.

"In addition to artillery missiles, North Korea has also exported 170mm self-propelled artillery and 240mm howitzers," said the National Intelligence Service, or NIS.

North Korean casualties

Ukraine's report also followed confirmation from South Korea's main security agency that it had "specific intelligence" that North Korean forces in Russia had suffered casualties.

The U.S. and South Korea have said that North Korean troops had been fighting against Ukrainian forces in Kursk. The U.S. has estimated more than 10,000 North Korean soldiers had been sent to Kursk and they had begun combat operations alongside Russian forces.

Neither Russia nor North Korea have confirmed the presence of North Korean troops.

Separately, media reported that 500 North Koreans and one high-level North Korean official had been killed in a Ukrainian attack with British missiles last week.

The U.S. Department of Defense said on Tuesday it couldn't independently confirm the reports.

"What we've said, you know, before is that they're in that region and certainly poised to engage the Ukrainians in combat," Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told a briefing.

"But I can't confirm those reports that there have been casualties yet."

Edited by Mike Firn.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content November not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ukraine says it shot down 76 of 188 Russian drones

By VOA News November 26, 2024

Ukraine's military said Tuesday it shot down 76 Russian drones in overnight attacks that targeted areas across the country and damaged critical infrastructure facilities.

Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 188 total drones, along with four missiles, in the latest daily aerial assault, and that there was also damage to apartment buildings in several regions.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down drones in the Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odessa, Poltava, Rivne, Sumy, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia and Zhytomyr regions.

Serhiy Lysak, governor of Dnipropetrovsk, said on Telegram that one drone hit the center of Nikopol.

Russia's Defense Ministry said Tuesday it shot down 39 Ukrainian aerial drones overnight.

Most of the drones were shot down over the Rostov region, with other intercepts taking place over Bryansk, Belgorod, Kursk, Oryol, Voronezh and Russia-occupied Crimea.

Officials in Rostov, Bryansk and Voronezh said on Telegram there were no reports of damage or casualties from the attacks.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Not for distribution to U.S. news services or dissemination in the United States

RICHMOND HILL, Ontario, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canso Select Opportunities Corporation (TSX Venture: CSOC.A, CSOC.B) (the "Company" or "CSOC") is pleased to announce a new President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

CSOC today announced that President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Joe Morin, has informed them of his intention to retire effective December 31, 2024, which includes relinquishing his three managerial roles with the Company. He will continue to serve as a non-executive Director and Member of the Companys Investment Committee.

The Board of Directors has named Mr. Jason Bell to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of CSOC effective December 31, 2024. Jason was recently appointed a Member of the Corporations Investment Committee. Jason is also a Portfolio Manager at Canso Investment Counsel Ltd. (Canso), the portfolio management arm within the Canso Group of Companies, since June 2015 and has been the Vice President of Trading at Canso since September 2023.

The Board would like to thank Joe for his service as a Director and a member of the Investment Committee since inception of the Corporation. He has served as Chief Investment Officer since August 2022 and as President and CEO since November 2022. Notably, Joe oversaw the transformative acquisition of Lysander Funds Ltd. and since his appointment as Chief Investment Officer, the Corporation has had a substantial improvement in investment performance.

The Board believes that the appointment of Jason as President and CEO will enhance the already strong investment performance at CSOC.

We look forward to working with Jason to execute CSOCs mission, creating long-term value for our shareholders.

About CSOC

CSOC is a publicly-listed, investment company focused on maximizing long-term total returns to shareholders by investing in an actively managed portfolio consisting primarily of Canadian and global holdings which could include large illiquid positions in private and public equity, debt, loans, real estate and infrastructure. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has in any way passed upon the merits of the proposed transactions and neither of the foregoing entities has approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release.

More information on the Company may be found on the Companys website at www.selectopportunitiescorporation.com.

For further information, please contact:

Shirley Sumsion, CFO

Canso Select Opportunities Corporation

(905) 881-8853

E-mail: info@selectopportunitiescorporation.com

Forward Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words seeks, expects, believes, estimates, will, target and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations of CSOC regarding future results or events and are based on information currently available to it. Certain material factors and reasonable assumptions were applied in providing these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. CSOC believes that the expectations reflected in forward looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions; however, CSOC can give no assurances that the actual results or developments will be realized. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Readers, therefore, should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, a forward looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. CSOC undertakes no obligation to publicly update any such statement or to reflect new information or the occurrence of future events or circumstances except as required by securities laws. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release.

Additional information about CSOC is available under its SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Turtle Wax and renowned artist Mister Cartoon hosted the highly anticipated Art of Car Care Invitational on November 23 at Gilbert Lindsay Plaza, adjacent to the iconic Crypto.com Arena. The invite-only event brought together automotive aficionados and art enthusiasts to celebrate Los Angeles vibrant car culture.

The Art of Car Care Invitational marked the first anniversary of the Turtle Wax x Mister Cartoon Art of Car Care partnership and product line, blending world-renowned artistry with innovative auto care. The event, featuring 30 vehicles curated by Mister Cartoon, showcased the creativity and craftsmanship of LAs car culture, reaffirming its global influence.

Ive always believed cars are rolling canvases, reflecting their creators' passion, said Mister Cartoon. The Art of Car Care Invitational was not just about showcasing vehicles but celebrating the artistry and community that make LAs car culture unique.

The evenings highlights included a star-studded judging panel led by Mister Cartoon, which awarded three coveted event awards. Mister Cartoons Choice Award went to Andrew De Albas Redrum, the OReilly Auto Parts Choice Award went to Albert De Albas Purple Rain, and the AOCC Invitational Winner went to John Sarkisyas Gull Wing. Hosted by comedic social media personality Jay Mendoza, the event buzzed with energy as attendees marveled at the craftsmanship on display.

The line is available at OReilly Auto Parts nationwide in stores and online at OReillyAuto.com.

The event became an unmissable highlight of the Los Angeles Auto Show's opening weekend, uniting art and automotive excellence.

To access event photos, click here

About Turtle Wax

The Turtle Wax story started with the launch of the first-ever bottled car wax in 1944. More than 75 years later, the 'Most Innovative Brand in Car Care' is still capturing the attention of the auto appearance industry with a cross-category assortment of No. 1 selling products. With product distribution in more than 120 countries, the Turtle Wax brand resonates globally. Still, the brand's heart remains in its hometown of Chicago, where award-winning innovation is still developed. For an inside look at the brand's breakthrough product development process or how Turtle Wax supports car culture worldwide, visit TurtleWax.com.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/87598baf-0244-4fe3-9b32-c991aca959a8
TIANJIN, China, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recently, the Publicity Department of Xiqing District organized a tour, guiding children from a kindergarten in Yangliuqing Town, Xiqing District, north China's Tianjin Municipality, to enjoy an impressive local cultural experience.

A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

They visited the Yuchenghao Painting Studio in Yangliuqing Ancient Town, where Huo Qingshun, a national-level intangible cultural heritage representative of Yangliuqing woodblock New Year paintings, introduced the history of the craft and taught them to experience the traditional Chinese culture.

Yangliuqing woodblock New Year paintings were included in the first batch of representative intangible cultural heritage projects by the Chinese government in 2006. Originating from the ancient town of Yangliuqing, these woodblock New Year paintings have a history of over 400 years, flourishing during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The period from the reign of Emperor Qianlong to Jiaqing witnessed the golden age of Yangliuqing New Year paintings. As early as the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, Yangliuqing Town had already become an important production center for woodblock New Year paintings in China, earning the reputation of a "land of painting where every household excels in tinting and painting."

Yangliuqing woodblock New Year paintings cover a wide range of themes, including mythical stories, historical allusions, novels and legends, ancient women and children, characters from operas, ancestral gods, auspicious patterns, wealth-seeking patterns, antique flowers and plants, seasonal patterns, historical paintings, lantern paintings, and kite paper, among others.

The production of Yangliuqing woodblock New Year paintings combines woodblock printing with hand-painted techniques and mainly involves five major processes: sketching, carving, printing, tinting, and mounting.

Source: The Publicity Department of Xiqing District
Raised EUR 50 million in new capital with cornerstone investment from Ottobock, now the Companys top investor

Signed exclusive license with CEA to develop and commercialize WIMAGINE Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) as part of the Companys investigational ARC-BCI System

Rob ten Hoedt, former Medtronic President and Executive Committee member, joined Board of Directors as incoming Chairman

EINDHOVEN, the Netherlands, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ONWARD Medical N.V. (Euronext: ONWD), a medical technology company creating innovative spinal cord stimulation therapies to restore movement, function, and independence in people with spinal cord injury (SCI), today provided a Q3 2024 Business Update.

We secured EUR 50 million in additional capital, added Ottobock as a strategic investor and partner, and gained exclusive rights to develop and commercialize a superb BCI technology, said Dave Marver, CEO of ONWARD Medical. This was an historic quarter for the Company and our commitment to develop breakthrough therapies for people with spinal cord injury.

Q3 2024 and Year-To-Date Highlights:

Clinical and Development

In July, the Company announced publication in Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface, summarizing effective stimulation parameters informed by the Up-LIFT and LIFT Home studies, and a decision-making framework for clinical implementation of investigational ARC-EX Therapy.





In September, renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Jocelyne Bloch performed another successful implant of the ARC-BCI System at Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV) in Lausanne, Switzerland.





Also in September, the Company announced a $1.1 million grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to expand an ongoing clinical feasibility study exploring the use of ARC-BCI Therapy to restore thought-driven use of the hands and arms after SCI. The grant will support four additional study participants to be implanted with the ARC-BCI System.





In October, ONWARD Medical signed an exclusive license with Commissariat a L'energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA) to develop and commercialize the WIMAGINE  BCI as part of the Companys ARC-BCI System. This exclusive license positions the Company to be first to market with a BCI-enabled system to restore thought-driven movement after paralysis.





BCI as part of the Companys ARC-BCI System. This exclusive license positions the Company to be first to market with a BCI-enabled system to restore thought-driven movement after paralysis. Also in October, the Companys ARC-EX System was named one of TIME Magazines Best Inventions of 2024. The selection process involved nominations from TIME editors and correspondents around the world, with special attention paid to growing fields, including healthcare, artificial intelligence, and green energy. The 200 winners were evaluated based on originality, efficacy, ambition, and impact.

In November, the Company announced a grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) to study the use of ARC-BCI Therapy to restore upper limb movement after stroke. The grant will support the exploration of ARC-BCI Therapy as a viable treatment to restore hand and arm function following subcortical stroke.



Intellectual Property

The Company was issued five new patents during Q3 2024, bringing its total number of issued patents to 279, and further strengthening its first-mover advantage.



Corporate and Financial

In July, the Company published its 2023 Annual Sustainability Summary, underscoring its commitment to integrating responsible and sustainable practices into all aspects of its business.





In September, the Company began listing its shares on the Euronext Paris Exchange, in addition to its listings on Euronext Brussels and Amsterdam. The new listing highlights the Companys strong French roots and significant ties to France, including its close partnership with CEA (see Clinical and Development section above).





In October, the Company announced changes to its Board of Directors. Medtech leader Rob ten Hoedt, former Medtronic President and Executive Committee member and Chairman of MedTech Europe, joined as incoming Chairman. Robs appointment coincides with the planned retirement of Jan Ohrstrom after eight years of service as Chairman. Rahma Samow also joined the Board of Directors. She is currently President and CEO of ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers, a fast-growing US-based leader in dental implant therapy and tooth replacement services with more than 2,000 employees. Fred Colen also announced his retirement as Director after eight years of service.



Also in October, the Company successfully raised EUR 50 million in an upsized capital increase that included a cornerstone investment from Ottobock SE & Co., a global leader in prosthetics, orthotics, and exoskeleton technology. Ottobock acquired c.10% of ONWARD Medical N.V.s share capital, initiating an important strategic relationship to support the Companys expected commercialization of the ARC-EX System and other important development, clinical, and commercial activities.



The Company reported cash and cash equivalents of EUR 23.2 million as of September 30, 2024.



Business Update: Outlook and Upcoming Milestones

ONWARD Medical expects to continue the steady and consistent execution of its strategy in the coming quarters, including preparing for commercialization of its first product.

The Company anticipates US FDA clearance of its ARC-EX System in Q4 2024. European regulatory submission is expected to follow in 1H 2025 with expected CE mark in 2H 2025.



The Company continues to prepare for its Empower BP global pivotal trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of its investigational ARC-IM System to address blood pressure instability after SCI. Major associated milestones expected in 1H 2025 include FDA IDE submission, FDA IDE approval, and first participant enrollment.





The Company expects results from its ARC-IM System clinical feasibility studies to address blood pressure instability after SCI to be published in a top-tier medical journal.



The Company plans multiple additional implants of its ARC-IM System in clinical feasibility studies, including exploring potential benefit to Parkinson's patients in research supported by the Michael J. Fox Foundation.



Conference Call & Webcast

ONWARD Medical will host a conference call with a live webcast today, November 26, 2024, at 2:00 pm CET / 8:00 am ET. To join the webcast via Zoom, please register using this link. A recording of the presentation will also be available on the ONWARD Medical investor website after the presentation.

Note: All ONWARD Medical devices and therapies, including but not limited to ARC-IM, ARC-EX, ARC-BCI, and ARC Therapy, alone or in combination with a brain-computer interface (BCI), are investigational and not available for commercial use. ONWARD, ARC-EX, ARC-IM, ARC-BCI, and the stylized O-Logo are proprietary and registered trademarks of ONWARD Medical. WIMAGINE is a proprietary and registered trademark of CEA. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited.

About ONWARD Medical

ONWARD Medical is a medical technology company creating therapies to restore movement, function, and independence in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) and movement disabilities. Building on more than a decade of scientific discovery, preclinical, and clinical research conducted at leading hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, and neuroscience laboratories, the Company has developed ARC Therapy, which has been awarded ten Breakthrough Device Designations from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

ONWARD ARC Therapy is targeted, programmed spinal cord stimulation designed to be delivered by the Companys external ARC-EX or implantable ARC-IM platforms. ARC Therapy can also be delivered by the Companys ARC-BCI platform, which pairs the ARC-IM System with brain-computer interface (BCI) technology to restore movement after SCI with thought-driven control.

Use of non-invasive ARC-EX Therapy significantly improved upper limb function after SCI in the global pivotal Up-LIFT trial, with results published by Nature Medicine in May 2024. The Company has submitted its regulatory application to the FDA for clearance of the ARC-EX System in the US, and is preparing for regulatory submission in Europe. In parallel, the Company is conducting clinical studies with its ARC-IM Therapy, which demonstrated positive interim clinical outcomes for improved blood pressure regulation following SCI. Other ongoing clinical studies focus on using ARC-IM Therapy to address mobility after SCI and gait challenges in Parkinsons disease, as well as using the ARC-BCI platform to restore thought-driven movement of both upper and lower limbs after SCI.

Headquartered in the Netherlands, the Company has a Science and Engineering Center in Switzerland and a US office in Boston, Massachusetts. The Company is listed on Euronext Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam (ticker: ONWD).

For more information, visit ONWD.com, and connect with us on LinkedIn and YouTube.

For Media Inquiries:

Aditi Roy, VP Communications

media@onwd.com

For Investor Inquiries:

Amori Fraser, Finance Director

investors@onwd.com



Disclaimer

Certain statements, beliefs, and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Companys or, as appropriate, the Company directors current expectations and projections about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve several risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, delays in regulatory approvals, changes in demand, competition, and technology, can cause actual events, performance, or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions, or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such persons officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.
TRADING UPDATE

Irish Continental Group plc (ICG or the Group) issues this trading update which covers carryings for the year to date to 23 November 2024 and financial information for the first ten months of 2024, i.e. 1 January to 31 October with comparisons against the corresponding period in 2023. All figures are unaudited.



Volumes (Year to date, 23 November 2024)

2024 2023 Change vs 2023 Cars 657,000 592,100 +11.0% RoRo Freight 702,800 651,900 +7.8% Container Freight (teu) 290,600 254,200 +14.3% Terminal Lifts 307,800 282,800 +8.8%

Volumes (since last Trading Update, 24 August 2024)

25/8/24-23/11/24 25/8/23-23/11/23 Change vs 2023 Cars 164,500 157,800 +4.2% RoRo Freight 205,000 194,600 +5.3% Container Freight (teu) 87,000 71,600 +21.5% Terminal Lifts 88,600 84,900 +4.4%

Consolidated Group revenue in the period was 521.0 million (2023: 491.4 million), an increase of 6.0% compared with last year. For banking covenant purposes, pre-IFRS 16 net debt figures were 82.3 million compared to 111.1 million at 31 December 2023. On an IFRS basis to include lease obligations, net debt figures were 189.4 million compared to 143.7 million at 31 December 2023. This increase was attributable to the acquisition of the Oscar Wilde under a lease purchase arrangement.

Ferries Division

Total revenues recorded in the period to 31 October amounted to 375.8 million (2023: 352.9 million) (including intra-division charter income), a 6.5% increase on the prior year.

For the year to 23 November, Irish Ferries carried 657,000 cars (2023: 592,100 cars), an increase of 11.0% on the previous year. Freight carryings were 702,800 RoRo units (2023: 651,900 units), an increase of 7.8% compared with 2023.

Total revenues also include customer surcharges related to fuel movements and the cost of emission allowances under the EU Emission Trading System (ETS) since 1 January 2024.

Container and Terminal Division

Total revenues recorded in the period to 31 October amounted to 171.3 million (2023: 165.4 million), a 3.6% increase on the prior year.

For the year to 23 November, container freight volumes shipped were 290,600 teu (2023: 254,200 teu) an increase of 14.3% on the previous year. Volumes handled at our terminals in Dublin and Belfast totalled 307,800 units (2023: 282,800 units), an increase of 8.8% year on year.

Total revenues include customer surcharges covering fuel movements and emission costs under ETS.

About Irish Continental Group plc

Irish Continental Group plc is the leading Irish-based maritime transport group. The Groups activities include the transport of passengers, cars and Roll on Roll off (RoRo) freight under the Irish Ferries brand, on routes between each of Ireland, Britain and Continental Europe. The Group also provides Container Lift on Lift off (LoLo) freight services on routes between Ireland and Continental Europe under the Eucon brand. Other activities include the operation of container terminals in the ports of Dublin and Belfast and ship chartering activities. For the year ended 31 December 2023, ICG reported revenue of 572.0 million and EBITDA of 132.6 million.

Dublin.

26 November 2024

Enquiries

Eamonn Rothwell, CEO +353 1 607 5628

David Ledwidge, CFO +353 1 607 5628
Boston, Mass., and Merelbeke, Belgium, and Paris, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Valiantys, a global leader in IT consulting and Atlassian Platinum Solutions Partner, has launched a groundbreaking Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) service powered by best-of breed solutions including HYCU, the leader in modern data protection, Lansweeper, a global leader in Technology Asset Intelligence, and Appfire, a leading global provider of software that enhances, extends, and connects the worlds leading platforms in enterprise collaboration. This innovative solution is designed to help organizations meet the complex compliance requirements of emerging regulations, with an initial focus on the European Union's Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA).

The Valiantys GRC Solution, powered by HYCU, Lansweeper, and Appfire offers a comprehensive approach to the challenges posed by DORA, especially in new areas of third-party risk management and operational resilience. As organizations increasingly rely on cloud applications and as-a-service solutions, compliance with DORA mounts a complex and time-consuming challenge.

The emergence of DORA, scheduled to go into full effect in early 2025, represents a significant shift in creating a uniform approach to third-party risk management across the EU financial sector. The new regulatory requirement addresses the growing concerns about cyber threats and technological vulnerabilities that could potentially disrupt the financial industrys technology supply chain.

At Valiantys, we are committed to delivering future-driven innovation, and this new solution, developed in close partnership with Lansweeper, HYCU, and Appfire, is a testament to that vision. By integrating advanced compliance management capabilities into Jira Service Management, we are enabling organizations to embrace a more resilient, streamlined approach to regulatory challenges. This solution is key to our broader strategy of expanding solution development on JSM, empowering companies to achieve organization-wide transformation and ensuring they are equipped to meet both current and future demands," said Chief Solutions Officer of Valiantys, Nathan Chantrenne.

The Valiantys GRC Solution provides a unified management system integrated inclusive of asset discovery, backup, testing, and documentation management. With one single source of truth for DORA readiness, key features include:

Automated asset discovery and visualization of as-a-service applications

Automated data protection and offsite data recovery for over 80 ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies), with continuous expansion

One-click resilience testing capabilities

DORA-focused dashboards, notifications, and insights

This solution significantly reduces the time and resources required for DORA compliance, eliminating the need for hundreds of hours of manual asset cataloging, multiple backup tools, and extensive documentation management.

Subbiah Sundaram, SVP, Product at HYCU, commented, "We're proud to contribute our data protection expertise to this innovative GRC solution. Our partnership with Valiantys, Appfire, and Lansweeper allows us to offer customers a seamless, integrated approach to meeting DORA's stringent requirements."

Maarten Saeys, CPO of Lansweeper said, Were excited to partner with Valiantys, Appfire, and HYCU to introduce a solution built for Atlassian Cloud that empowers organizations with deeper insights, streamlined asset management through Jira Service Management, and enhanced business resilience. This collaboration underscores our dedication to driving innovation, ensuring that businesses are not only equipped to navigate todays increasingly complex regulatory environment but are also positioned for long-term success in the face of future challenges.

As the regulatory landscape becomes more stringent and complex, organizations have a responsibility to work together to help customers navigate these emerging regulations. Collaborating with Valiantys, Lansweeper, and HYCU allows us to leverage each partners unique expertise to help organizations meet and adhere to the complex compliance requirements posed by DORA," says Doug Kersten, CISO of Appfire. Together, were helping customers navigate the complexities of third-party risk management and operational adaptability in a highly competitive technology ecosystem where security and compliance are no longer optional.

For more information about the Valiantys GRC Solution, please visit www.valiantys.com/GRC.

About Appfire

Appfire is the leading global provider of software that enhances, extends, and connects the world's leading platforms to make work flow any way teams want to work, from planning to product ideation, product development, project delivery, and beyond. Appfire increases the value of platforms such as Atlassian, Microsoft, monday.com, and Salesforce, enabling teams to thrive and do their best work together. With more than one million users, Appfire's popular solutions are helping teams with Enterprise Collaboration, DevOps, Workflow & Automation, Product Portfolio Management, IT Service Management (ITSM), Document Management, Business Intelligence and Reporting, Administrative Tools, Agile Tools, Developer Tools, Time Tracking, Publishing, and Integrations. Appfire has been selling its popular software products on the Atlassian Marketplace since it first launched in 2012, and today Appfire has the most widely adopted portfolio of Atlassian apps across tens of thousands of customers worldwide. Learn more at www.appfire.com.

###

Attachments
Gondia, India, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As per the report published by IMIR Research Pvt. Ltd. In 2023, the Global Dimethyl Carbonate (DMC) Market was valued at USD 1,077.18 Million and is expected to reach USD 1,969.38 Million at the CAGR of 6.3% during 2024-2032.

The global dimethyl carbonate (DMC) market is expected to have vast growth prospects soon. Its demand would be highly increased for varied applications, such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and coatings, considering its properties as a non-toxic and environment-friendly solvent, fuel additive, and reagent. The market has also gained importance as an intermediate in the production of polycarbonate resins and lithium-ion batteries, which are used in most modern electronics and electric vehicles (EVs). The DMC market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 6% over the forecast period, thus being a dynamic and high-potential sector in the global chemicals industry.

Our Report will help you understand the consumer behavior analysis towards the products and raw material across different age group.

To get the Detailed Data on Consumer Behavior: https://www.intellectualmarketinsights.com/download-sample/IMI-004031

Figure: Global Dimethyl Carbonate (DMC) Market, 2020-2032, (USD Million)





Expansion of the Electronics and EV Sectors

Rapid expansion in the electronics and electric vehicle sectors are key drivers of demand for DMC worldwide. DMC is critical in the production of electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries, which power most electronic devices and electric vehicles. Strong pressure from the governments and the industries to embrace clean energy and sustainable transportation has significantly increased, which in turn increases the demand for lithium-ion batteries and consequently DMC. The production of batteries in the Asia-Pacific region is especially driving this market hugely, mainly from China, South Korea, and Japan.

Adoption in Pharmaceutical and Agrochemical Sectors

Apart from the conventional application, DMC is increasingly being applied as an intermediate for organic compounds synthesis in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. The application of DMC as a methylating agent for pharmaceutical products encourages the production of APIs, which is a vital industry because of the need for health and management of diseases. The agrochemical industry, which is mainly devoted to crop protection and yield increase, therefore, presents an additional avenue for further growth with its role in synthesizing active compounds.

Competitive Landscape

The DMC market is highly competitive at the global level, where the players are working on strategic alliances, capacity expansions, and R&D to strengthen their market position. Some of the companies that are prominent in the DMC market include UBE Industries, Shandong Shida Shenghua Chemical Group, Merck KGaA, BASF SE, HaiKe Chemical Group, and Kowa Company Ltd. These players are investing in advanced production technologies that improve efficiency and reduce costs, promoting the use of sustainable production methods. Many of them are also actively searching for partnerships as they aim to develop carbon-neutral DMC synthesis methods while keeping within the objectives for sustainability and regulatory compliance.

Get sample copy of this premium report: https://www.intellectualmarketinsights.com/download-sample/IMI-004031

Recent Developments in the DMC Market

Expansion and Diversification of Product Lines: A few major players of this market are investing significantly to expand their production facilities in China and Japan in order to gain from growing demand of DMC by the large-growth segments of battery and electronics. An example here would be Shandong Shida Shenghua Chemical, who has invested heavily in the production facilities in line with the enormous growth being witnessed from the demand of DMC in lithium-ion battery applications.

Research into Carbon-Neutral DMC Production: As environmental concerns and issues continue to rise, companies such as BASF SE and Merck KGaA are working on creating eco-friendly DMC production. They are doing this by capturing carbon dioxide. This is in line with the shift of the industries towards sustainable production and has kept these companies ahead of other market players.

Strategic Collaborations with Battery Manufacturers: The importance of DMC in battery manufacturing has led many companies to collaborate with battery manufacturers to ensure a stable supply of high-purity DMC for electrolyte production. This is particularly prevalent in the Asia-Pacific region, where demand for lithium-ion batteries continues to rise.

Market Segmentations

By Grade By Application By End-Use Industry Industrial

Pharmaceutical Battery Grades Polycarbonate Synthesis

Battery Electrolyte Solvents and Reagents Plastics, Paints & Coatings

Battery Industry Pharmaceutical and Agrochemicals

To get the Detailed Data on Demand and Supply Buying This Research Report:

The dimethyl carbonate (DMC) market in major regions of the world is growing significantly, and it is largely driven by the Asia-Pacific region, as the region witnesss strong demand from electronics, automotive, and battery sectors in China, Japan, and South Korea. The North American region also is growing significantly due to electric vehicles, energy storage, and eco-friendly solvent applications. The DMC demand in the European region is driven by stringent environmental regulations and an emphasis on sustainable production, particularly in the automotive and coatings segments. The market is further broadened by emerging markets from Latin America and Middle East & Africa. They come because of surging industrialization, an increase in automotive products, and use in more pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.

Key Players and Competitor

Shandong Haike Chemical Industry Group Co. Ltd.

Kowa American Corp.

Shandong Wells Chemicals Co. Ltd.

Qingdao Aspirit Chemical Co. Ltd.

Shandong Feiyang Chemical Co. Ltd.

Haike Chemical Group

Kindun Chemical Co.Limited

Hefei TNJ Chemical Industry Co.Ltd.

Arrow Chemical Group Corp.

Dongying City Longxing Chemical Co. Ltd.

Hebei New Chaoyang Chemical Stock Co.Ltd.

Shandong Depu Chemical Industry Science & Technology Co. Ltd.

Dongying Hi-tech Spring Chemical Industry Co. Ltd

Aarsha Chemicals Private Limited

Tongling Jintai Chemical Industrial

UBE Industries

Tangshan Chaoyang Chemical Co. Ltd.

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation

Tokyo Chemical Industry Co. Ltd.

Merck KGaA

Linyi Evergreen Chemical Co. Ltd.

Akzo Nobel N.V.

Alfa Aesar

Taizhou Lingyu Chemical Co. Ltd.

Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC

Dongying Jintan Chemical Co. Ltd.

Luxi Chemical Group Co.Ltd.

Dongying Xinyuan Chemical Co. Ltd.

Dongying City Shuangma Chemical Co. Ltd.

Dongying Dafeng Chemical Co. Ltd.

Buy Now: https://www.intellectualmarketinsights.com/checkout/IMI-004031?currency=1

Regional Snapshots

By region, Insights into the markets in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and MEA are provided by the study. Asia-Pacific countries, which are holding the major share in the current market, countries such as China, Japan, and South Korea are setting the trends. The Asian-Pacific is influenced by the strong manufacturing in this region because of the huge manufacturing sector, wherein all the regions manufacture electronic equipment, automobile parts, and renewable source of energy systems. There is a very high growth in the application of energy storage systems and increased electric vehicle production in the Asia-Pacific region; thus, the requirement for DMC specifically lithium-ion is exponentially increasing in this category. There is also China's pursuit for renewable energy and clean technologies, leading to the growth of consumption for battery electrolytes as well as other industrial applications.

North America also emerges as a growth driver for DMC. The demand for DMC in the automobile and electronic sectors is increasingly growing in the US and Canada. The significant demand for electric vehicles in the US market creates a new trend of demand for lithium-ion batteries, which become one of the major users of DMC in EVs and other storage systems of renewable energy sources. This also goes in quite well with the developing culture of embracing DMC for production purposes in various industries; that is, to give some examples, plastics' and paint and coatings solver'.

The second is Europe, with Germany, France, and the U.K. being the main drivers of growth in that region, thanks to their emphasis on sustainable technology and green energy. Strong environmental policy in Europe has been laid down by the European Union through strict regulations on emissions and promoting electric mobility in the automotive and renewable sectors, which have led to the integration of DMC. The push for a circular economy, ensuring materials get reused and recycled, boosts DMC demand for greener solvents in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and coatings in Europe.

The demand for sustainable solutions in the global scenario will create a gradual growth market in regions such as Latin America and the Middle East & Africa, primarily due to growing industrial activities and renewable energy investments. In total, the DMC market grows in tandem with clean energy, electric mobility, and sustainable industrial practices worldwide.

Get Access of this Report: https://www.intellectualmarketinsights.com/report/dimethyl-carbonate-market-growth-and-trends/imi-004031

About Us:

IMIR Market Research Pvt Ltd.

Intellectual Market Insights Research is a market intelligence and consulting organization that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. We are known for our actionable insights and authentic reports in various domains including, Semiconductor, aerospace, Automation, Agriculture, Food & Beverages, Automotive, Chemicals and Materials, and virtually all domains and an exhaustive list of sub-domains under the sun. We create value for clients through our highly reliable and accurate reports.

IMIR has the distinguished objective of providing optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions.





Contact Us:

Follow Us: LinkedIn

Email: sales@intellectualmarketinsights.com

Call Us: +1 (814) 487 8486
Dublin, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "3D Cell Culture Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2024-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The 3D Cell Culture Market was valued at USD 1.64 Billion in 2023, and is expected to reach USD 4.05 Billion by 2029, rising at a CAGR of 16.26%.

The competitive landscape of the global 3D cell culture market is characterized by intense rivalry among key players, each striving to establish a dominant position. The global 3D cell culture market is populated by several major companies, including Corning, Greiner Bio-One International GmbH, Merck KGaA, Tecan Trading AG, and Thermo Fisher Scientific, alongside numerous smaller players and startups.





Strategic partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions are common strategies companies use to expand their market presence. Collaborations with academic institutions and research organizations help companies leverage external expertise and accelerate the development of novel 3D cell culture technologies. One of the key companies in the 3D cell culture market is Corning.

Corning invests significantly in research and development to advance 3D cell culture technologies. The company's commitment to innovation includes collaborations with academic and research institutions to explore new applications and improve existing products. Corning's R&D efforts help drive the evolution of 3D cell culture techniques and contribute to the development of more sophisticated models for biomedical research. Corning's 3D cell culture solutions are integral to drug discovery and development.

One of Corning's flagship products, Matrigel Matrix, is a gel-like substance derived from extracellular matrix proteins. It provides a 3D environment that supports cell growth and differentiation, mimicking the natural tissue architecture. This product is widely used in research to create more physiologically relevant models for studying cellular behaviors and drug responses.

North America dominated the global 3D cell culture market, accounting for a share of over 42% in 2023. North America, particularly the U.S., is a dominant player in the global 3D cell culture market due to its advanced biotechnology sector and substantial investment in research and development. The presence of leading biotech and pharmaceutical companies and robust funding for academic and clinical research propels innovation in 3D cell culture technologies.

Furthermore, Europe significantly contributes to the 3D cell culture market, with countries like Germany and the UK leading in biotechnology and pharmaceutical research. Strong collaboration between academic institutions, research organizations, and market players fosters the development of innovative 3D cell culture solutions. The European Union's supportive regulatory environment encourages research and commercialization of advanced cell culture technologies.



The APAC region is experiencing rapid 3D cell culture market growth, driven by increasing investment in biotechnology and pharmaceutical research. Countries like China and Japan invest heavily in research infrastructure, contributing to the market's expansion. Supportive government policies and funding for life sciences research are accelerating the adoption of 3D cell culture technologies. Also, the high demand for innovative research models for drug discovery, increasing focus on personalized medicine, and growing interest in stem cell research support the region's market growth.

Furthermore, the 3D cell culture market in Latin America is growing, with increasing awareness of advanced cell culture technologies and their applications. Investment in biotechnology research and establishing research institutes are driving market growth. In the Middle East & Africa region, the market for 3D cell culture is gradually developing, with growing investment in healthcare and life sciences research. Governments are investing in modernizing healthcare infrastructure and promoting biomedical research. Economic constraints, limited research infrastructure, and regulatory hurdles can impact market growth.

MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

Growing Use of OCT for 3D Cell Culture Visualization



The growing use of OCT for 3D cell culture visualization is transforming the global 3D cell culture market. OCT's high-resolution, non-invasive, and real-time imaging capabilities open new avenues for research and development in drug discovery, cancer research, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. As OCT technology advances and its applications expand, it is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of cellular research and personalized medicine. Also, OCT offers exceptional spatial resolution, enabling researchers to observe cellular structures and interactions with remarkable clarity. This level of detail is crucial for studying cells' complex organization and behavior in 3D environments.



Emergence of Microfluidics-Based 3D Cell Culture



The convergence of microfluidics and 3D cell culture is transforming the landscape of biological research and medical applications. This innovative approach offers unparalleled control over the cellular environment, enabling the creation of more accurate and physiologically relevant models. As the technology continues to evolve, it is set to drive significant advancements in drug discovery, personalized medicine, cancer research, and regenerative medicine. The global 3D cell culture market is poised for substantial growth, with microfluidics-based systems leading the way in providing new opportunities and setting new trends in the field.



Expanding Role of 3D Cell Culture & HTS in Personalized Medicine



The expanding role of 3D cell culture and HTS in personalized medicine provides new opportunities and drives significant trends in the global 3D cell culture market. By enhancing the physiological relevance and efficiency of drug discovery and development processes, these technologies pave the way for more effective and personalized treatments. As technological advancements continue and collaborations grow, the integration of 3D cell culture and HTS will undoubtedly play a crucial role in the future of personalized medicine, ultimately improving patient outcomes and transforming healthcare.



Technological Advancements in Scaffold-free 3D Cell Culture Technique



Technological advancements in scaffold-free 3D cell culture techniques are revolutionizing the field of cell culture, offering more physiologically relevant models and expanding the applications of 3D cultures in research and medicine. These innovations drive the global 3D cell culture market by enhancing research accuracy and efficiency, supporting personalized medicine development, and advancing tissue engineering and regenerative therapies.



Increasing Demand for Organ Transplantation & Tissue Engineering



The increasing demand for organ transplantation and advancements in tissue engineering are critical drivers of the global 3D cell culture market. As the need for effective and reliable solutions to organ failure and tissue damage continues to grow, 3D cell culture technologies are poised to play a transformative role in addressing these challenges. By providing more physiologically relevant environments for cell growth and interaction, these technologies are enhancing the development of bioengineered tissues and organs, offering hope for needy patients and paving the way for significant advancements in regenerative medicine and beyond.



Increasing Focus on Developing 3D Cell Culture as an Alternative to Animal Testing



The increasing focus on developing 3D cell culture systems as alternatives to animal testing is a key driver of the global 3D cell culture market. Ethical concerns, scientific limitations of animal models, economic efficiency, and technological advancements are collectively fueling the adoption of 3D cultures in research and industry. As these systems continue to evolve and demonstrate their utility in drug discovery, personalized medicine, and regenerative therapies, they are set to revolutionize the field of biomedical research, offering a more humane, accurate, and efficient approach to studying human health and disease.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 349 Forecast Period 2023 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $1.64 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $4.05 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 16.2% Regions Covered Global



Market Opportunities & Trends

Growth in Use of Oct for 3D Cell Culture Visualization

Emergence of Microfluidics-based 3D Cell Culture

Magnetic 3D Bioprinting Promises Consistent Production of 3D Cell Cultures

Expanding Role of 3D Cell Culture & Hts in Personalized Medicine

Market Growth Enablers

Technological Advances in Scaffold-Free 3D Cell Culture Technique

Rise in Demand for 3D Cell Culture

Increase in Demand for Organ Transplantation & Tissue Engineering

Increase Focus on Developing 3D Cell Culture as Alternative to Animal Testing

Market Restraints

Labor Intensive and Time Consuming

High Cost Associated with Implementation

Lack of Compatibility and Consistency in 3D Cell Culture

Key Company Profiles

Corning

Greiner Bio-One International GmbH

Merck KgaA

Tecan Trading AG

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Other Prominent Vendors

3D Biotek

abc biopply ag

Axol Bioscience

CELLINK

CelVivo ApS

CN Bio Innovations

InSphero

Inventia Life Science

KIYATEC

Known Medicine

Lena Biosciences

MIMETAS

Promega

PromoCell GmbH

RealBio Technology

REPROCELL

ScienCell Research Laboratories

Synthecon

TheWell Bioscience

UPM Biomedicals

zPredicta

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1oenc1

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marimaca Copper Corp. (Marimaca Copper or the Company) (TSX: MARI) is pleased to announce that reverse circulation (RC) drilling completed at the Mercedes Target (Mercedes), has extended the envelope of surface oxide copper mineralization to an area of interest measuring 700m along strike and 400m width. A total of 8 holes were completed of which 6 intersected mineralization. Mercedes is located less than 500m to the north of the northern edge of the Marimaca Oxide Deposit (MOD) and continues to provide clear potential to add to the Companys leachable resource base.

Highlights

MER-25 intersected 68m with an average grade of 0.64% CuT from 8m including 42m @ 0.90% CuT from 28m Complements and extends broad zones of surface oxide copper mineralization intersected in six historical (refer to announcement 15 September 2021) holes: MER-12 intersected 86m with an average grade of 0.44% CuT from 6m including 42m @ 0.64% CuT MER-16 intersected 48m with an average grade of 0.42% CuT from 20m including 20m @ 0.57% CuT MER-06 intersected: 74m with an average grade of 0.30% CuT from 18m including 46m @ 0.38% CuT; and 18m with an average grade of 0.52% CuT from 132m. MER-14 intersected 26m with an average grade of 0.42% CuT from 80m including 12m @ 0.69% CuT MER-03 intersected 58m with an average grade of 0.34% CuT as part of a broader 94m @ 0.30% CuT from 4m MER-04 intersected 36m with an average grade of 0.34% CuT as part of a broader 86m @ 0.26% CuT from 6m

Lower grade halo to the east and south east materially extends the area of interest to 700m along strike and 400m across strike to a depth of 100m MER-20 intersected 86m with an average grade of 0.21% CuT from 18m including 20m @ 0.50% CuT MER-18 intersected 46m with an average grade of 0.20% CuT from 4m including 10m @ 0.36% CuT





Sergio Rivera, VP Exploration of Marimaca Copper, commented:

Mercedes appears to be a mineralizing system of some scale and we are especially pleased with the continuity of grades in the north-western and western peripheries of the area of interest. The lower grade halo is reminiscent of the boundaries of the MOD, and we continue to see potential to add complementary, shallow, oxide resources to our mineral inventory.

Hayden Locke, President and CEO, of Marimaca Copper, commented:

The benefit of the MOD is that the hurdle to bringing proximal, shallow, leachable resources into an eventual mine plan is significantly lower. The drilling in north-western portion of the Mercedes Discovery has an intersection width weighted average grade of nearly 0.40% CuT, which is approaching the average LOM grade of the MOD. Based on this rudimentary assessment, we see strong potential for Mercedes to extend the mine life of the MOD with further work. The average of all drilling over the entire 700m by 400m area of interest is nearly 0.35% CuT, which is well above the economic cut-off we expect from the MOD based on historical work completed.

Our focus has now shifted to the Sierra de Medina Project where we are drilling a greenfields target before moving to drilling along strike from our recently acquired Pampa Medina Deposit for which we are currently completing a 43-101 compliant Mineral Resource Estimate before moving to a Preliminary Economic Assessment.

Overview of Drilling Campaign Objectives and Results

The initial drilling campaign at Mercedes (located less than 1km to the north of the northern edge of the MOD), which was completed in 2021, consisted of seventeen shallow, RC drill holes targeting the anomalies identified in both the magnetic survey and surface geochemical sampling previously completed (refer to announcement 15 September 2021). The Company has completed an additional eight RC holes for 2,200m with the objective of extending the mineralized envelope of the discovery (Figure 1 and Table 1).

Figure 1: Plan view of Selected Drill Holes at Mercedes

The eight drill holes were completed on various orientations with a downhole depth of 250m or 300m. Six of eight holes intersected broad zones of copper oxide mineralization of varying grades from at or near surface, all with strong continuity across the reported intersections. Mineralization consisted of a mix of green oxides being Atacamite, Brochantite and Chrysocholla and zones of WAD Oxide materials.

Mercedes is structurally controlled by a pervasive sheeted fracturing of the intrusive host, which dips to the east at between 45 and 60 degrees. Similar to the MOD, there is zonation of mineralization trending from more dominant green oxides at the top of the intersections to more mixed and copper wad types at the peripheries and towards the bottom of the intersections.

The grades were mixed, but the majority were above ore grade as defined by previous technical studies completed by Marimaca. There is a clear higher grade zone which is at surface in the north-west of the defined area of interest around newly completed drill hole MER-25 and the historical drill holes MER-12 and MER-14.

Hole TD From To m %CuT MER-18

250

4 50 46 0.20 including 4 14 10 0.36 and 20 44 24 0.20 192 240 48 0.15 MER-19

290

52 60 8 0.33 186 220 34 0.20 MER-20

260

18 104 86 0.21 including 22 62 40 0.31 including 22 42 20 0.50 MER-21

300

72 94 22 0.21 including 82 92 10 0.29 268 284 16 0.21 MER-22 300 No significant intercepts MER-23 300 40 66 26 0.23 MER-24 250 No significant intercepts MER-25





250

8 76 68 0.64 28 70 42 0.89 164 214 50 0.33 202 214 12 0.74

Table 1: Table of Intersections

Overview of Mercedes

Mercedes is located less than 1km from the northern edge of the MOD. It was identified initially through the results of the high-resolution drone-mounted magnetic survey (refer to release on 23 September 2020), which was followed up by reconnaissance mapping and geochemical sampling (refer to release on 9 December 2020). In 2021, the Company drilled an initial program at Mercedes which encountered shallow oxide mineralization and defined an area of interest extending 700m by 400m (Figure 2).

Mercedes is hosted in the same intrusive units as the MOD, which shows pervasive fracturing striking north to south with an easterly dip of between 45 and 60 degrees. The unit is cross-cut by various dykes and faults, all of which are important for the development of copper mineralization.

Mercedes is the second of three new exploration targets drilled by the Company within a radius of 5km around the MOD, each of which presents a compelling opportunity to add shallow, oxide resources to the MOD project.

Figure 2: Map of MOD Resource and Near MOD Exploration Target Ranges

The potential quantity and grade presented in the exploration target ranges are conceptual and have insufficient exploration and drill density to define a Mineral Resource. At this stage, it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the targets being delineated as a Mineral Resource. Estimates of exploration targets are not Mineral Resources and are too speculative to meet the NI 43-101 reporting standards. Dimensions are conservative estimates based on surface geological mapping and sampling, underground geological sampling and RC drill intercepts. Grade ranges used in the Exploration Target Ranges are derived from RC drill interception grades within the target dimension area and assumes projections of grades across a mineralized zone.

Table 2. Summary of Mercedes Drilling Collars and Azimuths

Hole Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Inclination Depth MER-18 374890.4 7437565.4 998.5 270 -60 250 MER-19 374920.4 7437478.6 1006.3 270 -60 290 MER-20 375052.2 7437119.5 1106.5 290 -60 260 MER-21 375120.7 7437231.8 1109.8 290 -60 300 MER-22 375155.6 7437490.8 1099.5 270 -60 300 MER-23 375056.0 7437115.0 1106.3 270 -60 300 MER-24 374925.6 7437758.9 1010.2 270 -60 250 MER-25 374652.0 7437737.3 895.4 270 -60 250



Sampling and Assay Protocol

True widths cannot be determined with the information available at this time. RC holes were sampled on a 2m continuous basis, with dry samples riffle split on site and one quarter sent to the Andes Analytical Assay preparation laboratory in Copiapo and the pulps then sent to the same company laboratory in Santiago for assaying. A second quarter was stored on site for reference. Samples were prepared using the following standard protocol: drying; crushing to better than 85% passing -10#; homogenizing; splitting; pulverizing a 500-700g subsample to 95% passing -150#; and a 125g split of this sent for assaying. All samples were assayed for %CuT (total copper) and %CuS (acid soluble copper) by AAS. A full QA/QC program, involving insertion of appropriate blanks, standards and duplicates was employed with acceptable results. Pulps and sample rejects are stored by Marimaca Copper for future reference.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release, including the information that relates to geology, drilling and mineralization was prepared under the supervision of, or has been reviewed by Sergio Rivera, Vice President of Exploration, Marimaca Copper Corp, a geologist with more than 40 years of experience and a member of the Colegio de Geologos de Chile and of the Institute of Mining Engineers of Chile, and who is the Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101 responsible for the design and execution of the drilling program.

The QP confirms he has visited the project area, has reviewed relevant project information, is responsible for the information contained in this news release, and consents to its publication.

Contact Information

For further information please visit www.marimaca.com or contact:

Tavistock

+44 (0) 207 920 3150

Emily Moss / Adam Baynes

marimaca@tavistock.co.uk

Cautionary Notice on Exploration Information

This press release contains information regarding potential exploration results of exploration targets on which the Company intends to conduct further exploration in the near term. The potential quantity and grade of such exploration targets described in this press release are conceptual in nature and subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, such that they are not an indication of any current or future economic viability, nor do they satisfy applicable disclosure and information requirements applicable to Mineral Resources. Readers are therefore cautioned on placing any reliance on such information and related expectations. In particular, the potential quantity and grade presented in the exploration target ranges contained in this press release are conceptual in nature and have insufficient exploration and drill density to define a Mineral Resource. At this stage it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the targets being delineated as a Mineral Resource. Estimates of exploration targets are not Mineral Resources and are too speculative to meet the requirements for reporting Mineral Resources under NI 43-101 reporting standards. Readers should also refer to the information provided under Forward-Looking Statements below in the context of their review of information presented in this release.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements under applicable Canadian securities legislation. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Marimaca Copper, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: risks related to share price and market conditions, the inherent risks involved in the mining, exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and other geological data, fluctuating metal prices, the possibility of project delays or cost overruns or unanticipated excessive operating costs and expenses, uncertainties related to the necessity of financing, uncertainties relating to regulatory procedure and timing for permitting submissions and reviews, the availability of and costs of financing needed in the future as well as those factors disclosed in the annual information form of the Company dated March 26, 2024 and other filings made by the Company with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities (which may be viewed at www.sedar.com). Statements regarding the Companys planned DFS on the Project are forward-looking information and may not be realized. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Marimaca Copper undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements contained herein whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Neither the TSX nor the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/04e35041-3c74-4a94-802b-0233eafb7872

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b485ecea-9451-45d0-84ae-ab2cac8287c4




SINGAPORE, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UXLINK has announced a strategic partnership with Lumoz, alongside a strategic investment in Lumoz through its ecosystem fund, UFLY LABS. This collaboration will focus on jointly building the Social Growth Layer, the first foundational infrastructure layer designed to support the socialized growth of DApps.

Minato, the UXLINK Community Lead, expressed excitement about this partnership. He stated, We are thrilled to collaborate with Lumoz as they prepare to launch their mainnet and TGE. Prior to these milestones, both parties will deliver a community-focused initiative, including a million-dollar airdrop targeted specifically at $UXLINK holders and stakers. Additionally, the UXLINK community will empower Lumozs socialized growth and engage in deep market collaboration in Japan and South Korea.

Lumoz also highlighted the significance of this partnership, describing it as a pivotal exploration in the social networking space. The company will leverage its one-click chain deployment advantage within the RaaS sector to support the construction of the UXLINK Social Growth Layer. Beyond this, the two companies plan to collaborate on brand development, community promotion, and expanding the boundaries of social interaction.

About UXLINK

UXLINK is the worlds largest Web3 social platform and infrastructure provider, dedicated to building social growth layers and social applications. Through its innovative approach, UXLINK enables both users and developers to foster growth and development in a unique social environment.

About Lumoz

Lumoz is a leading modular computation layer and RaaS platform, known for deploying over 20 Layer-2 solutions, including ZKFair and Merlin Chain. The company recently concluded its Pre-A and strategic financing rounds earlier this year, securing $14 million in total funding. Lumoz is set to launch its mainnet and TGE next month.

For further details about this partnership and the Social Growth Layer initiative, please contact:

Media Contact:

UXLINK

https://uxlink.io

Twitter : https://twitter.com/UXLINKofficial

Telegram: https://t.me/uxlinkofficial

Contact Information:

UXLINK

admin@uxlink.io

Media Contact:

Rachita Chettri

contact@mediax.agency

Disclaimer: This content is provided by UXLINK. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2bca302f-bd30-487e-bf50-1ef38bcb373e
Dublin, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Point-of-Care Diagnostics: Technologies and Global Markets" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global market for point-of-care diagnostics was valued at $36.9 billion in 2023. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2% to reach $65.9 billion by the end of 2029.

This study focuses on point-of-care (POC) testing, one of the most active segments in the diagnostic industry. POC testing is growing in both home use and near-patient applications. Both segments are included in this market study. Globally, the diagnostic testing business is a multi-billion-dollar industry with intense competition and high growth areas. The United States is the world's largest single market for diagnostic testing.

Funding and grants from the government for advancing and developing innovative products also contribute to adopting innovative technologies for infectious disease diagnosis. The adoption of innovative technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and advanced biosensors, is further accelerating the growth of the point-of-care diagnostics market. These cutting-edge technologies enhance diagnostic accuracy, speed, and accessibility, allowing more efficient patient care.

Additionally, innovations in portable diagnostic devices and telemedicine integration are expanding the reach of POC diagnostics, enabling real-time health monitoring and timely interventions. These market innovations are expected to increase the reach of POC devices to remote areas in developing and underdeveloped countries and make them budget-friendly; they also ensure that an economically challenged populace adopts these units. The increasing prevalence of diabetes and other chronic diseases also contributes to growth in the global market.

Strict approval and commercialization regulations are the primary factors restraining market growth. POC devices are regulated like other diagnostic devices, and in vitro devices are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA considers POC devices to be high-risk and, therefore, requires that they have pre-market approval. Strict healthcare standards and high regulatory barriers significantly impact the introduction of innovative technologies. The regulations and standards are rigorous and require substantial expertise to navigate; this has resulted in increased time spans for the pre-market approval and commercialization process.

Report Scope

The point-of-care diagnostics market is extensive and constantly evolving with new technologies and methodologies. This report explores the current and future market potential, competitive environment, regulatory scenario, and market trends, including projections through 2029 and an analysis of key players.

The report highlights ongoing R&D efforts focused on improving accuracy accessibility and incorporating innovative diagnostic procedures. It provides insights into market drivers, challenges, opportunities, industry status, developments, trends, and strategies like mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations. It is a valuable resource for market players, potential entrants, government agencies, and other stakeholders, especially those interested in geographic expansion.

The report includes:

Analyses of global market trends, with market revenue data (sales figures) for 2021-2023, estimates for 2024, and projected CAGRs through 2029

Estimates of the market size and revenue forecasts for the PoC diagnostics market, with market share analysis by test type, product type, end user, and region

Discussions of the market dynamics, opportunities and challenges, as well as emerging technologies

Coverage of government regulations and policies, R&D initiatives, exploration activities, and government programs

Overview of the sustainability trends and ESG developments in the industry, with emphasis on the ESG practices of leading companies, their ESG scores, and consumer attitudes

Competitive intelligence, including companies' market shares, recent M&A activity and venture funding

Profiles of the leading companies, including Abbott, BD, Danaher Corp., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

Full List of Point-of-Care DiagnosticsCompanies Profiled

Abbott

BD

Danaher Corp.

GE Healthcare

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

Medtronic

Quest Diagnostics Inc.

QuidelOrtho Corp.

Siemens Healthineers AG

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 159 Forecast Period 2024 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $40.6 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $65.9 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 10.2% Regions Covered Global





Key Topics Covered:

Chapter 1 Executive Summary

Chapter 2 Market Overview

Novel Approaches for POC

Significance of CLIA in the United States

Regulatory Guidelines

Good Manufacturing Practice

The FDA's Role in POC Testing

Conclusion

Chapter 3 Market Dynamics

Market Drivers

High Incidences of Infectious Diseases

Growing Prevalence of Chronic Diseases

Increasing Demand for Self-Testing

Aging Population

Market Restraints

Challenges Faced by POC Manufacturers Due to Pricing Pressure

Technical Complexity

Lack of Specialized Training

Market Challenges

Challenges in Deploying Point-of-Care (POC) Diagnostics in Remote Settings

Environmental and Contamination Challenges in Point-of-Care Diagnostics

Market Opportunities

Increasing R&D Budget

Excellent Market Potential for POCT with AI and ML Integration

Emerging Economies

Chapter 4 Market Segmentation Analysis

Point-of-Care Diagnostics Market, by Test Type

Drug and Alcohol Screening

Blood Gas Electrolyte and Metabolite (BGEM)

Cardiac Markers

Cholesterol Testing/Monitoring

Glucose Testing and Monitoring

Infectious Disease Testing

Pregnancy and Fertility Testing

Hemoglobin and Hemostasis

Tumor Marker

Urinalysis/Urine Chemistry

Others

Point-of-Care Diagnostics Market, by Product

Hardware

Software

Point-of-Care Diagnostics Market, by End User

Hospitals and Critical Care Settings

Home Care Settings

Point-of-Care Diagnostics Market, by Region

Chapter 5 Emerging and Upcoming Technologies in the Market

Emerging and Upcoming Technologies

AI in Point-of-Care Diagnostics

CRISPR-Cas Systems

3D Rapid Prototyping

Quantum Dots

RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) and NFC (Near Field Communication)

Smartphone-Based Medical Imaging

Nanomaterials in POC Devices for Pathogen Detection

Microfluidics-Based Sensing Technologies

Cloud-Integrated AI

D3 Array-UTI

EVIK DxSpheres: A Solid Assay Solution

UNIQO 160 Automated IIFT System

Recent Developments

Chapter 6 ESG Development

Introduction

Sustainability in Plastics and Bio-Based Alternatives

ESG Risk Ratings

The WHO Global Action Plan

Analyst Viewpoint

Chapter 7 Competitive Landscape

Mergers, Acquisitions and Collaborations

Strategic Alliances

FDA Approvals

Patent Analysis

Patent Analysis, by Year

Company Share Analysis

Chapter 8 Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/arhfdy

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
New York, USA, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Market Overview:

The global waterborne coatings market size was USD 61.02 billion in 2023, estimated at USD 64.36 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach around USD 98.87 billion by 2032, expanding at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2024 to 2032.

What is a Waterborne Coating?

Water-based coatings are environmentally friendly surface treatments that use water as a solvent to disperse the resins that make up the paint or coating. 80% of the solvent used is water. The goal is to make coatings and paints easy to apply while still producing an environmentally friendly product. Water-based coatings are broadly used due to their low volatile organic compound (VOC) content (less than 3.5 pounds per gallon of water). They can be applied to wood (such as furniture) and plastic substrates.

The growing demand for coatings in the automotive industry, especially in the electric vehicle (EV) segment, is driving the growth of the water-based coatings market. Government initiatives towards environmental protection, such as incentives for purchasing electric vehicles and promotion of sustainable manufacturing practices, are further driving this growth.

Download Free Sample PDF Copy of the Report:

https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/waterborne-coatings-market/request-for-sample?utm_source=gnw&utm_medium=gnw&utm_campaign=globe&utm_id=01

Key Takeaways from Report

The market is expected to register at a significant CAGR of 5.5%

The market for waterborne coatings is expanding due to the growing need for coatings in the automotive sector, especially in the electric vehicle (EV) segment.

The waterborne coating market analysis is primarily focused on resin type, application industry, and region.

Based on resin type, the Alkyd sector dominated the market in 2023

Due to the increasing use of EVs and the growth in construction activities, North America leads the world market for waterborne coatings.

Waterborne Coatings Market Dynamics:

Growth Drivers:

Environmental Regulations: The waterborne coatings market growth is significantly influenced by strict environmental regulations. As governments around the world enforce more stringent regulations to lower volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and encourage sustainable practices, manufacturers are moving more and more toward waterborne formulations.

Increased Demand in Metal Industries: The market is expanding due to the rise in demand for waterborne coatings in the metal industries. Unique qualities of waterborne coating include remarkable mechanical strength, durability, and resistance to abrasion, corrosion, and chemicals. Waterborne coatings are a desirable option for manufacturers due to these qualities, which improve the durability and visual appeal of metal surfaces. As a result, the waterborne coatings market demand is expanding due to the rising demand for long-lasting coatings.

Request for a Discount on this Report Before Purchase:

https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/waterborne-coatings-market/request-for-discount-pricing?utm_source=gnw&utm_medium=gnw&utm_campaign=globe&utm_id=01

Trends and Opportunities:

Rising Investment: The number of players in the waterborne coating market is anticipated to grow as a result of increased manufacturing investment. Businesses are investing in advanced production technologies and creative formulations in an effort to expand their product offerings and satisfy the growing demand for environmentally friendly solutions. In addition to encouraging the creation of high-performance waterborne coatings, this investment boosts manufacturer competition, which advances technology. Consequently, it is anticipated that a rise in manufacturing investment will support the expansion of the waterborne coatings market revenue.

Competitive Analysis:

Leading companies in the market are making significant investments in R&D to create new products and broaden their product line. This will help them gain a competitive edge in the waterborne coatings market by making their products more accessible. Here are a few of the key players operating in the industry:

Asian Paints Limited

Axalta Coating Systems, Ltd.

Akzo Nobel N.V.

BASF SE

Berger Paints India Ltd.

Benjamin Moore & Co.

Brillux GMBH & Co. Kg

Cloverdale Paint Inc.

Carpoly Chemical Group Co., Ltd.

DuluxGroup Ltd.

Diamond Vogel Paint Company

Fujikura Kasei Co., Ltd.

Regional Insights:

Europe: Due to strict environmental regulations, Europe holds the second-largest waterborne coating market share. Since waterborne coatings have fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and a smaller environmental impact, rising air pollution levels and an increase in the production of hazardous waste are also fueling the trend.

Asia Pacific: The waterborne coatings market in Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow at the highest rate between 2024 and 2032. A growing middle-class population and rising disposable incomes are the main drivers of this growth, which is primarily due to the growing use of waterborne coatings in architectural and home decor projects.





Inquire more about this report before purchase:

https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/waterborne-coatings-market/inquire-before-buying?utm_source=gnw&utm_medium=gnw&utm_campaign=globe&utm_id=01

Waterborne Coatings Market Segmentation:

By Resin Type Outlook

Acrylic

Polyester

Alkyd

Epoxy

Polyurethane

PTFE

PVDF

PVDC

Others

By Application Industry Outlook

Architectural

Industrial

By Regional Outlook

North America US Canada

Europe Germany France UK Italy Spain Netherlands Russia Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific China Japan India Malaysia South Korea Indonesia Australia Vietnam Rest of Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Israel South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa

Latin America Mexico Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America



More Trending Latest Reports by Polaris Market Research:

Collagen Market

Hydrogen Peroxide Market Size

Well Testing Services Market Share

Transformer Oil Market Growth

Resistant Dextrin Market Analysis

About Polaris Market Research & Consulting, Inc:

Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for PMRs clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve PMRs diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semiconductors, and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide PMRs customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high-growth markets, emerging business environments, and the latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities. Adept with a highly competent, experienced, and extremely qualified team of experts comprising SMEs, analysts, and consultants, we at Polaris endeavor to deliver value-added business solutions to PMRs customers.

Contact:

Likhil G

8 The Green Ste 19824,

Dover, DE 19901,

United States

Phone: +1-929 297-9727

Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.com

Web: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com

Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter
Intersection in hole DSB-68 above also includes higher grade intervals of: 126.10g Ag/t, 0.55% Zn, 0.60% Pb and 0.09% Sn (160.72g Ag eq/t) over 122.03m, 47.61g Ag/t, 0.22% Zn, 0.40% Pb and 0.45% Sn (146.06g Ag eq/t) over 16.51m, and 25.52g Ag/t, 2.19% Zn, 0.65% Pb and 0.10% Sn (129.60g Ag eq/t) over 7.46m

above also includes higher grade intervals of: The high grade mineralization is associated with a prominent intrusion breccia body that is widening at depth over a vertical interval of over 500m and likely extends much further to the south. This breccia body is likely a major feeder for mineralization.

Geophysical data indicates that there is a prominent northwest trending structural corridor 500m wide that extends from the Santa Barbara area southeastwards for at least 2km. Within the Santa Barbara High Grade Corridor, a strong spatial correlation is evident between the high-grade intersections in the intrusion breccia and areas of higher chargeability.

This hole is the first of a strategic infill program in the potential starter pit area at Santa Barbara to better define the vertical and lateral extent of high-grade Ag mineralization; fill-in gaps that are presently categorized as low-grade or waste in the mineral resource model but are very likely mineralized; expand the higher-grade Sn mineralization to the west; and complete two large size PQ holes for further metallurgical testing (see Eloro press release of September 4, 2024).



TORONTO, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX: ELO; OTCQX: ELRRF; FSE: P2QM) (Eloro, or the Company) is pleased to announce the initial assay results in its definition diamond drilling program in the potential Santa Barbara starter pit area in the Iska Iska silver-tin polymetallic project in the Potosi Department of southwestern Bolivia. To date 2,561.9m of diamond drilling have been completed in six (6) holes including two (2) holes in progress. PQ core size has been used for all holes in this program to obtain larger, more representative core samples.

Table 1 below lists significant results for the first hole DSB-68. Figure 1 shows locations of all the definition drill holes completed to date and in progress. Silver equivalent values (g Ag eq/t) have been calculated using 3-year average metal prices and preliminary metallurgical recoveries (see note below Table 1 for more information). Table 2 lists the coordinates of the definition drill holes completed and in progress.

Hole DSB-68 returned a long intersection from near surface grading 66.90g Ag/t, 0.63% Zn, 0.42% Pb and 0.11% Sn (111.14g Ag eq/t) over 289.13m from 41.0m to 330.13m. This intersection includes higher grade intervals of:

126.10g Ag/t, 0.55% Zn, 0.60% Pb and 0.09% Sn (160.72g Ag eq/t) over 122.03m from 57.52m to 179.55m,

from 57.52m to 179.55m, 47.61g Ag/t, 0.22% Zn, 0.40% Pb and 0.45% Sn (146.06g Ag eq/t) over 16.51m from 193.20m to 209.71m, and

from 193.20m to 209.71m, and 25.52g Ag/t, 2.19% Zn, 0.65% Pb and 0.10% Sn (129.60g Ag eq/t) over 7.46m from 235.33m to 242.79m



The high grade mineralization is associated with a prominent intrusion breccia body which is shown in cross section in Figure 2 and in plan in Figure 3. This unit which is characterized by angular fragments of principally dacite in a matrix with sulphides, is approximately 200m wide and is becoming much thicker at depth.

The average grade of 66.90 g Ag/t over 289.13m, including 126.10g Ag/t over 122.03m, obtained in Hole DSB-68 demonstrates potential significant underestimation of the silver grade, similar to that of previously reported metallurgical test results from a 6.3 tonne bulk sample which returned a much higher silver head grade of 91 g Ag/t, compared with the 31 g Ag/t average grade from the original twinned holes (see Eloro press release of January 23, 2024). Further infill drilling with larger diameter drill holes has the potential to significantly increase the overall silver grade in the likely starter pit area.

Dr. Osvaldo Arce, P.Geo., Eloros Executive Vice President, Latin America and General Manager of Eloros Bolivian subsidiary, Minera Tupiza S.R.L., who is a recognized expert on Bolivian mineral deposits said: The on-going definition diamond drilling at the Santa Barbara zone confirms the occurrence of large high-grade mineralized shoots. It corroborates that systematic, more tightly spaced infill drilling at Iska Iska can produce very positive results that could significantly enhance the mineral resources.

Dr. Arce continued: The breccia pipes host much of the high grade silver-tin values, as well as Zn polymetallic bodies in the deposit. They are likely the main feeders of the mineralization at Iska Iska. The breccia bodies intersected in the upper zones are widening at depth over a vertical interval of over 500m. Mineralization occurs both within and outside these breccia bodies, emphasizing their importance as feeders. Zoning is evident in the mineralization with silver-rich zinc-lead near surface with silver-tin mineralization deeper down, especially to the west and northwest, while epithermal zinc-silver-lead mineralization is peripheral to this breccia unit hosted in dacites particularly to the southeast. This zoning model in the Bolivian Tin Belt is similar to that seen in the "giant massive silver/tin deposits at Cerro Rico (Ag-Sn) and Oruro (Ag-Sn) as well at the major tin intrusive porphyry at Chorolque located 40 km to the north of Iska Iska.

Dr. Bill Pearson, P.Geo., Eloros Executive Vice President, Exploration commented: The geophysical data adds considerably to the overall geological picture. As shown in a plan of chargeability in Figure 3, there is a prominent northwest trending structural corridor 500m wide that extends from the Santa Barbara area southeastwards for at least 2km. Within the Santa Barbara High Grade Corridor, a strong spatial correlation is evident between the high-grade intersections in the intrusion breccia and higher chargeability. This link is emphasized by the drill results from DSB-68, shown in the section in Figure 4. The section location which is depicted in Figure 3 also shows the outline of the intrusion breccia. The chargeability anomaly at elevation 4000m, which is the potential southern extension of the breccia body, has not been drilled. The chargeability anomaly at the 3700m elevation in the southeast, which also has not yet been drilled, shows that the mineralized corridor continues at this level where future drill-testing will be helped by the lower topography in the valley of the caldera. Overall the chargeability shows that the intrusion breccia and the mineralized corridor are products of a very deep-seated and extensive magmatic processes during the evolution of the Iska Iska caldera complex.

Table 1: Definition Diamond Drill Results as of November 26, 2024, Santa Barbara Deposit, Iska, Iska

SANTA BARBARA DEFINITION DIAMOND DRILL RESULTS Hole No.



From (m)



To (m)



Length (m)



Ag Zn Pb Sn Ag eq g/t % % % g/t DSB-68 13.63 28.95 15.32 9.52 0.01 0.48 0.22 61.26 41.00 330.13 289.13 66.90 0.63 0.42 0.11 111.14 Incl. 57.52 179.55 122.03 126.10 0.55 0.60 0.09 160.72 Incl. 193.20 209.71 16.51 47.61 0.22 0.40 0.45 146.06 Incl. 235.33 242.79 7.46 25.52 2.19 0.65 0.10 129.60 349.75 366.25 16.50 13.99 0.30 1.03 0.09 62.20 379.78 402.90 23.12 8.87 0.53 0.40 0.10 53.75



Note: True width is approximately 80% of core length. Silver equivalent (Ag eq) grades are calculated using 3-year average metal prices of Ag = US$24.14/oz, Zn = US$1.36/lb , Pb = 0.98/lb and Sn = US$13.74/lb, and preliminary metallurgical recoveries of Ag = 88%, Zn = 87%, Pb= 80% and Sn = 50%. In selecting intervals, a cutoff grade of 30 g Ag eq/t has been used. Lower grade material may be included in intersections where geological continuity is warranted.

Table 2: Summary of Diamond Drill Hole Coordinates for Drill Holes Reported, Completed and in Progress at Iska Iska as of November 26, 2024

SUMMARY DIAMOND DRILLING ISKA ISKA Hole No. Type Collar

Easting Collar

Northing Elev Azimuth Angle Hole Length

(m) Santa Barbara Surface Definition Drill Holes Reported, In Progress and Planned DSB-68 S 205390.0 7656251.0 4220.0 225 -50 402.9 DSB-69 S 205262.0 7656133.0 4291.8 225 -85 502.0 DSB-70 S 205460.0 7656319.0 4191.0 225 -50 467.3 DSB-71 S 205203.0 7656016.0 4282.0 225 -85 533.7 DSB-72 S 205088.0 7656107.0 4341.0 225 -85 308.4* DSB-73 S 205291.0 7656269.0 4273.0 225 -85 347.6* TOTAL 2561.9 *= holes in progress

S = Surface; collar coordinates in metres; azimuth and dip in degrees. Total drilling since start of the definition drilling program on October 4, 2024 is 2,561.9m in 6 holes with 2 holes in progress. Since the start of the drilling at Iska Iska on September 20, 2020, a total of 105,760m in 162 drill holes (34 underground holes and 128 surface holes) have been completed.





Figure 1: Location Map of Definition Diamond Drill Holes, Santa Barbara, Iska Iska.





Figure 2: Southwest - Northeast Drill Hole Cross Section showing distribution of Intrusion Breccia which host much of the High Grade Ag-Sn mineralization in the potential starter pit area of Santa Barbara





Figure 3: Plan Map showing Major NW-SE Trending Mineralized Corridor, Distribution of Intrusion Breccia and Major Chargeability Anomalies, Iska Iska





Figure 4: Southwest - Northeast Cross Section Showing Strong Correlation between Intrusion Breccia and High Chargeability - g Ag eq/t values are shown in a histogram on drill hole DSB-68.





Qualified Person (QP)

Dr. Bill Pearson, P.Geo., Eloros Executive Vice President, Exploration, and a Qualified Person (QP) as defined by National Instrument (NI) 43-101 has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release. Dr. Pearson who has more than 50 years of worldwide mining exploration, development and production experience, including extensive work in South America, manages the overall technical program, working closely with Dr. Osvaldo Arce, P.Geo. Executive Vice President, Latin America for Eloro and General Manager of Eloros Bolivian subsidiary, Minera Tupiza S.R.L., and a QP in the context of NI 43-101, who has supervised all field work carried out at Iska Iska.

IP/Res surveys were carried out by MES Geophysics using Eloros ELREC-Pro 10 channel IP receiver and GDD 3600 watt IP transmitter. Dr. Chris Hale, P.Geo. and Mr. John Gilliatt, P.Geo. of Intelligent Exploration provided the survey design, preparation of the maps and interpretation of data processed, and quality reviewed by Mr. Rob McKeown, P. Geo. of MES Geophysics. Messrs. Hale, Gilliatt and McKeown are QPs as defined under NI 43-101 .

Eloro utilized both ALS and AHK for drill core analyses, both of whom are major international accredited laboratories. Drill samples sent to ALS were prepared in both ALS Bolivia Ltdas preparation facility in Oruro, Bolivia and the preparation facility operated by AHK in Tupiza with pulps sent to the main ALS Global laboratory in Lima for analysis. Eloro employs an industry standard QA/QC program with standards, blanks and duplicates inserted into each batch of samples analyzed with selected check samples sent to a separate accredited laboratory.

Drill core samples sent to AHK Laboratories were prepared in a preparation facility installed and managed by AHK in Tupiza with pulps sent to the AHK laboratory in Lima, Peru. Check samples between ALS and AHK are regularly done as a QA/QC check. AHK is followed the same analytical protocols used as with ALS and with the same QA/QC protocols.

About Iska Iska

The Iska Iska silver-tin polymetallic project is a road accessible, royalty-free property, wholly controlled by the Title Holder, Empresa Minera Villegas S.R.L. and is located 48 km north of Tupiza city, in the Sud Chichas Province of the Department of Potosi in southern Bolivia. Eloro has an option to earn a 100% interest in Iska Iska.

Iska Iska is a major silver-tin polymetallic porphyry-epithermal complex associated with a Miocene possibly collapsed/resurgent caldera, emplaced on Ordovician age rocks with major breccia pipes, dacitic domes and hydrothermal breccias. The caldera is 1.6km by 1.8km in dimension with a vertical extent of at least 1km. Mineralization age is similar to Cerro Rico de Potosi and other major deposits such as San Vicente, Chorolque, Tasna and Tatasi, all located along the same overall geological trend.

Eloro began underground diamond drilling from the Huayra Kasa underground workings at Iska Iska on September 13, 2020. On November 18, 2020, Eloro announced the discovery of a significant breccia pipe with extensive silver polymetallic mineralization just east of the Huayra Kasa underground workings and a high-grade gold-bismuth zone in the underground workings. On November 24, 2020, Eloro announced the discovery of the Santa Barbara Breccia Pipe (SBBP) approximately 150m southwest of the Huayra Kasa underground workings.

Subsequently, on January 26, 2021, Eloro announced significant results from the first drilling at the SBBP including the discovery hole from 0.0m to 257.5m. Subsequent drilling has confirmed the presence of significant values of Ag-Sn polymetallic mineralization in the SBBP and the adjacent Central Breccia Pipe (CBP). A substantive mineralized envelope which is open along strike and down-dip extends around both major breccia pipes. Continuous channel sampling along the walls of the of the Santa Barbara Adit located to the east of SBBP returned average grades of 164.96 g Ag/t, 0.46%Sn, 3.46% Pb and 0.14% Cu over 166m including 446 g Ag/t, 9.03% Pb and 1.16% Sn over 56.19m. The west end of the adit intersects the end of the SBBP.

Since the initial discovery hole DHK-15 which returned 29.53g Ag/t, 0.078g Au/t, 1.45%Zn, 0.59%Pb, 0.080%Cu and 0.056%Sn over 257.5m, Eloro has released a number of significant drill results in the SBBP and the surrounding mineralized envelope which, along with geophysical data, has defined an extensive target zone. On October 17, 2023, Eloro filed the NI 43-101 Technical Report outlining the initial inferred MRE for Iska Iska, prepared by independent consultantsMicon International Limited. The MRE was reported in two domains, the Polymetallic (Ag-Zn-Pb) Domain which is primarily in the east and south of the Santa Barbara deposit and the Tin (Sn-Ag-Pb) Domain which is primarily in the west and north.

The Polymetallic Domain is estimated to contain 560Mt at 13.8 g Ag/t, 0.73% Zn & 0.28% Pb at an NSR cutoff of US$9.20 for potential open pit and an NSR cutoff of US$34.40 for potential underground. The majority of the mineral resource is contained in the constraining pit which has a stripping ratio of 1:1. The Polymetallic Domain contains a higher-grade mineral resource at a NSR cutoff of $US25/t of 132 million tonnes at 1.11% Zn, 0.50% Pb and 24.3 g Ag/t which has a net NSR value of US$34.40/t which is 3.75 the estimated operating cost of US$9.20/t. The Tin Domain which is adjacent to the Polymetallic Domain and does not overlap, is estimated to contain a mineral resource of 110Mt at 0.12% Sn, 14.2 g Ag/t and 0.14% Pb but is very under drilled.

Results of the definition drill program which totalled 5,267.7m in 11 holes were reported on December 18, 2023 and January 11, 2024, respectively. Significant results included 279.22 g Ag/t, 0.47% Pb and 0.43% Sn (339.82g Ag eq/t) over 62.84m and 33.83 g Ag/t, 1.53% Zn, 0.93% Pb and 0.14% Sn (130.88g Ag eq/t) over 178.99m including 120.37 g Ag/t, 2.13% Zn, 1.57% Pb and 0.19% Sn in hole DSB-61; 57.62g Ag/t, 1.26% Zn, 0.94% Pb and 0.12% Sn (139.94g Ag eq/t) over 136.11min hole DSB-66 and 118.86g Ag/t, 0.35% Zn, 0.35% Pb and 0.15% Sn (152.29g Ag eq/t) over 81.28m in hole DSB-65. This latter intersection in hole DSB-65 included a very high-grade sample of 5,080g Ag/t, 0.12 g Au/t, 0.26% Zn, 1.34% Pb, 1.53% Cu and 1.27% Sn (4,746.46g Ag eq/t) over 1.46m.

Metallurgical tests reported on January 23, 2024 from a 6.3 tonne PQ drill core bulk sample representative of the higher grade Polymetallic (Ag-Zn-Pb) Domain returned a significantly higher average silver value of 91 g Ag/t compared to the weighted average grade of the original twinned holes at 31 g Ag/t strongly suggesting that the average silver grade is likely significantly underreported in the original twinned holes due to the much smaller sample size.

On January 29, 2024, the Company reported that the new chargeability high outlined southeast of the MRE open pit by the expanded induced polarization (IP) survey indicates that the major mineralized structural corridor that is up to 800m wide extends a further 600m along strike to the southeast for an overall strike length of at least 2km. This new area has not been drilled.

The Company reported on July 30, 2024, that updated modelling of the potential starter pit area at Santa Barbara zone highlights the importance of completing additional drilling to better define the grade and extent of the mineral resource in this area. Areas with higher-grade resource typically have much better drilling density but holes outside the core potential pit area are too widely spaced to give an accurate estimate of grade.

On September 4, 2024, the Company announced the restart of definition drilling in the potential starter pit area at Santa Barbara. Previous drilling has shown that areas with high-grade mineralization typically have much better drilling density, whereas holes outside the core area are too widely spaced to give an accurate grade estimate. This increased drilling density is particularly important for defining the extent of the high-grade Ag-bearing and Sn-bearing structures, and for categorizing the mineral resources from inferred to indicated, which have a major influence on overall grade and resources that will contribute to the preliminary economic assessment (PEA).

An initial program of 5,700m of diamond drilling in 13 holes in the Santa Barbara starter pit area is now in progress to better define the vertical and lateral extent of high-grade Ag mineralization; fill-in gaps that are presently categorized as low-grade or waste in the resource model but are very likely mineralized; expand the higher-grade Sn mineralization to the west; and complete an additional 1,400m in two large size PQ holes for further metallurgical testing.

About Eloro Resources Ltd.

Eloro is an exploration and mine development company with a portfolio of gold and base-metal properties in Bolivia, Peru and Quebec. Eloro has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the highly prospective Iska Iska Property, which can be classified as a polymetallic epithermal-porphyry complex, a significant mineral deposit type in the Potosi Department, in southern Bolivia. A recent NI 43-101 Technical Report on Iska Iska, which was completed by Micon International Limited, is available on Eloros website and under its filings on SEDAR. Iska Iska is a road-accessible, royalty-free property. Eloro also owns an 82% interest in the La Victoria Gold/Silver Project, located in the North-Central Mineral Belt of Peru some 50 km south of the Lagunas Norte Gold Mine and the La Arena Gold Mine.

For further information please contact either Thomas G. Larsen, Chairman and CEO or Jorge Estepa, Vice-President at (416) 868-9168.

Information in this news release may contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information express, as at the date of this news release, the Companys plans, estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations, or beliefs as to future events or results and are believed to be reasonable based on information currently available to the Company. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/503b6501-f9b6-4384-8bc1-44365bcdd850

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8d0b770b-72d5-46dd-950e-89fbe0dfc92d

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/64bfc3bb-e8a4-4d42-a5a0-c91176f0c491

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ef1ad37a-4797-4068-9286-b1ffe7cdb4d9
New York, USA, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Market Overview:

The global automotive gears market size is projected to grow from USD 42.04 billion in 2024 to USD 57.39 billion by 2034, at a CAGR of 3.2%, according to a new report by Polaris Market Research.

An automotive gear is a gyrating part with teeth that traces with alternate toothed machine constituent and gear and transmits torque. Gears are an important component of the function of an automobile. They arrive in varied kinds, each with its particular function. For instance, the gearbox conveys power from the engine to the divergent, which assists the car move. Comprehending how automotive gears function is critical to driving securely and productively. By comprehending the varied kinds of gears as well as the operations they serve, one might be able to drive with conviction and productivity.

Key Insights from the Report:

The market for automotive gears is significantly shaped by varied gear types such as spur gears, helical gears, bevel gears, and planetary gears are engaged relying on the vehicle type and arrangement systems.

The automotive gears market segmentation is mainly based on application type, vehicle type, material type, gear type, and region.

Based on application type, the differential system segment is expected to experience the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

By region, the report provides market insights into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.

Download Free Sample PDF Copy of the Report:

https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/automotive-gears-market/request-for-sample?utm_source=gnw&utm_medium=gnw&utm_campaign=globe&utm_id=01

Automotive Gears Market Scope:

Report Attributes Details Market size value in 2024 USD 42.04 billion Market size value in 2025 USD 43.30 billion Revenue forecast in 2034 USD 57.39 billion CAGR 3.2% from 2025 to 2034 Base year 2024 Historical data 2020-2023 Forecast period 2025-2034

Markets Growth Drivers:

Technological Progressions: The demand for automotive gears has escalated due to progressions in transmission technologies which enhance fuel efficiency, lesser discharge, and enhanced driving ease. The inventions in transmission technologies maximize power dissemination and sanction seamless gear shifts, causing superior vehicle performance. Further, the move towards electric vehicles has pushed the requirement for more productive, soundless, and weightless gear systems as EVs need particular gear arrangements to manage elevated torque without coming to terms with productivity, contributing to the automotive gears market growth.

Progression in Automotive Transmission Systems: Advancements in automotive transmission systems, especially in dual-clutch (DCT) and continuously variable transmissions (CVT), are notably driving the demand for elevated performance gears. DCT systems utilize two clutches to sanction speedier, seamless gear shifts, decreasing transformation times and improving productivity. This needs excessively accurate and resistant gears to manage elevated torque and momentum.

Stringent Fuel Efficiency Norms: Governments globally are growingly inflicting strict fuel efficiency and discharge directives. Such directives compel automakers to advance progressive gear technologies. For instance, the European Union established contemporary regulations to lessen carbon dioxide discharge, and the US EPA refurbished its fuel efficiency levels, needing a 15% curtailment in discharge from more economical trailers by 2030 as contrasted to 2025.

Request for a Discount on this Report Before Purchase:

https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/automotive-gears-market/request-for-discount-pricing?utm_source=gnw&utm_medium=gnw&utm_campaign=globe&utm_id=01

List of Automotive Gears Market Key Players:

American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc.

Bharat Gears Ltd.

GKN Powder Metallurgy

JTEKT Corporation

Suzuki

Robert Bosch GmbH

Hitachi Astemo

IMS Gear

Univance Corporation

Eaton

Cummins Inc

Geographical Analysis:

Asia Pacific accounted for the largest automotive gears market share. This is due to speedy growth in automotive production and sales. The strong growth in the automotive sector has notably pushed the demand for several automotive constituents involving gears. There is a robust existence of electric vehicle manufacturers, improved technological potential in EVs, and progression in conveyance, steering, and differential congregation elements.

North America is also expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The region is flourishing due to a strong concentration on technological invention in automotive research and development, which causes progressions in gear technologies, particularly for EVs. The robust automotive industry, with surging disposable income and moving consumer inclinations, is pushing the demand for elevated presentation gear systems in vehicles.





Inquire more about this report before purchase:

https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/automotive-gears-market/inquire-before-buying?utm_source=gnw&utm_medium=gnw&utm_campaign=globe&utm_id=01

Market Segmentation:

By Application Type Outlook

Transmission System Automatic Transmission Automated Manual Transmission Manual Transmission Dual-Clutch Transmission

Differential System

Steering System

Other Automotive Applications

By Vehicle Type Outlook

Passenger Car

Light Commercial Vehicle

Heavy Commercial Vehicle

By Material Type Outlook

Metallic

Non-Metallic

By Gear Type Outlook

Planetary Gears

Bevel Gears

Rack and Pinion Gears

Hypoid Gears

Worm Gears

Helical Gears

Spur Gears

Pinion Gears

By Regional Outlook

North America US Canada

Europe Germany France UK Italy Spain Netherlands Russia Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific China Japan India Malaysia South Korea Indonesia Australia Vietnam Rest of Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Israel South Africa Rest of the Middle East & Africa

Latin America Mexico Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America



More Trending Latest Reports by Polaris Market Research:

Hypercharger Market

Automotive Turbocharger Market Size

Morocco Bus Market Share

Electric Commercial Vehicle Traction Motor Market Growth

Electric Vehicles Battery Recycling Market Analysis

About Polaris Market Research & Consulting, Inc:

Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for PMRs clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve PMRs diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semiconductors, and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide PMRs customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high-growth markets, emerging business environments, and the latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities. Adept with a highly competent, experienced, and extremely qualified team of experts comprising SMEs, analysts, and consultants, we at Polaris endeavor to deliver value-added business solutions to PMRs customers.

Contact:

Likhil G

8 The Green Ste 19824,

Dover, DE 19901,

United States

Phone: +1-929 297-9727

Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.com

Web: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com

Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter
Beach Day Every Day is a leading player in Quebec's ready-to-drink beverage sector, and is rapidly expanding in Canada and the United States, with unaudited annual sales of more than $30 million for the year ended in 2023.

MONTREAL, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prime Drink Group Corp. (CSE: PRME) (Prime or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a non-binding letter of intent dated November 18, 2024 with Champlain Prime Investments S.E.C. (Champlain) and Prime Affichage Inc. (Prime Affichage and together with Champlain, the Target Shareholders) to acquire all the issued and outstanding common shares of Prime Capital Investments Inc. (Target), a company incorporated under the laws of Quebec that owns the all the rights and assets of the Beach Day Every Day brand.

The acquisition of Beach Day Every Day, a leading brand in the Quebec ready-to-drink beverage market, was a no-brainer for Prime. Notably, this acquisition will enable Prime to add a premium, fast-growing brand to its portfolio. In addition, Prime will have access to the positive benefits of Beach Day Every Day's recent expansion activities in the rest of Canada and the United States, where the potential market is about 30 times larger than Quebec's, said Olivier Primeau, Founder and President of Prime Capital Investments and Prime's Chief Brand and Innovation Officer.

Alexandre Cote, President and CEO of Prime, added: This acquisition fits perfectly with Prime's strategy of expansion through acquisitions, and provides us with a high-quality asset that will contribute immediately to our revenues, with high growth potential. What's more, this acquisition, combined with that of Triani Canada, brings us even closer to our goal of $100 million in annual revenues.

Summary of Transaction

In consideration for the proposed acquisition (the Transaction) of all the common shares in the capital of Target (the Target Shares), Prime will pay an aggregate amount of $22,500,000 as follows:

(a) $12,500,000 to Champlain via a lump sum cash payment on the closing date of the proposed Transaction; and



(b) $10,000,000 to Prime Affichage, to be paid via the issuance of common shares in the capital of the Company (the Common Shares) at a deemed price of $0.25 per share.



(collectively, the Consideration).

All dollar figures provided herein are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.

The Common Shares being issued pursuant to the Consideration will be issued under prospectus exemptions pursuant to National Instrument 45-106  Prospectus and Registrations Exemptions (NI 45-106) and may be subject to an applicable statutory hold period along with any other resale restrictions imposed under applicable securities laws or the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the CSE).

Prime and the Target Shareholders will be working towards entering into a definitive agreement (the Definitive Agreement), subject to the satisfaction of the completion of due diligence by Prime of Target, on or before January 31, 2025. The Definitive Agreement will include certain conditions, including the completion of the Concurrent Financing (as defined herein), the Company obtaining an independent valuation of Target acceptable to Prime and the CSE, Target having an aggregate debt no greater than $5,200,000, and customary conditions for a transaction of this nature.

The Transaction will be subject to the approval of the CSE but is not expected to constitute a Fundamental Change (as defined in the policies of the CSE) of the Company, nor is it expected to result in a Change of Control (as defined in the policies of the CSE) of the Company.

As Raimondo Messina is a director and shareholder of both the Company and Target, and Olivier Primeau is both an executive and shareholder of both the Company and Target, it is anticipated that the Transaction would constitute a related party transaction as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Securityholders (MI 61-101). The Company expects the Transaction would be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the securities being issued to such insider in connection with the Transaction, nor the consideration for the securities being paid to such insider would exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

Concurrent Financing

Prior to or concurrently with the closing of the Transaction, the Company will complete a private placement offering to raise minimum gross proceeds of $12,500,000 (the Concurrent Financing). The Concurrent Financing will be completed by way of a private placement of common shares, subscription receipts or units of the Company in reliance on applicable prospectus exemptions pursuant to NI 45-106. The proceeds from the Concurrent Financing will be used to satisfy the cash consideration portion of the Transaction. Such final terms as pricing, structure, commission and/or finders fees in connection with the Concurrent Financing will be determined by the Company. The Company will provide further details regarding the Concurrent Financing in a subsequent news release.

About Prime Capital Investments

Prime Capital Investments Inc. is a company incorporated under the laws of Quebec that owns the all the rights and assets of the Beach Day Every Day brand.

About Prime Drink Group

Prime Drink Group Corp (CSE: PRME) is a Quebec-based corporation focused on becoming a leading diversified holding company in the beverage, influencer media and hospitality sectors.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS NEWS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY OF THE SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. THE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT) OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. THIS NEWS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SALE OF SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES.

For further information, please contact:

Jean Gosselin, VP Finance

Phone: (514) 394-7717

Email: info@prime-group.ca

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations (including negative and grammatical variations) of such words and phrases or state that certain acts, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved.

Forward-looking information in this press release may include, without limitation, statements relating to: (i) the completion of the Transaction, the timing thereof, and on the terms described herein; (ii) the entry into a Definitive Agreement with respect to the Transaction; (iii) the anticipated benefits of the combined companies; (iv) the projection to reach $100 million in revenue for the Company; (v) the anticipated launch of the Concurrent Financing; (vi) the availability of an exemption under MI 61-101; and (vii) the completion of satisfactory due diligence of Target by the Company.

These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including risks regarding the beverage industry, managements ability to integrate Targets business into the Companys business and execute its business plan, market conditions, general economic factors, managements ability to execute its business plan, sufficient due diligence being provided by Target, no adverse change in applicable regulations, and the equity markets generally. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance of Prime may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although Prime believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, they can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, Prime disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements 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 the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bdbc570c-11c9-4f94-a607-acd41d7c5e56
SEATTLE, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Overland AI is proud to announce a collaboration with the 20th Engineer Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps, to push the limits of autonomous breaching. In a recent experimentation event, Operation ARTEMIS CROWN, the company integrated its OverDrive stack and Overland AIs autonomy kit on a Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport (S-MET), enabling the vehicle to navigate off-road without direct operator control. The Sandhills Project at Fort Liberty, NC, showcased how industry is enabling autonomous capabilities that reduce risk to the lives of Soldiers during combat operations.

The Overland AI team rapidly applied their OverDrive stack, built for off-road movement at high speeds across long distances, to an operational task that included novel capabilities, such as towing and emplacing breaching payloads on the battlefield. This mission required the S-MET to autonomously tow a trailer carrying an uncrewed aerial system (UAS) to a specific location in preparation for its launch. The trailer connected to the vehicle using Overland AIs custom-built, autonomous hitch. After the UAS launched and proceeded forward to release the mine-clearing line charge, creating a breach in minefields under combat conditions, autonomous control of the hitch detached the trailer from the S-MET. This allowed the vehicle to perform a 180-degree turn to remove itself prior to detonation. These obstacle-breaching experiments at the Sandhills Project enabled operators to validate their operational concept for reducing complex obstacle belts with uncrewed systems.

It is a privilege to support Soldiers at the XVIII Airborne Corps, said Byron Boots, co-founder and chief executive officer of Overland AI. Combat engineering operations are some of the most intricate and hazardous missions for operational units, and they demand capabilities that have been proven reliable in the field without human intervention.

Overland AI continues to build on the success of its OverDrive stack. Earlier this year, the U.S. Army and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) jointly awarded the company an $18.6 million contract to develop autonomy software for the Army's Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program. Overland AI currently supports a range of programs in the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command.





20th Engineer Brigades S-MET operating autonomously with Overland AIs autonomy kit and OverDrive stack. The S-MET also integrated a breaching payload (the trailer) using Overland AIs custom-built, autonomous hitch.



To learn more about Overland AI and see open roles, visit www.overland.ai.



About Overland AI

Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Overland AI is powering ground operations for modern defense. The company leverages over a decade of advanced research in robotics and machine learning, as well as a field-test forward ethos, to deliver combined capabilities for unit commanders. Hazardous missions in austere and electronically denied environments demand that these capabilities are reliable and resilient. Overland AIs autonomy kit and OverDrive stack enable uncrewed ground vehicles to navigate off-road with no GPS, all without direct operator control, to significantly reduce the risk to human life on the battlefield. Precisely coordinated capabilities are vital for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions to succeed. Overland AI is developing these capabilities and putting them into the hands of unit commanders today.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4cb9d03c-281a-4be2-b1c7-fcb941c6f64d.
ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tria Federal (Tria), the premier middle-market Technology and Advisory services provider delivering mission-critical digital transformation solutions to Federal Health and Public Safety agencies, today announced the appointment of Michael Anderson as the companys new Executive Vice President, Public Safety.

Im thrilled to have Michael join the Tria team, said Tim Borchert, Tria CEO. His deep expertise in digital transformation and passion for mission-driven solutions align perfectly with Trias culture and vision. We look forward to Michael taking a lead role in driving innovation and delivering transformative technology solutions that empower our federal partners to safeguard and serve our communities.

Anderson is an accomplished IT executive with over 23 years experience leading digital transformation programs and managing mission-critical operations for the government, private industry, and non-profit organizations.

Most recently, as a Partner with Guidehouse, he led growth and operations for major digital opportunities within the energy, sustainability, and infrastructure segment. He previously served as Vice President, Mission Solutions for Dovel/AceInfo Solutions, which was acquired by Guidehouse.





In a previous role as President of Tellenger, Inc., Anderson led a rapidly growing Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) while providing technical leadership for major prime contracts with Department of Homeland Securitys Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and Department of Health & Human Services Administration for Children & Families.

Joining Tria Federal is an exciting next step in my career focused on digital transformation, said Anderson. Trias commitment to helping federal agencies modernize and streamline systems, processes, and services aligns perfectly with my professional passion. I am inspired by the people-first culture and the integrity of Trias leadership. Partnering with Tria Labs to develop cutting-edge artificial intelligence, intelligent automation, and cybersecurity solutions for our clients is an incredible opportunity to drive meaningful impact.

Throughout his career working with federal agencies, Anderson has been instrumental in the adoption of Agile software development, DevSecOps automation, and open-source technologies to improve mission outcomes while reducing taxpayer burden. He has built successful teams that helped the Federal Emergency Management Agency modernize the National Flood Insurance Programs Pivot application and created a low-code contract-writing system for the U.S. Air Force.

Anderson received a bachelors degree in engineering management from the University of Arizona.

About Tria Federal

Tria Federal (Tria) is the premier middle-market technology and advisory services provider delivering mission-critical digital transformation solutions to Federal Health and Public Safety agencies. In November 2024, Tria acquired Softrams, a leading technology firm specializing in human-centered digital services and system modernization for federal agencies. The combined company is a scaled, vertically integrated organization supporting 20+ federal agencies. For more information, please visit triafed.com .

Media Contact

Brian Wagner, Vice President, Marketing & Communications

bwagner@triafed.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8e9e758c-12aa-48b6-96ad-b0714f80cc52

This press release was published by a CLEAR Verified individual.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via IBN  Torr Metals Inc. (Torr or the "Company") (TSX-V: TMET.V) is pleased to announce the successful completion of its large-scale surface geochemical exploration program with the collection of 1,092 soil and 44 rock grab samples at the 100%-owned 261 km Filion Gold Project (Filion or the Project) in northern Ontario (Figure 1, Figure 2).

The drill-permitted Filion Project lies at a geological crossroads in northern Ontario, surrounded by prolific gold-endowed greenstone belts renowned for hosting world-class deposits to the west, south, and east (Figure 2). The Project benefits from exceptional infrastructure, including year-round road access via Trans-Canada Highway 11, a parallelling regional railway and provincial power grid, and proximity to Kapuskasing (population 8,400), just 30 kilometers to the southeast.

Highlights of 2024 Field Program to Date:

Expanded Exploration Coverage in Filion West: A comprehensive 8.8 km soil sampling and prospecting grid has been completed; covering previously underexplored airborne geophysical anomalies, historical trenching and gold occurrences across a 7 kilometer (km) strike-length (Figure 1). This effort builds on the 2023 discovery of six gold soil anomalies with strike lengths up to 1,200 meters (m) and grades as high as 1.32 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au), extending across a 2-km-wide corridor.

Multiple LiDAR-Driven Discoveries: Advanced LiDAR technology provided new high-priority zones for targeted mapping and rock grab sampling in mainly thin (<1 m) till cover. This included locations of 17 undocumented historical trenches that occur across a 3 km strike-length, along-trend of anomalous 2023 gold soil anomalies and anchored by historically trenched rock outcrop that reported assays up to 91.4 g/t Au over 0.3 m in chip or channel samples and 9.1 g/t Au in rock grab samples at the Miller East and Oscar Zones1, respectively (Figure 1).

Untapped Potential Across an Expansive Land Package: Recent prospecting and mapping of mineralized outcrop along accessible roadways have confirmed that the Filion East area hosts the same favorable geology and structural controls observed in Filion West (Figure 1). With no documented history of exploration in Filion East, these findings significantly enhance the overall prospectivity of the entire 42 km-long, gold-endowed Filion Fault system, underscoring the vast exploration opportunity within this district-scale land package within a region known for major gold deposits (Figure 2).

We are advancing toward a pivotal phase at the Filion Gold Project, stated Malcolm Dorsey, president and CEO of Torr Metals. The successful completion of a comprehensive soil sampling and prospecting grid in Filion West along with multiple high-priority discoveries highlights the projects exceptional untapped potential, while adding significant value to our 2023 work. Equally exciting is the confirmation of shared structural controls with prospective geology in Filion East, indicating the potential for previously unknown gold endowment to extend over the 42 km strike-length of the Filion Fault system. With both Filion West and East permitted for drilling and the imminent commencement of a combined ground magnetic and VLF-EM geophysical survey, we are poised to refine our understanding of key anomalies. This integrated approach will help prioritize future drill targets, offering multiple unique opportunities for potentially significant new grassroots discoveries.

Ground Magnetic VLF-EM Geophysical Survey

With assays pending, Torr will be immediately initiating a combined ground magnetic  very low frequency (VLF) electromagnetic (EM) geophysical survey covering the Filion West soil grid. VLF-EM surveys are effective at detecting subsurface shear zones, faults, and stratigraphic contacts linked to mineralization; while ground magnetic surveys complement this by identifying magnetic lineaments and breaks (magnetic lows) indicative of structural features, lithological contrasts or hydrothermal alteration (through the destruction of magnetite), which can be favorable for gold emplacement.

1Luhta, L. 1985. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Timmins. Resident Geologist files T-0201. Certificate not available.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., a consultant to the Company who is a qualified person defined under National Instrument 43-101.

About Torr Metals

Torr Metals, based in Vancouver, BC, is committed to advancing its 100% owned, district-scale copper-gold porphyry and orogenic gold projects in highly accessible regions across Canada. Each project benefits from excellent access to provincial and regional mining infrastructure, enabling cost-effective development and year-round exploration potential. The 240 km Kolos Copper-Gold Project, located in the prolific Quesnel Terrane, sits just 30 km southeast of Canadas largest open-pit copper mine at Highland Valley and 40 km south of the city of Kamloops along Highway 5. The 261 km Filion Gold Project lies in northern Ontario adjacent to the Trans-Canada Highway 11, approximately 42 km northwest of the town of Kapuskasing. Filion encompasses an unexplored greenstone belt with high-grade gold potential just 202 km by highway from the world-class Hollinger, McIntyre, and Dome mines of the Timmins mining camp. For more information, visit Torr Metals website or view documents on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Torr Metals Inc.

"Malcolm Dorsey"

Malcolm Dorsey

President, CEO and Director

For further information:

Malcolm Dorsey

Telephone: 236-982-4300

Email: malcolmd@torrmetals.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Company's recently completed financings, and the future plans or prospects of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans," "expects" or "does not expect," "is expected," "budget," "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "anticipates" or "does not anticipate," or "believes," or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might" or "will be taken," "occur" or "be achieved." Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management's discussion and analysis which is available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Corporate Communications:

IBN

Los Angeles, California

www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com

310.299.1717 Office

Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com

Attachments
CLICK HERE TO PROVIDE CONTACT INFORMATION AND JOIN THE CASE

NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP (Wolf Haldenstein) announces that a federal securities class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (NYSE: ZETA) (Zeta or the Company).

Zeta is a cloud-based technology company that provides a marketing platform to assist marketers in acquiring customers. The filed complaint alleges that Zeta represented that its marketing platform was powered by the industrys largest opted-in data set and that Zeta gathered customer data from a network of consent farms that artificially inflated the companys growth.

All investors who purchased shares and incurred losses are advised to contact the firm immediately at classmember@whafh.com or (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774. You may obtain additional information concerning the action or join the case on our website, www.whafh.com.

If you have incurred losses, you may, no later than January 21, 2025, request that the Court appoint you as the lead plaintiff of the proposed class. Please contact Wolf Haldenstein to learn more about your rights.

CLICK HERE TO PROVIDE CONTACT INFORMATION AND JOIN THE CASE

On November 13, 2024, investment research firm, Culper Research, published a report titled: Zeta Global Holdings Corp (ZETA): Shams, Scams, and Spam. Based upon Culpers investigation that included proprietary interviews with industry experts and former Zeta employees, the firm found that Zetas data set had been generated from a network of consent farms  i.e., sham websites designed to gather consumer data under false pretenses or awards that did not exist.

Culper Research further wrote that these consent farms drove almost the entirety of Zetas growth over the past two to three years, representing 56% of its Adjusted EBITDA, and could result in devastating regulatory action in response to this.

On the release of the report, the price of the companys stock fell 37%, from a closing price of $28.22 per share on November 12, 2024, to $17.76 per share on November 13, 2024.

If you have incurred losses, you may, no later than January 13, 2025, request that the Court appoint you as the lead plaintiff of the proposed class. Please contact Wolf Haldenstein to learn more about your rights.

Wolf Haldenstein has experience in the prosecution of securities class actions and derivative litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts across the country. The firm has attorneys in various practice areas, and offices in New York, Chicago, Nashville and San Diego. The reputation and expertise of the firm in shareholder and other class litigation has been repeatedly recognized by the courts, which have appointed it to lead positions in complex securities litigation.

If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions regarding your rights and interests in this case, please immediately contact Wolf Haldenstein by telephone at (800) 575-0735 or via e-mail at classmember@whafh.com.

Contact:

Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP

Gregory Stone, Director of Case and Financial Analysis

Email: gstone@whafh.com or classmember@whafh.com

Tel: (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
Highlights

Final assay results from the last 5 holes of the 2024 drilling campaign confirm some of the highest-grade Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO) intersections recorded at the Cowboy State Mine Area.

Significant high-grade intervals include: HC24-RM046: 148.0 m @ 4,451 ppm TREO, including 52.5 m @ 5,273 ppm TREO

(maximum 6,198 ppm TREO). HC24-RM048: 161.5 m @ 4,275 ppm TREO, including 40.5 m @ 5,287 ppm TREO

(maximum 5,869 ppm TREO). HC24-RM049: 90.0 m @ 4,353 ppm TREO, including 16.5 m @ 5,313 ppm TREO

(maximum 6,049 ppm TREO).



Results confirm extensive high-grade zones, reinforcing Halleck Creeks position as one of North Americas most promising rare earth developments.



DENVER, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Rare Earths (ASX: ARR | OTCQX: ARRNF | ADR: AMRRY) (ARR) through its wholly owned subsidiary Wyoming Rare (USA) Inc. (WRI), is pleased to announce the final assay results from its 2024 drilling campaign at the Cowboy State Mine (CSM) area within the Halleck Creek Project, Wyoming. These results represent a major milestone in ARRs journey to establish a world-class rare earth resource capable of supporting the U.S. critical mineral supply chains.

Drilling has revealed multiple high-grade intersections exceeding 5,000 ppm TREO, demonstrating the projects upside potential. These findings will underpin updated geological models and resource estimates, paving the way for the next phase of development.





Figure 1  2024 Drill Hole Locations and Assay Summaries

Chris Gibbs, CEO of American Rare Earths, commented:

These exceptional results showcase Halleck Creeks potential to become a flagship rare earth project for North America. The high-grade TREO zones identified underscore the significant scale and quality of the deposit and strengthen our confidence in the projects future.

With the U.S. governments strong commitment to securing domestic critical mineral supply chains, Halleck Creek is well positioned to fulfill the US Governments strategic objectives for both the defense industry and an array of economic elements supporting the energy transition. Our recent engagement with BMO Capital Markets and collaborations with industry-leading experts ensure were strategically aligned to accelerate the development of this world-class asset.

ARR is advancing toward completing an updated resource estimate and Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) for Halleck Creek in 2025. The Company will continue to progress discussions with potential strategic partners to further unlock the value of this critical asset.

This announcement is authorized for release by the CEO of American Rare Earths.

Find more technical details and the full JORC report here.

Competent Persons Statement:

The information in this document is based on company work performed in October and November 2024. This work was reviewed and approved for release by Mr. Dwight Kinnes (Society of Mining Engineers #4063295RM) who is employed by American Rare Earths and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralization and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 JORC Code. Mr. Kinnes consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based upon the information in the form and context in which it appears.

American Rare Earths (ASX: ARR | OTCQX: ARRNF | ADR: AMRRY) owns Wyoming Rare (USA) Inc. which is focused on the development of the Halleck Creek Project, WY. It also owns La Paz, AZ rare earth deposit. Both can potentially become the largest and most sustainable rare earth projects in North America. The Company is developing environmentally friendly and cost-effective extraction and processing methods to meet the rapidly increasing demand for resources essential to the clean energy transition and US national security. The Company continues to evaluate other exploration opportunities and is collaborating with US Government-supported R&D to develop efficient processing and separation techniques of (REEs) elements to help ensure a renewable future.

For additional information

Susan Assadi

Media Relations US

sassadi@americanree.com

347 977 7125

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/07f8c8fb-003c-4224-86e4-92e868c7ac36
Luton, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Nanoimprint Lithography (NIL) system market is experiencing significant growth, driven by applications in semiconductor manufacturing, data storage, optics, and biotechnology. NIL is valued for its high resolution, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, which makes it ideal for industries requiring advanced nano-fabrication.

NIL systems include components like substrates, heat and pressure application systems, and molds, with types such as Hot Embossing (HE), UV-based NIL (UV-NIL), and Micro Contact Printing (-CP). HE dominates the market for its affordability and use in microstructure production. UV-NIL is preferred for high-resolution, fine details, while -CP offers flexibility, particularly in sensor manufacturing and biotechnology.

Access PDF Sample Report (Including Graphs, Charts & Figures) @

https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/37463/nanoimprint-lithography-system-market/#request-a-sample

The market is also segmented by application, with Small and Medium Investments holding a significant share due to the accessibility and lower cost of NIL systems, making them suitable for smaller organizations and academic institutions. This accessibility is fueling the adoption of NIL across various industries like biotechnology, electronics, and optics

Conversely, Large Investment applications represent the large-scale implementation of NIL systems, particularly by major semiconductor manufacturers and research centers. These systems are deployed in mass production settings that require high throughput, accuracy, and precision. Significant financial resources are necessary for the acquisition and integration of these advanced technologies, which are integral to intensive R&D efforts and high-volume manufacturing. Large-scale investments are particularly prominent in the semiconductor industry, where the demand for cutting-edge manufacturing techniques is ever-growing. As these industries push for smaller, faster, and more efficient components, the need for Nanoimprint Lithography systems becomes increasingly critical.

The growth of the NIL market is also fueled by government and industrial investments in R&D, particularly in sectors like semiconductor manufacturing, nanotechnology, and related fields. Governments are prioritizing research funding to remain competitive in the global marketplace, particularly in areas like defense, communication networks, and IT infrastructure, where semiconductor technology plays a crucial role in national security. Additionally, nanotechnology has promising applications in fields such as medicine, energy, and materials science, further driving research and development efforts.

Collaborative initiatives between governments, academic institutions, and industries are crucial for advancing nanoimprint lithography technologies. These collaborations enable the exchange of knowledge, resources, and expertise, facilitating faster technological advancements. The growing focus on using these technologies to address global challenges such as energy conservation, environmental sustainability, and healthcare is positioning Nanoimprint Lithography as a vital player in future technological innovations.

Restraints in Nanoimprint Lithography Systems

Nanoimprint Lithography (NIL) systems present unique challenges that may hinder their widespread adoption, primarily due to their operational complexity and the significant expertise required to use and maintain them. These systems are characterized by intricate workflows and precise control mechanisms, which demand specialized knowledge for effective operation. The complexity of the technology means that end-users must undergo extensive training to handle the equipment, set precise process parameters, and troubleshoot potential issues. This training can be both time-consuming and resource-intensive.

Furthermore, the maintenance of NIL systems is crucial for ensuring consistent and reliable operation. Given the intricate nature of these machines, regular upkeep is essential to mitigate wear and tear, replace consumables, and prevent defects that could affect the quality of the nanostructures being produced. This maintenance requires a high level of technical expertise and can be a significant barrier for smaller companies or those with limited access to specialized staff.

In addition, optimizing NIL systems for specific applications involves adjusting several parameters such as exposure time, pressure, and temperature, which requires considerable experience and experimentation. This trial-and-error process can be both time-consuming and costly, especially when working with novel materials or intricate designs. Furthermore, the user interfaces of many NIL systems are complex and may pose challenges for operators, potentially reducing operational efficiency if they are not designed with user-friendliness in mind.

Report Link Click Here:

https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/37463/nanoimprint-lithography-system-market/

Nanoimprint Lithography System Market Trends

Increasing Demand for Smaller Electronic Components

Nanoimprint Lithography (NIL) systems are gaining traction due to the rising demand for smaller, more efficient electronic components. Semiconductor manufacturers, in particular, are leveraging NIL to produce high-resolution nanoscale patterns that enable the creation of smaller and more powerful devices. This technology is becoming essential in semiconductor fabrication, where precision and miniaturization are crucial. As devices shrink and the need for advanced integrated circuits grows, NIL provides a viable solution for achieving these goals, supporting market demand in the semiconductor industry, valued at an estimated USD 500 billion globally in 2023. Expanding Applications Beyond Semiconductor Manufacturing

Nanoimprint lithography is no longer confined to traditional semiconductor manufacturing. The technology has increasingly found applications in optoelectronics and photonics, where complex patterning on various substrates is necessary. NIL offers significant advantages in these emerging sectors, where it facilitates the fabrication of advanced photonic devices like LEDs, solar cells, and waveguides. For instance, NIL is being used to enhance the performance and cost-effectiveness of optical fibers and photonic components, pushing its adoption in next-generation telecommunications and data storage solutions, which are projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10% over the next five years. Adoption in Biotechnology and Healthcare

Another area seeing growing adoption of NIL systems is the biotechnology and healthcare industries. The technology is increasingly employed in the design and manufacturing of biomedical devices, lab-on-a-chip devices, and biochips. For example, NIL is used in the production of microarrays for genetic testing and the creation of highly detailed structures for diagnostics devices. This trend is expected to boost demand in the biomedical market, which is anticipated to reach USD 120 billion by 2027, as the healthcare sector turns to more efficient and precise manufacturing techniques. Advancements in Materials and Techniques

Significant research and development efforts are being directed at improving the materials used in NIL processes, as well as refining the techniques involved. Innovations are focusing on enhancing process speed, resolution, and overall efficiency. Key areas of development include optimizing polymer-based materials, which are used in photonic and electronic applications, and improving NIL's throughput for large-scale production environments. These innovations are necessary to support applications demanding high precision, particularly in fields like nanomedicine and advanced semiconductors. As these technologies evolve, the market for NIL systems could expand by approximately 20% annually. Collaborations and Knowledge Sharing

A notable trend in the NIL market is the increasing collaboration among academic institutions, research centers, and industry players. These partnerships foster the exchange of ideas, resources, and technologies, accelerating innovation in NIL applications. Collaborations aim to address the challenges in scaling NIL systems for commercial use and resolving key technical hurdles, such as alignment accuracy and pattern transfer efficiency. These alliances are expected to continue to drive growth in the industry, as knowledge sharing accelerates the development of more sophisticated NIL tools and applications. Cost Reduction and Scalability

One of the most critical developments in the NIL market is the ongoing effort to reduce the overall cost of NIL systems while enhancing their scalability for large-scale production. This is particularly important for the semiconductor industry, where the cost-effectiveness of manufacturing processes is a significant consideration. By making NIL more affordable and efficient for mass production, particularly in sectors like consumer electronics, the technology has the potential to disrupt the traditional photolithography market. This push for cost reduction and scalability is essential for broader industry adoption, and it is estimated that the market for NIL systems could grow by USD 2.5 billion by 2026.

Regional Analysis: North America in the Nanoimprint Lithography System Market

North America dominates the global Nanoimprint Lithography (NIL) System market, holding a significant market share of approximately 36%. This leadership position is largely attributed to the regions robust technology infrastructure, strong presence of leading research institutions, and an expansive network of industry players, particularly in the fields of semiconductors, electronics, and healthcare. The United States, in particular, stands at the forefront of NIL market growth, driven by its global position as a hub for high-tech industries and innovative R&D.

Key Factors Driving Growth in North America:

Demand for Advanced Nanotechnology

North America's leading role in the NIL market can be traced to the increasing demand for nanotechnology applications across a wide array of industries. The push for miniaturization and higher precision in the electronics sector has propelled the use of NIL systems, especially for applications like microprocessors, integrated circuits, and other high-performance electronic components. The ability of NIL to produce high-resolution patterns at the nanoscale makes it a valuable tool for the regions semiconductor industry, which is projected to grow at an annual rate of 6-8%. Strong R&D Investment

The United States has been a critical player in the global nanoimprint lithography market, with substantial investments in research and development across both private enterprises and academic institutions. The nation's world-class universities, such as MIT and Stanford, and research centers like Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory, have played an instrumental role in pushing the boundaries of NIL technology. These collaborations have resulted in significant technological advancements, such as improvements in resolution, process speed, and materials compatibility, further propelling the markets expansion. Growth in Healthcare and Biotechnology

Beyond electronics and semiconductors, the healthcare and biotechnology sectors in North America are increasingly adopting NIL systems. The technologys ability to create intricate and highly accurate patterns on diverse substrates makes it ideal for fabricating medical devices, biochips, and lab-on-a-chip systems. As the healthcare sector continues to explore nanomedicine and biosensing applications, NILs role in creating precise, functional microstructures is expected to grow significantly. The North American biotech market alone is anticipated to reach USD 180 billion by 2027, with NIL playing a critical role in advancing next-generation healthcare technologies. Innovation in Semiconductor Manufacturing

As the demand for smaller, more powerful devices rises, semiconductor manufacturers are relying heavily on NIL to achieve the high-resolution, complex patterns necessary for modern chips. The precision of NIL enables manufacturers to create devices with sub-5nm features, vital for 5G and AI applications, as well as cutting-edge automotive electronics. North Americas semiconductor industry, valued at over USD 350 billion in 2023, is expected to grow by 6-7% annually, with NIL continuing to play a critical role in maintaining technological leadership in this space. Focus on High-Resolution Patterning for Optoelectronics

Another growing area for NIL in North America is in the field of optoelectronics. The ability of NIL systems to achieve complex patterns with high resolution makes them an attractive option for the photonics sector, which is increasingly focused on improving LED efficiency, solar cell performance, and optical interconnects. The North American photonics market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 10% over the next five years, driving demand for advanced patterning technologies such as NIL.

Key Players:

Obducat AB

EV Group

Nanonex Corporation

NIL Technology

AMO GmbH

IMS Chips

Micro Resist Technology GmbH

Nano Terra

Nanogate AG

Molecular Imprints Inc.

SUSS MicroTec SE

TNO

Vistec Electron Beam GmbH

EV Group (EVG)

Nanonics Imaging Ltd.

SET Corporation SA

Canon Inc.

Nanofabrica Ltd.

NanoOpto Corporation

Nanoform Technologies Oy

Recent Developments:

January 23, 2024 : PROTEC MEMS Technology (PMT) has ordered a LITHOSCALE maskless exposure system from EV Group (EVG) for the production of next-generation MEMS-based probe cards. These will be used for wafer-level testing of advanced NAND, DRAM, and High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) devices at PMTs headquarters in Asan-si, South Korea

: PROTEC MEMS Technology (PMT) has ordered a LITHOSCALE maskless exposure system from EV Group (EVG) for the production of next-generation MEMS-based probe cards. These will be used for wafer-level testing of advanced NAND, DRAM, and High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) devices at PMTs headquarters in Asan-si, South Korea November 15, 2023 : Canon launched its new imagePROGRAF TM Series printers in India, which include models tailored to meet high-speed, large-format printing demands. These printers are designed for applications in copy shops, photo studios, corporate offices, and more, offering the ability to balance speed and print quality

: Canon launched its new imagePROGRAF TM Series printers in India, which include models tailored to meet high-speed, large-format printing demands. These printers are designed for applications in copy shops, photo studios, corporate offices, and more, offering the ability to balance speed and print quality May 15, 2024: EV Group will present new developments at the 2024 IEEE ECTC, including advancements in heterogeneous integration enabled by their wafer-to-wafer bonding and IR laser release solutions. These innovations are crucial for 3D device integration and are being used in MEMS, semiconductor, and photonics applications

Get a Sample PDF Brochure: https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/37463/nanoimprint-lithography-system-market/#request-a-sample

Related Reports:

Shipping Container Market

https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/2769/shipping-container-market/

The global shipping container market size is expected to grow at 4% CAGR from 2022 to 2029. It is expected to reach above USD 10.66 billion by 2029 from USD 7.48 billion in 2020.

Metalworking Fluids Market

https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/3219/metalworking-fluids-market/

The global metalworking fluids market is expected to grow at 4.2% CAGR from 2022 to 2029. It is expected to reach above USD 14.3 billion by 2029 from USD 8.65 billion in 2020.

Smart Containers Market

https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/824/smart-containers-market/

The Global Smart Containers Market size is expected to grow at more than 17% CAGR from 2015 to 2025. It is expected to reach above USD 7.1 billion by 2025 from USD 1.6 billion in 2015.

Tractor Engines Market

https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/4508/tractor-engines-market/

The global tractor engine market size is estimated at USD 12.7 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 23.9 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 7.3% for the forecasted years 2022 to 2029.

Automotive E-E Architecture Market

https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/987/automotive-e-e-architecture-market/

The Global Automotive E-E Architecture Market is expected to grow at more than 11.44% CAGR from 2019 to 2028. It is expected to reach above USD 184.9 billion by 2028 from a little above USD 84 billion in 2019.

Highway Drive-Assist Market

https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/3227/highway-drive-assist-market/

The global Highway Drive-Assist Market is expected to grow at 24.6% CAGR from 2022 to 2029. It is expected to reach above USD 11.2 billion by 2029 from USD 2.3 Billion in 2020.

Headlamps Market

https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/965/headlamps-market/

The Global Headlamps Market is expected to grow at more than 3.96% CAGR from 2018 to 2025. It is expected to reach above USD 229 million by 2025 from a little above USD 176 million in 2018.

Electric Vehicle Polymers Market

https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/2211/electric-vehicle-polymers-market/

The Electric Vehicle (Car) Polymers Market size is projected to grow from the estimated USD 49.2 billion in 2019 to USD 62.8 billion by 2028, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2% during the forecast period.

Automotive Haptic Technology Market

https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/2608/automotive-haptic-technology-market/

The global automotive haptic technology market is expected to grow at 11% CAGR from 2022 to 2029. It is expected to reach above USD 5.76 billion by 2029 from USD 2.25 billion in 2020.

Robo Taxi Market

https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/2811/robo-taxi-market/

The global Robo Taxi Market Size is expected to grow at 62.8% CAGR from 2020 to 2029. It is expected to reach above USD 24.3 billion by 2029 from USD 12.4 Billion in 2020.

Luxury Cars Market

https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/2998/luxury-cars-market/

The global luxury car market size was USD 420.31 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 812.6 billion by 2029, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.6% during the forecast period.

Automotive Sunroof Market

https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/1043/automotive-sunroof-market/

The Global Automotive Sunroof Market size is expected to grow at more than 6% CAGR from 2019 to 2026. It is expected to reach above USD 19 billion by 2026 from USD 15 billion in 2019.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GoldHaven Resources Corp. ("GoldHaven" or the "Company") (CSE: GOH) (OTCQB: GHVNF) (FSE: 4QS) announces the filing of an independent technical report prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). The technical report, titled Magno Project, Liard Mining Division, BC can be found on the Companys website here and under the Companys issuer profile at http://www.sedarplus.ca/ .

The Magno Project: A district-scale, polymetallic property located in the Liard Mining Division, adjacent to the historic Cassiar mining district, in Cassiar BC, Canada

The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary Copper Peak Metals Inc., holds 100% ownership of the Magno mineral property in British Columbia.





Magno property with BC regional geology highlighting historical work and present showings

The Magno property is a district-scale, polymetallic property with 24 mineral tenures located in the Liard Mining Division, adjacent to the historic Cassiar mining district, in Cassiar BC, Canada.

British Columbia is a premier mining jurisdiction, hosting 16 of Canadas 31 critical minerals and standing as the nations largest copper producer. It also holds vast gold resources, with an estimated 280 million ounces of in-ground gold, primarily within polymetallic porphyry deposits.

Northwestern British Columbia is a globally significant mining district, home to some of the richest porphyry copper and gold deposits in the world. This regions Late Triassic to Early Jurassic tectono-magmatic activity created high-grade, large-scale deposits, positioning it as a major source of copper and precious metals.

The project focuses on the late Cretaceous terranes, known to host significant porphyry deposits like those at Casino and Red Mountain. The exploration team will target granitic bodies beneath promising skarn deposits, aiming to identify the source of mineralized fluids linked to these skarns. The focus will be on extensive geochemical and geophysical exploration to identify potential porphyry sources.





Magno North

The northern portion of the property, Magno North, is located 3km south of the Cassiar Townsite and is primarily where the historic work has been conducted on the property. The Cassiar area is well endowed with various types of mineralization. Aside from the carbonate replacement deposit (CRD) mineralization in the northern part of the Magno Property, notable past producing gold mines including Taurus, Erickson and Table Mountain are located within Slide Mountain/Sylvester/rocks to the east and porphyry molybdenum mineralization occurs in the Cassiar Batholith. Placer gold has been mined in the area since 1874, and the past producing Cassiar-McDame asbestos mine is located nine kilometres to the north.

Exploration has been conducted on the Magno Property since the 1950s, which has included prospecting, soil and rock geochemistry ground geophysics and drilling. In 1970 and 1971 two adits totalling 522 metres, were emplaced into the Magno West zone.

Website & Corporate Presentation:

The Company is pleased to announce the official launch of its new website and corporate presentation.

The website features a streamlined, modern design and currently highlights the Companys premier projects, corporate presentation and news. Prospective investors can subscribe to the Companys newsletter to stay informed and up to date on all business developments.

The presentation follows the websites new design and showcases highlights from the newly acquired assets. Some highlights include:

BC is a premier mining jurisdiction, hosting 16 of 31 critical minerals

Holds the nations largest copper producer as well as numerous gold resources at ~280M ounces primarily in polymetallic porphyry deposits

Two projects, Magno and Three Guardsmen, located on trend of major porphyry systems

Magno project is district-scale adjacent to historic Cassiar mining district

Three Guardsmen project is in close proximity to historic mines

Both projects contain favorable infrastructure including road access

To access and download the corporate presentation please visit the companys website here .

Non-Brokered Private Placement:

GoldHaven announces a non-brokered private placement of up to 9,500,000 units at $0.05 per unit (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of up to $475,000.

Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole such warrant, a Warrant). Each Warrant will entitle its holder to purchase one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a Warrant Share) at a price of $0.10 per Warrant Share at any time prior to 24 months following the closing of the Offering.

Insiders may participate in the Offering and finders fees may be payable in connection with the Offering.

All securities issued in connection with the Offering will have a four-month and one day hold period in Canada from the closing of the Offering.

Net proceeds of the Offering will be used for exploration expenditures, administrative and general working capital.

Insiders of the Company participating in the foregoing offering will constitute a related party transaction as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 -- Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101). Such participation is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the securities acquired by the insiders, nor the consideration for the securities paid by such insiders, exceed 25 per cent of the company's market capitalization. Net proceeds of the Offering will be used for general working capital.

None of the foregoing securities have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or any applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) or persons in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor will there be any sale of the foregoing securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

R.J. (Bob) Johnston, P.Geo from Engineers & Geoscientists British Columbia is the qualified person for the Company has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release.

About GoldHaven Resources Corp.

GoldHaven Resources Corp. is a Canadian junior exploration Company focused on acquiring and exploring highly prospective land packages in North America. The Companys projects include the flagship Magno Project, a district-scale polymetallic property adjacent to the historic Cassiar mining district in British Columbia, and the Three Guardsman Project, which exhibits significant potential for copper and gold-skarn mineralization.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Bonn Smith, Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Bonn Smith, CEO

www.GoldHavenresources.com

bsmith@goldhavenresources.com

Office Direct: (604) 629-8254

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE- Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, the possible acquisition of the future projects, the Company's expectation that it will be successful in enacting its business plans, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "potential", "scheduled", or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that there will be investor interest in future financings, market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration and development of any future projects in a timely manner, the availability of financing on suitable terms for exploration and development of future projects and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.

The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities, the estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the inability of the Company to obtain the necessary financing required to conduct its business and affairs, as currently contemplated, , the inability of the Company to enter into definitive agreements in respect of possible Letters of Intent, the timing and amount of estimated future production, the costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, requirements for additional capital, future prices of precious metals, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, lack of investor interest in future financings, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations, including by the Exchange, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and risks related to joint venture operations, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's latest interim Management's Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities commissions in Canada. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedarplus.ca and readers are urged to review these materials.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law.
Etobicoke, ON, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Foundation Health is excited to announce the grand opening of its new family medical clinic at 600 The East Mall, Etobicoke, Ontario, conveniently located next to Shoppers Drug Mart. After soft-launching earlier in November, the clinic is set to provide a broad range of comprehensive services to support the health and well-being of the community.

Through its Etobicoke medical clinic, Foundation Healths services include Women's Health, PreP and Sexual Health Services, General Family Medicine, Physiotherapy, and Occupational Therapy. The company also offers Home Care, as well as virtual Mental Health Support and Nutrition Counselling.

Foundation Healths Etobicoke primary care clinic is staffed with CPSO-certified family doctors, administrative staff, and nursing and care coordinators, offering multidisciplinary care in a team-based setting.

Beginning in early December, Foundation Healths Etobicoke medical clinic will be open 7 days a week, with walk-in hours extended to 8:00 PM on weekdays and 6:00 PM on weekends.

Our country desperately needs alternative delivery models where patients from all walks of life can easily access healthcare services that actually contribute to them living longer, healthier lives, said Sandy White, Co-founder of Foundation Health.

Millions of Canadians dont have a family doctor and there is a lot of buzz about the healthcare crisis across Canada. Authorizing more doctors to practice is one part of the solution, said White. But we believe that increasing the operational efficiency of Canadas primary care model can also have a huge impact. An achievable 15% efficiency gain across the system through new technologies and team-based patient care could result in all Ontarians having a family doctor. The Etobicoke clinic is our first step in this direction.

Foundation Health welcomes all area residents, schools, businesses, and community groups to join them for an Open House on December 1, 2, and 3, 2024, from 4 PM to 7 PM.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the clinic's team of dedicated doctors and friendly staff, learn more about the range of services offered, and even register with one of their family doctors. Complimentary snacks, coffee, and tea will be provided for all who attend.

Foundation Health looks forward to welcoming everyone to their new facility and is eager to become a trusted partner in the community's health and wellness journey.

About Foundation Health

Foundation Health is a Canadian health and wellness company establishing a multidisciplinary service line that includes primary care clinics, home (senior) care, self-testing devices, mobile nursing, virtual therapy, and Allied Health. The companys mission is to help people live healthier for longer. Foundation Health is opening its first primary care clinics in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), beginning with its Etobicoke, ON location in November 2024. The company aims to expand its multidisciplinary model nationwide, improving access to quality healthcare for all Canadians.

###

Media Contact

Adam Singfield

Co-founder, Marketing & Communications Director

adam@foundationhealth.ca



Foundation Health Medical Clinic - 600 The East Mall #1A, Etobicoke, ON M9B 4B1, Canada









Attachment
Ramsey, NJ, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) is pleased to announce Laura Blackmer, President, Dealer Sales, has received the 2024 Frank Award for Best Female Executive.

The Frank Awards recognize outstanding achievements and excellence in the independent dealer channel of the office technology industry. This is the eighth time Blackmer has received this distinction. Toni Gorveatt and Noah Maphis of Cobb Technologies presented the award to Blackmer during The Cannata Reports annual gala on November 7.

It was a delight to have again received this accolade, I am always humbled by this award since it is open to all dealers. I truly appreciate their support and have enjoyed my relationships within this community, said Blackmer. I am grateful to The Cannata Report for not only recognizing women in leadership roles with this award category, but also the importance they place on female executives through their Women Influencers program.

"Laura Blackmers recognition as Best Female Executive reflects the deep respect and appreciation she has earned from dealers across the channel," said CJ Cannata, President and CEO, The Cannata Report. "Her dedication, approachability and communication skills set her apart as one of the most highly esteemed leaders in the industry, and her multiple wins demonstrate her remarkable influence and unwavering commitment to dealer success."

The Cannata Reports annual gala raised funds for research led by Rena Feinman, Ph.D., Associate Member of the Center for Discovery and Innovation at Hackensack Meridian Health, seeking to improve response to anticancer therapies for breast cancer patients.

See the full list of 2024 Frank Award winners online.

About Konica Minolta

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.'s (Konica Minolta) journey started 150 years ago, with a vision to see and do things differently. The company innovates for the good of society and the world. The same purpose that kept it moving then, keeps it moving now. Konica Minolta aims to partner with clients to Give Shape to Ideas by supporting their digital transformation through its expansive Intelligent Connected Workplace portfolio. Its business technology offerings include IT Services, intelligent information management, video security solutions and managed print services, as well as office technology and industrial and commercial print solutions. Through its ongoing work, the company is fortunate to be continuously recognized for its products and services. This includes, but is not limited to being included on CRNs MSP 500 list numerous times; named a finalist in the IT Software Category by The World Technology Awards; recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys and presented with Keypoint Intelligences BLI 2021 A3 Line of The Year and BLI 2021-2023 Most Color Consistent A3 Brand Awards for its bizhub i-Series. For more information, please visit Konica Minolta online and follow its account on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter.

About The Cannata Report

The Cannata Report is the leading intelligence resource for the document imaging channel in the office technology industry, covering a range of topics, including managed IT solutions, managed print services, digital transformation, cybersecurity, cloud communications, network security, production print, services and supplies, vendor finance, mergers and acquisitions, and more. Written specifically for the independent dealer channel, The Cannata Report, founded in 1982, has an audience that includes business leaders in the office technology industry's hardware, software, IT, leasing, and supplies segments.

# # # # #

Attachment
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CannabisNewsWire (CNW), a leading communications platform for the cannabis industry and part of the InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN), is thrilled to announce its engagement as the official newswire for the 13th Annual MJBizCon. Taking place from December 36, 2024, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, this years event promises to continue its legacy as the premier global cannabis business conference and tradeshow.

In its 13th year, MJBizCon has firmly established itself as a flagship event, annually attracting over 30,000 cannabis executives, entrepreneurs, and professionals from across the globe. The conference will feature 100+ industry-leading speakers, cutting-edge products, and innovative solutions from more than 1,400 exhibitors.

Highlights of MJBizCon 2024 include:

A diverse agenda addressing critical business needs and emerging growth strategies for the cannabis sector.

High-value pre-show forums on specialized topics, including finance, marketing, science, psychedelics, womens leadership, and industry associations.

Networking opportunities and educational sessions designed to foster collaboration and innovation across the entire cannabis value chain.



MJBizCon is one of the most prestigious events in the cannabis industry, providing unparalleled opportunities for learning, networking, and growth, said Randy Clark, Director of Global Operations at IBN. We are excited to collaborate with the MJBizCon team and leverage CannabisNewsWires syndication capabilities to provide real-time coverage and maximize visibility for speakers, exhibitors, and attendees.

CNW will amplify event updates via 5,000+ media outlets, while IBN will provide comprehensive social media coverage through its network of 60+ brands, reaching over 2 million followers on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Cherlene Erauda, Marketing Manager, Audience & Content at MJBiz, commented, IBN and CNW are leaders in cannabis communications, making them ideal partners for this milestone event. Their expertise in content dissemination and social media will be instrumental in amplifying the impact of MJBizCon as we explore transformative industry developments such as cannabis cafes, tax reforms, and innovative business models.

MJBizCon is a must-attend event for industry stakeholders, from cultivators and retailers to investors and innovators. Registration for the event can be done via this link: https://mjbizconference.com/IBN

About IBN

IBN consists of financial brands introduced to the investment public over the course of 18+ years. With IBN, we have amassed a collective audience of millions of social media followers. These distinctive investor brands aim to fulfill the unique needs of a growing base of client-partners. IBN will continue to expand our branded network of highly influential properties, leveraging the knowledge and energy of specialized teams of experts to serve our increasingly diversified list of clients.

Through our Dynamic Brand Portfolio (DBP) , IBN provides: (1) access to a network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets; (3) Press Release Enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) full-scale distribution to a growing social media audience; (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions ; and (6) total news coverage solutions.

For more information, please visit https://www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the InvestorBrandNetwork website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: http://IBN.fm/Disclaimer

Corporate Communications
Dublin, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Netherlands Architects - Industry Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The analysis conducted in the Architects (Netherlands) report is ideal for anyone wanting to identify the market leaders, spot companies heading for failure, eek out the most attractive acquisition opportunities, analyse industry trends and benchmark their own financial performance.

Using an exclusive methodology, a quick glance of this Architects (Netherlands) report will tell you the companies that have a declining financial rating, and those that have shown good sales growth.



Each of the largest 153 companies is meticulously scrutinised in an individual assessment and analysed using the most up-to-date and current financial data.



Every business is examined on the following features:

A graphical assessment and presentation of a company's financial performance

An independent financial valuation

Acquisition attractiveness - outlining a firm's takeover attractiveness

Four year assessment of the profit/loss and balance sheet

A written summary highlighting key performance issues

Subsequently, you will receive a thorough 100-page market analysis highlighting the latest changes in the Architects (Netherlands) market.

This section includes:

Best Trading Partners

Sales Growth Analysis

Profit Analysis

Market Size

Rankings

You can utilise the findings within this report to assess the attractiveness of potential acquisitions, gain a better understanding of the market, and identify sound companies with whom to trade.



Key Topics Covered:



The report is split into two sections and uses both a written and graphical analysis - analysing the 651 largest Architects companies.



The Architects (Netherlands) report contains the most-up-to-date financial data and the publisher applies these figures to create their unique and authoritative analysis.



The first section thoroughly scrutinises the market and this section includes the following:

Best Trading Partners: These are companies that are winning in both sales and financial strength

Sales Growth Analysis: This section reviews both the fastest growing and fastest shrinking company

Profit Analysis - Analysis of gross profit and Pre-tax Profitover the last ten years and a profitability summary comparing profits in the industry against small, medium and large companies

Market Size: Based on the largest 651 companies, this is a comparison between last year's market size and the most current figure

Rankings: The top 50 companies ranked by: Market Share, Sales Growth, Gross Profit and Pre-tax Profit

The next section focuses on company analysis and provides an in-depth analysis of the largest companies within the Architects (Netherlands) industry.



Each business is analysed using the publisher's unique model and culminates in the production of 'The Chart'. This model uses a series of charts to graphically analyse an individual company and measure its ability to achieve sales growth while maintaining financial strength.



'The Chart' is a quick and dependable method of analysing a company's financial well-being. It's simple to understand: a rising line is good news and a falling line is bad news.



Therefore, this company analysis will tell you if a company is:

Strong or heading for failure

Maximising their investments

Becoming burdened by debt

Getting the most from their resources

The Architects (Netherlands) analysis also provides you with full business name and address, name and ages of directors and registration address.



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/pnrbq6

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
Washington, D.C., Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 2025 Washington, D.C. Auto Show, one of the nation's premier automotive events, returns to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center from Friday, January 31 through Sunday, February 9, 2025. This year, the show offers an immersive experience for enthusiasts and families alike, featuring hundreds of models from top brands like Toyota, Ford, Volkswagen, Kia, Nissan, Volvo, and Subarualongside exciting newcomers like INEOS Grenadier and returning favorite, Explorer Van Company  as well as an array of attractions designed for all ages.

Each year, we aim to deliver something new, exciting, and unforgettable for everyone, from car aficionados to families, said John ODonnell, President & CEO of the Washington, D.C. Auto Show. With fresh brands, interactive exhibits, and family-friendly fun, the 2025 show is all about celebrating the passion, innovation, and community that drives the auto industry forward.

Visitors can look forward to exploring a dazzling lineup of the latest vehicles from renowned automakers across the globe. The show will feature everything from cutting-edge electric vehicles that redefine sustainability to powerful SUVs designed for adventure. Whether youre drawn to the sleek sophistication of luxury models, the efficiency of hybrids, or the rugged appeal of off-road-ready trucks, this year's display promises something for every automotive enthusiast. With hands-on exhibits, interactive features, and knowledgeable brand representatives on-site, attendees will experience the future of driving up close and personal.

Crowd-pleasers like Art-of-Motion, which highlights the creativity of custom models, classic cars, motorcycles, and visionary artists, is back for its ninth consecutive year with an impressive display of over 40 cars. Additionally, the DC Car Scene will once again showcase stunning, one-of-a-kind custom cars and trucks, offering enthusiasts a feast for the eyes.

The show takes the excitement outdoors with thrilling ride-and-drive experiences from top brands, showcasing their latest hybrid and electric models. Indoors, the e-bike track by Strictly eBikes returns, letting guests zoom around on impressive two-wheelers. Families wont want to miss the expanded Kid Zone, packed with interactive driving simulators, the WowWheelz indoor driving adventure for kids, and KrazyBouncea dedicated bounce house area promising endless fun.

Whether its exploring innovative electric vehicles or testing performance on indoor tracks, theres something for everyone to enjoy.

As always, Public Policy Day will kick off the event on Thursday, January 30, bringing together industry leaders and government officials to discuss policy initiatives impacting the automotive sector. This day of fireside chats and panels provides a unique opportunity to delve into the future of transportation and the legislative landscape. The full consumer show will then begin on Friday, January 31 for ten consecutive days.

Tickets for the 2025 Washington, D.C. Auto Show are now available. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit WashingtonAutoShow.com .

Show dates and times: Friday, January 31, 12:00 noon  9:00 pm; Saturday, February 1, 10:00 am  9:00 pm; Sunday, February 2, 10:00 am  6:00 pm; Monday, February 3 through Thursday, February 6, 12:00 noon  8:00 pm; Friday, February 7, 12:00  9:00 pm; Saturday, February 8, 10:00 am  9:00 pm; Sunday, February 9, 10:00 am  6:00 pm.

###







About The Washington, D.C. Auto Show

The Washington, D.C. Auto Show is held each January at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and is the largest annual indoor public event in the District of Columbia. For more than 80 years, the auto show has modified their programming to accommodate the latest advances and trends in car technology. With the rise in connectivity and autonomous capabilities, the 2025 Auto Show will highlight mobility advancements in all forms of transportation through its brand-new DC eDrives experience. Browse the extensive displays of battery-powered vehicles, sustainable buses, and new forms of all-electric mobility, along with the classic fan favorites like the exotic and luxury car displays. The 2025 Washington, D.C. Auto Show will be open to the public for 10 consecutive days, from January 31 through February 9, 2025.

Attachments
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via IBN -- ROTH Capital Partners, LLC (ROTH) and Sustain Southern California (Sustain SoCal) today announced they will co-host the 7th Annual Sustainability Private Capital Event (PCE7) virtually on December 4-5, 2024.

This years conference will feature pre-recorded company pitches and 1-on-1 / small group Zoom meetings. The event offers venture capitalists, private equity, family offices, and strategic investors the opportunity to engage with early-stage sustainability companies ranging from Series A to Series D across innovative sectors such as Solar/Storage, e-Mobility, Clean Fuels, Circular Economy, Grid/Battery Tech, Sustainable Industrial Growth, and AgTech.

Robert Stephenson , Managing Director and Co-Head of Sustainability Investment Banking at ROTH and Sustain SoCal Board Member, stated, Were thrilled to co-host the December PCE with Sustain SoCal, a leader in promoting sustainable growth through innovation, collaboration, and education. As a founding member of Sustain SoCal, ROTH remains dedicated to supporting the sustainability sector in Southern California and beyond.

Scott Kitcher , President & CEO of Sustain SoCal, commented, We deeply appreciate our ongoing collaboration with ROTH. Their support, along with our 30 board members, has significantly accelerated sustainability initiatives and economic growth. The success and growth of this annual event reflect that our shared commitment to a sustainable future is making an impact.

Since 2013, ROTH has facilitated approximately 225 sustainability transactions totalling over $33 billion in value.

For more information and registration, please visit www.roth.com/sustainvirtual2024, contact your ROTH event representative at (949) 720-5700, or email registration@roth.com .

Event Agenda (PT)

WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 04, 2024

8:00 am - 12:00 pm 1-on-1 / Small Group Meetings via Zoom



THURSDAY | DECEMBER 05, 2024

8:00 am - 12:00 pm 1-on-1 / Small Group Meetings via Zoom



Participating Companies Include  As of 11/26/2024

Company Name Company URL Aero Velocity https://www.aerovelocity.com/ Americarb https://www.americarb.com/ Budderfly https://www.budderfly.com/ Capacity Power Group https://www.capacitypowergroup.com/ ChargeNet Stations https://chargenetstations.com/ EasyStreet Systems https://easystreetsystems.com/ Electrical Grid Monitoring http://www.egm.net/ Elexity http://www.elexity.io/ Enersponse https://www.enersponse.com/ Enzinc https://enzinc.com/ Epic Renewables No website EVCS https://www.evcs.com/ Infravision https://infravision.com.au/ Ionblox https://www.ionblox.com/ Kepsmart https://kepsmart.com/ Logical Buildings https://logicalbuildings.com/ ModuRack https://www.modurack.com/ Morelle Bikes https://www.morellebikes.com/ NevadaNano https://nevadanano.com/ Nevados http://nevados.solar/ Plant Prefab https://www.plantprefab.com/ Powerfield Energy http://www.powerfieldenergy.com/ SkyCool Systems https://www.skycoolsystems.com/ SmartHelio http://www.smarthelio.com/ UbiQD http://www.ubiqd.com/ Ultion Technologies https://www.ultiontech.com/ UtilityAPI https://utilityapi.com/ Wynd Technologies https://hellowynd.com/



This is not an offer or solicitation of the securities herein.

Please visit the ROTH Conference section of our marketing partner, B2i Digital , for additional information about the companies in attendance.

Thank you to the event sponsors:

Company Name Company Website (URL) Silicon Valley Bank https://www.svb.com/ Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth https://www.stradlinglaw.com/ Toronto Stock Exchange & TSX Venture Exchange https://www.tsx.com/ B2i Digital, Inc. https://www.b2idigital.com/ IBN (InvestorBrandNetwork) https://www.investorbrandnetwork.com/ NGO Sustainability Inc. https://www.unngosustainability.org/



About Sustain SoCal:

Sustain SoCal, a non-profit organization, accelerates sustainability and economic growth through innovation, collaboration, and education in Southern California. The organization has a 10+ year history in exploring and implementing pragmatic, real-world solutions to the challenges created by growth, change and inefficiency. It conducts conferences, workshops and networking events that lead to initiatives that positively impact our regions economic progress and sustainability. For more information, please visit www.sustainsocal.org .

About ROTH

ROTH is a relationship-driven investment bank focused on serving growth companies and their investors. Our full-service platform provides capital raising, high impact equity research, macroeconomics, sales and trading, technical insights, derivatives strategies, M&A advisory, and corporate access. Headquartered in Newport Beach, California, ROTH is a privately held, employee-owned organization and maintains offices throughout the U.S. For more information, please visit www.roth.com .

Investor Contact:

ROTH

Isabel Mattson-Pain

Managing Director, Chief Marketing Officer

949.720.7117, imattson-pain@roth.com

ROTH  Member FINRA/SIPC  www.roth.com
Dublin, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Bridge; Tunnel & Highway Construction - Industry Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The analysis conducted in the Bridge, Tunnel & Highway Construction (Global) report is ideal for anyone wanting to identify the market leaders, spot companies heading for failure, seek out the most attractive acquisition opportunities, analyse industry trends, and benchmark their own financial performance.

Using an exclusive methodology, a quick glance of this Bridge; Tunnel & Highway Construction (Global) report will tell you the companies that have a declining financial rating, and those that have shown good sales growth.



Every business is examined on the following features:

A graphical assessment and presentation of a company's financial performance

An independent financial valuation

Acquisition attractiveness - outlining a firm's takeover attractiveness

Four year assessment of the profit/loss and balance sheet

A written summary highlighting key performance issues

Subsequently, you will receive a thorough 100-page market analysis highlighting the latest changes in the Bridge; Tunnel & Highway Construction (Global) market.

This section includes:

Best Trading Partners

Sales Growth Analysis

Profit Analysis

Market Size

Rankings

You can utilise the findings within this report to assess the attractiveness of potential acquisitions, gain a better understanding of the market, and identify sound companies with whom to trade.



Key Topics Covered:



The report is split into two sections and uses both a written and graphical analysis - analysing the 634 largest Bridge; Tunnel & Highway Construction companies.



The Bridge; Tunnel & Highway Construction (Global) report contains the most-up-to-date financial data and the publisher applies these figures to create their unique and authoritative analysis.



The first section thoroughly scrutinises the market and this section includes the following:

Best Trading Partners: These are companies that are winning in both sales and financial strength

Sales Growth Analysis: This section reviews both the fastest growing and fastest shrinking company

Profit Analysis - Analysis of gross profit and Pre-tax Profitover the last ten years and a profitability summary comparing profits in the industry against small, medium and large companies

Market Size: Based on the largest 634 companies, this is a comparison between last year's market size and the most current figure

Rankings: The top 50 companies ranked by: Market Share, Sales Growth, Gross Profit and Pre-tax Profit

The next section focuses on company analysis and provides an in-depth analysis of the largest companies within the Bridge; Tunnel & Highway Construction (Global) industry.



Each business is analysed using the publisher's unique model and culminates in the production of 'The Chart'. This model uses a series of charts to graphically analyse an individual company and measure its ability to achieve sales growth while maintaining financial strength.



'The Chart' is a quick and dependable method of analysing a company's financial well-being. It's simple to understand: a rising line is good news and a falling line is bad news.



Therefore, this company analysis will tell you if a company is:

Strong or heading for failure

Maximising their investments

Becoming burdened by debt

Getting the most from their resources

The Bridge; Tunnel & Highway Construction (Global) analysis also provides you with full business name and address, name and ages of directors and registration address.



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/sug3ik

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
Irvine, CA, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abstrax Hops, a leader in advanced flavor solutions for the brewing industry, is proud to announce its upcoming workshop at Brewbound Live 2024. Titled Beer Flavor Goes Electric: A New Era of Flavor Innovation, the session will be led by Tom Nielsen, Director of Brewing & Beverage Innovation at Abstrax, on December 11, 2024, in Marina del Rey, California.

Just as Bob Dylans electrifying switch to electric guitar revolutionized the music world, Abstrax is transforming beer flavor, says Tom Nielsen. This workshop is a call to action for brewers to embrace a game-changing new toolkit that amplifies creativity, sustainability, and flavor complexity.

The workshop will highlight how Abstraxs innovative productssuch as the Quantum Series, Skyfarm Series , Omni Hop Profiles , and BrewGas Series empower brewers to elevate their offerings effortlessly. Attendees will explore how these plug-and-play solutions expand the creative potential for beer flavor, offering unmatched vibrancy, ease of use, and sustainable advantages.

Nielsen, a brewing veteran with over two decades of experience, is renowned for his contributions to brewing science and sensory analysis. Formerly the R&D and Raw Materials Manager at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., he now leads Abstraxs mission to push the boundaries of what beer flavor can be.

A Multi-Sensory, Immersive Experience

The workshop offers brewers a firsthand look at the transformative power of Abstraxs innovations through engaging visuals, live demonstrations, and sensory interactions. Participants will explore:

Major Expansion of Flavor Palette: Unlocking new possibilities with cutting-edge solutions that bring vibrant, clean, and dynamic flavors to the forefront of brewing.

Unlocking new possibilities with cutting-edge solutions that bring vibrant, clean, and dynamic flavors to the forefront of brewing. Ease of Use: Simple, seamless integration of Abstraxs products into existing brewing processes without additional investment or complexity.

Simple, seamless integration of Abstraxs products into existing brewing processes without additional investment or complexity. Technological Breakthroughs: Leveraging innovative clear-tech emulsion systems that enhance flavor authenticity with no special handling required, offering a seamless and sustainable solution for brewers and beverage makers.

Leveraging innovative clear-tech emulsion systems that enhance flavor authenticity with no special handling required, offering a seamless and sustainable solution for brewers and beverage makers. Sensory Immersion: Interactive flavor and aroma samples that showcase how Abstraxs offerings bring new dimensions to beer, allowing participants to directly experience the potential for sensory-rich creations.

By blending cutting-edge science with hands-on engagement, the session demonstrates how brewers can innovate while maintaining sustainability and simplicity in their craft.

Join the Flavor Revolution

Brewbound Live 2024 attendees are invited to participate in this electrifying workshop to gain insights into how Abstrax is shaping the future of brewing.

For more information about the workshop and Abstraxs innovative products, visit AbstraxHops.com .

About Abstrax: Where Innovation and Science Meets Flavor Mastery

As the pioneering leader in the world of botanical flavor technology, Abstrax excels in crafting innovative terpene-driven, functional flavor solutions. Serving the cannabis, hops, flavor and fragrance industries, Abstrax is the trusted product development partner that forward-thinking CPG brands turn to when looking for a competitive edge. Founded in California by a team of award-winning PhD scientists, flavor chemists, and visionary product developers, Abstrax harnesses its three divisions to craft transformative CPG applications via innovative technology and more sustainable, all natural, and cost effective ingredients. Abstrax Tech produces groundbreaking peer reviewed research publications, discovers new flavor compounds, and produces terpene blends and flavors for tobacco, cannabis, and food applications  including botanically derived cannabis flavor experiences, live all-natural hemp-derived terpenes, and mood-enhancing terpene-flavor systems. Abstrax Hops provides the most advanced research, products, and services that push the limits of brewing innovation. Its wide range of solutions encapsulates the authentic varietal-specific Hop Flavors, Dank Flavors, and next generation of advanced hop products including natural hop aroma extracts. Abstrax offers the utmost in safety, quality and regulatory adherence, ensuring seamless integration into product lines. Delve deeper with Abstrax at AbstraxTech.com and AbstraxHops.com .

Attachment
Dublin, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Latvia Construction & Engineering - Industry Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The analysis conducted in the Construction & Engineering (Latvia) report is ideal for anyone wanting to identify the market leaders, spot companies heading for failure, seek out the most attractive acquisition opportunities, analyse industry trends, and benchmark their own financial performance.

Using an exclusive methodology, a quick glance of this Construction & Engineering (Latvia) report will tell you the companies that have a declining financial rating, and those that have shown good sales growth.



Every business is examined on the following features:

A graphical assessment and presentation of a company's financial performance

An independent financial valuation

Acquisition attractiveness - outlining a firm's takeover attractiveness

Four year assessment of the profit/loss and balance sheet

A written summary highlighting key performance issues

Subsequently, you will receive a thorough 100-page market analysis highlighting the latest changes in the Construction & Engineering (Latvia) market.

This section includes:

Best Trading Partners

Sales Growth Analysis

Profit Analysis

Market Size

Rankings

You can utilise the findings within this report to assess the attractiveness of potential acquisitions, gain a better understanding of the market, and identify sound companies with whom to trade.



Key Topics Covered:



The report is split into two sections and uses both a written and graphical analysis - analysing the 19 largest Construction & Engineering companies.



The Construction & Engineering (Latvia) report contains the most-up-to-date financial data and the publisher applies these figures to create their unique and authoritative analysis.



The first section thoroughly scrutinises the market and this section includes the following:

Best Trading Partners: These are companies that are winning in both sales and financial strength

Sales Growth Analysis: This section reviews both the fastest growing and fastest shrinking company

Profit Analysis - Analysis of gross profit and Pre-tax Profitover the last ten years and a profitability summary comparing profits in the industry against small, medium and large companies

Market Size: Based on the largest 19 companies, this is a comparison between last year's market size and the most current figure

Rankings: The top 50 companies ranked by: Market Share, Sales Growth, Gross Profit and Pre-tax Profit

The next section focuses on company analysis and provides an in-depth analysis of the largest companies within the Construction & Engineering (Latvia) industry.



Each business is analysed using the publisher's unique model and culminates in the production of 'The Chart'. This model uses a series of charts to graphically analyse an individual company and measure its ability to achieve sales growth while maintaining financial strength.



'The Chart' is a quick and dependable method of analysing a company's financial well-being. It's simple to understand: a rising line is good news and a falling line is bad news.



Therefore, this company analysis will tell you if a company is:

Strong or heading for failure

Maximising their investments

Becoming burdened by debt

Getting the most from their resources

The Construction & Engineering (Latvia) analysis also provides you with full business name and address, name and ages of directors and registration address.



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ufsher

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
Dublin, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Belgium Construction & Engineering - Industry Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The analysis conducted in the Construction & Engineering (Belgium) report is ideal for anyone wanting to identify the market leaders, spot companies heading for failure, seek out the most attractive acquisition opportunities, analyse industry trends, and benchmark their own financial performance.

Using an exclusive methodology, a quick glance of this Construction & Engineering (Belgium) report will tell you the companies that have a declining financial rating, and those that have shown good sales growth.



Every business is examined on the following features:

A graphical assessment and presentation of a company's financial performance

An independent financial valuation

Acquisition attractiveness - outlining a firm's takeover attractiveness

Four year assessment of the profit/loss and balance sheet

A written summary highlighting key performance issues

Subsequently, you will receive a thorough 100-page market analysis highlighting the latest changes in the Construction & Engineering (Belgium) market.

This section includes:

Best Trading Partners

Sales Growth Analysis

Profit Analysis

Market Size

Rankings

You can utilise the findings within this report to assess the attractiveness of potential acquisitions, gain a better understanding of the market, and identify sound companies with whom to trade.



Key Topics Covered:



The report is split into two sections and uses both a written and graphical analysis - analysing the 254 largest Construction & Engineering companies.



The Construction & Engineering (Belgium) report contains the most-up-to-date financial data and the publisher applies these figures to create their unique and authoritative analysis.



The first section thoroughly scrutinises the market and this section includes the following:

Best Trading Partners: These are companies that are winning in both sales and financial strength

Sales Growth Analysis: This section reviews both the fastest growing and fastest shrinking company

Profit Analysis - Analysis of gross profit and Pre-tax Profitover the last ten years and a profitability summary comparing profits in the industry against small, medium and large companies

Market Size: Based on the largest 254 companies, this is a comparison between last year's market size and the most current figure

Rankings: The top 50 companies ranked by: Market Share, Sales Growth, Gross Profit and Pre-tax Profit

The next section focuses on company analysis and provides an in-depth analysis of the largest companies within the Construction & Engineering (Belgium) industry.



Each business is analysed using the publisher's unique model and culminates in the production of 'The Chart'. This model uses a series of charts to graphically analyse an individual company and measure its ability to achieve sales growth while maintaining financial strength.



'The Chart' is a quick and dependable method of analysing a company's financial well-being. It's simple to understand: a rising line is good news and a falling line is bad news.



Therefore, this company analysis will tell you if a company is:

Strong or heading for failure

Maximising their investments

Becoming burdened by debt

Getting the most from their resources

The Construction & Engineering (Belgium) analysis also provides you with full business name and address, name and ages of directors and registration address.



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/dh6nv3

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
Grosse Pointe, Michigan, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Broad Arrow Auctions, a Hagerty (NYSE: HGTY) company, is thrilled to announce its partnership with BMW AG to become the official auction partner of the Concorso dEleganza Villa dEste, starting in May 2025. As part of the Concorso dEleganza Villa dEste event, Broad Arrow Auctions is expected to offer up to 70 of the highest quality collector cars for sale on the shores of Lake Como.

Founded in 1929, the Concorso dEleganza Villa dEste is one of the worlds oldest and most esteemed concours delegance events. Hosted by BMW Group Classic and Grand Hotel Villa d'Este, Saturdays tickets for the events at Villa d'Este are limited, while the parade of Historic Cars is open to the public on Sunday at Villa Erba. Broad Arrows auction will be held on Saturday, May 24, 2025 at Villa Erba.

We could not think of a better, more prestigious location and partner to launch our first ever auction in Europe than the Concorso dEleganza Villa dEste. We are grateful for our partnership with BMW as the official annual auction house of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, their choice speaks volumes to the proven track record of our team of specialists, said Kenneth Ahn, President of Hagerty Marketplace and Broad Arrow Auctions. As the crown jewel in the concours world, we are excited to present some of the most exceptional collector cars available with a premium auction experience next May and beyond.

We are happy to welcome Broad Arrow Auctions as the new auction partner of the Concorso dEleganza Villa dEste, says Helmut Kas, Head of BMW Group Classic and President of Concorso dEleganza Villa dEste. They will bring a large number of spectacular cars to be auctioned at the grounds of Villa Erba. With this, they will create a highlight for all visitors. We are looking forward to a rewarding partnership during the coming years.

Broad Arrow Auctions makes its overseas live auction debut following successful annual North American sales, including the Monterey Jet Center Auction and The Amelia Auction, where Broad Arrow is the official auction house of The Amelia (Concours dElegance). At each of these auctions, Broad Arrow has seen rapid growth, continuing to increase total sales and the average value of cars sold year over year.

"It's an incredible honor to partner with one of the most internationally renowned concours, offering a world-class auction to complement what car lovers around the world recognize as one of the key moments every year, added McKeel Hagerty, CEO and Chairman of Hagerty. Broad Arrows presence at Villa Erba, as a part of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa dEste, builds upon our existing European efforts and provides us better ways to serve our global high net worth clientele and connect more meaningfully with automotive enthusiasts across the continent. I'm proud of what Broad Arrow has achieved in just three short years. They are paving the way for a whole new auction experience focused on the next generation of collectors.

With this announcement, Broad Arrow formally launches its auction calendar overseas and continues to position itself as one of the fastest-growing global leaders in the collector car auction industry. Additional information on the auction will be available in the coming weeks at www.broadarrowauctions.com. Consignors interested in offering their exceptional motor car at The Villa dEste Auction at Villa Erba are invited to contact a Broad Arrow Car Specialist at +44 20 4592 0169 (UK/Europe) or on +1 313 312 0780 (North America) or via email at info@broadarrowauctions.com.

Attachments
Dublin, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Norway Geological Surveyors - Industry Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Geological Surveyors (Norway) report provides a detailed overview of the market and delivers a comprehensive individual analysis on the top 70 companies, including Abyssinia Resources Development As, Deepocean Norway As and Geoingenioerene As.



The analysis conducted in the Geological Surveyors (Norway)report is ideal for anyone wanting to identify the market leaders, spot companies heading for failure, seek out the most attractive acquisition opportunities, analyse industry trends, and benchmark their own financial performance.

Using an exclusive methodology, a quick glance of this Geological Surveyors (Norway) report will tell you that 17 companies have a declining financial rating, while 17 have shown good sales growth. Each of the largest 70 companies is meticulously scrutinised in an individual assessment and analysed using the most up-to-date and current financial data.



Every business is examined on the following features:

A graphical assessment of a company's financial performance

Four year assessment of the profit/loss and balance sheet

A written summary highlighting key performance issues

Subsequently, you will receive a thorough 100-page market analysis highlighting the latest changes in the Geological Surveyors (Norway) market.



This section includes:

Best Trading Partners

Sales Growth Analysis

Profit Analysis

Market Size

Rankings

You can utilize the findings within this report to assess the attractiveness of potential acquisitions, gain a better understanding of the market, and identify sound companies with whom to trade.



Key Topics Covered:



The Geological Surveyors (Norway) analysis is the most definitive and accurate study of the Geological Surveyors (Norway) sector.



The report is split into two sections and uses both a written and graphical analysis - analysing the 70 largest Geological Surveyors (Norway) companies.



The Geological Surveyors (Norway) report contains the most-up-to-date financial data and the publisher applies these figures to create their unique and authoritative analysis.



Indeed, the first section thoroughly scrutinises the market and this section includes the following:

Best Trading Partners: These are companies that are winning in both sales and financial strength - for example Loevlien Georaad As has been ranked as a best trading partner in the industry.

Sales Growth Analysis: This section reviews the fastest growing and fastest shrinking company - for example Landmaaler Soer As is among the fastest growing.

Profit Analysis - Analysis of gross profit and pre-tax profit over the last ten years and a profitability summary comparing profits in the industry against small, medium and large companies.

Market Size: Based on the largest 70 companies, this is a comparison between last year's market size and the most current figure.

Rankings: The top 50 companies ranked by: Market Share, Sales Growth, Gross Profit and Pre-tax Profit.

The next section focuses on company analysis and provides an in-depth analysis of the largest companies within the Geological Surveyors (Norway) industry.



Each business is analysed using the publisher's unequivocal model and culminates in the production of The Publisher's Chart. The Publisher's Model uses a series of charts to graphically analyse an individual company and measure its ability to achieve sales growth while maintaining financial strength.



The Publisher's Chart is a quick and dependable method of analysing a company's financial well-being. It's simple to understand: a rising line is good news and a falling line is bad news.



Therefore, this company analysis will tell you if a company is:

Strong or heading for failure

Utilising their investments

Becoming burdened by debt

Getting the most from their resources

The Geological Surveyors (Norway) analysis also provides you with full business name and address, name and ages of directors and registration address.



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/62n5ol

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
New York, NY, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thor Equities Group, a global leader in urban real estate development, leasing and management, is pleased to announce it has successfully closed a $36.95 million construction loan secured by ACRES Capital for its development, Wynwood Walk, in South Florida. With this new loan, the total financing arranged with ACRES in the past month exceeds $100 million, highlighting the strength of Thors relationship with ACRES and its ongoing commitment to the vibrant Wynwood District in Miami.

The loan will support the business plan to continue the leasing of the asset, which has already attracted an exciting mix of high-profile tenants. Among the notable current tenants at Wynwood Walk include Puttery, Velvet Taco, Sea Saw/Shinso, Chama De Fogo, Midtown Boba, and Collectors Club  each contributing to the lively experience that defines Wynwood Walk.

"Were excited to build on the momentum that weve achieved at Wynwood Walk, said Chairman of Thor Equities Group, Joe Sitt. With our talented team and a solid foundation of existing tenants, we look forward to realizing the full potential of Wynwood Walk as a key destination in Miami."

Earlier this month, Thor announced the closing of a $68.5 million construction loan secured by ACRES Capital for 377 Carlls Path in Deer Park, New York. This financing will support the development of a state-of-the-art, 310,500 square foot Class A industrial facility, designed to meet the growing demands of the market.

Thors recent activity includes the sale of a premier industrial facility in Laredo, Texas, achieving an impressive 180% internal rate of return. Additionally, in late 2024, Thor acquired a 270-acre industrial property in the Greater Atlanta metro area, featuring a 506,220 square foot facility with a dedicated 100 MVA substation and 50 MW power output. The site is fully equipped with necessary infrastructure, allowing for immediate development for data centers or advanced manufacturing.

###

About Thor Equities Group

Thor Equities is a leader in the development, leasing and management of industrial, laboratory, residential, office, hotel and mixed-use assets in premier locations worldwide. The company operates in major cities around the globe and has a property portfolio totaling $20 billion with a development pipeline in excess of 50 million square feet. Thor has a strong presence on three continents and in addition to its US holdings, the company has assets in European gateway cities including London, Paris, Madrid, and Milan, and is the largest developer in Mexico through its Latin American division with a development pipeline of over 20 million square feet. Thor maximizes returns for institutional investors by recognizing a propertys potential, reducing operating expenses, increasing tenant satisfaction, and leveraging market trends to maintain a long-term competitive edge. For more information, visit www.thorequities.com.
Dublin, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Dental Consumables Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity and Forecast, 2019-2029F" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Global Dental Consumables Market was valued at USD 31.50 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to project robust growth in the forecast period with a CAGR of 8.10% through 2029

The focus on preventive dentistry has emerged as a significant trend in the global dental consumables market. This trend reflects a shift towards emphasizing early intervention, patient education, and proactive measures to maintain oral health and prevent dental issues. The emphasis on preventive dentistry has led to a higher demand for consumables related to preventive measures. Products such as fluoride varnishes, dental sealants, and remineralizing agents are sought after to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent decay.







Consumers are becoming more conscious of their oral hygiene routines. Dental consumables like toothbrushes, dental floss, mouthwashes, and interdental brushes are being used as part of regular oral care practices. Preventive dentistry promotes patient education about oral hygiene and healthy habits. Dental professionals recommend and provide educational materials along with consumables to empower patients to take charge of their oral health.



Consumables used in early detection, such as intraoral cameras and diagnostic tests, aid in identifying oral health issues in their initial stages. This enables timely intervention and prevention of more serious problems. Dental professionals are tailoring preventive strategies to individual patient needs. This customization drives the demand for specialized consumables that support personalized preventive care plans.



Advancements in dental technologies play a crucial role in driving the growth of the global dental consumables market. These technological innovations improve the efficiency, accuracy, and outcomes of dental procedures, thereby increasing the demand for a wide range of consumables. Technological advancements enable the development of new and improved dental procedures.



These expanded treatment options often require specialized consumables that are tailored to the specific technology being used. Modern dental technologies allow for minimally invasive procedures that preserve more natural tooth structure. These procedures often utilize advanced consumables for precision, contributing to increased demand. Digital technologies like CAD/CAM systems, digital impression scanners, and 3D printers have revolutionized dental workflows. These technologies rely on consumables like digital impression materials and CAD/CAM blocks for restorations.



Advanced imaging technologies, such as cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and intraoral scanners, provide highly detailed images for diagnosis and treatment planning. The accuracy of these technologies necessitates high-quality consumables for optimal results. Technological advancements have improved the success rates of dental implant procedures. These procedures require consumables like implant components, impression materials, and surgical guides. Technologies like 3D-printed aligners and computer-assisted treatment planning have transformed orthodontic treatments. These advancements drive the demand for consumables used in these procedures.



Regional Insights



North America, particularly the United States and Canada, has well-established and advanced healthcare infrastructure. This includes a high number of dental clinics, hospitals, and dental schools, which drives the demand for dental consumables.



There is a high level of awareness about oral health and the importance of regular dental check-ups and treatments in North America. This leads to a consistent demand for a wide range of dental consumables. North America has a relatively high level of disposable income, which allows a significant portion of the population to afford dental treatments and related consumables. The region is at the forefront of technological innovations in dentistry, including digital dentistry, CAD/CAM systems, and 3D printing. These advancements drive the demand for technologically compatible consumables. Many North American individuals and healthcare systems emphasize preventive dental care. This trend drives the demand for consumables related to preventive treatments, oral hygiene products, and regular dental check-ups.



There's a strong demand for cosmetic dentistry procedures in North America, including teeth whitening, veneers, and orthodontics. These procedures require specialized consumables. The aging population in North America contributes to the demand for dental treatments and tooth replacement solutions, including implants and prosthetics. These procedures require a range of consumables. While dental insurance coverage varies, a significant portion of the population in North America has access to dental insurance, which can incentivize individuals to seek dental treatments and consumables.

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 182 Forecast Period 2023 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $31.5 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $49.79 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 8.1% Regions Covered Global

Report Scope:

Key Market Players

Henry Schein Inc.

Hu-Friedy Mfg. Co., LLC.

Ivoclar Vivadent AG

Nakanishi Inc.

Patterson Companies Inc.

Ultradent Products Inc.

Young Innovations, Inc.

Thommen Medical AG

Osstem Implant Co., Ltd.

Jeil Medical Corporation

Dental Consumables Market, By Product Type:

Dental Burs

Whitening Materials

Dental Biomaterials

Dental Anesthetics

Crowns and Bridges

Dental Implants

Other

Dental Consumables Market, By Treatment:

Orthodontic

Endodontic

Periodontic

Prosthodontic

Dental Consumables Market, By Region:

North America

United States

Canada

Mexico

Europe

France

United Kingdom

Italy

Germany

Spain

Asia-Pacific

China

India

Japan

Australia

South Korea

South America

Brazil

Argentina

Colombia

Middle East & Africa

South Africa

Saudi Arabia

UAE

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/auobd6

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Dublin, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Japan Dental Care Market, By Region, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2020-2030F" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Japan Dental Care Market was valued at USD 101.38 million in 2024 and is anticipated to project impressive growth in the forecast period with a CAGR of 6.85% through 2030

The Japan dental care market stands as one of the largest in the Asia-Pacific region, marked by significant market value and consistent growth. This expansion is fueled by demographic shifts, technological advancements, and heightened public awareness of oral health. The market is set for continued growth, bolstered by favorable demographic trends, ongoing technological innovation, and increasing public health awareness. Despite challenges like high costs and workforce shortages, the market's outlook remains positive, driven by innovation, strategic partnerships, and a strong emphasis on preventive and comprehensive dental care.







Digital Transformation and Technological Advancements



The Japan dental care market is experiencing significant growth driven by the adoption of advanced digital technologies. This includes the widespread use of digital imaging systems, such as 3D cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), intraoral scanners, and CAD/CAM systems. These technologies enhance the precision and efficiency of diagnostics and treatment planning, enabling dental professionals to provide higher quality care. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in diagnostic tools and treatment planning further augments the capabilities of dental practitioners, allowing for more accurate and personalized care.



The emergence of tele-dentistry is another key trend. This technology enables remote consultation, diagnosis, and follow-up care, making dental services more accessible, especially in rural areas. Tele-dentistry platforms facilitate real-time communication between patients and dental professionals, reducing the need for in-person visits and improving convenience for patients. AR and VR technologies are revolutionizing dental education and patient consultation. These tools provide immersive training experiences for dental students and help patients better understand their treatment plans through visual simulations. The adoption of AR and VR in dental care enhances both the learning curve for practitioners and the patient experience, driving market growth.



Growing Focus on Preventive and Cosmetic Dentistry



There is an increasing emphasis on preventive dental care in Japan, driven by both public health initiatives and rising health consciousness among the population. Regular dental check-ups, early diagnosis, and interventions are becoming more common, contributing to the overall growth of the dental care market. Preventive care not only helps in maintaining oral health but also reduces the long-term costs associated with treating advanced dental diseases.



The demand for cosmetic dentistry is on the rise, fueled by a growing awareness of the importance of aesthetics and personal appearance. Procedures such as teeth whitening, veneers, dental implants, and orthodontics are gaining popularity. Advances in materials and techniques have made these procedures more effective and accessible, encouraging more people to seek cosmetic dental treatments.

This trend is particularly strong among the younger population and urban dwellers who prioritize aesthetics. The preference for minimally invasive dental procedures is another aspect of the shift towards preventive and cosmetic dentistry. Patients increasingly opt for treatments that offer quicker recovery times, less discomfort, and minimal tissue damage. Innovations in dental materials and techniques, such as laser dentistry and adhesive bonding, support this trend, making dental care less invasive and more patient-friendly.



Segmental Insights

Product Insights



Based on the category of Product, the General and Diagnostic Equipment segment emerged as the dominant in the market for Japan Dental Care in 2024. The General and Diagnostic Equipment segment encompasses a wide range of cutting-edge technologies that are crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment planning.

These include digital radiography, intraoral cameras, 3D imaging systems, and CAD/CAM (computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing) technology. The adoption of these advanced diagnostic tools allows for early detection of dental issues, precise treatment planning, and improved patient outcomes. The high accuracy and efficiency of these technologies drive their demand among dental practitioners aiming to offer superior patient care.



The rising incidence of dental disorders such as cavities, periodontal disease, and oral cancers in Japan necessitates the use of advanced diagnostic equipment. Early and accurate diagnosis is critical in managing these conditions effectively, leading to increased adoption of diagnostic tools. The aging population in Japan also contributes to a higher prevalence of dental issues, further driving the need for comprehensive diagnostic solutions to cater to the complex dental care requirements of elderly patients.

The integration of digital solutions into dental practices has revolutionized the General and Diagnostic Equipment segment. Digital records, electronic health records (EHR), and practice management software enhance the efficiency and accuracy of dental diagnostics. These digital solutions streamline workflows, reduce manual errors, and facilitate seamless communication between dental professionals, thereby improving overall patient care. The widespread adoption of digital tools in the dental sector underpins the dominance of this segment.



There is a growing emphasis on preventive dental care in Japan, which significantly boosts the demand for diagnostic equipment. Regular check-ups and early detection are key components of preventive care, requiring advanced diagnostic tools to identify potential issues before they become severe. This proactive approach to dental health, supported by public health initiatives and awareness campaigns, reinforces the market dominance of the General and Diagnostic Equipment segment.

Continuous advancements and innovations in dental technology play a pivotal role in the dominance of the General and Diagnostic Equipment segment. Companies invest heavily in research and development to introduce new and improved diagnostic tools that offer higher precision, reduced radiation exposure, and enhanced patient comfort. Innovations such as AI-powered diagnostic systems and portable imaging devices further expand the capabilities and accessibility of diagnostic equipment, driving their widespread adoption. These factors collectively contribute to the growth of this segment.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 82 Forecast Period 2024 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $101.38 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $151.22 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.8% Regions Covered Japan

Report Scope:





Key Market Players

J. MORITA CORP

Mani, Inc

GC International AG

MITSUI & CO., LTD

Tokuyama Dental Corporation

Dentech Corporation

THE YOSHIDA DENTAL MFG. CO., LTD

DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc

Nissin Dental Products INC

NAKANISHI INC.

Japan Dental Care Market, By Product:

General and Diagnostic Equipment

Dental Consumables

Other

Japan Dental Care Market, By Treatment:

Orthodontic

Endodontic

Periodontic

Prosthodontic

Japan Dental Care Market, By End User:

Hospitals

Dental Clinics

Other

Japan Dental Care Market, By Region:

Hokkaido

Tohoku

Kanto

Chubu

Kansai

Chugoku

Shikoku

Kyushu

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/h81uxy

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
TORONTO, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD)(TSX:ABX) today confirmed that four employees of its Loulo-Gounkoto mining complex had been charged and detained pending trial. While Barrick refutes these charges, it said it would continue to engage with the Malian government to find an amicable dispute settlement that would ensure the long-term sustainability of the complex.

President and chief executive Mark Bristow said that since September 30, the company had been actively seeking to finalize a Memorandum of Agreement that would guide Barricks partnership with the government in future, including the states share of the economic benefits generated by the complex and the legal framework under which this would be managed.

Our attempts to find a mutually acceptable resolution have so far been unsuccessful, but we remain committed to engage with the government in order to resolve all the claims levied against the company and its employees and secure the early release of our unjustly imprisoned colleagues, he said.

Barrick enquiries

Investor and media relations

Kathy du Plessis

+44 20 7557 7738

Email: barrick@dpapr.com

Website: www.barrick.com

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

Certain information contained or incorporated by reference in this press release, including any information as to our strategy, projects, plans, or future financial or operating performance, constitutes forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words continue, intended, committed, engage, negotiate, pursue and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements including, without limitation, with respect to: the status of negotiations with the Government of Mali in respect of ongoing disputes regarding the Loulo-Gounkoto Complex and Barricks commitment to reach a mutually acceptable solution; the potential to increase the Government of Malis share in the economic benefits of Loulo-Gounkoto; and Loulo-Gounkotos partnership with the Government of Mali.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions including material estimates and assumptions related to the factors set forth below that, while considered reasonable by the Company as at the date of this press release in light of managements experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and/ or changes in the administration of laws, policies and practices; expropriation or nationalization of property and political or economic developments in Mali and other jurisdictions in which the Company or its affiliates do or may carry on business in the future; fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold, copper, or certain other commodities (such as diesel fuel, natural gas, and electricity); the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; changes in mineral production performance, exploitation, and exploration successes; risks related to disruption of supply routes which may cause delays in construction and mining activities, including disruptions in the supply of key mining inputs due to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and conflicts in the Middle East; risk of loss due to acts of war, terrorism, sabotage and civil disturbances; risks associated with new diseases, epidemics and pandemics; litigation and legal and administrative proceedings; employee relations including loss of key employees; increased costs and physical and transition risks related to climate change, including extreme weather events, resource shortages, emerging policies and increased regulations related to greenhouse gas emission levels, energy efficiency and reporting of risks; and availability and increased costs associated with mining inputs and labor. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion, copper cathode or gold or copper concentrate losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks).

Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect our actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, us. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Specific reference is made to the most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the SEC and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities for a more detailed discussion of some of the factors underlying forward-looking statements and the risks that may affect Barricks ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Barrick disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
Dublin, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Oil Spill Management - Global Strategic Business Report" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global market for Oil Spill Management was estimated at US$130.8 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$158.1 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 2.7% from 2023 to 2030. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of market trends, drivers, and forecasts, helping you make informed business decisions.







In transportation and shipping, oil spill management is crucial for preventing spills from tankers, barges, and pipelines. Double-hulled vessels, real-time monitoring systems, and automatic shut-off valves are used to prevent leaks during transit. In case of an accident, rapid deployment of containment booms, skimming vessels, and dispersants is essential to prevent oil from reaching shorelines and coastal communities. Oil spill management strategies in this segment are also critical for protecting sensitive marine habitats, commercial fisheries, and tourism industries that depend on clean waters.



In refining and onshore oil operations, oil spill management includes measures to prevent leaks from storage tanks, refineries, and pipelines. Secondary containment systems, regular inspection protocols, and emergency response drills are used to minimize the risk of onshore spills. When spills occur, rapid containment and soil remediation techniques, such as excavation, bioremediation, and the use of absorbent materials, are implemented to restore the affected area. Additionally, onshore oil spill management often involves collaborating with local authorities and communities to ensure a coordinated response and minimize health risks.



The expanding applications of oil spill management across these energy operations underscore its critical role in maintaining safe, compliant, and sustainable energy production and transportation. By implementing comprehensive spill management strategies, energy companies can reduce environmental damage, enhance safety, and maintain public trust, supporting more responsible and sustainable energy operations globally.



What Drives Growth in the Oil Spill Management Market?



The growth in the oil spill management market is driven by several factors, including increasing global energy production, stricter environmental regulations, and advancements in spill response technologies. One of the primary growth drivers is the expansion of offshore exploration and production, particularly in deepwater and ultra-deepwater regions. As oil and gas companies move into more challenging environments, the risk of spills increases, creating a need for advanced spill management solutions that can operate effectively under harsh conditions. This has led to increased demand for innovative containment systems, rapid response technologies, and preventive measures that can minimize the impact of potential spills.



Stricter environmental regulations and compliance requirements have further fueled demand for oil spill management solutions. Governments and international regulatory bodies have established more rigorous standards for spill prevention, response, and cleanup, requiring energy companies to invest in robust spill management plans. Regulatory frameworks, such as the Oil Pollution Act (OPA) in the United States and international protocols under the International Maritime Organization (IMO), mandate preparedness measures, regular inspections, and immediate response capabilities for spills. Compliance with these regulations is essential for avoiding fines, legal liabilities, and reputational damage, making investment in oil spill management a critical priority for energy companies.



Advancements in spill detection, monitoring, and response technologies have contributed to market growth by improving the speed, accuracy, and effectiveness of oil spill management. Innovations such as AI-driven detection systems, satellite monitoring, and autonomous response vessels have enhanced the ability to detect spills early, deploy resources efficiently, and contain oil more effectively. The development of more effective chemical dispersants, biodegradable materials, and microbial solutions has also improved the cleanup phase, reducing environmental impact and supporting faster recovery of affected ecosystems. These technological advancements have made oil spill management more comprehensive and adaptable, aligning with broader trends toward digitalization and sustainability in the energy sector.



Growing awareness of environmental protection and the economic impact of oil spills has also played a significant role in driving the adoption of oil spill management solutions. Major oil spills, such as the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010, have highlighted the need for better preparedness and response capabilities, leading to increased public and private sector investments in spill management infrastructure. In addition, the rise of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and sustainability goals has prompted energy companies to prioritize spill prevention and rapid response as part of their environmental management strategies.



With ongoing innovations in spill prevention, detection, and cleanup technologies, the oil spill management market is poised for continued growth. These trends, combined with increasing global energy demand, environmental regulations, and heightened public awareness, make oil spill management a vital component of modern energy operations and environmental stewardship across the sector.



Scope of the Study



The report analyzes the Oil Spill Management market, presented in terms of market value (US$ Million). The analysis covers the key segments and geographic regions outlined below.



Segments

Technology (Post-Oil Spill, Pre-Oil Spill)

Key Insights:

Market Growth: Understand the significant growth trajectory of the Post-Oil Spill Technology segment, which is expected to reach US$22.4 Billion by 2030 with a CAGR of a 2.5%. The Pre-Oil Spill Technology segment is also set to grow at 2.8% CAGR over the analysis period.

Regional Analysis: Gain insights into the U.S. market, estimated at $35.1 Billion in 2023, and China, forecasted to grow at an impressive 2.7% CAGR to reach $25.4 Billion by 2030. Discover growth trends in other key regions, including Japan, Canada, Germany, and the Asia-Pacific.

Key Questions Answered:

How is the Global Oil Spill Management Market expected to evolve by 2030?

What are the main drivers and restraints affecting the market?

Which market segments will grow the most over the forecast period?

How will market shares for different regions and segments change by 2030?

Who are the leading players in the market, and what are their prospects?

Report Features:

Comprehensive Market Data: Independent analysis of annual sales and market forecasts in US$ Million from 2023 to 2030.

In-Depth Regional Analysis: Detailed insights into key markets, including the U.S., China, Japan, Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa.

Company Profiles: Coverage of major players in the Global Oil Spill Management Market such as Cameron - Schlumberger, China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO), Control Flow, Cura Emergency Services, Ecolab and more.

Complimentary Updates: Receive free report updates for one year to keep you informed of the latest market developments.

Some of the 57 companies featured in this Global Oil Spill Management Market report include:

Cameron - Schlumberger

China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO)

Control Flow, Inc.

Cura Emergency Services

Ecolab, Inc.

Fender & Spill Response Services L.L.C

GE Oil & Gas

Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.

National Oilwell Varco, Inc.

Northern Tanker Company Oy

SkimOil, Inc.



Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 252 Forecast Period 2023 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $130.8 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $158.1 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 2.7% Regions Covered Global





Key Topics Covered:



MARKET OVERVIEW

World Market Trajectories

Oil Spill Management - Global Key Competitors Percentage Market Share in 2024 (E)

Competitive Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial for Players Worldwide in 2024 (E)

MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

Increasing Focus on Environmental Safety Drives Oil Spill Management Market

Strong Regulatory Push for Spill Containment Sets the Stage for Growth

Advancements in Spill Detection Technologies Propel Market Demand

Expanding Offshore Exploration and Production Strengthens Business Case for Spill Management

Growing Incidences of Pipeline Leaks Spur Demand for Management Solutions

Use of Dispersants in Offshore Operations Expands Addressable Market

Enhanced Oil Recovery Techniques Propel Spill Management Solutions

Rising Investments in Oil Spill Research Generates Market Opportunities

Increasing Applications in Inland Spills Strengthen Market Adoption

Expanding Role of Aerial Surveillance in Oil Spill Detection Propels Demand

Growing Use of Skimmers in Spill Recovery Strengthens Market Scope

FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS

Cameron - Schlumberger

China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO)

Control Flow, Inc.

Cura Emergency Services

Ecolab, Inc.

Fender & Spill Response Services L.L.C

GE Oil & Gas

Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.

National Oilwell Varco, Inc.

Northern Tanker Company Oy

SkimOil, Inc.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/6mtkz2

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Smithtown, New York, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FOR IMAGES CLICK HERE.

FOR B-ROLL CLICK HERE.

Americas VetDogs is honored to announce that the President of the United States has signed The Working Dog Commemorative Coin Act into law. This landmark legislation, which garnered strong bipartisan support in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, celebrates the essential role of working dogs nationwide while offering vital assistance to veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders with disabilities. Surcharges from the sale of the commemorative coins will directly benefit Americas VetDogs, enabling the national nonprofit to expand its mission and provide more accredited, specially trained service dogsat no costto our nations heroes, helping them Live Without Boundaries.

This milestone highlights the strength of unity and our collective dedication to honoring the brave men and women who serve our country and communities, said John Miller, President & CEO of Americas VetDogs. The commemorative coin series will serve as a lasting tribute to the extraordinary contributions of working dogs, raising awareness of their impact on society while helping us expand our life-changing services to those who have served and continue to serve our nation. We are profoundly grateful to the President, Senate Majority Leader Schumer, as well as the bipartisan Congressional leaders and co-sponsors, whose unwavering support made this achievement possible.

The Act, originally introduced to the 118th Congress in February 2023 by Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, and Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), was later introduced in the Senate in March 2023 by Senators Ted Budd (R-NC), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). Recognizing the invaluable contributions of working dogs to societyspanning detection, military service, therapy, and assistance rolesthe legislation gained strong support from Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), as well as the entire Long Island delegation, where Americas VetDogs is headquartered.

From the battlefield to the home front, working dogs provide an invaluable service, said Rep. McHenry (R-NC)Not only do these incredible animals serve alongside our troops and law enforcement, but they also assist wounded veterans when they return home. Im proud to sponsor this bipartisan legislation to honor and support working dogs contributions.

Im proud to support the Working Dog Commemorative Coin Act, which honors the working dogs who do so much for our veterans and first responders. These dogs help people regain independence and provide crucial support. With this bill, were helping Americas VetDogs increase their capacity to train and place these dogs with those who need them most, free of charge. Its a way for us to be the wind at their back, supporting our heroes and their loyal companions every step of the way. Im grateful to everyone who worked together to make this possible.  Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA)

Working dogs help our nations active-duty service members, veterans, and first responders recover from injury, enhance their independence, and improve their lives. I commend the Senate and House for passing our bipartisan bill. This commemorative coin will honor the service of working dogs and provide funding to raise more service dogs for Americas heroes. Im proud to lead this effort to give back to those who serve our country.  Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC).

Our veterans face unique challenges re-integrating into civilian life after theyve left the military and we owe them solutions and support as they transition their lives. Service dogs provide the companionship and everyday assistance that make a real positive impact towards independence, quality of life, and mental health. As we continue to confront the crisis of rising veteran suicide rates, I'm proud that our bipartisan legislation delivers solutions by expanding access to this critical form of supportand makes it available to Americas heroes at no cost.  Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ).

Working dogs are vital to the many Americans who rely on them, including our nations veterans. I am proud the Senate passed this legislation to honor our amazing working dogs and support Americas VetDogs.  Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC).

Working dogs provide vital services and companionship to so many peoplefrom service members and Veterans to the disability community and more. Im proud the Senate passed our bipartisan legislation today, which would recognize our furry friends while helping provide support to organizations that train these service dogs so theyre ready to serve.  Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).

The commemorative coins, to be issued by the U.S. Mint in 2027, are set to generate crucial funding for Americas VetDogs mission.

To learn more about Americas VetDogs or the Working Dog Commemorative Coin Act, visit VetDogs.org/Coin.

About Americas VetDogs

For more than 20 years, Americas VetDogs (www.VetDogs.org) has trained and placed guide and service dogs to provide independence, enhanced mobility, and companionship to veterans with disabilities from all eras. In 2015, VetDogs opened its programs to first responders, including fire, police, and emergency medical personnel. Americas VetDogs is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded by the Guide Dog Foundation and serves clients from across the United States. Americas VetDogs relies on contributions from generous individuals, corporations, service clubs, and foundations to fund its mission to help those who have served our country live with dignity and independence. It costs over $50,000 to breed, raise, train, and place one assistance dog, but Americas VetDogs provides its services completely free of charge to the individuals it is honored to serve. Americas VetDogs has been accredited by both the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International.

Attachments
Detroit, Michigan, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new Fisher House was dedicated at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center by Medical Center Director Chris W. Cauley and President of Fisher House Foundation David A. Coker. Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Debbie Dingell also shared remarks about the Fisher House located at the medical center, which is named after Dingells deceased husband Rep. John D. Dingell.

The new Fisher House will join the other Michigan Fisher House already serving Veterans in Ann Arbor.

We are thrilled this day has come, said Cauley. This is the result of a lot of hard work by the people in the Detroit community and the generosity of Fisher House Foundation. This home away from home will ensure families of Veterans are in good hands as we care for their loved ones.

The 13,000+ sq. ft. Fisher House will provide lodging for Veteran families at no cost, allowing them to be close to their loved ones while they receive medical care. At full occupancy, this home away from home will provide possible total savings of more than $875,000 in lodging costs per year.

We are so grateful to our many community partners who have come together to make this Fisher House a reality, said Coker. I'd like to thank all our donors, including Delta Air Lines, for your generosity and commend Fisher House Michigan for galvanizing organizations and individuals to get involved to help military and veteran families."

This Fisher House is part of a network of 99 homes located across the country, in Germany, and in the United Kingdom. The 100th Fisher House in North Chicago, Illinois is due to be completed in early 2025. An additional house in Little Rock, Arkansas is under construction, as well.

The new Detroit Fisher House has 16 wheelchair-accessible suites; a spacious kitchen; large communal living, dining, and family rooms; a laundry room; and a shared patio. The home was gifted to the VA upon completion as part of the public-private partnership between Fisher House Foundation and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Delta is honored to support this new Fisher House in Detroit, which is the sixth facility Delta has supported through our partnership with Fisher House Foundation. We are honored to have a hand in work that will make a difference in the lives of veterans, and we know this Fisher House will continue to serve as a point of care, connection, and compassion for the families who need it, said Hussein Berry, Vice President Airport Operations-DTW, Delta Air Lines.

Fisher House Michigan, the local fundraising organization, has supported the construction of the Ann Arbor Fisher House and this new house in Detroit. Additionally, the nonprofit rallies communities across the state to encourage volunteerism and ongoing support for the Fisher Houses.

"Michiganders are committed to supporting our Veterans and to saying 'Thank You' in a tangible way. We are honored to help raise funds and awareness for this essential resource for Veteran families, in the heart of Detroit. We appreciate everyone who supports this mission, whether with cash or casseroles. It takes a village to build and support a Fisher House, and Detroit has done it," said Kate Melcher Fisher House Michigan executive director.

Fisher House Foundation proudly recognizes the generosity of the following contributors for their extraordinary support of our military and Veteran families: Delta Air Lines; Fisher House Michigan; Masco Corporation; American Legion Dept of Michigan Family; The McLeod Family; Enterprise Mobility; Spartan Capital Support Fund; University of Michigan Interfraternity Council; Mens Wearhouse; Anonymous; The Wild Game Dinner; The Phantom Foundation; Daughters of the American Revolution of Michigan; David W. Williams; Detroit Tigers Foundation; Fisher Nightingale Houses, Inc; Gun 23 Memorial Fund, in memory of CW3 Matt Ruffner & CW2 Jarett Yoder; Harry A. & Margaret D. Towsley Foundation; Department of Michigan, Jewish War Veterans of the USA; Joanna and Joel Fox; CAPT Douglas H. McDonald, USN, Retired; Mac McAnally; National Advanced Mobility Consortium; The Richard & Jean Schmidt Family; Members of the Richmond Rotary; Ride for Freedom; Student Veterans of America - University of Michigan; Guy Stern (Z"L) MSG US Army, Shoah Survivor, Ritchie Boy; United Rentals; Vehicles for Veterans; and the many gifts of a grateful nation.



###



About Fisher House

Fisher House Foundation is best known for its network of 99 comfort homes where military and Veteran families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment. These homes are located at major military and VA medical centers nationwide, and in Europe, close to the medical center or hospital they serve. Fisher Houses have up to 21 suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, a warm dining room and an inviting living room. Fisher House Foundation ensures that there is never a lodging fee. Since inception, the program has saved military and Veteran families an estimated $610 million in out-of-pocket costs for lodging and transportation. www.fisherhouse.org

About the Detroit VA Healthcare System:

Since 1939, the Detroit VA Healthcare System has been improving the health of the men and women who have so proudly served our nation. In 1996, the medical center moved from Allen Park, Michigan to the current location on John R. in Detroit. One of the newer VA facilities in the country, we consider it our privilege to serve the health care needs of our Veterans. Services are available to more than 330,000 Veterans living in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and St. Clair counties. This population represents approximately forty-four percent of the Veteran population in the lower peninsula of Michigan. For more information, visit www.detroit.va.gov.

About Fisher House Michigan

Fisher House Michigan is a not-for-profit organization formed to improve the quality of life of US military members, retirees, Veterans, and their families and caregivers. FHM supports the construction and operations of comfort homes built near VA Medical Centers in Michigan, called Fisher Houses. FHM works to inform the Veteran community, their families, and the general public about Fisher Houses, and provides necessary support to Fisher House operations as needed. Fisher House Michigan presently supports operations at the Fisher House at the LTC Charles S. Kettles VA Medical Center in Ann Arbor and is raising capital and program funds for the Fisher House at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit. www.fisherhousemichigan.org

Attachment
COLUMBIA FALLS, Maine, and MANASQUAN, NJ, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, national nonprofit Wreaths Across America (WAA) is proud to announce that Jersey Mikes Subs, known for its fresh-sliced/fresh-grilled subs, has issued a #GivingTuesday challenge to help raise funds to sponsor veterans wreaths for placement on National Wreaths Across America DaySaturday, December 14, 2024.

Every $17 wreath sponsorship made at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/JerseyMikes through #GivingTuesday, Tuesday, December 3, will be matched up to $500,000 by the company and allocated to where it is most needed!

Jersey Mikes franchisees across the country support the year-long mission to Remember the fallen, Honor those who serve, and Teach the next generation the value of freedom, said Peter Cancro, Jersey Mikes founder and CEO. I invite you to join this important Wreaths Across America initiative and make a difference.

Since 2010, Jersey Mikes has contributed more than $4 million to WAAs mission. Last year, more than three million sponsored veterans wreaths were placed nationwide in honor of servicemembers.

The continued support for the mission by Peter and the team at Jersey Mikes Subs is beyond humbling, said Karen Worcester, executive director of Wreaths Across America. They are a company that gives back to the communities they serve in so many important ways, and through this effort, many more heroes laid to rest will receive the gift of remembrance this December.

For more information about volunteering at Arlington on National Wreaths Across America Day  this year, Saturday, December 14, 2024  please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/ARLING. To find a participating location near you to support or to learn how you can volunteer locally in your community, please click here.

# # #

About Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, which was begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organizations yearlong mission  Remember, Honor, Teach  is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington and at thousands of veterans cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. For more information or to sponsor a wreath, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

ABOUT JERSEY MIKES SUBS

Jersey Mikes Subs, with more than 4,000 locations open and in development, serves authentic fresh-sliced/fresh-grilled subs on in-store freshly baked breadthe same recipe it started with in 1956. Its passion for giving in Jersey Mikes local communities is reflected in its mission statement, Givingmaking a difference in someones life. For more information, please visit jerseymikes.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X.

Attachment
Boston, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the latest study from Research, European Life Science Tools and Reagents Market, the market for COVID-19 diagnostics products was $14.7 billion in 2023 and expected to grow from $13.0 billion in 2024 to $15.4 billion by the end of 2029, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.4% from 2024 through 2029.

The European market for life science tools and reagents is driven by innovations in biotechnology and research activity in many sectors. Reagents such as antibodies, ELISA kits, protein reagents, and probes are in high demand, while life science tools such as hybridization systems, PCR machines, Western blotting instruments, and ELISA instruments are essential for advanced research. Germany, France, the U.K., Italy, Spain, and Switzerland are countries at the forefront of the competitive landscape. Market dynamics include drivers such as technological innovations and restraints such as regulatory challenges.

This report is particularly relevant now as the European life science market, which saw revenue surges during the COVID-19 pandemic, is currently facing declining revenues. Once the global leader in innovation, Europe lost its top position in 2000 and now ranks third in developing new molecules. To regain the regions competitive edge and to foster growth, European governments must implement strategic measures that support innovation and capitalize on the regions potential.

Please click here for more details on the report, The European Market for Life Science Tools and Reagents."

The factors driving the European market for life science tools and reagents include:

Investments in R&D: Governments, private organizations, and pharmaceutical companies are pouring resources into R&D to pioneer new drugs, therapies, and diagnostic tools.

Rising Prevalence of Chronic Diseases: The growing incidence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular conditions is increasing the demand for advanced diagnostic tools and reagents.

Diagnostics Pathways and In Vitro Diagnostics: There is an escalating need for precise and efficient diagnostic methods. In vitro diagnostics (IVD) are crucial for early disease detection, monitoring, and treatment decisions, driving the demand for high-quality reagents and diagnostic tools.

Genomic and Biomarker Research: The progress in genomics and biomarker research is fueling the rise of personalized medicine. This research requires advanced tools and reagents to analyze genetic data and identify biomarkers that can predict disease risk and tailor treatment responses.

Demand for Personalized Medicine: Personalized medicine customizes treatment based on an individual's genetic profile and other factors. This approach necessitates accurate diagnostic tools and reagents to provide precise patient data.

Technological Advances: Ongoing technological innovations in life science tools and reagents include improvements in imaging technologies, automation, and data analysis, making research and diagnostics more effective and accessible.

Request a sample copy of the European market for life science tools and reagents report.

Report Synopsis

Report Metrics Details Base year considered 2023 Forecast period considered 2024-2029 Base year market size $14.7 billion Market size forecast $15.4 billion Growth rate CAGR of 3.4% from 2024 to 2029 Segments covered Product Type, Application, and Country Countries covered Germany, France, the U.K., Italy, Spain, Switzerland Market drivers Investments in R&D

Rising prevalence of Chronic Diseases

Demand for diagnostics pathways and in vitro diagnostics

Growth in genomic and biomarker research

Increasing demand for personalized medicine

Technological advances

Interesting facts about the European market for life science tools and reagents:

Between 1995 and 2005, economic and scientific activity shifted towards the U.S. due to its market dominance. Meanwhile, developing economies such as China and Korea are increasingly competing with Europe, luring businesses and researchers.

Despite a global decline in Europes share of clinical trials in 2020, trials in Europe increased from 2017 to 2022, particularly in oncology.

The report addresses the following questions:

What are the projections for the market?

The European market for life science tools and COVID-19 diagnostics was estimated at $14.7 billion in 2023. It is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 3.4% to reach $15.4 billion by the end of 2029.

What are the key factors driving the growth of the market?

Increasing prevalence of chronic diseases.

Investments in R&D.

Demand for personalized therapies.

Genomic and biomarker research.

Demand for IVD.

Technological advances.

Which application segment will dominate the market by the end of 2029?

The genomics segment will continue dominating the life science tools and reagents market through 2029.

Which country has the largest share of the European market?

Germany holds the highest share of the market.

Leading companies in the market include:

Analytik Jena Gmbh+co. Kg

Danaher Corp.

Agilent Technologies Inc.

Altona Diagnostics Gmbh

Becton, Dickinson and Co.

Bio-rad Laboratories Inc.

F. Hoffmann-la Roche Ltd.

Merck Kgaa

Promega Corp.

Qiagen

Revvity Inc.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

More Related Reports:

Western Blotting: Global Markets: This report provides an analysis of the Western blotting market, including estimates from 2022 and forecasts through 2028. It examines the market potential, competitive landscape, regulatory factors, and drivers and restraints. The market is segmented by product type (instruments and consumables), application (research, diagnostics, agriculture), end user (academic institutes, pharmaceutical companies, diagnostic centers), and region, covering North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa, along with major countries.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Technologies and Global Markets: This report analyzes the global PCR market, including revenue forecasts, trends and strategic recommendations for market participants. The study offers market data for 2022 as the base year and projections from 2023 through 2028, with estimated figures for 2023. It includes forecasts segmented by product type, technique, application, and region. Additionally, the report evaluates both leading and emerging competitors in the global PCR market.

Directly purchase a copy of the report from BCC Research.

For further information or to make a purchase, please get in touch with info@bccresearch.com.

About BCC Research

BCC Research market reports provide objective, unbiased measurement, and assessment of market opportunities. Our experienced industry analysts' goal is to help readers make informed business decisions, free of noise and hype.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rexas Finance (RXS) solidifies its position as a leader in real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, wrapping up Stage 6 of its presale ahead of schedule due to overwhelming investor interest. With $12.2 million raised so far, the presale demonstrates the projects broad appeal. The seventh stage is now live, priced at $0.09 per token, marking a threefold increase from Stage 1. Investors at this stage can expect a 2.22x return on launch, highlighting the tokens potential. As the crypto market shifts towards innovative applications, Rexas Finance is bridging the gap between blockchain technology and traditional investments.

Transforming Investments Through RWA Tokenization

Rexas Finance is redefining investment by tokenizing real-world assets such as real estate, commodities, and art. This platform simplifies global ownership, allowing users to buy fractional or full shares in high-value assets with a single click. Investors can now own a portion of a luxury property in Europe or a piece of gold bullion from the comfort of their homes, earning returns proportionate to their stake. By tokenizing assets on the blockchain, Rexas Finance eliminates traditional barriers like high entry costs and illiquidity. The global real estate market, valued at over $300 trillion, and the $121 trillion commodities market are now within reach for all investors. This approach not only democratizes access but also enhances market liquidity, paving the way for seamless trading and ownership transfers. The Rexas Token Builder empowers users to tokenize their assets independently, creating digital tokens that represent ownership shares. For those seeking funding for their projects, the Rexas Launchpad facilitates fundraising by connecting innovative ideas with investors. The QuickMint Bot and AI-powered tools further streamline tokenization, offering simple, accessible solutions even for blockchain newcomers.

The Unstoppable Growth of RXS

Rexas Finances presale is a testament to its growing market traction. The project has prioritized public participation over traditional venture capital, ensuring widespread access to this revolutionary platform. All six presale stages sold out swiftly, raising $12.2 million and reflecting strong community support. The seventh stage, priced at $0.09, continues to attract attention, as early investors anticipate significant returns. The RXS token is ERC-20-based, with a total supply of one billion tokens distributed strategically to ensure liquidity and growth: 42.5% for presale, 22.5% for staking, 15% for liquidity, and smaller allocations for marketing, treasury, and partnerships. Rexas Finance is also driving engagement through its $1 million giveaway, where 20 participants will win $50,000 each. Users can increase their chances by completing tasks, referring friends, and submitting their ERC20 wallet addresses.

A Growing Ecosystem with Real-World Impact

Beyond tokenization, Rexas Finance builds a comprehensive ecosystem for RWA management. Its Rexas Estate initiative targets the lucrative real estate market, making properties globally accessible. Meanwhile, its AI tools and QuickMint Bot offer unmatched convenience, removing barriers to blockchain adoption. The platforms listing on CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko adds visibility and credibility, attracting a broader investor base. Being CertiK-audited further assures users of the security and reliability of RXS, bolstering confidence in its smart contracts. Rexas Finance also plans to launch on three Tier 1 exchanges, ensuring accessibility for global investors and driving liquidity. As blockchain adoption grows, Rexas Finance is positioned to capitalize on the trend, putting nearly every imaginable real-world asset on blockchain networks.

Final Thoughts

Rexas Finance (RXS) stands out as a game-changer in the crypto market, seamlessly merging blockchain technology with traditional asset management. With $12.2 million raised and a presale price that has tripled since launch, its clear that investors are recognizing its potential. As RXS continues its presale journey and prepares for market launch, it promises lucrative returns for early participants and a revolutionary platform for tokenizing real-world assets. With projections pointing toward double-digit prices by year-end, now is the time to join the RXS revolution.

For more information about Rexas Finance (RXS) visit the links below:

Website: https://rexas.com

Win $1 Million Giveaway: https://bit.ly/Rexas1M

Whitepaper: https://rexas.com/rexas-whitepaper.pdf

Twitter/X: https://x.com/rexasfinance

Telegram: https://t.me/rexasfinance

Contact:

Leo Gabriel

pr@rexas.com

Disclaimer: This content is provided by Rexas Finance. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2dd098e0-4db0-4207-88e8-b84c35103bb3

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3f36ecb6-a412-415d-814a-d02529bbbd1f
HOT SPRINGS, Ark., Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Laurays The Diamond Center, the iconic fine jewelry destination in historic Hot Springs, proudly invites the community to celebrate its 100th Anniversary.

Kicking off on Black Friday and continuing through the end of December 2024, this momentous occasion will be marked with the stores largest sale ever.

Founded in 1924 and now led by Toddy and Amanda Pitard, Laurays has upheld a century-long tradition of family ownership and dedication to exceptional service. Stunning is our standard, said Toddy Pitard. Were thrilled to celebrate this milestone with the community as we embark on our second century in Hot Springs.

In honor of this extraordinary anniversary, Laurays is offering unprecedented discounts on a wide array of fine jewelry, including exquisite diamonds, colorful gemstones, luxury watches, and more. This sale provides a rare opportunity to purchase breathtaking holiday gifts at exceptional value while commemorating Laurays century of brilliance and craftsmanship.

Situated on the historic corner of Central Avenue and Mountain Street since 1924, Laurays has become an integral part of the Hot Springs community, evolving alongside the city and earning the trust of generations. For 100 years, Laurays The Diamond Center has been woven into the fabric of Arkansas, known for our unwavering dedication to quality and service, said Toddy Pitard. Were profoundly grateful to our loyal customers and excited to give back through this historic event.

Whether youre seeking the perfect Christmas gift, designing a custom piece, or restoring a beloved heirloom, Laurays invites you to our downtown location for this once-in-a-century Celebration.

For more details, please visit www.laurays.com .

Image of store Logo

Contact:

Toddy Pitard

Phone: (501) 321-2441

Laurays The Diamond Center

402 Central Ave. Hot Springs, AR 71901

Email: info@laurays.com
TORONTO, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Attention all mobile shoppers! This Black Friday, get ready to unlock the best mobile plans and devices in town with Value Mobiles latest and biggest deals. Since May of this year, Value Mobile has teamed up with some of the biggest names in the Canadian wireless industry  Bell, Virgin Plus, and Lucky Mobile in addition to Rogers, Fido, Chatr and Freedom Mobile  to offer you the most competitive deals on the market.

Whether youre a data-hungry streamer, a non-stop texter, or someone who just needs a simple, budget-friendly plan, Value Mobile has got you covered. With these powerhouse carriers backing them up, theyre able to bring a variety of plans that fit every lifestyle and budget. From unlimited talk and text to data-packed plans, you can find exactly what you need without breaking the bank.

Heres the Deal:

For this Black Friday, Value Mobile isnt just offering great discounts; theyre giving you the freedom to choose from a wide range of devices, including the latest smartphones such as iPhone 16, Samsung S24, and Google Pixel 9. Plus, their repair services ensure your device stays in perfect condition long after youve purchased it.

If youre worried about device protection, dont sweat it. Value Mobile has partnered with top accessory vendors to ensure your device is as safe as it is stylish. Whether its a durable case or a high-performance screen protector, theyve got your gear covered.

The clock is ticking, and these deals wont last long! Head over to your nearest Value Mobile store by visiting their website and clicking on Find us to take advantage of these exclusive Black Friday offers before theyre gone.

Dont miss out on the best Black Friday deals of the yearonly with Value Mobile!

Value Mobile  Right Phone, Right Plan, Right Place

About Value Mobile:

Value Mobile is an authorized dealer for some of the top Canadian carriers, including Bell, Rogers, Fido, Virgin Plus, Lucky Mobile, Chatr, and Freedom Mobile. Offering a variety of flexible mobile plans and services, Value Mobile is committed to providing customers with the best value in wireless. From new phones and accessories to repair services, Value Mobile ensures that every customer stays connected in the best way possible.

For more information, visit www.valuemobile.ca or follow us on Instagram @valuemobilecanada.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/03e5ad0e-9c02-465d-bbfc-8c193fe937c7
Newport Beach, CA, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Michael Arrigo of No World Borders has been admitted as an expert in physician compensation by the Superior Court in Stamford, Connecticut. The Court denied a motion in limine aimed to preclude Arrigos testimony and opinions, subject to voir dire. Mr. Arrigo was admitted as an expert.

The case in question, focused on the lost income of an interventional cardiologist specializing in transcatheter aortic valve replacements (TAVR). Arrigos testimony contributed to the courts understanding of the intricacies of assessing damages related to lost income in the medical profession.

Arrigos scope of expertise included examining the Fair Market Value (FMV) of physician compensation, comparing productivity using work relative value units (wRVUs), and benchmarking against similarly situated physicians. His analysis encompassed various factors such as medical specialty, geographic location, years of practice, on-call time, etc.

Furthermore, his testimony addressed the lost compensation compared to peers at academic medical centers, considering National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants, faculty tenure, and the balance of income derived from teaching versus active medical practice.

A leading authority on medical billing and Medicare and Medicaid fraud, Arrigo is recognized for his extensive work in healthcare legislation compliance, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the HITECH Act, and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). His expertise extends to healthcare IT, electronic health record forensics, and laboratory billing, reinforcing his status as a distinguished expert.

Moreover, Arrigos knowledge is reinforced by his role as a financial expert under Regulation S-K of the Securities Act of 1933, owing to his leadership in corporate governance, including his service on the board of directors of a publicly traded company.

His scholarly contributions include a peer-reviewed article highlighting his clinical documentation improvement research at a leading academic medical center. This research has been pivotal in understanding the significant link between accurate clinical documentation and the evaluation of healthcare services.

The courts decision to recognize Michael Arrigos expertise emphasizes his competence in physician compensation and underscores the importance of qualified testimony in complex medical-legal cases. Arrigos expertise in the healthcare industry makes him a chosen educator of the trier of fact in litigation, where complex data, medical codes, charges, and payments play a critical role in adjudicating and resolving disputes.

About Michael Arrigo Admitted as an Expert in Physician Compensation

Mr. Arrigo is one of the leading medical billing experts in the U.S., an expert in Medicare and Medicaid fraud, Medicare Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs), the Medicare Secondary Payer Act (MSPA), HIPAA Privacy and Security, ARRA HITECH Act Protected Health Information Safeguards, Electronic Health Record forensic audit reviews, laboratory testing and laboratory CPT codes, esoteric testing medical bills, the Certification of Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT) for promoting interoperability and meaningful use, healthcare IT intellectual property, including the use of blockchain and cryptography, and crypto assets, coverage of healthcare benefits under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA or ACA) as well as rebuttals to life care plans under the Affordable Care Act.

He is the primary author of a peer-reviewed article regarding his research in clinical documentation improvement at a leading academic medical center.

Mr. Arrigo was admitted as an expert in corporate governance. He led a Sarbanes Oxley internal IT audit of a Fortune 100 public company; his familiarity with Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) guidance and his current service as a member of the Board of Directors of a public company where he serves on the Audit Committee and as chair of the Compensation Committee, qualified as a financial expert as defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act).





Michael Arrigo

620 Newport Center Drive Suite 1100 Newport Beach, CA 92660

https://www.noworldborders.com

MEDIA CONTACT

Jennifer Carson

(202) 792-4980

jcarson@noworldborders.com
EDMONTON, Alberta, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Capital Power Corporation (TSX: CPX) ("Capital Power") and Axium Infrastructure (Axium) are pleased to announce that Axium, through one of its managed funds, has agreed to acquire a 49% interest in two operating Canadian wind facilities from Capital Power. The 246 MW portfolio includes the Quality Wind facility in British Columbia and the Port Dover and Nanticoke Wind facility in Ontario. Total pre-tax cash proceeds to Capital Power from the transaction are expected to be approximately $340 million, inclusive of working capital.

The two wind facilities are fully contracted with investment grade counterparties and have a remaining weighted average contract life of ~11 years. Capital Power will continue to manage and operate the assets on behalf of the newly formed partnership under a long-term asset management agreement. Consistent with its strategy, the transaction represents the crystallization of a levered equity return in excess of Capital Powers capital allocation thresholds and enhances its financial flexibility.

We are proud to announce this asset sell-down transaction which represents a concrete instance of us unlocking asset value in alignment with our strategy, said Jason Comandante, SVP, Head of Canada of Capital Power. Our partnership with Axium, a well-respected investor, speaks to the markets recognition of Capital Power as a top-tier operator and developer.

We are very pleased to establish a partnership with Capital Power, said Elio Gatto, Vice President & Senior Investment Director at Axium. This transaction is consistent with Axiums strategy of acquiring meaningful equity positions in high-quality renewable energy projects alongside top-tier partners.

The transaction is expected to close by year-end 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.

CIBC Capital Markets acted as financial advisor to Capital Power and Dentons Canada LLP acted as legal advisor to Capital Power.

Facility Technology Installed

Capacity Commercial

Operation Date Location Quality Wind 142 MW 2013 Northeast British Columbia Port Dover & Nanticoke Wind 104 MW 2012 Southern Ontario



Territorial Acknowledgement

In the spirit of reconciliation, Capital Power respectfully acknowledges that we operate within the ancestral homelands, traditional and treaty territories of the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island, or North America. Capital Powers head office is located within the traditional and contemporary home of many Indigenous Peoples of the Treaty 6 region and Metis Nation of Alberta Region 4. We acknowledge the diverse Indigenous communities that are located in these areas and whose presence continues to enrich the community.

About Capital Power

Capital Power (TSX: CPX) is a growth-oriented power producer with approximately 9,300 MW of power generation at 32 facilities across North America. We prioritize safely delivering reliable and affordable power communities can depend on, building clean power systems, and creating balanced solutions for our energy future. We are Powering Change by Changing Power.

About Axium Infrastructure Inc.

Axium Infrastructure (comprised of Axium Infrastructure Inc. and its affiliated entities) is an independent portfolio management firm dedicated to generating long-term investment returns through investing in core infrastructure assets. Axium Infrastructure had over C$11.5 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2024, as well as approximately C$2.0 billion in co-investments. With offices in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, New York, and London, the firm benefits from the capabilities of a group of specialists with decades of experience acquiring, developing, financing, operating, and managing infrastructure assets. Focus is placed on assets that are supported by robust market demand and under long-term contract with creditworthy counterparties. Since 2010, the firm has invested in a diversified portfolio of over 265 infrastructure assets. For further information, including information about other infrastructure assets the firm has invested in, please visit www.axiuminfra.com. This release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy securities of any entity.

For more information, please contact :
Terra Clean Energy Corp. ("Terra" or the "Company") (CSE: TCEC, OTCQB: TCEFF, FSE: T1KC), is pleased to announce that Greg Cameron and Tony Wonnacott have been appointed to the board of directors of the Company.

Messrs. Cameron and Wonnacott fill vacancies created by Andrew Brown and Mark Ferguson, each of which have resigned from their roles with the Company. The board of directors would like to thank Messrs. Brown and Ferguson for their service to the Company and wish them well in their future endeavors.

Mr. Cameron brings extensive capital markets experience in business development, strategy, acquisitions and divestitures as well as corporate restructurings. He was a former Senior Investment Banker at leading Canadian and International Investment Banks including Canaccord Genuity, Orion Securities and Macquarie. He currently is the Managing Director of Colby Capital Limited, a private merchant bank in Toronto. Mr. Cameron has spent the past two decades serving on numerous public and private company boards from startups to seasoned public companies, having helped raise hundreds of millions in financings.

Mr. Wonnacott is a corporate securities lawyer based in Toronto, Ontario with over 25 years of experience. He is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada and holds a B.Comm. (cum laude) from Saint Mary's University and an LL.B. from Dalhousie University. He began his career at a major Toronto law firm in the banking and securities field before moving to work as a legal consultant for a number of companies, primarily in the mining and resource industry. As a consultant, officer and director of several of these companies, Mr. Wonnacott has been involved with the successful listings of private companies, the outright sale of a company for approximately $750 million and capital raisings in excess of $1 billion.

"I'm pleased to welcome Greg and Tony to the board, their track records are impressive," said Alex Klenman, CEO. "Their commitment to creating value for shareholders is evident, and their appointments to our board represent a significant step forward for the Company. We have a generational opportunity in uranium, and they recognize the unique proposition Terra presents. Their additions greatly strengthen our leadership team and position the Company for success as we move into 2025," continued Mr. Klenman.

Greg Cameron added "I'm excited to join the board of Terra and assist in the recapitalization of the Company to better position it for the future. It's an exciting time in the uranium market and I feel Terra is a unique opportunity to invest in a micro- cap company that has a historical resource in a good jurisdiction. "

Consolidation and Financing

The Company also announces that intends to conduct a financing (the "Financing") on a private placement basis. The terms for the Financing have not yet been determined and the Company will issue a further news release once finalized. The Company anticipates the Financing will result in the issuance of more than one hundred percent of the current outstanding share capital of the Company. As a result, the Company will be required to obtain shareholder approval for the Financing in accordance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange. The Company intends to obtain such approval through the written consent of the holders of the majority of its outstanding common shares.

In preparation for the Financing, the Company intends to consolidate (the "Consolidation") its common share capital on a four-for-one basis. The Company currently has 39,689,744 common shares outstanding. Following completion of the Consolidation, and prior to completion of the Financing, the Company will have approximately 9,922,436 common shares outstanding.

No fractional shares will be issued under the Consolidation. The holdings of any shareholder who would otherwise be entitled to receive a fractional share as a result of the Consolidation shall be rounded to the nearest whole number and no cash consideration will be paid in respect of fractional shares. The Company will provide further information regarding the effective date of the Consolidation once it becomes available. Completion of the Consolidation is not conditional upon completion of the Financing, and there can be no guarantee that either will proceed. Completion of the Consolidation remains subject to regulatory approval.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed on behalf of the company by C. Trevor Perkins, P.Geo., a Consulting Geologist for the Company, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Terra Clean Energy Corp.

Terra Clean Energy (formerly Tisdale Clean Energy Corp) is a Canadian-based uranium exploration and development company. The Company is currently developing the South Falcon East uranium project, which holds a historical 6.96M pound inferred uranium resource within the Fraser Lakes B uranium/thorium deposit, located in the Athabasca Basin region, Saskatchewan, Canada.

The historical resource is described in the Technical Report on the South Falcon East Property, filed on sedarplus.ca on February 9, 2023. The Company is not treating the resource as current and has not completed sufficient work to classify the resource as a current mineral resource. While the Company is not treating the historical resource as current, it does believe the work conducted is reliable and the information may be of assistance to readers.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TERRA CLEAN ENERGY CORP.

"Alex Klenman"

Alex Klenman, CEO

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When or if used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political, and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

For further information please contact:

Alex Klenman, CEO

info@tcec.energy



Terra Clean Energy Corp

Suite 2200, HSBC Building, 885 West Georgia St.

Vancouver, BC V6C 3E8 Canada

www.tcec.energy


VANCOUVER, November 25, 2024 - Element79 Gold Corp. (CSE: ELEM) (OTC: ELMGF) (FSE: 7YS) ("Element79", or the "Company") Pursuant to the Company's previous announcements for its private placement, the Company has determined that it will not be pursuing further funding under the non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement"). On November 15, 2024 the Company announced that it had raised for aggregate gross proceeds of $500,024 and issued 5,000,240 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.10 per Unit.

About Element79 Gold Corp.

Element79 Gold is a mining company with a focus on exploring and developing its past-producing, high-grade gold and silver mine, the Lucero project located in Arequipa, Peru, with the intent to restart production at the mine and through reprocessing its tailings, in the near term.

The Company holds a portfolio of four properties along the Battle Mountain trend in Nevada, and the projects are believed to have significant potential for near-term resource development. The Company has retained the Clover project for resource development purposes and signed a binding agreement to sell three projects with a closing date on or before November 30, 2024.

The Company also holds an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Dale Property, 90 unpatented mining claims located approximately 100 km southwest of Timmins, Ontario, and has recently announced that it has transferred this project to its wholly owned subsidiary, Synergy Metals Corp, and is advancing through the Plan of Arrangement spin-out process.

For more information about the Company, please visit www.element79.gold

Contact Information

For corporate matters, please contact:

James C. Tworek, Chief Executive Officer

E-mail: jt@element79.gold

For investor relations inquiries, please contact:

Investor Relations Department

Phone: +1.403.850.8050

E-mail: investors@element79.gold

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This press contains "forward?looking information" and "forward-looking statements" under applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward?looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance, business prospects or opportunities that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management made considering management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the Company's business strategy; future planning processes; exploration activities; the timing and result of exploration activities; capital projects and exploration activities and the possible results thereof; acquisition opportunities; and the impact of acquisitions, if any, on the Company. Assumptions may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Consequently, forward-looking statements cannot be guaranteed. As such, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, assumptions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward?looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "forecast", "potential", "target", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward?looking statements".

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.


Vancouver, November 26, 2024 - Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd. (the "Company") (CSE:GCC) (OTC:GCCFF) (WKN:A402CQ) (FSE:3TZ) announces multiple occurrences of visible gold (Figure 2 enclosed) have been encountered in the latest drill hole, QGQ24-20, subsequent to previously announced visible gold in drill holes QGQ24-16 to QGQ24-19 in a news release dated October 29, 2024.

Drill hole QGQ24-20 is testing the Halo zone discovery to the north and is currently in progress at a depth of 327.66 m (1075.0 ft) (see Figure 3 enclosed). The drill hole has encountered extensive quartz-carbonate+/-pyrite veins and associated alteration of the volcanic host rocks (Figure 1 enclosed). All figures can be viewed on the Company's website at www.goldencariboo.com.

Additionally, the Company announces the winterizing of the field camp in Hixon, BC, allowing the Company to drill throughout the winter, with a planned break on December 22, 2024 and drilling to resume on January 6, 2025.

Golden Cariboo's President and CEO, Frank Callaghan, stated "Drill hole QGQ24-20 is the eighth consecutive drill hole in our Halo zone discovery that has encountered visible gold. This is reminiscent of our exploration team's success at the Cariboo Gold project, 75 km to the SE, which is now owned by Osisko Development and has recently been permitted to commence mine construction. Golden Cariboo's team extends a heartfelt congratulations to Osisko Development for taking our dream of building a significant mine at the historic Cariboo Gold camp and seeing it through to fruition. Our current drill hole QGQ24-20 represents another step out from our discovery holes reported earlier this fall, and again is providing visual indication of a gold system of significant scale. With our camp now winterized, we will continue drilling to expand the discovery unabated."



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 1: Altered volcanics with quartz-carbonate+/-pyrite veins to a depth of 265.2 m (870 ft) in QGQ24-20



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 2: Example of visible gold in drill hole QGQ24-20 at a depth of 131.1 m (430.1 ft)



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 3: Map of current drilling and reported gold intercepts in the Halo zone

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed by Jean Pautler, P.Geo., a qualified person with respect to NI 43-101.

About Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd.

Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd. is rediscovering the Cariboo Gold Rush by proceeding with highly targeted drilling and trenching programs on its Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine property which is almost fully encircled on 3 of 4 sides by Osisko Development (NSE-ODV/TSXV-ODV). Historically, over 101 placer gold creeks on the 90 km trend from the Cariboo Hudson mine north to the Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine property have recorded production and successful placer mining continues to this day.

Golden Cariboo's Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine property is 4 km northeast of, and road accessible from, Hixon in central British Columbia. The Project includes the Quesnelle Quartz gold-silver deposit, which was discovered in 1865 in conjunction with placer mining activities. Hixon Creek, which dissects the old workings, is a placer creek which has seen small-scale placer production since the mid 1860s.

For further information please contact:

GOLDEN CARIBOO RESOURCES LTD

"J. Frank Callaghan"

J. Frank Callaghan, President & CEO

Tel: 604-669-6463

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS

www.goldencariboo.com

LIKE AND FOLLOW

Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn

Neither the "CSE" Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements:

This news release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and plans of the Company. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and includes information regarding; the expectation that the Company will receive all necessary exemptions and approvals to complete the Offering; the expectation that the Company will complete the Offering on the terms disclosed, or at all; the expectation that the proceeds will be used for property exploration and for general working capital; the Company's exploration plans with respect to its Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine property; and the anticipated participation of the insider in the Offering.

Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions of management, including, without limitation, that the Company will receive all necessary exemptions and approvals to complete the Offering; that the Company will complete the Offering on the terms disclosed, or at all; that the proceeds will be used for property exploration and for general working capital; that the Company will have the resources required to proceed with its exploration plans; that the Company will not run into regulatory or other barriers in carrying out its business plans; that the insider will participate in the Offering, on the terms and conditions and in the amount currently expected by management; and that the Company will be able to rely on the exemption from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements on the basis anticipated.

Additionally, forward-looking information involve a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation: that the Company will not receive the necessary exemptions and approvals to complete the Offering; that the Company will not complete the Offering on the terms disclosed, or at all; that the Company will be unable to use the proceeds for property exploration and for general working capital; that the Company may incur unanticipated costs; that the Company may not have the resources required to pursue its exploration plans; that the Company's operations could be adversely affected by possible future government legislation policies and controls or by changes in applicable laws and regulations; that the insider may not participate in the Offering on the terms and conditions and in the amount currently expected by management, or at all; and that the Company may not be able to rely on the exemption from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements on the basis currently expected. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Neither the Company nor any of its representatives make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, sufficiency or completeness of the information in this news release. Neither the Company nor any of its representatives shall have any liability whatsoever, under contract, tort, trust or otherwise, to you or any person resulting from the use of the information in this news release by you or any of your representatives or for omissions from the information in this news release.

The forward-looking statements herein speak only as of the date they were originally made. The Company has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
SLAM Exploration Ltd. ("SLAM" or the "Company") (TSXV-SXL) is pleased to announce it has drilled an 87 meter zone of mineralization in hole GW24-15. This hole is located 50 meters southeast of hole GW24-14 on the Logan zone. Both holes hit zones of pyrrhotite with visible copper mineralization in some intervals. These are the latest results from Slam's wholly owned Goodwin Project located 35 kilometers south of the Caribou mine and mill complex in the Bathurst Mining Camp ("BMC") of New Brunswick.

Hole GW24-15 intersected a 73 meter zone of 8 to 12% sulphides followed by a 14 meter zone of 30 to 40% sulphdes. Logging and sampling are in progress. GW24-15 is a 50 meter step out to the southeast of hole GW24-14. The preliminary log is tabled below:

Hole Number From-To Meters Interval Meters Description Mineralization GW24-15 0.00-4.50 4.50 Casing GW24-15 4.50-28.20 23.70 Gabbro 1-3% Sulphides GW24-15 28.20-29.68 1.48 Mineralized Mafic Dyke 20-30 Sulphides GW24-15 29.68-41.10 11.42 Gabbro 1-3% Sulphides GW24-15 41.10-44.20 3.10 Mafic Dyke 3-5% Sulphides GW24-15 44.20-76.20 32.00 Gabbro 1-3% Sulphides GW24-15 76.20-98.55 22.35 Mafic Volcanic ("MV") 1-3% Sulphides GW24-15 98.55-116.00 17.45 Mineralized MV 10-20% Sulphides GW24-15 116.00-128.33 12.33 Gabbro 6-8% Sulphides GW24-15 128.33-201.21 72.88 Mineralized Gabbro/MV 8-12% Sulphides GW24-15 201.21-207.32 6.11 Mineralized Gabbro 10-20% Sulphides GW24-15 207.32-208.70 1.38 Massive Sulphides 80-90% Sulphides GW24-15 208.70-210.50 1.80 Mineralized MV 8-12% Sulphides GW24-15 210.50-211.30 0.80 Semi-Massive Sulphides 70-80% Sulphides GW24-15 211.30-212.83 1.53 Mineralized MV 8-12% Sulphides GW24-15 212.83-213.33 0.50 Massive Sulphides 80-90% Sulphides GW24-15 213.33-215.60 2.27 Mineralized MV 10-15% Sulphides GW24-15 215.60-226.95 11.35 Mafic Volcanic 1-3% Sulphides GW24-15 226.95-341.00 114.05 Gabbro 1-3% Sulphides GW24-15 341.00 End of Hole

Figure 1 show the mineral zone comprised mainly of pyrrhotite with visible copper mineralization from 200 meters to 215 meters in diamond drill hole GW24-15. To our knowledge, this mineralization is deeper than any previously reported mineralization at Goodwin.



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 1 GW24-15 Core Interval 200 to 215 Meters

Figure 2 shows the Logan zone drilling plan. Assays are pending on holes GW24-08, GW24-09, GW24-13 and GW24-14. These 4 holes were drilled at a dip of 50 degrees and an azimuth of 060. Logging and sampling are in progress on hole GW24-15 which was drilled at a dip of 60 degrees toward azimuth 060. All 5 holes are shown below on an aeromagnetic gradient background derived from Slam's Bathurst Mining Camp airborne survey flown by Fugro in 2003. The pink area is a zone of high magnetics.



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 2 Logan Zone Aeromagnetics, Diamond Drilling Plan

According to historical records, 11 holes were drilled on the Logan zone from 1960 to 1997. The location of these holes is unknown with the exception of 2 holes ML97-03 and ML97-05 drilled in 1997 from points located northeast of hole GW24-15 as shown on the map above.

Click SLAM_NAI500_YouTube to view SLAM President & CEO Mike Taylor discussing the Goodwin copper nickel project in a recent interview with Gilbert Chan of NAI 500.

QA-QC Procedures: The core was delivered to a secure facility in Bathurst New Brunswick for detailed logging and sampling. The core descriptions and the summary log for hole GW24-15 and other holes are based on visual observations of the core. The results for holes GW24-01 to GW24-03 were previously reported by SLAM. The historic results from previous workers are derived from New Brunswick assessment files that predate NI43-101 regulations. They can only be validated by additional drilling.

About SLAM Exploration Ltd: About SLAM Exploration Ltd: SLAM Exploration Ltd. is a public resource company with a substantial portfolio of mineral claim holdings in the mineral-rich province of New Brunswick. The Company recently completed three diamond drill holes on the Goodwin copper-nickel project in the BMC of New Brunswick. Highlights include:

A 60.60-meter core interval grading 1.17% copper equivalent in hole GW24-03

A 64.90-meter core interval grading 2.14% copper equivalent in hole GW24-02

The Company has reported an additional 12 holes drilled in a follow-up program currently in progress at Goodwin. Assays are pending on holes GW24-04 to GW24-15.

SLAM has discovered multiple gold veins on its wholly owned Menneval gold project. The Company has reported gold-bearing core intervals, including 162.5 g/t gold over 0.2 meters and 56.90 g/t gold over 0.5 meters (news releases dated December 13, 2021, and November 22, 2022). Additionally, the Company reported quartz float grading up to 39.2 g/t gold on its Jake Lee project, located near the Clarence Stream gold deposit, where Galway Metals Inc. is working on a 2.3-million-ounce gold deposit in southern New Brunswick.

SLAM also owns the Mine Road copper-zinc-silver project, adjacent to the former producing Heath Steele Mines property in the BMC. Previous workers have reported successful diamond drill holes at Mine Road, including IL2014-003, which intersected a 9-meter core interval grading 14.51% zinc, 5.86% lead, 0.67% copper, and 139.9 g/t silver in the volcanogenic massive sulphide Railroad Zone (Doe Run Canadian Exploration ULC; 2015, New Brunswick Assessment Files, Report of Work 477877). The Railroad Zone is located 7,000 meters east of the 20-million-tonne former producing Heath Steele B Zone.

Slam is a project generator and has received significant cash and share payments over the past year. The Company holds NSR royalties and expects additional cash and share payments from the Wedge copper-zinc project and the Ramsay, Reserve Creek, and Opikeigen gold projects.

To view SLAM's corporate presentation, click SXL-Presentation. Additional information is available on SLAM's website and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Follow us on X @SLAMGold. .

Qualifying Statements: Mike Taylor P.Geo, President and CEO of SLAM Exploration Ltd., is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and has approved the contents of this news release.

Certain information in this press release may constitute forward-looking information, including statements regarding mineral resources and the Company's plans with respect to the exploration and development of its properties. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to the Company. There are a number of risk factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those described herein. Information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedarplus.ca. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Mike Taylor, President & CEO

Contact: 506-623-8960 mike@slamexploration.com

Eugene Beukman, CFO

Contact: 604-687-2038 ebeukman@pendergroup.ca SEDAR+: 00012459


VANCOUVER, Nov. 26, 202 - Patriot Battery Metals Inc. (the "Company" or "Patriot") (TSX: PMET) (ASX: PMT) (OTCQX: PMETF) (FSE: R9GA) is pleased to advise that Ken Brinsden, the Company's President, CEO and Managing Director, will host a live investor webinar tomorrow, 27 November 2024, to provide shareholders and investors with an update on recent exploration and development activities at the Shaakichiuwaanaan Lithium Project in Quebec, Canada.

Mr Brinsden will provide an update on the extensive drilling program completed as part of the 2024 Summer-Fall program, the progress of the Pre-Feasibility Study, recently reported ESG initiatives and ongoing strategic and market engagement, as well as the outlook for 2025.

There will be an opportunity for investors, analysts and shareholders to submit questions via the Q&A tab within the webinar portal following the completion of Mr Brinsden's presentation. Alternatively, questions can be submitted in advance via email to the Company's Investor Relations Manager, Mr Olivier Caza-Lapointe, at ocazalapointe@patriotbatterymetals.com.

Mr Brinsden will host two webinars to facilitate investor and shareholder participation in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere time zones.

Registration Details

Australia / Asia Time Zone - Commencing at 9.00am Australian Western Standard Time / 12.00pm Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time / 8.00pm Canadian Eastern Standard Time and will last approximately 45 minutes. Investors, shareholders and media can register to attend the webinar via the following link:

https://www.bigmarker.com/read-corporate/Patriot-Battery-Metals-TSX-PMET-ASX-PMT

North American Time Zone - Commencing at 10.00am Canadian Eastern Standard Time / 7.00am Pacific Standard Time / 11.00pm Australian Western Standard Time and will last approximately 45 minutes. Investors, shareholders and media can register to attend the webinar via the following link:

https://www.bigmarker.com/read-corporate/Patriot-Battery-Metals-TSX-PMET-ASX-PMT-7315d32fd112a5e5c6f036d7

A recording of the webinar will be released through Patriot's website and social media platforms for the benefit of investors who are unable to attend the live webinar.

About Patriot Battery Metals Inc.

Patriot Battery Metals Inc. is a hard-rock lithium exploration company focused on advancing its district-scale 100%-owned Shaakichiuwaanaan Property (formerly known as Corvette) located in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Quebec, Canada, which is accessible year-round by all-season road and is proximal to regional powerline infrastructure. The Shaakichiuwaanaan Mineral Resource1, which includes the CV5 & CV13 spodumene pegmatites, totals 80.1 Mt at 1.44% Li 2 O Indicated, and 62.5 Mt at 1.31% Li 2 O Inferred, and ranks as the largest lithium pegmatite resource in the Americas, and the 8th largest lithium pegmatite resource in the world. Additionally, the Shaakichiuwaanaan Property hosts multiple other spodumene pegmatite clusters that remain to be drill tested, as well as significant areas of prospective trend that remain to be assessed.

For further information, please contact us at info@patriotbatterymetals.com or by calling +1 (604) 279-8709, or visit www.patriotbatterymetals.com. Please also refer to the Company's continuous disclosure filings, available under its profile at www.sedarplus.ca and www.asx.com.au, for available exploration data.

This news release has been approved by the Board of Directors.

"KEN BRINSDEN"

Kenneth Brinsden, President, CEO, & Managing Director.

____________ 1 Shaakichiuwaanaan (CV5 & CV13) Mineral Resource Estimate (80.1 Mt at 1.44% Li 2 O and 163 ppm Ta 2 O 5 Indicated, and 62.5 Mt at 1.31% Li 2 O and 147 ppm Ta 2 O 5 ppm Inferred) is reported at a cut-off grade of 0.40% Li 2 O (open pit), 0.60% Li 2 O (underground CV5), and 0.80% Li 2 O (underground CV13) with an Effective Date of June 27, 2024 (through drill hole CV24-526). Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves as they do not have demonstrated economic viability.

SOURCE Patriot Battery Metals Inc.ContactInvestor and Media Contacts: Olivier Caza-Lapointe, Head, Investor Relations, T: +1 (514) 913-5264,E: ocazalapointe@patriotbatterymetals.com; Nicholas Read - Australian media inquiries, Read Corporate, Tel: +61 419 929 046, E: nicholas@readcorporate.com.au
Next article: Warren Buffett: Why billionaire is giving away billions instead of leaving it to his children

Charles Hanna of H&M Manufacturing honoured among Ghana's most influential figures

Kweku Zurek Business News Nov - 25 - 2024 , 21:53

The Chief Executive Officer of H&M Manufacturing Limited, Charles Hanna has been named among the 2024 edition of the 100 Most Influential People Awards (MIPA).

The recognition, awarded by The Business Executive Group, celebrates individuals whose professional achievements and influence have made a significant impact on Ghanas social, economic, political, and cultural spheres.

The award ceremony, held at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, brought together dignitaries from the government, diplomatic corps, and traditional institutions to celebrate Ghanas most transformative leaders.

Charles Hanna's journey to prominence began in 2000 when he joined forces with his father to establish Finicia Construction Works Ltd, a leading construction and civil engineering firm. Building on his passion for construction, architecture, and interior design, Charles later co-founded H&M Manufacturing with his brothers, focusing on producing high-quality furniture and redefining Ghanas interior design landscape.

Advertisement

Under Charles leadership, H&M Manufacturing has become synonymous with excellence, adopting a customer-centric approach and delivering innovative solutions that rival international standards. The companys mission to reduce Ghanas dependence on imported furniture by providing locally manufactured, world-class products has resonated with clients and industry stakeholders alike.

Charles Hanna expressed his gratitude for the recognition, attributing the companys success to the dedication of his team and the trust of their clients.

This award is a testament to the collective effort of everyone at H&M Manufacturing. Our commitment to providing exceptional experiences and high-quality products remains unwavering. This recognition inspires us to aim even higher, Hanna stated.

The 100 Most Influential People Awards serves as a benchmark for excellence, spotlighting individuals and companies that drive growth and innovation despite industry challenges. Charles Hannas inclusion underscores his pivotal role in elevating Ghanas manufacturing sector while setting new standards in customer care and product quality.

H&M Manufacturing continues to position itself as a leader in Ghanas construction and interior design industries, committed to creating a legacy of innovation and customer satisfaction.
Diaspora Property Expo 2025 launched in Accra

Business Desk Report Business News Nov - 26 - 2024 , 04:25

Diaspora Property Expo (DPE) 2025, a project that aims to bridge the gap between the Ghanaian diaspora and investment opportunities in Ghana, mainly targeting growth and development in the real estate sector, was officially launched on November 20, 2024, at the Accra Marriott Hotel, Airport City.

Attracting a variety of stakeholders in the real estate business, as well as government officials, the event threw an extensive light on the real estate and property market in the country and the different efforts being made, especially by private businesses, to boost the sector.

Over 57 Ghanaian property developers, real estate experts/agencies, financial service providers (mortgage financiers) design agencies have applied to participate in DPE 2025 in Canada and the US, but only 20 companies will qualify to participate in each expo, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Global Shipping Handlings Ltd and a member of the DPE 2025 Local Planning Board in charge of Sponsorship & Exhibitions, Roland Thomas, explained at the launch.

The Chief Director, Ministry of Works & Housing, Rev. Stephen Yaw Osei, represented the Minister, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah. He said the ministry was always pleased to be involved in events such as DPE 2025 as they provide important pointers on key achievements and help build appropriate synergies for advancing the development of the housing sector.

Advertisement

According to him, there is a wide gap between the demand for and the supply of housing across the country and the government aims to promote greater private sector participation in the nations housing-related matters.

The DPE 2025 is organised by the Diaspora Property Investment Limited, Made-in-Ghana Consulting Limited and Diaspora Property Expo LLC (North Carolina), in partnership with the World Trade Centre (Philadelphia), the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA), the Ministry of Works and Housing, the Ghana Embassy in

Washington DC, the Ghana High Commission in Canada, Globl RED Consulting LLC (Beverly Hills), Nkunim Diaspora City, Mankessim, Ghana, Exclusive Ride Ghana, the Global Handlings Shipping Limited and Aim to Impact (Toronto).

The two-part DPE 2025 will be held at the Marriott Centre Hotel, Ontario, Canada from March 21 to March 23. The USA leg will be from March 28 to March 30 at the World Trade Centre of Greater Philadelphia. Activities at DPE 2025 will include a conference, an exhibition, panel discussions and an investment clinic.

Organisers say the DPE 2025 will be a platform to showcase the best real estate projects in Ghana and allow and allow professionals in the sector to connect directly with potential buyers.

The Country Director of Property Expo LLC, Mr Sidney Justin Tehoda, assured exhibitors that their investment in DPE 2025 would bring them into contact with the right audience, individuals and groups genuinely interested in real estate opportunities in Ghana.

We are leveraging multiple channels including liaising with Ghanaian organisations and clubs, partnering renowned US and Canadian industry partners and realtors and working closely with Ghanaian and African-American business clubs and associations to spread information about DPE 2025.

The President of Aim 2 Impact, Julius Ossom, said the DPE 2025s official partner in Canada was at the Accra launch. He said Canada had a large population of Ghanaians and people from the diaspora who are not only interested in touring Ghana but also keen to explore real estate opportunities in the country.

We are ready for DPE2025 and going to get the right people in the room: investors, property developers, stakeholders and people genuinely committed to investing in Ghanas future in real estate, Mr Ossom stated.

The CEO of Beverley Hills-based Globl RED LLC, Kofi Nartey, said the DPE 2025s US partner has years of experience in the real estate industry in the US and internationally.

He referred to the project as a powerful platform for making impactful connections, creating opportunities and bridging the gap between the diaspora and Ghanas property market.

He gave an assurance that the DPE 2025 would be a resounding success.

In a solidarity message at the launch, Madam Ayishatu Abdallah, who represented the Minister of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration, described the DPE 2025 as a useful bridge connecting expertise, resources and opportunities across borders. She commended the organisers for their forward-thinking initiative and pledged the Foreign Affairs Ministrys support for a successful project.

The DPE 2025 will be launched again on January 22, 2025, at the Ghana Embassy in Washington DC with road shows targeting over 25 states and cities in the US and Canada before the main programme in March 2025.
Ghana revamps insurance penetration rate calculation  Set to add pensions, health insurance

Emmanuel Bruce Business News Nov - 26 - 2024 , 05:22

In a significant policy shift aimed at providing a more comprehensive view of the country's insurance sector, the Director of the Financial Sector Division at the Ministry of Finance, Sampson Akligoh, has asked the National Insurance Commission (NIC) to develop a new framework that would incorporate pension funds and national health insurance into the national insurance penetration rate calculations.

The current methodology, which only accounts for life and non-life insurance segments, is set to undergo this substantial expansion to reflect a broader spectrum of insurance services.

In an interview with Graphic Business on the sidelines of an educational conference organised by the West African Insurance Companies Association (WAICA), he said, We have a standard approach that we have been using to calculate the penetration rate.

So now, the policy discussion with the regulator is how we can move to capture the other aspects of insurance. Because if you look at pensions, it's insurance.

Advertisement

If you look back at the law that established SSNIT, it's old age insurance for retired people.

And if you go to other jurisdictions, they include those figures on their insurance penetration, he stated.

He said the NIC must, therefore, establish a new framework for those computations that would better reflect the countrys penetration rate compared to the current one per cent which has been stagnant for years.

Mr Akligoh said the Ministry of Finance was committed to supporting this course, noting that the new Insurance Act supports such an initiative.

The current Insurance Act is a very sweeping act for the sector and it took a long time for this act to be passed.

So what is left is for the regulator and all stakeholders to develop the framework, he said.

Stronger regulation

Mr Akligoh also called for stronger regulation of the insurance sector in order to boost market confidence.

He said it was important for the consumers of the insurance products to know that when they put their resources into these products, they have strong regulations that protect them.

It will also give them confidence that the companies in the industry are resilient and robust. It's not an easy thing, but it is important that we do all we can to ensure that the regulators are ahead in making sure that the industry remains stable and that consumers are protected, he said.

He said that was the only way that the long-term viability of the industry and at the same time the impact that the industry would need to have on the consumers is safeguarded.

Work already started

Also speaking in an interview with the Graphic Business, the Acting Commissioner of Insurance, Michael Andoh, said the NIC had already started work on establishing a framework that will allow for pensions and health insurance to be added to the countrys penetration rate.

We need to gather data from the pensions sector and the health insurance sector and we are currently doing that, he said.

Mr Andoh emphasised that pensions and health insurance were an aspect of insurance, therefore calling on the need to consolidate all these areas and measure the proper penetration.

As it is now, the NIC regulates only life and non-life insurance, so the figures we are calculating are penetration of life and non-life insurance.

But to get the proper consolidated view, we need to get data from the health and the pension sector to add, and that is something that we are working on and we hope to get a better view of where the penetration stands, he stated.

On how soon the new framework will come into force, he said, We are still talking to the stakeholders involved to get the data that we need to do the calculation. So once we get the data, we hope to be able to publish something, maybe by the end of 2024.

He said when this is done, it would show the true position of the penetration and where the country really stands. If we get all the data and put it together, it will give us a better view of what the penetration really looks like, he added.
Ghanas quest to become financial hub takes a giant leap

Graphic Business Editorial Business News Nov - 26 - 2024 , 05:40

Back in 2007, the then government led by President John Agyekum Kufuor established the off-shore banking concept in Ghana with the sole purpose of making Ghana the financial hub in the sub-region and to attract badly needed capital into the country.

Within a few months of establishing the off-shore banking concept, the economy attracted huge financial resources which the country could have leveraged for capital investments.

However, the idea died immediately after a new government took office in 2009.

Fast-forward, after 17 years, we have come full circle.

Advertisement

The inauguration of the Bank of Ghana's ultra-modern edifice, therefore, marks a significant milestone in Ghana's journey to become a financial hub in the sub-region.

The vision, first conceived in 2007, aimed to transform Accra into a financial gateway, attracting much-needed capital into the country.

Governor Addison's remarks at the inauguration ceremony underscored the rapid growth and development of Ghana's financial sector, driven by the national drive to make Accra a financial hub.

This vision led to bold investments to transform this enclave of Accra into a financial hub, he said.

That, Ghana continues to be the attraction in the sub-region for businesses has never been doubted. Continued economic and political stability has been to our advantage in the midst of troubling region of political upheavals.

The Central Bank has also been at the forefront of innovations, pioneering interoperability and other initiatives to enhance financial services delivery.

The global financial architecture is evolving rapidly and regulators must keep pace. Ghana's experience has shown that effective regulation and supervision are crucial to preventing financial instability. The Central Bank's decision to salvage the economy by supporting failing banks is a testament to its commitment to financial stability.

The inauguration of the new edifice is a huge step towards making Ghana a financial hub. It demonstrates the country's commitment to providing a conducive environment for financial services to thrive.

The financial space has broadened to include fintech companies and it is essential to have skilled personnel to provide supervision and ensure conformity with the laws. The Graphic Business commends the Central Bank for undertaking this project on its balance sheet.

The cost of not completing the project on schedule would have been more burdensome in the long run. Ghana has always been a leader among its peers and it is essential to take advantage of the financial services hub to attract capital for economic growth.

Every investment counts and we must prioritise development.

The new edifice is a valuable investment in Ghana's future and we must recognise its significance. Others have questioned the wisdom of undertaking this project at the time of financial difficulties the economy is going through.

While we have every right to question the use of public funds, we must also be fair to the facts and open to listening and engaging when the opportunity exists.

The cost to the nation on account of suspending the construction would be a bigger financial burden on the public purse into the future.

As President Kufuor once said, "Some people know the cost of everything but the value of nothing."
Previous article: What every SME owner should know to stay ahead of election 2024

Navigating the Galamsey Crisis: Transforming Ghanas pains into a national economic innovative initiative

Prof. Samuel Lartey Business News Nov - 26 - 2024 , 04:40

Illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as "galamsey" in Ghana, has long been a double-edged sword, evoking mixed emotions of both frustration and economic gain.

On the one hand, the practice has provided livelihoods to thousands of rural and urban inhabitants.

On the other, it has left a trail of environmental destruction, particularly in Ghanas once pristine forests and water bodies.

As Ghana seeks to balance economic aspirations with sustainable development, there is a pressing need to transform this age-old activity into a more economically productive and environmentally sound initiative.

Advertisement

The historical journey of galamsey in Ghana

Galamsey dates back to the colonial period when gold was discovered in Ghana, leading to a surge in both regulated and unregulated mining.

In the early days, small-scale mining was mainly artisanal, involving simple tools and techniques.

However, over the years, galamsey has evolved into a significant underground economy that defies regulation and threatens Ghanas environmental resources.

According to the Ghana Chamber of Mines, over 30% of Ghana's gold production comes from small-scale miners, with illegal mining contributing to a large share of this figure.

While the economic benefits to individuals and communities are clear, the environmental toll is undeniable.

The illegal use of mercury in processing gold has contaminated water bodies like the Pra and Offin Rivers, while vast stretches of land have been degraded and deforested.

This environmental degradation has not only threatened biodiversity but also harmed agricultural productivity in many regions.

The Global comparison: how other nations manage small-scale mining

To understand how Ghana might transform its galamsey challenge, its useful to explore how other countries manage their small-scale mining industries.

Countries such as Peru and the Philippines have faced similar challenges with illegal mining.

However, they have taken steps to formalize small-scale mining through government-regulated programs that offer incentives to miners who comply with environmental standards.

In Peru, for example, the government launched a formalization initiative in 2012 that allowed small-scale miners to register and gain access to training on sustainable mining practices.

By incorporating technology and environmental preservation measures, the initiative has reduced mercury usage by 75%, according to a 2019 report by the Peruvian Ministry of Energy and Mines.

In contrast, countries like the Netherlands have dealt with environmental degradation of their land and water bodies through technological innovation.

The Netherlands, a water-logged nation, has reclaimed land from the sea using advanced engineering techniques like polders, dikes, and canals.

The countrys ability to turn a geographical challenge into economic opportunities by creating arable land for agriculture and infrastructure can serve as inspiration

for Ghana to reclaim its degraded mining lands and water bodies.

How Ghana can transform galamsey into an innovative economic initiative

1. Formalisation and regulation: A formalized structure is crucial. Government authorities must incentivize galamsey operators to transition into regulated small-scale mining by offering legal recognition, access to financing, and training on modern, eco-friendly mining techniques. One possible method is through partnerships with educational institutions, such as the University of Mines and Technology in Tarkwa, which could provide tailored technical training to small-scale miners.

2. Research into sustainable methods: Stakeholders, including the government, mining companies, environmental NGOs, and academic researchers, must prioritize research into the development of sustainable mining practices. For instance, bio-remediation technologies that use plants and microorganisms to clean up contaminated soil and water could be explored and applied on a large scale. This approach has been used successfully in areas of severe contamination in countries such as Brazil and Chile.

3. Land reclamation projects: Drawing lessons from the Dutch, Ghana could embark on national land reclamation projects to restore areas destroyed by galamsey. By employing cutting-edge land and water reclamation techniques, Ghana could repurpose degraded lands for agriculture, urban development, or even eco-tourism. This would not only mitigate the environmental impact but also create new avenues for economic growth.

4. Community-led monitoring: Communities affected by galamsey should be empowered to take an active role in monitoring and preserving their environment. Local task forces could be established to report illegal activities, ensuring that miners adhere to the environmental regulations. This would also create jobs and build a culture of environmental stewardship.

5. Technological integration: Using technology such as satellite imagery and drones, the government and stakeholders can better monitor mining areas, ensuring that illegal activities are detected in real time. In addition, incorporating blockchain technology into the gold supply chain could help trace the origins of gold, thereby reducing the demand for illegally mined gold on the global market.

Making things happen

Ghana is the leading gold producer in Africa and the sixth in the world, with an annual production of approximately 4.2 million ounces in 2020, contributing 38% to Ghana's GDP.

Small-scale mining, including galamsey, produces about 30% of Ghana's total gold output, which was valued at over $2 billion in 2021.

However, the environmental cost is staggering. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), illegal mining activities have led to the contamination of over 60% of Ghanas water bodies, with a clean-up effort estimated to cost $29 million annually.

Moreover, a report by the World Bank in 2019 indicated that land degradation caused by illegal mining could reduce Ghanas agricultural output by 3-5%, costing the country approximately $1.2 billion annually in lost food production. These figures highlight the urgent need to transform the illegal mining sector into a regulated and sustainable venture.

Conclusion

Transforming galamsey from a bane to a boon requires a coordinated and multifaceted approach that balances economic growth with environmental stewardship. By learning from global examples and investing in research and innovation, Ghana can turn the painful legacy of illegal mining into an opportunity for sustainable development.

The nation has a unique chance to reclaim its forests, restore its water bodies, and create a more equitable and productive future for all stakeholders involved.

This transformation is not just about regulating a sector; it is about reclaiming Ghanas environmental heritage and shaping an economic future built on sustainability and innovation.

In summary, Ghana must act decisively and collaboratively, combining policy reforms, technological integration, and community involvement to transform the pains and pleasures of galamsey into a cornerstone of its national development agenda.
Ghana Election 2024: Before you vote

Wisdom Bonuedi Opinion Nov - 26 - 2024 , 09:57 3 minutes read

I have carefully disagreed and agreed with myself after conscious deliberation of the issues and what is actually amiss and further engaged in our daily debates about the problems of our dear Ghana and it all points to leadership and the Ghanaian mindset.

Anyone who has followed politics and the politicians in Africa and Ghana will agree with me that this 2024 general election should not be between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC). It should be about Ghana and the future.

Before we vote, we need to understand and consider why we vote and what we are going in for. Africans have refused to vote based on their common interest; the African continent has had little in terms of development.

Most African countries are underdeveloped after independence to the extent that poverty is one common thing among members. Africa has had bad leaders and it's obvious in times of accountability.

Advertisement

Most African leaders have had the notoriety for bad governance, terrorism, corruption, misgovernance, lawlessness and many more.

Ghana has not been spared any of these, remaining dependent even after independence, importing everything and borrowing more than we spend.

Suffered

Dear Ghanaians, we have suffered enough from misgovernance, corruption, nepotism, greed, bad roads, cheap policies and the wanton disrespect from our leaders. We, after independence, have walked through the trenches of bad leadership to the extent that our problems have quadrennially remained cyclical and the same.

It is an incomprehensible fact that after independence in 1957, 67 years after, we import virtually everything including frozen chicken, toothpicks and even tomatoes and maize.

After 67 years, we are still battling how to combat cholera and malaria. After independence, Ghana is still struggling to have good roads.

We simply have not been able to maintain the roads left behind by our forefathers; we cannot keep the love and integrity this country was laid on and almost everything we touch is either to win favour in the sight of people or for reelection.

We have remained politically bigots and selfish in many sectors. Our sense of purpose and responsibility is eroded and visibly missing.

Hopeful

Despite the fact, we have watched and remained hopeful that someday, a man or a woman will come; yet we keep thinking and voting in a way that has pillaged us. Thereby, making us lack many monumental developments in all aspects.

Stealthily, our actions have also caused us to lose the human resources this country needs at a time like this when we are to wake up and begin pondering about what is happening to us.

We rather lose these (human) resources to other countries due to hardships faced in Ghana.

Today, men and women have entered our forests with pans, shovels, pick axes, chainsaws, excavators and are busily carving our land in search of gold. It is now everywhere that Chinese nationals are given permits by chiefs and political party stalwarts to mine in our rivers and streams to the detriment of our lives.

I dont understand what has happened to Ghana. The Ghana we grew to see from the 90s is not what we have here. We are destroying her.

I know things will turn around and we can do it and do it better by asking the relevant questions and holding our leaders accountable.

We need to enter the ballot box and imagine Ghana in the future and make a decision that will propel us to that growth. We all need to consciously accept our mistakes and forge ahead devoid of our usual parochial interests as far as partisan politics is concerned.

We need to vote for a leader who can take this country to the future we will look back and say; we did it. We need to make Ghana a better home for the future of our future.

The writer is a tutor.
Next article: Vitus Azeem disagrees with CHRAJ's conclusions on Ablakwa's petition on National Cathedral project

Bawumia to launch electric bus pilot programme in Accra

GraphicOnline Nov - 26 - 2024 , 21:13 1 minute read

Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is set to inaugurate Ghana's first fleet of electric buses (EVs) on Wednesday (November 27), marking a step toward modernising the countrys public transportation system.

The buses, which have recently arrived in Accra, will undergo test operations beginning this week.

This initiative stems from Dr. Bawumias vision to adopt electric vehicles as a cost-saving measure for the transportation sector.

Earlier this year, he unveiled plans to transition public transportation in Ghana to electric vehicles, citing their operational efficiency and potential to lower costs for passengers.

Advertisement

The pilot phase will begin with a symbolic trial on the Adenta-Accra route following the launch on Wednesday. If successful, the project will expand to other parts of Accra before extending to Kumasi and other regions when additional buses arrive early next year.

The move aligns with the governments broader goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving urban mobility, and enhancing affordability in public transportation.

Dr. Bawumias proactive approach seeks to demonstrate the feasibility of such systems even ahead of the December elections.

This pilot programme is expected to set a benchmark for integrating green technology into Ghanas public transport, showcasing the potential benefits of innovative and sustainable solutions for the nation.
Ghana Election 2024: Ahead of Election 2024: Keep up news validator status - NMC charges Graphic

Daniel Kenu Nov - 26 - 2024 , 10:36 6 minutes read

The Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission (NMC), George Sarpong, has endorsed the Daily Graphic as the validator of truth, urging it to maintain that enviable position on the media landscape.

He said it was an undeniable fact that whatever story the paper carried on its front page was considered to be the absolute truth by the other media houses in the country.

If your banner (headline) says the thing happened, every radio station in this country will go with that, and if you say it didnt happen, every radio station will say, indeed, it didnt happen.

So in this direction you remain an extremely important voice, particulary when it comes to fighting against misinformation, he stated..

Advertisement

Mr Sarpong said this during an engagement with the Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL), Ato Afful, and a section of the Daily Graphic Editorial Board members, led by the Editor, Graphic, Theophilus Yartey, in Accra on Monday.

George Sarpong (left), Executive Secretary of the NMC, presenting a copy of the Guidelines for Fair and Equitable Coverage of Political Parties by the State-owned Media to Theophilus Yartey (right), Editor, Graphic, at the meeting. With them is Ato Afful (middle), MD of Graphic Communications Group Ltd. Picture: EDNA SALVO-KOTEY

Media bias and statistical distortion

He, however, stressed the need to proactively deal with the issue of media bias and statistical distortion that are usually highlighted by international observers who cover Ghanas elections.

The second part is the painful reality that we see happening in every election. The international observers who come will do their monitoring and then discuss it with their other colleagues.

The monitoring will show that the state-owned media was biased in favour of the incumbent, but there are some parts of it that are complete statistical distortion that happens in every environment where journalism is practised and I always throw it back to them, he disclosed.

The NMC Executive Secretary said the conversation revolved around the challenges faced by the media in a country with a biased state media, focusing on the upcoming elections and the need for accurate reporting.

He emphasised the importance of disaggregating data to avoid misrepresentation and suggested that media outlets should do their own documentation to counteract false reports.

He said what usually happened was that when opposition parties levelled allegations against the incumbent, the state media tended to offer them the opportunity to respond to all those allegations, creating the impression that they were being given more coverage, which was often not the case.

So you see, this is the statistical error that leads to the repeated accusation. So if you dont disaggregate the data, it will look like the incumbent is getting more publicity over everybody else, which is factually incorrect.

So one of the things that we really want to encourage you to do is to begin doing the counting yourselves as the commission has done by engaging a young man who is a specialist in counting to help with the independent monitoring and documentation of the coverage of the elections, he said.

Constitutional obligations

Mr Sarpong said by so doing, the paper would avoid the danger of breaching Artcle 165 (11) and (12) of the Constitution which enjoined the state media to provide fair coverage for all political parties.

Media Watch App

Shedding more light on the new software application recently launched by the NMC, as well as the Guidelines for Fair and Equitable Coverage of Political Parties by the State-owned Media designed by his outfit, Mr Sarpong said it would safeguard Ghana's electoral integrity and ensure the safety of journalists during and after the polls.

The Media Watch App has robust and geo stamp security features that make it easier to detect misinformation and disinformation.

The evidence-based application, with almost zero human intervention, could also assist in resolving election disputes when the need arises.

He said the use of the app would enable the commission to determine the outcome of the elections midway through the release of the results.

The way the App works, the Commission would be able to know the winner or winners of the elections midway through the release of the result. However, we will not be tempted to declare it," he said.

Mr Sarpong, who was accompanied by the Deputy Executive Secretary of the NMC, Alexander Bannerman; Benedict Asorrow and Gabriel Bosompem (NMC Commissioners), explained that the commission had assigned its staff and some other people, including civil society organisations (CSOs), to feed the app with pictures, videos and still visuals of happenings at every constituency that would be transmitted direct into its "strong room" for collation.

He said such collated results could, however, be used as a verification tool to assist the courts to address any election dispute.

"Let me assure Ghanaians that we are ready and the App is ready," he said.

Security

He was equally confident that the robust nature of the application made infiltration of fake news impossible.

"The security features are such that it will be impossible for anyone to feed it with fake information," he assured.

Attack on journalists

The commission also plans to share videos and pictures of any attack on journalists with nearby police stations for the perpetrators to be apprehended and brought to book.

Mr Sarpong said the NMC was also in talks with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to be able to provide immediate health care for any affected journalist during any eventuality.

In the same vein, he revealed that the commission was also working out a policy with the National Insurance Commission (NIC) for additional support.

He, however, commended the Daily Graphic for standing by the constitutional mandate of providing "fair and equitable coverage for all dissenting opinions" in accordance with the provisions of the 1992 Constitution.

For his part, Mr Yartey assured the NMC of Daily Graphics stance to always choose "perfection over speed."

He said as Ghana's leading newspaper, the Daily Graphic would continue to seek the interest of the nation over anyone's parochial interest and be fair to everybody.

He said contrary to what some Ghanaians term as a make or break election, he believed that "this is just another normal election".

Mr Yartey said the paper was always working to be ahead of other news outlets due to the challenge of choice.

He disclosed that the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, was counting on the Daily Graphic to deal with the issue of misinformation, and gave an assurance that the paper was ready to live up to expectation.

He seized the opportunity to calm the nerves of Ghanaians by stressing that the "temperature" of the country would be normal during and after the elections.
Next article: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints heralds Xmas in Accra

Customers no longer need to top up Nuri meter for one month  ECG

Emmanuel Bonney Nov - 26 - 2024 , 09:10 3 minutes read

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has said customers using the Nuri prepayment meters no longer need to purchase power to last for a full month, as was earlier communicated.

That, it said, was because the token identifier (TID) rollover process had successfully been completed.

This milestone is part of an essential upgrade to ensure continued functionality of the Nuri Prepayment Meters.

Customers whose meters are yet to be upgraded are urged to contact ECG to arrange for the necessary updates, the General Manager of External Communications, ECG, Charles Nii Ayiku Ayiku, told the Daily Graphic.

Advertisement

Upgraded

The clarification comes amidst ongoing efforts to upgrade the Nuri meters for improved service delivery.

Mr Ayiku noted that the company was committed to ensuring the upgrade was seamless and that customers' electricity needs were met without unnecessary inconvenience.

The company assured customers that the upgrade was not a widespread issue but was concentrated in specific regions, including Accra East, Accra West, Tema and Prampram.

Significant progress, he said, had been made, with nearly all meters in the Prampram District and other areas already upgraded.

Mr Ayiku said the ECG remained committed to completing the process swiftly in the remaining areas.

Concerns

He acknowledged the concerns raised by customers after the initial announcement and expressed regret for any inconvenience caused.

The company is urging Nuri customers experiencing challenges topping up their electricity credit or whose meters are yet to be upgraded to reach out for assistance through various channels  Call Centre Dial 0302 611611, district offices, Social media contacts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok via @ECGghOfficial.

By offering multiple platforms for support, ECG seeks to address issues promptly and maintain customer satisfaction during this critical upgrade.

The Nuri meter upgrade, Mr Ayiku said, was part of a mandatory enhancement under the Standard Transfer Specification (STS) protocol, designed to ensure that the meters function effectively and support uninterrupted vending services.

Exercise

The exercise, he said, applied only to Nuri prepayment meters, with no impact on other types of meters.

To ensure transparency and collaboration, ECG engaged with affected communities through various channels, including meetings with opinion leaders, religious organisations, and community centres.

The company also utilised SMS notifications and social media updates to keep customers informed. For those who missed the initial upgrade visits, ECG teams are still present in these communities and are ready to arrange upgrades at the convenience of the customers.

Mr Ayiku emphasised the importance of customer cooperation in completing this critical upgrade exercise.

Your prompt action and cooperation will help us ensure uninterrupted vending services, he noted.

By actively seeking support and arranging upgrades, he said customers could enjoy a seamless experience without disruption to their electricity supply.
Dumasua midwife wins Overall Outstanding GHS Award

Joshua Bediako Koomson Nov - 26 - 2024 , 09:57 3 minutes read

A Principal Midwifery Officer at the Dumasua CHPS compound in the Sunyani West District of the Bono Region, Vivian Opoku Kyeremeh, has emerged the Overall Most Outstanding Staff of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) at the second edition of the GHS Excellence Awards.

The award celebrated her contributions to healthcare delivery and her transformative impact on communities across the country.

A citation presented in her honor highlighted her outstanding leadership and tireless dedication since 2014, particularly in underserved areas. Through her initiatives in periodic sanitation, environmental beautification, and facility improvements, Ms Kyeremeh has enhanced healthcare accessibility and outcomes, the citation read.

Achievements

Her achievements include introducing pregnancy schools, antiretroviral therapy (ART) services, cervical screenings and adolescent health programmes at Dumasua CHPS, resulting in a zero maternal mortality rate.

Advertisement

Additionally, her ability to mobilise resources and foster partnerships has strengthened the referral system and ensured quality care at the facility.

The awards ceremony, held yesterday in Accra, on the theme: Sustaining Partnerships for Effective and Efficient Healthcare Delivery, celebrated a total of 77 facilities and individuals for their exemplary contributions to healthcare in the country.

The event was graced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Other dignitaries in attendance included the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the Deputy Minister of Health, Adelaide Yaa Agyeiwaa Ntim and the Director-General of the GHS, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye.

Commendation

President Akufo-Addo in his remarks, commended healthcare professionals for their selflessness and resilience in delivering quality healthcare services, particularly during challenging times.

He praised the GHS for its transformative efforts, noting that its community health initiatives, strengthened primary healthcare networks and outreach to remote areas demonstrated the governments commitment to ensuring equitable healthcare access for all.

The Ghana Health Service stands as a symbol of resilience and progress, embodying the enduring spirit of our nation. It is inspiring to see how the tireless efforts of our health professionals have propelled healthcare delivery across Ghana, ensuring access to quality care even in the most challenging times,

He said the past few years had tested the resilience of the countrys healthcare system like never before.

However, through the dedication and selflessness of the healthcare workers, he said the country was able to overcome those challenges and emerged stronger.

He said efforts in extending community health services, strengthening primary healthcare networks, and reaching remote areas demonstrated its commitment to leaving no one behind.

As President, I am proud of the progress made under my administration to strengthen our healthcare system. Over the past eight years, we have recruited over 202,000 medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and allied health workers. We have prioritised training and capacity-building to equip our workforce with the skills needed for modern healthcare delivery.

These advancements, coupled with expanded National Health Insurance coverage and the Agenda 111 infrastructure project, are transforming healthcare delivery across the country, he said.

Commitment to excellence

The deputy health minister also congratulated to the awardees, describing their achievements as a testament to their dedication and resilience.

Your commitment to excellence serves as a powerful reminder of our shared vision to improve healthcare outcomes for every Ghanaian, she said

The Ga Mantse also urged all traditional authorities to actively support healthcare delivery within their communities.

He indicated that such collective effort was essential to achieving universal health coverage, ensuring that no one was left behind.
Ghana Election 2024: Graphic National Development Series: Graphic, EC discuss Election 2024 readiness

Joshua Bediako Koomson Nov - 26 - 2024 , 10:22 2 minutes read

The Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL) and the Electoral Commission (EC) will host the fourth edition of the Graphic National Development Series (GNDS) which focuses on the nations readiness for the December 7 general election.

The event, which will be on the theme: Sustaining Civic & Democratic Governance System for Development, Mandate of all Citizens, will take place in Accra tomorrow at the British Council at 10 a.m.

The GNDS is a thought-leadership platform of the GCGL carefully structured to steer strategic national discourse away from a partisan stance to reach outcomes of a national character behind which the country can rally for development.

The event will bring together key stakeholders, including political parties, the leadership and other officials of the EC, national security officials, local authorities, traditional leaders and religious figures, to provide updates on measures being taken to ensure peaceful, transparent and credible elections.

Advertisement

Objectives

The Director, Marketing and Sales of GCGL, Franklin Sowa, explained that the main takeaway of the event was to enable the nation to know that the country was ready for the elections and to assure the public that all relevant stakeholders were collaborating to deliver a successful electoral process.

He said the event would offer a platform for stakeholders to inform the public about the systems in place to address any concerns during the electioneering.

This is to allow the public to understand that the EC and, indeed, the country, has a robust system to address any issues that may arise, ensuring that theres no need for fear or confusion, Mr Sowa added.

The Director, Sales and Marketing emphasised that the GNDS aligned with GCGLs mission to drive dialogue and development on national issues.

This particular session will play a vital role in setting the tone for a peaceful and successful democratic process towards the elections next week Saturday, Mr Sowa added.

Background

This will be the fourth and last edition of the GNDS for the year. It marks the conclusion of the series that earlier focused on agriculture, health and education.

The initiative aims to provide timely information on critical national development topics
Sunon Asogli restarts operation

Dotsey Koblah Aklorbortu Nov - 26 - 2024 , 00:57 2 minutes read

The government has reached a deal with electricity generator, Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana) Limited to resume operations as soon as possible after receiving some payment.

The company, one of the key independent power producers, was compelled in October this year to suspend operations creating a deficit of about 560 megawatts (MW).

A statement signed by the Chairman of the company, Qun Yang, expressed the companys appreciation to the Minister of Finance, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, and the Minister of Energy, Herbert Krapa, for their interventions to release an emergency funding to address the critical financial need of the company.

I must say we have returned to operations today, Monday, November 25, 2024 at 3 p.m. and we have submitted our final version of the Restructuring Terms Sheet to the Ministry of Finance and Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in August, for finalisation and signing soon, he said.

Advertisement

The statement added that Sunon Asogli was confident that a win-win solution that would ensure the stability and reliability of the countrys energy sector would be achieved.

We hope the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) can adhere to the spirit of the contract and diligently honour their financial obligations in the power purchase agreement (PPA), it added.

The statement also commended the President for his intervention in ensuring the payment to the company, enabling it to resume operations.

It, however, said the company deeply regreted the impact of its shutdown.

The non-payment and such magnitude of megawatts of power off the national grid pose threats to pending general elections which are likely to run into the night, the statement said.
Next article: Here are 10 African countries with highest salaries for workers

Tepahene sets ambitious investment target - Marks Silver Jubilee Saturday

Daily Graphic Nov - 26 - 2024 , 12:36 2 minutes read

The Omanhene of Tepa in the Ashanti Region, Nana Adusei Atwenewa Ampem, has set an ambitious target to increase investment in education in his traditional area as he marks the Silver Jubilee of his enstoolment on Saturday.

He said traditional leadership was all about improving the welfare of the people, which was why he intended to devote more time and resources to address the pressing concerns of the traditional area.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Tepa ahead of the grand anniversary durbar to be held in Tepa in the Ahafo North Municipality, the Omanhene said the investment would mostly be in the form of scholarships and infrastructural projects.

Investments

Nana Adusei Ampem has already donated 100 acres of land to the government for the establishment of a university college in Tepa, with the project about 60 per cent completed so far.

Advertisement

In further support of the project, he is building an administration block for the college.

The Omanhene also donated land for the establishment of Tepa Nursing and Midwifery Training College and supported the college to undertake significant expansion of hostels, staff quarters and additional classrooms.

These improvements have enabled the college to accommodate more students and provide them with the facilities they need to succeed, he said about some of the investments he had made in education so far.

Scholarship

The Tepahene further disclosed that the traditional council under his authority had instituted a scholarship scheme, in collaboration with OLAM Ghana, for students from disadvantaged backgrounds in the traditional area.

The scheme is said to have benefited over 120 children so far.

These scholarships have made a significant difference in the lives of many young people, giving them the opportunity to achieve their dreams and contribute to the development of their community, the traditional ruler said.

Other initiatives

Nana Adusei Ampem said he also donated 70 acres of land towards the construction of the Ahafo Ano North Municipal Hospital in Tepa.

This initiative has increased access to medical services and health education, he stated.

He added that 20 acres of land had also been released free of charge to the Ghana Armed Forces for the establishment of a military base in the town.

The traditional council has also established a rural bank which is supporting the economic development of the area.

Proceeds from the Silver Jubilee anniversary will go into the construction of a social centre in Tepa.
Here are 10 African countries with highest salaries for workers

Business Insider Africa Nov - 26 - 2024 , 11:44 3 minutes read

Salary continues to be a major factor influencing individuals to accept job offers, and in many African countries, employees, especially those in salaried roles, receive competitive compensation.

This is primarily attributed to favourable economic growth and a high demand for specialized skills.

This report highlights the top 10 African countries where workers earn the highest salaries, driven by robust economic performance and the growing need for skilled professionals across various industries.

Morocco

At the top of the list, Morocco stands with an impressive average salary of $2,031. This can be attributed to the countrys diversified economy, which includes flourishing sectors such as tourism, textiles, and mining. Since gaining independence in 1956, Morocco has made significant strides in improving infrastructure and creating an investment-friendly environment, which has boosted wages in key industries.

Advertisement

South Africa

South Africa follows closely, offering an average salary of $2,026. The countrys well-established financial sector, along with strong mining and manufacturing industries, drive its higher wage rates. Since its independence in 1910, South Africa has become one of the continents most industrialized nations, contributing to its relatively high salaries across various sectors.

Tunisia

With an average salary of $1,348, Tunisia ranks third. The country boasts robust healthcare, education, and manufacturing sectors, alongside its strategic location near Europe. Independent since 1956, Tunisias focus on technology and tourism has created new job opportunities and pushed salaries higher, making it an attractive destination for skilled professionals.

Kenya

Kenya offers an average salary of $1,291, supported by the countrys rapidly expanding economy. Key sectors like agriculture, telecommunications, and fintech, along with Nairobis growing reputation as a tech hub, are contributing to higher pay rates. Gaining independence in 1963, Kenya continues to experience economic growth that is reflected in its competitive salary offerings.

Algeria

Algerias economy, heavily reliant on oil and gas exports, generates substantial revenue, which results in an average salary of $1,273. Since its independence in 1962, Algerias natural resources have played a central role in driving economic growth and, consequently, higher wages for workers in key industries.

Namibia

With an average salary of $1,168, Namibia benefits from a thriving mining industryparticularly diamonds and uraniumand its agriculture sector. Having gained independence in 1990, the countrys low population density and abundant natural resources contribute to its solid salary structure.

Botswana

Botswana offers an average salary of $1,000, largely due to its profitable diamond mining industry, stable political climate, and ongoing improvements in education and healthcare systems. Since achieving independence in 1966, the countrys consistent focus on economic development has allowed it to maintain competitive salaries in a variety of sectors.

Nigeria

Nigeria, Africas largest oil producer, offers an average salary of $814. Its banking and telecommunications industries are also major contributors to its salary structure. Gaining independence in 1960, Nigerias rapidly growing economy continues to create high-paying opportunities, particularly for skilled professionals in finance and technology.

Ghana

Ghana, with an average salary of $748, continues to benefit from its strong oil industry, booming gold mining sector, and robust cocoa exports. Since gaining independence in 1957, the country has also focused on industrialization, and its emerging tech industry shows promise for further wage growth in the future.

Uganda

At the bottom of the list, Uganda has an average salary of $738, which is driven by growth in its services and agricultural sectors. Uganda gained independence in 1962 and is now focusing on expanding its energy and industrial sectors, which could help raise salaries in the coming years. However, significant economic disparities remain, meaning wages can vary greatly across the country.

Although these figures reflect average salaries, its essential to keep in mind that they may not represent the economic inequalities that exist across different regions or industries within each country.
Ministry of National Security refutes allegations of involvement in alleged abduction of Emirates Manager

GraphicOnline Nov - 26 - 2024 , 07:42 2 minutes read

The Ministry of National Security has disputed allegations published by the Herald Newspaper that officers from the Ministry and the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) were involved in the alleged abduction of Sylvia Baah, the Airport Services Manager for Emirates Airlines at Kotoka International Airport.

In a statement issued on Monday, November 25, 2024, the Ministry described the claims as baseless and categorically denied the involvement of its personnel.

The Ministry wishes to categorically state that no officer from the Ministry or the National Intelligence Bureau was involved in the alleged abduction of Sylvia Baah, the statement read.

The Ministry also announced the commencement of investigations into the incident to uncover the circumstances surrounding the alleged abduction.

The Ministry has initiated investigations into the circumstances surrounding the alleged abduction. The Ministry further wishes to assure the public that culprits of the alleged abduction will be made to face the full rigours of the law following the conclusion of the investigations.

The Ministry called on the public to disregard the claims by the Herald Newspaper and urged that the report be treated with scepticism.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service confirmed on November 22 that an investigation had been launched after Baah was allegedly abducted at the entrance of her residence in Accra on November 21. Two days later, on November 23, the police announced that the victim had been successfully rescued and reunited with her family.

The police assured the public that efforts are ongoing to apprehend those responsible for the crime, reaffirming their commitment to ensuring justice.
Next article: Customers no longer need to top up Nuri meter for one month  ECG

President Akufo-Addo inaugurates 4 new district hospitals in Ashanti Region

GraphicOnline Nov - 26 - 2024 , 09:31 2 minutes read

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has inaugurated four 40-bed district hospitals in the Ashanti Region, marking a significant step in improving healthcare delivery in Ghana.

The inauguration ceremony took place on Monday, November 25, 2024, at various sites across the region.

The newly completed facilities are located in Drobonso (Sekyere Afram Plains District), Sabronum (Ahafo Ano South East District), Twedie (Atwima Kwanwoma District), and Suame (Suame Municipality). A fifth hospital in Manso Nkwanta (Amansie West District) has also been completed and is set to be inaugurated soon.

Broader initiative

The construction of these hospitals forms part of a larger initiative launched in 2020 by the Ministry of Health. This initiative aimed to deliver 12 district hospitals across Ashanti, Eastern, and Greater Accra regions, along with a polyclinic in Mim, Bono Region.

Advertisement

Executed by VAMED Engineering GmbH of Austria, the 71.5 million project was funded through a facility secured from Erste Group Bank AG and Ceska Sporitelna a.s.

Comprehensive facilities

Each 40-bed hospital is equipped with modern amenities, including:



- Out-Patient Departments with consulting rooms.

- A Public Health Department with a 36-seater waiting area and consulting rooms.

- Surgical theatres, paediatric wards, male and female wards.

- Maternity and labour delivery stations, recovery rooms, and lying-in wards.

- Staff accommodations, consisting of 12 units of two-bedroom semi-detached houses.

These facilities aim to provide comprehensive healthcare services, addressing the needs of both patients and staff.

At the commissioning, President Akufo-Addo urged hospital staff and local residents to ensure the proper maintenance and administration of the new facilities. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure to enhance the well-being of all Ghanaians.

He said these hospitals represent the governments dedication to improving the health status of residents by providing accessible and quality healthcare infrastructure.
US government provides $3 million to support farmers affected by recent dry spell

Mohammed Fugu Nov - 26 - 2024 , 14:23 3 minutes read

The Government of the United States (US) through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has voted $3 million to support farmers affected by the recent dry spell and improve healthcare delivery in northern Ghana.

Out of $3 million, $1.7 million would be used to support smallholder farmers impacted by the drought to recover from the devasting losses while the remaining $1.3 million would be used to improve nutrition, maternal and child health services, early childhood development, and social protection.

The grant has been disbursed under the Feed the Future Resilience in Northern Ghana Systems Strengthening Activity for 23 selected Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to work in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and Ghana Health Service.

As part of the support, more than 10,000 farmers would be trained in climate-smart agriculture including dry season farming, provide them with inputs and technical support.

Advertisement

Access to nutrition

Announcing the grant in Tamale, the Nutrition and Social Protection Lead at USAID Ghana, Maureen Malave said the intervention was an important step in ensuring that communities not only have access to nutritious food but also good health and social services.

She indicated that livestock farming would be introduced with a focus on guinea fowls, roosters and rabbits as supplemental livelihood sources.

Beyond that she said the farmers would be linked to grain dealers to ensure that excess grains can be transported to areas experiencing food shortage, thereby enhancing food security in the north.

The United States believes that support in times of crisis is not just about offering immediate relief, it is about building long-term resilience.

By improving agricultural practices, diversifying livelihoods and improving the ability to respond to climate shocks, we can ensure vulnerable populations have access to the nutrition they need, the economic opportunities to thrive and the means to withstand future challenges Ms Malave added.

Build back stronger

For her part, the Director of Women in Agricultural Development Directorate (WIAD) at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Paulina Addy said the intervention would help victims of the dry spell build back better and boost food production.

She emphasised the need to adopt innovative solutions that would withstand the shocks of climate change and mitigate the impact on agriculture.

Commendation

The Northern Regional Minister, Shani Alhassan Shaibu, lauded the US government for the support and appealed to the awardees to use the funds strictly for the purposes for which the funds have been given.

Prudent and judicious use of the funds is required by the Government and the people of Ghana as well as the Government and People of the United States of America (USA).

The program has its activities and expected outcomes, our focus should be on ensuring that at the end of the program period, the expected results and outcomes are achieved, and the evidence of those achievements should be there for all to see he said.

He further entreated all the value chain actors of the programme to put in strategies and measures to ensure that gains made would be sustained to benefit future generations.

Writers email:mohammed.fugu@graphic.com.gh
Covenant Family Community Church organises health screening in La

Daily Graphic Health Nov - 26 - 2024 , 06:48 2 minutes read

The Covenant Family Community Church (CFCC) at Cantonments has underscored the need to combine the spiritual and physical needs of communities as a means of reaching out to their overall development needs.

Speaking at an outreach at La as part of the churches Evangelism Emphasis Month, the Head of the CFCC Outreach and Mission Department, Reverend Ato Jackson, noted that several communities face a doubly whammy of not hearing the word of God and also lacking basic amenities, especially access to healthcare.

It is in this direction that after holding a three-day crusade, we decided to top it up with a free health screening campaign to address the physical needs of our community. This is in line with the manner of Jesus that after feeding the people with the word, he provided for their needs as well, Rev. Jackson stressed.

He said the health screening had a wide array of medical personnel conducting dental checks and treatment, blood screening and donation, blood pressure checks, blood sugar tests for diabetics, provision of medications, counselling and food for the hundreds who thronged the event at the Tse Annan Memorial Centre.

Advertisement

The event, the second this year, is an initiative of the Outreach and Missions Department of the Covenant Family Community Church in partnership with The Bank Hospital, the Ghana Blood Service and the Christian Missions Resources Foundation.

According to Reverend Jackson, reaching out to lost souls is a major arm of the churchs goal and it will constantly seek ways of making this happen through events such as this health evangelistic outreach.

Our other major outlook is to preach the word for the people to know God and eschew corrupt practices, while supporting the Ghana Blood Services blood bank to be ready with stock to save lives.

The CFCC Medical Team Lead at the event, Dr Joel Kwansa Arhin, was optimistic that through such community outreach programmes, many people who shield away from the hospitals till late could be reached and provided with the care they needed.

A member of the Health Outreach Planning Committee, Gideon Sackitey, expressed joy at the outpouring of people from the community and called on more youth to draw close to such programmes.
Next article: Campaign on issues, not insults - NCCE to parliamentary candidates

Ato Forson urges Speaker Bagbin to reject Majority Leaders call to recall Parliament

Kweku Zurek Politics Nov - 26 - 2024 , 08:43 2 minutes read

The Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has appealed to Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin to dismiss a request by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to recall the House for urgent government business.

In a memo addressed to the Speaker which he shared on X, Dr. Forson argued that the petition for the recall lacks merit and does not meet the constitutional threshold required for such an action.

He pointed out that this marks the fourth time in 2024 alone that the NPP parliamentary caucus has sought an urgent recall, with little tangible progress from previous sessions.

"The petitioner has not demonstrated that there is any emergency nor urgent government business to warrant a recall of Parliament, with barely eleven (11) remaining days to the crucial 2024 General Election," Dr. Forson wrote.

Advertisement

Highlighting logistical and campaign challenges, Dr. Forson noted that the proposed recall would disrupt critical engagements between MPs and their constituents ahead of the December 7 elections. He cautioned that reconvening Parliament at this time would place undue pressure on MPs and strain taxpayer resources.

"This proposed two-day sitting, if acceded to, will mean that members will have less than one week to conclude their campaigns, train their polling agents, and make key logistical and other election-day arrangements. This will disadvantage many members of Parliament," Dr. Forson stated.

He further criticised the Majority caucus for failing to mobilise sufficient numbers during past recalls, which he said led to the indefinite adjournment of the House on November 7.

"It is on record that the NPP parliamentary caucus failed to mobilise up to thirty (30) members of Parliament on their side to transact business on the floor," the Minority Leader remarked, questioning the utility of yet another recall.

Dr. Forson suggested that Parliament reconvene immediately after the December elections to address outstanding government business. He also proposed a leadership meeting post-election to resolve existing stalemates and chart a path forward for the current Parliament, which continues until January 6, 2025.

Concluding his memo, Dr. Forson emphasised the importance of focusing on the elections, urging the Speaker to "prioritise the conduct of credible, peaceful, free, and fair elections at this stage."

Speaker Bagbin is yet to respond to the appeal.
Previous article: With God everything is possible - Bawumia to worshipers at Hebron Prayer Camp

Ghana Election 2024: EC is all set for 2024 special voting on Monday - Jean Mensa

Graphic Online Politics Nov - 26 - 2024 , 14:46 1 minute read

The Electoral Commission has said all was set for the special voting for Election 2024 on Monday, December 7, 2024 at 276 special voting centres across the country.

The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Jean Mensa said this during an interaction with the National Security Task Force, headed by the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akufo-Dampare on Tuesday.

She said the commission was ready for Monday's exercise.

For the general election on December 7, 2024, Mrs Jean Mensa said almost all ballot papers, 95 per cent had been distributed and the Biometric verification machines were also on their way to the district electoral offices for onward distribution on Election Day.
Feature: Sustained passion of bird lovers evident in SW China

Xinhua) 10:03, November 26, 2024

KUNMING, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Each year from November to March, Cuihu Park in central Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, transforms into a haven for migratory birds.

Thousands of black-headed gulls travel from far distant places, such as Siberia, and gather in a city famous for its all-year spring-like climate. The striking red-beaked, white-feathered gulls draw crowds of visitors to Kunming.

For 58-year-old Lyu Guoqiang, this season marks his annual return to the park -- not as a tourist, but as a volunteer bird protector.

"Every morning, I patrol the lake, watching over the gulls," Lyu said. "If we spot a sick bird, we take a boat to rescue it and send it to a wildlife rescue station. We also educate visitors on proper feeding practices -- encouraging them to use grain formulated for the birds' health."

Lyu has volunteered as a bird protector for six years. The park employs a seasonal team of six to 10 guards like Lyu to take care of the black-headed gulls, said Chen Wen, office director of Cuihu Park.

A Kunming native, Lyu's connection to the black-headed gulls runs deep. "I've loved these birds since childhood," he said. "I used to photograph them, then I brought my children, and now I bring my grandchildren to see them."

The gulls began wintering in Yunnan in the 1980s. Lyu has noted a decline in their numbers at Cuihu Park over the past decade -- but sees this as a positive sign.

"The improved urban environment has created more habitats for them," he explained. "Now, the gulls are also found in places such Dianchi Lake and Erhai Lake in Dali."

According to Chen, many residents share a deep affection for the gulls, much like Lyu. Among them, the story of an elderly man and the gulls that took place in the 20th century still resonates deeply.

Wu Qingheng, a childless man who lived alone, developed a unique bond with the black-headed gulls. Each day, Wu walked more than 10 kilometers to the lake to feed the birds, dedicating over half of his monthly pension to buying their feed. He continued this routine for years, until his death.

"Though the 'seagull elder' passed away more than 20 years ago, his connection with the gulls has become a cherished legacy," Chen said. "In 2006, a statue was erected in the park in his honor."

According to Chen, Cuihu Park, known as the "eye of Kunming" to local people, is also home to a growing diversity of birds -- including egrets, nightingales and common moorhens. The number of bird species observed in the park has increased from 25 three years ago to the current 95, and includes eight protected species.

"Birds are the best indicator of the environment," Chen noted, adding that the growing diversity of birds is a testament to the improvement of the local ecological environment.

Notably, more bird lovers have joined in ecological conservation efforts. Li Weiwei, a researcher at the Kunming Institute of Zoology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is one of those to contribute to this improved biodiversity.

In 2021, she and her team worked with Cuihu Park staff in creating a floating bird island to provide roosting habitats for herons and other aquatic birds. They expanded this initiative in 2024, adding a nocturnal island for forest birds and herons.

"The bird islands help counter urban wildlife habitat fragmentation. In the future, we will implement more ways of creating micro-habitats for birds in different ecological environments," Li said, adding that they've also introduced many bird-friendly plants, like golden bell trees, to the park.

Li believes that the protection of birds cannot rely solely on the efforts of scientists. Li said what is required is the raising of public awareness and the involvement of all citizens in the biodiversity conservation quest.

In 2019, Li and other scientists took the lead in developing a portable device for environmental DNA collection. Using the device, scientists can infer the presence and diversity of organisms by collecting trace amounts of DNA present in the environment.

"We hope to engage the public in joining testing efforts for biodiversity conservation," she said.

Li was also involved in the establishment of an on-site museum at the park, which features interactive exhibitions, science popularization activities and AI-powered bird identification.

Li revealed that they have established four high-definition cameras in the park that can be rotated 360 degrees to monitor the activities of birds in real time 24 hours a day, with footage displayed on a screen in the museum.

"Visitors can watch live footage and learn about bird species through AI technology," she said.

"Public awareness is key to biodiversity conservation," Li added. "By involving citizens, we can foster greater understanding and urgency for protecting these ecosystems."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Ghana Election 2024: Woman gives free SHS testimony

Rebecca Quaicoe Duho Politics Nov - 26 - 2024 , 19:55 3 minutes read

A middle-aged woman at the Agbogbloshie Market in Accra last Monday stole the show when the First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo visited the place to thank them for their support for the NPP over the years.

The First Lady was also at the market to canvass for support for the NPP Presidential Candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the NPP Parliamentary Aspirant for the Odododiodoo Constituency, Abdul Manaf Nii Adjei Sowah.

The woman, who upon seeing the arrival of the convoy of the First Lady started chanting incantations of praise to welcome her, attracted the attention of the Master of Ceremony (MC), Perpetual Asante, who, after the First Lady settled down in her chair, called the woman and gave her the microphone.

That was when the woman, amidst wailings of joy started telling her story of how she was sick and was on admission at a hospital when her first son finished JHS.

Advertisement

I did not know where help would come from as a single mother and, therefore, my son and I resigned to faith, thinking that was the end of education for my boy.

Low and behold the free SHS was introduced and my son gained admission into a senior high school where I did not pay anything.

Now, my boy is working while a second son has also completed the free SHS and is with the armed forces, she told the First Lady.

Peoples welfare

The First Lady in her message, thanked the market women for their support for the past eight years.

She said the NPP was a party that had the peoples welfare at heart and, therefore, called on them all to make no mistake and vote massively for the NPP on December 7.

Mrs Akufo-Addo said the NPP, since it took over power, had brought about lots of developments in the areas of schools, hospitals and roads, which she said, were all to help improve the lives of people.

She, therefore, called on the electorate to vote for Dr Bawumia as he was the only one who could continue with the good work of the party.

She said Dr Bawumia was God sent and, therefore, should not let him slip through their fingers.

The First Lady also implored them to vote for Alhaji Manaf, who although not yet an MP had undertaken a lot of developmental projects for the constituency including the construction of seven boreholes and also provided soft loans to traders.

Alhaji Manaf, on his part, called on the women to come out and vote come December 7, saying 90 per cent of all the votes in the constituency were centred around Agbogbloshie and, therefore, they should not disappoint him.

He said as a trader himself, he came for the people of Agbogbloshie as he understood them better.

The NPP aspirant also called on them to vote for Dr Bawumia so that together, they can bring many developmental projects to the constituency.

Writers email: rebecca.quaicoe-duho@graphic.com.gh
Kyerematen takes Traders Bank campaign to Western North Region

Daniel Akwasi Nuako Politics Nov - 26 - 2024 , 09:57 2 minutes read

Independent Presidential Candidate, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, has taken his vision of establishing a Traders Bank campaign to the Western North Region to canvass for votes and outline his vision for a prosperous Ghana.

He said the establishment of the Traders Bank to provide financial support to private businesses was part of the transformational plan of the party to fix Ghana's economic woes.

He, therefore, urged Ghanaians to ignore the propaganda of the two leading political parties, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and focus on his transformative agenda.

Enthusiastic crowds

In all the communities visited, Mr Kyerematen was met by enthusiastic supporters who welcomed him.

Advertisement

The tour allowed the presidential candidate the opportunity to meet identifiable groups such as the youth, market women, clergy and the Muslim community to seek their advice, blessings and prayers for his political journey.

Progress

Speaking at separate durbars organised in the Bibiani, Sefwi Bekwai and Sefwi Wiawso constituencies, Mr Kyerematen said the December 7 general election was about the future and progress of the country and needed someone with a positive track record to be voted President.

He refuted the allegation that voting for him would be a waste of time, referring to the claims as a deliberate attempt by the two political parties to confuse the electorate to continue to rule Ghanaians through economic hardship.

He appealed to the residents of Sefwi Wiawso to vote for him as the next President and Veronica Ababio as the Member of Parliament (PM) for Sefwi Wiawso to implement the transformational agenda.
The European Commission launched a probe into Corning earlier this month, and the company quickly responded by offering concessions. The EU accuses Corning of antitrust practices, including binding its clients with exclusivity contracts to push out other glass makers in the smartphone industry.

Corning's concessions include waiving all exclusivity clauses in its current agreements as well as promising not to include such clauses in its future contracts. Moreover, the tempered glass maker will no longer force minimum quantities on customers.

If accepted, the changes will affect Corning's contracts worldwide and the European Commission will monitor the firm for nine years to ensure compliance.

Third parties can challenge the ruling within six weeks before it goes into effect. In case Corning breaches the deal with the EC, it will face fines of up to 10% of its worldwide turnover for 2023, which is around $1.25 billion.

Source
Attorney General Douglas Moylan and his staff on Monday visited Southern High School to help raise awareness about the ill effects of cyberbullying, school violence, and the use of meth and other drugs.

This visit is part of our broader Meth Kills and Be Smart, Dont Start campaigns to educate our kids against using drugs and becoming the future customers to meth dealers. Very candid comments were made to dissuade our students about the poison that is meth, the attorney general said in a statement.

This is the second time the AGs office visited a school for its anti-drug campaigns.

Changing the DNA of our community begins with education, said the AG, who was accompanied by Deputy Chief Prosecutor Grant Olan during Mondays school visit.

Moylan said Southern High School students answered questions and listened to a condensed presentation.

Through good education, we can form and change the DNA of our kids to strengthen our next generation to follow Guam law. Our Office continues to fight meth use in our schools, and instill respect into our next generation, Moylan said. We gratefully thank Principal Michael Meno and Vice Principal Tom Santos for welcoming us to engage the Dolphins.

The AGs office continues scheduling presentations and Q&As with public and private school students and staff to address important legal issues facing students, and plaguing villages and homes.

For additional information on the Meth Kills and Be Smart, Dont Start campaigns, visit https://guamattorneygeneral.org/meth-kills/.

To view the livestream of the outreach on YouTube, visit https://youtu.be/cqNIGpRnutY.
{!--StartFragment--}{span data-olk-copy-source=MessageBody}The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donates to the Archdiocese of Aganas Ministry to the Homeless.{/span}{!--EndFragment--}
Why not diversify Guams tourism base by tapping into the growing middle class of the neighboring Philippines?

The issue was raised by Guam Visitors Bureau Chairman George Chiu during a general discussion on boosting overall tourist arrivals, at a GVB board meeting Thursday.

I have complete faith in the middle class population of the Philippines. Its grown exponentially and they have money to spend, Chiu said.

Vice Chairman Joaquin Cook echoed this.

I agree that the market has been under-served and Ive also heard, I havent done any research yet, but there are millions of Filipino travelers that already have U.S. visas, so just a point of consideration, he said.

Cook suggested focusing more marketing resources on this market.

Why dont we try to get a fraction of that...then youre right, theyre going to want to come to Guam to shop at Macys, shop at Ross, shop for all the American brands, Cook said.

Chiu thinks this is an easy sell.

And we do need to devote some marketing money in that area...thats a market thats been overlooked, taking it for granted I think. You have 14, 15, 16 Philippine flights a week, Chiu said. I agree with vice chairman Cook that we should do some research on that and see how many Filipinos already have a U.S. visa.

According to GVBs website, it has a North America, Pacific, Philippines and new market subcommittee that coordinates marketing and promotions in those markets.

As of September 2024, Philippine arrivals were at 7,592 or about 65% of the pre-pandemic total of 11,644 visitors in 2019, the subcommittee report said.

Chiu noted that former GVB general manager Carl T.C. Gutierrez had been working on a Guam-CNMI only visa waiver for Filipinos that had gained some recent traction with Philippine government officials.

Its something we cant stop working on. We need to try and continue to push on that, Chiu said.

The Philippine House of Representatives on May 22 unanimously adopted a resolution urging the countrys Department of Foreign Affairs to undertake a concerted effort to request that the U.S. president include the Philippines in the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Guam-CNMI visa waiver program.

It followed a letter from Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero to U.S. President Joe Biden, asking the White House to allow those from the Philippines to be able to travel to Guam without being required to obtain a U.S. visa.

Philippine House Resolution 332 was first introduced by Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez in 2022, in consultation with GVB. A similar resolution was introduced in the Philippine Senate by former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Gutierrez said at the time.

In the past, the big concern was potential overstays. Now the Philippine economy boasts an economy in the Metro Manila area showing 40% in the middle-income bracket. Potential overstays will be minimal if any, Gutierrez said.

The Philippine House resolution stated that Guam Visitors Bureau statistics indicate that the individual spending habits of Filipinos who visit Guam often exceed those of visitors from the Guam visitor industrys primary source markets of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

Philippine travel agents have said that the $185 non-refundable per person cost to apply for a U.S. B1/B2 tourist visa has been one of the main considerations for Filipino tourists when considering a visit to Guam.

Still, according to the government-operated Philippine News Agency, the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines was expected to process a record 330,000 new non-immigrant visas in 2023 as it works to restore and improve its operation since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019.

Any additional body or seat thats coming in as a tourist to Guam is gonna help our tourism recovery, Chiu said. You can reach Nestor Licanto at nlicanto@guampdn.com.
Former Guam resident and White House chef Waltine Walt Nautas classified documents charges remain on appeal, while that of his boss President-elect Donald J. Trump were dismissed.

Nauta, a U.S. Navy veteran who continued to work for Trump as a valet after he left office, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In July 2023, Nauta was indicted with Trump by a federal grand jury on charges related to Trumps alleged illegal retention of classified and national defense related documents, and his failure to return them.

Special prosecutors on Monday dropped two separate federal criminal cases against Trump in a highly anticipated move aimed at ending the prosecution against him before he is sworn in to his second presidency on Jan. 20.

Bloomberg News reported that while prosecutors said they wont pursue an appeal of the charges against Trump in the classified records case, they will press ahead with a challenge to a Florida federal judges dismissal in July of charges against his two co-defendants, Nauta and another Trump aide, Carlos De Oliveira.

But the news service also reported that as president, Trump could order prosecutors to fully drop the appeal or to pardon Nauta and De Oliveira.

The Department of Justice motion on Monday asked the judge to dismiss the case without prejudice, leaving open the possibility it could be revived once Trump leaves office.

The court approved that request, writing that it was consistent with the governments understanding that the immunity afforded to a sitting president is temporary, expiring when they leave office.

Meanwhile, a Florida judge ruled earlier this year that DOJ special counsel Jack Smiths appointment was unconstitutional and tossed out the case, but Smith appealed the ruling.

Smith is expected to resign before Trump is sworn in, according to Bloomberg.

Guam delegation meets Nauta

Nauta, former Hagat resident and a graduate of Southern High School, has kept a low profile since the charges surfaced, but did meet with the Guam delegation during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July.

The head of the delegation, former Gov. Felix P. Camacho, said at the time that the delegation all thanked him for wanting to meet with the Guam delegation.

Camacho said he did not discuss the case with Nauta, but did find out that he is the nephew of a pastor friend of his.

Its good to know we have this gentleman from Hagat who is so close to President Trump, Camacho said.

Camacho said it gives Guam an inside track and as Trumps valet, no one spends more time with him than Walt.

Also at the convention, former Republican senator and now Sen.-elect Tony Ada said he gave Nauta a big hug and told him that we are proud of him and that he is loved.

The delegation presented Nauta with an official Guam lapel pin, official Republican Party of Guam lapel pin, a Guam Visitors Bureau lapel pin, and a bag of Chamorro Chip cookies for a taste of home.
An undercover investigator for the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has accused Butterball slaughterhouse workers of sexually abusing turkeys, in recently resurfaced allegations.

The shocking footage, initially captured in Butterballs Ozark, Arkansas, location in 2006, was shared by PETA in a lead-up campaign to Thanksgiving.

The nonprofit organization has been sharing social media content urging viewers to boycott the holiday staple this year.

In the clip, an anonymous undercover investigator claims he saw a Butterball employee shoving his fingers in a turkeys cloaca, which is basically her vagina, saying some workers even bragged about the abuse.

Graphic footage reveals an employee boasting about kicking the f--k out of the animals, causing the birds' eyeballs to pop out.

Animal rights groups say the two-decades-old expose is not an isolated incident.

In 2021, a PETA investigation into Plainville Farms also documented workers simulating sex acts on turkeys.

Eleven employees were charged with animal cruelty as a result of the investigation, which captured video of workers kicking, stomping and beating turkeys at several farms, reports AP. A total of 139 charges were filed.

No charges were brought against Butterball for PETAs 2006 investigation  but in 2011, a North Carolina Butterball plant was raided after workers were once again caught abusing turkeys.

Butterball is the second-largest turkey producer in the U.S., according to WATT Poultry.

The company has acknowledged the footage but says, This video is not current and in no way reflects our animal welfare policies, according to a spokesperson.
By Curt Anderson | The Associated Press

A white Florida woman who fatally shot a Black neighbor through her front door during an ongoing dispute over the neighbors boisterous children was sentenced Monday to 25 years in prison for her manslaughter conviction.

Susan Lorincz, 60, was convicted in August of killing Ajike A.J. Owens, 35, by firing a single shot from her .380-caliber handgun in June 2023. She had faced a maximum of 30 years behind bars. Circuit Judge Robert Hodges opted for a slightly lesser term amid evidence that Lorincz had been abused as a child and had mental health problems.

The shooting was completely unnecessary in this case, Hodges said during an afternoon hearing. The shooting, I find, was based more in anger than in fear.

The shooting was the culmination of a long-running argument between the two neighbors over Owens' children playing in a grassy area near both of their houses in Ocala, about 80 miles northwest of Orlando.

Prosecutors said Owens had come to Lorinczs home after her children complained that she had thrown roller skates and an umbrella at them, which Lorincz denied. Trial testimony showed Owens, a mother of four young children, was pounding on Lorinczs door and yelling, leading Lorincz to claim self-defense in shooting her neighbor.

Lorincz told detectives in a videotaped interview that she feared for her life. She also said she had been harassed for most of the three years she had lived in the neighborhood. Jurors who heard the trial evidence did not agree that the shooting was in self-defense.

In a statement to the judge, Lorincz apologized to Owens' family but said she was literally terrified of Owens the night of the shooting.

I so wish I could go back and change things so she was still here, Lorincz said. I never intended to kill anyone.

Pamela Dias, mother of Ajike "AJ" Owens, weeps during the sentencing hearing for Susan Lorincz, who fatally shot Owens through her front door during an ongoing dispute, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Ocala, Florida.Doug Engle | Ocala Star-Banner via AP, Pool

Owens' family pushed for the maximum prison sentence after Lorincz was convicted by an all-white jury. Owens' mother, Pamela Dias, said in court Monday that she now is the sole caregiver of her daughters four children and that they are deeply traumatized by the killing.

Were hurting with a pain that will never, never go away, Dias said. Theres a hole in our heart that will never mend. Susan destroyed our family.

Lorinczs attorney, Assistant Public Defender Amanda Sizemore, sought a more lenient sentence, an unspecified term below the 11.5 years in prison that is the lowest for her crime under state guidelines. Sizemore said in court documents that there were several reasons to justify a downward departure, including a mental disorder and claims that Owens was the aggressor and under extreme duress during the confrontation.

The judge said such a departure was not warranted, especially considering the impact of their mothers violent death on her children.

Theyll live their whole lives without their mother, which I think is a very significant harm inflicted by Ms. Lorincz, Hodges said.

There were protests in the Black community in Ocala when prosecutors took weeks to charge Lorincz with manslaughter, a lesser count than second-degree murder, which carries a potential life prison sentence. Marion County, which includes Ocala, has a Black population of about 12%, according to census figures.




Haiti - Erasmus+ Program : Call for Proposals 2025





The European Erasmus+ programme has launched its call for proposals for 2025. This programme includes a series of opportunities for organisations and individuals from third countries. It allows funding periods of study or internships abroad, organising staff exchanges and supporting cooperation projects in the fields of education, training, youth and sport.



If you are an organisation working in the higher education sector (university, training centre, NGO, etc.) that needs further information on one of the actions of the Erasmus+ programme, you can contact the higher education focal point in the EU Delegation in Haiti: zoe.sebire@eeas.europa.eu



Conditions for participation :



https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-programme-guide



An information meeting will be held for the Caribbean on December 10, 2024. You can register to participate at the following address : https://erasmus-networks.ec.europa.eu/enfp/group/caribbean_pub/event/regional-erasmus-information-session-2024-caribbean



If you are a student enrolled in a Haitian university, go to your university's international relations office to find out how to study in Europe with the Erasmus+ program.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Resumption of activities in Delmas and Petion-ville

November 25, 2024, following the latest operations carried out by the Haitian National Police (PNH) supported by the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMSS) in the territory of Jimmy Cherisier alias "Barbecue", a drop in tension allowed a timid resumption of activities in Delmas and Petion-ville after nearly two weeks of near paralysis. Schools operated while private and public institutions reopened their doors, particularly in Haut Delmas and Petion-ville, public transport and commercial businesses operated. The PNH carried out routine checks and facilitated traffic on certain roads.



The Transition is no longer neutral

Michel Pierre Brunache, former Chief of Staff of Acting President Boniface Alexandre between 2004 and 2006, expressed his serious concerns about the neutrality of the transition, stating, "It is obvious that it is a Lavalas/Private Sector coalition that is currently in power following the dismissal of Garry Conille and his replacement by Alix Didier Fils-Aime."



The PNH track down "Barbecue"

Barbecue stated in an interview with "Chris Must List," a Canadian YouTuber, that there were three countries responsible for what is happening in Haiti and expressed his disagreement with the international pressure that these countries are exerting on Haiti. "We must be freed from the hands of the United States, Canada and France [...] and decide for ourselves what is good for us [...]" Furthermore, he acknowledged that the Haitian National Police was after him, stating "They are trying to kill me [...] They are using multinational and Haitian forces to assassinate me [...]"



16 days of women's activism

November 25, 2024, at the Montana Hotel as part of the Celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, the launch of the 16 days of women's activism took place on Monday around the theme : "Goumen kont Vyolans sou Fanm ak Tifi, Ranmase fos nou, Aji !"



Violation of freedom of the press

SOS journalist denounces the decision of the National Telecommunications Council (CONATEL) to order the suspension of the program "Boukante lapawol". SOS journalist contests the accusations of the Council and denounces an attack on freedom of the press. For its part, the National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH) applauds the precautionary measures adopted by CONATEL to prohibit the broadcasting, on Radio Mega, of the program "Boukante Lapawol", presented by Guerrier Henry.



4 million euros to help Haitian women

Through its feminist diplomacy, the French Embassy in Haiti has mobilized over the last two years more than 4 million euros via the Support Fund for Innovative Projects of Civil Society and Coalitions of Actors (PISCCA), a mechanism aimed at strengthening organizations from Haitian civil society and the Crisis and Support Center (CDCS), to support Haitian women. Prevention, support for victims at all levels and the prosecution of perpetrators are essential actions in the fight against violence against Haitian women and girls.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Protests under way in razor-thin NC Supreme Court contest

Hattie Street, a 92-year-old registered Democrat, voted early this year. It was one of the last things she did. Street made her way to the Granville County polls on Tuesday, Oct. 22, four days before she died.

Her funeral took place two days before Election Day. Street is one of thousands of voters whose eligibility is being challenged in an election protest, one of a series that Republican runner-ups have filed in close races this year.

Other challenged voters include suspected felons, overseas and military voters who have never lived in North Carolina or didnt attach photo ID copies to their absentee ballots, people whose voter registration was denied in recent weeks after failed mail verification and, chief among all, voters whose registrations did not include a drivers license or Social Security number.

Each protest will take time to resolve. At best, county boards of elections and the State Board of Elections will make their determinations in the 308 election protests by early December. But appealed decisions may take a lengthier journey through the North Carolina court system or the General Assembly.

Meanwhile, recounts are underway in nearly all North Carolina counties. All are set to be completed by Nov. 27. Recounts rarely change results, former North Carolina Supreme Court justice Bob Orr told Carolina Public Press.

The State Board of Elections will conduct its canvass Nov. 26, despite pending election protests. But neither the State Board nor county boards will certify the results of the implicated elections until each protest in those races is resolved, either by a board of election or the courts.

4 close races, 7 issues, 100s of protests

On election night, Republican Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffins future looked bright.

He appeared to have ousted incumbent Democratic North Carolina Supreme Court Judge Allison Riggs by a hair, resulting in a future 6-1 Republican majority on the states highest court.

But 10 days later, that future slowly dimmed as each county completed its canvass. Over several days, Riggs bridged the gap with provisional ballots and Election Day absentee ballots that were not included in initial, unofficial election night results.

When the dust settled, Riggs was up by 722 votes, or 0.02% of total votes cast in the race. While Griffin had a 79,000-vote margin among in-person Election Day or early voting voters combined, Riggs won among absentee voters by 78,000 votes and among provisional voters by about 2,000.

Shortly after, Griffin campaign consultant Paul Schumaker said the campaign would request a recount. He also warned of plans to protest, saying to expect a long, protracted legal fight.

Theres a lot of questionable things done in this process, he said.

Sure enough, Griffin filed 307 election protests Tuesday. Republican runner-ups in three close legislative races  Frank Sossamon in House District 32, Ashlee Bryan Adams in Senate District 18 and Stacie McGinn in Senate District 42  filed a total of 22.

Sossamon is behind in his race against Democrat Bryan Cohn to represent Granville and Vance counties by 233 votes. If the results of his election were flipped, the North Carolina Republicans would retain their veto-proof supermajority in both chambers of the legislature. As things stand, they are on track to lose it.

Adams has a smaller margin of 134 votes between her and Democrat Terence Everitt. McGinn is currently losing to Democrat Mrs. Woodson Bradley by 204 votes.

In each case, the candidates lodging the protests do not in fact know for certain how any of these people voted in their race, so they could potentially lose votes by winning the protests.

McGinn essentially acknowledged this, saying, Were not distinguishing whether theyre Republicans or Democrats. These are just lists of names. So some will be voting Democratic, some will be voting Republican. The point is they just, in our view, they should not have been allowed to vote.

Each protest covers one of seven separate categories of voters. The State Board will handle protests in the categories that deal with legal issues, while the county boards of election will take care of protests involving more factual, record-based challenges.

The first category of protest includes people who voted early in-person or by mail but died before Election Day. Some counties, like Wake County, counted some of those ballots.

Wake County Board of Election member Gerry Cohen said it was unclear to him what part of North Carolina law required election officials to void these votes.

Counties send notices in the mail to these voters addresses with a hearing date listed, in case they were improperly identified as a deceased voter. The Friday of canvass, Wake County heard testimony from three next of kin of deceased voters. It was emotional, Cohen said.

(The first two) each testified about how their parent, their 96- and 76-year-old parent, had been so excited about voting as one of the last things they wanted to do in life, and they were dying, and they knew they were dying, he said.

The third one we reversed on was an 18-year-old woman, first time voting, who had brain cancer and died the day after voting. And I said at the meeting that this was unspeakably cruel.

The other 68 deceased voters identified in Wake County were removed from the count.

North Carolina law states that registered voters will remain registered until they become disqualified through death. In some election officials eyes, its unclear whether being registered at the time of casting a ballot is the same as being registered by the time the election is over.

The Department of Health and Human Services gives the State Board names of dead people every week to distribute to county boards and remove from the voter rolls.

In most counties, there were at most a few dozen deceased voters implicated in election protests. County boards of elections have jurisdiction over these protests.

The second category makes up the lions share of challenged voters. It includes registered voters who do not have a drivers license or Social Security number on file, candidates allege.

This complaint originates from a snafu with voter registration forms uncovered by a North Carolina citizen in October 2023. For a period of time, the voter registration form did not clearly indicate that registrants must provide a drivers license or the last four digits of their Social Security number, if they had either.

If they didnt have either, they could check a box attesting so. Those voters are still eligible to vote, as long as they present certain accepted forms of documentation with their current name and address the first time they vote, in accordance with the federal Help America Vote Act.

While the State Board fixed the form, they did not honor the citizens request to contact and verify the identities of an estimated 225,000 voters who registered using the unclear form.

In August, the North Carolina Republican Party and the Republican National Committee sued over this issue. Part of the lawsuit, alleging that the State Boards inaction violated the North Carolina Constitutions right to vote, is ongoing in federal court.

Election protests in the legislative races included lists of thousands of voters in this category. They also made up the majority of Griffins contested voters.

The State Board has jurisdiction over these election protests.

The third election protest category includes people who may have voted despite serving a felony sentence. Felons are not allowed to vote in North Carolina until they have completed their sentence, any probation or parole, and re-registered.

In one of his election protest filings, Griffin said they believe most, but not all, counties removed felon voters from the count before their canvass. Sossamons filing acknowledged that they did not have complete information, so it was possible that they may have misidentified felon voters.

Candidates did not file election protests regarding felon voters in most counties, and when they did, there were a few dozen potential felons implicated at most. County boards of elections will oversee these election protests.

Fourth, some people who used same-day registration during early voting have since had their registration denied or removed.

One of the final steps before being an accepted voter is passing a mail verification test. County boards sent un-forwardable mail to the address listed on the voter registration application, and if it comes back as undeliverable, those voters may be removed from the count.

These protests will be handled by county boards of elections.

The fifth and sixth category involve overseas and military voters. Candidates allege that some of these voters did not attach a photocopy of their photo ID or an exception form to their absentee ballots, and are therefore invalid. These protests will be decided by county boards of elections.

Other overseas voters have never resided in North Carolina, but have parents or legal guardians who were last eligible to vote in the state.

North Carolina law allows this, but each candidate protested these voters on grounds that the state law itself, in their view, violates the North Carolina Constitutions residency requirement for voting.

This issue is also already being addressed in an ongoing court case filed against the State Board of Elections. The North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled that these so called Never Residents would be allowed to vote in this election, but the RNC and NCGOP appealed it to the state Supreme Court.

Finally, McGinn filed her own independent election protest challenging the eligibility of certain absentee voters she believes do not actually live in her district, and therefore do not meet residency requirements. An initial review implicated at least 3,000 voters, she said.

I believe that made the difference, that that contains enough voters that would make a difference from the 204 margin that currently exists, she told Carolina Public Press.

In McGinns race, absentee and provisional ballots flipped the race against her. She is concerned about the increase in these voting methods since COVID, and whether eligible voters are being disenfranchised by ineligible voters.

We need to be more vigilant about figuring out who these people are and determining, do they or dont they meet our residency requirements? she said. Should they be casting votes here?

How does an election protest work?

Election protests can extend an election far beyond the first week of November. The election space has also become more litigious than in past generations, Orr said. Orr co-chairs the North Carolina Network for Fair, Safe and Secure Elections.

Both political parties were heavily lawyered up and prepared in a race as close as the Supreme Court race and maybe a couple of these legislative races, Orr said. If there was any legitimate grounds for challenging the process or particular votes, you go in and do it.

Whether under the county board or State Board of Elections jurisdiction, election protests start with a preliminary review to determine whether there is probable cause to believe that a violation of election law, irregularity or misconduct has occurred.

If there is, a hearing is scheduled. Election officials can subpoena witnesses or documents to help them make factual findings and legal conclusions in the case.

During a county-level hearing, the elections board will decide whether to dismiss a protest from lack of evidence of a violation that would cast doubt on the election results, send it to the State Board or declare that there was sufficient evidence that an election law violation or other irregularity or misconduct occurred that was sufficiently serious to cast doubt on the election results.

In the latter case, the board has several remedies. They can recount the votes, correct the vote total and declare new results, send the case to the State Board for further action or take any other action within their authority.

The candidates filing protests asked for two remedies: correct the vote count, and notify voters impacted by the faulty voter registration form to inform them that they have a certain period of time to fix the issue or be removed from the count.

State Board hearings work similarly, with more schedule flexibility. In rare cases, they may call for a new election.

This year, theyre asking protesting candidates to file legal briefs by Nov. 27, and for the opposing candidate to respond by Dec. 6.

Orr said people should trust the process. Every provisional and absentee ballot is certified by local boards of election, which are bipartisan. Random audits take place in each county with hand counting of ballots in randomized races to make sure the results match the voting machine tabulation.

While board members may disagree about politics, Orr said in his experience they look past that out of dedication to following the law and getting it right.

You dont approve provisional ballots or absentees if there isnt a Republican and a Democrat board overseeing it, he said. So for anybody to say in this day and age that theres some sort of partisan misconduct or mischievousness, would just simply defy the facts.

How far might appeals go?

Candidates adversely impacted by county-level hearing decisions can appeal them.

The first appeal is to the State Board, which can use the county hearing record, call its own witnesses, get additional evidence or conduct its own hearing.

The proper venue for an appeal of the State Boards decision depends on the contest.

For judicial contests, the State Boards decision would be appealed to Wake County Superior Court, and may run its course through the court system.

However, the state Constitution states that Supreme Court judges hold office until their successors are elected and qualified, so even if a protest leads to Riggs election loss, she would remain in office until any litigation is over.

Under a North Carolina law, legislative election protests will be appealed to the General Assembly, where the respective chamber makes the final determination of who received the most votes. In the case of a council of state appeal, a joint session of the General Assembly decides.

If the General Assembly cant reach a conclusion, it may order a new election or other relief deemed necessary and proper. The legislatures decision is not subject to further appeal, according to state law.

Orr said hes not aware of the General Assembly provision ever being used, and doubts it would be used to select the legislatures preferred candidate as winner.

The local boards have certified X number of votes for each candidate, the audits have been done, all the bells and whistles and boxes have been checked, Orr said. Where do you go if youre the General Assembly to find a different vote count?
China, U.S. communication scholars meet in New Orleans over media's future

Xinhua) 11:16, November 26, 2024

HOUSTON, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- More than 30 experts and scholars from China and the United States gathered Sunday in New Orleans, Louisiana, to discuss topics such as the impacts of artificial intelligence and globalization on the future of the media.

At the 10th Annual U.S.-China Communication Scholars Summit, Stephen Hartnett, former president of the U.S. National Communication Association (NCA), said that now more than ever, scholars need to model cordial communication, ethical persuasion, and fact-based reasoning, and also need to hold strong in the face of de-globalization.

Professor Dong Qingwen from University of the Pacific, who is also a member of the international cooperation committee of the NCA, said that the ten-year event was a journey of intellectual exchange and mutual growth, which has enriched the disciplines and broadened the horizons.

The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, a documentary which won the best documentary award at the 37th Golden Rooster Awards, was screened at the venue. Its director Fang Li had an online discussion with the guests.

During the closing ceremony, the Television School of Communication University of China (CUC) was awarded the Valued Partner Award.

This year marks a decade of close cooperation between the CUC and the NCA. Since 2014, the two institutions have jointly held a series of summits including this event.

The summit is one of the pre-conference events marking the 110th anniversary of the NCA, a non-profit academic organization on journalism and communication, said the organizers.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Newly opened in San Diego, the Granger Hotel Gaslamp Quarter honors the history of the city and its building while offering an exclusive contemporary oasisone that is open to only its guests and their friends. The city's first hotel of its kind and first Design Hotels member, the Granger Hotel combines original architectural details dating back to 1904 with custom contemporary artworks and a curated selection of vintage and bespoke furniture. Here, guests are joined only by fellow travelers in a playful, private urban retreat.

In the center of San Diego's downtown Gaslamp Quarter stands a grand Romanesque building with arched windows and a carved stone entrance. Commissioned by Ralph Granger, a prominent banker and influential figure in San Diego, the building was designed in 1904 by William Quayle, a renowned architect of the era. Throughout its history, it has housed some of the city's most importantand wildinhabitants: the Merchant's National Bank, a precursor to today's Bank of America; Joseph Jessop, one of San Diego's most important jewelers; and, under the supervision of Dr. Harry Wegeforth, founder of the world-famous San Diego Zoo, an array of animals that stayed in the building until the zoo's completion. Today, this historic architectural gem has been reimagined as the Granger Hotel, San Deigo's first entirely private, guest-only hotel, offering an exclusive urban retreat with a design that meaningfully nods to the city's past and present.

"A deep passion drives us to define the future of boutique hospitality in San Diego, the city where we were born and raised," say brothers Alvin and Kevin Mansour, the hotel's Originals. "Our vision stems from a desire to blend the charm of intimate service with distinctive design, catering to the modern traveler who seeks more than just a place to sleep. Inspired by the rich heritage of our location, every element of the hotel reflects the cultural nuances of the surroundings. From handpicked local art to furnishings crafted by artisans, each space tells a storyone that invites guests to immerse themselves in the local narrative."

To create the Granger Hotel, the Mansour brothers worked closely with Erika Baker, the lead designer and in-house creative director of Oram Hotels, who selected a tasteful mixture of vintage and custom pieces and artworks. Guests are greeted in a lobby with a vintage Philip North painting as well as two custom murals created collaboratively by Baker and local muralist Taylor Wilson. A ceiling mural depicts an abstract elephant and lion, while a floor-to-ceiling textured plaster wall artwork extends over 50-feet in length and creates a sense of movement throughout the space. Original 12-foot-tall windows bathe the paintings and lobby areas in natural light, augmenting the overarching color palette of blush, chartreuse, and cerulean. Such bold tones, as well as the rich textures found in velvet and animal-print upholstery, contrast materials like organic stones, handcrafted tiles, marbles, and lime wash, creating a feeling that is both mature and wildly playful.

The sultry design, which references eras from the 1920s to the 70s, extends throughout the 96 guestrooms, including four corner suites. Wide and dimly lit corridors, lined with the building's original 120-year-old doors (retrofitted for sound and safety), give way to studio loft-style rooms with handcrafted built-ins and custom rattan armoires, vintage books, and unique artworks juxtaposed by original tin ceilings and windows. Baker made many of the artworks herself, blending watercolors, cartography, and collage, matching perfectly with the hand-selected vintage pieces, such as pottery and bedside lamps. The light, airy, and minimal bathrooms feature colorful Italian marble mosaic flooring and are stocked with bespoke Le Labo amenities.

Guests are treated to traditional American comfort foods, artisanal pastries and seasonal fruits for breakfast in the lobby cafe 5th & Lox, while The Parlor Room, an intimate lobby lounge, tastefully reinterprets the neighborhood's history as a place for adult indulgence. Here, specialty espresso drinks are the focus in the morning; come sundown, handcrafted cocktails imagined by a world class bar team at Granger Hotel's sister property The Guild Hotel, are served at a Cristallo-glass bar, backdropped by a stunning historical nude painting by artist M. Negus. Throughout the Granger Hotel guests can cozy up and settle in, knowing it is a place reserved for those who call it home.

Location

The Granger Hotel is located in the heart of the historic Gaslamp Quarter, a lively neighborhood in downtown San Diego. Just steps away are some of the city's most renowned restaurants, bars, and theaters. Highlights range from the Tijuana-style tacos at Tacos El Gordo to the creative cocktails at Noble Experiment, a speakeasy with a Prohibition-era ambiance. Also nearby are the House of Blues, Balboa Theater, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, and Gaslamp's artisan market. Guests at the Granger Hotel also have access to Aqua V, a local gym known for its modern facilities, state-of-the-art equipment, group classes, personal training options, and rooftop pool.

Hotel website
SAN FRANCISCO, CA  Canary Technologies today announced that it has been recognized on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies in North America, now in its 30th year.

Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Harman Singh Narula, credits Canarys continued innovation and commitment to meeting the needs of the hospitality industry with the companys Fast 500 placement. We are extremely proud that Canary has been named to the 2024 Deloitte Technology Fast 500list, said Narula. This recognition is a testament to our exceptional team and the value we bring to our hotel customers. Canary is leading the way in delivering enterprise-grade, industry-specific AI solutions to hoteliers worldwide, empowering them to increase revenue, enhance efficiency and elevate guest experiences.

For 30 years weve been celebrating companies that are actively driving innovation. The software industry continues to be a beacon of growth, and the fintech industry made a strong showing on this years list, surpassing life sciences for the first time. Significantly, we also saw a breakthrough in performance of private companies, with the highest number of private companies named to the list in our programs history. This years winners have shown they have the vision and expertise to continue to perform at a high level, and that deserves to be celebrated. Steve Fineberg, Vice Chair, U.S. technology Sector Leader, Deloitte

Innovation, transformation and disruption of the status quo are at the forefront for this years Technology Fast 500 list, and theres no better way to celebrate 30 years of program history. This years winning companies have demonstrated a continuous commitment to growth and remarkable consistency in driving forward progress. We extend our congratulations to all of this years winners  its an incredible time for innovation. Christie Simons, Partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP and industry leader for technology, media and telecommunications within Deloittes Audit & Assurance practice

About the 2024 Deloitte Technology Fast 500

Now in its 30th year, the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies  both public and private  in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2020 to 2023.

In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the companys operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least US$50,000, and current-year operating revenues of at least US$5 million. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America.

About Canary Technologies

Canary Technologies is modernizing the hotel tech stack with its award-winning end-to-end Guest Management Platform. Digitizing everything from post-booking through checkout, Canary is trusted by more than 20,000 hoteliers in 80 countries, including leading global brands, such as Marriott International, Four Seasons, Choice Hotels, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, and Intercontinental Hotel Group. Canary is the #1 rated solution on HotelTechReport and was the sole hotel technology company named to Fast Companys Most Innovative Companies in 2023. Canarys solutions eliminate paper processes, boost revenue, increase staff efficiency, improve the guest experience, and reduce chargebacks and payment fraud. Canarys Hotel Management Software includes Mobile Check-In/Checkout, Tablet Registration, Upsells, Guest Messaging, Canary AI, Digital Tipping and Digital Compendium. Learn more at canarytechnologies.com.

About Deloitte

Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the worlds most admired brands, including nearly 90% of the Fortune 500 and more than 8,500 U.S.-based private companies. At Deloitte, we strive to live our purpose of making an impact that matters by creating trust and confidence in a more equitable society. We leverage our unique blend of business acumen, command of technology, and strategic technology alliances to advise our clients across industries as they build their future. Deloitte is proud to be part of the largest global professional services network serving our clients in the markets that are most important to them. Bringing more than 175 years of service, our network of member firms spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloittes approximately 460,000 people worldwide connect for impact at www.deloitte.com.

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (DTTL), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as Deloitte Global) does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the Deloitte name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.

Rohma Abbas

Content Lead

(917) 528-9873
Cairo, Egypt - Ecole Ducasse, in collaboration with Reliance Egypt, is proud to announce a strategic partnership to bring the prestigious Ecole Ducasse to Cairo. Ecole Ducasse is a network of schools founded by the worlds most Michelin-starred Chef, Alain Ducasse, dedicated to training future generations of chefs in culinary and pastry arts. As part of the strategic expansion of Ecole Ducasse throughout the world, this partnership will result in the establishment of a new campus under the name of Ecole Ducasse Cairo Studio by end of 2025. This new facility will provide an opportunity for aspiring chefs, culinary & pastry experts and enthusiasts in Egypt and across the region to learn the fundamentals of Alain Ducasses culinary savoir-faire and philosophy.

A Hub for Culinary Excellence in Egypt

The partnership represents a landmark move for the Egyptian gastronomic scene, which has seen an uptick in recent years in fine dining experiences and global interest. With an educational program that blends innovation and tradition, the Cairo Studio will deliver programs designed by Ecole Ducasse-trained chefs and experts, ensuring that students gain hands-on experience in a state-of-the-art facility. The studio will offer a range of courses, from short cooking and pastry classes to intensive programs and masterclasses targeting both local and regional students who are passionate about mastering the art of cooking.

On the occasion, Alain Ducasse shared: As a fond admirer of Mediterranean culture I look forward to initiating a fruitful dialogue between French and Egyptian cuisine. We are proud to contribute to the blossoming of talents and give Egyptian cuisine the place it deserves.

Karine Hyon-Vintrou, Managing Director of Ecole Ducasse, expressed her enthusiasm for the project: We are incredibly excited to bring the Ecole Ducasse experience to Egypt, a country with a rich and vibrant food culture. Our goal is to provide aspiring chefs and gastronomy professionals with the tools, knowledge, and inspiration they need to excel in the global gastronomical scene. The Cairo Studio will embody the spirit of excellence and innovation that Ecole Ducasse is known for, while also honoring the local traditions of Egypt.

Moheb Kassabgui, Reliance Egypt Director declared: We are very proud to be working with Chef Alain Ducasse and his team to bring world-class culinary training to Egypt. We look forward to seeing the future generation of chefs that this partnership will create and the positive impact this will have on Egypts culinary scene.

State-of-the-Art Facilities and Training Programs

Students enrolling at Ecole Ducasse Cairo Studio will have access to cutting-edge facilities designed to meet the highest international standards. The school will feature multiple training kitchens, pastry labs, and demonstration rooms to provide a real-world learning environment. The facilities will also serve as venues for workshops and events, fostering creativity and collaboration among culinary enthusiasts and professionals.

The curriculum will emphasize not only the technical aspects of culinary and pastry arts but also creativity, entrepreneurship, and the development of individual style. With an experienced faculty comprising industry leaders, the school will ensure that its students are prepared to meet the demands of the rapidly evolving gastronomy scene.

Partnership with Local and International Industry Experts

To further enhance the learning experience, Ecole Ducasse Cairo Studio will partner with top local and international chefs, food industry professionals, and businesses. These collaborations will offer students opportunities for internships, mentorships, and career placements both within Egypt and globally. Guest chefs will also be invited to conduct masterclasses, allowing students to learn from the best in the field.

Additionally, Ecole Ducasse Cairo Studio will contribute to the local community by promoting Egyptian cuisine and culture through its programs. Integrating local ingredients, techniques, and traditions is part of the Ecole Ducasse philosophy, providing a unique learning approach merging international techniques with local flavors.

About Sommet Education

Sommet Education is the global leader in hospitality, luxury and culinary arts education and training, uniting five prestigious institutions  Glion Institute of Higher Education, Les Roches Global Hospitality, Ecole Ducasse, Invictus Education and Indian School of Hospitality - that shape the future of the industry and nurture the next generation of talent.

With over 400 programs spanning technical training, undergraduate, graduate degrees, executive and business solutions, we support 20,000 students and learners from over 100 nationalities across 10 countries and 20 campuses as well as through cutting-edge online learning platforms.

Backed by a worldwide network of 60,000 alumni and an industry-driven curriculum, Sommet Education prepares the future leaders who will set new standards of excellence in hospitality and beyond.

For more information, visit https://www.sommet-education.com/

Anouck Weiss

Chief Communication Officer Sommet Education

Sommet Education

View source
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - 26 November 2024 . The Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Saudi Arabia - the Kingdoms most influential hospitality investment conference - is set to return to the luxurious Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah in Riyadh from 14-16 April 2025 after another record-breaking 2024 edition which saw USD$ 1.1 billion in business opportunities and over 1,400 industry leaders in attendance.

Under the theme Where Vision Shapes Opportunity, FHS Saudi Arabia will unite hospitality leaders and decision-makers to discuss hotel performance and development, the outlook for hospitality investment in the Kingdom and the key market trends driving the sector, aiming for actionable outcomes that will transform the industry, which continues to witness unprecedented growth.

According to data from Knight Frank, total GDP contribution by Saudi Tourism will reach (12.3%) 498 billion SAR in 2024, set to further increase to (15.9%) 836 billion SAR by 2034. The travel and tourism industry is poised to contribute 2.67 million jobs by the end of the year, set to increase to 3.63 million jobs by 2034.

The total value of real estate and infrastructure projects unveiled in Saudi Arabia is USD 1.3 trillion. There are currently 1,048,000 residential units under planning and development stage with 362,000 hotel keys under development.

The FHS Saudi Arabia Advisory Board met in Riyadh yesterday to discuss and shape next years event programme. The Advisory Board comprises some of the industrys most prominent leaders including Sultan Bader Al-Otaibi, Chief Executive Officer, Taiba Investments; Irfan Said, AGM - Corporate Finance and Institutional Banking, AlRajhi Bank; Muhammad Wajeeh Sharbatly, Member of Management Board | CEO, AlNahla Group; Philip Jones, Senior Vice President Operations, Middle East & Africa - Premium, Midscale & Economy Brands, Accor; Mohammad Alathel, Managing Director, AMSA Hospitality; Mae Al Mozaini, Founder & CEO, The Arab Institute for Women's Empowerment  Nusf; Glenn Mandziuk, Chief Executive Officer, World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance; Salman Navaz, Real Estate Investment Director, Lesha Bank; Dr. Abeer A. Alamri, The Quality and Evaluation Expert, Ministry of Tourism; Ashraf Qasem, Chief Hospitality Officer, Al Othaim, and Tatiana Labaki, Director Innovation & Technology at Hotel Division, NEOM.

Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of The Bench, said: Yesterdays Advisory Board meeting in Riyadh was a resounding success and we were privileged to have some of the sharpest minds in the industry in the room together to help steer next years conference programme.

Were also thrilled to announce the launch of the Education Investment Forum , co-located with FHS Saudi Arabia, a brand new, first-of-its-kind event that will look at the key challenges and opportunities when it comes to the value of investment in hospitality education to develop the next generation of hospitality leaders. Amongst others, we will explore the development of career pathways in luxury and high-end hospitality and integrating design into hospitality education.

Launched in partnership with Saudi Arabias G20 Secretariat in 2020, Future Hospitality Summit has tripled its attendance numbers since 2022.

We are delighted to welcome back what has become one of the most anticipated industry events in the region to our home here in Riyadh. We look forward to continue our partnership with The Bench again as Host Sponsors of FHS Saudi Arabia and welcoming the hospitality investment community back at Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh," said Khalid Saud Abu Haimed, Chief Executive Officer, Al Khozama Investment.

For more information about the 2025 editions of the Future Hospitality Summit, please visit https://www.futurehospitalitysummit.com/

About The Bench

The Bench has built a legacy as a global curator of opportunity, designing transformative forums and summits that empower the hospitality and travel industries to connect, innovate, and thrive. With over two decades of expertise, The Bench creates platforms that go beyond transactions to inspire collaboration and drive meaningful change.

Each event brings together government leaders, tourism ministries, global travel associations, leading hospitality brands, hotel owners and investors, airlines, destination developers, and more. From flagship gatherings like FHS World (formerly AHIC) and FHS Saudi Arabia, to FHS Africa (formerly AHIF) and AviaDev, The Bench creates events where ideas spark, relationships deepen, and investments take flight.

The Bench thrives on fostering dynamic and forward-looking dialogues, uniting industry pioneers to address challenges, seize opportunities, and co-create the future. Each event is crafted to deliver more than just connections - it's about transforming ideas into action and building a better tomorrow.

Discover more at thebench.com.

About FHS Saudi Arabia

Dates: 11-13 May 2025

Location: Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Sponsors: Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh and Al Khozama Investment as Host Sponsors; Ministry of Tourism as Strategic Enabler; Taiba Investments as Founding Partner; Al Rajhi Bank, Amsa Hospitality, Elaf Group, NEOM, Red Sea Global, Rua Al Madinah, Saudi Icon, The Ascott, and Tourism Development Fund (TDF) as Strategic Partners; Accor, BWH Hotels, ClubMed, Marriott International, Radisson Hotel Group, Rotana, and Sommet Education as Headline Sponsors; Aleph Hospitality, ARC-IDC, Ark People Solutions, AtkinsRealis, CBRE, Compass Project Consulting, Domus Managed Housing, ELE|NA, H World International, Horwath HTL, IHCL, JLL, JT+P, Knight Frank, Louvre Hotels Group, Minor Hotels, Quo, Story Hospitality, STR, The First Group, United Hospitality Management, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts as Sponsors; Dusit International, Hospitality Chain Co, Hospitality Management Holding, Melia Hotels International, Neo Leap, Rove Hotels, Shaza Hotels, Sophos Hotels, Time Hotels, TV5Monde, Valor Hospitality Partners, and WhiteWater as Exhibitors.

Anne Bleeker

In2 Consulting

+971 56 603 0886

The Bench
New high-speed railway line in Yangtze River Delta begins trial runs

People's Daily Online) 15:24, November 26, 2024

A trial operation train of the Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou high-speed railway crosses Yuandang Lake in Wujiang district, Suzhou, southeast China's Jiangsu Province, Nov. 23, 2024. (Photo/Yuan Xinyu)

A trial operation train of the Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou high-speed railway crossed Yuandang Lake in the Wujiang district of Suzhou, southeast China's Jiangsu Province, on Nov. 23.

This milestone marks the railway's transition into its trial operation phase, with an official opening expected by the end of December.

The Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou high-speed railway is a major infrastructure project linking Shanghai, Suzhou of Jiangsu and Huzhou of Zhejiang. It aims to enhance the high-speed rail network in the Yangtze River Delta region.

Once operational, the railway will optimize the layout of Shanghai's rail hub, improve the regional rail network, alleviate congestion on the Shanghai-Nanjing and Shanghai-Hangzhou corridors, and offer greater travel convenience for residents along the route.

The project will play a vital role in creating a "rail-connected Yangtze River Delta," boosting economic and social development in the area, and promoting high-quality regional integration.

A trial operation train of the Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou high-speed railway crosses Yuandang Lake in Wujiang district, Suzhou, southeast China's Jiangsu Province, Nov. 23, 2024. (Photo/Yuan Xinyu)

A trial operation train of the Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou high-speed railway crosses Yuandang Lake in Wujiang district, Suzhou, southeast China's Jiangsu Province, Nov. 23, 2024. (Photo/Yuan Xinyu)

Intern Han Yifan contributed to this story.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Las Vegas, NV  26th November 2024  In a city where the extraordinary is an everyday experience, Resorts World Las Vegas is ready to elevate luxury and convenience to new heights through an exciting collaboration with technology innovator Alliants. The introduction of an avant-garde contactless guest experience through Alliants technology signals a bold new era for one of Las Vegas's newest state-of-the-art resorts.

Coming in early 2025, the guest experience at Resorts World Las Vegas will be transformed where guests can stroll into their rooms without waiting at the front desk, thanks to a sophisticated contactless check-in process. This remarkable feature also empowers guests to update reservations, add companions, and even share their anticipated arrival timeall before setting foot on the property. The integrated technologies will also support early check-in and check-out capabilities, ensuring guests enjoy maximum flexibility during their stay.

We are always innovating and finding ways to improve the guest experience, says Shannon McCallum, Vice President of Hotel Operations at Resorts World Las Vegas. Creating a truly unforgettable, top-tier, and seamless experience is our highest priority. Alliants is helping us to accomplish that mission with the latest integration of their technology in our resort.

The suite of services includes a digital key feature that allows guests to access their rooms effortlessly without requiring them to download an app. This innovative service lets guests securely add their hotel room key to their device, providing touchless entry and a seamless experience. Guests can easily navigate their stay, from viewing booking details to accessing their rooms, the pool, the fitness center, and other common areas, all through their mobile devices.

Our mission at Alliants is to give each of our customers a uniquely tailored experience that works best for them to elevate their guest experiences, stated Andrew Pirret, SVP Product at Alliants. "By delivering a long-term partnership alongside our technologies, we are thrilled to support Resorts World Las Vegas so they can continue to set new benchmarks in the luxury hospitality industry."

For more information about Alliants and their transformative hospitality technology solutions, visit https://www.alliants.com.

About Resorts World Las Vegas

Since opening in 2021, Resorts World Las Vegas has become the premier destination on the Las Vegas Strip. Developed by Genting Berhad, a publicly traded Malaysian corporation registered with the Nevada Gaming Commission, the $4.3 billion resort is dedicated to providing guests with a one-of-a-kind luxury experience, complete with exceptional service, exquisite design, and unparalleled amenities. In a partnership with Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Resorts World Las Vegas integrates three of Hiltons premium brands into its resort campus.

With over 3,500 guest rooms and suites, featuring modern design and luxurious touches, the property consists of Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World, the resorts full-service brand; Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World, Hiltons lifestyle luxury brand; and LXR, Hiltons network of independent luxury properties, which operates as Crockfords Las Vegas, Gentings internationally renowned ultra-luxury brand. The fully integrated resort boasts a wide range of world-class amenities and services including a 117,000 square foot state-of-the-art fully cashless casino floor, a 5,000 capacity theatre featuring the industrys top headlining talent, distinct day and nightlife venues, a curated retail collection featuring designer and boutique shops, a stunning 27,000-square-foot spa and wellness center, over 50 food and beverage offerings from across the globe and more.

Resorts World Las Vegas has ushered in a new world for luxury resorts and invites guests to indulge with friends. Resorts World Las Vegas is Sharecare Health Security VERIFIED with Forbes Travel Guide while all three hotel brands are LEED Gold Certified. For more information, please visit rwlasvegas.com or find us on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, and Instagram.

About Alliants:

Founded in 2009, Alliants is the digital guest experience technology partner of choice for prestigious hospitality, travel, and retail brands worldwide, renowned for pioneering the guest experience platform of the future. With deep industry knowledge, Alliants crafts technology that delivers swift ROI and unmatched guest satisfaction.

Media Contact:

Gareth Fraser

[email protected]

Gareth Fraser

Vice President Sales & Marketing Operations

View source
Dispute resolution is a key discussion point, all too often overlooked in complex, long-term hotel management agreements (HMAs). The same applies to the prevailing language clause, and French investors should pay particular attention to such issues when negotiating with international hotel operators[i].

These seemingly standard clauses, drafted by hotel operators and included at the end of the HMA, should be carefully examined from the outset of the negotiations (i.e. at the LOI or TS stage).

Which contractual clause should be used to determine jurisdiction in the hotel management agreement?

First, it should be remembered that hotel management agreements are generally subject to ordinary law (civil or commercial courts in France) or to courts of arbitration. Some consider the prohibitive, even crippling, cost a major drawback of arbitration, and indeed, this can act as a strong deterrent, causing claimants to throw in the towel. However, the costs incurred depend primarily on the complexity and duration of the dispute.

We have seen this first hand with French civil or commercial courts (ordinary courts) in several cases involving disputes over hotel management agreements. The judges hearing these cases do not always have the necessary degree of specialisation to deal with complex disputes involving hotel management contracts. Proceedings can overlap, creating a high degree of judicial uncertainty, and when these proceedings go on and on, they can disrupt hotel business operations. Moreover, in France, civil and commercial courts have no jurisdiction to deal with disputes involving contracts drawn up in a language other than French.

Encourage recourse to arbitration in the hotel management agreement:

When potential disputes involve technical and complex issues, as is often the case in hotel management agreements (which may also be drafted in a language other than French), recourse to arbitration is key, for various reasons:

Arbitration is a simpler, more flexible legal mechanism than are proceedings before an ordinary court.

Arbitration awards can be enforced more widely and more easily than can an ordinary court judgement.

Arbitration allows the parties to avoid being subject to the national courts of the opposing party.

The parties can choose one arbitrator or more, with recognised technical expertise and hotel industry knowledge.

Arbitration offers greater confidentiality and discretion than do proceedings before an ordinary court (which may see multiple appeals).

When drafting the arbitration clause, the applicable procedural rules, the procedures for appointing the arbitrators and their number, and the seat of arbitration should be specified. Cities such as Paris, Geneva and London are often chosen in this respect, as French, Swiss and English law are favourable to international arbitration.

Choose simplified arbitration procedures:

To facilitate recourse to arbitration, several arbitration institutions, including the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Paris, have introduced a simplified arbitration procedure in their international arbitration rules, the aim being to reduce the length and cost of low value disputes (up to USD 3 million).

So that a verdict can be reached within six months, the procedure should be entrusted to a sole arbitrator, meaning that fees can come in at least 20% lower than for standard arbitration. This also makes it possible to minimise, in particular, requests for the production of documents, the length and scope of written submissions, the hearing of witnesses and experts, and the holding of the hearing.

The Paris Chamber of Commerces rules of arbitration provide that the parties to a contract, particularly in the context of a hotel management agreement, may expressly agree to recourse to the simplified arbitration procedure, regardless of dispute value.

In any event, include an expert determination clause in the hotel management agreement:

In addition to the jurisdiction clause, we would also recommend that the HMA systematically include an expert determination clause. In particular, this clause details the procedure for appointing the expert, the conditions for recourse, the deadline for receiving the experts decision and the mechanism for paying the experts fees.

The appointment of an expert in the management contract means that issues can be settled quickly, in accordance with standard hotel market practice. Such issues may include, for example, hotel construction or renovation work, the determination of the annual budget, the need for work to be carried out on the hotel, and the party responsible for this work, or the achievement of Performance Test results.

Including a simple and inexpensive expert appraisal mechanism in the HMA has the benefit of encouraging the rapid resolution of most issues, without disrupting the day-to-day running of the hotel, and is in the best interests of both parties. The agreement thus offers two procedural layers for dealing with disputes between the owner and operator.

International hotel operators very often impose an arbitration clause (and English as the contracts language) on local investors, while accepting local governing law for dispute management. Investors should thus pay particular attention to including an appropriate, specially drafted expert determination clause in the hotel management agreement.

[i] See our previous articles on this subject [i] Contrat de management hotelier en France : version anglaise /version francaise ... la controverse and - Hotel management agreements in France and the controversy surrounding the French versus English version

Christopher Boinet

FR - IE Paris - Avocats

In Extenso Avocats
The Middle East's Hospitality Industry: Navigating a High-Stakes Geopolitical Landscape - Image Credit Unsplash

The Middle East's hospitality industry grapples with the dual challenge of harnessing short-term gains and the uncertainty of sustained conflict.

While some regions see an increase in tourism demand, others experience a decline due to geopolitical tensions and security concerns.

Rising geopolitical instability in the Middle East is impacting the region's hospitality industry. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and long-standing regional hostilities involving Iran and Israel have created a high-risk environment for tourism. According to Tareq Bagaeen, senior consultant for HOTSTATS, this has led to a mix of unusual demand and declining interest across key markets.

In Lebanon, hotels are experiencing high occupancy rates due to an influx of international journalists covering nearby conflicts. However, this increase is viewed as temporary. Extended violence and uncertainty could potentially drive tourists away. In contrast, Jordan and Egypt, popular tourist destinations, are already experiencing a decline in visitor numbers due to their proximity to conflict zones and disruptions in air travel.

Operationally, hotels in the Middle East are grappling with increased security expenses and higher insurance costs. To cope with this, many prioritize revenue generation while remaining vigilant of political developments that could lead to sudden downturns in demand.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE continue to dominate the region's hospitality landscape, each with ambitious growth plans to enhance their appeal as travel destinations. Saudi Arabia, for instance, is leading large-scale tourism efforts through the Riyadh Season initiative. Conversely, the UAE is diversifying its tourism portfolio with high-profile projects such as a new casino in Ras Al Khaimah and a new airport in Dubai. Both nations, however, remain acutely aware of the surrounding volatility and the risk it poses to their growth strategies.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has temporarily boosted the hospitality and real estate markets in the Gulf states, particularly the UAE and Turkey, due to an influx of Russian capital and expatriates. However, this trend may be short-lived if international conditions change or sanctions tighten.

Despite these challenges, the Middle East's hospitality sector remains resilient, staying alert to global political shifts while maximizing present profits. The region prepares for growth and potential abrupt downturns as external and internal conflicts reshape the regional landscape. An explicit and informed perspective on these changes is essential for stakeholders investing in the region's future.
The First Collection at Jumeirah Village Circle

Shaner Hotels, an international hotel owner, operator, and developer, announced a new partnership with Dubai's The First Group today. The alliance will be under Shaner's Italia division, aiming to increase their presence throughout Cyprus and the Gulf region.

The First Collection at Jumeirah Village Circle, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, will be the first project under this collaboration. This hotel marks the debut of The First Groups lifestyle hospitality brand, The First Collection.

Shaner Hotels' president, Plato Ghinos, highlighted the growing demand for well-branded, well-operated hotels in the Gulf region. He noted the scarcity of such opportunities as local owners often prefer independent properties with less oversight. This partnership aims to address this gap, providing services spanning all stages of the hotel life cycle.

Echoing Ghinoss sentiments, Apo Demirtas, Chief Strategy Officer at The First Group Hospitality, expressed optimism that this alliance would benefit both companies. He cited the potential for cross-pollination of operational systems and vast hospitality experience to accelerate their portfolio expansion.

The partnership will promote hotel management agreements throughout the Middle East, North Africa, Greece, and Cyprus. Hotels will operate under the First Collection, Tribute Portfolio, and the Marriott international family of brands.

Rob Burns, CEO of The First Group, praised Shaner for its international experience, strong internal culture, and existing presence along the Mediterranean. He stated that these qualities make Shaner an ideal partner for expanding further into the Gulf region.

Developed by The First Group and operated by The First Group Hospitality, The First Collection at Jumeirah Village Circle sits in a 40-story building and is part of the Marriott Bonvoys Tribute Portfolio.

The hotel offers 491 suites, a business lounge, a swimming pool, a sundeck, a fully equipped fitness center, and a spa center. It is located in Jumeirah Village Circle, a short distance from Dubais beaches, downtown Dubai, Dubai South, and Al Maktoum International Airport.

Lance Shaner, Chairman and CEO of Shaner Hotels, expressed confidence in the new hotel's success, both financially for stakeholders and in terms of guest satisfaction. The hotel had already won multiple awards before its official opening, hinting at a bright future ahead.
Tribe Riga City Centre, Latvia - Image Credit Accor

TRIBE, Accor's design-driven hotel brand, has announced the opening of its 20th hotel, marking a significant milestone in its international expansion. The brand has an additional 40 hotels in its pipeline.

Jean-Yves Minet, Global Brand President, Midscale & Economy at Accor, expressed excitement about the brand's progress. He described TRIBE hotels as design-focused spaces that provide guests with all their essential needs without unnecessary excess. Minet said they will remain committed to delivering innovative and contemporary experiences for global travelers as the brand grows.

The lifestyle segment in the hotel industry, which sits between standardization and personalization, is experiencing a swift global expansion. TRIBE aims to meet the needs of modern travelers seeking unique and innovative stays. Camil Yazbeck, Global Chief Development Officer at Accor, highlighted that TRIBE's blend of local vibrancy and strong design credentials makes it an attractive proposition for hotel development investors.

Some of TRIBE's flagship hotels include ones in Medellin, Colombia; Paris Clichy, France; Lyon Croix Rousse, France; Dusseldorf, Germany; Baden-Baden, Germany; Budapest Stadium, Hungary; Riga City Centre, Latvia; London Canary Wharf, UK; Manchester Airport, UK; and Bangkok Sukhumvit 39, Thailand. Each hotel offers a unique blend of design-led spaces, smart functionality, and local flavor, reflecting the brand's commitment to providing travelers a high-quality yet affordable experience.

As TRIBE continues its growth, it intends to focus on delivering unique experiences embodying contemporary living. The brand aims to celebrate individuality, creativity, and connection among its guests by offering design-focused, intelligent, and functional spaces. The brand is set to continue its journey, proving that exceptional design, comfort, and value can coexist seamlessly in the modern hospitality landscape.
Survey Predicts Boom in North American Leisure Travel in 2025 - Image Credit Pexels



While growth in domestic travel is mainly due to regional trips, luxury travelers power the boost in international destinations.

A new survey conducted by the Internova Travel Group indicates that leisure travel is expected to grow in 2025, with a significant increase in the use of travel advisors. The Internova Index: North American Traveler Insights reveals a 22% increase in the average number of international trips per traveler in the last 12 months compared to 2023. The premium and budget segments primarily drive this surge.

The survey also suggests that 25% of travelers plan to take more leisure trips in 2025, a trend that cuts across age, income, and other demographic categories. While growth in domestic travel is mainly due to regional trips, luxury travelers power the boost in international destinations.

Travel advisors are set to benefit from this boom, with demand for their services anticipated to rise as travelers plan longer trips, particularly those outside the U.S. and Canada. Approximately 60% of survey respondents intend to use a travel advisor to book their trips in 2025, citing destination expertise and support during unexpected events as the primary reasons.

Younger travelers, those aged 35 and under, strongly prefer domestic locations and wellness or adventure travel. On the other hand, older travelers are likely to choose long-haul trips and traditional tours. Interest in cruising is strong across all age groups but increases with age. Regarding destinations, Mexico remains the top international pick, while Florida is popular for domestic packages, and California leads for air/hotel bookings.

The survey also highlights that over half of luxury and ultra-luxury travelers plan to use a travel advisor in 2025. They value the expertise of a professional who understands their travel preferences and is knowledgeable about vacation destinations. Europe, mainly the UK, France, and Italy, is the preferred destination for ultra-luxury travelers. However, South America and Asia, which have seen 200% growth in the past year, also attract significant interest.

LGBTQ+ travelers also have unique preferences, with Hawaii and Europe as favored vacation spots. They are twice as likely to live and travel alone compared to the average traveler.

Specialty travel is popular among young and luxury travelers, with around 60% interested in theme-focused wellness, culinary, and adventure activities.

The Internova Index: North American Traveler Insights is based on data from millions of travel bookings by U.S. residents and a survey of 3,000 U.S. travelers across all age and wealth groups.
Unmasking Greenwashing: The Hidden Threat Sabotaging Our Sustainability Efforts - Image Credit Unsplash+

Greenwashing is a deceptive practice where companies exaggerate or make false claims about their environmental or sustainability credentials, potentially misleading consumers and investors.

Various jurisdictions globally have enacted or proposed regulations to combat greenwashing, and companies found guilty of such practices face significant reputational damage, legal consequences, and potential financial burdens.

Greenwashing, often considered a form of false advertising, involves the misuse of environmental jargon to mislead or deceive consumers about a product, service, or company's true eco-friendliness. This practice has gained increased scrutiny in recent years as stakeholders demand companies demonstrate their commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices, according to an article by Pratyush Panda on LinkedIn.

Greenwashing can take various forms, including making false claims, selective disclosure, exaggerating environmental benefits, relying on vagueness, using misleading visuals or graphics, and fake certifications. A recent example cited in the article involves 20 airline companies that received letters from the European Commission and the CPC Network for making misleading green claims.

Greenwashing scrutiny has expanded beyond environmental claims to include social and ethical practices. As a result, businesses face a growing risk of reputational damage, legal consequences, and financial burdens if found guilty of greenwashing. For instance, a prominent automotive manufacturer had to pay nearly $18 billion in fines after it was revealed that they had installed software in 11 million vehicles to cheat emissions tests, falsely promoting their diesel engine technology as eco-friendly.

Several jurisdictions worldwide have enacted or proposed regulations to address greenwashing. The European Union, for instance, has enacted the Directive on Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition, designed to eliminate deceptive environmental claims. Similarly, Australia, the United Kingdom, India, and the United States have also taken measures against greenwashing. For instance, the UK Financial Conduct Authority issued revised guidelines emphasizing the importance of truthful marketing regarding a products ecological advantages.

The implications of greenwashing are far-reaching and potentially damaging. Companies found guilty risk reputational damage, legal consequences, active shareholder takeover, undermining genuine sustainability efforts, and financial burden. Therefore, companies must take great care in crafting their environmental reporting and marketing, ensuring they reflect genuine sustainability efforts.

Greenwashing represents a significant threat to global sustainability efforts. Companies must ensure their environmental claims are accurate and substantiated to avoid the severe consequences of greenwashing. By committing to socially responsible corporate practices, companies can build stronger, more loyal relationships with their customers and stakeholders.

Discover more at HospitalityLawyer.com.
Let's Talk Search Intent and Keyword Strategy - By Trish Leighton - Image Credit Vizergy

Crafting a successful website strategy takes work - which is why we're here to help.

One of the first things we do when we begin an SEO campaign is map out a keyword strategy. Since the searches you want your site to show up for begin with a phrase, we need to invest time and thought into this foundational element of SEO. While many would assume looking up the most heavily searched phrases to integrate into your website copy is how keyword research works, its actually one of the worst things you can do for your strategy.

Here's why.

The Travel Search Funnel

When you think about how people search for travel, its important to remember that travel rarely gets booked in the first search  the conversion funnel for travel generally involves several searches, with the keyword phrases changing along the way. But it starts with broad location searches in general  i.e., hotels in San Francisco. This is a top-of-funnel search during the research phase of travel booking and rarely ends in a conversion at this point. While it is of course ideal to have visibility and ranking for such a highly searched term (246,000 searches per month on average), it is incredibly competitive (over 500 million results for this one phrase) and difficult to get and maintain significant ranking for. A great way to determine the likelihood of ranking well for a phrase is to look at what is ranking for it on page 1.

For broad location terms, you will see that OTAs dominate page 1 organic search results. While the map results are based mostly on the propertys exact location, and the ads are pay to play, the organic results and People Also Ask sections are filled with OTA and travel sites. You will only see actual hotel websites on page 1 if your results are skewed by your own search history, or the market is small and has little competition.

Now think about why Google would choose OTAs as the most relevant result for these types of searches  the intent behind a broad search for a location tells Google the searcher is in the research phase of the booking funnel and wants to see options. OTAs are miniature search engines for hotels, so providing these results is an excellent experience for a searcher. This is how they start narrowing down their travel needs and finding the neighborhoods and amenities that speak to them.

While its logical to think you would want your website to rank for larger location terms, its unlikely to rank in a significant spot for it organically, and that isnt a converting term. This isnt to say it should be ignored! You can and should include them in your overall strategy to track performance, but by no means hang your hat on them as a driver of SEO performance.

So, what are the terms you want to rank for?

Putting yourself in the shoes of a searcher is a vital skill when doing keyword research and developing your strategy. When you think about how people find the right hotel, you must think about specifics and what is relevant to your property. The keywords you can gain visibility for and convert into bookings are the ones speaking to attributes, local demand generators, and experiences. Terms that hit these marks should be the bulk of your keyword strategy and where you invest most effort into ranking for.

For instance, say the person searching for a hotel in San Francisco does the research  she finds the neighborhood she wants to stay in and checks out available options. Now her search has changed, and she wants to stay in a small hotel near Golden Gate Park, with a view of the bridge, and she has her dog Fido with her too. If you have a pet-friendly hotel within walking distance from Golden Gate Park and views that should be on Instagram, you better hope these keyword phrases are represented in your website copy so that you not only can rank for them but will also convince the searcher you are the best hotel to suit her needs and get that direct booking. Some keywords that should be in the strategy for a hotel like this are boutique hotels near golden gate park, hotels with view of golden gate bridge, and pet-friendly golden gate park hotels.

These terms are much less competitive, extremely relevant to your property, and more likely to lead to a booking. But you will naturally have a lower search volume of a few hundred or thousands a month, as opposed to the massive search volume of the generic hotels in San Francisco. Search volume being lower isnt a negative  you are targeting people who are looking for something specific, so naturally fewer people will be searching for it. But these are the terms that are considered bottom-of-funnel and have a booking intent.

When it comes to deciding what kinds of keywords you want to target and track, going solely for the high search volume location terms is a missed opportunity to rank well. Optimizing for the middle and bottom funnel terms will never be a waste of time or effort and should be a large part of your keyword strategy. The most successful SEO strategies cover the full funnel, making sure customers are engaged in every step of their planning.

Trish is the Senior Manager, Search Marketing Services at Vizergy Digital Marketing. Connect with Trish on LinkedIn.

About Vizergy Digital Marketing

For over 25 years, Vizergy has served the hospitality industry with leading marketing technologies and exceptional service for clients worldwide. Vizergys platform is easy to use, turnkey, and SMART  continually enhanced to help hotels compete within the market and maximize revenue. By leveraging a data-first approach, hospitality marketing is not only the mission, but Vizergys sole focus. Reach out to our team for more information.
MountainOne Thankful 5K to Benefit Local Food Pantries

PITTSFIELD, Mass. MountainOne will partner with Berkshire Running Foundation, the charitable arm of the Berkshire Running Center, as the lead sponsor of its 9th annual Thankful 5K.

The run/walk will be held on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, at Berkshire Community College, located at 1350 West Street in Pittsfield, starting at 9 a.m.

All proceeds and donations of food from the fundraising event directly benefit South Community Church's local food pantries and its Fuel Assistance Fund. Pittsfield pantries serve the largest population in Western Massachusetts, with over 800 families receiving assistance weekly, a number that continues to grow.

"We're proud to support this event and to see it carry the MountainOne name," said Jonathan Denmark, President & COO of MountainOne Insurance. "The MountainOne Thankful 5K has become a meaningful tradition in our community, helping to provide food and resources to local families in need. It's a wonderful way to start Thanksgiving Day by giving back together."
Cheshire Lays Off School Resource Officer

CHESHIRE, Mass.  A veteran officer of the Police Department is out after his position as school resource officer was was basically eliminated.

The Select Board on Thursday night voted to lay off Sgt. David Tarjick after the Hoosac Valley Regional School District requested he not return to the high school campus.

An investigation had cleared him of an incident with a student but he went to the school prior to being officially reinstated.

The vote came after about 19 minutes of discussion and statements from Tarjick, who had requested the posted executive session be opened.

"I love this town. I've given my all to this town, and I guess this is the thanks I get," Tarjick said. He said he was being made a "scapegoat" because of threats of a lawsuit.

The 18-year veteran of the force was accompanied by his attorney and nearly three dozen supporters who were not allowed to speak on his behalf. Public participation was not listed on the agenda as the meeting had been for executive session.

The initial incident had involved a complaint of the use of force with a student; according to Tarjick and officials, a third-party investigation cleared him of any allegations. The Select Board at an executive session on Nov. 12 voted to reinstate him as he had been relieved of his duties as SRO during this period.

He was told not to return to the school until the School Committee voted on Nov. 18, unless there was an emergency. An emergency occurred on Nov. 13, when he and another patrol officer responded to a call at the school.

Later that day, he entered the school's cafeteria as a patrol officer, spoke to couple of administrators and students and left. Apparently, the student involved in the initial complaint was in the cafeteria during his visit.

According to the timeline stated by Chair Shawn McGrath, Superintendent Aaron Dean notified the town administrator that Tarjick had been at the school and the next day sent a written letter asking he be removed.

Tarjick said he did not see the student or speak with him, and had not expected the student to even be around since they were "transitioning" back to school with half days.

"I can tell you honestly, I felt horrible after the fact, when the chief called me and told me that I was devastated by that, because there is no way in this world that I would ever do anything to ruin my reputation or to give a child like that any more anxiety than he already has," he said.

He repeatedly asked if an investigation had been done to determine if the student was in the cafeteria. The board replied that the superintendent had communicated that.

According to the timeline stated by Chair Shawn McGrath, Superintendent Aaron Dean notified the town administrator that Tarjick had been at the school and the next day sent a written letter asking he be removed.

"The school resource officer is an employee of Cheshire and as such the Town of Cheshire handles personnel decisions regarding that individual," Dean responded Friday in an email. "While I cannot comment on the investigation, I can tell you that based on the circumstances surrounding the investigation, [legal] counsel advised requesting a change in personnel with that position, which I did."

Tarjick said officers visiting the school during lunch periods was not unusual. He also said, in response to a question, that he was in full uniform, which he did not wear as SRO, so there should have been no confusion as to his status. He believed there was miscommunication on his presence at the school and said a directive from the chief was not received until late on Nov. 13.

His supporters were frustrated that they had not been allowed to speak on his behalf.

"We desperately need somebody up there," said parent Traci Keele. Her son had been bullied and physically accosted, she said, and while waiting at the school for a meeting on that, a fight had broken out.

"We do need somebody up there. ... I've had three children go to school up there since my oldest is 24, we've been in the school system ... [The students] love Officer Tarjick and they want him back."

She said there was a lack of evidence that the student was in cafeteria, calling it hearsay. Others noted that he was the only officer who lived in Cheshire and pointed to his years of respected service.

Tarjick was appointed to fill the SRO post by the Select Board in August and another officer was shifted from part time to a full-time patrol officer to take his spot. This prevented the sergeant from being restored to his patrol status, said the Select Board, as seniority is not considered.

"The position is funded through the school district, and the school district has requested your removal from the position and is looking to revisit the position," said Select Board member Michelle Francesconi.

Tarjick was the only officer on the Cheshire Police Department with the required training for the post.

The superintendent, in his email, said the status of the SRO will have to be discussed with Cheshire officials but that no action has yet been taken by the School Committee.

"Moving forward, the district will continue to collaborate with the town of Cheshire on ways we can best support the students and families in our community," he wrote.

McGrath said the reason he had been hesitant to approve this position to begin with "was because of the fact that if it's ever eliminated, for whatever reason, someone will be laid off."

Francesconi was the sole no vote, saying she would have been more comfortable speaking with the superintendent first. Dean was not at the meeting.

"I feel bad for the kids. I feel bad for the staff up there. You know, we really made a lot of headway," Tarjick said. "And there was one incident up there that, you know, it's one kid and one parent that kind of dictated everything, and they let that happen."
Page Content



Montreal, 26 November 2024  The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the UK Civil Aviation Authority will bring together the world's leading aviation legal experts in London this week to address critical challenges facing the industry, from artificial intelligence regulation to sustainability frameworks.





Chief executives, director generals, and legal officials from across the global aviation sector will shape new approaches to safety, security, and innovation during the three-day summit.





The Civil Aviation Legal Advisers Forum (CALAF/3), to be held from 26 to 28 November 2024, will be hosted by the UK Civil Aviation Authority on behalf of ICAO.





ICAO's Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar and the UK Civil Aviation Authority's Chief Executive Rob Bishton will open proceedings, with the regulator's Chair Sir Stephen Hillier to welcome delegates at a reception on Monday, 25 November.





"The Civil Aviation Legal Advisers Forum has emerged as a leading international event for informing the legal regulatory frameworks that will guide aviation's transformation worldwide. I am confident that the discussions in London will address critical questions around artificial intelligence, sustainability and enforcement  legal work that is fundamental to enabling innovation while maintaining aviation's exemplary safety standards, said Juan Carlos Salazar, ICAO Secretary General.





ICAO is grateful to the UK Civil Aviation Authority for its leadership in hosting this significant event and bringing together such expertise from across the global aviation community. That these discussions coincide with the 80th anniversary of the Chicago Convention reminds us how international aviation law has consistently evolved to meet new challenges while remaining anchored by its founding principles."





The forum will feature discussions on legal and regulatory best practices shaping the future of international aviation, with input from industry, academia, and legal practitioners. Panel discussions will address sustainability and innovation (including artificial intelligence), enforcing air navigation regulations, cooperative mechanisms for aviation safety and the use of safety information in judicial proceedings.





As the event coincides with ICAO's 80th Anniversary of the signing of the Chicago Convention, it will feature a commemorative panel discussion marking this milestone in international aviation law.





"As we gather for the Civil Aviation Legal Advisers Forum, I am reminded of the pivotal role that legal advisors play in the aviation sector. Their expertise means that our regulations are robust, and our industry is compliant with international standards, said Rob Bishton, Chief Executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority.





This year, we also celebrate the 80th anniversary of the International Civil Aviation Organization signing the Chicago Convention. For more than eight decades, ICAO has been at the forefront of fostering global aviation safety, security, and sustainability. Its unwavering commitment has been instrumental in shaping the aviation landscape we know today. As we look to the future, the continued partnership between regulators, industry and ICAO will be crucial in navigating the challenges and opportunities ahead."





Resources for Editors:





About ICAO

A specialized agency of the United Nations, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) leads the international alignment of technical standards and strategies, facilitating the safe, secure, and sustainable development of its 193 member states' aviation sectors and air services. This year, ICAO is celebrating the 80th anniversary of its establishment by the 1944 Convention on International Civil Aviation.









General contact





Media Contact

William Raillant-Clark

Communications Officer




Tuesday 26 November 2024, 10:21

Kate Middleton will return to the public eye once again. Buckingham Palace has announced that the Princess of Wales, 42, will join her husband William on Tuesday, December 3rd to welcome the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his wife, Her Highness Sheikha.

Kate and William: How will they celebrate Christmas? The concert on December 6th and gifts to the children (and it involves Taylor Swift too)

The Program

Kate will participate in the state welcome, which traditionally begins at the residence of the visiting guests, followed by the journey to the horse guards parade for a welcome ceremony, the greeting of King Charles and Queen Camilla, ceremonial presentations, and a luncheon at Buckingham Palace, where a curated collection of items from the Royal Collection Trust related to the visiting nation will be displayed.

Kate Will Skip the Banquet

Kate, however, will not be present at the palace banquet. Nevertheless, her participation in the state visit is regarded as excellent news and marks a gradual return of the princess to public events. The princess has attended numerous high-profile events such as Trooping the Colour, the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 9th, and the cenotaph service at the war memorial on Remembrance Sunday, November 10th, in the past eleven months since she effectively withdrew from public life to focus on her health. But next month's appearance will be the most significant so far as she will play an active role in the events.

"She is clearly a vital member of the royal family, really important both symbolically and in reality as a future queen," said royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith to PEOPLE regarding the significance of seeing the princess. "It's been nice that people have seen her. You can't say she's back... but she's coming back." Buckingham Palace announced the upcoming state visit from Qatar on October 11th, and the diplomatic occasion will be the second state visit of the year after the stay of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan in June. The Emir of Qatar, his wife, and consort attended the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla in May 2023, and the palace states that the Emir has visited the United Kingdom on eight occasions.
realme Philippines solidifies its leading position as a smartphone brand in the Philippine market. The renowned research analyst firm International Data Corporation or IDC has recently released the sell-in data for Q3 2024.

Research analyst firm IDC released sell-in report and named realme as Top 2 in the Philippines

Based on the report, realme ranks as the second smartphone brand with a total market share of 17%. The launch of the realme GT 6, realme 13 Series 5G, and realme Note 50 propels realme to a 10% year-on-year growth.

This year, realme Philippines brought smartphones that cater to different price categories with various consumer interests and preferences at the forefront. Each smartphone mentioned above delivers impressive features to users, gaining recognition as a much-coveted product of realme in Q3 2024.

We are incredibly grateful for the constant support that the Squad has shown us. They are one of the driving forces behind this achievement. In return, we reaffirm the Squad with our commitment to introduce more quality smartphones that incorporate cutting-edge features, shares Jane Yan, VP for Marketing of realme Philippines.

For more updates and news, follow realme Philippines official Facebook page and website.
In the weeks since Donald Trumps storming of democracys citadel, there have been expressions of dread, hand-wringing editorials, and stunned columns. One New Yorker friend of mine, a mother of two, fled to Montreal and checked into a first-class hotel as the vote loomed. At the last count, she had taken to her bed with Netflix and room service, having switched off her phone. For all I know shes still there.

In the weird catalogue of psephological panic, this is not exactly new. Many Americans suffered similar conniptions when George W Bush was elected in 2000. Several eminent literary figures swore to emigrate in protest, but very few actually upped sticks.

There is, of course, another view. Trumps first term confirmed him to be one of the worst presidents in US history, although less sinister than fundamentally incompetent. He may be a vicious, far-right autocrat bent on revenge, but hes also vain, lazy, ignorant, and often quasi-senile. America has known worse, though not often.

In these dire straits, Im inclined to turn, for succour and counselling, to the free, liberal and uplifting spirits of the past, the great American romantics. I mean, why wouldnt we want to smile through our tears? Why, for instance, wouldnt we want to hear what Nora Ephron has to say?

The author of Heartburn, When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and I Feel Bad About My Neck died too early from leukaemia (myelodysplastic syndrome) in 2012. Her ageless legacy in film and journalism, however, leaves many clues to the kind of witty and cold-eyed clarity on imminent existential dread that we might welcome just now.

Ephrons gift, as a writer, was to anatomise and exploit an insouciant ownership of her everyday experience. As Ilana Kaplan puts it in Nora Ephron at the Movies, her talent for turning setbacks into success was unmatched. Mining gold from dross, Ephron could extract revelations from ordinary life, the more ordinary the better. As Ephron famously observed, Everything is copy. (To her mother Phoebe, a Hollywood scriptwriter, this was a family saying.)

Mine is not an unbiased recollection. I knew Ephron before she became, as it were, herself. I remember an exquisitely gracious and composed young woman in the autumn light of New England; an unfazed observer of vanity fair who, as a journalist in Sixties New York  now I come to think about it  must have encountered Trump, the tabloid villain: a dodgy, attention-seeking property developer.

It was the autumn of 1981, and I was weekending on Long Island, staying in the Hamptons with Joe Fox of Random House. A tall man with a bearlike shamble, Fox was known as a charming, squash-playing clubman, and a backgammon fiend, but above all as a literary legend whod worked with Truman Capote on In Cold Blood, as well as publishing Fran Lebowitz, Philip Roth and Peter Matthiessen, among many others.

Also staying at his beachfront property was this elfin, high-spirited divorcee, many years younger than Fox, who was currently his girlfriend. She introduced herself, almost shyly, as Nora.

open image in gallery Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle ( Bruce Mcbroom/Tri-Star/Kobal/Shutterstock )

In hindsight, I see that to a writer such as Ephron, for whom everything was raw material for her art, nothing would ever be wasted.

In Youve Got Mail, an opposites-attract remake of Ernst Lubitschs romcom The Shop Around the Corner, Kathleen Kelly inherits an old bookshop from her mother, and Joe Fox (Tom Hanks), whos the multimillionaire owner of the bookstore chain, wants to drive her out of business.

In the course of the next three days, knowing little of her backstory, and, more shamefully, even less of her reputation as a renowned magazine journalist, I soon came to discover in Ephron a brilliant and acerbic student of the human comedy, whose passion, after her typewriter, was her kitchen.

Ephron lived to cook. (Heartburn is as famous for its recipes as its revenge.) Better still, she loved to talk about food. In this present emergency, Im fairly sure her first thought would be to start baking.

She was also instinctively wise, blessed with a savvy innocence of spirit that aerated every line of her prose with a lifelong metropolitans joie de vivre. At the moment we met she was irreconcilably separated from Carl Bernstein (of Watergate fame), and presumably at work on Heartburn, the wronged wifes masterclass in getting even. When Harry Met Sally, Youve Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, and the rest, were yet to come.

open image in gallery Ephron was also instinctively wise, blessed with a savvy innocence of spirit that aerated every line of her prose ( Getty )

Like so many of the writers we admire extravagantly, Ephron always wrote as if there were other things to do than file copy. One collection of her essays has the simple, almost belligerently modest, subtitle: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman. But it also contains What I Wish Id Known, an anthology of her insights into the human condition.

Some of these are simply life-enhancing, from You can order more than one dessert to Never marry a man you wouldnt want to be divorced from. Others are merely profound: People have only one way to be.

And then there are some sublime Ephron thoughts that can only elicit optimism and make you smile: The plane is not going to crash; There are no secrets and The empty nest is underrated. And (my favourite): You cant own too many black turtleneck sweaters.

open image in gallery ( Abrams )

In Nora Ephron at the Movies, Kaplans focus is on Ephrons films more than her prose, but she perceptively points out that what brings Annie and Sam together in Sleepless is their shared isolation and  yes  their experience of grief.

As well as her obiter dicta, Ephron left us some classic cinema moments that will always be an inspiration. Theres a way in which bad American politics often sponsors outstanding US culture. (Think of the prohibition years of the Twenties, and the dreadful presidencies of Harding, Coolidge and Hoover  a golden age of art and letters. When Coolidge died, Dorothy Parker, an outstanding literary figure from that era, murmured How can they tell?)

Imagine, if you will, that the US, in the age of Trump 2.0, does not go to hell in a handmade handbasket, but discovers some fresh resilience. Theres a new generation to oppose its creative innovations against the Maga trolls infesting the White House. Trump, as a lame-duck president, might become an object of renewed satire, with romcoms as a new kind of comfort.

Why not hunker down to watch When Harry Met Sally, and the rest, for those things without which we cannot survive? Autumn landscapes, cosy bedrooms, witty conversations, nice, comfortable clothes, crafty allusions to the golden age of Hollywood, moving pictures of some terrific food, and  how can we forget?  Meg Ryan in Katzs Deli and the ageless echo of her inspired climax, with the perfect comic coda from an elderly diner at the nextdoor table: Ill have what shes having.
Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

I have a tough exterior, the Scream actor Melissa Barrera tells me. Youd never know when Im panicking. Does she think of it as a superpower, I ask. Its more like a fatal flaw, she sighs. Like, am I a sociopath? Because I should be dying right now. Especially after this last year for me, how am I even alive?

To her credit, Barrera brings up the elephant in the room before I do. There was a point in time when this sort of caveat wasnt necessary: all Barrera used to be known for was her acting. The 34-year-old was a star in her native Mexico, and over the past four years had worked her way up to leading lady status in the US. She had a big-budget musical under her belt (the film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Mirandas In the Heights), a Paul Mescal romantic drama (the experimental dance movie Carmen), and her own franchise: in the rebooted Scream films, where she played the traumatised daughter of a serial killer, heir apparent to the series original lead Neve Campbell.

Then, 12 months ago, Barrera became better known as a staunch advocate for Palestine, regularly criticising Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his regimes response to the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October. And it transformed her, practically overnight, into a cultural lightning rod.

Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp, she wrote in an Instagram story in October 2023. This is genocide and ethnic cleansing. In another post, she complained of her difficulty finding news stories on Palestinian suffering. Western media only shows the other side, she wrote. Why they do that, I will let you deduce for yourself. We dont need more hate. No Islamophobia. No antisemitism.

Spyglass, the studio behind the latest Scream films, immediately dropped Barrera from the franchise, curtailing plans for a third instalment featuring her character. We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech, the company said in a statement.

Barrera, in turn, released her own statement, writing: First and foremost I condemn antisemitism and Islamophobia. I condemn hate and prejudice of any kind against any group of people  I believe a group of people are NOT their leadership, and that no governing body should be above criticism. I pray day and night for no more deaths, for no more violence, and for peaceful co-existence. I will continue to speak out for those that need it most and continue to advocate for peace and safety, for human rights and freedom. Silence is not an option for me.

If Scream fans want to go watch the next Scream? Cool. If they dont? Also cool. You just gotta act according to how you preach

Today, Barrera is curled up in the bed of a hotel room in Mexico City, where she is due to attend a fashion show. She has an enviably poreless face and brown eyes framed by thick brows. And while she is sanguine and quick-witted, she is also open about how difficult things have been. It was the darkest and hardest year of my life, and I had to reevaluate everything, she says. There were times where I felt like my life was over. After being dropped from Scream, work more or less evaporated. It was quiet for, like, 10 months. I was still getting offers for small things here and there  Im not going to lie and say there was nothing  but [the message] was, like, Oh, she probably doesnt have work, shell say yes to anything. She laughs half-heartedly. In lieu of acting, then, shes spent much of 2024 promoting the films she made right before everything went haywire  first the horror comedy Abigail in April, and now Your Monster, a big tonal swing of a movie in which she romances a man-beast who lives in her closet.

Barrera plays Laura, a struggling actor in New York, whose playwright boyfriend dumps her on the heels of a cancer scare. She finds solace with Monster, as he is only ever called, an unusually affable creature played by Tommy Dewey, who adores Fred Astaire and old romantic comedies, and claims to have known Laura since her childhood. They sing together  Your Monster is a musical, too, by the way  and fall in love, all the while plotting to exact revenge on Lauras ex. Barrera shines in the film, all frayed nerves and cute-as-a-button romcom pixieness. Think Meg Ryan if she could sing really well, and was occasionally splattered in the blood of her enemies.

Your Monster trailer

Your Monster came to Barrera soon after filming Scream VI in 2022. Shed been looking for something different. I kept getting horror scripts, and I wasnt getting a lot of the really exciting parts I was auditioning for, she remembers. I would get [roles] that I wasnt excited about, and Ive never been a person that just wants to work for works sake. I give so much of myself to acting that if a part of me feels like its not worth it, Im gonna be miserable.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

This film, then, with its humour, musical numbers and elaborate genre-hopping, was irresistible. But it also scared her. Laura wears her heart on her sleeve. Shes a big crier and shes very dramatic. Im not like that at all. Its that tough exterior thing. And while Barrera had done comedy on stage before  notably in a run of Young Frankenstein in Mexico  she worried she was rusty. Barrera is generally a bit of a worrier, though. Inside Im constantly freaking out, she says. I rethink my career at least twice a year. Like, should I even be doing this? Am I even good? Am I ever gonna work again?

Still, she never expected her internal anxieties to bleed so tangibly into reality. Acting is my passion  I didnt want it to just end, she says. Part of her is now grateful for everything thats happened. For the longest time, I gave myself value as a human because of my work. So when I saw it potentially ending, I was like, who even am I? And I realised that Im so much more than just an actor  Im a great sister, a great daughter, a great friend. And Im very capable of finding success in something else if I wanted it.

open image in gallery Beauty and the beast: Barrera and Tommy Dewey in Your Monster ( Vertigo Releasing )

Im curious, in light of how public and abrupt her exit was, where the Scream movies sit for her at this point. They gave me a lot in my career, she says, brightly. I made really good friends. I have such loyal fans from those movies that are now watching the rest of the stuff that I do. But she admits that there are drawbacks. At fan conventions, for instance, parades of Scream devotees are prone to sympathetically allude to the controversy between autograph signings, or asking how shes doing. Or theyre like, What they did to you is so messed up, Im so sorry that happened!. And its something, I think, thats never going to end. Because the franchise is never going to end. So while I still have so much love for [those movies], the reminders of that very sour moment make it a little bit weird.

Folding into the weirdness is the new rupture in Scream fandom that her exit has caused. When, right after Barreras dismissal, Neve Campbell agreed to return for the forthcoming Scream VII  having turned down Scream VI over a salary dispute  factions were formed. Some, out of respect for Barrera, pledged to boycott subsequent instalments in the franchise. Others, out of loyalty to the series original heroine, pledged full allegiance to Campbell. Asked if she has thoughts on the divide, Barrera shrugs.

I think there have always been Scream factions, she laughs  before referencing backlashes to past Screams she was in and past Screams that she wasnt. There are always going to be people that love you and people that hate you, and people that are open to a story continuing, and people that think that continuing it is ruining it. If they want to go watch the next one? Cool. If they dont? Also cool.

You just gotta act according to how you preach, she continues. And that depends on what you value, what your morals are, and whether you can separate that from art or not. There are people who cant listen to R Kelly anymore, or Michael Jackson, or cant watch Woody Allen films anymore. And then there are people who dont care.

open image in gallery Screaming sisters: Barrera and Jenna Ortega in last years Scream VI ( Shutterstock )

When it comes to her own future, she feels hopeful. After nearly a year of silence, good offers of work started pouring in two months ago. It felt like I had been invisible, and then all of a sudden, there was a switch that made me visible again, she says. She is currently filming an espionage series for the US streaming platform Peacock alongside Simu Liu of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. It was exactly what I needed to ease myself back into the industry and do something fun thats not going to destroy me emotionally, Barrera laughs. And, most importantly, Im finding the right people to work with.

She hugs her pillow, smiling.

I feel better. I was stuck in the sand dunes for a while, and now I feel like my feet are moving, I have an oxygen tank, and Im, like going up.

Your Monster is in UK and Ireland cinemas from 29 November via Vertigo Releasing
Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Universal Pictures has called reports claiming that Ariana Grande was paid millions more than her Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo completely false.

Following the release of the musical hit in theaters on Friday, November 22, rumors began circulating online that Grande was paid $15 million for her role as Glinda the Good Witch, while Erivo was paid $1 million to play Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West.

Reports of pay disparity between Cynthia and Ariana are completely false and based on internet fodder, a spokesperson for Universal told Variety in a statement on Tuesday (November 26).

The spokesperson didnt specify the amount the actors received; however, they confirmed: The women received equal pay for their work on Wicked.

Director Jon M. Chus Wicked, which serves as an origin story for Elphaba, the antagonist prominently featured in The Wizard of Oz, debuted in theaters to the tune of $112 million domestically, easily making it the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation. Into the Woods, which opened to $31 million in 2014, was the previous record holder.

Wicked has been a hit with viewers and critics alike  it currently sits at 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

While The Independents Clarisse Loughrey found it to be fun and well acted, she criticized it for being aggressively overlit and shot like a TV advert.

Jon M. Chu has defended the movies color-grading, saying: What we wanted to do was immerse people into Oz, to make it a real place (  Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. )

Its shot and lit like were being sold an Airbnb in Mykonos, she wrote, with her comments joining an overall complaint made by viewers about the movies coloring looking washed out.

Chu has since defended the movies color-grading, telling The Globe and Mail: I mean, theres color all over it. I think what we wanted to do was immerse people into Oz, to make it a real place. Because if it was a fake place, if it was a dream in someones mind, then the real relationships and the stakes that these two girls are going through wouldnt feel real.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

In addition to Grande and Erivo, the movie also features Oscar-winning actor Michelle Yeoh, Bridgertons Jonathan Bailey, Broadway star Ethan Slater and Jeff Goldblum.

Grande recently attended a Wicked screening with her 99-year-old grandmother at a theater in her hometown of Boca Raton, Florida. Her grandmother was just 12 years old when the original 1939 Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland, was released.

Flew to Boca for a day to watch with Nonna at the movie theater I grew up going to every weekend, Cinemark 20 in Boca, Grande wrote on Instagram, alongside a series of photos, including one which showed her leaning close to her grandmother, Marjorie Grande, while her brother, Frankie Grande, smiled in the background.

Part one of Wicked is out in theaters now, with Part Two scheduled to premiere on November 21, 2025.
Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Jim Abrahams, the writer-director who helped create a string of much-loved comedies including Airplane! and The Naked Gun, has died. He was 80.

His son Joseph told The Hollywood Reporter he died of natural causes at his home in Santa Monica on Tuesday (November 26).

He worked alongside fellow writers Jerry and David Zucker on a number of successful slapstick spoofs. They were known collectively as Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker, or ZAZ for short.

Abrahams, who was born James Abrahams on May 10, 1944, first met the Zucker brothers while the trio were growing up in Shorewood, Wisconsin.

Together they founded a small theater known as The Kentucky Fried Theater in 1971, which led to their sketch comedy film The Kentucky Fried Movie in 1977. The film parodied various film genres and attracted star cameos from the likes of George Lazenby, Bill Bixby and Donald Sutherland.

They followed that with Airplane! in 1980, which they wrote and directed collaboratively. The disaster parody became their breakout hit, grossing $171 million worldwide against a budget of just $3.5 million and winning ZAZ the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Comedy.

open image in gallery Leslie Nielsen with Priscilla Presley in The Naked Gun ( Paramount Pictures )

After finding success with their spoof of disaster movies, ZAZ next set their eyes on police procedurals. They created the ABC television series Police Squad! in 1982, which starred Leslie Nielsen as detective Frank Drebin, but it ran for just four of its scheduled six episodes before being cancelled.

They next moved on to the spy spoof Top Secret! (1984), which gave a young Val Kilmer his film debut in the starring role, and the black comedy Ruthless People (1986), from a script by Dale Launer.

Abrahams branched out on his own to direct the 1988 comedy Big Business, which starred Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin as two sets of identical twins mismatched at birth.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

That same year, ZAZ revived Nielsens Frank Drebin character in the hit police spoof movie The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! The film was a commercial success and spawned two sequels, which Abrahams was not involved with. The film series is set to be revived next year, with Liam Neeson playing the son of Nielsens hapless character.

In 1991, Abrahams again went out on his own to write and direct the Top Gun spoof Hot Shots!, starring Charlie Sheen. The film was a hit and in 1993 Abrahams again wrote and directed a sequel, Hot Shots! Part Deux.

In 1998, he wrote and directed the gangster spoof Mafia!, also known as Jane Austens Mafia!.

Abrahams is survived by his wife Nancy Cocuzzo, who he married in 1976, his sons Joseph and Charlie, his daughter Jamie, and his grandchildren, Caleb, James and Isaac.
Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Jude Law has devastated fans with a new revelation about the 2006 Christmas movie classic, The Holiday.

The Talented Mr. Ripley actor recently appeared on BBC Radio 2s The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, where he accidentally revealed a behind-the-scenes secret from the holiday film. The romantic comedy, directed by Nancy Meyers, tells the story of two women  played by Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet  who decide to participate in a house swap to escape their romantic troubles.

Diazs character then ends up in a cottage in England, while Winslets character temporarily lives in an upscale mansion in California.

Law  who played Winslets brother and Diazs love interest in the movie  explained how he feels knowing The Holiday has become a classic, especially during the holiday season. I find it just, honestly, glorious, he said.

However, one of the radio hosts then brought up the cottage in the film, asking: You think we could Airbnb that cottage? Unfortunately, Law replied: That cottage doesnt exist.

open image in gallery Law admits the English cottage in The Holiday wasnt real because director Nancy Meyers was picky about the iconic setting ( Rex Features )

The hosts then expressed their shock, as one declared: Thats my dream home!

The 51-year-old actor explained that the cottage only exists because Meyers wasnt able to find a house that she liked. So the director, shes a bit of a perfectionist, he said.

She toured that whole area and didnt quite find the chocolate box cottage she was looking for. So, she just [rented] a field, and drew it and had someone build it.

Only the exterior of the house had been constructed, meaning the scenes inside the house were filmed somewhere else.

So heres the funny thing, if you watch it... We were shooting in the winter here. And every time Id go in that door, wed cut, and we shot the interiors in [Los Angeles] about three months later, Law said.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

open image in gallery Jonny and Cressida Bromley outside their house that inspired Kate Winslets home in The Holiday ( SWNS )

Oh no, please stop! We dont want to hear anymore! Youre ruining it! We cant bear it, the radio show hosts told Law.

He jokingly replied: Just burst the bubble. Sorry!

Although the exact home from The Holiday may not be real, the house that inspired the English cottage was previously available to rent on Airbnb back in 2022.

At the time, Jon Bromley and his wife Cressida lived in the home, not knowing its famous accolades. It was first seen in a property magazine and purchased for 625,000 in 2019.

The couple only realized the significance of their house when they noticed strangers taking photos of it.

This led to them listing the property on Airbnb for 295 per night. As of November 2024, the cottage is no longer listed on the platform.
Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Keira Knightley has revealed why she would never work on a major Hollywood film franchise again.

The Oscar nominee, 39, shot to fame as Elizabeth Swann in Pirates of the Caribbean alongside Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom in 2003  when she was just 17 years old and faced intense public scrutiny.

Knightley said she gave up years of her life to stick to the relentless filming schedule, with the Curse of the Black Pearls sequel Dead Mans Chest released in 2006 and At Worlds End premiering a year later.

Dead Mans Chest set records at the time as the fastest film to gross $1bn worldwide and becoming the third highest-grossing film in history.

Knightley went on to star in two acclaimed Joe Wright dramas: Atonement in 2007 and Pride and Prejudice in 2005, which earned her an Oscar nomination for best actress.

Speaking to The Times, Knightley said of the Pirates franchise: Its a funny thing when you have something that was making and breaking you at the same time.

She explained: I was seen as sh*t because of them, and yet because they did so well I was given the opportunity to do the films that I ended up getting Oscar nominations for.

open image in gallery Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley in Pirates of the Caribbean ( Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock )

They were the most successful films Ill ever be a part of and they were the reason that I was taken down publicly. So theyre a very confused place in my head.

When asked if shed ever work on a film franchise again, Knightley shut the prospect down by saying and criticised the Pirates shooting schedule.

The hours are insane. Its years of your life. You have no control over where youre filming, how long youre filming, what youre filming, she said.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

Last year, Knightley told Harpers Bazaar that playing a sexualised character like Elizabeth Swann at such a young age left her feeling stuck and constrained in Hollywood.

open image in gallery Knightley with James McAvoy in Atonement ( Universal )

[Elizabeth] was the object of everybodys lust, she said.

Not that she doesnt have a lot of fight in her. But it was interesting coming from being really tomboyish to getting projected as quite the opposite.

She continued: I felt very constrained. I felt very stuck. So the roles afterwards were about trying to break out of thatI didnt have a sense of how to articulate it.

It very much felt like I was caged in a thing I didnt understand.

open image in gallery Keira Knightley at the Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl premiere in 2003 ( Getty Images )

Elsewhere in The Times interview, Knightley reflected on the scrutiny she faced during her early days in the spotlight when there was constant speculation that she had an eating disorder.

While she said she knew she wasnt dealing with an eating disorder, since she was eating, the scrutiny about her appearance was still extremely hurtful.

In that classic trauma way I dont remember it, she recalled.

Theres been a complete delete, and then some things will come up and Ill suddenly have a very bodily memory of it because, ultimately, its public shaming, isnt it?
Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Kim Kardashian has given her thoughts on the divisive body-horror movie, The Substance and not everyone is impressed with what she had to say.

The Substance, starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley has become one of the most talked about films of the year, prompting mass cinema walkouts, mixed reviwers, while also being tipped to win major awards.

The film, distributed by Mubi, follows Moores character, a fading Hollywood star and host of an aerobics show, who takes a black market drug to create a younger version of herself, played by Qualley.

Of course, things go majorly wrong and the two competiting personalities clash with each other as the younger version becomes more and more famous, resulting in some truly grotesque circumstances.

There are no prizes for guessing that the film is a not-so-subtle critic of the beauty industry and the unrealistic standards that are forced upon women of all ages. However, the message doesnt appear to have resonated too strongly with everyone.

Kardashian watched The Substance earlier this month and gave her brief thoughts on the movie in an Instagram story. The 44-year-old wrote: Watched The Substance with Demi Moore. The visuals are amazing and she looks so amazing!

Although nobody begrudged her enjoying the film, many feel that the fashion and skin care entrepenuer, who has a net worth of $1.1bn, has missed the point of the horror movie completely.

One person wrote: Of course Kims takeaway from The Substance is that Demi Moore looks amazing.

A second added: Kim I... think you missed the point.

A third said: This is like when celebs started talking about how much they loved Parasite.

A fourth person joked: The biggest satire I have seen.

Others, who had seen the film, picked up on the fact that Kardashian has taken a picture just a few minutes into the movie.

Kim K saying The Substance is great after 5 minutes of the film is the funniest thing ever, said one person.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

Kim Kardashian posting this only a few minutes into the movie is so meta, life could not imitate art more 10/10 post, another said.

Finally, one person joked: This is sort of like an AI watching the Terminator.

Demi Moore in The Substance ( Mubi )

When speaking to The Independent, director Coralie Fargeat said of Moore: I had to find an actress who symbolises stardom. Someone who knows what its like to receive love from the people who look at you, but who also knows what its like to lose those eyes.
Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Bravo will officially welcome back its hit series Vanderpump Rules for a 12th season  but with an entirely new cast.

The network announced the renewal of the popular reality show  which follows former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump, 64, and the staff at her local restaurant and bars  on Tuesday (November 26).

The last 12 years of filming have been an extraordinary run full of laughter, tears and everything in between, Vanderpump said in a statement. I cant thank enough those who have shared their lives. How I love you all. In the restaurant business, one shift always gives way to another. Cheers to the next generation of Vanderpump Rules.

What a thrill it is to build on the legacy of this series by doing it all over again, executive producer Alex Baskin added. With profound appreciation for the original group and their iconic run, we cant wait for the audience to see a dynamic new group of co-workers and friends make their way through life together.

A spin-off of RHOBH, Vanderpump Rules debuted in 2013, featuring Vanderpumps then-staff at her West Hollywood mainstay SUR Restaurant & Lounge: Scheana Shay, Katie Maloney, Tom Sandoval, Kristen Doute, Jax Taylor and Stassi Schroeder. Over the years, the cast has grown to include Tom Schwartz, Ariana Madix, James Kennedy, Lala Kent and Brittany Cartwright.

In March 2023, following a decade on air, the series made headlines when stars Sandoval, 42, and Madix, 39, announced they were splitting after their nearly decade-long relationship was rocked by Sandovals affair with co-star Rachel Leviss (Kennedys ex-fiancee).

Lisa Vanderpump (fourth to the right) stands with the cast of Vanderpump Rules ( NBC )

Leviss later posted an apology on her Instagram, saying: I want to apologize for my actions and my choices to Ariana, my friends and the fans so invested in our relationships. There is no excuse, I am not a victim and must own my actions. I deeply regret hurting Ariana.

I have sought emotional validation through intimate connections that are not healthy without regard for my own well-being, sometimes negatively affecting others and often prioritizing the intimate connection over my friendships. I am taking steps to understand my behavior and make healthier choices, she added.

The cheating scandal ultimately led to a fallout among the cast, as some employees were reportedly upset that Madix refused to shoot scenes with Sandoval. Bravo subsequently announced the series, which just wrapped its 11th season last month, would be taking an extended hiatus before filming the new season 12.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

Addressing Vanderpump Rules pause, Bravo star Andy Cohen said on his Watch What Happens Live talk show in May: People forget that we picked up cameras a few, three months after [Madix] found out about that affair, so thats why shes still in the violently angry stage and you can understand that, so I always think its great.

Look, sometimes you want to pick cameras right up quickly because theres stuff happening and you want to get in there right away and sometimes you do want people to live their lives and see how things develop and you know, so, I think its a very good idea, he said of the break.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

China shot back at Donald Trump after the incoming US president pledged to impose heavy import tariffs on the Asian nation, along with Canada and Mexico, saying it could trigger a trade war that no one will win.

Mr Trump claimed he would immediately after his inauguration on 20 January sign an executive order imposing a 25 per cent tariff on all goods coming from Mexico and Canada if the two countries did not take steps to curb the alleged flow of drugs and migrants into the US.

He outlined an "additional 10 per cent tariff, above any additional tariffs" on China, to curb the alleged smuggling of the synthetic opioid fentanyl into the US.

"Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through," the Republican wrote on his social media app Truth Social.

A Chinese embassy spokesperson in Washington responded that Beijing believed trade and economic cooperation between the two nations was mutually beneficial.

"No one will win a trade war or a tariff war, Liu Pengy was quoted as saying by Reuters.

China had taken several steps since 2023 when it agreed to curtail the export of items related to the production of fentanyl, a leading cause of drug overdoses in the US, he added.

"All these prove that the idea of China knowingly allowing fentanyl precursors to flow into the United States runs completely counter to facts and reality," the spokesperson said.

The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that at least 74,700 people in the US died due to fentanyl overdose in 2023. President Joe Biden had repeatedly called on Beijing to do more to stop the production of ingredients used in fentanyl and over the years dramatically increased tariffs on Chinese products.

Mr Trump previously pledged to end China's most-favored-nation trading status and slap tariffs on imports from the country in excess of 60 per cent, much higher than those imposed during his first term.

China is the main supplier of imports to the US, accounting for over 16 per cent of the goods brought from abroad. The Chinese imports to the US range from finished products to components and raw materials that are used across virtually every American industry.

The US received imports worth $427bn (340bn) from China last year and exported goods worth $148bn (118bn ) to the Asian giant.

Mr Trumps threatened new tariff would appear to violate the terms of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement on trade (USMCA). The deal, which Mr Trump signed into law, took effect in 2020, and continued the largely duty-free trade between the three countries. Canada and the US at one point imposed sanctions on each others products during the rancorous talks that eventually led to USMCA.

Mr Trump will have the opportunity to renegotiate the agreement in 2026, when a sunset provision will force either a withdrawal or talks on changes to the pact.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Hong Kongs top court has ruled in favour of equal inheritance and subsidised housing benefits for same-sex couples, marking a landmark win for LGBTQ+ rights in the city.

The Court of Final Appeal upheld prior rulings that deemed the exclusion of same-sex spouses from these benefits as unconstitutional discrimination.

The Housing Authority and Secretary for Justice in Hong Kong had petitioned the Court of Final Appeal to reverse the lower courts rulings.

The top court rejected the governments appeals, a decision which experts say will significantly impact the lives of same-sex couples, who have historically faced fewer rights than their heterosexual counterparts in the global financial hub.

Currently, Hong Kong recognises same-sex marriage only for specific purposes, including taxation, civil service benefits, and dependent visas.

open image in gallery Nick Infinger, who won a years-long legal battle over the differential treatment facing same-sex couples, holds up a rainbow banner after speaking to media members outside Hong Kongs top court on Tuesday, 26 Nov 2024 ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

On Tuesday, Nick Infinger, who challenged the governments housing policy after the Housing Authority denied his public housing application with his same-sex partner, spoke to reporters outside the court.

Ive been fighting for LGBTQ rights for over 10 years. Finally, there is something to show for it, he said in Cantonese, the Hong Kong Free Press reported.

The courts verdict today can be seen as an affirmation of same-sex couples love and [their right to] live together, Mr Infinger added. This is very important.

Mr Infinger married his partner in Canada and launched his legal challenge in 2018.

Last year in October, Hong Kongs appellate court upheld rulings granting same-sex couples equal access to public rental housing and subsidised housing benefits, rejecting the governments arguments that these rights would disadvantage heterosexual couples.

open image in gallery Plaintiff Nick Infinger speaks to the media about the latest ruling on same-sex couples outside the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong on November 26, 2024. Hong Kongs top court ruled on 26 November to affirm housing and inheritance entitlements for same-sex couples, siding against the government in favour of LGBTQ rights protection ( AFP via Getty Images )

Justice Thomas Au Hing-cheung had, at the time, said that the differential treatment concerned was in effect a form of targeted and direct discrimination.

The case arose from legal challenges brought by Henry Li and his late partner, Edgar Ng, who encountered housing and inheritance obstacles after marrying in Britain in 2017. Since Hong Kong does not recognise same-sex marriage, many couples opt to wed overseas.

This landmark decision marked the culmination of a four-year legal struggle during which Mr Li and Ng fought against discriminatory policies that prevented them from living together in a subsidised flat.

While the ruling was a significant victory, Mr Li expressed deep sorrow over Ngs passing in 2020, which prevented them from experiencing the benefits of their hard-fought win.

It has been more than four years since this court case started. I sincerely hope that upon thoughtful consideration, the Housing Authority would not appeal and let this matter rest, and at last let Edgar rest in peace, Mr Li said in a statement at the time.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Jerome Yau, co-founder of the non-profit Hong Kong Marriage Equality, emphasised that the court had made it very clear that there is no distinction between same-sex and heterosexual marriage. So I think the next question is, if they are the same, why we should treat them differently? Mr Yau said.

Lets hope the government will take note of the judgement and finally do their work and come up with something comprehensive the best solution is marriage equality.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

North Korea is expanding a weapons manufacturing complex that assembles a variety of short-range missiles allegedly used by Russia against Ukraine, satellite images showed.

Researchers at a think tank in the US identified the facility, known as the February 11 plant, which is part of the Ryongsong Machine Complex in Hamhung in North Korea's second-most populous city.

The assessment comes just days after South Korea's spy agency accused Pyongyang of supplying additional artillery systems to Russia and amid claims that some of the North Korean troops deployed in Russia have begun engaging in combat.

Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied allegations of North Korea sending weapons and munitions to aid Russia's war effort.

open image in gallery A satellite image shows suspected construction of worker housing near Hamhung in North Korea ( REUTERS )

The North has ratified a mutual defence treaty with Russia signed in June which calls to "immediately provide military and other assistance using all available means" if either side is in a state of war.

The satellite images taken in October by Planet Labs show what seems to be an additional assembly building under construction along with a new housing facility, likely intended for workers, according to an analysis by researchers at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS).

Pyongyang appears to have improved the entrances of some of the underground facilities at the complex while constructing the new assembly building which is 60-70 per cent the size of the old one.

Sam Lair, a research associate at the CNS, told Reuters the facility is the only one known to produce the Hwasong-11 solid-fuel ballistic missile.

Ukrainian officials say these missiles, known as KN-23 in the West, have been used by Russian forces in their assault on Ukraine.

open image in gallery A satellite image shows a suspected missile assembly building under construction near Hamhung ( REUTERS )

North Korean authorities have removed a disused bridge crane from in front of a tunnel entrance which was blocking easy access, suggesting they might be placing an emphasis on that part of the facility, according to the researcher. "We see this as a suggestion that they're massively increasing, or they're trying to significantly increase, the throughput of this factory," Mr Lair told Reuters.

North Korean state news agency KCNA has reported that construction is underway at the Ryongsong Machine Complex. The facility "is pushing ahead with the projects for attaining the goal for modernisation planned for this year," KCNA reported this month.

The work includes rebuilding production facilities as well as assembling and installing equipment in machine workshops and a steel casting workshop, it said.

In November, Russian Telegram channels posted photos purportedly showing North Korean Koksan 170mm self-propelled guns being moved by rail inside Russia. The Financial Times, citing Ukrainian intelligence assessments, reported that the North has sent 50 170mm self-propelled howitzers and 20 240mm multiple launch rocket systems to Russia in recent weeks.

South Korea's spy agency said last month the North had sent more than 13,000 containers carrying artillery, missiles and other conventional arms to Russia since August 2023 to replenish its dwindling weapons stockpiles.

North Korea is also claimed to have sent some 11,000 soldiers to the Kursk border region where the Russian forces have been fighting off a Ukrainian incursion since August.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

A man has been sentenced to a suspended prison term for deliberately gaining more than 20 kilograms (44 pounds) to evade a tougher role in South Koreas military conscription system.

In South Korea, all able-bodied men must serve in the military for 18-21 months, but individuals with health issues can instead carry out their duties at non-military facilities such as welfare centers and community service centers. If their problems are serious, they are exempted from their military duties.

The Seoul Eastern District Court said it sentenced the man to one year in prison, suspended for two years, for violating the countrys military service act.

The court said an acquittance of the man received a suspended one-year prison term for aiding his crime.

Local media reported they are friends, both aged 26, but the court said it couldnt confirm the reports.

open image in gallery South Korea Military Dodging ( Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

An exam in 2017 found the man suitable to become an active-duty soldier at 169 centimeters (5 feet 6 inches) tall and weighting 83 kilograms (183 pounds). But with the advice of his acquaintance that he could get a social service grade if he was overweight, he doubled his daily food consumption, focused on eating high-calorie food products and quit his part-time job as a delivery worker, according to the courts public affairs office.

In three physical exams from 2022-2023, the man weighted 102-105 kilograms (225-231 pounds), a weight that made him fit for social service. Just before those exams, he drank a large amount of water as well, according to the court.

It was unclear how their crime was caught and what duties the man served under the conscription system. The court said both the defendants and prosecutors didnt appeal the Nov. 13 ruling.

South Korea maintains a military conscription system due to threats from rival North Korea. But exemptions or dodging of military duties is a highly sensitive domestic issue, because the draft forces young men to suspend their studies or professional careers.

Each year, about 50-60 cases of dodging military duties have been reported, according to the Military Manpower Administration. It said common ways to evade military duties include gaining or losing weight excessively or men with health issues not taking necessary medical treatments before physical tests.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Taiwan lowered the threshold to trigger air raid alarms in case of a Chinese incursion, raising concerns that the revised system might leave citizens with less time to seek shelter during conflict.

Taiwanese defence minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung said the change was necessary due to the repeated and escalating hostilities by China across the Taiwan Strait.

But he assured that China will not remain unchallenged within Taiwans vicinity.

Taiwan has been issuing air raid alerts if the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft or vessel breached the 70 nautical miles limit of the Taiwanese coast. However, that limit has been revised in recent years and now the air raid alert is triggered at 24 nautical miles.

Chinas repeated provocations across the median line and escalating hostilities around Taiwan have necessitated this adjustment, Mr Koo was quoted as saying by the South China Morning Post.

open image in gallery A woman walks past a Taiwanese national flag at Maritime Plaza in Keelung on 22 October 2024. China's military began a live fire exercise near Taiwan, maintaining pressure on the self-ruled island after staging large-scale drills and President Xi Jinping called for troops to prepare for war ( AFP via Getty Images )

The military will respond by closely monitoring and analysing the situation to discern PLA intentions, ensuring they cannot operate unchallenged within Taiwans vicinity, he said.

Beijing views Taiwan, an island of 23 million people which is about 160km (100 miles) off Chinas east coast, as a renegade province that must come under its control.

The median line refers to the unofficial maritime boundary in the Taiwan Strait, a 180km-wide body of water separating Taiwan and mainland China. The line was first delineated in the 1950s by the US during the Cold War but Beijing has repeatedly refused to accept it and disregarded it, raising tensions.

open image in gallery Image released by China Coast Guard on Sina Weibo show drill route around Taiwan ( China Coast Guard )

The Taiwanese government has accused China of intensifying its military harassment of the island in recent years, sending military vessels and aircraft near it almost daily. Beijing has also been flying balloons  which are feared to be used for surveillance  near the island despite Taiwans complaints.

Military officials in Taiwan have reportedly said the decision is to better align its defences with the PLAs strategies, possibly to avoid issuing warnings too early or unnecessarily.

However, the concern raised is that this adjustment could reduce the amount of time civilians have to seek shelter in case of a real threat during a potential cross-strait conflict.

On Tuesday, Taiwans Ministry of National Defense (MND) said it detected five PLA aircraft and seven PLA navy vessels operating in the strait with at least four of the aircraft crossing the median line.

It came as Taiwan said it detected a Chinese balloon over the sea to Taiwans north, the first incident since April and in the days leading to the presidential election in January.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Several Japanese cities are increasing the bathing tax for overnight visitors to onsen (hot spring) resorts, in an attempt to deal with rising tourism.

This tax has been raised in regions including Hokkaido, Beppu in Oita prefecture, and Shizuoka, according to local reports, to help fund conservation projects and protect hot spring resources.

According to TheAsahi Shimbun, originally set at 150 yen (0.8), the tax has been raised in several regions with some cities even increasing the tax to 300 yen (1.5) or more.

In Japan, onsen tourism plays a crucial role in boosting local economies. Towns and resorts are centred around onsen (hot spring) facilities that draw millions of visitors, both domestic and international, annually. Onsen tourism also provides jobs in hotels, ryokan (traditional inns), restaurants, and various service sectors.

In Japans Shizuoka Prefecture, the Ito city will raise the bathing tax to 300 yen by October 2025 (up from 150 yen) due to a decline in onsen water levels. It was also reported that Higashi-Izu town will also raise its bathing tax to 300 yen starting March 2025.

This picture taken on 28 November 2022 shows a general view of Tsuchiyu Onsen, a hot spring town in Fukushima prefecture ( AFP via Getty Images )

In Hokkaidos Kushiro city, the authorities raised the bathing tax to 250 yen for overnight stays at some resorts, with plans to increase it to 300 yen, the outlet reported.

In 2020, several cities like Noboribetsu city, Sobetsu town, Toyako town, and Date city raised their bathing tax to 300 yen. In Oita Prefecture, Beppu city raised the bathing tax in 2019 from 150 yen to 250 yen for stays with room and board between 6,001 yen (31) and 50,000 yen (259). The tax rate surged to 500 yen (2.6) for stays exceeding 50,000 yen, the highest in Japan.

Onsens are natural geothermal water sources, rich in minerals, that have been utilised in Japan for centuries for their therapeutic health benefits.

A couple of years ago, Yutaka Seki of the Japan Onsen Association told The Japan Times that without proper management, the increased use of these natural resources in modern times will significantly impact the surrounding environment.

Its inevitable that the environment will be adversely affected if proper use isnt taken into consideration.

Japans estimated 27,000 onsen sources stem from volcanic activity, geothermal energy, and fossil seawater formations. The 1948 Hot Spring Act defines an onsen as water, vapour, or gas (excluding hydrocarbon-based natural gas) that either meets specific chemical criteria or has a temperature of at least 25C.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

A court in Bangladesh has denied bail to a prominent monk who had been leading rallies demanding security for the minority Hindu community in the South Asian country.

Chinmoy Krishna Das, the leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) in Bangladesh, also popularly known as the Hare Krishna movement, was detained on sedition charge on Tuesday after the magistrate court of Kazi Shariful Islam denied him bail.

Protests broke out in capital Dhaka with hundreds of his supporters surrounding the van carrying him, forcing it to stop for over an hour before security officials fired teargas to disperse the crowd.

open image in gallery Bangladeshi Hindu leader Krishna Das shows a victory sign as he is taken in a police van after court ordered him detained pending further proceedings in Chattogram ( AP )

The protest turned religious after dozens of Muslims joined the security officials in chasing Hindu protesters and threw stones at them, TV live footage showed.

Chittagong Metropolitan Police commissioner, Hasib Aziz, said the protesters went on a rampage, throwing bricks at the police.

To disperse the crowd, we had to fire tear gas. No one was seriously injured, but one of our constables was hurt, Mr Aziz told Reuters.

Mr Das, who is also a leader of the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote group, was accused of sedition along with 18 others for allegedly disrespecting Bangladesh's national flag by hoisting a saffron flag above it at a rally in Chattogram city in October. He was arrested in Dhaka's main airport on Monday while traveling to Chattogram.

Kushal Baran Chakrabarty, who was accompanying Mr Das at the time of his arrest, said that several detectives took the Hindu leader to a police car at the airport.

"Chinmoy Prabhu gave his phone to me as he was forcefully taken to the police car. The police detectives jostled with us to forcefully take his phone and they took it away. We then followed the police car that headed for the headquarters of the Detective Branch at Minto Road in Dhaka," he said. "We stayed outside the Detective Branch's office."

open image in gallery Police personnel baton-charge protesting supporters of Krishna Das in Bangladesh ( AFP via Getty Images )

The Hindu monk had been advocating for the rights of the Hindus, who make up roughly 8 per cent of Bangladesh's population, in the wake of the targeted violence that ensued in the wake of the revolution in August.

A student-led protest turned into a mass uprising, forcing prime minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee to India on 5 August, which led to a complete collapse of law and order in the country. The nation is now run by an interim government headed by Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus, who downplayed the attacks on Hindus as "exaggerated propaganda".

Fear of prosecution prompted scores of Hindus to flee the country while others have been staging protests for safety of their homes, businesses and places of worship. According to the Associated Press, more than 2,000 instances of attack on the minority community since Ms Hasina's ouster.

open image in gallery Supporters of Bangladeshi Hindu leader Krishna Das Prabhu surround the van carrying the leader ( AP )

Many in the interim government see the rallies by Hindus as a threat to stability and a ploy to rehabilitate Ms Hasina and her Awami League party.

Iskcon issued a statement on Tuesday calling the allegations of its association with terrorism "outrageous" and "baseless". The group called on the Indian government to "take immediate steps and speak to the Government of Bangladesh and convey that we are a peace-loving Bhakti movement".

"We want the government of Bangladesh to release Chinmoy Krishna Das immediately," it said.

The Indian foreign ministry said it "noted with deep concern the arrest and denial of bail" to Mr Das, following what it alleged were "multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh".

"There are several documented cases of arson and looting of minorities' homes and business establishments, as well as theft and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples.

The ministry said it was "unfortunate" that while the "perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings".

"We also note with concern the attacks on minorities protesting peacefully against the arrest of Shri Das, the ministry said.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Thousands of supporters of Imran Khan reached the heavily fortified square in the centre of capital Islamabad defying government lockdown and ultimatums to demand the release of the jailed former prime minister.

At least six people, including a police officer and members of security forces, have died during the protest march on parliament that began on Sunday for a sit-in demonstration to demand the release of Mr Khan.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of Mr Khan, who has been in jail since last year, said two of its supporters have been killed and dozens injured in clashes with the police.

The government imposed a strict lockdown of the capital for the last three days to block protesters from reaching the capital. All major highways and roads were blocked with shipping containers, concrete barricades and security personnel. Mobile data was suspended in some areas.

The convoy of protesters on Tuesday clashed with security forces and breached the tall walls of the containers positioned at several points to block them from reaching the D-Chowk, an intersection in the heart of the capital called the red zone.

The highly sensitive area houses government buildings, the Supreme Court, parliament and embassies.

open image in gallery Bushra Bibi, center, wife of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan and leaders of Khan's party lead their supporters during a rally demanding Khan's release ( AP )

Security forces, which overtook the city to maintain law and order on the orders of the government, fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the marchers in an attempt to disperse them.

After the convoys entered D-Chowk, the interior ministry said the army had been deployed to protect diplomatic missions in the fortified zone area where many government buildings and embassies are located.

It added that a curfew could be imposed with paramilitary troops called in to block the marchers.

Mr Khans wife Bushra Bibi, who has been leading the march along with his key aide Ali Amin Gandapur, made her way towards the D-Chowk in a heavily guarded convoy which included a large truck crammed with supporters. Mr Khan has called the march the final call.

open image in gallery Paramilitary soldiers fire tear gas shells to disperse supporters of Imran Khan ( AP )

It followed the Shehbaz Sharif governments outrage over the deaths of law enforcement personnel after the troops were run over by vehicles on Monday. The government has blamed the marchers for running over the troops on a street known as Srinagar Highway in Islamabad.

Prime minister Shehbaz Sharif denounced the fatal attacks on Tuesday, saying an anarchist group was deliberately targeting law enforcement personnel, blaming the supporters of Mr Khans party.

It is not a peaceful protest. It is extremism, Mr Sharif said in a statement, condemning the bloodshed as being aimed at achieving evil political designs.

The PTI denied that protesters were involved and said many of them instead helped the Rangers.

It added that paramilitary rangers shot live ammunition at its protesters in Islamabad, leading to the death of two people and injuries to four others.

open image in gallery Pakistani Rangers in riot gear stand guard to prevent an anti-government rally, in Islamabad ( REUTERS )

open image in gallery Supporters of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, throw stones as police fire tear gas shell to disperse them ( AP )

Participants claim they saw at least six people being shot, two of whom died on the spot and four were taken to hospital, the party said on X.

The Associated Press said dozens of supporters of Mr Khan beat their videographer covering the protest and took his camera. He sustained head injuries and was being treated in a hospital.

Pictures from the scene showed a wall of shipping containers erected to block the protesters from entering the capital. Columns of security personnel in riot gear stood guard alongside main roads inside the capital, bracing for a large turnout.

Videos also showed convoys of buses, cars and trucks carrying Mr Khans supporters, who chanted slogans and played music, passing through the blockades with containers lying strewn on the ground.

open image in gallery A supporter of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, prepares to throw stones ( AP )

In a press conference after midnight, interior minister Mohsin Naqvi threatened protesters that police would respond with live fire if protesters fired weapons at them after he announced the death of a law enforcement member.

"If they again fire bullets, the bullet will be responded with a bullet," he said.

open image in gallery Supporters of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, gather to remove shipping containers to clear way for their rally ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

The Ministry of Interior announced the deployment of the Pakistani Army in Islamabad, involving Article 245 of the constitution, which authorises the use of forces in the situation of internal security issues, riots, or natural disasters, reported Geo TV.

Usman Anwar, chief of police in Punjab province, said at least 119 others were injured, and 22 police vehicles were torched in clashes just outside Islamabad and elsewhere in the Punjab province.

Two officers were in critical condition, he said.

Mr Khan has been imprisoned for over a year, facing more than 150 criminal cases. Despite this, he remains widely popular, with his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, claiming the charges are politically driven.

open image in gallery Policemen fire tear gas shells to disperse supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party during a protest ( AFP via Getty Images )

Authorities say only courts can order the release of Mr Khan, who was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in parliament. He has been imprisoned since his first conviction in a graft case, in August 2023, and has been sentenced in several cases.

Police have arrested more than 4,000 of Mr Khans supporters, including activists, since Friday.

Separately, police registered a case against Mr Khan, his wife, and hundreds of senior PTI leaders over violent protests on charges including the anti-terrorism law.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Police in Laos have arrested eight people over the suspected mass methanol poisoning which killed six foreign tourists in backpacking hotspot Vang Vieng.

The Laos government promised justice after two Danish, two Australians, a Briton and an American citizen died after becoming ill following a night out at Nana Backpackers Hostel in the small riverside town on 12 November.

Police said those detained were all employees of Nana Backpacker Hostel, of Vietnamese nationality and aged between 23 and 44 years old.

Authorities say they suspect that the deaths were caused by poisoning, possibly due to tainted drinks laced with methanol.

The Vang Vieng district authorities launched investigation which is working alongside various ministries and organisations, said it is continuing to investigate the deaths and collect relevant data to determine the exact cause of deaths.

The government said it had been conducting investigations to find causes of the incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with the law.

However, little further information has been made available about the circumstances surrounding the deaths in the one-party communist state, where the media is tightly controlled.

Among those who died were Australian teenagers, Holly Bowles, 19, and Bianca Jones, 19.

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 confirmed last week.

Jones and Bowles were evacuated for an emergency treatment to Thailand after the poisoning. Thai authorities confirmed that Jones had died by brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system.

Simone White, a 28-year-old British woman, also died from suspected methanol poisoning during her stay in the district with her friend Bethany Clarke. Ms Clarke said they drank free shots offered by one of the bars and added that six of us who drank from the same place are in hospital currently with methanol poisoning.

Two young Danish women Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, as well as the only male, a 57-year-old American, James Louis Hutson, also died.

At least 12 other foreign tourists were hospitalised after consuming the tainted drinks from the same guesthouse.

The deaths prompted governments in the US and UK to issue travel warnings to its citizens visiting the country in recent days. The UK urged its nationals travelling to Laos to only consume alcohol from licensed liquor stores and take care if [drinks are] offered, particularly for free, or when buying spirit-based drinks.

The idyllic town of Vang Vieng in central Laos which is surrounded by limestone mountains, at the centre of an international scandal after becoming a famous destination for young western backpackers for what is called tubing, where tourists ride a large, inflated rubber tyre tubes down the Nam Song River, taking halts at bars along the way.

It has earned the reputation as a destination on the Southeast Asian Banana Pancake Trail for its cheap bars and wild parties.

Methanol, a tasteless and odourless liquid, is sometimes added to liquor as a cheaper alternative to ethanol and has been blamed for mass deaths in Asia.

In 2012, around 50 people were killed in Cambodia after party-goers drank rice wine contaminated by methanol.

Between 2018 to 2019, at least 40 people have died in Philippines after drinking palm liquor- laced with methanol.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic, known for creating stunning street murals in Malaysias Penang, has unexpectedly discovered that his work is being used as livery on an AirAsia plane without his permission.

The artwork titled Children On A Bicycle is one of his most well-known murals which he painted in 2012. The mural, along with his other works across George Town in Penang, draws tourists from all over the world.

The artist posted a picture from 22 November of the aircraft with his mural on social media. He tagged AirAsia and its founder Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and said: I think we need to talk.

Zacharevics mural is displayed on the front section of the fuselage. I first noticed it on my friends Instagram story, and then I saw it myself at the airport on Friday, he told The Straits Times.

He was not approached by the airline for permission to use his artwork and it wasnt even the first time they used his work without seeking his approval, he said.

I have contacted them in the past but there was no positive outcome, he added.

open image in gallery Children On A Bicycle by Ernest Zacharevic ( Ernest Zacharevic )

open image in gallery Artist Ernest Zacharevic has contacted AirAsia but received no response ( Ernest Zacharevic )

The artist, who is based in Penang, said on Monday that his team reached out to AirAsia but it proved difficult to get through the many corporate layers to the correct person.

He was also hoping AirAsia would contact him via his ZACH Studio, he told Malay Mail, adding that he was not sure how many of the aircraft featured his work. Although he had seen only one, he said, I am guessing there are a few of them.

Zacharevic painted Children On A Bicycle, along with Boy on Motorcycle and Boy on Chair, at the 2012 George Town Festival. He has been likened to the famous British street artist Banksy, and one of his works featuring a woman carrying a Chanel bag walking and a man with a knife on the other side of the wall was painted over by local officials in 2013.

My paintings are always a response to whatever social environment I get exposed to, Zacharevic told the BBC. I noticed many people just feel extremely unsafe. Everyone I talked to  no matter what their situation  would say, Take care of yourself and hide your bag.

The Independent has reached out to AirAsia for a comment.
Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Ana de Armass latest romance has raised some eyebrows.

On November 12, the Knives Out actor was photographed kissing lawyer Manuel Anido Cuesta in Madrid, Spain. Shortly after, it was reported that Anido Cuesta is the stepson of Cuban president Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez. His mother, Lis Cuesta Peraza, is Diaz-Canels second wife.

As a member of the presidential family, Anido Cuesta has participated in various official events and international trips, including a meeting with Pope Francis, according to People en Espanol. Described by several outlets as an advisor to his stepfather, Anido Cuestas ties to the Cuban regime have made him a polarizing figure.

Anido Cuesta  who is a lawyer by profession  earned his degree from the University of Havana, where he studied from 2014 to 2019, per La Nacion.

The couples rumored relationship became public when the Daily Mail published images of the pair kissing and enjoying a dinner date in Madrid. De Armas wore a white wrap coat, while Anido Cuesta was dressed in a navy coat. Other pictures from the evening showed them walking her dog together.

Ana De Armas sparks controversy over new relationship with stepson of Cuban president Manuel Anido Cuesta ( Getty Images )

Though de Armas and Anido Cuesta have yet to publicly address their relationship, the actors past comments have suggested shes not a fan of the spotlight on her personal life.

Reflecting on her highly publicized relationship with Ben Affleck, de Armas told Elle in July 2022 that the experience was horrible.

Thats one of the reasons why I left [Los Angeles]... It became a little bit too much. Theres no escape. Theres no way out, she said.

Despite the Cuban-Spanish actors efforts to maintain privacy, the backlash over her romance with Anido Cuesta has been swift and fierce, particularly among members of the Cuban diaspora. Some critics have taken to her social media with their concerns, prompting the actor to limit comments on her accounts.

The controversy has even spilled into her professional life, with calls for brands like Louis Vuitton to cut ties with the Blonde star. Under Louis Vuittons Instagram post of its campaign with de Armas, some commenters accused her of aligning with the Cuban regime, which they viewed as oppressive.

Its truly disheartening when someone, particularly a fellow Cuban, aligns themselves with a regime that has brought so much pain and oppression to our people, wrote fashion and travel influencer Luis Caballero. For any Cuban to not only support such a regime but also engage with its inner circle  like dating Diaz-Canels son-in-law and advisor  feels like a betrayal of the shared struggle for liberty and justice.

The Independent has contacted representatives for de Armas for comment.

This isnt the first time de Armass personal life has drawn public attention. Her relationship history has included other high-profile figures, starting with her nearly year-long romance with Affleck.

The pair began dating in early 2020 after meeting on the set of Deep Water in late 2019. Their split in January 2021 was reportedly amicable, with sources citing conflicting priorities; de Armas wanted to leave Los Angeles, while Affleck needed to stay to be near his children.

Later that year, de Armas began dating Tinder executive Paul Boukadakis, whom she met through mutual friends. The couple kept their relationship relatively private but made notable public appearances, such as attending the Venice International Film Festival in September 2022 and the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty in 2023.

Their relationship reportedly ended in November 2024, coinciding with de Armass first public sighting with Anido Cuesta.
Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Ariana Grande visited her hometown movie theater for a special screening of Wicked with her 99-year-old grandmother, who was just a teenager when the original Wizard of Oz was released.

In a post shared to her Instagram Story, the 30-year-old pop star documented their outing at Cinemark 20 in Boca Raton, Florida, a movie theater Grande said she frequented during her childhood.

Flew to Boca for a day to watch with Nonna at the movie theater I grew up going to every weekend, Cinemark 20 in Boca, she captioned the first photo, which showed her leaning close to her grandmother, Marjorie Grande, while her brother, Frankie Grande, smiled in the background.

Ethan Slater, Grandes boyfriend and her Wicked co-star, also joined the family for the special occasion. Although he wasnt pictured during the outing, Grande tagged him in the post, hinting that he may have been the one behind the camera.

Thrilled to report that when the sugar glider had her drum solo Nonna exclaimed loudly, Oh I LOVE that, Grande wrote over her Instagram Story post, delighting fans with her grandmothers reaction to a whimsical scene in the film.

open image in gallery Ariana Grande treats her grandmother, 99, to a special viewing of Wicked in her hometown Florida theater alongside boyfriend Ethan Slater ( Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images )

Slater, best known for his Tony-nominated role as SpongeBob SquarePants in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical, has been romantically linked to Grande since July 2023. Their relationship blossomed while filming director Jon M. Chus film adaptation of Wicked, in which Slater stars as Boq and Grande portrays Glinda the Good Witch.

Since Wickeds theatrical release on November 22, the movie musical has already earned an estimated $114 million domestically from its opening weekend, according to CNBC. The record-breaking debut marks the highest opening for a Broadway adaptation in cinematic history.

Marjorie made her own history in March when she appeared at the end of Grandes song ordinary things, off her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine. The track featured Marjorie answering Grandes question in intro (end of the world), in which she asks herself: How can I tell if Im in the right relationship?

Marjorie offered timeless wisdom in the track, as she said: Never go to bed without kissing goodnight. Thats the worst thing to do. Dont ever ever ever do that. And if you cant, and if you dont feel comfortable doing it, youre in the wrong place. Get out.

open image in gallery Ariana Grande takes her grandmother to see Wicked at her hometown theater in Boca Raton, Florida ( Instagram )

The heartfelt moment earned Marjorie a place in history as the senior-most artist ever to have appeared on the Hot 100, according to Billboard. Grande celebrated her grandmothers milestone on Instagram, writing: Celebrating the one and only, most beautiful Nonna who has now made history for being the senior-most person to ever appear on the @billboard Hot 100. We love and thank you.

Grande has previously shared glimpses into her tight-knit family bond. In October, her family celebrated Marjories 99th birthday on Instagram, where her brother Frankie posted a photo of himself, his husband Hale Leon, his famous sister, and their mother Joan posing with pink balloons to mark her milestone age.

Happy 99th birthday to the Queen NONNA! Frankie wrote, adding: I couldnt feel more blessed to celebrate this unbelievable milestone with you and our beautiful family.

In 2014, Marjorie accompanied Grande as her date to the VMAs, where they wore coordinating black-and-white outfits and shared hugs on the red carpet. Nonna has since joined the pop star for numerous events, including the 2015 American Music Awards and the 2016 Time 100 Gala.
Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

On Monday, February 17, the U.S. honors Presidents Day.

Every year, on the third Monday in February, American citizens recognize each U.S. president in tandem with George Washingtons birthday. Originally, George Washingtons birthday was celebrated nationwide on the actual day, February 22. However, after Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1968, the day moved to the third Monday in the month.

In 1951, the idea for Presidents Day was proposed  a day to commemorate not just the contributions of Washington but that of every individual who had served in office. And while many now refer to the holiday as Presidents Day, the name was never universally changed. In fact, New York, Illinois, Virginia, Iowa, and Florida still refer to the Monday as Washingtons birthday or George Washingtons Day.

Though the law recognizes Presidents Day as a federal holiday, this does not mean that individuals working for private businesses are required to have two days of work off.

In fact, a federal holiday doesnt guarantee workers will get even one day off as they apply only to federal government employees and institutions. It is up to individual employers to decide whether they offer time off or additional pay for work on federal holidays.

Find the list in full below:

New Years Day: Wednesday, January 1

Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.: Monday, January 20

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. addresses marchers during his I Have a Dream speech at the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963 ( AP1963 )

Inauguration Day: Monday, January 20

Presidents Day: Monday, February 17

Memorial Day: Monday, May 26

Juneteenth National Independence Day: Thursday, June 19

Independence Day: Friday, July 4

Labor Day: Monday, September 1

Indigenous Peoples Day (also observed as Columbus Day): Monday, October 13

Veterans Day: Tuesday, November 11

Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 27

Christmas Day: Thursday, December 25

Other important days to note:

Valentines Day: Friday, February 14

St. Patricks Day: Monday, March 17

Good Friday: Friday, April 18
Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Bitcoin millionaire Jon Collins-Black has turned a lifelong fascination into what he has called the largest treasure hunt in US history.

Over the past few years, the entrepreneur and self-proclaimed adventurer has hidden five treasure chests across the country, containing millions of dollars worth of valuables  from shipwreck gold doubloons and rare Pokemon cards to a Michael Jordan rookie card and a physical Bitcoin currently valued at nearly $100,000.

The hunt is accompanied by his new book, Theres Treasure Inside, a 243-page guide filled with origin stories of the treasures, maps, and puzzles designed to lead curious hunters to the loot.

You dont have to be a genius to solve the clues, Collins-Black wrote, according to the New York Post. Theres no grand cipher. If you have curiosity, imagination, and the willingness to try something new, you can find the treasures that Ive hidden.

The roots of this ambitious project stretch back to Collins-Blacks childhood in North Carolina. His father, a church minister, once built his mother a log cabin by hand on a plot of land gifted by a congregant. While growing up there, Collins-Black spent his days chasing lizards, sneaking up on snakes, and digging for treasure. On balmy nights, Id wonder what I might find the next day, he recalls. But it was the hours spent at Emerald Hollow Mine, a short drive away, that left the deepest impression. There, he sifted through creeks and dirt in search of hidden gems.

This early love of exploration and discovery inspired Collins-Blacks adult endeavors. Having built financial independence through Bitcoin investments and selling a self-help website, he wanted to create a treasure hunt that would encourage others to embrace adventure and connect with nature.

open image in gallery Jon Collins-Black has hidden a variety of treasures across the U.S. ( Instagram/joncollinsblack )

The project gained momentum during the Covid-19 lockdown when Collins-Black reflected on his love for adventure. He began assembling a collection of treasures designed to appeal to hunters across generations, including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassiss diamond sapphire brooch, Olympic gold medals, and even a gold pendant by Picasso.

The items are housed in unique puzzle boxes commissioned from blacksmith Seth Gould, whose work draws inspiration from traditional Japanese designs. Collins-Black told The Guardian of the containers: A treasure box thats also a puzzle? My mind was like, Pewww!

To determine the hiding spots, Collins-Black conducted extensive research, studying maps and histories of locations across the U.S. He hiked over 100 miles during what he describes as a massive reconnaissance mission to finalize the spots. None of the chests are buried or in dangerous locations; all are within three miles of a public road and situated on open land.

The hunt echoes a similar endeavor by Forrest Fenn, an art dealer who launched a treasure hunt in 2010 that attracted 350,000 participants and led to five deaths. Collins-Black, who became aware of Fenns hunt in 2016, even joined the search, spending weeks in the Rockies before Fenns treasure was found in 2020. The discovery left him deflated but motivated.

Launched this month, Collins-Blacks quest has already captured imaginations, with participants sharing theories and beginning their searches. He estimates it could take seven to ten years for all the treasures to be discovered. Meanwhile, hell monitor progress from his home in the mountains west of Los Angeles, where he lives with his wife and two young children. The kids are always digging and hiding things in the yard, he noted to The Guardian. They already collect coins.

For Collins-Black, the hunt is more than a game; its a way to ignite the same sense of wonder he felt as a boy. Theres a treasure hunter inside a lot of people, he told the outlet: Sometimes they dont even realize it.
Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Kaley Cuoco has opened up about her late dog Shirley.

The Big Bang Theory star turned to Instagram on Sunday (November 24) to share the reason why she decided to rehome her dog, who recently died of cancer.

Most of you know I had [Shirley] for many, many, many years, she started off her Instagram Reel. All of a sudden, you kind of stopped seeing her, and I started to get a lot of questions as to where she was because its very unlike me to just stop posting about a dog that Ive had since she was six weeks old.

She continued to praise the dog, saying, Long story short, shes a very special dog to me, as you all know.

Unfortunately, Shirley was not able to get along with her fiance, Tom Pelphreys dog, Cuoco continued. And when the love of my life came into my life, Tom, who is also a mega dog lover, and he moved across the country with his beautiful German Shepherd, Blue, a couple years ago, unfortunately, Blue and Shirley started getting into some mega fights, she said.

Cuoco had Shirley since she was six weeks old ( Getty Images )

She added that the fights were intense to the point where Shirley appeared determined to kill Blue and would fight with most dogs except for her other dog Norman.

Although Shirley was violent around other dogs, she loved being around people. However, she became afraid of another animal being hurt, which led to the decision that Shirley could no longer live with her and Pelphrey anymore.

I loved her so much, but I was really scared, Cuoco said. I didnt want something really bad to happen or possibly a person accidentally be there and get hurt.

Cuoco clarified that despite rehoming her dog, she wanted to make sure that she went to the right home. I didnt want her to end up in a home that didnt understand her because she is so special and Ive had her for so long, she said.

Thankfully, Cuocos pet handler, Tony, and his wife volunteered to take in Shirley and they kept her until she died. They have loved her so so much, and it was an excruciating decision, the Flight Attendant actor said.

Cuoco explained that Shirley had a very aggressive bone cancer that came on very quickly.

She was almost 14 years old, which is an unbelievable life for a dog, she continued. And I just wanted to share her story and what we had to do.

She had an amazing life with us and an amazing last for years with Tony and Angie. I am devastated that she has gone over the rainbow bridge.

Cuoco is known for being a huge advocate for rescued animals. Obviously I rescue dogs, and everyone knows that about me, but Ive really expanded to farm animals and even Thoroughbreds and horses off the track, the actress said in an interview with People in May.

She has taken this love for all kinds of animals and put it into her ranch in Thousand Oaks, California which includes horses, donkeys, chickens, goats, cows, and pigs. Really anything with four legs is welcome here. We dont turn anyone away. Its become this magical place, Cuoco said.
Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Kaley Cuoco has revealed just how far she is willing to go for her brand.

The Big Bang Theory actor owns a dog business, named Oh Norman! after one of her dogs, selling supplements, treats, and toys. Cuoco recently revealed on The Tonight Show what happened when she tested one of the supplements herself.

She was testing a liquid supplement called Calm the Eff Down, which is targeted towards dogs who are stressed and is meant to be used in various circumstances such as going to the vet or when fireworks are going off.

Just FYI, I did try it when we started this, she told the talk shows host Jimmy Fallon. I wanted to make sure I could say that... I didnt want, like, humans to, like, die.

I wanted to make sure we could take it, she added.

The Flight Attendant actor then was able to clarify that the product did work on her as she said she was out for three hours.

Cuoco explained she tested the product to make sure humans could safely take it ( Getty Images )

Its all-natural, I did take it, I tested it on myself, and I really did calm the eff down, she said. It was great. I was out.

Fallon then decided to interrupt to offer a disclaimer to the shows viewers that just because Cuoco used the product herself doesnt mean that others should do so.

Were not recommending humans take the product, he said.

Cuoco has previously talked about her love of dogs, particularly rescues. Obviously I rescue dogs, and everyone knows that about me, but Ive really expanded to farm animals and even Thoroughbreds and horses off the track, the actress said in an interview with People in May.

She has taken this love for all kinds of animals and put it into her ranch in Thousand Oaks, California which includes horses, donkeys, chickens, goats, cows, and pigs. Really anything with four legs is welcome here. We dont turn anyone away. Its become this magical place, Cuoco said.

Recently, she made a video on Instagram where she discussed why she had to rehome her late dog, Shirley.

The Based on a True Story actor admitted that Shirley violent and would get into fights with every dog that wasnt Norman, who inspired her dog-care brand.

And when the love of my life came into my life, Tom, who is also a mega dog lover, and he moved across the country with his beautiful German Shepherd, Blue, a couple years ago, unfortunately, Blue and Shirley started getting into some mega fights, she said.

I loved her so much, but I was really scared, Cuoco said. I didnt want something really bad to happen or possibly a person accidentally be there and get hurt.

Cuoco clarified that despite rehoming her dog, she wanted to make sure that she went to the right home. I didnt want her to end up in a home that didnt understand her because she is so special and Ive had her for so long, she said.

Shirley was then taken in by Cuocos pet handler, Tony, and his wife, who kept her until she died from a very aggressive bone cancer.
Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz are shutting down their Los Angeles bar Schwartz & Sandys just two years after its opening.

On Monday (November 22), the Vanderpump Rules co-stars took to Instagram to share the news that theyre officially closing their restaurant and bar just before the start of the new year.

Sandoval, 42, was the first to post a statement. With a heavy heart, weve made the difficult decision to close Schwartz & Sandys at the end of December, he began.

This hasnt been an easy choice for my partners and me, but other priorities and commitments have taken hold, he continued. While this business venture has been an incredible stepping stone in my life, one I will always cherish, I look forward to exciting new endeavors.

open image in gallery Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz will be closing down their Los Angeles bar ( Getty Images )

The reality TV personality went on to thank his staff and supporters for their endless commitment to making Schwartz & Sandys a place of everlasting memories.

He noted that the bar would continue hosting events and serving patrons until its closing night.

The allure of being associated with reality TV has hidden what is an amazing sport and location for LA locals as well. I highly recommend you check us out, especially if you havent yet, Sandoval concluded. Lets get together one last time.

Meanwhile, Schwartz, also 42, echoed Sandovals gratitude in his own statement.

This was not an easy conclusion, Schwartz wrote on Instagram, before adding: Theres some peace in knowing I gave my absolute all into S&S, fully committed with every fiber in my being.

open image in gallery Tom Sandoval was exposed for cheating on Ariana Madix with Rachel Raquel Leviss in 2023 ( Getty Images )

While the co-owners didnt list a specific reason for the sudden shut-down, many fans still expressed their disappointment.

My husband and I had a great time visiting in August, one former patron commented. Its a beautiful space and cool vibe, and hanging out with the two Toms (and Victoria) was the highlight of our trip!

Summer House star Kyle Cooke wrote: You gave it your all  something to be proud of. Sometimes the stars dont align and the journey is full of learning lessons, but the biggest regret of all would have been not trying in the first place.

In 2023, a cheating scandal involving Sandoval  who was in a nine-year relationship with co-star Ariana Madix at the time  shocked both the cast and fans of the show. News of Sandovals months-long affair with co-star Rachel Raquel Leviss broke in March, as Madix documented how she learned about their secret relationship on season 10 of Vanderpump Rules.

According to Madix, shed found a lewd video of Leviss on her then-boyfriends phone, as well as a slew of inappropriate texts.

Amid the fallout from Sandovals cheating scandal, Schwartz declared he was removing himself from the conversation.

It seems each time I try to weigh in or talk about, ramble on about it, drivel on, I inevitably sound like Im somehow justifying it or making excuses for it, and Im not. Because theres just no excuse for it, he said on Foxs Stars on Mars in 2023.

Any sort of version of his side of the story has become obsolete because of the way he handled it, Schwartz said about his longtime friend and business partner.

Ultimately, thats his life. That is his life. I did not have an affair. I am not him. Its just so strange that Ive been absolutely mired in this. Its taken on almost a life of its own. And after this, Im stepping away from it permanently.
Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

One Chicago-based postal worker will spend Thanksgiving with a family of strangers this year after his noble act.

Jaylen Lockhart was making his daily rounds as a United States Postal Service employee when he saw Guy Miller fall while walking with his dog in Aurora, Illinois on November 16. According to NBC Chicago, Lockhart saw Miller in the rearview mirror of his postal van before rushing out to help him.

The concerned worker immediately dialed 911 and tried to locate Millers home. Lockhart asked neighbors for Millers address so he could inform his family of the accident.

Speaking to WLS-TV, Lockhart recalled his thought process at that moment. I wasnt sure exactly what I was getting myself into. But I did know that whatever he was going through on that ground, we were going to go through it together, he remembered.

Thankfully, Miller only came out with minor bruising. The city government shared an update on Millers health and expressed gratitude for Lockharts kindness.

Jaylens quick-thinking, selfless actions helped to save the day, the governments Facebook post read before adding how Miller was bruised but will be ok.

open image in gallery Jaylen Lockhart rushed to help Guy Miller when he saw him fall ( NBC Chicago )

Marcia, Guys wife, reached out to Lockhart, wanting to repay him for helping her husband. I said, What are you doing for Thanksgiving? You have family? Yeah? We said, Were family, definitely, she told NBC Chicago.

Now, Lockhart and his loved ones will be joining the Millers for turkey on November 28.

open image in gallery Jaylen Lockhart was presented with the Aurora Mayors Award of Service for his selfless act ( NBC Chicago )

Whats more, Mayor Richard Irvin presented Lockhart with his Award of Service at the Aurora Winter Lights Festival. In pictures shared on the city governments FaceBook, Lockhart can be seen helping light the communitys Christmas tree.

Lockhart was appreciative of the city honor. He told WFLD: Im blessed and so glad that I was chosen to do this. I will hold this near and dear to my heart.

open image in gallery Guy Millers wife Marcia invited Lockhart and his loved ones to Thanksgiving dinner ( NBC Chicago )

The Millers and Lockhart arent the first strangers to spend Thanksgiving together. In fact, Wanda Dench, a grandmother from Arizona, and Jamal Hinton, a 25-year-old man, have been getting together for years since their accidental text chain.

In 2016, Dench unintentionally texted Hinton, thinking it was her 24-year-old grandson. Hinton was sitting in his high school class when he received the message from Dench. The two quickly figured out Dench had meant to text someone else. However, Hinton still asked if he was welcome at Denchs Thanksgiving dinner. Sure enough, Dench extended the invitation. The two have remained close for years.

Sadly, in late October, Hinton broke the news that Dench had been officially diagnosed with breast cancer. He took to X/Twitter to post a message written by his dear friend.

You might know how we met in 2016 when I accidentally sent him a text inviting him to Thanksgiving when I thought I sent it to my grandson, she started. It went viral and it changed our life for the better and we still plan on getting together for Thanksgiving next month as we have every year.

Earlier this year, I came down with bronchitis and had a CT scan to check out my lungs. Thats when a mass in my breast was detected and they suggested I get a mammogram and that verified I had breast cancer, she continued.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Indonesian authorities said Tuesday they have foiled a plot to smuggle more than a ton of endangered pangolin scales worth over a million dollars.

The 1.2 tons of scales worth $1.3 million were found Nov. 11 in Asahan district of North Sumatra province and apparently were meant to be sent to China via Malaysia and Singapore, said Rasio Ridho Sani, director general of law enforcement at the environment ministry.

Sani told a news conference that four suspects, including three army members, were found with some of the scales and will be charged with illegal possession of carcasses of protected animals. He said further investigation led to the recovery of the rest of the scales at a house owned by one suspect in Asahan.

The four men, if found guilty, face up to 20 years in prison and $314,000 in fines.

Sani estimated that the scales come from at least 5.900 dead pangolins.

Demand for pangolin scales and meat has led to rampant poaching that is decimating populations across Asia. Pangolin scales are used in traditional Chinese medicine and contain the protein keratin, though there is no scientific proof that they provide any medicinal value. Pangolin meat is considered a delicacy in Vietnam and some parts of China.

Of the four Asian species, one is listed as endangered and the others as critically endangered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, and it is illegal to trade them.

Killing thousands of pangolins will disrupt the balance of nature and damage the ecosystem, thereby harming the environment and society, Sani said, The suspects must be punished to the maximum sentence so that there is a deterrent effect.

Indonesian authorities have foiled eight plots to smuggle pangolin or its scales this year, mostly on Sumatra island, indicating high market demand, Sani said.

___

Karmini reported from Jakarta, Indonesia.
Get Nadine White's Race Report newsletter for a fresh perspective on the week's news Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Police in Bangladeshs capital have arrested a prominent Hindu leader who has been leading rallies demanding security for Hindus in the overwhelmingly Muslim nation since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country amid a mass uprising in August.

Hindus and members of other minority groups say they have faced more attacks than ever since an interim government replaced the ousted prime minister, as Islamist groups have become more prominent and demoralized security agencies have left a security vacuum. The government says the threat to Hindus has been exaggerated.

Around 91% of Bangladeshs population is Muslim, with Hindus making up almost all of the rest.

Officials, witnesses and local media reports said that Krishna Das Prabhu, also known as Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, was arrested in Dhakas main airport on Monday while traveling to Chattogram in southeastern Bangladesh.

Rezaul Karim Mallik, an official of the Detective Branch of Police, confirmed Prabhu's arrest. Other officials also confirmed but would not provide further details on the charges.

Kushal Baran Chakrabarty, who was accompanying Prabhu at the time of his arrest, said that several detectives took the Hindu leader to a police car at the airport.

Chinmoy Prabhu gave his phone to me as he was forcefully taken to the police car. The police detectives jostled with us to forcefully take his phone and they took it away. We then followed the police car that headed for the headquarters of the Detective Branch at Minto Road in Dhaka, he said. We stayed outside the Detective Branchs office.

Prabhu faces charges of sedition filed in October after he led a huge rally in Chattogram in which he was accused of disrespecting Bangladeshs national flag. Dhaka-based leading Prothom Alo daily reported that Prabhu would be produced before a court on Tuesday, and that two other people have been arrested in the case.

Since August, Prabhu has led several large rallies demanding safety for the Hindus, as the interim government led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus said reports of attacks have been exaggerated.

Many in the interim government see the rallies by Hindus as a threat to stability and a ploy to rehabilitate Hasina and her Awami League party.

The long-ruling secular party is seen as a protector of the Hindu minority and has close ties to neighboring India. Hundreds of Hasinas supporters, including many close aides, are believed to have fled to India after her fall.

Prabhu is a prominent Hindu leader and a respected figure. He is a member of the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote group. He is also associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, widely known as the Hare Krishna movement, and acts as a spokesman for the group in Bangladesh.

Prabhu's followers took to the streets in Chattogram and Dhaka to demand his release later on Monday.

In Dhaka, a mob armed with sticks attacked Hindu protesters on Monday night at Shahbagh intersection near the Dhaka University.

Kalbela, a Bengali-language daily, said in a video report on Monday night that the attackers drove the Hindu protesters away from the area.

Hasina fled the country on Aug. 5 after a student-led protest morphed into a mass uprising, ending her 15-year rule. The country's security agencies are struggling to keep order as the police agencies remained demoralized after dozens of their members were killed during the mass uprising in July and August.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

A trove of leaked audio recordings from late 2022 reveal high-ranking members of Brazil 's army discussing efforts to pressure then-President Jair Bolsonaro to carry out a coup and remain in power.

The 53 audios, obtained by the Federal Police and accessed by The Associated Press on Monday, provide a rare chance to hear military members expressing in their own voices their desire to keep leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office.

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees the police's sprawling investigation, quoted some of those audios in his ruling last week ordering the arrest of five people for plotting the assassination of then-President-elect Lula in 2022 and then attempting to oust him from power on Jan. 8, 2023, when Bolsonaro supporters destroyed government buildings in capital Brasilia.

Audios from one former army officer  who was not among those de Moraes ordered arrested last week  are particularly supportive of a coup, and weren't referenced in de Moraes' order.

Col. Roberto Raimundo Criscuoli, a former subcommander of the army's special forces, told retired Brig. Gen. Mario Fernandes, who was then second in command at the general secretary of the presidency, that the far-right leader had a clear choice after Lula won his third, non-consecutive term.

It will be either a civil war now or civil war later. We have a justification now for civil war; people are on the streets, we have massive support, Criscuoli said in one of the audios. Let's do this now. Speak to 01.

O1 is a common reference to Brazil's president.

Neither the former president nor his ministers are heard speaking in the recordings. The audios are not directly related to the Nov. 21 formal accusation by Brazil's police that Bolsonaro and 36 others attempted to stage a coup.

The Brazilian army did not respond to a request for comment about the Federal Police investigation.

Bolsonaro frequently cast doubt on the election results without providing any evidence and never conceded. He left for the United States days before Lulas inauguration on Jan. 1, 2023 and stayed there for months, keeping a low profile. The top electoral court has ruled Bolsonaro ineligible to run for president until 2030 for abuse of power, and he is also the target of several investigations for a slew of potential crimes.

Other audios are less explicit in their wording about the urgent need for a coup. In a voice message to Gen. Fernandes, Col. Reginaldo Vieira de Abreu used an expression frequently repeated by Bolsonaro to argue the country's constitution should be ignored.

"We are at war, they are winning. It is almost over and they havent fired a single shot. It is because of our incompetence, he said.

In an audio from Dec. 8, Bolsonaros aide-de-camp, Lt. Col. Mauro Cid, is heard telling Gen. Fernandes that time was running out to keep his boss in office.

On the 12th... It would have to be before the 12th, right? Cid said, referencing the day that the electoral court would certify Lula's victory. I will speak to the president. The thing is his personality sometimes. He waits, waits, waits, waits to see where it is going. To see who supports him. But sometimes time is short, right? We can't wait much longer.

De Moraes' arrest order last week makes reference to Cid's comment, but it did not include his full statement.

Cid was already under house arrest, after having signed a plea bargain deal with authorities last year. His testimony has helped authorities collect evidence in different cases targeting Bolsonaro and some of his key aides, including Walter Braga Netto, Bolsonaro's chief of staff and running mate for reelection.

In the audios, Gen. Fernandes, who was among those de Moraes ordered arrested last week, repeatedly claimed Brazils presidential election had been rigged for Lula and insisted the military high command faced pressure to aid Bolsonaro's cause before his leftist rival assumed power.

Any solution, you know, will not happen without breaking eggs," he said. "We have to go for it. We have popular support.

Thousands of Bolsonaro followers camped outside army facilities to pressure military leaders to side with the then-president. Media reports at the time said there was not enough support in the high command for a coup. Bolsonaro supporters only returned home after the Jan. 8 riot, upon orders from the newly installed army commander.

____

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Fox News host Laura Ingraham took a few seconds from her Monday night show to apologize to viewers for showing a photo of New York Attorney General Letitia James instead of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

During a portion of The Ingraham Angle, the host lambasted the prosecutors, district attorneys and judges who brought criminal indictments or held proceedings against Donald Trump, calling them modern-day Keystone cops.

Laura Ingraham, the host of The Ingraham Angle criticized Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis but an image on-screen showed a photo of New York Attorney General Letitia James ( Fox News )

Specifically, Ingraham named Special Counsel Jack Smith, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Willis.

But a side-by-side graphic accompanying Ingrahams comment showed Smith, Bragg and James  the New York AG who promised to hold Trump accountable  instead of Willis. Both Willis and Williams are Black women.

Later on, Ingraham apologized for the mix-up.

Earlier on The Angle we accidentally showed a graphic of a photo that had another vicious anti-Trump figure, Letitia James, when we were talking about Fani Willis so that was our mistake, Ingraham said.

But they both hate Trump, she added.

James, the first woman and woman of color elected as New York AG, brought a civil lawsuit against Trump, his adult sons and the Trump Organization over financial fraud. Ultimately, a judge found evidence of fraud and ordered the defendants to pay millions of dollars in penalties.

Willis, also the first woman to hold the Fulton County DA position, investigated and charged Trump along with 18 co-defendants in a sprawling indictment accusing them of orchestrating a plot to try and overturn the 2020 election results in Fulton County, Georgia.

That case faced multiple interruptions, including a separate investigation into Willis relationship with prosecutor Nathan Wade. Proceedings in the case were indefinitely paused before Trump won the election.

Social media users blasted the Fox News host over the picture swap.

Referring to Fani Willis while using a photo of Letitia James - because apparently Laura Ingraham thinks all Black women look the same, one X user wrote.

Another person criticized Ingraham for making a backhanded apology for the photo mix-up.

Because being a Republican means never having to actually apologize. Racists gonna racist, the X user said.

Fox News seemingly later corrected the side-by-side photo of Smith, Bragg and Willis for a clip featured on its website.

The Independent has asked Fox News for comment.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

The husband of a young woman who was murdered earlier this month was arrested by police in September after she made a report of domestic abuse, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.

Harshita Brella, 24, is believed to have been killed in Corby, Northamptonshire on 10 November before her body was driven to Ilford in east London on 14 November in the boot of a car. Police have named her husband Pankaj Lamba, 23, as the prime suspect in her killing.

An international manhunt has been launched for Lamba after he officers said he is thought to have fled the country.

open image in gallery Pankaj Lamba has been named as the prime suspect (Northamptonshire Police/PA) ( PA Media )

The IOPC said on Tuesday they are investigating Northamptonshire Police after Ms Brella made a report of domestic abuse in August.

Lamba was arrested on September 3 and released with bail conditions and a domestic violence protection notice, they added.

In a statement, IOPC regional director, Derrick Campbell said: After assessment of a referral from Northamptonshire Police we have decided to investigate police contact with Harshita Brella, and her husband Pankaj Lamba, prior to her body being found on November 14.

We will be examining the police response to Ms Brellas report of domestic abuse made at the end of August this year. We understand Mr Lamba was arrested by Northamptonshire Police on September 3 and was released with bail conditions and a domestic violence protection notice imposed on him. We will look into further contact Northamptonshire Police had with Ms Brella concerning the case.

open image in gallery Harshita Brella and her husband are seen on CCTV near Corby boating lake on Sunday 10 November ( Hampshire Police )

Our investigation will consider the actions and decisions taken by Northamptonshire Police in relation to the report made by Ms Brella and their subsequent investigation.

Our thoughts are with Ms Brellas family and all those affected by her death. We will be contacting Ms Brellas family to explain our role and express our sincere condolences.

Detectives have appealed for information from people who were in the area around Corby Boating Lake, Cottingham Road and Westcott Way on the evening of 10 November, and who may have dashcam footage or other information that could assist the investigation.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell, from the East Midlands Special Operations major crime unit, said: Our inquiries have established that Pankaj and Harshita were in the area of the boating lake on Sunday evening, and as part of our ongoing investigation we have carried out searches in the surrounding area.

In a tribute released through Northamptonshire Police last Friday, Ms Brellas family said: Harshita, you left this world but you are still with us in our hearts and will always be there.

We will never forget you till our last breath. Always stay with us. We miss you in every very moment of our life.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

A vulnerable young mother who took her own life left a suicide note claiming I was murdered after suffering years of alleged abuse by her ex-boyfriend, a court has heard.

The final words of hairdresser Kiena Dawes, 23, shown to jurors at Preston Crown Court, read: The end. I fought hard, I fought long. I went through pain no one could imagine.

I was murdered. Ryan Wellings killed me. He ruined every bit of strength I had left. I didnt deserve it.

I hope my life saves another by police services acting faster. Dont let bullies live free.

Mr Wellings, 30, denies manslaughter, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour to Ms Dawes during their two-year relationship.

open image in gallery Ryan Wellings, 30, is standing trial at Preston Crown Court ( PA Archive )

Opening the case for the prosecution, Paul Greaney KC told jurors that on 22 July 2022, Ms Dawes, from Fleetwood, Lancashire, had driven to a friends home.

The bright and popular young mother let herself in, then placed down the car seat with her nine-month-old daughter still inside and left the house while her friend was in the shower, Mr Greaney said.

She then travelled to a country lane near the West Coast main line a half an hour drive away and took her own life, the jury heard.

The suicide note was found on Ms Dawes phone which said had left at the friends house alongside her daughter.

The note, shown on screen in court on Tuesday, also addressed her daughter directly.

Im sorry I let you go ... Im so sorry I had to go, she wrote.

The world turned their back on me. I was strong. I had dreams. I had a future at one point. That was taken away from me.

She added in the note she hoped her daughter was kept away from the monster who is called her dad.

Mr Greaney told jurors Ms Dawes own words represented the prosecution case, that her death was caused by Mr Wellings actions and he is guilty of her manslaughter.

Mr Wellings had repeatedly subjected Ms Dawes to controlling and coercive behaviour, abuse and violence, over a prolonged period from the beginning of their relationship, he alleged.

Ms Dawes had been diagnosed with an Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder, resulting in increased impulsivity, poor self-esteem and difficulty in relationships, the court heard.

Mr Wellings exploited her mental health condition, jurors heard, and while the condition played a part in her decision to take her own life, so too did his abuse, including a final assault which left her in hospital 11 days before her death.

The defendant claims Ms Dawes accusations against him are either untrue or exaggerated and any injuries she suffered before her death were a result of his attempts to restrain her or accidental.

The couple first met each other through Ms Dawes brother, a friend of the defendant, in January 2020 and an intense relationship began. Within weeks Wellings had his new girlfriends name and face tattooed on his body, the court heard.

After the first Covid lockdown began, Ms Dawes moved to Dorset and Wellings followed shortly after.

But in May 2020 a friend of Ms Dawes visited the flat to find it smashed up and she told her friend that Mr Wellings had tried to strangle her with an iPhone charger cable.

On another occasion, Mr Wellings accused Ms Dawes of sleeping with a friend of theirs, screamed at her she was a slag, threw a stool at her and told her to kill herself, it is alleged.

Ms Dawes fled from the house but later returned to him, a repeated pattern in their relationship.

The trial continues.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. 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
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

As a theatre manager and a performing arts teacher, life for Nikki Kenward has always been about movement. The idea of being denied such freedom would have simply made life not worth living - or so she thought.

But when a sudden illness paralysed her, leaving her conscious but unable to move any of her body apart from one eye, she found her answer was very different.

What I discovered in those dark moments was the will to live, Ms Kenward, who is now 71 and in a wheelchair, explained. It was burning so hard in me. I knew I didnt want to die. I was just thinking: I want to live. I dont care how bad its going to be, I will survive this.

Ms Kenward was a young mother, aged 36, when she went to hospital with a flu-like illness. Just a day later it had progressed to Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that occurs when the bodys immune system attacks its nerves.

She would be in intensive care for four-and-a-half months and in hospital for almost a year. She began speaking in a whisper after five months, and had to be fed through a tube for several months more. It would be two years until she could pick up a cup of tea.

Speaking about her time in hospital, she said: The pain was absolutely excruciating. They had to keep turning me over and it would take six people to turn me. When you use the power of your muscles, you cant bear to be touched. Every time they touched me it was agony.

I began picking up cups of tea after about two years. The idea was that I would walk again. I tried for about four years to walk but Ive never been able to. But Ive gone from nothing to being able to talk, but my hands havent fully recovered and my legs didnt recover.

I was a very busy drama therapist in a psychiatric unit. I had my own business. If those years ago euthanasia had been legal, I probably would have said Id rather die, Ms Kenward added. Say Id signed an advance directive and gone into hospital with Guillain-Barre syndrome... I couldnt do anything, I couldnt speak, I could only blink with one eye. My family would be gathered around and, if they were asked what were her wishes?, I think they would have said she wants to die.

open image in gallery Nikki Kenward before she got Guillain-Barre syndrome and was working as a drama teacher ( Nikki Kenward )

Her husband Merv, 60, explained: What happened to Nikki was a very sudden thing, she went from being completely ok to being paralysed. She was such a mobile person that it might not have seemed strange to think she wouldnt have wanted to live after this.

Yet Ms Kenwards realisation in those moments that she wanted to fight for life has led her to become a campaigner against assisted dying. Her work has become all the more relevant now UK parliamentarians will take the issue to a vote, potentially paving the way for the practice to become legal.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater has sponsored a bill that would allow assisted dying for terminally ill adults. Under the bill, terminally ill adults with a prognosis of six months or less could seek assistance to end their life, provided two doctors and a High Court judge confirm their decision.

What does that say about my life? People have told me directly that they would rather be dead than be in my position. Its amazing how frank people can be Nikki Kenward

MPs will debate the issue for the first time on 29 November. While proponents of the bill say that it will allow people at the end of their lives to have a say in how they die, opponents have warned of a slippery slope if the legislation is made law.

Other countries  such as Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium and the US  have expanded the accessibility of assisted dying after initial legislation permitting it was passed.

However, Ms Leadbeater has insisted that her bill is just about terminally ill adults, saying: I get a bit worried theres a panic and potentially some scaremongering about people having to do this. No one has to do anything.

open image in gallery Nikki Kenward became suddenly ill at the age of 36 ( Nikki Kenward )

But Ms Kenward is not convinced and is worried that the bill lacks sufficient safeguards. She pointed to the controversial Liverpool Care Pathway, a palliative care plan that was abolished in 2013 after families reported their loved ones being drugged and deprived of fluids in their last weeks of life.

Her husband Merv is also worried about how the assisted dying bill would impact peoples views of disability. When people talk to Nikki now they assume she must be for assisted dying, because the general perception is that if you have a significant disability you wont want to be here.

Ms Kenward, who is from Shropshire, added: What does that say about my life? People have told me directly that they would rather be dead than be in my position. Its amazing how frank people can be.

Referring to Tony Nicklinson, a man who was paralysed from the neck down who fought for the right to legally end his life, Ms Kenward said: I get that. I know what its like to be in that much agony. I only need to leave the house to be confronted with how difficult life can be for disabled people. There are so many places where we are not wanted.

Disability campaigners, such as charity Disability Rights UK, have come out against the assisted dying bill, with chief executive Kamran Mallick saying: Giving us dignified and equitable lives should come before putting in place ways of assisting us to die.

The debate will heat up in the coming days ahead of the expected parliamentary vote on Friday. The Labour cabinet are split over the issue and ministers have been criticised for speaking out publicly with their concerns.

Labour peer Lord Falconer, who backs the bill, has suggested that the justice secretarys concerns about the bill were motivated by religious belief.

Rachael Maskell, the MP for York Central and a devout Christian, said Lord Falconers claim that Shabana Mahmood was trying to impose her Muslim beliefs on those in favour of assisted dying was hugely offensive and discriminatory and urged him to apologise.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has chosen not to reveal how he will vote but health secretary Wes Streeting has said he will oppose it.
A new-ish backbencher, against the odds, takes on much of the political and medical establishment to pioneer a momentous, but highly controversial, private members bill. Many previous attempts have failed. Doctors, faith organisations, parliamentarians and of course the public are all concerned; many are passionate about the moral principles and the procedural details. The issue is fairly, if broadly, described as one of life and death. Bodily autonomy is at the centre of the debate.

This is the background to Kim Leadbeaters assisted dying proposal, formally known as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which was introduced to parliament on 16 October and will be properly debated at the second reading, on Friday 29 November.

Leadbeater came top in the traditional ballot (ie raffle) for a chance to make history and chose this cause to be hers. An MP since she won a hard-fought by-election in Batley in 2021, if she succeeds then her law will change the lives of many thousands of families in the decades ahead. One piece of encouragement for her is that something of the same has been done before

The Abortion Act 1967 was not only placed on the statute book by a backbencher but still remains the basic law governing the procedure to this day.

It was the abiding achievement of a young (27) Liberal MP by the name of David Steel, now Lord Steel of Aikwood, whod won a by-election of his own in 1965. By good fortune, in a Commons Committee room in the spring of 1966, his name popped out third in this curious custom.

After the usual lobbying, and carefully judging the chances of making the most impact tempered by a realistic assessment of success, he decided to end the scandal of so many young women at the time, particularly poorer ones, who were forced to end unwanted pregnancies by resorting to notorious back-street abortionists.

As with assisted dying now, the law was archaic  dating back to the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, and, for assisted dying, to the Suicide Act 1961. For a woman caught trying to get an abortion, the maximum penalty was penal servitude for life or imprisonment for two years with hard labour and solitary confinement. By the 1960s, that was more abhorrent than the crime.

At that time girls from wealthier families who found themselves in trouble would have had a relatively straightforward time of enlisting the help of private doctors and lawyers to navigate the law, but they were a minority. For the majority, there could be much misery, and worse if an amateur termination went wrong. It was, in short, a social evil, and being recognised as such.

It is not quite the same with assisted dying or suicide, but the emotional issues do possess the same kind of power, and the questions are similarly distressing, deeply personal and socially divisive. Some people know how to use, say, the Dignitas facility in Switzerland, and have the funds to do so.

open image in gallery Abortion rights activists in 2008 calling for the 24-week cutoff to be maintained ( Getty )

Others, not so much. There are also the same concerns about the sanctity of life, and the same weighing of the interests of all involved. Both now and then, people have looked to parliament to take the lead.

In the 15 years before the Steel bill thered been more than a dozen attempts to sort out the law on abortion, and all had stumbled. A similar number of attempts have been made in recent decades to reform the assisted dying act, and all those have faltered also.

Interestingly, Steel based his bill on a recently discarded text that had passed, but only in the Lords; now Leadbeaters bill draws a good deal on Lord Falconers 2014 legislation, which was ultimately withdrawn. Hes backing Leadbeaters attempt as well  and a bill from the Commons has more chance of gaining legitimacy.

Another striking similarity between the abortion and assisted dying debates is the way the arguments, for many people, were and are so finely balanced. In those days, as Steel so eloquently put it in launching his campaign: The difficulty in drafting a bill of this kind is to decide how and where to draw the line. We want to stamp out the back-street abortions, but it is not the intention of the promoters of this bill to leave a wide-open door for abortion on demand.

It is, fair to say, much the same wariness about making assisted dying too easy that makes some so hesitant about committing themselves. A Liberal MP was perhaps ideally placed to plot a middle way.

open image in gallery David Steel, pictured here in 1974, introduced the Abortion Act 1967 when he was 27 years old ( Getty )

Back in 1966 and 1967, Steel, as a Liberal, was in an extremely isolated position. The entire elected party numbered just 12, in a Commons where prime minister Harold Wilsons Labour Party enjoyed a landslide majority of almost 100 seats. Leadbeater at least comes from the governing party, with many colleagues sympathetic to her bill. But she still faces the same challenge that faced Steel before, which is to gain what might be called the indulgence of the government to allow the bill sufficient time and a chance to succeed. Oddly, as things stand, its the Liberal Steel who won more allies at the top than Leadbeater did at the time.

Personalities, dynamics and some luck went the right way for Steel. His most powerful ally was Roy Jenkins, the then home secretary. Nearly two decades later, theyd be joint leaders of the SDP/Liberal Alliance, but even at that stage, Jenkins was widely thought of as a classic liberal, if not Liberal.

An admirer of HH Asquith, Jenkins had little time for doctrinaire socialism and wanted to leave a legacy of social reform  the civilised society. His preferred method was to use private members bills from backbench MPs to reform social moral legislation that normally demanded free or conscience votes, rather than being laughed through as government bills  which would anyway split the ever-fissiparous Labour Party.

That was how Jenkins presided over and facilitated parallel reforms in divorce law, homosexuality and the death penalty  moves that helped define the Sixties. Jenkins initially suggested homosexual law reform as a suitable case to Steel, but the Liberal was warned off by party managers in his own constituency.

open image in gallery Disability campaigners from Distant Voices and Not Dead, a group against assisted suicide, outside Westminster Hall in April ( AFP/Getty )

In Jenkins own words: While members of the cabinet would be free to vote against them, I would be free to speak (and vote, of course) in their favour from the despatch box and with all the briefing and such authority as I could command as home secretary.

Would that Leadbeater have that kind of backing now neutrality is not the same as indifference, which the current front bench displays, lacking any great instinct for social reform.

Jenkins, then, was key. But so were others. Unlike Wes Streeting now, Kenneth Robinson, Wilsons health minister, was with him, while the most senior people in the administration, Wilson, James Callaghan and George Brown were content to let a Liberal take the heat from the critics.

The party leadership was understandably concerned about the impact on the Roman Catholic vote in Labours marginal seats in London and Lancashire, for example  just as it might be now about how Muslim voters would react.

Labours then chief whip, John Silkin, was the son of Lewis Silkin, the last person to try and make abortion legal. Most valuable of all, Steel was given all the government time he required by the leader of the House of Commons, Richard Crossman, who, like Jenkins, considered the project admirably progressive. It was a bit of an ordeal for Steel, however, as he tells it:

I went to see Dick Crossman in his room, full of awe as a junior member. He gave me a whisky. I rehearsed the arguments for granting time  weight of opinion in the House, long overdue reform, campaign outside etc, etc. He absentmindedly poured a second helping  of brandy  into my whisky glass. This was no time to complain. In the cause of getting my bill, I drank the revolting mixture. We got two extra night sittings, and on the morning of 14 July, I rose to move the third reading, which was approved by 167 to 83. The bill went through another tortuous process in the Lords before receiving the royal assent on 27 October 1967.

open image in gallery Kim Leadbeater faces an uphill battle to get her bill passed ( PA )

Team Leadbeater argues that, 57 years on, there is much less need for government time, as bills are nowadays more difficult to filibuster  talk out of time. Perhaps, but theres more concern among some MPs about whether the five hours allocated by the current leader of the House, Lucy Powell, will be sufficient to explore all the issues.

Leadbetter should also be concerned that, unlike Wilsons cabinet, she seems faced with much more dissent, and even outright hostility from Starmers team. Starmer has given a pro-reform lead, but tried to stress the vote is one of conscience; some of his most senior colleagues have taken the hint.

Angela Rayner and Bridget Phillipson are two figures Leadbeater would certainly have wanted on her side, for example. Although warned off by the cabinet secretary, Simon Case, presumably on Starmers orders, Streeting is working on the financial impact of introducing lawful assisted dying; and that means that a money resolution would also need to be tabled in the House. It could be a mere formality; or a focus for opponents to argue that funds are better spent elsewhere. It was certainly not something Steel was troubled with.

It is not quite the same with assisted dying, but the emotional issues do possess the same kind of power, and the questions are similarly distressing, deeply personal and socially divisive

In the end what matters are the arguments, and the weight of opinion among the public, and, obviously, in the Commons. Like abortion in the 1960s, there is a great deal of public backing for reform, and that counts when MPs consult constituents.

Many are still undecided and persuadable. According to one biographer, Steel, a man with a cool, moderate, rational style of argument, saw that the key to passing the bill was to retain the support of a body of middle opinion in the Commons, who did not have strong feelings about the law on abortion, and who would be frightened off if they felt they were being asked to support too radical a measure. These members  like all MPs  came under increased pressure from the bill's opponents after the second-reading debate. The large majority in favour of the bill alerted opponents to the possibility of its passing through parliament, and they marshalled their forces against it.

As noted, at the moment it is quite feasible to take the one-way trip to the Dignitas facility in Switzerland  if you possess the means to do so. That is something Leadbeater could remind her social democratic colleagues about  because she may well not have as weighty an ally as Jenkins to deploy in the debates. Perhaps Yvette Cooper or Liz Kendall can give their friend some backup.

open image in gallery Pro-choice activists protesting in 1980 ( Getty )

One last reflection, though an unhelpful one for Leadbeater, Falconer, Kit Malthouse and their fellow reformers. Reflecting years later, Steel had to concede, to himself as much as anyone else, that his abortion act did, as it turned out, make abortion far easier to obtain than was stated at the time of his bill.

By the early 1980s, his view was that: There is a great deal of loose talk about the permissive society. We are not a less moral society than previous generations, but we do talk more openly about it. I still want to prevent the need for abortion ever arising, and because I proposed the abortion law does not mean I agree with the opinions of other people who supported it. Abortion is, I am afraid, being used as a contraceptive. The present level is too high. I agree with medical opinion that free contraception should be available [otherwise] people will accept free abortion instead because they either cannot or will not pay for contraceptives. It worries me greatly  The act says there must be a real need, and I stick to that.

Neither, in contradiction to what Steel claimed in 1967, did what he called his reform close the debate down for good. Every so often attempts are made to change it, and the arguments havent been silenced  though not yet as politicised and polarised as theyve become in America.

The term limit was reduced from 28 weeks to 24 weeks in 1990, reflecting scientific progress on the viability of foetuses, and the act was extended to Northern Ireland in 2020. Thats about it. Steels Abortion Act 1967, which surely changed the lives of so many women, remains the fundamental legal guide and the best moral and political compromise the nation has yet found. Leadbeater can at least take some inspiration from that and the fact it would not have happened but for the bravery of one backbencher. It can be done.
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Dozens of British soldiers have been drafted in to help the US find out who is responsible for flying more mystery drones over three air bases in England.

A small number of drones were spotted overnight flying over RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk and RAF Feltwell in Norfolk, United States Air Force (USAF) confirmed on Tuesday.

Sources told the PA news agency around 60 troops have been deployed to help USAF in its investigation of the incident.

USAF said the number of sightings fluctuated and varied between the bases but the drones have not been identified as hostile.

It comes just days after USAF confirmed that a small number of unmanned aerial systems were spotted in the vicinity of and over the three bases between Wednesday and Sunday.

UK authorities are working to ensure the safety of the sites.

USAF has not identified who is believed to be behind the incidents.

Lakenheath, Mildenhall and Feltwell, located close to one another in the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk, are Royal Air Force bases used primarily by the US Air Force.

Lakenheath is home to the 48th Fighter Wing, which the US Air Force describes as the foundation of its combat capability in Europe. Mildenhall hosts the 100th Air Refueling Wing, and Feltwell is a hub for housing, schools and other services.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, a spokesperson for USAF in Europe said: We can confirm there were sightings yesterday during night-time hours and can only confirm that the number fluctuated and varied between the bases over the night.

Since November 20, there has been no impact to residents or infrastructure and they have not been identified as hostile.

However, they are still continuously being monitored to ensure the safety and security of the installations.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said: We take threats seriously and maintain robust measures at defence sites.

We are supporting the US Air Force response.
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

The first cold weather payments of 2025 have been triggered as snow falls on neighbourhoods across the UK and temperatures continue to plunge.

To help support people during cold snaps like these, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) runs the cold weather payment scheme for qualifying households. This is a one-off payment of 25 that is triggered for every seven-day period where the temperature in your area is at or below zero degrees.

However, all the affected postcode areas are eligible for double this and can expect a payment of 50. This is because the cold snap has been so long-lasting that the criteria was triggered twice.

Drivers brave the snow in the Peak District ( AFP/Getty )

An estimated 6,000 people across 23 postcode areas can now expect a payment. These areas are split across the country, with 16 in northern regions and seven near the southwest coast.

Heres everything you need to know about the scheme:

Am I eligible for a cold weather payment?

You are eligible for the payment if you receive any of the following:

Pension Credit

Income Support

Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Universal Credit

Support for Mortgage Interest

You must also live in an area that has experienced seven days of zero or sub-zero temperatures. Here is a map of all the latest areas to qualify:

The DWP uses its own equipment to measure temperatures across all UK postcodes. If you disagree with the judgement, it is possible to appeal directly to the department.

You do not qualify for this scheme if you live in Scotland, as the Scottish government has recently replaced the scheme with Winter Heating Payments.

When will I get the payment?

If youre eligible, you will get these payments automatically. They should arrive in the same bank account you receive benefit payments, within 14 working days of the cold period.

If you believe you are eligible but have not received the payments, you should contact the DWP.

Full list of postcodes eligible for cold weather payment

Here are all the postcode areas where cold weather payments have been triggered since November:
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

They set off on Sunday morning, looking forward to a five-day diving trip in the Red Sea; a popular worldwide destination filled with beautiful coral reefs and plentiful marine life.

But for the 31 tourists on the luxury Sea Story yacht, the dream excursion turned into a nightmare when the vessel was reportedly struck by high waves on Monday, sinking in less than seven minutes.

In total, 44 people, including staff, were on the 44-metre boat when the distress signal was sent not far from the Egyptian town of Marsa Alam - of those, just 33 people have so far been rescued.

They include Britons Colin Sharratt and Sally Jones, keen sailors, according to The Times.

However, Egyptian authorities searching the sunken ship have also found four dead bodies. Seven people are still reported missing, including British couple Jenny Cawson, 36, and her husband Tariq Sinada, 49.

Ms Cawsons family told the BBC on Saturday they are continuing to receive daily updates from the Foreign Office  but voiced their frustration as there is still no news.

For those rescued, their stories of survival are now emerging with some said to have spent 30 hours trapped in air pockets inside the yacht before being dramatically saved.

open image in gallery Colin Sharratt and Sally Jones are believed to have been among the survivors on the Sea Story yacht ( Tim Postin/Facebook )

Its a sickening end to a diving trip the tourists onboard, who came from many different countries including UK, United States, Germany and Ireland for the trip operated by Dive Pro Liveaboard.

Life on board the four-deck wooden boat was luxurious. The tourists enjoyed a plush lounge, complete with a bar and 18 air-conditioned en-suite rooms.

But the trip took a turn for the worse after the boat departed Marsa Alam on Sunday despite weather warnings from the Egyptian Meteorological Authority.

open image in gallery Rescue workers carry a survivor to safety ( Red Sea Governorate/AFP/Getty )

The authority warned of the possibility of large waves and advised boats against any maritime activity on Sunday and Monday.

On Monday morning, at 5.30am, the distress signal was sent. Red Sea governor Amr Hanafi said the sinking began after a huge wave crashed into the vessel, and the ship went down in between five and seven minutes.

open image in gallery Dive boat Sea Story as shown on Dive Pro Liveaboard website ( Dive Pro Liveaboard )

Within moments, water was gushing through the structure and passengers were screaming from inside the cabins as the boat was toppled over, the father of a survivor told The Times.

One of the British survivors told investigators they tried to swim up but the current was too strong and I felt like I was choking. That tourist survived thanks to their life jacket, which kept them on the surface until rescue teams arrived, the outlet reported.

open image in gallery The boat capsized near the popular resort town of Marsa Alam ( The Independent )

A major rescue operation ensued, led by Egyptian naval forces, the military and the Red Sea Governorate. On Monday, 28 people were rescued and brought to safety, images showing the moment the shocked group made it to safe ground.

The search paused overnight, before resuming on Tuesday morning. Little news has come from authorities since.

Khattab al-Faramawy, Youssefs uncle, who was part of the rescue operation, told the BBC: We dived 12m (40ft) underwater, describing it as a complicated mission, as they used torchlight to find their way into the darkness.

open image in gallery 28 survivors were rescued on Monday and five on Tuesday ( AFP/Getty )

Incredibly, they reached five survivors still trapped in the boat - including Youssef - who had survived for 30 hours underwater thanks to a 20cm-large air pocket that allowed them to breathe.

Its very nice to be back, one Belgian tourist told officials, as he thanked the Egyptian military for their rescue efforts, and for the warm shower after an ordeal which left him shaking with cold.

On the same day, four bodies were recovered from the boat. They are yet to be officially identified.

Some doubts have been raised over the cause of the boat sinking, despite conflicting with witness reports.

Oceanographer Simon Boxall told Sky News that there was no evidence of a huge wave, arguing that the wind conditions werent that strong and wouldnt create these alleged three- to four-metre waves.

He added: I still feel that this is probably not a wave that caused the capsize. We need to see an investigation coming out of this. Its still early days, but the information coming out from the Egyptian authorities is still very sparse.
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

More than a million illicit vapes have been seized in England by trading standards in 2023-24, a 59% increase on the previous year.

The news comes as a warning was issued about fake vapes.

The products failed to meet basic UK safety standards, with most containing excessive nicotine levels, a National Trading Standards (NTS) report said.

New data released on Tuesday shows 1.19 million illicit vapes were confiscated in Operation Joseph, a Government-funded project to tackle enforcement and compliance around the sale of vaping prducts.

The crackdown also shed light on the sales of illegal vapes to children under 18, with almost a quarter (24%) of the 775 test purchases conducted in-person by trading standards between January and March 2024 resulting in children buying illegal vapes.

The figures are released as MPs prepare to vote on Tuesday on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which prevents anyone born after January 1 2009 from legally smoking by gradually raising the age at which tobacco can be bought.

How to spot a fake vape, according to trading standards:

Check the number of puffs printed on the vape or label:

the maximum tank size is 2ml. This is equivalent to 600-650 puffs for disposables.

products advertising significantly more usage than this are illegal

Check the health warnings:

in the UK the warning must cover 30% of the front and back of the pack

the health warning must read This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance

use of the word chemical is only used in the USA market. In the UK we use substance

Check for nicotine content:

the product must indicate the nicotine content and delivery per dose

the maximum e-liquid capacity is 2ml

the maximum nicotine strength is 20mg (2%)

Check the manufacturers details:

the vape packaging must contain the manufacturer or importer name and contact details

the manufacturer or importer must be registered on the MHRA website

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill

Health minister Andrew Gwynne said the NTS report shows just how many illegal and harmful vapes are on our streets, putting consumers and children at risk.

He added: To further crack down on illicit trade of tobacco products and vapes, we are investing an extra 10 million to keep these harmful products out of the hands of kids.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will strengthen enforcement activity, allowing trading standards to take swifter action to enforce the law, including on non-compliant products, and closing loopholes.

open image in gallery The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will be introduced in the House of Commons on Tuesday (PA) ( PA Wire )

The legislation includes a total ban on vape advertising and sponsorship, including displays seen by children and young people such as on buses, in cinemas and in shop windows, bringing them in line with current tobacco restrictions.

The protection of communities, public health and the safeguarding of honest businesses who are struggling to compete with the flood of illegal products lies at the heart of what trading standards does, said NTS chairman Lord Bichard.

Trading standards has seized nearly 1.2 million illegal vapes and more than 26 million worth of illicit tobacco so far.

But the reality is further action is necessary to remove more illegal, and in many cases dangerous, products from sale.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill also includes powers to introduce a licensing scheme for retailers to sell tobacco, vape and nicotine products in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

On-the-spot fines of 200 are included for any shopkeepers found to be selling to anyone under age.

Disposable vapes will be banned from June 2025 under separate environmental legislation, while the sale of vapes in vending machines and their free distribution will be stopped.

If you have any concerns, report them by calling Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133.
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

The debate over assisted dying has reignited, with Parliament gearing up for a historic vote on Friday.

If passed, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill would allow those with less than six months to live to end their lives with medical assistance, under strict safeguards requiring approval from two doctors and a High Court judge.

Supporters argue the bill represents compassion and choice for those facing unbearable suffering. Proponents, including prominent ministers such as Lisa Nandy and Ed Miliband, call it the most robust assisted dying law in the world, designed to prevent coercion with severe penalties for abuse.

However, the proposal has faced significant backlash. Opponents, including faith leaders, former prime minister Gordon Brown, and MPs like Shabana Mahmood, worry it could lead to a slippery slope and potential misuse.

The debate has also sparked controversy within the Labour Party, with accusations of discrimination over comments about religious motivations in opposing the bill.

The issue is divisive, raising profound ethical, religious, and societal questions: and now we want to know where you stand. Is assisted dying a compassionate step forward or a dangerous precedent?

Share your thoughts in the comments  well feature the most compelling responses.

All you have to do is sign up and register your details  then you can take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking log in on the top right-hand corner of the screen.
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

The pub landlord behind the viral petition calling for a general election has revealed why he decided to start it.

Michael Westwood launched the petition  which has now gained over 2.5 million signatures  last week after growing fed up with Sir Keir Starmer just four months after Labour won the general election in a landslide.

I just thought they were being so negative all the time, he told the MailOnline.

They were putting the fear of God into people that everything was so bad. They had also gone back on their manifesto promises. I was just frustrated at what I was seeing and hearing it all the time and it really annoyed me.

I just typed into Google how to change the prime minister and it came back with start a petition. So thats what I did.

open image in gallery Michael Westwood launched the petition  which has now gained 2.5 million signatures - last week after growing fed up with Sir Keir Starmer ( UK Government and Parliament )

The aims of the petition, published on the government website, reads: I would like there to be another general election. I believe the current Labour government have gone back on the promises they laid out in the lead-up to the last election.

The petition was only set up on 20 November, but has already received over 2,616,000 signatures at the time of writing. The majority of signatories to the petition are concentrated in Conservatives or Reform safe seats.

Mr Westwood, who runs three pubs in the West Midlands, said despite starting the petition he does not consider himself political but has been staggered by the support.

He voted Conservative in the last election but insisted there are a lot of people who are unhappy with the government and added: Not just those who did not vote for him, but lots of Labour voters as well.

Since they won the election all they have done is talk down the country and they have not been truthful.

open image in gallery The prime minister responded to the petition on Monday as it continues to gain thousands of signatures each day ( ITV )

The prime minister responded to the petition on Monday as it continues to gain thousands of signatures each day.

Asked about the petition on ITVs This Morning programme on Monday, Sir Keir dismissed calls for an election by saying that it is not how our system works.

He said: Look, I remind myself that very many people didnt vote Labour at the last election. I am not surprised many of them want a re-run.
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Jacob Rees-Mogg has hinted at a dramatic return to politics on the back of his fly-on-the-wall family documentary dubbed the British Kardashians.

Less than five months after spectacularly losing his North East Somerset seat, the former Tory minister, who once reportedly considered a bid to become party leader, will appear in the Discovery+ reality show, Meet The Rees-Moggs.

It marks a stark change in direction for the arch-Brexiteer who invited cameras into his 17th-century Somerset mansion, Gourney Court, to document family life with his wife, Helena, and their six children in the run-up to the general election.

Yet despite the first step into reality television and the end to his 14-year stint as a Tory MP, the divisive figure has still revealed he would like to return to Parliament.

Speaking during a cosy sit-down interview with comedian Matt Forde ahead of the show on Monday night, the GB News presenter discussed everything from abuse on the campaign trail to his fondness for Greggs cream buns.

open image in gallery Jacob Rees-Mogg said hed love to return to politics when questioned during a premiere of Meet the Rees-Moggs ( Getty Images for Discovery+ )

And the 55-year-old said he hoped to make a return to frontline politics following his high-profile defeat at the general election to Labours Dan Norris.

I'd love to stand again, the former business secretary said. I mean, I love being a member of Parliament. I love representing the seat I represented and found it a very worthwhile thing to do.

Interviewed alongside his wife, the couple also discussed the abuse he faced during his career and the unsuccessful general election campaign, but dismissed the hatred as part of political life.

When you choose to marry someone who is in politics, you have to be prepared to take the rough with the smooth, Mrs Rees-Mogg said.

open image in gallery Jacob and Helena Rees-Mogg pose for photographers at a screening for the new television series Meet the Rees-Moggs in London ( AP )

That is just a part of political life. Not everyone will agree with the politician on everything, of course. Brexit, for example, everyone is entitled to their opinion and they are entitled to express it as long as it doesnt tip over into physical violence.

The pair recalled a moment during this years general election campaign when someone defaced a Vote Jacob Rees-Mogg banner outside his mothers house with an obscenity.

Mr Rees-Mogg has also previously revealed how his 16-year-old son received hate mail following Julys election.

I think some people didnt want the Tories to win the election and Im afraid some Tories probably damaged posters belonging to other parties too, he said.

Thats not something I would encourage, but its part of the fun of political life and its not very serious.

open image in gallery Mr Rees-Mogg lost his North East Somerset and Hanham seat in the 2024 general election ( Jonathan Brady/PA Wire )

Its sticks and stones really, and it doesnt really matter.

The couple, who have an estimated fortune of 100m150m, also discussed their views on being perceived negatively by viewers of their documentary due to their vast wealth.

I've always thought that you shouldnt pretend to be something that youre not, and Ive always tried not to pretend to be something that Im not, the former leader of the House of Commons said.

He added: So I dont think anybody interested will be surprised that we live the way that we live and theres no hiding it.

Mrs Rees-Mogg concluded that she does not want her family to come across as completely out of touch, awful people in the series.

Meet the Rees-Moggs will stream on Discovery+ in the UK and Ireland from 2 December
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out calling a general election after a petition calling for another vote was signed by more than two million people.

I would like there to be another general election, the petition reads.

I believe the current Labour government have gone back on the promises they laid out in the lead-up to the last election.

open image in gallery Sir Keir says hes not surprised many people want an election re-run ( PA Wire )

Asked about the petition on ITVs This Morning programme on Monday, Sir Keir dismissed calls for an election by saying that it is not how our system works.

He said: Look, I remind myself that very many people didnt vote Labour at the last election.

I am not surprised many of them want a re-run.

The government must respond to all petitions with over 10,000 signatures, and petitions reaching 100,000 signatures are considered before parliament.

The petition comes amid growing backlash over Labours budget, which has sparked controversy for hikes to national insurance and extension of inheritance tax to include farms, among other unpopular proposals which aim to fill the spending black hole.

Among the famous faces to have shared the petition are billionaire Trump-ally Elon Musk, who has repeatedly criticised Sir Keir since he came to power, and British actor Michael Caine.

Who wants to call a general election?

The petition was only set up on November 20, but has already received over 2,184,000 signatures at the time of writing.

The majority of signatories to the petition are concentrated in Conservatives or Reform safe seats.

Many of the names in these seats may seem familiar, as vocal critics of the current Labour government. The MPs in constituencies where the petitions have received the most signatures include leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch, former leadership hopeful James Cleverly, and topping the list, Alex Burghart.

The petition is highly popular among constituents of Reform leaders Richard Tice and Nigel Farage, with 9,550 signatures between the two constituencies.

However, over a million signatures have come from constituencies with a Labour MP.

The Labour MP representing the most constituents calling for a general election is Kevin McKenna, with 4,609 constituents signing the petition.

Mr McKenna won his constituency of Sittingbourne and Sheppey by just 355 votes in July.

The constituency had a low voter turnout of just 51.9 per cent and was historically Conservative.

It is likely that his narrow win made many residents unhappy in an area with high Tory support; but even so, it is unclear whether those signing the petition would be able to oust Mr McKenna in another election.

open image in gallery Prime Minister Keir Starmer dismissed the petition on ITVs This Morning today. ( ITV )

No Labour seat has seen more than 6 per cent of constituents sign the petition.

However, this discontent may still cause some concern for Labour MPs with small majorities. In the Derbyshire Dales, Labour MP John Whitby won by 350 votes, and over 4,426 of his constituents have signed the petition to call an election. MPs in Ribble Valley, Middlesborough South, and Redditch face a similar dilemma.

A high number of constituents in South Norfolk have also signed the petition in South Norfolk, where Terry Jermy is the Labour MP.

Mr Jermy has faced recent pressure following the farmers protests, as his constituency is being eyed by the Tories and has 408 farm holdings.

Even some constituents of Labour leaders have signed the petition calling for a new election, with over 3,000 signatures in Deputy PM Angela Rayners seat.

Discontentment from abroad

At least 14,276 of the signatures were from people based outside the United Kingdom, according to self-declared locations required in the petition forms.

Thousands of signatures came from the United States, Spain, France and Australia.

The petition has also received hundreds of signatures from Thailand, UAE and Cyprus.

There are even five signatures reported from the Vatican City, where the Pope resides.

Only British citizens and UK residents are allowed to sign this type of petition to be considered by Parliament.

However, the rapid scale of the petition may make it more difficult to verify the identities of the two million-plus signatories. The Independent has reached out to the government to confirm how many of the signatures are verified.

This is not helped by non-citizens such as billionaire Elon Musk promoting the petition, saying on X that the people of Britain have had enough of a tyrannical police state.
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Sir Keir Starmer could hike taxes on American staples including Harley Davidsons, Jack Daniels whiskey and Levis jeans if Donald Trump targets the UK with tariffs.

The prime minister has been urged to Trump-proof Britain after the president-elect overnight threatened to unilaterally impose massive levies on imports to the US on his first day in office.

On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25 per cent Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders, Mr Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

open image in gallery Donald Trump has threatened tariffs against the USs biggest trading partners ( AFP via Getty Images )

During the election, Mr Trump unveiled plans to impose 20 per cent tariffs on all imports to the US, with the levy rising to 60 per cent for Chinese imports.

And while Mr Trump did not directly threaten to target Britains trade with the US overnight, Sir Keirs government is reportedly ready to retaliate if he does.

Officials have told ministers that they can revive a package of EU measures against the US without having to launch an investigation, Politico reported.

The tariffs were carried over after Britain left the European Union, having initially been placed on US goods in Mr Trumps first term in response to his levies on European steel.

They targeted products synonymous with the US, which also included those made by Calvin Klein, Estee Lauder and American staples such as peanut butter.

The report came as the Liberal Democrats called for the PM to Trump-proof the economy ahead of his inauguration.

Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Daisy Cooper said: Many will be extremely worried about the potential ramifications for the UK economy due to any kind of trade war between the United States and these countries.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer has been urged to Trump-proof the UK economy ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images )

After years of Conservative economic vandalism, people across the nation have endured a brutal cost of living crisis and we are now set for yet another difficult winter with energy bills rising again.

The new government needs to put forward urgent plans to Trump-proof the economy and reassure the public that we will not see the same kind of spiralling prices that we have all experienced in recent years.

And, piling on the pressure in the Commons, Liberal Democrat EU spokesman James MacCleary said: President-elect Trumps confirmation of tariffs on Canada, one of the USs closest allies, raises serious concerns about his willingness to honor the US-UK relationship.

If this is the future of US relations with their closest partners, does the minister agree that closer cooperation with the EU on defense and trade are now urgently needed, including access to the European customs union and a defense pact with the EU, going beyond the recent agreement with Germany?

Responding, Europe minister Stephen Doughty said: We have a thriving trading and investment relationship with the US we look forward to working with president-elect Trump in office.

With the prospect of a brutal global trade war looming, critics of the UKs current Brexit deal have said the country needs to rejoin the EUs customs union, single market or the bloc itself to shield itself from the devastating fallout.

Mike Galsworthy, chair of the European Movement, said Mr Trumps election makes international waters on trade and security much more choppy, adding: That means the UK is better off closer to the large harbour of the EU.

A spokesman for the Department for Business and Trade said: We look forward to working closely with President Trump to improve UK-US trading relations to support businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Sir Keir Starmer has been pressed by his own MPs to go faster in pursuing closer relations with Europe on defence and security, amid an escalation of the conflict in Ukraine and fears for global security.

It comes after Vladimir Putin used a new ballistic missile against Ukraine on Thursday, claiming the use of the weapon was in response to the UK and US allowing long-range missiles supplied to Ukraine to be used to strike targets within Russias borders.

Calvin Bailey, who served in the RAF for 24 years and is now the Labour MP for Leyton and Wanstead, called for an acceleration of the governments work to rebuild our partnerships on the continent in order to promote security at home and abroad.

He told The Independent that the UK should prioritise cooperation with Europe in Labours Strategic Defence Review  a root and branch review of UK defence  launched by Sir Keir when he took office.

Mr Bailey said British forces should be able to integrate seamlessly with partners during operations, and called for more co-funding with our allies, across both Europe and other partnerships such as Aukus with the US and Australia.

This is particularly true for the army, whose role for European security is vital, he said.

open image in gallery President-elect Donald Trump is widely regared as a Nato sceptic ( Getty )

Mr Bailey, who accused the previous government of having gambled on defence cuts and damaged our European relationships, said the UK now needs to conduct a frank diagnosis of the damage done.

David Taylor, the Labour MP for Hemel Hempstead and a member of the international development committee, praised the governments work in pushing for a bespoke UK-EU defence pact as part of Sir Keirs Brexit reset, but called for ministers to go faster to make this closer cooperation a reality as soon as possible.

When I had the privilege to visit Ukraine to drop off supplies to frontline troops, I saw first-hand their determination to fight for freedom and democracy. I therefore support as close ties as feasible with our friends and allies in Ukraine and across Europe, the Labour MP for Hemel Hempstead told The Independent.

With Russian tyranny on our doorstep, increasing threats from the Middle East, and cooperation among our enemies elsewhere, its vital we have a strong and capable military and one that is connected with our European allies.

Mr Bailey also commended the governments efforts to rebuild relations with Europe, but said there is far more we can do to build on the Lancaster House Treaty with France in the run-up to next years anticipated UK-France summit.

There is scope for early progress towards a UK-EU Security Partnership Agreement to complement these bilateral efforts, but this can only be achieved effectively if it is based on a common understanding of the urgent shared threat, he added.

The Lancaster House Treaties, agreed by David Cameron, set out a commitment to mutual military cooperation between the UK and France.

Sir Keir signed a new defence cooperation agreement with Germany last month, aimed at boosting security, investment and jobs in both nations. It came as part of his mission to reset relations with Europe after years of tense relations under successive Conservative prime ministers.

Mr Taylor and Mr Baileys remarks come amid rising tensions in Ukraine and the Middle East, and concern over what Donald Trumps election could mean for national security.

Last month, Sandro Gozi, the new chair of the European delegation to the EU-UK Parliamentary Assembly, told The Independent there is a renewed desire within the EU for closer ties with Britain following the Republicans re-election in the United States.

open image in gallery Fragment of an ATACMS missile fired on Kursk, accoring to Russian authorities ( Reuters )

Sir Nick Harvey, a former Liberal Democrat armed forces minister and chief executive of the pro-EU European Movement, said Mr Trumps election means that forming closer ties between the UK and the EU has never been more important, citing concerns over the president-elects commitment to Nato.

The UK needs to make a clear choice to be part of that European strength, in the interests of all of us, on defence and security, just as much as on trade and the economy, he said.

Foreign secretary David Lammy has vowed to continue to do everything that is necessary to help Ukraine combat Russia after Mr Putin threatened strikes on the UK and bolstered his military with troops from North Korea.

The UK is believed to have allowed its Storm Shadow missiles to be used by Ukrainian forces within the Kursk region of Russia, while the US has given permission for its ATACMS weapons to be fired at targets in Mr Putins country.

An MoD spokesperson said: This government is resetting our relationships with Europe, to make us secure at home and strong abroad.

We have recently signed the landmark Trinity House defence agreement with Germany, securing unprecedented levels of new cooperation with the Germa armed forces and boosting our defence industrial bases.

We have also signed defence agreements with Estonia and Romania and our commitment to Nato remains steadfast.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

James Craig, the Colorado dentist who has been accused of poisoning and killing his wife  has now been charged with allegedly plotting the murder of a detective working on his case.

Craig was charged with the murder of his wife, Angela, who died in 2023. Prosecutors said Craig used lethal doses of cyanide and tetrahydrozoline to poison Angela, 43.

His trial was slated to begin this week with jury selection, but has now been put on indefinite hold after his attorney abruptly withdrew from the case. Shortly after his attorney left, prosecutors files two new charges against Craig, including one for murder solicitation.

While the victim of the alleged murder plot was not listed, sources close to the case told 9News that the intended target was a detective with the Aurora police who worked on Craig's case.

The broadcaster obtained records alleging that Craig had twice asked his cellmate to kill the detective. The cellmate is not facing charges and is not suspected of any wrongdoing, according to the outlet.

open image in gallery James Craig, a Colorado dentist, is accused of killing his wife, Angela, in 2023, and is now facing an additional, murder solicitation charge ( AP )

This isn't the first time Craig landed in hot water for allegedly trying to plot with a former prisoner. In September, prosecutors revealed that they had found a letter in April 2023  just after Craig's initial arrest  where he tried to allegedly convince a man who was briefly incarcerated with him to help him craft a fraudulent defense.

The scheme was complicated; according to prosecutors, Craig wanted the former inmate to find some "attractive 25-to-45-year-old females" and to convince one to pose as his former mistress. The fake mistress would have been instructed to weave a tale about how she and Craig were together, but he called it off out of a sense of loyalty to Angela. The fiction continued with Angela learning of the affair and approaching the spurned mistress with a plot to frame Craig with an assault or an "attempted homicide."

In other words; Craig was allegedly trying to lay the groundwork to argue that his dead wife had framed him.

He offered the former cellmate $60,000 in dental work for his mother in payment. The cellmate reportedly told Craig he'd consider the offer, but then went to investigators because he was afraid of getting roped up in a felony for the dentist.

Craig's next court date was scheduled for December 16, but without an attorney and with new charges looming its unclear when his case will actually make it before a judge.

The dentist first faced trouble with the law in 2023, when he allegedly determined he was going to kill his wife.

According to his arrest affidavit, Craig plotted the murder from his office, searching terms such as "undetectable poisons" online and later ordering crystalline metalloid arsenic from Amazon.

Five days before Angela died, Craig received a package at his office containing the "potassium cyanide," but an office worker opened the item and saw its contents, including a bright biohazard sticker.

On March 6, 9 and 15, Angela fell ill and went to the hospital to seek treatment. She reported feeling faint and dizzy during each visit. By her third visit, Aurora police were becoming suspicious of what kept putting her in the hospital. Angela died on March 18.

Shortly after her death, the office worker who found Craig's poisons became suspicious and reported their findings to the police.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Prosecutors have shot down Sean Diddy Combss insistence that he should be afforded the same free speech rights as President-elect Donald Trump when the rap star tried again to be released on bail following his indictment on sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation for prostitution charges.

After Combs was accused of trying to influence jurors from jail in an orchestrated online and phone campaign through friends and family, his attorneys argued in a filing Monday that he should have the same rights Trump enjoyed when he badgered law enforcement officials publicly and online in the election interference case following the storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

The case against Trump, brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith is being dropped because there is no precedent for such an action against a sitting president.

Combss attorney cited the District of Columbia Appeals court decision in United States v. Trump last December in which the court ruled that the former president could only be constrained in his attacks in the case in the event of a significant and imminent threat to the administration of criminal justice.

Attorneys for Sean Diddy Combs have argued he should be afforded the same First Amendement rights Trump enjoyed when he attacked officials in the election interference case against him. ( 2018 Invision )

The court ruled that Trump is free to make statements criticizing the current administration, the Department of Justice, and the Special Counsel, as well as statements that this prosecution is politically motivated or that he is innocent of the charges against him.

Combss attorneys argued that the court should apply Trumps heightened standard when considering restricting their clients speech.

But prosecutors in the Brooklyn case werent buying it.

In a response filed later Monday they argued that Trumps judges faced the unique task of balancing the right of a current candidate for the presidency to speak publicly about his charges against the publics right to a fair trial. They said that Combss communications are not protected by the First Amendment.

The defense team filing was in response to US District Court Judge Arun Subramanian, who last week asked both sides to explain if Combs public communications do or dont constitute obstruction of justice.

Combs has already been denied bail twice. The judge said Friday that he would decide on his latest bail application sometime this week. Combss trial is set for May 5.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

An FBI agent acquitted of attempted murder for shooting a man on a train nearly four years ago has been arrested for allegedly raping two women.

Eduardo Valdivia has been suspended by the FBI pending the conclusion of a police investigation in Montgomery County, Maryland, a bureau spokesperson said.

The FBI takes allegations of criminal violations and misconduct very seriously, the FBI spokesperson said in a statement. Because this is an ongoing investigation, the FBI cannot comment further.

Valdivia previously was charged and acquitted in 2022 of attempted second-degree murder and other charges stemming from an off-duty shooting aboard a moving Metro train near Washington, D.C.

Online court records show Valdivia now faces felony and misdemeanor charges, including two counts of second-degree rape. The dates of the alleged offenses are in May 2024 and September 2024.

Defense attorney Robert Bonsib, who represented Valdivia in the shooting case, confirmed that his client was arrested Monday.

We dont accept at first blush any of the allegations until all of the evidence is in, Bonsib said.

A spokesperson for the Montgomery County Police Department identified Valdivia as the arrested FBI agent without commenting on his connection to the shooting.

Police detectives believe there may be additional victims, and theyre planning a news conference on Tuesday to encourage them to come forward, the department said in a statement. Police didnt immediately release any other information about the charges.

Valdivia, 40, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, was ordered held in custody after his initial court appearance on Monday, Bonsib said. Valdivia is scheduled to return to court Tuesday for a bond hearing before a judge, Bonsib said.

Bonsib has said Valdivia joined the FBI in 2011 and was promoted to supervisory special agent at the FBI headquarters in 2019. The attorney said Valdivia had been working as an FBI agent since his acquittal.

On December 15, 2020, a confrontation between Valdivia and an unarmed passenger swiftly escalated from a testy exchange of words to a shooting on a train approaching the Medical Center station in Bethesda, Maryland.

Valdivia shot and wounded the man from a distance of roughly 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 meters) after repeatedly telling the man to back up, county prosecutor Robert Hill said in court. The wounded man had part or all of his spleen, colon and pancreas removed during surgery after the shooting, Hill said.

Bonsib has said Valdivia acted in self-defense as the man approached him at the rear of a train car.

The law does not require that you wait to be struck before you take action. Had this resulted in a hands-on fight and a struggle for Agent Valdivias gun, only God knows what could have happened, Bonsib said after Valdivia was charged.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Police in Houston are on the hunt for a 52-year-old man who they believe chased down and fatally hacked his neighbor at least 25 times with a machete.

Alvaro Lovos, 52, is suspected in the attack of his neighbor, 67-year-old Charlie Wilson, outside a convenience store in Houston. According to a police report, Wilson was hacked or stabbed 25 times, including 15 times after he was already lying motionless on the ground.

When police arrived at the scene of the stabbing on November 19, they found Wilson on the ground, suffering from numerous wounds. Wilson was reportedly pronounced dead at the scene from "multiple sharp force injuries with chop wounds of the head and neck," according to an autopsy report reviewed by The State.

The machete used in the attack, which was reportedly covered in bloodstains, was discovered at the scene.

Witnesses, including a clerk at the nearby convenience store, identified Lovos as a regular customer who lived in an apartment in a building attached to the store, according to Click2Houston.

open image in gallery Alvaro Lovos, 52, (pictured) is wanted by police for the alleged machete killing of his neighbor, Charlie Wilson, 67, in Houston on November 19 ( Houston Police Department )

open image in gallery Wilson, 62, was killed after he was hacked to death outside a Houston convenience store. Police say he was struck 15 times while on the ground ( Houston Police Department )

Police reviewed surveillance footage and identified Lovos as a potential suspect. They found and spoke to Lovos, who told them he saw two men walking away from Wilson's body.

According to ABC7, Wilson's family members who spoke to the broadcaster said Lovos hung around after the murder and spoke to them and to police while he was covered in blood.

He reportedly told Wilson's family that he tried to help him, explaining why he was covered in blood. Police did not arrest Lovos at that time, but later charged him with murder after they allegedly confirmed that he was the one behind the attack.

A motive for the murder has not been determined.

Wilson's brother, Willie Ray, told KTRK that he was confident the police would catch his brother's alleged killer.

Theyre gonna get him. He can run, but he cant hide, he said. Theyll soon catch up with him. He aint gonna get away.

Despite his confidence that the police will find him, he's still uneasy about the fact that Lovos is at large.

"I'm kinda nervous of him," Willie Ray told ABC7. "He might try to double back and do me."

At this time, Lovos is still at large. Police have asked that anyone with information about Lovos' location contact Houston authorities at 713-308-3600.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

A Massachusetts man was found guilty of assaulting a woman - because she didnt say good morning to him.

Ian Atkinson, 34, was convicted by a judge Monday of assault and battery and assault with a dangerous weapon, one year after trying to hit a 59-year-old woman with his car, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.

On the morning of July 13, 2023, a woman in Dorchester was watering her plants when Atkinson walked by and said to her: When people say good morning to you, you should say hi you crazy b****.

The woman, who was not named in the release, then began filming Atkinson on her cellphone. He got out of the black Mercedes he had entered and repeatedly punched the woman in the face before throwing her against the fence.

open image in gallery Ian Atkinson was convicted for assaulting a woman who didnt say good morning to him last July ( NBC 10 Boston )

She bit him, prompting him to stop assailing her.

After the attack Atkinson drove the Mercedes toward the victim, almost striking her, the DA said.

Police then arrived at the scene around 9am, finding the woman bleeding profusely from her nose. She was taken to a local hospital, where she was told she was suffering from a broken nose, contusions to her head and face, and a broken blood vessel in her left eye.

Both her cellphone video and surveillance footage captured the attack, the DA said. Atkinson was wearing a GPS monitoring device at the time of the attack and was arrested several days later.

His bench trial spanned just three days. On Monday, the judge found Atkinson guilty and sentenced him to two years in state prison followed by two years of probation.

For this victim, a pleasant summer morning descended into a violent and cruel ordeal for the most inexplicable of reasons. But, even as she was being attacked, she had the presence of mind to record video, and that decision, along with her brave testimony, provided enough evidence for the judge to make his decision, Hayden said. I join all the members of the community in thanking this survivor for her courage.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

A convicted killer tried to escape from prison twice in one day, breaking free from his handcuffs using homemade keys and getting his hands on an officers gun.

Michael McLellan, 40, was convicted of murdering 13-year-old Hania Noelia Aguilar in North Carolina in 2018. McLellan pleaded guilty to the teens killing and appeared in Robeson County Courthouse in Lumberton on Friday where he was sentenced to life behind bars.

But that same day, the convicted killer allegedly tried to escape from custody twice  once on his way to court and once on his way back from his sentencing.

Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins told WRAL News that, during his first attempt, McLellan used the homemade key to try to free himself from his leg restraints in the car on the way to the courthouse.

Officials noticed something was going on and stopped him.

On the way back from the courthouse, the inmate allegedly tried again.

That time, McLellan was able to remove a black box  an item connected to other chains  using a second homemade key as the vehicle traveled along Interstate 40, said Wilkins.

open image in gallery Hania Noelia Aguilar was kidnapped outside her North Carolina home in 2018 ( AP )

He was able to get all that off of him in the back seat. The next thing they know, hes reaching through what is an air vent that goes underneath the plexiglass, Wilkins told WRAL.

A struggle broke out and McLellan managed to grab a deputys gun, the sheriff said.

He was able to hit the latch that undoes the gun in the holster and actually have control of the weapon, Wilkins said.

The deputy behind the wheel slammed the brakes on while another officer fired pepper spray in McLellans face, the sheriff said.

McLellan gave in, saying I surrender and letting go of the gun, Wilkins said.

During the encounter, the convicted killer also reportedly said youre going to love this  believed to be referring to his escape plan.

McLellan had been behind bars since December 2018 when he was arrested for Aguilars kidnap, rape and murder.

The teen was abducted from her driveway and thrown into a family members idling SUV in the Rosewood Mobile Home Park in Lumberton on November 5 2018.

Weeks later on November 27 2018, her naked and partially decomposed body was found off a rural road. She had injuries consistent with sexual abuse, reported WRAL.

McLellan was arrested on December 8 2018 and originally charged with first-degree murder, first-degree rape, first-degree forced sex offense, statutory rape of a child, statutory sex offense with a child, first-degree kidnapping, felonious restraint, abduction of a child, concealing the death of a child and larceny of a motor vehicle.

He pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Police have arrested a man previously convicted of murder and rape who they say killed a woman in Washington state earlier this year.

Katie McQueen, a 37-year-old from Mariposa, California, was killed in the city of Lake Stevens on August 20. Police found her body with no clothes on and footprints nearby.

Now, Snohomish County police have placed 56-year-old Mark Christopher Downey in custody after a DNA sample linked him to her murder. Downey is a registered sex offender previously convicted of murder and rape of a child, local outlet King 5 reports.

The Washington State Patrol Crime Lab matched a DNA sample found on McQueens body to Downey on November 5, the Everett Herald reports, prompting police to search for him.

Downey was living in a group home for sex offenders earlier this year, the Herald reports. But, during a probation check in mid-September, a house manager told police Downey left weeks prior on his way to either Arizona or Mexico.

Thats when police discovered he was arrested in Mexico on August 25  less than a week after McQueens death  for violating his probation. At that point, he was transferred to police custody in Arizona, according to the Herald. From there, he was brought to the Snohomish County Jail on November 20.

Police say Downey initially claimed during a that he never met McQueen. But over the course of a five-hour interview with police, Downey repeatedly changed his story, the Herald reports, citing court documents.

One of Downeys stories included a version in which he only met McQueen once to drive her to the gas station, according to the Herald. He also claimed he watched someone else kill McQueen before later saying he killed McQueen in self-defense after she attacked him.

Eventually, Downey admitted to fatally stabbing the 37-year-old after she agreed to have sex with him but laughed when he couldnt become aroused, the Herald reports.

Probable cause for second degree murder was found and Downeys bail is set at $5 million, Snohomish County records indicate. The Snohomish County Prosecutors Office has until December 13 to press charges, according to King 5.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

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.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

A man hired to work on a roof died while on the job  but his body wasnt discovered until days later after a block holiday party, police say.

Authorities and paramedics responded to a November 23 report of an unresponsive male on the roof of a business at the 3500 block of West Magnolia Boulevard in Burbank, California, Burbank Police said.

Officers immediately began life-saving measures, but the unidentified man was pronounced dead, police said.

Police discovered the man had been hired to do some work on the roof and had passed away while doing the work, authorities said.

Authorities suspect no signs of foul play or trauma in the incident.

Police have not disclosed his name or age. Its not immediately clear who discovered the man on the roof.

The man was last seen on Thursday and a missing persons report was filed by his family on Friday, but his body wasnt found until Saturday, KTLA reported.

On Friday, November 22, Burbank held its annual Holiday in the Park event, where there was a vintage car show, live music, a holiday boutique, an art fair, a photo-op with Santa and food trucks. The city shuts down parts of Magnolia Boulevard.

The roofers body was found at a business within those closed blocks, the outlet reported.

The Los Angeles County Coroner Investigator responded and will be handling the investigation, police said.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

The identity of a schoolgirl whose remains were discovered under tarp in Pennsylvania has remained a mystery for more than half a century.

Now 51 years later, thanks to an extensive investigation including genetic genealogy and facial reconstruction technologies, the girl finally has a name.

Pennsylvania State Police announced on Thursday that the remains found in 1973 belong to 14-year-old Ruth Elizabeth Brenneman.

Brenneman had set off for school from her home in York County one morning at the beginning of the 1973 school year and never returned home. She was never seen alive again.

Ruthie, as she was known to her family, was just shy of her 15th birthday at the time.

On October 10 1973, two Lebanon County Game Wardens came across the girls decomposed remains in a wooded area off Moonshine Road near Ridge and Tomstown Road in Lebanon County  a rural highway surrounded by thick woodland and a spattering of houses, about 47 miles from York County.

open image in gallery Ruth Elizabeth Brennemann, 14, (pictured) vanished on her way to school in 1973 ( PA State Police )

Her body was hidden beneath undergrowth and plastic tarp, said police.

No cause of death was determined, no one was ever charged in connection to the girls death and her identity also remained a mystery.

Investigators spent decades working to finally identify the remains.

In 2016, the young girls remains were exhumed from Mount Lebanon Cemetery and taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital for examination, police said.

A 3D facial reconstruction image and bust of the girl were also made.

open image in gallery The remains were discovered by Lebanon County game wardens off of Moonshine Road (pictured) in Pennsylvania in 1973 ( Google Maps )

Then, in October 2024, thanks to a genealogy lab, the Pennsylvania State Police, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the remains were identified as belonging to Brennemann.

Brennemanns family said in a statement shared by police: The family wishes to extend our gratitude to Trooper Keck and the others who work on the Pennsylvania State Police team who worked diligently to identify Ruthie.

Their work has provided us with some closure on questions that have lingered for the past 51 years.

open image in gallery Pennsylvania State Police collaborated with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to create a 3D image of the childs face ( PA State Police )

The investigation into what happened to the teenager is far from over, though.

Pennsylvania State Police Sergeant Josh Lacey said at a press conference that there is suspicion surrounding her death.

It was an equivocal death meaning there was some level of suspicion to it given the fact that she was found underneath a tarp and some brush, he said.

open image in gallery A reconstructive bust was also made to try to identify the girl ( PA State Police )

Police would not confirm if there are any persons of interest in the case.

A $5,000 reward is being offered for information that helps solve the case.

Anyone with information should contact the Pennsylvania State Police Reading Station at 6103784454, their anonymous tipline at 1-800-4PA-TIPS (8477) or online at https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=107.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

A social media personality and Fox News regular known for his staunch criticism of crime, drug use and homelessness in San Francisco has been arrested on suspicion of pimping and pandering.

Ricci Wynne, 39, was detained alongside a 30-year-old woman, who is believed to be a sex worker, at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday evening after flying in from Miami, police said.

According to a police report reviewed by The San Francisco Standard, the alleged sex work mostly took place in Wynnes luxury apartment on Fremont Street.

open image in gallery Former Fox News presenter Tucker Carlson (left) with Ricci Wynne (right) in April 2023 ( Fox News )

It sometimes also involved travel to Salt Lake City, Las Vegas and Hawaii, police said.

A search warrant executed at Wynnes apartment allegedly found almost $80,000 in cash, according to SF Gate, as well as evidence of sex work on three cellphones belonging to Wynne, including texts from clients.

In one text message, an individual asked about a GFE (girlfriend experience), the police report said.

The conservative social media personality denied that he had been pimping out the woman for sex and that the phones belonged to him, while the woman denied that she was being trafficked or was working as a sex worker, according to the report.

Wynne was booked into San Francisco County Jail Monday morning, records from the San Francisco Sheriffs Office show. Police said that the unnamed woman was later released.

open image in gallery Fox News anchor Jesse Watters (left) with Ricci Wynne (right) in April 2023 ( Fox News )

Wynne has garnered more than 100,000 followers on Instagram and nearly 30,000 followers on X by posting videos of homeless drug users in the South of Market (SoMA) and Tenderloin neighborhoods.

The two areas accounted for 39 percent of accidental drug overdoses in the city last year, according to data from the Office of the City Administrator.

Writing on X earlier this month, the self-styled video vigilante also called on Robert F Kennedy Jr, Donald Trumps Health and Human Services secretary pick, to save San Francisco and declared the region MAGA City.

The video saw Wynne ask a man, who appeared to be homeless, whether a sore on his leg had maggots in it.

Wynne frequently appeared on Fox News early last year to discuss crime and drug use in the city, including as a guest on Jesse Watters Primetime and Tucker Carlson Tonight. He was last on the TV network in November 2023.

The former drug dealer-turned activist was convicted of possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute cocaine in 2019 after advertising a cocaine buffet on Snapchat. He was released on probation in December 2021.

The Independent has contacted the San Francisco Sheriffs Office for more information.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

A white Florida woman who fatally shot a Black neighbor through her front door during an ongoing dispute over the neighbor's boisterous children was sentenced Monday to 25 years in prison for her manslaughter conviction.

Susan Lorincz, 60, was convicted in August of killing 35-year-old Ajike "A.J." Owens by firing a single shot from her .380-caliber handgun in June 2023.

The shooting was the culmination of a long-running argument between the two neighbors over Owens' children playing in a grassy area near both of their houses in Ocala, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northwest of Orlando.

Prosecutors said Owens had come to Lorincz's home after her children complained that she had thrown roller skates and an umbrella at them, which Lorincz denied. Trial testimony showed Owens, a mother of four young children, was pounding on Lorincz's door and yelling, leading Lorincz to claim self-defense in shooting her neighbor.

Lorincz told detectives in a videotaped interview that she feared for her life. She also said she had been harassed for most of the three years she lived in the neighborhood.

"I thought I was in imminent danger," she said.

Jurors did not agree with her self-defense claim.

open image in gallery ( Marion County Sheriffs Office/Anthony D Thomas handout )

Owens' family pushed for the maximum prison sentence after Lorincz was convicted by an all-white jury.

"While the pain of losing Ajike, we are hopeful that justice will prevail and that the court will give Susan Lorincz the maximum penalty for her actions," said Owens' mother, Pamela Dias, in an email statement before Monday's sentencing. "Ajike's legacy will live on through her children, and we will continue to fight for justice."

Lorincz's attorney, Assistant Public Defender Amanda Sizemore, sought a more lenient sentence, an unspecified term below the 11.5 years in prison that is the lowest for her crime under state guidelines. Sizemore said in court documents that there are several reasons to justify a downward departure, including a mental disorder and claims that Owens was the aggressor and under "extreme duress" during the confrontation.

There were protests in the Black community in Ocala when prosecutors took weeks to charge Lorincz with manslaughter, a lesser count than second-degree murder, which carries a potential life prison sentence. Marion County, which includes Ocala, has a Black population of about 12%, according to census figures.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

An aspiring TikTok creator has disappeared after going out for a night at a strip club - and now police are searching with few answers on where he went.

Jiare Schneider, 31, disappeared on November 15 as he was visiting the Georgia club. Jasnique Oliver, Schneider's sister, told Fox 5 that he hadn't called his son in a few days, which she said was unusual for him.

"He calls his son like every day," she told the broadcaster, noting that Schneider's young son has a chromosomal disorder that requires his parents' attention.

She said that in addition to not checking in on his children, he also hadn't checked in online. Her older brother is apparently trying to grow his presence online using the handle "Big_Homie_TooTall" to create content on Instagram and TikTok.

When he hadn't posted in more than a week, his sister knew something was wrong.

Jiare Schneider, 31, disappeared on November 15, after spending a night at a Georgia strip club ( Clayton County Police Department )

"He wants to get himself out there, you know, whether its with his music, or whatever he wants to get into," she told the broadcaster.

A friend called Oliver on Saturday to tell her that he had been missing for a week.

"We are very concerned. Weve been trying to find out what happened to him for well over a week," she said.

Oliver and other members of her family flew to Georgia to file a police report and try to dig into Schneider's possible location. She said she and her family were in fear for his safety, and felt as though the people with him that night weren't being forthcoming with their information.

"We do feel like he could be in danger because were not getting any answers from people that were with him," she said.

Police in Clayton County said they have not found evidence of foul play in Schneider's disappearance, and Forest Park police have said they are currently running down all of the leads they have on his whereabouts.

Schneider is 6-foot 7-inches, and wears his hair in locks. He was last seen in a black sweater and long black pants.

Law enforcement in the area is asking that anyone with information regarding Schneider's whereabouts call authorities.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

The 50-year-old cold case of D.B. Cooper may have seen a new development after an amateur sleuth claims to have found the parachute used by the infamous, yet still unidentified plane hijacker.

YouTuber Dan Gryder said that he found a modified device matching the one used in the 1971 hijacking on a property in North Carolina, and has handed it over to the FBI.

Gryder, who has been looking into the case off and on for almost 20 years, said in a video series about his investigation that the rig was literally one in a billion. This is the rig he used... we just solved it, he says.

open image in gallery YouTuber Dan Gryder pictured holding what he believes to be the parachute used by the infamous and unidentified plane hijacker D.B. Cooper ( Probable Cause: Dan Gryder/ YouTube )

D. B. Cooper, also known as Dan Cooper, hijacked Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 on November 24 1971. During the flight, Cooper told a flight attendant he had a bomb, demanding $200,000 in ransom and four parachutes upon landing in Seattle.

However soon after taking off again with the intention of heading to Mexico, Cooper opened the aircrafts door and parachuted into the night over southwestern Washington. His true identity and whereabouts remain a mystery to this day.

Gryder found what he claims is Coopers parachute on a property owned by the family of the late Richard McCoy Jr  one of the men considered by the FBI to be a serious suspect in the case.

open image in gallery FBI artist rendering of D.B. Cooper, who hijacked Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 on November 24, 1971 ( FBI )

McCoy staged a near identical hijacking in April 1972, after boarding a flight in Denver, Colorado, and demanding four parachutes and $500,000 while brandishing a weapon. He later also bailed out of the aircraft.

McCoy was killed two years later in a shootout with FBI agents after he escaped from federal prison. Investigators have pointed out that his photo bears a striking resemblance to a sketch made of D.B. Cooper.

Despite Gryders handing over of the parachute, the FBI has yet to update the case status on its website. The last update was made in July 2016, in which the agency said it would no longer be actively investigating the case.

open image in gallery Gryder found the parachute rig on a property in North Carolina owned by the family of the late Richard McCoy, one of the men suspected to have been D.B. Cooper ( Probably Cause: Dan Gryder/ YouTube )

However, it added that should specific physical evidence emergerelated specifically to the parachutes or the money taken by the hijackerindividuals with those materials are asked to contact their local FBI field office.

According to Cowboy State Daily, McCoys children, Chante and Richard III, have said they agree with Gryders discovery and have long suspected their father was the hijacker.

In his series, Gryder said that FBI investigators told him a possible next step would be to exhume McCoys body and attempt to get a DNA match with evidence left behind.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Visitors who bought fridge magnets at Times Square or other tourist hotspots around New York in recent years most likely were purchasing the work of Du Jing or one of her fellow exporters in a small Chinese city that supplies the U.S. and the world with tons of small commodities.

Du and her husband run Yiwu Xianchuang Handicraft Manufacturing in the eastern city of Yiwu, home to the worlds largest wholesale market. Products from here - ranging from plushies to glass vases and portable toolboxes - are sold in stores and on online platforms around the world, including to U.S. consumers on Amazon.

For years, the United States has been a major destination for Chinese goods, but exporters like those in Yiwu have been reducing their reliance on the worlds largest consumer market as Beijing and Washington feud over trade. Some have moved production to Southeast Asia and other parts of the world to evade U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods.

Those trends look to accelerate under President-elect Donald Trump, who has threatened to sharply raise tariffs on all Chinese imports and close some loopholes exporters currently use to sell their products more cheaply in the U.S. If enacted, his plans would likely raise prices in America and squeeze sales and profit margins for Chinese exporters.

Chinese exporters are already looking at new markets

Du, speaking from her booth in the Yiwu wholesale market, the walls covered in colorful magnets and keychains, isnt sure whether higher tariffs or a worsening U.S. market are to blame. What she knows is sales are down.

The U.S. market has shrunk a lot, she said. It gives me the feeling that it has something to do with their financial situation.

American customers have been putting a lot of pressure on prices since 2019, frowning at any product that wholesales for more than 25 cents, she said.

In contrast, the Middle East has become a better market, with higher prices and increasingly larger orders, she said.

Elsewhere in the sprawling market, the owner of Yiwu Bixuan Import Export Co. Ltd., echoed her thoughts. Chen Yong's trading company exports glass vases and other home decor, and Chen said business with the U.S. and Europe has suffered over the past few years  but it has boomed with other regions such as Southeast Asia, Africa, South America and Russia.

The share of China's exports going to the U.S. dropped from 19% in 2018 to 15% last year, according to China customs data, even as China's overall exports are forecast to reach a record high this year.

Trump has mentioned tariff hikes of 60% or more. On Monday, he said he would impose an extra 10% tariff on goods from China and a 25% tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders.

Higher tariffs would force Chen to raise prices or accept lower profit margins, he said. If American customers wont accept higher prices, the only choice would be to turn elsewhere.

We have to wait and see how much he will increase the tariff before knowing how big the impact on us can be, he said. We dont know now.

An expert says 'no one can face' 60% tariffs

A 60% tariff would have a severe impact on Chinese exports to the U.S., said Tu Xinquan, director of the China Institute for WTO Studies at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.

Many companies will completely halt their trade with the U.S., he predicted. "If the tariffs were not that huge, larger companies could cope better with the situation than medium and small companies. But if its 60%, no one can face that.

Light manufacturing and textiles are among the industries expected to be hit hardest by new tariffs, along with steel and computers, according to a report by Chinese brokerage Caicong Securities.

During his first term in office, Trump imposed tariffs on more than $360 billion worth of Chinese products. The tariffs put the brakes on a fairly steady rise in Chinese exports to the U.S. They fell at first, then bounced back as the U.S. economy boomed, before leveling off at $500 billion last year.

The Biden administration kept most of Trump's duties and layered on fresh ones on products such as steel, solar cells and electric vehicles. Bidens approach has focused on sectors considered strategic, such as artificial intelligence and green energy. Trumps proposed blanket tariffs could spill over into daily-use goods, pressuring smaller manufacturers like those in Yiwu.

Furniture, toys and games were among the top Chinese export categories to the U.S. last year  after electronics and machinery  according to trade data compiled by the United Nations.

Trump wants to end an exemption for shipments under $800

Trump has vowed to close loopholes through which Chinese goods bypass U.S. tariffs. One such loophole is an exemption that allows small packages under $800 to enter the U.S. duty free. Many of the products sold through Amazons third-party marketplace and on the Chinese platforms Temu and Shein qualify for this exemption.

Bidens administration proposed restricting the tax waiver for goods subject to U.S.-China tariffs, and Trump is expected to move forward with such restrictions, analysts said.

This would be a crushing blow to Chinese exporters who have built business models around those low-value exports, said Eswar Prasad, a professor of trade policy at Cornell University and a former head of the China division at the International Monetary Fund.

It would also be a big loss to low-income American consumers," said Gary Hufbauer, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, D.C. "Evidence shows that they really benefit from the exemption.

Some Chinese companies are moving production abroad

One workaround for Chinese companies has been moving production abroad. Since Trump started a trade war with China during his first administration, the average U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods have been about 20%, according to Ma Hong, a professor of economics at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

To avoid these tariffs, some Chinese companies have shifted their factories to countries like Vietnam and Mexico.

Shenzhen HIHO Luggage and Bag Industry Development Co., Ltd. opened a factory in Indonesia in 2021. The luggage producer employs about 600 workers in Indonesia and has a similar workforce in China, where it runs factories in three provinces.

The company exports about a quarter of its production to the U.S., according to its marketing director, Steven Wang. He believes that some of the companys clients in Mexico may also be reselling their products to the U.S.

No one likes to do business at a loss, Wang said. If Trump imposes any additional tariffs on Chinese goods from ASEAN countries or Mexico, we may need to move the factories somewhere else.

___

Mistreanu reported from Taipei, Taiwan. Associated Press video producer Wayne Zhang in Yiwu and researcher Yu Bing in Beijing contributed to this report.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

A rural doctor travels miles of unforgiving terrain by donkey, enduring cold, rain, wind and exhaustion, to visit several dozen families scattered across the highest mountain in the north of Argentina.

Dr. Jorge Fusaro has organized medical tours three times a year for the past four years across Cerro Chani in Jujuy. Chani is considered a sacred mountain by the indigenous Kolla people who live there. It has extreme temperatures, year-round snowy peaks, and is home to animals full of symbolism, like the puma and condor.

Fusaro is not only the only doctor many people see, sometimes he's the only outsider. Doctors may be the only representatives of the state to reach this mountainous region. There are no schools, police, or postal services. Fusaro not only treats residents and leaves enough medicine for their first-aid kits, he also helps them with bureaucratic paperwork, serves as a mail carrier for delivering important documents to relatives in the city, and organizes training sessions, among other tasks.

open image in gallery Dr. Jorge Fusaro visits with residents while warming himself by a fire in Despensa on the Cerro Chani, ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Knowing that our medical work gave these communities a better life fills my heart. If we dont go, no one will, reflects the 38-year-old doctor. He's worried that government cuts will make future trips impossible. He's already had to cancel one trip due to lack of funding.

For some people, his arrival is the first time they've seen a doctor. They are surprised he keeps coming back.

open image in gallery Dr. Jorge Fusaro examines Issac Santos during a home visit in the rural community of Pie de la Cuesta ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Its almost noon, and the sun blazes down at nearly 3,600 meters (11,800 feet) above sea level in Ovejeria, a settlement where only 67-year-old Dona Virginia Cari, her husband Eustaquio Balderrama, and their son Panchito remain. Inside an adobe kitchen with a thatched roof, Fusaro chops onions and peels potatoes to help Virginia prepare lunch. He asks her about her daily chores, her animals, her husbands health, the weather, her children living far away, and her medicinal plants.

My idea of sharing is essential. Making the most of the short time we spend in the communities and trying to live as they do; if we need to chop wood or walk for hours to fetch water, we do it," he said. That way, we understand their efforts and worries, their knee or back pain. If they dont have a bed and we need to sleep on a sheeps hide, we do it; if they only have soup at night, we drink soup. This helps us think of medical solutions within their possibilities and daily lives.

open image in gallery Public health agent Santos Ramos guides Dr. Jorge Fusaro on rented mules through the rocky terrain of the Cerro Chan ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Dona Virginia says it's important for her and her family to see this rural doctor a few times a year.

"Im very happy when I see the doctor arrive on his mule. He brings the medicines we take here for months," she said. The work with animals is hard; were old, and our bodies ache.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Drake says his record company should have chosen to stop label mate and avowed rival Kendrick Lamar from releasing diss track Not Like Us, but instead turned it into a viral mega-hit to hurt the Canadian rappers career.

In a petition filed in a Texas court on Monday afternoon and made public Tuesday, the Toronto-born performer piled a raft of additional accusations against Universal Music Group (UMG), just hours after leveling the bombshell claim that the media giant artificially juiced streams of Lamars song  which dubs Drake a pedophile  while suppressing his own work.

Earlier this year, [Lamar] presented UMG with a new song called Not Like Us, the Texas filing states. Before it approved the release of the song, UMG knew that the song itself, as well as its accompanying album art and music video, attacked the character of another one of UMGs most prominent artists, Drake, by falsely accusing him of being a sex offender, engaging in pedophilic acts, harboring sex offenders, and committing other criminal sexual acts. Specifically, the song calls Drake a certified pedophile, a predator, and someone whose name should be registered and placed on neighborhood watch.

However, the filing continues, UMG has exclusive control over the licensing of Not Like Us and could have refused to release or distribute the song or required the offending material to be edited and/or removed.

But UMG chose to do the opposite, it contends. UMG designed, financed, and then executed a plan to turn Not Like Us into a viral mega-hit with the intent of using the spectacle of harm to Drake and his businesses to drive consumer hysteria and, of course, massive revenues. That plan succeeded, likely beyond UMGs wildest expectations.

open image in gallery The Toronto-born performer piled a raft of additional accusations against Universal Music Group ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Drakes initial shot across UMGs bow asked a judge to order the label to preserve all records of its communications with Spotify, alleging it bribed the streaming service to push Not Like Us, and used a network of bots to make the smash hit seem more popular than it actually was. The Texas filing says UMG used similar tactics with iHeartMedia, which is headquartered in San Antonio, and asks the court to order iHeart execs to sit for a deposition and reveal details of the alleged conspiracy.

The latest filing says Drakes team has enough evidence against UMG to pursue a defamation claim, and that, depending on what comes out at the depositions, may also pursue claims of civil fraud and RICO violations.

The record-shattering spread of Not Like Us on streaming, sales, and radio play was deliberate, and appears to have relied upon irregular and inappropriate business practices, the filing states.

It says that Drake has learned of at least one UMG employee paying off an independent radio promoter who got Not Like Us played on the air without [the stations] disclosing to their listeners that they had been paid by UMG to do so. Drake has been unable to confirm whether any iHeartRadio stations were among the stations paid as part of UMGs pay-to-play scheme or whether there were any direct payments from UMG to iHeartRadio to promote Not Like Us, according to the filing.

But, it continues, Given iHeartMedias status as the number one audio company in the country, Petitioner believes that UMG engaged in similar tactics to drive radio play of Not Like Us on iHeartMedia stations.

A UMG source called the overall claims nonsense, saying the label has poured millions of dollars into Drakes career, and pushed back firmly on the notion it would intentionally try to harm one of its most popular artists.

A UMG spokesman later responded with an official statement, saying, The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue. We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns. No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.

On Tuesday, a source from Drakes camp told The Independent, This action is targeted at UMG, not iHeart. We know UMG engaged in this manipulative campaign. We dont know who else joined in, so the point of this filing is to find out.

In an email, iHeartMedia spokeswoman Wendy Goldberg declined to comment, as the company is not accused of any alleged wrondoing.

Drake and Lamar have been beefing for the better part of a decade, with Lamar, for the most part, coming out on top.

Following Mondays filing, some hip-hop fans lambasted Drake for the move.

Drake is the first rapper to ever run to court after losing a rap battle, one user posted on X.

Drake taking it to court after losing a rap battle is not hip-hop, another wrote. At all.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Amid an ongoing battle royal with hip-hop icon Kendrick Lamar , Canadian rapper Drake now claims their shared record label secretly gamed the system to artificially inflate his avowed rivals most recent diss track, in which Lamar accuses the former child star of being a certified pedophile, while suppressing his own music.

In an eyepopping court filing obtained by The Independent, Drake , born Aubrey Drake Graham, says Universal Music Group (UMG) used a network of bots, in conjunction with a so-called pay-to-play scheme, to manipulate and saturate the streaming services and airwaves with Lamars smash hit song  Not Like Us , all to Drakes detriment.

The filing accuses UMG, which has deals with both performers, of paying Spotify to recommend Not Like Us to users who are searching for other unrelated songs and artists, claiming the label also paid Apple to have Siri purposely misdirect users requesting songs from Drakes catalog, serving up Not Like Us in its place. UMGs ploy, the filing argues, created the false impression that the Song was more popular than it was in reality. Making matters even stickier, Drake says in the filing that UMG has tried to hide its alleged propping up of Lamar at Drakes expense by terminating employees associated with or perceived as having loyalty to Drake.

open image in gallery Kendrick Lamar has been locked in a battle with Drake for years ( Getty Images )

According to the filing  a petition by Drake and his company, Frozen Moments LLC, asking the court to order UMG and Spotify to preserve all relevant documents and communications in advance of a pending lawsuit  UMG has so far refused to engage with Drake over the issue, instead pointing the finger at Lamar and telling Drake to sue Lamar, not UMG.

But a source from Drakes camp said on Monday, shortly after the petition was filed in New York State Supreme Court, that Drake is upset with UMGs allegedly shady business practices, not Lamar or his lyrics. (Drake has hit back at Lamar with his own tracks, calling the Compton rapper a domestic abuser and casting doubt on the paternity of his child.) Further, the source told The Independent, if Drake is successful at tamping down wrongdoing throughout the industry, the result could help protect other, less well-known artists from future exploitation.

In an email, a UMG spokesman said, The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue. We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns. No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.

Spotify declined to comment. The attorneys representing Drake declined to comment on the record for this story.

UMG was one of Spotifys earliest supporters, inking a multi-year global licensing agreement with the streaming giant in 2020, Drakes court filing states. It cites UMGs financial reporting, which showed some $2.3 billion in earnings from Spotify in 2023, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the labels revenues.

open image in gallery Spotify streams are at the center of a legal filing by Drake, who contends his label has shown preference to rival Kendrick Lamar ( AFP via Getty Images )

In May of this year, with streaming so important to its bottom line, UMG did not rely on chance, or even ordinary business practices, to achieve success with Lamars latest release, according to the filing.

It instead launched a campaign to manipulate and saturate the streaming services and airwaves with a song, Not Like Us, in order to make that song go viral, including by using bots and pay-to-play agreements, the filing states, claiming UMG charged Spotify 30 percent less than its usual licensing rates in exchange for Spotify pushing recommendations for Not Like Us to users who are searching for other unrelated songs and artists.

Neither UMG nor Spotify disclosed that Spotify had received compensation of any kind in exchange for recommending the Song, the filing contends, claiming that such practices contravene the Communications Act of 1934.

In June, a whistleblower revealed on a podcast that Lamars label had paid him to set up a bot network that would generate 30 million streams on Spotify in the first few days after the May 3 release of Not Like Us, according to the filing. The leaker claimed he had been promised a cash payment plus a percentage of the songs sales in exchange for his help. The filing says UMG also paid to quietly inflate the number of views Lamars Not Like Us video received, paid traditional radio stations for extra airplay, and claims the labels alleged under-the-table streaming deals extended beyond Spotify.

Online sources reported that when users asked Siri to play the album Certified Loverboy by recording artist Aubrey Drake Graham d/b/a Drake, Siri instead played Not Like Us, which contains the lyric certified pedophile, an allegation against Drake, the filing states.

open image in gallery Drake claims his streams have been suppressed beyond Spotify, extending all the way to Siri recomendations ( Getty Images for The Recording A )

UMG, additionally, paid social media influencers to promote and endorse Lamars song, without either side disclosing the financial arrangement, according to the filing, which says the arrangement generated nearly 900 million streams on Spotify for Not Like Us, a record for the most streams ever in a single day for a hip-hop song, and the most-streamed diss track in Spotify history. The song was also a massive hit on radio, and became the best-selling rap song of 2024, the filing states. The motivation behind UMGs schemes, according to Drakes filing, was entirely financial. It claims the colossal success of Not Like Us has, in turn, juiced sales of Lamars back catalog, making even more money for UMG.

Drakes filing even alleges that he has received information that UMG has been taking steps in an apparent effort to conceal its schemes, including, but not limited to, by terminating employees associated with or perceived as having loyalty to Drake.

Streaming and licensing is a zero-sum game, the filing concludes. Every time a song breaks through, it means another artist does not. UMGs choice to saturate the music market with Not Like Us comes at the expense of its other artists, like Drake.

Last month, nu-metal band Limp Bizkit sued UMG , claiming the label has not paid them despite their songs being streamed more than half a billion times.

Drake is accusing UMG and Spotify of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), as well as the NY Deceptive Business Act and the NY False Advertising Act.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

An animal rights extremist accused of carrying out two California bombings in 2003 was arrested in the UK after being on the run for more than twenty years.

Daniel Andreas San Diego, 46, was arrested Monday in a rural area of north Wales, the National Crime Agency said on Tuesday. San Diego was one of the FBIs most wanted fugitives, with officials offering a $250,000 reward for information on him.

Investigators say San Diego planted two bombs that exploded about an hour apart on August 28, 2003, on the campus of a biotechnology company in Emeryville, California. He's also accused of setting off another bomb police say was strapped with nails at a nutritional products company in Pleasanton, California, a month later.

open image in gallery A photo from 2009 showing FBI Assistant Director of the Counterterrorism Division Michael J. Heimbach announcing Daniel Andreas San Diego as the latest addition to the FBIs Most Wanted Terrorist List ( AFP via Getty Images )

The bombings didn't injure anyone, but authorities said the biotechnology bomb was intended to harm first responders.

Police believe San Diego bombed the firms because they worked with another organization that had conducted experiments on animals, according to NBC. The FBI says the 46-year-old is a vegan who worked as a computer network specialist and has owned a handgun.

"Daniel San Diego's arrest after more than 20 years as a fugitive for two bombings in the San Francisco area shows that no matter how long it takes, the FBI will find you and hold you accountable," FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement.

"There's a right way and a wrong way to express your views in our country, and turning to violence and destruction of property is not the right way, he added.

San Diego is in custody after making his first court appearance in Westminster Magistrates' Court to face extradition.

Additional reporting from AP.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

A pilot who became renowned for rescuing animals has died in a plane crash in New York state while transporting three rescue dogs said officials.

Seuk Kim, 49, of Springfield had been piloting a small aircraft with the animals on board from Maryland to Albany on Sunday when he reportedly lost control and smashed into a woodland in Windham, New York roughly 35 miles southwest of his final destination, said Greene County Sheriff's Office NY on Monday.

A preliminary investigation found that he died upon impact, said Greene County Sheriff Peter Kusminsky as per CBS.

A homage to the Virginia father-of-three was posted on an online obituary: It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Seuk Kim, who left us far too soon while living his dream and making the world a kinder place.

Two of the dogs  one a Labrador-mix puppy named Whiskey sustained injuries including two broken legs, said Greene County Sheriff's Office NY. Another, an 18-month-old Yorkshire terrier mix called Pluto, suffered minor injuries, reported CBS.

Kusminsky described the state of the injured pup to CBS: "It was pretty scared and it was dug down into the snow."

open image in gallery Kim regularly undertook dog-rescue endeavors across the US ( Sourced )

The animals were taken to Hyer Ground Rescue along with PAW (Partners for Animal Welfare) for care, said Greene County authorities.

However, the pilot with a zest for life along with a third dog did not survive.

At the time of the incident, conditions had been poor with reduced visibility. Kim reportedly made an altitude request after experiencing turbulence on board just before the crash, Fox5 reported.

His 16-year-old daughter Leah Kim said that her father died doing what he loved, which was saving animals, wrote the outlet.

The fundraiser posted in memory of the 49-year-old said: From a young age, Seuk dreamed of taking to the skies, and he made that dream a reality by becoming a pilot.

open image in gallery A Labrador-mix puppy named Whiskey survived the crash with two broken legs and was taken to a veterinary hospital in Middleton, Connecticut said CBS ( Greene County Sheriff's Office NY )

He found immense joy in flying and used his passion to help others, including his recent work with a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing and transporting dogs to safe homes.

On his Facebook profile, Kim posted regularly about his pet-saving endeavors and embarked on numerous flights across the US to rehabilitate and help rehome animals in need.

In October he wrote: Ive flown hundreds of dogs and never has one chewed and gnawed through a crate to get out and stand on it, looking so proud like she had conquered it (laughing emoji). Could have gone badly I suppose if she wasnt such a great dog.

Velma (the wiry escape artist) is available to adopt out of Stafford/Fredricksburg area if anyone is interested.

A spokesperson from the National Transportation Safety Board told The Independent on Tuesday: Two NTSB investigators arrived at the accident site Monday afternoon.

Today they are documenting the accident site and airplane wreckage. The wreckage will then be moved to a secure facility for further evaluation.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday could get a little dicey this year, with winter weather forecast to impact a wide swath of the U.S. during the next few days.

A record 80 million Americans are expected to hit the roads and and another 30 million in the skies over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period, between today and and Monday, according to AAA.

They may have to contend with snow in the Midwest, thunderstorms along the Gulf Coast, more precipitation pounding an already-saturated West Coast and the possibility of messy Thanksgiving travel in the eastern U.S.

open image in gallery Snow and rain are set to impact larger portions of the U.S. this week as people begin to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday ( AP )

This unsettled weather is forecast before temperatures are projected to plummet during the last week of November and the first days of December.

Heres a look at the holiday week weather forecast:

Today

open image in gallery Snow piles up on a statue during a storm last weekend in Mammoth Lakes, California. The state will see dry conditions after days of unsettled weather ( (Cody Mathison/Mammoth Mountain via AP) )

While snow is expected to end over the Rockies this morning, the low pressure system responsible for the snowfall will intensify and move through the Midwest and into the Northeast through Thanksgiving.

One tricky travel area will be in and around the Denver area as snow spreads across the area on Wednesday, where 1-3 inches of snow is expected to fall, said AccuWeather Meteorologist Emma Belscher.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are also expected across the Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley, and Tennessee Valley through the afternoon. The rain will move east through Thursday, as well.

open image in gallery Motorists slowly navigate the southbound lanes of Pena Boulevard to leave Denver International Airport on Tuesday. Snow is expected to end over the Rockies this morning ( (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) )

Temperatures from the Southern Plains into the Gulf Coast will be above average, and the West Coast was forecast to see dry conditions after days of wet weather.

Today will be the last day of above average temperatures throughout the South.

Elsewhere, snow showers across the Upper Great Lakes may yield anywhere from 4-8 inches over the northern coastline of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan as well as northern parts of the Lower Peninsula, the National Weather Service said.

Thursday

The weather will turn on Thursday, bringing some potentially severe thunderstorms across the Southeast and a significant arctic outbreak in the northern Plains.

Rain could cause ponding on roadways and lightning delays are possible at airports in cities from Houston to Atlanta, AccuWeather forecasters stated.

Thunderstorms Wednesday night into Thursday across the South can spell trouble for any last-minute travelers as they can be accompanied by flooding downpours, damaging wind gusts and even isolated tornadoes, warned Belscher.

open image in gallery Travelers rush to their gate at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Tuesday in Georgia. Millions of people are expected to travel during the holiday through airports ( (AP Photo/Olivia Bowdoin) )

To the north, the mid-Atlantic will have rain and snow in some areas. The western Great Lakes will continue to see snow showers, with dangerous wind chill temperatures and heavy lake effect snow likely downwind of the region.

In the eastern U.S., FOX Weather said a Thanksgiving Day storm would cause last-minute travel troubles that will likely last until Black Friday and the start of the weekend.

Rain is forecast in New York City, Philadelphia, Boston and Washington, D.C..

All of this comes as the National Weather Service alerted Americans about a significant arctic outbreak that would arrive in the northern Rockies and Plains on Thanksgiving into Friday.

open image in gallery On Thanksgiving, the mid-Atlantic and the Great Lakes regions will see rain and snow ( AP )

A record number of people will be traveling, AAA predicted. The group projects that a record 71.7 million will head out by car, 5.84 million will fly domestically, and close to 2.3 million are expected to travel by modes of transportation, including buses, cruises and trains.

The most weather-delayed airports during the holidays are San Francisco International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Boston Logan International Airport, according to AccuWeather.

Friday

Travelers should expect significant delays, with major airports likely to see cancellations and delays in the early morning.

Chilly air over the Great Lakes will bring lake-effect snow.

open image in gallery Travelers walk through the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport on Monday in Maryland. Post-holiday travel will continue to be tricky with weather systems across the nation on Friday ( (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) )

Post-holiday travelers near the Great Lakes will not be in the clear as lake-effect snow will continue into the weekend, Belscher said.

A swath of light to moderate snowfall is likely to develop across portions of the interior Northeast, with the Northern Appalachians forecast to receive 4-8 inches of snow by Friday morning, the National Weather Service noted.

The arctic outbreak will move south and east through the Plains and Midwest this weekend.

Dangerous wind chill temperatures are expected with a significant long duration lake effect snow event possible downwind of the Great Lakes, the National Weather Service said.

The National Retail Foundation also expects a record number of in-store and online shoppers from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday. This year should see 183.4 million, up from 182 million last year.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Donald Trump Jr said his father has discussed banning mainstream media journalists from the White House press briefing room.

The president-elects son said on his podcast, Triggered with Donald Trump Jr, that they were considering opening up the briefing room to podcasters like Joe Rogan when asked if it was time to take away seats belonging to traditional media.

I wonder now, as your father is assembling his team, as maybe (the incoming White House press secretary) Karoline Leavitt is looking at the new press briefing room chart, maybe its time to reorder that chart and maybe take away some peoples seats, Daily Wire political commentator Michael Knowles pondered.

Were gonna break some news here, Trump Jr replied. Because I literally had this conversation withI was flying backI was on the plane with my father, I think it was coming back from the SpaceX launch with Elon [Musk] last week. And we were talking about the podcast world and some of our friends and Rogan and guys like you.

Trump Jr said his father was considering his options given how the media has behaved.

We had the conversation about opening up the press room to a lot of these independent journalists, he said. If the New York Times has lied, theyve been averse to everything, theyre functioning as the marketing arm to the Democrat party, why not open it up to people who have larger viewerships, stronger followings?

open image in gallery Donald Trump hosted Michael Knowles on his podcast where they discussed taking away seats in the briefing room from mainstream journalists ( Triggered with Donald Trump Jr/Rumble )

We had that conversation. That may be in the works, he added.

However, whether or not podcasters like Rogan, who is based in Austin, Texas, will logistically be able to attend daily briefings at the White House is another matter.

Trump often lashes out atthe mainstream media and the failing New York Times. Last night in a Truth Social rant, he demanded an apology for its junk coverage of him, singling out its correspondent Maggie Haberman for particular criticism.

Will the failing New York Times apologize to its readers for getting years of Trump coverage so wrong, the president-elect wrote in the post.

They write such phony junk, knowing full well how incorrect it is, only meaning to demean.

open image in gallery Donald Trump poses for a photo with popular podcaster Joe Rogan ( Getty Images )

Pivoting to Haberman, Trump mockingly misspelled the reporters name as he wrote: Magot Hagerman, a third rate writer and fourth rate intellect, writes story after story, always terrible, and yet I almost never speak to her.

During the campaign Trump, 78, courted young male voters by engaging with YouTubers and bro podcasters, many of whom were young, wildly popular with Gen-Z and sympathetic toward his MAGA movement.

Trump sat down with podcasters like The Nelk Boys and Theo Von. He also went on Logan Pauls Impaulsive podcast, gifting him a t-shirt featuring his Fulton County, Georgia mugshot.

His 18-year-old son Barron and friend Bo Loudon were reportedly responsible for getting Trump to sit down with Kick influencer Adin Ross in August and, towards the end of the campaign, he appeared on Rogans podcast, where he reached an audience of nearly 40 million.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Elon Musk blew up in a post on X after California Gov. Gavin Newsom floated the possibility of providing tax credits for buyers of electric vehicles that might not include Tesla.

This is insane! complained Musk, who has been chosen by President-elect Donald Trump to head a new federal efficiency department to cut waste from the government.

Newsoms office announced Monday that it plans to relaunch Californias subsidy of up to $7,500 in tax credits for buyers of electric vehicles if Trump cuts the same EV federal tax credit, as hes expected to do.

Californias potential plan would likely not include Musks cars because the program would be aimed at helping carmakers with smaller market shares, both Bloomberg and The New York Timesreported. Tesla accounted for 56 percent of new EV sales in California during this years third quarter.

Newsoms office has not yet confirmed that Tesla would be carved out from the program.

California Gov. Gavin Newsoms possible plan to cut Tesla buyers out of new EV tax credits is driving Elon Musk nuts. ( AP )

Musk complained in his post that Tesla is the only EV company that makes its cars in California. Teslas biggest factory in the country is still its operation in Fremont, California, even though Musk moved Teslas headquarters to Texas in 2021.

California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, whose district includes Musks Fremont factory, noted on X: Tesla makes over 550,000 vehicles in Fremont in my district & employs over 20,000. Lets not play politics with keeping manufacturing in California. It would be foolish to exclude Tesla.

Musk in July supported elminating tax credits for electic vehicle buyers, many spectulated because it would hurt competitors at a time Tesla had already captured the leading EV market share.

Take away the subsidies. It will only help Tesla, he wrote.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Eric Trump appeared to mix up tariffs and sanctions during an appearance on Fox News on Monday night, aggressively going after Mexico, Canada, and China as his top targets.

You want to allow drugs to come through our southern border? We're going to tariff you, he said. You want to allow them to come through Canada? We're going to tariff you.

Donald Trumps second son proceeded to rant about costing the economies of the three countries billions, while failing to acknowledge the impact tariffs have on American consumers as prices on imported goods are inevitably hiked in response.

open image in gallery Eric Trump appears on Fox News on Monday, November 25, 2024. He aggressively went after Mexico, Canada, and China ( Screenshot / Fox News )

His president-elect father pledged on Monday to hike tariffs on goods from Mexico, China, and Canada in an attempt to get them to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs coming into the U.S.

Trump threatened to put in place a tariff of 25 percent on Canada and Mexico. Eric Trumps Fox News hit came just moments after the former president posted on Truth Social that China would face additional tariffs.

I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States  But to no avail, he wrote.

Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before, he claimed.

Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10 percent Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America.

open image in gallery Trumps argument is that putting tariffs on imported goods will help American businesses flourish ( REUTERS )

Eric Trump continued his fathers rant on Fox News, going after China.

China, if you're going to allow this stuff to get sold in our country, largely produced in China, we're going to add another 10 percent ... We are going to cost your countries, your economies, we're going to cost your businesses billions, hundreds of billions of dollars if you think ... you're going to poison Americans, he said.

It's not going to happen. You're not going to destroy our youth. You're not going to destroy our society. You're not going to destroy our families. You're not going to do it. It's going to cost you.

The president-elect said on numerous occasions during the campaign that a tariff is not a cost to the American consumer but to another country. But at least one rather significant group disagrees  economists.

A popular delusion is that foreigners would bear the burden, the Bloomberg editorial board wrote before the election.

Tariffs are paid to the government by the retailer or manufacturer importing the products, not the country where the goods were purchased from. Trumps tariffs may help some companies whose products are already made in the U.S., but economists have warned that tariffs would raise costs for US companies who have to buy goods from abroad.

U.S. companies may take on that extra cost and make a smaller profit, or as is more likely, they could pass those costs on to the American consumer.

Washington Post and CNN political commentator Catherine Rampell noted on Bluesky on Monday that If you voted out the incumbent because you thought grocery prices were too high, I got some bad news from you.

For example, 90 percent of our avocados come from Mexico. Guac is REALLY gonna cost extra, she added.

We import $105B in cement/lime/minerals and $28B in lumber/paper from Canada. We also *already* tariff that lumber to death, Rampell said. Expect construction costs to go through the roof.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

MSNBC host Jen Psaki took the opportunity this week to offer several compliments about President-elect Donald Trumps controversial pick for secretary of defense, noting that Pete Hegseth should be credited with his military service and television hosting talent.

At the same time, the former White Press secretary launched into a withering critique of the ex-Fox News stars ability to lead the Pentagon, specifically highlighting the graphic allegations of sexual assault that have come to light since Hegseth was first nominated by Trump.

Psaki also pointed out that much of the spotlight on Capitol Hill has shifted to Hegseths confirmation after Matt Gaetz withdrew his nomination for attorney general. With allegations of sex trafficking a minor swirling around him, not to mention the hard feelings many Republicans still held over his knee-capping of Kevin McCarthys speakership, Gaetz was facing an uphill battle in the Senate and Trump himself reportedly told the former congressman it was a lost cause.

Some Republican senators, meanwhile, are hoping that Hegseth will follow Gaetzs lead and also drop out rather than go through a messy confirmation, though others have parroted Hegseths claim that his accuser was the aggressor. A recently released police report alleges that the former Fox & Friends host prevented a woman from leaving his hotel room before sexually assaulting her in 2017. Insisting that the sexual encounter was consensual, Hegseth has maintained his innocence , though he did later pay a confidential settlement to the unidentified woman last year to prevent a potential lawsuit.

Jen Psaki discusses Pete Hegseths nomination on MSNBC ( MSNBC )

Now, just for a moment, to his credit, Hegseth is a veteran who has served in the Army National Guard overseas in both Afghanistan and Iraq, Psaki said on Sundays broadcast on Inside with Jen Psaki. I will also say that Hegseth is pretty good on TV. Which, as a general skill set, I can tell you, is not a bad thing to have in your cabinet.

She continued: For about a decade, he has worked at Fox News as a contributor and host, and we know Trump loves Fox News hosts. And Hegseth has also written a number of books.

That was it, however, for the niceties.

But heres the thing, Psaki stated. On TV and in those books, Pete Hegseth has also pushed some out-there ideas, even echoing the notion often repeated by Donald Trump that America is filled with enemies from within.

Asserting that alone should be enough to potentially endanger Hegseths confirmation, Psaki then told viewers that she was going to walk you through what we know about the ex-Fox News star. From there, she detailed Hegseths alleged sexual assault of a woman at a California hotel.

Playing a clip of Hegseth saying he was completely cleared by police in the investigation of the incident, Psaki noted that isnt exactly what law enforcement said.

Now, to be clear, Pete Hegseth was not cleared, and the 22-page police report released this week shows that its not as simple as hed have you believe, she said.

After further going through the report, she pointed out that several GOP lawmakers have come to Hegseths defense, invoking his denials while dismissing the allegations as merely hearsay or a he-said/she-said situation.

Is he denies it really the standard were setting for the person whos supposed to do that? Is he denies it really good enough in the face of that damning set of circumstances I just read to you? I sure hope not. It shouldnt be, Psaki concluded her monologue.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Kamala Harris has told her aides to keep her options open in case she decides to run for president again in 2028, according to reports.

Sources close to the Harris family told Politico that the vice president has vowed to "stay in the fight" and may even run to be governor of California in 2026.

The sources said Harris would be pondering her path forward over the coming holiday season, but has told allies and advisers she doesn't want to rule anything out.

In particular, she is said to be planning out how and when she will criticise Donald Trump as she strives to "reassert" her prominence in the Democratic Party.

"She doesnt have to decide if she wants to run for something again in the next six months," one former Harris campaign aide told Politico.

"The natural thing to do would be to set up some type of entity that would give her the opportunity to travel and give speeches and preserve her political relationships."

Harris has reportedly vowed to stay in the fight following her defeat to Trump ( AP )

Another person close to Harris said: "There will be a desire to hear her voice, and there wont be a vacuum for long."

The report comes as Democrats debate their future political strategy following Harris's decisive defeat by Trump in November's election.

Despite that loss, a recent poll by Echelon Insights found her leading the pack for potential 2028 Democratic nominees, with 41 per cent compared to Gavin Newsom's 8 per cent and Josh Shapiro's 7 per cent.

Staying in the running for either the presidency or the California governorship would require maintaining links with other Democratic grandees, rebuilding her online following and potentially setting up a new fundraising organisation.

Meanwhile, Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff are preparing to vacate the Naval Observatory in Washington DC  the official residence of the vice president, analogous to the White House  and must choose whether to return to their old home in Los Angeles
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has baselessly suggested that President Joe Biden may be trying to start a nuclear war in Europe before he leaves office in order to sabotage Donald Trumps incoming administration.

The Georgia populist, who is never short of a wild conspiracy theory, took to X on Monday to respond to a thinly-sourced post by conservative influencer Mario Nawfal on the Russia-Ukraine war that read: WTF: U.S WANTS TO ARM UKRAINE WITH NUKES BEFORE BIDEN LEAVES?!

In a jaw-dropping twist, Biden officials are reportedly seriously considering giving nuclear weapons to Ukraine.

Nawfal continued by claiming the Biden administration is floating the idea of returning nuclear arms removed after the Soviet Unions fall and posed the question: Is this about aiding Ukraine  or is something more at play?

Greene amplified the post to her four million followers by commenting: This is INSANE and completely unconstitutional, possibly an act of treason.

This must be stopped immediately!! Is the Biden admin trying to start a nuclear war and use it as the reason to stop the transfer of power to Trump?

It is true that Biden recently moved to authorize Ukraine to use American-made, long-range ATACMS missiles to strike inside Russia for the first time  as well as to use anti-personnel mines on its own territory  in order to help his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky as much as possible before departing the world stage.

open image in gallery Marjorie Taylor Greene (speaking at a Donald Trump presidential campaign event in Savannah, Georgia, in September) is never short of a wild conspiracy theory ( AP )

However, there is no evidence at all to suggest he is seeking to escalate the war for domestic political gain or has any intention of returning nuclear weapons to the former Soviet satellite state for the first time in three decades  a move that Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev has warned would invite a direct retaliation from Moscow.

The world is no nearer to a nuclear war than it was before the latest Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Michael Clarke, a professor in the Department of War Studies and former director general of the Royal United Services Institute, assured Newsweek in response to Greenes post.

Mutual deterrence is designed precisely to shield the major powers, and coincidentally the rest of the world, against reckless nuclear threats.

Russias invasion of its western neighbor in February 2022 came a little over a year into Bidens presidency.

Throughout the ongoing war, the 46th commander-in-chief has proven a staunch ally to Ukraine, donating US arms, funding and humanitarian aid while imposing harsh sanctions on Vladimir Putins aggressor nation.

open image in gallery Marjorie Taylor Greene warning of nuclear war on social media on November 25 2024 ( Marjorie Taylor Greene/X )

It is by no means certain that Trump will continue to support Kyiv to the same extent when he takes office. He has spoken with Zelensky since his election victory and, throughout the 2024 campaign, repeatedly made clear his priority was to bring the conflict to an end as soon as possible.

When Bidens policy shift on long-range weapons was first announced, Greene was one of a number of MAGA insiders, along with Donald Trump Jr and Richard Grenell, to accuse the president of setting in motion a Third World War.

On his way out of office, Joe Biden is dangerously trying to start WWIII by authorizing Ukraine the use of US long range missiles into Russia, Greene wrote on X, seizing on the opportunity to call for an end to American financial support for Kyiv.

The American people gave a mandate on Nov 5th against these exact America last decisions and do NOT want to fund or fight foreign wars. We want to fix our own problems. Enough of this, it must stop.

The same argument was made this week by influential podcaster Joe Rogan, drawing an angry response from Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, who accused him of parroting Russian propaganda.

Greene, who was recently appointed by Trump to lead a subcommittee supporting Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamys Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has in the past been widely associated with a string of unfounded conspiracy theories, from QAnon and Jewish space lasers to, more recently, Democrats controlling the weather.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Former Trump White House official Olivia Troye has issued a stark warning for women entering the incoming administration.

TheTrump White Houses chauvinistic male-dominated culture will be exacerbated by the presence of Elon Musk, JD Vance, Donald Trump Jr., Matt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, and other bros in positions of authority or influence, Troye, who served as former Vice President Mike Pences national security adviser, wrote on her Substack on Thursday.

It will be an intimidating environment, but stay true to your values, even when it is uncomfortable or unpopular. Remember, you have only yourself to face in the mirror every day.

Since leaving the administration, Troye has become an outspoken critic of Trump and campaigned on behalf of his Democratic rival Kamala Harris in 2024.

In her post, Troye also urged women to seek out female allies and warned that they would face the male gaze and locker room talk in the administration. The latter phrase is a reference to Donald Trumps defense after the Access Hollywood tape, in which he said a recording of him bragging about groping women was exaggerated macho banter.

Its beyond time for Olivia Troye to go back to doing whatever the hell she was doing before she threw her integrity in the toilet to get her face on liberal television because she clearly has no idea what shes talking about, Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told The Independent.

Former Trump administration official Olivia Troye warned women joining the administration of a bro culture and locker room talk ( EPA )

President Trump just selected the first female Chief of Staff in history and Im greatly looking forward to serving as the youngest Press Secretary in history. He has also chosen several other women to serve in his Cabinet, and there will be thousands of strong, independent women who fill the ranks across his Administration. President Trump empowers women and anyone who has their head on straight can see that.

Multiple members of and nominees in the new administration have been accused of sexual misconduct towards women, including Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Department of Government Efficiency head Elon Musk, and since-withdrawn attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz. They have all denied wrongdoing and have not been charged with any crimes related to the allegations.

A jury found Trump liable for sex abuse against former Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Millions of obese Americans would be eligible to have popular weight-loss drugs like Wegovy or Ozempic covered by Medicare or Medicaid under a new rule the Biden administration proposed on Tuesday.

The costly proposal from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sets the stage for a potential showdown between the powerful pharmaceutical industry and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an outspoken opponent of the weight-loss drugs who, as President-elect Donald Trumps nominee to lead the agency, could try to block the measure.

While the rule would give millions of people access to weekly injectables that have helped people shed pounds so quickly that some have labeled them miracle drugs, it would cost taxpayers as much as $35 billion over the next decade.

Kennedy, who as Trumps nominee for HHS secretary is subject to Senate confirmation, has railed against the drugs popularity. In speeches and on social media, hes said the U.S. should not cover the drugs through Medicaid or Medicare. Instead, he supports a broad expansion of coverage for healthier foods and gym memberships.

For half the price of Ozempic, we could purchase regeneratively raised, organic food for every American, three meals a day and a gym membership, for every obese American, Kennedy said to a group of federal lawmakers during a roundtable earlier this year.

open image in gallery President Joe Biden speaks as first lady Jill Biden looks on at a Friendsgiving event with service members and their families in the Staten Island borough of New York, Monday, Nov. 25 2024 ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

A bipartisan coalition of congressional members have lobbied for the drugs to be covered by Medicare, saying it could save the government from spending billions of dollars on treating chronic ailments that stem from obesity. While its unclear where Trump himself stands on coverage of the weight-loss drugs, his allies and Cabinet picks who have vowed to cut government spending could balk at the upfront price tag.

Its a good day for anyone who suffers from obesity, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra told The Associated Press in an interview.

Its a game changer for Americans who cant afford these drugs otherwise.

Under the proposal, only those who are considered obese  someone who has a body mass index of 30 or higher  would qualify for coverage. Some people may already get coverage of the drugs through Medicare or Medicaid, if they have diabetes or are at risk for stroke or heart disease.

Becerra estimated that an additional 3.5 million people on Medicare and 4 million on Medicaid could qualify for coverage of the drugs. But research suggests far more people might qualify, with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimating roughly 28 million people on Medicaid are considered obese.

Medicare has been barred from offering the drugs under a decades-old law that prohibits the government-backed insurance program from covering weight-loss products. The rule proposed by the Biden administration, however, would recognize obesity as a disease that can be treated with the help of the drugs.

open image in gallery Woman injecting Semaglutide Ozempic injection control blood sugar levels ( Getty Images/iStock )

The anti-obesity drug market has expanded significantly in recent years, with the Food and Drug Administration approving a new class of weekly injectables like Novo Nordisks Wegovy and Eli Lillys Zepbound to treat obesity.

People can lose as much as 15% to 25% of their body weight on the drugs, which imitate the hormones that regulate appetites by communicating fullness between the gut and brain when people eat.

The cost of the drugs has largely limited them to the wealthy, including celebrities who boast of their benefits. A monthly supply of Wegovy rings up at $1,300 and Zepbound will put you out $1,000. Shortages of the drugs have also limited the supplies.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

A majority of Americans are satisfied with Donald Trumps election victory and approve of the transition process into his new administration, according to a CBS/YouGov poll released on Monday.

According to the poll, 59 percent of respondents approve of the transition process and 55 percent are happy or satisfied with Trumps victory.

That support, however, is highly fractured on partisan lines, with 95 percent of Republicans optimistic or excited about Trump compared with just 15 percent of Democrats.

A similar pattern appears regarding support for the Trump administrations top nominees, whose confirmation process has been marked with an unusual level of controversy.

Forty-four percent of people said Marco Rubio, tapped for Secretary of State, was a good choice, compared with 75 percent of Trump supporters. Health and Human Services nominee RFK saw similar margins, with 47 percent general approval and 80 percent support among Trump fans.

Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, meanwhile, saw slightly less support, garnering just a third of respondents overall who approved of the choice, with 64 percent approval from Trump supporters.

Americans are generally approving of Trumps election and transition process, according to the poll ( AP )

The transition in the Trump administration has been unusual in a number of ways, including nominees without formal government experience and with serious accusations of misconduct being put into consideration for high-level positions.

Last week, attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration amid the potential release of a House ethics probe into sexual misconduct allegations, which he denies are true.

Military veteran and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, tapped to lead the Defense Department, meanwhile, was accused of sexual assault over a 2017 incident in California. Hegseth has denied wrongdoing, said the encounter was consensual, and did not face any criminal charges.

Other nominees, like Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., have proved more controversial because of their views.

Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic without a medical background, has been nominated to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, alarming doctors and public health experts.

Others have raised questions about efforts like the administration-aligned Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a technically non-governmental effort led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to identify massive potential cuts in the federal budget.

Musk, the richest person in the world, through his companies like SpaceX, does billions of dollars of business with the federal government, and has considerable business interests at stake in matters of federal regulation and enforcement, making his position at the DOGE is an unprecedented one.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Donald Trumps transition team is already grappling with its own internal politics after one of his most loyal advisers was accused of running a pay-to-play scheme.

The president-elects legal team launched an internal investigation  which was not criminal  into longtime Trump attorney and adviser Boris Epshteyn following claims he has been profiting personally from his proximity to Trump.

The review, conducted by the transition teams top lawyer David Warrington, recommended that aides close to Trump limit Epshteyns access to the president-elect, the Washington Post reported, quoting a person close to the investigation.

Sources said that Epshteyn was quizzed about allegedly requesting payments in exchange for his influence to connect individuals to those within the incoming Trump administration, CNN reported.

Epshteyn allegedly offered his services to one individual at a charge of $100,000 per month.

The way I see it is its very much a pay-for-play, one person who reportedly spoke to the legal team told CNN.

The insider described a separate incident where Epshteyn allegedly requested payment in exchange for connecting the person with officials in Trumps incoming administration and for his consulting services.

open image in gallery Boris Epshteyn is accused of profiting personally from his proximity to the president-elect ( REUTERS )

The investigation also reportedly looked into claims Epshteyn approached Trumps pick for Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, earlier this year to pay him to promote his name with the president-elect and others in his orbit at Mar-a-Lago. Bessent did not take him up on the offer, CNN reported.

Epshteyn denied the allegations in a statement to CNN.

I am honored to work for President Trump and with his team, he told the network. These fake claims are false and defamatory and will not distract us from Making America Great Again.

As part of the investigation, former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens reportedly submitted a sworn statement to the transition team regarding Epshteyns alleged conduct. Mr. Epshteyns overall tone and behavior gave me the impression of an implicit expectation to engage in business dealings with him before he would advocate for or suggest my appointment to the President, CBS reported.

This created a sense of unease and pressure on my part, the declaration reportedly said.

It was first obtained by the conservative news site Just the News which reported that Trump said in a brief interview that every President has people around them who try to make money off them on the outside.

No one working for me in any capacity should be looking to make money, they quoted Trump as saying. They should only be here to Make America Great Again. No one can promise any endorsement or nomination except me. I make these decisions on my own, period.

open image in gallery Boris Epshteyn (far right) with Donald Trump during his arraignment in April 2023 in his hush money case ( Getty Images )

Trumps communications director, Steven Cheung, confirmed the investigation in a separate statement.

As is standard practice, a broad review of the campaigns consulting agreements has been conducted and completed, including as to Boris, among others, Cheung said. We are now moving ahead together as a team to help President Trump Make America Great Again.

Defending Epshteyn on Monday, Eric Trump told Fox News: Ive known Boris for years, and Ive never known him to be anything but a good human being.

I certainly hope the reporting is false and I can also tell you if its true, you know, the person will probably no longer be around, he added.

Epshteyn has been a close ally to Trump ever since he joined his a spurious campaign to overturn the 2020 election results, and has remained a close adviser through his 2024 campaign and post-election transition.

But he has reportedly been known to clash with others within Trumpworld at Mar-a-Lago, where he is a frequent presence, including a recent bust-up with Elon Musk.

Earlier this month, the billionaire accused Epshteyn of leaking information about Trumps transition process, including personnel picks, during a massive blowup and a huge explosion between the two men during a dinner in front of guests at Mar-a-Lago, according to Axios.

Musk reportedly criticized Epshteyns influence in selecting nominations for the Department of Justice, including far-right congressman Matt Gaetz for attorney general, who dropped out of the running last week.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Donald Trumps picks for a second term Cabinet were supposed to illuminate what a MAGA presidency free of guardrails would look like.

Many of his picks have been surprising, some controversial. His initial announcements were giveaways to his base  Matt Gaetz, then Pam Bondi for AG; Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence; RFK Jr at HHS. But as the process continues, one familiar theme has emerged: the willingness of the incoming president to spurn committed right-wing ideologues within his party.

The first clue was his selection of Marco Rubio to lead the State Department. A relatively centrist Republican senator who is a supporter of military aid to Ukraine and Israel, Rubios pick was seen as a blow to the isolationist wing of the party, which Trump has long been seen as championing.

The Florida senator is facing accusations of being a neocon from the likes of Alex Jones, Ron Paul, and even RFK Jr, who The Hill reports is lobbying Trump to select someone else for the job.

Rubio is just one nominee. But several of Trumps other Cabinet-level picks are also rankling people who were hoping that a Trump victory would mean a return to power for a vision of the American right wing that never took into account the realities of MAGA-world and Trump himself. The Republican Party still struggles to wrestle with how Trump-style populism  sometimes isolationist, sometimes pro-labor, and infrequently consistent  fits in to the GOPs overall ideology. And vice versa.

open image in gallery If Marco Rubio becomes Donald Trumps secretary of State, hell do so despite one of his potential colleagues, RFK Jr, lobbying against his selection ( AP )

Scott Bessents nomination for Treasury is another key example. His selection on Friday came despite public lobbying against him specifically carried out by Elon Musk and murmurs about his connections to Democrat-supporting billionaire George Soros on the right. Other Republican figures have sounded off over his pick to run the Labor Department, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, over her support for the union-boosting Pro Act.

But maybe Trumps worst transgression against the far-right: his pick for Surgeon General. Yes: what is typically an apolitical appointment is now provoking rage among two key groups of voters who backed the incoming president in 2024, the anti-mask, anti-lockdown Covid-skeptic crowd (in all its various shades), and the anti-abortion evangelical and Catholic right. Many of the former crowd in particular gravitated towards Ron DeSantis in the 2024 GOP primary after he emerged as a vocal opponent of mask mandates and other public health guidelines while serving as Floridas governor in 2020 and 2021.

Dr Janette Nesheiwats nomination enrages both camps.

open image in gallery Dr Janette Nesheiwat, a medical contributor on Fox News, is facing skepticism from Covid skeptics and anti-abortion groups alike. ( Getty Images )

A clip of Nesheiwat appearing on the Fox Business Network is spreading in right-wing circles; in the video, she expresses support for Facebooks efforts to tamp down on vaccine and Covid conspiracies  a huge no-no for a segment of the population which adamantly refused to comply with mask mandates, social distancing requirements and protested the closure of schools when the virus was killing hundreds of thousands of Americans.

Her Twitter/X post serving as the announcement of her intended appointment was immediately besieged by Trump supporters demanding that she refuse the position.

Watch your step, Janette. We dont trust you, wrote The Blaze host Sara Gonzales.

If this feels familiar, its because Donald Trump has spent the past year making various decisions and statements which similarly enraged or otherwise spun up various groups of voters that make up the right flank of the GOP.

That same willingness to disappoint hardline conservative Republicans  at least, the ones who pay attention to the day-to-day of the political news cycle  was evident throughout the 2024 campaign. The anti-abortion right frequently takes the brunt of it; Trump spurned them, and former rival DeSantis, when he refused to endorse Floridas six-week abortion ban. His stance against legislation to ban abortion at the federal level angered that group, too.

But the comparatively uncontroversial selections for Cabinet positions following a few initial outliers raises another question: is the president-elect attempting to build political capital with the Senate? And for what purpose?

With the Trump administration reportedly plotting a massive day-one push on immigration, one that will likely rely on Congress in some form for changes to law and funding which can only be provided through the Legislative Branch, we may have that answer in the weeks ahead.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Influential conservatives are joking about buying liberal news network MSNBC and standing in for top hosts. In a series of posts on Friday, Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Jr., and Joe Rogan fantasized about what they would do if they owned the channel and mocked host Lawrence ODonnell with a vulgar comment.

The exchange began when Trump claimed on X he had the funniest idea ever in response to the news that NBCUniversal is planning to spin off some of its cable networks, including MSNBC, and tagged Musk.

Musk then asked how much the network would cost.

If you buy MSNBC I would like Rachael Maddows job, Rogan chimed in. I will wear the same outfit and glasses, and I will tell the same lies.

Ok @elonmusk & @joerogan. Since this is getting interesting Ill throw my hat in the ring as well, Trump responded. Ill mimic Lawrence ODonnell minus the castration of course. Thats a bridge too far.

The Independent has contacted MSNBC for ODonnells comment.

Lawrence ODonnell hosts a show on MSNBC ( MSNBC )

ODonnell, host of the channels Last Word, is an outspoken critic of president-elect Donald Trump.

Musk, prior to buying what was then called Twitter in 2022, mused openly about purchasing the network years earlier.

Trump has signalled he will go after media networks once in office, including pushing the Federal Communications Commission to revoke the broadcast licenses of networks that air critical coverage. His ally Musk, meanwhile, has suggested slashing federal funding for public media outlets.

The idea of a 180 change in tone at a prominent media outlet is already in the air even without an MSNBC sale.

The parent company of satirical news outlet The Onion purchased Alex Joness right-wing platform Infowars in an auction this month, part of the conspiracy theorists bankruptcy process as he faces over $1bn in damages from a defamation verdict over the Sandy Hook shooting.

Jones has challenged the sale in court, arguing it was conducted unfairly.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Donald Trump haslashed out at the failing New York Times in an overnight Truth Social rant, demanding an apology for its junk coverage of him and singling out its correspondent Maggie Haberman for particular criticism.

Will the failing New York Times apologize to its readers for getting years of Trump coverage so wrong, the president-elect wrote in the post.

They write such phony junk, knowing full well how incorrect it is, only meaning to demean.

Pivoting to Haberman, Trump mockingly misspelled the reporters name as he wrote: Magot Hagerman, a third rate writer and fourth rate intellect, writes story after story, always terrible, and yet I almost never speak to her.

They do no fact checking, because facts dont matter to them.

I dont believe Ive had a legitimately good story in the NYT for years, AND YET I WON, IN RECORD FASHION, THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN DECADES. WHERE IS THE APOLOGY?

The Independent has reached out to The New York Times for comment.

Contrary to Trumps allegation, the newspaper has a long history of rigorous fact-checking and has been at pains to explain its methods to readers in the interests of transparency.

open image in gallery Donald Trump (left) hit out at Maggie Haberman (right) calling her a third rate writer ( Getty )

It is not clear what specifically rattled Trump on Monday night.

However, the rant came shortly after the publication of a new NYT report, from Haberman and her colleague Jonathan Swan, which revealed Trumps aide Natalie Harp had sent him a series of passionate letters, declaring in one: You are all that matters to me.

Harp, a former right-wing cable television host, had been on Trumps radar since 2019 after her story of cancer survival caught his attention and he invited her to speak at the 2020 Republican National Convention (RNC). She later joined his staff in 2022 as a devoted aide, though she has no official title. It is also uncertain what role, if any, Harp will have in the forthcoming administration.

Sources told the Times that Harp, 33, sent a series of letters to Trump in 2023 which raised eyebrows among some in Trumps camp. I dont ever want to let you down, read one of the letters, in which she also thanked Trump for being her Guardian and Protector in this Life.

Steven Cheung, Trumps spokesman, told the Times that Harp was trusted and valued and credited her work ethic and dedication for helping Trump win the 2024 election.

The same night the report came out, Haberman also appeared on Kaitlan Collinss CNN show The Source, where she speculated about the prospect of Trump seeking revenge on Special Counsel Jack Smith once he enters the Oval Office in January.

open image in gallery Natalie Harp follows Donald Trump into Manhattan criminal court for his hush money trial. Sources said Harp sent a series of letters to Trump in 2023 which raised eyebrows ( The Washington Post )

Smith dropped the two federal cases accusing Trump of election interference and illegally retaining classified documents on Monday.

On Monday nights show, Collins asked Haberman how Trumps attorney general nominee Pam Bondi might respond if the incoming president called upon her to investigate Smith, as she previously threatened would happen during an interview with Fox News last year.

I think you can expect that Pam Bondi and everybody else who has to go through a confirmation hearing are going to be asked by the Democratic senators about those comments, Haberman answered.

And itll be very interesting to see what she says.

I mean, to your point, there was a lot of celebration about Matt Gaetz not being in that role anymore  and with reason. Matt Gaetz was investigated by that department and has all kinds of baggage. But its not as if the Im gonna clean this all out vow from Pam Bondi is especially different.

She continued: There are so many unanswered questions, Kaitlan. But if the idea is that theres lots of people around Trump and the White House who are gonna try to prevent him from doing this, I think people are sorely mistaken.

Haberman has had many run-ins with Trump in the past and has often been the subject of his Truth Social attacks due to her reporting. She recently claimed he had no sense of who he was in front of or who he was talking to when he rebuked presidential rival Kamala Harris at a dinner for billionaire donors and suggested he was suffering from anxiety in the aftermath of the attempt on his life in Butler, Pennsylvania, this summer.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

In the summer of 2015, three Syrian girls who had narrowly survived an airstrike some weeks earlier stood before Tulsi Gabbard with horrific burns all over their bodies.

Gabbard, then a US congresswoman on a visit to the Syria-Turkey border as part of her duties for the foreign affairs committee, had a question for them.

How do you know it was Bashar al-Assad or Russia that bombed you, and not Isis? she asked, according to Mouaz Moustafa, a Syrian activist who was translating her conversation with the girls.

open image in gallery Tulsi Gabbard has been accused of being a Russian asset ( Getty )

It was a revealing insight into Gabbards conspiratorial views of the conflict, and it shocked Moustafa to silence. He knew, as even the young children did, that Isis did not have jets to launch airstrikes. It was such an absurd question that he chose not to translate it because he didnt want to upset the girls, the eldest of whom was 12.

From that point on, Im sorry to say I was inaccurate in my translations of anything she said, Moustafa told The Independent. It was more like: How do I get these girls away from this devil?

Even before Gabbard left the Democratic Party, ingratiated herself with Donald Trump and secured his nomination to become director of National Intelligence, she was known as a prolific peddler of Russian propaganda.

In almost every foreign conflict in which Russia had a hand, Gabbard backed Moscow and railed against the US. Her past promotion of Kremlin propaganda has provoked significant opposition on both sides of the aisle to her nomination.

Her journey from anti-war Democrat to Moscow-friendly Maga warrior began in Syria. The devastating conflict was sparked by pro-democracy uprisings in 2011, which were brutally crushed by the Assad regime. It descended into a complex web of factions that drew extremist Islamists from around the world and global powers into the fray.

open image in gallery Gabbard on a congressional fact-finding mission to southern Turkey in June 2015 ( Mouaz Moustafa/The Independent )

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based monitoring group with a network of sources on the ground, documented the deaths of 503,064 people by March 2023 . It said at least 162,390 civilians had died in that same time, with the Syrian government and its allies responsible for 139,609 of those deaths.

But Gabbard, a veteran of the Iraq War, viewed it all as a  regime-change war  fueled by the West and aimed at removing the dictator from power. She saw Assad  and Russia, when it entered the conflict  as legitimate defenders of the state against an extremist uprising.

In 2015, when Russia entered the Syrian war on the side of the dictator Assad, Gabbard expressed support for the move, even as the civilian toll from Moscows devastating airstrikes grew into the thousands .

Al-Qaeda attacked us on 9/11 and must be defeated. Obama wont bomb them in Syria. Putin did. #neverforget911, she wrote on Twitter.

It was precisely because of her support for Assad and Russias war that Moustafa was keen for her to attend the congressional delegation to southern Turkey to meet the victims of the conflict.

From experience, everyone that we bring over to the border, and they see the victims, they always come back with a realistic view of whats happening and who is behind the mass displacement and killing and atrocities and so on, and so that was the objective, he said. What was shocking was her lack of empathy. Shell sacrifice the facts, even when it came to little girls in front of her telling her they got bombed by a plane  it didnt matter.

open image in gallery Gabbard at a campaign rally for Donald Trump during the 2024 election campaign ( Reuters )

Charles Lister, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute who testified twice on Syria to the House Foreign Affairs Committee when Gabbard was a member, spent years debunking her various conspiracy theories about the war.

Her consistent denial of the Syrian regimes crimes is so wildly fringe that her potential appointment as DNI is genuinely alarming, he told The Independent.

Lister said her views appear to be driven by a strange fusion of America First isolationism and a belief in the value of autocratic and secular leaders in confronting extremism.

They included a suggestion that Syrian rebels staged a false-flag chemical weapons attack against their supporters to provoke Western intervention against Assad  something the US intelligence agencies she will soon lead had concluded was false. She declined to call Assad a war criminal when pressed , despite masses of evidence, and used a video of Syrian government bombings to criticize US involvement in the war.

Her descriptions of the crisis in Syria read like they were composed in Assads personal office, or in Tehran or Moscow  not Washington, Lister added.

Gabbard was not swayed by meeting the victims of Assads airstrikes in 2015. In fact, two years later, she went to Damascus to meet the Syrian president in person and came away even more convinced of her opinions.

The congresswoman said her visit to meet Assad  the first by a sitting US lawmaker since the conflict began  was aimed at bringing an end to the war.

I felt its important that if we profess to truly care about the Syrian people, about their suffering, then weve got to be able to meet with anyone that we need to if there is a possibility that we could achieve peace, she told CNN at the time.

open image in gallery Fire rises following a Syrian government airstrike in Aleppo in 2016 ( AP )

Gabbard was forced to defend her embrace of Assad and other dictators during her 2020 run for the Democratic presidential nomination. During the Democratic primary debate, she clashed with Kamala Harris, who accused her of being an apologist for an individual  Assad  who has murdered the people of his country like cockroaches.

She has embraced and been an apologist for him in a way that she refuses to call him a war criminal. I can only take what she says and her opinion so seriously and so Im prepared to move on, added Harris, who would subsequently drop out of the race and later be selected as Joe Bidens running mate.

When Russia invaded Ukraine, Gabbard again defended Russian aggression.

This war and suffering could have easily been avoided if Biden Admin/Nato had simply acknowledged Russias legitimate security concerns, she posted on Twitter in 2022.

Gabbard appeared to fall for various conspiracy theories about the conflict that were promoted by Russia, as she had done in Syria. One of those conspiracy theories was a Russian claim about the existence of dozens of US-funded biolabs in Ukraine that were supposedly producing deadly pathogens.

She later walked back on those remarks, suggesting that there might have been some miscommunication and misunderstanding.

Gabbards frequent echoing of Kremlin talking points has earned her praise in Russian state media. Indeed, an article published on 15 November in the Russian-state controlled outlet RIA Novosti went so far as to call Gabbard a superwoman.

The possibility that Trump would tap someone with Gabbards history to be Americas top intelligence official shouldnt be a surprise to anyone who followed the president-elects first four years in the White House.

During his 2018 summit with President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, the then-president was asked if he believed the US intelligence communitys assessment, which stated that Russia had interfered in the 2016 presidential election on his behalf.

That assessment was based on analysis of what was determined to have been state-sponsored campaigns of fake social media posts and ersatz news sites to spread false stories about his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, as well as cyberattacks targeting the Democratic National Committee and prominent operatives associated with the Clinton campaign.

But Trump, whod just spent several hours in a closed-door meeting with Putin, stunned the assembled press and the entire world by declaring that he trusted the Russian leaders word over that of his own advisers.

open image in gallery Gabbard has repeatedly defended Vladimir Putin and has been accused of using Kremlin talking points ( Getty )

"President Putin says its not Russia. I dont see any reason why it would be," he replied.

Trump would go on to repeatedly clash with his own intelligence appointees during the remainder of his term. He sacked his first DNI, former Indiana senator Dan Coats, after Coats repeatedly declined to back away from the governments assessment of what Russia had done during the 2016 presidential race.

Larry Pfeiffer, the director of George Mason Universitys Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy, and International Security, said Gabbards apparent susceptibility to foreign disinformation and her affinity for strongmen will give pause to American allies with whom the US routinely shares intelligence on common threats.

Intelligence services, he explained, are notoriously territorial and tight-lipped on sources and methods  particularly when it comes to so-called human intelligence, or Humint, which refers to information collected by and from spies and sources within hostile governments.

Pfeiffer said foreign allies are likely already concerned about how a second Trump administration will handle intelligence, given the president-elects record. He also predicted that Gabbards confirmation as DNI would cause even more problems among skittish partners.

I think they wouldnt feel like theyve got an American confidant that they can deal with on a mature level, he said. I can guarantee you that the foreign intelligence services of Europe, including the Brits, are all having little side conversations right now about  what is this going to mean, and how are we going to operate, and what are we going to do now.

open image in gallery Gabbard has taken the side of Syrias Bashar al-Assad as well as the Russian president ( AP )

The former US intelligence veteran also said Gabbards record of spreading foreign talking points calls into question whether she will be able to carry out the DNIs important responsibility of briefing the president on threats to the nation.

He told The Independent: Somebody like Tulsi Gabbard, you look at her long history of statements that seem to come out of the Kremlins notebook, her propensity to be influenced by their viewpoint  [it] raises questions as to whether she has the ability to present the intel communitys perspective as it is, or is she going to be one whos going to want to discount it, influence it, color and change it, or ignore it and just present her own view?

I think it also raises questions of judgement. You know, heres an individual who seems very prone to misinformation, prone to conspiracy theory. That should worry anybody whos worried about Americas national security, he added.

Trumps selection of the former Hawaii congresswoman could be a problem for the senators tasked with confirming her, on several different levels. For one, the position is unique among cabinet agencies in that there are strict requirements for who can serve in the directors role.

The text of the 2004 law which established the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks on New York and Washington and the intelligence communitys failures leading up to the US invasion of Iraq, specifically states that any person who serves in the DNI job shall have extensive national security expertise.

open image in gallery Formerly a Democrat, Gabbard is now described as a Russian puppet

The first person to serve as DNI, John Negroponte, was a widely respected foreign service veteran who had served as US ambassador to Iraq, Mexico, Honduras and the Philippines, as the countrys ambassador to the United Nations, and as a deputy national security adviser during the Reagan administration. The next three people to hold the office were flag-rank military officers with significant intelligence experience.

Pfeiffer, a US intelligence veteran of three decades standing who once ran the White House Situation Room and served as chief of staff to then-CIA director General Michael Hayden, told The Independent that Gabbards experience in the House and her military service, while admirable, do not match the standards envisioned by the authors of the 2004 law which established the office.

Thats national security experience  but she was a freaking military cop  operating at a largely tactical level, not that strategic, long-term national security perspective that one would expect, he said.

Gabbard may have left the Syrian conflict behind, but Moustafa still works with its victims every day. And he believes the connection between her views on Syria and Ukraine is clear.

What happened in Syria is what allowed the Russians to feel that they could do the very same in Ukraine, he said.

And what she is doing with Ukraine shows that it goes beyond her maybe misunderstanding one conflict. She is, hook, line and sinker, a Russian puppet.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

A dozen British soldiers have been injured in a major car crash that ended in a vehicle pile-up during a Nato exercise in Estonia.

A total of 17 people were reportedly wounded and rushed to hospital following the collision on a motorway in the northern county of Ida-Viru, near the border with Russia, on Friday.

The soldiers were returning to their base in Tapa during a snowstorm when their minivans were involved in a chain-reaction pile-up triggered by a two-car crash on the Tallinn-Narva highway.

It is understood that 12 British soldiers were injured and taken to hospital after the incident, although the extent of their injuries has not been disclosed.

open image in gallery British soldiers take part in a major drill as part of Natos Enhanced Forward Presence (EFP) operation at the Tapa Estonian army camp near Rakvere in February 2022 ( AFP via Getty Images )

The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) confirmed to The Independent on Tuesday that eight personnel were flown back to the UK for further treatment, with five of those since discharged and the remaining three still at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

Overall 17 people, including 12 soldiers, were injured and hospitalised in the wreck, the police and Border Guard Board told local newspaper Postimees.

The British soldiers were deployed to Estonia as part of Operation Cabrit, where the UK is leading a multinational battle group to deter Russian aggression in the Baltic states. They work alongside Nato allies from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

In a statement issued on Monday, a spokesperson for the MOD said: Several British soldiers deployed on Operation Cabrit in Estonia were injured in a road traffic incident last Friday.

Following hospital treatment in Estonia, eight personnel were flown back to the UK on an RAF C-17 for further treatment.

Five have since been discharged and three are being cared for at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. We wish them all a speedy recovery.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

The US and France are set to announce a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel imminently.

French president Emmanuel Macron said significant progress had been made on ceasefire discussions while White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said they were close to fruition.

The Shia militia and Israel have exchanged near-daily rocket fire across the southern Lebanon border since Hamas launched its cross-border attack into southern Israel on 7 October last year.

On 1 October 2024, Israel launched a ground invasion into southern Lebanon and has carried out airstrikes across Beirut, killing senior Hezbollah commanders.

But the exchange of fire could come to an end with Israels cabinet to meet in Jerusalem on Tuesday to approve a truce deal with Hezbollah, according to a senior Israeli official, news agency Reuters has reported.

open image in gallery Reports of a ceasefire come as Israeli airstrikes levelled more of the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut on Monday ( AP )

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus office has declined to comment on the reports.

US state department spokesperson Matthew Miller said gaps between the two parties had narrowed significantly but there were still steps needed to reach an agreement.

Often times the very last stages of an agreement are the most difficult because the hardest issues are left to the end, he said. We are pushing as hard as we can.

open image in gallery Israeli airstrikes hit southern Beirut on Monday, following a weekend of attacks targeting central Beirut ( AP )

Lebanons deputy parliament speaker Elias Bou Saab said the proposal would entail an Israeli military withdrawal from south Lebanon.

In exchange, regular Lebanese army troops would be deployed in the border region, long a Hezbollah stronghold, within 60 days.

A sticking point over who would monitor compliance with the ceasefire was resolved in the last 24 hours with an agreement to set up a five-country committee, including France and chaired by the United States, he said.

Despite diplomatic progress, hostilities have intensified. Over the weekend, Israel carried out powerful airstrikes, one of which killed at least 29 people in central Beirut, while Hezbollah unleashed one of its biggest rocket salvos yet on Sunday, firing 250 missiles into Israel.

In Beirut, Israeli airstrikes levelled more of the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs on Monday, sending clouds of debris billowing over the Lebanese capital.

Lebanons health ministry said Israeli attacks killed 31 people and wounded 62 across the country on Monday.

Over the past year, more than 3,750 people have been killed and over one million have been forced from their homes, according to the ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its figures.

Israel has dealt major blows to Hezbollah, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah and other top commanders, and inflicting massive destruction in Lebanon in areas where the group holds sway.

Israel says its military offensive is aimed at enabling tens of thousands of Israelis to return to homes they evacuated when Hezbollah began firing across the Lebanese border into Israel more than a year ago.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Watch as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation on Tuesday (26 November) following Middle East ceasefire discussions.

Netanyahus address came after Israel carried out large-scale, deadly airstrikes over large sections of Beirut, including the centre of the Lebanese capital on Tuesday, as it intensified its assault on Hezbollah ahead of an expected ceasefire.

The Israeli Defence Force struck dozens of sites across the city and southern parts of Lebanon over several hours, while ground forces struck Hezbollah military sites and weapons caches in mountainous areas of southern Lebanon, claiming to have killed a commander of the group.

Netanyahu delivered a national address after discussing a ceasefire deal with his national security cabinet amid international pressure to bring an immediate end to hostilities.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken said Washington had been focused on trying to get a ceasefire agreement over the line. Were intensely focused on this, we will be until the last day of this administration, he said, defending Israels actions in Beirut by saying that both sides had exchanged fire regularly throughout the conflict.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Massive explosions from Israeli warplanes set Beiruts skies ablaze again on Tuesday, as the UN warned of an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. But amid the escalating violence, a glimmer of hope emerged: the potential for an end to the devastating conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, which has claimed thousands of lives since it erupted 14 months ago in the wake of the devastating Gaza war.

Israeli government sources told The Independent that Israel was poised to approve a US-France plan for a ceasefire with Hezbollah. Reports suggested Israels security cabinet was expected to convene as early as Tuesday evening to sign off on the proposal in a meeting chaired by the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

It seems very positive, one official told The Independent.

The pressure is mounting  the European Unions top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said on Tuesday that there were no excuses for Israel to refuse the ceasefire, adding that all of its security concerns had been addressed and that Lebanon would fall apart if the plan was not pushed through.

But in northern Israel, news of the proposal sparked outrage among hardline local mayors whose populations have been evacuated further south. Concerns have also risen about resistance from far-right members of Netanyahus cabinet, who may also attempt to block the deal.

Benny Gantz, an Israeli opposition leader and former member of the war cabinet, was among the first to publicly condemn the agreement, writing on X (formerly Twitter): We must not do a half-hearted job.

Withdrawing forces now will create a dynamic that will make it difficult for us, and make it easier for Hezbollah to regroup, he added.

Agriculture minister Avi Dichter, a member of the ruling Likud party and the security cabinet, also urged caution, saying he would not sign a copy-paste of a UN Security Council resolution, according to The Times of Israel.

Speaking to The Independent, the mayor of a town close to the Lebanese border described the proposal as a surrender deal. Nitzan Peleg, mayor of the Lower Galilee municipality, meanwhile labelled it really problematic and premature.

As long as Hezbollah is firing missiles at Israel, there is nothing to discuss. We must bring them to their knees, he told The Independent, adding that he would only support a deal that included a buffer zone inside Lebanon to where Lebanese civilians would not be allowed to return.

Has everyone here gone crazy? wrote Avichai Stern, the mayor of Kiryat Shmona, in a curt statement. The town, located just over a kilometre from the Lebanese border, has been almost entirely evacuated.

This agreement brings the October 7th attack closer to the north, and that must not happen. I dont understand how we went from seeking total victory to complete surrender. Why not finish what we started? he said.

According to Israeli media, the proposed deal includes a mutual ceasefire and a temporary Israeli military presence in Lebanon for up to 60 days. During this time, the Lebanese military would take over, and residents of southern Lebanon would be allowed to return home  and in Israel, some 60,000 evacuees would also be able to go home. An international oversight body, led by the US and including France, would monitor the agreements implementation.

open image in gallery Bulldozers remove the rubble from a building that was hit on Sunday night in an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, in the southern suburbs of Beirut ( AP )

The urgency of an imminent deal from Lebanons perspective was underscored by a fresh wave of Israeli airstrikes that pounded the country on Tuesday morning, coupled with new Israeli military evacuation warnings in southern Beirut.

According to the UN, the past few weeks have been the deadliest and most devastating for Lebanon in decades. The UNs humanitarian office said Israel had dramatically intensified its airstrikes and ground incursions, resulting in an average of 250 deaths per week in November alone. An estimated 1.3 million people have been directly affected and displaced since October 2023, including more than half a million who have fled to war-ravaged Syria in recent weeks.

Israeli defence minister Israel Katz reassured residents in northern Israel, promising on Tuesday that there would be zero tolerance towards violations of the agreement. He added that uncompromising enforcement mechanisms would be implemented to prevent weapons from being smuggled to Hezbollah.

But these words have done little to calm fears in northern Israel.

Mr Peleg, who oversees four regional councils and 15 local authorities, claimed that half of the southern Lebanese population is affiliated with Hezbollah. We need a few kilometres free of any Lebanese citizens. A buffer zone is necessary between southern Lebanon and Israel. If anyone enters, they should be shot down, he said bluntly.

He also expressed distrust in the UN and France.

open image in gallery Civil defence workers extinguish a fire as smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike in Tayouneh, Beirut, on Monday ( AP )

We must do more to weaken Hezbollah and approach these ceasefire talks from a stronger position. I dont trust the UN or France, because Hezbollah will crawl back to settlements near the border.

Another potential obstacle lies in the agreements language. Israels UN ambassador, Danny Danon, said on Monday that Israel would retain the ability to strike southern Lebanon if necessary. Lebanon has previously objected to this, and Lebanese officials claim such provisions are not included in the current draft.

As White House national security spokesperson John Kirby warned on Monday, while the parties are close to agreement, Nothing is done until everything is done.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

A US-backed ceasefire has begun between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, marking a major breakthrough in the devastating conflict that has gripped the Middle East.

For more than a year, near-daily rocket fire, ferocious airstrikes, and on-the-ground battles between Israeli forces and the militant group have claimed the lives of thousands of people, nearly all in Lebanon.

In the tense hours before the truce came into effect Israeli airstrikes continued to pound the Lebanese capital Beirut where the Israeli military issued a record number of evacuation orders. Rocket sirens blared in northern Israel.

US president Joe Biden, who brokered the deal and spoke both to Israel and Lebanons leaders shortly after it was announced, said the ceasefire was designed to be permanent.

Fighting came to a stop at 4am local time (2am GMT), although Israel warned local residents in southern Lebanon not to return home immediately.

open image in gallery Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said the plan was approved by a 10 to 1 margin during a late-night cabinet meeting

Under the terms of the agreement, Israel will gradually withdraw its forces over a period of 60 days with the Lebanese army then set to control territory near its border to ensure that Hezbollah does not rebuild its infrastructure there, Mr Biden said. Civilians on both sides will soon be able to safely return to their communities, he added.

The US is expected to lead a five-country monitoring committee to enforce the truce, while the UN peacekeeping force in the south of Lebanon (Unifil) would be reinforced.

Over the coming days, the United States will make another push with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and others, to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza with a hostage release, Mr Biden added.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said the plan was approved by a 10 to 1 margin during a late-night cabinet meeting and thanked the US involvement in achieving the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon.

Israel maintains its right to act against any threat to its security, it added.

Lebanons caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, welcomed the deal to end hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, according to a statement issued by his office. The statement said Mr Mikati had spoken with Mr Biden.

Huge smoke clouds rise above Beirut after fresh wave of strikes on Tuesday

Mr Biden and French president Emmanuel Macron issued a joint statement in which they said that the deal will provide the conditions needed for a return to calm in the country, and that France and the United States would both work to ensure that the ceasefire is fully implemented.

Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire, calling it long overdue and urged for it to be the start of a long-term, sustainable peace in the Middle East.

The British PM added: We must see immediate progress towards a ceasefire deal in Gaza, the release of all hostages and the removal of restrictions on desperately needed humanitarian aid.

Earlier, Mr Netanyahu, who has faced sharp resistance from hardliners in Israel, defended the plan for a ceasefire, saying Israel had inflicted heavy damage on Hezbollah.

He said Israel could now focus its efforts on Hamas militants in Gaza along with his top security concern, Iran and vowed to strike Hezbollah hard if it violates the expected deal.

open image in gallery US president Joe Biden, who brokered the deal and spoke both to Israel and Lebanons leaders shortly after it was announced, said the ceasefire was designed to be permanent ( EPA )

We have turned the tables, he said, adding: The ground in Beirut is shaking.

Hezbollah said it accepted the proposal, but a senior official from the group said on Tuesday that it had not seen the agreement in its final form.

After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials, said Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollahs political council.

We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state [of Lebanon], he said. Any violation of sovereignty is refused.

Rana Sahili, a media spokesperson for Hezbollah, told The Independent that the militant group does not trust the Israelis. The countries that support [the Israelis] must provide guarantees, Ms Sahili added.

If successfully enforced, the ceasefire would bring to a halt ferocious fighting that has pushed the Middle East to the brink of an all-out regional war, threatening to pit Israel and its Western allies against Iran and its proxies. It has also plunged Lebanon into an unprecedented humanitarian crisis according to the United Nations.

The Lebanese health ministry says nearly 3,800 people have been killed in Lebanon in the 13 months since fighting erupted and the nearly two months since Israel launched a ground invasion into Lebanon. At least 73 Israeli soldiers have been killed in northern Israel, in the Golan Heights, and in combat in southern Lebanon, according to Israeli authorities.

open image in gallery Rescuers search for victims at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Beirut, Lebanon on Tuesday ( AP )

The past few weeks have been the deadliest and most devastating for Lebanon in decades, the United Nations said this week. The UNs humanitarian office said that Israel had dramatically intensified its airstrikes and ground incursions, resulting in an average of 250 deaths per week in November alone.

The conflict has displaced more than a million people, according to the Lebanese health ministry, including half a million who have fled to war-ravaged Syria.

Black smoke rose above the skies of Beirut in the hours leading up to the truce as Israel launched its most intense wave of attacks yet on the bustling centre and a record number of evacuation orders. Civilians fleeing the centre of the city sent photos to The Independent showing panicked families stuck in long traffic jams.

The Israeli military said it had also struck dozens of sites in southern parts of Lebanon over several hours, and claimed to have killed a commander of Hezbollah in a ground attack. At one point it released footage of its air force striking 20 targets in two minutes across Beirut. In total, 24 people were killed across the country, according to local Lebanese authorities.

For months global pressure has been mounting for a ceasefire in the conflict, which has threatened to spread across the Middle East region.

open image in gallery An Israeli tank stationed near the border with Lebanon in the Upper Galilee area in northern Israel on Tuesday ( AFP )

In the lead up European Unions top diplomat Josep Borrell urged Israel to back the ceasefire deal, which he said had all the necessary security guarantees for Israel. No more excuses. No more additional requests, Mr Borrell said.

G7 nations meeting in Italy on Tuesday also issued a statement pressing Israel to accept the ceasefire, saying: Now is the time to conclude a diplomatic settlement. In a draft statement at the end of a two-day meeting in Italy, the G7 ministers urged Israel to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians and condemned the increasing settler violence in the West Bank.

Mr Netanyahu will still have to contend with growing criticism from hardliners in Israel. His own far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir claimed on social-media platform X (formerly Twitter) that the agreement does not ensure the return of Israelis to their homes in the countrys north, and that the Lebanese army does not have the ability to overcome Hezbollah.

In order to leave Lebanon, we must have our own security belt, Mr Ben-Gvir said. Israeli mayors in the northern towns and communities of Israel also denounced the deal, telling The Independent it amounted to surrender.

Mr Netanyahu in his earlier televised speech defended the deal saying Israel had achieved its aims in Lebanon as a year later, it is not the same Hezbollah.

We have pushed them back decades. We eliminated [Hezbollah chief Hassan] Nasrallah, the axis of the axis. We have taken out the organisations top leadership, we have destroyed most of their rockets and missiles... infrastructure they had been building for years, he added.

He cited three reasons for backing the agreement  these include focusing on the Iranian threat, allowing Israeli forces to refresh, and separating the conflict from the war in Gaza, further isolating militant group Hamas.

Israels defence minister, Israel Katz, said the nation would show zero tolerance towards any infraction, as Israel demanded that the UN enforce the terms of the agreement.

However, the prospect of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah without a similar deal with Hamas in Gaza left Palestinians feeling abandoned and fearful that Israel would now turn its focus squarely on the territory.

It showed Gaza is an orphan, with no support and no mercy from the unjust world, said Abdel-Ghani, a father of five who only gave his first name.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Thousands of people forced to leave their homes in war-torn southern Lebanon have started to return in the wake of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

Cars and vans piled high with mattresses, suitcases and furniture streamed through the heavily bombed southern port city of Tyre, heading south towards the areas hundreds of thousands of people had been forced to flee from during nearly 14 months of clashes. Traffic jams could be seen around Beirut and along the roads heading out of the city, as people began their journeys as soon as the ceasefire came into effect at 4am local time.

Hussein, 45, told The Independent that he and his wife Hiam, 41, had packed all their belongings at the shelter they had been staying in in the Hamra neighbourhood of Beirut, and started the normally two-hour-long journey to an area south of Tyre.

At 6 oclock I was turning the car [around] and went straight to Tyre Harfa. I thought I would be the first one there, but I was surprised that the traffic was stifling on the southern road, just like it was when we left for Beirut, he said.

Hussein said he had been working as a painter in and around Tyre, but that the work had dried up about seven months ago, and he had fled with his mother, three children and wife as the fighting in the city intensified. Our house is badly damaged, but I will return even if I have to set up a tent in front of the house, he said. The important thing is that the war is over. We are not afraid, we are the owners of the land, but our material losses are great, and we have many victims and wounded among our extended family, neighbours and villagers.

The United Nations secretary general, Antonio Guterres, said a ceasefire was the first ray of hope in the regional conflict after months of escalation. It is essential that those who signed the ceasefire commitment respect it in full, he said. The truce afforded a reprieve to the 1.2 million Lebanese citizens displaced by the fighting, and the tens of thousands of Israelis who fled their homes along the border.

Under the Lebanon ceasefire terms, Israel will withdraw entirely from southern Lebanon during the 60-day truce, while Hezbollah will move its heavy weaponry north of the Litani River, about 16 miles (25km) north of the border with Israel. The Israeli military cautioned residents of southern Lebanon against moving south of the Litani River from 5pm local time to 7am on Thursday, noting that Israeli forces were still present in the area and that they would deal firmly with those who continued to travel.

open image in gallery Displaced families carry mattresses as they prepare to return to their villages near Sidon ( AP )

The military also said that Israeli forces had fired at several vehicles carrying what it claimed were suspects, to force the vehicles to turn round and prevent them from entering a no-go zone in Lebanese territory. Such isolated incidents were not expected to put the ceasefire at risk, but the chief of the general staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Herzi Halevi, said Israels enforcement of the ceasefire would be very determined.

Hezbollah operatives who approach our troops, the border area, and the villages within the area we have marked will be struck, he said. We are preparing, getting ready for the possibility that this [ceasefire] approach wont succeed.

The Lebanese health ministry says that nearly 3,800 people have been killed in Lebanon since fighting erupted in the wake of Israels retaliatory war in Gaza against Hamas  an ally of Hezbollah, which is also backed by Iran. The vast majority of deaths have occurred as a result of the intensified bombing and ground campaign by Israel that began in September. At least 73 Israeli soldiers have been killed in northern Israel, in the Golan Heights, and in combat in southern Lebanon, according to Israeli authorities.

Majida Mubarak, 60, cried in front of the rubble of her home in the Sfeir area of Beiruts southern suburbs. The building was destroyed during heavy airstrikes by Israel on southern Beirut and other cities just before the ceasefire came into effect. The Israeli military said 330 Hezbollah targets had been struck before the ceasefire came into force. I dont feel happy. I dont have a home to go back to. People are happy because they will be returning to the homes they miss, but we dont have a home now, she said. Her husband, Shafiq, 70, a clothing salesman, said: I spent my whole life building a house in Beirut and a house in my village, Aita al-Shaab [close to the Israeli border]. I built a palace from my tears and sweat.

[But] thank God we are fine and our children and our large family are fine. This is the most important thing, the pair added.

open image in gallery A woman hugs her crying daughter as displaced residents return to Dahiyeh in southern Beirut ( AP )

Ghenwa, 55, owns a clothing store in her village in Shamshtar in Baalbek, in eastern Lebanon. The conflict forced her to leave her home for the first time, and she was clear about the toll it had taken, even if many were celebrating being able to go home. The country is almost destroyed, and dozens of our relatives were killed or wounded in the war. We are sad about the loss of so many lives, all of them innocent children, women and young people.

In Israel, the mood was generally subdued, with displaced Israelis concerned that the deal did not go far enough to rein in Hezbollah and that it did not address the conflict in Gaza or what will happen to the hostages still being held there.

I think it is still not safe to return to our homes, because Hezbollah is still close to us, said Eliyahu Maman, an Israeli displaced from the northern city of Kiryat Shmona, which is not far from the border with Lebanon and was hit hard by the months of fighting.

The war in Gaza  along with the cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah  was triggered on 7 October last year, when Hamas launched an attack inside Israel. The militant group killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took some 250 hostages into Gaza.

In response, Israel launched a devastating air and ground offensive against Hamas, and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to keep fighting until all of the hostages are freed. Some 100 hostages remain, although about a third of those are believed to be dead. More than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in the largely devastated Gaza Strip, according to local health officials, while around 90 per cent of the population of around 2.3 million have been forced from their homes.

The deal does not address the war in Gaza, where Israeli strikes overnight on two schools being used as shelters in Gaza City killed 11 people, including four children, according to hospital officials.

Joe Biden has said the US will make another attempt, along with Middle Eastern countries, to orchestrate a ceasefire in Gaza, involving the release of hostages and the removal of Hamas from government. Over the coming days, the United States will make another push with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel, and others to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza with the hostages released and an end to the war without Hamas in power, Mr Biden said on X (formerly Twitter).

Many residents of Gaza have said they feel abandoned, with the focus so heavily on Lebanon. We hope that all Arab and Western countries, and all people with merciful hearts and consciences ... implement a truce here, because we are tired, displaced Palestinian Malak Abu Laila told reporters.

Back in Lebanon, many are unsure what the future holds. Fatima, 33, said she and her family had been displaced about four times, once from the south to Tyre, then to the [Beirut] suburbs, then to a school in Sanayeh in Beirut. Fatimas husband made clear that their ordeal wasnt over. Who will rebuild all these villages and all these buildings? Who will restore our memories? Who will buy us furniture? he asked.
Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

A temporary mini-moon orbiting the Earth for the last two months drifted away on Tuesday, resuming its journey around the Sun.

The 10m-wide asteroid dubbed 2024 PT5 had been circling the Earth since 29 September in an orbit about 3.2 million km from the planet.

Scientists first discovered the space rock on 7 August through the Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System developed to spot near-Earth objects that could endanger life on the planet.

They reported the findings that same month in a study published in the journal Research Notes of the AAS.

The mini-moon did not pose a risk, astronomers said, speculating that it was likely a fragment from asteroid collisions on the Moon centuries ago.

Path of small asteroid 2024 PT5 as it orbits the Sun ( Nasa )

It likely came from the Arjuna asteroid belt surrounding the path followed by the Earth-Moon system around the Sun. Given the similarity between asteroid 2024 PT5s motion and that of our planets, scientists at Nasas Center for Near Earth Object Studies suspect that the object could be a large chunk of rock ejected from the Moons surface after an asteroid impact long ago, the US space agency said in a blog post.

According to the latest data available from NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory Horizons System, the temporary capture will start at 15.54EDT on 29 September and end at 11.43EDT on 25 November, Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, a mini-moon expert from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, told Space.com.

The rock passed as close as about 1.1 million miles of the Earth, maintaining a safe distance with the planet before it drifted away farther into the Solar System.

University of Florida 'Moon Colony'

The asteroid, the size of a bus, was expected to come back the Earths way again in 2055, researchers said, but it would be moving too fast to be pulled into the planets orbit.

The Earths gravity occasionally pulls in small space objects but it is rare for them to become mini-moons like 2024 PT5 did, scientists said.

This happens when an asteroid approaches slowly in a way that it gets pulled by the planets gravity more than the powerful gravity of the Sun.

In the past, the asteroid 2022 NX1 joined the Earth system as a mini-Moon in 1981 and came back in 2022.
Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Researchers have developed an AI audio generator that they claim can create sounds that have never been heard before.

The new generative artificial intelligence model, called Fugatto, was built by a team at computer chip giant Nvidia who wanted to create a Swiss Army knife for sound.

The tool allows users to edit or generate audio using simple text prompts, such as removing a particular instrument from a song or changing the accent of someones voice.

In a blog post detailing Fugatto, Nvidias Richard Kerris claimed it offered more dexterity than any other AI model and holds the potential to revolutionise music through brand new sounds.

Fugatto can make a trumpet bark or a saxophone meow, Mr Kerris wrote. Whatever users can describe, the model can create.

A video demonstrating the tool shows Fugatto creating a unique audio sample from a text prompt: Deep, rumbling bass pulses paired with intermittent, high-pitched digital chirps, like the sound of a massive, sentient machine waking up.

Another example shows Fugatto transforming the sound of a train into a string orchestra.

This thing is wild, said Ido Zmishlany, a producer and songwriter who is part of Nvidias Inception program to help new startups.

Sound is my inspiration. Its what moves me to create music. The idea that I can create entirely new sounds on the fly in the studio is incredible.

Fugatto took more than a year to develop, requiring millions of audio samples to train it.

The rapid advancements that generative AI has brought to audio technology has led to concerns about how it might impact people working within creative industries.

Earlier this year, the Australian Association of Voice Actors warned a parliamentary committee that an estimated 5,000 local voice actors could soon be put out of a job if companies adopt AI-powered replacements.

The music industry has also voiced its concerns about how generative AI programs might infringe copyrighted material, with the Recording Industry Association of America recently launching a lawsuit against AI tools for allegedly replicating their artists music.

Despite the pushback, some artists believe AI represents another evolution of music that will bring with it new creative possibilities.

The history of music is also a history of technology. The electric guitar gave the world rock and roll, said Mr Zmishlany.

When the sampler showed up, hip-hop was born. With AI, were writing the next chapter of music. We have a new instrument, a new tool for making music  and thats super exciting.
Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Apple is preparing to launch what might be its slimmest iPhone ever.

The iPhone 17 Slim or Air is rumoured to be a major overhaul of the handsets offering for the first time in years.

In recent times, Apple has released iPhones in a relatively predictable format: it launches a smaller and larger version of both the base and Pro-level phones.

But rumours suggest that it could break with that pattern this year, to launch a new version of the phone with a very small design as its selling point. Rumours suggest that it wil be around 6mm thick, making it the smallest iPhone ever released and much slimmer than the 8.25mm design of the current iPhone 16 Pro.

Recent reports from The Information suggest that the extreme slim nature of the device are proving difficult for Apples engineers. The company is struggling to ensure that the phone can fit a battery and enough cooling capabilities into a device of its size, the report claimed.

The SIM card slot is also proving problematic, the report claimed. Apple has removed the physical SIM from the iPhone as it is on sale in the US, but they are required in key markets such as China.

The same report claimed that the Plus version of the base iPhone will also be removed from the line-up, presumably to make space for the Slim alongside the base phone and the Pro and Pro Max.

Some rumours have suggested that the new, Slim phone will be more expensive than the Pro model  even if it lacks some key features.

The Slim might come with some drawbacks. Reports suggest that it may only have one camera lens, for instance, which would mean going without the strong telephoto lens that has been a key part of the Pro versions of the iPhone in recent years.

The branding of the new, slimmer phone remains unclear. While many rumours call it the Slim, Apple has favoured the Air branding for its smaller devices in the past, and it is able to change the naming and other marketing details of its devices relatively late in the process.

The new phone is rumoured to launch alongside the more traditional new iPhones, which are usually revealed at a launch event in early September and go on sale soon after that.
Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Bostons Logan International Airport saw two separate plane collisions on Monday as Thanksgiving travel ramps up.

The first incident happened Monday afternoon, when an American Airlines flight clipped the wing of a Frontier Airlines plane waiting to leave the gate with 200 passengers, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The American Airlines flight had just landed from London, and all passengers deboarded shortly after the incident. No one was injured.

The aircraft has been removed from service for inspection by our maintenance team, an American Airlines spokesperson said in a statement. We apologize to our customers for any inconvenience this caused.

No injuries were reported among passengers or crew on the Frontier aircraft, a Frontier spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, all 200 passengers on the Frontier flight to Texas had to re-book after the flight was canceled, NBC Boston reports. Frontier will give all passengers involved a $100 future travel credit, the spokesperson said, as well as the option to either rebook with the airline or receive a full refund.

open image in gallery The JetBlue desk at Bostons Logan International Airport. A tug vehicle towing an empty JetBlue plane struck a Cape Air plane on Monday afternoon. ( Getty Images )

The collision happened in an area thats not under air traffic control, according to the FAA.

Later that day, a tug vehicle towing an empty JetBlue plane struck a Cape Air plane that had just landed from Nantucket, the FAA said in a statement. Two pilots and three passengers were on board the Cape Air plane.

Out of an abundance of caution both pilots and one passenger were transported to the hospital, treated and released shortly afterwards, a Cape Air spokesperson said.

JetBlue released a statement confirming none of their crew members were injured.

The tug has been removed from service, and the JetBlue aircraft will undergo a thorough inspection, a JetBlue spokesperson said. Safety is JetBlues first priority, and we will investigate this incident.

The FAA is investigating both incidents. The Independent has contacted all airlines involved for comment.

Nearly 30 million of travelers are expected to fly this Thanksgiving week, putting pressure on airports. Almost 70 flights into, out of or within the US were canceled on Monday, with another 4,300 delayed, according to FlightAware.

Airports could exceed those figures Tuesday, with 53 flights already canceled as of mid-morning, FlightAware reports.
Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Just as there are good odds the turkey will taste dry, airports and highways are expected to be jam-packed during Thanksgiving week, a holiday period likely to end in another record day for air travel in the United States.

The people responsible for keeping security lines, boarding areas and jetliners moving  from the U.S. transportation secretary and airline chiefs on down the line  swear they are prepared for the crowds.

Airline passengers might get lucky like they did last year, when relatively few flights were canceled during the holiday week. A repeat will require the weather's cooperation. And even if skies are blue, a shortage of air traffic controllers could create delays.

Auto club and insurance company AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday. Most of them will travel by car.

Drivers should get a slight break on gas prices. The nationwide average price for gasoline was $3.06 a gallon on Sunday, down from $3.27 at this time last year.

The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 18.3 million people at U.S. airports during the same seven-day stretch. That would be 6% more than during the corresponding days last year but fit a pattern set throughout 2024.

The TSA predicts that 3 million people will pass through airport security checkpoints on Sunday; more than that could break the record of 3.01 million set on the Sunday after the July Fourth holiday. Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be the next-busiest air travel days of Thanksgiving week.

open image in gallery FILE - As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, travelers walk through Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va., on Nov. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

This will be the busiest Thanksgiving ever in terms of air travel, TSA Administrator David Pekoske said. Fortunately, our staffing is also at the highest levels that they have ever been. We are ready.

Pekoske said TSA will have enough screeners to keep general security lines under 30 minutes and lines for people who pay extra for PreCheck under 10 minutes.

However, an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers could cause flight delays.

Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Mike Whitaker said last week that he expects his agency to use special measures to deal with shortages at some facilities. In the past, that has included airports in New York City and Florida.

If we are short on staff, we will slow traffic as needed to keep the system safe, Whitaker said.

The FAA has long struggled with a shortage of controllers that airline officials expect will last for years, despite the agency's lofty hiring goals.

Thanksgiving Day takes place late this year, with the fourth Thursday of November falling on Nov. 28. That shortens the traditional shopping season and changes the rhythm of holiday travel.

With more time before the holiday, people tend to spread out their outbound travel over more days, but everyone returns at the same time, said Andrew Watterson, the chief operating officer of Southwest Airlines.

A late Thanksgiving leads to a big crush at the end  the Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday after Thanksgiving are usually very busy with Thanksgiving this late," Watterson said.

Airlines did a relatively good job of handling holiday crowds last year, when the weather was mild in most of the country. Fewer than 400 U.S. flights were canceled during Thanksgiving week in 2023  about one of every 450 flights. So far in 2024, airlines have canceled about 1.3% of all flights.

The rise of remote work also has caused the Thanksgiving travel period to expand, AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said.

The pandemic changed everything, she said. What we have seen is that post-pandemic, people are leaving at certain times, perhaps even leaving the weekend before Thanksgiving, working remotely from their destination a couple of days, and then enjoying time with their loved ones.

Nightmares of Thanksgivings past have further shaped holiday traffic jams. Motorists who learned to avoid traveling the day before and the Sunday after Thanksgiving have created new bottlenecks on other days, according to Diaz.

Because we warned for so long (that) Wednesday and Sunday are the worst days to travel, people were like, OK, Im going to leave on Tuesday and come back on Monday to avoid the rush," she said. So now those two days are congested as well.

Advice for travelers

Airport security officials are pleading with passengers to arrive early, not to put lithium-ion batteries in checked bags in case they overheat, and to keep guns out of carry-on bags. TSA has discovered more than 6,000 guns at checkpoints this year, and most of them were loaded.

Holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas bring out many infrequent travelers, and they often have questions about what they can bring on the plane.

TSA has a list on its website of items that are banned or restricted.

Drivers should know that Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons will be the worst times to travel by car, but it should be smooth sailing on freeways come Thanksgiving Day, according to transportation analytics company INRIX.

On the return home, the best travel times for motorists are before 1 p.m. on Sunday, and before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on Monday, the company said.

In metropolitan areas like Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle and Washington, traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day, INRIX transportation analyst Bob Pishue said.
Protesters in Dublin marched in "solidarity" with Nikita Hand, the woman who accused Conor McGregor of raping her in a hotel six years ago and won her claim against him for damages in a High Court civil case.

The Irish mixed martial arts fighter, who had denied a claim that he brutally raped and battered her, said he would appeal against the verdict.

McGregor previously told Irelands high court that he had consensual sex in a penthouse at the Beacon Hotel, south Dublin, in December 2018.

After deliberating for six hours and 10 minutes, the jury returned and found him liable for assault.

Ms Hand was awarded 248,603.60 (206,637) in damages.
Passengers who survived after a tourist yacht sank in the Red Sea off Egypt gathered at a coffee shop after they were rescued on Monday, 25 November.

Three bodies have been recovered from the vessel, Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi told Reuters on Tuesday.

Two Britons were among the 16 people initially reported missing after a massive rescue operation saved 28 people from the imperilled vessel which was hit by a huge wave and sank on Monday.

The identities of the people whose bodies have been recovered have not been confirmed.
A dance teacher injured in the Southport knife attack that left three girls dead has given her first interview since the stabbing.

Leanne Lucas was overseeing a Taylor Swift-themed dance class and suffered serious wounds trying to protect the children in the attack.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, of Banks, Lancashire, has appeared in court accused of murdering three children in the attack.

He appeared via video link for a plea and trial preparation hearing at Liverpool Crown Court last Wednesday but was not asked to enter any pleas to the 16 charges he faces.

The defendant is charged with three counts of murder, 10 of attempted murder and possession of a knife over the 29 July attack.
The forecourt operator Applegreen has said it plans to invest 1bn over the next five years to expand its operations in Ireland, America and Britain, and to expand its charging network for electrical vehicles.

The company said that the major expansion in Ireland would include extending the reach of Braeburn coffee and its partnership with M&S food.

We currently operate M&S at 19 of our locations in Ireland and we intend to grow that number to over 60 sites, said Joe Barrett, Applegreens co-founder and group chief executive.

We also plan to expand our network of motorway and roadside service areas in Ireland and the UK, and to grow our EV charging networks in both countries.

Earlier this year Applegreen opened a 10m service area at Clondrinagh in Limerick, and invested 3m in an upgrade of its Midway service area in Portlaoise.

It is due to open a new motorway services area off the M3 in Dunshaughlin, Co Meath next year. This will include an EV charging hub, a fuel forecourt, and four food operators.

Mr Barrett said that the 1bn investment in its operations would be both organic and through acquisitions.

Applegreen opened its first service station in Ballyfermot in 1992, and now has almost 200 locations in the Irish market. It also has a significant footprint in both Britain and America, with a total of 592 locations and more than 700 branded food offers across its worldwide network.

The company says it typically invests about 25m every year in the Irish market on new store openings, upgrades, and improvement, which has included making Braeburn coffee available in more than 100 locations, and the opening of Braeburn cafes in Ashbourne, Rathcoole, and Midway.

Applegreen has invested 1bn in America in the decade since it bought two sites in New Yorks Long Island in 2014, and now operates more than 100 motorway service areas there. Food is the main element of Applegreens American business, as it operates restaurant and cafe brands such as Burger King, Starbucks, and Dunkin.

Applegreen is a hospitality business, as we have over 700 food outlets across our estate, including 300 in the United States, and traditional fuel now accounts for less than 20pc of our gross profit, Mr Barrett said.

The company has more than 1,200 fast chargers  owned either by itself or third parties  at more than 130 locations along roads and motorways in Ireland, Britain and America. Applegreen said it intends to invest more than 85m over the next five years to expand that network.

Gross profits increased by 9pc to 972m last year, according to recently filed accounts for Causeway Consortium Holdings, its parent company. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) increased by almost 7pc to just under 271m last year.

Applegreen had a very positive performance in 2023 across all three of its markets, Mr Barrett said. As we continue to bring new sites on board, upgrade some of our existing locations, and expand our EV charging network we expect significant growth in the business in Ireland, the UK and the United States.
The firm that operates the Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) last year enjoyed record pre-tax profits of 18.23m.

New accounts filed by Spencer Dock Convention Centre Dublin DAC show pre-tax profits increased by 20pc from 15.24m to 18.23m as revenues rose by 37pc from 23.9m to 32.65m in 2023.

The year was the first at the 8,000-capacity venue post-Covid-19 restrictions.

The Convention Centre sustained a cumulative pandemic revenue hit of 34.5m across 2020 and 2021.

In 2023, income from events increased by 67pc to 25.6m as it welcomed 159,396 people across 131 events.

That compared with 95,002 people who attended 109 events in 2022.

The company received the remaining revenues of 7m in unitary charge payments from the Office of Public Works (OPW), and the contract with the OPW includes performance criteria that must be met throughout the 25-year operational contract, which started in 2010.

Operating profits at the CCD firm increased by 121pc from 3.8m to 8.45m and net interest payments received of 9.28m contributed to the pre-tax profits of 18.23m.

CCD chief executive Stephen Meehan said the Convention Centre had an excellent trading performance last year.

People want to meet their peers and to attend face-to-face events, and there really is no substitute for the connections that can be made in person, Mr Meehan said.

There is a strong demand for world-class venues such as the CCD, and Dublin remains a very attractive location for international conferences and meetings, he added.

In June of last year, leading investor and active manager of core infrastructure assets, the John Laing Group, completed the purchase of the CCD from the Irish Infrastructure Fund.

A dividend of 18m was paid out to its new owners in October 2023.

This was a 63pc increase on the 11.1m dividend paid out in 2022.

Mr Meehan said trading for 2024 has also been strong, and confirmed that so far this year, the CCD has hosted 91 events and welcomed 105,683 attendees.

Demand into the future is very solid, and we already have strong interest levels in bookings for 2026 and 2027, he said.

A related firm, Spencer Dock Centre Dublin (No 2) DAC, employs the staff that operates the centre and numbers employed remained static at 76.

Staff costs increased marginally to 4.97m. Pay to directors rose by 58pc to 545,536.
The legal partnerships will broaden the scope of the business models available to legal practitioners

International law firm Simmons & Simmons is to become the first solicitor-barrister partnership in Ireland.

The move follows the introduction in September of a framework for legal partnerships, a new business model expected to significantly shake up how a large number of law firms and barristers do business in Ireland.

The London-headquartered firm is the first to inform the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) of its intention to operate as a solicitor-barrister partnership. A survey of legal practitioners conducted by Ipsos B&A for the LSRA indicated one in five law firms will likely become solicitor-barrister partnerships in the next five years.

The introduction of legal partnerships broadens the scope of business models available to legal practitioners.

Prior to the introduction of the framework for legal partnerships, only solicitors were permitted to form partnerships with other solicitors.

Under the new framework, partnerships between solicitors and barristers, or barristers and barristers, are permitted, allowing them to work together, sharing profits and liabilities.

The LSRA believes the sharing of resources between solicitors and barristers should be beneficial to consumers as it will provide the option of an integrated service, or one-stop shop, for legal services, which is also likely to create efficiencies and reduce costs.

The Ipsos B&A survey showed solicitors believed environmental planning and litigation and dispute resolution would be the areas of law to benefit most from the new model.

Explaining the decision by her firm, Simmons & Simmons (Ireland) LLP country head Rachel Stanton said: We believe that this model will set the standard for legal excellence and client service in the international legal arena.

We commend Minister (Helen) McEntee and the LSRA for their efforts in bringing these legal partnerships into existence.

The advent of legal partnerships has implications for the Bar of Ireland, of which 2,100 of the countrys 3,000 or so barristers are members.

The Bar told members last month that membership of its Law Library was incompatible with practice under a legal partnership structure. Speaking to the Irish Independent last week, Bar Council chairman Sean Guerin said this was a hard and fast position.

Members of the Law Library are independent referral barristers.

That gives them the ability to provide the highest quality professional service, founded on the highest standards of legal learning, advocacy and ethical obligations, and without being affected by partnership obligations or the commitments of partners to other clients, he said.
Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin toast his whiskey brand that he later sold

The owner of Proper No 12 Whiskey has announced it will no longer use Conor McGregors name or image on the drink.

It follows the decision by a jury in the High Court last week that McGregor had assaulted hair stylist Nikita Hand, to whom he must now pay 248,000 in damages.

Proximo Spirits bought the whiskey brand from McGregor in 2021, but he continued to promote Proper No 12 Whiskey and Proper No 12 Apple Whiskey on social media. However, the company said today it was ending the association.

Since 2021, Proximo Spirits has been the 100pc owner of Proper No 12 Irish Whiskey, it said. Going forward, we do not plan to use Mr McGregors name and likeness in the marketing of the brand.

It was a further blow to McGregors brand image on a day when several large retail chains announced they would no longer stock drinks associated with the MMA fighter.

Musgrave, owners of SuperValu and Centra, were the first to announce they were withdrawing the drinks from its stores. The decision will also affect Forged Irish Stout, the other brand with which McGregor has been associated.

Musgrave, a family-owned company, also owns the Donnybrook Fair brand and its entire network has more than 1,250 shops nationwide.

The company had faced public criticism for stocking products linked to McGregor following the jurys decision in the assault case.

Spar owner BWG Foods group also told retailers that the products were no longer being offered. There are over 1,000 stores in its network. A spokesman confirmed: The products are no longer listed for distribution across our network of Spar, Eurospar, Mace, Londis and XL stores.

Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin toast his whiskey brand that he later sold

Conor McGregor leaves High Court with partner Dee Devlin

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Tesco confirmed it would also stop selling Proper No 12 Whiskey.

The spokesperson said: We can confirm that we are removing Proper No 12 from sale in Tesco stores and online. Tesco does not stock Forged Irish Stout.

In a statement this afternoon, the operator of Costcutter and Carry Out off-licence outlets also dropped the brands. It said: Barry Group has made the decision to remove Forged Stout and Proper 12 from circulation to our network of Costcutter and Carry Out retail outlets. This action reflects our commitment to maintaining a retail environment that resonates with the values of our customers and partners.

Other businesses linked to the fighter are also under pressure to dissociate themselves from his products.

The developer of the Hitman videogame series have said they will drop content featuring McGregor. Posting on the social media platform X, IO Interactive said that in light of the recent court ruling they would cease collaboration with the athlete, effective immediately.

The developer added that it took the court ruling very seriously and could not ignore its implications.

McGregor was a side character in the most recent game of Hitman, a franchise that has been in operation since 2000.

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre released a statement after the court ruling in which chief executive Rachel Morrogh said there had been, a strong effect across Irish society that we are feeling in Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, with calls to a 24-hour helpline almost doubling over the weekend.

The organisation said it was asking people to stand with Nikita Hand and examine whether the brands they associate with or follow are consistent with their own values and are opposed to violence against women.
Fraudsters are more active than usual ahead of Black Friday. Photo: Getty

PTSB has warned consumers to be on their guard for fraudsters in advance of Black Friday and the pre-Christmas shopping period.

The bank said a survey it commissioned shows that seven out of 10 people report having experienced attempted financial fraud.

It said a new app feature it launched for its banking customers that detects fraud messages and scam websites has led to a sharp fall in fake website clicks by its customers.

The bank said Black Friday and pre-Christmas shopping period a key target for fraudsters as transaction volumes increase sharply.

PTSB said its ongoing Reflecting Ireland research shows that 71pc of people report having experienced attempted financial fraud.

Some 27pc of those surveyed said they fell victim to the fraud.

This rises to over a third of younger adults. The bank advised customers to watch for fake ads.

Customers can be duped by clicking on fake ads for high value goods being sold at artificially low prices.

These ads can direct them to fake websites designed to capture their card details, PTSB said.

It called on consumers to watch for fake websites.

Many genuine websites are mimicked by fraudsters with similar web addresses and the same look and feel. These are also designed to capture card details.

It said people can be vulnerable to fake SMS text messages pretending to come from banks.

These are designed to con people into sharing sensitive information, such as passwords and PINs, that can be used by fraudsters.

It said customers should never click on links in an SMS or WhatsApp message.

Shoppers were advised to only buy from websites that they can trust and verify.

The advice from the bank is to look for features that signify they are doing business with a genuine website, such as a verifiable company name, address and phone number.

PTSB said it has seen a 55pc reduction in the number of customers responding to fake websites following the introduction of PTSB Protect last year.

This is despite a 13pc increase in the number of fake websites being created. PTSB Protect helps to prevent customers falling victim to fraudulent scams by alerting them if they receive a text message containing a fraudulent link or blocking them from accessing a suspicious website on their mobile device. As PTSB Protect is an opt-in service, the bank is urging customers who have not yet opted in to do so as soon as possible, in advance of Black Friday and the pre-Christmas shopping period, a key target period for fraudsters. PTSB said that on Black Friday last year, it processed over 1.3 million card transactions, 44pc more transactions than its daily average.

Black Friday is later this week. Chief operating officer at PTSB Peter Vance said that scams are getting more sophisticated.

This means consumers need to continue to be on their guard more than ever.
Erik and Lyle Menendezs aunt Joan VanderMolen, centre, arrives to attend a hearing at the Van Nuys courthouse in Los Angeles (Damian Dovarganes/AP)

Family members of Lyle and Erik Menendez, who are serving a life sentence without parole for murdering their parents, have made compassionate pleas advocating for the brothers freedom during a court hearing.

It comes after Los Angeles County district attorney George Gascon announced his recommendation for resentencing of the brothers, who have also received backing from the majority of their family and stars including Kim Kardashian.

Resentencing could mean immediate release from prison for the brothers, but it has to be approved by a judge.

The media surround family members of Erik and Lyle Menendez as they arrive at the courthouse (Jae C Hong/AP)

The 1989 murder case has been in the headlines over the last few months after a Netflix drama series and documentary film were released.

The Menendez brothers have never disputed that they fired the fatal shots that killed their parents, Jose and Mary Louise Kitty Menendez, on August 20 1989 at their Beverly Hills home.

But the pair have always claimed their actions were an act of self-defence, rooted in physical and sexual abuse at the hands of their father.

Joan VanderMolen, sister of Kitty Menendez, arrived at the Van Nuys Courthouse West on the eve of her 93rd birthday to give evidence for the brothers release, alongside Terry Baralt  the oldest sister of Jose Menendez.

In an emotional statement, Ms VanderMolen told the court that no child should have to endure what the brothers did at the hands of their father.

It breaks my heart that my sister Kitty knew what was happening and did nothing about it, Ms VanderMolen said.

I love Erik and Lyle and I want them to come home.

Ms VanderMolen said she absolutely speaks for the entire family, except for her brother Milton Andersen, who has previously refused to support the brothers request for freedom.

Erik and Lyle Menendezs aunt Joan VanderMolen, centre, arrives at the courthouse (Jae C Hong/AP)

He does not know what he is talking about, Ms VanderMolen said.

Meanwhile Ms Baralt told the court that she was very close to her younger brother Jose and described his wife Kitty as my best friend, but had flown to the court hearing to advocate for the Menendez brothers release.

Thirty-five years is a long time, I think it is time for them to go home, an emotional Ms Baralt told the court.

We need the kids (back) I would like to have them back.

Ms Baralt, 85, said she had not visited the Menendez brothers for some time as she is receiving treatment for cancer, but wanted to give evidence in court for them.

I would like to hug them and see them, not to go into a jail and see them These kids were great, I know they are not kids anymore but to me they are, it has been difficult, she added.

Joined by family members of Erik and Lyle Menendez, lawyer Mark Geragos, centre, speaks during a news conference after a hearing in Los Angeles (Jae C Hong/AP)

While the brothers could not be seen on a video link, the court was told they could hear the proceedings.

Judge Michael Jesic pushed back the next hearing until January 30, citing that he would not be ready on the scheduled December 11 date because there is a lot of information to sift through.

Defence counsel Mark Geragos confirmed the hearing could potentially last longer than one day.

During a press conference outside of the court, Mr Geragos described the hearing as very moving.

It was the first time that Lyle and Erik have been at least remotely in the courtroom in a number of years, he said.

Defence lawyer Mark Geragos (Damian Dovarganes/AP)

It also was quite a moving experience at least from where we sat to listen to Aunt Terry and Joan who are respectively Jose and Kittys older sisters, both made compassionate pleas with the judge to send the brothers home.

Terry testified under oath that she was very close to Jose and practically grew up with him, Joan as well talked about Kitty and all of the good things that theyve done since theyve been in there.

By January 30 or January 31 we are hoping that by the end of that, or some time sooner that we will in fact get the brothers released.

Prior to the hearing, dozens of members of the public arrived at the courthouse to take part in a lottery for a handful of seats in the courtroom.

The brothers were convicted and sentenced to life without parole in 1996 and are serving time at the RJ Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego.

Nicholas Chavez as Lyle Menendez, Cooper Koch as Erik Menendez and Javier Bardem as Jose Menendez in the Netflix drama Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story (Netflix/PA)

It came after an initial mistrial with a hung jury for both brothers, as prosecutors claimed there was no evidence of any abuse, and the pair had murdered their parents to inherit the family fortune.

Mr Gascon later supported the brothers request for clemency from California governor Gavin Newsom, which said all family members except for Milton Andersen  the brother of Kitty Menendez  supported the petition.

Netflix launched drama series Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story by co-creators Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan.

The nine-part series stars Nicholas Chavez and Cooper Koch as the brothers, while Oscar-winner Javier Bardem and Chloe Sevigny portray parents Jose and Kitty.

At the time, the real Erik Menendez criticised the series, calling it a dishonest portrayal of a time when prosecutors built a narrative on a belief system that males were not sexually abused.

Netflix also released a documentary film titled The Menendez Brothers which featured interviews with the pair.
Forty years ago, Bob Geldof had an idea that arguably changed the world, and certainly changed the music world. It is such a simple idea, really, it is a wonder no one had tried it before: get as many famous musicians as possible together to sing on a charity record.

Multiplying the power of pop celebrity for a good cause, Do They Know Its Christmas? by Band Aid was recorded on November 25, 1984, and released just two weeks later. It became a runaway sensation, a number one single for three weeks that raised 8m (9m) in its first year towards fighting famine in Ethiopia (increasing to date to more than 240m for The Band Aid Charitable Trust). It opened the floodgates for a new genre of all-star charity singles and concerts.
David Walliams has revealed he would probably identify as non-binary if he were younger, and suggested that his life might have been simpler if he were gay.

The former Britains Got Talent judge (53) spoke about his gender identity and sexuality during an interview on the Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps podcast, released yesterday.

Reflecting on his past, the Little Britain star said that had he had access to the language and understanding of gender we have today, he would probably identify as non-binary.

I think its interesting. I find change interesting, Walliams said when asked about how gender identity has evolved.

And I mean, you know, I wrote a book called The Boy in the Dress 15 years ago, which was sort of seen as a bit more daring then, and its always something Ive always sort of felt like celebrating difference, so Ive always thought its exciting.

Later, the comedian said of his own identity: I sort of think, where would I be positioning myself maybe, if I was now 19 or 20. Because I went to Bristol University and did a drama degree. And I think that course is where youre probably if theres a group of people who are going to be most interested in that sort of area, most drawn to that area, its probably going to be drama students.

Szeps asked: What do you think you would be doing if you were 19?

Walliams responded: I dont know. I mean, I think in a way Id probably say Im non-binary, I think. Probably. I dont know exactly.

But I mean, its interesting. So I had this girlfriend at the end of university and we used to go out  I used to go out  we used to go to like gay clubs and dance for like six hours and Id be wearing like a skirt or stuff like that.

The Australian host then probed further into Walliams sexuality, referencing how the star described himself as Britains most famous bi-curious comedian and asked: Was that a true reflection of your adolescence? Did you experiment with guys?

Walliams replied: Yeah, Id say so. But again, it almost feels strange because these things were such a big deal to talk about back then.

Walliams went on to explain his connection to gay culture.

Yeah, Ive always been comfortable with it, he said. Sometimes I think my life wouldve been easier if I were just gay. Im really drawn to gay things. I love gay culture.

( Evening Standard)
Darragh McCullough: Lets put a cap on farm inheritance tax relief to stop the super-rich hoovering up farmland  but it needs to be up around 5m

The British governments limit of 1m provoked fury  but if we capped the relief at 5m then only the mega-wealthy would be affected

The 751ac Barne Estate in Tipperary was sold for 22.5m to New York-based construction magnate Maurice Regan but is the subject of a court case involving John Magnier

Darragh McCullough Tue 26 Nov 2024 at 03:30

We all know that land ownership is a thing that goes deep in Ireland. Thats why lads end up killing each other over a field that would often struggle to rear a cat, let alone provide an income.
Fianna Fail has made an election promise that all farmers children would be entitled to build on their land in an effort to tackle the housing crisis.

Ahead of Fridays election, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said this commitment would be included in new rural housing guidelines, which have been delayed on multiple occasions.

We want to make sure that its not restrictive for people on their own farms, for example. There have been efforts made to make it more restrictive, Mr Martin said.

There were differences of opinion in the last government between the three different parties. The Green Party would have a particular view on that.

Our view is that if youre the son or daughter of a farmer, you should be entitled to build on the land and we want to make sure that the guidelines reflect that.

The Fianna Fail leader said advancements in technology would help the selection of sites that stay within the environmental impact thresholds.

We would change the guidelines that where theres an economic or social or connection to the area, that should be facilitated: subject, obviously, to making sure of your environmental impact, water-waste treatment, all that is provided for, he said.

The technology now is much more advanced than it would have been 10 or 20 years ago, and given the housing crisis and the cost and affordability for people, I think its very legitimate that people are facilitated in staying in the townland.

Mr Martin has also committed to clamping down on high rollers who are sponging off inheritance tax breaks at the expense of genuine farmers.

The Tanaiste said preventing wealthy buyers from outbidding farmers in land deals would be addressed in the next budget.

There is an issue there, and there are limits to what one can do too in terms of constitutional rights that people have and so on, he said.

Fine Gael has said it would support rural housing in the shape of one-off self-builds through the Help to Buy scheme, the First Home scheme and the Local Authority Home Loan.

The Green Party said it would focus on building homes in the right places  close to work, school, college, and public services. Only the Greens can be trusted to deliver the housing we need without resorting to sprawling, isolated suburbs with long, car-dependent commutes.

Labour has said it would restore more autonomy to local authorities and introduce a use-it-or-lose-it policy to tackle land speculation and address unactivated planning permissions.

Sinn Fein has committed to publishing revised planning guidelines for rural, Gaeltacht and island communities.
Hundreds of people have staged a demonstration in Dublin in utter solidarity with Nikita Hand, who won a civil case against MMA fighter Conor McGregor. Ms Hand, who accused Mr 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 the Irish capital on Friday. She was described as incredibly brave and celebrated for standing up for survivors of assault by those who attended the demonstration in Dublin.
The slope on which public life is conducted gets steeper and slippier the longer you are at the top. Avoiding banana skins becomes ever more critical.

Fine Gael went into this election with a track record of 14 years as part of government. Taoiseach Simon Harris had reason to feel, if not jaunty, at least cautiously optimistic about his partys prospects this Friday.

But a series of gaffes and bad judgments has made for a very tight race going into the home straight.

Political doorsteps are probably the most hazardous zone for all running for office: a laser-like awareness of peoples needs is essential.

All the advisers and handlers on the planet are no protection against the perils of the meet-and-greet with the public. So after 48 hours of profuse apologies for his insensitive exchange with disability care worker Charlotte Fallon in Co Cork, Mr Harris will be looking to recover lost ground.

Last week he also found himself apologising in connection with the National Childrens Hospital.

I let myself down. Im deeply annoyed with myself, and theres no one more annoyed with me than me, he said on his encounter with Ms Fallon.

Some in his party might disagree on that score. But if mistakes are the portals of discovery  as James Joyce held  Mr Harris will have found out a lot.

Asked recently about his partys record on housing and health in office, the Taoiseach said both he and Fine Gael had much to be proud of. They rebuilt the economy and oversaw a surge in foreign investment, he said.

And to a point, he may be right. With the help of Fianna Fail, they have delivered effective government.

But the cost-of-living crisis and a lack of affordable homes to rent or buy are serious shortcomings many are struggling with.

Thus, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald wanted the homelessness figures released before Friday, when they are due, so voters could see how many families now rely on the State to keep a roof over their heads. The latest Irish Times poll shows we could be in for a photo finish with the top three parties.

Fianna Fail has pulled ahead, on 21pc (up two); Sinn Fein is on 20pc (up one); Fine Gael is down six, on 19pc.

Noting the momentum shift, Ms McDonald said it was game on. The Fianna Fail/Fine Gael axis has no grounds for complacency about waltzing back into power. Independents are also staking out a big claim on the national vote, on 19pc. Ms McDonald is keen for a chance to demonstrate that her party offers a preferable alternative.

They would not tank the economy  it was all about navigating risk, she insisted. By now, all parties have made bold claims and big pledges. But they say one should always be wary of those who urge an action in which they incur no risk. When the votes are counted, governments come and go, but its the taxpayer who always pays for it in the end. The people decide. The one risk we cant afford to take is that of not voting.
Taoiseach Simon Harris in freefall as he aims to move debate to economy

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin still wants to bring Simon Harris back to power despite Fine Gaels collapse in the polls.

Mr Martin has ruled out a deal with a resurgent Sinn Fein, arguing he cannot work with the party on the economy.

He said there are differences between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael but on broader macro principles, I think there is stronger alignment on the enterprise question and the economic model that has served this country well.

He said Sinn Fein opposed every policy that brought about foreign direct investment in this country and is very negative about the European Union.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald now believes she can chart a path to victory, although she will not commit to what the make-up of a new government might be.

This election, in real terms, opens up the possibility of government beyond Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, led by another party, she told The Indo Daily podcast.

Asked about comments from Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik, who suggested Sinn Fein is not really a left-wing party, Ms McDonald added: We are a party of the left. Im never a fan of different strands of the left competing to see whos leftier than left. I dont think thats constructive.

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris. Photo: PA

Tonights three-way debate on RTE is now seen by all parties as a pivotal moment in the campaign, given the three biggest parties are effectively tied in the polls.

Fine Gael is desperately seeking to move the election debate on to the economy after a series of controversies saw its support go into freefall.

Party leader Mr Harris wants to lure voters away from Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein. He said yesterday that potential trade shocks from the next US administration are a reason Fine Gael needs to be in the next government.

The Indo Daily: Mary Lou McDonald talks The Monk, Brian Stanley, why Gerry Adams won't be President and her pathway to power

By way of example, Mr Harris said Ireland could lose 10bn in corporation tax if three US companies left the country. He said that after his phone call with president-elect Donald Trump, he believes the next US leader is serious about pursuing the policies that he campaigned on.

Mr Harris said Fine Gaels Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe, who is president of the Eurogroup, is needed in the next government, adding that the party is also in Europes largest political group  the EPP.

Fianna Fail will also seek to persuade voters that it is the party to be trusted in case of international shocks, while Sinn Fein will put forward its cost-of-living plans.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin greets people as he canvasses in Lusk yesterday. Photo: Reuters

Mini manifestos: What the main three parties promise on housing

However, the Taoiseach is still struggling to move on from his widely criticised interaction with a disability service worker on the campaign trail.

It has emerged that a member of Mr Harriss campaign team raised concerns with RTE about publishing the footage of the Taoiseachs run-in with Charlotte Fallon in Cork.

The staff member is believed to have wanted RTE to add context, such as details of budget measures for people with disabilities.

RTE declined to comment.

Mr Harris also sought to distance himself from controversial Fine Gael candidate senator John McGahon, who was found liable for assault in a High Court civil action earlier this year.

In an interview on RTEs Today with Claire Byrne, Mr Harris appeared to backtrack on his endorsement of Mr McGahon by reminding voters that Fine Gael is running another candidate, Councillor Paula Butterly, in the same Louth constituency.

Weve two candidates running in Louth, he told listeners. For understandable reasons, theres been a lot of discussion about one and I want to make sure that people in Louth know theres a second Fine Gael candidate, Councillor Paula Butterly, and I encourage people to look at the record of Fine Gael candidates in the round.

Mr McGahon has avoided the media since new details of his assault case emerged during the campaign.

Mr Harris is coming under pressure after the latest opinion poll showed backing for Fine Gael has slumped by six percentage points.

He also faced criticism over his partys handling of the expulsion of Councillor Patsy OBrien in Mayo.

One senior Fine Gael TD said: The campaign is in freefall, I dont know how this happened or if we can recover it. A lot will depend on the RTE debate.

This view is echoed throughout the party.

One Fine Gael strategist said it is all about Micheal Martin as it becomes increasingly likely Fianna Fail will be part of the next government. They said it will be interesting to watch how Mr Martin interacts with Ms McDonald ahead of tonights key debate on RTE.

The Taoiseach will now stay in Dublin and the neighbouring counties in the coming days after criticism from party members that he was wrecked and exhausted in recent weeks.

Follow our Election 2024 live blog and find updates, analysis, and our interactive constituency profile map at our Election 2024 hub
McGahon is on the ballot alongside running mate Paula Butterly, who is not asking voters to give a preference to him

Outgoing TD, Fegus O'Dowd with Cllr Paula Butterly and Senator John McGahon after they were selected by Fine Gael to represent the party in the Louth constituency in the general election.

Paula Butterly, a Fine Gael candidate in Co Louth, has said she is not telling voters to give their second preference to party colleague John McGahon.

Mr McGahon's candidacy has been criticised by members of other parties.

He 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 and he was ordered to pay damages.

Paula Butterly, Fine Gael.

Fine Gael leader Simon Harris was asked today if voters in Louth should vote for Mr McGahon. Mr Harris said he understood why people were "horrified" over a video of the incident.

He added: "I'm very angry about this situation. I abhor violence. He went through a process, he was found not guilty. If he was found guilty it would be a very different situation."

Mr Harris told RTE radio: "I want people in Louth to decide based on weighing up his record of service in the community, his time as a senator, and I think people will look at it in the round and then they will decide."

Outgoing TD, Fegus O'Dowd with Cllr Paula Butterly and Senator John McGahon after they were selected by Fine Gael to represent the party in the Louth constituency in the general election.

Later, on RTE's Drivetime, Ms Butterly said she was "naturally" asking the people of Louth to choose her first, but added there remained two Fine Gael candidates to choose from.

She said the incident involving Mr McGahon was coming up on the doors and that her team was managing it by asking constituents to vote for her. She acknowledged that some posters said: "Vote No 1 Paula Butterly and Vote No 2 John McGahon". However, she said her focus was on her own campaign.

Pressed on whether she was telling constituents to give their second preference to her running mate, Ms Butterly replied: "No."

Asked if Mr McGahon should be on the ticket, she added: "I think John is entitled to look for the vote in four days time."
With small boundary changes and 17 candidates declaring for Galway West, the constituency looks to be a busy one for the upcoming election.

Current TDs (five seats)

Catherine Connolly (Ind), Mairead Farrell (SF), Noel Grealish (Ind), Hildegarde Naughton (FG), Eamon O Cuiv (FF)

In all, there are 17 candidates on the ballot for Galway West.

As expected, Fine Gael has nominated Senator Sean Kyne and Government Chief Whip Hildegarde Naughton.

Fianna Fail, who saw former minister and former Fianna Fail deputy leader Eamon O Cuiv, a TD for Galway West since 1992, announcing his retirement this summer, has presented two new faces.

Fianna Fails candidates in Galway West will be Galway City Councillor John Connolly and TV star Grainne Seoige, who will debut in politics at this election.

Eamon O Cuiv was the most voted candidate at the 2020 election in Galway West with 8,522 votes.

In 2020 Hildegarde Naughton took the fifth seat in the constituency with 5,609 votes at the 13th count, however, Fine Gale was the most voted party at the local elections for Galway County Council and the second for Galway City Council.

Following a disappointing performance at the local elections 2024, Sinn Fein is looking to keep their seat in the constituency as Mairead Farrell is seeking re-election.

Who could make gains here?

As outgoing candidates will try to defend their seats, the bigger parties will try to gain an extra seat while the smaller parties will try to take one after Eamon O Cuivs departure.

Many parties have announced only one candidate in the constituency, which might prove to be a winning strategy.

Among the most talked about candidates is Fianna Fails Grainne Seoige who is making her debut into politics, but will benefit from name recognition.

Are there any boundary changes?

The Ballinrobe area has been added back to County Mayo from Galway West.

At the last local elections, the Claremorris LEA  where Ballinrobe is located  elected two independent candidates, two Fine Gael, one Fianna Fail and one Aontu candidate.

What issues are under the spotlight?

As in much of the country, the housing crisis is a big issue in Galway West.

Students in Galway have been recently protesting against the accommodation crisis that is forcing some of them to seek better opportunities abroad.

The high number of derelict and vacant properties across the county have been an issue at the centre of many meetings.

Other burning topics are heavy traffic, the conditions of roads, and public transport.

Plans for the construction of a new ring road have been subject to debate, controversy and objections for years.

The project is currently being reviewed by An Bord Pleanala after its first approval was axed in 2021. Three years ago a High Court challenge saw that decision ultimately quashed because the Government's newer Climate Action Plan wasnt taken into account by the planning body.

In the meantime, this autumn an Bord Pleanala approved planning permission for the major BusConnects Cross-City Link project in Galway City.

The plan includes the development of new public transport corridor including bus lanes, cycle lanes and pedestrian facilities between University Road and Dublin Road, for an overall combined length of approximately 6.7km. It is expected it will be at least 2028 before the project is completed.

Candidates

AJ Cahill, The Irish People

Catherine Connolly, Independent*

John Connolly, Fianna Fail

Mike Cubbard, Independent

Mairead Farrell, Sinn Fein*

Patrick Feeney, Independent

Noel Grealish, Independent*

Sean Kyne, Fine Gael

Padraig Lenihan, Aontu

Doran McMahon, Irish Freedom Party

Maisie McMaster, People Before Profit-Solidarity

Hildegarde Naughton, Fine Gael*

Helen Ogbu, Labour Party

Pauline OReilly, Green Party

Grainne Seoige, Fianna Fail

Eibhlin Seoighthe, Social Democrats

Noel Thomas, Independent Ireland

*indicates sitting TD
Candidates will be fighting it out for four seats in the Limerick City constituency.

The election of Independent John Moran as Democratically Elected Mayor (DEM) for Limerick, although seismic for the citys progression, will likely have little effect on which TDs in Shannonside are elected to the Dails next term.

While a direct link to Dublin and a policy shaper in a new capacity, those who can advocate for Limerick in Leinster House are still vital to the electorate.

Fianna Fails veteran TD and former Defence Minister Willie ODea along with current Cabinet member, Fine Gael's Minister-of-State for the OPW Kieran ODonnell, are certain to be re-elected.

Sinn Fein's Maurice Quinlivan TD topped the polls in the last General Election gaining nearly a quarter of the entire first preference votes.

Despite his partys recent turmoil and a poor showing from Sinn Fein in Junes local elections, support for Deputy Quinlivan is still very strong in Limerick City.

It is expected that his popularity will see him elected to the 34th Dail.

The Green Party, who made history in having their first TD elected to the Dail for Limerick, in Brian Leddin last time around, may not be successful this time.

The sentiment is that this fourth and final seat is open and will be hotly contested.

Current TDs (Four seats)

Kieran ODonnell (FG), Brian Leddin (GP), Maurice Quinlivan (SF) and Willie ODea (FF).

Who could make gains here?

Taoiseach Simon Harris rising popularity since taking over could see Fine Gael gain the final seat  through Senator Maria Byrne.

However, new Fianna Fail candidate Dee Ryans very strong showing in placing third in the mayoral election in June could see her elected.

Are there any boundary changes that could be crucial?

Constituency boundaries have been redrawn as Birdhill, Kilcomenty, Newport in the former Rural District of Nenagh, were transferred from Limerick to Tipperary.

What issues are under the spotlight?

One of the biggest issues has long been the overcrowding crisis at the emergency department (ED) in University Hospital Limerick (UHL). This decades-long-crisis is seen as a political failure and will factor into constituents voting preferences.

Meanwhile, Limerick has one of the highest commercial vacancy rates in the country, at 17.5pc, behind only Galway in terms of cities, and fourth out of all counties.

There is a 19.4pc vacancy rate in the city centre, equating to one in five businesses vacant.

Drastic incentives to revitalise trade and entice businesses into the city-centre are required, businesses groups and candidates have said.

Limerick Chamber have said policing in the city centre is one of the key issues.

Retail-focused businesses are facing "serious issues" with anti-social and criminal behaviour, it said.

Limerick also has become the third most expensive city to rent in Ireland, with average rents now sitting at over 2,000 per month. The new figures marks a 21.2 per cent increase in rental prices year-on-year in the city, the biggest increase anywhere in the country.

Candidates

Kieran ODonnell FG *

Maria Byrne FG

Willie ODea FF *

Dee Ryan FF

Esther Aherne (Ind Ire)

Maurice Quinlivan (SF) *

Brian Leddin (GP) *

Melanie Sheehan Cleary (Mid West Hosp campaign)

Cllr Frankie Daly (IND)

Cllr Sarah Beasley (Aontu)

Cllr Conor Sheehan (Lab)

Cllr Elisa ODonovan (SD)

Dean Quinn (National Alliance)

Ruairi Fahy (PBP-S)

Paul Gavan (SF)

Michelle Hayes (Ind)

Dean Lillis (Ind)

*Sitting TDs
Finian McGrath told The Indo Daily podcast that Harris is a good person despite controversy over interaction with a carer in Cork.

Taoiseach Simon Harris engaging in a brief, terse conversation with Charlotte Fallon while canvassing in Kanturk, Co Cork.

FORMER Minister Finian McGrath has come to the defence of Simon Harris, saying the Fine Gael leader one of the few people in Cabinet who gets the disability issue.

Mr McGrath, who was Minister for Disability between 2016 and 2020, believes the Taoiseach has been treated a little bit harshly by those commenting on his exchange with a carer in Cork at the weekend.

Speaking on The Indo Daily podcast, the ex-Independent Alliance TD said: I worked for him for four years, he was my line minister. Every time I went into Cabinet, I was the only one banging the table every Tuesday morning about disability services and respite.

Simon was very, very supportive of me. And I felt he was one of the few people in the room, in Cabinet, that got the disability issue.

Mr Harris has apologised for walking away from disability worker Charlotte Fallon after an interaction with her in Kanturk, Co Cork last Friday. The exchanged has been viewed millions of times online.

Ms Fallon told him in a supermarket he was not a good man and said disability workers and carers were ignored in the Budget. The Taoiseach disagreed with her before abruptly walking away.

Taoiseach Simon Harris engaging in a brief, terse conversation with Charlotte Fallon while canvassing in Kanturk, Co Cork.

The controversy was followed by a significant drop in support for Fine Gael in the weekend opinion polls.

Mr McGrath, who served as Minister of State for Disabilities while Mr Harris was Health Minister, told the podcast he should be given a chance to redeem himself.

He was always a very professional person, always a very kind, human person away from the cameras and away from the lights. And I just felt that he was treated a little bit harshly.

He said the perception of the interaction didnt look good but the overall situation is that Simon Harris is a good person.

Mr McGrath said politicians who have relatives with disabilities get privately cheesed off when accused of not doing enough in the area.

Mr McGrath has a daughter with an intellectual disability and Mr Harris started out in politics fighting for better services for his brother Adam, who has autism.

There's a bond in the Dail of all of the parents and children and adults with physical intellectual disabilities, said Mr McGrath.

And sometimes we get a bit privately cheesed off with the lectures from other politicians about that you're not doing enough for disabilities, where the reality is we're doing an awful lot for disabilities.

Can we do more? Absolutely. But we have a budget this year now of 2.7bn going into services for disabilities.
Fine Gael says letter is official  unlike a previous incident the Taoiseach was involved in

Taoiseach Simon Harris is making a last-gasp desperate bid to win a second Fine Gael seat in a key constituency as his party vote plummets.

The move to manage the partys vote implies the weaker running mate chasing the extra seat is struggling.

In a blast from the past, the Taoiseach is asking voters in a pocket of Dun Laoghaire to switch from European Affairs Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to her running mate Barry Ward.

Fine Gael says the letter is official  unlike a previous incident the Taoiseach was involved in.

Constituency divide leaflet drops are frequently used by parties to balance the support between candidates, but can also show a weakness in the line-up.

The leaflet sent out by Fine Gael.

The appeal indicates Fine Gael is now scrambling in the south county Dublin constituency which was top of the partys wish list of gains. Ms MacNeill is expected to get far more votes than Mr Ward.

If Fine Gael is to form the next government, securing two seats in Dun Laoghaire is essential. That is why I am calling on all Fine Gael supporters in this area to vote number one Barry Ward and vote number two Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. This is our best path to ensuring the strong, effective representation Dun Laoghaire deserves, the leaflet signed by Mr Harris says.

Mr Ward is viewed as being in a three-way fight for two seats with Fianna Fail's Cormac Devlin and the Green Partys Ossian Smyth.

The leaflet was dropped three days before polling day and is targeting voters in the suburbs of Blackrock, Booterstown, Clonkeen, Deansgrange and Monkstown.

Most of that area was previously represented by Mr Ward when he was a councillor, so should be the territory where he is strongest.

The leaflet sent out by Fine Gael.

Thank you for the kindness and support you have shown to our canvassing teams over the past few weeks. Your engagement and feedback have been invaluable as we work to represent and serve our community. The outgoing Government has achieved significant progress. Yet, we know there is still much more to be done. We need your continued trust and support, the leaflet signed by the Taoiseach says.

Mr Harris was linked to a previous controversial fake leaflet drop in the constituency. A phoney official plea was dropped by Fine Gael candidate, the late John Bailey, the future Taoiseachs cousin. Mr Harris was working for Mr Baileys campaign at the time in the 2007 general election.

The leaflet caused a civil war in the party. Appearing to be an 'official' party directive, it recommended that people vote for Mr Bailey, ahead of his running mates, Sean Barrett and Eugene Regan. Mr Bailey's letter in a regular envelope featured the Fine Gael logo, and a photo of party leader Enda Kenny with the candidate.

"In order to maximise the Fine Gael vote we ask you to vote BAILEY, JOHN No 1 in this area and to then continue your preferences for the other Fine Gael candidates," the letter said.

A retaliatory letter subsequently sent out said: "Despite any communication to the contrary, there is no divide in the constituency, and we are not asking voters in any particular part of the constituency to support one candidate over the other."
Fionnan Sheahan: Simons soother, Mary Lous Waterloo and Micheal's Bobby Ewing effect  the TV leaders debate fates

The Tired and Tetchy Taoiseach has to decide whether to raise spectre of a Fianna Fail-led coalition with Sinn Fein

Micheal Martin (Fianna Fail); Simon Harris (Fine Gael); at RTE Upfront with Katie Hannon Party Leaders debate live on RTE One last week. Photo: Naoise Culhane

Fionnan Sheahan Tue 26 Nov 2024 at 03:30

The would-be taoisigh on centre stage tonight have one thing in common anyway: all three were admirers of Bertie Ahern when he was taoiseach.
Midway through the afternoon canvass, word comes from one of Hazel Chus campaign team that a woman wants to talk to her about Synge Street.

The plan to convert the school to a Gaelscoil has caused controversy and while the woman has no issue with Ms Chu personally, she wants to complain about the way another Green Party politician enthusiastically welcomed it.
A fire broke out this evening at an accommodation centre for international protection applicants in Co Wicklow.

The fire broke out on Monday evening at Kilbride Military campm which is being used as an emergency accommodation and reception centre.

A statement from the Defence Forces confirmed the fire has been contained and that all staff and asylum seekers are safe and accounted for.

The blaze prompted a multi-agency response involving An Garda Siochana, the fire brigade and military police responded.

This evening, the 25th of November, a fire broke out in the Emergency Accommodation and Reception Centre (EARC) Canteen in Kilbride Military Camp. An Garda Siochana (AGS), the Fire Brigade and Military Police responded.

"The fire is now out, and all International Protection applicants and Defence Forces personnel are safe and accounted for. A damage assessment and investigation is currently ongoing, a spokesperson said.
Jennifer Thomas (46) pleaded guilty before Cork Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing the death of Sheila Dunne (54).

A FORMER model whose dangerous driving caused the death of special needs assistant Sheila Dunne (50) was warned she faces a prison sentence after she drove her jeep following a day-long drink-fuelled social outing.

Mother-of-three Jennifer Thomas (46) wept as Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard that she had consumed 12 drinks over the course of one afternoon in Douglas, Blackrock and Glanmire restaurants and pubs including one Prosecco, one Mimosa, two Espresso Martinis, four gin and tonics and four glasses of red wine.

Judge Helen Boyle was told by Det Garda Mark Durkan that, during her attempt to drive home, the defendant fell asleep behind the steering wheel twice at traffic lights, narrowly missed a pedestrian, ran over several traffic cones, undertook two U-turns and drove on the wrong side of the road.

When questioned after the collision by Gardai, Ms Thomas said initially that she had been behind the wheel - but then suggested that mother-of-two Sheila Dunne, who was in the front passenger seat of the commercial jeep, may have been driving as she had "more control".

Sheila Dunne died in Cork University Hospital (CUH) on February 13, 2024

One witness at the collision scene said Ms Thomas was in a very agitated state and kept repeating: "How can I live without her? Please (Sheila) wake up."

Two other motorists were so concerned at the condition of Ms Thomas' driving minutes earlier that they tried in vain to get her to pull over and park her vehicle - while another followed her in a bid to alert gardai.

At one traffic light, she fell asleep behind the wheel while stopped for over eight minutes - with other vehicles having to drive around her jeep.

Judge Boyle was told that Ms Thomas made a serious attempt on her life in the months after the death of her friend of over 20 years and believes she will never be forgiven for what happened.

A letter of apology was submitted to the court but this was rejected by the Dunne family as being offered too late.

Defence counsel Tom Creed SC read the letter to the court.

"I deeply regret my behaviour and what happened," she said.

"What I did was wrong...I am truly sorry in more ways than I can explain."

Ms Thomas also apologised for contacting the Dunne family after the tragedy in "a selfish request for forgiveness."

In an emotional victim impact statement, delivered on behalf of Mrs Dunne's children, Lilley and TJ, who were left orphaned by the tragedy, the court was told the two children were left with "shattered hearts" because of the selfish and reckless actions of Ms Thomas.

Thomas of Oakfield View, Glanmire, Co Cork pleaded guilty before Cork Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing the death of Sheila Dunne (50) on the L2973 road at Sarsfield Court in Glanmire on February 11, 2024.

The charge was brought contrary to Section 53 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961.

The model, who appeared in court wearing a black coat and pants suit, sobbed with her head in her hands as the victim impact statements were delivered in person by Lilley Dunne and on behalf of Sheila's mother, Esther O'Brien (74), by Sheila Lee.

Lilley told the court that her brother, TJ, has autism and is non-verbal.

"I stand before you here today as TJ's voice and to outline the devastation we have both endured," she said.

"I have come here with a shattered heart weighed down so heavily by this.

"I wanted to try to try and express as vividly as I can how this tragic event has destroyed my life, my brother's world and our family unit as we knew it."

She said her mother always referred to TJ as "the best boy in the whole world" - and she is absolutely heartbroken when TJ asks: 'I want Mommy please'."

The young woman said she tries to console her brother by saying their mother and father are together "up in the sky."

Lilley said her family felt they had endured "a cruel twist of fate" after losing their mother just a few years after losing their father to Covid-19.

"My beautiful mother was taken from us far too soon at the young age of 50 in a car crash caused by a reckless decision made by a selfish individual. This choice altered our lives forever.

"I have known Jennifer for many years. It haunts me that on the day of the car crash I repeatedly tried to contact Jennifer as I couldn't get through to my Mam as her phone was flat.

"I felt a huge worry as it was totally out of character for my Mam.

"It was later verified to me that Jennifer's phone was not flat and so I could only feel as though I was being ignored.

"The betrayal I feel is indescribable and it has broken my sense of safety and trust in everyone."

She said her family were told at one point that Sheila was driving the car.

"I never believed this and this made an unimaginable tragedy even more painful for me and my family."

Lilley said she allowed Ms Thomas to visit her mother at Cork University Hospital (CUH) where she was in a critical condition in the days before her death.

"Knowing what I know now, my decision would have been different.

"Jennifer's malicious lies trickled out to the media vultures compounding our grief. Newspapers and social media outlets covered the story and reported that my Mam was the driver.

"Jennifer's complete fabrication painted a picture of my Mam, Sheila, that was far from the truth, sensationalising the tragedy and stripping away her dignity and worsening our family's suffering.

"It is heartbreaking to see how easily someone's untruthful words can overshadow all the goodness and integrity my Mam embodied."

Lilley said that Ms Thomas' false claims had turned her mother's death "into a spectacle."

Ms Thomas offered an apology in court to the Dunne family but they said it was offered far too late to be accepted.

"She (Jennifer) asked for forgiveness but never took responsibility for her careless actions. She never said sorry."

Lilley said her mother's death has been most painfully felt by her brother, TJ, for whom Sheila was his primary carer.

"It is impossible to gauge the extent of the trauma he has endured from this."

"Our Mam's death is a hole that no amount of time or apology can ever fill and no justice will bring her back."

Sheila's mother, Esther O'Brien (74), said the collision had inflicted "profound emotional scars on all of us."

"My granddaughter Lilley was left with no choice but to step up and care for her younger brother, TJ. While I am so proud of Lilley for being such an amazingly strong young girl, it breaks my heart to see the sacrifices she has had to make and the lost opportunities (she had)."

Other charges against Ms Thomas, including one count of drunk driving and three counts of dangerous driving, will remain at the district court as they are deemed to be summary charges.

The summary charges include that Ms Thomas was under the influence of an intoxicant to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the vehicle at Sarsfield Court, dangerous driving at Hazelwood Road, Sarsfield Court and Sallybrook, not having a driving licence and the related count of failing to produce it.

Det Garda Mark Durkan told the court that Jennifer Thomas pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

The defendant was driving her two seat commercial jeep with Sheila Dunne as a front seat passenger when the tragedy occurred.

Ms Thomas had driven after consuming 12 drinks over the course of a social day out.

After a series of near-misses on earlier stretches of road, the two-seat jeep entered a sharp left hand bend near Sarsfield Court but never straightened out, struck the ditch and overturned on the driver's side.

Ms Thomas was wearing a seat belt but Sheila Dunne was not.

The special needs assistant was then catapulted across onto her friend, suffering serious injuries and later having a cardiac arrest which in turn resulted in a critical brain injury.

Sheila Dunne died in Cork University Hospital (CUH) on February 13.

The special needs assistant was originally from Limerick and was predeceased by her husband, Ted.

Lilley said it was doubly heartbreaking for her and TJ that, having watched their father die from Covid-19 after being on life support in February 2021, they had to watch their mother similarly pass away after being on life support at CUH last February.

The fatal collision occurred just 1.2km from the Dunne family home and Lilley said she can no longer travel the route because of the memories of her mother.

Mr Creed said that Ms Thomas had made a serious attempt on her life after being wracked by guilt over what happened.

"It has had a severe psychological effect on her. She feels extreme guilt over what she has done. Her remorse is genuine," he said.

Judge Boyle was told that Ms Thomas has ten previous convictions, seven for Road Traffic Act offences.

The judge adjourned sentencing to allow her to consider the various expert reports.

"This will attract a custodial sentence so I will remand her in custody to Thursday," Judge Boyle said.
Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) has appointed a new chief executive in the wake of two senior resignations, it emerged today.

The group, which manages the three childrens hospital in Dublin, has selected Lucy Nugent, the current chief executive of Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) in Dublin, for the role of chief executive.

It follows the resignation of interim chief executive Fiona Murphy, who will leave the hospital group in February. Stephen Flanagan, who had been acting deputy chief executive and chief operating officer, has also resigned and will leave the post this week.

His previous role as chief financial officer has been filled for some time by John Fitzpatrick.

Ms Nugents appointment comes as the childrens hospital group enters a crucial few months in preparation for the promised completion of the new National Childrens Hospital in June.

CHI has a major role in overseeing the construction as well as planning for the phased transfer of care from the existing three hospitals over the next year.

Intense planning is needed to make the new hospital ready and prepare for the moving of services from existing hospitals to the new facility around this time next year or early 2026.

Ms Nugent joined Tallaght Hospital as chief operations officer in 2014 and moved to the role of deputy chief executive in 2016.

Prior to joining TUH, she worked in the Acute Hospitals Division as head of quality assurance and risk management (clinical and patient services manager) in the Childrens University Hospital Temple Street.

Prior to that she worked in a number of nursing roles. In addition to her nursing qualifications, Ms Nugent has an MSc in Healthcare Management, BSc Nursing Studies, a Diploma in Infection Control and a Diploma in Leadership & Quality in Healthcare. She has served as president of the Health Management Institute of Ireland and is its representative on the European Association of Hospital Managers.

Earlier this week, staff at CHI were told the appointment of a new chief executive was imminent.

In a memo to staff, Dr Jim Browne chairman of the board confirmed the departure of Ms Murphy.

In a memo to staff, Dr Browne said: I regret to inform you that Ms Fiona Murphy has tendered her resignation as Interim chief executive of Childrens Health Ireland, effective February 2025.

On my own behalf and on behalf of the board, I would like to convey my sincere thanks and appreciation to Ms Murphy for her tremendous leadership over the past year or so. Fiona has done and continues to do an incredible job in challenging circumstances. I am sure you will all join me in wishing her every success in her new role.

I would like to assure you that the board expects to appoint a new CEO imminently. I will be writing to you regarding this in the very near future.

In the meantime, the board and I would like to thank you for your continuing commitment to CHI and most importantly to the care of our patients and their families.

Earlier this year, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly criticised the board for delays in seeking a new permanent chief executive of the organisation. He wrote to Mr Browne in August.
A generous couple who have been honoured for five decades of volunteering for the Irish Red Cross credit the enjoyment they get from the work for slowing down the progress of early onset dementia with which one of them has been diagnosed.

Deirdre and Brian Madden (68) from Galway city have been given Lifetime Achievement awards by the Irish Red Cross.

Deirdre has early-onset dementia but doctors believe the progress has been slowed and the couple praise the benefits they get from volunteering. They also owe the Irish Red Cross thanks for their romance which blossomed when they met through the organisation in Galway.

Deirdres consultant is surprised by how good she is. We operate a minibus two or three days a week to bring elderly people from around the county to hospital appointments. Deirdre is in the back talking to everyone.

We have great fun with them. Somebody coming from Ballinasloe could not afford 100 for a taxi, said Brian, a retired ESB worker.

He said his proudest moment as a volunteer was in 1979 during the Popes visit to Galway when he ran the first aid unit at Ballybrit.

He remembers working a 28-hour shift, the thousands of people, and the energy and occasion of it.

He also provided support during the Galway fire in the 1970s. He was also there supporting refugees who came to Galway from the north of Ireland, to escape the July 12 events in the 1970s.

Deirdre joined the Irish Red Cross in 1969 and has dedicated 55 years to community service. As a community support officer she has played a vital role in patient transfers, hospital support, and community aid distribution, often collaborating with organisations like the St Vincent de Paul.

In addition to her community work, Deirdre has supported Red Cross training, assisting with courses, practicals and equipment maintenance. A nomination for this award highlighted her strength and dedication, continuing to serve her community despite the challenges of early-onset dementia.

Speaking about the couples recognition Deirdre Garvey, Secretary of the Irish Red Cross said: Deirdre and Brian embody the essence of the Irish Red Cross through their decades of dedicated service and unwavering compassion. Their partnership in volunteerism is a testament to the power of working together to make a difference. We are honoured to celebrate their incredible legacy."

The Lifetime Achievement award for Deirdre Madden was particularly moving, recognising her continued dedication to the Irish Red Cross despite the challenges of early-onset dementia. Her resilience and selflessness have touched the hearts of all who know her, she continued.

The Irish Red Cross said it extends its heartfelt congratulations to Deirdre and Brian Madden and all award recipients for their extraordinary contributions.

The organisation has more than 3,000 volunteers operating of out 73 branches in communities, both big and small across Ireland

A high number of the volunteers are highly trained at emergency response, emergency medical technician, mountain rescue, cardiac first aid response, psychological first aid and mental health therapy, and committed to investing in their personal upskilling and training in service of their community and to provide support in emergencies.

They give their time to help others in their time of need, working to keep people safe and striving to foster inclusion and unity in the community, said a spokesman.

Irish Red Cross volunteers gave more than 100,000 total hours of support last year to support individuals and communities in Ireland, he added.

Volunteers provided first aid cover at more than 2,000 events in 2023, treating injuries, providing pre-hospital care and transferring individuals for life-saving care. Symptoms included chest pain, stroke, collapse, dizziness, paralysis and head injuries.
A young teacher who suffers from severe asthma has spoken of how patients with the high-risk condition can be left on hospital emergency trolleys and struggle to be heard and seen.

Rachel Murray (32), from Co Sligo, said while she has received good care when she presented to emergency departments in recent times, she can also find herself on a trolley in a corridor with many other patients, despite this putting her in danger of serious infection.

People with severe asthma can find health staff do not fully understand it. Sometimes you can have a silent chest  a wheeze may not always be present.

You can be hours on a trolley and because you are immunocompromised, there is the threat of infection.

Ms Murray, who teaches at the Abbey Vocational School in Donegal and has suffered from asthma since she was a teenager, was speaking as a new report from the Asthma Society of Ireland warned getting a diagnosis of severe asthma can be a pain point for patients.

They dont feel that GPs take the conditions seriously or have the knowledge to make an early diagnosis. And getting referred to a specialist can be a lengthy wait, it said.

The report, Towards Optimal Severe Asthma Care, also highlights problems of delayed diagnosis, restricted access to drugs and high costs associated with the condition.

It pointed out that some patients had to change doctors in order to get the right opinion and treatment needed and among patients who received their diagnosis later than when their symptoms first appeared, the average delay is six years.

Ms Murray described the military precision required to manage her condition, which involves three inhalers a day, a nebuliser, a machine for airway clearance and four or five medications.

I can be hospitalised three or four times a year. The last time I was there for a month. Severe asthma is something you need to be very well planned for.

She is now dependent on steroids and this has led to side effects.

Ms Murray supports a call in the report for easier eligibility rules around biological medicines which reduce asthma attacks, improve symptoms and reduce reliance on oral steroids.

They are expensive and need more funding. The eligibility criteria is very narrow and a lot of people with severe asthma do not qualify, she said.

Professor Marcus Butler, a respiratory physician in St Vincents Hospital, said: We can currently only estimate the number of people in Ireland with severe asthma based on prevalence rates in other jurisdictions and on the numbers of people we treat in specialist clinics.

This represents a significant challenge  its hard to make the best policy, budgetary or service decisions if we dont know the full extent of the situation.

A severe asthma registry could provide accurate, reliable and more up-to-date information about the treated and not-yet-treated patient population and the disease.

It would allow for better research and better treatment and care.
The pay issue at the heart of a controversial exchange between Taoiseach Simon Harris and a care worker threatens to escalate into an industrial dispute.

The claim for equal pay for workers in Section 39 and similar organisations providing disability care and other services  which was the subject of an emotional meeting involving Taoiseach Simon Harris on the campaign trail  remains unresolved after discussions today.

Unions are now threatening potential industrial action if it is not resolved.

Health unions expressed frustration after representatives of various Government departments said they had no mandate to address the issue.

The workers in Section 39 agencies, which are funded by the HSE to provide services, are paid less than counterparts doing the same job in the HSE.

On Friday in Cork a visibly upset care worker Charlotte Fallon told Mr Harris, who was campaigning in a Kanturk supermarket: It should be about care workers, their pay and working conditions but, above all, it should be about the people that they care for and who entirely rely on the care they provide.

Mr Harris has since said he apologised to Ms Fallon and said he accepts he should have stayed and listened to her longer instead of walking away from the interaction abruptly.

The statement today on behalf of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Forsa, SIPTU and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisations representing workers in Section 39, 56, 10, & 40 organisation said that despite well-publicised commitments given - with regard to pay parity for workers in the sector - the government representatives in attendance advised the unions they had no mandate to address the issue.

On behalf of their members unions expressed their extreme frustration at the continuing lack of urgency to resolve the matter.

We are calling on Government to honour its commitments by mandating its officials to negotiate in advance of the election. The issue of restoring pay parity for these workers has always been central to this dispute and must be resolved.

The government negotiators are acutely aware of what is required to bring about a resolution to this long standing dispute, said the unions.

While we remain available to engage, if the current impasse continues we will find ourselves facing an unnecessary dispute.

We are urging the Taoiseach and Tanaiste to mandate the negotiators to return to the table immediately. 

The Alzheimers Society of Ireland (ASI), which is a Section 39 agency, said it is urging general election candidates to commit to building a dementia workforce for the future and support for family carers.

Staff that deliver life-enhancing care to Section 39 organisations such as The ASI (with over 700 employees) face significant pay disparities compared to public sector workers performing similar roles. This inequality has led to recruitment and retention challenges, particularly in home care, where staffing shortages are severely impacting service delivery for people with dementia and their families.

With over 500,000 people in Ireland whose families have been affected by dementia in some way, the organisation stated that a stable workforce is essential for ensuring quality, continuous care, and the sustainability of dementia services.

It added that while several political parties have included commitments to dementia and older peoples issues in their manifestos and over 200 election candidates have signed the Dementia Pledge so far, the new Government must address this pay disparity by including the estimated 84,000 Section 39 employees in public sector pay agreements and providing funding for salary increases, including increments.
Irish citizen on tourist yacht in Egypt is doing 'ok', says Micheal Martin

Micheal Martin confirmed that the Irish citizen on board the capsized boat in Egypt "is OK and receiving consular assistance", as he provided an update to reporters in Dublin on Tuesday morning.
Councillor Fergus Kilcoyne said proposed homes would be blocking sunlight coming into his conservatory. Stock image

A Fianna Fail councillor in Limerick objected to plans for houses that would block sunlight into the conservatory of his house.

Councillor Fergus Kilcoyne raised concerns about a planning application nearby his house, saying as two of the proposed four homes would cause overshadowing and present a domineering and hostile vista.

He said two of the proposed houses would mean significant erosion of our privacy in his family home of 25 years, in a submission dated July 22, 2024, to Limerick City and County Council.

Mr Kilcoyne told the Irish Independent the proposed homes would be blocking sunlight coming into his conservatory.

The basis of that letter was, its blocking the sunlight going into my conservatory, I wasnt against the housing, Ive no problem with housing. If they put a pitched roof on it, it would let more sunlight in, he said.

Ive nothing against housing. Its very important to read what I have said. I went back with two issues, an A and a B that could be done and theyre in talks.

Ive nothing against housing and Ive no problem with a house being built at the back of my house, but if theres a way that the roof could be put on that wont affect the light going into a conservatory.

In the submission, he states we would be willing to accept two single-storey homes instead of the two semi-detached houses.

We trust the local authority will take the foregoing into consideration in their deliberations, he said in the submission.

When this was put to him, he said: Theres more on the file than that. Before you go and print anything, make sure you have it right  then he hung up.

I have not objected to a single house

The application, which was granted with conditions, is currently being appealed.

He insisted he was not objecting to housing, saying: I have not objected to a single house.

In an appeal dated September 12, Mr Kilcoyne and Josephine Kilcoyne stated: We would like to clarify that we are in favour of residential development in the village and are favourably disposed to this scheme, but we cannot reconcile this support with aspects of the design as per the foregoing that impinges on our property.

It is unfortunate that the applicant did not approach us prior to making the application to discuss the proposal and the potential impact on our residential amenity.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin has previously said politicians should stop opposing to housing developments

They again stated in the appeal single-storey or dormer-style dwellings with a hipped roof as being more acceptable instead of the two proposed houses nearby their house.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin has previously said politicians should stop opposing to housing developments. Last week, it emerged a party candidate in Offaly objected to 102 homes in Tullamore.

In response to a list of questions, a spokeswoman for Fianna Fail said: Dont have a comment for you.

A letter from the builder to the council in response to the concerns raised by Mr Kilcoyne says: Any potential impact on light to adjoining properties remains negligible and compliant with local planning guidelines.

Last July, Mr Kilcoyne also put in a submission on a planned development of six two-storey detached homes, raising concerns with a proposed road.

He said this also was not objecting to housing and instead, he wanted clarity about the planned road.

I didnt put any submission in against the six houses. I made an observation that there was a through road going in by the side of my house to a field next door, he said. Theyve come back and said the road wont be going through. Ive objected to no house.

He said in the submission that if there was no clarity given, the planning authorities should ultimately refuse permission.

The clarity has been furnished. I am happy with the clarity, he said.
Fine Gael expelled Mayo County Councillor Patsy OBrien after he was found to have repeatedly sent pornographic material to a female former Oireachtas staff member.

Mr OBrien was suspended from Fine Gael in March 2020 after Fine Gael received a complaint about unsolicited material he was sending the staff member.

He was expelled in October of the same year, after an internal Fine Gael committee found he was in breach of the partys code of conduct.

After several requests for comment from the Irish Independent, Fine Gael issued a statement detailing how they handled the issues related to Mr OBrien who is running as an Independent election candidate in Mayo.

Former Fine Gael member Patsy O'Brien

Taoiseach Simon Harris says Patsy OBriens behaviour was 'deplorable' but refuses to comment on Hildegarde Naughton's praise for councillor

But Fine Gael has not answered any questions related to Government Chief Whip Hildegarde Naughton allegedly campaigning with Mr OBrien, despite knowing about the messages he sent the Oireachtas staff member.

In the statement, Fine Gael said: Following consultation with a former female Oireachtas staff member who made a complaint against Councillor Patsy OBrien, Fine Gael can, in agreement with this individual, confirm, that Fine Gael received a complaint concerning Councillor OBrien repeatedly sending her unsolicited pornographic material, which was degrading and graphic in nature. This caused serious upset, alarm and distress to her.

A Fine Gael hearing committee in 2020 found that Councillor OBrien sent pornographic and sexually explicit material, including videos to the staff member, while he was carrying out his work as a county councillor and when making representations on behalf of citizens and constituents.

Accordingly, the Committee determined that by his actions, Councillor OBrien acted in a manner which was contrary to the code of conduct of the Fine Gael party and expelled him from membership of the party.

The former staff member has asked Fine Gael to relay that their privacy be fully and absolutely respected and no further contact be made with her by media outlets. The individual does not wish to see any material published which risks identifying her, the party added.

The Sunday Independent reported at the weekend that Taoiseach Simon Harris and Justice Minister Helen McEntee received letters outlining claims Ms Naughton continued to canvass with Mr OBrien despite knowing he sent pornographic messages to a Fine Gael staff member.

Ms Naughton has refused to answer any question on her knowledge of the material, despite previously demanding Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald come before the Dail and address her actions on learning a party member sent inappropriate messages.

Ms Naughton posted videos and photographs on her social media praising Mr OBriens work as a county councillor in February 2020 during the general election campaign.

It was claimed in letters to Mr Harris and Ms McEntee that Ms Naughton knew about the messages sent by OBrien since 2019.

Yesterday, the Taoiseach refused to answer any questions related to Ms Naughton but called Mr OBriens actions deplorable.
The Indo Daily: Mary Lou McDonald talks The Monk, Brian Stanley, why Gerry Adams won't be President and her pathway to power

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has poured cold water on the prospect of her predecessor Gerry Adams running to become the next President of Ireland.

In an interview on The Indo Daily podcast, Ms McDonald said she doesnt think Mr Adams has any interest in making a bid for Aras an Uachtarain.

While Mr Adams himself has previously ruled out running for President, there has been speculation he could be among the more well-known figures putting their name forward to succeed Michael D Higgins in 2025. Ms McDonald was asked if he would make a good President.

"Well now theres a question. I dont think he has the remotest interest in being the President of Ireland, she said.

Could I see him in that role? I dont think so, I mean, I think at this stage Gerry is doing a lot of writing, he has his own podcast as we were discussing earlier. So no, I dont see him taking that, going that route or if it is in his mind he certainly hasnt shared it with me yet.

Ms McDonald was asked about the new Disney+ series Say Nothing, based on the book written by Patrick Radden Keane, which follows four generations of people in Belfast throughout the Troubles. Mr Adams is portrayed in the series by British actor Josh Finan and in his older years by Armagh native Michael Colgan.

The Indo Daily: Mary Lou McDonald talks The Monk, Brian Stanley, why Gerry Adams won't be President and her pathway to power

The end of each episode includes a disclaimer that reads: Gerry Adams has always denied being a member of the IRA or participating in any IRA-related violence.

Ms McDonald said she has never asked Mr Adams why he never joined the IRA and she hasnt yet seen Say Nothing.

"The only account that I have seen of it is that it caused upset amongst people who were depicted in it, and I don't mean Gerry Adams. And look, the past happened, we cant rewrite it, we cant undo it, we need to be conscious and we need to learn from it.

"And we also need to be conscious that people who were hurt, theyre hurt in the here and now. So I dont know what conversations Disney had with the family, but they werent very happy with that.

She said Mr Adams has constantly and consistently set out his position and she recalled him smoking a pipe, though he is now avidly anti-smoking, and he was the Sinn Fein guy that you couldnt hear, and then you could hear.

"This thing has been a long running Was he or wasnt he in the IRA?.

"The expert on Gerry Adams is Gerry Adams, I cant speak for him and Im not going to challenge him on his life experiences.

Immigration

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has taken aim at the Government for suggesting people who believe their communities are not suitable for asylum-seeker centres are racist.

Ms McDonald said the Government is hiding behind a claim that people want to veto who lives beside them because it has not worked with communities on locations for accommodation centres for asylum-seekers.

I think the Government kind of used this people want to veto line, to kind of hide behind it because they hadnt gone in and they hadnt done the work to actually go and talk to people in communities, Ms McDonald said.

We need to be careful not to slip into an analysis that we all went to bed one night grand, and we woke up the following day and the entire country was racist. That didnt happen.

The Sinn Fein leader also criticised anti-immigration politicians who wave the Tricolour while also appearing at protests with loyalists.

If you want to know what the Irish cause is about, read the 1916 Proclamation: nowhere in that proclamation is there valued anything other than equality, inclusion, decency, fairness, Ms McDonald said. Thats what the Tricolour is about.

Its a proud flag thats about equality and freedom and decency, not the kind of hate-filled nonsense and macho bravado, sticking your chest out. That doesnt cut any cloth with me.

Mini manifestos: What the main three parties promise on housing

It has been a challenging few weeks for Sinn Fein in the lead-up to the general election with multiple controversies plaguing the party, including the resignation of TD Brian Stanley.

Ms McDonald said it would be difficult for Mr Stanley to return to the party and said he was the author of his own misfortune.

As my mother would say, he made his own bed, and he may lie on it. He was the author of his own misfortune. Im very serious about this, Ms McDonald said.

She added that Mr Stanley not taking responsibility for his actions was something she was taken aback by.

Its one thing to get things wrong and to get yourself into a pickle, Ms McDonald said.

Its a whole other situation when you face the consequences of that and you dont man up and take responsibility for your own actions, and you start pointing at other people and blaming other people for your own conduct.

In the whole scenario, thats the thing. I think its that I was very disappointed in and very taken aback at. I dont think thats good form.

On the controversial election bid by criminal Gerry The Monk Hutch, Ms McDonald said the gang war between the Hutch organised crime group and Kinahan cartel wasnt glamorous and was not funny, and insisted she would not be working with him if he was elected.

I have absolutely no desire to know him, and I am sure he has no desire to know me and thats just hunky dory for me, she said.
Ms Hussey had been suffering a short illness and was surrounded by her family in the care of Gascoigne House Nursing Home, Dublin 6, when she died.

Taoiseach Simon Harris and President Michael D Higgins have led the tributes to the late Fine Gael politician.

In a statement on social media, Fine Gael leader Simon Harris described Ms Hussey as a trailblazer.

It is with profound sadness that we in Fine Gael mark the death of our friend and colleague, Gemma Hussey, he said.

Gemma was a trailblazer, the States first female minister for education and Fine Gaels first female cabinet minister.

Gemma was a passionate progressive for womans rights, education reform and Irelands place in the world, particularly the potential of European Union membership.

Gemma was a TD from my own native Wicklow, where her long service and delivery is remembered to this day.

But above all, Gemma was a patriot, a Fine Gael stalwart and a kind and generous person. I was one of the people lucky to enjoy her company, her advice and her good humour. To all of her family, colleagues and friends, I am truly sorry for your loss, he said.

Meanwhile, President Michael D Higgins said Ms Hussey was a lifelong committed feminist.

Gemma Hussey was a passionate advocate and inspiration for the vitally important increase in the number of women serving in our political system, he said in a statement.

As a dedicated and effective government minister, she set a stirring example of the key role which must be held by women in politics.

President Higgins mentioned several achievements of Ms Hussey, such as establishing the National Parents Council as education minister. She put in place lasting reforms which have benefited all those who have grown up in Ireland in the succeeding decades.

Throughout her career, she remained true to her principles and advocated for social reforms at a time when not all of the causes she supported were popular with all parts of Irish society.

Her interests were wide and inclusive. For example, I recall that we were both members of the McBride Commission on the Irish prisons, where Gemma took a particular interest in crimes of violence against women.

As chair of the Womens Political Association, and later as co-founder of the European Womens Federation, she used her experience to aid others in building their own political careers.

In the years since her departure from frontline politics, Gemma Hussey remained an incisive commentator and an always-valuable voice on the political system, Mr Higgins added.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee has also paid tribute to the former Fine Gael colleague, describing Ms Hussey as a trailblazer for women in politics.

Gemma Hussey was a pioneering politician who was inspired to enter public life by her involvement in the womens movement, she said in a statement.

She was the first woman to hold the position of Minister for Education and was the only woman serving at Cabinet in the period 1982-87. She also served as minister in the departments of Social Welfare and Labour. Women in politics today owe a lot to Gemma and the female politicians of her generation.

In a statement issued this evening, her family said they are deeply proud of her contribution to a better Ireland and a better Europe over a lifetime of service.
Immigration is one of the hot-button topics of this general election and six candidates from across the political spectrum debated Irelands response to a surge in immigration in recent years.

The immigration issue was debated by Justice Minister Helen McEntee, Integration Minister Roderic OGorman, Fianna Fails James Browne, Aontus Peadar Toibin, Independent Irelands Michael Fitzmaurice and Sinn Feins Matt Carthy on RTEs Upfront with Katie Hannon.

There was fiery debate over the previous governments handling of the influx of Ukrainians fleeing Russias invasion in 2022, along with the increase of asylum seekers from many other countries worldwide.

There was criticism for government parties for their out-of step supports for Ukrainian refugees which created a pull factor, according to Peadar Toibin. James Browne countered this by saying the government acted with humanity and Helen McEntee said the cuts in supports for Ukrainians were instituted along with EU partners.

Roderic OGorman, in a fiery exchange with Matt Carthy accused Sinn Fein of walking away from Ukraine after Mr Carthy suggested Ukrainians living in Ireland should be processed through the International Protection once the temporary protection measures that allow them to live in Ireland are ended, which his party would advocate for at an EU level. OGorman blasted it as a crazy idea.

McEntee insisted that immigration is a good thing for this country and that Ireland needs inward migration to fill many posts as the country was at full employment.

The government ministers rejected assertions that they were asleep at the wheel over sustainably managing migration.

The Fine Gael deputy leader said inward migration is needed to ensure increased housing delivery, essential services in healthcare, and other sectors.

She defended the current immigration system as rules-based.

Ms McEntee said: If somebody is coming and applying for a work permit, the job has to be there.

If somebody is coming in here as a student, were very clear that you are coming to study, that you are not coming here to work, that youre not coming to use the study visa.

She added that by and large most people agree that migration has been a positive for the country.

Mr Toibin said there was no doubt that many migrants make really positive contributions to Ireland.

However, the opposition politician accused the Government of being asleep at the wheel by not keeping immigration at what he characterised as sustainable levels.

Mr Toibin said we have to start looking at how many permits are provided to non-essential workers and said: we have sleepwalked into non-sustainability, while adding that there are 500,000 adults living with their parents due to a lack of housing.

Integration minister and Green leader Roderic OGorman said blocking off links to other countries would be fundamentally a wrong approach for an open economy like Ireland.

He accused Mr Toibin of having a deeply divisive proposal.

James Browne, who is the junior minister in the Department of Justice, said the countrys economy is booming in ICT and foreign direct investment.

He added: Shutting down effectively any work permit coming for foreign direct investment will be absolutely, I think, counterproductive and, quite frankly, hypocritical as well.

We do need people coming into this country. Its at full employment and it helps our economy and our society to grow.

Michael Fitzmaurice of Independent Ireland said most people have no problems whatsoever on people coming in on permits.

However, he said there is a problem around the complicated permit system.

Mr Carthy said there was an irony in doctors and nurses who qualified here having emigrated to the far side of the globe over a lack of affordable housing in Ireland. Mr Carthy said the Government was overseeing crises in housing, health and migration.

What we want to do is put in place a system of rules that are clearly understood and clearly enforced that ensures that there is confidence for everyone involved.

He added: We need to have a managed migration system that ensures that those sectors that need employees are able to access them in a way that doesnt actually burden the overstretched services that we have, that doesnt actually add to our housing crisis that we already have.

So we have to be cognisant of all of that and recognise the value of people who are coming here and maintaining our health services and other essential services.

Mr Fitzmaurice criticised the government for creating divides across communities in Ireland due to the level of supports given to some and not others and touched on the student housing crisis and claimed universities in Ireland are attracting students from outside the EEA, who have to pay higher fees, to subsidise their finances but this in turn creates more pressure on the housing market.

While the debate raged on, it was confirmed an accommodation centre for asylum seekers at Kilbride Military camp in Co Wicklow caught fire. There were no injuries reported and an investigation was ongoing into the cause of the blaze, believed to have originated in a canteen.
The Banner Countys sustainable tourism and grassroots skills revival have caught Conde Nast Travellers eye

The Armada Hotel is Ireland's first to achieve B Corp certification

Conde Nast Travellers list of the top places to visit in Europe in 2025 includes the Athens Riviera, a natural park on Portugals coast and cities like Geneva, Marseille and Vienna.

It also includes the Banner County.

"Long seen as the home of traditional Irish music, County Clare is quietly becoming the hub of a grassroots revival of other skills and an inspiring example of ecotourism along Irelands Wild Atlantic Way, the iconic title says.

And it doesnt even mention the Cliffs of Moher or this years All-Ireland

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

The Best Places to Go in Europe in 2025, unveiled this month, features 11 places worthy of your precious annual leave and hard-earned spending money, the UK edition of Conde Nasts iconic travel title says.

Focusing on destinations experiencing a renaissance in the coming year, the hotlist is based on its contributors suggestions, it adds.

Gaining a shout-out are marine biologist Cormac McGinleys walking tours (cormacscoast.com), the Michelin-starred Homestead Cottage in Doolin (homesteadcottagedoolin.com), and The Common Knowledge Centre (ourcommonknowledge.org), a non-profit social enterprise in the Burren where guests can camp, stay in lodges and learn crafts like dry-stone wall building and furniture-making.

Co Clare has form in terms of global travel lists, with its Burren Ecotourism Network named among Lonely Planets top places to visit in 2021.

Conde Nasts nod is another vote of confidence in Irish tourism as a new year beckons, with Cork already named on National Geographics travel hotlist for 2025, and Adare Manor named Europes best resort by the titles US edition.

Homestead Cottage in Doolin, Co Clare

Conde Nast Travellers Best Places to Go in Europe in 2025

Ahr Valley, Germany

Albania

Arrabida, Portugal

Athens Riviera, Greece

Co Clare, Ireland

Faroe Islands

Geneva, Switzerland

Marseille, France

Matarrana, Spain

Sussex, UK

Vienna, Austria

Autumn and early winter see a wave of travel awards and best of lists, and those by the likes of Conde Nast can be heavily influential among travellers.

Its European list also namechecks breezy, surf-style escape the Armada Hotel, which was the first hotel in Ireland to receive B Corp status for its environmental and social responsibility efforts.

It featured at No 2 on the Irish Independents Hot 100 list of Irelands best hotels for 2024.

Gregans Castle also merits a mention as a luxury eco hideaway that has donated a plot of land to the Burren Pine Project to help restore a lost tree species to Irelands native flora.

All this and youre still never far from a toe-tapping ceili and the craic, Conde Nast says.

Find the full Best of list online here.
November is traditionally a month to remember loved ones. Stark testimonies are currently emerging from Covid enquiries in different countries, especially about the effects of not being allowed to be with a loved one who is dying. I have no doubt that our own evaluation, chaired by Professor Anne Scott, will hear similar accounts of distress.

Being together to give comfort is a fundamental human need. Covid robbed us of the ability to satisfy this basic need. It showed us how much we value a loving presence, and our death rituals.

Wakes and funerals allow us to speak about the person who has died and celebrate our love for them. The very structure of these cultural practices holds grieving family and friends together at a time when they need emotional support.

Since the pandemic ended, it has been a relief to return to these familiar steps that carry us through the early days of mourning.

The theme of honouring the memory of somebody close is picked up each November by the Irish Hospice Foundation, which runs its Light Up a Life awareness and fundraising campaign.

Sadly, there are people who die without anyone remembering them afterwards or saying their name. We need to give them a place. Displaced people, disconnected from families and communities, those who die unknown and homeless in a doorway, must be remembered.

One of the many disturbing aspects of the work carried out in Tuam, Co Galway, by historian Catherine Corless, was the lack of recognition and dignity that children received by being buried in a septic tank. There should be a respectful day to remember those babies and say their names aloud.

The connections made with patients and their families towards the end of life are incredibly fulfilling

Although many people express the desire to die at home, 77pc of people in Ireland die in a healthcare facility, cared for by staff. This means thousands of caring relationships are built between families, staff and patients around the time of illness and at the end of life. These relationships have a big impact on patients. The words and body language used can deeply affect families who are seeking reassurance and kindness for their loved ones and for themselves.

From the perspective of a health professional, the connections made with patients and their families towards the end of life are incredibly fulfilling. It is generally a positive experience. But, occasionally, our healthcare infrastructure provides cold comfort and even less dignity.

Many healthcare staff build valuable relationships with patients. Photo: Getty

Due to an enormous workload, staff can struggle to create a connection. Providing care using palliative care principles is an ethical duty of everyone in healthcare, but we need adequate resources to meet demands. Moral distress experienced when not meeting the needs of patients, especially dying patients, is an understandable reason for exiting the profession.

Being present at the end of a life leaves an indelible mark on those who choose to work in healthcare. It has changed me as a person, from medical student to experienced doctor. After unexpected or traumatic deaths, staff may be offered access to psychological support. The HSE provides an Employee Assistance Programme with counselling. Its helpful and easy to access.

Footage of nurses holding electronic devices up to the faces of ventilated patients was harrowing

Patients may have spent months or years in a nursing home or hospital and it is not surprising that staff may feel bereft when that person dies. Healthcare workers find it difficult to articulate grief about the loss of a patient and a relationship with a family, as in one sense it feels less acceptable. For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as disenfranchised grief.

The World Health Organisation has highlighted the rapid decline in numbers of people choosing to work in healthcare, predicting a 50pc decrease by 2030. This can be partly explained by burnout among staff.

A nurse holds a phone to show a video to a Covid patient in a hospital in California. Photo: Getty

The pandemic damaged trust across our health system, with families separated from patients at the time of their deaths and staff struggling to step into that void. Video footage of intensive care nurses holding electronic devices up to the faces of ventilated patients, so that their families could say goodbye, was harrowing. We must try to start to heal the pain felt by families and staff during that time, by recognising it and ensuring that we never experience it again.

November previously focused on the spirituality of death. We can go further than this. It can be an inclusive time to recall and celebrate every life lived, no matter how they were lived or how brief. It is also a time to remember the care received during the last days and those giving that care. Dignity and care at the end of life matter.

Dr Suzanne Crowe is a consultant in paediatric intensive care and president of the Irish Medical Council
Dual-use exports from Ireland to Israel increased by more than a factor of six during 2022-23, amounting to 70.4m in 2023. Above, Taoiseach Simon Harris. Photo: PA Wire

Fine Gaels election manifesto makes for a perplexing read for those of us concerned with human rights.

It declares that the party will implement a rigorous regime for the control of dual-use items, ensuring that all applications for export licences are thoroughly checked to confirm that they will be used for their stated purposes and not for illicit activities.

One has to ask why, as the dominant party in the outgoing government, they did not do so all along?

Dual-use exports (products and components, including software and technology, that can be used for both civil and military purposes) to states outside the EU are subject to a licence by the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment.

An Uplift investigation revealed in July that dual-use exports from Ireland to the Israeli state increased by more than a factor of six during 2022-23, amounting to 70.4m in 2023.

Since October 2023, the department issued eight dual-use licences for exports to the Israeli state, for a total value of 32.1m. No licences were rejected last year, despite a large amount of such exports happening in the last three months of the year.

Most (six out of eight) of these licences were issued since January last, long after UN experts warned of a genocide conducted with 21st-century means and methods of warfare.

Given the Israeli militarys record in whitewashing what most Irish people agree is a genocide, and given the coalition governments failure to take concrete action over the last year, I am not convinced by the manifestos assurances.

Brian O Eigeartaigh, Donnybrook, Dublin 4

Plan to ditch Triple Lock would spark ethical, legal and constitutional crisis

The outgoing coalition parties intention to abolish the Triple Lock (requiring UN authorisation if more than 12 Irish troops deploy abroad) is deeply mistaken. This plan insulted Dail Eireann, which appointed them on their 2020 Government Programme reaffirming the Triple Lock.

The plan would also breach solemn constitutional promises to the Irish people. Our concerns for active neutrality led to defeat for two EU treaties. So the Seville Declaration, spelling out the Triple Lock, was attached to Nice II and reaffirmed, with a promised protocol, with Lisbon II in 2009. Breaking these solemn guarantees would provoke an ethical, legal, political and constitutional crisis in the carefully articulated order of Bunreacht na hEireann.

Moreover, its chair had to admit even Tanaiste Micheal Martins exclusive and restrictive forum on neutrality last year failed to find consensus on the issue. It also failed to deliver the compelling facts and evidence invoked by him at its opening in Cork.

Yes, the UN is severely challenged, but we need urgently to work within the general assembly to reform it, rather than further sideline it. Yes, there are cables and cyber-security in general to consider, but the implausibility of protecting them militarily, particularly in an atmosphere of renewed Cold-War escalation, should encourage a professedly neutral state to reaffirm the existing framework of maritime laws, and seek enforcement measures which reduce rather than heighten enmities.

None of this is easy or trendy, but surely our peace process, in which we still rightly take pride, should remind us that Irelands unique selling point is patience, a readiness even to be derided as naive, and our enduring public support for genuine UN-directed peacekeeping.

In a world which, UN secretary general Antonio Guterres recently warned us, is becoming unhinged, the Triple Lock is no mere metaphor; we should quiz all parties as to their support for it.

John Maguire, Professor of Sociology Emeritus, UCC, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

Thornton Hall has been lying idle for decades. Its high time we got digging

Reading the flyers from my local politicians, none seem concerned about the trinity of addiction, mental health and homelessness, and you could add in crime. Justice Minister Helen McEntee bemoans the lack of prison space on the day that the will of the late Professor Ivor Browne, the man who shut down Grangegorman psychiatric hospital, is reported.

Thornton Hall aimed to be the modern Grangegorman, serving as a prison, psychiatric and addiction centre  but nothing has been done for 20 years.

Its a greenfield serviced site, so lets start digging.

Dr Michael Foley, Rathmines, Dublin 6

Updated calendar could marry deities and festivals of Roman and Celtic lore

I believe that the latter months of the year, September, October, November and December, are badly in need of new names.

Their names reflect an outdated calendar that doesnt even exist any more. September derives from the Latin word for seventh month, which is no longer even accurate as two months were added to the Roman calendar since its inception.

Likewise, October means eighth month, November ninth month and December tenth month.

While the rest of the months have acquired eponymous names, why not their later siblings? The months from January to August are named after a range of Roman leaders, festivals and gods. So, what about September, October, November and December? Why not give them special names, celebrating deities or festivals or great figures from history?

We could use the Irish language as a reference point as it honours these months with unique names, reflecting important events in their dates.

Mean Fomhair of course means middle of the harvest, Deireadh Fomhair means end of the harvest, Samhain is named after the ancient festival that took place then and Nollaig is the Celtic word for Christmas.

I hope to bring attention to this issue and garner support for a new beginning.

Declan Murphy, Templeogue, Dublin 6W

The only change we are likely to see after the election is in the climate

A general election year has rolled around again and candidates old and new are making big statements about pie-in-the-sky intentions.

The incumbents, who seem to be suffering from amnesia, restate their past promises for the umpteenth time. New candidates promise an immediate Valhalla the moment they take their Dail seat.

The great promise of the 20th century, We will drain the Shannon has been replaced with, We will build more houses. But the realists know only too well that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Seeing the state of climate change, Irish people could indeed be the first to hear the cuckoo on December 1.

Declan Foley, Melbourne, Australia
Aontu general election candidate for Cork North West Becky Kealy said her party is advocating for more regulated and public home care hours to be provided as family carers save the Irish State some 20 billion per year.

Ms Kealy said Aontu has brought two motions to the Dail in the past year seeking the abolition of the means test for the carers allowance. We were the only party in the Dail to advocate for a no vote in the Care Referendum in which the government sought to eviscerate carers rights by reducing their constitutional grounds for seeking economic support from the State.

Over half a million people in Ireland provide unpaid care for family members or loved ones, said Ms Kealy. Those who provide care within the home are truly unsung champions who should be paid for the work they do and should not be penalised based on their spouses income.

Aontu is fighting for better access for respite services and increased weeks of respite for those in receipt of round the clock care, to help alleviate the pressures on family carers. The outgoing government gave a lot of lip service to equality and compassion, she added.

Ms Kealy cited Taoiseach Simon Harris abruptly cutting short a discussion with Cork care worker Charlotte Fallon in Kanturk after she raised concerns about the pay and working conditions of care workers.

The exchange was caught on an RTE video clip that went viral and has become one of the biggest talking points of the election campaign,

Ms Kealy said: It is neither equal nor compassion to deny family carers their absolute rights when it comes to pay, nor to try and cynically strip them of the rights they do have. However, in the light of Simons Harris appalling treatment and dismissal of Charlotte Fallon who tried to bring his attention to the plight of carers in general, we should not be surprised.
Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Joe Carroll pictured alongside Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Moira Murrell. They recently visited Designs craft and gift shop which has been in business in Skibbereen since 1977. Picture: Alison Miles /OSM PHOTO

People are being encouraged to make a special effort to spend time in their local towns and villages this Christmas and to support local businesses.

The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Joe Carroll is encouraging people to make a special effort to shop local this Christmas and to support their local businesses.

There are unique gifts as well as fun, festive days out for all the family to be found right across the county including Christmas markets in Macroom, Bantry and Youghal, lights and community events.

Mayor Carroll said all of Cork Countys towns and villages are open for business this Christmas. They have been decked out with beautiful lights, wonderful Christmas displays and there is much to discover. Shopping local, especially at Christmas, helps to ensure your area continues to thrive. We can all do our bit by supporting our local businesses, shops, restaurants and cafes.

It has been a challenging year for many businesses but together we can help them to end the year on a high. I would also ask that people make an extra effort to visit Bantry and Midleton this year, he added.

Bantry and Midleton will have a bumper weekend of shopping on Friday, December 6 and Saturday, December 7 with late shopping, music and discounts while the Bantry Christmas Market takes place in New Street on Sunday, December 8.

The Mallow Castle Illumination Walk will also make a welcome return on Sunday, December 8.

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Moira Murrell said: Supporting businesses and supporting communities is at the heart of everything we do at Cork County Council. These businesses ensure our towns and villages continue to thrive which is why shopping local is so important.

Cork County Council is also providing special car parking arrangements across its own operated car parks throughout the month of December.

Visitors are encouraged to check the offers in their local area.

For updates, more information and a selection of Christmas events taking place in Cork County please visit www.corkcoco.ie
Cork TD Aindrias Moynihan has requested a meeting with the Irish Water Management Team responsible for the Macroom Water Supply plant after he recently received details on water quality test results and the condition of filters.

Deputy Moynihan has also highlighted the ongoing boil water notice affecting residents in Macroom, Carrigadrohid and Canovee as a significant communication breakdown with Irish Water.

Deputy Moynihan has voiced strong concerns regarding the situation which he has deemed as unacceptable. This situation is not only frustrating but unacceptable. Locals have a right to timely updates and transparent information about the resolution process.

The boil water notice was initially issued on August 27, following consultations with the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Although the notice was briefly lifted on September 25, it was reinstated on September 30 due to adverse weather conditions affecting water clarity and supply.

This pattern of repeated boil water notices during winter months in recent years concerns Deputy Moynihan who has previously called for more effective communication and action from Irish Water.

Deputy Moynihan confirmed that he requested critical details from Irish Water, including recent water quality test results and the actions taken to lift the boil notice.

He stated: These were made available to me this week and there are some damning and shocking details provided. Included in the details supplied by Irish Water are issues regarding the condition of the filters raising questions about why they have not been replaced.

Read more Cork Mayor Joe Carroll encouraged people to shop local this Christmas

Deputy Moynihan continued: Furthermore, Irish Water's communications indicate a lack of accredited personnel to carry out recommended sampling by the HSE, suggesting that samples could be sent to another laboratory for testing.

The Fianna Fail TD for Cork North West also noted a reference to interim filter replacement in the communications dated October 11, questioning why this has yet to occur.

In response to these findings, Deputy Moynihan has requested an urgent meeting with the Irish Water Management Team responsible for the Macroom Water Supply plant.

Locals cant be fobbed off anymore, said Deputy Moynihan. The documents supplied to me are of grave concern and this needs to be rectified as a matter of urgency.

The new plant is not due to be completed until 2026. This now needs to be a priority and completion date brought forward, as residents have no faith in their water supply. All they want is their right to safe drinking water, he added.
The company was named on the list for an issue related to discharges to water and air emissions

North Cork Co-Op Creameries Limited will be the subject of targeted enforcement action after being named on the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) National Priority Sites list for the third quarter of 2024.

The company was named on the list earlier this month for an issue related to discharges to water and air emissions.

The facility was amongst seven sites listed by the EPA as priorities for its enforcement efforts.

Using its National Priority Sties (NPS) System, the EPA uses performance-based indicators to rank industrial and waste licensed sites in order of priority for enforcement.

Commenting on the publication of the list on November 12, the EPAs Dr Tom Ryan said his organisation prioritises sites that are not complying with their licence.

As noted in the EPAs recent State of the Environment Report, a disproportionate number of sites on the National Priority Sites list have been from the dairy processing and waste sectors. This trend continued in Quarter 3 2024. The seven sites on the current list will be the subject of targeted enforcement action to ensure that the environmental issues are addressed, and compliance is restored, Dr Ryan said.

Pamela McDonnell, manager of the EPAs Industrial Licence Enforcement Programme, said that three of the sites on the National Priority List, including North Cork Co-op Creameries Limited, are milk processing sites.

Each of these has featured on the National Priority Sites List previously. Milk and milk effluent pose a significant risk to local streams and rivers if it is not carefully managed. The dairy sector must prioritise investment in environmental controls to prevent the discharge of polluting material. This remains a priority issue for the EPA, Ms McDonnell said.

In July, the EPA said that a number of compliance issues had been identified at the North Cork Co-Operative Creameries Limited facility in Kanturk.

The compliance issues identified at the creamery included ineffective infrastructure and management of storm water risks to the River Allow (described as a significant pressure site), which runs adjacent to the entire east boundary of the plant.

Other issues identified at the site were groundwater quality beneath the site and non-compliant emission to air from an on-site boiler.

The EPA also recognised that the licensee had improved compliance at the on-site wastewater treatment plant which was a major issue in the past.

The plant has been in operation at its current site since 1928 and processes approximately 90 million litres of milk every year to produce butter, liquid milk, cream, skim milk powder, rennet casein and whey concentrate.
The car raffle is part of a major effort to raise funds to develop a state of the art fitness suite

Boherbue Comprehensive School sixth year students John Hickey, Cara Courtney, Daniel Linehan and Maria O Sullivan with the new Kia Ceed up for grabs in the upcoming raffle.

Principal of Boherbue Comprehensive School, Vera Leader, Deputy Principal DJ McSweeney, Patrick Coleman of Colemans Millstreet pictured with sixth year students Cara Courtney, Daniel Linehan, John Hickey and Maria O Sullivan. First year students Sean O Sullivan, Aine O Riordan, Aoife Guerin, Daniel Linehan.

Boherbue Comprehensive School has launched a special fundraising raffle that will allow one lucky entrant to win a brand new Kia Ceed.

The car raffle, which was recently launched by the staff and students of Boherbue Comprehensive in partnership with Kia dealers Colemans of Millstreet, is part of a major effort to raise funds to develop a state of the art fitness suite.

Once built, the fitness suite will be used by students of the school as well as the general public of the wider Duhallow area.

Principal of Boherbue Comprehensive School, Vera Leader, has encouraged people to purchase a ticket for the car raffle.

By purchasing a raffle ticket you will be supporting the development of a very worthy project which will benefit not only the school but the local community, Ms Leader said.

The principal said she was grateful for the sponsorship of Colemans of Millstreet and also thanked the fundraising committee of the school.

We are delighted with the opportunity to launch this fundraising initiative to ensure the continued success and growth of sport within our school and the local Duhallow region, Ms Leader said.

The big car draw will take place on the May Bank Holiday Weekend next year and tickets will be available online for this weekend at www.boherbuecs.com or through the schools social media pages on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Tickets will also be available at the school.
The cost of providing 14 ambulances in Dublin Fire Brigade is roughly 28m annually

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has completely disrespected the competence and professionalism of Dublin Fire Brigade through funding shortfalls to their ambulance services, it has been claimed.

Speaking last night at the presentation of Dublin City Councils 1.48bn budget for 2025, the councils Chief Executive, Richard Shakespeare, said the funding shortfall raises his blood pressure.

He told councillors that the cost of providing 14 ambulances in Dublin Fire Brigade was roughly 28m annually.

We get approximately 9m from the HSE, leaving a shortfall across the four Dublin local authorities of 19m, about 10m of which is ours, he said.

Mr Shakespeare said he had engaged quite extensively over the last two or three months with the HSE and the Department of Health, but despite the intervention of Minister for Housing and Local Government, Darragh OBrien, a derisory sum was offered.

I am not even going to tell you the derisory offer that was made, but needless to say my second word was ... off, and were now at a bit of an impasse, he said.

Mr Shakespeare added that because there was no contract in place between the HSE and DCC, using the courts to secure the funding wouldnt be an option.

The HSE has completely disrespected the competence and professionalism of Dublin Fire Brigade and their paramedics and advanced paramedics, he said.

Fine Gael councillor Ray McAdam said the budget provided a clearer picture of how senior officials in government departments view local authorities like Dublin City Council.

The cost of providing 14 ambulances in Dublin Fire Brigade is roughly 28m annually

Effectively, they see us as excrement on their shoes, he said. They see us as a little quango they can boss and indeed bully around the place.

It is no clearer than in the approach of the HSE and Department of Health officials on their failure to engage meaningfully on the shortfall in funding to DCC and other local authorities around Dublin Fire Brigade contributions.

Councillors passed the 2025 budget of 1.48bn  a 140m increase on 2024  which included a 1.8pc increase in the commercial rates multiplier.

Social Democrats councillor Eoin Hayes criticised the increase in rates given the current struggles facing many businesses in the city.

I am stunned by the measures in this budget to increase commercial rates. Its unconscionable when more and more small businesses right across the city are closing, he said.

What is pro-enterprise about increasing costs on businesses in our city?

A significant portion of Dublin City Councils budget increase for next year is directed towards the Housing and Building Division, with operational expenditure in this area rising to 738m, up from 637.6m in 2024.

This includes an additional 59.3m for Homeless Services and 22.5m for Long-Term Leasing.

Income from Housing and Building is expected to reach 627.6m in 2025, compared to 539.7m the previous year.

The cost of providing homeless services continues to rise.

In 2025, the total cost for the Dublin region will amount to 35.3m, with Dublin City Council required to cover 13.3m of this, representing an 8.7m increase over the previous year.

A spokesperson for the HSE said: There is a high level of cooperation between Dublin Fire Brigade and the HSE National Ambulance Service on day-to-day operational matters.

Efforts continue to build on this cooperation to strengthen arrangements for ambulance services in Dublin.

There is no Service Level Agreement (SLA) or Memorandum of Understanding in place specifying or commissioning ambulance services from DCC, or describing governance, accountability, funding or performance management arrangements.

The HSE does not have any governance or oversight role in relation to or financial responsibility for services DCC decides to provide on behalf of the four Local Authorities in Dublin.

The delivery of any services by DCC, remains the financial responsibility of those Local Authorities.

Based on long-standing arrangements, the HSE makes a financial contribution to DCC annually.

There is no SLA in place to vary the amount of the contribution made or accede to, agree with or accept any alternative operational or costing model.
League of Ireland

I said to them, take inspiration. Vitinha is not that tall  Stephen Kenny tells his Saints midfield men to think big

They are small in stature but big in heart, and Stephen Kenny has told his St Patricks Athletic midfielders to follow the example of Paris St Germains dynamo Vitinha and prove that the modern game is not all about physique.
Approval of loans totalling 66.5 million is required to fund housing projects and schemes, aimed at addressing housing shortages, promoting affordable and cost rental options, regenerating communities by bringing vacant properties back into use and investing in existing social housing.

The borrowing approval will enable the delivery of the first affordable cost rental homes by Galway County Council and the advancement of three affordable housing schemes in Baile Chlair (Claregalway) and Athenry.

Following the unanimous approval by the elected members on Monday November 25, Galway County Council will now seek loan approval from the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage that will allow for investment in the countys housing needs.

Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council, commented: County Galway is experiencing increased demand for affordable and social housing and, therefore, it is critically important the local authority is sufficiently resourced to deliver new housing schemes, bring vacant and derelict properties back into use and maintain our existing housing stock to modern standards.

Follow Independent Galway on Facebook

The support of elected members in achieving this goal is paramount and their approval of our Housing Borrowing requirements marks an important step in this process.
Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald and TD Pa Daly on the campaign trail in Tralee.

Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald and TD Pa Daly on the campaign trail in Tralee.

Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald and TD Pa Daly on the campaign trail in Tralee.

A meet and greet by Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald and TD Pa Daly on the campaign trail in Tralee.

Deep in discussion Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald and TD Pa Daly on the campaign trail in Tralee.

Party leaders are certainly determined to woo the electorate in Kerry given the recent visits of both the Taoiseach Simon Harris and FF leader Micheal Martin and this week it was the turn of Sinn Fein party leader Mary Lou McDonald to visit the Kingdom.

She took to the streets of Tralee on Saturday, accompanied by Kerry general election candidates Pa Daly TD and Stephanie OShea.

During her visit, she visited a number of local businesses and got a very warm welcome on the streets of the county capital.

Deputy McDonald engaged with many voters on the streets, including one young woman who shared a personal story about her siblings being forced to emigrate. She highlighted how one sibling, a teacher, struggled for years to secure a permanent position in Ireland but was able to obtain a permanent contract in London within just four weeks.

A meet and greet by Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald and TD Pa Daly on the campaign trail in Tralee.

Speaking about the issue, Mary Lou McDonald said: "One of the central tasks for the next, and I hope new Government will be to address the challenges faced by younger people. Travelling is a valuable experience, but its crucial that young people have the opportunity to return home and build a future here. The outgoing Government has failed, particularly in its responsibility to provide affordable housing."

Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald and TD Pa Daly on the campaign trail in Tralee.

Pa Daly echoed these sentiments, saying: "This Government has made home ownership unattainable for an entire generation, stripping so many of any hope for a future here in Ireland."

Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald and TD Pa Daly on the campaign trail in Tralee.

During her time in Tralee, Mary Lou McDonald, along with Deputy Pa Daly, Stephanie OShea, and Councillor Deirdre Ferris also met with families affected by the Kerry CAMHS scandal.
Seamus (Shambo) Byrne (23) of Kinlough, Co Leitrim and Belleek, Co Fermanagh.

The siblings of a young man who died following a tragic crash in Co Leitrim have paid an emotional tribute to their younger brother at his funeral.

Seamus (Shambo) Byrne (23) of Kinlough, Co Leitrim and Belleek, Co Fermanagh died following a single vehicle collision in Derryherk, Co Leitrim on Thursday, November 21, 2024.

The single-vehicle collision occurred on a local road between Kinlough and Garrison shortly before 7am.

The other occupant, a female in her 40s, was transferred to Sligo University Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

A technical examination of the scene has been conducted by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.

A large crowd attended Mr Byrnes funeral in St Aidans Church, Kinlough at 11am on Tuesday morning.

A number of symbols were brought forward to symbolise My Byrnes life.

A number of cars were brought forward to the alter to symbolise Mr Byrnes love of cars from a young age while a photograph, a jacket and a coat and a can of Monster were also among the gifts presented.

During the prayers of the faithful, family and friends of Mr Byrnes prayed for his family, friends and neighbour who had provided the family support since his death, the carers who provided his care and the deceased members of his family.

Speaking during the homily, Father Thomas Keogan said the death of Mr Byrne at the young age of 23 was devastating for his family and friends.

News of Seamus Shambos sudden and tragic death brought devastating shock to his family, his many friends and the community.

There is always great grief from the death of a loved one and unfortunately circumstances such as this, a man much too young at the age of 23, there is that extra and anxious question, why?

Why did it happen this way? Why, Why?, said Fr Keoghan.

The congregation heard Mr Byrnes short life began in October 2001 when he was born in a hospital in Dublin. He lived for the first year and a half in Dublin but came to the Kinlough area in 2003.

He went to primary school in Belleek and to secondary school in Brollagh.

Mr Byrne had spent two years training as a mechanic in Enniskillen.

This is no surprise because as it is evident from the symbols that have been taken up that he just loved cars.

He was interested in anything with an engine in it, said Fr Keoghan.

He was also described as the life of the party, a legend among his friends and a gentleman.

In an emotional tribute, Mr Byrnes brother Luke said this is one of the saddest days and recalled that his brothers life meant so much to so many people.

Mr Byrnes sister, Naiose, also paid tribute to her younger brother.

I will miss you brother.

I wish this was all a bad dream.

We all want you back so much.

You lift us all up and every room you walked into, you lit up, she said.

Following the service, Mr Byrnes remains were taken to St Aidans Cemetery, Kinlough for burial.

My Byrnes death notice reads, The death has occurred of Seamus (Shambo) Byrne of Kinlough, Leitrim / Belleek, Fermanagh tragically following a road accident.

Predeceased by his niece Ruby, his grandparents and his aunts Margaret and Patricia and his uncles Thomas and Denis.

Deeply and forever missed by his loving parents, Seamus and Catherine

His brothers, Denis, Thomas, Luke (Lorraine), his sister in law, Laura.

His sisters, Catherine (Andrew), Siobhan (Brendan), Veronica, Naiose (Steven)

His nephews, Thomas, Sean, Tadhg, Logan, Jamie-Lee, Josh, Kaiden, Oisin, Andre, Reece.

His nieces, Rebecca, Nadia, Ava, Lauryn,

All of his aunties and uncles, Teresa (Cyril), Patricia, Veronica (Tom), Bernadette (Mick), James, Johnny, Francis and all of his cousins, extended family, neighbours and his wide circle of friends.
Meath County Council planning officials are running the rule over plans for a multi-million euro solar farm on the outer fringes of Kells.

Multi-million euro plans for a solar farm in Meath extending over more than 400 acres and capable of providing electricity to up to 27,000 homes have been tabled with local authority planning officials.

Fyanstown Solar Farm Limited lodged plans with Meath County Council in recent days for the proposed development in the townlands of Fyanstown, Hurdlestown, Kilmainham, Rossmeen and Sedenrath.

The mooted site, which is located 5km east of Kells, includes plans for 960,000 sq m of solar photovoltaic panels on ground mounted frames, 48 single storey electrical transformer stations together with a single medium voltage control substation.

The development, subject to planning, will see a 40 year operational lifespan being granted to its Cork based applicants.

Details surrounding the plans comes on foot of a public information event which was held at Kells Parochial National School in June.

Its also understood a Community Benefit Fund will form part of the developments establishment in a bid to provide reliable, long-term funding to the local community.

The proposed Fyanstown Solar Farm will contribute to Irelands renewable energy targets and promote increased energy generation and self-sufficiency, a statement read in relation to the plans.

A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been prepared as part of the proposed plans.

A final decision on the plans is expected to be made on or before January 25, 2025.
Family owned business gets a chance to celebrate special anniversary and officially open manufacturing facility

James and Michael Lawrence with Leo Clancy CEO Enterprise Ireland cut the ribbon at Lawrence Engineering.

Lawrence Engineering, a family-owned and run precision engineering and contract manufacturing company, marked 40 years in business with a celebratory Open Day at its Collooney site.

Founded by Michael Lawrence in 1984, the company has grown from a small toolmaking workshop beside the family home to an internationally recognised partner for leading MedTech manufacturers.

The milestone event included a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the Collooney contract manufacturing facility, which was added to the business during the Covid pandemic and never had an official opening.

Leo Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, officiated at the ceremony, celebrating the companys evolution and contributions to the industry.

Now led by James Lawrence, who took over from his father in 2019, Lawrence Engineering continues to innovate and expand its offering.

Key recent milestones include the 2021 launch of a 200m2 Class 8 Cleanroom, the 2023 addition of a temperature controlled Whiteroom and ISO 13485 certification achieved in 2024, underscoring the companys commitment to quality and precision.

This milestone reflects decades of dedication to quality and innovation, said James Lawrence, Managing Director of Lawrence Engineering.

We are proud of our journey and excited about the opportunities ahead as we continue to support the MedTech sector both in Ireland and internationally.

With a focus on future growth, Lawrence Engineering remains dedicated to supporting the MedTech sector in Ireland and abroad.
Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council has sounded a warning that a greenway cannot be built upon on the rail line from Collooney to Bellaghy.

I have to say that quite a number of people are concerned regarding advertisements/public notices which have recently been published in the local media.

Despite the fact that this Council has made it clear that it wants a greenway that is constructed a safe distance from the Rail Corridor, there is still significant concern that the consultants may attempt to recommend building the greenway on top of the railway infrastructure.

Any child can tell you that the cheapest method of providing a bicycle track/greenway from Collooney to Bellaghy is to build it on top of the existing railway infrastructure.

You dont have to be an Einstein or you dont have to pay tens of thousands of euro to consultants for that information.

However, the majority of people in Sligo and the neighbouring counties dont want the rail infrastructure ripped up.

They want to see the Sligo to Galway rail service restored and they are happy to have the bicycle track/greenway built a safe distance from the railway.

The recent agreement to reactivate the section of the Western Rail Corridor from Athenry to Claremorris as part of a strategic freight route has been warmly welcomed and is a significant step forward.

This now offers a very important opportunity for Sligo, in that it means that the Galway to Sligo line will then be more than 60 per cent operational.

The total cost of works required for the reopening of the remainder of the line linking Claremorris with Collooney, (including a contingency fund of 20 percent) is 412 million. This amounts to 5.5million per kilometre of restored track.

In comparison, the cost of a single kilometre of the proposed new Dublin Metro is approximately 460 million.

To put that in context the cost of developing just one kilometre of the Dublin metro would cover the entire cost of the reopening of the Claremorris to Collooney line and the reopening of the entire Westen Rail Corridor, linking Sligo with Galway and on to Limerick

Unfortunately, there are a number of TDs and councillors in Sligo, who have little or no ambition for the county and who have no interest in seeing the Western Rail Corridor re-opened.

They believe that ripping up the railway infrastructure and replacing it with a bicycle track is acceptable.

It is clear that the failure of the outgoing government to provide the necessary approval and funding to complete the re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor from Collooney to Claremorris is impeding the task of delivering balanced economic development across our region.

If the new Government wants to seriously address the years of neglect of Sligo and the region, and if it genuinely wants to achieve balanced regional development, it will need to facilitate it happening by investing in our rail corridor.

The Northern & Western Regional Assembly, which is representative of the local authorities of this region has identified the reopening of the Galway to Sligo Western Rail Corridor as one of the regions key infrastructure projects.

The Board of Ireland West Airport Knock said the development of the Western Rail Corridor onwards from Sligo to Claremorris with sustainable connectivity from Charlestown to the Airport would significantly contribute to the future sustainable development of ground transportation to and from Ireland West Airport.

IDA client companies, manufacturers, small and medium sized enterprises and those involved in the agricultural and food production sector, in Sligo and Mayo are all seeking the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor.

In this context the consultants working on the greenway project would need to be reminded that this Council is supportive of a greenway so long as it is built a safe distance from the railway.

Meanwhile, West on Track says it has been speaking with General Election candidates over the past three weeks.

It says that amongst those who have expressed their support for the reopening of the line are: Eamon Scanlon, Edel McSharry and Paddy ORourke (FF), Martin Kenny and Chris MacManus (SF), Frank Feighan (FG), Nessa Cosgrove (Lab), Michael Clarke (Ind. Irl), Graham Monaghan (Aontu), Blaithin Gallagher (Green Party) and Gino OBoyle (PBP).

Two independent candidates, Marie Casserly and Marian Harkin, have indicated in recent local radio interviews their preference for a greenway.

A spokesperson for West on Track said that the support of the overwhelming majority of candidates in the Sligo/Leitrim constituency is hugely welcome and is indicative of the need for urgent infrastructural investment in our region.

The next phase of the Western Rail Corridor from Athenry to Claremorris has already been identified as a short-term objective in the recent All-Island Rail Review and work is expected to commence soon.

There is no reason why the line should not then continue northwards, providing a link to Ireland West Airport at Charlestown and reconnecting Sligo with the regional capital of Galway, he said.

Speaking to reporters at Ireland West Airport on Sunday Taoiseach Simon Harris confirmed that the Athenry-Claremorris line would definitely be given the go ahead by the next government.
Palestine Solidarity event outside Sligo G.P.O. on Saturday last where the public were asked to vote for general election candidates who signed the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign election pledge.

Sligo County Council has agreed to fly the Palestinian flag on Friday next - 29th November at its Riverside HQ, a day designated by the United Nations as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

Cathaoirleach Declan Bree told the annual Budget meeting of the Council last Friday that the International Day of Solidarity traditionally provides an opportunity for the international community to focus its attention on the fact that the Palestinian people have yet to attain their inalienable rights. Cllr Bree said: I also intend to invite the new Palestinian Ambassador to Sligo in December, so as to allow us to express our support and solidarity for the cause of Palestinian freedom.

While there was some hope of a ceasefire in Gaza earlier this month, the decision of President Biden this week to veto the UN Security Council resolution for a ceasefire means that the war of genocide against the Palestinian people will continue.

Fourteen of the 15 members of the Security Council voted for the resolution which demanded that the war in Gaza must end immediately, unconditionally and permanently and all remaining hostages must be immediately and unconditionally released. However, the United States, again used its veto power to stop the resolution from being adopted.

Over the past 12 months alone, Israel has received in excess of $17.9 billion in military financing from the US The Israeli regime could not continue with its campaign of genocide and its daily humiliation of millions of Palestinians if the United States threatened to withhold its support and funding.

Today, the death toll in Gaza is almost 44,000, including over 16,000 children. Almost all of Gazas 2.4 million people have been displaced by the Israeli regime, which has caused a humanitarian catastrophe. On a more positive note the decision of the Judges at the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for the Israeli Prime Minister and his former Minister for Defence is most welcome.

In my view Netanyahu and all those responsible for War Crimes and crimes against humanity must be brought to justice no matter how long it takes.
Irish News

St Patricks Day 2025: The parades and events taking place in towns and villages across Ireland

The bunting is up and the daft hat and shamrock sunglasses have been dug out from under the bed. St. Patricks Day is right around the corner and its time to paint the town green.
Medders, what are you doing? Hermione stood in the doorway and looked aghast. What on earth are you doing? The bedroom had been quite tidy when last seen earlier that afternoon. Now it had the disorderly appearance of a jumble sale in a Third World slum. Her husband had emptied all the drawers and heaped piles of clothes onto the bed. And onto the floor. And onto the window-sill.

Im looking for something, sweetness. Medderss voice was muffled, due to the fact that his head was in the old wardrobe. So far with no luck. He emerged from the wardrobe clutching a moth-eaten jumper, which he held up to his chest. However, I did find this. My mother  God rest her - knitted it for me back in the seventies. Or was it back in the sixties maybe? She used to produce Aran sweaters for a firm who sold them to the Yankee tourists at Shannon Airport. There were hundreds of home knitters all around Ireland on their books. Most of them were happy back then to be called housewives.
The Christmas on the Plaza market will be running every Saturday and Sunday, until December 22. This market not only supports local small businesses but it is a vital fundraiser for Greystones Tidy Towns.

ICA Guild craft stalls

The ICA Bray Guild (Irish Countrywomens Association) is holding a charity craft stall event dedicated to supporting Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, in Loreto Secondary School, Bray, on Saturday, November 30, between 10am and 4.30pm.

The event will return to the Little Flower Hall, in Bray, on Friday, December 6, from 10.30am till 12.30pm. The stalls will feature a wide array of handmade crafts, including beautiful handmade cards, crochet amigurumi snowman, beaded pictures and doggie and kitty bandanas and plenty more for Christmas.

This event aims to raise funds and awareness for those affected by acquired brain injuries.

Open Door exhibition

Open Door will host an exhibition of art, ceramics/mosaics and woodwork in the centre on Vevay Road in Bray, running until Friday November 29, from 11.00am  1.00pm each day.

This exhibition will showcase the various activities and celebrate the creative works of its members and is an opportunity for family and friends to visit the centre and see the various activities. It is also a great place to purchase unique Christmas gifts.

Comics at Mrs Robinsons

Mrs Robinson Comedy Club is open for business with a massive launch night on Thursday, December 5, at 8.00pm, headlined by stars Sophia Wren, Keego, Josh O'Connell and Claire Roche. This is the first outing for the new Greystones comedy club and the tickets are free but need to be reserved by going to eventbrite for registration.

Movie at Mermaid

The next movie at The Mermaid, Bray, is Black Dog, on Monday, December 2, at 8pm. On the edge of the Gobi Desert in Northwest China, Lang returns to his hometown after being released from jail.

While working for the local stray dog patrol team, clearing the town before the 2008 Olympic Games, he strikes up an unlikely connection with a black dog. These two lonely souls now embark on a new journey together. Black Dog won Un Certain Regard Award at Cannes Film Festival. Tickets are 10, available from mermaidartscentre.ie

Christmas Comedy

Hardy Har Comedy Club presents the Christmas Cracker Comedy Special, on Thursday, December 5 in the world famous Harbour Bar, Bray.

And Christmas has come early as there is another double headliner, featuring two comedians that have had the dream year in Irish comedy - it's Willie White and Eric Lalor. Support comes from Emily Ashmore, local comedian Dylan O Toole returns to the stage and, as always, the host is Adam Burke.

Over 60s free coffee

Swing by and enjoy a cup of coffee on the house in The Palm, Bray seafront, Monday to Friday, from 12 noon until 3pm. Whether you're flying solo, want to chat with the staff or bring along a friend or two.

Dementia Support

Wicklow Dementia Support is seeking volunteers to become a friend to someone with dementia. Also looking for volunteers for a new group in the Villa Pacis Centre, Queen of Peace, Bray, Wednesdays, 10.30am-12.30pm. If you have some time to spare and think you can help out, please contact: info@wicklowdementiasupport.org or Kate on 0851345128.

Open Door Day Centre

The Open Door Day Centre operates Monday to Friday on Vevay Road, Bray. Open Door provides facilities and activities for adults with physical disabilities as a result of multiple sclerosis, stroke, motor neurone disease, spina bifida, road accidents. Call 01 286 7123, email info@opendoor.ie.

Rathdown Bridge

A new Bridge club has opened at Greystones Bridge Centre, Victoria Road each Tuesday, from 10am until 1pm. Established players and beginners are both most welcome and lessons are available. Details of membership from: johnstaffordfennell@gmail.com.

Dargle Bridge Club

Dargle Bridge Clubs new season has begun again and takes place each Wednesday, at 7.20pm. Play finishes approx. 10.30pm. Membership is 20 and 5 per night table money. Venue is the Open Door Day Centre, Vevay Road. For further details see darglebridgeclub.com, or phone Michael on 087 9480151, or Anne on 087 2399457. A new novice section has also been added to the club for any newcomers.

Cancer Support

Greystones and District Cancer Support provide various support services to those affected by cancer and their families in Greystones, Delgany, Kilcoole, Newcastle and Newtownmountkennedy. Offers a wide range of support services, classes and therapies. Contact the office at 01 287 1601, email info@greystonescancersupport.com or visit greystonescancersupport.com.

Sanctuary Runners

The Bray Sanctuary Runners Walk and Talk group meets at 7pm at Queen of Peace Church car park, Putland Road, Bray, on the last Thursday of the month. If a run is more your thing by way of a winter warmer, go to The Esplanade Hotel, Saturdays at 11.30am.

Garda clinic

The community policing clinic is held every Monday from 6 pm to 8pm in the Kilcoole Community Centre.

The clinic is there for members of the public to drop in and for crime prevention advice, to get help with forms, such as passports stamped and driving licences, as well as other Garda services that can be attended to on the spot by Gda Molly Corbett.

Mens Sheds

Bray Mens Shed is now full. Greystones Mens Shed meets on Mondays at 77 Rathdown Park, from 7.30 p.m. Contact Jim Rice at 089 254 0586.

Bray Comhaltas

Bray Comhaltas are delighted to announce that traditional Irish music classes for children and adults will be held in Colaiste Raithin, Bray on a Wednesday night and in Gaelscoil na gCloch Liath on a Thursday night. Please go to the website to enrol: braycce.ie

Purple House

Purple House Cancer Support provides a range of professional support services to people of all ages. It has a wide range of classes and programmes available both in person and remotely through its Purple House at Home Service. For details, contact info@purplehouse.ie or visit purplehouse.ie.

Bray Arts Christmas

Join the Bray Arts team at The Martello on Tuesday, December 3, at 8.00pm for the Christmas party including a charity raffle.

Parkinsons Support

Theres a Parkinsons Support Group meeting every first and third Friday of the month at the Holy Rosary Church from 3pm to 5pm, with everyone welcome to drop in for a coffee and a chat.

Theres also Musical Memories sessions, which take place every Friday at St Patricks Church from 11.30am to 12.45pm and everyone is free to join in.

Delgany ICA

Delgany ICA meet on Thursdays, at 8pm in St Killians Hall, Greystones. The team are always looking for new people to join, and offer drama, crafts and a book club as well as many wonderful day trips to exciting places for the members around the county and even further afield. Pop in for a tea and a chat.

Signal Arts

I Will Love Them Dearly is a new body of work from Mary St Leger.

Combining paintings and ephemera it is a personal exploration into the eccentric and often isolating world of St Legers childhood. A graduate in painting from Limerick School of Art and Design, St Leger holds an M.A in Fine Art form the University of Central England and an MA in Womens Studies from the University of Limerick. Runs up to Sunday December 8, 2024.

Bray Cloud 9

Unity in the community is the motto of the Bray Cloud 9 team, who run the furniture and bric-a-brac store on Quinnsborough Road, Bray, to support local causes. Drop in when you get a minute. You may find some early presents for Christmas among all the goodies.
The public are invited to make submissions and observations regarding the draft heritage plan for Wicklow, which was developed during the pre-draft stage, which ran from May to July of this year.

During this phase, organisations, relevant state and semi-state agencies, local heritage and community groups, and members of the public were invited to share their views in relation to Wicklows heritage. Information clinics were held by the heritage officer in each of the five Municipal Districts and submissions were received through an online survey and written responses.

The plan outlines a comprehensive vision for heritage in Wicklow, presenting a series of strategic actions under the following key themes: protecting our heritage; connecting people and place; sharing and celebrating our heritage; collaboration and partnership; building and sharing knowledge and responding to climate change.

The Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Paul OBrien, welcomed the plan, stating: The natural, built and cultural heritage of County Wicklow is a unique and precious resource, essential to the health and wellbeing of all in County Wicklow. This plan will help to ensure that our heritage is celebrated, and managed with the care it deserves into the future.

Chief executive of Wicklow County Council, Emer OGorman, commented: I would like to commend the work of the Wicklow Heritage Forum in overseeing the Plan preparation and I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to get involved in this current stage of the consultation process.

This is the fourth Heritage Plan for Wicklow. It aims to build on the achievements of the previous plans and is crafted in line with the national Heritage Plan, Heritage Ireland 2030, and the Heritage Council Strategic Plan 2023- 2028 Our Place in Time.

Submissions and observations are invited until 5pm on Friday, January 3.

You can submit your view via the consultation portal at wicklow.ie/Living/ConsultationHub; via email to wicklowheritage@wicklowcoco.ie; or in writing, addressed to Wicklow Heritage Plan submission at The Heritage Office, Wicklow County Council, County Buildings, Whitegates, Wicklow town A67 FW96.
Up to 75 Wicklow farmers are being invited into a new agri-environmental programme for water quality.

Waters of Life are projecting an average payment of about 5,000 per farmer per year for their EU-funded pilot.

Farmers in the Avonmore demonstration sub-catchment can express their interest in the programme before the deadline of November 30..

The Avonmore is one of only five sub-catchments in the country eligible for the pilot. It includes the Avonmore and Glenmacnass rivers as well as Lough Tay, Lough Dan and Lough Ouler, Sally Gap, Annamoe, Laragh, Moneystown and Oldbridge. The other sub-catchments are the Shournagh and Awbeg (Cork), Graney (Clare) and Islands (Galway/Roscommon).

The programme focuses on greater outcomes for water quality under Irelands river basin management plan. It commences in early 2025 and will run for three years.

Waters of LIFE has introduced a payment rate of up to 2000 per hectare per year for a riverside habitat. It applies to a 10/10 score for a fenced or uncultivated strip on improved grassland or tillage plot. The maximum width is 20m.

Farmers who dont have river frontage can be paid up to 400 per hectare for species-rich grassland, woodland and peatland. A riverside bonus of up to 3.20 per metre for a 10/10 plot is also paid out on these habitats. All participating farmers can also receive payment through general actions, supporting actions and training.

General actions include runoff risk assessment, nutrient management planning and nutrient surplus recording. Farmers can also be paid for supporting actions including fencing, livestock drinking facilities, riverside tree planting, spatially targeted buffers and drain blocking.

Project manager with Waters of Life, Anne Goggin, said: Weve been actively engaged with the community in recent months through consultations and public meetings. It was really encouraging to see how many farmers came through the door and uptake on the programme so far has been good.

You dont need river frontage to be a part of this programme. We want all farmers in our sub-catchments to play their part and be rewarded for making a difference to local water quality. All were looking for at this point is an expression of interest. Its a three-year programme so now is the time. From there, we can contact farmers and walk them through the next steps before any commitment is required.

The first contact offers will be issued in January 2025. Paid training and farm visits will commence in the spring with habitat scoring to take place over the summer.

Advisors will have an important role to play and the project is also encouraging locally based advisors to make contact with the project. Payments to advisors will be administered directly by the programme to ensure farmers are not out of pocket.

Water quality in the Avonmore sub-catchment is mixed according to a recent publication by Waters of LIFE. The projects summary is based on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data and a catchment assessment by the Local Authorities Water Programme (LAWPRO).

The Glenmacnass river has been assigned good ecological water quality status by the EPA. The upper sections of the Avonmore river range in moderate to high water quality status as it rises near the Sally gap and flows into Laragh.

Farmers can express their interest and view a detailed information booklet for the programme at watersoflife.ie/eoi.
Baroness Doreen Lawrence was alerted to a potential legal claim against the Daily Mails publisher by a text from the Duke of Sussex, the High Court has been told (Yui Mok/PA)

Campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence was alerted to a potential legal claim against the Daily Mails publisher by a text from the Duke of Sussex, the High Court has been told.

The mother of teenager Stephen Lawrence, who was murdered by a gang of racists in south-east London in 1993, is one of a group of high-profile individuals suing Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) for alleged misuse of private information.

The group, which also includes Harry, Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish, has accused the publisher of allegedly carrying out or commissioning unlawful activities, such as hiring private investigators to place listening devices inside cars and burglaries to order.

ANL firmly denies the allegations and is defending the legal claims, with cost budgets for both sides combined totalling more than 38 million.

At a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, which was attended by Lady Lawrence, lawyers for ANL told the High Court in London that Harry sent the campaigner a text message in January 2022.

Catrin Evans KC, for ANL, said in written submissions: Litigation appears to have been contemplated by Baroness Lawrence almost immediately after the text was received by her.

Ms Evans also told the court that Lady Lawrence met with lawyers Harry had been working with a few days later.

However, the barrister later said she has lost and possibly deleted the text sent by Harry, and said in court that ANL wanted an explanation as it has not been explained as to the circumstances of the discovery of it being missing.

The Duke of Sussex leaving the Royal Courts Of Justice in March 2023 following a hearing over allegations of unlawful information gathering brought against Associated Newspapers Limited (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

David Sherborne, for the individuals, said in his written submissions that some claimants, including Lady Lawrence, initially declined to provide the information about personal watershed moments in their claims, as the demand included impermissible requests for evidence and privileged information.

He said: In general, the claimants refused to provide the information sought, on the basis that it was not reasonably necessary or proportionate to enable the defendant to prepare its case or understand the case it had to meet.

He said that they then voluntarily provided the information earlier in November, and claimed in court that ANL had accused (Lady Lawrence) of some nefarious intent in that she couldnt find the message from the duke.

Mr Sherborne also said that ANL should disclose further documents, including an Excel spreadsheet detailing alleged payments to private investigators between 2005 and 2007, which Ms Evans said was an entirely premature demand.

He said they wanted clear and comprehensive answers to what documents still exist and what documents have been either destroyed or deleted, and continued: We have reached the point where we say there should be a clear and comprehensive picture given.

Hundreds of people, including the Duke of Sussex, have previously brought legal action against other newspaper publishers over allegations of unlawful information gathering, including related to phone hacking.

Harry was previously awarded 140,600 in damages after suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) and faces a trial in January 2025 for his claim against News Group Newspapers (NGN).

Ms Evans said that it would be wrong to treat the claims brought against ANL in the same way as cases against those publishers.

She continued: Critically, the bedrock of liability in the MGN and NGN cases consisted of criminal convictions of certain journalists and far-reaching admissions about the extensive use of unlawful acts  there is no similar bedrock of matters here.

Mr Sherborne told the court that the individuals were, in different ways, each the victim of numerous unlawful acts, including illegally intercepting voicemail messages; listening into live landline calls; (and) obtaining private information between 1993 and 2018.

The barrister also said in his written submissions that there have been deletions of some, but not all, of journalists emails at ANL, and that some documents were destroyed during the Leveson Inquiry into phone hacking.

In court, Ms Evans denied the allegation, stating it was a claim of deliberate tampering with the documents which is of course strongly denied.

Lawyer David Sherborne leaving the Royal Courts Of Justice (Victoria Jones/PA)

She added: We regard it as important to put down a marker that it is not appropriate to come to this court, there are clearly going to be further hearings in these proceedings and face allegations like that.

It is not professionally proper to make them.

Mr Justice Nicklin said that evidence would need to be provided for such allegations, adding: This sort of allegation would be career-ending and possibly give rise to potential criminal proceedings, so it could not be more serious.

The hearing before Mr Justice Nicklin and Judge David Cook is due to conclude on Wednesday, with a further hearing expected in May next year.

The full trial of the claims could then be held in early 2026.
UK prime minister Keir Starmer has ruled out calling another general election, but said he is not surprised some people who did not support Labour might want a second poll.

A petition on parliaments website calling for another election has now been signed by more than two million people. I would like there to be another general election, it reads. I believe the current Labour government have gone back on the promises they laid out in the lead-up to the last election.
Israel has agreed a ceasefire with Lebanon, Israel's Channel 12 television reported on Tuesday, clearing the way for an end to a conflict between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah that has killed thousands of people since it was ignited by the Gaza war last year.
LATEST | Israeli airstrikes kill 31 in Lebanon as leaders draw closer to a ceasefire

The strikes hit commercial and residential buildings in Beirut, as well as the port city of Tyre

Smoke and flames erupt from an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Tayouneh, Beirut (Hassan Ammar/AP)

Irish Independent Newsdesk Tue 26 Nov 2024 at 07:33







Israels military launched airstrikes across Lebanon on Monday, unleashing explosions throughout the country and killing at least 31.
Airstrikes continue to bombard Beiruts southern suburbs

An Israeli strike on a building in the Chiyah district of Beirut's southern suburbs in Lebanon yesterday. Photo: Reuters

Israels cabinet will meet today to approve a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah, a senior Israeli official said yesterday, while a Lebanese official said Beirut had been told by Washington that an accord could be announced within hours.
LATEST | Irish citizen who was on board yacht that capsized in Red Sea is safe, Tanaiste confirms, as four bodies recovered and seven remain missing

33 people saved by rescuers  with seven people still missing31 tourists of various nationalities were on board along with 14 crewThe Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed at least one Irish citizen was on board

Yachts and boats are docked in the marina at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Hurghada after a tourist boat sank off Red Sea coast (REUTERS/Stringer)

Adrianna Wrona and Darragh Nolan Tue 26 Nov 2024 at 13:30







The Irish national who was on board a tourist yacht that capsized in the Red Sea off Egypt is safe, Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin has said.
India-Russia Economic Partnership: Strengthening Ties Across Trade and Investment

India and Russia established a Strategic Partnership Declaration in 2000, which was elevated to a Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership in 2010. Strengthening trade and economic relations has been a priority for governments in both countries, with targets set to boost bilateral investment to US$50 billion and bilateral trade to US$30 billion by 2025.

In July 2024, during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Russia, he was awarded the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, Russias highest state honor, by President Vladimir Putin for his contribution to fostering India-Russia ties. The two leaders discussed enhancing economic collaboration in key areas, such as energy, trade, manufacturing, fertilizers, and streamlining customs processes. Strategic trade routes, including the North-South International Transport Corridor, the Northern Sea Route, and the Chennai-Vladivostok Sea Line, were prioritized.

New Delhi and Moscow have agreed to foster investments, launch joint projects, and expand cooperation in the digital economy and education sectors. India announced the opening of two new consulates in Kazan and Ekaterinburg and reviewed progress on nuclear energy projects, including the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant.

Insights from the 25th session of the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological, and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov highlighted that over the past five years, trade turnover between Russia and India has increased more than fivefold, making India Russias second-largest foreign economic partner. Both countries are working to strengthen the Rupee-Ruble trade mechanism and have established Vostro accounts to facilitate transactions in local currencies. Manturov also emphasized their commitment to finalizing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and India, alongside a bilateral agreement on services and investments, stating that these measures align closely with the needs of the business community. He further noted ongoing efforts to enhance cooperation between Russian and Indian banks and expressed interest in expanding direct air connectivity between the two nations. Currently, Aeroflot operates 12 regular flights weekly from Moscow and Yekaterinburg to Delhi and Goa. We hope to see more frequent flights, a broader route network, and the resumption of flights by Indian airlines, he added. Manturov also mentioned collaboration on the joint production of high-speed electric trains for Indian Railways under the Make in India initiative.

India-Russia bilateral trade highlights

According to Indias Department of Commerce, bilateral trade between India and Russia reached a record high of US$65.70 billion in FY 2023-24, comprising Indias exports worth US$4.26 billion and imports from Russia amounting to US$61.44 billion. Key Indian exports include pharmaceuticals, organic chemicals, electrical machinery, mechanical appliances, and iron and steel. Major imports from Russia are dominated by oil and petroleum products, fertilizers, mineral resources, precious stones and metals, and vegetable oils.

Bilateral trade in services has remained stable over the past five years, with a trade balance favoring Russia. In 2021, it totaled US$1.021 billion.

In August 2024, India exported US$505 million to Russia and imported US$3.58 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of US$3.07 billion. Compared to the same period in 2023, exports grew by 42.7 percent while imports declined by 39.9 percent, showcasing Indias increased export volumes and reduced dependence on Russian imports, particularly in the energy sector.

Indias Exports to Russia (2023) Items Value (US$ million) Machinery, nuclear reactors, boilers 576.88 Pharmaceutical products 371.72 Organic chemicals 323.87 Iron and steel 321.90 Electrical, electronic equipment 269.43

Source: UN COMTRADE, Trading Economics

Indias Imports from Russia (2023) Items Value (US$ billion) Mineral fuels, oils, distillation products 58.73 Fertilizers 2.63 Pearls, precious stones, metals, coins 1.31 Animal, and vegetable fats and oils, cleavage products 1.26

Source: UN COMTRADE, Trading Economics

Investment

Bilateral investments have been robust, surpassing the earlier target of US$30 billion in 2018, prompting a revised goal of US$50 billion by 2025. Russian investments in India are concentrated in sectors like oil and gas, petrochemicals, banking, railways, and steel. Meanwhile, Indian investments in Russia primarily focus on oil and gas, along with pharmaceuticals.

India and Russia are negotiating a new investment treaty to strengthen trade and investment ties, replacing the 1994 agreement that ended in 2017. Talks commenced in July 2024 after discussions between Modi and Putin in Moscow. The new treaty will provide a modern framework aligned with Indias 2015 Bilateral Investment Treaty model, emphasizing investment protection, and supports a bilateral trade target of US$100 billion by 2030.

India has encouraged Russian firms to establish manufacturing units in its industrial hubs, while Russia has invited Indian investors to participate in high-tech projects.

Logistics and maritime connectivity

The Chennai-Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor

The Chennai-Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC) has officially become operational, facilitating the transport of oil, food, and machinery, as announced by Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, on November 18, 2024. The corridor significantly reduces cargo transport time between India and Far East Russia by up to 16 days, from 40 to 24 days, and shortens the distance by approximately 40 percent. Envisioned during the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok in 2019, the EMC establishes a direct sea route between Chennai and Vladivostok, covering a distance of about 10,300 km and passing through strategic waterways such as the Sea of Japan, South China Sea, and Malacca Strait.

Key benefits

The EMC is poised to deliver several benefits. It reduces logistics costs by cutting transportation time and distance, as the traditional Mumbai-St. Petersburg route via the Suez Canal takes 40 days and spans approximately 16,066 km. The corridor is also set to boost Indias maritime sector, which handles about 95 percent of the countrys trade by volume and 70 percent by value, while complementing the objectives of Indias Maritime Vision 2030, which encompasses over 150 initiatives to modernize the sector. Strategically, the EMC passes through the South China Sea, a region vital to Chinas maritime dominance, and connects to Vladivostok, which is close to the Russia-China border. Furthermore, it supports Indias Act Far East Policy by offering greater access to Russian resources and strengthening Indias foothold in the Pacific trade network. The Chennai-Vladivostok corridor thus boosts bilateral cooperation and aligns with Indias broader geopolitical and economic objectives.

Indias Maritime Vision (MIV) 2030 India has outlined investments of US$82 billion in port infrastructure projects by 2035 to bolster its maritime sector. Aligned with this is the MIV 2030  developed in consultation with over 350 public and private stakeholders. The 2030 Vision covers more than 150 initiatives across 10 key themes, addressing all areas of the maritime sector, from ports and shipyards to inland waterways and trade bodies.

INSTC

The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) encompasses three primary routes around the Caspian Sea, including the Trans-Caspian Route. This route connects Russian ports such as Astrakhan, Olya, and Makhachkala with Iranian ports like Bandar Anzali, Amirabad, and Nowshahr, serving as the main corridor for India-Russia trade.

INSTC, along with Chabahar Port, offers Eurasian states an alternative pathway to access the ocean, distinct from Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which infringes on Indias sovereignty by passing through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Northern Sea Route

In October 2024, India and Russia convened the first meeting of their working group on the Northern Sea Route (NSR) in New Delhi, discussing a range of collaborative initiatives. These included training Indian sailors for polar navigation, joint Arctic shipbuilding projects, and setting cargo transit targets along the route. The working group, co-chaired by Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Additional Secretary in Indias Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, and Vladimir Panov, Rosatoms Special Representative for Arctic Development, was established following a decision during Modis visit to Moscow in July 2024.

During the July 9 summit, Modi and Putin emphasized cooperation on shipping between Russia and India via the NSR. The working group has since drafted a memorandum of understanding for the development of cargo shipping along this Arctic route. Recognized as the shortest link between western Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific, the NSR is strategically significant. Rosatom, Russias state-run atomic energy agency, was appointed as the routes infrastructure operator in 2018.

The growing importance of the NSR has become evident considering continued disruptions to traditional maritime routes through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea due to geopolitical conflicts. Such disruptions have driven up transportation costs and insurance premiums. India cannot afford frequent trade interruptions and is keen to explore alternative routes that save time and reduce costs, an official speaking to media explained. The rising bilateral trade between India and Russia, which surged from US$7.5 billion in 2016-17 to over US$65 billion in 2023-24, largely due to Indias oil imports, further amplifies the need for reliable shipping corridors.

The NSR is crucial for ensuring Indias uninterrupted access to essential commodities such as coal, liquefied natural gas (LNG), fertilizers, and container cargo. It also aligns with Indias broader interest in alternative transportation corridors, including the Chennai-Vladivostok EMC, to secure energy supplies from Russia. Indian public sector enterprises like the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), which hold investments in oil and gas assets in Russias Sakhalin and Tomsk regions, stand to benefit significantly. The NSR offers a viable solution for transporting equity oil directly to Indian ports, reducing the need to sell these assets due to logistical constraints, per reporting in the Hindustan Times.

India-Russia DTAA

The India-Russia Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA), effective since 1996, seeks to eliminate double taxation and reduce fiscal evasion. It applies to individuals and entities residing in both countries and includes modern provisions to align with international standards, such as measures to combat Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS).

Key features of the DTAA:

Residence and permanent establishment: Defines criteria for residence and establishes rules for permanent establishments to allocate taxation rights. Taxation of income: Caps withholding tax rates on dividends, interest, and royalties at 10 percent, ensuring equitable tax practices. Elimination of double taxation: Provides mechanisms such as tax credits and exemptions to prevent double taxation. Exchange of information: Strengthens transparency and compliance by facilitating information sharing between tax authorities. Beneficial ownership: Prevents misuse of treaty benefits to artificially lower tax liabilities.

Impacts of the DTAA:

Promoting investments : Reduces uncertainty, encouraging cross-border operations and fostering bilateral trade.

: Reduces uncertainty, encouraging cross-border operations and fostering bilateral trade. Preventing tax evasion : Enhances compliance through robust information exchange mechanisms.

: Enhances compliance through robust information exchange mechanisms. Ensuring clarity: Minimizes disputes by providing clear guidelines, fostering trust and cooperation.

Conclusion

The India-Russia partnership, anchored in frameworks like the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, the DTAA, and forthcoming investment protection agreement, reflects robust economic collaboration. Trade and investment initiatives, particularly in energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing, position both nations to achieve ambitious goals, including a US$100 billion bilateral trade target by 2030.

Discussions are underway to boost Indias exports through innovative models of cooperation. Connectivity initiatives have become pivotal to bilateral collaboration, with key projects including the International North-South Transport Corridor and the Chennai-Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor. Additionally, both nations are dedicated to enhancing cooperation in the development of Russias Far East and collaborating on research, logistics, and training in the Arctic region. This partnership aligns Russias pivot to the East and its resource and technological strengths with Indias flagship initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India.
India-South Africa Bilateral Trade and Investment

Strong bilateral ties between India and South Africa offers immense opportunities, particularly in renewable energy, technology, manufacturing, and agriculture. Aligned interests under the BRICS and IBSA frameworks create a promising environment for trade, entrepreneurs, and investors.

India and South Africa share a historically profound and strategically significant relationship shaped by shared struggles against colonialism and apartheid. This bond is strengthened through platforms like BRICS, which facilitates political and economic collaboration. Alongside China and Russia, India and South Africa also actively participate in the IBSA Dialogue Forum with Brazil to address social, economic, and political issues of global importance.

Ongoing discussions for a preferential trade agreement between India and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) hold the promise of reduced trade barriers and enhanced market access, fostering greater trade volumes and investment.

Strengthening bilateral trade and investment

In August 2024, South Africas Trade, Industry, and Competition Minister Parks Tau reaffirmed the commitment to bolstering bilateral trade and investment during the launch of the India-South Africa Chamber of Commerce (ISACC). Tau emphasized opportunities for Indian companies in South Africas manufacturing sector, particularly in renewable energy, automotive components, and healthcare.

On the Indian side, ISACC representative Atul Padalkar noted the potential of the new organization, saying that while there are about 130 Indian companies in South Africathere are only about 20 South African companies present in the Indian market, indicating the scope for cross-border economic and commercial engagement.

Key trade pillars

Over the last five years, India-South Africa bilateral trade has grown from US$8 billion to US$13 billion, with coal constituting 62 percent of South Africas exports to India.

In fact, South Africas mineral wealth forms the backbone of its exports to India, including coal, copper, manganese ore, gold, and bulk minerals. Indias industrial sector, hungry for these resources, finds South Africa a vital partner. Meanwhile, Indias major exports to South Africa include petroleum products, vehicles, pharmaceuticals, telecom equipment, and construction machinery.

Bilateral trade performance

In 2023, bilateral trade stood at US$18 billion, with Indias exports worth US$10 billion and South Africas exports US$8 billion.

A target of US$18 billion has been set, with a focus on increased private-sector engagement and government collaboration to address trade barriers. This figure is projected to more than double, reaching US$40 billion over the next decade, driven by diversified sectors and strengthened political and economic ties. The inclusion of the African Union as a G20 member during Indias presidency has further solidified relations.

In July 2024, India recorded a trade deficit of US$31.6 million with South Africa, exporting US$750 million and importing US$782 million.

Indias exports to South Africa increased by 0.3 percent compared to July 2023, while imports declined by 19.2 percent.

In 2022, India exported goods worth US$8.32 billion to South Africa, marking an annual growth of 15.1 percent since 2017. South Africa exported US$9.14 billion to India in 2022, with a modest annualized growth of 1.2 percent since 2017.India and South Africa share a historically profound and strategically significant relationship shaped by shared struggles against colonialism and apartheid. This bond is strengthened through platforms like BRICS, which facilitates political and economic collaboration. Alongside China and Russia, India and South Africa also actively participate in the IBSA Dialogue Forum with Brazil to address social, economic, and political issues of global importance.

Indias Exports to South Africa (2023)

Items Value (US$) Mineral fuels, oils, distillation products 3.52 billion Vehicles other than railways, tramways 1.52 billion Pharmaceutical products 625.05 million Machinery, nuclear reactors, boilers 377.30 million Electrical, electronic equipment 363.15 million

Source: Trading Economics

Indias Imports from South Africa (2023)

Items Value (US$) Pearls, precious stones, metals, coins 5.51 billion Mineral fuels, oils, distillation products 3.84 billion Ores slag and ash 641.50 million Pulp of wood, fibrous cellulosic material, waste 538.03 million Iron and steel 198.27 million

Source: Trading Economics

Investments

Celebrating 30 years of diplomatic ties in 2023, India and South Africa have cultivated robust mutual investments.

India has invested US$70 billion across Africa, spanning sectors like oil and gas, mining, banking, pharmaceuticals, and automotive.

Indian funding includes US$12.26 billion in lines of credit supporting 193 completed projects, with 154 ongoing or in pre-execution stages.

South Africa ranks 37th in FDI into India, with cumulative investments of US$595.87 million from 2000 to 2023.

South African companies in India: Sanlam (Insurance), Old Mutual (Financial Services), Life Healthcare (Healthcare), SAB Miller (Brewery), Momentum (Insurance), Naspers (E-commerce), Smollan (Retail).

Indian companies in South Africa: Tata Group, Tech Mahindra, Sun Pharma, HCL Technologies, Mahindra & Mahindra, Larsen & Toubro, Infosys, and ICICI Bank, among others.

Emerging business opportunities

As both nations aim to deepen their economic partnership, several high-growth sectors offer immense potential:

Information technology: Indias expertise in IT can support South Africas digital transformation in areas like banking, healthcare, and public infrastructure. Collaborations in fintech and cybersecurity are poised to drive financial inclusion and innovation. Food and beverages: Indias food processing industry is well-positioned to cater to South Africas expanding market, offering processed fruits, vegetables, dairy, and poultry products to its growing population. Green infrastructure: Joint efforts in renewable energy, clean coal technologies, and efficient power transmission can address mutual goals of energy security. India, a global leader in renewable energy, is set to play a crucial role through initiatives like the International Solar Alliance, which aims to fund solar projects across Africa. Automotive industry: Indias cost-effective vehicle manufacturing continues to cater to South Africas growing automotive market, further strengthening trade ties in this sector. Pharmaceuticals: With South Africas healthcare reforms and introduction of the National Health Insurance (NHI), Indias pharmaceutical industry stands to benefit significantly, offering affordable medicines and healthcare solutions.

Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA)

The India-South Africa DTAA, effective since 1997 and revised in 2014, aims to eliminate double taxation, prevent fiscal evasion, and foster transparency. Key provisions include:

Tax residency: Clear rules to resolve dual-residency conflicts.

Clear rules to resolve dual-residency conflicts. Permanent establishment (PE): Defines taxable profits from a PE in the other country.

Defines taxable profits from a PE in the other country. Taxation limits: Caps on dividends (10 percent), interest, and royalties (10 percent).

Caps on dividends (10 percent), interest, and royalties (10 percent). Information exchange: Facilitates tax enforcement through robust data sharing.

This agreement simplifies tax compliance, reducing burdens for investors and promoting bilateral trade.

Conclusion

India-South Africa relations exemplify strategic alignment built on historical solidarity and shared goals. However, despite the promising outlook, logistical challenges due to distance, existing trade barriers, and global economic uncertainties require strategic mitigation. Improvements to connectivity, streamlined trade processes, and robust diplomatic engagement will be critical.

Initiatives like BRICS and the India-SACU trade agreement negotiations could play a key role in facilitating reduced trade barriers and enhanced market access, fostering greater trade volumes and investment.
Essar Group co-founder Shashikant Ruia died of prolonged illness in Mumbai. File photo by Essar Group

Mumbai/IBNS: Shashikant Ruia, the co-founder of the Essar Group and a patriarch of the billionaire Ruia family, passed away at the age of 81, the family announced in an official statement on Tuesday (Nov. 26).

Reports indicate that Ruia succumbed to a prolonged illness at around 11:55 pm on Monday (Nov. 25) in Mumbai.

He had recently returned to India after undergoing treatment in the United States.

His mortal remains will be kept at Ruia House from 1 pm to 3 pm on Tuesday (Nov. 26), followed by a funeral procession to the Hindu Worli Crematorium at 4 pm.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences in a post on X (formerly Twitter), describing Shashikant Ruia as a "colossal figure in the world of industry."

Modi noted Ruias visionary leadership and his contributions to innovation and growth in Indian business, adding, He was always full of ideas, always discussing how we can make our country better.

Shri Shashikant Ruia Ji was a colossal figure in the world of industry. His visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence transformed the business landscape of India. He also set high benchmarks for innovation and growth. He was always full of ideas, always pic.twitter.com/2Dwb2TdyG9  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 26, 2024

Modi further expressed deep sadness over Ruias passing and extended his condolences to the bereaved family.

Shashikant Ruia co-founded the Essar Group with his younger brother Ravi Ruia.

Under their leadership, the group established landmark projects such as Indias largest single-location oil refinery in Jamnagar in the late 1990s.

This refinery was later sold to Russias Rosneft in 2017 for $13 billion, marking one of the largest foreign direct investments in India.

In the mid-1990s, Essar also set up a 10 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) steel plant in Hazira, Gujarat.

However, operational challenges linked to a shortage of gas supply led to its acquisition by ArcelorMittal in 2018 during a bank-conducted auction.

The Ruia brothers began their business journey in Chennai during the late 1970s before relocating to Mumbai in the 1980s.

Over the following decades, they diversified Essar into multiple industries, including oil and gas, steel, mining, ports, power, shipping, and telecommunications.

Notably, the group held a 33 percent stake in a joint venture with Vodafone PLC, which they exited in 2011 by selling their stake for $5 billion, achieving one of the most successful telecom exits in India.

The name "Essar" itself is derived from the initials of the brothers, Shashi and Ravi.

The group expanded globally, acquiring the Stanlow refinery in the UK in 2011, along with its network of retail outlets from Royal Dutch Shell.

Known for his modesty and hands-on leadership, Shashikant Ruia often mentored young talent within the organization.

During the construction of the Hazira steel plant, he frequently traveled overnight by train from Mumbai to personally oversee the project.

Despite being competitors in the steel industry, Ruia maintained a close relationship with the late Ratan Tata, often seeking his insights on the sectors future.

The Essar Group, now led by Ravi Ruia and Shashikants sons, Prashant and Anshuman, remains active in sectors such as renewable energy, digital infrastructure (via Black Box), and refinery operations in the UK.

In a heartfelt statement, the Essar Group paid tribute to Shashikant Ruia, describing him as an extraordinary leader whose commitment to philanthropy and community welfare left a lasting impact.

An iconic industrialist, Shashikant Ruia redefined Indias corporate landscape and built Essar into a global conglomerate. His vision and values will continue to inspire us, the statement read.

Ruias enduring legacy as a transformative industrialist and humble leader will remain a beacon for future generations.
Domestic telecom operators, such as Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel, together carry over Rs 30,000 crore in bank guarantee obligations.

Mumbai/IBNS: Telecom stocks surged on Tuesday (Nov. 26) following reports that the Union Cabinet approved waiving bank guarantees (BGs) for spectrum purchased before 2022.

This decision brings significant relief to financially struggling operators like Vodafone Idea (Vi), which owes over Rs 24,700 crore in BG obligations, according to Moneycontrol.

Collectively, domestic telecom players, including Bharti Airtel and Vi, hold more than Rs 30,000 crore in such guarantees.

The cabinets move extends the benefits of its 2021 reforms, which eliminated BG requirements for spectrum acquired in future auctions, to older holdings.

The initiative aims to alleviate financial stress within the telecom sector and bolster its stability.

Vodafone Ideas shares soared by 18.79 percent to reach Rs 8.28 on the NSE.

Tata Teleservices Maharashtra (TTML) climbed nearly 12 percent to Rs 77.18 on the BSE, while Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) rose approximately 5 percent to Rs 49.60.

The BSE Telecommunication index traded 0.65 percent higher at 2,860.01 during the session.

Vodafone Idea, which has been vocal about its financial difficulties, had sought government intervention to waive BG requirements.

The company argued that removing these obligations would free up credit from banks, helping ease its financial strain.

In August, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), representing private telecom firms, also urged the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to extend the BG waiver to spectrum auctions held before 2022.

ICICI Securities, in a recent report, projected a 1520 percent tariff hike over the next 15 months, which could help Vodafone Idea improve revenue, EBITDA, and free cash flow.

Despite robust gross subscriber additions, the company continues to face high customer churn.

However, it expects its 4G rollout to enhance customer retention and support a growing subscriber base, according to the brokerage.

The cabinet's decision marks a significant step toward reducing financial burdens in the telecom sector, with ripple effects seen across the stock market.
Adani Enterprises and Wilmar International are reportedly delaying a 12% stake sale in their Indian food JV following a US bribery indictment against Gautam Adani.

Mumbai/IBNS: Adani Enterprises Ltd. and Wilmar International Ltd. have reportedly postponed plans to sell at least 12 percent of their stake in Adani Wilmar Ltd., their Indian food venture, following a US bribery indictment involving billionaire founder Gautam Adani, Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The joint venture between Indias Adani Group and Singapore-based Wilmar International was preparing to initiate the stake sale this month to comply with local regulations requiring at least 25 percent of a companys holding to be with non-promoters within three years of listing, according to the report.

Since Adani Wilmar went public in 2022, it has until February 2025 to meet this requirement.

Currently, the majority owners hold a combined 86.8 percent stake, significantly exceeding the maximum permissible 75 percent.

Adani Wilmars shares fell 2 percent to Rs 291.45 as of 1:51 pm on Tuesday (Nov. 26) in Mumbai.

Adani Wilmar plans to request an extension from Indias capital market regulator, citing the challenges posed by the US bribery allegations.

Sources indicated that completing the share sale before the February deadline would be extremely difficult under the current circumstances, according to Bloomberg.

The delay comes in the wake of US federal prosecutors accusing Gautam Adani, Asias second-richest individual, and his associates of orchestrating a $250 million bribery scheme.

The Adani Group has strongly denied the allegations, calling them baseless, and stated that it will pursue legal remedies.

This is the latest fallout for the Adani Group following the indictment.

Frances TotalEnergies SE, a 50 percent partner in Adani Total Gas Ltd., announced on Monday (Nov. 25) that it would suspend any new investments in the conglomerate until the implications of the US indictments are clarified.

Representatives from Adani Group did not immediately respond to requests for comment, while Wilmar International declined to comment on the matter, as per the Bloomberg report.

Adani Wilmar, known for its Fortune brand cooking oils, wheat flour, and other food products, now faces increasing scrutiny as it navigates regulatory and reputational challenges.
President Droupadi Murmu releases a commemorative Coin and Stamp dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of India | Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab from PIB X video

New Delhi/IBNS: President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday released a commemorative coin, a stamp and two books on the Constitution on the occasion of the 75th Constitution Day of India.

Murmu was accompanied by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other union ministers.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Jagat Prakash Nadda, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge were among the attendees at the central hall of Old Parliament Building.

The President addressed a joint session of the two houses of Parliament.

President #DroupadiMurmu releases a commemorative Coin and Stamp dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of India#ConstitutionDay #ConstitutionAt75 #SamvidhanDivas2024 #HumaraSamvidhanHumaraSwabhiman pic.twitter.com/mgIYierTQX  PIB India (@PIB_India) November 26, 2024

The joint session was met with controversy after opposition leaders wrote to Om Birla to allow them to speak at the event.

In their letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker, the opposition leaders had written, "We are writing in the context of the function being held tomorrow (Tuesday) in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of India.

"We understand that the function will be addressed by the President, Vice President and the Prime Minister. We believe that in the best traditions and interests of Parliamentary democracy, the Leaders of Opposition (LoPs) in both Houses should also be given an opportunity to speak on this historic occasion."

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju responded on behalf of the government and accused "some of the Opposition parties" of reacting without realising the arrangements of a programme.

"The problem with some of the Opposition parties is that without knowing the actual arrangement they start giving reactions. The Prime Minister is not even speaking tomorrow (Tuesday) at the function. The Speaker, the Vice President and the President of India will speak," Rijiju said as quoted by The Indian Express.

"Secondly, we have made sitting arrangements for the Leader of Opposition of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on the dais. Without knowing anything, this kind of reaction on a very solemn occasion is condemnable."

President #DroupadiMurmu unveils two books titled Making of the Constitution of India: A Glimpse and Making of the Constitution of India and its Glorious Journey#ConstitutionDay #ConstitutionAt75 #SamvidhanDivas2024 #HumaraSamvidhanHumaraSwabhiman pic.twitter.com/FSbG3NyGYo  PIB India (@PIB_India) November 26, 2024

The Constitution has remained the point of contention between the Modi government and the primary opposition party Congress in the political domain.

The Congress with its top leader Rahul Gandhi had given a call to vote against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections "to save the Constitution".

During the campaign for the recently concluded Maharashtra polls, the Congress came under fire from the BJP for allegedly distributing "blank copies of the Constitution" at Rahul Gandhi's event in Nagpur.

A video posted by the Maharashtra BJP on social media, which quickly went viral, showed books labelled "Constitution of India" with only blank pages inside, except for the preamble on the first page.

The Congress, however, dismissed BJPs allegation and accused it of spreading lies.
India, Tanzania officials discuss ways to further expand bilateral cooperation. Photo Courtesy: Ministry of Defence X page

The third edition of Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting between India and Tanzania took place in Goa on November 26 when the officials discussed wide range of areas where the two countries could cooperate.

"During the meeting, the two sides discussed a wide range of areas of cooperation, including growing training partnership and service-to-service, maritime & defence industry collaboration," read a statement issued by the Indian government.

The officials also reviewed the progress on decisions taken during the previous JDCCs, and explored new areas to further expand bilateral defence cooperation.

The Indian delegation, led by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad, included senior officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces.

The High Commissioner of India to Tanzania Bishwadip Dey also attended the meeting.

The Tanzanian delegation was led by Land Forces Commander Maj Gen Fadhil Omary Nondo.

As part of the tour, the Tanzanian delegation will visit Goa Shipyard Ltd to get first-hand experience of Indias capabilities in port development and shipbuilding.

The delegation is also scheduled to visit INS Hansa and National Institute of Hydrography in Goa.

"India shares close, warm and friendly relations with Tanzania which are bolstered by robust capacity building & avenues for developing partnership. The two countries have a five-year roadmap to guide defence cooperation," read the statement issued by the MEA.
The hotel staff were alerted when the victim and her boyfriend did not respond for breakfast. (Photo courtesy: Pixabay)

Bengaluru: A 22-year-old woman, who worked as a vlogger and a private company employee, was found murdered inside a hotel room in Bengalurus Indiranagar on Tuesday morning, media reports said.

According to police, Maya, who worked at a firm in Koramangala, checked into Hotel Royal Living near Double Road Park on the afternoon of November 23, accompanied by a male friend, Arnav Harnoy, from Kerala, reorted the Times of India.

The incident came to light when hotel staff, unable to get a response while taking breakfast orders, reviewed CCTV footage.

The video showed Arnav leaving the hotel hastily early Tuesday morning.

Suspecting foul play, staff used a duplicate key to access the room, where they found Maya's body on the bed with multiple stab wounds.

Her mobile phone was recovered from the scene, and police are examining the device for clues.

"Preliminary investigations suggest that Arnav Harnoy may have stabbed Maya to death on Monday. It appears he spent the night in the room with her body before leaving with his belongings early Tuesday morning," a police officer stated, according to the report.

CCTV footage from nearby buildings captured Arnav boarding a cab after exiting the hotel.

"Between November 24 and 26, no one other than Arnav and Maya entered the room. We have definite leads on Arnav and will arrest him soon," the officer added.
The SC bench observed that EVM becomes an issue for a party when it loses election. (Photo courtesy: wikipedia.org)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking a return to ballot paper voting in India, questioning the rationale behind the plea.

"How do you get these brilliant ideas?" the bench of Justices Vikram Nath and P.B. Varale asked petitioner K.A. Paul, as they rejected his arguments, reported NDTV.

During the hearing, Paul claimed that prominent political leaders like Chandrababu Naidu and Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had raised concerns about Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) tampering.

The bench responded sharply, saying parties dont raise concerns over EVMs when they win elections.

"If you win the elections, EVMs or voting machines are not tampered. But when you lose, they suddenly become the issue. How can we see this?" the court responded sharply.

The court said that it was not the right forum for such grievances and dismissed the plea.

Paul, who leads an organization that has reportedly rescued over three lakh orphans and 40 lakh widows, had also sought a directive to disqualify candidates found guilty of distributing money, liquor, or other inducements during elections.

The court advised Paul to focus on his area of social work instead of entering the political domain.

Arguing further, Paul said that India should emulate countries like the United States, which rely on paper ballots, asserting that EVMs pose a threat to democracy.

He even referenced Elon Musk, claiming the entrepreneur had expressed concerns over EVM tampering.

The bench, however, questioned why Paul was resistant to Indias distinct electoral system. "Why don't you want to be different from the rest of the world?" it asked.

Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, during the October announcement of poll dates for Maharashtra and Jharkhand, reiterated the reliability and robustness of EVMs.

Addressing repeated allegations of tampering, Kumar asked critics to present a comparative example of a more transparent electoral process.

"It can't be that when results don't go your way, you start raising questions," he said, emphasizing the extensive public disclosure and participation involved in India's election system.
Bangladesh not only justified the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das but also dismmised India's concern over the matter 'unfounded'. (Photo courtesy: Radharaman Das X page)

Dhaka: Amid a global outrage over the arrest of ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das and a strong reaction by New Delhi, Bangladesh has called Indias statement over the arrest of the Hindu monk "unfounded" and "contrary to the spirit of friendship".

Addressing India's remarks on the matter, Bangladesh stated that the monk's arrest had been "misconstrued by certain quarters" and described India's statement as "unfounded" and "contrary to the spirit of friendship."

"The Government of Bangladesh maintains that such unfounded statements not only misrepresent facts but also stand contrary to the spirit of Friendship and understanding between the two neighbouring countries," Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

As persecution of Hindus continue unabated in post-Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh, Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested on Monday on sedition charges while traveling from Dhaka to Chittagong. The arrest was carried out by men in plain clothes who identified themselves as Bangladeshi police detectives.

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed serious concern over the incident. In an official statement, the ministry said, "We urge the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities. We also note with concern the attacks on minorities protesting peacefully against the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das."

Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that India's remarks failed to "reflect the harmony" among people of all faiths in Bangladesh and the nation's commitment to fostering this harmony.

The ministry emphasized that every Bangladeshi citizen, regardless of their religious identity, has the right to practice, maintain, or express their religious beliefs and rituals "without hindrance."

"Ensuring safety and security of all citizens, particularly the members of religious minorities remains a duty of the Government of Bangladesh. This was yet again vindicated by the peaceful observance of Durga Puja throughout Bangladesh only last month," the country's Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

The ministry further asserted that Bangladesh's judiciary is "fully independent" and operates without any interference from the government.

"The matter under question is at present being dealt with by the court of law," the ministry added.
Filmmaker Stephen Woolley hosts masterclass during IFFI. Photo Courtesy: PIB

English Filmmaker and Actor Stephen Woolley addressed a masterclass on Who is a Film Producer? - Five Important Stages of Film Production at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa which was attended by aspiring filmmakers and movie enthusiasts on Tuesday.

The session offered an in-depth exploration into the multifaceted role of a film producer, breaking down the filmmaking process into five essential stages: Development, Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production, and Marketing & Release.

Stephen kicked off the masterclass by emphasizing that the journey of a producer starts with a deep passion for a concept or story.

A producer must first feel that rigor and passion for the project, he said.

In his discussion of the pre-production phase, Stephen highlighted the significance of collaboration.

Producers are primarily collaborators, he asserted, underscoring the importance of working closely with financiers, creative professionals, and other key stakeholders to bring a project to fruition.

The production phase, Stephen explained, requires careful planning and execution, while also maintaining a delicate balance between the producer and director.

A producer must keep their ego under control all the time and provide creative space to the Director, he remarked.

This collaborative approach extends to the entire cast and crew, with the producers role being one of facilitation rather than domination.

Stephen further elaborated on the excitement and importance of the post-production phase, where the final touches are applied to the film before it reaches the audience.

He highlighted the significance of test screenings on small scale, which offer valuable insights into the audiences response and provide an opportunity for refinement.

Audience are the people, who actually decides fate of a film. If the audience likes your film, your work is done, he said.

The final phase, Marketing and Release, requires strategic planning. Stephen emphasized the necessity of a strong marketing strategy involving advertisers, distributors, and other partners to successfully bring the film to market.

Through his insights, the acclaimed filmmaker not only shed light on the complexities of filmmaking but also offered invaluable guidance to the next generation of filmmakers, reinforcing the importance of passion, pragmatism, and collaboration in the art of producing.
OTT platform Aha is all set to release a brand new Telugu show titled Vere Level Office, which will be a corporate comedy with Bigg Boss Telugu contestants in crucial roles. The OTT release date for the show has been fixed for December 12 by Aha. Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming Telugu OTT release on Aha:

Plot

The Telugu language Vere Level Office series is a remake of the popular Aha Tamil series Vere Maari Office. As per the trailer released by the makers recently, the Telugu show has some light-hearted and humorous moments. The show is basically set around a corporate office in Hyderabad, and its plot is all about Mirchi Kiran, who is the HR manager of The Great Indian Company. The trailer clip shows how the HR manager introduces different characters who constantly trouble him in the office in question.

As per the trailer video shared on Aha, the show will be all about office politics and comedy around it as employees deal with a chaotic workplace.

Cast and crew

Actor and RJ Kajal is playing the boss in the show. Subashree, who is a Bigg Boss alum, will be seen playing a modern woman in the office scene. There are also actors like Akhil Sarthak, Mahesh Vitta, Ritu Chowdary, Swathi Chowdary, Vasanthika, Raja Vikram, Ramana Bhargava, Rajesh, Akhil Vivaan, and Mahendhar P. in crucial roles.

The show has been directed by E. Sathi Babu and produced by Varun Chowdary. Music for the series has been handled by Ajay Arsda. Fans and the regular audience of Aha are finding the upcoming show entertaining with its familiar faces star cast.

Excited about the upcoming Aha release? Get ready to watch it on Aha starting December 12. Stay tuned for more updates.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Fans of Kamal Haasan, celebrate!! The film Gunaa, starring the iconic actor, will soon be re-released in theaters! People continue to discuss about the film years after it was released, making it a cult classic. On November 5, 1991, the Santhana Bharathi-directed movie made its theatrical debut. The movie's original June 21, 2024, theatrical re-release date was postponed by the Madras High Court due to copyright concerns. But in September, the prohibition was removed.

Gunaa re-release date

The release date of the psychological romance drama Gunaa is set for November 29, 2024.

All about the plot

Gunaa centers on Haasan's character, a recently freed psychiatric patient, who kidnaps Roshini, an heiress, in order to win her heart. He feels that he is destined to marry her since she is an embodiment of the goddess Abhirami. As per reports, Sab John, the co-writer was somewhat influenced by a mentally ill person he knew when he created the Gunaa narrative.

#Guna the @ikamalhaasan film which was ahead of its time is back, re-releasing from Nov 29th! pic.twitter.com/Ni1hatxnyl  Sreedhar Pillai (@sri50) November 25, 2024





Cast and more

Kamal Haasan plays Gunaa, Rekha plays Rosy, and Roshini plays Rohini (Abhirami) in the movie Gunaa. S. P. Balasubrahmanyam portrays Ramaiah, and Janagaraj plays Chitappa. Pradeep Shakthi plays Ismail, Sharat Saxena plays Suresh Kumar, Girish Karnad plays Ganesh, and Ananthu is seen as Gunaa's cellmate.

For the unversed, it's interesting to note that Devil's Kitchen, the setting for the film, is now known as Guna Caves and became a well-known tourist destination. The similar area was explored in the 2024 Malayalam release Manjummel Boys.

Are you excited to watch the film once again?

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Model-turned-actress Jung Ho Yeon, known for her role in Netflix hit series Squid Game, has broken up with her boyfriend and actor Lee Dong Hwi of Reply 1988 fame. The pair parted ways after nine years of dating.

Jung Ho Yeon and Lee Dong Hwi call it quits after nine years of dating

According to an exclusive TVN report, Jung Ho Yeon and Lee Dong Hwi have decided to call it quits after dating for a glorious nine years. Although the reason for their breakup was not immediately known, the report stated that they had decided to be good colleagues going forward.

Jung Hoyeon and Lee Donghui reportedly break up after 9 years of dating. pic.twitter.com/IwXm7iKfzy  Pop Base (@PopBase) November 26, 2024





Jung Ho Yeons agency releases a statement

Jung's agency confirmed the reports of her breakup with a statement that read: It is correct that Jung Ho Yeon and Lee Dong Hwi have broken up. They have decided to go back to being good colleagues.

Netizens react to Jung Ho Yeon and Lee Dong Hwi's breakup

Nobody could have predicted Jung and Lee would break up after being together for almost a decade but hasn't 2024 been a year full of surprises? Fans are heartbroken over their break-up, with some saying they have lost hope in love now.

"Nine years together and now this tough break. They both deserve happiness, though. Hope theyre okay," one user wrote.

Nine years together and now this tough break. They both deserve happiness, though. Hope theyre okay.  cultured. (@culturedtv_) November 26, 2024

"I've lost all hope in everything," noted another.

i've lost all hope in everything  QueenRaeLynSI25 (@QueenRaelynR6) November 26, 2024

One X user stated, "Hope they each find their happiness."

Hope they each find their happiness   Starry Snow (@StarrySnow303) November 26, 2024

"Some breakups are better handled privately, without airing dirty laundry. Here's hoping Jung Hoyeon and Lee Donghui can rise above the gossip, keep it classy, and emerge from this tough transition with dignity intact when the dust settles. No need to fuel nasty rumor cycles" noted another fan.

Some breakups are better handled privately, without airing dirty laundry. Here's hoping Jung Hoyeon and Lee Donghui can rise above the gossip, keep it classy, and emerge from this tough transition with dignity intact when the dust settles. No need to fuel nasty rumor cycles.  Dex (@Dex_Crypto_coin) November 26, 2024

Will Jung Ho Yeon return for Squid Game 2?

The highly-anticipated season two of Squid Game is officially coming to Netflix on December 26, 2024! While Lee Jung Jae and Gong Yoo are confirmed to return for the second season, it remains unclear if Jung Ho Yeon will make an appearance in the forthcoming instalment. Her performance as Kang Sae-byeok was widely praised, garnering her a Primetime Emmy Awards nomination.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Divya Prabha Leaked Video Controversy: Payal Kapadia's critically acclaimed movie All We Imagine as Light became the first Indian film in 30 years to compete at Cannes 2024 in their most prestigious category Palme d'Or and brought home the coveted Grand Prix award. While the film is struggling to get an OTT release, it was recently premiered in limited theatres for cinema lovers.

In the rarest of rare cases, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) allowed frontal nudity in All We Imagine as Light without any cuts. These scenes featured the film's lead Divya Prabha and a few also briefly showed another actress Kani Kasruti. In no time after the movie's theatrical release, those intimate scenes found their way to the internet.

Who is Divya Prabha?

Born in Kerala's Thrissur, Divya is majorly known for her performances in non-commercial and arthouse moviesy cinema. Her major breakthroughs were films like Take Off and Thamaasha. In 2015, Prabha won the Kerala State Television Award for Best Second Actress for her performance in the TV serial Eswaran Sakshiyayi.

Divya was once also a proud nominee for Best Actress at the 2022 Locarno Film Festival in the international competition section for her movie Ariyippu. The Mahesh Narayanan premiered in the Concorso internazionale (international competition section) and was also nominated for the Golden Leopard. Prabha's All We Imagine as Light stint is much known to everyone.

Also Read: Who is Kanwal Aftab? 4th Pak influencer whose private video leaked after Minahil Malik, Imsha Rehman & Mathira

Divya has also been part of films like Lokpal, Mumbai Police, Cold Storage, SIM, Ithihasa, Kayal, Bhaiyya Bhaiyya, Pianist, Vettah, Kammara Sambhavam, Nonsense, Prathi Poovankozhi, Nizhal, Malik, Kodiyil, and Family among others. Other than Divya and Kani, All We Imagine as Light also stars Chhaya Kadam, Hridhu Haroon, Azees Nedumangad, Tintumol Joseph, and Anand Sami in key roles and is available in selected theatres near you.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
In a shocking incident, an 11-year-old child choked to death due to eating more than three 'pooris' at once, which led to suffocation. According to media reports, the food got stuck in his throat, which resulted in breathlessness and choking.

The tragic incident occurred in a school in Secunderabad on Monday. During lunchtime the incident took place, and seeing the boy gasping for breath, his classmates alerted the teachers, who rushed the child to a local hospital, but it was too late; the child passed away before the doctors could provide him with any medical help.

The father of the deceased in a police complaint stated that the school authorities informed him about his son's condition.

How does choking occur, and is it a serious condition?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, choking occurs when a person cant breathe because food, a toy, or any other foreign item is blocking their throat or the windpipe.

This can also happen due to fast eating or not chewing the food properly. The condition can turn serious if it is untreated or if intervention is delayed.

Choking can lead to loss of consciousness and even death. In such a situation, there are higher chances of brain damage due to a lack of oxygen passing to the brain cells. It cuts off the oxygen to the brain.

Symptoms of choking

Watch out for these signs:

If you notice a person with one or both hands clutched to the throat, go for help.

In such a situation, there is always a panicked look on the face.

The person may also look confused. Inability to speak Noisy breathing.

Notice squeaky sounds when the person is trying to breathe.

Coughing

Skin, lips, and nails that change colour may turn blue or grey.

Loss of consciousness.

How to prevent the condition?

If you find someone near you who is choking, you should immediately seek medical help and take the person to a safer place. Here are some ways you prevent choking:

Avoid laughing or talking while you are eating

Chew your properly

Cut food into small pieces

Chew and swallow the food thoroughly.

Keep a check on children when they are eating or playing

Keep small objects out of reach of children.

For more on lifestyle, astrology and health from around the world please visit Indiatimes Lifestyle.
More than one and a half decades later, the 26/11 terror attacks remain an unhealed wound in the minds of millions of Indians. The terror attack also left a massive scar on the small Jewish community of Mumbai, which saw their Israeli Rabbi and his wife killed by the Pakistani terrorists.

CREDIT: BCCL

Attack on Nariman House

The Nariman House, the Jewish community centre in Mumbai, was one of the targets of the LeT terrorists during the 26/11 attacks. The Rabbi, Gavriel Holtzberg, and his wife, Rivka, who was pregnant, were killed by the terrorists, who also took four others hostage there.

Their son, Moshe Holtzberg, who was just two years old at the time, survived the massacre, thanks to the bravery of his Indian nanny.

How Sandra Samuel saved Moshe Holtzberg

Sandra Samuel, a Goa native who had been working as a caretaker at the Nariman House since 2003, put her life at risk to save baby Moshe.

CREDIT: BCCL

Sandra, who initially locked herself inside the laundry room after hearing the gunshots, ventured outside after hearing the cries of baby Moshe. To her absolute horror, Sandra found Gavriel and his wife in a pool of blood, while baby Moshe was unhurt.

In a daring move, Sandra grabbed the young boy and ran out of Nariman House, where the terrorists were still holding four others hostage. While Moshe was saved, he was left orphaned, and the community leaders decided to repatriate him to Israel.

CREDIT: BCCL

Sandra Samuel accompanied Moshe Holtzberg to Israel

This left them with another dilemma, as Sandra was the only person Moshe could recognise and was responding to. With the help of Moshe's family and Israeli authorities, Sandra was issued an emergency passport and visa to Israel.

Also read: Baby Moshe Hugs Mumbai With A Sweet 'Shalom' And Says He's 'Bohot Khush' To Be Back

CREDIT: BCCL

Recognition by Israel

She continued to be the caretaker of Moshe, and in 2010 she was awarded permanent resident status and honorary Israeli citizenship. Sandra was also honoured by the government of Israel with the title of Righteous Among the Nations, the highest award given to non-Jews.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
It has been sixteen years since Pakistani terrorists unleashed the worst attack on Indian soil, when 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants began a campaign of terror in Mumbai on 26th November 2008. A total of 166 people, including Indians, Americans, and Israelis, were killed in the carnage that ended on the fourth day, with the capture of one of the terrorists and the gunning down of the remaining nine.

CREDIT: BCCL

26/11 terror attack

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Leopold Cafe, Taj Hotel, Oberoi Trident, and Nariman House were the targets of the Pakistani terrorists who entered Mumbai at Colaba on a hijacked Indian fishing boat.

Ajmal Kasab captured alive

After reaching land, the LeT terrorists split into various groups, and two of them, Ismail Khan and Ajmal Kasab, headed to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, where they opened indiscriminate fire at passengers. A total of 58 people were shot dead at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in the nearly one-and-a-half hours the two LeT terrorists ran amok there. While Ismail Khan was eventually shot dead, Ajmal Kasab, who was injured, was captured alive.

CREDIT: REUTERS

Attacks at Leopard Cafe, Taj Hotel

In the meantime, two terrorists opened fire at the Leopold Cafe, a popular restaurant in Colaba, killing 10 people, including some foreigners.

However, the worst of the siege and attacks took place at the Taj Hotel, where many foreign dignitaries, including some members of the European Parliament, were staying at the time.

CREDIt: REUTERS

Siege of Nariman House

The Nariman House, a Chabad Lubavitch Jewish centre in Colaba, was also the scene of another hostage crisis during the 26/11 attacks. Two terrorists had taken Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka Holtzberg hostage. While the Rabbi and his wife were killed, the four other hostages were saved by the NSG commandos, who shot down the attackers.

CREDIT: BCCL

How 26/11 terror attacks ended

The 26/11 terror attacks ended on 29th November, when NSG commandos, as part of Operation Black Tornado, stormed the Taj Palace Hotel, killing the three remaining terrorists. Over 300 people were also rescued by the NSG from the Taj Hotel.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, also known as Krishna Das Prabhu, is a well-known Hindu leader and a respected monk from ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness). Recently, he was arrested in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and this has caused concern among Hindu communities across the world. Heres everything you need to know about Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, his work, and why he was detained.

Hindu leader and ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari is reported arrested in Dhaka by Yunus Regime Police.

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was charged with sedition after he led a massive rally of Hindus protesting targeted hate attacks and demanding protection from  Kanchan Gupta  (@KanchanGupta) November 25, 2024

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari Arrested in Dhaka

On Monday, November 25, Bangladeshi police detained Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari from Dhaka airport under the government of Muhammad Yunus. The arrest was confirmed by police spokesperson Talebur Rahman, reported in TOI, though details of the charges were not made clear. Reports suggest that he was accused of sedition because he organised rallies protesting violence against the Hindu community in Bangladesh.

Who is Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari?

Renowned firebrand Hindu Leader; Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu has been abducted by the Detective Branch at Dhaka Airport in Bangladesh.

He is leading the fight for the survival & dignity of the Hindu Minorities of Bangladesh.



The Bangladeshi Sanatani Community fear that Md pic.twitter.com/n5Bb6Zk2JM  Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) November 25, 2024

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, born as Chandan Kumar Dhar, is a devoted ISKCON monk and a strong voice for Hindu rights in Bangladesh. He is also an active member of the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote, a group that works for the rights of Hindus.

In recent weeks, Krishna Das Prabhu organised several rallies to raise awareness about attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. Known for being vocal about religious discrimination, he has become a key figure in the fight for Hindu rights in the country. However, his outspoken activism has led to accusations against him.

Why Was He Arrested?

Krishna Das Brahmachari was detained after leading a large rally in Chittagong in October. During this rally, he was accused of disrespecting Bangladeshs national flag. This accusation, along with his ongoing protests, led to his arrest on charges of sedition.

These rallies were part of his efforts to demand justice and better protection for Hindus, who often faced violence, destruction of temples, and discrimination. His arrest is seen by many as an attempt to silence peaceful protests and minority voices in Bangladesh.

ISKCONs Response to the Arrest

We have come across disturbing reports that Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das, one of the prominent leaders of ISKCON Bangladesh, has been detained by the Dhaka police.



It is outrageous to make baseless allegations that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world.  Iskcon,Inc. (@IskconInc) November 25, 2024

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has strongly opposed the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari. In a statement shared on social media platform X, ISKCON called the accusations baseless and defended their peaceful nature.

ISKCON also requested the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to intervene and urge Bangladeshi authorities to release their spiritual leader. They emphasised that ISKCON is a peaceful movement and has no connection to terrorism.

Indias Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Reacts

Indias Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has expressed concern about the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari. In a statement, they mentioned the repeated attacks on Hindus and other minority groups in Bangladesh.

Our statement on the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das:https://t.co/HbaFUPWds0 pic.twitter.com/cdgSx6iUQb  Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) November 26, 2024

The MEA criticised the charges against the religious leader, calling his protests peaceful and legitimate. They also highlighted that many perpetrators of violence against minorities remain free while leaders like Krishna Das Prabhu are detained. The Indian government has urged Bangladesh to protect minority communities and respect their right to peaceful protests.

The Challenges Faced by Hindus in Bangladesh

The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari brings attention to the struggles of Hindus in Bangladesh. Incidents of violence, arson, temple vandalism, and discrimination against the Hindu community are common. Many victims have not seen justice, as the authorities often fail to hold the attackers accountable.

Leaders like Krishna Das Prabhu have been working to highlight these issues and demand action. His detention has raised serious questions about freedom of speech and minority rights in Bangladesh.

What Happens Next?

The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari has drawn global attention. Religious groups, human rights organisations, and governments are closely watching how the situation develops.

The outcome of this case will be significant for minority rights in Bangladesh. As the world waits for updates, many hope for the release of Krishna Das Prabhu and stronger protections for the Hindu community in the country.
26/11 Anniversary: In 2008, a series of coordinated terrorist attacks took place in Mumbai with 10 members of Lashkar-e-Taiba carrying out 12 shooting and bombing attacks for four days (26-29 November). 175 lost their lives which included nine of the attackers and over 300 people were also left injured.

But what did the chargesheet say about heroes who fought against the shooters at the forefront, lets have a quick look.

The evening of 26/11 detailed

Mumbai Polices chargesheet revealed that on the evening of November 26, 2008, 10 Pakistani terrorists reached Mumbai through a speedboat from Karachi and quickly spread. Two sneaked into the Trident Hotel, two entered the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and four went towards the Nariman house.

File

It was Ajmal Kasab and Abu Ismail Khan who were responsible for launching attacks at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CST) railway station which killed and injured many. They then escaped the spot to reach Cama Hospital where they attacked a team of officials led to injuries of Additional Police Commissioner Sadanand Date and other personnel.

Soon after former state anti-terrorism squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare, Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ashok Kamte and Inspector Vijay Salaskar were informed that Date had been injured. These three officers immediately headed towards the lane that led to Rang Bhawan so that they could enter the hospital from the front gate. Leaving their vehicles near CST station, they rode the Toyota Qualis jeep previously used by Shantilal Bhamre, ACP of Pydhonie division.

ASI driver Balasaheb Bhosale, constable Jaywant Patil, operator Yogesh Patil, constables Arun Jadhav and Jayawant Patil accompanied them and all of them eventually came face-to-face with the terrorists who were coming on the same lane from the opposite direction. Both sides opened fire at each other leading to the killing of five brave policemen including three high-rank officers.

Instagram

During this altercation, Karkare was shot three times in his chest despite wearing a bulletproof vest (later found to be substandard). The Ram Pradhan Commission in their enquiry found out that the officers decision to enter the Cama Hospital from the front gate was sudden and the terrorists were least expected on the site. They had no clue that the terrorists were already out of the hospital and were moving towards the same lane where they bumped, constable Arun Jadhav who survived the attack revealed as per the chargesheet.

They had only entered a few metres into the lane when they were ambushed by the attackers hiding in front of a Corporation Bank ATM. The terrorists soon after the attack drove Qualis towards Metro Junction and shot police constable Arun Chitte before abandoning the vehicle near the Mantralaya.

They then hijacked another vehicle and drove towards Chowpatty where ASI Tukaram Omble and others managed to stop them. Another severe fight took place that eventually ended with the death of Abu Ismail and Omble and the arrest of Kasab.

Instagram

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
The 26/11 Mumbai attacks will remain a deep scar on the hearts of every Indian. The fateful day still etches millions, leaving behind a profound sense of grief, disbelief, and sorrow. On November 26, 2008, ten Pakistani terrorists infiltrated the 'city of dreams' through the sea. They launched a series of attacks at prominent locations, including the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, the Nariman House, the Oberoi Trident Hotel, and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (CST) Railway Station.

The brutal series of attacks went on for nearly four days and claimed about 166 lives, including 18 security personnel, and injured over 300 people. The Pakistani terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was fully armed with automatic weapons and grenades and targeted both the civilians and the security forces.

November 26, every year, marks the dark day in the history of India; today, on the 26/11 anniversary, heres an overview of some facts and truths on how the attacks unfolded:

26/11/2008, Attackers infiltrated Mumbai

On November 26, 2008, the day when attackers infiltrated the shores of Mumbai city via expansive dinghies. To enter the shores, the attackers first hijacked an Indian fishing trawler off the Arabian Sea.

Completely armed with automatic rifles, explosives, and grenades, they divided themselves into teams to attack some of the prominent locations, which included:

Taj Mahal Palace Hotel: One of the most iconic locations in Mumbai where the terrorists held hostages and fought a prolonged battle with the security forces.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST): This location saw one of the most devastating effects of the attack. The terrorist indiscriminately killed dozens of people.

Oberoi Trident Hotel: After the Taj, the next target of the attackers was the luxurious hotel Oberoi Trident. Here the attackers targeted the guests and the staff, which led to several casualties.

Nariman House: This is a famous Jewish community centre where several hostages were made, including a rabbi and his family, who were killed brutally.

Rescue and neutralise the attackers

Following the dangerous events, the Indian security forces, including the National Security Guard (NSG), Marine Commandos (MARCOS), and Mumbai Police, immediately took control of the situation and worked tirelessly to rescue the hostages. They were also working towards neutralising the attackers.

Several operations were held at the affected locations where the battle between the commandos and the terrorists went on for a long time.

Counter-terror operations: Ajmal Kasab was held alive

The counterattacks between the force and the attackers went on for a long time; finally, of all the 10 terrorists, nine were killed, while the main culprit, Ajmal Kasab, was captured alive.

Aftermath of the terrorist attack

The 26/11 attack was a realisation of the shortcomings in India's intelligence and coastal security. For which the administration made a number of changes, including:

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) was established for counter-operations.

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was strengthened.

The coastal security was changed and modernised in order to prevent similar acts.

Finally, on November 21, 2012, Ajmal Kasab, the only alive terrorist, was hanged after the execution and trials.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Bill Clinton, the former president of the United States, has joined the Swiftie club. Better late than never! Clinton joined the fandom after he witnessed Taylor Swift's magic at her Eras Tour concert in Toronto, Canada, last weekend. And in his words, he finally gets it now!

Bill Clinton is now a Swiftie!

During Monday's Live with Kelly and Mark episode, Clinton confirmed that he attended a Swift concert at Rogers Stadium, in Canada, admitting he now understands her popularity. He was joined by his wife Hillary Clinton and their 20-year-old granddaughter.

When Kelly Ripa eagerly asked, "Confirm or deny  did you see Taylor Swift over the weekend?", the 78-year-old enthusiastically responded, "I did. I did." Kelly came bearing proof in case the former president had denied it as a clip of Clinton shaking it off as Taylor belted her iconic hit You Belong With Me soon played on the screen.

The former US president 'gets it now'

Bill Clinton explained that it was his first time watching Taylor Swift perform live, and he was a changed man after he left the concert. He added that he now gets the buzz surrounding her and why young girls are 'so captivated' by her music.

"I get it now," he said before adding, "I understand why she has such an impact on people and why a lot of these young girls are so captivated."

She's not like a lot of people who do concerts: Clinton

It's no secret that Taylor Swift is a force to be reckoned with in the music industry, and acknowledging the same, the former president couldn't stop singing her praises, marvelling at her stamina and dedication to her fans. He was also blown away by her ability to perform for three hours straight, showing her respect for the audience.

Clinton further gushed over Swift, saying, "She's not like a lot of people who do concerts," he said. "She did three hours-plus straight. I mean, straight through! She just kept on singing the songs and kept on doing it, which I think is a very respectful thing to do for the audience."

"I was fascinated watching our crowd of kids, especially my granddaughter, standing there with the wife of one of Chelsea's friends from 20-plus years ago and her daughters," Clinton shared. "All of them up there singing, and they all knew the words to all the songs."

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour is coming to an end!

Taylor Swift's groundbreaking Eras Tour is coming to an end after taking the world by storm for almost 18 months. As the 14-time Grammy winner prepares for her last in Vancouver next month on December 6-8, she became emotional during her performance in Toronto on Saturday.

The TTPD hitmaker said, "And to my band and to my crew and everybody who has put so much into this tour... and I don't even know what I'm saying, I'm just having a bit of a moment, sorry," as she wiped her tears.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
The long-standing feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has been rekindled. The latest development came after Drake took legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify, alleging that they artificially inflated streaming numbers for Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us, a diss track aimed at the Canadian rapper that was surprisingly released on May 4, 2024.

Drake sues UMG and Spotify over Kendrick Lamar diss track

Drake's company, Frozen Moments LLC, has filed a petition with the New York Supreme Court, accusing UMG and Spotify of manipulating streaming numbers and airplay to boost the popularity of Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

According to the petition, Drake's lawyers claim that UMG conspired with unknown parties to use bots and artificially inflate the popularity of the Kendrick Lamar song, misleading consumers into believing the song was more popular than it actually was.

The God's Plan rapper has alleged that UMG created a Not Like Us frenzy on social media by paying influencers to promote the song. Additionally, he also accused the music company of setting up pay-to-play agreements with radio stations to generate overall buzz around the diss track against him.

'Offensive and untrue': UMG responds

In response to the allegations, a Universal Music Group (UMG) spokesperson stated that the suggestion of undermining any of their artists is "offensive and untrue." They emphasized their commitment to ethical practices in marketing and promotional campaigns. Meanwhile, Spotify has declined to comment on the matter.

Internet unites to roast Drake

As if a Kendrick Lamar diss track was not enough, Drake is now also facing the wrath of the internet, with netizens labeling him a sore loser over his latest legal action. Many pointed out how the rapper is behaving salty after losing the rap battle he invited Lamar to. Meanwhile, several users also highlighted the irony in Drake suing UMG instead of Lamar for openly calling him a 'paedophile' in his diss track. "Clown behaviour," one user simply wrote, while another mentioned, "Indian people were making Not Like Us remixes at their weddings and Drake thinks bots were involved."

Check out fans' reactions below:

Bro wtf Drake even coming after NFR? 



Petitioner understands that UMG paid the popular NFR Podcast [] to promote "Not Like Us" and its video without disclosing payment. pic.twitter.com/EK9LeTJVF9  King Wow (@wowthatshiphop) November 25, 2024





Charlamagne Tha God reacts to Drake taking legal action against UMG alleging them of inflating Kendrick's "Not Like Us" popularity



"Come On Man. Because you lost a rap battle? Dot said Squabble Up Not Lawyer Up.  I'm just here for the chaos. Let's Discuss....." pic.twitter.com/8KJ7BrIxbL  SOUND | Victor Baez (@itsavibe) November 25, 2024





So let me get this straight, Drake is suing Universal Music Group and Spotify because of Not Like Us???



Clown behaviorpic.twitter.com/ZEL1u6A1Lc  alex (@AlexUlrichh) November 25, 2024





So let me get this straight, Drake is suing Universal Music Group and Spotify because of Not Like Us???



Clown behaviorpic.twitter.com/ZEL1u6A1Lc  alex (@AlexUlrichh) November 25, 2024

Indian people were making Not Like Us remixes at their weddings and Drake thinks bots were involved  Kar (@karlogan_) November 25, 2024

When did the Drake-Kendrick Lamar feud begin?

Shots have been fired from both sides in the Drake-Kendrick Lamar feud which began in the early 2010s. So, the story goes like this: Drake offered a helping hand to Lamar when he was an up-and-coming artist, bringing him board for his Take Care (2011) album and giving him exposure with an opening spot on his 2012 Club Paradise Tour.

However, Lamar did not come to the industry looking for a friendship. After the success of his debut record Good Kid, the rapper made his intentions clear, issuing a stern warning against Drake, J Cole, Meek Mill, Mac Miller, and Pusha T, among others with a guest verse in Big Sean's Control. He warned: "I got love for you all, but I'm trying to murder you."

Drake initially dismissed Lamar's threat as a mere 'ambitious thought' but has countered over the years with a series of diss track releases.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
South Korean actor Jung Woo Sung has drowned deep in trouble, with a fresh rumour emerging that he's juggling relationships with multiple women, adding fuel to the fire surrounding his recent paternity revelations.

Recently, the 51-year-old saw his worst nightmare coming true after news broke that he has a child with model Moon Gabi, 35, born outside of marriage. While he's assured child support, the actor has refused Moon's marriage proposal. As fans were still processing this information, photos emerged online, allegedly showing the actor with a non-celebrity girlfriend.

Now, in a new turn of events, The King actor has been accused of three-timing. Yes, you read that right! After paternity revelations, and a cheating scandal, Jung Woo Sung faces allegations of three-timing, meaning he was involved with three different women at the same time. Talk about plot twists!

Jung Woo Sung accused of three-timing

According to multiple South Korean media reports, Jung Woo Sung was dating a much younger woman, 26 years old to be precise, while Moon Gabi was pregnant. He is now said to be in a ten-year-long relationship with a non-celebrity, who bears an uncanny resemblance to his former girlfriend Lee Ji Ah.

His long-term girlfriend, an accountant, has reportedly come to terms with his philandering ways and accepted infidelity on his part over the years. However, she was unaware of his paternity with Moon Gabi, and the dramatic scandal is now making her reconsider her relationship with Jung.

Jung Woosung having 3 women; one of them had his kid, the other one he had a ten year relationship (and refused to marry until she threatened to leave after him having a baby on her) and the third one is born 1998?!?!? pic.twitter.com/SRdcZPkQHZ  fai  (@fxytrbl) November 25, 2024

Is Jung Woo Sung married to his long-term girlfriend?

Several reports also suggest that Jung Woo Sung and his long-time girlfriend have already registered their marriage amid the ongoing scandal to make his case stronger in case he ever has to fight the custody battle with Moon Gabi.

Jung Woo Sung's paternity fiasco

Jung Woo Sung's paternity was revealed on November 24, three days after Moon Gabi's secret pregnancy reveal. The model penned a poignant note on her Instagram account, sharing that the baby came as a surprise to her, but now she's embracing the new shift in her life.

According to a Tenasia report, Moon Gabi and Jung Woo Sung recently had a meeting to discuss their son's future together. The report revealed that while Ga-bi was open to the idea of marriage, the actor expressed his disinterest in the same.

Meanwhile, as the scandal unfolds, the actor is opting to maintain a distance from public events. His agency recently confirmed that he may not attend the upcoming Blue Dragon Awards ceremony despite being nominated in a category.

Also read: Jung Woo Sung to reportedly miss 45th Blue Dragon Awards ceremony amid affair rumours with Moon Gabi

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
On the awful night of November 26, 2008, Mumbai was shaken by startling sounds of gunfire. Terrorists targeted two hotels, a train station, a hospital, and places of worship, including the Jewish Chhabda House. Police officers and personnel attempted to save Mumbai without regard for their own lives. It has been twelve years since the devastating terrorist attack in Mumbai city, which killed 197 people, including several foreigners. Over 600 persons were hurt.

Tukaram Omble the Assistant Sub Inspector bravely faced danger at Girgaum Chowpatty, sacrificing himself to protect others. He played a vital role in capturing Ajmal Kasab, a Pakistani terrorist. Despite the threat, he fought to save Mumbai. He was honoured with the Ashoka Chakra pic.twitter.com/xkrSBHjf9Q  Pradeep Bhandari( ) (@pradip103) November 26, 2023

The horrible recollections of that night continue to haunt Mumbai citizens. Only one of the ten terrorists who carried out the attack, Ajmal Kasab, was captured alive by security forces.

Tukaram Omble, a Mumbai police officer, showed exceptional bravery by capturing Kasab alive despite being shot.

Omble received Ashoka Chakra in 2009

Credit: X/ @love_for_nation

On January 26, 2009, he received the Ashoka Chakra as a posthumous decoration. The nation's highest peacetime gallantry award for exceptional bravery and valour while performing official duties is the Ashoka Chakra.

Tukaram Omble was raised in the village of Kedambe, where a large flag is erected at the entrance. The banner reading 'Shaheed Tukaram Omble' serves as a daily remembrance of his martyrdom.

Spider named after Tukaram Omble

In 2021, Scientists identified two new spider species in Maharashtra, one of which is named after Tukaram Omble, a Mumbai Police Assistant Sub-Inspector slain during the city's 26/11 terror strikes.

They dubbed the new species 'Icius Tukarami' when it first appeared in a study report. Parveen Kaswan, an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, shared a photo of the spider on the left and the officer it was named after on the right.

So much nature yet to explore & a good way to pay respect to martyr. A new species of jumping spider is documented Icius tukarami from Maharashtra. Named after the martyr Tukaram by researchers. @Dhruv_spidy pic.twitter.com/VQEbB9xbyE  Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) June 28, 2021

So much nature yet to explore and a good way to pay respect to a martyr. A new species of jumping spider is documented Icius Tukarami from Maharashtra. Named after the martyr Tukaram by researchers, Kaswan tweeted.

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
Theand Hellas Gold have entered into a strategic partnership, with the aim of strengthening the copper market and improving Greeces position in the global Hellas Gold,

Copper Alliance and Hellas Gold sign cooperation agreement -  
The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained ten suspected internet fraudsters.

The EFCCs Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, stated this in a statement issued Monday in Abuja.

Oyewale claimed that the suspects were taken into custody on November 22 in Adewale Estate and Sea Side Estate in Lagos States Badore axis.

Advertisement

Their arrest followed credible intelligence on the activities of some members of an organised cybercrime syndicate suspected to be involved in computer-related fraud.

READ MORE: Suspect Nabbed For Employment Scam, Name-Dropping Nasarawa CP

Items recovered from them include exotic cars, mobile devices and mobile phones.

The suspects have all volunteered their statements, he said.

Oyewale stated that they will be charged in court as soon as investigations were completed.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) air component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) has eliminated several terrorists and destroyed their food storage facilities in the Jubillaram and Tumbuns areas of the Lake Chad Basin.

The NAFs director of public relations and information, Olusola Akinboyewa, stated that the strikes on November 23 were strategic.

According to Akinboyewa, the missiles were launched against a facility used as a food storage hub and terrorist hideout, and are linked to recent attacks, including the Kareto troop assault.

Advertisement

Mop-up operations using cannons ensured the complete elimination of fleeing hostile elements, he said.

The operations success was made possible by extensive Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions conducted over several days, confirming the presence of active terrorist structures camouflaged under dense vegetation.

READ MORE: Vigilante Group Arrests Wanted Motorcycle Snatcher In Kogi

The destruction of the terrorist enclave, including food storage facilities, severely disrupted their logistical operations, while the neutralisation of a significant number of fighters diminished their capacity to launch future attacks.

Akinboyewa noted that the mission highlighted the NAFs determination to protect national security and support ground forces.

He emphasised the NAFs commitment to conducting strong air campaigns, both alone and with partners, in order to hold those who threaten Nigerias stability accountable.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has said that Nigeria would have been better than what it is today if Peter Obi had emerged victorious in 2023 presidential election.

Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, on Monday, the lawmaker representing Abia South noted that Obi would not have been as nepotistic as the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

He lamented that Tinubu appointed four ministers from Ogun alone, adding that many other states have just one.

Advertisement

Abaribe said: If Peter Obi had won, you probably would have seen a better Nigeria than what we are seeing today.

Number one, he would not be as nepotistic as this government, he wont, its not in him. That is just who we are, we feel for the other people.

I say it, and I dont think so. We are seeing it everyday. I just gave you one example. How can Ogun state have four ministers?

READ MORE: Peter Obi, NLC Responsible For My Defeat In Ondo Governorship Election  LP Candidate Insists

Why does he favour Ogun state? Oyo state has only one minister.

The nepotism of Buhari, which nobody followed, has now deepened under President Tinubu because Buhari did it, and nobody said much. I was the only person shouting.

Its obvious that if we continue to look at whoever becomes president, they will look at us and do us right. Apart from Obasanjo and maybe Jonathan, I do not think that we have seen that same type of fairness.
A suspected Jumaat mosque vandal has been apprehended by Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps personnel at the Yankaba Eastern Bypass Roundabout in Kano.

Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC Kano State Command, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Monday.

He said the culprit, Murtala Aliyu Muhd, 35, a resident of Dawakin Dakata quarters in Nassarawa Local Government Area, Kano, was captured late at night after breaking into the Dakata Jumaat mosque through the window.

Advertisement

The suspect successfully stole and made away with one of the mosques solar energy batteries, which supplies electricity to the worship centre.

The following day, while attempting to sell the battery at the market, he was intercepted and arrested by personnel of the Corps on security duty at a checkpoint. He failed to provide a satisfactory explanation of where he obtained the battery or was taking it, the statement said.

READ MORE: Two Suspects In Custody Over Alleged BEDC Cable Vandalism In Edo

It was also discovered that the same suspect had lately been accused of stealing over 300,000 Naira from the mosque, which he admitted to.

Similarly, Musbahu Sani, 19, a suspected vandal from Darmanawa quarters in Tarauni Local Government Area, was apprehended.

Abdullahi stated that Sani was arrested with a significant quantity of armored cables suspected to have been stolen during a vandalism incident.

He stated that during interrogation, the suspect admitted to removing wires from an electrical installation (transformer) at Darmanawa quarters.

He was taking the cables to market when he was captured by civil defence personnel along Court Road, Gyadi-Gyadi, Kano State, Abdullahi said.

He stated that after the inquiry, both individuals would be charged in court and prosecuted as appropriate.
File photo of Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry speaking at a news conference on July 7, 2023, in Philadelphia. Read more

The Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office announced Tuesday that it has filed a lawsuit against a Philadelphia-area provider of doula services for allegedly taking money for birth and postpartum care that was not provided and failing to provide refunds.

The complaint, dated Oct. 25 and filed in Delaware County, alleges that Sierra Mahoney and her business, Liberty Doulas, owe more than $45,000 in refunds for services not provided.

Advertisement

According to the complaint, Mahoney and Liberty Doulas indicated this summer that they would be unable to provide paid-for services and that the business would soon be filing for bankruptcy and Mahoney would be moving to Florida.

But then Mahoney in September began advertising services on social media under alternative names, the complaint said.

At the time of filing, Defendant Sierra Mahoney is now advertised as providing doula services in Florida for the company MotheRetreat, the complaint said.

In an email on Tuesday, Olga Proskuryakova of MotheRetreat said she had received emails from families regarding this situation, but was not aware of the lawsuit.

Please rest assured that she is no longer listed on our website as a team member and is not involved with any new or potential clients, Proskuryakova said.

Mahoney, who had a business address listed in Aston, Delaware County, could not be reached for comment.

As defined in the lawsuit: A doula is not a licensed medical professional in the state of Pennsylvania. Rather, doulas are trained individuals who provide physical, emotional, and informational support to pregnant and parenting individuals, before, during, and shortly after childbirth.

The complaint also said that Mahoney and Liberty Doulas also failed to pay more than $12,000 to its workers.

When contacted by a Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Consumer Protection Agent about the refunds owed to consumers, Defendant Sierra Mahoney insisted that the impacted consumers were not entitled to refunds, the complaint said.

On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Attorney Generals Office said more consumers came forward after the complaint was filed in October, and the amount of restitution sought will be at least $55,000, and probably will increase because additional people continue to report they were ripped off.

The Attorney Generals Office alleges that Mahoney engaged in fraudulent, misleading, or deceptive behavior and is seeking restitution for all affected consumers as well as civil penalties against Mahoney, and that she be permanently barred from providing doula services in Pennsylvania, the complaint said.

The Tuesday news release from the AGs Office said Mahoney had her doula certification revoked on Oct. 25, and that it was likely some of her workers were not certified as doulas.

Childbirth is a life-changing experience that can bring great joy to parents and families  this business promised care after the birth of these children and literally did not deliver, Attorney General Michelle Henry said in a statement.

This business owner valued dollars over customer care, and put parents and children at risk by knowingly providing noncertified doulas, or not providing paid-for services at all, Henry said.
Michael Lane is head of asset management and executive vice president of SEI, a Montgomery County-based investment management and services company. Like Salim Ramzi, named chief executive of nearby Vanguard Group earlier this year, Lane was an executive at BlackRock, the largest U.S.-based investment manager, which has helped lead the industry's push into exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Read more

When two financial giants based in the Philadelphia suburbs wanted to hire top investment executives this year, both Vanguard Group and SEI searched outside their own ranks and added ambitious leaders from New York-based BlackRock, the worlds largest investment manager.

In May, Malvern-based Vanguard, which manages $9 trillion, named Salim Ramji as chief executive. Ramji headed BlackRocks iShares and Index Investing Group, which has been relentlessly boosting sales of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), in competition with Vanguard. Ramji is Vanguards first top leader who didnt come up through its ranks and never worked for the companys founder, the late John C. Bogle.

Advertisement

In October, Oaks-based SEI, which manages or administers $1.6 trillion, named Michael Lane its executive vice president and head of asset management. The former head of the team that sold BlackRock ETFs to investment advisers for their own clients, Lane reports to CEO Ryan Hicke, an SEI lifer who took over from founder Alfred West in 2022.

After decades of growing on business and cultural lines laid out by their founders, both firms were looking for outsiders. Both sought to graft BlackRocks rapid growth and diversification focus, which the company credits to detailed risk calculation, strategic acquisitions, and aggressive product development and marketing.

BlackRock has grown as investment values are soaring, even as banks, brokerages, fund groups, and other old-line providers consolidate, and more investors are exploring nontraditional assets such as private equity and crypto.

I had lunch with Ramji two nights ago, at Davios in King of Prussia, Lane said in a recent interview at SEIs hilly, 97-acre campus in a bend of the Schuylkill west of Valley Forge. Hes a brilliant man. Super strategic. We talked about our experience at BlackRock, the way everyone continues looking forward, with very little celebrating of past wins. At BlackRock, you always think bigger. Thats the ethos.

SEIs clients are mostly corporate employers or financial firms; Vanguard says it has 50 million individual customers. Lane says the difference in approach leaves the companies room to cooperate, the way financial companies often do in building and distributing products. Vanguard and BlackRock are mostly money managers; a larger part of SEIs sales are financial technology, for example, to help brokerages keep track of customers funds.

SEI provides us with the technology platform, the fund board, the transfer agency, and daily pricing. Recently they are also providing services to our licensed agents, said Tony Minopoli, chief investment officer and president at Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors, a $1.8 billion unit of the $140 billion-asset Knights of Columbus, a life insurance company and Catholic fraternal group based in Connecticut.

They have made themselves part of our team, in a thoughtful, consultative way, and really made it quite possible for us to expand, Minopoli added, noting that he has been able to negotiated lower SEI fees as it provides more services. Were looking at offering a new suite of Catholic-aligned exchange-traded funds using SEI technology and the Knights own stock selections.

CEO Hicke said Lane is the latest in a string of hires adding Wall Street experience to SEIs homegrown team  which he said is what West wanted when he relinquished control. He didnt ask me to run this the same way he did. He asked me to change it, the CEO said. Thats very liberating.

Lane says Hicke has charged him with helping break up the very siloed mentality long prevalent in the investment business, in which different teams, each with their own support staff, built and sold products to banks, insurers, government agencies, and other distinct markets. When you are big, everything needs to be scalable, growing efficiently without extra expense and duplication, Lane said.

SEI was an early champion of the unwalled open office that has become more familiar across white-collar workplaces as more professionals work remotely. At many companies, Hicke noted, top executives put workers into an open space with no fixed work stations but retain their own walled offices, leaving young staff feeling isolated and dehumanized. Its very dangerous.

SEI executives like Lane are expected to walk around, meet casually as well as deliberately with staff, bring people with problems to talk to the bosses who can help them.

That also includes freeing staff from meetings where they dont really need to be. Instead, youll see people walking and talking on the trails around campus. Liberated, in a good way, Hicke said.

The home office is for talking strategy and reviewing SEIs relentless measurements of client results  which includes deciding what opportunities not to pursue. The company employs 5,000, of whom more than half are based in Oaks.

The bosses are visible, but you wont see us here every day, Hicke said. We are out in front of clients and prospects. You dont sell sitting inside our walls. Get out there.
Police officers on the 2200 block of North Camac Street in 2023, where officers had fatally shot Curtis Smith Jr. Read more

The family of Curtis Smith Jr., who was shot and killed by Philadelphia police officers last year, has sued the city, saying the officers unreasonably fired their guns at him during a foot pursuit and physical struggle.

Smith, 33, was fatally shot on the 2200 block of North Camac Street in North Philadelphia last May after police said he ran away from two officers who had seen him rifling through a car they believed to have been stolen. Police said the officers shot at Smith after he had twice opened fire toward them with a handgun he was carrying: first while running from the car, and then after getting into a struggle with one of the officers who caught up to him.

Advertisement

Police said it was not clear which of the officers bullets had struck Smith, or whether he had been shot during the first or second instance of gunfire. But officials said he was struck seven times before being taken to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A police spokesperson said at the time that the incident had been captured on both officers body cameras. The department has not released the footage and did not identify the officers until Tuesday, when a spokesperson said they were Officers John Boyle and Brendan McFadden, both assigned to the 22nd District.

In the lawsuit, filed in Common Pleas Court in Philadelphia, Smiths family says that he did not pose any threat at all to any police officers or the community at large before he was shot and that the officers use of force was excessive and unreasonable.

The suit names the city as a defendant, as well as the officers involved, though the Smith familys attorneys said they had not been able to learn the officers names.

The attorneys, Michael van der Veen and Jerry Lindheim, did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday afternoon. Attempts to reach Smiths relatives were unsuccessful.

A spokesperson for the citys Law Department declined to comment on the suit.
A 39-year-old Frankford man has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a 48-year-old man who allegedly was stealing his car last week near the Frankford Transportation Center, police said Monday.

Sherwayne Q. Garrison, who lives several blocks from where the shooting occurred, is accused of shooting Moneer Farhat shortly before 3:10 p.m. Friday on the 5100 block of Frankford Avenue.

Advertisement

Farhat was found by responding police officers shot in the head inside a crashed car. Police took him to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead that evening.

Garrison approached responding SEPTA Transit Police officers at the scene and identified himself as the shooter. City police on Friday said Garrison was in possession of a legally owned firearm.

Garrison, who also was charged with possession of an instrument of crime and recklessly endangering another person, was being held without bail at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, court records show.

Before the shooting, Garrison had stopped at a Wells Fargo ATM and left the vehicle running when Farhat got in and tried to take off. Thats when the Garrison fired his gun, police said Friday.

The car traveled a short distance before crashing, police said.

Surveillance video obtained by Fox29 showed Farhat open the driver-side door and enter the vehicle, and then Garrison running in front of the car pointing his gun toward the windshield and jumping out of the way as the car sped forward.
A woman was found dead and covered in dog bites in a home in West Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, police said.

Police responded around noon to a report of an unresponsive woman at a home on the 4100 block of Parrish Street. When officers arrived, the womans son led them to the third floor, where the 51-year-old woman was on the floor, covered in blood and with multiple cuts or bite marks, police said.

The woman, whom police did not immediately identify, was pronounced dead at the scene.

There were several dogs at the house, police said, though it is unclear if the woman was bitten before or after her death or if the cause of her death was a dog attack. Family members told police the dogs, which belong to the victims son, were friendly and familiar with the woman, police said.

No criminal charges have been filed as police continue to investigate.
Marijuana purchased legally in New Jersey. An Uber Eats delivery driver found an ounce of weed in what was supposed to be a burrito. Read more

South Jersey police found a dank surprise in an Uber Eats delivery, discovering more than an ounce of weed instead of a tasty burrito. With a side of soup.

A driver working for Uber Eats picked up a burrito delivery in Lindenwold and noticed a strong marijuana odor coming from the bag while en route to Glassboro, Washington Township police said in a Facebook post Monday.

Advertisement

The driver pulled over and called the police, who arrived and unwrapped the foil, only to find more than an ounce of marijuana buds, police said.

The burrito impostor also came with what police described as a box of soup and a bottle of water.

The extra green burrito was taken into evidence and Washington Township police said it was cooking up an investigation.

A spokesperson for Uber said the incident was concerning and said the rideshare and delivery platform always encouraged drivers to report suspicious or illegal activity.

Using the Uber platform for illegal activity is expressly prohibited by our Community Guidelines, and were continuing to look into this, the spokesperson said in a statement. We always encourage drivers to report suspicious or illegal activity to law enforcement and to Uber, so that we can investigate and take appropriate action, including banning accounts from the platform.

Recreational marijuana is legal in New Jersey but can only be purchased at approved dispensaries.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Washington Township departments detective bureau at 856-589-0330.
ICE is exploring proposals to expand its capacity to detain immigrants in New Jersey, potentially adding 600 beds in at least two facilities, according to information provided through a lawsuit filed by the ACLU.

The news comes as the incoming Donald Trump administration pledges to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, an operation that experts say would require a vast increase in the nations detention infrastructure.

Advertisement

This expansion proposal, however, began under President Joe Biden.

The ACLU said it obtained the records from a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed in September. The documents show the facilities under consideration include the Elizabeth Detention Center in Elizabeth and the Albert M. Bo Robinson Center in Trenton.

The Elizabeth center, near the Newark airport, holds up to 300 immigrant detainees, many of them asylum seekers, according to NorthJersey.com. The 1,000-bed Trenton center held state-sentenced prisoners until 2022, the New Jersey Monitor reported.

The New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice said the plans raise concerns the state may become ground zero for the incoming Trump administrations mass deportation and detention agenda across the Northeast, affecting nearby communities in New York City and Philadelphia.

Efforts to reach ICE officials for comment were not immediately successful.

The documents provided by ICE offer a limited glimpse of the detention proposals, the ACLU said, as the records seem to include only the environmental-impact statements submitted by CoreCivic Inc. and GEO Group, both big private-prison owners and operators.

The center in Elizabeth is New Jerseys only operating detention facility.

Amy Torres, executive director of the justice alliance, called on Biden to use his remaining time in office to halt all detention expansion.

Without any action, this will be his legacy, she said. He not only turned over the keys, he built the infrastructure for them.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operates or contracts with more than 190 detention facilities across the country. Three are in Pennsylvania: the 1,876-bed Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Clearfield County, the Clinton County Correctional Facility, and the Pike County Correctional Facility.

The Berks County detention center closed last year after years of lawsuits and protests.

New Jersey is home to about 440,000 undocumented migrants, with an additional 153,000 in Pennsylvania, according to the Migration Policy Institute in Washington. About 47,000 live in Philadelphia. All could face deportation.

The ACLU sought records connected to a federal contract solicitation for additional ICE detention space near Newark. The solicitation, issued in June of this year, sought comprehensive detention services for undocumented men and women.

It is unclear from the documents whether additional New Jersey facilities responded to ICEs solicitation, the ACLU said.

ACLU-NJ campaign strategist Ami Kachalia called on the Biden administration to immediately halt any expansion, noting that New Jersey officials have taken steps to phase out ICE contracts.

We may be looking at 600 beds right now, but given that the Trump administration has been quite explicit  we anticipate we could see a large-scale expansion of detention in New Jersey, Kachalia said.

The New Jersey legislature banned immigrant-detention centers in the state in 2021, a law that was later ruled unconstitutional. Litigation around that law continues.

The Biden administration is simply paving the way for the incoming Trump administration to conduct mass detention and deportation, Eunice Cho, senior staff attorney at the ACLUs National Prison Project, said in a statement. The Biden administration must instead work to close these facilities now.
A wild turkey named Tom by neighbors in Deptford enjoys some nuts left in a yard for him. Read more

When traffic suddenly stops on a busy stretch of Clements Bridge Road in Deptford, honking motorists may find an unusual culprit: Tom, a wild turkey, who has become a beloved fixture in the South Jersey community, despite his antics.

The feathered beast has taken up residence in the suburban Gloucester County town where the habitat and plentiful supply of food from neighbors make ideal living conditions. Neighbors believe the bird has been around for several years.

Advertisement

After near-extinction nearly a century ago, the wild turkey has made a comeback in New Jersey, with about 20,000 birds statewide, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The flocks typically show up where they are not wanted in the densely populated state. They take over yards, stop traffic, and peck cars when they see their own reflection and mistakenly believe its another turkey.

In Deptford, the turkey dubbed Tom (a nod to the name for adult male turkeys) has become somewhat of a celebrity bird  albeit a nuisance at times. There have been lots of reported sightings and encounters with Tom, who roams the streets with confidence  even in the days before Thanksgiving.

The turkey regularly shows up at DHY Motorsports, where employees put corn out for him and hang toys in the trees to give him something to peck rather than cars. They rush outside to shoo him from the roadway and protect him from getting struck by motorists.

Hes a menace, receptionist Kristin Coryell said with a chuckle. We absolutely love him.

The turkey boldly strutted in the roadway on Saturday afternoon, bringing traffic to a halt. He seemed unbothered when motorists honked their horns and yelled out the window. He tried to peck a few car tires as drivers slowly maneuvered around him.

When hes not pecking cars or stopping traffic, Coryell said, the turkey chases customers and employees in the Motorshop parking lot and at a deli market across the street. She ran around her car once when the turkey prevented her from getting inside, she said.

Wild turkeys can be a nuisance, but generally pose no real threat to humans, said Jimmy Sloan, the upland game bird biologist for the Department of Environmental Protection. During mating season in the spring, the males may fan their tail, puff up, and drag their wings as a sign to females and to scare off other toms, he said.

Deptford police regularly get phone calls about the wayward turkey, said Detective Sgt. Bob Jones, a police spokesperson. Some residents want the bird removed and relocated to a less-populated area. Others want to keep him safe in an area that he evidently loves.

Hes been here for a while, Coryell said. He seems happy. Apparently, he likes it here.

Neighbors worried that the bird, also known as Fred by some, could have been snatched for Thanksgiving dinner. But Tom is protected from legal hunting  at least for now. New Jerseys fall harvest season, which requires a license, ended earlier this month.

What to know about wild turkeys in New Jersey

Sloan said the state, which carefully manages the wild turkey population, will sometimes trap and relocate a flock of wild turkeys causing major property damage. The state usually will not remove just one or two birds in a town, he said.

Theres no reason to be afraid. Theyre harmless, Sloan said.

Sloan said wild turkeys are social birds and rarely hang out alone. He expects Tom will join a flock and leave the area when the weather turns cold.

Neighbors say Tom had a female companion at one point, but she has not been seen recently. Male turkeys, or gobblers, are polygamous and typically have a harem of hens, biologists say. They are only interested in breeding, and the hens raise the young without them.

New Jerseys wild turkey population was once nearly extinct, largely as development destroyed their natural habitat, Sloan said. The state started an intensive restoration project in 1977, released about two dozen birds in the wild, and now has an abundant wild turkey population, he said.

The birds are found in all 21 counties in New Jersey, and they can weigh up to 20 pounds.

About 3,000 wild turkeys are harvested annually. The next harvest season is in April.

While the sound of a gobble gobble is often associated with Thanksgiving, it typically is heard in the spring. Tom turkeys gobble to stake out their territory and warn any nearby males that the hens in the area belong to them. Toms may gobble at other times, usually in response to a loud noise.

Hens dont gobble, but instead make a yelping sound to respond to the tom. Their high-pitched cackle lets the males know that theyre interested in mating.

Wild turkeys are lured to suburbia by bird feeders and seeded yards, Sloan said. Mature birds enjoy nuts, berries, and insects, he said.

People love feeding them, Sloan said.

And people love eating them, too (except for Deptfords beloved Tom). Sloan said wild turkey makes a delicious meal  when the bird is in harvest season. The bird has minimal fat, he said.

Its not a butterball from ShopRite. The breast meat is phenomenal, he said.
A man prosecutors say once identified himself as a former bodyguard to ex-Liberian president and convicted war criminal Charles Taylor admitted in court Monday that he used his younger brothers identity to gain legal residency in the United States and then later apply for citizenship.

Isiah Kangar, who arrived in the United States in 2010 under a visa he obtained in his brothers name, told a federal judge that hed that assumed identity after being denied a request for asylum in South Africa years before. In court filings, prosecutors alleged his asylum bid had been rejected because of his ties to Taylor and his admission he allegedly made that in that role hed committed killings on behalf of the government.

Advertisement

But under the terms of the agreement he cemented with the government Monday, Kangar, 51, of Bristol, had not been charged with and was not required to admit to any specifics about his past in Liberia. Instead, he admitted only to counts tied to his deception of U.S. immigration authorities.

Its my decision. My decision alone, Kangar told U.S. District Judge Mark A. Kearney, during a brief hearing at which he pleaded guilty to counts including conspiracy, visa fraud, and unlawful procurement of U.S. citizenship.

He now faces up to 10 years in prison on the most serious count at a sentencing scheduled for March. Kangar also agreed Monday to be voluntarily deported to Liberia after he serves his prison term.

Kangars admission comes as U.S. authorities in Philadelphia have focused attention in recent years in probing the backgrounds of the regions sizable community of Liberian refugees, many of of whom arrived in the United States fleeing violence that erupted during the West African nations brutal back-to-back civil wars in the 1990s and early 2000s. More than 200,000 civilians died during those conflicts amid numerous documented atrocities committed by combatants on all sides.

Since then, federal prosecutors have charged at least four Liberian nationals residing outside Philadelphia with lying to U.S. immigration authorities about their conduct during the conflicts. Until the first of those prosecutions, no one had been held criminally responsible for the numerous documented war crimes committed during the brutal Liberian conflicts.

Though Taylor was charged by an international court and convicted of war crimes in 2011, that case involved his actions during a different civil war in neighboring Sierra Leone. He is serving a 50-year prison term in England.

Then, in 2018, Mohammed Jungle JabbahJabateh, 57, of East Lansdowne, was sentenced to three decades in prison for lying on green card applications about the role he played in dozens of acts of murder, rape, enslavement and cannibalism that he oversaw as a warlord during the fighting. That same year, a jury convicted Jucontee Thomas Woewiyu, of Collingdale -- a former spokesperson and defense minister for Taylors National Patriotic Front of Liberia -- of similar immigration crimes. He died in 2020 before he could be sentenced.

Trials against two other figures accused of hiding their wartime past are scheduled for next year.

Unlike in those earlier prosecutions, government lawyers did not accuse Kangar of any wartime misconduct and, despite what they maintain he said on his South African asylum application, they did not attempt to turn his case into an exhaustive reexamination of his wartime activities. They only referenced his alleged past association with Taylor in court filings surrounding evidence theyd hoped to present had he taken his case to trial.

Instead, they focused narrowly on Kangars decision to adopt his brothers identity to gain permission to come to the United States. Kangar first applied for a visa to come to America under his brothers name in 2009, after that failed South African asylum bid, he told the judge Monday.

His deception proved successful. And it was only after he applied to become a citizen three years later that agents with Homeland Security Investigations discovered that Kangar was not who he was pretending to be.

In court Monday, Kangar acknowledged falsely using his brothers name and admitted maintaining a Facebook profile under his false identity.

Before accepting the plea, Kearney, the judge, asked Kangar whether  unlike in his earlier interactions with the U.S. government  this time he had been entirely forthcoming.

Everything, Kangar said, describing the admissions he made moments earlier, was the truth.
Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks at the Frankford Transportation Center on Friday. Shapiro showed decisive leadership in redirecting $153 million of federal infrastructure grants toward vital public transportation funding, writes the Editorial Board. Read more

Last year, this board challenged Gov. Josh Shapiro to treat SEPTAs looming fiscal cliff with the same urgency and resolve he brought to the swift repair efforts after the temporary closure of I-95. Last week, Shapiro showed decisive leadership in redirecting $153 million of federal infrastructure grants toward vital public transportation funding.

The governor earned his kudos after a penny-wise and pound-foolish Senate Republican majority stymied a series of legislative budget solutions that would have helped fund public transportation across Pennsylvania, and ensure SEPTAs continued viability for its almost 800,000 daily users.

Advertisement

The GOP predictably lambasted Shapiros decision, presenting the move as favoring public transportation in the Philadelphia area over roads in rural Pennsylvania. Thats a politically convenient yarn, but it isnt true. The governor has kept up maintenance for the commonwealths roads and bridges and was willing to increase funding for roadway infrastructure alongside transit.

 READ MORE: Properly funding SEPTA is essential to Philadelphias economic future | Editorial

Shapiro took measures into his own hands after Senate Republicans scuttled his proposal to increase the percentage of sales tax revenue dedicated to public transit, insisting that despite the states $10 billion surplus, the projected $250 million yearly outlay was unsustainable without new revenue. Republicans considered using so-called skill games as a potential funding source, yet they rebuffed all proposals to legalize and tax the gaming machines.

SEPTAs budget shortfall comes as the last of the COVID-19 pandemic federal funds end, but ridership remains below pre-pandemic levels. Allowing the transit agency to fall into what officials call a death spiral  with progressive service cuts and fare increases eventually killing the system  is an untenable position for anyone who cares about the future of Philadelphia and the regions critical role in the commonwealths economy.

And yet, Republicans held fast even as the stakes could not be clearer. Reliable and affordable transit is not only an economic driver, but it also keeps more cars off the roads and helps ease gridlock.

When faced with the GOPs intransigence, an effective advocacy campaign from transit activists, the business community, including the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, and local officials aided the governors decision. At a City Council hearing in favor of redirecting highway funds, SEPTA riders from across the region came to City Hall to talk about how public transit makes life better for themselves and their neighbors. Under the direction of Council President Kenyatta Johnson, City Council unanimously requested that Shapiro act to save SEPTA.

At a news conference announcing the shift in funds, Shapiro and other Democratic leaders promised that securing a long-term solution for SEPTA and other transit agencies would be their top priority in 2025.

 READ MORE: Gov. Shapiro gets it right with his public transit funding push. But more is needed. | Editorial

Good. While the governors decision to redirect funding is the smart move, it is more hoagie of steel  the patchwork refurbishing holding together the old trains on the Market-Frankford Line  than any sort of permanent solution.

Without reaching a lasting settlement in next springs budget negotiations, the death spiral stay for the states largest transit agency will expire  if not next July, then shortly after Philadelphia celebrates Americas 250th anniversary. It is doubtful that hearing about the impending closure of much of the citys rail network will inspire many visitors to return to or invest in the city.

SEPTA, its workers, and its riders also deserve better than the constant uncertainty caused by annual budget crises. How can anyone plan for the future without knowing if there will be enough money to maintain the transit system we have?

By crafting a permanent funding solution, with support from both Harrisburg and the region, SEPTA can move forward from being a system focused on reacting to problems into one that proactively provides solutions.
Philadelphians need to hold local politicians to account, writes Helen Ubinas, including demanding that the city stop charging taxpayers to secure soft landing spots for disgraced elected officials. Read more

Look, Im no prude. I can appreciate a lot of the oh-Philly-you-so-crazy things our city has to offer  those greased lamp poles, the familiar chip on our shoulders, our absolute adoration of a certain, mid at best, convenience store.

But the Philly Shrug  that voice I named back in 2013 that lives in the back of our minds that whispers, This is how it has always been, so this is how it must be  isnt cute anymore.

Advertisement

It never was, but its even uglier with Donald Trump busting through all kinds of guardrails on his way to a second term in the White House.

Instead of shrugging, we need to do even more to hold local politicians to account  and we need an even higher standard (or any standard some days) for our elected officials.

We can start by demanding that the city stop charging us, the taxpayers, to secure soft landing spots for disgraced elected officials.

In a lot of ways, the recent story by my colleagues Ryan W. Briggs and Max Marin about three convicted former elected officials hired for new city jobs was a familiar one. Change the names, a few details here and there, and the story of a city comfortable with its corruption has been playing out for decades.

 READ MORE: Another Philadelphia Sheriffs Office scandal. Another shrug. | Helen Ubinas

This time its former Traffic Court Judge Willie Singletary and former State Rep. Leslie Acosta, both working for Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers administration, and former State Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell, who is now working under Sheriff Rochelle Bilal.

Despite getting kicked off the bench for sexual harassment in 2011, and convicted in 2014 of lying to the FBI about fixing a ticket, Singletary is now employed as a deputy director in the managing directors office at $90,000 a year.

Despite helping facilitate a money-laundering conspiracy at a low-income mental health clinic, for which she pleaded guilty in 2016, Acosta landed a community outreach job within the Department of Commerce at $70,000 a year.

And despite pleading guilty to theft and perjury after being charged with taking $500,000 from a nonprofit she founded, this summer Johnson-Harrell started as a public information officer in the Philadelphia Sheriffs Office. She makes $75,000 a year.

In response, Parker spokesperson Joe Grace said Acosta and Singletary would not have direct access to public funds nor would they supervise any employees. He added that the administration supports second chances.

The city, however, apparently doesnt support transparency in their hiring process and declined to say if Singletary and Acostas jobs were publicly advertised  or if they are just the latest participants in the Soft Landing for Corrupt Public Officials Program.

And despite now employing two spokespeople, including an outside communications consultant, no spokesperson at the sheriffs office responded to The Inquirers requests for comment.

I dont know Singletary, a pastor, or Acosta, the first Latina elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, but I do know Harrell-Johnson, whom Ive written about, and who was previously hired as a consultant for three months at the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office in March. She has an inspiring backstory of someone who overcame poverty and drug addiction  and the trauma of losing two sons to gun violence  to commit herself to the anti-violence work she is still doing in and around her West Philadelphia neighborhood. I wish her well.

I, too, believe in second chances.

But when a public official betrays the public trust, when they abuse their offices and positions, whether theyre working for the people of this city or the people of this country, they cannot and should not be rewarded with another taxpayer-funded job.

 READ MORE: Nostalgia  nor a dusty pink hat  wont save us from a second Trump presidency | Helen Ubinas

We should not consent to corruption, and instead follow in the footsteps of Brett Mandel, a one-time top aide to Bilal who was fired after he questioned the slush fund expenditures, and was paid $465,000 after he filed a whistleblower lawsuit.

Unfortunately, shrugging off corruption is exactly what half of Americans just did when they voted to reelect Trump, the first former U.S. president convicted of 34 felony crimes and found liable for rape, to a second term.

In cities from San Francisco to Philadelphia, public officials are now assessing the risks posed by the Trump administration to their budgets, their economy, their infrastructure, and their people.

I was heartened to learn about Rue Landau, the citys first openly LGBTQ City Council member, calling for public hearings focused on how we can protect our immigrant, LGBTQ, and other marginalized communities in advance of the impending Trump administration.

Heres one way: Stop shrugging off the integrity (or lack of) of local politicians. Stop demanding so little of the public servants whose courage and character we will need now more than ever.
(L-R) Gloucester Township residents Ira Eckstein, Keith Gibbons and Denise Coyne get Dont sell the sewer utility signs ready for distribution on Thursday, October 10, 2024. Read more

For some residents in Gloucester Township, voting against the $143 million sale of their sewage system was just as important as voting for president.

And for others, it was the only reason they went to the polls.

Advertisement

There was people who were saying, Im not voting for either president, and they were just there for the sewer, said Keith Gibbons, an organizer against the sewage sale referendum, of voters outside local polling places on Election Day.

A tense battle of lawn signs and campaign ads came to a close on Election Night when the residents of the South Jersey township rejected a referendum to sell their sewage system to New Jersey American Water, thanks in part to the work of Gibbons and six other local advocates who were behind the push to keep the system public, telling residents that their sewage bills would increase and alleging a lack of transparency for their local government on the matter  which the township denied.

If voters had permitted the sale, the $143 million would have wiped out the municipalities roughly $65 million in debt and allowed the township to invest in law enforcement, recreation, and other community resources. A successful referendum also would have followed a trend in the region which has experienced more than two dozen water system purchases throughout the past six years.

Were always in a state of financial struggle

Tom Cardis, the townships business administrator, said he respects voters decision, but was disappointed when residents ultimately rejected the proposition because the sale was an opportunity to invest more money in the sewage systems infrastructure and the township and reduce taxpayers burden. Now without it, the township is looking for other revenue streams  which he calls a challenge.

Were always in a state of financial struggle, Cardis said, noting that this situation was not unique to Gloucester. Im going to continue to look for revenues, but I will tell you, unfortunately, the burden of the revenue is going to fall back to the taxpayer.

Cardis hopes that the township wont have to cut public services as a result of the financial crunch. He said the township is looking at everything to determine possible revenue streams as the township faces increasing costs in other areas, including trash removal and support for the local animal shelter.

Were certainly looking at controlling cost, cutting back where we can cut back and still not affect the quality of service the residents expect, he said.

If the township successfully passed the referendum, New Jersey American Water would have also invested $90 million over 10 years in the sewer systems infrastructure.

Without the extra cash, the township is bracing for any maintenance or system issues that are dire or costly.

Were going to continue to address areas of concern and hopefully they dont show themselves in the form of an emergency, Cardis said.

We may be more reactive than proactive with servicing the system, he added.

This thing is going our direction

Gibbons and the handful of other activists who spearheaded a grassroots effort  with signs, fliers, a website, a Facebook group, and a podcast  against the referendum gathered at Skeeters Pub on Election Night, checking Camden Countys election returns webpage as results on the referendum trickled in.

The no votes kept climbing, and the yeses were just trickling up, Gibbons said. So we kind of knew very early, probably by nine oclock, that, like, hey, this thing is going our direction.

But its a direction not taken by other New Jerseyans who have been presented with similar propositions on their ballots.

On Election Day, residents in South Orange voted to sell their water system to NJ American Water. And last year, residents in Salem approved a similar referendum that approved the sale of its water and sewer systems to the company.

Cardis thinks that some of the opposition to the sale in Gloucester Township was exaggerated and that it could have scared a lot of people.

It would probably scare me too if I didnt know about it, Cardis said.

The sale of the sewer system could be on the ballot again in the future, but thats up to the town council and theres no indication of if or when that could happen, Cardis said.

Gibbons owes his grassroots groups success to their boots on the ground efforts.

There wasnt a day that went by since it was announced that I didnt have something on my plate that day to go handle and do, Gibbons said. And it could have been 20 minutes, or it could have been five hours of the day.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro at podium speaking to media and VIPs at Bellwether District in south Philadelphia where he signed Executive Order to Enhance Coordination, Accountability, and Transparency for Major Economic Development and Infrastructure Projects Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. Read more

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, seen as a front-runner for the Democratic nomination in 2028, is polling behind some fellow Democrats and potential presidential contenders in Emerson Colleges first postelection poll, released Tuesday.

The popular swing-state governor who has been working to build his national brand is polling at 3% in Emerson Colleges nationwide poll of 1,000 registered voters. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is also polling at 3%, and both governors are polling four percentage points behind California Gov. Gavin Newsom and one point behind Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Former first lady Michelle Obama  who has said she has no aspirations for political office  and Sen. Bernie Sanders (Ind., Vt.) are behind Shapiro at 2%.

Advertisement

Thirty-seven percent of voters  the highest favorability of the candidates listed  want to see a redo of 2024, with Vice President Kamala Harris leading the ticket in 2028, according to the poll. The poll was conducted from Nov. 20 to 22.

Both Republican and Democratic primary voters for 2028 were polled and given an open-ended question, prompting them to list their preferred candidate. Candidates who received at least two responses were included in the results. Both primaries remain highly unsettled, as 35% of Democratic voters and 51% of GOP voters are undecided, according to the poll. Vice President-elect Sen. JD Vance is polling at 30% among the listed Republican primary candidates.

Shapiro  who has long been rumored to have higher political aspirations  is unusually popular in Pennsylvania, but hes still building his national profile, perhaps suggesting why hes currently trailing other Democrats. Shapiros nationwide popularity was especially catalyzed after he was passed over to be Harris running mate for Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, which some pundits credit as a contributing factor to Harris losing critical battleground Pennsylvania and the presidency.

Shapiro, 51, a Montgomery County native, often touts his ability to work with a divided legislature in Harrisburg, and has branded himself as a moderate who is able to reach across the aisle. And that energy has earned him the opportunity to stump for Democrats down the ballot, deliver a prime-time address at the Democratic National Convention, and raise $9 million through October of this year, even when hes not running for reelection.

Shapiro is up for gubernatorial reelection in 2026, which could determine what his future in presidential politics looks like and whether he will have the chance to push toward the front of a potentially crowded 2028 Democratic primary pool.

Donald Trumps favorability grows after winning Pennsylvania and the presidency

President-elect Donald Trumps favorability rating has grown six points since the election, according to the Emerson College poll.

Trump is now at a favorability rating of 54% after winning Pennsylvania and the presidency and ushering in a red wave across the commonwealth. But voters are split on their approval of his potential cabinet selections, according to the poll.

Trumps favorability varies significantly by gender, race, and age, Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said. Men view Trump most favorably at 61%, compared to 48% of women. White voters view Trump favorably at 59%, Hispanics at 53%, and Black voters at 28%.

The president-elects favorability is strongest with voters in their 40s and 50s, Kimball said, while noting that Trump also made favorability gains among younger voters.

President Joe Biden, on the other hand, dropped to his lowest approval rating yet in the Emerson poll with 36%.
(L-R) City Commissioners Lisa Deeley, Omar Samir and Seth Bluestein give election updates to the media at Philadelphias election warehouse on Roosevelt Blvd. on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Read more

After months of intense campaigns, dozens of lawsuits, half a recount and rampant misinformation, Philadelphia election officials certified the 2024 general election Monday.

In a meeting that// lasted less than 10 minutes, the three-member Philadelphia Board of Commissioners approved minutes from their prior meeting and asked for public comment. (There was none.)

Advertisement

Then they passed around paperwork to sign, formally certifying the election. And with that, they were on to the next contest, the May 2025 primary.

We dont go fishing between elections; we start working on the next election, board chair Omar Sabir, a Democrat, said before adjourning.

The low-key meeting, which mirrored similar proceedings across the commonwealth, was a stark contrast to what many feared and prepared for in the aftermath of 2020, when then-President Donald Trump, now the president-elect, contested the results of the election based on lies about voter fraud.

Each of Pennsylvanias 67 counties were required to certify their election results by the end of the day Monday. In the Philadelphia area, Chester County certified its results Friday, and Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery Counties also met to certify Monday.

In a statement, the Pennsylvania Department of State said that as of Monday afternoon a small handful of counties had not yet certified the election but would do so after resolving outstanding issues.

Once each county submits its certified results to the Department of State, the department will certify the statewide results and Gov. Josh Shapiro will formally allocate Pennsylvanias Electoral College votes to Trump on Dec. 11.

Counties began a recount of the U.S. Senate race between Sen. Bob Casey and Senator-elect Dave McCormick but stopped after Casey conceded last week.

Trump entered Election Day falsely claiming that Pennsylvanias elections were already fraught with cheating  misconstruing investigations into fraudulent voter-registration applications as proof of fake ballots. Right-wing activists entered frivolous 11th-hour challenges to thousands of mail ballots that were all dismissed or withdrawn. And overturned county-level votes to count undated mail ballots (despite court orders not to) prompted claims from Republicans that Democrats were trying to steal the Senate race.

No evidence of election fraud emerged. And officials across the Philadelphia area voted on unanimous, bipartisan bases to certify the results.

Certification meetings werent entirely drama-free, though.

Individual community members arrived at board meetings in Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester with concerns about alleged election irregularities. In Delaware County, residents echoed debunked claims about machine-testing issues, and some in Chester County urged a delay in certification until more data was available.

In Montgomery County, the meeting became tense as dozens of members of the public flooded the meeting room to express frustration with the election board on a variety of issues, including its vote to count undated mail ballots. Some argued that the decision had irreparably harmed faith in elections in the county.

At times, that testimony moved into false claims of election fraud, and some called for the election board chair, Neil Makhija, to resign. Makhija often engaged in a back-and-forth with constituents, defending his actions and forcefully rejecting their arguments that he and fellow Democratic member Jamila Winder were election deniers.

Were about to certify an election, and I think we expect to do that, and perhaps neither of us agreed with the outcome or wanted, but here we are upholding the process, Makhija said.

But there was also bipartisan approval of the work election officials had done this year.

In Chester County, officials from the county Republican party showered compliments on the local election staff, suggesting that the Democrat-controlled board should look into giving the director of voter services, Karen Barsoum, a bonus. They still reiterated concerns about transparency by the board and urged it to do more to work with Republicans moving forward.

Karen always found time to answer our questions, amazingly patient with some of the questions, said Delores Troiani, an attorney for the county GOP.
As the cost of living continues to rise, were seeing this impact the way that Aussies approach holidays and travel. While many are looking for ways to travel more affordably, the desire to explore the open road remains strong, she said.
The newly licensed Class 1 captives include Revias Insurance Ltd, Intimorato Insurance Ltd, Red Eagle Insurance Ltd, Mulligan Insurance Ltd, and QFI Risk Solutions (SAC) Ltd Class 2 captives approved by the BMA are I-RE Insurance Co Ltd and Periculum Reinsurance Corporation International Ltd.
Saudi Reinsurance Company has announced plans to increase its capital through a new share issuance, following approval from the Capital Market Authority (CMA). The move is aimed at bolstering the companys financial position and expanding its operations.
While the recent floods are not expected to heavily impact the sector's combined ratio, Fitch highlights in its report that insurers in Spain will face claims for hail damage in the Valencia region, as such events are not covered by the CCS. This distinction underscores the limits of the government-backed scheme and the ongoing exposure of insurers to certain weather-related losses.
He added that while lithium-ion batteries often exacerbate existing fires, they are not always the initial cause. This has led insurers to re-evaluate coverage conditions, particularly for claims where safety guidelines were not followed.
The report highlighted the contributions of its 24 member insurers, which provide coverage to 5.3 million Australians, including more than one million in rural and remote areas. Collectively, these funds account for a significant portion of the not-for-profit health insurance market, contribute $21.8 billion annually to the economy, and support over 155,000 jobs.
In a report from AM Best, PIANY said the new law was among its top legislative priorities and would offer greater clarity for policyholders regarding their windstorm risks. The group stated that simplifying definitions would help consumers focus on comparing premiums and deductibles without the added complexity of varying terms.
According to the spokesperson in an emailed statement to AM Best: "Protecting the information of all our stakeholders is a top priority, and we will continue to partner with our independent agents to prevent similar incidents in the future. It is important to note that Travelers internal systems were not impacted by this incident.
Gia Snape, of Insurance Business, sat down with Rob Balogh, executive vice president at Amwins Brokerage in Chicago, Illinois, to talk about the evolution taking place in the product recall space, particularly for small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a shift towards protecting specifically against product defects, and to introduce a new product that offers a more affordable and expanded coverage option than what SMEs usually see in the market.
Police in New Jerseys capital have shown a pattern of misconduct, including using excessive force and making unlawful stops, the Justice Department said last Thursday, in a report documenting arrests without legal basis, officers escalating situations with aggression and unnecessary use of pepper spray.

The 45-page report comes after a roughly yearlong investigation into the Trenton Police Department, undertaken after an officer shot and paralyzed a young Black man who attempted to drive away when officers didnt tell him why they had stopped him.

The Justice Department found the police departments practices violate the Fourth Amendment and the report makes more than two dozen recommendations for remedial action.

The people of Trenton deserve nothing less than fair and constitutional policing, said U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip Sellinger. When police stop someone in Trenton, our investigation found that all too often they violated the constitutional rights of those they stopped, sometimes with tragic consequences.

High Crime Rates

The DOJ report paints a scathing picture of a department with about 260 sworn officers in a city of nearly 90,000 people, where many struggle due to poverty and high crime rates. The city is uniquely deprived of a property tax base that could fund public safety because of the many state government buildings.

The report outlines an incident in which an officer from the departments violent crimes unit chased a 16-year-old boy who matched the description of someone with a gun. The officer grabbed the boy by his neck, slammed him into the hood of a car and insulted him. The boy was not armed.

The boys teacher approached the officer and told him the boy ran because he was scared of the police, the report says. The officer said the police are just trying to help.

Thats not how a Black man sees it, the teacher explained.

Thats how an intelligent man would see it, the officer said, according to the report.

In another instance, a Black woman was in her parked car on a Trenton street in 2022 when a male friend approached her to talk. An officer noticed him take something from his bag and concluded the woman must have been buying drugs. Officers drove the wrong way down a one-way street. The man ran and another officer opened the womans car door and grabbed her by the wrist. She asked what was going on and the officer used a vulgarity to tell her to get out of the car and threatened to pepper spray her. The police found no drugs and an arresting officer said he didnt know why she had been stopped.

Similar scenes have played out repeatedly on Trentons streets. With inadequate supervision and little training on the legal rules and well-accepted police procedures that should constrain their conduct, Trenton police officers engage in a pattern or practice of violating those rules, the report said.

Street Units Disbanded

Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora said in a statement that the city has cooperated and will continue to cooperate with the department, and that it has so far disbanded two police department street units that officials said violated the constitution.

The City will continue to work cooperatively with the USDOJ, our state partners at the Department of Law and Public Safety and the Department of Community Affairs, local community organizations, and residents to implement the recommendations highlighted in the Report as quickly as possible, Gusciora said.

The report recommends that the police department improves its use of force policies, implements better force training, boosts accountability and enhances data collection. It wasnt immediately clear how the Justice Department would ensure the recommended changes are implemented, but Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said the department would cooperate with city officials and police.

We look forward to rolling up our sleeves and working with officials to put in place the reforms necessary to address the two core violations that we have identified, Clarke said.

Asked if the recent investigation of police practices in Trenton or any other city could result in a consent decree, Clarke replied that her focus Thursday was on making the findings about Trenton public. The Justice Department has opened investigations of 12 other police departments under the Biden administration, including in Louisville, Kentucky; Minneapolis; Phoenix; and Memphis, Tennessee.

Other Investigations

The Trenton Police Department isnt the only one in New Jersey facing scrutiny for officer behavior and department practices. Police in Newark, the states biggest city, entered into an agreement with the Justice Department nearly a decade ago to implement more community-oriented policing after a similar probe. In Paterson, the states attorney general took over the police department after officers fatally shot a crisis intervention worker who had barricaded himself inside an apartment.

A once thriving manufacturing hub whose wire rope industry contributed to the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, Trenton is suffering. Its poverty rate is over 26%, far in excess of the national rate of 11%, and home ownership and high school graduation rates are below the states average.

Darren Freedom Green, a community advocate in the city, said the report shone a light on a known reality and that Trenton must now agree to earnest engagement and policy reform.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Law Enforcement
A commercial general liability policy with a pollution exclusion does not protect a Virginia homeowners association from lawsuits filed by swimmers alleging they were injured by chemicals discharged into the community pool.

That is the argument made by Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Co. in a federal court action seeking declaratory judgment that it is not obligated to cover the Harpers Mill Homeowners Association in Richmond for lawsuits stemming from the alleged chemical discharge by a lifeguard employed by a pool maintenance company.

On June 15, 2022, Harpers Mill contracted with a swimming pool operating company, SwimMetro Management Inc., to provide services for the community swimming pool. On that day, a lifeguard employed by SwimMetro allegedly failed to make sure the pools chemical pumps were working properly and, as a result, a large amount of chlorine and muriatic acid was allegedly discharged into into pool. The chemicals created a further hazardous chemical byproduct upon contact with one another and the water, according to the insurer.

There were patrons in the pool at the time and approximately 15 people have claimed physical and respiratory illness from contact with the pool water. A number of lawsuits were filed in Chesterfield County courts in February alleging negligence by Harpers Mill for the incident. The suits also allege that SwimMetro is liable.

A doctor at Virginia Poison Center told WWBT-TV that the claimants reported symptoms of nausea, cough and shortness of breath are typical of those seen in cases of chlorine exposure.

The commercial general liability policy that Philadelphia Insurance issued to Harpers Mill contains a pollution exclusion. This exclusion states that the insurance does not apply to bodily injury or property damage arising out of discharge, dispersal, seepage, migration, release or escape of pollutants by any insured, contractors or subcontractors. In addition, the exclusion defines pollutants to mean any solid, liquid, gaseous or thermal irritant or contaminant, including smoke, vapor, soot, fumes, acids, alkalis, chemicals and waste.

The insurer argues that the chemicals dispersed into the pool are pollutants as defined by the policy, were brought to the site by a Harpers Mills contractor, and were dispersed at Harpers Mills premises. The incident therefore falls within the exclusion and there is no coverage for the claims made in the underlying lawsuits, the insurer contends.

The insurers declaratory motion was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Richmond.

Topics Carriers Pollution Chemicals
In a 5-2 decision, New York States high court this week upheld Ubers clickwrap agreement requiring arbitration of all disputes in a case of a passenger who was injured by another vehicle after exiting an Uber car.

The woman had argued that Uber was misleading about whether its agreement applied to her suit against Uber that she had filed two months before Uber sent out its updated terms of use in a mass email. Uber claims it did not learn of her complaint in a timely manner because of slow mail processing at its New York office during the Covid pandemic. She maintained that Uber knew either of her court action or that she was represented by counsel at the time she assented to Ubers updated terms with clicks on her smartphone.

But the New York Court of Appeals found that not only is Ubers clickwrap document a valid contract requiring her to arbitrate her injury claims, it also requires questions about whether the agreement itself was misleading to be settled in arbitration.

In upholding the Uber agreement, the high court upheld lower New York courts that ruled against the plaintiff and joined a number of state and federal courts across the country that have found web-based contracts satisfy traditional contract formation law. Other states include California, Connecticut, Illinois, and Massachusetts.

The opinion by Judge Anthony Cannataro states:

We conclude that the clickwrap process Uber used to solicit plaintiffs assent resulted in the formation of an agreement to arbitrate. Moreover, a key term of that agreement expressly delegates to an arbitrator the exclusive authority to resolve all disputes as to the applicability and enforceability of the agreement. Because plaintiff has not established that the delegation provision is invalid, her challenges to the portions of the agreement that purportedly apply to pending legal claims were properly directed to the arbitrator.

Plaintiff Lawsuit

In July 2020, plaintiff Emily Wu requested a car using Ubers software application on her smartphone. An Uber-affiliated driver took her to an intersection in Brooklyn where, according to the complaint, the driver discharged her in the middle of the roadway. Upon exiting the car, Wu was almost immediately struck by another vehicle, sustaining injuries.

Wu brought a personal injury action in November 2020 pleading a negligence claim against Uber on a respondeat superior theory.

Sometime after January 2021 a mass email from Uber alerted her to updated terms of use that she would need to accept to continue to use Uber services. When she later accessed Uber on her smartphone, she encountered a popup window announcing the new terms and a warning in bold, all-capitalized text that the arbitration agreement required her to resolve all disputes with Uber on an individual basis and, with limited exceptions, through final and binding arbitration.

Another section of the January 2021 terms set forth the arbitration agreement itself. This section said it expressly encompasses any personal injury claim that accrued prior to acceptance of the updated terms, without exception for claims already commenced and pending in court.

The Court of Appeals noted that contract formation is governed by an objective rather than a subjective standard and there is no requirement that a party have correctly understoodor even reviewedthe terms for their acceptance to be effective. Instead, courts ask whether the offeree was put on inquiry notice of the terms.

An offeree is placed on inquiry notice of contractual terms when those terms are clearly and conspicuously presented to the offeree as a contract and made available for review. It then becomes the responsibility of the offeree, before manifesting assent, to inquire further by reading and assessing the proposed terms to determine whether they are acceptable. Under well-established law, a person who accepts a written contract without first undertaking this review generally bears the risk that the agreement may contain provisions they do not like or expect, the court explained.

Wrongful Conduct

The high court acknowledged that sometimes there are instances where an offerees failure to review or appreciate terms arises from the other partys wrongful conduct. But the court said the general rule in such cases is that the elements of offer and acceptance are still satisfied, although the resulting contract may be voidable due to the wrongful conduct.

The court continued, noting that under both the Federal Arbitration Act and New York law, parties may agree to have an arbitrator decide not only the merits of a dispute, but also gateway questions of arbitrability, such as whether their agreement to arbitrate covers a particular controversy or whether one party should be relieved from the agreement due to the wrongful conduct of another party.

The majority of the court concluded that there is no sound reason why these contract principles should not be applied to web-based contracts in the same manner as they have long been applied to traditional written contracts.

It was a split decision. The opinion by Judge Cannataro, was joined by Judges Michael Garcia, Madeline Singas, Shirley Troutman and Caitlin Halligan. Judge Jenny Rivera dissented in an opinion in which Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson concurred.

Dissent

In dissent, Judge Rivera argued that the terms should not be applied to already-filed lawsuits.

Rivera noted that Uber sent millions of its customers a hyperlink to its updated terms of use with the mandatory arbitration provision months after Wu was injured and filed her action. Uber never sent the updated terms to Wus counsel and Wu contends she did not intend and did not agree by these updated terms to resolve her already-filed lawsuit through binding arbitration. Thus, the dissent questions whether any meeting of the minds or agreement between the parties was ever concluded.

The majority acknowledges that contract formation in New York requires inquiry or actual notice of all material terms, but fails to recognize that mandated removal from court to arbitration of an already filed lawsuit is a material term for these parties that is separate and distinct from a general arbitration provision for future suits. Because plaintiff was not on actual or inquiry notice of such a consequential term, no contract was formed here, at least as to relevant litigation-related terms, Rivera writes.

The dissenting opinion maintains that under traditional contract principles and precedent, the plaintiffor any reasonable personwould not have understood the update encompassed their preexisting lawsuit. Rather, a reasonable person would understand the update applies only if the customer has not yet acted on their rights to sue.

Furthermore, Ubers update uses prospective language and sets its effective date months after circulation. In the usual course, Ubers counsel would have had to seek plaintiffs consent to remove the case from court to arbitration, the dissent adds.

Topics New York Sharing Economy Ridesharing
A DHL cargo plane flying from Germany to Lithuania crashed close to Vilnius Airport, killing a crew member and injuring three others, according to police.

The Boeing 737-400, which took off from the eastern German city of Leipzig, went down close to a residential home in the Lithuanian capital at about 5:30 a.m. on Monday, the police said. Fourteen people were evacuated from a damaged building as firefighters put out the blaze.

Authorities in the Baltic nation said an investigation was under way to determine what caused the crash, which occurred about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the runway. The aircraft, owned by Spanish carrier Swiftair SA, slid for a few hundred meters, they said. The pilot who was killed was a Spanish national.

The police pushed back on an earlier DHL assessment that there was an emergency landing. Preliminary information from one survivor also suggested that there was no smoke or fire inside the aircraft that could have caused the incident, said Arunas Paulauskas, the chief of the Police Department. German and Spanish experts will be joining the investigation.

The authorities urged calm and signaled that there is no initial information suggesting an act of sabotage. Still, Lithuanian officials are in touch with foreign partners as they investigate every scenario, including terrorism or sabotage, according to the nations intelligence chief, Darius Jauniskis.

In All Directions

We see a more aggressive Russia, foreign partners have also spoken about it publicly, speaking about threats of sabotage acts, Jauniskis said after meeting with Lithuania President Gitanas Nauseda. We cant reject this scenario, but so far we cant make any attributions or point fingers at anyone because theres no such information.

European and US intelligence officials had previously warned that Russia may be plotting to plant incendiary devices on planes. In August, Poland arrested four people linked to a sabotage group, whose activities included sending parcels containing camouflaged explosives and dangerous materials via courier companies to countries in the European Union and the UK.

At the moment, we dont see any indications that the accident was caused by external factors, Paulauskas said. After reviewing a number of video recordings, the preliminary assessment is that the plane was not falling, but rather landing, and there are no visible signs of external damage.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said German and Lithuanian authorities are investigating in all directions, including a possible hybrid attack.

The fact that we, together with our Lithuanian and Spanish partners, now have to seriously ask ourselves whether this was an accident or, after last week, another hybrid incident, shows what volatile times we live in, even in the middle of Europe, Baerbock said in the Italian town of Fiuggi, at the sidelines of a Group of Seven foreign minister meeting.

Vilnius Airport said operations arent currently disrupted.

The Boeing first entered service in Australia as a passenger aircraft in 1993, according to data by tracking website planespotters.com. The jet was converted into a cargo plane in 2015. Swiftair operates both freight and smaller passenger planes and is a contractor to DHL.

Photograph: Emergency services at the DHL cargo plane crash site near Vilnius International Airport on Nov. 25, 2024. Photo credit: Petras Malukas/AFP/Getty Images

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Aviation Trucking
What makes Robertson Ryan Insurance a great place to work?

The freedom to do the job, do it well and still have the time and energy for the life you want to lead, according to folks who work for the agency.

Robertson Ryan is a great agency to work for. They are very flexible, and there is no micromanagement that takes place in this agency, said one employee responding Insurance Journals annual Best Agencies to Work For survey. The agency is all about family and health and taking care of you.

Robertson Ryan has been selected as IJs 2024 Gold Best Agency to Work For in the Midwest based on employee submissions to the survey.

Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the agency employs approximately 390 people who work in the office, from home or as hybrid workers. The agency adopted the flexible work model long before the COVID-19 pandemic forced businesses to expand their work definitions, said CEO Chris Illman.

The company has 140 brokers/agents, and our uniqueness is that they all own their own book of business, he said. They care so much about their clients, they are forward-thinking and entrepreneurial.

Employees cite this flexibility and dedication to work/life balance as a top reason the agency is a great place to work.

Investing in the right people is also a critical factor.

We have a phenomenal HR department, and they are viewed as employee engagement, Illman said. They are truly viewed as a partner to the employee, to make their job easier. Our HR has taken on a great people leadership role versus traditional HR.

The company sees less than 3% annual turnover, and that includes retirement, Illman said. And RRIs renowned culture makes it easy to fill openings with top talent.

Attracting talent starts with knowing we are flexible, Illman said. You have to be able to fit into what a really good new hire wants. Well adapt to what that employee wants and needs and get them into the right role.

RRIs remote work opportunity is one of the best, said one nominating employee.

With plenty of the industrys workforce being forced into and then out of remote work due to COVID, RRI continues to see the value in finding the right people to hire for their remote positions, they said. Their training, set-up, and support for their remote workforce is what makes them far better than other remote arrangements Ive worked for in the past. Despite being a remote worker, I still have all of the same opportunities as those in-house employees.

Employee engagement is designed to support growth and success, they added. Regular company-wide virtual conferences that have nothing to do with insurance have been extremely successful, fun and much needed in this hard market. There has never been a time where I didnt feel valued or respected as an employee with Robertson Ryan.

With employees working remotely, hybrid and in the office, it can be a challenging balancing act, Illman said. Its not easy  there are different needs and wants with each of those groups, he said.

Youve got to roll up your sleeves and do the tough things, he added. They know they are empowered, that they work independently, that were open and flexible, pay the right wages, offer great benefits and make sure they keep getting better year after year.

Employees are proud that the agency has garnered other awards for its work culture, as well. Winning Top Workplace by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for 2023 and 2024 says it all, said one employee. Winning a top spot like this not once, but twice, proves the positive culture at RRI isnt a flash in the pan; rather, it is a philosophy that is embedded in the companys fabric and influences the way RRI operates internally with employees and externally with customers.

It was the relationship side of the business that drew Illman to insurance, he said.

I love that it is relationship-focused  clients, employees, carriers. I think its one of the greatest industries in the world.

Building the right team and company culture just makes it that much better. Treat people the way you want to be treated, give them the right tools, let them know they are valued, he said. Its somewhat a cliche, but if you are committed to taking care of your employees, they will take care of the clients. Youve got to walk your talk.
Its All in the Family at Higginbotham

Theres a certain something about Rusty Reid that makes it clear why folks might like to work for him as chief executive and chairman of Higginbotham.

He feels like a buddy, a big brother, maybe an uncle. It takes a while to get over the small talk with Reid, but thats not a problem at all. In fact, its downright comfortable. And it may be, at least in part, why so many of Higginbothams employees feel as if they belong to a family.

Fort Worth, Texas-based Higginbotham is the overall Gold winner in Insurance Journals annual recognition of Best Agencies to Work For, and if a word cloud was derived from employee responses to IJs Best Agencies survey, family would most certainly be prominent.

Related: Americas Best Agencies To Work For  About the Awards

Higginbotham treats their employees like family, one employee wrote. Details like performance reviews and your salary become a formality when you are simply fulfilled at work, however, they handle them great too.

Another employee typed, Higginbotham is a family, and their entire business structure is built on family values. They truly care about their employees, communities, business partners and clients.

Its a people business. You hear it a lot about our industry, but we think it needs to start from within, said Reid, who joined Higginbotham in late 1986 and became CEO in 1989.

Reid spent some time in the industry before he landed at Higginbotham and found a mentor in Bill Stroud, the nephew of Paul C. Higginbotham, who opened the insurance agency in 1948. Stroud purchased the agency in 1962 and ran it for the next 27 years.

See All Winners: Best Insurance Agencies to Work For

During that short stint in the insurance-carrier community (prior to Higginbotham), I saw that when people didnt get equity, they left, Reid recalled. They packed up their bags and become a competitor. Good people  executives to support staff  walking out the door.

Higginbotham became an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) when Stroud sold the company and Reid was named CEO. But he doesnt hoard the credit. Reid name drops constantly when remembering how Higginbotham constructed its values  from Jim Hubbard, who co-founded Higginbothams financial services division in 1989 (Hed say, If you cant have Thanksgiving dinner with someone, why would you want them as a partner?'), to friend Mike Williams, who led the University of North Texas Health Science Center with the same values, to COO Mikey Shepard, who as chief people officer encouraged the agency to put pen to paper on this.

Lets not talk about it in the abstract anymore. Lets really bring it down to tangible things, Reid said. A lot of people got interviewed and we really collectively built our values and the first one was, Family to our employees.'

Its no more elegant, Reid explained, than, Treat people with respect. Lift them up.

Employee turnover is very low even though the agency has been acquisitive. But we are very much a high-growth firm in and around organic growth, and thats a function of new business and great retention, Reid added. One of the elements to our secret sauce for retention is we keep people. We reward them above and beyond a paycheck (as an ESOP).

Higginbotham extends the same family feel to its communities with service and monetary donations. Its another company value employees pointed out. We have a Higginbotham Community Fund that is funded by employee donations, payroll deductions, etc. to grant donations to nonprofit organizations, one wrote. The grant recipients do not even have to be a client of Higg. So many nonprofits have received grants from us who are not even a prospect of ours. I dont know any other agencies willing to put others first like Higginbotham.
Blue Yonder, a provider of supply chain software to manufacturing, logistics, and retail customers said it has been working around the clock to address disruptions caused by a ransomware incident.

Blue Yonder said it experienced disruptions to its managed services hosted environment on Nov. 21 and has been working with cybersecurity firms to restore systems. The company said it did not see any suspicious activity on its public cloud environment.

We have implemented several defensive and forensic protocols, the company added. As of Monday, there were no updates to Blue Yonders website regarding the incident or its restoration timeline.

The Scottsdale, Arizona-based firm, a subsidiary of Panasonic, has more than 3,000 customers in 76 countries, according to its website. They include Anheuser-Busch, Campbells, DHL, Ford, MIcrosoft, and Walgreens.

According to reports, several companies have confirmed being affected by the Blue Yonder attack, including Starbucks and UK-based grocers Morrisons and Sainsburys. Starbucks said its systems to pay employees and manage schedules have been affected, Reuters reported.

Hackers have managed to target some of the worlds biggest retail and coffee chains during one of their busiest weeks of the year, said Dan Schiappa, chief product and services officer at cybersecurity firm Arctic Wolf. Once again, this shows how targeting one company can grant access to an entire ecosystem  in this case at a time when they are more likely to capitulate to ransom demands to avoid missing out on sales.

Schiappa said it is necessary for companies to review cybersecurity, with baseline protection for partners and third-party service providers.

Topics Cyber
Walmart Inc. is reversing course on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, joining a growing list of businesses retreating on DEI programs targeted by conservative activists.

The worlds biggest retailer will no longer consider race and gender to boost diversity when granting supplier contracts, and stop collecting demographic data when assessing financing eligibility.

The most prominent company so far to pull back on diversity promises, Walmart on Monday confirmed it would stop using the term DEI in official communications. It will also curb racial equity training for staff, stop participating in notable rankings by LGBTQ advocacy group the Human Rights Campaign and review its support for Pride and other events.

The changes were made public after anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck posted a social media video saying that he had threatened Walmart with a campaign to lead a customer boycott just days before Black Friday, one of the biggest holiday shopping events of the year.

The apparent about-face could threaten retention at the retail giant, which employs 2.1 million people worldwide. Like many of its peers, Walmart pledged to do more for people of color after the murder of George Floyd by a White policeman in 2020. Now, more than half of its US workforce of 1.6 million are people of color and women, and it has also hired or promoted tens of thousands of veterans and military spouses. Walmart had also spent billions sourcing diverse suppliers in a move it said helps diversify and enhance its product offering.

Numerous studies have shown that diverse, inclusive businesses tend to outperform their peers, as they attract and retain talent, foster innovation, and better reflect the complex character of the customers and communities they serve, Walmart has said on its website.

It remains unclear what, if any, diversity initiatives Walmart will retain. Walmarts decisions come from a place of wanting to foster a sense of belonging, to open doors to opportunities for all our associates, customers and suppliers, a spokesperson for the Bentonville, Arkansas-based company said.

Starbuck said he contacted public relations staff at the company last week asking that it pull its support from LGBTQ causes and other DEI initiatives. He promised to call on his roughly 700,000 followers on X to boycott the retailer if it didnt make the changes. The spokesperson for Walmart confirmed conversations with Starbuck over recent days but noted that the retailer had already been reviewing some of its DEI efforts, including the supplier diversity program.

Wholesale Rethink

The decision could reverberate across corporate America at a time when companies and their boards are doing a wholesale rethinking of the risks and benefits of DEI, David Larcker, a professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, said in an interview.

Walmart is a key part of the economy and when you see them do something, youre going to see a lot of other companies follow along, he said.

The question is whether the company will have trouble attracting and retaining talent or how pro-diversity customers might react, he said.

People of color represent about 51% of Walmarts total US workforce, the company said in its latest culture and diversity report in 2024. Among new US hires, 49% were women and 29% were women of color. About 59% were people of color, the company said.

Walmart said it would stop using DEI and instead focus on belonging and work on a respectful and supportive environment. It also confirmed it will review funding of all Pride events and monitor online merchants for what Starbuck described as sexual and/or transgender products marketed to children, and remove items as necessary.

Growing Backlash

Walmart joins at least 10 other companies from Deere & Co. to Boeing Co. who have pulled back on their DEI commitments in recent months, as corporate America reconsiders diversity policies in the wake of last years Supreme Court ruling banning affirmative action in college admissions.

That decision raised questions about the legality of corporate diversity programs, prompting many companies to quietly reevaluate their efforts. Walmarts spokesperson said the retailer began reviewing various policies and practices following the Supreme Courts decision and the changes outlined on Monday had been in the works for months.

The ruling also emboldened a slew of anti-DEI activists, who say the backlash will intensify under President-elect Donald Trump.

Trumps cadre of advisers includes several vocal critics of DEI, including Elon Musk, who often reposts Starbucks social media attacks. The billionaire on Monday posted a response to Walmarts changes on X: Great!

Stephen Miller, who Trump nominated for homeland security adviser and White House deputy chief of staff for policy, has sued companies for their DEI programs and launched federal complaints alleging that these initiatives discriminate against White men. Last week, Republican Representative Nancy Mace filed a resolution that would prevent the first transgender member of the chamber from using the womens restroom in the Capitol.

Conservatives are no longer pushover consumers, Starbuck said in an interview. We understand the value we have in the marketplace and were going to use it to make companies sane again.

Diversity Hiring

Even before Floyds murder in 2020, Walmart had been working with the Racial Equity Institute, offering training on the history of race and racial inequity in the US. More recently, it implemented practices such as new diversity hiring guidelines, while offering a race and inclusion curriculum for US employees and building relationships with historically Black colleges and Hispanic-serving institutions.

The company has said its US businesses sourced more than $13 billion in goods and services from more than 2,400 diverse suppliers in the year to January. It defines these vendors as at least 51% owned, managed and controlled by racial and ethnic minorities, women, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community or people with disabilities.

Photo: Photo: Dustin Chambers/Bloomberg

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
When Hurricane Beryl swept through southeast Texas on July 8, its damaging 80-mile-per-hour winds took down thousands of trees and knocked out much of the electricity system. More than 2.6 million Texas power customers went without electricity for days in the summer heat.

In the aftermath, officials and residents alike turned their eyes to the Houston areas electric utility, CenterPoint Energy. Texans criticized the company for failing to prepare adequately for the storm, communicate clearly with customers and restore power efficiently.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into the company. The Public Utility Commission of Texas has also launched an inquiry into how the company prepared for severe weather and responded to the outages.

The companys CEO apologized to customers and vowed to improve. Lawmakers have already begun discussing potential penalties for the company and new legislation aimed at making power infrastructure more resilient to storms.

Beryl did between $1.2 billion and $1.3 billion worth of damage to CenterPoints electricity infrastructure throughout the affected area. Those costs will likely be passed on to customers, who could see a 2% increase on their bills for the next 15 years.

Public Utility Commission issues investigative report on CenterPoint

The PUC is investigating CenterPoints preparations and response to Hurricane Beryl. The investigation, which was directed by Gov. Greg Abbott, will look into the companys emergency plans, vegetation management like tree trimming, infrastructure fortifications, and use of mobile generators. The aim? To uncover the root causes of persistent power outages in Houston and nearby areas.

The PUC must deliver a report with its findings and recommendations to the governor by Dec. 1.

At a July 25 PUC meeting, company officials outlined changes they planned to make, but PUC commissioners were critical some of those fixes werent underway before Hurricane Beryl.

Some of the things that I heard today are things that the company should have already been thinking about doing, PUC Commissioner Lori Cobos said.

The PUC published an investigation on Nov. 21 looking at CenterPoints preparations and response to Hurricane Beryl  and recommending more than a dozen improvements to the companys emergency plans, communications, vegetation management like tree trimming and infrastructure fortifications.

The investigation, requested by Gov. Greg Abbott, said that customers had trouble getting reliable information during Beryl and suggested that lawmakers could pass a law that could ensure utility customers are legally entitled to information about power restoration.

CenterPoints outage tracker failed before Hurricane Beryl, so customers could not get critical information, the report said.

CenterPoint launched a new outage tracker in August.

Fallen trees caused many of the power outages during Beryl, and investigators also suggested that the PUC require utilities to establish a method for customers to report vegetation hazards.

Investigators also said the Legislature should consider increasing the maximum penalty  currently $25,000 per day  for electric service quality violations, measured by customer service and electricity reliability. The report said violations are calculated on an annual average and fines are often less than $100,000, so it is often cheaper for [utilities] to pay annual service quality penalties than to correct issues that lead to longer and more frequent outages.

Investigators also recommended that utilities collaborate with each other, city officials and emergency services to test their emergency systems during storm drills.

CenterPoint fumbled communications

For days after the storm, CenterPoint did not offer Texans a clear timeline for when power would be restored and its power outage map was offline. That made it difficult for people to decide whether they should wait it out at their homes without air conditioning or head elsewhere. Houstonians turned to a variety of workarounds to figure out which neighborhoods had power  including using Whataburgers app to discern where the electricity was flowing.

When the CenterPoint outage map was back online, people said it was unreliable and couldnt say when they could expect the power to come back on. A week after the storm, hundreds of thousands of customers still had no power.

CenterPoint CEO Jason Wells at a state Senate hearing July 29 said the company was hiring a chief communications officer.

CenterPoints restoration pace drew criticism

At the height of the outages more than 2.6 million Texas households and businesses were in the dark. At least 23 people died from the storm itself and the ensuing power outages.

Houstons vulnerability to storms is well known. Unlike a winter storm in 2021 where the energy grid struggled to meet demand, Beryl damaged the distribution infrastructure like poles and wires that bring power to homes.

Ed Hirs, an energy expert at the University of Houston, said the power outages during this storm are a product of extended neglect and underinvestment in grid infrastructure by the state and utilities.

But as people waited in the humid, sweltering heat, they looked for who to blame. Many were angered by the speed in which the company was restoring power. Elected officials began to ask why so much distribution infrastructure was damaged and why it was taking so long to fix.

In most cases when people lose power its because powerlines go down, but its normally short lived, said Joshua Rhodes, a research scientist at the University of Texas at Austin. In this case, he added, the response took days.

CenterPoint defended its readiness and electricity restoration pace, which was faster than it had been after previous storms. But people still wanted answers: Was the utility company prepared for the hurricane? Is it prepared for future ones? And what happened to its communications?

Attorney general launches investigation into CenterPoint

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Aug. 12 launched a criminal investigation into the response by CenterPoint Energy after Hurricane Beryl.

The investigation will examine allegations of fraud, waste, and improper use of taxpayer-provided funds, Paxton said.

My office is aware of concerning allegations regarding CenterPoint and how its conduct affected readiness during Hurricane Beryl, a storm that left millions of Texans without power, Paxton said in a press release. If the investigation uncovers unlawful activity, that activity will be met with the full force of the law.

Following the hurricane, officials and residents criticized the company for failing to prepare adequately for the storm, communicate clearly with customers and restore power efficiently.

For days after the storm, CenterPoint did not offer Texans a clear timeline for when power would be restored and its power outage map was offline, which made it difficult for people to decide whether they should wait out the storm in their homes without air conditioning or head elsewhere.

Beryls damage to CenterPoints electricity infrastructure is estimated between $1.2 billion and $1.3 billion. Those costs could be passed on to customers, who could see a 2% increase on their bills over the next 15 years.

CenterPoint launches new outage tracker, promises other improvements

CenterPoint Energy President and CEO Jason Wells apologized to customers and vowed to improve the companys communications and make the system more resilient during several meetings with public officials including state legislators and the Public Utilities Commission.

In a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott updated on Aug. 1, Wells said the company has nearly doubled its vegetation management workforce to 1,000 people, whose work includes trimming tree branches near power lines. CenterPoint also plans to hire a new senior leader to focus on emergency response coordination and a chief communications officer.

The company unveiled a new outage tracker on Aug. 1, following through on a deadline announced by Wells at the Public Utilities Commission meeting. CenterPoints old tracker had been offline since May, leaving Houstonians to find alternative ways to determine which neighborhoods had electricity throughout the outages  with some turning to the Whataburger app for information on where power had been restored.

Company officials also said they were already holding small group listening sessions, brought in experts to review its emergency response and nearly doubled their vegetation management workforce. But they said they still face hurdles.

Those challenges include not having direct contact information for more than half of its customers because retail electric companies that sell power to residents and businesses maintain that data. CenterPoint officials said they would need new regulatory policy from the PUC to make it easier to get that information from the retail companies.

At a July 29 Senate committee hearing, Wells said he made a change to the head of the companys electric operations division because he believed CenterPoint needed to move faster on investing in resiliency. But he warned of possible repercussions in improving if he were to answer calls that he step down.

I think if I resign today, we lose momentum of the things that are going to have the best possible impact for the greater Houston region, he told lawmakers.

CenterPoint officials said in a July 30 call with investors the company had already boosted its spending on vegetation management by 30% in 2023. CenterPoint committed to trimming vegetation along 2,000 miles of its lines where that vegetation is at greater risk of causing damage by Aug. 31.

Reference: Read the report CenterPoint Energy presented to Texas utility regulators on Hurricane Beryls damage and the companys plans to improve its communications and infrastructure.(1.8 MB)

This document is available at https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/25/texas-power-grid-puc-centerpoint-hurricane-beryl/

The company submitted a plan to Abbott detailing how it plans to protect the power supply through the rest of what is expected to be a busy hurricane season. And after meeting with Abbott on Aug. 1, CenterPoint updated its plan to describe actions it has already completed and accelerate its timeline for other improvements.

Met with CenterPoint Energy today to discuss their proposal to better prepare for the next severe weather event, Abbott posted on social media. The original proposal was inadequate. More must be done & faster.

The plan includes commitments to replace all poles slated for replacement  around 1,000  with sturdier, composite versions by the end of the month, coordinate more closely with local officials in emergency response situations to better deploy temporary generators and accelerate the deployment of restoration and vegetation management crews in the wake of storms.

Lawmakers begin discussing ideas for new legislation in wake of large-scale outages

A special panel of 13 Texas senators  many of whom represent areas affected by Hurricane Beryls power outages  questioned state energy and emergency officials and the CenterPoint Energy CEO about the companys planning and response at a July 29 hearing in Austin.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick formed the Senate Special Committee on Hurricane and Tropical Storm Preparedness, Recovery, and Electricity after the July outages. At their first meeting, members focused their anger on the Houston-area utility and at times passionately asked about ways it could make changes to prevent such a disaster from repeating.

The senators ideas included altering the structure for how utilities in the states main power grid  which have no competition and instead earn a profit overseen by the Public Utility Commission of Texas  make money. They also discussed lowering how much profit CenterPoint is able to make.

I would ask the PUC: Is it time to change the formula to be more outcomes-based? said Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham.

PUC Chair Thomas Gleeson later agreed: I think we need a comprehensive look at how we fund utilities, how they prepare for storms, he said.

Gleeson said the PUC additionally had not succeeded in making sure utilities were doing enough tree trimming.

Committee Chair Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, said the 2025 legislative session that begins in January could include discussions about those ideas, plus financial penalties, a smaller service territory for CenterPoint, allowing better access for tree trimming and improving standards for infrastructure construction. CenterPoint officials said during a July 30 earnings call that 60% of the vegetation it removed after Beryl came from trees that were outside of their rights-of-way, meaning the company didnt have automatic access to them prior to the storm.

At a House State Affairs committee July 31, Rep. Todd Hunter, R- Corpus Christi, led what he called a constructive solutions-based meeting. He asked utility leaders, those invited for public testimony and lawmakers to think about what legislation needs to be proposed to help mitigate the impacts of future natural disasters.

Wells, CenterPoints CEO, asked for more investment from the state in vegetation management. He also said utilities needed more authority to cut dangerous trees outside their right-of-way that were at risk of toppling over power lines and poles, and he requested access to the contact information of all the companys customers to better facilitate communications during emergencies. Retail electric companies that sell power to residents and businesses maintain that data. Wells said his company currently can only communicate directly only with customers who opted into sharing their information with CenterPoint itself.

Hunter asked CenterPoint and all Texas utility providers to send him solution suggestions by Aug. 14.

Officials want CenterPoint to cover $800 million cost for generators that werent used

CenterPoint has also faced criticism for spending $800 million to lease massive generators to help in extended power outages after the 2021 winter storm. The Public Utility Commission of Texas allowed CenterPoint to increase customers electricity bills to pay for the generators  which are difficult to transport  and earn a profit, according to the Houston Chronicle.

The generators were not used during Hurricane Beryl, CenterPoint CEO Jason Wells told lawmakers at a Senate special committee hearing on July 29. But Wells defended the companys investment, saying the generators were intended for a winter storm-like situation where power generators are not producing enough power, not Beryl. He added that CenterPoint had been selling other parts of the business to focus more on its Houston-area operations, especially the transmission system and substations, which Wells said performed well in the storm.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who formed the special committee to look into CenterPoints response, said in a press release that the Legislature intended utilities to lease small mobile generators to power critical buildings, like hospitals and cooling or warming centers  though some lawmakers at the time urged CenterPoint to move ahead with the $800 million contract of large generators. He urged the PUC to revoke its approval of CenterPoint passing the $800 million cost on to customers.

CenterPoint violated the spirit and purpose of the legislation by leasing generators that are not truly mobile and, as they testified, have never been deployed for an emergency, Patrick said on July 30.

Didnt Texas officials say they fixed the power grid?

After Winter Storm Uri in 2021, when nearly statewide power outages persisted for days the entire electricity grid nearly collapsed, lawmakers decided Texas needed more power to meet demand. They focused their efforts on securing power generation, or fuel that is then turned into electricity, through weatherizing existing facilities and allocating $5 billion to incentivize companies to build more gas-fueled power generators in the state.

But Beryl highlighted the need to strengthen the states electrical distribution infrastructure, which transmits already generated electricity to individual customers, against future storms and hurricanes. Energy experts said that could include protecting existing power lines from trees by trimming them, building robust poles out of concrete or plastic and undergrounding power lines where it makes sense.

What oversight does Texas have over utility companies?

In Texas, utilities do not compete with each other, but have designated jurisdictions that they serve. The Public Utility Commission of Texas regulates electricity and oversees utilities like CenterPoint. The PUC commissioners are appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott and their job is to review and approve rates charged by utilities, review the planning and construction of utility infrastructure like power lines and coordinate with utilities on how to prepare and respond to hurricanes or other natural disasters.

Essentially any type of infrastructure project or rate increase utilities like CenterPoint proposes needs to be greenlit by the PUC.

The PUC could punish CenterPoint with a fine for its handling of Hurricane Beryls outages. But when disasters strike, Ed Hirs, an energy expert at the University of Houston, said regulators typically skip the fine and rely on the expectation that the cost of the cleanup is going to be more than enough penalty.

He said regulators often prefer companies spend money repairing damage rather than sending it to the state as a fine. Regulators also could require CenterPoint to put money into strengthening its infrastructure.

In addition to the PUCs oversight, utilities must also comply with rules and regulations that the Legislature writes into law.

CenterPoint withdraws its previous request to raise customer rates

CenterPoint has withdrawn its request to raise rates on customers to cover rising costs and keep up with the regions growth. The company filed the rate case with the Public Utility Commission of Texas before Hurricane Beryl, but announced it was withdrawing it on Aug. 1. In a press release, the company said it would instead prioritize recovery efforts from Beryl and better prepare for future hurricanes.

We believe any delay or distraction from this mission is unacceptable. Our companys collective focus for the remainder of this hurricane season will be on being ready: that is our mission, CenterPoints CEO Jason Wells said in the press release.

If the rate case had been approved, utility officials said the average residential bill would have increased by about $1.25, according to the company filings.

Utility companies do not make money by doing maintenance like tree trimming or hardening power lines, but by expanding infrastructure coverage, according to energy experts. But the PUC controls how much money a regulated utility like CenterPoint can make.

To make their case for a rate increase, CenterPoint officials said they now served 300,000 more customers compared to when the company last requested to change its rates in 2019. They expected both population and industrial growth to continue with a shift toward electrification and potential buildout of hydrogen production facilities.

Utility officials said in the filings that they were both expanding the system and keeping up with needed repairs. The company invested more than $6 billion in infrastructure over the past five years while also responding to unprecedented weather conditions including drought, winter storms and hurricanes.

Each event had its impact on the system, said Lynnae Wilson, senior vice president of electric business. Drought conditions lead to dead or stressed trees that are more susceptible to high winds. Any system damage as a result of weather events in turn caused customer outages.

The company said it spent $31.9 million on vegetation management in 2022 and increased its spending on reliability projects.

CenterPoint Houston faces increasingly high expectations from customers in terms of more reliable service and faster restoration following outages, and from regulators and policymakers increasingly concerned with strengthening the electric grid in Texas, Jason Ryan, executive vice president of regulatory services and government affairs, said in the March 6 filings.

On July 17, after public outrage over Beryls mass power outages, CenterPoint requested more time to keep working through the rate case discussions with the other parties involved. Entities such as the Houston Coalition of Cities, Texas Industrial Energy Consumers and Texas Consumer Association were already weighing in on the proposed rate hike. An administrative judge considering the proposed increase requested that parties file status reports by August 2 and every two weeks after.

CenterPoint also withdraws it $2 billion resiliency plan

CenterPoint withdrew its request for approval of a $2 billion resiliency plan on Aug. 1, saying it would file a new plan after assessing its system and focusing on the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.

Utility companies like CenterPoint can choose to create plans to strengthen their electrical systems, according to a law that went into effect last year.

The so-called resiliency plan  if state regulators approve it  is a potential way utilities could start charging more to harden their distribution infrastructure by replacing poles or trimming more trees. In many cases, those costs would be charged to power providers that sell power, which would then likely pass the costs on to residents and businesses.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, CenterPoint said that it was withdrawing its resiliency plan in order to focus on addressing the impacts of Hurricane Beryl in its service territory and accelerating preparedness and resiliency efforts for the remaining storm season. The company added that it expects to complete a broader assessment of additional system resiliency opportunities and would intend to refile a subsequent system resiliency plan.

Michael Webber, an energy resources professor at the University of Texas at Austin, said spending more up front for a stronger electric system would save money and even protect peoples lives and health better over the long term. Thats because there would be less damage to infrastructure after storms  and fewer people without power, too.

In its proposed resiliency plan submitted to regulators in April, Centerpoint suggested investing more than $2 billion to strengthen its poles and wires, using federal and state funding to cover some of the costs. The proposal included spending $376 million to replace wooden transmission structures with steel or concrete, and $99 million to replace or brace some 5,000 wooden distribution poles per year from 2025 to 2027.

Energy experts told The Houston Landing that CenterPoints proposed funding for the plan is only a fraction of whats needed for upgrades to protect the system against bad weather. The Landing also reports that plan does not include details on where upgrades will be made and predictions on how many customers might benefit from proposals to harden the distribution infrastructure.

CenterPoint officials had said on July 25 that they would amend the plan based on their own review and regulators review.

Disclosure: CenterPoint Energy, University of Texas at Austin and University of Houston have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/25/texas-power-grid-puc-centerpoint-hurricane-beryl/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

Photo: CenterPoint assistance crews work to restore power lines in Houston, Texas on July 11. Photographer: Danielle Villasana/Getty Images

Topics Texas Energy
Finding insurance coverage for trucking firms could be considered a high-stress occupation. With the rise of nuclear lawsuit verdicts and big-truck attorneys, escalating premiums, and new state laws and regulations, its a lot to think about. But the challenges have not kept Prestige Trucking Insurance in Tamarac, Florida, from keeping its focus on the drivers behind the wheel  and on its employees.

We prioritize our employees well-being by offering flexible work arrangements that cater to individual needs, said agency owner Christina Downs. We also renovated our office to include amenities that benefit our mental and physical health, which is very important to us all.

The agencys 67 employees seem to appreciate its priorities  so much so that Prestige was named Insurance Journals 2024 Gold winner for Best Agency to Work For in the Southeast. The company received multiple, favorable comments from staff members and scored highly in the categories of working conditions and benefits.

Prestige is an excellent company to work for. The work environment along with the people are all great, one agency employee wrote in comments submitted in IJs Best Agencies to Work For survey. Our leadership is dedicated to transparent communication and provides ample opportunities for career advancement. Employees are encouraged to pursue their passions and develop new skills through frequent trainings.

Said another: We are not the typical agency; we are a family.

I have worked for several insurance agencies, another staffer noted. All of these were strictly focused on the number of policies an agent would bind. These agencies did not have the knowledge, talent and departmentalization like Prestige Trucking. The owner places a premium on the well-being of its staff and producers. The amenities provided to the employees are unsurpassed, from birthdays to work anniversary recognitions and celebrations, this agency wants its employees and clients alike to feel special.

Downs founded Prestige a decade ago  September 2024 marked its 10th anniversary.

The best advice I would give is to prioritize your employees, Downs said. Build trust, have open communication and transparency. Create an environment where your employees look forward to coming in every day, and offer flexibility.

Downs and Missy Fernandez, director of finance for the agency, said that focus on a healthy, happy workforce has translated directly into professional service for clients. Prestige believes strongly in providing the Disney experience for policyholders  exceptional customer service that accommodates clients changing needs  that was explained in The Experience, a book written by Bruce Loeffler and Brian Church.

Downs said it all began for her at an early age, when she worked at a dealership.

I quickly fell in love with helping people and explaining coverages, Downs said. I now sell commercial trucking insurance and enjoy it so much because I love helping and getting to know our truckers and assisting them to grow their business.

Going forward, Downs said trucking insurance brokers and agents face some challenges, but the team is ready.

I would say some of the challenges are the rising insurance costs, the regulatory changes, talent acquisition and retention, the owner noted. We meet these challenges by building strong relationships with our MGAs and finance companies, which grants our agency leverage to negotiate competitive rates and APRs. We do our best to keep our clients educated on risk management strategies that ultimately minimize their chance of a claim.
Want a simple, yet effective agency management tip for making your employees happy? Treat them like customers.

That mindset stood out among comments from employees who nominated Morris & Garritano in Insurance Journals 2024 Best Agency to Work For survey. M&G took home Gold  Best Agency West.

The San Luis Obispo, California-based agency employs 153 people, and it anticipates revenue for 2024 will hit $31.6 million, up from $29.3 million a year ago. The firms specialties include construction, wine and agriculture, hospitality and food service, real estate/rental/lending, social services and healthcare, manufacturing, and retail and wholesale.

Our agency stands out as one of the best places to work because of its deep commitment to both its employees and clients, wrote one employee.

As one of Californias largest privately held insurance firms, we prioritize a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous growth. Employees are empowered with the resources and support needed to excel in their roles, fostering a strong sense of ownership and pride in their work.



The employee described an open-door policy from leaders, as well as their dedication to professional development.

We treat our employees like we treat clients, said Kerry Morris, M&Gs chief operating officer. We make their learning, their development a priority. Engagements a big deal. We try to understand what drives people, what brings people into work is different for everybody. They want different things. We make our employees feel as if they are our clients.

She said the firm invests a lot of its resources on learning and development, and leaders regularly sit down with employees to do career-pathing to find out where theyre headed and where they want to go. We try to make sure our employees have the resources that they need, that theyre learning, she said.

Brendan Morris, who joined M&G in 1994, working alongside his dad, Greg Morris,

explained the firms five core values: Do the right thing, love what you do, always be improving, go the extra mile and build collaborative relationships. We also embrace flexibility, offering remote work options and flexible schedules to help our employees balance their professional and personal lives, he added.

M&G cares about its people  from the business side and the personal side, one employee wrote. They put a focus on career development and are constantly encouraging people to learn and grow in a direction that fits both the agency and the employee. It is common to promote from within for roles within the agency, myself included. I started as a receptionist and now lead our marketing and communications teams. They provide opportunities for training and advancement, a forum to voice an opinion or recommendation and are truly committed to my professional growth.

Being part of a family was another common theme. M&G is the only employer that Ive worked for in my 20-plus years in the industry who actually cares about their employees, an employee wrote. Their commitment to excellence is unrivaled, and they truly believe that all of us at M&G are what makes the company successful. The owners know you by name, and make you feel comfortable and welcomed no matter what the occasion. We are a family here at M&G and its truly an amazing place to work.

Said another long-time insurance professional:

Ive worked for many agencies during my 30-year career in insurance.  This is by far the best agency Ive worked for. The leaders in our company are invested in their employees and clients. I have learned so much from them and continue to be inspired by them daily.
As we approach election day in Ireland, it is crucial we learn lessons from the ongoing unrest of UK farmers and the protest they held in London this week.

Be very wary of political parties that are promising more than they can deliver, even more than that, I also believe it is crucial we stand alongside our UK farming neighbours in their protests.

The simple fact is the UK Labour Party lied to UK farmers, a bold statement it may seem but it is true as Labour promised farmers and the National Farmers Union that UK tax measures would not be changed if they came into political power, more importantly they assured farmers that inheritance tax would not change.

In fact, numerous Labour politicians publicly stated that UK taxes would not change. UK Labour seemed like a fresh beginning for the British voter after their Brexit turmoil and on July 4, 2024, they won an overwhelming victory in the UK elections taking 412 seats of the 650 available whilst the Conservative party had their worst election in 200 years.

Sounds like a fresh start for the UK under a new government but there was a major flaw with Keir Starmer's election manifesto. His Labour calculator wasnt accurate and he, like many more Labour politicians, lied to voters.





All of which became apparent on the October 30, 2024, when Rachel Reeves announced tax increases of 40bn targeting the hard-working UK farmer as her cash cow.

Us Irish farmers have seen hard times of late but I have long watched on as it would seem UK politicians would happily see their farmers go out of business, and in turn policy would have that family farm turned into a nature reserve.

There are actually 13,000 fewer farmers in the UK in the last five years, that is over 10% of farmers having left the industry in such a short space of time. Labour claim they found a black hole in the UK exchequer funds; in their words the Rwanda scheme was underfunded as was funding for the migrant crisis.

Keir Starmer claims he has made the largest financial package in UK history available to farmers, a total of 5bn over two years which sounds magical, but my calculator makes that a figure of 2.5bn a year yet their preBrexit CAP funding from the EU was 3.5bn a year for farmers.

Taxes

Like many farmers, we have a crew cab jeep, it is taxed commercially and to be fair, it is the workhorse of the farm, 50% of the time there is a cattle box hitched to it when it hauls cattle feed. As of April 26, UK farmers pay the same tax as cars on these vehicles, allowances on the purchase of the farm vehicle will be limited and should a larger farm provide a crew cab vehicle for an employee, the employee will be taxed as if it were a company car.

The rate of employer's contribution for national insurance (similar to our PRSI) will rise to 15% making the cost of employing farm staff beyond many farms with the rate at which this taxation begins being nearly halved down to 5,000.

The UK equivalent of our EU single farm payment, the English BPS-linked payment has been dropped to a max of 7,200 for 2025, a drop of up to 25k for many farms.

Fertiliser is one of the costliest inputs on any farm but not costly enough in the eyes of the new Labour government as they have just slapped an extra 50 a ton on in the form of a carbon tax.

The hardest hitting of all tax measures is inheritance tax which they predict will in time raise 520m a year for the UK exchequer. Seems like quite a lot of money generated for something they claim will impact very few farmers.

Agricultural accountant Andrew Robinson told me the new tax measures will impact 80% of his firm's farming clients, adding:

The budget was stated to be one that encouraged growth in businesses of all types and would not affect farm families, this is clearly far from the reality of budget proposals.

There are all sorts of figures being thrown around in the media, such as 1m thresholds and 3m thresholds. The 1m threshold is non-transferable between spouses, the 3m figure is a red herring and almost impossible to reach without extremely complex tax planning.

The correct maximum threshold for a couple is 2.65m but that combines all farm assets from land to livestock.

The simplest way to avoid the inheritance tax is place all the farm assets in a trust fund or gift them to younger family members  land, livestock, buildings, machinery, etc.

But here is the catch, the transfer must be in place for seven years to avoid increased taxation, essentially you cant die for seven years after you have all the paperwork completed, otherwise good oul Labour are gonna cash in on your untimely passing with a hefty tax bill.

Protests

Thousands of farmers turned out for the protest in London against these tax measures. En-route they delivered vast amounts of their produce to food banks to support those in need, there has always been a huge sense of pride amongst UK farmers in their produce.

Up to 6,500 farmers turned up at a protest in Lisburn in Northern Ireland the night before to show solidarity as they are also impacted by these tax measures. Labour, it would seem, has lost sight of UK food security though as the farmer protest has fallen on deaf ears, team Starmer still believe their own calculations.

It would seem UK farmers will in time have to resort to French-style farmer protesting and possibly create blockades to get Keir Starmer to see reality. As it stands, the French farmers are back out protesting again due to the EU trying to push through the Mercosur deal which will have a huge negative impact on EU farmers.

Many of you non-farmer readers may think us farmers are always out protesting and complaining. The simple fact is we are being driven out of business by low food prices and policies. Many Irish political parties claim they will fight to maintain the nitrates derogation for Irish farmers, they didnt seem to fight too hard two years ago when the derogation was reduced from 250 to 220.

I am wary of what our next government will be, some Irish political parties are promising too much. A hard-working Minister for Agriculture who will fight for Irish farmers will be crucial but while I await the outcome of our election, I stand in solidarity with our UK agri counterparts, they are not protesting for the sake of protesting, they are fighting for survival.
There must be a law.

Bob Geldof has to be included in any music documentary about Ireland, to remind us that nothing good happened here before the Boomtown Rats.

He doesnt disappoint in Ballroom Blitz (RTE One; Wednesday, 9:35pm, and RTE Player).

But when a proper musical giant like U2 bass-player Adam Clayton is interested in showband music, its worth paying attention.

Clayton is the secret sauce in part one of this two-part documentary.

Otherwise, Ballroom Blitz would be just another show about the rise and fall of showbands acts in 1960s Ireland. Weve all seen that before.

But his presence, gliding from interview to interview in his nice car, is more than enough to pique an interest.

Claytons polished manner and super-rich tan seem out of place discussing Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep with a guitarist from the Miami Showband.

But he makes a connection because unlike someone else we could mention in U2, Clayton is an out-and-out musician.

Bob Geldof acknowledges that a lot of the showbands were good musicians, but they were wasted musicians, because they werent in the Boomtown Rats.

OK, he didnt say that last bit, but he couldnt hide is disbelief that people liked showband acts.

Maybe its because showbands chose to give people a good time, rather than telling them they lived in a Banana Republic.

Look, it takes all sorts. And the all-sorts in the showbands were more interested in making a solid living than changing the world. If that meant compromise, then Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep.

Paul Brady and Adam Clayton in Ballroom Blitz

The show mixes archive and contemporary footage with the showband stars. There are a few pearls here.

Dickie Rock comes across focused and ruthless, forming his own band because he was on the same pay as other band members in his original outfit.

Linda Martin is live from her new role in a dog sanctuary. She is still great value, eyes popping as she talked about sweeping the floor of a dressing room in the West of Ireland before going on.

I enjoyed Eileen Reid, still amazed that she went to Number One in 1964.

And of course the secret law concerning Bob Geldof also decrees you cant have a documentary about modern Ireland without Diarmuid Ferriter, so he is all over the historical context. (Fintan OToole mustnt have been available.)

But the best bits are the archive footage of Irish people freaking out because its the 1960s.

Set-dancing and ballroom dancing were what your parents did  the showbands were sweaty and sexy.

There is a great image of Jimmy Swarbrigg lying on stage while a gang of young women pretend to tear the pants off him. It looked like fun.

Ballroom Blitz airs Wednesday at 9.35pm on RTE One
The WillowWarm Schools Christmas Competition is back, offering primary schools across Ireland a chance to win a book reading with Ryan Tubridy, one tonne of WillowWarm briquettes for the winning teacher, and a cash prize of 1,000 for the winning school.

To enter, classes are asked to show what their school is doing to be sustainable.

This could be a short story, illustration, photo, or video.

Entries can be emailed to Competitions@WillowWarm.ie and must contain details including each childs name, class and school, as well as an email address and mobile phone number.

The closing date of entry is noon on Wednesday, December 4, and full details are available from willowwarm.ie

Whooping cough vaccine

The Irish College of GPs is urging parents of young children to get their babies vaccinated against whooping cough.

Also known as pertussis, this highly contagious respiratory tract infection can seriously impact a babys health.

Among all babies hospitalised with the infection, more than half require intensive care.

Cases are increasing in Ireland. As of November 3, some 551 cases had been reported  compared to 18 for 2023.

About one-fifth of these were children under the age of five.

The Irish College of GPs wants parents to know that preventing children from catching whooping cough is possible.

By getting the whooping cough vaccination during pregnancy, mothers can protect newborns until they are fully vaccinated at six months.

Christmas Jumper Day

Irish rugby star Rob Kearney has launched Christmas Jumper Day 2024, a Childrens Health Foundation fundraising initiative.

Hes calling on schools, workplaces, clubs, and organisations across Ireland to host their own Christmas Jumper Days and raise money to support sick children.

All they need to do is sign up at childrenshealth.ie/christmas-jumper-day.

They will then be sent a pack that includes posters, stickers, and other publicity materials.

Its up to them and their friends or colleagues to wear their most festive jumpers and give what they can to help fund life-saving equipment and care for the young patients attending Crumlin, Temple St, Tallaght, and Connolly hospitals.

Written by Dublin-based Elayne Heaney, Fifi Flurry and the Sleepy Snowflake introduces us to a snow flurry called Fifi  who is the mother of a family of unique snowflakes.

Meet mum to all the snowflakes

The latest addition to the Wonderfully Weathery book series is perfect for cuddling up with this winter.

Written by Dublin-based Elayne Heaney, Fifi Flurry and the Sleepy Snowflake introduces us to a snow flurry called Fifi  who is the mother of a family of unique snowflakes.

With its colourful pictures and charming rhymes, this book is a lovely way of teaching young children about snow and the chilly weather we often have at this time of year.

Its available from wonderfullyweatherybooks.com for 10 and is suitable for children aged three to six.

The Wellbeing Kit for Kids

Wellbeing kits for kids

Lynn Agnew has been a counsellor and psychotherapist for over 15 years and is the proud mum of three grown children.

She draws on both experiences in My TalkHere, a range of accessible and interactive wellbeing kits for young people.

Designed for children aged five to nine, these kits feature printable worksheets, games, projects, and activities they can complete alone or with their families.

Everything is colourfully illustrated, and theres also audio content to encourage a deeper sense of calm and focus.

Agnew hopes her kits will teach children to trust their inner voice, respect and value themselves, and manage their emotions.

She does this by covering topics such as mindfulness, affirmations, communication skills, how to cope with anxiety, building confidence and self-esteem, self-awareness, and more.

The kits are available from mytalkhere.com, with prices starting from 12.
An Irish citizen present on a yacht which sank off the Egyptian coast on Monday morning is safe and in direct contact with the Irish authorities.

The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Tuesday afternoon it was in direct contact with the citizen concerned and is providing consular assistance.
An elderly Cork vet who was convicted of a number of offences over an altercation in Bantry has had conditions attached to his registration by the High Court.

Alexander Hamilton who is in his late 70s, the High Court heard, was involved in a dispute with another elderly man at a filling station in Bantry four years ago and there was also a 40km drive in the Dunmanway direction.

Solicitor for the Veterinary Council of Ireland, JP McDowell of Fieldfisher solicitors, told the court Mr Hamilton was later convicted for assault, and also drink driving and was found to be four times over the legal limit.

The matter later came before the Veterinary Council and allegations of professional misconduct in relation to the filling station incident were considered by the Fitness to Practise Committee.

The court heard the committee suggested censure but the Veterinary Council decided that this was inadequate and certain conditions should be attached to Mr Hamiltons registration.

'Two grumpy old men'

Mr Justice Barniville at one stage remarked in relation to the Bantry filling station incident that it looked like there was more in the background and it involved two grumpy old men, though he said that probably was an unfair description.

Mr Hamilton of Bantry had in 2022 been fined at Bantry District Court 1,000 for using threatening words during the incident at the filling station in December 2020 and a further 1,000 for drink driving. He was also sentenced to 60 days in relation to the assault, but this was suspended for two years.

Mr McDowell said at the Fitness to Practise inquiry Mr Hamilton admitted the allegations which were found to amount to professional misconduct.

A number of mitigating factors were considered including the admission of the facts by Mr Hamilton, his previous clean disciplinary record and his regret on the matter.

The Fitness to Practise Committee recommended censure but the court heard the Veterinary Council decided on certain conditions, including that Mr Hamilton abstain from the consumption of alcohol and submit to a regime of testing with quarterly reports back to the council with a review after two years.

The court heard Mr Hamilton has abstained from alcohol since the filling station incident.

Judge's ruling

Mr Justice Barniville said he initially had misgivings in relation to the leniency of the sanction. He said one of the options was to send the matter back to the Veterinary Council.

However, he was taking into account that the vet was now a man in his late 70s and if the court remitted the matter back for further consideration by the Veterinary Council there would have to be a further hearing. He also noted the filling station incident had taken place four years ago.

The judge said he was just about persuaded not to send the case back to the Veterinary Council. Mr Justice Barniville said he was satisfied he should confirm the decision of the Veterinary Council and not send the matter back for further hearing.
People in west Clare feel like they live in a death zone, a heated meeting in Ennis on the impact of overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) has heard.

Academic and researcher Sinead Madden, who hosted the event, presented her research on bed capacity in the area. She said that by increasing bed numbers in Ennis and Nenagh hospitals the HSE could reduce UHLs ED [emergency department] burden by over 38,000 annual attendees.

A review by health watchdog Hiqa is assessing whether a second ED is needed in the region.

However, Ms Madden described this as average, saying: I seriously dont think average is going to fix the Midwest.

She shared data showing in contrast that a best in class outcome would be three additional EDs to give the region four EDs.

She argued a new hospital in Ennis would bring in hundreds of new staff who would require housing, and be supported by expanded primary care services. She also suggested boosting services in west Clare.

At a population level, county Clare requires 402 beds, with 50 existing and 48 planned, requiring 302 unplanned acute beds, the study showed.

Ennis residents Brian Coughlan and his wife Debbie attended, saying they retired to Ennis recently from Limerick.

Mr Coughlan said: I was in UHL recently for a week and a half, and my wife was going in and out to me every day.

So to have that facility here instead or at least an emergency service in a situation like that would be vital for the area.

Ms Coughlan said: Its been frustrating to watch all the government reports saying oh were building more beds. UHL gave him good care once he got in, but the volume of what is going on there is unreal. I was terrified he would end up on a trolley but he didnt.

Martin and Marie Minogue came from Whitegate to the meeting at Traceys West County Hotel.

You cant pull the wool over peoples eyes anymore, theyre listening, said Mr Minogue. Its the people who put you in and you have to stand by them.

A number of speakers noted the calls from the Midwest Hospital Campaign for three EDs to be reopened including also Nenagh and St Johns hospitals.

Ms Maddens study highlighted a 145-bed shortfall for north Tipperary as it needs 221 beds with only 52 available and 24 planned for Nenagh. The pace of potential reform was also discussed, with speakers critical of how long it is taking to build the national childrens hospital.

Others said as the Hiqa review will not be published until next summer, the programme for a new government cannot take account of it.

Fianna Fail councillor Rita McInerney supported calls to expand services in west and north Clare due to how remote this area is. She said:

It is heartbreaking to hear people say we live in the death zone and they do say that in west Clare.

Fine Gael candidate Tom Nolan said at least two urgent care units are needed for the county in the short term to address the gaps now especially in the remote and isolated areas.

Fianna Fail TD Cathal Crowe said it is inevitable Hiqa will recommend a new hospital and committed to supporting this.

There were calls for Ms Maddens presentation to be taken into account by Hiqa when it is working through what is the best model.

Angela Coll from the Friends of Ennis Hospital advocacy group said: What were hoping to hear from the politicians is that they all support the idea of having an ED in Clare for the people of Clare.
Co Clare has been named as one of the best places to travel to in Europe in 2025 by Conde Nast Traveler.

Famous for the Cliffs of Moher, and now All-Ireland winning hurlers, Co Clare was praised for its eco-conscious stays and a celebration of traditional crafts".

The Banner county has appeared alongside the likes of Geneva, Marseille, and Vienna to name but a few, on the publication's Best Places to Go in Europe in 2025 list.

The list, which was compiled by Conde Nast editors with help from expert contributors from all four corners of the globe features spots that are making waves on the continent right now".

According to the team, these 11 destinations are worthy of your precious annual leave and hard-earned spending money". They also believe that these locations are on the up and deserving of your time and attention next year".

On the list, Grainne McBride describes The Banner county as the home of traditional Irish music, and an inspiring example of ecotourism along Irelands Wild Atlantic Way.

The Burren National Park receives special recognition for its 'lunar-like landscape'.

The Burren National Park receives special recognition for its lunar-like landscape, while leave-no-trace fossil discovery walks and tours, hosted by marine biologist, Cormac McGinley, also get a mention.

The walks and tours manage to take in the coastal countys sea caves, ancient middens, and colour-popping anemones".

The Common Knowledge Centre also features as an incubator for sustainable living". The centre, which is set on 50 acres of native forests and regenerative farmland, allows guests to learn the lost arts of dry-stone wall building and willow weaving, while also being fed organic menus".

Sticking with food, the village of Doolin is highlighted, and Homestead Cottage, where Michelin-star dining is served within rustic 200-year-old walls is noted as another champion of Clares rugged coast".

When it comes to accommodation, the breezy surf-style escape Armada Hotel gets the nod. It was the first hotel in the country given B Corp status for its environmental efforts.

Gregans Country Castle, where J.R.R Tolkien was once a guest, is also included as a luxury eco hideaway". It was credited for donating a plot of land near its vegetable garden to the Burren Pine Project in order to help restore a lost tree species to Irelands native flora".

All this and youre still never far from a toe-tapping ceili and the craic, Ms McBride concluded.

Read More Two Irish hotels pick up top honours in new Michelin Keys award

Here is the list of Conde Nast Travellers Best Places to Go in Europe in 2025
Local authority water workers have delivered over 1,000 signatures to the Tanaistes constituency office calling on him to fulfil a government pledge to hold a referendum on keeping water in public ownership.

The signatures, gathered as part of the Keep Water Public - Name The Date postcard campaign, supported by Siptu, Unite, Forsa, Connect and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, were handed in to Micheal Martin's office in Turner's Cross, on the southside of Cork City, on Tuesday.

Mr Martin was canvassing in Dublin at the time.

We are not anti-Irish Water," Unite workplace representative John Mullins said. "In fact, a single national water utility, in principle, is a good idea.

The problem we have is the way Irish Water is being governed and managed and the waste of taxpayers money through the outsourcing of work to private contractors at enormous cost.

People have been giving out about the spending on the Dail bike shed, and the children's hospital but nobody is talking about what the government is giving to Irish Water to give to private contractors."

He said local authority water workers have been seeking guarantees for over a decade, since Irish Water was set up, on their public sector terms and conditions before they agree to transfer over to Irish Water, and those guarantees have not been forthcoming.

Security over the future public ownership of Irish Water would mean our future, our terms and conditions, would be secured," he said. And Irish Water would be gaining a vastly experienced workforce, with decades of knowledge.

There have been demands for a referendum to guarantee that the States water service remains in public ownership ever since Irish Water was set up in 2013.

It has been a red-line issue for the 3,000 water service workers still based in local authorities who want this referendum held before they agree to transfer over to working for Irish Water.

Mr Mullins said many of them fear that without a referendum Irish Water could be privatised in the future, and that the workers could lose their public sector terms and conditions.

If a referendum was held and passed, I would be one of the first to transfer over to Irish Water, he said.

Workers' Party Cllr Ted Tynan and Solidarity TD for Cork North Central, Mick Barry, backed the workers call for a referendum to keep water in public ownership.

Mr Barry said: Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are strong supporters of the privatisation of water services. We saw that here in Cork with the commissioning of a private company to design, build and operate the new Lee Road waterworks.

I think the general public have had their say on whether they think that move was a success or not. I don't want to see any further such privatisations and I support the call for a date to be set for a referendum to keep water in public ownership.
Renters are living in fear of a notice of termination and the next government needs to tackle tenancy rights as a priority, the chief executive of the housing charity Threshold has said.

There are around 330,000 renters in Ireland, with many tenants living with a lack of security of the future of their homes.

Threshold chief executive John-Mark McCafferty said: We know that the best way to keep people from losing their homes is to support renters.

We work tirelessly, resolving tenancy problems, to keep people in their homes and out of homelessness.

Lack of supply in the market, and the lack of affordable homes for middle and low income earners are the main issues. These things are getting worse while the level of demand in the private rental sector continues to grow.

We have adult children in their parents homes, even parents with children living in the grandparents homes.

Small landlords are selling up. A tenant can lose their rented home when they receive a notice of termination based on intention to sell.

Mr McCafferty said Threshold praised the tenant-in-situ scheme which allows local authorities to buy properties where tenants are facing eviction when the landlord is selling but said many problems persist in the sector.

Similarly, cost-rental schemes, created under the Affordable Housing Act 2021, offer a longer term, secure option, with rents based on the cost of building, managing, and maintaining the homes.

They are a welcome development but we need more supply of homes, he said.

Thresholds latest annual report highlighted how the new government needs to develop a strategy for the private rental sector.

It showed almost 4,000 households that sought assistance from Threshold last year were prevented from entering homeless services.

John Mark McCafferty, CEO of Threshold, wants to see a Deposit Protection Scheme for renters.

Threshold calls for dedicated private rental strategy

For the new government, Threshold is calling for a dedicated private rental strategy, including a Deposit Protection Scheme and Rent Register.

It is essential that commitment is given by a new government and all future governments to increase social and cost rental to 20% of all housing stock, he added.

While it is not the only issue facing the sector, if you do address supply that does help with other things.

With the deposit protection scheme we would hope the deposit could go to another account held by a third party where it can be retrieved.

Most landlords are small, and it goes into their pocket and there was legislation in 2015 around this that wasnt commenced so we need to redraft that.

We need a rent register. We have a register that reveals the cost associated with selling houses, but we dont have one which relates to rents.

We are being told that it is a data protection issue, but I cant see how, when there is no data protection issues for a house purchase.

In terms of rental accommodation, people are spending more of their lives in the private rental area, having families, ageing, and these are people who have a wide range of incomes.

The idea that rented properties are a place where students live for four years is over.

We need to get serious about the rental sector.

People are losing their homes. Families are losing their homes because of a notice of termination, and we are trying to save those homes. Sometimes the notice isnt compliant and they have to go and do it again.

We can try and halt a notice period if it is done incorrectly.

We make sure people have access to their notice period if they are going to lose their tenancy. They often have more time than they think to try and find alternative accommodation and because of the lack of supply, they do need more time.

But most of all, Mr McCafferty said, renters live in fear of tenancy termination and its having a chilling effect.

We are trying to offer advice and protective services and to assist people. That is what we can do, but this needs proper intervention by our new government.
I am a seasoned renter. I have been a rental tenant since I finished college about seven years ago  which, to some, might sound like a badge of honour, but in reality, its more of a battle wound.

My most recent experience of renting in Ireland was with a friend in an apartment in Cork City, but we were inevitably served our notice to quit in August 2023, meaning we had to vacate by last March.

There was no bad blood between the owner and us  he wasnt one of these big-time landlords we often think of in these scenarios and there were a number of expenses piling up for him with the apartment, which meant the property was no longer a viable business for him.

But while the parting was civil, it didnt make it any easier for us to navigate the rental landscape.

We scoured Daft.ie every day, trying to stay within our budget (around 1,300 or so  which is quite generous), but every inquiry went unanswered, or properties were being snapped up straight away.

Yes, we knew if we split up and each tried to find a room in different houses, we probably would have found a place faster, but we were both at a stage in our lives where sharing a house with four or five others just doesnt appeal to us  and it shouldnt be a case that we make ourselves unhappy by placing ourselves in that situation.

I was incredibly lucky that my job could accommodate remote working, meaning I could go back to my family home in Kerry while I found a solution.

Others dont have that option.

I see posts on Facebook community groups every day: Couples looking for a place to live with their children; some with a baby on the way; or others might have a pet which is putting them at a disadvantage.

Renters are desperate, and completely at the mercy of landlords.

In my case, the only solution I could come up with was to save as much money as I could, get a deposit together, and try to buy a place.

It no longer made sense to be spending so much on rent when, for a little bit more, I could own somewhere. But even after saving a decent chunk of money, there are very few properties in Ireland nowadays that a single-person mortgage would cover.

This was one of the main reasons that I opted out of the Irish housing market completely and, like many more my age, headed for sunnier shores.

Power imbalance

There are many issues when it comes to renting in Ireland. One is that landlords have what seems like an unfair amount of power. Some tenants are afraid to ask for basic necessities and repairs in their home because they dont want to rock the boat too much for fear that the owner decides its not worth the hassle and issues a notice to quit.

Some renters get a horrible gut-wrenching feeling in their stomach on seeing their landlords number pop up on their phone: What if this is it? What if he/she is selling?

What if I dont get my deposit back? Where am I supposed to go next?

Thats not a pleasant situation to be in, no matter who you are, what job you have, or what your circumstances are. That sort of insecurity is not right.

And I understand that most countries have issues with housing, but we could learn a lot by looking at the likes of Belgium, where short-term rental contracts can span from six months to three years (the long-term contracts can go up to nine years). In the Netherlands, rental contracts are indefinite, meaning there is no end date and the landlord cannot evict the tenant unless there are certain legal grounds.

These longer-term options offer a lot of financial security for the property owner, too, as they are assured of that income in the long term.

As well as these measures, a rent freeze and no-fault eviction ban also need to be considered. Tenants can no longer afford for their rent to increase, nor can they afford to lose the roof over their heads.

Supply and demand

The housing crisis in Ireland comes back to the old adage of supply and demand. At the time of writing, there are 68 properties available to rent in Cork City on Daft.ie  one being a house in Ballinlough for 8,146/month  but there are 124 entire places available on Airbnb in the same area. (Lest we forget, Airbnb was originally founded so travellers could rent someones spare bed for a nominal fee.)

Throwing out attention-grabbing figures like 303,000 new homes is all well and good  but we need to look at what is already built. With that in mind, I urge the next government to get a handle on vacant houses in Ireland.

While I do understand that there are some legitimate reasons for vacant or derelict properties, the very least that could be done is set up a taskforce in each local authority to make contact with the owners to find out what is the reason for the vacancy and go from there. As well as that, encouraging and revising the repair and leasing scheme would go a long way in bringing more properties back into supply.

In France, there is a similar and successful model whereby a purchaser can renovate a vacant home, hand over the keys to a social landlord, rent it for 10 years or so, and in return they will get some form of tax relief.

Compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) would also be a huge boost for housing supply in Ireland.

Recently in Cork it was a rollercoaster of bureaucratic nightmares when it came to the unsightly buildings at 62-65 North Main St, which the council acquired by CPO but legal difficulties prevented the sale of the buildings. Not only do these empty buildings continue to be an eyesore, but ensuring they are safe is another concern and expense.

If a semi-state construction company were to be established, it would go yards in refurbishing vacants properties like those into liveable social homes.

To our next government: Please stop seeing the rental housing sector as a lucrative business to profit from. According to Maslows hierarchy of needs, shelter is a basic physiological need, and we need our government to see it as so. We have recently come into a pocket of 14bn: Lets stop waiting for a rainy day. Its pouring, and tokenistic efforts such as grants, schemes, and credits  while Im sure are appreciated by the few who can obtain them  only go so far.

Please, dont allow yourselves to look back on this time in years to come, and let our housing crisis be the great let-down of yesteryear.
I know I should really write about the election this morning, but I cant. I did write extensively about disability in the election context a short time ago.

And I have to say that Im really glad that the Taoiseachs gaffe and apology have focused a lot of attention on the subject in the last week of the campaign. He and all his colleagues know what needs to be done, and we can all live in hope that its not forgotten after Friday.

But I have to write about courage this week, because courage is all I have been able to think about for the last few days. The thoughts Ive been having are a mixture of inspiration, admiration, hope, and despair. I want Nikita Hands unbelievable courage to make a profound and lasting difference. I hope beyond hope that it will. I despair that it mightnt.

You know, Im not even sure what courage is. I know Ive never been particularly courageous, certainly not in a physical way. It might come as a surprise to people who know me, but I hate confrontation of any kind. On the other hand, Ive always believed that there are moments of clarity in your life, when you know what the right thing to do is, and you believe you have no choice but to do it, even though the consequences might be horrendous. That might be a working definition of courage, I guess.

That courage was so visible in everything Nikita Hand did. You could reach out and touch her courage. For six years after a night she will never forget, she fought for justice. She failed and failed again. Two attempts to secure a criminal trial were rebuffed, and eventually she was left with no alternative but to take on a rich and powerful man, a man with no guilt or shame, in a civil court. And to do so in the knowledge that if she lost she would be utterly destroyed.

Then things started to happen. We still dont know all the details, but there is no doubt that gross intimidation surrounded that civil action from the very beginning. Nikita was forced to lay her intimate life bare in the courtroom, under a direct and pretty merciless cross-examination. She was forced to live through a story about herself, in front of her entire family, that was designed to shame her as much as was humanly possible.

She was supported, of course, by friends and family. (Full disclosure: I should add here that I work on a voluntary basis with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, and I am prouder than I can say of the professionalism, empathy and, yes, courage our colleagues showed in standing by Nikitas side day after gruelling day.) But when youre looking into the eyes of a highly-skilled barrister, whose job is to reveal everything bad he can find about you, when you know it is going to last for three or four intensely painful days, in those moments you are alone. And terrified.

I think the prospect, never mind the reality, would have broken me. But it didnt break her. Hard as it must have been, she told the truth. And the truth, because of her courage, was believed. Nikita Hand may have walked into that court a victim. She came out of it a hero. I hope she knows that by an odd coincidence there was a fundraising event for the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre going on in a Dublin hotel at the moment the verdict came through. The verdict  and Nikita in her absence  were both greeted with a sustained standing ovation.

But her case is yet another example of how hard it is to once and for all break through the veil of misogyny that surrounds the issue of consent, and indeed any assault against a woman. Its not a veil, actually, its a brick wall.

Its only a few months since I wrote here about Natasha OBrien, who was beaten on a street in Limerick by a soldier. She had tried to stop him shouting homophobic abuse. He beat her unconscious, then boasted about it, and was then given a suspended sentence to protect his career in the army. If she had shut up that would have been the end of that.

Natasha OBrien, the victim of a serious assault by a then serving soldier in Limerick.

But she didnt. Instead she made herself a champion for people everywhere fighting against misogynistic violence. I had a chance to meet her very briefly and to thank her for her courage. Long, I hope, may she continue to speak out. And more important, long may she be heard.

Its not that long ago in Ireland that women had no choice but to remain silent. That was the law. If a woman was attacked in this country and savagely raped, her identity would never be revealed. Its 30 years now since Lavinia Kerwick was raped, and her rapist walked free after a suspended sentence was imposed.

Rape survivor Lavinia Kerwick.

Lavinia was forced to sit in silence in the court as glowing testimonials were given to the man who had raped her. We should never have heard of her, because in those days the names of women who had been sexually assaulted were never released by the courts. To protect the women, it was said, but also, as it happens, to ensure their silence.

Lavinia Kerwick changed all that by taking her courage in her hands and insisting on her right to be heard by abandoning the anonymity the courts had bestowed on her. Her courage changed everything for a lot of women, even though it didnt change enough. And her fragile health has paid a heavy price ever since.

Louise OKeeffe paid a heavy price too. Abused as a child by a teacher paid by the State, she fought for years and years, eventually being forced to go to Europe, for justice and redress. And the State, our heartless State, fought her back, even demanding tens of thousands in legal fees from her  even though the teacher who abused her ended up in jail.

There is Grace, an abused woman with intellectual disabilities, (and there are others alongside Grace) still waiting for justice through a never-ending Commission of Enquiry that has cost millions of euro and produced nothing except a good living for lots of lawyers. There are the Women of Honour in the Irish Defence Forces, still campaigning for the truth and for justice with no end in sight.

The thing they all have in common is this. Courage. Endless courage. The willingness to see the thing that has to be done, and the determination to fight on to see it done, whatever the cost to them.

Over my lifetime in this newspaper, Ive written about all of them. In common with many others, Ive tried to highlight their courage. In admiration and despair.

Because after it all  and in the certain knowledge there will be more to be written  Im left with only questions. Why? Why is abuse tolerated? Why is consent ignored? Why must we rely on the courage of brave and often alone women to speak out? Why are we so incapable of learning?
Just days from the country going to the polls, housing and the soaring cost of living rightly remain at the forefront of voters' concerns.

Household energy bills have not returned to pre-covid levels, and again those on the lowest incomes and in the least-insulated homes remain the most exposed to the colder weather. The current cold spell is very difficult for thousands of families around the country.

This election presents a critical opportunity for the next government to address energy poverty comprehensively, ensuring everyone can live in warm homes while ensuring a fair transition away from fossil fuels.

The current government has allocated record levels of funding to home retrofitting.

It is heartening to see further commitments across almost all party manifestos to target retrofit financing for low-income households, to establish a Community Energy Advice Service in every county, expand the Fuel Allowance, and introduce a dedicated retrofit scheme for rural households reliant on oil and solid fuel.

All of these commitments are welcome, but there is a glaring omission  renters are being left behind. Renters constitute a significant portion of our population with approximately one-in-five households in Ireland in the private rental sector.

The next programme for the Government must ensure that all people in Ireland can live in warm, energy-efficient homes with low energy bills that are not reliant on polluting fossil fuels. File photo

Yet, they have limited access to retrofitting schemes that would improve the energy efficiency and quality of their homes. This isn't just a climate issue; it's a matter of human rights, social protection, and adequate housing.

Energy deprivation, or not being able to meet your basic energy needs, disproportionately affects renters, many of whom live in older, poorly insulated properties with higher energy costs. In 2023, 36% of renters were living in enforced deprivation, unable to afford basic essentials, like nutritious food, adequate heating, or suitable clothing.

Recent statistics from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) paint a stark picture. One in four domestic gas customers are now in arrears, and one in eight households are behind on their electricity bills. These figures underscore the urgent need for inclusive policies that address the root causes of energy poverty  inadequate income, high energy costs, and inefficient housing.

Renters, who often have little control over the energy efficiency of their homes, are particularly vulnerable. They face the double burden of high energy bills and inadequate living conditions, which can have severe health implications.

Children living in cold homes are more than twice as likely to suffer from respiratory conditions, and adults are twice as likely to experience mental health problems.

Retrofitting homes  making them energy-efficient  is one of the most effective ways to reduce carbon emissions, lower energy bills, and improve quality of life. A retrofit strategy that doesnt reach everyone establishes a two-tier energy system, further widening the gap between those who can adopt renewable technologies and those who cannot.

Current measures like expanding retrofit funding and establishing energy advice services are steps in the right direction, however they largely benefit homeowners. Renters, on the other hand, remain locked out of most schemes due to barriers such as lack of landlord incentives and fear of rent hikes or eviction due to renovations.

Friends of the Earth alongside a broad network of civil society organisations, including The Society of St Vincent de Paul, Age Action, the Disability Foundation, and Social Justice Ireland, have joined forces to advocate for transformative action in the next Programme for Government to eradicate energy poverty and ensure a just transition away from fossil fuels for all.

At the heart of our joint priorities is the imperative to include renters in climate action and energy efficiency initiatives.

To ensure renters can access energy efficiency initiatives we need to see the delivery of minimum Building Energy Rating (BER) standards for rental properties promised in the Housing for All strategy. These standards are essential for addressing inefficient housing on a phased basis, starting with the leakiest, least-efficient first.

And vitally, to protect tenants, any new standards must include strict safeguards against evictions and rent hikes, and proper resources allocated to enforcing compliance and supporting landlords to undertake improvements with tenants in-situ.

Retrofitting homes  making them energy-efficient  is one of the most effective ways to reduce carbon emissions, lower energy bills, and improve quality of life. File picture

By focusing on these areas, the next government can ensure that renters are not sidelined in climate action efforts. Energy efficiency and the right to a warm, safe home should not be privileges limited to homeowners  they must be accessible to all, regardless of tenure status.

The housing crisis, climate crisis, and cost-of-living pressures demand comprehensive solutions that address the needs of every segment of society  an energy transition that leaves no one behind.

The next programme for the Government must ensure that all people in Ireland can live in warm, energy-efficient homes with low energy bills that are not reliant on polluting fossil fuels.

By including renters in energy efficiency schemes and protecting their rights, we can take significant strides toward ending energy poverty, reducing emissions, and fostering a healthier and fairer society.

Read More Election 2024: Labour tops climate action rankings in party manifestos
Throughout the 2024 local election, one storyline seemed to encapsulate much of the mood of the public  the rise of the independents.

Overall, they took over 200 seats in some guise in the local elections, accounting for nearly one in four first preferences.

That trend hasn't really slowed down in the subsequent polling with independents and others operating in the mid to high teens or low twenties for much of the recent weeks. It is likely that independents will have a large say in the make-up of the next Dail and will potentially hold a strong hand whenever the programme for government is negotiated.

Here are some of those who will be worth watching this weekend.

Mick Wallace/Verona Murphy (Wexford)

Mick Wallace is back. The former TD and MEP lost his European seat in June, but is looking to regain the seat in Wexford he vacated in 2019. The vacation of that seat led to the 2019 by-election, which propelled Verona Murphy into the national headlines.

During that campaign, Ms Murphy said that asylum seekers who come to Ireland need to be deprogrammed as they may have been influenced by Islamic State, comments for which she was subsequently dropped from the Fine Gael ticket for the 2020 general election.

Verona Murphy has become an outspoken member of the Dail Public Accounts Committee and saw five independents she backed in the locals elected to the council. Photo: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos

In that election, Ms Murphy took 7.8% of the vote and held off Fianna Fail's Malcolm Byrne  who had beaten her in the previous November's by-election  to take a seat. Since then, she has become an outspoken member of the Dail Public Accounts Committee and saw five independents she backed in the locals elected to the council.

With one seat fewer  north Wexford has been hived off to make the Wicklow-Wexford constituency  this could be a battle for one seat or both could be elected.

Clare Daly (Dublin Central)

Mr Wallace's fellow former MEP Ms Daly has opted to leave her Dublin Fingal base and run in Dublin Central. Ms Daly said she had been approached by local activists in a bid to continue the constituency's long independent tradition  the home of Tony Gregory and Maureen O'Sullivan is currently home to no independents.

Ms Daly served as a TD for eight years from 2011 to 2019 before being elected to the European Parliament in 2019. She lost her seat in that parliament in June's elections.

Clare Daly has opted to leave her Dublin Fingal base and run in Dublin Central. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

In a statement, Ms Daly said that after 25 years as a public representative in North Dublin  at local, national, and European level  she had "thought long and hard about whether to contest the next general election".

She has rarely been a quiet participant in parliament and her return would provide whomever makes up the government with a frequent and vocal critic.

Noel French (Meath West)

A former Fine Gael councillor, Mr French ran as an independent in June's elections and received over 4,000 votes in the Trim area. He is attempting to fill the seat vacated by the resignation of his former running-mate Damien English.

Mr English decided to leave politics earlier this year, one of 18 Fine Gael TDs not contesting this time, and Mr French's entry into the race creates an interesting dynamic with his former party's candidate, Linda Nelson Murray.

Were he able to hold his vote in Trim and attract votes from the likes of Navan, he would be in a position to get close to the 5,400 first preferences that Mr English achieved in 2020. However, the constituency has never elected an independent since its formation in 2007.

Kevin 'Boxer' Moran (Longford-Westmeath)

The former junior minister could be set to pull off a political comeback, having lost his seat in 2020.

Kevin Boxer Moran is strongly positioned to win back his seat.

He had left the Independent Alliance following a number of reported spats with Shane Ross ahead of the election in 2020.

Having picked up 3,800 first preferences in the Athlone electoral area in June, he is strongly positioned to win back his seat.

Kevin Callan (Louth)

Another former Fine Gael representative, Mr Callan left Fine Gael in 2014 in protest at the proposals around water charges. At the time, he was mayor of Drogheda, a position he has held three times.

He contested the 2016 general election as a member of the Independent Alliance, taking 5.2% of the county's vote and was re-elected to the council in 2024 with 11.8% of Drogheda's vote.

The five-seat Louth constituency is already finely balanced given that three sitting TDs  Sinn Fein's Imelda Munster, Fine Gael's Fergus O'Dowd and independent Peter Fitzpatrick  are not running again. Local wisdom suggests that Sinn Fein should hold on to Ms Munster's seat, but the other two are up for grabs, with Mr Callan a strong possibility.

Gillian Toole (Meath East)

Another former Fine Gaeler, Ms Toole quit the party in 2019 to run as an independent for the council, winning 15.7% of the vote in Ratoath, taking over 3,100 votes in June  nearly two quotas.

Her campaign was launched by senator Sharon Keogan and a number of independent councillors, something of a mirror of Ms Murphy's alliance in Wexford, which many independents see as a replicable template.

The constituency has an extra seat this time around and while the three biggest parties would hope to add their second candidates to sitting TDs Thomas Byrne, Helen McEntee and Darren O'Rourke, the fourth seat could come down to Ms Toole and Aontu's Emer Toibin, sister of party leader Peadar.

Brian Stanley (Laois)

Mr Stanley resigned from Sinn Fein last month amid a bitter dispute over an internal party investigation into a complaint made against the Laois TD. He described the investigation into his conduct as a kangaroo court, with the party later handing the draft report to Gardai over the allegations made against him.

Brian Stanley is widely tipped to keep his seat, saying that further investment in Laois hospital was a priority, alongside speeding up the Portarlington and Mountmellick flood relief schemes. Photo: Eamonn Farrell/ RollingNews.ie

The draft report itself had made a finding of gross misconduct against Mr Stanley, concluding that his actions constituted sexual harassment after the complaint was made by a woman following a meeting with the Laois TD in October 2023.

He announced in October he would run as an independent candidate and is widely tipped to keep his seat, saying that further investment in Laois hospital was a priority, alongside speeding up the Portarlington and Mountmellick flood relief schemes.

John Lyons/Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North)

Dublin Bay North, the expansive constituency that covers much of the city's northside, has three TDs elected in 2020 who will not be running. Sean Haughey of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael's Richard Bruton have opted to retire, while Aodhan O Riordain of Labour was elected to Europe.

While Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are confident of holding seats, the fifth seat could go anywhere, with both Mr Lyons and Mr Heneghan tipped. Mr Lyons topped the poll in Artane-Whitehall and his volunteer-driven campaign has high hopes.

Mr Heneghan is another popular independent who bagged 2,452 votes in Clontarf in June and has the backing of former junior minister and local independent Finian McGrath. His social media videos, featuring an ear-worm of a campaign song, have seen his reach go beyond the constituency.
Angela Merkel was notoriously discreet and privacy-conscious as Germanys chancellor, rarely veering off message during her 16 years in office.

In her eagerly anticipated political autobiography Freedom: Memoirs 1954-2021, she has hardly turned into a gossipmonger overnight. But across 721 pages  published on Tuesday in German and English thanks to nine different translators working on chunks of the book simultaneously  there are glimpses of a Merkel previously unseen.

Here are eight things we learned.

Regrets? She has very few

Merkels policies on migration, nuclear energy and Russia have come under severe scrutiny in the three years since she left office. But Freedom is not a book of any major mea culpas.

Her decision to accept more than one million refugees, mostly Syrian, into Germany in 2015 was not a mistake, she says: The opposite is true. Her 2011 policy U-turn on nuclear energy, leading to the phase-out of the countrys remaining reactors, came about because the accident in Fukushima, Japan, changed my perception of risk posed by nuclear energy. She says she wouldnt recommend the use of nuclear in the future either.

Angela Merkel with then British prime minister Boris Johnson in July 2021: Britains vote to leave the European Union in 2016 genuinely shook Merkel: she experienced it as 'a humiliation, a disgrace for us'.

The book presents a number of reasons why she and the then French president, Nicholas Sarkozy, were right to block Ukraine and Georgia from joining Natos membership action plan (Map) in 2008  a decision heavily criticised by Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after Russias 2022 full-scale invasion. With her veto, she says, she was considering not just Ukraines security but also the need to increase the efficacy of Nato as a whole.

... but there are a couple

Britains vote to leave the European Union in 2016 genuinely shook Merkel: she experienced it as a humiliation, a disgrace for us, which left the EU weakened, and she asked herself whether she and other European leaders should have done more to keep Britain in. I was tormented by whether I should have made even more concessions toward the UK, she writes.

Its not a full admission of an error, because she concludes Brexit was a self-inflicted wound that Britains neighbours could have done little to prevent. By promising a referendum to appease the hardliners in his party, she writes, David Cameron put himself in the hands of those who were skeptical about the European Union, and was never able to escape this dependency.

Merkel also corrects her stance on her domestic fiscal policy, even if this too is not exactly phrased as a regret. The debt brake mechanism, which limits Germanys budget deficit to 0.35% of GDP, was enshrined in the constitution during Merkels first term. It was a totemic policy she steadfastly defended for the rest of her reign, in the face of critics who said it was leading to a chronic underinvestment in infrastructure.

But in her memoir, which comes out three weeks after her successor government collapsed over the debt brake question, she breezily suggests the mechanism now needs to be reformed, to allow higher levels of debt to be assumed for the sake of investment in the future. A gift to the next German chancellor, who is likely to hail from her Christian Democratic party, or a poisoned chalice?

Never trust a photograph...

There are many photographs and clips of Merkel in power, but not all are what they seem.

One viral image from 2015 showed an animated Merkel with outstretched arms, talking to a seated Barack Obama, then the US president, on the eve of a G7 summit in the Bavarian Alps.

After Donald Trumps first election victory in 2016, the image seemed to visualise a line of succession, from one leader of the free world to the next. In fact, she says in Freedom, the snapper had caught her discussing something more banal: not the extent of the geopolitical task on her hands, but the size of an extra-large wicker chair she had squeezed into for a photo opportunity at a previous summit.

 or a video

One video clip was frequently shared not by her admirers but her critics on the far right: filmed on the eve of federal elections in 2013, it shows a stern-looking Merkel take a German flag out of the hands of Hermann Grohe, the CDU general secretary and later her health minister, and chuck it to the side of the stage.

Angela Merkel with former taoiseach Enda Kenny in 2011.

Far from showing her disdain for patriotism, Merkel writes, she found the flag-waving inappropriate because she believed her party should be humble in victory. Even in our hour of triumph we do not forget that not everyone voted for us, and that there are others who are not so happy.

Another widely shared clip from the early years of her tenure showed the then US president, George W Bush, giving Merkel an impromptu shoulder massage as he entered a G8 summit in St Petersburg in 2008. On camera, her awkward reaction suggested the German leader was far from pleased, but in her telling the footage did not show a sexist infringement: It was a joke that wasnt meant to intimidate or belittle me, she recalls. Bush and I liked and respected each other.

She saw Donald Trump was fascinated by Vladimir Putin (and the pope advised her on how to handle them both)

Unlike Bush, Donald Trump does not elicit sympathy from Merkel. She says she made the mistake of trying to engage with him as if he were someone completely normal. She sees parallels between him and Vladimir Putin, and says Trump is clearly fascinated by the Russian president:

I received the distinct impression he [Trump] was captivated by politicians with autocratic and dictatorial traits.

Both are childlike in their grievances, she says, and both try to embarrass her in front of the press  Putin once apparently tried to intimidate her with his Labrador, Konni, and Trump refused to shake her hand.

Merkel tried to take the high ground with both leaders, letting the provocations wash over her and focusing on joint interests, which mostly meant trade. She cites advice given her by Pope Francis: Bend, bend, and bend some more, but take care it doesnt break.

Its a virtuous strategy, but one which did not stop Trump from cancelling the USs participation in the Paris climate agreement, nor Putin from invading Ukraine shortly after she left office.

She felt a lot more patronised by westerners than she let on

Since Merkel left office, a debate around continuing economic and cultural discrimination against people from the former East Germany has gone mainstream in Germany  the Leipzig-based literary scholar Dirk Oschmanns polemic The East: A West German Invention and the historian Katja Hoyers book Beyond the Wall were bestsellers in 2023.

That kind of assertiveness is very different to Merkels attitude while she was in power. After she was elected as a member of parliament in 1990, she found it was more difficult than I had expected [] to speak openly to the West German media about ones own life in the GDR.

Russian president Vladimir Putin presents flowers to Angela Merkel during a meeting in the Kremlin in 2021. Picture: Sputnik, Kremlin via AP

Interviews in which she mentioned her participation in Marxism-infused educational programmes in her youth sent journalists scouring archives for covered-up files from her schooldays.

As a result, she spoke little about her East German identity as she rose through the party ranks. Yet it did not mean she was immune to real or perceived slights against her upbringing: Freedom seethes with quiet rage at those who patronised her for implying that having been socialised in a dictatorship meant she couldnt be trusted at the head of reunified Germany.

Shes a feminist (of sorts) after all

Her first senior position may have been as the minister for women and youth in the cabinet of the chancellor Helmut Kohl, but Merkel never leaned into her sex  she was unwilling, she writes, to be defined as part of a group.

As a conservative, she also disagreed with Simone de Beauvoirs illusion that feminism and a socialist vision of the world belonged together. Even as late as 2017, when she was asked, during a podium discussion with Ivanka Trump, whether she considered herself a feminist, she gave a non-answer and threw the question back at the audience. In her memoirs, she is more assertive.

She gives emphatic credit to her most loyal advisers, Beate Baumann and Eva Christiansen, and to female colleagues whose achievements have gone underappreciated, such as the Swiss diplomat Heidi Tagliavini and the former Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaite.

If she were asked if she was a feminist now, she says, she would be (a bit) more unequivocal: Yes, I am a feminist, in my way.

Guardian
From fake images designed to cause fears of an immigrant invasion to other demonisation campaigns targeted at leaders such as Emmanuel Macron, far-right parties and activists across western Europe are at the forefront of the political weaponisation of generative artificial intelligence technology.

This years European parliamentary elections were the launchpad for a roll-out of AI-generated campaigning by the European far right, experts say, which has continued to proliferate since.

This month, the issue reached the independent oversight board of Mark Zuckerbergs Meta when the body opened an investigation into anti-immigration content on Facebook. The inquiry by the oversight board will look at a post from a German account featuring an AI-generated image emblazoned with anti-immigrant rhetoric.

It is part of a wave of AI-made rightwing content on social media networks.

Posts elsewhere from Europes political extremes range from the Italian far rights deployment of photo-realistic images of women and children eating insects to bolster a conspiracy theory about the intentions of a global elite, to Irish far-right images of a police officer stamping on Irelands flag and Islamophobic memes in the immediate aftermath of the Southport knife murders in the UK.

Far-right parties and movements have eschewed the use of any sort of watermarking or identifier on the AI images, according to experts.

The use of the same models and themes and the same approach to presenting and packaging the images on social media platforms has given rise to a common aesthetic across borders, and in the EU and Britain.

In virtually every case, far-right parties and movements have eschewed the use of any sort of watermarking or identifier on the AI images, according to experts.

What we are seeing is the tip of the iceberg because what is coming from individuals and beyond the official channels is even worse, said Salvatore Romano, the head of research at the non-profit AI Forensics, which examined the output of parties including Frances National Rally, Reconquete and Les Patriotes.

William Allchorn, a senior research fellow at Anglia Ruskin University, said the ease of use of AI models was appealing to a political fringe that had shown an attitude of pragmatic opportunism to new technology.

AI lowers the barriers to entry for creating content. You dont need coding skills or anything like that to generate these images. It is also symptomatic of far-right views going mainstream or being normalised, he said, adding that the far right appeared to have fewer moral concerns about AI imagery.

Allchorn said more established political parties appeared warier of using AI in official campaigns: Mainstream actors still have ethical concerns about the effectiveness, authenticity and reliability of these models that far-right or extremist actors are not beholden to.

Germany

The German far-right Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) party and supporters of its anti-immigrant stance have been avid users of AI image generators. The image under scrutiny by Metas content moderation board features a blond-haired, blue-eyed woman holding up her hand in a stop gesture, with a stop sign and German flag in the background.

The text over the image says people should stop coming to Germany because the country does not need more gang-rape specialists due to the Green partys immigration policy.

In September, the AfDs Brandenburg branch produced AI-made campaign adverts that contrast an idealised Germany featuring blond-haired and blue-eyed people with scenes of veiled women walking down streets and a person waving an LGBTQ+ flag.

Reality Defender, a US-based deepfake detection firm, said the image could have been produced within minutes.

Other pro-AfD groups on Facebook use AI images emblazoned with nativist or anti-immigrant slogans. Another shows a giant pig  an animal whose meat is prohibited from consumption in Islam  chasing a group of people in Islamic clothing, with the slogan Arabic film version of Godzilla.

The UK

In the aftermath of the Southport stabbings, when a teenager killed three young girls, AI was deployed to advertise protests and to post Islamophobic content, based on false assumptions about the identity of the alleged attacker.

One image depicted bearded men in traditional Islamic dress outside parliament, with one waving a knife, behind a crying child in a union jack T-shirt. The tweet was captioned: We must protect our children!

The far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has also appeared in AI-generated images and has the technology on his own social media accounts, including one post commemorating D-day that attracted derision because it showed second world war troops marching off the beach and into the sea.

France

Generative AI imagery was identified as an integral part of the campaign strategy of far-fight political parties during this years European and legislative elections in France.

Posts on X included images of people approaching a beach on boats, emblazoned with an anti-immigration slogan, and videos criticising the president, Emmanuel Macron.

Only far-right parties consistently used AI-generated visuals to build their websites and represent photo-realistic events that never occurred, making this a distinctive and strategic element of their campaigns, said Romano of AI Forensics.

Ireland

While Ireland has no successful far-right party mirroring those in other EU states, the use of generative AI surged among the countrys emergent far-right street movement after riots in Dublin in November 2023.

A frequent meme has featured Conor McGregor, the former mixed martial arts star who has flirted with far-right language and whose anti-government and anti-migrant messaging resonated with far-right groups.

Conor McGregor has featured in some far-right content generated by AI. File photo: Collins Photos

Ciaran OConnor, a senior analyst at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, said one particularly popular post on X depicted McGregor standing in front of a burning bus  an echo of one of the genuine images from the riots when a vehicle was torched in the city centre.

The image was posted by the far-right UK group Britain First and later tweeted by McGregor himself before he deleted it. It received 20 million views.

Since then, OConnor said generative AI had been used in support of anti-immigration protests and groups and to create content to depict specific scenes that appear to be aimed at evoking anti-migrant sentiments.

A campaign by the small far-right Irish People party included a post on X where it acknowledged using an AI-generated image of a supporter saying they hardly recognise where they grew up.

Italy

In Italy, the populist Lega party published anti-trans and Islamophobic AI-generated images including a bearded pregnant man, a group of men in Arab-style clothing burning a copy of Dantes Divine Comedy, and Macron posing as a fictional EU soldier, in a message with anti-EU overtones.

The political adverts were published on Facebook and Instagram and on the social media accounts of Legas leader, Matteo Salvini.

Other non-watermarked images on Salvinis account include images of women and children eating insects, a reference to a popular rightwing conspiracy theory that the EU was preparing to make European citizens eat insect-based food.

Guardian
President-elect Donald Trump is threatening to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office as part of his efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs.

The tariffs, if implemented, could dramatically raise prices on everything from gas to automobiles.

The US is the largest importer of goods in the world, with Mexico, China and Canada as its top three suppliers, according to the most recent Census data.

Mr Trump made the threats in a pair of posts on his Truth Social site Monday evening in which he railed against an influx of illegal migrants, even though southern border crossings have been hovering at a four-year low.

Canadas Justin Trudeau met Donald Trump during his first erm as president in 2020 (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders, he wrote, complaining that thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before, even though violent crime is down from pandemic highs.

He said the new tariffs would remain in place until such time as Drugs, in particular, Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!

Mr Trump also turned his ire to China, saying he has had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States  But to no avail.

Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America, he wrote.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington cautioned on Monday that there will be losers on all sides if there is a trade war.

China-US economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature, embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu posted on X.

China-US economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature. No one will win a trade war or a #tariff war.

The counternarcotics authorities of #China and the #US have resumed regular communication since the San Francisco Summit. The Chinese side has notified the US https://t.co/1EPLyApiy9  Liu Pengyu  (@SpoxCHNinUS) November 26, 2024

No one will win a trade war or a #tariff war.

He added that China had taken steps in the last year to help stem drug trafficking.

It is unclear whether Mr Trump will actually go through with the threats or if he is using them as a negotiating tactic before he takes office in the new year.

Arrests for illegally crossing the border from Mexico have been falling and remained around four-year lows in October, according to the most recent US numbers.

The Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests in October, less than one-third of the tally from last October.

Much of Americas fentanyl is smuggled from Mexico.

Border seizures of the drug rose sharply under president Joe Biden, and US officials tallied about 12,247 kilograms of fentanyl seized in the 2024 government budget year, compared with 1,154 kilograms in 2019 when Mr Trump was president.

Mr Trumps nominee for treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, if confirmed, would be one of several officials responsible for imposing tariffs on other nations. He has on several occasions said tariffs are a means of negotiation with other countries.

He wrote in a Fox News op-ed last week, before his nomination, that tariffs are a useful tool for achieving the presidents foreign policy objectives. Whether it is getting allies to spend more on their own defence, opening foreign markets to US exports, securing cooperation on ending illegal immigration and interdicting fentanyl trafficking, or deterring military aggression, tariffs can play a central role.

If Mr Trump were to move forward with the threatened tariffs, the new taxes would pose an enormous challenge to the economies of Canada and Mexico, in particular.

President Donald Trump at the White House in 2019 (Evan Vucci/AP)

They would also throw into doubt the reliability of the 2020 trade deal brokered in large part by Mr Trump, which is up for review in 2026.

Spokespeople for Canadas ambassador to Washington and its deputy prime minister, Chrystia Freeland, who chairs a special Cabinet committee on Canada-US relations to address concerns about another Mr Trump presidency, did not immediately provide comment.

Mr Trumps promise to launch a mass deportation effort is a top focus for the Cabinet committee, Freeland has said.

A senior Canadian official had said before Mr Trumps posts that Canadian officials are expecting Mr Trump to issue executive orders on trade and the border as soon as he assumes office.

The official was not authorised to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Mexicos Foreign Relations Department and Economy Department also had no immediate reaction to Mr Trumps statements.

Normally such weighty issues are handled by the president at her morning press briefings.
Georgias newly-elected parliament opened its inaugural session on Monday as opposition politicians and the president boycotted it and thousands of protesters, watched by riot police, rallied outside and accused the ruling party of rigging the vote under Russian influence.

The October 26 election that kept the Georgian Dream party in power was widely seen as a referendum on the countrys effort to join the European Union.

Opposition parties refused to participate in the parliaments activities, and only 88 politicians, all Georgian Dream members, were in the hall as the 150-seat parliament held its first session.

Nika Melia, leader of Coalition for Changes, vowed the opposition will do everything to defeat the so-called government, the self-proclaimed government.

This is the fight between people fighting for freedom against people who are trying to entrench the deeply authoritarian regime, he said.

Police block protesters during a rally to demand new parliamentary elections in Georgia (Zurab Tsertsvadze/AP)

President Salome Zourabichvili, who has rejected the official results and refused to recognise the parliaments legitimacy, did not attend the opening session.

Ms Zourabichvili, who holds the mostly ceremonial position, said on social media platform X that the parliament is unconstitutional because of evidence of electoral fraud and her refusal to open the session as required by the constitution.

She has filed a lawsuit at the Constitutional Court, arguing that two fundamental principles guaranteed by the constitution  the secrecy of the vote and its universality  were violated.

In a televised statement, she declared that today the parliament of Georgia no longer exists because Georgian Dream has trampled the constitution.

I feel sorry for all these parliamentarians who sat there today with frozen expressions, because they know they are the result of falsified elections, and they know they will be locked in this hall for several months or weeks, where none of them has any rights, she said.

She hailed civil society and in particular the youth for standing up to Georgian Dream, declaring: The old era reflected in todays parliament has truly come to an end.

Ms Zourabichvili was elected by popular vote, but Georgia has approved constitutional changes that abolish the direct election of the president and replace it with a vote by a 300-seat electoral college which consists of members of parliament, municipal councils and members of legislatures of autonomous regions.

Protesters with EU and Georgian national flags rest during a rally to demand new parliamentary elections (Shakh Aivazov/AP)

On Tuesday, the parliament set December 14 as the date for a 300-seat electoral college consisting of members of parliament, municipal councils and regional legislatures to elect a new president.

It is a new procedure, which will be used for the first time since a 2017 constitutional reform eliminated direct elections for the presidency.

Georgian Dream has a majority in the electoral college and is expected to choose an ally to replace Ms Zourabichvili.

The outgoing president was elected by popular vote in 2018, and her six-year term will end in December. The new president will be elected for five years.

Georgian Dream kept Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in office and its members voted to allow parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili to keep his seat. The ruling party also controls all key parliamentary positions.

Several thousand protesters, some of them waving Georgian and EU flags, rallied outside the parliament in the pouring rain, facing phalanxes of riot police.

The government has stolen elections from us, said student Vakho Sebiskveradze. Its not only about the elections  this is about stealing the European future from the Georgian people, the Georgian nation, and the Georgian youth.

Police block a street in Tbilisi, Georgia, during a rally to demand new parliamentary elections (Zurab Tsertsvadze/AP)

The Central Election Commission said Georgian Dream won about 54% of the vote in October. Its leaders have rejected opposition claims of fraud.

European election observers said the balloting took place in a divisive atmosphere marked by instances of bribery, double voting and physical violence.

Critics have accused Georgian Dream  established by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a shadowy billionaire who made his fortune in Russia  of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted towards Moscow. The party recently pushed through laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down on freedom of speech and LGBTQ+ rights.

The EU suspended Georgias membership application process indefinitely in June after parliament passed a law requiring organisations that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as pursuing the interest of a foreign power, similar to a Russian law used to discredit organisations critical of the government.

Badri Japaridze, leader of Strong Georgia Coalition, pledged that members of opposition parties elected to parliament will stay away from it.

We are not going to enter this parliament, we boycott it, we do not acknowledge it, he said.
Indonesian authorities said on Tuesday that they have foiled a plot to smuggle more than a ton of scales from endangered pangolins worth more than a million US dollars.

The 1.2 tons of scales worth 1.3 million dollars (1.03 million) were found in the Asahan district of North Sumatra province on November 11 and were apparently meant to be sent to China via Malaysia and Singapore, said Rasio Ridho Sani, director-general of law enforcement at the environment ministry.

Mr Sani told a news conference that four suspects, including three army members, were found with some of the scales and will be charged with illegal possession of carcasses of protected animals.

He said further investigation led to the recovery of the rest of the scales at a house owned by one suspect in Asahan.

The four men, if found guilty, face up to 20 years in prison and 314,000 dollars (250,000) in fines.

An Indonesian environment ministry official inspects sacks and boxes containing pangolin scales confiscated from suspected smugglers in Medan, North Sumatra (Binsar Bakkara/AP)

Mr Sani estimated that the scales came from at least 5,900 dead pangolins.

Demand for pangolin scales and meat has led to rampant poaching that is decimating populations across Asia.

Pangolin scales are used in traditional Chinese medicine and contain the protein keratin, though there is no scientific proof that they provide any medicinal value.

Pangolin meat is considered a delicacy in Vietnam and some parts of China.

Of the four Asian species, one is listed as endangered and the others as critically endangered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or Cites, and it is illegal to trade them.

Killing thousands of pangolins will disrupt the balance of nature and damage the ecosystem, thereby harming the environment and society, Mr Sani said.

The suspects must be punished to the maximum sentence so that there is a deterrent effect.

Indonesian authorities have foiled eight plots to smuggle pangolins or their scales this year, mostly on Sumatra island, indicating high market demand, Mr Sani added.
Israel has agreed a ceasefire with Lebanon, Israels Channel 12 television reported on Tuesday, clearing the way for an end to a conflict between Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah that has killed thousands of people since it was ignited by the Gaza war last year.

The Channel 12 report followed a meeting of Israels security cabinet under Netanyahu convened to discuss a ceasefire deal.

Earlier, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday he was ready to implement a ceasefire deal with Lebanon and would "respond forcefully to any violation" by Hezbollah.

In a television address, Netanyahu said he would put the ceasefire accord to his full cabinet later in the evening. Israeli TV reported that the more restricted security cabinet had earlier approved the deal.

The accord, clearing the way for an end to a conflict that has killed thousands of people since it was ignited by the Gaza war last year, was expected to take effect on Wednesday.

Areas in Tyre, south Lebanon, were hit by Israeli strikes with a ceasefire deal under discussion (AP)

Israeli approval of the deal would pave the way for a ceasefire declaration by US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, according to four senior Lebanese sources who spoke to Reuters on Monday.

Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, hostilities raged as Israel dramatically ramped up its campaign of air strikes in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon, with health authorities reporting at least 18 killed.

A Hezbollah parliament member in Lebanon, Hassan Fadlallah, said the country faced "dangerous, sensitive hours" during the wait for a possible ceasefire announcement.

However, there was no indication that a truce in Lebanon would hasten a ceasefire and hostage-release deal in devastated Gaza, where Israel is battling Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The Lebanon ceasefire agreement requires Israeli troops to withdraw from south Lebanon and Lebanon's army to deploy in the region, officials say. Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the border south of the Litani River.

Benjamin Netanyahu spoke in a televised statement (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said the Lebanese army would be ready to have at least 5,000 troops deployed in southern Lebanon as Israeli troops withdraw, and that the United States could play a role in rebuilding infrastructure destroyed by Israeli strikes.

Israel demands effective UN enforcement of an eventual ceasefire with Lebanon and will show "zero tolerance" toward any infraction, Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday.

In the hours before the announcement, Israeli strikes smashed more of Beirut's densely-populated southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold. The Israeli military said one barrage of strikes had hit 20 targets in the city in just 120 seconds, killing at least seven people and injuring 37, according to Lebanon's health ministry.

Israel issued its biggest evacuation warning yet, telling civilians to leave 20 locations. Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said the air force was conducting a "widespread attack" on Hezbollah targets across the city.

The Iran-backed Hezbollah has kept up rocket fire into Israel.

The UN rights chief voiced concern about the escalation of bloodshed in Lebanon and his office said nearly 100 people had been reported killed by Israeli airstrikes in recent days, including women, children and medics.

Israel has dealt Hezbollah massive blows since going on the offensive against the group in September, killing its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and other top commanders, and pounding areas of Lebanon where the group holds sway.

Rescuers use an excavator as they search for victims at the site of an Israeli air strike in Beirut, Lebanon (Hassan Ammar/AP)

Over the past year, more than 3,750 people have been killed in Lebanon and over one million have been forced from their homes, according to Lebanon's health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its figures.

Hezbollah strikes have killed 45 civilians in northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. At least 73 Israeli soldiers have been killed in northern Israel, the Golan Heights and in combat in southern Lebanon, according to Israeli authorities.

- Reuters
Support Local Journalism

Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by subscribing or making a contribution.

Subscribe or contribute
Israel has no justification for rejecting a ceasefire with Lebanon based on the proposals made by France and the United States, stated Josep Borrell, the EUs foreign policy chief.There is no valid reason for not carrying out a ceasefire No further excuses. No more additional demands. End this conflict. Stop the killing, Mr. Borrell remarked during a G7 foreign ministers meeting held near Rome.

His remarks come as Israel appears poised to endorse a US-led ceasefire plan with the Iran-supported Hezbollah, according to a senior Israeli official.If approved, this plan could facilitate the conclusion of the war that has resulted in thousands of fatalities since it was triggered by the Gaza conflict 14 months ago.

This could open the door to a ceasefire announcement by US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, four senior sources from Lebanon informed Reuters.In Washington, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby mentioned yesterday that they were close but emphasized, nothing is final until everything is complete.

The French presidency indicated that discussions surrounding a ceasefire had progressed significantly.The Shayyah neighborhood in Beiruts southern suburbs suffered damage from an Israeli airstrike overnight.

The agreement has already received backing in Beirut, where Lebanons deputy parliament speaker stated to Reuters that there are no major hurdles left for its implementationunless Mr. Netanyahu changes his stance.

Mr. Netanyahus office refrained from commenting yesterday on reports regarding an agreement between Israel and Lebanon on the deals text.Hezbollah, designated as a terrorist organization by the US, has supported its ally Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in negotiations.

The proposal entails Israeli troop withdrawals from southern Lebanon, with Lebanese army units expected to deploy in the border areaa known Hezbollah strongholdwithin 60 days, as stated by Elias Bou Saab, Lebanons deputy parliament speaker, along with a second Israeli official to Reuters.

Reports of a breakthrough have surfaced amid military escalations, with Israeli airstrikes causing further destruction in the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut yesterday.

The extensive damage across Lebanon highlights a significant reconstruction cost looming for the financially strained nation, which has more than one million people displaced.

In Israel, a ceasefire would allow the return of 60,000 residents to northern homes that they evacuated in response to Hezbollahs rocket attacks supporting its Palestinian ally Hamas after the assault on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Benjamin Netanyahu is set to preside over a cabinet meeting later to discuss the ceasefire agreement text.

Since launching a counter-offensive against Hezbollah in September, Israel has dealt severe blows to the group, killing its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and other high-ranking commanders, and targeting areas of Lebanon under Hezbollah control.

Despite this, Hezbollah has continued to fire rockets into Israel, with approximately 250 rockets launched on Sunday.

Israels ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, stated yesterday that Israel would retain the right to strike southern Lebanon under any agreement. Lebanese officials have previously objected to such provisions, maintaining that such language is absent from the draft proposal.

According to a second Israeli official, Israel would only be able to strike against imminent threats.

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller indicated yesterday that the gaps between the two sides have significantly narrowed but acknowledged that additional steps remain before an agreement is reached.

Often, the final stages of an agreement are the most challenging as the most difficult issues are left until the end, he remarked. We are doing everything we can to advance the talks.

In Beirut, Mr. Bou Saab told Reuters that there are no serious barriers remaining for the implementation of a US-proposed ceasefire with Israel, unless Netanyahu alters his position.

In the past year, more than 3,750 individuals have lost their lives, and over one million have been forcibly displaced, according to Lebanons health ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its statistics.

Read more: Latest Middle East updates

Hezbollah-related attacks have claimed the lives of 45 civilians in northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Additionally, at least 73 Israeli soldiers have been killed in northern Israel, the Golan Heights, and in engagements in southern Lebanon, according to Israeli authorities.

The Biden administration, which is set to leave office in January, has prioritized diplomatic efforts to resolve the Lebanon conflict, even as negotiations to cease the ongoing war in Gaza remain suspended.

US Middle East envoy Brett McGurk is currently in Saudi Arabia to discuss utilizing a potential Lebanon ceasefire as a springboard for a deal to end hostilities in Gaza, as stated by the White House.

Diplomatic efforts concerning Lebanon have primarily focused on restoring a ceasefire in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which concluded the last significant conflict between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006.

This resolution mandates Hezbollah to withdraw its fighters to approximately 30 km from the Israeli border, behind the Litani River, with the regular Lebanese army expected to occupy the border region.

Israel has long complained about the failure to properly implement Resolution 1701, highlighting the ongoing presence of Hezbollah fighters and weapons near the border. In contrast, Lebanon has expressed grievances regarding Israeli violations of the agreement, noting regular Israeli airspace breaches.
A Romanian hard-right NATO critic and leader of a centre-right opposition party are set to face off in a presidential run-off vote on 8 December, according to the results, marking an unexpected turn of events that could jeopardize Romanias steadfast pro-Ukraine position.

With 99.9% of the votes tallied, hard-right candidate Calin Georgescu garnered 22.9%, while centre-right candidate Elena Lasconi trailed closely with 19.16%.

Ms. Lasconi outpaced leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who was regarded as the frontrunner in the first round, buoyed by substantial support from Romanian expatriates.

The president of Romania holds a semi-executive position, granting them control over defense expendituresa challenging issue as Bucharest faces pressures to meet NATO spending targets amid Donald Trumps anticipated second term while also addressing a significant fiscal deficit.

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, the Social Democratic Partys presidential candidate, speaks to the media after the initial exit poll results were released in Bucharest.

Political analyst Radu Magdin noted that the difference between Mr. Ciolacus previously low popularity and yesterdays outcome is unprecedented since Romania transitioned from communism in 1989.

In our 34 years of democracy, weve never witnessed such a drastic change compared to prior surveys, Mr. Magdin stated.

The campaign centered heavily on the rising cost of living, with Romania having the highest proportion of individuals at risk of poverty within the EU.

Mr. Ciolacu attempted to win over voters with promises of generous spending and no tax increases, despite Romania carrying the European Unions largest budget deficit at 8% of its economic forecast, while promising policy stability amidst an ongoing war in the region.

Formerly a key figure in the hard-right Alliance for Uniting Romanians party, Mr. Georgescu has criticized NATOs ballistic missile defense system located in Deveselu, labeling it a shame of diplomacy.

He has expressed skepticism about the North Atlantic alliances commitment to defend its members against potential Russian aggression.

Centre-right contender Elena Lasconi is an advocate for increasing defense expenditures and supporting Ukraine.

We are strong and brave; many of us participated in the vote, and even more will follow in the second round, Mr. Georgescu stated while standing alone yesterday evening outside a residential building near Bucharest.

Ms. Lasconi, a former journalist, joined the Save Romania Union (USR) in 2018 and took over as party leader this year.

A two-term mayor, she champions the idea of enhancing defense spending and extending support to Ukraine.

On the brink of conflict

Romania shares a 650km border with Ukraine, and since the Russian invasion of Kyiv in 2022, it has facilitated the export of millions of tons of grain through its Black Sea port, Constanta, and has provided military assistance, including a donation of a Patriot air defense battery.

Border villages have experienced a series of drone incursions into national airspace, though no injuries have been reported.

One political commentator suggested that Russian interference to bolster Mr. Georgescus campaign could not be ruled out in the election.

Given Georgescus perspective on Ukraine and the variance between opinion polls and the actual results, we cannot dismiss that possibility, stated Sergiu Miscoiu, a political science professor at Babes-Bolyai University.

Outgoing two-term president Klaus Iohannis, 65, solidified Romanias strong pro-Western orientation but faced criticism for not adequately combating corruption.

Yesterdays results stand as one of the most significant surprises in Romanian post-communist electoral history, with the leaders of the two largest partiesthe leftist Social Democrats and the centre-right Liberals, currently in a coalition governmentbeing eliminated in the first round.
Representatives from Ukraine and NATOs 32 member countries will gather in Brussels to discuss Russias recent launch of an experimental hypersonic intermediate-range missile.Last Thursday, Russia executed a strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, which President Vladimir Putin announced was a test of its new Oreshnik missile.

President Putin claimed the missile strike was a direct response to Ukraine utilizing weapons supplied by the United States and Britain against Russia.He cautioned that Russia considers itself entitled to target military installations in countries that permit Ukraine to use their armaments against Russia.

Ukraine expressed its hope for concrete and meaningful outcomes following the convening of the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting.However, diplomats and officials within NATO have tempered expectations regarding significant outcomes from these discussions.

The most likely outcome is a restatement of NATOs previous declaration that Russias deployment of new weaponry will not deter NATO allies from supporting Ukraine.A NATO representative indicated that the meeting serves as a platform to examine the current security landscape in Ukraine and will feature briefings from Ukrainian officials via video link.

The intensifying tensions surrounding Ukraine arise amidst uncertainties regarding the future of western support after Donald Trumps re-election.Mr. Trump has raised concerns about the continuation of US military aid for Ukraine and has promised a swift resolution to the conflict.

NATO and Ukraine formed a joint council in 2023, enabling Ukraine to request meetings with the alliance at its discretion.Russian forces have taken control of yet another village in the eastern Kharkiv region of Ukraine, an area where the front line had been stable until recently.

The defense ministry announced that military units have liberated the settlement of Kopanky, located near the Ukrainian-controlled city of Kupiansk.Ukraines military reported successfully downing 76 out of a historic high of 188 drones launched by Russia overnight.

The air force mentioned they lost track of 96 of those drones, likely due to active electronic warfare, while five drones headed towards Belarus.

A man inspects the damage in Odesa following Russian missile attacks on the city.As for Russias overnight air assaults, they inflicted damage on the power grid in Ternopil, a significant city in western Ukraine, causing power, water, and heating disruptions, according to the head of the regional defense headquarters.

Emergency services are endeavoring to restore water supply by morning, stated Serhiy Nadal, head of the Ternopil Region Defence Council headquarters, via Telegram, although power outages are expected to persist for several hours.

Electric buses serving the city will be replaced with standard buses, and generators will alleviate power shortages in schools, hospitals, and governmental facilities, he added.

However, Mr. Nadal did not disclose details regarding the extent of the damage inflicted on the city, which boasted a population of nearly a quarter of a million prior to Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The total impact of the attack remains unclear.

Ternopil, located around 220 kilometers east of NATO-member Poland, and much of Ukraine were under air raid alert for hours overnight, according to data from Ukraines air force.

Russia also attempted to target Kyiv overnight, as reported by the citys military administration on Telegram, noting that Ukrainian air defense systems shot down more than ten Russian drones.

The Russian drones approached the capital in waves and from various directions, but no damage or casualties were reported, according to Serhiy Popko, head of Ukraines military administration.

On the battlefield, Ukraines weary troops are grappling with Russian advances in the eastern parts of the country.

Destruction from a Russian missile attack in the Kyivskyi district of Kharkiv.

Russia is advancing at its fastest monthly rate since the onset of the war, according to analysts.

The conflict is entering what some Russian and western officials describe as potentially its most perilous phase, following significant territorial gains by Russian forces in recent months.

Independent Russian news outlet Agentstvo reported that Russia has reached new weekly and monthly records for the amount of territory it occupies in Ukraine.

According to the report, the Russian army seized almost 235 square kilometers in Ukraine over the past week, marking a weekly record for 2024.

In November, Russian forces captured 600 square kilometers, data from DeepStatea group closely connected to the Ukrainian army that analyzes combat footage and creates frontline mapsindicated.

Since July, Russian forces have accelerated their advances in eastern Ukraine, coinciding with Ukrainian forces making gains in the western region of Kursk.

Since then, the speed of the Russian advance has noticeably increased, as observed in open-source maps.

Russian troops are now moving towards the town of Kurakhove, a crucial point towards the logistics hub of Pokrovsk in Donetsk, and have been exploiting vulnerabilities among Ukrainian troops along the frontlines, analysts noted.

Recent reports from the Institute for the Study of War indicated that Russian forces have recently been advancing at a significantly faster pace than during all of 2023.

Latest updates on the situation in Ukraine.

According to the General Staff of Ukraines armed forces, their latest update reported that 45 battles of varying intensities were ongoing along the Kurakhove section of the frontline.

Reports from the Institute for the Study of War and pro-Russian military bloggers suggest that Russian troops are present in Kurakhove.
A French prosecutor has requested the maximum prison term of 20 years for Dominique Pelicot, who orchestrated the systematic rape of his wife for nearly a decade, rendering her unconscious with drugs and distributing images and footage of the assaults.

Mr. Pelicot, 71, has acknowledged the charges during a trial that has garnered global attention, serving as an examination of the widespread issue of sexual violence both in France and beyond.

The maximum sentence is 20 years, which is substantial but simultaneously inadequate given the severity of the acts committed repeatedly, public prosecutor Laure Chabaud stated in court.

Most of the 50 other defendants involved in the trial have claimed they were unaware they were raping Gisele Pelicot, did not intend to commit such acts, or placed the blame entirely on her husband, alleging that he had manipulated them.

This trial is challenging our society in how we relate to one another, in the most intimate connections between individuals, Jean-Francois Mayet remarked in court.

He noted that the trial is prompting French society to reflect on our needs, our emotions, our desires, and above all, to respect those of others.

What is at stake, he continued, is not merely a conviction or an acquittal, but rather to fundamentally transform the dynamics between men and women, he added.

A placard stating Sick of violations with an illustration of Gisele Pelicot was seen during a demonstration last weekend (file image).

The accused men, aged between 26 and 74, are primarily charged with aggravated rape and could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.

The specifics of each case and the personality of each defendant were considered in our sentencing recommendations, Mr. Mayet remarked, emphasizing that justice needs calm and constructive discussions.

The prosecutors are expected to outline their sentencing recommendations for each defendant over the next two days.

Mr. Pelicots attorney, Beatrice Zavarro, informed reporters that it was not unexpected for prosecutors to pursue the maximum sentence available.

Ms. Pelicot, also 71, had the option to request a closed trial but chose to have it open to the public, expressing hope that it would empower other women to come forward and demonstrate that victims have no reason to feel ashamed.

Video evidence recorded by her husband, presented in court over the past weeks, has repeatedly shown her lying motionless, at times snoring, while the accused, including her husband, assaulted her.

The verdicts and sentences are anticipated to be announced around December 20.
UN Reports: A Woman is Killed by a Partner or Relative Every 10 Minutes Globally

In 2023, the United Nations reported that a woman was killed by a partner or relative every ten minutes around the globe, highlighting that femicides continue to be at alarmingly high levels.Nearly 85,000 women and girls were murdered last year, as revealed in a collaborative report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women.

The findings indicated that approximately 60%, or over 51,000 women and girls, were killed by someone they were close to.This translates to 140 women being murdered daily, or one every ten minutes, by individuals in their immediate circle.

Although men are four times more likely to be victims of homicideconstituting 80% of all murder victims last yearthey frequently fell victim to strangers.Africa suffered the most significant impact, with 21,700 women killed by acquaintances in 2023.

In contrast, Europe recorded the lowest femicide figures, with 2,300 murders in total, as well as Asia.Despite initiatives in various countries aimed at preventing femicides, the rates remain at alarmingly high levels due to entrenched gender inequality and harmful stereotypes.

We must confront and dismantle the gender biases, power imbalances, and damaging norms that sustain violence against women, stated UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly in remarks that accompanied the report.

Evidence from several countries, including France, suggested that femicides often represent the culmination of ongoing violence, which could be prevented through interventions like restraining orders.

UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous emphasized the necessity for robust legislation, enhanced government accountability, and increased funding for womens rights organizations and institutions to combat violence against women.

Additionally, she highlighted that improved data gathering from various national sourcesincluding media reportsand the establishment of a zero-tolerance culture are vital in addressing femicides.

The report draws on data from 107 countries or territories and insights collected by UNODC from responses provided by its member states.

This release coincides with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  Muhannad Hadi, the special UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, addressed the ambassadors of the UN Security Council states on Monday, Nov. 25, on the ongoing devastation in Gaza, which, he said, persists relentlessly, with no resolution in sight as winter approaches with its drenching rains and chilly temperatures, endangering lives.

Even as he was speaking, what is left of the Gaza government announced the grim news that this weekend storm surges along the coast destroyed 10,000 tents people had set up near the sea. Rain storms and wind have damaged 81% of refugee tents in Gaza, with 110,000 out of 135,000 tents needing to be immediately replaced.

Hadi warned that the delivery of critical aid across Gaza is grinding to a halt. He cautioned that as a result, the survival of two million people hangs in the balance. He called on Israel to fulfill its responsibilities and to arrange for the swift and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip.

Hadi explained that in recent weeks, the Israeli military has catastrophically escalated its attacks on North Gaza, with what he called mass casualty incidents taking place with alarming frequency.

He gave some examples. For instance, on November 10, some 36 Palestinians, among them women and children, were killed and others injured when Israeli fighter-jets bombed a multi-story building in Jabalya Al Balad. (A multi-story building means an apartment building where families live.) Then on November 16, in Beit Lahiya, two separate Israeli airstrikes reportedly claimed the lives of at least 65 Palestinians, including women and children, as buildings sheltering displaced individuals were targeted. And these are just a few of the mass casualty attacks the Israelis have committed recently.

Since October 6, he said, the Israeli military has issued numerous expulsion orders, forcing more than 100,000 Palestinians to flee, mostly with nothing but the clothes on their backs, from North Gaza to the south. (This expulsion of the civilian population is a consequence of Israels resumption of military ground operations in the north, an area they declared cleared of Hamas fighters last year this time.  JC).

That is more than the entire population of Santa Fe, New Mexico, the capital of the state.

These refugees have mainly flooded into Gaza City, which now has some 375,000 residents even though much of its infrastructure and most of its domiciles have been destroyed.

Hadi doesnt say so here, but many observers have concluded that the Israeli military is engaged in an attempt at complete ethnic cleansing of the north, which is a major war crime. This charge is underlined by the Israeli pledge that none of the refugees from the north will ever be allowed back.

The Israelis have destroyed civilian governance in Gaza. As Jan Engeland, the head of the Norwegian Humanitarian Council, affirms The police was bombed to pieces by Israel, and Israel is giving us aid routes that are unsafe.

There is no law and order and no mechanism to enforce it, since the Israelis, despite being the occupying power, are disregarding their consequent obligations to provide security to civilians.

As a result, Hadi says, Looting of humanitarian supplies by Palestinians is intensifying and becoming more organized and more violent.

He explains that on November 16, a UN convoy carrying 109 truckloads of food supplies was violently looted by gangs, resulting in the loss of 97 trucks. Two days later the Gaza Ministry of Interior attempted to crack down hard on the looters, in a battle that left 20 people dead. He insists that law and order must be restored.

After that major incident of looting, food prices soared. Most famines dont occur because of lack of food but because the food becomes too pricey for people to afford it.

These events affect all of Gaza. As for the north, the UN alleges that the Israelis have allowed almost no food aid into North Gaza for a month.

Save the Children writes, About 130,000 children aged under 10 have been trapped for 50 days in areas in northern Gaza that are almost entirely inaccessible to aid workers and not receiving food or medical supplies despite warnings of famine.

The Anadolu News Agency reports, Tahani Saad, 55, a mother of five, told Anadolu that flour is now scarce in the markets, with prices soaring. A 25-kilogram bag of flour currently costs 900 Shekels (approximately $250). We are forced to use spoiled flour which may cause illnesses to us, Tahani Saad added.

Hadi underlines that the level of essential goods, including humanitarian assistance, that has been allowed into Gaza is inadequate to meet the overwhelming needs of the population.



Bonus Video:

Al Jazeera English: Deir Al Balah hunger crisis: Long queues as bakeries run out of flour
By Lizzie Presser and Kavitha Surana

Thirty-five-year-old Porsha Ngumezis case raises questions about how abortion bans are pressuring doctors to avoid standard care even in straightforward miscarriages.

( ProPublica )  Wrapping his wife in a blanket as she mourned the loss of her pregnancy at 11 weeks, Hope Ngumezi wondered why no obstetrician was coming to see her.

Over the course of six hours on June 11, 2023, Porsha Ngumezi had bled so much in the emergency department at Houston Methodist Sugar Land that shed needed two transfusions. She was anxious to get home to her young sons, but, according to a nurses notes, she was still passing large clots the size of grapefruit.

Hope dialed his mother, a former physician, who was unequivocal. You need a D&C, she told them, referring to dilation and curettage, a common procedure for first-trimester miscarriages and abortions. If a doctor could remove the remaining tissue from her uterus, the bleeding would end.

But when Dr. Andrew Ryan Davis, the obstetrician on duty, finally arrived, he said it was the hospitals routine to give a drug called misoprostol to help the body pass the tissue, Hope recalled. Hope trusted the doctor. Porsha took the pills, according to records, and the bleeding continued.

Three hours later, her heart stopped.

The 35-year-olds death was preventable, according to more than a dozen doctors who reviewed a detailed summary of her case for ProPublica. Some said it raises serious questions about how abortion bans are pressuring doctors to diverge from the standard of care and reach for less-effective options that could expose their patients to more risks. Doctors and patients described similar decisions theyve witnessed across the state.

It was clear Porsha needed an emergency D&C, the medical experts said. She was hemorrhaging and the doctors knew she had a blood-clotting disorder, which put her at greater danger of excessive and prolonged bleeding. Misoprostol at 11 weeks is not going to work fast enough, said Dr. Amber Truehart, an OB-GYN at the University of New Mexico Center for Reproductive Health. The patient will continue to bleed and have a higher risk of going into hemorrhagic shock. The medical examiner found the cause of death to be hemorrhage.

D&Cs  a staple of maternal health care  can be lifesaving. Doctors insert a straw-like tube into the uterus and gently suction out any remaining pregnancy tissue. Once the uterus is emptied, it can close, usually stopping the bleeding.

But because D&Cs are also used to end pregnancies, the procedure has become tangled up in state legislation that restricts abortions. In Texas, any doctor who violates the strict law risks up to 99 years in prison. Porshas is the fifth case ProPublica has reported in which women died after they did not receive a D&C or its second-trimester equivalent, a dilation and evacuation; three of those deaths were in Texas.

Texas doctors told ProPublica the law has changed the way their colleagues see the procedure; some no longer consider it a first-line treatment, fearing legal repercussions or dissuaded by the extra legwork required to document the miscarriage and get hospital approval to carry out a D&C. This has occurred, ProPublica found, even in cases like Porshas where there isnt a fetal heartbeat or the circumstances should fall under an exception in the law. Some doctors are transferring those patients to other hospitals, which delays their care, or theyre defaulting to treatments that arent the medical standard.

Misoprostol, the medicine given to Porsha, is an effective method to complete low-risk miscarriages but is not recommended when a patient is unstable. The drug is also part of a two-pill regimen for abortions, yet administering it may draw less scrutiny than a D&C because it requires a smaller medical team and because the drug is commonly used to induce labor and treat postpartum hemorrhage. Since 2022, some Texas women who were bleeding heavily while miscarrying have gone public about only receiving medication when they asked for D&Cs. One later passed out in a pool of her own blood.

Stigma and fear are there for D&Cs in a way that they are not for misoprostol, said Dr. Alison Goulding, an OB-GYN in Houston. Doctors assume that a D&C is not standard in Texas anymore, even in cases where it should be recommended. People are afraid: They see D&C as abortion and abortion as illegal.

Doctors and nurses involved in Porshas care did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Several physicians who reviewed the summary of her case pointed out that Davis post-mortem notes did not reflect nurses documented concerns about Porshas heavy bleeding. After Porsha died, Davis wrote instead that the nurses and other providers described the bleeding as minimal, though no nurses wrote this in the records. ProPublica tried to ask Davis about this discrepancy. He did not respond to emails, texts or calls.

Houston Methodist officials declined to answer a detailed list of questions about Porshas treatment. They did not comment when asked whether Davis approach was the hospitals routine. A spokesperson said that each patients care is unique to that individual.

All Houston Methodist hospitals follow all state laws, the spokesperson added, including the abortion law in place in Texas.

We Need to See the Doctor

Hope marveled at the energy Porsha had for their two sons, ages 5 and 3. Whenever she wasnt working, she was chasing them through the house or dancing with them in the living room. As a finance manager at a charter school system, she was in charge of the household budget. As an engineer for an airline, Hope took them on flights around the world  to Chile, Bali, Guam, Singapore, Argentina.

The two had met at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. When Porsha and I began dating, Hope said, I already knew I was going to love her. She was magnetic and driven, going on to earn an MBA, but she was also gentle with him, always protecting his feelings. Both were raised in big families and they wanted to build one of their own.

When he learned Porsha was pregnant again in the spring of 2023, Hope wished for a girl. Porsha found a new OB-GYN who said she could see her after 11 weeks. Ten weeks in, though, Porsha noticed she was spotting. Over the phone, the obstetrician told her to go to the emergency room if it got worse.

To celebrate the end of the school year, Porsha and Hope took their boys to a water park in Austin, and as they headed back, on June 11, Porsha told Hope that the bleeding was heavier. They decided Hope would stay with the boys at home until a relative could take over; Porsha would drive to the emergency room at Houston Methodist Sugar Land, one of seven community hospitals that are part of the Houston Methodist system.

At 6:30 p.m, three hours after Porsha arrived at the hospital, she saw huge clots in the toilet. Significant bleeding, the emergency physician wrote. Im starting to feel a lot of pain, Porsha texted Hope. Around 7:30 p.m., she wrote: She said I might need surgery if I dont stop bleeding, referring to the nurse. At 7:50 p.m., after a nurse changed her second diaper in an hour: Come now.

Still, the doctor didnt mention a D&C at this point, records show. Medical experts told ProPublica that this wait-and-see approach has become more common under abortion bans. Unless there is overt information indicating that the patient is at significant risk, hospital administrators have told physicians to simply monitor them, said Dr. Robert Carpenter, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist who works in several hospital systems in Houston. Methodist declined to share its miscarriage protocols with ProPublica or explain how it is guiding doctors under the abortion ban.

As Porsha waited for Hope, a radiologist completed an ultrasound and noted that she had a pregnancy of unknown location. The scan detected a sac-like structure but no fetus or cardiac activity. This report, combined with her symptoms, indicated she was miscarrying.

But the ultrasound record alone was less definitive from a legal perspective, several doctors explained to ProPublica. Since Porsha had not had a prenatal visit, there was no documentation to prove she was 11 weeks along. On paper, this pregnancy of unknown location diagnosis could also suggest that she was only a few weeks into a normally developing pregnancy, when cardiac activity wouldnt be detected. Texas outlaws abortion from the moment of fertilization; a record showing there is no cardiac activity isnt enough to give physicians cover to intervene, experts said.

Dr. Gabrielle Taper, who recently worked as an OB-GYN resident in Austin, said that she regularly witnessed delays after ultrasound reports like these. If its a pregnancy of unknown location, if we do something to manage it, is that considered an abortion or not? she said, adding that this was one of the key problems she encountered. After the abortion ban went into effect, she said, there was much more hesitation about: When can we intervene, do we have enough evidence to say this is a miscarriage, how long are we going to wait, what will we use to feel definitive?

At Methodist, the emergency room doctor reached Davis, the on-call OB-GYN, to discuss the ultrasound, according to records. They agreed on a plan of observation in the hospital to monitor bleeding.

Around 8:30 p.m., just after Hope arrived, Porsha passed out. Terrified, he took her head in his hands and tried to bring her back to consciousness. Babe, look at me, he told her. Focus. Her blood pressure was dipping dangerously low. She had held off on accepting a blood transfusion until he got there. Now, as she came to, she agreed to receive one and then another.

By this point, it was clear that she needed a D&C, more than a dozen OB-GYNs who reviewed her case told ProPublica. She was hemorrhaging, and the standard of care is to vacuum out the residual tissue so the uterus can clamp down, physicians told ProPublica.

Complete the miscarriage and the bleeding will stop, said Dr. Lauren Thaxton, an OB-GYN who recently left Texas.

At every point, its kind of shocking, said Dr. Daniel Grossman, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California, San Francisco who reviewed Porshas case. She is having significant blood loss and the physician didnt move toward aspiration.

All Porsha talked about was her devastation of losing the pregnancy. She was cold, crying and in extreme pain. She wanted to be at home with her boys. Unsure what to say, Hope leaned his chest over the cot, passing his body heat to her.



Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay

At 9:45 p.m., Esmeralda Acosta, a nurse, wrote that Porsha was continuing to pass large clots the size of grapefruit. Fifteen minutes later, when the nurse learned Davis planned to send Porsha to a floor with fewer nurses, she voiced concern that he wanted to take her out of the emergency room, given her condition, according to medical records.

At 10:20 p.m., seven hours after Porsha arrived, Davis came to see her. Hope remembered what his mother had told him on the phone earlier that night: She needs a D&C. The doctor seemed confident about a different approach: misoprostol. If that didnt work, Hope remembers him saying, they would move on to the procedure.

A pill sounded good to Porsha because the idea of surgery scared her. Davis did not explain that a D&C involved no incisions, just suction, according to Hope, or tell them that it would stop the bleeding faster. The Ngumezis followed his recommendation without question. Im thinking, Hes the OB, hes probably seen this a thousand times, he probably knows whats right, Hope said.

But more than a dozen doctors who reviewed Porshas case were concerned by this recommendation. Many said it was dangerous to give misoprostol to a woman whos bleeding heavily, especially one with a blood clotting disorder. Thats not what you do, said Dr. Elliott Main, the former medical director for the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative and an expert in hemorrhage, after reviewing the case. She needed to go to the operating room. Main and others said doctors are obliged to counsel patients on the risks and benefits of all their options, including a D&C.

Performing a D&C, though, attracts more attention from colleagues, creating a higher barrier in a state where abortion is illegal, explained Goulding, the OB-GYN in Houston. Staff are familiar with misoprostol because its used for labor, and it only requires a doctor and a nurse to administer it. To do a procedure, on the other hand, a doctor would need to find an operating room, an anesthesiologist and a nursing team. You have to convince everyone that it is legal and wont put them at risk, said Goulding. Many people may be afraid and misinformed and refuse to participate  even if its for a miscarriage.

Davis moved Porsha to a less-intensive unit, according to records. Hope wondered why they were leaving the emergency room if the nurse seemed so worried. But instead of pushing back, he rubbed Porshas arms, trying to comfort her. The hospital was reputable. Since we were at Methodist, I felt I could trust the doctors.

On their way to the other ward, Porsha complained of chest pain. She kept remarking on it when they got to the new room. From this point forward, there are no nurses notes recording how much she continued to bleed. My wife says she doesnt feel right, and last time she said that, she passed out, Hope told a nurse. Furious, he tried to hold it together so as not to alarm Porsha. We need to see the doctor, he insisted.

Her vital signs looked fine. But many physicians told ProPublica that when healthy pregnant patients are hemorrhaging, their bodies can compensate for a long time, until they crash. Any sign of distress, such as chest pain, could be a red flag; the symptom warranted investigation with tests, like an electrocardiogram or X-ray, experts said. To them, Porshas case underscored how important it is that doctors be able to intervene before there are signs of a life-threatening emergency.

But Davis didnt order any tests, according to records.

Around 1:30 a.m., Hope was sitting by Porshas bed, his hands on her chest, telling her, We are going to figure this out. They were talking about what she might like for breakfast when she began gasping for air.

Help, I need help! he shouted to the nurses through the intercom. She cant breathe.

All She Needed

Hours later, Hope returned home in a daze. Is mommy still at the hospital? one of his sons asked. Hope nodded; he couldnt find the words to tell the boys theyd lost their mother. He dressed them and drove them to school, like the previous day had been a bad dream. He reached for his phone to call Porsha, as he did every morning that he dropped the kids off. But then he remembered that he couldnt.

Friends kept reaching out. Most of his familys network worked in medicine, and after they said how sorry they were, one after another repeated the same message. All she needed was a D&C, said one. They shouldnt have given her that medication, said another. Its a simple procedure, the callers continued. We do this all the time in Nigeria.

Since Porsha died, several families in Texas have spoken publicly about similar circumstances. This May, when Ryan Hamiltons wife was bleeding while miscarrying at 13 weeks, the first doctor they saw at Surepoint Emergency Center Stephenville noted no fetal cardiac activity and ordered misoprostol, according to medical records. When they returned because the bleeding got worse, an emergency doctor on call, Kyle Demler, said he couldnt do anything considering the current stance in Texas, according to Hamilton, who recorded his recollection of the conversation shortly after speaking with Demler. (Neither Surepoint Emergency Center Stephenville nor Demler responded to several requests for comment.)

They drove an hour to another hospital asking for a D&C to stop the bleeding, but there, too, the physician would only prescribe misoprostol, medical records indicate. Back home, Hamiltons wife continued bleeding until he found her passed out on the bathroom floor. You dont think it can really happen like that, said Hamilton. It feels like youre living in some sort of movie, its so unbelievable.

Across Texas, physicians say they blame the law for interfering with medical care. After ProPublica reported last month on two women who diedafter delays in miscarriage care, 111 OB-GYNs sent a letter to Texas policymakers, saying that the law does not allow Texas women to get the lifesaving care they need.

Dr. Austin Dennard, an OB-GYN in Dallas, told ProPublica that if one person on a medical team doubts the doctors choice to proceed with a D&C, the physician might back down. You constantly feel like you have someone looking over your shoulder in a punitive, vigilante type of way.

The criminal penalties are so chilling that even women with diagnoses included in the laws exceptions are facing delays and denials. Last year, for example, legislators added an update to the ban for patients diagnosed with previable premature rupture of membranes, in which a patients water breaks before a fetus can survive. Doctors can still face prosecution for providing abortions in those cases, but they are offered the chance to justify themselves with whats called an affirmative defense, not unlike a murder suspect arguing self defense. This modest change has not stopped some doctors from transferring those patients instead of treating them; Dr. Allison Gilbert, an OB-GYN in Dallas, said doctors send them to her from other hospitals. They didnt feel like other staff members would be comfortable proceeding with the abortion, she said. Its frustrating that places still feel like they cant act on some of these cases that are clearly emergencies. Women denied treatment for ectopic pregnancies, another exception in the law, have filed federal complaints.

In response to ProPublicas questions about Houston Methodists guidance on miscarriage management, a spokesperson, Gale Smith, said that the hospital has an ethics committee, which can usually respond within hours to help physicians and patients make appropriate decisions in compliance with state laws.

After Porsha died, Davis described in the medical record a patient who looked stable: He was tracking her vital signs, her bleeding was mild and she was said not to be in distress. He ordered bloodwork to ensure patient wasnt having concerning bleeding. Medical experts who reviewed Porshas case couldnt understand why Davis noted that a nurse and other providers reported decreasing bleeding in the emergency department when the record indicated otherwise. He doesnt document the heavy bleeding that the nurse clearly documented, including the significant bleeding that prompted the blood transfusion, which is surprising, Grossman, the UCSF professor, said.

Patients who are miscarrying still dont know what to expect from Houston Methodist.

This past May, Marlena Stell, a patient with symptoms nearly identical to Porshas, arrived at another hospital in the system, Houston Methodist The Woodlands. According to medical records, she, too, was 11 weeks along and bleeding heavily. An ultrasound confirmed there was no fetal heartbeat and indicated the miscarriage wasnt complete. I assumed they would do whatever to get the bleeding to stop, Stell said.

Instead, she bled for hours at the hospital. She wanted a D&C to clear out the rest of the tissue, but the doctor gave her methergine, a medication thats typically used after childbirth to stop bleeding but that isnt standard care in the middle of a miscarriage, doctors told ProPublica. She had heavy bleeding, and she had an ultrasound thats consistent with retained products of conception. said Dr. Jodi Abbott, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Boston University School of Medicine, who reviewed the records. The standard of care would be a D&C.

Stell says that instead, she was sent home and told to let the miscarriage take its course. She completed her miscarriage later that night, but doctors who reviewed her case, so similar to Porshas, said it showed how much of a gamble physicians take when they dont follow the standard of care. She got lucky  she could have died, Abbott said. (Houston Methodist did not respond to a request for comment on Stells care.)

It hadnt occurred to Hope that the laws governing abortion could have any effect on his wifes miscarriage. Now its the only explanation that makes sense to him. We all know pregnancies can come out beautifully or horribly, Hope told ProPublica. Instead of putting laws in place to make pregnancies safer, we created laws that put them back in danger.

For months, Hopes youngest son didnt understand that his mom was gone. Porshas long hair had been braided, and anytime the toddler saw a woman with braids from afar, he would take off after her, shouting, Thats mommy!

A couple weeks ago, Hope flew to Amsterdam to quiet his mind. It was his first trip without Porsha, but as he walked the city, he didnt know how to experience it without her. He kept thinking about how she would love the Christmas lights and want to try all the pastries. How she would have teased him when he fell asleep on a boat tour of the canals. I thought getting away would help, he wrote in his journal. But all Ive done is imagine her beside me.

* Lizzie Presser covers health, inequality and how policy is experienced at ProPublica. She was previously a contributing writer for The California Sunday Magazine, and her work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Guardian, This American Life and others. Her story The Dispossessed, published in partnership with The New Yorker, won the George Polk Award for Magazine Reporting and the John Bartlow Martin Award for Public Interest Magazine Journalism in 2020. She is a two-time finalist for the Livingston Award and the National Magazine Award.

* Kavitha Surana is a reporter at ProPublica.

ProPublica
Catherine Gegout, University of Nottingham

(The Conversation)  The EU has stood in solidarity with Israel since the start of the war with Hamas, and has been consistent in saying the country has the right to defend itself. But the EU has always said that this has to be done in line with international law, which Israel has been accused of breaching.

In July 2024 the International Court of Justice (ICJ) advised that Israels occupation of Palestinian territories was unlawful. Then, in October, Israels parliament voted to ban the UNs Palestinian refugee agency (Unrwa) from operating in Israel  and therefore Gaza. This ruling will only mean further suffering for the Palestinian people.

One month later, on November 21, the International Criminal Court (ICC) decided to issue arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif.

Netanyahu and Gallant are wanted for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during the war in Gaza. And Deif is wanted on the same charges for crimes committed both in Israel and Palestine from October 7 onwards.

More women and children have been killed in Gaza by the Israeli military since the start of the war than in any other conflict of an equivalent period over the past two decades. Israels actions in Gaza, the West Bank and now Lebanon are gradually causing some EU states to change their stance.

Shifting towards condemnation

Only five EU states  Belgium, Latvia, France, Estonia and Cyprus  were in favour of a resolution adopted by the UN general assembly in September that demanded Israel end its unlawful presence in the occupied territories of Palestine within 12 months. Bulgaria, Austria, Sweden, Italy and Germany abstained.

There has been a notable shift in the position of EU leaders since then. When Israeli forces fired on a UN peacekeeping position in Lebanon in October, Italys prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, denounced the incident as unjustifiable.

The EUs foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, then condemned the Israeli attacks and reiterated calls for sanctions against those responsible for Israeli settlers in the West Bank, including two members of Netanyahus government, finance minister Bezalel Smotrich and security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.



EU v. Israel, Digital, Dream / Dreamland, 2024.

The UK, while not an EU state, is also considering sanctions on these two individuals over what Prime Minister Keir Starmer called obviously abhorrent comments they made about Palestinians in August. Smotrich said starving civilians in Gaza might be justified and Ben Gvir called perpetrators of settler violence in the West Bank heroes.

Some European states such as France, Spain, Italy, Belgium and the UK have reduced arms sales to Israel. But despite these policies, there is no EU arms ban on Israel. In fact, Germany provides one-third of Israels arms, and has even increased these exports in the second half of 2024.

Yet in July 2024, the court said that states are under an obligation not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israels illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. This should arguably not only involve an EU ban on arms sales to Israel, but also a suspension of the EUs trade agreement with Israel. Ireland and Spain have been pushing for the latter, but no decision has yet been taken.

The EU has the economic clout to hurt Israels economy. While Israel is only the EUs 25th largest trading partner, the EU is Israels largest, and accounts for almost one-third of its trade in goods.

But EU sanctions look a way off at present. Austria, Hungary, Germany and the Czech Republic are Israels closest allies in the EU, and it is very unlikely that they would vote in favour of sanctions.

That said, the recent arrest warrants are likely to have a powerful indirect effect. In May 2024, UN experts said that the transfer of weapons and ammunition to Israel may constitute serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian laws and risk state complicity in international crimes. So, EU states that continue to provide arms to Israel are arguably complicit in war crimes and crimes against humanity.

And even if the EU government itself does not ban arms sales, citizens can ask their own courts to enforce such a ban. This type of case is already occuring in the Netherlands.

The issue of arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant also make it possible for the EU to establish a travel ban and impose financial sanctions against them. All EU member states are party to the ICC, and support the courts work. On November 21, Borrell said the ICC warrants are not political and the court decision should be respected and implemented.

EU states are firmly in agreement that only a two-state solution will increase the chances of security and peace in the region. To make this a realistic prospect, more EU countries need to recognise the state of Palestine.

In the 1980s, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic all recognised Palestinian statehood. Sweden did in 2014, and Ireland, Spain and non-EU member Norway followed in 2024.

The EUs responsibility for discussing these policies is all the more salient given Donald Trumps return to the White House. His ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has previously said that Israel has a rightful claim to the West Bank.

Many Palestinians in the West Bank believe the US election result will make Israel even stronger, with the prospect of a Palestinian state soon to be off the table.

Catherine Gegout, Associate Professor in International Relations, University of Nottingham

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GoldHaven Resources Corp. ("GoldHaven" or the "Company") (CSE: GOH) (OTCQB: GHVNF) (FSE: 4QS) announces the filing of an independent technical report prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). The technical report, titled Magno Project, Liard Mining Division, BC can be found on the Companys website here and under the Companys issuer profile at http://www.sedarplus.ca/.

The Magno Project: A district-scale, polymetallic property located in the Liard Mining Division, adjacent to the historic Cassiar mining district, in Cassiar BC, Canada

The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary Copper Peak Metals Inc., holds 100% ownership of the Magno mineral property in British Columbia.

Magno property with BC regional geology highlighting historical work and present showings

The Magno property is a district-scale, polymetallic property with 24 mineral tenures located in the Liard Mining Division, adjacent to the historic Cassiar mining district, in Cassiar BC, Canada.

British Columbia is a premier mining jurisdiction, hosting 16 of Canadas 31 critical minerals and standing as the nations largest copper producer. It also holds vast gold resources, with an estimated 280 million ounces of in-ground gold, primarily within polymetallic porphyry deposits.

Northwestern British Columbia is a globally significant mining district, home to some of the richest porphyry copper and gold deposits in the world. This regions Late Triassic to Early Jurassic tectono-magmatic activity created high-grade, large-scale deposits, positioning it as a major source of copper and precious metals.

The project focuses on the late Cretaceous terranes, known to host significant porphyry deposits like those at Casino and Red Mountain. The exploration team will target granitic bodies beneath promising skarn deposits, aiming to identify the source of mineralized fluids linked to these skarns. The focus will be on extensive geochemical and geophysical exploration to identify potential porphyry sources.

Magno North

The northern portion of the property, Magno North, is located 3km south of the Cassiar Townsite and is primarily where the historic work has been conducted on the property. The Cassiar area is well endowed with various types of mineralization. Aside from the carbonate replacement deposit (CRD) mineralization in the northern part of the Magno Property, notable past producing gold mines including Taurus, Erickson and Table Mountain are located within Slide Mountain/Sylvester/rocks to the east and porphyry molybdenum mineralization occurs in the Cassiar Batholith. Placer gold has been mined in the area since 1874, and the past producing Cassiar-McDame asbestos mine is located nine kilometres to the north.

Exploration has been conducted on the Magno Property since the 1950s, which has included prospecting, soil and rock geochemistry ground geophysics and drilling. In 1970 and 1971 two adits totalling 522 metres, were emplaced into the Magno West zone.

Website & Corporate Presentation:

The Company is pleased to announce the official launch of its new website and corporate presentation.

The website features a streamlined, modern design and currently highlights the Companys premier projects, corporate presentation and news. Prospective investors can subscribe to the Companys newsletter to stay informed and up to date on all business developments.

The presentation follows the websites new design and showcases highlights from the newly acquired assets. Some highlights include:

BC is a premier mining jurisdiction, hosting 16 of 31 critical minerals

Holds the nations largest copper producer as well as numerous gold resources at ~280M ounces primarily in polymetallic porphyry deposits

Two projects, Magno and Three Guardsmen, located on trend of major porphyry systems

Magno project is district-scale adjacent to historic Cassiar mining district

Three Guardsmen project is in close proximity to historic mines

Both projects contain favorable infrastructure including road access

To access and download the corporate presentation please visit the companys website here.

Non-Brokered Private Placement:

GoldHaven announces a non-brokered private placement of up to 9,500,000 units at $0.05 per unit (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of up to $475,000.

Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole such warrant, a Warrant). Each Warrant will entitle its holder to purchase one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a Warrant Share) at a price of $0.10 per Warrant Share at any time prior to 24 months following the closing of the Offering.

Insiders may participate in the Offering and finders fees may be payable in connection with the Offering.

All securities issued in connection with the Offering will have a four-month and one day hold period in Canada from the closing of the Offering.

Net proceeds of the Offering will be used for exploration expenditures, administrative and general working capital.

Insiders of the Company participating in the foregoing offering will constitute a related party transaction as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 -- Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101). Such participation is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the securities acquired by the insiders, nor the consideration for the securities paid by such insiders, exceed 25 per cent of the company's market capitalization. Net proceeds of the Offering will be used for general working capital.

None of the foregoing securities have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or any applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) or persons in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor will there be any sale of the foregoing securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

R.J. (Bob) Johnston, P.Geo from Engineers & Geoscientists British Columbia is the qualified person for the Company has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release.

About GoldHaven Resources Corp.

GoldHaven Resources Corp. is a Canadian junior exploration Company focused on acquiring and exploring highly prospective land packages in North America. The Companys projects include the flagship Magno Project, a district-scale polymetallic property adjacent to the historic Cassiar mining district in British Columbia, and the Three Guardsman Project, which exhibits significant potential for copper and gold-skarn mineralization.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Bonn Smith, Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Bonn Smith, CEO

www.GoldHavenresources.com

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Office Direct: (604) 629-8254

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE- Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, the possible acquisition of the future projects, the Company's expectation that it will be successful in enacting its business plans, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "potential", "scheduled", or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that there will be investor interest in future financings, market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration and development of any future projects in a timely manner, the availability of financing on suitable terms for exploration and development of future projects and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.

The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities, the estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the inability of the Company to obtain the necessary financing required to conduct its business and affairs, as currently contemplated, , the inability of the Company to enter into definitive agreements in respect of possible Letters of Intent, the timing and amount of estimated future production, the costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, requirements for additional capital, future prices of precious metals, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, lack of investor interest in future financings, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations, including by the Exchange, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and risks related to joint venture operations, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's latest interim Management's Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities commissions in Canada. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedarplus.ca and readers are urged to review these materials.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 26, 2024) - Golden Spike Resources Corp. (CSE: GLDS) (OTCQB: GSPRF) (FSE: L5Y) ("Golden Spike") is pleased to provide an update on its ongoing drilling program at the Gregory River Property ("the Property"), located on the west side of Newfoundland. The Company has successfully completed five diamond drill holes at the Steep Brook volcanogenic massive sulphide ("VMS") target, totaling approximately 921 meters ("m"), and has now mobilized the drill rig to the next priority target, Lode 9.

Highlights:

Five holes completed at Steep Brook totaling approximately 921 m (Figure 1).

Intervals of disseminated and fracture/veinlet-hosted pyrite and/or chalcopyrite mineralization, logged in holes GR-24-03 and GR-24-05.

Core samples from the initial few holes have been submitted to the laboratory.

The drill rig has been moved to the Lode 9 Target and drilling is underway.

Keith Anderson, President and CEO of Golden Spike Resources, commented: "We are excited to have completed this inaugural phase of drilling at the Steep Brook Target and are now shifting our focus to Lode 9, the second of three promising areas to be tested during this drilling campaign. To have intersected zones of pyrite and/or chalcopyrite mineralization in two of the initial holes is a very positive start to our drilling program, especially since Steep Brook is still at an early stage of exploration and has only seen a few historical campaigns of exploration, and only one historical drill hole. Our team is committed to working with the drill results and other data to enhance our understanding of Steep Brook's mineralization potential and to continue to advance the drill program efficiently and responsibly. We look forward to sharing assay results with our stakeholders as soon as they become available."

Within drill hole GR-24-03 two zones of sulphide mineralization were geologically logged in the hole. The first occurs between approximately 9 m and 30 m, as a mix of disseminated and minor blebs of pyrite and chalcopyrite in chlorite altered pillowed basalt, as well as some sections of fracture-controlled sulphide stringers and sulphide mineralized quartz-carbonate veinlets. Visual estimates of chalcopyrite mineralization are variable and range from trace amounts, up to 7%, over narrow, 10 to 20 cm intervals. Further down the hole, between approximately 62 m and 89 m a second zone of sulphide mineralization was logged, hosted in fine-grained massive basalt, with minor sub-units of pillowed basalt and gabbro.



Figure 1: Location of Steep Brook Drill Holes

Note: Soil samples and a portion of the rock samples are historical and since the companies that collected the data were mid-size to large, reputable companies that would have had sampling methodologies and quality control processes in place that were considered industry-standard for that time, the QP feels that it is reasonable to report these results as historical and provide a use guide for future exploration at these prospects.

Mineralization occurs as a mix of fracture-controlled sulphides, quartz-carbonate veinlet-hosted sulphides, and sulphide-rich fragments and disseminated specks in breccias. Visual estimates of chalcopyrite are variable, ranging between trace and 1%, with higher percentages ranging between 3% and 50% over 5 cm to 2m intervals.

Drill hole GR-24-05 intersected one main sulphide zone, from the base of the overburden at about 10 m, to approximately 42 m down the hole. The top 10 m of this interval are logged as fine-grained gabbro, followed by a sequence of fine-grained massive basalt and breccia. All units show pervasive chlorite-silica alteration throughout. Sulphide mineralization consists of breccia matrix hosted blebs of semi-massive pyrite and chalcopyrite, along with a component of fracture-hosted and fine disseminated sulphides. A visual estimate of chalcopyrite mineralization over this interval ranges between 1% and 6%.

The Company cautions that with respect to reporting of any visible sulphide mineralization, including pyrite or chalcopyrite, or other visual mineralization indicators such as alteration, visual observations and estimates are uncertain and should not be taken as a substitute for geochemical analyses. The estimates of sulphides were observed and reported in drill hole logs by the onsite project geologist and are subject to final analytical results and interpretations and do not represent anticipated grades of copper, or other metals within the mineralized intercepts. Analytical results will be reported once they have been received, validated and interpreted by the Company.

Photos 1 and 2: Photo 1 (left), selected interval from GR-24-03 at about 71m depth showing disseminated and blebs of pyrite and chalcopyrite. Photo 2 (right), selected interval from GR-24-05 at about 12m depth showing brecciated basalt with infilling of quartz-carbonate and pyrite-chalcopyrite mineralization. Note that these intervals are not representative of the entire drill hole, nor the entire mineralized interval.

Steep Brook Target Drilling Information

Diamond drilling at Steep Brook was conducted by Rally Drilling Services Inc., from October 28 to November 16, 2024, during which time five holes totalling 921 metres ("m") were completed (Figure 1). The drill holes were designed to test multiple anomalies, including first priority Induced Polarization/Resistivity ("IP") anomalies (refer to press release "Golden Spike Announces IP Survey Results from Gregory River, October 17, 2024) and surface rock sampling results (refer to press release "Golden Spike Announces Start of Drilling, and Rock and Soil Sampling Results from Gregory River, October 29, 2024) from our summer exploration program, along with historical drill results (Duval, 1985), historical soil anomalies (Noranda, 1991), and additional historical rock samples from various campaigns.

Since the companies that collected the historical drilling data and surface samples were mostly mid-size to large, reputable companies that would have had sampling methodologies and quality control processes in place that were considered industry-standard for that time, the QP feels that it is reasonable to report these results as historical and to use them as a guide for on-going exploration at these prospects. During this summer's sampling program, a portion of the historical sample sites were re-sampled by Golden Spike, further supporting the general range of grades historically reported. Furthermore, during January 2023 the Company relogged and sampled a portion of historical drill hole CC-2, returning a similar range of copper values and providing support for the historical grades in this hole.

All of the recent holes were drilled at moderate dips, ranging between -47 and -55 degrees, to down-hole depths ranging between 172 m and 206 m. Drill holes GR-24-01 to GR-24-04 were drilled towards the east, while GR-24-05 was drilled towards the west. Drill hole sample lengths range between 0.44 m and 2.25 m, but average around 1.0 m. Table 1 summarizes the drill hole details and Figure 1 shows the locations of the drill holes.

Although sample core cutting is still underway, samples from the initial few holes have been submitted to SGS Natural Resources ("SGS") in Grand Falls, Newfoundland for preparation and analysis. SGS is an internationally recognized laboratory and is independent of Golden Spike. SGS conforms to the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017. Scopes of Accredited tests are site specific, please visit Accredited Organizations | Standards Council of Canada (scc-ccn.ca).

At the preparation laboratory, samples will be crushed to 75% passing 2mm, and a 250 g split will be pulverized to 85% passing 75 microns. The pulp will be shipped directly by SGS to their laboratory in Burnaby, BC, where samples will be analysed for gold by 30-gram fire assay with an AAS finish and for 33 elements by ICP-AES, using a 4-acid digestion. The ICP analysis will include target elements such as copper, zinc and silver, as well as various pathfinder and other elements.

All analytical results from the Steep Brook holes are still pending and results will be released once they have been received, validated and interpreted by the Company.

Table 3: Steep Brook Target Diamond Drilling

Drill

Hole UTM

EAST UTM

NORTH Elevation

(masl) Length

(m) Azimuth

(degrees) Dip

(degrees) Assay

Status GR24-001 415840 5461029 285 206 90 -55 Pending GR24-002 415581 5460829 229 175 90 -50 Pending GR24-003 415989 5461129 288 172 90 -51 Pending GR24-004 416037 5461329 341 172 90 -50 Pending GR24-005 416005 5460629 193 196 270 -47 Pending Total Drilling 921

Notes: Collar coordinates are measured by handheld GPS and will be more accurately surveyed at a later date; UTM coordinates are reported using NAD83.

Next Steps

With the completion of the drilling at Steep Brook the drill rig has been mobilized to Lode 9 drilling, where approximately 4 holes will be completed totaling 900 m. Following Lode 9, the rig will be moved to the final priority target, the Vein Zone, where an additional 4 holes will be drilled totaling approximately 830 m. Drill hole samples will be shipped to the laboratory on a regular basis and the assays from the initial holes are expected to be returned in approximately 4-6 weeks. All analytical results will be released as they are received, validated and interpreted by the Company.

QA/QC and Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved for disclosure by Mr. Robert Cinits, P.Geo, a director of the Company and a "Qualified Person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

The Company has incorporated a rigorous quality assurance/quality control ("QA/QC") program during the drill hole sampling, which includes the regular insertion of Company standards, blanks and duplicates at a frequency of approximately 1 per 20 regular samples.

JEA Program

Golden Spike Resources Corp. is deeply appreciative of being selected as a recipient of the Newfoundland Junior Exploration Assistance (JEA) Program. The anticipated financial support of $95,691.86 represents a crucial step in advancing our exploration initiatives in Newfoundland, and we are incredibly grateful for the support provided by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. This opportunity strengthens our commitment to responsible and innovative exploration in the region, and we look forward to the positive impact this assistance will have on our efforts. We thank the government for their trust and confidence in our vision and ongoing work.

About Golden Spike

Golden Spike Resources Corp. (CSE: GLDS), (OTCQB: GSPRF), (FSE: L5Y) is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on identifying, acquiring and unlocking value in mineral opportunities in Canada and other low-risk jurisdictions. The Company currently holds 100% interest in the 5,175-hectare Gregory River Property in Newfoundland, strategically centered over an approximate 11-kilometre-long stretch of the Gregory River VMS-belt, a north-northeast trending corridor of very prospective ground with potential to host Cyprus-type polymetallic VMS deposits. In addition, the Property hosts a cluster of historically explored, high-grade, copper gold vein structures. Golden Spike Resources remains dedicated to sustainable exploration practices and continues to collaborate with local communities, consultants, and stakeholders as it progresses its exploration initiatives.

For further information, please contact: Keith Anderson, President, Golden Spike Resources Corp. Tel: 604-786-7774, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: https://www.goldenspikeresources.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" occur.

Additionally, forward-looking information involve a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation: the volatility of global capital markets, political instability, unanticipated costs, risks relating to the extent and duration of the conflict in Eastern Europe and its impact on global markets, the lack of availability of capital and financing, general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather conditions, failure to maintain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to maintain community acceptance (including First Nations), increase in costs, litigation, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, failure of the exploration program, including the recent IP survey and the current drilling program to result in the discovery of significant precious and/or base metal mineralization, and those risks, uncertainties and factors set forth in the Company's disclosure record under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information contained herein. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement or forward-looking information disclosed herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
CALGARY, AB  TheNewswire - November 26, 2024 - San Lorenzo Gold Corp. ("San Lorenzo" or the "Company") (TSXV: SLG) is pleased to announce that targeting, drill road access and pad construction haven been competed for the maiden drill program on its Cerro Blanco target at Salvadora.

About Cerro Blanco

Cerro Blanco is one of 5 target areas located within San Lorenzos Salvadora property. It is highlighted by a strong leached cap and alteration zone exposed in the approximately 250 meters high valley wall formed by river erosion on the northern edge of the target zone. This alteration zone is exposed over a strike length exceeding 2.5 kilometers south of the valley wall. In Chile, the type of surface alteration seen at Cerro Blanco is a common feature within and above similar mineralized intrusions as evidenced locally by the porphyry copper/gold deposits associated with the El Salvador mine 15 km to the NE. A view of the feature can be seen in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1: View of the Cerro Blanco feature looking South across the river valley floor.

The Cerro Blanco feature has long been a priority target - not yet drilled because of a lack of access  with access having recently been completed.

San Lorenzos recent efforts included completion of additional surface rock and soil sampling on Cerro Blanco. A strong 2.5 km sq soil copper anomaly was identified - which is open to the NW, NE and SW. Numerous soil samples graded from 0.05  0.1% copper and numerous rock samples graded 0.1  1.55% copper and 0.02  0.33 g/t gold (Figure 2). An IP survey detected a moderate to strong chargeability anomaly underlying the core of the surface soil and rock copper/gold anomaly which is also open on strike and at depth. During construction, altered mineralized rock was exposed in the road cuts confirming the local nature of the surface alteration. Figure 2 below provides locations of the results discussed above and indicates proposed drilling locations.

Figure 2: Map of Cerro Blanco feature including: soil and rock sample locations and results; an outline of the copper/gold soil and rock sample anomaly; an outline of the IP anomaly; drill pad locations.

Permits for the maiden drill program are expected imminently. The recent increase in the credit facility from a director and officer (see November 19, 2024 news release) will finance the maiden drill program at Cerro Blanco.

San Lorenzo VP Exploration, Terry Walker commented that Cerro Blanco is a very large, classic porphyry target. The combination of the large alteration zone with anomalous copper/gold geochemistry and IP chargeability make it a compelling target and were very pleased to have competed access work so we can finally drill test it.

About San Lorenzo

San Lorenzo is focused on advancing its Salvadora property located in Chiles mega porphyry Cu-Au-Mo belt - just south of one of Chiles major porphyry deposits and producing mines, El Salvador.

Results obtained from drilling programs conducted on 4 different targets to date have convinced management that several significant gold and copper enriched epithermal and porphyry style copper, gold molybdenum systems underly the Salvadora property.

San Lorenzo looks forward to providing timely updates on its activities at Salvador in the coming weeks.

For further information, please contact:

Roger Blair, Acuity Advisory Corp.

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ph: +1-604-351-0025

or:

Terence (Terry) Walker, VP Exploration

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ph: + 56 9 5179 5902

or:

Al Kroontje

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ph: 403-607-4009

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release, publication, distribution or dissemination directly, or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release may contain forward-looking information that involves substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, most of which are beyond the control of San Lorenzo. All statements included herein other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information involves various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and, other than as required by applicable securities laws, San Lorenzo does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release, publication, distribution or dissemination directly, or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 26, 2024) - Gladiator Metals Corp. (TSXV: GLAD) (OTCQB: GDTRF) (FSE: ZX7) ("Gladiator" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, as a result of demand, it has increased the size of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (see news release dated November 11, 2024).

Gladiator now intends to raise aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$12,625,000 (the "Offering") by increasing the Charity Flow Through portion of the Offering and issuing up to 15,000,000 Charity Flow Through Shares (the "Charity FT Shares") at a price of $0.775. There is no increase to the number of Non-Flow Through common shares under the Offering.

Gladiator intends to use the proceeds of the Offering for general working capital purposes and to fund its exploration program at its Whitehorse Copper Project in the Yukon including diamond drilling at:

"advanced prospects Cowley Park and Chief's Trend with the intention of establishing a maiden initial inferred resource" and

"new high-grade copper targets along the Whitehorse Copper Belt defined from historical drilling and aeromagnetic surveying."

CEO Jason Bontempo quoted "This strong display of financial commitment from experienced institutional resource investors pays testament to the technical and social progress made by our very experienced and hardworking exploration team with the valuable co-operation of our First Nations Partners, the Kwanlin Dun First Nation and the Ta'an Kwach'an Council in addition to our project partners H Coyne & Son in Whitehorse, Yukon."

The Offering is expected to close on or about November 29, 2024, and is subject to certain closing conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the conditional approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The Company may pay finders' fees under the Offering in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. The securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a hold period under applicable securities laws in Canada expiring four months and one day from the closing date of the Offering.

The FT Shares will qualify as "flow-through shares" (within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act")). An amount equal to the gross proceeds from the issuance of the FT Shares will be used to incur eligible resource exploration expenses which will qualify as (i) "Canadian exploration expenses" (as defined in the Tax Act), and (ii) as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" (as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Tax Act) (collectively, the "Qualifying Expenditures"). Qualifying Expenditures in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of the FT Shares will be incurred (or deemed to be incurred) by the Company on or before December 31, 2025 and will be renounced by the Company to the initial purchasers of the FT Shares with an effective date no later than December 31, 2024.

Members of the Company's management team may participate in the Offering including subscriptions from related parties of the Company as defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The participation of management in the Offering is exempt from formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements pursuant to exemptions contained in sections 5.5(c) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

Forward-Looking Statement Cautions

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the Company's plans with respect to the Company's projects and the timing related thereto, the merits of the Company's projects, the Company's objectives, plans and strategies, the Offering and other project opportunities. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective,", "strategy", "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include the risk of accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, or the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other agency or governmental clearances, necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, risks of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes in the jurisdictions where the Company carries on its business that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR+) at www.sedarplus.ca for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.

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.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
November 26, 2024  TheNewswire - Vancouver, Canada  Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd. (the Company) (CSE:GCC) (OTC:GCCFF) (WKN:A402CQ) (FSE:3TZ) announces multiple occurrences of visible gold (Figure 2 enclosed) have been encountered in the latest drill hole, QGQ24-20, subsequent to previously announced visible gold in drill holes QGQ24-16 to QGQ24-19 in a news release dated October 29, 2024.

Drill hole QGQ24-20 is testing the Halo zone discovery to the north and is currently in progress at a depth of 327.66 m (1075.0 ft) (see Figure 3 enclosed). The drill hole has encountered extensive quartz-carbonate+/-pyrite veins and associated alteration of the volcanic host rocks (Figure 1 enclosed). All figures can be viewed on the Companys website at www.goldencariboo.com.

Additionally, the Company announces the winterizing of the field camp in Hixon, BC, allowing the Company to drill throughout the winter, with a planned break on December 22, 2024 and drilling to resume on January 6, 2025.

Golden Cariboos President and CEO, Frank Callaghan, stated Drill hole QGQ24-20 is the eighth consecutive drill hole in our Halo zone discovery that has encountered visible gold. This is reminiscent of our exploration teams success at the Cariboo Gold project, 75 km to the SE, which is now owned by Osisko Development and has recently been permitted to commence mine construction. Golden Cariboos team extends a heartfelt congratulations to Osisko Development for taking our dream of building a significant mine at the historic Cariboo Gold camp and seeing it through to fruition. Our current drill hole QGQ24-20 represents another step out from our discovery holes reported earlier this fall, and again is providing visual indication of a gold system of significant scale. With our camp now winterized, we will continue drilling to expand the discovery unabated.

Figure 1: Altered volcanics with quartz-carbonate+/-pyrite veins to a depth of 265.2 m (870 ft) in QGQ24-20

Figure 2: Example of visible gold in drill hole QGQ24-20 at a depth of 131.1 m (430.1 ft)

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed by Jean Pautler, P.Geo., a qualified person with respect to NI 43-101.

About Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd.

Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd. is rediscovering the Cariboo Gold Rush by proceeding with highly targeted drilling and trenching programs on its Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine property which is almost fully encircled on 3 of 4 sides by Osisko Development (NSE-ODV/TSXV-ODV). Historically, over 101 placer gold creeks on the 90 km trend from the Cariboo Hudson mine north to the Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine property have recorded production and successful placer mining continues to this day.

Golden Cariboos Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine property is 4 km northeast of, and road accessible from, Hixon in central British Columbia. The Project includes the Quesnelle Quartz gold-silver deposit, which was discovered in 1865 in conjunction with placer mining activities. Hixon Creek, which dissects the old workings, is a placer creek which has seen small-scale placer production since the mid 1860s.

For further information please contact:

GOLDEN CARIBOO RESOURCES LTD

J. Frank Callaghan

J. Frank Callaghan, President & CEO

Tel: 604-669-6463

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS

www.goldencariboo.com

Neither the CSE Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements

This news release contains statements which constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and plans of the Company. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words may, would, could, should, will, intend, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, expect or similar expressions and includes information regarding; the expectation that the Company will receive all necessary exemptions and approvals to complete the Offering; the expectation that the Company will complete the Offering on the terms disclosed, or at all; the expectation that the proceeds will be used for property exploration and for general working capital; the Companys exploration plans with respect to its Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine property; and the anticipated participation of the insider in the Offering.

Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions of management, including, without limitation, that the Company will receive all necessary exemptions and approvals to complete the Offering; that the Company will complete the Offering on the terms disclosed, or at all; that the proceeds will be used for property exploration and for general working capital; that the Company will have the resources required to proceed with its exploration plans; that the Company will not run into regulatory or other barriers in carrying out its business plans; that the insider will participate in the Offering, on the terms and conditions and in the amount currently expected by management; and that the Company will be able to rely on the exemption from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements on the basis anticipated.

Additionally, forward-looking information involve a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation: that the Company will not receive the necessary exemptions and approvals to complete the Offering; that the Company will not complete the Offering on the terms disclosed, or at all; that the Company will be unable to use the proceeds for property exploration and for general working capital; that the Company may incur unanticipated costs; that the Company may not have the resources required to pursue its exploration plans; that the Companys operations could be adversely affected by possible future government legislation policies and controls or by changes in applicable laws and regulations; that the insider may not participate in the Offering on the terms and conditions and in the amount currently expected by management, or at all; and that the Company may not be able to rely on the exemption from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements on the basis currently expected. Such forward-looking information represents managements best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Neither the Company nor any of its representatives make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, sufficiency or completeness of the information in this news release. Neither the Company nor any of its representatives shall have any liability whatsoever, under contract, tort, trust or otherwise, to you or any person resulting from the use of the information in this news release by you or any of your representatives or for omissions from the information in this news release.

The forward-looking statements herein speak only as of the date they were originally made. The Company has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SAGA Metals Corp. ("SAGA" or the "Company"), a North American exploration company focused on critical mineral discovery in Canada, is pleased to share assay results from its inaugural field program at the Double Mer Uranium Project, located in eastern Labrador, Canada.

Key Updates from the Double Mer Uranium Project

High-Potential Uranium Zones Identified: Three key zones Luivik, Nanuk, and Katjuk have been pinpointed along an 18-kilometer uranium-rich trend. Each zone shows U3O8 mineralization in pegmatites and structurally enriched formations.

Three key zones and have been pinpointed along an 18-kilometer uranium-rich trend. Each zone shows U3O8 mineralization in pegmatites and structurally enriched formations. Assays Validate Targets: Rock sampling in 2024 confirms the uranium potential across all three zones, enhancing confidence in the project's viability.

Rock sampling in 2024 confirms the uranium potential across all three zones, enhancing confidence in the project's viability. Drilling Set for Q1 2025: SAGA plans to initiate its maiden drill program, starting with 1,500-meters in the Luivik zone, the westernmost area of the trend. This program will test the zones uranium potential and set the stage for expanded exploration.

2024 SAGA metals Rock sample locations with field CPS (Counts per Second) readings taken on R-125 Scintillometer

2024 Field Program Results at the Double Mer Uranium Project

The Double Mer Uranium Project spans 25,600 hectares (1,024 claims), located about 90 kilometers northeast of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador. Significant historical data provided a strong head start for the 2024 field season, which confirmed a 14-kilometer trend with surface samples showing uranium oxide (U3O8) concentrations as high as 4,281 ppm and scintillometer readings up to 27,000 cpssurpassing the historical benchmark of 21,000 cps.

SAGAs exploration team confirmed and expanded on historical findings, with highlights including:

CPS Readings Surpass Expectations: Field measurements exceeded historical benchmarks, with multiple zones recording readings above 5,000 cps and notable peaks of 22,000 CPS in an outcrop and 27,000 CPS in a sub-rounded bouldersurpassing the historical 21,000 CPS benchmark.

Field measurements exceeded historical benchmarks, with multiple zones recording readings above and notable peaks of in an outcrop and in a sub-rounded bouldersurpassing the historical benchmark. Strong U3O8 Presence: Grab samples across the Luivik, Nanuk, and Katjuk zones confirm the presence of uraniferous pegmatites, underscoring the project's resource potential.

Grab samples across the Luivik, Nanuk, and Katjuk zones confirm the presence of uraniferous pegmatites, underscoring the project's resource potential. Extended Mineralization Trend: Results suggest the uranium trend could extend further than initially mapped, opening new exploration opportunities.

The consistent U3O8 grades found throughout pegmatite intrusions, which dominate the propertys surface, are particularly encouraging for large tonnage resource potential. The ability to maintain above-cutoff grades across almost the entire 18-kilometer trend sets the stage for the Double Mer Uranium Project. Uranium oxide (U3O8) grades range from 0.015% (low-grade cutoff) to 0.3% U3O8, consistent with grades observed in the highly productive Central Mineral Belt (CMB) in Labrador, Canada.

Michael Garagan, CGO & Director of SAGA Metals, commented: Proving a large-tonnage uranium resource is our priority. The Luivik zone offers a strong starting point for understanding grade consistency across the property. However, we are committed to a systematic, extensive drill program that carefully defines the entire 18-kilometer trend. This approach emphasizes long-term scalability over localized high-grade intercepts.

2024 and historical rock sample assay results with red indicating highest uranium oxide (U 3 O 8 ) levels. Thorium and Molybdenum are added to the above table to highlight the geochemical correlation with Uranium deposit models.

Surface sample assay results within the three identified priority zones

During the 2024 field program, prospecting efforts extended into the north-northeast section of the Double Mer property. Although exposure was limited, three traverses revealed weak uranium mineralization along a trend that may mirror the anticline fold hosting the primary 18-kilometer anomalous radiometric trend in the southern region of the claims.

These initial northern results are encouraging and suggest additional anomalous zones could be discovered in 2025 using advanced techniques such as soil sampling, biogeochemical studies, and expanded prospecting efforts.

Regional map of the Double Mer Uranium Project in Labrador, Canada

Double Mer and its Comparable Potential to Labradors Central Mineral Belt (CMB):

SAGA positions the Double Mer Uranium Project alongside some of Labradors most significant uranium discoveries, including Paladin Energys Michelin and Atha Energys CMB discoveries in the Central Mineral Belt (CMB). With strong surface samples and radiometric trends, SAGA believes Double Mer could offer large-tonnage potential comparable to these established projects. The CMB is a premier uranium region in Labrador and is host to several notable uranium projects including:

Paladin Energy1:

Covers 98,000 hectares in the CMB, north of Double Mer.

Hosts 127.7Mlb of uranium mineral resources across six deposits.

The Michelin deposit, its largest, contains 92Mlb uranium, with 82.2Mlb classified as Measured and Indicated at an average grade of 0.086% U3O8.

Atha Energy2:

Spans 145,000 hectares in the CMB, contiguous with Paladins holdings and North of Double Mer.

Historical uranium resources total 14.5Mlb, with Moran Lake contributing 5.2Mlb (indicated) and 4.4Mlb (inferred), while Anna Lake offers 4.9Mlb (inferred).

Historical grades average 0.03%0.04% U3O8, underscoring the regions scalability potential.

Large tonnage low grade uranium resources in Newfoundland and Labrador3

The table above highlights and supports the large tonnage low grade uranium discussion found in Labrador and is comparable to similar deposit styles throughout other major mining districts in the world such as Kazakhstan, Namibia, Argentina. The cutoff grade in the table above ranges from 0.015-0.05% U 3 O 8 4, reaching less than 0.1% U 3 O 8 and is so far, consistent with the grades SAGA is seeing at surface from rock assays, laying the confidence for further exploration and its upcoming drill program.

Commitment to Quality: Robust QA/QC Protocols

SAGA followed a rigorous Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) program to ensure data accuracy and reliability. The program included:

Regular Quality Control Samples: One quality control sample (blanks, duplicates, or standards) was inserted every 10 samples. Focused QA/QC for Promising Mineralogy: Additional blanks, duplicates, and standards were added for samples showing promising uranium mineralization in the field. Strict Sample Custody: SAGA maintained full chain-of-custody control from sampling through to laboratory delivery.

This robust QA/QC approach ensures the reliability of assay results and demonstrates SAGAs commitment to industry-leading exploration standards.

Environmental Responsibility: SAGA Completes Baseline Water Study at Double Mer

SAGA partnered with Strum Consulting, an environmental firm based in Atlantic Canada, to conduct a baseline water study across the Double Mer Uranium Project. This study:

Established Pre-Exploration Water Chemistry: Surface water samples were collected from lakes and water bodies across the property to document natural uranium levels prior to exploration. Ensures Future Environmental Monitoring: By understanding baseline conditions, SAGA can monitor and mitigate any environmental impact as exploration progresses.

This proactive approach underscores SAGAs commitment to environmental stewardship and its role as a responsible junior mining company.

Michael Garagan, CGO & Director of SAGA Metals Corp., stated: Doing things right from the beginning is criticalnot just for SAGA, but for the communities we work alongside and the industry as a whole. Canadas mining sector operates under some of the highest environmental standards globally, and we believe responsible exploration is essential to secure North Americas critical mineral supply for a green energy future.

Q1 2025 Double Mer Drill Program: Targeting the High-Potential Luivik Zone

The Luivik zone, located at the western end of the 18-kilometer trend, has been prioritized for SAGAs maiden drill program in 2025. This decision is based on several compelling factors:

Anomalous Uranium Geochemistry : Surface samples show elevated uranium (U3O8%) grades, consistent with enrichment processes.

: Surface samples show elevated uranium (U3O8%) grades, consistent with enrichment processes. IOCG-Style Fluid Enrichment : Iron phase IOCG (Iron Oxide Copper Gold) characteristics, including smoky quartz and iron carbonate staining, indicate late-stage fluid flowa known factor for uranium enrichment and high-grade intercepts.

: Iron phase IOCG (Iron Oxide Copper Gold) characteristics, including smoky quartz and iron carbonate staining, indicate late-stage fluid flowa known factor for uranium enrichment and high-grade intercepts. Consistent CPS Readings: Radiometric surveys in the zone show consistently elevated counts per second (CPS), highlighting its uranium potential.

This 1,500-meter drill program will test the Luivik zones mineralization and provide key data to guide further exploration across the property.

The Luivik zone in the west of the Double Mer Uranium Property. Mapped pegmatites with amphibolite mafic rocks which sit in place with much of the mineralized trends.

Source:

1- https://www.paladinenergy.com.au/exploration/michelin-canada/

2- https://athaenergy.com/atha-energy-corp-announces-proposed-acquisition-of-92-energy-and-latitude-uranium-and-concurrent-14-million-financing-to-create-leading-uranium-exploration-company/

3- Kerr, A., Sparkes, G.W., 2009. Uranium; Mineral commodities of Newfoundland and Labrador, Geological survey of Canada, Geological survey of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Natural Resources.

4- The results of the projects and historical deposits do not guarantee the success of the Double Mer Uranium project as the Company must drill and prove its own NI 43-101 compliant resource estimation.

About SAGA Metals Corp.

SAGA Metals Corp. is a North American mining company focused on the exploration and discovery of critical minerals that support the global transition to green energy. The company's flagship asset, the Double Mer Uranium Project, is located in Labrador, Canada, covering 25,600 hectares. This project features uranium radiometrics that highlight an 18-kilometer east-west trend, with a confirmed 14-kilometer section producing samples as high as 4,281ppm U 3 O 8 and spectrometer readings of 22,000cps.

In addition to its uranium focus, SAGA owns the Legacy Lithium Property in Quebec's Eeyou Istchee James Bay region. This project, developed in partnership with Rio Tinto, has been expanded through the acquisition of the Amirault Lithium Project. Together, these properties cover 65,849 hectares and share significant geological continuity with other major players in the area, including Rio Tinto, Winsome Resources, Azimut Exploration, and Loyal Lithium.

SAGA also holds secondary exploration assets in Labrador, where the company is focused on the discovery of titanium, vanadium, and iron ore. With a portfolio that spans key minerals crucial to the green energy transition, SAGA is strategically positioned to play an essential role in the clean energy future.

For more information, contact:

SAGA Metals Corp.

Investor Relations

Tel: +1 (778) 930-1321

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.sagametals.com

Qualified Person

Peter Webster P.Geo. CEO of Mercator Geological Services Limited is an Independent Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information related to the Double Mer Uranium Project disclosed in this news release.

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Disclaimer

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as will, may, should, anticipates, expects, believes, and similar expressions or the negative of these words or other comparable terminology. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information pertaining to the prospective nature of the Double Mer Uranium Project, the assay results, comparison to other projects in Labrador and future exploration programs at Double Mer. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Companys expectations include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, environmental risks, limitations on insurance coverage, risks and uncertainties involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, and the risks detailed in the Companys Prospectus filed under its profile at www.sedarplus.ca and in the continuous disclosure filings made by the Company with securities regulations from time to time. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements only as expressly required by applicable law.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mustang Energy Corp. (CSE: MEC, OTC: MECPF, FRA: 92T) (Mustang or the Company) is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$3,000,000 from the sale of the following (together, the Offering):

up to 8,000,000 non-flow through common shares in the capital of the Company (each, a  Share ) at a price of C$0.25 per Share for gross proceeds of up to C$2,000,000 from the sale of the Shares; and

) at a price of C$0.25 per Share for gross proceeds of up to C$2,000,000 from the sale of the Shares; and up to 3,448,276 critical flow-through common shares of the Company (each, a FT Share, and collectively with the Shares, the Offered Securities) at a price of C$0.29 per FT Share for gross proceeds of up to C$1,000,000 from the sale of FT Shares.

Red Cloud Securities Inc. (Red Cloud) will be acting as a finder in connection with the Offering.

Each FT Share will be issued as a flow-through share within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the Tax Act). The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Offering for the exploration of the Companys uranium projects in the Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan as well as for general working capital purposes. The gross proceeds from the issuance of the FT Shares will be used to incur resource exploration expenses which will constitute Canadian exploration expenses as defined in subsection 66.1(6) of the Tax Act and flow through critical mineral mining expenditures as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Tax Act, which will be renounced with an effective date no later than December 31, 2024 to the purchasers of the FT Shares in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of the FT Shares.

The closing of the Offering is subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals including the Canadian Securities Exchange (the CSE). Finders fees will be payable in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the CSE. The securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a hold period ending on the date that is four months plus one day following the date of issue in accordance with applicable securities laws.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

Engagement of Red Cloud Securities Inc.

The Company engaged Red Cloud to provide a range of corporate advisory services to the Company. Red Cloud is a Toronto-based financial services company that provides assistance to mineral exploration and mining companies in accessing capital markets and enhancing their corporate profile.

Pursuant to the terms of the engagement, Red Cloud will be paid an initial cash fee of $150,000 for an initial 12 month term (the Initial Term), which term will be automatically renewed on a month-to-month basis unless otherwise terminated. In addition, Red Cloud will receive a cash commission equal to 7.0% of the gross proceeds raised from the sale of any equity securities of the Company to certain identified parties (each, an Identified Party) introduced to the Company by Red Cloud and receive such number of common share purchase warrants of the Company (each, a Finders Warrant) as is equal to 7.0% of the number of securities under the offering sold to Identified Parties, each to be exercisable for a period of 24 months following such closing date at an exercise price equal to the offering price of the securities sold during the Initial Term or within a period of 12 months thereafter (the Fee Period), or such other exercise price as required by the policies of the CSE. In the event of the consummation of a transaction other than an equity securities offering during the Fee Period involving an Identified Party, the Company will pay to Red Cloud a fee (the Transaction Fee) premised upon the total cash and non-cash proceeds and other consideration paid or to be paid in connection with the transaction, subject to a minimum $75,000 Transaction Fee. The payment of any fees or issuance of any securities to Red Cloud in connection with the engagement is subject to the approval of the CSE. Red Cloud has no direct relationship with the Company, other than as contemplated in the engagement.

Engagement with German Mining Networks GmbH

On November 25, 2024, the Company engaged German Mining Networks GmbH (GMN) to provide investor relations services in Europe. The engagement commenced on November 25, 2024 and will continue for an initial one month period and shall be automatically renewed for successive one-month periods thereafter (the Term), unless terminated pursuant to the terms of the engagement. Based in Germany, GMN specializes in assisting companies access investors in certain major financial hubs located in continental Europe. GMN will introduce the Company to potential investors, schedule shareholder targeting calls, conduct road shows, and provide support on other such marketing initiatives through various in-person and online channels. Pursuant to the terms of the engagement, the Company will pay a cash retainer of C$6,800 per month, payable in quarterly installments in advance during the Term. In the event that the Company and GMN agree to perform a road show, the Company has agreed to reimburse GMN for certain road show expenses through a cash fee of C$6,800 payable three weeks prior to the date of such road show. The payment of any fees in connection with the engagement is subject to the approval of the CSE. GMN has no direct relationship with the Company, other than as contemplated in the engagement. GMN has an address at Postfach: 10 01 26, 98561 Schmalkalden, Germany and Peter Krah of GMN can be reached by telephone at +49 176-99096054 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About Mustang Energy Corp.

Mustang is a resource exploration company focused on acquiring and developing high-potential uranium and critical mineral assets. The Company is actively exploring its properties in the Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan, Canada. Mustangs flagship property, Ford Lake, covers 7,743 hectares in the prolific eastern Athabasca Basin, while its Cigar Lake East and Roughrider South projects span 2,901 hectares in the Wollaston Domain. Mustang has also established its footprint in the Cluff Lake region of the Athabasca Basin with the acquisition of the Yellowstone Project and further expanded its presence in the south central region of the Athabasca Basin with the Dutton Project.

On behalf of the board of directors,

Nicholas Luksha

Nicholas Luksha

CEO and Director

For further information, please contact:

Mustang Energy Corp.

Attention: Nicholas Luksha, CEO and Director

Phone: (604) 838-0184

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer

This news release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as intends, believes or anticipates, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, should, would or occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as forward-looking statements, are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to managements expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things: the closing of the Offering, the issuance of the Offered Securities, the payment of finders fees, the anticipated closing date of the Offering, and the intended use of proceeds of the Offering. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Neither the CSE nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 26, 2024 /CNW/ - Foran Mining Corporation (TSX: FOM) (OTCQX: FMCXF) ("Foran" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an Option Agreement ("Agreement") with Voyageur Mineral Explorers Corp. (CSE: VOY) ("Voyageur") to acquire a 100% interest in Voyageur's Hanson Lake property ("Property"), located in east-central Saskatchewan, approximately 65 kilometres west-southwest of Flin Flon, Manitoba. The Property lies approximately 3km north of Foran's McIlvenna Bay Deposit and the Tesla Zone along a prospective geological trend that has been of longstanding interest to the Company (Figure 1). By consolidating the Hanson Lake Property into its exploration portfolio, Foran has strengthened its position in the region, gaining seamless access to one of the district's most geologically prospective trends.

Erin Carswell, Foran's VP, Exploration, commented "The Hanson Lake Property encompasses the natural extension of the highly prospective Tesla Trend, further enhancing Foran's ability to unlock exploration potential. Foran would like to thank Voyageur for the opportunity to explore this priority claim. This option agreement highlights our commitment to advancing near-mine projects of interest, and we look forward to working with stakeholders in preparing for exploration activities. By establishing a robust pipeline of new targets, Foran continues to focus on driving long-term exploration success and delivering sustained value across its properties."

Fraser Laschinger, CEO of Voyageur Mineral Explorers, said: "Foran's exploration team has done a tremendous job at the McIlvenna Bay project in recent years, including the discovery of the Tesla Zone. Their embrace of cutting-edge technology, combined with unique insights gained from local geophysical signatures and structural geoscience, gives us confidence in their ability to unlock the potential of the Hanson Lake Property. With the obvious locational synergies, we view them as the perfect partner to explore the Hanson Lake Property."

Terms of the Agreement

Under the terms of the agreement, Foran will make an initial payment of C$1.0M in common shares to Voyageur, subject to final approval by the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX"). Foran will then have five years to explore the Hanson Lake Property, with no minimum spending requirement, and hold the option to acquire 100% of the Property for a one-time payment of C$10.0M, in cash or common shares at Foran's election, during this period.

If the option is exercised by Foran, Voyageur will retain a 2.0% Net Smelter Return royalty ("NSR"), in respect of the Hanson Lake Property. At any point prior to a construction decision regarding any potential development of the Hanson Lake Property, Foran may buy back 50% of the NSR for C$1.0M and an additional 25% after 54 months of production for a further C$1.0M, after which Voyageur will retain a 0.5% NSR royalty.

Tesla Trend

Entering into the Option Agreement with Voyageur provides Foran with exploration access to a highly prospective, largely untested geological corridor referred to here as the "Tesla Trend", which extends northward from the known Tesla Zone copper-zinc mineralization and across the Hanson Lake Property. The corridor is defined by geological mapping, strong geophysical trends and a series of historic mineral occurrences including South Bay and Zinc Zone prospects. In contrast to the deepening plunge of the Tesla Zone, known mineralization on the Hanson Lake Property occurs at or closer to surface  raising the question of whether extensions of the Tesla Zone might reverse in plunge direction and become shallower towards the north. To test these opportunities, planning is underway to employ ground-based electromagnetic surveys along the corridor to track potential extensions of Tesla mineralization northward and assess the possibility that these mineralized horizons could occur at shallower depths on the Hanson Lake Property.

Qualified Person

Mr. Roger March, P. Geo., Principal Geoscientist for Foran, is the Qualified Person for all technical information herein and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this release.

The Company's head office is located at 409 Granville Street, Suite 904, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6C 1T2. Common Shares of the Company are listed for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") under the symbol "FOM" and on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol "FMCXF".

About Foran Mining

Foran Mining is a copper-zinc-gold-silver exploration and development company, committed to supporting a greener future and empowering communities while creating value for our stakeholders. The McIlvenna Bay Project is located entirely within the documented traditional territory of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, comprises the infrastructure and works related to pre-development and advanced exploration activities of the Company, and hosts the McIlvenna Bay Deposit and Tesla Zone. The Company also owns the Bigstone Deposit, a resource-development stage deposit located 25km southwest of the McIlvenna Bay Property.

The McIlvenna Bay Deposit is a copper-zinc-gold-silver rich VHMS deposit intended to be the centre of a new mining camp in a prolific district that has already been producing for 100 years. The McIlvenna Bay Property sits just 65km West of Flin Flon, Manitoba and is part of the world class Flin Flon Greenstone Belt that extends from Snow Lake, Manitoba, through Flin Flon to Foran's ground in eastern Saskatchewan, a distance of over 225km.

The McIlvenna Bay Deposit is the largest undeveloped VHMS deposit in the region. The Company announced the results from its NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report on the Feasibility Study for the McIlvenna Bay Deposit (the "McIlvenna Feasibility Study") on February 28, 2022, outlining that current mineral reserves would potentially support an 18-year mine life producing an average of 65 million pounds of copper equivalent annually. The Company filed the McIlvenna Feasibility Study on April 14, 2022, with an effective date of February 28, 2022. The Company also filed a NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Bigstone Deposit resource estimate on January 21, 2021, as amended on February 1, 2022. Investors are encouraged to consult the full text of these technical reports which may be found on the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca.

The Company's head office is located at 409 Granville Street, Suite 904, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6C 1T2. Common Shares of the Company are listed for trading on the TSX under the symbol "FOM" and on the OTCQX under the symbol "FMCXF".

About Voyageur Mineral Explorers Corp.

Voyageur is a Canadian junior mineral exploration company with a specific focus on mineral properties in Northwest Manitoba and Northeast Saskatchewan, Canada. The Company owns a valuable package of royalties in the prolific Flin Flon greenstone belt and has assembled a portfolio of base metal and precious metal prospects in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, as defined under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or to the future performance of Foran Mining Corporation and reflect management's expectations and assumptions as of the date hereof or as of the date of such forward looking statement. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited, statements regarding our objectives and our strategies to achieve such objectives; our beliefs, plans, estimates, projections and intentions, and similar statements concerning anticipated future events; as well as specific statements in respect of our ability to unlock exploration opportunities and potential along the Tesla Trend; Foran's exercise of the option under the Agreement; the strength of Foran's position in the Hanson Lake region; our view that the Hanson Lake Property contains one of the district's most geologically prospective trends; our commitment to advancing high value near mine projects; our exploration plans and activities, including in respect of long-term exploration; our exploration target pipeline; our ability to deliver on exploration success and sustained value across our properties; Foran's embrace of cutting-edge technology; the TSX providing final approval for Foran's initial payment of C$1.0M in common shares to Voyageur; Foran's buyback of any NSR granted to Voyageur upon the potential exercise of the option under the Agreement; our geological surveys and interpretation of mineralization, including in respect of the Tesla Trend potentially extending into the Hanson Lake Property; the potential for the Tesla Zone reverse-plunging in terms of direction and becoming shallower towards the north; the value of Voyageur's royalty package; our commitment to support a greener future and empower communities while creating value for our stakeholders ; expectations regarding our development and advanced exploration activities; and expectations, assumptions and targets in respect of our 2022 Feasibility Study. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date specified in such statement.

Inherent in forward-looking statements are known and unknown risks, estimates, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. These factors include management's belief or expectations relating to the following and, in certain cases, management's response with regard to the following: the Company's reliance on the McIlvenna Bay Property; the Company is exposed to risks related to mineral resources exploration and development; the Company has no history of mineral production; the Company's operations are subject to extensive environmental, health and safety regulations; mining operations involve hazards and risks; and the additional risks identified in our filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ in Canada (available at www.sedarplus.ca). The forward-looking statements contained in this news release reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include the availability of funds for the Company's projects; availability of equipment; sustained labour stability with no labour-related disruptions; all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals are received in a timely manner; and the ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and should note that the assumptions and risk factors discussed in this press release are not exhaustive. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward looking statements contained in this press release. All forward-looking statements herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. If the Company does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements, unless required by law. Additional information about these assumptions, risks and uncertainties is contained in our filings with securities regulators.
Q3 2024 Revenue Increased 21% Year-over-Year to $78 Million

Q3 2024 EBITDA Increased 242% Year-over-Year to $16 Million

Q3 2024 Cash and Cash Equivalents Increased 505% Year-over-Year to $18 Million

Filed NI 43-101 Compliant Mineral Resource and Reserve Estimates for Three Bolivian Producing Mines

Webinar Scheduled for Wednesday, November 27th at 2:00 pm ET

VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 25, 2024 /CNW/ - Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. (TSXV: SCZ) (OTCQB: SCZMF) (FSE: 1SZ) ("Santacruz" or "the Company") reports its financial and operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 ("Q3 2024"). The full version of the financial statements and accompanying Management's Discussion and Analysis (the "MD&A") can be viewed on the Company's website at www.santacruzsilver.com or on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Arturo Prestamo, Executive Chairman and CEO of Santacruz, commented, "Following the successful restructuring of the Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Glencore, the Company has significantly enhanced its financial position. This achievement, coupled with strong operational performance and solid revenue growth, led to a successful third quarter, highlighted by $78 million in revenue, $16 million in EBITDA, and $18 million in cash and cash equivalents. These results reflect our continued focus on improving the productivity of our mines and milling facilities, aiming to enhance the quality of our concentrates while optimizing costs."

Mr. Prestamo continued; "In addition to our solid financial performance, we successfully maintained a stable All-In Sustaining Cost (AISC) and remain committed to disciplined cost optimization initiatives. Furthermore, significant investments were made in underground equipment in Mexico to support the growth momentum achieved over the past quarters. This strategic focus not only strengthens our operational and financial stability but also positions us to create sustained long-term value for our shareholders."

Q3 2024 Highlights (all amounts in US$000's unless otherwise stated)

Revenues increased 21% or $13,836 to $78,244 in Q3 2024, compared to $64,408 in Q3 2023, primarily due from: An increase of $13,453 in revenues from the Bolivia Operating Mines due to a 22% increase in the average realized price per ounce of silver equivalent ounces sold and further impacted by a 10% increase in the volume of silver equivalent ounces sold from Q3 2023. An increase of $3,345 in revenues from the Zimapan Mine due to a 7% increase in the average realized price per ounce of silver equivalent ounces sold and further impacted by a 6% increase in the volume of silver equivalent ounces sold from Q3 2023.

increased 21% or to in Q3 2024, compared to in Q3 2023, primarily due from: Adjusted EBITDA increased 242% or $11,181 to $15,810 in Q3 2024, compared to $4,628 in Q3 2023. The increase was primarily due to higher silver production, improvements in milling facilities to increase silver recovery in the lead concentrate, and the rise in silver prices.

increased 242% or to in Q3 2024, compared to in Q3 2023. The increase was primarily due to higher silver production, improvements in milling facilities to increase silver recovery in the lead concentrate, and the rise in silver prices. Cash and Cash Equivalent increased 505% or $15,238 to $18,242 in Q3 2024, compared to $3,014 in Q3 2023. The increase was primarily due to higher revenue from increased silver production and favorable silver and zinc prices.

increased 505% or to in Q3 2024, compared to in Q3 2023. The increase was primarily due to higher revenue from increased silver production and favorable silver and zinc prices. Working Capital was $24,191 at the end of Q3 2024, improving from a deficit of $43,168 as of December 31, 2023 .

was at the end of Q3 2024, improving from a deficit of as of . Bolivia Assets Mineral Resources and Reserves: In August 2024 , Santacruz filed National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") compliant Mineral Resource and Reserve estimates for its three Bolivian producing assets (Bolivar mine, Porco mine, and Caballo Blanco Group of mines ("Caballo Blanco")) together with the Bolivar mine and the Porco mine (the "Bolivian Producing Mines"). Subsequent to the quarter-end, in October 2024 , Santacruz also filed the NI 43-101 Mineral Resource estimate for the Soracaya exploration project in Bolivia .

In , Santacruz filed National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") compliant Mineral Resource and Reserve estimates for its three Bolivian producing assets (Bolivar mine, Porco mine, and Caballo Blanco Group of mines ("Caballo Blanco")) together with the Bolivar mine and the Porco mine (the "Bolivian Producing Mines"). Subsequent to the quarter-end, in , Santacruz also filed the NI 43-101 Mineral Resource estimate for the Soracaya exploration project in . Silver Recovery Focus: In Q3 2024, the feed for the Don Diego milling facility supplied by the Caballo Blanco Group was adjusted to improve silver recovery to the lead concentrate, where silver payabilities are highest for Santacruz. Initial results show significant gains in silver recovery to the lead concentrate, with this new processing approach being adopted as the new standard going forward for consistent recovery performance and to maximize the value of the Company's mineral resources.

Selected consolidated financial and operating information for Q3 2024 are presented below. All financial information is prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), and all dollar amounts are expressed in thousands of US dollars, except per unit amounts, unless otherwise indicated.

2024 Third Quarter Highlights

2024-Q3 2024-Q2 Change Q3 vs Q2 2023-Q3 Change Q3 vs Q3 2024-YTD 2023-YTD Change '24 vs '23

Operational Material Processed (tonnes milled) 491,260 500,755 (2 %) 467,563 5 % 1,462,359 1,394,029 5 % Silver Equivalent Produced (ounces) (1) 4,644,013 4,819,552 (4 %) 4,695,999 (1 %) 13,941,687 14,023,809 (1 %) Silver Ounces Produced 1,703,388 1,671,359 2 % 1,728,863 (1 %) 4,956,696 5,284,845 (6 %) Zinc Tonnes Produced 23,143 25,052 (8 %) 23,095 0 % 71,042 67,839 5 % Lead Tonnes Produced 3,027 2,908 4 % 3,370 (10 %) 8,888 9,237 (4 %) Copper Tonnes Produced 270 284 (5 %) 252 7 % 809 964 (16 %) Silver Equivalent Sold (payable ounces) (2) 3,601,754 3,402,139 6 % 3,822,782 (6 %) 10,636,832 12,291,464 (13 %) Cash Cost of Production per Tonne (3) 110.50 95.11 16 % 93.73 18 % 99.66 92.48 8 % Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold

($/oz) (3) 22.38 21.66 3 % 21.68 3 % 21.74 19.34 12 % All-in Sustaining Cash Cost per Silver

Equivalent Ounce Sold ($/oz) (3) 27.40 24.91 10 % 25.98 5 % 25.53 23.10 11 % Average Realized Price per Ounce of Silver

Equivalent Sold ($/oz) (3) (4) 29.86 30.40 (2 %) 25.31 18 % 27.75 23.04 20 %

Financial Revenues 78,244 70,485 11 % 64,408 21 % 201,318 193,640 4 % Gross Profit 14,767 15,690 (6 %) 7,394 100 % 30,920 33,050 (6 %) Net Income (loss) 4,062 1,539 164 % (4,298) (195 %) 134,626 (123) 109552 % Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share  Basic and

Diluted($/share) 0.01 0.00 0 % (0.01) (182 %) 0.38 (0.00) 17024 % Adjusted EBITDA (3) 15,810 16,893 6 % 4,628 242 % 32,141 26,369 22 % Cash and Cash Equivalent 18,242 7,308 150 % 3,014 505 % 18,242 3,014 505 % Working Capital (Deficiency) 24,191 14,976 62 % (27,354) (188 %) 24,191 (27,354) 188 %

Notes for both tables above: (1) Silver Equivalent Produced (ounces) have been calculated using prices of $23.85/oz, $1.21/lb, $0.94/lb and $3.91/lb for silver, zinc, lead and copper respectively applied to the metal production divided by the silver price as stated here. (2) Silver Equivalent Sold (payable ounces) have been calculated using the Average Realized Price per Ounce of Silver Equivalent Sold stated in the table above, applied to the payable metal content of the concentrates sold from Bolivar, Porco, the Caballo Blanco Group, San Lucas and Zimapan. (3) The Company reports non-GAAP measures, which include Cash Cost of Production per Tonne, Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold, All-in Sustaining Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold, Average Realized Price per Ounce of Silver Equivalent Sold, and Adjusted EBITDA. These measures are widely used in the mining industry as a benchmark for performance but do not have a standardized meaning and may differ from methods used by other companies with similar descriptions. See ''Non-GAAP Measures'' section in the Company's Q3 2024 Management Discussion and Analysis for definitions. (4) Average Realized Price per Ounce of Silver Equivalent Sold is prior to all treatment, smelting and refining charges.

Silver Equivalent Ounces Produced

For Q3 2024, the Company processed 491,260 tonnes of mineralized material, producing 4,644,013 silver equivalent ounces. This total includes 1,703,388 ounces of silver and 23,143 tonnes of zinc. Full Q3 2024 production results were released in a press release dated October 24, 2024.

Q3 2024 vs Q3 2023

Compared to Q3 2023, processed material rose by 5%; however, silver equivalent production experienced a slight decrease of 1%. This decline was primarily attributed to reduced zinc production at the Bolivar and Caballo Blanco Group operations, partially offset by increased zinc production from San Lucas and Zimapan. This highlights the stability and diversification of the Company's asset base, enabling us to offset declines in production at certain operations with increased production from others. This strategic balance is essential for maintaining overall production stability and ensuring consistent performance across our operations.

Q3 2024 vs Q2 2024

Compared to Q2 2024, processed material decreased by 2%, resulting in a 4% decline in silver equivalent production, primarily due to lower zinc production. However, this impact was partially offset by a 2% increase in silver productiona key objective for Santacruz. This improvement in silver production is especially positive given the recent rise in silver prices and favorable market outlook.

Webinar Details

CEO Arturo Prestamo and Interim CFO Andres Bedregal will present at a webinar hosted by Adelaide Capital on Wednesday, November 27th at 2:00 pm ET. Investors and shareholders are invited to participate in the webinar.

Registration Link: https://streamyard.com/watch/i2kvpaMigzMg

The webinar will also be live-streamed on the Adelaide Capital YouTube Channel, where a replay will be available after the event: https://bit.ly/adcap-youtube.

Questions can be submitted during the session or in advance to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

About Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd.

Santacruz Silver is engaged in the operation, acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Latin America. The Bolivian operations are comprised of the Bolivar, Porco and the Caballo Blanco Group, which consists of the Tres Amigos, Reserva and Colquechaquita mines. The Soracaya exploration project and San Lucas ore sourcing and trading business are also in Bolivia. The Zimapan mine is in Mexico.

Qualified Person

Wayne Corso, a consultant to the Company, is a qualified person under NI 43-101 and has approved the scientific and technical information related to operational matters contained in this news release.

'signed'

Arturo Prestamo Elizondo,

Executive Chairman and CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends", "expects" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or will "potentially" or "likely" occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forwardlooking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding the ability of the Company to successfully complete any capital projects, the expected economic or operational results derived from those projects, and the impacts of any such projects on the Company.

These forward-looking statements and information reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic, competitive, political, regulatory, and social uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions, include: the ability of the Company to successfully complete any capital projects, the expected economic or operational results derived from those projects, and the impacts of any such projects on the Company, risks related to changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets, changes in applicable laws, and compliance with extensive government regulation, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's disclosure documents filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedarplus.ca.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, the ability of the Company to successfully complete any capital projects, the expected economic or operational results derived from those projects, and the impacts of any such projects on the Company.

There can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information or statements, other than as required by applicable law.
Logan Zone Core Interval From 128.3 Meters to 215.6 Meters

November 26th, 2024  TheNewswire  Miramichi, New Brunswick  SLAM Exploration Ltd. (SLAM or the Company) (TSXV-SXL) is pleased to announce it has drilled an 87 meter zone of mineralization in hole GW24-15. This hole is located 50 meters southeast of hole GW24-14 on the Logan zone. Both holes hit zones of pyrrhotite with visible copper mineralization in some intervals. These are the latest results from Slams wholly owned Goodwin Project located 35 kilometers south of the Caribou mine and mill complex in the Bathurst Mining Camp (BMC) of New Brunswick.

Hole GW24-15 intersected a 73 meter zone of 8 to 12% sulphides followed by a 14 meter zone of 30 to 40% sulphdes. Logging and sampling are in progress. GW24-15 is a 50 meter step out to the southeast of hole GW24-14. The preliminary log is tabled below:

Hole Number From-To Meters Interval Meters Description Mineralization GW24-15 0.004.50 4.50 Casing GW24-15 4.50-28.20 23.70 Gabbro 1-3% Sulphides GW24-15 28.20-29.68 1.48 Mineralized Mafic Dyke 20-30 Sulphides GW24-15 29.68-41.10 11.42 Gabbro 1-3% Sulphides GW24-15 41.10-44.20 3.10 Mafic Dyke 3-5% Sulphides GW24-15 44.20-76.20 32.00 Gabbro 1-3% Sulphides GW24-15 76.20-98.55 22.35 Mafic Volcanic (MV) 1-3% Sulphides GW24-15 98.55-116.00 17.45 Mineralized MV 10-20% Sulphides GW24-15 116.00-128.33 12.33 Gabbro 6-8% Sulphides GW24-15 128.33-201.21 72.88 Mineralized Gabbro/MV 8-12% Sulphides GW24-15 201.21-207.32 6.11 Mineralized Gabbro 10-20% Sulphides GW24-15 207.32-208.70 1.38 Massive Sulphides 80-90% Sulphides GW24-15 208.70-210.50 1.80 Mineralized MV 8-12% Sulphides GW24-15 210.50-211.30 0.80 Semi-Massive Sulphides 70-80% Sulphides GW24-15 211.30-212.83 1.53 Mineralized MV 8-12% Sulphides GW24-15 212.83-213.33 0.50 Massive Sulphides 80-90% Sulphides GW24-15 213.33-215.60 2.27 Mineralized MV 10-15% Sulphides GW24-15 215.60-226.95 11.35 Mafic Volcanic 1-3% Sulphides GW24-15 226.95-341.00 114.05 Gabbro 1-3% Sulphides GW24-15 341.00 End of Hole

Figure 1 show the mineral zone comprised mainly of pyrrhotite with visible copper mineralization from 200 meters to 215 meters in diamond drill hole GW24-15. To our knowledge, this mineralization is deeper than any previously reported mineralization at Goodwin.

Figure 1 GW24-15 Core Interval 200 to 215 Meters

Figure 2 shows the Logan zone drilling plan. Assays are pending on holes GW24-08, GW24-09, GW24-13 and GW24-14. These 4 holes were drilled at a dip of 50 degrees and an azimuth of 060. Logging and sampling are in progress on hole GW24-15 which was drilled at a dip of 60 degrees toward azimuth 060. All 5 holes are shown below on an aeromagnetic gradient background derived from Slams Bathurst Mining Camp airborne survey flown by Fugro in 2003. The pink area is a zone of high magnetics.

Figure 2 Logan Zone Aeromagnetics, Diamond Drilling Plan

According to historical records, 11 holes were drilled on the Logan zone from 1960 to 1997. The location of these holes is unknown with the exception of 2 holes ML97-03 and ML97-05 drilled in 1997 from points located northeast of hole GW24-15 as shown on the map above.

Click to view SLAM President & CEO Mike Taylor discussing the Goodwin copper nickel project in a recent interview with Gilbert Chan of NAI 500.

QA-QC Procedures: The core was delivered to a secure facility in Bathurst New Brunswick for detailed logging and sampling. The core descriptions and the summary log for hole GW24-15 and other holes are based on visual observations of the core. The results for holes GW24-01 to GW24-03 were previously reported by SLAM. The historic results from previous workers are derived from New Brunswick assessment files that predate NI43-101 regulations. They can only be validated by additional drilling.

About SLAM Exploration Ltd: About SLAM Exploration Ltd: SLAM Exploration Ltd. is a public resource company with a substantial portfolio of mineral claim holdings in the mineral-rich province of New Brunswick. The Company recently completed three diamond drill holes on the Goodwin copper-nickel project in the BMC of New Brunswick. Highlights include:

A 60.60-meter core interval grading 1.17% copper equivalent in hole GW24-03

A 64.90-meter core interval grading 2.14% copper equivalent in hole GW24-02

The Company has reported an additional 12 holes drilled in a follow-up program currently in progress at Goodwin. Assays are pending on holes GW24-04 to GW24-15.

SLAM has discovered multiple gold veins on its wholly owned Menneval gold project. The Company has reported gold-bearing core intervals, including 162.5 g/t gold over 0.2 meters and 56.90 g/t gold over 0.5 meters (news releases dated December 13, 2021, and November 22, 2022). Additionally, the Company reported quartz float grading up to 39.2 g/t gold on its Jake Lee project, located near the Clarence Stream gold deposit, where Galway Metals Inc. is working on a 2.3-million-ounce gold deposit in southern New Brunswick.

SLAM also owns the Mine Road copper-zinc-silver project, adjacent to the former producing Heath Steele Mines property in the BMC. Previous workers have reported successful diamond drill holes at Mine Road, including IL2014-003, which intersected a 9-meter core interval grading 14.51% zinc, 5.86% lead, 0.67% copper, and 139.9 g/t silver in the volcanogenic massive sulphide Railroad Zone (Doe Run Canadian Exploration ULC; 2015, New Brunswick Assessment Files, Report of Work 477877). The Railroad Zone is located 7,000 meters east of the 20-million-tonne former producing Heath Steele B Zone.

Slam is a project generator and has received significant cash and share payments over the past year. The Company holds NSR royalties and expects additional cash and share payments from the Wedge copper-zinc project and the Ramsay, Reserve Creek, and Opikeigen gold projects.

To view SLAMs corporate presentation, click SXL-Presentation. Additional information is available on SLAMs website and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Follow us on X @SLAMGold. .

Qualifying Statements: Mike Taylor P.Geo, President and CEO of SLAM Exploration Ltd., is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and has approved the contents of this news release.

Certain information in this press release may constitute forward-looking information, including statements regarding mineral resources and the Companys plans with respect to the exploration and development of its properties. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to the Company. There are a number of risk factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those described herein. Information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedarplus.ca. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Mike Taylor, President & CEO

Contact: 506-623-8960 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Eugene Beukman, CFO

Contact: 604-687-2038 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. SEDAR+: 00012459
HIGHLIGHTS:

5.0m grading 18.0 g/t gold

37.0m grading 1.24 g/t gold

11.8m grading 1.71 g/t gold

14.5m grading 1.69 g/t gold

10.1m grading 0.85 g/t gold

Five drill rigs operating at site completing a 12,500m drill program

Program designed to expand oxide mineral reserves at the El Creston pit

Results show shallow mineralization is open and can positively impact mining economics

Production decision at El Creston expected by mid-2025

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 26, 2024) - Heliostar Metals Ltd. (TSXV: HSTR) (OTCQX: HSTXF) (FSE: RGG1) ("Heliostar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the first results from a 12,500 metre drilling program at the La Colorada Mine in Sonora, Mexico. La Colorada is currently producing gold from residual leaching having ceased mining in late 2023. Heliostar is reviewing the potential to restart mining in 2025 and is completing a drill program intended to expand the mineral reserve ahead of this decision.

Heliostar CEO, Charles Funk, commented, "La Colorada has long been a successful mine that helped build El Dorado Gold in 1990s and Argonaut Gold in the 2010s. It has operated profitably over its history and has reserves to support growth. Mining ceased in 2023 when stripping to expand the pit was not completed. This pre-strip is now a capital project and the opportunity to restart is a priority for Heliostar in 2025. Our team recognized that there are significant opportunities to expand shallow mineralization and today's results demonstrate the potential to convert a portion of the previously assumed waste into ore. This can result in lower capital costs and higher cash flow at the beginning of the restart. We value speed as a guiding business principle at Heliostar and have hit the ground running to deliver these results at the mine. I believe La Colorada will help build a third mining company over the next decade!"

Drill Results Summary

Mineralization at La Colorada's Creston Pit is predominantly hosted in three veins: the North, Intermediate and South Veins (Figure 1). These veins trend northeast-southwest to east-west, dip northward and are surrounded by halos of smaller mineralized vein zones. The Creston Pit has historically mined all three of these veins. Drilling prior to Heliostar's acquisition of the mine had successfully focussed on these veins beneath the pit and had expanded the mineral reserve.

Reviewing the expansion potential revealed two opportunities for reserve growth; near surface extensions of known veins where little or no drilling had been completed and upgrading and expanding mineralization beneath the pit. Both opportunities were defined using historical drilling, blasthole data, mining shapes, and the geological model.

High density blast hole data strongly emphasizes the potential for continuation of veins at shallow depth. It defines elevated gold grades continuing to the edge of the pit walls where they remain open for expansion.

Figure 1: Plan view of the Creston Pit showing historic drilling, blast hole samples and new Heliostar drillholes

Twenty-four holes are reported in this release for a total of 3257.1 metres, principally targeting shallow zones to the east and west of the Creston Pit. The results show narrow to wide, low to high grade oxide gold intercepts. They consistently return intercepts above the average above the mining cutoff of the pit while it was in operation and suggest that areas of waste could be converted to ore in an updated reserve model.

Next Steps

An updated technical report will be completed in January 2025 using the existing resource model at La Colorada. This report will not include the drill results presented in this press release. Results from the current drill program will be incorporated into a resource model and will support a reserve update that will be published with a feasibility study in mid-2025.

Should the drilling define a significant enough volume of gold mineralization, the results have the potential to reduce the capital requirements and improve the economics of the feasibility study. This study will be the basis of a construction decision for the restart of mining from the Creston Pit at La Colorada in mid-2025.

Drilling continues at the mine with three areas of focus. Additional shallow drilling, to follow up these results, is designed to bring production ounces forward in the mine plan. A program of infill and expansion drilling deeper in the pit will attempt to grow the overall gold reserves. A small allocation of drill metres will also test new areas of potential gold mineralization.

The Company anticipates additional drilling results from the current program will be released early next year.

Drilling Results Table



Table 1: Significant Drill Intersections

Hole ID From

(metres) To

(metres) Interval

(metres) Au

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) % True Width Comment 24-LCDD-218 24.85 35.0 10.15 0.85 9.8 100 Intermediate Vein 24-LCDD-219 77.9 87.75 9.85 0.25 19.7 90 South Vein 24-LCDD-220 47.0 53.0 6.0 0.37 7.2 100 North Vein 24-LCDD-221 No significant intervals 24-LCDD-222 9.9 21.75 11.85 1.71 21.6 100 North Vein including 15.55 16.8 1.25 13.1 20.5 100 North Vein 24-LCDD-223 74.4 76.4 2.0 0.55 38.8 100 South Vein 24-LCDD-224 0.0 22.15 22.15 0.40 8.8 85 Intermediate Vein 24-LCDD-225 22.2 23.15 0.95 4.43 0.5 100 North Vein and 35.75 45.5 9.75 0.16 8.1 100 North Vein and 93.0 101.35 8.35 0.22 53.9 95 Intermediate Vein 24-LCDD-226 18.05 35.9 17.85 0.34 69.0 90 South Vein 24-LCDD-227 1.1 14.8 13.7 0.25 37.5 90 South Vein 24-LCDD-228 27.15 39.1 11.95 0.18 35.7 90 South Vein and 46.7 51.15 4.45 0.29 43.8 90 South Vein 24-LCDD-229 15.45 19.55 4.1 2.27 4.0 100 North Vein and 82.2 89.15 6.95 0.38 3.4 85 Intermediate Vein 24-LCDD-230 73.8 79.9 6.1 0.79 3.3 90 South Vein 24-LCDD-231 0.0 13.0 13.0 2.22 5.1 90 Intermediate Vein including 0.0 3.0 3.0 8.79 4.8 90 Intermediate Vein and 36.5 41.5 5.0 18.5 20.3 90 Intermediate Vein 36.5 41.5 5.0 6.62 20.3 90 Top-cut to 23 g/t gold and 67.4 73.5 6.1 0.34 3.5 100 South Vein and 96.2 133.15 36.95 1.24 5.4 85 South Vein 24-LCDD-232 65.0 82.5 17.5 0.39 4.9 95 North Vein 24-LCDD-233 168.3 171.55 3.25 0.26 123 90 North Vein 24-LCDD-234 79.5 89.3 9.8 0.36 4.8 95 North Vein 24-LCDD-235 82.55 86.1 3.55 0.25 8.9 95 North Vein and 169.5 184.0 14.5 1.69 5.2 100 North Vein including 174.35 175.6 1.25 16.6 13.6 100 North Vein 24-LCDD-236 43.0 53.4 10.4 0.26 25.7 90 South Vein 24-LCDD-237 45.9 58.25 12.35 0.20 26.4 100 South Vein 24-LCDD-238 Assays pending 24-LCDD-239 No significant intervals 24-LCDD-240 Assays pending 24-LCDD-241 81.25 86.0 4.75 0.49 158 100 South Vein

Figure 2: Longitudinal section view of the western end of the Creston Pit highlighting the lack of previous drilling beyond the pit boundary. Section shows historic drilling, blast hole samples and new Heliostar drillhole results.

Drilling Coordinates Table



Table 2: Drill Hole Details

Hole ID Northing

(NAD27 CONUS Zone 12N) Easting

(NAD27 CONUS Zone 12N) Elevation

(metres) Azimuth

() Inclination

() Length

(metres) 24-LCDD-218 3185843 543104 442.1 180 -40 118.20 24-LCDD-219 3185579 542101 455.8 155 -47 156.45 24-LCDD-220 3185874 543079 445.9 180 -40 150.75 24-LCDD-221 3185629 542111 450.9 175 -50 175.50 24-LCDD-222 3185837 543080 440.9 180 -40 100.00 24-LCDD-223 3185603 542104 453.3 167 -48 147.20 24-LCDD-224 3185798 543080 437.8 180 -40 97.40 24-LCDD-225 3185881 543105 442.3 180 -40 136.45 24-LCDD-226 3185537 542126 441.3 160 -55 66.70 24-LCDD-227 3185581 542191 382.0 180 -55 77.30 24-LCDD-228 3185603 542195 380.4 191 -57 107.20 24-LCDD-229 3185871 543129 443.4 180 -45 128.70 24-LCDD-230 3185835 543128 441.0 180 -45 88.45 24-LCDD-231 3185732 542533 190.9 139 -45 142.70 24-LCDD-232 3185892 543053 444.3 180 -40 140.85 24-LCDD-233 3185887 542390 346.9 180 -49 175.25 24-LCDD-234 3185899 543025 441.6 180 -49 191.50 24-LCDD-235 3185974 542975 475.0 180 -42 267.40 24-LCDD-236 3185625 542212 378.8 180 -50 78.80 24-LCDD-237 3185563 542091 457.5 180 -45 78.70 24-LCDD-238 3186027 542850 479.7 180 -51 419.85 24-LCDD-239 3185594 542089 454.8 180 -45 89.35 24-LCDD-240 3185472 542671 405.9 355 -40 200.35 24-LCDD-241 3185607 542101 453.2 146 -40 122.40

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Core samples were shipped to ALS Limited in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico for sample preparation and for analysis at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver. The Hermosillo and North Vancouver ALS facilities are ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Gold was assayed by 30-gram fire assay with atomic absorption spectroscopy finish and overlimits were analysed by 30-gram fire assay with gravimetric finish.

Control samples comprising certified reference and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's quality assurance / quality control protocol.

Statement of Qualified Person

Stewart Harris, P.Geo., a Qualified Person, as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr Harris is employed as Exploration Manager of the Company.

About Heliostar Metals Ltd.

Heliostar is a gold producer with production from operating mines in Mexico. This includes the La Colorada Mine in Sonora and San Agustin Mine in Durango. The Company also has a strong portfolio of development projects in Mexico and the USA. These include the Ana Paula project in Guerrero, the Cerro del Gallo project in Guanajuato, the San Antonio project in Baja Sur and the Unga project in Alaska, USA.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things, the Company's plans, prospects and business strategies; the potential update and expansion of mineral reserves; the Company's integration of acquisitions and any anticipated benefits thereof; the completion of a Feasibility Study on the La Colorada Mine in 2025; the potential re-start of mining operations at the Creston Pit;; the release of an updated technical report on the La Colorada Mine; exploration and development plans, including drilling; and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information relating to the terms and completion of the Facility, any future mineral production, liquidity, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the receipt of necessary approvals, price of metals; no escalation in the severity of public health crises or ongoing military conflicts; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; and the Company's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms.

These statements reflect the Company's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political, and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in foreign jurisdictions; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding exploration and mining activities; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of public health crises; the economic and financial implications of public health crises, ongoing military conflicts and general economic factors to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's public disclosure documents. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.
France's justice minister said on Monday that he was "resolutely opposed" to a bill aimed at removing "apology for terrorism" from the criminal code, a move that has attracted condemnation across the political spectrum.

The hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) proposal aims to axe a provision criminalising acts defending or positively portraying terrorist acts from the country's penal code.

The law was part of an 1881 press law until it was added to the criminal code in 2014, as France saw a stream of its citizens travelling to Syria to fight alongside the Islamic State jihadist group.

"I don't understand how we can let our guard down in the face of the threat of terrorism, which is very present today," Justice Minister Didier Migaud told France 2 television.

"Freedom of expression has never allowed everything. There are limits," he added.

But for LFI, the "apology for terrorism" offence does not belong in France's penal code.

The text introduced by LFI lawmaker Ugo Bernalicis argued that the 1881 law -- which covers apology for crime, war crimes and crimes against humanity -- is sufficient.

France Unbowed wants to put the offence "back in the right place", parliamentary party leader Mathilde Panot said Sunday.

Panot and an LFI representative in the European Parliament, Rima Hassan, were investigated for "apology for terrorism" in April over a statement about the conflict between Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip.

LFI figures have repeatedly been accused of anti-Semitism and backing Hamas, which is designated as a terror group by the EU and US, after its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. The party has denied the charges.

The proposal is getting pushback from both sides of the political divide, with Socialist party boss Olivier Faure and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau criticising the bill.

Faure said while it is "imperative to protect civil liberties", France must also "protect the French people from fanaticism and calls for violence and hatred".

Staunch conservative Retailleau called the LFI proposal "unspeakable" and said the political left should "dissociate" itself from France Unbowed.

For his part, Migaud said, "apology makes it possible to justify and excuse... a terrorist act", adding that this "must be fought with the greatest force".
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday that a war crimes case against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Gaza war was insufficient and that he deserved a "death sentence".

In his first remarks since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu last week, Khamenei told a Tehran meeting that it was "not enough".

His country, Israel's arch nemesis, backs armed movements in the region including Palestinian militant group Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 attack sparked the war.

The ICC's judges said there were "reasonable grounds" to believe that Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant bore "criminal responsibility" for using starvation as a method of warfare and intentionally attacking civilians in the Gaza Strip.

"They issued an arrest warrant for him, it's not enough," said Khamenei, speaking to a group from the Basij paramilitary force which is linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

Instead, the Iranian leader called for "Netanyahu's death sentence" -- which the ICC cannot order.

"The death sentence of these criminal leaders should be issued," said Khamenei.

Israel's campaign in Gaza over the past 13 months "is not a victory but a war crime", added the supreme leader, who has the final say in all matters of state.

The judges of The Hague-based ICC can order prison terms of up to 30 years and under exceptional circumstances life sentences. The court cannot issue death sentences.

The pre-trial arrest warrant theoretically limits Netanyahu's movement, as any of the court's 124 member states would be obliged to arrest him on their territory.

The court's chief prosecutor Karim Khan urged national members to act on the warrants, and for non-members -- a category that includes Israel, Iran, the United States, China and others -- to work together in "upholding international law".

Tehran does not recognise Israel and is a staunch ally of Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah, whose militants have been fighting Israeli forces for months.

Khamenei told the Basij paramilitaries that Iranian forces, which have largely avoided direct involvement in the ongoing regional conflict, "will eventually destroy the Zionist regime".
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Monday he was "optimistic" for a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon, as Middle East tensions dominated a G7 meeting near Rome.

The Group of Seven foreign ministers also discussed the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Hamas military chief.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken attended the talks in the towns of Fiuggi and Anagni with ministers from Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Japan and host Italy.

"I am optimistic about Lebanon," Tajani told a press conference as international efforts for a ceasefire intensify -- even if it was "more complicated than Gaza".

"We are strongly committed to strongly pushing Israel and Hamas to end this war in Palestine," he said.

Tajani hinted however at difficulties in reaching "an unambiguous position on the International Criminal Court decision".

The ICC issued warrants against Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant as well as Hamas' Mohammed Deif on Thursday.

They have been accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza, triggered by the militant Palestinian group's October 7, 2023 attack.

Israel and its allies denounced the decision, but it was welcomed by Turkey and rights groups.

Several countries have said they would comply with ICC warrants and arrest Netanyahu should he enter their territory. Others are still considering their response.

The G7 ministers were "working to find an agreement" on the wording regarding the ICC decision in their final statement, Tajani said.

While "we may not agree with how (Netanyahu's) government" has acted in Gaza, "I believe that we must negotiate with Netanyahu to achieve peace in Lebanon and peace in Palestine", he said.

A second session Monday was to include ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as well as the secretary general of the Arab League.

- Sanctions -

The G7 talks come amid political uncertainty following Donald Trump's US election win.

On Tuesday, discussions will turn to Ukraine in the presence of the war-torn country's foreign minister, Andriy Sybiga.

Officials will discuss ways to continue supporting Kyiv, prospects for peace and initiatives for future reconstruction, according to Italian officials.

The same day in Brussels, ambassadors from NATO countries and Ukraine will hold talks over Russia's firing of an experimental hypersonic intermediate-range missile.

"Unity is our strength at the moment, I'm referring above all to relations with the Russian Federation," Tajani said as he started the meeting Monday.

Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced his country's "biggest sanctions package" yet against Russia's "shadow fleet", used to circumvent export and oil embargoes to fund its war against Ukraine.

Tensions in the Asia-Pacific are also on the G7 agenda, and Italy invited foreign ministers from South Korea, India, Indonesia and the Philippines.

The G7 ministers are also expected to discuss the crises in Haiti and Sudan, as well as political tensions in Venezuela.
The referrals are historic and the charges exceptionally serious. The crimes against humanity and war crimes unit of the French National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutors Office (PNAT) has announced two genocide trials before the Special Assize Court in Paris against three French nationals who belonged to the Islamic State (IS) organization. Until now, French jihadists have only been prosecuted for terrorist crimes. The defendants - one woman and two men - are accused of participating in a concerted plan aimed at the total or partial destruction of the Yazidi community in Syria and Iraq, a Kurdish-speaking religious minority whom IS considers infidels.

A total of two judicial orders have been issued. The first targets the returnee Sonia Mejri, currently in French custody, and her ex-husband, Abdelnasser Benyoucef alias Abou Mouthana, presumed dead since 2016. Benyoucef was convicted in his absence for a failed attack on the church in Villejuif, a suburb of the French capital, in April 2015. He is also suspected of being one of the masterminds behind the Hyper Cacher massacre, committed on January 9, 2015 at Porte de Vincennes in Paris, two days after the attack on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. The second order concerns jihadist Sabri Essid, alias Abu Doujanah al-Faransi. Originally from the Toulouse region, Essid was a member of the Artigat jihadist network and son of a companion of French-Algerian terrorist Mohamed Merahs mother. He joined the Islamic State organization in Syria in early 2014. He too has been presumed dead since 2018.

Genocide, slavery, torture and rape

In addition to accusations of genocide, all are suspected of having committed several acts that could constitute crimes against humanity as part of a widespread or systematic attack against the Yazidi community, and against several women in particular: enslavement, imprisonment, torture, persecution and other inhumane acts. Essid and Benyoucef are also accused of raping young Yazidi women whom they had bought as part of an IS policy for purposes of sexual and domestic slavery. Some of these young Yazidi survivors are civil parties.

Suspected of having helped her ex-husband Benyoucef in the commission of this sexual violence, Mejri has also been charged with complicity in a crime against humanity. Mejri is appealing all three charges - genocide, crimes against humanity and complicity in crimes against humanity - according to her lawyer, Nabil Boudi. He says his client has stated that she was not informed of her husbands plan to buy a slave, a plan with which she disagreed. On the other hand, according to Boudi, she does not contest the fourth charge against her of participation in a terrorist criminal association witha view to preparing one or more crimes for having travelled to Syria and Iraq and joined the Islamic State organization.

French justice the only path

For the civil parties lawyers, the stakes of these trials are immense. They even represent the only possible path to justice for these women enslaved -- sometimes with their children -- and for the entire Yazidi community, says lawyer Clemence Bectarte, who represents two of the female victims and civil parties in the case against Essid. In the course of the investigation, a total of four women and their seven children were identified as victims of the jihadist between 2014 and 2016 in Syria. My clients were sometimes held by eleven, twelve or thirteen different men, all of French nationality, continues the lawyer. What theyre being offered is a trial against one of their tormentors. You can see how unsatisfactory that sounds. But at the same time, its essential these trials take place and that there be judicial recognition.

If Bectarte refers to these trials before a national court as the only path, it is also because the International Criminal Court (ICC) has not so far taken up the situation. This, she explains, is because the ICC focuses on those most responsible for the crimes committed and because, in this case, those who could have been identified and for whom the ICC could have had jurisdiction, are dead. Above all, it is because Iraq and Syria, the two countries where the crimes took place, are not States Parties to the Court, as they have not ratified the Rome Statute, continues Bectarte, who is also representing the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) in this case.

There is therefore no trial in sight at the ICC. So it is up to national jurisdictions to organize, as will soon be the case in France, trials against their nationals (or foreign refugees on their soil) for crimes they have allegedly committed in the Iraqi-Syrian zone. Some trials have already taken place, notably in the Netherlands and Germany.

A planned policy of extermination and enslavement

Romain Ruiz, lawyer for Rafida Naif who is the only Yazidi slave identified in the proceedings against Sonia Mejri and Abdelnasser Benyoucef, stresses that for his client another thing is very important -- being able to talk about the genocide of the Yazidis, a policy of extermination and enslavement planned and initiated from August 2014 when IS jihadists invaded and besieged the Sinjar region in north-eastern Iraq, cradle of the Yazidi community.

In just a few days, thousands of people were executed, most of them men. Women and girls over the age of nine were captured and sold into sexual and domestic slavery, while young boys were converted and recruited into the lion cubs of the Caliphate, trained to kill and die as martyrs. Rafida was in Sinjar at the time of the IS offensive. Her family was decimated or captured, and she and her sisters were taken and sold on a slave market, explains Ruiz. It was there that the 16-year-old was allegedly bought by a first jihadist, then sold on to Benyoucef and Mejri. What she wants now is a future, says the lawyer.

A structural probe into the genocide

As early as 2015, several investigative reports, including that of a mission from the UNs Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, recognized the genocide. In France, a so-called structural investigation was opened in 2016 by the crimes against humanity unit, then attached to the Paris public prosecutors office and now attached to the PNAT. Its objective is to document the crimes and identify French jihadists who are members of the Islamic State organization and may be involved in these acts committed in the Iraqi-Syrian zone against minorities, not just the Yazidis, explains Sophie Havard, head of the PNATs crimes against humanity and war crimes unit. This structural investigation concerns all minorities, including Christians, for example.

Despite the impossibility of gaining access to Syrian territory and so to the crime scenes, a great deal of evidence and over a hundred testimonies have been gathered, she explains, including around 60 hearings of Yazidi witnesses and victims. This is thanks to associations and non-governmental organizations involved in this evidence-gathering work, as well as to various collaborations between investigation services. In particular, the PNAT unit relied on jurisdictional investigation mechanisms: the United Nations special investigative team for Iraq UNITAD, whose work was completed in September 2024; and the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Syria (IIIM), based in Geneva.

In 2021, France and Sweden also set up a joint investigation team to gather information on foreign fighters abuses against the Yazidis and identify suspects among their own nationals, under the aegis of the European agency Eurojust. This team was later joined by Belgium and the Netherlands.

Sonia Mejri alone on the stand

The structural investigation, which is still ongoing, has led to the identification of several French jihadists, including Essid. According to the specialized Unit, a total of at least eight individual proceedings relate specifically to crimes committed against Yezidis in Syria and Iraq.

But while three people have been referred to the Paris court, only Mejri will appear physically at her trial, provided that the charges are confirmed on appeal. The two other suspects, who are presumed dead, will have a trial by default, in their absence. While this practice is not new with regard to terrorism, it is new for international crimes cases. The PNAT has jurisdiction because of the nationality of the perpetrators, and - without certain proof of their death - we have decided to prosecute them, says Havard. In practical terms, this means trying the defendants on the assumption that they are still alive.

There is no provision in French law for the appointment of a defence lawyer in a criminal case in absentia, she adds. And if there were a lawyer, he or she would be completely unaware of the accuseds position on the facts. So its hard to imagine how they could effectively defend and present a coherent line of defence when the accused has never been questioned. However, if one or more lawyers were to appear at the start of hearing to represent their clients, adds the public prosecutor, they would be able to attend the entire proceedings and present their observations to thecourt. In the event of Benyoucef and Essid being found and arrested, they could request a retrial.




Tuesday, November 26, 2024 - A cunning man has been camping on major roads in Nairobi where he preys on unsuspecting motorists by pretending that he has been knocked down, before demanding compensation.

A motorist busted him through a dash cam while he was trying to apply the trick, but it was not a lucky day for him.

In the video, the man is seen crossing the busy road and pretending that he has been knocked down.

He bangs the bonnet and orders the driver to stop, claiming that he had injured him.

Niko na camera nakuona, Unaonekana acha ujinga. Toa ujinga kwa barabara, the driver, who was probably familiar with the mans modus operandi, is heard saying.

An argument ensues as the man approaches the driver, insisting that he had injured him.

His aim was to be given money.

A traffic police officer intervenes and slaps the cunning man, before directing the motorist to drive on.

Apparently, the cop is familiar with the mans cunning tricks, having seen him do the same thing to other motorists.

Watch the video.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Tuesday, November 26, 2024 - Kenya has been ranked among the bottom ten countries that offer visa-free entry in Africa.

This is according to the latest Visa Openness Index 2024 which ranked Kenya at position 46 out of 54 countries on the continent.

Kenya garnered an Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI) score of 0.113 which is based on the ease with which African citizens can travel to other African countries.

In the report, Kenyas visa processing times were significantly longer compared to its regional counterparts who have streamlined their processes to allow for quicker approvals.

Commenting on the poor ranking, CNN Journalist Larry Madowo complained about the high fees to get a visa.

"In May, I explained to President Ruto why the ETA isnt working as he promised.

"He insisted that Kenya is now visa-free even though it isnt. Now we have data with receipts to prove my point," he stated.

For example, Rwanda emerged top in East Africa due to its visa policy that allows Citizens of countries in the African Union (AU), Commonwealth, and La Francophonie to get free visas upon arrival in Rwanda for a visit not exceeding 30 days.

Benin and Seychelles, Rwanda, and The Gambia maintained top positions as the only fully visa-free countries for all Africans.

The ease of navigating the application process also plays a vital role in the overall openness of a countrys visa system.

The report suggested that applicants faced challenges such as unclear guidelines and insufficient support during the application in countries in the bottom quartile.

In contrast, countries neighbouring Kenya have adopted more favourable visa policies that enhance their attractiveness as travel destinations.

In October, Ruto announced a new initiative that will allow foreign travellers in transit to explore the country without the need for a visa.

He announced the introduction of the Transit and Long Connection Travellers Electronic Travel Authorisation, which will permit passengers with layovers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to leave the airport and visit the capital, Nairobi, and surrounding areas.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, November 26, 2024 - Drama marred the Nakuru county assembly as MCAs engaged in a fistfight over leadership wrangles.

Nominated Member of County Assembly Leah Serem reportedly carried eggs all the way from Kuresoi to Nakuru to attack her fellow MCA.

According to the MCA, Serem accosted him as they were making their way into the assembly chambers and attacked her with eggs.

The UDA party-affiliated MCAs are split over the party's directive to maintain a new majority leader.

A section of ward representatives rejected the decision by the ruling party to affirm Keringet MCA as the new majority leader, leading to chaos in the assembly.

Watch the video.

Huyo nominated MCA Leah Serem carried eggs all the way from Kuresoi to Nakuru kuitumia kupiga a fellow, elected, MCA nayo



We are aware of the shame our MCAs are exposing themselves to daily physical confrontations...



But hii ya Serem...is a first ever in Kenya since pic.twitter.com/qIL389hPXP  Abdulahi Adan (@AbdulahiAdan10) November 26, 2024

Below are photos of the rogue MCA.









The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Tuesday, November 26, 2024 - Local TV journalist Doreen Majala was reportedly subjected to physical abuse by her controversial politician husband Gideon Mulyungi until she lost hearing in one ear.

According to blogger Aoko Otieno, Majala reunited with her abusive husband, who is the MP for Mwingi Central, because of his deep pockets.

Aoko further alleged that Mulyungi killed his first wife.

Doreen had in a past interview narrated how she called off the relationship with the MP at night after going through domestic violence.

She said that after having enough, she walked out of the marriage with her handbag and had to start life from scratch again.

Majala was depressed at the time of the divorce as she filed a case in court but later decided to settle the matter out of court in an agreement estimated at Sh3 million.

The agreement saved the MP from a two-year jail term, which could have caused him to lose his parliamentary seat.

Earlier this year, she confirmed that she had reunited with her ex-husband and shared photos of her having a romantic dinner with him at one of the luxurious restaurants in Nairobi.

Check out Aokos post.









The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Tuesday, November 26, 2024 - Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has called for the formation of a special police unit within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to address femicide in the country.

Speaking in Gichugu, Kirinyaga, Waiguru noted that the police unit will aid in curbing the killing of women, which has been on the rise recently.

The county boss emphasized the need for a lasting solution to combat femicide, noting that the recently reported cases are deeply shocking.

We thank the president because he has taken some action and we are also asking for a long-term solution to these issues and a comprehensive assessment of what going on in our society needs.

"The cause of these killings needs to be looked at so that we can reduce cases of femicide and gender-based violence, Waiguru remarked.

She further stated that gender-based violence has no place in society and expressed optimism that the 16-day campaign against femicide, announced by President William Ruto, will provide a clear plan for addressing the issue.

Gender-based violence has no place in our society, we are hoping during those 16 days of activism this coming week, we will have proposals and solutions that will give us a comprehensive plan that will provide us lasting solution to the femicide and gender-based violence, Waiguru explained.

On November 20, President William Ruto noted that the campaign dubbed 'Safe Home, Safe Space campaign' that begins on Monday, November 25, would be led by women leaders in government institutions.

He explained that the leaders would raise awareness of the signs of gender-based violence (GBV) while informing the public of the safe spaces and avenues where they can get help.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, November 26, 2024 - NARC Kenya Party Leader and Senior Counsel Martha Karua has vowed to make the life of Ugandan President Museveni a living hell.

This is after she took over the case of Ugandan Opposition Leader Kizza Besigye as lead counsel.

This new development was announced yesterday by Besigye's lawyers led by Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago in a press briefing in Kampala.

Lukwago, who met with Karua on Sunday at her Nairobi home, said she would be flying to Uganda to take over the case which is being heard at Makindye General Court Martial.

Following his meeting with Karua, FDC Interim Secretary General Harold Kaija noted that the two discussed approaches to combat cross-border abductions among other issues.

"President Erias Lukwago and Martha Karua convened at her Nairobi residence to explore collaborative approaches to combating cross-border abductions, demonstrating their commitment to regional security. He received a copy of her book whose launch Kizza Besigye missed," he wrote on X.

Besigye was in Kenya for Karua's book launch when he was abducted and transported to a military jail in Kampala.

In a statement, Karua said he arrived in Nairobi on Saturday, November 16, and checked into the Waridi Paradise Hotel and Suites.

Besigye then left the hotel with a taxi driver for a meeting at 108 Riverside Apartments, Apt. No. C1102 never to be seen again.

Museveni has been tormenting and terrorizing Besigye for the longest time and for Karua to take up the challenge to go after a dictator like him, maybe she has bitten more than she can chew.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, November 26, 2024  Former Prime Minister Raila Odingas ally and Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi is not a happy man after President William Ruto cancelled the Adani deals due to corruption.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Atandi criticized Ruto's decision to cancel Adani's deal with the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO), calling it unwise.

According to the ODM MP, the deal would have helped fix the issue of unstable electricity in the country including his constituency.

"In my region, we don't have stable electricity, the transmission lines are dead and now that we had these Adani people come to fix this problem, there was no need for the President to cancel, especially this for electricity transmission."

"The kind of damage we suffer as people from the Lake side is enormous. Our youth cannot do things like welding because there is no power. On that one, I disagree with the President," he said.

Additionally, the Legislator referenced the Nairobi Expressway which initially faced opposition from Kenyans who are currently enjoying its services.

"When former President Uhuru Kenyatta was constructing the Expressway, he never did any tender anywhere and some people complained about it but today Kenyans are happy about the Expressway and everybody is using it," he added.

Ruto ordered the cancellation of the Adani-JKIA expansion deal as well as the Adani-KETRACO deal while issuing the State of the Nation Address in Parliament.

The president explained that the new orders were informed by new information regarding the integrity of the Indian company.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, November 26, 2024 - Ruth Kamande, who came into the limelight after she stabbed her boyfriend 25 times in Buruburu, is among 14 inmates from Kamiti, Langata, and Naivasha maximum prisons set to graduate after pursuing degrees.

She has been studying law while in prison and is set to graduate with a degree in law from the University of London.

Kamande is a beneficiary of a programme run by the African Prisons Project(APP), a charity organization active in Kenya and Uganda, which brings dignity and hope to prison communities in Africa through transferring of useful skills to prisoners and prison wardens.

The APP programme currently operates in eight prisons in Kenya, and so successful has been its paralegal programme that some prisoners who have gone through it have represented themselves in court and successfully overturned previous convictions.

Ruth was sentenced to death in 2018 after being found guilty of killing her boyfriend Farid.

The court held that the nature of injuries suffered by Farid and admitted by Kamade is a clear testimony that she intended to kill.

The judges said Kamande's alleged defence of self-defence was unbelievable given the strong and compelling evidence of the prosecution witnesses.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Tuesday, November 26, 2024 - President William Ruto received a heroic welcome when he toured the lakeside city of Kisumu today.

The Head of state visited the area after the opening of the 4th Africa Sub-Sovereign Network Conference being held at the Swiss Grand Royal Hotel.

President Ruto and Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyongo were welcomed by dancers ahead of the official opening of the conference.

As his convoy made its way into the area, Ruto was flanked by an ecstatic crowd that appeared excited to see him.

The Presidents heroic reception is the second in the Lakeside City after the formation of a broad-based government.

On August 28, Ruto brought Kisumu to a standstill after the crowd in Kisumu welcomed him by waving white handkerchiefs as he called for national unity.

Ruto expressed surprise at the warm reception, contrasting it with the stoning of his motorcade during a campaign stop in 2021 when he visited the area as Deputy President.

Kisumu people love peace. I am surprised and happy to see that, Ruto said on his first visit to the Lakeside City since appointing four ODM members into his broad-based government.

Ruto appointed John Mbadi (National Treasury), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), Hassan Joho (Mining and Blue Economy), and Wycliffe Oparanya (MSME Development).

Then, Ruto stated his commitment to forging a united country and urged the people of Nyanza to join his agenda.

We are one people, a family, and I want you to join me in building a united country, he said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, November 11, 2024 - An outspoken United Democratic Alliance (UDA) blogger has urged Kikuyus to accept that President William Ruto will secure re-election in 2032, with or without their support.

The Kikuyu community, which contributed 47% of the votes that propelled Ruto to State House in 2022, has been issuing threats and warnings to the President following his role in the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Commenting on the Kikuyu threats, blogger Naipamei Kaikai urged the community to "shut up" and recognize that the late Kenyan dictator Daniel Moi ruled the country for 24 years without their support.

A polite Reminder to Mt Kenya Noise Makers: The second President of the Republic of Kenya, Daniel Arap Moi led Kenya for 24 years without Murima support.

"President Ruto will lead Kenyans till 2032 or beyond with or without Murima support, Naipamei wrote on her Twitter page.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, November 26, 2024 - Renowned communications expert Pauline Njoroge has lambasted former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, describing him as a strong mobilizer but lacking a clear endgame.

In a post on his X page, Njoroge, who has been hired by Deputy President Kithure Kindikis office to write his speeches, stated that Gachagua is an astute politician but not strategic like former late President Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta.

Gachagua is not Uhuru or Kibaki. The former presidents were futuristic, thoughtful, and strategic! Gachagua is not .

"The former DP is definitely bold, a great mobilized, and very good with narratives, but thats just about it.

"He is not sophisticated in his thinking and strategically he is not smart. He gets carried away easily, gets caught up in the present moment, and acts without thinking of future ramifications of his actions, Njoroge wrote.

She added that President William Ruto should not be concerned, as Gachaguas habit of gatecrashing events in the Mt. Kenya region lacks a clear endgame.

At present, he will continue fighting aggressively, gatecrash events, and cause a lot of excitement for the MOMENT.

"But if you happen to ask him what the eventual plan is, I am almost certain he would have no answer.

" Yet, a smart and strategic mind is required even for a kingmaker, Njoroge added.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, November 26, 2024 - Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachgaua has blasted his successor Kithure Kindiki, saying the man is unlikely to challenge President William Rutos decisions if they are contrary to the wishes of Kenyans

Speaking at a church service in Muranga on Sunday, Gachagua claimed he was the only one bold enough to challenge Ruto, opposing the oppression of ordinary Kenyans.

Gachagua suggested that his successor is merely an employee of the president, obligated to uphold the head of states decisions regardless of their impact on the country.

"I want to ask our government: We were elected by the people, so let us listen to them.

"I was the only one speaking in the government. The one who was given my seat can't speak because he is the president's employee.

"There is nothing he can do. They say what the president says," Gachagua said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, November 26, 2024 - Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot narrated how he almost confronted President William Ruto after his first deduction of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) from his monthly salary.

Speaking at Kipsitet Primary School in Kericho County during an Interdenominational church service, Cheruiyot admitted he was at first apprehensive about the new government health scheme.

"To be honest, this is not an easy burden to bear," the Senator said.

"When NHIF (National Health Insurance Fund) was in place, I was only deducted a Ksh1700 from my Ksh1 million salary. But when my October salary came in, I almost texted you, Mr President. I was deducted Ksh32,000."

"But when I remembered the money was going to help an underprivileged Kenyan who voted for me, I said okay because I would rather the money help ordinary Kenyans," he added.

The Senator further urged Kericho residents to register for the new SHIF, which was recently rebranded to Taifa Care, as the government aims to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Cheruiyot further faulted the previous NHIF which he claims was subject to rampant corruption and malpractice - which he believes would be eradicated through SHIF's modern claims management system (CMS).

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, November 26, 2024 - Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua recently donated Ksh1 million to a church amid the controversy surrounding political donations to religious institutions.

However, according to Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang'wa, there is a valid reason behind Gachaguas contribution, which came at a time when politicians were under intense scrutiny over their monetary inputs to churches.

Speaking at the ACK St. James Cathedral in Kiambu, Thangwa clarified that Gachagua had made a promise to the church long before the debate surrounding church donations by politicians.

According to the Senator, the Ksh1 million donation was made by Gachagua in good faith and would support the ongoing construction works.

We have had to fear because we saw some people taking cash donations to church and they were returned," the Senator explained.

"The church wrote to the president and his people but the former deputy president was not involved. He (Gachagua) was here previously and announced he owed you money for paint. He gave me Ksh1 million, which I have kept since October 27. So he has kept his promise, which he made a long time ago."

The latest move from Gachagua came just days after the Soweto Catholic Church was ordered to refund donations made by President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.

While rejecting the President's cash gift, Metropolitan Archbishop Most Rev. Philip Anyolo said the donations violated the Public Fundraising Appeals Bill.

The Archbishop also discouraged politicians from using the church to seek political mileage.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, November 26, 2024 - Narc Kenya Chairperson Martha Karua has joined a growing list of politicians and business leaders expressing interest in unseating President William Ruto in 2027.

During a roundtable discussion at K24 on Tuesday, Karua expressed confidence in her ability to challenge President William Ruto and emerge victorious.

The veteran politician stated that she would toss herself into the contention and let Kenyans make an informed choice on the ballot.

Am I not a person? Listen watch my steps and dont force me to be a follower.

"If I was a running mate, isnt that be enough? I will place myself on the field, and it will be Kenyans who decide who among all of us is suitable," she stated.

Karua, a seasoned politician with over three decades of experience, last contested the presidency in 2013, finishing a distant sixth in a race won by former president Uhuru Kenyatta.

In her remarks, Karua stressed the importance of a fair and competitive process in determining leadership, not just within opposition circles but also nationally.

She called for the opposition to unite through a structured competition before having a competitive process to choose one of them.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Eoin Reynolds

A Mountjoy prisoner "lured" a fellow inmate to his cell where he stamped on his head and caused his death in a "vicious and unprovoked assault", a prosecution barrister has told a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court.

Michael Delaney SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, told the jury of nine men and three women that David Dunne intended to cause serious injury or death when he assaulted Robert O'Connor and should be found guilty of murder.

Mr Dunne's defence barrister Brendan Grehan SC said the killing was not intentional or planned but "came about in the circumstances of the moment". Mr Grehan said that if his client is guilty of murder simply because he struck the deceased's head, then there are "an awful lot of attempted murderers" out there.

Counsel added: "People get kicked or struck in the head all the time and nobody suggests they were out to commit murder, but if somebody does die there is an immediate focus on the result and a lot of the evidence gets reinterpreted in that regard."

Mr Grehan asked the jury not to look at the result and work backwards to find the necessary intent for murder or to conclude that if a person assaults or stamps someone's head they must have intended to cause serious injury or death.

David Dunne (40), with a last address in Summerhill, Dublin 1, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Robert OConnor on July 29th, 2022, at Mountjoy Prison, North Circular Road, Dublin 7.

Mr Delaney told the jury that Mr O'Connor died from blunt force trauma to the head by either punches, kicking or stamping.

A neuropathological exam showed that Mr O'Connor's brain was subjected to a rotational force that caused a shearing of the nerve ends, he said.

Those injuries, counsel said, were caused by a "vicious and unprovoked assault" by the accused. Counsel pointed to the evidence of one prison officer who said he saw Mr Dunne stamp "more than once" on Mr O'Connor's head before he could intervene.

Mr Delaney said CCTV evidence suggests "an element of coordination" in the interactions visible between Mr Dunne and three other prisoners in the minutes before the fatal encounter.

Counsel said the footage suggests that when Mr O'Connor arrived on Mr Dunne's wing of the prison, the accused signalled to one of those prisoners. Once Mr O'Connor and the accused went inside the accused's cell, Mr Delaney said the others followed as if they "knew something was going down".

Mr Delaney said the CCTV undermines Mr Dunne's claim during garda interviews that he invited the deceased to his cell for a "friendly chat" about an assault on Mr O'Connor that occurred two days previously.

It further undermined Mr Dunne's claim in garda interviews that he acted in self-defence after being attacked by the deceased, counsel said.

"The objective, reliable evidence shows he [the accused] lured Robert O'Connor into that cell for the purpose of attacking him," Mr Delaney said.

Counsel accused Mr Dunne of giving a self-serving account that lacks credibility in a letter he wrote the night following the fatal assault.

In that letter, Mr Dunne said that when they entered the cell, Mr O'Connor got defensive, believing that Mr Dunne was involved in the previous assault. Mr Dunne wrote that Mr O'Connor hit him first but then fell to the ground when Mr Dunne punched back. Mr Dunne described the deceased holding his leg as Mr Dunne pushed him away with his foot.

During garda interviews, Mr Delaney said the accused's account "evolved" until in his final interview he demonstrated a "stamp" that counsel said could easily have caused the injuries sustained by Mr O'Connor.

Mr Delaney further suggested that the accused raised "red herrings" in those interviews, such as that Mr O'Connor was "out of it on drugs and couldn't be reasoned with". Toxicology showed that he had only therapeutic doses of prescribed drugs, counsel said.

Mr Grehan told the jury that they have to apply the proper legal principles, including the presumption of innocence, "despite whatever distaste you might have for Mr Dunne, where Mr Dunne has not one but many previous convictions... and spent most of his life in and out of prison."

He urged the jury to ignore "speculation" by the prosecution about signals between prisoners and a "wide blown conspiracy" and to look at the hard evidence. "Where can it be made out in hard facts that this was a planned killing?" he asked.

Mr Grehan said nobody, including the accused, could have known that Mr O'Connor would come to that landing at that time.

The last place Mr Dunne would choose for an attack would be his own cell, which is watched by multiple CCTV cameras covering all entrances and exits and where two prison officers are stationed nearby, Mr Grehan said.

Mr Grehan said the killing was not an intentional or planned action but was "in fact a reaction" without any premeditation. The lack of blood on Mr Dunne's footwear suggests he did not kick the deceased more than once. The appropriate verdict, counsel said, is not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.

Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring will complete her charge to the jury before they begin their deliberations.
By David Young, PA

Fianna Fails refusal to contemplate Sinn Fein as a coalition partner is policy-based and not personal, Micheal Martin has insisted.

Mr Martin again made clear he would not engage with Sinn Fein in relation to government formation post-election.

In response, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald claimed the Fianna Fail leader appeared determined to ensure Fine Gael returned to power alongside him following Fridays general election.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said that Fianna Fail was determined to allow Fine Gael back into power (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mr Martin and Ms McDonald were both canvassing in the Dublin South Central constituency on Tuesday morning.

The Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Mr Martin was asked by reporters to explain his reasoning for ruling out Sinn Fein as coalition partners.

First of all, we have to deliver on our mandate, were elected by people, he said.

People vote for Fianna Fail and the vast majority of Fianna Fail voters are voting for Fianna Fail on the basis of our clear principles around an enterprise economy, around the positive, pro-European position, around our commitment to home ownership and the democratic nature of our party, and the vast majority favour the position Ive adopted, and its on policy grounds.

He added: The Sinn Fein position on the economy, with 3.5 billion euros of tax increases, would destroy small to medium-sized enterprises.

If you go through the detail of the Sinn Fein manifesto, you will see a recipe for the undermining of small to medium-sized companies and the whole enterprise and entrepreneurial spirit within Irish society. That is my view. Its a strongly held view, and its legitimate in politics to have differences of policy, and thats fair enough.

Asked if it was a hard no in relation to negotiating with Sinn Fein, he confirmed it was.

The same happened in 2020, the same happened in 2016  we didnt engage on policy grounds, he said of the last two general elections in Ireland.

Mr Martin was then asked if he had an issue with personalities in Sinn Fein, such as Ms McDonald.

This isnt personal, he added.

I mean anybody who knows me knows that I focus always on policy and the substance of issues, not on personalities.

Were a democracy here, I respect people, and I respect everybody who goes forward in an election, that can be challenging for every individual.

Later, Ms McDonald pushed back on Mr Martins criticism of her partys policies. In particular, she rejected any suggestion that Sinn Fein was anti-EU, describing her party as resolutely European.

She added: I see that Micheal Martin is absolutely determined to put Fine Gael back in government. I cant fathom that. I think by any measure, if youre actually listening to people out on the ground in the course of this campaign, people are telling him, telling everybody, that they are struggling, that they are suffering in many instances, that they are left behind. Some feel very betrayed by the Government, particularly younger people.

But people are also saying, thankfully in increasing numbers, that they recognise that actually that can change, but its only going to change with a different government.

In regard to its policies on Europe, Ms McDonald said Sinn Fein was not afraid to challenge issues within the EU, citing in particular the stance of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the Gaza conflict.

You know Micheal Martin doesnt actually get to define what being a good European is, she said.

And the best kind of European, in my view, is a European that challenges its own system and its own institutions when theyre clearly doing the wrong things and works constructively for Irish interests and international interests to get things on the right track.
The international spotlight shun on Padmore & Barnes in Kilkenny City last week as the iconic Wall Street Journal had included a classic P20 moccasin from the store as one of a list of great fashion items to buy for your man this Christmas.

Following its publication, staff at the local store reported a surge in sales with the volume over seven times the average. The store based on Wolfe Tone Street is one of the longest established companies in the area. The company was established as a shoemaker in 1934 and has had a storied journey through the last 90 years.

READ MORE: The Kilkenny Business of the Year is named

During that time the company actually changed hands several times, including a 25 year ownership by the famous British owned Clarks Shoes. But for the last thirty years the company has been under the control of the local Roberts family making it a true Kilkenny project.

Nowadays Padmore and Barnes are still shoemaking under their own brand in a lovely craft based shoe factory in northern Portugal. The store now caters to Japan, South Korea, USA, Canada and France as well as delivering small numbers of footwear being sold in up to 20 other countries.
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.

Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.

If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .

Support our mission and join our community now.
By Park Jin-hai

Gong Yoo returns to the small screen after three years with the Netflix mystery melodrama "The Trunk." The much-anticipated series unravels the secrets of a clandestine marriage service, surfaced by the discovery of a floating trunk.

Gong, co-starring with rom-com queen Seo Hyun-jin, portrays Han Jeong-won, a lonely music producer scarred by past heartbreak, entering into a contractual marriage as a last-ditch effort to reconnect with his ex-wife. Initially cold and distant toward his new wife, Noh In-ji (Seo), Han gradually finds himself thawing as he experiences a newfound sense of warmth and connection.

"I was drawn to the original concept (of the drama). I thought the story could be interpreted in many ways, depending on the viewer's perspective. Plus, it was a chance to work with Oh Hae-young (co-star Seo's former character), who I've always admired," Gong said explaining his decision to join the project during a press conference at The Raum in Gangnam District, Seoul, Tuesday.

This strange and precarious relationship offers a glimpse into the series exploration of the complex emotions of characters involved in the marriage  including love, pity, salvation, obsession, desire, loneliness and emptiness  and will delve deeper into the characters' relationships.

Regarding his character, the actor said he felt an instinctive connection. "I felt an immediate sense of empathy for Jeong-won. I started with pity and ended up here. It seems like Jeong-won hasn't fully come to terms with himself," Gong said.

Director Kim Kyu-tae was "honestly a bit perplexed" when he first read the script, which is an adaptation of a novel of the same title by Kim Ryeo-ryeong.

"It was definitely very interesting, but it was also strange, fresh, novel and literary," Kim said. "'I couldn't easily grasp the psychology or relationships of the characters in the drama. I became immersed in the work of my own curiosity about what it was. Gradually, I empathized with the psychology and relationships, and it was a piece with such a unique charm."

He further explained that while "fixed-term marriage" might seem provocative, in "The Trunk," it acts as a catalyst for discovering authenticity amid falsehood. He emphasized that the story primarily revolves around a blend of mystery and romance.

"I wanted to delve deeper into the psychological mysteries rather than relying on external plot devices like a murder," the director said, expressing his hope that the audience would enjoy the emotional journey of the characters and find fulfillment in their story of redemption as he did.

C0-star Seo found her character's ambiguity to be particularly appealing.

"The script left a lot to the imagination, with long lines and plenty of blank space. I was intrigued by the idea of interpreting the character differently and seeing how others would portray her," she said.

Seo described her character as a woman who hides her true self behind a tough exterior. "She's like a hermit crab, carrying the weight of her past. Her loneliness and isolation are palpable," she said.

As the drama tackles the unconventional concept of a fixed-term marriage, it includes explicit content. Director Kim emphasized that the intimate scenes are integral to the narrative, saying, "These scenes are used to convey the characters' emotional complexities and the dynamics of their relationships. We aimed for a balanced and respectful portrayal of intimacy."

"The Trunk" will premiere on Friday on Netflix.
Absence from ads fuels speculation of preemptive caution

By KTimes

Actor Jung Woo-sung is reconsidering his attendance at the 45th Blue Dragon Film Awards, following his recent acknowledgment of having a child out of wedlock and the emergence of dating rumors.

An official from his agency, Artist Company said, "Jung Woo-sung is reevaluating his participation in the 45th Blue Dragon Film Awards, scheduled for Nov. 29."

Jung is nominated for Best Actor at this year's Blue Dragon Film Awards for his role in the hit movie "12.12: The Day." Initially, he planned to attend the ceremony despite the controversy over his child, which surfaced on Nov. 24.

However, the situation took a turn after Jung confirmed the news, which was soon followed by rumors of his relationship with a non-celebrity. The heightened attention seems to have led to his reconsideration.

His agency confirmed on Sunday that Jung is the biological father of a son born to model Moon Ga-bi.

No ad deal, preparation for fallout?

In the meantime, Jung has not signed any advertising contracts in the past year, leading to speculation that he may have been preparing for potential fallout from the paternity revelation.

Jung has not taken on any endorsement deals since his last ad with NHN Hangame in 2022. Considering his lead role in the 2023 film "12.12: The Day," which surpassed 10 million viewers and elevated his status, his absence from the advertising scene is unusual.

In the past, Jung consistently worked as a brand model for companies like Giordano, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, Wemakeprice, Lotte Himart and Paldo Bibimmyun. His clean image, bolstered by principled remarks and a scandal-free personal life, made him a reliable choice for advertisers.

Some speculate that Jung's decision to step back from endorsements may have been deliberate. Reports from Dispatch and TenAsia suggest that Jung and Moon first met in 2022 at a gathering, and she gave birth to her son in March 2023. It is believed Jung learned of Moons pregnancy in October 2022.

Further fueling speculation, Jung resigned as a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in July 2023, after nearly a decade in the role.

At the time, he said, "I worried that my image was becoming too closely tied to the UNHCR. Continuous attacks on both the organization and myself created a situation that was not beneficial for either."

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
Key issue centers on penalty in contract termination dispute

By KTimes

Whether K-pop girl group NewJeans will reunite with former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin, the creative mind behind the five-member act, is drawing keen attention as tensions rise over contract disputes.

Some industry insiders believe it will be challenging for NewJeans to align with Min, with a key obstacle being the massive penalty associated with terminating their contract.

A KakaoTalk conversation between Min and two former Ador executives in March was disclosed by online media outlet Chosun.com on Sunday, in which they discussed the estimated penalty they should pay in case of the contract termination of NewJeans with Ador.

Their estimated termination penalty was calculated to be up to 620 billion won ($440 million), with the conversation records disclosed during the injunction trial Min filed against HYBE to prohibit the exercise of voting rights against her.

In the conversation, one executive explained that if the average monthly revenue per member is set at 2 billion won and the termination date is assumed to be the end of June, the remaining contract period of approximately 62 months would result in an estimated penalty of 124 billion won per member, totaling 620 billion won for all five members.

Min downplayed the estimated penalty, saying, "That's not too much."

The termination penalty follows the Fair Trade Commissions standard exclusive contract template, which calculates penalties by multiplying the remaining contract period by the average monthly revenue from the past two years.

The members of NewJeans, who debuted in July 2022, still have five years left on their contracts. Even if the group were to pay the penalty and proceed with legal action, proving Adors fault would be challenging, as no specific contract breaches have been disclosed.

Furthermore, NewJeans have received top-tier treatment in the industry, with a reported total of 26.1 billion won distributed among the members in just two years, the highest for any K-pop girl group.

Under civil law, courts have the authority to adjust penalties if they are deemed excessive or unreasonable, making this a key point of contention in the case.

Lawyer Sun Jong-moon said, The reasons NewJeans has provided might not hold up as grounds for termination according to industry standards. But even if they lose, penalties could be reduced based on the courts discretion under civil law, and the case could go all the way to the Supreme Court given the stakes involved.

The penalty amount could potentially be reduced at the courts discretion. However, even with adjustments, each member may still be liable for hundreds of billions of won, raising doubts about whether a group that debuted just two years ago can bear such a financial burden to leave their agency.

NewJeans vs. Ador

On Nov. 13, NewJeans sent a formal legal notice to Ador, demanding the reinstatement of former CEO Min and stating that they would terminate their exclusive contract if their demands were not met within two weeks.

However, with Min resigning from her position as an internal director at Ador on Nov. 20, her return has become impossible. Consequently, it is unlikely that NewJeans' demands will be fulfilled by the Wednesday deadline.

As the date approaches, speculation mounts over whether the group will proceed with a legal battle against Ador over their exclusive contract, despite the astronomical penalties involved.

The group alleges they faced mistreatment, including overhearing a manager telling others to ignore Hanni, one of the members, and encountering internal documents suggesting plans to exclude NewJeans from future strategies.

If NewJeans can substantiate these claims, they may argue that the trust in their relationship with Ador and HYBE has irreparably broken down, potentially justifying contract termination.

Ador has denied the existence of the manager accused of disrespecting Hanni.

Escalating legal battles and NewJeans next move



Min and NewJeans may be preparing for a fresh start outside of HYBE, especially as the group has hinted at a potential lawsuit to terminate their exclusive contract with Ador.

Min has declared her intent to hold HYBE legally accountable for alleged breaches of contract. "I will pursue legal actions step by step regarding the numerous illegal activities committed by HYBE and its affiliates," she said.

Min filed a criminal complaint against HYBE's public relations executives on Monday, alleging misconduct in promoting NewJeans. She lodged the complaint with Yongsan Police Station in Seoul, accusing HYBEs Chief Communication Officer Park Tae-hee and a PR director, identified only as Cho, of breaching their duties.

The accused executives are part of HYBEs shared PR team, which oversees promotional activities for artists under its sublabels, including NewJeans.

The complaint followed Mins Nov. 20 lawsuit at the Seoul Central District Court to exercise her put option, seeking approximately 26 billion won for her shares.

HYBE maintains that the shareholder agreement with Min was already nullified due to her alleged misconduct, setting the stage for a legal battle over the put option payment.

Min has consistently expressed her dedication to NewJeans, stating her ambition to achieve dreams together with the group.

Similarly, NewJeans has shown unwavering support for Min, requesting her reinstatement and even threatening to terminate their exclusive contract with Ador if their demands were not met.

At a recent awards ceremony, the group hinted at uncertainties about their future, saying, "We dont know how long well be NewJeans, but we hope to stay together until the end."

HYBE's response

Following Min's departure from Ador and HYBE, there is growing speculation that NewJeans may file for a provisional injunction to suspend their exclusive contract with Ador by the end of this month.

Min has expressed her commitment to NewJeans, both during her tenure at Ador and in her recent statements.

Her actions and words suggest that she plans to continue working with the group as they navigate their next steps outside of HYBE as she said, "I hope you will continue to show interest in the new K-pop journey I plan to embark on."

For its part, in a statement regarding Mins resignation, Ador said, We regret her unilateral decision to step down but remain committed to supporting NewJeans to help them grow and thrive.

As Min shifts her focus to legal battles and potential new beginnings, all eyes are on NewJeans and whether they will follow her lead into uncharted territory.

This article, based on a piece from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, was translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
By Yoon Ja-young

Hana Financial Group organized the 2024 Hana Waves Conference to cultivate future women leaders, the group said Tuesday.

Waves stands for Women's Actions, Voices and Emotions, reflecting its aim of making waves of innovation through the actions, voices and emotions of women. The program has trained 120 women leaders since its launch in 2021.

The participants completed courses in diverse sectors, such as humanities studies, speech and digital, and tackled courses on seeking innovations in global financial service, customer expansion and synergy creation between affiliates.

Customers are the core assets of Hana Financial Group, and leaders should search for solutions in the field. I hope that you all become leaders who grow with other employees and navigate with the group toward its destination, Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo said.

The group plans to expand the leadership program as well as continue its contributions to nurture women in society.
Internet bank vows to increase shareholder return rate from 20% to up to 50%

By Jun Ji-hye

KakaoBank will transform into a comprehensive financial platform with assets totaling 100 trillion won ($72 billion) within the next three years, driven by sustained growth and expanded innovation, CEO Yoon Ho-young said on Tuesday.

The announcement was made during the 2024 analyst conference at the firms office in Seoul, where Yoon unveiled the internet-only banks value-up program for mid- to long-term growth.

He outlined the business goals, aiming for both quantitative and qualitative growth by 2027. These goals include reaching 30 million customers, achieving 100 trillion won in assets and driving an average annual growth of 20 percent in fee and platform revenue.

In addition, the bank announced a balanced shareholder return policy to convert its robust growth into shareholder value.

Building on our overwhelming traffic and engagement, KakaoBank plans to optimize its revenue models, including net interest margin and platform services, while expanding its core competencies into global markets as well as investment and mergers and acquisitions sectors, Yoon said.

We are committed to establishing a shareholder return policy that actively shares the fruits of growth with its shareholders, thereby enhancing capital efficiency.

He added, Leveraging our artificial intelligence transformation capabilities, we will pursue an AI-first strategy focused on innovating customer experience, strengthening financial stability and optimizing operations.

The countrys largest internet-only bank said its growth-oriented value-up strategy will be implemented with two core pillars: sustainable growth and innovative expansion.

As of this year, the bank has 9.06 million active users, representing 30 percent of the countrys economically active population. Active users are defined as customers who use the bank as their salary account or exhibit high app engagement.

Moving forward, KakaoBank aims to continue expanding its customer base and growing its deposit portfolio.

First, the firm plans to launch dedicated services catering to diverse customer groups, from infants to middle-aged and older adults, to increase penetration across all age demographics. The bank is also preparing services for foreign customers, including dedicated deposit accounts for foreigners residing in Korea and exclusive services for short-term visitors.

The bank also aims to strengthen its integration with KakaoTalk accounts, further broadening its customer base. The strong synergy with the countrys largest messenger app is expected to enable the bank to leverage its vast user base while enhancing the messengers financial-related services.

With this expanded customer base, the bank aims to secure 30 million customers by 2027, including increasing the number of active users to 13 million.

In addition to growing its customer base, the company will pursue innovation and financial growth through investments, M&As and the expansion of its presence in global markets.

Through portfolio diversification and a multifaceted revenue model, the bank plans to increase the share of noninterest income  from fees, platforms, investment financial assets and other sources  to over 40 percent of total operating income by 2030, excluding loan interest income.

The bank is also advancing its AI-first strategy, planning to simplify services such as transfers and account inquiries, introducing personalized recommendation services to enhance customer experiences and improving security for fraud detection and authentication processes.

To achieve this, it will allocate over 10 percent of its workforce to AI specialists, solidifying its AI transformation capabilities.

As for an active shareholder return policy, the firm announced plans to increase its shareholder return rate from the current 20 percent to up to 50 percent if the Bank for International Settlements, or BIS, capital adequacy ratio exceeds the average of major commercial banks in the previous year over the next three years.

Additionally, the bank intends to expand inclusive finance by continuing its growth trajectory, reducing financial burdens for small business owners and increasing the supply of loans to mid- to low-credit customers.
By Yi Whan-woo

Companies anticipated to benefit from postwar Ukraine reconstruction are rallying in the stock market as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is poised to end the war.

Trump bragged that he would end the war in just one day, raising speculation that the yearslong war will end soon, as he won the Nov. 5 presidential election for his second term.

Against this backdrop, companies in construction, machinery, communication, agriculture and other relevant sectors have been on an upward trajectory on the benchmark KOSPI and secondary bourse Kosdaq.

Sambu Engineering advanced 6.04 percent to close at 1,247 won on the benchmark KOSPI, Tuesday, marking a more than two-fold surge from Nov. 5 at 540 won.

A construction company, Sambu Engineering, is categorized as a stock linked to postwar Ukraine as it has been actively preparing to help rebuild the country.

According to industry sources, the company has been contacting Ukraines presidential office since May this year to discuss projects on industrial complexes and commercial districts.

A machinery unit of HD Hyundai, HD Hyundai Infracore closed at 7,790 won on the KOSPI, Tuesday, finishing at the highest level post-U.S. presidential election.

Also an affiliate of HD Hyundai, HD Hyundai Construction Equipment climbed from 50,600 won to 66,200 won between Nov. 5 and Tuesday.

In the communications sector, Kosdaq-listed Dasan Network improved from 3,265 won to 3,920 won over the same period.

Daedong Industrial, an agricultural machinery manufacturer, finished above the 10,000 won mark for the fourth consecutive trading day since the U.S. presidential election on Tuesday. It ended at 11,130 won, compared to 8,390 won on Nov. 5.
Korean won plunge limited to 1,450 won in H2; AI-enhanced productivity to lift Korea's growth potential to 2.5%

By Lee Kyung-min

The Korean economy is expected to grow 1.8 percent next year, eroded by a worse-than-expected decline in exports and resulting unwinding in investments, a senior economist at Goldman Sachs said Tuesday. The figure was revised from the previous forecast of 2.2 percent.

The countrys currency is likely to plunge to 1,450 won against the U.S. dollar through the second half of next year, although a potential uptick in U.S.-bound exports of strategic tech goods previously dominated by China could lead to moderate gains in won, according to Kwon Goo-hoon, senior Asia economist and managing director at the Seoul branch of the global investment bank.

The seemingly visible threat of artificial intelligence (AI) could bolster the countrys potential growth to 2.5 percent through a wide breakthrough in labor and business productivity overall, he added.



The Korean economy faces multiple headwinds next year, Kwon said during a press conference at the bank's headquarters in Seoul.

Underpinning the outlook are a pronounced weakening in exports over the past few months, and subsequent delays and drawdowns in investments. This in turn will pose a further drag to the export-reliant economy throughout next year.

Of the 500 basis points reduction from the previous 2.2 percent, Kwon said, about 300 basis points were ascribed to the exports and investments considerations.

"Almost all economies except Taiwan registered a clear sign of plateau or downtrend in the month-on-month figures over the past few months. Also at play is a bleaker-than-expected outlook due to the combination of said factors.

The sustained strengthening of the U.S. reserve currency is likely to continue for the time being, but not to the extent that Korean currency is pushed in sync with the Chinese or Japanese currency, in his view.

The global reign of strong U.S. dollar may overshoot market expectations. However, Korea has the largest net foreign asset holdings among emerging economies, after Taiwan and Israel. The countrys foreign assets constitute about half of GDP, sufficient to provide a floor for the currency in the event of external shocks.

The incoming Trump administration's tariff policy scheduled for January could weaken the yuan, depreciating the Korean won to a degree, in his view.

The general view is that the Chinese currency and other Asian currencies will move in sync. However, the currency coupling will not be pronounced as much compared to 10 or five years ago.

The risk of labor shortage can be mitigated significantly by AI technologies, a boon for Korea, defined by the worlds lowest birthrates and super rapid aging, in his view.

The early and full adoption of AI will thus push up the countrys potential growth to 2.5 percent, a far rosier outlook than the Bank of Koreas forecast of 2 percent.

India, Indonesia and Vietnam, for example, have many young workers and therefore do not find the AI technology particularly attractive. However, AI can help Korea with a rapidly diminishing workforce, strengthening the countrys productivity at large," he noted.

The BOK will cut the key rate in January next year, and further cuts will leave it at 2.25 percent throughout the year, down from the current 3.25 percent, in his view.

October cut was hawkish. The pace of further easing will be determined in part by how much the central banks next year growth forecast will be revised to: 2 percent or lower.
Exhibition delves into traditional cuisine enjoyed by Korean kings

By Pyo Kyung-min

What did the kings and queens of the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom dine on?

On Tuesday, 20 spouses of foreign ambassadors to Korea were among the first to experience a new exhibition at the National Palace Museum of Korea, located within central Seoul's Gyeongbok Palace, offering answers to this historical curiosity.

Titled "Joseon's Royal Cuisine: A Table for Food, Reverence and Sharing," the exhibit offers insights into the culinary traditions of Joseon's royal court. The diplomatic spouses toured through more than 200 artifacts including historical records, paintings, utensils and cooking tools from the Joseon era.

The ambassadors' spouses were guided through two sections consisting of the exhibit, with the first highlighting the work of royal chefs, traditionally known as "suksu." Displays include illustrations of these chefs preparing meals, signs from palace kitchens and descriptions of the process by which local specialties were inspected, prepared and served to the king.

The second section features a reproduction of a royal feast, showcasing a total of 63 dishes served during traditional celebrations. Visitors can also engage with interactive displays, including a touchscreen that allows them to virtually prepare royal dishes.

In particular, one exhibit uses dials and digital displays to allow visitors to access royal recipes by inserting barcoded postcards. Another feature is a touchscreen survey that matches participants' food preferences to a Joseon king.

Natalia Federighi, president of the Ambassadors' Spouses Association in Seoul (ASAS) and spouse of the Dominican Republic ambassador, commended the exhibition for its clarity and accessibility after Tuesday's visit.

"I think the presentation was very well done, clearly explained and accessible to anyone," Federighi said. "It not only helped us understand the value of this historical knowledge but also allowed us to experience it firsthand." She added that she planned to return with her family and friends.

Following the exhibit, the spouses also toured Gyeongbok Palace, including the janggo, a traditional pantry for "jang"  fermented pastes that are staples of Korean cuisine  which is typically closed to the public.

The event concluded at Heungbok Hall within the palace, where the group sampled royal refreshments prepared by Han Bok-ryeo, a chef specializing in royal cuisine. The tasting featured hangwa (Korean confections), yakgwa (honey cookies), tteok (rice cakes) and baesuk (a warm drink made from honey, spices and simmered pears, often enjoyed in winter).

Federighi said she found the baesuk especially memorable, describing the visit as a deeply meaningful experience.

"This experience has been particularly meaningful for us as members of the ASAS," she said.

"Learning about Korea's rich heritage is essential because we are hosted here and it's our responsibility to understand and share this knowledge. By doing so, we can convey these cultural insights to our delegations and nationals. Since we often host important individuals from our home countries, it's vital that ambassador spouses are well-versed in Korean culture and can share it effectively."

The exhibition runs until Feb. 2, 2025.
North Korea has supplied more than 100 KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles, and dispatched military specialists to Russia in support of its war with Ukraine, a Ukrainian defense intelligence unit has said.

The alleged provision is another sign of North Korea and Russia's deepening military cooperation that has also involved the deployment of more than 10,000 North Korean troops to Russia.

"The aggressor state of Russia has received more than 100 such missiles from the DPRK. The enemy first used these weapons in the war against Ukraine at the end of 2023," the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine said in a report, referring to the North by its formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"Along with the missiles, Pyongyang then sent its military specialists to Russia to service the launchers and participate in war crimes against Ukraine," the institution said.

The KN-23 and KN-24 are North Korean short-range ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, known as Hwasong-11 variants.

The intelligence unit said the missiles, which have caused multiple civilian casualties, were found to have included components made by foreign companies, including those from Britain, China, Japan, Switzerland and the United States.

At least one of the missiles included a voltage converter produced in February last year and labeled by the British firm XP Power, it said, calling for tighter measures against the export of such components.

South Korea's spy agency briefed lawmakers earlier that the North exported long-range artillery to Russia, including 170-millimeter self-propelled howitzers and 240 mm multiple rocket launchers. This assessment raised speculation that the North could send an additional artillery unit to Russia. (Yonhap)
North Koreans were ordered to make a "loyalty oath" on Jan. 8, leader Kim Jong-un's birthday, not on the first day of this year, as the North seeks to bolster the personality cult for Kim, South Korea's unification ministry said Tuesday.

Usually, North Koreans are ordered to sign a "loyalty oath" document on Jan. 1 to show their allegiance to the regime, after gathering at a meeting related to the ruling Workers' Party of Korea or Kim Jong-un.

In the past, the North also ordered its people to take an oath of allegiance on Feb. 16, the birthday of Kim Jong-il, the late father of the incumbent leader, and April 15, the birthday of late national founder Kim Il-sung.

The unification ministry said North Korea held such a ritual on Jan. 8, Kim Jong-un's birthday, not on Jan. 1 this year, a move seen as being aimed at reinforcing the idolization of Kim as the sole leader.

"There is a possibility that North Korea could expand the use of a pin featuring Kim Jong-un's solitary portrait and designate his birthday as a national holiday," a ministry official told reporters.

North Korea has been bolstering the personality cult for Kim as the sole ruler, warranting people's respect while refraining from excessively extolling the late state founder.

In a related move, North Korea has stopped using its "juche," or self-reliance, calendar a system of numbering the years that symbolizes Kim Il-sung. Under this calendar, adopted in 1997, the national founder's birth year, 1912, is considered Juche 1.

The ministry said the Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, began removing the use of the juche calendar in its Oct. 13 edition, and state TV footage featuring the Juche year has been also edited or cut.

Meanwhile, North Korea's trade with China has yet to recover to the pre-pandemic level though the North reopened its border last year following years of COVID-19 border restrictions, according to the ministry.

North Korea's trade with China, the North's main economic benefactor, came to $1.49 billion in the January-September period, compared with $1.62 billion the previous year.

The data came as relations between North Korea and China have cooled amid Pyongyang's close alignment with Moscow.

On North Korea's trade with Russia, the ministry said the trade volume is presumed to increase "significantly" this year, compared with last year, amid an increase in the North's imports of wheat flour and refined oil from Russia.

In regard to the possibility of North Korea's additional deployment of troops to Russia, the ministry official said the rotation of soldiers seems to be more likely, rather than an additional dispatch of troops, if Moscow's war with Ukraine continues. (Yonhap)
Idolization of Kim Jong-un continues

By Kwak Yeon-soo

North Korea is intensifying internal control over its military and citizens in what seems to be an effort to suppress any dissent regarding the regime's troop deployment to support Russia's war against Ukraine, the Ministry of Unification said, Tuesday.

North Korea hosted the 4th Conference of Battalion Commanders and Political Instructors of the Korean People's Army (KPA) from Nov. 14 to 15. Such conferences had only been held three times previously: in October 1953 after the Korean Armistice Agreement, in October 2006 just before North Korea's first nuclear test, and in November 2014 during a period when the North's leader Kim Jong-un carried out a reign of terror.

Hosting a rare conference for the first time in 10 years seems not only aimed at quelling any military or internal unrest regarding North Korea's troop dispatch to Russia, but also at fostering hostility toward South Korea and the outside world, a senior unification ministry official said on condition of anonymity.

"The regime is worried that public discontent could increase if there are casualties or if rumors about the troop deployments spread."

So far, North Korea has kept its troop deployment to Russia a secret from its citizens. However, it appears that rumors about the deployment have already spread within North Korea, with families of the soldiers reportedly wailing, according to the National Intelligence Service, which shared this information with lawmakers in late October.

The ministry said that North Korea appears to have sent the troops by expecting three benefits in addition to receiving economic gains and greater military-technical assistance.

The North Korea-Russia military alliance may be solidified and the North's strategic status may be upgraded after the war ends. Pyongyangs ties with Moscow could be beneficial in reaching out to the U.S., the official said.

A source familiar with the matter said that Russia would want to regain control of the Kursk region before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January and potentially proposes a peace deal for the Ukraine war.

North Korean troops are deployed to help Russia drive Ukrainian troops out from Russias Kursk border region. We need to closely monitor what role North Korean troops play as Russia has begun a major counteroffensive against Ukrainian troops there. I believe North Korean soldiers could rotate in batches rather than the North sending additional forces, the source said.

Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been solidifying his leadership while downplaying the roles of his predecessors, Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. The appearance of Kim Jong-un badges and new portraits alongside those of past leaders reflects an intensified effort to emphasize his authority.

The official said Kim Jong-un may ask North Koreans to take loyalty oaths on Jan. 8, which is believed to be his birthday, as part of steps to solidify his rule. North Korea has never officially confirmed Kim's birthdate, and such oath ceremonies have traditionally been held on Jan. 1 New Years day or the anniversaries of the birthdays of his father on Feb. 16, and grandfather on April 15.

This year, Kim Jong-un hosted a loyalty oath ceremony on Jan. 8 instead of Jan. 1. This is seen as a move to shift toward political assertiveness, departing from his predecessors approach, the official said.

The ministry also said North Korea cutting power lines supplying electricity to the shuttered Gaeseong industrial complex is part of a move to remove all traces of unification after Kim Jong-un defined the South as a hostile state last December.

The military has detected North Korean soldiers removing part of the power lines connecting transmission towers near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) on Sunday in what appeared to be preparations to demolish the transmission towers built by the South. We will respond resolutely to North Korea's illegal violation of property rights, another senior unification ministry official said.

This year, North Korea has been carrying out unusual activities, including demolishing street lamps, installing mines along its side of the Gyeongui and Donghae roads, as well as deploying troops to build anti-tank barriers and reinforce barbed wire fences within its side of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas.
Ukraine's top diplomat has voiced hope that its special envoy will visit South Korea in the near future to discuss North Korea's troop dispatch to Russia for use in the war against Kyiv.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha made the remark when he met one-on-one with Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul on the margins of the top diplomats' meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) rich countries in Italy, on Monday (local time), Cho's office said.

South Korea and Ukraine were among the non-G7 members invited as guest countries.

At the talks, Sybiha highlighted the need for action in response to the North's troop dispatch, describing it as a "shared security concern" for both Ukraine and South Korea.

Sybiha expressed expectation that South Korea will work closely with Ukraine on the information sharing with regard to the illegal military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.

South Korea and the United States believe that North Korea has sent more than 10,000 soldiers to Russia's western Kursk border region in support of the invasion against Ukraine.

South Korea's spy agency has said some North Korean troops are in combat.

Cho said the North's troop deployment has raised concerns by pushing the war into a new phase, reaffirming that the government will take phased and practical steps corresponding to the security threats and the progress in the military cooperation between Russia and the North.

Cho also stressed that the security on the Korean Peninsula and Europe has never been more closely linked due to the North's engagement in the war and its deepening ties with Russia.

Based on South Korea's pledge for a comprehensive assistance package for Ukraine, Cho said that he hopes the two countries will be able to discuss the issue when the special envoy visits Seoul.

The Ukraine Peace and Solidarity Initiative, announced by President Yoon Suk Yeol during his visit to Kyiv in July last year, calls for providing broad support to the war-torn country in areas including security, humanitarian aid and reconstruction. (Yonhap)
Korea will continue to make efforts to develop its alliance with the United States in the best way possible under the incoming second Donald Trump administration, its top envoy said Monday.

Ambassador Cho Hyun-dong made the remarks amid concerns that Trump's reelection could lead to significant changes in policies related to the alliance, security and other shared issues, given his unconventional and transactional approach to running state affairs.

"We put the top priority on continuing to develop the best possible South Korea-U.S. alliance, regardless of the change in the U.S. leadership," Cho said in a presser with Korean correspondents in Washington.

"We will continue to closely work with the U.S. to ensure the firm combined defense posture through the allies' extended deterrence and to further enhance that," he said.

Extended deterrence refers to the U.S. commitment to defending its ally using all of its military capabilities, including nuclear. It was outlined in the joint declaration from the leaders' summit in April last year.

Cho highlighted that making such efforts have become more crucial given the big change in the security environment, compared with the first Trump term, including the deepening military ties between North Korea and Russia.

Following Trump's election win in November, Cho flew to Florida to meet Trump's aides at his Mar-a-Lago residence in an effort to strengthen connections with the Trump side.

President Yoon Suk Yeol was one of the world leaders who Trump spoke to by phone soon after his election victory. Trump specifically mentioned to Yoon that shipbuilding can be an area of cooperation with South Korea.

"We got off to a good start," Cho said.

Cho said the government has worked to build networks with people close to Trump, including his own meeting with Mike Waltz, Trump's pick for the national security adviser, and other key Republicans.

"We are preparing for Trump 2.0 based on the diverse networks between the two sides and including the business sectors," Cho added.

"We will, in advance, manage the predictable economic issues, such as tariffs, the IRA and the CHIPS Act, and make every effort we need to create an environment favorable to our companies," Cho said.

During his campaign, Trump has vowed to overturn massive subsidy programs for electric vehicles and semiconductor companies, introduced by the Joe Biden administration, and impose general tariffs of up to 20 percent on imported products, and as much as 60 percent for Chinese products. (Yonhap)
Korea has expressed regret to Japan over the way Tokyo has handled the memorial ceremony for the wartime forced labor victims, including Koreans, from an old Japanese mine complex during World War II, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday.

Seoul delivered its position to Tokyo on Monday, a day after it boycotted the Japan-hosted memorial event held near the mine site due to what it described as Tokyo's lack of efforts in commemorating the victims in a sincere manner.

"We expressed regret over Japan's attitude in the course of our negotiations over the memorial ceremony," the ministry said in a message to reporters.

The complaint was said to have been delivered through some form of "contact" with the Japanese side, according to a source, suggesting that no summoning of a Japanese embassy official took place.

Second Vice Foreign Minister Kang In-sun said by choosing not to participate in the ceremony, the government sent a clear message of disapproval to Japan about the memorial event.

"The decision was a strong protest by our government to Japan that the memorial service fell short of the standards for what was originally agreed upon between Korea and Japan," Kang said in a media briefing.

"The decision is, in itself, us expressing our strong regret," Kang said.

Holding such an event was part of a condition Japan had agreed to for Seoul's consent for the site's inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage site in July.

Korea had requested Japan hold a memorial ceremony for the victims every year in a way that reflects the "full history" of the mine complex, where many Koreans were forcibly taken to toil under Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule.

It also requested a vice minister-level Japanese official attend this year's event.

Korea announced Saturday, just a day before the event, that it would not attend the memorial, citing disagreements with Japan over issues that it said were unable to be resolved.

Seoul's foreign ministry said the decision was made to express the government's "firm determination" that it will not compromise on historical issues.

Seoul officials held a separate memorial event Sunday with the victim's family members near the mine site, on Sado Island, off Japan's west coast.

"The foreign ministry finds it fortunate that we were able to provide a meaningful time to the bereaved families to honor the victims through our own memorial ceremony," Kang said.

"We will continue close communication with Japan to ensure that this issue does not escalate into an unnecessary conflict and can be managed as an individual matter," she said. (Yonhap)
National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik met with his Lithuanian counterpart, Kestutis Budrys, on Tuesday and discussed coordinated responses against the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, the presidential office said.

The top security officials agreed that North Korea's deployment of troops to Russia in support of its war against Ukraine poses a grave threat to global security, with implications reaching beyond the Korean Peninsula and Europe, the office said in a release.

They also committed to work together to ensure the international community sends a strong message against the growing military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, it noted. (Yonhap)
By Antonia Giordano

Around the time of the release of the "Frontline" documentary on Korea's international adoption, another documentary was being released offline, at the Busan International Film Festival. "K-Number" was released on the weekend of Oct. 5.

Unlike other movies that boasted star power, this movie gained recognition for its narrative and style, even winning BIFF's inaugural Documentary Audience Award this year. "K-Number" is also set to be released in Seoul in conjunction with the Seoul Independent Film Festival, from Saturday to Dec. 4.

While "Frontline" provided a deeply investigative, historical account of the adoption industry, "K-Number" offers something more personal  a heartfelt and human-centered perspective. The film not only weaves in historical context and documentation but also invites us into the emotional journeys of adoptees as they search for answers about their origins. It introduces us to the organizations and individuals who stand by them, offering support with translation, navigation and the countless puzzles adoptees face in uncovering their past.

At the heart of the story is Mioka Miller, an adoptee who has spent years searching for her birth family. On her fifth journey to Seoul, we join her in piecing together incomplete information from intake forms and faint childhood memories. Through her eyes, we experience the rollercoaster of emotions  hope, despair, resilience  that come with trying to find a place in a story long thought lost. Along the way, we meet groups like Banet, a collective of Korean women who dedicate themselves to helping adoptees, and organizations like KoRoot, which offer safe spaces and resources for adoptees visiting Korea. These groups bring not only practical support but also a profound understanding of adoptees' emotional struggles, grasping these experiences in ways that lawmakers and institutions cannot.

The documentary paints a vivid picture of the barriers adoptees face  even seemingly small obstacles, like the renaming of streets or districts, become enormous challenges when tracing their roots. For adoptees, these details can mean the difference between finding answers and facing decades of uncertainty. Even with the best of intentions, a lack of oversight in the adoption process often turned simple facts like birth dates or locations into mysteries that can take a lifetime to unravel.

Millers journey is deeply moving. Unlike many adoptees who have no memory of their early years, she has a few fragments to work with  snippets of moments that allow her to connect some dots. But even with these clues, her search is fraught with setbacks. At one point, she believes she may have found her birth mother based on new information, only to discover upon meeting the woman that the details dont align. Both are left heartbroken, and Miller must begin again, revisiting old records and searching for new leads.

The film also shares the stories of other adoptees, each at different stages of their search. Through radio interviews, conversations with locals and countless hours poring over records, they show us the relentless determination required to piece together their histories. Every breakthrough feels like a small miracle, but more often, these searches are marked by frustration, disbelief and a lingering sense of loss.

A key thread throughout "K-Number" is the role adoption agencies played in meeting the global demand for Korean children. The documentary highlights how these agencies sometimes withhold critical information or release it inconsistently, leaving adoptees in limbo. In Millers case, information previously deemed nonexistent was suddenly provided during her fourth round of searching  a reminder of how these agencies often hold the power to shape an adoptees journey, for better or worse.

For those who do reconnect with their families, the reunions are often bittersweet. One particularly heart-wrenching scene shows an adoptee sharing a meal with her birth mother. The adoptee is trying to sound positive about their current meeting, but the mother, burdened by her pain and circumstances, expresses that she doesnt wish to meet again. The unspoken emotions in this moment are profound, reminding us of the complexities that come with reconciling with the past.

"K-Number" effectively uses stories blended with informative clips to ask broader questions about family, identity and the evolving definition of what it means to be Korean. It reflects on Koreas need to move beyond traditional notions of homogeneity and emphasizes the importance of acceptance, diversity and inclusion. These issues are still very current, but all Koreans should at least know this perspective because of all the connected threads that are presented.

This documentary was by director Jo Se-young, who made her directorial debut in the documentary film scene with the 2004 movie Made In Korea and worked on various other projects. In 2013, she won the Golden Goose Award at the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival, for Lets Dance which centered around the womans right to choose. She has also worked on other documentaries that are reflective on various social issues in Korea. Her approach to this film is no different.

While she hasnt always worked on adoptee-related films before, the director said she had an intense feeling towards the topic" after she happened to speak to a mother on the topic in an unrelated project. She said this project "gave me another perspective on the meaning of family.

She said for "K-Number," it was during the editing process that the narrative came together, after having talked with 30-50 people,

I had 12 different versions (of the film), and it was difficult, but once the meaning of the film became clearer on how to edit and how to fit the film, I wanted to also use documentation and historical references not to necessarily hone in on certain figures but to give the story balance and perspective, she said.

In the video description, she wanted to connect the issues of adoptees with the issues of the Korean population so that this connection further highlights that this is an issue for both adoptees and Koreans.

Ultimately, "K-Number" is a deeply moving exploration of connection and family. It leaves viewers with much to reflect on  not only about the adoption industry but also about the changes needed to create a more compassionate and inclusive society.

Antonia Giordano is a freelance photographer and writer based in Seoul. An adoptee, Antonia deeply understands and connects with the issues surrounding adoption and post-adoption. Visit giordanoantonia.myportfolio.com and follow @antonia_creative_services on Instagram.
Risk of deadly accidents far greater for non-Koreans who make up 3.2% of workforce

By Jung Min-ho

Foreign workers have accounted for more than 15 percent of all workplace fatalities so far this year in Korea, a source familiar with the issue told The Korea Times.

According to a report published on Tuesday by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, 443 workers died as a result of industrial accidents between January and September, down from 459 during the same period last year.

Of them, 67, or 15.1 percent, were foreign nationals, the source said. These figures show that the risk of deadly accidents is disproportionately higher for foreign workers who make up less than 3.3 percent of the labor force in this country.

Data released last year revealed that 923,000 foreign nationals were employed in the country, accounting for approximately 3.24 percent of the total workforce of 28.42 million in Korea.

So far, details such as the nationalities of foreign workers involved in workplace accidents have largely been excluded from the ministry's official reports, other than only a few exceptional cases.

However, officials told The Korea Times that they would push to start including information on foreign victims nationalities in quarterly reports next year. They noted that implementing this change would require approval from Statistics Korea, the government-run statistical agency.

This moves comes as some politicians, including Rep. Cha Gyu-geun of the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party, call for more transparency and a better statistical system for foreign nationals living here. A justice ministry report revealed last month by the lawmaker showed a staggering 44.2 percent of all 15,325 deaths of foreign nationals in Korea between 2018 and 2022 were attributed to other causes, meaning the reasons were unclear.

The latest report on industrial accidents suggests that workers employed in the construction industry are at the greatest risk of deadly accidents. Of the total 443, 203 were construction workers, followed by those in the manufacturing industry (134) and other industries (106).

The report also shows that 249 of the victims were employees of small firms that have 49 or fewer workers, a reduction from 267 during the same period in 2023. Meanwhile, the figure increased slightly from 192 to 194 among bigger companies with 50 or more workers.

Slips and falls account for 36.8 percent of the deaths, followed by falling objects (14 percent), jamming (10.8 percent) and collisions (9.3 percent). Other causes include explosions and fires, electrical accidents and chemical exposure.

By region, 136 of the deaths occurred in Gyeonggi Province, followed by South Gyeongsang Province (40), Seoul (37), Busan (32), South Jeolla Province (32), North Gyeongsang Province (31), North Jeolla Province (24), North Chungcheong Province (22) and South Chungcheong Province (21).

The government plans to strengthen monitoring of the high-risk industries and areas and to closely manage the workplaces through on-site inspections and meetings [to reduce such cases], the ministry said in a statement. In addition, we would step up efforts to keep the trend of decline until the end of the year by helping safety supervisions and encouraging both labor and management to take part proactively in the process.
An Uzbek national who fled to Korea after an assassination attempt on a former presidential aide in Uzbekistan has been extradited following his arrest, police said Tuesday.

The suspect was arrested in Taean, 108 kilometers west of Seoul, on Saturday, after being placed on Interpol's wanted persons list on charges of attempting to assassinate Komil Allamjonov in Tashkent on Oct. 26, the National Police Agency said.

According to local media, two unidentified assailants fired eight gunshots at a vehicle carrying Allamjonov, but no one was injured.

One of the suspects reportedly fled to Korea on a tourist visa shortly after the assassination attempt. (Yonhap)
Korea's exports of dried seaweed products have already reached a new annual high this year, driven by growing global demand for healthier foodstuffs, data showed Tuesday.

Outbound shipments of dried seaweed, called "gim" in Korean, reached $850 million during the January-October period, already surpassing the previous annual record of $792 million set in 2023, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

Korea accounts for 70 percent of the global market for seaweed products.

For all of 2024, the oceans ministry anticipates export volume to increase 27 percent on-year, reaching $1 billion.

By destination, exports to the United States stood at $177 million in the first 10 months of this year, followed by Japan with $175 million and Thailand with $84.5 million.

The oceans ministry noted that export destinations for seaweed products has jumped to 122 countries in 2023 from 64 in 2010, reflecting the growing popularity of gim in global markets.

"The government has been making efforts to support gim exports throughout the entire process, including production, processing and shipment," Oceans Minister Kang Do-hyung said in a statement.

"We will continue to bolster exports of premium gim products while also supporting domestic production for local consumption," Kang added.

In a bid to further boost exports of gim, the oceans ministry earlier said it will push to have the Korean name recognized by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, a global organization responsible for establishing global food standards, which may help reduce tariff barriers for the Korean ingredient that is often served as a side dish in Korean dining. (Yonhap)
Transactions among affiliates of Korea's 10 largest family-run conglomerates, known as chaebol, continued to remain substantial in 2023 despite government efforts to regulate such practices that could undermine fair competition, the antitrust regulator said Tuesday.

According to the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), the total value of inter-affiliate transactions by the top 10 chaebol amounted to 194.8 trillion won ($138.5 billion) last year, slightly down from 196.4 trillion won in 2022.

However, their proportion in all business contracts signed by those conglomerates rose to 14.5 percent in 2023 from 13.9 percent the previous year, according to the FTC.

"The slight decrease in the value of inter-affiliate transactions last year was entirely due to reduced overall sales," said Jeong Bo-reum, an FTC official.

The 10 major conglomerates include Samsung Group, the country's largest conglomerate and home to global memory chip leader Samsung Electronics; multi-industry giant SK Group; and leading automaker Hyundai Motor.

Internal trading within chaebol has often been criticized for enabling owner families to secure significant profits by awarding lucrative contracts to their subsidiaries.

The FTC highlighted that affiliates with high ownership stakes held by second-generation family members saw a sharp rise in internal trading last year.

For instance, the proportion of internal transactions between subsidiaries in firms where second-generation family members held more than 50 percent ownership sharply rose from 25.8 percent in 2022 to 29 percent in 2023.

"As in previous years, conglomerates with higher shares held by the owner families or second-generation family members tended to have higher levels of internal transactions," the FTC said.

The government has encouraged family-run conglomerates to transition into holding company structures in an effort to simplify their complex and opaque governance systems. However, such efforts have had limited success in curbing internal trading.

The FTC stressed that while transaction volumes or their ratio in overall sales may not be used to definitively determine unfair practices, regular checks on inter-affiliate transactions and continuous oversight are crucial to preventing unfair practices.

"We will continue to closely monitor inter-affiliate transactions, particularly those concentrated within owner families and their second generations by evaluating whether such practices may be linked to succession planning or unfair personal gains," Jeong said.

In total, 88 business groups, including the 10 chaebol, were subject to annual FTC oversight last year, with the combined value of inter-affiliate transactions reaching 704.4 trillion won.

Among these, biopharmaceutical firm Celltrion Inc. reported the highest ratio of inter-affiliate transactions at 65 percent.

Among the seven companies newly listed for review in 2023, Hybe, the K-pop firm behind global sensation BTS, logged the highest ratio at 33.9 percent. (Yonhap)
About 70,000 railway, subway and education service workers, all affiliated with the militant labor umbrella organization the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), will simultaneously go on a general strike early next month, their unions said Tuesday.

The large-scale walkout plans were announced by the unions of KTX and regular train operator the Korea Railroad (KORAIL), Seoul Metro (operator of subway lines 1-8) and Seoul Subway Line 9 and a union of non-regular school workers in a news conference in front of the presidential office in central Seoul on Tuesday morning.

They said KORAIL's unionized workers plan to launch an indefinite strike on Dec. 5, followed by simultaneous walkouts by the unionized Seoul subway workers and non-regular school workers on Dec. 6.

They also said some members of the KCTU-affiliated Cargo Truckers Solidarity will stage a three-day strike beginning Dec. 2, while unionized workers of the National Pension Service and Korea Gas and some civil service workers in Seoul are preparing to walk out.

"The joint strike is intended to protect the lives and safety of the people and basic labor rights and achieve the abolition of discrimination," the four unions said, demanding President Yoon Suk Yeol step down without delay to take the blame for causing the strikes. Yonhap
Environmental groups call for bold action as member states hesitate on plastic regulation targets

By Jung Da-hyun

BUSAN  Global attention is focused on how the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) will address the urgent issue of plastic pollution  a major contributor to climate change and biodiversity loss.

Drawing over 3,500 participants, including government delegations from 177 countries, international organizations and other stakeholders, the final round of negotiations is ongoing from Monday in Busan.

So far, the prevailing expectation is that the negotiations will conclude with a call for autonomous measures, reflecting a broad consensus on the need for sustainable plastic production and consumption.

According to the Ministry of Environment, member states acknowledge the need for sustainable production and consumption of plastics but highlight practical challenges in implementing uniform regulations and setting specific production reduction targets. Limited time and insufficient discussions are also pointed out as factors hindering progress toward concrete outcomes.

The negotiations began in gridlock as nations clashed over whether to adopt the INC chairs non-paper as the basis. The non-paper, a 17-page draft distilled from the 77-page agreement under the chairs authority, addresses critical issues such as removing harmful chemicals in plastics, addressing supply chain challenges and securing financing to combat plastic pollution. Opposition from oil-producing nations, including Kuwait, Iran and Saudi Arabia, created significant tension throughout the session.

It reached a resolution around 5:20 p.m., seven hours after discussions began, with member states agreeing to use the non-paper as the framework for the final round of talks.

Environmental organizations and activists are calling for a decisive agreement at INC-5 to tackle plastic pollution on a global scale.

Graham Forbes, a global campaign lead of Greenpeace USA, told The Korea Times that environmental and social justice organizations widely agree that reducing plastic production is the only effective solution to end plastic pollution.

"The success or failure of this treaty will depend on whether or not it reduces plastic production. We want to see an end to single-use plastics and a ban on single-use products," he said.

Forbes criticized reliance on voluntary commitments and self-regulation, drawing parallels to decades of limited progress in climate negotiations.

"This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to come up with real solutions to this global crisis. A weak agreement at the INC-5 would be an absolute disaster," he said.

He also urged ambitious countries, including the United States, the European Union, Norway and host country Korea, to step up more and demonstrate stronger leadership in the negotiations. Forbes also expressed frustration with oil-producing nations that have resisted progress, accusing them of obstructing the process.

"Small handful of countries are using delay tactics to block progress, effectively holding the rest of the world hostage at the expense of public health. These delay tactics are deeply harmful," he said.

Meanwhile, government delegations have expressed skepticism about setting specific targets and timelines for plastic reduction, calling such measures unfeasible.

Environment Minister Kim Wan-seop highlighted Koreas stance on the negotiations, emphasizing support for a step-by-step approach to plastic regulation.

"Rather than imposing uniform measures, we believe a diverse and gradual strategy is more effective in addressing the complexities of plastic pollution," Kim said. "Its not about whats right or wrong, but the nature of these negotiations makes progress challenging when countries are so firmly divided."

He also noted that delegations suggested an annex to the chairs non-paper aimed at providing a structured framework for phasing out unnecessary plastics.

"The proposal focuses on eliminating items like single-use forks through detailed guidelines while accommodating differing perspectives and capacities across nations," Kim said.
By Shin Freedman

While en route to Europe, I met a young man who struck up a conversation with me. A graduate student at a southern U.S. university, he confided that his greatest challenge in mastering English was understanding idioms. His native language was Finnish, and while he managed his academic work without issue, the casual idioms of daily English conversation proved much more perplexing.

His predicament took me back to my own days as a young English learner. I, too, struggled with idioms, often stumbling in ways that could be comical. I recalled one particular incident when I told a friend that it was raining dogs and cats. She laughed, leaving me baffled. Only after a few days did I realize I had inverted the expression raining cats and dogs. Language bloopers like this were common, and while embarrassing, they were also humbling lessons that language is more than just vocabulary and grammar  its cultural nuance.

There was another time when an Argentinean colleague described a winter road as covered with dark ice. It struck me that he had mixed up dark ice with black ice, an expression that can be particularly tricky for non-native speakers. Gently, I corrected him, explaining the concept of black ice  a term that has specific meaning in English but is not as literal as it sounds. Reflecting on these moments made me empathize deeply with my Finnish companions struggles.

In truth, Ive had countless such mix-ups myself. English idioms are challenging even for proficient English speakers whose first language is not English. This struggle doesnt reflect a lack of intelligence or ignorance, as some might mistakenly think. Instead, its a reminder of how language and culture are intricately tied together, and some phrases seem nonsensical if you really stop to think about them.

One phrase that puzzled my Finnish seatmate was Lets do lunch. He explained that he took this expression at face value, assuming his friend meant to plan an actual lunch together. Patiently, he waited for the invitation, but it never materialized. Eventually, he concluded that either his friend had forgotten the promise, or perhaps he didnt mean it at all. This was a disappointment because, in his culture, suggesting lunch would imply an authentic intention to meet and share a meal. For many English learners, phrases like Lets do lunch seem bafflingly casual  almost a broken promise. This phrase is often more a gesture of politeness than a true commitment.

Now, as a senior with diminishing eyesight, I still stumble upon such expressions, often with amusing consequences. Recently, while attempting some needlework, I found it hard to thread a needle. Frustrated, I called out to my grandchild for help, saying, Could you do this for me? The ear of the needle is too narrow! My family chuckled, and my grandchild kindly corrected me, Halmoni, its called the eye of the needle, not the ear! We all had a good laugh at my slipup.

Perhaps next time I plan to do lunch with a friend, Ill ask her to pick up a pack of needles with bigger eyes for me. Through these moments, Ive come to realize that learning idioms is not just about memorizing phrases but also about embracing the quirks and humor in language. For myself, every misstep offers a new lesson and, sometimes, a shared laugh along the way.

Shin Freedman (shinfreed@gmail.com) is an author, a writer and an educator.
By Rushan Ziatdinov

What is nonverbal communication?

Nonverbal communication is a complex process and can include facial expressions, gaze direction and pupil dilation, gestures, body movements and proxemics (the physical distance we maintain from others), posture, contact, voice and intonation (Argyle, 2013). ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Perplexity, Copilot, Llama, Mixtral, Pi and Gemma AI chatbots add to the above methods chronemics (the way we use and perceive time), physical appearance, artifacts (objects we carry and display), olfactics (the study of smells), kinesics (the study of body language), microexpressions, haptics, paralanguage (nonverbal aspects of communication that accompany speech), environmental factors, cultural specificities and digital nonverbal cues.

Why is nonverbal communication important?

In recent years, Korea has become a place where many expatriate migrants have found a new home, landed a new job, started a family and technically become a part of Korean society. However, spiritual and cultural integration is a much more complicated process, and it can take years to understand the behavior and indirect and nonverbal communication methods used by local people as well as expatriate migrants from different countries.

Nowadays, spoken and written languages can be easily translated by machines, but nonverbal communication can be better understood through the context of culture, situation and its thorough analysis. In Korea, as I have heard from various sources, there are various indirect and nonverbal communication methods that are commonly used even by children.

Foreigners who aren't aware of such methods may be confused by such forms of communication, may find it strange, feel humiliated or stressed or even get angry, but this can often be the result of misunderstanding the situation and the cues they receive. Koreans often rely on subtle cues to communicate and avoid direct confrontation, a practice that contrasts with more overt approaches in some other cultures.

How to communicate nonverbally using numbers?

In Korea, numbers are expressed using both Chinese and Korean words. China and Korea share similar number cultures, but the way numbers are used can be quite different. In China, where number cultures are rich and deeply rooted, traditional numbers have been used in traditional contexts until recently. In contrast, Korea's use of numbers is influenced by the characteristics of the Korean language, resulting in newer and different applications of numbers.

Numbers can sometimes be overused for various purposes. This has some positive effects, such as measuring the quality of products or services, measuring people's satisfaction and helping people improve their performance. But when whole numbers and fractions are used to indirectly communicate messages, it can sometimes confuse a person. Numbers, as I mentioned in my previous article, keep people stressed.

Counting numbers in the form of various objects such as pens, papers, tissues, stickers, as well as time and date can be used to represent and communicate things nonverbally. Also, emails sent or various signals given at a certain time can have some meaning that can be understood in the context of things that are happening. Countries may have their own number cultures, so the things that are happening in reality can be associated with the cultural meanings of numbers to make it a stronger signal.

Another indirect use of numbers for communication purposes is the use of geometric objects such as triangles or rectangles that are associated with the number of their sides. A combination of numbers can be represented as an angle, for example, when holding the door open at a certain angle. The time and date can also be seen as a combination of numbers. For example, 4 is consistently considered an unlucky number due to its phonetic similarity to the Korean word for "death," so the combination of 4 and zero can mean no death or danger.

The number 3 represents completeness and harmony and is associated with positive energy, so the combination of 3 and 4 can lead to a contradiction in meaning: while 3 brings good luck or balance, 4 brings bad luck because of its association with death. This juxtaposition can create an ambiguous or mixed symbolism where good and evil are seen as in conflict. Other numbers also have some context according to Korean number culture.

Also, the numerical positions of letters in written words can have meaning, and of course, besides typos, the meaning can be hidden in missing letters in words, or extra letters added, or letters swapping their positions in words. My suggestion to everyone is to be very careful with written names and surnames, as typos in them can lead to misspellings, and in many cultures can be considered disrespectful and humiliating, and can lead to serious conflict.

How to communicate nonverbally using colors?

Colors are traditionally used by designers to communicate messages and can carry subtle meanings. People who do not understand the basics of color science may use them in simpler ways, such as wearing a T-shirt of the same color as another person or seeing it in another object to emphasize a connection or relationship to a certain thing. But again, this can often be understood in the context of events.

In Korean culture, colors are symbolically associated with the five elements: blue for wood, red for fire, yellow for earth, white for metal and black for water. Other colors, such as gray, can also be considered in terms of modern Korean culture. In Korean films, gray can represent private or public memory and oblivion, aesthetic function, imaginary reality, dreamlike state, flashback, cultural memory, homogeneity and identity, unfamiliarity, fear and anxiety, brutality, uncertainty, immaturity, historical memory, oblivion, the reality of daydreaming and the boundary between imagination and reality.

Advice to foreigners

Nonverbal and indirect methods of communication can be misunderstood by people from non-Korean cultures, so if you witness such communication, do not panic or stress. Note that nonverbal communication, like verbal communication, can be used for both good and bad purposes, such as expressing willingness to help as well as trolling and bullying.

Try asking for clarification from the people you are communicating with. If that doesn't help, try using all the AI chatbots mentioned above, as well as AI tools developed in Korea, such as Clova X, wrtn and Nate AI. Explain the situation that happened to you in detail, paying attention to small things (including numbers, colors and objects you saw) to AI chatbots without mentioning personal information, and ask the possible meaning according to the culture of a certain country. Then, collect all the AI chatbots' answers in a notepad and paste them into NotebookLM and ask for a detailed summary.

From a scientific perspective, nonverbal or indirect communication can exacerbate existing uncertainty in modern systems, where uncertainty is already a significant concern, and lead to poor decisions.

Rushan Ziatdinov (www.ziatdinov-lab.com) is a professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering at Keimyung University in Daegu. He can be reached at ziatdinov.rushan@gmail.com.
SPC Group, a Korean food and beverage company, said Tuesday its bakery brand Paris Baguette has opened its first chain store in Britain, also the first in Europe, as part of its global expansion strategy.

Paris Baguette's first British franchise store has opened its doors at the Jubilee Place shopping mall in Canary Wharf, a financial district in London, according to the Korean company.

Britain is only the third country after the United States and China where SPC has launched a franchise business of the bakery brand outside of Korea.

The company already had Paris Baguette stores in Britain and France, but they are directly managed by SPC.

SPC said it plans to open more than 100 Paris Baguette shops across Britain by 2030 and expand the franchise business to other parts of Europe.

The Korean company has so far advanced into 14 countries with the Paris Baguette brand, including the U.S., China, France, Britain and Vietnam. The number of Paris Baguette outlets has recently exceeded 600 globally. (Yonhap)
Hanwha Aerospace said Tuesday it has won a 473 billion-won ($336.9 million) contract from Korea Aerospace Industries to supply components for Korea's next-generation KF-21 fighter jets.

Under the deal, Hanwha Aerospace will supply key components, including the auxiliary power unit, as well as propulsion, landing, drive and fuel system components for the initial production fleet of the KF-21 until 2028.

In June, Hanwha Aerospace also signed a contract with the national defense procurement office, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, to supply engines for the KF-21.

Korea launched the KF-21 development program in 2015 with the aim of acquiring a homegrown supersonic fighter to replace its aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 jets. (Yonhap)
Samsung Electronics is expected to go through a major personnel reshuffle this week at the earliest as part of efforts to overcome its sluggish business performance, industry sources said Tuesday.

The Korean tech giant began laying off some of the executives in charge of the chips business at its device solutions unit on Monday and will likely announce the list of new presidents as early as Wednesday, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Samsung Electronics usually makes a reshuffle in early December but is expected to move up the schedule to better respond to the current crisis and prepare for the future.

The previous day, Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong said he is aware of the concerns surrounding the company's future and his company will "overcome these challenging times even as the current situation is more difficult than ever."

The remarks were made during the final hearing in an appellate trial for the controversial 2015 merger of two Samsung affiliates at the Seoul High Court.

Concerns have been brewing about Samsung's future as the company posted disappointing earnings, apparently lagging behind its rivals in an artificial intelligence chip war, and also due to a negative outlook for the global semiconductor industry.

To overcome such a crisis, Samsung plans to hold a global strategy meeting in mid-December after completing its reshuffle. (Yonhap)
By Nam Hyun-woo

A 29.3 percent stake in NXC, the holding company of gaming giant Nexon, is poised to impact Koreas national budget for next year. The government, which currently holds the stake and plans to sell it, has already factored in an additional 3.7 trillion won ($2.65 billion) in projected 2025 revenues, assuming the sale is completed within this year.

However, market observers remain doubtful that the deal will be finalized within the expected timeline, citing the governments two previous failed attempts to complete the sale.

Korea Asset Management Corp. (KAMCO), which oversees government-owned assets, said it posted an open bid in early October to select a lead manager for the sale of the NXC stake. However, the bid closed recently without a selection being made.

Related laws stipulate that the governments competitive bidding process is valid only when at least two participants are involved, but only one brokerage participated in the bid. As a result, KAMCO posted another open bid on Nov. 22 seeking a lead manager.

The government acquired the NXC stake after the family of Nexons founder transferred the shares as part of the inheritance tax payment following Kim Jung-ju's death in 2022.

At the time, the government valued the stake at 4.7 trillion won by calculating the companys net asset value and adding a premium of 800 billion won for the companys managing rights, despite the fact that it is not a controlling stake.

Due to this pricing, KAMCOs two previous auctions last year failed to attract any bids. Since NXC is not a listed company, there is no direct price reference, but the market considers the valuation overinflated. This is because a buyer would have to pay an additional 800 billion won for managing rights that cannot actually be exercised, given that the government does not hold a controlling stake.

Against this backdrop, the government has set a target of 3.7 trillion won in non-tax revenue from the sale of the NXC stake in its 2025 budget plan. This suggests that the government aims to achieve this goal either by selling the entire stake at a discounted price or by breaking it into smaller parts for sale.

During a National Assembly meeting on Nov. 6, Second Vice Minister of Economy and Finance Kim Yoon-sang said the government had included "about 80 percent of the NXC stake (it holds)" in the budget, taking into account the possibility of a partial sale

If we do not add the revenue from the NXC stake into the budget, it may mislead (the market and the public) that the government has no intention to sell the stake, Kim said.

However, the National Assembly has expressed skepticism about the sale. In its recent review of the 2025 budget, the Assemblys Special Committee on Budget and Accounts identified the NXC stake sale as a potential risk.

The government has included the NXC stake sale worth 3.7 trillion won in its 2025 non-tax revenue budget proposal, the report reads.

However, purchasing the whole stake would not grant management control (of the company) and NXC is an unlisted private company, making its shares difficult to sell, and the company has no plan to go public. These factors suggest that the sale of such a large stake, valued at 3.7 trillion won, is unlikely to proceed smoothly, posing a risk of significant losses for the government.

If the government fails to sell off its NXC stake, the countrys national revenue for 2025 will decline from 651.8 trillion won to 648.1 trillion won, widening the fiscal deficit to 3.1 percent of gross domestic product.
Samsung, LG, LS could relocate production bases for US exports

By Lee Min-hyung

Major Korean companies, including Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, are now exploring the possibility of reshaping their global supply chains in response to U.S. President-elect Donald Trumps threat to impose a 25 percent tariff on goods imported from Mexico.

Mexico has served as a key base for many Korean companies that export products to the United States.

On Monday (local time), Trump said on his social media account that his administration will impose 25 percent tariffs on products from Mexico and Canada until they help the U.S. limit the flow of illegal immigration. In addition, the incoming Trump administration's proposed tariff hike appears to be driven by the belief that China is using Mexico as a manufacturing detour to bypass trade barriers.

Industry officials said Korean companies doing business there have no choice but to find other regions for exports to the U.S., as they will end up losing price competitiveness if the tariffs are imposed.

Korean companies, which run manufacturing facilities in Mexico, are reviewing ways to diversify their production bases into other countries, an official in the tech industry said on condition of anonymity. The two electronics firms are the two most vulnerable companies, as they rely heavily on their Mexican factories for exports to the U.S.

But the official also expressed concerns that customers will end up falling victim to such excessive tariffs on end products.

Tariffs on device components and finished products lead to a hike in their prices, so U.S. retail players and customers will have to purchase them at a higher price in the aftermath of Trumps trade pressure, the official said.

LG Electronics operates diverse production lines in Mexico to manufacture television, refrigerator and automobile components. The company said an internal review is in progress to minimize damage.

We are leaving open all scenarios to deal with the rapidly-changing trade policies in the U.S., and will come up with countermeasures, an official at LG Electronics said.

Samsung Electronics runs a television manufacturing facility in Tijuana, Mexico for export to the U.S.

Along with the electronics firms, LS Cable & System is also on track to expand investments in production facilities in Mexico. In August, the company started construction of two factories there to manufacture bus ducts and parts for electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Bus ducts are a type of electrical distribution system used to efficiently carry electricity from one point to another.

At that time, the company identified Mexico as one of the most strategic production bases for its exports to the U.S., citing low labor costs and the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which is a free trade pact signed by the three countries.

But Trump is widely expected to initiate a procedure to renegotiate the agreement upon taking office in January 2025.

This has presented the Korean cable and industrial product manufacturer with a growing dilemma on how to readjust its export strategies in North America.

A spokesperson for LS Cable & System stated that the company has increased its vigilance regarding changes in the trade landscape.

We are trying our best to prepare the most optimal countermeasure against the looming trade risk there, the official said.

Korean carmakers and steelmakers, such as Kia and POSCO, are also feared to fall victim, as they run production lines in Mexico.
Outgoing KGCCI CEO hopes his successor will modernize Korea-EU FTA

By Park Jae-hyuk

Looking back on the three years and seven months he spent as president and CEO of the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI), Martin Henkelmann said that he was impressed by Korea's "ppali-ppali" mentality in all fields of business and administration.

In terms of following the global trend of energy transition, however, Korea does not seem to live up to its culture of prioritizing swiftness.

During an interview before his departure to the Middle East next month to lead the German Emirati Joint Council for Industry and Commerce, the KGCCI CEO mentioned the insufficient availability of reliable renewable energy as one of the pressing concerns facing German companies in Korea.

"German companies are requested from their headquarters to reduce their carbon dioxide footprint globally and they see the lack of reliable and sufficient renewable energy in Korea," he told The Korea Times.

"More ambitious steps to advance South Korea's energy transition would be helpful."

In May 2021, the lawyer was appointed as the KGCCI president during the COVID-19 pandemic after leading the German chambers of commerce in the Philippines and Tunisia.

Under almost four years of his leadership, the second-largest foreign chamber of commerce in Korea promoted sustainability and innovation as core components of the bilateral business relationship between Korea and Germany.

After being selected as a secretariat of the Korean-German Energy Partnership in June 2021, the KGCCI hosted conferences and working-level talks, providing a platform for leaders and experts to discuss and share eco-friendly practices.

"While German and Korean companies are already leading the way in green technology and innovative solutions, there is great potential to deepen these partnerships through more unified policies that support sustainable trade, energy transition and decarbonization on a bilateral and on an international level," Henkelmann said.

"By jointly fostering innovation and creating an enabling environment for green initiatives, Korea and Germany can not only achieve their sustainability goals but also a global benchmark for economic growth aligned with environmental responsibility."

Based on an optimistic outlook about Korea's transition to the use of green energy, the outgoing CEO noted that sustainability and climate action are foremost trends and developments that will continue to shape the Korean-German business landscape.

"With the ambitious net-zero goals, both Korea and Germany are investing in green technologies like hydrogen, offshore wind energy and other renewable solutions, setting the stage for deeper collaboration," he said.

Henkelmann also proposed the implementation of educational exchange and vocational training similar to Germany's "Ausbildung" as a solution to the growing shortage of skilled employees, which has had increasingly negative impacts on businesses.

"Our Ausbildung vocational program has been training over 600 young professionals in a dual vocational training system with major German automotive brands," he said.

"By fostering strong relationships between businesses and educational institutions, we prepare future employees while addressing labor market demands."

Ambiguous and inconsistent application of labor, tax and customs regulations were mentioned as other significant issues distressing German companies here, just as many foreign businesspeople in Korea have complained about this.

"German companies in Korea have made remarkable strides. However, they also encounter challenges," Henkelmann said.

Memories of Korea

The KGCCI CEO picked the organization of meaningful business gatherings during the Korea visits of German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in 2022 and Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck in April as the highlights among the hundreds of business-to-business meetings between Korean and German companies during his term.

Describing the interaction of Korean and German companies with three "Cs," he said that they compete, collaborate and complement each other.

"When it comes to the Korean-German business relations, the commonalities and the similarities of challenges are much more dominant than the geographic distance between the countries might indicate," he said.

"I sincerely hope that the business ties between Korean, German and European companies will continue to grow stronger and tighter in the coming years."

The relocation of the KGCCI's office to right next to Cheong Wa Dae, the former presidential office, in Jongno District in April was another major event during his term.

Since its office moved to Hannam-dong in 1998 from Samsung Building in Jung District, where it opened its first office in 1981, the chamber has grown in Yongsan District for nearly three decades.

Henkelmann emphasized that the larger office space enabled the KGCCI to expand its services.

Advice for successor

The outgoing CEO hoped to see progress in the modernization of the Korea-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) under his successor's leadership.

"In a time when the international rules-based order is challenged, a Korea-EU FTA 2.0 would be a strong signal," he said.

"There is much potential in boldly modernizing the current agreement, which has been so beneficial for both sides over the past 13 years. Meanwhile, it would be helpful if both sides would apply the rules and regulations in the FTA with goodwill when it comes to the recognition of standards and certifications."

He added that his successor will position Korea as a central platform and innovation hub for economic collaboration between Germany and the Asia-Pacific region by leading the biennial Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business, which will take place in Korea in 2026 following this year's conference held in India.
A U.S. judge on Monday dismissed the federal criminal case accusing Donald Trump of attempting to overturn his 2020 election defeat after prosecutors moved to drop that prosecution and a second case against the president-elect, citing Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president.

The order from U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan puts an end to the federal effort to hold Trump criminally responsible for his attempts to hold onto power after losing the 2020 election, culminating in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of his supporters.

The move came after Special Counsel Jack Smith, the lead prosecutor overseeing both cases, moved to dismiss the election case and end his attempt to revive a separate case accusing Trump of illegally retaining classified documents when he left office in 2021 after his first term as president.

It represents a big legal victory for the Republican president-elect, who won the Nov. 5 U.S. election and is set to return to office on Jan. 20.

The Justice Department policy that the prosecutors cited dates back to the 1970s. It holds that a criminal prosecution of a sitting president would violate the U.S. Constitution by undermining the ability of the country's chief executive to function. Courts will still have to approve both requests from prosecutors.

The prosecutors in a filing in the election subversion case said the department's policy requires the case to be dismissed before Trump returns to the White House.

"This outcome is not based on the merits or strength of the case against the defendant," prosecutors wrote in the filing.

Prosecutors in the documents case signaled they will still ask a federal appeals court to bring back the case against two Trump associates who had been accused of obstructing that investigation.

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung hailed what he called "a major victory for the rule of law."

Trump had faced criminal charges in four cases  the two brought by Smith and two in state courts in New York and Georgia. He was convicted in the New York case while the Georgia case, which also relates to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, is in limbo.

In a post on social media, Trump railed on Monday against the legal cases as a "low point in the History of our Country."

The moves by Smith, who was appointed in 2022 by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, represents a remarkable shift from the special prosecutor who obtained indictments against Trump in two separate cases accusing him of crimes that threatened U.S. election integrity and national security. Prosecutors acknowledged that the election of a president who faced ongoing criminal cases created an unprecedented predicament for the Justice Department.

Chutkan left open the possibility that prosecutors could seek to charge Trump again after he leaves office, but prosecutors would likely face challenges bringing a case so long after conduct involved in the case happened. Trump pleaded not guilty in August 2023 to four federal charges accusing him of conspiring to obstruct the collection and certification of votes following his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden.

Trump, who as president will again oversee the Justice Department, was expected to order an end to the federal 2020 election case and to Smith's appeal in the documents case.

Florida-based Judge Aileen Cannon, who Trump appointed to the federal bench, had dismissed the classified documents case in July, ruling that Smith was improperly appointed to his role as special counsel.

Smith's office had been appealing that ruling and indicated on Monday that the appeal would continue as it relates to Trump personal aide Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, a manager at his Mar-a-Lago resort, who had been previously charged alongside Trump in the case. Both Nauta and De Oliveria have pleaded not guilty, as did Trump.

In the 2020 election case, Trump's lawyers had previously said they would seek to dismiss the charges based on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in July that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution over official actions taken while in the White House.

Trump denied wrongdoing in all cases and argued that the U.S. legal system had been turned against him to damage his presidential campaign. He vowed during the campaign that he would fire Smith if he returned to the presidency.

Trump in May became the first former president to be convicted of a crime when a jury in New York found him guilty of felony charges relating to hush money paid to a porn star before the 2016 election. His sentencing in that case has been indefinitely postponed.

The criminal case against Trump in Georgia state court involving the 2020 election is stalled. (Reuters)
Israel's security cabinet was preparing to decide whether to accept a proposed cease-fire in its war with Hezbollah, an official said Monday, as the White House announced it believed a deal to end the fighting in Lebanon was near.

The United States, European Union and United Nations have all pushed in recent days for a truce in the long-running hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which flared into all-out war in late September.

With truce talk intensifying, Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli strikes killed at least 31 people on Monday, mostly in the south.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an Israeli official told AFP the security cabinet "will decide on Tuesday evening on the cease-fire deal."

U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby expressed optimism over the prospects for a truce, but said talks were ongoing.

"We believe we've reached this point where we're close," he told reporters, adding "we're not there yet."

The United States has repeatedly voiced optimism over talks on reaching a truce in the Gaza war this year but Israel is still fighting Hamas militants there even as it battles on the second front in Lebanon.

France, which alongside Washington has spearheaded efforts towards a Lebanon truce, Monday reported "significant progress" in cease-fire talks. The French presidency urged Israel and Hezbollah to "seize this opportunity."

Italy, which holds the rotating presidency of the G7 group of nations, voiced "optimism" about a Lebanon cease-fire.

The U.S. news site Axios had previously reported the parties were nearing an agreement that would involve a 60-day transition period in which the Israeli army would pull back, the Lebanese army would redeploy near the border and Iran-backed Hezbollah would withdraw its heavy weapons north of the Litani River.

The draft agreement also provides for the establishment of a U.S.-led committee to oversee implementation, as well as U.S. assurances that Israel can take action against imminent threats if the Lebanese military does not, according to Axios.

News of the security cabinet meeting came as the Israeli military said it carried out a wave of strikes on Monday, including on Beirut's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold that Israel has repeatedly bombed since late September when it escalated its air campaign in Lebanon.

The latest strikes hit around two dozen Hezbollah targets across Lebanon in one hour, the military said. A statement said "command centers, and intelligence control and collection centers, where Hezbollah commanders and operatives were located," were targeted.

The strikes followed intense Hezbollah fire over the weekend, including some attacks deep into Israel.

Syria strikes

Recent days have seen rising calls to end the fighting in Lebanon, with a senior U.N. official on Monday urging "the parties to accept a cease-fire."

In Beirut on Sunday, top European Union diplomat Josep Borrell called for an immediate truce, days after U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein said a deal was "within our grasp."

Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was likely to endorse a U.S. cease-fire proposal.

Asked in New York about the possible cease-fire agreement, Israel's U.N. ambassador Danny Danon said "we are moving forward on this front," adding that the cabinet would meet soon to discuss it.

The war in Lebanon followed nearly a year of limited cross-border exchanges of fire initiated by Hezbollah. The group said it was acting in support of Hamas after the Palestinian group's Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked the war in Gaza.

Lebanon says at least 3,768 people have been killed in the country since October 2023, most of them in the past few weeks.

On the Israeli side, the Lebanon hostilities have killed at least 82 soldiers and 47 civilians, authorities say.

Deal a 'mistake'

The initial exchanges of fire forced tens of thousands of Israelis to flee their homes, and Israeli officials have said they are fighting, so the residents can return safely.

Some northern residents expressed fears as to whether that was possible under a cease-fire.

"In my opinion, it would be a serious mistake to sign an agreement as long as Hezbollah has not been completely eliminated," said Maryam Younnes, 29, an Israeli-Lebanese student from Maalot-Tarshiha.

"It would be a mistake to sign an agreement as long as Hezbollah still has weapons."

Dorit Sison, 51, a teacher displaced from Shlomi, said: "I don't want a cease-fire, because if they do it along the lines that they've announced, we'll be in the same place in five years."

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir warned on X that reaching a Lebanon cease-fire deal would be a "historic missed opportunity to eradicate Hezbollah."

Ben Gvir has repeatedly threatened to bring down the government if it agrees to a truce deal with Hamas in the Gaza Strip or Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Efforts this year by mediators to secure a truce and hostage-release deal in the Gaza war have failed. Qatar early this month said it was suspending its mediation role until the warring sides showed "seriousness."

With an intensive Israeli military operation in besieged north Gaza in its 50th day, remaining residents are left "scavenging among the rubble" for food, Louise Wateridge, spokeswoman for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, told AFP.

Such scavenging puts Gazans at risk of coming into contact with unexploded and unused ordnance that can be found in many populated areas of the territory, the Danish Refugee Council said in a report. (AFP)
Uncontrolled social media networks and artificial intelligence amplify the worst human impulses, allowing hate speech to spread like wildfire and ignite violence, UN secretary general Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday.

"We must reign in hate speech and disinformation spreading online," Guterres told a top-level meeting of the United Nations' Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC) in Portugal.

"Unchecked digital platforms and Artificial Intelligence have endowed hate speech with a speed and reach unseen before," he told UNAOC's 10th global forum in Cascais, near Lisbon.

"The worst impulses of humanity are given a megaphone, and many times they lead to violence," he told a session at the gathering on "upending hate".

The proliferation of deepfakes online allowed "the impossible and the unverified (to) become credible in an instant", Guterres said.

"Misinformation and outright lies are fuelling repulsive anti-semitism, anti-Muslim bigotry and attacks on minority Christian communities, among others," Guterres said.

Social media and AI offered a "new medium" for these "old tactics".

The UN leader reiterated his pleas for peace in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine and Sudan.

The UN Alliance of Civilisations seeks to promote "cultural diversity, religious pluralism and mutual respect".

This year's global forum -- whose attendees include presidents, ministers and the heads of international bodies -- runs from November 25 to 27. (AFP)
With a month to go until Christmas, Santa Claus is busy preparing, but the warming climate and lack of snow in his Arctic hometown have him worried.

By this time of year, the town of Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland -- marketed by tourism officials since the 1980s as the "real" home of Santa Claus -- should be white and pretty.

But on a recent visit, rain poured down from a gloomy slate sky and the temperature was well above freezing, with the thermometer showing +2C.

"My reindeer can fly, so that's no problem," said the man in the red suit and long white beard, resting his weary legs after a long day of meeting excited children and adults.

But "we can see that climate change is real. And it's affecting the reindeer. It's affecting life here in the Arctic," added the man, whose employers declined to identify him by his real name.

Herders say milder and more unpredictable winters have left reindeer struggling to dig up their main food, lichen.

Snow and ice have melted and refrozen, burying it under layers of packed ice.

The Arctic is warming faster than other parts of the world due to climate change -- nearly four times as fast, according to research published by Finland-based scientists in the journal Nature in 2022.

Warming global temperatures, driven by humans burning fossil fuels, have been aggravating weather disasters such as floods and droughts worldwide in recent years.

In Finnish Lapland, after a historically warm summer, a new November temperature record was set a few weeks ago when 11.1C was measured in the town of Utsjoki, breaking the previous record of 11.0C from 1975.

Tourism boom

Tourists flock to Rovaniemi from around the world to see its enchanting snowy landscapes and experience the Arctic cold.

With only a few hours of daylight this time of the year, many also hope to see the spectacular colours of the Northern Lights streaking across the dark skies.

Last year, the town registered a record high of more than one million overnight stays.

Visitors looking to get a glimpse of Santa can meet the man himself at different locations in Rovaniemi, including the Santa Park underground theme park and the nearby Santa Claus Village.

"It's super nice. It's like in the Christmas movies, super magical," said Maria Batista Torres from Tenerife in Spain, visiting the Santa Claus Village with her two young children.

Glittering fairy lights illuminate rooftops and trees in the Santa Claus Village, which is open all year round.

"I figured it would be much more snowy," however, said Wenguel, a visitor from the United States.

"I mean, it still feels like Christmas... but I figured it would be a little bit more Santa-like."

In addition to meeting Santa Claus, visitors can pay to go snowmobiling or jump on a reindeer sleigh-ride.

While visiting Santa Claus Village is free, a picture taken with Santa costs a minimum of 40 euros ($42).

Wishing for peace

Gloomy skies aside, Santa Claus's Post Office in Santa Claus Village was bustling with activity, as red-hooded elves busily stamped cards and sorted piles of letters in the Christmas rush.

"In December there can be about 30,000 letters each day," said postal elf Heidi Mustonen, who has worked here for 20 years.

Over half a million letters to Santa find their way here every year, Heidi said, insisting that every letter gets opened and read thoroughly.

Most of the letters were wish lists, but both children and adults also wrote to tell Santa about their personal concerns, fears, wishes and joys, with many of the envelopes containing drawings and small gifts.

"This year many people have wished for peace," Heidi said.

Most letters sent from Asian countries were written by young adults, with many wishing for strength to cope with their studies, she said.

Letters from European countries were meanwhile mostly written by children.

Heidi said she loved the warm and happy atmosphere in Santa's village, but did wish for snowfall to brighten up the landscape.

"We would make snow everywhere if we could. But we are just postal elves." (AFP)
Israeli warplanes struck buildings in Beiruts suburbs and in a southern Lebanese city Tuesday, as Israels security Cabinet prepared to vote on a U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal aimed at ending more than a year of fighting with Hezbollah.

Hopes have risen for the deal, which calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border.

Israels security Cabinet, meeting Tuesday afternoon, was expected to approve the proposal, which Lebanese officials have said Hezbollah also supports.

Among the main sticking points has been an Israeli demand to reserve the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations. Under the proposal, thousands of Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor all sides compliance.

Israels Defense Minister Israel Katz said the military would strike Hezbollah if the U.N. peacekeeping force, known as UNIFIL, doesnt provide effective enforcement of the deal.

If you dont act, we will act, and with great force, he said, speaking with U.N. special envoy Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert.

The European Unions top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said Tuesday that Israels security concerns had been addressed in the U.S.-French-brokered deal.

There is not an excuse for not implementing a ceasefire. Otherwise, Lebanon will fall apart, Borrell told reporters in Fiuggi, Italy, on the sidelines of a Group of Seven meeting. He said the U.S. would chair a ceasefire implementation committee, and France would participate at the request of Lebanon.

Even as Israeli, U.S, Lebanese and international officials have expressed growing optimism over a ceasefire, Israel has continued its campaign in Lebanon, which it says aims to cripple Hezbollahs military capabilities.

Israeli jets struck at least six buildings in Beiruts southern suburbs Tuesday. One strike slammed near the countrys only airport, sending large plumes of smoke into the sky. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The airport has continued to function despite its location on the Mediterranean coast next to the densely populated suburbs where many of Hezbollahs operations are based.

Other strikes hit in the southern city of Tyre, where the Israeli militiary said it killed a local Hezbollah commander.

The Israeli military also said its ground troops reached parts of Lebanons Litani River  a focal point of the emerging ceasefire.

It said troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani, just a few kilometers (miles) from the border.

Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the Israeli border.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, the strongest Iranian-backed force in the region , would likely significantly calm regional tensions that have led to fears of a direct, all-out war between Israel and Iran. Its not clear how the ceasefire will affect the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Hezbollah had long insisted that it would not agree to a ceasefire until the war in Gaza ends, but it dropped that condition.

Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have been exchanging barrages ever since.

In early September, Israel escalated its campaign of bombardment and sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire.

More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members.

Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate homes in the countrys north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers died fighting in the ground offensive in Lebanon.

After previous hopes for a ceasefire were dashed, U.S. officials cautioned that negotiations were not yet complete and noted that there could be last-minute hitches that either delay or destroy an agreement.

Nothing is done until everything is done, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said.

While the ceasefire proposal is expected to be approved if Netanyahu brings it to a vote in his security Cabinet, one hard-line member, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, said he would oppose it. He said on X that a deal with Lebanon would be a big mistake and a missed historic opportunity to eradicate Hezbollah. (AP)
We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription.
Netizens were amused by the usage of second-gen K-pop songs for the Malaysian prime minister's posts on Instagram.

On November 25, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim uploaded several posts on his official Instagram account, which recounted his meeting with Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) and OCI Holdings in Seoul.

While the meeting made headlines due to Malaysia's investment support and Hyundai's expansion to the country's automotive ecosystem, netizens were instead focused on the account's usage of K-pop songs for its background music.

The Prime Minister has included songs such as Girls' Generation's "Gee," which was the pinnacle song of second-gen K-pop back then and propelled the "Nation's Girl Group" to stardom and success.

Meanwhile, other posts also included 2NE1's "Come Back Home," a nostalgic throwback for many longtime K-pop fans. The latest post also used the band CNBLUE's "Love," furthering the amusement of netizens.

An earlier reel also included BIGBANG G-Dragon's newest single "Power," which the BIGBANG leader released on October 31, and performed live at the 2024 MAMA Awards.

Another post also featured BTS' 2020 hit "Dynamite," the group's second breakthrough song in their career that further catapulted them into global success and fortified their already-flourishing worldwide recognition.

Some reels also featured Zico's viral "Any Song" and Super Junior's "Sorry, Sorry."

Here's how netizens reacted to the posts:
Tomas Doherty

Dublin Fingal West is one of the new constituencies in this election, making the outcome harder to predict.

Here is everything you need to know about the area before heading to the polls on November 29th.

The constituency

Dublin Fingal West is a new constituency in one of Irelands fastest growing regions.

It includes towns along the northern commuter rail line, such as Rush, Lusk, Balbriggan and Skerries, along with Garristown in the west. The population is 88,167.

Dublin Airport and its immediate surrounds have moved into the constituency from Dublin North-West.

The issues

A population boom in the area means housing, transport and public services are all under strain.

The reliability of rail services for commuters is likely to be a big issue after controversial changes earlier this year led to delays, packed platforms and congested trains.

Dublin Airport is a major employer locally, but complaints are growing about aircraft noise from the new northern runway.

Seats

There are three seats in this new constituency.

Candidates

Two of the outgoing TDs from the old Dublin Fingal constituency are based here and are standing again.

Sinn Feins Louise OReilly is likely to retain her seat, though it might be a tougher fight for Green incumbent Joe O'Brien.

Outgoing TDs

Louise O'Reilly  Sinn Fein

Joe O'Brien  Green Party
Michael Bolton

A candidate for Fine Gael in the general election says she is not concerned by the number of the party's TDs who are not running for a Dail seat.

Keira Keogh is standing in Mayo in place of outgoing TD Michael Ring, who is one of a number of experienced TDs not running on Friday.

Ms Keogh ran in the local elections back in June, and says Fine Gael being on the Yes side of the repeal and marriage equality referendums was key to her joining the party.

Speaking to Breakingnews.ie, she says there is no reason to be concerned by the number of new candidates in the election.

"I think from the outset, when you look at it, there must be an exodus and there must be big problems, but when you get to know the people personally, I see Michael and I know he really debated staying or going for another term.

"Then you look at Heather Humphreys; her announcement was quite late.

"I have also listened to Simon Coveney, who launched Alan Dillon's campaign, and he also said it was a very tricky decision, but I think I made the right decision.

"I don't think there was any big scandal here. When you look at the years of service they have all given, it makes sense."

As of writing, the latest poll shows Fine Gael dropping behind Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail.

The latest setback for Fine Gael in this campaign came as Simon Harris had an encounter with a care worker in Cork.

The Taoiseach spoke to Charlotte Fallon, a disability worker with St Josephs Foundation, where she told him carers were ignored and the Government has done nothing for us.

Mr Harris responds by saying: No, not at all, and thats not true, several times before shaking her hand, in a clip which has gone viral.

Ms Keogh says she has sympathy for the Taoiseach over the incident, and defended him on his record with disability services.

"I feel very sorry for him that it happened over disability, because it is the single thing he is most passionate about.

"It is why he got into politics, it is why I admire him so much. He has been working harder than anybody in the last seven months, perhaps a tired moment after a long day.

"I am very proud of him that he had the courage to publicly apologise, admit he was wrong, and call Charlotte.

"I hope people can see his career, rather than a bad moment after a very long seven months."

Fine Gael are running four candidates in the five-seat constituency of Mayo. Alongside Ms Keogh is current TD Alan Dillon, councillor Mark Duffy and Martina Jennings.

Ms Keogh believes the party has a chance of getting three seats, and says she is not paying too much attention to polls.

"For me, if I focused on polls, I would have been devastated in the beginning, because I was seen as a no-hoper and an unknown candidate. Now they have me in sixth place for five seats.

"I think if you focus too much on the polls and let it sway how you are feeling, it is a recipe for disaster.

"I think we have a real chance of getting five seats at the moment. What we were saying was on a good day we would get two, in a great day we would get three and on a historical day we would get four.

"I think if you take out the map, and you look at Mayo, and the length and breadth of the constituency is so wide, there is a really nice spread of candidates.

"I'm hopeful my odds will be in my favour, and I can get out of sixth and into fifth place."
By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Government ministers have rejected assertions that they were asleep at the wheel over sustainably managing migration.

Immigration has emerged as a key issue in the general election campaign ahead of polling day on Friday.

In a debate on RTEs Upfront focused on the matter, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said immigration is a good thing for this country as people come to work and study.

Leader of Aontu, Peadar Toibin (Niall Carson/PA)

The Fine Gael deputy leader said inward migration is needed to ensure increased housing delivery, essential services in healthcare, and other sectors.

She defended the current immigration system as rules-based.

Aontu leader Peadar Toibin said there was no doubt that many migrants make really positive contributions to Ireland.

However, the opposition politician accused the Government of being asleep at the wheel by not keeping immigration at what he characterised as sustainable levels.

Mr Toibin said we have to start looking at how many permits are provided to non-essential workers.

Integration minister and Green leader Roderic OGorman said blocking off links to other countries would be fundamentally a wrong approach for an open economy like Ireland.

He accused Mr Toibin of having a deeply divisive proposal.

Fianna Fail representative James Browne, who is the junior minister in the Department of Justice, said the countrys economy is booming in ICT and foreign direct investment.

He added: Shutting down effectively any work permit coming for foreign direct investment will be absolutely, I think, counterproductive and, quite frankly, hypocritical as well.

Leader of the Green Party Roderic OGorman (Niall Carson/PA)

Michael Fitzmaurice of Independent Ireland said most people have no problems whatsoever with people coming in on permits.

However, he said there is a problem around the complicated permit system.

Sinn Fein director of elections Matt Carthy said there was an irony in doctors and nurses who qualified here having immigrated to the far side of the globe over conditions in Ireland.

Mr Carthy said the Government was overseeing crises in housing, health and migration.

What we want to do is put in place a system of rules that are clearly understood and clearly enforced that ensures that there is confidence for everyone involved.

The debate also discussed the Governments response to those seeking asylum and the engagement with communities who host International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) centres.

Mr Carthy said it was hard to overstate how big of a mess the Government had made of the accommodation system, adding that communities were extremely frustrated with being antagonised.

It is Sinn Feins position that IPAS centres should not be put in working-class communities and that services should only be located in areas with better ratings on the deprivation index.

Mr Browne said trying to pin down Sinn Feins policy of where asylum seekers would actually be located is like trying to nail jelly to a wall.

Mr Carthy said the Government currently only requires a building to be available, adding that the only community engagement is an email to elected representatives.

He said many communities which were already left without public services such as garda stations and post offices were later told that the last hotel in the town would be used to accommodate asylum seekers.

Mr Toibin agreed that there was no consultation.

Mr OGorman said his party wanted to ensure that international protection accommodation is dispersed around the country.

He said the system was currently entirely dependent on the private sector, adding that criticisms of current processes on that basis were correct.

However, the minister said opposition parties had not set out an alternative.

Colleagues over there are very good at setting out where they dont want international protection applicants  but every day for the last four-and-a-half years, I and my department have had to do the opposite.

Weve had to find accommodation. Weve had to make those difficult decisions.

Mr OGorman has advanced a proposal aimed at moving towards more State-provided accommodation.

He said if the choice was between taking hotel accommodation and leaving people unaccommodated, he had to be honest that he would not choose the latter option.

Mr Carthy contended that this was a false choice, while Mr Toibin accused the Greens of unbelievable hypocrisy.

Sinn Feins Matt Carthy (Liam McBurney/PA)

The Aontu leaders assertion was based on a Green TD objecting to housing, while the party in Government supported planning exemptions for asylum centres.

Mr Toibins party has suggested implementing a border in the Irish Sea for the movement of people.

Mr OGorman described the proposal as an absolute fantasy.

Ms McEntee said that would essentially dismantle the Common Travel Area.

The minister said Mr Toibin had been living under a rock to suggest everyone crossing the open border with Northern Ireland could be checked.

She said it would be up to the British Government, to which Mr Toibin said the coalition did not have the backbone to even ask.

Mr Browne said putting a metophorical wall between the UK and Northern Ireland is fanciful and not going to happen.

The Aontu leader said checks on foodstuff had been achieved during Brexit negotiations.

Mr OGorman replied: Thats for foodstuff. Were dealing with people, not sausages.

Elsewhere, the integration minister accused Sinn Fein of walking away from the people of Ukraine.

It came after Mr Carthy said that Ukrainians who have fled from the war to Ireland could apply for international protection when the temporary protection directive expires.

Sinn Fein said the emergency directive should not be renewed and that a uniform system for anybody fleeing war to Ireland is implemented.

Mr OGorman said it was an absolutely crazy idea to suggest thousands of Ukrainians should be moved into the international protection system at a time when were starting to get some control over numbers.
New Delhi [India], November 26 (ANI): The implementation of the PAN 2.0 project, announced on Monday by the Centre, is expected to lower costs for fintech companies, according to industry experts.

Sanjeev Mehta, former Managing Director at Standard Chartered Bank and now leading a Greenfield startup venture, praised the Cabinet's approval of PAN 2.0 project. "This is a transformative move that will help fintech and other companies reduce costs while streamlining operations," he said.

Also Read | Bilaspur Fire: Disabled Girl Dies After Blaze Erupts at Her Home in Himachal Pradesh.

Mehta emphasized the importance of consolidating databases currently maintained by two authorities--Protean eGov Technologies Ltd (formerly NSDL) and UTI Infrastructure Technology and Services Limited (UTIITSL)--into a unified system.

"The project will enable a single source of truth and a unified identity for consumers. With a single interface and integration, it eliminates the complexities of maintaining multiple systems. This has been a long-standing demand from the industry," he said.

Also Read | International Cake Day 2024 Quotes, Images and GIFs: Share These Messages, Instagram Captions, Sweet Sayings and HD Wallpapers To Express Your Love for the Dessert.

At present, both Protean and UTIITSL are authorized to issue PAN cards and offer online and offline services for new applications, corrections, updates, and tracking. Under PAN 2.0, new PAN cards will be issued using the upgraded system, and existing PAN data will be merged into a centralized database.

Mehta highlighted that fintech companies and banks rely heavily on PAN for authentication, database monitoring, and underwriting processes. "From a credit perspective, this single system will streamline integrations and ensure reliable verification of PAN credentials, enhancing the overall credit ecosystem."

He also clarified that while existing PAN cards will remain valid, individuals can upgrade to a new PAN card featuring added functionalities such as QR codes and updated designs. "The PAN number will remain the same, but users can opt for a refreshed version with modern features. The migration to the new system will happen automatically for all existing PAN holders," Mehta said.

Dr. Vimal Joshi, a corporate lawyer and Supreme Court advocate, said the PAN 2.0 project is expected to address the issue of PAN card duplication effectively.

"With a single authority issuing PAN cards, instances of duplication will be eliminated. This will also help reduce litigation, as many court cases currently involve individuals using multiple PAN numbers."

Joshi said that the PAN 2.0 project marks a critical step in enhancing India's financial infrastructure, streamlining processes, and boosting efficiency for businesses and individuals alike.

On Monday, the Cabinet approved PAN 2.0 Project of the Income Tax Department. The financial implications for the PAN 2.0 Project will be Rs. 1,435 crore.

PAN 2.0 Project enables technology-driven transformation of taxpayer registration services. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], November 26 (ANI): BJP leader Kailash Gahlot on Tuesday met Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in New Delhi.

This meeting came after, the BJP appointed Former AAP leader and minister Kailash Gahlot as a Member of the Delhi Assembly Election Coordination Committee.

Also Read | NTPC Green Energy IPO Listing Date: Allotment, Subscription Status, GMP Price  Know Everything Here.

He was appointed as a Member of the Delhi Assembly Election Coordination Committee on November 23.

After joining the BJP, former AAP leader and minister Kailash Gahlot said that over a prolonged period, he mustered "Courage" to quit after seeing dilution in values and principles in the AAP party.

Also Read | Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren Faces Legal Setback As Ranchi Court Rejects Exemption Plea in ED Case.

Speaking to ANI, Gahlot earlier said, "It doesn't happen overnight, it happens over a prolonged period. It takes time to understand a few things. I am repeating this again and again that we are connected to some values and principles. If we see some dilution in the same, I think I mustered the courage to quit. There are several others like me who are unable to muster courage. I think they will continue."

Kailash Gahlot resigned as Delhi Transport Minister and also from AAP on November 17 and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) the next day. The appointment was made by Delhi BJP Chief Virendra Sachdeva with the approval of the party's senior leadership.

Gahlot earlier also met Union Health Minister and BJP chief JP Nadda and discussed the preparations regarding Delhi assembly polls expected early next year. He described the meeting with Nadda as a "courtesy meeting".

"During the discussion, guidance was received on various issues related to the organization and public service," Kailash Gahlot said in a post in hindi on X on November 22.

"It was also discussed during the meeting that a BJP government should be formed in Delhi so that the national capital gets world-class development and people get very good public services," he said. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], November 26 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh BJP President Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary on Tuesday criticised Samajwadi Party (SP) over Sambhal incident, saying that circumstances in Sambhal are in some way or the other caused by the Samajwadi Party's internal fight for supremacy.

"The circumstances in Sambhal are in some way or the other caused by the Samajwadi Party's internal fight for supremacy. It is because of the feeling of competition between the two families to gain leadership of the party. They provoked the people and caused this incident... However, the alertness of our party and the police made sure that the Samajwadi Party was not successful in their agenda... UP CM has announced an investigation into this matter. That will make it clear who is at fault and action will be taken against them..." said Chaudhary.

Also Read | Stock Market Today: Sensex Settles Flat at 80,004, Auto Shares Slide.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak ensured that fair action would be taken against the guilty.

"Fair action will be taken against anyone who is guilty and whoever has suffered will get justice," he said.

Also Read | Shukrayaan-1 Approved: Union Government Gives Green Light to India's Venus Orbiting Mission and Setting Up Bharatiya Antariksha Station, Says ISRO.

Earlier today, Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav held the Uttar Pradesh administration responsible for recent violence in Sambhal and alleged that the people are being harassed continuously in Sambhal by filing false cases.

"The administration is responsible. People are being harassed continuously in Sambhal by filing false cases, our MP was not even present, he was in Bengaluru at the time of the incident, but his name has also been included," Dimple Yadav told ANI.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Moradabad Range, Muniraj G said that the situation is normal in Sambhal today.

"The situation is normal in Sambhal today. The markets are operational and functionally normally. People should not worry; those innocent will not be penalised. Till now, 7 FIRs have been filed. We are identifying people based on video footage," DIG Muniraj said.Opposition members have been keen to raise the issue in the House and have targeted the Yogi Adityanath government over the violence.

On Sunday, a stone pelting incident occurred in Sambhal when an ASI team visited Shahi Jama Masjid to conduct a fresh survey of the mosque, as per officials.

The survey was part of a legal process following a petition filed by senior advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who claimed the mosque was originally a temple. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Sambhal (Uttar Pradesh) [India], November 26 (ANI): Congress leader KC Venugopal on Monday attacked the Yogi Adityanath government over the violence in Sambhal and alleged that there is a "conspiracy to polarise society and escalate tensions".

He demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the violence.

Also Read | West Bengal: Class 9 Student Dies by Suicide by Jumping off Roof After Mother Scolds Her for Using Mobile Excessively in New Barrackpore.

"The violence and riots in Sambhal, UP point to a clear conspiracy on the part of the Modi-Yogi 'double-engine government' to polarise society. The haste with which the so-called survey was...carried out shows a deeper conspiracy to create instability and fear among the people of the region," Venugopal said in a post on X.

"Multiple ground reports suggest the killings at the hands of the police who deliberately escalated matters to this level. This shows clear complicity of the State in this riot and a neutral, Supreme-Court monitored probe is the need of the hour to restore peace and bring justice to the victims of this mob violence," he added.

Also Read | Israel-Lebanon Conflict: Israel Cabinet To Discuss Ceasefire Deal With Lebanon on November 26 After Netanyahu's 'In Principle' Approval, Says Report.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party MPs including party president Akhilesh Yadav met the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday regarding the Sambhal incident.

Opposition members were keen to raise the issue in the House and have targeted Yogi Adityanath government over the violence.

Akhilesh Yadav alleged earlier that party MP Zia-ur-Rahman Barq has been booked even though he was not present in Sambhal.

"Our MP was not even in Sambhal during the incident and despite that, an FIR was lodged against him. It is very unfortunate to know about the young people who have lost their lives in this incident. From all the videos we have, we know it was a riot by the government. The government was looting votes, playing with the EVM machines.. they did riot in Sambhal," he alleged.

Akhilesh Yadav said that the order was passed by the Court without even listening to the other party and questioned the state government.

Yadav demanded action against concerned police officials.

A stone pelting incident occurred in Sambhal on Sunday when an ASI team arrived at the Shahi Jama Masjid to conduct a fresh survey of the mosque, as per officials.

The survey was part of a legal process following a petition filed by senior advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who claimed the mosque was originally a temple. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, in his first visit to the national capital after leading his ruling alliance to an unprecedented second straight term in the state.

The Prime Minister's Office posted pictures of Soren meeting Modi.

Also Read | Stock Market Today: Sensex Settles Flat at 80,004, Auto Shares Slide.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader led the alliance, which included the Congress, the RJD and the Left, to a comprehensive win over the BJP-led alliance.

He is set to take the oath of office for a second term.

Also Read | Shukrayaan-1 Approved: Union Government Gives Green Light to India's Venus Orbiting Mission and Setting Up Bharatiya Antariksha Station, Says ISRO.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Shillong (Meghalaya) [India], November 26 (ANI): The APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis, IIM Shillong, in collaboration with the Shankardev Education and Research Foundation, hosted a round table discussion on "Impact of Unrest in Bangladesh and Myanmar on India" on Tuesday.

The event witnessed the distinguished presence of Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita, Former General Officer Commanding, Eastern Command, Indian Army, who delivered an insightful address on the complex challenges posed by the ongoing unrest in India's neighbouring countries.

Also Read | Lucknow Shocker: Man Dies of Heat Condition in Ambulance in Uttar Pradesh; Family Alleges King George Hospital Denied Ventilator; Disturbing Video Surfaces.

The discussion centred on the multi-dimensional impact of regional instability, with a particular focus on its ramifications for India's national security, socio-economic development, and the broader stability of the region.

Lieutenant General Kalita's expertise and first-hand experience lent significant depth to the deliberations, bringing attention to the complex interplay of geopolitical, security, and economic factors.

Also Read | Bilaspur Fire: Disabled Girl Dies After Blaze Erupts at Her Home in Himachal Pradesh.

The unique geographical challenges of the Northeast Region (NER) were discussed in detail, with a focus on the border topology and the challenges posed by a region that shares 99 per cent of its borders with five countries. The potential socio-economic consequences of immigration, drug smuggling, and the misuse of the Free Movement Regime along the India-Myanmar border were identified as significant concerns.

The conversation also delved into the promising socio-economic opportunities offered by connectivity initiatives such as the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, which has the potential to transform regional economies and create significant employment opportunities.

The critical importance of border stability and security was stressed, with proactive measures needed to address issues such as terrorism and drug proliferation.

Moreover, the role of civil society organizations in monitoring security while contributing to social welfare, especially in healthcare and education was emphasized.

In concluding remarks, Lieutenant General Kalita stressed the need for a balanced approach to security and development, calling for coordinated action from government agencies, civil society, and international stakeholders.

He emphasized that long-term peace and stability in the region require both comprehensive security measures and sustainable development initiatives.

The roundtable provided a platform for experts, policy-makers, and key stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue on these critical issues, paving the way for actionable solutions to address the complex challenges facing India's Northeast and its broader regional relations.

The discussions underscored the importance of integrated strategies and international collaboration to ensure the region's security, stability, and development. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], November 26 (ANI): Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh extended greetings for Constitution Day to the people on Tuesday.

He paid homage to Baba Saheb Ambedkar, who contributed to the creation of the Indian Constitution, through a post on social media platform X.

Also Read | Trump Threatens Steep Tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China.

"Heartiest greetings to all Indians on 'Constitution Day'. The Indian Constitution has laid the foundation for the creation of a new India. Today our country is moving forward with a strong resolve to build a developed, strong and self-respecting India. #75YearsOfConstitution. On this sacred occasion of 'Constitution Day', I pay my homage to all the great personalities including Baba Saheb Ambedkar who have contributed in the creation of the Indian Constitution," he posted on X.

Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal, on Tuesday also extended wishes on the eve of Constitution Day.

Also Read | Udaipur Mewar Family Row: Stones Pelted As Clash Erupts Between Vishvaraj Singh Mewar and His Cousin Lakshay Raj Singh's Supporters of the Royal Family Over Entry Into Udaipur Palace (Watch Videos).

"Heartiest greetings of Constitution Day to all the countrymen. The entry of the Indian Constitution into its 75th year is a bright occasion for our democracy. Salute to all the great souls who contributed to strengthening it and taking the nation on the path of progress. #75YearsOfConstitution," he posted on X.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has also greeted the people of the state on Constitution Day. In a message issued on the eve of Constitution Day, the Chief Minister said that the Constitution is the soul of the country. It is also the protector of the pride, rights and honour of every Indian.

Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi paid floral tribute to BR Ambedkar in Bhubaneswar on the occasion of 'Samvidhan Diwas'. CM Majhi along with state ministers is also holding a padayatra in Bhubaneswar.

Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu will address the Members of both Houses of Parliament on Tuesday in the Central Hall on the occasion of 'Samvidhan Divas' (Constitution Day). Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also attend the Constitution Day celebrations, marking 75 years since the adoption of the Constitution of India.

The event will be held at the Auditorium, Administrative Building Complex of the Supreme Court of India. During the ceremony, Prime Minister Modi will release the annual report of the Indian Judiciary (2023-24) and deliver an address to the gathering.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Ministers, Members of Parliament, Heads of Missions based in Delhi, and other dignitaries will attend the event.

Vice President Dhankhar will also address the Members of both Houses during the occasion.

A commemorative coin and stamp marking the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of India will be released during the event. Additionally, two books, titled "Making of the Constitution of India: A Glimpse" and "Making of the Constitution of India & Its Glorious Journey", will also be unveiled.

A booklet focusing on the art of the Constitution of India, as well as versions of the Constitution in Sanskrit and Maithili languages, will be released. A short film showcasing the making, historical significance, and journey of the Indian Constitution will also be screened for the distinguished gathering. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) President Droupadi Murmu will visit Tamil Nadu from November 27 to 30, her office said on Tuesday.

The President will address the faculty and student officers of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington on November 28, it said.

Also Read | Stock Market Today: Sensex Settles Flat at 80,004, Auto Shares Slide.

On November 29, Murmu will interact with the members of tribal women self-help groups and the prominent members of the tribal community in Nilgiris district at Raj Bhavan, Udhagamandalam.

The President will grace the convocation ceremony of the Central University of Tamil Nadu at Thiruvarur on November 30, the statement said.

Also Read | Shukrayaan-1 Approved: Union Government Gives Green Light to India's Venus Orbiting Mission and Setting Up Bharatiya Antariksha Station, Says ISRO.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
By S Y Quraishi

New Delhi [India], November 26 (ANI): In 2015, on the occasion of the 125 birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, the government decided to celebrate November 26 as the Constitution Day to highlight the importance of the event and commemorate its chief architect.

Also Read | Trump Threatens Steep Tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China.

On this day in 1949, the Constituent Assembly had adopted the Constitution of India which came into effect on January 26 1950. This is when the foundation for the world's largest democracy was laid. For 75 years, this document has been serving as the guiding light for the running of the country. Among its many remarkable features, the principles of secularism and pluralism stand out as cornerstones of India's democratic identity.

Secularism in the Indian Constitution:

Also Read | Udaipur Mewar Family Row: Stones Pelted As Clash Erupts Between Vishvaraj Singh Mewar and His Cousin Lakshay Raj Singh's Supporters of the Royal Family Over Entry Into Udaipur Palace (Watch Videos).

A Unique Model unlike the Western model of complete separation between religion and state, the Indian Constitution adopts a model of "equal respect for all religions", ensuring that the state neither favours nor discriminates against any religion.

What makes the constitution secular is its key features, namely, Freedom of religion (Articles 25-28), Equality of all before the law (Articles 14 and 15) and Neutrality of the State in matters of religion (Articles 27-28) Articles 25 to 28 guarantee the right to freedom of religion, allowing every individual to profess, practice, and propagate their faith. At the same time, these provisions protect individuals from being coerced into following a particular religion. Article 14 guarantees equality before the law and prohibits discrimination based on religion, caste, or gender. Article 15 specifically forbids discrimination on religious grounds.

Neutrality of the state is ensured by Article 27 which prohibits the use of public funds for promoting or maintaining any religion and Article 28 that prohibits religious instruction in government-run educational institutions. Pluralism and diversity are the next distinguishing features ofthe country mandated by the Constitution which reinforce secularism.

India is home to over 1.45 billion people, speaking 22 official languages listed in the Eighth Schedule and practising a multitude of religions. Ethnologue, an encyclopedic reference work cataloging all of the world's 7,111 known living languages, reports India as a home to 398 languages besides thousands of dialects. Article 29 protects the rights of minorities to conserve their language, script, and culture. Article 30, much in the news lately, empowers religious and linguistic minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. This ensures the preservation of cultural identity.

Universal Adult Suffrage is another important feature that empowers every section of society with right to vote to all adults regardless of caste, religion, gender, or economic status For protection of the marginalised communities, the Constitution includes provisions for affirmative action,ensuring political, educational, and employment opportunities for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

The coexistence of secularism and pluralism are two basic features that are central to India's unity in diversity. By respecting minority rights, the Constitution prevents the dominance of any single group over others, while pluralism fosters inclusivity, ensuring that all communities feel valued and represented in the nation-building process. I have often said that India is secular because Hindus are secular and the living proof is our constitution. When the country was partitioned in the name of religion, Pakistan became an Islamic republic whereas India chose to be secular unanimously in the Constituent Assembly where an overwhelming majority (82%) of members were Hindus! The reason India is looked upon by the world community with awe and respect is its unique plural and secular identity which has kept the exceptionally huge and diverse country united. It is noteworthy that the word "secular" was added to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution by the 42nd AmendmentAct, 1976, during the Emergency under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's government. The amendment inserted the words "secular" and "socialist" into the Preamble, making the description of India as: "Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic."

The necessity of adding the term "secular" has been debated extensively, especially in the last couple of decades. Was it really necessary when secularism oozes from most articles? One section of the population is fighting for its deletion from the Preamble, especially because it was brought in by their bete noire Indira Gandhi and that too during the much despised emergency. They overlook the fact that it would not alter the secular character of the constitution one bit. While some think it is redundant, for others it is reinforcement. Either way the debate is superfluous.

Secularism and pluralism are considered parts of the basic structure of the Indian Constitution, as affirmed by various judgments of the Supreme Court. The basic structure doctrine, established in the landmark Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973) case, identifies certain fundamental principles of the Constitution that cannot be amended by Parliament, even through its constitutional amending power under Article 368.

* In the case of S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994), the Supreme Court explicitly recognized secularism as a part of the basic structure. The Court ruled that: Secularism means that the state must maintain neutrality in matters of religion and ensure equal treatment of all religions. Any law or amendment that undermines secularism would be unconstitutional.

Like secularism, pluralism is also a part of the Basic Structure. Pluralism refers to the coexistence of diverse cultural, linguistic, religious, and social groups in harmony. It is intrinsic to India's identity as a multicultural society.

* Judicial Recognition of Pluralism has come through various landmark judgments. In Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (1992), the Supreme Court emphasized the importance of inclusivity and social justice as foundational principles of the Constitution. The Kesavananda Bharati case also underscored that democracy, equality, and dignity of individuals--all of which are rooted in pluralism--are part of the basic structure. Pluralism ensures the representation of all groups in governance and upholds the principle of unity in diversity, a cornerstone of Indian democracy.

The Indian Constitution thus is a unique model where flexibility and rigidity are intertwined. While 105 amendments have been made since 1951 to keep pace with the changing times, the basic character has remained protected. This is what has kept the largest nation in the world united. (ANI)

The author, SY Quraishi is the former Chief Election Commissioner of India and the author of three books on elections, the latest being 'India's Experiment with Democracy-the Life of a Nation through its Elections.'

(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 26: Former Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud has cleared the air about recent allegations by Shiv Sena (UBT), which has sought to blame him for the drubbing of the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections. The Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut had alleged that Justice Chandrachud had removed the fear of law from politicians in the state by not deciding on petitions over the disqualification of MLAs, which kept doors open for political defections and subsequently led to the defeat of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the polls. Raut said this in a press conference after the declaration of results adding that "history will not forgive them."

In the November 20 Assembly elections the Sena (UBT) was able to notch up a mere 20 out of 94 seats it contested as part of the MVA alliance. Its other allies in the MVA also fared poorly with Congress winning only 16 out of 101 seats and the NCP (Sharad Pawar) managing to win only 10 out of 86 seats it contested. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Justice Chandrachud responded to criticism by the Sena's Uddhav Thackeray faction stating, "Well, my answer is very simple...Throughout this year, we were dealing with seminal constitutional cases, nine-judge bench decisions, seven-judge bench decisions, five-judge bench decisions. Now, should any one party or individual decide what case the Supreme Court should hear? Sorry, that choice is for the Chief Justice." 'I Have Always Granted Bail From A to Z, From Arnab to Zubair': CJI DY Chandrachud Says He Tries To Grant Bail to Everyone in Accordance With the Law.

In the year 2022, the undivided Shiv Sena suffered a split after a rebellion by Eknath Shinde which toppled the then-ruling MVA government led by Uddhav Thackeray and led to the formation of the Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti government. Thackeray then filed petitions in the Supreme Court on the disqualification of MLAs who defected from the party along with Eknath Shinde. The Shinde faction also filed counter petition.

The Supreme Court asked Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar to decide on the disqualification petitions of the rival factions. In January this year the Speaker declared the Shinde faction as the "real" Shiv Sena. Justice Chandrachud in the interview with ANI highlighted that cases have been languishing before the Supreme Court for 20 years. DY Chandrachud Retirement: From Abrogation of Article 370 To Triple Talaq, Key Judgments of 50th Chief Justice India As He Demits Office on November 10.

"You point out to us that we are not working even for a minute of the time that we are assigned to do our work. And such a criticism would be valid. Important constitutional cases are pending before the Supreme Court for 20 years. Why is the Supreme Court not taking up these 20-year-old cases and dealing with some recent cases? And then if you take up old cases, you are told that, you didn't take up this particular case. Well, you have limited manpower and you have a given complement of judges, you have to draw the balance," the former CJI said.

Asked about Sena UBT allegation over the "delay" in the decision on Sena case, the CJI stated, "You see, this is the problem. The real problem is this, that a given segment of the polity feels that, well, you're independent if you follow my agenda... That, you know, you pursue my agenda, which is inclusive of cases, which I think, I think you should be deciding. "We decided electoral bonds. Was that any less important?, Justice Chandrachud said.

"We decided recently the Aligarh Muslim University case, the closure of the madrasas under an order of the Allahabad High Court. We have dealt with issues pertaining to the disability rights of individuals. Is disability in any way less significant? than any of these cases that we are referring to. We have decided critical issues pertaining to the federal structure. This year, and these are all cases which we have decided this year, we decided the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, which gave citizenship to certain people who had migrated from Bangladesh prior to 25th of March 1971. Was that less significant?," the former Chief Justice said.

"We dealt with a case on whether a constitution bench case on whether lakhs and lakhs of individuals belonging to not the highest strata of society, but the lowest state of society question was whether a person who has a license to drive a light motor vehicle can drive a transport vehicle below 7,500 kgs. Now that would have affected the livelihoods of lakhs of people. We delivered judgment on that just before my term came to an end. Are these cases that we have decided, in fact, we decided 38 Constitution Bench references during my tenure, including this year itself, are these cases any less significant than a particular case which we didn't decide or we couldn't decide?" he added.

"Now, the cases which we decided this year, any of these cases which I have referred to earlier, are these cases less significant? Or do we then follow an agenda which others set for us that, well, you have to decide this case for me today. If you don't decide my case, then, well, you are not independent." "This is something which is unacceptable." the former CJI said. "And the real problem today is this, and that's why, you know, I must say this. It's because we have refused during my tenure as a Chief Justice. We have refused to be dictated by any third party on which cases to decide.

Sometimes, you know, very highly resourced persons come to the court and they try and they try and, you know, suborn the system by saying, well, my case should be heard first," he added. "And this was a matter of concern to me as Chief Justice. Should we be listening to those cases only because the most resourced in terms of lawyers, in terms of the clients whom they represent, come to court and say, well, here, my case first. Sorry, we are not going to give that priority to people who are merely because they have resource and they have the ability to afford the best in terms of legal representation. When you sort of take cudgels for the system, for the ordinary Indian and say, this is not going to be how the court will work. Obviously, there's going to be a backlash," the former Chief Justice of India further said.

On being asked whether there is any political pressure on the Supreme Court to take up certain cases by the ruling party, Chandrachud replied in the negative. "On Article 370, on Ayodhya, on Sabarimala, all these very important cases. Look at Article 370, it was pending before the Supreme Court for a long time. So if there was pressure, why did the Supreme Court wait to take such a decision on that case? I mean, the decision came in 2019. The case was heard much, much later, several years later," he said. Justice Chandrachud retired on November 10 after his two-year stint as the Chief Justice of India.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai, Nov 26 (PTI) Some candidates of Shiv Sena (UBT) who lost recent Maharashtra assembly polls pointed fingers at the functioning of EVMs during their interaction with the party head Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday.

Thackeray took stock of lacklustre performance of his party at a meeting held at his residence in Mumbai.

Also Read | Cyclone Fengal: Rains Lash Several Parts of Tamil Nadu, Cyclonic Storm Brewing in Bay of Bengal (Watch Video).

Some legislators who lost the polls raised doubts about the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), said a former MLA who attended the meeting.

Thackeray appealed to the party leaders not to lose hope and work to rebuild the party.

Also Read | Maharashtra CM's Post: Shiv Sena Bats for Eknath Shinde, BJP Pitches for Devendra Fadnavis.

A day earlier, Thackeray met with all victorious MLAs of Shiv Sena (UBT), a constituent of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi.

The Thackeray-led party had won 20 out of 97 seats contested in the elections.

The poll verdict saw the Mahayuti coalition, comprising Shiv Sena, BJP, and NCP led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, retaining power with a massive mandate, pushing the MVA to margins.

The Mahayuti won 230 seats and MVA only 46 in the 288-member House.

Thackeray-led Sena (UBT) emerged as the largest party in the opposition camp by winning 20 seats, followed by Congress which bagged 16 constituencies, while the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) sits at the bottom with a tally of 10 seats.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], November 26 (ANI): Amid ongoing tensions in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, a 12-member delegation from the Samajwadi Party is scheduled to visit the affected area on Tuesday.

LoP Uttar Pradesh Assembly and Samajwadi Party leader, Mata Prasad Pandey said that they will go there to see the "atrocities caused by the Police."

Also Read | Morena House Blast: 3 Killed, Nearly 6 Injured As 4 Residential Buildings Collapse in Madhya Pradesh After Explosion; Rescue Operation Underway (Watch Video).

"We will also meet the family members of the youth who lost their lives in the incident. Do Police ever take responsibility for their actions? ...These days Police keep both illegal weapons and the govt issued weapons. The Police use the other (illegal) weapon to fire," Pandey said.

Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ram Gopal Yadav also launched an attack against the administration in the stone pelting incident in Sambhal and alleged that the administration had deliberately created unrest.

Also Read | Eknath Shinde Resigns: Maharashtra CM Steps Down From Post, Expected To Remain Caretaker Chief Minister Until Government Formation.

"Whatever the administration is doing in Sambhal is 100 percent wrong. The administration has deliberately spread unrest there. If someone does not get justice, what will he do? If a person does not get justice, he will do something or the other. If the administration allows, our delegation will go there to meet the people. The administration is trying to cover their mistakes. Why is there no FIR being filed against the police? We will raise the issue of Sambhal in Parliament. it is our priority and we will not leave it," Yadav said while speaking to ANI.

Earlier today, the market in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal opened after violence following the stone pelting incident which took place when a team arrived to survey Shahi Jama Masjid on November 24.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Moradabad Range, Muniraj G said that the situation is normal in Sambhal today.

"The situation is normal in Sambhal today. The markets are operational and functionally normally. People should not worry; those innocent will not be penalised. Till now, 7 FIRs have been filed. We are identifying people based on video footage," DIG Muniraj said.

Meanwhile, opposition members have been keen to raise the issue in the House and have targeted the Yogi Adityanath government over the violence.

The survey was part of a legal process following a petition filed by senior advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who claimed the mosque was originally a temple. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Sambhal (Uttar Pradesh) [India], November 26 (ANI): The market in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal opened on Tuesday after violence following the stone pelting incident which took place when a team arrived to survey Shahi Jama Masjid on November 24.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Moradabad Range, Muniraj G said that the situation is normal in Sambhal today.

Also Read | Morena House Blast: 3 Killed, Nearly 6 Injured As 4 Residential Buildings Collapse in Madhya Pradesh After Explosion; Rescue Operation Underway (Watch Video).

"The situation is normal in Sambhal today. The markets are operational and functionally normally. People should not worry, those innocent will not be penalised. Till now, 7 FIRs have been filed. We are identifying people based on video footage," DIG Muniraj said.

Reacting to Ram Gopal Yadav's comment on the Sambhal incident and the SP delegation going there, Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya said that the local administration there will see the situation and take a decision.

Also Read | Eknath Shinde Resigns: Maharashtra CM Steps Down From Post, Expected To Remain Caretaker Chief Minister Until Government Formation.

"Those who themselves are violent should not say such things...No matter which delegation is going there, the local administration there will see the situation and take a decision," Maurya said.

Earlier today, Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ram Gopal Yadav launched an attack against the administration in the stone pelting incident in Sambhal and alleged that the administration had deliberately created unrest.

"Whatever the administration is doing in Sambhal is 100 percent wrong. The administration has deliberately spread unrest there. If someone does not get justice, what will he do? If a person does not get justice, he will do something or the other.. If the administration allows, our delegation will go there to meet the people. The administration is trying to cover their mistakes. Why is there no FIR being filed against the police? We will raise the issue of Sambhal in Parliament.. it is our priority and we will not leave it," Yadav said while speaking to ANI.

Meanwhile, opposition members have been keen to raise the issue in the House and have targeted Yogi Adityanath government over the violence.

The survey was part of a legal process following a petition filed by senior advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who claimed the mosque was originally a temple. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Hyderabad, Nov 26 (PTI) At least 22 students from a government school in Telangana's Narayanpet district were hospitalised on Tuesday after complaining of headaches and stomach aches. Officials are investigating whether the illness was linked to the lunch served at the school.

The affected students had also eaten snacks from nearby bakeries and shops, and samples have been collected for laboratory testing, according to the District Educational Officer (DEO), based on preliminary information.

Also Read | How To Update Mobile Number in Aadhaar Cards? As Aadhaar Card Update Deadline Extended, Know Step-by-Step Guide.

Over 400 students, along with district authorities, the school headmaster, and teachers, had the mid-day meal at Zilla Parishad High School in Maganoor on Tuesday. However, 22 students began experiencing symptoms of headaches, stomach pain, and vomiting at 3.30 pm.

They were admitted to a hospital, where doctors confirmed they were safe after treatment, the official said. One student who vomited claimed the potatoes and brinjal were inadequately cooked, while another had a stomach ache.

Also Read | What is PAN 2.0? Heres Everything You Need to Know About New Upgrade to PAN Cards.

It was alleged that the affected students fell ill after having lunch, though they had also eaten snacks from outside the school. District authorities are investigating the matter from all angles, said a senior official.

This incident follows a similar case on November 20, when 17 students from the same school were hospitalised after consuming a mid-day meal.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Dhaka, Nov 26 (PTI) A lawyer was killed on Tuesday during clashes between the security personnel and followers of a Hindu community leader, who was denied bail and sent to jail by a Bangladesh court, according to local media reports.

The victim was identified as Saiful Islam, a 35-year-old assistant public prosecutor and a member of the Chattogram District Bar Association, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.

Also Read | COP29: An Initiative of Ethics, Climate Concerns, or Commercial Interests?.

Citing Dr Nibedita Ghosh, a duty doctor at the emergency department of Chittagong Medical College Hospital, the paper said that six others were injured in the clashes that erupted after Chattogram's Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate court denied bail to prominent Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, arrested on sedition charges.

Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, president of the Chittagong Lawyers' Association, said that protesters dragged a lawyer from beneath his chamber and hacked him to death.

Also Read | Cyclone Fengal: Sri Lanka Issues Red Alert As Possible Cyclonic Storm Looms.

As Das was being taken away in a police van, he addressed the crowd through a hand mike, urging them to remain calm.

Around 3 pm, the law enforcement agencies resorted to sound grenades, tear gas shells, and baton charges, dispersing the protesters.

Deputy Commissioner of City Police Liaquat Ali confirmed one death but said they were still investigating the cause.

The Daily Star newspaper reported that at least 10 people, including journalists, were injured during the clash.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington DC [US], November 26 (ANI): A former US telecom employee who provided information about Chinese dissidents and members of the Falun Gong religious movement to Beijing was sentenced to four years in prison on Monday.

Ping Li, 59, from Florida, admitted to acting as an unregistered agent of the Chinese government under a plea agreement. Ping provided sensitive corporate information to China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) and disclosed personal details of a Falun Gong member living in Florida, as reported by Voice of America.

Also Read | Chinmoy Krishna Das Arrest: Persecution on Religion Basis Not the Way of Democratic Nation, Says Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev on ISKCON Priest's Arrest.

The Falun Gong movement, a spiritual group, is banned in China, where it has been labeled an "evil cult" since 1999 after a peaceful demonstration by 10,000 members outside a government building in Beijing.

According to reports, Li, who immigrated to the US from China, worked for major US telecom and information technology companies. According to the Justice Department, Li acted at the direction of MSS officers, providing information from as early as 2012. The data he gathered included details about Chinese dissidents, pro-democracy advocates, Falun Gong members, and US-based non-governmental organizations. Li's actions highlight a broader effort by China to target dissidents, particularly Falun Gong practitioners, who are subject to harsh persecution.

Also Read | India Expresses Deep Concern Over Bangladesh Monk Chinmoy Krishna Das' Arrest, Says 'Ensure Safety and Security of Hindus and All Minorities in Country' (See Pic and Videos).

In a separate case, a 71-year-old Chinese man named John Chen from Los Angeles was sentenced to 20 months in prison the previous week for alleged his role in a plot targeting Falun Gong members in the US. Chen was also convicted of acting as an unregistered agent of the Chinese government.

Cases like Ping Li's and the conviction of John Chen highlight China's increasing reliance on human intelligence agents and covert operations to suppress critics abroad.

Both Li and Chen were convicted of acting as unregistered agents of the Chinese government, reflecting a growing trend of Chinese nationals and immigrants being used as intermediaries in espionage campaigns targeting foreign countries.

These cases underscore persistent concerns over Chinese espionage activities in the US, particularly against groups like Falun Gong, which the Chinese government views as a threat to its control. Such efforts are part of China's broader strategy to extend its influence and suppress political opposition worldwide, a campaign that has become more sophisticated and far-reaching in recent years. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], November 26 (ANI): India will be hosting the 13th Plenary meeting of the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management for the Asia-Pacific region from November 26 at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

The event, which will be hosted by the Survey of India (SOI), will provide an opportunity to share and exchange experience and capabilities among member countries to boost knowledge and expertise in the geospatial information field. Furthermore, the meeting is expected to provide the necessary bases for more active cooperation and also maintain and develop ties among member countries in different aspects.

Also Read | When Is Amazon Cyber Monday Sale 2024? Dates, Website, Discounts Offers and Deals - Here's Everything You Need To Know.

Speaking on the occasion, the Surveyor General of India, Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana, said that experts from 30 countries, including 91 delegates, would be participating in the event and from India, more than 120 experts would also be participating, where various subjects related to the geospatial sector would be discussed.

"During this time, there will be the 13th plenary meeting of the UNGGIM Asia-Pacific... Experts from 30 countries and 91 delegates will participate. From India, there will be more than 120 experts and various subjects related to the geospatial sector will be discussed," Makwana said.

Also Read | Donald Trump Inauguration Ceremony 2025: Joe Biden With Wife To Attend President-Elect's Inauguration in January 20, Confirms White House.

The four-day international conference of the 13th Plenary meeting of the UNGGIM has a theme of "Geo-enabling the Data Economy for Sustainable Development." The conference aims to give more insights into the pivotal role and use of geospatial data, processes and systems in the burgeoning digital data economy across the world.

The four-day conference will comprise a series of focused sessions with a regional seminar on "Cadastral & Land Management," followed by a seminar on "Integration of Geospatial & Statistical Information" on day one, and day two will comprise a regional workshop on "Sustainable Operation of the GNSS-CORS Network," followed by a seminar on "IGIF Implementation," with a focus on the development and strengthening of integrated geospatial information management and its capacities and capabilities. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Beirut, Nov 26 (AP) Israeli jets struck a residential building in central Beirut on Tuesday and issued new evacuation orders for 20 buildings in the Lebanese capital's southern suburbs.

The strike levelled the building in central Beirut's Basta neighbourhood, the second strike in recent days in the crowded area near the city's downtown.

Also Read | Amazon Workers Plan To Go for Strike in More Than 20 Countries on Black Friday.

There were no immediate report of casualties. It was not immediately clear if anyone in particular was targeted, though Israel says its airstrikes target Hezbollah officials and assets.

In a signal of more strikes to come, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in the southern Beirut suburbs, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the United Nations peacekeeping mission, known as UNIFIL, is headquartered.

Also Read | Chinmoy Krishna Das Arrest: Persecution on Religion Basis Not the Way of Democratic Nation, Says Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev on ISKCON Priest's Arrest.

The Beirut strike came hours before Israel's security Cabinet was scheduled to meet to vote on a US-brokered ceasefire deal aimed at ending more than a year of fighting between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah militant group. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Islamabad [Pakistan], November 26 (ANI): The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party's protests, demanding the release of its leader Imran Khan, took a violent turn on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of four security personnel and two PTI supporters, the Dawn reported.

The PTI protestors were met with intense tear gas upon reaching Islamabad's D-Chowk following which the clash between protestors and security forces broke out.

Also Read | COP29: An Initiative of Ethics, Climate Concerns, or Commercial Interests?.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned what he said was an "attack by protesters," while Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi informed the deaths of at least four security personnel in the clash, Dawn reported.

Meanwhile, PTI alleged that the security personnel fired live ammunition at the protestors, killing two and injuring four others.

Also Read | Cyclone Fengal: Sri Lanka Issues Red Alert As Possible Cyclonic Storm Looms.

Condemning the attack on Rangers and police officers by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf protesters in Islamabad, PM Sharif called for the immediate identification and accountability of those responsible for the incident.

The Prime Minister emphasised the need to provide the highest level of medical care to the Rangers and police officers injured in the attack and stated that assaults on law enforcement personnel, masked as peaceful protests, are entirely unacceptable, ARY News reported.

He said that the police and the Rangers are responsible for maintaining law and order in the city.Sharif described the group responsible for the attack as anarchistic, suggesting that their actions reflect a desire for violence rather than legitimate protest, and labelled it as extremism, ARY News reported.

He stressed that Pakistan cannot tolerate any form of chaos or violence, condemning bloodshed fuelled by malicious political motives.

Meanwhile, the Tehreek-e-Insaaf rally entered Islamabad today under the leadership of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur marking the start of a significant 'do-or-die' protest for the release of PTI founder and the country's premier Imran Khan from prison, ARY News reported. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Quetta [Balochistan], November 26 (ANI): Sardar Akhtar Mengal, leader of the Balochistan National Party (Mengal), has launched a scathing attack on the Sindh government over what he described as its "discriminatory" treatment of Baloch residents in Karachi's Lyari, Malir, and other areas.

His remarks highlight long-standing grievances of the Baloch community, who feel increasingly alienated and marginalized in Pakistan.

Also Read | COP29: An Initiative of Ethics, Climate Concerns, or Commercial Interests?.

According to 'The Balochistan Post', Mengal criticized a recent Sindh government policy that requires hosts to register their guests' details at local police stations. He slammed the measure as a deliberate attempt to harass Baloch visitors and cause undue mental distress.

"It seems as though the Baloch are not considered citizens of this country," Mengal remarked, emphasizing that the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to live freely across Pakistan without such oppressive restrictions.

Also Read | Cyclone Fengal: Sri Lanka Issues Red Alert As Possible Cyclonic Storm Looms.

The Balochistan Post quoted Mengal, noting his frustration with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which he accused of stripping the Baloch of their fundamental rights. Despite the Baloch community's sacrifices for the PPP, including during the Karsaz tragedy, Mengal lamented that they remain deprived of basic human rights and continue to live in extreme backwardness.

Mengal also directed sharp criticism at Pakistan's former President Asif Ali Zardari, who claims Baloch ancestry, accusing him of contributing to the community's mistreatment. "Today, the Baloch of Karachi is made to feel like a subjugated nation," he stated.

The report further highlighted Mengal's condemnation of the PPP's governance, which he said perpetuates systemic oppression of the Baloch in Sindh. The policy requiring police approval for hosting guests, coupled with difficulties faced by Baloch visitors at hotels, has drawn widespread criticism from human rights groups and activists.

Mengal called for the immediate repeal of these draconian measures, labeling them blatant violations of human rights. He urged the Sindh government to end its discriminatory behavior and respect the rights of the Baloch as equal citizens.

This latest episode reflects the deepening discontent among the Baloch community, who view such policies as part of a broader pattern of marginalization and exclusion orchestrated by the Pakistani state. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Abu Dhabi [UAE], November 26 (ANI/WAM): Following the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE has dispatched two aircraft carrying relief aid to the Republic of Zambia and the Republic of Guinea.

The UAE dispatched an aircraft to Zambia, carrying 50 tonnes of food aid, in response to the drought waves that have negatively impacted people's lives.

Also Read | Blue Origin Forced To Remove Astronaut Emily Calandrelli's Space Video Amid Sexist and Misogynistic Backlash.

Additionally, the UAE dispatched another aircraft to Guinea-Conakry with 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid to support the victims of the most recent floods.

The UAE is unwaveringly committed to its international humanitarian efforts in providing an immediate response to natural disasters, humanitarian crises, and environmental challenges impacting several communities and nations. These crises disrupt the ability to meet essential needs and produce vital crops, with drought waves on one hand and floods on the other, both of which have impacted numerous countries across Africa.

Also Read | Bangladesh: Lawyer Killed in Chittagong After Clashes Over Hindu Priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Arrest, Muhammad Yunus Orders Probe.

The UAE's leadership is committed to continuously supporting international efforts to provide aid and assistance to communities and countries across the world. These endeavours reflect the country's commitment to helping others and reinforcing the principles of humanitarian solidarity and cooperation, regardless of race, gender, colour, religion, ethnicity, or nationality.

Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Development Affairs and International Organisations and Member of the International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council, highlighted the UAE's commitment towards humanitarian, charity, and developmental projects. These efforts follow the enduring humanitarian legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the lasting humanitarian values of international cooperation.

The UAE has established a foundation of providing aid to encourage community development, assist those impacted by crises, and address current challenges, particularly in the vital agricultural sector.

The prolonged droughts impacting Zambia have made it increasingly difficult to provide essential crops to meet the food needs of the local population, which consists of hundreds of thousands of families and individuals. These challenges pose a significant threat to food security and social stability.

He also highlighted the UAE's dedication, as part of its international foreign aid policy, to fostering strong bilateral ties with several nations through humanitarian actions. These efforts - which reflect the values of solidarity- aim to assist the people of Guinea-Conakry in the aftermath of the recent floods, which caused substantial damage to infrastructure and homes, necessitating a prompt response to support those impacted and to mitigate their suffering.

Furthermore, Al Shamsi emphasised the projects and global initiatives launched by the UAE via the International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council, which prioritise providing prompt responses to environmental challenges and natural disasters. This is particularly crucial as Zambia has officially declared the ongoing prolonged droughts a national disaster, threatening the lives of millions and setting a precedence in the severe damage caused to the agricultural sector and complicating efforts to meet local food requirements.

Additionally, recent floods in Guinea-Conakry resulted in widespread destruction, which have directly impacted thousands of families, and necessitated immediate actions to ensure early recovery in the impacted regions. (ANI/WAM)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Taipei [Taiwan] November 26 (ANI): A significant forum, titled "Symposium on Finding Common Ground," was held at National Chengchi University in Taiwan on November 23-24. The event focused on the impact of US legislation on Tibet, the evolving global political landscape, and the growing authoritarianism under China's President Xi Jinping.

Organised by the Tibet Religious Foundation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the symposium explored Tibet's international status, democratic movements within China, and the rising tensions between Western democracies and authoritarian regimes.

Also Read | COP29: An Initiative of Ethics, Climate Concerns, or Commercial Interests?.

As per the information provided by the Central Tibetan Administration, key attendees included Tibetan leaders, scholars, and activists from Tibet's allies such as Taiwan, East Turkistan, Hong Kong, Southern Mongolia, and China's pro-democracy movement.

Secretary Karma Choeying of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) delivered a key address emphasising Tibet's historical context and advocating for dialogue between Tibet and China based on the Middle Way Approach. He also highlighted the growing influence of US legislation, particularly the Promoting a Resolution to Tibet-China Dispute Act, which asserts Tibet's independence from China and recognises the CTA as Tibet's legitimate representative.

Also Read | Cyclone Fengal: Sri Lanka Issues Red Alert As Possible Cyclonic Storm Looms.

In the morning session on November 23, experts such as Representative Kalsang Gyaltsen Bawa and Akio Yaita, CEO of the Indo-Pacific Strategy Think Tank, discussed the significance of US legislative action and its impact on international support for Tibet. They stressed China's continued human rights violations and religious repression against Tibetans, calling for global solidarity in protecting Tibet's cultural heritage and religious freedoms.

The afternoon session focused on Tibet's global support and CTA outreach efforts. Prominent speakers including Jamyang Tsering, Tsultrim Gyatso, and Tenzin Phentok addressed the internal divisions within Tibet, particularly the separation between the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and other Tibetan provinces. They argued that these divisions undermine Tibetan unity and complicate efforts to secure international support. The speakers urged for stronger international coordination to combat China's cultural erasure of Tibet and to ensure a unified global response to protect Tibet's identity.

The symposium concluded with a call for enhanced international cooperation to support Tibet's autonomy struggle. Attendees stressed the need for decisive actions from global governments to resist China's efforts to isolate and suppress Tibet's unique cultural identity. This event underscored the growing international support for Tibet and the critical importance of continued advocacy for its autonomy and cultural preservation. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bengaluru, November 26: In a ghastly and inhuman act that came to light in Bengaluru on Tuesday, a man stabbed his lover to death and then spent an entire day with her corpse in a rented room before coolly strolling out and disappearing, police said.

The incident was reported from a service apartment located in Indiranagar police station limits of Bengaluru, and the deceased woman was identified as Maya Gogoi from Assam. Bengaluru Horror: Young Woman Murdered at Home, Body Brutally Chopped Into 30 Pieces, Stuffed Into Fridge (Watch Video).

According to police, the accused, identified as Aarav Harni, is on the run and the police have launched a hunt for him. Gogoi was employed in a private firm and residing in the HSR Layout locality. Maya and Aarav booked a room in a service apartment on Saturday, police said.

As per police, the crime occurred on Monday and Harni escaped from the service apartment on Tuesday morning and took a cab. The incident had come to light afterwards later in the day. Indiranagar police have rushed to the spot along with the dog squad and forensic science experts and launched their investigation. Bengaluru Shocker: 2 Children Aged 7, 3 Strangled to Death; Police Investigating Parents Amid Accusations and Counter-Accusations.

The police have collected CCTV footage of Gogoi and Harni entering the service apartment normally on November 23. Following the stabbing, Harni sat smoking in front of the dead body and only left the next morning.

The police are probing whether the killer had plans to cut the dead body into pieces and transport it outside as he had spent a day with the dead body. CCTV footage has not shown any other person entering the service apartment room between November 23 and November 26.

In a recent gruesome incident Mahalaxmi, a single working woman, in Bengaluru, was killed on September 3 by her lover, who later chopped her body into more than 50 pieces and stuffed the body parts into a refrigerator.

The alleged killer Mukthiranjan Roy was found hanging from a tree near a crematorium in Bhuinpur village under Dhusuri police station in Odisha's Bhadrak district.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 26, 2024 05:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Kolkata, November 26: The parents of the woman doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, who became a victim of ghastly rape and murder within the hospital premises in August, met the leaders of the opposition parties within the state Assembly premises on Tuesday. At around 12.45 p.m. the victims parents accompanied by the BJP councillor in Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Sajal Ghosh, arrived at the Assembly premises and went to the room of the LoP in the state Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari.

There the parents interacted with Adhikari and other BJP legislators and pleaded with them to do something so that their slain daughter gets justice. Just as the common people are standing by us, we request you also to do the same in the coming days. What was the fault of my daughter that she had to meet such a ghastly end? We are yet to know what exactly happened with her that night, the victims mother told the LoP before breaking down into tears. RG Kar Doctor Rape and Murder Case: Sanjay Roy Accuses Ex-Police Chief Vineet Goyal of Framing Him in Rape and Murder of Junior Doctor As Trial Begins in Kolkata, Says I Am Innocent (Watch Video).

LoP Adhikari consoled her and even wiped out her tears. Getting emotional over the scene, BJP legislator Chandana Bauri also sobbed. Thereafter, Adhikari announced that on December 10, which will be the last day of the winter session, the BJP legislators will stage demonstrations within and outside the Assembly demanding speedy justice for the victim and her family members. RG Kar Doctor Rape-Murder Case: Supreme Court Directs Removal of Victim's Identity.

The victims parents also met Naushad Siddique, the sole All India Secular Front (AISF) representative and made a similar plea to him. The body of the victim doctor was recovered from a seminar room within the R.G. Kar premises on the morning of August 9. The initial investigation was carried out by the Kolkata Police and later the charge of the probe was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by the Calcutta High Court. Currently, the trial process in the matter is going on at a special court in Kolkata.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 26, 2024 03:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Educational institutions across India participate in debates, seminars, and discussions about the Constitution and its relevance in modern times. The day aims to educate people, especially the youth, about their rights and responsibilities as outlined in the Constitution.
The 26/11 Mumbai attacks that took place on November 26, 2008, were a series of coordinated terrorist attacks carried out by ten militants from the Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba. The attacks resulted in many civilians and security personnel losing their lives. On this day, lets get together and honour those who fought to protect others.
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has called for the Indian government's immediate intervention after one of its prominent leaders, Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das, was arrested by Bangladesh police in Dhaka. In a statement on X, ISKCON refuted the terrorism charges against him, calling the allegations baseless and offensive. "It is outrageous to make baseless allegations that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world. ISKCON,Inc. urges the Government of India to take immediate steps and speak to the Government of Bangladesh and convey that we are a peace-loving Bhakti movement," read ISCKON's post. The organisation urged the Indian government to intervene with Bangladesh authorities to secure Chinmoy Krishna Dass release. ISKCON emphasised their commitment to peace and devotion, seeking protection for the detained devotee. Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari Arrested in Bangladesh: ISKCON Priest Detained at Dhaka Airport Amid Reports of Crackdown Against Minorities.

ISKCON Seeks Indian Governments Intervention

We have come across disturbing reports that Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das, one of the prominent leaders of ISKCON Bangladesh, has been detained by the Dhaka police. It is outrageous to make baseless allegations that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world.  Iskcon,Inc. (@IskconInc) November 25, 2024

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter (X), Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde resigned from his post on Tuesday, November 26, as the term of his government ended. Governor CP Radhakrishnan appointed Shinde as the caretaker Chief Minister until the next government is formed. Shinde, who led the MahaYuti Alliance to victory in the recently concluded 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, submitted his resignation in the presence of Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. Eknath Shinde Urges Dont Put Up Show of Strength in My Support As Chorus Grows for Shiv Sena Leader To Continue As Maharashtra CM.

Eknath Shinde Resigns As Maharashtras Chief Minister

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde resigned from his post and the Governor appointed him as caretaker Chief Minister until the next government is sworn in. (Source: Raj Bhavan) pic.twitter.com/uKVvHbxOWz  ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2024

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter (X), Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
New Delhi, November 26: Amazon workers are reportedly planning to stage strikes and protests in more than 20 countries during Black Friday, which is considered as one of the biggest shopping days of the year. According to reports, protests are being organised by UNI Global Union, a labour organisation based in Switzerland. These demonstrations are expected to occur in various cities across the US, Brazil, Germany, Japan, India, UK, and other countries. In Germany, it is anticipated that thousands of workers will participate in strikes in cities such as Koblenz and Leipzig.

As per a report of The Guardian, Amazon workers in 20 countries to protest or strike on Black Friday. On Black Friday, Amazon and various other retailers provide special deals for customers while warehouse staff remains busy processing and fulfilling a large number of orders. The Amazon workers may hold protests between Black Friday, which falls on November 29, and Cyber Monday, which falls on December 2, 2024. Amazon Plans To Launch Quick Commerce Service Tez in India; Check Details.

Reports suggest that the upcoming protest is being organised by the Make Amazon Pay campaign. The campaign is said to ensure that workers are paid fairly and that their rights to join unions are respected. Additionally, it calls for Amazon to contribute its fair share of taxes and to make a commitment to environmental sustainability.

Protests might take place outside Amazon's UK headquarters located on Bishopsgate in London on Black Friday. Activists from Tax Justice UK, along with other groups, reportedly plan to present a petition containing over 1,10,000 signatures to the company. After delivering the petition, they will likely march to 11 Downing Street. The petitioners are urging the Chancellor to put an end to tax breaks for Amazon UK and other large corporations. Amazon Expands Partnership With Anthropic for Development of Responsible AI, Invest Another USD 4 Billion in OpenAI Rival.

Reports indicate that the GMB union, based in the UK, is planning to organise an online rally for Amazon workers on Black Friday. Additionally, in France, a group called the Association for the Taxation of Financial Transactions and Citizens Action (ATTAC), which advocates for fair tax practices, is expected to hold protests in various cities.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 26, 2024 04:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
New Delhi, November 26: The government on Tuesday said it is creating a conducive environment for the semiconductor design community across the country by providing thousands of students direct access to the national chip design infrastructure, and help them design semiconductor chips within five years. ChipIN Centre, one of the largest facilities established at C-DAC, offers an extensive range of semiconductor design workflows and solutions, striving to bring national chip design infrastructure directly to the semiconductor design community.

It is a centralised facility which hosts the most advanced tools for the entire chip design cycle (going up to 5 nm or advanced node). According to the IT Ministry, currently engaged with more than 20,000 students at over 250 academic institutions and entrepreneurs at 45 startup projects, ChipIN Centre aims to provide access of state-of-the-art EDA (electronic design automation) tools to 85,000 students at B.Tech, M.Tech and PhD level to design semiconductor chips within five years. 5G Subscriptions in India Projected To Reach 970 Million, Monthly Data Usage Expected To Reach 66GB by End of 2030.

German multi-national company Siemens has also extended the current usage scope of its EDA tools from 120 colleges to 250+ colleges under Chips to Start-up (C2S) Programme and latest powerful Veloce hardware-assisted verification solution from Siemens, to the companies approved under the design-linked scheme (DLI) scheme. Australia Social Media Ban: Google and Meta Urge Countrys Government To Delay Banning Services for Children Under 16, Says Need More Time To Assess Impact.

Veloce from Siemens comprising the following main components  Veloce Strato hardware & OS, Veloce Apps and Veloce Protocol Solutions, has a compute facility of 128 CPU cores and capacity of 640 million gates. India today presents a significant opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs and researchers to be at the forefront of designing and redefining the semiconductor systems, devices and products of the future, said Ruchir Dixit, Vice President and Country Manager, EDA, Siemens Digital Industries Software. Siemens is proud to extend its participation in the Chips to Start-up (C2S) Programme by expanding access of its state-of-the-art EDA technology solutions to 250 educational institutions across India, he noted.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 26, 2024 03:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
The very first book featuring the little girl in a coat and yellow hat, Madeline, appeared in 1939, and the Madeline series has continued ever since. On Friday, NPR got the jump on Madelines upcoming 75th birthday by talking to her author.

The original author was Ludwig Bemelmans, but hes not who appears on the radio; instead its his grandson, John Bemelmans Marciano. Marciano has been writing and illustrating new Madeline books for more than a decade, continuing his grandfathers legacy in books including Madeline and the Cats of Rome and Madeline at the White House.

In 2011, he created the art for the L.A. Times Festival of Books. This month, his latest Madeline book, Madeline and the Old House in Paris -- a ghost story! -- will be published by Viking Childrens.

Advertisement

Madeline is a little girl who travels with -- or away from -- her school friends, who are told to travel in two lines. The books, aimed at children 3 to 5 years old, are told in sweet rhymes that on occasion dont entirely fit.

Marciano tells NPR about the origins of some of Madelines more idiosyncratic rhymes. His grandfather, he explains, didnt speak any language without an accent. I dont know that he really had a first language. He spoke French, basically until he was 5, then he moved to Germany until about 13 or 14. And then he moved to America. By the time he was 18 I think he had all three of those languages in his head.

The character of Madeline was based essentially on my mother, and also my grandmother, he told the Times in 2011. In his NPR interview, he adds a surprising twist: Madeline was also based on Bemelmans himself. He was the littlest kid in class, Marciano says. He always felt like an outsider. He was getting into trouble. So I think it was very autobiographical.

Advertisement

ALSO:

Darling takes on spirituality in Richard Rodriguezs terms

Fraud suit against Greg Mortensons 3 Cups of Tea rejected

Alice Munros quiet, precise works lead to Nobel Prize in literature

Advertisement

Carolyn Kellogg: Join me on Twitter, Facebook and Google+
Total time: 2 hours, 50 minutes

Servings: 11 to 15

Note: This is more a technique than a recipe. It makes a bird that has concentrated turkey flavor and fine, firm flesh and that is delicious as it is. But you can add other flavors as you wish. Minced rosemary would be a nice finishing addition. Or brush the bird lightly with butter before roasting.

1 (12- to 16-pound) turkey

Kosher salt

Click here to find out why L.A. Times Food editor Russ Parsons says this is the Thanksgiving turkey recipe that everyone will love. And check out this video: Russ Parsons shows you how to carve the turkey.

1. Wash the turkey inside and out, pat it dry and weigh it. Measure 1 tablespoon of salt into a bowl for every 5 pounds the turkey weighs (for a 15-pound turkey, youd have 3 tablespoons).

2. Sprinkle the inside of the turkey lightly with salt. Place the turkey on its back and salt the breasts, concentrating the salt in the center, where the meat is thickest. Youll probably use a little more than a tablespoon. It should look liberally seasoned, but not over-salted.

3. Turn the turkey on one side and sprinkle the entire side with salt, concentrating on the thigh. You should use a little less than a tablespoon. Flip the turkey over and do the same with the opposite side.

4. Place the turkey in a 2 1/2 -gallon sealable plastic bag, press out the air and seal tightly. Place the turkey breast-side up in the refrigerator. Chill for 3 days, turning it onto its breast for the last day.

5. Remove the turkey from the bag. There should be no salt visible on the surface and the skin should be moist but not wet. Place the turkey breast-side up on a plate and refrigerate uncovered for at least 8 hours.

6. On the day it is to be cooked, remove the turkey from the refrigerator and leave it at room temperature at least 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

7. Place the turkey breast-side down on a roasting rack in a roasting pan; put it in the oven. After 30 minutes, remove the pan from the oven and carefully turn the turkey over so the breast is facing up (its easiest to do this by hand, using kitchen towels or oven mitts).

8. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees, return the turkey to the oven and roast until a thermometer inserted in the deepest part of the thigh, but not touching the bone, reads 165 degrees, about 2 3/4 hours total roasting.

9. Remove the turkey from the oven, transfer it to a warm platter or carving board; tent loosely with foil. Let stand at least 30 minutes to let the juices redistribute through the meat. Carve and serve.

Each of 15 servings: 564 calories; 77 grams protein; 0 carbohydrates; 0 fiber; 26 grams fat; 8 grams saturated fat; 261 mg. cholesterol; 856 mg. sodium.
On 25 November Mexicos Presidentlaunched a campaign to tackle violence against women, along with other measures to eradicate and prevent gender violence, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 661 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options
On 25 November Nicaraguas Presidentpresented two legislative initiatives which would extend the mandates of the police (PNN) chief, and head of the military from five to six years.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 392 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options
On 25 November an Ecuadorean court sentenced 20 people in relation to the massive Metastasis corruption probe, including a former president of the judicial council (2023),, and a former head of the prisons authority (SNAI),(2021-2022).

End of preview - This article contains approximately 353 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options
On 25 November Brazilian media outlets reported leaked audio recordings that suggested support among high-ranking army officers for a coup in 2022 to prevent the inauguration of Presidentat the start of 2023.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 394 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options
On 25 November the lawyer of Chiles Presidentsaid that his client had been accused of sexual harassment, an allegation he insisted was unfounded.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 362 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options
A 35-year-old man who went kayaking at the Alpha Quarry died after being pulled from the water Sunday evening by emergency responders, state police said.

New Jersey State Police Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron told lehighvalleylive.com troopers were called for a reported kayaker in the water. Borough police and firefighters later found Justin Lusk of Alpha floating in the water at the quarry, but still breathing, Lebron said. The privately-owned quarry is at Hobson and Vulcanite Roads in the borough.

Lusk was then taken to an area hospital for treatment of injuries. He later was pronounced dead at the hospital, Lebron said.

Lebron declined to elaborate on specifics about the injuries. The case, including cause and manner of death, remains under investigation by New Jersey State Polices Marine Services Bureau.

No further information is available at this time, Lebron said.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
Graiguecullen teacher and Aontu candidate Ms Mary Hande has argued that we must put an end to young Irish people leaving in droves.

The candidate has given her support to Aontu's proposed 5k relocation package for Irish workers to return home and fill roles within medical and construction industries.

Workers would also receive a 10k tax break if they remain in the job for four years.

We all know that the amount of jobs available in Ireland are dropping, while theyre going up in Australia, said Ms Hande.

We need to bring home our young people to fill essential roles such as doctors, nurses, teachers, construction workers and the Gardai. We need to get them back here, and to give them a reason to stay here, Ms Hand stressed.

It would also be a push to increase wages in sectors across the board. To me, its a great incentive, and would increase the amount of apprenticeships from 1,500 to 3,000 a year, she said.

Pictured: Mary Hande signs her nomination papers for the upcoming General Election

Its sad to see that we are actually educating people to leave our country. A fellow candidate in Donegal has seen her daughter emigrate, along with 15 other classmates. Young people cant afford to live in Ireland through taxes, and worries as to whether they can afford a deposit for a home, the candidate said.

In contrast, Aontu have recently launched their 'Common Sense Immigration Policy', which strongly opposes the current Government's handling of immigration and the processing of asylum applicants.

The party propose a new agency to oversee 'border control, the processing of applications, and enforcement of deportations'. Aontu has also pledged to create an Irish sea border to monitor the flow of people through Irish ports and the Northern Ireland border.

Aontu are the first party to really raise the issues surrounding the Governments handling of immigration, until opinion polls began to show that over 70% of the population are uncomfortable with the policies, Ms Hande explained.

Through our parliamentary questions, it has shown that it is taking years for thousands of applicants to be processed through the country. What is the point of having a system that differentiates who needs help and who doesnt, to have both groups staying in Ireland? Ms Hand questioned.

We know that thousands of people are arriving into Ireland, who have lost their documentation. This makes it even more difficult to process them as well. We have these laws, we just need to implement them, she said.

Asylum seekers apply through these laws, and if they dont satisfy the requirements, the next step is deportation. It is a tragedy to see people living in tents, we are compassionate.

"We would like to see them in warm accommodation while their applications are being processed, there is currently no compassion in the current system. We simply need to enforce the laws we have in place, Ms Hande explained.

Ms Hande is a teacher in Heywood Community School in Ballinakill, and has also been heavily involved in the battle to secure more funding for special education resources in Laois.

It was recently announced that St Francis Special School in Portlaoise, and Ms Handes own school in Ballinakill, have both had their special education funding pulled by the Government.

Peadar Tobin made contact on our behalf with Minister for Special Education and Inclusion, Hildegarde Naughton. Deputy Toibin wanted a solid number on the amount of Laois schools that have had their funding put on hold, she said.

Minister Naughton pawned the issue off to Minister for Education Norma Foley, that it would be better for us to address her. I found this unbelievable, and the civil servants in Minister Foleys department wrote back that it is an issue that cant be dealt with until after the elections. We are still continuing to push this issue, Ms Hand affirmed.

Parents are desperately worried and anxious to get responses from the Government on special school places, and places within ASD units in mainstream schools, she said.

There are parents as far as Cork contacting local schools to see if there are places here. As parents have told me, this didnt just happen overnight. I am a teacher who works every day in this area, I am on the front line with parents and students. If I were in Government, we would not give up until we get to the bottom of this issue, Ms Hande affirmed.

The building of housing in Laois is one of many policies pushed by Ms Hande, who hopes to introduce a zero VAT rate on construction materials to encourage this.

At present, construction companies have to share plasterers between sites, and the cost of materials have gone up sky high. Both social housing and private housing are needed, and we hope to accelerate this, she said.

 We want more housing in Laois, particularly for one and two bedroom applicants. People are trapped in emergency accommodation, it's unacceptable, Ms Hande stated.

The candidate believes that voters should support Aontu because their actions speak louder than words.

We are the only party to have pushed for a no, no vote in the recent referendum, and we were right, she said.

We aren't a party that just talks the talk. We pushed for accountability in the Government.

Aontu is currently the only pro-life party in Dail Eireann. Ms Hande has said that pro-life policies are not the party's only focus.

We arent just pro-life, but we would have canvasses for the removal of the 8th amendment. Our pushing for the three day waiting period has saved so many children, she said.

Mary Hande is one of ten Aontu candidates nationally.

Born and raised in Graiguecullen on the Laois/Carlow border, Mary Hande is a teacher in Heywood Community School, Ballinakill.

Having graduated from DCU with her teaching degree, Ms Hande began working in an access programme for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Ms Hande has also worked in various marketing positions, along with a stint with Bord na Mona.

The teacher first joined Aontu in 2018, and renewed her membership in 2024.

Ms Hande previously ran in the 2019 local elections for Carlow County Council, earning 310 first preference votes.

The candidate describes herself as a passionate, but forceful person, who sees things through to the end. The teacher staged an ASTI walkout of Heywood CS on November19 in protest of changes to the Senior Cycle cirriculum.

Ms Hande has been heavily involved the advocacy of funding for special education schools in Laois, and the allocation of ASD units in mainstream schools.

The candidate want to be a voice for people in all sectors, and pushes for accountability in Government.
Austin Stack is not an unknown to Laois voters but he was a surprise addition to the General Election ticket when Fianna Fail HQ entered him on the day the outgoing Taoiseach called the poll.

The Laois party members didn't object to him joining the race but weren't head over heels in pushing his candidacy. They felt a one-candidate strategy was the most sensible option. They took this view against the backdrop of Brian Stanley resigning from Sinn Fein.

The local take was shaped by previous failed efforts to unseat Mr Stanley.

But HQ probably felt they needed to show ambition to make gains around the country and Laois was worth a punt. And why not when Mr Stack was a willing and able candidate who has had a long family involvement with Fianna Fail and knows election campaigns.

Election contests are unpredictable and HQ may have taken the view that it is better to be in the race for a second seat than not and regret it later.

The deal was sealed soon after Mr Stack spoke with Fianna Fail General Secretary Sean Dorgan after no female candidate could be selected for the race.

Mr Stack is sure to resonate with a tranche of Laois voters. He is a recently retired prison officer who would be known to many from the campaign for justice for his father Brian. His dad was murdered by the IRA when he was a Chief Officer at Portlaoise Prison.

The now Fianna Fail candidate has confronted Gerry Adams in public about the killing.

Mr Stack is also known for his involvement in the Portlaoise Hospital Action Committee. Their campaign, backed by the public, prevented Portlaoise hospital from being downgraded. Mr Stack says it is this experience that gave him the motivation to believe he could achieve something for the people.

What we did saved the hospital. I found during it that I had a voice and I could put that voice to good use, he said.

He believes the town hall meetings in Portarlington, Mountrath, Rathdowney and elsewhere he spoke at were key to galvanising support alongside the march in 2017.

He said the Government at the time was not supportive but the committee worked behind the scenes politically to secure the hospital.

He said he has carried this activism locally in his Portlaoise housing estate. He is chairperson of the Resident's Association in Maryborough Village. Anti-social behaviour caused him to drive the setting up of the association.

We managed to get the problem sorted, he said. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Pictured: Austin Stack, on left, with his mother and brothers and former Minister of Justice Alan Shatter at the unveiling of a memorial to the late Brian Stack in the Irish Prison Service Training College in Portlaoise which was also named in Mr Stack senior who was murdered by the IRA while a serving prison officer in Portlaoise Prison.

While tackling the issue he noted the need for community gardai and said the Fianna Fail plan to increase the number of community gardai is really important.

We need to restore confidence in the communities to make them feel safe, he said.

As a former prison officer, Mr Stack will be able to relate to many voters in Laois who work in, or are connected to the Portlaoise's jails.

He believes overcrowding in jails is a problem for staff and prisoners which has to be dealt with. He backs community service as an alternative to jail but says more probation officers are needed to deliver this.

I don't think the public is too worried about prison overcrowding but prison officers in Laois have to work in those conditions. If the prisoner conditions are bad it makes the prison officer conditions bad and dangerous, he said.

Mr Stack believes 5,000 extra police as promised by his party and garda diversion projects will 'nip the problem in the bud'.

He said prison officers and other public servants in Laois need a strong voice given the numbers working and living here.

Those people need somebody to stand up for them, he said.

He also wants to work for the thousands of people who have to commute out of Laois to Dublin each day.

I commuted to Dublin for about 11 months on the train so I understand what those people are going through, he said.

He is aware of the cost on Laois commuters because the county's stations are not covered by the short hop travel ticket zone.

It is 4 return from Kildare but it costs 28 from Portlaoise and Portarlington return because of this. So I would be lobbying strongly that the Laois stations are included in the short hop zone and we are not discriminated against even though the commuter trains all start in Portlaoise, he said.

Mr Stack also wants action to improve the bus service out of Portlaoise.

He agrees however that more work needs to be done to create more jobs in Laois to reduce commuting.

While his canvas has been limited due to his late arrival into the campaign, Mr Stack says he has received a positive reception on the doorsteps.

People are very content and satisfied with the performance of the Government and how life is. I'm not getting any negativity at all...I've only had one person mention housing. What people are mentioning is pedestrianising the Main Street in Portlaoise, playgrounds for the town, footpaths. So it is the local issues that are on the people's mind, he said.

Mr Stack's fight for justice for his father garnered national attention. He hopes people will see the effort he has made as something he would bring to the Dail.

I hope people will look at me and say that I am resilient, tenacious and someone who says he is going to fight for something he is going to fight for it and not going to let it go until the job is done.

I would hope people would see that as a character trait in a TD and that if they came to me if they have an issue that they want resolved that I would be someone who wouldn't let it go until it is resolved, he said.

He pledges to take a stand.

The public likes to see that. They don't like to see people hide behind nice flowery language and not take a stand, he said.

As to his old foes Brian Stanley and Sinn Fein he wants both to be clear.

Brian Stanley and Sinn Fein have to tell the full story as to what went on before the public go to vote, he said.

However, he has a clear view on Sinn Fein from his personal experience dealing with Republicans.

They are a party that cannot be trusted and a party that does not work to the normal rules and Brian Stanley knows that more than anyone else, he said.

Mr Stack knows he is an outsider but says people should stick with political parties over independents.

Independents don't really have a voice. It's very unusual that independents get to sit in Government...I really believe that a vote for an independent is a wasted vote because they can't influence how the country is governed...People need to vote for political parties irrespective of parties, he said.

About Austin Stack

While he never contested an election Austin Stack has been involved with politics since growing up in a political household in Portlaoise.

His late father Brian Stack was a director of elections for Fianna Fail in the 1970s.

He helped with Fianna Fail election campaigns as a child. In his early adult years he joined Ogra Fianna Fail.

He rose to fill national positions in the party's youth wing.

The regard in which he was held by his colleagues in Ogra and the party was reflected by the fact that he was chosen as the youth representative on the powerful Fianna Fail National Executive.

During his time with the party as a young man he was actively involved locally in helping to organise and followed in the footsteps of his father as a director of elections in Laois.

He stepped back from politics on joining the Irish Prison Service as a prison officer.

In more recent years he joined the Portlaoise Hospital Action Committee which successfully fought the downgrade of Portlaoise hospital with widespread public support across Laois.

He has also engaged with politicians across the country in fighting for justice for his father who was murdered by the IRA during the Troubles while a Chief Officer at Portlaoise Prison.

A divorcee, Mr Stack retired from the prison service earlier this year.

Now aged 56, he now works as a health and safety consultant but intends to stay in politics after this election.
Frustration at politicians and what was felt was the political system's failure to deliver for farmers was made clear to Laois General Election candidates at a Laois IFA hustings in Portlaoise.

There was also a call for independent candidates to commit to working with parties in the Dail to deliver for farmers rather than barking like noisy dogs but not acting.

John Colbert wished the candidates well in the race.

You'll be going into the right business. You'll be going into the Dail where you'll be guaranteed your salary and your pension unlike us who are asking to do more and more for less and less with more and more regulation that costs us money.

There is nothing guaranteed in our job. We can sign up to all these Government schemes and scams, as I call them, but we are at the mercy of the vagaries of the weather and marts and political whims like Charlie McConalogue scrapping the straw incorporation measure, he said.

The farmer described what is coming out of the Dail and Seanad as a 'disgrace and embarrassing'. He wants change in Leinster House.

We need new faces in the Dail, we need people to start talking common sense because what is going on has to stop, he said.

He said the nitrates directive change threatens the future of farming in Ireland.

Why would young people go into a business where there is absolutely nothing guaranteed, he said.

Tom Cushen spoke about politicians being treated 'like children' who are being 'handed out sweets'.

They promise us this and that but make us feel very small having to listen to rubbish, he said.

He said nothing is said about the pollution caused by airlines.

An ordinary farmer with 60 cows and there are people on him like flies on sh**te to see what he is doing wrong, he said.

Pat Hennessy made a direct call on independent candidates.

If you are elected would you join one of the main parties in Government to push our case?

To me independents are our terrier - we have a terrier and three sheep dogs - he is yap yapping the whole time but the other dogs take no notice of them, he said.

Dan Cosgrave wants to see more regular engagement between farmers and politicians.

The civil servants get away with doing whatever they like but the politician is not in touch with the organisation, he said.

The meeting was attended by candidates Pauline Flanagan, Jason Lynch, Sean Fleming, Maria McCormack, Austin Stack, Willie Aird and Brian Stanley.
There were emotional scenes at Dublin Airport as Irish peacekeepers received a warm welcome home after six months in Lebanon.

The arrivals hall at Terminal 1 was packed with family and friends of more than 200 troops who had spent the last six months serving with the UN in southern Lebanon during escalating hostilities in the Middle East.

Many held banners which read messages including welcome home son and Sgt Molloy report for daddy duty, as scores of young children waved Irish and United Nations flags as they waited for the sliding doors to open and reveal their loved ones.

There was a huge cheer as the doors opened to reveal the first of the Irish Defence Forces walking through to be reunited with their loved ones, and tears as parents, spouses and children got long-awaited hugs.

Irish troops escaped injury last month when a military camp where they were based was struck by a rocket during fighting between the Israel Defence Forces and Hezbollah.

Camp Shamrock, known as United Nations Post 2-45, is a short distance from the Israeli border and is close to areas controlled by Hezbollah militants.

United Nations Interim Force Lebanon (Unifil) has described any deliberate attack on peacekeepers as a grave violation of international humanitarian law and Security Council resolution 1701 (2006).

The Irish troops were part of the 124th Infantry Battalion, Unifil, drawn from the 7th Infantry Battalion based at Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin.

They were deployed from May as part of Unifil supporting Chapter 6 Peace Support Operations, as part of 341 personnel also drawn from Malta, Poland and Hungary.

The Irish force was aged from 19 to 58, and included 92 travelling overseas for the first time with the Defence Forces.

Among those waiting were the grandparents, parents and girlfriend of Private Jack Cassidy, 24.

His grandfather Michael Cassidy held a home sweet home sign as well as a Co Meath flag as they waited.

He said they were incredibly proud of Pte Cassidy, saying he always wanted to help people from a young age.

While they had been worried about events in southern Lebanon during his tour, they described an incredibly proud day as they waited for him to return safely home.

Weve seen some things on television that left us wondering all right, he said.

Hes always been involved with helping people.

Daniel Keenan from Belfast was also among the troops greeted by family. He said it is harder for the families than for the troops themselves.

Its harder on them. When were out there, were thinking about what is ahead of us on the mission, patrolling. We have all the comradery and brotherhood to keep us going, he said.

He said the uncertainty was challenging.

It was getting through day by day, you didnt know when you were getting showers, food and so on, but it was grand, he said.

Calvin Conway was reunited with his young son Rian as he walked through arrivals, and paid tribute to his family at home doing all of the work.

I got home on leave for his first day at school so that turned out well, but hes grown even since then, he said.

Its great to be home, and Im sure a lot of Christmas shopping has been planned for me.
A protest will be held at Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise on Wednesday, November 27 over a lack of recruitment of staff and its impact on patient safety.



SIPTU members will stage the protest in opposition to the HSEs Pay and Numbers Strategy at 12.30pm.



A key issue of concern for SIPTU members is staffing levels within the HSE. The union said the HSEs employment census data demonstrates that many key, front-line roles have not benefited from record levels of investment in the health service.



SIPTU Organiser, John Hubbard, said: Our members are deeply frustrated at the lack of recruitment in certain areas of the Midland Regional Hospital and across the region. Their key concerns are patient safety and comfort. It is clear to them that the HSEs current policy on recruitment is not fit for purpose. It places an effective embargo on the recruitment of staff in certain areas and doesnt take account of staffing needs when considering the much-needed expansion of services.



Hubbard added: We are continuing to actively consult with our members in any areas where staffing is being raised as a concern and engaging with management in a bid to resolve any issues arising. A review of this policy would allow us to do this in a timely manner, which will benefit staff and services.
A derelict school in Ballylinan should be transformed into a community space, a council meeting was told.

Independent Cllr Aisling Moran asked that in a motion: That Laois County Council together with the Ballylinan Community group, liaise with Bishop Denis McNulty of the Kildare & Leighlin Diocese, with the view to purchasing the old Primary School which is now derelict for use as a community space.

That building was an old school and the church have ownership of it but it has gone derelict, said Cllr Moran.

In a written response, Director of Services, Donal Brennan said: The Town Regeneration section of Laois County Council will work with Community groups in Ballylinan to prioritise actions for development of the settlement. In another location the council has been successful in their application for Town and Village grant from DRCD(Department of Rural and Community Development) in a similar situation. As always, the Council will seek to maximise such grant opportunities across the County.

Cllr Moran said the community would love to have the use of the old school for community events and groups. She said it would be a great asset for Ballylinan.

Rather than falling to pieces if we could work together, church and community, said Cllr Moran.

It would be an absolute shame if it fell to pieces, she told the latest Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District monthly meeting.

Fianna Fail Cllr Padraig Fleming said he believed the community themselves were to make approaches to the Bishop.

Fianna Fail Cllr Paschal McEvoy supported the motion and cited the success of Bloom HQ in Mountrath which was only possible because the Bigidine sisters handed over the convent to the community.

He said the old convent in Stradbally had fallen into dereliction as it wasnt handed over. He noted that it has since been sold and was glad to see there is now planning permission for apartments.

It is a shame it wasnt handed over to the community, said Cllr McEvoy.

Independent Cllr Ben Brennan described it was a very good motion and said he was fully supportive.
The county of Kildare is renowned the world over for its thriving equine industry but more recently, its food & drink producers have taken a bigger share of the spotlight. At the invitation of Kildare Local Enterprise Office and Flavours of Kildare, the Bear Bia podcast popped down to check out a couple of leading lights from the county's ever burgeoning culinary scene.

Dee Laffan and Oisin Davis want to showcase and celebrate the pairing of Irish food with Irish drinks through their brand new travelling podcast Bear Bia. Translated to English as Food Bar, Bear Bia's key mission statement is that local foods taste best when enjoyed with local drinks and Ireland is no exception.

It is well documented that St Brigid of Kildare was quite the fan of beer so as a mark of respect to the great lady herself, the lads decided to focus on the current breweries in her home county. Especially as some of Ireland's best independent breweries are situated there.

The Kildare episode was recorded in Farrington's Brewery in Rathcoffey who also have a superb bar and restaurant with an adjoining event space. A brilliant, all in one business that can even host a wedding overlooking the brewery area. Helen Mullhall from the Kildare Local Enterprise Office and the Flavours of Kildare Network opened up the conversation between everybody. She detailed all the great work that takes place between all the county's producers and how the community there assists each other so well.

For their first pairing, the head chef at Farrington's, Kuba Wlodarski, took three different beers to make a dish with the local Feighcullen Farm free range chicken. It was brined overnight in their IPA before he made a beer batter with their stout to deep fry the chicken in and served it alongside their Auger's Twist light lager as an accompaniment.

Head brewer Phil Bizzell was on hand to talk everyone through their portfolio and explain more about their beer philosophy there.

The second pairing came courtesy of another two excellent Kildare businesses. Bill Laukitis from Rye River Brewing Co in Celbridge joined the hosts. Laukitis is their head brewer and shared details of his own personal work journey from the USA and the incredible accomplishments of the whole Rye River Brewing team, now made up of 65 employees.

Ryan Lally of Gra Pizza from Celbridge and Maynooth, popped down with a pizza that the Michelin starred chef JP McMahon of Aniar collaborated with him on. It's made with Garryhinch mushrooms, roasted potatoes from Ballymakenny, Toonsbridge mozzarella, smoked provola from Barbavilla dairy, Achill Island sea salt, brown bread crumb and buttermilk gel. This all Irish piece of pizza perfection was paired with the rich, smoky Nocturne Stout from Rye River Brewing.

Kildare has such an incredible array of food & drink producers there now. You can read more about them here in this link. To join the Flavours of Kildare Network, hit this link here.

Bear Bia can be accessed on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts.
Bus stops are being removed from various locations across County Kildare and not being restored.

Independent councillor Bill Clear criticised this at a time when people are being urged to use bus services to reduce the damage caused to the climate.

He told a Kildare County Council meeting this is causing inconvenience for passengers.

He claimed that the responsibility for this lies with Kildare County Council though the National Transport Authority has overall responsibility for public transport.

Bus stops are crucially important in rural Ireland, he said, asking the council to provide a list of all bus stops that have been removed and not replaced in the last 12 months within the county.

Its important that we provide safe bus stops, he said.

Cllr Brendan Wyse said the stops were removed between Allenwood and Killina with no consultation. He said one set of bus stops on each side of the road at one location have gone.

He added that the NTA had indicated that KCC said they could be removed.

He also claimed that the stops were in use and there were no accidents.

Read more Kildare news

Decisions like this are made with no consultation, he said.

KCC official Celina Barrett said the NTA decides where the stops are located and if any are taken away this should be reported to the NTA.

She also said that the NTA gives permission for buses to stop in consultation with KCC.

Some 500,000 was allocated to the council to do work for the NTA on its behalf but the NTA decides where the stops go.

Ms Barrett said an audit of the stops is to be undertaken to establish if the stops are operating according to standard practice.

Ms Barrett also said that nobody has been ]specifically assigned to this area within Kildare County Council because of a resources issue but added that this will be done.
Gardai are appealing for witnesses following a fatal hit and run on the northside of Limerick city.

A male pedestrian, aged in his 50s, died after he was struck on the Ennis Road - close to the city centre - shortly before 2pm this Tuesday.



Gardai remain at the scene of the incident and an investigation has been launched.

"The car involved in the collision - a maroon-coloured Ford Focus, registration 141 C 3717 - failed to remain at the scene. The car has since been recovered," said a spokesperson.

A man, aged in his 30s, has been arrested in relation to the incident and he is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at garda station in the Southern Region.

READ ALSO: Two elderly men injured during early morning robbery

Motorists are being advised that the Ennis Road is currently closed pending an examination of the scene by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. Local diversions are in place.

Gardai are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Anyone with any information on the movements of the Ford Focus around the time of the incident is asked to contact gardai.

"Any road users who were travelling in the area at the time of the collision and who may have camera footage, including dash cam footage, are asked to contact gardai.



Anyone with any information, is asked to contact Henry Street garda station in Limerick on (061) 212400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
The President of Ireland has led tributes to former government minister Gemma Hussey, who has died at the age of 86.

The first female to hold the position of minister for education, the former Fine Gael TD was a strong advocate for womens rights.

It was with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Gemma Hussey this evening. Gemma was a true champion of equality, a trailblazer for female leadership in politics and a dear friend. My heartfelt condolences go to her family and friends. pic.twitter.com/c5hjyRpxTb  Frances Fitzgerald (@FitzgeraldFrncs) November 26, 2024

President Michael D Higgins said: A lifelong committed feminist, Gemma Hussey was a passionate advocate and inspiration for the vitally important increase in the number of women serving in our political system.

As a dedicated and effective government minister, she set a stirring example of the key role which must be held by women in politics.

In introducing aural and oral exams and establishing the National Parents Council as minister for education, she put in place lasting reforms which have benefited all those who have grown up in Ireland in the succeeding decades.

Throughout her career, she remained true to her principles and advocated for social reforms at a time when not all of the causes she supported were popular with all parts of Irish society.

Gemma Hussey was a pioneering presence for women in politics as the first female Minister for Education. Read my statement here https://t.co/cmyCIQtfbK via @rte pic.twitter.com/zHJ6kKhSCI  Norma Foley T.D (@NormaFoleyTD1) November 26, 2024

President Higgins said that after her departure from the political front line, Ms Hussey remained an incisive commentator and an always valuable voice on the political system.

May I express my deepest sympathies to Gemmas children Rachel, Ruth and Andrew, and to all her family, friends and former colleagues, he added.

Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris called her a trailblazer.

He noted she was Fine Gaels first female cabinet member.

Gemma was a passionate progressive for womans rights, education reform and Irelands place in the world, particularly the potential of European Union membership, he said.

Gemma was a TD for my own native Wicklow, where her long service and delivery is remembered to this day.

But above all Gemma was a patriot, a Fine Gael stalwart and a kind and generous person. I was one of the people lucky to enjoy her company, her advice and her good humour.

To all of her family, colleagues and friends, l am truly sorry for your loss. May she rest in peace.

Current Education minister Norma Foley also paid tribute, describing Ms Hussey as a pioneering presence for women in politics.

She was a courageous and determined politician who showed the way for women at the highest level in politics, said the Fianna Fail minister.

She was highly regarded for the work she did in steering and guiding the development of the Irish education system.
FIS to Present at Upcoming Conference





FIS (NYSE: FIS), a global leader in financial technology, will present on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, at the UBS Global Technology and AI Conference at 11:35 a.m. (MST).

A live audio webcast, as well as a replay, will be accessible on the Investor Relations section of FIS' homepage, www.fisglobal.com.

About FIS

FIS is a financial technology company providing solutions to financial institutions, businesses, and developers. We unlock financial technology to the world across the money lifecycle underpinning the world's financial system. Our people are dedicated to advancing the way the world pays, banks and invests, by helping our clients to confidently run, grow, and protect their businesses. Our expertise comes from decades of experience helping financial institutions and businesses of all sizes adapt to meet the needs of their customers by harnessing where reliability meets innovation in financial technology. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, FIS is a member of the Fortune 500 and the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. To learn more, visit FISglobal.com. Follow FIS on LinkedIn, Facebook and X.

25 november 2024 at 16:35

News published onand distributed by:
Azincourt Energy Corp. Closes Private Placement





THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AZINCOURT ENERGY CORP. ("Azincourt" or the "Company") (TSX.V: AAZ), is pleased to announce it has closed its non-brokered private placement consisting of 44,600,333 non-flow-through units (the "NFT Units") offered at a price of C$0.015 per NFT Unit and 14,599,998 flow through units (the "FT Units") offered at a price of C$0.015 per FT Unit (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of C$888,005.00.

Each NFT Unit is comprised of one common share (a "Share") and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each FT Unit is comprised of one flow-through common share (a "FT Share") and one common share purchase Warrant. Each Warrant is exercisable at a price of C$0.05 into one common share until November 25, 2027.

The gross proceeds of the Private Placement will be used for general working capital and exploration work on the Company's Snegamook Project. The gross proceeds will not be used for any payments to non-arm's length parties of the Company nor for any payment relating to persons conducting investor relations activities.

In connection with the closing the Company paid finders' fees totaling C$52,000.50. The securities issued under the Offering are subject to a hold period under applicable securities laws in Canada expiring four months and one day from November 25, 2024 and are subject to certain closing conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The FT Shares will qualify as "flow-through shares" (within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act")). An amount equal to the gross proceeds from the issuance of the FT Shares will be used to incur eligible resource exploration expenses which will qualify as (i) "Canadian exploration expenses" (as defined in the Tax Act), and (ii) as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" (as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Tax Act) (collectively, the "Qualifying Expenditures"). Qualifying Expenditures in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of the FT Shares will be incurred (or deemed to be incurred) by the Company on or before December 31, 2025 and will be renounced by the Company to the initial purchasers of the FT Shares with an effective date no later than December 31, 2024.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Azincourt Energy Corp.

Azincourt is a Canadian-based resource company specializing in the strategic acquisition, exploration, and development of alternative energy/fuel projects, including uranium, lithium, and other critical clean energy elements. The Company is currently active at its joint venture East Preston uranium project located in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, and the Big Hill lithium project, located in southwestern Newfoundland.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF AZINCOURT ENERGY CORP.

"Alex Klenman"

Alex Klenman, President & CEO

For further information please contact:

Alex Klenman, President & CEO

[email protected]

Azincourt Energy Corp.

1012 ? 1030 West Georgia Street

Vancouver, BC V6E 2Y3

www.azincourtenergy.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the use of proceeds and completion of the Private Placement.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements contained herein. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Certain important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are highlighted in the "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's management discussion and analysis for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, dated January 24, 2024, and also include the risks that the Offering does not complete as contemplated, or at all; that the Company does not complete any further offerings; that the Company does not carry out exploration activities in respect of its mineral project as planned (or at all); and that the Company may not be able to carry out its business plans as expected.

Forward-looking statements are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies that may cause the Company's actual financial results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied herein. Some of the material factors or assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements include, without limitation: the future price of minerals; anticipated costs and the Company's ability to raise additional capital if and when necessary; volatility in the market price of the Company's securities; future sales of the Company's securities; the Company's ability to carry on exploration and development activities; the success of exploration, development and operations activities; the timing and results of drilling programs; the discovery of mineral resources on the Company's mineral properties; the costs of operating and exploration expenditures; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); uncertainties related to title to mineral properties; assessments by taxation authorities; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Any forward-looking statements and the assumptions made with respect thereto are made as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

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.

25 november 2024 at 17:30

News published onand distributed by:
Q2 Metals Significantly Expands the Cisco Lithium Property in James Bay, Quebec, Canada





Q2 Metals Corp. (TSXV:QTWO)(OTCQB:QUEXF)(FSE:458) (" Q2 " or the " Company ") is pleased to announce that it has acquired a 100% interest in 545 mineral claims (the "Additional Cisco Claims"), more than tripling its mineral claim position at the Cisco Lithium Property (the " Property " or the " Cisco Property ") located within the greater Nemaska traditional territory of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Quebec, Canada.

The Cisco Property is now comprised of a total of 767 contiguous mineral claims over 39,389 hectares ("ha"), including more than 30 kilometres ("km") of strike length on the Frotet-Evans Greenstone Belt, which hosts the Sirmac and Moblan lithium deposits, located 130 km and 180 km away, respectively. The Additional Cisco Claims are primarily south of the original Cisco Property claims, adding several kilometres of prospective greenstone rocks and providing extensive strategic sites for future development and mining infrastructure scenarios.

" We couldn't be more pleased to have acquired these additional claims ," said Q2 Metals President and CEO Alicia Milne. " Since acquiring Cisco, we have been able to clearly demonstrate its world-class potential for grade and scale, while also focusing on key future development pathways. These additional claims provide us with a major footprint in an emerging, top lithium jurisdiction and provides us exceptional optionality for future development. "

Neil McCallum, Vice President of Exploration for Q2 stated, " While we eagerly await the pending release of remaining assay results from the lab, we have been focused on planning our winter 2025 exploration program. These additional claims add a tremendous amount of mineral prospectivity at Cisco as they include more of the greenstone belt that has been our focus this year and which has yielded such tremendous success. As we approach year end, we're looking forward to further updates and a very busy 2025. "

Additional Cisco Claims - Acquisition Terms

The Additional Cisco Claims were acquired pursuant to an option agreement dated November 26, 2024, between Q2 Metals, 9490-1626 Quebec Inc. (" CMH ") and Anna-Rosa Giglio (together with CMH, the " Vendors "). To acquire the Additional Cisco Claims,the Company must pay to CMH an aggregate of $2,400,000 over a period of 42 months and complete $1,200,000 of exploration expenditures during that time:

Cash consideration Exploration Expenditures Closing date $150,000 3 Month Anniversary of Closing Date $150,000 6 Month Anniversary of Closing Date $300,000 12 Month Anniversary of Closing Date $300,000 $335,000 18 Month Anniversary of Closing Date $300,000 24 Month Anniversary of Closing Date $300,000 $325,000 30 Month Anniversary of Closing Date $300,000 36 Month Anniversary of Closing Date $300,000 42 Month Anniversary of Closing Date $300,000 $540,000 Total $2,400,000 $1,200,000

Upon satisfaction of the above payments and expenditures, the Company will earn a 100% interest in the Additional Cisco Claims.

The Vendors will retain a 3% gross metals returns royalty (the " GMR ") on the Additional Cisco Claims except the Soquem Claims (as defined below), of which up to 2% of the GMR may be purchased by the Company at any time prior to commercial production for $1,000,000 on the first 1% and $2,000,000 on the next 1%. The foregoing GMR purchase payments may be satisfied in either cash or Common Shares, at the election of the Company and subject to regulatory approval. Certain of the Additional Cisco Claims (the "Soquem Claims") bear a 2% net smelter returns royalty (the " NSR ") in favour of Soquem Inc. Upon closing, the Company will assume the rights and obligations under the NSR, which include the right to repurchase 1% of the NSR for $500,000. In addition, the Company will grant the Vendors a 1% GMR on the Soquem Claims. The Vendors will also be paid a bonus of $2,500,000 on the completion and delivery of an initial mineral resource calculation report, prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, on the Additional Cisco Claims demonstrating an inferred resource (or higher category) of at least 25 million tonnes grading over 1% Li2O. Closing of the Agreement is subject to certain terms and conditions.

Qualified Person

Neil McCallum, B.Sc., P.Geol, is a registered permit holder with the Ordre des Geologues du Quebec and Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release. Mr. McCallum is a director and VP Exploration for Q2.

About Q2 Metals Corp and the Cisco Property

Q2 Metals is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on unlocking its portfolio of lithium projects in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Quebec, Canada, that includes both its 100-per-cent-owned flagship Cisco Lithium Property and Mia Lithium Property.

The Cisco Property is comprised of 767 claims totaling 39,389 ha within the greater Nemaska Community lands of the Eeyou Istchee Territory, James Bay, Quebec and is approximately 150 km north of the town of Matagami and its rail infrastructure. The Billy Diamond Highway, which transects the property, is only 6.5 km away from main mineralized zone.

Cisco is situated along the Frotet Evans Greenstone Belt, comprised of a volcanic package dominated by mafic to felsic metavolcanic rocks, of the southern James Bay Lithium District, the same belt that hosts the Sirmac and Moblan lithium deposits, located 130 km and 180 km away, respectively.

Since May 2024, the Company has drilled a total of 6,359.7 m over 17 holes at the Cisco Lithium Property. All drill holes intercepted pegmatite with visual indications of spodumene mineralization identified. Drill results include:

120.3 metres at 1.72% Li 2 O (hole CS-24-010);

215.6 metres at 1.69% Li 2 O (hole CS-24-018); and

347.1 metres at 1.35% Li 2 O (hole CS-24-021)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Alicia Milne

President & CEO

[email protected] Jason McBride

Corporate Communications

[email protected]

Telephone: 1 (800) 482-7560

E-mail: [email protected]

WWW.Q2Metals.com

Follow the Company: Twitter , LinkedIn , Facebook , and Instagram

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian legislation. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "would", "will", "potential", "scheduled" or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. Accordingly, all statements in this news release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations and orientations regarding the future including, without limitation, any statements or plans regard the geological prospects of the Company's properties and the future exploration endeavors of the Company. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date specified in such statement. Forward looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, that the Additional Cisco Claims may provide for extensive strategic sites for future development and mining infrastructure scenarios, drilling results on the Cisco Property and inferences made therefrom, the grade and scale of the Cisco Property being world class, that the Cisco Property is in an emerging top lithium jurisdiction, that the Additional Claims provides exceptional optionality for future development and mineral prospectivity, that the Additional Cisco Claims will add a tremendous amount of potential at Cisco, the focus of the Company's current and future exploration and drill programs, the scale, scope and location of future exploration and drilling activities, the Company's expectations in connection with the projects and exploration programs being met, the Company's objectives, goals or future plans, statements, exploration results, potential mineralization, the estimation of mineral resources, exploration and mine development plans, timing of the commencement of operations and estimates of market conditions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include failure to obtain necessary approvals, variations in ore grade or recovery rates, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, unsuccessful exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, risks associated with regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, uninsured risks, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same. Readers are cautioned that mineral exploration and development of mines is an inherently risky business and accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors are discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis for its recently completed fiscal period, which is available under Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedarplus.ca .

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law.

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: Q2 Metals Corp.

26 november 2024 at 03:05

View the original press release on accesswire.comNews published onand distributed by:
StimLabs Announces Exclusive Distribution Rights for Geistlich's Leading Wound Care Portfolio





New Partnership Expands StimLabs Product Offering to Include Medicare Covered Xenograft, Derma-Gide (Q4203)

ROSWELL, Ga., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- StimLabs, a leading regenerative medicine company, announced that it has entered into an exclusive national distribution agreement with Geistlich to commercialize an innovative wound care product line, beginning with the advanced wound matrix, Derma-Gide. This strategic partnership broadens the StimLabs product portfolio to include xenografts and continues the company's history of bringing unique regenerative solutions to the market.

"Our philosophy has been to drive progress in regenerative medicine and to ensure patients receive the most advanced and effective treatments available, while also meeting the varying needs of healthcare providers, sites of care, and payors," said John Daniel, Founder and CEO of StimLabs. "Geistlich is a trusted leader in regenerative technologies, known for quality and innovation, and we are excited to bring their wound care products to the U.S. market. While this partnership supports diversification of our portfolio, it also remains true to our standards of providing clinicians with differentiated technologies such as Derma-Gide."

StimLabs EVP & Chief Commercial Officer, Tom Dion, added, "Derma-Gide is one of the few products covered under the most recent U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) Local Coverage Determinations (LCD) policy for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). Expanded commercial coverage has also been received based on published clinical data, which further allows our team to provide this treatment option for patients with acute and chronic wounds across the country."

Derma-Gide is a highly refined, dual-sourced porcine-derived advanced wound matrix intended for the management of wounds. It enhances the body's own healing potential through its optimized structure. With properties unlike any other animal-derived product on the market, Derma-Gide offers a clinically proven solution while reducing closure costs by up to 85% when compared to other commercially available advanced skin substitutes.1

Geistlich CEO, Diego Gabathuler, commented on the agreement, " StimLabs is known for its innovative spirit and its dedication for improving patient outcomes which are strong shared values with Geistlich. Their history of 'firsts' in the industry, along with their strong and proven commercial execution capabilities makes them the perfect partner to bring our leading wound care portfolio to patients across the U.S. successfully."

Learn more at:

www.stimlabs.com

www.derma-gide.com

About StimLabs

StimLabs is a pioneer in advancing the state of regenerative medicine, with a current focus in wound care and surgical applications. Comprised of industry leaders, StimLabs is dedicated to offering patients the best possible care while recognizing the urgency of providing solutions in areas with unmet needs. StimLabs has a comprehensive product portfolio addressing various clinical applications and has established a strong intellectual property catalog. Committed to delivering superior products, StimLabs is a trusted partner to physicians and patients alike.

About Geistlich

With over 170 years of regenerative expertise, Geistlich is a global leader in the field of regenerative medicine. The company is committed to high quality Swiss manufacturing, providing comprehensive support to clinicians in the field of regenerative medicine through scientific research, innovative developments as well as educational programs. Geistlich is a Swiss family-owned company with tradition since 1851. With 15 affiliates and 60 distributors, the company reaches around 90 markets and employs over 800 people.

1. Data on file at Geistlich.

Media Contact: [email protected], (470) 616-0958

SOURCE StimLabs

26 november 2024 at 07:30

News published onand distributed by:
Launching Winning Marketing Campaigns Is Easier, Faster, and More Cost-Effective With Updated Calix Electronic Content Builder





Today, Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) unveiled updates to its Electronic Content Builder (ECB), an essential tool from the award-winning Calix Market Activation program that enables broadband marketers to quickly design and launch engaging campaigns that effectively promote new services and grow existing ones. Upgrades include a redesigned, intuitive user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) with smart search to quickly identify the best creative for each segment, and enhanced collaboration tools to drive efficiency. An expanded asset library offers over 6,000 customizable templates for social media, email, print ads, and landing pages, all accessible through a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface?no design experience needed.

In today's competitive market, broadband service providers (BSPs) must focus on building their brands around robust subscriber experiences rather than speed and price. With Calix SmartLifetm managed services and Market Activation tools like the ECB, BSPs can create comprehensive broadband offerings that meet every community need. Calix customers leveraging the Market Activation program have cut go-to-market time and costs to launch new services by over 50 percent.

The Market Activation program continues to earn accolades from the advertising industry, like "Best Advertiser in TV or Video" from the Digiday Video & TV Awards. Along with cloud insights from the Calix Broadband Platform and assistance and partnership from Calix Success, the Market Activation program has not only enabled BSPs to go to market with new services faster?it has helped them increase their social media presence by as much as 70 percent while quickly boosting average revenue per user (ARPU) 15 percent and customer lifetime value (CLV) 30 percent.

Leveraging the Calix Platform and Market Activation tools like the ECB, Calix customers are creating unmatched subscriber experiences and enhancing community safety while driving remarkable results:

GigaBeam grew their social media presence 70 percent to increase community engagement. Leveraging assets from the ECB and insights from the Calix Platform, GigaBeam Networks crafted targeted, personalized marketing campaigns for their rural Appalachian audience. By introducing Calix SmartHometm residential managed services like Bark social media monitoring for families and Arlo Secure connected property cameras, GigaBeam prioritized safety and value. Their marketing team utilized the ECB four times weekly to develop relatable, persona-based campaigns that clearly communicate service benefits. This consistent approach strengthened subscriber connections and drove growth in underserved communities.

Highline boosted ARPU 15 percent in six months with offerings tailored to subscribers' lifestyles. Using Calix Engagement Cloud, the marketing cloud insights engine of the Calix Platform, Highline identified key subscriber segments?gamers, streamers, and remote workers?across the six states they serve. Their marketing team crafted personalized offerings for each segment using SmartHome managed services. To ensure a smooth launch, they collaborated with Calix Success to refine their go-to-market strategy and leveraged the ECB to create high-quality, targeted marketing materials tailored to each segment.

OC Fiber increased CLV 30 percent after transforming their go-to-market strategy. In competitive southern Indiana markets, OC Fiber partnered with Calix to deliver residential offerings that enrich subscriber experiences and enhance community value. They launched five customized Wi-Fi packages featuring managed services like ProtectIQ cybersecurity, connected property cameras, and secure SmartTown community-wide Wi-Fi. Leveraging the ECB to quickly drive social media engagement around new offerings, OC Fiber strengthened their market position and accelerated adoption of new services.

"With ECB's turnkey, customizable assets, I've grown GigaBeam's social media presence by over 70 percent in just two and a half years," said Michele White, marketing director at GigaBeam. "I'm in there several times a week, creating campaigns that speak directly to our community?personalization is key. The ease of creating authentic, relatable content that we can deliver at the right time to the right person, thanks to Engagement Cloud insights, has been transformative. Our most successful campaigns reach prospects who are already interested, so when our customer service reps connect with them, they're familiar with our offerings and ready to move forward. We're excited to use the new capabilities of the evolved ECB to further develop our marketing strategy and continue delivering value to our community."

"The greatest threat to broadband service providers is overgrown, out-of-touch competitors commoditizing the broadband experience," said Matt Collins, chief commercial operations officer at Calix. "These competitors want to reduce service to its lowest common denominator to dominate a commoditized market. In contrast, forward-thinking providers champion a value-based, experience-driven approach, delivering comprehensive solutions and managed services tailored to home, business, and municipal needs. That's why we created the Market Activation program and continue to enhance tools like the Electronic Content Builder?to empower our community-focused customers to win their markets through world-class campaigns that communicate their unique value. Calix customers are diversifying their service offerings, increasing sales, and becoming true broadband experience providers, and we are committed to helping convert these transformations into positive business results."

Visit ConneXions @OnDemand to watch an inspiring presentation on "Harnessing the Power of Community, Value-Based Offers, and Compelling Narratives."

About Calix

Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX)?Calix is a platform, cloud, and managed services company. Broadband service providers leverage Calix's broadband platform, cloud, and managed services to simplify their operations, subscriber engagement, and services; innovate for their consumer, business, and municipal subscribers; and grow their value for members, investors, and the communities they serve.

Our end-to-end platform and managed services democratize the use of data?enabling our customers of any size to operate efficiently, acquire subscribers, and deliver exceptional experiences. Calix is dedicated to driving continuous improvement in partnership with our growing ecosystem to support the transformation of our customers and their communities.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon management's current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance after the date of this release, except as required by law. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from current expectations based on risks and uncertainties affecting Calix's business. The reader is cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Additional information on potential factors that could affect Calix's results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov.

Calix and the Calix logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Calix and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Calix's trademarks can be found at https://www.calix.com/legal/trademarks.html. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

26 november 2024 at 12:05

News published onand distributed by:
Appointment of Evelyn Angelle to Bird's Board of Directors





MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bird Construction Inc. (TSX: BDT) is pleased to announce the appointment of Evelyn Angelle to its Board of Directors (the "Board"), effective immediately. Ms. Angelle will fill a vacancy on the Board, bringing the total number of directors to 10.

Ms. Angelle, a private investor, philanthropist and director, joins the Board with a distinguished background in public company finance and public accounting, having held senior leadership positions at Halliburton Company after a 15-year career in the audit practice of Ernst & Young LLP. A certified public accountant in Texas and certified management accountant, Ms. Angelle's expertise will be instrumental as Bird continues to pursue its strategic growth initiatives.

"We are delighted to welcome Evelyn Angelle to our Board of Directors," said Paul Raboud, Chairman of Bird Construction Inc. "With her extensive experience in public accounting and senior financial roles as well as her knowledge of supply chain management and investor relations, we are confident that she will make significant contributions to our Board and its Committees as we continue to execute on our strategic priorities and drive value for our shareholders."

Ms. Angelle will immediately join the Board's Audit Committee and Health, Safety and Environment Committee. Mr. Richard Bird will continue to serve as Audit Committee Chair in an interim capacity.

About Evelyn Angelle

Ms. Angelle is an independent corporate director. She currently serves as a director of Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: FET), where she chairs the Audit Committee and is a member of the Nominating, Governance and Sustainability Committee. Ms. Angelle also serves as a member of the Board of Directors, and as a member of the Audit Committee, of STEP Energy Services, Ltd. (TSX: STEP), an oilfield services company. Ms. Angelle serves on the Board of Managers of Amp Americas II Holdings LLC, a privately held renewable natural gas company, where she chairs the Audit Committee. Through her career, Ms. Angelle served in numerous executive roles, including as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of BJ Services Company LLC, and Senior Vice President, Supply Chain, for Halliburton. Prior to that, she served as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, and Vice President of Investor Relations, both with Halliburton. Before joining Halliburton, Ms. Angelle worked for 15 years in the audit practice of Ernst & Young LLP, specializing in serving large, multinational public companies. She is a graduate of St. Mary's College (Notre Dame), where she holds a degree in Accounting. Additionally, she holds a certificate in Cyber Security Oversight from Carnegie Mellon University.

Beyond her corporate roles, Ms. Angelle is actively engaged in charitable organizations, serving on the Board of Directors and executive committees of Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas and Junior Achievement USA. Ms. Angelle is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), where she was awarded the distinguished Board Leadership Fellow designation.

"I am honored to join the Board of Directors at Bird Construction Inc. and look forward to working with the Board and management team to support the company's strategic vision," said Ms. Angelle. "I am excited to become part of Bird's strong 100-year foundation and to build on its tradition of trust."

The Toronto Stock Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information contact:

T.L. McKibbon, President & CEO or

W.R. Gingrich, CFO

Bird Construction Inc.

5700 Explorer Drive, Suite 400

Mississauga, ON L4W 0C6

Phone: (905) 602-4122

[email protected]

About Bird Construction

Bird (TSX: BDT) is a leading Canadian construction and maintenance company operating from coast-to-coast-to-coast. Servicing all of Canada's major markets through a collaborative, safety-first approach, Bird provides a comprehensive range of construction services, self-perform capabilities, and innovative solutions to the industrial, buildings, and infrastructure markets. For over 100 years, Bird has been a people-focused company with an unwavering commitment to safety and a high level of service that provides long-term value for all stakeholders. www.bird.ca

26 november 2024 at 17:00

News published onand distributed by:
LIMERICK city centre looks set to experience a brush of Hollywood magic as filming for an Irish-American production is to begin.

A letter of notice has confirmed that a number of streets in the city centre are set to close for a period of time, from Monday, December 2, to Friday, December 6, in order to facilitate the project.

The film, titled 4 Kids Walk into a Bank, is rumoured to have Oscar award winner, and Ireland's very own, Liam Neeson in talks to lead the project, alongside a variety of new up and coming talents, such as Deacon Phillippe (son of Reece Witherspoon, and Ryan Phillippe), Whitney Peak, Talia Ryder, and more.

The adaptation, which is set in 1990s America, will see the streets of Limerick transform, complete with vintage US vehicles, to replicate the period.

READ MORE: Limerick man appointed General Manager of new Mayo hotel

Neeson, who hails from Co Antrim, will allegedly play an ex-bank robber by the name of Danny, whose teenage granddaughter, Paige, is the light of his life. When she overhears her grandfather say that his former gang is pulling him back in to pay a debt, she enlists her three best friends to rob the bank, sparing him.

The film, which will be overseen by Robbers Productions DAC, is in collaboration with Limerick City and County Council and An Garda Siochana, will involve significant road closures to accommodate the project, and to ensure that this is a safe and positive experience for the local residents, businesses, and visiting cast and crew.

The exciting project is rumoured to be directed by Frankie Shaw and is based on the graphic novel, by the same name.

In the letter of notice, it stated that on Monday, December 2, High Street will close from 8am and 4pm, with traffic management in place on Upper Denmark Street, Robert Street, Little Gerald Griffin Street, and Cornmarket Row.

This production showcases Limerick as a prime location for film productions, but nationally and internationally.

The notice concluedes by saying, "This is an exciting film to bring to Limerick, one which we hope the city is proud of when its complete."

For more information on other road closures in regards to facilitate the Wild Atlantic Pictures Film Production, see here.
MAYOR of Limerick JOHN Moran is proposing a commercial rates increase in this weeks local budget.

The rate is a charge levied on businesspeople based on the size and type of property they operate from.

Mayor Moran has acknowledged it will impact businesses at a time of economic uncertainty.

READ MORE: Black ice warning in Limerick: motorists warned to exercise care

However, the increase is not set in stone, with the budget for next year expected to be finalised on Friday.

Some councillors are expected to offer alternatives to an increase in the charges to local businesses.

In a letter to councillors presented at a pre-budget briefing, the mayor wrote that he is trying to reduce the impact on what he described as "small and most vulnerable businesses".

"The impact of the rise will be mitigated and sometimes fully covered through proposed enhancements in the small to medium size enterprise support scheme. Additionally, in identifying additional initiatives which could be funded from the increased revenues, we have targeted proposals to increase the footfall in business areas of deal with areas of common concern

to employers and employees, like housing and security," he added.

Mayor Moran said he would be encouraging council to introduce a scheme to encourage the use of previously vacant commercial property.

"I am also proposing that occupiers of formerly vacant commercial premises would get a 50% refund of commercial rates in the first year of occupation subject to a maximum refund amount of 10,000," he added.
LIMERICK is set to dazzle this Christmas as Limerick City and County Council launches the Christmas in Limerick Merry and Bright Challenge, inviting businesses, residents, and offices across the city and county to showcase their holiday spirit. With a total of 10,000 in prizes, this festive competition promises to transform Limerick into a winter wonderland.

Mayor of Limerick, John Moran is encouraging everyone to get involved:

This challenge is a call to action. I want everyone to help Limerick transform into a festive wonderland this Christmas. I encourage businesses, residents, and offices to actively participate in decorating their spaces. The goal is to create a visually stunning and welcoming holiday atmosphere that enhances the regions beauty and festive spirit for both locals and visitors. I want to see Limerick light up like never before.

The challenge will be judged by Lisa Kearney from Rooney Auctioneers and General Manager of Brown Thomas, Liam Dwan.

Ms Kearney is looking forward to judging the entries, saying:

"I love Christmas and each year we put a lot of effort into making our business look festive and cheerful. This competition is a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together and show Limerick at its best. I can't wait to see the creativity and effort everyone puts into their decorations."

Mr Dwan added: "The Brown Thomas windows are famous for their Christmas displays and it is always a joy to see peoples reactions to what we put on show each year. I hope to see many more businesses take up this challenge to help create an even more festive atmosphere right across the city and county.

The competition is open to all residents and businesses meeting the criteria set out in each competition category. Businesses must keep the festive lights on until at least 10pm to help light up Limerick.

READ MORE: Network Ireland Limerick to host a festive Presidents Dinner

Decorations must be visible from the street. Participants must provide their name, address, and contact information with their submission.

The competition categories are as follows:

Best Christmas Shop Front  Limericks Historic City Centre

Calling all retailers in Limericks Historic City Centre (including Newtown Pery, the Walled City Areas of Irish Town and English Town, the Market Quarter). Get into the Christmas spirit by decorating your shop or business front with festive flair. The most creative and eye-catching display will win 2,000.

Best Christmas Shop Front  Limerick County

This competition extends to all retailers in Limerick county. Whether you're in Adare, Newcastle West, or any of the county towns, decorate your shop or business front for Christmas and you could win 2,000 for the most festive and imaginative display.

Limerick Christmas Tree Competition  Georgian Quarter Shops/Offices

Shops and offices located on the ground floor in the historic Georgian Quarter of Limerick city are invited to decorate their Christmas trees to spread the festive cheer. Set up your Christmas tree in your street-facing window. The most festive tree will win 2000.

Limerick Christmas Tree Competition  Residents in the Georgian Quarter

Do you live in the iconic Georgian Quarter of Limerick? If you have a street-facing window, you can also join in the festivities and be in with a chance to win. The best tree will win 2,000.

Best Christmas House Decorations  Limerick City & County

Whether you live in the city or the countryside, it's time to get your home looking merry and bright. Whether it's twinkling lights, creative displays, or whimsical holiday decorations, the most stunningly decorated house in Limerick city and county will win 2,000.

How to Enter: Decorate your home or business exterior with festive lights and decorations, take a photo of your decorated space and mail your contact details and photo to merryandbright@limerick.ie with the competition category in the subject line.

Entries must be submitted to merryandbright@limerick.ie by Thursday, December 19. Winners will be announced on Monday, December 23  just in time for Christmas!
RUSH hour traffic is practically at a standstill in parts of Limerick city this Tuesday evening following two road traffic incidents.

The first took place near Our Lady of the Rosary Church, close to Union Cross, on the Ennis Road at around 2pm. It is understood a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle. The extent of the person's injuries are unknown at this time.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area where possible as gardai have closed that section of the Ennis Road for a technical examination. Diversions are in place. Gardai are also directing traffic at Union Cross.

READ MORE: BREAKING: Gardai arrest 34 people in major operation in Limerick town

The second incident took place on the Childers Road close to the Limerick One Shopping park at around 5pm. It is believed that a motorcyclist was involved in a road traffic collision.

Emergency services including gardai, firefighters and paramedics are at the scene. Again, it is not known how badly injured the person is.

There are long tailbacks of traffic on the Childers Road, Ballysimon Road, Mulgrave Street, Roxboro Road and surrounding areas. Motorists are asked to avoid the area if possible.
 The DBS Foundation announced that it will deploy SGD 88 million in initiatives that drive inclusion and enable better access to essential needs among vulnerable communities. The funding will go towards multiple initiatives including those that focus on improving living spans in ageing societies across the region. The multi-year efforts are expected to uplift the lives and livelihoods of two million low-income and under-privileged individuals in the banks key markets1by 2027. This was announced at the inaugural DBS Foundation Impact Beyond Summit held in Singapore earlier this month. Centred on ageing, one of the most pressing systemic and societal issues of this generation, the Summit convened businesses, longevity experts and the social sector  including bestselling author and producer of the Emmy Award winning docuseries Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones Dan Buettner  to work towards redefining the ageing narrative and unlock the socio-economic opportunities of ageing societies. The discussions culminated in a closed-door fireside chat between President of the Republic of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam and DBS CEO Piyush Gupta, during which they shared their views on changing mindsets to address ageing. Karen Ngui, Head, DBS Foundation and DBS Group Strategic Marketing and Communications , said, Even as people today are living longer, living spans  namely quality of life  should also be improved in tandem. As Singapore and many markets in Asia are fast becoming super-aged societies, we need to spark a paradigm shift to tackle ageing holistically because it should not be an issue that is confined only to seniors. An ecosystem-wide effort, which involves the public, private and people sectors, is what we hope to catalyse. This includes improving inter-generational connections; building more accessible communal spaces; encouraging employers to embrace a more inclusive workforce; helping people to kickstart their savings and retirement planning earlier, to name a few. We are excited that many businesses have expressed interest to join us on this journey. Together, we believe we can do well by doing good. 15 new programmes to uplift the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable communities DBS Foundation is deploying SGD 88 million to launch 15 new initiatives for societys vulnerable, in collaboration with like-minded partners in its key markets. Guided by the Foundations dual focus on providing essential needs and fostering inclusion, these initiatives seek to provide short-term relief for those in need, whilst equipping them with the know-how, tools, and opportunities to build towards a better future over time. The Foundation also works closely with its partners to ensure that they are designed with each markets unique needs and circumstances in mind. The new initiatives include:

Providing essential needs: Nine initiatives aimed at enabling those in need to access essential needs such as healthcare (including mental health), basic education and food security. Initiatives range from helping young children to get a better start in life by improving their home conditions, to enabling seniors to enjoy a better quality of life in their golden years.

Nine initiatives aimed at enabling those in need to access essential needs such as healthcare (including mental health), basic education and food security. Initiatives range from helping young children to get a better start in life by improving their home conditions, to enabling seniors to enjoy a better quality of life in their golden years. Fostering inclusion:Six initiatives designed to help vulnerable communities to build towards a more financially resilient future. These include improving their access to financial services, financial and digital literacy skills, and upskilling opportunities to boost employability.

This is part of the efforts to ramp up support for vulnerable communities, witha commitment of up to SGD 1 billion and 1.5 million employee volunteering hours over ten years from 2024.



It also augments the Foundations decade-long work in creating societal impact by catalysing the growth of businesses for impact and supporting the community through various programmes. With the inclusion of these 15 new initiatives, DBS Foundations suite of efforts to date are projected to impact over 9.8 million beneficiaries by 2027.



DBS Foundation Impact Beyond series



The Summit was part of the DBS Foundations Impact Beyond signature programmes, which seek to harness the power of collective thinking and action to tackle pressing societal issues. To begin, the Foundation is focusing on ageing.



Earlier in September,the Foundation gathered key members of the business community for its first dialogue on the topic, and launched a new Impact Beyond Award offering prize money of up to SGD 1 million per winner, mentorship by DBS seniors leaders, and more  to support visionary businesses with innovative solutions that could improve living spans and enable everyone to age with dignity and purpose. Submissions are ongoing till 30 November.



DBS Foundation Honourees



At the summit, the DBS Foundation showcased and celebrated the impact of 10 social enterprises it has supported over the years. These honourees have positively transformed vulnerable communities through their innovative solutions. Among them were two purpose-driven businesses from India: S4S Technologies and Haqdarshak.



S4S Technologies has significantly grown its revenue from USD 2 million in 2018 to USD 25 million in 2023. It has empowered 3,500 women micro-entrepreneurs, a significant increase from 200 in 2018. S4S also received The Earthshot Prize in 2023. The enterprise supports DBS Bank Indias programme in partnership with the Savitribai Phule Mahila Ekatma Samaj Mandal, which aims to improve the livelihoods of farmers and their families. With women micro-entrepreneurs as the primary beneficiaries, the programme promotes gender inclusivity and equality.



Haqdarshak has expanded its operations to 24 states in India, serving over 6.5 million citizens and unlocking social entitlement benefits worth USD 2.2 billion. In 2018, Haqdarshak received a DBS Foundation Social Enterprise Grant for its digital platform. In 2020, during the pandemic, DBS Foundation further supported the enterprise and other past grantees with the Business Transformation and Improvement (BTI) Grant to help them navigate a challenging year.



About DBS Foundation



Established in 2014, DBS Foundation is committed to uplifting lives and livelihoods of those in need. It provides essential needs to the underprivileged and fosters inclusion by equipping the underserved with financial and digital literacy skills. It also nurtures innovative social enterprises that create positive impact. It aims to bring hope to those with less today, so no one is left behind and we can all face the future with confidence.



In 2024, DBS committed up to SGD 1 billion dollars over the next decade to support vulnerable communities. It also pledged to contribute 1.5 million employee volunteer hours over the same period.



Together with an ecosystem of like-minded partners, DBS Foundation seeks to create impact that goes beyond banking, beyond borders, and beyond generations.



For more information, please visit:www.dbs.com/dbsfoundation



About DBS



DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. The bank's "AA-" and "Aa1" credit ratings are among the highest in the world. In 2024, CRISIL Ratings reaffirmed its CRISIL AAA/Stable rating on the corporate credit facility of DBS Bank India Ltd (DBIL). The rating on the certificate of deposits programme was also reaffirmed at CRISIL A1+.



Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named Worlds Best Bank by Global Finance, Worlds Best Bank by Euromoney and Global Bank of the Year by The Banker. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named Worlds Best Digital Bank by Euromoney and the worlds Most Innovative in Digital Banking by The Banker. In addition, DBS has been accorded the Safest Bank in Asia award by Global Finance for 16 consecutive years from 2009 to 2024.In line with its focus on responsible banking, DBS was named the Best Bank for Sustainable Finance  India by Global Finance in 2024. Additionally, DBS Bank was ranked among the top 3 on Forbes' list of the World's Best Banks in India for three consecutive years, from 2020 to 2022.



DBS Bank has been present in India for 30 years, opening its first office in Mumbai in 1994. DBS Bank India Limited is the first among the large foreign banks in India to start operating as a wholly owned, locally incorporated subsidiary of a leading global bank. As a trusted partner, DBS provides a range of banking services for large, medium, and small enterprises and individual consumers in India, focusing on a seamless customer experience that helps them Live more, Bank less. In November 2020, Lakshmi Vilas Bank was merged with DBS Bank India Limited. DBS Bank India now has a network of ~500 branches in 19 Indian states.



DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers as it banks the Asian way and understands the intricacies of doing business in the regions most dynamic markets. Through the DBS Foundation, the bank creates impact beyond banking by supporting businesses for impact: enterprises with a double bottom-line of profit and social and/or environmental impact. DBS Foundation also gives back to society in various ways, including equipping underserved communities with future-ready skills and helping them to build food resilience.



With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. For more information, please visitwww.dbs.com.



APPENDIX: Examples of new DBS Foundation programmes
Vodafone Idea's plan to raise 35,000 crore may get a shot in the arm from the Union Cabinet's decision to waive bank guarantees from telecom operators for airwaves bought in auctions till 2022.

The company had indicated earlier this month that the demand for bank guarantees had acted as a deterrent to raising funds. Seeking bank guarantees was reducing the telcos ability to raise debt since banks were not willing to offer up the guarantees, chief executive Akshaya Moondra said during an earnings call on 14 November.

It is very clear that the bank guarantee is something which the banks themselves will not be very willing to offer. They are trying to get debt funding, which will go towards making investments (and)... help in improving our performance and then improving our cash generation. Bank guarantees will not have that result," he had said.

The Union Cabinet approved a proposal to waive bank guarantees that telecom service providers need to submit for spectrum auctioned till 2022, Mint reported on Tuesday.

Vodafone Idea told the BSE in a statement that it was yet to receive any communication from the DoT or the government about any decision taken.

"As and when a decision is communicated by the DoT or any decision of government of India through a press release is available, the company will make the necessary disclosures as required," it said.

"This landmark decision will significantly help reduce the financial burden on the telecom operators," said S.P. Kochhar, Director General of the Cellular Operators Association of India, which represents private telcos in India. We feel positive that this decision will enhance cash flow, free up capital and enable capital investments in network expansion and technology upgrades."

The 'in-principle' approval comes with conditions, one being that if a telcos bank guarantee is less than the value of the spectrum used on a prorated basis, it would have to pay the balance.

Despite the conditions, the move will most benefit Vodafone Idea, which had to submit bank guarantees of almost 24,700 crore and had sought a waiver. Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel, Indias third- and second-largest telcos, respectively, were supposed to submit bank guarantees of about 30,000 crore. The waiver will also benefit Bharti Airtel.

Removal of bank guarantee is a progressive move and is expected to provide telcos much needed relief at the time of accelerated 5G rollouts. Easing of financial burden is likely to help telcos make necessary investments in networks and align with the next growth phase in the Indian telecom sector," said Prashant Singhal, EY India markets leader and telecom sector leader. "Ultimately, customers stand to benefit through access to robust and future-proof telecom networks and infrastructure."

Debt burden

Vodafone Idea shares shot up 16% in early trade on Tuesday following the Cabinet announcement reported late Monday evening. The stock added 7.9% to 7.53 at the close on the BSE on Tuesday.

Vodafone Idea is saddled with statutory dues worth 2.1 trillion that have prevented it from investing in 4G and 5G networks. Having raised 24,000 crore from the countrys largest follow-on offer, any relief will only help the loss-making company improve its financial position.

Vodafone Idea plans to launch 5G services next month, starting in New Delhi and Mumbai. It has a 50,000-55,000 crore capex plan to upgrade its 4G network and roll out 5G networks over the next three years.

Mint reported in September that the government was willing to take a favourable view on waiving bank guarantees and that the Department of Telecommunications would require a nod from the Cabinet and an amendment to spectrum auction norms to approve the bank guarantee waiver. For the 2024 auction, telecom operators didnt need to submit financial and performance bank guarantees under reform measures introduced in 2021.

Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Reliance Jio, the three private telcos, had asked the telecom department to also consider waiving the requirement for the spectrum bought prior to 2022, contending that the money could instead be channelled towards improving networks.

Creditworthiness of the service providers was consistent, whether it is for past or future spectrum auction payments. Further, continuing with this requirement unnecessarily blocks the working capital of the telcos, inhibiting investments in network rollout to deliver ubiquitous coverage and connectivity to Indian citizens," the COAI said in a communication to the government in September.

The operators said investing in networks would help meet the governments vision of providing competition and customer choice for inclusive development and bringing the marginalised areas into the mainstream, besides providing universal broadband access to connect the unconnected.
Can Elon Musk make a run at acquiring MSNBC? It would be a steep climb. One big reason: it isnt for sale.

Last week, Comcast said it was moving forward with a plan to spin off its NBCUniversal cable networks into a separate company. That news prompted speculation that the Tesla chief executive might pursue left-leaning news channel MSNBC.

Musk, who hasnt been shy about his criticisms of MSNBC, calling the network utter scum of the Earth," fueled that story line in an exchange on X, the social-media platform he owns. When Donald Trump Jr. posted about MSNBC, encouraging Musk to buy it, the billionaire replied: How much does it cost?"

It is unclear how serious Musk is about MSNBC, but buying the network wouldnt be an easy feat. Comcast isnt interested in selling off individual assets, people familiar with the matter said. It plans for the spinoff company, which will include several other NBCUniversal channels such as CNBC, USA, Syfy and E!, to explore acquisitions of other cable networks.

We are looking forward to the planned spin of our cable networks, which will create a new company owned by our shareholdersnone of these assets are for sale," a Comcast spokeswoman said in a written statement.

After Comcast completes the transactiona process that is expected to take about a yearthe new company will negotiate distribution deals with companies such as Charter Communications. MSNBC, with its loyal following, will provide critical leverage in those discussions, the people said.

They never had any intention of selling things off piecemeal," said Joseph Bonner, a senior analyst in technology, media and telecommunications at Argus Research. Maybe if the price is right, they would do it."

Comcasts chairman and CEO, Brian Roberts, holds a one-third voting stake in the company, giving him significant sway in major decisions such as the sale of assets. Roberts will also hold a one-third voting stake in the new company, though he wont serve on the board.

That is a far different setup than Twitter, which Musk bought for $44 billion in 2022, and renamed as X. Musk was its largest shareholder at the time he pulled off the acquisition.

Musk and X didnt respond to requests for comment.

If Musk did go after MSNBC, it likely wouldnt be anywhere near Twitters price tag: The new cable companys annual revenue, across all its networks, would be about $7 billion, and its assets are in decline in a media world dominated by streaming.

Once the new company is created, carving MSNBC out of it could be more challenging, because the nature of the transactiona tax-free spinoff to Comcast shareholderslimits flexibility to pursue follow-on deals, said Wall Street observers.

The tax implications are unclear if then the [spinoff company] goes selling things off piecemeal," Bonner said.

When Musk bought X, he said he made the transaction to have a common digital town square, where a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner."

MSNBC, which is known for personalities such as Rachel Maddow and Joy Reid, is adjusting to a second Trump administration. Last week, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, the co-hosts of Morning Joe," shared with viewers that they had met with President-elect Donald Trump as part of an effort to do something different," after months of coverage characterizing Trump as a threat to democracy. The move was met with significant backlash from both sides of the aisle.

MSNBCs ratings fell after Trumps victory. From Nov. 6 through Nov. 21, the network averaged 527,000 viewers, a 38% drop from the 847,000 it garnered from January through Nov. 4, the day before the election.

Musks right-wing allies, from Donald Trump Jr. to Joe Rogan, have been egging him on to make a move on MSNBC in recent days.

Media assets themselves have always had sort of political positioning, but now the business of media is getting just as deeply politicized," said Craig Moffett, a senior analyst and co-founder at MoffettNathanson.

Jessica Toonkel contributed to this article.

Write to Isabella Simonetti at isabella.simonetti@wsj.com
NEW DELHI, Nov 26 (Reuters) - India's Andhra Pradesh state is likely to suspend a power purchase deal linked to Adani Group due to the U.S. indictment of the group's billionaire founder Gautam Adani over an alleged bribery scheme, two state government sources said.

The southern state will ask the federal government and the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), which awards power supply contracts to companies like Adani, to investigate the charges, the sources said.

Also Read | Is Andhra Pradesh planning to cancel power deal with Adani over bribery case

The suspension, likely to be announced soon, would be the first such action by an Indian state government after U.S. prosecutors charged Gautam Adani and seven others with agreeing to pay bribes of $265 million to unidentified Indian government officials to obtain solar power-supply contracts.

Most of the alleged bribes - $228 million - were paid to a government official to get Andhra Pradesh's state electricity distribution companies to agree to purchase power, the U.S. indictment said. Adani has said the allegations are baseless

Also Read | No money given to Adani so far for Sri Lankan port project, says US lender

Andhra Pradesh is ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's key ally Chandrababu Naidu, whose party has the second highest number of parliamentary seats in the coalition government formed after the main Bharatiya Janata Party failed to get a majority in national elections concluded in June.

Modi's federal government has so far not commented on the U.S. indictment of Adani.

The power supply to Andhra Pradesh under the SECI agreement was scheduled to start from next year, according to one of the sources.

"The decision will be taken very soon," the second source said about the planned suspension.

Also Read | Moodys cuts rating outlook on 7 Adani cos to negative amid US bribery scandal

Clauses in the power supply agreements provide for Indian states to terminate contracts and also bar the companies involved from any future bidding if the bidder has committed a serious transgression.

Adani Group and the Andhra Pradesh government did not immediately reply to Reuters requests for comment.

Reuters reported earlier on Tuesday that Andhra Pradesh was exploring the possibility of cancelling a power supply contract linked to Adani Group.

Andhra Pradesh's previous ruling party - YSR Congress Party - under whose administration the alleged misconduct took place, last week denied any wrongdoing.
The Andhra Pradesh state government is reviewing official files and will explore if there is a possibility of cancelling a power supply contract linked to the Adani Group, reported the news agency Reuters, quoting Finance Minister of the State, Payyavula Keshav, on November 26.

Also Read | Fitch Ratings says it may cut some Adani Group bonds to junk status

Andhra Pradesh's state government was digging into all the internal files from the previous administration, under which the alleged misconduct occurred, Keshav told the news agency on Monday.

We will also examine what can be done next, like is there a possibility to cancel the contract ... state government is looking into this issue closely, said the minister, as per the report.

Adani Group's spokesperson did not immediately respond to the agency's queries about this development.

Also Read | Adani Group stocks fall up to 7% as Fitch puts select bonds on ratings watch

The indictment release from the US authorities also said that after payment of the alleged bribes to the Indian officials, Andhra Pradesh's electricity distribution companies entered into a power supply agreement to purchase approximately seven gigawatts of solar power, by far the largest amount of any Indian state or region, reported the agency.

The YSR Congress Party, the previous ruling party of the state, denied any wrongdoings last week.

French oil major TotalEnergies, which has a 20 per cent stake in Adani Green Energy Ltd, paused further investment in the Adani Group on Monday. The US authority's crackdown is one of the biggest setbacks for the Adani Group since the release of the Hindenburg report on Adani in January 2023.

Adani Enterprises Ltd shares fell 3.51 per cent during Tuesday's trading session as of 2:46 pm to 2,178.40, compared to 2,257.65 at the previous market close.

US Indictment This move from the State of Andhra Pradesh comes as Gautam Adani, the chairperson of the Adani Group, has been indicted in the United States in an alleged bribery case.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has charged Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani, and others for alleged bribery and fraud. These people were allegedly involved in a $265 million payment to unnamed Indian government officials between 2021 and 2022 in hopes of bagging solar power-supply projects in Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the SEC indictment cited by the news agency, most of the alleged bribes out of the $228 million were paid to a government official to get Andhra Pradesh's state electricity distribution companies to agree to purchase power from the Adani Group.
Mumbai: The US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), which last year committed a half-a-billion-dollar loan to the Adani group for developing a port in Sri Lanka, has not yet disbursed any money to the Indian conglomerate.

The project has not reached financial close or signed a loan agreement, a DFC official said in response to Mints queries. We continue to conduct due diligence to ensure that all aspects of the project meet our rigorous standards before any loan disbursements are made, the official said over email.

The US DFC last year committed a $553 million loan to support the development, construction, and operation of a deep-water container terminal called the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) at the Port of Colombo in Sri Lanka. The CWIT is being developed by a consortium of Adani Ports, Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keells Holdings Plc., and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

The geopolitically sensitive port project in Sri Lanka is as much of a move by the US to counter Chinese influence in the island nation as it is to help the local economy flourish.

Also Read | Moodys cuts rating outlook on 7 Adani cos to negative amid US bribery scandal

A spokesperson for the Adani group said the Sri Lanka CWIT project was progressing as planned. Phase 1 of the project is on schedule and is nearing completion. It will become commercially operational by Q1 2025, the spokesperson said, requesting not to be named.

Incidentally, GQG Partners informed its investors last week that it had built up positions in Adani group companies as new data emerged, including the DFCs commitment to invest in the Sri Lankan port project with Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd in November 2023.

US-based GQG Partners is one of the largest backers of the Adani group with an exposure of over $8 billion to seven listed Adani firms.

We perceived this as a positive comment on, if not an endorsement of, the (Adani) group. We find it very surprising that the US government would approve funding and partner in projects with parties that were under DOJ investigation, GQG said in the note to its investors.

The investment firm did not respond to Mints queries sent on Monday.

Also Read | TotalEnergies halts Adani investments; GQG bets on Indian govt backing

Adani Ports not implicated The US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission last week indicted Adani group founder-chairman Gautam Adani, his nephew and Adani Green Energy Ltd executive director Sagar Adani, and Adani Green Energy managing director Vneet Jaain for allegedly paying about $250 million in bribes to Indian government officials to secure solar power supply contracts.

The DFC had identified the project as highly developmental due to its significant benefits to Sri Lankas local economy.

The DFC did not comment on whether it will continue with the project, excuse itself or seek a different developer. The American lender to developing economies, however, pointed out that Adani Ports has not been implicated by the American prosecutors.

We are committed to ensuring that our projects and partners uphold the highest standards of integrity and compliance, the DFC official said.

To be sure, Gautam Adani is also the chairman of Adani Ports and SEZ.

Adani Ports shares closed 3.23% lower on BSE on Tuesday at 1,128.8 apiece, while the benchmark Sensex index closed 0.13% lower at 80,004.6 points.

Also Read | Adani bulls cut positions before news of US indictment
The Competition Commission on Tuesday granted approval to Alphabets arm Shoreline International Holdings LLC to acquire a stake in Walmart group firm Flipkart. Shoreline International Holding is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Googles parent firm Alphabet Inc. It is a holding company and does not own or operate any Google products or services.

"The proposed transaction comprises an investment through subscription of shares of Flipkart Pvt Ltd (Target) by Shoreline International Holdings LLC (Acquirer) and an arrangement between an affiliate of the acquirer and the targets subsidiary for the provision of certain services," the regulator said in a release.

"Commission approves transaction involving subscription of shares of Flipkart Pvt Ltd by Shoreline, an Alphabet, Inc subsidiary," the regulator said in a post on X. Flipkart is a subsidiary of Walmart Inc and ultimately belongs to the Walmart Group. It is primarily engaged in the business of wholesale cash and carry of goods and providing marketplace-based e-commerce platforms to facilitate trade between customers and sellers in India.

In May this year, Walmart-owned Flipkart has closed a funding round of about USD 1 billion that includes USD 350 million from Alphabet's Google. US retail giant Walmart, which holds an 85 per cent holding in the Indian ecommerce major Flipkart, has invested USD 600 million in the fundraise that kicked off last year.

In a separate release on Tuesday, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the acquisition of additional stake of DMI Finance Pvt Ltd by MUFG Bank, Ltd. Delhi-based DMI Finance is a digital-led non-banking finance company that offers loans to individuals and small businesses.

The proposed combination envisages acquisition of additional securities of DMI Finance Pvt Ltd (DMI Finance) by MUFG Bank, Ltd, such that MUFG Bank's shareholding will increase to 20 per cent of the share capital of DMI Finance, CCI said.

MUFG Bank is a Tokyo-headquartered banking institution. MUFG Bank is wholly owned and controlled by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc, which is a financial services and holding company. MUFG Bank in India provides corporate banking loans, deposit accounts, remittances, trade finance and bank guarantees.

In August, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc (MUFG) and its subsidiary, MUFG Bank announced that the bank will make an additional investment of 2,798.8 crore (approximately JPY 49 billion) in DMI Finance, a digital financial services business in India.
(Bloomberg) -- For years, Macys Inc.s touted its ability to boost profits by cutting delivery costs and trimming other expenses on calls with Wall Street analysts. Then on Monday, the department store chain surprised investors by revealing that those very costs had become the source of an internal investigation into what the company has described as a multimillion-dollar employee plot to manipulate the metrics.

The retailer said the incident involved only one former employee, who had hidden as much as $154 million of delivery expenses since 2021. Cash was not taken from the company and the amount of hidden expenses is a small portion of the $4.36 billion of overall delivery costs incurred during that time.

Macys said it discovered the hidden expenses while the retailer was preparing its most recent quarterly earnings release, which was set to come out on Tuesday but was delayed due to the accounting issue.

The company said it launched a probe following the discovery but declined to answer why the apparently intentional accounting errors went undetected for nearly three years. Its auditor, KPMG, declined to comment. Macys also didnt provide information on what the employees motive was, when the employee left, whether their departure was related to the events, or if the issue was being investigated by law enforcement. Macys hasnt identified the employee.

Cutting the cost of delivering online orders has been a focus for the retailer in recent years as it aims to shore up profitability in the face of flagging sales.

To that effect, the retailer has been diversifying shipping carriers, reducing the distance its packages are sent and spearheading what CFO Adrian Mitchell recently called process reengineering initiatives on the companys August earnings call.

A month later, Mitchell called the efforts one of the key drivers in terms of expanding gross margin at the annual Goldman Sachs retailing conference, where investors gathered to hear about the companys turnaround plan under a new chief executive who took the helm earlier this year.

Macys is getting our delivery expense under control for a lot of customers that are going to be receiving deliveries to their home, said Mitchell, who joined Macys in 2020 from the Boston Consulting Group.

It was a major boon for the retailer and its finance chief, who told Wall Street in May 2021 that the largest headwind for profits was its delivery expense. At the time, Mitchell said that the delivery expense accounted for nearly twice the drag on profits compared to the same period in 2019. The more that people shopped online, the bigger the delivery expense line item ratcheted up.

Checks and Balances

To be sure, the amount of hidden expenses by the former employee is a small portion of overall delivery costs. Macys has been focused on cost cutting across the company, not just delivery expenses. And theres no indication that Mitchell and other members of the companys leadership team were aware of the single employees actions.

But the discovery raises questions about the checks and balances Macys has in place to ensure accurate accounting of its business activities, particularly around a metric its chief financial officer was keenly focused on. Macys declined to make its CFO available for an interview.

One possible scenario is that an accountant at Macys could have changed the internal coding of delivery transactions to charge those payments to the wrong account, according to Adriana Carpenter, a former accountant at auditor PwC who now serves as chief financial officer of expense management software company Emburse.

As a result, the payments may have been recorded as cash outflows, but the expense wouldnt have been reported, said Carpenter, who does not have first-hand knowledge of Macys business practices.

A large company like Macys typically has controls in place to ensure such a scenario couldnt occur but its unclear if thats the case in this instance, she added. Macys declined to comment on its controls.

The size and duration of the incident also makes it likely that the US Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating or will investigate, said Jim Barratt, a former SEC enforcement accountant and founder of Barratt Consulting Group.

The SEC, which regularly reviews company filings for unusual disclosures, said it doesnt comment on the existence or nonexistence of a possible investigation. Macys declined to comment on any possible external investigations.

The disclosure also draws attention to the company as a whole, not just the unnamed employee singled out in the press release, Barratt said. Accounting entries arent made by one person, he said. It takes more than one person.

--With assistance from Nicola M. White and Erik Schatzker.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
(Bloomberg) -- Global tech giants including Meta, TikTok and Google have heavily criticized Australian legislation to ban children under 16 from accessing social media platforms, setting the stage for a policy fight as the government tries to push the bill through parliament this week.

Under the proposed law, Australians under 16 years of age will be prohibited from setting up accounts on all major social media sites including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Reddit, even if they obtain parental permission. The social media giants will be responsible for policing the ban, under threat of fines of up to A$50 million ($32.5 million).

The center-left Labor government has not laid out how proposed age verification technology will work, although Communication Minister Michelle Rowland told her parliamentary colleagues last week that it would not involve uploading personal identification.

Subscribe to The Bloomberg Australia Podcast on Apple, Spotify, on YouTube, or wherever you listen.

The Australian Senate, or upper house of parliament, is holding a short inquiry into the legislation which is due to report by Tuesday; however, given the legislation has support from the center-right opposition it is all but certain to become law within days.

In submissions to the Senate inquiry, tech companies warned of unintended, negative consequences from the rapidly-drafted laws.

TikTok ANZs Director of Public Policy Ella Woods-Joyce described the legislation as rushed and unworkable in her submission, pointing to poor privacy safeguards. Meta said the social media ban overlooks the practical reality of age assurance technology.

Both Meta and Google said it was important for Australia to wait until a national trial of age verification technology was completed before passing the bill.

In the absence of such results, neither industry nor Australians will understand the nature or scale of age assurance required by the Bill nor the impact of such measures on Australians, Meta said in its submission.

At the same time, Elon Musks X Corp said the bill was alarming, adding that it had serious concerns as to the lawfulness of the bill, potentially setting up a court challenge to the legislation.

There is no evidence that banning young people from social media will work, and to make it law in the form proposed is highly problematic, X said in a submission to the committee, adding that the bill was vague. Musks social media site, formally known as Twitter, has already taken the Australian government to court multiple times over its attempts to rein in social media.

Almost all tech companies warned that the laws could also damage the mental health of young Australians if they were rushed through, by cutting off vulnerable teenagers from online community support networks.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Finnish handset maker HMD Global, known for producing Nokia-branded phones, is relocating a significant portion of its manufacturing from China to India. The move aligns with its strategy to make India a global manufacturing hub and capitalise on shifting geopolitical dynamics, as per Moneycontrol report.

The company is urging its international suppliers to establish operations in India to support its growing export ambitions, as Moneycontrol report.

Ravi Kunwar, HMDs CEO and VP for India and Asia Pacific, confirmed the shift, stating, A bulk of what we used to do out of China is being moved to India, whether it is our supply chain, sourcing or logistics hub," as quoted by Moneycontrol.

Livemint could not independently verify this news.

US-China trade war a factor HMD hopes to benefit if the US, under the Trump administration, imposes stricter tariffs on China amid the ongoing trade tensions. Whatever we have been exporting out of China, that percentage is going down and increasing in favour of exporting out of India, Kunwar added, as quoted by Moneycontrol.

Building infrastructure in India The company has relocated critical operations, including its supply chain sourcing team, to India. However, a complete shift from China is not imminent.

It depends on how competitive India becomes as a destination, Kunwar noted. Factors like cost, quality, and consistency are key to accelerating the transition, as quoted by Moneycontrol.

HMD already exports Nokia feature phones and smartphones to West Asia and Africa from its Indian facilities. The company also plans to focus more on exporting to the US and Europe due to shifting global security and supply chain priorities, as per the report.

Supplier ecosystem expansion HMD has urged component makers to set up factories in India. Kunwar said, The component makers realise the potential for domestic consumption in India and export opportunities," as quoted by Moneycontrol.

A clear government policy is crucial for this transformation, and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is working on a scheme for electronics component manufacturing worth 40,000 crore, which is expected to be finalised soon.

Local partnerships and new products HMD relies on partners like Dixon Technologies and Zet Town India for manufacturing its feature phones in India. It recently introduced the Fusion smartphone with attachable gaming and photography accessories, part of its mid-range strategy targeting the 10,000 15,000 price segment, the report added.

Kunwar highlighted the companys India focus through three pillars: secure devices, detox devices (feature phones), and device financing, as per the report.

Security is not just limited to government or military but concerns consumers as well. This segment is growing rapidly, he said, as quoted by Moneycontrol.
Masayoshi Son, the billionaire founder of Japan's SoftBank Group Corp, is likely to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, November 27, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Also Read | Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang shares how homework helped win over his wife

Here's what's on agenda? While the matter of discussion was not immediately clear, the visit comes as SoftBank eyes more artificial intelligence and technology bets in Asia's third-largest economy.

Earlier on Tuesday, the source added that Son met Mukesh Ambani - India's richest man and chairman of oil-to-telecoms conglomerate Reliance Industries where the duo discussed potential artificial intelligence opportunities in India.

Son's final schedule could change, the source said. They did not want to be named as they are not authorised to speak to media.

Meanwhile, SoftBank has reaped gains from successful listings of its backed companies, the most recent of which is food delivery firm Swiggy.

Indian shopping website OfBusiness, another firm SoftBank backs, is targeting a $1 billion IPO in 2025 amid a boom in Indian primary markets, according to a report by Reuters. The initial public offering is expected to be around $750 million to $1 billion, out of which new shares will account for $200 million and the rest will be given by existing shareholders to new investors.

SoftBank Group Corp. swung to a quarterly profit on a series of successful Indian listings and a rebound in tech valuations that boosted the Vision Fund portfolio.

The Tokyo-based company earned a net income of 1.18 trillion ($7.7 billion) in the September quarter, compared with a net loss of 931 billion last year. Analysts projected on average a net income of about 295 billion for the period. The Vision Fund reported a gain of 373 billion, thanks to strong initial public offerings for Indian startups and valuation gains in Coupang Inc. and Didi Global Inc.
Bengaluru: The dazzlingly bright fine jewellery store had all kinds of glitzy items on display, but there were only four customers checking them out when Mint visited it on a Wednesday evening earlier this month. The manager candidly told us that the store, located in a commercial area not far from IT hub Whitefield, never saw the kind of wedding jewellery-hunting crowds common at long-established names such as C. Krishniah Chetty, Bhima Jewellers, or GRT Jewellers. Most people who visit the store do so only after going through the companys website, he added, to look at items they liked online. And wedding chokers or bijouterie arent the sort of thing they look for on Bluestone.com.

They have a very good variety, and any piece of jewellery is highly customizable. I was looking for something casual that can be worn on an everyday basis and BlueStone has a wide assortment for just this," said Payal Dutta, one of the customers at the store.

They have very simple and attractive options for office going people like me. They also have a provision to get your jewellery serviced every two months, which helps to create great trust with the brand for first-time customers like me," said another customer, who did not want to be named. But they are slightly on the pricier end."

Slightly pricier is a bit of an understatementthe average selling price of BlueStones fine jewellery is 40,000-60,000. Its a chain that caters to the well-heeled, and that, perhaps, is one of the reasons it is not overrun by shoppers. Despite the high prices, however, the digital-first jewellery companys stores do see a decent amount of footfalls, mostly chic or casual wear-clad youngsters.

Consumers who frequent brands like BlueStone are often here to buy jewellery that isnt meant to be kept in lockers. They want a completely different purchasing experience where they look to get everyday jewellery versus the heavy stuff that incumbents like Kalyan Jewellers and Malabar Gold sell," said an industry expert. The number of people who come into this fold on an everyday basis has become very large."

View Full Image A screen grab from BlueStones website.

In that aspect, BlueStone, which was founded by Gaurav Singh Kushwaha and Vidya Nataraj in 2011, is seeing a bit of a turnaround. The company, which had started out as an online-only seller, consciously made the decision to open stores across India to tap a market that is now pegged to be worth $80 billion. But the timing turned out to be poor because of the covid-19 pandemic, and for a while, it was on the brink. But things are now starting to look up thanks in large part to its omnichannel (across sales channels) strategy.

Getting physical

Over the last decade or so, as Flipkart and Amazon capitalized on the online boom, they sparked a shift in purchasing behaviour. Some consumers began to use online channels as a medium to browse before purchasing a product at a local store. This was especially so with big-ticket purchases, including jewellery, and led companies to set up offline touch points to instil confidence. BlueStone was one of them.

After surveying customers, the jewellery startup realized that it was sitting on a much bigger business. Our data led us to believe that we were neither online nor offline. We had to go the omnichannel route," Kushwaha told Mint. The company opened its first physical touchpoint in Delhi, in July 2018.

When we opened the first 10 stores, we understood that the numbers would become evident only at scale," he said. But at the same time, it took a while to convince investors. This was not something we had done before."

Some consumers began to use online channels as a medium to browse before purchasing a product at a local store. This was especially so with big-ticket purchases, including jewellery

Over two years, it opened about 16 offline stores as part of this omnichannel strategy. But then the covid pandemic struck and it was forced to pull down the shutters. Even after the lockdown ended, people were reluctant to step in fearing for their safety. There were barely any footfalls and consequently hardly any offline sales. The companys backers, meanwhile, were worried about their investments.

That was one of the toughest phases for us. While a stable 23-year cohort of stores could have helped convince investors, it became that much more difficult due to the pandemic," Kushwaha recounted. Investors were reluctant to infuse additional capital for store expansion owing to the lack of adequate data.

The setbacks took a heavy toll. In FY21, BlueStone reported a loss of 31.5 crore, which widened to 1,268.4 crore the following year. Revenue from operations dipped to 244.6 crore from 255 crore in FY20, according to data provided by startup intelligence tracker Tracxn. In FY22, expenses zoomed to 1,738 crore from 283.7 crore a year earlier. Things werent going in the direction they were supposed to.

BlueStones cost structures were bizarre at that point. They delayed the transition to go offline (brick and mortar) and when they did, the timing was off and they ended up consuming more money to stay afloat," an industry expert, who has closely monitored the business, told Mint on condition of anonymity.

But as consumers gradually returned to their normal shopping patterns, BlueStone began to see more footfalls. And as footfalls picked up, it added more stores. Currently, the startup has more than 200 of them across 80 cities, with a dominant presence in tier 2 and 3 cities, from where it gets the bulk of its demand.

While BlueStone continues to incur losses, it has significantly improved its revenues. In FY24, it reported an operating revenue of 1,265.80 crore, up from 770.7 crore a year earlier. Over the same period, losses have narrowed to 142.2 crore from 167.2 crore, the data from Tracxn showed.

Citing the much-improved performance, Kushwaha says the omnichannel approach was the right call and marked a turnaround for the company, which is gearing up for a $250 million public offering in the first half of next year.

Sreedhar Prasad, a former partner with KPMG and a startup advisor, noted that this (omnichannel) turnaround was crucial for the company as a blend of online led offline sales is of paramount importance for new age players like BlueStone and CaratLane. If a customer does not browse online before visiting their shops, they wont have a great spread experience. This omnichannel concept is how these businesses have grown significantly," he said.

Store managers Mint spoke to also alluded to this consumer behaviour, noting that most customers walk into their stores only after browsing the website. We also send representatives so customers can try our products from the comfort of their homes, with the criteria that they shortlist at least five items. This is extremely popular," the store manager cited earlier said, on condition of anonymity.

Ticking all the boxes

Indias retail jewellery market was worth about $80 billion in FY24, according to a report by Motilal Oswal, published in June. Of this, organized retail accounts for about 36-38%, comprising both pan-India and regional companies.

The report estimated that the overall jewellery market is expected to clock a compound annual growth rate of 15-16%, to touch $145 billion by FY28. Much of this growth will ride on rising disposable incomes and be driven by a better experience at organized retail outlets, enhanced product offerings and an improving mix for regular wear, it said.

BlueStone is aiming to tick all of those boxes. Over the years, it has expanded its product catalogue to about 8,000 items. The company sells diamonds, gold, platinum, gems and pearls across products such as earnings, chains, bracelets, watches and rings, within categories such as mens, kids, and womens jewellery.

The startup relies heavily on tech and data to drive its core operations. And unlike some of its peers, BlueStone does not outsource designs. From designing to manufacturing, it handles everything inhouse. The companys jewellery is created by 30-40 designers across India. Those designs are then produced by its three manufacturing units in Surat, Jaipur and Mumbai, which cumulatively employ about 2,000-3,000 workers.

BlueStone has raised about $255 million since its inception, data from Tracxn showed. Valued at about $970 million, it is backed by prominent investors, including Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia India), Kalaari Capital, 360 One, IvyCap Ventures and Prosus.

A gem of an idea

The digital-first fine jewellery brand is the second startup Kushwaha has founded. The first was Bollywood news portal Chakpak.com, which he sold to ecommerce marketplace Flipkart. A few months after that sale, he began scouting for his next opportunity in the e-commerce space. The former Amazon employee evaluated several categories, including furniture and grocery, and eventually settled on jewellery, launching BlueStone.

The idea was to chase a market that had the capability to generate large outcomes with good margins. This became particularly important after some hard lessons in his previous startup, where monetization proved to be extremely difficult.

Kushwaha observed that jewellery was a category dominated by incumbents such as Malabar Gold and Kalyan Jewellers, which derive nearly 80% of their business from customers shopping for weddings. There werent too many other contenders. Startups Melorra and Giva, which Bluestone competes with across certain categories, came much later, in 2015 and 2019, respectively. CaratLane, however, had been around since 2008.

View Full Image Jewellery was a category dominated by incumbents such as Malabar Gold and Kalyan Jewellers. (Photo: Reuters)

Typically, most jewellery businesses in India are run by second- or third-generation entrepreneurs. For Kushwaha, the challenges that came with starting a jewellery business were brand new. To begin with, he had to convince customers to buy jewellery online, an alien concept at the time. Navigating the logistics of sourcing, designing and shipments were other aspects he had to solve for.

Adding to his woes, cofounder Nataraj stepped down 5-6 months after BlueStone was founded. From setting up the product catalogue to figuring out the logistics of sourcing and designing, it was not an easy time.

Kushwaha was clear that he wanted to exclusively sell only BlueStone products and did not want to function as a marketplace that aggregated other brands. At this point, the company was an online-only brand.

But with fewer contenders in the category at the time, talent was more abundant. Kushwaha began by recruiting known candidates and juniors from Indian Institute of TechnologyDelhi, his alma mater. The team managed to put together about 200 product catalogues on BlueStones website around early 2012.

Kushwaha was clear that he wanted to exclusively sell only BlueStone products and did not want to function as a marketplace that aggregated other brands

Accel, which had backed Flipkart and his earlier startup, was among the first investors to come on board. BlueStone bagged a $5.2 million cheque in a round led by the early-stage venture capital firm in January that year, data from Tracxn showed.

In the first couple of years, the startup struggled with the challenge of selling a high-value item like jewellery online. There was a lot of work in making sure that the presentation is top notch, to build a long-term relationship with customers, and ensure the product is not returned," Kushwaha said.

BlueStone was also saddled with excess inventory, which took up a lot of capital. To curtail this problem, it adopted an on-demand approach, where it fulfilled a customers request for a product only after an order was placed. This, however, came with the limitations of a longer delivery time. But as sales improved, the startup set up its first manufacturing unit in 2014, bringing down delivery timelines to 3-5 days from 4-5 weeks earlier.

Path to profitability

In recent times, many new-age jewellery startups have witnessed tremendous growth and attracted investor interest on the back of growing disposable incomes and a rise in the young middle-class population. For instance, CaratLane saw a 42% increase in revenue to 3,081 crore while Giva witnessed a 66% jump to 273.6 crore, on a smaller base, in FY24.

View Full Image A file photo of Mithun Sacheti, founder of CaratLane.

These startups cater to an affluent group of people who are willing to buy jewellery for purposes other than weddings, which has led to newer emerging categories, such as casual and childrens jewellery.

Some members of the old guard are now trying to enter new categories, either through acquisitions or by introducing their own product lines to appeal to a younger audience. For instance, CaratLane was bought by Titan last year while Melorra has received a bid to be acquired by Kolkata-based Senco Gold, Mint reported last month.

Brands have a certain way of ageing and being relevant to a certain demographic. The younger generation and Gen-Zs are likely to navigate towards new-age brands, which is why the bigger companies are trying to acquire some of these players," said Vijay Iyer, managing director of Merisis Advisors, a boutique investment bank.

However, the new-age jewellery category hasnt seen much by way of profitable startups. CaratLane, the exception, posted a flat net profit of 79 crore In FY24. In comparison with BlueStone, it has an average selling price of 25,000-30,000.

Merisis Iyer explained that these startups will incur losses or struggle to improve profits if they continue to sell below their cost of customer acquisition. The well-known companies have been running their business for a long time and have grown organically. These startups have used venture capital to short circuit the organic pace of growth, which is bound to make their costs higher."

Many of the startups continue to think like e-commerce companies, which does not bode well in the long run, added Prasad. They must consistently think like a digitally engaged, physically executed jewellery company. More money needs to go towards digital engagement than performance marketing to improve profitability metrics. At some point, this shift needs to happen for all jewellers," he concluded.
Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age. By Eric Berger. BenBella Books; 400 pages; $31.95 and 26.99

The degree to which the Falcon 9, a rocket developed by SpaceX, dominates its competitors is not just unprecedented in space travel. It is unprecedented in more or less every field of human endeavour. In 2023 Falcon 9s launched over a thousand tonnes of payload into orbit, some 80% of the worldwide total. Whereas previous launchers rarely managed much more than ten blast-offs a year, Falcon 9s now leave their launchpads in California and Florida roughly ten times a month. The first stages of Falcon 9s have been successfully reused after returning from space and landing themselves more than 300 times. No other orbital launcher has managed such a thing even once.

Reentry by Eric Berger, the senior space editor at Ars Technica, a news website, describes how this was achieved. The ingredients which produced the Falcon 9 were excellent engineers, a new form of government support for spaceflight, a hard-driving culture and an extraordinarily demanding boss (some of whose consistent demands were crucial).

The story starts in 2008. SpaceXs first rocket, the Falcon 1, was small, troublesome and uncommercial. By the time it finally reached orbiton the fourth attemptSpaceX had burned through almost all the money which Elon Musk, the companys founder, had available. For the company to have a future it needed some big government contracts, and that required a much larger launcher: the Falcon 9, which required nine of the Merlin engines which powered the Falcon 1 to be yoked together.

That challenge fell to Tom Mueller, SpaceXs first employee, who had developed the Merlin engine in the first place. His teams efforts led to the arguably company-saving first test firing of the Falcon 9s first stage in November 2008. We were out there beating history, but Elon was still pissed at us, Mr Mueller said. Like everything else weve ever done, it was way slower than Elon wanted, and way faster than anyone had ever done it before.

Mr Bergers book is full of stories of impressive achievements being met in such ways. It also shows clearly why people put up with such things. Mr Musks employees knew that he really cared about making better rockets, that he was taking big financial risks, that he was fully engaged. They knew that he would always ask them to do things for less money and in less time. But they came to value his immutable insistence on the overall goal of making a rocket that was largely reusable and flew every few days, even though it meant demanding things which seemed impossible.

Mr Musk and SpaceXs engineers were aligned in their desire to make spacecraft that would change the course of history. Without that alignment, it is hard to imagine his impulsive, hectoring management yielding such results. Mr Musks desires for X, the social-media firm he bought in 2022, are apparently that it should provide a powerful platform from which to spew his own rubbish and facilitate the spread of disinformation in the service of a disturbing political agenda. This is not a vision to inspire employees capable of greatness.

SpaceX has doubled in value, to $210bn, since early 2022 (in the same period the value of X seems to have fallen by more than half). Part of the price of greatness for its employees was knowing that it was fleeting. The most successful senior managers, Mr Berger reports, adopted a curiously empowering fatalism in the face of Mr Musks demands: however much you delivered, however well you managed expectations and your team, at some point you would find yourself unable to go on.

In a recent biography of Mr Musk, Walter Isaacson stated that Mr Musk had redesigned the Falcon 9 over a few months in 2015. Anyone who raised a sceptical eyebrow will enjoy the way Mr Bergers book unpacks and redistributes the agency which that sentence locates so narrowly. Anyone who accepted Mr Isaacson at face value should read this book to disabuse themselves. They will get a riveting tale of how remarkable engineering actually gets done.

For more on the latest books, films, TV shows, albums and controversies, sign up to Plot Twist, our weekly subscriber-only newsletter
Ruia family patriarch and co-founder and chairman of Essar Group Shashikant Ruia has passed away at 81, the family said in an official statement on November 26.

According to a PTI report citing family sources, Ruia died in Mumbai of prolonged illness at around 11.55 pm on November 25. He had returned from the US around a month back, where he was undergoing treatment, it added.

His mortal remains will be kept at Ruia House from 1-3 pm today (November 26) and the funeral procession to the Hindu Worli Crematorium will leave at 4 pm, as per the report.

More commonly referred to as Shashi Ruia, he is survived by his wife Manju and two sons Prashant and Anshuman.

Family, Company Issues Tribute It is with profound grief that we inform of the passing of Shri Shashikant Ruia, Patriarch of the Ruia and Essar Family. He was 81. With an unwavering commitment to community upliftment and philanthropy, he touched millions of lives leaving an enduring impact. His humility, warmth, and ability to connect with everyone he met, made him a truly exceptional leader, the statement said.

It also paid tribute to Ruia's contributions to society, stating: An iconic industrialist, Shri Shashikant Ruia, Chairman, Essar Group, played a significant role in redefining India's corporate landscape. He laid the foundation of the Essar Group and made it a global conglomerate. Shri. Shashikant Ruia's extraordinary legacy will remain a guiding light for all of us, as we honour his vision and continue to uphold the values, he cherished and championed.

About Shashikant Ruia A first-generation entrepreneur industrialist, Shashi Ruia, co-founded the metals-to-technology conglomerate Essar with his brother Ravikant Ruia (aka Ravi Ruia) in 1969.

He began started his career in 1965 under the guidance of father Nand Kishore Ruia and laid the foundation of Essar by constructing an outer breakwater at Chennai Port in 1969.

Today the group expanded into various sectors, including steel, oil refining, exploration and production, telecom, power, and construction.
Billionaire investor Warren Buffett has donated over $1.1 billion worth of Berkshire Hathway stocks to four of his family's charities and foundations on November 25, according to an AP report.

The Oracle of Omaha revived his Thanksgiving tradition of donating during the holiday and also outlined succession plans for his $147.4 billion worth fortune, it added.

Succession Plan for Children The report noted that while Buffett has earlier said his three children would inherit his $147.4 billion fortune over a period of 10 years after his death, on November 25 he also designated undisclosed successor to his children in case they die before receiving their full inheritance.

While the identity of the successor was not revealed, Buffett, in his letter to fellow shareholders, said his children know them and agree they would be good choices.

Father time always wins. But he can be fickle  indeed unfair and even cruel  sometimes ending life at birth or soon thereafter while, at other times, waiting a century or so before paying a visit. To date, Ive been very lucky, but, before long, he will get around to me. There is, however, a downside to my good fortune in avoiding his notice. The expected life span of my children has materially diminished since the 2006 pledge. They are now 71, 69 and 66, Buffett noted.

He added that he still has no interest in creating dynastic wealth, but acknowledged giving Howard, Peter and Susie millions over the years, saying he believes hugely wealthy parents should leave their children enough so they can do anything but not enough that they can do nothing.

The Power of Compounding Interest The secret to building up such massive wealth over time has been the power of compounding interest and the steady growth of the Berkshire conglomerate Buffett leads through acquisitions and smart investments like buying billions of dollars of Apple shares as iPhone sales continued to drive growth in that company, the report noted.

It added that Buffett has continued to live in the same Omaha home he'd bought decades earlier and drive sensible luxury sedans to work. As a family, we have had everything we needed or simply liked, but we have not sought enjoyment from the fact that others craved what we had, he said.

Buffett's Donations If Buffett and his first wife had never given away any of their Berkshire shares, the family's fortune would be worth nearly $364 billion (well above world's richest man Elon Musk's $314 billion).

Since Susan Buffett's death in 2004, the family distributed $3 billion estate. In 2006 Buffet announced annual gifts to the foundations run by his children, his wife, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Till date Buffett's has given the Gates Foundation $55 billion in stock. The report added that it has become his annual tradition to make gifts to all five foundations every summer, but for several years now he has been giving additional Berkshire shares to his family's foundations at Thanksgiving.

Advice on Wills Buffett in his recent letter also reiterated advice for every parent to allow their families to read their will while they are still alive  like he has done  to make sure they have a chance to explain their decisions and answer their children's questions, the report added.

Buffett said he and his longtime investing partner Charlie Munger, who died a year ago, saw many families driven apart after the posthumous dictates of the will left beneficiaries confused and sometimes angry.
Royalty payments by India-listed companies to their parents or related parties should be backed by frequent shareholder approvals, according to experts, as such payouts have been rising.

Royalty payments are not just rising, but are also higher than dividends in some cases, found a recent study conducted by the Securities and Exchange Board of Indias (Sebis) Department of Economic and Policy Research Analysis, which reviewed 1,538 instances of such payouts across 233 listed companies from FY14 to FY23.

The findings prompted calls from proxy advisory firms for stricter regulations, better disclosures, and stronger shareholder protections to improve governance in such transactions.

A Mint's analysis of annual reports of companies also revealed an increase in royalty payments in FY24 when compared to FY23.

Colgate Palmolive India Ltd paid 256 crore in royalties in FY23 on a revenue of 522 crore, which rose to 279 crore in FY24 alongside revenue of 568 crore.

Hindustan Unilever Ltd paid 1,003 crore in royalties in FY23 on a revenue of 59,144 crore, increasing to 1,132 crore in FY24 against revenue of 60,469 crore.

Read more: These are the five worst-performing sectors of 2024. Will they turn around in 2025? Maruti Suzuki India Ltd paid 4,220 crore in royalties in FY23, with it reported a revenue of 1.18 trillion; the payout rose to 4,900 crore in FY24 on a revenue of 1.42 trillion.

Nestle India, which pays royalty at a rate of 4.5% of its consolidated turnover, has proposed increasing it to 5.25%, pending investor approval.

The companies mentioned earlier didnt respond to Mints queries.

To address concerns about indefinite royalty payments from Indian subsidiaries to multinational parent companies, Sebi could require periodic shareholder approval, either through board approval or a majority of minority vote, said Viral Mehta, head of M&A and private equity practice at Nishith Desai Associates.

For companies that pay more royalty than dividends, Mehta suggested stricter disclosure norms, including the ratio of royalty payments to gross profits, particularly for profitable companies that skip dividends.

Linking royalty payments to the profitability of listed companies and tightening disclosure requirements could improve fund outflow management and bolster investor confidence in corporate governance, said Mehta, adding that Sebi should provide a transition period for companies to reassess their royalty arrangements.

The study revealed that in many cases, royalty payments to related parties far exceeded the dividends paid to non-related party shareholders. For example, in 417 instances, royalty payments were three times higher than dividends.

However, Ketan Dalal, managing director of Katalyst Advisors, a structuring and advisory firm, while not opposing more comprehensive disclosures but said that an explanatory statement from a royalty-paying company detailing the amounts before a shareholder vote was sufficient.

It is important not to overload the already burdensome disclosure system, he Dalal said. He pointed out that current regulations set an upper limit on royalty charges, allowing room for factual nuances in these payments. While there may be a case to reconsider some thresholds, a more logical approach would be to put it to a shareholder vote. However, guidelines may be necessary to prevent disruptions and lack of support from multinational parent companies," he said.

Dalal said that adjusting thresholds based on profitability or net income seemed logical but noted that it would be difficult to implement. He also observed that shareholders are typically more focused on capital appreciation than dividends.

Read more: Indian stock markets get a band-aid, but chronic pain remains The study also highlighted inadequate disclosure on royalty payments. Proxy advisory firms have suggested that requiring shareholder approval for such payments could compel companies to provide clearer justifications. Although shareholder approval is required for payments exceeding 5% of a companys consolidated turnover, some companies have circumvented this by making multiple smaller payments to different related parties, avoiding the need for approval, the study said.

If disclosures were being made, there was nothing wrong to worry about royalty payments, said Shriam Subramanian, founder of proxy advisory firm InGovern Research Services. The threshold had been increased from 2% to 5% for a shareholder vote; perhaps it could return to 2%, but no further regulatory intervention is needed.
Twelve states collectively raised 30,790 crore on Tuesday through state government securities auctions for November, reflecting a pick-up in economic activity after a sluggish start to the fiscal year, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

So far in 2024-25, states have borrowed 209,961 crore.

The participating states in the latest auctions were Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

Incidentally, state borrowings through dated government securities had seen a rise following a slowdown during Q1FY25, when states raised 52,971 crore, with seven of them raising 14,700 crore in April, nine raising 21,200 crore in May, and nine raising 17,071 crore in June.

Also Read: Indias GDP growth likely slowed to a six-quarter low in Q2: Mint poll During Q2FY25, state borrowings through dated government securities stood at 100,150 crore, with 10 states raising 29,500 in July, 14 states raising 36,250 crore in August, and 12 states raising 34,400 crore in September.

During the October auctions, 10 states raised 25,050 crore, according to the RBI data.

According to experts, 12 states made 10 issuances in the November auctions, with the 10-year state government yield varying from 7.14% for Andhra/Tamil Nadu to 7.18% for Bihar.

"The 10-year Gsec (government security) is at 6.85%. Hence, the SDLs (State Development Loan) went at a premium of 30bps (basis points)," said Madan Sabnavis, chief economist at Bank of Baroda.

"The strain in liquidity in the system did not have much impact on these cut-offs with the spread of 30bps being maintained," he added.

Also Read: Indias 25%-of-GDP target for manufacturing remains a steep challenge The G-sec is a debt instrument issued by the central government.

To be sure, India's economy grew 6.7% in the April-June quarter, marking the slowest pace in five quarters, according to data released by the statistics ministry in August.

This followed a 7.8% expansion in the previous quarter.

The slowdown was largely due to lower government spending on the account of general and state elections during the quarter.

India's economic growth likely slowed to 6.5% in the September quarter, which would be its slowest pace in six quarters, according to the median estimate of 26 economists in a Mint poll.

The expectations of a slowdown are due to uneven performance across sectors, with a decline in private consumption growth offsetting the positive effects of government spending and a rural recovery.

The gross domestic product (GDP) data for Q2FY25 will be released by the central government at the end of the month.

Also Read: GDP: How consumers saved the day as government spending slowed during polls Incidentally, the ministry of finance on Monday, in its October review, said economic momentum showed signs of revival during the month, buoyed by high-frequency indicators such as the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) and e-way bill generation, which pointed to a rebound in rural and urban demand.
All is not well with the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc. The Opposition front faced yet another electoral defeat. The Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was trounced by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti in Maharashtra.

While poll results aren't favourable, the aftermath was visible in bloc's Monday meeting called by the Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge.

The first one to withdraw from the meeting was the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The Mamata Banerjee-led party said its leaders were busy at their national executive meeting in Kolkata.

The meeting wasn't held on just another random day. It was the first day of the Parliament's winter session. As the TMC convincingly won all six assembly seats that went for bypolls in West Bengal, the party's general secretary Kunal Ghosh signalled unease within the Congress' big brother attitude in the alliance.

Mamata Banerjee has blocked the BJP in every election. Hemant Soren has also stopped the BJP in Jharkhand. But in Maharashtra, they (Congress) could not stop the BJP," Ghosh said while advising the Congress to "analyse themselves".

"If it can happen in Bengal and Jharkhand, why did the Congress fail to stop the BJP in Haryana and Maharashtra? The Congress should analyse why it lost. Whenever the responsibility has fallen on Congress, it has been unable to stop the BJP," he added.

The TMC's resentment took a serious turn when its leader, Kalyan Banerjee, suggested that Mamata Banerjee should be made the leader of the INDIA bloc.

Here's what went wrong According to a News18 report, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi made three "mistakes" that the allies feel impacted the bloc.

Rahul Gandhi engaged himself with attacks on Veer Savarkar. Both Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar, head of a faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), had a problem with this.

After the poll debacle in Maharashtra, both leaders felt that Gandhi's attack on Savarkar hurt them and helped the BJP with its agenda of batenge toh katenge". Despite warnings that it would cause harm, News18 reported. Gandhi did not pay heed and continued on his path.

Also Read | Winter Session of Parliament to begin on a stormy note today

Rahul Gandhi's demand for caste survey and the Congress' inability to counter BJP's narrative of end to reservation if the grand old party came to power was another factor that cost the Opposition alliance.

The narrative's intensity could potentially affect allies such as the TMC, Samajwadi Party (SP), and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the run-up to subsequent state elections.

Gandhi's attack on Prime Minister as being involved in crony capitalism was also something that the allies felt would just not work. According to News18 report, the allies requested Gandhi to refrain from advancing this narrative, but he refused to give up.

Also Read | Jharkhand Mukti Morchas Hemant Soren to take oath as CM on Nov 26

Mamata Banerjee has blocked the BJP in every election. But in Maharashtra, they (Congress) could not stop the BJP.

The report also cited sources as saying that some within Gandhis group, too, had advised him against the Constitution in danger" narrative.

It is this stubbornness" that has now hurt the allies.
Among the more childishly enjoyable fruits of Donald Trumps election victory has been watching the spectacular gymnastic contortions of political leaders in Europe, where I have spent time recently, as they try to reconcile their previously expressed revulsion toward him with the political reality of his renewed status as the most powerful man on the planet.

Gold medal for the back flip with full twist and 180-degree turn goes to David Lammy, the British foreign secretary, who congratulated Mr. Trump and said he looked forward to finding common ground" with the newly re-elected president. I felt in my bones that there could be a Trump presidency," he cheerily told the BBC the day after the election.

These were the same bones, presumably, that told the aspiring young Labourite during Mr. Trumps first term that the then and future president was a woman-hating, neo-Nazi sympathizing sociopath," and deluded, dishonest, xenophobic and narcissistic."

Ah well. Times change. In any case, all is forgiven, apparently. When Mr. Lammy was at Trump Tower for dinner in September the two got on famously, with the foreign secretary gleefully recounting later how Mr. Trump had even offered him a second portion of chicken"crow, we can assume, having been served as the starter.

European distaste for Mr. Trump is partly aesthetic, as Mr. Lammys now no-longer-operative remarks indicate. But it is also substantive. And, despite their best efforts to suppress what they really think, they know the substance is even more serious this time around than in 2017.

In fact the next four years will almost certainly see serious and sustained breaches in trans-Atlantic comity, in ways that will irreparably impair the alliance that has, for all its fractious tendencies, been the cornerstone of civilizational progress in the world for a century.

On at least three main fronts, the second Trump administration will strain relations with Europe to the breaking point.

The first is the war in Ukraine. European leaders realize now that U.S. assistance to Kyiv stops next year and that some form of peace deal will be struck; they are convinced it will leave Russia strengthened and emboldened.

The second is trade, where an already fragile European economy could be hammered by tariffs on exports to the U.S. and where broader global economic strife threatens the continents creaking stability.

The third is a bucket of global tensions, all likely to worsen: from climate change, where Mr. Trumps fossil-fuel-driven, go-for-growth strategy is apostasy for the European climate religionists; to the Middle East, where a staunchly pro-Israel Washington will create domestic and international tensions for the Palestinian-sympathetic Europeans; to China where an intensified U.S. effort to decouple the West from Beijings economy will deprive Europeans of crucial export markets.

No doubt Mr. Trumps style will deepen the fissures, but there is no escaping that the Europeans have essentially themselves to blame for their plight.

On Ukraine, the European Union and Britain have gone along with the Biden administrations increasingly feckless policy of what some wise heads in Europe have called self-deterrence"arming Ukraine enough to keep the war going but not enough to have any chance of winning it. Realization of how flawed this approach has been is dawning in European capitals. A handful of public and private sector figures last week told me they now dont know whether to be more alarmed by the prospect of a stronger Vladimir Putin in four years under Mr. Trump, or the possibility of all-out war in President Bidens remaining two months as his administration escalates in its waning days.

On the wider question of their own security within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Europeans are finally acknowledging that the days of free riding on American military spending are at an end.

On trade, Europe has pursued its own protectionism in a number of sectors. It also has severely constrained its economic performance with regulatory measures that have suppressed innovation and dynamism, condemning the EU to fall further and further behind the U.S. Trade wars seldom produce good economic outcomes for anyone. But Europe is in a much worse condition to deal with the consequences than other parts of the world.

On the compendium of global issues, Europe has created its own messes. Its obsession with reducing its carbon footprint at the cost of growth has done little to save the planet" from warming while dramatically undermining the European economy. In the Middle East, the embrace of the Palestinian cause has led Europe to growing hostility to Israel, the only democracy in the region. Witness last weeks ludicrous indictment of Benjamin Netanyahu at the International Criminal Court and the earnest pledges by European leaders to arrest him if he sets foot on their soil. On China, reckless European pursuit of economic relations has created a dependency that will prove hard to break and has increasingly negative implications for Europes own security.

It was inevitable, given the rise of the Indo-Pacific, that the trans-Atlantic relationship would diminish in significance. It is regrettable too, since that relationship has proved so beneficial to the world for a century or more. The U.S. can survive the fraying of those ties. It isnt clear Europe can.
New Delhi: India has signed the Final Act of the Riyadh Design Law Treaty (DLT), reaffirming its commitment to fostering inclusive growth and strengthening its intellectual property (IP) ecosystem, the commerce ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

The treaty, adopted after almost two decades of negotiations under the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), seeks to harmonise industrial design protection processes globally, benefiting stakeholders across industries, including small and medium enterprises.

It will now be easier, faster and more affordable for designers the world over to protect their work both at home and abroad, marking a major step forward in empowering designers and fostering international collaboration in design, WIPO said last week.

The DLT introduces a standardised framework for industrial design registration, significantly reducing procedural complexities and the administrative burden for applicants, the ministry said. By aligning registration requirements across jurisdictions, the treaty aims to promote innovation and creativity while empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), startups, and independent designers, it said.

Also Read | Affle India takes on the big guns with 15 new AI patents The treaty aims to simplify industrial design protection through several key provisions. It introduces more flexible deadlines for filing and submissions, allowing applicants greater leeway.

As per the treaty document, there is now a mechanism to restore rights in case of lapses, ensuring that applicants can recover lost opportunities. Provisions have been added to make it easier to correct or add priority claims.

Applicants can file multiple designs in a single application, saving time and costs. Additionally, the treaty encourages countries to adopt electronic systems for design registration and facilitate the digital exchange of priority documents.

I view this as a pivotal step in fostering innovation, especially for startups and SMEs, said Pawan Prabhat, co-founder of Shorthills AI, a technology and Generative AI services firm. In the past, filing patents in India was complex and time-consuming, posing challenges for emerging businesses. However, with simplified IP processes, multi-design applications, and digital-first approaches, this initiative will accelerate patent filings. It creates an environment where creativity meets accessibility, allowing startups to protect their innovations efficiently.

Double-digit growth Indias rich legacy of creativity and craftsmanship underpins its robust policy framework supporting design as a catalyst for innovation and economic development, the ministry said.

India ranks among the top 10 globally for patents, trademarks, and industrial designs, Mint reported on 12 November. India recorded the fastest growth among the top 20 origins in patent applications, with a 15.7% increase in 2023, marking its fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth in this area.

Also Read | India ranks among top 10 globally for patents, trademarks, industrial designs With 64,480 patent applications, India now ranks sixth worldwide, crossing a threshold as Indian filings accounted for over half the total (55.2%) for the first time, as reported by Mint.
New Delhi: NBCC India Ltd. has set its sights on acquiring defunct public sector undertakings (PSUs) to redevelop and monetize their land, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter, as the state-run construction company seeks to leverage success in developing land for some government-owned companies.

The developer is in talks to acquire non-operational PSUs through a new subsidiary for monetizing their land banks, said the first person in the know, speaking on the condition of anonymity as details are not public yet. The company is in the process of acquiring a Mumbai-based PSU, which is defunct now and has land at key locations in different cities, the person said, without giving details as nothing has been finalized yet.

Depending on the potential of the land, the company will decide on whether to develop it as commercial or residential. The company is in discussions with government bodies at this stage," said the person.

The company may also look at becoming an equity partner for PSU land redevelopment in the future, said this person.

NBCC has been developing central government-owned land parcels across India for both commercial and residential purposes for a fee as the profit earned goes back to the centre. The Delhi-based company also acts as a project management consultant for the government's civil construction, earning a small percentage of the project cost as fee.

Also read | NBCC aims to double revenue to 25,000 crore by expanding real estate development: CMD Mahadevaswamy

The company's recent projects include residential colonies for Delhi Transport Corporation, a satellite township for Srinagar Development Authority and land development for Kerala State Housing Board.

Profits earned in the process of acquiring sick PSUs and redeveloping them will add to companys topline and profits. NBCC will build, develop projects and earn profits," the person quoted earlier said.

NBCC did not respond to Mint's emailed query.

The plan by NBCC could complement the governments plan to monetize non-core assets--mainly land--through National Land Monetisation Corporation that was registered in June 2022 as a 100% government-owned company to monetize non-core assets of public sector companies as well as other government agencies. It is estimated that public sector companies have nearly 3,400 acres of land and other non-core assets that will be monetized, Mint had reported earlier.

Analysts, however, say it will be challenging for NBCC to command a premium when competing with established brands, though it will have some advantage because of being a PSU.

The biggest challenge will be how the land will be bought or the real estate is developed as every such transfer of company land or real estate has the concept of unearned earnings which need to be shared with the local government," said Gulam Zia, senior executive director, Knight Frank India. After making all these payments, will creating real estate make sense in the key question here."

The land parcels given to PSUs are for specific purposes and are for creating job opportunities. When such land is turned into real estate, the market value of such land shoots up. The additional values thus generated are classified as unearned incomes". The urban local bodies then ask for a share of such earnings, Zia explained.

Moreover, NBCC will have to compete with private developers with a strong branding and the company's ability to draw a premium against such large companies will be questionable, Zia said. Another thing NBCC has to consider is the balance sheets and profit and loss statements of a PSUHow much of losses are they carrying?"

NBCC reported revenue from operations worth 2,458.73 crore in the second quarter ended September and 4,603 crore in the first half of the financial year. It's profit stood at 125.13 crore in Q2FY25 and 232 crore in the first half.

Also read | DLFs second going: Can the real estate giant succeed beyond its comfort zone?

To be sure, NBCC may have access to cheaper funds as public sector banks may have special rates for them, which will be an advantage, Zia said.

If successful though, the acquisition strategy by NBCC could become the preferred model for monetization of assets of sick PSUs.

NBCC has already signed memorandums of understanding with Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) and Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) to develop their land banks.

The company is developing a housing-cum-commercial project on MTNL's 13.88-acre land parcel located in West Delhi. The deal is worth 1,600 crore. It is now looking at MTNL properties in Mumbai as well as some other states but nothing is finalized yet.

We are looking to build and sell over a leasing model as it is likely to be more profitable," the first person quoted earlier told Mint. The due diligence is on and will be finalized after it is complete."

Among its other projects are redevelopment of Delhi Transport Corporation's bus depots at Harinagar & Vasant Vihar, New Delhi; and residential colonies at Harinagar & Shadipur, New Delhi at a cost of about 2,000 crore. It's also developing three colonies in Delhi's Sarojini Nagar, Netaji Nagar and Narouji Nagar at an estimated cost of about 24000 crore.

Among other projects, NBCC is building a satellite township at Rakh-Gund-Aksha, Bemina, Srinagar for the Srinagar Development Authority in a project worth about 15,000 crore. The company has also taken on a project to develop and monetize a land parcel of Kerala State Housing Board, Kerala for 2,000 crore.

Also read | Land purchases, joint development deals soar amid booming real estate demand

I think it (looking to acquire sick PSUs with a land bank) is a good strategy because NBCC definitely has expertise in construction," said Prashant Thakur, head of research and advisory at property consultant Anarock Group. They don't have expertise in selling. So, building and leasing it out would seem to be a good strategy."

The government would definitely benefit from this because it will be a way forward in their divestment plan or monetization of their stock, Thakur said. NBCC will [also] get access to prime land parcels within city limit."
The year 2024 has emerged as a stellar one for the Indian primary market, witnessing an unprecedented surge in activity. Companies from diverse sectorsincluding technology, consumer goods, green energy, and financial serviceshave successfully debuted on Indian stock exchanges, capitalising on favourable market conditions.

High-profile companies like Swiggy, Hyundai Motor India, Bajaj Housing Finance, Premier Energies, FirstCry, Ola Electric Mobility, and TBO Tek have listed their shares on exchanges, providing an opportunity for investors to participate in their growth journey.

302 stocks debuted on exchanges According to data from Trendlyne, 302 companies across both mainboard and SME categories have successfully raised funds so far this year, marking a sharp increase from the 238 listings recorded in 2023. Of the 302 IPOs, 204, or 67.54%, are currently trading above their issue prices.

The SME segment has been a key driver in this activity, accounting for 227 of the listings. These offerings have drawn significant attention from retail investors, many of whom have been attracted by the potential for substantial listing gains.

Notably, 133 SME IPOs achieved subscription rates exceeding 100 times, with 23 surpassing an extraordinary 500 times in retail subscriptions, underscoring the massive retail participation in this segment.

Reflecting the strong performance of SMEs, 156 IPOs are currently trading above their issue prices, with Owais Metal and Mineral Processing leading the charge, trading a remarkable 1,286% higher than its issue price. Additionally, 67 IPOs are trading 100% higher than their issue prices, a clear indicator of the market's enthusiasm for this space.

The mainboard segment, too, experienced substantial activity, with 75 companies from various sectors making their market debuts in 2024. This segment has similarly seen overwhelming investor demand, as 21 IPOs recorded subscription rates exceeding 100 times, indicating broad-based investor interest across diverse industries.

Currently, 48 IPOs are trading above their issue prices, with eight of them seeing gains of over 100%. Among the top performers, Jyoti CNC Automation leads, trading 268% higher than its issue price. It is followed by KRN Heat Exchanger and Refrigeration, Platinum Industries, and Premier Energies, with their stocks trading 140% to 260% above their issue prices.

Also Read | Will bribery allegations against Adani intensify FPI selling spree?

What's behind the IPO boom? The surge in IPO activity on Dalal Street can be attributed to stable macroeconomic fundamentals, enhanced market liquidity, and a significant increase in retail investor participation. This strong investor interest has not only resulted in robust subscription rates but has also expanded the investor base considerably. This is evident from a marked rise in demat account openings, highlighting the growing enthusiasm among individuals keen to invest in IPOs, especially in the SME segment.

Moreover, elevated valuations in the secondary market have prompted foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to shift their focus towards the primary market, adding another layer of activity to the ongoing IPO boom. Although FPIs have withdrawn substantial funds from listed stocks in recent months, their capital has been redirected into new offerings, driven by attractive valuations.

Also Read | Why retail investors continue to root for the underdogs

Meanwhile, retail investors, motivated by the potential for multibagger returns on listing day, have flocked to bid for nearly every SME IPO. This surge in retail participation has encouraged more mid- and small-sized companies to tap exchanges to raise funds, further fueling the IPO frenzy.

However, this heightened surge in retail participation has also raised concerns about potential market manipulation, prompting exchanges to implement a 90% price cap on SME IPOs to prevent excessive speculation and ensure a more balanced market environment.

India leads global IPO market Indias exceptional performance has placed it at the forefront of the global IPO landscape. According to a report by Ernst & Young India, the country accounted for a commanding 36% share of global listings in Q3 2024, surpassing the United States, which contributed just 13%.

The report also highlighted that India recorded its highest quarterly IPO activity in two decades, with 27 mainboard IPOs in the third quartera 29% rise compared to Q3 2023. These listings collectively raised $4.27 billion ( 36,027 crore), marking a 142% year-on-year increase in funds raised.

With a robust pipeline of upcoming IPOs, the momentum in the primary market is likely to continue in the months ahead.
Mumbai: Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN), the self-regulatory organization for the sector, expects the current bad loan stress that microlenders face to stabilize by January next year with new rules in place.

On Monday, the MFIN tightened the guidelines around microlending, after it first came out with the norms in July. The sectors self-regulatory organization (SRO) made key changes including reducing the number of lenders to a borrower to 3 from 4 earlier, and capping the maximum indebtedness of a borrower at 2 lakh, including both micro and unsecured retail loans.

The new guidelines are prudent and will bring down delinquencies in the system, the MFINs chief executive officer Alok Misra told Mint in an interview.

Read more: Delhivery is gradually finding its feet amid rising competition Stress peaking out is a multi-faceted factor, lending is a part of it. There might be other structural factors in the economy. Today it has been reported that there has been bumper Kharif output. Rabi sowing is in full swing. I hope by January things will stabilize, said Misra.

Under the new guidelines, the MFIN has also requested its members to stop lending to delinquent customers who have overdue loans for more than 60 days with an outstanding amount more than 3,000. Currently, lenders are not permitted to lend to customers with overdue for more than 90 days. If a loan is not serviced for 90 days, then it is classified as non-performing. The MFIN also proposes to seed PAN for 50% of the borrowers by March 2025, which is expected to strengthen the KYC process. The SRO clarified that other than processing fee and credit life insurance, no other charges can be deducted from the sanctioned loan amount.

Impact on growth Citi in its research report said that the new norms will adversely impact growth as 7-8% of the total assets under management is exposed to borrowers from 4 lender associations.

Misra, however, ruled out any further impact on loan growth or build-up of stress owing to these guidelines.

Even before, the MFIN had three lender norm as part of code of responsible lending. Considering the logic that there is a higher chance of somebody being delinquent if they have more lenders/credit, in the current situation, we have brought back the old norm. Since delinquencies continued to be high in September, we feel that tightening of underwriting will bring back credit discipline , said Misra.

We dont feel reducing the number of lenders will drive down funding. It will only rationalize liquidity and clients having more than stipulated lenders will have to taper to get within norms for fresh funding. Lenders may also deepen to white spaces to cover low penetration areas, he added, referring to the gap between the products and services a lender offers and the needs of customers.

Read more: Cement sector needs lady luck to smile on prices The MFI sector has seen a sharp asset quality deterioration in the first half of the fiscal due to a combination of factors like heatwave, slowdown in disbursement and rumours of loan waivers in the run-up to general elections. According to the quarterly report titled Micrometer released by the MFIN, the number of new loans disbursed by lenders in the first quarter fell 7.3% year on year. The portfolio quality (PAR 30 to 180 days overdue) also deteriorated to 2.69% as on 30 June 2024 from 1.80% during the same period a year ago. Portfolio at risk (PAR) is the percentage of MFI's loan portfolio that is overdue and at risk of default.

Last month, RBI banned two microlendersAsirvad Micro Finance Ltd and Arohan Financial Services Ltdfor charging usurious rates and non-adherence with the regulatory guidelines on assessment of household income and consideration of existing or proposed monthly repayment obligations in their microfinance loans.
SME stock Hi-Tech Pipes have given exceptional to its investors in the long term. Investors who had invested 1.5 lakh in its IPO in February 2016 would have turned 51 lakh till now.

Stock Split and IPO details Hi-Tech Pipes announced a stock split in January 2023, reducing the face value of each share from 10 to 1, effectively splitting one share into ten. The record date for the split was set as March 17, 2023. This move aimed to enhance stock liquidity, make shares more affordable to small investors, increase public participation in shareholding, and widen the shareholder base. Shareholders holding the stock in their demat accounts as of the record date were eligible for this benefit, resulting in a substantial enhancement in effective returns.

Hi-Tech Pipes launched its IPO as a fixed-price issue, raising 13.65 crore. The bidding period for the IPO spanned from February 15 to February 19, 2016, and the shares were subsequently listed on the NSE SME platform on February 25, 2016. The IPO price was set at 50 per share, with a minimum application lot size of 3,000 shares. As a result, retail investors needed to invest a minimum of 1,50,000 to participate in the offering.

 1.5 lakh to  51 lakh If an investor had remained invested in the scrip after share allotment, its minimum shareholding in the company had been 3000 company shares, which was lot size of the IPO. After 1:10 stock split in March 2023 at BSE, an allottee's shareholding would have surged 10 times or say 3000 x 10 = 30,000. Stock price today is around 170, which means absolute value of one's 1.50 lakh ( 50 x 3000, which was minimum money required to apply for the NSE SME IPO) had surged to 51 lakh ( 170 x 30,000).

Stock Price Trends The SME stock has demonstrated strong performance over the past year, gaining 50 percent. In 2024 year-to-date (YTD), it has risen by 48 percent. However, recent months have seen some declines, with the stock shedding nearly 7 percent in November, marking its third consecutive month of losses.

Hi-Tech Pipes achieved a record high of 210.75 in September 2024 but is currently trading at 167.90, over 20 percent below its peak. Despite this, it has surged 72 percent from its 52-week low of 97.60, recorded in December 2023, reflecting its resilience in the face of market fluctuations.

Also Read | Rekha Jhunjhunwala earns 105 crore from these two shares in 10 minutes

Recent Developments Hi-Tech Pipes has made significant strides in branding and fundraising. The company recently appointed Bollywood celebrity Hrithik Roshan as its brand ambassador, leveraging his widespread popularity to strengthen its consumer connection. "We are delighted to welcome Hrithik Roshan to the Hi-Tech Pipes family. His immense popularity and positive influence align seamlessly with our commitment to delivering superior products and services. We believe this collaboration will strengthen our connection with consumers and drive growth," said Ajay Kumar Bansal, Chairman and Managing Director of Hi-Tech Pipes Ltd.

Additionally, in October 2024, the company successfully raised over 500 crore through a Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP). The QIP received robust participation from leading domestic and international institutional investors, including Motilal Oswal Fund, Bandhan Mutual Fund, and LIC Mutual Fund. A total of 26,996,734 new equity shares were issued at 185.50 per share.

Earnings Performance Hi-Tech Pipes reported a consolidated net profit of 18.11 crore in the September 2024 quarter, a 72 percent year-on-year increase from 10.52 crore in the same quarter of the previous year. However, revenue from operations declined by 5.3 percent to 706.86 crore due to a steep reduction in raw material prices. Despite this, sales volumes rose 22.50 percent to 1.23 lakh tonnes, driven by strong demand for steel tubes, structural steel products, and value-added offerings.

Also Read | Circuit-to-circuit Multibagger stock hits upper circuit after a large order win

Ajay Kumar Bansal commented, "In Q2 FY25, our total sales volumes increased by 22.50 percent, reaching 1.23 lakh tonnes, driven by strong demand for steel tubes, structural steel products, and value-added products."

Hi-Tech Pipes continues to showcase robust growth and strategic advancements, capitalizing on industry opportunities and innovative measures like stock splits and celebrity endorsements. While the stock has faced some recent volatility, its long-term trajectory remains promising, driven by strong fundamentals, expansion in sales volumes, and investor confidence. For existing and potential investors, the companys ongoing developments signal a firm commitment to sustained growth and market leadership.
Leading rating agency Moody's announced on Tuesday, November 26, that it has cut the outlook on the ratings of seven Adani Group entities to 'negative' from 'stable', citing the US indictment of Chairman Gautam Adani and others on alleged bribery charges. According to news agency Reuters, the reduced ratings outlook will likely lower the pots-to-power conglomerate's access to funding.

Moody's affirmed the ratings on all seven entities of the multinational conglomerate -- Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd, two limited, restricted groups of Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL), Adani Transmission Step-One Ltd, Adani Transportation Restricted Group 1, Adani Electricity Mumbai Ltd and Adani International Container Terminal Pvt Ltd.

Moody's cuts ratings outlook on Adani entities "These rating actions follow the indictment of Adani Green Energy Ltd's chairman, Gautam Adani, and several senior management team members by the US Attorney's Office in a criminal case and the filing of charges by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a civil case," said Moody's.

"The change in the outlook on the seven Adani entities to negative considers the indictment of Adani and other senior Adani executives on bribery and other charges, which will likely weaken Adani Group's access to funding and increase its capital costs," said Moody's in its statement on Tuesday.

According to Reuters, Moody's rating action against Adani recognises the possibility of broader weaknesses in the governance structure across the rated Adani group entities and potential operational disruptions, including their capital spending plans, while legal proceedings are ongoing.

"Although the allegations and the charges made by the US Attorney's Office and SEC pertain to AGEL's chairman and senior management team members, we believe they could have a broader credit impact on all rated issuers, given Gautam Adani's prominent role as chairman of each of the rated entities or their parent companies and the controlling shareholder," it said.

Moody's said the group's project finance entities are not exposed to refinancing risk and do not require any substantial capital investment. However, they remain exposed to potential governance weaknesses and risks that could arise from any negative findings in the ongoing legal proceedings.

Moody's also added that an upgrade of the ratings is unlikely in the near term, given the negative outlook on all seven of the group's issuers. It said it could change the rating outlook to stable if the legal proceedings against the Adani Group conclude clearly with no negative credit impact.

Also Read: Kenya cancels proposed power transmission deal with Adani Group following US bribery indictment scandal

"A stable outlook will also be predicated on the group maintaining appropriate financial metrics for the respective ratings, demonstrating its retained access to funding to meet growth initiatives and refinancing requirements, and strengthening its governance practices across the group entities," it added.

"We could downgrade the ratings of the group entities if the legal proceedings lead to a material disruption to their operations or access to capital. A downgrade is also likely if the group cannot address or rectify governance issues associated with the ongoing legal proceedings".

US bribery indictment scandal against Gautam Adani Gautam Adani was allegedly indicted in New York, US, over his role in the multibillion-dollar bribery and fraud scheme. According to US authorities, the chairman of the ports-to-power conglomerate and seven other defendants, agreed to pay Indian officials over $250 million in bribes to obtain solar contracts.

Adani and his nephew Sagar are accused of orchestrating the scheme and misleading investors during a $750 million bond offering, which raised about $175 million from US investors. In the indictment unsealed by federal prosecutors in New York, Adani, 62, was charged with securities fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, and wire fraud.
Heres a quick look at stocks likely to be in focus in today's trade. Zomato: Food delivery aggregator Zomato opened its Qualified Institutions Placement (QIP) offering, setting a floor price of 265.91 per equity share for a total issue size of 8,500 crore. The company announced on November 23, 2024, that its shareholders had approved the capital raise through a QIP. This follows the board's decision last month to approve raising up to 8,500 crore via QIP. The funds will be utilized to strengthen the companys balance sheet.

BHEL: Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), in a consortium with Hitachi Energy India Ltd, announced it has secured a contract to establish two high-voltage direct current (HVDC) terminal stations. This is part of the Khavda Renewable Energy Zone Phase V project. The contract, awarded by Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL), aims to facilitate renewable energy evacuation from Khavda in Gujarat to Nagpur in Maharashtra.

New India Assurance: New India Assurance revealed it has secured a favourable ruling from the Income Tax Department for assessment years 2013-14 to 2019-20. Following appeals to the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), the company is entitled to a cumulative tax refund of 1,945.08 crore, including 489.22 crore as interest. The company also stated it is actively working with tax authorities to expedite the refund process.

Power Grid: Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd announced it has emerged as the successful bidder for a transmission system project to evacuate power from a renewable energy installation spanning Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The project, awarded under tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB), will be executed on a build, own, operate, and transfer (BOOT) basis. Power Grid received the letter of intent (LoI) for the project on November 25, 2024.

Vedanta: Vedanta is proceeding with its second dollar bond issuance in two months, targeting up to $500 million. The move comes as a test of global investor sentiment toward Indian offshore debt, following the US indictment of Adani Group founder Gautam Adani in a bribery case. The bonds will feature call options, providing flexibility for the issuer.

HDFC Life: HDFC Life Insurance disclosed a data breach involving customer information. In a stock exchange filing, the company reported receiving communication from an unidentified source sharing certain customer data fields with alleged malicious intent. HDFC Life has launched an information security assessment and data log analysis to identify the breach's origin and strengthen its security measures.

Ashoka Buildcon: Ashoka Buildcon announced it has received a letter of award (LoA) from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for a project worth 1,391 crore. The contract involves constructing a four-lane economic corridor from Bowaichandi to Guskara-Katwa Road along NH-116A in West Bengal under the hybrid annuity mode. The project is expected to be completed in 910 days, including the monsoon period.

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL): Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) announced its board has given in-principle approval to demerge its ice cream business into a separate listed entity. The decision aligns with Unilever's global strategy to separate its ice cream business and follows assessments by an independent committee of HUL directors. The demerger decision was initially announced in October 2024.

GE Vernova: Grid Equipments Private Ltd, the promoter of GE Vernova, announced an offer for sale (OFS) to divest up to 8.38 percent of the companys paid-up equity share capital. The OFS includes a base offer of 14,000,000 equity shares (5.47 percent of paid-up equity) and an option to oversubscribe by an additional 7,451,168 shares (2.91 percent). The floor price for the OFS has been set at 1,550 per share.
Raise your hand if you have encountered a dialog box on an app or a website where Yes" is brighter and more visible than a No", or the site you are buying from has sneakily added a new service or an item while charging you more money.

These traits, called deceptive patterns, are design decisions made by companies to subconsciously coerce users into making a decision, making a purchase, or ticking a box. Essentially, these are sneaky design tactics that online platforms use to nudge you into doing things you didnt plan on.

Although we may not be aware of the terminology, most of us have experienced this phenomenon. Recently, the landing page of a dining app showed me discounts at a restaurant I was at, but when I went on to pay the bill, I saw that the discount was only applicable to card holders of certain banks. This whole rigmarole just wasted my time and made me not trust the app," says Radhika Modi, a Delhi-based gender expert.

This kind of trickery is rampant in India. To highlight this behaviour, Bengaluru-based design agency Parallel partnered with The Advertising Standards Council Of India (ASCI) to study over 12,000 screenshots across more than 50 apps belonging to nine different industries.

Also read: Using AI in workflow to make work less stressful

The study found that 52 out of 53 apps have at least one deceptive pattern. It found that health-tech apps were found to have the highest usage of dark patterns, followed by those in the travel booking and fintech sectors. Privacy deception, which is tricking users into sharing more personal data than they should, and Drip Pricing, which is a pattern of slowly revealing the additional fees for a service or a product, were the most prominent patterns found in these apps.

These design choices are akin to someone adding extra charges to your phone bill for services you never subscribed to, says Robin Dhanwani, CEO and founder of Parallel. Drip pricing is a deceptive tactic our research highlights as a major issue in online travel bookings. Imagine youre booking a flight, and you see a great deal upfront. But as you move through the process, additional costs like baggage fees and convenience fees get tacked on in small increments," explains Dhanwani.

The study noted that 56% of users feel frustrated when they find out that the price is higher than the initial offer, but they feel compelled to complete the purchase.Himanshu Khanna, founder of design agency Sparklin and social network Openvy, points out that cab-hailing apps often make it difficult to cancel rides. One of the most prevalent patterns is to make cancelation or deletion difficult. Try booking through Uber, Ola or Rapido. And then try finding the cancel trip button. Its mostly and carefully hidden under one or two smaller buttons, and thus, modal windows," says Khanna. Interestingly, it seems this pattern is now borrowed for apps using drip pricing. You may try looking at the details of the amount you are paying when you order food the next time."

Companies often also use these tactics to drive up their stats like engagement or revenue. In India, it is prevalent because it is competition for users mind share, and being able to drive revenue is harder than in other markets. Sometimes, in order to succeed, companies end up crossing the line to achieve growth at all costs." Dhanwani said.

Through the study, Parallel and ASCI found out that younger users are more prone to impulsive decisions online. So, the companies pressurise them into making a decision through tactics like countdown timers. Mobile users are also at 30% higher risk, given they might not be able to read fine print on a smaller screen, the study suggested.

Globally, the UK-based organisation Deceptive.design (formerly darkpatterns.org), started in 2010, has been doing important work in this field  finding and documenting dark patterns and assigning them standard nomenclature. Founder Harry Brignull, an UX designer, started it to address the growing issue of manipulative, deceptive and coercive design patterns in the digital world, and terminology coined by the organisation has been quoted by lawmakers and experts, most recently by the European Commissions Digital Fairness Fitness Check, which evaluates whether the current EU consumer protection laws are fit for purpose to ensure a high level of protection in the digital environment.

Also read: A small, silent air purifier for smoggy days

Some of the most frequently occurring dark patterns Brignull and his team have found are comparison prevention, where the user struggles to compare products because features and prices are combined in a complex manner, or because essential information is hard to find; confirmshaming, where the user is emotionally manipulated into doing something that they would not otherwise have done; disguised ads, where the user mistakenly believes they are clicking on an interface element or native content, but its actually a disguised advertisement; creating fake scarcity or urgency; hard to cancel etc.

Dhanwani suggested that the way to fight back against dark patterns is to stay informed and question buttons or actions where you feel something is off. For instance, if all options lead you to spend more or sign up or you see timers or messages like Deal ends in 10 minutes," these are deceptive patterns pressuring you to take action.

There is no law against deceptive patterns in the country. However, in 2023, Indias consumer ministry released draft guidelines to crack down on these tactics. Manisha Kapoor, CEO & Secretary General of ASCI, said that the body is keeping a close watch on deceptive patterns. Users can report patterns like drip pricing and false urgency on tara.ascionline.in. Plus, it has developed a tool with Parallel called an ethical score calculator for developers to evaluate their apps along with a guideline for mindful design.

View Full Image Some examples of conscious or 'good' patterns among apps presenting information and choices clearly and upfront

Pattern recognition

Some common types of dark patterns in Indian apps:

Privacy Deception: Manipulates users into unknowingly sharing more personal data than intended

Interface Interference: Highlighting certain information on the interface and hiding others, misdirecting users into taking an action

Nagging: Constant pop-ups and notifications pushing users to take an action, making it difficult to finish their task at hand

Trick Questions: Deliberate use of confusing or vague language, misdirecting users into taking an action

Drip Pricing: Revealing additional fees gradually throughout the purchase process, making the final price higher than that originally quoted

(Source: consciouspatterns.in)
Beverly Dsouza isnt a die-hard Coldplay fan. A freelance social media marketer based in Mumbai, she listens to their music occasionally but doesnt particularly seek it out. Yet, when Coldplay announced their upcoming concerts in India, Dsouzas interest spiked, not because of a lifelong dream to see the band live, but because of what she calls the experience." After days of trying to snag a ticket, she came up empty-handed. Its about being there when everyone else is. Its not about the music, but about being part of that collective memory," she admits.

Dsouzas experience captures a modern phenomenon: Fear of Missing Out, or FOMO. In the digital world, FOMO has evolved into a pervasive social experience. Events like the Diljit Dosanjh or Coldplay concerts reveal how it shapes consumer behaviour and impacts mental health and social dynamics.

Also read: 10 ways to support someone with OCD

A matter of social standing

For many, attending an exclusive concert offers more than the thrill of live music; it creates a sense of elevated social standing. Prof. Sairaj Patki, faculty of psychology at FLAME University, Pune, explains that exclusive events foster a feeling of being in the know," especially when validated through social media. Social media facilitates boasting about such experiences among our network, where the likes and comments act as instant validation," Patki says, explaining how social media reinforces the need to share such moments.

Clinical psychologist Shirley Raj from MPower, a mental health care centre in Delhi, describes social media as a powerful amplifier of FOMO", giving users a filtered glimpse of others seemingly perfect lives. While it fosters a sense of connection, it simultaneously amplifies feelings of inadequacy," she explains. People see curated realities, which lead them to believe that everyone else is leading a more exciting life." This constant exposure to highlight reels of others experiences drives people to question whether their own lives measure up, fuelling a cycle of social comparison.

For Dsouza, her social media feeds became a constant reminder of what she was missing. The excitement she saw onlinefrom friends, influencers, and strangers alikestoked her anxiety about not being part of it. She describes checking her social feeds during the ticket rush as a never-ending loop of regret." Research shows that prolonged exposure to FOMO can lead to stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms. Patki explains that individuals who constantly seek social validation may feel restless and anxious, leading to more significant mental health issues. As FOMO intensifies, the anxiety over missing out turns into a relentless pursuit, often at the expense of mental peace," he explains. Raj supports this perspective, warning that the pressure to maintain a curated social image often leads to chronic stress and diminished self-esteem, as people compare their lives to others idealised versions online.

This constant drive to fit in, to maintain a certain social image, can lead to feelings of inadequacy," she explains, noting how FOMO-driven behaviours push individuals into cycles of regret and self-doubt. Dsouzas experience underscores this emotional cost. Her efforts to obtain a ticket were fuelled not by her love of the music, but by a fear of missing out on a shared experience. Raj warns that for many, FOMO becomes more than a passing feeling; it can lead to chronic self-comparison and reduced mental well-being.



Tapping into impulse

Events like concerts and marquee cultural events pull on more than just emotional stringsthey tap into financial behaviours, often compelling consumers to make impulsive purchases. With Coldplay tickets selling out within seconds and resale prices soaring to 3lakh or more, the concert frenzy highlights how irrational fear can override rational decision-making.

Patki explains that such events create urgency, pushing people to act quickly despite the cost. Consumers feel pressured to secure their spot, even if it means taking financial risks," he says . This can lead to financial strain as people justify spending beyond their means to maintain a sense of social relevance. For Mayank Nahata, co-founder of Anyway AI, Mumbai, attending the event is less about the music. Its about not missing out on something big," he says, adding that attending the concert is a cultural milestone, a social event people will talk about for months, and so expense is not an issue. His perspective illustrates how FOMOs influence extends beyond our emotional and social compulsions to even our financial choices.

When people constantly yield to FOMO, they may face serious long-term consequences, both financially and psychologically. Patki explains that those who constantly seek validation through social experiences are at higher risk for chronic stress and even social isolation, as they struggle to keep up with peers lifestyles. Raj adds that the compulsion to chase every experience can lead to burnout. In extreme cases, it may contribute to addictive behaviours, as individuals constantly seek validation through social media engagement.

So, what would she suggest to get out of this mindset? Consciously choose the Joy of Missing Out (JOMO), Raj suggests. This approach can help break this cycle, foster well-being and enhance life satisfaction.

Personal values over pressure

The idea of the joy of missing out encourages individuals to embrace the value of opting out. It promotes a more mindful approach to life, where people can choose experiences based on personal value rather than social pressure. Patki explains that this mindset allows individuals to pause, to disconnect from the rat race," and to embrace a simpler life that focuses on present moments and gratitude.

Raj advocates for JOMO as a sustainable way to cope with social pressures. Mindfulness practices, like setting boundaries and prioritizing personal goals, help individuals resist the impulse to compare," she says. By choosing to focus on their own values rather than others experiences, people can cultivate a stronger sense of contentment and self-worth.

Go offline, get real

Shirley Raj and Sairaj Patki suggest some practical strategies to mitigate the impact of FOMO:

Limit social media use: Reduce time spent on social media; it will help minimize exposure to idealized portrayals of others lives, which generally triggers FOMO.

Practice mindfulness: Adopt mindfulness practices as a way to become aware of thoughts and manage the impulse to compare. Mindfulness helps individuals focus on the present moment, leading to greater contentment and satisfaction," Raj explains.

Prioritize personal values: Set clear personal priorities. Doing so can empower you to make choices based on what truly matters, rather than social pressure.

Offline connections: Build meaningful offline relationships that can create a sense of belonging and reduce reliance on online validation for self-worth.

Divya Naik is an independent writer based in Mumbai.
The central government has launched the PAN 2.0 project, revising the country's current permanent account number (PAN) system. The Income Tax Department (ITD) plans to streamline and digitise the existing PAN system in India through PAN 2.0.

The PAN 2.0 project was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday, November 25.

PAN is a ten-digit unique alphanumeric number issued by the Income Tax Department (ITD). This number helps the department link all related transactions, including tax payments, TDS/TCS credits, returns of income, specified transactions, correspondence, and so on.

The present PAN system consists of three different platforms: the e-filing portal, the UTIITSL portal, and the Protean e-Gov portal. The e-filing portal is the online platform for filing tax returns. The UTIITSL portal is a website that provides services related to PAN cards, such as applying for a PAN card, updating PAN card details, linking PAN with Aadhaar, etc.

PAN 2.0 will integrate all these three portals into a single and unified portal. This platform will singlehandedly deal with all matters of PAN and TAN (Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number) such as application, updates, corrections, Aadhaar-PAN linking, re-issuance requests, and online PAN validation, the government said in a release on Tuesday. Through this, the tax department is trying to make the platform simple and user-friendly.

Also Read | What is Pan 2.0? Government aims to launch fully paperless and online system

According to the government, the PAN database has 78 crore PANs and 73.28 lakh TANs.

With this new platform, the government has answered a set of questions to familiarize PAN cardholders with it and address their queries.

PAN 2.0: All Questions Answered Question 1: What is PAN 2.0? PAN 2.0 Project is an e-Governance project of ITD for re-engineering the business processes of taxpayer registration services. The objective of the project is to enhance the quality of PAN services by adopting the latest technology. Under this project, ITD is consolidating all PAN allotment/updation and corrections-related processes. The TAN-related services have also been merged with this project. Besides, PAN authentication/validation through online PAN validation service will be provided to user agencies such as financial institutions, banks, government agencies, central and state government departments, etc.

Question 2: How will PAN 2.0 be different from the existing setup? a) Integration of Platforms: Presently, the PAN-related services are hosted on three different portals (e-Filing Portal, UTIITSL Portal and Protean e-Gov Portal). In the PAN 2.0 Project, all PAN/TAN-related services will be hosted on a single unified portal of ITD. The portal would host all end-to-end services related to PAN and TAN like allotment, updation, correction, Online PAN Validation (OPV), Know your AO, AADHAAR-PAN linking, verify your PAN, request for e-PAN, request for re-print of PAN card etc.

b) Use of technology for paperless processes: Complete online paperless process as against prevailing mode.

c) Taxpayer facilitation: Allotment/updation/correction of PAN will be done free of cost and e-PAN will be sent to the registered mail id. For physical PAN card, the applicant has to make a request along with the prescribed fee of 50 (domestic). For delivery of card outside India, Rs. 15 + India post charges at actuals will be charged to the applicant.

Question 3: a) Will existing PAN CARD holders be required to apply for a new PAN under the upgraded system?

b) Do you need to change your PAN number?

No. The existing PAN card holders are not required to apply for new PAN under the upgraded system (PAN 2.0).

Question 4: Do people have an option to get corrections done on PAN, like name, spellings, address change etc?

Yes. If existing PAN holders want to make any correction/updation of their existing PAN details such as email, mobile or address or demographic details such as name, date of birth, etc., they can do so free of cost after the PAN 2.0 Project commences. Till then, PAN holders can avail of the Aadhaar-online facility for updation/correction of email, mobile and address free of cost by visiting the below URLs:

https://www.onlineservices.nsdl.com/paam/endUserAddressUpdate.html

https://www.pan.utiitsl.com/PAN_ONLINE/homeaddresschange

In any other cases of updation/correction of PAN details, the holders can do so using the existing process either by visiting physical centres or applying online on a payment basis.

Also Read | Cabinet approves 7,798 cr for two railway projects and a space fund

Question 5: Do I need to change my PAN card under the PAN 2.0?

No. The PAN card will not change unless the PAN holders want any update/correction. The existing valid PAN cards will continue to be valid under PAN 2.0.

Question 6: a) A lot of people have not changed their addresses and are continuing with old address. How will the new PAN be delivered?

b) When will the new PAN Card be delivered?

No new PAN card will be delivered unless the PAN holder requests it owing to any updation/correction in their existing PAN. The PAN holders who want to update their old address can do so free of cost using an Aadhaar-based online facility by visiting the below URLs:

https://www.pan.utiitsl.com/PAN_ONLINE/homeaddresschange

https://www.onlineservices.nsdl.com/paam/endUserAddressUpdate.html

Accordingly, the address will be updated in the PAN database.

Question 7: a) If new PAN cards are QR code enabled, will older ones continue functioning as they are?

b) What will the QR code help us with?

The QR code has been incorporated in PAN cards since 2017-18. The same will be continued under the PAN 2.0 project with enhancements such as a dynamic QR code that displays the latest data present in the PAN database. PAN holders who have an old PAN Card without a QR code have the option to apply for a new card with a QR code in the existing PAN 1.0 ecosystem as well as in PAN 2.0.

The QR code helps in validating the PAN and PAN details.

Presently, a specific QR reader application is available to verify QR code details. The reader application displays complete details, such as a photo, signature, name, fathers / mothers name, and date of birth.

Also Read | Tax action in the Union budget for 2025-26 could set the course for Viksit Bhara

Question 8: What is - the Common Business identifier for all business-related activities in specified sectors?

In the Union Budget 2023, it was announced that for the business establishments required to have a PAN, the PAN will be used as the common identifier for all digital systems of specified government agencies.

Question 9: Whether Common Business identifier will replace the existing unique taxpayer identification number i.e. PAN?

No. PAN itself will be used as a Common Business identifier.

Question 10: What does the Unified Portal mean?

In the PAN 2.0 Project, all PAN/TAN-related services will be hosted on a single unified portal of ITD. The portal will have all end-to-end services related to PAN and TAN like allotment, updation, correction, Online PAN Validation (OPV), Know your AO, AADHAAR-PAN linking, verify your PAN, request for e-PAN, request for re-print of PAN card etc. This aims to simplify the processes and avoid delays in PAN services delivery, delays in redressal of grievances, etc., caused by the presence of various modes of receipt of applications (online eKYC/online paper mode/offline).

Question 11: For people holding more than one pan, how will you identify and weed out the extra PAN ?

As per the provisions of the Income Tax Act of 1961, no person can hold more than one PAN. If a person holds more than one PAN, he/she is obliged to bring it to the attention of the Jurisdictional Assessing officer and get the additional PAN deleted/deactivated.
Many investors start reviewing their portfolios at the end of the year and making calculated choices to reach their financial objectives. Selecting between Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Public Provident Funds (PPF), and Bank Fixed Deposits (FDs) for year-end investments is a frequent conundrum. While PPF offers a safe, tax-free return of 7.1% and bank FDs, give stability with returns of 6-7%, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offer a chance for greater growth potential with average yearly returns of 1215% that are correlated with market performance. Experts such as Siddharth Maurya and Gaurav Singh Parmar emphasise the significance of balancing risk and return to maximise wealth generation, tax efficiency, and flexibility to economic changes. They suggest a diversified strategy combining PPFs, Bank FDs, and ETFs.

During the last month of the calendar year, strategic investors start moving away from pointing their wealth in Bank Fixed Deposits and Public Provident Fund investments and instead decide to invest in exchange-traded Funds (ETFs), which can promise better returns in the long run, said Siddharth Maurya, Founder and Managing Director of Vibhavangal Anukulakara Private Limited.

Also Read | Bank Fixed Deposit Rates in India

Siddharth Maurya added that, considering the recent Nifty and Sensex ETFs' average annual returns of 12-15%, investing in them may also be a good option as they offer growth relative to the market, taxation benefits, and low expense ratios.

For prudent passive investors, targeting a global allocation of all three segments, say PPF 40%, Bank FDs 30% and ETFs 30%, would offer optimum return harnessing the risk. The present economic situation warrants a systematic investment approach where the various features of each investment are utilized in the right manner to achieve the goals of better wealth creation, tax efficiency and adaptability to changing circumstances, said Gaurav Singh Parmar, Associate Director, Fincorpit Consulting

Returms on bank FD, PPF, ETFs Currently, Bank FD returns are 6-7%, while PPF returns are 7.1% tax-free. ETFs represent a new sort of investment for those who want to achieve capital appreciation and grow their portfolios as well.

Read all our personal finance stories here
The Ministry of Labour & Employment has instructed the retirement fund body Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to ensure that employees' Universal Account Number (UAN) is valid to benefit from the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme.

According to the Union Budget 20242025, all eligible employees must activate their UAN and link their Aadhaar with their bank accounts to participate in the ELI Scheme. For employees to access various services, such as viewing and downloading PF passbooks, filing online claims, and receiving payments through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes, UAN activation and Aadhaar seeding are essential procedures. To guarantee that all employees who joined during the current fiscal year receive benefits under the ELI Scheme, employers are asked to ensure that all procedures are finished by November 30, 2024. If more advice is required, it can be obtained from the relevant EPFO office.

"Since, the benefits under ELI Scheme, will be disbursed through DBT to eligible employees, Employers are urged to ensure UAN activation and AADHAAR seeding in Bank Account by 30th November 2024, in respect of all their employees who have joined in the current financial year, starting with the latest joiners," WPFO in a circular dated November 22 said.

Also Read | Two ways for the EPFO to give itself an image boost

How to activate your UAN to get ELI benefits Go to EPFO Member Portal

Click on the "Activate UAN" link under "Important Links".

Enter your UAN, Aadhaar number, name, DOB, and Aadhaar-linked mobile number.

Employees should ensure their mobile number is Aadhaar-linked to access the full range of EPFO's digital services.

Agree to Aadhaar OTP verification.

Click "Get Authorization PIN" to receive an OTP on your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.

Enter the OTP to complete the activation.

A password will be sent to your registered mobile number upon successful activation.

EPFO net member addition up 9.33 pc to 18.81 lakh in September EPFO logged a 9.33 per cent growth in net member additions in September at 18.81 lakh compared to the year-ago month, according to payroll data released on November 20.

The labour ministry said EPFO enrolled around 9.47 lakh new members in September 2024, representing an increase of 6.22 per cent over September 2023.

It noted that this surge in new memberships can be attributed to growing employment opportunities, increased awareness of employee benefits, and EPFO's outreach programmes.
An NRI (Non-Resident Indian) who earns income both abroad and in India often encounters difficulties in managing finances. They also face challenges in keeping track of bank accounts in a foreign country, and sending money to their home account can be tricky. NRE (Non-Resident External) and NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) accounts are the solutions to these problems.

Why do we have NRE and NRO accounts? According to the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) guidelines, a Non-Resident Indian is not permitted to hold a regular savings account in their name in India. All funds earned abroad must be deposited into either a Non-Resident External (NRE) or Non-Resident Ordinary account. Continuing to use a standard savings account in India could result in significant penalties.

Opening an NRE or NRO account provides several benefits for NRIs. These accounts allow them to:

Transfer Foreign Earnings to India: NRIs can easily send money from abroad to their Indian accounts whenever needed.

Retain Indian Income in India: NRIs can keep their income generated from Indian assets (such as property, investments, etc.) in their home country through an NRO account. Thus, NRE and NRO accounts offer a structured and legally compliant way for NRIs to manage their finances effectively, both for transferring and retaining income.

What is a NRE account? A Non-Resident External (NRE) account is an Indian rupee-denominated account that provides complete security for funds. It can be opened in various forms such as savings, current, recurring, or fixed deposits. Funds deposited into an NRE account are converted from foreign currency to INR. One of the key features of an NRE account is the ability to transfer both the principal and interest to an international account without facing complications or restrictions.

It's important to note that only funds earned outside India can be deposited into an NRE account. The account also comes with an international debit card, allowing NRIs to transact and withdraw money 24/7. Furthermore, linking the NRE account to a mutual fund investment account makes it easy and instant to invest in mutual funds. Primarily, an NRE account is used for personal banking, business activities, and making investments in India.

What is a NRO account? A Non-Resident Ordinary Rupee (NRO) account is a type of account that NRIs use to manage their income earned in India. It can be opened as a savings or current account. This account allows account holders to deposit and manage their rupee funds (both earned in India and abroad) with ease.

NRO accounts can be opened either individually or jointly with a resident Indian or another NRI. The funds can be received in either Indian or foreign currency. Transfers from an NRE account to an NRO account are also allowed. However, it's important to note that the interest earned in an NRO account is subject to Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) as per Indian tax laws.

In essence, an NRO account is designed to help NRIs manage income generated in India, such as rental income, dividends, or any other domestic earnings.

Key differences between NRE and NRO account Both NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) and PIOs (Persons of Indian Origin) can open NRE and NRO accounts.

Basis NRE Account NRO Account Acronym Non Resident External Account Non Resident Ordinary Account Meaning It is an account of an NRI to transfer foreign earnings to India It is an account of an NRI to manage the income earned in India Joint Account Can be opened by two NRIs Can be opened by an NRI along with an Indian citizen or another NRI Deposits and Withdrawals Only foreign currency deposits are allowed. Withdrawals are allowed only in Indian currency. Can deposit in foreign as well as Indian currency and withdraw in Indian currency, subject to applicable TDS. Uses Deposit or move foreign income with full flexibility to transfer it back to the originating country Manage the income earned in India. Exchange Rate Risk Prone to risk Not prone to risk Taxability Interest earned is tax free Interest earned is taxable

Taxation In terms of tax benefits, NRE Accounts offer a significant advantage. The interest income earned on NRE bank accounts and fixed deposits is exempt from tax in India. This makes NRE accounts an attractive option for NRIs who wish to earn interest on their foreign earnings without worrying about taxation in India.

On the other hand, NRO Accounts are subject to taxation on the interest income earned, and the tax will be deducted at source at applicable rates. However, Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAA) may help reduce the tax burden for NRIs, provided they submit the relevant documentation to the bank. The DTAA benefits are not automatically applied, so it's essential to submit the required documents to avail of these benefits.

While NRE Accounts provide tax exemptions and allow easy repatriation of funds (transferring funds from India to abroad), NRO Accounts are more suitable for those who need to deal with rupee transactions within India, such as receiving rental income or income from other domestic sources. The choice between the two accounts depends on your specific financial needs and transaction requirements.

Also Read | Should NRE deposits be reported in ITR?

Conclusion There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to choosing the right account. As an NRI, your decision should be based on your specific financial needs and income sources. NRE accounts are ideal for holding foreign income converted into Indian rupees, with no repatriation limit.

In contrast, NRO accounts allow you to manage both foreign and Indian income, but they come with a repatriation limit of USD 1 million per financial year. Ultimately, the choice depends on your individual transaction and repatriation requirements.
I want to send money to my son in the US under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS). I understand that tax collected at source (TCS) has to be paid on each transaction. How can I reclaim this amount? Name withheld on request

It is assumed that you qualify as a resident in India, as per the provisions of the Indian foreign exchange regulations, and are remitting funds to your son under the LRS. Such remittance is subjected to tax TCS by the authorized dealers (i.e., the authorised dealer, or AD, bank), as per the applicable provisions of the Income Tax Act.

The TCS amount so collected by the AD bank, is required to be deposited by them to your credit, with the tax authorities along with the necessary reporting compliances. The AD bank is required to issue a TCS certificate to you in Form 27D, which should also reflect in your Form 26AS (annual tax credit statement) and annual information statement (AIS), as downloaded from your income-tax e-filing account).

Also Read: A letter to my fund manager You can claim the credit of TCS against your overall tax liability, while computing your advance tax instalments/self-assessment tax liability at the time of filing your income-tax return. The details of the TCS are required to be reported in Schedule Tax Payments of the income-tax return forms.

It may be noted that in case you are a salaried employee, effective 1 October 2024, you may also wish to declare such TCS to your employer in the specified form and manner, who will then consider a credit of the TCS while computing the tax deductible on your monthly salary.

Also Read: EPF has issues. Can you say No to it? The finance minister in her recent budget announced that LTCG on capital gains from mutual funds will be tax-exempt up to  1.25 lakh in a financial year. I want to understand from which financial year this will be applicable. Kindly clarify. Manoj

As per the Budget on 23 July 2024, now incorporated in the Finance Act 2024, certain amendments were introduced for capital gains. The key amendments with respect to taxation of capital gains on transfer of equity mutual funds (we have assumed thats your specific query) with effective dates, have been enumerated below.

With respect to gains on transfer of equity shares or equity-oriented mutual funds (EOMF), as defined:

In case of Long-Term Capital Gain (LTCG) i.e. EOMF held for more than 12 months prior to transfer, the tax-free limit has been increased from  1 lakh per year to  1.25 lakh per year. This increase is effective for LTCG on transfers made during entire FY25 (1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025) and onwards. The tax rate on LTCG has been increased from 10% to 12.5% (both without indexation). However, the increased tax rate is applicable only on transfers made on or after 23 July 2024. For transfers during 1 April 2023 to 22 July 2024, earlier tax rate of 10% is applicable.

Also, in case of short-term capital gain (STCG), the tax rate has been increased from 15% to 20% for transfers made on or after 23 July 2024. For sale during 1 April 2023 to 22 July 2024, earlier tax rate of 15% is applicable. There were various other amendments with specified effective dates.
On November 26, 2008, a horrific terrorist attack, later known as the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, unfolded in South Mumbai. Ten armed militants from the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) infiltrated the city via the sea and carried out a series of coordinated attacks across multiple high-profile locations, including the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, CST Railway Station, and Nariman House.

The attackers took hostages, engaged in shootouts with security forces, and carried out brutal assaults on civilians, resulting in the deaths of 166 people, including 18 security personnel, and leaving over 300 injured. The attacks lasted for nearly four days, with Indian commandos working tirelessly to rescue hostages and neutralize the attackers.

The 26/11 attacks remain one of the deadliest and most devastating terror incidents in Indias history, sparking widespread outrage and prompting global condemnation of terrorism. The event also brought attention to vulnerabilities in India's security system and led to significant changes in counter-terrorism measures.

Timeline: Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based terrorist group, carried out a deadly attack in Mumbai, targeting civilians with automatic weapons and hand grenades across several locations, including Chhatrapati Shivaji railway station, Leopold Cafe, two hospitals, and a theatre. While most of the attacks were over within hours, the violence continued at three sites where hostages were taken: Nariman House, a Jewish outreach center, and the luxury hotels Oberoi Trident and Taj Mahal Palace & Tower.

The standoff at Nariman House ended on November 28, with six hostages and two gunmen killed. The sieges at Oberoi Trident and Taj Mahal Palace ended the following day. In total, at least 174 people, including 20 security personnel and 26 foreign nationals, were killed, and over 300 were injured. Nine of the 10 terrorists were killed, with one captured.

The gunmen involved in the Mumbai attacks first traveled on a Pakistani-flagged cargo ship, then hijacked an Indian fishing boat, killing its crew. Once near Mumbai's coast, they used inflatable dinghies to reach Badhwar Park and Sassoon Docks, near the Gateway of India. The terrorists split into small teams to carry out their respective attacks. Kasab, one of the attackers, was later charged with various crimes, including murder and waging war. Although he initially confessed, he later retracted his statement. His trial, which began in April 2009, faced several delays, including a halt to confirm his age for trial. Kasab pled guilty in July but later recanted. In May 2010, he was found guilty and sentenced to death, with his execution carried out two years later.

In June 2012, Delhi police arrested Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari, suspected of training and guiding the terrorists during the attacks. Additionally, David C. Headley, a Pakistani-American, pleaded guilty in 2011 to aiding the terrorists in planning the attacks and was sentenced to 35 years in prison in January 2013.

Security measures to counter terrorism

The 26/11 attacks remain one of the deadliest and most devastating terror incidents in Indias history.
In a shocking incident, a young woman  hailing from Assam  has been found dead in an apartment in Bengaluru three days after she was allegedly killed by her boyfriend, with whom she entered the lobby on Saturday.

According to the report by NDTV, the woman, Maya Gogoi, entered the lobby of a service apartment in Bengaluru with her boyfriend on Saturday. The police suspect her boyfriend, Aarav Harni, is behind the murder.

The police found the decomposed body of Maya in the service apartment that she booked with her boyfriend, Aarav Harni, on 23 November.

Police claim Harni stabbed Gogoi to death on Monday and stayed with the body for an entire day before walking out of the rented apartment in the Indiranagar area on Tuesday. Police even showed that they also found blood on a blanket and pillows in the room.

Though the CCTV footage did not show any other person entering the service apartment between November 23 and 26.

The body of Maya was discovered after Harni left the rented room and police rushed to the spot along with the dog squad and forensic experts.

Maya used to work at a private firm and was renting an apartment in the HSR Layout.

With Harni stayed with the body for a day, the police are also probing whether Aarav Harni had plans to cut the body into pieces and dump them elsewhere.

Similar incident: In a similar incident, a 50-year-old woman was drugged and killed in Jodhpur, Rajasthan on October 26. It was alleged that the accused was addicted to gambling and wanted to steal jewellery worn by the victim.
Following the Supreme Court's call for a review of restrictions on physical classes due to air pollution, the Centre's air quality panel instructed schools and colleges in Delhi-NCR on Monday to switch to a "hybrid" mode for classes up to 12th standard.

Poor air quality, exacerbated by unfavorable weather conditions, typically lasts for extended periods during winter, from November to January.

During this season, Delhi frequently experiences air quality levels that trigger strict measures under the third and fourth stages of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which severely disrupt the education system and impact the quality of learning.

In a statement, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) noted that most primary schools in Delhi and other National Capital Region (NCR) areas lack the resources to conduct classes entirely online.

It said the students of Classes 10 and 12, along with their school authorities, are the hardest hit by the stage-4 restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). These students are required to attend physical classes for practical lessons, tests and extra tutorials needed for board and competitive examinations, it said.

The panel directed the state governments to ensure that all classes up to standard 12 as well as college and other educational institution classes are conducted in a "hybrid" mode -- both physical and online -- wherever feasible. This applies to the NCT of Delhi and the NCR districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar.

"The option to exercise an online mode of education, wherever available, shall vest with the students and their guardians," it said.

It said the state governments may also consider conducting classes in a hybrid mode in all other areas in the NCR.

However, it also said the choice of online education, wherever available, should rest with the students and their guardians.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court asked the CAQM to consider restarting physical classes in schools and colleges in the NCR and adjoining areas, noting that students are being deprived of mid-day meals and lack the wherewithal to attend virtual classes.

However, the court declined to relax the GRAP stage-4 anti-pollution restrictions, emphasising that the curbs could only be eased if there was a consistent decrease in AQI levels.

The restrictions on physical classes in schools and colleges were imposed recently due to severe air pollution.

The Directorate of Education (DoE) has directed the heads of the government, government-aided, unaided, recognised and private schools of the DoE, NDMC, MCD and Delhi Cantonment Board to conduct classes in the hybrid mode after the CAQM's order.

"All the heads of schools are hereby further directed to disseminate this information to the parents and guardians of the students immediately," it said.

AQI very poor category

At 7 am, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 382, falling under the 'very poor' category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

A dense layer of smog enveloped the National Capital, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) in several areas remaining in the 'Very Poor' category.

Despite the smog, train services continued operating near New Delhi Railway Station.

For the past 4-5 days, the city's AQI has been in the 'Severe Plus' category, indicating hazardous air quality.
An incident in Hyderabad has come to light where vigilant employees at a State Bank of India (SBI) branch saved a senior citizen from being conned 13 lakh in a scam involving a so-called digital arrest.

According to a report by NDTV, fraudsters targeted a 61-year-old child specialist by telling him that he was under digital arrest and must not tell anyone about it.

The senior citizen went to the SBI branch and told a bank staffer that he wanted to break fixed deposits to withdraw the money, the report said.

After noticing the tense face of the senior citizen, the staffer took him to the branch manager Kumar Gaud. The senior citizen told the manager he was planning to buy a property.

When asked where he was buying the property, the customer said he had not decided yet. This made us more suspicious, a bank employee told NDTV.

After this, he was told to return with a family member.

Also Read | How social engineering scamsters have weaponized fear to defraud victims

We denied to transfer the money for three days, an employee said, as per the report.

On his third visit, the bank connected him to 1930, the national helpline for reporting cybercrime, where he was told that there was nothing called digital arrest.

After talking on the cyber helpline, he breathed a sigh of relief and became convinced that he was on the verge of losing money.

Later, he told the bank staff that during his visits to the branch, he was on a call with the scamster.

Also Read | TRAI takes strong action to combat spam calls and SMS in India

Digital Arrest Case in Noida Recently, a Noida-based woman was duped of 34 lakh in a case of digital arrest by cyber criminals who threatened her with fake notices by the Enforcement Directorate.

The fraudsters claimed that a parcel was being sent from Mumbai to Iran in her name containing five passports, two debit cards, two laptops, 900 US dollars and 200 grams of narcotics, police said.

According to Nidhi Paliwal's complaint, the fraudsters sent her a complaint via WhatsApp and asked her to send 34 lakh.

Paliwal said in her complaint that an accused also video-called her on Skype with the video switched off.

What is a 'Digital Arrest' scam? Digital arrest is a kind of fraud in which scamsters tell their target he/she is under digital arrest and must remain connected to them through a video or audio call.
A fire broke out in a high rise residential building in Kalyan area of Thane district on Tuesday evening.

The fire incident took place on the 15th floor of 17 storey Vertex Soliaire building in Kalyan.

Soon, the fire tenders were rushed to the spot at around 6.30 pm to douse the flames. The rescue work is underway.

The reason behind the fire is not known yet.

"Fire broke out on the 15th floor of 17 storey Vertex Soliaire building in Kalyan. Fire brigade and police have reached the spot and rescue work is underway," said Thane additional CP Sanjay Jadhav.

No casualties were reported in the blaze.

Noida building fire A woman and her two children trapped on the third floor of a society building in Noida were rescued after a fire broke out on the ground floor, officials said on Tuesday.

No casualties were reported in the incident.

The fire, that broke out late Monday at Mayur Gold Apartment in Balaji Enclave Society of Bisrakh area, destroyed six vehicles on the ground floor, they said.

Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Pradeep Kumar Choubey said that on Monday night, the blaze was caused by a short circuit on the ground floor of the building.

Upon receiving information, four fire tenders were dispatched to the site. The fire was brought under control after 30 minutes, he said.

During the incident, a woman on the third floor with her two children shouted for help, following which fire department personnel and police safely evacuated them, the CFO added.

He said that there were no casualties in the incident.

Bilaspur fire A 21-year-old disabled woman died after a fire broke out at her home in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur district, officials said on Tuesday.

The incident took place in Manjhedwan village of the district, when the woman, who belonged from a poverty line family, was alone at her home while her mother had gone to bring grass, they said.

The girl was warming herself near the stove when her clothes accidently caught fire. In an attempt to escape, she ran towards the bed, which also caught fire, Panchayat Pradhan Pankaj Chandel said.

Upon hearing the noise, the neighbours ran to extinguish the fire and took the girl out of the room, Chandel said.
Nithin Kamath, the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Indian brokerage firm Zerodha, recently took to social media to share his thoughts on India's vast diversity, contrasting it with the more uniform nature of several Western countries.

In a post shared on X on Tuesday, November 26, Kamath reflected on his travels across several European countries, noting how each country seemed cut, copied, and paste with only minimal differences.

I recently returned from visiting several countries in Europe. Everything feels like a cut, copy, and paste with very small differences, said Kamath in his post on X.

He compared this with India, which he described as more like a continent than a country due to its rich diversity in terms of languages, food, culture, etc, often varying widely even within the same state.

In contrast, India is more like a continent than a country. The diversity in terms of languages, food, culture, etc., between the 28 states and within each state is nuts, said Kamath. Every time I think of this, I am amazed at how the country actually came together, he said.

Also Read | Power Play: Kamaths unlock new level with investment in gaming stock

This isn't the first time Kamath has spoken about India's diversity. In an earlier post from August 21, 2023, he highlighted the idea of India being many countries in one, saying that what works in one region may not be applicable in another.

I guess the right way to think of this is, India is many countries in one. What works in one state or region may not work in another, he said.

India has 140 crore people, and if X% can become customers because of Y% in a developed country, is a dangerous line of thinking for founders and investors, said Kamath in August 2023.

The earlier post also included a map of India, comparing the population of India to several other countries.

Netizens React Kamath's latest social media post sparked a wave of reactions from netizens, many of whom agreed with Kamath's take on India's unparalleled diversity.

Despite being considered a single nation, India is home to many ethnic groups, each with unique customs and traditions, leading to huge cultural variations even within a single state, said a netizen Amit Misra, responding to Kamath's post. India has over 120 languages and 19,500 dialects spoken across the country, he said.

Others, like Amit Vankudre, delved into the philosophical aspect of India's diversity, discussing the acceptance of a variety of lifestyles, cultures, gods, etc., without any standardisation.
New Delhi: The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), a vital safety net for the rural poor, is unlikely to receive increased funding in the FY26 budget. Allocations are likely to remain at FY25 levels, reflecting the governments confidence in a recovering rural economy, two people aware of the matter said.

However, funding adjustments could be considered mid-year if severe disruptions, such as significant rural distress arise, the people mentioned above said requesting anonymity.

Also read | MGNREGS unlikely to see higher allocations in FY25 on hopes of rural recovery The scheme's funding, closely tied to India's rural economic health, saw a spike in FY24 when economic challenges led to higher demand for work.

While 60,000 crore was initially budgeted for FY24, the government had to seek an additional 14,524 crore in supplementary grants, raising the total allocation to 74,524 crore.

Steady funding In contrast, FY25 funding has remained steady at 86,000 crore, with spending unlikely to exceed this amount due to a fall in rural job demand.

"The MGNREGS spending is unlikely to overshoot the budgeted limit in FY25 as better monsoons and improved agricultural performance have reduced rural distress, subsequently lowering demand for MGNREGS work," the first person mentioned above said.

"Subsequently, the allocations for MGNREGS in the upcoming budget are likely to remain at the levels maintained in FY25," the first person mentioned above added.

Data from the ministry of rural development shows a consistent decline in job demand under MGNREGS over the past year.

Also read | MGNREGS work demand falls in FY25 as spending slows and rains lash In October 2024, 16.97 million households sought work under the scheme, a 7.6% drop from the same period last year.

Moreover, the average number of employment days provided per household under the scheme has fallen sharply to 38.48 days in FY25 (as of 25 November), compared to 52.08 days in FY24.

This decline coincides with a broader rural recovery driven by robust monsoons and increased agricultural activity.

Experts pointed to reduced government spending during the first quarter of FY25, largely due to the general elections, which temporarily halted state-backed activities such as rural housing construction.

Wage employment guarantee MGNREGS guarantees 100 days of wage employment per year to poor rural households.

Demand for these jobs typically rises during periods of economic distress, serving as a barometer of rural economic health.

Days under the scheme usually increase when the overall rural economy is weak and people are out of work.

However, with the rural economy showing signs of resilience, the government appears focused on maintaining fiscal discipline.

Also read | Mint Explainer: How sustainable is India's rural consumption boom? Experts said MGNREGS acts as an automatic stabilizer, providing jobs as a last resort when demand exceeds supply and allowing people to opt for market jobs when supply surpasses demand.

"It all depends on requirements at the rural level. There is always scope to enhance the allocations later under additional demand for grants after knowing the requirement at the ground level," said Bhanumurthy N.R., director, Madras School of Economics.

"There is a clear indication that rural consumption has increased for various reasons, particularly in state government expenditure, cash transfer schemes., etc. Non-farm activity has also picked up," he added.
The Home Ministry has been asked to decide on the citizenship of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi by November 19. The interim order was passed by the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday as it heard a PIL filed by a Karnataka BJP worker  S Vignesh Shishir. A CBI probe had also been initiated into the matter earlier this year.

The Bench comprising Justice Attau Rahman Masoodi and Justice Subhash Vidyarthi has directed that the government to share the outcome of the representation on December 19. The Centre had acknowledged the representation in late September and it remains under process.

The petitioner had moved the High Court after he failed to get a reply on two representations sent to the Home Ministry seeking the cancellation of his citizenship.

According to Shishir, there is evidence to suggest that the Leader of Opposition actually holds British citizenship. He had also sought a CBI investigation into the matter. A similar plea also came before the Delhi High Court earlier this month as former BJP MP Subramanian Swamy sought the cancellation of Gandhi's Indian citizenship.

I also appeared before the CBI in this case and tendered my very confidential evidence with regard to this matter. The matter is currently under investigation by the CBI. Various investigating agencies of the country are conducting the investigation, Shishir had told the Delhi HC.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das was admitted to Apollo Hospital in Chennai earlier today due to a minor health issue. According to the RBI, Das experienced acidity and was taken to the hospital for observation.

Reserve Bank of India Governor Shri Shaktikanta Das experienced acidity and was admitted to Apollo Hospital, Chennai for observation. He is now doing fine and will be discharged in the next 23 hours. There is no cause for concern, an RBI spokesperson said in a statement.

The central bank has assured that the Governors condition is stable, and he is expected to be discharged within a few hours.

RBI Governors' next innings The government is reportedly planning to extend the tenure of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das for a second time, according to a Reuters report. If approved, Das would become the longest-serving RBI governor since the 1960s, marking a historic milestone for the central bank.

Das, who took office in December 2018, has been a key figure in stabilizing the RBI during a period of tension between the central bank and the government. Known for his close rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dass leadership has been instrumental in navigating several economic challenges.

Also Read | Enviro Infra Engineers IPO DAY 3 Live Updates: Issue booked 15x on final day

The Governors current term is set to end on December 10. Having already surpassed the standard five-year tenure for RBI governors in recent decades, an extension would place Das in the league of Benegal Rama Rau, who served as governor for 7.5 years between 1949 and 1957.

Also Read | Adani Group stocks slide up to 7% as Fitch places select bonds on negative watch

According to two government sources, no alternative candidates are currently under consideration, and a selection committee has not been formed. The likelihood of at least a one-year extension underscores the governments confidence in Dass stewardship of the central bank.
Chennai Weather: As a deep depression is developing over the Bay of Bengal, which is moving towards Sri Lanka, the Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai said Tamil Nadu's coastal and delta districts are likely to experience intense rainfall activity for the next five days from Tuesday, November 26.

Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in three central districts for today and in two districts tomorrow.

Under its influence, heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places in Ramanathapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Perambalur, Kallakurichi, and Chengalpattu districts.

Also Read | AQI today: Delhi NCR struggles with worsening air quality

Heavy to very heavy rain at a few places with extremely heavy rain at one or two places is likely to occur over Cuddalore and Mayiladuthurai districts and Karaikal area, the weather department said in its bulletin.

Ariyalur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Villuppuram, Puducherry, Sivaganga, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, and Tiruvannamalai districts are likely to receive very heavy rain, it said.

The depression over central parts of south Bay of Bengal (BOB) and adjoining East Equatorial Indian Ocean moved west-northwestward and lay centred today over southwest BOB and adjoining East Equatorial Indian Ocean near Trincomalee, Nagapattinam and Puducherry, it said.

This system, which was moving nearly northwestwards will intensify into a deep depression and is likely to move towards Sri Lanka-Tamil Nadu coasts, the bulletin said.

Owing to heavy rains, schools in Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Tiruvarur districts remained shut on Wednesday, November 20.

Earlier in last week, the district administration of Nagapattinam, Thoothukudi, and Karaikal districts had declared a school holiday on November 19. In Karaikal, schools and colleges were closed, while in Thoothukudi, only schools were closed, with colleges remaining operational.

Chennai and its suburbs are expected to see moderate rainfall on Tuesday, along with thunderstorms and lightning in some areas. The skies will be predominantly cloudy.

Since October 1, Chennai has received 55 cm of rainfall, resulting in a 9% deficit, while Tamil Nadu has seen 33 cm of rainfall, which is a 1% deficit.
All government and private schools, government-aided schools and colleges in Puducherry and Karaikal will be closed on Wednesday, November 27, due to heavy rainfall predictions, Puducherry Education Minister Arumugam Namassivayam said on Tuesday, newswire ANI reported.

Parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry received heavy and extremely heavy rainfall on November 26. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday that heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected on November 28 and heavy rainfall on November 29.

Also Read | Chennai Weather: Tamil Nadu districts to witness intense rain for next 5 days

Deep depression developing over Bay of Bengal A deep depression has been developing over the Bay of Bengal and moving towards Sri Lanka. Beginning on Tuesday, November 26, this has resulted in intense rainfall in the region.

The Depression over SouthwestBay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 12 kmph during past 6 hours, intensified into a deep depression and lay centred at 0830 hours IST of today, the 26th November 2024 over the same region near latitude 6.3N and longitude 82.8E, about 310 km southeast of Trincomalee, 590 km south-southeast of Nagappattinam, 710 km south-southeast of Puducherry and 800 km south-southeast of Chennai (SIC), IMD said in a post on X.

The depression will continue to move north-northwestwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm on November 27; following this, it move towards the Sri Lanka Coast for two days, the post added.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed in a few coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry due to heavy rainfall predicted from November 26 to November 28, reported PTI.

NDRF teams have been deployed to Karaikkal, Tiruvarur, Cuddalore, Nagapatnam, Maiyladuthurai, and Thanjavur. The teams are self-contained and have all the equipment required for search and rescue operations, communication and personal protection in emergencies. The NDRF's control room in Arakkonam is intensely monitoring the situation and making all efforts along with the State Emergency Operation Control Room in Tamil Nadu.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined Constitution Day celebrations in the Supreme Court on Tuesday  hailing the huge phase of transformation currently underway in India. He also flagged the full implementation of the Indian Constitution within Jammu and Kashmir. Modi paid homage to the victims of the Mumbai terror attack, which occurred on this day in 2008, and said it is the country's resolve that all terror groups challenging its security will be given a befitting reply.
Delhi, India  Business Wire India Indias digital marketplace is massive. With hundreds of millions shopping online, its a place where convenience and commerce blend into an irresistible promise. But beneath this booming economy, theres a less glamorous sidea quiet frustration simmering in countless homes across the country. For every quick delivery, theres a faulty product, an unexpected charge, a delayed refund, or a deafening silence from customer service. This is where Shikayathai.com comes in, like an uninvited but necessary guest at the dinner table of Indias consumer economy. Founded by Alexander Turilin and Alexander Eroshkin, two Russian entrepreneurs who know their way around a startup, Shikayathai.com wasnt built to just register complaints. It was designed to reshape the balance of power in the Indian marketplace, one claim at a time. The story begins not with Shikayathai.com but with Turilin and Eroshkins journey into India. After selling one of Russias top EdTech companies to the Russian media giant, the duo found themselves on Indian soil, building Coding Invadersa professional education platform that raised millions and taught over 25,000 students. They came to understand not only Indias appetite for digital progress but also its vulnerability. They noticed something strange: a resigned acceptance among consumers when things went wrong, a sense that companies were too big, too distant to be held accountable. That unshakeable belief"Nothing will change"is precisely what they set out to challenge. When the Little Guy Wins Take Siddhant Mehta, for instance. Siddhant was a tech enthusiast who decided to splurge Rs.70,000 on a laptop from a popular e-commerce company. The laptop arrived, but the excitement didnt last. It was defective. Siddhant did what any rational consumer would do: he contacted customer service. But his emails went unanswered, and his frustration grew. Days turned into weeks, and he began to feel like he was talking to a wall. Then, Siddhant stumbled upon Shikayathai.com. Without any legal jargon or complicated procedures, he filed his complaint. And then, something magical happened. The e-commerce company, which had previously ignored him, suddenly responded. Within days, Siddhant had his money refunded. Your portal worked wonders! he exclaimed. In that moment, Siddhant experienced something new: the realization that even a single complaint could make a difference. It wasnt just Siddhant who felt empowered. Shikayathai.com had handed him a new kind of powera simple, direct way to demand accountability. Siddhants success wasnt just his own; it was proof that Shikayathai.coms model was more than theory. It was real. The Power of a Platform But it wasnt just about Siddhant. Shikayathai.coms impact was felt by Haroon Rasheed, too, who found himself stuck with the wrong size shoes. Hed ordered size 10 from an online grocery shop, but size 7 arrived. Weeks of silence from customer service left Haroon frustrated, convinced hed wasted his money. Yet, just days after filing his claim with Shikayathai.com, Haroon saw his refund. The online grocery shop, once silent, was suddenly responsive. The process was so seamless that Haroon was left wondering why hed ever tried any other way. Then theres Maria Sophi, a professional looking for a new home. She had paid a popular brokerage-free proptech company for a property search service, expecting a smooth experience. But the service was never activated. Calls, and emailsall ignored. Maria felt like shed paid for air. Turning to Shikayathai.com, she lodged her complaint. Within days, that popular brokerage-free proptech company activated her service. Maria didnt need a lawyer, didnt need to understand complex legal terms; she just needed Shikayathai.com. The Bigger Picture These stories arent isolated anecdotes; theyre chapters in a larger story about Indias evolving consumer landscape. According to the National Consumer Helpline, over 500,000 e-commerce complaints were registered between 2017 and 2021. Yet, for every complaint logged, there are countless others that go unreported. Issues with defective products, hidden charges, unkept promises, and unresponsive customer service are so commonplace that many people have stopped expecting results. The government has made strides, enacting the Consumer Protection Act of 2019 and introducing platforms to streamline complaints. But with 67% of grievances still unresolved long after theyre filed, these initiatives struggle to keep pace with consumer needs. Shikayathai.coms role in this environment is clear. It provides a direct line of communication that cuts through red tape and bureaucratic delays. Consumers dont need legal expertise or patience; they only need to be willing to take a chance on a platform that, for many, has already delivered results. A Mission to Change the Culture For Turilin and Eroshkin, Shikayathai.com is more than just a platformits a cultural shift. Each success story, each refund, each apology from a company is more than just a win for the consumer; its a crack in the wall of corporate indifference. They want to show Indias 800 million internet users that they dont have to accept poor service, that a complaint isnt just a cry into the void. In Siddhants case, that Rs. 70,000 wasnt just moneyit was a principle. For Haroon, it wasnt just about getting the right shoe size; it was about being respected. And for Maria, the property service wasnt just a transaction; it was a reminder that she mattered. With every resolved complaint, Shikayathai.com isnt just helping individualsits pushing back against a system thats been tilted in favor of big business for too long. Its a reminder that the smallest voices can still make the biggest companies listen. And for Turilin and Eroshkin, thats not just a business goal; its a mission. (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
Top News on Nov 26: From Nifty, Sensex snap 2-day winning run to Moodys ratings and SC on EVM to Ola S1 Z launch, here are today's top stories.

Stock Market Today After a sharp rally in the last two trading sessions, Indian markets struggled to maintain momentum on Tuesday, November 26 as trade tensions resurfaced, triggered by President-elect Donald Trumps tariff announcements on imports from China, Mexico, and Canada.

The Nifty 50 ended the session with a modest drop of 0.11%, closing at 24,194, while the Sensex also posted a slight loss of 0.13%, settling at 80,004. Likewise, the Nifty Midcap 100 index also ended the session with a slight gain of 0.02% at 55,914, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 index managed to post a gain of 0.82% at 18,265. READ MORE.

Moodys slashes rating outlook on seven Adani companies Leading rating agency Moody's announced on Tuesday, November 26, that it has cut the outlook on the ratings of seven Adani Group entities to 'negative' from 'stable', citing the US indictment of Chairman Gautam Adani and others on alleged bribery charges. According to news agency Reuters, the reduced ratings outlook will likely lower the pots-to-power conglomerate's access to funding.

Moody's affirmed the ratings on all seven entities of the multinational conglomerate -- Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd, two limited, restricted groups of Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL), Adani Transmission Step-One Ltd, Adani Transportation Restricted Group 1, Adani Electricity Mumbai Ltd and Adani International Container Terminal Pvt Ltd. READ MORE.

NTPC Green Energy launches JV with Maharashtra NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) has incorporated a 50:50 joint venture (JV) with Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MAHAGENCO) to develop, operate and maintain renewable energy parks in the state of Maharashtra, according to the BSE filing on Tuesday, November 26. READ MORE

Ola S1 Z and Gig range launched in India Ola Electric has launched two new electric scooter ranges, the Ola S1 Z and Ola Gig, aimed at gig workers and urban commuters. Each range features two models designed to offer affordability and innovative battery technology. READ MORE

Supreme Court on EVM tampering Dismissing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the reintroduction of ballot paper voting in elections, the Supreme court on Tuesday remarked that what happens is, when people win, the election EVMs (electronic voting machine) are not tampered.

A plea filed by K A Paul, who said he is the president of an organisation which has rescued over three lakh orphans and 40 lakh widows, had sought several directions including a directive to the Election Commission to disqualify candidates for a minimum of five years if found guilty of distributing money, liquor or other material inducement to the voters during polls. READ MORE.

Next Maharashtra CM Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde resigned on Tuesday and was asked by the governor to serve as caretaker CM for the time being. Deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis also reached the governor's office this morning to tender their resignation.

Despite the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance securing a decisive victory with 230 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, the ruling coalition has yet to reach a consensus on who should be the next CM. READ MORE.

Israel strikes building in central Beirut Israel on Tuesday launched air strikes on building in central Beirut and issues new evacuation warnings ahead of expected vote on ceasefire deal. READ MORE.
Three workers lost their lives in a fire that erupted at a furniture factory in Greater Noida early Tuesday.

As reported by PTI citing Ashok Kumar Sharma, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Greater Noida), stated that the fire was reported at around 8:15 am from the factory located in the Site 4 area, within the jurisdiction of the Beta 2 police station.

Upon receiving the information, local police and fire brigade teams immediately reached the spot, and the fire was brought under control by the fire unit, Sharma said.

The officer said three people who worked in the factory died in the blaze and the bodies have been sent for postmortem.

Those killed were identified as Gulfam, 23, Mazhar Alam, 29, and Dilshad, 24.

Gulfam hailed from Mathura district while Alam and Dilshad both belonged to Bihar, the police said.

Sharma said efforts were underway to ascertain the cause of the fire.
Dismissing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the reintroduction of ballot paper voting in elections, the Supreme court on Tuesday remarked that what happens is, when people win, the election EVMs (electronic voting machine) are not tampered.

A plea filed by K A Paul, who said he is the president of an organisation which has rescued over three lakh orphans and 40 lakh widows, had sought several directions including a directive to the Election Commission to disqualify candidates for a minimum of five years if found guilty of distributing money, liquor or other material inducement to the voters during polls.

Dismissing a PIL, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and P B Varale said, "What happens is, when you win the election, EVMs (electronic voting machine) are not tampered. When you lose the election, EVMs are tampered (with)," remarked .

After Paul revealed he had been to over 150 countries, the bench asked him whether each of the nations had ballot paper voting or used electronic voting.

The petitioner said foreign countries had adopted ballot paper voting and India should follow suit.

"Why you don't want to be different from the rest of the world?" asked the bench.

There was corruption and this year (2024) in June, the Election Commission announced they had seized 9,000 crore, Paul responded.

"But how does that make your relief which you are claiming here relevant?" asked the bench, adding "if you shift back to physical ballot, will there be no corruption?".

Paul claimed CEO and co-founder of Tesla, Elon Musk, stated that EVMs could be tampered with and added TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, the current chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, and former state chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy had claimed EVMs could be tampered with.

Also Read | Maharashtra election result raises questions: Priyanka Chaturvedi

"When Chandrababu Naidu lost, he said EVMs can be tampered with. Now this time, Jagan Mohan Reddy lost, he said EVMs can be tampered with," noted the bench.
Hours before the 2024 International Emmys, standup comedian and actor Vir Das revealed the emerging designer who will be dressing him for the prestigious event. He shared the news in a post, highlighting the designer's talent.

Just hours before the 2024 International Emmys, Vir Das revealed the emerging designer who will be dressing him for the prestigious event. He shared the news in a post, highlighting the designer's talent.

In a post on Instagram, Das wrote, "As promised. I will be wearing a brand new designer for the Emmys. As promised, I know nothing about fashion. But she does and she worked super hard. Her name is Shubhangi Bajpai and she is from Delhi. Happy to show you her work soon. Do keep in mind, she doesn't have much to work with here." In the caption, Vir Das wrote, We had like 4000 people submit. I wanna thank you for sending your stuff. We picked this kid from delhi.

In September, Vir Das took to Instagram to share a statement inviting interested designers to reach out to his team for the opportunity to dress him for the International Emmys. He emphasized that he would be wearing "something Indian from home" and made it clear that he would not be donning a fancy designer for the occasion.

He shared, "Alright folks, Im going to be the first Indian to host the International Emmy Awards, and Im going to wear something Indian from home. I wont be wearing a well-known designer  they have enough cash and clients. Instead, were going to showcase someone new.'

Earlier in an interview with the Associated Press, Das was asked about his thoughts on hosting the International Emmy Awards; he said, I'm very nervous. I'm not going to lie. I, you know, it's a weird month to be a foreigner in America hosting a massive award show, you know, in a room full of foreigners in a hotel in New York City. I don't think it gets quite as timely as that, you know.

Where to watch International Emmys 2024? The International Emmy Awards will be held at the New York Hilton Midtown in NYC, with a live telecast from 5 PM to 11 PM EST. For Indian viewers, the ceremony will be available from 3:30 AM to 9:30 AM on Tuesday, November 26.

The event will also be streamed live on the official International Emmy website, iemmys.tv.
Meghan Markle issued a statement on Thursday amid a continued professional separation from Prince Harry. The Duchess of Sussex hosted a community dinner for Afghan women resettling in the US last week  with attendees also sharing stories and reading poetry. Meanwhile Prince Harry travelled to Canada and New York to promote the 2025 Invictus Games.

This initiative  led by the partner organization Minas List  has spent the past year building community through storytelling and creating a safe space for women who have resettled in the US from Afghanistan, explained an official statement.

The Suits alum  once a fixture in newspapers across the world  has been mostly missing from the spotlight in 2024. The Duchess of Sussex has only made a scant handful of public appearances in recent months while Prince Harry travelled solo to various countries in a bid to recreate his public image. Reports suggest that the duo have opted for a professional separation as their work relationship remains in a very bad state.

The US-based royals appear to be leading separate public lives  with many flagging scheduling conflicts in their public image. An exclusive interview with Markle during the recent Thanksgiving dinner, for example, went up on the Marie Claire website mere minutes after the Netflix trailer for a Polo series by Prince Harry landed on YouTube.

Archewell Foundation  created by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex  had launched the Welcome Project in 2023 to support Afghan women resettling in the United States. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had previously visited the San Antonio branch of the initiative in March.

The evening included a shared meal and encouraged open conversation centered on gratitude and resilience. Participants were also gifted with new cookware for the upcoming holiday season.
Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton share a very tense relationship with each other. However, things were different back in 2018 when the Suits actress married Prince Harry and was living with the Royals in London. Once, the Duchess of Sussex had tried to lighten the mood at her first Trooping the Colour in 2018 by cracking a joke with Kate Middleton.

However, according to Express, the Princess of Wales's savage reaction further heightened the tension then. After Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, the latter was preparing for her first official Trooping the Colour ceremony. At that time, Kate Middleton had asked Meghan Markle what she thought about the ceremony.

Colourful: Meghan Markle replied to Kate's question. However, the American actress's tongue-in-cheek reaction didn't sit well with Middleton, who responded with a dead silence.

Kate Middleton reacted to Meghan's answer with a yawning silence (that) threatened to swallow us whole, Express cited an excerpt from Prince Harry's memoir Spare.

Meghan Markle expected her one-word answer to be a light-hearted joke, but her attempt to lighten the mood backfired because of Kate Middleton's reaction.

Trooping the Colour is a military parade organised to celebrate the birthday of British monarch, at that time late Queen Elizabeth. The parade also celebrates the monarch's connection to the Armed Forces.

Also Read | Prince Harry heads to Canada on another solo trip as Meghan Markle parties in LA

Harry and Meghan's tense relation with Royals Apart from this incident, Prince Harry mentioned many other stories and excerpts from his conversation, claiming that his wife was not treated well by the royals. The Duke of Sussex wrote in length about the highly publicised fallout between the royal couples in Spare. He even revealed details of his private conversation with his elder brother, Prince William, and father, King Charles.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle lived in the US after the two had given up their royal duties amid tensions with the royal family.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang revealed a heartwarming story about how homework played a key role in winning over his wife, Lori, during their college years at Oregon State University. Speaking at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology last week, where he was awarded an honorary degree, Huang reflected on his challenges as a 17-year-old freshman courting a 19-year-old.

The odds were stacked against me, Huang said during the event, as reported by Business Insider. I was the youngest kid in school, in class. There were 250 students and three girls.

Huang recalled that he appeared much younger than his peers. I was the only student who looked like a child, he said, explaining that he used his youthful appearance as a strategy to approach Lori. I walked up to her and I said, Do you want to see my homework? If you do homework with me every Sunday, I promise you, you will get straight As.

According to Huang, the deal worked, and Sunday homework sessions became regular dates. Five years later, Jensen and Lori married and shaped a life together. They now have two children: Madison, a marketing director at Nvidia, and Spencer, a senior product manager.

Also Read | Gold price rises; experts highlight these key levels for MCX Gold

Huang's journey to founding Nvidia Huang graduated from Oregon State University in 1984 with a degree in electrical engineering. After starting his career at companies like LSI Logic and Advanced Micro Devices, he earned a masters degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University in 1992. Just a year later, in 1993, Huang co-founded Nvidia at the age of 30, fulfilling the promise he had made to himself to become a CEO by that milestone age.

Today, Huang is one of the most influential figures in the tech world. Nvidia is the worlds largest supplier of chips and software used in artificial intelligence systems. As of November 22, Nvidia has a staggering net worth of $3.6 trillion, briefly surpassing Apple as the worlds most valuable company. Huang himself is now the 11th richest person globally.

Nvidias new AI technology In addition to its groundbreaking hardware, Nvidia continues to lead in innovation. On Monday, the company unveiled Fugatto, a generative AI model capable of creating music, modifying voices, and generating unique audio effects. Nvidia stated that Fugatto is designed for professionals in music production, filmmaking, and video game development. However, the company clarified that it has no immediate plans to release the technology to the public.
Transgender cartoonist Chris Chan, known for the comic series Sonicu, a mix of Sonic the Hedgehog and Pikachu, has revealed he is having a child. He shared the news on a live-streaming event. He shared the news when a viewer questioned, When will you announce the child youre having?"

Responding to the question, Chan said When the child, when the child is actually coming into play for summer/ somewhere around that point or I just might keep yall in the dark and let yall know until and wait till after the child is born."

The clip was shared by the streaming platform Kiwi Farms.

In 2021, Chan was reportedly arrested for having an inappropriate relationship with his 79-year-old mother, who was suffering from dementia. Her attorney, David Heilberg, then claimed that the 42-year-old was suffering from mental health issues, which led to such controversial statements. Chan was in prison for two years and was released in March last year.

Several people speculated that Chan is expecting a baby with his Finnish friend Flutter. Chan and Flutter became friends when he was jailed from 2021 to 2023 at the Central Virginia jail, according to a report by Tribune.

Post Chan's announcement, several fans congratulated him, whereas some raised concerns over his ability to raise a child. Some also wondered if the news was true.

"If so, that would also kind of confirm that Flutter is 20-35 or so, at least probably not any older than 35. Most likely under 30 then actually.

Then again, Chris has crazier delusions, so who knows. If Flutter's belly starts growing in her next appearences, we'll know for sure.

Summer would be around 7 to 10 months away.

If true, she would've gotten pregnant recently." wrote one user.

Another user commented, Chris can't even take care of himself. If he does impregnate flutter, that poor kid will have a sociopathic mother who has a thing for guys who rape their moms and then a dad who can barely take care of himself and thinks he's Jesus,

Is this the first sign of apocalypse," added another.
A lawyer was killed and at least six people were injured on Tuesday amid protests over the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das. The ISKCON leader was arrested from Dhaka airport on Monday before being sent to jail without bail  sparking widespread protests in Dhaka and Chittagong. The Muhammad Yunus-led government has ordered a probe into the matter and heightened security.

According to a Dhaka Tribune report, the victim was identified as 35-year-old Saiful Islam. Doctors at the Chittagong Medical College Hospital also told the publication that six others had been injured during the clashes. The Chittagong Lawyers' Association president said that the lawyer had been hacked to death by protesters after being dragged out from beneath his chamber.

"A Muslim lawyer defending Das was killed amid protests outside the court (in Chittagong)," said police officer Liaquat Ali.

According to an official statement released by the caretaker government in Bangladesh, a probe has been into the alleged killing. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has also reportedly directed law enforcement agencies to step up security in the port city.

"The interim government is committed to ensuring and upholding communal harmony in Bangladesh at any cost," the administration reiterated.

Sedition charges were filed against Das last month after he led a large rally in Chittagong. He was accused of disrespecting the Bangladeshi national flag and was denied bail by a court in Chittagong on Tuesday. More than 2,000 supporters surrounded the van as he was being escorted back to prison from court  blocking it for more than two hours. van, blocking it for over two hours
Bestselling British-American author Barbara Taylor Bradford, best known for her debut novel A Woman of Substance, which sold over 30 million copies and made her an overnight sensation, has passed away at the age of 91, AFP reported citing her spokeswoman on Monday.

Throughout her career, Taylor Bradford wrote 40 novels, selling a total of 91 million books worldwide. She died peacefully at her home on Sunday after a brief illness.

She "was surrounded by loved ones to the very end", the spokeswoman said, adding that a private funeral would be held in New York, AFP reported.

A Woman of Substance tells the inspiring tale of Emma Harte, a servant who rises from humble beginnings in Yorkshire, England, to build a vast business empire, enduring various personal tragedies along the way.

Many of Barbara Taylor Bradford's later novels also take place in Yorkshire and feature a similar rags-to-riches theme, reflecting her own journey of overcoming obstacles and achieving success through determination and hard work.

"What I really wanted to do was to write about a very strong woman, because I'm strong," she told an interviewer in 1983.

"That doesn't mean I'm tough or hard but I have the strength to meet adversity, not to give in," she said, adding that she wrote 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

Her most recent novel "The Wonder of it All" was published last year.

Born in Leeds in northern England in May 1933, Taylor Bradford began her working life aged 15 as a typist for her local newspaper The Yorkshire Evening Post before becoming a reporter.

She moved to London aged 20 where she continued working as a journalist while dipping her toe into the world of fiction.

She started and abandoned several novels before striking gold with "A Woman of Substance", which was an instant success when it was published in 1979.

Powerhouse The novel spent 45 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.

It was turned into a double Emmy-nominated miniseries in 1985 and starred Liam Neeson with British actor Jenny Seagrove in the role of Emma Harte.

Seagrove paid tribute to a "dear friend" and powerhouse of glamour and warmth.

Also Read: English publishing in India is finally discovering the world of Hindi literature

"Success never diluted her warmth and humour or her ability to relate to everyone she met, whether a cleaner or a princess. She never, ever forgot that she was just a girl from Yorkshire that worked hard and made good," she said.

Charlie Redmayne, chief executive of publisher HarperCollins, described Taylor Bradford as a "truly exceptional writer".

"'A Woman Of Substance' changed the lives of so many who read it -- and still does to this day," he said.

"She was a natural storyteller, deeply proud of her Yorkshire roots. For 45 years, she was a huge part of our company and a great, great friend -- we will miss her so much," he added.

Also Read: The new life of English poetry

In 2007, Taylor Bradford was recognized by the late Queen Elizabeth II with an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for her contributions to literature.

She had been residing in the United States since 1964, following her marriage to American film producer Robert Bradford the year before.

The couple were together for 55 years until Robert's passing in 2019.

According to her spokeswoman, Taylor Bradford will be laid to rest beside her late husband at Westchester Hills Cemetery, located north of New York City.
Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Arrest: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the arrest and denial of bail to ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das and urged Bangladesh to ensure the safety of Hindus in the country.

Das, a leader of the Hindu group Sammilita Sanatani Jote, was arrested from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area in Dhaka on Monday.

The spokesman of the Police's Detective Branch, Rezaul Karim, said that Das was detained in line with a request from regular police; however, he refused to give details of charges.

Following the arrest, India urged Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.

We have noted with deep concern the arrest and denial of bail to Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is also the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote. This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh," said MEA in a statement.

The MEA stated that there are several documented cases of arson and looting of minorities' homes and business establishments, as well as theft, vandalism and desecration of deities and temples.

It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings. We also note with concern the attacks on minorities protesting peacefully against the arrest of Shri Das, said MEA.

Das was detained in line with a request from (regular police)," spokesman of the Police's Detective Branch Rezaul Karim said. However, the arrest was made without giving details of the charges, reported PTI.

Meanwhile, according to The Daily Star, hundreds of people from the Hindu community gathered at Cheragi Pahar intersection in the port city around 6:00 pm on Monday and demanded immediate release of Das.

On October 30, Chattogram's Kotwali Police Station booked 19 people, including Das, accusing them of disrespecting Bangladesh's national flag in Chattogram's New Market area during a rally of the Hindu community.

Also Read | Bangladesh HC orders high-level probe into power supply deals with Adani group

The incident occurred on October 25, when some youth reportedly placed a saffron-coloured flag over the Bangladesh flag on the Shadhinata Sthombho (independence pillar) at the Zero Point near the New Market intersection during a rally organised by the Hindus under the banner of Sanatan Jagaran Mancha, reported The Daily Star, citing the case statement.
KYIV, UkraineUkraines European allies, struggling to produce enough weapons for Kyivs war effort, are pioneering a new method: Giving Ukrainians money to do it themselves.

In the new approach, Europeans are financing Ukrainian government contracts with cash-strapped Ukrainian arms makers to produce equipment for the countrys armed forces, including long-range missiles and drones that can strike Russian territory. Kyiv tells its allies which companies to work with and armaments to buy, and the Europeans vet the producers independently before agreeing to deals.

Ukraine will still rely on Western allies for advanced weapons such as Patriot surface-to-air interceptor missiles. But officials say the new approach will allow Kyiv to acquire weapons faster and in greater number than waiting for European arms to be produced. Ukraine can do this because its arms industry is operating far below its production capacity30% of its potential, by some estimatesbecause of insufficient funding.

Proponents of the approach say Ukrainian defense firms are able to churn out many systems faster and less expensively than Western suppliers can. Ukrainian firms also tailor equipment more specifically to the countrys ever-changing front-line needs, while bolstering its defense industry for the future.

Dubbed the Danish Model" after Copenhagen developed the approach with Ukraine earlier this year, the system is drawing growing participation and interest from other countries. Norway, Sweden and Lithuania have provided money, and other nations have expressed interest, according to Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen. Germany has already applied a similar approach and the Netherlands, in parallel, is contracting directly with Ukrainian companies.

Denmark developed its approach because it, like many allies, had already donated to Kyiv almost all of its available weaponry, say officials. The Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and the Baltic states are also in this group.

The model is part of a broader effort by northern European and Baltic countries to consolidate cooperation to boost Ukraine. It emerged after France, Germany and other big countries failed to unite the continent behind a coherent plan, and as Europe braces for the incoming Trump administration, which could reduce U.S. engagement across the continent.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky singled out the Danish Model while marking the 1,000th day since Russias full-scale invasion, alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. He said it let Ukraine produce artillery, missiles, long-range drones and howitzers.

It allows us to unite other countries around investments in weapons-manufacturing in Ukraine," he said.

Funding so far is limited. Denmark has secured about 650 million, or $680 million, including more than $400 million coming from confiscated interest on Russian financial assets frozen in Europe, say Danish and European Union officials. Copenhagen aims to deliver those funds by year-end.

Denmark has contributed more than $180 million of its own funds to the total, Norway more than $42 million and Sweden, which last week announced financing for long-range drones and missiles, more than $20 million.

Poulsen hopes to funnel at least $1.4 billion through the system next year.

This is an example of how to ensure faster delivery while also strengthening the Ukrainians own arms production and eventually make them less dependent on donations," Poulsen said in an interview.

Zelensky said last month that the investment has allowed Ukraine to produce nearly 20 Bohdana howitzers monthly. Last December, Ukraine produced six.

Last year, we faced the reality that the technical capabilities of Ukraines military-industrial complex significantly exceeded the financial capacity of the Ukrainian budget," said Vladislav Belbas, the general director of Ukrainian Armor, an arms maker that has been subcontracted to produce parts for the Bohdana howitzer.

The Danish approach is winning fans because integrated audits and oversight limit potential corruption in arms acquisition, a problem that has plagued Ukraines defense efforts. Copenhagen inspects recipients before releasing funds and defense attaches from the Danish Embassy follow up to ensure companies deliver as agreed. So far, no company has failed the control.

The approach may also reduce pressure on allies to pull weaponry from their own arsenals.

If you increase the capacity in Ukraine, then we have to give less weaponry ourselves and can build our capacity again," said Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer, who chairs the North Atlantic Treaty Organizations committee of military leaders.

With the Danish model we can ensure that the donated funds will go to the production of arms that Ukraine needs the most," Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson said in an email. Ukrainian wishes and Ukrainian needs on the battlefield can more easily be met."

Ukraine has well-established arms production capacity and is developing technology to meet its needsparticularly for dronesfaster than foreign companies can, said Eric Ciaramella, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowments Russia and Eurasia Program.

Ukraine was the heart of the Soviet defense industrial base, so they have a lot of know-how when it comes to manufacturing complex systems," Ciaramella said. Supporting Ukraines defense industry lets the West help ensure Ukraines long-term self-sufficiency, he said.

Many of its weapons makers say they could increase capacity if they had more production contracts, but they are caught in a wartime bind. The government has forbidden arms exports, and the military is the sectors only customer, but has limited resources. This year it will have spent $6 billion on weapons purchases, Oleksandr Kamyshin, Ukraines minister of strategic industries, said earlier this year.

The Danish model aims to address the issue.

The only thing that makes a company produce more is if they have a contract," said Tomas Kopecny, the Czech governmental envoy for Ukraine reconstruction. He leads the Czech ammunition initiative, which this year will deliver to Ukraine roughly 500,000 rounds of 155mm artillery. He said Denmark, the Netherlands and Czech Republic are closely allied in working to get Ukraine weapons it needs most effectively. The Danes and Dutch are very creative," he said.

Boosters say the approach also eliminates layers of government involvement that can slow arms deliveries and add cost.

Last week, Denmark hosted the first summit of a new format comprising Ukraine and 12 European countries: the five Nordics, the three Baltics, the U.K., the Netherlands, Germany and Poland.

Most of Ukraines Western donors have shunned directly funding its defense companies due to fear of financial mismanagement, corruption or because donors want payments channeled to their own arms producers. Denmark, the Netherlands and their like-minded neighbors either dont have big defense industries or see no prospect of tapping domestic firms fast enough to help Kyiv.

Denmark pays its contracts through the Ukrainian government but interacts directly with companies. The Netherlands sends payments straight to Ukrainian companies, because of Dutch laws, according to the Defense Ministry.

Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas said his country is joining the Danish initiative with an initial contribution of more than $10 million and aims to do more.

Its one of the most efficient ways of getting money to Ukraine," said Kasciunas. A Ukrainian-made Stugna antitank rocket system is one-tenth the price of a U.S. Javelin antitank rocket and available in larger numbers, he said.

Lithuania is also considering buying Ukrainian-made strike drones for its own armed forces, he said. After visiting Ukrainian arms makers, Kasciunas said he was impressed by their ability to operate despite Russian attacks. They find ways," he said.

Bojan Pancevski contributed to this article.

Write to Daniel Michaels at Dan.Michaels@wsj.com and Sune Engel Rasmussen at sune.rasmussen@wsj.com

View Full Image Europe Cant Make Ukraine Enough WeaponsSo Its Paying Kyiv to Do It

View Full Image Europe Cant Make Ukraine Enough WeaponsSo Its Paying Kyiv to Do It
Germany is drawing drawn up a list of emergency shelters that can be used by civilians amid escalating tensions with Russia. The digital directory of bunkers will be made available through a planned phone app and include underground train stations and car parks as well as state buildings and private properties.

An interior ministry spokesperson also indicated that people would be encouraged to create protective shelters in their homes by converting basements and garages. The country currently has 579 bunkers  mostly dating from World War II and the Cold War era  that can house around 480,000 people.

Senior officials held a conference in June to discuss key points of the plan and a special group is now looking into the project. The spokesperson however declined to give a timeframe for the initiative  dubbing it a big project involving the Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance and other authorities that would take some time.

Also Read | Ukraine clings to shrinking sliver of Russia, expecting Trump to push for peace

Secutity concerns have grown steadily over the past three years amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. German officials warned in October that Moscow was likely to become capable of launching an attack against NATO members by 2030. Authorities have also flagged a surge in Russian spying and sabotage activities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin last week warned the conflict in Ukraine had characteristics of a "global" war and did not rule out strikes on Western countries. Moscow also used a hypersonic intermediate-range missile on Ukraine last week and Ukraine reported the biggest Russian drone attack on its territory so far on Tuesday.

According to analysts, Russian forces are now advancing in Ukraine at the fastest rate since the early days of the 2022 invasion. They have taken an area half the size of London over the past month as the war enters what many dub its most dangerous phase.
Hong Kongs top court on Tuesday upheld earlier rulings that favored subsidized housing benefits and equal inheritance rights for same sex married couples. This landmark ruling reflects growing social acceptance of LGBTQ rights in the city.

The Court of Final Appeal's rejection of the government's appeals concluded several years of legal disputes concerning the differential treatment of overseas-married same-sex couples under Hong Kong's Housing Authority policies and two inheritance laws.

The unanimous rulings are anticipated to significantly influence the lives of same-sex couples, who have historically been granted fewer rights than their heterosexual counterparts in the global financial center.

Also Read | Hong Kong is becoming hub for financial crime, US lawmakers say

In his judgement, Chief Justice Andrew Cheung said exclusionary housing policies were argued to be beneficial to opposite-sex married couples because they increase the supply of subsidized housing for them and thereby support the institution of traditional families.

But Cheung said authorities failed to provide evidence showing the potential impact on opposite-sex couples if those policies were relaxed.

The challenged policies cannot be justified, he wrote.

On the inheritance laws, judges Roberto Ribeiro and Joseph Fok ruled that the disputed provisions are discriminatory and unconstitutional" in their written judgement.

Hong Kong does not recognize same-sex marriage, prompting some couples to marry elsewhere.

Currently, the city only recognizes same-sex marriage for certain purposes such as taxation, civil service benefits and dependent visas. Numerous concessions from the government have been achieved via legal challenges, and there has been an increasing societal acceptance of same-sex marriage in the city.

In September 2023, the top court ruled that the government should provide a framework for recognizing same-sex partnerships. This ruling, along with other successful legal challenges brought by members of the LGBTQ community, made Hong Kong the only place in China to grant such recognition for same-sex couples.

Also Read | Former Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai begins to testify in his national security trial

Separate rulings in 2020 and 2021 by a lower court determined that the housing policies at issue in Tuesday's cases breached the constitutional right to equality, and that the exclusion of same-sex spouses from inheritance law benefits amounted to illegal discrimination.

The government had challenged these decisions at the Court of Appeal but subsequently lost in October 2023. It then took the cases to the top court.

Nick Infinger, who first launched a judicial review against the Housing Authority in 2018, told reporters that Tuesday's rulings acknowledged same-sex couples can love each other and deserve to live together."

Also Read | Hong Kong court sentences dozens in case that crushed pro-democracy camp

This is not only fighting for me and for my partner, but this is fighting for all the same-sex couples in Hong Kong, he said outside the court building.

But he added he was still a bit pessimistic about whether Hong Kong could become like Taiwan and Thailand in legalizing same-sex marriage.
Chinmoy Krishna Das' arrest: The government of Bangladesh on Tuesday reacted to concerns raised by India over the arrest of priest Chinmoy Krishna Das and the safety of Hindus in the neighbouring country and termed it a matter concerning internal affairs while stating that the arrest has been misconstrued by certain quarters.

Das, the leader of the Hindu group 'Sammilita Sanatani Jote', was on Monday arrested from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area in Dhaka by Bangladesh Police.

Reacting to India's remarks, Bangladesh said that the government maintains that such unfounded statements not only misrepresent facts but also stand contrary to the spirit of friendship and understanding between the two neighbourning countries.

The Government of Bangladesh would like to reiterate that the country's judiciary is fully independent and it does not interfere in the work of the judiciary. The matter under question is at present being dealt with by the court of law, a statement issued by the Bangladesh government reads.

The Government of Bangladesh is also committed to upholding communal harmony in the country, the neighbouring country said.

Earlier in the day, expressing deep concern over the arrest, India urged Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.

Bangladesh said that the statement issued by the Ministry of External Affiars (MEA) does not reflect the harmony that exists among the peoples of all faiths and the commitment and the efforts of the government and the people in this regard.

It also completely disregards that the Government of Bangladesh is determined to conclusively end the culture of impunity to the perpetrators of gross human rights violations against the people of Bangladesh, thus treating the religious majority and minorities alike.

Meanwhile, a lawyer was killed during clashes between the security personnel and followers of Das.

Stating that the government is deeply concerned over the brutal killing of Advocate Saiful Islam Alif this afternoon in Chattogram, the Bangladesh government said, Authorities have stepped up security in the port city to ensure that religious harmony is maintained at any cost.

What did Bangladesh say?  Bangladesh reaffirms in the strongest terms that every Bangladeshi, regardless of his or her religious identity, has the right to establish, maintain or perform respective religious rituals and practices or express views without hindrance.

 Ensuring the safety and security of all citizens, particularly the members of religious minorities, remains a duty of the Government of Bangladesh.
Israel on Tuesday launched air strikes on building in central Beirut and issues new evacuation warnings ahead of expected vote on ceasefire deal, reported AP.

The evacuation orders for 20 buildings in the Lebanese capital's southern suburbs have been issued.

However, it was not clear if there were any casualties.

Attacking Hezbollah targets in the Beirut area on a large scale, reported Reuters, quoting Israeli Military.

The air strikes took place while Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah looked set to reach a ceasefire deal, clearing the way for an end to the conflict that has killed thousands of people since it was ignited by the Gaza war 14 months ago.

Also Read | Im putting together a legal dream team to defend Israel

The Israeli military said it had struck around 30 targets belonging to the militant group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon since Tuesday morning, before the country's security cabinet meets to decide on a ceasefire deal, reported AFP.

The targets included a launcher used to fire projectiles at Israel the day before, "weapons storage facilities, terrorist infrastructure sites, command centers, and additional launchers", the army said in a statement.

Also Read | Israel moves closer to ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon

The Israeli military also reached parts of the Litani River in Lebanon for the first time since the conflict began. This region is a focus point for the possible ceasefire, reported AP.

However, there is a guarantee of a ceasefire. It was expected that Israel's security Cabinet meeting would approve the US-supported proposal on Tuesday, a deal that is supported by Hezbollah as well, according to Lebanese officials.

If the deal gets the approval of all the parties, it will be a significant step towards ending the war. The Israel Hezbollah has heightened the tensions across the region and raised concerns of a conflict between Israel and Iran.
SINGORE, - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Monday that on his first day in office he will impose a 25% tariff on all products from Mexico and Canada, and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China.

The announcement sparked a dollar rally. It rose 1% against the Canadian dollar and 2% against the Mexican peso , while U.S. stock futures and share markets in Asia fell.

Here are reactions from market participants:

ROB CARNELL, REGIONAL HEAD OF RESEARCH, ING, SINGORE

"It reminds me a lot of four years ago, when you'd wake up every morning and markets would be whipped around by whatever the latest comment is. I'm tempted to take it with a bit of a pinch of salt. He's not the president yet.

"This is how he gets stuff done, isn't it? He throws stuff around, mentions various numbers, markets react and maybe it happens maybe it doesn't."

ALEX LOO, FX AND MACRO STRATEGIST, TD SECURITIES, SINGORE

"While the USMCA agreement is technically only up for renegotiation in 2026, Trump is likely trying to kickstart the renewal process early with Canada and Mexico through today's tariff announcements. MXN and CAD had a kneejerk reaction lower but thin liquidity outside North America time zone may have contributed to the outsized moves seen in Asia this morning."

SEAN CALLOW, SENIOR FX ANALYST, ITC MARKETS, SYDNEY

"It was just last month that Trump said that 'the most beautiful word in the dictionary is tariff' so there really should not have been a surprise in Trumps intention, just in the timing of the comments.

"The fall in trade-sensitive currencies makes sense and should persist near term given the quiet calendar, but Fed policy should return to the fore once we get closer to the December FOMC meeting."

KHOON GOH, HEAD OF ASIA RESEARCH, ANZ, SINGORE

"It looks like he's not going to waste much time... so the question now is - on day 1 is he actually going to follow through with it and will the tariffs hit on day 1?

"The other interesting thing is he's laid out his reasons for the tariffs so it looks like these tariffs are conditional on those. Whilst this is the opening salvo, maybe this is just the beginning of the deals he's well known for."

TONY SYCAMORE, MARKET ANALYST, IG MARKETS, SYDNEY

"I'm just trying to reconcile how it works with the appointment of Bessent. People have been expecting him to be a more moderate voice. Maybe it's also a reaction to hey, look, everyone thought that Bessent was gonna moderate some of those more extreme trade policies ... but Trump's not gonna be moderated by anyone.

"He has said up to 60% on Chinese goods.. so if we're only talking about an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods on top of the existing levies, that's a lot less than what he had previously indicated. .. so it may be actually less than the worst case scenario we were looking at."

MATT SIMPSON, SENIOR MARKET ANALYST, CITY INDEX, BRISBANE

"It's almost as if Trump wants to remind markets who is in control, after nominating Scott Bessent as Treasury Sec - a man markets expected to cool Trump's potency. But with the Canadian dollar rising against the Mexican peso, markets are assuming this will hit Mexico the hardest."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was bringing a proposed cease-fire with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah to a vote in Israels security cabinet Tuesday night, potentially paving the way for an end to a war thats killed thousands of people and forced more than a million to flee their homes.

The cabinet voted on and approved the cease-fire deal, Israels Channel 12 reported, although the cabinet had yet to announce its decision.

Netanyahu said in televised remarks Tuesday that a cease-fire would allow Israel to focus on the Iranian threat, increase pressure on Hamas in Gaza and free up weapons that have been withheld. The accord was approved earlier by leaders of Iran-backed Hezbollah and of Lebanon.

The deal would pave the way for the two sides to start negotiations for a permanent cease-fire after more than a year of fighting that has destroyed the Lebanon-Israel border area and seen Israel bomb parts of Beirut, as well as other Lebanese cities.

The truce proposal came after one of President Joe Bidens main Middle East envoys, Amos Hochstein, shuttled between Israel and Lebanon in a bid to end the conflict before President-elect Donald Trump takes over the White House in January. Shortly after Netanyahus remarks, the White House said Biden was scheduled to speak later in the day.

The talks on a permanent accord would likely be complicated. Israel wants Hezbollah to remove its fighters and weapons from the border region in southern Lebanon, with United Nations forces and the Lebanese military patrolling the area to ensure that happens.

These were the requirements of a UN resolution, known as 1701, that ended a 2006 war between the two sides. One key obstacle to a truce in this conflict has been Israels insistence on being able to continue striking Hezbollah positions if it thought the group was breaching the terms of any cease-fire agreement. Netanyahu said in his remarks that the duration of the truce depends on developments there. If Hezbollah chooses to re-arm, well attack, he said.

Oil and gold prices have fallen this week, with traders optimistic a truce would help calm the Middle East. The Israeli shekel has also strengthened.

Hezbollah, funded and backed by Iran, began firing missiles and drones at Israel on Oct. 8, 2023 in solidarity with Hamas, the Palestinian group that triggered the war in Gaza the previous day when its fighters raided southern Israel, killing 1,200 people. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are designated terrorist organizations by the US and many other countries.

The conflict in Gaza continues to rage, and Israels offensive has killed about 44,000 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Theres little indication that a truce in Lebanon would lead to one in Gaza, despite the connection between the two wars.

Hezbollah had long insisted that no cease-fire could be discussed until Israel stopped its war in Gaza, but the weakening of the groups capabilities since September helped drive it to accept a deal.

In that time, Israels military has focused on severely degrading Hezbollah, killing almost its entire top command, including long-standing leader Hassan Nasrallah, and injuring thousands of fighters by detonating their pagers and walkie talkies. It sent troops into southern Lebanon and launched mass airstrikes across the country, destroying tens of thousands of Hezbollahs rockets and missiles.

About 3,100 people have been killed in Lebanon by the Israeli strikes and ground offensive in the past two months, and 1.2 million  more than a fifth of the population  have been displaced.

Even as Israels security cabinet was deliberating the cease-fire its air force conducted some of its heaviest strikes yet on Beirut.

Netanyahu said Israels escalation was necessary because diplomatic efforts by the likes of the US and France had failed to stop Hezbollahs strikes on his country. Those caused tens of thousands of northern Israelis to leave their homes. A similar number of people have been displaced from southern Lebanon.

Within Israel, Netanyahu has been under pressure to enable civilians to return to their homes in the north, something the government said would be possible only with a cease-fire and Hezbollah being forced out the border region.

With assistance from Ethan Bronner.
The Defence Ministry of Russia has said that they are planning a response to the recent attacks of Ukraine using US-supplied ATACMS missiles on air defence units in the Kursk border region in the country.

In the last three days, the AFU carried out two strikes at objects in the Kursk region by long-range Western-made weaponry, reported Bloomberg, citing the ministry's statement on Telegram while referring to Ukraines armed forces. Retaliatory measures are being prepared," it added.

On Saturday, Ukraine fired five US-made long-range missiles targeting an S-400 battalion close to Lotarevka, northwest of Kursk, the report said, citing the Defence Ministry of Russia. The two missiles hit their targets, destroying a radar and leading to casualties.

Also Read | Germany draws up list of bunkers amid growing concerns about a Russian attack

Ukraine launched eight ATACMS missiles in the Kursk-Vostochny airfield on Monday. Around seven people were shot down by air defences, whereas one had hit the target, the report said.

The Russian forces launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile called Oreshnik last week. This experimental missile was launched in Dnipro in Ukraine as a response to Ukraine's first known use of long-range weapons provided by the West to target the territory of Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the defence forces may use the new missile again.

This move came after a week of escalation that saw Putin lower the threshold for a nuclear attack as a response to attacks and said that Ukraine had struck deep inside Russia with ATACMS missiles, reported Reuters.

For months, Russia has been warning the West that if the US allowed Ukraine to fire missiles from the US, Britain and France deep into its territory, Russia would consider these NATO members to be involved in the war directly, the report said.

Ukraine also used Storm Shadow missiles made in the UK to attack Russian targets.

The US and UK allowed strikes in response to Russia deploying North Korean troops to fight Ukraine, the Bloomberg report said, citing officials from both governments.
As someone who primarily writes on money, Im often approached for advice on resolving financial fraud. Unfortunately, Im unable to assist, given that once money has left a bank account, its difficult to get it back.

Before affordable smartphones and widespread internet access became the order of the day, financial fraudsters had to interact with their prospective victims in person, involving assembling people in a hall or visiting their homes to pitch a scheme convincing enough to make individuals part with their hard-earned money.

The classic example has been a Ponzi scheme. The fraudster would promise a very high rate of return to prospective investors. Carried away by greed, these investors would invest. The fraudster would use the money being brought in by newer investors to pay off the earlier ones.

Once early investors were paid, they would talk about their huge return, making others envious. This envy would get more money into the scheme and keep it going until the fraudster decided to scoot.

This approach made the acquisition of potential victims expensive. Physical space had to be hired. Employees had to be kept on payrolls to keep the fraud going. Affordable smartphones and cheap internet have lowered the cost of acquiring those who can be defrauded, if not made the operation itself easier.

Consider all the unsolicited phone calls promising quick riches we receive these days. Typically, this involves transferring money to some bank account. Fraudsters can take this initial amount and disappear, or they can keep the fraud going by turning it into a Ponzi scheme by returning some of the investors money and encouraging them to invest more.

Then there are fraudsters (read financial influencers) who like to sell investment courses that are supposed to help anyone buying the course get rich quickly: a fraud carried out under the garb of selling something useful.

Of course, not everyone who fraudsters call falls for their sweet talk. But some do. And that keeps them going. All it needs is continuous calling from newer numbers. This mode of operation is similar to the classic Nigerian scam where emails promising huge riches were sent out. Most people didnt fall for the scam, but some did.

Now, the sender of those emails had no idea of who the gullible recipients were who would fall for the scam. As Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner write in Think Like a Freak: Gullibility is in this case an unobservable trait."

But there was some method to this madness of sending out a huge number of emails. As Levitt and Dubner write: The scammer wants to find the guy who hasnt heard of [the Nigerian scam] Anybody who doesnt fall off their chair laughing is exactly who he wants to talk to."

The scammers who call and promise investment riches are taking a somewhat similar approach. Though calling up individuals one-by-one is much harder than sending out bulk email messages, it is easier than having to gather people in a room.

Also read: The worrying rise of fraudsters on the prowl online

Then there is the one-time-password (OTP) fraud, involving a caller calling and asking for an OTP on some pretext. Once the OTP has been shared, money gets transferred out of the bank account of the targeted individual. At the heart of this fraud is the inherent trust on which modern businesses operate.

As Dan Davies writes in Lying for Money: Trustparticularly between complete strangers, with no interactions beside relatively anonymous market transactionsis the basis of the modern industrial economy." This trust leads to many people innocently sharing their OTPs and losing money.

Indeed, the success of these scams has possibly led to two things. First, it may have got more hopefuls into the business, increasing competition and, for lack of a better term, decreasing the kind of money that was being made earlier. Second, widespread media reports have hopefully made more individuals aware of such scams, and thus made them harder to execute.

This has perhaps led to fraudsters becoming more innovative, coming up with newer concepts like parcel scams and digital arrests where they seem to have been helped by the fact that a lot of private individual data is now easily and illegally available in the public domain.

This helps fraudsters make threats like a digital arresteven though there is no such thing under the lawsound more credible, creating what Davies calls a world of illusion and defrauding individuals of their hard-earned money.

So, whats the way out of this? Caveat emptor. Or, as Davies puts it, when it comes to a financial fraud, everything can be brought to a halt at a very early stage if anyone had taken care to confirm all the facts."

Also read: Rage spills over on roads reels only fan the fire

The simplest solution is to not take calls from unknown numbers. If someone is trying to reach out, they are likely to message. But this suggestion does not seem to work with people of my parents generation, who are in their seventies and eighties.

They grew up in an era of trunk calls, and to many of them, every call seems like someone trying to reach out in an emergency and must thus be answered. The Latin phrase Mundus vult decipi-ergo decipitaur describes this aptly: The world wants to be deceived , let it therefore be deceived.
This is the time of year when Indias best and brightest get busy applying for admission to Americas elite higher education institutions. For many in India, getting admission in an Ivy League institution has long been a benchmark of success.

The US higher education system has been the envy of the world in more ways than one. Its excellence has played a major role in sustaining Americas global leadership by projecting its soft power far and wide, attracting the best of talent to the nations shores and using it to retain its cutting edge in the realm of ideas and innovation.

Ivy League institutions are hubs for ground-breaking research in diverse sectors, fuelling economic growth, enhancing national security and influencing global policies. In addition, these universities serve as cultural and intellectual ambassadors for the US, shaping global perspectives on democracy, innovation and higher education.

They contribute to Americas competitive edge by providing rigorous academic training, cultivating critical thinking and emphasizing research that addresses global challenges.

So one can be pardoned for assuming that in a society and polity as sharply polarized as todays America, these features of its elite institutions would remain unchallenged. But with Donald Trump returning to power (he is set to take oath as the next US president in early 2025) against a pushback from liberal America, the role of the Ivy League is back in political conversation.

For example, in a recent article for the Atlantic magazine, a prominent conservative commentator David Brooks argues that while Ivy League schools provide a rigorous academic environment and elite social networks, they also contribute to deepening societal divisions.

These institutions, by favouring students from wealthy backgrounds and perpetuating a particular set of social norms and values, have created an insular elite that lacks empathy for broader societal issues. In this view, Ivy League graduates often share a set of assumptions that can be disconnected from the everyday realities of many Americans.

This argument is linked to a wider debate on the reasons behind Trumps continuing salience in US politics. Trump has managed to tap into the sentiment of a large section of the United States that is feeling unmoored from its domestic context, and as a result disenfranchised, as if their views dont count and their voices dont matter.

In particular, he has been extremely effective in speaking to the socioeconomic grievances of those without college degrees who have been revolting against the condescending privileged elites seen to be looking down on them.

Also read: How Indian students can get work visas after studying abroad

A backlash against economic globalization, particularly in the working-class and rust-belt regions of the US, has been a central factor in Trumps political ascent. For all its seeming advantages, globalization also led to significant job losses in industries such as steel, manufacturing and textiles, especially in the American Midwest.

As these sectors relocated to countries with cheaper labour and US communities experienced economic stagnation, the working class felt left behind.

The benefits of globalization, such as cheaper goods and increased access to international markets, were often seen as being unevenly distributed, mostly favouring large corporations, financial elites and urban centres, while labour in the US faced stagnant wages and negligible prospects of social mobility.

This divide between the winners and losers of globalization has been growing for some time now and Trumps rise has been a manifestation of that split.

Both the Democrat and Republican party elites are viewed as culprits in this regard, pursuing policies that left a large part of the country out of the mainstream of benefits, leading to a sense of dispossession among working classes.

This was accentuated by cultural anxieties, particularly around immigration, national identity and the changing demographic profile of the US. As immigration and cultural exchange got a fillip, some Americansespecially in rural and industrial regionsfelt that their traditional values were at threat.

Ironically, the Democrats, who have traditionally been Americas party of the working class, are viewed today as a meritocratic elite who not only look down on middle America, but increasingly also lack the vocabulary to have an honest conversation with a large part of their own country.

These trends are not unique to the US. The wider West is facing this challenge and some strands of this debate are also visible in the Indian democratic contest.

But it is the growing focus on the role of Americas elite higher-education institutions in shaping this divide that is most illuminating. The idea that good education would lead to a better sense of community is so ingrained in our understanding that we often fail to examine what good education is resulting in.

In the case of the US, quality education seems to be perpetuating social inequality instead of fostering a more diverse and inclusive intellectual and leadership culture.

As India struggles to give coherence to its higher-education landscape and as our own elites remain mesmerized by the Ivy League, we should carefully absorb lessons from the American experience and keep our focus on a more inclusive approach to higher education, one that broadens access and fosters a greater sense of social responsibility among the highly educated elite.

The author is professor of international relations, Kings College London, and vice president for studies at Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi.
Donald Trumps return to the White House is stoking fears that he could reinstate a failed scheme launched during his first term that aimed to crack down on Chinese espionage, but ended up becoming more of a witch-hunt. Doing so would not only be destructive to American innovation, but give China an upper-hand in the tech race.

The China Initiative, launched in 2018, was an extensive national security effort intended to prevent intellectual property theft and the transfer of US technological knowledge to China. It was led by the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation before being dismantled under the Biden administration in 2022.

It devolved into an ineffective racial profiling campaign targeting Asian American academics and left a string of wrongful accusations that upended researchers lives while doing little to stamp out suspected spying.

The president-elects return brings fresh anxiety that it will be reinstated. A bill advanced in the House earlier this year has been blasted by some lawmakers as an attempt to revive the programme under a different name.

Project 2025, the viral conservative policy white paper that has been linked to Trumps agenda (he has tried to distance himself from it), expressly calls to restart the China Initiative." Trump has also surrounded himself with China hawks as he builds his new cabinet and campaigned on an America First" vision.

But if his goal is putting America first, it would require recognizing that the nation is a land of immigrants, and welcoming the best and brightest from elsewhere gives it a major edge.

The China Initiative resulted in espionage, theft or intellectual property charges against just 0.0000934% of Chinese STEM students and researchers at US universities. But the chilling effect the programme had on science and tech in US academia has been severe.

For more than two decades, China has been the most important supplier of US-based scientists, according to a Stanford analysis. But the number leaving has been steadily increasing. After the China Initiative, departures surged by 75% two-thirds relocated back to China. If anything, the policy apparently served up a major win for Beijings innovation ambitions.

It may seem hard to quantify just how much pushing out scientists of Chinese descent could tip the scales. But we could learn from history. The US launched a broad crackdown on suspected Communist sympathizers during the Red Scare era, including Caltech professor Qian Xuesen, eventually driving him to return to China. He became the father of the Chinese missile programme."

Former Navy Secretary Dan Kimball called it: The stupidest thing this country ever did." More recently, the contribution of a Chinese-born scientist helped the research that allowed Moderna to develop its covid vaccine in record time. The Stanford analysis found that scientists of Chinese descent who chose to stay in the US are finding it difficult to pursue their research, and roughly half are avoiding federal grant applications.

Other factors would make a revival of the China Initiative especially destructive to Americas tech goals. Skilled labour has been repeatedly identified as one of the biggest barriers to US efforts to maintain dominance in advanced sectors such as chip-making. China has been creating more STEM PhDs than the US. Recent economic malaise at home has been driving more Chinese talent abroad, and it would be in the USs best interest to lure them.

At the same time, the risks of Chinese espionage should be taken seriously. Silicon Valley firms are increasingly on alert for intellectual property theft, escalating their vetting of staff and recruits.

That is wise, though it should be driven by evidence and not ethnicity. Data also suggests that hacking and cyberattacks are the preferred methods of spying. Rather than pouring vast resources into profiling individuals, the US should double down on investment in cybersecurity.

In July, roughly five years after he was indicted, former University of Kansas professor Franklin Tao had his China Initiative-era conviction reversed. Ahead of his trial in 2021, his wife told Bloomberg News that the family came to the US to pursue the American dream."

Instead, she found herself working three jobs to pay for her husbands legal bills. His lawyer later said that the nightmare virtually bankrupted" the family. Such cases give ammunition to Chinas propaganda arm as it seeks talent for its high-tech ambitions.

Even the most tough-on-China policymakers should remember that the US cant lose the values it boasts about to counter threats. Resuming attacks on scientists who come to America for research will only harm US innovation and national security interests in the long run. Bloomberg
Lives lost to negligence arent new in India, but a road crash in Uttar Pradesh stands out. As with most accidents, two failures coincided tragically, but the driver of the ill-fated vehicle did nothing wrong.

Three men travelling over the weekend from Gurugram to Bareilly lost their lives when their car fell off a bridge that didnt reach all the way across a shallow river because it was incomplete, damaged or both.

Also read: Google looks more to what it can control

The police say a check of their mobile phones revealed they were using Google Maps.

Its unfortunate that a well-endowed company like Google hasnt yet deployed the resources needed to secure users against such dangerous instances of misguidance.

This case should concentrate minds at its headquarters. The other failure, of course, was of local authorities in charge of road safety.

Surely, protocols must require that all roads leading to deadly drops be kept blocked from unsuspecting traffic.

It is astounding that such obvious must-dos go missing in large parts of the country. Similar fatalities have taken place even in upscale urban spaces, such as Gurgaon.

Whether or not Google takes any action in response, those in charge of public safety must get their act together.
Days after the INDIA bloc's defeat in the Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly elections, Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge said on Tuesday that they don't want Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and demanded a return to the ballot paper.

We don't want EVMs, we want ballot paper, reported PTI, quoting Mallikarjun Kharge.

Kharge called for a campaign similar to the Bharat Jodo Yatra for return of ballot paper and to do away with EVMs.

Kharge made the remark while addressing the Samvidhan Rakshak Abhiyan event at Talkatora Stadium in Delhi.

In the recently held Maharashtra assembly elections, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was routed by the BJP-led Mahayuti in what ended up being a one-sided contest. While the MVA alliance won 46 seats, Congress won just 16 seats.

The Mahayuti recorded a landslide victory, winning 230 out of 288 seats. The BJP bagged 132 seats, the Shiv Sena 57, and NCP 41 seats.

Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Kharge, and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, have written to the Chair in the two Houses requesting that a discussion be held on the Constitution for two days in both Houses.

"Time should be allotted for that so that the good things about the Constitution can be discussed, and the wrong things that are happening today can also be discussed. Rahul Gandhi ji and I have written letters, we are waiting for the government's response," Kharge told PTI.

Also Read | Who will be the next Maharashtra CM as Eknath Shinde resigns; stalemate persists

What did Kharge say? The Congress president claimed that PM Modi fears caste census, adding, Everyone demanding their share.

Kharge also told the BJP that if they really want unity in the country, they should stop spreading hatred.

 Some people praise the Constitution, but only superficially; inside, they are undermining it.

Also Read | Nana Patole denies stepping down as Maharashtra Congress chief

 To protect the Constitution, Rahul Gandhi ji launched the Bharat Jodo Yatra, and to save democracy, all minorities came forward, which is why we were able to stop PM Modi.

 Today, his government is not a majority government but a minority one.

 PM Modi (government) is standing with the support of TDP's Chandrababu Naidu and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.
Huawei Technologies has unveiled its Mate 70 smartphone series, marking a significant step in the Chinese tech giants comeback to the premium smartphone market. This launch comes nearly a year after the release of its Mate 60 series, which was seen as a pivotal moment for Huaweis recovery in the face of mounting challenges due to U.S. trade restrictions (via Reuters).

As per the wire, the Mate 70 series is designed to rival high-end devices such as Apple's iPhone, with prices starting at 5,499 yuan (636), undercutting the base iPhone 16, which retails at 5,999 yuan (682).

Richard Yu, Chairman of Huaweis Consumer Business Group, introduced the Mate 70 at an event in Shenzhen, asserting that it is the most powerful Mate phone ever. The new series boasts several innovations, including an improved processor and the worlds first mainstream smartphone featuring a satellite paging system, a notable leap in technology. Performance has been boosted by 40 per cent over previous models, thanks to both hardware and software improvements.

A major highlight of the Mate 70 series is its operating system, HarmonyOS NEXT. This marks a decisive move away from Android, as Huawei continues its efforts to reduce its reliance on U.S. technology.

HarmonyOS NEXT, the first major commercial rollout of this new operating system, is the Android-free version of Huaweis software and represents a significant step towards software independence. The operating system has already attracted over 15,000 applications, with ambitions to expand this ecosystem to 100,000 apps in the coming months.

Also Read | Huawei readies new chip to challenge Nvidia, surmounting US sanctions

However, Huawei is not completely abandoning Android just yet. Customers can choose between HarmonyOS 4.3, which maintains Android compatibility, and the new HarmonyOS NEXT 5.0. The company is also expected to include Android as a backup solution while its ecosystem continues to grow.

In terms of hardware, the Mate 70 series features Huaweis Kirin 9100 chipset, believed to be manufactured by Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), a top Chinese contract chipmaker. Despite production challenges, Huawei is expected to use these chips in higher-end models of the Mate 70 series. However, the company has not officially confirmed the chip details, with most information emerging from teardown analyses.

Huaweis resilience is evident in its growing market share. According to Canalys, the company ranked as Chinas second-largest smartphone vendor in Q3 2024, with shipments exceeding 10 million units for the fourth consecutive quarter. The Mate 70 series is expected to surpass 10 million shipments, further solidifying Huawei's position as a key player in the global smartphone market.
The Longford/Westmeath constituency becomes a five-seater for the 2024 election. It is now made up of the entirety of counties Longford and Westmeath for the first time since 1980.

The constituency will see the four sitting TDs looking to retain their seats. Sorca Clarke (SF), Joe Flaherty (FF), Peter Burke (FG), and Robert Troy (FF) all had strong first preference tallies in 2020. Two other candidates, Kevin 'Boxer' Moran and Micheal Carrigy, also passed the 6,000 votes mark after the first count in that contest.

All six return to the fray this year. Being an incumbent is a huge benefit to those seeking election. Basic name recognition is a trump card the sitting TDs will hope to play in their favour.

For Joe Flaherty being a Longford Fianna Fail TD is an extra fillip. Only a gap between 2011 and 2020, besmirches continuous Fianna Fail representation in Dail Eireann from Longford right back to when Frank Carter took a seat in the early 50s.

Simon Harris' ascension to Taoiseach made Wicklow the ninth county to produce a leader of the Dail. Longford's Albert Reynolds held the post of Taoiseach from January 1992 to December 1994, reinforcing the perception of Longford as an FF stronghold.

Longford is in the passenger seat in the constituency, having only half the population of Westmeath, but the increase to five seats means hopes are high for local representation.

The sitting Fianna Fail TD is taking nothing for granted, There's no such thing as a safe seat in politics, you're only as good as what you've done, he told the Leader as he canvassed houses on the Dublin Road in Longford town.

Joe says the county he represents has shown progress over the last number of years. It's been very challenging for the last 10 to 12 years in Longford, but I think we've made decent progress over the last four and a half years. It's a case of building on that, prioritising Longford.

Also Read: PICTURES: Joyful scenes at Dublin Airport as Irish peacekeepers fly home from Lebanon

We've been the poor relation in terms of investment and policy. I think we've shifted the dial in some respects and it's a case of building on that momentum.

Such progress does not bypass the difficulties faced by his home county. There are a lot of socio-economic challenges, particularly in Longford town. It's important we use a combination of government departments to address that.

We are making progress with the level of regeneration funding allocated to Longford town. It's important Longford County

Council presses ahead with that. During his time in office he has emphasised the need for support for the education sector.

We've had unprecedented investment in education right across the county. Virtually every one of our secondary schools is on the cusp of a major expansion, additional classrooms.

The sitting TD has been challenged on one national topic on his canvass: A keynote issue on every door is housing. We have a very nuanced challenge in terms of housing in Longford, Joe says, At the end of the crash we ended up with two and a half thousand vacant houses in the county so that created two problems. Longford County Council had to rehabilitate an awful lot of ghost estates, to bring those houses back into stock. We're very happy to have those houses over the last three to four years, but the downside was it created this nuanced housing market.

Also Read: Longford shows solidarity to Palestine in march held on Sunday

It's still way cheaper to buy a house second hand than to build a house, so it's very difficult to get commercial building restarted in Longford. It's probably been 16 years since a commercial three-bedroom starter home housing project was developed in Longford, so that's a challenge.

In the last number of years employment in the county town has increased with multinational names bolstering the local economy. Longford's foreign direct investment (FDI) roster has had a transformative effect.

Joe says that will continue in the coming years. We've seen unprecedented investment by our FDI companies in the town. Abbott are on the brink of a large-scale expansion of their plant.

Avery Dennison will make no secret of the fact that they want to be the next Abbott in terms of their growth, while Technimark have announced details of their second expansion in the lifetime of this government. Technimark first announced 80 new jobs and an additional 150 new jobs in the New Year.

Going door-to-door is a good way of guaging the temperature of the electorate. On the Dublin Road the sitting TD gets a positive response from householders. He's got a good line of patter; he chats easily with unfamiliar faces, while he converses about local issues with the constituents he knows.

The hustings brings into focus matters to be addressed if voters give him a nod for a second term: The cost of living is a huge issue for everybody, he says, Much has been done in terms of the cost of living supports, but apart from the child benefit payment, and the electricity credit, a large cohort of people are excluded from those payments. The biggest challenge for us as a society is to get to grips with energy costs.

Also Read: Regeneration of Longford town a big priority for Taoiseach Simon Harris

Growing up in Lanesboro Joe is aware of one particularly pertinent facet of this. We paid a high price in Longford because of decarbonisation. The closure of our power station in Lanesboro and the cessation of peat generated power. It was a difficult decision, but it was the right decision for us as a country given our responsibility for climate action.

We weren't doing enough at the time to create an alternative energy source like offshore wind energy. We're an island nation, we should be totally self-sufficient and not dependent on other countries for our power.

He receives a largely positive response at the houses on the fringe of Longford town, but every election is an unknown. I feel I've worked incredibly hard for the people of Longford. Anything I've been asked I've done to the best of my ability. Some things don't work out, but I have a huge body of work I have been able to achieve.

Another issue highlighted on the campaign trail is crime. Rural crime and anti-social issues in Longford town are significant talking points.

You hear it on the doorsteps. People are afraid, they want more guards on the street. I'm not sure that is actually the answer. I think our Guards need to work more effectively and to have better technology. They need to be given more powers.

He points to the work of the Juvenile Liaison Officer (JLO). A JLO is a type of garda who is specially trained to deal with young people and their families in relation to crime-prevention.

Also Read: Hundreds of teachers in county Longford stage lunchtime protest

The bulk of the anti-social behaviour is by young people. They are dealt with through the JLO system, Joe says, We need to ensure there's more supports and a dedicated youth services. Longford town needs a dedicated family resource centre.

Unfortunately in the lifetime of the last government there wasn't a funding call, but we now have a commitment that that will come in the lifetime of the next government.

Joe Flaherty will be one of 20 candidates on the ballot for the 2024 general election to elect the 34th Dail on Friday, November 29.
Ordinary people and families should be prioritised ahead of big business according to Dave Smyth, the Longford/Westmeath People Before Profit (PBP)-Solidarity candidate who has urged voters to end '100 years' of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail rule.



The former Sinn Fein campaign manager left the republican party a decade ago when he felt the party were trying to "please the rich and satisfy everybody and be like Fianna Fail mark two".

Mr Smyth who previously assisted his wife Barbara Smyth, a former Sinn Fein and PBP candidate as a campaign manager, felt so strongly about the way the country is being run he decided to enter the local elections race himself earlier this year.



The Newtownforbes based electronic engineer received 71 votes last June as he was unsuccessful in his bid to take a seat on Longford County Council, however, he feels he is now far better placed to challenge for a Dail seat.



Mr Smyth has also called for the price of essential items such as bread and milk in supermarkets to be capped to ease the burden on ordinary people who are struggling due to the cost of living crisis.

The father of three stated politics in this constituency has often been about personalities.

"The politicians tend to focus on solving those issues as a reason to be elected and then when they are elected and they are up in Dublin they are actually part of a Government that is damaging and hurting our communities because they are enacting national policy that affects us negatively and Longford particularly has been left behind."



Mr Smyth is critical about the lack of one kilometre of motorway in the whole county and speaking about St Christopher's Services and the industrial action he said he wants to ensure "it is not just properly funded but properly managed".



Mr Smyth is visiting towns across the Longford/Westmeath constituency and speaking to voters from stalls and handing out leaflets as opposed to the more traditional practice of going door to door.

He explained it is a very short campaign and he realised he did not have enough time to visit a significant number of homes in the constituency.

"I didn't want people saying, 'Well he didn't call to me' so I'm not going to vote for him, I've treated everyone the same," he added.



Mr Smyth, who has been involved in Repeal the 8th, solidarity with Palestine and the campaign against water charges, stated the reaction has been good.

"People are interested because I am saying different things and I'm making points and people are saying, 'Yeah you're right'," he said.

"For example the energy credit, I think it's a con because if you think about it, what they are doing is they are taking tax money and giving it to private enterprises, the energy companies who are posting billions, and funding those profits."



Mr Smyth believes what he describes as the 'two-tier' healthcare system is failing many people in the country and he would like to see the establishment of a much-improved Irish public health system.

"We have a lack of services for a start, the hospital has been run down and defunded over the years despite many promises by local politicians elected and otherwise," he said. "There are massive waiting lists for dental, GPs and all kinds of healthcare and this is all a result of mismanagement and underfunding or money being wasted in the wrong ways."



Mr Smyth has stressed the Government is not listening to frontline workers and they are just talking to 'guys in suits' in offices in the HSE hierarchy.

"The wrong decisions are being made is my view and here in Longford it is the same, it's not unique to Longford," he said. "Our philosophy would be to nationalise those hospitals. We should have free public healthcare delivered and no private healthcare options because everybody should be treated equally."



Mr Smyth insisted the other big problem is assessment of needs for children with special needs, which is a massive issue for parents who are left "high and dry" on waiting lists.

Mr Smyth believes the government tried to depend on the private sector to deliver public services and they stopped building public housing on scale and in any meaningful numbers.



"They turned to the private sector and then they used systems such as HAP (Housing Assistance Payment) to take taxpayers money and give the funds and the profits to landlords and vulture funds in the private sector," he said. "That should never be what public housing is about."



The political activist for over 30 years said part of their manifesto to use the money that Apple were forced to eventually hand over despite Fine Gael and Fianna Fail fighting in court not to take the money is to capitalise a State-owned construction company and at scale roll out the building of public housing.



"That is the only way this can be [solved]. This housing crisis was created by not building public housing and to expect the private sector to solve it is just unrealistic.

"And to expect the parties who were responsible for causing it to solve it is also never going to happen as they have proved cycle after cycle in the Dail.



Mr Smyth said he believes there should be a truly free and inclusive education, which includes third level where he insists a lot of people from working class backgrounds are disadvantaged and do not have an opportunity.

"It should be funded and free because that way you are not discriminating, you are not allowing the wealthy to have an advantage over the poor," he added.



Mr Smyth said he supported the protest last week by hundreds of teachers in county Longford opposed to the redevelopment of the senior cycle, which would lead to more projects and device-based work.



"I know when the iPad was introduced, one of our children who was starting secondary school as parents we had to find almost 1,000 just for that little device and then they make you buy the books as well. It was insane," he added.
Maura Higgins, a local and international Longford celebrity is currently battling it out against the Australian wildlife.

Maura is among this years cast of 'I'm a Celebrity...Get me out of Here!' and has now joined the main camp.

While being challenged to eat some grim meals such as pig eyeballs in her first official challenge out of the Junkyard, she has truly had a special experience in the Jungle.

Now to make it even more memorable Maura has spent her 34th Birthday in camp.

Waking up in the Jungle she reflected Birthday in the jungle! This is definitely going to be one I never ever forget.

Also Read: Man in his 20s dies and woman hospitalised following tragic Leitrim road crash

However, the Birthday thrill was short-lived as our poor Maura received quite the unique birthday present of cleaning the dunny with Coleen.

The birthday surprises continued as the campers were awoken in the night to a trip on the Fright Bus, and Ms Higgins who was unfortunately sat at the back would endure the longest trip.

We will see how she gets on in the next episode.

In other 'I'm a Celeb' news the camp woke up to an alarm of the musical kind courtesy of Dean who said, Now that shes out of the Leaders Lodge, Tulisa has warned me that there must be no musical theatre early in the morning, so I made it my mission to make sure the camp woke up this morning with the sound of lovely singing!

Also Read: Longford hairdresser scoops Ireland's Most Stylish Businessman gong

Barry and Danny became the camp leaders and Dean once again set off to face another Bushtucker Trial.

Dean done himself proud this time setting his personal best score managing to secure 10 out of the 12 stars that were up for grabs.

Melvin and Tulisa took on the Deals on Wheels challenge which turned out to be a test of their mathematical skill through the counting of rubber ducks.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: November 26 2024

Workshop is provided by Suffolk County Community College.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County will host an Offshore Wind Careers Workshop on Wednesday, December 11 at 5:30 pm at the organizations headquarters at 423 North Griffing Avenue in Riverhead.

The free, 90-minute workshop will be provided by Suffolk County Community College in partnership with the Institute for Workforce Advancement.

The session is designed for anyone interested in the offshore wind industry, whether they are a seasoned professional or just starting out in the field. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from industry experts, network with like-minded individuals, and explore potential career opportunities. The workshop is open to high school students and adults with interest in almost any skill, from welding to engineering.

Attendees will be introduced to an intuitive, career-focused web platform designed to help young people and adults in job transition to get a handle on employment opportunities, skills requirements, and the leading employers in the industry.

Additional workshop topics include an introduction to wind farms and how they work, what is happening now on Long Island in the offshore wind sector, and how a wind turbine is built.

Interested parties can register at: http://tiny.cc/WindCareers.

This workshop provides an ideal way to find your role within offshore winds broad range of careers  whether you are seeking blue-collar or white-collar opportunities, said August Ruckdeschel, Clean Energy Coordinator at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County. Offshore wind power will not only help build Long Island's green economy, it will also deliver good-paying union jobs.

Long Island is a leader in New York State in the development of offshore wind, with several major projects completed or underway. These include South Fork Wind, a 132-megawatt farm that began operation in December of 2023; Sunrise Wind, a 924-megawatt farm that began construction in July; and, Empire Wind 1, a proposed 816-megwatt farm.

Note: Research/work reported in this press release is supported by SUNY System Administration under SUNY Offshore Wind Training Institute.

About Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County

Established in 1917, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County (CCE Suffolk) is a non-profit community education agency that works to preserve the countys agricultural resources, marine life, protect our eco-systems, support families, provide community service opportunities for youth, and advance research-based education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Affiliated with Cornell University as part of the national land grant university system, CCE Suffolks staff consists of educators, researchers, specialists, and support personnel who are dedicated to making Suffolk County a desirable place to live and work.

CCE Suffolk is a subordinate governmental agency with an educational mission that operates under an organizational model approved by Cornell University as agent for the State of New York.

More information is available at http://ccesuffolk.org/.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: November 26 2024

State-of-the-Art Facility Reimagines Library Services for the Tri-Hamlet Community.

Saturday, November 23 marked a historic day for the Mastics- Moriches-Shirley Community Library as community members, library officials, and dignitaries gathered for the grand reopening and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the newly renovated main library located at 407 William Floyd Parkway in Shirley. The transformed 45,000-square-foot facility promises to offer patrons modernized, accessible, and innovative spaces designed to foster learning, community connection, and cultural enrichment for all ages.

This milestone is part of the library districts $26.7 million capital improvement project, approved by voters in December 2019, which also includes the completion last year of satellite branches in Mastic Beach and Moriches. This three-branch solution was created to extend library access across the districts sprawling geography, addressing long-standing transportation and access challenges.

Weve listened to our communitys feedback and delivered a beautiful, state-of-the-art main library thats truly for everyone, said Library Director Kerri Rosalia. From quiet study spaces to hands-on makerspaces and advanced technology resources, this building has been reimagined to meet the diverse needs of our patrons. Todays reopening signifies a new era for our library.

Expansive Modernization with the Community at Heart

The renovations at the main library reflect both an expansion in services and a redesign that promotes ease of use. Key features include enhanced meeting and activity rooms to accommodate a broad range of programs, from educational classes to community gatherings, a performance space with ADA-compliant seating and restrooms, state-of-the-art computer labs, and dedicated quiet zones.

With more private spaces for study and improved service desks, the library has introduced sound damping glass partitions to ensure a quieter environment. The makerspace, which includes cutting-edge technology such as 3D printers and coding equipment, provides a unique platform for creativity and skill-building.

Library Board President Joseph Maiorana emphasized the importance of the project to the communitys growth. With each enhancement, were delivering not just a library but a resource hub that opens doors to knowledge, creativity, and opportunity for every resident. This main library, together with our new satellite branches, represents a unified commitment to serving all corners of our community.

A New Model for Library Accessibility

This renovation follows the opening of two 7,000-square-foot satellite branches strategically located in Mastic Beach and Moriches. Each branch offers accessible services within easy reach for patrons, particularly those previously underserved due to distance and transportation challenges. Libraries are cornerstones to our communities, said Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, They have always brought people together and helped shape the character of a neighborhood. Congratulations to those who worked to make this project happen in the name of your neighbors and friends.

Local and State Support

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by a host of local and state officials who praised the librarys vision and commitment to community service. Suffolk County Legislator Jim Mazzarella, a former library trustee, stated, Libraries are the heart of a community, and this newly modernized main branch demonstrates a dedication to making essential resources available to all. Im proud to have been part of a team that brought this vision to fruition.

This certainly has been a long time coming and I want to thank the community and the library staff for their patience and resiliency, said New York State Senator Dean Murray. This library is more than just a buildingits a place where our residents can thrive, connect, and grow. Im thrilled to have supported this project, which demonstrates how local and state partnerships can bring impactful resources to our community.

Securing grant funding for this project was a top priority of mine, as the library is an invaluable resource for our residents, commented New York State Assemblyman Joe DeStefano. I am proud to support a library that fosters learning, inclusion, and innovation for everyone in the district.

The grand re-opening of the main library is symbolic of the communities served by this library system, commented Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico. It is emblematic of the persistence, hard work and commitment to elevate the availability of educational and cultural programming for an area on the rise. I hope everyone utilizes this newly renovated branch to its maximum potential and wish the library great success.

Our libraries can serve as an important, positive, focal point in our community, said Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig. The grand reopening of the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library is a long-awaited occasion which is worth celebrating. Moving forward, all residents can benefit from the wide variety of services provided at all three branches of the library.

About the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: November 26 2024

Moses Brooks is charged with five counts of attempted murder for allegedly stabbing partygoers after sexually abusing a 26-year-old woman who was also at the party.

District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Wyandanch man was indicted for five counts of attempted murder and other charges for an alleged stabbing spree at a Hempstead house party in October that left five partygoers with life-threatening injuries.

Moses Brooks, 50, was arraigned today before Judge Christopher Quinn on five counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (a B felony); five counts of Assault in the First Degree (a B violent felony); five counts of Assault in the Second Degree (a D violent felony); Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree (a D felony); Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (a D felony); Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree (an A misdemeanor); Public Lewdness (a B misdemeanor); Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree (a B misdemeanor); Criminal Solicitation in the Fourth Degree (an A misdemeanor); Attempting to Bribe a Witness (an E felony) and Tampering with a Witness in the Fourth Degree (an A misdemeanor).

The defendant pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $500,000 cash, $1 million bond, and $2.5 million partially secured bond. He is due back in court on December 20, 2024.

If convicted, the defendant faces up to 25 years to life in prison consecutively on each of the attempted murder counts, as well as potential consecutive sentences on the attempted bribery and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree counts.

This defendant went on an alleged stabbing spree outside of a house party, viciously and indiscriminately slashing and stabbing at partygoers, and ultimately injured a total of eight people, said DA Donnelly. Five of those victims cooperating with NCDAs prosecution suffered extensive injuries that required emergency life-saving medical intervention, including severed arteries and significant blood loss. Several victims suffered deep gashes to their arms and have permanent mobility loss. After his arrest for this nearly deadly rampage, the defendant allegedly attempted to tamper with the prosecution, offering money to victims for their silence. This kind of random, brutal violence will not go unchecked in Nassau County.

DA Donnelly said that, according to the charges, on October 6, 2024, at approximately 6:30 a.m., the defendant was at a crowded basement house party on Linden Place in Hempstead.

During the party, the defendant allegedly exposed himself to a 26-year-old partygoer. When the woman walked away, the defendant allegedly followed her and rubbed his penis against the victims arm.

Afraid after the alleged incident, the victim told friends of the encounter and they removed the defendant from the residence.

Outside of the home, Brooks and several other partygoers became involved in a verbal argument. The defendant then allegedly pulled out a knife and began indiscriminately slashing and stabbing at individuals congregated in the front yard of the home.

Five partygoers suffered extensive lacerations and injuries and were each privately taken to Mercy Hospital for treatment.

One victims radial artery was severed when her arm was slashed and required emergency life-saving surgery. Because of the injury, she lost mobility in her hand.

Another victims tendons and ligaments were slashed, which caused permanent injury and the loss of mobility in the victims hand.

Two additional victims were both stabbed on the left side of their necks, nearly severing their carotid artery and jugular, respectively.

Another victims leg was slashed near the femoral artery and the victim had difficulty standing for a month after the alleged attack.

The defendant fled the scene after the incident.

Brooks was arrested at LaGuardia Airport on October 19, 2024, by members of the Port Authority Police and Nassau County Police Departments disembarking from a flight returning to New York from Florida.

After his arrest, the defendant allegedly attempted to bribe victims with cash to prevent them from cooperating with the prosecution.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Joseph Grasso of the County Court Trial Bureau under the supervision of Bureau Chief Ali Ajamu and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Litigation Division Kevin Higgins. The defendant is represented by Christopher Cassar, Esq.
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: November 26 2024

Mitchell Bosch, 44, was found guilty of felony offenses of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers.

A New York man was convicted of assaulting law enforcement and other charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

A federal jury in the District of Columbia found Mitchell Bosch, 44, of Brooklyn, New York, guilty of felony offenses of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. In addition to the felonies, Bosch was convicted of four misdemeanors, including entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds, and act of physical violence in the Capitol building or grounds.

U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich will sentence Bosch on April 14, 2025.

According to evidence presented during the trial, Bosch was identified in open-source video footage and police body-worn camera footage as present among a crowd of rioters amassed inside the restricted perimeter of the Capitol grounds at the Northwest Courtyard on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C. At approximately 4:20 p.m., United States Capitol Police Officers (USCP) and Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Officers were making a concerted effort to push rioters away from the Northwest Courtyard and off the Capitol grounds.

During this push by law enforcement, Bosch was seen in multiple instances opposing the police advance by pushing directly against officers, assisting other rioters in pushing against officers, and encouraging other rioters to oppose the police. About one minute into the officers advance, open-source video depicts Bosch joining a group of rioters in moving up to oppose the police line as they chanted U.S.A. U.S.A.

As Bosch moved into the police line, he put his hands up toward an officers riot shield and used his body to push into the shield as rioters around him did the same. Bosch stayed at the front of the mob as the rioters used their collective effort to shove that portion of the police line back several feet.

Around 4:26 p.m., officers reestablished their line and resumed their attempt to push the mob out of the Northwest Courtyard. Bosch is then seen on body-worn camera footage as he moved up in the crowd and braced himself behind another rioter before rushing again to the front of the crowd of rioters as another confrontation between officers and the mob began.

By approximately 4:34 p.m., officers had successfully moved the rioters around the building and had begun pushing them further away toward the north. At approximately 4:35 p.m., another fight began along the police line on the side still closest to the Capitol building. Body-worn camera footage from this incident depicts Bosch rushing forward to engage officers and again pushing into the police line.

Officers eventually successfully pushed Bosch back to the other side of the police line. However, Bosch once again rushed police and pushed into the line before retreating back into the crowd. Bosch remained within the restricted perimeter on the east side of the Capitol grounds for some time following his confrontation with police.

The FBI arrested Bosch on Feb. 14, 2024.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section prosecuted this case. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York provided valuable assistance.

The FBI's New York and Washington Field Offices investigated this case. The U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department provided valuable assistance.

In the 46 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,561 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 590 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: November 26 2024

Expanding Eligibility For School-Based Anti-Violence Programming To Protect At-Risk Youth.

Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation to fight crime and keep New Yorkers safe. The three new laws protect individuals from hate-fueled violence, enhance anti-violence education in schools and crack down on stolen cell phones.

Public safety is my top priority, and I'm committed to using every possible tool to keep New Yorkers safe, Governor Hochul said. The data is clear: New York has gotten safer since I took office in 2021, but there is more to do to stop hate and prevent violence in our communities. Signing these bills today will create three new laws to help protect New Yorkers and further reduce crime.

Violence and crime continue to decline across New York State, with shootings in communities participating in the States Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative down 26 percent through October and overall crime is down 11 percent through the first six months of the year outside of New York City. GIVE jurisdictions account for roughly 90 percent of violent crimes involving firearms and 85 percent of violent crime reported outside New York City. Last week, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the States one-of-a-kind network of Crime Analysis Centers was recognized with an Excellence in the Field of Criminal Justice Award, one of six presented recently by the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance to mark the 40th anniversary of the federal law that created the bureau. The State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) funds and supports 11 Crime Analysis Centers statewide in partnership with local law enforcement agencies. Staff at these Centers handled nearly 95,000 requests for service in 2023, providing critical data analysis, information and investigative support to help local law enforcement agencies deter, investigate and solve crimes.

Legislation S5302/A8849 amends State law to classify removal or threat of removal of religious clothing, such as a yarmulke or hijab, as aggravated harassment in the second degree. Over the past year, there have been multiple incidents where individuals' religious clothing has been threatened in acts of hateful violence.

Senator Nathalia Fernandez said, Religious freedom is one of the most fundamental rights we must protect. No one should ever fear harassment or violence simply for expressing their faith or wearing religious attire. This legislation sends a powerful message that hate has no place in New York, and we are committed to safeguarding the dignity and safety of all our residents.

Assemblymember Nader Sayegh said, I commend Governor Hochul for signing this critical legislation, which ensures that the removal or threat of removal of religious clothing, such as kippah and hijabs, is recognized for what it is  an act of aggravated harassment and a hateful crime that has no place in our communities. Protecting individuals rights to freely express their faith is fundamental to ensuring the safety and dignity of all New Yorkers. This law sends a clear message: acts of hate and intimidation will not be tolerated.

Legislation S4598D/A4917D would allow anti-violence educational programs to receive funding from the Omnibus School Violence Prevention Grant program. Newly-eligible programs would provide evidence-based trauma support for at-risk youth, group counseling and anti-violence education.

Senator Jamaal T. Bailey said, "Ensuring children have safe spaces to learn is one of the most important things we can do- but also teaching them strategies on how to diffuse and prevent violence goes a long way. Im excited to announce that Governor Hochul has signed S4598D/A4917D, funding anti-violence education programs in schools. Thank you to Gov. Hochul, AM Khaleel Anderson, and New Yorkers Against Gun Violence for supporting safer, inclusive schools for NY students!"

Assemblymember Khaleel Anderson said, This legislation is a commitment to safer schools and brighter futures. As the assembly sponsor of this legislation, I am incredibly proud that Governor Kathy Hochul has signed this bill. This is the first step, of many, toward healing and empowering communities that have been disproportionately affected by violence. By investing in trauma-informed, evidence-based programs for our youth, were not just addressing safety in schoolswere fostering hope and resilience for the next generation."

Legislation S7739B/A8994A enacts "Detective Brian Simonsen's Law", which aims to crack down on cell phone theft by requiring wireless service providers disable services to stolen wireless phones. The law is named after Detective Brian Simonsen, a heroic NYPD officer who lost his life in 2019 while responding to an armed robbery at a cell phone store.

Senator Scarcella-Spanton said, "Detective Brian Simonsen's Law is named in honor of Detective Brian Simonsen, who tragically lost his life while responding to an armed robbery call at a cell phone store in Queens. The NYPD puts their lives at risk every day to protect and serve our community. Unfortunately, our officers too often make the ultimate sacrifice, as criminals repeatedly endanger people for financial gain, whether by targeting innocent retail workers or individuals on the street. Im proud to sponsor this legislation to better regulate the resale of stolen goods and help prevent further tragedies caused by criminals profiting from illegal activities. Thank you to Governor Hochul for signing my bill into law and to Paul Digiacomo, Scott Munro, and the DEA for their advocacy."

Assemblywoman Amy Paulin said, Any robbery has the potential to turn into something violent, which we saw in New York City where Detective Brian Simonsen was tragically killed during a cell phone store robbery. We need to keep our officers and residents safe, and this new law is a commonsense step in that direction. If robbers know they wont be able to use the phones they steal, theres no reason to steal them. I thank Governor Hochul for taking this step to help prevent crime before it happens and keep New Yorkers safe.
An Iranian Toophan anti-tank guided missile system on display at an IDF base after being seized from Hezbollah in Lebanon. (Seth J. Frantzman, LWJ)

Reports in Israeli media suggest that Israel is heading toward a ceasefire that will end more than a year of fighting against Hezbollah, including two months of intense operations during Operation Northern Arrows, launched against the Iranian-backed terrorist group on September 23.

As the ceasefire is reportedly being hammered out, the IDF increased strikes on smuggling routes used by Iran and Iranian-backed groups to move weapons to Hezbollah. These strikes follow similar operations in recent weeks targeting Syrian regime smuggling routes in the area. This is another step in the IDFs ongoing efforts to degrade the capabilities of Hezbollahs Unit 4400, which is responsible for smuggling weapons used in terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF forces, the IDF said on November 25. Israel says Unit 4400 was established to help Hezbollah with smuggling in 2000, when Israel previously left Lebanon after 18 years of war in the country.

The Israeli strikes targeted areas on the Syria-Lebanon border. For decades, the Iranian regime has been acting to fund and supply weapons to its terror proxies across the Middle East, with Hezbollah being its central proxy, the Israeli military said. Israel accused senior officials in Syria of assisting in the weapons-smuggling effort. The weapons are moved via various routes, one stretching across the Syrian desert. This route crosses from Iraq at Albukamal and goes along the Euphrates River until it branches to the west via Palmyra and on to various crossing areas to Lebanon.

In one strike on November 24, the IDF targeted a site near the Jousieh border crossing in the northern Bekaa Valley area. The Jousieh Crossing is under the control of the Syrian regime and is operated by Syrian security forces, the IDF said.

In other strikes, the IDF targeted 12 Hezbollah command centers in Beirut along with Unit 4400. The Israeli operations over November 25 and November 26 also struck at Hezbollahs Executive Council. These strikes were conducted to degrade the Councils ability to direct, support, and assist Hezbollah terrorist activity and to impair their efforts to rebuild terrorist capabilities, the IDF said.

The IDF seems to be targeting what it sees as key aspects of the Hezbollah organization before a possible ceasefire. The Iranian-backed group has already lost up to 2,500 operatives in southern Lebanon since Israels ground operation began and swaths of its command and control since the IDF increased strikes in mid-September. Destroying parts of the smuggling network and more parts of Hezbollahs command and control would temporarily weaken the groups ability to reorganize after a ceasefire.

The IDF is also preparing for possible escalation before a ceasefire. In the Golan, the IDF changed its guidelines for the home front to limited activity, and some areas in northern Israel have canceled classes and sought to reduce the threat to the public by Hezbollah rocket fire. These changes come a day after Hezbollah launched 250 projectiles that crossed into Israel on November 25, one of its largest daily attacks since September. Hezbollah continued attacks on November 26 with numerous barrages of rockets.

Some of the Iranian weapons smuggled to Hezbollah have been seized by the IDF and are now on display at a base in central Israel. On November 25, the IDF showed off some of these weapons. They include an Iranian Toophan, a system for launching anti-tank guided missiles. In addition, the IDF found a crate in southern Lebanon with a newly made Iranian SPG-9, an anti-tank grenade launcher that is mounted on a tripod when assembled.

The IDF also has a crate full of 107mm rockets that are marked with dates showing they were made in 2007. These are a similar color and type to the 107mm rockets that Iranian-backed militias in Iraq used to target US forces. They can be fired from an easy-to-assemble portable launcher consisting of tubes that can be placed on the ground or in a truck. These are among the plethora of Iranian-made weapons the IDF has found in southern Lebanon in around 60 days of fighting on the ground.

Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024).
LIVONIA, MICH.  Meghan Hanley came to Madonna intent on studying nursing because she had always wanted to help people. But she realized very quickly that nursing was not a good fit for her.

Feeling lost at this sudden realization and looking for some direction, Meghan sought the advice of a faculty member. She was enrolled in an English course at the time and asked the professor for the name of the head of the journalism department, which happened to be Neal Haldane.

After talking with Haldane that same day, Hanley became convinced that the journalism and public relations program was where she belonged. Within a week she had switched majors and dropped her science courses.

If it had been anyone other than Neal Haldane behind that desk that day, I honestly don't know where I would have ended up, she recalled. He sold me on the program that day and I was relieved to know I could stay at Madonna University and still accomplish my goals.

Haldane remained an important influence during Hanleys time at Madonna and continues to be a mentor. I loved the campus and the structure, as well as the proximity to home, but it was Neal who truly made the experience for me, she said.

Hanley described her time in the journalism program at Madonna as life-changing. She developed her writing and communication skills, visualized her future, and made many connections that have benefited her career. She also valued the strong sense of community among the journalism students.

Looking back at her experience at Madonna, Hanley is especially proud of her two semesters on the staff of the Madonna Herald, followed by several independent study courses in which she developed and maintained the first online version of the newspaper. This opportunity was unique and it kept me in touch with the Herald team and my fellow students, she observed. It also honed some very special skills using HTML, coding, and web publishing that most in my area of study at the time did not have.

After graduating from Madonna, Hanley earned a Master of Arts degree (public relations/organizational communication track) from Wayne State University while also beginning her professional career.

Positions with Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan and Hospice of Michigan helped her gain skills in event planning, grant writing, public relations and fundraising. Nearly 12 years ago she joined Comcast, where she utilizes her diverse talents in her role as manager of community impact.

Looking back at her decision to change majors, Hanley is grateful that she trusted her instincts and pursued that pivotal conversation with Haldane, which led to her rewarding career in journalism, public relations, and fundraising.

She came to realize that you can help people in almost any profession.
Dear Annie: I work at a school as a teacher and have struggled over the years with how cliquey the other teachers have been. Shortly after I started there, the pandemic happened, and many people friended each other on Facebook. Because that was the only source for a sense of community as we went through those first few dark months, I accepted many of the friend requests, and that felt good. However, a couple of years later I couldnt help but notice how people commented on each others posts and tagged each other like they were friends in real life but never with me.

I had gone through cancer during the pandemic, which few people know about, and I missed out on many of the social events that solidified those friendships. So I had some understanding, but I figured after a while I would be invited in. That never happened, and I felt excluded by the number of posts that would show up in my feed between co-workers. I made the decision after a couple of years to unfriend/block many people on Facebook from my work so I didnt have to see that and feel bad.

When staff functions or happy hours are advertised, I go and socialize and ask questions of others and show that I am interested in what they have to say and in them as people. However, people generally do not seem interested in me in any way, and I often leave feeling dissed. Over the years, I have invited people who I have gotten to know from work over for dinner at my home with my husband (and even to our wedding), and although the couples gladly accepted our invitations and we had a pleasant and fun time, a return invitation has never occurred.

This week I found out that there was a celebration for one of the teachers birthdays last weekend, and many other teachers were invited, but I was not. I sit near this teacher at lunch at the break table most days and converse pleasantly with him and listen to his stories, so it stung a bit that I wasnt invited. The office staff is no better. They dont smile or say hello to me except for one of the women. I am beginning to think I am some sort of pariah at my work, and I dont know why. I have made friends through other avenues, hobbies and organizations, and have other long-lasting friendships and have a happy and healthy home life, but it is troubling that my workplace feels so cold and exclusive.

I am considering looking for a job elsewhere, but I like the school, the leadership and the students, so I would like to stay. But deep down, I am also wondering if I am the problem and have some sort of off-putting characteristic or some reputation that drives would-be-work-friends away. I have started therapy for other reasons but plan to discuss this as well and am wondering what advice you have for how I might go about understanding how to perceive this feedback at work.

Not Welcome in Washington

Dear Not Welcome: Its completely understandable that you feel hurt by the way your co-workers have treated you. My guess is that this may have more to do with the fact that youre new and joined during a challenging time, making it harder to integrate yourself. Building relationships takes time, and its natural for people to need a while to get to know one another.

If you love the school, the leadership and the students, thats a great reason to stay. Faculty dynamics can change, and you may meet new colleagues or form connections with the existing ones over time.

Remember, we cant control other peoples actions  only how we react to them. Sometimes, what feels like rejection is actually redirection. Perhaps you werent meant to be part of that group or party, and thats OK.

Congratulations on taking the step to go to therapy and staying curious about yourself! By continuing this journey of self-growth, youll likely find that meaningful friendships will naturally come into your life. Try not to get too fixated on how those friendships should look or where they need to come from. You dont have to be friends with your coworkers; you can build connections outside of work.

For now, focus on what you enjoy about your job: the students, the leadership and the school itself. Those are excellent reasons to stay and thrive in your role.

How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner? is out now! Annie Lanes second anthology  featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation  is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM
Bostons Downtown Crossing has transformed into the Holiday Kingdom with the installation of a dozen giant animal-themed nutcrackers.

The 12 nutcrackers, which were installed on Nov. 22, will remain in Downtown Crossing until Jan. 2.

The illuminated nutcrackers are 16-feet-tall and represent an array of animals and mythical creatures from a reindeer and polar beer to an elephant and unicorn.

A dozen giant nutcrackers with animal heads have been put up in Boston's Downtown Crossing as part of the area's "Holiday Kingdom" installation.Charlie McKenna

The animals were chosen by students at a local daycare center, according to the press release.

Downtown Crossing will host several festive events this holiday season. They include TubaChristmas, The Downtown Boston Holiday Market and free visits with Santa.

More information about these events can be found online.
Students at the Campus School at Boston College got a surprise visit from Spider-Man star Tom Holland last week.

Holland, whose girlfriend Zendaya is filming a movie in Boston, visited The Campus School on Thursday, Boston College said in an X post. The school educates students ages 3 and 22 who have extensive support needs.

Holland spent several hours at the school where he spoke with students and played music with them during a music therapy session, the school wrote in an online article.

He couldnt have been more down to earth, Jennifer Miller, the Campus Schools marketing manager, said in the article.

Every single student was engaged, they were vibing off the room for sure, Miller said. The way he engaged with them was really quite beautiful. He was just so natural and so caring.

Last year, Miller received a call from a former volunteers mother who knew the Holland family, the school said.

Through her recommendation, the Campus School applied for a grant from Hollands family foundation, The Brothers Trust.

Through this, the Campus School received a $25,000 grant. The grant will be used to buy assistive technology as well as a ceiling lift for physical therapy exercises.

Read More: Robert Pattinson caught filming scenes for upcoming movie in Boston Thursday

We are so grateful to Tom Holland for taking the time to visit our small special needs school, Campus School Interim Director Thomas Miller said in the article. He participated in a music session, posed for photos, and fully immersed himself into our students' activities and their hearts.

The surprise visit was just one stop on Hollands recent trip to Boston. The Uncharted actor posted on his Instagram story Sunday that he and Zendaya went to Foxhole on Newbury Street for a beer.

Im heading out to a bar to go and have my first Bero in the wild, Holland said in another Instagram story that showed Zendaya in the background.

He later posted a photo with the Euphoria actress smiling and leaning over the table at Foxhole.

This was not the first time Zendaya and Holland have been to Boston. The two were spotted together at the Tatte on Boylston Street, right across from Boston Common, in 2022.

Zendaya was in town then to shoot the film, Challengers, which Boston.com reported at the time. The celebrity couple was also seen walking their dog in the city earlier this month.

Zendaya is in Boston for a new film. The 28-year-old is set to star in a new romance movie called "The Drama" alongside Twilight star Robert Pattinson, who was spotted shooting scenes in the Financial District on Oct. 31.

Plans for The Drama were revealed in August, as first reported by The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline.

The upcoming film is directed by Kristoffer Borgli (Dream Scenario) and produced by Ari Aster (Midsommar, Hereditary). Production on the film started on Oct. 22, according to IMDb Pro.

A24, the films production company, was unable to provide exact filming locations for The Drama because they are confidential, the company told MassLive.

However, Zendaya has been spotted at several locations around Boston, according to several videos on social media.

One TikTok with the caption, Zendaya blending in with the locals in beacon hill, captured the Dune actress having a pastry at the Tatte. Another clip from inside the same Tatte showed Zendaya standing outside.

The Euphoria actress was also seen at Philips Academy in Andover, according to two other TikToks as well as a post on X.

Phillips spokesperson Tracy Sweet told Andover News that a film crew was on campus, but could not provide more information. Another video also captured Pattinson at the same school. The 38-year-old actor arrived in Boston on Oct. 30, Just Jared reported.

The Drama is shooting from now until the end of November in Boston, according to a casting page that is seeking extras for the film.
Massachusetts diners have spoken, and six eateries in the Bay State have been named to OpenTables 2024 national list of top 100 restaurants.

Some lists are decided by critics, but not OpenTables Top 100  this one is driven by diners, OpenTable wrote of the list. See this years top-ranked spots based on insights and reviews from verified OpenTable users just like you.

You can find each of the six Massachusetts restaurants that made the list below.

Bar Vlaha is a traditional Greek restaurant in Brookline, Massachusetts.Adam Detour for 23015

Greek restaurant Bar Vlaha is one of two restaurants under Xenia Greek Hospitality to make it onto OpenTables list. With menu items from Saganaki to Kontosulvi, Bar Vlaha captures the true soul of Greek cooking with rustic and nomadic traditions using charcoal and open-fire gastra techniques, the restaurants website reads. Bar Vlaha is located at 1653 Beacon St., Brookline.

Bar Vlaha is a traditional Greek restaurant in Brookline, Massachusetts.Adam Detour for 23015

Italian restaurant Giulia is the first restaurant of award-winning Chef Michael Pagliarini. The Cambridge spot focuses on wonderful food and great service, with offerings such as duck wing and prosciutto Tortelli and house-made lamb sausage. Giulia Restaurant is at 1682 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge.

Krasi is an upscale Greek restaurant in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood.Linda Campos

Xenia Greek Hospitality also owns Krasi  a staple Greek restaurant in Bostons Back Bay neighborhood. Krasi invites diners to come for the wine, stay for the food by offering an extensive wine menu and Greek bites. The restaurant is at 48 Gloucester St., Boston.

Pammys, located between Cambridges Central and Harvard squares, is a New American restaurant inspired by the feel of an Italian neighborhood trattoria, Pammys website states. Menu items include yakitori chicken, striped bass saddle chop and honeynut squash torta. Pammys is at 928 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge.

Silver Dove Afternoon Tea is an English-style tea room located in downtown Boston. The restaurant serves more than two dozen kinds of tea, multiple pastries, cocktails and more. The restaurant accepts 90-minute reservations every afternoon from Wednesday to Sunday. Silver Dove Afternoon Tea is at 24 Tremont St., Boston.

The Nautilus Nantucket is a New England fusion restaurant on Nantucket, Massachusetts.The Nautilus

Opened on Nantucket in 2014, Nautilus focuses on creating a social experience for diners, from food, cocktails and wine to ambiance and atmosphere. The restaurant specializes in New England cuisine with Japanese, Spanish, Latin and Mediterranean influences. The Nautilus is located at 12 Cambridge St., Nantucket.
A Boston man was sentenced to two years in prison for beating a woman and nearly hitting her with a car because he got upset that she didnt say hi to him, officials said.

Ian Atkinson, 34, of Dorchester, was convicted of assault and battery and assault with a dangerous weapon, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said.

Atkinson will be on probation for two years after he gets out of state prison, Hayden said.

The woman was watering her plants on July 13, 2023, when Atkinson walked by her and said, when people say good morning to you, you should say hi you crazy (expletive), according to Hayden.

She started recording Atkinson with her cellphone, Hayden said.

Atkinson, who had gone into a black Mercedes nearby, left the vehicle and started punching the woman in the face, Hayden said. He then threw her against a fence. Atkinson stopped once the woman bit him.

After beating her, Atkinson drove the Mercedes toward the woman, nearly hitting her, Hayden said.

The woman was bleeding from her nose when Boston Police came, Hayden said. She was taken to a nearby hospital. She had a broken nose, bruises on her head and face and a broken blood vessel in her left eye.

The beating was captured on the womans cellphone and a surveillance camera, Hayden said. Atkinson, who was wearing a GPS device at the time, was arrested a few days later.
Several Massachusetts municipalities are lifting their bans on outside fires as cooler temperatures, higher relative humidity and precipitation are moving in across the state.

East Brookfield, Harwich, Norwell, Ashby, Hadley and Danvers are some of the areas that are lifting their open burning bans. Some of the bans were effective immediately, while East Brookfield will lift the ban on Friday.

The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services said it does not have a complete list of the municipalities that lifted their open burning bans.

Although the local restrictions on open fires have lifted in some towns and cities in Massachusetts, burning brush  branches or wood  is still prohibited statewide.

Open burning for brush is banned statewide until Jan. 15, 2025, according to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. The ban will go back into effect on May 1, 2025.

Fireplaces, chimneys, outdoor fireplaces and other fire-associated materials, not covered under the statewide open fire ban are allowed.

As Massachusetts transitions out of its fire season, cooler temperatures, increased humidity and more rain are expected, which will help reduce the risk of brush fires.

Massachusetts has experienced a particularly severe fire season. More acres have burned in wildfires in October and November of 2024 than in the past two years combined, the Commonwealth Beacon reported.

Experts point to climate change as the reason why there is an uptick in fires in the state, according to the news outlet. As temperatures rise during the fall, droughts become more frequent and last longer, which increases the risk of fires.

Even though the state is moving out of its fire season, people should still use common sense when it comes to open flames, sparks and other types of fire sources, Jake Wark, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services said.

We also cant lose sight of the fact that were approaching the #1 day for residential fires in Massachusetts  Thanksgiving, which on average has twice as many reported home fires than the next leading day," Wark said.
A Lynn man was facing multiple charges after being accused of threatening two women at a Danvers movie theater on Sunday.

Ryan Muldoon, 34, was arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, threats to commit a crime and disturbing the peace, according to WCVB.

Two women going to see Wicked on Sunday told AMC management that Muldoon was in the a theater and was making threats to them, the news outlet reported. AMC then called police.

The women said Muldoon was threatening to shoot all of you in the head during the previews, WCVB reported.

But in Salem District Court Monday, Muldoons lawyer said he was repeating rap lyrics and that he had his headphones in, NBC Boston reported.

Plus, defense attorney Heather Ramsey said he didnt have a weapon.

Theres no assault, and theres no dangerous weapon, defense attorney Heather Ramsey said, according to WCVB. Theres an allegation of threats, but theres no indication that they were even directed at those individuals. He didnt approach them and sit behind them, they came and sat in front of him. Theres just not enough there to get the probable cause.

Another hearing will be Tuesday. Muldoon will be held until then.

A 26-year-old from Marthas Vineyard was accused of stabbing four girls at AMCs Braintree location in May.

Jared Ravizza has been held without bail since he was arrested.
Venomous blue dragons are a rare sight along Aussie beaches  and you definitely don't want to touch them.

Beachgoers at a popular Aussie tourist beach were put on alert after a fleet of venomous creatures were spotted washed ashore. Hundreds of elusive blue dragons, also called glaucus atlanticus, were seen on the shoreline of Coolangatta beach on the Gold Coast on Monday, leaving visitors rethinking their afternoon dip.

Little is known about the rarely seen tiny sea slugs, and while they look innocuous, they can deliver a nasty sting previously described as the "worst thing ever". While the animals themselves are not venomous, they store up venom from the many bluebottles they eat in their wings to be used as a defence mechanism. The painful sting can result in nausea and vomiting, but the symptoms are rarely life-threatening.

Photographer James Gourley told Yahoo News Australia he spotted "hundreds" of the creatures washed ashore. "I was about to go for a swim at the beach when I noticed these blue dots in the sand. There were hundreds of them along the beach. Lots of other swimmers were staring at them and taking pictures too," he said.

"After looking them up, I discovered that they were blue dragons and can be venomous so didn't risk it and went for swim at another beach around the corner where I couldn't see them," he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

University of the Sunshine Coast Professor David Schoeman told Yahoo he believed "persistent moderate northeast winds are the culprit" for bringing the creatures to sure.

"This is directly onshore for Coolangatta and would be ideal for bringing these pelagic (open-water) critters ashore."

The sea dragon's venom comes from eating bluebottles. Source: Supplied

The stretch of beach at Coolangatta on the Gold Coast is popular with tourists. Source: Supplied

Why do blue dragons wash ashore?

Blue dragons tend to live offshore and are rarely seen but occasionally large numbers are recorded on the coast's beaches, particularly in Queensland and New South Wales. Instances have been reported in January last year, as well as in 2021 and 2018.

I guess thats their bad luck, your good luck, because they absolutely amazing little critters," University of the Sunshine Coast's Professor David Schoeman previously told Yahoo News.

He believes its more common to see them in late summer during La Nina years because of the predominance of strong onshore winds. They're not just local winds, theyre winds that blow from the deep ocean and carry on to shore, he said.

Julian Obayd (centre) said the stings of a blue dragon were the worst he had ever experienced. Source: TikTok

Dangerous blue dragon stunt goes viral

Last year, a man was hospitalised after he attempted to rescue dozens of blue dragons that washed ashore at a nearby Gold Coast beach. He warned others not to make the same attempt after his body was left covered in welts.

ADVERTISEMENT

Julian Obayd, 22, told Yahoo News Australia at the time his life flashed before my eyes.

I freaked out because it kept getting progressively worse, he said. They were creeping up, these red marks all over my body. They were pretty weird.

What to do if youre stung by a blue dragon

Surf Live Saving Australias Dr Jaz Lawes previously recommended to Yahoo anyone harmed by a blue dragon should follow an amended version of first aid for bluebottle stings:

Do not allow rubbing of the sting area. Rinse the area well with seawater (not freshwater) Place the sting area in hot water  no hotter than the rescuer can comfortably tolerate for 20 minutes. If the pain is unrelieved by heat, or if hot water is not available, apply cold packs or ice in a dry plastic bag. Send for medical aid if symptoms persist.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
A New Hampshire man was sentenced on Monday in Boston federal court for plotting a scheme to harass and intimidate two reporters from New Hampshire Public Radio and their families, federal authorities said.

Eric Labarge, 46, of Nashua was sentenced to 46 months (3.8 years) in prison with three years of supervised release, acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy said.

Labarge was hit with a $10,000 fine and was ordered to pay roughly $34,000 to the people he harassed and intimidated, Levy said. He pleaded guilty in July to several charges he faced, including one count of stalking using a facility of interstate commerce and aiding and abetting, and two counts of stalking through interstate travel and aiding and abetting.
A plane was struck by a tug vehicle and two planes clipped wings in separate incidents at Logan Airport on Monday, according to Massport.

During one incident, a tug vehicle towing an empty JetBlue aircraft struck the rear of a Cape Air plane at a slow rate of speed, a Massport spokesperson said. Two pilots in the Cape Air plane were taken to a hospital as a precaution.

There were three passengers on board the Cape Air plane at the time of the crash, but no injuries were reported, WBZ-TV reported. The incident happened around 6:30 p.m. after the Cape Air plane had flown from Nantucket to Boston.

All three vehicles involved were removed from service so that they could be inspected, the news station reported.

In another minor incident on Monday, the wingtips of a Frontier Airlines plane and a American Airlines plane touched while at a gate, Massport said. There were no injuries reported, but passengers had to leave the planes so that they could be inspected.

The planes clipped one another around noon at a Terminal E gate, according to WBZ-TV. At the time, the Frontier flight was heading to Dallas-Fort Worth with 200 passengers, while the American flight had just landed after flying from London.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident, the news station reported. The American plane was being towed when the wings clipped one another.

Passengers on the Frontier flight told WBZ-TV they felt a bump when the wingtips touched. It was terrible. It was very scary. All of a sudden  thump, Evelyn Pipione told the news station.

Many similar incidents have occurred at Logan Airport in recent years. Most involved planes clipping one another or nearly colliding.
The Boston Police Departments Fugitive Unit arrested a 16-year-old boy wanted in connection with a June shooting that left a Brighton man dead, the department announced Tuesday.

After learning of a crash at 24 Fifield St. at around 8:34 p.m. on Friday, June 28, police found two people inside a car, one of whom was declared dead, police said previously.

A man in the passenger seat had a broken leg and was taken to the hospital, while the driver, Edwin Diaz-Geraldo, 20, of Brighton, was dead, police said in a statement on Tuesday.
A vigil is being held Tuesday for a Springfield mother and her 4-month-old baby who were killed in a drive-by shooting earlier this month.

Jessiah Mercado, 20, and her 4-month-old son, Messiah Diaz, were killed in the shooting in Hartford.

Lance Macho Morales, 23, was arrested and charged with two counts of murder, first-degree assault, criminal possession of a firearm, criminal attempt to commit first-degree assault and murder with special circumstances.

Solidarity divides grief, and multiplies community empowerment, bringing people together to work toward preventing violence in our community, Mothers United Against Violence wrote. We know that responding to this challenge takes an entire community/village coming together!

Mothers United Against Violence is hosting the vigil at the request of Mercados family.

MUAV invites everyone to join this family in compassionate concern as we minister in support of this family through this time of grief, the organization wrote.

It will be held Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 6:00 p.m., at 380 New Britain Ave. in Hartford, which is where the shooting occurred.

Police said a dispute over a vehicle preceded the violent incident.

An unidentified man in his 20s was also hurt by gunfire, police said. The driver of the vehicle was unharmed.

Interim Hartford Police Chief Kenny Howell described the shooting as a horrific crime during a press conference.

You have taken the life, the lives, of an infant and his mother, he said, speaking to the suspect. We do not tolerate that in this city.
Three state lawmakers said they are planning to file a bill that would prohibit the sale of tobacco or nicotine products to anyone born after a specific date.

The Nicotine Free Generation Bill would replace the states current law that prohibits the sale of nicotine or tobacco to anyone under the age of 21.

State Representative Tommy Vitolo, D-15th Norfolk, who plans to file the bill with State Sen. Jason Lewis, D-5th Middlesex, and Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian, D-32nd Middlesex, said that the legislation would protect future generations from nicotine addiction while ensuring older people could still have the right to smoke.

This legislation treats everyone fairly, Vitolo said at the Massachusetts State House. Those who are not old enough now to obtain nicotine products will never be old enough to buy them in Massachusetts. Those who are old enough today will always be old enough.

The bill comes on the heels of similar work done by the state to get tobacco out of the hands of young people.

In 2019, Massachusetts banned the sale of all flavored tobacco products including menthol cigarettes. Later in 2021, Brookline became the first municipality in the U.S. to pass a bylaw prohibiting the sale of nicotine products to anyone born after Jan. 1, 2000.

After Massachusetts banned the sale of menthol cigarettes, tobacco smuggling went up, according to a report from the Massachusetts State Multi-Agency Illegal Tobacco Task Force.

When asked whether this new bill would also lead to cigarette smuggling, Vitolo acknowledged that it wouldnt be 100 percent effective.

If were only 96 percent effective  if 24 out of 25 young people who would have otherwise become addicted to nicotine arent, Ill celebrate that," he said.
An MBTA commuter rail station in suburban Boston is in line for a major makeover that officials say will help tackle the states housing crisis even as it fights congestion and improves accessibility.

That was the vow Monday from Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss and other officials as they unveiled plans to rebuild the Newtonville station in Newton.

Right now, the station  located between Walnut and Harvard streets off Washington Street  has a single platform accessible only by a set of stairs.

Plans for the revamp, whose timeline is still being developed, call for two level-boarding platforms accessible by elevators and an up-and-over bridge suitable for wheeled mobility devices, Healeys office told State House News Service.

When all is said and done, the station will be the first fully ADA-accessible Commuter Rail station in Newton, the officials said.

This commitment is an important step forward in our goal to improve transportation infrastructure across the state, Healey said in a statement.

The station is one of three commuter rail stations in Newton, which is a little less than 11 miles from Boston. Depending on the timing, it can take 55 to 75 minutes to reach the city by train.

The Newtonville platform also serves the most riders, and has the most immediate potential for transit-oriented development, Healeys office said.

Healey said officials have lined up $50 million in state, MBTA and federal funding for the project, the wire service reported.

The influx of funding and revamp will enable the T to run commuter rail trains through Newton more frequently. It also will reduce a bottleneck in the system by making it a two-track station, the wire service reported.

The money includes a $7 million earmark obtained by Auchincloss, who represents the bedroom community on Capitol Hill.

This upgrade helps commuters, supports affordable housing, and advances the goal of regional rail, Auchincloss said in the joint statement. The ... funding my office secured to improve Newtons commuter rail will help kickstart a virtuous cycle of better service and increased ridership.

Right now, the station does not support [existing] needs with low-level, single-sided platforms that are only accessible via the stairways, MBTA General Manager Philip Eng said, noting that some 2,000 riders now use Newtons stations to enter and leave the community every day.

But theres not one accessible MBTA commuter rail station in the city, and thats not acceptable, Eng continued. The current design also forces trains to switch tracks in Newton, causing delays across the whole corridor and reducing efficiency.

Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller called the project a permanent, positive game change for the city.

Plans also call for:

Track and signal upgrades to improve reliability and modernization of the stations;

Benches, canopies, tactile warning strips, wayfinding signage, bicycle racks, as well as dedicated pick-up and drop-off areas, and

New safety security features, such as blue phones and CCTV cameras, and improved lighting levels, Healeys office said.

This is a huge leap forward not just for public transportation but also housing, economic opportunity, accessibility, and climate resiliency. Everyone will now be able to take the train  people with mobility challenges, parents with a stroller, and travelers with a suitcase," Fuller continued.

The double platforms will allow more frequent service, improving life and access to economic opportunities for people along the entire Worcester/Framingham/Boston corridor, Fuller concluded.

Reporting by State House News Service is included in this story.
By Frances Vinall

President-elect Donald Trump said he plans to use executive orders when he takes office in January to institute tariffs of 25 percent on all products imported from Canada and Mexico, and 10 percent on those from China.
The National Weather Service issued an updated report at 7:51 p.m. on Tuesday for fog and drizzle until Wednesday at midnight for Northern Worcester as well as Franklin, Middlesex and Hampshire counties.

"Temperatures have fallen below freezing this evening across portions of northern MA. With areas of fog and light drizzle, this may turn into patchy freezing fog or light freezing drizzle. Fog should slowly diminish overnight, but temperatures will remain below freezing until Wednesday morning. Motorists should remain alert for possible icing. Even trace amounts can cause significant impacts," states the weather service.
With millions of Americans set to travel for Thanksgiving, a number of them could be impacted by Thursdays storm about to strike the Northeast.

During the Thanksgiving travel period between Tuesday, Nov. 26, and Monday, Dec. 2, AAA anticipates 79.9 million travelers to head 50 miles or more during that time.

But a storm emerging from the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California on Tuesday is expected to move toward the Rocky Mountains, eventually bringing stormy conditions as far east as Maine by Thursday, AccuWeather reported.

"There are many variables we are still analyzing with this storm with track and intensity being the keys to where the rain and snow line will set up and the amount of snow that will fall in the Midwest and Northeast, AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said in the report.

After dumping multiple feet of snow and likely resulting in road closures along Interstate 80 and Donner Pass in California, the storm should move eastward to the Rockies and High Plains on Wednesday, according to AccuWeather. Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and later the Atlantic Ocean should fuel the storm as it reaches the East Coast.

How much the storm strengthens in the East will determine not only how far north it will track but also the approximate boundary between rain and snow and whether the snow struggles to accumulate or piles up enough to create slippery travel, Rayno added.

If the storm strengthens, it could move north and deliver more snow to parts of the Midwest and eastern Great Lakes, while also serving some moderate to heavy snow to northern New England, AccuWeather wrote.

Central New England could see 3 inches of snow in areas of higher elevation, according to the National Weather Service. Other parts of the Northeast  Pennsylvania, New York  could see fragmented snowfall, with snow also specific to higher elevations.

Precipitation should hit some parts of the East Coast at around 12 a.m. on Thursday, according to the National Weather Services Philadelphia/Mount Holly office. Rain is expected to fall at that time, with areas of higher elevation like the southern Poconos and New Jerseys Sussex County seeing some light snow or mixed snow

"For Thanksgiving Day, some wet snow may linger in during the early morning north and west, but an eventual change over to plain rain is expected as temperatures warm," forecasters wrote. In terms of accumulation in those areas, generally looking like a slushy coating to an inch or two before the changeover occurs. Overall, a damp and dreary day is in the cards with rain, occasionally becoming heavy at times.

Similarly, the National Weather Services Albany office foresees snow falling at a high elevation of 1,500 feet. Wet snow could be dumped on lower elevations, but forecasters anticipate a 40 to 70% chance of 4 inches or more of snow in higher elevations, with the highest totals in the southern Greens and southern Adirondacks, before precipitation largely ends by late Thursday evening.

New York City, soon to host the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, should see "heavy downpours can reduce visibility and cause ponding on streets and highways," and temperatures drop to 48 degrees, according to AccuWeather. Forecasters expect less than 1 inch of rain but rain should fall over a 12-hour period.

Southern New Englands higher elevation areas are also expected to see snow mix in with rain, with the possibility of accumulating snow at elevations above 1,000 feet, National Weather Service forecasters in Boston said.

Places in the higher elevations, such as the Berkshires, have an 80 to 90% chance of seeing 1 inch of snow accumulating, with a 40 to 50% chance of 3 inches accumulating, forecasters said. Snowfall in the higher elevations could impact travel, The Weather Channel stated Tuesday.

In Maine, National Weather Service forecasters expect stormy conditions to move south on Thanksgiving.

Therefore, our confidence in measurable snow occurring in the interior has increased, forecasters at the Grey office wrote.

Southern and coastal areas should see a period of wet snow before quickly turning into rain on Thursday morning. Snowfall in accumulation of 6 inches or more in the mountains is largely expected, with a 50 to 70% chance of happening Thursday, forecasters said.
SPRINGFIELD  Susan Ashman was only 4 years old when officials lowered the American flag at the Springfield Armory, and gunmaking operations ceased there on April 30, 1968.

A park ranger at the site now, Ashman has read about the day the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson shuttered the place that had armed the U.S. military since 1795, a year after it had been established by a unanimous vote of Congress.

That was the day the Armory ceased to exist. It was so sad, Ashman told The Republican. It was the end of an era. The Armory had put Springfield on the map.

Enemies of the British, the French had armed the 13 colonies during their war of independence with Great Britian. A cottage industry of small, local gunmakers also manufactured weapons for Colonial fighters.

John McCabe, park technician at Springfield Armory Museum. First time on display, the Army M-16 rifle. (Mario Sarno / The Republican)Mario Sarno / The Republican

After the Revolutionary War, to be truly independent, George Washington wanted his own manufacturing site, so Congress authorized two of them  one in Springfield and the other in the south at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, said Ashman.

Some antique pistols on display at Springfield Armory National Historic Site. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican, File)

The Springfield armory was the first one to be built. Washington told Congress the town of 2,300 people was the perfect place to make weapons.

Farmers hated the land because it was alternately rocky, sandy or swampy.

But Washington loved the site he had in mind, as it was elevated, giving the Armorys commandant and officers a strategic advantage: They could see enemies off in the distance. And while Springfield was close to the Connecticut River, it was north of the falls in Enfield.

The Connecticut River is not navigable as you come north, said Springfield historian Francis Gagnon. Once you pass the Enfield rapids, enemy warships could not go up the river with any amount of ease, said Gagnon, who was on the Springfield Historical Commission for 29 years.

Machine guns at the new exhibit at the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, Push the Green Hand Ahead: Springfield Armory in World War I.The Republican

There were dozens of buildings on 90 acres across three parcels. Together they produced tens of millions of firearms, from muskets in the Civil War to high power, rapid-fire M14 rifles in Vietnam.

General Patton said this was the greatest battle implement ever devised, said Ashman.

Where are they now

The only building that is part of the original Armory is now an arms museum on the campus of Springfield Technical Community College on State Street. STCC has moved into the other buildings.

Other buildings that were part of the former Armory are now home to a technology park at the corner of Federal and State streets. There was a third site, a mile down the road on Walnut Street along the Mill River, where guns were made, and the building remains standing.

The first rifle made at the Armory was the Springfield Charleville, an exact copy of what the French had been producing for the colonies. Soldiers had to stand-up, use a ramrod to jam gunpowder and projectiles down the front of the barrel, aim and fire a single shot, and then repeat the 13 steps needed to take another shot. That worked out to between one and three shots per minute.

The Springfield Armory National Historic Site is getting ready to open a new exhibit called "At Camp in the Field: Life of the Civil War Soldier. The exhibit showcases not only weapons, but personal items of Civil War soldiers. Here's a detail of a Colt 1855 Revolving Rifle. (Don Treeger / The Republican)Don Treeger / The Republican

By the Civil War, engineers created the M1861 percussion rifle. While the Charleville shot a lead ball, this new rifle fired bullets. Grooves in the barrel made the bullets spin rapidly, causing them to travel faster and be deadlier than the balls.

After the Civil War, the Armory made yet another advancement, inventing the trapdoor. Instead of standing and loading guns from the front of a barrel, soldiers could arm their weapons by dropping bullets into a breach, which was an opening above the handle near the trigger.

Because the chamber was so close to the shooters, they didnt have to stand to load their weapons  they became stealthier, crouching or lying behind rocks and trees, as they armed and fired their rifles.

Although soldiers could still load only one bullet a time, it took just three steps to do it.

Weapons continued to evolve. Over time, they could be loaded more quickly, hold more bullets, fire more rapidly at greater distances and were deadly accurate.

Michael D. Helm, National Commander of the American Legion, on tour of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site in Springfield Massachusetts with state and national legion officials. April 10, 2015. (Michael S. Gordon / The Republican)Michael S. Gordon / The Republican

The Armory at Harpers Fairy began producing weapons in 1802, but it was burned to the ground in 1861 by Union soldiers, leaving Springfield with the only Armory in the United States.

It was our sister Armory, but not for long, because when Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861, that made Harpers Ferry a target. Union generals knew the Confederates would want to take over the Armory and get those firearms, so the U.S. Army burned it down to keep it out of Confederate hands, said Ashman.

With Harpers Ferry a smoldering pile of ashes, the Springfield Armory became the sole supplier of weapons to the U.S. military. The government did purchase firearms from private contractors, but the majority came from Springfield.

Workers can be seen working at their machines at the Springfield Armory on May 11, 1958. (Courtesy of the Springfield Armory)Courtesy of the Springfield Armory

McNamara targets Springfield

Robert McNamara was defense secretary for Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Under Johnson, McNamara began taking aim at the Armory, recommending it be closed.

There were studies galore, as only the federal government could produce, said Gagnon.

They said the buildings were too old, and the machinery was no longer up to par with what was needed. Many disagreed with this, said Gagnon.

In its heyday, the Armory employed 14,000 people, mostly women, because the men were at war.

Women didnt have to fight for their rights to work an industrial machine. They were desperately needed as the men went off to war, especially during World War I and World War II. People realized women could do more than bake cakes and pies. They stopped being June Cleaver and were able to operate machines, said Gagnon.

As defense production ramped up more women were needed to fill the necessary roles and women responded to the call. Priscilla Bryant was one young woman who helped with the war effort. She was a high school student. (Springfield Armory archives)

Despite Springfields role in defending America for 174 years, McNamara shut down the Armory. Local historians then began worrying about the fate of the historic buildings.

Springfield, at that time, was in a mode of urban renewal, said Gagnon.

What if some of these historic buildings get knocked down? What if people begin to ruin them and shape them into something we dont want them to be? said Gagnon, who successfully worked with teams of local preservationists and merchants, along with city and state officials, convincing the federal government to preserve the buildings and designate the Armory as a National Historic site.

Women working at the Springfield Armory on July 22, 1943. (Courtesy of the Springfield Armory)Springfield Armory

A yearlong celebration has been launched to mark the 50th anniversary of that designation  and once again, the U.S. flag is flying over the only building that is left of the original Armory.

Were sharing a collection of firearms with the public, said Ashman. Its the taxpayers collection. We are just stewards, and we get to share it with people all over the world. If we didnt have this Armory, nobody would know the significance these firearms.

Admission to the Springfield Armory is free and open to the public. Visitors can see original versions of every musket, rifle and prototype that the gunmaking factory produced. Each weapon is in working worker. Using blanks, park rangers demonstrate how each was loaded and fired.

A young woman in full compliance with safety dress code, including wearing goggles, at a mill grinding machine at the Springfield Armory. (Springfield Armory Archives)Springfield Armory Archives

For more information about the Armory and to see its calendar of events, visit nps.gov/spar/index.htm.
We bring you some breaking news now.

The police officer who fatally tasered a 95-year-old with dementia symptoms could face a lengthy stint in jail after a jury found him guilty of her unlawful killing.

Senior Constable Kristian James Samuel White discharged his stun gun at Clare Nowland in a treatment room at Yallambee Lodge aged-care home in the southern NSW town of Cooma during the early hours of May 17, 2023.

In video footage played at his NSW Supreme Court trial, the 34-year-old officer was heard saying "nah, bugger it" before shooting the great-grandmother in the torso.

Senior Constable Kristian White (left), Clare Nowland (right). Source: AAP

Mrs Nowland, who was holding a steak knife at the time, fell backwards and hit her head before dying a week later in hospital.

After hearing evidence and submissions over the eight-day trial, the 12-person jury returned with a guilty verdict of manslaughter on Wednesday.

They had been deliberating for 20 hours.

Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC successfully argued White was criminally negligent or conducted an unlawful and dangerous act by firing the Taser in a move which was "utterly unnecessary".

In reaching its verdict, the jury rejected arguments by defence counsel Troy Edwards SC that the 34-year-old officer's use of the Taser was a proportionate response to the threat that Mrs Nowland posed.
SPRINGFIELD  In 1621, in a letter to a friend, Edward Winslow  a leader among the Pilgrims who settled in Plymouth  described a three-day feast he enjoyed with other colonists and the Indigenous population.

There have been books, articles, research papers and scholarly presentations describing what became known as the first Thanksgiving, but it is all based on Winslows 151-word letter, according to the Plimoth-Patuxet Museums.
SPRINGFIELD  Officials with the Diocese of Springfield announced today that a deceased priest has been added to a list of credibly accused clergy named in sexual abuse of minors, while two others also had additional incidents added to their files.

The late Rev. Ronald Lussier was added to the list based on findings by a diocesan Review Board, the diocese said in a statement Tuesday. The board also noted an additional credibility finding of abuse against the late Rev. John Koonz and three more findings against the late Franciscan Rev. Placid Kaczorek.
As a Springfield mother held her unconscious 6-year-old in her arms, another family member called for the ambulance.

Moments earlier, Samantha Ocasios daughter said she had to throw up, and Ocasio followed her to the bathroom.

She told her daughter that she loved her. She told me she loved me, too, she recalled.

Ocasio, a mother of seven, was accustomed to dealing with her childrens stomach bugs, but this wasnt a stomach bug. Just hours later, Angelica Vazquez died of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli  or more commonly known as E. coli.

I dont want it to happen to anybody elses kids. I dont wish this on anybody at all, she said. My daughter was happy. She was healthy.

Ocasio said the only change in the familys food was eating at a Western Massachusetts McDonalds on Halloween, when her daughter dressed up as Minnie Mouse.

I was like, were going to go trick-or-treating. Lets have a fun dinner, Ocasio said.

While her siblings all ate chicken nuggets, Angelica opted for a cheeseburger.

A deadly outbreak of E. coli poisoning has been tied to McDonalds onions after at least 75 people in 13 states got sick, federal health officials said. The strain of E. coli linked to the onions served at McDonalds is called O157.H7.

However, as of Monday, the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control Prevention says there have been no reported cases of E. coli tied to the O157.H7 strain and McDonalds outbreak in Massachusetts.

After the outbreak, McDonalds says it stopped selling the burgers and identified an alternate slivered onion supplier for about 900 restaurants. As of Nov. 14, there also have been no food safety concerns from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration at McDonalds, the restaurant said in a statement.

My whole concern is OK, if it wasnt the McDonalds, what is it? Ocasio asked.

Angelica Vazquez is being remembered as always being happy and smiling.Samantha Ocasio

A happy child

It was Angelicas world; her mom was just living in it.

She fondly remembers Angelica asking to get her nails done. So, theyd go get their nails done. Ocasio would buy her flowers just for fun. And they enjoyed dancing and singing to Taylor Swifts Shake It Off.

After three boys, Angelica was her moms first daughter. And they were best friends.

She literally lived like the life of a princess, her mom recalled. But the thing is, she never acted like it. She was very grateful for everything and anything she had.

On Angelicas birthday, July 3, her mom woke up at 6 a.m. to go buy her a bouquet of flowers and a bunch of balloons. Later, they went out to seafood and went shopping at Marshalls. While they were listening to Taylor Swift, her daughter started crying  but they were happy tears.

She was like, Youre the best mom ever. This is the best birthday, Ocasio said.

Other days, the pair would sit together for hours to braid hair or do nails. Her daughter loved learning TikTok dances. And there was a lot of laughter.

And thats what keeps me going most days, is knowing I was able to give her at least a happy time while she was here, she said.

What happened

Angelica started feeling sick late on Nov. 1. Her mother made sure she was drinking plenty of Gatorade and taking it easy by watching TV.

On Nov. 2, she gave her daughter a bubble bath, and they played in the bubbles together.

But things rapidly changed. About 45 minutes later, she passed out in her mothers arms. And by the time she got to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Angelica was in cardiac arrest.

It was fast. It was really, really fast, Ocasio said.

She tried asking the doctors questions about her daughters condition but said she wasnt getting many answers.

They just kept telling me, Shes too sick. Shes too sick, her mother recalled.

Eventually, she was told Angelica could be in the hospital for a few days. So, she asked for family to bring her a packed bag with clothes.

I thought I was gonna be there three to five days, and my baby was gonna come home with me, she said.

Doctors later told Ocasio that her daughter had brain damage because of a lack of oxygen.

About 12 hours after getting to the hospital, her happy, healthy, 6-year-old girl died.

Angelica Vazquez is being remembered as always being happy and smiling.Samantha Ocasio

Raising awareness

Her daughter was always looking out for other people. In honor of her, Ocasio is hoping to raise awareness about E. coli.

Because what if the next parent thinks its a stomach bug? What if the next parent doesnt know the signs or the symptoms? she said.

Anyone can get an E. coli infection, according to the CDC. However, children under the age of 5 years, adults over the age of 65 and people who have a weakened immune system are at a greater risk.

The CDC suggests seeing a doctor if diarrhea or vomiting lasts more than two days, if theres blood in excretions, a fever of more than 102 degrees, dehydration or signs of hemolytic uremic syndrome, which include feeling tired. Stomach cramps and diarrhea with mucus are also common symptoms.

Parents also should watch out for swelling in the hands and feet of children, decreased urination and crying.

But it isnt always easy to spot. Ocasio asked her daughter if she thought the stomach pains were bad and if they needed to see a doctor.

Her daughter said, No, my belly just hurts.

Kids get stomach bugs. It presented itself as a stomach bug, she said. She was normal up until that moment where she passed out.

Ocasio said she didnt know her daughter died of E. coli, because nobody at the hospital explained it to her, she said.

She later discovered the information from the funeral home.

Her daughters death certificate states she died of cardiac arrest, acute gastrointestinal bleeding and was positive for enteropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Each year, about 48 million people get sick because of E. coli in the U.S., 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die, according to the FDA.

Now, Ocasio fears she will be unable to keep her other six children, all under the age of 10, safe.

I Google things all night. Im up. I dont sleep. Im not functioning, she said. Im functioning what I can for my children. But as far as nighttime, Im Googling stuff. Im reading about stuff.

And the entire family isnt eating out anymore, Ocasio said. Instead, they eat at home.

Other recent E. coli outbreaks have been linked to ground beef and carrots.

The best ways to prevent infection are by keeping your hands clean, preparing food safely, and drinking safe water, the CDC recommends.

Ocasios family likes to spend time remembering Angelica.

We talk about her all the time, she said.

The family also has done a balloon release for their little girl and made necklaces for each of their children.

They get to wear those everywhere. We talk about her. They know theyre more than welcome to talk about her, she said. And I check their mental health every morning and before bed. And in between, we just do a lot of talking and a lot of crying together.

The last few weeks have not been easy to talk about publicly, especially as posts on social media questioned the truth behind why her daughter died.

But she said she wants to tell her daughters story in hopes of saving another child.

I feel like my job now is to spread awareness, she said.
The City of Worcester will be partnering with the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance (CMHA) to open a day resource center at 134 Gold St., according to a press release on Tuesday from City Manager Eric D. Batista.

The resource center will be a place where individuals experiencing homelessness will be able to access services in one location and serve as a model that facilitates access to housing, employment, and other resources. Clients will be able to visit the resource center during its daytime hours and will have access to bathrooms, showers, charging stations, laundry and storage lockers, according to the press release. The resource center will also be a central location where unhoused individuals can connect with outreach workers.
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
A WESTPORT-based councillor has called on the people of west Mayo to vote locally in Friday's General Election and not risk losing a TD for the area.

Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn told the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District yesterday (Monday) that people in the Westport area should vote tactically to ensure the area has a TD after the election on Friday.

His party colleague Kiera Keogh and Independent Ireland councillor Chris Maxwell are both candidates based in the Westport area who are contesting the General Election on Friday. Cllr Flynn told the meeting that people in the area should vote one or two for either Keogh or Cllr Maxwell.

We have an election in a number of days and it is the first time since 1994 that there is a strong possibility we will no longer have a TD in west Mayo.

I just want to wish Cllr Maxwell the best in the election and I want to wish Keira Keogh well. I am saying loud and clear to the people of west Mayo to vote one and two and I don't care if it's Chris or Keira or Keira and Chris but vote one and two and keep a TD in this area. We are in absolute dire need of it and I say that without hesitation. If we can get Cllr Maxwell or Keogh over the line we will have somebody to help us out, he said.

Independent Ireland councillor Chris Maxwell is contesting the General Election

Michael Ring who has been a TD since he was elected in the old West Mayo constituency in 1994 will not contest this General Election after deciding to retire from active politics in June.

Cllr Flynn said that without a TD in the area it will be harder for local people to get help to deal with important issues that may affect them.

Since I was elected in 1999 we have had a local TD and Michael Ring's office available to us. Since his office closed in the last couple of weeks I have had calls about medical cards and grants and passports and waiting lists which none of us are able to deal with because it is outside our remit. We already struggle as councillors to deal with local issues and these are national issues which we will potentially not have anyone locally to deal with, he said.

Cllr Flynn had been tipped by many people to be a Fine Gael candidate to replace Ring but chose not to put his name forward and has supported Keogh's election bid. He also told the meeting that women should get behind other women who put their name forward in elections.

I would make an appeal to the ladies on the council. If you look at the county council meeting 27 out of the 30 councillors are men. One of the most formidable councillors I encountered was Cllr Margaret Adams who was an absolute powerhouse who did amazing work for this area for 30 years. I say to the ladies of the parish that we can hold men responsible for lots of things but we don't dictate how they vote and they should consider that whatever females are on the ballot paper we should consider them. We need balance in politics and people from both sides of the divide. We need the right people in this county to represent us and that we have representation in the right places, he said.
A WEST Mayo councillor has warned that lives will be lost due to land and roads being flooded if a local river is not cleaned of trees growing in it.

Substantial flooding took place across large areas of Kilmeena and other parts of Mayo over the weekend following heavy snowfall and rainfall from Storm Bert. A number of public roads were flooded and households living along them were unable to leave their homes until the flooding subsided on Sunday evening.

Local councillor John O'Malley told the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District that he saw areas which had never flooded before and put the blame down to a backlog of water on the Mayour River.

The Independent councillor said the river which flows through Kilmeena has not been cleaned in over 20 years and fears that flooding will get worse in the future if something is not done soon.

I have been asking for years for the Mayour River to be cleaned because it has not been touched for 20 years. I am going to say this now that if that river is not cleaned soon and if there is another flood like it a life will be lost. Believe me a life will be lost unless that river is cleaned, he told the meeting.

Cllr O'Malley added that acres of land which never flooded were flooded and he knew of at least one domestic septic tank that was flooded as a result. He said the flooding is a direct result of the river not being cleaned and reiterated his criticism of the policy of the OPW in not providing funding to clean it.

If we want our people to live in rural Ireland then we have to start cleaning the rivers and get the water running into the sea. There is not a drop going out because of trees and all sorts of growth in the river. Somebody will lose their lives. I saw houses on Sunday where people could not get in or out of and if they chanced it with their car they would have got stuck. I tried to get into Knockboy and there was three feet of water in the middle and it came up to the door in the jeep before backing off.

I am begging and demanding that the Mayour River be cleaned and the tributaries because if we don't it won't be fit to live in rural Ireland, he said.

He was supported by Louisburgh-based councillor Chris Maxwell who said that a bridge was washed away in Louisburgh by the floods and the state of rivers was a major issue.

Westport-based councillor Brendan Mulroy stated that people in Westport had taken it into their own hands to clean the Mall and criticised anyone for reporting people for cleaning their land.

If a farmer goes into his land some do-gooder will pick up the phone and that person will be reported in minutes and the full force of the law will come down on that person. That needs to stop. It is time we looked after the people of rural Ireland because we are trying to flood them out at the moment and it is disgraceful.

I would say to Mayo County Council to go out with our councillors and identify where these places are and they need to make an application for these rivers and drains to be cleaned. Talking to people they have never seen flooding like it in their life but the reason is the rivers are all backed up and have nowhere else to go, he said.
Sensational Kids (which operates a centre in Claremorris) an award-winning social enterprise dedicated to providing therapeutic services to children with additional needs, has released alarming results from its recent survey.

The survey, completed by 236 current and waiting list clients of Sensational Kids, exposes the growing crisis in the provision of essential Health Service Executive (HSE) services across Ireland.

The survey revealed that 87.3% of respondents are currently on a waiting list for HSE services, with families reporting delays of two years or more for critical supports such as occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and psychological services.

READ NEXT: Westport Fine Gael councillor urges people of west Mayo to vote locally in General Election

Key Findings from Sensational Kids HSE Therapy Waiting List Survey 2024:

73.73% of respondents are waiting for occupational therapy, 50.85% for speech and language therapy, and 49.15% for psychology services, for their child.

Almost 30% of families reported waiting for more than two years, with 13% waiting more than three years.

Regional disparities were noted, with some families in Kildare, Cork, Mayo, and Monaghan reporting particularly lengthy waits. In some areas, families have been waiting up to six years for a diagnosis.

Therapy is a Right, Not a Luxury

Today, one in four children in Ireland has a special educational need, amounting to over 420,000 children who require additional support to realise their potential. These children include those who are autistic, dyslexic, dyspraxic, or have Down syndrome, ADHD, sensory processing differences, or developmental delays. Early identification and support are crucial in helping these children thrive.

The findings from this survey are deeply shocking, said Karen Leigh, CEO and founder of Sensational Kids.

The long delays in accessing essential therapy services are leaving children and families in distress. Timely intervention is crucial, and for so many families, its just not happening. This is a failure of our public health system. Therapy should not be a luxury reserved for those who can afford to go private; it is a basic human right.

The huge need for therapy is why Sensational Kids is developing the new National Child Development Centre in Kildare which will cater for 300 children weekly once complete. However, the organisation announced this week that it has been forced to stop the construction work leaving a half-built site in Kildare town.

The organisation is calling on the Government, specifically the Department of Justice which manages funding by the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP), to release promised funds as a matter of urgency.

Sensational Kids were told by the IIP on October 16 that the IIP will not release the remaining 50% of 9.6 million funding previously committed to the project. The reason given for this decision is a shortfall of an additional 4 million needed for the fit out of the facility currently under construction.

The IIP states that it will not release funding until it has evidence of the 4 million needed to complete the fit out of the project. Sensational Kids has been in discussions with officials in relation to bridging this 4 million shortfall for a number of months.

Karen Leigh, founder & CEO, Sensational Kids said: To have to halt construction work is devastating and hugely frustrating. Our survey data highlights the huge need for our services and the awful stress that children and families are under as a result of not receiving therapy. We are urgently calling on the Government, specifically the Department of Justice, to release funds and allow construction work to continue.

"This sudden refusal to release committed funding now puts the planned National Child Development Centre in Kildare town at risk of not being finished, depriving thousands of children with additional needs throughout the country of receiving long awaited therapies and assessments.

Parents Share Their Pain and Concerns Over Delayed Intervention

Many families shared their heartbreaking experiences in the survey with one parent highlighting how their child has missed out on crucial early intervention supports due to the devastating delays in being seen - My son has been on a waiting list since he was three; hes now nine. The opportunity for early intervention has passed us by.

Another parent remarked "The waiting lists are a disgrace. Early intervention is crucial, yet my child has been left on a list for over five years. The HSE has completely failed him.

Private therapy is not an option for families who cannot afford it. One parent revealed they had no choice but to seek private therapy  Its simply not affordable, but we couldnt wait any longer. Many families dont have this option, and its unfair.

Call for Immediate Action

With 8% of children aged under 15 years of age currently on waiting lists for speech therapy and occupational therapy and assessment of need, Sensational Kids is calling for the government to address the severe shortfalls in HSE services.

Therapy is not an optional extra; it is essential to the well-being and development of children with additional needs. The Government must prioritise these services and ensure no child is left behind because time is of the essence, urged Leigh.
A meeting is being organised in Westport this evening for parents and potential volunteers to start a new CoderDojo Club in the town early next year. CoderDojo is a volunteer led organisation where young people can learn programming, website design, app design and lots more for free.

The Coderdojo Foundation based in Dublin describe coderdojos as follows: Coderdojo is a global, volunteer-led movement of free, open coding clubs (Dojos) for young people aged 7 to 17. At a Dojo, the participants, who we call Ninjas, learn how to code, develop websites, apps, programs, and games, and explore technology in a fun and creative way. Ninjas also meet like-minded peers, work on exciting team and individual projects, and learn valuable social and transferable skills for the future. Dojos are typically set up by one lead volunteer, known as the champion. The Dojo champion is like the project manager of the club, and this is the person you will usually deal with as a parent/guardian. The champion also has a team of volunteers who help them run their club. CoderDojos mission is to give young people around the world the opportunity to learn to program computers within a social and safe environment. Because CoderDojo is an open-source movement, anyone anywhere can volunteer to set up a club and each Dojo is unique and operates autonomously. This means every club will differ slightly. However, all verified Dojos are committed to live by the CoderDojo Charter and share the CoderDojo ethos: to be inclusive, free, open, and collaborative. One of the founding principles of CoderDojo is One rule, be cool. This means, in short, that we should behave kindly towards each other! This applies to Ninjas, parents, guardians, and volunteers.

The meeting will take place in Scoil Phadraig, this evening, Tuesday, November 26 at 7pm. More information from coderdojowestport2024@gmail.com.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has issued a warning to Irish households over a number of hobs amid poisoning fears.

"There are hundreds of dangerous gas hobs in Irish homes right now," the stark warning reads.

The latest update from the CCPC adds that "a potentially fatal fault in some models could cause gas poisoning, fires, explosions and death."

They advise homeowners, renters and landlords to "act now and act swiftly to protect yourself and your household."

A statement continued: "Some gas hobs have a faulty elbow joint that may fracture, causing gas to leak. This issue affects the following brands (specific models only):

Belling

ElectriQ

Cooke and Lewis

Caple

Russell Hobbs

Comfee

"If you own or rent a property with a gas hob, check it now," they said.

How to check:

"Look for your gas hobs brand name.

"If you have one of the above brands, click that specific link for more information, including the affected model numbers and manufacturer contact details or, simply ring the manufacturer and let them know you may have one of the faulty gas hobs."

READ NEXT: Met Eireann weather forecast for this week makes one big prediction after Storm Bert

If your hob is affected, the CCPC advice is to, "stop using it immediately  it is unsafe.

"Contact the manufacturer for a free inspection and repair by a registered gas installer."

Renters are advised to "ask your landlord or letting agent to confirm if the hob is affected and arrange for inspection or repair.

"If you cant get a response from them, you may need to take action yourself. Follow the steps above and contact the manufacturer of the gas hob in your home.

"This issue may also affect gas hobs in holiday homes, campervans, or boatscheck all properties."

Smell gas? Call Gas Networks Ireland on 1800 20 50 50 immediately.
An unprecedented whooping cough epidemic is spreading throughout Australia, alarming health authorities who are grappling to contain soaring infection rates following the death of a two-month-old baby.

There were nearly 42,000 cases of the highly-infectious disease recorded in 2024 up to November 8, according to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.

The baby died in Queensland where at least 12,500 infections have been recorded in 2024, up from 549 cases at the same time last year.

The youngest are the most at risk and children aged younger than 15 comprise up 60 per cent of all 2024 cases.

"This epidemic is the worst year for whooping cough in Queensland on record," Chief Health Officer John Gerrard told AAP.

"The surge in cases we've seen since February this year is continuing unabated ... if anything, it's getting worse."

The epidemic is driven by a combination of factors including the natural disease cycle of the deadly cough peaking every three to five years, along with immune deficiency drive by isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The most concerning factor, though, is dropping vaccination rates.

According to Queensland Health data, 70.7 per cent of pregnant women were vaccinated for the cough in 2023, down from 77.2 per cent in 2020.
Kresic views the expanded visa-free policy as a reflection of China's increasing openness to the world. ZAGREB, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government's decision to extend its visa-free policy to nine additional countries, including Croatia, has been warmly received by Damir Kresic, managing director of Croatia's Institute for Tourism. Speaking to Xinhua on Monday, Kresic described the move as "definitely good news" that is expected to encourage more Croatian and European travelers to visit China. "I think that every visa-free policy helps tourism to develop, especially on an international level, so it is definitely good news," said Kresic from the Zagred-based Institute for Tourism, which specializes in research and consultancy services in tourism. China announced on Friday that ordinary passport holders from nine more countries -- Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, and Japan -- will enjoy visa-free entry on a one-year trial basis starting Nov. 30, 2024. This brings the total number of countries eligible for visa-free access to China to 38. Under this arrangement, visitors can enter China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days for purposes such as business, tourism, family visits, exchanges, and transit. Kresic emphasized the psychological advantages of such policies, noting that visa waivers make destinations feel "freer and more accessible" to travelers. "The waiver of visas reduces the psychological barriers that people have in some way," he said. China's growing reputation as a nation capable of executing major projects has also fueled interest among Croatians, according to Kresic. He cited the Peljesac Bridge project, which connected Croatia's mainland with the Peljesac Peninsula on the country's southern Adriatic coast for the first time in history. Moreover, Kresic views the expanded visa-free policy as a reflection of China's increasing openness to the world. "This is China's way of saying to the international community: You are welcome, you are all invited," he noted. The policy also strengthens bilateral relations between China and Croatia, which are already on good terms. "The latest visa-free policy certainly contributes to even better relations," Kresic said. Meanwhile, Kresic welcomes more Chinese tourists to Croatia, which has received as many as 300, 000 Chinese tourists annually before the COVID-19 pandemic. "Although we are still not at pre-pandemic levels, we are getting closer. I believe that we will have more and more tourists from China," he said.
While physical mail has been on a significant decline in recent years, retirees in particular argue that access to postboxes remains critical for many.

Australia Post has removed all five postboxes from one suburb on the Gold Coast, frustrating locals. Source: Getty/ACA

Australia Post has defended itself after it removed a total of five postboxes from one east coast suburb "without warning"  leaving some residents fuming over the fact they now have to "get in the car to mail a letter".

It's no secret physical mail has been on a massive decline in recent times in Australia, driven primarily by the rise of digital communication. But many argue physical letters are still a critical mode of communication for thousands around the country, particularly among the elderly.

Since 2006 there has been a 65 per cent reduction in letter volumes in the country  with experts saying the trend has been exacerbated by events like the pandemic, which accelerated digital adoption. But retirees and locals in rural areas in particular remain heavily reliant on the service and Australia Post said it still delivered 500 million parcels in the last financial year.

Retiree blasts AusPost over vanishing service in suburb

One Gold Coast local said all that remains in her suburb of the former postal infrastructure is merely a slab of concrete in the ground. "I just don't know why they've all gone," she told A Current Affair.

ADVERTISEMENT

"I feel sorry for those little old ladies who want to mail their grandkids a present, and do it their in time, and they don't have a car  how are they going to get their present in the mail for Christmas? I just think it's ridiculous, without warning. If they had a good reason or they told us about it, different story."

The resident said she was outraged she had to travel to a physical branch to mail her letters, after driving around to five different former postbox locations.

Responding to the criticism, Australia Post told Yahoo News Australia it still operates more than 14,000 postboxes nationwide, "which is well above the 10,000 required under the regulations".

ADVERTISEMENT

"As we continue to see mail decline, we remove some street posting boxes that are not frequently used, subject to vandalism or in areas where we have significant overlap," the spokesperson told Yahoo.

They said there are currently more than 150 street postboxes in the City of Gold Coast and around 1000 in the greater Brisbane area.

The spokesperson said AusPost regularly reviews the location of its boxes, carefully considering factors like local demand and whether the community is well-serviced by other postboxes. Sometimes, they said, councils request the removal of a post box when there might have been repeated vandalism.

With the postbox on Southport Nerang Road in Molendinar, for example, it posed a road safety hazard due to its location.

According to Australia Post, by the end of the decade the average household will receive fewer than one letter per week  underscoring the ongoing decline  however, the Gold Coast woman said she'd like at least one postbox to remain in Southport for convenience.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Just tell us what you're doing, don't just take them away," she said. "It seems like they were stolen, that's what it feels like, I almost reported them stolen."

Stamp prices poised for major increase

Meanwhile, it's also surfaced Aussies could soon be paying more for a basic postage stamp as Australia Post lodges plans to increase prices in an effort to offset any financial losses due to the dip in people sending letters.

Australia Post has lodged a draft notification with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), proposing an increase in basic stamp prices from $1.50 to $1.70 from July 1, 2025.

"Australia Post continues to face structural challenges in its Letters business that are expected to only get worse," Group chief executive officer and managing director Paul Graham said.

ADVERTISEMENT

"This proposed increase will primarily impact business and government customers and is necessary to offset growing losses in our letters business, as more people choose to communicate digitally. We remain focused on continuing to deliver for all Australians, especially for communities in rural and regional Australia, but this is only possible if Australia Post is financially sustainable."

The change will not impact concession and seasonal greeting stamp prices, which will remain at 60 cents and 65 cents respectively.

With NCA Newswire

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Deputy Chief of Party (Kasai or Kongo Central) - Value Chains and Market Linkages Activity

APPLY NOW

------------------------------------------

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Posted: 22-Nov-2024

Ref#: 1892

Land OLakes Venture37 is preparing for an anticipated USAID/DRC Feed the Future Resilient Food Systems Activity with a potential procurement release early in 2025. The purpose of the project is to increase the income and nutritional status of the targeted population through an inclusive and sustainable food and market systems-oriented approach that facilitates agriculture-led growth and utilization of nutritious food in the DRC. The Activity will build upon past and ongoing investments from USAID, the Government of the DRC, and other donor partners to incentivize private sector investment, promote market-oriented climate smart technologies, and strengthen the resilience of smallholders.



Position(s) Summary:

Each DCOP will lead a multidisciplinary team that ensures successful activity implementation across the Kongo Central Kasai Central portion of the ZOI by providing technical guidance at the component level. S/he will ensure cohesiveness with the technical team and the necessary operational efficiencies required to implement sound technical strategies and achieve indicator goals.

There are two positions: one will be based in Kongo Central, DRC; one will be based in Kasai Central, DRC.

Primary Responsibilities:

Oversee technical and operational requirements of their designated office to achieve results.

Cultivate strong, productive working relationships with local government officials, other USG implementing partners, other development partners and their activity implementers, the private sector, and civil society organizations active in their designated region.

Serve in active leadership roles related to HDP and agriculture-related coordination platforms and functions in the region when opportunities arise.

Assist the COP in the supervision of all technical, monitoring and evaluation, financial and administrative activities and in accordance with donor rules and regulations in their designated region.

Collaborate with the COP to ensure coherent and effective communication within the team and to relevant stakeholders. This will entail close coordination with V37 programs and monitoring and evaluation teams for input and coordination with finance and grants management teams for the delivery of internal and external reports and communication materials.

Serve as the focal point for project reporting (collecting and consolidating information from the team members, etc.).

Ensure gender equality and socially inclusive approaches are integrated into programming and effectively implemented; regularly identify learnings, refining the design as needed to improve social inclusion across project activities.

Ensure that an effective climate of collaboration is promoted and maintained within the various project components, its implementing partners, and other stakeholders in the project intervention zones in their designated region.

Serve as Acting Chief of Party when required.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

A Bachelors Degree in agriculture, agronomy, natural resource management, international development, rural development or a related field plus eight years of work experience in agriculture, agribusiness, or food systems/value chain development projects preferred; or a Masters in agriculture, agronomy, natural resource management, international development, rural development or a related field plus six years of work experience in agriculture, agribusiness, or food systems/value chain development projects preferred;

Prior experience as COP, DCOP or similar position managing 10 or more staff in a complex, multidisciplinary activity preferred;

A successful record of leading similar activities supporting food security and nutrition, organizational strengthening, resilience, and food systems development;

Demonstrated experience engaging the private sector or leveraging private capital to advance mutual goals, in facilitating the establishment of job-creating enterprises and in advancing business enabling environment reforms is preferred;

Demonstrated ability to establish productive relationships with senior government officials, the business community/private sector, other donors and development partners, and civil society organizations;

Excellent French and English written and oral communications skills; and

Familiarity with USAID and USG policies and regulations.

APPLY NOW

The position described above is contingent upon activity award.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. No phone calls will be accepted.

Land OLakes never requests money or payment from candidates for any position type. Please report any such requests to Land OLakes.





Land OLakes Venture37 is an equal opportunity employer and an organization striving to help global communities thrive through agriculture. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or veteran status, among other factors. Our culture values a diversity of voices. So bring us your unique experiences, your workstyle, and your dreams - theyll only make us stronger.
by Fern Siegel , November 26, 2024



Creative agency Rise New York and Partners acquired Spaces&Creatures, an experiential studio known for its brand experiences. It was previously part of FlagCX and owned by IPG.

Renaming the studio Artlab by Rise, the purchase aligns with the agency's move into creative tech.

Rises chief creative officer Flavio Vidigal called the acquisition a natural expansion of the work we are already doing to design unforgettable experiences that draw massive global audiences.

Edson Pavoni and Bella Nardini will lead Artlab as global head of creative tech and global head of experience and ritual, respectively. Pavoni founded Spaces&Creatures, where he led client projects for Google, Spotify, Fiat and Accenture.

In the age of AI, Artlab is committed to creating brand experiences that nurture human connection through art and ritual  not by looking back but by exploring new poetics of technology, said Pavoni. "Will technology divide or unite us? We believe global brands have a role to play in answering this question."

advertisement advertisement

Nardini has designed experiences for Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, the Venice Biennale and Milan Design Week. Nardini also served as global head of experience at Mesa Company.

Founded in 2017 and headquartered in New York, Rise has offices in Sao Paulo, London and Singapore. Client work includes Daiwa House/Nike Japan, League of Legends: Wild Rift, 3D Digital OOH and Endeavor.
by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, November 25, 2024

The Department of Justice last week officially proposed not only that Google divest the Chrome browser, but also that it share with rivals a broad array of search data -- including users' queries, clicks and information about users' devices and software.

The recommendation is driven by the idea that Google maintains a monopoly over search, at least in part, by drawing on users' data to refine its algorithms and improve the quality of its results. But even if data sharing would help competitors, it would all but inevitably come at the cost of privacy.

Google itself has repeatedly made this point, most recently last week, when it wrote that the proposal would endanger the security and privacy of millions of Americans.

On Monday, the tech industry funded group NetChoice chimed in, calling the data sharing proposal "beyond reckless."

The privacy issues here are obvious, NetChoice writes. It is beyond reckless for the government to demand Google hand over data its consumers have entrusted to them to anyone who asks.

While the Justice Department acknowledges the potential privacy pitfalls, it only gave a vague nod to the issue in its proposal, which says Google should safeguard personal privacy and security, but doesn't explain how the company could do so.

That vagueness is itself a problem, according to John Davisson, senior counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center.

It is important that whatever grows out of that proposed remedy be clarified in a way that actually protects privacy and security, and doesn't just treat them as an afterthought, he tells MediaPost.

The proposed order is titled initial proposed final judgment, so it's possible the Justice Department plans to more fully flesh out its request in the future.

As a starting point, however, the Justice Department proposed that Google provide rivals with free access to all data that can be obtained from users in the United States, directly through a search engine's interaction with the user's device, including software running on that device, by automated means. (That definition encompasses not only users' searches, but also information like users' IP addresses and other data used for device fingerprinting -- a privacy-unfriendly means of tracking users by the characteristics of their devices.)

The Justice Department additionally seems to want to prohibit Google from using or retaining any data that can't be shared with competitors due to privacy concerns -- though that recommendation, like some of the others, doesn't appear to be fully fleshed out.

It's possible the government may seek a final order that would allow Google to maintain access to users' data as long as it provides rivals with anonymized information about search queries, clicks, IP addresses and other device identifiers. But even those terms would be problematic.

Consider that anonymization of search queries hasn't been successful in the past. Most famously, in 2006 an AOL employee posted three months' worth of supposedly anonymized search queries from 650,000 members. Despite the anonymization, some users were identified based on the patterns in their search queries. Most famously, within days of the July 2006 data release, The New York Times identified AOL user Thelma Arnold based on her queries.

Earlier this year, the advocacy group Consumer Reports flagged concerns about the possibility of forcing Google to share users' search histories.

Providing detailed access to individual users click and query data raises privacy and data protections issues, that group wrote in February.

While anonymization techniques may have gotten better since 2006, so have the computing power and tools to deanonymize data, Consumer Reports added. For example, advances in machine learning based on deep neural networks and algorithms to find patterns and relationships in unstructured data.

The group added that aggregation could help protect privacy, but would also make the data less useful to Google's competitors.

This trade-off between protecting privacy by aggregating data and the usefulness of these data for Googles competitors is not a trivial problem to resolve in our view, Consumer Reports wrote.
by Ray Schultz , November 25, 2024

Hearst Magazines has appointed Sherri Chambers as senior vice president, chief marketing officer, effective Dec. 2.

Chambers will oversee industry marketing, brand account and strategy, events and the HearstMade creative studio.

She previously served for three years as TikToks first global head of brand strategy. Earlier, she held leadership positions within the Omnicom, Stagwell and Cheil global agency networks.

Sherri is a strategic, accomplished marketing leader with strong industry relationships and deep digital expertise, said Lisa Ryan Howard, chief revenue officer, to whom Chambers will report. She is an entrepreneurial thinker, and her customer-centric approach will benefit Hearst as we continue to focus on digital innovation and executing our long-term growth strategy. I am thrilled to welcome her to the Hearst family.

advertisement advertisement

For her part, Chambers comments, I have long admired Hearst Magazines portfolio of best-in-class brands and their role in culture.
by Ray Schultz , November 25, 2024

Connection Publishing, the one-time publisher of six community magazines, is shutting down, owners Ryan and Melissa Spelts have announced.

Unfortunately today, we announce the closure of the magazines, Ryan Spelts writes. Over the last 2 years the financial success of the magazines has been greatly diminished by increased prices and a decrease in advertiser demand. We have previously closed all of the magazines except North Ogden and Roy and today we announce the closure of all of them.

The Spelts family started in North Ogden, Utah with the North Ogden Connection, and later expanded to run magazines in Syracuse, Roy, Ogden, Clearfield, and Weber County West, they state.

Spelts continues: We have loved the recipes, students of the month, feature articles, calendar of events, city news, and in general content that we hope enriched your lives, because it did ours. If you are a fan of the recipes, you can still get access to them at whattoeat4dinner.com."

He adds: The websites for each magazine will continue until their annual plans are expired which is varied dates.

Ad revenues have dropped by 68% over about a nine-month period, Spelts told KSL TV. And, it was a low margin business anyway, it wasnt super high.
The Canadian woman's close encounter with a venomous brown snake caused her to run, despite advise from her tour guide.

The Canadian woman came within metres from a deadly brown snake while on a hike in Western Australia. Source: TikTok/ktbunton

Australia has garnered quite a reputation when it comes to its diverse flora and fauna. But nothing gets international visitors going more than a close encounter with one of the world's most venomous creatures.

Canadian woman Katie Bunton experienced this firsthand while enjoying a hike in Western Australia recently during her travels Down Under. But it didn't end well for the mum of two who came within metres of a deadly brown snake.

The western variety, which is widespread over most of mainland Australia, is extremely venomous much like its eastern relative which is "responsible for most [snake] deaths in Australia", professional snake handler Chris Williams previously told Yahoo News.

They're known to get "easily agitated and will readily defend themselves". That's why it's advised to back away slowly to avoid being seen as a threat.

ADVERTISEMENT

"We definitely always recommend a bit of common sense when it comes to snakes. If you see a snake, keep a safe distance. You can give it a chance to move on itself if it's outside," Stuart McKenzie, of Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7 previously explained.

The same advice was given by the tour guide in the video. "If you ever found yourself in a situation where you're this close to a venomous snake, all you need to do is move really slowly backwards. They just react to movement," he said.

The video shows a group of people walking on a track surrounded by long grass and bushland. On the edge of a path lies a curled-up brown snake. "I'm closer than anyone ever should be to one of these", the guide warned.

He then advised what to do if ever anyone comes across one in the wild. But it appears fear got in the way for Katie who was seen swiftly backing away out of panic.

"Are you for real? No, no, no. Absolutely not," she's heard saying in the video as she makes a quick getaway. "I'm sacrificing you all. I could tell this was a snakey place".

ADVERTISEMENT

"There's a venomous snake. The tour guide literally just said, back away slowly, and I ran, she added.

Tourist's reaction to deadly brown snake angers Aussies

Her reaction appeared to rub Aussies the wrong way with many criticising her for ignoring the tour guide's advice.

"Why do you run?" one questioned. "Why not listen to the expert," another said. Some suggested her reaction could have "put others in danger".

One local shared their own close encounter with a venomous brown snake, admitting they "made the mistake of moving too quickly".

ADVERTISEMENT

"The snake struck out at me," they explained. "Thankfully it was on a slope and it instead tumbled down the hill away from me.

Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment?  Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories.
Jennifer Barnhill is a columnist for Military.com writing about military families.

In January 2020, the U.S. Army and Navy banned the Chinese-owned TikTok app on government devices after the Defense Department labeled it a security risk. The ban has since been extended to all branches of service and includes DoD contractors. But despite this legitimate security threat, is TikTok still the military's best recruiting tool?

"In 2023, veteran-related content on TikTok amassed over 15 billion views, right? That's with a 'B,' 15 billion views," said Albert Calamug, a Marine Corps veteran who works U.S. Public Policy at TikTok, during a presentation at the Military Influencer Conference (MIC). MIC is an annual event that brings together the people and organizations that promote and support the military community. Notably, TikTok was the only social media platform in attendance despite its tenuous relationship with the Department of Defense.

New military influencers are popping up daily talking about military life -- the good, the bad and the ugly. This method of information-sharing holds the potential to give the American public insight into military life that doesn't require them to pick up a history book or read military news articles. This medium will have an impact on both recruitment and internal top-down and bottom-up communications. But adopting newish platforms and strategies is difficult for any organization to embrace, let alone the military, an institution that fiercely protects its public relations messages.

Read Next: Trump Reportedly Weighs Immediate Discharge of All Transgender Troops. Here's What That Would Mean.

"The military as a whole really needs to lean into social media because it is where marketing is," said Johnny Vargas, an active-duty soldier and social media influencer known as Viva La Vargas on TikTok. Despite being strongly encouraged to abandon TikTok in favor of other platforms, Vargas has remained with the app and says his audience wants more military-focused content. Vargas started off by posting summaries of Military.com news stories, information about accessing benefits and skits. "The platform that has given me the most success is Tiktok.  They've given me the ability to organically reach so many people, and until I'm faced with, like, a jail sentence or something, I'm still going to use the platform."

Vargas relies on news sources like Military.com as well as DoD Instructions to ensure his content is both entertaining and accurate. This has resulted in him becoming an accidental recruiter, despite that not being part of his official duties.

"I'm floored and humbled when I get messages and comments of people saying, 'You know, I reenlisted because of one of your videos,'" shared Vargas. "I've also gotten comments of, 'I'm glad that you've told the truth about the military, and now I've learned that it's not for me,' and that's OK too."

Vargas considers himself a "pseudo recruiter," an unofficial duty he takes very seriously. He said that his command has voiced concerns, but overall supports his work.

While not all influencers feel comfortable using the Chinese-owned platform, most of them, like Vargas, are worried about what they are allowed to do or say online.

Erin Williams, who is an active-duty Army officer and part of a dual-military couple, started out by creating parenting-focused content while on maternity leave following the birth of her first child. Williams, known online as "runstrongmama," says that all changed after she began teaching at West Point and her cadets found her on Instagram. She realized there was an appetite for information-based content -- content that was once shared through face-to-face mentorship. So she began posting more about her experience as a female service member, interpreting Department of Defense Instruction updates and sharing resources she found useful.

"It was something I was hesitant to do for a while," said Williams. "The military and the DOD has so many different systems and regulations, and it's so hard to interpret everything. I was maybe a little scared to get something wrong."

She opted to avoid using the more controversial TikTok and leaned into content she was familiar with -- her experience as part of a dual-military couple. This targeted focus has also garnered her the support of her command. But despite having that support, Williams wishes there were more explicit instructions for her content creation.

In October, the Army issued guidance that put the governance of social media and influencer policies in the hands of commanding officers. While giving this additional authority to installation-based leaders provides them with the flexibility and authority to act on a case-by-case basis, it means that the way the Army governs social media will vary. Influencers will have to guess as to what is appropriate and what isn't. Williams says she wishes the DoD would provide additional higher-level guidance for influencers that goes beyond operational security reminders and how to avoid misrepresenting the military.

Some leaders have attempted to do just that.

"[Influencers] are only able to influence their audiences based on the information or the knowledge that they have," shared retired Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass in a November interview. During her tenure as the most senior enlisted leader of the Air Force, Bass set out to leverage social media to engage with airmen as a method of communication and data collection. She and her team tried to establish ground rules for the medium.

"Service members understand respect on duty and off duty," said Bass. Although social media is seen as a form of personal expression, military service has different expectations for service members. They have to operate with the same moral compass at work and at home.

"When I got in the seat in 2020, it was clear to me that our service members did not fully understand respect online versus offline, and so this was an opportunity for us as a military to start to own that space," Bass said.

The Air Force sought to address online behavior as an extension of its social media policy. But there is still a lot about the way that public affairs offices interact with social media influencers that has yet to be outlined in policy.

Military.com reached out to all military branches regarding their social media and "influencer" policies and heard from the Navy and Air Force. Navy officials shared that they updated guidance via a handbook in October aimed at helping public affairs officers navigate this new world of service members acting as a method of communication in their toolbox. The Air Force's response highlighted its Ambassador program, which seeks to add influencers to its messaging. It is clear that the military is looking to modernize how it communicates with both service members and the American public.

But despite these updates, both the DoD and influencers still have concerns. One is a lack of control of the public narrative. If off-duty personnel are talking about what it is like to serve in the military, their message may not be official, but that may not be clear to the civilian who watches.

Another concern expressed by influencers is a lack of clarity and transparency about monetization.

"I don't believe that DoD is ready for active-duty influencers to monetize," said Theresa Carpenter, a Navy public affairs officer and off-duty host of her own podcast S.O.S. (Stories of Service). "There's no program for it. There's no permissions for it. And what it is, it's basically the Wild Wild West right now."

And if someone who works in public affairs is unclear on how to abide by rules, it is likely other service members feel similarly.

There are instructions that govern social media (DoD Instruction 5400.17) that aim to ensure that all military personnel adhere to ethical practices online and do not compromise the DoD's reputation. While troops can maintain personal accounts, profiting from content related to their service risks disciplinary actions if it implies endorsement or monetizes the military's image.

"I've chosen to scale [monetization] back, because I don't want to give anyone the impression I'm making money due to my military affiliation," shared Williams. "I know it's, like, a raw point for a lot of soldiers in this space though.  They're, like, 'Well, why can't I show that I'm a soldier working hard, and I use the supplement anyway, so why can't I get a small commission when somebody uses my link?'"

Just because some influencers are unsure how to navigate monetization of their content doesn't mean that all are not receiving compensation. Multiple active-duty influencers who asked to remain anonymous said that they believe the military picks and chooses whom it cracks down on based on who toes the line and avoids more difficult conversations.

They also point to the high salaries collected by senior military officials and retirees who are asked to serve on boards of high-profile organizations after service, sometimes earning six- or seven-figure salaries. While this monetization of service is approved and an open path for senior leaders, there are more limited paths for junior personnel.

The perception is tough for some influencers to swallow: You can't use your military service for profit, but we can.

Related: The Rise of Soldier-Influencers: Army Eyes Policy for Troops with Millions of Online Followers
They are chock-full of vitamins and minerals, high in fiber, and rich in compounds that are good for your heart and your eyesight.

Like 'em or not, if you are a U.S. service member deployed overseas, you will see more sweet potatoes in your holiday offerings this season -- a whopping 800% more than last year.

And at the same time, you won't see as many cakes and pies gracing your Thanksgiving meal, because the Defense Logistics Agency shipped roughly 80% fewer cases of desserts to troops this year than last, according to agency data.

Read Next: Does the Military Need Social Media Influencers?

Lest you fear a vegetable coup of your annual Turkey Day dinner, however, don't worry: The 690,000 pounds of holiday fare sent to deployed service members this year includes 6,210 whole turkeys weighing nearly 140,000 pounds; 95,238 additional pounds of roast turkey; 176,791 pounds of beef; 98,091 of ham; and 49,055 pounds of shrimp -- an average 26% more than last year.

"Thanksgiving is an incredibly important holiday for DLA Troop Support. It is our Super Bowl," Robin Whaley, the DLA's chief of subsistence for overseas customers, said in a news release last week. "Food is emotional, and we want to make sure that the soldiers, airmen, sailors, Guardians and Marines serving around the world have that taste of home on Thanksgiving Day."

The DLA shipped more holiday food this year to troops overseas than it has in the past five years, according to data kept by Military.com. The increase is likely the result of more personnel being stationed overseas, with 48,900 sailors underway on ships that include three carrier strike groups and one amphibious ready group, as well as roughly 165,000 troops assigned around the world as of June, according to the Defense Manpower Data Center.

The increase is despite the wind down of the war in Afghanistan and at a time where America is ostensibly not engaged in any major conflict.

Navy ships alone will receive 44,815 pounds of roast turkey; 5,564 pounds of stuffing; 23,678 pounds of pies; and, yes, 21,906 pounds of sweet potatoes -- nearly twice the amount of mashed potatoes they will get.

"Getting the turkey and trimmings for Thanksgiving meals to our warfighters is one of the things we do best," DLA Troop Support Commander Army Brig. Gen. Landis Maddox said in a news release. "Many of our servicemen and women are far away from their loved ones during the holidays, and we need to make sure they have that traditional Thanksgiving dinner."

Overall, the food shipments are up 6% this year from last. Planning for the Herculean task began last March, when the services placed their order forecasts with the DLA.

A month later, the agency began purchasing ingredients, allowing ample time to ensure that the products arrive at their destinations on schedule.

According to the DLA, service members will receive 234,903 total pounds of turkey this year, including whole birds and already roasted poultry.

They will get 176,791 pounds of beef, 21% more than last year, and 98,091 pounds of ham -- a nearly 40% increase from 2023. Shrimp remains a popular staple, with the agency sending 49,055 pounds, or a 21% increase, to service members abroad.

Along with the reductions of pies and cakes, another sweet treat -- eggnog -- suffered a drastic drop in orders at just 1,004 cases, down from a high of 23,461 gallons in 2021.

The last time U.S. troops saw so little eggnog was 2017, when the DLA shipped 918 cases.

The decline in eggnog is perhaps tied to an overall drop in consumption of milk products in the U.S., down to roughly half a cup a day from two cups a day in the 1970s, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service.

Or maybe it's because its just not quite as appetizing without a splash of bourbon or rum in it.

Regardless, troops will have to find something else with which to toast their holiday. A lucky few also will enjoy a chat with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin or a phone call from President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden.

According to the Pentagon, Austin plans to spend the day speaking with service members deployed to Poland; Okinawa, Japan; at sea with the Fifth Fleet; and on land in the U.S. Central Command area of operations.

And the Bidens, who attended a "Friendsgiving" dinner with 500 service members and their families Monday at U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York, will travel to Nantucket, Massachusetts, on Tuesday for their holiday, spending Thursday morning calling troops.

"Happy Thanksgiving, America," Biden said during an address this week while sparing two Minnesota-born turkeys, Peach and Blossom, from winding up on the White House dinner table. "God bless you all, and may God protect our troops."

-- Konstantin Toropin contributed to this report.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the total number of pounds of food the Defense Logistics Agency shipped overseas this year and the location of Nantucket.

Related: 12 Vietnam-Era Thanksgivings to Remember, as Told by Veterans
Marines with Skin Condition Affecting Mostly Black Men Could Now Be Booted Under New Policy

A new Marine Corps policy says troops with a genetic skin condition that can cause pain and scarring from shaving and mainly...
Shane Hryhorec says his cruise experience was plagued by a string of errors by the MSC company.

Shane Hryhorec was 'baffled' by the extreme lack of accessibility on the MSC cruise. Source: TikTok/wheelaroundtheworld

Millions of Aussies jump aboard a cruise ship every year, but one man's recent "traumatic" experience left him questioning whether he would be forced to leave the ship after a string of disastrous errors.

Adelaide man Shane Hryhorec told Yahoo News he was looking forward to his first ever cruise and booked with MSC for an eight-day voyage around parts of Europe in August, leaving from Marseille in France. As a wheelchair user Shane was told by MSC, which also operates in Australia, to simply book the cruise and fill out a specific document to detail his needs. However, all did not go to plan.

He faced the possibility of not having private bathroom access, missing excursions he had paid for due to lack of transport and a whole raft of unpleasant interactions with staff.

"I always dreamed of going on a cruise... but it was just baffling and made me angry," he told Yahoo News. "They pretty much put all the blame back on me even though I showed them all my efforts."

ADVERTISEMENT

Yahoo News has reached out to MSC Cruises for comment.

His 'accessible room' had limited floor space and a high step to get into the bathroom. Source: TikTok/wheelaroundtheworld

Passenger faced 'never-ending' issues on cruise ship

Among the "never-ending" issues on board, Shane said he felt "trapped" in a room that wasn't suitable for him. Due to "company policy", he said he wasn't offered a refund if he disembarked the ship when the likelihood of getting an accessible room looked bleak, told by staff to more or less 'get on with it'.

He was eventually provided with a room that was more suitable two days into the voyage, but no refund was offered despite the room lacking features he had paid extra for when booking. He claims staff made no effort to apologise.

"Look, when you take a step back, there's two things with accessibility. There's the hardware, like the ramps and the entrance and the physical things. And then there's the software, which is the human aspect, the empathy," he said, claiming both were severely lacking.

Hryhorec considered leaving the ship early, claiming staff had little empathy. Source: YouTube/wheelaroundtheworld

Accessible rooms can expand a cruise's customer base, passenger says

While Shane hopes his experience was an "isolated incident" and will try travel with another cruise company, he vowed to "never cruise" with MSC again.

ADVERTISEMENT

"I would like to believe that this is an isolated incident," he said. " I would like to believe that this is not a snapshot of the entire cruise industry."

With 5.5 million Aussies disabled and almost 200,000 in wheelchairs, Shane questioned why cruise ships are not made more accessible.

"A person that's able bodied can use a disability access room but a person with a disability cannot use an able-bodied room. So I mean, build more accessible rooms!" he said, suggesting cruise company's could broaden their demographic with this move, while prioritising inclusion.

"The other thing as well is lots of people over [the age of] 65 have a disability. And if you look at the percentage of people that are going on cruises, they're not young people," he said.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
LUDINGTON, MI  This vibrant holiday market showcasing local, handmade creations promises to be a delightful outing in downtown Ludington.

The Ludington Area Center for the Arts, or LACA, will open both its Art of Giving Holiday Artist Market and its Festival of Wreaths during normal business hours from Friday, Nov. 29, to Sunday, Dec. 15, at 107 S. Harrison St. In Ludington.

Bring your friends and family and immerse yourself in the joy of creativity this holiday season, LACA said in a news release about the market. This vibrant event showcases an array of handmade creations from local artisans, offering the perfect opportunity to find unique gifts.

RELATED: Christmas spirit to glow during electrified Up North parade, tree lighting

Visitors will find paintings, photography, pottery and holiday-themed crafts at booths decorated for the holidays.

Whether youre looking for that perfect piece of art to brighten your home or a one-of-a-kind handmade gift, our Art of Giving Market promises to be a delightful outing, LACA said.

The fifth annual Festival of Wreaths is a silent auction fundraiser for LACA programming. More than 20 hand-crafted wreaths will be available for bidding, starting at $25. Bidding must be done in person. Winners can pick up their wreaths or have them shipped for $25 per wreath.

The Festival of Wreaths is a great way to spread some holiday cheer while also supporting a great cause like LACA, said Andrew Skinner, LACA executive director.

LACA is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays; and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. On Small Business Saturday, Nov. 30, it will stay open until 4 p.m.
FRANKFORT, MI  The view outside of Jeff Deans office window changes with the wind  the room shakes with it too. Although hes stationed inside the iconic Point Betsie Lighthouse, whats happening outside is the main attraction.

One day, northwest winds are whipping up Lake Michigan waves and making them crash against protective barriers. The grey skies above make the water appear black, blue - and angry.

The next day, a stillness lets rays of sun illuminate a gradient of blues on the water from pale iridescence on the shoreline to rich navy, stretching out to the horizon.

There every day witnessing it, I can say that I dont think there were two days in a row where the lake looked the same, said Dean, who works as the lighthouses executive director.

Sitting atop the Point Betsie Lighthouse offers a front-row seat to Mother Natures everchanging art project. Its no wonder its become a muse for so many. Named among Michigans most photographed lighthouses, Point Betsie is postcard-worthy in any weather.

RELATED: Drone captures epic wave action during gale warning on Lake Michigan

Point Betsie lighthouse on Lake Michigan near Frankfort, Mich., Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023. (Garret Ellison | MLive)Garret Ellison

Some of that appeal comes from its unique positioning, Dean said.

Point Betsie is nearly in the water. It was constructed in 1858 atop a dune just 52 feet above the lakeshore.

Theres only 34 steps to the main observation floor which creates an intimacy between the viewer and the lake, Dean said.

When you step back and look at the lighthouse from the beach, facing north, it seems to be perfectly placed in a 3 by 5 frame.

Photographer Brad Reed, and his father Todd Reed, have shot that frame hundreds of times and every shutter snap results in something different.

When you get that white lighthouse with the red roof with that turquoise water and magic light, its like a photographers paradise, Brad Reed said. As an artist going to the same places over and over its always refreshing to have subjects that look different. The lighthouse really hasnt changed much in 100 plus years, the environment around it is always in flux, and thats inspiring.

The Reeds visit Point Betsie about six times a year, he said.

They capture the ice shards that form as the lake freezes in motion, sunsets that bleed out over the water and the multicolor stones that gleam through clear blues as the tide recedes.

Point Betsie is a masterclass is adapting to the elements and thats exactly why the Reeds take their advanced photography workshop there every August and January.

Last winter that meant driving before sunrise, in a blizzard. To capture the wild winter mix they stood at the waters edge in head-to-toe North Face gear, including ski goggles for protection against flying sand.

Photography is an action sport, he said. When everyone else wants to hunker down inside and cozy up on the couch, thats when the Reeds pack up and go.

Theres no Photoshop in the world that can recreate what Mother Nature can, he said. Were not painters, so we dont have the luxury of creating that after the fact. We have to be there to capture it when it looks like that. Point Betsie is just one of our muses, and it keeps calling us back.

RELATED: Steps from the beach, this Northern Michigan brewery raises a glass to Lake Michigan views

Waves batter the Lake Michigan shoreline at Point Betsie Lighthouse in Frankfort, Mich. on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. The National Weather Service put out a small craft advisory with 8-10 foot waves and wind gust up to 30 knots that is in effect until noon Thursday.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Preserving a Remoteness at Point Betsie

While capturing the weather is a moving target, the one thing photographers can count on is that Point Betsie is immaculate, he said. He complimented the generations of lighthouse keepers who have kept the lighthouse and grounds pristine.

In short, Betsie has no bad angles.

The maintenance of the lighthouse and its grounds are a nod of respect to its positioning, Dean said.

Unlike other lighthouses that pop up at the end of a long trail or have become the heart of a harbor town, Point Betsie stands alone with just a small slice of beach and smaller properties surrounding it, including the keepers residence, fog signal building, and the Boathouse Museum.

Preserving that remoteness is intentional, Dean said.

We really maintain that character, he said. It kind of takes you back in time to, I think, almost a simpler, sort of idyllic time.

Visitors can get a true sense of that serene solitude by renting out the keepers residence.

The two-bedroom apartment can accommodate six guests. Accommodations include unlimited tours of the lighthouse, an outdoor grill and picnic area and free Lake Michigan sunsets and views of the Manitou Islands. After 5 p.m. when the gift shop closes and the gates are locked up, the property is yours, Dean said.

For many visitors its a bucket list item and for even more its an annual tradition.

This summer Dean met travelers who have stayed at the lighthouse for 13 consecutive summers. The only visitor who rivaled their bragging rights was the woman who was born in the lighthouse keepers quarters and whose birth certificate literally says Point Betsie Lighthouse.

Point Betsie Lighthouse at dusk in Frankfort, Mich. on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Some of Deans favorite visitors, though, are Michiganders.

The hometown tourists who are winding through famous M-22, forced to slow down and take in the trees, wildlife, cottages and glimpses of inland lakes.

Its almost hypnotic, Dean said of the scenic drive up to the lighthouse.

By the time you take the turn and you go up the hill, you go through the Zetterberg Preserve, you really kind of feel like youve been sort of transported back to this isolated little outpost, he said.

If you find yourself winding down that path, check the Point Betsie Lighthouse website which has a countdown to the sunset and a live weather report. Betsie will be peacocking in rain, sleet or snow.

Tours inside the lighthouse and reservations for the keepers quarters run from May to October. Find more information at pointbetsie.org.
HAMLIN TOWNSHIP, MI  Visitors will find more than overhauled parking lots and roads when this state park reopens next summer.

While contractors work on a $3.2 million project at Ludington State Park, staff are getting to projects that are difficult to complete when the park is full of visitors, said Jim Gallie, park manager.

The 4,300-acre park, nestled between Lake Michigan and Hamlin Lake, closed the day after Labor Day and is scheduled to reopen on July 1.

On the list for some extra attention during the closure is one of the parks beloved trails: Lost Lake Trail. The trail includes a boardwalk along the shore of the tiny Lost Lake and a staircase at the north end of the lake near Beechwood Campground.

Ivar and Kal Lofton take a walk on the Lost Lake boardwalk during spring 2021 at Ludington State Park in Hamlin Township, Mich.Justine Lofton | jlofton@mlive.com

Fairly extensive boardwalk repairs are planned for the trail, Gallie said.

RELATED: Up North state park trail winds around little lake, offers panoramic views

So far, a crew has completed work on the staircase, which had give and movement that you could feel while climbing the stairs, he said. Thats gone now.

Michael Lofton, 46, of Ludington, takes his dogs, Kal and Ivar, down a stairway on the Lost Lake Trail at Ludington State Park on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023.Justine Lofton | jlofton@mlive.com

The crew strengthened the stairway and landings with more stringers and braces, which solidified the decks, Gallie said. They also replaced worn and damaged stair treads, decking and railings.

The stairway is much more solid than it was, he said.

Staff will hopefully do maintenance on the boardwalk in the spring, before the park reopens, Gallie said.

RELATED: 1930s Lake Michigan beach house gets upgrades amid $3M state park project

Other work during the closure includes maintenance on the exterior of the 1930s Lake Michigan beach house, sprucing up restrooms and shower buildings, new fire rings, repairs to picnic tables, and hazardous tree removal, Gallie said.

The closure includes all campgrounds and campsites, all northern trails, Big Sable Point Lighthouse, the main Lake Michigan beach area and the Hamlin day-use areas, including the beach, Hamlin Dam, the boat launch, and picnic areas along the Big Sable River. Almost everything north of the entry booth is closed while areas south of the booth are open.

Find more details on whats open here.

RELATED: Whats still open at popular Up North state park during construction? We have a list

Check Ludington State Parks Facebook page for updates.

The $3.2 million project is part of $273 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan, or ARPA, that was made available to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in 2022 to help address a long list of needs at state parks.

RELATED: With $273M in hand, Michigans DNR is racing to complete 202 backlogged projects

Ludington State Park was previously slated for $4.26 million in ARPA-funded upgrades, which included rebuilding Skyline Trail, a popular boardwalk atop a dune ridge. About $1 million of the funding has been reallocated to projects at other state parks that came in over budget. The Skyline Trail project has been deferred.

RELATED: Rebuild of popular boardwalk trail at Ludington State Park delayed due to lack of funding

Ludington State Park is known for its seven miles of sandy Lake Michigan beachfront, an iconic lighthouse and a one-mile stretch of Big Sable River thats popular for fishing, paddling and tubing. The park also features 21 miles of marked trails through wetlands, marshes, dunes and forests, plus two water trails. Hamlin Lake is popular for recreation, including boating, hiking, fishing, paddling and swimming. The park, 8800 M-116 north of Ludington, is especially in demand for camping. It has three modern campgrounds with 352 campsites.
Federal officials said they found black mold and disease-causing bacteria in a popular brand of toothpaste.

In a letter dated Nov. 5, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Toms of Maine toothpaste facilities in Sanford, Maine used water in their products that was contaminated with multiple strains of infectious bacteria.

The bacteria found can cause infections in the blood and urinary tract, as well as pneumonia, peritonitis and conjunctivitis, officials said. That water was used to manufacture Toms Simply White Clean Mint Paste, the Wicked Cool! Anticavity Toothpaste, and to rinse their equipment.

Investigators also observed a black mold-like substance on a hose, wall and a water storage tank in the Maine facility. A powder-residue was found on a tray next to a batch of the Toms Silly Strawberry Anticavity toothpaste, the letter stated.

It is essential that your facility is in a good state of repair and sanitary conditions are maintained to protect drug products from potential routes of contamination, the FDA wrote in its letter to Colgate-Palmolive/Toms of Maine, Inc.

The FDA sent inspectors to the Toms of Maine facility in May, but the letter was publicly released on Nov. 19.

The federal agency said the company, which produces natural body care products like toothpaste, deodorant and soaps, failed to investigate approximately 400 complaints related to odor, color, and taste in your toothpaste products, including those for children.

The FDA is requiring Toms of Maine to investigate and determine the cause of all violations and prevent them from reoccurring. If they fail to do so, the federal agency said they may withhold export certificates, as well as approvals on applications that are filed under the Toms of Maine brand.

USA Today reports no recalls have been issued in connection to the toothpaste brand but Toms is required to provide a detailed risk assessment addressing the potential effects of the observed water system failures on the quality of all drug product lots currently in U.S. distribution or within expiry.

In a statement to ABC News, a spokesperson for Colgate-Palmolive said the company is working to address the issues.

We have always tested finished goods before they leave our control, and we remain fully confident in the safety and quality of the toothpaste we make, the company said. In addition, we have engaged water specialists to evaluate our systems at Sanford, have implemented additional safeguards to ensure compliance with FDA standards, and our water testing shows no issues.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly said that Oakland County Circuit Judge Kwame Rowe on Oct. 22 denied a motion for a new sentencing by the defense. The judge has not ruled on that motion yet, however. He only ruled to penalize the defendants attorneys for filing briefs in excess of allowed page limits. The story has been updated.

PONTIAC, MI -- A Michigan judge is considering whether to reverse Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbleys guilty plea.

Crumbley, 18, admitted to the Nov. 30, 2021, shooting at Oxford High School that killed four classmates and injured seven others, including six students and a teacher, when he appeared in an Oakland County courtroom on Oct. 24, 2022.

Appellate defense attorneys representing the shooter filed motions to have the guilty plea withdrawn and his sentence possibly reduced.

Defense attorneys argue that Crumbley was in poor mental heath when he accepted the sentence and waived his right to trial, and said new evidence of his volatile childhood and exposure to alcohol should have considered in the sentencing determination, according to the Associated Press.

The judges decision is pending.

RELATED: From bad dreams to missed meals: How more frequent school threats are upending kids lives

Because he was 15 at the time of the mass shooting, Crumbley underwent an extra four-day pre-sentencing hearing, known as a Miller hearing, which is required for minors facing life sentences. The hearings were conducted in July and August of 2023, after which Oakland County Circuit Judge Kwame Rowe ruled the teen could be sentenced to mandatory life in prison.

A Miller hearing is meant to give special consideration to factors of a defendants youth that may have contributed to their crime.

This was not an impulsive decision, nor was he peer-pressured into committing the crime, Rowe said following the Miller hearing. He methodically walked through the school, picking and choosing who was going to die. He wanted to kill the innocent.

Crumbley is imprisoned as a level IV prisoner at the Oaks Correctional Facility in Manistee.

His parents, Jennifer and James Crumbley, 46 and 48, respectively, are also serving prison sentences for convictions of involuntary manslaughter.

RELATED: How to talk to your kids about school safety threats

Jennier Crumbley is at the womens Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Ypsilanti and James Crumbley is held at the Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility in Ionia. Their earliest release dates are set for Dec. 2, 2031.

Friends and families, as well as law enforcement officials, held a press conference last week asking Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel to conduct an independent investigation into the shooting.

This really isnt about there being some bombshell hidden, said Steve St. Juliana, the father of 14-year-old shooting victim Hana St. Juliana. What were here today trying to drive is looking at the big picture and how do we fix broken pieces of the system itself.

The slain Oxford High students were: Juliana; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; Tate Myre, 16; and Justin Shilling, 17.
ANN ARBOR, MI  Andrew Schneider said hes lived in Ann Arbor for seven years without a car, but getting around as a pedestrian isnt always easy.

Ever since I moved downtown, its been a lot more difficult just walking around outside my house, crossing the street, he said, noting the amount of car traffic on downtown streets.
7 1 / 7 D&W's Event Center & Catering Co.

FENTON TWP., MI  As it continues to grow, a local food truck and catering company recently opened a newly expanded headquarters and event center in Fenton Township.

The expanded facility, which is still under construction, will serve as the new home for D&Ws Events Center & Catering Co. and D&Ws Street Eatery, a food truck company that serves Latin American BBQ food, including street tacos, BBQ sandwiches, and fresh donuts.

Related: Michigans Best Local Eats: D&Ws Street Eatery provides Latin American BBQ

D&Ws Events Center & Catering Co. held a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on Nov. 14 for the expanded location, located at 2084 W. Thompson Road.

The company also hosted Fentons first-ever Food Truck Rally and the Huntress Winter Market & Community Business Expo on Nov. 17 during a soft opening for the new location.

We had over 2,000 attendees, Ahrenberg said. It was amazing. People were selling out.

Ahrenbergs company rented a small space in the building, which used to be a church, for the past seven years.

She explained additional space became available there after other tenants moved out.

We do primarily private events like weddings and open houses and business events, and I always go to other places to do that, Ahrenberg said. And I said, Why dont we just do this and be a housing unit for this as well, so we dont have to go anywhere?

The expansion is the next step for the company which, according to Ahrenberg, has been quite successful throughout mid-Michigan.

We have a wonderful following, she said. We have three active food trucks and three of them sitting in the pot waiting to get built out. So, this is really just going to expand our business, but in a sense, slow me down and put me in one spot.

Food trucking is no job for the weak.

In addition to serving as a venue for events and a headquarters for D&Ws Street Eatery, Ahrenberg said her company wants the building to function as a cultural community center.

People can rent a space for special events, she said. People were asking about mixology events and doing yoga class sessions there.

She also described the new space as an all-in-one spot for events with large groups as multiple services will be offered, including catering and bartending services.

I think its just only going to keep getting bigger and better as we go along, Ahrenberg said. Its just really wonderful.

The company is also building a custom, industrial, modern bar in the event space, Ahrenberg said.

During the expansion process, the company ripped out some walls and made several improvements to the building which included new paint as well as updates to the buildings flooring and lighting.

The newly renovated space also includes 10-foot garage doors which will allow the company to park trailers inside of the facility.

We opened up a garage door space so that we could be able to haul in vendors, also craft shows and stuff, Ahrenberg said. Its such a universal space where everybody can fit. Its so beautiful.

Theres so much potential and opportunity in the location.

Anyone interested in booking the new location for an event can visit the companys website, and additional information about D&Ws Event Center & Catering and the event space can be found on the companys Facebook page.

We do customized individual quotes that are a la carte to be fitting to their budget and expectations, Ahrenberg said.

Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter.
50 1 / 50 Vigil honors the life of Rayvon Shahid on Flint's north side

FLINT, MI  Jennifer Johnson came out to three days of protests in the Flint area to support her aunt whos grieving the loss of her teenage son.

Johnson is a cousin of Rayvon Shahid, the 17-year-old boy who was shot and killed by Michigan State Police in early November.

She lost her baby, Johnson said of aunt Wontoshia Johnson, Shahids mother.

Jennifer Johnson was one of several family members and friends who spoke during the gatherings held from Thursday, Nov. 21, to Saturday, Nov. 23, demanding justice for Shahid.

The first two protests were held Thursday outside the Michigan State Police Flint Post in Flint Township and on Friday outside Flint City Hall.

Protesters asked that Michigan State Police troopers involved with the shooting be held accountable.

Then on Saturday, friends and family held a candlelight vigil for Shahid on the street corner nearest where his shooting death took place.

More than 100 people gathered over the three-day period.

Many in attendance held signs demanding justice from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Others huddled to stay warm in the late November conditions.

There was tension in the air during moments of silence at each of the three gatherings.

Protestors held signs that read Justice for Rayvon, Say His Name, and Release the Footage.

Loved ones gathered to release a large bundle of blue and white balloons to conclude Saturdays vigil.

Related: Investigation into fatal shooting of Flint teen sent to Michigan Attorney General

Shahid was fatally shot around 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 2 during an interaction with Michigan State Police troopers near Essex Street and Pasadena Avenue in Flint.

Police said Shahid had a gun and ran away after troopers ordered him to drop the gun. They utilized their duty pistols after telling him to stop fleeing and drop the gun more than seven times, according to MSP.

Rayvon Shahid, 17, was fatally shot during an interaction with Michigan State Police troopers around 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 2 near Essex Street and Pasadena Avenue. (Photo provided by family)(Photo provided by Shahid family)

Children shouldnt have to be afraid of police

Shahids death should be a reflection of how Michigan State Police troopers are policing the community, Black Lives Matter Flint Chapter President DeWaun Robinson said.

Other protesters said Shahids friends were afraid to join the protests out of fear of retaliation from police.

When the police pull you over, you shouldnt have to turn on your phone to record them. They are here to protect and serve, Jennifer Johnson said. Rayvon was a nice kid. He had a beautiful smile. He had a good upbringing.

Betty Delloach, Shahids great aunt, said Wontoshia Johnson is devastated after the death of her son. She left the house on that day for 15 to 20 minutes and came back to find out what happened.

Just close your eyes and think about that child. He was running, Delloach said. My niece (Wontoshia) cannot stand the pain, because what if he was calling his mama when he was running?

MSP Director Col. James Grady II said in a statement that A loss of life during any police encounter is tragic.

All incidents that involve a state police member discharging their firearm are immediately and thoroughly investigated, and this incident is no exception, he said.

In the statement, Grady said he spoke with Shahids mother to assure her of a full and impartial investigation.

We need answers

Before the first protest, Michigan State Police announced the investigation into the fatal shooting had been sent to the Michigan Attorney General for review.

We need answers. Thats all we want. We want to know what happened to Rayvon, Delloach said.

Shahids family is working with Attorney Arnold Reed, who represents former Flint fire chief Raymond Barton in his wrongful termination lawsuit.

Reed encouraged protesters to contact the state attorney general directly to demand justice for Shahid.

Also: A 17-year-old child was murdered: Flint community demand justice for Rayvon Shahid

I hope everybody under my voice will take action. Not just today, not just tomorrow, but for the years to come in this town, because what happened here is bigger than us, Reed said.

Robinson compared the shooting of Shahid to the shooting of Trayvon Martin in 2012. Both were walking in their neighborhood and fatally shot, he said.

Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  On a weekend afternoon, an armed man wandered into a fire station allegedly under the influence of illicit drugs.

He started to make suicidal statements. A Grand Rapids Township fire lieutenant, working alone in the station, called 911 for help.
More and more Aussies are choosing to travel with their pets, with caravan and camping sites now becoming more welcoming of animals.

Aussies are loving pet-friendly enclosures that are popping up at caravan parks across the country. Source: Facebook/Si Marshall

A family holiday is hardly complete without the option of travelling with your pets, and as more and more Aussies opt for camping and caravan trips, there's never been a greater need for dog-friendly campsites and holiday parks.

So it was a pleasant surprise for one man who discovered a pet enclosure at a caravan park in Ararat, Victoria recently. And thankfully for dog-loving Aussies, they're popping up all over the country.

As someone who regularly travels with his dog, the Queensland man said "they're a great idea". "I can see them being really popular," he told Yahoo News Australia.

The traveller was visiting the Acacia Caravan Park when he stumbled upon the pet-friendly enclosure. He said it's the first time he's ever seen it, but loves the idea. He admitted he didn't know they were available so was unable to book one.

ADVERTISEMENT

A photo shared online shows a caravan and a vehicle stationed on a grass lot with a fence and a gate surrounding the site. And others agree it's a "brilliant" and "fantastic" idea, and one we should be seeing more of.

A handful noted "there are a few parks that have started doing this now". Up until recently, most holiday or caravan parks don't allow pets on site.

"About time, caravan park owners thinking about what the travellers need. Good on them," another said.

Do you have a story about travelling with pets? Wed love to hear about it! Carly.bass@yahooinc.com

Sam Smith, a manager at the Big4 Windmill Holiday Park in Ballarat, said the pet-friendly sites are their most popular. Source: Supplied

One such place is Big 4 Windmill Holiday Park in Ballarat, Victoria which has an entire pet-friendly section designed for those travelling with their furry companions, with some online raving about their recent stay.

ADVERTISEMENT

"We stayed over the weekend, it's great, plus they have an enclosed run with a pond for dogs, and dog wash," expressed one. "Its amazing, our dog loved the freedom," another said.

Pet-friendly sites at caravan park 'extremely popular'

Speaking with Yahoo, Sam Smith, a manager at the family-owned Windmill Park, said the pet-friendly sites are "extremely popular" and often they're the first to book out. So much so, that the owners, his parents-in-law, have plans on adding more over the next 12 months. Currently, there are 12 fenced-off sites.

"There's such a market for them, it's crazy," he said. "Everybody's travelling with their dogs now, so it just makes sense".

"They'll be our most popular sites in the park and not only for people travelling with pets but for kids too. We get a lot of young families booking them," he added.

ADVERTISEMENT

"They're perfect for making sure your kids don't walk out anywhere. Not that caravan parks are unsafe, but you just know where they are if they're locked in. They can't go anywhere."

Holidaymakers 'more relaxed' knowing dogs and kids are safe

Since introducing them a few years ago when the park became pet-friendly, Sam said they've noticed "99 per cent of dogs act completely different" compared to being "chained up" on a rope or long leash. But more importantly, it encourages more Aussies to travel with their animals.

"It's such a better environment for the pets and the families because everyone's so much more relaxed, you've got more space," he said. "And it makes it easier for people to take better care of their sites too".

ADVERTISEMENT

Sam said they've noticed the enclosed sites are "kept a lot tidier" than other sites, likely because they're responsible for what's inside the boundary fences.

Others on Facebook said it could help "keep people out of your camp as well". It's not uncommon for other guests to wander in and around campsites.

Aussies now have 'more freedom' when travelling

Unlike some other pet-friendly sites, at Big 4 Windmill Holiday Park, Sam and the team have opted for astroturf, instead of real grass, and the sites are all complete with granite rock for cars to park on. During the winter months, regular grass turned into mud making it unpleasant for guests. And the new design "makes it easier to clean up after dogs," he said.

The enclosed sites sit within a dedicated pet zone complete with pet-friendly cabins and an off-leash grassed area. There's also a creek and two large pools for dogs to swim allowing guests with pets to get more" bang for their buck".

"Everyone loves it. It's really rewarding to see people who don't normally travel with pets because they're so restricted now have more freedom to travel," he said.

Previously, travelling families, including Jess Batheram and her partner Jed, have admitted they've been made to reconsider where they stay because of their pets. Many opt for free camping outside caravan and holiday parks which don't often allow pets.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
OTTAWA COUNT, MI  Holland police detectives have identified a possible suspect in a burglary at Super Hideaway Gaming on the citys south side.

The burglar got away with over $15,000 in merchandise, the owner said.

The store provides sales and service for trading-card games as well as table-top games such as Warhammer and Dungeons & Dragons. The business also sells new and used video games and other merchandise and holds tournaments.

Related: Gut punch: Owner of burglarized Super Hideaway Gaming store

Detectives identified a possible suspect and used a search warrant for a vehicle that matched a vehicle seen on surveillance video outside the store. Police found many of the cards that had been stolen.

Police expect to ask Ottawa County prosecutors to file charges.

Holland police said this car was involved in a burglary at Super Hideaway Gaming store. (Provided by Holland Department of Public Safety)Holland Department of Public Safety

The burglary happened Nov. 10 at the business on South Washington Avenue near West 40th Street.

Owner Aaron Mooneyhan called the break-in a gut punch.

He said that a man was seen on surveillance images sleeping in his car before he got out around 3 a.m. to check out his store. The man then went to another parking lot until around 7 a.m. He backed to the front door and smashed the glass with a rock, Mooneyhan said.

The man ransacked the business while stealing items, he said.

A GoFundMe page has raised $3,800 to help the business.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  13 ON YOUR SIDEs longest-serving meteorologist is saying farewell after 44 years on the air.

George Lessens, who announced his retirement in February will say goodbye to viewers with one final newscast at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27, 13 ON YOUR SIDE said.

People can tune in to channel 13, on the stations website here or the news app.

Late last year I talked it over with the boss - my wife Sherry Lee  who retired on December 31, about when and, most importantly how I should say so-long, Lessens said in a February Facebook post.

I said I would like to thank everyone for a wonderful career. And that includes you, our viewers. Youve invited me into your homes, into your lives, trusting me with your weather forecasts and, hopefully keeping you safe during times of bad weather.

Lessens is West Michigans longest-tenured meteorologist at a single station, according to 13 ON YOUR SIDE.

He began working for 13 ON YOUR SIDE on Nov. 17, 1980, as a weekend meteorologist, according to LinkedIn. He anchored weekday morning forecasts from 1985 to 1991 before switching back to the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. weekend newscasts.

He became the stations chief meteorologist in July 2001 and in October 2007 broke West Michigans record for longest tenured meteorologist at a single station at 26 years and 11 months.

Lessens is an American Meteorological Society Certified Broadcast Meteorologist and has won numerous awards, including a lifetime achievement award - the Charles L. Mitchell Award for Outstanding Service by a Forecaster.

George Lessons, chief meteorologist for 13 ON YOUR SIDE, is retiring in December after a 44-year career at the station. (Photo provided by 13 ON YOUR SIDE)13 ON YOUR SIDE

Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter.
KALAMAZOO TOWNSHIP, MI  A former member of the Kalamazoo Township board got reelected to the role in the Nov. 5 election, but isnt accepting it.

The newly elected board plans to appoint its seventh member by Dec. 9, per discussion at its Monday, Nov. 11 meeting.
SAGINAW TOWNSHIP, MI  A member of the Saginaw County Board of Commissioners called on her board peer, Republican Rich Spitzer, to resign in the aftermath of a social media-centric controversy.

Commissioner Lisa Coney, a Democrat, called for the resignation when she spoke as a member of the public attending a Saginaw Township Board of Trustees meeting Monday, Nov. 25.

It was the first public gathering of the largely new-look township board, which now includes Trustee Amaya Bradley. The 22-year-old Democrat last week was the target of Spitzers since-deleted Facebook post that critics called racist and misogynistic.

Spitzer, 70, last week shared the Facebook post of an individual who uploaded images of a woman in provocative poses. That individual also was named Amaya Bradley, and also was a Black woman, but was not the township trustee.

In the Facebook post, Spitzer included his own commentary that read, Election results are official, time to get to know one of your newly elected Saginaw Township Trustees.

Another twist in the story: Bradley won one of four township trustee seats in the November election, resulting in the fifth-place finisher  Republican incumbent Connie Reppuhn  losing her place on the board by a slim, 13-vote margin. Reppuhn is Spitzers wife.

Spitzer deleted the post, he said, after realizing the photos were not the Bradley voted to the board. Spitzer then posted an apology on Facebook and told The Saginaw News/MLive he was devastated by the mistake.

Spitzer has said he does not plan to resign, and has denied he is racist or misogynist.

Still, those accusations continued this week, at the Nov. 25 township board gathering. The meeting included about 30 members of the public, including two of Spitzers fellow county board members. Both spoke during the gatherings public comment session.

As a Black female elected official, I was offended for my sister, Amaya Bradley, said Coney, a second-year county commissioner. Im calling on (Spitzer) to resign.

Coney called Spitzers initial Facebook post aimed at Bradley demeaning, nasty and vile.

Lisa Coney is member of the Saginaw County Board of Commissioners.

About 30 people attended the Monday gathering; many of them showed up to express their support of Bradley and their condemnation of Spitzer, who did not attend.

Coney encouraged attendees to voice their concerns at the Saginaw County Board of Commissioners next public meeting Tuesday, Dec. 17.

Christopher Boyd, chairman of the county commissioners, at the Saginaw Township board meeting told attendees he has spoken to the countys administrative and legal staff about Spitzers Facebook post.

We continue to collect information, Boyd said. Were going to explore what our options are, and then we will present those to the (county) board.

The Democrat said Spitzers Facebook post was not representative of Saginaw County, and certainly not representative of the Saginaw County Board of Commissioners.

Four other members of the public spoke at the township session.

NAACP Saginaw Branch President Terry Pruitt delivers comments to a crowd at the Andersen Enrichment Center on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020.Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

Terry Pruitt, president of the Saginaw branch of the NAACP, told the crowd he planned to attend the Dec. 17 county board meeting.

I stand here in support of (Bradley), and I think I speak for the entire NAACP when I say, Amaya, if you need us, we will be there for you, Pruitt said.

Hurley Coleman III, executive director of Saginaw County Community Action Center in Saginaw, congratulated Bradley on her election victory while describing the challenges Black individuals face when attempting to seek leadership positions.

As African-Americans, we often have to work hard to obtain the things we want to get, said Coleman, who is Black. Many times, when we get those awards, we are faced with the adversity of winning or the adversity of accomplishing something.

Bradley spoke briefly during the meeting, which also included members of the township board expressing support for their new colleague.

Thank you for all the support, Bradley told the crowd. I want to say, thank you to the board. I really appreciate it.

The Nov. 25 meeting was the first official gathering of the new-look board, the townships 7-member governing body that now features five newcomers and two incumbents.

Earlier this month, voters elected a new supervisor, Republican Gary Fahndrich; a new clerk, Democrat Lisa Y. Ingram; a new treasurer, Democrat James Wickman; and two new trustees, Democrats Travis Hare and Bradley.

Republican Peter C. Ryan and Democrat Lori L. Gorney were the two incumbent trustees to retain their seats on the board.

However, a recount could shake up the board. Both Reppuhn and Steven Gerhardt, the now-former treasurer, requested recounts.

Gerhardt, a Republican, fell shy of winning his race by 14 votes.

Officials said the Saginaw County Board of Canvassers will begin the recount process Monday, Dec. 9. The hand-recount effort is expected to take several days to complete, Saginaw County officials said.

About 30 people attended the Monday, Nov. 25, Saginaw Township Board of Trustees meeting at Saginaw Township Fire Station No. 2.The Saginaw News/MLive.com

Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is on a trade mission this week in Spain to spur foreign investments in the state.

This investment mission to Spain is an opportunity to expand Michigans global footprint and attract new economic opportunities to our state, Whitmer said in a statement. Engaging directly with international business and policy leaders allows us to showcase Michigans strengths and competitive advantages, helping to foster new investments that create good-paying jobs for Michiganders.

Building these connections with the global business community is essential to sustaining growth and ensuring economic prosperity for all.

The three-day trip kicked off Monday, Nov. 25, with Whitmer joining the states economic development team, including Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) CEO Quentin Messer Jr.

According to the MEDC, Michigan is Spains fifth-largest trade partner among the states. Over the last decade, Spanish companies invested in eight foreign direct investment projects have resulted in 926 jobs created and $283.98 million in capital investment in the state.

The country is Michigans 11th-largest export market, with Michigan exporting more than $770 million worth of goods to Spain in 2023, according to the MEDC.

On the trip, the governor and team will meet with public and private sector leaders to expand partnerships and secure investments, which MEDC officials said will create jobs and bring critical supply chains home to Michigan.

Among the meetings, the Michigan delegation will further build relationships with officials from Spain-based automotive supplier Gestamp, which MEDC officials say recently announced expansions of its manufacturing operations in Mason, Lapeer and Chelsea.

The company, which has its North American headquarters in Troy, is also planning to open a fourth factory in Chesterfield, according to Senate Democrats .

Connecting directly with business and government leaders in Spain is another valuable opportunity to showcase Michigan as a prime destination for global investment, Messer said. As one of the nations most international states, Team Michigan will continue to present our Make It in Michigan strategy, focused on investing in people, revitalizing places and winning projects to global neighbors.

While in Madrid, the Michigan delegation will be joined by Maria Jesus Fernandez, the trade commissioner of Spain in Chicago.

Other trade missions this year involving the states executive branch include Whitmer traveling to South Korea and Taiwan and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II traveling to the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
Michigan is no longer pursuing a plan to turn farmland into an industrial site after facing community pushback on developing the controversial megasite.

The Michigan Economic Development Corp. and the Lansing Area Economic Partnership, LEAP, put together a 1,400-acre megasite in Eagle Township to attract a largescale, job-creating investment.

But after the state disbursed nearly $6 million to the project, its been halted.

We continue to believe the site could have great potential given its proximity to infrastructure, workforce and other adjacent industrial uses, said Otie McKinley, a spokesperson for the Michigan Economic Development Corp. We also recognize that this is not the right time to pursue additional development on the site.

Related: At what cost? Michigan communities fight mega sites despite promise of jobs

The Eagle Township megasite, also known as the Michigan Manufacturing Innovation Campus, was one of four megasites the state started assembling two years ago as a part of its strategy to land major billion-dollar investments.

Named for their size, each build-ready megasite is at least 1,000 acres.

Others are located in Mundy Township near Flint, Shiawassee County and Marshall, where Ford Motor Co. is building a $2.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant.

The Michigan Strategic Fund earmarked $75 million two years ago to make these megasites build ready with infrastructure upgrades and real estate acquisition.

For the Eagle Township property, the state distributed $5.95 million to LEAP for site prep including real estate assembly, environmental and site due diligence and public infrastructure planning. LEAP says a remaining $400,000 will go toward similar work and planning of other key strategic economic development sites, which are all smaller than 500 acres.

This due diligence work has given us a head start on any future projects of all shapes and sizes that align with the communitys vision and meet our shared priorities, LEAP said in a statement.

A former map of the Michigan Manufacturing Innovation Campus, a 1,400-acre megasite located in Eagle Township. (Photo provided by the Lansing Area Economic Partnership)

LEAP says there was a sense of urgency because of Michigans need for sites of that magnitude to pursue important semiconductor and EV-related industry investment projects to reshore US manufacturing and technology jobs.

It took six months of confidential real estate assembly to put together the Eagle Township megasite, according to LEAP. This included farmland donated to Michigan State University by late farmer David Morris and private properties under a three-year option agreement.

LEAP has since allowed the real estate options to expire after the local municipality leaders and neighbor sentiment turned from initial unanimous support into significant opposition.

We took the further step of offering early termination to all affected property owners in recent weeks, LEAP said in a statement.

Related: Michigan assembling 1,000-acre mega sites to attract big investments

This decision comes after the project faced significant backlash from community members who objected to the large swath of rural land becoming a major industrial site.

Opposition gained momentum over the past two years through a 3,200-member Facebook group called Stop the Mega Site, Eagle MI. Red signs proclaiming No Eagle Megasite have also dotted the rural community located about 15 miles west of Lansing.

Eagle Township Supervisor and local farmer Troy Stroud, 54, says hes cautiously optimistic about the news.

Were not all farmers in Eagle, but its a very strong part of how we identify and what we enjoy about where we live, he said. Its what matters to us, and you have to fight for what matters to you.

Michigan is no longer marketing a 1,400 megasite in Eagle Township for future industrial development. (Photo by Rose White | MLive)Rose White | MLive

A key sticking point for opponents was that Morris, a former Eagle Township supervisor and longtime farmer, donated his centennial family farm to Michigan State University with the stipulation it must remain farmland until 2031. MSU previously said the agreement would extend to any future owner, but the university was sued last year for allegedly redacting too much information about the deal.

Stroud says a lack of transparency was another major issue after former township supervisor Patti Schafer signed non-disclosure agreements about the project.

We just wanted some transparency around what it was, he said. It just became this quest of wanting to know the knowledge, the details, what was really happening.

Related: State approves $250M grant for new Genesee County megasite

This led to Schafer, Township Treasurer Kathy Oberg and Trustee Richard Jones facing recall efforts over the NDAs. Schafer lost her seat to Stroud while Oberg and Jones both resigned last November.

Secrecy around economic development has also been contentious in Lansing where lawmakers have signed confidentiality agreements tied to big deals.

It remains unclear what the future holds for the Eagle Township megasite.

Both LEAP and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. said it is not currently being marketed for development. A website for the Michigan Manufacturing Innovation Campus is now password protected. And the primary economic opportunity LEAP was trying to land chose another location outside the region.

Additionally, Eagle Township adopted a 220-page master plan in September that reflects residents will to maintain the cherished natural and rural charm of the community. It also updated its zoning rules around industrial sites.

The future of a site in Eagle Township remains in the hands of the community, McKinley said. We are always open to any future engagement should their vision or plans for development on that site change from what they are today.

Editors note: This story was updated with additional information from LEAP about state funding for the megasite.
Kelly Rocheleau Education, court and crime reporter Follow Kelly Rocheleau Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

UNION SPRINGS  Seeing a student's eye sparkle when they understand something is the best part of Jason Charles' day.

Charles, who has been an art teacher at Union Springs High School for more than 25 years, told The Citizen he adores seeing students believe in themselves more as their work improves.

For him, it's not about teaching students how to draw or sculpt.

"I'm really teaching them confidence," he said in October in his classroom.

But Charles does well at teaching them how to draw and sculpt, too. Fifteen of his students have won medals in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the largest annual student art competition in the country. Most recently, Hannah McHenry and Morgan Yorkey picked up gold and silver medals, respectively, in June. Many other students have received state and local prizes.

Charles stressed that their successes were due to their own efforts, but he is happy to help guide them while creating their pieces. Watching those efforts be acknowledged with awards is a thrill, he said.

"It is literally one of the best feelings in the world when I see a kid come up to me, with tears, and they tell me, 'Mr. Charles, I won a national award,'" he said.

"I always become very speechless at that moment, and all of a sudden, I just want to give them a hug. It's a really big deal."

Charles also encourages students to apply for awards to help their confidence, as winning can help them trust their abilities. Working on a piece for a competition gives them something to focus on as well.

"It's that end result of all that hard work and effort that you put in to something. That's the aspect of it that I love," he said. "Because at the end of the day, my objective is to make sure that they are creative thinkers and that they say something (with) their art. If they leave with that, then I'm good with what I've taught them that year."

The longtime teacher said he tries to help his students grow as artists by speaking with and getting to know them. Learning about their interests and hobbies allows Charles to better connect with them, which helps him teach them. Those conversations also help Charles encourage them to channel their experiences into their work.

Just as art gives students an outlet for whatever they are going through, Charles said drawing has been a "therapeutic" way for him to process his own thoughts and feelings throughout his life. Growing up in Manhattan, some of his earliest child memories include putting pen to paper. He sketched friends and family, teachers, comic book characters and "a little bit of everything." He lived near the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and around once a month, he would go over to study the artwork and try to draw it. He credits his mother, Yvonne Asante, for nurturing his interest.

"Art was my identity," he said. "I still doodle all the time."

That passion was a throughline for Charles into adulthood, as he graduated from Alfred University with a master's degree in art education in 1997. He then taught at four different Syracuse City School District elementary schools, but was laid off after a year due to budget cuts. A friend recommended that he apply at Union Springs, though Charles had never heard of the village before.

Charles, who lives in Auburn, always assumed he would teach in bigger areas, as he was used to that in New York City. But he immediately liked the staff at Union Springs when he interviewed, and started in 1998. While there was a bit of a "culture shock" at first, as the community lacks the institutions he was used to growing up around, the school has been a major part of his life. He sees some of the faculty members as siblings, and some of the students as his children. He even met his wife, Tara, through the school, as she was a teacher assistant for a year.

"I like that the school feels like a family," he said.

Across the years, those connections with his students  and seeing their confidence grow  has helped keep Charles going.

"When I see a kid that's excited," he said, "it gives me enthusiasm."
With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

Tesla slashes prices again in China

On November 24, Tesla China announced a new promotion for its Model Y locally manufactured by its Shanghai factory. Customers who place an order and take delivery by December 31 will receive a 10,000-yuan discount, along with a five-year, zero-interest loan option. For instance, the Model Y RWD version is now priced at 239,900 yuan after the discount.

Model Y; photo credit: Tesla China

BYD to launch new-generation Blade Battery in 2025

On November 25, during an interview at the the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP29), the managing director of BYD Central Asia in European Auto Sales Division, Cao Shuang, revealed that BYD plans to launch its new-generation Blade Battery in 2025. The new battery will enhance vehicle range and extend battery lifespan.

ZEEKR MIX becomes first smart EV in Shanghai Auto Museum's collection

On November 26, the ZEEKR MIX officially joined the Shanghai Auto Museum's collection, becoming the first smart pure electric vehicle to be included in the museum's exhibits.

Changan Automobile, CATL, CAES form cooperation on battery swap project

On November 22, Changan Automobile, CATL, and CATL's subsidiary CAES held a signing ceremony in Chongqing to formalize their tripartite cooperation on battery-swapping projects. The event marked the simultaneous market launch of Changan's Oshan 520 model, the first vehicle equipped with CATL's new-generation Choco-SEB (swapping electric block ) technology, and the corresponding Choco-SEB battery swap stations.

CATL launches TIANXING series batteries for heavy-duty commercial vehicles

On November 25, CATL unveiled its TIANXING battery series for heavy-duty commercial vehicles, promising breakthroughs in range, charging speed, and safety standards.

NIO's CEO highlights goal of achieving profitability by 2026 in internal letter

On November 25, marking NIO's 10th anniversary, the company's founder, chairman, and CEO, William Bin Li, addressed all employees with an internal letter titled "Stay True, Focus on Action" (title in translation). In the letter, he underscored the critical importance of the next two years for NIO's growth, emphasizing that achieving profitability by 2026 hinges on doubling sales in 2024, launching competitive new products, and continuously improving operational efficiency.

Hyundai Motor Company inks MoU with Guangzhou, Ulsan cities to propel hydrogen industry cooperation

On November 25, Hyundai Motor Company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with local government of China's Guangzhou city and South Korea's Ulsan city on promoting the cooperation in hydrogen industry.

LUXEED R7 secures over 42,000 units of fixed orders within 2 months on market

On November 26, HIMA, Huawei's smart car alliance, announced that it has secured over 42,000 units of fixed orders for its mid-to-large all-electric SUV, the LUXEED R7, only two months after the model's market launch.

Lynk & Co Z20 to go on sale in China in December

Lynk & Co will put its first all-electric SUV, the Lynk & Co Z20, onto the Chinese market on December 22, according to a local media outlet. A more affordable entry-level version with a shorter range is expected to be launched as well, further lowering the price threshold.

Huawei, JAC co-developed luxury electric sedan 'MAEXTRO S800' starts pre-orders

On November 26, Huawei hosted its Mate brand product launch, where the company officially unveiled the MAEXTRO S800, an ultra-high-end electric sedan developed by the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance in collaboration with JAC Group.

Automotive chip supplier SENASIC completes D+ financing round

Chinese automotive chip design company SENASIC recently announced the successful completion of its D+ round financing. The round, finalized in July and November 2024, will fuel SENASIC's ongoing technology upgrades.

DEEPAL S07 secures 60,171 units of orders in four months on market

DEEPAL, Changan Automobile's new energy vehicle brand, announced on November 25 that it has received 60,171 units of orders for the S07 model since its official market launch four months ago.

Baidu said to begin Robotaxi trial operations in Hong Kong

Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing (Robotaxi) platform, Apollo Go, is set to launch trial operations in Hong Kong, with initial testing at the airport expected to start by the end of 2024, according to a report by Hong Kong-based TVB News.

Hesai Technology boasts 21.1% YoY jump in Q3 2024 revenue

On November 26, LiDAR tech company Hesai Technology released its unaudited financial results for the third quarter (Q3) of 2024, reporting revenue of 540 million yuan, representing a 21.1% year-on-year jump.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On November 25, marking NIO's 10th anniversary, the company's founder, chairman, and CEO, William Bin Li, addressed all employees with an internal letter titled "Stay True, Focus on Action" (title in translation).

In the letter, he underscored the critical importance of the next two years for NIO's growth, emphasizing that achieving profitability by 2026 hinges on doubling sales in 2024, launching competitive new products, and continuously improving operational efficiency.

Reflecting on the past decade, Mr. Li highlighted NIO's milestones in technology, market performance, energy replenishment infrastructure, and user-centric philosophy.

Photo credit: NIO

To be specific, the company has developed 12 full-stack technology systems, filed over 9,300 patents, and captured more than 40% of the market share in China's premium pure electric vehicle segment for cars priced above 300,000 yuan. NIO has also built 2,750 battery swap stations and over 24,200 charging piles across China and Europe, while cultivating a global user community of over 620,000 based on its user-centric philosophy.

Mr. Li noted that the smart electric vehicle industry is now in its most intense and unforgiving phase of competition, predicting that only a few exceptional companies will survive the next two to three years. Despite navigating multiple crises over the past decade, he warned that the challenges ahead demand higher levels of competitiveness, with no room for weaknesses or quick victories.

To address these challenges, Li called on employees to remain committed to NIO's mission and focus on effective execution.

The company recently reported total revenues of 18,673.5 million yuan (US$2,661.0 million) for the third quarter (Q3) of 2024, a slight decline of 2.1% compared to the same period in 2023 but a 7% increase over the previous quarter. Vehicle sales contributed 16,697.6 million yuan (US$2,379.4 million), down 4.1% year-on-year but up 6.5% quarter-on-quarter.

NIO delivered 61,855 vehicles in Q3 2024, comprising 61,023 units from its premium brand NIO and 832 units from its family-focused ONVO brand. This marks an 11.6% increase from the same period in 2023 and a 7.8% rise from the previous quarter.

Gross profit for the quarter stood at 2,007.4 million yuan (US$286.0 million), reflecting a robust 31.8% year-on-year jump and an 18.9% rise from the second quarter (Q2of 2024. In the same period, gross margin improved to 10.7%, up from 8% for the year-ago period and 9.7% from the previous quarter. The company attributed this improvement to increased vehicle margins and higher sales of parts, accessories, and after-sales services, which carry relatively higher margins.

The vehicle margin also rose to 13.1% in Q3 2024, compared to 11% in Q3 2023 and 12.2% in Q2 2024. This year-on-year growth was driven by reduced material costs per unit, although partially offset by a lower average selling price due to product mix adjustments.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On November 25, Hyundai Motor Company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with local government of China's Guangzhou city and South Korea's Ulsan city on promoting the cooperation in hydrogen industry.

The partnership aims to establish an effective mechanism for hydrogen energy collaboration, leveraging Guangzhou and Ulsan's roles as leading cities in hydrogen development alongside Hyundai Motor's expertise in advancing the global transition to a hydrogen-based society.

At the signing ceremony, Hyundai Motor Company CEO Jaehoon Chang stated, "Hyundai Motor's first mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell vehicle has been produced at our Ulsan factory. Together with Ulsan, we have been advancing hydrogen infrastructure and promoting diverse hydrogen mobility solutions to build a world-class hydrogen city."

Photo credit: Hyundai Motor Company

Under the MoU, Hyundai Motor, Guangzhou, and Ulsan will jointly promote diverse hydrogen industry initiatives, including organizing hydrogen energy exchanges and seminars, sharing exemplary practices, and exploring collaboration models. The parties will also identify pilot projects covering the full hydrogen lifecycleproduction, distribution, and applicationand conduct joint R&D initiatives to enhance hydrogen technology competitiveness. A regular liaison mechanism will be established to ensure the realization of substantive cooperative outcomes.

Hyundai Motor plans to utilize this collaboration framework to actively support hydrogen projects in Guangzhou and Ulsan, consolidating the two cities' leadership as pioneers in the hydrogen energy sector. Notably, Ulsan aims to deploy a variety of hydrogen mobility solutions envisioned in its development plans in Guangzhou.

To accelerate its global hydrogen strategy and establish a foothold in China's hydrogen market, Hyundai Motor launched its first overseas hydrogen fuel cell system production base, HTWO Guangzhou, in 2023. Located in Guangzhou's Huangpu District, HTWO Guangzhou has already deployed nearly 500 sets of hydrogen fuel cell system in vehicles such as 4.5-tonne logistics trucks and sanitation vehicles. The facility plans to provide over 1,000-set systems by 2025, further strengthening Hyundai's leadership in Guangdong Province's hydrogen sector.

On November 12 this year, Hyundai Motor and Ulsan had also signed an agreement to enhance the hydrogen value chain. This includes a demonstration project for hydrogen-powered tractor-trailers set to launch by 2025, as well as expanding hydrogen applications to ships, trams, power generation, and forklifts in South Korea.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On November 22, Changan Automobile, CATL, and CATL's subsidiary CAES held a signing ceremony in Chongqing to formalize their tripartite cooperation on battery-swapping projects. The event marked the simultaneous market launch of Changan's Oshan 520 model, the first vehicle equipped with CATL's new-generation Choco-SEB (swapping electric block ) technology, and the corresponding Choco-SEB battery swap stations.

Photo credit: CATL

On the same day, CAES signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with Sinopec's Chongqing branch, agreeing to collaborate extensively on the construction and operation of battery swap stations, market expansion, and brand promotion.

CATL stated that this partnership represents a synergy of strengths between Changan Automobile and CATL in the battery swapping sector. Together, they aim to establish a safe, reliable, efficient, and eco-friendly ecosystem for electric vehicle battery swapping, enhancing the energy replenishment experience and advancing pure electric mobility.

During the event, representatives from Chongqing's taxi and ride-hailing companies observed a live demonstration of the battery swap process, which enables a fully charged battery in just two minutes, supporting a driving range of up to 500 kilometers.

Changan Automobile said the Oshan 520 addresses common concerns of EV usersrange anxiety, charging time, and overall coststhrough features like "one-click battery swapping" and "battery-car separation." The battery-swapping technology allows for refueling speeds comparable to gasoline vehicles, saving drivers more than two hours of charging time per day. The "battery-car separation" model treats the battery as a shared asset, enabling users to swap or recharge batteries independently. This model reduces both purchase costs and insurance premiums for users.

The Choco-SEB battery swap stations, developed by CATL, leverage the company's technical expertise and industrial resources. In addition to high-quality, standardized battery modules, the stations offer an innovative swapping service designed for seamless and efficient operations. It will support the Oshan 520 vehicle model in energy replenishment.


China plays a significant role in global poverty alleviation through its development model and international partnerships, said an Indonesia-based expert. #GLOBALink
AMSTERDAM, The NetherlandsSatisfyer on Tuesday announced it has joined forces with Dutch authorities to strike a major blow against counterfeiters. The operation, conducted in collaboration with law enforcement, resulted in the dismantling of an illegal operation selling fake Satisfyer productsincluding the Pro 2 and Penguin modelsthrough major online marketplaces like Bol.com.

The raid led to the arrest of a suspect with alleged ties to organized crime. This swift action follows an urgent court ruling and is part of Satisfyers global anti-counterfeiting strategy aimed at safeguarding its brand and protecting consumers.

Authorities uncovered a substantial number of counterfeit products during the operation, the company said. The suspect is reportedly linked to several criminal enterprises, including connections to the notorious MocroMafia and bombings last year, highlighting the broader risks associated with counterfeit goods, according to Satisfyer.

Satisfyer said this operation underscores its commitment to its customers and its dedication to maintaining its reputation as a global leader in sexual wellness. Counterfeit products not only undermine the brands integrity but also pose serious risks to consumer safety due to unregulated manufacturing standards.

Satisfyer is relentless in its pursuit of counterfeiters, said Sven Pelka, managing director of Triple A/EIS/Satisfyer. The integrity of our brand and the safety of our customers are non-negotiable. We take these matters very seriously and will continue to collaborate with law enforcement globally to ensure our products remain trustworthy and safe.

Satisfyer indicated it is committed to supporting authorities across the world with key information and resources to protect consumer safety and ensure fair competition.

The company also urges consumers to purchase only from authorized retailers to ensure product authenticity and safety. The brand also calls on partners, marketplaces, and retailers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to help combat counterfeiting at all levels.

For more information about Satisfyers actions to combat counterfeiting and protect consumer rights, contact [email protected].
Saurav Pandey

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Vaishnavi Gavankar

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Anupamaa makers to give Rs 10 Lakh compensation to family of crew member who died on set

M Snehanjali

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala to get married on December 4, couple to follow 8-hour traditional Telugu rituals

Vaishnavi Gavankar

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Ravi Kishan says he is unhappy with current state of Bhojpuri industry, blames juniors for spoiling Bhojpuri cinema's reputation

Vaishnavi Gavankar

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Samantha Ruth Prabhu on repurposing her wedding gown after divorce with Naga Chaitanya: Initially it hurt, it wasn't revenge

Vaishnavi Gavankar

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
M Snehanjali

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Vir Das reflects on hosting the 2024 International Emmy Awards, says, It Went Well

101Reporters

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
When Mamta Kulkarni and her secretary allegedly physically threatened Ameesha Patel and Ameesha's mother yelled at them saying 'Dont you dare to touch my daughter'

Vaishnavi Gavankar

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Amrut Distilleries dedicates its first city-specific single malt to Kolkata; City of Joy to cost Rs 5,680 for 750 ml

Moneycontrol Features

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Swarali Bodas

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Arunachal Pradesh emerges as hydropower hub with projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore in the pipeline

Sweta Goswami

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 13 years.

Deblina Halder

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Namrata Agarwal

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
India to have 270 million 5G subscribers by year-end, says Ericsson

Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 13 years.

Charu Gupta

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
C2C Advanced SME IPO: You can withdraw your application by 3 pm on Nov 28 post-SEBI action; here's how

Paras Bisht

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Paras Bisht

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
NTPC Green Energy IPO allottees may see muted listing gains on Wednesday; analysts see 'opportunity for long-term investors'

Paras Bisht

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Sunil Matkar

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Bill Ackman says Trump's tariff threat needs to be 'properly understood', markets 'should be up not down'

Rohit Singh

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Shaleen Agrawal

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Zoya Springwala

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Vaibhavi Ranjan

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Neeshita Beura

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Rohit Singh

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Veer Sharma

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Parliament may clear bill to raise insurance FDI limit to 100%, allow composite licences

Rohit Singh

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Asha Menon

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Is BJP's thumping Maharashtra win the elixir that PSUs needed? Astral, Dixon Tech in focus

Vaibhavi Ranjan

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Vedanta lines up $2 billion for fresh copper projects in Saudi Arabia under Kingdom's 'Vision 2030'

Rohit Singh

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years.

Adrija Chatterjee

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Shiladitya Pandit

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
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

Naina Sood

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
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

Arun Padmanabhan

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Rakesh Patil

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
5,500 kg of Methamphetamine seized from trawler near Andamans is biggest drug haul by ICG: Official

101Reporters

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Smriti Mishra

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Bangladesh: ISKCON demands immediate release of Chinmoy Krishna Das, says organisation has nothing to do with terrorism'

Surabhi Pandey

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Sonalee Borgohain

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Bengaluru becomes Indias third busiest airport by international traffic, surpasses Chennai and Kochi in October

Christin Mathew Philip

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
November 26, 2024 / 21:46 IST

At least one person was killed in Bangladesh in clashes between security forces and Hindus protesting against the arrest of a religious leader, police said, even as neighbouring India urged that the safety of Hindus and minorities be ensured.

Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu leader associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), was arrested from Dhaka airport on Monday on several charges, including sedition.

His arrest sparked protests by his supporters in both the capital Dhaka and Chittagong city.

"A Muslim lawyer defending Das was killed amid protests outside the court (in Chittagong)," said police officer Liaquat Ali.

A probe has been ordered into the alleged killing, the caretaker government said in a statement, adding that Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus had directed law enforcement agencies to step up security in the port city.

"The interim government is committed to ensuring and upholding communal harmony in Bangladesh at any cost," the government said.
Arindam Roy

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Constitution Day 2024: From Presidents Parliament address to Centres year-long campaign, heres how India is celebrating Samvidhan Diwas

Priyanjali Ghose

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Deep depression over Bay of Bengal set to intensify into cyclone 'Fengal'. How the cyclone was named

Sonalee Borgohain

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
'Don't assemble' : Eknath Shinde urges supporters not to assemble at his residence 'Varsha' over CM post

101Reporters

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
End Of The Line: Bengaluru suburban rail's Whitefield-Kengeri corridor likely to be scrapped

Christin Mathew Philip is an Assistant editor at moneycontrol.com. Based in Bengaluru, he writes on mobility, infrastructure and start-ups. He is a Ramnath Goenka excellence in journalism awardee. You can find him on Twitter here: twitter.com/ChristinMP_

Christin Mathew Philip

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
On November 25, the "Opportunities in China: International Communication Event of High-Quality Development of Anhui for Diplomatic Envoys in China," co-hosted by the Publicity Department of the Anhui Provincial Party Committee, the Anhui Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, and CRI Online, took place at the Fuyang Museum. Seven diplomatic envoys from countries including Ethiopia, Gambia, Czech Republic, Greece, Togo, Spain, and Uruguay gained a deep understanding of Fuyang's rich historical culture and brilliant civilizational achievements.

During the visit, the envoys expressed strong interest and high praise for the collections and exhibitions at the Fuyang Museum.

The diplomatic envoys remarked that the exhibits at the Fuyang Museum were incredibly rich, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of Fuyang's history and culture.

As the first stop of this event, the Fuyang Museum provided the envoys with a platform to experience the cultural heritage of cities along the Huaihe River in China, marking a wonderful beginning for their visit to Anhui.





Source: CRI.cn
Kundarki bypoll result: How BJP wooed Akhilesh Yadavs 'PDA' to pull off UP miracle

Parimal Peeyush

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Deblina Halder

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Only 9 cities get a relief in good air quality, but large parts of India gasp for breaths

Ishaan Gera

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Constitution is the guide of our present and future: PM Modi calls for Nation First spirit at Supreme Court event

Smriti Mishra

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
President's Rule unlikely to be imposed in Maharashtra, Shinde could be caretaker CM

J. Kumar is an author, journalist and a political commentator based in in Mumbai who writes on crime and Maharashtra politics. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.

Swarali Bodas

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Surabhi Pandey

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
101Reporters

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Sambhal violence decoded: 16th century mosque, 4 deaths and a curfew  What we know so far

Parimal Peeyush

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Siddharth Chakravorty

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Waqf Bill explained: What is it, what changes does it propose and why is there controversy around it?

Parimal Peeyush

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
In this editing of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: Indian banks gearing for change in new year, how the trading cycle will fare in 2024...

Nov 26, 2024 / 01:46 PM ISTAll Rights Reserved. FT and Financial Times are trademarks of the Financial Times Limited Not to be redistributed, copied or modified in any way.

How Shanghais ambition to be the future of finance fell apart

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Javier Blas is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering energy and commodities. He previously was commodities editor at the Financial Times and is the coauthor of "The World for Sale: Money, Power, and the Traders Who Barter the Earths Resources."

Namrata Agarwal

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
11-year-old Hyderabad boy dies of choking after trying to eat more than 3 pooris together

Ankita Sengupta

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
6 Delhi men rob shopkeeper of Rs 50,000. They wanted to see snowfall in hills but had no money

Ankita Sengupta

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Ankita Sengupta

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Employee drags China company to court after getting fired for napping at desk, wins Rs 41 lakh

Shubhi Mishra

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Man, 70, suffers insomnia, depression for 32 years after boss 'wrongly' punished him, leading to Parkinson's

Stella Dey

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Stella Dey

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Woman dumped ex-boyfriend's Rs 5,900 crore Bitcoin fortune in trash in 2009. What he is doing now

Stella Dey

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Chapter 4 Guo Jingjun

It was just after dark. Inside ShunAns front office, Jianyou and Little Fei stood behind a counter. There were no customers. Little Fei, twenty years old, was a chubby and short girl with short hair. She picked up a Coca-Cola bottle and found it was empty after just one sip. With pursed-up lips, she mourned Just one sip, its all gone.

Jianyou was two meters away, and a head taller than her. He turned his head away from his cellphone screen. Want me to get you another one? he asked.

Little Fei flashed a coy smile, with her eyes narrowed into slits. There is no need. Thank you though!

He walked toward her. Can I take a look at your cellphone? I may get the same one too. Little Fei had just bought a new cellphone. She reluctantly gave him her phone. He took the cellphone and opened a website about Lin Biao, and started browsing.

* * * * *

A middle aged man with a handsome and clean face walked in. Little Fei greeted him. How are you? Want to rent a car?

The man had big and piercing eyes. He asked What kind of cars do you have?

Little Fei pulled Jianyous hand and said What kinds of cars do we have?

Jianyou was looking at the cellphone screen, and didnt want to move away from that. The man said to Little Fei You work here. How can you not know the types of cars you have?

Little Fei was not happy. She picked up the Coca-Cola bottle, and was about to drink from it. Oblivious to Little Fei sad face, the man continued. You are already overweight. If you keep drinking Coca-Cola, wont you gain more weight?

Little Fei felt deeply humiliated. And it was in front of Jianyou, of all people! With tears in her eyes, she shook Jianyous hand and was speechless.

Jianyou was indignant. Whats wrong with you? What does her weight have to do with you? The man pointed at Jianyou. Look at you. Also fat. Why dont you control your appetite?

Jianyou pointed his finger at the man. You, you  . Seeing the angry Jianyou becoming speechless, Little Fei was disappointed and cried. Covering her face with both hands, she hurried toward the break room in the back. Jianyou was about to follow her when a male voice came: This is an SKS fully automatic rifle, made in Romania in 1960. Older than me. The voice came from the cellphone in Jianyous hand. The man immediately said, That is Ho Renyi.

Little Fei hurried back, and tried to take her cellphone from Jianyou. But Jianyou held it firm. He begged Please let me have it a little longer. I will return it shortly. Jianyou didnt comfort her. Furthermore, he denied her request, which made Little Fei even sadder. She covered her face, and hurried toward the break room again.

Jianyou moved two steps toward Little Fei, and then stopped. He turned around and asked the man, Do you know the person in the video?

Jianyou showed the cellphone screen to the man. Jianyou clicked on a flower picture on the screen. The flower turned out to be a video. As the video zoomed out, one could see the flower was in the muzzle of a pistol on a table. Other pistols and rifles were on the table as well. Ho Renyi, in his black leather jacket, appeared in the video. The man smiled.

That was him, around ten years ago.

He is in the U.S. Do you know him? Jianyou asked.

His home is in California. But he lives in Wuhan now.

Whats his name?

The man didnt answer. Instead, he asked Whats the website?

Friends of Lin Biao.

The man laughed. He has been trying to overturn the resolution on Lin Biao for years.

Jianyou was overjoyed. Where is he? Can you introduce me to him?

* - * - * - * - *

The mans name was Guo Jingjun. His given name Jingjun literally means strong army in Chinese. He came to rent a car for a family outing. Jingjun and Yongshi were classmates in elementary school. Jingjuns mother was a middle school teacher before her retirement, and a good friend of Yongshis mother. As a result, Jingjun and Renyi were friends for many years.

Jianyou introduced himself as Lin Biaos grandnephew. Jingjun called Renyi, who was very excited about meeting Lin Biaos relative. Half an hour later, Renyi came to ShunAns front office. Jianhan also came to the front office. As longtime members of the Friends of Lin Biao website, they had a lot to say to one another. Jingjun left after he rented a car. Jianhan, Jianyou and Renyi walked to the managers office in the back.

* * * * *

Jianhan told Renyi about the encounter with Li Wenpu. Renyi said, Li may have only limited information. Did you approach Zeng Dequan?

He is under house arrest inside the Hubei Province Army Base. He lives inside a compound with its own guard post. I could not see him.

That means there are things which he is not allowed to say. He could be the person in Lin Biaos inner circle who also had a secret channel to Mao.

Yes, Jianyou agreed.

Jianhan said, Maybe he was the first person in the Joint Fleet who called Mao a tyrant. Once someone said that word, everyone present would have committed the current anti-revolution crime if he didnt report. Not surprisingly, historical anti-revolution was also a crime in those years .

Renyi said, If Lin Liguo felt someone were going to report, getting out of China would be his only option.

Renyi continued, Maybe Zeng Dequan called Lin Liguo on September 12, informing him that Maos train arrived at Beijing at 2 PM from Shanghai.

Thats right. Maybe Ze Dequan informed Lin Liguo, that the head of the Central Guard Regiment had a battalion of troops with him on a train to BeiDaiHe, and they would arrest Lin Biao the next day, said Jianhan.

Renyi said, It may not be Zeng Dequan. But someone leaked Maos whereabouts to Lin Liguo, and made him very nervous.

At that moment, Jianhan and Jianyou felt that they had found a kindred spirit. Renyi felt the same way.

Renyi said, Jingjuns parents live inside the Hubei Army Base. He must have ways to approach Zeng.

Jianhan was excited. What kind of person is his father?

His father was an officer handling logistics in the Army Base for many years. He is retired now.

Jianyou said Thats great! Lets talk to Jingjun. This time, we must see Zeng!

We will combine our forces in the investigation. said Renyi.

Jianhan stood up. Yes! We must uncover the truth behind the tragedy.

Renyi had plans to interview Lin Biaos relatives. He had never expected to find Jianhan and Jianyou one week after arriving in China. It was worth the trip!

* * * * *

After arriving in China, Renyi first went to his hometown, and spent time with his parents. Then he went to Wuhan, and visited his in-laws. Renyi lived in an apartment owned by Song Huimin in Wuchang, one of the three boroughs of Wuhan, which was vacant before his arrival.

Inside his apartment, Renyi spoke to Jingjun about paying a visit to Zeng over the phone. The two discussed the details the next day. In the evening, Renyi arrived at Jianhans office again.

Jingjun said Zeng lives inside a walled quarter in the base. The quarter has its own guard post. Jingjun can bring you inside the base. But he cant get you inside that quarter. Renyi explained carefully.

Jianhan said, Can you ask him to come here now? There has to be a way.

An hour later, Jingjun showed up in the room. Jianyou asked, What does the quarter look like?

Jianhan asked Can you draw a map of the quarter? Jianhan gave Jingjun a piece of paper and a pen.

Jingjun saw a map on the table. He picked it up, and looked at it closely. Whats this?

Jianhan said Its a diagram of the flight path of airplane 256  Lin Biaos plane. Renyi brought it here. It shows that the plane used three minutes to make a thirty degree turn.

Figure 2, Flight path of airplane 256 in the early morning of September 13, 1971

Notes from right to left: Take off direction 244, Turning 30 degrees took 3 minutes, Flew West for 4 minutes, Turning 40 degrees took 3 to 4 minutes, Adjusted direction to 325.

Jingjun asked, What would be the normal time?

Jianyou said, Thirty seconds at the most.

Pan Jingyin, the pilot, used three minutes instead of thirty seconds, to make the turn. Why? Jianhan raised the question to Jingjun.

Jingjun thought about it. Lin Liguo ordered Pan to make a turn, and Pan was reluctant to do it?

If Pan were ordered to make the turn, he could disobey, or obey with a normal speed turn. said Jianyou.

Jianhan said, We think Pan made the turn quietly, so that nobody onboard noticed the turn. Jingjun could not think of a different scenario, and turned to Renyi. What do you think?

I agree, said Renyi firmly.

It is a strange turn. said Jingjun.

Jianhan pushed the blank paper toward Jingjun. Jingjun drew a diagram of the quarter and the building in which Zeng lived.

Figure, Zeng Dequans residence inside the quarter

The words on the left mean On the first floor. The word on the right means Guard post.

Jianyou told Jingjun: Why dont you get two sets of army uniforms? We will enter the quarter in uniform.

Jingjun said When the guard inquires you about your purpose, what will you say?

Jianyou had no answer.

Jianhan said Thats right. We have to have an answer to that question.

The room was quiet. Everyone was thinking.

* - * - * - * - *

On Saturday, the four men gathered again inside Jianhans apartment, which was on the fifth floor, the top floor. All apartment buildings in the nearby area were old with five or six stories. Renyi and Jingjun sat on a sofa in the living room. Jianhan and Jianyou sat on two stools.

Jianyou said, Among the Joint Fleet members, Zhou Yuchi, deputy chief of Air Force Headquarters Office; Yu Xinye, director of the Air Force Headquarters Office, and Liu Peifeng, director of the Air Force Party Committee Office. These three died on September 13. I dont think any of them had a back channel to Mao.

Jingjun said, Li Weixin. He looked the most suspicious.

* * * * *

Apartment door opened. A young pretty woman with a ponytail entered. Wearing a round-neck cashmere sweater and tight jeans, she was neatly dressed for a weekend. The four men stood up. Jianhan walked to her side, grinning cheerfully.

This is my girlfriend, Yang Hongmei. Hongmei, this is Ho Renyi  Doctor Ho  from America. And this is Guo Jingjun.

Jingjun said, I heard you are an accountant in Wuhans Municipal Audit Bureau.

Yes.

You calculate carefully how much investment is put into and how much the return is every day. Right?

Yes. So what? Hongmei smiled with her head held high. Hongmei literally means red plum. Her smile was as sweet as red plum.

Jianhan is writing a Lin Biao biography. Tell me, whats the rate of return?

She glanced at Jianhan and shrugged. I dont know.

I invested two years of spare time. The return is zero, Jianhan said in a self-deprecating tone.

Jingjun appeared very surprised. After two years, the return is still zero? He then turned to Hongmei and asked, Is he value stock, or junk stock?

Everybody laughed.

She said Risky stock.

Jingjun pointed at Jianhan and exclaimed, Oh my God! You are junk stock.

Thats not what I said! protested Hongmei.

Jianhan pulled wrapped his arm around her waist. Then she stepped forward and poked Jingjuns nose with a finger.

Sowing discord between us, arent you? What is your intention?

Jingjun rubbed his nose and said, Wow! This girl is violent!

Everyone laughed again.

Hongmei saw a couple of books on the table. She was amazed because the books dont look like they were published inside China. What are these books?

Renyi said This is Wu Faxians autobiography in two volumes, published in Hong Kong.

You brought them here?

Renyi nodded.

Why do these people go to Hong Kong to publish their books?

Because the books contain too much sensitive information. Said Jingjun.

Wu Faxians family members are inside China, right? Arent they afraid of being arrested?

Jianhan said, They are not arrested. Furthermore, Wu Faxian has a daughter who lives in America. Arresting someone in America? Impossible.

These people are fearless. She sighed. So, what were you guys talking about?

Jianhan immediately said, Just some random topics, unimportant stuff.

Dont want me to know? asked Hongmei. She obviously sensed something.

We talked about some boring stuff. As an old saying goes, stale sesame, rotten millet.

The other men nodded in agreement.

Book Site: American Fugitive, a novel
'Bullet will be responded with bullet': Pakistan issues shoot-at-sight orders as Imran Khan supporters breach lockdown

Deblina Halder

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Israel poised to approve ceasefire with Hezbollah, Israeli official says

101Reporters

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Huawei plans to drop Android entirely in gadgets from 2025

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

Arindam Roy

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 13 years.

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

Danish Khan

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
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

Reshab Shaw

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Nokia phone maker HMD shifting manufacturing hub from China to India, urges suppliers to follow in

Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 13 years.

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

Danish Khan

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Police said they arrested three people following a demonstration that began late afternoon Friday, which included two car fires and left some businesses with smashed windows.

Smashed a CIBC window on Saint-Urbain ( Alan Sukonnik, CityNews)

Around 600 protestors gathered at Place des Arts at 6 PM and by 6:30 PM a masked protester smashed a CIBC window on Saint-Urbain, followed by others breaking more windows.

The Montreal police issued warnings, but violence continued as the crowd partially dispersed. When the protesters reached the Palais des congres, where the NATO meeting was being held, they sprayed paint and smashed windows.

Two parked cars were also set ablaze. Police deployed irritant gas to disperse the crowd. Three individuals were arrested for assaulting officers and obstruction. The demonstration ended around 8 p.m.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reacted on Twitter the following morning by writing:

They said they arrested a 22-year-old woman for obstructing police work and assaulting a police officer, as well as two men, 22 and 28, both for obstructing police work. All three were released and will appear in court at a later date.

Montreal police said that during the march, smoke bombs were deployed, metal barriers were thrown into the street and windows of businesses and at the convention centre were smashed.

Aftermath of NATO protest. (Alan Sukonnik, CityNews)

The protest was organized by the groups Divest for Palestine and the Convergence of Anti-Capitalist Struggles.

Benoit Allard, a member of Divest for Palestine, said he and several other protesters were injured by police and at least four protesters had to go to hospital.

He said the purpose of the protest was to demonstrate against what he called NATOs complicity with Israels military while its conducting its genocide in Gaza,  war crimes in Lebanon, Syria and its enforcing illegal occupation of Palestinian territories.

Speaking to reporters at the Halifax International Security Forum on Saturday morning, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and Defence Minister Bill Blair said the actions of the protesters were unacceptable.

What we saw was not peaceful protest. What we saw was actually violence, hate and antisemitism, and this has no place on our streets, Joly said.

Of course, we believe in the freedom of speech, we believe in the freedom to demonstrate, but where we draw the line is when theres violence.

Blair added the demonstration was nothing like lawful, peaceful protests. Instead, he called the demonstrations an act of anarchy by a mob.

It was engagement in violence and hatred on display in the City of Montreal, Blair said.

Those behaviours are unacceptable and we can condemn them, and in particular the hatred and antisemitism that was on display, in the strongest possible terms.

However, Allard rejected accusations of antisemitism. He said the protests were against the actions of the state of Israel and not Jewish people and added that earlier this week the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On Thursday, the court said in a news release that there were reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu committed the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.

Delegates from NATO member states and partner countries are in Montreal this weekend to discuss issues including support for Ukraine, climate change and the future of the alliance.

Police spokesperson Manuel Couture said the demonstrators were completely dispersed at around 7 p.m.

More anti-NATO protests are planned for Saturday and Sunday in Montreal. Saturdays event is organized by Mouvement Quebecois pour la paix. On its website, the group says it fights for peace and against imperialism, and says that NATO has contributed to global conflicts.

 With files from Sammy Hudes in Toronto.

 With files from Erin Seize in Montreal.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 23, 2024.
Sacramento, CA Dr. Steven Choi, R-Irvine, defeated an incumbent Democrat in the general election, marking the first time since 1980 that a California Senate Republican has unseated a Democrat in a presidential general election. Senate Republicans also celebrated gains, including a women-majority caucus.

Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) hailed the gains as evidence of a shift in voter sentiment.

As Californians grow increasingly frustrated with the failures of Democrat leadership, they are shifting toward Republican solutions, Jones said. Senate Republicans are not only growing in numbers but also in diversity. Heading into 2025, were proud to expand our caucus to 10 members, up from eight just one year ago. With this strengthened team, well continue fighting to deliver real results and fix California.

The expanded Republican caucus now includes six women, three of whom are Latinaa first for the state.

The 10-member Senate Republican Caucus now includes Jones, Ochoa Bogh, Valladares, Dahle, Choi, and returning members Marie Alvarado-Gil, R-Jackson; Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield; Janet Nguyen, R-Huntington Beach; Roger Niello, R-Fair Oaks; and Kelly Seyarto, R-Murrieta. Republicans say their growing diversity and leadership will drive efforts to tackle Californias most pressing issues.
House Speaker Mike Johnson View Photo

House Speaker Mike Johnson said that a Republican-led government will secure the border and prevent the largest tax hike in US history.

Johnson was Tuesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words.

On securing the border on day one:

Heres what the plan entails: Its securing the border right out of the gates. This is what the American people have demanded and what they deserve. They want a secure country. They want a secure border, and we will deliver upon that. Thats what the mandate of the election was all about. We know how to do that. We have legislation that we passed in the previous Congress, in this Congress, HR 2, that would be the most secure border legislation ever passed. But President Trump, I suspect, will use his executive authorities beginning on day one and we will come behind with legislation, and we will make sure we have a sovereign, safe and secure nation. Again, thats what we have to deliver.

On preserving the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and energizing the American economy:

We have lots of legislation already planned, and he has action from the White House already planned, to bring down the cost of living. How? By, well, incentivizing American companies to invest here again and grow jobs, to create more jobs for more people. We have to make sure early in this new Congress, that we make certain the American people dont experience the highest tax increase in U.S. history when the provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would expire. So thatll be top of the agenda as well.

And then reducing the reckless levels of spending that Biden and Harris perpetuated for four years. We can turn this around, reduce the size and scope of government, make it work more efficiently and effectively for the American people. I was on a plane last night coming back from the UFC fight with the President and Elon Musk and many others, and Elon and I were talking about ideas to make government work more efficiently. There are exciting things on the table Jake, and I think the people are going to be very pleased with what comes out.

On President Trumps cabinet selections:

This is what Ill say about the nominees that the President has put forward, is that they are persons who will shake up the status quo. And I think what the American people have believed, and what theyve delivered with the mandate in this election, is they demand that we shake up the status quo. Its not working for the American people. So, you used the term in the opening about how these are disruptors. They are, I think thats by design.

Any president has the right to name their own cabinet, to nominate persons that they think will fulfill their agenda. And the people that are on this list will do that. They will go into the agencies that theyre being asked to lead, and they will reform them. These agencies need reform, and I think the vast majority of American people understand that. You cant have status quo appointments in a moment like this.

On government funding and the need to rein in federal spending:

Its getting more and more difficult to get all those bills done. Heres the reason why: the House has done its work, the Senate has not. Chuck Schumer is still the Democrat leader there in the Senate and he has refused to put a single appropriations bill on the floor. Thats not how the process is supposed to work, so its broken down in that regard. Were running out of clock. December 20th is the deadline. Were still hopeful that we might be able to get that done, but if not, well have a temporary measure, I think, that would go into the first part of next year and allow us the necessary time to get this done. And I think that would be ultimately a good move because the country would benefit from it, because then youd have Republican control. And wed have a little more say in what those spending bills are.

But the new reform agenda begins in earnest as soon as President Donald J. Trump takes the office in January. And we have a full agenda to run. Its going to be a very aggressive first one hundred days of the new Congress. And weve been getting all the members of Congress ready for that. The House has been preparing for this for almost a year. And now the Senate under its new leadership, leader-elect Thune, he and I met this week. We talked about this aggressive agenda, and he told me he is ready to go and deliver on those America first policy. Itll be a very busy time for Congress and a good time for the country.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the western slopes of the northern Sierra Nevada until 4 AM Wednesday. Additionally, the Winter Storm Warning issued for Yosemite National Park (outside of the Valley floor), will stay effective until 4 PM Wednesday.

Periods of moderate to heavy snow is forecast above 7,000 feet through this afternoon, with lingering showers early Wednesday morning.

The snow levels are lowering from 5,000 to 6,000 feet, down to 4,000 to 5,000 feet throughout the day today.

Additional snow accumulations above the 7,000 foot elevation will range from four to thirty inches. The higher you go, the more the snow.

Winds will continue to gust as high as forty to fifty mph. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility.

Persons are urged to stay indoors until conditions improve. If you must go outside, dress in layers. Several layers of clothes will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat. Cover exposed skin to reduce your risk of frostbite or hypothermia. Gloves, a scarf, and a hat will keep you from losing your body heat.

Snow-covered roads, chain controls and travel delays are likely, which will result in very difficult travel at times above 5,500 feet. Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Travel could be very difficult to impossible. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.

Persons should delay all travel if possible. If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution and be prepared for sudden changes in visibility. Leave plenty of room between you and the motorist ahead of you, and allow extra time to reach your destination. Avoid sudden braking or acceleration, and be especially cautious on hills or when making turns. Make sure your car is winterized and in good working order.
Harare, Zimbabwe  A sixteen-year-old mother and her mother have been arrested and charged with human trafficking after selling the teenagers nine-month-old baby for a paltry US$180. The case, which unfolded in Harare, highlights the disturbing reality of illegal adoptions and the callous exploitation of vulnerable individuals within this shadowy underworld.

The teenager, whose name has been withheld but who used the alias Nobuhle Sibanda in the transaction, and her mother, Evelyn Zisengwe, conspired with Dion Tore, a suspected dealer in illegal adoptions, to sell the infant. The trio appeared in court yesterday facing human trafficking charges and were remanded in custody until Thursday for bail application.

The court heard that the plot began in January. Sibanda and Zisengwe allegedly connected with Tore via a WhatsApp group called Sora ne Miti. Zisengwe reportedly informed Tore that her daughter was pregnant and intended to have an abortion. Tore, claiming a history of miscarriages, expressed a desire to adopt the child.

Subsequently, Tore contacted the pregnant teenager, and they arranged a meeting on February 22nd. Tore facilitated an ultrasound scan, confirming the pregnancy was seven months and three weeks along and that the baby was a girl.

The trio then allegedly colluded with an unnamed nurse at Sally Mugabe Hospital to induce premature labour. Tore provided falsified personal details to Harare Hospital officials, posing as the expectant mother.

Sibanda gave birth prematurely on February 25th, and on March 5th, she handed the baby over to Tore at Harare Hospital. To cover their tracks, Tore fabricated a fake death certificate, claiming Sibandas baby had died shortly after birth.

Between May and August, Zisengwe received a total of US$180 from Tore, transferred via Ecocash. The trios arrest followed a tip-off to police in Murehwa.

This shocking case follows a similar incident in May where Pauline Maganga was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for selling her child.

Breaking News via Email

Related

Pin Share Share 0 Shares






The ongoing rescue operation at the abandoned Stilfontein gold mine in North West, South Africa, continues to unfold slowly, revealing a complex and dangerous situation deep underground.

The situation at the mine has been alarming since 18 August, when a total of 1,259 illegal miners have reportedly resurfaced. Among these, the majority871are from Mozambique, while 343 are from Zimbabwe.

The remaining miners include 33 from Lesotho, one from Malawi, and only ten are South Africans. Tragically, one body has been discovered, although its nationality and the time of death are still under investigation.

Wessels Morweng, the North West Community Safety and Transport Management MEC, provided insights into the operation aimed at assisting the miners. He revealed that the second phase of the operation took place over the weekend, employing advanced machinery and equipment, including cameras, to assess the mine shafts conditions. This involved gathering critical data about methane gas levels and the overall safety of the environment for the miners.

Morweng shared a concerning note received from underground, which indicated that approximately 500 illegal miners were still trapped, with around 300 suffering from illness and requesting additional food supplies. On Friday, a note from underground mentioned about 500 illegal miners, with 300 unwell, requesting more food, he said, highlighting the dire situation faced by those still below ground.

The emergence of the miners has been fraught with danger. Morweng reported that some who resurfaced claimed they had been held against their will by armed groups of illegal miners. On 23 November, a group of twelve illegal miners surfaced from the Margaret Shaft, comprising eleven Mozambicans and one Zimbabwean. The following day, another fourteen Mozambicans emerged from Shaft 10, which authorities had previously noted as being flooded. All miners were found to be wet, confirming the presence of water below.

On 25 November, twenty more illegal miners resurfaced at the Margaret Shaft, including fifteen from Lesotho, three from Mozambique, and two from Zimbabwe. This brings the total number of miners who have resurfaced in the last 24 hours to thirty-four, contributing to the fifty-five illegal miners who have emerged since the previous Monday.

General Patrick Asaneng, the North West Deputy Provincial Commissioner, provided updates on the situation. He confirmed that illegal miners still refusing to resurface from the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine had sent out another note requesting more food. We received a note from the illegal miners on Friday that there are approximately 500 illegal miners underground and 300 of them are unwell, Asaneng reported.

The response to the crisis has been structured into three phases. General Asaneng explained that the first phase, completed earlier in the week, involved clearing boulders and concrete slabs that had obstructed the shaft entrance. This precaution was vital to prevent any further hazards for the miners still underground.

The second phase, which concluded over the weekend, employed state-of-the-art equipment to assess the mines conditions. This assessment focused on the methane gas levels and the overall safety of the miners still trapped inside. Once all this data has been analysed, we will know when and how to begin with the third phase, Asaneng said, indicating that the final phase will be a delicate process aimed at ensuring the safe and humane resurfacing of all illegal miners.

According to police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, there are 10 heavily armed Lesotho nationals who are guarding these Zama Zamas and holding them hostage underground.

here are ten heavily armed Basotho nationals who are guarding them and making them dig for gold, she stated.

These guards are reportedly confiscating food and water supplies, forcing the miners to work for their basic needs.

Newzroom Afrika conducted interviews with some of the miners as they were being detained by police. One miner shared his harrowing experience, stating he had been underground since July 20.

I was approached in Diepsloot and told theres work for us here. I headed underground but the food ran out soon after my arrival and there was no money coming my way. I managed to escape and Im grateful to the police for helping us, he said.

His relief was palpable, but he expressed concern for those still trapped below. I hope they can also help others who are down there and facing hunger. Theres no food down there and people are being beaten. Its tough down there.

Another miner recounted his harrowing journey from Soweto, where he was coerced at gunpoint into joining the ranks of zama zamas underground. He revealed that supplies sent down in recent weeks had not reached most of the group, instead being seized by armed overseers.

They ration the supplies sent down and give us a cup of Mageu [fermented maize meal drink] each per day, he explained, painting a grim picture of life underground.

The police have consistently maintained that the miners are not trapped but are choosing not to resurface to avoid arrest. This stance was reinforced by a recent ruling from the Pretoria High Court, which dismissed an application from the Society for the Protection of our Constitution. This society sought to allow humanitarian aid and non-emergency personnel to descend into the 2km-deep shaft to assist the miners.

Breaking News via Email

Related

Pin Share Share 0 Shares






By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Bird Song of the Day

Northern Mockingbird, Antietam National Battlefield, Washington, Maryland, United States. Male Northern Mockingbird singing from roadside Eastern Red Cedar. This birds plumage was brownish rather than black  therefore the age is not known for certain. Seems like a rather accomplished singing for a HY bird. 12 minutes of mockingbird song! A good start to the week. Grab a cup of coffee! HY = Hatching Year.

Learn to tune into birdsong  respite and fascination await [David Logue, Psyche (AL)]. On a typical day, Im in the tropical forest long before dawn. I stand near a tree with a microphone, waiting for the bird that lives there to wake up and sing. When it finally does, I whisper bird into the microphone. Its a message to my future self that the bird on the recording is the one I meant to record. As the dawn chorus ramps up, I focus ever more on the sound of that bird. I whisper bird after each of its songs, like a monk reciting his mantra. All of my attention is on the Adelaides warbler, singing from the top of the tamarind tree; there is none left for extraneous thought. I feel like I belong in the present moment, with no desire to be or do anything else. That feeling remains with me long after I leave the field site Listening deeply to birdsong  that is, listening mindfully, with open attention  combines the benefits of mindfulness practice and those of listening to bird sounds. Heres how to get started.  A tree and the bird implies that every tree has its bird. Can that be true?

* * *

In Case You Might Miss

* * *

Politics

So many of the social reactions that strike us as psychological are in fact a rational management of symbolic capital. Pierre Bourdieu, Classification Struggles

* * *

Trump Assassination Attempts (Plural)

Trump Transition

Trump team barred from agencies amid legal standoff [Politico]. Advisers to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reached out to the Health and Human Services Department multiple times after Donald Trump tapped him to lead the massive agency, hoping to jumpstart coordination before his takeover in late January. They were rebuffed. Kennedys inability to communicate with the agency he may soon manage, confirmed by an administration official with knowledge of the episodes granted anonymity to describe internal deliberations, is just one consequence of the president-elects continued foot-dragging on signing the standard trio of ethics and transparency agreements with the federal government  something his team pledged to do shortly after the election.  Both the Trump transition and the White House confirmed to POLITICO that negotiations on the agreements are still underway. Watchdog groups, ethics experts and former government officials say the delay in coordination with federal agencies, which typically begins by mid-November, means the new administration wont be up to speed on the state of the career workforce and budget and what headaches may await them when Trump takes the oath of office on Jan. 20. The failure thus far to sign the memorandums has also troubled Biden officials, who are particularly concerned about the potential national security implications. Without the agreements in place, Trumps team cant access any non-public government data  depriving it of a full view of efforts the White House and federal agencies are taking to safeguard against a range of threats.  Part of me says that working only from public data would be a great idea, since otherwise youre owned by the people who own the secrets. Trump Locks Bathroom Door So Elon Musk Cant Follow Him In [The Onion].  The headline is better than the text. Nevertheless. * * * Sexual-Misconduct Allegations Sank One Trump Nominee and Loom Over Kennedy [Wall Street Journal]. Kennedy, President-elect Donald Trumps pick for Health and Human Services secretary, has been accused of sexual assault in the late 1990s by a woman who is willing to testify before the Senate. Kennedy has said he is not a church boy.' And: It seemed like he thought I was somebody else or wasnt paying attention, she wrote in her diary at the time, which she showed to the Journal. Like he would come to every once in a while and snap out of it or I would move away. Later in the journal entry she speculated whether he was testing her.  So, contemporaneous evidence (though in full Smileys People mode, I would want to authenticate that diary, down to the ink and paper, given the money, the stakes, and the players involved).

2024 Post Mortem

Deploy the Blame Cannons! Everyone is taking their skim: How Democratic consultants cashed in on Harris losing campaign [Salon]. A must-read. While most political strategists agree that some spending on paid media is necessary to win a campaign in 2024, Faiz Shakir, a senior advisor to Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., told Salon that the Harris campaigns spending profile is indicative of a structural issue with how the Democratic Party approaches paid media and political strategy. According to Shakir, Democratic strategists often see cutting a new 30-second ad as a sort of cure-all to a campaigns problems and a way for campaigns to address a weakness without re-evaluating the message or stances theyve taken. Theres no room you walk into in which saying we should run an ad sounds like bad advice, he said. The opportunity to make money off of the firm that has created 30-second ads and the person who has placed the ads is ripe for abuse because there are hundreds of millions of dollars going into it and everyone is taking their skim, Shakir said. Theres a huge escalation every step of the way because of a skim at every level.' Of the rentiers, by the rentiers, for the rentiers. More:  In some cases, Shakir said, even senior campaign staff will get a cut of ad spending.  Oh. More: Reviewing the ad spending from the Harris campaign, its clear that the bulk of the money was funneled through firms run or owned by Democratic Party insiders. Many of the FEC filings documenting payments from the Harris campaign to Media Buying and Analytics lump together media production and buying, meaning its impossible to distinguish how much the firm is being paid to create media for the campaign versus how much it is spending on air time and what sort of commission the firm is making on those ad buys. And: The core issue, as Shakir puts it, is that the party political operations are a closed loop with well-off consultants, politicians and donors all taking advice from each other with little outside input. We have a working-class problem in the Democratic Party and when you have wealthy consultants talking to wealthy donors who are all living in an elite bubble, it can become detached from what messages will resonate with people who arent in the elite bubble.'  Remember the Unity Reform Commission in 2016? Nothing has changed since this famous clip from Sanders supporter Nomiki Konst: This smells. It did eight years ago, and then stench is worse today. The difference that nobody back then was willing to name names, which this time around Shakir names the consultants; read the article. And how good it is to see a Sanders supporter putting the boot in. More like this, please. Mega-donor: Democratic overspending disqualifies Harris forever' [The Hill]. [Political mega-donor John Morgan] added that the reported $1.5 billion spent in four months is proof that Harris shouldnt run again. I think this disqualifies her forever, Morgan said. If you cant run a campaign, you cant run America. The same thing is going to follow Harris for the rest of her career. She cannot be trusted with the money, and the donors are going to be, like, Where is this money? he added. * * * One Election Takeaway: Voters Hate Temporary Safety Nets [Nathan Tankus, Notes on the Crises]. One theme I regularly took up was the fact that congress responded to the Coronavirus pandemic with a series of economic measures which were powerful, but time limited. These covered the gamut, but the most important were the expansions and extensions to unemployment insurance the direct economic payments (checks) and the extensions to Medicaid. These programs were important not because they provided fiscal stimulus, but because they underpinned households livelihoods at a difficult time and facilitated social distancing. My worry then was that having such large programs on a time limited basis created what I called fiscal cliffication. That means politics would increasingly revolve around large fights over what to do as big programs approached their expiration dates. And: [T]he pandemic greatly impacted the volatility of labor market income and, at the same time, the expansions of the social safety net  particularly unemployment insurance  greatly reduced the volatility of overall income. This is especially the case for the bottom 50% of households, who always have far more volatile incomes than the top 50% of households. The reason that households financial wellbeing improved significantly between 2019 and 2021 despite such a dramatically regressive depression is purely because of the pandemic safety net. Concluding: The last minute switchover to Harris was likely too short to dramatically change messages, or gain credibility as a change candidate in a change election In fact, its that Harris didnt even really try. This is understandable given the unusual circumstances, but it was electoral poison given that there is nothing like the rage of falling financially behind while being told the economy is going great .  This is a very interesting paper and well worth a read (coffee cup in hand). The thesis in the headline, though intuitively obvious, is not really proven by the paper, but that should be the easy part, considering the work that Tankus already did. * * * Democrats should stop mocking Trumps ground game and start learning from it [Astra Taylor, Guardian]. Trump succeeded, at least in part, because he is a man who will say anything and do anything to win. And of course he was boosted by conservative media  by Fox News talkshows, conspiratorial podcasts, manosphere influencers, deceptive deepfakes, targeted ads, and First Buddy Elon Musks transformation of Twitter into X. But he also won because he had a strong ground game, even if it occasionally blundered and often looked different from what observers and experts expected from a get-out-the vote drive, including its use of untraditional and micro-targeted strategies aimed at reaching low- and mid-propensity voters who didnt fit the usual Republican profile, including Latinos, Black men, and Asian and Arab Americans. When Democrats insist that Trump had no ground game, they ignore the right wings investment and presence in spaces that are not purely electoral and that engage people year-round, including groups like Libre, along with the evangelical churches and student groups that increasingly function as social clubs recruiting people to the Maga cause. As Tiffany Dena Loftin details in the new issue of the Black leftist magazine Hammer & Hope, the right wing has spent decades systematically attacking and defunding progressive student unions and networks and building up their conservative counterparts. And: The Trump campaign built on this model, providing its base with community and purpose and organizing them, in turn, to mobilize others to turn out and vote. Before joining Trumps team as campaign co-chair, Susie Wiles spent years working to lock down Florida for Republicans (shes since been named Trumps incoming chief of staff). Her tactics make people feel like an essential part of a group with a clear goal. Wiles piloted the 10 for Trump Iowa caucus program, which gave a subset of 2,000 volunteers the title of captain, a limited-edition gold-embroidered hat, and the goal of motivating 10 people in their precincts to turn out.  Susie Wiles is simply re-inventing the Precinct Captain, an age-old Democrat structure alert reader DCblogger often spoke of. And surprise, it works! * * * Please, no: Unburdened by what came before pic.twitter.com/KKCnF22vIe  Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) November 25, 2024 On what grounds would Kamala run again?

The #Resistance

This is the new progressive strategy for warring with Trump [Politico]. Progressive Democrats wrestling with how to navigate a second Donald Trump presidency are settling on a new approach: Take his populist, working-class proposals at his word  or at least pretend to. If he succeeds, they can take some credit for bringing him to the table. Lol. No they cant. More:  If he doesnt, they can bash him for it. Its a change in strategy, emerging in private conversations among some liberal elected officials and operatives, that comes after years of resisting Trump ended with him returning to the White House. And finally: Progressives are clear-eyed that with a Republican-controlled House and Senate, many, if not most, of Trumps populist campaign promises will not happen  if he were ever serious about them to begin with. But they believe that his voters want him to follow through. They also lack any power in Congress and are desperate for even an outside chance to influence policy.  Not with a bang but a whimper. Hey, Im so old I remember when Trump was a fascist!

Clinton Legacy

People who wear ties: Bill Clinton: "in demonizing all establishments and all people who wear a tie like you and me to work and have a good education, we are breaking down the legitimacy ofpeople who actually know things that are very important for us today and very important for our continued pic.twitter.com/0OfAJOa6yV  Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) November 24, 2024 People who actually know things.

Democrats en deshabille

Centrist dipshits, as Atrios calls them: Democratic pundits berated Bernie's coalition as "Bernie Bros" and also told people they were ingrates for not better appreciating the economy. Now they're fusing those 2 threads together, asserting that Bernie supporters are mentally ill & lazy & *choosing* to be poor. pic.twitter.com/6vpKWFOMIE  David Sirota (@davidsirota) November 25, 2024

Syndemics

I am in earnest  I will not equivocate  I will not excuse  I will not retreat a single inch  AND I WILL BE HEARD. William Lloyd Garrison

* * *

Covid Resources, United States (National): Transmission (CDC); Wastewater (CDC, Biobot ; includes many counties; Wastewater Scan, includes drilldown by zip); Variants (CDC; Walgreens); Iowa COVID-19 Tracker (in IA, but national data). Infection Control, Emergency Management, Safety, and General Thoughts (especially on hospitalization by city).

Lambert here: Readers, thanks for the collective effort. To update any entry, do feel free to contact me at the address given with the plants. Please put COVID in the subject line. Thank you!

Resources, United States (Local): AK (dashboard); AL (dashboard); AR (dashboard); AZ (dashboard); CA (dashboard; Marin, dashboard; Stanford, wastewater; Oakland, wastewater); CO (dashboard; wastewater); CT (dashboard); DE (dashboard); FL (wastewater); GA (wastewater); HI (dashboard); IA (wastewater reports); ID (dashboard, Boise; dashboard, wastewater, Central Idaho; wastewater, Coeur dAlene; dashboard, Spokane County); IL (wastewater); IN (dashboard); KS (dashboard; wastewater, Lawrence); KY (dashboard, Louisville); LA (dashboard); MA (wastewater); MD (dashboard); ME (dashboard); MI (wastewater; wastewater); MN (dashboard); MO (wastewater); MS (dashboard); MT (dashboard) ; NC (dashboard); ND (dashboard; wastewater); NE (dashboard); NH (wastewater); NJ (dashboard); NM (dashboard); NV (dashboard; wastewater, Southern NV); NY (dashboard); OH (dashboard); OK (dashboard); OR (dashboard) ; PA (dashboard); RI (dashboard); SC (dashboard); SD (dashboard); TN (dashboard); TX (dashboard); UT (wastewater); VA (wastewater); VT (dashboard); WA (dashboard; dashboard); WI (wastewater); WV ( wastewater ); WY ( wastewater ).

Resources, Canada (National): Wastewater (Government of Canada).

Resources, Canada (Provincial): ON (wastewater); QC (les eaux usees); BC (wastewater); BC, Vancouver (wastewater).

Hat tips to helpful readers: Alexis, anon (2), Art_DogCT, B24S, CanCyn, ChiGal, Chuck L, Festoonic, FM, FreeMarketApologist (4), Gumbo, hop2it, JB, JEHR, JF, JL Joe, John, JM (10), JustAnotherVolunteer, JW, KatieBird, KF, KidDoc, LL, Michael King, KF, LaRuse, mrsyk, MT, MT_Wild, otisyves, Petal (6), RK (2), RL, RM, Rod, square coats (11), tennesseewaltzer, Tom B., Utah, Bob White (3).

Stay safe out there!

Look for the Helpers

Mask Project: This is a great crowd sourcing project to measure how well various N95s/KN95s etc fit a wide variety of people. The data will drive an app to help people select the masks most likely to give them good individual fit and protection. https://t.co/WBSJrMlivv  Gerard Hughes ( @ghhughes@zeroes.ca ) (@ghhughes) November 24, 2024

I Ran Operation Warp Speed. Im Concerned About Bird Flu [David A. Kessler, New York Times]. As Donald Trump gets ready to return to the White House on Jan. 20, he must be prepared to tackle one issue immediately: the possibility that the spreading avian flu might mutate to enable human-to-human transmission.. I have been monitoring the spread of bird flu, also known as H5N1, and discussing the situation with colleagues around the country. My concern is growing. Without mandatory testing, bird flu will continue circulating at farms across the country, which substantially increases the risk that the virus mutates and evolves to allow a human-to-human transmission that will be hard to stop. No one knows how many mutations will be required to set off human-to- human respiratory spread. That could require many mutations and may never happen. But we could also be just two or three mutations away. If the virus begins to transmit efficiently among humans, it will be very difficult to contain, according to the Johns Hopkins assessment, and the likelihood of a pandemic is very high. The incoming Trump administration needs to be prepared.  I hope raw milk stans dont have inordinate influence. Vaccines Although Adams had a position in the last Trump Adminisration, sadly he does not in the current one:

Here are the top and bottom countries according to life expectancy globally- along with their respective measles vaccination rates. U.S. is also listed. Notice anything?  Top 4 countries by life expectancy:

1. Japan

 Life Expectancy: 84.5 years

 Measles Vaccination  Jerome Adams (@JeromeAdamsMD) November 25, 2024

Personal Risk Assessment

Admirable commitment to the bit: He probably shouldn't have "caught COVID on purpose." There's basically no lasting immunity from COVID either via infection or vaccine, and the damage even a mild case does to your body can kill you down the road. https://t.co/KZusgAngsu pic.twitter.com/QvksLdvMsq  L., MA (@leslieleeiii) November 24, 2024 FAFO.

Elite Maleficence

I suppose the only solution is to put our trust in the billionaires, especially the tech bros: The shameless denial of science & dearth of care & consideration exhibited for people during the pandemic to date has ended the credibility of: WHO CDC PHAC HICPAC APIC SHEA IPAC PHO PICNET COCHRANE NHE CELL IPC Public Health Medical community Political leaders https://t.co/T6GQXyYk3p  Barry Hunt  Novavax 4 Me (@BarryHunt008) November 24, 2024

* * *

TABLE 1: Daily Covid Charts
Yves here. COP29 was such a disappointment that climate activists seem at a loss as to what to do next. Paul Rogers forecasts that it will likely take another decade of worsening weather and the fires and floods they generate to hit the Global North hard before advanced economies get religion about climate change. While the time frame sounds reasonable, theres another factor that is likely to come to bite even sooner, and thats diminished food production and rising costs.

In France, food prices had been increasing into the 1780s due to population increases outpacing food supply growth. A harsh winter in 1788 produced famines and food riots. During the 1997 Asian economic crisis, both Thailand and Indonesia had food riots.

If we have that sort of rupture, its not conducive to reaching a consensus on climate action, even if climate is the driver.

By Paul Rogers, Emeritus Professor of Peace Studies in the Department of Peace Studies and International Relations at Bradford University, and an Honorary Fellow at the Joint Service Command and Staff College. He is openDemocracys international security correspondent. He is on Twitter at: @ProfPRogers. Originally published at openDemocracy

While COP29 in Baku narrowly avoided collapsing, its results were bitterly disappointing for delegations from across the Global South, who ended up with barely a quarter of the annual $1.3trn of support they were seeking by 2035 to respond to climate breakdown.

Quite apart from other factors, more than 1,500 pro-carbon lobbyists worked hard to limit progress and ensure that burning oil, gas and coal at profit continues for as long as possible whatever the global consequences. After all, the worlds fossil fuel industries rake in around a trillion dollars in profits a year.

Meanwhile, more and more examples are emerging of accelerating climate breakdown. The flooding in Valencia is just one, but scarcely noticed in Europe is the thoroughly weird weather being experienced in the eastern United States.

This autumn there have been over five hundred wildfires in New Jersey alone, a 5,000-acre fire has been burning for a week on the New York-New Jersey border prompting a voluntary evacuation, and New York Citys Fire Department was called out to deal with 271 brush fires in the first two weeks of November alone.

As if timed for that and certainly released with COP29 in mind, Carbon Brief, a website covering the latest developments in climate science, climate policy and energy policy, has mapped every published study on impossible weather events  record heatwaves or storms that would not have happened without the overall global climate changes.

The first such study came in 2004, the year after weeks of extreme heat hit Europe and killed 70,000 people across the continent over several months. That early example of an impossible weather event kick-started a new field of research known as extreme event attribution, which looks at how climate change has influenced extreme weather.

There are now 600 studies of 750 such extreme events spanning the past 20 years  a tiny fraction of the total number of these kinds of events. Of these 750, Carbon Brief found that scientists and researchers had concluded that 74% were made more likely or more severe because of climate change.

This has added to the growing sense of urgency right across the climate science community coupled with a highly critical view of the whole COP process. Even before the dismaying summit in the Azerbaijani capital, both last years COP in Abu Dhabi and the year before in Egypt were notable for their lack of progress even as the urgency of preventing climate breakdown was becoming more and more obvious.

There are other risks to global security including nuclear weapons, pandemics, cyber warfare, AI misuse and the progressive destruction of biodiversity, but climate breakdown is different from all of these. It is not a future risk, it is a current happening, it is accelerating, and we now have very few years left to get on top of it. If we dont then a worldwide catastrophe with many hundreds of millions dying and societal collapse will become increasingly likely.

Does it have to be like that?

As things stand, in terms of changing attitudes, developments in renewables, resistance of the fossil carbon industries and, of course, Donald Trumps looming presidency in the US, a reasonable prognosis for the next decade has three elements.

First, the use of renewable energy resources does continue to increase but not at anything like the rate required, so net carbon emissions will continue to rise, not fall, for most of the next ten years. Second, resistance to decarbonisation will continue from many quarters, no doubt now including the White House. Finally, severe weather events will become both more common and more destructive.

Eventually, and it might take more than a decade, the disasters will be so great, including sudden weather events in rich cities in the Global North killing many tens of thousands of people, that public pressure across the world will force governments to respond. There will be no alternative to engage in truly transformative change.

But what that means is that the task ahead by then will be hugely greater than if the transformation starts much sooner, so timescales become crucial, especially what can speed up the process.

There is, though, one thing to remember at a time of widespread pessimism. If nations had got their act together 25 years ago after the Kyoto Protocols, were signed we would be in a far more favourable position worldwide than we are now. We are acting more than two decades late.

But climate breakdown is not happening as a slow, steady process of change, creeping up almost unawares. If that had been the case then with all the reasons not to act, especially the global fossil carbon lobby, we would have been in an even worse position now. Instead, it is happening at variable rates in two respects, some parts of the world  such as the polar regions  are warming up much faster than others and extreme weather events are happening much more often.

We are therefore getting a foretaste of what will affect everyone a few years before it does, and this gives us just a little more time to act. It means that the next ten years, and perhaps even the five years to 2030, will be the key time for us to come to terms with the transformation in society that is essential for global well-being. That is possible, just.
Americas Frontline Doctors releases What is a Doctor? documentary: WATCH

new document has been released by America's Frontline Doctors called "What is a Doctor?" that addresses the trend of transgenderism and body butchery and how it has nothing to do with honest science of medicine.

The roughly one-hour-long film is a long time coming, the fulfillment of years of in-depth work by America's Frontline Doctors into what happened to the medical system, especially during and after the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "pandemic."

"We expose 'gender-affirming care' for what it really is  Medical Mutilation," tweeted the Frontline Films (@FrontlineFilmsU) X / Twitter account.

"The profit motive, the corruption, and the racketeering  watch now and see the lies unfold."

What is a Doctor? is available to watch for FREE below:

BREAKING: Our film What is a Doctor has officially been released. We expose gender-affirming care for what it really isMedical Mutilation. The profit motive, the corruption, and the racketeeringwatch now and see the lies unfold. pic.twitter.com/hSw7BkXbCo  Frontline Films (@FrontlineFilmsU) November 18, 2024

(Related: Remember when military medical officer Dr. Theresa Long was ordered by a superior to suppress COVID jab injuries after Biden's injection mandate?)

Have you signed the petition to ban medical mutilation?

Since the film is a grassroots effort, Frontline Films is encouraging members of the public who support the film's message to share it with their friends, family members and neighbors.

"We encourage everyone to support this film by watching, or hosting a showing, and be sure to sign the petition to Ban Medical Mutilation, all available at "WhatIsaDoctor.org," the group says.

"The damage to these kids is horrific, and permanent. Our children cannot wait."

There are a lot of reasons why we ended up here as a nation, one of the most glaring being the subversive work of the American Medical Association (AMA) over the years.

"Corruption of a pure purpose," tweeted "TechWarrior" (@William29994446) about modern medicine. "It's what leads to depression and blind seeking and 'survival reactions.'"

"The AMA leveraged debt and licensing in medical practice against free-thinking Drs. Drs and citizens have the right and obligation to regulate and scrutinize medical ethics. Understanding medicine and medical ethics are two different things. Simply put: You don't experiment on people as your play things."

Experimenting on people as play things is exactly what the medical establishment did during the three-to-four years of COVID hell that was unleashed upon the world in late 2019 going into early 2020. And now, films like "What is a Doctor?" are drawing more attention to it.

"As far as 'gender-affirming care,' TOTALLY a mind-twist psy-op," the same X / Twitter account added. "Super focus on what is wrong with oneself instead of and over the purpose one holds is overly self-focused and self-destructive."

"Kids focused more on the progression of their flesh than the progression of their character, will over-scrutinize their flaws and can be driven into depression 'survival reactions' that destroy. Ultimately, it leads to self-hatred and at its worst mutilation and death."

From the very beginning, medicine was supposed to be centered around a simple ethos of "do no harm." Somehow, do no harm was transformed into obey the government no matter what, even if oppression and coercion have to be used as weapons of compliance.

"All the adults on the other side of 'gender-affirming care' are struggling to cope with the betrayal of their safety by all those around them involved in their 'survival reactions,' Let's protect the vulnerable from permanent decisions for temporary problems."

Many others on X / Twitter who already watched "What is a Doctor?" are praising it as something special, so take some time to check it out if you have not already done so.

More related news coverage can be found at MedicalViolence.com.

Sources for this article include:

X.com

NaturalNews.com

AmericasFrontlineDoctors.org
How lies become facts and the world ends

Endless repetition by whore media and careless media turn lies into truth.

(Article republished from PaulCraigRoberts.org)

Whatever media you read, you read that Russia invaded Ukraine. The lie is not limited to official narrative-controllers, such as the NY Times, Washington Post, Reuters, AP, Bloomberg, CNN. Wikipedia, NPR, ABC, CBS, NBC, BBC, Telegraph, Guardian. It appears in alternative media, such as the Epoch Times and Breitbart. Indeed, the lie is repeated as fact almost everywhere, in the houses of Congress, the UK Parliament, Wall Street, European media and governments.

The fact is there was no Russian invasion at all. Russian forces entered Donbas at the request of the two independent breakaway republics for help against the US-trained and equipped Ukrainian army and neo-Nazi militias that were about to invade Donetsk and Luhansk. The two independent republics requested Russia to return them to Russia in 2014 along with Crimea, but Putin refused the republics, taking only Crimea because it is the site of the Russian Black Sea fleet. Instead Putin placed his bet on the Minsk Agreement, which kept Donbas as part of Ukraine.

The enforcers of the Minsk Agreement, Germany and France, later admitted that the Minsk Agreement was used to deceive Putin while Washington created a Ukrainian army to conquer the independent republics and present Putin with political difficulties for failure to defend Russians from those whose forebears fought for Nazi Germany against the Soviet Union. In other words, it was a plan to discredit Putin, for his crime of dissenting from Washingtons hegemony.

Putins refusal to restore Donbas to Russia in keeping with the overwhelming vote of the Donbas people subjected Donetsk and Luhansk to eight years of bombardment and many casualties while Putin stood by the Minsk Agreement. Finally in February, 2022, with Washington, NATO, and the EU refusing Russia a mutual security agreement, and the Donetsk and Luhansk Republics facing invasion, Putin was forced to act to protect the Russian populations in the east and south of Ukraine that had been attached to the Ukrainian province of the Soviet Union by Soviet leaders for political and administration reasons. Donbas and Crimea were for centuries part of Russia, not Ukraine. Putin, a leader, rebuilding Russian confidence after the Soviet collapse, could not stand aside while Russian people were massacred by an American-provided Ukrainian army.

Putins view of his intervention was very limited. It had nothing whatsoever to do with conquering Ukraine. His publicly announced Special military operation had to do only with driving Ukrainian forces out of Donbas. Putin made no effort to conquer Ukraine.

At the time I said his limited approach, particularly his intention to minimize both Russian casualties and casualties among the Ukrainian population, would leave the Ukrainian puppet government in place to continue the war despite Russian successes in clearing Donbas of Ukrainian forces.

My prediction, and not Putins bet, proved to be correct. As I said would be the case, by not impeding Kievs ability to continue the war, Putin enabled a long-term war, now three years, during which Washington has managed to get the West involved up to the hilt. The latest being the Biden regimes green light to missiles being fired by US and NATO personnel into Mother Russia.

The recent US missile strikes into Russia crossed a red line that, finally, Putin was not prepared to ignore in his interest to avoid a wider war. Unlike the West, Putin does not want war. He did not want the conflict in Ukraine. Washington forced it on him. He cannot stand aside while an army created by Washington slaughters Russians.

Putins response to the missile strikes, which ignored his warning, was restrained. He merely demonstrated with a hypersonic missile that travels at mach 10 the fate of the West if the Wests attack on Russia continues.

The question is whether the West heard the warning.. Putins past record of ignoring provocations in order to avoid widening the war has created the impression in the West that Putins warnings dont mean anything as Putin never does anything. This conclusion is dangerously mistaken. It ignores that Putin, a humanitarian, ignores provocations in order to avoid widening the war, which has a terrible impact on innocent civilians and their hopes, and, if nuclear, on life on Earth. The Wests conclusion also ignores that provocations can become too severe for Putin to ignore. I believe that point has been reached.

If the irresponsible American establishment, deluded by its hubris and belief in its invincibility, continues to provoke Russia, Putin will run out of space into which to back up. At that point the Western worlds aggression could result in an unintended consequence.

The problem before us is that the Western leaders are too lost in their false narratives to comprehend reality. It is not all their fault, because Putin encouraged their provocations by not standing up to them. But the aggression lies with the West, not with Russia. And Russia has been pushed as far as it is safe to push.

If the pushing doesnt stop, the world is going to end.

Read more at: PaulCraigRoberts.org
Israel readying to annex West Bank, implement two-state solution (both controlled by Israel)

In the next couple of weeks, Israel is planning to formally annex the West Bank, effectively taking that land from the Palestinian people who live there and absorbing it into Greater Israel.

A source told Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh that Israel has been so "fortified by bombs and funding" from the United States that it is now ready to expel the Palestinians not only from the West Bank but also from northern Gaza.

Some of the more religious members who "dominate" Netanyahu's cabinet are flat-out calling for Israel to take both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in their entirety in order to massively increase the size of Greater Israel.

"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 future  perhaps in two weeks  in the hope that the decisive step will end, once and for all, any talk of a two-state solution and will convince some in the skeptical Arab world to reconsider financing the planned reconstruction of Gaza," Hersh wrote in an article.

(Related: Back in October, Netanyahu made it clear that he is not interested in any further negotiations for peace  Israel wants that land, period, and it plans to take it all by force.)

Trump to inherit brand-new Israel

All of this is scheduled to take place before President-elect Trump is installed in January while President Biden is still in office. That way there will already be a new "reality on the ground" in Israel by the time Trump is inaugurated.

Trump will basically be inheriting a whole new Israel whose borders will be much larger than they are currently by the time he makes his way into the Oval Office. This will expand upon what Trump did for Israel during his first term by recognizing Israel's then-annexation of the Golan Heights, not to mention his moving of the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

While Hamas is the Palestinian faction that rules in Gaza, it is the Fatah that currently controls the West Bank. And the Fatah is currently at odds with Hamas, which makes this annexation agenda even more contentious.

After the 1949 conflict that ultimately ended with the re-creation of Israel following many generations of it not existing, Egypt and Jordan annexed Gaza and the West Bank, respectively, though the newly formed Israeli state remained in control of most of the Mandate for Palestine territory.

In 1967, Israel recaptured both the West Bank and Gaza, which are both currently recognized under international law as occupied territories, meaning the people now in charge (Israel) are occupying land that the Mandate for Palestine says belongs to the Palestinian people.

Multiple United Nations (UN) resolutions are calling for an independent Palestinian state to be established in both the West Bank and Gaza.

"Trump will say nothing and Netanyahu knows it," one commenter wrote. "Palestine is gone. The only problem is what to do with the remaining Palestinians? Where to allocate them?"

"Israel has killed more Palestinians than the number of people killed at the start of WW2," wrote another  so far, about 44,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have died at the hands of Israel since Oct. 7, 2023.

"This is why our rulers will install Trump," wrote another about how Trump's reelection is about the best news Israel could have received as far as getting what they want in the Middle East. "He will condone it."

"Hersh 'leaks' information that the U.S. wants revealed," suggested another about what the other "side" could be planning. "Seems they are trying to spark a massive war before Biden leaves office."

The latest news about Israel can be found at Prophecy.news.

Sources for this article include:

Tass.com

NaturalNews.com
U.K. group builds database of companies that are complicit in Israels genocidal operations against Palestinians

A group of unions and organizations in the United Kingdom led by political group Progressive International has created a database to search which companies are complicit with Israel's genocidal operations in Gaza

The new tool called the Watermelon Index is for "the worker-led resistance against the occupation and genocide in Palestine." It contains details of worker-led campaigns that are being mounted against the genocide against Palestine that "will allow employees to connect and with activists to challenge their bosses over connections to Israel."

Middle East Eye reported that upon searching, it found banking giant Barclays, shipping company Maersk, e-commerce platform Amazon, tech giant Microsoft and short-term rental outfit Airbnb were found to have ties with Israel among industries in finance, insurance, technology, logistics and energy.

The news outlet said Progressive International is focusing its efforts within these sectors. The organization added that it is stepping up its efforts to organize actions against Israel because the Western media seemed to have been blind to Israel's violence against the Palestinians.

"The West's political-media class won't challenge the genocide it arms and supports. We have to take action ourselves, wherever we are, to confront the grave crimes against the Palestinians," Progressive International Communications Director James Schneider said.

The group said a company's complicity with Israel's war on Gaza is measured through the different kinds of support it provides Israel, including financial, military, diplomatic, cultural, trade and social.

Palestinian trade unions have been calling for the embargoes of weapons since Israel started its genocidal operations against Palestinians following the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023. Workers around the world have also been asking their employers to stop its complicity with Israel. (Related: Turkey and 51 other nations call for global arms embargo on Israel.)

To date, health authorities in Gaza have confirmed that over 44,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military.

Companies have to undertake heightened human rights due diligence when there is armed conflict

Former Irish President Mary Robinson and Business & Human Rights Resource Center (BHRRC) Executive Director Phil Bloomer wrote an op-ed on Newsweek addressing the complicity of many businesses in crimes against humanity committed by Israel. According to them, the firms "stand at a fork in the road."

According to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, companies and investors have the responsibility to undertake heightened human rights due diligence in circumstances of conflict.

"In armed conflict, companies must redouble their efforts to identify and address their effects on civilians' human rights to ensure they do not contribute to the drivers of conflict, nor to the triggers that intensify violence," they wrote.

They also cited research conducted by the London-based BHRRC, which found that companies have been falling woefully short of their human rights responsibilities. Of the 104 tech companies asked about the steps they are taking to avoid contributing to further harm in the region, only four bothered to respond.

An expert legal opinion also stated that "corporations and their managers could be held liable for the commission of acts of genocide," Bloomer and Robinson pointed out.

Moreover, international criminal law suggests that direct complicity requires intentional participation, but not necessarily an intention to do harm, "only knowledge of foreseeable harmful effects."

Weapons and tech exports are essential to the Israel Defense Forces' continued operations and therefore instrumental to the civilian death toll and violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza.

Check out Genocide.news for stories related to Israel's genocidal war against the Palestinians.

Watch the video below that talks about ICC's arrest warrants for Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

This video is from the Cythia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Saudi's Mohammed bin Salman: Israel's war on Gaza is a GENOCIDE.

Israeli government targeting U.S. influencers, commentators and journalists over their opposition to Gaza genocide.

South Africa submits 750 pages of evidence in genocide case against Israel to the ICJ.

"Panic" erupts at the IDF after Israeli soldiers learn about online Genocide Tracker.

Sources include:

MiddleEastEye.net

Act.Progressive.International

Newsweek.com

Brighteon.com
Ukrainian former commander-in-chief warns troops in training to prepare for brutal realities of war, including DYING

Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has told Ukrainian troops being trained in Britain that they must mentally prepare for the brutal realities of war, including steeling themselves for the possibility of death and being prepared to kill without hesitation.

Zaluzhnyi, who played a pivotal role in preventing Ukraine from being defeated in the initial stages of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, was sacked as the country's commander-in-chief following a falling out with President Volodymyr Zelensky, has served as the country's ambassador to London since July.

Zaluzhnyi's speech was shared at a boot camp with Ukrainian soldiers who are set to join their countrymen in the frontlines in Ukraine soon. His speech, shared by The Sun after the tabloid joined the general on his tour of the training facility,

The speech, shared by The Sun after the tabloid joined Zaluzhnyi on his tour of the training facility, underscored the escalating intensity of the conflict in Ukraine. British Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard was also present, highlighting the U.K.s support in training Ukrainian soldiers.

Zaluzhnyi's warning was blunt. "Remember that the war is becoming more cruel with every day. It leaves almost no chance for survival," he told the trainees. "Learn not to be afraid of death."

Zaluzhnyi's remarks were not just about survival, but the harsh realities of combat. He stressed the importance of building strong bonds of camaraderie, urging the soldiers to become brothers on the battlefield who look after each other.

"Its not enough to save yourself and your brother; you still need to complete the task. To do this, you will need to kill. To kill without hesitation," he said.

His words were meant to prepare the soldiers for the mental and emotional toll of fighting in a conflict that shows no signs of ending. He also reminded the soldiers to fight with Ukraines survival in mind, adding, "If you are gone, maybe someone else will take your place, but Ukraine will be preserved." (Related: Ukraine launches 51,000 court cases over DESERTION in the first 9 months of 2024 amid troops waning morale.)

Zaluzhnyi's message reflects the brutal realities of the war, which has become increasingly deadly and complex. Despite initial successes in repelling Russias invasion, the conflict has taken a toll on Ukrainian forces. The military stalemate Zaluzhnyi predicted in 2023 has evolved into a prolonged and grueling war that Ukraine is, albeit slowly, still losing. His remarks underscore that survival is no longer guaranteed, and achieving victory requires difficult and often dehumanizing decisions.

Zaluzhnyi: World War III has already started in Ukraine

Since his reassignment to the London embassy, Zaluzhnyi has continued to raise alarms about the growing global dimensions of the war. In a speech in May 2024, he argued that World War III had effectively begun, pointing to the direct involvement of Russias autocratic allies.

"In 2024, Ukraine is no longer facing Russia alone. Soldiers from North Korea are standing in front of Ukraine. Lets be honest," he said, referring to the increasing foreign support for Russias war effort. He also cited Iranian-made drones used to target Ukrainian civilians, calling attention to the broader international stakes.

"Already in Ukraine, the Iranian 'Shahedis' are killing civilians absolutely openly, without any shame," he said.

Zaluzhnyi's comments reflect his growing concern that Ukraines survival is at risk without further international support. He urged Ukraines allies to recognize the gravity of the situation.

"It is still possible to stop it here, on the territory of Ukraine," he warned, "But for some reason, our partners do not want to understand this. It is obvious that Ukraine already has too many enemies. Ukraine will survive with technology, but it is not clear whether it can win this battle alone."

Watch this video of Alex Christoforou commenting on Zaluzhnyi's role in approving a plan to attack the TurkStream natural gas pipeline running from Russia to Turkey.

This video is from the Oldyoti's Home Page channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

As poll finds Ukrainians want to end war, U.S. pushes Zelensky to bomb Russia and expand conscription.

Col. MacGregor warns Ukraine will be DESTROYED if Biden doesnt stop fueling war.

Nearly three years into the conflict, Ukraine grapples with dwindling resources as Russia steadily gains ground.

European leaders conspire to SABOTAGE Trumps plan to end Ukraine war.

Sources include:

RT.com

Politico.eu

Brighteon.com
X user finds potential SOCK PUPPET account of notorious COVID figure Peter Daszak

The "Florin" (@Florin_Uncovers) X / Twitter account tweeted evidence this week to suggest that infamous Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) kingpin Peter Daszak may run a sock puppet account called "WuhanCoronavirus" (@WCoronavirus) on the same platform.

"So now you have my sequence," the WuhanCoronavirus account tweeted on Jan. 10, 2020, to which Henry L. Niman, PhD, responded with the following:

"Trop 100 matches for show WH-Human_1|China\2019-Dec is most closely related to two bat SARS-like viruses followed by human in second outbreak, followed by civet cat isolates then human from first outbreak."

Florin says the WuhanCoronavirus account was created on Jan. 8, 2020, just two days before tweeting to call COVID "my sequence," and that Daszak is the one, we now know, who is responsible for creating SARS-CoV-2 using U.S. taxpayer grant money from the government.

"He named it Wuhan Coronavirus, referred to SARS2 as 'my sequence,' and joked he / it existed to kill stupid people!" Florin tweeted about what Daszak appears to have done.

(Related: Did you know that Ohio attorney Thomas Renz sued Daszak's EcoHealth Alliance for the group's active participation in the COVID coverup?)

WuhanCoronavirus account trolls Emily Kopp for blowing lid on COVID lies

The WuhanCoronavirus X / Twitter account is still active today, it turns out. On Nov. 10, 2024, for instance, it responded to a tweet from Emily Kopp, who recently gave a lecture at Georgetown University about "how scientific institutes betrayed the public's trust on COVID's origins and how they can earn it back."

Kopp successfully made the case during her presentation that both misinformation studies and social media censorship are responsible for leading the public astray concerning the truth about COVID and where it came from  but WuhanCoronavirus got defensive about this.

"I hope they have a speaker next week to balance out the one-sided interpretation of every data point you attempted to present," the WuhanCoronavirus account responded scornfully to Kopp.

Florin presents the following two "big clues" to support the idea that WuhanCoronavirus is just Daszak in disguise:

1) The WuhanCoronavirus account only follows the account of ProMed, which was founded on Dec. 31, 2019, by none other than Daszak. ProMed was the first to make reference to a SARS-related Wuhan pneumonia in circulation.

2) Daszak was one of the first to use the term "Wuhan coronavirus" on X / Twitter, which we still use today as well to reference where the so-called virus probably originated.

"WCoronavirus' 1st tweet was a Jan 8 article about the new coronavirus, also tweeted by Daszak," Florin further points out. "It then interacted with Peter's collaborators Menachery Lab and Laurie Garrett the same time he did. WCoronavirus also defended Rick Bright, Daszak's friend."

"When a biosciences account replied to him demanding the SARS2 sequence be published, WCoronavirus responded by joking this would make it easier to find him. Most likely projection since indeed the SARS2 sequence led directly to RaTG13 sampled and studied by Daszak & Shi Zhengli!"

Further evidence that WuhanCoronavirus might be Daszak's burner account is that on Jan. 13, 2020, which was several weeks before such information went public, the account tweeted that COVID was spreading from human to human, which was new information at the time.

"At the same time Peter Daszak also claimed he highly suspected it was transmitting human to human," Florin says.

The WuhanCoronavirus account on X / Twitter has since started deleting certain posts, which even further indicts Daszak because now that his feet are being held to the fire, suddenly the account is purging potentially damning information.

"Authorities could find the user data of this account," Florin says. "It could be used as evidence for admission of guilt. It also means Daszak is not in total denial and might wanna confess."

More related news coverage can be found at Corruption.news.

Sources for this article include:

X.com

NaturalNews.com
Weather Wars: Appalachia, hurricane Helene, lithium and the green new deal  towns that objected to lithium mining now no longer exist

This is a tough message to write, because weve all heard so much about this topic, and its nearly impossible to get a straight answer from government officials or internet searches. Im talking about the devastation in Appalachia from Hurricane Helene.

(Article by Rob Pue republished from AllNewsPipeline.com)

Ive followed this story from the beginning and put together a file of information that I?found to be valid and confirmed. So, what Im about to share with you is what we know, and much of this comes directly from people who are, or have been, in the area  either residents of the area or those from other parts who have participated in rescue, cleanup and directly helping survivors.

Hurricane Helene was a huge, catastrophic tropical cyclone that made landfall on September 26 in Northwestern Florida. It then moved inland, causing devastation in Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina. Three hours after striking central Georgia, the storm abruptly turned northwest and hit the Appalachian Mountains with 180-mile-per-hour winds. This, after dumping huge amounts of rainfall on the area for approximately three days prior. Rainfall in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina ranged from one foot to over three feet in three days, causing unprecedented flooding and landslides.

At this time, I?cannot get an accurate death count. Its unlikely we ever will. Government agencies are simply stating it was more than 230 people killed in total  in four states. Locals in North Carolina, however, report the number in that state alone is in the thousands, perhaps in the tens of thousands. Many, if not most of the bodies of those killed will never be recovered, buried under 30 feet of mud from landslides, after being torn apart and washed away.

Mainstream news media outlets have called this a storm of Biblical proportions, and indeed, it was  far worse than the storm of July 1916 that killed 80 people there. Residents of the area were used to heavy rainfall in the past, but nothing like this. Hurricanes just dont happen there. Of course, official sources are conveniently blaming Climate Change for this disaster. But whats the real truth?

Understand, Im not claiming this storm was deliberately steered to intentionally destroy Appalachia. But others believe it was, and have provided dramatic and alarming evidence that this scenario is not only possible and plausible, but also probable. Lets discuss that first.

We know the government has been manipulating the weather for decades. Dane Wigington, of GeoEngineeringWatch.org has compiled extensive evidence and proof on his website, though hes still considered a conspiracy theorist. He even lists hundreds of patents related to weather modification, going back to the year 1891 and multiplying exponentially through last year. But heres whats not a conspiracy theory:

Project Cirrus was the first official attempt to modify a hurricane. It was a project run by General Electric in 1947 with the support of the US?military. They seeded clouds with various compounds such as silver iodide, along with about 200 pounds of dry ice, dropped into the clouds as a hurricane headed out to sea in the Caribbean. The hurricane then abruptly changed direction and made landfall near Savannah, Georgia.

A man named Irving Langmuir pioneered General Electrics Atmospheric Research Department at the time, and he admitted the project was about learning how to weaponize the weather, although the US government denied that for twelve years.

Then, in 1965, Project Stormfury targeted Hurricane Betsy for cloud seeding. On that day, the storm immediately changed course and made landfall in south Florida. Congress blamed Project Stormfury for that devastation, but after two months of congressional hearings, the project was allowed to continue.

Fast forward to 1997, when US?Defense Secretary William Cohen admitted we do have the technology to control the weather, including earthquakes and volcanoes. It should be noted that the US?government has placed gag orders on employees of the National Weather Service.

In October of 2012, after Hurricane Sandy weakened to a tropical storm, microwave imagery shows a thick red beam, immediately followed by Sandy growing into a category 1 hurricane and taking an unexplained sharp left turn into New Jersey.

Ive also followed the phenomenon known as chemtrails for years. I?have a friend in Northern Wisconsin whos a scientist. This person lives in a remote area, where commercial airliners rarely travel, yet after years of seeing jets criss-crossing the skies in that area, my friend began to investigate. Using high powered photographic equipment, images were captured of these jets spewing trails of chemicals overhead. The aircraft would continue for hours, criss-crossing the skies until a checkerboard pattern was formed. The compounds spewed from these planes dispersed very slowly until the sky was completely overcast.

My scientist friend continued the investigation, taking water samples from creeks, rivers and ponds  before and after each of these occurrences. The samples were then analyzed by independent labs. What was found was shocking  deadly amounts of poisonous chemicals after each incidence of the area being covered in chemtrails.

Read more at: AllNewsPipeline.com
MORE MONEY LAUNDERING: Biden administration forgives $4.65 billion loan to Ukraine

The administration of President Joe Biden has forgiven a $4.65 billion loan to Ukraine . That amount was part of a funding bill passed by Congress in April that included just over $9.4 billion worth of loans for economic and budgetary support for the Ukrainian government.

As part of the passage of this supplemental funding law, the president was authorized to forgive half of this loan after Nov. 15. The funding bill appropriated over $61 billion in military aid to Ukraine. (Related: As poll finds Ukrainians want to end war, U.S. pushes Zelensky to bomb Russia and expand conscription.)

"We have taken the step that was outlined in the law to cancel those loans," said Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

The Department of State said canceling the debt is essential for "helping Ukraine prevail" and is in the national interest of the United States and its partners in the European Union, the Group of Seven nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

This is part of ongoing efforts by the Biden administration to give everything it can provide to Ukraine before leaving office on Jan. 20, 2025. Just days before, Biden officially gave Ukraine the green light to use United States-supplied long-range missiles for strikes deep within Russia.

On the same day part of the loan was forgiven, the Biden administration also announced a new "security assistance package" for Ukraine worth approximately $275 million. The new military aid package includes antipersonnel land mines.

Congress has power to prevent Biden from forgiving Ukrainian loans

Congress has the power to block Biden from forgiving half of the $9.4 billion economic loan, and several Republicans, notably Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), have already signaled their intention to introduce resolutions to oppose the loan forgiveness.

"On his way out, Joe Biden is trying to forgive $4.65 billion of debt Ukraine owes America's taxpayers. I just introduced H.J. [Joint Resolution] 224 to stop this 'America Last' policy from taking effect," Massie announced on X.

"Americans all across the United States are grappling with high prices and their own debt thanks to four years of the Biden-Harris Administration, all while the U.S. national debt has hit a record $36 trillion, and we cannot afford a $4.65 billion gift to Ukraine," said Paul in a statement released on X announcing his introduction of S.J. 117, the companion joint resolution to Massie's own in the House of Representatives that would block Biden's forgiving of the loan to Ukraine.

"Senators who vote against my resolution today will be sending a message to all Americans that they clearly prioritize Ukraine over the people they represent and are for putting America last," Paul concluded.

The likelihood that this loan forgiveness plan will be overturned is unfortunately low. Democrats still control the Senate, and even if some of the Democrats could be convinced to block the loan forgiveness, Biden still has veto authority over the matter.

Watch this video of political commentator Alex Christoforou discussing President Joe Biden's decision to forgive $4.65 billion worth of loans to Ukraine.

This video is from the Oldyoti's Home Page channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Col. MacGregor warns Ukraine will be DESTROYED if Biden doesn't stop fueling war.

As poll finds Ukrainians want to end war, U.S. pushes Zelensky to bomb Russia and expand conscription.

Nearly three years into the conflict, Ukraine grapples with dwindling resources as Russia steadily gains ground.

Ukraine strikes Russian military installation in Bryansk just one day after Biden authorizes use of U.S.-made, long-range ATACMS missiles.

Biden urges Ukraine to hit North Korean troops that its military encounters on the battlefield.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

Reuters.com

Bloomberg.com

Brighteon.com
Russian ambassador to the U.K. says Britain is now at war with Russia

Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Andrey Kelin has stated in an interview that Britain's approval of Ukraine's use of long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles meant that the country is now "directly involved" in the conflict and at war with Russia

Many Western allies have recently agreed to give Ukraine the green light to use Western-supplied long-range missiles like the French-British Storm Shadow cruise missiles and the American ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles to conduct strikes inside Russia following months of requests. (Related: West not taking seriously enough the threat of a nuclear attack by Moscow, warns former Russian president.)

On the same day United States President Joe Biden authorized his country's policy shift, Britain allegedly used Storm Shadow missiles against Russia. Residents in the Russian village of Marino in Kursk claimed to have found fragments from Franco-British Storm Shadow missiles supplied by France and the U.K. to Ukraine.

In his interview with Sky News, Kelin said that Britain allowing Ukraine to use Storm Shadow missiles has officially dragged the U.K. into the conflict.

"Absolutely, Britain is now directly involved in this war, because this firing cannot happen without NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] staff, British staff as well," said Kelin. "The U.S. administration, supported by France and the U.K., has made a deliberate decision to make these strikes, which seriously escalates the situation, and it can bring a collision between the nuclear powers."

Kelin further claimed that the U.K. was "deliberately cheating" Russia since he allegedly received multiple assurances that Storm Shadows would only be used against Russian targets inside internationally recognized Ukrainian territory.

In response to the policy shift, Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country had tested a new intermediate-range ballistic missile in a strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, which is near the frontlines.

"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," said Putin. "And in case of escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond resolutely in a mirror way."

Putin also recently warned of having to use nuclear weapons when the Kremlin approved changes to the country's nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for such a strike.

Keir Starmer: Britain is not at war with Russia

In a response interview with the BBC, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has denied Kelin's claim that the U.K. is at war with Russia, adding that the country will continue to support Ukraine regardless.

"No, we're 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," said Starmer. "That's 1,000 days of aggression from Russia and 1,000 days of sacrifice for Ukraine, and that is why we've said consistently that we stand by Ukraine. We cannot allow Putin to win this war."

Starmer also claimed that Putin's threats regarding retaliating against countries that supply Ukraine with weapons and allow them to be used on Russian territory were "irresponsible rhetoric."

Watch this episode of "The News Hour" as Sky News' Mark Austin reports on his interview with Andrey Kelin.

This video is from the AllTheWorldsAStage channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

As poll finds Ukrainians want to end war, U.S. pushes Zelensky to bomb Russia and expand conscription.

Ukraine strikes Russian military installation in Bryansk just one day after Biden authorizes use of U.S.-made, long-range ATACMS missiles.

Nearly three years into the conflict, Ukraine grapples with dwindling resources as Russia steadily gains ground.

Ukraine denies reports from think tank that it is months away from developing a NUCLEAR WEAPON.

U.K. to send another $2.93B to Ukraine using stolen Russian assets.

Sources include:

News.Sky.com

LBC.co.uk

Ukrinform.net

Brighteon.com
Biden, Harris, Blinken, & Austin  Congress must immediately arrest all four

I have been waiting for a response publicly after Russia on Tuesday launched its new hypersonic ballistic missile. This weapon is a preemptive weapon that can neutralize NATO to a large extent, and the West has no defense. Sources I cannot mention have confirmed that the West did not know about this missile, and Putin fired it for the sole purpose of demonstrating to the West what they are playing with.

(Article by Martin Armstrong republished from ArmstrongEconomics.com)

Putin authorized the firing of this secret weapon, which is a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, as a last resort to warn the world what is at stake. Our media lies and only prints what they are told. There are no investigative journalists anymore. This is why NATO called an immediate emergency meeting with Zelensky. Putin checkmated the West. He said in a televised address that US air defense systems would be powerless to stop the new missile. This flies at ten times the speed of sound. However, they call it the Oreshnik, which means hazelnut. There are multiple warheads and Putins warnings have been laughed at by the Western Press because they are merely the propaganda of the state. Putin said in his address:

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.

Sources have also confirmed that Mark Rutte, the NATO chief Neocon, also held talks with Donald Trump 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. This is checkmate. This missile is so fast that its speed can vary to make it unstoppable. Volodymyr Zelensky should be dragged out of office and charged with conspiracy to create the destruction of the West. The Russian 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.

No one in the world has such weapons, Putin made very clear. Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister, 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. We still have disgusting world leaders like Polands foreign minister, Rados?aw Sikorski, who had the audacity to describe the attack as an act of desperation. This guy is not qualified to clean toilets for he is obvious too stupid to understand what this missile means. Jan Lipavsky, the Czech foreign minister, is another guy who is not qualified to lead a marching band in high school. His stupid remark 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. Perhaps he should go to school and see that the head of Europe is an unelected dictator who cannot be removed by the people  Putin can.

EVERY CALL YOU, SENATOR & CONGRESSMAN

FLOOD THEIR INBOXES  NOW

Biden, Harris, Blinken, and Austin must be removed from office instantly. The Speaker of the House should assume the presidency now. Biden is too senile to comprehend that Blinkin and his NEOCONS are about to waste at least 100 million Americans and Europe for Zelensky. This is not an exaggeration. Russia is at full nuclear alert, and so is the USA. Biden is incompetent to have control over those launch codes. It is going to start dressing like Zelensky and wants to be remember as FDR.

Read more at: ArmstrongEconomics.com
Denver mayor backtracks after saying hell oppose Trumps deportation efforts with 50,000 resistance activists

The mayor of Denver is backtracking after making controversial comments about his citys police force physically resisting federal deportation efforts.

President-elect Donald Trump has made his intention to immediately begin deporting illegal immigrants once he takes office very clear, and he has even said he will use military assets and declare a national emergency if necessary. His transition team has reportedly already started working out the logistics of the plan.

This apparently didnt sit well with Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, who said in an interview with Denverite that it would be akin to the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests in China and that community members and local activists would come together to stop deportations.

More than us having DPD stationed at the county line to keep them out, you would have 50,000 Denverites there. Its like the Tiananmen Square moment with the rose and the gun, right? You'd have every one of those Highland moms who came out for the migrants. And you do not want to mess with them, he said.

However, he seems to have had a change of heart after receiving immense backlash over his remarks, telling 9NEWS: Would I have taken it back if I could? Yes, I probably wouldnt have used that image.

He is holding firm in his belief that civil disobedience should be used against policies he doesnt agree with, but he is trying to advocate for nonviolent forms of protest now. When he was asked whether he would personally be part of those trying to stop the deportations, he replied: If I believed that our residents are having their rights violated I would certainly protest it, and I would expect other residents would do the same.

Trumps incoming border czar, Tom Homan, has said that he would consider arresting any local leaders who try to stop them from sending illegals back. When asked whether he is willing to face legal consequences such as jail for pushing back against federal policies, Johnston said: Yeah, Im not afraid of that, and Im also not seeking that. I think the goal is we want to be able to negotiate with reasonable people how to solve hard problems.

Several local leaders have promised to fight back against Trump's plan to deport illegal immigrants

Johnston is one of several local leaders who have vowed to interfere with federal immigration enforcement when Trump takes office. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said that he will continue to uphold the states sanctuary policy, claiming: If you come for my people, you come through me.

Los Angeles is another city that has doubled down on its sanctuary status, passing an ordinance that will limit their cooperation with immigration authorities at the federal level. Mayor Karen Bass said: "This moment demands urgency. Immigrant protections make our communities stronger and our city better."

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has said that she wont be helping the Trump administrations misguided mass deportation effort, telling ABC News: "What I will unequivocally say is that, as governor, I will not tolerate efforts that are part of misguided policies that harm our communities, that threaten our communities, that terrorize our communities, and Arizona will not take part in those."

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, meanwhile, vowed to use every tool in the toolbox to protect her states illegal residents, while Boston Mayor Michelle Wu reaffirmed the citys sanctuary status and said they wont cooperate with deportation operations, either.

An undeterred Homan has said that these leaders wont stop him from carrying out their plan to send illegals back to their home countries, stating: "If you dont want to work with us, then get the hell out all the way. Were going to do it.

Theyll have the support of a lot of Americans on this, many of whom voted for Trump at least in part due to his stance on illegal immigration and border control.

Sources for this article include:

YourNews.com

FoxNews.com
France declares WAR on Russia: There are no red lines so just do whatever you want, French official tells Zelensky

Regardless of what Russian President Vladimir Putin says about repercussions for any Western militaries that cross his "red lines," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot says that France is committed to waging war on Russia regardless.

In a recent interview with BBC, Barrot argued that no Western country, France included, should impose any "red lines" of their own in supporting Ukraine. Whatever Volodymyr Zelensky wants he should get, Barrot basically said.

If Ukraine wants to use French long-range missiles to target Russian territory, Barrot believes that it should do so in "self-defense." Barrot did not clarify whether or not French weapons have already been used in Ukraine's war on Russia.

"The principle has been set," Barrot said. "Our messages to President Zelensky have been well received."

(Related: Russia is now signaling that World War III is coming soon now that President Biden has given Ukraine the green light to use long-range, U.S.-made missiles deep within Russian territory.)

Macron says France is ready to fire missiles on Russia

To be sure that the world got the message, French President Emmanuel Macron affirmed what Barrot said, adding that France is ready to start firing missiles at Russia regardless of what Putin says or thinks about it.

There should be no limitations whatsoever on Kiev's ability to target Russian territory as it sees fit, Barrot and Macron both believe.

"We will support Ukraine as intensely and as long as necessary. Why? Because it is our security that is at stake," Macron admitted about the fact that Ukraine is just a proxy state of NATO and the West.

"Each time the Russian army progresses by one square kilometer, the threat gets one square kilometer closer to Europe."

In order to keep Russia at bay, Barrot believes that even more money should be thrown at increasing defense spending. All Western nations, he says, should extort even more money out of taxpayers to keep the proxy war going and thus keep the deep state in power.

"Of course, we will have to spend more if we want to do more," Barrot said matter-of-factly. "We have to face these new challenges."

Ukraine aspires to join NATO, after all. Zelensky has repeatedly stated that he wants his regime to be a part of the Western good ol' boys club no matter what, and Barrot is personally inviting him to join.

"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," Barrot said.

We know that the November 20 missile strike on Russia's Kursk region struck a command post in the village of Maryino, killing 18 Russian servicemen and injuring 33 others, including three personnel from North Korea. That strike was carried out using British-French Storm Shadow missiles, as well as a Ukrainian MiG-29 equipped with an American GBU bomb.

Those injured in the attack include officers from Russia's Southern and Eastern Military Districts. Lt. Gen. Solodchuk was reportedly present on-site as well.

There was also a secondary explosion that occurred later in the evening that same day, injuring 13 additional servicemen.

A government source in the United Kingdom told BBC that right now is a "crunch point" for the war as the world heads into winter and as President-elect Donald Trump readies for a second term.

"I'd turn up with a trebling of European money for Ukraine and I'd go after Russian assets," one source said about how Europe needs to get bilked for more cash to funnel into Zelensky's coffers.

"We need to work out what is the war chest that Ukraine needs to find to fight through 2025 and into 2026  it's hard to ask the U.S. taxpayer to foot the bill."

The latest news about the conflict between Russia and the West can be found at WWIII.news.

Sources include:

United24Media.com

NaturalNews.com
Rep. Nancy Mace introduces bill to ban biological males from female facilities on federal property

South Carolina GOP Rep. Nancy Mace has introduced legislation to ban biological males from entering spaces designated for females on federal property

On Nov. 19, Mace introduced a bill that would ban biological males from using restrooms for women in the Capitol Building. The next day, Mace proposed the Protecting Women's Private Spaces Act, another legislation that would prohibit individuals from using single-sex facilities on federal property unless they align with their biological sex.

The bill sets forth clear definitions of male and female to ensure access to restrooms, locker rooms and other single-sex facilities on federal property corresponds to one's biological sex. In other words, this bill would keep men, including those who "identify" as women, from using women's spaces, including bathrooms, locker rooms and prisons on federal property.

Mace defines federal property in her bill as "any building, land or other real property owned, leased or occupied by any department, agency or instrumentality of the United States (including the Department of Defense and the United States Postal Service) or any other instrumentality wholly owned by the United States or by any department or agency of the District of Columbia or any territory or possession of the United States." (Related: Ohio Senate passes bill that would ban males from using female locker rooms and bathrooms in schools.)

"Women and girls shouldn't have to give up their safety or privacy just because the 'Left' wants to win points with their activist base," Mace said. "This isn't controversial; it's common sense. I'm going to continue defending women and girls from these harmful, out-of-touch, and straight-up weird policies."

If passed, the Protecting Women's Private Spaces Act would mandate compliance on all federal properties, potentially setting a precedent for state-level measures.

Mace promises to "fight like hell" to protect women and girls

Criticisms from liberal lawmakers and media outlets have been swift, with some claiming the legislation singles out newly elected transgender Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-DE).

McBride even gave his statement and described the legislation as "a blatant attempt by far-right extremists to divert attention from their lack of real solutions to the challenges Americans are facing." He added: "We should be focused on bringing down the cost of housing, health care, and child care, not manufacturing culture wars. Delawareans sent me here to make the American dream more affordable and accessible and that's what I'm focused on."

However, Mace stood firm and defended her actions during a recent appearance on "The Michael Knowles Show."

"I'm going to do everything I can to protect women and girls here on the Hill, but also across the nation," she said during the guesting. "This is a question that needs to be answered. Do women have rights or not? Are we going to allow these men to bully us into submission? And I say, no, no more. I'm done with this. There's no amount of bullying and threats on my life that they've made this week that's going to stop me from this."

She promised to "fight like hell" for the protection of women and girls.

Read more news about transgender issues at Gender.news.

Watch this video from InfoWars featuring host Harrison Smith discussing the issue regarding the girls' volleyball team at Randolph High School.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Minor girls labeled "transphobic" after speaking out against LGBT boys using their locker rooms.

Transgender coach David "Sasha" Yates joins Pennsylvania high school GIRLS in locker room to change.

WOKE CULT: CVS tells employees to use whatever restroom or locker room "that is appropriate to the gender they identify with"  and other woke insanities.

Vermont high school blocks members of girls' volleyball team from their own locker room after they complained about presence of trans student.

Guamanian rugby coach sounds alarm as 3 female players injured by biologically male transgender athlete in a match.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

DailyWire.com

AOL.com
Oklahoma governor pledges to help Trump with mass deportation of illegals

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has declared that he will actively assist President-elect Donald Trump in deporting illegal immigrants in the state

In an interview with Fox News, Stitt revealed that he had already appointed Public Safety Commissioner Tim Tipton to create a plan for deporting criminal illegal immigrants. The initiative, which Stitt characterized as both fiscally prudent and focused on public safety, is slated for completion in January and will be developed in coordination with Trump and his transition team. The governor stressed that the plan is a logical step to restore "the rule of law" in the state. (Related: Texas offering Trump 1,400 acres to construct "mass deportation" camp to process illegals.)

"We want to be ready Day 1 in office when President Trump takes office. I put our commissioner of public safety in charge and I said, 'Listen, everybody that's in our prisons that are here illegally, that are breaking our laws, we believe in public safety,'" Stitt said.

According to Stitt, state records indicate that more than 500 criminal illegal immigrants are housed in correctional facilities in Oklahoma, costing $36,000 daily. He also noted a staggering 500 percent rise in fentanyl-related deaths during his tenure, even though Oklahoma is not a border state. Additionally, Stitt referenced a foiled Election Day terror plot involving a suspect residing in Oklahoma as a clear indicator of the state's vulnerability to national security threats.

The governor promised that his initiative would align with Trump's  to prioritize the deportation of individuals posing public safety or national security risks.

"We want to protect the citizens of Oklahoma and we want to be ready to get them out of our state and out of our country before you see another one of the issues that affected Georgia with the Laken Riley case," he added.

Democratic governors refuse to work with Trump on mass deportations of illegal immigrants

Stitt's statements contradict the stance of Democratic governors in other states.

Earlier this month, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey told Lawrence O'Donnell of MSNBC that their law enforcement would not assist Trump in his mass deportation plan.

"No, absolutely not," Healey said on Nov. 6. "But let me say this: I do think it's important that we all recognize that there's going to be a lot of pressure on states and state officials, and I can assure you, we're going to work really hard to deliver."

Meanwhile, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs pledged to collaborate with Trump on border security but made it clear that she would not "tolerate terrorizing communities."

During a visit to the border in Nogales on Nov. 18, Hobbs reaffirmed her intent to collaborate with the incoming Trump administration on policies that benefit Arizonans but pledged resistance to harmful measures, such as mass deportations.

"I will not tolerate misguided policies that don't actually help with the critical work that's happening here, that you're seeing here today, that actually keeps our communities safe and secure," Hobbs said. "I will not tolerate terrorizing communities or threatening Arizonans."

Head over to Trump.news for more stories about mass deportations of illegals under the second Trump administration.

Listen to a Springfield resident named Mark telling the Health Ranger Mike Adams that weaponized migration is economic warfare against American citizens in this clip.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

POLL: Majority of Americans support the mass deportation of illegal immigrants.

Haitian illegals departing Springfield, Ohio over fears of Trump's MASS DEPORTATION policies.

Trump confirms a national emergency is coming so he can carry out mass deportations with the help of the U.S. military.

Trump says there's no other choice: mass deportations must happen swiftly.

Trump to carry out largest mass deportation of illegals in American history despite logistical implications: "It's not a question of a price tag."

Sources include:

YourNews.com

TheHill.com 1

TheHill.com 2

Tucson.com
Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the 19th G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on the morning of Nov. 18, local time. He delivered an important speech at the Session I of the summit on Fight Against Hunger and Poverty under the title "Building a Just World of Common Development," in which he outlined China's eight actions for global development. Today, transformation of a scale not seen in a century is accelerating across the world. Humanity faces unprecedented opportunities and challenges. International personages told People's Daily that Xi's important remarks have charted the course for international cooperation on poverty reduction and pooled strength for global development. They believe that the eight actions will help build a just world of common development. Xi pointed out that China's story is proof that developing countries can eliminate poverty, and that a weaker bird can start early and fly high, when there is the endurance, perseverance, and striving spirit that enables water drops to penetrate rocks over time and turns blueprints into reality. If China can make it, other developing countries can make it too. This is what China's battle against poverty says to the world. With a turbulent international landscape, the topic of "Fight Against Hunger and Poverty" holds significant practical significance, said Osmar Junior, executive secretary of Brazil's Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight against Hunger. President Xi Jinping has led the Chinese people to win the battle against poverty, a remarkable achievement that has drawn global attention, Junior said, adding that Brazil is eager to learn from China's experience. Henrique Couto da Nobrega, president of the Brazil-China Friendship Association, stated that China has successfully eradicated absolute poverty through decades of efforts, enabling people to live better lives. Nobrega said, China's achievements in poverty alleviation are of global significance, and the Chinese experience is worth learning from for Brazil. Deepening cooperation in this field between Brazil and China will further promote the common development of the two countries, he added. Hayati Nufus, a researcher at the Research Center for Politics BRIN in Indonesia, pointed out that targeted poverty alleviation proposed by Xi is a crucial concept. By implementing tailored poverty alleviation measures based on local conditions, different groups are provided with customized poverty alleviation solutions. During this summit, China actively supported the establishment of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty. China's ideas and actions contribute to enhancing the capacity building of developing countries, Nufus said. Nasser Bouchiba, president of the Africa-China Cooperation Association for Development in Morocco, stated that as an important member of the Global South, China, on the G20 platform, calls for the construction of a just world of common development, which demonstrated the sense of responsibility of a major country. Through initiatives such as the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and the three major global initiatives, China has built bridges for cooperation among Global South countries, Bouchiba said. China actively shares experiences, provides technology, and is committed to ensuring that innovative achievements benefit the Global South, enabling more people in developing countries to lead better lives, Bouchiba added. "A key factor behind China's success is its ability, rooted in its own history and experience, to resonate with the needs of developing nations, which make up the majority of the global community," said Charbel Barakat, head of Foreign Desk at Aljarida newspaper in Kuwait. He pointed out that by taking a series of measures to promote common development, China has provided strong support for the better development of a large number of developing countries. China's eight actions for global development outlined by Xi this time include supporting international cooperation on poverty reduction and food security. In response to this, Victor Otazu, a potato expert from Peru who was honored with the Friendship Award by the Chinese government, said, many regions around the world are still suffering from poverty, and the causes of poverty reduction and food security are of great significance in improving people's lives. The initiatives proposed by Xi, such as the Global Development Initiative, focus on addressing real-world issues, and are bound to have a profound impact globally, Otazu said. Matangi Tisa Village in Kenya's Nakuru County is designated as the country's first demonstration village for China-Africa agricultural development and poverty reduction. It is currently under construction. Dennis Munene Mwaniki, executive director of the China-Africa Center at the Africa Policy Institute, stated that China has enabled hundreds of millions of people to get rid of poverty, which is a great achievement. China is actively engaging in cooperation with Africa through platforms such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, assisting in Africa's modernization efforts, from which many Kenyan people have benefited, he said. He believes that China's advancement in modernization will provide more momentum for global development.
Poll: Majority of Ukrainians want peace negotiations to end war with Russia

A recent poll released by Gallup found that more Ukrainians are in favor of their government entering peace talks to end the conflict with Russia.

Ukrainians are increasingly weary of the conflict. In Gallup's surveys from August and October, an average of 52 percent said they would like to see their country negotiate an end to the war as soon as possible. Around 38 percent said their country should keep fighting until they win. Nine percent said they did not know or refused to answer. (Related: Nearly three years into the conflict, Ukraine grapples with dwindling resources as Russia steadily gains ground.)

Out of those who favor negotiations, 52 percent said Ukraine should be open to territorial concessions, 38 percent disagreed and 10 percent said they weren't sure. Roughly half want the United States to play a significant role in peace negotiations.

Support for continuing the war has dropped in all regions in Ukraine. Ukrainians living in the east, the nearest to the frontlines, are the most likely to support peace negotiations, with 63 percent in favor of negotiations to end the conflict and only 27 percent wanting the fighting to continue.

Even among Ukrainians who favor fighting until their country wins the war, there is evidence that how they conceive of "victory" is shifting. In 2022 and 2023, the vast majority  92 percent and 93 percent, respectively  favored continuing to fight until Kyiv is reunited with all internationally recognized territories of Ukraine lost since 2014, including the Donbas regions of Donetsk and Luhansk and the Crimean Peninsula.

While this belief is still a clear majority in the 2024 poll, the figure has slipped down to just 81 percent of those who wanted to continue fighting.

This is the first time since the beginning of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine that a poll has found a majority of Ukrainians in favor of a negotiated end to the conflict.

Russia-Ukraine conflict expected to end in 2025

The poll was published as the conflict reached the 1,000-day mark and as the U.S. just allowed Ukraine to use American-supplied long-range missiles to strike deep into Russian territory. This decision was made as the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden appears to be doing everything it can to provide as much military aid to Ukraine as possible before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in on Jan. 20, 2025 and inevitably scales back the provision of military arms.

Even as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been pushing for more U.S. support as part of his touted "victory plan" for his country  a plan that he intends to push through with regardless of how much it escalates the conflict  even he has acknowledged that the war with Russia will likely end through diplomacy in 2025.

Rising fatigue with the war comes at a time when its immediate future is in question. Russia has made military inroads on the frontline in recent months despite Ukraines incursion into Russia's Kursk region.

Watch this episode of the "Health Ranger Report" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks with Michael Yon about Russia's plans for nuclear retaliation should Ukraine and the United States escalate the conflict.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Col. MacGregor warns Ukraine will be DESTROYED if Biden doesn't stop fueling war.

As poll finds Ukrainians want to end war, U.S. pushes Zelensky to bomb Russia and expand conscription.

Ukraine strikes Russian military installation in Bryansk just one day after Biden authorizes use of U.S.-made, long-range ATACMS missiles.

Ukraine hopes to win Trump with its "victory plan" proposal.

Ukraine denies reports from think tank that it is months away from developing a NUCLEAR WEAPON.

Sources include:

News.Antiwar.com

News.Gallup.com

Brighteon.com
Ukrainian officials pocket half of U.S. aid money, launder some back to Democrats, former Polish official reveals

A former Polish top official recently disclosed that up to 50 percent of the monetary aid package awarded by the United States to Ukraine is being pocketed and stolen by corrupt Ukrainian officials . He also revealed that the money laundering scheme also benefitted the Democrats who were pushing for continued financial and military assistance to Kyiv.

According to RT, Former Polish Deputy Minister Piotr Kulpa made the accusations on Thursday, Nov. 21, while speaking with Ukrainian journalist Lana Shevchuk.

"Everyone understands that war-related corruption is linked not only with Ukraine but also the supplier nation," the news outlet quoted Kulpa. "Who would ever believe that the U.S. burned through $2 trillion in Afghanistan? It's delusional!"

He further explained that U.S. aid programs were crafted as a mechanism to "write off large sums of money that finance shady systems under the Democratic Party's control." Kulpa, a vocal supporter of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump called on the incoming administration to review government finances to discover the truth that 'Ukraine got very little' compared to the amounts mentioned in public statements.

The Council on Foreign Relations cited the Congressional Budget Office in September that $175 billion has been given to Ukraine since February 2022. However, only $106 billion went directly to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's regime.

Kulpa further exposed that 30 percent to 50 percent of the aid, regardless of the nature, was being safely placed in the pockets of corrupt officials.

His claims are potentially true as Transparency International in December 2014 reported that Ukraine is Europe's most corrupt country, with the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) of that year reflecting that the nation did not overcome the threshold of "corruption disgrace."

Further adding to the accusations is the fact that Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska ordered a $4.83 million Bugatti Tourbillon just this July. According to Bugatti, production and delivery of the hypercar will not begin until 2026.

It is not a secret that Trump has been highly critical of the assistance the Biden administration has been sending to Kyiv. He has argued that EU nations should assume the burden of propping up Ukraine, while the American government should focus on its own priorities.

However, since Trump is not assuming office until January 2025, the Biden administration is making its last few pushes to send help to Ukraine. As per Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, the U.S. is sending a new round of military assistance, valued at up to $275 million.

The package would include ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), mortar and artillery rounds and unmanned aerial systems to meet critical battlefield needs as Russia's war of aggression surpasses 1,000 days.

The latest round of assistance marks the 70th drawdown of military equipment for Ukraine from the Department of Defense (DOD) inventories since August 2021, following Biden's commitment in September to surge the more than $5 billion in remaining presidential drawdown authority funds authorized by Congress.

Pentagon warns that Kyiv's corruption continues to complicate its NATO aspirations

According to the DOD's quarterly report presented to the U.S. Congress last week, the corruption in the nation continues to complicate Ukraine's efforts to achieve its European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) aspirations.

Pentagon's Inspector General Robert Storch also cited in the report that the country's military is a "key player" in such scandals.

"Judges, politicians, and officials have been charged with corruption and the Ministry of Defense has been a key player in many corruption scandals," the report noted, citing data from the U.S. State Department and other media sources. (Related: Corrupt Ukraine official found with $6 million in cash allegedly obtained by providing medical exemptions to men avoiding conscription.)

A Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) report revealed earlier this year that a corruption network inside the defense ministry existed. Five individuals attempted to steal 1.5 billion hryvnia (about $39.6 million) in state cash earmarked for mortar shell purchases.

Defense Minister Aleksey Reznikov was also fired because of graft charges. His replacement, Rustem Umerov, stated in January that an audit found $262 million in theft-related charges in weapons purchases.

In May, Ukrainian media revealed a scheme in which officials in Kharkiv diverted millions of euros to fake businesses for non-existent building materials, leaving the area undefended when Russian forces arrived.

Also, General Dmitry Marchenko revealed in an interview that adaptability is a crucial prerequisite for a modern military and Kyiv's force lacks it, And this is not because of the troops.

"Unfortunately, our bureaucracy, our corruption, do not allow us to adapt and quickly produce what we need," he remarked, referring to Ukraine's military sector.

UkraineWitness.com has more updates on the escalating conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Sources for this article include:

InfoWars.com

RT.com

Defense.gov

English.Almayadeen.net
U.S. and Israel slam ICC for issuing arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant

The world is currently watching the United States and Israel as both nations "fundamentally rejected" the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden has also called the ICC decision "outrageous."

"Whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence  none  between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security," Biden added.

Moreover, a National Security Council spokesperson told reporters that the administration remains deeply concerned by the prosecutor's rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision. He said that the U.S. has been clear that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over the matter.

He also stated that the Biden administration has been discussing the next steps with partners, including Israel.

Moreover, U.S. opposition leaders also rebuked the decision. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) even called the ICC "a dangerous joke."

"It is now time for the U.S. Senate to act and sanction this irresponsible body," Graham stressed.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) also invoked the 2002 American Service-Members' Protection Act, also known as "The Hague Invasion Act," which authorizes the use of military force to liberate any U.S. citizen or citizen of a U.S.-allied country arrested in The Hague.

"The ICC is a kangaroo court and Karim Khan is a deranged fanatic," Cotton wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

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 decision on whether Netanyahu and Gallant will be detained will be determined by each of the 124 member states of the ICC. Incidentally, the United States, which is a nonmember, has previously welcomed ICC arrest warrants against Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials. (Related: ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant for war crime of deliberate starvation and crimes against humanity.)

Back in 2020, the first administration of now President-elect Donald Trump opposed attempts by the ICC to investigate U.S. soldiers and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) involved in alleged war crimes between 2003 and 2004 "in secret detention facilities in Afghanistan." Trump even issued sanctions against ICC prosecutors.

However, the Biden administration undid the said sanctions shortly after assuming office.

Mixed reactions of world leaders on the ICC arrest warrant against Israeli officials

Following the announcement, Netanyahu's office described the move as "anti-Semitic," adding Israel won't "give in to pressure" in defense of its citizens.

In separate comments, the Israeli leader compared the decision to "the modern-day Dreyfus trial  and it will end in the same way," referring to Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish army captain who was wrongly convicted of treason in France.

Gallant said he was proud of the privilege he had in leading Israel's security and defense systems during a time of war, adding that Israel will continue this war until all of the objectives are met.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto sided with Israel as it condemned the ICC decision, calling it "shameful and absurd." Prime Minister Viktor Orban said he would invite Netanyahu to visit and defy the ICC arrest warrant.

Argentinian President Javier Milei said that his nation "declares its deep disagreement" with the decision. The warrant "ignores Israel's legitimate right to self-defense against the constant attacks by terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah," he said.

Meanwhile, a German government spokesperson said that the country will "carefully examine" the ICC's arrest warrants but will not take further steps until a visit to the country.

"The Federal Government was involved in the drafting of the ICC Statute and is one of the ICC's biggest supporters. This position is also a result of German history," the spokesperson said. "At the same time, a consequence of German history is that we have a unique relationship and a great responsibility to Israel."

Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell, signified their respect for the ICC decision and said that warrants were not political and should be respected and implemented.

"This decision is a binding decision and all states, all state parties of the court, which include all members of the European Union, are binding to implement this court decision," he said.

International organizations such as the United Nations also sided with the ICC with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' saying that the UN "respects the work and independence" of the ICC, as reported by his spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Amnesty International said that the "wheels of international justice have finally caught up with those alleged to be responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Palestine and Israel."

Human Rights Watch also weighed in its opinion: "The ICC arrest warrants against senior Israeli leaders and a Hamas official break through the perception that certain individuals are beyond the reach of the law."

Head over to IsraelCollapse.com for stories related to this.

Sources for this article include:

TheCradle.co

BBC.com

FoxNews.com

AlJazeera.com
Colorado and the western United States could experience extreme droughts every six years by the end of this century if global temperatures continue to rise.

Researchers linked these worsening drought conditions to climate change, emphasizing the need for immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Historically, severe droughts like the one that gripped the region between 2020 and 2022 occurred less than once every 1,000 years. However, warmer temperatures have altered this pattern, intensifying drought severity and frequency.

Joel Lisonbee, a scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder, explained that future droughts will be longer, more widespread, and harsher, said The Denver Post.

The 2020-2022 drought showcased the devastating effects of climate change on the West. Researchers found that higher temperatures accounted for 61% of the drought's severity, while reduced precipitation made up the remaining 39%.

These dry conditions fueled Colorado's three largest wildfires on record, burning over 541,000 acres and leaving behind environmental damage, including mudslides that blocked Interstate 70 and caused deadly flash floods.

READ MORE : Rising Seas Could Submerge US Coastal Cities by 2100, Affecting Millions

Wildfires, Air Quality, and the Urgent Need for Climate Action

Boulder County's Marshall Fire in December 2021, the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history, highlighted the year-round risks. Smoke from fires across the West also worsened air quality, with some days ranking among the worst globally for the Front Range.

According to a study published in Science Advances, as the atmosphere warms, it holds more water vapor, leading to increased evaporation and decreased precipitation. This feedback loop exacerbates drought conditions, making traditional solutions like building reservoirs insufficient.

"The only way to prevent this is to stop temperature increases, which means reducing greenhouse gas emissions," said Rong Fu, a UCLA atmospheric sciences professor and lead author of the study.

During the 2020 drought, every Colorado county experienced severe conditions, prompting Governor Jared Polis to declare an emergency for 21 counties on the Western Slope. Experts warn that without decisive action, Colorado's water resources, agriculture, and communities will face ongoing challenges from intensifying droughts.
A group of more than 30 pilot whales that stranded themselves on Ruakaka Beach near Whangarei in New Zealand was successfully returned to the ocean, thanks to the efforts of conservation workers and hundreds of volunteers.

The whales, which were found stranded on Sunday, were carefully lifted on sheets and refloated into the water.

Despite the successful rescue, four of the whales, including three adults and one calf, tragically died, New Zealand's conservation agency reported, according to AP News.

The Department of Conservation praised the dedication of the local community in helping to save the stranded pod, calling the response "incredible."

Joel Lauterbach, a spokesperson for the agency, expressed admiration for the volunteers, stating, "It's amazing to witness the genuine care and compassion people have shown toward these magnificent animals. This response demonstrates the deep connection we all share with our marine environment."

READ MORE : Monkeypox Evolution Reaches Deadly Strain, Now Detected in US

New Zealand's Geography and Cultural Significance in Whale Strandings

New Zealand has long been known as a hotspot for whale strandings, with pilot whales being particularly vulnerable. In 1918, a massive stranding of about 1,000 pilot whales occurred at the Chatham Islands.

While the exact cause of strandings remains unclear, experts believe that New Zealand's geography plays a significant role. The country's coastlines, with their shallow and sloping beaches, may confuse pilot whales, which navigate using echolocation.

On Monday, a Maori cultural ceremony was held for the whales that did not survive. The Maori people regard whales as a taonga, or sacred treasure, with great cultural significance.

As the rescue efforts continue, the Department of Conservation is monitoring the area to ensure no further strandings occur.

Since 1840, New Zealand has recorded more than 5,000 whale strandings, with pilot whales being one of the most frequently stranded species, according to Sky News.
Sorry, something doesn't look right.

Something seems unusual about your device or browser. Please contact support.
Mumbai, Nov 25 : Actor Rishi Kapoor once playfully scolded his younger brother Rajiv Kapoor for talking too much during an interview.

He humorously remarked that Rajiv had given him a "headache." The brothers appeared together on Simi Garewal's popular show, "Rendezvous with Simi Garewal."

In 2022, the actress-host shared a clip from the episode on her Instagram account, captioning it, "Rendezvous Gems. This is the way I like to remember them. Rishi Kapoor would have been 70 today. Rajiv Kapoor also went too soon. What fun they were! I miss them."

In the clip, as Simi called for a "cut," a comedic moment unfolded. Rishi, visibly irritated, turned to Rajiv and joked, "You talk so much. You've given me a headache with all your talking. How much do you talk, man?" The playful scolding turned into a light-hearted sibling banter, with Rishi jokingly frustrated by his brother's chatter. Rajiv, known for his calm demeanor, laughed it off, transforming the exchange into an endearing moment that left everyone on set smiling.

The candid interaction highlighted the humorous, easygoing bond shared by the Kapoor brothers. Despite their stardom, they were relatable siblings at heart, teasing and sharing laughs.

Fans loved the throwback clip, with one commenting, "Ok, so Rajiv Kapoor is how Ranbir will look when he gets old," and another mentioned, "Ranbir's voice and personality are totally similar to Rajiv Kapoor ji... totally similar." Rishi Kapoor passed away in April 2020 after a two-year battle with leukemia.

In a heartfelt statement, the Kapoor family shared, "Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45 am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukemia.

The doctors and medical staff said he kept them entertained to the last." Rajiv Kapoor, best known for his role as Narendra in "Ram Teri Ganga Maili", died on February 9, 2021, following a heart attack. The loss of both brothers in such a short span left a void in Bollywood and among fans who cherished their talent.
Panaji, Nov 25 : Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon, who was recently seen in her debut production 'Do Patti', which was released on streaming, has shared her take on the issue of nepotism that's prevalent across the board.

The actress, who is herself a complete outsider, shared that the Hindi film industry welcomed her with open arms. However, she mentioned that when an artiste is not from the film industry, it does take them sometime for them to get to a position which they desire.

The actress attended the 55th edition of the International Film Festival of India in Goa on Monday, and engaged in a conversation during the session 'Empowering Change: Women Leading the Way in Cinema'.

She said, "The industry has given me a very warm welcome since the time I have come. Of course, when you don't belong to a film background, it takes time for you to get there. It takes time for you to get those opportunities you crave for. It takes time for you to even get those magazine covers. So everything is a bit of a struggle. But after 2-3 films, if you keep working hard and if you are at it, nothing can stop you".

However, the actress made a bold point as she said that Bollywood is alone not responsible for nepotism.

She shared, "I feel the industry is not so much responsible for nepotism. It's also the media and the audience. The audiences want to watch what the media is putting about certain star kids. Because the audience is interested in them, the industry feels that since the audience is interested, let's make a movie with them".

"So I think it's a circle. But I feel if you are talented, you will get there. If you're not talented, and if the connection is not there with the audiences you will not get there", she added.
Rome, Nov 25 : External Affairs Minister (EAM), S. Jaishankar, on Monday, met with the Foreign Minister of Ukraine and discussed the conflict with Russia at the sidelines of the MED Mediterranean Dialogues Conference in Rome, Italy.

Apart from Ukraine, EAM Jaishankar met with his counterparts from France, Lebanon, and Croatia as well.

On his meeting with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, the EAM reiterated India's support for "dialogue and diplomacy" to end the long-running conflict.

"Good to meet FM of Ukraine @andrii_sybihain Rome today. Useful exchange on advancing our bilateral cooperation. Reiterated India's support for dialogue and diplomacy," he said on X.

The Ukrainian FM in a post on X said: "I held meaningful talks with @DrSJaishankar on a number of bilateral and international issues. I appreciate India's support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. India's global role is critical to advancing a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine."

He further added: "I informed about the latest developments, Russia's strikes on our energy system, including nuclear objects, and its use of an IRBM. We discussed the implementation of our leaders' agreements and agreed to hold the next intergovernmental commission meeting in the coming months."

EAM Jaishankar also discussed Indo-Pacific, Ukraine, and global issues with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot.

"A useful stock-taking of our bilateral partnership. Also discussed Indo-Pacific, Ukraine, and global issues," EAM Jaishankar said in a post on X.

He also interacted with Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib and his Croatian counterpart Gordan Grlic Radman.

"Glad to interact with Lebanese FM Abdallah Bou Habib at the @RomeMEDialogues. Look forward to remaining in touch," he said.

"Appreciate seeing FM @grlicradman of Croatia at the@RomeMEDialogues. His sentiments for our ties are always positive," he said in another X post.

Earlier on Monday, EAM Jaishankar addressed the Rome Mediterranean Dialogue where he said that the new element of the relationship between India and the Mediterranean would be connectivity, and called the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor "can be a game changer".

In his opening remarks at the MED Mediterranean Dialogues Conference in Rome, the EAM highlighted the growing significance of connectivity in global relations, especially in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its impact on the region.

He noted that while the conflict has complicated the situation, progress on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) continues on the eastern side, particularly between India, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.

EAM Jaishankar pointed out the importance of the I2U2 grouping, which consists of India, Israel, the UAE, and the US, and is expected to become more active in the future.

He also expressed concerns over the escalating situation in West Asia and mentioned that India has been in regular touch with both Israel and Iran to "advocate constraints" and "enhance communication" in an attempt to resolve the conflict between both countries.

He reiterated India's strong condemnation of terrorism, and the abduction of hostages by Hamas, and affirmed support for reaching a ceasefire.

EAM Jaishankar, however, also emphasised the need to abide by international humanitarian law and called large-scale civilian casualties "unacceptable".

"Today I focus my remarks on the conflicts. The situation in the Middle East is obviously deeply concerning, both for what has happened and what may still come. India unequivocally condemns terrorism and hostage-taking. It also regards large-scale civilian casualties in military operations to be unacceptable. International humanitarian law cannot be disregarded in immediate terms. We should all support a ceasefire," he said.
Buffalo Mayor Christopher P. Scanlon appears to be targeting development in the city as one of his first acts.

Brendan Mehaffy, executive director of the Office of Strategic Planning, and Howard Grynspan, the citys director of real estate, both have left their City Hall jobs in an abrupt shakeup.

Grynspan was fired Monday, according to a statement from Scanlon, while the mayor said he accepted the resignation of Mehaffy, effective Dec. 16.

These decisions were made after much thought and consideration and in-line with my well-known management approach to improve departmental functions, hold administration leadership accountable, and make city government function more efficiently and cost-effectively, Scanlon said in a statement emailed and posted to X Tuesday afternoon.

The moves came just after Scanlon and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz criticized the actions and strategy of the regional land bank  formally the Buffalo and Erie Niagara Land Improvement Corp.  whose 11-member board of government officials was led by Mehaffy, who has effectively been the head of economic development for the city for most of the last 16 years.

Scanlon declined to comment further about what happened or his reasons, but Mehaffy said in an emailed statement to The Buffalo News that he had submitted my resignation to Acting Mayor Scanlon, adding that I wish (him) and his team nothing but the best in their service to our city.

Scanlon, Poloncarz criticize regional land bank they control over size and cost of houses Days after unveiling details of its biggest affordable housing initiative to date, Western New York's regional land bank is under heavy fire from the very same government leaders whose administrations effectively control its operations, funding and destiny  despite land bank officials' efforts to keep them apprised of its progress.

He did not say why or whether he was asked to resign, but he had been engaged in his regular activities and work functions until then.

I have been incredibly privileged to serve the city I love for the past 16 years, Mehaffy said. I am most proud of the having built a cohesive team of development professionals that reflect the diversity of our city and changed the mindset of a community about what it could dream to be. The team is well positioned to tackle the challenges that remain and pursue the development opportunities ahead.

A Buffalo News reporter attempted to ask Scanlon about the departures at an unrelated press event, but he, through a spokesperson, declined to answer.

The changes represented an unexpected shakeup of the city administration that Scanlon had inherited from Brown this month, with just a year left in the mayoral term before he faces an election with as many as three other candidates expected to run, including state Sen. Sean Ryan. And it poses a shock to a business and development community that had grown accustomed to working with Mehaffy.

I enjoyed working with Brendan. I thought he was very intelligent, very passionate, said Paul Ciminelli, CEO of Ciminelli Real Estate Corp. He was very mission-driven in trying to get things accomplished in the city. We were able to get quite a few things done in the last few years. Hes going to be really missed.

Mehaffy, a graduate of Binghamton University, the University at Buffalo and the London School of Economics, joined former Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Browns administration in 2008, first as assistant corporation counsel before taking on the role of leading the new Office of Strategic Planning. In that position, he oversaw the citys real estate, land-use, planning and zoning teams, and guided the efforts to encourage redevelopment and new economic activity in the city.

During his time, he oversaw the initiative to rewrite the citys decades-old zoning laws with the new Green Code, at the time considered one of the most forward-looking development guidelines in the country. The city also saw more than $10 billion in redevelopment that brought thousands of new apartments to the citys downtown, along with new restaurants, bars, shops and other activities in a flurry of new development.

As part of those efforts, the city also encouraged the preservation and adaptive-reuse of historic buildings, as well as the cleanup and reuse of brownfields and industrial sites, particularly the Northland Corridor on the East Side. It supported the construction or repair of thousands of housing units for low- to moderate-income families and those needing supportive services.

And it has worked on efforts to reconnect the city to the waterfront, such as the redevelopment of Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Park, and to modernize and upgrade the citys downtown infrastructure.

Grynspan, reached by phone earlier in the day, also declined to say whether he had been fired or asked to resign.

Its been an honor to serve the people of Buffalo as director of real estate for the last two and a half years, he said.

He still has a real estate brokers license, and plans to return to that business both locally and downstate.

The departures came after Scanlon and Poloncarz both issued statements sharply critical of the land banks management of a new initiative to build 47 single-family homes on vacant lots in the city and another five in Cheektowaga.

Both politicians had questioned the delay in starting construction on the homes since the joint city-county effort was first announced nearly two years ago. Poloncarz also challenged the cost, size and scope of the homes that will be built, which he said are much larger and more expensive than originally intended.

And both voiced doubt in the land banks capabilities, and suggested a change was needed, possibly to sideline the land bank and bring in a different developer for the homes. Mehaffy had championed the land bank and its strategy, while Grynspan  who reported to Mehaffy  was responsible for transferring title to the 47 city-owned lots to the land bank.

News Staff Reporter Justin Sondel contributed to this article.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and lauded the Cabinet's decision after it approved Rs 2,750 crore for the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) 2.0.

"Thanks to PM Narendra Modi Ji for the visionary initiative," the Union Home Minister said on Monday.

In a post on X, the Union Home Minister expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the decision.

"The Union Cabinet's decision to approve the Rs 2,750 crore Atal Innovation Mission 2.0 initiative will turbocharge the innovative power of our youth by extending the culture of thinking out of the box to new regions and fields," he said in a post on X.

The Union Minister said that the AIM scheme will 'turbocharge' the innovative power of the youth.

Earlier on Monday, the Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, approved the continuation of its flagship initiative, the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) under the aegis of NITI Aayog.

The initiative has an enhanced scope of work and an allocated budget of Rs 2,750 crore for the period until March 31, 2028.

According to an official statement, AIM 2.0 is a step towards a "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India) that aims to expand, strengthen, and deepen India's already vibrant innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

The approval underscores the government's commitment to fostering a robust innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in India.

With India at rank 39th on the Global Innovation Index and being home to the world's third-largest start-up ecosystem, the next phase of the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM 2.0) is expected to further elevate India's global competitiveness.

The continuation of AIM will directly contribute to creating better jobs, innovative products, and high-impact services across sectors.

While building on the accomplishments of AIM 1.0, such as Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) and Atal Incubation Centres (AIC), AIM 2.0 marks a qualitative shift in the mission's approach.

Whereas AIM 1.0 involved implementing programs that built innovation infrastructure to strengthen India's then-nascent ecosystem, AIM 2.0 will pilot new initiatives designed to fill gaps in the ecosystem and scale successes through Central and state governments, industry, academia, and community.

AIM 2.0 is designed to strengthen India's innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in three ways, including increasing input, improving the success rate, and enhancing the quality of 'output', the statement said.
Mumbai, Nov 26 : Indian actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas shared a glimpse of a chilling picture of herself all soaked up as she shot for a rain scene in London in November.

Priyanka took to her Instagram stories, where she shared several pictures and clips. The first was a hallway covered with blood and she asked What do you think is happening in this episode of Citadel 2?

She also shared a picture of herself covered with jackets and hot water bottle to keep herself warm after shooting for a rain scene. The actress looks visibly cold as she smiled at the camera.

For the caption, she wrote: When its a rain scene in November in London.

A few days ago, Priyanka took to Instagram, where she shared a gamut of images, where she had the sun rays fall on her perfect skin.

In the last two pictures, the actress, who is seen in a burgundy outfit standing and striking a pose for the camera as the sun added the perfect natural lighting to the photographs. It was the same outfit she shared her latest pictures as she shot for a rain sequence.

Playing with the sun, she wrote as the caption.

On the professional front, Priyanka, who was last seen in Sam Heughan and Celine Dion-starrer Love Again, is all set to be seen in the series Citadel 2. In the actioner, Priyanka will reprise her role as the fiery Nadia. Actor Richard Madden will also return. Other details about the second installment are still under wraps.

Citadel first released in 2023. The spy action series was created by Josh Appelbaum, Bryan Oh, and David Weil for Amazon Prime Video, with the Russo brothers acting as executive producers.

It stars Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra as Citadel agents Mason Kane and Nadia Sinh, respectively. Kane discovers a new organization, Manticore, led by Dahlia (Lesley Manville), leading to a bad accident. Eight years later, he's living quietly as Kyle Conroy, with his memory wiped, until an old colleague (Stanley Tucci) needs his help.

Talking about films, she has Heads Of State with Idris Elba and John Cena, and The Bluff co-starring Karl Urban, in her upcoming lineup.
Hyderabad, Nov 26 : The work on the Hyderabad Metro Rail's second phase will be launched in January next year as the Hyderabad Airport Metro Ltd (HAML) is gearing up to take up long-pending connectivity to the Old City.

Though the Telangana government is waiting for the Centre's nod for five corridors of 76.4 km, which is estimated to cost Rs 24,269 crore, the special purpose vehicle of the state government is set to undertake the work on the Old City Corridor.



A major portion of this 7.5 km long corridor from Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) to Chandrayangutta was originally planned under the first phase but could not be taken up due to various issues.



HAML Managing Director N.V.S. Reddy told media on Tuesday that the work on the Old City Corridor will begin from the first week of January while demolition of the properties acquired through the Land Acquisition Act on the route will be taken up in December last week.



A total of 54 stations are planned in the second phase, including six stations on the MGBS-Chandrayangutta corridor.



Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is keen to complete all the work within the next four years. N.V.S. Reddy said that there will be minimal acquisition of private properties except in the Old City. Property owners are being offered Rs 65,000 per square yard in the Old City.



None of the 106 religious and heritage structures along the proposed route in the Old City will be demolished. "We have worked out engineering solutions to avoid them," he said.



The HAML MD revealed that the entire second phase, except the 1.6 km stretch inside the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), will be elevated.



All five proposed corridors under Part-A of the second phase will be the extension of three corridors of the first phase. The daily ridership under the second phase is expected to be 7.96 lakh by 2028.



The longest among the five proposed corridors will be the Nagole-Shamshabad RGIA (Airport Corridor). This 36.8 km long corridor will have 24 stations. This will be an extension of the present Blue Line - Raidurg-Nagole (29 km).



Another corridor of 11.6 km with eight stations is planned from Raidurg to Kokapet Neopolis. The Old City Corridor will be an extension of the present Green Line - JBS to MGBS (11 km). This will further connect to the Airport Corridor at Chandrayangutta.



The Miyapur-Patancheru corridor will be 13.4 km long with six stations. This will be an extension of the present Red Line - LB Nagar-Miyapur (29 km). LB Nagar-Hayat Nagar corridor of 7.1 km length with six stations will also be an extension of the Red Line.



Reddy said citizens can access the airport route from any of the three existing lines and extensions.



Part A of the second phase will be taken up as a 50:50 Joint Venture (JV) project of the Telangana government and the Central government at an estimated cost of Rs 24,269 crore.



The Telangana government's share of the project is 30 per cent (Rs 7,313 crore) while the Centre's share is 18 per cent (Rs 4,230 crore). Loans will be raised from JICA, ADB, NDB and other institutions, whose total share would be 48 per cent (Rs 11,693 crore) while the PPP component would be 4 per cent (Rs1,033 crore).



The state government recently accorded administrative sanction for the five corridors of Part A of the second phase.



Under Part B of the second phase, the HAML has proposed a 40 km long corridor from RGIA to Fourth City (Skill University). The field surveys for this route are underway while alignment and cost estimates are being worked out.



The first phase of Hyderabad Metro, covering three dense traffic corridors and spanning over 69 km, was built with a cost of Rs 22,148 crore. It is the world's largest Metro Rail project in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.



About five lakh passengers are using it for their daily commute. The highest ridership of 5.63 lakh was recorded on August 14, 2024.



According to Reddy, the cumulative ridership of Hyderabad Metro in the last seven years is 63.40 crore.



Initially, the Hyderabad Metro stood second in the country, next only to Delhi, in terms of operational network. With no expansion in the last 10 years, it slipped to third position. While Delhi is first with a 415 km long network, Bengaluru with a 74 km long network is in second position.



With Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai executing expansion projects, Hyderabad is likely to drop down to ninth position, if urgent action is not initiated, said the MD.




New Delhi, Nov 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that the Constitution is a guide to our present as well as future.

Addressing the Constitution Day celebrations at the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister said that in the last 75 years, the Constitution has always shown the right path, including the time when the Emergency was imposed.

Our Constitution has met every need and expectation of the country, he said, adding that the powers provided under the Constitution only paved the way for complete implementation of its provisions in Jammu & Kashmir.

PM Modi said that our founding fathers and mothers knew that Indias dreams would reach new heights with time and that the needs of its citizens would change with time.

Thats why they did not leave the Constitution as just a law book but made it a continuous flowing stream, the PM said.

Quoting Dr BR Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, PM Modi said: The Constitution is not merely a lawyer's document, it is a vehicle of life, and its spirit is always the spirit of age.

He said that every citizen of the nation aspires for a Vikshit Bharat (developed India) to enjoy a quality and dignified life.

At the beginning of his address, he also recalled the 26/11 terrorist attacks and reiterated that every terrorist organisation challenging India's security will be dealt with a befitting reply.

PM Modi said We cannot forget that it is the anniversary of the 26/11 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. I reiterate the resolve of the country that every terrorist organisation challenging India's security will be dealt with a befitting reply.

He paid his respects to the people who lost lives in the 2008 Mumbai attacks

The Prime Minister said that the 75th Constitution Day is a subject matter of immense pride for the nation and he bows down to the Constitution and all members of the Constituent Assembly.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi greeted the nation on the occasion of Constitution Day and the 75th anniversary of the Constitution.

In a post on X, he wrote: Best wishes to all the countrymen on Constitution Day on the auspicious occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution. #75YearsOfConstitution

Constitution Day of India, also known as Samvidhan Divas, is celebrated on November 26 every year to celebrate the adoption of the Indian Constitution. On this day in 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India formally adopted the Constitution, which later came into effect on January 26, 1950.

Constitution Day was officially recognised in 2015 by the Union government, with the aim to spread awareness about the Constitution's importance, promote constitutional values among citizens and encourage them to reflect on the values of democracy, justice, equality, and liberty that it upholds.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Mostly cloudy and windy with showers developing this afternoon. High 66F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 31F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have discovered the underlying biology that identifies a subset of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who have a higher risk version of the disease and are more likely to relapse despite treatment. The findings allowed researchers to identify new potential therapeutic treatments for patients with this specific form of cancer with a high risk of recurrence. The findings were published today by the journal Nature Cancer.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) accounts for approximately 30 percent of all pediatric cancers and is the most common cancer in children. While most children with ALL are cured, a significant percentage of patients continue to relapse. ALL affects the immature forms of white blood cells, called lymphocytes and has two types: B-ALL and T-ALL, named for whether B-lymphocytes or T-lymphocytes are affected.

Historically, children with T-ALL fared worse than those with B-ALL. However, with modern therapy, newly diagnosed patients with B-ALL and T-ALL have similar chances of being cured. Nevertheless, while some children with B-ALL respond to therapy after relapsing, most children with T-ALL who relapse are not cured. This is due to a diverse set of causes of T-ALL, not all of which can be treated the same. Therefore, identifying subtypes of T-ALL and potential therapeutic options is critical for patients who relapse and have no other available treatment options.

Building upon encouraging findings published in the journal Nature earlier this year, researchers wanted to better understand cellular and genetic factors contributing to treatment resistance and disease relapse. To do this, researchers relied on single cell sequencing of more than 595,000 immature blood cells or blasts to pinpoint why some of them develop into cases of T-ALL that are at a higher risk of relapsing.

"Generally, cancers like leukemia get stuck along a differentiation path, meaning that the blasts do not go on and form normal blood cells," said co-senior author Kai Tan, PhD, a professor in the Department of Pediatrics and an investigator in the Center for Childhood Cancer Research at CHOP. "By using this technique and comparing cancerous cells to healthy control donor samples, single cell sequencing helped us identify which cells result in these high-risk cancers."

In this study, researchers wanted to link tumor subpopulations with clinical outcome, create an atlas of healthy pediatric blood cell development, and apply single-cell multiomic analysis to a diverse cohort of T-ALL cases.

The researchers identified a subpopulation of bone-marrow progenitor-like (BMP-like) T-ALL associated with treatment failure and overall poor survival. Progenitor cells are descendants of stem cells that can further differentiate into different types of cells. While prior bulk analysis missed specific gene signatures of these very specific cells, the single cell molecular sequencing found a gene signature on these BMP-like cells that predicted poor outcome across multiple subtypes of T-ALL.

By knowing its gene signature, researchers then used in silico and in vitro drug screenings to identify therapies that could potentially target the cells associated with high-risk cancer. The researchers found that venetoclax, an FDA-approved drug used to treat other forms of leukemia and lymphoma, appears to effectively target these BMP-like cells. The researchers hope to design a clinical trial that could test the effectiveness of the drug for patients with the gene signature identified in this study, with the hope that it could help patients with relapsed or refractory disease.

"One of the major challenges in treating T-ALL is that we know certain drugs work for some patients who relapse, but these drugs are not effective for all patients who relapse. Identifying the patients who may benefit from new therapies is critical," said co-senior author David T. Teachey, MD, co-leader of the Immune Dysregulation Frontier Program and an attending physician and researcher at CHOP. "By identifying more gene signatures like what we describe in this study, we will have a much better idea of which therapeutic agents are most likely to help specific subsets of patients, which is the goal of precision medicine."

This study was supported by the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, Gabriella Miller Kids First grant X01HD100702, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Hyundai Hope of Wheels, National Institutes of Health grants R03CA256550, R01CA193776, U10CA180886, R01CA264837, U10CA18099, U24CA114766, U24CA196173, U2CCA233285, U54HL165442, F30-CA-268782, and F30-CA-277965, the St. Baldrick's Foundation, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Harrison Willing Memorial Research Fund, the Invisible Prince Foundation, the Aiden Everett Davies Innovation Fund, and the NIH Medical Scientist Training Program grant T32 GM07170. Novartis Inc. funded the original clinical trial in which data used for this study was generated.
Days after unveiling details of its biggest affordable housing initiative to date, Western New Yorks regional land bank is under heavy fire from the very same government leaders whose administrations effectively control its operations, funding and destiny  despite land bank officials efforts to keep them apprised of its progress.

Regional land bank kicks off initiative to replace vacant lots with houses in Buffalo The regional land bank is poised to begin a major workforce housing initiative in Buffalo that will add 47 single-family homes over the next two years, squeezing many of them into narrow urban lots only slightly wider than the homes themselves.

Buffalo Mayor Christopher P. Scanlon and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz issued separate statements to The Buffalo News late Friday and Monday, criticizing the land banks management of the new initiative to build 47 single-family homes on vacant lots in the city and another five in Cheektowaga.

Those plans now call for the homes in the city to be built mostly from scratch on existing vacant lots, using one of four model designs, and then sold to qualifying buyers earning no more than three times the federal poverty level, or $93,600. The cost of building each home is expected to be about $400,000 to $425,000, but they would be subsidized and sold competitively at prices of about $250,000, so that the mortgages would be affordable. The losses would be absorbed by the federal funds, with sale proceeds going back into construction of additional homes until all the money is exhausted.

In their statements, though, both politicians questioned the delay in starting construction on the homes since the joint city-county effort was first announced nearly two years ago. Poloncarz also challenged the cost, size and scope of the homes that will be built, which he said are much larger and more expensive than originally intended.

The affordable housing crisis in Erie County is real and the countys objective remains the same: to get working class families into affordable homes as quickly as possible, said county spokesman Peter Anderson. The County Executive has spoken with Acting Mayor Scanlon and both officials agree that the cost, timeline delays, and size of these proposed homes are all problematic.

More significantly, while both expressed support for the initiative, both voiced doubt in the ability of the land bank  formally known as the Buffalo and Erie Niagara Land Improvement Corp., or BENLIC  to get the job done, and suggested it was time for a change.

The lack of progress with starting actual home construction in the two years since the program commenced has called into question the land banks ability to implement this critical affordable housing initiative efficiently and cost-effectively, Scanlon said in an emailed statement.

The county, which now says that it never wanted the land bank to act as developer, went further.

This initiative has been underway for 18 months, and not a single shovel has been put in the ground while the cost, size and scope of these homes has ballooned, calling into question whether BENLIC is the proper developer for this initiative, Anderson said. It is now apparent that this project requires a development team with more experience, capacity and cost controls.

BENLIC officials said Monday that they were blindsided by the statements, adding that they have been transparent throughout the planning process.

Its a complete shock to everyone. We had no idea, said Jocelyn Gordon, executive director of the land bank. There are no surprises here.

The land banks board is predominantly made up of city and county representatives, with five from the city and three from the county, in addition to one designee each from the cities of Lackawanna and Tonawanda and from the state. The board chairman role is held by Brendan Mehaffy, executive director of the citys Office of Strategic Planning.

The land bank held a public briefing Thursday for its board members, government officials and local housing practitioners. But that was the same day The News reported on the land banks plans in advance of BENLIC filing for building permits.

Gordon described that as a coincidence, but it caught Poloncarz and Scanlon off guard because neither was consulted in advance, said Zaque Evans, the countys chief economic development officer. Evans said that when BENLIC did propose issuing a news release and sought comments, Poloncarz objected, and didnt expect to read a news story about it.

Gordon said she was baffled by what had happened. We want to repair the rift, she said. Whatever is going on, we want to address the miscommunication.

The fight appears to stem from disagreements between the city, county and land bank over how and who should manage the process, what types of homes to build, and how much to spend. But it also appears to be power struggle over who knows best.

Erie County announced plans in early 2023 to spend $13.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act money to fund construction of starter homes on vacant lots, with the city joining in later with another $10 million. The goal was to start to address the ongoing housing shortage, while helping to fill gaps in neighborhoods.

Evans said the county had wanted a more experienced developer in the workforce housing space to handle the construction, while BENLIC would hold and convey the lots. But the city and BENLIC argued to give the land bank a chance.

The county executive was very clear, Evans said. We want to make sure that our money is used efficiently and effectively to get as many workforce housing units online to take some piece out of this housing crisis.

Since then, he said, there have been multiple deadlines that have been missed or pushed back, with both Poloncarz and the county representatives on the board voicing concerns. And these reservations came to a boiling point recently, particularly with the unexpected news coverage.

BENLIC, though, said it signed formal agreements with the city and county 11 months ago, and obtained the city properties in June. It also had to finalize the architectural designs and construction drawings, which are now under review by the city, with construction bids going out in December.

Additionally, Poloncarz has an issue with the size and cost of the proposed homes. Anderson and Evans said the county executive wanted the initiative to focus on smaller starter homes of 1,200 to 1,400 square feet, because those are the ones that builders arent putting up anymore, so theres a shortage in the market.

There was never an intent for homes approaching 1,800 square feet and costing nearly $450,000 to build, Anderson said.

BENLIC said those costs could ultimately be lower once bids come in, but this is what housing costs, and thats the reason that no one in the private sector is doing it, Gordon said. Weve been very forthcoming about pricing and how much it costs to build a home. Its 40% more expensive, and its not a BENLIC thing.

But Evans said Poloncarz had made clear that that was far too high, and he had conveyed that through me to BENLIC and through our board members to BENLIC.

Instead, Poloncarz and other county officials believe the land bank should use modular construction to reduce the costs, in lots where thats physically possible. That would bring costs down to $300,000 to $350,000, while speeding up the process, building more houses sooner and saving on administrative costs. Im not saying we could do modular on every single lot, but a substantial portion can be done modular, Evans said.
Having cancer can be one of the most physically and emotionally draining experiences of a person's life, but navigating this disease without adequate support or resources makes this journey even more burdensome. A new study led by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) has found that the cancer peer support program Stronger Together shows promise for providing this critical social support, particularly in low-resource settings in low- and middle-income countries.

Published in JCO Global Oncology, a journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the pilot study evaluated this peer support model among patients with breast and gynecological cancers in Vietnam, and found that the program can help improve psychological outcomes, including depression, anxiety, stress, and overall physical and mental health quality of life. Cancer patients who did and did not participate in the Stronger Together program experienced these improvements, but the patients who received the peer support improved at a much faster rate than those who did not.

The study is the first to examine a peer support intervention model for patients with cancer in Vietnam. The results show promise for a scalable, low-cost program that could be implemented in any setting, but especially LMICs, where the mental health burden among cancer patients is high and resources are low.

This study confirms the importance and positive benefits of having peer support interventions for patients with cancer, especially immediately after patients receive the cancer diagnosis. In Stronger Together, cancer survivors' lived experiences are highlighted, and their ability to provide hope and social support to new patients are strengthened through a culturally and contextually relevant program structure and training curriculum." Dr. PhuongThao Le, study lead and corresponding author, assistant professor of community health sciences at BUSPH

The Stronger Together model is an adaptation of the Woman to Woman program that originated at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City. Dr. Le partnered with Carolyn Taylor, founder of Global Focus on Cancer, to adapt the model to the Vietnam cancer care context. Both programs pair newly diagnosed cancer patients with trained volunteers who are cancer survivors, placing them in a unique position to provide emotional support and mentorship, and discuss concerns. The volunteers are supervised by site coordinators who are healthcare providers or community health workers.

For the pilot study, the research team selected 186 volunteers who completed a Stronger Together training curriculum in Vietnam and paired them with patients newly diagnosed with breast or gynecological cancer, matching them based on cancer type, age, personal preferences, availability, and other shared factors. The mentors and patients met virtually (due to COVID-19 restrictions) between March 2021 and September 2022, for as often and as long as the patient indicated was necessary - which was, on average, two to three times for 15 to 60 minutes over the study period.

Through participant survey data and standardized questionnaires on mental health conditions, the researchers analyzed mental health and wellness outcomes among patients in Stronger Together, as well as those who did not participate in the program.

Both groups of participants had high baseline levels for distress, depression, anxiety, and stress. Among the patients receiving peer support, the team observed reductions in participants' depression, anxiety, stress, as well as improvements in quality of life, including overall physical, mental, and social functioning, and general health perceptions.

The greatest improvement in these outcomes occurred among Stronger Together patients, within the first two months of support, and more so among patients with breast cancer than gynecological cancers. While patients who did not receive peer support saw improvements in their physical and mental well-being - perhaps after becoming acclimated to treatments and better understanding their diagnosis - this progress occurred later in the study period, between four and six months into the program.

The researchers are piloting the Stronger Together program in other limited-resource and cultural settings to continue gathering evidence of the program's real-world impact and applications, Dr. Le says. The current results can inform peer mentoring programs for racial/ethnic communities in the US, particularly those with limited English proficiency.

"Because the program promotes shared lived experiences in the mentee-mentor relationships, including linguistic and cultural backgrounds, different Stronger Together networks can be established for other racial/ethnic populations, rural communities, and other groups to address the community-specific needs," says Dr. Le.

The study's senior authors are Dr. Tran Thanh Huong, vice director of the National Institute for Cancer Control at Hanoi Medical University in Hanoi, Vietnam, and Dr. Ophira Ginsburg, currently senior scientific advisor for clinical research at the National Cancer Institute's Center for Global Health, and an associate professor in the Departments of Population Health and Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine at the time of the study.
In mid-May, Mandi Rokx had a 3-month-old baby and a letter from a Florida agency warning that they both would be cut from Medicaid, the health insurance program for people with low incomes or disabilities.

Under a Florida law passed in 2021, Rokx was supposed to receive 12 months of continuous coverage after giving birth. But the letter from Florida's Department of Children and Families said their coverage would end May 31.

The explanation: "You failed to complete or follow through with your Medicaid renewal."

Rokx said she didn't understand why the state was cutting coverage. She had provided everything it asked for, she said.

She worried about what losing Medicaid would mean for her daughter, Vernita. Initially after the coverage ended, Rokx said, she paid out-of-pocket for the infant's checkups. She then turned to a free health fair put on once a month by a local nonprofit near her home in Melrose, Florida.

"I just hope she doesn't get sick," she said.

An unknown number of mothers in Florida have abruptly lost Medicaid coverage after giving birth, despite being eligible, according to an ongoing federal lawsuit filed against the state in August 2023. The issue is linked to the state's computer eligibility system, run by Deloitte Consulting, according to trial testimony from state and Deloitte employees. It is yet one more example of problems states and beneficiaries have encountered with Medicaid management systems operated by Deloitte, a giant consulting firm.

As of July, Florida had awarded the global firm contracts valued at more than $100 million to modernize, operate, and maintain the state's integrated eligibility system for Medicaid and other benefits.

Deloitte did not respond to requests for comment about its work in Florida.

In total, 25 states have awarded Deloitte eligibility system contracts, making the company the dominant player in this crucial slice of government business. These agreements, in which Deloitte commits to design, develop, or operate state-owned systems, are worth at least $6 billion, according to a KFF Health News analysis of state contracts.

The KFF investigation found that errors in Deloitte-run eligibility systems can cost millions and take years to fix while denying benefits like health insurance to eligible people.

In response to the investigation, Deloitte spokesperson Karen Walsh said the firm's clients  state governments  "understand large system implementations are challenging due to the complexity of the programs they support and that all IT systems require ongoing maintenance, periodic enhancements and upgrades to software and hardware, and database management."

Senate Democrat John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, which is one of Deloitte's state clients, sees it much differently. "Let's call this what it is: a racket," he said. "This isn't an occasional glitch. It's a pattern of systemic failure. And the worst part? We're paying them billions to do it."

In July, Kimber Taylor of Jacksonville and Lily Mezquita of Orlando testified in a federal courtroom in Florida that state officials removed them from Medicaid even though their pregnancies made them eligible. The class-action lawsuit alleges that Florida did not adequately explain to people with Medicaid the reason for cutting their health insurance, or explain to them that they could appeal the decision before losing coverage.

Florida has denied the allegations in court filings. But the trial revealed problems with the computer system the state uses to determine Medicaid eligibility and inform people that they are no longer eligible. Deloitte did not respond to questions about the trial, in which a judge's decision is pending.

Although Deloitte is not a named defendant in the lawsuit, an employee was called to testify about the firm's role in operating Florida's eligibility system. Harikumar Kallumkal, a Deloitte managing director who is responsible for Florida's system, said that a "defect" may have led to coverage losses for new mothers.

William Roberts, a state worker who reviews Medicaid eligibility decisions, also testified that the agency learned about a "glitch" that cut postpartum coverage for eligible new mothers in April 2023  the same month Florida launched a Medicaid eligibility review process known as "unwinding," which all states undertook after pandemic-era coverage protections ended in March of that year. Kallumkal testified that Deloitte fixed the problem by April or May 2024.

And yet Rokx's coverage was cut May 31.

During the unwinding, Florida disenrolled nearly 2 million people, including kids, from Medicaid, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Patient advocates say flaws in Florida's Deloitte-operated computer system prevented some of the state's most vulnerable residents from getting care they were entitled to receive.

"Florida's Medicaid officials knew from the start of the unwinding period that their system was not handling pregnancy and postpartum Medicaid correctly, and proceeded full steam ahead anyway," said Lynn Hearn, an attorney with the Florida Health Justice Project, a nonprofit legal aid and advocacy group that together with the National Health Law Program represents the class-action plaintiffs. "To this day, we dont know that the problems have been fully corrected. The mothers of this state deserve better from their government."

Medicaid is the largest insurance payer for childbirths in Florida, covering nearly 98,000, or 44%, of all deliveries in 2022, according to the state health department. But it's unclear how many mothers have been cut from the Medicaid coverage they were entitled to receive. Florida's Department of Children and Families on Sept. 9 cashed a check from KFF Health News to cover the processing fee for records it requested about eligible mothers who were disenrolled. As of Nov. 22, the state had not released the records.

The state did provide an estimate during the trial, but that number was not made available by the state to KFF Health News. In a court filing, the plaintiffs cited the state's estimate as showing that 19,802 women were removed from pregnancy coverage as of March 2024, one year after Florida began unwinding. It's unclear how many of these women lost coverage incorrectly. The figure is probably a conservative estimate  it excludes anyone who was removed from coverage because of paperwork issues.

Mallory McManus, deputy chief of staff for the Department of Children and Families, told KFF Health News that after identifying the problem, agency workers "manually corrected cases until necessary system updates were in place." She added that the department also reviewed the system to "ensure there were no gaps in coverage."

McManus said that Floridians who were disenrolled from Medicaid "were properly noticed and provided with information on requesting an appeal."

Rokx, Taylor, and Mezquita ultimately regained their Medicaid coverage after seeking help from the Florida Health Justice Project. Attorneys there have said they are often able to get coverage restored for eligible people by reaching out directly to the state agency's general counsel  an avenue not known to most Floridians.

While the class-action lawsuit awaits a judgment, the problems revealed at trial echo those encountered in other states with Deloitte-run Medicaid eligibility systems, such as Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Texas.

In Texas, according to a July report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, "about 100,000 eligible individuals had been disenrolled due to eligibility system errors," including denial of postpartum coverage for some eligible women.

The error-plagued systems and widespread denials of Medicaid for eligible people have caught the attention of lawmakers on congressional committees that oversee social programs. They blame state leaders who they say aren't holding vendors like Deloitte accountable.

"As the errors compound, contractors are rewarded with more billing hours and higher payouts," said Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas). "This is an alarming and unacceptable waste of taxpayer dollars."

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees Medicaid, said that too many people "can't even get in through the front door due to outdated and inaccurate eligibility systems."

And Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) said that "there's such a pattern of trying to discourage and inappropriately cutting families off of Medicaid in Florida."

"It appears to be intentional," she said, "and I think it clearly is."
In patients with long COVID, lower pulmonary gas exchange may be associated with impaired cognitive function, according to a study being presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, approximately 17.6% of adults in the U.S. have experienced a post-COVID condition commonly referred to as long COVID. People with long COVID may exhibit a wide variety of symptoms, including difficulty concentrating ("brain fog"), change in sense of smell or taste, fatigue, joint or muscle pain, dyspnea (shortness of breath), digestive symptoms, and more. These symptoms may persist for weeks, months, or even years after COVID-19 infection.

Researchers from the University of Iowa in Iowa City set out to assess associations between pulmonary MRI gas exchange, structural and functional brain MRI, and cognition in long COVID patients. In pulmonary gas exchange, oxygen moves from the lungs to the bloodstream, while carbon dioxide moves from the bloodstream to the lungs.

This is the first time that MRI has been used to jointly assess lung and brain function to investigate their relationship in long COVID. This research is new in that it combines multiple unique imaging types to study a multiorgan relationship in a disease population." Keegan Staab, B.S., study's lead author, graduate research assistant, Department of Radiology, University of Iowa in Iowa City

Senior study author Sean B. Fain, Ph.D., professor and vice chair for research in the Department of Radiology at the University of Iowa, added, "If these findings can be generalized to the long COVID population, the study suggests that there may be a causative relationship between cognitive dysfunction and lung dysfunction, suggesting a potential treatment strategy using methods that target improved gas exchange."

For the study, 10 female and 2 male patients (median age: 59 years) who had persistent dyspnea and/or fatigue following the resolution of acute COVID-19 infection were recruited from a post-COVID-19 clinic. Hyperpolarized Xe pulmonary MRI, structural and functional brain MRI, pulmonary function tests and cognitive tests were acquired.

"129Xe MRI allows for advanced measurements of ventilation and gas exchange," Staab said. "The literature also indicates that 129Xe may be more sensitive to pulmonary injury compared to standard breathing tests, making it better suited to study long COVID in which patients typically have normal breathing tests."

Perceived cognitive difficulties were measured using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System, and objective cognitive performance was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Toolbox V3 Cognition Battery.

"There was a range of cognitive difficulties among the patients in the study," Staab said. "Some were mild and indicated slight dysfunction, while others were more serious and indicated that some patients have slow thinking and trouble concentrating several times per day."

The results showed that lower pulmonary gas exchange may be associated with cognitive dysfunction, as well as lower gray matter and white matter volumes in patients with long COVID. In addition, the researchers observed significant relationships suggesting that increased cerebral blood flow is associated with decreased gas exchange in long COVID patients.

Staab said larger studies are needed to investigate the association between gas exchange and cerebral blood flow in long COVID.

"This relationship could be a compensatory mechanism where lower lung function is compensated by higher cardiac output and higher brain perfusion," he said. "It's also a possibility that the disease mechanism that impairs pulmonary gas exchange also leads to higher brain perfusion through downstream vascular injury in both lung and brain."

Based on the findings of this study, gas exchange abnormalities may help identify long COVID patients who require additional treatment or long-term management.

Other co-authors are Marrissa J. McIntosh, Ph.D., Jonathan L. Percy, B.S., Andrew D. Hahn, Ph.D., Natally AlArab, M.D., Conner J. Wharff, B.S. B.A. RT(R)(MR), Eric Bruening, M.S., Alejandro P. Comellas, M.D., Eric A. Hoffman, Ph.D., Carinda Linkenmeyer, M.A.E., Tara Lanning, B.S., and Karin F. Hoth, Ph.D.
Subtle signs of Alzheimer's disease can emerge decades before a diagnosis - often in the form of irregular behaviors that reflect very early stages of brain dysfunction.

But until now, identifying and measuring these slight behavioral changes in a scientific way hasn't been feasible, not even when studying Alzheimer's in mice.

In a study published in Cell Reports, a team of scientists at Gladstone Institutes used a new video-based machine learning tool to pinpoint otherwise-undetectable signs of early disease in mice that were engineered to mimic key aspects of Alzheimer's. Their work sheds light on a new strategy for identifying neurological disease earlier than currently possible and tracking how it develops over time.

We've shown the potential of machine learning to revolutionize how we analyze behaviors indicative of early abnormalities in brain function. We leveraged a valuable tool that opens the door to a more complete understanding of devastating brain disorders and how they begin." Jorge Palop, PhD, senior author of the study, Gladstone investigator

The scientists used a machine learning platform called VAME, short for "Variational Animal Motion Embedding," to analyze video footage of mice exploring an open arena. The open-source tool identified subtle behavioral patterns captured on camera - changes that might not be noticed by simply looking at the mice.

Tracking disorganized behavior

VAME's deep learning platform is unlike conventional behavioral tests in mice, which often center around preconceived tasks that the animals are challenged to complete.

Among the limitations of those tests, they can't capture the full range of spontaneous behavioral changes caused by disease - particularly in early stages, explains Stephanie Miller, PhD, staff scientist at Gladstone and first author of the study. They also lack scalability and often rely on labor-intensive methods.

For the Gladstone study using VAME, the team evaluated two types of mice that simulated different aspects of Alzheimer's. In both models, the machine learning tool identified a significantly increased level of "disorganized behavior" as the mice aged. For example, the mice exhibited unusual patterns of behavior and transitioned more often between different activities - factors that might be associated with memory and attention deficits.

"Similar machine learning approaches could be used one day to study spontaneous behaviors in humans, potentially providing early diagnosis of neurological diseases," Miller says, noting that smartphone-quality video is sufficient for VAME analysis. "I envision this technology will be used to assess patients in the clinic and even in their homes. It gives scientists and doctors a way to solve the very hard problem of diagnosing preclinical stages of disease."

Miller began experimenting with VAME several years ago when the technology was still in its infancy. She and Palop collaborated with the team of Stefan Remy, MD, in Germany, which initially developed the platform. Together, they helped demonstrate VAME's utility for neuroscience research in a study published in Communications Biology.

Evaluating a potential treatment

Adding another dimension to their new study, the Gladstone team used VAME to learn whether a potential therapeutic intervention for Alzheimer's would prevent the disorganized behavior in mice.

The scientists leveraged prior research from Gladstone investigator Katerina Akassoglou, PhD, who discovered that a blood-clotting protein called fibrin creates a cascade of toxic effects when it leaks into the brain through damaged blood vessels. By blocking fibrin's toxic effects, Akassoglou's lab has been able to prevent the neurodegeneration that leads to cognitive decline and to protect against Alzheimer's in animals.

To find out if this therapeutic strategy could safeguard mice from Alzheimer's-linked behaviors, the team genetically blocked fibrin from triggering toxic inflammation in the brain. This intervention reduced the development of abnormal behaviors in the Alzheimer's mice.

"It was highly encouraging to see that blocking fibrin's inflammatory activity in the brain reduced virtually all of the spontaneous behavioral changes in Alzheimer's mice, reaffirming that fibrin and the ensuing neuroinflammation are key drivers of the disease," says Akassoglou, also an author of the study. "Machine learning can offer an unbiased way to evaluate potential treatments in the lab - and I believe it may ultimately become an invaluable clinical tool, as well."

Palop and Miller are now working with other Gladstone teams who study neurological disease to help them employ the VAME technology for new behavioral studies.

"My goal is to make this tool and similar approaches more accessible to biologists and clinicians in order to shorten the time it takes to develop powerful new medicines," Miller says.
Tagomics Ltd., a pioneering biomarker discovery and diagnostics company, today announced it has entered into a strategic co-marketing agreement with Agilent Technologies, a leading tools provider in the genomics sector. The agreement offers select customers the opportunity to access Tagomics and Agilent Technologies combined innovative offerings through an exclusive technology access program hosted out of Tagomics service lab in Cambridge.

Tagomics has developed a novel multiomics platform, InterlaceTM, that unlocks disease-associated DNA biomarkers from a range of biological sources. Its technology leverages a unique approach to epigenetic profiling which specifically enriches unmethylated DNA for analysis, without modifying the underlying DNA sequence. The Interlace platform seamlessly integrates whole genome sequencing or targeted sequencing, and combined with its advanced bioinformatics and machine learning software, enables the analysis of epigenetic, genetic, and fragmentomic features in a single, cost-effective, low-input, and automatable workflow.

Agilent Technologies provides comprehensive solutions for targeted genomic profiling. The SureSelect Library Preparation and Target Enrichment System, combined with the SureSelect Cancer panels, enables efficient detection of a wide array of somatic variants in solid tumors, including single nucleotide variants (SNVs), copy number variants (CNVs), insertions/deletions (indels), translocations (TLs), gene fusions, and the immuno-oncology biomarkers TMB (tumor mutational burden) and MSI (microsatellite instability).

Tagomics has seamlessly integrated Agilents SureSelect XT HS2 Library Preparation and Target Enrichment System into its multiomic workflow. This combination enables comprehensive genomic and epigenomic insights, all within a single, unified workflow.

To showcase the potential of this combined approach, Tagomics has signed a co-marketing agreement with Agilent Technologies, and launched a technology access program which allows select customers to experience the enhanced capabilities of the combined platform ahead of the broader market. Customers will benefit from more comprehensive insights into the mechanisms driving disease, opening the door to novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Were pleased to be working with Agilent Technologies to bring select customers the combined capabilities of our respective platforms, unified in Tagomics Interlace multiomic workflow. Through this collaboration, we look forward to empowering customers with deeper biological insights and accelerating the development of innovative diagnostic and therapeutic solutions. Dr Jack Kennefick, CEO and co-founder, Tagomics

Ronda Allen, general manager of Genomics at Agilent Technologies commented: Through our agreement, our customers will have access to Tagomics Interlace platform and advanced bioinformatics software, enabling simultaneous genetic and genome-wide epigenomic profiling. Incorporation of our SureSelect Library Preparation and Target Enrichment System into Tagomics workflow complements our established capabilities in genomic profiling, furthering our mission to bring great science to life.
Kia India Exports 1,00,000 CKD Units, Strengthens Global Presence

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 11:03 IST

The company now contributes 50% of Kia Corporations CKD exports globally, making India a vital player in its worldwide operations.

The company expects to ship over 38,000 CKD units in 2024, targeting markets in Uzbekistan, Ecuador, and Vietnam. (Photo: Kia)

Kia India has reached an impressive milestone by exporting over 100,000 Completely Knocked Down (CKD) vehicles since it started shipments in June 2020 from its Anantapur manufacturing plant.

This achievement highlights the companys commitment to making India a key hub for vehicle exports.

related stories

With this milestone, Kia India has become a crucial part of Kia Corporations global export strategy, accounting for 50% of the companys CKD exports worldwide.

The company is now set to export more than 38,000 CKD units to markets like Uzbekistan, Ecuador, and Vietnam in 2024. This success reflects the strong appeal and competitive pricing of Kia Indias popular models, including the Seltos, Sonet, and Carens.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Joonsu Cho, Chief Sales Officer at Kia, commented on this achievement: This milestone highlights Kia Indias commitment to manufacturing excellence, innovation, and delivering value to global customers. We are proud to see models like the Seltos, Sonet, and Carens perform strongly in international markets. We are also grateful for the governments export-friendly policies, which have played a crucial role in strengthening Indias position within the global automotive value chain. Looking ahead, we aim to expand our CKD footprint to the Middle East and Africa, to double our export volume by 2030."

With a total of 3.67 lakh units exported, Kia Indias Make in India products continue to meet the diverse needs of global customers, delivering high-quality vehicles that are in demand worldwide.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 11:03 IST
Maruti Suzuki Hits 3 Million Export Milestone, Leading India's Global Car Exports

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 12:51 IST

The landmark 3 millionth vehicle was part of a larger shipment of 1,053 cars that left Gujarats Pipavav port.

Maruti Suzuki began exporting vehicles from India in 1986, sending its first major consignment of 500 cars to Hungary in 1987.

Maruti Suzuki, the countrys top passenger vehicle manufacturer, has achieved a remarkable milestone of 3 million vehicles exported.

The 3 millionth car was part of a shipment of 1,053 units that left Gujarats Pipavav port, including popular models like the Celerio, Fronx, Jimny, Baleno, Ciaz, Dzire, and S-Presso.

related stories

The company began its export journey in 1986, with its first large shipment of 500 cars sent to Hungary in 1987. Maruti Suzuki reached the 1 million mark in exports by 2012-13 and hit 2 million in 2020-21. The leap from 2 million to 3 million was made in just 3 years and 9 months, marking the fastest growth in the companys export history.

Speaking on this achievement, Mr. Hisashi Takeuchi, MD & CEO of Maruti Suzuki India, said, Today, 40% of passenger vehicles exported from India are from Maruti Suzuki making us the number 1 vehicle exporter in the country. Our success in international markets is the outcome of high acceptance of Maruti Suzukis global standard vehicles for quality, safety, design, and technology. We thank our global customers and esteemed distributors for their trust in us."

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Exports Performance for FY 2024-25

Between April and October 2024, Maruti Suzuki exported 181,444 vehicles, reflecting a 17.4 percent growth compared to the same period last year. The company now exports 17 models to nearly 100 countries, with Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East being key markets. Among the top export models are the Fronx, Jimny, Baleno, Dzire, and S-Presso.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 12:51 IST
Shaktikanta Das Likely To Secure Third Term As RBI Governor: Report

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 17:56 IST

If reappointed, Das will become the second RBI governor to have his term extended twice.

It is not yet clear whether Shaktikanta Das will receive a full three-year term or a shorter extension.

Governor Shaktikanta Das is expected to continue in his position once his current term ends in December. Das, who has effectively managed the sensitive role, is seen as a strong candidate for an extension.

According to a report by Moneycontrol, people familiar with the situation confirmed that the Ministry of Finance has already recommended Shaktikanta Das reappointment to the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC), and a final decision is expected soon.

related stories

It is anticipated that he would continue office for two more years after his current term ends on December 12," a person with knowledge of the matter told Moneycontrol.

Uncertainty Over Extension Tenure

It is not yet clear whether Das will receive a full three-year term or a shorter extension. However, sources suggest that he may continue in office for another two years beyond his current tenure, which concludes on December 12.

Reports Indicate Continued Tenure

Reuters first reported on November 18 that Das is likely to remain as governor.

Delay Due to Election Code of Conduct

The delay in the reappointment process is partly attributed to the code of conduct in place for state elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, which may have postponed the official announcement.

Das Set to Become One of the Longest-Serving RBI Governors

If reappointed, Das will become the second RBI governor to have his term extended twice. Should his tenure extend beyond one year, he will join the ranks of the longest-serving RBI governors in history.

Leadership Recognition

Das succeeded Urjit Patel as RBI Governor on December 12, 2018, and was reappointed for a second term in December 2021. He was recently named the top central banker by Global Finance for the second consecutive year in 2024, with an A+ rating for his leadership in guiding the RBI through challenging economic times.

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das Hospitalised

Shaktikanta Das was hospitalised in Chennai on November 25 due to issues related to acidity, and is now doing fine.

Das was admitted to Apollo Hospital for observation.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

He is now doing fine and there is no cause of concern. He will be discharged shortly," a medical bulletin issued by Dr R K Venkatasalam, Director Medical Services, Apollo Hospitals, said.

Meanwhile, a RBI spokesperson said, Das experienced acidity and was admitted to Apollo Hospital, Chennai for observation." There is no cause for concern", the spokesperson added.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 17:52 IST
Cabinet Approves Bank Guarantee Waiver For Telcos; Vodafone Idea Shares Rise 18%

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 14:05 IST

This decision follows the 2021 Cabinet reforms, which had already removed the BG requirement for spectrum purchased going forward

The Union Cabinet has approved a waiver of bank guarantees for telecom companies

The Union Cabinet has approved the waiver of bank guarantees (BG) for telecom operators on spectrum purchased before 2022, providing significant relief to companies like Vodafone Idea, which owes over Rs 24,700 crore in BGs, according to sources. Indian telecom operators, including Airtel and Vodafone Idea, collectively face BG obligations exceeding Rs 30,000 crore.

This decision follows the 2021 Cabinet reforms, which had already removed the BG requirement for spectrum purchased going forward. By extending this relief to older spectrum holdings, the government aims to alleviate financial pressures in the telecom sector and enhance its stability.

related stories

Vodafone Idea has consistently highlighted its financial challenges, urging the government to eliminate the BG requirement to ease its spectrum payment burden. The company argued that such a waiver would facilitate additional credit from banks, offering crucial financial support.

The company recently failed to pay a second BG of about Rs 350 crore, which was due on November 1, for spectrum purchased in a 2012 auction. This followed a missed payment of over Rs 4,600 crore for a BG related to a 2016 spectrum auction in September.

Vodafone Idea has raised Rs 24,000 crore through equity and is now aiming to secure another Rs 25,000 crore in loans and Rs 10,000 crore in BGs or letters of credit. These funds are vital for the company to continue its capital expenditure and compete with Airtel and Jio.

However, banks remain cautious, adopting a wait-and-see approach due to Vodafone Ideas stressed financial position and are requesting more corporate guarantees before extending further credit.

The BG issue became prominent after the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) returned all BGs in late 2021, as no installment was due for 35 months. The telecom reforms of September 2021 provided telecom companies with a four-year moratorium on spectrum fees and adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues.

Vodafone Idea Shares Rally

Shares of Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL) climbed 18 per cent in Tuesdays trade, with Bharti Airtel Ltd also rising 1 per cent.

Following the development, Vodafone Idea shares climbed 18 per cent to hit a high of Rs 8.09. Despite this, the stock is down 7 per cent in the past one month.

Vodafone Ideas net debt (excluding leases, but including interest accrued and not due) increased Rs 9,300 crore sequentially in Q2 to Rs 2.12 lakh crore on dues repayment to vendors/banks and also spectrum acquisition. VIL owed Rs 2.23 lakh crore to the government for deferred spectrum (Rs 1.52 lakh crore) and AGR dues (Rs 70,300 crore).

In a November 15 note, Nomura India said the key takeaways from the post-results conference call with the Vodafone Idea management indicated that VIL has primarily lost its subscribers to BSNL due to tariff hikes announced in July 2024 but the trend has started reversing from August onwards.

The Vodafone Idea management expects the full impact of tariff hikes to be reflected over the next two quarters. VIL will start 5G rollout in key geographies by Q4FY25, the management suggested adding that VILs targets to increase 4G population coverage to 120 crore by September 2025E.

VIL added 42,000 4G sites and shut down 19,700 3G sites in Q2FY25. The capex was guided at Rs 8,000 crore for 2HFY25 and Rs 50,000-55,000 crore over the next three years.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Vi has written to the DoT to waive off bank guarantee (BG) requirement worth Rs 24,700 crore (to be submitted from September 2024 to February 2025) to securitise spectrum installments. We believe Vis debt raise is also contingent on securing BG waivers," MOFSL said in an earlier note.

Disclaimer: Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 09:05 IST
C2C Advanced Systems IPO: Listing Postponed, Here's How To Withdraw Your Application

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 12:54 IST

C2C Advanced Systems IPO: Know How to Withdraw Your IPO Application for C2C Advanced Systems After The Listing Date Is Postponed

Sebi directed C2C Advanced Systems to appoint independent auditors and obtain an independent financial report.

C2C Advanced Systems Ltd. announced on Monday the postponement of its equity share listing, initially scheduled for November 29, following a directive from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The regulatory body mandated the appointment of independent auditors to review the companys financial accounts and submit an independent report.

C2C Advanced Systems IPO News

related stories

Investor Withdrawal Option Provided

In compliance with SEBIs notice, the company has offered IPO investors, including those from the anchor portion, an option to withdraw their applications before share allocation. This withdrawal option is available until November 28, 3:00 p.m. No new subscriptions will be accepted during this period.

Auditor Appointment and Timeline for Report Submission

C2C Advanced Systems has confirmed the appointment of an independent auditor, with the report expected to be submitted within two to three days. The listing will remain on hold until the auditor submits findings to SEBI and the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

NSE to Monitor Fund Utilisation

Post-listing, a monitoring agency will oversee the utilization of IPO funds, ensuring compliance with regulations. This step is part of the enhanced scrutiny measures applied by the regulators.

How to Withdraw Your IPO Application for C2C Advanced Systems?

Investors who wish to withdraw their applications for C2C Advanced Systems IPO can follow the steps outlined below:

Step 1: Contact Your Designated Intermediary

Reach out to the designated intermediary (broker, bank, or other authorized entity) through which you submitted your IPO application.

Step 2: Submit Withdrawal Request

Provide your request to withdraw the application or bid. Ensure that all required details are included for smooth processing.

Step 3: Bid Cancellation on NSE Portal

The designated intermediary will cancel your bid on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) portal based on your request.

Step 4: Receive Acknowledgment

The intermediary will provide you with an acknowledgment, known as a Transaction Registration Slip (TRS), as confirmation of the bid cancellation.

Investors must complete the withdrawal process before the deadline, November 28, 3:00 p.m., as no changes can be made afterward.

Background on IPO and Company Performance

C2C Advanced Systems, a provider of defense electronics solutions, aimed to raise Rs 99.1 crore through the public issue of 43.8 lakh shares at Rs 226 per share. The IPO garnered significant interest, receiving bids 108.02 times the offer size.

The company reported revenue of Rs 43.22 crore and a profit after tax of Rs 9.73 crore for the September quarter.

IPO Management and Key Advisors

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Mark Corporate Advisors Pvt. Ltd. and Beeline Capital Advisors served as the book-running lead managers for the IPO, with Link Intime India acting as the registrar.

This development highlights heightened regulatory scrutiny in IPO processes, ensuring greater investor protection and transparency.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 11:52 IST
Why Has Bangladesh Govt Arrested A Sanatani Leader? How Does This Affect Hindu Community? Explained

Curated By :

News18.com

Edited By: Shilpy Bisht



Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 12:33 IST

ISKCON members have expressed strong objections over Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmacharis arrest in Dhaka by Bangladeshs detective branch of police. The organisation has urged the Indian government to intervene

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, initially known as Chandan Kumar Dhar, is a former leader of the ISKCON community. He has been an advocate of the Sanatani community in Bangladesh. (Image: X/@Shebeshivi)

The arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari of ISKCON Pundrik Dham at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area in Dhaka has called for the Indian governments intervention by the Hindu religious organisations, including ISKCON. The Hindu monk has been denied bail, and sent to judicial custody.

A Facebook page associated with Pundarik Dham shared a photo of Chinmoy Krishna Das, claiming he was picked up by individuals identifying themselves as members of the Detective Branch of the police" from the airport.

related stories

The leader of the Hindu group Sanatani Jote was detained in line with a request from regular police", spokesperson of the Polices Detective Branch Rezaul Karim said. Das would be handed over to the concerned police station for subsequent legal procedures, Karim added.

The reason behind Das arrest has not been known; the police have not given any details of the charges pressed against Das.

Who Is Krishna Das Brahmachari?

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, initially known as Chandan Kumar Dhar, is a former leader of the ISKCON community. He has been an advocate of the Sanatani community in Bangladesh, pushed for reforms, including the creation of a minority protection law, a speedy trial tribunal for cases against involving minority persecution, and a dedicated minority affairs ministry.

Das gained limelight after he reportedly organised several large public rallies in Bangladesh, including the one in Chittagong on October 25 and another in Rangpur on November 22, to condemn the alleged atrocities against fellow devotees".

AFP says the Hindu leader has been vocal about the rights of his religious community in Bangladesh, and has often criticised the alleged targeted hate attacks and religious discrimination in the country.

However, Das was caught in a controversy after a sedition case was filed against him and 18 others at Kotwali Police Station in Chittagong on October 30. The allegations against him were around the hoisting of a saffron flag above the official flag of Bangladesh during the October 25 rally at Chattograms Laldighi Maidan.

How Has The ISKON Reacted?

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on Monday have expressed strong objections over Das Brahmacharis arrest in Dhaka. The organisation has urged the Indian government to intervene into the matter.

Condemning Das arrest, ISKCON posted on X, We have come across disturbing reports that Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das, one of the prominent leaders of ISKCON Bangladesh, has been detained by the Dhaka police. It is outrageous to make baseless allegations that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world."

ISKCON, which has described itself as a peace-loving Bhakti movement", has urged the Indian government to intervene in the matter of Das arrest.

ISKCON, Inc. urges the Government of India to take immediate steps and speak to the Government of Bangladesh and convey that we are a peace-loving Bhakti movement," the post read further.

How Have Others Reacted?

Gaurang Das Brahmachari, a key organiser of Bangladesh Sanatani Jagran Jote, has said Chinmoy Das was supposed to fly from Dhaka to Chittagong. We have heard that the police picked him up from the airport," he said.

Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council condemned the detention, saying it could affect the countrys image abroad.

The Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Suvendu Adhikari said Das arrest was a ploy against Hindus by the interim government led by Nobel laureate and economist Muhammad Yunus.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Hindus took to the streets at the Cheragi Pahar intersection in the port city, demanding the immediate release of Das. Similarly, the Hindu community members in the capital blocked the Shahbagh intersection late last evening, protesting the arrest.

Some 20 people have been reported injured after protesters were attacked in Dhaka and Chittagong by unknown miscreants.

Videos shared by news outlets like Kalbelaonline showed miscreants attacking peaceful protesters demanding the release of the Hindu religious leader near Dhaka University. News18 could not independently verify the authenticity of the video shared on social media.

Recent Attacks On Hindus In Bangladesh

The Hindu groups claim there have been thousands of attacks against their community members in Bangladesh since early August, when the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was overthrown and she fled the country following a student-led uprising. Muhammad Yunus, who is leading the interim government now, said those figures have been exaggerated.

According to Bangladeshs census 2022, Hindus form around 7.95% of the total population, that is, a little over 13 million. Other minorities such as Buddhists and Christians comprise less than 1% of the countrys 165 million people. According to the census, the number of Hindus in Bangladesh has decreased by 0.59% in the last decade.

The countrys influential minority group Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has said there have been more than 2,000 attacks on Hindus since August 4, as the interim government has struggled to restore law and order, as reported by the Associated Press.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi has voiced concerns over the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, the United Nations, the US have said they are monitoring the Bangladeshs human rights issues since Hasinas ouster.

Hindu activists have been staging protest rallies in Dhaka, and elsewhere since August to press their demands including a law to protect minorities, a ministry for minorities and a tribunal to prosecute acts of oppression against minorities. They also seek a five-day holiday for their largest festival, the Durga Puja. Though the Durga Puja celebrations were muted this year in Bangladesh due to the religious tensions.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 09:52 IST
26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack: Former Bank Director, Shot 3 Times at Oberoi, Recalls Horror

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 17:26 IST

Upon hearing about the terror attack, Mohan, injured and losing vision, urgently called up his colleagues with whom he was scheduled to meet, warning them to flee the hotel and seek safety immediately

Chander Mohan recounted that on November 26, 2008, he was in Mumbai for a Central Bank board meeting. He and two other directors were staying at the Oberoi Hotel. (Local18)

For India, November 26, 2008 is a date that brings back vivid memories of terror. During the Mumbai terrorist attack, former director of Central Bank of India Chander Mohan displayed extraordinary courage. Despite being shot by three AK-47 bullets and bleeding profusely, he prioritised the safety of others, saving the lives of his fellow directors and other individuals.

In an interview with Local 18, Chander Mohan shared his experience, stating that the date of November 26, 2008 remains etched in his memory. As November approaches each year, the events of that night resurface in his mind.

related stories

Mohan recounted that on November 26, 2008, he was in Mumbai for a Central Bank board meeting. He and two other directors were staying at the Oberoi Hotel. The three had arranged to meet for dinner at 9:30 pm.

As he made his way to the lift from his room, he heard what sounded like gunshots. Initially, he dismissed it as celebratory firecrackers, assuming India had won a match. However, upon exiting the lift, he was struck by three bullets in quick succession. Realising the gravity of the situation, he felt his back, finding his hands covered in blood.

Mohan was unsure what had transpired. He decided to return to his room. As he approached the lift, a housekeeping staff member noticed his distress and gestured for him to come closer. It was then that he was informed about the terrorist attack.

Upon learning about the attack, Mohans immediate concern was for his colleagues who were waiting for him for dinner, unaware of the danger they were in. Despite his injuries and fading vision, he knew he had to act quickly to save them.

He immediately called his colleagues, urging them to flee the hotel. He informed them about the attack and pleaded with them to leave immediately and asked them to seek safety. The hotel staff then transported Mohan to Mumbai Hospital via an alternate route.

Mohan shared that during this time he felt an overwhelming need to contact his family. He called his younger son and a friend in Chennai, informing them about the situation but assuring them that he would be alright.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Upon arriving at Mumbai Hospital, he was met with a scene of chaos. People were screaming, shouting about the attacks on the Taj and Oberoi hotels, and ambulance sirens wailed in the background. He was helped out of the taxi and taken inside the hospital. Thankfully, a doctor promptly attended to him and initiated treatment. He then lost consciousness. He later learned that Dr. Mam Begani, a senior surgeon at Bombay Hospital, had operated on him.

Chander Mohan expressed his desire to appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, proposing that November 26 be observed as Sankalp Diwas (Resolution Day) for a terrorism-free India. He believes this would serve as a tribute to all those who lost their lives in the 26/11 attacks and as a commitment to eradicate terrorism from the country.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 17:26 IST
48 Hours On, Sambhal Still In Shock: Country-Made Bullets Caused Deaths, Say Police

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 20:02 IST

UP clashes over mosque survey: Toll rises to 5; 7 FIRs filed against more than 2,500; Akhilesh attacks BJP over naming of SP MP, MLAs son

Police personnel continue to keep vigil two days after violence broke out during a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque, in Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh, on Tuesday. (PTI)

Over 48 hours after Sundays communal clashes during a court-mandated survey of Shahi Jama Masjid, schools, offices and businesses in Uttar Pradeshs Sambhal opened on Tuesday, but couldnt bring back the sense of normalcy. The toll climbed to five. Internet services remained suspended as a precautionary measure.

Chaos reigned in Sambhals Kot Garvi area on Sunday as people opposing a court-ordered survey of the mosque clashed with police. The clashes, which involved gunfire and throwing of stones, left 20, including Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ramesh Chandra, injured. The survey followed a petition in a local court, claiming that the site of the mosque was previously a Harihar temple.

related stories

Dont know what went wrong in our locality. Such clashes never happened in the past. I still remember the good old times when people from both communities lived with a deep sense of brotherhood. Our locality was an example of communal harmony," said Mohammed Liaqat, a resident of Sambhal district, reflecting on the recent turmoil.

The entry to the area has been restricted until December 1, and police sealed the vicinity around Shahi Jama Masjid, the site of violence. The post-mortem report of four of the deceased  Naeem, Bilal, Numan, and Ayan  stated that they were not killed by police bullets, but by shots fired from country-made pistols, said police.

RIOTERS WERE ARMED; FOOTAGE BEING SCANNED

SP Krishna Kumar Vishnoi stated that the findings suggest some rioters were armed and actively participated in the chaos.

Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Singh, too, confirmed the post-mortem reports. The post-mortem report revealed that most deaths during the Sambhal violence were caused by firearm injuries, likely from .315 bore bullets fired from country-made pistols at close range. Police primarily used pellet guns to disperse the crowd. Authorities are investigating whether another group of protesters was responsible for firing these fatal shots," the divisional commissioner said.

Besides, he said that the footage and video clips of the incident are being scanned. The matter is still under investigation, a magisterial enquiry has also been ordered," he said.

#BreakingNews | Sambhal slowly shifts to normalcy, schools to re-open. Internet still remains suspended till 4:00 PM todayPolice files 7 FIRs in connection with violence @mjaved819 with details | @SakshiLitoriya_ | #SambhalViolence #SambhalMosqueRow pic.twitter.com/p1b0JZnGwT  News18 (@CNNnews18) November 26, 2024

7 FIRS AGAINST 2,500, 25 DETAINED

Seven FIRs have been lodged against more than 2,500 people, including Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Zia-ur-Rahman Barq and MLA Iqbal Mahmoods son Sohail. Police have detained 25 suspects and are identifying additional culprits using drone footage.

Officials with the UP Police, however, blamed the SP MP for making provocative statements and accused the SP MLAs son of mobilising the crowd to attack the police and survey team. Officials said police have sufficient evidence suggesting that Sundays clash was a premeditated conspiracy, as the attackers stockpiled firearms and stones.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said, Barq wasnt even in the district, yet was named in the FIR. Five individuals  Nayeem, Kaif, Numaan, Bilal, and Ayaan  lost their lives in police firing. This was a pre-planned conspiracy by the government to deflect attention from electoral malpractices during the bypolls."

FIRS NAME SP MP, MLAs SON, YADAV ATTACKS BJP GOVERNMENT

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

During the Constitution Day celebrations on Tuesday, Yadav criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party-led UP government, accusing it of framing false charges against his partys MP and an MLAs son. The true celebration of the Constitution lies in adhering to it. Dr Babasaheb Ambedkars Constitution safeguards our rights. Celebrating it amid the tragic loss of lives in Sambhal is inappropriate," he said.

He said the government is filing false cases against the SP MP and son of the MLA. The government is at fault. When the survey was done once, what was the need for a second survey," he asked.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 19:51 IST
Indian Constitution Day 2024: Striving For Womens Rights And Gender Equality

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 10:58 IST

Constitution Day of India: The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution on November 26, 1949, and it came into force on January 26, 1950.

A joint session of the Parliament will be held on November 26 to celebrate the Constitution Day. (Image: Shutterstock)

As the country celebrates 75 years since the adoption of the Constitution of India, its crucial to acknowledge the significant strides made in protecting womens rights. The vision of a just and equal society is enshrined in the Constitution and it has made it possible for India to achieve remarkable milestones in gender equality despite all challenges.

A joint session of the Parliament is scheduled to be held on November 26 to mark the 75th year of adoption of the Indian Constitution. In 2015, the government designated November 26 to be celebrated as the Constitution Day and since then it has become an annual celebration across the country. The day marks the adoption of the Constitution of India.

related stories

The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution in the Central Hall of the Parliament on November 26, 1949, and it came into force on January 26, 1950.

The Constitution guarantees equality before the law and prohibits discrimination on the grounds of gender. It also empowers the state to make special provisions for women, ensuring their well-being and development. While significant progress has been made, challenges still persist.

ALSO READ: Constitution Day Of India 2024: Date, History, Significance, Quotes And How To Celebrate

Issues like gender-based violence, unequal pay, and limited representation in decision-making roles, among others, continue to hinder womens empowerment. As India gears up to celebrate Constitution Day on November 26, lets revisit and analyse how the legal framework in India has evolved over the years to ensure gender equality and to protect womens rights.

75 Years of Indian Constitution: Evolution of Gender Laws in India

Indias journey to gender equality has been complex, with cultural traditions, legal reforms, and social movements playing a major role.

Following independence, gender equality was incorporated within the constitutional and legal framework of the country. The preamble of the newly written Indian Constitution called for equality of status and opportunity" and included several Articles that promised gender equality.

So, lets trace the entire trajectory, from the early social reforms to current legislative and judicial actions, to grasp both the progress made so far and the challenges that still persist.

ALSO READ: Opinion | The Indian Constitution Is A Collective Effort, Not One Persons Work

The different articles that guarantee equality for women include:

Article 14 : Embodies the general principles of equality before the law and equal protection of laws.

: Embodies the general principles of equality before the law and equal protection of laws. Article 15 : Prohibits discrimination on grounds of sex, religion, race, caste, or place of birth

: Prohibits discrimination on grounds of sex, religion, race, caste, or place of birth Article 16 : Ensures equal opportunity for all citizens in public employment to any office under the State.

: Ensures equal opportunity for all citizens in public employment to any office under the State. Article 51A : The Article mandates renouncing practices derogatory to the dignity of women as a fundamental duty.

: The Article mandates renouncing practices derogatory to the dignity of women as a fundamental duty. Article 42 : It directs the State to make provisions for securing humane conditions of work and for maternity relief.

: It directs the State to make provisions for securing humane conditions of work and for maternity relief. Article 39: A part of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), the Article mandates equal pay for equal work for both men and women.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Apart from the rights protected under the Constitution of India, several Supreme Court judgments and legislation have paved the way for building a robust legal framework to protect womens rights and to ensure gender equality. They are as follows:

Dowry Prohibition Act 1961 : The first on the list is the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961. This act was aimed at putting an end to the practice of dowry by prohibiting the demand, payment, and acceptance of dowry as well as imposing penalties for both giving and receiving dowry.

: The first on the list is the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961. This act was aimed at putting an end to the practice of dowry by prohibiting the demand, payment, and acceptance of dowry as well as imposing penalties for both giving and receiving dowry. Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 : This Act aims to provide job security to working women. It regulates womens employment in specific establishments before and after childbirth. The goal is to reduce prejudice against women in hiring processes and eliminate gender-based workplace discrimination.

: This Act aims to provide job security to working women. It regulates womens employment in specific establishments before and after childbirth. The goal is to reduce prejudice against women in hiring processes and eliminate gender-based workplace discrimination. Right to Free Legal Aid : As per the Legal Services Authorities Act of 1987, women have the right to get free legal aid regardless of their financial status.

: As per the Legal Services Authorities Act of 1987, women have the right to get free legal aid regardless of their financial status. Right to Property : In India, women have equal legal protections as men when it comes to buying, selling, and inheriting property. The Hindu Succession Act of 1956 lays out the procedures for distributing property for widows and female heirs. The 2005 amendment to Section 6 of the Hindu Succession Act 1956 lays out equal rights for daughters similar to sons in the coparcenary property of a joint Hindu family. Under this change, a female heir has the same rights to her fathers property as the male heirs.

: In India, women have equal legal protections as men when it comes to buying, selling, and inheriting property. The Hindu Succession Act of 1956 lays out the procedures for distributing property for widows and female heirs. The 2005 amendment to Section 6 of the Hindu Succession Act 1956 lays out equal rights for daughters similar to sons in the coparcenary property of a joint Hindu family. Under this change, a female heir has the same rights to her fathers property as the male heirs. Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 : The Act was formulated to protect women from all forms of violence and abuse physical, economic, sexual, and emotional, at home. It offers legal safeguards and recourse to women trapped in abusive relationships and marriages.

: The Act was formulated to protect women from all forms of violence and abuse physical, economic, sexual, and emotional, at home. It offers legal safeguards and recourse to women trapped in abusive relationships and marriages. Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013: The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, lays out a framework to protect women at workplaces against any kind of sexual harassment while protecting their livelihood. It is aimed at addressing sexual harassment faced by women in workplaces and creating a safe and inclusive work environment for women.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 06:15 IST
75th Constitution Day Of India: Fundamental Rights And Duties

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 10:56 IST

The Indian Constitution guarantees six fundamental rights enshrined in Articles 12 to 35 and eleven fundamental duties, mentioned in Article 51(A).

Right to Privacy has been brought under the ambit of Fundamental Rights (Article 21) since 2017, which guarantees life and liberty. (Image: Shutterstock)

Every year, on the 26th of November, India celebrates Constitution Day, also known as Samvidhan Divas. This day holds immense significance as it marks the adoption of the Constitution of India by the Constituent Assembly in 1949.

It officially came into force two months later, on January 26, 1950, shaping the democratic foundation of the nation. The Government of India, through the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, declared November 26 as Constitution Day in 2015 to emphasise the importance of constitutional values among citizens.

related stories

Among the many facets of the Indian Constitution, two pillars stand tall for every citizen: Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties. Lets delve deeper into these essential elements.

FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

The Indian Constitution guarantees six fundamental rights, which are vital for the development of individual personality and the preservation of human dignity. These rights, enshrined in Articles 12 to 35, are a cornerstone of Indias democratic ethos.

1. Right to Equality (Articles 1418)

Article 14: Ensures equality before the law and equal protection of the law.

Article 15: Prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.

Article 16: Guarantees equal opportunities in public employment.

Article 17: Abolishes untouchability.

Article 18: Eliminates titles like Rai Bahadur" or Maharaja" to uphold equality among citizens.

ALSO READ: Constitution Day Of India 2024: Date, History, Significance, Quotes And How To Celebrate

2. Right to Freedom (Articles 1922)

This right ensures individual liberties, such as freedom of speech (Article 19), protection against conviction without due process (Article 20), the right to life and personal liberty (Article 21), the right to education (Article 21-A), and safeguards against arbitrary arrest and detention (Article 22).

3. Right Against Exploitation (Articles 2324)

These provisions prohibit human trafficking and forced labour (Article 23) and prevent child labour in hazardous environments, such as factories (Article 24).

4. Right to Freedom of Religion (Articles 2528)

These articles uphold secularism by guaranteeing freedom of conscience, religious practice (Article 25), and managing religious affairs (Article 26), while also restricting the use of public funds for religious promotion (Article 27) and ensuring no compulsion for religious instruction in educational institutions (Article 28).

5. Cultural and Educational Rights (Articles 2930)

These rights protect the cultural identity of minorities (Article 29) and grant them the freedom to establish and manage their educational institutions (Article 30).

ALSO READ: Opinion | The Indian Constitution Is A Collective Effort, Not One Persons Work

6. Right to Constitutional Remedies (Articles 3235)

This right empowers citizens to seek enforcement of their fundamental rights through the courts. Article 32 provides five types of writs:

Habeas Corpus: Ensures protection against unlawful detention.

Mandamus: Compels public officials to perform their duties.

Quo Warranto: Prevents unlawful occupation of a public office.

Prohibition: Restrains lower courts from exceeding their jurisdiction.

Certiorari: Allows higher courts to review decisions of lower courts.

Additionally, Articles 33 to 35 outline conditions where fundamental rights can be restricted, such as during martial law (Article 34).

FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES

While fundamental rights empower citizens, fundamental duties, introduced through the 42nd Amendment in 1976, remind them of their responsibilities toward the nation. Enshrined in Article 51(A), these duties aim to instil a spirit of patriotism and unity.

The eleven fundamental duties are listed below:

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem. To cherish and follow the noble ideals that inspired the national struggle for freedom. To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India. To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so. To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities and to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women. To value and preserve the rich heritage of the countrys composite culture. To protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures. To develop a scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry and reform. To safeguard public property and to abjure violence. To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement. To provide opportunities for education to his child or ward between the ages of six and fourteen years (added by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2002).

Fundamental rights and duties are the bedrock of the Indian Constitution. While rights empower citizens with freedoms, duties guide them toward national unity and harmony. Together, they form a balance that strengthens Indias democratic fabric, ensuring justice, equality and dignity for all.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 06:45 IST
75th Constitution Day Of India: Legacy And Inspiring Quotes Of Dr BR Ambedkar

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 10:57 IST

The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India on November 26, 1949, and the Constitution Day is celebrated every year to mark this momentous occasion.

Dr BR Ambedkar is known as the father of the Indian Constitution. (Image: Shutterstock)

The entire country is gearing up to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Constitution of India on November 26. The Union government has made elaborate plans to celebrate Constitution Day on November 26.

The Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950. However, the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India on November 26, 1949. The celebration of Constitution Day marks the commemoration of this momentous occasion.

related stories

The adoption of the Constitution of India marked the culmination of years of hard work of the Constitution Drafting Committee, which was headed by Dr BR Ambedkar.

ALSO READ: Constitution Day Of India 2024: Date, History, Significance, Quotes And How To Celebrate

Dr BR Ambedkar was one of Indias greatest statesmen and the undisputed leader of the countrys Dalits. He was known for championing the cause of social justice. As the chairman of the drafting committee, he was responsible for presenting the draft Constitution, answering various questions raised on it, and making necessary changes according to the suggestions of the Constituent Assembly. Due to his contributions towards making the Indian Constitution, he earned the title of the Father of the Indian Constitution.

Dr Ambedkar highlighted the importance of fundamental rights as a basis of democracy. He played a crucial role in ensuring that the Constitution included provisions to protect the rights and freedoms of all citizens, regardless of their caste, creed, or colour.

ALSO READ: Opinion | The Indian Constitution Is A Collective Effort, Not One Persons Work

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

10 Inspiring Quotes By Dr. BR Ambedkar

Constitution is not a mere lawyers document, it is a vehicle of Life, and its spirit is always the spirit of Age." Political tyranny is nothing compared to social tyranny and a reformer who defies society is a more courageous man than a politician who defies Government." A just society is that society in which an ascending sense of reverence and descending sense of contempt is dissolved into the creation of a compassionate society." Equality may be a fiction but nonetheless one must accept it as a governing principle." Humans are mortal. So are ideas. An idea needs propagation as much as a plant needs watering. Otherwise, both will wither and die." Religion is for man and not man for religion." Law and order are the medicine of the body politic and when the body politic gets sick, medicine must be administered." I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved." Every man who repeats the dogma of Mill that one country is not fit to rule another country must admit that one class is not fit to rule another class." Men are mortal. So are ideas. An idea needs propagation as much as a plant needs watering. Otherwise, both will wither and die."

First Published: November 26, 2024, 06:30 IST
Ayodhya Ram Mandir Wont Celebrate Pran-Pratishthas 1st Anniversary On Jan 22. Heres Why

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 18:48 IST

The temple trust said that there is a tradition in Hinduism to celebrate all festivals according to Hindu dates.

The trust also announced that this date would called as Pratishtha Dwadashi. (File)

With much pomp and grandeur, the 51-inch tall idol of Ram Lalla was consecrated in the sanctum-sanctorum of newly built Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Uttar Pradeshs temple town of Ayodhya on January 22, 2024. However, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust overlooking the temple operations has announced that the pran-pratishtha anniversary wouldnt be celebrated on January 22, instead it would be celebrated on January 11, 2025.

The temple trust said that there is a tradition in Hinduism to celebrate all festivals according to Hindu dates. According to the Hindu calendar, the consecration ceremony took place on Paush Shukla Paksh Dwadshi, also known as Kurma Dwadashi (12th day in the full moon cycle of Paush month). In 2025, the Hindu calendar date falls on January 11, so it has been decided to follow the Hindu calendar and celebrate the pran-pratishtha ceremony on January 11 in 2025.

related stories

After consultation with saints, it was resolved that, in keeping with the tradition of observing Hindu festivals and celebrations according to the Hindu calendar (Panchang), the anniversary of the Prana Pratishtha of Prabhu Shri Ramlalla Sarkar will be celebrated annually on Paush Shukla Dwadashi, also known as Kurma Dwadashi, as per the Panchang. This date will be referred to as Pratishtha Dwadashi. In 2025, it will fall on 11 January," it said in a post on X.

  !                  : .                          ,      pic.twitter.com/t8y50Qtdgv  Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra (@ShriRamTeerth) November 25, 2024

The trust also announced that this date would called as Pratishtha Dwadashi.

The Ram Temple trust in its meeting on Monday also took several key decisions related to development of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple.

It said that a state-of-the-art health care system will be developed by Delhis Apollo Hospital in an area of 3000 square meters near the Passenger Service Center in the temple premises. It further announced that the permanent 9 meters wide and about 600 meters long sheds have been installed replacing temporary German hangers in the temple premises to protect the pilgrims from the heat and rain.

The 51-inch-tall idol, crafted by famed sculptor Arun Yogiraj, was consecrated among around 8,000 VVIPS belonging to all sects of life. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had presided over the rituals of the pran pratishtha ceremony.

When Will The Construction Of Ram Temple Be Completed?

Nripendra Mishra, Chairman of the construction committee had earlier said that temple which was initially scheduled for completion by June 2025, will likely be finished by September 2025. He had cited a shortage of around 200 workers and the need to replace certain stones on the temples first floor as primary reasons for the delay.

Ram Janmabhoomi Temple

The temple, constructed in the traditional Nagara style, has a length (east-west) of 380 feet, a width of 250 feet, and a height of 161 feet. It is designed by celebrated architect Chandrakant B Sompura, in collaboration with son Ashish.

Features of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir1. The Mandir is in the traditional Nagar style. 2. The Mandir has a length (east-west) of 380 feet, a width of 250 feet, and a height of 161 feet. 3. The Mandir is three-storied, with each floor being 20 feet tall. It has a total of 392 pic.twitter.com/Sp2BzzU5sv  Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra (@ShriRamTeerth) January 4, 2024

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

The sanctum sanctorum houses the childhood form of Bhagwan Shri Ram (the idol of Shri Ram Lalla), while on the first floor, there is Shri Ram Darbar.

Supported by a total of 392 pillars and 44 doors, the Mandir is three-storied, with each floor being 20 feet tall. The pillars and walls showcase intricately sculpted depictions of Hindu deities, gods and goddesses.

Location : Ayodhya, India

First Published: November 26, 2024, 18:48 IST
'Disgraceful': Sadhguru Slams Arrest of Hindu Monk in Bangladesh, Presses For Democratic Values

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 12:48 IST

Sadhguru has slammed the arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in Bangladesh, calling it 'disgraceful'.

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari Arrested In Bangladesh (Photos: PTI/@DrSukantaBJP)

Spiritual teacher and founder of the Isha Leadership Academy, Sadhguru, on Tuesday, termed disgraceful", the arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in Bangladesh.

Sadhguru also urged all Bangladeshi citizens to build back a democratic nation".

related stories

It is disgraceful to see how a democratic nation is disintegrating to become theocratic and autocratic," Sadhguru wrote on X.

It is the responsibility of every citizen to understand the value of having an open democracy. Persecution on the basis of religion or weakness of demographics is not the way of democratic nations," he wrote.

Unfortunately, our neighborhood has slipped away from democratic principles. It should be the responsibility of every citizen of Bangladesh to build back a democratic nation where all citizens will have the needed rights and ability to fulfill their lives as per their requirements and beliefs," the post read.

It is disgraceful to see how a democratic nation is disintegrating to become theocratic and autocratic. It is the responsibility of every citizen to understand the value of having an open democracy. Persecution on the basis of religion or weakness of demographics is not the way https://t.co/qlDx6sItVu Sadhguru (@SadhguruJV) November 26, 2024

Brahmachari, a leader of the Hindu group Sammilita Sanatani Jote, was on Monday arrested from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area in Dhaka.

Das was detained in line with a request from (regular police)," news agency PTI quoted a spokesman of the Polices Detective Branch Rezaul Karim.

Karim said Das would now be handed over to the concerned police station for subsequent legal procedure.

The incident was confirmed after Iskcon, in an X post, urged the Indian government to immediately speak to the government of Bangladesh, and said the organisation had nothing to do with terrorism.

We have come across disturbing reports that Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das, one of the prominent leaders of ISKCON Bangladesh, has been detained by the Dhaka police."

It is outrageous to make baseless allegations that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world. ISKCON,Inc. urges the Government of India to take immediate steps and speak to the Government of Bangladesh and convey that we are a peace-loving Bhakti movement," it wrote.

We want the Government of Bangladesh to release Chinmoy Krishna Das immediately. Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the protection of these devotees," (sic), it added.

We have come across disturbing reports that Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das, one of the prominent leaders of ISKCON Bangladesh, has been detained by the Dhaka police.It is outrageous to make baseless allegations that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world.  Iskcon,Inc. (@IskconInc) November 25, 2024

Das was detained at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Karim said, without giving details of the charges for which he was arrested.

Bengali-language newspaper Prothom Alo reported that Das was a leader of ISKCON, which recently expelled him.

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council condemned the detention, saying it could affect the countrys image abroad.

Citing Sanatani Jagran Jotes key organiser, Gaurang Das Brahmachari, Bdnews24 news portal said that Das was supposed to go to Chattogram by air from Dhaka, PTI reported.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

On October 30, a case was filed against 19 people, including Das, at Chattograms Kotwali Police Station, accusing them of disrespecting Bangladeshs national flag in Chattograms New Market area during a rally of the Hindu community.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people from the Hindu community took to the streets at the Cheragi Pahar intersection in the port city, demanding the immediate release of Das.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 12:34 IST
Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 23:05 IST

75th Constitution Day Updates: As India celebrates Constitution Day, also known as Samvidhan Divas, today, November 26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed an event organised at the Supreme Court of India where he emphasised that the Constitution is fully implemented in Jammu and Kashmir and Constitution Day celebrated there for the first time this year.

Earlier today, President Droupadi Murmu addressed a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament in the Central Hall of the old Parliament building to mark the 75th anniversary of the Constitution.

During the event, President Murmu released translated versions of the Constitution in Sanskrit and Maithili, and led a ceremonial reading of the Preamble.

Alongside the President, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other leaders also attended the Constitution Day celebration event at Samvidhan Sadan.

Additionally, the government unveiled a commemorative coin and stamp. The iconic old Parliament building, a historic landmark designed by Sir Herbert Baker, was inaugurated on January 18, 1927, by the then Viceroy, Lord Irwin.

The Constituent Assembly met for the first time on December 9, 1946, in the Central Hall of the old Parliament House. The Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949, and came into effect on January 26, 1950, when India became a republic.
EAM Jaishankar Meets US' Blinken In Italy, Discusses Bilateral Partnership

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 23:03 IST

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is in Italy on an official visit from November 24-26 to participate in the Outreach session of the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting, met Blinken in Fiuggi.

EAM Jaishankar met Blinken in Fiuggi. (Image: X)

Rome: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and discussed the state of the world and the India-US partnership, which continues to move forward.

The 69-year-old union minister, who is in Italy on an official visit from November 24-26 to participate in the Outreach session of the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting, met Blinken in Fiuggi.

related stories

"Always good to meet @SecBlinken, this time in Fiuggi, Italy. Discussed the state of the world and India-US partnership, which continues to move forward," he said in a post on X.

Always good to meet @SecBlinken, this time in Fiuggi, Italy.Discussed the state of the world and India-US partnership, which continues to move forward.   pic.twitter.com/F1r7IfaFdI  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 26, 2024

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Earlier, the external affairs minister met South Koreas Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul. Pleasure to meet @FMChoTaeyul of RoK at the G7 FMM in Fiuggi. Value our conversation on the global situation," he posted on X.

On Monday, Jaishankar met his counterparts from several countries, including the UK, France and Ukraine, and discussed ways to deepen cooperation in multiple sectors as well as regional and international developments.

Location : Rome, Italy

First Published: November 26, 2024, 23:03 IST
From NSG Reforms to NIA, How India Pushed a Drastic Security Overhaul After 26/11

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 17:55 IST

Be it the NSG delay, loopholes in coastal security, lack of intelligence sharing and the response or the lack thereof to such Pakistan-backed aggression  India learnt the lesson that its security apparatus needed urgent overhaul

Terrorists targeted the Taj Hotel in South Mumbai during the 26/11 attacks. (File)

The 26/11 Mumbai attacks in 2008 revealed glaring lapses in Indias security apparatus.

Ten terrorists from the Pakistani terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) hijacked an Indian fishing boat, killing five people on-board. But that was just the start of the havoc they were about to unleash on the city of Mumbai where more than 160 innocents would lose their lives.

related stories

On this day, 16 years ago, the 10, heavily armed terrorists, hit the shores around 8pm and split up going two different ways. They targeted various locations including the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Taj Hotel and the Oberoi Trident, the Nariman House and the Leopold cafe. They even planted bombs in two taxis which further terrorised the city. Throughout the attacks, there was a stark lack of preparedness and intelligence cooperation among agencies from Mumbai Police to the National Security Guard (NSG), leading to fatal errors amid counter-terror ops.

Be it the NSG delay, loopholes in coastal security, lack of intelligence sharing and the response or the lack thereof to such Pakistan-backed aggression  India learnt the lesson that its security apparatus needed urgent overhaul.

One of the most expensive errors was the bureaucratic haggling that caused a delay in the NSGs deployment. Before 26/11, the NSG was based only in Delhi, and it took 10 hours for it to reach the three sites Taj Palace, Oberoi Trident and Nariman House where the terrorists were holed up and had taken hostages. They were also ill-equipped to deal with such scenarios. Learning from this lesson, India established NSG hubs in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, ensuring quicker deployment of specialised counterterrorism units. Their training and equipment were also upgraded.

Arriving from Karachi via the Arabian Sea, the terrorists exploited the weaknesses of Indias coastal security cover. To deal with this lesson, the Indian government launched the Coastal Security Scheme, empowering the Coast Guard, Marine Police, and Navy with modern equipment, radar networks, and patrol vessels. A chain of Coastal Surveillance Radars was installed along Indias vast coastline. And joint coastal exercises were introduced to improve coordination among security forces.

To address the glaring lack of intelligence sharing among agencies, the National Intelligence Grid, NATGRID, was developed to ensure real-time intelligence sharing across multiple agencies. Conceptualised in 2009 and operationalised by 2020, NATGRID collates data from standalone government databases and promotes seamless intelligence sharing among agencies. The Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) were also given funding for modernisation, focusing on technology-driven surveillance.

Regular mock drills and training for first responders, police, and paramilitary forces became a priority to prepare for urban terror situations. The lack of CCTVs, especially in major cities, was recognised.

But thats not all. The government strengthened the UAPA or the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act with stricter provisions to address terrorism financing and prosecute terrorists effectively. Moreover, the National Investigation Agency, the NIA, was set up to tackle terror-related cases including their investigation and prosecution. NIA is not only focused on bringing terrorists and its enablers to justice, but to also develop a storehouse of all terrorist-related information, empowering the Indian intelligence community in real time. Since its formation, the NIA has been at the forefront as an anti-terror agency, and has arrested numerous terrorists, Naxalites and insurgents across the country, with a solid conviction rate of almost 95%.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Indias posture towards Pakistan also saw a drastic change in the years after the 26/11 attacks. The attacks confirmed Indias view of Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism. Pakistan failed to crackdown on the LeT and its constant refusal to arrest the mastermind of the attack, Hafiz Saeed, has been a major bone of contention till date. While the initial response under the UPA government to this war-like aggression was inadequate, the Modi government took a more aggressive stance reshaping the way India treats Pakistan. Firstly, India adopted a more offensive defence strategy, demonstrated by the surgical strikes in 2016 after the Uri attack and the Balakot airstrikes in 2019 following the Pulwama attack. This strengthened Indias doctrine of deterrence. India also decided to name and shame Pakistan on the world stage. It launched a global campaign to expose Pakistans support for terrorism. The Financial Action Task Force or FATFs grey-listing of Pakistan was a direct result of Indias diplomatic efforts. Bilateral dialogues remain suspended till date. The simple yet resounding message to Pakistan is terror and talks cannot go hand in hand.

While challenges remain as India plugs cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan persistently, the 26/11 attacks taught India the importance of coordination, quick response, and preemptive action in counterterrorism. Institutional reforms such as NATGRID, NSG hubs, and the NIA have significantly enhanced Indias internal security framework. But most of all, perhaps the biggest lesson from the attack was that we must never forget and never forgive.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 17:54 IST
Mathura Prem Mandir Founder's Daughter Killed, 7 Injured In Yamuna Expressway Collision

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 09:37 IST

Vishakha Tripathi was killed when a truck rear-ended their vehicle, while her two sisters are among the seven admitted to a hospital for their injuries

The mishap took place on Sunday, November 24, around 4 a.m. near the 8-kilometre mark of Dankaur. (News18 Hindi)

In a tragic accident, one of the daughters of the late Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Maharaj lost her life on Sunday in a collision on the Yamuna Expressway. The accident also left seven others, including two of his other daughters, injured. They are currently undergoing treatment in hospital.

The late Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Maharaj was a renowned spiritual guru and was the founder of the famous Prem Mandir of Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh.

related stories

According to a Times of India report, the accident occurred on November 24, Sunday, due to negligence by the truck driver, resulting in a severe collision between a truck and two vehicles  a Toyota Camry and an Innova Hycross  on the Yamuna Expressway. The truck driver fled the scene after the accident.

The police reported that Vishakha Tripathi, the daughter of the late Jagadguru, along with others, was travelling from Mathura to their residence in Dwarka, Delhi, when the truck rear-ended their vehicles. ACP (Greater Noida-3) Arvind Kumar stated that a passerby alerted the police about the accident.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the truck driver might have fallen asleep while driving, potentially causing the collision. The injured include Vishakha Tripathis sisters, Krishna Tripathi (67) and Shyama Tripathi (69), their driver Sanjay Malik (57) from Pratapgarh, and acquaintances Hansa Patel (56), Kashmira Patel (53), Januka Khadka (40), and Deepak Patel (35) from Delhi. While Vishakha succumbed to her injuries during treatment, the others have been admitted to the ICU.

Investigation Underway

The police are also trying to find out if fog could have led to poor visibility, as the section of the expressway where the incident occurred lacks CCTV cameras. ACP Kumar said no formal complaint has been filed yet, but an inquiry is ongoing. Three teams have been formed to locate the truck driver, and CCTV footage from nearby areas is being examined.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Founder of Prem Mandir

Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Maharaj founded the iconic Prem Mandir in Vrindavan in February 2012. According to the Jagadguru Kripalu Parishad (JKP) website, Vishakha, Krishna, and Shyama Tripathi were the presidents of the organisation. Prem Mandir, a revered temple in Mathura, attracts countless devotees daily.

Location : Mathura | Delhi, India

First Published: November 26, 2024, 09:37 IST
'We Remember, Will Never Forget': President Murmu, Rajnath Pay Tributes To 26/11 Victims

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 09:31 IST

President Droupadi Murmu termed the 26/11 incident as a "cowardly attack" and remembered the brave security personnel who made sacrifices.

Terrorists targeted the Taj Hotel in South Mumbai during the 26/11 attacks | File Image/PTI

Many leaders on Tuesday paid homage to hundreds who were killed during the horrific terror attack carried out by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba in Mumbai in 2008 as India marks its 16th anniversary.

President Droupadi Murmu described the 26/11 incident as a cowardly attack" and remembered the brave security personnel who made sacrifices for the safety of the people. She added that India remains firmly committed to defeating terrorism in all its forms.

related stories

On the anniversary of cowardly terror attacks in Mumbai on 26th November 2008, I join the entire nation in paying homage to the Bravehearts who lost their lives and expressing solidarity with their families. A grateful nation salutes its valiant security personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting our people. It is also the day to reiterate that India remains firmly committed to defeating terrorism in all its forms," President Murmu said in an X post.

On the anniversary of cowardly terror attacks in Mumbai on 26th November 2008, I join the entire nation in paying homage to the bravehearts who lost their lives and expressing solidarity with their families. A grateful nation salutes its valiant security personnel who made President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 26, 2024

Will Never Forget Those Wounds

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also paid tribute to the victims of the attacks, saying We remember, and we will never forget those wounds."

In an X post, Singh wrote, On the anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the nation remembers who lost their lives that fateful day. We pay homage to the security personnel who fought with utmost courage and made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. We remember, and we will never forget those wounds.

On the anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the nation remebers who lost their lives that fateful day. We pay homage to the security personnel who fought with utmost courage and made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. We remember, and we will never forget those wounds. Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) November 26, 2024

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also joined in paying tributes to the victims and said that the cowardly terrorists shamed humanity by killing innocent people in Mumbai on November 26, 2008.

I pay my emotional tribute to the soldiers who attained martyrdom while fighting terrorists in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and salute those who lost their lives," Shah said in an X post.

He reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led governments zero tolerance" policy against terrorism and called the terror acts a blot on the entire human civilization."

The Modi governments zero tolerance policy against terrorism has been appreciated by the entire world and today India has become a world leader in anti-terrorism initiatives," Shah added.

 2008                     26/11                               Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 26, 2024

26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks

The 2008 Mumbai attacks, also known as the 26/11 attacks, were a series of planned and coordinated terrorist attacks carried out over four days in November 2008.

Several members of the LeT carried out 12 shooting and bombing assaults across Mumbai, starting on Wednesday, November 26, and continuing until Saturday, November 29.

The attacks drew widespread global condemnation and resulted in the deaths of 175 people, including nine of the attackers, with over 300 others injured.

Eight of the attacks took place in South Mumbai, targeting locations such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Oberoi Trident, the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, Nariman House, Metro Cinema, and a lane behind the Times of India building and St. Xaviers College.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Additionally, there were explosions in Mazagaon, in Mumbais port area, and a taxi at Vile Parle. By the early morning of November 28, all sites had been secured by the Mumbai Police and security forces, except for the Taj Hotel.

On November 29, Indias National Security Guards (NSG) launched Operation Black Tornado to eliminate the remaining attackers, culminating in the death of the last assailants at the Taj Hotel and bringing the attacks to an end.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 09:20 IST
PWD, Google Maps Officials Booked As 3 Died After Their Car Rolled Over An Under-Construction Bridge In Bareilly

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 15:21 IST

The car fell into the Ramganga River from a partially constructed bridge.

An FIR was filed against four engineers of the PWD, along with some unknown people. (Image: X/@aaraynsh)

Four engineers of the Public Works Department (PWD) and an unnamed official of Google Maps have been booked by the police in connection with the death of three men whose car rolled over an under-construction bridge while following directions on the navigation app.

The car fell into the Ramganga River from a partially constructed bridge in Dataganj Police Station area on Sunday, police informed.

related stories

The three individuals who lost their lives have been identified as Nitin, Ajit and Amit. While Nitin and Ajit, both brothers, were residents of the Farrukhabad district, Amit belonged to the Mainpuri district. The three men were on their way from Noida to Faridpur in Bareilly to attend a wedding.

The incident took place on the Bareilly-Budaun border, news agency PTI reported. According to police, the driver was led by Google Maps into taking the unsafe route.

An FIR was filed against four engineers of the PWD, along with some unknown people," Dataganj Police Station SHO Gaurav Bishnoi was quoted as saying.

The regional officer of Google Maps has also been brought under the scope of investigation but his name is yet to be included in the FIR.

Meanwhile, Budaun District Magistrate Nidhi Srivastava stated that an FIR was filed under section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has been registered against two Assistant Engineers and two Junior Engineers of PWD and unknown persons. In addition to this, corrective measures at the site have been undertaken.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

She further added that instructions have been issued to the PWD and Setu Nigam to inspect all roads, bridges, flyovers, and underpasses to prevent a repeat of such incidents.

A Google spokesperson in a statement said, Our deepest sympathies go out to the families. Were working closely with the authorities and providing our support to investigate the issue."

Location : Uttar Pradesh, India

First Published: November 26, 2024, 15:07 IST
'Because She's Tribal': In Constitution Day Row, BJP Says Rahul Gandhi Didn't Greet President

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 14:14 IST

The BJP has accused Rahul Gandhi of arrogance for not greeting President Droupadi Murmu after the Constitution Day event, citing her tribal identity and gender as factors.

President Murmu at the Parliament, Rahul Gandhi seen walking the other way (Video screengrab)

Rahul Gandhi did not greet President Droupadi Murmu during the Constitution Day event at the Parliament on Tuesday, because she comes from the tribal community", the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged.

In an X post, the partys IT cell chief Amit Malviya wrote, Rahul Gandhi is so arrogant that he did not even greet the President. Just because she comes from the tribal community, is a woman and Rahul Gandhi is the prince of Congress?"

related stories

What kind of a cheap mentality is this?" Malviya asked in the post.

He also shared a video of the moment, wherein other leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, were seen greeting the President.

Rahul Gandhi, as seen in the video, begins to walk towards the other side, but waits for Kharge to join him.

In an X post, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also shared the same video and captioned it Entitled arrogant dynast."

Entitled arrogant dynast. pic.twitter.com/eCD42QcGwI Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) November 26, 2024

THE CONSTITUTION DAY EVENT

Addressing an event to kickstart the year-long celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution, Murmu recalled the contribution of the 15 women members of the Constituent Assembly in framing the document.

The Indian Constitution is a live and progressive document through which we have achieved the goals of social justice and inclusive development, President Droupadi Murmu said.

Our Constitution is a living and progressive document. Through our Constitution, we have achieved the goals of social justice and inclusive development," she said.

Law on women reservation has started new era of women empowerment in our democracy," added Murmu.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

The President also released the Maithili and Sanskrit versions of the Constitution.

ALSO READ | Constitution Day 2024: Ten Lesser-Known Facts About Indian Constitution

First Published: November 26, 2024, 13:30 IST
Roasted Chana From Street Vendor Turns Fatal For Bulandshahr Family; 3 Dead, 1 Critical

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 20:29 IST

On Tuesday, Novemeber 26, the familys daughter-in-law, Jogendra, also passed away after being hospitalised for treatment.

Deaths linked to roasted gram from a vendor. (Representational Image)

A tragic incident unfolded in Mohammadpur Barwala village, located in the Narsena police jurisdiction of Uttar Pradeshs Bulandshahr district, where three family members died after allegedly consuming roasted chana purchased from a single street vendor.

The incident began on the evening of November 24, when the family members, including 50-year-old Kalua Singh, his 8-year-old grandson Lavish, and other relatives, purchased roasted chana from a vendor in the market. Later that evening, they had a regular meal at home. However, tragedy struck on the morning of November 25 when Kalua Singh and his young grandson, Lavish, were found dead. Their condition had deteriorated overnight, and they succumbed by the following day.

related stories

On Tuesday, Novemeber 26, the familys daughter-in-law, Jogendra, also passed away after being hospitalised for treatment. The tragic deaths have raised serious concerns, as the remaining family members, including a young girl, are still receiving medical attention.

Senior police officers including Bulandshahr SSP, Shlok Kumar, launched a full investigation into the cause of these deaths. According to SSP Kumar, initial reports suggested that the four family members fell ill after consuming the roasted gram, and the cause of their illness and subsequent deaths will be determined following autopsies.

A postmortem examination was conducted on the body of the deceased woman, Jogendra, on Tuesday, and the results are expected to provide crucial information regarding the cause of death. Kalua Singh and Lavish were cremated without an autopsy on Monday. However, authorities are still waiting for the final reports to clarify any links between the deaths and the food consumed.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Food Safety Officer Vineet Kumar confirmed that samples of the roasted gram and other food items consumed by the family were being sent to the laboratory for testing. If any contamination or harmful substances were detected, the authorities will take appropriate legal action against the vendor. The Food Safety Department is closely monitoring the situation to ensure that food safety standards are upheld.

As investigations continue, local residents have been urged to exercise caution when purchasing food from street vendors.

Location : Bulandshahr, India

First Published: November 26, 2024, 20:29 IST
'Safeguard Hindus': India Calls Out Bangladesh Over Monk Chinmoy Prabhu's Arrest, Dhaka Responds

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 22:38 IST

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday condemned the arrest and denial of bail to Hindu religious leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu.

Prominent Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das had recently raised concerns about the safety of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh following a regime change. (IMAGE: X)

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday condemned the arrest and denial of bail to Hindu religious leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu and urged the Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety of Hindus, a religious minority in the country.

MEAs strong remark came after Prabhu, who led multiple protests over atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh, was arrested by the Dhaka Polices Detective Branch on November 25 at Dhaka airport.

related stories

We urge Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression," said the MEA in an official statement.

The ministry underscored that the arrest of Prabhu follows incidents related to attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh.

There are several documented cases of arson and looting of minorities homes and business establishments, as well as theft and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples," the MEA said.

The ministry further expressed concerns over the attacks on the religious minority group members protesting peacefully for the release of Prabhu.

Bangladesh Responds

The Bangladesh foreign ministry (now led by its interim government) in a statement responded to its Indian counterpart on Tuesday evening.

Attention of the Government of Bangladesh has been drawn to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs of India to the media today (26 November 2024) on a matter concerning internal affairs of Bangladesh. It is with utter dismay and deep sense of hurt that the Government of Bangladesh notes that the arrest of Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das has been misconstrued by certain quarters since Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das has been arrested on specific charges," the statement said.

The statement further claimed that certain statements being made harm the friendly relations between the two nations.

Our statement on the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das:https://t.co/HbaFUPWds0 pic.twitter.com/cdgSx6iUQb Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) November 26, 2024

Prabhu was associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) for many years and has served as the societys spokesperson. On several occasions, Prabhu raised his voice against the acts of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, calling out the practice of religious discrimination.

ISKCON Lauds MEAs Intervention

The ISKCON temple authorities, which earlier urged the Indian government to intervene and speak to the Government of Bangladesh regarding the matter, lauded the Indian governments move to condemn the arrest of Prabhu.

Radharaman Das, Vice President of ISKCON, thanked the Ministry of External Affairs for standing against the arrest of Chinmoy Prabhu."

He is being treated as a terrorist and being targeted because of becoming a prominent face of Hindu protests in Bangladesh. He held several protests over atrocities against Hindus, but it was organised peacefully," Radharaman Das, Vice President of ISKCON, told CNN-News18.

He added that the sedition case filed against Prabhu stands false" and he was not given any reason for arrest at the airport." Earlier, the temple authorities demanded the Bangladesh government to immediately release its leader and stated that they are a peace-loving Bhakti movement

Prabhu Charged With Sedition

A court on Tuesday denied bail to Prabhu, known as a prominent leader of the Hindu group Sammilita Sanatani Jote, and upheld the sedition case filed against him allegedly over his outspoken stance on minority rights in the country.

Massive protests broke out in Dhaka and other parts of Bangladesh, demanding Prabhus immediate release. Visuals from Bangladesh showed multiple protests being held in Dhaka and Chittagong. Members of the Hindu community also protested in Shahbagh against the Hindu monks arrest.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

We will not do anything that will ruin the peace. Keep your emotions in control. Peace is our only way forward," said the Hindu Monk after being sent to judicial custody.

According to sources, Prabhus lawyer representing him in the court has filed a review petition to secure his bail, claiming that charges against him are falsely framed.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 14:03 IST
Sambhal Jama Masjid Was Once Harihar Temple, Referenced In Ancient Texts: Historian Amid Row

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 14:24 IST

According to Dr Anupam, the temple is mentioned in numerous ancient texts, and holds particular relevance to both Hinduism and local lore.

Security personnel deployed outside Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. (PTI Photo)

The ongoing dispute over the Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradeshs Sambhal escalated dramatically on Sunday, November 24, resulting in violent clashes that left four dead and approximately 20 others injured, including several security personnel. The unrest, which involved stone-pelting, arson, and violent confrontations with the police, required a heavy response from authorities, including lathicharges and the use of tear gas to restore order. The dispute centred around the claims that the mosque was originally a Hindu temple that was demolished and converted.

Amidst the escalating tensions, Local 18 conducted an exclusive interview with senior historian Dr Ajay Anupam, who shed light on the historical significance of the Harihar Temple in Sambhal, which he asserted has deep roots in both religious texts and local history. According to Dr Anupam, the temple is mentioned in numerous ancient texts, including the Puranas, and holds particular relevance to both Hinduism and local lore.

related stories

Dr Anupam began by explaining that Sambhal, long considered a place of mythological importance, features prominently in multiple sacred texts, including the Matsya Purana, Shrimad Bhagwat Purana, Skanda Purana, and others. The Puranas clearly refer to Sambhal as a significant city," he stated. The Matsya Purana and other texts mention that the ancient king Yayati, the son of King Nahush, founded the city," he further said.

Dr Anupam added that just as a house often includes a temple as part of its construction, the founding of cities in ancient times was similarly marked by the establishment of temples. When King Yayati established Sambhal, it would have been only natural for him to have built a temple there as well, and this temple is widely believed to have been the Harihar Temple," he said.

The historian elaborated on the significance of the Harihar Temple, explaining that the name Harihar" refers to the union of two major deities in Hinduism  Lord Vishnu (Hari) and Lord Shiva (Har). These deities are central figures in the Sanatan Dharma tradition, and as such, the temple was dedicated to both, symbolising a sanctuary under their protection. The Harihar Temple is not only a temple of immense antiquity but also one that was specifically dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva," said Dr Anupam.

Dr Anupam went on to explain that several religious texts mention the temple, lending it further historical credibility. The Shrimad Bhagwat Purana, Skanda Purana, and Matsya Purana all make specific reference to the Harihar Temple in Sambhal," he confirmed, adding that these texts not only described the temple but also related it to the incarnations of gods and goddesses in Hindu culture, such as the Matsya Avatar, further highlighting its importance.

A Temple Over 5,000 Years Old

According to Dr Anupam, the temples origins can be traced back at least 5,000 years, based on descriptions found in the Puranas. The Shrimad Bhagwat Purana offers a detailed account of the establishment of this temple, which suggests its construction dates back to the time of its mentions  around 5,000 years ago," he stated, adding that the temples repeated references in various texts over time confirmed its long-standing historical and religious significance.

Unclear Location, but Historical Significance

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

While the exact location of the Harihar Temple remains unclear in the Puranas, Dr Anupam argued that the texts made it clear that it was situated in Sambhal. He noted that the religious and historical significance of Sambhal is firmly established in ancient writings, which consistently describe the city and the temple in great detail. Sambhals importance is not a matter of a single text; it is repeatedly mentioned across several ancient scriptures," he stressed, adding, Its not a case of a mistaken mention in one source  it is repeatedly acknowledged in multiple texts."

The historians statements offered new perspectives on the longstanding controversy surrounding the Jama Masjid in Sambhal.

Location : Moradabad, India

First Published: November 26, 2024, 14:24 IST
Sambhal Violence: 12-Member Samajwadi Party Team To Visit Mosque Area; 25 Arrested So Far

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 09:01 IST

The Police have arrested 25 individuals over the violence which erupted after a large group of protestors opposing a mosque survey clashed with police.

UP Police arrested 25 people in connection with the Sambhal violence | Image/PTI

Amid rising tensions in Uttar Pradeshs Sambhal following violent clashes, a 12-member delegation from the Samajwadi Party is scheduled to visit the affected area on Tuesday.

The Police have arrested 25 individuals over the violence which broke out on Sunday after a large group of protestors opposing a court-ordered Mughal-era mosque survey clashed with police and pelted stones at the officials.

related stories

As many as four people were killed and several others injured in the deadly clashes in Sambhal. Samajwadi Party MP Zia ur Rahman Barq and Sohail Iqbal, son of local SP MLA Iqbal Mehmood, are among those booked in the cases related to the violence.

Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar said seven FIRs have been lodged in connection with the violence. Six people, including Barq and Iqbal, were named and 2,750 others have been mentioned as unidentified, he said.

SP Team To Visit Sambhal

The Samajwadi Party, which rejected the charges against its leaders, has planned to visit the Sambhal mosque today, the party officials said. The SP delegation will be headed by the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Mata Prasad Pandey.

Notably, the SP teams visit to Sambhal can spark further tension as the district administration has already imposed prohibitory orders and barred the entry of outsiders into the city till November 30.

No outsiders, other social organisations or public representatives will enter the district border without the permission of the competent officer," said the order, which came into force with immediate effect.

Violation of the order will be punishable under Section 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the BNS.

Internet Ban Till 4 PM, Schools To Reopen

In a fresh order issued on Tuesday, the Sambhal district administration allowed all the schools to reopen following an order yesterday that directed all the educational institutes to remain shut for 24 hours.

The authorities also ordered a 24-hour internet suspension in the Sambhal Tehsil following violence over a mosque survey that four people dead. The internet restrictions will be lifted at 4 PM today, said officials.

Further, the police held a meeting with the market traders and urged them to continue their routine business, assuring them of their safety and security.

Sambhal Violence Over Mosque Survey

Sambhal remained on the edge since last Tuesday when a team of surveyors visited the Jama Masjid on a local courts order on a complaint that the mosque was built on a temple.

The officials said the survey was not completed on Tuesday and was planned for Sunday morning to avoid interference with prayers that are usually held in the afternoon.

Gopal Sharma, a local lawyer for the Hindu side, had earlier claimed the temple that once stood at the site was demolished by Mughal emperor Babur in 1529.

On Sunday, trouble started early when a large group of people gathered near the mosque and started shouting slogans as the survey team began its work.

Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, said the survey team conducted a detailed examination of the site, supported by videography and photography as per the courts directives.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Location : Sambhal, India

First Published: November 26, 2024, 07:49 IST
Sambhal Violence: Samajwadi Party MP Provoked Violence For 'Political Gain,' Mentions FIR

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 15:16 IST

Samajwadi Party rejected the allegations raised against their leader, saying that he was not present in the town when violence erupted.

Samajwadi Party MP Zia ur Rahman Barq | File Image/PTI

Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Barq, who has been named as a key accused in a case related to Sambhal violence that claimed four lives on Sunday, allegedly provoked the mob to disrupt communal harmony for political gain, mentioned the FIR.

Nearly 24 hours after the violence erupted over a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque, seven FIRs were filed by the police, naming SP MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq and SP MLA Iqbal Mehmoods son Sohail Iqbal as accused.

related stories

In one of the seven FIRs lodged, the police alleged that the parliamentarian visited the mosque in Sambhal days before Sundays violence and incited unrest that spread to nearby areas, leading to several incidents of violence.

Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar said seven FIRs have been lodged in connection with the violence. Six people, including Barq and Iqbal, were named and 2,750 others have been mentioned as unidentified, he said.

However, the Samajwadi Party has rejected the allegations raised against their leader, saying that he was not present in the town when violence erupted and slammed the police for allegedly hatching conspiracy against him.

On November 22, Ziaur Rahman Warq visited the Jama Masjid. After offering namaaz, he gathered a crowd without administrative permission and made provocative statements. For political gain, he incited the crowd to disturb communal harmony," the FIR stated, according to a report by India Today.

Suhail Iqbal incited the crowd by saying, Ziaur Rahman Warq is with us, we are also with you. We will not let anything happen to you; fulfil your intentions. As a result, the crowd became more violent," the document stated.

SP Team To Visit Sambhal

The Samajwadi Party, which rejected the charges against its leaders, has planned to visit the Sambhal mosque today, the party officials said. The SP delegation will be headed by the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Mata Prasad Pandey.

Notably, the SP teams visit to Sambhal can spark further tension as the district administration has already imposed prohibitory orders and barred the entry of outsiders into the city till November 30.

No outsiders, other social organisations or public representatives will enter the district border without the permission of the competent officer," said the order, which came into force with immediate effect.

Violation of the order will be punishable under Section 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the BNS.

Sambhal Violence: All You Need To Know

Sambhal remained on the edge since last Sunday when a team of surveyors visited the Jama Masjid on a local courts order on a complaint that the mosque was built on a temple.

Gopal Sharma, a local lawyer for the Hindu side, had earlier claimed the temple that once stood at the site was demolished by Mughal emperor Babur in 1529.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

The violence erupted when a large group of people gathered near the mosque and started shouting slogans as the survey team began its work. They pelted stones at the officials, opposing their move, and set several vehicles on fire as part of the violent protest.

Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, said the survey team conducted a detailed examination of the site, supported by videography and photography as per the courts directives.

Location : Sambhal, India

First Published: November 26, 2024, 13:59 IST
Success Story: This Brother-Sister Duo Started Their Bakery in Rajasthan And Now Have A Rs 30 Lakh Turnover

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 20:30 IST

In a Local-18 interview, Apeksha highlighted her dedication to using high-quality ingredients, ensuring her cakes and bakery items attract customers who value great taste

Apeksha's menu boasts a delectable array of 12 types of bakery items. (Local18)

At just 21, Apeksha Jain has turned her passion for baking into a thriving business, achieving an impressive annual turnover of Rs 2530 lakh with her bakery. The demand for their cakes and pastries, crafted by Apeksha herself, is so high that their official Instagram page is inundated with orders daily.

To manage the substantial demand, Apeksha has had to hire additional staff. With her brother as her business partner, they are now determined to take their brand nationwide. Apekshas entrepreneurial journey began at 16 when she envisioned starting her own business.

related stories

Despite her fathers initial reservations, which encouraged her to focus on her studies, Apeksha, with her brothers support, persevered and convinced him to support her endeavour. After thorough research and preparation, at the age of 21, Apeksha, alongside her brother, Abhay Jain, opened their own bakery shop, which enjoys a constant flow of customers.

Apekshas journey began at 16 during a summer camp, where she discovered a passion and talent for baking. Believing she could turn her skill into a business, she created an Instagram page, @ohh_my_cakee, to showcase her creations.

It was through this platform that Apeksha received her first order, motivating her to purchase ingredients, bake, and successfully sell her cakes. Positive feedback fuelled her confidence, leading her to bake more cakes and share them with relatives and neighbours.

Inspired by the positive response, Apeksha decided to pursue a career in baking. She completed a Diploma in Pastry Art from MTAC International Culinary School, Ahmedabad, and there was no looking back. From receiving orders for one or two cakes, Apeksha now manages around 50 orders daily. Recognising his sisters growing success, Abhay Jain joined the business to support her.

Apeksha revealed that their annual sales have reached Rs 25 to 30 lakh in the past two years. This revenue allows them to pay their two employees a salary of Rs 12,000 each, while also facilitating savings. Their average monthly sales amount to Rs 2-2.5 lakh.

While currently fulfilling orders primarily from Pali residents, Apeksha dreams of expanding her brand across the country, opening branches under her brand name, and sharing her handmade cakes and bakery items with a wider audience.

Apekshas menu boasts a delectable array of 12 types of bakery items. Her offerings include 20 flavours of cake, five types of shakes, cold coffee, pizza, and Korean cream cheese buns. Her biscuit cake, cheesecake, and brownie cake are particularly popular, with prices starting from Rs 1,100 per kg. Her bakery items are also supplied to over 20 shops in the city. Apeksha has successfully established a strong reputation, not only in Pali but also in neighbouring districts.

In an exclusive interview with Local-18, Apeksha emphasised her commitment to using high-quality ingredients in all her cakes and bakery items. This focus on quality is key to attracting customers who appreciate fine food.

Apeksha takes pride in personally crafting all the cakes and bakery items, without employing a separate chef.

Although she has two assistants, she remains deeply involved in the creation process. Freshness is of paramount importance to Apeksha, ensuring that all items are prepared and sold on the same day, thus avoiding the need for storage.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Apekshas brother, Abhay Jain, an event manager, recognised his sisters passion and dedication. To support her dream of opening her own shop, Abhay explains that they used savings accumulated from their cake and bakery sales over the past three to four years. This, supplemented by financial assistance from their father, allowed them to open the ohh_my_cakee" shop near the Rotary Club two months ago.

The shop has been met with an overwhelmingly positive response. The initial investment of Rs 5 lakh covered furniture, decoration, paint, a fridge, bakery machines, an oven, and other essential equipment. This investment has since proven worthwhile, as the business has flourished.

Location : Pali, India

First Published: November 26, 2024, 20:30 IST
Clashes, Stone Pelting Outside Udaipur Palace After New Maharana Denied Entry Over Family Feud

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 09:30 IST

A tense situation was witnessed outside Udaipur's City Palace after BJP MLA Vishvaraj Singh, newly anointed as Mewar's titular head, was denied entry to the fort.

Clashes outside Udaipur City Palace (Video screengrabs/ANI)

Clashes broke out and stones were pelted outside the City Palace, Udaipur, in Rajasthan, on Monday night after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Rajsamand, Vishvaraj Singh Mewar, and his supporters, were denied entry to the palace.

This came hours after Vishvaraj Singh was anointed the titular head of the erstwhile royal family of Mewar, after the death of his father Mahendra Singh Mewar earlier this month.

related stories

However, a cloud of a feud between Mahendra Singh Mewar and his estranged younger brother Arvind Singh Mewar, the descendants of Rajput king Maharana Pratap, hung over the occasion.

Videos, widely shared on social media, showed a tense situation outside the Udaipur Palace.

#WATCH | Udaipur, Rajasthan: Dispute within the former royal family turned violent as supporters of BJP MLA Vishvaraj Singh Mewar, who was crowned as the 77th Maharana of Mewar, clashed with City Palace representatives, leading to stone-pelting.After the coronation ceremony pic.twitter.com/4KU6nASAUE  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2024

Another video showed Vishvaraj Singh Mewar sitting outside the gate of the palace with his supporters.

#WATCH | Udaipur, Rajasthan: BJP MLA from Rajsamand and newly crowned Maharana of Mewar, Vishvaraj Singh Mewar and his supporters camp outside the City palace after they were stopped from entering the palace.Vishvaraj Singh Mewar, the 77th Maharana of Mewar had a stand-off with pic.twitter.com/zRASFAoKfI  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2024

A heavy police force was deployed to control the situation after stones were pelted from inside the palace.

According to news agency PTI, Vishvaraj Singh was denied entry to the palace after his uncle, Arvind Singh, issued a public notice against the newly anointed royal family heads planned visit to the Eklingnath temple of the family deity and the City Palace in Udaipur as part of rituals of the royal ceremony.

Both the temple and the palace are under the control of Arvind Singh, the chairman and managing trustee of Shree Eklingji Trust in Udaipur.

As Vishvaraj Singh was denied entry, his supporters attempted to intrude on the barricading but were stopped by the police.

After being denied entry, Vishvaraj Singh proceeded to Jagdish Chowk with his supporters, barely a few metres away from the City Palace.

UDAIPUR PALACE CLASH: POLICE ACTION

Meanwhile, senior police officials, including District Collector Arvind Kumar Poswal and Superintendent of Police (SP) Yogesh Goyal spoke to Vishvaraj Singh and his supporters and tried to pacify them.

They also spoke to Arvind Singhs son. However, the talks remained inconclusive.

Later, talking to the media, Poswal stated that the situation was under control.

The law and order situation is well under control. Talks were going on with palace representatives as well as the society representatives. We have agreed on certain issues, while talks are still going on for certain others," he said.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Poswal further mentioned that the district administration has taken the disputed Dhuni Mata Temple site into receivership.

The district administration has moved to take the disputed site of Dhuni Mata Temple into receivership. If either of the two groups wants to register a case, it will be registered," news agency ANI quoted him as saying.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 07:35 IST
Kriti Sanon Stuns In A Quilted Corset and Drape Skirt At IFFI 2024

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 12:48 IST

Styled by Sukriti Grover, Kriti Sanons showstopper ensemble was designed by fashion designer Surya Sarkar.

Kriti Sanon graced the 55th International Film Festival of India in Goa on November 25th.

The multi-hyphenated star Kriti Sanon graced the 55th International Film Film Festival of India in Goa. Kriti who is riding high on the success of her first production, Do Patti, was invited to talk at Empowering Change: Women Leading The Way in Cinema masterclass session.

Kriti owned the red carpet in a luxurious statement piece designed by luxury clothing brand, Surya Sarkar. The ensemble featured a silk quilted corset with chantilly lace trimmings and was paired with a dramatic drape skirt in a spellbinding shade of black. The quilted detailing added surface texture to the black ensemble and the pattern of the corset was unique and fit Kriti like a glove. Thus, accentuating her curves and making it the perfect red carpet-worthy statement piece.

related stories

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kriti (@kritisanon)

Styled by celebrity fashion stylist Sukriti Grover, Kritis style was a perfect amalgamation of timeless elegance and contemporary glamour. Kritis red carpet moments have always celebrated her impeccable style in the enchanting silhouettes curated by Sukriti.

The ensemble is part of Surya Sarkars Summer 2025 collection and embodies the brands affinity for silhouette coupled with modern aesthetics. The ensemble can also be styled separately and with the wedding season both the showstopper pieces can be reimaged with traditional opulence.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by IFFI (@iffigoa)

If theres one hue that accentuates Kritis style quotient it has to be the classic shade of black. From bodysuits to cropped blazers and enticing bodycon dresses, the hue has beautifully embraced every silhouette with elan.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

The smokey eye makeup complemented the messy chic hairstyle Kriti was styled in. Adding a hint of sparkle to her monochromatic red carpet look were the earrings and rings she wore with her look. Overall, Kriti cast a spell with not just the mesmerizing look but also with her interaction at the masterclass.

The ongoing 55th International Film Festival of India is on till November 28, 2024. The film festival has seen an array of celebrities attend the festival including Ranbir Kapoor, Bhumi Pednekar, Sanya Malhotra, Guneet Monga, Ashwini Yardi, Manisha Koirala, Manoj Bajpayee, Prasoon Joshi, Rakul Preet Singh, Jackky Bhagnani, Sobhita Dhulipala, Naga Chaitanya, Nagarjuna, Randeep Hooda, Tisca Chopra, Swara Bhaskar, Kriti Kulhari, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkummar Rao, Taha Shah Badussha, Sanjay Misra, Ankita Lokhande, Vicky Jain, among others.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 26, 2024, 11:58 IST
Head To These 5 Hill Stations Near Delhi For Some Fresh Mountain Air Like Manushi Chhillar's Kasauli Getaway

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 13:12 IST

These five hill stations near Delhi offers some stunning views of the mountains and also allow you to soak in the winter sun and breathe in crisp air.

Manushi Chillar visited Kasauli Hills for a quick getaway.

Amidst the rising air pollution in the national capital, it is no surprise Delhiites want to escape to the hills and enjoy the clear blue skies and the crisp air. Manushi Chhillar is among those who took a quick trip to Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, to unwind and soak in the winter sun. She took to her social media and shared images from her trip to the hill station. Dressed in black leggings, a black crop top, and a black puffer jacket, Chhillar looked radiant as she embarked on a morning walk in Kasauli.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manushi Chhillar (@manushi_chhillar)

related stories

If you are also planning to take a break and visit the mountains for some peace, then here are the top five hill stations near Delhi that you can visit with your friends, family, or even solo.

Nainital (Approx. 300 km from Delhi)

Known for its scenic Naini Lake, Nainital offers beautiful views, boating experiences, and a cool climate. The charming hill station with its colonial-era charm and lush greenery is perfect for nature lovers.

Mussoorie (Approx. 280 km from Delhi)

Often referred to as the Queen of the Hills, Mussoorie is famous for its misty hills and breathtaking views of the Doon Valley. One can visit popular tourist spots like Camels Back Road and Kempty Falls for an ideal relaxing retreat.

Dharamshala (Approx. 480 km from Delhi)

The seat of Dalai Lama, this hill station is popular for its Tibetan culture. With its lush pine forests and snow-capped mountains, it is perfect for spiritual seekers and nature lovers alike.

Chopta (Approx. 450 km from Delhi)

Known as the Mini Switzerland of India, Chopta is a picturesque destination surrounded by lush meadows and dense forests. Its an offbeat haven for trekkers and adventure enthusiasts, with the Tungnath and Chandrashila treks offering stunning Himalayan views.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Kausani (Approx. 350 km from Delhi)

Hidden in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, Kausani is known for its panoramic views of the Himalayan peaks like Nanda Devi and Trishul. The scenic views, coffee plantations, and quiet surroundings make it a perfect retreat for those looking for a serene experience away from crowds.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 26, 2024, 13:12 IST
Anupamaa Makers To Compensate Family Of Crew Member Who Died On Set, FWICE Confirms: Report

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 17:24 IST

On November 14, 2024, a tragic incident occurred on the set of Anupamaa, when crew member Anil Mandal died due to electrocution while handling technical equipment.

Anupamaa started airing on Star Plus back in 2020. (Photo credits: Instagram)

On November 14, 2024, a tragic incident occurred on the set of Anupamaa, when crew member Anil Mandal died due to electrocution while handling technical equipment. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) announced that the makers of Anupamaa would provide Rs 10 lakh in compensation to Anils family. FWICE President B.N. Tiwari confirmed this, offering support following the unfortunate incident that shocked the industry, as reported by ETimes.

Tiwari said, We have received a communication from Rajan Shahis office that a compensation of Rs 10 lakhs will be given to father of Anil Mandal as he was unmarried."

related stories

Anil Mandal, a crew member on Anupamaa, tragically died due to electrocution caused by a short circuit. He was relatively new to the job, and many crew members didnt have close ties with him. Despite immediate medical attention, Mandal passed away. The Director of Photography called it a human error. The makers of Anupamaa have assured that Mandals family will receive compensation for their loss.

The statement read: We, Directors Kut Production and Shahi Production Pvt. Ltd. have been entertaining in the TV industry for the last 18 years, catering to the audience in India and abroad with our innovative, popular family shows like Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Bidaai, Anupamaa and others, which have played a pivotal role in the Television Industry. This would not have been possible without the seamless and harmonious collaboration of over 300 talented and dedicated professionals."

Earlier, a source close to the production exclusively told News18, The incident occurred on Thursday (November 14) night. The camera assistant died from an electric shock. It was an accident. Shooting was underway when the accident took place, and it remains unclear if Rupali was also on the sets or not." The source further added, The camera person who died was not from the production unit. He was here only for a few days. He was recently hired on contract."

First Published: November 26, 2024, 17:24 IST
Alice Kaushik REACTS To Kanwar Dhillon Denying Claims Of Marriage Proposal: 'We Are Not Going To...'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 25, 2024, 20:42 IST

For the unversed, during her Bigg Boss 18 stint, Alice Kaushik claimed that Kanwar Dhillon was ready to marry her. However, Dhillon denied the claims.

Alice Kaushik and Kanwar Dhillon met on the sets of Pandya Store and fell in love with one another. (Photo: Instagram)

When Alice Kaushik was inside the Bigg Boss 18 house, her actor-boyfriend Kanwar Dhillon denied rumours that he proposed to her. Now that Alice is out of the Bigg Boss house, she has reacted to her boyfriends claims, saying his words were misunderstood by all.

In a recent interview with Pinkvilla, Alice Kaushik was asked about Kanwars statement when she said, I think what he meant was that we are not going to get married right away which I feel the same."

related stories

When Salman sir asked if I wanted to get married, I said No sir, not for next 5 years. I said no. There was no denial it was just a misunderstanding," the actress added.

For the unversed, during her Bigg Boss 18 stint, Alice Kaushik claimed that Kanwar Dhillon was ready to marry her and had proposed her for the same. However, later in an interview, Kanwar denied proposing her for marriage.

Mein bola I want to date you because youre the kind of girl I would like to get married to. Ki matlab, you know, youre that kind of girl jisse date karke yaar, settle ho sakte ho aap aage. Toh mene esa bola tha. Ab usne wo bolne ke excitement mein jis tarah andar bola hai, mereko toh logon ke messages aa rahe hai," he said.

After Dhillon faced flak for refusing Alices claims, he explained what he meant by his previous statement. The former Pandya Store actor mentioned that people are misinterpreting his statement.

Those who have a doubt can call me and ask. I dont think I need to clarify to those whom I dont know. When things are good, people dont come to ask, right? So whats the point in poking nose when something else happens? I know what I was saying, so I dont waste my energy in explaining," he said.

First Published: November 25, 2024, 20:42 IST
Leonardo DiCaprio Faces Flak For 'Disrespecting' Fiji Traditions: Know What Happened

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 15:05 IST

Leonardo DiCaprio was recently spotted in Fiji, where he appeared to be on vacation, weeks after his 50th birthday celebrations.

DiCaprio quickly headed out of the hotel amid the performance. (Photo Credits: X)

Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio has found himself at the centre of a controversy for allegedly disrespecting" a traditional ceremony in Fiji. A video shows the 50-year-old leaving a hotel on the tropical island earlier this week after a relaxing vacation. To make his farewell even more special, the hotel staff even came up with a traditional song to send their greetings, the actor appeared to have completely ignored it, leaving his fans quite upset. Dressed in complete black attire with sunglasses and a cap, DiCaprio was on his phone as he entered the hotel lobby where the staff waited to send him off.

The video shows the group performing the traditional dance and song for him, only to see the actor quickly walking out of the area and getting into his van. Originally shared by the social media handle of Fiji Village, the video has now gone viral across various platforms, sparking sharp reactions over his lack of acknowledgement of the gesture.

related stories

Leonardo DiCaprio is being accused of disrespecting Fiji hotel staff by pretending to be on the phone and ignoring them as they performed a traditional farewell serenade as he exited the hotel. pic.twitter.com/ZcbZuu0IfW 

First Published: November 26, 2024, 14:55 IST
Samantha Ruth Prabhu Learned About Her Myositis After Koffee With Karan Shoot: 'Post Separation...'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 22:28 IST

During Koffee With Karan in 2022, Samantha also addressed the public scrutiny following her divorce from Naga Chaitanya.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu appeared on Koffee With Karan along with Akshay Kumar.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu recently shared the timeline of her myositis diagnosis and the challenges she faced after learning about her autoimmune condition. Speaking to Galatta India, Samantha revealed that she first experienced symptoms shortly after filming for Koffee With Karan.

Actually, its weird," Samantha said. So I had finished shooting for Koffee With Karan. And I was flying back to Hyderabad with my business partner, Himank Duvvuru. And I had a very crazy six months. It was more than six months. It was about eight months of just post the separation, it was just, world was going upside down. I remember telling him on the flight back that I finally feel a sense of calm and Im ready now to work and focus on my career. The next day, I had a shoot for Kushi, but I experienced immense fatigue. My body went into shutdown mode."

related stories

The actress further explained, From then on, it started deteriorating, and I didnt know what was happening. It took a while to figure things out, and I think after that, everyone knows. It takes a lot of time."

During Koffee With Karan in 2022, Samantha also addressed the public scrutiny following her divorce from Naga Chaitanya. Responding to Karan Johars question about trolling, Samantha said, I cant complain about it because I chose that path to be transparent and when the separation happened I couldnt be too upset about it because they invested in my life. I didnt had answers at that time."

Karan further inquired about their current relationship status. Samantha candidly remarked, There are hard feelings. If you put the both of us in a room, youd have to hide sharp objects. As of now, its not amicable, but it might be in the future."

Despite the hardships, Samantha reflected on her journey with resilience, stating, It has been hard, but its good now. I am stronger."

First Published: November 26, 2024, 22:25 IST
Sayani Gupta Recalls Actor Who 'Lingered A Kiss' Post Scene Cut: A Lot of People Take Advantage...

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 27, 2024, 02:52 IST

Sayani Gupta also recalled a particularly vulnerable moment during an outdoor shoot for Four More Shots Please! in Goa.

Sayani Gupta reveals uncomfortable on-set experiences.

Sayani Gupta recently opened up about uncomfortable experiences while filming intimate scenes, including an incident where a co-actor lingered on a kiss even after the director called cut." Speaking on Radio Nasha, the actor discussed the challenges she faced in such moments, talking about the importance of intimacy coordinators on sets.

Sayani revealed, I could write a book about intimacy, and I am grateful that this [intimacy coordinator] is now a profession in India. I had worked with one during Margarita with a Straw in 2013. Intimate scenes are the easiest to do because they are technical. But a lot of people also take advantage. Ive been in situations where an actor lingered on a kiss after a cut, and youre left feeling uncomfortable. It may be subtle, but its indecent behaviour."

related stories

The actor also recalled a particularly vulnerable moment during an outdoor shoot for Four More Shots Please! in Goa. I had to lie on the beach in a tiny dress. There were some 70 men standing in front of me, and there wasnt even one person on set to give me a shawl or be by my side. The lack of concern for an actors safety, or anyones safety, is concerning. Boundaries are often compromised, and this mindset needs to change," she said.

Sayani Gupta, known for her nuanced performances, made her debut with Second Marriage Dot Com in 2012. She gained acclaim for Margarita with a Straw and has since starred in notable films such as Fan and Article 15. On the web, her portrayal of Damini in Four More Shots Please! has garnered a loyal fanbase.

Her latest release, the romantic comedy Khwaabon Ka Jhamela, co-starring Prateik Babbar, premiered on JioCinema.

First Published: November 27, 2024, 02:52 IST
Watch: Prajakta Mali Talks Meditation, Sattvic Food And Ashram Life

Curated By :

Local News Desk

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 15:38 IST

Prajakta shared her interest in the Art of Living course, explaining how it has impacted her life positively.

She asked her followers to take part in courses like Sudarshan Kriya.

Maharashtras beloved actress, Prajakta Mali, is once again making waves on social media, but this time, its not for her acting skills. The actress, known for her roles in popular Marathi television shows like Suvasini and Julun Yeti Reshimgathi, has shared a heartfelt video expressing her desire to become an ashram resident. Her video has quickly gone viral, sparking conversations about spirituality, meditation, and personal growth.

In the video posted on her Instagram, Prajakta opens up about her deep connection with Maharashtra and the arts but reveals that if she werent so passionate about her work, she would be living in an ashram in Bangalore. Prajakta shared her interest in the Art of Living course, explaining how it has impacted her life positively. She mentions the benefits of staying in an ashram, keeping silent, eating sattvic food, and dedicating time to meditation and yoga.

related stories

If there was no love for Maharashtra and art so much, I would have been in an ashram in Bangalore at this moment. And doing the must thing after completing the advanced course of @artofliving," Prajakta captioned the video, which has gained significant attention online.

She also encouraged her followers to explore the Art of Living website and take part in courses like Sudarshan Kriya, which she says has changed her life. According to Prajakta, the practice of meditation and pranayama helped her find balance and clarity. She shared her personal experience of attending multiple advanced courses, including her 15th course, which took place with spiritual guru Sri Ravi Shankar.

Known for her grace and dedication to both her craft and personal well-being, Prajakta is currently hosting Maharashtrachi Hasyajatra on Sony Marathi, where she continues to entertain her audience. Her new venture into the world of spirituality has caught the attention of fans, who admire her openness and desire for personal growth.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 15:38 IST
Global Watch | Kurram Violence: Sunni Establishments War Against Shias In Pakistan

Written By :



Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 16:44 IST

Unless and until the Pakistan Army and the political establishment dissociate themselves from these sectarian groups, the situation in Kurram is unlikely to improve and the Shias will continue to bear the brunt of this unholy alliance

Relatives transport a dead body of a victim who was killed in sectarian attacks in Kurram district at a Shitte Muslim mosque in Parachinar, the mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. (IMAGE: AFP)

The killing of more than 82 people in terror attacks and sectarian violence between Shias and Sunnis in Kurram district in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province is a classic example of a sectarian siege backed by Pakistans Sunni establishment. The Pakistani establishment has announced a ceasefire between the Shia and Sunni groups, but such a ceasefire has been announced earlier too in September 2024 and it has failed.

Parachinar, the administrative centre of Kurram district in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, typifies a protracted crisis characterised by the prolonged closure of its primary arterial highway, severely curtailed population mobility, and an incessant surge of sectarian-tribal violence. Though the Pakistani government has often proclaimed undertaking concerted efforts to address the anti-Shia violence being recurrently perpetrated by Sunni-majority factions, these claims stand in stark contrast to the grim reality on the ground as Shias continue to endure cyclical episodes of targeted violence.

related stories

In recent months, over five dozen Shias, including women and children, have been killed. The Pakistani states demonstrable incapacity, or unwillingness, to dismantle Sunni extremist networks and safeguard the Shia tribal communities underscores a pervasive institutional dysfunctionality compounded by an ostensibly sectarian predisposition. This perceived complicity, manifesting through systemic inertia, has led many to interpret the states inaction as a tacit endorsement or overt shielding of Sunni extremist actors, thereby exacerbating the prevailing climate of impunity and deepening societal fissures in an already volatile region.

The Kurram district, one of the 38 districts of Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, occupies a significant geostrategic position along the Durand Line frontier dividing Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is flanked by Afghanistan on three sides, with Khost to the south, Paktika to the west, and Nangarhar to the north, while on the Pakistani side, it adjoins Orakzai district to the east. While Kurram is predominantly inhabited by tribal communities, including the Turi, Bangash, Zaimusht, Mangal, Muqbal, Masuzai, and Parachamkani, however, what sets it apart from its neighboring districts, is its unique sectarian demography.

Shias constitute approximately 45 per cent of the districts estimated population of over 800,000, a distinguishing feature within the predominantly Sunni tribal belt across the Durand Line. The sectarian divide is geographically and tribally pronounced, with the Turi and Bangash tribes, concentrated in the districts upper belt, including the Parachinar city, largely adhering to Shia Islam, whereas the other tribal groups predominantly follow Sunni Islam. Additionally, land ownership patterns reinforce socio-economic stratifications, as the Shia Turi and Bangash and Sunni Zaimusht tribes hold a substantial share of the districts cultivable land, further entrenching their socio-political influence within the local hierarchy.

On November 8, 2024, the Bangash and Turi tribes held a large protest march across Parachinar city against the governments failure to facilitate the opening arterial highway connecting the region to the rest of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Karachi in Sindh. This road corridor has remained closed since October 12, 2024, following a spate of sectarian violence by Sunni tribes, reportedly in collaboration with several Sunni extremist factions, that left 15 people dead, including two women and a child, predominantly from Shia tribal communities.

This wave of violence came against the backdrop of a tenuous local ceasefire mediated by a tribal jirga following the September 2024 violence wherein 46 people were killed, 41 of whom were Shias, after Sunni tribes and militant groups launched coordinated armed assaults on Parachinar. The violence not only decimated lives but also led to the destruction of hundreds of homes and commercial establishments belonging to the Turi and Bangash tribal Shia community.

However, instead of intervening to address systemic sectarian animosities, the Pakistani government authorities, hardly took any credible measures to mitigate the situation and protect the Shia community by enforcing state writ across the region, thereby rendering Kurram a volatile epicenter of the countrys broader sectarian and tribal fault lines. Interestingly, most of the disputes, as flagged by multiple reports, stem from land disputes, such as the September violence. But instead of providing a systemic mechanism to resolve these issues, the officials are often accused of overlooking the dispute and allowing these to turn into major sectarian issues. Take for instance, the assertions of Mohsin Dawar, a prominent Pakistani Pakhtun leader and head of the National Democratic Movement (NDM), who questions the intent of government and accuses it of adopting allowing trivial disputes to take on a sectarian hue, fostering a cycle of revenge."

Over the years, Kurram, with its Parachinar once referred to as the paradise on earth, has transformed into a sectarian keg, especially in the aftermath of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 and the Pakistani Armys strategic facilitation of Afghan Taliban elements across the Durand Line into Pakistani territory. To bolster the Afghan Talibans insurgency, the Pakistani military permitted several domestic Sunni extremist organizations, such as Ahle-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat (formerly Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, SSP), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), which majorly operated from Punjab province, to establish operational strongholds within Kurram.

It was in part also motivated by the growing pressure on the Pakistan Army to act against these groups because of growing sectarian violence in Punjab. Moreover, these groups have received patronage from major political groups because of their electoral influence. For instance, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has a long history of association with Sipah Sahaba due to its influence across Punjab province.

Given that anti-Shiism constitutes the ideological cornerstone of groups like SSP and LeJ, Kurram has since witnessed recurrent sectarian violence. These Sunni extremist groups frequently aligned with Sunni tribal factions in attacks against Shia communities, often exploiting ostensibly land-related disputes as pretexts for bolstering their broader sectarian objectives. A grim example of this dynamic occurred in April 2007, when a Sunni extremist targeted a Shia Mosque during Friday congregational prayers, resulting in over 40 fatalities. This incident catalyzed a protracted conflict that persisted for nearly four years, while Parachinar-Peshawar Road remained closed for over three years between 2008 and 2011.

According to the 2011 report of the Pakistan National Assemblys Standing Committee on Human Rights (SCHR), 745 Shias and 422 Sunnis were killed in Kurram between 2007 and 2011, even as other groups put the number of civilian casualties anywhere between 2,000 and 3,000. In the changed dynamics, Kurrams volatility has been compounded by the arrival of the Pakistani Good" Taliban and the Islamic State in the region, which have perpetuated targeted attacks against Shia populations over the years.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Yet, despite these developments, the Pakistani Army and political establishment have consistently exhibited a conspicuous lack of initiative in restoring order and addressing the deteriorating security landscape in Kurram. This institutional inertia not only perpetuates the impunity enjoyed by extremist groups but also underscores the broader systemic malaise that characterises Pakistans approach to its sectarian and tribal peripheries. Therefore, unless and until the Pakistan Army and the political establishment dissociate themselves from these sectarian groups, the situation in Kurram is unlikely to improve and the Shias will continue to bear the brunt of this unholy alliance.

The writer is an author and columnist and has written several books. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 16:44 IST
Birthed By Anna Hazare Andolan 12 Years Ago, Tracing AAPs Slow Yet Steady Expansion Across India

Reported By :

News18.com

Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 14:28 IST

The success of AAP and Kejriwal on 28 seats in their first assembly poll in Delhi became more significant in the light of the fact that none of the candidates had a political background and almost all were common people or social activists

Arvind Kejriwal announced the formation of the party on October 2, 2012, and it was launched on November 26. (X)

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which turns 12 on Tuesday, is slowly spreading its wings across the spectrum of Indian politics, improving its presence across states election after election.

In 2013, just a year after coming into existence, the party 28 seats out of 70 in Delhi. It then went on to sweep the next two assembly polls in the national capital. While in 2015, the AAP won 67 of 70 seats, in 2020, it won 62 seats in the city.

related stories

This was the first time that a party other than Congress or BJP managed to form a government in the city. It not just changed the political picture in Delhi but also introduced its citizens to a new gamut of politicians who were their neighbours.

The AAP ended the 15-year rule of the Congress in Delhi, not allowing even one seat to the Grand Old Party in 2015 and 2020. It also earned the national party status in 2023 after registering a presence in five states/Union Territories in India. Apart from governments in Delhi and Punjab, the party has MLAs in Goa, Gujarat and Jammu & Kashmir.

2012          ,             "          ,         1         ,   ,     pic.twitter.com/7iLN9TlTHz  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 26, 2024

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, AAP made an entry into the Lok Sabha with four seats from Punjab. By the 2017 assembly polls in Punjab, the party won 20 seats out of the 112 contested and secured the post of Leader of Opposition (LoP). The efforts continued until 2022 when of the 117 seats in the state, AAP bagged 92  a record.

Slow Yet Steady Growth

While the journeys in Delhi and Punjab created history, the growth of AAP in other parts was slower.

Over the years, election after election, the party kept increasing its presence across the country but only through a handful of seats in certain assemblies.

The AAP, however, has failed to mark any significant milestone in Lok Sabha elections. The party so far has only eight MPs, including three elected in 2024.

Last month, with the victory of Mehraj Malik from Doda constituency, the AAP made its official entry into the Jammu and Kashmir assembly. In 2022, the AAP won two seats in Goa and five in Gujarat.

Legal Battles & Struggles in Governance

While forming the government in Delhi may seem to be a cakewalk for the party, running it without complete power was not that easy. In addition, the corruption charges against its top leadership added to its issue, which eventually put almost the entire team in jail at one point in time.

Delhi is not a full state and thus, the government here doesnt enjoy certain powers that are otherwise with the state government. The never-ending struggle of the government with the L-G has often proved to be a hindrance in governance.

At certain points since 2015, the struggle between the L-G, Delhi government, and the officials who are under the Union government brought plans and governance to a standstill.

In June 2018, Kejriwal, along with his three cabinet colleagues, staged a sit-in at the Raj Niwas  residential-cum-official space of the LG  for around 10 days as the officials were not cooperating with ministers".

He ended the protest after the IAS officers association assured the CM that they would attend meetings.

Post 2020, the Delhi government and the top cabinet ministers faced allegations of tweaking the excise policy framework to favour a group of businessmen.

            12                         @ArvindKejriwal             12     pic.twitter.com/iJQKEZuaJ6  Atishi (@AtishiAAP) November 26, 2024

In November 2021, the AAP government introduced a new liquor policy for 2021-2022. In July 2022, the L-G highlighted irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the policy and demanded a CBI investigation.

In its charge sheet, the Central Bureau of Investigation alleged that Kejriwal and his government benefited from the illicit funds generated through the scam.

First, then finance minister Manish Sisodia was arrested in the case and later, even Kejriwal went to jail along with the partys senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh.

AAP leader and then Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain was also arrested for over two years in connection with a money-laundering case. However, one after the other, these leaders were granted bails.

Better Among Equals

It was the Anna Hazare Andolan of 2011 that is considered the origin of AAP. The country was angry and agitated and the frustration gave birth to one of Indias biggest anti-corruption campaigns helmed by Arvind Kejriwal.

Kejriwal announced the formation of the party on October 2, 2012, and it was launched on November 26  the anniversary of Indias adoption of its Constitution in 1949.

The success rate of a new political party in India is generally low but Kejriwal and AAP were a different story.

In its first election, a little over a year after coming into existence, the party won 40 per cent of the seats it contested in Delhi  28 of 69. In the next two elections, the performance was record-breaking, compared to the showing of other new parties that went for polls soon after their formation.

Mamata Banerjees Trinamool Congress, in its first assembly election in West Bengal in 2001, contested on 226 seats and bagged 60  26 per cent.

Similarly, Maharashtra-based Nationalist Congress Party contested the first election in 1999 on 223 seats and won in 58 assemblies in the state  a strike rate of 26 per cent. Importantly, both Sharad Pawar and Banerjee were senior politicians at the time they floated their parties.

Little before Kejriwals AAP, in March 2011, Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) came into existence. Second-generation politician YS Jagan Mohan Reddy contested on 266 seats in the 2014 assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh and won 70  26 per cent. Reddys late father Rajasekhara was not just a Lok Sabha MP but had also served as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh.

None of these parties, except NCP, managed to form the government in the first assembly election they contested.

The AAP and NCP shared a similar fate as they managed to form the government with the help of the Congress despite not having a pre-poll alliance.

They mocked us.They jailed us.They tried to crush us.They attacked us from every side. But we didnt just survivewe thrived.  Today, on the foundation day of the Aam Aadmi Party, we celebrate 12 years of resilience, honesty, and the unwavering power of the people.  pic.twitter.com/CUkUJTFdBL  AAP (@AamAadmiParty) November 26, 2024

But in the case of NCP, Congress had the chief ministers post in Maharashtra in 1999 while Kejriwal took the support of the Congress to form his short-lived government of less than two months in 2013.

The success of AAP and Kejriwal on 28 seats in their first assembly poll in Delhi became more significant in the light of the fact that none of the candidates had a political background and almost all were common people or social activists.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

The party claims that it has changed the political narrative in the county, forcing the bigger parties to talk about welfare schemes that went missing in the past.

For now, AAP is focusing its energy on the upcoming assembly polls in Delhi, scheduled to be held around the first few weeks of 2025. The elections will not just decide the fate of the party but also allow Kejriwal to secure a spot in the list of one of the longest-serving chief ministers of Delhi.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 12:32 IST
Fadnavis Took Four Steps Back Last Time, Now Its Shindes Turn: NDA Ally Athawale

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 19:24 IST

Ramdas Athawale says Devendra Fadnavis should be the CM of Maharashtra, with Eknath Shinde as his deputy or as a central minister. Shinde camp seeks top post citing Haryana, Bihar examples

(From left) Devendra Fadnavis, Ramdas Athawale, Eknath Shinde. (PTI File)

After Nationalist Congress Partys (NCP) Ajit Pawar, another National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ally  union minister and Republican Party of India (RPI) president Ramdas Athawale  on Tuesday came out in support of Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) Devendra Fadnavis to be the next chief minister (CM) of Maharashtra.

The Eknath Shinde camp, however, is citing the example of Haryana and even Bihar to push for Shinde as the CM. The BJP contested the election in Haryana under the leadership of their chief minister Nayab Singh Sainiand he was made the CM post the election win. Similarly, the Mahayuti contested the Maharashtra elections under the leadership of CM Eknath Shinde and he should become the CM again," Naresh Mahaske, Shinde Sena MP and a close aide of Shinde, told News18. He also reiterated that the Bihar example should also be followed as the BJP had made Nitish Kumar the CM despite him getting fewer seats.

related stories

But Shinde seems to be getting isolated in the matter as a second ally of the NDA said Fadnavis should be the CM. The Maharashtra dispute should end soonThe BJP high command has decided that Devendra Fadnavis should be made the CM, but Shinde is unhappy and his displeasure needs to be addressed," said Athawale.

#WATCH | Delhi: On CM face in Maharashtra, Union Minister & RPI-Athawale President, Ramdas Athawale says, The Maharashtra dispute should end soonBJPs high command has decided that Devendra Fadnavis should be made the CM but Eknath Shinde is unhappy and his displeasure needs pic.twitter.com/vB6J2FYZ5u ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2024

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

He said the BJP is the largest party now with a lot of seats, and added that even the BJP would not agree to not have its own CM. I think that Shinde should take two steps back, just like Devendra Fadnavis took four steps back and worked under his leadership. Shinde should become the deputy CM or at least a central minister. PM Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah will definitely think about it. Some decisions should be taken quickly. We very much need Eknath Shinde and his 57 MLAs," Athawale said.

A lot is also being read into Shindes message on X where he asked his supporters to not come together in congregations to his residence, Varsha. Once again, it is my humble request that Shiv Sena workers should not assembly at Varsha Niwas or anywhere else," Shinde said. A lot of Shiv Sena supporters are appealing for Shinde to be made the CM again.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 19:12 IST
Hemant Soren Meets PM Modi, Amit Shah; Invites Them For His Oath Ceremony

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 22:52 IST

Sorens JMM-led alliance on Saturday stormed to power in Jharkhand for a second consecutive term, winning 56 seats in the 81-member assembly

Hemant Soren was accompanied by his wife Kalpana, who has also been elected as an MLA in the recent elections. (Image: X)

Acting Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, in his first visit to the national capital after leading his ruling alliance to an unprecedented second straight term in the state.

The Prime Ministers Office posted pictures of the meeting. Soren was accompanied by his wife Kalpana, who has also been elected as an MLA in the recent elections.

related stories

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader led the combine, which includes the Congress, the RJD and the Left, to a comprehensive win over the BJP-led alliance.

In a post on X, Soren said he has invited Modi to his oath-taking ceremony in Ranchi on Thursday.

"Met Honble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji in Delhi today and invited him to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Abua sarkar (our government) on 28th November," Soren said on X in Hindi.

He also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge as well as former party chief Rahul Gandhi, besides AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal and his wife, in New Delhi and invited them for his oath-taking.

Today in Delhi, I met the Congress president respected Mallikarjun Kharge ji, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi ji and senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra ji and invited them to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Abua (our) government on November 28," Soren said in another post on X.

Sorens JMM-led alliance on Saturday stormed to power in Jharkhand for a second consecutive term, winning 56 seats in the 81-member assembly, despite an all-out campaign blitz by the BJP-led NDA, which managed only 24 seats.

He also retained the Barhait seat by defeating BJPs Gamliyel Hembrom by a margin of 39,791 votes.

Senior leaders of the INDIA bloc, including RJDs Tejashwi Yadav, may attend the swearing-in ceremony on Thursday.

"All top leaders of the bloc are being invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony at Morabadi Ground here on November 28. Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav are likely to attend the event," a Congress leader had earlier said.

As far as ministerial berths are concerned, in all likelihood, there may be four ministers from the grand old party.

The JMM had contested 43 seats and won 34, the highest-ever tally of the party in its history. The Congress got 16 seats, RJD four and the CPI (ML)L secured two seats in the INDIA bloc. As per the arrangement, RJD may get one ministerial berth.

Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the oath-taking ceremony.

Soren had on Sunday met Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar and staked claim to form government, soon after leaders of the INDIA bloc in the state unanimously elected him as the legislature party leader.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

He will officiate as the acting chief minister till the oath is administered to him.

Soren will be sworn in as the 14th chief minister of Jharkhand, which was carved out of Bihar on November 15, 2000.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 22:52 IST
INDIA Blames Rahul Gandhis 3 Mistakes For Maharashtra Loss. Heres What They Are

Reported By :

News18.com

Edited By: Manjiri Joshi



Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 07:00 IST

What are the mistakes made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi which allies feel had an impact on INDIA bloc's performance in Maharashtra?

Sources say some within Rahul Gandhis group, too, had advised him against the Constitution in danger narrative. (File)

The ripple effect of the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadis (MVA) defeat in the Maharashtra assembly elections is now being felt by the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc. The first sign of it was seen at a meeting of the bloc called by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, which the Trinamool Congress (TMC) did not attend.

The TMC said its leaders were busy at their national executive meeting in Kolkata. But the TMC was aware of the first day of parliament and hence their absence was glaring.

related stories

A top TMC leader told News18: The Trinamool convincingly won all six assembly seats that went for bypolls. Other than the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), we were also facing two INDIA bloc parties, Congress and CPM, who put up candidates in every seat. We do not have an electoral alliance with any party in the bloc, so this is not a question we need to answer."

But matters took a serious turn, when TMCs Kalyan Banerjee said that TMC chief Mamata Banerjee should be made the leader of the INDIA bloc.

THE THREE KEY MISTAKES

What is the anger about? What has gone wrong? What are the main mistakes made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi which allies feel had an impact on the bloc?

News18 breaks it down.

Veer Savarkar and Gandhis attacks on him: This is something both Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar, who heads a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction, had a problem with. They now feel this hurt them in the polls and also helped the BJP with its agenda of batoge toh katoge". But they say Gandhi did not pay heed and went on about it, despite a warning that it would hurt. Caste survey: Many among the allies felt that the Congress was unable to counter the narrative by the BJP that if the Congress came to power it would end reservation. The fire of this narrative would singe allies namely the TMC, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of other state polls . Attack on PM as being involved in crony capitalism: This, many allies felt, would just not work. They had asked Gandhi not to push this narrative, but he did not pay heed.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

In fact, sources say that some within Gandhis group, too, had advised him against the Constitution in danger" narrative. But Gandhi refused to give up, treating it as a core issue.

It is this, what many call stubbornness", that has now hurt the allies.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 07:00 IST
'My Request...': Eknath Shinde's Message To Sena Workers Sparks Buzz Amid Maharashtra CM Race

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 14:42 IST

Eknath Shinde, in a post on social media, has urged his supporters not to come out together in his support, emphasising unity and strength in the Mahayuti alliance.

Eknath Shinde (PTI file photo)

As the speculation over the new chief minister of Maharashtra continues, Eknath Shinde, in a cryptic social media post, on Tuesday urged his supporters to not gather at Varsha Niwas or anywhere else to press the ruling Mahayuti alliance for his return to the chair.

Shinde also wrote that the alliance will continue to be strong for a prosperous Maharashtra.

related stories

After the great victory of Mahayuti, our government will be formed once again in the state. As a grand alliance, we contested the election together and are still together today. Out of love for me, some congregations have appealed to everyone to gather together and come to Mumbai," a rough translation of Shindes post in regional language suggested.

I am deeply grateful for your love. But I appeal that no one should come together in my support in such a manner. Once again it is my humble request that Shiv Sena workers should not assemble at Varsha Niwas or anywhere else," he added.

The grand alliance has been and will continue to be strong for a strong and prosperous Maharashtra," Shindes post read.

          .          .       ,     .        Eknath Shinde    (@mieknathshinde) November 25, 2024

Hours after his post, Eknath Shinde resigned as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. The Governor asked him to act as a caretaker chief minister till the new chief minister is sworn in.

He, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar had arrived at the Raj Bhavan to meet Governor CP Radhakrishnan, as the Maharashtra assembly term comes to an end today.

Meanwhile, sources within the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) told CNN-News18 that the decision on the chief minister and the oath-taking could take another seven days.

SHIV SAINIKS HOLD PRAYER MEETS IN THANE

Shindes post came hours after several Shiv Sainiks on Monday organised prayer meets across temples in Thane to ensure Eknath Shinde gets a second term on the top post.

Prayers were held at the Siddhi Vinayak Temple in Kashish Park locality, with many women claiming the Mahayuti sweep was due to Shindes connect with the masses, his accessibility and the Ladki Bahin Yojana.

Puja was also held in Daulat Nagar in Thane East, news agency PTI reported.

The report also quoted Lok Sabha MP Naresh Mhaske as saying that all Shiv Sainiks believe Shinde should be given a second term as the chief minister.

He expressed hope that Mahayuti leaders would follow the strategy applied in other states, such as Bihar, where leaders have been given opportunities based on merit, regardless of previous positions.

Thane district is the home turf of Shinde and he won the recent assembly polls from Kopri-Pachpakhadi by a margin of more than 1.2 lakh votes.

MAHARASHTRA ASSEMBLY ELECTION 2024

The Mahayuti alliance won a thumping majority in the Maharashtra assembly elections. However, the government formation process has been delayed after reports suggested the BJP and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) were supporting Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the chief ministers post.

Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena camp was pushing Eknath Shinde to return to his chair.

The BJP, led by Fadnavis, won the highest-ever 132 seats for the party, while the Shiv Sena led by Shinde bagged 57 seats.

Reports have suggested the formula for the government formation has been decided and Maharashtra will once again have two deputy chief ministers with one chief minister.

Sources said the BJP is likely to have 24 ministers, and Shiv Sena 12, while the NCP is likely to have 10 ministers in the new government.

For the same, Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar are likely to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah soon.

MAHARASHTRA GOVERNMENT FORMATION

As the Maharashtra assembly election results were declared on November 23, reports also suggested that the new chief minister would be sworn in as early as November 26.

However, no decision has yet been made on who would take oath as the chief minister.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Meanwhile, a legislature official dismissed reports that the Presidents Rule may come into force if a new government is not in place by November 26, when the tenure of the 14th state assembly ends.

In fact, with the officials of the Election Commission submitting copies of the gazette with names of the newly-elected members of the state legislative assembly to Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Sunday, the 15th assembly is already in place, PTI quoted an official as saying.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 08:13 IST
Eknath Shinde Resigns, To Serve As Caretaker Chief Minister Amid Maharashtra Suspense

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 14:42 IST

Eknath Shinde has resigned as Maharashtra Chief Minister, days after Mahayuti coalition's landslide victory in Maharashtra. The speculation over the next chief minister continues.

Eknath Shinde resigns as Maharashtra Chief Minister

Eknath Shinde resigned as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Tuesday and was appointed the caretaker chief minister by Governor CP Radhakrishnan.

Shinde, along with his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar had arrived at the Raj Bhavan to meet the Governor, as the Maharashtra assembly term comes to an end today. However, the suspense over who will be the next chief minister of Maharashtra continues.

related stories

#WATCH | Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde tenders his resignation as CM to Governor CP Radhakrishnan, at Raj Bhavan in MumbaiDeputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis are also present. Mahayuti alliance consisting BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP emerged victorious in Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/RGUl6chZOS  ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2024

Later, Deepak Kesarkar, who served as a minister in the Eknath Shinde cabinet, told reporters, The Chief Minister has tendered his resignation. The Governor has asked him to act as a caretaker chief minister."

To another question, Kesarkar said the new government will be sworn in at the earliest.

Days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led ruling Mahayuti won a landslide victory in the assembly elections, shattering the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadis dream to wrest power.

The government formation in Maharashtra, which appeared likely immediately after the BJP-led coalitions thumping victory, has been delayed due to Shiv Senas insistence that Eknath Shinde continue as the chief minister.

The Mahayuti coalition, comprising the Shiv Sena, BJP and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), retained power by winning 230 of the 288 assembly seats in the just-concluded state polls, leaving the Aghadi with just 46 seats.

The BJP, led by Fadnavis, won the highest-ever 132 seats for the party, while the Shiv Sena led by Shinde bagged 57 seats and NCP won 41 seats to take the Mahayuti total to 230 seats.

On November 23, Fadnavis denied any dispute over the chief ministers post, saying leaders of the Mahayuti would decide on the issue.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Fadnavis served as Maharashtras Chief Minister in 2014, completing a full five-year term while in coalition with the then-undivided Shiv Sena.

After the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP, under Fadnavis, briefly formed a government with Ajit Pawar, who was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister. However, the government lasted only 80 hours, as Ajit Pawar pulled out to again be with his uncle, Sharad Pawar, the current NCP (SP) chief.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 11:27 IST
Manipur: Mass Combing Operations Underway To Nab Culprits Behind Jiribam Killings

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: November 27, 2024, 00:11 IST

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said though there have been no arrests yet, many have been identified

Manipur CM N Biren Singh said mass combing operations are underway to nab the culprits involved in the recent killing of three women and three children in Jiribam district. (Image: PTI/File)

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday said mass combing operations are underway to nab the culprits involved in the recent killing of three women and three children in Jiribam district.

Singh said though there have been no arrests yet, many have been identified. Following the unfortunate incidents on November 7 and November 11 in Jiribam, two companies of CRPF were sent immediately, followed by an additional five companies. Massive search operations are underway. There have been no arrests but many have been identified. Unless the culprits are arrested and booked, the operations will carry on," he said.

related stories

Three women and three children from the Meitei community went missing from a relief camp in Jiribam district following a gunfight between security forces and suspected Kuki-Zo militants, which resulted in the deaths of 10 insurgents on November 11. The bodies of the six missing individuals were found in the following days.

We want to inform the public that under the prevailing circumstances we are unable to update constantly through the media. There have been instances of sabotages and resulting disturbances when the government publicly announces something," he said.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

He further said the complexity of the issues in the state, including involvement of outside forces, have been informed by national and international leaders as well as the home ministry. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has issued an official press release that the anti-terror agency has re-registered the cases in connection with all Jiribam killing incidents, including the killing of three women and three children, another of a lady (at Jairokpokpi), attack on CRPF and the resultant death of 10 militants," he said.

He added: I appeal to the people to keep calm as it is a complex situation and cannot be dealt with emotionally."

Location : Imphal, India

First Published: November 27, 2024, 00:11 IST
Rahul Gandhi's Citizenship To Be Revoked? Centre To File Reply In High Court

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 22:41 IST

Responding to this, the deputy solicitor general of India said "the representation made by the petitioner has been received by the Ministry of Home Affairs". The next date of hearing on the matter is December 19

The PIL seeks the cancellation of senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Indian citizenship due to the alleged possession of dual British citizenship. (Image: PTI/File)

The Allahabad High Court has directed the Union home ministry to decide on a plea seeking the cancellation of senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhis Indian citizenship due to the alleged possession of dual British citizenship.

Responding to this, the deputy solicitor general of India said the representation made by the petitioner has been received by the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs)". The next date of hearing on the matter is December 19.

related stories

The directions to the Centre were made by the Lucknow bench of the high court on Monday (November 25), seeking details on the action taken on this representation. A division bench of Justices AR Masoodi and Subhash Vidyarthi passed the order on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a Karnataka BJP worker, S Vignesh Shishir, seeking a CBI probe into Gandhis citizenship matter.

The court directed the additional solicitor general SB Pandey to obtain instructions from the MHA in this regard within three weeks and to place its response on the next date.

Earlier on November 6, the Delhi High Court was informed that a CBI probe had been initiated into the citizenship matter.

The matter before the Delhi HC was on a plea by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, who sought directions to the MHA to decide his representation seeking cancellation of Gandhis Indian citizenship. In his plea, he further sought a direction to the ministry to furnish a status report on the representation filed by him against the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

WHAT IS THE PIL ABOUT?

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

In July, the HC had allowed Shishir to withdraw a similar petition and granted him the liberty to pursue remedies under the Citizenship Act. He has again moved the court for a decision on his representations.

Shishir told the court that after withdrawing his earlier petition before the high court, he submitted two representations to the competent authority in the MHA. The court had clarified that its focus as of now was solely on whether the central government had received the representations and what decision or action it proposed to take.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 16:17 IST
Andhra Universitys Dr. VS Krishna Library Goes Digital With Palm-leaf Texts

Curated By :

Local News Desk

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 18:04 IST

Dr. V.S. Krishna Library has 60,000 sq. ft. of Carpet area. Besides the work and stock areas, each section has seating and reading facilities to enable the user to choose and refer to the books comfortably.

In ancient times, the rules and regulations on palm leaves were strictly followed.

Earlier, there was a tradition of writing poems, Puranas and the history of the kings of India on palm leaves. The Ramayana, Mahabharata and the events of the times of kings were also written on these leaves. These palm leaves are called Talpatra Granthas. People consider them to be the repository of Indian knowledge; documents of the civilisation and culture of that time.

Today, lets take a look at us knowing more about Talpatra Granthas.

related stories

Status and Preservation:

Such ancient texts are rarely seen in todays time. Few texts that are left, are preserved in the Dr. VS Krishna Library of Andhra University, Visakhapatnam. Haimavati, assistant of this library, said that the conversion process of these palm leaf texts into digital format is underway so that future generations can see and understand these historical documents.

Historical Importance:

This library was established in 1927. It has more than 5 lakh precious books. Ancient palmistry and other texts are kept separately safe here. The library has a total of 2,663 texts written on palm leaves, which are seen as an important historical heritage.

Laws and Regulations of Ancient Times:

In ancient times, the rules and regulations written on palm leaves were strictly followed. If any rule was recorded on palm leaves, it became mandatory for people to follow it. This shows the discipline and rule-bound life of the ancient society.

Modern Generation and Learning from Ancient Texts:

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Today, many people have donated their old palm leaf texts to the library. These inscriptions and palmistry books give the modern generation a chance to look into the depths of the past. These not only provide knowledge to the new generation but also an opportunity to understand the richness of Indian culture and history.

Andhra University is pleased to launch a digital library web portal containing palm leaf manuscripts in the Dr V.S. Krishna Library that was donated to this library by several people and various institutions of a philanthropic nature several years ago. The need for digitisation of all the manuscripts was very much felt by the teachers and scholars. We have digitised all the palm-leaf manuscripts for the benefit of the scholarly fraternity," read their statement.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 26, 2024, 18:04 IST
Bihars Panchkosi Fair: A Grand Celebration Of Tradition With Litti-Chokha

Curated By :

Local News Desk

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 16:53 IST

The fair spans five sacred locations in Buxar, culminating in a unique ritual where every household prepares and offers litti-chokha to Lord Ram on the final day.

The fair includes a sacred parikrama spanning five days.

The Panchkosi Fair, a time-honoured tradition in Charitravan, Buxar, Bihar, was held a few days ago. The fair dates back to the Treta Yuga and is deeply rooted in the Ramayana. This grand five-day event draws thousands of devotees from across the country, celebrating both the cultural and spiritual heritage of the region. It spans five sacred locations in Buxar, culminating in a unique ritual where every household prepares and offers litti-chokha to Lord Ram on the final day.

On the final day, Charitravan is teeming with visitors from all across India. This year, Jharkhand High Court Judge S.N. Pathak joined the celebration, relishing the delicious litti chokha served as prasad. BJP leader Neelmani Devi was also seen preparing the iconic dish, further enriching the fairs lively cultural spirit.

related stories

Devotees embark on a barefoot journey, offering prayers and seeking blessings at each of the five sacred sites  Ahirauli, Nadav, Bhabhuar, Barka Nuaon and Charitravan  during the Panchkosi Yatra.

According to legend, Lord Ram, his brother Lakshman, and Maharishi Vishwamitra travelled through Buxar to rid the land of demons like Taraka, Subahu and Marich. Their journey, undertaken to cleanse the sin of killing a woman, led them to five ashrams where they received blessings from sages.

The yatra begins at Ahirauli, where Lord Ram freed Ahalya from her stone form with a touch of his feet and ate pua. The second stop, Narad Munis ashram in Nadav, saw Lord Ram eating sattu and radish as prasad. At Bhabhuar, the third stop, he enjoyed chura-curd at Bhargava Rishis ashram. The fourth stop, Nuaon, he offered khichdi at Uddalak rishis ashram, and the journey culminated at Charitravan with the iconic litti-chokha.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

The Panchkosi Yatra is more than just a religious pilgrimage  its a cultural celebration, filled with devotion, music and the chanting of mantras. This journey highlights the deep-rooted faith of Bihars people, making it an unforgettable experience.

The fair also brings attention to the cultural importance of litti-chokha, a much-loved dish that has earned national recognition as a symbol of Bihar and Purvanchals rich heritage.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 26, 2024, 16:53 IST
Groundwater Pumping Shifts Earth's Axis By 31.5 Inches: Study

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 18:52 IST

Ki-Weon Seo, a geophysicist from the Seoul National University, conducted a study based on the data from 1993 and 2010 and found that 2,150 gigatons of groundwater was pumped.

Groundwater pumping moves Earth's axis. (Representative Image)

Human activity, particularly the over-pumping of groundwater, has shifted Earths axis by 31.5 inches (about 80cm) over the past two decades, new research has revealed. Published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, the study reveals that the effects of groundwater depletion are not only domestic but also have an effect on global systems, including sea levels and planetary stability.

Groundwater is found in soil and rock cracks scattered in the earths surface. It is a part of the hydrologic cycle component. It gets refilled with water by precipitation, and it is an important source for domestic, agricultural and industrial uses. Global extraction of groundwater has been on the rise, mainly for purposes of irrigation and human consumption.

related stories

Ki-Weon Seo, a geophysicist from the Seoul National University, conducted a study based on the data from 1993 and 2010 and found that 2,150 gigatons of groundwater was pumped. This extraction has greatly changed the distribution of mass on Earth and its consequent effects lead to change in the rotational pole.

The displacement of 31.5 inches is because of the relocation of groundwater around the Earth. This movement is like a figure skater changing their spin by moving an arm. In this case, water moves towards the equator and affects the balance and rotational speed of the Earth.

The study estimates that this shift contributes about 0.24 inches to sea-level rise. This rise is important as it intensifies the tendency for floods in coastal areas and disrupts ecosystems depending on stable sea levels.

Impact on Earths Systems

The shift in Earths tilt due to groundwater extraction has several implications:

Ecosystem Disruption: Shifts in mass distribution can result in changes that species experience in their habitats and biodiversity. Such changes pose challenges to components of an ecosystem that are affected by changes in the level of water.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Climate Change Interactions: The findings reveal the relationship between climate change and groundwater depletion. With the oceans, glaciers and polar ice caps melting, the water opens itself up to the low end of the planet thus creating even more imbalance. Such interaction has a potential impact on the climate and weather stability in all regions of the world.

Planetary Stability: Changes in Earths spin may be deleterious to its internal clockwork, such as the magnetic field that shields the planet against toxic solar radiation. Changes in tilt can also affect seasonal weather patterns over extended periods.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 26, 2024, 18:30 IST
How This Old Age Home In Madhya Pradesh Is Providing A Lifeline For The Elderly

Curated By :

Local News Desk

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 16:40 IST

The old age home continues to provide a safe haven for those in their twilight years, offering them a sense of dignity and peace.

The old age home in Lavkush Nagar, Chhatarpur district, is run by Samagra Vikas Mahila Samiti.

In Lavkush Nagar, located in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, an old age home is quietly evolving into a sanctuary for the elderly and forgotten. What began as a refuge for just a few has now become a lifeline for many. But whats behind this growing need? As societal values continue to decline, more elderly people find themselves in desperate need of care and compassion. As such, many seniors are finding solace in this once small, now vital, haven.

Nandgiri, an elderly man from Banda district in Uttar Pradesh, shared his story with Local18 about how he ended up at the old age home in Madhya Pradesh just three months ago. While there is an old age home in Banda, he faced a dilemma  his children would have struggled to live in the same place as him. The local community would criticise them, accusing them of being unable to care for their elderly father. Desperate for a solution, Nandgiri enquired at an old age home in Chhatarpur, but there was no room. It was then that he learned about the old age home in Lavkush Nagar. Without hesitation, he travelled there and has since found a new place to call home.

related stories

Nandgiri said, I have two sons. I even built a house for them. I gave them everything. But even after this, the elder daughter-in-law refused to give me food. It is the duty of the elder son to keep and serve his father. When he is disrespected and thrown out of the house, then which family should he remember? I have also lost interest in my wife. I have a younger son whom I remember, but he also earns in Delhi. How can I stay there with him? I have just come back after meeting my younger son."

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Another elderly man, Maiyadin, shared his painful experience, saying, I was troubled by my grandson, which is why I ran away to this old age home. My son works in Delhi, and my grandson would constantly ask me for money. But as a labourer at my age, where could I get the money from? He even beat me several times when I couldnt give him anything. Despite everything, I couldnt bring myself to file a police complaint, as he is still my grandson. I kept my feelings to myself and made my way here, to this old age home, seeking peace and safety."

The old age home in Lavkush Nagar is managed by the Samagra Vikas Mahila Samiti, an NGO led by Upkar Kaur. The day-to-day operations of the home are overseen by Vimla Devi, ensuring that the elderly residents receive the care and attention they desperately need. This initiative continues to provide a safe haven for those in their twilight years, offering them a sense of dignity and peace in a world that often forgets them.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 26, 2024, 16:40 IST
Hyderabad Boy, 11, Chokes To Death After Eating Over Three Pooris Together

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 13:56 IST

Hyderabad: The Class 6 student was rushed to a private hospital by the school staff after choking on three pooris he attempted to eat at once.

The boy's father has filed a case with the Hyderabad Police after his son choked to death while having lunch.

An 11-year-old boy in Hyderabad tragically died on Monday, allegedly due to choking. According to reports, he attempted to eat multiple pooris at once while having lunch at school.

In a complaint to the police, the boys father stated that he was informed by the school about his son experiencing breathlessness after consuming more than three puris" together.

related stories

The school staff rushed the boy to a nearby hospital for immediate medical assistance. However, he was referred to a private super-speciality hospital for advanced care. The doctors at the super-speciality hospital declared him dead upon examination.

Read| 82-Year-Old Korean Man Chokes To Death After Eating Live Octopus Dish

Earlier, a 49-year-old truck driver named Suresh in Keralas Walayar lost his life after choking on three idlis during an eating contest. The event was organised by a local club as part of the Onam 2024 celebrations. Suresh attempted to eat three idlis at once to win the competition but soon began to feel uneasy. People managed to remove the idlis and rushed him to a nearby hospital, but he sadly passed away shortly after.

According to reports, the contest involved four participants eating plain idlis without any accompaniments, while over 60 people watched. The Walayar Police have since registered a case of unnatural death.

Also Read| Man Chokes to Death on Momos; Know Why Proper Chewing of Food is Important

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

In yet another incident, a mans throat was choked after consuming dry chia seeds with water. This caused the seeds to expand inside his throat. As per reports, doctors recommend soaking chia seeds in water or any other liquid for a good 30 minutes before eating them to prevent such incidents.

Soaking chia seeds before consumption allows them to fully hydrate outside the body, ensuring they are safe to eat. Additionally, this practice maximises their health benefits.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 13:53 IST
In Her Happy To Call India My Home Post, Mexican Woman Talks About How Safe She Feels Here

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 13:36 IST

A video posted by a Mexican woman explaining why she feels safe in India has become popular and sparked discussion on social media.

Over one lakh people follow Jaqueline Morales Cruz on Instagram. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

India has become a popular tourism destination for its varied landscapes, rich cultural legacy, and lively population. Students, digital nomads, and foreigners are choosing to settle here. Jaqueline Morales Cruz from Mexico is one of the many who frequently share photos of their lives in India. She resides in Maharashtras Nagpur city and keeps her followers on Instagram informed about her life daily. She talked about how safe she felt in India in the most recent video.

Happy to call India my home," Jaqueline Morales Cruz captioned the now-viral video. She is seen in the video addressing a crowd at an event, saying foreigners have false impressions about womens safety in the country. She feels comfortable living in the country and that she is free to dress whichever she pleases, whether it be in Western or Indian garb, Jaqueline added.

related stories

Watch the video here:

The video was shared on November 25 and within a few hours, it has collected over 36,000 views. Some people on social media applauded her for portraying India in a good light, but others werent so kind. They expressed their disagreement with the woman by making sarcastic remarks.

A user said, Thanks for sharing your experience! Is it also safe for a woman traveling alone?"

Another commented, You are really ending mis perception !!!"

Is she paid by the government of tourism?" a user wrote.

Thats why there are so many incidents of abuse," wrote another Instagram user.

Jaqueline has over a lakh followers on Instagram and more than 1,000 posts. Numerous videos on her page document her trips and day-to-day activities in India.

An Instagram post by an Irish-Persian vlogger about his life in Delhi went viral a few days ago. Sean Hammond wrote a lengthy description in his post that described his experiences living in the city. He refuted peoples assertions about Delhi and urged people to travel there and experience its distinct spirit despite its difficulties.

Watch the video here:

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Ive heard people from all over saying that Delhi isnt the place to go if you want to visit India. Even other Indians have told me that, but I couldnt disagree more," he wrote in his post.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 26, 2024, 13:36 IST
Indian Woman In Dubai Sparks Debate After Complaining About Maid Slouching On Sofa

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 14:19 IST

Anamika Rana, a Dubai resident, recently shared a video expressing her frustration after catching her maid slouching on her sofa.

Through her video, Anamika Rana sought advice on how to approach the situation. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

A recent video shared by an Indian woman living in Dubai has sparked a debate on social media. In the video, she expresses frustration after catching her new maid slouching on the sofa and using her phone. She also opens up about her confusion on how to set boundaries with her house help. The woman admits to being unsure about how to handle such situations and turns to her followers for advice.

In the video, shared on Instagram, Anamika Rana explains, I just caught my maid on the camera. She was literally slouching like this and kind of like chilling on her phone or something on the sofa."

related stories

Acknowledging the generational gap, she adds, I know lot of yall might think that so what big deal. See, I am a millennial and perhaps my maid is a Gen Z and we both are from different generations. And also, I am not very pro at maid handling."

Rana admits her uncertainty about how to set boundaries especially since her maid is new to the job. This one seems to be very okay sitting on the area and on the bed sometimes. I am not sure how to react because shes good at her work and shes also a fairly new hire," she adds.

Through her video, Rana seeks advice from social media users on how to approach the situation. Am I overreacting or should I tell her politely not to sit on the sofa etc.," she mentions.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by @anamika.rana.vlogs

Since being posted online, the video has garnered over 8 lakh views. In the comment section, some users criticised her for overreacting, while others offered suggestions on how to handle the situation.

One user commented, Well when she isnt working why cant she be checking her phone sitting on your sofa? She cant be expected to work all hours. She isnt a slave, but a maid who is also human. If you dont know your own boundaries then youre not fit to set boundaries for others."

Another shared, Our maid sits with us on our sofa and has breakfast sometimes. We are ok with it as we dont like to discriminate against people based on their job and social status. Also, she does good work in a timely fashion."

Got nothing to do with being a millennial and Gen Zits just you overreacting wanting to preserve the old ways of thinking..girl this person is cleaning and maintaining your home..let her sit for a while. Its not that deep," a viewer remarked.

Amid the criticism, one user pointed out, Youre not wrong to overreact. Just tell her politely. Set the limits."

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Another shared, Sofa is ok because thats where people sit (otherwise wheres she gonna sit) but bed isnt ok."

I have given a sofa cum bed in an unused area of my house for my full time maid. Now she can relax too and no boundaries are broken," an individual suggested.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 26, 2024, 14:19 IST
Man, Mistakenly Declared Brain Dead, Tells His Inspiring Recovery From Locked-In Syndrome

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 19:45 IST

After a few months of treatment at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, Haendel regained some control over his muscles via therapy and some ability to walk and speak.

Locked-in syndrome entails complete paralysis leading to quadriplegia with sparing of ocular muscles only. (Representative Image)

A US man, who suffered from locked-in syndrome (LIS)  a rare neurological disorder  has recovered and shared his experience of what it was like to be alert but immobile and nonverbal for about ten months. In May 2017, Jake Haendel developed some strange symptoms, including a high-pitched voice and imbalance that led him to the ER. He was initially misdiagnosed but the final diagnosis revealed toxic acute progressive leukoencephalopathy  an acute demyelinating encephalopathy associated with substance abuse, including heroin addiction.

What is Locked-In Syndrome?

related stories

Locked-in syndrome entails complete paralysis leading to quadriplegia with sparing of ocular muscles only, as per the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). Patients can open and move their eyes and are fully aware of their surroundings and everything going on. However, they are unable to speak or move purposefully and thus can be more-or-less misdiagnosed as having to be in a vegetative state. The condition is usually due to an injury to the brain stem  most often a stroke or trauma. In Haendels case, the loss was a result of his substance dependency problems that caused a major decline in his brain function.

Haendels Experience

Even while he was in locked-in syndrome, Haendel remembers being able to hear people around him talk about his condition, which made him even more uncomfortable. In an interview with PEOPLE, he said it felt like a prisoner in solitary confinement," where he could feel the pain and the discomfort and yet have no way of making his needs known. Doctors were convinced that he was brain dead and wanted to withdraw the life-supporting equipment. However, they did not know that he was awake and had normal brain coordination.

I could do nothing except listen, and I could only see the direct area in front of me, based on how the staff would position me in bed," Haendel told The Guardian. I couldnt tell anyone if my mouth was dry, if I was hungry, or if I had an itch that needed to be scratched."

After a few months of treatment at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, Haendel was regaining some control over his muscles via therapy and some ability to walk and speak. He had to learn everything from scratch starting with how to move his limbs, to regain his speech. Further, by the end of September 2018, he had improved greatly and was virtually on his own.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Haendels story is not only motivating but has also transformed him into a representative of disabled people. He co-founded an organisation called Ahoi! that provides services for the challenges which people with disabilities can face. He also stresses that while his story was unique, it displays the possibilities of recovery and the need for helpers and support for people struggling with the same problem.

I want people to not give up on recovery when they hear they have terminal disease," Haendel told PEOPLE. Thats a lot of what I want to do with my life now is just help and motivate people."

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 26, 2024, 19:45 IST
On Camera, Flash Flood Claims The Life Of Brazilian Beauty Influencer

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 16:57 IST

A video shared on social media showed the couple holding on to their vehicle while several people tried to pull them through the windows with a ladder.

Over 2.2-inch rainfall was recorded in half an hour which caused massive flooding in the city. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

Jeniffer Soares Martins, a 28-year-old Brazilian beauty influencer, died in the late afternoon of November 24 in a flash flood in Uberlandia. It was caused by heavy rainfall in the Minas Gerais region. Over 2.2-inch rainfall was recorded in half an hour which caused massive flooding in the city. Jeniffer and her husband Wallison Lima were locked in their car as the floodwaters around them continued to rise.

A video shared on social media showed the couple holding on to their vehicle while several people tried to pull them through the windows with a ladder. Unfortunately, all these measures did not yield any respite because the powerful currents quickly carried Jeniffer away to her death while Wallison managed to survive.

related stories

The video was shared by Daily Mail on Instagram. Watch it here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Daily Mail (@dailymail)

As per the New York Post, Jeniffer posted a video on her social media account with the caption I am going to be young again" just before the incident and the statement has taken a rather sad turn.

Her last Instagram story also had her working out at the gym accompanied by a caption that says, Morri mais passo bem," which roughly translates to I have died but Im good", as per India Today

Lima expressed his devastation on social media after the incident, posting, I just wanted her back," accompanied by crying emojis, the New York Post added.

The two had been married for eight years and together for roughly 14 years. They posted content related to fashion and lifestyle. Her followers were taken aback by her sudden death, as some have responded to her last posts on Instagram in grief.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

According to local authorities, although the floods seem to have had a severe impact in Uberlandia, most of the essential services were not disrupted. They assured that no part was isolated due to floods as roads were accessible and no highway was blocked.

We inform you that the situation in the city of Uberlandia is under control. Electricity, water supply, internet, and telephone services have not been affected. There are no isolated communities or blocked highways," the government told the outlet.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 26, 2024, 16:57 IST
Watch: Murderer In China Bursts Firecrackers Outside Victims Home After Release From Jail

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 15:54 IST

The public became aware of the incident when the victims son posted a video on the Chinese social media platform, Douyin.

The celebrations continued till the local police stepped in. (Photo Credits: X)

A Chinese man, convicted of murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison, caused a stir on social media when he threw a lavish banquet outside the victims house and set off firecrackers to celebrate his release. Despite the victims familys pleas for him to stop, he persisted, only ceasing when local police intervened.

The public became aware of the incident when the victims son posted a video on the Chinese social media platform, Douyin, sharing his emotions about the entire occurrence, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP). In the video, he also recalled the murder of his father and the subsequent sentencing of the killer.

related stories

If I had the chance, Id like to talk to the killer. Not to vent my anger, but to understand why he made the choice that brought so much pain to two families. But on the day of his release, I was met with blatant provocation and overwhelming malice," the victims son, Xiang, expressed himself in one of the videos.

In the video, Xiang revealed that when he was 15 and his father was 39, three murderers, hired by their neighbour, killed his father. According to Xiang, his father was murdered in his bedroom, and the body was later burned. Xiang never saw the body and was shielded from the traumatic event by his family. He also mentioned that the killers had been monitoring and threatening the family. Xiang attributed the killing to a dispute within his fathers family.

According to SCMP, one user said on Douyin, Why were so many people at the banquet? What were they thinking?"

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Another asked, What was the point of 20 years in prison? If he received a reduced sentence, it was clearly a mistake."

A murderer like this shouldnt have been released. Investigate that prison thoroughly," a user commented.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 26, 2024, 15:54 IST
Who Is Chris Chan, A Transgender Going Viral After Pregnancy Announcement

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 12:58 IST

Chris Chan is best known as the creator of the comic series Sonicu a fusion of Sonic the Hedgehog and Pikachu.

Chris Chan was released from jail in March 2023. (Photo Credits: X)

Chris Chan, a transgender cartoonist best known for her comic series Sonicu  a fusion of Sonic the Hedgehog and Pikachu  is reportedly expecting. She broke the news during a recent livestream recorded by the internet forum Kiwi Farms when one of her fans asked her, When will you announce the child youre having?"

Responding to the query, Chan revealed, When the child, when the child is actually coming into play for summer/ somewhere around that point or I just might keep yall in the dark and let yall know until and wait till after the child is born."

related stories

Chris-Chan claims that his Finnish girlfriend, Flutter, is pregnant and due in Summer.https://t.co/EzVgB4iiFD pic.twitter.com/x7QlsCC10k Kiwi Farms (@KiwiFarmsDotNet) November 24, 2024

Reportedly, Chan was arrested in 2021 after admitting to having an inappropriate relationship with her 79-year-old mother suffering from dementia. Back then, her attorney David Heilberg claimed that Chan had mental health issues which led to her making provocative statements about the controversial matter. She spent two years in prison before being released in March last year.

After the announcement on the livestream, some of Chans fans congratulated the 42-year-old but some raised concern over her ability to take care of a baby, considering her complicated past.

Reacting to the post, a fan wrote, Is this the first sign of apocalypse."

Is this the first sign of the apocalypse? Silent Joe (@Silent_J0E) November 24, 2024

Another said, This cant be true."

this cant be true Matt (@matthmatical_) November 24, 2024

Once her cryptic post went viral, many speculated that Chans close friend Flutter might be related to her pregnancy. The duo developed a friendship when Chan was imprisoned at the Central Virginia Regional Jail from 2021 to 2023, as reported by Tribune. Flutter is a 30-year-old woman who has earned her nickname from the My Little Pony character Fluttershy" for having a child-like appearance.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Even though Chan denies having a romantic relationship with Flutter, they have been spotted showing affection for each other in public on several occasions. Now, the news of Chans pregnancy has only fuelled the rumours.

Chris Chan aka Christopher Weston Chandler graduated from the Piedmont Virginia Community College in 2006, pursuing a degree in Computer Aided Drafting and Design. In 2007, she became an internet sensation after being captured at a gaming store. Those photographs were dropped on the Something Awful messaging boards and Chan was bullied by many users for her appearance. Chan revealed being transgender in August 2014 and chose to change her name to Christine two years later. She is currently stationed in Big Island, Virginia.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 26, 2024, 12:48 IST
News / Local

by Staff reporter

Bulawayo car dealer and socialite Brighton Chipunza, popularly known as "Dash," is set to hear the ruling on his bail application tomorrow. The 30-year-old faces charges connected to the theft of a South African-registered Toyota Fortuner, a case that has drawn widespread attention due to dramatic developments both inside and outside the courtroom.Chipunza, arrested on November 17, is accused of orchestrating the theft of the vehicle from a car wash in Bulawayo's central business district. Tensions surrounding the case escalated after reports that Chipunza threatened the complainant outside the courtroom and insulted both the complainant and journalists with offensive gestures.The bail application, to be ruled on by Bulawayo regional magistrate Mrs. Benhilda Chiundura, is being opposed by prosecutor Mr. Dominic Moyo. The state argues that Chipunza poses a flight risk, citing his alleged involvement in other pending cases.Stolen Vehicle Recovered in HarareThe stolen vehicle, owned by Ms. Silibaziso Ncube, was traced to a property in Harare using a GPS tracking system provided by a South African company. The discovery led to the arrest of Julius Chitunhu, who was found in possession of the car. Tools including grinders, stencils, acid, and spray paint - believed to have been used to tamper with the vehicle's identification details - were recovered at the scene.Chitunhu, who has implicated Chipunza, has been remanded out of custody on bail pending trial.Details of the TheftAccording to the state, Ms. Ncube sent her employee to a car wash where the vehicle was cleaned and parked outside under a tree. Later that evening, Ms. Ncube found the car missing, prompting an investigation. Staff at the car wash revealed that CCTV cameras had been deactivated, and the car keys, left unsecured, had been stolen.Witness accounts suggest the vehicle was taken without suspicion, as employees assumed it was being driven by Ms. Ncube herself.Alleged Crime NetworkElectronic evidence, including WhatsApp messages between Chipunza and Chitunhu, has placed the socialite at the center of the case. This evidence has raised suspicions of a larger car theft syndicate operating in the region.Chipunza's legal troubles are not new. He was previously implicated in selling a stolen Ford Ranger King Cab in a fraudulent deal and was linked to another vehicle theft outside a prominent leisure establishment in December last year.Community ReactionsThe arrest of Chipunza, known for his charm and high-profile social connections, has shocked the community. Many residents are questioning how individuals with seemingly respectable public personas may be involved in organized crime.Broader ImplicationsThe case highlights the growing problem of vehicle theft in Zimbabwe, with an uptick in reported cases in recent months. While GPS tracking technology has been instrumental in recovering stolen vehicles, it also underscores the sophisticated methods employed by criminal networks.Chipunza's case, set against the backdrop of Bulawayo's social and economic landscape, raises broader concerns about youth involvement in organized crime and the need for greater vigilance in safeguarding personal property.
Zerodhas Nithin Kamath Suggests Linking Property Prices With Air And Water Quality Amid Rising Pollution

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 16:02 IST

Nithin Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, recently proposed a solution to address the rising air and water pollution.

Nithin Kamath shared a news clip showing air pollution-related deaths in India. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

Pollution has become an ever-growing concern, particularly in urban areas. The Delhi-NCR region recently recorded dangerously high pollution levels, prompting action from the authorities. As the debate over rising pollution continues, especially with the onset of winter each year, Nithin Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, has proposed a solution.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he highlighted how pollution affects urban life and the economy. He included a news clip showing the number of deaths related to air pollution in India which he called worrying.

related stories

Kamath suggested linking property prices to the air and water quality in the area. In this system, real estate values would change based on the quality of natural resources in the area. He believed this would encourage property owners to improve the environment and work together to make the whole area better.

Maybe a property price discount for the quality of air and water is the solution. If economics accounted for this, maybe we would all figure this out. Essentially the air and water quality determines the rate for the property," Nithin wrote.

Also, this would probably turn a property owner into the owner of the place, and better odds of fixing it if working as a group. For example, if I went from owning a property in JP Nagar and caring for it to caring for my layout in JP Nagar and then the whole of JP Nagar, it could have a better outcome," he added.

Kamath also mentioned that pollution isnt just a problem in Delhi but in many urban areas across India such as Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bengaluru where air quality is also poor.

Take a look at the post here:

You have to wonder what it will take for us to take air pollution more seriously. By the way, this data only covers until 2019, and things have only gotten worse in the last five years. Maybe a property price discount for the quality of air and water is the solution. If pic.twitter.com/QtyzkqoG43  Nithin Kamath (@Nithin0dha) November 24, 2024

Social media users quickly responded to Nithins post, calling his idea to tackle pollution innovative.

One user commented, Linking property prices to air and water quality is an interesting idea. It could incentivize collective action, but ensuring accountabilityespecially from authoritieswould be a big challenge."

Linking property prices to air and water quality is an interesting idea. It could incentivize collective action, but ensuring accountabilityespecially from authoritieswould be a big challenge. https://t.co/USpT4yGHgN Adit Sawant (@aditsawant) November 25, 2024

Another user suggested, The government also can impose taxes based on air and water quality in that particular locality."

The government also can impose taxes based on air and water quality in that particular locality. https://t.co/gp3ns6cSqZ Saaikandha (@dsaaikandha) November 24, 2024

Thats why when I see builders asking 10s to 100s of crores of rupees for the tiny pieces of luxury real estate in cities where people are actually breathing toxic air, it doesnt look less than a scam!" someone pointed out.

That's why when I see builders asking 10s to 100s of crores of rupees for the tiny pieces of luxury real estate in cities where people are actually breathing toxic air, it doesn't look less than a scam! https://t.co/16VnWcLTNo Indian Real Estate Index (@IndianREI) November 24, 2024

A person shared, I wish they would adjust the price based on air quality. The entire real estate will collapse."

I wish they would adjust the price based on air quality. The entire real estate will collapse. Ashish Airon (@AshishAiron) November 24, 2024

This is THE solution! Weve been developing a similar GIS-based approach. Offering a discount on the stamp duty collected by the government, inversely proportional to the AQI and directly related to the green cover, is a logical and impactful idea," another said.

This is THE solution! We've been developing a similar GIS-based approach. Offering a discount on the stamp duty collected by the government, inversely proportional to the AQI and directly related to the green cover, is a logical and impactful idea. Sushant Bhalerao (@ecinfosolutions) November 25, 2024

An X user offered his own suggestion writing, Only optimum solution is to decongest cities and create more smaller cities spreading equally. Problem is when every startup /industry comes to the same limited number of cities."

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Only optimum solution is to decongest cities and create more smaller cities spreading equally.Problem is when every startup /industry comes to same limited number of cities. DINESH JOSHI  (@justdinesh4u) November 26, 2024

Since being shared online, Nithins post has accumulated over 1 lakh views so far.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 26, 2024, 16:02 IST
Ajahn Siripanyo: Who Is Thai-Malaysian Man Who Gave Up His Father's Billions To Be A Monk?

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 23:01 IST

This Thai-Malaysian monks journey is no different than the successful lawyer, Julian Mantles journey in Robin Sharmas bestseller 'The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari'

The only son of Malaysian billionaire Ananda Krishnan, Ven Ajahn Siripanyo has given up all of the riches of the world to become a Buddhist monk. (Image: @Ramkshrestha/X)

Years ago when he was 18, Ven Ajahn Siripanyo went to Thailand to pay homage to his Thai mothers family. He was temporarily ordained at a retreat for fun. But, little did he know that what was a temporary experience would become a journey of a lifetime.

The journey of this Thai-Malaysian monk, who denounced his fathers billions for a life of spirituality, is no different than the successful lawyer, Julian Mantles journey in Robin Sharmas bestseller The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari.

related stories

The only son of the third richest in Malaysia, Ananda Krishnan, Siripanyo has given up all of the riches of the world to become a Buddhist monk. His billionaire fathers worth is pegged at more than US$5 billion (Rs 40,000 crore approx).

His empire spans across telecommunication, satellites, media, oil, gas and real estate. He also owns Aircel, which once sponsored the renowned IPL team Chennai Super Kings led by former India skipper MS Dhoni.

According to a report in the South China Morning Post, Siripanyo had been groomed from an early age to inherit his fathers fortune. But, he chose to detach himself from worldly possessions at the age of 18, the report said. Krishnan, who is also a devout Buddhist, respects his sons decision and adheres to several philanthropist and charitable causes, it added.

HOW DID IT ALL BEGIN?

The South China Morning Post said Siripanyo is not merely a billionaires son, he also boasts of a royal bloodline. His mother, Momwajarongse Suprinda Chakraban, is a descendant of the Thai royal family, the news report said.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

It has been 20 years since he chose to be a monk, and he would not have it any other way. He identifies as a forest monk and resides at the Dtao Dum Monastery on the Thailand-Myanmar border as an abbot.

Not much, however, is publicly known about Siripanyos motivations to become a monk. He has reportedly also embraced the practice of alms-seeking, living a simple life. He was raised with his two sisters in the United Kingdom and possesses the ability to communicate fluently in up to eight languages.

Location : Thailand

First Published: November 26, 2024, 22:51 IST
Baseless Allegations': ISKCON Seeks India's Intervention As Bangladesh Arrests Monk Chinmoy Krishna Das

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 09:32 IST

The ISKCON temple demanded the Bangladesh government to immediately release its leader and stated that they are a peace-loving Bhakti movement.

Bangladeshi Hindu religious leader Krishna Das Prabhu was detained and barred from leaving Bangladesh. (Image: X/@Shebeshivi)

Hours after Bangladeshi Hindu religious leader Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu was detained at Dhaka Airport, the ISKCON temple authorities have urged the Indian government to intervene in the matter and speak to the Government of Bangladesh to convey that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world".

The temple further demanded the Bangladesh government to immediately release its leader and stated that they are a peace-loving Bhakti movement.

related stories

Terming the allegations against Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das as baseless, the temple authorities took to its official X handle and wrote, We have come across disturbing reports that Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das, one of the prominent leaders of ISKCON Bangladesh, has been detained by the Dhaka police. It is outrageous to make baseless allegations that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world."

ISKCON, Inc. urges the Government of India to take immediate steps and speak to the Government of Bangladesh and convey that we are a peace-loving Bhakti movement. We want the Government of Bangladesh to release Chinmoy Krishna Das immediately. Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the protection of these devotees," the post added.

We have come across disturbing reports that Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das, one of the prominent leaders of ISKCON Bangladesh, has been detained by the Dhaka police.It is outrageous to make baseless allegations that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world.  Iskcon,Inc. (@IskconInc) November 25, 2024

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

The development came after Shri Krishna Das Prabhu on Monday was barred from leaving the country and detained at the Dhaka Airport by the nations authorities. CNN-News18 reported that the religious leader was taken to an undisclosed location.

Soon after his arrest, Hindu rights advocacy and civil society groups in Bangladesh started protesting in Dhaka, Chittagong and other major cities demanding his release.

Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh

First Published: November 26, 2024, 09:28 IST
Chinese Warplanes, Ships Track US Navy Plane Transiting Taiwan Strait

Published By :

Associated Press

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 20:02 IST

American military ships and aircraft regularly transit the waterway separating China from self-ruled Taiwan but a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft was trailed by the Chinese.

A P-8A Poseidon of the US Navy was trailed by Chinese military aircraft and ships while it was transiting the Taiwan Strait. (IMAGE: REUTERS/REPRESENTATIVE)

China deployed military aircraft and ships to track and monitor a US Navy plane transiting the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, Beijing said, as the two nations continue to spar over self-ruled Taiwan.

The US Navys 7th fleet said in a statement a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft flew through the straits international space in accordance with international law." The transit upheld navigational rights for all nations and demonstrates the United States commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," it added.

related stories

The US is Taiwans most important supporter and arms provider, and American military ships and aircraft regularly transit the waterway separating China from self-ruled Taiwan. Beijing claims the East Asian island as its own territory and threatens to annex it, by force if necessary.

China criticized the US mission and said it endangered regional peace and stability, according to a statement by Colonel Cao Jun, spokesperson for the Peoples Liberation Armys Eastern Theater Command Air Force.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

China sends military ships or planes near Taiwan almost daily. On Monday, Taiwans Defense Ministry reported a Chinese balloon over the sea north of the island.

Last month, China sent a record one-day total of 153 aircraft, 14 navy vessels and 12 Chinese government ships near the island as part of military drills in reaction to Taiwans president rejecting Beijings claims of sovereignty.

Location : Taipei, Taiwan

First Published: November 26, 2024, 20:02 IST
Committed To Upholding Communal Harmony, Arrest Of Krishna Das Misconstrued: Bangladesh Govt

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 22:45 IST

Bangladeshs interim government and its external affairs ministry also reacted to the Indian counterparts statement on the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das.

Prominent Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das had recently raised concerns about the safety of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh following a regime change. (IMAGE: X)

The Bangladesh interim government expressed concern over a recent statement issued by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs regarding the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu monk charged with sedition by a court in Bangladeshs Chittagong.

Chinmoy Krishna Das currently remains in jail after a Chittagong court rejected his bail plea. He was arrested by Bangladesh detective bureau sleuths at Dhakas Shah Jalal Airport while boarding a flight to Chittagong.

related stories

The Bangladesh foreign ministry said that the arrest of Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das has been misconstrued by certain quarters since Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das has been arrested on specific charges".

The Government of Bangladesh maintains that such unfounded statements not only misrepresent facts but also stand contrary to the spirit of friendship and understanding between the two neighboring countries. The statement also does not reflect the harmony that exists among the peoples of all faiths and the commitment and the efforts of the government and the people in this regard," the Bangladeshi foreign ministry said.

The Bangladeshi interim government was referring to the statement issued by the Indian external affairs ministry on the arrest of the Hindu leader.

India on Tuesday noted with deep concern" the arrest and denial of bail to Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh, and urged authorities there to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities.

Bangladesh police on Monday arrested Das, the leader of the Hindu group, Sammilita Sanatani Jote.

In a statement, the MEA said it has noted with deep concern the arrest and denial of bail" to Das who is also the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote.

This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh," it said.

There are several documented cases" of arson and looting of minorities homes and business establishments, as well as theft and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples, the MEA flagged.

It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings," the statement said.

The MEA also noted with concern the attacks on minorities protesting peacefully against the arrest of Das.

Referring to last months peaceful Durga Puja celebrations, Bangladesh highlighted its dedication to safeguarding religious practices and rituals for all communities.

The government assured that the judiciary in Bangladesh is fully independent and handles cases without external influence.

Bangladesh also condemned the killing of Advocate Saiful Islam Alif in Chattogram earlier today. Authorities have heightened security in the city to maintain peace and religious harmony.

On Tuesday, supporters angry that bail was denied, protested before a court in Chittagong.

Security forces lobbed stun grenades and launched baton charges to break the crowd, and Chinmoy Krishna Das was eventually taken to prison in a police pickup truck.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Nurul Alam, a police inspector posted at Chittagong Medical College Hospital, said a public prosecutor had been killed, identifying him as Saiful Islam Alif, a Muslim.

He had deep injuries on his head", said hospital director Taslim Uddin.

Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh

First Published: November 26, 2024, 20:50 IST
Donald Trump Vows To Impose 25% Tariffs On Imports From Canada, Mexico, Extra 10% Tariff On China

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 09:04 IST

Trump said the executive order to this effect would be signed on the first day of his presidency on January 20, 2025.

Donald Trump to impose tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, China. (Photo: AFP)

US President-elect Donald Trump has said he will impose a 25 per cent tariff on all products coming from Canada and Mexico, and 10 per cent on Chinese goods to check the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs into the United States.

In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform on Monday, he said he would sign executive orders imposing tariffs on the three countries as one of his first actions after assuming office on January 20.

related stories

As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before. Right now, a Caravan coming from Mexico, composed of thousands of people, seems to be unstoppable in its quest to come through our currently Open Border," Trump said.

On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders.

This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country! Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem," he said.

We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price," Trump said.

Further, the president-elect accused China of failing to stop the flow of drugs into the US.

I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States  But to no avail," Trump said.

"Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before," he alleged.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America," he added.

Trump said the executive order to this effect would be signed on the first day of his presidency on January 20, 2025.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 26, 2024, 09:04 IST
Immediate, Permanent Ceasefire: UNs On Gaza, Israel-Lebanon War

Published By :

AFP

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 18:17 IST

Volker Turk said there should be an end to the killings and the destruction in Gaza and Lebanon.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk demanded an immediate end to hostilities in Gaza and Lebanon. (IMAGE: AFP)

The UN rights chief is gravely concerned over the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon and wants a permanent ceasefire" there and in war-ravaged Gaza, his spokesman said Tuesday.

The high commissioner reiterates his call for an immediate ceasefire to put an end to the killings and the destruction," Jeremy Laurence, a spokesman for Volker Turk, told reporters in Geneva.

related stories

His comment came as Israels security cabinet was due to meet to vote on a proposed ceasefire with Hezbollah in its war in Lebanon, with the White House voicing optimism that a deal was close.

The United States, European Union and United Nations have pushed in recent days for a truce in the long-running hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which escalated into full-scale war in late September.

The war in Lebanon followed nearly a year of limited cross-border exchanges of fire with Hezbollah.

The Lebanese group said it was acting in support of Hamas after the Palestinian groups October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

As truce talks intensified, Lebanons health ministry said Israeli strikes killed at least 31 people on Monday, mostly in the south.

Brutal on civilians

Laurence said Turk was gravely concerned by the escalation in Lebanon".

He pointed to at least 97 people reportedly killed in Israeli air strikes between November 22 and 24 alone, including eight children and 19 women.

Also last week, seven paramedics were reportedly killed in three separate Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, he said, adding to the 226 healthcare workers reportedly killed in Lebanon between October 7 last year and November 18.

These are further indications of just how brutal this war has been on civilians," he said.

Laurence warned: Israeli military action in Lebanon has caused wide-scale loss of civilian life, including the killing of the entire families, widespread displacement, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure, raising serious concerns about respect for the principles of proportionality, distinction and necessity."

He also highlighted that Hezbollah was continuing to fire rockets into Israel, resulting in civilian casualties.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Most of these rockets are indiscriminate by nature, prolonging the displacement of many Israeli civilians, which is unacceptable," he said.

Turk, he said, was insisting that the only way to end the suffering of people on all sides is a permanent and immediate ceasefire on all fronts  in Lebanon, in Israel and in Gaza".

Location : Geneva, Switzerland

First Published: November 26, 2024, 18:12 IST
Iran Developed Fentanyl-Based Chemical Weapons Deployable Via Drones, US Experts Warn

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 21:45 IST

The Institute for Science and International Security and a Washington Institute senior fellow warned that Iran has made weapons out of fentanyl.

Irans possible plan to use pharmaceutical-based chemical agents like fentanyl raises concerns about non-compliance with chemical weapon regulations and international safety. (IMAGE: REUTERS/REPRESENTATIVE)

Iran has developed chemical weapons based on synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, warns a US expert and the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), powerful agents that could incapacitate soldiers or civilians when added to grenades or artillery.

Earlier this month, Matthew Levitt, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute think tank, had warned that Iran has developed pharmaceutical-based agents, or PBAs.

related stories

The ISIS in its paper titled The Islamic Republics Work on Pharmaceutical Based Agents, authored by Mohammadreza Giveh and the Good ISIS Team, also confirmed that multiple Iranian security complexes that have been preparing production of fentanyl and medetomidine based incapacitating and lethal agents.

It said that Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) affiliated individuals have been working on PBAs for several decades and that the report focuses on the period between 2005 and 2023.

These complexes have been working on pillars of producing those weapons: large-scale cost-efficient synthesis of the compounds with maximum potency, evaluating a stable chemical mixture based on those agents that can be aerosolized using a propellant, and developing the delivery of the agents through grenades, bullets, or drones," the report said.

The rise of the widespread use of easy-to-operate drones has increased the risk of lethal and incapacitating pharmaceutical-based chemical weapons being dispersed in this new manner. The most immediate concern in the Middle East is that the Islamic Republic or its proxies would use such weapons," it further added.

The paper warned that the issue of chemical agents made from pharmaceuticals is not new but their potential use in wars and the ease of delivering them over short or long distances using drones make it urgent.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

It said that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) should focus on the concern that Iran may be weaponizing these agents and not following the Chemical Weapons Convention.

It should also consider what actions to take if there is non-compliance. Raising awareness is important to stop the further development and use of such agents, the ISIS researchers said.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 26, 2024, 21:44 IST
Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire To Start Wednesday Morning After 13 Months Of Fighting

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 23:54 IST

US-based news agency the Hill, which broke the news of the ceasefire first, said Netanyahu and Biden will announce the agreement, at separate intervals.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, will be announcing the Israel-Hezbollah truce deal that will begin Wednesday morning. (IMAGE: AFP)

The Israeli security cabinet Tuesday (local time) announced its agreement to a ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The ceasefire will begin Wednesday morning, US-based news outlet The Hill said in a report.

The Hill, which broke the news of the ceasefire first, said Netanyahu and Biden will announce the agreement, at separate intervals.

related stories

The formal announcement came after a voting is conducted among Israels security Cabinet on Tuesday evening, news agency Reuters said in a separate report. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a speech, however, said he is presenting the announcement to full cabinet soon.

Were changing the face of the Middle East. A good agreement is an agreement that can be enforced," Netanyahu said in his speech to Israelis.

One of the primary reasons of the ceasefire is to isolate Hamas and secure the return of the hostages," he said. We have pushed Hezbollah back by decades, it would have sounded like fiction three months ago, but we did it," he said, referring to the operations Israel carried out to eliminate Hezbollahs top leaders.

The Hill said Biden will make an on-camera message about the ceasefire.

The war in Lebanon followed nearly a year of limited cross-border exchanges of fire begun by Hezbollah.

The Lebanese group said it was acting in support of Hamas after the Palestinian groups October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked the war in Gaza.

Lebanon says at least 3,799 people have been killed in the country since October 2023, most of them in the past several weeks.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

On the Israeli side, the hostilities with Hezbollah have killed at least 82 soldiers and 47 civilians, authorities say.

The initial exchanges forced tens of thousands of Israelis from their homes, and Israeli officials have said they are fighting so they can return safely.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 26, 2024, 23:19 IST
'Honouring Will Of People': Joe Biden, First Lady Jill To Attend Trump's Inauguration In January

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 09:01 IST

The decision stunned many as then-President Donald Trump refused to attend Joe Biden's inauguration in 2021.

US President Joe Biden with President-elect Donald Trump | File Image/AP

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will attend Donald Trumps inauguration in January, a White House spokesman said on Monday, calling it a demonstration of commitment to our democratic values and to honouring the will of the people."

The decision stunned many as then-President Trump refused to attend Bidens inauguration in 2021, after accusing the Democrats of winning the election by fraudulent means. The Republican supporters also stormed into the US capitol.

related stories

The president promised that he would attend the inauguration of whomever won the election," said Andrew Bates, senior deputy press secretary at the White House, adding that Biden and the First Lady will honour that promise and attend the inauguration."

He views that as an important demonstration of commitment to our democratic values and to honoring the will of the people, as we continue to provide an orderly and effective transition," Bates added.

During the 2024 presidential campaign, Biden described Trump as a threat to democracy. However, after the US election results gave a majority to Trump, Biden vowed to provide Trump with the smooth transition that the Republicans denied him.

A week after the November 5 elections, Biden invited President-elect Trump to the White House and both leaders stressed a peaceful and effective transition of power in January next year.

Trump defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris to win a historic comeback in the US. It came after Biden opted out of the Presidential race in July and endorsed Harris after a disastrous" debate performance against Trump triggered fears among Democrats about his age and mental stability.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 26, 2024, 08:12 IST
News / Local

by Staff reporter

A City Council worker in Bloomingdale, Harare, was bitten by a stray dog while on duty, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of municipal by-laws to protect public safety. The incident occurred at house number 6087 and was reported to Mabelreign Police Station.Ward 16 Councillor Denford Ngadziore confirmed the incident, identifying the victim as Anderson Tendayi Nyambayaro, an employee in the council's amenities department. Nyambayaro is currently receiving treatment at the Mabelreign Council Clinic.Vaccination Records MissingCouncillor Ngadziore revealed that the dog's owner failed to provide documentation proving the animal had been vaccinated, a violation of local regulations."The Dog By-Law, Section 12, should be enforced," Ngadziore stated. "We are seeing several stray dogs in our communities, and this poses a danger to residents and council workers alike."Calls for Responsible Dog OwnershipThe council's by-law mandates that dog owners keep their pets restrained and confined within their property. It also requires that properties housing dogs be gated and secure.Ngadziore emphasized the importance of adherence to these regulations, noting the risks posed by stray dogs roaming freely in residential areas.Community ConcernsThe incident highlights a growing issue in Harare, where an increasing number of stray dogs pose safety and health hazards. Residents are calling for intensified efforts to manage the stray dog population and enforce vaccination requirements.The City Council is expected to review the enforcement of by-laws and take measures to address the problem, ensuring the safety of both workers and residents.
Pakistan ISI Wants UAE To Mediate Between Army And Imran Khan, Ex-PM's Life Under Threat: Sources

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 09:03 IST

The UAE had earlier refused to intervene because of unpopular sentiments against Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir.

Activists of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of former countrys prime minister Imran Khan, take part in a public rally on the outskirts of Islamabad. (Image: AFP)

The Pakistan ISI wants the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to intervene to bring things under control between its army and former prime minister Imran Khan, said sources. The UAE had earlier refused to intervene because of unpopular sentiments against the Pakistan Army Chief.

Speaking to CNN-News18, Dr Salman Ahmed, a close aide of Imran Khan said the Pakistan Army has approached the UAE to mediate between them and Khan. An ISI delegation was in the UAE over the issue, sources said.

related stories

Sources said initial indications suggest that the UAE was reluctant to cooperate with Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had earlier distanced itself from Asim Munir due to unpopular sentiment against him in Pakistan and within the military.

The UAE and KSA both feel the PDM and military regime has failed Pakistan on every front, sources said.

Sources said that Imran Khan has refused to shift to Banigala. Imran Khans life is under threat and the Pakistan army wants to kill him," sources added.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Meanwhile, on Monday, at least one police officer was killed and dozens of people injured as Imran Khan supporters clashed with security forces outside Islamabad. Khan had called for a march on parliament followed by a sit-in protest against his arrest.

Khan has been in jail since August 2022 after he was voted out of power following a fallout with Pakistan Army.

First Published: November 26, 2024, 09:02 IST
Paris Airport Shuts Runways In Search For A Runaway Dog

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 22:38 IST

Since the dog, a female, slipped out of a carrier cage last Tuesday during an unloading operation, there has been an intense search for the pet, owned by an Austrian tourist.

Two runways were closed at Paris Charles-de-Gaulle airport Tuesday as officials tried to capture a dog (Representational image)

Two runways were closed at Paris Charles-de-Gaulle airport Tuesday as officials tried to capture a dog a week after it escaped from an aircraft, Air France and airport sources said.

Since the dog, a female, slipped out of a carrier cage last Tuesday during an unloading operation, there has been an intense search for the pet, owned by an Austrian tourist who came to France on Air France from Vienna.

related stories

Airport police needed to deploy a search drone Tuesday, requiring the closures.

The animal has been spotted and approached several times, but it has not been possible so far to capture it," Air France said.

The plan, added airport officials, is to get close enough to tranquilise the animal with a hypodermic needle.

They picked the off-peak early afternoon for the operation, thus avoiding any impact on scheduled flights.

Since the dog got away there have been several search parties launched, including at night and in the presence of the owner, whose hotel costs at Charles-de-Gaulle are being covered by Air France.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Posters have been put up to alert airport staff.

Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle, with its four runways, vies with Amsterdams Schiphol for the top spot of the European Unions busiest airports.

Location : Paris, France

First Published: November 26, 2024, 22:38 IST
Russia Says Ukraine Fired Two More US-Supplied ATACMS Missiles, Vows Retaliation

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 26, 2024, 19:30 IST

Russia said Ukraine targeted military installations in Kursk as well as an airfield.

Russia had warned Ukraine against using US-supplied Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which have the ability to strike deep into Russian territory. (IMAGE: AFP/REPRESENTATIVE)

The Russian military on Tuesday pledged to respond to fresh Ukrainian air attacks inside Russia where it claims US-supplied ATACMS missiles were used.

Ukraine had fired these long-range missiles into Russia for the first time last week and made Moscow furious. Retaliatory actions are being prepared," the Russian defence ministry said in a post on Telegram, without elaborating. It said the attacks using ATACMS were made on November 23 and 25.

related stories

The US permitted Ukraine to use these long-range missiles to strike Russian territory after denying months of requests earlier in November.

Russia, in a rare move, said the fresh strikes had caused damage to military hardware and wounded some of its personnel on the ground and said the Kursk region was impacted.

A strike on the Kursk Vostochny air base wounded two servicemen, the defence ministry said, while a strike on an air defence battery damaged a radar system and also caused casualties".

It said three of the five missiles fired in the first strike were shot down, while seven of the eight used in the second were destroyed.

Moscow is not known for providing details of damage caused in Ukrainian aerial attacks and almost never admits missiles have reached their intended target.

This time, however, the defence ministry posted photos of what it said were the missile fragments, showing large casings with English-language inscriptions on the side, according to news agency AFP, who could not verify the authenticity of the messages.

The strikes come with tensions having ratched up dramatically in the near three-year conflict over the last few weeks.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Putin last week signed a decree lowering the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons, days before launching the nuclear-capable hypersonic Oreshnik missile at Ukraine.

(with inputs from AFP)

Location : Moscow, Russia

First Published: November 26, 2024, 18:51 IST
News / Local

by Staff reporter

Harare residents are being reminded of the city's strict dog ownership regulations, which prohibit owning two or more dogs on properties smaller than 2,000 square meters and restrict dog ownership to no more than four dogs on larger properties. These by-laws are part of the Harare Dog and Licensing Control By-Laws, designed to manage pet populations and maintain public safety.Size Restrictions on Dog OwnershipUnder the city's by-laws, residents in areas with properties measuring less than 2,000 square meters, such as Warren Park, Westlea, Cranborne, Mabelreign, Arcadia, Mabvuku, and Avondale, are only allowed to keep a maximum of two dogs.For properties larger than 2,000 square meters, such as Greystone Park, Shawasha Hills, and Gletwin Park, the maximum number of dogs allowed is capped at four.This regulation aims to ensure that the city can effectively manage its dog population, particularly in densely populated areas.Permit Requirement for Dog OwnershipAdditionally, Harare residents are required to obtain a permit for owning a dog, as stipulated in the city's dog by-laws. Failure to comply with these rules can result in significant penalties, including a level three fine or imprisonment of up to six months, or both a fine and imprisonment.City Acting Chamber Secretary, Mr. Warren Chiwawa, emphasized that owning a dog without a permit is a criminal offense. "Failure to comply with the by-laws incurs a level three fine or imprisonment of up to six months, or both a fine and imprisonment," he said.Breeding and Roaming ProhibitedThe by-laws also restrict the breeding of dogs. Section 11 (1) clearly forbids residents from breeding dogs without the necessary licenses and permits. Furthermore, Section 12 specifies that dog owners must prevent their pets from roaming freely."No owner shall allow their dog to roam without restraint beyond the limits of their property, and every dog owner shall ensure that their property is secured and gated to keep the dog(s) within those limits," the by-laws state.Enforcement and ComplianceCity authorities are urging residents to comply with these regulations, ensuring public safety and the well-being of animals. Violations of these by-laws not only lead to penalties but also contribute to public health and safety concerns related to stray dogs and dog attacks.With the new emphasis on enforcing the dog by-laws, pet owners are advised to familiarize themselves with the regulations to avoid fines and ensure their pets are properly cared for.
The long-dormant rivalry between Texas and Texas A&M reignites this Saturday, ending a 13-year hiatus since their last face-off in 2011. Texas (10-1, 6-1 and ranked third) will go head-to-head with Texas A&M, (8-3, 5-2, and ranked 20). This high-stakes game at Kyle Field in College Station not only stirs historical passions but also has significant implications, as a win secures a place in the Southeastern Conference championship game.

For the players, emotions are running high. Texas safety Michael Taaffe, rooted in Austin, highlights the significance of past generations, urging his team to "remember them when you step on Kyle Field." Meanwhile, Texas A&M's Trey Zuhn III shares his lifelong anticipation of this clash, emphasizing how his family's deep-rooted Aggie spirit fuels his readiness to spar with their historic rivals. Zuhn predicts an intense atmosphere, adding, "I feel bad for Texas having to play in that."

Despite the intense rivalry narrative, Texas players express readiness for the heated environment. The Longhorns have conquered big road games in the past, including victories at Alabama in 2023 and Michigan this year, maintaining a 10-win streak on opponents' home turf. Yet, veteran voices like former Longhorn Dan Neil caution that the atmosphere at Texas A&M will be unlike anything the current squad has encountered, marking this iconic comeback as a true test of resolve and rivalry pride for both teams. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
A poker dealer at a Cleveland casino stands accused of stealing from the pot on 14 different occasions over a one-month period. Jason Saliba, 51, faces 14 felony counts of violating casino gaming laws and one misdemeanor theft count, USA Today reports. Court records don't indicate how much the former employee of JACK Cleveland Casino is accused of skimming, Fox 8 reports. Cleveland.com notes that the misdemeanor charge suggests the total amount allegedly stolen is less than $1,000.
A Marine Corps Osprey transporting White House staff in New York was grounded Monday after flames were observed under the right engine, per one witness. Those aboard were transferred to another Osprey to continue their journey with President Joe Biden to a "Friendsgiving" event at Staten Island's Coast Guard base. This incident only minimally delayed Biden's return to Washington that evening.

The grounding came as lawmakers urged Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to halt operation of the military's V-22 Osprey fleet until safety and design issues are resolved, following an Associated Press investigation into the aircraft's accident history. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, and Representative Richard Neal, expressed that "the aircraft should be grounded, and should not be deployed again until the platform's significant deficiencies are fully addressed." The Pentagon has yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter.

This is not the first safety concern regarding Ospreys involved with White House travel. Last year, an Osprey carrying reporters and staff made an emergency return shortly after takeoff. Ospreys, which fly like both helicopters and planes, have operated under restrictions since a fatal crash in Japan last year killed eight servicemembers. Despite the issues, pilots have emphasized the aircraft's unique capabilities and their reluctance to see it grounded. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
The Israeli ambassador to Washington says a ceasefire deal to end fighting between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants could be reached "within days." Ambassador Mike Herzog told Israeli Army Radio on Monday there remain "points to finalize" and any deal requires agreement from the government, the AP reports. But he said "we are close to a deal." Israeli officials said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet was set to convene Tuesday to discuss a proposed ceasefire. Among the issues that remain is an Israeli demand to reserve the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations under the emerging deal. The deal seeks to push Hezbollah and Israeli troops out of southern Lebanon.

A source tells CNN Netanyahu has agreed to the ceasefire deal "in principle," and that the security cabinet is expected to vote to approve it. Sources who spoke to the Telegraph also indicated Netanyahu and his government have given the deal the "green light." Foreign ministers are expressing cautious optimism a deal is imminent. Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes bombed the Lebanese capital of Beirut and parts of southern Lebanon and the country's Health Ministry said 31 people were killed on Monday. The deputy parliament speaker accused Israel of ramping up its bombardment in order to pressure Lebanon to make concessions in the indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah. (Take a closer look at the proposed deal, and its sticking points, here.)
Eight staffers at a hostel in Laos have been detained after a rash of tourist deaths and illnesses last week. Two 19-year-old Australians, two Danish women in their early 20s, and a 57-year-old American man all died of suspected methanol poisoning during their stay at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng; a 28-year-old London woman also died after staying in Vang Vieng. The Guardian cites local media in reporting the hostel's 34-year-old manager is among those detained. The hostel owners previously denied serving alcohol tainted with methanol, reports the BBC .

The deaths of Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles of Australia were the first to emerge; the women fell ill after consuming free shots at the hostel then heading out for the night on Nov. 12. The two Danish women were found unconscious in their room on Nov. 13 and reportedly died of heart failure that night. James Louis Hutson was found dead in his hostel room on the same day. (The deaths have drawn attention to the longstanding problem of tainted alcohol in Southeast Asia, where despite warnings from governments, many tourists are unaware of the dangers.)
Russian authorities have ordered a British diplomat, Edward Pryor Wilkes, to leave the country over espionage allegations. The Federal Security Service (FSB) claims Wilkes provided false information to gain entry into Russia and has been working under diplomatic cover for British intelligence. These actions supposedly posed a threat to Russian security, leading to the revocation of his diplomatic accreditation.

Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for Russia's Foreign Ministry, confirmed the decision and stated that Wilkes has two weeks to depart. The British ambassador was summoned to receive the notice. The United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is yet to comment on the situation.

This expulsion is part of ongoing diplomatic tensions between Russia and NATO allies, which have reached a nadir since the Cold War. Diplomatic relations have deteriorated significantly since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2024, with both Russia and the UK previously engaging in tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats. Indeed, Wilkes replaced one of six British diplomats who were expelled in August. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
The Biden administration announced a $6.6 billion loan to Rivian Automotive for constructing a factory in Georgia, seeking to revive a project that had previously stalled due to profitability challenges. This initiative aims to support Rivian's larger strategy to introduce R2 and R3 electric vehicles, catalyzing job creation with projections of 7,500 positions at the Georgia plant. The funds originate from the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program, a federal initiative emphasizing low-cost loans for fuel-efficient vehicle production; it previously supported projects like the Tesla Model S. It's unclear whether the loan can be finalized before Donald Trump takes office.

Rivian's plans for the Georgia plan had been put on ice earlier this year, with the company saying it would its cheaper R2 vehicles in Illinois to cut costs; the Illinois plant is where the R1 vehicles, which cost $70,000 or more, are built. But a $5 billion investment from Volkswagen in June eased financial strains, enabling Rivian to reignite its Georgia endeavors. CEO RJ Scaringe mentioned this would accelerate their market entry for the R2 to 2026, saving significant capital.

Georgia's Gov. Brian Kemp, a critic of the Biden administration's industrial policy, emphasized Georgia's inherent appeal to manufacturers prior to federal intervention. Kemp may need to support the loan if it faces opposition, underscoring the state's aspiration to become a hub for electric vehicles. The state had previously offered Rivian substantial incentives and completed site preparations. Meanwhile, Hyundai's rapid development of a $7.6 billion facility near Savannah underscores the region's growing stature in the electric vehicle sector. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
A longtime adviser to Donald Trump is in danger of losing his place in the inner circle over reports suggesting he has been trying to personally profit from the transition to the White House. The adviser is Boris Epshteyn, and he's facing allegations that he improperly solicited money from potential appointees couched as "consulting" fees. Coverage:

The allegations first surfaced on the website Just the News, run by conservative writer John Solomon, reports the New York Times. "I suppose every president has people around them who try to make money off them on the outside," Trump himself tells Solomon, though he made clear he was unaware of such a thing happening among his staff. "It's a shame but it happens." Trump directed his legal team to investigate the matter, and the Times reports the review flagged two people who were allegedly approached by Epshteyn.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe and Zambia experienced nationwide blackouts on Sunday night, a disruption believed to be caused by a surge on power lines connecting the two countries to South African power utility Eskom.The outages occurred within minutes of each other, with Zambia losing power at 8:15 PM and Zimbabwe following at 8:25 PM.Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) confirmed the incident, stating, "The national grid experienced a system disturbance resulting in a nationwide blackout." Similarly, Zambia's state power company, ZESCO, attributed the outage to a "power system disturbance leading to loss of power supply that has affected the whole country."Restoration Efforts UnderwayBy early Monday morning, ZESA reported significant progress in restoring power. "The restoration process began immediately, and we are happy to advise that as of this morning, most of the load centers (regional substations) have been picked countrywide," the company said in a statement.Power in most parts of Zimbabwe was restored by 3 AM on Monday, bringing relief to citizens who had been plunged into darkness.The Cause of the BlackoutSources within ZESA revealed that the outage likely stemmed from a power surge along transmission lines from South Africa, through which both Zimbabwe and Zambia import electricity from Eskom. Zambia, which faces a more severe power crisis, has ramped up its imports to address its significant power deficit.Eyewitnesses across both countries described the power flickering multiple times before going out completely, indicating instability in the supply system before the total failure.Ongoing Power ChallengesThe blackouts come amidst persistent power generation challenges in both nations. Zimbabwe and Zambia rely heavily on the Kariba hydroelectric plant, which has faced reduced generation capacity due to low water levels.In Zimbabwe, ageing thermal power stations frequently break down, leaving citizens enduring daily power cuts lasting up to 18 hours. Zambia has similarly struggled to meet demand, with frequent outages disrupting businesses and households.Sunday's blackout underscores the fragile state of the power infrastructure in the region, which is heavily dependent on shared resources and vulnerable to systemic disturbances. Efforts to strengthen grid resilience and diversify power generation remain crucial for both countries as they navigate their ongoing energy crises.
Stories about bird flu continue to percolate in the news, and former FDA chief David Kessler is worried. In a New York Times essay, Kessler warns that the incoming Trump administration should be fully prepared for a serious turn. The US currently has confirmed 55 cases, all of them relatively mild and nearly all of them among dairy and poultry workers. But Kessler warns that the virus might be close to a dangerous shift, one that would make human-to-human transmission easier and would allow the virus to attach to the lining of the lungs, with far more dire outcomes for patients. A key point made by Kessler, who helped lead Operation Warp Speed in Donald Trump's first term to speed up COVID vaccines:
Stock markets abroad saw mostly modest losses, after Trump said he plans to impose sweeping tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China as soon as he takes office. US automakers and other companies that could be hurt particularly by such tariffs fell.

Trump has often praised the use of tariffs, but investors are weighing whether his latest threat will actually become policy or is just an opening point for negotiations. For now, the market seems to be taking it more as the latter, the AP reports. Unless the United States can prepare alternatives for the autos, energy products, and other goods that come from Mexico, Canada, and China, such tariffs would raise the price of imported items all at once and make households poorer, according to Carl Weinberg and Rubeela Farooqi, economists at High Frequency Economics. They would also hurt profit margins for US companies, while raising the threat of retaliatory tariffs by other countries.

General Motors sank 9%, and Ford Motor fell 2.6% because both import automobiles from Mexico. Constellation Brands, which sells Modelo and other Mexican beer brands in the United States, dropped 3.3%. The talk about tariffs overshadowed another set of mixed profit reports from US retailers.

Kohl's tumbled 17% after its results for the latest quarter fell short of analysts' expectations. CEO Tom Kingsbury said sales remain soft for apparel and footwear. A day earlier, Kingsbury said he plans to step down as CEO in January. Ashley Buchanan, CEO of Michaels and a retail veteran, will replace him.

Best Buy fell 4.9% after likewise falling short of analysts' expectations. Dick's Sporting Goods topped forecasts for the latest quarter thanks to a strong back-to-school season, but its stock lost an early gain to fall 1.4%.

JM Smucker jumped 5.7% for one of the biggest gains in the S&P 500 after topping analysts' expectations for the latest quarter. CEO Mark Smucker credited strength for its Uncrustables, Meow Mix, Cafe Bustelo and Jif brands.

Big Tech stocks also helped prop up US indexes. Gains of 3.2% for Amazon and 2.2% for Microsoft were the two strongest forces lifting the S&P 500.

In the crypto market, bitcoin continued to pull back after topping $99,000 for the first time late last week. It's since dipped back toward $91,500.

(More stock market stories.)
TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

In preparation for Bahrains hosting of major events this month, the General Directorate of Traffic is intensifying efforts to manage traffic flow along Bahrain Bay Road, where these events will coincide.

The events include Jewellery Arabia and Scent Arabia, held on November 2630 at Exhibition World Bahrain, the seventh edition of the Bahrain Animal Production Show (Maraee 2024), held from November 271 at the Bahrain International Endurance Village, and Cityscape from November 2630, The General Directorate of Traffic urged the public to use designated parking facilities.

For Jewellery Arabia and Cityscape visitors, parking will be available at Bahrain International Circuit in lots P9, P8, and P7, with shuttle buses providing transport to the venues. Additional parking is available at Exhibition World Bahrain in lots P1, P2, P3, and P4.

Parking Visitors to Maraee are encouraged to use parking at Al Jazair Beach, with shuttle buses transporting them to the event venue. Drivers are advised to follow traffic updates shared via social media and other channels to ensure timely arrival.

Traffic authorities also emphasised the importance of adhering to road signage and instructions to facilitate the success of these significant events.
TDT | By Mohammed Darwish

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Farooq Al Moayyed, a highly regarded Bahraini businessman, has passed away at the age of 80 due to complications following surgery abroad. His lifes work had a profound influence on Bahrains economy, earning him recognition as a key figure in its modern development.

Born in Manama in 1944, Farooq grew up in the Fareej Al Fadhel neighbourhood, part of a well-established trading family. He graduated in 1966 from Loughborough University in England with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and returned to Bahrain to join the family business. His involvement helped expand and strengthen its operations, ensuring its growth during changing economic times.

Farooqs father, Shaikh Yousif Al Moayyed, had shifted the familys trade focus from pearlsfollowing the downturn in that markettowards sectors like electrical goods. Farooq built on this foundation, overseeing further diversification and cementing the groups standing in local and regional markets.

Throughout his career, Farooq held numerous senior positions across leading companies and organisations. He served as chairman of Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons, Y.K. Almoayyed Properties, National Bank of Bahrain, Bahrain Duty-Free, Gulf Hotels Group, Bahrain National Holding, Ahlia University, National Finance House, and Al Wasat Publishing and Distribution.

He also held honorary roles, including leadership of Almoayyed International Group and the Bahrain Small and Medium Enterprises Society. His contributions extended to the Economic Development Board, where he was a member, and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Ibn Khuldoon National School. He further served as Deputy Chairman of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority and National Bank of Bahrain, and as Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council.

Farooqs influence reached far beyond Bahrain. He held directorships with Bahrain Saudi Bank, Arab Banking Corporation, United Gulf Insurance and Reinsurance, Asia International Bank in Hong Kong, and Investcorp. He also advised international institutions, including Harvard Universitys Institute for Social and Economic Policy in the Middle East and Georgetown Universitys Center for Contemporary Arab Studies. In addition, he was an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Manama.

Farooq Al Moayyed will be remembered for his leadership, adaptability, and dedication to Bahrains progress. His passing marks the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire those who follow in his footsteps.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Nkosinathi Ncube led Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) has achieved its first-ever 100% clean audit from the Auditor General for the year ended December 31, 2023, marking a groundbreaking moment in public sector accountability under Zimbabwe's Second Republic.This milestone, the first in Zinara's history since its establishment in 2002, reflects the successful implementation of recommendations from the 2018 Grant Thornton forensic audit. The audit had exposed significant governance and operational irregularities within the organisation.Transformative Leadership Driving SuccessZinara's turnaround is attributed to sweeping organisational reforms initiated as part of parastatal restructuring under President Mnangagwa's leadership. These reforms have focused on instilling good governance, improving operational efficiency, and promoting transparency.Speaking at the 8th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held today, Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Mhona, commended Zinara's efforts to comply with Section 33 (3) of the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act, which mandates annual general meetings with ministry representatives and stakeholders."I applaud Zinara for adhering to corporate governance principles and voluntarily subjecting itself to oversight. This demonstrates the remarkable progress achieved by the board and management," said Minister Mhona.Exemplifying ExcellenceThe minister hailed Zinara as a flagship parastatal that epitomises good governance and financial prudence. "Improved disbursements to road authorities and the periodic publication of these disbursements showcase transparency and efficiency. A strong reputation is critical, and Zinara is setting a new standard," he added.Advancing Technology and AccountabilityMinister Mhona urged Zinara to embrace smart tolling technologies to enhance operational efficiency further. Zinara CEO, Mr. Nkosinathi Ncube, called on the public to actively monitor road fund utilisation to ensure contractors deliver quality work.The Authority's transformation includes publishing audited accounts and increasing funding to road authorities, signaling an era of greater accountability in the management of public funds.A Model for Public EntitiesZinara's achievement is seen as a significant milestone in the government's broader push for parastatal reform, underscoring the potential for excellence and accountability in Zimbabwe's public sector. As a beacon of transformation, Zinara serves as a model for other public entities striving for transparency and efficiency.
Judicial Review Confirms Strength of Bahrains Civil Courts

Mahir Haneef

TDT| Manama

A comprehensive evaluation of Bahrains civil courts has revealed that more than 80% of judgments delivered in over 1,500 cases have been upheld on appeal. The review, conducted by the Judicial Inspection Office under Judge Abdulrahman Al-Sayed Mohammed Al-Mualla, highlights the judiciarys adherence to principles of justice and the consistent application of legal standards.

The performance review, carried out within the framework of the Supreme Judicial Councils Access to Justice Programme, assessed judicial rulings across a range of legal fields, including civil, commercial, labour, family, criminal, and bankruptcy law. Specialised evaluation frameworks were employed to ensure each areas unique standards were addressed.

Judge Al-Mualla, who also serves as Deputy at the Court of Cassation, noted that the evaluation focused on key performance indicators such as the legal and administrative competencies of judges, the efficiency of case resolution, and the consistency of appellate decisions. This rigorous process enabled the Judicial Inspection Office to identify areas of strength within the judiciary, as well as opportunities for improvement.

The findings underline the judiciarys commitment to delivering high-quality decisions aligned with established legal principles, Judge Al-Mualla said, adding that the assessment serves as a foundation for targeted training programmes. These initiatives, developed in collaboration with the Judicial and Legal Studies Institute (JLSI), aim to enhance judges and court staffs professional capabilities to meet the evolving demands of the legal system.

In a bid to further enhance transparency and accessibility, the Supreme Judicial Council has also introduced an online system allowing litigants to submit complaints directly to the Judicial Inspection Department. The platform aims to improve communication, accountability, and efficiency in judicial processes, reinforcing public trust in the system.

Judge Al-Mualla described these evaluations as instrumental in maintaining high standards within the judiciary, offering insights into both achievements and areas requiring development. Continuous progress is vital to enhancing public confidence in Bahrains judiciary, he emphasised, underscoring the ongoing commitment to transparency, accountability, and excellence.

The review forms part of broader efforts to strengthen the judiciarys role in upholding justice and reflects Bahrains dedication to a fair and efficient legal system.
Gender-based violence (GBV) is a serious and pervasive epidemic affecting women and gender-diverse people across British Columbia. Rooted in harmful gender norms and power imbalances, this form of violence is closer to home than you might think.

Gender-based violence includes all forms of gendered violence, both within and outside of intimate relationships. It can include emotional, physical, financial and all forms of sexual violence, sexual harassment and online gendered harassment. Anyone can experience gender-based violence, but women, girls and gender diverse people are at far greater risk. A staggering 48% of BC women have experienced some form of intimate partner violence since age 15. For Indigenous women and individuals in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, that figure is higher, reaching 64% and 72%, respectively.

BC has the second highest rate of gender-based violence of any province in Canada. The YWCA's bus shelter ads will highlight the reported cases of sexual assaults in five Vancouver neighborhoods, but the digital component of the campaign will highlight the reported cases in communities across the province.

"The harsh reality of gender-based violence is that it's among our communities and closer to home than we may want to believe," says YWCA Metro Vancouver's CEO, Erin Seeley. "This campaign paints the picture of how critical this issue is in our community and why we need to advocate for coordinated action to end gender-based violence in British Columbia."

Recognizing Gender-Based Violence as an Epidemic

Gender-based violence is a serious social, economic and public health crisis. Declaring it an epidemic will raise public awareness, improve data collection and research, increase support for survivors and prevention efforts, and potentially lead to long-term behavioural and societal changes. To address this urgent issue, the YWCA, in partnership with a coalition of anti-violence organizations, academics, business leaders, community advocates and educators, is launching an initiative to declare GBV an epidemic in BC.

To date, only Nova Scotia has officially declared gender-based violence an epidemic. However, several municipalities across the country, including many in Ontario, have taken this step.

"We're urging the BC government to declare gender-based violence an epidemic," says Lisa Rupert, YWCA Metro Vancouver's VP of Housing and Violence Prevention. "To address this epidemic, we are asking the province to follow a whole-of-government approach to gender-based violence focusing on prevention and support for survivors, to commission a coroner's review of deaths caused by gender-based violence and significantly increase investments in housing for those who have experienced intimate partner violence."

The YWCA urges British Columbians to add their voices to declare gender-based violence an epidemic by signing an open letter to the premier. To learn more about gender-based violence and sign the open letter, go to ywcavan.org/hiddenepidemic .

About YWCA Metro Vancouver

YWCA Metro Vancouver advances gender equity alongside women, families, Two-Spirit and gender-diverse people through advocacy and integrated services that help support personal, collective and economic well-being.

SOURCE YWCA Canada

Media contacts: Marina Arnaud, Senior Manager, Marketing Communications, YWCA Metro Vancouver, [email protected]; Jacky Le, PR Director, Rethink Communications LP, [email protected]
TORONTO, Nov. 25, 2024 /CNW/ - WomanACT stands with community advocates to call for the Ontario government to take decisive action by passing Bill 173, formally declaring Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) an epidemic. As the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign begins today, highlighting the urgent need to address IPV as a preventable public health and safety crisis.

"Intimate Partner Violence is an epidemic, but it is preventable," says Harmy Mendoza, Executive Director of WomanACT.

WomanACT Executive Director, Harmy Mendoza, speaking at the Ontario Legislatures Standing Committee on Justice Policy for their study Intimate Partner Violence, August 14th, 2024 (CNW Group/WomanACT)

The first step in solving a problem is recognizing that there is one. Bill 173 is a unified call "from frontline services providers...community organizations, and most notably survivors of IPV themselves," she says.

The 2022 Coroner's Inquest into the triple femicide of Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk, and Nathalie Warmerdam called for Ontario to "Formally declare intimate partner violence an epidemic". Building on the advocacy efforts of the anti-violence sector, 95 municipalities across Ontario have formally declared IPV an epidemic. Ontario needs to do the same.

Recent data highlights the magnitude of the crisis: as of this year, the Toronto Police Service has reported 15,210 IPV-related incidents, marking a 1.39% increase from the previous year. The Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses (OAITH) reported 59 femicides in the month of October for 2024 alone.

WomanACT's "Bill 173 - The Current State of Intimate Partner Violence in Ontario" resource package directed to Premier Doug Ford and other Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) includes evidence-based recommendations and a joint letter endorsed by eighty-three organizations and individuals from sectors including anti-violence, health, homelessness, legal services, and Indigenous communities.

How can you engage as a community member?

Over the next 16 Days of Activism, individuals and organizations across Canada will unite in action to end Gender-Based Violence. Contact your MPPs using Bill-173 Community Mobilization Letter Writing Campaign to share how IPV has affected you, families, or the community. Together, we can amplify survivors' voices, push for systemic change, and demand meaningful action to end IPV today and every day.

For more information, please contact:

Aakanksha Mathur

Manager of Public Policy, Advocacy and Communications, WomanACT

[email protected]

SOURCE WomanACT
Skip is making donating easier than ever by picking up food donations from Toronto residents' homes to deliver to food banks, in addition to matching donations nationwide

TORONTO, Nov. 25, 2024 /CNW/ - With food bank usage in Canada at an all-time record high, Skip and Food Banks Canada are banding together this Giving Tuesday to provide vital food and resources to our neighbours in need. On December 3, instead of just making deliveries, Skip will be picking up food donations from Toronto residents' doorsteps to deliver to local food banks. In addition, Skip will make a $100 donation to Food Banks Canada for every food donation pick-up, and is matching Giving Tuesday donations made to Food Banks Canada across the country, with a total commitment of $200,000.

Food Banks Canada and Skip Join Forces (CNW Group/Skip)

This year's initiative tackles a significant barrier to food donation: inconvenience. Recent findings show that individuals would donate more if drop-off points or pickup options were easier to access, with 49% of respondents identifying transportation constraints as the most common barrier to donating (1). To address this, Skip is introducing a one-day doorstep donation pick-up service in Toronto on Giving Tuesday, making it simpler than ever for Canadians to give back.

Starting today (November 25), Toronto residents can visit www.GivewithSkip.ca to sign up for a food donation pick-up from their home. On Giving Tuesday, participants who signed up are asked to set out a box of non-perishable items on their doorstep, which Skip will collect and deliver directly to Daily Bread Food Bank. For every food donation pickup, Skip will also donate $100 to Food Banks Canada to further the impact and thank Torontonians for their generosity.

Canadians outside of the Toronto pickup radius can also participate by donating directly to Food Banks Canada at www.FoodBanksCanada.ca/Skip between November 25 to December 3, with Skip matching donations.

"Canadian food banks have seen a staggering 90% increase in visits since 2019, highlighting the urgent need for action and initiatives like this," said Erin Filey-Wronecki, Chief Development and Partnerships Officer at Food Banks Canada. "We're incredibly grateful for our longstanding partnership with Skip. Through these donations and innovative initiatives like this year's doorstep pickup service, Skip is helping us provide critical support to the increasing number of Canadians that need our help."

This marks Skip's fifth consecutive year partnering with Food Banks Canada for its Giving Tuesday campaign, which has provided nearly 5 million meals nationwide, as well as weekly food donations from Skip Express Lane store locations to local food banks, reinforcing its commitment to supporting communities year-round.

The Growing Need for Support

Food Banks Canada's 2024 HungerCount Report underscores the growing food insecurity crisis across the country:

Food bank visits in March 2024 exceeded 2 million the highest monthly count in history. This reflects a 6% increase compared to 2023 and a 90% increase since 2019.

the highest monthly count in history. This reflects a 6% increase compared to 2023 and a 90% increase since 2019. Children represented over 33% of all food bank visits nearly 700,000 visits in March alone , an increase of more than 300,000 per month compared to five years ago.

nearly , an increase of more than 300,000 per month compared to five years ago. 18% of food-bank clients are currently employed, the highest proportion ever recorded.

the highest proportion ever recorded. The food bank system is nearing its limits, struggling to meet the growing demand as food and housing costs continue to rise.

"As Canada's homegrown delivery network, we're incredibly proud to partner with Food Banks Canada for the fifth year in a row, and are committed to continuing our fight against food insecurity in our communities," said Melanie Fatouros-Richardson, Vice President of Communications and Government Relations at Skip. "By removing barriers Canadians face when trying to give back, we look forward to working together with Food Banks Canada and our customers to make a meaningful difference this holiday season."

(1) Source: Food Waste Reduction Alliance 2016 Survey Report. Accessed at FWRA Food Waste Survey 2016 Report.

About Skip

Skip is part of JustEatTakeaway.com, a leading global online food delivery marketplace. Skip connects millions of customers with over 50,000 restaurant partners across the country, including a growing offering of groceries, retailers, alcohol and convenience stores.

About Food Banks Canada

Food Banks Canada is the leader in addressing food insecurity in Canada. Our mission is to provide national leadership to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow in collaboration with the food bank network from coast to coast to coast. For over 40 years, food banks have been dedicated to helping Canadians living with food insecurity. Over 5,500 food banks and community organizations come together to serve our most vulnerable neighbours, who  this year  made over 2 million visits to these organizations in one month alone, according to our HungerCount report. Since 2010, Food Banks Canada has shared over $829 million in food supports and over $245 million in funding to help maximize collective impact and strengthen local capacity  while, backed by leading research, advocating for meaningful actions from governments to counter hunger and its root causes. Our vision is clear: create a Canada where no one goes hungry. Visit foodbankscanada.ca to learn more.

SOURCE Skip

For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]
First in a new series of immersive shopping experiences supporting small businesses begins in Fort Langley, B.C. on November 30

TORONTO, Nov. 25, 2024 /CNW/ - This holiday season, Mastercard invites you to step into a storybook world and celebrate the heart and soul of small businesses with an enchanting, immersive new shopping experience throughout the town of Fort Langley, B.C. Families can rediscover the joy of shopping local and embrace the warmth of a town where every store has a story.

For Mastercard, this isn't just about holiday shopping, it's about supporting communities and the small businesses that power them year-round. Small businesses play a crucial role in strengthening local economies, contributing 35.1 per cent of Canada's private sector GDP in 2020. This year in Fort Langley, Mastercard brings that mission to life: the shopping experience will boost foot traffic and sales during this critical holiday shopping season, showcasing the company's commitment to helping small businesses thrive through innovation and community support.

"When we shop local, we're not just buying a product or service, we're supporting the dreams and ambitions of small business owners," said Nishant Raina, Vice President, Small & Medium-Sized Enterprises, Mastercard, Canada. " Our commitment extends beyond payments, to providing access to tools, resources, funding opportunities, and partnerships to help businesses thrive because when small businesses win, everyone wins."

Local businesses shine as families enjoy a festive wonderland

When families arrive in downtown Fort Langley, they will receive an original storybook created by Mastercard in support of small businesses. The book features local businesses and tells the tale of Cranberry, a sparkle sprite on a mission to bring cheer to Mr. Crumm, the town's mail carrier. As families shop at local stores, they'll uncover parts of the story, brought to life by enchanting storefront displays and in-store art installations. With every purchase made with a Mastercard at participating businesses, visitors get a free collectible puzzle piece featuring one of the town's landmarks. When all eight pieces are collected, shoppers will bring home the beautiful Fort Langley townscape.

Mastercard is also teaming up with renowned Canadian entrepreneur Jillian Harris to celebrate its commitment to small businesses and encourage people to shop local. Mastercard and Harris share a common goal of uplifting small businesses, recognizing their essential role in shaping the identity and vibrancy of communities across Canada.

"As an entrepreneur, I understand the dedication, love, and hard work it takes to build a successful business," said Harris. "I've always believed in the power of shopping local, and I'm excited to partner with Mastercard this holiday season to bring attention to the small businesses that form the heart and soul of communities like Fort Langley."

The Fort Langley experience is the first in a series of shopping experiences that will roll out across North America in 2025 and beyond.

Empowering small businesses at every stage of their journey

Mastercard is dedicated to enhancing the vitality of small businesses and their communities in Canada with innovative solutions, tools and offerings they can trust.

These include access to funding opportunities to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses, digital enablement to ensure a smooth online experience and safety and security solutions like a free cybersecurity assessment tool to help small businesses stay protected today and in the future.

Understanding that mentorship and support are at the heart of small business success, the Mastercard Small Business Community provides small business owners the opportunity to learn, grow and connect with Mastercard and its partners, plus gain access to events and resources to help manage and expand their business. To learn more about how Mastercard supports small businesses, visit www.mastercard.ca/smallbusiness.

The Mastercard Fort Langley shopping experience runs from November 30 to December 15, 2024. Visitors can start their experience at Fort Langley Town Hall at 9167 Glover Rd to pick up their copy of the storybook, or at any of the participating small businesses in the downtown. Learn more at www.mastercard.ca/FortLangley.

About Mastercard (NYSE: MA)

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we're building a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

www.mastercard.com

SOURCE Mastercard

Contact Details: Rosie McGregor, Mastercard, [email protected]
CALGARY, AB, Nov. 26, 2024 /CNW/ - NG Energy International Corp. ("NGE" or the "Company") (TSXV: GASX) (OTCQX: GASXF) is pleased to announce that it has filed its financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. The Company's consolidated financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 are available on the Company's website (www.ngenergyintl.com) and profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).

Financial Highlights:

Quarterly revenue of US$9.1 million versus US$2.5 million in Q3 2023, a 270% increase YoY, and YTD revenue of US$29.5 million ;

versus in Q3 2023, a 270% increase YoY, and YTD revenue of ; Quarterly cash flow from operations of US$6.3 million versus US$(1.1) million in Q3 2023, and YTD cash flow from operations of US$16.2 million ;

versus in Q3 2023, and YTD cash flow from operations of ; Quarterly funds flow from operations (" FFO ") of US$3.7 million versus US$(1.8) million in Q3 2023, and YTD FFO of US$13.7 million ;

") of versus in Q3 2023, and YTD FFO of ; Record realized average natural gas pricing during the quarter of US$8.07 /Mcf;

/Mcf; Operating netback of US$5.45 /Mcf versus US$1.92 /Mcf in Q3 2023; and

/Mcf versus /Mcf in Q3 2023; and Average gross production of 15.0 MMcf/d (12.0 MMcf/d net).

Operational Highlights:

Successful completion of the Brujo-1x well in 3 zones;

Successful completion of the construction of the Phase 1 28.3-kilometre pipeline connecting the Sinu-9 Block to Promigas' national pipeline transportation network at the Jobo Station;

Began commissioning of the pipeline to between 1,100  1,400 PSI, which has subsequently been completed;

Began commissioning of the early production phase of the Central Processing Facility 1 (CPF-1), which has subsequently been completed; and

Signed a Memorandum of Understanding (the "MOU") with infrastructure partner, INFRAES, for the completion of up to an additional 76 MMcf/d of pipeline capacity from the Sinu-9 Block, which is anticipated to be completed over the course of 15 months and constructed in two stages, following the execution of a definitive agreement. The MOU will accelerate the Sinu-9 Block development plan, which will help address Colombia's domestic natural gas supply shortage.

Corporate Highlights:

Appointment of Mr. Don Sewell as President;

as President; Appointment of Mr. Leonardo Chavez as Vice President of Operations; and

as Vice President of Operations; and Successfully completed a C$30 million equity financing, which welcomed several premier institutions as shareholders, as well as greater commitments from existing strategic partners and insiders. The net proceeds will be used to accelerate the next phase of the Company's growth.

Brian Paes-Braga, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "This quarter has seen significant progress for our company across all aspects of the business, highlighted by the successful completion of crucial works to Sinu-9 Phase 1 infrastructure, allowing us to bring the field into production subsequent to the end of the quarter. I want to again extend my gratitude to our operational and technical teams, our midstream partners, our working interest partners, as well as all our consultants and the communities in which we work that have been such key stakeholders throughout our development activities this year. We are excited about ramping up production at Sinu-9 and the next phase of expansion, as our company and partners continue to add much-needed capacity and supply to the Colombian marketplace which continues to experience a major deficit. The addition of key management and new employees has also led to better execution, a growing culture of excellence and has been the start of foundational building blocks in an effort to achieve all our ambitious operational goals as we look forward into continued industry leading growth for our critical domestic energy business."

The Company experienced a slight decrease in average daily production at Maria Conchita over the quarter due to temporary compressor issues and downtime with its contract partner. The Company is actively implementing a plan to reconfigure the compressor setup to enhance operational efficiency and mitigate risks, ensuring a reliable backup system. This work is ongoing and expected to be completed by the second week of December. In parallel, the Company is implementing expansionary compression plans in preparation for the drilling of the Aruchara-4 well, scheduled for the first quarter of 2025, which would see total capacity increase to up to 25 MMcf/d. Lastly, the Company is currently conducting a workover of the Aruchara-1 well, cleaning up 285 feet of sand using coiled tubing to better expose the 3 perforated zones to the wellbore, with the goal of enhancing productivity.

Brian Paes-Braga continued, "At Maria Conchita, we experienced intermittent downtime as a result of temporary compressor issues. Higher gas prices have offset some of these short-term challenges, leading to continued strong financial performance. These issues are actively being resolved and we look forward to the much anticipated drilling of Aruchara-4, which will be offsetting the extraordinary 65.2 MMcf/d test at Aruchara-3 last year. The re-scoping of Maria Conchita continues to be a focus for our technical team as we better interpret the over 1,000-foot gas pay zone experienced in drilling Aruchara-3 last year."

"Lastly, I want to welcome and thank our new institutional shareholders that supported us in our September equity raise. This was an opportunity for NGE to welcome long-term investors to our shareholder registry, something that will be a core focus into the end of the year and for 2025 as we continue to institutionalize the business and shareholder list."

Jorge Fonseca, Chief Financial Officer, commented, "Looking ahead to Q4, we are excited to see the commencement of production and the ramp-up from Sinu-9 and how this affects our financial performance for the first time. This milestone marks a significant transition for our company, as we move towards a profitable business and have successfully brought online our second gas field, resulting in regional diversification as well as doubling the number of wells in production, resulting in continued de-risking of the business. The successful completion of infrastructure at Sinu-9 provides a solid foundation for hyper growth, enabling us to scale up production while enhancing our financial and operational performance. We are committed to delivering long-term value for our shareholders as we accelerate our operations and solidify our position in the Colombian energy market."

About NG Energy International Corp.

NG Energy International Corp. is a growth-orientated natural gas exploration and production company focused on delivering long-term shareholder and stakeholder value through the discovery, delineation and development of large-scale natural gas fields in the Americas, supporting energy transition and economic growth. NGE's team has extensive technical and capital markets expertise with a proven track record of building companies and creating significant value in South America. In Colombia, the Company is executing on this mission with a rapidly growing production base and an industry-leading growth trajectory, delivering natural gas into the premium-priced Colombian marketplace (~US$8/MMBtu) with projected triple digit production growth over the next 2-3 years towards a production goal of 200 MMcf/d. The Company expects to achieve a production increase of >150% exiting 2024 and has seen a 551% year-over-year increase in 3P reserves, 314% year-over-year increase in 2P reserves and 241% increase in 1P reserves. To date, over US$100 million has been invested in the exploration and development of Sinu-9 and Maria Conchita with significant contributions from insiders who currently own approximately 32% of the Company. For more information, please visit SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and the Company's website (www.ngenergyintl.com).

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release, including, without limitation, statements related to the timeline for completion of the pipeline capacity increase at the Sinu-9 Block, the timeline for completion of the compressor back-up system at the Maria Conchita Block and the drilling of the Aruchara-4 well. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Management Discussion and Analysis and its Annual Information Form dated April 26, 2024, which are available for view on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. These risks include but are not limited to, the risks associated with the oil and natural gas industry, such as exploration, production and general operational risks, the volatility of pricing for oil and natural gas, the inability to market natural gas production and changes in natural gas sale prices, changing investor sentiment about the oil and natural gas industry, any delays in production, marketing and transportation of natural gas, drilling costs and availability of equipment, regulatory approval risks and environmental, health and safety risks. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Abbreviations

The abbreviations set forth below have the following meanings:

Natural Gas



MMcf/d million cubic feet per day

MMBtu one million British thermal units







Other

3P reserves Proved + Probable + Possible reserves

2P reserves Proved + Probable reserves

1P reserves Proved reserves

PSI Pound-force per square inch

YTD Year-to-date

Information Regarding the Preparation of Reserves and Resource Information

Sproule International Limited ("Sproule"), an independent qualified reserves and resources evaluator, has conducted the reserves and resource evaluation for Maria Conchita and Sinu-9 in accordance with the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook (the "COGE Handbook"). It adheres in all material aspects to the principles and definitions established by the Calgary Chapter of the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers regarding annual reserve and resource reports that are being released in the public domain. The COGE Handbook is incorporated by reference in National Instrument 51-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities.

The Company's Form 51-101F1  Statement of Reserves Data and Other Oil and Gas Information for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, prepared by Sproule in accordance with the COGE Handbook and has an effective date of December 31, 2023 (the "2023 51-101F1") was filed on SEDAR+ on April 26, 2024. As per the requirements of Form 51-101F1, since Maria Conchita and Sinu-9 are both located in Colombia, the Company has disclosed its reserves in the 2023 51-101F1 on an aggregated basis. The reserves in the 2023 51-101F1, which are attributed to Sinu-9 are based on the Sinu-9 Report (as defined below) and the reserves in the 2023 51-101F1, which are attributed to Maria Conchita are based on the Maria Conchita Report (as defined below). The Company uses natural gas liquids and conventional natural gas as the two product types to report the Company's reserves.

The report entitled "Evaluation of the P&NG Reserves and Resources of NG Energy International in the Sinu-9 Block, Colombia" (the "Sinu-9 Report") was prepared by Sproule with an effective date of December 31, 2023 and a preparation date of December 21, 2023. Sinu-9 is located in the Department of Cordoba, Colombia. The Company's working interest in Sinu-9 is 72%, subject to payment of ANH sliding scale royalties. Reserves and resources attributed to the Hechizo, Brujo, Magico, Mago, Hechicero, Encanto, Milagroso, Porquero, Embrujo, Ensalmo and Sortilegio zones have been included in the Sinu-9 Report.

The report entitled "Evaluation of the P&NG Reserves and Resources of NG Energy International in the Maria Conchita Block, Colombia" (the "Maria Conchita Report") was prepared by Sproule with an effective date of December 31, 2023 and a preparation date of December 20, 2023. The Company holds an 80% working interest in Maria Conchita, which is located in the Department of La Guajira, Colombia. Reserves and resources attributed to the H1, H1A, H1A1, H1B, H2, H2B, H3, H4 and LM2 zones have been included in the Maria Conchita Report.

For additional information regarding the Sinu-9 Report, the Maria Conchita Report and the reserves information contained in this news release please see the 2023 51-101F1 filed on SEDAR+ on April 26, 2024, and the Company's news release dated December 27, 2023 entitled "NG Energy Announces 551% YOY Increase to 3P Reserves".

Caution Respecting Reserves Information

The determination of oil and natural gas reserves involves the preparation of estimates that have an inherent degree of associated uncertainty. Categories of Proved, Probable and Possible reserves have been established to reflect the level of these uncertainties and to provide an indication of the probability of recovery. The estimation and classification of reserves requires the application of professional judgement combined with geological and engineering knowledge to assess whether or not specific reserves classification criteria have been satisfied. Knowledge of concepts including uncertainty and risk, probability and statistics, and deterministic and probabilistic estimation methods is required to properly use and apply reserves definitions.

The recovery and reserve estimates of natural gas liquids and natural gas reserves provided herein are estimates only. Actual reserves may be greater than or less than the estimates provided herein. The estimated future net revenue from the production of the disclosed natural gas reserves does not represent the fair market value of these reserves.

Information Regarding Reserves

Reserves are estimated remaining quantities of commercially recoverable oil, natural gas and related substances anticipated to be recoverable from known accumulations, as of a given date, based on the analysis of drilling, geological, geophysical and engineering data; the use of established technology; and specified economic conditions, which are generally accepted as being reasonable. Reserves are further classified according to the level of certainty associated with the estimates and may be subclassified based on development and production status.

"Proved reserves" are those reserves that can be estimated with a high degree of certainty to be recoverable. It is likely that the actual remaining quantities recovered will exceed the estimated Proved reserves.

"Probable reserves" are those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than Proved reserves. It is equally likely that the actual remaining quantities recovered will be greater or less than the sum of the estimated Proved plus Probable reserves.

"Possible reserves" are those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than Probable reserves. It is unlikely that the actual remaining quantities recovered will exceed the sum of the estimated Proved plus Probable plus Possible reserves. There is a 10% probability that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the sum of Proved plus Probable plus Possible reserves.

The qualitative certainty levels referred to in the definitions above are applicable to "individual reserves entities" (which refers to the lowest level at which reserves calculations are performed) and to "reported reserves" (which refers to the highest-level sum of individual entity estimates for which reserves estimates are presented). Reported reserves should target the following levels of certainty under a specific set of economic conditions:

at least a 90% probability that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the estimated Proved reserves; and

at least a 50% probability that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the sum of estimated Proved plus Probable reserves.

A qualitative measure of the certainty levels pertaining to estimates prepared for the various reserves categories is desirable to provide a clearer understanding of the associated risks and uncertainties. However, the majority of reserves estimates will be prepared using deterministic methods that do not provide a mathematically derived quantitative measure of probability. In principle, there should be no difference between estimates prepared using probabilistic or deterministic methods.

Each of the reserve categories (Proved and Probable) may be divided into developed and undeveloped categories as follows:

"Developed Producing reserves" are those reserves that are expected to be recovered from completion intervals open at the time of the estimate. These reserves may be currently producing or, if shut-in, they must have previously been on production, and the date of resumption of production must be known with reasonable certainty.

"Developed Non-Producing reserves" are those reserves that either have not been on production, or have previously been on production, but are shut-in, and the date of resumption of production is unknown.

"Undeveloped reserves" are those reserves expected to be recovered from known accumulations where a significant expenditure (e.g., when compared to the cost of drilling a well) is required to render them capable of production. They must fully meet the requirements of the reserves classification (Proved, Probable and Possible) to which they are assigned and expected to be developed within a limited time.

In multi-well pools it may be appropriate to allocate total pool reserves between the developed and undeveloped subclasses or to subdivide the developed reserves for the pool between developed producing and developed nonproducing. This allocation should be based on the estimator's assessment as to the reserves that will be recovered from specific wells, facilities and completion intervals in the pool and their respective development and production status.

Estimates of reserves and future net revenue for individual properties may not reflect the same confidence level as estimates of reserves and future net revenue for all properties, due to the effects of aggregation. Additionally, all estimates of future net revenue, whether calculated without discount or using a discount rate, do not represent fair market value.

SOURCE NG Energy International Corp.

For further information: NG Energy International Corp., Brian Paes-Braga, Chairman & CEO, Jorge Fonseca, CFO, Tel: +1 (604) 404-4335
TORONTO, Nov. 25, 2024 /CNW/ - With the position that artificial intelligence (AI) cannot generate authentically Canadian content, the Writers Guild of Canada put AI to the test to see what 'improvements' AI could make to some of Canada's most iconic film and television lines.



Given the simple instructions to 'improve this line,' or 'word this line differently to have the same meaning but be more entertaining,' ChatGPT was given a host of iconic Canadian lines from film and tv, with the following (bad) results:

Source CANADIAN Written Line AI 'Improvement' Degrassi High/The Zit Remedy

"Everybody wants something

they'll never give up. Everybody wants something,

that'll take your monay and

never give up!"

"Everybody craves

something they'll never let

go of. Everybody wants

something, that'll take your

money and never relent!"





Schitt's Creek

"David, stop acting like a

disgruntled pelican!" "David, cut it out with the

pelican tantrums!"





Kids in The Hall "I'm crushing your head"

"Prepare for a head crunch"





Letterkenny "Pitter patter, let's get at 'er"

"Quick and slick, let's get to

work"





Arthur

"Hold me back! Somebody

hold me back or I'll write a

poem right now!" "Restrain me! Someone,

stop me or I'll craft a poem

this very second!"





Kim's Convenience "Okay, see you" "Alright, talk to you soon"





Trailer Park Boys "Worst case Ontario"

"At worst, we're looking at

an Ontario situation"





The Red Green Show "If the women don't find you

handsome, they should at

least find you handy" "If you're not a sight for sore

eyes, be a fix for broken

things"





Bon Cop, Bad Cop "We're a bilingual country. We

should be able to catch a

bilingual killer." "Being bilingual, we ought

to be able to catch a

bilingual killer with ease." The Friendly Giant "Look up, waaaaay up"

"Tilt your chin up, way, way

up"





Fubar "Turn up the good, turn down

the suck."

"Crank up the good vibes

and dial down the

negativity."





Strange Brew "Take off, you hoser." "Get lost, you goof."





Today's Special "Hocus pocus alimagocus!" "Poof! Magic in the air!'







"We're having a little fun at AI's expense here, but no one wants to change an iconic line like "I'm crushing your head" or lose the small-town authenticity of "let's get at 'er'," said Bruce Smith, President of the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC). "The AI 'improvement' results are funny, but the WGC believes that AI poses a serious threat to screenwriters and Canadian culture."



The WGC asked prominent member Andrew Phung (Kim's Convenience/Run the Burbs) to read the CHAT GPT lines. HERE is a video of his interpretations.



How does AI threaten Canadian screenwriters?

Reduction in work opportunities. AI will be used in place of human writers. Threat to the craft of screenwriting. Anyone using AI to generate content can call themselves a screenwriter. Reduction in compensation and credit. Screenwriters will be relegated to rewriting AI-generated content, resulting in reduced compensation and credit. Unauthorized use of copyrighted content. The work made by screenwriters will be used to train AI without their consent, credit or compensation.

"Not only does AI threaten the existence of Canadian screenwriters, but it also has the potential to erode  or worse, eradicate  the specific, unique, multicultural experience of being Canadian reflected to audiences in this country and around the world. No matter how much content is fed to it, AI can't write from the culturally nuanced perspective of a human Canadian writer. And if the person who types a prompt into an AI chatbot happens to be Canadian, it's not Canadian content that's generated," added Smith.



What is the WGC doing about it?



To address these concerns, the WGC is actively advocating on behalf of screenwriters at the bargaining table, with policy makers, funders, and industry stakeholders. The WGC has already achieved significant protections against AI in our Independent Production Agreement (IPA), such as:

Producers must disclose when they are providing AI-generated materials for a writer to work from and contract Guild writers under the IPA.

AI-generated content will not receive a credit or compensation, and must not erode a writer's rights under the IPA.

Material written by Guild members under the IPA should not to be used to train AI.

We are also lobbying to ensure that:

Public funding for culture should be for the benefit of human creators.

Industry awards should only go to content created by human beings.

Only human beings are "authors" for the purposes of copyright.

Creators must be protected from unauthorized and unpaid exploitation of their works. AI systems must be transparent on their source material.

Contact:

Patrick McCaully

Pointman News Creation

[email protected]

Pointmannc.com

SOURCE The Writers Guild of Canada
News / National

by Staff reporter

The ruling Zanu-PF party has initiated a series of inter-district meetings nationwide to rally support for extending President Emmerson Mnangagwa's tenure in office until 2030, despite his current term ending in 2028.The campaign, spearheaded by prominent Mnangagwa allies such as Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Owen Ncube and Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe, seeks to consolidate party support while identifying internal dissenters opposed to the move.Divisions Emerge Within the PartyThe push for Mnangagwa's extended rule has deepened rifts within Zanu-PF, particularly between factions aligned to Mnangagwa and Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, who is reportedly positioning himself as Mnangagwa's successor.While Mnangagwa has publicly insisted he will step down at the end of his term in 2028, party insiders allege that he is privately backing the campaign. Speaking at recent meetings, provincial chairpersons urged members to dismiss speculation that Mnangagwa had rejected the proposal for term extension, highlighting the coordinated nature of the campaign.Provincial Support Amid Legal ConcernsMashonaland East chairperson Daniel Garwe downplayed the constitutional hurdles highlighted by Zanu-PF's secretary for legal affairs, Patrick Chinamasa, who had noted the requirement for a referendum to amend term limits."Vision is from God that [Mnangagwa] should continue in office to build the country," Garwe stated, emphasizing that legal compliance was a procedural task, while the party's vision required Mnangagwa's continued leadership.In Masvingo, provincial chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa acknowledged internal divisions but urged members to support the resolution for Mnangagwa's extended leadership."No one disputed the resolution that the President should remain in office," Mavhenyengwa said, adding that legal advice from Chinamasa was not a rejection of the agenda but a clarification of the procedural requirements.Low Attendance and Strategic ChallengesDespite the coordinated messaging, meetings in Harare and Mashonaland East saw low turnout, signaling possible resistance or apathy within the party's structures. Similar gatherings in Chitungwiza and Bikita were planned to rally further support.However, some party insiders revealed discussions during the Harare Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting regarding potential constitutional amendments to remove or modify presidential term limits, paving the way for Mnangagwa to remain in power indefinitely.Official ResponsesZanu-PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa downplayed the controversy, describing the meetings as routine party activities."Zanu-PF usually holds these meetings to strengthen our party. We discuss issues affecting our people, and the current PCC meetings were no exception," Mutsvangwa said.Minister Garwe also dismissed claims that the meetings focused on the 2030 agenda, stating that their main purpose was to promote agricultural programmes such as-PFumvudza/Intwasa.Implications for the Party and NationThe campaign has raised concerns about deepening factionalism within Zanu-PF, with analysts warning that the push for Mnangagwa's term extension could lead to intensified power struggles. As the debate unfolds, the party faces the challenge of balancing constitutional compliance with its internal political agenda.
Since opening its doors in 1979, Taco Bell has been a trailblazer in bringing bold, innovative flavours to fans across Canada, creating a vault of fan-favourite items that customers still crave, even years later. The Meximelt and Caramel Empanada will bring together long-time Taco Bell enthusiasts with new fans eager to experience these legendary flavours for the first time.

"There's something special about Taco Bell that sticks with you  whether it's a childhood favourite or a day-time craving. This is our way of celebrating that connection by offering fans a chance to relive the flavours they love, and for a new generation to discover what all the hype is about," said Meera Patel, Marketing Director, Taco Bell Canada. "Whether you're a fan of the cheesy Meximelt or satisfying your sweet tooth with a Caramel Apple Empanada, these additions to our Cravings Value Menu offer a delicious bite at a great price."

As part of Taco Bell's Canada commitment to value, both items will be available for under $3.50 or less* on the Cravings Value Menu at participating locations nationwide. Take a trip down memory lane with these beloved menu items:

1980s  Meximelt  : A fan favourite from the 80s, this melt features seasoned beef, freshly prepared pico de gallo, and a three-cheese blend (mozzarella, cheddar, and Monterey Jack) all wrapped in a warm tortilla.





 Meximelt : A fan favourite from the 80s, this melt features seasoned beef, freshly prepared pico de gallo, and a three-cheese blend (mozzarella, cheddar, and Monterey Jack) all wrapped in a warm tortilla. 2000s  Caramel Apple Empanada: First introduced in the early aughts, this sweet treat features a golden, crispy crust filled with warm apple pieces and smooth caramel filling. Highly requested by Canadian fans, the empanada is returning to restaurants across the country for a limited time only, so grab it while it's warm!

But the fun doesn't stop there! Taco Bell is giving fans a chance to celebrate and represent their favourite Taco Bell era with exclusive, limited-edition merchandise, including stainless-steel cups and decades-inspired hoodies, featuring unique designs from the Taco Bell archives throughout the 80s, 90s and 2000s. Simply follow @TacoBellCanada on Instagram, look out for the contest post, and enter for the chance to score these limited-edition nostalgic items  don't miss out on this exclusive merch drop!

Cravings Value Menu items are available for $3.50 or less each in store, drive thru and on the app/website. $3.50 or less prices do not apply to delivery partner platforms. For more information on Taco Bell Canada, please visit tacobell.ca.

*At participating locations for a limited time only, while supplies last. Contact the restaurant for prices, hours and participation, which vary. Taxes extra.

About Taco Bell Canada

Taco Bell Corp. ("Taco Bell") is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. and is the nation's leading Mexican-style quick service restaurant chain. Taco Bell serves tacos, burritos, signature quesadillas, nachos, salads and much more. For locations, information on Taco Bell and to chat with Taco Bell fans, visit us online at our website www.tacobell.ca or any of our other social channels including on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tacobellcanada, Twitter @TacoBellCanada, Snapchat TACOBELLCANADA, or on Instagram @tacobellcanada.

SOURCE Taco Bell Canada

For further information: Jeene Sulaivany, Edelman, [email protected], 647-245-7646
BEIJING, Nov. 23, 2024 /CNW/ -- 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

Admin PR, [email protected]
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Zimbabwean government has awarded Geo Pomona Waste Management a contract to manage refuse collection in Harare, a deal that has raised eyebrows due to its hefty price tag and the financial strain it places on the already debt-ridden Harare City Council (HCC). The contract, valued at approximately US$9 million annually, comes amid growing concerns over the city's ongoing waste management crisis and its associated health risks.For years, HCC has struggled to maintain effective waste collection services in both residential areas and the central business district, leading to environmental degradation and the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid. In response, President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the waste management crisis in Harare a national disaster in October 2023.Geo Pomona, led by executive chairperson Dilesh Nguwaya, is set to collect up to 650 tonnes of waste daily at a cost of US$40 per tonne. According to Nguwaya, the waste will be used for electricity generation for the national grid, contributing to Zimbabwe's energy needs. The cost per tonne is being touted as "fairly cheaper" than rates in Europe, with Nguwaya highlighting that waste management fees in countries like Austria and the UK can exceed US$100 per tonne."This joint venture with Harare is an opportunity to bring modern, European-standard waste management to Zimbabwe," Nguwaya stated. "Our charges are well below what you would pay in Europe, making it a cost-effective solution for the city."The partnership comes after HCC appealed to the Ministry of Local Government for help in tackling its waste management woes. Minister Daniel Garwe emphasized that the government's intervention was necessary to alleviate the pressure on the city, which has faced severe financial challenges that have affected basic services like water, sanitation, and waste collection."Waste management has been a persistent challenge for our nation, and the expectations for this initiative are understandably high. The government, through private sector participation, is confident that Harare will witness immediate improvements in solid waste management," Garwe said at a press briefing attended by Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume.Geo Pomona will assume responsibility for waste collection across key areas of the capital, including the central business district (CBD), Mbare, major roads, bus terminals, and shopping centres. The company's priority will be to clear illegal dumpsites and restore the city's cleanliness, which Nguwaya believes will not only beautify the city but also improve public health and protect the environment."We will clear illegal dumpsites and ensure that Harare is consistently clean and free of waste. A cleaner city will improve public health and the environment," Nguwaya added.The deal also comes two years after the government handed over the management of the Pomona dumpsite to Netherlands-based Geogenix BV, which is also fronted by Nguwaya. This previous transaction, as well as the latest waste management contract, has sparked controversy, with critics questioning the financial implications and transparency of the agreements.Recently, Harare's mayor and senior council officials were summoned by the Local Government Ministry and instructed to hand over refuse collection responsibilities to Geo Pomona by next month. While government officials remain optimistic about the deal's potential, some local leaders have expressed concerns over the long-term financial burden on the city's already strained budget.As Geo Pomona prepares to take on the waste management challenge, many are watching closely to see if the private sector partnership will deliver the much-needed improvements to Harare's environmental and public health standards, or if it will become another controversial chapter in the city's ongoing waste management struggles.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has issued a warning to the public regarding a syndicate circulating counterfeit US dollar notes in denominations of $100. The illegal operation is reportedly active in Mashonaland West province, with particular focus on Chinhoyi, the administrative capital.ZRP provincial spokesperson Inspector Ian Kohwera confirmed the presence of the syndicate, which includes both male and female members, and emphasized that law enforcement authorities are actively working to track down the culprits."Police in Mashonaland West Province are concerned about the circulation of fake US dollar notes in the region, especially in Chinhoyi town," Kohwera told NewZimbabwe.com. "The syndicate, posing as legitimate customers, is targeting businesses such as retail shops, service stations, beer outlets, and even vendors. They use counterfeit $100 notes to make small purchases and then request change, defrauding businesspeople and individuals."The fraudsters, according to police, have been seen using various luxury vehicles, including Toyota Fortuners, to carry out their operations. This highlights the sophistication of the criminal group, which has been careful to avoid detection while perpetrating its schemes.Inspector Kohwera has urged the public to remain vigilant, especially those in the business sector, and to take extra care when handling US dollar notes. "We are asking businesses to be cautious and verify the authenticity of US$100 notes before accepting them as payment for goods or services," he said.In an effort to curb the scam, the ZRP has called on anyone with information about the syndicate's activities to come forward. "Anyone with information that could help lead to the arrest of these fraudsters is encouraged to report it to the nearest police station," Kohwera added.The police also recommended that both the business community and the general public familiarize themselves with the security features of not only US dollar notes but all currencies in circulation. This, they said, is essential to prevent falling victim to counterfeit scams.As the investigation continues, the ZRP is stepping up efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure that the public is protected from such fraudulent activities.
A man was killed and three people injured in a four-vehicle chain-reaction crash Friday afternoon on Route 38 in Hainesport, officials said.

The crash unfolded just before 2 p.m. on the eastbound side when a Chrysler 300 rear-ended a Toyota Prius at a red light before slamming into a concrete barrier, State Police said.

The impact of the crash pushed the Prius into the back of a Toyota RAV4 also stopped at the intersection of Hainesport-Mount Laurel Road (County Road 674) and Route 38, authorities said. The Prius then veered off the road to the right and hit a sign. After being hit by the Prius, the RAV4 crashed into a Honda Pilot before also striking the center concrete barrier.

The 49-year-old Brooklyn, New York, man driving the Prius  Zaza Ghavtadze  was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, a 59-year-old Lumberton man, was hospitalized with serious injuries, according to State Police.

Meanwhile, the Chrysler driver and a passenger in the RAV4 suffered injuries not considered to be life-threatening.

The crash remains under investigation.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
Memorabilia from Gillians Wonderland Pier has found its way to a New Jersey antiques dealer and is being sold to collectors and those with memories of the iconic Shore amusement park that closed permanently after the summer season.

Obnoxious Antiques, located in Florence Township in Burlington County, is selling off a number of memorabilia from Wonderland Pier, including the parks Wonderland Canyon Falls log flume pirates, miners and a lioness, among other items from the log flume; a giant cherry and a giant lobster; a haunted house skeleton and scorpion; and a snake hugging a stump.

Things have been so fluid, John Polito, an owner of Obnoxious Antiques, told NJ Advance Media. We didnt expect this kind of interest. It came about faster than we had planned.

Polito said he has been inundated with calls about the Wonderland Pier items he has for sale.

I didnt realize that there was such a passion for Wonderland, he said. We have sales like this all the time, but Ive never had any exposure to Wonderland, and I had no idea people are that passionate about it. Im glad people are getting what they want.

Some of the items, including a skeleton perched above the parks haunted house and the horse that greeted people at the bottom of the log flume, were listed for sale on Obnoxious Antiques for between $2,500 and $7,500. Some of the smaller pieces sell for under $500 while larger pieces of memorabilia can cost as much as $10,000, Polito said.

I had a lady who bought a little starfish, and she was elated that she had a piece of Wonderland Pier, Polito said.

People took to social media to share the news of the sale of the vintage items.

While Obnoxious Antiques, known for selling vintage circus, carnival and amusement park items, was contacted to remove memorabilia from the Ocean City amusement park, many of the rides are being sold through Branchburg-based Rides-4-U, according to the owner of the Wonderland Pier property.

The future of the boardwalk-based theme park is now in the hands of Eustice Mita, head of the ICONA resort franchise. The owner of the property, he has proposed replacing the amusement park with a hotel.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
Bob Daisley, the original bassist for Ozzy Osbournes Blizzard of Ozz incarnation of the band, isnt surprised that he was not mentioned in the Prince of Darknesss Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction speech.

The bassist and songwriter spoke about this at length in an interview with Tone-Talk.

Its kind of what I expected, said Daisley. I didnt expect to be mentioned or anything. Regardless of how important my role was or what I created or helped to create or whatever, I really didnt expect to even get a mention. I mean, it would have been nice.

Daisley initially met Osbourne after the frontman was fired from Black Sabbath in October 1979. From there, Daisley and Osbourne had a lengthy and rocky musical partnership. Daisey played bass and co-wrote songs from Osbournes first solo album, Blizzard of Ozz, and the 1981 follow-up Diary of a Madman. Both Daisley and drummer Lee Kerslake were fired from the band.

Daisley and Kerslake then sued Osbourne in 1988 for royalties and credits on both albums. The suit was dismissed in 2003 by the United States District Court in Los Angeles. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit later upheld the ruling.

In the interview, Daisley mentioned that he and Kerslake had been taken out of photographs, been taken out of films, had credits removed, had photographs removed, all that stuff.

Despite this, Daisley would later return to the Osbourne fold and write/play on albums such as 1983s Bark at the Moon  and 1991s No More Tears before the partnership ended.

Related coverage:
Editors note: A version of this story was published in 2021.

Thanksgiving is, of course, Americas ultimate eating holiday.

Families and friends will soon gather, one of the most gluttonous meals of the year is on its way  and people are complaining online about turkey. Again.

The dish more synonymous with the holiday than any other has come under attack in recent years. Its become trendy to call turkey bland and boring, or a waste of coveted space on the Thanksgiving plate, a distraction from the scores of beloved side dishes to be devoured.

The anti-turkey discourse gobbled again when New York Magazines culture website The Cut wrote a diatribe against the centerpiece in 2021, mostly citing how arduous it is to prepare the massive fowl for minimal payoff.

No. No, no, no.

Lets get one thing straight: There are no bad Thanksgiving turkeys, only substandard holiday chefs.

Here are three very simple solutions to make your turkey shine.

1. Cook the turkey properly!

Obvious, right? Yet there are countless methods, thousands of recipes and myriad tips and tricks that circulate toward the end of November. Brine it? Deep-fry it? Wrap it in bacon? Cook it upside-down?

Ive had delicious birds prepared almost all of these ways  my pops loves the bacon-wrapping method. But Ive always kept it very simple. Season the heck out of it, rubbing under and over the skin with a blend of olive oil, salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme, garlic and whatever other herbs you like (if you feel like youre overdoing it, its perfect). Then shove some onions and lemons into the turkeys cavity to further the flavor enhancement.

The majority of professional chefs Ive talked to about bird day cooking suggest the low and slow method: get the oven to 425 degrees but drop it to 325 when the turkey goes in. Baste, but dont over-baste. And most importantly, dont overcook the turkey! Use a meat thermometer  aim for 165 degrees  and dont trust the built-in turkey popper or youre cruising for a dry bird. Thirteen to 15 minutes per pound is a solid rule of thumb, but dont be afraid to lean toward 13.

2. Plate construction is key

If you tell me your Thanksgiving turkey was lame but send me a picture of a plate thats half turkey, Im no longer blaming the bird. Im blaming you. Its not the turkeys fault you dont understand Thanksgiving plate architecture!

No matter how good the bird is, you dont want to let it dominate the plate. Treat it like just another side dish, and before you know it, youll find yourself craving another serving when you get up for seconds (and thirds).

3. Go to the dark side

Dont you dare speak ill of turkey if youre only eating white meat. Dark meat is juicer, more flavorful and tender than white meat  its also more forgiving if overcooked  and frankly is the superior dish. I prefer a little bit of both on my plate for balance.

A final note: Thanksgiving Dinner should be whatever you want it to be. Feel like serving a chicken instead of a turkey? Go for it, who am I to judge. No meat? Respect to the vegetarians. And yeah, the sides are an essential part of the Thanksgiving meal. But that doesnt mean turkey doesnt deserve a seat at the table, or a spot on your plate.

Looking for more New Jersey food coverage? Subscribe to the free Jersey Eats newsletter here!

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com and followed on Twitter at @J_Schneider and on Instagram at @JeremyIsHungryAgain.
A 52-year-old New Jersey man was killed late Monday night along Interstate 80 when he rear-ended a semi-trailer parked along the highway in Morris County, authorities said.

The Haledon resident was driving west near exit 37 at about 11:05 p.m. when he hit the Freightliner, State Police said Tuesday.

The driver died of his injures at an area hospital. His identity has not been released because family notifications werent complete.

No one else was injured. The crash remains under investigation.

The fatal crash was the second of the day on Interstate 80 in New Jersey. A 41-year-old man was killed about 16 miles away in Wayne in the morning after rear-ending another car, causing him to veer off the road and crash into a tree.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
Six more victims have come forward in the case of a Bucks County man accused of drugging and sexually assaulting multiple women he met online, authorities said.

Andrew J. Gallo, 40, of Bristol Township, previously was charged in September with five counts of felony rape; four counts of felony strangulation; six counts of felony possession with intent to deliver drugs; one count of felony corruption of minors; and two counts of misdemeanor furnishing liquor to a minor.

Gallo now is facing five additional counts of felony rape; six counts of felony possession with intent to deliver drugs; four counts of felony strangulation; one count of felony corruption of minors; and three counts of misdemeanor furnishing liquor to a minor.

New charges involve the alleged drugging of six additional victims and rape of five of them. The Bucks County District Attorneys Office announced the additional charges Monday during Gallos preliminary hearing before District Judge Terrence Hughes. Gallo waived his right to the hearing, sending the case toward trial in the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas.

Gallo has remained at the Bucks County jail in lieu of 10% of $5 million bail since his arrest in September. Court records do not yet show any attorney information for Gallo.

Victims ranged in age from 17 to 35 years old, and all the women resided in parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, according to court records. The first female victim came forward to police in December 2023. Four others then followed with a second victim reporting meeting Gallo in June 2023; a third in February 2024; and a fourth in August 2024.

The first four victims reported to investigators meeting Gallo on a dating website. However, additional victims later reported other dating websites were used, the district attorneys office said.

All the victims reported the incidents allegedly taking place at Gallos home in the first block of Copper Beech Lane.

After meeting the victims on the websites, Gallo allegedly would arrange dates at his house, boasting about the great drinks he would make for them. Gallo would then surreptitiously provide the females with a controlled substance in their drinks, authorities said.

The first victim in December 2023 reported going to Gallos home and he allegedly made an alcoholic beverage for her with a sugar rim. After consuming the beverage, the victim reported a strange feeling. The woman was later sexually assaulted and choked by Gallo, court records state.

That victim tested positive five days later for multiple substances, including methamphetamine and cocaine, and told authorities she was provided with the drugs without her knowledge, court records state.

The other victims reported an alleged similar account of events. Investigators on Aug. 15 obtained a search warrant and raided Gallos home, finding a fifth victim in the bedroom, authorities said. That victim reported being choked by Gallo almost to the point of unconsciousness during sex acts, court records state.

Seized during the search was a bottle of alcohol, which later tested positive for methamphetamine, police said.

A sixth victim later came forward, reporting she met Gallo in August 2024. Gallo allegedly repeatedly forced her to drink alcohol and engaged in sex acts while choking her, court records state. Authorities said blood results indicated she had ingested methamphetamine, among other substances.

Victims in the new charges reported incidents spanning between June 2018 and June 2024. The five rape victims reported engaging in rough sex acts with Gallo, with four of them describing him putting his hands around their throat to the point of them passing out or almost passing out, authorities said.

All the victims described to authorities feeling strange after consuming the drinks, not how they would typically feel after imbibing alcohol. They described feeling of a lack of control during the sexual encounters and unable to stop anything Gallo allegedly wanted to do. The victims reported side effects from the drugs that including staying up for days, hallucinations and psychosis, authorities said.

Most of the victims had to seek medical treatment after their encounters with Gallo, authorities said.

Investigators later discovered in a forensic review of Gallos online search history, he previously searched pornography involving drugged women, authorities said.

Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn praised the victims in coming forward and the media in spreading awareness about the case. She said media coverage led authorities to other victims.

This case is being investigated by Bucks County Detectives and the Bristol Township Police Department. Its being prosecuted by Bucks County Chief Deputy District Attorney Kristin M. McElroy and Bucks County Assistant District Attorney Gabriella Simonelli.

Authorities believe there could be more victims. Those with information are asked to call Bristol Township Police Department Det. Emilyann Maialetti at 267-812-3024; Bucks County detectives at 215-348-6354; or contact the BucksCrimeTips submission at buckscrimetips@buckscounty.org.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
Salty ocean water is creeping up the Delaware River, the source for much of the drinking water for Philadelphia and millions of other people, brought on by severe drought conditions and sea level rise, and prompting officials to tap reservoirs to push the unpotable tide back downstream.

Officials say drinking water isnt imminently at risk yet, but theyre monitoring the effects of the drought on the river and studying options for the future in case further droughts sap the area.

Here is a closer look at the crawling salt front:

What is the salt front?

The salt front or salt line is where saltwater from the ocean and freshwater meet in the river. That boundary is typically somewhere around Wilmington, Delaware, but the recent drought in the Northeast has pushed it about 20 miles north, around Philadelphia International Airport.

Why does it matter?

The farther the line moves upstream, the closer it gets to drinking water intakes, which officials have worked for decades to avoid.

The Delaware River provides drinking water for some 14 million people, including most of Philadelphia but also parts of New Jersey and New York. Still, the line is south of those intakes and below the level it traveled in the 1960s during record drought conditions.

Desalination of saltwater, which people cannot safely drink, is costly, energy intensive and can create new issues like where to dispose of the highly concentrated salt brine pulled from the water. Its also not a feasible option, officials say.

There are alternative sources, but we dont want to be trucking in bottled water for people, said Amy Shallcross, the water resource operations manager at the Delaware River Basin Commission. We get nervous when it starts to get up near Philadelphia. Its only 18 miles right now from the drinking water intakes. And sometimes it can shoot upstream really quickly.

The Delaware River overlooking Trenton, N.J. flows downstream as seen from from Morrisville, Pa., on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Mike Catalini)AP

What are officials doing about the encroaching salt?

Officials control the salt line by releasing water from two reservoirs, which pushes the front downriver. The commission monitors the flow at Trenton, which is the furthest upstream point affected by the tide.

The flow officials target is roughly equivalent to the amount of water in two Olympic-sized swimming pools flowing by per minute. If the rate dips below that, then more water is released.

When was the last time saltwater moved this far upriver?

The salt front last reached roughly where it is now in 2016 during another drought, officials said.

Does this phenomenon happen elsewhere in the country?

The Delaware River basin isnt alone in fending off intruding saltwater, which is exacerbated by rising sea levels and dredged riverbeds to aid navigation, Shallcross said.

The Mississippi River similarly saw what officials call a salt wedge in 2023 resulting in heightening underwater levees and bringing in drinking water.

An extended dry spell has exposed more shoreline near Raubs Island on the Delaware River. The flow of the river is primarily controlled by the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), which manages levels by regulating releases from reservoirs located on its tributaries. Phillipsburg, N.J., Nov. 19, 2024Photo by Andre Malok

What caused the saltwater to move upstream?

A rainless start to fall brought on a drought in parts of the Northeast, including the Delawares basin. The reduced rainwater has diminished the rivers flow and allowed the denser saltwater to creep upstream.

Has the recent rain helped?

Yes, but its not enough. The river needs about an inch of rain each week for a time to move the line back to its normal location, Shallcross said.

How are officials planning for the future?

The Basin Commission, which is a federally created agency run by Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, that manages the rivers resources, is studying the impact of climate change on water resources and considering other options including additional storage, Shallcross said.

Water managers are starting to consider more serious conservation measures as well. I would say the East is not water-rich, were water adequate, and we need to recognize that, she said.

The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of APs environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment.
How you ever done something or ordered something that seemed like a good idea at the time but turned to be not at all what you expected?

Recently l ordered a beautiful summer dress to wear to a special event. When it arrived I was shocked to find it had no back. The online photo showed a high-necked front but didnt reveal it dipped to the waist in back.

Perhaps thats what happened to Americans who applauded the idea of mass deportation of illegal immigrants. They saw the idea from the front and never checked what lay behind.

President-elect Trump said such deportations would end an epidemic of crime and disorder, save the culture and secure the nation. VP-elect Vance added mass deportation would lower prices and alleviate the housing crisis.

Sounded good, right? Lets look around back.

Estimates say between 11 and 25 million people are in this country illegally. The American Immigration Council, a non-partisan organization, chose the number 13.3 million to use in its studies. They said to deport that many would cost about a trillion dollars over ten years, deporting a million people each year.

Trump said he would build necessary detention camps, and the AIC estimates that alone would cost $66 billion. But to locate and arrest the immigrants, ICE would need to hire and train about 30,000 new officers and support staff, making ICE the largest law enforcement agency in the nation. Salaries for those and current officers were estimated to be about $967.9 billion over a decade.

Then theres the cost of feeding and housing folks in detention camps, the costs involved in finding out where they originated, and the expense of sending them back.

Think how many houses, schools, and roads could be built with all that money, and how many families could be helped with better Medicare, more tuition support and lower taxes.

Although Vance thinks removing undocumented families would free up housing, he didnt think about whod be eager to move into poor housing in unsafe neighborhoods where those families reside. And he certainly didnt consider whod be around to do the hard labor to build new housing. Or mow the lawns, pick up the trash, mind the kids and scrub the kitchens for the next set of homeowners.

Thirty percent of workers in construction dont have American citizenship, along with hundreds of thousands of workers who harvest and pack our foods. Think of all the bodegas, dry cleaners, barbers and other small businesses closing when their owners are deported.

And lets not forget all the taxes we wont get when immigrant workers lose their jobs. That number is estimated to be $29 billion for states and municipalities. Somebody is going to have to make up that loss.

And I havent even mentioned the unthinkable  deporting millions of parents while leaving their American-born children behind for us to support in orphanages or foster care programs.

Perhaps Trump and Vance will try to go one step further. Trump has already said he wants to do away with birthright citizenship. The 14th Amendment to the US constitution says a person born within and subject to the jurisdiction of the United States automatically acquires citizenship. Trump has said he believes if a mother wasnt a citizen, neither is her child.

Its unlikely he could succeed in that effort, but if he did, double or triple the number of people to be deported and quadruple the costs.

Broken marriages, broken communities, abandoned children, gigantic costs to American taxpayers and losing the right to brag that America is the land of opportunity for all.

Thats a lot worse than a backless dress.

A former assemblywoman from Jersey City, Joan Quigley is the president and CEO of North Hudson Community Action Corp.

Send letters to the editor and guest columns for The Jersey Journal to jjletters@jjournal.com.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Businessman Shingi Munyeza is counting his losses after falling victim to a con artist who posed as an agent for ZimAlloys in a fraudulent chrome deal. Munyeza lost a total of US$4,930 in the scam, which has since led to legal action.The accused, Simbarashe Elvis Kariwo, was remanded in custody on Saturday after appearing in court for his alleged role in the deception. The case has been postponed to Friday for further proceedings, with Kariwo facing charges of fraud.According to the police, the incident unfolded on June 10 at Samatsatsa Complex in Harare, where Kariwo allegedly misrepresented himself as an agent of ZimAlloys, a well-known chrome producer. Kariwo is said to have convinced Munyeza that he was in the business of selling chrome and subsequently arranged a visit to Sutton Mine in Mutorashanga, where he introduced Munyeza to individuals posing as mine managers.Believing Kariwo's story, Munyeza handed over US$4,930 as payment for the promised chrome. However, after waiting for the delivery, Munyeza became suspicious and decided to follow up with the mine. It was then that he discovered Kariwo was not affiliated with ZimAlloys, and the deal was a scam.Realizing he had been duped, Munyeza filed a police report, which led to Kariwo's arrest. Polite Chikiwa appeared for the State, while Kariwo was represented by Killian Mandiki in court.The case highlights the risks of fraudulent schemes in business transactions, especially in industries like mining. Police are continuing to investigate the matter, and Kariwo's fate will be determined in court later this week.
Voters for President-elect Donald Trump may be in for some bad news if they thought costs would be lower under his administration.

Trump threatened to impose new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China on his first day in office as part of an effort to curtail illegal immigration and drugs. He said there would be a 25% tariff on goods entering the country from Mexico and Canada and an additional 10% tariff on goods coming in from China.

Economic experts have warned for months that tariffs would likely only hurt U.S. consumers by driving up prices. But Trump has remained adamant on imposing tariffs despite repeated warnings from economists.

On Monday, economic expert Catherine Rampell issues a stark warning about the proposed tariffs on CNNsNewsNight.

I mean, it is not unexpected in a sense it may be unexpected to Americans who thought Trump was going to lower their prices. Because if you voted for Trump because you thought he was going to bring grocery prices down, I have some very bad news for you, Rampell said.

Rampell: If you voted for Trump because you thought he was going to bring grocery prices down, I have some very bad news for you. A lot of our produce comes from Mexico. Two thirds of the tomatoes that Americans purchase are from Mexico pic.twitter.com/a8HSM1M0Xv  Acyn (@Acyn) November 26, 2024

She went on to list a number of products that will likely have higher price tags under the proposed tariffs, including produce, building supplies and car manufacturing parts.

A lot of our produce comes from Mexico. Two-thirds of the tomatoes that Americans purchase are from Mexico. 90 percent of the avocados that they purchase are from Mexico. Just to mention two examples, so that guac is definitely going to cost extra, she said.

If you voted for Trump because you thought he was going to bring down the cost of housing, a lot of our lumber, cement, other materials comes from Canada, which means that construction costs are going to go up, not to mention all of the ways hes going to roil the U.S. auto industry, because a lot of autos cross borders in North America multiple times before theyre ultimately finished and sold to consumers, not to mention the fact that a lot of U.S. manufacturers purchase inputs, intermediate goods, like metals and cement and other things, from Canada, from Mexico, she added.

And not to mention even the retaliation that we should expect.All of which is going to be very bad for consumers, not to mention, again, many of the U.S. workers that Trump allegedly wants to help, she said.

The tariffs, if implemented, could dramatically raise prices for American consumers on everything from gas to automobiles to agricultural products. The U.S. is the largest importer of goods in the world, with Mexico, China and Canada its top three suppliers, according to the most recent U.S. Census data.

Trump made the threats Monday in a pair of posts on his Truth Social site in which he railed against an influx of illegal migrants, even though southern border apprehensions have been hovering near four-year lows.

On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders, he wrote, complaining that thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before, even though violent crime is down from pandemic highs.

He said the new tariffs would remain in place until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) is calling for Biden administration officials to be arrested if they consider handing over nuclear weapons to Ukraine.

Greene posted a report from The New York Times that said several unidentified Western officials have suggested that President Joe Biden could return nuclear weapons to Ukraine that were taken from it after the fall of the Soviet Union. Greene said such a move would be considered treason just months before President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office.

Outgoing administration officials (the admin that massively lost the popular vote and electoral college) should be arrested if they give nuclear weapons to Ukraine. Starting a nuclear war on your way out is treason. The American people do NOT want anything to do with this!!! she wrote on social media platform X.

Outgoing administration officials (the admin that massively lost the popular vote and electoral college) should be arrested if they give nuclear weapons to Ukraine.



Starting a nuclear war on your way out is treason.



The American people do NOT want anything to do with this!!! https://t.co/p3eMSzzrVx  Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) November 26, 2024

In a separate post, Greene said handing over nuclear weapons is "INSANE and completely unconstitutional, possibly an act of treason."



This must be stopped immediately!! Is the Biden admin trying to start a nuclear war and use it as the reason to stop the transfer of power to Trump? she wrote on X.

Under a 1994 agreement, Ukraine had given up the nuclear weapons that it inherited from the collapsed Soviet Union in exchange for security assurances. The Kyiv Post noted that the U.S. is not in possession of the nuclear weapons, which Ukraine had given back to Russia in the 1990s.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was absolutely irresponsible for Western officials to suggest arming Ukraine with nuclear weapons.

These are absolutely irresponsible arguments of people who have a poor understanding of reality and who do not feel a shred of responsibility when making such statements. We also note that all of these statements are anonymous, Peskov said, according to the news service.

Greenes comments come as the Russia-Ukraine war continues to escalate. The Biden administration last week approved Ukraines use of strikes using longer-range American weapons and approved sending Ukraine anti-personnel mines.

Trump has long said that Russia would have never invaded Ukraine if he was president and has claimed he can end the war in 24 hours if he was in the White House. Its not clear what his plan would be for ending the war as Russia continues to escalate the conflict.
President-elect Donald Trumps border czar, Tom Homan, put Denvers mayor on notice that if he goes ahead with plans to resist the next presidents mass deportation effort that hell potentially land himself behind bars.

Me and the Denver mayor, we agree on one thing: hes willing to go to jail, Im willing to put him in jail, Homan told Fox News Sean Hannity Monday night.

Mayor Mike Johnston has said his city will have a Tiananmen Square moment if the Trump administration tried to implement the deportations, saying he would use the local police department to block federal forces from carrying out the effort in Denver.

Trump border czar Tom Homan says he's willing to throw the mayor of Denver in jail



(Not sure how he would do this, but sounds quite fashy) pic.twitter.com/t65cPu9uTz  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 26, 2024

Homan is Trumps former acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director. Hes known as a tough-talking former Border Patrol agent who worked his way up to head the agency in 2017 and 2018. He was never confirmed by the Senate, and his new role does not require it.

At the National Conservatism Conference in Washington earlier this year, Homan said that while he thinks the government needed to prioritize national security threats, no ones off the table. If youre here illegally, you better be looking over your shoulder.

He also said: Youve got my word. Trump comes back in January, Ill be in his heels coming back, and I will run the biggest deportation operation this countrys ever seen.

Trump has long vowed the mass deportation of people living in the country illegally, but logistical and financial challenges make that difficult to carry out.

ICE has about 41,500 detention beds at any one time, and countries have to agree to take back their citizens  which is not always a given, especially for those with which the U.S. has no diplomatic relations, like Venezuela.

Former President Barack Obama carried out 432,000 deportations in 2013, the highest annual total since records were kept. Deportations under Trump never topped 350,000.

Homan started his career in 1984 as a Border Patrol agent before moving to ICE. He was a relatively low-key but influential figure on immigration enforcement in the Obama administration, heading ICEs Enforcement and Removal Operations arm  tasked with tracking down people who dont have the right to be in the country and removing them.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.
Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost.

If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed the arrest of three suspects linked to a string of armed robberies targeting motor vehicles in Bulawayo and Gwanda between July and November 20, 2024.The suspects, Moketsi Ndlovu (18), Respect Khumalo (22), and Onias Tembo (19), were apprehended on November 25 following a shootout with a police crack team in Luveve, Bulawayo. Acting on a tip-off, detectives tracked the trio to their hideout, where the suspects opened fire, prompting an exchange of gunfire before being disarmed and detained.During the operation, police recovered a 9 mm FN Browning pistol with three live rounds and eight empty cartridges.Robbery Cases Linked to SuspectsThe trio is implicated in at least three armed robbery cases, including: October 1, 2024: A Toyota Fun Cargo (registration AEA 5078) was stolen after the suspects hired the vehicle from Bulawayo CBD to Harrisville. November 13, 2024: A Honda Fit (registration ADU 1198), a cellphone, ZAR 500, and USD 15 were stolen in Reigate Township, Bulawayo. November 20, 2024: A Ford Ranger (registration AFN 6255) was taken during a robbery at Chigumira Business Centre in Bulawayo. The vehicle was later recovered at a railway crossing in Spitzkop, Gwanda.Hunt for Outstanding SuspectThe ZRP is appealing for public assistance to locate the fourth suspect, Elvis Charakupa (41), whose last known address is 96/7878 Mpopoma, Bulawayo. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the National Complaints Desk at (0242) 703631, WhatsApp 0712 800 197, or report to the nearest police station.Police Vow to Combat Armed RobberiesThe ZRP has reaffirmed its commitment to combating armed robberies across the country, with crack teams on high alert. "The law will take its course without fear or favor," read a statement from the police.Investigations are ongoing as the authorities work to secure convictions and recover stolen items.
NOPD Sgt. Todd Morrell shows the casing of a 40 mm Stinger rubber ball round after he fired it during a demonstration of the weapons used to clear protestors from the Crescent City Connection Bridge last week at a training facility in New Orleans East, La. Tuesday, June 9, 2020.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Former Energy and Power Development Minister, Fortune Chasi, has expressed his readiness to serve Zimbabwe once again as the country grapples with a worsening electricity crisis. The growing calls for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to reappoint Chasi have intensified, particularly as the nation faces its worst power shortages in years.Chasi, who served as the energy minister until his dismissal in August 2020, acknowledged the public's demand for his return through a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday. In his statement, Chasi said the confidence expressed by citizens was not lost on him, stressing that serving the country is a duty to which he is always ready to respond."I can't pretend that I am not seeing your 'demands' to go back to my former job," Chasi wrote. "I do not take your confidence in me lightly. I encounter it daily and everywhere. As I have said before, serving one's country is a duty we must all be ready for. I am!"The power crisis in Zimbabwe, driven by declining water levels at Lake Kariba and outdated infrastructure at the Hwange Thermal Power Station, has led to crippling electricity shortages, with many areas experiencing hours-long power outages. These challenges have sparked public concern and frustration, prompting some to call for Chasi's return, hoping that his expertise and leadership could help resolve the crisis.Rising Support for Chasi's ReturnChasi's remarks come after a nationwide blackout over the weekend, attributed to a "system disturbance" by the state-owned ZESA Holdings. This incident has further fueled calls for his reappointment. Chasi, during his tenure, was known for his proactive stance on energy sector reform and efforts to address systemic inefficiencies.However, his calls for a return to the role were met with a rebuttal from a group of ZANU PF supporters. A ZANU PF-linked X account, ZANU PF Patriots, dismissed his comments as "political grandstanding." The account reminded the public that only President Mnangagwa has the authority to appoint ministers, dismissing the calls from opposition supporters."May we remind you that only the President is mandated to appoint any deserving citizen to be a Minister. Opposition supporters calling for your reinstatement have no power to reinstate you. Your response to them thus is political grandstanding," the statement read.Background on Chasi's DismissalChasi was removed from his post as Minister of Energy and Power Development on August 14, 2020, and replaced by Zhemu Soda. Official reports suggested that Chasi's removal stemmed from his attempts to level the playing field in the fuel sector, an effort that reportedly clashed with powerful fuel cartels in Zimbabwe.At the time, a statement from the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Misheck Sibanda, outlined that Chasi's "conduct of business" had become incompatible with the president's expectations, leading to his immediate dismissal.A Ministry of Energy official, speaking to The Zimbabwe Independent, revealed that Chasi's attempts to break Sakunda Holdings' monopoly on the National Oil Infrastructure Company (NOIC) pipeline were a major factor behind his ousting. His efforts to revive plans for a second fuel pipeline were reportedly met with strong resistance from entrenched interests in the sector.Chasi's Legacy and Challenges AheadWhile Chasi's tenure was marked by controversy, particularly in the fuel sector, many Zimbabweans see him as a figure capable of addressing the current energy crisis, which has crippled industries and households alike. However, it remains to be seen whether his return to the ministry would be politically feasible, given the complex dynamics surrounding Zimbabwe's energy and fuel sectors.Current Energy and Power Development Minister, Edgar Moyo, has been overseeing the sector since Chasi's departure, but critics argue that he has not been able to make significant strides in resolving the energy crisis.As Zimbabwe struggles to meet its power demands, the call for Chasi's return reflects growing public frustration and hope for a more effective solution to the country's energy woes.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Government has issued a stern warning to owners of unregistered or unlicensed vehicles, threatening to cancel their registration if they fail to comply within two years. This announcement, published in General Notice 2028 of 2024 in the Government Gazette this week, comes amid concerns over the misuse of unregistered vehicles.Authorities are urging vehicle owners to regularize their registration by approaching the Central Vehicle Registry (CVR) or the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA) to pay outstanding licensing arrears within 30 days of the notice."It is hereby notified, in terms of Section 12 (c) of the Vehicle Registration and Licensing Act (Chapter 13:4), that the Registrar of Vehicles intends to cancel the registration of vehicles not licensed and exempted for a period not exceeding two years," read part of the notice.Addressing Crime and LawlessnessIn September, police issued a warning against unregistered vehicles, highlighting their use in criminal activities such as armed robberies and as illegal pirate taxis. These vehicles are often associated with reckless driving, posing safety risks on Zimbabwean roads.The Government is intensifying efforts to clamp down on such vehicles, which are believed to evade accountability due to their unregistered status.Free Inspections and AssistanceVehicle owners are encouraged to take advantage of free inspection services provided by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, CVR, and ZINARA offices nationwide. This initiative aims to ensure that all vehicles meet registration and licensing requirements while offering owners an opportunity to address any discrepancies.Failure to comply with the directive could lead to deregistration, leaving affected vehicles permanently banned from Zimbabwe's roads.The move underscores the Government's commitment to enhancing road safety and curbing the misuse of unregistered vehicles for illicit activities. Vehicle owners are urged to act promptly to avoid penalties and support the broader initiative to bring order to the country's transport sector.
Bend author and retired criminal attorney Lori Hellis will present her new true crime book, "Children of Darkness and Light: Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell: A Story of Murderous Faith" at Paulina Springs Books on Thursday, December 5, at 6:30 p.m. In this gripping work of true crime, Hellis takes readers inside the notorious Lori Vallow case and the devastating "doomsday murders."

Photo provided

A blonde beauty queen, missing children, six suspicious deaths, and the twisted Mormon doomsday writings of her fifth husband are only the beginning of a tragic crime saga that gripped Americans, and instigated frantic searches all over the country.

It all started when Lori Vallow met Chad Daybell at a doomsday prepper event. Clinging to and manipulating one another, Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell believed the return of Jesus Christ was imminent and that God had chosen them to lead the 144,000 and usher in the new millennium. When the people closest to them began dying, it became clear they would stop at nothing to be together and fulfill their mission. When the bodies of Lori's missing children - JJ and Tylee - were discovered in Chad's backyard, the strange and complex story of their fundamentalist Mormon beliefs was revealed in all its true horror.

Author Lori Hellis, a retired criminal lawyer, had just moved to Arizona when news of JJ and Tylee's disappearance broke, and there were reports about these missing children that linked them to a neighboring community. She began to follow the case closely, trying to understand this perfect storm of people and circumstances that culminated in the death of innocents. In "Children of Darkness and Light," Hellis digs deep into the investigation, trial, and verdict to craft a haunting narrative that illuminates one of the most confounding crimes in recent memory.

Hellis is a retired attorney with a rich career in family and criminal law. She was a prosecutor and public defender beginning in 1992. Her legal expertise shines through her writings, where she unveils the complexities of true crime stories with unmatched clarity. Lori holds a BA in Journalism, a Juris Doctor, and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction, reflecting her deep understanding of law and narrative craft.

Also a 20-year veteran of the Air National Guard, Lori has always been dedicated to service advocating for children, domestic violence survivors, and veterans. Her literary debut, "The No-Nonsense Guide to Divorce," and her forthcoming true crime book, "Children of Darkness and Light," bridge the gap between her legal knowledge and her storytelling acumen.

Based in Bend, Ellis cherishes her time with family and pets, making quilts and indulging in podcasts with the same passion she dedicates to her professional pursuits.

Paulina Springs Books is located at 252 W. Hood Ave.
Oregon school districts are projected to pay $670 million more to the states public employee pension program over the next two years, potentially wiping out all increases to school funding proposed by Gov. Tina Kotek.

The increased tab, more than 10 percent for some districts, follows lagging returns in investments of the Public Employees Retirement system (PERS) and could affect teaching and learning in some schools.

Next years sharp jumps in PERS rates will take significant money away from classrooms without making life any better for current educators, Emielle Nischik, executive director of the Oregon School Boards Association, said in an email. School districts have done their best to mitigate PERS pain, but it is out of their control.

The impact will vary, with most of Oregons 197 school districts and 17 community colleges facing an average 1.5 percent increase in their payroll going to PERS during the 2025-27 budget cycle, according to a PERS presentation last month.

But 22 districts are facing average increases of 10 percent or more in part because investment returns have been lower than expected but mainly because side investment accounts meant to help buffer PERS increases are expiring. For 72 school districts that dont have one of these accounts, the average contribution rate for PERS will soon amount to about 27 percent of payroll.

Overall, school districts and colleges will pay $565 million more in the next two years compared with the 2023-25 biennium, while about 77,000 vested employees, who also pay into PERS, will pay $105 million more.

The increased costs to districts will more than erase the $515 million boost proposed by Kotek for school funding for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years. She announced in July that shed ask the state Legislature early next year to send more than half a billion dollars to the State School Fund for the next biennium to boost student outcomes, literacy rates, and more. The fund is responsible for the bulk of district funding, and payroll makes up about 85 percent of school budgets.

The latest PERS increases are the consequence of an uptick in post-pandemic hiring, public sector wages growing faster than anticipated, a pre-2003 investment formula that made employers liable for massive contributions, and several years of underperforming investments, according to Kevin Olineck, director of the system.

The latter is the largest reason for the latest increases, he said. PERS investments were 10 percent lower in 2022 and 2023, collectively, than the four-member, governor-appointed Oregon Investment Council had anticipated.

The Oregon Investment Council is very highly invested in private equities, and they did less than what the public equity markets did, Olineck explained. Being heavily invested in private equities has brought mostly beneficial returns for PERS in the last 10 or 15 years, he added, but not in the last few years.

Historic deficit

The increases are also driven by a historic issue with PERS policy that has employees who were hired before 2003 commanding higher contributions from employers than those who were hired after. Many PERS investors up until 2003 were able to retire with an annual payout matching their full salary or more due to a program that had employers matching employees annual contributions and investment returns.

The state is still struggling to come up with the money to pay for the retirement of those pre-2003 employees, considered Tier 1 and Tier 2 retirees. Employees hired since then are invested in the Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan, or OPSRP, which is intended to pay about 45 percent of an employees salary in retirement.

Schools ever-increasing pension costs are a challenge gifted from decisions made a long time before most current school leaders tenure, Nischik of the Oregon School Board said. Nischik said the state Legislature needs to regularly allocate money to the State School Fund each biennium to meet the true cost of the PERS program on districts given that they are still paying historically high rates for employees hired before 2003. The state will be dealing with high PERS costs as a result of that until about 2043, according to Portland-based Milliman, the states actuarial firm.

Side account issue

At least 22 districts facing increases will have to pay double or triple the rate theyre paying now, causing alarm for already pinched school budgets. Gladstone and North Marion school districts are two of more than 20 districts that will be heavily affected as their buffer investments expire. These side accounts typically have a lifespan of 20 or so years, and are funded by districts selling bonds and then sending the money to the state to be invested. The state can then dip into the side account to cover PERS increases for districts each year up until the account runs out.

Gladstone is among those with a sunsetting account.

Like most school districts in Oregon, Gladstone created a side account 21 years ago to guard against the impact of rate increases. There was no anticipation that during the final years of the account the costs would spike so wildly, district Superintendent Jeremiah Patterson said via email.

In the North Marion School District, midway between Salem and Portland, the increase will take $1.3 more from payroll during the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years, district officials said. Crook County School District faces a hike of more than 20 percent for their Tier 1 and Tier 2 employees, and about 17 percent for the OPSRP employees, which will cost more than $3 million per year.

Patterson is still working through the numbers and trying to figure out how hell go from spending 3 percent of Gladstones payroll on his Tier 1 and Tier 2 employees and 0.11 percent of payroll on OPSRP employees, to nearly 19 percent on Tier 1 and Tier 2 employees and nearly 16 percent on OPSRP employees.

Im deeply concerned about the sudden and dramatic escalation of our PERS cost projections for the next biennium, he said in an email. It is challenging to imagine diverting critically needed funds away from student needs at a time like this.

Republished under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 courtesy of https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com.
A small, mighty crew of parents is preparing an unforgettable experience for Sisters High School graduating seniors  and they are seeking community help to make it happen.

The Foundation is seeking tax-deductible contributions to ensure that graduation festivities are free and accessible to all graduating seniors. The fundraising drive is timed around Giving Tuesday on December 3.

The estimated cost for this years festivities is $25,000. Funds raised will allow the Foundation to cover a variety of expenses, including:

 A day-long field trip to Washington Family Ranch, which offers waterslides and pool fun, recreational facilities, and great spaces for safe, sober and authentic fun.

 Chaperone entry fees and professional staffing requirements, including six paid lifeguards and one nurse/paramedic.

 Field-trip insurance, plus bus transportation and two meals.

 Goodies and gifts for our graduates on the day of the field trip .

 Various other graduation week festivities, prizes, and raffle items.

The cost per student to attend the field trip is a minimum of $175.

According to the Foundation, they have already made significant deposits for these events and will continue planning for a week of activities, requiring ongoing payments and costs. Anyone wishing to contribute their tax-deductible donations can do so online at https://sh2gpf.betterworld.org/. Or, send a check to: Sisters School Foundation, PO Box 2155, Sisters, OR 97759.

Include Class of 2025 in the memo line.
Central Electric Cooperative (CEC) is accepting applications for its 2025 Washington, D.C., Youth Tour program. CEC will select two high school juniors to visit the nations capital for one week in June.

Participants will join student leaders from electric cooperatives nationwide to learn about cooperatives contributions to rural America, leadership, the political process, and interact with elected officials. The trip includes seeing the nations capital and other sites, including the Arlington National Cemetery, the Vietnam Veterans Wall, the Washington Monument, Mount Vernon, and the Smithsonian.

High school juniors can apply at https://www.cec.coop/community/youth-tour/. Applications will be accepted through Friday, January 3, at 5 p.m., and can be mailed or dropped off at any CEC office.

To be eligible, students families must be CEC members. Applicants must include information about their interests and a 500- to 1,000-word essay on the following topic: What is the greatest issue facing your community, and how can you be a part of the solution? Applicants will be interviewed by a selection team of CEC staffers.

The Youth Tour is an all-expense paid trip for those students selected. The co-op will pay for transportation, lodging, meals, and one checked bag.

The selected students will share their trip experience with CECs membership at the co-ops annual meeting in April 2026. For more information, visit http://www.cec.coop/community/youth-tour/ or call 541-548-2144.
President-elect Donald Trump ordered congressional Republicans on Wednesday, November 20, to block a broadly popular bill to protect press freedoms, likely ending any chance of the U.S. Senate clearing the legislation.

The measure would limit federal law enforcement surveillance of journalists and the governments ability to force disclosure of journalists sources, codifying regulations the Department of Justice has put in place under President Joe Biden.

The House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved it last year and it passed the House by voice vote in January.

REPUBLICANS MUST KILL THIS BILL! Trump wrote on his social media site, Truth Social, in all capital letters on Wednesday, linking to a PBS segment about the measure.

Substantial floor time is generally required in the Senate to bypass the process that allows a single member to hold up the chambers business. With Democrats prioritizing confirmation of Bidens judicial nominees before they lose their majority in January, it is unlikely they would bring a vote on the measure without the unanimous consent of all 100 senators.

Trumps influence within the Senate Republican Conference makes reaching unanimous consent exceedingly unlikely.

The bills House sponsor, California Republican Kevin Kiley, accepted the bills defeat in a statement Thursday.

Based on the feedback weve received from Senators and President Trump, its clear we have work to do to achieve consensus on this issue, he said. Im looking forward to working with the new Administration on a great many areas of common ground as we begin a new era of American prosperity.

A Kiley spokesperson declined to provide further details about senators feedback on the measure. A spokesperson for U.S. Senate Judiciary ranking Republican Lindsey Graham of South Carolina did not respond to a message seeking comment.

In the House, 19 members from both parties, including Republicans Barry Moore of Alabama, Darrell Issa of California, Russell Fry of South Carolina, and Kelly Armstrong of North Dakota, and Democrats Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Ted Lieu of California, and Rashida Tlaib and Dan Kildee of Michigan, signed on as cosponsors.

Protection for local journalists

Jon Schleuss, the president of The NewsGuild-CWA, a national journalists union that has supported the bill, noted in a Thursday statement it would protect news sources across the political spectrum.

Americans would not know about the corruption of former Democratic Senator Bob Menendez or former Republican Representative George Santos without the hard work of local journalists holding power to account, he said. All of us depend on journalism, especially local journalism, to shine a light and protect Americans from threats, both foreign and domestic. The PRESS Act protects all voices: news sources, whistleblowers, and the journalists they talk to from media outlets across the spectrum.

In a Thursday statement to States Newsroom, Gabe Rottman, policy director at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, called the bill a reasonable and common-sense measure that enjoyed broad bipartisan support.

Its passage would put an end to actions the Justice Department has taken under past administrations of both parties to target reporters confidential communications when investigating and prosecuting disclosures of government information, he wrote.
Thanks, yall, for the feedback on my last column, a light n snarky one about womens mid-life changes. People seemed especially pleased that I encouraged men to read. Keep reading, folks of all genders!

I mentioned an upcoming talk at the library. I went, despite the grim weather, and enjoyed open, nonjudgmental conversation with local ladies of various ages.

At the podium stood doctors Erin LeGrand and Sarah Hellmann, both OB/GYNs with St. Charles Medical Group. OB/GYNs are doctors specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. Theyre knowledgeable about (say it out loud, cmon, you can do it!) vaginas and vulvas, pregnancies and pelvises, menstruation and menopause.

If theyre up on the latest research, if they listen closely to women, OBs can help us navigate the wild waves of mid-life and onward, when hormones go off the rails. It aint just hot flashes; a whole mess of physical, emotional, mood, and sleep disruptions may result.

Hellmann and LeGrand projected slides helping participants understand perimenopause, menopause, symptoms, and possibilities for treatment.

Perimenopause, they said, doesnt include the years of crazy and night sweats and pain so many of us experience leading up to menopause. Nope. Officially, peri is merely the phase where the bleeding patterns and menstruation change.

Those other lead-up years dont have a name yet. The Menopause Society is working on the nomenclature, millennia after women started experiencing this.

Both doctors were frustrated by how slow science and medicine have been to study women at all, much less issues that solely affect womennot just how we provide babies and sex, but the totality of our bodies, life phases, and wellness.

To top it off, the most high-profile research has been proven incorrect. Studies from 25 years ago scared women and doctors away from prescribed hormones; turns out the research was inadequate.

Hormone therapies (HRT, MRT, etc.) present low risks for the general population, according to Hellmann and LeGrand. Outcomes in some areas, however, improved with taking hormones.

Not to mention reducing the obnoxious and life-altering symptoms of what my grandmothers generation called The Change, if they dared mention it at all.

How obnoxious? How life-altering? See my last column for a litany of horrific details.

This is America, where worthiness is measured in GDP. So lets frame it in terms we can all understand:

Based on workdays missed due to menopause symptoms, researchers at the Mayo Clinic concluded in 2023, we estimate an annual loss of $1.8 billion in the United States.

Nearly two billion bucks! You could buy a yacht bigger than Jeff Bezos for that! And host a menopause getaway on it, with music and excellent food and a salt pool, and invite pre-perimenopausal small-town newspaper columnists to come along, hint hint.

LeGrand and Hellman laid things out in a straightforward and sometimes humorous manner, extolling the virtues of weight training and vaginal estradiol cream.

A participant asked, How do you apply it? LeGrand matter-of-factly mimed swiping cream onto her finger, and, you know, pushing it up there.

Hosts of the podcast Wine With Your Gyn, these two are comfortable moving past societys juvenile squeamishness and unwillingness to talk about these issues honestly and publicly.

Some women mistrust Big Med and Big Science,** so I asked naturopathic doctor (ND)  Tracy Erfling to weigh in. Tracy, a friend of our family, will be opening a specialty clinic in Sisters focusing on menopause and its associated transitions.

There is much we can do to alleviate the seeming chaos our hormones are putting our body through, Tracy told me.

At the philosophical core of naturopathic medicine, she explained, lies wholistic care  holistic with a W. Practitioners like Tracy are trained to assess the whole person with all their unique strengths and challenges.

Specialist NDs study the science, prescribe conventional hormones and compounded bio-identical hormones, but also work with botanical and nutritional therapies.

Menopause is by definition a time of change, Tracy said. Naturopaths have so many tools in our toolbox to pivot as needed when changes occur.

So hoorah! People are finally talking about this stuff. Jump in with podcasts like Wine with your Gyn and the hilarious, raunchy Circling the Drain. Join menopause groups on Reddit, LinkedIn, Facebook.

Even consider asking women in your real lifefriends, moms, sisters, probably not co-workersabout their own experiences. Some may blush. But sheesh! We need more information, more stories, and more options.

Lets de-stigmatize womens natural mid-life changes. Lets try out these hormones and herbs. In a medical system that long ignored us, lets share information and demand better research and more treatments.

* For purposes of flowpun intended, har harin this column the word woman and its lightly facetious cousins gals and ladies are meant to encompass everyone who possesses or previously possessed the organs that lead to The Change, regardless of gender identity.

** Contest: which brilliant post-menopausal artist am I double-entendreing here? First correct answer emailed to [email protected] wins a free coffee at one of our fine local establishments.
 Staff and fellow councilors recognized Susan Cobb's service at her last meeting as a City Councilor last week. For her part, Cobb expressed her appreciation to the public and to her colleagues:

Photo by Michael Preedin

"I thank the public who voted to put me here to serve as it has been a great honor. Thank you to those who encouraged my positions. Thank you to council members for their unfailing civility. I thank all the staff members from whom I had the fortune to receive their smiling help in so many uncounted ways. Thank you to department leads Scott, Joe, and Paul for your time to explain details I sought to understand. Most of all I am grateful to the Assistant City Manager, Kerry Prosser, and City Manager, Jordan Wheeler."

 Michael Deal, Board President, Age Friendly Sisters Country, wrote:

On behalf of Age Friendly Sisters Country (AFSC), our deep appreciation goes to the panelists and members of the community who participated in our "What do you do with an idea?" workshop targeting newcomers to Sisters wanting to get involved, as well as long-time residents wanting to learn how to launch their ideas to help make Sisters Country more livable.

Coinciding with The Nugget's Partners in Giving special issue, the workshop highlighted the amazing work of the 100+ local organizations who are in need of volunteers, board members, and donations. Participants were advised on where to learn more and how to get involved.

For those whose idea isn't being addressed, three local organizations explained how they got started, initially through fiscal sponsorship, and, in two cases, by becoming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The challenges they faced, especially fundraising and grant writing, were candidly addressed - helping demystify the process.

A special thanks goes out to our expert panelists: Danna McNeese, Sisters Community Leadership Initiative; Mayor Michael Preedin; Bill Kelly, the Rotary Foundation; Debbi McCune, Living Well With Dementia Sisters; Rennie Morrell and Christy Corzine, Sisters Transportation and RideShare (STARS); Erin Borla, Roundhouse Foundation; Susan Taylor, the Grant Lab; Julia Baumgartner and Nick Tierney, Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, and Peggy Tehan, AFSC's Treasurer.

Kellen Klein, executive director of our co-sponsor Citizens4Community did an excellent job moderating the discussion. A videotape of the wisdom shared by our panelists is available on the AFSC website https://www.agefriendlysisters.com. This workshop wouldn't have been possible without the support of the City of Sisters and AARP/Oregon.

We hope this workshop will channel support to existing organizations and stimulate new ideas that will make a positive difference for the Sisters Country community.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu has criticized his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, for a nationwide power blackout on Sunday that left hospitals and other critical institutions without electricity.The power outage, which struck shortly after 8 PM, also affected neighboring Zimbabwe, as both countries continue to grapple with energy shortages caused by low water levels at Lake Kariba, a key source of hydroelectric power.Zambia's power utility, ZESCO Limited, confirmed the blackout was caused by a system disturbance, but Lungu attributed the crisis to what he called the government's "mismanagement" of the energy sector."A Once Vibrant Utility in Ruins"In a strongly worded statement, Lungu accused Hichilema's administration of dismantling ZESCO through political interference and the removal of skilled personnel after the 2021 elections."The national power blackout we experienced last night is an ultimate manifestation and clear confirmation of how ZESCO, our national utility company, has been driven into complete ruins by the New Doom government," Lungu said.He claimed that professional and experienced staff had been purged for political reasons, leaving ZESCO poorly equipped to manage the country's power needs.Impact on Lives and BusinessesLungu suggested the blackout may have led to loss of life in hospitals reliant on electricity for critical medical equipment."At what cost in terms of lost lives and businesses will this government take such matters seriously and act to ensure that the lives and businesses are protected?"Comparing the current crisis to his time in office, Lungu said the Patriotic Front (PF) government never allowed load-shedding to exceed 17 hours. Under Hichilema, he claimed, outages now stretch beyond 48 hours in some cases, severely affecting households and businesses.Political Blame GameLungu's comments reflect the growing tension between Zambia's ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) and the opposition PF, as the country faces mounting challenges in its energy sector.President Hichilema has not yet responded to Lungu's remarks, but his government has previously blamed the ongoing energy crisis on years of underinvestment and natural factors such as drought.As the blackout's effects continue to ripple across Zambia and Zimbabwe, the debate over accountability and solutions for the region's power woes intensifies.
It is fashionable to suggest that violence doesnt solve problems, although the history of the world suggests otherwise. It might be better to say that violence doesnt always solve problems, because it was only violence that cemented the American Revolution, it was violent resistance that carved out what little indigenous Americans have left, it was violence that finally solved Hitler, and at least for a little while it allowed schoolgirls in Kabul to learn how to read without having acid thrown in their faces.

It was fleeting, to be certain, and perhaps even a fools errand, but there can be little doubt that it was the violence of the American military that once-upon-a-time made space for little Afghan girls to attend school.

Which somehow brings me to Boudica, warrior queen of the Iceni. Not well known in America, Boudica remains a national hero in England, precisely for the violence of her resistance to Roman colonizers, and notwithstanding the fact that it was finally a losing fighta cultural apocalypse ending with the destruction of everything that Boudica  and her people  were fighting to preserve.

Which is always the principal risk of armed resistance to tyranny.

The Roman proposition  wherever they went  was simple. First, and most importantly  and what remains to this day the primary and most obvious requirement of subjugationthe tribe must disarm. Second, the tribe must give the Romans most of whatever it produced  from grains to wool to metalwork. And third, the tribe must buy it all back from the Romans at double its value.

This was the best bargain possible for those indigenous Britons who allied to Rome, on the theory that conditions would someday improve as Roman wealth, technology, and cultural influence took root. The alternative was continuous fighting, probably starvation, and finally a grim death under the weight of the Roman war machine.

Boudicas father, Prasutagus, had taken the first option, though enthusiasm for the bargain among the Iceni, a confederacy of smaller tribes including the Trinovantes, seems to have been thin. Prasutagus, who remained loyal to Rome, somehow survived the Roman reprisals after the earlier Iceni revolt of AD 47. His was a delicate balancing act, until he died, when the Romans marched into the remote Iceni redoubt in roughly AD 62 demanding even more, and expecting to get it from his daughter, the newly minted Queen Boudica.

But Boudica refused. For her trouble she was publicly flogged and forced to watch her daughters violated by Roman legionnaires in a ritual of public humiliation. What followed was, perhaps, the greatest gathering of indigenous Britons in history, and a march into infamy.

Here, in much of North America, we have Mazama ash, which allows scientists to reliably date events before and after the eruption that formed Crater Lake. In many parts of England, they have something similar  the ash and scorched ruins left behind as Boudica and her army of farmers and war chariots marched on London from the north. From Colchester  where the Temple of Claudius was sacked and not a single colonizing soul was left alive  to London itself, Boudica and her outraged tribes laid waste the country, seeking to drive the Romans entirely out of their homeland.

And they nearly succeeded, erasing a Roman Legion that had marched in relief of beleaguered cities and the streams of refugees fleeing Boudicean vengeance.

It isnt difficult to imagine the motivating animus, thanks largely to the historian Tacitus who, albeit writing later and for a Roman audience, puts words in the mouth of Calgacus  a tribal Chieftain  succinctly summarizing the view of many contemporary Britons toward all things Rome: They rob, kill and plunder and deceivingly call it Roman rule, and where they make a desert, they call it peace.

In the end Boudica would lose. Lured into bad ground by the Roman General Paulinus, her army was crushed and as many as 80,000 were killed in a single disastrous attack. Many tens of thousands of Iceni would die in the following years from famine, and retributive blows by the Legions.

And so Boudica faded into history, the precise circumstances of her death a mystery, her burial place forgotten. But by fighting she was spared, at least, the dismal fate of Vercingetorix, the Gaul, who was forced to his knees, clapped in chains, and paraded through the streets in a Roman Triumph  a scene that would have looked very much like those horrific images of Israeli hostages paraded through the streets of Gaza.

And so what if, as the archaeologist Duncan McKay asks in his masterful book Echolands: A Journey in Search of Boudica, she had simply taken her beating and accepted the rape of her daughters, handed over the tribal treasury, watched her nobles lose their estates to belligerent colonists and her farmers made into slaves, and meekly slipped away to hide in the shadows, abandoning her people to their fatewhat should we think of her now? Would we admire her?

McKay thinks the question answers itself. History seems to agree. Boudica matters not because she was a woman  gender is incidental to leadership and heroism  but because she rallied her tribes and, at least for a brief and shining moment, they fought for something worth preserving  which is always, first, last, and down through the known and recorded history of the world  the dignity of human freedom.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Masvingo High Court has ruled in favor of Patrick Cheza, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) candidate who lost the Chirumhanzu parliamentary race in the 2023 general elections, and four other party members. The charges against them were dismissed on Tuesday, November 26, in a default judgment delivered by Justice Sensley Zisengwe.Cheza and his co-accused - Elias Maduveko, Magmaster Chidyawuye, Delight Zinyemba, and Courage Mugova - were arrested in September 2023 on allegations of assaulting ZANU-PF candidate and winner of the parliamentary seat, Barbra Rwodzi.Cheza faced charges of inciting public violence, while the other four were accused of public violence. The case stemmed from a traffic incident on August 24, 2023, involving Cheza's driver and Rwodzi's son, George Chengeta Rwodzi.Allegations of ViolenceThe State alleged that following a minor accident between the two vehicles, Cheza and his supporters arrived at the scene, where Barbra Rwodzi was already present. Prosecutors claimed Cheza incited his supporters to attack Rwodzi, with Chidyawuye allegedly tripping her and attempting to stab her in the face.Rwodzi reportedly fell to the ground, where other CCC supporters allegedly joined in, kicking her repeatedly.Case Dismissed Due to Procedural GapsJustice Zisengwe dismissed the charges against the accused due to the absence of key filings from the Prosecutor General and Gweru Presiding Magistrate Beaulity Dube. The procedural gaps rendered the case untenable, leading to the default judgment in favor of Cheza and his co-accused.The judgment was celebrated by the CCC as a victory against what they termed politically motivated charges. Cheza was represented by human rights lawyers Esau Mandipa and Leopold Mudisi.Political and Legal RamificationsThe ruling raises questions about the handling of politically charged cases in Zimbabwe's justice system. While the CCC has welcomed the judgment, ZANU-PF supporters have expressed discontent, citing concerns over accountability.The decision also underscores the growing scrutiny of legal processes involving opposition politicians in the country, highlighting the delicate balance between political rivalry and judicial impartiality.
It seems perverse that Donald Trump would single out Canada and Mexico, two of the United States closest allies, for higher tariffs. But on Monday, he said that on his first day in office he would impose 25 percent tariffs on imports from the two countries that would remain in place until illegal drugs and migrants stopped coming over the borders.

Canada and Mexico are critical trading partners, whose economies are interconnected with Americas nearly as closely as Ohios is with Pennsylvanias. The world is moving toward nearshoring (importing from close-by countries) and friendshoring (importing from friendly countries), to avoid supply disruptions caused by distance or political conflict. It makes little sense to set off a tariff tit-for-tat with two countries that are both near and friends.

Trump also vowed higher tariffs on China, citing its production of precursor chemicals for fentanyl. China is neither near nor very friendly, so its a more complicated story.

The United States gets 60 percent of its imported oil from Canada, along with cars, machinery and wood products. Mexico supplies manufactured goods, including cars, along with agricultural products. Prices of those items would go up for U.S. companies and consumers, even if the exporting nations swallowed part of the cost of the tariffs to preserve market share in the United States. And the United States would lose exports if those nations retaliated with tariffs of their own.
President-elect Donald J. Trump has professed a belief in the power of tariffs for decades. Now, as he prepares to take office, they are a central part of his economic plan.

Mr. Trump argues that steep tariffs on foreign goods will help benefit U.S. manufacturing and create jobs. His proposals would raise tariffs to a level not seen in generations. Many economists have warned of potentially harmful consequences from such a move, including higher costs for American households and businesses, and globally destabilizing trade wars.

Here are five crucial things to know about Mr. Trumps sweeping trade plans.

Mr. Trump has floated several hefty tariff plans.

The president-elect said Monday that he would impose tariffs on his first day back in office, targeting the United States three largest trading partners. In social media posts, he said he would impose a 25 percent tariff on all goods from Canada and Mexico until drugs and migrants stopped coming over the borders, and an extra 10 percent tariff on all products from China, saying that the country was shipping illegal drugs to the United States.

While campaigning for the White House, Mr. Trump offered up a running list of tariffs, including a universal tariff of 10 to 20 percent on most foreign products. And he has suggested removing permanent normal trading relations with China, which would result in an immediate increase in tariffs on Chinese imports.
Jack Smith, the special counsel who charged Donald Trump with 44 criminal counts across a pair of felony cases, asked two separate courts today to drop the charges against the president-elect. Within hours, one of the cases was dismissed.

In both filings, Smith said that the move was a necessity because of the Justice Departments policy that it is unconstitutional to prosecute sitting presidents. He made clear that it had nothing to do with the strength of the cases. Smith had accused Trump of illegally plotting to subvert the 2020 election and unlawfully holding on to scores of classified documents after he left the White House in 2021. Judge Tanya Chutkan, who oversaw the election case, officially dismissed the proceeding today.

This is all but the final nail in the coffin, my colleague Alan Feuer, who covered the Trump cases, told me. Smith is acknowledging that prosecutors wont be able to keep the cases going with Trump set to return to the White House.

Smith and his team are planning to complete their work, and file a final report, in the next two months. The president-elect had vowed to fire Smith within two seconds of taking office and to launch investigations into the prosecutors who pursued him along with other perceived enemies.
The Biden administration said on Monday that it would lend $6 billion to help Rivian build an electric car factory in Georgia, part of an effort to lock in Democratic climate policies before President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office.

Rivian, a relatively new company that makes only electric vehicles, plans to produce sport utility vehicles and hatchbacks at the factory, in Social Circle, Ga., near Atlanta.

The loan agreement will be binding once the Department of Energy and Rivian sign a contract, which is expected to take place before Mr. Trumps inauguration in January.

Rivian will work closely with D.O.E. to close the loan quickly, the company said in a statement.

The project is in a congressional district represented by a Republican, highlighting how much Biden administration clean energy policies have benefited regions where most voters back conservative politicians, including Mr. Trump.
Its hard to imagine how terrifying it must be to be a trans person, or the parent of one, in America right now.

Donald Trump and his party, having triumphed in an election in which they demonized trans people, seem hellbent on driving them out of public life. Democrats, some of whom blame the party for staking out positions on trans issues that they couldnt publicly defend, are shellshocked and confused. Democratic leaders have been far too quiet as congressional Republicans, giddy and vengeful in victory, seek to humiliate their new colleague, Representative-elect Sarah McBride, a Democrat from Delaware, by barring her and other trans people from using the appropriate single-sex bathrooms in the Capitol.

I say this as someone who has been called a TERF, a contemptuous acronym that stands for Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist, more times than I can count. For a decade now, Ive been trying to balance a belief in the rights of trans people with my skepticism of some trans activist positions. Ive written with a degree of sympathy about feminists whove been ostracized for wanting to maintain womens-only spaces. I believe that the science behind youth gender medicine is unsettled, and I dislike jargon like sex assigned at birth that tries to mystify or elide the reality of biological sex. (Except for rare exceptions, doctors dont assign sex, they identify it.) I care very little about sports, but it seems dishonest to deny that male puberty tends to confer advantages on trans women athletes.

Occasionally, I receive angry or plaintive messages from trans people accusing me of helping America down a slippery slope that has brought us to our lamentable present, when discrimination against trans people has been normalized to a degree that recently seemed unthinkable. During Trumps first presidential campaign, he said his trans supporter Caitlyn Jenner was welcome to use whatever bathroom she wanted at Trump Tower. At the time, North Carolinas bathroom bill, which resulted in economically painful boycotts of the state, was widely seen as a self-inflicted wound.
President-elect Donald J. Trumps legal team found evidence that a top adviser asked for retainer fees from potential appointees in order to promote them for jobs in the new administration, five people briefed on the matter said on Monday.

Mr. Trump directed his team to carry out the review of the adviser, Boris Epshteyn, who coordinated the legal defenses in Mr. Trumps criminal cases and is a powerful figure in the transition. Several people whom Mr. Trump trusts had alerted him that Mr. Epshteyn was seeking money from people looking for appointments, three of the people briefed on the matter said.

David Warrington, who was effectively the Trump campaigns general counsel, conducted the review in recent days, the results of which were described to The New York Times. The review claimed that Mr. Epshteyn had sought payment from two people, including Scott Bessent, whom Mr. Trump recently picked as his nominee for Treasury secretary.

According to the review, Mr. Epshteyn met with Mr. Bessent in February, at a time when it was widely known that he was interested in the Treasury post, and proposed $30,000 to $40,000 a month to promote Mr. Bessent around Mar-a-Lago, Mr. Trumps estate in Florida.
Law enforcement officials in Palm Beach County, Fla., were already planning a memorial for two members of the sheriffs office who were killed in a crash last week when they learned on Monday that a third, who was in critical condition, had died.

Now, the memorial next month will honor all three deputies, as residents, officials and their colleagues in law enforcement mourn their deaths, days before Thanksgiving.

Its just devastating, John Kazanjian, the president of the Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association, said in an interview on Monday. The P.B.S.O. organization as a whole has really taken a big blow. Were really trying to get through it; we just dont know how it could have happened.

On Thursday morning, the deputies  Cpl. Luis Paez, Deputy Ralph Waller and Deputy Ignacio Diaz, who were members of the motorcycle unit  were checking for speeding vehicles on State Road 80, when one of them could not start his motorcycle and thought that the battery had died, according to Sheriff Ric Bradshaw.
A white woman in Florida who fatally shot a Black neighbor who confronted her amid a longstanding dispute over the neighbors children was sentenced on Monday to 25 years in prison.

In a case that prompted national outrage and reignited debate around stand your ground laws, Susan Lorincz, 60, shot Ajike (A.J.) Owens as Ms. Owens, 35, stood outside the door of Ms. Lorinczs home in Ocala, a city about 80 miles northwest of Orlando, in June last year.

Ms. Lorincz, who was convicted of manslaughter by an all-white jury in August, had faced a maximum sentence of 30 years.

At the sentencing hearing on Monday, in Ocala, Fla., the victims mother, Pamela Dias, spoke of her four grandchildren. Susan took away their vibrant, young mother, she said, reading from an impact statement.
The actor Colman Domingo had recently finished back-to-back shoots for the films Rustin and The Color Purple. He was not looking to star in a series, let alone a series in which the main character seemingly never stops talking. Ill be very honest, he said. I was trying to rest. But when his agent sent him the scripts for The Madness, he couldnt help himself.

I thought, Yeah, this is just too good, he said.

This was on a recent evening, and Domingo had joined a video call to discuss The Madness, an eight-episode thriller that premieres Thursday on Netflix. Domingo stars as Muncie Daniels, a CNN pundit who has become increasingly alienated from his family, his community and even his own beliefs. When a white supremacist is murdered and Muncie is falsely accused of the crime, he goes on the run, embarking on a journey that reconnects him with what he values. (It also connects him to televisions current favorite villain: a shady billionaire.)

A suspenseful series, set largely in Philadelphia and the Poconos, The Madness is a showcase for Domingo and a meditation on the dangers of misinformation, disinformation and conspiracy theories, though some of those theories turn out to be true. Domingo, who is currently shooting a new project in Beacon, N.Y. (he is bad at resting), joined the showrunners Stephen Belber, based in New York, and V.J. Boyd, who called in from Los Angeles, to discuss conflict, repair and why cable news is never the answer. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.

Why did you want Colman?

STEPHEN BELBER Ive been a fan since his theater days. I wanted this weirdly beautiful blend of grace and force that Colman brings to everything he touches. It was what Muncie required. Theres a certain bombast to him, but theres a certain vulnerability. And then remembering that Colman is from West Philly, the universe was speaking to us.
News / National

by Gideon Madzikatidze

The Mutumwa St John Foundation Trust (MSJFT) and Sydney Mabhiza Foundation have recently fundraised and donate an assortment of goods and money to the less priviledged members of society.Speaking after handing over a wheelchair, blankets and some groceries this Tuesday, the Foundations' Principal Director, Mr Lovemore Timburwa has announced it is their organisations' commitment to assist less priviledged members of society and he gave credit to their Founder, Bishop Sydney Mabhiza of the St John Apostolic Church of the Whole World."The donations have been driven by our leader's commitment to show love and compassion amongst the less privileged, especially in the wake of El Nino induced drought and other socio-economic disorders which do not spare differently able-bodied members of the society," Timburwa said."We always donate to various communities in needy regardless of geography, whether in rural or urban set-ups. The little that we donate will at least bring smiles on the faces of the needy," Timburwa added."We were taught that faith without works is dead and a total futility, hence it is our duty to do charitable work amongst communities," Timburwa said.Speaking after receiving donation from the Foundations, one of the beneficiaries, Active Dzenga has expressed gratitude to the organisations for their non-discriminatory assistance."I really appreciate the donation by the Foundations and would love to see others giving testimony to that end. We were not expecting this donation and it has come after a long struggle since mobility was limited because the condition we were in," Dzenga said."This donation will go a long way in transforming my life. I am now able to move from one point to another because of this wheelchair and with these blankets, they will provide a conducive environment during winter and current rainy seasons," Dzenga added.In a related incident of love and compassion, the Foundations have on Sunday donated money amongst various students who have been struggling to pay tuition fees at universities, polytechnical and vocational colleges or training institutions; thereby furthering their education.Besides charitable works, The St John Apostolic Church of the Whole World recently donated tractors in Mhondoro to ensure that communities are food secure in the wake of El Nino-induced drought which has left some communities starving and loss of large herds of livestock. This has been amongst initiatives that the church has embarked on to complement government efforts.
Israel approved a cease-fire proposal with Hezbollah

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus cabinet yesterday approved a cease-fire deal that would suspend fighting between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah after more than a year of conflict.

President Biden immediately hailed the agreement, which was mediated by the U.S. and France, and said it was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities. He added that the cease-fire is scheduled to take effect today.

Netanyahu had earlier put his weight behind the deal as Israeli forces launched a barrage of strikes in Lebanon, hitting the heart of Beirut and neighborhoods to its south. Hezbollah did not immediately comment on the approval.

Lebanons government, which does not control Hezbollah, but whose approval is essential for the deal to move forward, is set to discuss the cease-fire agreement today. Follow our live updates here.
It remains Barack Obamas most underrated political skill: his appeal to working-class voters, including those who are white.

Obama won most voters without a four-year college degree in his two presidential campaigns. Those majorities helped him win Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin in both campaigns. He even won Indiana and North Carolina once.

He did so by both speaking to the economic frustration that resulted from years of slow-growing wages and signaling that he, like most Americans, was moderate on social issues. He made clear that he understood peoples anxiety about the speed of cultural change.

He talked about an awesome God in the 2004 speech that made him a national figure. He rejected sweeping new policies like single-payer health care. He traveled to the University of Notre Dame as president and said he wanted to reduce the number of abortions. He supported civil unions rather than same-sex marriage when most voters felt similarly.
Israels security cabinet voted this evening to approve a cease-fire agreement that would halt fighting in the yearlong conflict between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed group. The agreement, which still needs formal approval in Lebanon, is supposed to take effect at 4 a.m. local time tomorrow, said President Biden, who pushed Israel to agree to the deal.

Heres the latest.

Under the deal, Israel would withdraw its forces from Lebanon over the next 60 days and Hezbollah would move its fighters north. Biden said it is intended to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.

Hezbollah did not immediately comment on the announcement. Lebanons government, which does not control Hezbollah but whose approval is essential, was set to meet tomorrow morning to discuss the cease-fire agreement. Heres a map of what the truce would look like.

Approval from Israeli ministers, in a 10 to 1 vote, came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embraced the proposal in a televised speech. Just hours earlier, Israeli forces had pounded the heart of Beirut and Hezbollah-dominated neighborhoods with some of the heaviest airstrikes of the war.
Israel nears a decision on a cease-fire deal with Hezbollah

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel is set to meet with his cabinet today to discuss a proposed cease-fire with Hezbollah, Israeli officials said. U.S. officials have pressured him to finalize the terms this week, and Netanyahu has indicated that hes open to a deal, according to other Israeli officials briefed on his thinking.

Mediators have made significant progress toward a cease-fire over the past week, but a key sticking point has been Netanyahus insistence on securing some assurance that Israel would be able to restart the fighting if Hezbollah were to break the truce, Israeli officials said.

The proposal is seen as the best chance to end fighting that has killed thousands in Lebanon and close to 100 Israeli civilians and soldiers while displacing roughly 60,000 people in Israel and about one million in Lebanon.

Details: Under the proposal, Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon within 60 days, while Hezbollah, a Lebanese militia, would move north, officials said. The Lebanese Army would deploy to southern Lebanon to ensure that Hezbollah stays north of the Litani River.
In April 2023, police officers from a city in southern Guangdong Province traveled 600 miles north to Wuhan, detained 25 employees of a social media company and coerced its finance staff to transfer more than $41 million to accounts associated with the police.

The police claimed that the company operated an online casino, illegal in China, that was used by Guangdong residents under the officers jurisdiction. The company denied the allegation.

Is this law enforcement or outright robbery?! the company, Changxiangban, said in a statement posted on its official WeChat social media account.

This past April, the company, which had 1,600 employees, said it was forced to shutter. The damage to its business had been too great.
The Commerce Department said it would fund the first of two chip-making plants that the company was building in Ohio. In March, the department estimated that the two plants would create 10,000 jobs. It has since dropped that estimate by 3,500 jobs for a single plant being built before the end of the decade.

Commerce and Intel officials said those changes were not a factor in the final award.

The first plant in Ohio is now expected to be operational by 2030, a delay from the companys initial goal of starting production there in 2025. Intel said that it was still committed to building two plants in Ohio and that its projections for employing 10,000 or more people at the project had not changed.

Intels shifting timeline and jobs projections speak to the challenges the Biden administration has run into as it tries to rev up domestic chip-making. The CHIPS Act, a bipartisan bill passed in 2022, provided $39 billion to subsidize the construction of facilities to help the United States reduce its reliance on foreign production of the tiny, critical electronics that power everything from dishwashers to iPads.

Nailing down its CHIPS award has been a priority for Intel, which last month reported the biggest quarterly loss in the companys 56-year history. It has been cutting costs and fending off takeover interest from rivals, after the total value of the company fell to around $107 billion, from $500 billion in 2000. (Other chip makers have also been facing challenges, because of a cyclical slump in the industry.)

Gina M. Raimondo, the secretary of commerce, called the award a huge step forward in strengthening the U.S. semiconductor supply chain.
He will also have to wrestle with how Mr. Trumps plans for tariffs will affect the economy, the dollar and the deficit. On Monday, Mr. Trump threatened to raise tariffs on imports from China and impose new ones on Canada and Mexico.

Mr. Bessents former colleagues said they didnt see him as a Trump loyalist, but he has been publicly supportive of the president-elects plans. In an essay published by Fox News this month, he wrote that economists had misunderstood tariffs, citing their role in raising revenue for the Treasury, protecting domestic industries and serving as a negotiating tool with our trading partners.

Kieran Cavanna, a hedge fund manager who worked under Mr. Bessent from 2013 to 2015 at Mr. Soross firm, said Mr. Bessent was so good at figuring out the butterfly effect. For example, Mr. Cavanna said, something going on in China could affect agriculture or steel in the United States or the price of Treasuries.

Still, people around Mr. Bessent wondered how his experience would translate to the Treasury Department. With more than 100,000 employees, the agency would be a drastic change in scope and size from anything that Mr. Bessent had managed in the past.

Mr. Bessent was known to spend more time diving into financial data, books and periodicals than actively managing or holding meetings with employees. He often blocked out Fridays for reading, the people who worked with him said, and many former colleagues hailed his one-on-one mentorship.
Denmark, known for its inventive restaurants and elegant design studios, is about to become known for something more basic: the worlds first belch and manure tax.

Thats because there are five times as many pigs and cows in Denmark as there are people. Nearly two-thirds of its land is taken up by farming. And agriculture is becoming its largest share of climate pollution, putting lawmakers under intense public pressure to reduce it.

So now, Denmarks unlikely coalition government, made up of three parties from across the political spectrum, has agreed to tax the planet-heating methane emissions that all those animals expel through their poop, farts and burps. The measure, under negotiation for years, was passed by the Danish Parliament this month, making it the only such climate levy on livestock in the world.

I think its good, said Rasmus Angelsnes, 31, who was shopping for dinner in Copenhagen one recent afternoon. Its kind of a nudge to make different choices, maybe more climate-friendly choices.
This article is part of a Women and Leadership special report highlighting the work by women around the world addressing climate change.

When Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim was growing up in Chad, she felt the impact of climate change firsthand  and still does today. A member of the Mbororo Indigenous people, Ms. Oumarou Ibrahim is part of a nomadic community that migrates throughout pastoral land.

Extreme heat with temperatures that reach more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit is the norm in Chad, she said, and climbing higher and lasting longer each year. The weather because of climate change is paralyzing, Ms. Oumarou Ibrahim, 41, said. It has made water scarce and has other negative impacts on the Mbororo.

Ms. Oumarou Ibrahims experience led her to establish the Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples Organization of Chad (AFPAT) when she was 12; the group connects with Mbororo communities to ensure their rights to land and access to natural resources. Today, shes an environmental activist and travels worldwide to advocate for the rights of the Mbororo people.

In November, for example, she attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference, in Baku, Azerbaijan, and in December, she will participate in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
This article is part of a Women and Leadership special report highlighting the work by women around the world addressing climate change.

Sunaina Sinha Haldeas itinerant childhood  in New Delhi; Lagos, Nigeria; Harare, Zimbabwe; and Hanoi, Vietnam  shaped her future as the first female leader of the clean energy company SFC Energy AG. Days-long power cuts were common in the areas where her family lived, and they were dependent on toxin-producing diesel generators to light their homes and provide gas.

I used to stare at the smoke these generators spewed and worry about the harmful chemicals that streamed into our house, Ms. Haldea said. I always thought there must be a better energy source than this.

Ms. Haldea, 44, who lives in London, was the founder and managing partner of Cebile Capital, a private equity firm that was acquired by the investment bank Raymond James in 2021. Her formative years and insight from a good friend helped stoke her interest in SFC, based in Brunnthal, Germany. In 2021, Ms. Haldea became the first female board member and this year was appointed chairwoman; she is also the global head of Private Capital Advisory for Raymond James.

SFC Energy AG produces fuel cells that provide off-grid power with significantly lower carbon emissions than traditional sources such as diesel generators. It operates worldwide and supplies electrical energy to homes, public security and telecommunications companies, large corporations and remote areas that arent connected to power grids. Ms. Haldea was interviewed by email and phone. The conversation was edited and condensed.
By Trevor Hunnicutt

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump's team is discussing pursuing direct talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, hoping a fresh diplomatic push can lower the risks of armed conflict, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Several in Trump's team now see a direct approach from Trump, to build on a relationship that already exists, as most likely to break the ice with Kim, years after the two traded insults and what Trump called "beautiful" letters in an unprecedented diplomatic effort during his first term in office, the people said.

The policy discussions are fluid and no final decisions have been made by the president-elect, the sources said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Trump's transition team did not respond to a request for comment.

What reciprocation Kim will offer Trump is unclear. The North Koreans ignored four years of outreach by U.S. President Joe Biden to start talks with no pre-conditions, and Kim is emboldened by an expanded missile arsenal and a much closer relationship with Russia.

"We have already gone as far as we can on negotiating with the United States," Kim said last week in a speech at a Pyongyang military exhibition, according to state media.

During his 2017-2021 presidency, Trump held three meetings with Kim, in Singapore, Hanoi, and at the Korean border, the first time a sitting U.S. president had set foot in the country.

Their diplomacy yielded no concrete results, even as Trump described their talks as falling "in love." The U.S. called for North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons, while Kim demanded full sanctions relief, then issued new threats.

ADVERTISEMENT

It was not clear what result a new diplomatic effort would yield. An initial Trump goal would be to reestablish basic engagement but further policy aims or a precise timetable have not been set, the people said. And the issue may take a backseat to more pressing foreign policy concerns in the Middle East and Ukraine, according to one person briefed on the transition's thinking.

North Korean state media have not yet publicly mentioned the re-election of Trump, and Kim said this month that the United States was ramping up tension and provocations, raising the risks of nuclear war.

Trump and some of his allies left office with the impression that the direct approach was Washington's best shot at influencing behavior north of the demilitarized zone, which has divided the Korean Peninsula for seven decades. The countries' war was never technically ended even as the guns fell silent.

On Friday, Trump named one of the people who implemented that initial North Korea strategy, former State Department official Alex Wong, as his deputy national security adviser. "As Deputy Special Representative for North Korea, he helped negotiate my Summit with North Korean Leader, Kim Jong Un," Trump said in a statement.

TENSIONS RISE

ADVERTISEMENT

Trump inherits an increasingly tense situation with Kim when he returns to the White House in January, as he did in 2017, an atmosphere allies expect the incoming president to confront head-on.

"My experience with President Trump is he's much more likely to be open to direct engagement," said U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty, a Trump ally, in an interview with Reuters earlier this year. "I'm optimistic that we can see an improvement in the relationship and perhaps a different posture adopted by Kim Jong Un if that dialogue were reopened again."

Washington has a dossier of concerns over the country's expanding nuclear weapons and missile program, its increasingly hostile rhetoric to South Korea and its close collaboration with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

These topics are expected to feature in Biden administration transition briefings for Trump aides, according to a U.S. official. The Trump team has yet to sign transition agreements, which could limit the scope of some of these briefings.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

ADVERTISEMENT

Particularly concerning to Washington are the prospects of increased sharing of nuclear or missile technology between Russia and North Korea and the deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to Russia to help in the war with Ukraine.

Reuters reported on Monday that North Korea is expanding a key weapons manufacturing complex that assembles a type of short-range missile used by Russia in Ukraine, citing researchers at a U.S.-based think tank who examined satellite images.

U.S. officials said those factors raise the risk of a conflict between multiple nuclear armed nations in Europe or Asia, including the United States and its allies, which include South Korea and Japan.

American troops are deployed throughout the region to deter North Korea, and Trump has insisted that U.S. allies share more of the cost for those deployments.

In his final meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this month in Peru, Biden asked for Beijing to use its leverage to reel in North Korea.

Opportunity for China and the U.S. to work together may be limited as Trump vows vast tariffs on Chinese goods and stacks his inner circle with China hardliners, such as Marco Rubio as secretary of state and Representative Mike Waltz as national security adviser.

Trump said last month the two countries would have had "a nuclear war with millions of people killed," but that he had stopped it, thanks to his ties with the North's leader.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Heather Timmons and Alistair Bell)
Al pastor has a long history in Mexico, stretching back to the 1920s and the arrival of Lebanese immigrants in the city of Puebla, who brought with them shawarma and its vertical spit, or trompo in Spanish. Eventually, pork made its way onto that spit, getting marinated in an adobo sauce built on achiote and dried red chile, then roasted with pineapple and onion.

But with leftover turkey, you can skip the spit and, in 15 minutes, have al pastor tacos. The adobo, made with guajillos, canned chipotles and leftover turkey stock, comes together quickly and easily. Just blend the peppers and stock until smooth, toss in shredded turkey and make the tacos. Top with your favorite salsa or use leftover cranberry sauce, canned pineapple and fresh habanero for a sweet-spicy counterpoint.

But if you really want to change up your Thanksgiving dinner, apply elements of these treatments to the centerpiece bird: Use the al pastor salsa to marinate a whole uncooked turkey (or its parts), rubbing it all over, then refrigerating it for a day or two. Place it in a roasting pan over a bed of sliced onion and sliced pineapple, and roast as you would a classic turkey. Or toss a can of diced tomatoes, chili powder or dried chiles, chopped onion, orange juice and a bottle of beer into a roasting pan and top with uncooked turkey parts; cover tightly with foil or use a lid if you have one, and bake at 275 degrees until the meat falls off the bone.

And the next time Aunt Rebecca or Riley from across the street offers you some turkey leftovers, take them, use these recipes and show them just how good they can be.
Abu-Sittah had assembled some remarkable data: roughly 70 percent of his patients from Iraq and almost 80 percent from Syria had infections that were resistant to multiple drugs. What was driving this startling rise in resistance?

As the two men discussed this question over coffee, Dewachis first thought was sanctions. He had grown up in Baghdad and did his residency at Baghdad Hospital during the devastating embargo that the United Nations Security Council placed on Iraq in 1990, after it invaded Kuwait. The sanctions lasted nearly 13 years. Baghdad Hospital, once the medical crown jewel of the Middle East, could no longer acquire cleaning supplies, surgical gloves, ventilators or medication, and the quality of care crumbled. As stocks of the proper drugs dwindled, Dewachi and other health care professionals were forced to trade medicines with one another out of the trunks of their cars, an act punishable by death under the dictatorship. Antibiotics in particular were in short supply; patients often couldnt finish the recommended course, or they were forced to take second-rate ones manufactured with lower concentrations of active ingredients than claimed on their labels. The suboptimal dosing killed some bacteria, but not all, increasing the likelihood of resistance.

This was especially a problem when patients were housed in groups, as they were in the English-style, open-ward system of Baghdad Hospital. Nurses and doctors moved quickly among patients without changing their smocks and other personal protective equipment, which were in limited supply. Infection spread easily, especially among the immunocompromised or malnourished, conditions all too common during those desperate times. Vaccines were scarce and seldom prioritized. Patient mortality was high.

Frustrated with their inability to care for patients properly, many doctors fled, paying smugglers for fake passports and other travel documents. Dewachi made that decision himself at age 25, in 1998, walking out of Baghdad Hospital at the end of his shift, never to return. After passing through Jordan with a single suitcase, he settled in Beirut, working under the table as an emergency-room and operating-room physician, without the prohibitively expensive medical licensing required of foreigners wishing to practice in Lebanon. After a year, he took leave to get a masters degree in public health at the American University of Beirut, and so began his second flight, from medicine to anthropology. Three weeks before 9/11, he arrived in the United States to start a doctoral program in anthropology at Harvard, studying the impact of war and sanctions on Iraqs health care system. He joined the American University of Beirut as an assistant professor in 2011. Three days after he arrived, a street vendor self-immolated in Tunis, sparking the Arab Spring. To think through the emerging upheaval in the Middle East, Dewachi founded a health-and-society working group, and it was at one of the first meetings that he met Abu-Sittah.

Abu-Sittah never lived in Iraq, but he witnessed the medical crisis there as part of a public-health delegation. A Palestinian born in Kuwait, he emigrated to Britain in 1988, at age 18, to attend medical school in Glasgow. Just after the Persian Gulf war, in 1991, he traveled throughout Iraq with a Harvard team studying infant mortality and nutritional status and saw firsthand how this so-called clean war with fewer civilian casualties was made more lethal by other means: infrastructure collapse  the decimation of electricity plants, generators, sewage and water-treatment plants. Most infant mortality was diarrheal, caused by unsanitary water. In Diyala, northeast of Baghdad, he witnessed sewage being pumped into the river.
When a pilot on an animal-rescue mission died in a plane crash in upstate New York, a dog he was transporting also died, officials said. But two others survived, including one that was found in a snowy hole he had dug with broken legs.

The pilot, Seuk Kim, 49, was traveling to Albany with three dogs from Maryland when he crashed on Sunday in Windham, N.Y., about 35 miles from Albany in the Catskill Mountains, according to the authorities.

Peter Kusminsky, the Greene County sheriff, said Mr. Kim had experienced poor visibility during the flight and had requested permission to change his altitude because of turbulence in the air.

The sheriff said the authorities subsequently received a no-voice 911 call from Mr. Kims phone at about 6:10 p.m., followed by calls from the Air Force and an Albany airport saying that Mr. Kims plane had flown off their radars.
Rudolph W. Giuliani was not having a good day, and it showed.

The former New York City mayor was in federal court in Manhattan on Tuesday to discuss his continuing failure to give up nearly $11 million worth of personal assets. The forfeiture was meant as a down payment on the $148 million Mr. Giuliani owes to two Georgia election workers for defaming them by claiming, without evidence, that they had helped to steal the 2020 presidential election.

But first, Judge Lewis Liman allowed Mr. Giulianis lawyers to withdraw from the case. They had requested to be removed two weeks ago, citing an unspecified professional ethics concern.

Im sorry it came to this, Kenneth Caruso, one of Mr. Giulianis lawyers, said before he and his co-counsel left the hearing.

In a statement on Tuesday, Mr. Caruso said that there had been a difference of opinion with Mr. Giuliani but they wished his new counsel every success.
The study noted that cities like New York have promoted mass transit to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. But, it said, the air quality inside the subway system is poor.

Dr. Shams Azad, the lead researcher on the study, told me that the concentrations in some stations were 15 times above World Health Organization guidelines. He said the average concentration in stations was 150 to 200 units, while the W.H.O. limit was 15.

He said the most polluted stations were at 168th Street and 181st Street on the No. 1 line, with levels between 550 and 600 units. The West Side Rag website noted when it reported on the study last week that concentrations in the 72nd Street station were also high. On a list of the top 20 polluted stations with the study, 72nd Street  a stop for No. 2 and No. 3 express trains as well as for the No. 1  ranked 20th, and an interactive map prepared with the study showed that the level there was 233 units.

Azad blamed poor ventilation in the 168th Street and 181st Street stations for those high readings. Both are deep underground. The High Street station on the A and C lines in Brooklyn registered 360 units, while Borough Hall on the No. 2 and No. 3 lines in Brooklyn had a reading of 311 units. In Manhattan, the level in the Fulton Street station on the J and Z lines was 290 units, while the level in the Bowling Green station on the No. 4 and No. 5 lines was 284 units.

For the study, the researchers simulated home-to-work trip patterns of three million commuters at all but 43 of the citys 472 subway stations. They measured particle concentrations by taking round trips on each line.
On a sunny spring day this year, two members of Congress and two former presidential candidates stepped out of the Manhattan courthouse where Donald J. Trump was being tried on criminal charges.

The four were the latest in a parade of Mr. Trumps allies who attended the trial to show support for the once and future president. Like Mr. Trump, they all wore red ties. And like him, they all called the case an act of persecution.

The sooner that this scam trial can be concluded, said one of the four, Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota, the sooner that the president can get back to getting out and campaigning.

Mr. Trumps subsequent conviction on 34 felony counts did not keep him from regaining the presidency. Now, as he fills out his new administration, he has picked more than a dozen political operatives, lawyers and elected officials who attended the proceedings for key roles.
Mr. Trump appointed 228 district and circuit court judges, the most in four years by any president since Jimmy Carter and just under a third of the federal bench. A look at some of their actions shows how important it is for Mr. Biden and the Senate to counterbalance their influence.

Mr. Trump was correct when he said in 2023 that he had totally transformed the federal judiciary, and his supporters are pushing him to go even further in his second term. In his first four years, he relied primarily on the Federalist Society, an establishment conservative group, to supply him with judicial nominations; this time, Republicans say, he will be taking names from ultraright groups like the Article III Project, which has pushed for some of the most extreme candidates, and the First Liberty Institute, which wants religion to play a far bigger role in public life.

Mr. Trumps supporters have repeatedly made it clear they expect him to choose judges who agree with his expansive definition of executive power  I have the right to do whatever I want as president, he said in 2019  and a new slate of his appointees in the lower courts is likely to find new ways to build on the Supreme Courts grant of immunity and allow his dictates to become a new American reality.

Given the rights relentless focus on pushing the judiciary in its direction, it is even possible that Mr. Trump will pressure Congress to create more judgeships that he could quickly fill or use recess appointments to simply bypass the confirmation process for unqualified judges. There is a legitimate need for additional judicial seats to handle a growing workload in the courts, and in August the Senate unanimously passed a bill that would create 66 additional district court seats over the next 10 years, including 22 during Mr. Trumps upcoming term. (The bill is pending in the House.)

But Mr. Trump and his allies arent concerned with workloads, constitutional process or fair-mindedness; they simply want judges who will uphold the demands of the White House. Senate Republicans who give in to Mr. Trumps demands to violate norms by packing the court system should remember that they will not always be in power and that once a norm is broken by one party, the other party is likely to use the same methods later.

Mr. Biden and the Senate, led by Chuck Schumer, have done an admirable job of filling judicial vacancies, even holding late-night votes to reduce the impact of Mr. Trumps coming choices. As of this week, the Senate has confirmed 218 of Mr. Bidens nominations to the federal district and circuit benches, and eight more are lined up for confirmation in the next few days. That comes pretty close to Mr. Trumps record. But there are still more than 40 vacancies, and there wont be time to fill them all, in part because of determined Republican opposition slowing down the process and ancient Senate procedural rules.
Theres no question that Google dominates the world of internet search. But in attempting to open up this critical industry to more competition, the government is pursuing a cure worse than the disease. If the government is successful at breaking up Google, history tells us that consumers and many enterprises tied to our vast and flourishing internet may ultimately pay a price.

Judge Amit P. Mehta of the D.C. Federal District Court ruled earlier this year that Google, which the Justice Department claims controls over 90 percent of online search, illegally maintained a monopoly by paying manufacturers such as Apple to make Google the default search engine on their products. Last week, the Justice Department and a group of states presented the judge with a plethora of proposed remedies. Not only should Google be required to stop paying others for default status, it must also sell Chrome, its popular web browser. It would also be barred from making itself the default search engine on its own products and disallowed from preferring its own products in search results.

The entire point of antitrust law is to promote competitive markets. Antitrust remedies are not designed to punish a wrongdoer but rather to correct the effects of a monopoly. The test for a successful remedy is whether the market becomes more competitive, with higher output or a better experience for consumers.

At this point, the Justice Department has not sufficiently explained why its proposed actions are an appropriate remedy. Some of the proposals were not addressed at any length in the judges opinion in the Google trial at all. Others would split up complementary products, which often leads to poorer quality outcomes and higher coordination costs, both of which would be passed on to consumers. If the government gets everything it wants, the result could remove some of the features that have made Google products so successful and result in a fractured system that requires greater user effort to get inferior results.
It is not only a new Iran that Trump will be dealing with but also a new Israel

There were legitimate reasons President Biden denounced the International Criminal Courts arrest warrants against Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes in Gaza against a Hamas enemy that deliberately embedded itself among civilians. The same court never issued an arrest warrant for President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, whose army killed hundreds of thousands of his own people. The I.C.C. said Syria is not a member. But neither is Israel. It is also odd that the I.C.C. issued a warrant only for the Hamas leader Mohammed Deif, who is widely believed to be dead, and not for the very much alive Muhammad Sinwar (the younger brother of the late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar), who is now reportedly running Hamas in Gaza and was a commander in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

But while the I.C.C. warrants are questionable, they were also avoidable. The strategy that Netanyahu has imposed on his military is one of the ugliest in Israels history: Go into Gaza, destroy as much of Hamas as you can, dont be too worried about civilian casualties, then leave the remnants of Hamas in charge to loot food convoys and intimidate the local population  then rinse and repeat. Go back in, smash and leave no one better in charge, creating a permanent Somalia on Israels border.

Why is he doing this? Because Bibi is being directed by the far-right Jewish supremacists he needs to stay in power and possibly out of prison on charges of corruption. And the stated goal of those Jewish supremacists is to extend Israeli settlements from the West Bank right through Gaza. They oppose any scenario in which the Palestinian Authority is gradually installed in Gaza as part of an Arab peacekeeping force to replace Hamas. They fear the Palestinian Authority might then become a legitimate partner for a two-state solution.

When you fight a war with this many civilian casualties for a year and offer no vision of peace with the other side, you invite the I.C.C.

Attention, President-elect Trump: Netanyahu will tell you that Israel is defending the free world in defeating the dark forces of Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. There is truth in that. But there is also truth in the fact that he is doing it to defend a Jewish supremacist apartheid vision in the West Bank and Gaza. Its a dirty business. If you just unquestionably wrap your arms around him, you will get yourself and America dirty, too. You will also ensure that your Jewish grandchildren will one day learn what it is to be Jewish in a world where the Jewish state is a pariah.
GUADAGNINO They become forever sexy.

And, of course, he wears sandals.

ANDERSON We did this other film, Challengers, and there was a debate about sandals, so the minute we were doing this film, I was like, Were putting in sandals, and were going to show toes. And Jason had this moment when he lifted his foot in the air, which was probably one of the most funniest days on set.

What about continuity? Was it hard to keep that up scene to scene with all the sweat and splotches?

GUADAGNINO I think continuity in filmmaking is for the poor of spirit. You know how much I fight with the costume supervisors when they say, You cannot do this because you have to have continuity. I say, You do your job, make sure that you can get continuity. And if we have to fix something, we do it in the visual FX eventually.

Among the most striking props in the film are the masks that are worn during the ayahuasca trip at the films climax. I understand those were actually from a JW Anderson collection, Jonathan?

ANDERSON I had done a show during the pandemic when I couldnt use models, so I had these masks made. Then when Luca was describing this scene, I was like, I have these masks, but they were brightly colored. So we took them and made them quite antique. I love that they got a second life because they were sitting in a box and were never used beyond the show.
Authorities in Lithuania are refusing to rule out the possible involvement of Putins intel operatives after a DHL cargo jet smashed into a house in the country, killing one person.

The Kremlin has reportedly launched a bizarre campaign of terror, targeting DHL across Europe, including allegedly placing incendiary devices hidden in packages that were due to be loaded into cargo planes operated by the courier company, which was founded in San Francisco.

New CCTV captures DHL flight QY5960 as it nose dived moments before landing at Vilnius International Airport.



The crew member who died during the crash was a Spanish citizen, the police confirmed to the Elta news agency later on Monday morning. The other three crew members pic.twitter.com/VhBBX5cEyo  Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) November 25, 2024

The Boeing jet which crashed Monday started its journey in Leipzig, Germany. The city has been the site of three previous attacks apparently orchestrated by Kremlin agents. In July, on three separate days, fires broke out in packages bound for a DHL cargo plane due to leave the city.

ADVERTISEMENT

On Monday, the DHL cargo plane lost control on approach to Vilnius Airport in the Lithuanian capital andjust a mile from the runwayskidded through a wooded area before smashing into the two-storey building at around 5.30am local time Monday (22:30 Sunday EST).

One person, a male crew member, died. The two pilots and all of the residents in the house survived. I saw a fireball, a witness told an AP reporter at the scene. My first thought is that a world (war) has begun.

Authorities suspect Putin had a say in the incident

Lithuanian Police Commissioner General Arunas Paulauskas said investigators are considering the possibility of a terrorist act. This is one of the versions that must be studied and checked, he said.

The incident follows suspicious blazes that targeted courier companies in Poland, Germany and the U.K. as part of a Europe-wide campaign against infrastructure which Western intelligence agencies believe is being orchestrated by Russian operatives.

ADVERTISEMENT

Polish authorities went on the record to confirm that they believed foreign intelligence saboteurs were involved in the bizarre firebomb plots. Prosecutor Katarzyna Calow-Jaszewska said earlier this month that bad actors had been involved in sending parcels containing hidden explosives and dangerous materials.

As far as the most recent incident goes, outgoing Lithuanian prime minister, Ingrida Simonyte, has urged people not to point the finger.

 A Swiftair Boeing 737-400 operating for DHL crashed while approaching Vilnius Airport, Lithuania, from Leipzig, Germany. The aircraft narrowly missed a residential building, and all 12 occupants were safely evacuated. Via @airwaysmagazine



Flight data pic.twitter.com/HcwPYtTOxp  RadarBox (@RadarBoxCom) November 25, 2024

In the current geopolitical context, we look at every incident differently than before, but I ask you to refrain from jumping to conclusions, she said in a statement on social media.

The police commissioner said it was too early to say what brought the plane down but said it was more likely something less nefarious than a Russian attack. Reports so far suggest there was no evidence of an explosion before the plane went down.
Admiration Society brings together two creative people from two different fields for one wide-ranging conversation.

Emma Corrin first encountered Maggie Nelsons work three summers ago, when the actor was in Brighton, England, filming 2022s My Policeman, a British drama about postwar sexual repression. At the time, Corrin, now 28, was grappling with their gender identity, and a friend recommended The Argonauts (2015), Nelsons memoir about queer desire and making a family with her partner, the artist Harry Dodge. The book appealed so deeply to Corrin that, when that production ended, they decided to remain at the flat theyd rented during filming to finish reading it.

Nelson, 51, was born in Northern California and moved in the 1990s to New York, where she worked as a waitress, trained as a dancer and took workshops with the poet Eileen Myles before getting her Ph.D. in English at the City University of New York. In addition to The Argonauts, Nelson, whos now based in Los Angeles, is the author of Bluets (2009), a meditation on love and loss in the form of a treatise on the color blue; Like Love (2024), her latest collection of essays and conversations; and eight other books that include scholarly criticism, autobiography, true crime and poetry.

Corrins career has also spanned genres. After earning a degree in education, English and drama at the University of Cambridge, the London-based actor gained sudden acclaim as Princess Diana on The Crown in 2020, and then went on to star in the historical romance Lady Chatterleys Lover (2022), the psychological thriller A Murder at the End of the World (2023) and in the 2022 stage adaptation of Orlando: A Biography, Virginia Woolfs 1928 novel. Once billed as an ingenue, Corrin brings a fierce physicality to their roles, the next of which will be in Robert Eggerss gothic horror film Nosferatu, an update of the vampire classic that will be released next month.

For Corrin, who recently wrote a screenplay with a friend, Nelsons work remains a touchstone. After wrapping A Murder at the End of the World, the co-creator Zal Batmanglij presented the actor with a copy of The Red Parts, Nelsons 2007 memoir of following a murder trial. Earlier this year, Corrin saw the playwright Margaret Perrys adaptation of Bluets, starring Emma DArcy, Kayla Meikle and Ben Whishaw, in London. It was the first time that Nelsons work had been performed onstage.
Mexicos president, Claudia Sheinbaum, hit back on Tuesday morning at President-elect Trumps vow to impose 25 percent tariffs on all products coming into the United States from Mexico, signaling that her country was prepared to respond with retaliatory tariffs of its own.

Ms. Sheinbaum also said that raising tariffs would fail to curb illegal migration or the consumption of illicit drugs in the United States, an argument that Mr. Trump had made in his warning on tariffs.

The best path is dialogue, Ms. Sheinbaum said at her daily news conference, calling for negotiations with the incoming Trump administration while laying out steps that Mexico has already taken to assuage some of Mr. Trumps concerns.

Ms. Sheinbaum, reading from a letter she is planning to send to Mr. Trump, noted that illegal crossings at the border between Mexico and the United States had plunged from December 2023 to November 2024, largely as a result of Mexicos own efforts to stem migration flows within its own territory.
A Republican senator is blocking the promotion of Lt. Gen. Christopher T. Donahue, the commander of U.S. troops in the final days of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, in what could be the first salvo in a Trump administration war against Americas generals.

Senator Markwayne Mullin, Republican of Oklahoma, put a hold on General Donahues promotion to four stars, or general, after his nomination was sent to the Armed Services Committee last week, officials said.

Sabrina Singh, a spokeswoman for the Pentagon, told reporters on Monday that the Defense Department was aware of the hold.

General Donahue was the last American service member to depart Afghanistan as Taliban fighters took control on Aug. 31, 2021. A decorated former Delta Force commander, Army Ranger and paratrooper with multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, he was recently selected to lead the U.S. Armys Europe Command as the war in Ukraine heads into its fourth year.
When President-elect Donald J. Trump vowed to impose new 25 percent tariffs on all goods coming into the country from Canada and Mexico, he said hed keep them in place until drugs and people were stopped from crossing U.S. borders.

In particular, Mr. Trump mentioned a caravan of migrants bound for the United States from southern Mexico. It was the latest example of Mr. Trump using such collections of migrants to bolster his claims about the border  although its rare they ever get that far.

The groups of thousands of migrants often come together in southern Mexico near its border with Guatemala, which is more than 1,000 miles from the United States. The reason, mainly, is power and safety in numbers.

While waiting in the southern city of Tapachula for humanitarian visas to travel through Mexico, a process that can often take months, migrants band together as they prepare to move north.
The bills many provisions include shifting authority over the state election board from the governor to the auditor  who will be a Republican next year and who would likely create a G.O.P. majority on the five-member board. The legislation would also limit the governors ability to fill vacancies on state courts; curtail the ability of the attorney general (also a Democrat next year) to challenge laws passed by the legislature; and make it harder for voters to fix errors with their mail ballots.

The veto sets up an extraordinary test of priorities and unity within the legislatures Republican ranks. The party has just a single-vote supermajority in the lower chamber, and key Republicans will wrestle with whether increasing their partys power is worth supporting a bill that some see as falling short of the hurricane relief their constituents need.

Some Republicans were already grappling with that decision last Wednesday. State Representative Mike Clampitt, a Republican from Swain County on the states western edge, said in a brief interview that he had been deeply disappointed and surprised by the bill, particularly because it did not provide sufficient money for disaster aid.

Asked if he would vote to override a veto from Mr. Cooper, Mr. Clampitt said: Ill have to cross that bridge when I get to it. Were not there yet.

Democrats were unified in their opposition to the bill. Last Wednesday, before the State Senate was set to vote, Democratic state representatives from Western North Carolina held a news conference in the Capitol, denouncing the bill as not enough and arguing that it was being used as a facade for usurping power from the governor.
President-elect Donald J. Trumps threats to impose damaging tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China may ultimately be an opening wager to try to use the power of the American market to persuade other countries to stem a flow of drugs and migrants across U.S. borders.

But even if the threat to impose vast tariffs on some of the worlds largest economies is a negotiating tactic, it is also a gambit that has immediate real-world consequences.

Before Mr. Trump even sets foot in the Oval Office, his threat to put tariffs on Americas three largest trading partners on his first day in office was reverberating around the world, shocking international businesses, rocking diplomatic relationships and calling into question two big trade deals that Mr. Trump negotiated during his first term.

Mr. Trumps pronouncement late Monday that he would impose a 25 percent tariff on all goods from Canada and Mexico and a 10 percent tariff on products from China was immediately denounced by business groups, who said such a move would cause economic harm. Foreign officials rushed to reassure the incoming Trump administration that they had been working to stop drugs and migrants from coming into the United States  while warning that they were also ready to turn around and impose their own tariffs on American exports.
President-elect Donald Trumps ire toward Mexico for the flow of migrants into the U.S. is nothing new. Now, he has added Canada as a target over the issue.

As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before, he asserted on the social media platform Truth Social on Monday. The post also laid out his planned course of action: a 25 percent tariff on all imports from both countries.

Heres a look at whats happening at the northern U.S. border.

Illegal crossings have risen sharply but remain far below those at the southern border.

Border agents made more than 23,000 arrests at the northern border from October 2023 through September, the 2024 fiscal year, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. That number has risen in recent years, from just over 2,000 in the 2022 fiscal year and around 10,000 in the 2023 fiscal year.

Most of the arrests took place in part of the northern border known as the Swanton Sector, an area between Quebec and Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York.
Breyten Breytenbach, a dissident South African-born poet, memoirist and former political prisoner who was jailed on trumped-up charges for anti-apartheid actions in the 1970s, died on Sunday in Paris, his longtime place of residence as an expatriate critic of his homeland. He was 85.

His death was announced by his family, who did not state a cause.

Mr. Breytenbach was often called the greatest living poet writing in Afrikaans, the language of the dominant white group in South Africa, though he spent almost all of his adult life abroad and was livid that his native tongue became a symbol of racist domination.

To be an Afrikaner is a political definition, he wrote in 1985. It is a blight and a provocation to humanity.

His loathing of apartheids institutionalization of white supremacy began in personal experience. In 1962, Mr. Breytenbach married a Vietnamese-born woman, Hoang Lien Ngo, but because of South Africas laws forbidding mixed-race marriages, she was refused entry to the country.
Emergency workers in Costa Rica walked through a remote mountain forest on Tuesday carrying a woman who was in critical condition after she survived a plane crash that killed five of the six people aboard.

The Cessna 206 Stationair crashed Monday afternoon in the Pico Blanco area southwest of the capital, San Jose, the Costa Rican Red Cross said. The plane was carrying the pilot, the co-pilot and a family.

The 31-year-old woman was the only survivor. She was rescued in a protracted effort that was complicated by the nighttime conditions and the remote location of the crash site, which could be reached only on foot.

Rescuers said that they headed to the area without knowing the precise location of the crash. As darkness fell, they were about to give up for the day when they heard a scream at about 10 p.m. in response to their calls, said Christopher Calderon Bailey, a chief rescuer at the Costa Rican Red Cross.
Hong Kongs top court ruled on Tuesday to uphold inheritance and public housing benefits for same-sex married couples, a decision that supporters hailed as an important step toward expanding gay rights in the territory.

Hong Kong does not recognize same-sex marriage, but the rulings brought an end to two protracted legal battles involving couples who married overseas.

Nick Infinger, who married his husband in Canada, sued Hong Kongs Housing Authority in 2018 after their joint application for public housing was denied. His challenge was successful, but the government appealed.

In a separate case, Edgar Ng sought in 2019 to challenge the lawfulness of a policy after learning that his husband, whom he married in Britain, would not be able to inherit his government-subsidized apartment. Mr. Ng died in 2020, and lower courts subsequently ruled in his favor. His husband, Henry Li, contested the Hong Kong governments efforts to appeal those rulings.
news Analysis

Under the deal reached today, effective at 4 a.m. tomorrow local time, the fighting across the Lebanese-Israeli border will end. Will end. This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities. What is left of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations will not be allowed. Civilians on both sides will soon be able to safely return to their communities, and begin to rebuild their homes, their schools, their farms, their businesses and their very lives. We are determined that this conflict will not be just another cycle of violence. We, along with France and others, will provide the necessary assistance to make sure this deal is implemented fully and effectively. Let me be clear: If Hezbollah or anyone else breaks the deal and poses a direct threat to Israel, then Israel retains the right to self-defense, consistent with international law. And just as the Lebanese people deserve a future of security and prosperity, so do the people of Gaza. They too deserve an end to the fighting and displacement.

Finally, President Biden got his Rose Garden peace deal. It was not exactly the one he has been straining to land for most of the past year, but it was a breakthrough nonetheless  and, coming after a bitter election, a sweet moment of validation.

The question is whether the cease-fire in Lebanon that Mr. Biden announced on Tuesday will be the coda to his diplomatic efforts in the Middle East or a steppingstone to more sweeping agreements that could at last end the devastating war in Gaza and potentially even set the stage for a broader regional transformation.

If it holds, the Lebanon cease-fire by itself could make an important difference. It was designed to restore stability along the border between Israel and Lebanon, permitting hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians on both sides to return to their homes while providing a buffer zone to ensure Israeli security and offering an opportunity for Lebanons government to reassert control over its territory from a weakened Hezbollah.

But as he stepped out of the Oval Office into the Rose Garden on a sunny November day in the winter of his presidency to hail the agreement on Tuesday, Mr. Biden clearly had grander ambitions still in mind. It reminds us that peace is possible, he said. I say that again: Peace is possible. As long as that is the case, Ill not for a single moment stop working to achieve it.

With just 55 days left in office, Mr. Biden is racing against the clock of history. He would prefer to be remembered as the president who set the Middle East on a path toward a lasting settlement of longstanding animosities than one who turned over a mess to his successor.

With the Lebanon accord in hand, Mr. Biden said he would now renew his push for a cease-fire in Gaza, working along with Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, and he called on both Israel and Hamas to seize the moment. He described the cataclysmic violence that Palestinians have endured in Gaza in more visceral terms than he typically has over the past 14 months of war.

They, too, deserve an end to the fighting and displacement, Mr. Biden said. The people of Gaza have been through hell. Their world has been absolutely shattered. Far too many civilians in Gaza have suffered far too much.

Mr. Biden laid most of the blame for the continuing fighting in Gaza with Hamas, which has refused for months and months to negotiate a good-faith cease-fire and a hostage deal, he said. But he also called on Israel, which has been bold on the battlefield, to now be bold in turning tactical gains against Iran and its proxies into a coherent strategy.

An end to the fighting in Gaza accompanied by the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas  including seven Americans, four of whom are believed to still be alive  would be a gratifying final accomplishment for Mr. Biden and his team. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has made it his highest priority for the final weeks of his tenure. Mr. Bidens advisers Jake Sullivan, Jon Finer, Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein, along with the C.I.A. director, William J. Burns, have all devoted much of the past year to the project.

At so many points along the way they thought they were on the cusp of a deal, only to have something blow it up  a new burst of violence, the targeted assassination of Hamas leaders, the killing of Israeli hostages. Yet they kept going back again and again, never giving up, perhaps naive in the view of some, but certainly determined and relentless.

After so many close calls, it is hard to imagine that they could pull it off in the time they have left, especially if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel concludes that he would be better off waiting for President-elect Donald J. Trump to take office on Jan. 20. But Mr. Bidens team insisted again on Tuesday that it was possible.

More elusive, yet endlessly attractive, for Mr. Biden is the broader realignment of the region represented by a long-sought agreement with Saudi Arabia that was derailed by Hamass terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, triggering the Gaza war. Even now, at this late hour, Mr. Biden said he might be able to nail down a deal to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia by providing American security commitments and civilian nuclear assistance to the kingdom and creating a credible pathway to a Palestinian state.

I believe this agenda remains possible, Mr. Biden said. In my remaining time in office, Ill work tirelessly to advance this vision for an integrated, secure and prosperous region, all of which strengthens Americas national security. The chances seem remote, but if nothing else, he hopes he can set the table for the next administration to complete such a deal.

Administration officials said they were staying in touch with Mr. Trumps team about their efforts. Mr. Hochstein briefed the president-elects national security advisers shortly after the Nov. 5 election and again in the past two days about the approach and came away feeling that the incoming team was supportive, according to a senior administration official who discussed the sensitive contacts on the condition of anonymity.

The official said that the political and geopolitical stars both are aligned for the Saudi deal, which would build on the normalization agreements that Mr. Trump helped seal between Israel and several smaller Arab nations during his first term. Mr. Trump has a close relationship with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, who has made clear he is eager for a deal if one can be reached.

In the meantime, the Biden team has work to do to ensure the success of the agreement it has now negotiated in Lebanon, which could easily unravel given the fraught history of the benighted Arab state. Under the agreement, fighting was to halt at 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday, and over the next 60 days Hezbollah and Israeli forces are to make phased withdrawals from southern Lebanon while the Lebanese Army moves in to ensure the peace.

This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities, Mr. Biden said. What is left of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations will not be allowed  I emphasize, will not be allowed  to threaten the security of Israel again.

Mr. Biden said that the United States and France would work to ensure that the agreement was successfully enacted, but he repeated that no American combat troops would be involved in the effort. Were determined this conflict will not be just another cycle of violence, he said.

That cycle has been hard to break. Among other things, the latest deals negotiators said that Israel would retain the right to respond to any new attacks by Hezbollah, raising the question of whether the cease-fire would really hold. Hezbollah is technically not a party to the agreement, but the Lebanese government ostensibly negotiated on its behalf.

The Biden team was mindful of the unsatisfying end to the 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon, when the international community brokered a cease-fire, only to essentially move on to other issues even as Hezbollah never really gave up its hold on the south. Mr. Bidens aides said they had learned the lessons of 2006 and sought to craft this agreement to avoid the same pitfalls.

A tripartite mechanism created shortly after the 2006 war will be reformulated and enhanced to include France and to be led by the United States. The group will receive complaints about potential violations and work with the Lebanese Army to build its capacity to ensure security in the southern part of the country. A recently revived military technical committee will include other countries that can provide equipment, training and financial support for Lebanons security forces.

Mr. Biden in his televised speech on Tuesday made a point of guaranteeing that no American combat forces would be involved in securing the border. But officials separately said that noncombat American troops working out of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut could be involved in providing training and other support.

Those, of course, were important details, but they were details, best left to aides to describe. For a lame-duck president increasingly fading into the backdrop, the bigger picture loomed. Yes, his time at the top is coming to an end. Yes, his successor is now setting the tone. But for now, the Oval Office is still his. The final legacy is yet to be written.

It was almost possible to hear Mr. Biden trying to write it in the Rose Garden on Tuesday. Todays announcement, he said, brings us closer to realizing the affirmative agenda that Ive been pushing forward during my entire presidency, a vision for the future of the Middle East where its at peace and prosperous and integrated across borders.

Closer, perhaps. But not there, at least not yet.
The cease-fire, which went into effect at 4 a.m. Wednesday local time, would end Israels ground invasion of southern Lebanon, which began when its troops crossed the border two months ago. The invasion was in response to months of rocket attacks by the Iranian-backed militants in support of the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, which kicked off a year of back-and-forth attacks. Israel said its goal was to clear the border area of Hezbollah fighters, weapons and tunnels.

Under the proposal, the Lebanese Army  which is not a combatant in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict  would fill the vacuum in southern Lebanon. United Nations peacekeepers who monitored an earlier truce would also be present. But many questions about the proposal remain unanswered, including how the Lebanese army would exert authority over the powerful militants.

In the past two months, Israeli forces have advanced several miles into many parts of southern Lebanons border area, raiding many towns and villages with a strong Hezbollah presence.
C Street Advisory Group is providing strategic communications counsel to Hearthside Foods Solutions contract food manufacturer as it files Chapter 11 in a bid to right size its balance sheet.

The restructuring will cut more than $1.9B in debt from Hearthsides books, and pump about $200M in new capital into the Downers Grove, IL-based company.

CEO Darlene Nicosia, a Coke, Kraft and PepsiCo veteran who took Hearthsides helm in August, said her team is ready to transform the company for a bright future.

Chapter 11 protection will enhance Hearthsides leadership in the food manufacturing industry as we drive continued innovation and growth, said Nicosia.

Hearthside, which produces baked goods, snacks and nutrition bars, is the industrys largest private bakery with 28 facilities and 12,000 workers.

It expects to emerge from Chapter 11 during the first quarter of 2025.
J.D. Moriarty

ICR names J.D. Moriarty CEO of ICR Capital, its broker-dealer affiliate. Moriarty comes to ICR Capital from Lending Tree, where he most recently served as president of marketplace and chief operating officer. He was previously managing director, head of America equity capital markets at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. In his new post, Moriarty will oversee ICR Capitals transaction advisory services business and work closely with the entire team. J.D. brings a unique blend of experience as a banker, CFO, and operator to ICR clients, said ICR CEO Tom Ryan and ICR president Don Duffy. His extensive experience and proven track record will be invaluable as we continue to expand ICRs advisory services in this area.

Sherri Chambers

Hearst Magazines names Sherri Chambers SVP, chief marketing officer. Chambers previously served as TikToks first global head of brand strategy. Before that, she was CMO, New York at J. Walter Thompson and held brand management roles at Omnicoms Barbarian and Stagwells 72andSunny. Chambers will oversee Hearst Magazines marketing functions, including industry marketing, brand account and strategy, events and the HearstMade creative studio. She is an entrepreneurial thinker, and her customer-centric approach will benefit Hearst as we continue to focus on digital innovation and executing our long-term growth strategy, said Hearst Magazines chief revenue officer Lisa Ryan Howard.

Stacy Lynn Bourgeois

Neighborly, a home services company, appoints Stacy Lynn Bourgeois as CMO, effective Dec. 2. Bourgeois was most recently global head of product, quality and operations at Renewed, Amazons pre-owned, refurbished products unit. She previously served as in several positions at Pizza Hut, including director of customer acquisition and director of brand marketing and strategy. At Neighborly, she will be a member of the corporate leadership team, reporting directly to CEO Mike Davis. "Stacy Lynn brings a wide array of experience in business and brand strategy, organizational leadership, customer insight, data analytics, and marketing technology," said Davis. "Her expertise and innovative approach to marketing will be instrumental in helping us better connect with our customers.
Cllr Claire Murray says two FF TDs would help return stable government: I am appealing to north Offaly voters to cross the traditional party divide and to give me their vote.

A FAIR deal for Offaly through the creation of a designated Enterprise Fund from all energy projects in the county must be a central component of the next Programme for Government, according to Fianna Fail general election candidate Cllr Claire Murray.

Cllr Murray has also told Tanaiste Micheal Martin that the new government must ringfence 5% of the annual State dividend paid to it by Bord na Mona and 40% of the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), for locally managed funds for Co Offaly.

The candidate (pictured below) said the combined funds would have a value of 60 million over the 20-year lifetime of windfarms and would create hundreds of jobs throughout the county.

In a message to Offaly voters Cllr Murray said the return of two Fianna Fail TDs in Offaly would help return a stable government. She urged north Offaly voters to cross the political divide and give her a mandate to fight for what she says is a just and fair transition based on job creation and the revitalisation of rural towns and villages.

Cllr Murray said: When voters cast their ballot on Friday, the future of Co Offaly will be foremost in their minds. I am confident that Fianna Fail can return to government, but we do not take the electorate for granted.

The candidate added: I know from listening to voters on the doorsteps, in shopping centres and

workplaces that that they want economic certainty at national level, but they also feel that Offaly had been left behind when it comes to the distribution of Just Transition Funds and has been abandoned by Bord na Mona.

Coming from north Offaly I know the contribution of Bord na Mona and ESB workers to the development of the local economy. I understand their deep frustration at the lack of support at national level, despite cross-party engagement on this issue at local, national and European level. Thats why I am appealing to north Offaly voters to cross the traditional party divide and to give me their vote.

The candidate claimed there are countless examples of how Offaly has been abandoned by Bord na Mona across the county.

There are also examples of imaginative funding schemes which could redress the unfair treatment of Offaly workers and their families. The 3 million West Offaly Fund established in 2003 following the closure of Ferbane Power Station was overseen by Offaly County Council and Offaly Local Development Company.

It resulted in the creation of 124 jobs at Ferbane Business & Technology Park and is, by any metric, the model for the establishment of community-led job creation initiatives. Yet Bord na Mona has steadfastly refused to engage with the local community to imaginative plans in Ferbane. We need a re-imagining of the Just Transition programme.

Cllr Murray said that on January 25 this year Eamon Dooley, at the time a Fianna Fail councillor, and Cllr Neil Feighery, Fine Gael, together with Offaly County Council chief executive Anna Marie Delaney, met with Bord na Mona chief Tom Donnellan and Minister Simon Coveney to discuss detailed proposals.

Cllr Murray said she fears Bord na Mona has no interest in sharing profits, energy for trade, or the State-owned lands they operate with the communities of Offaly, for job creation.

At that juncture, Enterprise Minister Coveney proposed that in respect of State-owned lands, a share of the annual dividend paid by Bord na Mona to the Government - 38 million in 2023 and circa 23 million in 2022  could be ring fenced for an investment fund for the lifetime of the renewable energy on State owned lands. His successor Minister Peter Burke met local councillors on May 9th last and was of the same view as Minister Coveney.

The reality however is that the European Union Just Transition Funds have been allocated and the people of Offaly feel abandoned. As a newly elected TD I would work within Fianna Fail and on an all-party basis to secure funds for Offaly to be managed in Offaly to create employment in Offaly, Cllr Murray concluded.
A woman who stole cans of Buzzballz, wine, crisps and a fruitpot from a shop in the Midlands was reminded she was barred during a court appearance.

Zoe Maher (24) of White Horse Lodge, Flat 2, Mountrath admitted stealing three cans of Buzzballz alcoholic drink, three bottles of I Heart wine, a six pack of Walkers crisps and a fruit pot with a combined value of 48.47 from Mighty Mols in Mountrath on July 16 last.

She trespassed at Might Mols and engaged in threatening or abusive behaviour on the Mountrath Road in Portlaoise and caused criminal damage to a patrol car by putting saliva on a headrest on the Mountrath Road in Portlaoise on July 29, 2024.

Garda Hogan told a sitting of Portlaoise District Court that the woman had entered the store and stolen products. She had been identified by the manager and was barred. The woman entered the store despite being barred.

He said while she was being conveyed to Portlaoise Garda Station she was threatening and abusive and the woman had caused criminal damage to the patrol car.

Since this they have not had any issue with her in the shop, said Garda Hogan. He said the cost of cleaning the car amounted to 79.45 and the theft from the shop amounted to 48.47.

Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client was pleading guilty to the offences.

He said the woman, who is in receipt of 140 per week jobseekers allowance after her accommodation costs, had been under some personal strain and had used alcohol as a crutch.

She has given up alcohol completely now, he said. She has brought a sum of 170 to court in total, Mr Meagher said.

In relation to the headrest, Mr Meagher said her mouth came into contact with the headrest and saliva excreted and he didnt expect the woman to trouble the court again. He said the 170 was indicative of a genuine effort on the part of his client.

Judge Susan Fay said the sum didnt go far enough. She ordered the woman to pay 200 to Little Blue Heroes along with the 48.47 in compensation.

Garda Hogan reminded the woman that she is still barred from the property.

The woman confirmed that she would not return to Mighty Mols.

Judge Fay remanded the matter back to Portlaoise District Court on December 16 for payment of the remainder of the compensation. She said if it wasnt paid she would convict the woman and fine her 400.
At least one Irish national is missing after a tourist yacht sank in the Red Sea off Egypt.

The Sea Story was carrying 44 people, including 31 foreign nationals from the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain and Ireland.

28 people were saved by rescuers, Amr Hanafi, the governor of the Red Sea region said, with 16 people, including the Irish national, are still missing.

Irelands Department of Foreign Affairs has said that it is aware of this incident and is providing consular assistance without revealing further details.

A spokesperson for travel trade organisation Abta said: We have been in contact with our members to see if they had any customers on the ship affected by this incident.

A distress call was made from the yacht shortly before dawn on Monday.

The vessel had left Marsa Alam for a five-day sailing.

Mr Hanafi said that according to those on board, a high sea wave hit the vessel and caused it to capsize in about five or seven minutes.

Some passengers were inside the cabins, which is why they couldnt get out of the boat, his statement on Facebook said.

Mr Hanafi also ruled out that there was a technical defect to the ship, saying that all the required licences had been obtained for The Sea Story.

READ NEXT: 'Check your hob immediately' - Irish homes warned over 'potentially fatal issue'

The Egyptian Meteorological Authority warned of high waves on the Red Sea and advised against maritime activity on Sunday and Monday.

The yacht was operated by Dive Pro Liveaboard, which is based in the Egyptian resort of Hurghada.

The company said it has no information on the matter.

Rescue operations are being co-ordinated by the Egyptian military and the Red Sea Governorate.

Armed forces aircraft were deployed above the scene as part of the response.

Marsa Alam is a popular destination for tourists embarking on diving holidays, as it is near large areas with coral reefs.

Three Britons died in June last year when the diving boat they were on burst into flames off Marsa Alam.

The fire was caused by a suspected electrical fault.
Court orders Arjuna Mahendran to appear over 2015 treasury bond case

Posted by Editor on November 26, 2024 - 11:40 am

The Colombo Magistrates Court has ordered that former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran be notified to appear in court on February 25, 2025.

Mahendran is named as a suspect in a complaint filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) regarding a significant loss of over 10 billion rupees to the government that occurred during a Treasury bond issuance in 2015.

After considering a request made by the Bribery Commission, Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage issued this order today (November 26).
The truth was always going to come out. Thanks to Dr. Naomi Wolf and Amy Kelly, it is here sooner than later, although, sadly, not soon enough to save the lives and health of many people.

Dr. Naomi Wolf and Amy Kelly's bestselling book, The Pfizer Papers: Pfizer's Crimes Against Humanity, was published in mid-October 2024.

Over 3200 highly credentialed doctors and scientists under the leadership of one extraordinary woman, Amy Kelly, worked for two years on the 450,000 internal Pfizer documents released under court order by a successful lawsuit by attorney Aaron Siri.

In the process "these volunteers confirmed the greatest crime against humanity of all time."

Dr. Naomi Wolf states, in her introduction:

The Pfizer Papers is the result of a group of strangers-- ordinary people with extraordinary skills, located in different places around the world, with different backgrounds and interests-- who all came together, for no money or professional recompense at all; out of the goodness of their hearts, and motivated by love for true medicine and true science-- to undertake a rigorous, painfully detailed, and complex research project, which spanned the years 2022 to the present, and which continues to this day. The material they read through and analyzed involved 450,000 pages of documents, all written in extremely dense, technical language. This far-flung, relentlessly pursued research project-- under the leadership of DailyClout's COO, the remarkably gifted project director Amy Kelly-- brought one of the largest and most corrupt institutions in the world, Pfizer, to its knees. This project, pursued by 3,250 strangers who worked virtually and became friends and colleagues, drove a global pharmaceutical behemoth to lose billions of dollars in revenue. It balked the plans of the most powerful politicians on earth. It bypassed the censorship of the most powerful tech companies on earth. This is the ultimate David and Goliath story. The story began when lawyer Aaron Siri successfully sued the Food and Drug Administration, to compel them to release "The Pfizer Documents." These are Pfizer's internal documents-- as noted above, 450,000 pages in number-- that detail the clinical trials Pfizer conducted in relation to its COVID mRNA injection. These trials were undertaken to secure the ultimate prize for a pharmaceutical company, the "EUA," or Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA. The FDA awarded EUA for ages 16+ to Pfizer in December 2020. The "pandemic," of course (a crisis in public health that a book of mine, The Bodies of Others, confirmed, involved hyped and manipulated "infections" data and skewed mortality documentation) became the pretext for the "urgency" that led the FDA to bestow EUA on Pfizer's (and Moderna's) novel drug. The EUA is the hall pass, essentially, allowing Pfizer to race right to market with a not-fully-tested product. The Pfizer Papers also contains documentation of what happened in "post-marketing," meaning in the three months, December 2020 to February 2021, as the vaccine was rolled out upon the public. All leading spokespeople, and bought-off media, called the injection "safe and effective," reading from what was a centralized script. Many people who took this injection, as it was launched in 2020-2021-2022 and to the present, did not realize that normal testing for safety of a new vaccine-- testing that typically takes ten to twelve years-- had simply been bypassed via the mechanisms of a "state of emergency" and the FDA's "Emergency Use Authorization." They did not understand that the real "testing" was in fact Pfizer and the FDA observing whatever was happening to them and their loved ones, after these citizens rolled up their sleeves and submitted to the shot. As we can never forget, many millions of these people who submitted to the injection were "mandated" to take it, facing the threat of job loss, suspension of their education, or loss of their military positions if they refused; in some US states and overseas countries, people also faced the suspension of their rights to take transportation, cross borders, go to school or college, receive certain medical procedures, or enter buildings such as churches and synagogues, restaurants and gyms-- if they refused... We learned that Pfizer knew within three months after rollout in December 2020, that the vaccines did not work to stop COVID. Pfizer's language was "vaccine failure" and "failure of efficacy." One of the most common "adverse events" in the Pfizer documents is "COVID." Pfizer knew that the vaccine materials-- lipid nanoparticles, an industrial fat, coated in polyethylene glycol, a petroleum byproduct; mRNA; and spike protein-- did not remain in the deltoid muscle, as claimed by all spokespeople. Rather, it dispersed throughout the body in forty-eight hours "like a shotgun blast," as one of the authors, Dr. Robert Chandler, put it; it crossed every membrane in the human body-- including the blood-brain barrier-- and accumulated in the liver, adrenals, spleen, brain, and, if one is a woman, in the ovaries. Dr. Chandler saw no mechanism whereby those materials leave the body, so every injection appears to pack more such materials into organs. Pfizer hired 2,400 fulltime staffers to help process "the large increase of adverse event reports" being submitted to the company's Worldwide Safety database. Pfizer knew by April 2021 that the injections damaged the hearts of young people. Pfizer knew by February 28, 2021-- just ninety days after the public rollout of their COVID vaccine-- that its injection was linked to a myriad of adverse events. Far from being "chills," "fever," "fatigue," as the CDC and other authorities claimed were the most worrying side effects, the actual side effects were catastrophically serious. These side effects included: death (which Pfizer does list as a "serious adverse event"). Indeed, over 1,233 deaths in first three months of the drug being publicly available... By the time Pfizer's vaccine rolled out to the public, the pharmaceutical giant knew that they would be killing babies and significantly harming women and men's reproduction. The material in the documents makes it clear that damaging human's ability to reproduce and causing spontaneous abortions of babies is "not a bug, it is a feature."... I will now take you to the thirty-six reports you will find in this book. Some of the headlines from the reports that follow are: On Feb 28, 2021, Pfizer produced "Pregnancy and Lactation Cumulative Review" showing that after mothers' vaccination with its vaccine: * Adverse events occurred in over 54 percent of cases of "maternal exposure" to vaccine and included 53 reports of spontaneous abortion (51)/ abortion (1)/ abortion missed (1) following vaccination. * Premature labor and delivery cases occurred, as well as two newborn deaths. *Some newborns suffered severe respiratory distress or "illness" after exposure via breast milk. "Substantial" birth rate drops happened across thirteen countries: countries in Europe, as well as Britain, Australia, and Taiwan, within nine months of public vaccine rollout. Approximately 70 percent of Pfizer vaccine-related adverse events occur in women. Spike protein and inflammation were still present in heart tissue one year after receipt of the mRNA COVID vaccine. In Pfizer's clinical trial, there were more deaths among the vaccinated than the placebo participants.

However, Pfizer submitted inaccurate data, showing more deaths in the placebo group, to the FDA when seeking emergency use authorization.



Infants and children under twelve received Pfizer's vaccine seven months before a pediatric vaccine approval resulting in:



*Stroke.



*Facial paralysis.



*Kidney injury or failure.

There was an over 3.7-fold increase in the number of deaths due to cardiovascular events in vaccinated clinical trial subjects compared to placebo subjects... ...unearthing this criminal evidence is painful indeed...seeing this material is like being among the Allied soldiers who first opened the gates of Auschwitz. We must share the truth, as the truth saves and sustains; and eventually, the truth will heal. Continued at Dr. Naomi Wolf's Substack here.

Steve Bhaerman notes in "How the Right Got Right And the Left Got Left: Lessons From An Abusive Relationship," (in his post here), "And now the revelations from the Pfizer Papers indicate that the Biden-Harris Administration knew the shots were not effective in preventing either infection or transmission - and in fact caused injuries - and still imposed the mandates."

Mark Crispin Miller, professor of media, culture, and communication, NYU, states, "No history of the COVID years-- that is, no history of the 2020s nearly anywhere worldwide-- could be complete, or even make much sense, without consideration of The Pfizer Papers. A masterpiece of research, this staggering translation of some 450,000 pages of internal Pfizer documents, carried out by well over 3,000 researchers, reveals in jaw-dropping detail the horrid truth about the trials of Pfizer's bioweapon-- which is to say that it reveals the lethal falseness of the propaganda that has beclouded all the world (and, one might say, helped to kill the world) since 2020: that Pfizer proved its "vaccine" to be "safe and effective" (it was neither), and that only it and other such "vaccines" could "save us" from "the virus" (they could not, and certainly did not, but killed and crippled just as many people as that "virus" was reported to have done). And yet, despite its thoroughness and clarity-- or, rather, because of them-- this all-important study has been blacked out by the media worldwide."

Author's note: If you or anyone you know has symptoms of long Covid or vaccine injury, the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) is dedicated to helping prevent and treat COVID, and vaccine injury, and offers protocols on their website, which states, "We aim to save lives and improve health by advancing protocols based on the latest science, data, and clinical observations.

"Our founding physicians are highly published and world-renowned thought leaders, with deep knowledge and expertise in a range of important health issues.

"The organization has reached millions of people through its protocols, website, webinars, newsletters, social media, speaking engagements, and media appearances. Our protocols are used by healthcare providers worldwide and have helped countless thousands of people.

"FLCCC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit funded entirely by voluntary donations from individuals and charitable organizations."

(Quotes in bold italics are emphasis by the author of this oped.)
This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.

You wouldn't know it anymore, but Donald Trump's grandparents and mother were immigrants, as were two of his wives. And imagine this: if they all had arrived here early in 2025, just as their son or grandson was reentering the Oval Office (yes, stretch your brain a little on that one), they might find themselves collected by nothing less than members of the U.S. military and deported. After all, he's sworn that, on the first day of his second term in office, he'll declare a "national emergency" and round up what are, for him, the usual suspects. Worse yet (or, of course, if you're The Donald, best yet), he is indeed reportedly planning to use -- yes, the U.S. military! -- to do so! Whether that military would be any more successful in following a president's orders for mayhem in this country than they were in this century in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere remains, of course, an open question. One Pentagon official, as Nick Turse recently reported, called the idea "absolutely insane."

And Trump has said more than once that he plans to deport no fewer than 15 to 20 million people (no matter, of course, that there are estimated to be fewer than 12 million undocumented immigrants in the United States right now). Of course, we're talking about the same man who claimed that Haitian immigrants were eating people's pets in Springfield, Ohio, and that Venezuelan gangs were running wild in Aurora, Colorado. As he promised on the campaign trail this fall, "We will have the largest deportation in the history of our country. And we'll start with Springfield and Aurora." (I'm sure you won't be surprised to learn that Haitian immigrant families are now fleeing Springfield "in droves" even though they may actually have "legal status" here.)

Of course, if you don't mind my changing the subject, this is the same man who claimed that, when it came to the dangers of climate change, "the ocean will rise -- maybe, it may go down, also -- but it may rise one-eighth of an inch in the next 497 years, they say." This is the man, the very one who will once again be "our" president, who would, in essence, say just about anything about just about anything, as TomDispatch regular Arnold Isaacs makes all too vividly clear today, and count on this, whatever other wild positions he creates, there won't be a fact-checker in sight in the White House. Tom

Fact-Checker Alert

Countering Trump's Falsehoods Is More Urgent Than Ever

By Arnold Isaacs

During this year's presidential election campaign, I was puzzled and increasingly troubled that the issue of truth-telling -- and the spectacular lack of it from one candidate -- wasn't getting the sort of focus or emphasis in the news coverage it should have received. We heard or read about Donald Trump's specific false statements just about every day (because they happened just about every day). But we didn't often hear about the deeper questions those falsehoods raised and continue to raise: What will it mean to have a president of the United States who has no regard for the truth and often no idea what it is? What will it do to public life if a president's words can't be trusted, no matter what he's talking about? What are the possible consequences if a president consistently ignores or distorts proven facts, and how much will those distortions shape his policy decisions and actions?

For obvious reasons those questions became more significant, not less, with Trump's victory. His habitual disregard for the truth isn't just an old story from a past presidency, but today's and tomorrow's news for the next four years. So, journalists, opinion-makers, and anyone else whose voice reaches the public need to keep raising the issue in the weeks leading up to Trump's second inauguration and after he takes office. That means not just calling out individual falsehoods but connecting the dots, reminding us of his overall record and what it should tell us about the next phase of American public life. Neil Brown, president of the Poynter Institute and a co-founder of the fact-checking website PolitiFact, got it right in a fundraising email two days after the election when he reminded supporters that "facts are the foundation of our reality." Checking facts, he went on, "is time-consuming but essential" There is no off switch on the dial of misinformation."



For the most part, we have no way of knowing which of Trump's false statements are conscious lies -- when he's saying something he knows isn't true -- and when he believes his own words because they fit into the made-up world he's concocted in the insulated bubble of his mind. But that distinction hardly matters when it comes to what kind of president he'll be. A chronic liar or chronically delusional, either one is a dangerous person to have in the White House for the next four years. That makes it essential to keep a spotlight not just on specific factual issues as they crop up in the news, but on the broader credibility question as well, tracking the misinformation Trump and his crew will almost certainly spew out and, where possible, countering its influence on policy decisions and official actions.

On Immigration, A Stunning Record of Untruths

Perhaps the most immediate and urgent need for that kind of fact-checking will be on immigration policy, where Donald Trump has consistently misrepresented essential facts for many years. The sheer volume of those falsehoods is breathtaking. A recent report from the Marshall Project, a nonprofit investigative news site, documented 12,000 false statements of his on that issue alone -- no, that's not a misprint, twelve thousand untrue statements! -- during his years in the public arena. I searched but found no indication that Trump has ever backed down from any of them or acknowledged that anything he said on the subject was untrue. Corroborating that impression, Anna Flagg, one of the coauthors of the Marshall Project paper, wrote in response to an email inquiry that she is "personally not aware of Trump correcting any of these statements."

Far from correcting such falsehoods, he has often repeated them even after they were thoroughly and conclusively debunked. One of many examples was his claim in a late September blog post that "13,000 convicted murderers entered our Country during [Kamala Harris's] three and a half year period as Border Czar -- Also currently in our Country because of her are 15,811 migrants convicted of rape and sexual assault." Journalists quickly established that those numbers, listed on a chart prepared by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), were, in fact, a count of people who had entered the country over a more than 40-year time span, including Donald Trump's four years as president. That airtight refutation didn't stop him from repeating the same false allegation a month later, when he declared in an interview with the podcaster Joe Rogan that "other countries are allowed to empty their prisons into our country with murderers, we had 13,099 murderers dropped in our country over the last three years."

Nor were those murderers able to "freely and openly roam our Country," as Trump claimed in yet another post. The list of convicted murderers, a DHS spokesperson told CNN, included "many who are under the jurisdiction or currently incarcerated by federal, state or local law enforcement partners." (Confusingly, the DHS chart lists all 13,099 as "undetained," but that means only that they weren't in the custody of the U.S. immigration agency, not that they weren't in state or federal prisons.)

Another example came during Trump's September 10th debate with Kamala Harris, when, speaking about Haitian immigrants in Ohio, he alleged that "in Springfield, they're eating the dogs. The people that came in. They're eating the cats. They're eating -- they're eating the pets of the people that live there" -- a story police and local officials had already declared to be untrue. Trump also regularly exaggerates the number of Haitians actually in Springfield, as when he told listeners to the Rogan podcast that "32,000 migrants that don't speak the language" had been "dropped" there. The actual estimate is 10,000-12,000.

Reminding us of the facts when it comes to those and numerous other distortions is crucially important now that Trump will again be in a position not just to bluster about immigration but to execute policies that will affect huge numbers of men, women, and children. Starting now, fact-checkers should do everything they can to make Americans aware of the actual facts -- such as the strong likelihood that the mass deportations he's vowed to launch "on day one" of his presidency will upend the lives of many people who are not illegal immigrants but are in the U.S. legally (a category that includes almost all of the Haitians in Springfield that Trump wants sent "back to their country").

Next Page 1 | 2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
The prestigious Rixos Premium Hotel in stunning Dubrovnik hosted last weekend rAIse: Reimagine the Future 2024, a groundbreaking event bringing together international women and men entrepreneurs from various fields, to showcase the future of AI and entrepreneurship. The event featured bold, unconventional voices from around the world, highlighting how women are reshaping industries and breaking barriers in AI. The event was organized in cooperation with OFA UGIR Romania and 
Portland Community College this week said it ended a partnership with Pacific Office Automation and stripped the companys name from a training program in response to sex assault allegations against the Beaverton companys co-owner and longtime CEO, Doug Pitassi.

PCC condemns all forms of sexual abuse and places student safety as a top priority, said Karen Paez, the colleges associate vice president for academic and career pathways. As a result of the news of Pacific Office Automations CEO, we have ceased partnership and workforce promotion until we can be assured it is a safe environment for students and employees.
Marganne Allen, 53, was struck and killed while riding her bike in Salem on March 28, 2023. Allen, a married mother of two children, was a longtime employee for the Oregon Department of Forestry and Oregon Department of Agriculture. Co-workers described her as a caring supervisor and mentor.Courtesy of Family
Hillsboro police on Monday arrested a man for allegedly drunk-driving a pickup truck at nearly 100 mph on its tire rims before crashing it on U.S. 26.

Police arrested Skylar Peplinski, 35, of Medford on accusations of reckless driving and DUII after he allegedly crashed his truck near the Brookwood Parkway around 8:30 p.m., the Hillsboro Police Department said in a statement.
A Portland woman whose dogs had prompted years of complaints from neighbors pleaded guilty to two counts of animal neglect Friday. As part of her sentence, she wont be allowed to own dogs or cats for 15 years.

Susan Long, 51, was charged with 15 counts of second-degree animal neglect, one for each of the 13 dogs and two cats authorities seized from her house Aug. 27 during a search prompted by a neighbors tip to a deputy district attorney after pleas to Multnomah County Animal Services went nowhere.
Search teams were back in Mount Hood National Forest on Tuesday looking for a 61-year-old hiker and her two Malinois-mix dogs.

Susan Lane-Fournier, who also goes by the name Phoenix, was reported missing last week after failing to show up for work, according to the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office.

Her white, 1992 Ford F-250 was found parked along East Salmon River Road on Saturday, leading to a large search effort. Volunteers and deputies along with K9 teams have been combing the area, covering over 100 miles of trail so far.

The Green Canyon Way Trail, near where her truck was found, is part of the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness, a remote area in the national forest known for its steep canyons and rugged terrain spanning more than 62,000 acres.

Four teams were on the ground Tuesday morning, and Sgt. Ross Clemson of the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office said drones would join the search.

Lane-Fournier is described as 5 foot 2 inches tall, 150 pounds, with reddish-brown hair. She knows the area, according to police, but it is unclear if she was prepared for overnight conditions. The weather has been cold and rainy, with temperatures dropping into the 30s.

Anyone who has seen Lane-Fournier, her dogs, or has information about where she might be should contact the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office non-emergency dispatch line at 503-655-8211 or submit a tip at 503-723-4949 or www.clackamas.us/sheriff/tip.

 Tyler Brown is a multimedia reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive covering breaking news. You can reach him at tbrown2@oregonian.com or 503-221-8243.
As St. Helens teachers held conferences with parents, the districts new acting superintendent Tuesday pledged to initiate an outside investigation to examine how alleged sexual misconduct by teachers in the district happened and how.

Acting Superintendent Steve Webb said the independent investigation will begin on Monday, conducted through an outside investigator coordinated by the Northwest Regional Education Service District.
After more than a year working with tribal leaders, Oregon State University erected a facility to house ancestral remains and cultural items that rightfully belong to Native peoples as the college works to repatriate them.

Oregon State University, like other universities across the country, currently possesses ancestral remains of Native Americans as well as funerary items taken from the original inhabitants of U.S. land. The school is legally obligated to return them to the tribes they belong to under the 1990 federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, or NAGPRA.
Israel approved a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanons Hezbollah on Tuesday that would end nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the war in the Gaza Strip.

The ceasefire would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza, where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable.

Hours before the ceasefire with Hezbollah was to take effect, Israel carried out the most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs since the start of the conflict and issued a record number of evacuation warnings. At least 24 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities, as Israel signaled it aims to pummel Hezbollah before the ceasefire takes hold at 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday.

Another huge airstrike shook Beirut shortly after the ceasefire was announced.

There appeared to be some lingering disagreement over whether Israel would have the right to strike Hezbollah if it believed the militants had violated the agreement, something Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted was part of the deal but which Lebanese and Hezbollah officials have rejected.

Israels security Cabinet approved the ceasefire agreement after it was presented by Netanyahu, his office said. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement good news and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East without saying how. The Biden administration spent much of this year trying to broker a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza but the talks repeatedly sputtered to a halt.

Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year.

Israel says it will attack with might if Hezbollah breaks truce

Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed a series of accomplishments against Israels enemies across the region. He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran, which backs both groups.

If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack, he said. For every violation, we will attack with might.

The ceasefire deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troopsand U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor all sides compliance.

Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.

Netanyahus office said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.

Lebanons caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the ceasefire and described it as a crucial step toward stability and the return of displaced people.

Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday that it had not seen the agreement in its final form.

After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials, Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollahs political council, told the Al Jazeera news network.

We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state, he said, referring to Israels demand for freedom of action. Any violation of sovereignty is refused.

Warplanes bombard Beirut and its southern suburbs

Even as ceasefire efforts gained momentum in recent days, Israel continued to strike what it says are Hezbollah targets across Lebanon as the militants fired rockets, missiles and drones across the border.

An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in central Beirut  the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near the citys downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanons Health Ministry. Strikes on Beiruts southern suburbs killed at least one person and wounded 13, it said.

Three people were killed in a separate strike in Beirut and three in a strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon. Lebanese state media said another 10 people were killed in the eastern Baalbek province. Israel says it targets Hezbollah fighters and their infrastructure.

Israel also struck a building in Beiruts bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site that is around 400 yards from Lebanons Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties.

The Israeli military said it struck targets in Beirut and other areas linked to Hezbollahs financial arm.

The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously have not been targeted. The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks before a ceasefire, sent residents fleeing. Traffic was gridlocked, and some cars had mattresses tied to them. Dozens of people, some wearing their pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed loudly overhead.

Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beiruts southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered.

UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told The Associated Press that peacekeepers will not evacuate.

Israeli forces reach Litani River in southern Lebanon

The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few miles from the Israeli border.

Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 20 miles north of the border.

Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have been exchanging barrages ever since.

Israel escalated its campaign of bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes.

More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members.

Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the countrys north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon.

-- Josef Federman, Kareem Chehayeb and Bassem Mroue, The Associated Press

Lujain Jo, Sally Abou AlJoud and Aamer Madhani contributed to this report.
Brandin Cooks is likely to play when the Dallas Cowboys face the New York Giants on Thanksgiving Day.

According to team CEO Stephen Jones, Cooks is expected to play as the Cowboys attempt to win their second consecutive game after losing five straight.

Were optimistic that well continue to get guys back. I think Cooks will be a player for us (on Thanksgiving), Jones told 105.3 The Fan radio station in Dallas.

Cooks did not play when the Cowboys posted a 34-26 win over the Washington Commanders last week, missing his seventh consecutive game. Cooks has not played since Week 4 after developing an infection in his knee following a procedure.

Cooks, 31, returned to practice last week, leading to optimism he might play against the Commanders, however, the Cowboys did not activate him from injured reserve.
Drug reform advocates hailed Oregon as a progressive leader when it became the first in the nation to legalize the therapeutic use of psilocybin, the compound found in psychedelic mushrooms.

But four years later, voters in a growing list of its cities have banned the substance.

Four cities, spanning Portland suburbs and rural and coastal towns, added new voter-approved prohibitions for the federally illegal compound in the Nov. 5 election. A dozen other communities that approved two-year moratoriums in 2022, when a majority of Oregon counties and over 100 cities voted to temporarily or permanently ban psilocybin, voted in this election to make the restrictions permanent.

In the wake of the fentanyl crisis, the rejection of drug liberalization measures in Oregon and states across the country this election has some experts questioning whether voters are rethinking their appetite for such policies.

In Massachusetts, for example, voters rejected a measure that would have allowed residents over 21 to grow and use plant-based psychedelic drugs in certain circumstances. All three states that had measures to legalize recreational marijuana voted against it.

Oregon voters, in particular, appear to have soured on drug reform. A law passed by voters four years ago that decriminalized the possession of small amounts of hard drugs, including heroin and methamphetamine, was rolled back by the state legislature earlier this year after heated debate over whether it played a role in a spike in public drug use and deaths.

Perhaps the fact that the drug policy reform pendulum appears to be swinging back towards prohibition is part of a broader trend toward a preference for law and order among American voters, said Josh Hardman, founder of Psychedelics Alpha, a consulting firm and newsletter on psychedelic research, business and policy. Oregon, specifically, has been touted as an example of liberal drug policies gone wrong.

Despite the local bans, psilocybin remains accessible in over 30 licensed centers spanning the states most populous cities, like Portland, and a handful of small towns. Some rural counties also have voted to stay in the program.

However, access to therapeutic psilocybin is further complicated by high costs: One session can be up to $2,000 out of pocket. That is largely because center owners and facilitators have to pass on licensure expenses to consumers in order to stay afloat.

MJ Wilt, a licensed psilocybin facilitator and the owner of a licensed psilocybin service center, poses in a room setup for a patient journey at her facility in Gresham, Ore., Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)AP

MJ Wilt, who just opened a licensed center in the Portland suburb of Gresham, spent tens of thousands of dollars of her own savings to get licensed and establish her center. It has been hard, she said, because her own experience with psilocybin changed her life for the better and she wants to bring that experience to others.

The cost for the program has been astronomical and is not accessible to people across the socioeconomic spectrum, Wilt said. Its certainly not the cash cow that people think or thought it was going to be.

In 2020, roughly 56% of Oregon voters approved Measure 109, which allowed for the manufacture and controlled, therapeutic use of psilocybin at licensed facilities for those over 21. But the measure allowed counties and cities to vote to opt out, resulting in a patchwork of regulations across the state.

Adding to the complexity, some cities have voted to allow psilocybin despite being in counties that banned it, as cities control the land incorporated within their borders while counties control unincorporated land.

The regulatory patchwork resembles that of cannabis law. In half of the 24 states that have legalized recreational cannabis, including Oregon, localities may opt out of most types of cannabis businesses, according to Kate Bryan, a policy specialist on criminal and civil justice at the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Colorado in 2022 became the only other state to legalize psilocybin for therapeutic use. It will begin accepting license applications for healing centers at the end of December, a spokesperson for the states natural medicine division said in an email. The law allows localities to adopt certain regulations regarding how the centers operate, but it does not allow them to ban such centers entirely.

Multiple cities across the country also have voted to decriminalize psilocybin, meaning a person cannot be arrested or prosecuted for possessing limited amounts of plant-based hallucinogens.

Psilocybin, found in several species of mushrooms, can cause hours of vivid hallucinations. Indigenous people have used it in healing rituals, and scientists are exploring whether it can help treat depression, addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder. Researchers and military veterans are among those who have advocated for the study of the substance for therapeutic use.

Kat Thompson, the founder and CEO of Fractal Soul, a licensed psilocybin center in the Portland suburb of Beaverton, said her center has served 400 people in its first year and that the vast majority have had positive outcomes. Many come seeking help for depression, anxiety, trauma and addiction after years of trying talk therapy and medication, she said, while others come to process grief or explore their spirituality.

But she said a lack of public awareness about the states psilocybin program has led many to confuse it with Measure 110, the separate ballot measure also passed in 2020 that decriminalized the possession of small amounts of drugs. The botched implementation of the law  also a first of its kind in the nation  and rising overdose deaths amid the fentanyl crisis fueled pushback that prompted state lawmakers to backtrack on it earlier this year.

We actually got lots of calls from people who had booked sessions with us who heard about the roll back of 110 and thought that that meant that we were closing, Thompson said. So weve had to explain and educate the public that Measure 110 was really just about decriminalization for personal use. It has nothing to do with the professional therapeutic model.

Some people also confuse the model of the psilocybin center with cannabis dispensaries. At dispensaries, people buy cannabis and leave to consume it elsewhere. People who want to use psilocybin, meanwhile, must consume it at a licensed service center under the supervision of a licensed facilitator who administers it to them and remains with them for the duration of the trip, Thompson said.

This is essentially a mental health clinic where someone is here all day with us, she said. By and large, it is extremely safe.

Of the over 16,000 doses that have been administered since the first licensed center opened in June 2023, staff at such centers have called 911 or taken a patient to a hospital five times, an Oregon Health Authority spokesperson said in an email, confirming reporting from The Oregonian/OregonLive. There are roughly 350 licensed facilitators and a dozen psilocybin manufacturers in the state, according to the agencys most recent figures.

Joe Buck, the mayor of Lake Oswego, a Portland suburb that just passed a psilocybin ban, said he wasnt surprised by the outcome, even though a majority of the citys residents supported Measure 109 in 2020.

Oregon really has not done a great job managing its drug policy, he said. So I can understand how some people may be wary of the promises that are now being made around psilocybin.

But further research on psilocybin, he said, could change voters' perspective in the future.

It really is up to state leaders, leaders in the federal government, to work these drugs through a good system that builds community trust.

-- Claire Rush, The Associated Press
Gov. Tina Kotek said Tuesday that shell call lawmakers back to work in December for a special session to address the costs of Oregons record wildfire season.

Kotek will ask lawmakers to approve $218 million to help the Department of Forestry and state fire marshal cover bills after 1.9 million acres burned across the state this year, Koteks office wrote in a news release. Thats three times the annual average.
An educator in California has been arrested and charged with molesting eight children while he was working as an elementary school counselor between 2015 and 2019. Authorities, however, said there could be more victims.

David Lane Braff Jr., a 42-year-old assistant principal and counselor at Ingenium Charter Middle School in Los Angeles, is accused of molesting children between the ages of 6 and 10.

The incidents allegedly happened in an office at McKevett Elementary School in the Santa Paula Unified School District, where he worked as a school counselor from 2015 to 2019, according to a news release from the Ventura County District Attorney.

Possible Additional Victims

Investigators for the Ventura County District Attorney's office are working together with the Santa Paula Police Department to investigate Braff's crimes. They also added that there could be "additional victims and crimes," especially because he was employed in several jobs in public education since the crimes. He has also volunteered in various programs for children over the years.

It is important to note that his full employment history is not known at the time the news release was published. A New York Times investigation found a LinkedIn profile matching his name and likeness. The work history mentioned Braff working for a charter school network after leaving McKevett Elementary School. He was then employed at Ingenium Charter Middle School after leaving the charter school network.

Read Also: Houston Mom Gets 50 Years for Forcing Kids To Live with Decomposing Body of Their Dead Brother

How Did Authorities Find Out About Braff's Crimes?

Allegations against Braff surfaced out of a cold case sexual abuse unit. It was noted that officials at McKevett Elementary School had contacted authorities at the time of the alleged incidents. The school district conducted an internal investigation, but it was not immediately clear why there were no charges filed against Braff.

Additionally, it was unclear whether officials for the school district informed Braff's subsequent employers of the accusations against him. Ingenium Schools, on the other hand, said it was "devastated" to learn of Braff's crimes and has taken "immediate actions" to ensure the safety of its students, as reported by NBC Los Angeles.

Braff is currently being held in custody at Ventura County jail with a bail of $3 million.
A 17-year-old teen in California has recently made history after becoming the youngest person to pass the grueling state bar exam, according to authorities.

Sophia Park took California's bar exam in July. On Nov. 8, she received a notification that she had passed the exam. She is only aged 17 years and 8 months.

Sophia is now the youngest individual to have passed California's bar exam. She broke a previous record set by her brother, Peter Park, who passed the exam in 2023 aged 17 years and 11 months.

"Sophia's amazing accomplishments speak for themselves, and we could not be prouder as an office family," Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward said in a press release. "The dividends for our office have been immense, and we are excited to be part of Sophia and Peter's continued success."

Behind Sophia's Success

According to the Tulare County District Attorney's Office, Sophia enrolled in law school at the age of 13 in 2020. At the same time, she was also still enrolled in junior high at the Oxford Academy in Cypress, California.

Sophia graduated high school and passed the California High School Proficiency Exam in 2022. She later graduated from law school at the Northwestern California University School of Law earlier this year. She has since been employed as a law clerk for the county's DA's office where her brother also works.

What Are Sophia's Plans for the Future?

After passing her bar exam, Sophia is now on track to swear in as a licensed attorney. The ceremony is scheduled for March 2025 when she turns 18---the minimum age to practice law in California. She has mentioned plans to join the county DA's office as a prosecutor, much like Peter who was sworn in as a practicing attorney a year ago.

Apart from setting records as the youngest individuals to pass the bar exams, Peter and Sophia are also the first and only teen brother-sister duo in a DA's office, per KTVU.

California's bar exam is notorious for being one of the most difficult in the United States. In February of this year, the overall pass rate was 33.9%, data from The State Bar of California showed.
Ive long felt that American Thanksgiving tends to be a somewhat forlorn and relatively neglected holiday. Falling between the fun of the costumes and candies and houses of horror associated with the entirely desacralized holiday of Halloween and the weeks of carols and festivities (and unrelenting commercialism) of the partially desacralized Christmas, it tends to be reduced to something of a poor relation  a day, merely, of family get-togethers and good traditional foods. Both of which, I hasten to say, are good things. But gratitude and actual thanks-giving can sometimes be lost among the bustle and the travel and the meal preparation. And Im not just pointing the finger of reproach at others. I myself am often guilty of precisely such neglect.

In an attempt to improve things just a bit  at least in my own case  I intend to repost here some of the columns that Ive written for Thanksgiving in past years, accompanied by hymns that are appropriate to the holiday.

The first of the hymns that Ive chosen was probably inspired by Psalm 23:6 and Psalm 150:

1. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation! O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation! Join the great throng, Psaltery, organ and song, Sounding in glad adoration! 2. Praise to the Lord! Over all things he gloriously reigneth. Borne as on eagle wings, safely his Saints he sustaineth. Hast thou not seen How all thou needest hath been Granted in what he ordaineth? 3. Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy way and defend thee. Surely his goodness and mercy shall ever attend thee. Ponder anew What the Almighty can do, Who with his love doth befriend thee. 4. Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that is in me adore him! All that hath breath, join with Abrahams seed to adore him! Let the amen. Sum all our praises again, Now as we worship before him. Text: Joachim Neander, 16501680; trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 18291878. Music: From Stralsund Gesangbuch, 1665; arr. by William S. Bennett, 18161875, and Otto Goldschmidt, 18291907

Here is a piece that I published with my late friend Bill Hamblin back in 2013:

American traditions of Thanksgiving are generally associated with Puritan harvest feasts in early colonial times, and particularly with the one in October 1621, when Chief Massasoit and about 90 other Native American men joined slightly more than 50 European immigrants at Plymouth Colony, in todays Massachusetts, for a communal meal. Abraham Lincolns formal proclamation of a late-November Day of Thanksgiving and Praise came just 150 years ago, in 1863. However, religious festivals of thanksgiving associated with the agricultural cycle, thanking God for a bounteous harvest  essential to life through the winter  are much more ancient and universal, and can be found in most religious traditions of the world. In ancient agrarian societies, where survival ultimately depended on rain and on the fertility cycles of local plants and animals, a failed harvest could swiftly bring widespread disaster and death. Accordingly, a bountiful harvest was received with gratitude. The sacrifices and festivals of ancient Israel were likewise fundamentally linked to the annual seasons of planting and reaping. One of their sacrifices was actually called the thanksgiving (Hebrew todah). As described in Leviticus 7:11-15, the thanksgiving offering was an entire meal, including fried cakes, bread and meat. Furthermore, it was commanded that the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered. That is, the ancient Israelite thanksgiving sacrifice was a sacred feast, a meal in which the food offerings were symbolically shared with God but were literally eaten by the sacrificer. In ancient Israel, such a holiday feast  as we now describe it  was actually a holy-day feast. One of the fundamental psalms sung by the Levite choir each day at the temple was O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, and his mercy endures forever (Psalms 106, 107, 118, 136, 138; 1 Chronicles 16:7, 34, 23:30; 2 Chronicles 5:13, 7:6; Nehemiah 12:8). One could enter the Israelite temple only if one entered the gates with thanksgiving (Psalms 100:4, 95:2). Psalm 50 describes the characteristics of the thanksgiving sacrifice (50:15): he who offers thanksgiving (Hebrew todah) glorifies me (50:23; cf. Psalm 116:17). When Jeremiah prophesied of the future restoration of Jerusalem and its temple, which was to come following the Babylonian captivity, he predicted that the returning Jews would bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord (Jeremiah 17:26) and singing songs of thanksgiving (Jeremiah 30:19). Jeremiah likewise prophesied that in Jerusalem should again be heard the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride . . . as they bring the thanksgiving sacrifice (Hebrew todah) into the House of the Lord (Jeremiah 33:11). In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is twice described as giving thanks in the context of a sacred meal. At the feeding of the 5,000, he took the loaves and fish and, having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds (Matthew 15:36; Mark 8:6; John 6:11). In the old Israelite thanksgiving sacrifice, the people were to bring food to the temple and give it to the priests, who would then offer it to God. Now, in a paradoxical reversal of the old order, Christ, as God incarnate, brings the food, offers thanks and gives it to his apostle-priests who then offer it to the people. The old order of the thanksgiving offering is thus reversed. The same reversal of roles is found at the Last Supper, where, at the Passover dinner, Jesus gives thanks and shares a sacred meal with his apostles (Matthew 26:37; Mark 14:23; Luke 22:17, 19; 1 Corinthians 11:24). Christs atoning sacrifice has thus become a thanksgiving offering. Although in Latter-day Saint tradition we tend to call our commemoration of the Last Supper the sacrament, in ancient Christianity it was referred to as the Eucharist  the thanksgiving. This is because Christ is described as having given thanks at the Last Supper  in Greek, eucharistesas. (Still today, the modern Greek equivalent of thank you is efkharisto.) Thus, for Latter-day Saint Christians, the sacrament is our commemoration of the archetypal thanksgiving sacrifice and meal of ancient Israel, of which our modern Thanksgiving holiday is only a pale shadow. Appropriately, too, for many Americans, Thanksgiving kicks off the serious holiday season that culminates in Christmas, which recalls Gods greatest gift to us, his Son.

My wife and I participated in a small private screening of Six Days in August up in Salt Lake City yesterday evening. It was the first time that I had seen the movie in several weeks, and I was reminded yet again of how good and solid a film it is. Im proud of what we were able to accomplish, and I look forward now to seeing the remainder of the project take shape.

But its crying time again: Im going to leave you. You can see that Hitchens File look in my eyes. You can tell by the horrors you see coming that it wont be long before its crying time. So here are a few of my latest gleanings from the Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File:
The Logitech MX Master series is as good as high-quality mice get, as long as you dont need a gaming-specific model.

Today, Lenovos online store is selling the MX Master 2S for just $50 with a coupon code. This model is a few years old, but its still rare to see a new version going for less than about $70. Its a fantastic deal.

The Logitech MX Master 2S features a sculpted body with premium materials, a super-fast ball bearing metal scroll wheel, and customizable thumb buttons with a second horizontal scroll. Its 4,000 DPI Darkfield sensor works on just about any surface, including glass. (The mouses curvy body wont work for left-handed users, but otherwise its just about perfect for people who use their computers a lot.)

A superb marriage of form and function, Logitechs flagship MX Master 2S is both comfortable and productive, we said in our sterling 4.5-star review of the mouse, en route to gracing it with a rare Editors Choice Award.

This model came out in 2017 and has since been replaced by the MX Master 3 and 3S, both of which go for $100. What are you missing by going with this cheaper option? The biggest downer for me is the Micro USB charging port, as the newer designs feature USB-C now.

But the mouse should last for weeks on a charge, whether youre using the wireless dongle or multi-device Bluetooth. And it has pretty much all the same core features, like Logitechs cross-device Flow system. The only major difference is the newer 8K sensor and quieter clicks.

Lenovo

To get the $50 sale price, make sure the coupon code LOGIGIFT is added at checkout. The code area is on the cart page, below the Proceed to Checkout button. (When I added it to my cart on the Lenovo store, the code was already filled in.) Shipping is free.

Get a Logitech MX Master 2S mouse for $50
Whether you need extra storage space on your smartphone or you need a video-compatible card for your dashcam or home security camera, getting a 1TB microSD for just $90 is a total bargain.

In the lead up to Black Friday, this Samsung Pro Plus 1TB microSD card is 25% off on Amazon, and youll want to snatch it quick because this is the lowest price its ever been.

This card is spacious enough that you wont have to worry about micromanaging your files for a long, long time. The Samsung Pro Plus is built to withstand harsh conditions, from water to extreme temperatures to drops and bumps, so your data is safe no matter what. This microSD card also comes with a Samsung adapter, so you can use the card with any device that takes regular SD cards, too.

With support for read speeds up to 180MB/s and write speeds up to 130MB/s, not only will you be able to transfer files between devices in a flash, but its fast enough to capture 4K video without lost frames.

Dont wait around and miss this chance to grab Samsungs 1TB microSD card for $90 right now, down to its all-time lowest price. Feel like 1TB is too big? These other capacity options are also on sale:

Everyone needs at least one microSD card these days
Stop what youre doing and check out this Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 deal because its just crazy  now $551 off for Black Friday, you can get this 34-inch OLED gaming monitor for $649 on Amazon.

This Odyssey OLED G8 has a 34-inch display with a 25601440 resolution that delivers a 175Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time for the smoothest gaming visuals with no dropped frames or lag. Throw in DisplayHDR True Black 400 and compatibility with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and you have yourself an excellent monitor.

It doesnt hurt that it comes with multiple ports, either. This monitor has 2 x USB C, 1 x Micro HDMI, and 1 x Mini DisplayPort. That isnt excessive like some monitors are these days, yet still enough for ample connectivity with older and newer tech alike.

Samsung makes some of the best OLED gaming monitors around, so while you might find another one thats cheaper  see our roundup of Black Friday deals on OLED monitors  it wont have the quality and backing of Samsungs reputation behind it.

Go ahead and save big on Samsungs 34-inch Odyssey OLED G8 for $649 on Amazon while its still on sale (and in stock)!

Save 46% on this magnificent 34-inch OLED gaming monitor
I hacked your company, says a message on the CEOs monitor. You should hire me to protect you. It seems like something out of a 90s Hollywood movie (or a self-aware 2010s YouTube short). But a Missouri man allegedly tried to make it a reality by hacking multiple businesses and selling his security services to them. He got arrested instead.

According to the US Attorneys Office in Kansas City, Missouri, Nicholas Michael Kloster has been formally charged with accessing a protected computer and related offenses. The press release (spotted by BleepingComputer) compiles investigation from the FBI and the Kansas City Police Department. It alleges that Kloster entered the premises of a health club, accessed its computers, then emailed the owner and asked to be hired for his security service.

A few weeks later, Kloster posted on social media (the exact one isnt mentioned) with a screenshot of himself remotely controlling the clubs security cameras. How to get a company to use your computer service read the post, according to the US Attorneys Office. He also allegedly reduced his own membership fee to $1 per month, erased his photo from the clubs database, and stole a staff nametag.

Klosters other alleged crimes are a little less Hollywood. The District Attorney accuses him of also breaking into a nonprofit corporation, again by physically going to the building, entering an area that isnt accessible to the public, then loading up a boot disk. He allegedly reset user passwords and installed a VPN, causing the corporation more than $5,000 in damages.

He also (again, allegedly!) used his employers company credit card to shop for himself. His purchases, which would have been easily tracked by both his bosses and investigators, included a thumb drive that was advertised as a means to hack into vulnerable computers.

I am not a hacker. But if I were, physically breaking into a gym where I apparently went on a regular basis wouldnt be my first dastardly deed. Or my second, following fraudulent purchases of something advertised as a hacking tool paid for with my bosss credit card.
A 17-year-old high school student was shot and killed by another teen on Sunday in Cambria County, according to police.

Kaden Woodring, 17, of Johnstown, was arrested on Monday and is facing charges of criminal homicide, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and receiving stolen property, according to reports from WJAC and WTAJ.

First responders arrived at a home in the 100 block of Sheridan Street in Johnstown at 11:49 p.m. Sunday after getting a report of a gunshot victim.

They found the 17-year-old victim, who has not been identified by police yet, in the basement of the house with a gunshot wound to her abdomen. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses told authorities that the victim was coming to the house to pick up two other people who were visiting when Woodring pointed a hunting-style rifle at her and said, You know Im playin'? before pulling the trigger.

Woodring alerted a family member to what had happened and spoke to a 911 operator before leaving the home. He was later taken into custody after contacting police by phone.

Police said the rifle was stolen and had been brought to him weeks earlier by another juvenile.

We are in a state of shock as we grieve the loss of our student, Amy Arcurio, Superintendent of the Greater Johnstown School District, said in a statement. We are respectful to her family and our entire Trojan community as we try to understand this tragedy.

Woodring was denied bail and is currently in the Cambria County Prison. An autopsy is scheduled for today.
Murder charges pending for nearly two years against a 78-year-old woman in her husbands 1987 killing in Perry County have been dismissed, prosecutors confirmed Monday.

Judith Jarvis was 76 in December 2022 when she was arrested on one count of murder in connection to the Aug. 10, 1987, fatal shooting of her husband Carl Jarvis, 42, in their Millerstown home.

Shes been imprisoned ever since as her case lagged in the criminal justice system and authorities debated whether she was competent to stand trial. Court records show that the charges against her were dismissed on Thursday.

Perry County Judge Kenneth Mummah ordered the murder charge be dismissed, and ruled that Jarvis is incompetent and her competency cannot be restored. The Pennsylvania attorney generals office, the agency trying the case, does not anticipate appealing the judges decision, according to spokesman Brett Hambright.

The dismissal abruptly ends the cold case, which Pennsylvania State Police announced theyd solved after 35 years at a December 2022 press conference.

State police said Judith called troopers to the couples Cherry Valley Road home just after midnight in August 1987 because of a domestic disturbance. She said she was scared because her husband was breaking things, and she had walked outside.

No one was at the Jarvis home that night besides Carl and Judith, according to state police.

Judith Ann Jarvis

When troopers arrived, they knocked on the door and called for Carl Jarvis, but did not receive a response, according to the affidavit.

The troopers entered and found Carl Jarvis naked and dead between the bed and wall in a bedroom on the western side of the house. Hed been shot in the head with a .22-caliber revolver, state police said. The bullet entered through the back of his head and exited at the front.

In court documents, state police said a forensic pathologist determined it would be essentially impossible for Carl to have shot himself in the head, given how his body was found. But police could not bring charges because DNA technology did not exist at the time to tie blood on the pajamas Judith was wearing during the shooting to match her husband. Police said shed initially told troopers the blood came from a goose bite.

That changed in 2022 when police announced they had tested the blood on her pajamas and found a match to Carls DNA.

The Perry County district attorneys office filed charges against Judith, but the Pennsylvania attorney generals office later took over the case due to a conflict of interest in the DAs office.

Judith had a preliminary hearing and arraignment before a judge, but for more than a year, defense attorneys and prosecutors debated whether they could move forward with the case. Court records show the case had been tied up in mental health evaluations since the defense raised the issue of competency in the fall of 2023.

For nearly two years, Judith Jarvis has been held without bail at SCI Muncy, a state-run medium/maximum-security womens prison that provides medical care for elderly defendants.

Prison logs showed she was still in custody as of Monday. She is scheduled to be released on Dec. 2 and will be taken to a personal care facility that has a special unit for patients with memory loss, according to the Department of Corrections. The department is coordinating transportation for her from prison to the facility.

Judith Jarviss case was at least the second in recent years in central Pennsylvania where authorities debated the competency of an elderly person tied to a murder case.

Mark Warfel, 91, has been named in court documents as the suspected killer of Tracy Kroh, a teenager presumed dead after disappearing from Millersburg, Dauphin County, in 1989. He has been held in a state prison, on palliative care, since February 2022 for allegedly assaulting a nurse at UPMC Harrisburg Hospital.

Warfels competency hearing was continued in January and has not been rescheduled as of November. Warfels defense attorneys said at the time that he was incompetent to stand trial on any charges and that its a miracle hes still alive.
A Maryland woman gave her estranged husband fentanyl-laced pills that caused him to fatally overdose in York County last year, Pennsylvania State Police said in court documents.

Heather M. Hyde, 41, of Street, Maryland, was charged Monday in connection to the September 2023 overdose of her husband Clinton Hyde, 39, in Peach Bottom Township, York County, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Text messages and phone logs traced Heather Hyde from Baltimore County, Maryland, to York County, where she gave Clinton two pills she claimed were Oxycodone on Sept. 25, 2023, the affidavit said.
Thanksgiving is just two days away.

Have you bought your wine yet?

Fine Wine & Good Spirits offers some suggestions and basics for matching wines with whatever you are preparing for your Thanksgiving meal.

Here are some recommendations from Russ Johnson, a retail wine specialist who works at a Philadelphia location. All are available through the Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores.

Appetizers/Welcome Wine: Saint Hilaire Sparkling Brut ($15.59)  Sparkling wine is a great way to greet your guests as they arrive. Serving a well-chilled sparkling wine is an easy way to make a great presentation, and this bottle will pair well with anything on the appetizer table as well.

Appetizers: Luciano Ercolino Le Grade Fiano di Avellino 2022 (Chairmans Selection) ($12.99)  A delicate yet complex white wine with ethereal aromas of orange blossom and jasmine tea. The body is light and fresh making it a great pairing for a vegetable spread, cheese board or cured meats.

Suggested wine pairing, courtesy of Fine Wines & Good Spirits.FW&GS

Soups & Salads: Le Bois Dore Chenin Blanc Saumur 2023 ($10.99)  Chenin Blanc is one of the Loire Valleys specialties, and the natural acidity of this variety makes it a wonderful compliment for vinaigrettes or autumnal soups. Youll notice aromas of quince and white peach complimented by a waxy texture on the finish.

Main course: Jean Foillard Beaujolais Villages 2022 (Luxury) ($24.99)  Everyone loves Beaujolais for Thanksgiving, and this bottle drinks well above its price. The wine opens with notes of ripe raspberry and violet and finishes with smooth, silky tannins. A perfect complement for turkey or ham.

Breaking down the spectrum of sparkling wine.FW&GS

Dessert: Puklus Pinceszet Tokaji 6 Puttonyos 2017 (Luxury) ($59.99)  Tokaji is Hungarys specialty and also happens to be my favorite dessert wine. Unbelievably complex with intense aromas of orange peel and honeycomb, this will pair beautifully with your dessert spread or serve as a unique digestif for after dinner.

Fine Wine & Good Spirits' Fill-A-Tote program is currently running in-store. Customers can mix and match any six qualifying wines and save an additional $14, plus get a free, reusable tote. Coupons are available in stores.




A cocktail bar spearheaded by the owner of Harrisburgs Millworks restaurant will combine a dive bar atmosphere with a high-end beverage menu.

High Dive is projected to open at the end of December at 1400 N. Third St in a two-story brick building at the corner of Calder Street near the Susquehanna Art Museum.

Certainly in the market in the last 10 years, cocktails have surged in popularity, said Josh Kesler, one of three partners behind High Dive. Were pretty excited to bring a cocktail forward concept to the city.

Kesler, who owns the Watershed Pub in Camp Hill, purchased the former Third Street Cafe in 2021 to reopen it as a bar. Local bartender Tom McGrath and Millworks Operations Manager Patrick Garrity are joining him in the project.

McGrath said the drink menu will showcase a variety of cocktail styles from classic New York and New Orleans beverages to fun tiki drinks. Those who prefer other beverages will find plenty of draught and bottled beer and wine to complement a small plates menu.

As for the former Third Street Cafe, it had been a point of contention for years. Harrisburg City had been trying to close the bar since March 2015 after former Mayor Eric Papenfuse announced a new effort to pull the business licenses of bars and corner stores associated with drugs or illegal activity.

We wanted to essentially take a liability on the block and turn it into an asset, Kesler said.

The building originally housed the Keystone Trust Company and later businesses including Bogar Hardware. In 1949 it opened as a bar, and over the years evolved into a string of establishments under names like Moxs, Omars Room and Club Wandas.

The interior renovations were inspired by a trip to Cuba and Kesler said they maintained the buildings historic integrity and beat up charm. He added the Colonial style of the building is reminiscent of places in Havana, Cuba or San Juan, Puerto Rico.

High Dive will operate 4-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 4 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday.
A familiar Asian restaurant brand in the Harrisburg region is introducing an elevated dining experience.

On Dec 2, Freshido Bar & Kitchen will open at 2017 EG Drive in Lower Paxton Township with a different approach from its roots as a sushi burrito and bowl takeout spot.

The 3,800-square-foot restaurant is next to Cafe Fresco at the Blue Ridge Village along Linglestown Road. It features an urban vibe, a full bar, and a menu filled with sophisticated sushi, wok stir-fries and small plates.

You always want to elevate your level, said Benson Chan, co-owner.

The restaurant expands upon the concept Chan and business partner Shawn You introduced in 2017 when they opened the mostly takeout Freshido in Harrisburg. They expanded with locations in Silver Spring and Derry townships, including a Fresh Market at Hershey Towne Square stand.

Freshido Kitchen & Bar is designed to attract diners to sit down in the restaurant, something Chan said has faded in popularity since the pandemic fueled takeout.

Freshido Kitchen & Bar at 2017 EG Drive in Lower Paxton Township will focus on omakase, a style of premium sushi not found at traditional sushi restaurants. Provided

For the partners, the expanded menu takes them back to their roots. Chan grew up working in his familys New Jersey takeout restaurants, while You is trained in Asian cooking and wok cookery.

Among the menu offerings is omakase, a style of premium sushi not found at traditional sushi restaurants. With omakase, the selections are up to the chef who picks the ingredients based on whats the freshest and highest quality, Chan said.

They hired chef Alex Yang from Nobu 57 in New York City. Higher quality ingredients such as bluefin tuna and sea urchins will be used with toppings such as caviar and truffle.

Omakase is more a refined version of the sushi and sashimi touched by the sushi chef with flavors. The taste is richer, Chan said. Its chefs choice to play it.

The menu also includes dim sum, bao buns, grilled lamb chop, pad Thai and ramen dishes. Chan said they would adjust the menu as they factor in customer feedback from the soft opening.

The liquor license is a first for the partners. The bar carries high-end spirits including a full whiskey selection with bourbons, scotches and Japanese whiskey, which Chan describes as very smooth.

If you want to go out for food, you also want drinks, he said. Why not take it to the full potential?

You headed the restaurants design, which features a full mural painted by an employee, a custom bar, brick walls and faux greenery.

With the bar, we wanted to do it right, You said. I wanted the customer to feel so special, where they actually have a place to hang out and drink.

The partners arent slowing down. Next year they open another Asian restaurant at the former Dukes Bar & Grill at 1715 E. Chocolate Ave. in Derry Township. The restaurant will have a full menu and liquor license. No opening date has been announced.

Blue Ridge Village, a 130-acre multi-use development off Linglestown Road, encompasses apartments, single-family homes and townhomes along with retailers such as Jersey Mikes, Tide Cleaners and CVS, among others. Recently, it was announced Aldi will open a store at the complex.

Freshido Kitchen & Bar will be open daily for lunch and dinner.
Libraries can be places of both great knowledge and beauty.

Like this one in Pennsylvania, which was crowned by a recent study as being amongst the United States most stunning.

Conducted and published by Yardbarker, this study listed the Fisher Fine Arts Library in Philadelphia among those most pleasing to the eye.

The Fisher Fine Arts Library  is a great library to visit if you value buildings that fit perfectly in their geographical area, the study reads. The structure has a quintessentially East Coast feel and has retained its historical look since it was built in 1888.

According to the University of Pennsylvania website, the library is a National Historic Landmark and is considered the major masterpiece of Philadelphias most important Victorian architect, Frank Furness.

Combining the genius in planning and form, it is a seminal library design that expresses function while merging the imagery of [a] cathedral and railroad station, the website continues.

And the Fisher Fine Arts Library was in good company, too: Other locations listed by Yardbarker were the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. as well as the New York Public Library, lions and all.
By Josef Federman, Kareem Chehayeb and Bassem Mroue, The Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP)  Israel approved a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanons Hezbollah on Tuesday, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

In the hours leading up to the Cabinet meeting, Israel carried out its most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs and issued a record number of evacuation warnings. At least 24 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities, as Israel signaled it aims to keep pummeling Hezbollah in the final hours before any ceasefire takes hold.

Israels security Cabinet approved the ceasefire agreement late Tuesday after it was presented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his office said. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement good news and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza.

An Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East, but neither he nor Netanyahu have proposed a postwar solution for the Palestinian territory, where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable.

Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year.

Israel says it will attack with might if Hezbollah breaks truce

Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed a series of accomplishments against Israels enemies across the region. He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran, which backs both groups.

If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack, he said. For every violation, we will attack with might.

Journalists watch the smoke rising between buildings hit in Israeli airstrikes near the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, as it seen from Tyre city, south Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)AP

Netanyahus office later said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.

It was not immediately clear when the ceasefire would go into effect, and the exact terms of the deal were not released.

The deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troopsand U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor all sides compliance.

But implementation remains a major question mark. Israel has demanded the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations. Lebanese officials have rejected writing that into the proposal.

Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.

Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday that it had not seen the agreement in its final form.

After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials, Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollahs political council, told the Al Jazeera news network.

We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state. of Lebanon, he said. Any violation of sovereignty is refused.

Warplanes bombard Beirut and its southern suburbs

Even as Israeli, U.S, Lebanese and international officials have expressed growing optimism over a ceasefire, Israel has continued its campaign in Lebanon, which it says aims to cripple Hezbollahs military capabilities.

An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in the central Beirut district of Basta  the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near the citys downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanons Health Ministry. Strikes on Beiruts southern suburbs killed at least one person and wounded 13, it said.

Three people were killed in a separate strike in Beirut and three in a strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon. Lebanese state media said another 10 people were killed in the eastern Baalbek province. Israel says it targets Hezbollah fighters and their infrastructure.

Israel also struck a building in Beiruts bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site that is around 400 meters (yards) from Lebanons Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties.

The Israeli military said it struck targets in Beirut and other areas linked to Hezbollahs financial arm.

The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously have not been targeted. The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks before a ceasefire, sent residents fleeing. Traffic was gridlocked, and some cars had mattresses tied to them. Dozens of people, some wearing their pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed loudly overhead.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, kept up its rocket fire, triggering air raid sirens across northern Israel.

Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beiruts southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered.

UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told The Associated Press that peacekeepers will not evacuate.

Israeli forces reach Litani River in southern Lebanon

The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few kilometers (miles) from the Israeli border.

Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border.

Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have been exchanging barrages ever since.

Israel escalated its campaign of bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes.

Rescuers and residents search for victims at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)AP

More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members.

Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the countrys north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon.

Chehayeb and Mroue reported from Beirut. Associated Press reporters Lujain Jo and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed.

Find more of APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
One of the largest immigration advocacy groups in Pennsylvania is urging the Biden administration to end contracts with the border control agency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and dismantle the immigration infrastructure as a way to blunt what is expected to be a harsh anti-immigration policy under the incoming Trump Administration.

The Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition has joined other immigrant rights leaders nationwide to call on President Biden to dismantle as much of the deportation machine as possible before Inauguration Day.
A Pennsylvania woman driving an SUV hit three motorcycle deputies standing alongside a Florida road last week, killing them.

Palm Beach County Cpl. Luis Paez, 58, Deputy Ralph Butch Waller, 54, and Deputy Ignacio Dan Diaz, 51, died after the Nov. 21 crash in Palm Beach County, according to a report from The Associated Press.

All three deputies were conducting traffic enforcement on the right shoulder of Southern Boulevard near Loxahatchee when the womans vehicle struck them.

Before the crash, the deputies were waiting for another deputy to arrive with jumper cables while standing on the shoulder of a busy road with their bikes. Battery cables were requested because they were trying to get one of their motorcycles to restart.

As the deputies waited, a woman driving a Jeep SUV attempted to go around another vehicle, lost control and crashed first into a metal guardrail before striking the deputies around 9:30 a.m., Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said last week during a press meeting.

They were taken to St. Marys Medical Center in West Palm Beach where Paez, 58, and Waller, 54, died shortly after the crash.

Diaz died at 12:42 p.m. Monday, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported.

Bradshaw said it is too early in the investigation to place any one particular thing that might have caused [the crash]. The name of the driver has not been released and no charges have been filed. WGAL News 8 on Monday reported that the woman is from Pennsylvania.

The Florida Highway Patrol and the Sheriffs Office are investigating the crash.

The three men all together had accumulated 74 years of service with the Palm Beach Sheriffs Office, and they served on President-elect Donald Trumps motorcade detail, Bradshaw said.

Diaz joined the Palm Beach Sheriffs Office in 2004 and had been with the agencys motorcycle unit for more than 10 years, CBS News reported. Paez worked for over 35 years as a corrections deputy before moving to road patrol, and Waller worked in the motor unit for 18 years, having started his law enforcement career with the Royal Palm Beach Police Department before it merged with Palm Beach Sheriffs Office in October 2008.

A memorial for them is being planned for Dec. 3 at the South Florida Fairgrounds.
Want a say in the news? Email Claudia at todayinpa@pennlive.com to have your thoughts on the stories covered here or on PennLive heard.

You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa on any of your favorite apps including Alexa, Apple, Spotify, Stitcher and YouTube. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Feel free to subscribe, follow or rate Today in Pa. as you see fit!

Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | November 26, 2024

Philadelphia cops have arrested a group of teens accused of being behind a series of random attacks. Theres currently a recall of dog treats in 19 states, Pennsylvania included. Travelers, get ready for the busiest Thanksgiving ever. And a local will appear on this years National Dog Show.

Those are the stories we cover in the latest episode of Today in Pa., a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Claudia Dimuro. Today in Pa. is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories pertaining to Pennsylvania that lets you know, indeed, whats happening today in Pa.

Todays episode refers to the following articles:

If you enjoy Today in Pa., consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, wed like to know what you think about the program, too.

As sponsored by Renewal by Anderson of Central PA.
By Anna Orso, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)

Celena Morrison, who was the first openly transgender person to lead a Philadelphia city office and who made national news in March following a controversial traffic stop, is no longer the citys head of LGBTQ affairs.

It was not immediately clear why Morrison is no longer in her job with the city, but a spokesperson for Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers administration confirmed that her employment ended Thursday and that officials are searching for a replacement.

The spokesperson would not offer further comment, citing the administrations policy of not commenting on personnel matters.

Celena Morrison-McLean (left) and Darius McLean talk to the news media Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024. The married LGBTQ leaders were arrested during a contentious traffic stop over the weekend.TNS

Morrisons departure was first reported by the Philadelphia Gay News. Attempts to reach her Monday were unsuccessful.

Former Mayor Jim Kenney appointed Morrison to be the executive director of the Office of LGBTQ Affairs in 2020. Prior to that, she was a longtime advocate and member of the citys Commission on Human Relations, and she worked in several roles at local organizations for the LGBTQ community.

In March, Morrison and her husband, Darius McLean, were controversially pulled over and arrested by a state trooper. Morrison videotaped part of the incident, showing the trooper detaining McLean on the shoulder of I-76 while he was begging to be released.

In the video, Morrison can be heard saying, I work for the mayor, and the trooper appeared to respond: Shut the [expletive] up. When the trooper moved to arrest Morrison, she could be heard saying, He just punched me.

Pennsylvania State Police said the trooper had initially pulled Morrison over for multiple traffic violations, including driving with an expired and suspended registration, before the heated confrontation ensued.

Neither Morrison nor McLean was charged in connection with the incident, and the trooper was later fired, according to the union that represented him. State Police did not publicly identify the trooper or confirm that he was fired.

After video of the incident circulated on social media, Parker called it very concerning.

Since then, Morrison has kept a relatively low profile. A few weeks after the incident, the citys Annual Trans Day of Visibility flag-raising event was canceled, a move the Parker administration said was due to a variety of logistical concerns. In an open letter, Morrison didnt say why the event was nixed, but she acknowledged challenging times.

(c)2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer

Visit The Philadelphia Inquirer at www.inquirer.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Story by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters.
Casper, WY (Nov. 17, 2024) - Members of the Pine Bluffs FFA Chapter recently attended the Wyoming FFA Fall Leadership Conference, held November 15-16 in Casper. They joined more than 750 FFA members from across the state at this annual event, which focuses on leadership development, agricultural education, and student-driven initiatives.

The conference featured three specialized tracks:

 Discovery Conference: For junior high members beginning their FFA journey. Participants collaborated to identify and develop solutions to real issues in their communities.

 FIRE (Finding Inspiration and Reac...
Our PBHS Student Council hasn't attended a WyAsc for quite a few years-in my head I am thinking 2020 or so. WyASC is Wyoming Association of Student Councils.

This group of girls (initially) has really jumped into all the leadership offerings we have had around the state. Last spring we went to Lingle for a Southeast Regional Summitand that really helped our council SEE what we can do as a small school. Since attending the summit, they also wanted to attend the Fall StuCo Summit in Casper this year too. These summits allowed them planning time, but also allowed them to see what we can do as a...
Laramie, Wyo. - Nov. 20, 2024 - The University of Wyoming Sheep Program, in partnership with the Wyoming Wool Initiative, Wyoming Business Council and the UW Global Engagement Office, has recently created a program entitled "Sheep Innovators Exchange: Wyoming to New Zealand". This international program gives Wyoming sheep producers and industry entrepreneurs a chance to gain fresh insights by engaging with global peers who face similar challenges.

Participants in the Sheep Innovators Exchange will travel to New Zealand to explore the country's renowned sheep industry. Over five days, participa...
Pan-African operator Axian Telecom has announced the rebrand of its five mobile units to Yas, a move aimed at unifying the operators and creating synergies for future growth.

Axian Telecom operates mobile units in Madagascar, Comoros, Senegal, Togo, and Tanzania. Board Chairman Hassanein Hiridjee said: To empower the next generation of digital pioneers, we need to become a pan-2 African multi-market mobile operator.

While we say goodbye to the brands we have grown with, we welcome a new powerhouse: Yas, an African brand that unites Africa in possibilities. We believe Yas will build on the success and legacy we have in these markets and will continue to deliver transformative and inclusive technology solutions through sustainable connections.

Axian Telecom entered several markets by acquiring units from larger operator groups. In Madagascar, it acquired Telma in 2004 from Hong Kong-based Distacom. Telma Comoros was launched in 2016, entering a previously monopolised market. Free Senegal was established through a partnership between Axian and Xavier Niels investment company, NJJ. Togocom was acquired after Axian and Emerging Capital Partners purchased a majority stake in the operator from the government. In 2022, Axian acquired Tigo Tanzania and Zantel from Millicom.

Axian also emphasised its financial services division as a key growth engine, which is undergoing a rebrand in Senegal, Togo, and Tanzania to Mixx by Yas. The company stated that this rebrand was undertaken to further align synergies across the group and enable an integrated customer experience.

Hassan Jaber, CEO of Axian Telecom, said: We are very excited to rename our mobile businesses to Yas, as it signals our readiness to take our business to the next level. This is a significant milestone for the Axian Telecom Group, highlighting our success across Africa to date and demonstrating the companys strategic position for sustainable growth.
Abbas Pasha Defeats RunGood Ambassador in Council Bluffs Main Event for $58,735

Brett Slezak Live Reporter Copy link

Abbas Pasha may not have had a long career in poker tournaments, but something about the Horseshoe Council Bluffs seems to bring out the best in him.

403 hopefuls made their way to the 2024 RGPS Rungood Resort Council Bluffs $800 Main Event with their eyes on the ring. After three long days of play, it is Pasha who is walking away with the $58,735 first place prize.

Pasha lives in Ames, Iowa, just over two hours away from Council Bluffs. He has prior success here, claiming a WSOP circuit ring for almost $29,000 in 2023.

RGPS Council Bluffs Main Event Final Table Results

Place Player Prize 1 Abbas Pasha $58,735 2 Julie Cornelius $41,127 3 Jeremy Hendricks $26,441 4 James Girouard $17,420 5 Cash Carpenter $13,414 6 Logan Cate $11,109 7 Ben McCoy $9,309 8 Siphonh Tran $7,586 9 Jared Ward $5,873

Winner's Reaction

Abbas Pasha

Pasha was able to breathe a sign of relief after finally winning the title, as he had his heads-up opponent Julie Cornelius on the ropes several times.

"As soon as the tournament was over I just let out a big breath. I just want to lay down and sleep."

Pasha will need some sleep after his performance the last two days. He was dominant from start to finish on his way to the title.

"It feels really good and I'm super excited. I really wanted to win one of those huge Rungood rings because they are so cool."

Pasha is no stranger to the world of poker, but the idea of live tournaments is relatively new for him.

"I started playing casually in my early twenties and gradually played more over the years but primarily in cash games."

"During COVID, I started playing tournaments online and got the tournament bug, and I feel like I got pretty good at them."

"Good" is an understatement after watching Pasha's play over the last couple days, highlighted by a superb hero call for all of the chips during heads-up play. The pressure of the situation did not seem to affect him.

Pasha says that he does some IT work but also stays busy playing poker often. He also has a wife and baby at home that he will be sure to celebrate with.

"I'd like to give a shoutout to my wife. She's at home with my son and it's awesome that she's able to stay at home and let me get out here to try and make some money."

Pasha and his wife are expecting a second child in January, so his $58,735 score should be more than enough to cover some new baby clothes.

The Day's Action

48 players returned for Day 2 action, all of which being in the money and guaranteed a minimum cash of $1,368.

The eliminations came quick to start the day as many short stacks returned for Day 2. However, the pace of play eventually slowed down as the money became more and more serious.

Many notable players cashed the event but were unable to make it to the final table. Some of these include WSOP bracelet winners Blair Hinkle, Mo Nuwwarah, and Bob Slezak. Others include Rungood regulars Daniel Lowery and Brent Gregory, as well as three-time MSPT champion Nick Barksdale.

Series Leaderboard Winner Brent Gregory

Final Table Action

With the double elimination of David Caron and Andre Allen on the final table bubble, the final nine players combined.

Play would continue for almost an hour with no eliminations until the final nine went on dinner break.

Shortly after dinner, Jared Ward would be the first to fall in ninth place. He got short-stacked after doubling another player and eventually got his stack in with king-queen against ace-jack and he failed to improve as he hit the rail in ninth.

The next casualty in eighth place was Siphonh Tran. He was short for the majority of the day and jammed with king-jack only to run into ace-jack as he laddered his way to an impressive finish.

In seventh place was Ben McCoy. The start-of-day chip leader would jam 16 big blinds from the small blind with pocket eights and was called by the ace-five suited of Cornelius in the big blind, who would pair her ace on the river to eliminate McCoy in brutal fashion.

Ben McCoy

The next to fall in sixth was Logan Cate. The youngest player to make Day 2 fought his way to final table and called off his stack with ace-queen against a small blind jam with pocket eights. Cade failed to pair as he hit the rail in sixth for a career-best score.

In fifth place was Cash Carpenter. After a stretch of bad cards he got the rest of short stack in the middle with king-eight suited only to run into the king-queen of Hendricks, who flopped a queen and Carpenter ended his day in fifth.

Four-handed play would continue for some time until James Girouard busted in fourth. He called off with ace-three against a small blind jam only but he was dominated against the ace-ten of Cornelius who held as Girouard made another final table in Council Bluffs.

The next casualty in third was Jeremy Hendricks. He would jam his final 20 big blinds from the button but he ran into the pocket aces of Pasha who held to set up a head-up battle with Julie Cornelius.

Julie Cornelius

Pasha began heads-up play with a large lead but Cornelius continued to fight back. Eventually, the two were even when the pivotal pot occured. Pasha called a three-bet with eight-seven. He would flop a gutshot and call a continuation bet. On the turn, Pasha picked up a pair to go along with his draw but faced a jam for his tournament life. He eventually put in the call and was up against two overcards and a flush draw. Pasha held and would go on to win two hands later to claim the title.

In the series leaderboard, Brent Gregory finished first, with Mo Nuwwarah in second and Duane Gerleman in third.

That does it for PokerNews's coverage of the 2024 RGPS Rungood Resort Council Bluffs $800 Main Event. Stay tuned as we continue to cover poker tournaments around the world.

Share this article
Poker Player Wins His First-Ever Live Tournament in RGPS San Diego Main Event

Tyler Boyer Live Reporter Copy link

The $600 Main Event for the RunGood Poker Series at Jamul Casino has concluded. After three Day 1 flights over two days, the event drew 339 entrants, creating a prize pool of $176,280. The 44 players who advanced to Day 2 today were all guaranteed a minimum cash of $900, but it was Maksim Tatarintsev who ultimately claimed the top prize of $37,250, defeating Josh Mok in heads-up play.

The Russian native Tatarintsev said after his victory, This is the first time I have ever played in a live poker tournament. I play online a lot, but It feels great to win. Despite playing in his first live tournament, Tatarintsev didn't look out of his element. He said, I was feeling really confident today; I was always stealing, squeezing, bluffing for sure; I love bluffing. His confidence didn't wavier at the final table, being one of the most aggressive and amongst the chip leaders throughout. He also mentioned When we got to final three players, I really believed in my game and my confidence was really high that I could win this."

Tatarintsev is visiting the United States from Russia for two months and said after this win, I may be in the running for the WPT Passport, but either way, I may go to Vegas and play a few tournaments there. Tatarintsev's friend was on the rail when he won, and Tatarintsev joked, I offered him 50% of my action, and he didn't take it. His friend laughed and said, It's okay, Im just so happy for him; he really deserves this."

RGPS San Diego Main Event Final Table Results

*Place Player Country Prize 1 Maksim Tatarintsev Russia $37,250 2 Joshua Mok United States $26,090 3 Felipe Koury United States $16,770 4 Smriti Dewari United States $10,930 5 Thomas Carlin United States $8,425 6 Michael Kaplitz United States $6,970 7 Jessie Casanada United States $5,850 8 Michael Collopy United States $4,805 9 Andrew Whitmer United States $3,765

Reality TV star Rob Mariano, known as "Boston Rob," started the day among the chip leaders, sitting in fifth place. However, he had a disappointing start to the day and soon found himself as one of the short stacks. Unfortunately, his run ended when he was unable to improve with king-queen against his opponent's ace-ten, finishing in 21st place.

One of the big stories in the Jamul Casino Poker Room today was the deep run of Smriti Dewari. She received support and words of encouragement from players in other tournaments throughout the day. Her run gained momentum after she eliminated two players back-to-back. First, she more than doubled up by flopping a set of sixes to eliminate Keith Eoll in 19th place and crack the pocket kings of Ron Segni. Then, in 18th place, Brian Brown had Dewari in trouble after getting all-in on the turn. Segni had top pair with a gut shot straight draw and jammed on Brown, who had slow-played his pocket aces, which turned into a flopped set. However, Dewari rivered the gutshot straight, sending Segni to the rail and putting her near the top of the leaderboard.

She rode that momentum into a fourth-place finish, securing a cash worth $10,930. After her elimination, while exiting the poker room, Dewari received a standing ovation from the entire room.

Smriti Dewari

Final Table

The first two eliminations at the final table came quickly, with Andrew Whitmer being the first to hit the rail, followed closely by Michael Collopy. Both players were eliminated after losing crucial flips.

After the eliminations of Jessie Casanada and Michael Kaplitz, the overall chip leader coming into Day 2, Thomas Carlin, found himself next to exit following a pre-flop cooler. Carlin four-bet jammed his pocket jacks into the pocket queens of his opponent. The board ran out unfavorably, for Carlin as he was unable to improve, sending him to the rail in fifth place.

Once Dewari was eliminated in fourth, the players found themselves three-handed for over two levels. But that changed quickly once Josh Mok and Felipe Koury played a massive flip. Mok holding pocket deuces and Koury holding ace-six, but Kourey could not improve past the pocket pair, and was eliminated in third shortly after.

Final Table

Heads-Up

After reaching heads-up play, Mok and Tatarintsev, nearly even in chips, discussed an ICM chop. However, they ultimately decided to play for the full prize pool and the RGPS ring.

Just a few hands into heads-up, the two players found themselves in a massive collision. Mok four-bet jammed with pocket tens, and Tatarintsev called with ace-jack suited. The surrounding tables gathered to watch as the two went off to the races.

The 373 flop and K turn kept Mok in front, but when the A hit the river, Mok was eliminated in second place, giving Tatarintsev the title and his first RGPS ringon his very first live tournament.

That concludes our coverage from Jamul Casino in San Diego, but be sure to stay tuned to PokerNews for live updates and coverage from all around the world.

Share this article
Zhen Chen Runs Hot to Capture $132,300 and Merit Poker High Roller Crown

Kai Cocklin Live Reporter Copy link

After four days of intense play at the Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino, Zhen Chen emerged victorious in the $5,300 High Roller at the 2024 Merit Poker Gatsby Gala Series, topping a 103-entry field to claim the trophy and the top prize of $132,300.

The final table showcased players from nine different nations, highlighting the international appeal of the Merit Poker Series. Ultimately, it was China that triumphed, with Chen dispatching Russia's Aleksandr Chernikov in a brief heads-up battle. A well-executed trap with three players left helped propel Chen to the top, cementing his place as the champion.

Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 Zhen Chen China $132,300 2 Aleksandr Chernikov Russia $91,500 3 Simone Andrian Italy $58,800 4 Adrian State Romania $43,600 5 Fahredin Mustafov Bulgaria $32,000 6 Felipe Ketzer Brazil $26,000 7 Angelos Michael Cyprus $21,400 8 Elie Saad Lebanon $17,100 9 Mehmet Demirkol Turkey $13,100

Winner's Reaction

Chen reflected on his victory with gratitude and humility, acknowledging the strong competition at the final table. "There were very strong competitors on this final table, but I fortunately had a big stack and great seat position behind the chip leader," he said. "Also, my flipsI can win, Im lucky."

Chen admitted to struggling earlier in the series during the $2,200 Warm-Up, losing several big hands despite being the favorite. However, he noted how fortune turned in his favor this time. "In this game, I can win. Its very fortunate," he added.

The key to Chens success was his strategic adjustment during the final stages. Observing Chernikovs tendency to shove with 30 big blinds, Chen adapted by setting traps. "I noticed that he kept shoving preflop, so I wanted to change my strategy to trap," he explained, referencing the pivotal hand with pocket tens that shifted momentum in his favor.

Chen also spoke fondly of Cyprus and the Merit Poker Series. "I was here recently, and I feel this place is very nice and beautiful. Thats why I keep coming back to Cyprus," he shared.

When asked about how he would celebrate, Chen kept it simple. "I didnt think yet, but I think Ill just jump into the Main [Event] because Im running hot. I want to keep going and going," he concluded with a smile.

Final Table Action

Mehmet Demirkol, the short stack entering the final table, was the first to exit after his pocket tens ran into the pocket queens of Simone Andrian. Shortly after, Chen took the chip lead for the first time with a well-timed value bet against start-of-day chip leader Angelos Michael, setting the tone for his dominant performance.

Chernikov narrowly escaped elimination in a critical hand against Michael when his ace-ten spiked an ace on the river to overcome Michaels pocket jacks, signaling the start of Michaels decline. Not long after, Elie Saad exited in eighth place as his pocket sixes couldnt hold up against Fahredin Mustafovs pocket queens, kicking off Mustafovs impressive run.

Mustafov then delivered a quick one-two combo to eliminate Michael and bring the field down to six. First, Mustafov check shoved the turn with a straight holding ten-seven, and Michael eventually called with a combo draw. Unfortunately for Michael, a brick on the river sent his stack tumbling to around twelve big blinds.

Angelos Michael

Not long after, Mustafov delivered the final blow when called the three-bet shove of Michael with king-queen, and held against the king-nine of the player from Cyprus.

Felipe Ketzer followed shortly after when his ace-ten couldnt overcome the pocket aces of Chernikov. Despite flopping a gutshot, Ketzer found no further help and exited in sixth place.

Mustafov found himself in a crucial coinflip situation, holding ace-king against the pocket tens of Andrian. Both players anxiously awaited the board, but with a clean runout offering no help to Mustafov, the Bulgarian player's impressive run came to an end in fifth place.

Fahredin Mustafov

Andrian then claimed another knockout when his pocket jacks were far too good for the ace-deuce of Adrian State, which left just three players in contention.

Chernikov jumped into the lead when his pocket eights held in a huge pot against Andrian's ace-eight, which meant the Russian player held around half of the chips in play.

Chen was the short stack at the time but turned his tournament around with three double-ups in quick succession. First, his ace-nine found an ace on the flop against the pocket nines of Chernikov. Shortly after his queen-ten rivered a straight against the ace-three of Andrian, giving him an average stack.

Simone Andrian

Moments later, perhaps in the hand of the final table, Chen laid a trap with pocket tens by limping in the small blind, and Chernikov took the bait as he shoved with nine-seven in the big blind. Chen snap-called and got a clean runout, which gave him a gigantic stack and turned the tables.

Chen then shoved with jack-ten to apply pressure to the shorter stacks and Andrian made the right call with king-queen. However, a ten on the flop was enough for Chen to send Andrian packing, which left just two players.

Alexsandr Chernikov

There was no talk of a deal or even a break when the finalists got to heads-up, and there was action right off the bat as a few hands in both Chen and Chernikov got their stacks into the middle in a coinflip. Chen held pocket eights and Chernikov had the overcards with ace-nine, but an eight on the flop all but sealed the deal for Chen, which meant Chernikov had to settle for second.

Share this article
Boston Rob Shares Story of Costa Rica Poker Raid w/ Daniel Negreanu & Cheryl Hines

Connor Richards Editor & Live Reporter U.S. Copy link

Life Outside Poker is a new podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.

In the 21st episode, Connor speaks with Survivor legend Boston Rob, aka Rob Mariano, about growing up near Fenway Park, learning poker at the age of 6, studying psychology at Boston University, applying for Survivor and winning Season 22, his recent appearance on Deal or No Deal Island and filming an upcoming season of The Traitors.

Boston Rob also revealed a story about Costa Rican authorities raiding a mansion known to host high-stakes poker games during a 2006 filming that included Daniel Negreanu, Josh Arieh, David Williams, Michael Mizrachi and actress Cheryl Hines.

"(Gambling mogul) Calvin (Ayre) had a big party at the house, and they came in guns drawn," he said. "And we were fine, but we all had to stay at the party until they checked our passports and everything. I think it was a little bit of a shakedown. But we had a good weekend."

This interview was filmed at the PokerStars North American Poker Tour (NAPT) festival at Resorts World Las Vegas.

The Life Outside Poker podcast is available on major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud and iHeartRadio. You can also watch the interview with Boston Rob by heading to the PokerNews YouTube channel.

Be sure to follow Boston Rob and Connor Richards on X.

Learn More About Life Outside Poker!

Time Stamps

TIME TOPIC 0:00 Intro 0:49 Growing up in Boston 2:12 Studying psychology at Boston University 5:25 Learning poker at age 6 7:18 Poker game raided by Costa Rican Federales 8:54 Balancing skill & luck 10:34 Playing poker with celebrities 13:34 RunGood Poker Series 15:51 Boston Rob cook book 19:07 Survivor & reality TV 25:34 Other poker players on Survivor 26:12 Deal of No Deal Island 30:26 Traitors 33:50 NAPT Las Vegas 34:49 Book recommendation 36:08 Advice for younger self 36:54 Favorite life lesson from poker

Share this article
Indian state-owned telco BSNLs recently issued 5G tender has reportedly been poorly received by potential bidders  particularly by Ericsson and Nokia, who are unhappy with BSNLs plan to use only indiginous gear to build the network.

Under the tender, BSNL plans to launch standalone 5G in Delhi across 1,876 sites using the 900-MHz and 3300-MHz bands. According to the Financial Express, citing unnamed informed sources, Ericsson and Nokia attended a pre-bid meeting held by BSNL last Thursday, along with 27 other local firms including L&T Technology, TCS, Tejas, VVDN, Lekha and HFCL.

However, the government has required BSNL to use indigenously produced technology to roll out 5G. The same requirement applies to BSNLs ongoing 4G rollout.

Ericsson and Nokia reportedly asked BSNL to amend those conditions so that they can participate in the tender. However, the report said, government officials are not likely to allow it, as they are focused on boosting Indias domestic telecoms equipment sector.

The report notes that both Ericsson and Nokia are seeing a sharp decline in orders for 5G gear now that Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have completed their initial rollouts, leaving only Vodafone Idea as the main prospect for 5G sales.

Ericsson and Nokia arent the only ones critical of BSNLs tender conditions. At last weeks meeting, domestic vendors complained about the tenders revenue sharing arrangement.

The company intends to deploy 5G services on a revenue share model, wherein BSNL would get a minimum 70% share of revenue, with select vendors getting whatever is left. At the meeting, vendors said thats way too high, given the high initial investment required from bidders, the report said.

That initial cost includes a bid security of INR5 million (US$59,345) for MSMEs and startups, and a INR30 million performance bank guarantee. Vendors said the former should be dropped and the latter reduced.

The vendors counterproposed that BSNL should only get 30% of revenues, and that the revenue sharing arrangement should only start two years after the 5G service goes live, on the grounds that it takes time to build up a customer base. BSNL will also be going up against firmly established 5G offerings from Jio and Airtel.

They also asked BSNL to remove a condition that allows the telco to terminate contracts if minimum revenue is not shared by vendors for three years.

BSNL agreed at the meeting to extend the deadline for bid submissions to December 16, the report said.
Heather Greene grew fond of her grandparents' Louisiana farm during her childhood.

The now-experienced Charleston restaurateur would join her grandmother in the kitchen. Its gaping windows offered front-row seats to the action on the farm as they cooked, canned vegetables and baked biscuits.

Those memories  and her grandparents burgundy cowboy boots  have made their way inside Greenes new Charleston restaurant, which officially opens inside the two-story building at 247 Congress St. on Dec. 1.

Part market and cafe, part restaurant and bar, Lillians will offer local produce, dairy, prepared food items, beer and wine in the room closest to its entrance at the corner of Congress and President streets.

Patrons can pick up those goods while they wait for coffee and pastries made in-house by Allison Brown. Unlike the cafes that discourage laptops, Lillians welcomes those looking to camp out with their computers in the revamped room next to the market, Greene said.

We encourage people to come with their computers and work, said Greene, who installed additional outlets underneath the tables in Lillians downstairs dining room, which they've nicknamed the "internet cafe."

"I know of so many people who work from home that just need a break from home, Greene said.

At night, the establishment's downstairs daytime food program will transition to dinner and drinks upstairs.

Multiple minor renovations took place ahead of Lillian's opening, including the expansion of its upstairs L-shaped bar, where Ruth Wetenhall will feature craft cocktails with house-made ingredients. Dinner will be served daily in the adjacent dining room and 22-seat terrace. The menu, curated by Todd Garrigan, leans into the farm-to-table ethos Greene experienced while growing up.
There always have been occasional glitches with elections  just never anywhere near as many as Donald Trump and his allies claimed, without any evidence, after he lost the 2020 presidential election.

All the talk of election fraud suddenly disappeared after Mr. Trump won this years election, but that doesnt mean we no longer have election glitches. Of course we do.

As weve said repeatedly for more years than Mr. Trump has been at the epicenter of American politics, there will always be occasional problems, because elections are run by human beings, and human beings make mistakes.

Some even perpetrate fraud  just ask Gov. Henry McMaster, who prosecuted some of those human beings when he was the U.S. attorney for South Carolina  but mostly, in elections and in other areas of life, they make mistakes.

Clearly, someone made some pretty significant mistakes in this years election in state Senate District 29 in Chesterfield, Darlington, Lee, Marlboro and Sumter counties. As The Post and Couriers Nick Reynolds reports, after Darlington Sen. Gerald Malloy apparently lost his reelection bid by 287 votes, the mandatory recount narrowed that loss to 87 votes.

Its not uncommon for a few votes to change in an automatic recount, but usually it's only one or two, or maybe a handful. In the 18 state and congressional recounts in South Carolina during the past decade, Mr. Malloys attorneys say, ballot numbers changed by a combined total of 24 votes. In Lee County alone in this months recount, Mr. Malloy picked up 59 votes, and the apparent winner, JD Chaplin, lost 129 votes.

The State Election Commissions John Michael Catalano tells us the agency doesnt know of a recount that has changed the results this dramatically. So last week, Election Director Howie Knapp ordered Lee County election officials to explain what happened.
Despite 85% of Australians feeling the squeeze from rising living costs, 35% are still happy to pay a premium for exceptional customer service.

Quality experience is still kingeven when the wallets a little lighter! According to KPMGs Customer Experience Excellence 2024 report, digitisation is reshaping how brands connect with Aussie consumers, and non-grocery retailers are leading the charge, occupying 7 out of the top 10 spots.

Top of the list? Mecca, followed by Specsavers and ING. Mecca has remained a top contender since 2021, alongside other big names like Bunnings, Bendigo Bank, and Chemist Warehouse. Returning to the top 10 this year are IKEA, Kmart, and RACV, showing how brands continue to evolve to meet diverse consumer needs.

Retailers are outshining other sectors, with KPMGs Carmen Bekker noting that theyre driving innovation by offering value in ways that go beyond pricethink top-notch service, exclusive experiences, and more. But, she adds, customer experience isnt just a retail thingbrands from 15 industries made the top 30, reinforcing that great customer experience is crucial across the board.

In a twist, integrity and trust have now overtaken personalization as the top factors influencing customers decisions to recommend brands. As consumer expectations shift, customers are looking for transparency and honesty, with more emphasis on genuine care and trustworthy relationships.

The rise of AI has also sparked generational divides. Younger consumers are worried about AI displacing entry-level jobs, while older generations prefer human interactions, especially when dealing with complex issues, and are more concerned about data privacy. Bekker highlights that businesses need to balance technological advancements with a personal touch, meeting the evolving needs of all customers.

Lastly, customer expectations are shifting. Where low-cost, minimal-contact service once sufficed, Australians are now valuing empathy and meaningful interactions more. Brands that show genuine care and go beyond transactional service are winning customers hearts. As brands embrace AI, they must do so with integrity, Bekker advises. Infusing AI with human-like qualities will strengthen customer relationships and boost satisfaction.

KPMGs Customer Experience Excellence 2024 report reveals Australias top 10 brands for customer experience, with Mecca leading the pack, followed by Specsavers, ING, and Bunnings. These brands have maintained high standards while adapting to evolving consumer needs. Notable newcomers to the top 10 include IKEA, Kmart, and RACV. The report highlights the importance of consistent customer experience and the ability of brands to meet changing expectations over time.

Heres the full list:

Mecca

Specsavers

ING

Bunnings

Chemist Warehouse

Bendigo Bank

Apple

RACV

IKEA

Kmart



Meccas magic

Mecca has transformed from a beauty retailer into a leading beauty authority, blending luxury, innovation, and a deep sense of community. Their stores arent just retail spaces; they offer immersive, sensory experiences designed to make customers feel like theyve entered a beauty haven. Meccas curated product selection stands out in a crowded market, offering only the best from the beauty industry.

Their messaging, full of wit, charm, and authenticity, encourages customers to embrace their individuality, making them feel empowered rather than pressured. With initiatives like Beauty Loop, a loyalty program offering exclusive perks, Mecca keeps customers engaged while rewarding their loyalty.

Their social media presence amplifies beauty trends and user-generated content, staying consistent with their distinct brand voice. Celebrity partnerships have further elevated their appeal, making Mecca synonymous with aspirational beauty. Through a blend of experiential retail, expert education, and innovative marketing, Mecca continues to lead and redefine beauty retail.

Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Property tycoon Truong My Lan has appealed to the court to reduce her death sentence and reassess the charges against her, expressing regret over the embezzlement allegations.

The 68-year-old chairwoman of the Van Thinh Phat Group made a final statement during her appeal at the Peoples High Court in Ho Chi Minh City Tuesday, where she is contesting her death sentence for embezzling funds from Saigon Commerical Bank (SCB).

In her speech, Lan spoke for over 20 minutes, saying: "Because of this case, the dreams, hopes and physical strength of myself and dozens of people here have been affected. That was the most terrible experience for me."

Property tycoon Truong My Lan seen at the People's High Court of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Lan has been found guilty of causing a loss of VND677 trillion (US$27 billion) to SCB over the course of 10 years.

She said that she had made numerous personal sacrifices to help restructure the bank, including giving up time with her two daughters, who were raised by a nanny while she focused on her work.

For many years she and her husband had tried to contribute to Vietnams growth with the development of premium property projects, she added.

"I am both an accused and a victim in this case," Lan said, adding that ultimately she just wants to help pay back the debts to the State Bank of Vietnam.

When all the debts are settled, she wants the remaining funds to be used for the construction of hospitals, schools and homes for low-income people, which she had dreamed of doing for many years but had never materialized.

She also insisted the judges to order SCB to submit data on the loans that had occurred at the bank before she became its consultant.

Her defense team had previously argued that SCB had VND125 trillion in loans before its merger with two other banks in 2012.

These loans, they claimed, were wrongfully attributed to Lan during the investigation, despite her having no involvement with them.

SCB has refused to provide further data on these loans, stating that all relevant information had already been submitted to investigators.

"What is the intention of SCB in not submitting these data, which is important to dozens of its former workers who are being tried?" Lan asked.

On Monday prosecutors maintained their recommendation that Lans death sentence be upheld, saying that her crimes have resulted in "unprecedented" losses.

Last month, in a separate trial, she was awarded a life sentence for "fraudulent appropriation of assets" through bond issuances and illegal cross-border money transfers among other crimes.
Thai police are seeking an Interpol arrest warrant for a tycoon they believe has fled to China following an alleged $200 million investment scam, the force told local media on Monday.

Boon Vanasin, 86, the former chairman of Thonburi Healthcare Group (THG), is believed to have fled the country in September, Bangkok police deputy commissioner Nopasin Poolsawat told Thai media.

Since last year around 250 people have filed complaints against Boon and his group, alleging they lost a total of $219 million after investing in medical projects in Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, Nopasin said.

"The victims believed they would profit from investing in these projects, but none of them exist."

"We're rushing the process to get a red notice from Interpol," Nopasin told Thai PBS in an interview Monday.

In 2022, Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission fined Boon 2.3 million baht ($66,000) for misleading investors in 2021 over THG's ability to procure millions of Pfizer mRNA Covid-19 vaccines.

An investigation found that THG had not signed a contract with Pfizer.

Boon's ex-wife and daughter, who serve as directors to THG, and six others have been arrested and charged with public fraud and money laundering, Nopasin said.

In a statement Monday to the Stock Exchange of Thailand, the company said Boon's wife and daughter "do not possess the authority to act on behalf of the Company."

"The Company assures its investors and stakeholders that the Company continues to operate with transparency, adhering to principles of good corporate governance, and remains committed to maintaining trust and confidence among its shareholders and investors."
On November 21, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the IAEA, adopted a resolution expressing profound concern that Iran has still not provided the necessary, full and unambiguous cooperation with the Agency and has not taken the essential and urgent actions that would allow the IAEA to provide assurance that Irans nuclear program is exclusively peaceful.

France, Germany, and the United Kingdom - known as the E3 - along with the United States, proposed the resolution adopted by the IAEA Board of Governors. Speaking for the four countries in introducing the resolution, British Ambassador to the IAEA Corinne Kitsell noted that the IAEAs ability to provide assurance about Irans nuclear program is central to the integrity of the safeguards system and global non-proliferation regime. As we have said, the outstanding issues and the issue of discrepancy in Iran are not historical  they are active concerns.

The Governments of the E3 and the United States issued a joint statement after the resolution was adopted, welcoming the action. They noted that Iran is legally obligated under its Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Safeguards Agreement to cooperate fully with the IAEA and account for all nuclear material and activities. They pointed out that for more than five years, the IAEA Director has tried to engage Iran in substantive dialogue on Irans unresolved, issues, and Iran has responded with threats and provocations.

In the joint statement, the four nations said it is essential and urgent that Iran resolve its nuclear issues and noted that the resolution also asks the IAEA to produce a comprehensive and updated assessment which will summarize the Agencys findings over five years of investigations.

We hope, they said, 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 Irans program remains exclusively peaceful, and the Board can close consideration on this matter. If it does not, it will be important that the Board remain engaged to meet the challenge that Irans continued refusal to meet its NPT-related nuclear verification obligations would present, including to the credibility of the global IAEA safeguards regime.

The E3 and the United States concluded, We expect Iran to reengage on the path of dialogue and cooperation with the Agency.
The United States has announced sanctions against six Hamas leaders who have facilitated the Iran-backed terror groups transfer of weapons and its terrorist activities. It is the ninth time the U.S. has imposed sanctions on Hamas since October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched its bloody attack against Israel, killing more than 1200 people, including 40 Americans, and seizing 251 people as hostages. The massacre by Hamas ignited the Israel/Hamas war in Gaza which has led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Two of the Hamas members designated in the current round of sanctions are based in Gaza: Basem Naim, a senior Hamas member who has engaged with Russia and been a part of Hamas delegations to other countries; and Ghazi Hamad, who served as the editor of Hamas propaganda outfits and is authorized to speak publicly on behalf of Hamas. In a statement, the U.S. Treasury Department noted that Hamad previously oversaw border crossings into Gaza  border crossings used to smuggle construction equipment and materials used to construct Hamas extensive underground tunnel network, intentionally interspersed among Palestinian civilians.

According to the Treasury Department, three of the designated Hamas leaders are now based in Turkiye. Abd al-Rahman Ismail abd al-Rahman Ghanimat is a long-time member of Hamass military wing, who has been involved in multiple terrorist attacks, including the 1997 daytime bombing of a cafe in Tel Aviv. Musa Daud Muhammad Akari facilitates the flow of funds from Turkiye into Gaza and the West Bank for Hamas and has been previously convicted of kidnapping and murder. Salama Mari is a Hamas official involved in financial facilitation for the group. He was previously imprisoned for his role in a 1993 attack in the West Bank that killed an Israeli soldier.

The 6th designated individual is Mohammad Nazzal who represents Hamass interest to a variety of international audiences and has provided support to the terrorist group for over 30 years.

Treasury remains committed to disrupting Hamass efforts to secure additional revenue and holding those who facilitate the groups terrorist activities to account, said Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley Smith.

State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller warned that no country can conduct business as usual with Hamas. In a statement he declared, We will continue to use the tools at our disposal to target those who perpetuate Hamass destabilizing activities.
Pastry purchases are worth 11.4 billion euros in Europa, consumption up by 1.5%

Comments from top Italian and European pastry chefs

RIMINI, Italy, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Classic or chocolate, with filling and suitable for any occasion, the undisputed king of the festive season will be panettone. This is the trend uncovered by the Observatory of Sigep, the International Gelato, Pastry, Bakery, Coffee  and, as of this year, also Pizza  Show, organised by IEG - Italian Exhibition Group (Italy, Rimini Expo Centre, 18-22 January 2025, sigep.it).

Infographic of SIGEP WORLD CHRISTMAS OBSERVATORY BY IEG

Marco Carniello, CBO at IEG, stated "A positive European trend is emerging for pastry consumption with +1.5% compared to 2023, while purchases stand at  11.4 billion (Source: CREST, Circana)."

Matteo Figura, Out of Home Market Expert and Foodservice Director at Circana Italy, explained "Leading the growth in consumption in the pastry sector are the United Kingdom, France and Germany. To be precise, In Italy, pastry consumption represents 40.6% of the category's total consumption at European level."

Flavia Morelli, Group Exhibition Manager food&beverage at IEG added "Interviews with top Italian and European master pastry chefs reveal that the sector is facing high raw material prices: +40% in costs for hazelnuts and a +50% leap in the case of chocolate."

For Giuseppe Piffaretti, Swiss master pastry chef "Traditional panettone is an important part of the pastry shop economy in the Ticino."

Luigi Biasetto, master pastry chef at AMPI academy "Traditional Milanese panettone is already the most popular with our customers, but we foresee a +22% increase in pandoro sales."

For Marta Boccanera, master pastry chef and vice-president of APEI "We expect a 10-15% increase in panettone sales and pandoro volumes to double, but pastry chefs are having to cope with the rising price of raw materials."

Roberto Rinaldini, master pastry chef and member of Relais Dessert International said "The classic panettone represents 40% of our sales, our gourmet proposal, the Dante panettone, is also on the increase."

Christophe Louie, Parisian baker-patissier "We are aiming at coffee, spice and pear panettone made in collaboration with Maison Verlet, and panettone with seaweed and yuzu with Maison Petrossian as an aperitif."

According to Jose Romero, Spanish pastry chef and EPGB lecturer from Barcelona, "Panettone sales have tripled in Spain in the last ten years. The Spanish Christmas cake par excellence is the 'Turron de yema'."

Infographic - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2567643/IEG_Infographic.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/723307/5048596/Italian_Exhibition_Group_Logo.jpg
Ordering out for Thanksgiving jumped year over year while dining in person at restaurants declined as budgets tighten

On average, consumers expect to spend around $170 on Thanksgiving dinner, whether dining out or cooking at home

ATLANTA, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Popmenu's annual study on Thanksgiving dining trends shows a number of consumers are going to leave the cooking to the professionals, but prefer to eat at home. This year, 37% of consumers reported that they plan to order takeout or delivery from restaurants for their Thanksgiving dinner, up from 32% last year. Another 5% plan to dine at a restaurant on Thanksgiving, down from 17% last year.

When asked how much they anticipate they will spend on Thanksgiving dinner for themselves and their guests, the average amount was $170.

Popmenu surveyed more than 1,000 consumers across the U.S. from November 17 to November 18, 2024.

Why consumers are opting to hang up their aprons

Consumers are leaning on restaurants to supply their entire meal or certain dishes this Turkey Day, pointing to convenience, cost, and quality of food.

75% think it's just easier

32% say it's cheaper or costs around the same as buying all the ingredients to cook at home

23% are too tired to cook

22% prefer to have a professionally cooked meal

What they're serving

When it comes to the main course, it's no surprise that 87% of consumers will serve turkey. Ham is the second most popular choice at 39%.

Favorite side dishes that will likely appear on this year's table, according to consumers:

68% - Stuffing

60% - Mashed potatoes

42% - Mac 'n cheese

42% - Sweet potatoes

41% - Green beans

39% - Cranberry sauce

31% - Cornbread

29% - Corn

When asked if they ever ate fast food for Thanksgiving, nearly one-third of consumers (31%) said yes.

Popmenu offers the following tips for consumers who haven't finalized dining plans yet:

Scope out options. Check out preferred restaurants' websites for full menus, promotional offers, photos and reviews of dishes, portion sizes, allergens and more. You can also get a sense of the cost for your party size. Order NOW and order direct. Many restaurants feature limited-time menus with all the Thanksgiving fixings for a special price. Order directly from the restaurant's website ASAP to secure your order and preferred pickup timeand avoid third-party fees. Keep tabs on reservation openings. Reservation sites like OpenTable can keep you posted on what's available in your area with automated alerts.

"Ordering in or dining out for Thanksgiving is becoming a new tradition for consumers who just want to relax and enjoy a meal vs. serving as the family chef for the day," said Brendan Sweeney, CEO and Co-founder of Popmenu. "Restaurants have seen $10,000 or even $50,000 in Thanksgiving pre-orders. Although it's tougher to book something the week of Thanksgiving, there are still restaurants out there who are taking orders and reservations. Visit restaurant websites, search on Google, or call them right away."

Looking ahead to December holidays, 28% of consumers will order from or dine at restaurants for Christmas this year and 35% will do so for New Year's Eve.

Survey Methodology

Popmenu conducted an anonymous, nationwide study of 1,000 U.S. consumers, ages 18 and older, from November 17 to November 18, 2024.

About Popmenu

As a leader in restaurant technology, Popmenu is on a mission to make profitable growth easy for all restaurants. Digital marketing, online ordering, and on-premise technologies headline a powerful product suite infused with artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and deep data on guest preferences. The company consolidates tools needed to engage guests, serving as a digital control center for more than 10,000 independent restaurants and hospitality groups in the US, UK, and Canada. For more information, visit popmenu.com.

Media Contact:

Jennifer Grasz

Head of Marketing, Popmenu

[email protected]

SOURCE Popmenu Inc.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) today announced the launch of the Mentorship for Academic & Personalized Student Success (MAPSS) Initiative, an innovative program funded by a $1.3 million grant from ECMC Foundation. This groundbreaking initiative will support six APLU member universities in developing and implementing sustainable peer mentorship models using technology-enabled solutions from Mentor Collective, a leading provider of student success platforms.

"We are honored to have been selected by APLU to provide the mentorship technology and support for this transformative MAPSS Initiative," said Mentor Collective's CEO Erin Mayhood. "As the chosen provider, we are fully committed to empowering these six universities with our cutting-edge mentorship platform and expertise. Through this collaboration, we are not just facilitating connections but equipping these institutions with the data-driven tools and resources to significantly impact student outcomes and address systemic barriers to success. This aligns perfectly with our mission to foster student success through meaningful mentorship."

The three-year MAPSS Initiative aims to improve peer mentoring to drive student success across APLU member institutions. Mentor Collective will play a crucial role by providing its technology platform, which offers institutions meaningful data to identify and address barriers to student success.

Karen Vignare, Vice President for Digital Transformation for Student Success and Executive Director of the Personalized Learning Consortium at APLU, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative: "We're thrilled to announce the opportunity for institutions to pilot and refine peer mentoring programs. We know peer mentoring can be a powerful way to help students thrive, and this work will help more institutions more fully leverage peer mentoring to advance student success."

Jacob Fraire, President of ECMC Foundation, highlighted the importance of mentorship in student success: "Well-designed mentorship programs increase student success by providing essential support, fostering a sense of belonging, and offering resources needed for student success. MAPSS has the potential to address these challenges by developing structured, high-quality mentorship programs using technology-enabled services. We are proud to support this initiative and look forward to the positive impact it may have on our students."

The MAPSS Initiative offers APLU member institutions the chance to:

Participate in an APLU-led community of practice

Build institutional capacity for sustainable mentorship programs

Access Mentor Collective's cutting-edge technology and support

Integrate data-informed decision-making into overall student success strategies

Collaborate and share best practices with fellow APLU member campuses

Call for Proposals: December 20, 2024 Deadline

APLU member institutions are invited to apply to participate in the project. Applications are due December 20, 2024. For information on how to apply, please click here.

Program Timeline

Application Deadline: December 20, 2024

Program Duration: 20252027

APLU members interested in participating can contact APLU staff for detailed application instructions. Join the MAPSS initiative to collaborate with leading institutions and the Mentor Collective to build sustainable peer mentorship models that address systemic student success challenges.

About Mentor Collective

Mentor Collective is a Student Success Engagement solution that partners with colleges, universities, and corporations to improve retention, foster a sense of belonging, and enhance career readiness. By connecting students and employees with mentors who share similar backgrounds, we create meaningful relationships that support academic achievement and personal growth. Our platform leverages data analytics to identify individual needs, enabling organizations to provide timely support and activate appropriate resources.

About APLU

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) is North America's oldest higher education association, founded in 1887. APLU's membership comprises nearly 250 public research universities, land-grant institutions, state university systems, and affiliated organizations across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The association fosters collaboration among university leaders to advance the mission of public research universities, focusing on increasing access, equity, completion, and workforce readiness, promoting groundbreaking scientific research, and bolstering economic and community engagement.

About ECMC Foundation

ECMC Foundation is a national foundation committed to eliminating equity gaps in postsecondary completion by 2040. The Foundation employs strategic grantmaking and program-related investments through Education Innovation Ventures to support nonprofit and for-profit ventures. Their focus areas include removing barriers to postsecondary completion, building organizational and institutional capacity, and transforming the postsecondary ecosystem.

SOURCE Mentor Collective
REDDING, Calif., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report titled, 'Artificial Casings Market Size, Share, Forecast, & Trends Analysis by Type (Collagen Casing, Vegetarian Casing), Application (Animal Meat Sausages, Vegan Sausages), Distribution Channel (Offline, Online), End UserGlobal Forecast to 2031,'

The artificial casings market is expected to reach $5.87 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2024 to 2031.

Artificial Casings Market by Size, Share, Forecasts, & Trends Analysis 2031

Sausages have traditionally been stuffed into natural sausage casings made from the intestines of animals. The ongoing innovations and new product development in the casings industry are leading to the easy availability of artificial sausage casings. These products are available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and appearances, some of which resemble natural sausage casings. In addition, artificial sausage casings carry coloring agents, spices, smoke flavoring, and other materials as a part of the casing to be deposited on the product surface after stuffing and processing. Due to these winning properties of artificial sausage casings, sausage manufacturers and consumers increasingly prefer artificial sausage casings over natural sausage casings, boosting the production in the market.

Download FREE PDF Brochure Of Artificial Casings Market -

https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=5035

The artificial casings market is experiencing growth primarily due to the increase in the global consumption and production of meat, the expanding adoption of artificial casings by sausage manufacturers, the shifting manufacturing interest from natural casings to artificial casings due to complex operations, and the rising number of food joints serving sausages. However, this market's growth is restrained by the growing consumer inclination for natural sausage casings over artificial sausage casings.

Additionally, the growing adoption of sausages in developing countries and the emergence of vegetarian sausage casings are anticipated to create substantial growth opportunities for players operating in this market. However, the rise of zoonotic diseases & health concerns pose a significant challenge to the artificial casings market.

Key Players:

Some of the major players studied in this report are Viscofan, S.A. (Spain), SARIA SE & Co. KG (Germany), Selo B.V. (Netherlands), Shenguan Holdings (Group) Limited (China), DAT-Schaub Group (Part of Danish Crown AmbA) (Denmark), ViskoTeepak Holding Ab Ltd (Finland), Fibran S.A. (Spain), Viskase Companies, Inc. (U.S.), Nippi. Inc. (Japan), FABIOS S.A. (Poland), Kalle GmbH (Germany), Oversea Casing Company (U.S.), Nutra Produkte AG (Switzerland), Ruitenberg Ingredients B.V. (Netherlands), and Ennio International (Australia).

The artificial casings market is segmented by type, application, end user, and geography.

Artificial Casings Industry Overview: Latest Developments from Key Industry Players

In April 2023 , SARIA SE & Co. KG ( Germany ) acquired Devro plc (U.K.) to expand their product portfolio and strengthen their position in the sausage casings market.

, & Co. KG ( ) acquired Devro plc (U.K.) to expand their product portfolio and strengthen their position in the sausage casings market. In October 2021 , Viscofan, S.A. ( Spain ) invested $16.6 million in a fibrous casing manufacturing facility in Caseda ( Spain ) to increase the production capacity.

Get Insightful Data On Regions, Market Segments, Customer Landscape, And Top Companies (Charts, Tables, Figures And More) -

https://www.meticulousresearch.com/request-sample-report/cp_id=5035

Key Findings in the Artificial Casings Market Study

By type, the vegetarian casings segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of 9.4% during the forecast period. Inventions in food technology, rising incidence of intolerance for animal protein, venture investments in plant-based companies, and increasing vegetarian and vegan populations are factors expected to support the segment's high growth.

By application, the plant-based sausages segment is estimated to record the highest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by the consumer shift toward healthy, tasty, sustainable, and environment-friendly varieties of sausages.

Have Specific Research Needs? Request a Customized Research Report -

https://www.meticulousresearch.com/request-customization/cp_id=5035

By distribution channels, the online segment is projected to register the highest CAGR of 8.6% during the forecast period. The faster accessibility and cost-effectiveness, increasing internet and smartphone penetration, and increasing consumer wealth are the factors driving the segment's rapid growth.

By end user, the food service providers segment is estimated to record the highest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by the growing demand for outside prepared food (from food service centers) due to the busy lifestyle of the working population and improving distribution channels of food service providers.

By geography, Asia-Pacific is poised to record the highest CAGR of 8.1% during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to several factors, including the rising expenditure on processed products and growing population & urbanization.

IMMEDIATE DELIVERY AVAILABLE | BUY THIS RESEARCH REPORT (Insights, Charts, Tables, Figures and More)-

https://www.meticulousresearch.com/Checkout/10427298

Scope of the Report:

Artificial Casings Market Assessmentby Type

Collagen Casings

Edible Collagen Casings



Non-edible Collagen Casings

Cellulose Casings

Plastic Casings

Tubular Plastic Casings



Flat Film Plastic Casings

Fibrous Casings

Textile Casings

Net Casings

Vegetarian Casings

Artificial Casings Market Assessmentby Application

Animal-based Sausages

Processed Sausages



Pre-Cooked Sausages





Smoked Sausages





Cured Sausages



Fresh Sausages

Plant-based Sausages

Artificial Casings Market Assessmentby Distribution Channel

Offline

Online

Artificial Casings Market Assessmentby End User

Food Processing Companies

Food Retailers

Food Service Providers

Other End Users

Artificial Casings Market Assessmentby Geography

North America

S.



Canada

Europe

Germany



France



Italy



K.



Spain



Poland



Netherlands



Russia



Austria



Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific

China



India



Japan



Australia



Rest of Asia-Pacific

Latin America

Brazil



Mexico



Chile



Argentina



Colombia



Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

& UAE



Saudi Arabia



South Africa



Rest of Middle East & Africa

Related Reports

Collagen Casings Market Size, Share, Forecast, & Trends Analysis by Type (Edible, Non-Edible), Caliber (Small, Large), Application (Fresh Sausages, Processed Sausages), End User (Food Service Providers, Food Retail), Distribution ChannelGlobal Forecast to 2031 - https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/collagen-casings-market-5220

Europe Sausage Casings Market by Type (Artificial Casings, Natural Casings), Application (Animal Meat Sausages, Vegan Sausages), Distribution Channel (Offline, Online), End User (Food Processors, Retailers), and CountryForecast to 2030 - https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/europe-sausage-casings-market-5570

Europe Artificial Casings Market by Type (Collagen Casing, Cellulose Casing, Plastic Casing, Fibrous Casing, Vegetarian Casing), Application (Vegan Sausages), Distribution Channel (Online), End User (Food Processing Companies, Retailers)Forecast to 2030 - https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/europe-artificial-casings-market-4303

Natural Sausage Casings Market by Source (Hog, Beef, Sheep), by Application (Fresh Sausages, Pre-cooked Sausages, Smoked Sausages, and Cured Sausages), by Distribution Channel (Offline and Online)Global Forecast To 2028 - https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/natural-sausage-casings-market-5158

Artificial Casings Market Research Summary Particulars Details Number of

Pages 270 Format PDF Forecast

Period 20242031 Base Year 2024 CAGR

(Value) 6.5 % Market Size

(Value) $5.87 Billion by 2031 Segments

Covered By Type Collagen Casings

Edible Collagen Casings



Non-edible Collagen Casings

Cellulose Casings

Plastic Casings

Tubular Plastic Casings



Flat Film Plastic Casings

Fibrous Casings

Textile Casings

Net Casings

Vegetarian Casings By Application Animal-based Sausages

Processed Sausages



Pre-Cooked Sausages





Smoked Sausages





Cured Sausages



Fresh Sausages

Plant-based Sausages By Distribution Channel Offline

Online By End User Food Processing Companies

Food Retailers

Food Service Providers

Other End Users Countries

Covered North America (U.S., Canada), Europe (Germany, France, Italy, U.K., Spain,

Poland, Netherlands, Russia, Austria, and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific

(China, India, Japan, Australia, and Rest of Asia-Pacific), Latin America

(Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, and Rest of Latin America)

, and the Middle East & Africa (UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Rest of

Middle East & Africa) Key

Companies Viscofan, S.A. (Spain), SARIA SE & Co. KG (Germany), Selo B.V.

(Netherlands), Shenguan Holdings (Group) Limited (China), DAT-Schaub

Group (Part of Danish Crown AmbA) (Denmark), ViskoTeepak Holding Ab

Ltd (Finland), Fibran S.A. (Spain), Viskase Companies, Inc. (U.S.), Nippi.

Inc. (Japan), FABIOS S.A. (Poland), Kalle GmbH (Germany), Oversea

Casing Company (U.S.), Nutra Produkte AG (Switzerland), Ruitenberg

Ingredients B.V. (Netherlands), and Ennio International (Australia).

Contact:

Meticulous Market Research Pvt.Ltd.

1267 Willis St, Ste 200 Redding,

California, 96001, U.S.

USA: +1-646-781-8004

Europe: +44-203-868-8738

APAC: +91 744-7780008

Email- [email protected]

Visit Our Website: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/

Connect with us on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/company/meticulous-research

Meticulousblog.org | Top Market Research Reports Blog - https://meticulousblog.org/

Content Source: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/pressrelease/190/artificial-casings-market

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2567695/Meticulous_Market_Research.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1757980/Meticulous_Research_Logo_1.jpg

SOURCE Meticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd.
ATLANTA, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Atomic-6 was recently awarded a Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) to further develop its revolutionary Space Armor shielding tiles and complete testing qualification for first flight.

Side by side comparison of monolithic aluminum plate and Atomic-6's Space Armor impact shielding tile during hypervelocity impact.

Designed to minimize shielding mass, stowage space, post-impact ejecta, and mission risk, Space Armor provides vital protection for space assets against space debris and kinetic energy weapons while offering optional radio frequency permeable capabilities. This innovative technology is essential for maintaining the United States' competitive edge in space operations, a concern that has been increasingly emphasized by Pentagon officials and lawmakers.

In NASA's recent study on the economic advantages of safeguarding satellites from orbital debris, the findings suggest potential net benefits exceeding $50 billion over the next 30 years.

To meet this demand, Space Armor offers two levels of protection: Lite and Max. "Space Armor Lite" is designed to withstand impacts from debris up to 3mm, which accounts for over 90% of debris in low earth orbit, while "Space Armor Max" is designed to withstand impacts from debris up to 12.5mm. This productized approach allows for tailored protection strategies, ensuring both cost-effectiveness and critical defense against varying sizes of debris.

The TACFI award, along with matching funds from outside investors, paves the way for Atomic-6 to take Space Armor from prototype to full product line with added variations and capabilities to meet market and customer demand.

Atomic-6 is committed to the safety, sustainability, performance and affordability of future space endeavors. Space Armor is the latest of several Atomic-6 innovations to reinforce their mission and provide the US military, Allies, and commercial space operators with the strategic edge necessary to reduce mission risk and protect space assets.

Contact Us for RFPs

To learn more about Space Armor, other Atomic-6 innovations, and/or submit a Request for Proposal (RFP), please contact our team at [email protected].

About Atomic-6

Atomic-6 is revolutionizing mobility in space, air, land, and sea by rapidly designing and manufacturing the world's finest composite solutions. Everything we touch gets lighter, stronger, and smarter. Visit our website atomic-6.com or contact us directly to learn more.

Media Inquiries

Atomic-6, Inc.

[email protected]

SOURCE Atomic-6
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America Corporation announced today that it will redeem on December 6, 2024, all $2,000,000,000 principal amount outstanding of its 1.530% Fixed/Floating Rate Senior Notes, due December 2025 (CUSIP No. 06051GKE8) (the "Notes"), at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date of December 6, 2024. Interest on the Notes will cease to accrue on the redemption date.

Payment of the redemption price for the Notes will be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company. The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. is the trustee and paying agent for the Notes.

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 69 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,700 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 58 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained in this news release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guarantees of future results or performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions difficult to predict or beyond our control. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement and should consider the uncertainties and risks discussed under Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and in any of our subsequent Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statement was made.

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.

Investors May Contact:

Lee McEntire, Bank of America

Phone: 1.980.388.6780

[email protected]

Jonathan G. Blum, Bank of America (Fixed Income)

Phone: 1.212.449.3112

[email protected]

Reporters May Contact:

Jocelyn Seidenfeld, Bank of America

Phone: 1.646.743.3356

[email protected]

SOURCE Bank of America Corporation
The December edition of FinTech Magazine includes interviews with leading experts and executives from Alipay+, Marqeta & Flyfish

LONDON, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BizClik, the UK's fastest-growing publishing company, has released the latest edition of FinTech Magazine .This publication is highly regarded by voices within the Financial Sector for its in-depth reports and interviews with prominent figures in the industry.

FinTech Magazine

This month's edition features an exclusive lead interview with Flyfish C-Suite, Savvas Pashias, Shay Merary and Michael Zetser on how they have developed a platform for SMEs to access banking services, as traditional infrastructure struggles to meet increasing cross-border needs.

"The UniFi platform is inherently scalable, designed to growin line with a company's expansion and service requirements" - Michael Zetser, CEO, Flyfish

The edition also contains extensive interviews with key thought leaders from Marqeta, Sidekick, PayU and more. Plus the Top 10: Decacorns

You can visit FinTech Magazine for daily news and analysis of the ever-changing financial industry.

About BizClik

BizClik is one of the fastest-growing digital media companies in the UK, host to a growing portfolio of industry-leading global brands and communities.

BizClik's expanding portfolio includes Technology, AI, FinTech, InsurTech, Supply Chain, Procurement, Energy, Mining, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Mobile, Data Centre, Cyber, and Sustainability.

For more information, please visit our website .

SOURCE Bizclik Media
Fast casual concept celebrating grand opening on December 10 offering free chicken salad for a year

ATLANTA, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicken Salad Chick , the nation's only fast casual chicken salad restaurant concept, announced today it is opening its first store in Lee's Summit, MO. Located at 1020 NW Pryor Rd, Chicken Salad Chick of Lee's Summit is excited to invite the local community to celebrate this grand opening on Tuesday, December 10. The first 100 guests in line will win free chicken salad for a year.

During the grand opening week, local guests can expect to experience the Southern hospitality that Chicken Salad Chick is known for with specials and giveaways that include:

Tuesday , December 10  Free Chicken Salad for a Year to the first 100 Guests  The first guest in line will receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for an entire year. The next 99 guests in line will receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month for a year.*

  The first guest in line will receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for an entire year. The next 99 guests in line will receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month for a year.* Wednesday, December 11  The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a FREE Chicken Salad Chick 40oz Tumbler.**

 The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a FREE Chicken Salad Chick 40oz Tumbler.** Thursday, December 12  The first 50 guests to purchase two small Quick Chicks or one large Quick Chick will receive a FREE Chicken Salad Chick Large Cooler.**

 The first 50 guests to purchase two small Quick Chicks or one large Quick Chick will receive a FREE Chicken Salad Chick Large Cooler.** Friday, December 13  The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a FREE Chicken Salad Chick Tervis Tumbler.**

 The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a FREE Chicken Salad Chick Tervis Tumbler.** Saturday, December 14  The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a FREE Scoop or Sandwich on their next visit.**

Chicken Salad Chick of Lee's Summit is owned and operated by Kendra and Alan Greenwood. The Greenwoods were introduced to Chicken Salad Chick through their son, who first discovered the brand's Southern style, made from scratch offerings while away at college. From their first bite, the Greenwoods knew Chicken Salad Chick would become a staple on their dinner table and they found themselves requesting delivery orders from their son whenever they would have friends and family over.

"We've been fans of Chicken Salad Chick for years, and we are so excited to finally bring the delicious brand to our neighborhood," said Kendra Greenwood. "From the second we tried it; we fell in love! Knowing how obsessed with The Chick we were, our son submitted our information for franchising opportunities. As we began to learn more about the mission and value of Chicken Salad Chick, we knew that this was our calling and next life adventure."

With a combined background in management and administration, the Greenwoods bring more than 20 years of leadership and expertise to their new opening in Lee's Summit. Alan Greenwood served in the U.S. Army for 10 years, and then dedicated his career to working in the healthcare industry. Kendra has since left her previous role to focus solely on Chicken Salad Chick. As franchise owners, Kendra and Alan look forward to growing their business and plan to open additional locations in Liberty/North Kansas City and Blue Springs, Missouri in the future.

"We're thrilled to see Chicken Salad Chick continue to grow in Missouri with the opening of our first location in Lee's Summit, introducing our brand to the Kansas City market," said Scott Deviney, president and CEO of Chicken Salad Chick. "Kendra and Alan have been exceptional partners in this undertaking, marking our first location in such an important and vibrant city. Their passion and enthusiasm for Chicken Salad Chick is contagious and we're excited to see all that they'll accomplish in the future."

Chicken Salad Chick is known for its dozen-plus variety of made-from-scratch chicken salad flavors, fresh side salads, gourmet soups, signature sandwiches, and desserts. The new Lee's Summit restaurant offers in-restaurant and outdoor patio dining, take-out, third-party delivery, and catering options.

Chicken Salad Chick gives back to important causes throughout the year, with the CSC Foundation raising money for local food banks and CURE Childhood Cancer. With the Lee's Summit opening, the local team will be supporting Hillcrest Transitional Housing as part of their pre-opening Friends & Family events. Hillcrest Transitional Housing is a Kansas City based non-profit that offers support to individuals and families affected by homelessness as they transition into self-sufficiency.

Chicken Salad Chick of Lee's Summit will be open Monday  Saturday from 10:00 a.m.  8 p.m. For more information, visit www.chickensaladchick.com . Follow Chicken Salad Chick on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and trends.

For more information on giveaways and specials, visit www.facebook.com/ChickenSaladChickLeesSummitMO

*Guests should arrive early to secure a place in line. The first 100 guests must remain in line and download the Chicken Salad Chick app. Wi-Fi will not be available on site. Once the restaurant opens, guests will make a purchase of "The Chick" or anything of equal/greater value and enter a code in the Chicken Salad Chick app to officially secure their spot. If you leave the line for any reason, your spot will be awarded to the next guest in line. Guests will receive their first free Large Quick Chick electronically to their app the Monday following Grand Opening Day.

**Must download the CSC App and be 16 years or older to purchase. Not valid with any other offers. Limit 1 reward per guest present. Dine in only.

About Chicken Salad Chick

Chicken Salad Chick serves full-flavored, Southern-style chicken salad made from scratch and served from the heart. With more than a dozen original chicken salad flavors as well as fresh side salads, gourmet soups, signature sandwiches and delicious desserts, Chicken Salad Chick's robust menu is a perfect fit for any guest. Founded in Auburn, Alabama, by Stacy and Kevin Brown, in 2008, Chicken Salad Chick has grown to more than 280 restaurants in 20 states. Today, under the leadership of Scott Deviney and the Chicken Salad Chick team, the brand is continuing its rapid expansion with both franchise and company locations. Chicken Salad Chick has received numerous accolades including rankings in the 2023 Entrepreneur Franchise 500, Franchise Times' Fast & Serious for the third consecutive year, Fast Casual.com's top Movers and Shakers from 2018 to 2023, QSR's Best Franchise Deals in 2019, 2020 and 2022, and Franchise Business Review's Top Food Franchises in 2020. See www.chickensaladchick.com for additional information.

Contact:

Jennifer Gordillo

Fish Consulting

954-893-9150

[email protected]

SOURCE Chicken Salad Chick
Join Cleerly Leadership for Live Demonstrations on Advanced Imaging Solutions for Personalized Heart Disease Care

DENVER, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cleerly , a leader in advanced cardiovascular imaging, is excited to announce its participation in the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Conference and Annual Meeting, taking place from December 1 to 5, 2024, at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois. Onsite, Cleerly leadership will provide live demonstrations of the company's AI-enabled coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) solution to help guide personalized prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Learn About Cleerly's Technology at Booth 3905

Cleerly software is an AI-enabled digital care platform to support physicians to precisely identify, and define heart disease by analyzing non-invasive CCTA images. Cleerly supports precision diagnostics through sub-millimeter quantification and characterization of atherosclerosis, or plaque build-up in the heart arteries, so that healthcare professionals can provide personalized treatment plans for patients across the care continuum.

Cleerly's AI-Quantitative Coronary CT (AI-QCT) technology, Cleerly Labs, in several studies comparing it with invasive gold standards, has been demonstrated to be highly accurate in the assessment of the presence, extent, and composition of coronary atherosclerotic plaque and similar to consensus readings of Level 3 Expert Physician Readers. Cleerly ISCHEMIA, an additional AI-enabled product, has also been proven to demonstrate high diagnostic performance compared to invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR) and higher performance than such legacy tests as nuclear SPECT imaging and FFRCT.

Meet Cleerly Leadership

Cleerly invites attendees to meet the visionary leaders of Cleerly at the RNSA conference on Monday, December 2, from 2:30 to 3:30 PM at Cleerly Booth 3905. This is an opportunity for healthcare professionals and industry leaders to connect with the experts driving innovation in non-invasive cardiovascular imaging. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussions about the future of healthcare technology and improving patient outcomes while enjoying heart-healthy food options.

Recent Milestones in Medicare and Insurance Coverage

Last month, in a significant advancement for AI-driven technologies, five Medicare Administrative Contractors officially approved AI-QCT scans for Medicare recipients exhibiting stable and acute symptoms suspicious of coronary artery disease. The new coverage took effect on November 24, 2024, for Palmetto GBA, CGS Administrators, National Government Services (NGS), and WPS administrative groups, and will take effect for Noridian on December 8, 2024, impacting approximately 67 million Medicare beneficiaries. The new Medicare coverage will include Cleerly Labs Plaque Analysis for patients with acute or stable chest pain and no known CAD, as well as CAD-RADS 1-3.

Additionally, the American Medical Association recently approved a permanent CPT Category I code for Cleerly's AI-QCT advanced plaque analyses, effective January 1, 2026.

Stop by and learn more about Cleerly at Booth 3905 located in South Hall A, Level 3 or, to schedule a meeting with Cleerly leadership, please visit this link .

About Cleerly

Cleerly is the company on a mission to eliminate heart attacks by creating a new standard of care for heart disease. Through its FDA-cleared solutions driven by artificial intelligence, Cleerly supports comprehensive phenotyping of coronary artery disease, as determined from advanced non-invasive CT imaging. Cleerly's approach is grounded in science, based on millions of medical images. Led by a world-class clinical and technical team, Cleerly enhances health literacy for each and every stakeholder in the coronary care pathway. For more information, please visit: www.cleerlyhealth.com .

Click here for more details about our booth at: https://rsna2024.mapyourshow.com/8_0/exhibitor/exhibitor-details.cfm?exhid=01923946.

SOURCE Map Your Show
In September, the UN Security Council renewed the Kenya-led Multinational Security Mission, the MSS, to Haiti for 12 months to help Haitis police quell the intense gang violence that has gripped Haiti for years. In October, Leslie Voltaire, the current head of Haitis Transitional Presidential Council, formally requested that the MSS be converted to a full-fledged UN peacekeeping operation. Such a transition would have to be voted on by the Security Council. The United States is vigorously supporting such an effort.

At a Security Council briefing on November 20, U.S. Deputy Representative to the United Nations Dorothy Shea underlined the need for the Security Council to heed calls from the Haitian government to ensure sustainability in the fight against violence and lawlessness in Haiti. She noted that in mid-November, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States adopted a resolution in support of the transition.

We now have heard support for the transitioning to a PKO [peace-keeping operation] from the host government, MSS mission leadership and contributors, and the region, representing voices across the Global South. It is time for the Security Council to act to take the initial steps to realize Haitis request to help re-establish security for the people of Haiti.

Deputy Ambassador Shea praised the brave Kenyan, Jamaican, Belizean, and Bahamian forces of the MSS for their efforts in assisting the Haitian National Police to help protect residents, help capture weapons and help repel gangs in several areas. She emphasized that a transition from the MSS into a peacekeeping operation would facilitate the MSS mission and the countries supporting it to take advantage of existing UN financial, personnel and logistical support structures as well as predictable and sustainable financing.

The United States is confident that this Council can once again come together to evolve our response to the crisis in Haiti and determine the appropriate mandate of a potential peacekeeping operation to effectively address the current context and learn from past lessons and avoid harm and repeating of mistakes, said Deputy Ambassador Shea.

Let us heed the consent of the host country, and its desire for stability, security, and a Haitian-led political solution through free and fair elections as soon as possible.

If we do, said Deputy Ambassador Shea, our unity will send a strong message to the people of Haiti: the world - the whole world  is standing with you.
BOSTON, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cohn & Dussi, a full-service law firm with its principal office in Boston, is proud to announce that Attorney Andrew B. Glaab has been promoted to Partner.

Glaab, who has been with the firm since 2014, has demonstrated exceptional leadership and legal acumen, particularly in his role heading the firm's in-house collection group.

"Andrew's promotion is a reflection of his outstanding contributions to the firm and his commitment to delivering top-tier legal solutions to our clients," said Lewis Cohn, Managing Partner at Cohn & Dussi. "His expertise and leadership in commercial law, collections, and creditor's rights have been invaluable."

Glaab's focuses his practice on civil business litigation, commercial law, contract law, construction law, insurance subrogation, creditor's bankruptcy, and more. He represents a diverse array of clients, including national lenders, banks, leasing companies, and insurers, ensuring the enforcement of their contractual rights. In his new role as Partner, Glaab will continue to expand his practice while leading the firm's growth initiatives in these key areas.

Prior to joining Cohn & Dussi, Glaab gained experience in commercial and residential real estate, personal injury law, and alternative dispute resolution. He holds a B.A. from Kent State University and a J.D. from New England School of Law. He is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and holds a certification in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

In addition to his legal practice, Glaab is actively involved in the Massachusetts Bar Association, Essex County Bar Association, and several professional organizations, including the National Equipment Finance Association (NEFA), the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI), and the Northeast Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association (TMA).

His contributions to the legal community have earned him numerous recognitions, including being named to Super Lawyers Rising Stars List and Boston magazine's Top Lawyers List every year since 2022, and to Monitor Daily's NextGen Leaders 40 Under 40 List in 2023. He was also a fellow of the 2022-2023 class of the Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA) Leadership Academy.

Learn more about Glaab on the Cohn & Dussi website.

About Cohn & Dussi

Cohn & Dussi is a full-service law firm with offices in Boston, Mass., and Providence, RI, that offers clients comprehensive, customized solutions to their clients' complex business challenges. Attorneys in the firm offer extensive experience in collections and workouts, creditors' rights, commercial litigation, leasing, bankruptcy, corporate and finance law, construction law, and real estate transactions. Over the course of more than 25 years, Cohn & Dussi has built long-term relationships with its clients, solving problems using a team approach and leveraging a national network of attorneys in all 50 states. Learn more at cohnanddussi.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Lisa Lazarczyk

LAZ PR

Tel: 617.838.7327 or [email protected]

SOURCE Cohn & Dussi
The new-vehicle sales pace in November is expected to finish near 16.0 million, equal to last month, and up 0.5 million from last November's 15.5 million pace.





November's sales volume is forecast to reach 1.32 million, down 1.3% from October but higher by 6.6% from last year's total.





Electric vehicle (EV) sales may experience a jump in activity if consumers react to a potential change in federal tax credits under the new administration heading to the White House.

ATLANTA, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- New-vehicle sales for November are expected to maintain a steady seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 16.0 million, consistent with the sales pace observed in October, according to the Cox Automotive forecast released today. This represents an increase from last November's SAAR of 15.5 million.

However, the sales volume is expected to reach 1.32 million, a decline of 1.3% from October but a 6.6% increase from one year ago, reflecting the differences in the number of selling days compared to last month and a year ago. There are 26 selling days this month, one less than last month and one more than last year.

According to Charlie Chesbrough, senior economist at Cox Automotive: "With the U.S. election now in the rearview mirror, we may see vehicle sales finish the year in a strong position. With less uncertainty in the market, consumer confidence is moving higher, which will likely increase consumer willingness to buy a new vehicle. Additionally, vehicle affordability is improving, thanks to higher incentives and falling auto loan rates, which increase consumers' ability to buy."

Sales Pace Continues to Reflect Improved New-Vehicle Inventory Levels and Higher Incentives

New-vehicle inventory volume topped 3.0 million units at the start of November for the first time since the pandemic, which is higher by more than 677,000 units compared to one year ago. Days' supply climbed to 85 at the start of November, up two days from the revised start of October count and 10 days higher than in November 2023. Higher inventory levels are also pushing sales incentives higher, with new-vehicle sales incentives jumping to 7.7% of the average transaction price in October, marking the fifth consecutive month of higher incentives and the highest level since April 2021.

EV Sales Expected to Surge in November and December

The election has sparked much speculation about the potential effects of a new administration on the auto market, particularly concerning electric vehicles and emissions standards. Chesbrough noted, "We may see an increase in electric vehicle (EV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sales over the next few months as buyers move to take advantage of discounts that may disappear in 2025. There is concern that federal tax credits for EVs and PHEVs may be reduced or eliminated when the new administration takes office. As a result, EV sales may experience some tailwinds, leading to robust activity through the end of the year."

November 2024 U.S. New-Vehicle Sales Forecast



Sales Forecast1 Market Share

Segment Nov-24 Nov-23 Oct-24 YOY% MOM% Nov-24 Oct-24 MOM

Mid-Size Car 75,000 67,710 77,493 10.8 % -3.2 % 5.7 % 5.8 % -0.1 %

Compact Car 95,000 82,229 96,995 15.5 % -2.1 % 7.2 % 7.2 % -0.1 %

Full-Size Pickup Truck 185,000 172,275 189,709 7.4 % -2.5 % 14.0 % 14.2 % -0.2 %

Mid-Size SUV/Crossover 195,000 191,954 199,188 1.6 % -2.1 % 14.8 % 14.9 % -0.1 %

Compact SUV/Crossover 230,000 226,427 230,894 1.6 % -0.4 % 17.4 % 17.3 % 0.2 %

Other Segments 540,000 497,625 543,688 8.5 % -0.7 % 40.9 % 40.6 % 0.3 %

Grand Total 1,320,000 1,238,220 1,337,967 6.6 % -1.3 %









1 Cox Automotive Industry Insights data

All percentages are based on raw volume, not daily selling rate.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive is the world's largest automotive services and technology provider. Fueled by the largest breadth of first-party data fed by 2.3 billion online interactions a year, Cox Automotive tailors leading solutions for car shoppers, auto manufacturers, dealers, lenders and fleets. The company has 29,000+ employees on five continents and a portfolio of industry-leading brands that include Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book, Manheim, vAuto, Dealertrack, NextGear Capital, CentralDispatch and FleetNet America. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately owned, Atlanta-based company with $22 billion in annual revenue. Visit coxautoinc.com or connect via @CoxAutomotive on X, CoxAutoInc on Facebook or Cox-Automotive-Inc on LinkedIn.

SOURCE Cox Automotive
Among Creality's star attractions was the K2 Plus Combo, a major addition to the K1 Series. Offering a 350mm build volume, the K2 Plus enhances Creality's flagship lineup with features like automatic filament identification, multi-filament support, and seamless loading/unloading. Powered by Creality OS and Edge AI, the K2 Plus provides exceptional print quality, active chamber heating, and smart monitoring.

The Ender-5 Max made its debut at the fair, designed for professional use with a 400mm build volume, auto bed leveling, and a robust all-metal frame. It is ideal for high-speed operations, reaching up to 700mm/s, and optimized for print farms with multi-printer management.

The Ender-3 V3 Plus also stole the spotlight, featuring a 300x300x330mm build area, advanced CoreXZ structure, and a next-gen extrusion system for faster, high-quality prints. Its automatic bed leveling and user-friendly touchscreen make it suitable for users of all levels. The Ender-3 V3, a compact version, also impressed with dual motors and a powerful cooling system, achieving speeds up to 600mm/s without compromising on quality. Both models will soon support Co Print for multi-filament printing.

Creality also showcased the Halot-Mage S, a top-tier resin printer with a 10.1" 14K mono LCD and impressive print speeds of up to 150mm/h. Its uniform integral light source ensures sharp, precise prints, while Smart HALOT OS offers remote printing capabilities.

Ecosystem Upgrades

The Falcon A1, a compact, easy-to-use 3D printer, delivers speeds up to 600mm/s with auto material recognition and no assembly required, making it ideal for home use. Creality also highlighted the Creality RaptorX, a professional-grade 3D scanner with high precision (0.02mm) and modular design, perfect for large objects (5-4000mm).

Creality introduced several new filaments and resins, including Rainbow PLA for vibrant multi-color prints, Hyper PETG for outdoor models requiring high impact and chemical resistance, and PPA-CF, a high-temperature nylon filament reinforced with carbon fibers for industrial applications. New resins like Halot Rigid Resin and Plant-Based Resin expand Creality's material ecosystem, offering higher performance, eco-friendliness, and ease of use.

Industrial Solutions by PioCreat

Creality's industrial arm, PioCreat, showcased its advanced solutions for large-scale and dental applications. The DJ89 PLUS resin printer, with an 8K LCD and integral light source, delivers high precision and automatic feeding. The G12 FGF Pellet 3D Printer features a massive build volume of 120010001000mm, perfect for molds and prototypes, while the G5Ultra, designed for educational and research purposes, uses cost-effective thermoplastic pellets.

Engaging Attendees and Partners

Creality also launched a "Life is Colorful, Just Like You" social media campaign, offering attendees the chance to interact with products and receive 3D-printed souvenirs. The company's models were also featured at partner booths, including Sunlu, Kexcelled, Keli, BASF, and eSUN. Creality further engaged the global audience through live-streaming and interviews with leading media outlets such as All3DP and 3Dnatives.

Commitment to the Global Market

Mr. TANG Jingke, Co-founder of Creality, reaffirmed the company's commitment to the European market, emphasizing its growing presence and partnerships within the region. "Our participation at Formnext highlights our dedication to advancing 3D printing technology and deepening our engagement with Europe's manufacturing and tech sectors. We look forward to fostering global collaborations and driving the future of 3D printing," he stated.

For more information on Creality's innovations and products, visit their official website.

CONTACT: [email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2566531/image_5005804_33199621.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2375792/CREALITY_3D_Logo.jpg
TAIPEI, Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the news report from the technology-focused media DIGITIMES Asia, India's electric vehicle (EV) market is seeing contrasting trends, with passenger EV sales declining while the commercial segment grows rapidly. Recent data shows a 9 percent year-on-year drop in passenger EV sales in September 2024, marking the lowest point in 19 months.

Maxson Lewis, founder and MD, Magenta Mobility. Credit: Magenta.

In contrast, electric three-wheeler cargo vehicles are gaining traction, with 45% of sales in the segment being electric last month and forecasts to exceed 50% soon, according to Maxson Lewis, founder and MD of Magenta Mobility.

"The real adoption of EVs is happening on the cargo side," Lewis said, emphasizing the segment's potential to drive India's electrification. This shift underscores how logistics-focused EVs are leading the country's sustainable mobility efforts despite challenges in the passenger market.

He attributed this trend to a combination of favorable government policies, improved battery technology, and the declining total cost of ownership (TCO) for electric cargo vehicles.

Addressing charging infrastructure challenges

A robust charging infrastructure has been a critical factor in the adoption of EVs, but challenges remain. According to Lewis, India's highway network is already well-equipped with charging stations, averaging one every 100 kilometers. However, the focus has shifted from availability to reliability.

"The issue is not the presence of chargers but whether they are functional - downtime is a concern," Lewis explained. He emphasized the need for better charger maintenance and management, predicting the emergence of third-party service providers specializing in charger upkeep.

For Magenta Mobility, charging infrastructure is less of a challenge due to its strategy of setting up charging hubs near client locations. "We build our charging hubs months in advance, ensuring seamless operations for our fleet," Lewis said, adding that this approach minimizes reliance on public networks.

Magenta's market share

Magenta Mobility has cemented its position as India's largest electric cargo fleet operator, with over 2,500 electric vehicles across 18 cities.

The company serves a diverse range of clients, including e-commerce firms and traditional industries such as automotive components, lubricants, and consumer goods.

"We transport everything from lubricant oil and mattresses to food items and television sets," Lewis said, highlighting the versatility of the fleet.

The company's customer satisfaction score of 96.6% reflects its strong commitment to quality and service, Lewis added. Magenta has also been expanding its fleet to include four-wheelers, broadening its capabilities to handle mid-mile logistics in addition to last-mile deliveries.

"This shift opens new opportunities for clients and diversifies our revenue streams," Lewis explained.

Challenges and opportunities

Despite its success, the commercial EV sector faces hurdles. One of the primary challenges is the availability of high-quality vehicles. While three-wheeler options have improved significantly, the market still lacks adequate four-wheeler models for commercial use.

Another challenge is financing. "Access to financing has improved, but the cost of capital for EVs remains higher than for conventional vehicles," Lewis noted.

Driver availability is another issue. Magenta addresses this by offering timely salaries, welfare schemes, and insurance to attract and retain skilled drivers. "Quality, safety, and integrity are non-negotiables for us," Lewis emphasized.

The role of government policies

Government subsidies have played a significant role in supporting EV adoption in India.

Lewis expressed confidence in the government's continued commitment to the EV ecosystem, citing its focus on the commercial segment through the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme.

"The government has learned from global leaders like China and understands the need to invest in EVs for long-term sustainability," Lewis said. He also advocated for directing subsidies toward vehicles rather than charging infrastructure, arguing that this approach would maximize efficiency.

Looking ahead

Magenta Mobility has ambitious plans for growth, including expanding its operations to additional Indian cities and exploring international markets. While the logistics business will remain India-focused, the company's tech platform, which includes state-of-charge monitoring and battery health analytics, is designed for global scalability.

"Southeast Asia is lagging in EV adoption but has shown strong interest in our technology," Lewis said. He identified the Middle East and Southeast Asia as key regions for future expansion.

As the largest commercial EV operator in India, Magenta Mobility's primary competition now comes from traditional logistics providers rather than other EV players. "Our ambition is to become the largest logistics provider, not just the largest EV operator," Lewis remarked.

While the likes of hydrogen-based transportation may eventually challenge EVs, Lewis believes it is still a decade away from significant adoption. In the meantime, Magenta Mobility remains focused on its core mission: driving the adoption of sustainable and efficient logistics solutions.

SOURCE DIGITIMES ASIA
Workers Overcome Union Busting, Join Teamsters Local 710

CHICAGO, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Drivers at FreshPoint Chicago, a subsidiary of Sysco specializing in providing premium produce to high-end restaurants, have voted overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Local 710. The group of 29 drivers organized with the Teamsters to put an end to at-will employment, fight for higher wages, secure improved benefits, and demand better working conditions.

"Since Sysco bought us, we've been working significantly longer days for the same pay," said Jose Medina, a FreshPoint driver and new member of Local 710. "When we raised concerns to management, we were ignored. That's when we knew what needed to be done  it was time to join the Teamsters and fight for a voice on the job."

The FreshPoint facility, previously Greco and Sons, was purchased by Sysco in 2021. Since the acquisition, drivers have faced deteriorating working conditions, with hours increasing from 40 to over 60 per week without any corresponding pay increase. Throughout the organizing campaign, Sysco waged an aggressive and costly anti-union campaign, employing union-busting consultants and tactics to intimidate the workers.

"Sysco is an abusive employer that went to great lengths to crush these workers' efforts," said Michael J. Cales, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 710. "For 12 weeks, they endured relentless captive audience meetings and intimidation. Despite this, these drivers stood together, saw through management's lies, and refused to back down. We are proud to welcome them to Local 710 and look forward to securing the first contract they deserve."

The latest win in Chicago is part of a surging wave of organizing victories at Sysco and its subsidiaries, marking the fourth Teamsters victory at the company this month alone. Earlier this month, drivers at Sysco/SYGMA in Kansas City joined Local 955, Sysco logistics workers in Kent, Wash., joined Local 117, and warehouse workers at Sysco/SYGMA in Detroit joined Local 337.

"Workers at Sysco are fed up with the company's blatant disregard for their well-being," said Tom Erickson, Teamsters Warehouse Division Director. "This is a company that thrives on exploitation, and no amount of union-busting consultants or corporate propaganda can cover that up. We're taking the fight directly to Sysco because every worker at this company deserves dignity, respect, and a union contract."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:

Daniel Moskowitz, (770) 262-4971

[email protected]

SOURCE Teamsters Local 710
NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report with market evolution powered by AI - The global food safety testing market size is estimated to grow by USD 10.51 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.28% during the forecast period. Increase in involvement of government agencies is driving market growth, with a trend towards adoption of advanced robotics for automation of food safety testing. However, lack of infrastructure and underutilization of resources in developing countries poses a challenge.Key market players include ADPEN Laboratories Inc., Agilent Technologies Inc., ALS Ltd., AsureQuality Ltd., Bio Rad Laboratories Inc., bioMerieux SA, Bureau Veritas SA, Cotecna Inspection SA, Element Materials Technology Group Ltd., EMSL Analytical Inc., Eurofins Scientific SE, FoodChain ID Group Inc., Intertek Group Plc, Merieux NutriSciences Corp., Microbac Laboratories Inc., Neogen Corp., RJ Hill Laboratories Ltd., Romer Labs Division Holding GmbH, Campden BRI, and PerkinElmer Inc.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Food Safety Testing Market 2024-2028

Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF

Food Safety Testing Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 8.28% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 10.51 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 7.34 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 41% Key countries US, Canada, Germany, UK, and China Key companies profiled ADPEN Laboratories Inc., Agilent Technologies Inc., ALS Ltd., AsureQuality Ltd., Bio Rad Laboratories Inc., bioMerieux SA, Bureau Veritas SA, Cotecna Inspection SA, Element Materials Technology Group Ltd., EMSL Analytical Inc., Eurofins Scientific SE, FoodChain ID Group Inc., Intertek Group Plc, Merieux NutriSciences Corp., Microbac Laboratories Inc., Neogen Corp., RJ Hill Laboratories Ltd., Romer Labs Division Holding GmbH, Campden BRI, and PerkinElmer Inc

Market Driver

The Food Safety Testing Market is a critical sector focusing on ensuring the safety and quality of food production. Trends include microbiological analysis for Listeria, mould, and pathogens to prevent food poisoning outbreaks. Consumer interests demand rigorous testing for ingredients and potential contaminants like mould, bacteria, viruses, pesticides, heavy metals, and chemical residues. Farm to table safety standards are essential, with in-house laboratories requiring physical space, specialized equipment, and staffing. Client scrutiny and hidden costs are challenges, but new technologies like gas chromatography and mass spectrometry offer solutions. Allergen testing for nuts, gluten, and soy is crucial for food allergies. Public health and foodborne illnesses depend on continuous testing methodologies. The food supply chain's safety and quality are paramount for the food future.

Food manufacturing companies are increasingly adopting robots to address rising labor costs, employee health issues, and high costs associated with food safety and hygiene compliance. Initially, robots were used primarily for palletizing and packaging. However, their use has extended into production and picking. Robots offer several advantages in managing food safety. They can work in severe environments, such as extremely low temperatures for frozen foods, without compromising speed or reliability. Additionally, robots minimize human contact with food products, reducing the risk of food contamination caused by norovirus outbreaks through infected employees. The food safety testing market is expected to grow as more companies invest in robotics technology to ensure food safety and maintain regulatory compliance.

Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution!

Market Challenges

The Food Safety Testing Market faces numerous challenges in ensuring the safety and quality of food production. Microbiological analysis is crucial to detecting microbes like Listeria, Mould, and pathogens that cause food poisoning outbreaks. Ingredients and their sources must be scrutinized for potential contaminants such as molds, bacteria, viruses, pesticides, heavy metals, and chemical residues. Food production facilities require an in-house laboratory with specialized equipment and staffing to conduct tests. Client scrutiny and public health concerns demand adherence to safety and quality standards. Hidden costs, such as new technologies and safety certifications, add to the financial burden. Farm-to-table food production requires testing methodologies at every stage, from farm to table. Foodborne illnesses, caused by food allergens like nuts, gluten, and soy, necessitate specialized allergen testing. Social media and consumer interests demand transparency and accountability. The food supply chain must adapt to meet these challenges, ensuring a safe and healthy food future for all.

Food safety testing is a crucial aspect of ensuring the quality and safety of the global food supply. In developed countries, reliable food safety tests are readily accessible, yet affordability and accessibility remain significant challenges in developing nations. The high burden of food contamination in these regions necessitates the need for affordable and locally produced food safety testing equipment and systems. However, implementing these solutions faces various obstacles, such as insufficient infrastructure and workforce. For instance, the Delhi Food Safety Department in India lacks the necessary resources to meet testing requirements. To address these challenges, outsourcing and local production of food safety testing solutions could be viable strategies. Despite the potential benefits, the implementation of these practices comes with far-reaching consequences, including the impact on the health and wellness of people in these countries.

Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now!

Segment Overview

This food safety testing market report extensively covers market segmentation by

Type

1.1 Meat and poultry

1.2 Fruits and vegetables

1.3 Processed foods

1.4 Dairy

1.5 Others

Technology

2.1 Rapid

2.2 Traditional

Geography

3.1 North America

3.2 Europe

3.3 Asia

3.4 Rest of World (ROW)

1.1 Meat and poultry- The meat and poultry segment holds a substantial share in the global food safety testing market in 2023 due to the high-risk nature of these food categories. Meat and poultry manufacturers face frequent recalls and safety scandals, necessitating stringent food safety measures. Various food testing solutions are employed, including meat identification using ELISA, freshness control using the quality index method and organoleptic checks, identification of heavy metals, pesticides, and biotoxins, and microbiological tests. Microbiological tests detect organisms such as coliforms, enterobacter species, staphylococcus, lactic acid bacteria, yeast, mold, and pathogens like salmonella, campylobacter, listeria, and E. Coli. Chemical tests identify contaminants like pesticides, antibiotics, veterinary residues, and heavy metals. To comply with stricter safety regulations, manufacturers must ensure product safety from farms to distribution centers. Vendors like NEOGEN provide solutions for environmental contaminants, veterinary drugs, and allergen testing plans. Programs like the US National Residue Program, administered by the FSIS, identify and analyze chemical contaminants in meat and poultry products. These factors boost the demand for food testing solutions, fueling the growth of the global food safety testing market.

Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics

Research Analysis

The Food Safety Testing Market plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and quality of food products for consumers. Food companies conduct various food safety tests to detect microbes such as Listeria, Mould, and pathogens that can cause food poisoning outbreaks. Microbiological analysis is a significant part of food safety testing, which helps in identifying contaminants in ingredients and finished products. Food production facilities prioritize food safety to protect consumer interests and prevent quality issues. Social media and client scrutiny have increased the importance of food safety, making it essential for food companies to maintain a clean and safe production environment. An in-house laboratory with specialized equipment and staffing is necessary for timely and accurate testing. Turnaround time requirements and hidden costs are critical factors that food companies consider when choosing a food safety testing provider. New technologies, such as rapid testing methods and automation, are transforming the food safety testing landscape. Safety, quality, food consumption, testing methodologies, and consumer interests are all interconnected, emphasizing the importance of food safety testing program.

Market Research Overview

The Food Safety Testing Market encompasses various analyses to ensure the safety and quality of food products. Microbiological analysis is a significant aspect, focusing on detecting microbes like Listeria, Mould, and pathogens linked to food poisoning outbreaks. Food production processes face numerous challenges, from consumer interests in food safety and quality to the potential for hidden costs and client scrutiny. New technologies, such as in-house laboratories with specialized equipment and staffing, are essential to meet these demands. Farm to table, from ingredients to finished products, food safety is paramount. Safety and quality issues can lead to foodborne illnesses, which pose a threat to public health. Contaminants, including chemical residues, pesticides, heavy metals, additives, and allergens, require rigorous testing. Technologies like Gas Chromatography, Mass Spectrometry, and Allergen testing help identify these contaminants. Food supply chain transparency is crucial to maintaining consumer trust, especially in the era of social media. Microbiological testing focuses on bacteria, viruses, and molds, while chemical residue testing targets pesticides, heavy metals, and additives. Allergens like nuts, gluten, and soy must be identified to cater to the growing number of food allergies. Ensuring food safety and quality is a continuous process, essential for the food industry's future.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Type

Meat And Poultry



Fruits And Vegetables



Processed Foods



Dairy



Others

Technology

Rapid



Traditional

Geography

North America



Europe



Asia



Rest Of World (ROW)

7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Company Landscape

11 Company Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This Thanksgiving, the Propane Council of Texas (ProCOT) encourages Texans to appreciate the vital role propane plays in bringing the holiday feast to our tables. From cultivating crops to cooking Thanksgiving staples, propane fuels the agricultural processes and culinary traditions that make this holiday memorable.

Fueling American Agriculture

Propane-powered equipment plays a crucial role in modern agriculture, fueling farm machinery, irrigation systems, and grain dryers. These technologies enable farmers to cultivate expansive fields of corn, wheat, and soybeans, which form the foundation of our food supply, including feed for turkeys and other livestock.

A Harvest of Thanksgiving

Propane's versatility extends to the production of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Orchard heaters fueled by propane protect produce from frost damage, ensuring a bountiful harvest of Texas grapes and other seasonal delights. Greenhouses warmed by propane allow farmers to cultivate fresh herbs and leafy greens year-round, offering the flavors that elevate Thanksgiving feasts.

Nurturing Our Livestock

Propane heat is a lifeline for livestock during winter months, providing consistent warmth that safeguards their health and well-being. For turkeys, this reliable heat ensures they thrive in optimal conditions, allowing farmers to raise the robust, high-quality birds that become the centerpiece of Thanksgiving feasts across the nation.

Fueling Thanksgiving Feasts

As Thanksgiving Day approaches, propane continues to play a crucial role. Propane-powered grills, cooktops, and ovens are the preferred choice for many home cooks, offering precise temperature control and consistent results. Whether you're roasting a turkey, baking a pumpkin pie, or simply whipping up your favorite gravy, propane is there to ensure a delicious and hassle-free meal.

Supporting Texas Communities

When you choose propane, you're not just benefiting from a clean, reliable, home-grown, and efficient energy sourceyou're also supporting local farmers, businesses, and communities. Propane's contributions to agriculture, energy, and sustainability make it an integral part of the Texas economy and lifestyle.

About the Propane Council of Texas

The Propane Council of Texas is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the safe, efficient, and innovative use of propane across the state. Through education and advocacy, the Council supports consumers, industry professionals, and communities in understanding propane's environmental and economic advantages.

Learn more about how propane can power your holidays at www.propanecounciloftexas.org.

SOURCE Propane Council of Texas
EGPAF, founded over 30 years ago, leads the global charge against HIV/AIDS, with remarkable progress including a 95% reduction in U.S. child infections. Yet, challenges persist, as six hundred babies worldwide are still infected daily. Gabriel & Co. and JFC are proud to stand with EGPAF in creating a future where no child has AIDS.

The series, Join Us Live: A Cause to Celebrate, featuring special guests and engaging discussions, will highlight efforts to combat pediatric AIDS globally and underscore the importance of supporting cause-related jewelry gifting. Each live session will include exclusive giveaways of the Stronger Together Necklace. The series launches on Giving Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 10:00 AM PST / 1:00 PM EST for IG  10:30 AM PST / 1:30 PM EST for Tiktok. The first episode features Sara Murphy from JFC, and Katie Cunningham of EGPAF alongside Gabriel & Co.'s own ambassadors, Krista Wheeler on Instagram, and Kellie Allingham on TikTok.

Gabriel & Co. Commitment

"Giving back is not just an initiative for the Gabriel familyit's a way of life," said Dominick Gabriel, Co-Founder of Gabriel & Co. "Our Gabriel Love Foundation embodies this belief, using fine jewelry to channel empathy and purpose. We aim to uplift children and communities in need, turning compassion into action. Supporting the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation reflects our commitment to creating a brighter, healthier future for all."

Sara Murphy, Executive Director of JFC, added, "Support from Gabriel and Co. is the sort of long-term working relationship that is at the core of JFC. We are so proud to be a part of this partnership, and to get to work with such amazing organizations as Gabriel and Co. and EGPAF."

A symbol of unity, the Stronger Together bar necklace features two intertwined strands in a timeless design. It's an everyday accessory that represents the power of togetherness while making a tangible difference in the fight against pediatric AIDS.

Be part of the change by tuning into @gabrielandco on Instagram and TikTok. For more information visit www.gabrielny.com/gabriel-love.

ABOUT GABRIEL & CO

Gabriel & Co. is an award winning jewelry design house founded in 1989 by brothers Jack and Dominick Gabriel. Family owned and operated, the company began in New York City and has since evolved into one of the most prolific fine jewelry brands in the U.S. sold nationwide. The story of Gabriel & Co. is one of passion, integrity, service, and trust. By infusing passion into natural elements, Gabriel creates jewelry that enhances beauty, celebrates love and life's special moments, and personal achievements. Each piece, engraved with a serial number, is as unique as the woman who wears it.

ABOUT EGPAF

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation was founded from a mother's determination to save her children. After Elizabeth Glaser contracted HIV in a 1981 blood transfusion, she unknowingly passed the virus to her daughter, Ariel, through breast milk, and her son, Jake, in utero. At the time, there were no treatments for pediatric HIV/AIDS. Elizabeth's efforts led to the creation of a foundation with her close friends, Susie Zeegen and Susan DeLaurentis to advance pediatric HIV/AIDS research. Together with fellow founding board members Lloyd Zeiderman and Peter Benzian, began an organization that would change the course of history for families impacted by HIV around the world. Today, EGPAF is a global leader prioritizing and supporting children and families to achieve an AIDS-free generation. Ariel passed away in 1988, but the foundation has since grown into a global leader working toward an AIDS-free generation, focusing on children and families impacted by HIV/AIDS.

ABOUT JFC

Jewelers for Children (JFC), established in 1999 by the U.S. jewelry industry, is dedicated to helping children in need. To date, JFC has donated over $61 million to support children affected by illness, abuse, or neglect through partners like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Make-A-Wish America, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and the National CASA/GAL Association, as well as Make-A-Wish International and the Organization for Autism Research. This success is driven by the generosity of jewelry trade organizations, manufacturers, retailers, professionals, and consumers. JFC unites the industry's charitable efforts, aiming to assist as many children as possible while showcasing the positive impact of the jewelry community.

Media Contact: Alyssa McDonald, (646) 860-5689, [email protected]

SOURCE Gabriel & Co.
Leader in decarbonizing industrial process heat also teams with Cox as technical and delivery partner to build the world's largest industrial solar thermal project

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- GlassPoint, the leader in decarbonizing industrial process heat, today unveiled the next phase of development for the GlassPoint Ma'aden Technology Showcase (GMTS) in partnership with the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA). In addition, GlassPoint has partnered with Cox as its technical and delivery partner to build the GMTS, as well as several additional solar thermal projects globally. The GMTS is the first stage in building the world's largest industrial solar thermal project, Ma'aden I, a $1.5B project which will combine direct solar to heat technology with advanced thermal storage to accelerate the decarbonizing of Ma'aden's aluminum supply chain.

To support these projects for Ma'aden and to export high technology renewable energy components to the region, Glasspoint and MISA will be constructing a state-of-the-art solar manufacturing facility in the Kingdom.

H. E. Khalid Al-Falih, the Saudi Minister of Investment, stated: "We are pleased to move forward with this important project with GlassPoint. This milestone advances us toward building a cutting-edge concentrated solar power-to-steam manufacturing facility in the Kingdom, which will build our leadership across the region while strengthening our economy and creating an independent supply chain."

Bob Wilt, CEO of Ma'aden, stated: "Our Technology Showcase with GlassPoint is an important step toward large-scale decarbonization and is strongly in support of meeting the Kingdom's net zero target by 2060. We are constantly looking at how we can drive operations and integrate technology that delivers more efficiently and more sustainably."

Rod MacGregor, CEO of GlassPoint, stated: "We are proud to partner with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to develop not only the largest industrial solar thermal project in history, but also a pioneering technology showcase and solar manufacturing facility. Decarbonizing industrial heat is essential to manufacture low-carbon materials and meet net-zero commitments, representing a $444B market globally. Together with MISA, Ma'aden and Cox we are on our way to scale our proven solution to meet the scale of the opportunity."

Enrique Riquelme, Executive Chairman at Cox, stated: "We are seeing rising demand for decarbonized heat around the world as industrial facilities seek to cost-effectively meet net-zero goals. GlassPoint stands out as offering the only solution proven at scale to reduce carbon emissions while delivering favorable economics. We look forward to working with them on this lighthouse project with MISA, as well as many more in our shared pipeline."

The GMTS will feature several advanced technology developments from GlassPoint that enable industrial facilities to decarbonize heat by up to 70% while delivering cost parity with legacy gas-powered steam systems. Breakthroughs in anticlastic polymer membranes, high-performance Niobium mirrors, and ternary liquid salt have enabled the company to reduce parts count by 60% and weight by 75%. Together these enhancements, built on previous technology improvements revealed last year, have reduced the cost of the solar field by 30% and the cost of the thermal storage subsystem by 50%.

GlassPoint provides direct solar-to-heat technology that generates industrial process heat from sunshine without going through electricity as an intermediate step. The GMTS will use reflective mirrors inside a glasshouse to focus sunlight onto a pipe carrying liquid salt to capture energy from the sun. GlassPoint's Unify storage system uses ternary liquid salts to provide a continuous base load of heat to Ma'aden's refinery at Ras al Khair, which refines bauxite ore into alumina, a core ingredient for aluminum production. The solution will provide for complete optionality, enabling Ma'aden to complement solar steam with gas, biomass, electricity, hydrogen or any other fuel as those technologies mature.

The GMTS will provide 1% of the steam required by Ma'aden's bauxite refinery at Ras Al Khair; when complete, the entire project will provide 65% of the steam and reduce carbon emissions by 600,000 tons per year, the equivalent of taking nearly 130,000 cars off the road. The project supports MISA's Global Supply Chain Resilience Initiative to diversify supply chains, as well as the Kingdom's Saudi Vision 2030 plan to strengthen the economy and the Saudi Green Initiative to accelerate the Kingdom's environmental leadership.

GlassPoint's factory in Saudi Arabia will create over 200 green factory jobs in the Kingdom, and export renewable energy components to the GCC, North Africa and Southern Europe, helping the Kingdom expand its non oil & gas economy.

Application of GlassPoint's technology at Ma'aden and beyond helps decarbonize the Saudi industrial base, reduce domestic gas consumption and decrease the carbon footprint of hard-to-abate industries.

About GlassPoint

GlassPoint is the leader in decarbonizing the $444B industrial process heat market. By focusing on reducing emissions associated with the production of materials essential to the energy transition, GlassPoint is making a substantial impact on combating climate change. The company builds, owns and operates large-scale solar steam facilities to reduce carbon emissions in hard-to-abate industries such as mining and metals, chemicals, construction materials, desalination and more.

GlassPoint is the only solution proven at scale to reduce carbon emissions from industrial process heat and has built more than half of the industrial solar steam capacity in the world. Learn more at glasspoint.com.

About Cox

Listed in Spain, Cox is a vertically integrated global water and energy utility that applies innovative technological solutions for sustainable development.

The company is a world leader in the conservation and efficient management of water resources, specializing in desalination, reuse and treatment technologies, as well as a major player in the generation and transmission of green energy, circular economy and new energy vectors. Learn more at grupocox.com.

SOURCE GlassPoint
BEIJING, Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) concluded in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Sunday, with a package of climate agreements reached after multilateral negotiations among nearly 200 parties. Given the increasing threat of climate change, China has made significant efforts, including ramping up its green energy development and promoting sustainable practices under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), to contribute to the global fight against climate change. How does Azerbaijan view China's role in COP29 and its overall contribution to the global effort to combat climate change? What further cooperation does Azerbaijan seek with China in terms of green development? Global Times reporter Xie Wenting (GT) spoke with Ambassador of Azerbaijan to China Bunyad Huseynov (Huseynov) on these topics.

GT: The COP29 just concluded in Azerbaijan. It attracted worldwide attention given the increasing threat from climate change. How will cooperation with China contribute to the COP29 goals?



Huseynov: In late 2023, by the unanimous decision of the states worldwide, the Republic of Azerbaijan was honored to be chosen as the host of COP29. It showcases the recognition of Azerbaijan's efforts to address climate change on a national, regional, and global scale. The goal of COP29 was to set out clear plans to keep 1.5 C within reach and leave no one behind while also putting in place the finance we need to deliver. Climate finance was also an important part of the negotiations at COP29.

Considering China's unique contribution to the world green agenda and its rich knowledge, solid experience, and the availability of advanced technologies in renewable energy sources, Azerbaijan attaches particular importance to cooperation with China in this direction. This year, Azerbaijan's Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, the President-designate of COP29, visited China twice.

We were also honored and pleased to have Chinese President Xi Jinping's special representative Ding Xuexiang, also China's vice premier, in Baku, Azerbaijan for COP29.

GT: How do you assess the cooperation between Azerbaijan and China in the field of green energy and sustainable development over the years? What role do you believe China and Azerbaijan can play in the global fight against climate change?



Huseynov: Azerbaijan views China as one of its key partners in the green energy, transition, and renewable energy spheres. Chinese technology is already widely used, and it is essential to mention the professionalism of Chinese companies in implementing EPC projects in Azerbaijan in this field. China's experience and advanced technology in alternative energy are especially in demand in Azerbaijan.

At the same time, opportunities for cooperation in integrating renewable energy capacities into the network and the transfer of green energy are being considered. All these issues can provide a great opportunity not only for bilateral but also for regional cooperation in the field of green energy and sustainable development. Azerbaijan and China will spare no effort to foster genuine and result-oriented dialogue with all the parties to advance the global process and ensure efficient climate action.

Azerbaijan has proven to be a reliable partner in ensuring global energy security. A strategically important agenda is now being implemented to further diversify and strengthen our country's role in energy supply through "green energy." The creation of regional green energy corridors toward Central Asia, Turkey, and Europe is a key priority in this agenda. The "Caspian-Black Sea-Europe Green Energy Corridor" is a major project that is shaping a new configuration of energy connections across Eurasia.

GT: How does Azerbaijan view the role of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in promoting green development?



Huseynov: Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the BRI, which builds bridges among countries and nations. My country was one of the first to support this initiative. In December 2015, during the state visit of President Ilham Aliyev to China, a memorandum of understanding on the BRI was signed. Azerbaijan has proven its support for this initiative not only in words but also in deeds. Over the years, the Azerbaijani government has invested considerably in creating strategic transport infrastructure under the BRI framework.

We are modernizing the existing transport infrastructure and building new ones. Azerbaijan implemented large-scale transport and infrastructure projects, including the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and the Baku International Sea Trade Port, connecting East to West through the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. A new geopolitical situation has emerged in the world, and more cargo transportation actively uses the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor.

To better facilitate the increasing load of transported goods and diversify the routes, the Zangezur Corridor initiative launched by the President of Azerbaijan will become the shortest and most convenient alternative route for transporting goods from China to Europe. I have to state that the Zangezur Corridor should be considered not only as a transport route, but also as an energy transition pathway.

The BRI also highlights the potential for increased cultural exchange and mutual understanding between nations. Additionally, the initiative could foster economic cooperation, strengthening relations between the countries involved. The initiative is a platform for fostering friendship and interaction between diverse societies. We believe that preserving and respecting the cultural heritage of countries along the historical Silk Road is key to the success of this endeavor.

GT: What role do you see being played by emerging technologies in achieving sustainable development? How do you evaluate China's investment efforts in renewable energy and how do those efforts impact national and global green development?



Huseynov: I worked in Beijing from 2006 to 2009 as a diplomat. In the last year that I served as the ambassador of my country, I witnessed how China had transformed into a prosperous society that continuously improves people's quality of life and environment through modern technologies and economic projects.

The application of modern technology is critical to ensuring sustainable development in today's world. China, in particular, has a significant position. China has made great strides in improving the population's well-being. It is also one of the countries to have invested the most in green development and renewable energy. I would like to point out that China sets an example for the world by sharing with other nations the expertise and technology it has acquired.

Azerbaijan is sincerely happy with China's successes in the development and prosperity of the country and its achievements. Azerbaijan is also developing at an accelerated pace, and a policy of diversification of the economy is the ever-evolving goal. In this context, we would welcome an increase in Chinese investment in our economy. We believe that there are good opportunities in this direction.

I would also like to note that, Chinese companies has been involved as a sub-contractor in wind and solar energy projects implemented in Azerbaijan. We can already see the real effects of Chinese technology used in the commissioned stations. Also, a project to localize the manufacturing of e-buses in Azerbaijan by the BYD Company was agreed in the framework of COP29.

GT: What are your expectations for the future of Azerbaijan-China relations? In which areas should both sides further deepen cooperation?



Huseynov: Thanks to the mutual efforts of our heads of state, the development of our comprehensive relations has entered a new strategic partnership level. The heads of our states have given instructions to diversify economic cooperation and enrich it with qualitatively new content. At present, opportunities to expand the spectrum of cooperation in various sectors of the economy, energy, transport and logistics, industry, agriculture, information and communication technologies, humanitarianism, tourism, and other areas of interaction are being considered. In 2023, the trade volume between Azerbaijan and China increased by about 44 percent compared to the previous year. China is Azerbaijan's fourth-largest trading partner and the first import source, and this trend continues to rise.

I would especially like to note that the transport and transit sphere is one of our countries' main directions of cooperation. Transport arteries passing through Azerbaijan and modern infrastructure form the shortest and most efficient transit routes for transporting goods from China to Europe and vice versa. The interest of Chinese transit operators and logistics companies in the "Middle Corridor" is growing increasingly. Azerbaijani trade houses are operating in several cities in China. We hope Azerbaijan's trade houses will be a dynamic trade and cultural exchange platform. Azerbaijan is increasing in popularity among Chinese tourists. At the same time, we are working on establishing China as a popular tourist destination for Azerbaijanis.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202411/1323754.shtml

SOURCE Global Times
BEIJING, Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- China will continue to take concrete actions to ensure stable and unimpeded global industrial and supply chains, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said Monday while attending a symposium with representatives of enterprises and organizations participating in the upcoming second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE).

Present at the symposium were representatives of Apple Inc., Rio Tinto, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co and the US-China Business Council, among others.

Highlighting their full confidence in the Chinese economy and optimism about the huge potential of the Chinese market, corporate representatives said foreign firms in China are willing to expand their investment and deepen their development in the country, strengthen cooperation on global industrial and supply chains, and achieve win-win results.

Li said with the in-depth development of economic globalization, global industrial and supply chains have expanded gradually over the past few decades, promoting the rapid growth of the world economy and benefiting all parties.

While global economic growth now lacks momentum, certain protectionist acts and moves that overstretch the concept of security continue to damage global industrial and supply chains, pushing up corporate costs further, reducing economic efficiency and hindering common development, he said.

Li called for firm efforts to safeguard stable, unimpeded global industrial and supply chains, as well as the common interests of all parties.

The premier noted that China has achieved generally steady economic growth and made further progress this year, saying that more efforts will be made to step up counter-cyclical adjustment and promote sound economic development.

China will accelerate the construction of a modern industrial system, and provide solid support for the efficient operations of global industrial and supply chains, Li said.

The 2nd CISCE, which is set to take place in Beijing from Tuesday to November 30, has attracted over 600 Chinese and foreign companies, marking a 20-percent rise in exhibitors compared to the previous event.

Chinese analysts said that China's holding of events such as the CISCE and the recently concluded China International Import Expo, one of the world's largest import-themed expos, is a clear signal that the country is committed to safeguarding global free trade and cooperation amid rising anti-globalization headwinds.

Li Yong, a senior research fellow at the China Association of International Trade, told the Global Times on Monday that sticking to the path of opening-up has become a consensus in China and it is also a policy a country must adopt in order to achieve common development under the current global economic environment.

MNCs flock to show

One of the highlights of the CISCE is the record attendance by multinational corporations (MNCs), which Chinese analysts on Monday said is a fresh testament to the attractiveness of China's strong and resilient supply chain and vast market.

Top brass of foreign companies took the occasion to pledge their support and commitment to further enhance supply chain cooperation in China.

Apple CEO Tim Cook toured the CISCE site on Monday. "I am proud to be here... that Apple has an exhibit here with our partners," said Cook, who is visiting the expo for the first time.

Answering a question on Chinese supply chain partners, Cook stated his high regard for Apple's Chinese partners, as Apple "could not do what it does without them."

Apple has some 200 major suppliers, with more than 80 percent producing products in China, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

This is Cook's third business trip to China this year. In previous trips, he pledged that Apple would "continue to grow its investments in China and help the high-quality development of the supply chain" in his meeting with China's Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong in October, and said "there's no supply chain in the world that's more critical to us than China" in a March trip.

Rio Tinto chief commercial officer Bold Baatar said that China has played the role of connector and stabilizer for the global industrial and supply chain over past decades and leads global trade exchanges, investment and cooperation, according to a statement the global mining giant sent to the Global Times on Monday.

China's speeding up of the development of new quality productive forces will continue to usher in new demand for resources needed for energy transition, bringing MNCs and their Chinese partners fresh opportunities, according to Baatar.

FedEx, one of the world's largest express transportation companies, is participating in the CISCE for a second time.

Poh-Yian Koh, president of FedEx China, told the Global Times on Monday that "by participating in the CISCE, we aim to collaborate and help strengthen the resilience of global industrial and supply chains, support the smooth operation of the global economy, and contribute to a more open and prosperous future."

Despite rising protectionist headwinds that have negatively impacted the global industrial and supply chain, foreign vendors from some 70 countries are flocking to the event.

Foreign vendors participating in this year's CISCE account for 32 percent of the total number of vendors, markedly higher than a reading of 26 percent in the previous event, according to the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the organizer of the CISCE.

"You cannot talk about international supply chain cooperation without talking about big MNCs, as they are the main players," Huo Jianguo, a vice chairman of the China Society for World Trade Organization Studies in Beijing, told the Global Times on Monday. "Their enthusiasm in attending attests to China's attractiveness as a cornerstone of global manufacturing, its growing influence and vast consumer market."

The data shows plainly that the majority of MNCs are making business decisions based on their own needs and situation, Huo said. And that decision is to stay and expand here, which is to stay where the future lies, the expert said.

Of the foreign exhibitors, the number of US companies tops the list, with Apple, Tesla, and Qualcomm among the vendors, according to the CCPIT.

The numbers of vendors from Europe and Japan are also significantly higher than last year.

A large number of American companies are still committed to China, and are developing well, Huo said. "It should be said that for most MNCs, that attractiveness is still growing."

Bolstered by the country's recent incremental policies aimed at vitalizing growth momentum, a number of foreign institutions have revised their growth forecasts upward for China. For example, UBS Investment Bank has raised its China 2024 growth forecast to 4.8 percent from 4.6 percent, while Goldman Sachs has lifted China's GDP prediction this year from 4.7 percent to 4.9 percent, according to Xinhua.

Out of over 400 surveyed foreign firms, 90 percent rate China's business environment as "satisfactory" or better, CCPIT said in a press release on October 31. Nearly 50 percent of foreign firms noted China's growing market appeal, the press release noted.

SOURCE Global Times
Cervantes's epic story is brought to life in an all-new production of this German Baroque opera presented in Boston, New York City, and Troy, NY starting Thanksgiving weekend

BOSTON, Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This Thanksgiving weekend the GRAMMY Award-winning Boston Early Music Festival Chamber Opera Series returns with an all-new production of Telemann's Don Quichotte. Cervantes's wayward knight is brought to life with gorgeous costumes, stunning Baroque dance, and the irresistible music of Georg Philipp Telemann.

Cervantess wayward knight is brought to life through the irresistible music of Georg Philipp Telemann with the GRAMMY-winning BEMF Chamber Opera Series's upcoming production of Telemann's Don Quichotte! Get a sneak peek at this all-new production from inside the rehearsal studio and hear from the artists and Directors who will bring the production to lifeThanksgiving Weekend in Boston, 12/3 in New York City, and 12/7 in Troy, NY.

The opera will be performed twice in Boston on Saturday, November 30, and Sunday, December 1, 2024 followed by a concert version on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 presented by the Morgan Library & Museum in New York, NY, and a final staged performance in Troy, NY on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at the historic Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. A virtual presentation will be available to watch from Sunday, December 15 through Sunday, December 29, 2024.

Telemann's engagingly festive serenata sees Don Quixote and his squire Sancho Panza stumble upon the idyllic wedding of wealthy Comacho to the beautiful Quiteriabut her childhood sweetheart Basilio is ready to disrupt the celebration even if it's the last thing he ever does! BEMF's GRAMMY-winning Musical Directors Paul O'Dette and Stephen Stubbs join with internationally acclaimed Stage Director Gilbert Blin to create this production alongside Concertmaster Robert Mealy and Choreographer Marie-Nathalie Lacoursiere. German bass-baritone Christian Immlerpraised as "a technically, musically, and stylistically consummate interpreter" (Klassik Heute)performs the title role with Boston favorite, tenor Jason McStoots, as Sancho Pansa. They are joined by the all-star BEMF Vocal & Chamber Ensembles and BEMF Dance Company.

Tickets for the Boston performances are priced at $30, $50, $65, $95, and $130 each and Virtual Tickets are $25, and can be purchased at https://BEMF.org and 617-661-1812. Tickets for the New York City performance are available at https://www.themorgan.org/programs/concert-georg-philipp-telemanns-don-quichotte, while tickets for the Troy performance can be purchased at http://troymusichall.org.

Full Press Release: https://bemf.org/wp-content/uploads/BEMF_release_COS24.pdf

ABOUT THE BOSTON EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL:

Recognized as the preeminent early music presenter and Baroque opera producer in North America, the Boston Early Music Festival offers diverse programs and activities, including Award-winning opera recordings, an annual concert series in Boston and New York, and a biennial week-long Festival and Exhibition recognized as the "world's leading festival of early music" (The Times, London).

Media Contact: Brian Stuart ([email protected])

SOURCE BOSTON EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL
HA LONG, Vietnam, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Grand Pioneers Cruise is the first cruise line in Vietnam recognized as the "World's Best Green Cruise Line 2024" at the prestigious World Cruise Awards. This honour reflects the cruise line's unmatched commitment to eco-friendly innovation and its leadership in Vietnam's sustainable luxury cruising scene, perfectly complementing the grandeur and importance of Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Grand Pioneers Cruises on one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World Grand Pioneers Cruise offering kayaking tours at Ha Long Bay

Part of the same awards system as the World Travel Awards, established in 1993, the 4th Annual World Cruise Awards serve as the global standard for excellence in the cruise industry, recognizing companies that excel in innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction. Grand Pioneers Cruise was honored to be nominated in "World's Best Green Cruise Line 2024" alongside notable brands such as Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, and Virgin Voyages.

The award was decided by votes cast by cruise industry professionals and the public, with the nominee receiving the most votes in a category being named the winner. This recognition reflects Grand Pioneers esteemed position in the industry for protecting Ha Long Bay's unique ecosystem while offering an unparalleled luxury experience.

Sustainability at the Core: "We Only Exist When We Preserve Nature"

Grand Pioneers Cruise's guiding philosophy, "We only exist when we preserve nature" emphasizes the harmony between luxury and environmental responsibility. This principle drives the cruise line's commitment to adopting advanced green technologies and sustainable practices to ensure the long-term protection of Ha Long Bay's pristine environment.

Grand Pioneers Cruise pioneers The Legacy Journey in Ha Long Bay with vessels built and crafted to meet the most advanced shipbuilding standards in the world today. The cruises are equipped with a state-of-the-art air conditioning system from Japan, utilizing seawater for cooling, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves energy efficiency by up to 40%. Its coating, imported from the Netherlands, uses non-toxic paint technology, protecting the ships from seawater corrosion while minimizing environmental impact through reduced repainting cycles. Additionally, the main engines and generators, officially imported from Japan, meet the emission standards, ensuring environmentally safe operations. Complementing this is a wastewater treatment system from South Korea, which ensures all wastewater is treated and controlled to meet stringent environmental regulations.

Preserving the Legacy of Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay, with its emerald waters and towering limestone formations, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its natural beauty. As the only bay of its kind in the world, Ha Long boasts a one-of-a-kind landscape shaped by thousands of limestone karsts and isles, each with its own story and ecosystem. This natural wonder is a treasure that no other destination can replicate, making it a true icon of Vietnam and an irreplaceable marvel on the global stage. Grand Pioneers Cruise is dedicated to protecting this iconic destination through sustainable tourism practices and educational programs that enhance conservation efforts.

The cruise line offers activities such as guided kayaking tours and visits to protected marine areas, combined with educational sessions on the unique biodiversity of the bay. These activities foster a deeper appreciation for the environment and encourage responsible travel among guests.

Expanding Horizons: A Vision for the Future

Winning the "World's Best Green Cruise Line 2024" marks the start of an exciting new chapter for Grand Pioneers. This recognition paves the way for the company to expand its "Legacy Journey" beyond Ha Long Bay to heritage routes across Vietnam and international waters. Plans are already in place to build additional eco-friendly vessels that align with the company's sustainability vision.

"Our vision is clear: to deliver a luxury cruise experience that leaves a positive impact," said Mr. Luong The Tuyen, Deputy General Director of Grand Pioneers Cruise. "This recognition is not only a testament to our efforts but also a call for the industry to embrace sustainable practices. We look forward to leading this journey and showcasing Vietnam's natural wonders in a sustainable way."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD HI-RES PHOTOS

Grand Pioneers Cruise is a refined luxury cruise line pioneering Legacy Journey through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay. Known for its modern fleet, eco-friendly technologies, and dedication to exceptional services, Grand Pioneers delivers a unique experience that blends luxury with environmental stewardship. The cruise line's focus on safety, guest satisfaction, and ecological preservation underscores its commitment to responsible tourism, making it a trusted name in Vietnam.

Website: www.grandpioneers.com

Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/grandpioneerscruises/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandpioneers

Hotline: (+84) 376 589 368

SOURCE Grand Pioneers Cruise
MILTON, ON, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Grodan, the global leader in innovative stone wool growing media solutions for the professional horticulture industry, in collaboration with F1 SeedTech, the leading breeder of F1 hybrid cannabis seeds, is pleased to announce the successful completion of a pioneering cannabis cultivation trial program.

Conducted at the state-of-the-art CRIC Labs in Montreal, the program began in October 2023 and built on a 2022 European collaborative study which also demonstrated remarkable potential to improve yield, resource efficiency, and consistency of cannabis crops grown in stone wool media with F1 hybrid seeds.

This research program, which includes five trials, highlights significant advancements in cannabis production and input efficiency.

"This trial proves that stone wool produces a more efficient and beneficial growing environment when compared to organic growing media, which is shown through the grams of flower produced per liter of water and nutrients," said Frank Janssen, Product Development Manager at Grodan. "The size of the substrate significantly impacts irrigation frequency and volume. Specifically, the volume of growing media required for organic substrates is typically larger compared to stone wool. This necessitates more frequent irrigation, meaning more water and nutrients are used in organic media cultivations."

Key findings of the trial program:

- Yield: Achieved a maximum production rate of 9,4 kg/m (1.93 lbs/ft) of dried cannabis flower annually.

- Higher resource efficiency compared to organic growing media: The trial focused on water and light efficiency ratios, showing that growers can achieve more yield without increasing their relative spend on inputs such as light, water and nutrients compared to organic growing media.

- Consistency: Demonstrated high uniformity in plant growth and final product quality.

Frank adds, "Moreover, by facilitating more generative growth with stone wool growing media, your flower to leaf ratio is higher compared to other growing media. When you add in the gains demonstrated also in our previous trials  such as better plant uniformity, resulting in less waste, and the labor savings associated with a more steerable and predictable crop  this approach can actually decrease a grower's operational costs."

"We are excited with the outcomes of this trial," added Maikel de Bresser, COO of F1 SeedTech. "The ability to utilize root zone and climate management to steer crop growth is invaluable. Coupled with high-quality genetics, this approach maximizes the potential value and yield of our crops. The success of this trial is a game-changer for cannabis growers. Thanks to the high-quality seeds from F1 SeedTech, plants grown in stone wool exhibit strong rooting, providing a clean start with a reduced chance of diseases. Additionally, with F1 hybrids, you can have plants that are robust enough to stand upright without the need for support nets and are resistant to diseases. These factors contribute to greater efficiency and, ultimately, an increase in gross margins for growers," adds Maikel.

Grodan and F1 SeedTech are committed to helping licensed growers stay ahead of the rapid advancements in the cannabis industry. Over the next year, they will further explore the potential of stone wool with F1 hybrid seeds in cannabis cultivation. Detailed results and insights from the trial results and insights will be shared at upcoming industry events and through various publications.

Attendees of the 2024 MJBiz Conference can hear Frank Janssen and Maikel de Bresser present these findings at Grodan's booth (#47023) in the Cultivation Pavilion.

For more information on the trial and its findings, please visit our Seed Study Trial Landing Page.

About Grodan

Grodan is the global leader in supplying soilless rootzone management solutions for Controlled Environment Agriculture. These solutions are applied to the cultivation of vegetables, medicinal crops and flowers. Grodan was founded in 1969 and is active in more than seventy countries worldwide. The head office is located in Roermond, the Netherlands. For more information, please visit our website, LinkedIn and Instagram.

About F1 Seedtech

F1SeedTech is the world's leading breeder of F1 hybrid cannabis seeds, specializing in both autoflowering and photosensitive varieties. Our mission is to drive the transformation towards a new generation of sustainable and agronomically attractive starting material in the cannabis industry. With our breeding facilities in Oregon, at the center of the North American cannabis industry, and our expertise rooted in the well-known Dutch vegetable seed breeding tradition, we combine expertise and innovation with a strong foundation to shape the future of cannabis cultivation. For more information, please visit our website and LinkedIn.

About CRIC Labs

CRIC is a leading research infrastructure and data services company. We offer access to state-of-the-art laboratory space and technical services to support innovative agriculture projects. At CRIC, we enable companies to develop new agricultural products faster and more efficiently by streamlining the research process and providing reliable and accurate data. For more information, please visit our website and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Grodan
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The holiday season is upon us, which means it is time to start planning and preparing for those elaborate gatherings with family, friends, and co-workers. While many people can relate to the stress of planning and/or attending these events, fewer understand the added challenges of attending a party while also experiencing hearing loss.

International Hearing Society (IHS) President Patrick Kochanowski, BS, ACA, BC-HIS, encourages people to be advocates for those experiencing hearing loss this holiday season. Kochanowski said, "Holiday gatherings can magnify hearing loss issues as people who experience hardness of hearing often cannot enjoy full communication while being in noisy settings and don't always know where to turn for help. There are many new products on the market that offer people a gateway to addressing hearing health. With many over-the-counter and prescription hearing aids available on the market, the choices can be overwhelming. This is where a hearing aid specialist can help you and your loved ones address hearing loss and provide the best solutions."

Be an advocate for loved ones who experience hardness of hearing this holiday season. Post this

A first step to being an advocate for yourself (and a loved one) is to schedule a hearing check. Here are guidelines for when/how often individuals should check their hearing:

People should get their hearing tested at least every three years.

People regularly exposed to noise should have an annual hearing test.

People who notice a change in their hearing or develop tinnitus should have their hearing checked as soon as possible.

Current hearing aid wearers should have an annual hearing test.

Find a licensed hearing care provider near you at www.ihsinfo.org.

Here are some practical tips* from the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) for hosts and attendees to help those with hearing loss during holiday celebrations:

sit in the middle of the table  this way you can see faces for better lipreading,

sit with an ally  having one person next to you who knows the extent of your hearing loss can pay dividends for your confidence,

if you already have hearing aids, come prepared with extra batteries to optimize your holiday experience,

if you didn't hear what someone said, ask for them to repeat,

keep background music low and turn it off for dinnertime,

ensure the lights in the dining room are bright so people can see faces, and

provide an escape such as a smaller, quieter room that allows for more one-on-one conversations and gives those experiencing hearing loss a break from the noise.

Take action today to make this holiday season's celebrations and future gatherings enjoyable for all.

* Holiday Hints - Hearing Loss Association of America

About the International Hearing Society

The International Hearing Society (IHS) is a membership association that represents hearing healthcare professionals worldwide, including hearing aid specialists. IHS members are engaged in the practice of performing hearing assessments, ordering the use of, selecting, fitting, and dispensing hearing instruments, counseling patients, and providing aftercare services. Founded in 1951, IHS protects, represents, and promotes the interests of hearing healthcare and hearing healthcare professionals. For more information visit www.ihsinfo.org .

SOURCE International Hearing Society
RALEIGH, N.C., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to Hurricane Helene's devastation, the Independent College Fund of North Carolina (ICFNC), the fundraising arm of North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities (NCICU), has raised nearly $300,000 for its Hurricane Helene Recovery Campaign. The fund and NCICU are continuing to request donations, recognizing that the recovery will take a matter of months and even years. This campaign supports NCICU's eight campuses that have been severely affected by the storm. This support includes contributions from organizations such as The Cannon Foundation, a $50,000 grant from The Teagle Foundation, and a $25,000 anonymous gift in honor of the inauguration of Chowan University President Dr. Rosemary Thomas, which took place on October 18th.

"We are immensely grateful for the overwhelming support from the North Carolina General Assembly and FEMA, corporate partners, and community organizations during this challenging time," said NCICU President Dr. A. Hope Williams. "We are committed to supporting the resilience and well-being of our students and campuses. The establishment of the Hurricane Helene Recovery Campaign is a tangible way to provide that support to our campuses, students, and employees."

The resilience of the affected campuses is clearly illustrated by the fact that all eight are holding classes in person. These campuses, which include Brevard, Gardner-Webb, Lees-McRae, Lenoir-Rhyne, Mars Hill, Montreat, Warren Wilson and Johnson C. Smith saw varying degrees of damage and disruption, and began restoration and remediation immediately after the storm to ensure that students would be able to complete the semester in-person as planned.

"The spirit of collaboration and solidarity during the storm recovery is inspiring. We encourage everyone to help with this vital effort," said Colleen Kinser, Director of the Independent College Fund of North Carolina. "Each contribution, no matter the size, will be sent directly to our campuses to assist in the recovery."

NCICU will continue to assess the needs of our campuses and students and will work to help affected students receive support to complete their college education.

Click here to make a difference and support the Hurricane Helene recovery efforts for our affected campuses.

ABOUT NCICU & ICFNC

North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities (NCICU) is the statewide office of private, nonprofit colleges and universities. NCICU supports, represents, and advocates for North Carolina independent higher education in the areas of state and federal public policy and on education issues with the other sectors of education in the state. It also raises funds through the Independent College Fund of North Carolina for student scholarships and enrichment experiences, provides research and information to and about private colleges and universities, conducts staff development opportunities and coordinates collaborative programs. Presidents of the 36 colleges and universities comprise the NCICU Board of Directors.

The Independent College Fund of North Carolina is the fundraising arm of NCICU. An advisory board, made up of corporate and foundation leaders, together with 25 college presidents, guides the work of the Fund. For more information about NCICU and ICFNC, visit www.ncicu.org.

CONTACT: Demarcus Williams [email protected]

SOURCE North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities
Simple Steps to Protect Yourself and Your Vehicle from Thieves

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Insurance Council of Texas (ICT) and State Farm are combining their efforts for Lock It Down! , a public education and awareness campaign designed to combat motor vehicle theft, burglary, and fraud-related crime throughout the upcoming holiday season and beyond.

According to the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (MVCPA) , it doesn't matter what kind of car you drive; all vehicles are a potential target of theft. In the state of Texas, over 65,000 cars and trucks are stolen, and almost 200,000 are burglarized each year. Many jurisdictions report that unlocked doors and keys left inside are major factors in stolen and burglarized vehicles.

The value of property crime associated with motor vehicle theft in Texas increased by 10.13% from 2021 to 2022 in the latest crime in Texas report. This significant rise, from a total value of $1,565,913,607 to $1,724,507,324, highlights the growing concern of vehicle theft in the state. The data suggests that the increasing value of stolen vehicles is a significant contributing factor to the overall rise in property crime rates during this period.

"Vehicle theft has become a significant concern in Texas and across the country," said Rich Johnson, Director of Communications and Public Affairs at ICT. "Through the Lock It Down campaign, we aim to empower the community with the knowledge and resources to protect their vehicles from theft and contribute to a safer environment for everyone."

State Farm, a leading insurance provider, is a partner in this campaign and emphasizes the importance of taking preventive measures to reduce the risk of vehicle theft. "By following simple steps like locking your doors, taking your keys with you, and parking in well-lit areas, you can significantly decrease the likelihood of becoming a victim," said a State Farm representative.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported over 1 million vehicles stolen in 2022, resulting in more than $8 billion in losses. Passenger cars accounted for 74% of the thefts, with Honda, Hyundai, Kia, and Toyota sedans being the most stolen after Chevrolet and Ford pickups. Thieves are always on the lookout for an easy target, whether it's an entire vehicle or specific parts like catalytic converters.

By following the guidelines outlined through Lock It Down!, citizens can take proactive steps to protect themselves and their vehicles from theft. Simple measures like locking doors, never leaving vehicles running unattended, and keeping keys secure can significantly deter thieves. Remember to park in well-lit areas and secure garages to further enhance vehicle safety.

Leaving valuables, especially firearms, in vehicles poses significant risks and should be avoided to enhance public safety. When valuables are left in plain sight, they can attract thieves, increasing the likelihood of vehicle break-ins. Firearms, in particular, present a grave danger if stolen, as they can easily fall into the wrong hands and be used in criminal activities, endangering the community.

As the holiday season approaches, bringing with it abundant shopping and travel, it's important to keep these safety tips in mind to ensure a safe and secure experience for everyone. The hustle and bustle of this time of year can often lead to increased opportunities for theft, making it more important than ever to be vigilant about securing your valuables. Remember, a few simple precautions can help protect your vehicle and contribute to a safer environment, allowing you to enjoy the holiday season with peace of mind.

For more information about safeguarding your vehicle, visit the Lock It Down website .

About the Insurance Council of Texas

The Insurance Council of Texas is a nonprofit trade association that promotes the property and casualty insurance industry by providing relevant information and resources to its members, the public, regulators, and the media. Learn more at www.insurancecouncil.org .

About State Farm

State Farm Insurance is a group of mutual insurance companies throughout the United States and is the largest property, casualty, and auto insurance provider in the country. Learn more at www.statefarm.com .

Media Contacts

Rich Johnson

Insurance Council of Texas

[email protected]

SOURCE Insurance Council of Texas
NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report with market evolution powered by AI - The global in-vitro diagnostics market size is estimated to grow by USD 22.17 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.21% during the forecast period. Increasing geriatric population, chronic, and infectious diseases is driving market growth, with a trend towards global adoption of advanced treatment solutions. However, stringent regulatory bodies guiding in-vitro diagnostics manufacturers poses a challenge. Key market players include Abbott Laboratories, Agilent Technologies Inc., ARKRAY Inc., Becton Dickinson and Co., BGI Genomics Co. Ltd., Bio Rad Laboratories Inc., bioMerieux SA, Charles River Laboratories International Inc., Danaher Corp., DiaSorin SpA, F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd., Grifols SA, Illumina Inc., Merck KGaA, QIAGEN NV, Quest Diagnostics Inc., QuidelOrtho Corp., Siemens Healthineers AG, Sysmex Corp., and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc..

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global In-vitro Diagnostics Market 2024-2028

Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF

In-vitro Diagnostics Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.21% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 22.17 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 3.73 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 39% Key countries US, Canada, Germany, China, and Japan Key companies profiled Abbott Laboratories, Agilent Technologies Inc., ARKRAY Inc., Becton Dickinson and Co., BGI Genomics Co. Ltd., Bio Rad Laboratories Inc., bioMerieux SA, Charles River Laboratories International Inc., Danaher Corp., DiaSorin SpA, F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd., Grifols SA, Illumina Inc., Merck KGaA, QIAGEN NV, Quest Diagnostics Inc., QuidelOrtho Corp., Siemens Healthineers AG, Sysmex Corp., and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Market Driver

The In-vitro Diagnostics (IVD) market is experiencing significant growth, driven by trends like liquid biopsy, point-of-care devices, and rapid diagnostic testing. Chronic diseases and preventive care testing are key applications, with a focus on disease diagnosis in emerging markets and healthcare infrastructure development in emerging economies. Reimbursement scenarios, disease diagnosis, and infectious diseases are major concerns. Personalized medicines and oncology are emerging areas, with rapid tests and next-generation sequencing leading the way. Budget constraints, economic downturns, and recession are challenges, but reagents & kits, instruments, software & services, immunodiagnostics, hematology, tissue diagnostics, clinical chemistry, and molecular diagnostics offer opportunities. Product approval, including companion diagnostic (CDx), is crucial in this competitive landscape. IVD market includes medical tests using bodily fluids and tissues in a laboratory environment with specialized equipment and techniques.

The in-vitro diagnostics market is experiencing growth in the areas of cancer, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and infectious kidney diseases, driven by the availability of advanced treatment options. Immunoassay and molecular diagnostic devices are key technologies fueling this growth. For instance, Siemens' Xprecia Stride Coagulation Analyzer performs PT/INR tests with high accuracy, making it a preferred choice for healthcare providers. While routine diagnostic testing dominates the market, specialty testing in esoteric, pathology, and genetic areas is forecasted to grow at a faster rate. As laboratories focus on cost savings, they are increasingly opting for bulk purchases from trusted partners instead of individual analyzers.

Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution!

Market Challenges

The In-vitro Diagnostics (IVD) market faces several challenges in the current business landscape. Liquid biopsy, a new diagnostic technique using bodily fluids, requires specialized equipment and techniques, posing budget constraints for both emerging markets and healthcare systems. Emerging economies with limited healthcare infrastructure struggle to adopt advanced technologies like molecular diagnostics and next-generation sequencing. Point-of-care devices and rapid diagnostic testing are essential for chronic diseases and preventive care testing, but their high cost and reimbursement scenario remain significant hurdles. Infectious diseases, especially in low-income regions, necessitate affordable, rapid tests. Economic downturns and recession impact healthcare spending, affecting the sales of reagents & kits, instruments, software & services, and immunodiagnostics in clinical and reference laboratories. Product approval processes and budget constraints further complicate market entry for new technologies like Companion diagnostic (CDx) and oncology tests. Healthcare spending trends, disease diagnosis, and healthcare infrastructure development in emerging markets will significantly influence the IVD market's growth trajectory. Supermarkets, hypermarkets, pharmacies, and drug stores are increasingly becoming important channels for IVD sales, while standalone laboratories continue to dominate the market landscape.

In-vitro diagnostics refer to tests conducted on blood, tissue, or fluid samples to monitor health conditions and diagnose diseases. These tests are crucial for effective patient management and treatment. However, challenges such as device malfunctions and technical errors can lead to misdiagnosis and improper treatment. To mitigate these risks, regulatory bodies like the FDA and EU authorities impose stringent regulations on in-vitro diagnostic manufacturers and marketers. Their approval is necessary to bring these devices to market, and the approval process includes rigorous requirements and regulations. These authorities ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of in-vitro diagnostic devices and components. Compliance with these regulations is essential to protect patient health and maintain trust in the healthcare industry.

Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now!

Segment Overview

This in-vitro diagnostics market report extensively covers market segmentation by

Product Type

1.1 Reagents and kits

1.2 Instruments

1.3 Others

Technology

2.1 Immunoassay

2.2 Molecular diagnostics

2.3 Clinical chemistry

2.4 Hematology

2.5 Others

Geography

3.1 North America

3.2 Europe

3.3 Asia

3.4 Rest of World (ROW)

1.1 Reagents and kits- In the In-vitro Diagnostics (IVD) market, reagents and diagnostic kits play essential roles in facilitating the detection and measurement of various analytes in patient samples. Reagents are chemical substances that react with specific biological markers, while diagnostic kits offer complete solutions for specific diagnostic tests, including reagents, calibrators, controls, and sometimes instruments. In the clinical chemistry segment, reagents are utilized to detect and measure substances like glucose, cholesterol, and enzymes in blood samples, aiding in the diagnosis of medical conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Immunoassay kits, which employ antibodies and antigens, support the diagnosis of infectious diseases, hormonal disorders, and autoimmune conditions. The growth of the reagents and kits segment can be attributed to the increasing incidence of infectious diseases worldwide and the rising number of research trials by pharmaceutical companies. Moreover, the growing use of proteins and reagents by biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, increasing genome projects, and the expanding application of molecular biology kits for diagnostic procedures will further contribute to market growth. However, challenges such as a lack of a skilled workforce for molecular diagnostic techniques, high costs, and insufficient reimbursement policies for genetic testing can negatively impact market growth. Despite these challenges, the demand for diagnostic test kits during the COVID-19 pandemic from end-users like hospitals and diagnostic centers.

Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics

Research Analysis

The In-vitro Diagnostics (IVD) market encompasses a range of medical tests utilizing bodily fluids and tissues, performed outside the body, to aid in disease diagnosis, monitor treatment progress, and facilitate personalized medicines. IVDs include techniques such as molecular diagnostics, rapid tests, and point-of-care devices. The market is driven by the rise in chronic diseases, healthcare spending, and the need for preventive care testing. Rapid diagnostic testing and liquid biopsy are emerging trends, particularly in oncology and infectious diseases. Economic factors like budget constraints, economic downturns, and recession can impact market growth. Regulatory guidelines ensure safety and efficacy, while reimbursement scenarios vary across regions. Emerging economies present significant opportunities due to increasing healthcare infrastructure and disease burden. Specialized equipment and techniques are crucial for accurate results in the laboratory environment.

Market Research Overview

The In-vitro Diagnostics (IVD) market encompasses a broad range of medical tests that are performed on bodily fluids and tissues outside of the body. This market is witnessing significant growth due to the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, increasing focus on preventive care testing, and the emergence of emerging markets. Liquid biopsy, a promising technology in cancer diagnosis, is gaining traction due to its non-invasive nature. Point-of-care devices and rapid diagnostic testing are becoming increasingly popular in healthcare settings, especially in emerging economies, due to their convenience and affordability. The reimbursement scenario and healthcare infrastructure are critical factors influencing the growth of the IVD market in emerging economies. The market is segmented into various categories, including immunodiagnostics, molecular diagnostics, hematology, tissue diagnostics, clinical chemistry, and next-generation sequencing. Techniques such as PCR, ELISA, and immunofluorescence are commonly used in IVD. Budget constraints, economic downturns, and recession can impact the growth of the IVD market, particularly in developing countries. However, the increasing demand for personalized medicines and the growing number of product approvals for Companion diagnostic (CDx) tests are expected to drive market growth. The market is characterized by the presence of various players offering reagents & kits, instruments, software & services, and specialized equipment. Supermarkets & hypermarkets, pharmacies & drug stores, standalone laboratories, and clinical and reference laboratories are key distribution channels for IVD products. Infectious diseases and oncology are major application areas for IVD, with the latter expected to dominate the market due to the increasing incidence of cancer worldwide.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Product Type

Reagents And Kits



Instruments



Others

Technology

Immunoassay



Molecular Diagnostics



Clinical Chemistry



Hematology



Others

Geography

North America



Europe



Asia



Rest Of World (ROW)

7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Company Landscape

11 Company Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
Make this festive season memorable with a carefully curated collection of gourmet chocolate-coated liquorice.

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Danish confectionery brand LAKRIDS BY BULOW unveils a whimsical WINTER collection for the 2024 festive season, showcasing its range of gourmet chocolate-coated liquorice. New to the collection this year, LAKRIDS BY BULOW introduces the impressive ADVENT CALENDAR, containing double the amount of liquorice, as there is no such thing as too much! For cocoa enthusiasts, a brand-new flavor, DOUBLE CHOCOLATE, has also been added to the collection of chocolate-coated liquorice jars, joined by popular favorites  CLASSIC CARAMEL, CRISPY RASPBERRY, and FROZEN MINT and the WINTER SELECTION BOX.

LAKRIDS BY BULOW Winter Collection 2024

The WINTER collection will be available to order online at Food52 (Advent Calendar only), https://lakridsbybulow.com, Amazon, and specialty retailers across North America.

Inspired by the cozy flavors of a traditional Danish Christmas, the WINTER collection includes an extravaganza of gourmet liquorice gifts, making one-of-a-kind presents for loved ones, and extra-special treats to enjoy around the table at the end of your holiday feasts  or keeping for yourself if it's too good to share. The collection is delicious enough to convert liquorice haters into lovers and spread the festive cheer!

Here in the US, it's fair to say liquorice is a polarizing flavor - maybe even more so than pumpkin spice. However, LAKRIDS BY BULOW believes its Danish gourmet liquorice can convert even some of the biggest haters and is on a mission to make the world love liquorice, one liquorice at a time, and what better occasion than the happiest time of the year? LAKRIDS BY BULOW has been known to convert even the most adverse liquorice sceptics - so make sure to share yours with a hater this holiday season!

For further information, images, and samples, please contact Jerrod Sumner

Email : [email protected]

https://lakridsbybulow.com/

https://www.instagram.com/lakridsbybulow/

About LAKRIDS BY BULOW

LAKRIDS BY BULOW is an international premium confectionery brand founded on the Danish island of Bornholm in July 2007, offering distinctive products based on innovative combinations of liquorice and chocolate. With stores across Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and The United Arab Emirates, its products are sold through nearly 2,000 retailers in 35 countries. LAKRIDS BY BULOW, the first confectionery company globally to adopt 100% recycled plastic jars in 2019, recently earned B Corp certification, reinforcing its commitment to high social and environmental standards.

About #ShareItWithAHater

On October 12, 2021, LAKRIDS BY BULOW launched the world's largest sampling campaign, #ShareItWithAHater, with a campaign film highlighting the brand's mission to make the world love liquorice. LAKRIDS BY BULOW will offer anyone, anywhere, a free sample of its liquorice if they promise to share the polarizing snack with a hater and join the brand mission. According to calculations, what is believed to be the world's greatest sampling will convert 84% of the world into liquorice lovers in 412 years and 292 days.

SOURCE LAKRIDS BY BULOW
MIAMI, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lafayette Square announced today that it has provided debt capital to support the NewSpring Holdings, LLC ("NewSpring") acquisition of C Speed, LLC ("C Speed"), a leading provider of advanced radar systems and engineering solutions for civilian and military use globally.

Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Liverpool, New York, C Speed manufactures radars, provides surveillance products as well as surveillance-as-a-service offerings through its software defined radio IP, and supports the modernization of legacy ground-based radars. With this acquisition, NewSpring intends to provide C Speed with strategic guidance, greater resources and human capital to meet the advanced needs of the U.S. Government.

"With increasing demand for innovative, cost-effective security and surveillance solutions, C Speed's expertise in radar systems and technology integration presents a unique investment opportunity," said Tom Mullin, Director, Lafayette Square. "C Speed understands the value of partnering with government, given its long-standing relationships in the federal services sector. We look forward to partnering with NewSpring to help drive the company's future growth."

"We are excited to embark on this next chapter with support from NewSpring and Lafayette Square," said David Lysack, President & CEO of C Speed. "By partnering with NewSpring and Lafayette Square, we can continue to advance our technology and expand into markets that truly need our solutions."

"C Speed's proven expertise in radar systems and solutions is aligned with our strategic growth within the government services sector," said Lee Garber, General Partner, NewSpring. "With funding from Lafayette Square and a shared commitment to supporting and empowering C Speed's talented workforce, we are well-positioned to enhance our technological offerings, drive innovation, and broaden our impact across key sectors."

In addition to financing, Lafayette Square offers its portfolio companies access to Worker Solutions, a custom-built platform that seeks to measurably improve employee retention, well-being, and productivity by connecting management teams to a curated list of third-party service providers that offer nontraditional benefits for their employees. By delivering these solutions, Lafayette Square aims to reduce operational risk for its portfolio companies, help them attract and retain talent, and improve job quality.

About C Speed, LLC

C Speed is a leading provider of advanced radar systems and engineering solutions for both civilian and military applications. The company specializes in the design, prototyping, and manufacturing of state-of-the-art radar systems, with a particular focus on radar receivers, exciters, and signal processors. C Speed has built a strong reputation through its collaborations with major defense contractors and government agencies, including the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and NATO. Their product portfolio includes the "LightWave Software Defined Radar Platform," designed as a cost-effective, software-based, alternative for legacy radar modernization while also providing new surveillance radars to their customers. With over 30 years of experience in the radar industry, C Speed continues to innovate, providing essential support to national and international defense initiatives.

About NewSpring

NewSpring is a lower-middle market focused private equity firm that partners with the innovators, makers, and operators of high-performing companies in dynamic industries to catalyze new growth and seize compelling opportunities. The Firm manages approximately $3.5 billion across five distinct strategies covering the spectrum from growth equity and control buyouts to mezzanine debt. Having completed over 250 investments, NewSpring brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and resources to take growing companies to the next level and beyond. Partnering with management teams to help develop their businesses into market leaders, NewSpring identifies opportunities and builds relationships using its network of industry leaders and influencers across a wide array of operational areas and industries. To learn more, visit www.newspringcapital.com

About Lafayette Square

Lafayette Square invests in middle market companies while positively supporting people and communities. We believe the demand for capital in businesses headquartered outside of high-income places is an overlooked opportunity. We seek investment opportunities that stimulate economic growth across the United States through the creation and preservation of working-class jobs. For more information, please visit www.lafayettesquare.com.

Media Contact:

Jansel Murad

Dukas Linden Public Relations

646-722-6537

[email protected]

SOURCE Lafayette Square Holding Company
Industry Veteran to Bolster Praxis Solutions with Exceptional Legal and Compliance Expertise

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Praxis Solutions, a pioneering AI-driven, tech-enabled services company specializing in the Wealth and Asset Management industry, is pleased to announce that David Freniere has joined its Board of Directors. Freniere's extensive background in financial services law and compliance, coupled with his experience in high-stakes regulatory and litigation matters, will be invaluable in supporting Praxis' mission to provide advanced, technology-based solutions to its clients.

With over three decades of legal and regulatory experience, Freniere brings an unparalleled depth of knowledge in managing complex legal issues in the financial services sector. From 1992 to 2012, Freniere served as head of litigation for LPL Financial LLC, the largest independent broker-dealer in the United States. In this role, he oversaw LPL's complaint, litigation, regulatory investigation and enforcement areas and the firm's comprehensive risk management programs. Freniere held key positions on several executive level committees at LPL and was a member of the board of The Private Trust Company. He also served as a member of FINRA's District Committee for District 11.

David Freniere joins Praxis Solutions' Board, bringing 30+ years of legal and compliance expertise to support innovation Post this

"Dave's addition to our board is a tremendous asset for Praxis Solutions and a testament to our commitment to compliance, legal rigor, and industry excellence," said Bill Dwyer, CEO of Praxis Solutions. "His expertise will not only support our strategic growth but will also directly inform the technology solutions we provide to Wealth and Asset Management firms, especially within their legal, compliance, and governmental departments."

At Praxis Solutions, Freniere's insights will help shape AI-driven solutions designed to address the rigorous demands of compliance and regulatory standards in Wealth and Asset Management. His extensive background, including key roles on LPL Financial's executive committees, positions him to contribute significantly to Praxis' core mission of leveraging technology to optimize operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.

Praxis remains committed to offering forward-thinking products like its flagship AI agent platform, enabling Wealth and Asset Management firms to enhance their legal and compliance frameworks while reducing operating costs and improving decision-making quality.

About Praxis Solutions

Praxis Solutions, based in San Diego, CA, delivers tech-enabled solutions to transform wealth and asset management firms, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs. Learn more at www.praxissolutions.com.

Media Contacts

Will Dwyer

Praxis Solutions, Inc.

978 273 5563

[email protected]

SOURCE Praxis Solutions, Inc.
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeSafety Management Inc., A Fortis Brand, and a leading provider of fire protection services, is proud to celebrate its 30th anniversary, a huge milestone in the company's history. This milestone marks three decades of dedicated service to the communities of South Florida. Over the years, LifeSafety Management has become a trusted partner in ensuring the safety and security of countless businesses through its comprehensive fire protection solutions.

"When I first started working at LifeSafety in 1997, I wouldn't have expected to be where we are now," says Peter Shull, Senior Director of Operations at LifeSafety Management. "Our dedication to our customers has taken us far, bringing us steady business and helping us establish a greater footprint in our Florida market."

This news comes at a pivotal time of accomplishments and growth, including becoming part of the Fortis Fire & Safety family of brands, a nationwide company bringing together fire, safety, and security companies under one umbrella.

"By LifeSafety Management joining forces with Fortis, our company has become even better. Our shared goal of putting people first has aligned our efforts in training our team to best serve customers every day," says Rich Ennis, CEO and Founder of Fortis Fire & Safety, the parent company of LifeSafety Management. "Our success is rooted in the strong relationships we've cultivated with our clients and our community. With a shared commitment to putting people first, we continually invest in safety, innovative technology, and team training to ensure we're delivering top-tier service every day. This anniversary is not only a celebration of our journey so far but also a promise to uphold our dedication to exceptional fire protection and integrated security services for many years to come."

To learn more about Shull and LifeSafety's journey over the past 30 years, read our blog .

About LifeSafety: LifeSafety Management, A Fortis Brand is a safety and security company serving Key West to Port St. Lucie, Florida for all your life safety and fire protection needs. Our mission is to grow our business by serving our community and protecting that which matters most to our clients, life and valued assets. As the provider of choice within our markets, we provide complete fire protection and integrated life safety solutions, focused exclusively on exceeding our customer's expectations every time.

Contact Information

Jennifer Divelbiss

[email protected]

(657) 688-2462

SOURCE Fortis Fire & Safety
PLYMOUTH, Mich., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Loc Performance ("Loc") is pleased to announce significant capital investments at its Lapeer, Michigan facility, following recently won defense contracts for missile system structures. These pivotal contracts position Loc as a key supplier for several missile programs that are expected to be in production for multiple years going forward. The manufacturing of missile structures began low-rate initial production at Lapeer's plant in 2024, with expansion planned at Loc's Lansing plant in 2025.

This strategic move not only enhances our operational capabilities but also strengthens our competitive edge in the market. "As we continue to elevate our skills and technology, we see an exciting opportunity for growth in both Loc's commercial and defense sectors," said Wayne Dula, Director of Business Development, Loc Performance. "Missile structures represent a key area for expansion within our defense market strategy."

Loc announces significant capital investments following recently won defense contracts for missile system structures. Post this

To meet the demands for these large-scale missile structures, Loc is actively investing in high-precision 4-axis and 5-axis CNC Machining Centers, with two new machines already installed and operational. Additionally, Loc is enhancing its manufacturing support by installing large-capacity and highly accurate coordinate measuring machines, ensuring the highest standards of quality and precision. These developments will create new job opportunities for skilled CNC multi-axis machinists at both Loc's Lansing and Lapeer locations. Additionally, Loc plans to expand its skilled manufacturing and quality engineering teams to support this growth.

Loc Performance is committed to advancing its capabilities and contributing to the defense industry, reinforcing its position as a leader in innovative manufacturing solutions.

About Loc Performance

Loc Performance, headquartered in Plymouth, MI, provides track systems, mechanical systems, armor products, fabricated structures, and rubberized products for military, agricultural, and construction applications. With proven capabilities in product design and development through production, Loc offers comprehensive solutions and exceptional customer service to produce the highest quality products at competitive pricing. Loc has over 1,750,000 square feet of manufacturing space with facilities in Plymouth, Lansing, and Lapeer, Michigan, and St. Marys, Ohio with more than 1000 total employees. Learn more at www.locperformance.com.

SOURCE Loc Performance Products
CHICAGO, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In patients with long COVID, lower pulmonary gas exchange may be associated with impaired cognitive function, according to a study being presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, approximately 17.6% of adults in the U.S. have experienced a post-COVID condition commonly referred to as long COVID. People with long COVID may exhibit a wide variety of symptoms, including difficulty concentrating ("brain fog"), change in sense of smell or taste, fatigue, joint or muscle pain, dyspnea (shortness of breath), digestive symptoms, and more. These symptoms may persist for weeks, months, or even years after COVID-19 infection.

Researchers from the University of Iowa in Iowa City set out to assess associations between pulmonary MRI gas exchange, structural and functional brain MRI, and cognition in long COVID patients. In pulmonary gas exchange, oxygen moves from the lungs to the bloodstream, while carbon dioxide moves from the bloodstream to the lungs.

"This is the first time that MRI has been used to jointly assess lung and brain function to investigate their relationship in long COVID," said the study's lead author Keegan Staab, B.S., graduate research assistant in the Department of Radiology at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. "This research is new in that it combines multiple unique imaging types to study a multiorgan relationship in a disease population."

Senior study author Sean B. Fain, Ph.D., professor and vice chair for research in the Department of Radiology at the University of Iowa, added, "If these findings can be generalized to the long COVID population, the study suggests that there may be a causative relationship between cognitive dysfunction and lung dysfunction, suggesting a potential treatment strategy using methods that target improved gas exchange."

For the study, 10 female and 2 male patients (median age: 59 years) who had persistent dyspnea and/or fatigue following the resolution of acute COVID-19 infection were recruited from a post-COVID-19 clinic. Hyperpolarized Xe pulmonary MRI, structural and functional brain MRI, pulmonary function tests and cognitive tests were acquired.

"129Xe MRI allows for advanced measurements of ventilation and gas exchange," Staab said. "The literature also indicates that 129Xe may be more sensitive to pulmonary injury compared to standard breathing tests, making it better suited to study long COVID in which patients typically have normal breathing tests."

Perceived cognitive difficulties were measured using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System, and objective cognitive performance was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Toolbox V3 Cognition Battery.

"There was a range of cognitive difficulties among the patients in the study," Staab said. "Some were mild and indicated slight dysfunction, while others were more serious and indicated that some patients have slow thinking and trouble concentrating several times per day."

The results showed that lower pulmonary gas exchange may be associated with cognitive dysfunction, as well as lower gray matter and white matter volumes in patients with long COVID. In addition, the researchers observed significant relationships suggesting that increased cerebral blood flow is associated with decreased gas exchange in long COVID patients.

Staab said larger studies are needed to investigate the association between gas exchange and cerebral blood flow in long COVID.

"This relationship could be a compensatory mechanism where lower lung function is compensated by higher cardiac output and higher brain perfusion," he said. "It's also a possibility that the disease mechanism that impairs pulmonary gas exchange also leads to higher brain perfusion through downstream vascular injury in both lung and brain."

Based on the findings of this study, gas exchange abnormalities may help identify long COVID patients who require additional treatment or long-term management.

Other co-authors are Marrissa J. McIntosh, Ph.DDD., Jonathan L. Percy, B.S., Andrew D. Hahn, Ph.DDD., Natally AlArab, M.D., Conner J. Wharff, B.S. B.A. RT(R)(MR), Eric Bruening, M.S., Alejandro P. Comellas, M.D., Eric A. Hoffman, Ph.DDD., Carinda Linkenmeyer, M.A.E., Tara Lanning, B.S., and Karin F. Hoth, Ph.DDD.

Note: Copies of RSNA 2024 news releases and electronic images will be available online at RSNA.org/press24.

RSNA is an association of radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists promoting excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Illinois. (RSNA.org)

For patient-friendly information on MRI, visit RadiologyInfo.org.

SOURCE Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)
VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Lumina Gold Corp. (TSXV: LUM) (OTCQB: LMGDF) (the "Company" or "Lumina") is pleased to announce that it has completed negotiating the terms of the Exploitation Contract with the Government of Ecuador and signed a binding term sheet (the "Term Sheet") in preparation for the finalization of the Exploitation Contract for its 100% owned Cangrejos project (the "Project"), located in southwest in Ecuador.

Marshall Koval, CEO & Director commented: "This is a major step for the Project and Ecuador on the path to the development of the largest primary gold deposit in the country. Lumina Gold would like to thank all the Government representatives that worked on the negotiations and all our local stakeholders that have supported the Project to date. The royalty terms we have agreed upon are in line with Lumina's 2023 Pre-Feasibility Study and position the Project well for the upcoming Feasibility Study expected in Q2 2025."

In addition, the signing of the Term Sheet satisfies a required condition of the amended precious metals purchase agreement (the "PMPA") with Wheaton Precious Metals International Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. ("Wheaton"). It is expected that Wheaton will fund the remaining US$6.0 million of the Early Deposit under the PMPA on December 2, 2024.

Term Sheet Summary:

Advanced Royalty Payment Total Advanced Royalty Payment - Over Four Payments US$25.0M Payment 1: Exploitation Contract Signing in 2025 US$2.5M Payment 2: Start of Construction US$7.5M Payment 3: 12-months into Construction US$7.5M Payment 4: 24-months into Construction US$7.5M



Gold NSR Royalty (%) Price Threshold 3.0 % Up to US$2,225/oz 4.0 % US$2,225.01/oz to US$2,475/oz 5.0 % US$2,475.01/oz to US$2,725/oz 6.0 % US$2,725.01/oz to US$2,975/oz 7.0 % US$2,975.01/oz to US$3,225/oz 8.0 % Over US$3,225.01/oz



Copper NSR Royalty (%) Price Threshold 3.0 % Up to US$4.33/lb 4.0 % US$4.34/lb to US$4.96/lb 5.0 % US$4.97/lb to US$5.59/lb 6.0 % US$5.60/lb to US$6.22/lb 7.0 % US$6.23/lb to US$6.85/lb 8.0 % Over US$6.86/lb







Silver NSR Royalty (%) Price Threshold 3.0 % Up to US$27.50/oz 4.0 % US$27.51/oz to US$31.00/oz 5.0 % US$31.01/oz to US$34.50/oz 6.0 % US$34.51/oz to US$38.00/oz 7.0 % US$38.01/oz to US$41.50/oz 8.0 % Over US$41.51/oz





The Advance Royalty Payments will be credited to the accrued amount of each period against the lesser of 50% of the royalties payable in each semester or 10% of the total advance royalty payments in the semester until the advance royalty is settled in full.

In accordance with current legislation, the Exploitation Contract also provides that the Government of Ecuador's share of cumulative discounted benefits derived from the Project will not be less than 50% on a net cumulative present value basis. Each year, to the extent that the Government of Ecuador's cumulative Project benefit falls below 50% on a net present value basis, the Company will be required to pay an annual sovereign adjustment. The Government of Ecuador's benefit will be calculated as the present value of the cumulative sum of taxes paid, including corporate income taxes, royalties, labour profit sharing paid to the State, non-recoverable VAT and any previous sovereign adjustment payments.

Based on the 2023 Pre-Feasibility Study assumptions included in the Project's financial model, it is not expected that the Company would be required to make any such payments.

The Term Sheet also includes a mechanism for correcting any economic imbalance for the Company as a result of changes in taxes, laws and regulations in place at the date of the signing of the Exploitation Contract. This mechanism removes a significant amount of uncertainty for the economic regime governing the Project in the future.

The Term Sheet also contains various investor protection rights, ensuring the protection of the Company's interest in the Project including, among other things, autonomy and freedom of the Company to make its commercial decisions and a dispute resolution mechanism through international arbitration.

In the following months, the Company will apply to Ministry of Energy and Mines to change the Project's official status from exploration phase to exploitation phase (the "Phase Change Application"). The Company has up to six months after registering the approval of the Phase Change Application with the Mining Registry to execute the Exploitation Contract with the Government of Ecuador. Once executed, the Exploitation Contract is required to be registered with the Mining Registry and will be made publicly available on the Company's profile on the SEDAR+ website maintained by the Canadian Securities Administrators at www.sedarplus.ca. Once the Exploitation Contract is signed, an Environmental License must be obtained in order to start the exploitation phase. The Company expects to complete applications and supporting public hearings for the Environmental License in 2025.

About Lumina Gold

Lumina Gold Corp. (TSXV: LUM) is a Vancouver, Canada based precious and base metals development company focused on the Cangrejos Gold-Copper Project located in El Oro Province, southwest Ecuador. In 2023, the Company completed a Pre-Feasibility Study for Cangrejos, which is the largest primary gold deposit in Ecuador. Lumina has an experienced management team with a successful track record of advancing and monetizing exploration projects.

Follow us on: Twitter, Linkedin or Facebook.

Further details are available on the Company's website at https://luminagold.com/. To receive future news releases please sign up at https://luminagold.com/contact.

LUMINA GOLD CORP.

Signed: "Marshall Koval"

Marshall Koval, President & CEO, Director

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include but are not limited to statements or information with respect to: the signing of the Exploitation Contract, the timing for completion of a Feasibility Study for the Project; the development of the Project; receiving the remaining US$6 million from Wheaton; the application to change the Project's official status from "exploration" to "exploitation" and completing applications and supporting public hearings for the Environmental License. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of words such as "will" or "projected" or variations of those words or statements that certain actions, events or results "will", "could", "are proposed to", "are planned to", "are expected to" or "are anticipated to" be taken, occur or be achieved.

With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, the Company has made numerous assumptions including among other things, assumptions about: the terms of the Exploitation Contract aligning with the Term Sheet, without material variation; the Company's ability to meet its obligations under the PMPA; general business and economic conditions; the prices of gold and copper; and anticipated costs and expenditures. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.

Although management of the Company believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These factors include, but are not limited to: risks associated with the business of the Company; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; the supply and demand for labour and other project inputs; changes in commodity prices; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; risks relating to inaccurate geological and engineering assumptions (including with respect to the tonnage, grade and recoverability of reserves and resources); risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters); risks relating to adverse weather conditions; political risk and social unrest; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time in the Company's continuous disclosure documents filed with Canadian securities administrators. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Lumina Gold Corp.
Grand Opening on Black Friday to Coincide with 2024 Holiday Shopping Season

Portion of Sales to Benefit Cancer Support Community North Texas

SEATTLE, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- glassybaby , the mission-driven, USA-made art-glass votive company, will celebrate the grand opening of a new storefront location at NorthPark Center in Dallas on Friday, November 29, the company announced today. It will be the first store of its kind located outside the Pacific Northwest  home to where the brand was founded in Seattle over 20 years ago.

glassybaby glassybaby

Every glassybaby vessel, whether it's a votive, drinker, rocker, vase, or ornament, is individually hand-blown by artisans in Seattle and Montana. Each is a one-of-a kind piece of glass art with a name and meaning to signify something special, such as Hope , Courage , Strength , and Gratitude , among many others. A passionate, growing community of fans around the world gift glassybaby to friends and loved ones to commemorate an important moment in their lives and offer everyday inspiration. They make ideal holiday gifts, as each sale spreads love by giving back to charitable causes.

Since opening its doors, the company has donated more than $15 million to organizations helping people, animals, and the planet. Half of glassybaby's 2024 giving supports the B+ Foundation , a group that helps children and their families battling cancer . The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently recognized glassybaby as its Top Community Champion of 2024 for its charitable work.

In keeping with this mission, a portion of sales from the NorthPark Center store location will support Cancer Support Community North Texas . The group's mission is "to uplift and strengthen people impacted by cancer by providing support, fostering compassionate communities, and breaking down barriers to care." The organization offers support groups, individual counseling, healthy lifestyle activities, social events, resources, and children's programs for anyone who is managing the realities of this disruptive disease.

glassybaby votives come in over 400 colors. There are many collections from which to choose  including a holiday series designed to spread joy and enhance the beauty of every gathering table this season.

glassybaby is expanding eastward. The company now operates a manufacturing facility in Montana where it trains glassblowers for free. The new NorthPark Center location will join other retail stores located in Seattle and Bellevue, Washington, Lake Oswego, Oregon and Livingston, Montana.

glassybaby founder Lee Rhodes is a three-time lung cancer survivor who started the company in her garage 20 years ago. The company is now on target to be a $30 million brand this year. Lee had the idea while undergoing chemotherapy when she lit a candle in a piece of art glass and felt healing from it, and wanted others to feel the same.

"We are thrilled to be part of the Dallas community -- and we're excited to launch just in time for the holiday season," said Lee. "For two decades, glassybaby has produced beautiful, handmade glass votives that give back to the community and promote hope and healing. We can't wait to expand this mission in the greater Dallas area."

The pop-up location is located on Level One near Nordstrom in the retail space formerly occupied by Diptyque in NorthPark Center.

About glassybaby:

glassybaby is a handmade glass votive company that prioritizes purpose over profit, having recently surpassed $15 million in donations. A team of 70 glassblowers make roughly 800 glassybaby votives a day between the company's Seattle and Montana hot shops. Lee and glassybaby have been featured on The Martha Stewart Show, Kathy Lee & Hoda on TODAY, CBS MoneyWatch, Bloomberg News, and The Nate Berkus Show. The company has received numerous features and accolades from media outlets, including The New York Times, Huffington Post, and Town & Country Magazine. In 2011, Lee was named Entrepreneur of the Year by Entrepreneur Magazine, the first woman to receive the honor out of thousands of applicants nationwide and in 2024, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce recognized glassybaby as its Top Community Champion of 2024 for its deep commitment to charitable work.

SOURCE glassybaby
The groundbreaking collaboration between two storied luxury brands continues to blend the artistry of collectible treasures with the pinnacle of experiential travel

BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Luxury Group by Marriott International today unveils the next chapter of its exclusive brand partnership with auction house Sotheby's, "Iconic Pieces. Extraordinary Experiences." Building on the success of their inaugural offerings earlier this year, the two global luxury powerhouses will introduce new exclusive experiences for The Luxury Sales this December in New York. Rooted in a shared vision of reimagining the boundaries between luxury travel and collectible art, the continued collaboration underscores the synergy between the Luxury Group's world-class approach to experiential hospitality and Sotheby's curatorial expertise across its extensive sales categories.

Luxury Group by Marriott International x Sotheby's

The Luxury Group and Sotheby's will auction two captivating experiences designed to pair world-class hospitality with exceptional treasures from Sotheby's auctions offering guests the chance to explore their passions while discovering unforgettable destinations:

Geneva Grandmasters: A Watchmaking Odyssey Curated by The Ritz-Carlton

Watch enthusiasts will have the exclusive opportunity to bid on an intimate horology immersion at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix, Geneva with legendary watch brand Girard-Perregaux, including a hands-on workshop with the artisans; singular opportunities to shop limited-edition timepieces; and a private culinary experience at the Villa Girard-Perregaux in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the brand's ancestral home.

Geneva Grandmasters: A Watchmaking Odyssey will be presented within Sotheby's Important Watches sale on Friday, December 6, marking the first time Marriott International will offer an experience in a live auction.

A Taste of France : An Epicurean Voyage Curated by The Luxury Collection

Guests will check into Prince de Galles , a Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris before exploring the country's culinary treasures, from a guided day trip to Champagne Lallier's historic Maison in Ay for a taste of its latest harvests, to an afternoon tea with Global Explorer and esteemed chef and artist, Laila Gohar , whose food-inspired works have been showcased around the world.

As a part of the Finest Wines auction, A Taste of France is available for online bidding now until Tuesday, December 10.

"The expansion of our brand partnership with Sotheby's reflects our common belief that true luxury combines both the tangible and intangible," said George Hammer, Global Head of Luxury Marketing, Marriott International. "We're continuing to explore the interplay art and travel with experiences that not only celebrate our audience's passions but also inspire a deeper connection and appreciation for the artistry behind them. As this collaboration evolves, we're excited to leverage our international presence and the diverse expertise across our portfolio to surprise our guests with even more dynamic, never-been-seen experiences."

"This collaboration represents a unique fusion of Sotheby's expertise in curating exceptional luxury collectibles and the Luxury Group's unparalleled approach to hospitality," said Eleonore Dethier, Sotheby's Global Head of Partnerships. "We are delighted to present these experiences during The Luxury Sales in New York, celebrating the pinnacle of hospitality, craftsmanship, and savoir-faire, while creating unforgettable moments for our clients that transcend traditional luxury."

In addition to the experiential auction offerings, the collaboration will showcase the Luxury Group's world-class approach through hospitality, curated events, and exclusive editorial content when Sotheby's exhibitions open to the public on December 5th.

Collectors and travelers alike can look forward to additional offerings from the Luxury Group and Sotheby's in 2025 as the collaboration continues to grow worldwide. For more details surrounding the experiences and Sotheby's Luxury Sales, please visit www.sothebys.com/en/series/luxury-sales.

ABOUT THE LUXURY GROUP 

With an unrivaled portfolio of eight dynamic luxury brands, Marriott International is creating authentic, rare, and enriching experiences sought by today's global luxurian. Spanning all corners of the world, Marriott International's luxury brands group offers a boundless network of more than 510 landmark hotels and resorts in 70 countries and territories through The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, EDITION, The Luxury Collection, JW Marriott, and W Hotels. From the world's most iconic destinations to the ultimate undiscovered gems, the international hospitality leader's collection of luxury brands is focused on elevating travel with highly contextualized, nuanced brand experiences that signal the future of luxury by allowing guests to indulge their passions while sparking personal growth. For more information on the Luxury Group, stay connected on Instagram.

ABOUT MARRIOTT BONVOY

Marriott Bonvoy's extraordinary portfolio offers renowned hospitality in the most memorable destinations in the world, with 32 brands that are tailored to every type of journey. From The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis to W Hotels and more, Marriott Bonvoy has more luxury offerings than any other travel program. Members can earn points for stays at hotels and resorts, including all-inclusive resorts and premium home rentals, and through everyday purchases with co-branded credit cards. Members can redeem their points for experiences including future stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments, or through partners for luxurious products from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques. To enroll for free or for more information about Marriott Bonvoy, visit marriottbonvoy.com.

ABOUT SOTHEBY'S

Established in 1744, Sotheby's is the world's premier destination for art and luxury. Sotheby's promotes access to and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, ecommerce and retail. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 70 categories which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Design, as well as collectible cars and real estate. Sotheby's believes in the transformative power of art and culture and is committed to making our industries more inclusive, sustainable and collaborative.

SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.
IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Masahiro Moro, Mazda Motor Corporation's Representative Director, President and CEO, has been named a 2024 Automotive News All-Star in the Global Automaker Executive category.

This accomplishment recognizes Moro's direct impact on Mazda's business transformation and leading the company by expanding and adding iconic models. Additionally, Moro has been instrumental in advancing Brand Value Management at Mazda, including ushering in the company's Retail Evolution program, which has significantly enhanced customer connection at US dealerships.

"I would like to express my gratitude to all Mazda customers, our dealerships, and business partners who have taken on the challenge of transforming our business together under the principles of brand value management. I am delighted that our business growth trajectory is towards the highest sales volume in Mazda's history in the U.S. this year. I look forward to the Mazda brand reaching even greater heights by fostering the 'Omotenashi' brand experience combined with our beautiful latest models such as the CX-90, CX-70, and CX-50 Hybrid," said Masahiro Moro who is based in Hiroshima, Japan.

The Automotive News All-Stars awards recognize future leaders whose skills, vision, and dedication position them to shape the industry's trajectory, as evidenced by their accomplishments and potential within their organizations and the broader automotive landscape.

Proudly founded in Hiroshima, Japan, Mazda has a history of sophisticated craftsmanship and innovation, and a purpose to enrich life-in-motion for those it serves. By putting humans at the center of everything it does, Mazda aspires to create uplifting experiences with our vehicles and for people. Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Colombia through approximately 795 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario; operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City; and operations in Colombia are managed by Mazda de Colombia in Bogota, Colombia. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at news.mazdausa.com.

Follow @MazdaUSA on social media: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, and Threads.

SOURCE Mazda North American Operations
MIAMI, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Miami Fashion Week (MIAFW) concluded its November 2024 edition, which ignited the city of Miami with presentations from Philipp Plein, Lafayette 148 NY, Giannina Azar, Yas Gonzalez, Shantall Lacayo, Claro Couture, Sigal, and Yenny Bastida. From radiant presentations to meaningful discussions, the event highlighted Miami's unique role as a cultural hub while setting the stage for MIAFW's 2025 plans. Following previous years, the event was curated by Sergio Salerni, partner of the brand and Milan Fashion Week Director.

The November 2024 showcase commenced with a press conference with Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert III, and industry leaders including Elliot Carlyle, who welcomed the event to Miami at the Gary Nader Art Centre. Kicking off the first of many electrifying showcases, globally recognized German designer Philipp Plein brought his iconic urban style to the eighth edition of MIAFW's "Designers' Dinner" at Queen Miami Beach, drawing trendsetters such as Osmariel Villalobos, Hofit Golan, Rodner Figueroa, and Carlos Adyan.

As the week continued, Lafayette 148 NY held an elegant outdoor runway show on the iconic rooftop of Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove. In the Gary Nader Art Centre's dynamic setting, Gianinna Azar showcased illuminating eveningwear, with dazzling styles modeled by Marianela Ancheta, Miss Universe Cuba 2024; Celinee Santos Frias, Miss Universe Dominican Republic 2024; and Ileana Marquez Pedroza, Miss Universe Venezuela 2023.

The event featured impactful gatherings including the "Influencers Brunch" at Sofia Design District, where Shantall Lacayo unveiled her latest collection. Acclaimed designer Agatha Ruiz de la Prada captivated guests with an exclusive book presentation at the Gary Nader Art Centre, offering a personal look into her celebrated career. MIAFW also featured exclusive in-store events hosted by Sigal and Lafayette 148, enhancing the experience for fashion enthusiasts.

"The Miami Fashion Week November 2024 edition was a milestone event, and we are incredibly excited about what lies ahead," said Lourdes Fernandez-Velasco, Executive Director of Miami Fashion Week. "MIAFW plays an important role in showcasing remarkable talent and emphasizing the city's global fashion influence. Looking ahead to 2025, we recommit to the city and promise to bring even more innovation and immersive experiences."

Beyond the runway, The Miami Fashion Week Summit, with the support of the Miami Fashion Institute, featured thought-provoking discussions on sustainable fashion and the rise of influencers. The event was led by speakers Rodner Figueroa, Andrea Minski, Vanessa Sanchez, Yadira Diaz, Taryn Hipwell, Magali Mendez, Jaqueline Aramboles, Marines Duarte, Yenny Batista, and Sigal Cohen.

"Miami Fashion Week returned this week, offering much more than glitz and glamour," said Fabian Basabe, State Representative. "It's jobs, tourism, educational seminars, manufacturing opportunities, and branding for our great city; and an inspiration for so many from near and far. I'm honored to call the organizers my friends and will continue to support this amazing and successful partnership."

The next edition of MIAFW is slated for October 2025, promising bold new experiences. With continued support from Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami Beach, and sponsors including The Elser Hotel, MIAFW continues to serve as a cultural cornerstone uniting the global fashion community.

For more information about MIAFW, please visit www.miamifashionweek.com and follow @miamifashionweek.

SOURCE Miami Fashion Week
NTF Celebrates 77-year Tradition of National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation

WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- National Turkey Federation (NTF) Chairman John Zimmerman presented the National Thanksgiving Turkeys named Peach and Blossom to President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. today during the National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation at the White House. Peach and Blossom received a formal pardon from the holiday table and will now reside at Farmamerica, Minnesota's Center for Agricultural Interpretation, in Waseca, Minnesota. This year's presentation marked the 77th year of this time-honored American tradition dating back to 1947.

NTF Chairman John Zimmerman and his son Grant, 9, stand alongside President Joe Biden as he pardons Peach, the National Thanksgiving Turkey.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/national-turkey-federation/9226451-en-national-turkey-federation-2024-turkey-pardon-president-biden

"We appreciate President Biden for warmly welcoming the National Turkey Federation and my family, friends and colleagues from the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association to the White House earlier today," said Zimmerman. "While this is a busy season for our industry, it's an honor to share the story of the hardworking turkey farmers, like ours, and processors who provide food not only for the holidays but every day of the year. Their dedication feeds families across the globe, and we couldn't be more thankful for their commitment to nourishing America and around the world."

The 2024 National Thanksgiving Turkeys were raised in Northfield, Minnesota, by NTF Chairman John Zimmerman. Zimmerman has been raising turkeys for over 20 years on his farm, where he and his family have raised approximately 4 to 5 million turkeys. In addition to turkey farming, the Zimmerman family also grows corn and soybeans to support their flocks. Zimmerman was joined in presenting the National Thanksgiving Turkeys by his son, Grant, who played an instrumental role in preparing Peach and Blossom for their debut at the White House. While in Washington, D.C., Peach and Blossom stayed at the historic Willard InterContinental Hotel. Following their visit to the White House, the turkeys will retire to Farmamerica, Minnesota's Center for Agricultural Interpretation, in Waseca, Minnesota, where they will serve as agricultural ambassadors for the state.

NTF's participation in the National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation began in 1947 with President Harry Truman. It has continued for 77 years across 14 successive administrations.

About the National Turkey Federation

The National Turkey Federation (NTF) is the national advocate for America's turkey farmers and producers, raising awareness for its members' products while strengthening their ability to profitably and safely deliver wholesome, high-quality and nutritious food to consumers worldwide. NTF is the sole national trade association exclusively representing the turkey industry; its members account for more than 95 percent of all U.S. turkey production.

SOURCE National Turkey Federation
Texas also remained popular among state-to-state movers, according to a new report from Texas REALTORS

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Texans like to stay in Texas, it seems, as Texas tops the list of states where residents move without moving away. In 2023, more than 11% of the state's population, or about 3,356,000 people, moved from one place in Texas to another. That is both the highest percentage and the highest number of people in a U.S. state who moved within that state, according to data from the U.S. Census analyzed by Texas REALTORS in its Fall 2024 Texas Relocation Report. The report updates the previous 2024 Texas Relocation Report, which relied on statistics from 2022, with newly released 2023 numbers.

Moves to, from, and within Texas.

"Texas is a great place to live," said Jef Conn, Chairman of Texas REALTORS. "With our wide variety of locations, quality of life, and thriving economy, it's not surprising that so many Texans who moved chose to remain in the Lone Star State."

Moves to Texas were steady even while state-to-state moves dipped.

Texas has also remained a popular destination for people moving from out of state. While moves overall in the U.S. were down slightly in 2023, moves to Texas held steady at 8.1% of all relocations between states for the second year in a row. Only Florida had a higher share of state-to-state moves with 8.4%. Texas was well ahead of third-place California (5.6%) and fourth-place North Carolina (4.5%).

California and Florida traded the most residents with Texas.

California was the top state Texans moved to and came from. However, a significantly higher number of people moved from California to Texas, yielding a net gain for Texas of more than 55,000 new residents in 2023. This represents the highest net gain from any state. Florida had the second highest number of movers exchanged with Texas, adding a net total of about 13,000 people to the Texas population. The top states responsible for a net loss of Texans were Colorado and North Carolina.

The Texas population continues to grow.

In all, Texas had a net gain of more than 133,000 residents from state-to-state moves in 2023.

"Making Texas your home is a great choice for many people," says Conn. "And choosing a Texas REALTOR to help with the process is the smartest move you can make. Having a local real estate expert in your corner is key, whether you're arriving or leaving or looking for a new place to hang your hat in Texas."

About the Texas Relocation Report

The Texas Relocation Report is based on data from the migration estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

About Texas REALTORS

With more than 150,000 members, Texas REALTORS is a professional membership organization that represents all aspects of real estate in Texas. We are the advocate for REALTORS and private property rights in Texas.

Media Contact:

Desmond Davis

[email protected]

SOURCE Texas Realtors
NEWCASTLE, NEW SOUTH WALES, Australia, Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group Pty Ltd (the "Company"), a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of NCIG Holdings Pty Ltd, announced today the early tender results and Tender Cap change of its previously announced cash tender offers (together, the "Offers").

Early Tender Results and Tender Cap Change

As of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on November 25, 2024 (the "Early Tender Deadline"), according to information provided by Global Bondholder Services Corporation, the tender and information agent for the Offers (the "Tender and Information Agent"), the aggregate principal amount of the securities set forth in the table below under "Original Aggregate Principal Amount Tendered as of the Early Tender Deadline" had been validly tendered in the Offers. Withdrawal rights for the Securities (as defined below) expired at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on November 25, 2024.

Title of Security



CUSIP / ISIN Numbers

Original Principal Amount Issued Current Principal Amount Outstanding

Original Aggregate Principal Amount Tendered as of the Early Tender Deadline(3)

Original Aggregate Principal Amount Expected to be Accepted for Purchase(1) 4.400% Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes due 2027 (the "2027 Notes")



144A: 65106W AA3 / US65106WAA36 Reg S: Q66345 AA9 / USQ66345AA95

US$500,000,000 US$488,489,630

US$105,908,000

US$55,000,000 4.700% Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes due 2031 (the "2031 Notes", and together with the 2027 Notes, the "Securities")



144A: 65106W AB1 / US65106WAB19 Reg S: Q66345 AB7 / USQ66345AB78

US$450,000,000 US$439,641,122

US$22,060,000

US$10,000,000

(1) Expected to be accepted for purchase, and paid for, on December 4, 2024 (the "Early Settlement Date"), New York City time.

The amount tendered exceeded US$65 million combined original aggregate principal amount (the "Aggregate Maximum Tender Amount"). The original aggregate principal amount of each series of Securities validly tendered and not validly withdrawn by the Early Tender Deadline also exceeded the applicable Tender Cap (as defined in the Offer to Purchase dated November 12, 2024 (the "Offer to Purchase")). The Company will increase the Tender Cap applicable to the 2027 Notes to US$55 million original aggregate principal amount. The Tender Cap for the 2031 Notes will remain at US$15 million original aggregate principal amount; however, the Company will only be accepting up to US$10 million original aggregate principal amount for purchase. The Aggregate Maximum Tender Amount will remain unchanged. The Offers are being made pursuant to the Offer to Purchase which sets forth a more detailed description of the Offers. The Offers will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on December 11, 2024, or any other date and time to which the Company extends the Offers, unless earlier terminated. The Company urges the registered holders of the Securities (together, the "Holders" and each, a "Holder") to read the Offer to Purchase carefully before making any decision with respect to the Offers. The Offer to Purchase may be obtained at https://www.gbsc-usa.com/newcastle/ or by contacting the Tender and Information Agent using the telephone number or email address found below under "Dealer Managers and Tender and Information Agent".

Consideration, Accrued Interest and Proration

The determination of the Total Consideration (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) will occur at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on November 26, 2024. The Early Settlement Date is expected to be December 4, 2024. In addition to the Total Consideration, Holders whose Securities are purchased in the Offers will receive accrued and unpaid interest, rounded to the nearest cent, on the original US$1,000 principal amount of Securities purchased, from the last applicable interest payment date up to, but not including, the Early Settlement Date.

Although the Offers are scheduled to expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on December 11, 2024, because the original aggregate principal amount of each series of Securities validly tendered and not validly withdrawn by the Early Tender Deadline exceeded each applicable Tender Cap, the Company does not expect to accept for purchase any tenders of Securities after the Early Tender Deadline. Any Securities tendered after the Early Tender Deadline will be promptly credited to the account of the Holder of such Securities maintained at The Depository Trust Company and returned in accordance with the Offer to Purchase.

Because the original aggregate principal amount of each series of Securities validly tendered and not validly withdrawn by the Early Tender Deadline exceeded the applicable Tender Cap, the amount of Securities the Company will purchase from each tendering Holder will be determined in accordance with the proration procedures described in the Offer to Purchase, applying a proration rate of 51.93% for the 2027 Notes and 45.33% for the 2031 Notes.

Settlement

The Company anticipates that the Early Settlement Date will be December 4, 2024, subject to all conditions to the Offers having been satisfied or waived by the Company. The Company's obligation to accept for purchase and to pay for the Securities validly tendered in the Offers is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of a number of conditions described in the Offer to Purchase.

Dealer Managers and Tender and Information Agent

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and nabSecurities, LLC are acting as the dealer managers for the Offers (together, the "Dealer Managers"). The Tender and Information Agent for the Offers is Global Bondholder Services Corporation. For additional information regarding the terms of the Offers, please contact: Citigroup Global Markets Inc. at +1 (212) 723-6106 (collect) or +1 (800) 558-3745 (toll-free) or by email at [email protected] or nabSecurities, LLC at +1 (212) 916-9500 or by email at [email protected]. Requests for documents and questions regarding the tendering of Securities may be directed to Global Bondholder Services Corporation by telephone at (212) 4303774 (for banks and brokers only), (855) 6542015 (tollfree) or 0012124303774 (international), by email at contact@gbscusa.com or at https://www.gbsc-usa.com/newcastle/ .

This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell with respect to any securities. The Offers are being made pursuant to the Offer to Purchase and only in such jurisdictions as is permitted under applicable law. The Offers are not being made in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. None of the Company, its affiliates, its board of directors, the Dealer Managers, the Tender and Information Agent or the trustee for either series of Securities is making any recommendation as to whether or not Holders should tender their Securities in connection with the Offers, and neither the Company nor any other person has authorized any person to make any such recommendation.

About the Company

The Company owns and operates a Coal Export Terminal located at the Port of Newcastle in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales in Australia and is an integral part of the Australian coal export industry. The Company's facilities include rail, coal storage, ship loading facilities and associated infrastructure. The Company was formed in 2004 by its shareholders who are also customers of the Company's Terminal services. The shareholders of the Company are entities that are owned by some of the largest mining companies in the world, including BHP Group Limited, Yancoal Australia Limited, Whitehaven Coal Mining Limited, Peabody Energy Corporation and Banpu Public Company Limited (Centennial Coal), who each owns coal assets in New South Wales, Australia.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forwardlooking statements. Forwardlooking statements are information of a nonhistorical nature or which relate to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. No assurance can be given that the transactions described herein will be consummated or as to the ultimate terms of any such transactions. You should not place undue reliance on these forwardlooking statements. Except as required by law or regulation, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update these forward looking statements.

SOURCE Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group Pty Ltd
NEWCASTLE, Australia, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group Pty Ltd (the "Company"), a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of NCIG Holdings Pty Ltd, announced today the pricing terms of its previously announced cash tender offers (together, the "Offers").

As previously announced, the Company expects to purchase US$54,894,000 in original aggregate principal amount of the 2027 Notes (as defined below) and US$10,000,000 in original aggregate principal amount of the 2031 Notes (as defined below) from the registered holders of the Securities (as defined below) (together, the "Holders" and each, a "Holder") that were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to the Early Tender Deadline (as defined below).

The Offers are being made pursuant to the Offer to Purchase dated November 12, 2024 (the "Offer to Purchase") which sets forth a more detailed description of the Offers. The Offers will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on December 11, 2024, or any other date and time to which the Company extends the Offers, unless earlier terminated. The Company urges Holders to read the Offer to Purchase carefully before making any decision with respect to the Offers. The Offer to Purchase may be obtained at https://www.gbsc-usa.com/newcastle/ or by contacting the tender and information agent using the telephone number or email address found below under "Dealer Managers and Tender and Information Agent".

Consideration and Accrued Interest

Title of Security



CUSIP / ISIN Numbers

Factor(1) Tender

Cap Acceptance

Priority

Level(2) Reference

U.S.

Treasury

Security Reference

Yield Fixed

Spread

(basis

points) Total

Consideration(4)(5) Early

Tender

Premium(6) 4.400% Guaranteed

Senior Secured Notes

due 2027 (the "2027

Notes")



144A: 65106W AA3 /

US65106WAA36 Reg S: Q66345 AA9 /

USQ66345AA95

0.97697927 US$55,000,000 1 3.875% UST

due October

15, 2027 4.237 % +95(3) US$956.99 US$50 4.700% Guaranteed

Senior Secured Notes

due 2031 (the "2031

Notes" and together

with the 2027 Notes,

the "Securities")



144A: 65106W AB1

/ US65106WAB19 Reg S: Q66345 AB7

/ USQ66345AB78

0.97698027 US$15,000,000 2 3.875% UST

due August

15, 2034 4.305 % +170 US$909.68 US$50

_____________________________

The factor for each series of Securities is a number that represents a fraction (expressed as a decimal rounded to 8 decimal digits), the numerator of which represents the unpaid principal amount of such series of Securities and the denominator of which represents the original principal amount of such series of Securities, and may be adjusted following each interest payment date (as adjusted from time to time, the "Factor"). Subject to the Aggregate Maximum Tender Amount, the Tender Caps and proration, the original principal amount of each series of Securities that is purchased in the Offers will be determined in accordance with the applicable Acceptance Priority Level (in numerical priority order with 1 being the highest Acceptance Priority Level and 2 being the lowest Acceptance Priority Level) specified in this column. In respect of the 2027 Notes, notwithstanding the calculation set forth above, the Early Tender Consideration for each original US$1,000 principal amount of 2027 Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) and accepted for purchase by the Company, is equal to the lesser of the output of the calculation set forth on Schedule A to the Offer to Purchase for that series and 99.100%. Includes the Early Tender Premium. Per original US$1,000 principal amount validly tendered and accepted for purchase. Per original US$1 ,000 principal amount validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Deadline and accepted for purchase.

Holders of Securities validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on November 25, 2024 (the "Early Tender Deadline") and accepted for purchase will receive the applicable total consideration (the "Total Consideration"), which is (i) the original principal amount of such tendered and accepted Securities, times (ii) the Factor, times (iii) the Early Tender Consideration.

In respect of the 2027 Notes, the Early Tender Consideration for each original US$1,000 principal amount of the 2027 Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) and accepted for purchase by the Company is equal to the lesser of the output of the calculation set forth on Schedule A to the Offer to Purchase for that series and 99.100%.

In addition to the Total Consideration, holders whose Securities are purchased in the Offers will receive accrued and unpaid interest, rounded to the nearest cent, on the original US$1,000 principal amount of Securities purchased, from the last applicable interest payment date up to, but not including, the Early Settlement Date (as defined below).

Although the Offers are scheduled to expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on December 11, 2024, because the original aggregate principal amount of each series of Securities validly tendered and not validly withdrawn by the Early Tender Deadline exceeded the applicable Tender Cap (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), the Company does not expect to accept for purchase any tenders of Securities after the Early Tender Deadline. Any Securities tendered after the Early Tender Deadline will be promptly credited to the account of the Holder of such Securities maintained at The Depository Trust Company and returned in accordance with the Offer to Purchase.

Settlement

The Company anticipates that the early settlement date will be December 4, 2024 (the "Early Settlement Date"), subject to all conditions to the Offers having been satisfied or waived by the Company. The Company's obligation to accept for purchase and to pay for the Securities validly tendered in the Offers is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of a number of conditions described in the Offer to Purchase.

Dealer Managers and Tender and Information Agent

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and nabSecurities, LLC are acting as the dealer managers for the Offers (together, the "Dealer Managers"). The tender and information agent for the Offers is Global Bondholder Services Corporation (the "Tender and Information Agent"). For additional information regarding the terms of the Offers, please contact: Citigroup Global Markets Inc. at +1 (212) 723-6106 (collect) or +1 (800) 558-3745 (toll-free) or by email at [email protected] or nabSecurities, LLC at +1 (212) 916-9500 or by email at [email protected]. Requests for documents and questions regarding the tendering of Securities may be directed to Global Bondholder Services Corporation by telephone at (212) 4303774 (for banks and brokers only), (855) 6542015 (tollfree) or 0012124303774 (international), by email at contact@gbscusa.com or at https://www.gbsc-usa.com/newcastle/ .

This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell with respect to any securities. The Offers are being made pursuant to the Offer to Purchase and only in such jurisdictions as is permitted under applicable law. The Offers are not being made in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. None of the Company, its affiliates, its board of directors, the Dealer Managers, the Tender and Information Agent or the trustee for either series of Securities is making any recommendation as to whether or not Holders should tender their Securities in connection with the Offers, and neither the Company nor any other person has authorized any person to make any such recommendation.

About the Company

The Company owns and operates a Coal Export Terminal located at the Port of Newcastle in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales in Australia and is an integral part of the Australian coal export industry. The Company's facilities include rail, coal storage, ship loading facilities and associated infrastructure. The Company was formed in 2004 by its shareholders who are also customers of the Company's Terminal services. The shareholders of the Company are entities that are owned by some of the largest mining companies in the world, including BHP Group Limited, Yancoal Australia Limited, Whitehaven Coal Mining Limited, Peabody Energy Corporation and Banpu Public Company Limited (Centennial Coal), who each owns coal assets in New South Wales, Australia.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forwardlooking statements. Forwardlooking statements are information of a nonhistorical nature or which relate to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. No assurance can be given that the transactions described herein will be consummated or as to the ultimate terms of any such transactions. You should not place undue reliance on these forwardlooking statements. Except as required by law or regulation, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update these forward looking statements.

SOURCE Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group Pty Ltd
Cirium schedule data reveals seats scheduled to and from Africa will increase year-over-year from Asia (+29%), the Middle East (+12%), Europe (+11%), and North America (+6%).

LONDON, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- African aviation is experiencing remarkable growth, as detailed in Africa's Skies in Focus, a new report released today by Cirium, the most trusted source of aviation analytics. Several factors have converged to fuel this rapid growth, including robust government support, increased investment, and a rising demand for air travel.

"African carriers and airports have among them global leaders, and that is not hyperbole," said Mike Malik, Chief Marketing Officer of Cirium. "Look at the breadth and development of the Ethiopian Airlines network, or the operational excellence of Safair. That's African aviation today, with more exciting developments on the way."

Safair, the South African airline, excels at on-time performance, a key driver of customer satisfaction and a measure of overall operational performance. In 2024, the airline is the undisputed leader in the Middle East and Africa, and a strong performer among the global Low-Cost Carriers.

Passenger traffic in Africa surpassed pre-pandemic numbers in 2023 when total passenger traffic reached 161 million, compared to 144 million in 2019. The busiest airports on the continent are Cairo, Johannesburg, and Cape Town. African-flagged carriers maintain the lion's share of capacity there, whose fleets are set to more than double by 2043, as detailed in the report.

For additional insights into the African aviation market, download Cirium's Africa Skies in Focus here.

About Cirium

Cirium is the world's most trusted source of aviation analytics. The company delivers powerful data and cutting-edge analytics to empower a wide spectrum of industry players. Equipping airlines, airports, travel enterprises, aircraft manufacturers, and financial entities with the clarity and intelligence they need to optimize their operations, make informed decisions, and accelerate revenue growth.

Cirium is part of LexisNexis Risk Solutions, a RELX business, which provides information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. The shares of RELX PLC are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX.

For further information please follow Cirium on LinkedIn or visit cirium.com.
Orientiq announces grand opening on Black Friday, bringing hope to struggling families.

COLUMBIA, Pa., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Orientiq, a new oriental rug store located in Columbia, Pa, has announced its grand opening for November 29-30, 2024. During this event, customers can meet the Orientiq team, browse their unique products, and try authentic Turkish coffee, tea, and other sweets.

Orientiq Orientiq

Orientiq purchased a building in downtown Columbia to serve as their store to sell premier hand-woven oriental carpets and rugs to local customers. Previously available only on their website, the rugs and carpets will now be displayed for customers to see in person, giving a chance to see and feel the quality of the products. Additionally, it allows the Orientiq team to interact with the local community.

"We're not just selling rugswe're weaving connections," says the team at Orientiq. "Our dream is that every customer leaves knowing they've made a difference."

The new store is located at 22 S 2nd Street, Columbia, PA and will be the headquarters for the business as well. With the goal of providing an outlet for Afghan and Pakistani weavers to sell their products in the United States, Orientiq's motto is "Weaving Hope, One Rug at a Time!"

About Orientiq's Rugs

Orientiq's collection includes intricately designed carpets, each one taking months to complete. Made from natural vegetable dyes and locally sourced wool, these rugs are as authentic as they are beautiful. Each piece reflects not only the skill of its maker but also the cultural heritage of the region it comes from. From the shearing of sheep to the final knot, the entire process shows tradition and craftsmanship that has been passed down through generations.

The story of Orientiq began in 2023, during a conversation in an Afghan home in Istanbul, Turkey. Inspired by the beauty of traditional handmade carpets and the challenges faced by the artisans who create them, Chris Stoltzfus (founder) set out to build a business centered on near-direct trade. By eliminating middlemen, Orientiq can guarantee that a significant portion of every sale supports the weavers directly.

"We want people to know that their purchase isn't just decorit's a means of survival for someone," shared Stoltzfus. "These rugs tell the stories of widows, orphans, and families striving to make a dignified living."

"Every rug is unique," Stoltzfus explains. "When you own one, you are part of that storya piece of someone's dream."

Orientiq has two collections of rugs that are presented; the Noorzai Collection and the Elvan Collection. Each collection features carpets with a specific origin. The Noorzai Collection is a group of Afghan carpets that have been made by widows, orphans, and struggling families. The Elvan Collection is a group of Turkmen carpets specifically from Afghanistan made with traditional designs and dyes.

For more info, visit their website at www.orientiq.store/.

Media Contact

Chris Stoltzfus-Founder

(717) 216-0742

[email protected]

SOURCE Orientiq
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Northpointe Bank, a community bank and national mortgage lender headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI, is excited to announce key changes to its executive leadership team. These appointments mark a significant milestone as the organization strengthens its leadership to build on its success and drive continued growth within the company.

Kevin Comps, formerly Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, has been promoted to President of Northpointe Bank. Kevin first joined Northpointe in 2013 as VP Controller and, after a brief hiatus, returned in 2017, bringing a wealth of expertise and leadership. Throughout his tenure, he has been instrumental in driving the bank's growth and success, having previously held the roles of Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Credit Officer. As President, Kevin will continue to lead strategic initiatives, fostering collaboration across departments to drive innovation and operational excellence. This promotion reflects his unwavering dedication to Northpointe's mission and his exceptional contributions to the company's success. Northpointe Bank is excited to see Kevin's vision and leadership further enhance the organization's future.

Amy Butler, formerly Senior Vice President of National Sales, has been promoted to Executive Vice President, National Sales. Since joining Northpointe Bank in February 2020 as Regional Vice President for the Southeast, Amy has consistently demonstrated her ability to lead with excellence, fostering collaboration between sales and operations and driving growth across the organization. Her expertise in building strong cross-departmental partnerships and her commitment to Northpointe's mission have been instrumental in supporting the company's success. In her expanded role, Amy will continue to lead the execution of the organization's sales strategy, ensuring seamless teamwork and impactful results. This promotion reflects her proven leadership and dedication, and Northpointe Bank looks forward to the continued success she will bring in this well-earned position.

Chuck Williams, CEO commented, "We are entering an exciting new chapter of growth, and with this dynamic leadership team in place, we are poised to embrace new opportunities and accelerate our success in the months ahead."

About Northpointe Bank:

Northpointe Bank, headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a client-focused company that provides home loans and retail banking products to communities across the nation. Our mission is to be the best bank in America by bringing value and innovation to the people we serve. To learn more about Northpointe Bank visit www.northpointe.com. Member FDIC  Equal Housing Lender.

Contact: Kevin Comps

616-974-8491 | [email protected]

SOURCE Northpointe Bank
SHENZHEN, China, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- nubia, a global leader in smartphone innovation, proudly announces the global launch of the highly anticipated nubia Z70 Ultra. This groundbreaking flagship smartphone sets a new industry benchmark with its revolutionary Nebula AIOS system, cutting-edge seventh-generation Under Display Camera technology, and the world's first 1.5K Full-Screen Display, powered by an AIGC Selfie Algorithm. Additionally, it features a fourth-generation 35mm customized optical lens with an Adjustable Physical Aperture, alongside the industry's first Bionic Dynamic Lens that mimics the human eye. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite and equipped with a robust 6150mAh battery, the Z70 Ultra delivers exceptional performance, combining power with precision.

nubia Z70 Ultra

Seamlessly integrating advanced AI technology at every level, the nubia Z70 Ultra delivers a truly intelligent, intuitive, and efficient user experience. Whether for work or play, it effortlessly bridges the gap between cutting-edge innovation and daily life, empowering users to confidently embrace the future and all its possibilities.

Seventh-Generation True Full-Screen: Display and Selfie Redefined

As the latest evolution in nubia's True Full-Screen Flagship Series, the nubia Z70 Ultra introduces groundbreaking advancements in both display and selfie technology. Featuring the world's first 1.5K Ultra-clear True Full-Screen Display, the device achieves an impressive 430 PPI Pixel Density across both the main and under display areas. The screen incorporates a Full-Screen Blue Diamond arrangement, boasting a 144Hz Under Display Refresh Rate and a peak brightness of 2000 nits, ensuring vibrant clarity even in bright sunlight. The FIAA extreme compression wiring technology results in an exceptional 95.3% Screen-to-Body Ratio, while the integrated UDC Ultra Independent Display Chip enables pixel-level display optimization.

For selfies, the Z70 Ultra leverages advanced Nanometer-Level High-Transparency Materials, Independent Pixel Driving Technology, and Invisible Driving Circuit Technology to significantly enhance light transmission through the Under Display Camera. This ensures flawless concealment of the under-display lens in all scenarios. The 16MP Front Camera, coupled with a large f/2.0 aperture and AI Clear Algorithm 7.0, improves preview and shooting results by 30%, delivering sharper, more stable video calls and enhanced overall selfie performance.

The World's First Human-Eye Bionic Dynamic Lens: New Era in Imaging

Imaging that defies convention brings unparalleled depth. The nubia Z70 Ultra introduces the world's first Human-Eye Bionic Dynamic Lens, featuring a Fourth-Generation native 35mm Custom Lens with a variable aperture ranging from f/1.59 to f/4.0. Equipped with a Sony IMX 9 Series, it offers 50MP high-definition resolution, OIS Optical Image Stabilization, a 1G+6P Professional Optical Lens group with ALD coating, and a Blue Glass Spin-Coated IR Filter, all ensuring precision optical calibration. The variable aperture delivers hardware-level optical bokeh in close-up shots, clearer document-edge details, and breathtaking starburst effects on point light sources in star mode.

Additionally, the nubia Z70 Ultra boasts a 64MP Periscope Telephoto Lens with a 1/2-inch Large Sensor, f/2.48 Aperture, and meticulously calibrated optics, enhancing the resolution of long-range images. A 50MP AF Ultra-Wide-Angle Macro Lens with a 13mm Equivalent Focal Length, f/2.0 Aperture, and 122 Ultra-Wide Field of View further elevates its imaging capabilities. Together, these three lenses cover the full focal length spectrum, complemented by a physical mechanical shutter button that adds a DSLR-like ritual to every shot.

AI-powered features bring even more fun to imaging. The AI Ultra Clear and AI Lightning Capture functions intelligently enhance image details, ensuring sharpness even in high-speed motion scenes. The 35mm AI Super Panorama mode guides users to capture multiple images, automatically stitching them into an ultra-high-definition panoramic shot.

Next-Level Gaming and All-Day Power

The nubia Z70 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, paired with enhanced LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 Storage, ensuring seamless multitasking and superior performance. Featuring an AI Gaming Enhancement Chip, the device delivers dual improvements in AI Super-Resolution and Frame Rate, offering stunning visuals and enhancement for smooth, dynamic gameplay. Over 200 popular games are supported. The Battery, with its advanced Silicon-Carbon Anode Material, boasts an impressive 6150mAh Capacity. With IP68 and IP69 Dust and Water Resistance, as well as NFC, the Z70 Ultra provides a comprehensive and enhanced user experience.

Cosmic Window Design: Aesthetic Brilliance Meets Cutting-Edge Technology

The nubia Z Series' signature "Cosmic Window" design continues to evolve, with the Z70 Ultra introducing a gravitational center design. The iconic radiant red circle accentuates its professional imaging capabilities, while the full-metal frame delivers a sleek, sturdy look, highlighting its exceptional display. The micro-arc curve softens the edges for a comfortable grip, making the device lighter and slimmer overall. The glass back panel features a new optical coating and etching, with a starry soft-glow sand finish that offers a refined, tactile feel.

Available in three stunning colorsBlack, Yellow, and Blue stands out with its exclusive "flowing light embossing" technique, combining three-dimensional brush strokes with high-resolution starry night micro-etching and lens nano-textures. The colors are vibrant and radiant, bringing the design to life.

Revolutionary Nebula AIOS: Intelligent Features for Every Scenario

Building on the powerful functionality and efficiency of AI, nubia's Nebula AIOS enhances user emotional engagement, delivering a truly personalized and rewarding experience. The AI Translate feature enables seamless multilingual communication, ensuring barrier-free interactions. The nubia Z70 Ultra integrates AI technology into every detail, offering a convenient, intelligent, and highly efficient user experience. Wherever you are, the nubia Z70 Ultra brings technology closer to everyday life, becoming your ultimate partner in embracing the future.

Pricing and Availability

nubia is excited to reveal the pricing and availability details for the highly anticipated nubia Z70 Ultra in global markets. The cutting-edge device will be available at the following MSRPs:

For the 12GB+256GB variant: $729 in the US, 649 in the UK, and 749 in the EU.

in the US, 649 in the UK, and 749 in the EU. For the 16GB+512GB variant: $829 in the US, 749 in the UK, and 849 in the EU.

in the US, 749 in the UK, and 849 in the EU. For the 16GB+512GB variant (Blue): $849 in the US, 769 in the UK, and 869 in the EU. Available for preorder now, with shipping in December.

in the US, 769 in the UK, and 869 in the EU. Available for preorder now, with shipping in December. For the 24GB+1TB variant: $949 in the US, 899 in the UK, and 969 in the EU.

Pre-order for the nubia Z70 Ultra is now available on the nubia Official Website, where customers can enjoy exclusive offers. Key availability dates are outlined below:

Official Global Launch and Pre-Order: November 26, 2024 ( 20:00 p.m. HKT, 7:00 a.m. EST , 13:00 p.m. CET )

( HKT, , ) Official Global Open Sale: December 5, 2024 ( 20:00 HKT, 07:00 EST , and 13:00 CET . )

Official Online Stores:

About nubia

Founded in October 2012, nubia aims to bring high-end innovative smartphones to adventurous users who want to pursue new experiences and an enhanced quality of life. Inspiring the world to "Be yourself," nubia continues to elevate lifestyles by encouraging users to chase their dreams and pursue new passions.

SOURCE Nubia Technology Co., Ltd.
Laviolette will lead the credit union's technology innovation and strengthen information security for its members

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- OnPoint Community Credit Union is pleased to announce the promotion of technology and cybersecurity expert Damian Laviolette to Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO), after an extensive national talent search. He joins the Executive Team of Oregon's largest credit union, which serves over 576,000 members and manages $9.4 billion in assets.

Damian Laviolette, Chief Information Officer of OnPoint Community Credit Union

As CIO, Laviolette will lead OnPoint's information technology and digital banking teams, driving technology innovation to enhance member services and strengthen the credit union's cybersecurity infrastructure. Laviolette has worked at OnPoint since 2022. He previously served as Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Before joining OnPoint, he served as Senior Vice President and CISO at Webster Bank and Vice President of Network Security Operations at Umpqua Bank.

"We are thrilled to have Damian step into this critical leadership role," said Rob Stuart, President and Chief Executive Officer of OnPoint Community Credit Union. "Damian's deep expertise in information security and risk management, paired with his commitment to operational excellence, make him the ideal candidate to guide our technology strategy as we expand our digital services for members."

Laviolette has over 30 years of experience in IT and information security across financial services, government and defense sectors. Throughout his career, he has built and led information technology and security teams responsible for innovation, transformation, operations, compliance, policy, audit and risk management. He also served 20 years in the United States Army in numerous roles leading technology and cybersecurity teams, ending his career as a Chief Warrant Officer in the Signal Corps.

He holds a master's degree in information security and assurance and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). Laviolette and his wife are active in the community and enjoy hiking, traveling, and deep-sea fishing with their three children.

"I am honored to continue my journey with OnPoint, an organization that leads with integrity and a focus on enhancing the lives of its members," said Laviolette. "Together, we will strengthen OnPoint's technology foundation, innovate in digital banking and build on our commitment to cybersecurity."

Laviolette's new role will succeed OnPoint's Chief Operations Officer position, currently held by Jim Armstrong. Armstrong will continue leading operations, payments and project management until his retirement in April 2025. Upon his departure, Laviolette will assume his responsibilities and build on the strong foundation Armstrong has established for OnPoint's continued growth.

The OnPoint Executive Team is comprised of the following members:

Rob Stuart , President/Chief Executive Officer

, President/Chief Executive Officer Cirith Anderson, Senior Vice President/Chief Risk Officer

Jim Armstrong , Senior Vice President/Chief Operations Officer

, Senior Vice President/Chief Operations Officer Tim Clevenger , Senior Vice President/Chief Marketing Officer

, Senior Vice President/Chief Marketing Officer Patty Groman , Senior Vice President/Chief People Officer

, Senior Vice President/Chief People Officer Bob Harding , Senior Vice President/Chief Commercial Officer

, Senior Vice President/Chief Commercial Officer Jim Hunt , Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer

, Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer Damian Laviolette , Senior Vice President/Chief Information Officer

, Senior Vice President/Chief Information Officer Steve Leugers , Senior Vice President/Chief Credit Officer

, Senior Vice President/Chief Credit Officer Tory McVay , Senior Vice President/Chief Retail Officer

, Senior Vice President/Chief Retail Officer Wendy Beth Oliver , Senior Vice President/Chief Legal Officer

ABOUT ONPOINT COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION

OnPoint Community Credit Union is the largest credit union in Oregon, serving over 576,000 members and with assets of $9.4 billion. Founded in 1932, OnPoint Community Credit Union's membership is available to anyone who lives or works in one of 28 Oregon counties (Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler and Yamhill) and two Washington counties (Skamania and Clark) and their immediate family members. OnPoint Community Credit Union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). More information is available at www.onpointcu.com or 503-228-7077 or 800-527-3932.

SOURCE OnPoint Community Credit Union
GUANGZHOU, China, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- News report from GDToday: "Performing in China was a transformative experience for our young musicians. They were profoundly inspired by the kindness and enthusiasm of the Chinese people and by the warm reception their music received," said Marcia Melchior, founder and director of the Orquestra Forte de Copacabana and president of the Brazil/China Art and Culture Association RioMont, during a recent interview with GDToday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Marcia shared that the orchestra traveled to China this year to participate in celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Brazil. "For 99 percent of the members, it was their first time flying to China," she remarked.

During the tour, the orchestra collaborated with Chinese musicians in joint performances, celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival with teachers and students at Peking University, and visited iconic landmarks such as the Great Wall.

"These exchanges not only made our young musicians proud of their Brazilian heritage but also sparked a lasting interest in Chinese culture," Marcia noted.

In a letter to the president of China, the orchestra expressed gratitude for the opportunity to perform in China, acknowledged the support of CNOOC Brazil, and conveyed their admiration for Chinese culture. They also emphasized their hope to strengthen connections between the two nations.

"President Xi Jinping's response was warm and encouraging, underscoring the importance of our efforts to deepen China-Brazil ties and highlighting the value of cultural diplomacy and mutual respect," Marcia said.

She further explained that over the past five decades, cultural exchanges between China and Brazil have flourished, fostering stronger bonds between the two peoples. "The Orquestra Forte de Copacabana is honored to contribute to this enduring legacy," she added.

Founded in 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, the Orquestra Forte de Copacabana is primarily sponsored by a Chinese company. Its mission is to provide musical education to young people aged 13 to 23 from underprivileged communities who demonstrate a passion for music and a dedication to learning. Recognized for its artistic contributions, the orchestra was recently designated an intangible cultural heritage of the State of Rio de Janeiro.

SOURCE GDToday
PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) received a $30,000 grant to launch a study into the treatment of depression in low-income adults using psilocybin-assisted therapy.

The Low-Income Group Psilocybin Assisted Therapy for Depression (LIGPATD) study, open to qualifying adult Oregon residents, serves as a milestone in psychedelic research as the first of its kind to be conducted under the Oregon Psilocybin Services model regulating state psilocybin services.

Led by NUNM alumnus Dr. Matthew Hicks, the study will gauge feasibility of the research approach and methodology, setting a precedent for later psilocybin-assisted treatment studies. Hicks said it will be among the first few to use a group model, as well as the first psychedelic research to focus specifically on low-income populations.

"This project is attempting to address one of the big issues within psychedelic therapy, which is affordability," said Hicks, who earned his Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine and Master of Science in Clinical Research degrees from NUNM in 2018. "For all the hype that's been created, it's still not very accessible to most people. Research is a way to address that in the long run."

The study is supported by the Sheri Eckert Foundation, a nonprofit funding statewide psilocybin facilitation operation. Participants will begin the study with virtual preparation sessions, followed by in-person treatment sessions at a licensed psilocybin service center in Portland, and will conclude with group integration sessions to process experiences post-treatment.

Hicks said they hope the study can inform future research into treatment effectiveness and eventually determine a cost benefit for psychedelic-assisted therapy over conventional treatment for depression.

This could drive nationwide policy change to include legal access to psychedelic therapies, Hicks said, as well as insurance coverage.

"To get there," he said, "we'll need data that demonstrates that it's safe, effective, and cheaper than current leading therapies."

Established in 1956, the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) in Portland, Oregon, is the longest active, accredited naturopathic medical university in North America and a leader in natural medicine education and evidence-based research.

NUNM's Helfgott Research Institute, founded in 2003, is a professionally independent, non-profit research institute conducting rigorous, high-quality research on the art and science of healing.

SOURCE National University of Natural Medicine
Research to be presented in a joint poster session with Labcorp at the 2024 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

BOSTON and BURLINGTON, N.C., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Outcomes4Me Inc., the developer of the first and only end-to-end, actionable cancer platform, announced today it has been selected to present the results of a biomarker awareness study, conducted with Labcorp, a global leader of innovative and comprehensive laboratory services, at the prestigious 2024 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) on December 13, 2024. SABCS is the preeminent conference for sharing cutting-edge breast cancer research with healthcare professionals, researchers, and patient advocates worldwide.

"Following the results of the DESTINY-BREAST04 trial at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in 2022, HER2-low emerged as an important biomarker within metastatic breast cancer (mBC)," said Maya R. Said, Sc.D., Founder and CEO of Outcomes4Me. "We knew that many patients living with mBC would benefit from understanding their HER2-low status. We recognize the need to translate the latest clinical research into clinical practice in a timely manner, however, studies have demonstrated that there can be significant delays in disseminating new research findings for broad clinical use in the community. A key component in efficient translation of research into clinical practice is communication with all stakeholders, including patients."

"Our direct-to-patient approach gives patients the tools to have the right conversation with their doctor, in an effort to accelerate guideline-concordant care," Said continued. "We approached Labcorp to collaborate on this patient awareness program because we knew that we could help save lives by doing so."

Utilizing Outcomes4Me's direct-to-patient digital platform, Outcomes4Me and Labcorp developed an educational campaign comprised of a doctor-patient discussion guide, a live and archived webinar, and patient-friendly information and content about HER2-testing and HER2-low breast cancer.

"Labcorp is committed to ensuring that patients have access to the right tests and treatments, and self-advocacy is a key component of that," said Dr. Rebecca Previs, Director of Medical Affairs at Labcorp Oncology. "Our collaboration with Outcomes4Me was a great opportunity to connect directly with patients to empower them with the information they needed to proactively broach HER2 testing with their providers."

A pre-campaign survey found that 41.9% of patients with a known HER2 status were not at all aware or not very aware of the HER2-low classification. More than half of patients (51.3%) who were classified as HER2-negative following their most recent testing did not recall their oncologist discussing HER2-low as a possibility with them. Recent advances in testing and scoring breast cancer have indicated that many patients previously identified as HER2-negative may meet criteria for HER2-low status. After engaging with education in the Outcomes4Me app, 60.9% of patients with unknown HER2 status felt very or somewhat likely to talk to their oncologist about testing for HER2-low.

The results of this study affirm that patient-centric biomarker education about HER2-low both increases biomarker awareness and drives the willingness of patients to initiate a conversation around biomarker testing and HER2 status with their provider. The study highlights the benefits of collaboration between diagnostic companies and digital health platforms that directly engage patients, ultimately improving testing rates and patient outcomes. The complete poster will be on display on Friday, December 13, 2024 from 12:00-2:00pm. Outcomes4Me is also exhibiting at SABCS and will be located at Booth #1250.

About Outcomes4Me

Named a 2024 Fast Company World Changing Idea, Outcomes4Me is the first and only end-to-end, AI-driven patient empowerment platform that helps cancer patients take a proactive approach to their care from diagnosis throughout every stage of life and care. Through its patented technology, the company is on a mission to democratize healthcare by providing personalized, real-time, evidence-based information and resources to cancer patients to address their clinical and emotional needs, ensuring they can effectively navigate through their disease and improve their outcomes. In doing so, Outcomes4Me is working to promote health equity by generating deeper insights that improve care, and accelerating research and access to innovation. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Outcomes4Me is a woman-led company of seasoned healthcare, oncology, pharmaceutical, consumer and technology veterans. For more information, visit www.outcomes4me.com.

About Labcorp

Labcorp (NYSE: LH) is a global leader of innovative and comprehensive laboratory services that helps doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers and patients make clear and confident decisions. We provide insights and advance science to improve health and improve lives through our unparalleled diagnostics and drug development laboratory capabilities. The company's more than 67,000 employees serve clients in approximately 100 countries, provided support for 84% of the new drugs and therapeutic products approved in 2023 by the FDA, and performed more than 600 million tests for patients around the world. Learn more about us at www.labcorp.com.
The campaign, running now through Friday, Dec. 6, features the line "$1 = 17 lbs of food saved" to jolt audiences into action. OUTFRONT Studios and Farmlink's creative team produced the campaign, which also marks the debut of Farmlink's rebrand. The creative can be seen on digital billboards across the country, securing additional impressions with holiday traffic at an all time high.

The campaign's message encourages audiences to make a big impact toward battling food insecurity through a small action during Thanksgiving, the largest event for food consumption in the U.S., and Giving Tuesday, an annual global generosity movement. For the month of December, every dollar donated to Farmlink will be matched to provide 32 pounds of food to families in need.

"In collaboration with OUTFRONT, we are able to expand our mission of supporting farmers and feeding families by inspiring people to take simple actions," said Aidan Reilly, Head of Partnerships at Farmlink. "Collectively, those efforts can add up to help us reach our goal of raising $100K in December."

As a partner of OUTFRONT since 2021, Farmlink has helped further OUTFRONT's purpose of helping people, places and businesses grow stronger.

"Fighting food insecurity continues to be one of OUTFRONT's most important causes, driven by our employees," said Liz Rave, Vice President, Marketing at OUTFRONT. "This timely Thanksgiving campaign is our latest effort to support and amplify Farmlink's mission at a critical time for food insecurity solutions. We are also proud to be making a monetary donation of our own this holiday season."

The Farmlink Project was born as a student movement at the onset of the pandemic in an effort to support a local food bank in Los Angeles. Having delivered nearly 300 million pounds of food which otherwise would have gone to waste to families across North America, Farmlink is driven by the belief that hunger can be solved in the U.S. using already grown food.

About OUTFRONT Media Inc.

OUTFRONT leverages the power of technology, location and creativity to connect brands with consumers outside of their homes through one of the largest and most diverse sets of billboard, transit, and mobile assets in the United States. Through its technology platform, OUTFRONT will fundamentally change the ways advertisers engage audiences on-the-go.

OUTFRONT Media Contacts:

Matt Biscuiti Courtney Richards The Lippin Group OUTFRONT Media 212-986-7080 646-876-9404 [email protected] [email protected]



Stephan Bisson

OUTFRONT Media

212-297-6573

[email protected]



SOURCE OUTFRONT Media Inc.
By integrating Quartr API into its AI search engine, Perplexity offers real-time insights and summaries of earnings calls.



NEW YORK and STOCKHOLM, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Quartr, the leading provider of data and tools for qualitative research, announces a partnership with Perplexity, the San Francisco-based company behind the world's leading AI search engine.

This integration provides Perplexity's global user base with direct access to live and archived earnings call transcripts from public companies. By incorporating Quartr's unique streaming and transcription technology, Perplexity enhances its AI-powered search capabilities, offering live insights and analysis to anyone interested in public companies.

The features, which launched last week during NVIDIA's earnings call, capture live transcriptions of earning calls coupled with AI-generated summaries powered by Perplexity's proprietary technology.

"Having a respected and innovative company like Perplexity choose Quartr truly demonstrates the quality of our API offering," says Oscar Kuntzel, co-founder and CEO at Quartr. "In a world obsessed with numbers, we are proud to be at the forefront of distributing corporate narratives and enabling qualitative research."

"So often, these deep analytical features are only available to large institutional investors, but we're making them available to anyone. This experience is only possible because of the live transcript integration from Quartr," says Brooker Belcourt, General Manager of Finance at Perplexity. "With our new finance widget, you will save time and gain key insights. You can't listen to two earnings calls simultaneously, this is the next closest thing."

Discover the power of the Quartr API and build custom solutions tailored to your needs. Visit quartr.com/api or reach out directly to co-founder and Head of Corporate Relationships David Dag at [email protected]. The Quartr mobile app is available for free download on both iOS and Android.

About Quartr

Quartr provides tens of millions of end-users around the world with easy access to first-party information from over 11,000 public companies. The Quartr product suite includes an API that enables third-parties to access Quartr's unique live earnings calls and transcription technology and its extensive global database of IR material including slide decks and filings; Quartr Pro, a desktop research platform used by leading hedge funds, asset managers, equity research departments, and IR professionals globally; and a free mobile app for both iOS and Android.

About Perplexity

Perplexity is the conversational 'answer engine' that draws from credible sources in real time to answer users' questions with in-line citations. Founded in 2022 by former members of OpenAI, Meta, Quora, Bing, and Databricks, the company's mission is to serve the world's curiosity by bridging the gap between traditional search engines and AI-driven interfaces. Each week, Perplexity answers more than 100 million questions. Perplexity is available online at www.perplexity.com and on iOS, Mac, and Android.

Media Contacts

Andres Sehr

[email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/quartr/r/perplexity-leverages-quartr-api-to-power-first-of-its-kind-analysis-tools-for-retail-investors,c4071875

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/21895/4071875/3136042.pdf Perplexity Leverages Quartr API to Power First-of-its-Kind Analysis Tools for Retail Investors https://news.cision.com/quartr/i/perplexity-quartr-newsroom-2x,c3355418 Perplexity Quartr Newsroom 2x https://news.cision.com/quartr/i/perplexity-quartr-mobile-2x,c3355419 Perplexity Quartr mobile 2x

SOURCE Quartr
New Report Highlights Piana's Continued Momentum in Leading Sustainability Practices and Successfully Shrinking its Environmental Footprint

CARTERSVILLE, Ga., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Piana Technology, the 442-year-old Italian-made textile company renowned for its innovations in the fiber and nonwovens markets, proudly announced it has published its 2023 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report. Piana Technology's report is a reflection of the company's continued commitment to building a better future for our planet through an ethical and caring approach to technological growth and application.

"2023 has been a year of transformation and growth. We have deepened our commitment to sustainability, not only in our products but in every aspect of our operations," said Andrea Piana, CEO of Piana Technology. "This year, we achieved significant milestones, from reducing our carbon footprint across all facilities to pioneering new technologies that align with our zero-waste vision. Our innovations are driven by a steadfast belief that the future of industry lies in responsible stewardship of our planet's resources."

In 2021, Piana Technology established benchmark sustainability metrics that enable the company to reduce its overall organizational, facility, and product-level environmental impact, especially its greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint. Piana Technology's 2023 ESG report highlights the company's tremendous growth in implementing new programs and systems to lessen its impact on all fronts.

"At Piana Technology, ESG priorities are at the heart of our mission," said Silvia Galasso, Executive Vice President of Piana Sleep, the bedding division of Piana Technology. "We aim to lead and inspire as we make meaningful improvements in our environmental footprint and the wellbeing of our people."

Piana Technology is dedicated to leading change through example, transforming into a business for good, and working with those who share the Piana vision.

For more information on Piana Technology's 2023 ESG report, visit: https://www.piana.tech/sustainability

About Piana Technology

The Piana family's roots began in the textile business in 1582 in Biella, Italy, evolving over centuries to develop innovative solutions in the industry, starting with traditional textile dyeing in 1950 and opening their first American factory in Cartersville, Georgia in 1995. Today, Piana Technology is a multinational company addressing common problems with unique solutions in nonwovens, digital printing, and fiber treatments. Piana provides the hidden technology behind many everyday consumer productsfrom automotive to home furnishingsreplacing conventional materials with socially and environmentally responsible technologies.

SOURCE Piana Technology
"Our mission at PMI Foods is to feed the hungry and be a force for good all over the world," stated Darin Parker, President of PMI Foods. "We are delighted to work with our friend Pastor Paula White-Cain and the team at Paula White Ministries to provide food and hope to families this holiday season by supplying hundreds of Turkeys for their Thanksgiving feast."

Paula White Ministries is committed to its mission of serving the community by hosting a special Thanksgiving meal distribution event on the Sunday prior to the holiday. This generous initiative is designed to assist families living in economically challenged neighborhoods, as well as seniors and children attending Title One schools, ensuring they experience the joy of a festive meal.

Each family received a complete Thanksgiving dinner that included high-quality, fully prepared meals. The centerpiece of each feast were premium turkeys provided by PMI Foods, ensuring that recipients enjoy a delicious and nutritious Thanksgiving meal.

"God has strategically placed us in an underserved and impoverished area. Having a strategic partnership with the wonderful team at Parker Migliorini International (PMI Foods) allowed us to provide over 250 full furnished Thanksgiving meals to help those who need it most. Together we are doing God's work by feeding the hungry and I applaud PMI Foods, for once again working alongside Paula White Ministries Church to put smiles on the faces of hundreds of families this Thanksgiving" remarked Pastor Paula White-Cain.

This initiative represents a significant step in PMI Foods' ongoing dedication to addressing hunger issues not only in the United States, but also on a global scale. It is a crucial part of the company's broader commitment to making a positive impact in communities facing food insecurity. Recently, PMI Foods has also shown its support through a partnership with CityServe, specifically aimed at assisting Hurricane Helen relief efforts in Western North Carolina. These actions demonstrate the company's commitment to community resilience and its proactive approach to providing aid during times of crisis.

About Parker Migliorini International LLC

PMI Foods is a global enterprise that supplies an extensive range of products to all major international markets with corporate offices strategically located in the Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa, and Oceania. PMI Foods operates on several platforms representing two brands: PMI Global Solutions; managing product procurement, sales, and logistics, and PMI Distribution; supplying the needs of local wholesale markets, and PMI Food Service, which provides a constant supply source while focusing on personalized services and customer-specific adaptation of products and packaging. To learn more please visit the PMI Foods website at https://www.pmifoods.com.

About Paula White Ministries

Paula White-Cain is the president of Paula White Ministries, headquartered in Apopka, Florida. She is the Senior Pastor of City of Destiny Church and hosts the Christian television program Paula Today. Paula is a renowned life coach, bestselling author, and highly sought-after motivational speaker. Her commitment to humanity is felt worldwide as she reaches out through numerous charities and compassion ministries, fulfilling her mission and call to transform lives, heal hearts, and win souls. To learn more please visit https://paulawhite.org

SOURCE PMI Foods
WASHINGTON, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Press Club, the world's leading professional organization for journalists, announced the establishment of the Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club  a newly-formed entity to defend press freedom by assisting detained, threatened or exiled journalists through advocacy, direct support and community.

Monday's launch event brought together journalists, club members and donors, including Fred Ryan, the former publisher of the Washington Post and Politico, who gave powerful remarks on the need for the Center. During the evening, $25,000 was raised in the room, in addition to the $500,000 investment from the National Press Club and an additional $100,000 investment from the National Press Club Journalism Institute, which will also act as a fiscal sponsor.

The Press Freedom Center will focus on campaigns for journalists wrongfully detained, injured or killed and assistance for exiled journalists. Global forces have recently created dramatic needs in these two areas. The Press Freedom Center will also advocate for domestic journalists and news organizations, carrying on the Club's century-long commitment.

"Through the structure of the Press Freedom Center, we are ensuring the Club will continue to be a strong advocate and supporter of journalists in need for decades to come," National Press Club President Emily Wilkins. "Our efforts to free detained journalists and assist exiled reporters here in the U.S. will be bolstered through the Press Freedom Center."

The Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club will be led by Bill McCarren, who will serve as Director. McCarren has a strong track record of leading successful campaigns to free wrongfully detained journalists. He led the National Press Club for more than a decade, and has served in the past year as a press freedom consultant.

"Ours is an idea designed to meet this moment," McCarren said. "The Press Freedom Center will have the tools, techniques and resources needed to conduct effective campaigns and to transition exiled journalists into productive professionals.

Jason Rezaian, a leader in press freedom, will join the Center as a consultant and Chair of the Press Freedom Center's Advisory Board. Rezaian was Tehran Bureau Chief for The Washington Post when he was taken hostage by Iran in 2014 and held in prison 544 days.

When Rezaian returned to work, he focused on press freedom and other global issues. He was recently named Director of Press Freedom Initiatives at The Washington Post.

Working together, Rezaian and McCarren, along with the National Press Club have assisted dozens of journalists in trouble over the past decade, providing them not only initial assistance, but continual support and community.

"We are immensely grateful to have Bill McCarren and Jason Rezaian as leaders of the Press Freedom Center," Wilkins said. "Their passion and dedication to helping journalists is unmatched."

The Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club was approved by the National Press Club's Board of Governors and the National Press Club Journalism Institue's Board of Directors. Leaders of both entities have collaborated for the past year to ensure the Press Freedom Center has a strong foundation,

More information on the Press Freedom Center can be found here. Those wishing to make a donation can do so here.

About the Press Club

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. With 2,500 members representing nearly every major news organization, the Club is a leading voice for press freedom in the U.S. and worldwide. Recent surveys of Club members (as part of the strategic planning process) found that the Club's press freedom work was one of the most important and attractive aspects of the Club for members.

Contact:

Bill McCarren

202-662-7534 or [email protected]

SOURCE National Press Club
SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ProMortgage, a leading California mortgage company, announces significant leadership transitions, marking a new chapter in the company's journey. Brenda Cantu, one of the company's founders, stepped down as CEO on June 1st, 2024, after an impactful 26-year tenure.

Brenda's leadership has been instrumental in shaping ProMortgage into the thriving business it is today. Her dedication and expertise have left an enduring mark on the company's culture and success. As she embarks on a new chapter, ProMortgage expresses its deepest gratitude for her invaluable contributions and wishes her the very best.

Stepping into the role of CEO is David Rubinstein, Managing Broker. Elected on May 31st, 2024, David brings a wealth of experience and a forward-thinking vision to his new position.

David is eager to guide ProMortgage into a future defined by continued growth and success. His plans include attracting top-tier talent within the industry, elevating brand visibility, and nurturing strong relationships within the community and with small businesses.

"I am honored to take on this new role as CEO," said David Rubinstein. "I am confident that with the help of our talented team, we will continue to build on ProMortgage's success and grow our business even further."

Further strengthening the leadership team, Brian Goulding, a Mortgage Advisor who has been with ProMortgage since early 2020, has taken on the role of Operations Manager in September 2024. This strategic move underscores ProMortgage's commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and streamlining processes.

Brian will work closely with David to optimize the company's operations, allowing for a greater focus on strategic growth initiatives. This collaborative approach to leadership ensures a seamless transition and reinforces ProMortgage's commitment to providing exceptional service.

In a testament to her outstanding contributions to the mortgage industry, Brenda Cantu was honored with the prestigious California Association of Mortgage Professionals, Mortgage Professional of the Year Award. This recognition is a fitting tribute to her dedication, expertise, and the significant impact she has had on the industry.

ProMortgage is confident that its new leadership structure, under the guidance of David and Brian, will usher in an era of continued success. The company remains dedicated to its core values of integrity and transparency, ensuring a smooth and positive experience for every client.

For more information about ProMortgage and its services, please visit promortgage.com or reach out to David Rubinstein at [email protected] or Brian Goulding at [email protected] .

About ProMortgage and our Mission:We Work For You, Not The Banks!Our sole mission is to support our customers as they pursue their real estate goals. Whether your goal is a dream home, a vacation getaway or investment real estate, our specialists put you first and deliver personalized service and mortgage solutions to achieve your goals.

SOURCE ProMortgage
Established firm Rhodes Martin awarded territory beginning November 11th, 2024.

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rhodes Martin Company, a trusted name in the electrical industry for several decades, is proud to announce its partnership with Mersen, a global leader in electrical fuses and advanced materials. Effective immediately, Rhodes Martin will represent Mersen in Arkansas, Northern Mississippi, and Western Tennessee.

Mersen Logo

Mersen's extensive product portfolio complements Rhodes Martin's commitment to delivering innovative solutions for its customers. This partnership positions both organizations to address the evolving needs of the electrical industry, including the growing demand for electrification solutions.

Greg Rhodes, President of Rhodes Martin Company, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "I am excited about the future for both Rhodes Martin and Mersen. Mersen shares in our optimism on the future of electrification and has countless products that bring value to our Distributors, Contractors, and OEM partners."

This collaboration underscores Rhodes Martin's dedication to enhancing its product offerings and providing superior solutions for its customers across its territories.

About Rhodes Martin Company

Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Rhodes Martin Company has been a leading electrical manufacturers' representative agency for decades. The company specializes in providing premier electrical products to distributors, contractors, and OEMs across the region. Rhodes Martin is committed to delivering exceptional value, expertise, and customer service.

Contact:

Greg Rhodes

President

[email protected]

SOURCE JD Martin Co.
Samba's Award-Winning Technology Addresses Oral Health Differently Than Any Other Toothbrush

MESA, Ariz., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading Swiss oral health brand, CURAPROX, is delivering confidence and empowering a wide array of consumers with Samba, the world's first ever robotic toothbrush. In development for more than eight years, the goal of the Samba toothbrush is to make oral care more accessible for everyone because of the product's ease of use and exceptional cleaning power. The brand appeals to a wide consumer audience, while also targeting the special needs community, ensuring that all are able to have a heightened oral hygiene experience.

Samba Toothbrush

Samba's award-winning technology combines low- and high-frequency movements and a thin, 12,900 bristle structure, cleaning teeth deeply and effectively  all with the push of one button. Having 36 surfaces brushed at the same time, the product boasts fresher breath in just one minute, allowing users to maintain a healthier mouth.

The product's groundbreaking structure was designed with a flexible brush head that has back-and-forth movements and doesn't apply too much pressure to the teeth or gums. This technology allows the user to brush their teeth without moving their hand.

"Samba was developed using innovative technology with the belief that everyone, regardless of their abilities, deserves a healthy mouth and clean smile," said Steffen Mueller, Managing Director, Curaden USA. "With this first-of-its-kind product, we are empowering millions of individuals to have access to premium oral care, to not only improve their well-being, but to experience excellent cleaning with the push of a button."

Samba is available for purchase in the U.S. for $299 at www.samba.us.

About CURAPROX

CURAPROX  the product brand of Curaden  has been the go-to provider for premium Swiss oral care products since 1972. Founded on the principle that oral health is much more than white teeth and fresh breath, Curaden supports its Curaden Academy and global prevention education. Curaden works closely with dental professionals to develop exceptional CURAPROX products. The advanced line of Manual Toothbrushes, Power Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, and Interdental tools are designed ergonomically to keep your mouth, teeth, and gums in perfect condition  regardless of braces, brackets, or sensitivities. CURAPROX's range of products is noticeably attractive, highly effective, and a pleasure to use. Brushing your teeth is fun with CURAPROX  delivering tangible results and products that keep you motivated to clean thoroughly. CURAPROX's full range of premium Swiss oral care is available at CURAPROX-Shop USA and Amazon.com/Curaprox.

Media Contact:

5W Public Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE CURAPROX
DURHAM, N.C., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Satsuma Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a late-stage biopharmaceutical company, and its corporate parent, Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd. (TSE:2395), are pleased to announce that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review a resubmission to original new drug application (NDA) for the investigational product STS101 (dihydroergotamine nasal powder) for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura as a complete response to their January 2024 action letter.

The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date is set as April 30, 2025.

Satsuma Pharmaceuticals and SNBL Receive FDA Acceptance of Resubmission of STS101 for the Acute Treatment of Migraine Post this

Almost 40 million people in the United States suffer from migraine, especially among working women in their 20s to 40s. The U.S. market for acute migraine medications is estimated to be over USD 1.0 Billion.

Closing Statements

About Satsuma and STS101

Satsuma Pharmaceuticals, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd. (SNBL), is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company that is currently seeking regulatory approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for STS101, a novel, investigational therapeutic product for the acute treatment of migraine. STS101 is a unique and proprietary nasal powder formulation of the well-established anti-migraine drug, dihydroergotamine mesylate (DHE), administered via Satsuma's proprietary nasal delivery device. STS101 is designed to provide patients the combination of quick and convenient self-administration. Satsuma's nasal powder DHE formulation has demonstrated fast absorption, rapid achievement of high DHE plasma concentrations, sustained DHE plasma levels over time and low dose-to-dose variability.

Satsuma is headquartered in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. For further information, please visit www.satsumarx.com.

About SNBL

Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd. ("SNBL") (TSE:2395) is a listed contract research organization (CRO) that was founded in Kagoshima, Japan, in 1957. SNBL's corporate mission has been to support drug development and the improvement of medical technology to free mankind from suffering. Based on its corporate mission, and with a proven record of accomplishment as the oldest and established CRO in Japan, SNBL is proud to be the only company in Japan that can provide a comprehensive portfolio of services and solutions for drug discovery and development for pharmaceutical companies, biotech ventures, universities, and research institutions both in Japan and overseas. The SNBL's Translational Research Business has engaged in drug discovery, with the focus on business development and out-licensing of its proprietary intranasal drug delivery technologies and intranasal devices. SNBL also operates the Medipolis Business, making use of 900 acres of land, mostly forests it owns in Ibusuki-City in Kagoshima prefecture, to promote the local economy and environmental conservation at the same time thorough its geothermal power generation and hospitality businesses including Proton Center for cancer patients. The aim of the Medipolis Business is to contribute to people's well-being, improved quality of life, and happiness. For further information, visit https://snbl.com. Inquiries: SHIN NIPPON BIOMEDICAL LABORATORIES, LTD. IR & Corporate Communications ([email protected])

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-Looking Statements This press release and any materials distributed in connection with this press release may contain forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions regarding SNBL's future business, future position and results of operations, including estimates, forecasts, targets and plans for SNBL. Without limitation, forward-looking statements often include words such as "targets", "plans", "believes", "hopes", "continues", "expects", "aims", "intends", "ensures", "will", "may", "should", "would", "could" "anticipates", "estimates", "projects" or similar expressions or the negative thereof. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements: the economic circumstances surrounding SNBL's business, including general economic conditions in Japan and the United States; competitive pressures and developments; changes to applicable laws and regulations; challenges inherent in new product development, including uncertainty of clinical success and decisions of regulatory authorities and the timing thereof; uncertainty of commercial success for new and existing products; fluctuations in interest and currency exchange rates; claims or concerns regarding the safety or efficacy of product candidates; the impact of health crises such as the coronavirus pandemic on SNBL and its clients and suppliers, including foreign governments in countries in which SNBL operates, or on other facets of its business; the timing and impact of post-merger integration efforts with acquired companies; the ability to divest assets that are not core to SNBL's operations and the timing of any such divestment(s); and other factors identified in SNBL's most recent securities report ("Yuka Shoken Houkokusho") and SNBL's other reports filed with the Financial Services Agency, available on SNBL's website at: https://snbl.com/ir/library/ or at https://disclosure.edinet-fsa.go.jp/. SNBL does not undertake to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or any other forward-looking statements it may make, except as required by law or related stock exchange rule. Past performance is not an indicator of future results and the results or statements of SNBL in this press release may not be indicative of, and are not an estimate, forecast, guarantee or projection of SNBL's future results.

Medical information

This press release contains information about product candidates that may not be available in all countries, or may be available under different trademarks, for different indications, in different dosages, or in different strengths. Nothing contained herein should be considered a solicitation, promotion or advertisement for any prescription drugs including the ones under development.

Inquiries:

Satsuma Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.satsumarx.com

SOURCE Satsuma Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
PHOENIX, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Integro Bank is hosting its second annual technology summit with event sponsor, Peak Spectrum. This year-end panel event is designed to help business owners and leaders determine potential strategies and initiatives to undertake for their business in 2025. The panel will help identify the hidden risks and potential growth in technology to scale and compete effectively.

Peak Spectrum

The event continues the overall mission of the Integro Bank CEO Club program to lift and transform lives by helping small businesses grow. This specific event takes that assistance further by specifically addressing ways to reduce costs and secure the operations of a small business.

Elaine Szeto, Chief Innovation Officer & Founder at Integro Bank stated, "With the ever-changing landscape of technology, businesses owners and leaders continue to stress the need of support and guidance when it comes to their tech stack. This event has been designed to give local businesses the information they need to develop their tech strategy for 2025."

The panel speakers at the complimentary event will discuss key topics such as Cybersecurity, Public Cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP), Microsoft/email licensing, Unified Communications/Customer Experience, and Artificial Intelligence. The panel will also field questions and discuss specific concerns from small business owners as they prepare for the upcoming new year.

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Time: 5: 00 PM - 7:30 PM

5: Location: Integro Bank Headquarters, 16215 North 28th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85053

Integro Bank Headquarters, 16215 North 28th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85053 This is a complimentary event for business owners and leaders.

RSVP For the Event:

https://www.integro.bank/CEO-Club-Event-RSVP

About Peak Spectrum

Peak Spectrum is a premier IT consulting services provider, offering clients a comprehensive range of IT services and solutions. They are committed to providing their clients with the best possible service and support, with a particular focus on customer satisfaction.

Visit www.peakspectrum.com to learn more.

About Integro Bank:

Integro Bank is an FDIC-insured bank based in Phoenix, Arizona (USA). Our proprietary INTEGRO360SM consultative approach and CEO Club are designed to help small businesses grow and maximize employment. Why? Because employment lifts people and transforms lives.

Visit www.Integro.Bank to learn more.

Media Contact:

Brandon Price, at [email protected] or (602) 325-9431

SOURCE Integro Bank
NEW YORK, Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Wolfspeed, Inc. ("Wolfspeed" or the "Company") (NYSE: WOLF). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

The class action concerns whether Wolfspeed and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

You have until January 17, 2025 , to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired Wolfspeed securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On November 6, 2024, Wolfspeed announced its financial results for the first quarter of its 2025 fiscal year and provided guidance for the second quarter that fell short of analyst expectations. Despite previously claiming that 20% utilization of the Company's Mohawk Valley fabrication facility would yield $100 million in revenue, Wolfspeed guided to a range 30% to 50% below that mark. Wolfspeed attributed its results and lowered guidance to "demand . . . ramping more slowly than we originally anticipated as "EV customers revise their launch timelines as the market works through this transition period."

On this news, Wolfspeed's stock price fell $5.38 per share, or 39.24%, to close at $8.33 per share on November 7, 2024.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. ("Estee Lauder" or the "Company") (NYSE: EL). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Estee Lauder and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On October 31, 2024, Estee Lauder issued a press release announcing its fiscal 2025 first quarter results. Among other items, Estee Lauder reported revenue of $3.36 billion, missing consensus estimates and representing a decline of 4.5% from the same period in the prior year. Estee Lauder attributed the results to "worsened consumer sentiment in China" and "lower replenishment orders in Asia travel retail," among other factors. The Company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.35 per share, a reduction of its previous quarterly dividend of $0.66 per share.

On this news, Estee Lauder's stock price fell $18.21 per share, or 20.89%, to close at $68.94 per share on October 31, 2024.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sleep Consortium, in collaboration with a coalition of partner organizations and sponsors, is pleased to announce the Illuminate Hypersomnia Adjunct Scientific Meeting, scheduled for February 13, 2025, from 12:00  2:00 p.m. EST. This virtual scientific session aims to address critical challenges in drug development for idiopathic hypersomnia (IH), as identified during the groundbreaking Illuminate Hypersomnia Externally-Led Patient-Focused Drug Development (EL-PFDD) meeting held on April 11, 2024.

The Illuminate Hypersomnia Adjunct Scientific Meeting will bring together experts in the fields of sleep medicine, pharmaceutical research, regulatory science, medical affairs, and patient advocacy. The focus will be on collaborative efforts to overcome key hurdles in the development of effective treatments for IH, a rare chronic neurological disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS, or hypersomnolence), extreme difficulty waking, abnormally long nocturnal sleep, unrefreshing naps, and autonomic and cognitive symptoms.

Meeting topics are drawn directly from the Illuminate Hypersomnia Voice of the Patient report, based on extensive feedback collected through the EL-PFDD meeting and a detailed survey that attracted 811 responses from people living in 21 countries. Registration for the scientific meeting is now open to all, and the agenda features leading global experts in the field.

Key discussion areas include:

Close examination of "brain fog," a disabling symptom of IH that persists beyond the transition from sleep to alertness (sleep inertia)

Definition of approaches to better defining and measuring brain fog in IH studies and clinical trials

Review of barriers to participation in IH research studies

Generation of considerations for recruiting and retaining people with IH in research studies

Discussion of approaches to address unmet needs to advance the field and improve patient outcomes

"The April 2024 EL-PFDD meeting and survey attracted hundreds of individuals with IH, caregivers, and advocates to share their experiences, treatment priorities, and the unmet medical needs within the IH community. Their testimonies underscored the urgent need for accelerated research and innovation to bring new therapies to market," said Sleep Consortium Co-founder and CEO Lindsay Jesteadt. "Our goal with this adjunct meeting is to leverage the momentum from that event and bring together the scientific community to focus on translating those patient perspectives into tangible advancements in drug development and care."

Alliance partners that helped to launch the Illuminate Hypersomnia initiative are: Associacao Brasileira de Narcolepsia e Hipersonia Idiopatica, Damm Good Sleep, Days4Naps, European Narcolepsy Alliance for Patients, Hypersomnia Alliance, Hypersomnia Foundation, Hypersomnolence Australia, Hypersomnolence Support Network Japan, NapsForLife, Ltd., Project Sleep, and PWN4PWN. Sleep Consortium is grateful to the companies that provided unrestricted educational grants to support the Adjunct Scientific Meeting in addition to the broader Illuminate Hypersomnia initiative: Alkermes, Avadel Pharmaceuticals, Centessa Pharmaceuticals, Harmony Biosciences, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Takeda, and Zevra Therapeutics.

Registration and Additional Information:

The Illuminate Hypersomnia Adjunct Scientific Meeting will be held virtually, offering people from around the world the opportunity to participate at no charge from the convenience of their offices or homes. For more details and to register, please visit sleepconsortium.org/IH-ASM/

About the Sleep Consortium:

Sleep Consortium is a registered not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing research, understanding, and treatment for central disorders of hypersomnolence, including idiopathic hypersomnia. Through collaborative efforts and innovative research, the Consortium aims to enhance the lives of those affected by these rare and challenging conditions.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Lindsay Jesteadt, PhD

Co-Founder and CEO, Sleep Consortium

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.sleepconsortium.org

SOURCE Sleep Consortium
CARDIFF, Wales, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Socura, a UK-based cybersecurity services business that protects many of the nation's biggest NHS trusts, councils, and private companies, has strengthened its partnership with Google Cloud by joining Google Cloud Partner Advantage as an MSSP Initiative Partner. Socura will increase its use of Google Security Operations (SecOps), an intelligence-driven and AI-powered security operations platform, to deliver its Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service to organisations across the UK. Notably, all public sector organisations in Wales will have the option to deploy Google SecOps as part of Socura's contract to deliver CymruSOC  enabling Socura's Security Operations Centre to detect and respond to threats even faster.

Socura was one of Google Cloud Security's first UK MSSP partners in 2020 and as a cloud-first company is expertly placed to help organisations modernise their security operations. By joining Google Cloud Partner Advantage as an MSSP initiative partner, Socura reaffirms its partnership with Google Cloud and commitment to using best-in-class technology to deliver its MDR service. In 2024, Socura was recognised as one of the leading managed security services providers globally.

"As one of the first MSSPs to work with Google Cloud in the UK, we recognise the value of Google SecOps in helping us to defend our clients," said Andy Kays, Socura CEO. "Security teams need trusted providers that can alleviate the load, not add to it. Joining Google Cloud Partner Advantage will ensure that we can continue to deliver the outcomes our clients need to keep pace with threats."

"Being a dedicated Managed Detection and Response provider, it's vital that we have the tools and intelligence we need to identify and stop attacks as early as possible," said Jamie Brummell, Socura CTO and Co-Founder. "Google SecOps, when combined with the skills and expertise of our SOC team, ensures we can respond to threats in minutes."

Webinar announcement

Security experts from Socura and Google will be co-hosting 'Mastering Detection Engineering with Google Cloud Security', a live webinar on December 4th at 11am GMT. To learn more about the session and register to attend, visit: https://rsvp.withgoogle.com/events/mastering-detection-engineering-with-google-cloud-security

About Socura

Socura reduces cyber risk by proactively detecting and responding to threats, 24/7. Our Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service operates as an extension of an organisation's security team  supplying highly skilled SOC experts and the additional capabilities needed to scale security operations and accelerate response to attacks.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2449813/Socura_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Socura
ATLANTA, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sola Salons Johns Creek, the premier salon suites concept for established salon professionals, celebrates the opening of its newest salon in Johns Creek, GA with an invitation to attend a sneak peek! Conveniently located in Old Alabama Square at the crossroads of Roswell, Alpharetta and Johns Creek, the new Sola Salons features a collection of boutique, move-in-ready salon studios with floor-to-ceiling walls and glass doors that fully close. This unique layout and intentional design allows beauty professionals to operate their individual businesses in complete privacy and customized one-on-one spaces.

The sneak peek, hosted by Sola Salons and local general manager Mike Balsamides will be on Monday December 9th at 11:00am  2:00pm. The local team is excited to welcome beauty professionals in the area for a tour of the new salon and the opportunity to learn more about life at Sola Salons. You are invited to enjoy light snacks and beverages, pick-up some Sola swag and meet with a sheer sharpener on-site offering free sharpening for any interested beauty professionals who attend the event.

"We are thrilled to expand the Sola Salons family in Atlanta to the Johns Creek area. There are incredible possibilities for salon professionals with an entrepreneurial spirit to expand their businesses at Sola Salons, while still feeling like part of the thriving salon community in Atlanta" said Mike Balsamides, General Manager of Sola Salons Atlanta. "We're excited to welcome the beauty professionals in the area to join the over 20,000 independent salon owners running their businesses at Sola Salons."

Sola provides a turnkey environment for experienced hair stylists, cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians, barbers, waxers, med spa professionals, massage therapists, makeup artists, lash specialists, professional micro bladers, hair extension specialists, health and wellness professionals and more. Studios are equipped with:

Oversized sliding/locking door





Floor-to-ceiling sound-insulated walls





Modern custom cabinetry and high-end hydraulic styling chair





Full spectrum LED lighting with dimmers to emulate natural daylight





Utilities and WiFi included in weekly rental fee





On-site laundry facilities and a comfortable break room to relax between clients





BookNow to help grow your clientele and operate your business





Sustainability is at the forefront of design, construction and operations





Unmatched service and support from a local management team

Since its inception in 2004, Sola has grown to more than 750+ locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Sola is committed to industry leading innovation and a fun salon environment to better support its rapidly growing community of more than 20,000+ independent beauty professionals.

"As the dominant brand in the salon suites segment, we have created a turnkey solution for thousands of beauty professionals to explore a better life as an entrepreneur. We are driven by our desire to use real estate to help aspiring business owners achieve their dreams and live their best lives," said Ben Jones, CEO of Radiance Holdings (parent company of Sola Salons). "With a wide variety of proprietary resources and tools, such as state-of-the-art technology and integrated marketing features, we ensure that our Sola beauty professionals are set up for long-term success from the very beginning."

Sola Salons Johns Creek is located at 3005 Old Alabama Square, Unit 410, Johns Creek, GA 30022 offering 37 studios and 7,500 square feet of first-class amenities for salon professionals and their clients. A limited number of private suites are still available for rent. For more information or to take a tour, visit solasalons.com, instagram.com/sola__atlanta and facebook.com/solaatlanta, call 470-567-5583 or email [email protected]

ABOUT SOLA SALONS

In 2004, Sola Salons was established with the opening of its first location in Denver, Colorado. Now with more than 750 locations open in the U.S. and Canada, Sola is proud to offer 20,000+ independent beauty professionals the freedom and benefits of salon ownership without the risk and overhead of opening a traditional salon. Its innovative salon model empowers hair stylists, estheticians, cosmetologists, barbers nail techs, massage therapists, health and wellness professionals and other like-minded professionals to take control of their lives and their careers. Sola provides beauty professionals with beautiful, fully-equipped salon studios alongside the support and tools they need to launch their salon business in no time. For more information, please visit solasalons.com

SOURCE Sola Salons
Recently Formed U.S. Company to Support Satellite Bus Design, Manufacturing, and Business Development for Global D-Orbit Group

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, Inc. ("Spectrum"), a subsidiary of Ocutrx Technologies, Inc. ("Ocutrx") and a leader in precision electronics and assemblies manufacturing for over 25 years, today announced it has been named manufacturing partner for D-Orbit USA, the recently formed U.S. member company of Italian space logistics company D-Orbit Group. As part of the partnership, Spectrum is renovating a 7,500 sq ft facility, including the construction of a 2,000 sq ft ISO 8-100,000 Clean Room for assembling multiple satellite buses at once. Spectrum will provide material management, PCBA manufacturing, harness manufacturing, and final assembly of the D-Orbit USA satellite buses.

Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Technologies x D-Orbit USA

"We are honored to partner with the highly respected D-Orbit Group as they enter the U.S. market," said Jeff Gilbert, CEO of Spectrum. "Spectrum and D-Orbit share the same values of dedication to our customers, commitment to a high quality of excellence, and relentless pursuit in pushing innovation forward with never-fail electronics and assemblies. Our partnership is a natural fit and we are happy to dedicate a large portion of manufacturing space for them. We look forward to growing together and making a lasting impact on the burgeoning satellite industry."

Since its founding in 2011, D-Orbit Group has cemented itself as a market leader in space logistics and transportation, with a lengthy track record of space-proven technologies and successful missions. D-Orbit USA, founded in 2023, will be focused on satellite bus design, manufacturing, and business development in the United States satellite market. Its founding team is comprised of distinguished aerospace executives, including Mike Cassidy, CEO, formerly of Google; Mark Krebs, VP of Guidance and Control, formerly of SpaceX and Amazon's Kuiper; Miles Gazic, VP of Avionics and Software, formerly of SpaceX; Danny Field, VP of Mechanical Engineering, formerly of OneWeb; and David Harrower, VP of Business Development, formerly of Terran Orbital.

Mike Cassidy, CEO of D-Orbit USA, added, "We are excited to kick off this partnership as high-reliability manufacturing is instrumental to our success, and we are thrilled to have Spectrum as our manufacturing partner. The Spectrum team has been a longtime leader in the production of never-fail satellite electronics and assemblies, which makes us proud to partner together to meet the needs of our customers."

About Spectrum

Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, Inc. (Spectrum AMT) is a prominent leader in High Reliability Circuit Card Assembly and Contract Manufacturing, with over 25 years of industry experience. Serving sectors such as Aerospace, Spaceflight, and Defense, Spectrum consistently meets high standards and client expectations. Spectrum is already a manufacturing partner to many of the Fortune 100 Satellite, Aerospace, and Defense contractors in the United States. Adhering to AS-9100, ISO, FDA, and NASA J-Standards, as well as the Space Addendum regulations and the principles of "never fail" reliability, Spectrum AMT exemplifies commitment and excellence. Spectrum is located in Colorado Springs at the Ocutrx-Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Campus. Learn more at spectrumamt.com .

About D-Orbit USA

D-Orbit USA is based in Boulder, Colorado and is a member company of D-Orbit Group. D-Orbit Group is based in Italy and is a market leader in the space logistics and transportation services industry with a track record of space-proven services, technologies, and successful missions.

Founded in 2011, D-Orbit is the first company to address the logistics needs of the space market. ION Satellite Carrier, for example, is a space vehicle that can transport satellites in orbit and release them individually into distinct orbital slots, reducing the time from launch to operations by up to 85% and the launch costs of an entire satellite constellation by up to 40%.

Since 2020, D-Orbit has flown successfully in orbit 14 times. The company has raised over $170 million in funding in the last year alone. D-Orbit Group has offices in Italy, Portugal, the UK, and the US. Learn more at dorbit.com and dorbit.space .

Media Contact

Leigh Brandt | Lightspeed PR/M for Spectrum AMT | [email protected]

SOURCE Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Technologies
Significant Advancements For the Treatment of PTSD and Depression in Active Duty Military and Veteran Patients

CHICAGO, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Stella, an interventional psychiatry practice and leading provider of science-backed therapies has partnered with Task Force Dagger, a veteran-led non-profit that focuses on the health and wellness of the active and veteran special operations community and their families. This partnership aims to support healing within the Special Operations Forces community by offering highly-effective treatments for PTSD, anxiety, depression and TBI to those in need of help.

Stella Partners with Task Force Dagger to Support the Special Forces Community

"Our elite Special Operators and their families will always answer our Nation's call, often at the expense of their own physical, mental, emotional, and relational health," says Task Force Dagger Executive Director and veteran Green Beret, Matt Parrish. "This partnership is a key facet of Task Force Dagger's Health Initiatives program and our commitment to help special operations service members, and their families heal, rebuild, and strengthen together as they address lingering effects of their service to all of us as Americans."

Stella recently announced new data showcasing the effectiveness of ketamine infusion therapy in combination with the Dual Sympathetic Reset (DSR) stellate ganglion block (SGB) procedure. The protocol is currently widely used to treat many within the SOF community.

Supported by active duty and veteran non-profit organizations such as Task Force Dagger, the study shows that combining DSR with ketamine infusion therapy, individuals reported feeling significant relief with an 83.7% decrease in depression symptoms and a 76.9% decrease in PTSD symptoms.

"The results highlight the importance of tailored treatment programs for servicemen/servicewomen who face unique mental health challenges," explains Dr. Karen DeCocker, Vice President of Nurse Practitioners at Stella. "Yet it remains frustrating that 90% of our special operators aren't treated by the veteran system or private healthcare but instead by organizations that care about them such as Task Force Dagger."

Stella's findings offer valuable insights for healthcare providers and non-profit organizations who are dedicated to supporting the mental health of active duty and veteran populations. By understanding the specific needs and outcomes of these patients, more effective and personalized care strategies can be developed and implemented.

For more information on this data or to learn about our ongoing efforts to support the mental health of active duty and veteran patients, please visit www.stellacenter.com and www.taskforcedagger.org.

About Stella

Stella is an Interventional Psychiatry practice dedicated to delivering the most effective mental health protocols for severe trauma, stress, anxiety, depression, and PTSI. With a team of board-certified physicians, advanced psychiatric nurse practitioners, psychologists, psychiatrists and advocates, Stella combines biology, psychology, and psychiatry to address the complex needs of patients. Stella has 20+ locations across the United States and internationally in Israel and Australia and has treated over 9,500 patients. www.stellacenter.com

About Task Force Dagger

Since 2009, Task Force Dagger Special Operations Foundation has provided critical support to wounded, ill, or injured U.S. Special Operations Command members and their families. Task Force Dagger's three core programs  Immediate Needs, Health Initiatives, and Rehabilitative Adaptive Events  quickly help when there's an emergency, provide next-generation health solutions for issues, and organize events that help SOF members with recovery. As a veteran-operated nonprofit, Task Force Dagger understands the needs and experiences of the Special Operations Forces community. Each program is designed to heal, rebuild, and strengthen the service member and their family by providing mission, purpose, and focus.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Daphne Ortiz

323.864.9890

[email protected]

SOURCE Stella
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fifth consecutive year, Surety One, Inc. begins its celebration of holiday season by donation of Thanksgiving dinner turkeys to the less privileged families in the Raleigh and Wake County metropolitan area. The Surety One, Inc. Team recognizes a collaboration with the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, which has played a vital role in delivering these Thanksgiving blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Surety One, Inc. Team!

Constantin Poindexter, CEO of Janus Assurance Re and Founder of Surety One, Inc. said, "For half of a decade, the Surety One, Inc. Team has marked the start of the most wonderful season of love and compassion by supporting those in need within our community. This year, we have doubled our 2023 delivery to two hundred turkeys, while continuing to support the Salvation Army's parallel food programs. We hope that this effort brings some Thanksgiving joy and comfort to families that otherwise might go without them."

The distribution of food as a donation would not have been possible without the collaboration of the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. The organization is focused and "committed to feeding children, families, and seniors by recovering and distributing over nine million pounds of food each year at their point of need through community-centered solutions."

Surety One, Inc. is deeply committed to aiding the sick, disabled, hungry and underserved members of the communities that it serves. The enterprise and holding company proudly stand by and donate financial support to the No Kid Hungry Foundation, the Salvation Army food program, the Episcopal food charities, and Feed America. Amplifying these efforts, all donations are matched by C. Constantin Poindexter and the Carlyle Poindexter Charitable Foundation.

Surety One, Inc. is an international insurance intermediary specializing in surety bonds, domiciled in Puerto Rico, licensed nationally, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada and the Dominican Republic. For more information call (800) 3732804 or email [email protected].

Related Links

https://suretyone.com/about

SOURCE Surety One, Inc.
Employees Also Find It Challenging Knowing When and Where to Be Honest

OKLAHOMA CITY, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Fifty-seven percent of U.S. job seekers say employees at their company are clueless about when and where it's appropriate to be honest in the workplace. This lack of understanding about workplace decorum  including honesty dos and don'ts  is echoed by nearly half of U.S. hiring decision-makers (47%), who say employees at their company struggle with knowing when to speak up.

This is according to a recent Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey.

While workplaces have become more casual, maintaining a level of professionalism is still essential. Post this Getting Drunk, Drinking on the Job, and Using Drugs are Top Workplace Taboos for Job Seekers

The stakes are particularly high for younger workers with most U.S. hiring managers (91%) believing it's crucial for younger generations to learn the nuances of honesty in the workplace. Forty-eight percent strongly agree with this sentiment.

But honesty isn't the only area where employees falter as many job seekers identify specific ways colleagues can be "too honest" at work. Sharing personal information (65%)  whether their own (53%) or a colleague's (49%)  gossiping (54%), criticizing colleagues or the company (53%) and venting about work issues (52%) are all seen as pitfalls of excessive honesty. These behaviors can harm reputations and workplace harmony, highlighting the need for better guidance and resources.

Taboo Confessions

Beyond honesty, job seekers hold onto taboos that are more about irresponsible actions than dishonesty. The top taboos include getting drunk during work hours (74%), having an alcoholic beverage at work (65%), using recreational drugs during work hours (65%), gossiping about colleagues (51%), gossiping about managers (51%) and dating a manager or senior executive (52%).

Generational divides also play a role in how these taboos are perceived. Gen X and boomer job seekers are more likely than their Gen Z and millennial counterparts to view certain behaviors as taboo, such as getting drunk during work hours (82% and 88% vs. 69% and 68%, respectively), using recreational drugs during work hours (76% and 81% vs. 63% and 57%) and gossiping about colleagues (60% and 61% vs. 45% and 47%).

Interestingly, the most common taboos U.S. job seekers admit to are surprisingly mundane. Swearing at work (45%), making personal calls or using social media during work hours (42%), discussing salary/wages (33%) and crying at work (29%) are the top confessions, painting a picture of everyday challenges in the workplace.

"While workplaces have become more casual and honesty is highly valued, maintaining a level of professionalism is still essential," said Bill Stoller, Express Employment International CEO. "It's about striking a balance where openness and respect coexist, ensuring a comfortable and respectful environment for everyone."

Survey Methodology

The Job Insights survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between May 16 and June 3, 2024, among 1,003 U.S. hiring decision-makers.

The Job Seeker Report was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals from May 28 to June 10, 2024, among 1,002 adults ages 18 and older.

For full survey methodologies, please contact [email protected], Director of Corporate Communications & PR.

If you would like to arrange for an interview to discuss this topic, please contact [email protected], Director of Corporate Communications & PR.

About Bill Stoller

William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment International. Founded in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the international staffing franchisor supports the Express Employment Professionals franchise and related brands. The Express franchise brand is an industry-leading, international staffing company with franchise locations in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

About Express Employment Professionals At Express Employment Professionals, we're in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, employing 492,000 people globally in 2023 and more than 11 million since its inception. For more information, visit ExpressPros.com.

SOURCE Express Services dba Express Employment Professionals
SAN DIEGO, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers or acquirers of The Toronto-Dominion Bank ("TD Bank") (NYSE: TD) securities between February 29, 2024 and October 9, 2024, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), have until Monday, December 23, 2024 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the TD Bank class action lawsuit. Captioned Tiessen v. The Toronto-Dominion Bank, No. 24-cv-08032 (S.D.N.Y.), the TD Bank class action lawsuit charges TD Bank as well as certain of TD Bank's top executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the TD Bank class action lawsuit, please provide your information here:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-the-toronto-dominion-bank-class-action-lawsuit-td.html

You can also contact attorneys J.C. Sanchez or Jennifer N. Caringal of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at [email protected].

CASE ALLEGATIONS: The Toronto-Dominion Bank offers its products and services in the United States under the "TD Bank" and "America's Most Convenient Bank" brand names.

The TD Bank class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose material adverse facts concerning the true state of TD Bank's anti-money laundering ("AML") program; pertinently, TD Bank concealed or otherwise minimized the significance of the failures of TD Bank's AML program and made no indication that the imposition of an asset cap or other punitive or compliance measures would be imposed that would undermine TD Bank's continued growth for the foreseeable future.

The TD Bank class action lawsuit further alleges that, on October 10, 2024, TD Bank unveiled the resolutions reached from U.S. investigations, which included, in addition to the punitive payment of $3.09 billion, both an asset cap, preventing TD Bank's U.S. subsidiaries from exceeding a collective $434 billion, a reflection of TD Bank's assets as of September 30, 2024, and further subjects TD Bank to more stringent approval processes for its product, service, and market rollouts. Further, the U.S. Department of Justice, in their own corresponding release, highlighted the significance of TD Bank's failures as "the largest bank in U.S. history to plead guilty to Bank Secrecy Act program failures and the first U.S. bank in history to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering," the complaint alleges. On this news, TD Bank's stock price fell by more than 10%, according to the TD Bank class action lawsuit.

THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired TD Bank securities during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the TD Bank class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the TD Bank class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the TD Bank class action lawsuit. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the TD Bank class action lawsuit.

ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the world's leading law firms representing investors in securities fraud cases. Our Firm has been #1 in the ISS Securities Class Action Services rankings for six out of the last ten years for securing the most monetary relief for investors. We recovered $6.6 billion for investors in securities-related class action cases  over $2.2 billion more than any other law firm in the last four years. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs' firms in the world and the Firm's attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest securities class action recovery ever  $7.2 billion  in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.

Contact:

Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP

J.C. Sanchez, Jennifer N. Caringal

655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101

800-449-4900

[email protected]

SOURCE Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
The CMA CGM Foundation launched its "Giving Across North America" initiative in partnership with The Salvation Army to distribute meals across the United States .

The campaign focuses on five major citiesHouston, Los Angeles , Miami New York City, and Norfolkand will run through August 2025 .

The campaign kicked off in November with the distribution of meals to families and seniors in need in all five cities.

The Foundation seeks to create a lasting impact on food insecurity in communities where we work and live.

NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The CMA CGM Foundation has officially launched its "Giving Across North America" initiative in partnership with The Salvation Army, aiming to provide meals to families in need across major cities in the United States.

The campaign kicked off in mid-November with Thanksgiving giveaways at Salvation Army centers in Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, and Norfolk.

The Salvation Army logo.

This events supported the distribution meals for senior citizens and families, along with turkeys and food baskets. With support from CMA CGM and American President Lines volunteers assisting in organizing, packing, and distributing the meals and turkeys, this initiative enabled an estimated 5,000 individuals to celebrate the holiday season with nutritious meals in the comfort of their homes.

"It is an honor to continue our service to the communities that we call home during this season of gratitude," said George Goldman, President and CEO of CMA CGM (America). "Because we believe that it is our obligation to give back, we appreciate Salvation Army for their partnership and dedication to help us in this campaign."

Yearlong Campaign to Address Food Insecurity

Now in its fifth year, the "Giving Across North America" initiative has expanded into a comprehensive yearlong campaign that will continue through 2024 into 2025. The initiative will provide ongoing food assistance and support to communities in five major cities: Houston, New York City, Norfolk, Miami, and Los Angeles.

Starting this month and running through August 2025, the campaign will include monthly food assistance programs, weekly food pantry services, and special holiday distributions, ensuring families have access to essential resources year-round. The initiative anticipates engaging up to 200 staff member volunteers from the CMA CGM Group.

With a goal of delivering over 500,000 meals nationwide, the CMA CGM Foundation is committed to making a lasting impact on food insecurity.

About the CMA CGM Foundation

Established in 2005 and chaired by Tanya Saade Zeenny, the CMA CGM Foundation addresses social needs and utility. Mirroring the CMA CGM Group, a leading family-run business in transportation and logistics, the Foundation is driven by a sense of responsibility, a spirit of solidarity, and a passion for entrepreneurship. It focuses on two key missions: humanitarian aid and education for all. Facing crises, the Foundation leverages the expertise in transport and logistics solutions of the CMA CGM Group to deliver essential humanitarian supplies. It also supports access to quality education, professional training and integration, as well as educational and social innovation. To date, the Foundation has transported 43,000 tons of humanitarian aid to 88 countries, supported over 550 educational projects in France, Lebanon, and around the world, and assisted 55 entrepreneurs through its social incubator, Le Phare.

Learn more: https://cmacgm-group.com/en/foundation . Follow on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn .

SOURCE CMA CGM
WASHINGTON, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As the era of the Biden-Harris open-borders policies comes to a close, the scope of the damage done to millions of migrants from across the globe and to the security of the United States are becoming clear.

A new report by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) reveals how a slow trickle of only the most intrepid migrants through Panama's Darien Gap exploded into a torrent beginning in 2021. Analyzing Panamanian government data, the report finds that in 2020, the year prior to President Biden assuming office just 6,465 migrants were encountered making the perilous journey through the Gap. Within one year, 133,726 such encounters were recorded by Panamanian authorities, and by 2023 that figure had nearly quadrupled to 520,085. Between January 2021 and October 2023, some 1.18 million people were encountered as they made their way to the U.S. border.

The lure of Biden's open borders also globalized the flow of migrants attempting to reach the U.S. Just 676 migrants from Asia and Africa passed through the Darien Gap in 2020. By 2023, that number grew to 52,495. The number of those who perished, including young children, while attempting to cross that dangerous stretch of mountainous jungle is unknown, but surely significant.

"There can be little doubt that the exponential increase in people crossing the Darien Gap in 2021 had everything to do with the signals that were sent by the Biden administration from the day it took office," asserted Dan Stein, president of FAIR.

"Beginning on Day One, the Biden administration ended the Remain in Mexico policy, which effectively deterred illegal migrants because they knew they would not be permitted to stay in the U.S. pending the resolution of their immigration cases. Instead, the administration implemented wholesale catch-and-release policies of illegal migrants, even releasing migrants when detention space was available, all but assuring them that entering a bogus asylum claim would allow them to live and work in the U.S. indefinitely. The response from economic migrants worldwide was inevitable, predictable, and tragic," said Stein.

The peril of the human traffic passing through the Darien Gap was not limited to the migrants themselves, finds the FAIR report. It also poses significant threats to the security of the United States. The list of nationality groups encountered coming through the Gap were people from countries that range from hostile to avowed enemies of the United States. These nations include Afghanistan, China, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritania, Nigeria, North Korea, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Venezuela. Moreover, Panamanian authorities report encounters with individuals with ties to Islamist terror groups, including Hezbollah.

"The new FAIR report adds to the body of evidence that the imperative of open borders on the part of the Biden-Harris administration superseded all other considerations. Not the lives and safety of the migrants themselves, nor the security of the American people, nor the impact of mass illegal immigration on communities all across the United States ever took a back seat to the ideologically-driven agenda of allowing unlimited numbers of people to enter our country," Stein concluded.

The full report can be found here.

Contact: Joey Chester, [email protected] or 202-740-7355

SOURCE Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)
HOUSTON, Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Dan-Phi V. Nguyen is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Professional Member Inner Circle of Excellence for his contributions to Leading Excellence in Family Law and Client Advocacy.

Dan-Phi V. Nguyen, a distinguished attorney specializing in family law, is making a significant impact in the legal field with nearly 15 years of experience. As the managing attorney and owner of The Law Office of Dan-Phi V. Nguyen PLLC, he has demonstrated exceptional skill in family law, child welfare, and defense litigation.

Dan-Phi V. Nguyen

Since establishing his firm in 2020, Mr. Nguyen has been at the forefront of complex family law cases involving divorce actions, marital property division, child custody disputes between parents as well as defending against child custody removal cases initiated by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS), most notably referred to as Child Protective Services (CPS). His expertise extends to litigating child custody disputes all the way to trial, acted as lead counsel in multiple jury trials in his career as a former prosecutor and privately retained counsel, challenging child protective services investigative findings, and successfully facilitating fair and equitable outcomes through mediation. Notably, Mr. Nguyen achieved a significant milestone by winning his first appeal in front of the First District Court of Appeals of Texas following the trial court's outright dismissal of his petition for bill of review of an underlying child custody matter, that was allegedly procured by fraud and forgery. Mr. Nguyen completed his undergraduate studies in 2004 at the formerly known institution of Houston Baptist University, now known as Houston Christian University earning himself a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Finance. After working for three years as real estate sales and leasing agent for his mother's real estate brokerage, Alpha Realtors, he sought out to earn his Juris Doctorate from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University, beginning in 2007 and graduating in 2010. He earned his license to practice law with the Texas State Bar since May 2011 after passing the bar exam.

His professional affiliations include the Texas Association of Family Defense Attorneys (TAFDA), Houston Bar Association (HBA), Houston Trial Lawyers Association (HTLA), South Asian Bar Association (SABA), Asian American Bar Association of Houston (AABA), and is involved in the Family Law Sections and Child Welfare Law Sections of the State Bar of Texas. Mr. Nguyen's legal career accomplishments have earned him recognition by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys as one of the Nationally Ranked 'Top Ten' Attorneys for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024. Before founding his firm, Mr. Nguyen's legal career took off in his first role as a former CPS prosecutor for the Office of the Harris County Attorney during the Vince Ryan administration. During his 8 year tenure there, he represented the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in prosecuting parents or guardians on child custody cases involving abuse and neglect; and was part of a small task force. He later ventured into private practice at two reputable boutique law firms, and shortly thereafter took off on his own to open the Law Office of Dan-Phi V. Nguyen, PLLC. where he worked on breach of contract, child custody, and divorce issues. He also has a rich history of involvement in family and juvenile courts, contributing to task forces and presenting lectures on special immigration juvenile status, child welfare litigation techniques, Mr. Nguyen is supported by a strong network of mentors, many of which who are former colleagues from his time at the Harris County Attorney's Office, including but not limited to Assistant County Attorneys Deanna Carlson-Fornataro, Tom Wallace, Steven Dieu, Mimi Han, Francie Aguirre, as well as others outside of that office including former District Judge John F. Phillips, and Judge Bonnie Hellums, and the late Richard L. Flowers. Mr. Queen especially wishes to express his gratitude to his beautiful wife, Nhi Thuy Tran, and Charlize Thi-Lan Nguyen who is his teenage daughter from a previous marriage for their unwavering support during the beginning stages of his solo practice. His future vision includes continued growth and success in his family law practice, with a steadfast commitment zealous advocacy on behalf of his clients and judicial integrity. He hopes to one day be in a position to where he is able to run for a seat as an elected district court judge or justice with the Court of Appeals.

Contact:

Katherine Green

516-825-5634

[email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
With over five million units sold globally in the past year, Tineco reinforces its leadership in the industry

SEATTLE, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Tineco is proud to announce that Euromonitor International, the world's leading independent provider of strategic market research, has recognized the company as the #1 global leader in the household wet & dry vacuum cleaner category*. With over five million units sold between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, the honor reflects Tineco's commitment to innovation and quality in the home cleaning sector.

Tineco Recognized as Global Leader in Emerging Floor Washer Category

Harnessing more than two decades of industry innovation, Tineco began its journey with a single vacuum cleaner. Pioneering industry excellence, a notable moment in company history was the launch of the first-ever smart vacuum to market in 2018, quickly followed by an inaugural smart floor washer in 2019, and an intelligent carpet cleaner in 2022. Today, Tineco products are enjoyed by 14 million users across key markets worldwide, including regions in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Tineco is now a globally recognized market leader in smart home appliances across the floor care, kitchen, and personal care categories, with 975 patents and 577 registered trademarks across domestic and international markets. For three consecutive years, the company has also held the title of being the #1 wet & dry vacuum brand on Amazon in the United States, Canada, France, Italy, Australia, and Japan.

"At Tineco's inception, we set out to simplify life and household tasks with the help of smart technology. Over the past 26 years, our robust R&D team has made significant investments and a steadfast dedication to setting the standard for excellence in floor care solutions," said Ling Leng, CEO of Tineco. "The honor of being named the #1 global leader in the wet & dry vacuum cleaner category by Euromonitor International is an incredible milestone achievement. This recognition fuels our commitment to continuing to innovate and push boundaries to bring exceptional products to market that enhance the lives of our customers worldwide. Looking ahead, we are laser-focused on making Tineco more accessible by expanding into new markets, introducing new advanced technologies to simplify our customers' lives, and expanding our product lineup to meet diverse needs."

Tineco's flagship models, including FLOOR ONE Stretch S6 , PURE ONE Station 5 , and Carpet One Cruiser , combine intelligent features with superior power and user-friendly capabilities to revolutionize cleaning. Tineco's R&D team has carefully engineered each model to address real-world challenges and enhance user satisfaction by incorporating technological advancements and valuable consumer feedback. Specifically:

FLOOR ONE Stretch S6: Building off the incredible success of Tineco's social-media viral Floor Washers, which vacuum and mop simultaneously, FLOOR ONE S6 offers exceptional maneuverability. Its 180 tilting design lets the floor washer lay completely flat, compressing its height to just 5.1 inches. Coupled with mini assistive wheels that swivel 45 to the left and right, this makes cleaning under furniture, beds, or in hard-to-reach areas effortless.

Building off the incredible success of Tineco's social-media viral Floor Washers, which vacuum and mop simultaneously, FLOOR ONE S6 offers exceptional maneuverability. Its 180 tilting design lets the floor washer lay completely flat, compressing its height to just 5.1 inches. Coupled with mini assistive wheels that swivel 45 to the left and right, this makes cleaning under furniture, beds, or in hard-to-reach areas effortless. PURE ONE Station 5: Setting a new standard in stick vacuums, the PURE ONE Station 5 provides a brand new vacuum after each and every clean. Its 3-in-1 Smart Station will entirely self-clean, charge, and store the unit, keeping it in pristine condition for subsequent use. Paired with 175W of powerful suction, this is an indispensable tool for households of all types and sizes.

Setting a new standard in stick vacuums, the PURE ONE Station 5 provides a brand new vacuum after each and every clean. Its 3-in-1 Smart Station will entirely self-clean, charge, and store the unit, keeping it in pristine condition for subsequent use. Paired with 175W of powerful suction, this is an indispensable tool for households of all types and sizes. Carpet One Cruiser: The Carpet One Cruiser is designed to transform deep cleaning carpets into a regular household activity. It effectively deep cleans various carpet types and powerfully extracts water to reduce drying times by 50% or more than traditional models. Three levels of SmoothPower tech, bidirectional assist wheels, and repositioned water tanks lessen the unit's weight, making the machine easy to maneuver, suitable for users of all ages and strengths, and ideal for frequent use.

A leader in the intelligent floor care category, Tineco smart models are equipped with Tineco's proprietary iLoop technology that adjusts suction power in real-time based on the mess detected, which not only optimizes battery power but also allows the user to visualize cleaner floors on the unit's display ring that will change from red to blue once the surface is clean. Guided by customer insights, all new Tineco models also feature self-cleaning capabilities that significantly streamline maintenance.

Tineco products are available globally, with distribution in North America on Amazon, Tineco's official online store, and in over 10,000 major retail locations, including Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Costco, Home Depot, and Canadian Tire.

To learn more about Tineco and its entire portfolio of intelligent stick vacuums, floor washers, carpet cleaners, and more, please visit us.tineco.com .

*Source: Euromonitor International (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.; measured in terms of 2023 H2 and 2024 H1 retail sales volume in the world; household wet & dry vacuum cleaners are defined as household cleaners that dispense clean water (or cleaning solution) to wash hard floors and vacuum the dirty water and garbage thereafter; research completed in Nov. 2024.

About Tineco

Tineco was founded in 1998 with its first SKU as a vacuum cleaner and, in 2019, pioneered the first-ever smart vacuum. Today, the brand has innovated into a global leader offering intelligent appliances across home categories, including floor care, kitchen, and personal care. Tineco is dedicated to its brand vision of making life easier through smart technologies and consistently innovating new devices. For more information, visit us.tineco.com .

SOURCE TINECO
This collaboration will see The Health Alliance and Rebuilding Together bring their resources, volunteers, and expertise together to make critical repairs and improvements to a veteran's home. The project aims not only to enhance the living conditions of the veteran and their family but also to ensure their home is a safe, healthy, and comfortable place to live.

Chad Price of The Health Alliance expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, saying, "We are honored to partner with Rebuilding Together to support our veterans, who have given so much for our country. Our partnership reflects our commitment to giving back to those who have served, helping ensure they have safe, stable homes so they can thrive. Together we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of our veterans and their families."

Rebuilding Together is known for its work in improving the homes and lives of veterans, low-income families, and those in need. By focusing on making homes safer and more accessible, Rebuilding Together helps to preserve affordable homeownership and stabilize communities.

"Our partnership with The Health Alliance shows the power of collaboration in improving the lives of homeowners in need, especially for veterans," said Dan Sargent, Executive Director of Rebuilding Together. "Working together with partners like The Health Alliance, we're honored to help make homes safe and accessible for local heroes and their families."

Both organizations mobilized teams of volunteers and resources to complete the work. The initiative is part of The Health Alliance's broader commitment to supporting veterans and their families, aligning with the company's values of service, integrity, and community engagement.

About The Health Alliance: The Health Alliance

Founded with a commitment to disrupt healthcare, The Health Alliance offers services including pharmacy, lab, pathology, behavioral health, and care navigation.

About Rebuilding Together

Rebuilding Together is a leading national nonprofit in safe and healthy housing with more than 40 years of experience. Together with its network of affiliates, corporate and individual donors, and thousands of volunteers, it repairs homes, revitalizes communities, and rebuilds lives, focusing on serving veterans, elderly, disabled individuals, and families in need.

SOURCE The Health Alliance
CHICAGO and NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Trading Technologies International, Inc. (TT), a global capital markets technology platform provider, today announced that Abel Noser Solutions, a TT company, won The TRADE's Editors' Choice Award for TCA Provider of the Year in The TRADE's inaugural Leaders in Trading New York Awards. The award in the competitive category is the second Abel Noser Solutions has won since Nov. 1 for its transaction cost analysis (TCA) offering and the second Editors' Choice award captured by TT this month.

The 2024 New York awards brought the London-based publication's Leaders in Trading Awards to the U.S. for the first time in The TRADE's 20-year history. The Editors' Choice categories, judged by The TRADE's editorial panel, recognize excellence "from all corners of the capital markets industry, including exchanges, trading venues, technology and data vendor services and more."

Peter Weiler, TT's EVP Managing Director, Data & Analytics, said: "It's an incredible honor to see our growing TCA offering receive best-in-class recognition from the editors of The TRADE. We've invested considerably in bringing next-level capabilities to clients looking to use data and analytics in innovative ways to enhance their trading strategies and bring down the cost of trading. Our ambitious roadmap for 2025 will bring even more tools across a growing range of asset classes."

Abel Noser Solutions is a leader and pioneer in helping buy-side and sell-side firms  including investment managers, asset owners, consultants and brokers  lower costs associated with trading and utilize analytics to govern their trading decisions. More than 350 global institutional clients subscribe to the firm's multi-asset TCA and compliance products directly or through a network of resellers, distribution partners and strategic alliances. Abel Noser co-created the volume-weighted average price (VWAP) methodology  now one of the financial markets' most ubiquitous trade cost methodologies. Abel Noser became a TT company in August 2023, marking TT's extension into the multi-asset data and analytics space. In June, the firm introduced TT Futures TCA, a comprehensive new offering leveraging the industry's largest collection of anonymized, microsecond-level futures market and trade data with a vast array of metrics and measures and an unprecedented level of granularity with real-world futures trading data.

On Nov. 1, Abel Noser Solutions won the award for Best Buy-Side TCA Tool in WatersTechnology's Buy-Side Technology Awards 2024. Also this month, The Trade recognized TT with its Editors' Choice award for Outstanding Market Data Services Provider  Fixed Income in the Leaders in Trading Awards 2024 out of London.

TT has now received 13 global and regional awards to date this year for the TT platform, algorithmic trading solution, TCA tool, execution management system (EMS), order management system (OMS) and market data services.

About Trading Technologies

Trading Technologies ( www.tradingtechnologies.com ) is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) technology platform provider to the global capital markets industry. The company's award-winning TT platform connects to the world's major international exchanges and liquidity venues in listed derivatives alongside a growing number of asset classes, including fixed income, foreign exchange (FX) and cryptocurrencies. The TT platform delivers advanced tools for trade execution and order management, market data solutions, analytics, trade surveillance, risk management, clearing, post-trade allocation and infrastructure services to the world's leading sell-side institutions, buy-side firms and exchanges. The company's blue-chip client base includes the Tier 1 banks as well as brokers, money managers, hedge funds, proprietary traders, Commodity Trading Advisors (CTAs), commercial hedgers and risk managers. These firms rely on the TT ecosystem to manage their end-to-end trading operations. In addition, exchanges utilize TT's technology to deliver innovative solutions to their market participants. TT also strategically partners with technology companies to make their complementary offerings available to Trading Technologies' global client base through the TT ecosystem.

SOURCE Trading Technologies
Tredence named a top partner for empowering businesses through innovative data solutions among top global B2B companies

SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- With growing reliance on Data & AI to drive business decisions, Tredence is honored to be named a 2024 Power Partner by Inc. in the Artificial Intelligence and Data category.

Tredence recognized as a 2024 Inc. Power Partner for AI and Data

As part of a distinguished group of 359 companies, Tredence is dedicated to supporting enterprises and fostering their growth. Every company on the Inc. Power Partner award list received top scores from clients for being instrumental in helping leadership navigate the dynamic world of startups. These B2B partners support enterprises across various facets of the business, including hiring, compliance, infrastructure development, cloud migration, and fundraising, allowing them to focus on their core missions.

"At Tredence, we don't just unlock data's potential; we turn it into decision intelligencea discipline that drives smarter, outcome-focused decision-making," said Shub Bhowmick, Co-founder and CEO , Tredence. "Being named a 2024 Power Partner by Inc. underlines our commitment to helping clients engineer better decisions and continuously improve outcomes through feedback and AI-driven insights. Our goal is to equip enterprises with the intelligence to make impactful, high-stakes decisions that fuel growth and innovation."

"This is our definitive listing of vendors and suppliers who have demonstrated excellence in serving small and midsize customers," said Mike Hofman, Inc. Editor in Chief. "As part of the vetting process, our team of editors, researchers, and reporters gathered information on companies' products and services, assessed their reputation as captured in online comments and forums, and collected customer testimonials to ensure that the sales pitch matches the actual client experience. In every case, we spoke to founders who were happy to attest to a vendor's genuine commitment to a mutually beneficial business partnership. We're happy to be the conduit for that positive word of mouth."

Recently, Tredence was named a Leader in the 2024 ISG Provider Lens Assessment for Generative AI Services, highlighting its expertise in AI solutions. The company was also recognized as a Leader in the 2024 ISG Provider Lens for Supply Chain and Retail Analytics Services. Tredence has also been awarded Databricks' Retail and CPG Partner of the Year for three years in a row and has been included in the Inc. 5000 list for the ninth consecutive year.

To learn more about Tredence and how the team can assist one's business with AI and data science solutions, visit: https://www.tredence.com/

About Tredence

Tredence is a global data science and AI solutions provider dedicated to turning insights into value. With over 3,000 employees and offices in key locations, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, London, Toronto, and Bengaluru, Tredence partners with leaders in retail, CPG, high-tech, telecom, healthcare, travel, and industrial sectors. We leverage our expertise and innovative data platforms to deliver tailored solutions that drive success.

About Inc.

Inc. is a leading media brand dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs and business leaders who are shaping the future. Through its journalism, Inc. informs, educates, and elevates the profile of innovators and risk-takers in the business community. With a monthly reach of over 40 million across various channelsincluding events, digital, print, video, podcasts, newsletters, and social mediaInc. has established itself as a trusted source for business insights.

The Inc. 5000 list, published annually since 1982, ranks the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the U.S., providing recognition that connects founders with a network of their peers. This credibility helps businesses drive sales and attract top talent. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2567551/Inc_Power_Partner_and_Tredence.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1773052/Tredence_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Tredence Inc.
Priority Partners Expands Cupboards Project

HANOVER, Md., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Priority Partners, Maryland's largest Medicaid managed care organization, is celebrating Giving Tuesday with the grand opening of two new self-serve mini-pantries in Prince George's County.

On Tuesday, Dec. 3, the first of the two mini-pantries from the Priority Partners Cupboards Project will be unveiled at 9 a.m. at the Laurel Armory (422 Montgomery Street, Laurel MD). Then at noon, Priority Partners will unveil another new mini-pantry at the Bladensburg Town Hall (4229 Edmonston Rd, Bladensburg, MD).

"Priority Partners is committed to improving access to food in underserved Maryland communities," said Priority Partners CEO Ed Kumian. "By opening our sixth and seventh Cupboards, we are providing another way for neighbors to put food on their tables. This is a year-round priority, but has extra meaning this holiday season."

Priority Partners invites the public to attend these fun and free events in honor of Giving Tuesday to celebrate the launch of the first Cupboards Project mini-pantries in Prince George's County. There will be refreshments as well as a surprise guest appearance by the new Priority Partners mascot, Cubby the Cupboards Bear.

Started in 2021, the Priority Partners Cupboards Project has placed five mini-pantries in Maryland neighborhoods and launched three "Club on the Go" mobile pantries through local Boys & Girls Club chapters. Working under the motto "Take What You Need, Leave What You Can," the custom-built mini-pantries provide free healthy food and nutrition resources to remote or underserved neighborhoods. The new mini-pantries in Laurel and Bladensburg bring the total number of free-standing mini-pantries to seven, with more to come!

The Cupboards Project is supported by the generous support of our community partners. Learn more about the Priority Partners Cupboards Project and contact the health plan with inquiries at prioritypartnerscupboards.org .

About Priority Partners

Priority Partners is one of nine managed care organizations authorized by the state of Maryland to provide health care services for over 330,000 Medicaid, Maryland Children's Health Program (MCHP) and Medical Assistance for Families recipients. Priority Partners is owned by Johns Hopkins Health Plans and the Maryland Community Health System. The mission is to provide high-value health care services that optimize individual wellness, improve community health and maintain the strength and viability of the plan. The vision is to be a national leader in Medicaid managed care, the plan of choice in Maryland, and a collaborative, innovative force for change.

SOURCE Johns Hopkins Health Plans
DETROIT, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) recently received pre-accreditation approval from the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) for a new School of Optometry.

It will be only the 25th School of Optometry in the U.S. and second in Michigan. Applications will be accepted starting in December for the first class that begins in fall 2025 at the Novi, Mich., campus. The University opened the Detroit Mercy Eye Institute on that campus and began accepting patients in April of 2024.

University of Detroit Mercy receives accreditation approval to launch new School of Optometry Post this

UDM developed the school to meet a growing need for optometrists in Michigan and the United States. Currently, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment for this field will grow 9% from 2023 to 2033. This rate of growth is faster than average for all occupations and is based on factors, such as an aging population requiring more vision care services, increasing awareness of eye health, and the need to replace optometrists who retire or leave the workforce.

Faculty, staff and University leadership have worked together to identify programs and services for the new school to meet community needs. The development of the School of Optometry and Eye Institute represents an important step to expand the University's healthcare footprint and provide much-needed vision care for the Michigan community and beyond. Both entities support UDM's Jesuit and Mercy mission to produce highly skilled, ethical and culturally sensitive eye care practitioners.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median salary in 2023 for optometrists was nearly $132,000 a year. In addition, the BLS projects that there will be approximately 2,200 openings for optometrists each year for the next decade or more.

Detroit Mercy School of Optometry Faculty & Administration

The faculty and administration of the Detroit Mercy School of Optometry bring comprehensive vision science research and healthcare expertise.

Maryke Neiberg , Dean https://www.udmercy.edu/about/people/university/optometry/maryke-neiberg.php





, Dean https://www.udmercy.edu/about/people/university/optometry/maryke-neiberg.php Sulman Hans , Executive Associate Dean and Associate Professor https://www.udmercy.edu/about/people/university/optometry/sulman-hans.php





, Executive Associate Dean and Associate Professor https://www.udmercy.edu/about/people/university/optometry/sulman-hans.php Naureen Haroon , Assistant Dean of Academic Administration and Assistant Professor https://www.udmercy.edu/about/people/university/optometry/naureen-haroon.php





, Assistant Dean of Academic Administration and Assistant Professor https://www.udmercy.edu/about/people/university/optometry/naureen-haroon.php Robert Onofre , Assistant Dean of Clinic Administration and Assistant Professor https://www.udmercy.edu/about/people/university/optometry/robert-onofre.php





, Assistant Dean of Clinic Administration and Assistant Professor https://www.udmercy.edu/about/people/university/optometry/robert-onofre.php Pablo De Gracia , Director of Research and Associate Professor https://www.udmercy.edu/about/people/university/optometry/pablo-degracia.php

To learn more about the Detroit Mercy School of Optometry, visit https://optometry.udmercy.edu.

SOURCE University of Detroit Mercy
Leading mental health and wellness solution ranked #2 in New England

NATICK, Mass., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Uwill today announced it ranked 18th on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 , a ranking of the 500 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies in North America. Uwill also ranked the second fastest growing company in New England. Past Fast 500 winners include technology pioneers Google, eBay, and Tesla, who have transformed how each of us lives, works, and plays.

"The complexity of mental health challenges today requires solutions as multifaceted as the problems themselves. While no single approach can address every need, technology offers a powerful promise to bridge gaps in access, availability, and awareness  ensuring more people receive the support they need," said Michael London, Uwill Founder and CEO. "We're deeply appreciative of this honor, which is reflective of the urgency of our mission and the importance of transforming mental health support for students everywhere."

"For 30 years we've been celebrating companies that are actively driving innovation. The software industry continues to be a beacon of growth, and the fintech industry made a strong showing on this year's list, surpassing life sciences for the first time," said Steve Fineberg , vice chair, U.S. technology sector leader, Deloitte. "Significantly, we also saw a breakthrough in performance of private companies, with the highest number of private companies named to the list in our program's history. This year's winners have shown they have the vision and expertise to continue to perform at a high level, and that deserves to be celebrated."

"Innovation, transformation and disruption of the status quo are at the forefront for this year's Technology Fast 500 list, and there's no better way to celebrate 30 years of program history," said Christie Simons , partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP and industry leader for technology, media and telecommunications within Deloitte's Audit & Assurance practice. "This year's winning companies have demonstrated a continuous commitment to growth and remarkable consistency in driving forward progress. We extend our congratulations to all of this year's winners  it's an incredible time for innovation."

Utilizing its proprietary technology and counselor team, Uwill pioneered the first student and therapist matching platform. The solution offers an immediate appointment with a licensed counselor based on student preferences, all modalities of teletherapy, a direct crisis connection, wellness programming, realtime data, and support. Uwill serves more than 3 million students from 400 institutions.

In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers, must also be in business for a minimum of four years, and must be headquartered within North America.

About the 2024 Deloitte Technology Fast 500

Now in its 30th year, the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies  both public and private  in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2020 to 2023.

About Uwill: Uwill is the leading mental health and wellness solution for colleges and students. As the most cost-effective way to enhance a college's mental health offering, Uwill partners with more than 400 institutions, including Princeton University, the Ohio State University, Santa Fe Community College, and University of Alabama - Online. Uwill is also the exclusive teletherapy education partner for the Online Learning Consortium and teletherapy education partner of NASPA. For more information, visit uwill.com .

Contact:

Brett Silk

[email protected]

SOURCE Uwill, Inc
"Stand up for Startups" Proves to be a Transformative Weekend of Education,

Innovation, and Opportunity.

SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This past weekend, Warrior Rising, the nation's leading nonprofit supporting veteran entrepreneurs, hosted a transformative Business Shower in Salt Lake City. The event featured a weekend of education, mentorship, and pitching opportunities designed to empower veteran-owned businesses to thrive. Often overlooked, veterans drive business success through their resourcefulness and provide an incredible source of innovation and true entrepreneurial fuel for the nation's economy.

The weekend kicked off with pitch preparation sessions at the Salt Lake City headquarters of Wells Fargo, followed by a day of seminars at Goldman Sachs Salt Lake headquarters. These sessions provided 12 veteran-owned businesses with access to professional insights in entrepreneurship and business development to hone their pitches. The weekend culminated in a live pitch competition at the iconic Eccles Theater, where the top three finalistsDavid Spencer of Curate Labs, Maryam Khazree of RXPharmacist, and Gabe and Lindsey Chrismon of My Homepresented their businesses to an audience of more than 2,000 attendees. My Home was awarded a $150,000 grant as the top competitor, due, in part, to a surprise last-minute show of support by an impressed and generous donor

Lindsey Chrismon, of MyHome, commented, "Warrior Rising has been a true game-changer for MyHome's trajectory. While the grant will undoubtedly help us elevate MyHome to the next level, the real value lies in the connections and unwavering support we've gained from this incredible tribe. Veterans are often overlooked in the entrepreneurial world, but Warrior Rising is changing that narrative. They've provided a world-class stage and platform with global reach to champion veteran-led businesses, and we couldn't be more grateful to carry that mantle. This event was the most professional and high-stakes pitch competition we've ever experienced, and we're deeply honored to have been part of it!"

The event raised an impressive $1.2 million in support of Warrior Rising's programs, which provide critical resources for veteran entrepreneurs, with over 80% of funds going directly to programs. Warrior Rising has served more than 13,000 veterans and their family members in 2024 alone, making strides in helping military families establish businesses and create a new generation of American innovators.

Organizations like Warrior Rising are shifting the nation's focus on supporting veterans and their family members in entrepreneurship and innovation through education, mentorship, and a solid source of support. .

Warrior Rising's Executive Director, Jason Van Camp, remarked: "A significant portion of our success comes from the steadfast support of communities like that in Salt Lake City. The sons and daughters of this city have continuously helped make our events special for our nation's most valuable assetour veterans."

The event's success was made possible by flagship sponsors including Siegfried and Jensen, Prime Corporate Services, Wells Fargo, and Previ. Attendees were also treated to a free performance by comedian Nate Bargatze, adding a unique and memorable touch to the weekend.

About Warrior Rising

Warrior Rising is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering military veterans and their families through entrepreneurship. By providing educational resources, mentorship, and financial support, Warrior Rising helps veterans succeed in business ownership. Learn more at www.warriorrising.org .

About My Home

Founded by Gabe and Lindsey Chrismon, My Home is a business dedicated to creating personalized, adaptive home solutions for individuals and families seeking to optimize their living spaces. With a focus on innovation and customer-centric design, My Home aims to bring comfort and functionality into homes nationwide, making life better for everyone.

SOURCE Warrior Rising
CALGARY, AB, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Virtuo today formally announced the beta release of HomieAI, the first generative artificial intelligence app trained specifically on individual homes. Built on years of deep engagement with over 30,000 homeowners and a technology infrastructure custom-designed for the home industry, HomieAI lets homeowners securely chat with their home: ask questions, look up details, get advice and find solutions quickly and powerfully.

Leveraging relationships with top homebuilders, brokers and realtors, HomieAI is securely trained on large volumes of data on individual, specific homesfloorplans, electrical layouts, HVAC installations, finish details, appliance specifications, zoning restrictions, HOA agreements, warranty information and much more. This knowledgebase allows HomieAI to give highly personalized, super accurate answers, as opposed to Google or ChatGPT, which can only give vague, general answers.

HomieAI manages simple requests like "My paint is peeling. Is that covered under warranty and if not what is the swatch color?" or "What lightbulb goes into my hood fan?" easily. Homeowners can also get more engaged, asking questions like "Considering my location, what's the best thing I can do this winter to protect my house's exterior?" And, as more people use HomieAI, it becomes smarter, more powerful and useful.

"We've been helping homeowners find great answers to tough questions for years," said Casey Kachur, CEO of Virtuo. "However, a challenge has always been the massive amount of data, documents, and disorder within the home industry. HomieAI was designed to help harmonize this fragmentation and, most importantly, create an amazing experience for homeowners."

"We're thrilled about the opportunity to integrate HomieAI into our business and unlock its potential to build on the success we've already achieved with Virtuo," said Dave Armstrong, Vice President at Pacesetter, a Qualico Company, a leading home builder with communities across North America. "Virtuo has been pivotal in scaling and enhancing our customer experience, allowing us to deliver a truly differentiated journey for our clients. HomieAI represents an exciting next step to elevate these outcomes for our customers further."

"We think HomieAI is a game changer," said Scott Kaplanis, Managing Partner at Groundbreak Ventures, an early investor in Virtuo. "AI is rapidly reshaping the real estate experience, and a lot of home builders and realty brokers are going to want to be a part of this."

To learn more about HomieAI visit: https://virtuo.com/homieai/

About Virtuo

Virtuo is the complete service and support platform for the home industry. With their mobile app, advanced technology and distinctive live, human concierge service, Virtuo has helped over 30,000 people across North America move, settle and thrive in their homes. Virtuo's service is provided to homeowners via a partner, such as a builder, broker or realtor. Virtuo is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta.

SOURCE Virtuo Inc.
Analyst report notes, "Reference customers praise Whatfix for its ease of implementation, smart tips, and exceptional customer support, making it an excellent choice for organizations seeking a holistic digital adoption solution."

SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Whatfix , a global leader in digital adoption platforms (DAPs), today announced that it has been named a Leader in The Forrester Wave: Digital Adoption Platforms, Q4 2024 report. The company holds the top score (4.80/5) in the Strategy category amongst the top "seven (DAP) providers that matter the most in the market." It received the highest score possible (5/5) across 15 of 21 criteria, including product architecture, industry expertise, software change management, software usage and adoption, analytics and insights, AI/ML, vision, innovation, roadmap, and pricing flexibility and transparency. These high scores validate Whatfix's unique strengths, solidifying its leadership in DAP and recognition across multiple analyst reports.

The Forrester report mentions three key challenges in digital transformation, the rapid growth in the number of enterprise applications, their increasing complexity, and the pressure software-related change places on resources. DAPs (like Whatfix) address these by providing real-time assistance, using data-driven insights to drive adoption, and supporting upskilling and learning. Given the ongoing reliance on legacy applications, the report counsels that DAP providers must support both nontraditional and legacy systems.

The Forrester report by Vasupradha Srinivasan, Principal Analyst at Forrester, states that "Whatfix shines with formidable features and innovativeness". Its "current vision and strategy are to deliver hyperpersonalized, contextual, 'userized' experiences across enterprise applications. It continues to attract venture capital and market interest, with its customer-first approach enabling co-innovation and unique offerings like Mirror."

We believe Whatfix's comprehensive DAP solution with "end-to-end DAP with top-tier features" stands out in software usage, adoption, and change management. The Forrester report adds, "Whatfix seamlessly integrates AI for translation, error handling, and self-service, with innovative features like analytics for desktop apps, support for legacy systems, and prompt-based reporting, solidifying its market leadership."

"We see this recognition as validation of Whatfix's position at the forefront of the digital adoption platform market," said Khadim Batti, CEO and co-founder of Whatfix. "Our continued focus on innovation, end-user experience, and customer success has allowed us to deliver a best-in-class solution that empowers enterprises to drive greater software adoption and productivity."

"Whatfix simplifies everything. Our team addresses SAP Concur questions from employees in many different countries. Whatfix acts as an extra pair of hands, providing a starting point that enables employees to overcome Concur-related issues independently, allowing our team to focus on more complex issues," said Patrick Ruiz, Service Delivery Manager of Global Shared Services at OMRON.

Whatfix recently raised $125 million in Series E funding to fuel growth beyond DAP, driving both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions. Whatfix was honored as the only DAP "Customer's Choice" in Gartner's Voice of the Customer report, underscoring its strong customer satisfaction. The company's ongoing innovation is further highlighted by its fifth consecutive year as a Leader and third consecutive year as a Star Performer in the Everest Group DAP PEAK Matrix 2024. Additionally, Whatfix was named a Leader in the inaugural IDC MarketScape and has been ranked on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 for four consecutive years. Powered by AI, Whatfix's product suite delivers an enhanced user experience to over 700 customers, including more than 80 Fortune 500 companies, including Beacon Building Products, Microsoft, Kyndryl, Manpower Group, Aramark, Arrow Electronics, AutoZone, Becton Dickinson, Schneider Electric, and Shell.

The Forrester Wave: Digital Adoption Platforms, Q4 2024 report is available for access here .

About Whatfix

Whatfix is advancing the "userization" of application technology, by empowering companies to maximize the ROI of digital investments across the application lifecycle. Powered by GenAI, Whatfix's product suite includes a digital adoption platform, simulated application environments for hands-on training, and no-code application analytics. Whatfix enables organizations to drive user productivity, ensure process compliance, and improve user experience of internal and customer-facing applications. With seven offices across the US, India, UK, Germany, Singapore, and Australia, Whatfix supports 700+ enterprises, including 80+ Fortune 500s like Shell, Microsoft, Schneider Electric and UPS Supply Chain Solutions. Backed by investors such as Warburg Pincus, Softbank Vision Fund 2, Dragoneer, Peak XV Partners, Eight Roads, and Cisco Investments, software clicks with Whatfix. For more information, visit the Whatfix website.

Media Contact

ICR Lumina Communications for Whatfix

Danielle Scotto

[email protected]

SOURCE Whatfix
VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Today, WestJet announced plans to launch new threetimes-weekly nonstop service connecting Vancouver and Austin, Texas. Beginning May 11, 2025, the new route will unlock significant tourism and economic opportunities in both destinations, bridging businesses, tourists and cultural exchange between the vibrant city of Vancouver and the dynamic, rapidly growing market of Austin.

"As we continue to strengthen our service across Western Canada, we are proud to add new WestJet service between Vancouver and Austin as part of our expanded summer schedule," said Daniel Fajardo, WestJet Vice-President of Network and Schedule Planning. "This service will provide a valuable connection between the Greater Vancouver Area and Southern U.S., offering guests a convenient and affordable way to explore Austin's thriving music scene and renowned culinary culture, while also providing U.S.-based guests access to one of Canada's most iconic metropolises."

Route Peak summer travel

frequency Start date Departure (local

time) Arrival (local time) Vancouver-Austin 3x weekly May 11, 2025 6:00 p.m. 12:17 a.m. Austin-Vancouver 3x weekly May 12, 2025 8:00 a.m. 10:38 a.m.

"We are pleased to see WestJet's network into key U.S. destinations from YVR continue to grow, with the addition of service into Austin, Texas," said Russ Atkinson, Director, Air Service Development at Vancouver International Airport (YVR). "Recognized as one of the best cities in the world for live music, this route to Austin builds on our existing linkages and is a welcome addition to WestJet's expanded summer service, which includes additional new non-stop flights from YVR to Boston, MA and Tampa, FL."

WestJet's summer 2025 peak transborder schedule from Vancouver

Earlier this week, WestJet revealed its 2025 summer schedule, outlining significant growth across the country, including significant enhances to transborder offerings from Vancouver. This summer, WestJet will serve a total of 15 U.S.-based destinations from Vancouver with up to 93 weekly departures out of the region during peak summer travel.

Route Peak summer departures Vancouver-Austin* 3x weekly Vancouver-Atlanta Daily Vancouver-Boston* Daily Vancouver-Detroit Daily Vancouver-Honolulu Daily Vancouver-Maui 5x weekly Vancouver-Las Vegas Daily Vancouver-Los Angeles Daily Vancouver-Nashville 3x weekly Vancouver-Orlando 2x weekly Vancouver-Palm Springs 2x weekly Vancouver-Phoenix 2x weekly Vancouver-San Diego 4x weekly Vancouver-San Francisco Daily Vancouver-Tampa* 1x weekly

*New route

About WestJet

In 28 years of serving Canadians, WestJet has cut airfares in half and increased the flying population in Canada to more than 50 per cent. WestJet launched in 1996 with three aircraft, 250 employees and five destinations, growing over the years to more than 180 aircraft, 14,000 employees and more than 100 destinations in 26 countries.

For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com.

Connect with WestJet on Facebook at facebook.com/westjet

Follow WestJet on Twitter at twitter.com/westjet and twitter.com/WestJetNews

Follow WestJet on Instagram instagram.com/westjet/

Subscribe to WestJet on YouTube at youtube.com/westjet

Read the WestJet Newsroom at westjet.com/en-ca/news

SOURCE WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership
FRANKFURT, Germany, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Zentiva AG, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zentiva Pharma GmbH, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and part of Zentiva group ("Zentiva"), announced today that it has secured approx. 83.57% of the share capital and approx. 85.27% of voting rights in the context of its voluntary public purchase offer for APONTIS PHARMA AG ("APONTIS PHARMA") following the end of the acceptance period on 21 November 2024.

Steffen Saltofte, CEO of Zentiva, said: "We are pleased with the success of our public purchase offer. This milestone marks a significant step forward in our journey to expand our reach and enhance our ability to deliver high-quality, affordable medicines to the people who depend on them every day. We look forward to combining our strengths and working together under a unified ownership structure to deliver on our long-term strategy."

Settlement of the offer is still subject to foreign direct investment control clearance in Germany. Settlement is expected to occur in December 2024 or in Q1 2025.

About Zentiva

Zentiva is a Pan-European Platform developing, manufacturing and providing high-quality and affordable medicines to more than 100 million people in Europe. Zentiva has 4 wholly owned manufacturing sites and a broad network of external manufacturing partners to ensure supply security. We offer solutions in key therapeutical areas like Cardiology & Circulation, Diabetes, Oncology, Respiratory, CNS and focus on expanding our portfolio in self-care. The company is Private Equity owned, delivering sustainable double-digit growth, with an ambitious 5-year plan for further strong (organic and inorganic) growth across Europe.

We are a team of almost 5,000 unique talents bonded together by our purpose to provide health and wellbeing for all generations. We want Zentiva to be a great place to work, where everyone feels welcomed and appreciated and can be their true selves contributing to the best of their ability.

For additional information about Zentiva, please visit www.zentiva.com or www.zentiva.de.

About APONTIS PHARMA

APONTIS PHARMA is a leading pharmaceutical company specializing in Single Pill combinations in Germany. Single Pills combine two to three generic active ingredients in a single dosage form administered once a day. Single Pill therapies have been scientifically proven to significantly increase adherence and thus improve the treatment prognosis and quality of life of patients while reducing complications, mortality, and treatment costs. Consequently, Single Pill combinations are the preferred treatment option in numerous international treatment guidelines, including in the EU and Germany. APONTIS PHARMA has been developing, promoting, and distributing a broad portfolio of Single Pill combinations and other pharmaceutical products since 2013, with a special focus on cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and secondary prevention. For additional information about APONTIS PHARMA, please visit www.apontis-pharma.de.

Important notice

This publication is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares in APONTIS PHARMA or any other securities. The offer is only made by publication of the offer document published on 24 October 2024, as amended on 19 November 2024 ("Amended Offer Document"), and is exclusively subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Amended Offer Document ("Offer"). Investors and shareholders of APONTIS PHARMA are strongly advised to thoroughly read the Amended Offer Document and all other relevant documents regarding the Offer when they become available, as they will contain important information. The Amended Offer Document (in German and a non-binding English translation) with the detailed terms and conditions and other information on the Offer is published amongst other information on the internet at www.zentiva-offer.com.

This publication may contain statements about Zentiva, and/or APONTIS PHARMA and/or either of its affiliates that are or may be "forward-looking statements", i.e., statements about processes that take place in the future, not in the past. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements that typically contain words such as "seek", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "believe", "continue", "will", "may", "should", "would", "could", or other words of similar meaning. By their nature, forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections and involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future and many of which are outside the control of Zentiva, APONTIS PHARMA and/or any of its affiliates. Zentiva and APONTIS PHARMA caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of the occurrence of such future events or of future performance. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as at the date of this announcement. Except as required by applicable law, Zentiva does not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Since the APONTIS PHARMA shares are not admitted to trading on an organized market within the meaning of Section 1 (1) of the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (Wertpapiererwerbs- und Ubernahmegesetz, "WpUG"), the Offer is not subject to the WpUG. The Offer is not subject to review or registration proceedings of any securities regulator neither in nor outside the Federal Republic of Germany, and has not been approved or recommended by any such securities regulator including the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt fur Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht).

The Offer will be implemented solely in accordance with German law and certain applicable securities law provisions of the United States of America. Any agreement that is entered into as a result of accepting the Offer will be governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany and is to be interpreted in accordance with such laws.

The Bidder reserves the right to acquire further APONTIS PHARMA shares in a manner other than in the context of this Offer on or off the stock exchange and/or enter into corresponding acquisition agreements during the acceptance period. The Bidder is not obliged to publish information about such acquisitions or to adjust the offer price as a result of such acquisitions.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2549345/5008186/Zentiva_Logo.jpg
Visitors pose for photos with a giant panda mascot of China's stand at the autumn edition of Romania's Tourism Fair in Bucharest, Romania, Nov. 22, 2024. China's stand attracted visitors at Romania's Tourism Fair, which is held here from Nov. 21-24, as China has expanded its visa-free policy to nine additional countries. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)

Kresic views the expanded visa-free policy as a reflection of China's increasing openness to the world.

The Chinese government's decision to extend its visa-free policy to nine additional countries, including Croatia, has been warmly received by Damir Kresic, managing director of Croatia's Institute for Tourism.

Speaking to Xinhua on Monday, Kresic described the move as "definitely good news" that is expected to encourage more Croatian and European travelers to visit China.

"I think that every visa-free policy helps tourism to develop, especially on an international level, so it is definitely good news," said Kresic from the Zagred-based Institute for Tourism, which specializes in research and consultancy services in tourism.

China announced on Friday that ordinary passport holders from nine more countries -- Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, and Japan -- will enjoy visa-free entry on a one-year trial basis starting Nov. 30, 2024. This brings the total number of countries eligible for visa-free access to China to 38.





Tourists from Switzerland pose for a group photo in front of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, or Qiniandian, at the Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Park in Beijing, capital of China, July 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)





Under this arrangement, visitors can enter China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days for purposes such as business, tourism, family visits, exchanges, and transit.

Kresic emphasized the psychological advantages of such policies, noting that visa waivers make destinations feel "freer and more accessible" to travelers. "The waiver of visas reduces the psychological barriers that people have in some way," he said.

China's growing reputation as a nation capable of executing major projects has also fueled interest among Croatians, according to Kresic. He cited the Peljesac Bridge project, which connected Croatia's mainland with the Peljesac Peninsula on the country's southern Adriatic coast for the first time in history.





People take souvenir photos in front of the Peljesac Bridge in Komarna, Croatia, on Aug. 29, 2023. The Peljesac Bridge in the south of Croatia, built by a Chinese consortium led by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), connects the Croatian mainland with the Peljesac peninsula, giving the country a continuous land link that bypasses Bosnian territory. (Xinhua/Li Xuejun)





Moreover, Kresic views the expanded visa-free policy as a reflection of China's increasing openness to the world. "This is China's way of saying to the international community: You are welcome, you are all invited," he noted.

The policy also strengthens bilateral relations between China and Croatia, which are already on good terms. "The latest visa-free policy certainly contributes to even better relations," Kresic said.

Meanwhile, Kresic welcomes more Chinese tourists to Croatia, which has received as many as 300, 000 Chinese tourists annually before the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Although we are still not at pre-pandemic levels, we are getting closer. I believe that we will have more and more tourists from China," he said.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : As part of celebrations for completing 75 years of the Constitution, President Droupadi Murmu will address members of both Houses of Parliament in the Central Hall here on Tuesday.

The event will witness the presence of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Ministers, Members of Parliament, foreign dignitaries, and other prominent figures.

Vice-President Dhankhar will also deliver an address, with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla welcoming the gathering.

The government on Monday announced that a new website -- https: //constitution75.com -- has been created to enable citizens to engage with the legacy of the Constitution through interactive activities and resources. Mass readings of its Preamble will take place in schools, cities, and villages around the country, it also said.

As part of the celebrations, a commemorative coin and stamp will be released to mark the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution.

Two books, "Making of the Constitution of India: A Glimpse" and "Making of the Constitution of India & Its Glorious Journey," will also be unveiled.

Additionally, a booklet on the art of the Indian Constitution and versions of the Constitution translated into Sanskrit and Maithili will be launched. A short film tracing the Constitution's making, historical importance, and evolution will be screened for attendees.

The event holds special significance as it marks the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949. The Constitution came into effect on January 26, 1950.

In anticipation of the celebrations, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla emphasised the importance of the day in honoring the contributions of B.R. Ambedkar and the other framers of the Constitution.

"Constitution Day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by Babasaheb Ambedkar and his dedication to building the foundation of Indian democracy," Birla said.

President Murmu will lead the recitation of the Preamble, an initiative aimed at inspiring gratitude and reinforcing the fundamental principles of the Constitution.

Expressing his hopes for the day, Birla said, "I hope this Constitution Day evolves into a mass movement, allowing every citizen to express their appreciation for the Constitution and its architects. By embracing the Constitution's duties and responsibilities, we can work towards realising the vision of a 'Viksit Bharat'."

The Constitution Day celebrations will formally take place on November 26.
Bhubaneswar, Nov 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, are scheduled to participate in a three-day conference of the Directors General of Police (DGPs) from different states, which is to be held in Bhubaneswar starting from November 29, Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said.

Apart from PM Modi, Home Minister Shah, and NSA, the Directors General and chiefs of security agencies from various states and Union Territories (UTs) across the country will also be present during this conference.

The agenda will primarily focus on national security concerns and the diverse challenges confronting police forces nationwide.

PM Modi will arrive in Odisha on November 29 and is scheduled to stay till December 1.

The conference will be held at Lok Seva Bhawan from November 29 to December 1.

This event is poised to address crucial topics concerning India's security landscape and the operational obstacles faced by law enforcement professionals, sources said.

"This is a three-day conference of DG-IG. Odisha will host it and DG-IGs of all states and Union territories will participate. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval will also grace the occasion. An in-depth discussion on security-related issues will be discussed. The deliberation will include a 360-degree view of all aspects of security," DGP Y B Khurania told the media in Bhubaneswar on Monday.

Officials said security-related issues pertaining to both internal and external matters will be the major focus area. Although senior police officers have not confirmed the exact agenda and topics on which discussions will be held, sources said problems of left-wing extremism are on the cards. Police in Odisha and neighbouring Chhattisgarh achieved success in eliminating Maoists in some recent operations.

As far as emerging challenges are concerned, cybercrimes and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create deepfakes are significant. Cybercrime's scope expanded so much that PM Modi recently spoke about digital arrest. The discussion may include how to check and detect crimes using various AI tools. This requires training and capacity building of police personnel, officials said.

"Definitely it is a matter of pride for us that for the first time, the conference of DG's and IG's will be held in Odisha. This implies how much importance the Central government, especially, the Prime Minister and Home Minister have been attaching to the State. The PM will stay in Odisha during these days," the Law Minister Harichandan said.

"The significant conference will continue for three days. The PM will arrive in Odisha on the night of November 29 and stay till the noon of December 1," the Minister added.
London, Nov 26 : Cementing bilateral relations through a series of strategic engagements in London, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav concluded his visit to Britain by emphasising the growing partnership between India and the UK.

London, Nov 26 (IANS) Cementing bilateral relations through a series of strategic engagements in London, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav concluded his visit to Britain by emphasising the growing partnership between India and the UK.

During his first official visit as the CM of Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Yadav had an engaging day interacting with industry leaders, members of Parliament, and people from the Indian Diaspora.

CM Yadav is currently on a seven-day visit along with a senior delegation of state officials to promote investment opportunities offered by Madhya Pradesh.

The day commenced with a prestigious reception at the British Parliament, where Baroness Verma, President of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on India (Trade & Investment), welcomed the Chief Minister to Westminster.

During the comprehensive tour of both Houses of Parliament, CM Yadav engaged in substantive discussions on enhancing economic cooperation between Madhya Pradesh and the UK, laying the groundwork for future collaborative ventures.

In a moment of profound significance, the Chief Minister paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue in Parliament Square, Westminster.

Reflecting on Gandhian principles of peace and progress, CM Yadav emphasised how they align with the state's vision for sustainable development and global cooperation.

The diplomatic engagement continued with a high-level parliamentary luncheon, where the Chief Minister presented Madhya Pradesh's compelling vision for sustainable growth and development.

The Chief Minister highlighted the state's leadership in India's renewable energy revolution and its commitment to fostering an investor-friendly environment.

A significant announcement during the luncheon was the formal invitation for the UK to participate as a Partner Country in the upcoming Global Investors Summit scheduled for February 2025 in Bhopal.

In pursuit of urban development excellence, CM Yadav, accompanied by senior officials, visited the prestigious Kings Cross redevelopment project. The delegation engaged with Tom Goodall of Related Argent, gaining valuable insights into sustainable urban renewal and heritage preservation.

This visit was particularly relevant to understand the perfect model to achieve public-private partnership to develop large-scale redevelopment models which can be done sustainably, this strongly demonstrates the state's commitment to learning from global best practices in urban development.

The day culminated in a momentous diaspora engagement event organised by CII and Friends of the MP Chapter of the UK.

The gathering served as a vital platform for connecting with the Indian diaspora in the UK, where CM Yadav presented the myriad investment opportunities available in Madhya Pradesh.

The Chief Minister's address highlighted the state's rich cultural heritage and robust economic growth, encouraging the diaspora to participate in Madhya Pradesh's development journey for sustainable growth and a secure environment.

CM Yadav emphasised the changing face of Madhya Pradesh and showcased the state's robust policy in pharmaceuticals, energy, renewable, automobile, education, medical tourism, and other manufacturing opportunities in various sectors offered by the state.

He made an impassioned presentation about Madhya Pradesh's unique identity as a cultural and spiritual haven.

"Madhya Pradesh is not just an investment destination; it is the heart of Incredible India, where ancient traditions meet modern aspirations," the Chief Minister said.

As quoted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the diaspora is a living bridge that connects two nations.

He extended a heartfelt invitation to the diaspora and international community to experience the state's rich tapestry of attractions first-hand.

The event successfully fostered stronger bonds between the state and its global community while highlighting Madhya Pradesh's potential as a premier investment destination.

These engagements reflect Madhya Pradesh's proactive approach to international cooperation and its commitment to sustainable development.

The activities have set a strong foundation for enhanced collaboration between Madhya Pradesh and the UK, particularly in areas of trade, investment, urban development, and cultural exchange.

The delegation's visit continues to build momentum for exploring substantial investment opportunities between Madhya Pradesh and British businesses, while further strengthening the cultural and social ties that bind our communities together.
Tel Aviv, Nov 26 : The Israeli cabinet will meet to discuss a ceasefire deal with Lebanon at the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Kirya headquarters in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, media reported citing a minister's office, which comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave his "in principle" approval to the plan

The meeting is scheduled to take place between 5:30 to 9 p.m. (local time), CNN reported.

Netanyahu signalled his potential approval for the emerging ceasefire with Hezbollah during a security consultation with Israeli officials on Sunday night.

Netanyahu's spokesperson said the Israeli cabinet will vote on the proposed deal on Tuesday and it is expected to pass.

The report, however, said that Israel still has reservations over some details of the agreement, which were expected to be transmitted to the Lebanese government on Monday, adding that "those and other details are still being negotiated and multiple sources stressed that the agreement will not be final until all issues are resolved".

CNN reported citing sources familiar with the negotiations that the talks appear to be moving positively toward an agreement but acknowledged that as Israel and Hezbollah continue to trade fire, one misstep could upend the talks.

Israel's National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, has expressed strong opposition to the deal, calling it a "big mistake" and a "historic missed opportunity to eradicate Hezbollah".

Ben Gvir has also long worked to thwart potential ceasefire deals between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Benny Gantz, who resigned from Israel's war cabinet in June over Netanyahu's handling of the war in Gaza, called on the Prime Minister to make the details of the ceasefire deal public.

"It is the right of the residents of the north, the fighters, and the citizens of Israel to know," Gantz said.

Last week, US envoy Amos Hochstein said in Beirut that a ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon was "within our grasp," but that it was ultimately "the decision of the parties".

Later Monday, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said that Hochsteinas discussions had been aconstructive".

He said the Biden administration believes "the trajectory of this is going in a very positive direction," but cautioned "nothing is done until everything is done".

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller was similarly cautious, telling reporters on Monday that just because an agreement is "close" does not mean it will happen. He said the process had been "incredibly frustrating".

Israelas Home Front Command also warned of a heightened risk of Hezbollah rocket fire before Tuesday's crucial vote, and on Monday updated its defensive guidelines for several parts of northern Israel.

Israel and Lebanon have been engaged in a prolonged conflict that began on October 8 last year, when Hezbollah attacked Israeli-controlled territory in solidarity with Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza, as reported by CNN.
Abu Dhabi, Nov 26 : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has published the names and photographs of three suspects responsible for the murder of Israeli Rabbi Zvi Kogan, a UAE-based Chabad emissary whose body was found late last week.

Israel has called the murder an "antisemitic" terror attack, The Times of Israel reported.

All three men are Uzbek nationals, according to the UAE Interior Ministry.

The three suspects are Olimpi Toirovich, 28; Makhmudjon Abdurakhim, 28; and Azizbek Kamlovich, 33.

The images showed the men handcuffed and blindfolded, dressed in blue prison uniforms.

The Ministry described the three as "the perpetrators of the murder of the Moldovan citizen".

Kogan held dual Israeli-Moldovan citizenship.

The suspects could face capital punishment, according to several Israeli media reports.

Kogan, 28, who worked in the UAE for the Orthodox Jewish group Chabad, which seeks to support Jewish life for thousands of Jewish visitors and residents in the Gulf Arab state, vanished in Dubai, where he ran a kosher grocery store, on Thursday.

Kogan's funeral was set to take place at 11 p.m. on Monday at the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, following a procession from Kfar Chabad in central Israel, set to depart at 8 p.m.

His body was found in the Emirati city of Al Ain, which borders Oman, around 150 km (93 miles) from Abu Dhabi, Israeli authorities announced early Sunday.

The Ynet news site reported early Sunday that Kogan's car was found abandoned in Al Ain.

It added, without citing sources, that there were signs of a struggle in the vehicle, The Times of Israel reported.

Officials suspect a number of Uzbek citizens recruited by Iran assaulted the rabbi and later fled to Turkey, that report said.

The three suspects were not arrested in the UAE, a Channel 12 report said on Monday. The operation to find and arrest them spread across several countries, according to the report.

Ynet reported Monday that they were likely extradited from Turkey to the UAE, without Israeli involvement.

The UAE on Monday stressed "the determination of the competent security authorities to quickly take the necessary measures to uncover the details of the incident, its circumstances and motives, and to harness their human and professional capabilities, expertise and technical capabilities that led to the arrest of the perpetrators".

The Emirati Interior Ministry announced on Sunday the arrests of three people involved in the killing of Kogan.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu condemned the murder on Monday.

"We mourn the tragic loss of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, a Moldovan-Israeli citizen killed in the UAE, and strongly condemn this hateful act," she wrote on X.

"Hate has no place in our world. Our thoughts are with his family, the Jewish community, and all who grieve. We are in contact with Israel and the UAE."

The UAE's Ambassador to the US, Yousef Al Otaiba, said in a statement posted on X that the US "mourns for Rabbi Zvi Kogan. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and community over his senseless death".

His murder "was more than a crime in the UAE -- it was a crime against the UAE. It was an attack on our homeland, on our values, and our vision," Otaiba added.

After Kogan's family filed a report about his disappearance, a UAE statement said on Sunday, an investigation was initiated, leading to arrests "in record time".

The full findings of the investigation would be announced upon its completion, it said.

Kogan had entered the UAE on his Moldovan passport and was a resident there, said the UAE statement, which was published by the state news agency.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the killing and thanked Emirati authorities for "their swift action". He said he trusted they "will work tirelessly to bring the perpetrators to justice".

The White House late Sunday branded the murder a "horrific crime against all those who stand for peace, tolerance and coexistence".

"It was an assault as well on UAE and its rejection of violent extremism across the board," said National Security spokesperson Sean Savett in a statement.

He said the US was in contact with Emirati and Israeli authorities, offering its support, The Times of Israel reported.

The spokesperson also praised the UAE for quickly arresting several suspects and called for those responsible to be held "fully accountable".

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office called the killing a "heinous antisemitic terrorist act," adding that Israel would do everything it could to bring those responsible to justice.

Tehran said it "categorically rejects the allegations of Iran's involvement in the murder of this individual," Iran's embassy in Abu Dhabi said in a statement on Sunday.

Kogan was a dual Israeli-Moldovan citizen who had reportedly served in the Israel Defense Forces' Givati Brigade.

He had been part of the Abu Dhabi Chabad chapter since Israel normalised ties with the UAE in late 2020 under the US-brokered Abraham Accords.

Koganas wife Rivky is the niece of Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, who was murdered along with his wife in a terror attack at the Nariman Chabad House in Mumbai in 2008.
Damascus, Nov 26 : An Israeli airstrike has targeted several bridges and a Syria-Lebanon border crossing in central Syria's Homs province, according to Syrian state media reports.

The strikes hit Daff, Joubanieh, and Hawz bridges, as well as the Jusiyah crossing on the Syria-Lebanon border, the reports said on Monday.

Details on casualties or damage were not immediately available, and there has been no official statement from Syrian authorities, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Israeli side has yet to comment on the alleged attack.

The area has been a site of tension due to its strategic location. It is known for the movements of Hezbollah members between Syria and Lebanon.

On Saturday night, the Jusiyah crossing was allegedly targeted by Israeli airstrikes and was left with damage.

The latest attack came amid heightened tensions in the region, with Israel escalating strikes against what it perceives as Hezbollah's targets in Lebanon.

Israel, which rarely comments on military operations, has conducted airstrikes in Syria since 2011, with its focus on Iranian and Syrian forces and Hezbollah group targets.

The latest airstrikes highlight continuing regional tensions amid Israel's military offensives in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

Israel has continued a deadly offensive on Gaza since a Hamas attack last year, killing more than 44,230 people, mostly women and children, and injuring over 104,600.

The conflict has spread to Lebanon, with Israel launching deadly strikes across the country in an escalation from a year of cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah since the start of the Gaza war.
Giant panda Xiang Xiang eats bamboo shoots at the Bifengxia Panda Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Ya'an, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 12, 2024. Xiang Xiang, female, was born at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, Japan on June 12, 2017.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Xiao Liwu is pictured at Jiawuhai Giant Panda Conservation and Research Park in Jiuzhaigou County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 11, 2024. Xiao Liwu, male, was born at the San Diego Zoo in the United States on July 29, 2012.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Giant panda Fu Bao frolics at the Shenshuping giant panda base of Wolong National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 19, 2024. Fu Bao, female, was born at Everland theme park in Yongin, South Korea on July 20, 2020.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Xiao Qiji is pictured at the Shenshuping giant panda base of Wolong National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 16, 2024. Xiao Qiji, male, was born at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the United States on Aug. 21, 2020.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Meng Xiang eats bamboo at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2024. Meng Xiang, male, was born at Zoo Berlin in Germany on Sept. 1, 2019.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Mei Sheng eats bamboo shoots at the Bifengxia Panda Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Ya'an, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 26, 2024. Mei Sheng, male, was born at the San Diego Zoo in the United States on Aug. 19, 2003.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Yuan Meng frolics at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 21, 2024. Yuan Meng, male, was born at Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan, France, Aug. 4, 2017.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Le Le frolics on a tree branch at the Dujiangyan base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 19, 2024. Le Le, male, was born at the River Wonders wildlife park in Singapore on Aug. 14, 2021.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Mei Huan is pictured at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2024. Mei Huan, female, was born at Zoo Atlanta in the United States on July 15, 2013.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Editor: GSY
Washington, Nov 26 : The White House has confirmed that US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will attend President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20, media reported.

"The President promised that he would attend the inauguration of whoever won the election," said Andrew Bates, senior deputy press secretary at the White House.

"He and the First Lady are going to honour that promise and attend the inauguration."

"He ( Joe Biden) and the first lady (Jill Biden) are going to honour that promise and attend the inauguration. He views that as an important demonstration of commitment to our democratic values, and to honouring the will of the people, as we continue to provide an orderly and effective transition."

Earlier this month, the US President welcomed Trump back to the White House -- another tradition Trump eschewed after losing the 2020 election -- with Biden promising a transfer of power that is "as smooth as it can get".

"We're looking forward to having, like we said, a smooth transition. We'll do everything we can to make sure you're accommodated, what you need, and we're going to get a chance to talk about some of that today," Biden said earlier this month.

"Welcome back."

The President-elect did not attend Biden's inauguration in January 2021, which came days after the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.

Trump's decision to skip Biden's inauguration was not without precedent, but he was the first President to skip his successor's inauguration in more than 150 years and his then outgoing administration was represented by then outgoing Vice-President Mike Pence.
Beirut, Nov 26 : At least 36 people were killed and 17 others injured in Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, according to media reports.

Israeli airstrikes on the eastern Lebanese governorate of Baalbek-Hermel killed 11 people, including eight in a residential apartment in the village of Nabi Chit and three others in Hermel, the official National News Agency ( NNA) reported on Monday.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon killed 25 people, including nine in the village of Maarakeh, three in the village of Ain Baal, two in the town of Ghazieh, 10 in the Tyre district, and one in the village of Yohmor, the NNA reported, adding that the airstrikes also injured 17 people in Tyre.

On Monday, Hezbollah targeted Shraga Base, the administrative headquarters of the Golani Brigade Command, north of the occupied city of Acre, with a barrage of rockets, the NNA reported.

Hezbollah also hit Israeli forces in two moshavim in northern Israel, and in the Malkiyeh settlement, the report said, adding that Hezbollah targeted an Israeli force sheltering in a house in Al-Bayada during its withdrawal, destroying the structure and inflicting multiple casualties among the force, Xinhua news agency reported.

On Monday, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on social media platform X condemned constant strikes on the Lebanese Armed Forces as "a flagrant violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and international humanitarian law, which limits the use of violence against those not participating in hostilities".

UNIFIL also urged all parties involved in the conflict to address their differences through negotiations instead of violence.

The Lebanese army said the Israeli military has been repeatedly targeting its soldiers recently. In the latest attack on Sunday, an Israeli airstrike targeted a Lebanese army post in the Ameriya axis on the Qlaileh-Tyre road in southwestern Lebanon, killing one soldier and injuring 18 others.

Since September 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.
New York, Nov 26 : A federal judge has dismissed the election interference case against US President-elect Donald Trump granting the special prosecutor's request citing the changed circumstances after he won the presidency.

Special Prosecutor Jack Smith filed requests to the judges in the two cases he had filed against Trump relating to his alleged role in the January 6 riot and the removal of classified documents from the White House.

Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington accepted the request and dismissed all the charges against Trump in the election interference case.

In the classified documents case, Judge Aileen Cannon had dismissed the case by Smith, who appealed against it to a higher court.

He wrote to the appeals court that he was withdrawing the appeal and dropping the charges and it is expected the court will comply.

Smith said that he was dropping the case because of the Justice Department policy against prosecuting sitting Presidents but said he stood by the validity of the prosecution.

"The Government's position on the merits of the defendant's prosecution has not changed. But the circumstances have," he wrote, noting that "a criminal prosecution is already underway when the defendant is elected president".

Trump had denounced the two prosecutions as politically-motivated weaponisation of the judicial system.

This removes the cloud of federal prosecution hanging over him as he prepares to become President again in January.

In a local-level prosecution in New York, he was convicted of fraud for recording hush money payments to a porn star as legal expenses. The prosecutor has asked the judge to indefinitely postpone the sentencing while Trump's lawyers have asked for dismissal.

Judge Juan Merchan has set deadlines next month for the two sides to file papers regarding the dismissal request.

Another local election interference in Georgia is tangled up in allegations of misconduct by the prosecutor who hired her ex-boyfriend to help prosecute it.

Although US Vice-President Kamala Harris made the prosecutions and the convictions a campaign issue, they did not have an impact on the voters and Trump donning the mantle of martyr helped him win the election.

In the Washington election interference case, Trump faced several charges that he tried to allegedly reverse the 2020 elections by stopping Congress from certifying the election of President Joe Biden.

Trump's supporters rioted on January 6, 2021, after hearing him address a rally claiming he was being cheated of his election victory and opposing the Congress action.

His supporters invaded the Capitol with threats against then-US Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress, who had to flee to escape the rioters' fury.

Scores of people who participated in the riot have been convicted and many sentenced to prison terms. Trump promised during his campaign to pardon them.

In the secret documents case, Smith has indicated that he wanted to continue the prosecution against two employees of Trump who are charged with obstructing the investigation.

Biden had also allegedly taken secret documents, but Smith declined to prosecute him mentioning his mental state in the first indication of what ballooned into questions over his competence resulting in his decision to not run for re-election.
Mumbai, Nov 26 : Indian actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas shared a glimpse of a "chilling" picture of herself all soaked up as she shot for a rain scene in London in November.

Mumbai, Nov 26 (IANS) Indian actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas shared a glimpse of a "chilling" picture of herself all soaked up as she shot for a rain scene in London in November.

Priyanka took to her Instagram stories, where she shared several pictures and clips. The first was a hallway covered with blood and she asked "What do you think is happening in this episode of Citadel 2?"

She also shared a picture of herself covered with jackets and hot water bottle to keep herself warm after shooting for a rain scene. The actress looks visibly cold as she smiled at the camera.

For the caption, she wrote: "When it's a rain scene in November in London."

A few days ago, Priyanka took to Instagram, where she shared a gamut of images, where she had the sun rays fall on her perfect skin.

In the last two pictures, the actress, who is seen in a burgundy outfit standing and striking a pose for the camera as the sun added the perfect natural lighting to the photographs. It was the same outfit she shared her latest pictures as she shot for a rain sequence.

"Playing with the sun," she wrote as the caption.

On the professional front, Priyanka, who was last seen in Sam Heughan and Celine Dion-starrer "Love Again", is all set to be seen in the series "Citadel 2". In the actioner, Priyanka will reprise her role as the fiery Nadia. Actor Richard Madden will also return. Other details about the second installment are still under wraps.

"Citadel" first released in 2023. The spy action series was created by Josh Appelbaum, Bryan Oh, and David Weil for Amazon Prime Video, with the Russo brothers acting as executive producers.

It stars Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra as Citadel agents Mason Kane and Nadia Sinh, respectively. Kane discovers a new organization, Manticore, led by Dahlia (Lesley Manville), leading to a bad accident. Eight years later, he's living quietly as Kyle Conroy, with his memory wiped, until an old colleague (Stanley Tucci) needs his help.

Talking about films, she has "Heads Of State" with Idris Elba and John Cena, and "The Bluff" co-starring Karl Urban, in her upcoming lineup.
Seoul, Nov 26 : Samsung Electronics is expected to go through a major personnel reshuffle this week at the earliest as part of efforts to overcome its sluggish business performance, industry sources said on Tuesday.

The Korean tech giant began laying off some of the executives in charge of the chips business at its device solutions unit on Monday and will likely announce the list of new presidents as early as Wednesday, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, reports Yonhap news agency.

Samsung Electronics usually makes a reshuffle in early December but is expected to move up the schedule to better respond to the current crisis and prepare for the future.

The previous day, Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong said he is aware of the concerns surrounding the company's future and his company will "overcome these challenging times even as the current situation is more difficult than ever."

The remarks were made during the final hearing in an appellate trial for the controversial 2015 merger of two Samsung affiliates at the Seoul High Court.

Concerns have been brewing about Samsung's future as the company posted disappointing earnings, apparently lagging behind its rivals in an artificial intelligence chip war, and also due to a negative outlook for the global semiconductor industry.

To overcome such a crisis, Samsung plans to hold a global strategy meeting in mid-December after completing its reshuffle.

Meanwhile, prosecutors have demanded a five-year prison sentence for Lee Jae-yong in an appeal against a court decision that acquitted the chairman over the controversial 2015 merger of two Samsung affiliates.

Prosecutors also requested a fine of 500 million won ($356,552) for Lee during the final hearing at the Seoul High Court, reports Yonhap news agency.

Lee was indicted in September 2020 on charges of stock price rigging, breach of duty and accounting fraud in the course of the controversial 2015 merger of two Samsung affiliates, Cheil Industries and Samsung C&T Corp.

The appeals court will deliver its final verdict on February 3.
Mumbai, Nov 26 : Actress Sharvari has revealed the secret on how she kept herself entertained after long hours on set.

Sharvari took to her Instagram stories, where she shared a picture of herself with her hair clips. She is looking into the camera and smiling. The actress flaunted her perfect skin with a hint of blush on her cheeks and a subtle lipstick.

For the caption, the actress, who is seen sitting in the dressing area, wrote: "Keeping myself entertained after 13 hours on set."

Talking about her professional life, the actress is gearing up for her upcoming film "Alpha", a spy thriller. The film also stars Alia Bhatt. It is slated to release in December, 2025.

In other news, the actress lauded the Viksit Bharat initiative on November 23. 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.

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."

She said that she is 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 added: "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".
New Delhi, Nov 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the 'One Nation One Subscription' scheme will strengthen efforts to make India a hub for research, learning and knowledge and will also encourage interdisciplinary studies.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, approved the scheme on Monday. It is a Central Sector Scheme aimed at providing country-wide access to scholarly research articles and journal publications.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Cabinet has approved 'One Nation One Subscription', which will strengthen our efforts to become a hub for research, learning and knowledge. It will also encourage interdisciplinary studies."

The scheme will be a 'One Nation One Subscription' facility for the government higher education institutions and R&D laboratories of the Central government.

Key highlights of the scheme:

The scheme will be administered through a simple, user-friendly and fully digital process.

A total of about Rs 6,000 crore has been allocated for the scheme for three years, 2025, 2026 and 2027 as a new Central Sector Scheme.

The scheme will build on and further enhance the scope and reach of the range of initiatives undertaken by the Government of India over the past decade in the domains of education, for maximising access to quality higher education for the youth of India. This will supplement the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) initiative to promote research and development and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout government universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories.

The benefits of the scheme will be provided to all Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) under the management of the Central or state government and Research & Development Institutions of the Central government, through a national subscription coordinated by a central agency, namely the Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET), an autonomous inter-university centre of the University Grants Commission (UGC). This list covers more than 6,300 institutions, translating into nearly 1.8 crore students, faculty and researchers, who will be able to potentially avail benefits of the scheme.

An official press release said the scheme is in line with the goals of Viksit Bharat 2047, National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and Anusandhan National Research Foundation. The initiative will expand access to scholarly journals to a vast diaspora of students, faculty, researchers and scientists of all disciplines, including those in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, thereby promoting core as well as interdisciplinary research in the country. The ANRF will periodically review the usage of One Nation One Subscription and publications of Indian authors of these institutions.

The Department of Higher Education (DHE) will have a unified portal 'One Nation One Subscription' through which the institutions will be able to access the journals.

The ANRF will periodically review the usage of One Nation One Subscription and publications of Indian authors of these institutions.

The DHE and other Ministries having HEIs and R&D Institutions under their management shall be proactively conducting Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns among students, faculty and researchers of these institutions about the availability and method of access to One Nation One Subscription, resulting in improved usage of the facility across the country.

The state governments will also be requested to carry out campaigns at their level to maximise usage of the unique facility by students, faculty and researchers of all government institutions.
New York, Nov 26 : The US federal prosecutor who charged a former Indian intelligence officer with plotting to hire hitmen to kill a Khalistani leader is resigning.

On Monday, Federal Prosecutor Damian Williams said he would be quitting on December 13, well ahead of President-elect Donald Trump assuming the office.

Trump had already named his successor in anticipation of Williams resigning or being fired.

In one of his first announcements of Justice Department appointees, Trump said he planned to nominate Jay Clayton, a former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as the District Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Last month, Williams filed the case against Vikash Yadav, a former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer, alleging that he orchestrated a plot to hire a hitman to kill Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

Williams charged an Indian citizen, Nikhil Gupta, last year as a co-conspirator in the case. He was extradited to the US in June from the Czech Republic, where he was arrested, and his case is proceeding separately at the Southern District of New York court.

Gupta has denied guilt in court, and the next hearing is set for January 19.

It will be up to the next Attorney General and Clayton how to proceed with the case.

Trump has named Pam Bondi to be his Attorney General, but she will need the Senate's approval for the job.

Meanwhile, announcing his decision to quit, Damian said, "Today is a bittersweet day for me as I announce my resignation as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. It is bitter in the sense that I am leaving my dream jobaIt is sweet in that I am confident I am leaving at a time when the office is functioning at an incredibly high level."

Damian's deputy, Edward Kim, will be the acting Prosecutor, his office announced.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : Beset by the lack of a majority and disarray among the ruling coalition, growing differences with President Emmanuel Macron over economic policies, and the opposition ganging up against him over his Budget moves, Prime Minister Michel Barnier is in an unenviable position as France stares at a fresh spell of political turmoil.

Without the necessary numbers in the National Assembly to support his Budget, Barnier has termed "probable" the use of Article 49.3 of the Constitution to pass the budget bill without a vote next month.

This step has already led the left bloc National Popular Front, which, with 192 members, is the biggest bloc in the 577-member house, to propose a vote of no-confidence. It also expressed opposition to several proposals in the Budget, which seeks to save the government 60 billion euros in order to rein in the fiscal deficit.

The problem for Barnier arose with the far-right National Rally, which has 124 members - or 140 if its ally Eric Ciotti and his faction of The Republicans are added, said it could support the left in its measure.

As the ruling coalition, of Barnier's right-wing The Republicans and the centrists of Macron's Ensemble Alliance, can muster around 210 votes, the numbers are stacked against them.

This led the Premier, who has been in the post for less than two months, to reach out to NR's leader Marine Le Pen, but their meeting on Monday provided no relief as she said that her position had not changed, any more than had Barnier's. Le Pen specifically mentioned her "red lines" being crossed by the proposed raise of the electricity taxes.

She unequivocally said that her party would support the no-confidence motion, but maintained that the budget's rejection would not cause turmoil and chaos.

PM Barnier was due to meet leaders of other parties, including the radical Left France Unbowed's Jean-Luc Melenchon, but it seemed unlikely to cause a change, given Melenchon has predicted the fall of Barnier's government well before Christmas as December 21 is the last date for the passage of the Budget.

Yet, Barnier's problems are not limited to the opposition.

He has raised concerns in Macron's Ensemble by indicating that he is not a full supporter of "Macronomics", or the President's economic policies being followed since 2017, with at least two proposals, concerning corporate and household taxes, and exemptions from employers' social security contributions, diverging widely from the prevailing orthodoxy.

The changes, the Macron bloc contends, will deter growth and destroy employment. On the other hand, some lawmakers from Barnier's part question him for not breaking sufficiently from Macronism.

Meanwhile, while Barnier's authority or influence on the ruling coalition is not much, there is growing friction between his party leader in the Assembly, Laurent Wauquiez, and Macron's Renaissance group leader and former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal. This does not presage to be a very optimum set of affairs for a minority government, hemmed in by two groups on opposite ends of the political spectrum.

Barnier had recently expressed how he was not very enamoured of his post, telling a group of elected representatives from local authorities that his current position, amid political polarisation and deadlock, was "extremely frustrating".

Ultimately, the question boils down to the prospects before President Macron, who is around midway in his second and final term but has repeatedly ruled out the prospect of quitting before his tenure ends in 2027. If the Barnier government should fall over the budget, Macron can reappoint the same Prime Minister or select a new one, bring in a government of technocrats, call a referendum - or quit. A new election is out of the question till the middle of 2025.

Should by some miracle, the Budget pass, the current crisis will be averted but the threat of deadlock and confrontation will continue as both the Left and Right are united in their opposition to Macron, who ignited the whole problem by calling a snap parliamentary election earlier this year after a drubbing in the European Parliament elections.

As Le Pen's National Rally made a strong showing in the first round, Macron stitched a marriage of convenience with the NPF that did halt it in its tracks but left it angered. Next, he antagonised his erstwhile tactical allies on the Left by refusing to invite them to form the government as it would not be stable.

Ultimately, it will cast a deep shadow over President Macron's legacy.

In the larger picture, the political instability in France, along with neighbour Germany, where Chancellor Olaf Scholz's "traffic light" coalition has broken down and new elections are slated amid a similar polarised scenario, portends trouble for both countries as well as the European Union, whose mainstays they are.

(Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)
Seoul, Nov 26 : Ukraine's top diplomat has expressed hope that its special envoy will visit South Korea in the near future to discuss North Korea's troop dispatch to Russia for use in the war against Kyiv.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha made the remark when he met one-on-one with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul on the margins of the top diplomats' meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) rich countries in Italy, on Monday (local time), Yonhap news agency reported.

South Korea and Ukraine were among the non-G7 members invited as guest countries.

At the talks, Sybiha highlighted the need for action in response to the North's troop dispatch, describing it as a "shared security concern" for both Ukraine and South Korea.

Sybiha is expecting that South Korea will work closely with Ukraine on information sharing with regard to the illegal military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.

South Korea and the United States believe that North Korea has sent more than 10,000 soldiers to Russia's western Kursk border region in support of the invasion of Ukraine.

South Korea's spy agency has said some North Korean troops are in combat.

Cho said North Korea's troop deployment has raised concerns by pushing the war into a new phase, reaffirming that the government will take phased and practical steps corresponding to the security threats and the progress in the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea.

Cho also stressed that the security on the Korean Peninsula and Europe has never been more closely linked due to the North's engagement in the war and its deepening ties with Russia.

Based on South Korea's pledge for a comprehensive assistance package for Ukraine, Cho said that he hopes the two countries will be able to discuss the issue when the special envoy visits Seoul.

The Ukraine Peace and Solidarity Initiative, announced by President Yoon Suk Yeol during his visit to Kyiv in July last year, calls for providing broad support to the war-torn country in areas including security, humanitarian aid and reconstruction.
* The 100,000th China-Europe freight train departed from southwest China's Chongqing Municipality last week, a significant milestone in the development of the service that facilitates economic and trade exchanges between China and Europe.

* More than 50,000 types of goods have been transported via China-Europe freight train service, reaching 227 cities across 25 European countries and over 100 cities in 11 Asian nations.

* Over the years, cities across China -- particularly hinterland hubs such as Chengdu, Xi'an, Urumqi, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Ganzhou, Kunming and Hefei -- have joined the China-Europe freight-train network, solidifying inland China's connection to global markets.

CHONGQING, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- European and Chinese businesses, along with relevant government departments, are preparing a welcoming ceremony to mark the historic arrival of the 100,000th China-Europe freight train, which is scheduled to reach Duisburg, Germany, this week.

The train, loaded with goods including electronics, vehicles, auto parts, machinery and household appliances, departed from Chongqing Municipality in southwest China last week, marking a significant milestone in the development of the railway service that enhances economic and trade exchanges between China and Europe.

The 100,000th China-Europe freight train, coded X8083, departs from the Tuanjiecun Station in Chongqing, southwest China, Nov. 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

In March 2011, the China-Europe freight train (Yuxin'ou) service was launched from Chongqing to Duisburg, establishing a direct overland trade corridor between China and Europe.

Over the past 13 years, this service has brought substantial benefits to people in countries along its routes, improving logistics and connectivity across the Eurasian continent while advancing high-level opening up in China's inland regions.

FROM LANDLOCKED TO LINKED

Watching the departure of the 100,000th train, Kang Qinbin from Lifan Technology, a motorcycle and automobile manufacturer headquartered in Chongqing, recalled the company's memorable experience as one of the first clients of the China-Europe freight train in March 2011.

The 100,000th China-Europe freight train, coded X8083, waits for departing at the Tuanjiecun Station in Chongqing, southwest China, Nov. 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

"The service solved our logistical challenges," Kang said, explaining that before the service's launch, exports from Chongqing were transported either by the slow maritime routes through coastal regions or by expensive air freight.

Since the freight train's inception, the transit time for Lifan's products bound for Eastern Europe has been cut by over 50 percent, enabling the company to secure a strong presence in overseas markets.

Over the years, cities across China -- particularly hinterland hubs such as Chengdu, Xi'an, Urumqi, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Ganzhou, Kunming and Hefei -- have joined the China-Europe freight-train network, solidifying inland China's connection to global markets.

An aerial drone photo shows trains for China-Europe freight service at Manzhouli Railway Port in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 20, 2024. (Photo by Huang Xu/Xinhua)

Today, more than 50,000 types of goods, including Chongqing's machinery and electronics, Sichuan's ornamental plants, and Jiangxi's daily necessities and furniture, are transported via the service, reaching 227 cities across 25 European countries and over 100 cities in 11 Asian nations.

So far, the service has transported over 11 million twenty-foot equivalent units containers of goods, valued at more than 420 billion U.S. dollars, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway).

Wei Wei, a logistics official from China Railway's Nanchang branch, highlighted the critical role these trains play in fostering economic cooperation between China's inland regions and the rest of the world.

MUTUAL BENEFITS

The benefits of the China-Europe freight trains extend beyond China, fostering growth in countries along its routes.

In Duisburg, Germany, the service has created new logistics activity, new industries, as well as new industrial parks and commercial centers, generating over 20,000 local jobs.

This photo taken on Sept. 24, 2024 shows a view of the Duisburg port in Duisburg, Germany. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)

Markus Teuber, China affairs commissioner of the City of Duisburg, has closely followed the development of the service between China and Duisburg on behalf of the Port of Duisburg.

Teuber said that, initially, there were doubts about the feasibility of such a complex logistics project, however, the operations over the years have proven to be a success, fostering improved trade between Germany and China, offering both ecological and economic benefits for companies in both countries.

"The train connection has definitely led to a win-win situation for both countries," he said, adding that he is confident that the service will continue to thrive, as its benefits for imports and exports remain strong, and more companies are recognizing its value.

Markus Bangen, CEO of Duisburger Hafen AG (Duisport), a German company running the port of Duisburg, said that the railway service is strengthening ties between Europe and China, opening up a new international transport market that benefits both economies. Duisburg's profile is steadily growing as a key stop on the railway, attracting investment, creating job opportunities and driving growth in the logistics sector, he added.

The train service is playing an increasingly important role in stabilizing global supply chains in a complex geopolitical environment, he noted.

An aerial drone photo shows a train for China-Europe freight service pulling out of Tongjiang North Railway Port in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Aug. 9, 2024. (Photo by Wu Yunan/Xinhua)

"The China-Europe freight-train network connects domestic and international regions, establishing a comprehensive logistics system that spans the Eurasian continent," said Zhang Xiaotao, head of the School of International Trade and Economics at the Central University of Finance and Economics.

"It has strengthened trade ties and promoted deeper economic integration across Eurasia," Zhang said, adding that the network is expected to become more sophisticated, offering diverse services.

An aerial drone photo shows the 100,000th China-Europe freight train, coded X8083, departing from the Tuanjiecun Station in Chongqing, southwest China, Nov. 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

Li Chao, a spokesperson for the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said that "the 100,000th China-Europe freight train is just the beginning."

"The China-Europe freight-train service is expected to continue improving and expanding. The NDRC, in collaboration with China Railway and other relevant parties, will focus on boosting efficiency, enhancing safety management, diversifying transport routes and driving innovation. Efforts will also be intensified to accelerate the expansion of the international cooperation network, fostering the safe, stable and high-quality development of the China-Europe freight train network," Li said.

Editor: GSY
New Delhi, Nov 26 : India's domestic air passenger traffic registered a 5.3 per cent increase to reach 1.36 crore in October, from 1.26 crore in the same month last year, according to data compiled by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Leading airline IndiGo flew 86.40 lakh passengers during the month with a market share of 63.3 per cent, followed by Tata Groupas Air India and Vistara, which carried 26.48 lakh and 12.43 lakh passengers, respectively.

Air India, including Air India Express, recorded a market share of 19.4 per cent, while Vistara, which has now merged into Air India, accounted for 9.1 per cent market share.

Troubled low-cost carrier SpiceJet flew 3.35 lakh passengers while Akasa Air, transported 6.16-lakh passengers during October. The two airlines registered market shares of 2.4 per cent and 5.4 per cent, respectively.

The surge in air traffic has continued into November as the civil aviation ministry said that on November 17, Indian skies witnessed a historic milestone with 5,05,412 domestic passengers departing on a single day, crossing the 5 lakh-mark for the first time.

The number of flight departures was at 3,173, according to the latest data from the ministry. The occupancy of flights operated by the main scheduled carriers on the day was above 90 percent.

As far as the punctuality of airlines is concerned, IndiGo delivered the highest on-time performance of 71.9 per cent during October from the four metro airports -- Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Alliance Air had the lowest OTP at 54.4 per cent among six major airlines of the country, DGCA figures showed.

There has also been some corporate restructuring in the Indian aviation industry with Vistara, earlier a 51:49 percent joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, also merged with full-service carrier Air India on November 12.

Singapore Airlines has stated that it will invest Rs 3,194.5 crore in Air India following the anticipated merger of Vistara with the Tata Group owned airline.

At the same time, Air India's subsidiaries, AIX Connect (formerly Air Asia) and Air India Express, have merged to form a single low-budget airline.
Johannesburg, Nov 26 : The South African government welcomed the outcomes of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as "a significant step in the right direction."

According to a statement issued by the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the outcomes of COP29, which started on November 11 and concluded in the early hours of November 24 in Baku, Azerbaijan, included the Baku Climate Unity Pact consisting of a New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance, global goal on adaptation and mitigation work program, Xinhua news agency reported.

It also reached key decisions on issues relating to the global carbon market mechanism under articles of the Paris Agreement.

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dion George, who was also the leader of the South African delegation, said in the statement that "for South Africa, the decisions that were adopted are a win."

"We do see the outcomes as a significant step in the right direction as it is more than what we had going into the negotiations and we can now build on that," said George.

The minister said South Africa's negotiating team was particularly pleased about the decision on the mitigation work program. "The mitigation work program will provide further opportunities to share experiences and match investment needs with investors. I am pleased with the outcome," he said.

With regard to the new finance goal, the developed countries have committed to mobilising at least $300 billion per year by 2035 for developing countries for climate action. It also provides signals to the private sector and multilateral development banks to scale up financing to developing economy countries to $1.3 trillion per year by 2035, according to the statement.

"The decision underscores the importance of reforming the multilateral financial architecture, to make it fit for purpose to address the climate crisis. It also calls for scaled-up support for climate action from multilateral financial institutions through grant-based and concessional financing," said Maesela Kekana, deputy director general for Climate Change and Air Quality Management at the DFFE.

Kekana, the chief negotiator, said that it also underscores the need to reduce barriers and address challenges faced by developing economy countries such as limited fiscal space, high levels of debt and high cost of capital.

In the statement, the DFFE noted that the adoption of the decision on carbon markets will allow South Africa and other developing economy countries to initiate new carbon market projects which will facilitate investments in green technologies and economic opportunities.

"The conference also welcomed the rapid institutionalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund. Under the leadership of South Africa and France, the Fund is expected to disburse funds to climate-vulnerable communities in mid-2025," said the department. "Team South Africa believes that COP29 was a huge success, which has inspired hope that we will be able to do more in the future."
New Delhi, Nov 26 : As India observes its National Law Day on this day, it celebrates the diamond anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution. This sacrosanct document of paramount legal status lays down the framework for India's polity and sets out an array of rights, duties, and directives for both citizens and the state for the best practice of democracy.

On November 26, 1949, the Constituent Assembly presented the national Constitution after an arduous process of elaborate debates and meticulous discussions, to be adopted as a legal document, before it came into force on January 26, 1950.

Marking 75 years of the evolving existence of the Indian Constitution, O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) inaugurated India's first, an exclusive and dedicated institution named 'Constitution Museum and the Rights and Freedoms Academy' at its Sonipat campus in Haryana, on November 23.

The university's founding Vice Chancellor, Prof C. Raj Kumar, in conversation with IANS, explained what such an initiative means for India and its people.

Given that this unique museum is housed in a varsity campus, and that close to 40 million students are engaged in the higher education system in the country at present, Dr Raj Kumar highlighted that this step was crucial in the direction of nation-building.

An educational pursuit

"Imagine if we didn't invest in ideas of democracy, Constitution, rule of law, democratic polity, elections and rights and freedoms, they [students] will end up growing up disconnected with the idea of nation-building," the JGU VC said, adding, "You can't preach them to be committed to the nation if they don't know the history, the struggles, and the context."

He maintained that the idea of the Constitution Museum and the Constitution itself is central to education because "this is how we can promote civic education which will ultimately develop an informed citizenry."

Emphasising the necessity of civic education, he said that engaging with young students is an effective way to promote it. He highlighted that people up to a certain generation learnt 'Civics' as part of their school curriculum and that such learning is absent these days -- "my children have no such subject and they have no opportunity to learn it unless they go beyond the school curriculum," said the 50-year-old VC.

On that note, he stated that for a person who has no connect with the Constitution, should have a look at its historical evolution and how this document shaped the nation so far, lending significance to the newly established institution.

An enduring legacy

75 years is a long time for a Constitution to not only survive but to serve its purpose consistently. "It has brought us together as people despite all the differences of caste, religion, language, culture, food habits, attire, climatic conditions, to the political differences we had -- all brought under this one document which everybody is prepared to commit themselves to," said the VC.

The healthy survival of the Constitution is indeed a feat to celebrate. Not many constitutions have withstood the test of time. Countries like Egypt, Nepal and Afghanistan had their respective Constitutions change with certain governments. Older democracies, over a long period, have had several Constitutions.

They ended up fulfilling Dr Ambedkar's prophecy, said Prof Raj Kumar, "You could have a great Constitution but if the people who man it are not good, then it will fail."

On the other hand, the Republic Of India has had this single Constitution for the past 75 years since its inception. Stating that a Constitution is a work in progress, the VC pointed out that even older and developed democracies, such as the US, are constantly making it better.

Epitome of Democracy

"Our Constitution has not only withstood the test of time but it has served us well," he said. The Sanctity of the Indian Constitution is maintained across party lines, and despite differences, all adhere to it. The seed of this ethos was sown at the time of raging debates at the Constituent Assembly.

"One of the most remarkable things is that the members of The Constituent Assembly disagreed on several matters but they disagreed with a lot of respect and dignity. They disagreed and agreed in the larger interest of the nation," the VC spotlighted. "What we can learn from the Constituent Assembly is that people with strong political and ideological differences can come together for a larger national interest," he added.

During the making of the Constitution, every disagreement was duly paid attention to and responded to. This was "absolutely" the epitome of a democratic exercise. "It doesn't get better," he admitted.

Lest we forget, the smaller percentage of women in the Constituent Assembly who made substantive contributions and each had an important role to play, are honoured with a dedicated wall at the museum.

A living space

While museums are generally presumed to be archives, the Constitution Museum is set to be as living and dynamic a space as the Constitution itself. It is a space designed to evolve over time and remain relevant.

Christened 'Constitution Museum and the Rights and Freedoms Academy', Dr Raj Kumar pointed out that the fulcrum of this academy is the constant learning and evolving as new information is gathered, and the museum is also updated.

With the intent to organise events of intellectual engagements and participative exercises under this initiative, people can appreciate what the Constitution is and also talk about how to make it better.

Timelessness of the Constitution

For a massive document adopted in 1949, and for it to remain relevant and functional in 2024, the makers had ensured to keep within it the space to incorporate necessary changes and amendments. Dr Raj Kumar, also a Professor of Law explained this with the example of the Right to Education Act.

There was no specific provision in the Constitution that was focused on the right to education. But with Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty), after several decades of the Constitution being functional, two judgements of the Supreme Court expanded this Article (Right to Life) and observed that the framers of the Constitution "had not envisaged some random animal life and its existencebut it is a right to life of meaningful existence, a right to life of informed engagement; and one cannot have a meaningful existence without education," he said.

So, the Supreme Court interpreted and read into the Right to Life Provision of the Constitution. After the Supreme Court's argument, Right to Education became a Fundamental Right, and the Parliament accepted it and enacted it into law. Article 21 A (Right to Education) was thus inserted in the Constitution.

Current perspective

A step in the direction of developing a better sense of our history, the purpose of this newly-founded initiative is to pause and spare a thought to the 75-year journey of the Indian Constitution, pay tribute to its makers and, most importantly, to be able to fulfil our responsibilities as mere ordinary citizens without any labels of power.

This museum serves to "appreciate our past so that we are better prepared for the future."

(Kavya Dubey may be reached at kavya.d@ians.in)
Vilnius, Nov 26 : Investigators from Germany and Spain will join the Lithuanian authorities to find out what caused a DHL plane crash in Vilnius, Laurynas Naujokaitis, director of Lithuanian Justice Ministry's Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Division, said.

"We have information that the German safety authority has appointed four investigators to carry out the safety investigation, and they are currently on their way to Lithuania," Naujokaitis said, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the Baltic News Service (BNS).

Spain has also decided to send two experts for the investigation, he added, noting that they are also on their way to Lithuania.

Naujokaitis stressed that the investigation would focus solely on aviation safety and the probe could take at least a year.

According to the director, the US aviation administration has also been informed of the crash as the plane was manufactured in the United States.

The Boeing 737-476 (SF) plane was owned by Spanish airline Swift Air. While flying from Leipzig, Germany, on behalf of German shipping company DHL, it crashed into a residential building near the Vilnius airport. A pilot was killed, and three others were injured in the incident.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : Marking the 75th Constitution Day on Tuesday, Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi emphasised the Constitution's role in safeguarding the rights of the poorest and remarked that it is a powerful tool to protect vulnerable sections of the society.

Taking to social media platform X, he highlighted the foundational principles of justice, equality, and dignity enshrined in the Constitution.

"The basic spirit of our Constitution is that justice and rights should be equal for all. Everyone should have the opportunity to live with self-respect. The Constitution is a powerful tool to protect the poorest and most vulnerable sections of society," Rahul Gandhi wrote in a post.

He further stated, "The stronger it is, the stronger our country will be. On this day, while paying homage to the freedom fighters, martyrs, and every member of the Constituent Assembly who nurtured the idea of the Constitution, I reiterate my resolve to protect it."

Congress General Secretary and Member of Parliament from Wayanad, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, also shared a heartfelt message, urging citizens to pledge to safeguard the Constitution at all costs.

"Today marks the 75th year of the implementation of our Constitution. Our freedom fighters and great men together created a Constitution that ensured freedom, equality, fraternity and justice for crores of Indians. Our Constitution is the protective shield for crores of Indians that gives them every kind of right," she shared this in a post on X.

"Happy Constitution Day to all countrymen. Salute to the great ancestors, martyrs, revolutionaries and each member of the Constituent Assembly. This democracy and constitution, which we got from their tireless hard work and sacrifices, is our pride. Let us take a pledge that we will protect it at all costs," she added.

Constitution Day, also known as Samvidhan Divas, is celebrated annually to commemorate the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1949, which came into effect on January 26, 1950.
Srinagar, Nov 26 : Jammu and Kashmir is celebrating the 'Samvidhan Diwas' on Tuesday for the first time since 1950 when the country's Constitution was adopted by Parliament.

The government has issued instructions for the grand celebrations of Constitution Day.

"Considering the significance of the completion of 75 years of adoption of the Constitution, the day is being celebrated with great fervour and enthusiasm to reiterate the core values enshrined in the Constitution of India and motivate citizens to take their rightful role in the campaign. This year holds special significance as it commemorates 75 years of the 'Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Swabhimaan', officials said.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha will lead the Constitution Day celebrations in Jammu and Kashmir. The main event will feature a Preamble reading ceremony at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar.

Under the theme "Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Swabhimaan," similar ceremonies will be held across Jammu and Kashmir in government offices, PSUs, educational institutions, and rural areas.

Photographs of the events are to be uploaded to the dedicated website www.constitution75.com, and participants can stay updated on related activities through the MyGov web portal.

The General Administration Department (GAD) has directed all divisional commissioners, department heads, deputy commissioners, and PSU managing directors to ensure the successful organisation of these ceremonies across their respective locations.

As Constitution Day is being celebrated, the High Court of J&K and Ladakh has ordered the reading of the Preamble.

"26th November is celebrated as Constitution Day...The available senior Hon'ble Judge at each wing of the High Court will lead the reading of the Preamble to the Constitution, whereas, the Principal District Judges shall lead the reading of the Preamble to the Constitution at their respective District Headquarters and the senior most Judicial Officer at Taluka Court," Registrar General of the high court, Shahzad Azeem said in an order adding that the Registrar Judicial, High Court Wing Jammu and Srinagar, shall make all the necessary arrangements for holding the ceremony of reading the Preamble to the Constitution in their respective Wings.
Mumbai, Nov 26 : Rashmi Shukla is back as the Maharashtra Director General of Police. After assuming the charge, Shukla on Tuesday attended the function to pay homage to martyrs in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack in the presence of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on November 4 removed Rashmi Shukla, an IPS of the 1998 batch from the post of Maharashtra State Director General of Police (DGP) during the Assembly election. Following ECIas approval the state government had appointed Sanjiv Kumar Verma, an IPS of the 1990 batch as the Director General of Police of Maharashtra. Veer was the director general of Law and Technical. He is due to retire in April 2028.

The ECIas move to remove Shukla came after Congress in particular and the Maha Vikas Aghadi sought her removal for "fair and transparent" elections. Congress had then said that "even though ECI had removed the Jharkhand DGP amid the ongoing Assembly election, why Shukla was allowed to continue in her post".

The MahaYuti government had appointed Shukla as the state DGP in January this year till January 2026 though she was set to retire in June this year.

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief Nana Patole and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut last week reiterated their demand for the immediate removal of state director general of police Rashmi Shukla.

Patole claimed that Shukla was a controversial officer who sided with the BJP, and with her in office, there are doubts about the elections being conducted fairly and transparently. Patole said that Congress had appealed to the ECI to remove Shukla from her post but the poll panel ignored it.

After her removal during the poll process, the state government in its notification had hinted that it would be effective up to the conclusion of the Assembly election. The state Congress had approached the Bombay High Court against the state governmentas move though the high court did not give an immediate relief to the petitioners.

On Monday, the home department put up a file pertaining to Shukla to be re-appointed as the Maharashtra DGP for Chief Minister Eknath Shindeas approval. After his consent, she took over.
Mumbai, Nov 26 : Renowned industrialist and Essar Group Chairman Shashikant Ruia passed away after an illness, a company official said here on Tuesday. He was 81, and breathed his last at the Breach Candy Hospital.

He is survived by his wife Manju, sons Prashant and Anshuman and two daughters, besides his brother Ravikant Ruia, the Group Vice-Chairman, and other relatives.

Both Shashikant and Ravikant were the co-founder-owners of the industrial empire Essar Group in 1969, which branched out soon and has multiple business interests ranging from mines to ports with global footprints.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his deepest condolences to the family and described Shashikant Ruia as a colossal figure in the world of industry. "His visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence transformed the business landscape of India. He also set high benchmarks for innovation and growth. He was always full of ideas, always discussing how we can make our country better. Shashi Ji's demise is deeply saddening," said the PM.

An iconic industrialist Shashikant Ruia played a major role in redefining India's corporate landscape, laying the foundation of the Essar Group in the late 1960s-early 1970s, which became a global conglomerate.

"With an unwavering commitment to community upliftment and philanthropy, he touched millions of lives leaving an enduring impact. His humility, warmth, and ability to connect with everyone he met, made him a truly exceptional leader," the Ruia and Essar family said in a statement on Tuesday.

It added that Shashikant Ruia's extraordinary legacy will remain a guiding light for all of us, as we honour his vision and continue to uphold the values he cherished and championed.

The Essar story started in 1969 when the siblings bagged a Rs 25 crore order from the Madras Port Trust to construct an outer breakwater in the harbor, even as the duo focused on the sunrise construction and engineering sectors, but after a decade branched out to the power sector focusing on oil and gas, adding on other businesses later.

Among the companies in the Group are Essar Energy Transition, Essar Oil UK, Essar Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Ltd., Essar Power Ltd., Ultra Gas & Energy, Essar Ports, Stanlow Terminals, Essar Projects, Essar Minmet, Mesabi Metallics, Manoor Bulatn Lestari, KSA Saudi, Black Box (Previously known as AGC Networks Ltd), Essar Shipping, Pluckk.

Over the decades, Shashikant Ruia served on various important panels and forums of the government like the PM's Indo-US CEOs Forum, India-Japan Business Council, Indo-US Joint Business Council, headed the Indian National Shipowners Association, etc.
Kolkata, Nov 26 : A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court, on Tuesday, granted conditional bail to former Trinamool Congress leader Santanu Bandopadhyay, who allegedly acted as one of the principal middlemen in the multi-crore cash-for- school job case in West Bengal.

The bail for Bandopadhyay was granted by the single-judge bench of Justice Suvra Ghosh just a day after Arpita Mukherjee, a close aide of the former West Bengal education minister and ex-Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee, was granted bail by a special court of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Kolkata on Monday evening.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials arrested Bandopadhyay in March 2023 following a statement given against him by another accused in the school-job case Tapas Mondal. At that point in time Bandopadhyay was quite an influential Trinamool Congress leader in Kolkata-adjacent Hooghly district.

At the time of Bandopadhayayas arrest, the investigating officials secured crucial documents from his residence, including a list of 346 candidates from 17 districts who allegedly got school jobs after paying hefty amounts.

Bandopadhyay was also named in the charge sheet by ED where it was mentioned that he received an amount of Rs 1.39 crore as commission for arranging the job illegally. He was also accused of diverting the funds in multiple accounts which was a typical case of money laundering.

Meanwhile, on Nonday night the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is conducting a parallel probe in the school- job case, made a fresh arrest in this connection. As per the information available, Santu Gangopadhyay, a middleman and an extremely close confidant of Partha Chatterjee, was arrested.

It is learnt that although his name was in the charge sheet filed by the ED, he was not arrested. However, he was questioned several times by the investigating officials of the two central agencies and raid and search operations were also conducted at his residence.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : As the country celebrates the 75th anniversary of adoption of the Indian Constitution, Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla said that the values enshrined in the country's sacred book are getting strengthened under Modi government despite barrage of misinformation campaign by the Opposition.

New Delhi, Nov 26 (IANS) As the country celebrates the 75th anniversary of adoption of the Indian Constitution, Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla said that the values enshrined in the countryas sacred book are getting strengthened under Modi government despite barrage of misinformation campaign by the Opposition.

Speaking to IANS, the MP Deputy CM also lashed out at the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi over his repeated jab at BJP-led NDA with aConstitution under threata claims.

He said that the under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, there has been growing awareness and eagerness among citizens to understand and imbibe the constitutional values.

"The country has not seen such adherence to constitutional values. The respect for the Constitution among the citizens is on a constant uptrend, something never witnessed before," Shukla remarked.

The Deputy CM pointed to various government initiatives, such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), providing houses to homeless and the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, which offers medical coverage up to Rs 5 lakh.

He emphasised that these schemes demonstrate government's commitment to public welfare and serve every citizen with equality, as outlined in the sacred book.

"PM Modi is governing the country and upholding the constitutional values while Rahul Gandhi has taken a path of misinformation for scoring political points," he added.

Shukla also responded to Priyanka Gandhi's criticism of the ruling party.

"Congress party promotes nepotism. That's why, after decades of independence, the country did not become an economic superpower, but now, under Modi's leadership, it is on track," he said, referring to multiple family members from the Gandhi family in Parliament.

"How could this align with the ideals of a democracy," he asked.

The Madhya Pradesh Deputy CM Shukla further praised PM Modi for his dedication and selfless service to the nation. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has no family of his own and is committed solely to the nationas welfare.
Giant panda Xiang Xiang eats bamboo shoots at the Bifengxia Panda Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Ya'an, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 12, 2024. Xiang Xiang, female, was born at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, Japan on June 12, 2017.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Xiao Liwu is pictured at Jiawuhai Giant Panda Conservation and Research Park in Jiuzhaigou County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 11, 2024. Xiao Liwu, male, was born at the San Diego Zoo in the United States on July 29, 2012.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Giant panda Fu Bao frolics at the Shenshuping giant panda base of Wolong National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 19, 2024. Fu Bao, female, was born at Everland theme park in Yongin, South Korea on July 20, 2020.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Xiao Qiji is pictured at the Shenshuping giant panda base of Wolong National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 16, 2024. Xiao Qiji, male, was born at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the United States on Aug. 21, 2020.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Meng Xiang eats bamboo at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2024. Meng Xiang, male, was born at Zoo Berlin in Germany on Sept. 1, 2019.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Mei Sheng eats bamboo shoots at the Bifengxia Panda Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Ya'an, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 26, 2024. Mei Sheng, male, was born at the San Diego Zoo in the United States on Aug. 19, 2003.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Yuan Meng frolics at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 21, 2024. Yuan Meng, male, was born at Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan, France, Aug. 4, 2017.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Sheng Yi is pictured at the Shenshuping giant panda base of Wolong National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 16, 2024. Sheng Yi, female, was born at Zoo Negara, the National Zoo of Malaysia, on May 31, 2021.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Le Le frolics on a tree branch at the Dujiangyan base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 19, 2024. Le Le, male, was born at the River Wonders wildlife park in Singapore on Aug. 14, 2021.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Mei Huan is pictured at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2024. Mei Huan, female, was born at Zoo Atlanta in the United States on July 15, 2013.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Editor: JYZ
New Delhi, Nov 26 : India has signed the Final Act of the Riyadh Design Law Treaty adopted by the member states of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) after nearly two decades of negotiations, the Commerce and Industry Ministry announced on Tuesday.

"By signing the Final Act of the Riyadh Design Law Treaty, India builds on its progress and reaffirms its commitment to fostering inclusive growth and ensuring equitable access to intellectual property protection," the statement said.

The treaty seeks to harmonize the procedural frameworks for industrial design protection, improving the efficiency and accessibility of registration processes across multiple jurisdictions. By standardizing procedural requirements, the DLT reduces administrative burdens, thereby promoting global creativity in design. Its goal is to ensure that the benefits of streamlined design protection are accessible to all stakeholders, with particular emphasis on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), startups, and independent designers, the statement explained.

The DLT introduces several key provisions aimed at benefiting design applicants, including relaxed time limits, the reinstatement of lost rights, the option to correct or add priority claims, simplified procedures for recording assignments and licenses, and the option to file multiple designs in a single application.

These changes provide greater flexibility for design applicants. Furthermore, the treaty encourages contracting parties to work towards implementing electronic industrial design systems and facilitating the electronic exchange of priority documents. When combined with initiatives like the Startup India programme and the Startups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) scheme, these provisions will help empower startups and SMEs to secure design rights globally, boosting their competitiveness and supporting market growth.

"India, with its rich heritage of creativity and craftsmanship, has long recognized the crucial role of design in driving sustainable economic development. The country's policy emphasis on design protection as a catalyst for innovation has delivered impressive results," the statement added.

Over the past decade, design registrations in India have tripled, with domestic filings increasing by 120 per cent in the last two years alone. Notably, design applications grew by 25 per cent last year.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : India's traditional PC market (inclusive of desktops, notebooks and workstations) shipped an all-time high of 4.49 million units in the July-September period (Q3) this year, up marginally by 0.1 per cent, according to a report on Tuesday.

The e-commerce sales, which typically starts around the second week of October, began in late September, leading to a surge in PC shipments, according the report by the International Data Corporation (IDC).

Bharath Shenoy, Research Manager, IDC India and South Asia, said that brands capitalised on e-tail sales by offering steep discounts, cashbacks, and bundled accessories.

"Many of them also matched similar pricing in their brand stores and offline channels like Larger Format Retail stores (LFRs), leading to the second biggest consumer quarter in history," he said.

The notebook and workstation categories saw marginal growth of 2.8 per cent (on-year) and 2.4 per cent YoY, respectively.

Online festival sales drove the demand for premium notebooks (over $1,000), which grew by 7.6 per cent. The commercial segment grew by 4.4 per cent, while the enterprise segment grew by 9.6 per cent YoY.

HP Inc led the market with a share of 29 per cent, topping the charts in both commercial and consumer segments with shares of 34.3 per cent and 24.8 per cent, respectively.

Lenovo was a distant second with a share of 17.3 per cent. Dell Technologies stood third with a 14.6 per cent share.

Dell came second behind HP in the commercial segment, with a 20.8 per cent share and a 4.7 per cent growth, according to the IDC report. Acer Group was tied in third position with Dell Technologies, with its shipment marginally behind Dell but with 14.6 per cent market share.

Asus was fifth with a 9.7 per cent share and experienced 22.3 per cent YoY decline largely due to a leaner inventory compared to last year.
Patna, Nov 26 : A violent clash erupted at Bhagalpur Engineering College in Bihar late on Monday night, reportedly involving seniors and first-year students.

The altercation began when senior students allegedly ragged first-year students, leading to tension.

The situation soon escalated into a fight and some students were injured in the clash that ensued.

Upon learning of the incident, the college principal arrived to mediate but faced backlash and his car was allegedly damaged by the agitated students.

The college administration subsequently called the police to control the unrest, however, the situation escalated even more as the students began pelting stones at the police, resulting in injuries to one policeman.

To bring the situation under control, police reinforcements from multiple stations were deployed, effectively turning the campus into a fortified area.

The police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the rioting students, leading to injuries to a few more.

A student, Saurabh Kumar, who was injured during the lathi-charge, was admitted to JLN Medical College and Hospital for treatment. Other injured students are reportedly receiving care at Sadar Hospital.

The clash at Bhagalpur Engineering College, involving senior and first-semester students, has drawn significant attention, with police officials, including City SP, Dr. K Ramdas and DSP, stepping in to address the situation.

The City SP confirmed the incident, stating that the matter was finally resolved through discussions with the students and the college administration.

According to the police, the students damaged the principal's car and allegedly attacked him. However, the students from one group countered these claims, alleging that the police were responsible for breaking the car's glass and using excessive force, leading to injuries.

During the lathi-charge, it was reported that the laptops and mobile phones of several students were damaged, further fueling tensions.

The college administration has yet to release an official statement on this matter.

"An investigation is underway to ascertain the details and determine appropriate action. The incident occurred around 8 P.M. Four students were injured in the clash. The incident was triggered due to ragging," Ramdas told IANS.

The incident underscores the need for improved conflict resolution mechanisms on campuses to prevent such situations from escalating.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : Former Australian bowler Steve O'Keefe has defended the Australian team after their disastrous 295-run defeat against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener in Perth and criticised the public reactions to the loss, calling it "unjustified".

New Delhi, Nov 26 (IANS) Former Australian bowler Steve O'Keefe has defended the Australian team after their disastrous 295-run defeat against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener in Perth and criticised the public reactions to the loss, calling it "unjustified".

Australia faced a heavy blow in the opening match of the five-Test series, with India taking the early advantage with a 1-0 lead. The hosts' batting has come under scrutiny, with the team being bowled out for 105 and 238 in their two innings.

The Australian media was critical of the humiliating loss in Perth and used titles like 'Perth-etic Humiliation' and 'Monster Loss' to describe Australia's biggest loss.

"It frustrates me I think the pile on is unjustified. I think the pile on is just indicative of a lot of people wanting to come out, tall poppy syndrome in Australia, and latch onto this team. I think the pile on has been rough however, we do expect a high standard of that team so there's some frustrations out there but they're not coming from my end," O'Keefe said on Sen Afternoons.

O'Keefe, who played nine Tests for Australia between 2014-2017, backed the same team to turn it around in the Day-Night Test, starting from December 6 at Adelaide Oval.

"We're looking at a team that is number one in the world. The stats will tell you the batting team has won five out of five (at Optus Stadium)... this is a champion team for a reason. You put these guys in a corner and they'll respond, and they (the Australian batting core) have done it time and time again. I'm backing this Australian team to turn it around," he said.
Patna, Nov 26 : During the second day of the Bihar Assembly winter session, opposition MLAs led by LoP Tejashwi Yadav staged a protest outside the House Portico on Tuesday.

During the protest, key issues raised included the demand for 65 per cent reservation for backward classes, extremely backward classes (EBC), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Scheduled Tribes (ST), as well as concerns about governance issues like smart meters and constitutional reviews.

Tejashwi Yadav, the leader of Opposition (LoP) held a poster calling for the implementation of 65 per cent reservation based on the findings of the caste survey conducted under the Grand Alliance government. The survey led to then Bihar government's decision to reserve 65 per cent of seats for OBCs, EBCs, SCs, and STs. However, the Patna High Court later struck down this decision, citing legal grounds, a ruling subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court.

In addition to reservation issues, opposition MLAs also criticised the government over the installation of smart meters, alleging inefficiency and mismanagement, and voiced concerns about the ongoing constitutional review, calling for its immediate cessation.

The opposition's actions highlight their focus on caste-based policies and public grievances as they mount pressure on the NDA government in the state, making these issues central to their strategy during the winter session.

JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar took a sharp dig at Tejashwi Yadav, urging him to demand his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, resign from the position of RJD national president.

On the occasion of Constitution Day, Neeraj Kumar linked his remarks to the judiciary's role in upholding the Constitution, highlighting that Lalu Prasad Yadav has been convicted and is thus ineligible to contest elections.

"It's a great opportunity for Tejashwi Yadav to set an example by asking his father to step down in respect of the Constitution. Such a step would be seen as a landmark decision for the RJD," Kumar said.

He also highlighted the RJD's recent performance, pointing to its loss in the Belaganj and Ramgarh by-elections as evidence of the diminished political influence of both Lalu and Tejashwi Yadav.

"The father-son duo no longer have the capability to mobilize votes effectively," Kumar said.
Dhaka, Nov 26 : Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha and head of Pundarik Dham in Chittagong who as arrested by Bangladesh police on Monday, was sent to jail after a Chittagong court rejected his bail plea on Tuesday.

Das was produced before Judge Kazi Shariful Islam of Chittagong's 6th Metropolitan Magistrate around 10:30 am local time amid tight security in connection with a case filed on October 31, reported local media.

Earlier in the day, he was handed over to the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) by the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

"He faces charges in a case filed in Chittagong. The transfer was confirmed on Tuesday morning by Rezaul Karim Mallik, additional police commissioner of DB," reported Dhaka Tribune.

Das was taken into custody by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 4:30 pm on Monday as the interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus continues to face several allegations of inflicting horrors on Bangladesh's Hindu community.

Several protests broke out in various parts of Bangladesh, including Chittagong, as the news about Das's arrest spread on social media.

In Chittagong, hundreds of Hindus took to the streets and rallied at the Cheragi intersection.

Several videos that later went viral on social media showed Bangladeshi policemen charging at the protestors who were chanting slogans and demanding immediate release of Das.

It is believed that dozens of Hindu protestors were injured during the protest rally.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) also urged the Indian government to take immediate steps, seeking the release of prominent Hindu leader.

"We have come across disturbing reports that Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das, one of the prominent leaders of ISKCON Bangladesh, has been detained by the Dhaka police. It is outrageous to make baseless allegations that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world. ISKCON, Inc. urges the Government of India to take immediate steps, speak to the government of Bangladesh, and convey that we are a peace-loving Bhakti movement," ISKCON said in a statement late Monday night.

"We want the Government of Bangladesh to release Chinmoy Krishna Das immediately. Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the protection of these devotees," the statement added.

International Society for Krishna Consciousness, known as ISKCON, is a Gaudiya Vaishnava Hindu religious organisation with followers across countries and cultures.

The latest incident has once again raised serious concerns about the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh, which form the largest minority community.

Incidents of vandalism, looting, arson, land grabbing, and threats to leave the country have been repeatedly inflicted on Hindus after the interim government under the leadership of Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus was sworn in on August 8.

The Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Oikya Parishad had earlier sent an 'open letter' to Yunus, expressing "profound sorrow and concern" over a particular group's "unprecedented violence" against the minorities.

Even though Yunus and his religious affairs advisor A.F.M. Khalid Hossain assured that the current establishment believes in communal harmony, the communal violence, which began immediately after former PM Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, continues to cause widespread fear, anxiety, and uncertainty among the minorities in Bangladesh, especially Hindus.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : Industry players on Tuesday welcomed the Union Cabinet's move to waive bank guarantees for telecom companies, saying it would significantly help reduce the financial burden on the telecom operators in the country.

The decision is expected to offer significant relief to major telecom companies, which collectively owe over Rs 30,000 crore in bank guarantees to the government.

"We welcome the Union Cabinet's move and thank the government on approving the waiving of bank guarantee for telecom operators on spectrum purchased before 2022. This landmark decision will significantly help reduce the financial burden on the telecom operators in the country," said Lt Gen Dr SP Kochhar, Director General, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had earlier proposed the move, responding to industry demands for relief. Telecom companies had written to the DoT, urging the removal of bank guarantee requirements for pre-2022 spectrum acquisitions.

This decision builds on the 2021 Cabinet reforms, which waived the need for bank guarantees on spectrum acquired prospectively.

"While we are studying the details of the decision and will be able to have a more substantial view of the same, we feel positive that this decision will enhance cash flow, free up capital and enable capital investments in network expansion and technology upgrades, ensuring a stronger and robust rollout of telecom networks in the future," said COAI.

According to reports, Vodafone Idea is likely to submit BGs totalling approximately Rs 24,600 crore. The September 2021 telecom reforms provided telcos with a four-year moratorium on spectrum payments and adjusted gross revenue dues.

Shares of telecom companies like Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) and Vodafone Idea, among others, went up on the BSE on Tuesday after the Cabinet's decision.
Srinagar, Nov 26 : Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and president of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday alleged that the largest minority (Muslims) were facing "unprecedented threats" in the country.

She said this while marking the Constitution Day.

Mehbooba Mufti said in her statement on X, "Today, as we celebrate Constitution Day, it is disheartening to see the largest minority in our country facing unprecedented threats. Their dignity, lives, livelihoods, and places of worship are under attack, contradicting the Constitution's guarantee of equal rights and dignity for every citizen, regardless of their background."

She cited the violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district to make her point. "The recent violence in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, where four innocent lives were lost is a painful reminder of this harsh reality. This trend of searching for temples under mosques continues despite a clear Supreme Court ruling that the status quo on all religious places, as they existed in 1947, should be maintained."

"The erosion of constitutional values and the rule of law is extremely concerning and unless we who believe in the idea of India rise up to defend these values, our nation risks losing its unique identity and becoming indistinguishable from its neighbors," she said.

Mufti's PDP won just three seats in the Legislative Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Before that, she lost the contest for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. She was trounced by Gujjar leader and National Conference (NC) candidate Mian Altaf Ahmad by nearly three lakh votes in the Anatnag-Rajouri seat.

Her father, the late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed came to power after the 2014 elections when he forged a ruling coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

After his death, Mehbooba Mufti continued the coalition with the BJP till the latter withdrew from the coalition on June 19, 2018, forcing her to step down as the chief minister.

The then governor, Satya Pal Malik dissolved the Assembly on November 21, 2018.

On August 5, 2019, Article 370 was abrogated by Parliament and the state was divided into two union territories of J&K and Ladakh.
Chennai, Nov 26 : The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has rescheduled the CA Foundation Examination from January 14, 2025, to January 16, 2025.

The decision comes in response to widespread protests in Tamil Nadu against the initial scheduling of the exam on Pongal day.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, ICAI clarified that the exam was postponed to accommodate the Makar Sankranti, Bihu, and Pongal festivals celebrated across India.

The controversy arose after ICAI's initial decision to conduct the examination on Pongal, Tamil Nadu's most celebrated festival, triggered strong objections.

DMK Deputy General Secretary and Member of Parliament Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, sister of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, had came out strongly against the earlier decision of the ICAI to conduct the CA foundation examination on Pongal day.

Kanimozhi, in a social media post, described the scheduling as "gross insensitivity" and accused the institute of disregarding Tamil traditions and regional autonomy.

She had demanded an immediate postponement of the exam, stating, "Pongal is the most celebrated festival in Tamil Nadu, depicting the culture, heritage, and tradition of the state. The Union Government must direct the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, under which ICAI operates, to reschedule the exam to honour Tamil sentiments."

Similar concerns were raised by CPI(M) leader and Madurai MP, Su Venkatesan. He criticised the decision to conduct the Business Law exam on Pongal and the Quantitative Aptitude test on Farmers' Day on January 16.

Calling it disrespectful to Tamil culture, Venkatesan emphasised that festivals like Pongal hold as much cultural significance for Tamil Nadu as Holi, Deepavali, and Durga Puja do in other regions of India.

In a statement, Venkatesan revealed that many students and parents had expressed their concerns to him.

He described the original scheduling as "an insult to Tamil culture" and urged the Central government and ICAI to revise the exam dates.

He had previously raised the issue with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and ICAI President Ranjith Kumar Agarwal through formal letters, advocating for a change.

Pongal, also known as Thai Pongal, is a multi-day Hindu harvest festival celebrated across Tamil Nadu. It typically falls on January 14 or 15 during the Tamil month of Thai and is dedicated to the Sun god.

The festival marks the beginning of Uttarayana, the Sun's six-month northward journey as it enters Capricorn.

The festival spans three to four days: Bhogi, Surya Pongal, Mattu Pongal, and Kaanum Pongal. Its name derives from the ceremonial dish "Pongal," prepared with freshly harvested rice, milk, and jaggery. On Mattu Pongal, cattle are honoured with bathing, colorful decorations, and processions.

Homes are adorned with Kolam art, prayers are offered, gifts exchanged, and families gather to strengthen social bonds. Pongal is celebrated not only in Tamil Nadu and South India but also by Tamil communities in Sri Lanka and the global Tamil diaspora.

IANS

aal/rad
New Delhi, Nov 26 : The government on Tuesday said it is creating a conducive environment for the semiconductor design community across the country by providing thousands of students direct access to the national chip design infrastructure, and help them design semiconductor chips within five years.

ChipIN Centre, one of the largest facilities established at C-DAC, offers an extensive range of semiconductor design workflows and solutions, striving to bring national chip design infrastructure directly to the semiconductor design community.

It is a centralised facility which hosts the most advanced tools for the entire chip design cycle (going up to 5 nm or advanced node).

According to the IT Ministry, currently engaged with more than 20,000 students at over 250 academic institutions and entrepreneurs at 45 startup projects, ChipIN Centre aims to provide access of state-of-the-art EDA (electronic design automation) tools to 85,000 students at B.Tech, M.Tech and PhD level to design semiconductor chips within five years.

German multi-national company Siemens has also extended the current usage scope of its EDA tools from 120 colleges to 250+ colleges under Chips to Start-up (C2S) Programme and latest powerful Veloce hardware-assisted verification solution from Siemens, to the companies approved under the design-linked scheme (DLI) scheme.

"We were receiving the huge demand from students, researchers, faculty members and entrepreneurs across the country in respect of further enhancing and extending the EDA and design solutions from Siemens to more organisations,' said Sunita Verma, Group Coordinator (R&D in Electronics and IT), IT Ministry.

The enhanced support from Siemens at the ChipIN Centre will play a crucial role in fulfilling the vision of turning India into a semiconductor powerhouse, she added.

Veloce from Siemens comprising the following main components  Veloce Strato hardware & OS, Veloce Apps and Veloce Protocol Solutions, has a compute facility of 128 CPU cores and capacity of 640 million gates.

"India today presents a significant opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs and researchers to be at the forefront of designing and redefining the semiconductor systems, devices and products of the future," said Ruchir Dixit, Vice President and Country Manager, EDA, Siemens Digital Industries Software.

Siemens is proud to extend its participation in the 'Chips to Start-up (C2S) Programme' by expanding access of its state-of-the-art EDA technology solutions to 250 educational institutions across India, he noted.
Nduka Anthony Umekwe, an official from Nigeria's Ministry of Information and National Orientation, highlighted the transformative lessons Nigeria and other countries can learn from China's poverty reduction efforts during the Seminar on Poverty Reduction and Development under the Global Development Initiative held by the IPRCC in east China's Guangdong Province.

Reflecting on the experience, Mr. Umekwe praised China's successful strategies in lifting its citizens out of poverty. "This seminar has been an awesome one, learning how China has been able to bring their people out of poverty," he remarked.

The Nigerian official pointed to key aspects of China's development model, including infrastructure growth, technological advancements, and human capacity development, which have significantly improved the quality of life for Chinese citizens. "We saw the life of the citizens and how it's been improved," he said, referencing his visit to east China's Guangdong Province during the seminar.

He concluded by recommending that all nations take inspiration from China's model, especially in construction and job creation, to ensure sustainable development and improved livelihoods for the people.

Editor: WXY
Bhopal, Nov 26 : In a tragic road accident on early Tuesday morning, four members of a family lost their lives after their car collided with a divider and plunged 20 feet off a bridge in Maihar, Madhya Pradesh, police said.

According to police, the accident occurred on a national highway when the speeding vehicle struck the divider on the bridge and fell into a deep pit. All four occupants of the car were killed on the spot.

Passersby who witnessed the incident rushed to the scene, soon joined by the local residents. The impact of the crash left the front portion of the vehicle mangled, trapping the bodies inside. Bodies could be retrieved only after police cut through the vehicleas crushed glass and metal.

According to Maihar police, "A car traveling from Katni towards Maihar, lost control near the Ghusru River. The vehicle first struck the road divider and then plunged into a pit below the roadway. Tragically, all four occupants of the car lost their lives. The front portion of the car was destroyed. Upon receiving information from bystanders, officers from the Maihar police station arrived at the scene, broke the car's windows to retrieve the bodies, and transported them to Maihar Civil Hospital for postmortem examination."

Police identified the deceased as Arvind Singh (47), Sukhvidhan Singh (45), Damodar Singh (44), and Shivraj Singh (34). All belonged to the same family from Devendra Nagar in Panna district.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the accident was caused by over speeding. The family was returning to Panna after attending a wedding function in Katni when the tragedy took place.

The police informed the family members in Panna and sent the bodies for postmortem examination.

Further investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Colombo, Nov 26 : Southeast Asia, including India, sees over 482,000 diabetes-related deaths every year, said the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday, while calling for the need to boost the prevention and control measures against the blood sugar condition.

Diabetes is a global health concern and can potentially lead to complications such as blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, and lower limb amputation.

The WHO noted that the countries in the Southeast Asia Region have made significant progress in provisioning services for the management of diabetes.

Till June, over 60 million people have been placed on protocol-based management for diabetes and hypertension. This is expected to reach 100 million by 2025.

However, despite efforts, challenges remain. More than 260,000 children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes face limited access to insulin and monitoring. The incidence of type 2 diabetes is also increasing among young people in the Region, the global health body said.

"Bridging the service gaps to ensure timely access to diabetes care can save lives," said Saima Wazed, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia.

Wazed called for making "care services equitable, comprehensive, accessible, and affordable" for all.

She was speaking at the two-day Regional Commemoration of World Diabetes Day 2024 under the theme 'Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps' in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

To address the growing burden of diabetes, health experts and officials also adopted 'Colombo Call to Action'.

The Call to Action underlines catalytic actions and collective commitments of Member countries to accelerate efforts to unite, integrate, innovate, treat, track, and educate to reduce the risk of diabetes and ensure that those diagnosed with the disease have access to quality treatment and care.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a video message to the gathering, said that more than half of the 800 million people living with diabetes "do not receive treatment".

The WHO chief pressed the need to "intensify efforts to meet global targets and ensure better prevention, diagnosis, and management of diabetes".

The UN agency suggested measures such as equipping primary healthcare with standard treatment protocols, essential medicines, quality diagnostics, and skilled professionals to meet the growing demand for diabetes care.

Wazed noted that preventing diabetes "is a shared responsibility of governments, healthcare providers, and communities".
New Delhi, Nov 26 : The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu, a prominent ISKCON leader in Bangladesh, has sparked wave of anger and outrage among the religious leaders, back home.

Several Hindu saints and seers lashed out at Bangladesh government over the illegal arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, who stood up to acts of persecution against the Hindu minorities in the Muslim-majority country.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested Chinmoy Krishna Das at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday night.

The 'Sant Samaj' in India, objecting strongly to his illegal arrest by Bangladesh police, urged the global leaders to speak out against the growing intolerance and repeated harassment of Hindu minorities in the country. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on Monday also urged the government to take immediate steps for securing release of Chinmoy Krishna Das.

Condemning the arrest, Mahant Balak Das, Patalpuri Peethadheeshwar, stated, "This is outright targeting of Hindus. If Hindus do not stand up for Sanatan Dharma, then who will? This arrest is condemnable. Those harbouring wrong intentions against Sanatan Dharma must be punished. I demand his immediate release and action against the wrongdoers."

Mahant Jagdishwar Das echoed similar sentiments, stating, "Everyone has equal rights, but in Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority country, atrocities against Hindus continue unchecked. The Hindu minority has decreased from five per cent to one per cent of the population, while in India, minorities have grown from five per cent to 20 per cent, living peacefully alongside Hindus. This arrest is unjust. National and international courts must take action to protect religious freedom."

Addressing the same matter, Mahant Balak Das Ji Maharaj from Punjab, said: "The constant attacks on Sanatan Dharma by such 'jihadi ideologies' are unacceptable. Hindus worldwide are now awake and united. I urge our government and the foreign ministry to intervene and secure Swami Chinmoy Krishna Das's release at the earliest."

The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a leading member of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) comes amidst increasing concerns about ill-treatment of Hindu community under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.

Mahamandaleshwar Sitaram Ji Maharaj pointed out, "This is a temple that provided aid and support during Bangladesh's independence. Arresting its leader shows their intolerance towards truth. Politicians who champion secularism must take notice of how Hindus are being targeted in neighbouring countries."

Mahamandaleshwar Purushottam Das Ji Maharaj added, "The atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh are known worldwide. This arrest is a clear violation of religious freedom and must be condemned. The Sant Samaj demands immediate action to address this injustice."

Acharya Ved Bihari Maharaj from Vrindavan remarked, "The behaviour of Bangladesh towards Hindus is deplorable. Wearing dhoti and kurta is even prohibited there. If such actions occurred in India, international organisations would quickly speak out. However, the silence on the atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh is disheartening."

"Chinmoy Krishna Das was only advocating for Sanatan Dharma, and this does not warrant such drastic action. If a Sanatan flag was given more importance over a national flag, action could have been taken specifically for thatbut targeting Hindus as a whole is wrong," he added.
Mumbai, Nov 26 : Today, as the nation remembers the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai, Salman Khan's old controversial statements about the tragic event have resurfaced on social media.

Back in 2010, the actor made headlines when he spoke about the attacks in a manner that many found insensitive. In an interview with a Pakistani TV channel, Khan gave a clean shit to Pakistan, saying the Pakistani government had no role in the 26/11 Mumbai attack. In the video that is doing the rounds on social media, Salman could be heard saying, "Too much hype has been created around the 26/11 attacks because elite people were targeted. Attacks have happened in trains and small towns too, but no one talked about it so much."

He added, "Everybody knows that the Pakistani government was not behind it and it was a terrorist attack. More than anything, our security had failed. We have had lot of attacks earlier, and all of them were not from Pakistan. They were from within. This time we because there was Taj, Oberoi were under attacked, everyone stood up. We had bomb blast earlier, there have been attacks in buses and trains."

Today, on the 16th anniversary of the horrific 26/11 attacks, this old video of the actor has resurfaced with netizens trolling Salman over his controversial remarks.

The Sultan actor had later apologised for his remarks, clarifying that his words were "twisted" out of context. Salman also issued an apology on his X handle.

For the unversed, On November 26, 2008, 10 terrorists from the Lashkar-e-Taiba group carried out a series of coordinated terror attacks across several high-profile locations in Mumbai. The targets included the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Leopold Cafe, Mumbai Chabad House, Nariman House, Cama Hospital, and Metro Cinema.

The 26/11 Mumbai attacks claimed the lives of at least 166 people, including 20 security personnel and 26 foreign nationals, while leaving over 300 others injured.
Islamabad, Nov 26 : As the situation continues to spiral out of control in and around Pakistan's capital Islamabad following the death of at least six security personnel in violent clashes with thousands of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, the country's Interior Ministry announced on Tuesday that army has been called in for deployment under Article 245 of the Constitution.

The move comes amid the escalating security situation in Islamabad and the failure of the second round of talks between the government and the PTI leaders as supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan continued to march towards the capital's D-Chowk.

It was reported that the violent clashes between PTI protestors and the security forces have so far resulted in the death of at least six security personnel, including two police officials and four Pakistani Rangers.

The security situation escalated after a vehicle of PTI protestors rammed into Rangers on Islamabad-Srinagar Highway, killing at least six security personnel. In violent clashes at Chungi No. 26 of Islamabad, protestors pelted stones and subsequent gunfire resulted in the injury of a Ranger.

As per the latest directives, authorities have issued stringent directives to security personnel to take decisive action against miscreants and even use extreme measures of shooting any rioter, if needed. The notification issued by the Pakistan Interior Ministry also authorises the army to impose a curfew whenever it deems fit to maintain law and order.

Meanwhile, Imran Khanas wife Bushra Bibi refused to relocate the protest venue.

A delegation of PTI met with their founder and former PM Imran Khan at least twice in Adiala jail, consulting him on the backdoor talks with the government. As per sources, Khan was informed that the government has offered the venue of Sanjani interchange instead of the highly sensitive D-Chowk for the PTI protest, and has asked PTI to submit a request for the protest permission.

Sources said that while Khan accepted the offer and communicated the same to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Bushra Bibi refused to agree and asserted that the destination of PTI's sit-in protest will remain D-Chowk, as announced earlier.

The current situation has sent alarm bells ringing as many observers now see Khan's wife Bushra Bibi calling the shots and making all significant PTI decisions.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has warned the PTI protesters not to cross the red line, saying that the government will then be forced to take "extreme" steps.

"I'm saying again that the Belarus president is here in Pakistan so do not cross the red line. Otherwise, we will have to take extreme steps, including invoking Article 245, imposing a curfew and more... They (PTI protesters) can't come to D-Chowk. This cannot happen now," said Naqvi.

He also said that there seems to be a bigger authority in PTI who is running the show instead of Imran Khan.

"As per my information, our offer to them to stage a protest at Sangjani was accepted during their (PTI) meeting in Adiala jail. But it seems that there is now a bigger authority running the show in PTI," said Naqvi, indirectly referring to Bushra Bibi.

As PTI protesters continue to march towards D-Chowk and refuse to go back until Imran Khan is released from jail, the security situation in the capital continues to remain extremely sensitive. Things could turn more tense as now the Pakistan army has been called in to take "decisive action" against the protestors.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : India on Tuesday expressed its "deep concern" over the arrest and subsequent denial of bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha and head of Pundarik Dham in Chittagong.

After being taken into custody by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 4:30 pm Monday, Das was produced before Judge Kazi Shariful Islam of Chittagong's 6th Metropolitan Magistrate around 10:30 am local time on Tuesday.

The judge, after rejecting his bail plea, sent the Hindu priest - associated with International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) - to jail.

Condemning the shocking developments, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday that it has noted with "deep concern" the arrest and denial of bail to Das, who is also the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagaran Jote.

Highlighting the broader context of continuing violence against minorities in Bangladesh, especially Hindus, the MEA added, "This incident follows multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. Documented cases of arson, looting of minority homes and businesses, theft, vandalism, and desecration of deities and temples are deeply troubling.

"It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings. We also note with concern the attacks on minorities protesting peacefully against the arrest of Shri Das," the ministry stated.

India also urged the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right to peaceful assembly and expression.

Several protests broke out in various parts of Bangladesh, including Chittagong, as the news about Das's arrest spread on social media late Monday evening.

In Chittagong, hundreds of Hindus took to the streets and rallied at the Cheragi intersection.

Several videos that later went viral on social media showed Bangladeshi policemen charging at the protestors who were chanting slogans and demanding immediate release of Das.

It is believed that dozens of Hindu protestors were injured during the protest rally.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) also urged the Indian government to take immediate steps, seeking the release of prominent Hindu leader.

"We have come across disturbing reports that Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das, one of the prominent leaders of ISKCON Bangladesh, has been detained by the Dhaka police. It is outrageous to make baseless allegations that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world. ISKCON, Inc. urges the Government of India to take immediate steps, speak to the government of Bangladesh, and convey that we are a peace-loving Bhakti movement," ISKCON said in a statement late Monday night.

"We want the Government of Bangladesh to release Chinmoy Krishna Das immediately. Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the protection of these devotees," the statement added.

International Society for Krishna Consciousness, known as ISKCON, is a Gaudiya Vaishnava Hindu religious organisation with followers across countries and cultures.

The latest incident has once again raised serious concerns about the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh, which form the largest minority community.

Incidents of vandalism, looting, arson, land grabbing, and threats to leave the country have been repeatedly inflicted on Hindus after the interim government under the leadership of Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus was sworn in on August 8.

The Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Oikya Parishad had earlier sent an 'open letter' to Yunus, expressing "profound sorrow and concern" over a particular group's "unprecedented violence" against the minorities.

Even though Yunus and his religious affairs advisor A.F.M. Khalid Hossain assured that the current establishment believes in communal harmony, the communal violence, which began immediately after former PM Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, continues to cause widespread fear, anxiety, and uncertainty among the minorities in Bangladesh, especially Hindus.
Tirupati, Nov 26 : A devotee of the world-famous Hindu temple at Tirumala near Tirupati town in Andhra Pradesh has been caught stealing money from 'Hundi' or the donation box.

The incident occurred on November 23 but came to light on Tuesday after the temple authorities lodged a complaint with the police.

The accused, identified as Venu Lingam, a resident of Tamil Nadu, has been arrested. The police recovered Rs15,000 from him.

The theft, which took place around 2 p.m. on November 23, was captured on CCTV camera and the security staff lodged a complaint after detecting theft while scanning the CCTV footage.

The security staff picked up the suspect and during questioning, he confessed to the crime. Subsequently, officials of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the affairs of the hill shrine, lodged a complaint and handed him over to police.

Following the incident, the TTD security stepped up security around the Hundi.

Thousand of devotees, who visit the world's richest temple every day, drop cash and other offerings into Hundi.

Hundi collection is the biggest source of income for the temple, which has a budget of over Rs 5,000 crore.

In January, the TTD passed a Rs 5,141 crore budget for 2024-25, a jump of over 16 per cent over the previous year. This is the highest budget since TTDas inception in 1933.

For the current financial year, the lion's share of revenues totalling Rs 1,611 crore are expected from Hundi collections.

The Hundi collections often exceed Rs one crore a day. The earnings are counted at Parakamani by the TTD officials.

In April last year, one of Parakamani's staff, who was in charge of foreign currency, was caught stealing US dollars worth Rs 72,000 in Indian currency.

The TTD vigilance department had filed a complaint with the local police. The local police had registered an FIR on the same day and filed a charge sheet immediately the next day in court. Later, he was granted bail.
Ghaziabad, Nov 26 : As Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a Hindu priest and ISKCON leader in Bangladesh was arrested in Dhaka, former Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam on Tuesday said there was a conspiracy going on in the world to wipe out 'Sanatan.'

The arrest occurred in Dhaka amid a series of attacks targeting the Hindu community, which has been under siege for several days. The violence has drawn sharp criticism from the BJP, which has demanded immediate intervention from the Indian government.

The situation intensified following the detention of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, leading to nationwide clashes across Bangladesh. The BJP has urged India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, to take swift action, asserting that Hindu leaders, including Brahmachari, have been wrongfully detained by Bangladeshi authorities. Reports indicate that many individuals have been injured in the ongoing violence.

While speaking to IANS, Pramod Krishnam condemned the attacks on Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, calling out the perpetrators for misrepresenting Islam.

"The atrocities happening in Bangladesh against Hindus, and the individuals responsible for oppressing and torturing them, are not reflective of Islam. Islam does not condone the burning of homes, the shedding of innocent blood, or the destruction of temples. Those who are killing Hindus in the name of Islam are engaging in terrorism. They are looting the dignity of women and causing terror in the community."

Krishnam also appealed to the Indian government, urging diplomatic action and dialogue with Bangladesh to protect Hindus.

He expressed confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, saying, "I have full faith that as long as Narendra Modi is in power, no follower of Sanatan Dharma will be harmed anywhere in the world."

He also reacted to the recent violence in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, accusing the Samajwadi Party (SP) of orchestrating unrest due to frustration over their defeat in the recent bypolls.

He claimed that SP leaders were seeking revenge against the police administration, which they blamed for the BJP's victory in the elections.

Krishnam criticised the SP for its alleged role in blocking the construction of Kalki Dham, despite a court ruling in favour of the project.

"This is the same party that stopped the construction of Kalki Dham for political gains," he said, adding that the truth would ultimately prevail through the law, courts, and the Constitution.

Krishnam urged the people of Sambhal to remain calm and trust the judicial process, emphasising the importance of peace and faith in the country's institutions.
Kolkata, Nov 26 : The BJP legislators in West Bengal led by Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Suvendu Adhikari staged a protest over the arrest of the International Society For Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) monk and spokesperson of Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote Chinmoy Krishna Das, popularly known as Chinmoy Prabhu, by Bangladesh Police.

The BJP legislators carrying placards displaying pictures of Chinmoy Prabhu staged a protest march within the Assembly premises and raised slogans calling for the immediate release of the ISKCON monk.

The winter session of the state Assembly resumed on Monday and is slated to continue till December 10. He said that he would initiate dialogue with the Union government so that all cross-border trades with Bangladesh are put on hold till the time Prabhu is released.

"The Bangladesh government should not forget how much they are dependent on India for supply of essential commodities. So the supply of commodities to Bangladesh should be stopped unless Chinmoy Prabhu is released," said Adhikari.

Earlier the state BJP president in West Bengal and the Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar also sought the Centre's intervention in the matter. On Tuesday, the ISKCON issued a statement urging the Union government to take immediate steps and speak to the Bangladesh government on the matter.

Adhikari claimed that the ISKCON monk had been arrested by the Bangladesh police on flimsy grounds. According to him, Prabhu's arrest is an attempt on the part of the current "radical government in Bangladesh" to give a bad name to ISKCON, which has been relentlessly helping people irrespective of religion during natural calamities and other disasters.

As the news about Chinmoy Krishna Das's arrest spread on social media, several protests broke out in Chittagong, demanding his immediate release. It was reported that protesters marched and rallied at the Cheragi intersection in the city, chanting slogans and demanding his release.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : Global foldable smartphone shipments declined 1 per cent in the third quarter this year -- its first-ever Q3 decline -- as Samsung reclaimed the top spot with a 56 per cent market share, a report said on Tuesday.

The global foldable market appears to have entered a transitionary phase where it is facing challenges as it progresses from a niche segment to the mainstream, according to Counterpoint Research.

"User satisfaction is particularly high with book-type foldable devices, but the prohibitively high prices remain the biggest obstacle to mass adoption," said senior analyst Jene Park.

If manufacturers give serious consideration to improving price accessibility, along with achieving further technological reliability and enhancing consumer perceptions, this phase can be overcome, Park added.

Samsung regained its position as the global market leader, driven by the Z6 series launch.

However, the brand's unit shipments fell 21 per cent (on-year). Among its new models, the book-type Galaxy Z Fold 6 delivered a modest performance, while the clamshell Galaxy Z Flip 6 struggled to match its predecessor's sales.

As the foldables supply chain matures, Samsung is increasingly facing strong competition from in North America from Moto with its full range of sub-$1000 Razr flip foldables, and in Western Europe from Honor with its attractive and thin Magic V series book-type foldables

Notably, Xiaomi recorded the highest YoY shipment growth among foldable brands at 185 per cent. This growth was driven by the addition of its first clamshell model, the Mix Flip, and its official debut in markets outside China.

The brand's global shipment share rose to 6 per cent this quarter, its highest since entering the foldable market in Q1 2021, said the report.

Honor and Motorola remained among the fastest-growing brands in the foldable market, both benefiting from their flagship devices launched in June and July, it added.
Norway has committed an additional NOK 50 million ($4.5 million) to the Grain from Ukraine initiative.

According to the Norwegian government's official website, this new contribution underscores Norway's commitment to supporting global food security and assisting countries most affected by hunger and high food prices.

"Norway's expanded support highlights its commitment to preventing hunger and fostering stability in regions hardest hit by global crises. We support this initiative while also promoting increased local food production in the Middle East and Africa," stated Norwegian Minister for International Development Anne Beate Tvinnereim.

Launched by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in November 2022, the Grain from Ukraine initiative ensures the safe transportation of Ukrainian grain to developing countries, especially in the Global South. This program gained heightened importance following Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July 2023, which caused an immediate spike in global food prices.

To date, over 170,000 metric tonnes of Ukrainian grain have been delivered to countries such as Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Yemen, and the Gaza Strip. These critical shipments have provided essential relief to regions like Gaza, where over 90% of the population faces acute food insecurity.

Norway's latest NOK 50 million contribution follows an earlier allocation of NOK 100 million to the initiative. Overall, the program has secured commitments exceeding $250 million from more than 25 countries. This funding has facilitated the export of Ukrainian grain and vegetable oil, commodities that accounted for over 15% of global grain exports and more than 50% of sunflower oil exports before the war.
Chennai, Nov 26 : Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, the spiritual leader and founder of the Isha Foundation, has strongly criticised the Bangladesh government for the arrest of ISKCON priest and Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in Dhaka. Sadhguru termed the arrest as "disgraceful".

Chennai, Nov 26 (IANS) Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, the spiritual leader and founder of the Isha Foundation, has strongly criticised the Bangladesh government for the arrest of ISKCON priest and Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in Dhaka. Sadhguru termed the arrest as "disgraceful".

In a post on social media platform X, Sadhguru expressed concern over the incident, stating, "It is disgraceful to see a democratic nation disintegrating into becoming theocratic and autocratic. It is the responsibility of every citizen to understand the value of having an open democracy. Persecution on the basis of religion or weakness of demographics is not the way of a democratic nation."

Sadhguru also called on Bangladeshi citizens to "build back a democratic nation", urging them to uphold the principles of democracy and pluralism.

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev is an Indian spiritual guru and founder of the Isha Foundation, headquartered in Coimbatore, India.

Established in 1992, the foundation operates an ashram and yoga centre, offering educational and spiritual programmes.

Sadhguru, who has been teaching yoga since 1982, is the author of New York Times bestsellers 'Inner Engineering: A Yogi's Guide to Joy' and 'Karma: A Yogi's Guide to Crafting Your Destiny'. He is also a frequent speaker at international forums.

The spiritual leader's remarks come in response to ISKCON's statement on X earlier this week, which revealed that Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das, a prominent leader of ISKCON Bangladesh, had been detained by Dhaka police.

The organisation strongly condemned the arrest, describing it as baseless and unjustified.

"To allege that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world is outrageous," the organisation stated. ISKCON further appealed to the Government of India to intervene and engage with the Bangladesh government, emphasizing that ISKCON is a peace-loving Bhakti movement.

India on Tuesday condemned the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in Bangladesh. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) urged the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all other minorities.

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was arrested at a Dhaka airport on Monday afternoon.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : As days after the results of the Maharashtra Assembly elections were declared, there has been no announcement regarding the state's next Chief Minister, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi criticised the delay, calling it detrimental to the interests of people.

Despite the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance securing a decisive victory with 230 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, a consensus on who should be the next CM of the state has yet to be reached.

Speaking to IANS, Chaturvedi expressed disappointment over the lack of clarity, saying, "It is very sad that though you got such a big majority, received the mandate nothing is decided yet. Before November 26, the Chief Minister should have been declared and the swearing-in ceremony held. Every day wasted now is against the interests of Maharashtra."

She added that the BJP-led alliance has made several promises to the people of Maharashtra and must fulfil them swiftly.

Chaturvedi also took aim at the internal divisions within the ruling alliance, stating, "Watching the internal tussle and power struggles among their leaders raises questions about how the public's interests are being sidelined in this drama. It seems like a contest among the factions over who should be the CM, with one faction claiming their 'father' should be in charge again."

In addition to her comments on the Maharashtra political situation, Chaturvedi also responded to BJP leaders' criticisms of the Opposition parties for allegedly undermining the Constitution.

She condemned the BJP's actions, saying, "When Baba Saheb Ambedkar framed the Constitution, it was meant to be a guiding light for the nation. Today, we see the Central government undermining the Constitution and even speaking of amending it to suit their agenda. The BJP also promised to change the Constitution after crossing the 400 seat mark in the general elections."

Chaturvedi emphasised that the BJP's obsession with power has led to the erosion of constitutional values.

"For the BJP, power comes first, and the Constitution second. But for us, the Constitution is paramount, and we will continue to fight for its true implementation," concluded the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader.
Hyderabad, Nov 26 : Panic gripped people in the Venkatadri Nagar area near the Jeedimetla Industrial Estate in Hyderabad as red-colour liquid resembling blood flooded the streets.

The liquid gushing out from a manhole caused concern among the residents.

Foul stench and difficulty in breathing worried them further.

Alarmed over this, the locals approached the municipal authorities and heaved a sigh of relief after they were informed that the gushing, noxious liquid was not blood.

The officials told the residents that it was a red-coloured chemical that was apparently discharged from the nearby industrial units.

Venkatadri Nagar in Subhash Nagar division is adjacent to the industrial area.

According to owners of some warehouses in the area, few industrial units directly discharge the chemicals into the drainage system. They said the municipal authorities were not taking any action.

As the manhole was overflowing, the red-coloured liquid flooded the streets, causing panic. The residents were concerned over the impact of the chemical effluent on their health and demanded immediate action.

The Telangana Pollution Control Board officials visited the area to take stock of the situation and assured the residents that steps would be taken to check the discharge of chemicals by the industries.

In another incident, people foiled an attempt to dump toxic chemicals into the Musi River in the waste.

A truck driver tried to dump chemical industrial waste into the Musi River at Bapughat. The incident, which occurred under the jurisdiction of the Rajendranagar Police Station of Cyberabad Commissionerate, sparked outrage among locals. The alert residents stopped the driver from offloading industrial waste. He escaped before police could reach the scene, leaving the truck behind. The police registered a case and took up an investigation.

Local people say that this was not the first time such an attempt was made. According to them, some industrial units have been dumping waste into the river, which is already highly polluted. They appealed to the government to check the illegal dumping, which undermines the efforts to rejuvenate the river. The state government is making big plans to revive the river with the Musi Riverfront Development Project.
Seoul, Nov 26 : North Korea has cut power lines installed by South Korea to supply electricity to a now-shuttered joint industrial park in the North Korean border city of Kaesong, South Korea's military said, the latest in Pyongyang's move to sever inter-Korean ties.

The military has detected North Korean soldiers removing part of the power lines connecting transmission towers built along the Gyeongui road since Sunday, officials said, in what appeared to be preparations to demolish the transmission towers built by the South, Yonhap news agency reported.

"The North has yet to work on the transmission towers, (North Korean soldiers) have piled up the severed high-voltage lines that fell on the ground," Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Col. Lee Sung-jun told a regular press briefing.

Lee said North Korean troops have cut power lines connected to the first transmission tower located north of the military demarcation line, adding that further monitoring is needed.

South Korea built 48 transmission towers -- including 15 located in the North -- to supply electricity to the now-shuttered Kaesong Industrial Complex.

But power supply has been halted since June 2020, when the North blew up an inter-Korean liaison office at the complex after lashing out at Seoul for failing to stop North Korean defectors in South Korea from sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border.

Asked whether the resource-strapped North Korea severed the power lines to recycle them, Lee did not rule out such a possibility, noting that power lines contain a large amount of copper.

The latest move came as North Korea has been ramping up inter-Korean tensions and wiping out traces of unification after its leader Kim Jong-un defined the Koreas as "two hostile states" late last year.

The North has since removed street lamps and installed mines along its side of the Gyeongui and Donghae roads, as well as deployed troops to build apparent anti-tank barriers and reinforce barbed wire within its side of the Demilitarised Zone separating the two Koreas.

Last month, the North blew up part of the two roads after its military announced a plan to "completely separate" North Korea's territory from the South.
Mumbai, Nov 26 : MahaYuti's stupendous success and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)'s historic debacle in Maharashtra elections has sparked widespread debate about Congress' 'surrender and submission' before the mighty Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and also whether it is becoming a 'liability' for its smaller and regional allies in states. Many voices from within the Opposition have added weight to this theory.

Mumbai, Nov 26 (IANS) MahaYutias stupendous success and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)as historic debacle in Maharashtra elections has sparked widespread debate about Congressa asurrender and submissiona before the mighty Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and also whether it is becoming a aliabilitya for its smaller and regional allies in states. Many voices from within the Opposition have added weight to this theory.

Meanwhile, a set of data from election results does show that the INDIA bloc suffered a humiliating defeat in Maharashtra more because of Congress than its smaller allies -- Uddhav Thackeray-led SS(UBT) and Sharad Pawar-led NCP.

Firstly, the high-stakes poll battle, anticipated as Mahayuti vs. MVA emerged as a battle between two national parties, i.e., BJP and Congress. The two parties took on each other head-on, in at least 75 constituencies, however, the BJP gave the grand old party a bloody nose, romping home to victory in 65 out of the 75 direct face-offs.

What looked more worrisome for the grand old party was that out of these 75 direct BJP-Congress contest seats, the latter didnat even come in second place in at least six constituencies.

Secondly, Congress' allies in the MVA, SS(UBT) trailed its counterpart SS (on 31 direct face-off seats) with a vote share margin of roughly 2 per cent while NCP(SP) managed the lead over its break-away faction (led by Ajit Pawar) but it was the grand old party which failed to stand up to BJPas challenge, registering its biggest rout.

As per the Election Commission of India (ECI) records, Congress trailed BJPas vote share by a staggering 14 per cent.

Thirdly, BJP managed a whopping strike rate of about 89 per cent, winning 132 out of 149 seats that it contested in the 288-member Assembly while for Congress, it stood even 25 per cent. The strike rate of BJPas allies including SS and NCP(SP) hovered around 70 per cent. This assumes importance in the backdrop of recently held Lok Sabha polls, where BJP managed a lacklustre performance with barely 30-40 per cent vote share.

Fourthly, comparing the 2019 and 2024 Assembly elections, one finds that both Shiv Sena as well as NCP bettered their tally, this time. In 2019, the aundivideda Sena bagged 56 seats while the factions claimed victory in 77 seats (SS-57 and SS(UBT) - 20) and NCP got 54 in 2019, which rose to 51 (NCP(SP) and NCP put together) in 2024.

It is the Congress party which floundered and plummeted from 44 in 2019 to 16 seats in 2024 polls.

Lastly, the BJPas scintillating triumph in the Assembly elections came on the back of a powerful and well-oiled campaign in the aftermath of the 2024 LS setback. The campaign, steered by state and Central leaders not only enthused and energised its cadre but also galvanised party workers to strive for a better show.

BJP emerged victorious in 132 out of 288 seats, its highest-ever tally in Maharashtra and surpassed its past numbers of 122 in 2014 and 105 in the 2019 Assembly polls. On the other hand, Congress slumped to its worst-ever performance in the state, winning only 14 seats. This marked a steep decline from 44 in 2019 and 42 seats in the 2014 Assembly elections.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : Mohalla Tech, the parent company of social media platform ShareChat, reported a consolidated loss of Rs 1,898 crore in FY24, from Rs 5,143 crore in FY23.

In FY24, the companyas adjusted EBITDA loss was Rs 793 crore. Earlier, it was Rs 2,400 crore in FY23, according to its financials.

Mohalla Tech, which also owns short-form video app Moj, reported 50 per cent decline in expenses at Rs 1,540 crore in the last financial year. It was Rs 3,119 crore in FY23.

According to a report in Entrackr, while calculating the total expenses of the company, all non-cash components including foreign exchange (FX) losses, depreciation and ESOP expenses, were excluded.

The company said in a statement that its revenue increased by 33 per cent on annual basis to Rs 718 crore in FY 24, which was Rs 540 crore in FY 23.

The share of live-streaming in income was 56 per cent in FY24, increased by 41.4 per cent on annual basis to Rs 403 crore. The remaining income came from advertising. In FY24, it went up 23.5 per cent on annual basis to Rs 315 crore.

Apart from this, the company received income of Rs 29 crore in FY24 from interest and gain on financial assets. If this non-operating income is also included, the company's total income stood at Rs 747 crore last fiscal.

Employee benefits cost declined by 17 per cent to Rs 580 crore in FY24. This included ESOP (non-cash) of Rs 126 crore.

ShareChat claims to have over 325 million monthly active users (MAUs) across all its platforms. The short-form video app Moj has a monthly active user base of around 160 million.

According to reports, "ShareChat has so far raised $1.3 billion from investors. It is backed by companies such as Temasek Holdings, Google, Twitter, The Times Group, Tiger Global, Snap, Lightspeed and Elevation Capital. The valuation of the company had come down from $5 billion to $2 billion at the time of fund raising in June 2022."
Dhaka, Nov 26 : Hours after the Bangladeshi authorities arrested and sent Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari to jail, ISKCON Bangladesh revealed on Tuesday that its official social media page - crucial for the preservation of Sanatan Dharma and community's well-being in the country - has been targetted by cyber criminals.

In a social media post, Charu Chanda Das Brahmachari, Secretary General of ISKCON Bangladesh, said that the spiritual body's official Facebook page in the country, 'ISKCON TV Dhaka' - which he described as "an integral platform for promoting Sanatan Dharma, ISKCON's teachings, and Hindu spiritual values" - has come under attack from Bangladeshi cyber criminals.

"Unfortunately, our ISKCON TV Dhaka page was maliciously targetted and removed by a group named Cyber Defender Bangladesh, with the involvement of individuals who falsely present themselves as cyber security experts. This group has publicly claimed responsibility for the attack, which is a clear violation of Facebook's policies and represents cyber harassment of our community," said Charu Chanda Das.

He stated that the group of cyber criminals have also targetted other important spiritual media platforms, including Mayapur TV, Jayapataka Swami Bangla, and ISKCON Youth Forum Sylhet, causing widespread disruption.

"We have taken immediate legal action, filing a General Diary (GD) with the Bangladesh Police and communicating continuously with the Cyber Crime Investigation Department, DMP, Dhaka. The Deputy Commissioner of Cyber Crime Investigation has assured us of strict action against those responsible. We are confident in their support and await swift justice," said Das.

He detailed that a team of "dedicated Hindu cyber experts" from Garuda Cyber Shield that is providing voluntary support to safeguard Hindu online platforms in the country, has been working tirelessly to recover the pages.

"They successfully recovered the ISKCON TV Dhaka page once, but the malicious attackers struck again, taking the page down. Despite this setback, Garuda Cyber Shield continues their efforts to restore the page and strengthen its security. I strongly urge the Bangladesh Police and Cyber Crime Investigation Department to take immediate and decisive action against these perpetrators. Cyber harassment is a crime, and such attacks on religious platforms should not be tolerated," remarked the ISKCON Bangladesh Secretary General.

Charu Chanda Das also severely criticised the Bangladeshi authorities for arresting Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari who is also associated with ISKCON Bangladesh.

After being taken into custody by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 4:30 pm Monday, Das was produced before Judge Kazi Shariful Islam of Chittagong's 6th Metropolitan Magistrate around 10:30 am local time on Tuesday.

The judge, after rejecting his bail plea, sent the Hindu priest - associated with International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) - to jail.

ISKCON on Monday had urged the Indian government to take immediate steps, seeking the release of prominent Hindu monk.

"We have come across disturbing reports that Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das, one of the prominent leaders of ISKCON Bangladesh, has been detained by the Dhaka police. It is outrageous to make baseless allegations that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world. ISKCON, Inc. urges the Government of India to take immediate steps, speak to the government of Bangladesh, and convey that we are a peace-loving Bhakti movement," ISKCON said in a statement late Monday night.

"We want the Government of Bangladesh to release Chinmoy Krishna Das immediately. Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the protection of these devotees," the statement added.
Chandigarh, Nov 26 : In a significant step towards eradicating child marriage, Punjab will host a statewide oath-taking ceremony on November 27 as part of the 'Child Marriage-Free India' campaign.

The event will be broadcast live via a webcast link, uniting participants from across the state in a shared commitment to end this social evil.

Announcing the initiative, Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development Baljit Kaur highlighted its mission to eliminate child marriage and safeguard the future of children.

She called for enthusiastic participation from Women Self-Help Groups, Anganwadi Workers, ASHA Workers and Helpers, ANMs, Child Marriage Prohibition Officers, local community leaders, teachers, students from schools and colleges, elected representatives from Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies, community health practitioners, doctors, members of civil society organisations, members of state and district Bar councils, legal service authorities and religious leaders.

Kaur stressed the vital role of collective action, urging all sections of society to unite in making this campaign a resounding success. She appealed to elected representatives, healthcare workers, educators and students to actively raise awareness and take a firm stand against child marriage.

Reaffirming her commitment to the campaign's goals, Kaur said: "A child marriage-free state is not just an aspiration but a critical necessity for the holistic development of our children and society. This initiative is a historic opportunity for all stakeholders to contribute towards a brighter, safer future for our youth."

The minister reiterated the vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to transform Punjab into a vibrant and progressive state. She emphasised that achieving this vision requires the collective effort of all to eradicate the deep-rooted menace of child marriage.

She said the government aims to eliminate this practice and pave the way for a more equitable society.

She invited everyone to join the webcast and pledge their support, reinforcing the state's commitment to creating a brighter, child marriage-free Punjab.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : The Union government has given the green light to Shukrayaan-1 -- part of India's Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM) --, and setting up Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) -- India's own space station, Nilesh M Desai from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has said.

"The Indian government has recently given a nod to our Venus Orbiting Satellite -- Shukrayaan. It will be launched in 2028," said Desai, Director, Space Applications Centre, ISRO Ahmedabad, while speaking to the media.

Venus, often called Earth's twin, is the closest planet to our planet and is believed to have formed in conditions similar to Earth.

The VOM probe will help scientists understand how planetary environments can evolve very differently. It will also help search how Venus -- believed to be once habitable and quite similar to Earth -- transformed.

The mission would also enable India for future planetary missions with larger payloads, and optimal orbit insertion approaches.

Further, Desai noted that "the government has also approved to construct India's own space station".

While the International Space Station has 16 pressurised modules, "BAS will have five", he said, adding that the first module will be launched in 2028.

"India's space station will be ready by 2035. As a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to land on the Moon by 2040, our space station will function as a transit facility en route," Desai said.

Desai also informed that the government has "proposed the idea of Chandrayaan 4 as a follow up of Chandrayaan 3". He noted that with Chandrayaan 4, India "will not only land on the Moon but also bring back soil and rock samples".

He further noted that India plans to collaborate with Japan for the Chandrayaan 4 mission, which "will go to the tip of the Moon's south pole at 90 degrees south". Chandrayaan 3 reached 69.3 degrees south on the lunar surface.

"Chandrayaan 4 will be a precise landing. The rover as a part of the mission will weigh 350 kg, which is 12 times heavier than the previous rover," Desai said.

Although "ISRO is yet to get the government's nod for this mission, Desaid said, the space agency aims to "execute the mission by 2030".
Imphal, Nov 26 : After more than a week's lull, tension resurfaced in Manipur's Imphal West district, which borders the hilly Kangpokpi district, after a 56-year-old Meitei man was reported missing since Monday evening, officials said on Tuesday.

A police official said that Laishram Kamalbabu Singh, a resident of Loitang Khunou village in the district, left his residence on Monday evening to the Leimakhong military station, where he worked as a casual worker, but went missing as he did not report to the Army station in Kangpokpi.

Singhas mobile phone has also been switched off since he left home.

The official said that the Army and the Manipur Police launched a combined search operation to locate the missing person.

Singhas family members said that he did various unskilled jobs at the Leimakhong military station, located 16 km away from the capital Imphal and surrounded by Kuki-Zo tribal-dominated areas.

After the ethnic violence broke out in Manipur in May last year, people belonging to the Meitei community fled the areas near Leimakhong village.

According to police, a large number of men and women from Loitang Khunou village were on the way to Leimakhong to find his whereabouts but the security forces stopped them near the Kanto Sabal area to prevent any further escalation of the situation.

After being stopped, the agitating people blocked the road leading to the headquarters of the Army's 57th Mountain Division in protest.

After the mob violence in the Jiribam district on November 17, no incident was reported from any of the districts from either the valley region or hilly areas.

Meanwhile, considering the safety of the students, teachers and non-teaching staff, the Education Department closed the educational institutions including schools and universities in the five valley districts till Tuesday.

The Higher and School Education Departments, in consultation with the Home Department, ordered the suspension of normal classes in Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching districts.

The Manipur Home Department extended the suspension of mobile internet and data services in nine districts including the trouble-torn Jiribam district till November 27.

The nine districts, comprising both the valley and hills, are Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching, Kangpokpi, Churachandpur, Jiribam, and Pherzawl.
The Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers has increased funding for the government program "Support for Domestic Demand for Ukrainian Goods and Services" by approximately UAH 3.86 billion. The funds will be allocated as part of a one-time "Winter Support" aid package under the nationwide economic initiative "Made in Ukraine."

According to Taras Melnychuk, a Cabinet representative in the Verkhovna Rada, the decision was made during a government meeting on Tuesday.

Melnychuk explained that the additional funds were secured by revising the overall budget allocations designated for the Ministry of Economy in 2024 under the state budget's special fund.

The reallocations include UAH 99.83 million from the program for partial compensation for the cost of domestically produced agricultural machinery and equipment, UAH 1.763 billion from the program supporting investment projects with significant investments, and UAH 2 billion from the program for reimbursing expenses on humanitarian demining of agricultural lands. These funds will be redirected to address winter-related needs of Ukrainian citizens.
Bengaluru, Nov 26 : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said on Tuesday that the Congress MLAs should not question the guarantee schemes.

"Guarantee schemes will not be halted. We have promised the people about the guarantee schemes and we will remain committed. Congress MLAs should not question the guarantee schemes. We will initiate disciplinary action against those MLAs who will talk against the guarantee schemes," the Deputy Chief Minister said.

He added that if any ineligible individuals are benefiting from these schemes, it will be reviewed and rectified, adding that these schemes bring nearly Rs 250 crore to each constituency which is for the developmental works.

Earlier, Congress MLA H.R Gaviappa said that the government should stop the guarantee schemes and provide funds instead.

"I don't believe he would have made such a statement. If he has, we will seek clarification and issue a notice. A show-cause notice will also be issued to him," the Deputy Chief Minister said.

On Tuesday, MLA Gaviyappa retracted his statement after facing backlash, stating that there is no dearth of funds for the development of his constituency and guarantee schemes should not be stopped at any cost.

Reacting to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi's statement that approval for the Mahadayi project will be granted soon, the Deputy Chief Minister said that is 'great news'.

"Let the Mahadayi project be approved. Similarly, as promised by respected Deve Gowda, let the Mekedatu project also get approval. We are ready to make use of any support that benefits our state," he said.
Ranchi, Nov 26 : Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) spokesperson, Manoj Kumar Pandey, on Tuesday hinted at a blend of old and new faces in the Cabinet as JMM chief Hemant Soren prepares to take oath as Chief Minister for a historic fourth term on November 28.

According to sources, the Soren-led government will induct at least five new faces into the Cabinet.

The JMM-led alliance, comprising the Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist (CPI-ML), secured a second-consecutive term, winning 56 of the 81 seats in the Assembly.

Pandey described the upcoming ceremony as a "historic celebration of a historic victory."

While he refrained from disclosing the exact composition of the Hemant Soren Cabinet, he assured it would reflect "a mix of experience, youthful energy, loyalty, and social representation. "

"It is too early to name the ministers, but the Cabinet will be balanced and inclusive, combining the old guard with fresh talent," Pandey said.

The Congress and RJD, key allies in the coalition, are expected to finalise their nominations through their respective high commands. Meanwhile, the CPI-ML has yet to decide whether it will join the Cabinet, which, if confirmed, would mark the first time a Left party holds a ministerial position in Jharkhand.

Reacting to this, Pandey said, "A consensus formula will be worked out. Our leader, Hemant Soren, has a remarkable ability to take everyone along. No one will have cause for complaint."

The Cabinet, which can have a maximum of 12 ministers, including the Chief Minister, is likely to comprise six MLAs from the JMM, three or four from the Congress, one or two from the RJD, and one from the CPI-ML if it joins.

The JMM spokesperson revealed that several prominent political leaders would be invited to the oath-taking ceremony.

"Formal invitations will be extended to the leaders of the alliance, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Dipankar Bhattacharya, Tejashwi Yadav. Additionally, personal invitations will also be extended to Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee, among others," he said.

"I believe a personal invitation will also be extended to the Prime Minister. If he attends, it would be a good occasion," Pandey added.

On Monday, Hemant Soren held consultations with alliance leaders and close aides at his residence to finalise ministerial allocations. The alliance comprises 34 MLAs from the JMM, 14 from the Congress, four from the RJD, and two from the CPI-ML.
Chandigarh, Nov 26 : Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Tuesday expressed solidarity with Panjab University student organisations demanding elections for the varsity's Senate and urged Chandigarh administrator Gulab Chand Kataria to intervene and scrap the false cases registered against students.

The Akali leader, who interacted with student organisations and sat on a sit-in protest in the university, called for convening a special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to pass a resolution to demand the holding of elections, besides registering a protest against the allocation of land in Chandigarh to Haryana for building a separate legislative Assembly.

Majithia, who held a copy of the Constitution during his speech on campus, made an appeal for upholding the Constitution as well as the democratic structure of the country.

He also asserted, "I want to remind the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that you need to uphold the Constitution in the real sense of the word instead of just pledging loyalty to it. The Constitution came into being to protect the democratic rights of the people they should have the right to elect the Senate."

Praising the student bodies for rising above party lines to protest against the manner in which the Central government was seeking to do away with democratic bodies of the varsity, Majithia also condemned the police action against students when they tried to proceed to meet Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann when he was visiting the campus recently.

While condemning the Chief Minister for unleashing the police on the students which resulted in the manhandling of girl students in the absence of women constables, he said, "It is also condemnable that students were charged with non-bailable offences."

Majithia also appealed to all students to come together to save the institution, besides assuring them that the Akali Dal would fight alongside them and would also assist them in their legal battle.

He also appealed to the students to submit an application to the Chandigarh Senior Superintendent of Police as well as the UT Administrator to protest against the false cases registered against them.

Earlier, Students Organization of India (SOI) president Ranjit Singh Dhillon highlighted how Panjab University was being centralised. He said repeated attempts were being made to finish Punjab's right to the varsity with an attempt also being made to affiliate colleges in Haryana with the university.
Patna, Nov 26 : On the second day of the winter session of the Bihar Assembly, Liquor Prohibition Minister Shrawan Kumar said that 156 hooch-related deaths have been recorded in Bihar since 2016.

Kumar was responding to RJD MLA Ramanuj Prasad's question in the Assembly on Tuesday.

Prasad also questioned the government on the steps being taken for the families of the deceased and the measures against liquor traders, leading to a confrontation between the minister and the opposition.

Shrawan Kumar defended the liquor prohibition policy, stating, that from 2016, when prohibition was implemented, to date, 156 deaths due to spurious alcohol have been officially recorded.

"The government has provided employment to individuals who previously depended on selling alcohol, with nearly 1.5 lakh people benefiting from financial aid of 2 lakh each through the Jeevika initiative under the Rural Development Department," Kumar said.

He said that the government has intensified surveillance with drones and police teams, adding that the identified violators have been jailed, and their properties attached.

However, Bihar Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav contested the government's data and actions while arguing that the reported 156 deaths represent just three districts, suggesting the actual toll across Bihar is higher.

He alleged that prohibition enforcement disproportionately targets the poor, sparing wealthy individuals and big businessmen involved in the illegal liquor trade.

Yadav accused police officers of facilitating the transport of illegal liquor, highlighting the availability of various brands in Bihar despite the ban.

Reportedly, out of the 156 deaths, Saran has a maximum of 75 deaths, East Champaran has 55 while 33 persons lost their lives in Gopalganj district.

Shrawan Kumar reiterated the government's commitment to prohibition, questioning the opposition's sincerity in supporting it.

He pointed out that opposition members had pledged to report illegal liquor activities but had yet to provide any actionable information.

The prohibition policy in Bihar continues to be a contentious issue, with the government defending its effectiveness while acknowledging gaps in enforcement. Meanwhile, the opposition questions its implementation, citing high death tolls, corruption, and its impact on marginalised communities.
Mumbai/New Delhi, Nov 26 : Reviving from the trauma of the unexpected and stunning rout in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) clamoured again for an end to Electronic Voting Machines and a return to the traditional ballot paper polling in future elections, on Tuesday.

The demand came significantly during the 75th Constitution Day celebrations being held all over India to hail its Chief Architect Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and to stress the importance of the Charter.

MVA top leaders including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge raised the ballot paper issue in New Delhi, while Nationalist Congress Party (SP) National General Secretary Dr Jitendra Awhad and Shiv Sena's (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut expressed serious doubts over EVMs in Mumbai.

The alliance is also exploring legal avenues, filing pleas with the Election Commission of India and launching a nationwide public movement for going back to ballot paper voting.

At the Samvidhan Rakshak Abhiyaan in the national capital, which was attended by Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other bigwigs, Kharge said that whatever strengths the MVA had deployed in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, "their votes are disappearing".

"Forget these EVMs, we want nothing to do with it We want only paper ballot voting. Then you (the ruling party) will realise where they stand," thundered Kharge.

He called upon all the political parties to work for a national movement like the Bharat Jodo Yatras of Rahul Gandhi with a single theme to 'bring back ballot paper'.

Awhad and NCP (SP) MLA Rohit R. Pawar, plus Raut and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, Spokesperson Kishore Tiwari offered a piece of their minds citing figures to buttress their claims on how the MVA suffered reverses in the state polls ostensibly due to EVMs manipulation.

"I am speaking not just as an NCP (SP) or MVA leader, but even as a common man People are questioning us wherever we go They are unable to understand how their votes and sentiments are not reflected in the final outcome," Awhad pointed out.

Raut has said repeatedly that "this cannot be the mandate of the people of Maharashtra" and "this outcome is not acceptable to us at all," and wondered -- when PM Narendra Modi is shifting all industries from the state to Gujarat -- why would people still vote for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"An election fraud of this magnitude must never have taken place anywhere in the worldThe state election results are shocking. No one anticipated such outcomes. If anyone is responsible for all this, it is (ex) Chief Justice of India D. Y Chandrachud. History will never forgive him," growled Raut.

Chaturvedi has sought the ECI and Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to explain the glaring discrepancies found in the votes polled and counted in 95 (out of 288) Assembly constituencies.

Citing official data, Rohit Pawar questioned how the votes polled by the winning candidates in the Assembly seats in Nashik district were nearly the same and asked the ECI and CEO to clarify if it was true or not.

"What exactly are they trying to hide, or have they taken up the task of destroying democracy? The common masses want answers to these and many other questions We expect an early reply," said Rohit Pawar.

Tiwari said that as per the ECI, the final voter turnout was 66.05 per cent, or 6,40,88,195 total votes cast, but the votes counted were 6,45,92,508  or a whopping 504,313 excess.

"From where did the extra votes come, why the difference in both the figures, where did these additional votes go, and how did this happen despite the so-called advanced technology deployed? The masses have doubts about the entire (state) election process," said Tiwari.

Simultaneously, the MVA parties in their internal meetings with the victorious and vanquished candidates are understood to have discussed the need to raise mass awareness and action vis-a-vis EVMs.

Several MVA leaders including Communist Party of India's (Marxist) Narsayya N. Adam, who lost from Solapur City Central, have demanded that the ECI should cancel the just-held Assembly elections and announce fresh polling in the state.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: qnajmi@gmail.com)
New Delhi, Nov 26 : Delving into the evolving landscape of warfare, General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), has emphasised the relentless pace of change and the need to stay ahead of the curve, an official said on Tuesday.

Addressing the young military commanders and next generation leaders of the Indian Army undergoing training at the Defence Services Technical Staff Course (DSTSC), Pune, General Dwivedi asked student officers to embody the spirit of versatility, adaptability and steely determination in line with the transformation drive.

His dynamic presence and visionary words left an indelible impact on the student officers, energising them to embrace the challenges of modern warfare with unwavering resolve and unrelenting zeal.

General Dwivedi spoke of Defence preparedness as not just a requirement but an art, a symphony of strategy and precision.

Highlighting the emerging threats and challenges as pertinent in the Indian context, the COAS emphasised on ongoing transformational initiatives being undertaken by the Indian Army.

The COAS also highlighted the Army's unmatched role in providing humanitarian aid during natural disasters, bringing solace and hope in times of despair.

He also lauded the Army's courage in evacuating Indians from perilous conflict zones, showcasing a blend of tactical brilliance and human compassion.

Stressing the importance of military-diplomatic synergy, the Army Chief underscored the power of unity in countering external threats.

He said operational readiness, strategic alignment, and cohesive coordination were the bedrock of a formidable force.

Calling for a seismic shift in military thinking, the COAS urged the officers to reimagine and reconstruct the tools and techniques of warfare.

The COAS commended the Military Institute of Technology (MILIT), Girinagar, for its illustrious role in shaping leaders not only for the Indian Armed Forces but also for Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs).

He praised MILIT as a beacon of excellence where leaders of tomorrow are forged with intellect, character and purpose, inspiring both faculty and students.

Rear Admiral Nelson D'Souza, NM, Commandant, MILIT, said, "General Dwivedi's words have rekindled a sense of purpose and pride in directing staff and student officers, and will guide them to achieve greater heights, embodying the ethos of courage and commitment."
Windhoek, Nov 26 : Namibia's President Nangolo Mbumba has called on citizens to participate peacefully in the 8th Presidential and National Assembly elections set for Wednesday.

In a message to the nation, Mbumba highlighted the importance of the upcoming vote, which will determine the fifth President and members of the eighth National Assembly and appealed to all Namibians to turn out in large numbers to vote.

"Your participation is a patriotic contribution to the consolidation of our democracy and the development of our motherland. I appeal to you to do so in a calm manner that is peaceful and respectful of one another, the relevant authorities and the laws of our Republic," Mbumba said.

He acknowledged the challenges of the past year, particularly the sudden passing of former President Hage G. Geingob while reaffirming the strength of Namibia's democratic processes, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Our processes, systems and institutions were severely tested and remain firm. Thus we continue the culture of free, fair and peaceful elections," he said, praising the conduct of political party leaders, supporters, and all stakeholders throughout the election campaign period. "The climate in which you campaigned and freely expressed your views in favor of your political parties is a demonstration of the strength of the democratic foundations of the Namibian House."

He also expressed confidence in the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), urging them to carry out their duties with fairness and integrity.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : In a significant testament to the success of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), the residents of Jhounji village in Bihar's Madhubani district are benefitting immensely from the free treatment offered under the scheme.

Asharfi Rai, a resident of Jhounji village in the Benipatti area, sustained a hip fracture after an accident. He was admitted to the surgical ward of Sadar Hospital, where his operation was performed free of charge under the PM-JAY scheme. Speaking to IANS, Rai expressed gratitude towards the government, stating, "I have not spent any money on the surgery. The Ayushman Bharat Yojana has been a significant help."

Rai's wife added, "The treatment has been progressing well without any charges for the surgery. This scheme is a blessing for families like ours."

She also mentioned that the entire treatment was covered under the PM-JAY scheme.

The PM-JAY scheme, which provides up to Rs 5 lakh of free medical treatment per family annually, has been a boon for low-income families across the country.

Asharfi Rai and his family conveyed their heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for launching the scheme, calling it a "blessing for the poor."

Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is the largest health assurance scheme in the world, providing health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 12 crore poor and vulnerable families (approximately 55 crore beneficiaries) that form the bottom 40 per cent of the country's population.

The households included are based on the deprivation and occupational criteria of the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011) for rural and urban areas respectively. PM-JAY was earlier known as the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) before being rechristened. PM-JAY is fully funded by the Government.
Harare, Nov 26 : Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has urged creditors and development partners to help the southern African country address its external debt, which is undermining economic development.

In his keynote address at the seventh high-level structured dialogue platform forum in Harare, Zimbabwe's capital, Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe had made tremendous progress in implementing economic, public sector, and governance reforms to pave the way for the successful resolution of the country's 21 billion US dollars debt, made up of 13 billion dollars in external debt and 8 billion dollars in domestic debt.

He said the successful implementation of the arrears clearance and debt resolution strategy is key for Zimbabwe to unlock new concessional external financing that is critical for achieving economic development.

"Since the establishment of the structured dialogue platform process in 2022, we have registered tremendous progress, with growing consensus, trust, and confidence in this initiative," Mnangagwa said. "I call for the continued support of the international financial institutions, development partners, our creditors, and the international community for the arrears clearance and debt resolution process."

The arrears clearance and debt resolution process is being championed by African Development Bank (AfDB) President Akinwumi Adesina while former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano is the high-level facilitator.

Mnangagwa reiterated Zimbabwe's commitment to the successful resolution of the arrears clearance and debt resolution process, pointing out that access to external concessional financing will be key for long-term funding of the country's development projects.

He said to anchor the implementation of further economic reforms under the debt resolution process, the Zimbabwean government is currently negotiating a Staff Monitored Program (SMP) with the International Monetary Fund.

Speaking at the same event, Adesina said the IMF staff mission is expected to prepare the framework for the SMP during its routine staff mission to Zimbabwe in January next year, Xinhua news agency reported.

He lamented that years of Western sanctions on Zimbabwe have worsened the country's debt and called for concerted efforts to urgently resolve the debt crisis.

"The 21 billion dollars debt of Zimbabwe, of which the bulk is arrears, has made arrears the new debt stacked like piles of sandbags on the back of Zimbabwe. We all agree we must play our part to correct this anomaly and give a new lease of life to this nation and its people, so Zimbabwe can run again," Adesina added.
Abuja, Nov 26 : Nigerian military has claimed responsibility for killing a "significant number" of suspected terrorists in a series of airstrikes recently launched to root out criminal groups around the Lake Chad Basin.

Olusola Akinboyewa, the spokesman for the Nigerian Air Force, told reporters in the Nigerian capital of Abuja that the airstrikes on Saturday targeted the enclaves of suspected terror groups at the Jubillaram area, located in the southern Tumbuns, near Lake Chad.

A suspected food depot of terrorists in the area was also destroyed during the air operation, Akinboyewa said, noting the military identified the strategic location through "meticulous intelligence efforts."

The location served as a critical food storage site and a sanctuary for terrorist commanders and fighters, according to him, Xinhua news agency reported.

Akinboyewa said intelligence had previously linked terrorists in the location to recent attacks, adding aside from killing terrorists on-site during the recent raid, the military also ensured the "complete elimination" of fleeing hostile elements during mop-up operations, using cannons.

"The destruction of the terrorist enclave, including food storage facilities, severely disrupted their logistical operations, while the neutralization of a significant number of fighters diminished their capacity to launch future attacks," he said, without giving an exact number of suspected terrorists killed during the "successful operation."

Primarily aimed at combating the Boko Haram insurgency in the region, the Lake Chad Basin is covered by a multinational joint force, which consists of troops from bounding countries, including Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Benin, and Nigeria.
One civilian dead, one injured in enemy attacks on Donetsk region over past day

One civilian was killed and another one was injured as a result of Russian occupiers' attacks on Donetsk region on November 25, Head of Donetsk Regional Military Administration Vadym Filashkin has said Tuesday morning.

"On November 25, Russians killed one resident of Donbas, in Dachne. Another person was injured in the region during the past 24 hours," he said in a Telegram message.

According to the statistics of the regional administration, since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 2,882 people were killed and 6,455 were wounded in Donetsk region. This data does not take into account casualties in the occupied cities of Volnovakha and Mariupol.
Varanasi, Nov 26 : Several students and Professors of the prestigious Banaras Hindu University (BHU) on Tuesday welcomed the release of The Constitution in Sanskrit and Maithili languages and said that this will go a long way in imparting the constitutional values to people in their own languages, besides enriching the cultural and linguistic heritage of the country.

Shyamnand Mishra, a professor at BHU, speaking to IANS said the move is a proud moment for all the Maithili speakers.

"This is not only a moment of pride for Maithili speakers but for every Indian. I thank everyone for this special initiative, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for giving prominence to the language," Mishra said.

Vinay Pandey, a professor in BHU's Sanskriti Department, echoed Mishra's sentiments, praising the government's initiative.

"It is a remarkable step by Prime Minister Modi," Pandey said.

"We are honoured that the Constitution has been translated into Sanskrit, a language integral to India's cultural fabric. We thank all those who worked on this initiative," he said.

Vivek Tripathi, a student from the Sanskriti Department, also welcomed the release of Maithili and Sanskrit versions of the sacred book.

"Sanskrit represents Indiaas ancient heritage, and the efforts to revive it are commendable," Tripathi stated.

"The launch of the Constitution in Sanskrit is a proud moment for us. As Sanskrit students, we feel inspired, and it reinforces the importance of preserving our cultural legacy."

Earlier in the day, President Droupadi Murmu released the Maithili and Sanskrit versions of the Constitution. Addressing the event to kickstart the year-long celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution, President Murmu also recalled the contribution of the 15 women members of the Constituent Assembly in framing the document.

Notably, the country is observing Constitution Day (Samvidhan Diwas) today to mark the adoption of the Constitution by the Constituent Assembly on November 26,1949.
Seoul, Nov 26 : The state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB) signed an initial agreement on Tuesday with the US artificial intelligence (AI) research firm OpenAI to jointly foster the growth of AI ecosystem in the country, bank officials said.

Under the memorandum of understanding (MOU), the two sides will collaborate to boost the local AI ecosystem and facilitate the development of Korean language-based AI models, they added.

This marks OpenAI's first MoU with any South Korean entity, reports Yonhap news agency. "The sophistication of the AI industry will be the gauge of national competitiveness from now on, and KDB will work as a government affairs coordinator for OpenAI to help the company operate in South Korea," KDB Chairman Kang Seog-hoon said.

OpenAI's chief strategy officer Jason Kwon said in a press release that South Korea is a leading country in the field of AI and the MOU agreement with KDB has been made under the "common" goal of the two sides to advance Seoul's AI ecosystem.

Meanwhile, the rate of online searches via Naver, South Korea's leading internet portal operator, in the country has seen a significant drop over the past nine years amid growing competition, an industry report showed last week.

The Korean portal giant took up a 57.32 percent share of the domestic search engine market in the first 10 months of this year, followed by global search engine Google at 33.9 percent, according to the report by the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation.

The report said AI technology shifted the paradigm of the search market after OpenAI's ChatGPT, a generative AI model, was released in 2022, from offering a list of information to users' questions to providing a more customized and summarized answer.

This year, foreign search engines with AI features, including those of Google and Microsoft, showed sharp growth in the domestic market, according to the report.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday said that when citizens challenge a law or an executive action, they participate in a democratic process envisaged by the Constitution.

Addressing the Constitution Day celebrations at the Supreme Court, CJI Khanna said that "we the people of India" consider the Constitution "a way of life".

He stressed that the constitutional scheme has designed the judiciary in a manner to ensure that its decisions are unbiased and fair.

"Imagine a world where judges campaign for votes, solicit views and decisions from the public and make promises for future judgments. The Constitution by design insulates the judiciary from the ebbs and flows of the electoral process.

"This ensures that its decisions are unbiased without any affection or ill-will, free from external pressures and guided solely by the Constitution and laws," the CJI said.

Further, CJI Khanna said that certain areas of concern, including backlog of cases, delays, litigation cost, lack of ease of access to justice, large number of undertrial prisoners, are "engulfing the judiciary".

He said that the judiciary, by opening itself to scrutiny, may identify systemic deficiencies and bottlenecks, and work towards eliminating them.

"It is our pledge to honour and uphold and protect the Constitution of India as its trustee and custodian. The Constitution bestows upon the constitutional courts the power of judicial review. This enables us to strike down the legislations, executive policy, and administrative and quasi-judicial decisions. We entertain Public Interest Litigations, initiate suo moto cases, appoint amicus curiae, who assists our decision making," CJI Khanna said.

In his address, he thanked the Union government for approving the Rs 7,200 crore budget under Phase-III of the e-courts project.

On completion of 75 years of adoption of the Constitution, the Supreme Court is commemorating the Constitution Day celebrations.

Constitution Day of India, also known as Samvidhan Divas, is celebrated on November 26 every year to celebrate the adoption of the Indian Constitution.

On this day in 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India formally adopted the Constitution, which later came into effect on January 26, 1950.

The Constitution, which serves as the supreme law of the land, outlines the structure of governance, the distribution of power, and the fundamental rights of citizens.

Constitution Day was officially recognised in 2015 by the Union government, with the aim to spread awareness about the Constitution's importance, promote constitutional values among citizens and encourage them to reflect on the values of democracy, justice, equality, and liberty that it upholds.
Mumbai, Nov 26 : Even though the BJP has not yet opened its cards with regard to the Chief Minister's post in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena on Tuesday took aggressive postures, saying that it has conveyed to the Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that party chief leader Eknath Shinde should continue as the Chief Minister following MahaYuti's landslide victory in the Assembly election.

"BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP fought the Assembly election as a grand alliance and recorded a stellar performance. All of us Shiv Sainiks and voters want a government under the leadership of whom we got this success, under whose leadership the MahaYuti contested the elections," said senior Shiv Sena leader Shambhuraj Desai.

He added all the MLAs of Shiv Sena want Eknath Shinde to head the government one more time.

"We discussed this at the Shiv Sena meeting and on behalf of our party, some prominent members met Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and conveyed to him the feelings of the party legislators and leaders (that Eknath Shinde should become the chief minister," Desai said.

He clarified that there is no contest and tussle for the post of Chief Minister's post among MahaYuti partners, adding that a decision for the post of Chief Minister will be taken through mediation.

"The Shiv Sena legislators have authorised Eknath Shinde to take decisions with regard to the government formation and the Chief Minister's post. Therefore, if any decision is to be taken as the Shiv Sena party, it will be taken only by Eknath Shinde and it will be acceptable to all our leaders, MLAs, workers, and office bearers," he, however, hinted that the party has not given up its claim over the Chief Minister's post.

Meanwhile, Eknath Shinde's close confidant Naresh Mhaske said that the MahaYuti can adopt the Bihar model in Maharashtra whereby the BJP can give the Chief Minister's post to Shiv Sena and to Eknath Shinde, despite the party winning 57 seats against 132 by BJP.

Shiv Sena Minister Deepak Kesarkar said that the government will be formed as per the suggestions of BJP party leaders.

"Every activist has a feeling that their leader should be the Chief Minister. But all three parties have said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will take a decision with regards to the Chief Minister's post," Kesarkar said.

He added that Eknath Shinde has also said clearly that they all will accept the decision taken by PM Modi and Amit Shah regarding the post of Chief Minister.

On Tuesday, Eknath Shinde resigned as the Chief Minister after the term of the 14th Assembly expired but Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan has asked him to continue as a caretaker Chief Minister till the new Chief Minister takes oath.

However, Shiv Sena Minister Deepak Kesarkar has downplayed Shinde's resignation saying it was a formality as he had accepted the charge of caretaker Chief Minister.

"Eknath Shinde is not angry at all. There is no discontent in Shiv Sena. Eknath Shinde has already told BJP leaders in Delhi that the decision taken by them regarding the Chief Minister's post will be acceptable to him and the party. So I think a good decision will be taken in Delhi," said Kesarkar.

He added that this is the first time that Maharashtra has given so much love to a party and also to any alliance, adding that earlier under the leadership of Yashwantrao Chavan Congress had won 222 seats in this state.

"His record has been broken this time by our grand alliance. We are very happy about it. Also, the state will soon get the Chief Minister of this strong grand alliance. The Chief Minister's post will be decided in Delhi and we hope that the party leaders in Delhi will take a good decision," said Kesarkar.

Meanwhile, BJP sources said that Fadnavis will take over as the next Chief Minister in the next two to three days at the grand swearing-in ceremony is likely to take place at Wankhede Stadium or at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and a couple of central ministers, BJP Chief Ministers and the chief ministers of NDA-ruled states are expected to attend the swearing-in function.

(Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in)
Chandigarh, Nov 26 : Amid chants of "Inquilab Zindabad", the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday took out a 'Shukrana Yatra (thanksgiving procession)' from Patiala to Amritsar as a gesture of gratitude for the trust shown by the people of Punjab in the party's recent bye-election victories.

Chandigarh, Nov 26 (IANS) Amid chants of "Inquilab Zindabad", the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday took out a 'Shukrana Yatra (thanksgiving procession)' from Patiala to Amritsar as a gesture of gratitude for the trust shown by the people of Punjab in the party's recent bye-election victories.

The procession symbolised the AAP's appreciation for the continued support and faith of the people in its vision for the state of Punjab.

The 'Shukrana Yatra' was led by AAP Punjab President and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora and was joined by prominent party leaders, including AAP Working President Amansher Singh Shery Kalsi, Cabinet ministers Harpal Singh Cheema, Harjot Singh Bains, and Tarunpreet Singh Sondh, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, several AAP MLAs, chairpersons, and thousands of enthusiastic supporters from across the state.

On this significant day, the 'Shukrana Yatra' also coincided with the foundation day of the Aam Aadmi Party.

AAP Punjab President Aman Arora expressed gratitude to the people, stating, "The AAP has grown from strength to strength, driven by the dedication and hard work of its leaders, volunteers, and workers. This journey, led by Arvind Kejriwal and supported by every AAP worker, has been one of integrity, transparency, and commitment to the people."

Arora extended congratulations to all AAP leaders and volunteers for their relentless efforts in bringing about change and empowering the common man.

"Their dedication to the party's principles and their tireless work for the betterment of Punjab and the nation have been pivotal in making AAP the people's party. Together, AAP will continue to make strides toward a brighter future for all," he added.

The procession began at Shri Kali Mata Mandir in Patiala at 9 A.M. and passed through several key towns and cities, including Gobindgarh, Samrala, Doraha, Sahnewal, Ludhiana, Phagwara, Jalandhar, Kartarpur and Rayia.

The procession made its way towards Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), Sri Durgiana Mandir, and concluded at the sacred Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Asthan and Ram Tirath Mandir in Amritsar.

Throughout the journey, Arora and other leaders were welcomed with flowers, chants of "Inquilab Zindabad", and support from party workers and locals.

"Today marks not only a day of celebration but also a reaffirmation of our commitment to the people of Punjab. The Shukrana Yatra is a reflection of the people's trust in the Aam Aadmi Party and our leadership. With every step, we are reminded of the responsibility entrusted to us. This yatra is a promise to the people of Punjab that we will continue working tirelessly to improve their lives," Arora added.
Kolkata, Nov 26 : Tala Police Station's former SHO Abhijit Mondal, who is currently in judicial custody in connection with the ghastly rape and murder of a junior doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata in August, on Tuesday moved the Calcutta High Court for bail.

The matter will be heard by the division bench of Justice Arijit Bandopadhyay and Justice Apurba Sinha Roy on any day during the current week.

Mondal and R.G. Kar's former, controversial Principal Sandip Ghosh were arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the rape and murder tragedy. R.G. Kar comes under the jurisdiction of Tala Police Station.

The main charges against both of them are misleading the investigation and tampering with the evidence while the initial investigation in the matter was being carried out by Kolkata Police before the charge of the probe was handed over to CBI by Calcutta High Court.

After his arrest, Mondal was suspended by the state government following the protocol that any government official and staff has to be suspended if he is in custody for a criminal offence for 48 hours or more.

Earlier, Mondal had also applied for bail at a special court in Kolkata but the CBI had opposed it. The CBI counsel informed the court that that call list of Mondal's mobile number had a number of mysterious conversations on August 9 the morning, when the body of the victim was recovered from the seminar hall within R.G Kar premises.

The CBI has already submitted its first charge sheet in the case where they have identified civic volunteer Sanjay Roy as the "sole prime accused" in the rape and murder crime. Now the central agency sleuths are trying to unfold the "larger conspiracy picture" behind the crime.

In such a situation, the event of Mondal approaching the Calcutta High Court with a bail plea became extremely crucial since already there had been criticism from different quarters about the progress of the investigation by the central agency.
Mumbai, Nov 26 : Actor Sidhant Gupta, who played the role of Jawaharlal Nehru in "Freedom at Midnight," paid a stylish tribute to India's first Prime Minister by sporting the iconic red rose-a signature accessory famously worn by Nehru.

Mumbai, Nov 26 (IANS) Actor Sidhant Gupta, who played the role of Jawaharlal Nehru in "Freedom at Midnight," paid a stylish tribute to India's first Prime Minister by sporting the iconic red rose-a signature accessory famously worn by Nehru.

Known for his distinguished style, Nehru's signature red rose pinned to his jacket has long been associated with his leadership and legacy. Sidhant chose to incorporate this timeless accessory into his look. The red rose, which was a hallmark of Nehru's outfits, symbolized a touch of elegance and national pride. Gupta sported all-blue ensemble. He paired up bandgala Jodhpuri jacket with matching pants and a red rose.

The actor shared his photos on his social media handles.

Expressing his thoughts on fashion, Sidhant shared, "Fashion is an exhilarating journey, and this blue bandhgala look truly embodies elegance in simplicity."

On a related note, "Freedom at Midnight," directed by Nikkhil Advani, also stars actors Chirag Vohra, and Rajendra Chawla. Nikkhil revealed his thought process behind casting Gupta as Jawaharlal Nehru in the series. The director stated, "Casting for this project was no easy feat, it was critical to find actors who could truly embody these iconic leaders. Nehru's character was the last to be cast for the show. We needed someone who could truly embody Pandit Nehru, and while Sidhant's talent was undeniable, it was his striking resemblance, especially his nose, to Nehru Ji that sealed the deal."

The series also starred Chirag Vohra, Rajendra Chawla, Arif Zakaria, Ira Dubey, Malishka Mendonsa, Rajesh Kumar, KC Shankar, Luke McGibney, Cordelia Bugeja, Alistair Finlay, Andrew Cullum, and Richard Teverson in pivotal roles.

"Freedom at Midnight" is inspired by the bestselling book by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins. The series explored the motivations, struggles, and sacrifices of prominent leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel during India's fight for independence.

The show was released on November 15 on Sony LIV.
Kolkata, Nov 26 : A special court in Kolkata on Tuesday granted custody of Santu Gangopadhyay and Santanu Bandopadhyay, two Trinamool Congress leaders to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The leaders have allegedly acted as middlemen in the multi-crore cash-for-school job case in West Bengal.

On Tuesday, only a single-judge bench of the Calcutta High granted conditional bail to Bandopadhyay in the case filed in the matter against him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which had been conducting a parallel probe along with CBI in the school job case.

However, before he could be released he was been taken back into custody by the CBI.

Gangopadhyay was arrested by the CBI officials on Monday night hours after Arpita Mukherjee, a close associate of former West Bengal Education Minister and Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee, was released on bail in Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Kolkata.

Gangopadhyay is also a close confidant of Chatterjee.

Arpita Mukherjee was arrested by the ED officials in July 2022 and its officials recovered huge cash and gold from her two residences while Partha Chatterjee was arrested on the same day.

Meanwhile, the CBI had to present another prime accused in the case Sujay Krishna Bhadra at the special to seek his custody.

However, Bhadra, who is in judicial custody now after being arrested by ED last year, could not be produced at the court as he complained of acute chest pain.

The judge of the special court directed the CBI to ensure the presence of Bhadra at the court, physically or virtually, on November 28.
New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 26 : Firebrand Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader K.M. Shaji on Tuesday got a huge relief when the Supreme Court upheld the Kerala High Court judgment quashing the bribery and money laundering cases against him.

A former two-time legislator, Shaji, 52, is one of the ruling CPI-Mas foremost political opponents in Kerala on account of the strong positions he has taken against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the murder cases in Kannur district where the CPI-M workers are involved.

A bench of Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih on Tuesday dismissed the special leave petitions filed against the High Court verdict by the Kerala government and the Directorate of Enforcement.

The case was Shaji had accepted a bribe of Rs 25 lakh from the manager of Azhikode Higher Secondary School, Kannur, for sanctioning a Plus Two course in 2014-15.

The complaint was given by local CPI-M leader K.Padmanabhan and the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau had registered an FIR against Shaji under Sections 7 and 13(1)(d), read with 13(2), of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Following the Vigilance registering the case, the ED registered a case under the PMLA Act and they also joined the Kerala government against Shaji in the apex court.

The Supreme Court reviewed statements from 54 witnesses recorded during the investigation and Justice Oka observed that none of the statements indicated that Shaji personally demanded or received money.

"You recorded 54 statements. Not a single witness says that the demand was made in his presence and money was paid to him, not a single witness. 50 witnesses, including the manager... we have gone through the entire record. All hearsay that somebody else told me that money was demanded. Not a whisper about the demand made by the respondent," he noted.

"If we allow this, any politician can be roped in..." he said.

The court refused to accept the arguments of both the ED and the Kerala government and dismissed the SLP challenging the High Court order quashing the money laundering case against Shaji arising from the bribery allegations noting that it has upheld quashing of the bribery case.

IUML leader and Rajya Sabha member Harris Beeran said this case originated at the behest of Chief Minister Vijayan and others who are against Shaji for his tirades against the CPI-M and they used all the powers with them to target Shaji, but he has come out clean.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : Issue of Digital Life Certificates (DLC), introduced for the convenience of pensioners and elder citizens, has crossed the record one crore mark in the ongoing campaign DLC 3.0, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Tuesday.

Minister in charge of the Department of Personnel and Pensions Jitendra Singh said: "This landmark will go a long way in bringing ease of living for elder citizens and live up to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as expressed by him in the recent episode of Mann Ki Baat last Sunday."

PM Modi, in the 116th episode of Mann Ki Baat, had said: "Now, by enabling the Digital Life Certificate, things have become very simple; the elderly do not have to go to the bank. The elderly do not face any problems on account of technology. Making the elderly tech savvy. Today, with such efforts, the number of people receiving Digital Life certificates has crossed the 80 lakh mark. Among these, more than 2 lakhs are such elderly people whose age has crossed even 80."

Singh said: "The vision of Prime Minister Modi for Digital Empowerment of Pensioners is being achieved through the successful implementation of DLC Campaign 3.0. All key stakeholders a" Pension disbursing banks, Department of Pensions and Pensioners Welfare, Controller General of Defence Accounts, Ministry of Railways, Department of Telecom, Department of Posts, IPPB, UIDAI and Pensioners Welfare Associations are working with a whole of government approach to realise the vision of Digital Empowerment of Pensioners."

Singh had launched the nationwide Digital Life Certificate Campaign 3.0 for Digital Empowerment of Pensioners from the National Media Centre in Delhi. The DLC Campaign 3.0 is being held in 800 cities and towns across the country from November 1-30. As many as 1,984 camps have been held from November 1-25 and 1.8 lakh postmen have been deployed across the country.

There has been a 202 times increase in DLCs submitted through Face Authentication under DLC Campaign 3.0. As part of the Campaign, 5 Mega camps have been organised - 3 in Delhi, and 1 each in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, involving all stakeholders.

During the camps, Pensioners and Pensionersa Welfare Associations conveyed that the development of Digital Life Certificates was a huge step towards making life easy for pensioners, particularly the old, disabled, and those hospitalised.

Singh said: "This achievement is a testament to the Government of Indiaas unwavering commitment to harnessing digital tools for the benefit of every pensioner."
Over the past 24 hours, 191 combat clashes were recorded on the fronts of the Russian-Ukrainian war, most of them occurred on the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove axes in Donetsk region, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) reported on Tuesday.

"On the Pokrovsk axis, our defenders stopped 51 assault operations of the aggressor. [...] On the Kurakhove axis, the defense forces repelled 46 attacks," it said on Facebook.

On the Kharkiv axis, Russian terrorists unsuccessfully stormed the positions of Ukrainian units five times. On the Kupyansk axis, there were 23 enemy attacks during the day.

On the Lyman axis, the invaders attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders eleven times, on the Kramatorsk axis  four times, on the Toretsk axis  six times, and there is one ongoing battle in the area.

On the Vremiv axis, the enemy made 13 assaults on Ukrainian positions. On the Orikhiv axis, the enemy attacked twice in the vicinity of Novoandriyivka.

The invaders unsuccessfully tried to dislodge the Ukrainian defense units from their positions on the Prydniprovsk axis three times.
Islamabad, Nov 26 : Forcing their way into Islamabad after pushing the security forces on backfoot in violent clashes that resulted in at least half a dozen deaths earlier in the day, thousands of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protestors have reached Islamabad's Zero Point 'D-Chowk' where they plan to hold an indefinite sit-in until party chief and former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is released from jail.

Violent clashes between the security forces and PTI protestors are being witnessed at several places in the country's capital as Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi, the driving force behind the rally, remains adamant and is urging party workers and supporters to take control of the sensitive location.

Addressing people at the main Jinnah Avenue, Bushra Bibi took an oath from supporters to stay put at the venue until her husband is released.

"You all have to promise me that we will not leave D-Chowk until Imran Khan is released and is here amongst us. And, if anyone tells you that I have left, then that will be a lie," she said.

"I also make an appeal to the people of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to come out of their homes. Nobody should leave D-Chowk even if there is shortage of food and water. We will stay here for as long as it takes until Imran Khan is released," she added.

Bushra Bibi also cautioned PTI protesters to not trust statements coming out of the Adiala jail where Imran Khan is currently lodged.

"Our plan will not change until Imran Khan comes out and tells us what to do next. No matter the pressure, we will not listen to anything until Khan addresses us directly. If Khan speaks from inside, don't listen to him, wait for him to come outside," she stated.

On the other hand, the government continues to warn PTI protestors that it will be forced to take "extreme steps" to protect the capital from "mob attacks" if the situation escalates further.

"We have called in the Pakistan Army to ensure security of the Red Zone. I want to warn PTI again to not test our patience. We are extremely cautious and are not using force against PTI miscreants to save lives and bloodshed. In doing so, our forces have been attacked with gunfire and direct attacks, which has already resulted in martyrdom of police and ranger personnel," said Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar.

"Any mob taking over the capital cannot be allowed. PTI wants to see dead bodies to play its dirty politics, and is using innocent lives of people to extend its evil agenda. We will not let that happen. But we will also not tolerate the unrest and spread of chaos for too long," he added.

Meanwhile, the PTI leadership continues to remain in touch with its jailed chief, consulting him on offers and backdoor talks with the government while trying to find a mutual ground of understanding for an agreement.

Bushra Bibi, on the other hand, has made it clear that she will not call off the protest rally until the government releases Imran Khan.

Analysts believe that Bushra Bibi is currently calling the shots in the party, even ahead of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
Kigali, Nov 26 : Rwanda and the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) signed an agreement Monday to establish the institute's African Regional Office in Kigali, the Rwandan capital.

The agreement, signed by Rwanda's Minister of Health Sabin Nsanzimana and IVI Director General Jerome Kim, paves the way for the regional headquarters to serve as a hub for global health research, innovation, and collaboration, the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

"The establishment of the International Vaccine Institute in Rwanda marks a significant step toward the sustained advancement of healthcare research and equitable access to vaccines across the continent and beyond," said Nsanzimana, adding that Rwanda is committed to addressing vaccine inequities through local production of vaccines, therapeutics, and other life-saving medical products.

The Kigali-based IVI office said it will represent IVI in Africa, expand its member base and engagement, and emphasize clinical trial training capacity. It will also foster joint grant applications with local partners to accelerate vaccine research and innovation across the continent, Xinhua news agency reported.

The IVI, headquartered in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, was established in 1997 under the initiative of the United Nations Development Program. Its mission is to discover, develop, and deliver safe, effective, and affordable vaccines for global health. Rwanda was chosen to host the African office following a rigorous evaluation of proposals from five African nations.

Early this month, Rwanda and the African Union (AU) inaugurated the African Medicines Agency headquarters in Kigali, paving the way for the continental regulatory body's operations. The specialized AU agency will facilitate pandemic preparedness, expand access to medicines, support collaboration among regulators, and build resilient health systems across the continent.

Rwanda is also the first of three African nations to host an mRNA manufacturing facility, with vaccines dedicated to serving AU members and advancing access to innovative medicines.
Beijing, Nov 26 : Liu Liange, former Chairman of Bank of China, was on Tuesday sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for bribe-taking and illegal issuing of loans.

He was found to have accepted bribes worth over 121 million yuan (about 16.8 million US dollars), according to a court in the city of Jinan, east China's Shandong Province.

Liu was deprived of political rights for life, all of his personal property will be confiscated, and all his illegal gains must be recovered and turned over to the state treasury, the court sentence read, Xinhua news agency reported.

The court found that Liu had taken advantage of his various positions at the Export-Import Bank of China and Bank of China, respectively, to provide assistance to others in matters such as loan financing, project cooperation and personnel arrangements -- while illegally accepting bribes in return.

Moreover, he was found to have knowingly facilitated the issuance of loans totaling more than 3.32 billion yuan to unqualified companies in violation of legal rules, resulting in a principal loss of over 190.7 million yuan, the court said.
Kyiv, Nov 26 : Russia launched 188 combat drones at Ukraine in an overnight attack, marking the highest number of drones fired in an attack since the conflict began, the Ukrainian Air Force said on Tuesday.

In addition to drones, Russia fired four Iskander-M ballistic missiles, the air force said in a statement.

The Ukrainian air defence shot down 76 drones across 17 regions, while contact was lost with 96 others. Five drones reportedly crossed Ukraine's border with Belarus, the statement said.

The air force said that critical infrastructure was struck, and private residences sustained damage in the attack.

In the western Ternopil region, the strike damaged a critical infrastructure facility, resulting in power outages in the city of Ternopil and nearby settlements, the regional military administration said, Xinhua news agency reported.

In the northeastern Sumy region, a "significant number" of drones hit infrastructure facilities in the Shostka community, Shostka Mayor Mykola Noha wrote on Facebook.

Meanwhile, in the Kyiv region, which was under air raid alert for seven hours, debris from the intercepted drones damaged two apartment buildings and four private houses, said regional governor Ruslan Kravchenko.

There have been no reports of casualties from the attack so far.
Marsa Alam, Nov 26 : Four bodies have been recovered, and three more survivors rescued on Tuesday, one day after a safari boat capsized off Egypt's southeastern coast in the Red Sea, Governor of Egypt's Red Sea Province Amr Hanafy said Tuesday.

With the three survivors -- two Belgians and an Egyptian -- being rescued lately, the total number of those rescued reached 31, Hanafy said in a statement, adding that the four recovered bodies have not yet been identified.

Rescue teams are still searching for nine missing people, he said.

The Red Sea Province announced on its official Facebook page on Monday that a safari boat had sunk off near Marsa Alam, a coastal town in southeastern Egypt on the Red Sea.

According to Hanafy, the boat carried 44 passengers, including 13 Egyptians and 31 others from 11 countries: Germany, Britain, the United States, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain, and Ireland.

A total of 28 people had been rescued and are "in good health," while search operations and investigations into the incident are still ongoing, Hanafy said in a statement on Monday.

The Chinese Embassy in Egypt said in a statement on Monday that two Chinese tourists had been rescued by passing vessels near the site of the incident. The embassy has contacted the two tourists, who are reported to be in good health.

The embassy later confirmed with the two tourists that they were the only Chinese nationals onboard the boat, Xinhua news agency reported.

Egyptian authorities reported that the boat, named Sea Story, departed from Port Ghalib in Marsa Alam on Sunday and was scheduled to arrive at Hurghada Marina on Friday.

The Red Sea Province's control center received a distress signal from a crew member at around 5:30 a.m. local time (0330 GMT) on Monday.

Local authorities said the boat sunk within 5-7 minutes of its impact with the wave, leaving some passengers unable to escape cabins in time.
Hyderabad, Nov 26 : Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Tuesday urged the Centre to grant permission for the development of the airport at Warangal and also clear the proposals for airports at three other places in the state.

The Chief Minister met Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu in New Delhi and urged him to expedite the process for the commencement of work on the Mamunur Airport at Warangal, which will be the second airport in Telangana after Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad.

He informed the Aviation Minister that the state government has obtained a no objection certificate (NOC) from GMR, the operator of Hyderabad Airport, to develop Mamunur Airport.

As per the concession agreement between GMR Group and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, no new or existing airport shall be permitted within an aerial distance of 150 km of the Hyderabad Airport.

The Chief Minister also informed the Aviation Minister that Rs 205 crore required for the acquisition of 253 acres of land has been handed over to the Aviation Authority of India (AAI).

He urged Rammohan Naidu to take the necessary steps to give the necessary permissions for the airport work.

Last week, the state government issued an order sanctioning Rs 205 crore for acquiring over 280.3 acres of land.

The Chief Minister also informed Rammohan Naidu that the previously identified land to establish an airport in Bhadradri Kothagudem district was not suitable and hence, 950 acres have been identified in Paloncha as an alternative.

The details of the particular land have been provided to the AAI, the CM said requesting the Union Minister to immediately grant permission for the airport.

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also brought to the notice of the Union Minister the outcome of the AAIas pre-feasibility survey which disclosed that the previously identified land in Peddapalli district is not suitable for the construction of an airport. As an alternative, the state government identified 591.24 acres of land at Antargam, and sought the Union Ministeras nod for the establishment of an airport there.

Revanth Reddy also told Rammohan Naidu that the Indian Air Force (IAF) already possessed 369.50 acres of land in Adilabad and an additional 249.82 acres is required for full-scale operations. The state government is ready to acquire the additional land and hand over it to the Aviation Ministry. The CM requested the Union Minister to immediately grant an airport to Adilabad.
Mumbai, Nov 26 : An old video of Amitabh Bachchan has resurfaced on social media, capturing a humorous moment where he jokingly discusses with the cameraperson his desire to take a brief pause to pick his nose or scratch his face.

The video, shared by actor-anchor Simi Garewal on her official Instagram account, shows Big B sitting with his family- wife Jaya Bachchan and their kids Abhishek Bachchan and Shweta Bachchanon a couch just before an interview is about to start. In 2004, the Bachchan family appeared on the show "Rendezvous with Simi Garewal."

As Simi explains that everyone will be on camera at all times, even when they're not speaking, Amitabh requests a close-up camera. The Sholay actor humorously told the cameraperson, "When I snap my fingers, you need to stop because I might want to pick my nose or something." He further added that he might need to scratch his face and would require some time off camera.

In the same clip, Abhishek was signalling for some camera-off time whenever he wanted to yawn. Sharing this clip on her Instagram handle, Simi wrote, Rendezvous gems! Nope! Still not started the interview! Getting there! And with the Bachchans..it's fun all the way! #RendezvousGems."

Most recently, Garewal, known for her close ties to the Bachchan family, came out in defence of Abhishek Bachchan amid rumours of his affair with Nimrat Kaur.

She reshared an old video of the actor discussing his views on commitment and loyalty in relationships. The clip is from Garewal's popular show "Rendezvous with Simi Garewal," where Abhishek appeared in 2003.

In the video, Abhishek said, "Call me old-fashioned, but I have nothing against being frivolous. I have nothing against people wanting to have fun with both of the constants; then, by all means, enjoy yourselves. But if you have committed to somebody on whatever level, then abide by that commitment; otherwise, don't make it."

Abhishek added, "I personally feel that as a man, if you commit to a woman, even if you get caught up with her boyfriend, you should be loyal to her. Men are usually accused of being very disloyal; I have never been able to understand that, and I don't agree with it. It disgusts me."

Simi had also slammed a social media post that alleged Amitabh ignored Aishwarya Rai while showing support for his daughter, Shweta Bachchan Nanda. Garewal slammed the video for making unfounded comments about the Bachchan family without any real understanding of the situation. She commented on the video, "You people don't know ANYTHING. Stop it."
Imphal, Nov 26 : The Manipur government on Tuesday closed all the educational institutions including schools and universities in six curfew-bound districts for an indefinite period, officials said.

Director of Education (Schools) L. Nandakumar Singh and Joint Secretary (Higher and Technical Education Department), Daryal Juli Anal in separate orders asked the zonal and district authorities to take appropriate steps to close all the government, private, and government-aided educational institutions including colleges and universities until further orders.

An official of the Education Department said that the decision of the closure of the schools and other educational institutions was taken in consultation with the Home Department.

He said that considering the safety of the students, teachers and non-teaching staff, all the educational institutions would remain closed for an indefinite period in six districts -- Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Kakching and Jiribam.

District Magistrates of the six districts have imposed a curfew since the escalation of violence on November 16 after the recovery of the bodies of three children and three women in Jiribam districts.

On November 24, the Director of Education (Schools) and Joint Secretary (Higher and Technical Education Department), Daryal Juli Anal in separate orders had announced to resume the normal classes from November 25 but after a few hours, they cancelled their orders.

Officials of the Home Department said that though no incident was reported from any of the seven districts, as a precautionary measure, the suspension of mobile Internet and data services has been extended till 5.15 p.m. on November 27.

The seven districts, comprising both the valley and hills, are Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching, Kangpokpi, and Churachandpur.

After the widespread violence and attacks by mobs started in valley districts, including Imphal East and Imphal West, following the recovery of six bodies of missing three children and three women in Jiribam district on November 15 and 16, Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi ordered the suspension of mobile internet and data services in these districts for two days.

The mobs comprising men and women attacked more than two dozen houses and bungalows of ministers, MLAs and political leaders in Imphal East, Imphal West and Jiribam districts.

A Police official said that so far the Police have arrested 41 persons in connection with the arson, and damage of properties of elected leaders members on November 16.
Dhaka, Nov 26 : Facing severe backlash from Hindus all over the world over the shocking arrest and jailing of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha and head of Pundarik Dham in Chittagong, the Bangladesh government headed by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus went into a face-saving mode, asserting that it remains committed to "upholding communal harmony" in the country.

After being taken into custody by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 4:30 pm Monday, Das was produced before Judge Kazi Shariful Islam of Chittagong's 6th Metropolitan Magistrate around 10:30 am local time on Tuesday.

The judge, after rejecting his bail plea, sent the Hindu priest - associated with International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) - to jail.

Condemning the shocking developments, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday that it has noted with "deep concern" the arrest and denial of bail to Das, who is also associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Bangladesh.

Highlighting the broader context of continuing violence against minorities in Bangladesh, especially Hindus, the MEA added, "This incident follows multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. Documented cases of arson, looting of minority homes and businesses, theft, vandalism, and desecration of deities and temples are deeply troubling.

"It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings. We also note with concern the attacks on minorities protesting peacefully against the arrest of Shri Das," the ministry stated.

India also urged the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right to peaceful assembly and expression.

Reacting to MEA's statement late Tuesday evening, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said that it is a "matter concerning internal affairs" of Bangladesh.

"It is with utter dismay and deep sense of hurt that the Government of Bangladesh notes that the arrest of Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das has been misconstrued by certain quarters since Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das has been arrested on specific charges. The Government of Bangladesh maintains that such unfounded statements not only misrepresent facts but also stand contrary to the spirit of friendship and understanding between the two neighboring countries," read a statement issued by the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry.

It mentioned that India's statement does not reflect the harmony that exists among the peoples of all faiths and the commitment and the efforts of the Bangladeshi government and the people in this regard.

"Bangladesh reaffirms in the strongest terms that every Bangladeshi, regardless of his or her religious identity, has the right to establish, maintain or perform respective religious rituals and practices or express views without hindrance. Ensuring safety and security of all citizens, particularly the members of religious minorities remains a duty of the Government of Bangladesh. This was yet again vindicated by the peaceful observance of Durga Puja throughout Bangladesh only last month," it mentioned.

Meanwhile, the local authorities in Chittagong are claiming that a lawyer was killed during a clash between police and followers of Das in the Chattogram Court Building area.

The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry stated that the interim government is deeply concerned over the "brutal killing" of 32-year-old advocate Saiful Islam Alif and the authorities have stepped up security in the port city to ensure that religious harmony is maintained at any cost.

However, local media quoted Hindu leaders denying any involvement in the lawyer's death.

"Kanchan Acharjee, a central leader of the Sammilita Jagaran Jote, denied the involvement of their organisation in the violence and the killing of the lawyer in Chattogram. He also demanded the authorities concerned carry out proper investigation into the killing and bring the culprits to book," reported Bangladesh's Daily Star.
Guwahati, Nov 26 : Two key accused - Bishal Phukan and Swapnanil Das - in a multi-crore online trading scam that rocked Assam got bail on Tuesday in a special CBI Court.

Guwahati, Nov 26 (IANS) Two key accused - Bishal Phukan and Swapnanil Das - in a multi-crore online trading scam that rocked Assam got bail on Tuesday in a special CBI Court.

Advocate of the accused Das, told reporters here, "We are yet to receive the certified copies of the bail and once we get it, the conditions laid down in the bail order by the Court can be understood."

Sources said that the delay in filing chargesheet by the investigative agency might be the reason behind the bail orders.

Both Phukan and Das were lodged in jail in September this year.

Earlier, last week, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court dismissed the bail plea of controversial actress Sumi Borah who is in jail for her alleged involvement in the trading scam.

The hearing went on for a few hours and the counsel of Borah argued that she had been cooperating with the investigation; however, the judge in the special CBI court observed that Borah could not be released on bail and the central probe agency already opposed her bail plea.

Bishal Phukan allegedly used Borah's network in the Assamese movie industry and he was successful in getting a handful of clients.

Phukan used to throw lavish parties for the artists and they were lured by expensive gifts to invest in the online trading business.

To recall, the state government has handed over the 41 cases related to the online trading scam to the central agency.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Assam Police handed over key information regarding the online trading scam to the CBI officials.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma earlier announced that the CBI would be investigating 41 cases pertaining to the multi-crore online trading scam.

"We have filed 41 cases against the online trading fraudsters. The state government decided to hand over all of these cases to the CBI. I spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah about this, and he agreed to let the CBI probe the scam. I went to Delhi to apprise him about the latest development," he had said.

An online trading scam amounting to Rs 2,200 crores was busted in Assam in September after a kingpin of this fraud, Bishal Phukan was arrested from his Dibrugarh residence.

Sumi Borah and her husband Tarkik Borah, accused in a trading scam, surrendered before the police later.

The couple was arrested after they surrendered in Dibrugarh. Notably, the duo was on the run since the huge scam surfaced and it was revealed that Borah was well connected with Bishal Phukan in this scam.
Air defense destroys 76 of 188 enemy drones last night, locations of 95 drones lost  Air Force

Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/11260

Ukraine's air defense forces shot down 76 enemy drones out of 188 detected by the Radio-Technical Troops of the Ukrainian Air Force on Tuesday night.

"Locations of 95 drones were lost, presumably due to active counteraction of the Defense Forces' electronic warfare, and five drones flew towards Belarus," the Air Force said on the Telegram channel.

To repel the attack involved aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare means, and mobile fire groups of the Air Force and the Defense Forces of Ukraine.

"Unfortunately, a critical infrastructure facility was struck. Also, private and apartment houses were damaged in several regions due to the massive drone attack. Reportedly, there are no casualties," it said.

The occupiers also attacked Ukraine with four Iskander-M ballistic missiles from Voronezh and Kursk regions.
Dholpur, Nov 26 : A camp for the "Prime Minister Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana" was held on Tuesday at the power plant premises in Dholpur. The camp was inaugurated by District Collector Sreenidhi BT along with Umesh Gupta, Chief Engineer of the Bharatpur Zone.

Dholpur, Nov 26 (IANS) A camp for the "Prime Minister Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana" was held on Tuesday at the power plant premises in Dholpur. The camp was inaugurated by District Collector Sreenidhi BT along with Umesh Gupta, Chief Engineer of the Bharatpur Zone.

At the camp held at the power plant premises, a large number of people applied to install solar energy systems. During the camp, consumers registered and also received information about the scheme.

Speaking to the attendees, R.K. Verma, the Superintending Engineer of the Electricity Corporation, said that the central government is encouraging the use of solar energy for the benefit of fuel and environmental conservation. On this occasion, the electricity department is making efforts to enrol consumers under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.

He explained that solar panels are essential for reducing coal consumption and protecting the environment. The government is offering subsidies for installing solar panels. A target has been set to install solar panels for one crore people across the country within a year. To achieve this, camps are being organised in various districts.

Rajesh Verma, the organiser of the camp, told IANS: "We have set up a camp for the 'Prime Minister Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana' here. The cost of electricity produced from coal is continuously increasing. Coal is a limited resource, and it will eventually run out. This is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched this scheme, to benefit as many people as possible from solar energy. The central government is also providing subsidies for this. By taking a three-kilowatt connection, you will receive a subsidy of Rs 78,000, and your electricity bill will be waived forever."

Meanwhile, Rakesh Kumar, in a conversation with IANS, stated: "A camp for PM Narendra Modi's significant 'PM Surya Ghar Yojana' is being held at the Dholpur electricity department. A subsidy of Rs 78,000 is being offered under this scheme. People can save up to Rs 3,500 in electricity bills by installing a three-kilowatt solar plant and paying only Rs 1,400 per month. We have already registered around 500 people here." He encouraged people to install solar plants.

Amit Sharma, who attended the camp, said: "The electricity department has organised the 'PM Surya Ghar Yojana' camp at the Dholpur power plant. This is a very good initiative. I urge people to promote PM Modi's scheme and install solar plants. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat."

It is worth noting that in order to promote solar energy, PM Narendra Modi launched this scheme on February 15 of this year. Under this scheme, up to 40 per cent subsidy is provided for the installation of solar panels in homes.
Bhopal, Nov 26 : National General Secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Singh (BKS) Mohini Mohan Mishra on Tuesday said a narrative has been set against farmers blaming them for stubble burning.

Mishra, who was on a visit to Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur on Tuesday, said thermal plants are resulting in 250 times more pollution than stubble burning, however, the authorities are not taking any action against them.

"Blaming only stubble burning for rising air pollution is a conspiracy against farmers. It is an established fact that thermal plants are creating maximum air pollution, which is at least 250 times more than stubble burning. Why then authorities maintaining silence on it," Mishra questioned.

He said the stubble burning is a traditional system and it is done to increase the production efficiency of agricultural land. "A wrong narrative is being set that stubble burning reduces production efficiency. It is a conspiracy against farmers to mislead them," he claimed.

Mishra's comments came amid concern being raised over rising levels of air pollution as a potential threat to life in several parts of the country, especially in Delhi-NCR.

The air quality index (AQI) of Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal is also worsening each year.

Notably, Madhya Pradesh has recently earned an unenviable distinction - it tops the nation in stubble burning. Reports suggested that till Monday, the number of stubble-burning cases in the state crossed the 15,000 mark, the highest in five years.

Taking cognizance of rising stubble burning here, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has recently issued notices to the urban development and environment departments, the office of the forest ministry in Bhopal, and pollution control boards at the state and Centre, seeking responses within four weeks.

The practice of stubble burning, common after the kharif harvest, helps farmers save time and labour before planting rabi crops such as wheat and mustard.
Jaipur, Nov 26 : In response to escalating pollution levels in the National Capital Region (NCR), the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-4) has been enforced in two Rajasthan towns, Behror and Neemrana, located near the Delhi border.

As part of the measures, construction activities have been completely banned in these towns. Additionally, vehicles contributing to pollution will be restricted from operating.

Additional District Magistrate (ADM) OP Saharan stated: "This decision has been taken due to the alarming rise in pollution levels in Delhi and surrounding areas. Construction and demolition activities are prohibited, and all pollution-causing activities must be controlled. Strict actions will also be taken against polluting vehicles to mitigate the issue."

Previously, in response to worsening air quality in the Khairthal-Tijara district, the administration ordered the closure of schools for classes 1 to 5 from November 20 to November 23, 2024, with classes conducted online during this period.

Key provisions under GRAP-4 include a ban on construction and demolition work; prohibition of stubble burning and restrictions on high-pollution vehicles; suspension of water sprinkling and solid waste collection in affected areas; to ensure the effective implementation of these measures, various departments have been assigned responsibilities.

Nodal officers have been appointed from RIICO, Traffic, Agriculture, Municipal Council, and the Pollution Control Board to monitor and enforce GRAP-4 regulations.

These steps aim to reduce pollution and improve air quality in the affected areas.

In the current situation, AQI has gone above 300 in many cities of Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh which is alarming for health and hence comes this action, said officials.
Imphal, Nov 26 : The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), the apex body of the Meitei community, on Tuesday announced a complete shutdown of both state and Central government offices in the state starting on Wednesday.

Announcing the decision of the shutting down of government offices, COCOMI coordinator, Thokchom Somorendro said that the seven-day ultimatum issued by the organisation to the government has elapsed, prompting the organisation to proceed with the agitation as earlier announced.

The organisation earlier demanded the Centre and the state government take "decisive action" against armed militant groups or face public anger.

The COCOMIas demands also include a review of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958 in six police station jurisdictions, and identifying and prosecuting those involved in the recent killings of three women and three children in the Jiribam district.

The organisation also demanded to declare the armed militant outfits involved in the killing as terrorist outfits and ban these groups.

Samorendro claimed that the government has failed to take decisive action within the given timeline.

He also referred to a statement made by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, where it was indicated that in the event of the governmentas inability to meet these demands, the Chief Minister and the MLAs would make all-out efforts to safeguard the state.

The COCOMI coordinator called on the Chief Minister and the MLAs to fulfil their commitment to protect the lives and properties of the people.

The shutdown of the apex Meitei body exempted emergency medical services and schools.

Hundreds of women organised a protest rally in Imphal on Monday demanding the withdrawal of the AFSPA from the state. The rally in the Imphal East district, jointly organised by several organisations including the Manipuri Studentsa Federation (MSF), the Nupi Khunai (Yairipok), and the Meira Paibis, where they raised the demand.

Amid the escalating violence, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on November 14 reimposed the stringent law in six police station areas of five Manipur districts, including the recent violence-hit Jiribam, to give more powers to the army and paramilitary forces to take stringent action against the militants and other armed cadres. The MHA notification said that the security situation in Manipur has been further reviewed in consultation with the stakeholders and it is noted that the situation continues to remain volatile amidst ongoing ethnic violence in the state.

The police station areas where the AFSPA has been reimposed are Sekmai and Lamsang in Imphal West, Lamlai in Imphal East, Jiribam in Jiribam district, Leimakhong in Kangpokpi, and Moirang in Bishnupur district.

The Manipur government, soon after the reimposition of AFSPA in six police station areas, urged the MHA to withdraw the declaration of the special law.
Imphal, Nov 26 : Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Tuesday said that security forces have destroyed 12 acres of illegal poppy cultivation in the state's Kangpokpi district alone.

Singh, who holds the home portfolio, told the media that an FIR has been registered about the illegal poppy cultivation and efforts are underway to identify those behind it.

Appreciating the security forces for destroying illegal poppy cultivation in Kangpokpi district, Biren Singh, in a post on X, said: "Well done Kangpokpi Police, CRPF, and District administration for carrying out the poppy destruction drive near Makhan village, Saitu Sub-division, Kangpokpi district today."

"Despite recent resistance by Kuki militants, the team successfully destroyed 12 acres of illegal poppy cultivation today. Let it be clear to those attempting to exploit the situation to expand poppy cultivation, the state and central governments are closely monitoring their activities, and we remain unwavering in our commitment to eradicate every last poppy plant."

An FIR has been lodged at Sapermeina Police Station to identify the cultivators and ensure strict action, the Chief Minister added.

The action was taken by the security forces days after the Makhan village authority demanded that the state government take action against poppy planters who allegedly manhandled police personnel and volunteers during the destruction of the illegal poppy cultivation in 'Liangmei Naga lands' in Kangpokpi.

The village authority, earlier in a statement, said that on November 20, the Makhan village volunteers, along with the police personnel, were confronted by armed attacks when the destruction of the illegal poppy cultivation was undertaken in the mountainous areas of Kangpokpi.

The village authority had also demanded the police to arrest those people responsible for the poppy cultivation and the attacks. Police officials said they are also investigating last weekas incident. The Chief Minister had also assured the Makhan village authority that action against illegal poppy cultivators and their accomplices would be taken.
Patna, Nov 26 : Pappu Yadav, the independent MP from Purnea, received a high-security bulletproof Land Cruiser SUV from a friend to address the ongoing threats to his life.

The vehicle, equipped with special safety features including grenade and rocket launcher attacks, was gifted by a concerned friend who ordered it from abroad.

Expressing his gratitude, Pappu Yadav said the SUV ensures anonymity and safety for its occupants, making it a crucial addition amid the lack of government-provided security. "As long as we are in the SUV, we are safe," he remarked.

Pappu Yadav, who has been repeatedly targeted by the dreaded Lawrence Bishnoi gang and others, recounted receiving threats through mobile messages, voice calls, and letters, including from sources as far as Nepal and Pakistan. Despite the threats, he maintains a defiant stance, previously challenging his adversaries to face him directly.

Criticising the government for its lack of concern, Yadav stated, "The whole of Bihar and the country is concerned about me. Everyone is concerned except the government."

After the murder of NCP (Ajit Pawar) leader Baba Siddiqui in Mumbai, Pappu Yadav on October 13 uploaded a post on social media, saying that if the laws allow him, he would "destroy" the network of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in 24 hours.

Following his post, he received multiple threatening calls and messages which the office of Pappu Yadav shared supporting the threats he received, including several voice-recorded calls, screenshots of WhatsApp call logs with pictures of Lawrence Bishnoi, and a press statement by Mayank Singh who is also said to be a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

--IANS

ajk/dan
Guwahati, Nov 26 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday asserted that the Constitution of India is a culmination of over 5,000 years of Indian civilisation and culture.

"Constitution is not merely a legal document but the culmination of over 5,000 years of Indian civilisation and culture. During a period of divisiveness and communal tension, the Constitution emerged as a beacon of unity and justice," he said while speaking on the occasion of Constitution Day.

Sarma reflected on the numerous challenges our Constitution has faced at various moments in history. He cited the 1975 declaration of emergency, which threatened the very fabric of constitutional integrity.

Despite this setback, he commended the judiciary for its efforts to uphold the fundamental rights of Indian citizens.

Sarma emphasised that India's Constitution reflects the dreams and aspirations of its people, asserting that as the world's largest democracy, India places the welfare of its citizens at the heart of its governance.

He noted that the Constitution ensures that people from all sections of society enjoy freedom, equality, and justice.

The Chief Minister reiterated that while the Constitution grants various rights and protections to citizens, it is also the responsibility and duty of each citizen to preserve the core values and principles of the Constitution.

Sarma also praised the foresight of the Constituent Assembly in crafting a Constitution that embodies the essence of Indian civilisation, ensuring the creation of a just society.

He underscored India's uniqueness, stating that despite 90 per cent of the population being of one religion, the Constitution was framed as secular.

"This was a remarkable achievement, as it was created at a time when there was an opportunity to establish a religious basis for the nation's governance, yet the Constitution was deliberately framed to be inclusive and secular," he added.

Sarma emphasised that the Indian Constitution is not a borrowed Western idea, but rather a reflection of India's ancient and rich cultural heritage, which has championed global peace and the welfare of all people for over five millennia.

He recalled that the Constituent Assembly had made it clear that there was no need to prove that Indian civilization was secular, as its secular nature was already inherent.

He also referred to B.R. Ambedkar's final speech, stating that listening to it offers profound insight into the core values of the Constitution.

On this momentous Constitution Day, Sarma called upon everyone to dedicate themselves with sincerity and commitment to enriching the Constitution's foundational principles and philosophy.

Sarma recounted that the formal process of drafting the Constitution commenced during the third meeting of the Constituent Assembly on December 13, 1946.

He highlighted that, following extensive deliberations and reports from various committees, constitutional expert B. N. Rao prepared the draft of the Constitution by October 1947. After it was submitted to the Drafting Committee, the draft underwent rigorous scrutiny, ultimately taking a definitive form in 1948.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : The DRDO Industry Academia-Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE), IIT Delhi demonstrated quantum communications technologies in New Delhi. It has been developed by their collaborative initiative of the entanglement-based quantum key distribution approaches for robust and secure communication, demonstrating entanglement distribution and quantum key distribution (QKD) over a 50 km fibre link in the laboratory.

New Delhi, Nov 26 (IANS) The DRDO Industry Academiaa"Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE), IIT Delhi demonstrated quantum communications technologies in New Delhi. It has been developed by their collaborative initiative of the entanglement-based quantum key distribution approaches for robust and secure communication, demonstrating entanglement distribution and quantum key distribution (QKD) over a 50 km fibre link in the laboratory.

A separate field test has demonstrated entanglement distribution and QKD over 8 km of optical fibre in the IIT Delhi campus.

In another initiative of quantum research, Free-space Entanglement distribution was demonstrated using the BBM-92 protocol, a key QKD method, between two tables separated by 20 meters in the lab and 80m in the open space. This experiment demonstrated short-range quantum communication in a free-space setup.

In an innovative experiment, Hybrid entanglement has been demonstrated in a free-space environment, achieving a Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBER) of around 6 per cent in the laboratory over a distance of 10m in the lab. In addition, QKD systems supporting multiple independent channels driven by a single source are also being explored with promising results. These open the door for more flexible, multi-protocol quantum communication systems.

In achieving the above breakthrough, an all-fibre heralded photon source with a second-order correlation function (gA ~ 0.01) at rates reaching hundreds of kHz is developed. This innovation is vital for single-photon generation, a critical requirement for secure quantum communication. An all-fiber entangled photon source has also been developed with high visibility. The Bell test parameter for this source is more than 2.6, exhibiting strong quantum entanglement, which is essential for protocols like BBM-92.

For free-space quantum communication experiments, a free-space heralded single-photon source has been demonstrated with a heralding rate of over 4 million counts/sec. This development enables robust free-space quantum communication.

Following India's First Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) demonstration between the cities of Prayagraj and Vindhyachal, separated by 100 km, by DRDO labs and IIT (D) in February 2022, many new initiatives have been taken by DRDO and IIT (D).

In addition, the indigenisation of various components like quantum sources and detectors is initiated. These include single photon sources on LNOI, SNSPD and periodically poled non-linear crystals. These projects are launched at IIT Delhi in collaboration with DRDO labs like DYSL-QT and SSPL and are funded by the Directorate of Futuristic Technology Management under its deep tech initiatives aimed at fostering cutting-edge innovations in defence technology.

Through its projects at the DIA-CoE, IITD, and DRDO have created a strong national footprint in QKD with breakthroughs in fibre and free space areas. Quantum communication holds significant potential for enhancing security in strategic sectors, such as defence and finance, by providing robust and tamper-evident communication channels.

The DRDO Industry Academiaa"Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) is a collaborative initiative between DRDO and IIT Delhi, established at IIT Delhi. The CoE is developing various quantum communication technologies like the development of fibre and free-space (polarisation/hybrid photon) based Quantum Key Distributions Technologies, Quantum Sources, Quantum Detectors and Non-linear Crystals.
Chennai, Nov 26 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin held a meeting with district collectors and monitoring officers on Tuesday to review the state's preparedness for heavy rains and a potential cyclonic storm, as forecasted by the weather department.

Chennai, Nov 26 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin held a meeting with district collectors and monitoring officers on Tuesday to review the stateas preparedness for heavy rains and a potential cyclonic storm, as forecasted by the weather department.

State Revenue Minister K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran and Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam also participated in the virtual meeting.

An official said that the Chief Minister inquired about precautionary measures in districts including Mayiladuthurai, Villupuram, Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, and Cuddalore disc.

The district collectors assured the Chief Minister that adequate relief camps have been set up and medical teams with the necessary equipment are on standby.

Nagapattinam district has mobilised 75 boats, 125 earthmovers, 250 generators, and 281 chainsaws. While Cuddalore District has 51 boats, 242 earthmovers, 28 generators, and 104 chainsaws.

The state government has pre-positioned disaster response teams, mobilised first responders and volunteers, and ensured that state and district-level emergency control centres are operating round the clock with multi-department officials.

Following the Chief Ministeras instructions, the government has deployed one State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and one National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team each in Thiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, and Cuddalore. Additionally, two NDRF teams have been stationed in Thanjavur.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai reported on Tuesday (November 26) that a depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into a deep depression and is likely to strengthen further into a cyclonic storm by Wednesday (November 27).

The RMC stated that the system over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining East Equatorial Indian Ocean is moving north-northwestwards at a speed of 12 km/h.

As of Tuesday, the system is centred over the southwest Bay of Bengal near latitude 6.3AN and longitude 82.8AE, approximately:

The weather department predicts that the system will continue to move north-northwestwards and intensify further into a cyclonic storm by November 27.

Meanwhile, Chennai and its suburbs have been experiencing widespread rainfall since Tuesday morning. Light to moderate rainfall, with occasional heavy spells, has been forecast for the region through Thursday (November 28).

The weather department has also forecast moderate thunderstorms and lightning accompanied by moderate rain for several districts, including Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Villupuram, Kallakkurichi, Cuddalore, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, and Tirunelveli on November 26.
Jaipur, Nov 26 : Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde on Tuesday emphasised the importance of working with a 'Nation First' mindset for the prosperity of the country.

He noted that the Constitution serves as a binding force for all citizens and acknowledged the significant contributions of women in its drafting.

The Governor was addressing the 'Hum Bharat Ki Mahilayan' event organised by the National Commission for Women and the Municipal Corporation at Ravindra Rangmanch on Constitution Day.

Speaking on India's resilience, he remarked that despite foreign invasions over a thousand years, the nation's deep faith in its culture safeguarded its identity. While many other cultures perished over time, India's cultural heritage remained intact.

The Governor asked everyone to learn to live free from vices, educate children, create ambition to become a great person and eradicate hatred. He said that if the citizens of India are good, then India will progress.

The Governor said that the Constitution did not accept discrimination in the name of language, region and culture while advocating for everyone to adopt the attitude of 'Indian first'.

He also paid tribute to the contributions of women in constitution-making, noting that 15 women were part of the Constitution Committee, including two from Bikaner.

National Commission for Women Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar described Constitution Day as a moment of pride, celebrating the essential role women played in drafting the Constitution.

She emphasised that their struggle serves as an inspiring story of overcoming obstacles and driving change.
Photo: https://eurosolidarity.org/2024/11/26/poroshenko-u-monreali-dobyvsya-vidpovidi-chy-zbyvatyme-nato-rosijski-rakety-i-drony/

Acting Deputy Secretary General of NATO Boris Ruge has said that NATO member states are ready to shoot down Russian missiles and drones flying over their territory, according to a statement on the European Solidarity party's website.

"Of course, NATO Allies have the right to shoot down any such objects that violate their airspace, and they are ready to do so. Together we are ready to defend ourselves against such an invasion," Ruge said when asked by European Solidarity leader Petro Poroshenko during the NATO Parliamentary Assembly whether Western partners are ready to shoot down Russian missiles and drones over the territory of the Alliance's member states.

"As for shooting down missiles, I spoke about the proposal of a humanitarian air defense shield, which was brought up for discussion, but NATO did not support it because there is no consensus on this. When it comes to missiles, drones, cruise missiles that penetrate the airspace of allies, it is a different issue," the Acting Deputy Secretary General said.

He also underlined the extreme importance of the political prospect of Ukraine joining NATO

"It will happen when 32 NATO members unite and take the necessary steps. I think this is not the answer you are expecting. But the decision that has been made is that NATO has Ukraine's future. I will just remind you what Secretary General Rutte said in his video statement: the security of Ukraine is our security and we are well aware of that," Ruge said.
Imphal, Nov 26 : Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Tuesday night said that operations against armed militants by the combined security forces have started in the Jiribam district which would be extended to the entire state.

The Chief Minister said that the operation of security against the militants started first in the Jiribam district in view of the recent militancy-related incidents.

"The state government sought additional central forces from the Centre as the people were not feeling safe," Singh told the media on Tuesday night and added that those who are genuine citizens and not involved in any illegal activities have nothing to worry about.

The unified command, comprising the Army and various other Central forces and state police, had recently reviewed the prevailing situation in the state and the meeting finalised a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for security forces, he said.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in view of the escalating violence recently provided additional 90 companies of additional central forces to Manipur.

Singh, who also holds the home portfolio, said that to coordinate among various central and state security security forces joint control rooms and cells would be set up soon at the state and district level.

"The top priority is to protect the lives and properties of the citizens and to restore peace and normalcy."

The Chief Minister said that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has started an investigation of all the cases handed over to them.

In recent cases of violence and public unrest 41 people were arrested," he said.

Mobs went rampage in a few districts on November 16 and 17 after the recovery of the bodies of six missing women and children in the violence-hit Jiribam district recently.

Around 10 armed militants were killed in a heavy exchange of fire in Manipur's Jiribam district on November 11. Two CRPF jawans also suffered injuries.

Kuki-Zo-Hmar organisations claimed that those killed were "village volunteers" and not militants.

The militants also kidnapped 10 people, all belonging to the Meitei community and inmates of a relief camp at Jakuradhor in Jiribam's Borobekra sub-division on November 11.

Of the 10 abducted people, two were rescued alive and the bodies of eight other victims including three children and three women were found subsequently.

Chief Security Advisor to the Manipur government Kuldeep Singh earlier said that 258 people including militants have been killed since May 3 last year.

Over 3000 weapons which were looted have been recovered, he said.
Hyderabad, Nov 26 : In yet another incident of food poisoning in a government-run school in Telangana, as many as 21 students were taken ill in Narayanpet district on Tuesday.

The latest incident occurred at Maganoor Zilla Parishad High School.

The students complained of vomiting and diarrhoea after consuming the mid-day meals. They were rushed to the Government Hospital at Maganoor.

This is the second incident at the same school in less than a week. Around 50 students had taken ill after consuming the mid-day meal served to them on November 20.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has taken serious note of the incident and directed the district Collector to conduct an inquiry and take action against those responsible.

School Education director E. V. Narasimha Reddy had suspended the headmaster, Mandal Education Officer and mid-day meals in-charge. The authorities had also cancelled the contract given to an agency for supplying mid-day meals.

However, despite the action taken by the authorities, the school was rocked by another incident of food poisoning.

The state has seen a series of such incidents in recent months in government-run schools, especially residential schools and hostels.

A 16-year-old student of tribal welfare residential school succumbed on Monday, nearly a month after falling critically ill due to food poisoning.

C. Shailaja was one of the 60 students who had taken ill at the residential school at Wankidi in Komaram Bheem Asifabad district on October 30.

The students complained of vomiting and diarrhoea after having dinner at the school. They were all shifted to a nearby government hospital.

As the condition of three female students including ninth-class student Shailaja was critical, they were shifted to Hyderabad and admitted to NIMS. While two students recovered and were subsequently discharged, Shailajaas condition remained critical and she finally lost the battle for life.

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has blamed the state government for the death of the student and demanded Rs 50 lakh compensation for her family.

BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao said every month food poisoning in residential schools is claiming the lives of three students.

BRS leader K Kavitha alleged that since the Congress-led government took power in Telangana, 42 students have died from food poisoning in government schools. She blamed the poor quality of meals served in these schools for the tragic deaths.
Agartala, Nov 26 : A day after Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was arrested in Bangladesh on charges of sedition, a group of Hindutva activists and social workers Tuesday evening staged a candlelight protest in Agartala.

The protestors organised their vociferous protest in front of Ujjayanta Palace here, the former abode of Tripura's erstwhile Manikya dynasty which now turned into a museum.

They demanded immediate and unconditional release of the priest by Bangladesh authorities.

The protesters claimed the move of the caretaker government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus arrested Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, who is seen as the "voice of Sanatana Hindus" in Bangladesh on sedition charges after he appealed to Hindus to stay united in the country.

Terming the arrest as "barbaric" and "unacceptable", Biplab Kanti Bhowmik, founder of a social organisation called 'Srestha Bhubon Samajik Sanstha', said, "We have seen through social media that Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari of Bangladesh, who is the voice of Sanatani Hindus in that country, was arrested at Bangladesh Airport and was illegally taken way."

He was taken from Dhaka to Chittagong and was produced in a court there, he said.

Instead of granting him bail, the Sanatani Hindus who gathered there were assaulted by barbaric soldiers of the caretaker government, Bhowmik said.

"We demand that he (Chinmay Prabhu) be unconditionally released immediately".

The protesters also claimed that Hindu minorities in Bangladesh are facing atrocities and the arrest of their voice Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, who had asked Sanatani Hindus to stay united, can't be accepted.

Bhowmik appealed to all Sanatani Hindus in Tripura to protest the "illegal" arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari.

According to media reports ISKCON Secretary General in Bangladesh Charu Chanda Das Brahmachari also severely criticised the Bangladeshi authorities for arresting Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari who is also associated with ISKCON Bangladesh.

After being taken into custody by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday, Das was produced before Judge Kazi Shariful Islam of Chittagong's 6th Metropolitan Magistrate on Tuesday.

The judge, after rejecting his bail plea, sent the Hindu priest - associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) - to jail.
Jaipur, Nov 26 : A National Chintan Shivir of the Women and Child Development Department of all the states in the country will be organised in Udaipur in January.

The Women and Child Development Ministers of all the states, including Union Minister Annapurna Devi, will participate in this Chintan Shivir and will discuss in detail various issues related to Anganwadi centres, nutrition, and women and child development. They will also prepare a roadmap as per the requirements of the various states in the country.

Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari met Union Minister Annapurna Devi in Delhi on Tuesday and discussed all the issues related to the Women and Child Development department at length.

She also demanded 900 new Anganwadi buildings from the Centre.

The Deputy CM has also demanded from Union Minister Annapurna Devi that the amount of grant received from the Centre in various schemes of the department should be released in a lump sum so that Anganwadi workers can receive their honorarium every month.

The Deputy CM in her letter also said that the supplementary nutrition rates be increased.

She said that the rates of supplementary nutrition were revised in 2017, which need to be rationally revised.

Demanding 900 new Anganwadi buildings in the state, Diya Kumari added that these proposals have been sent to the Centre, on which action is expected.

She also urged the Central government to increase the repair amount of Rs 3000 released every five years for Anganwadi buildings as per the need.

The Deputy CM in her letter also demanded the release of the third quarterly grant installment under the Centre's share of Rs 34.38 crore for the year 2023-24 and approval to develop 340 Anganwadi centres as Saksham Anganwadi Centres.

Diya Kumari also urged the Union Minister that by providing a lump sum amount to the state, the monthly honorarium payment to the Anganwadi workers can be ensured.
Islamabad, Nov 26 : Amid the political chaos in neighbouring Pakistan, former prime minister Imran Khan has asked his supporters and workers to 'fight till the last ball' until all their demands are not met.

"My message for my team is to fight until the last ball is bowled. We will not back down until our demands are met," the former premier posted on X, which is apparently run by some of his supporters.

Imran Khan also commended the Pakistani nation and PTI's political workers for protesting against Pakistan's incumbent government.

"You are fighting for their rights by participating in this peaceful protest, and resolutely standing before the mafia that has imposed itself upon our country, to demand their rights and genuine freedom," the former Prime Minister said.

Imran Khan said that on Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi's instructions, paramilitary Rangers and police have relentlessly fired teargas shells and even shot at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf political workers, resulting in the killing of and injuries to peaceful, unarmed citizens.

"Let me tell you, that you will have to answer for this. The protesters were not only peaceful, but they even assisted the very police officers and Rangers who were shooting and firing teargas shells at them (when they were in need of help)," the former Prime Minister said.

Imran Khan also thanked overseas Pakistanis around the globe, saying they are not only mobilising Pakistanis and contributing funds but also holding historic protests in their respective countries.

"Social media warriors around the globe should continue to vigorously reiterate our demands and show the world the ongoing oppression in Pakistan! To those threatening to try me in military court: Do what you must; I will not back down from my stance," the former Prime Minister said.

Imran Khan also asked the people that those who haven't yet joined the protest must head to D-Chowk.

"All Pakistanis participating in the protest must remain peaceful, stay united, and stand firm until our demands are met. Remember, this is a struggle for Pakistan's survival and true freedom," the former Prime Minister said.

Pakistan has been witnessing political turmoil for the last few years after the country's military junta put former Prime Minister Imran Khan in jail on alleged corruption charges.

Earlier, thousands of PTI protestors reached Islamabad's Zero Point 'D-Chowk' where they plan to hold an indefinite sit-in until party chief and former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is released from jail.

Violent clashes between the security forces and PTI protestors are being witnessed at several places in the country's capital as Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi, the driving force behind the rally, remains adamant and is urging party workers and supporters to take control of the sensitive location.

Addressing people at the main Jinnah Avenue, Bushra Bibi took an oath from supporters to stay put at the venue until her husband is released.

"You all have to promise me that we will not leave D-Chowk until Imran Khan is released and is here amongst us. And, if anyone tells you that I have left, then that will be a lie," she said.

"I also make an appeal to the people of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to come out of their homes. Nobody should leave D-Chowk even if there is a shortage of food and water. We will stay here for as long as it takes until Imran Khan is released," she added.

Bushra Bibi also cautioned PTI protesters to not trust statements coming out of the Adiala jail where Imran Khan is currently lodged.

"Our plan will not change until Imran Khan comes out and tells us what to do next. No matter the pressure, we will not listen to anything until Khan addresses us directly. If Khan speaks from inside, don't listen to him, wait for him to come outside," she stated.

On the other hand, the government continues to warn PTI protestors that it will be forced to take "extreme steps" to protect the capital from "mob attacks" if the situation escalates further.

"We have called in the Pakistan Army to ensure the security of the Red Zone. I want to warn PTI again to not test our patience. We are extremely cautious and are not using force against PTI miscreants to save lives and bloodshed. In doing so, our forces have been attacked with gunfire and direct attacks, which has already resulted in the martyrdom of police and ranger personnel," said Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar.

"Any mob taking over the capital cannot be allowed. PTI wants to see dead bodies to play its dirty politics and is using innocent lives of people to extend its evil agenda. We will not let that happen. But we will also not tolerate the unrest and spread of chaos for too long," he added.

Meanwhile, the PTI leadership continues to remain in touch with its jailed chief, consulting him on offers and backdoor talks with the government while trying to find a mutual ground of understanding for an agreement.

Bushra Bibi, on the other hand, has made it clear that she will not call off the protest rally until the government releases Imran Khan.

Analysts believe that Bushra Bibi is currently calling the shots in the party, even ahead of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
Bhubaneswar, Nov 26 : In a major development, the state government on Tuesday rejected the plea of senior IAS officer and wife of former top bureaucrat VK Pandian, Sujata R Karthikeyan seeking an extension of CCL for six more months.

The General Administration and Public Grievances Department has also directed Sujata, a 2000-batch Odisha cadre IAS officer, to join the services on Wednesday.

Sujata who currently holds the post of special secretary to the government (Finance department) has sought the extension through a letter on November 4.

"I am directed to invite a reference to your letter dtd. 04.11.2024 on the subject cited above and to say that after careful consideration, your leave application for extension of Child Care Leave for a further period of 6 months w.e.f. 27.11.2024 is not acceded to. You are, therefore, requested to join on 27.11.2024 i.e. after availing of the CCL from 31.05.2024 to 26.11.2024," wrote Manoj Kumar Mohanty, additional secretary GA&PG department.

After BJD suffered a humiliating defeat in the 2024 general elections, the bureaucrat-turned-politician VK Pandian announced retirement from active politics in June this year. He was in the line of fire after BJD's crushing defeat in the 2024 elections which ended ex-Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's 24-year rule in the state.

As per reports, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had earlier ordered the transfer of Sujata, from the post of secretary to the Mission Shakti department in Odisha to a "non-public facing department" ahead of the general elections in May this year.

Later, she went on leave for almost a month after she was removed from the post of secretary, at Mission Shakti.

In June this year, the GA&PG department allowed Sujata to remain on leave till November 26 to care for her daughter, who is appearing for the class 10 exams.
Jaipur, Nov 27 : A 25-year-old man, who befriended a 13-year-old girl after meeting her on social media and later kidnapped her, was sentenced to life imprisonment by a POCSO court in Rajasthan's Dausa on Tuesday.

Jaipur, Nov 27 (IANS) A 25-year-old man, who befriended a 13-year-old girl after meeting her on social media and later kidnapped her, was sentenced to life imprisonment by a POCSO court in Rajasthanas Dausa on Tuesday.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the accused.

The incident occurred in the Bandikui police station area on June 19, 2022. The minor girl had left home to buy snacks from a nearby shop but did not return. Despite extensive searches by her family, she was not found.

An FIR was subsequently lodged, prompting the police to launch a thorough investigation. CCTV footage revealed the girl in the company of a young man at a railway station.

Three days later, on June 21, police rescued the girl from a bus stand in Darbhanga district, Bihar. The accused, identified as Israel, a 25-year-old Nepalese national, was arrested.

Following an investigation, a charge sheet was filed. Judge Poonam Dargan of the POCSO court found Israel guilty of trafficking and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Special Public Prosecutor Jitendra Kumar Saini explained that 16 witnesses and 35 documents were presented during the trial, leading to the courtas verdict.

The police investigation revealed that the girl, an eighth-grade student, had been playing the Free Fire mobile game, where she became acquainted with Israel. Using this connection, the accused, who worked as a labourer in Qatar, travelled to Delhi and then abducted the girl from Bandikui. He transported her to Bihar by train, intending to take her to Qatar via Nepal.

Further inquiries uncovered that Israel had deceived the girl by posting a model-like picture of himself on Instagram, which helped him gain her trust. The police traced the accused through the girlas social media accounts, including Instagram, which revealed his contact details and location. This ultimately led to the successful rescue of the girl and the arrest of the perpetrator.
Monaco, Nov 27 : Formula 1 management on Tuesday announced the introduction of a formal Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) charter, which has been agreed by all ten teams, Formula 1 and the FIA, to build a more diverse and inclusive place to work. The charter has been created with support from the Royal Academy of Engineering, which, alongside Sir Lewis Hamilton, delivered The Hamilton Commission's original report in 2021, the stakeholders informed in a release on Tuesday.

The charter results from the report's recommendation that the motorsport sector commits to improving diversity and inclusion across all organisations. The charter's implementation will also be supported by Formula 1 partner Mission 44, the charity set up by Lewis Hamilton. Mission 44 has also recently released research that indicates that programmes including pledges, commitments, or codes, drive accountability.

The sport is committed to creating, supporting, and delivering on actions, measures, and outcomes, to build a more diverse and inclusive workplace. Over recent years every team and stakeholder in Formula 1 has acted and implemented initiatives to improve diversity, access, and opportunity within the sport.

At Formula 1, fully funded engineering scholarships for underrepresented groups have been introduced, apprentice and intern schemes created, and F1 ACADEMY, the female-only series, has been launched, to name a few key examples.

The charter is an important step in agreeing on a set of clear joint principles to maintain momentum and continue to maximise diversity across Formula 1, and it sets out a collaborative approach to improve the sport in the months and years ahead.

The charter sets out the vision and mission for the sport and lists four key pillars of focus -- to identify and remove barriers to attract and retain a rich diversity of people in our workplaces, improve our ways of working, and engage with stakeholders to drive innovation.

The Four Pillars are to target and support initiatives that seek to attract underrepresented groups to motorsport.

To put in place processes to mitigate bias in various stakeholder organisations and create cultures of inclusion so a diversity of people can thrive in the sport. They will aim to listen to and encourage all perspectives in the design, development, and delivery of our products and services, encouraging the supply chains to do this too. They will also communicate their commitment to D&I with their external stakeholders -- listening, learning, and improving to deliver a more inclusive experience.

Representatives from Formula 1, the FIA, and all 10 teams will work together as part of the Formula 1 Diversity and Inclusion Working Group and, as part of the charter. This will now evolve into an implementation group that will deliver more initiatives and further formalise the sport's collaborative approach by introducing measurable and timebound projects, and key performance indicators.

"Our sport is rightly recognised for its elite performance and innovation, and we are clear that the only way to maintain and improve those exceptional standards is to welcome diversity of thought, ideas, and experiences," said Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1.

"The sport is fiercely competitive, and we're all committed to employing the very best talent. We know from The Hamilton Commission report that there are opportunities for us to work collectively to find and nurture that talent and significant change has already been put in place across the sport. The charter is the next important milestone on that journey, and we are all committed to making our sport more open and diverse," he said.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, said: "The diversification of motorsport is paramount to its continued success. By ensuring equal opportunity for equal talent, increasing accessibility, and joining together in our commitment to uphold this charter, we will drive forward change. This landmark partnership between Formula 1, the teams, and our Federation signifies a united course of action which I am proud to be a part of."
Islamabad, Nov 27 : The Islamabad police along with Pakistan Rangers have started a major crackdown operation against PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) protestors in and around the surrounding areas of D-Chowk, arresting at least 400 party workers and pushing back the protestors from there.

The operation has forced many protestors to disperse into surrounding residential sectors of Islamabad, where police and security forces are conducting search operations and nabbing PTI workers.

After PTI protestors led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Bushra Bibi, the wife of Imran Khan, stormed their way into Islamabad, refusing to take any offers from the government, they continued to march towards their announced destination, D-Chowk.

Violent clashes were witnessed throughout Tuesday with security forces using rubber bullets and tear gas to stop the PTI protestors.

However, despite repeated warnings by government officials, PTI protestors kept pushing forward and were able to reach less than a kilometre away from D-Chowk.

Hundreds of PTI protestors were also able to reach D-Chowk as they claimed victory against the government and ridiculed the security forces for failing to stop them from reaching their destination.

However, after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi gave the go-ahead to the Islamabad Inspector General of Police to deal with the situation any way he deems fit; a major crackdown was initiated by Islamabad police, along with Pakistani Rangers, who have used full force against the PTI protestors and pushed them back and out of the Jinnah Avenue and the Blue Area.

As per details, at least 400 protestors have been already arrested, and more arrests are being made.

The operation forced many protestors to flee into the surrounding areas, prompting the security forces to cut electricity in the surrounding areas, call on the people to stay indoors and keep their homes locked, and initiate a search operation against PTI protestors.

Islamabad Police source said that among the protestors, there are at least 200 people with weapons, the people who ran over and killed police and Rangers officials in their vehicle are also present, and the miscreants who attacked and killed Punjab police officials are also present.

The Police source also said that they have intelligence reports of a large number of Afghan nationals present in the PTI protest as well, who have been brought by its leadership to spread unrest and bloodshed in the protest to later blame it on the government

PTI protest leaders -- KP CM Gandapur and Bushra Bibi -- have also fled the spot amid heavy shelling by security forces.

The PTI leadership claims that Pakistan Rangers have opted to shoot straight gun fire on the protestors, resulting in the killing of at least two of its party workers.

Veteran PTI leader, Sheikh Waqas Akram, said that at least two people have been killed by gunshots of Pakistan Rangers near D-Chowk earlier on Tuesday.

Interior Minister Naqvi and Information Minister Atta Tarar had announced earlier that after the violent clashes and riots by PTI protestors, all doors of negotiations and talks stand shut down, announcing a crackdown against PTI protestors.

The latest operation is being seen as a strategic and effective response by the security forces against PTI workers in Islamabad, pushing them back far away from D-Chowk, tracking and tracing dispersed protestors in surrounding areas, shutting down all offices, shops, petrol pumps, and electricity of the main Jinnah Avenue, Blue area and the surrounding residential areas and arresting any PTI protestor seen in the area.

Police authorities claim that they will continue the crackdown against PTI workers throughout the night and will not spare anyone trying to spread unrest.

It is also expected that KP CM Gandapur and Bushra Bibi may also be tracked down and arrested in this ongoing operation.
Damascus, Nov 27 : Israeli warplanes struck two areas in the countryside of central Syria's Homs province, media reported.

The attacks targeted al-Aminiya, located north of Homs, and Um Haratin, in the western part of the province, according to the Syrian state television.

The airstrikes come against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions, with Israel frequently attacking sites in Syria it claims are linked to Iranian forces or their allies, Xinhua news agency reported.

Israel, which rarely comments on military operations, has conducted airstrikes in Syria since 2011, with a focus on targets belonging to Iranian and Syrian forces, and the Lebanese resistance group, Hezbollah.

The latest strikes highlight continuing regional tensions amid Israelas military offensives in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.aaaaaaa

Israel has continued a deadly offensive on Gaza since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian terrorist group, Hamas, in October 2023. The ensuing response by Israel has killed more than 44,230 victims, mostly women and children, and injured north of 104,600.

The conflict has spread to Lebanon, with Israel launching deadly strikes across the country in an escalation from a year of cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah since the start of the onslaught in Gaza.
Photo: https://mfa.gov.ua

Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiha has met with soon outgoing High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell on the sidelines of the G7 ministerial.

"I was glad to catch up with Josep Borrell and thank him for his outstanding personal commitment to EU unity and strength in supporting Ukraine and countering Russian aggression. We discussed ways to increase the price of the war for the aggressor," Sybiha said on the X social network on Tuesday.

As reported, the Foreign Minister of Ukraine is on a visit to Italy on November 25-26 to participate in the G7 ministerial.
Tbilisi, Nov 27 : Georgia will hold the presidential election on December 14, according to a resolution approved by the country's Parliament.

Earlier on Tuesday, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili proposed holding the presidential election on December 14, and 80 lawmakers voted in favour of the proposal, according to the Parliament.

The inauguration of the newly elected President will take place on December 29, Xinhua news agency reported.

The session took place a day after Georgia's Parliament approved the mandate of its newly elected lawmakers in its first session since last month's parliamentary election, in which the ruling Georgian Dream party won an 89-seat majority in the 150-seat Parliament after receiving 53.93 per cent of the vote.

It also took place as protests continued in the capital Tbilisi since late Sunday over the October 26 election results, which were rejected by incumbent President Salome Zourabichvili and opposition parties.

Zourabichvili said she did not recognise the results, alleging that the election was marred by Russian interference, while the opposition parties called the election "stolen".

It is the first time that the Georgian President will not be elected by a direct popular vote.

The new President will be elected by a 300-member electoral college, including members of Parliament and delegates of the regions.

Zourabichvili was elected Georgian President in 2018 and her term expires on December 16.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Beirut/Jerusalem, Nov 27 : Israel launched airstrikes on Beirut two days ago, hitting several neighbourhoods in the Lebanese capital and causing panic among residents, according to local sources and Israeli officials.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the strikes targeted areas such as Barbour, Hamra, Salim Salam, and the area near the Kuwaiti embassy in Bir Hassan, Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday.

Warnings were issued for people to evacuate from Ras Nabaa, Zkak Blat, Msaytbeh, Corniche al-Mazraa, and Ras Beirut.

Many civilians fled the targeted areas by car or on foot, causing panic and traffic jams across the city.

Al-Jadeed, the local TV channel, reported at least three people were killed and 10 others injured in Israel's airstrike on Barbour in central Beirut on Tuesday evening.

These rare attacks on central Beirut came amid rising speculation about a potential ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.

On Tuesday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, working with IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, approved new plans for further strikes, according to the Defence Ministry.

IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee urged residents in southern Beirut suburbs to leave and stay at least 500 metres away from likely targets.

The IDF earlier said it had hit sites linked to Hezbollah in Beirut, Tyre, the Litani River, the Saluki area, and southern Lebanon, as the conflict continued to escalate.
Nature has a way of captivating us with its breathtaking beauty. Its towering mountains, stunning landscapes, and crystal-clear lakes never cease to amaze us. It's almost as if these natural wonders are from another planet.

From the gorgeous waterways of the Plitvice Lakes to the mirror-like salt flats of Bolivia, the eye-catching wonders around the world seem almost unreal. These fairy-tale-like landscapes stand out with their unusual colors, shapes, and formations that are often unexplainable. Each place tells a story of nature's ways that blend artistry with science, creating scenes that feel both alien and enchanting.

Here's a list of breathtaking places around the world that continually defy our expectations and stir our sense of wonder.

1. White Desert, Egypt

Image Source: Envato White Desert, Egypt

The White Desert of Egypt is a treasure chest of natural wonder, highlighted by the utterly confounding rock formations and white sands. The desert is coated white by calcified limestone and sculpted by the fine and dainty hand of Mother Nature. The snow-white landscape offers sandboarding, mountain biking, kayaking in nearby oases, and immensely gorgeous star gazing.

2. Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

Image Source: Envato Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

Located within Croatias largest national park, Plitvice Lakes is one of the worlds most beautiful destinations. The lakes are divided into travertine terraces surrounded by dense rainforests home to rare birds, bears, and wolves. Each lake has stunning waterfalls, surrounded by deposits of calcium carbonate, creating a natural dam or turf barrier. A spring visit is the best to enjoy the spectacular view of the lake. Zadar Airport, located close by, provides easy access to this stunning natural wonder.

3. Cappadocia, Turkey

Image Source: Envato Cappadocia, Turkey

In Central Turkey, Cappadocia is a scene straight out of a fairytale. Combining both natural and man-made beauty, its a spellbinding destination. The region features awe-inspiring desert landscapes packed with rock chimneys, rolling hills, and deep valleys. Visitors can take hot air balloon rides over its breathtaking vistas, immersing themselves in a landscape that feels like something out of a dream. Erkilet International Airport at Kayseri is the closest gateway to Cappadocia.

4. Lake Natron, Tanzania

Image Source: Envato Lake Natron, Tanzania

Lake Natron in Tanzania is not your typical lakeside getaway. Its hauntingly beautiful waters are the deadliest in the world. The pH level of the lake can go up to a shocking 10.5 which is enough to burn skin. However, the deep red waters of the lake are home to the Lesser flamingos and are the birthplace of 75% of the species.

5. Chocolate Hills, Bohol, The Philippines

Image Source: Envato Chocolate Hills, Bohol, The Philippines

The Chocolate Hills in the Philippines are a collection of over a thousand mounds that turn chocolatey brown during Bohols dry season. These mounds were formed due to years of limestone erosion in the region. But, their seemingly identical look led many to think theyre man-made. From various viewpoints around the city, you can admire the Chocolate Hills that spread near and far. Fly now to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, and catch a glimpse of this breathtaking view.

6. Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia

Image Source: Envato Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia

The Uyuni salt flats of Bolivia transform into a giant sky-reflecting mirror during the rainy season (September-May). The pools create a shimmering, illusory horizon, making it one of the best places to visit in the world if you like a good trick shot or selfie. The world's largest salt flat is nature's mirror and the most exciting part is you feel like you're walking on glass.

7. Honghe Hani Rice Terraces, China

Image Source: Envato Honghe Hani Rice Terraces, China

The terraces have existed for over 1,200 years, capturing the rolling water as it makes its way down to the valley below. The Honghe Hani Rice Terraces span four counties and 82 quaint villages that also feature a range of cattle, ducks, and fish. The rainbow-esque terraces look nothing less than Jackson Pollock art from the above and will linger long in your memory. Touch down at the Kunming Airport to reach this location conveniently.

8. Ta Phrom Temple, Angkor, Cambodia

Image Source: Envato Ta Phrom Temple, Angkor, Cambodia

The ancient temple is slowly being eaten alive by a rainforest, a memorable mix of natural and man-made beauty. Many of the temples around Angkor have been cleared, but Ta Prohm remains a projection of nature's ways over humans. Visitors will be able to see inscriptions of the temples original inhabitants and explore ancient passageways and historic courtyards.

From the otherworldly salt flats to the enchanting lakes and striking rock formations, these destinations offer a glimpse into nature's most extraordinary creations. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or an armchair explorer, the sheer beauty and uniqueness of these locations are bound to leave you speechless, reminding us of the endless wonders our planet holds.
People often believe that stepping up to assist an aging or ailing relative with the daily tasks of living will foster a sense of satisfaction and meaning, but this rosy picture may not match up with reality. Taking on a caregiving role reduced individuals life satisfaction and mood while increasing feelings of depression, anxiety, and loneliness, particularly during the first two years of caregiving, a study published in Psychological Science shows.

This is definitely a time period where some support would be appreciated most. This could come from other members of the family or maybe also from policy, for example from community social workers, said clinical psychologist Michael D. Kramer (University of Zurich), who coauthored the study with Wiebke Bleidorn, in an interview with APS.

Kramer and Bleidorn used data from 28,663 caregivers, collected over roughly 20 years in household studies in the Netherlands, Germany, and Australia. Though each of the countries has unique healthcare and welfare programs, all three have universal healthcare systems that provide citizens with access to community-based in-home care that is often combined with informal family caregiving.

Each year, respondents reported how many hours of informal caregiving they provided per week and completed measures of life satisfaction, depression, anxiety, loneliness, and other psychological states.

By analyzing these data, the researchers found that older women were most likely to become informal caregivers. Women in all three countries experienced a drop in life satisfaction that persisted throughout their time as a caregiver. For men, on the other hand, only those in Germany reported a decrease in life satisfaction upon becoming caregivers, and this dip dissipated after 2 years of continuous caregiving.

It is a well-documented phenomenon that women tend to take on this role more often, and when they do so, they often tend to invest more time into care, Kramer said. There is a heightened vulnerability for women in this context, and they might need more support than men in this case.

Kramer and Bleidorn also found evidence of reduced well-being that was unique to particular countries:

In the first year after becoming a caregiver, German and Australian women and, to a lesser extent, men reported reduced positive mood.

Dutch and German caregivers reported increased depression and anxiety.

German and Australian caregivers reported increased loneliness.

German men reported increased loneliness during the first year of caregiving, while German women reported increased loneliness for 3 years or more after starting to provide informal care.

Taken together, we found relatively consistent well-being losses in women after they became informal caregivers and temporally specific well-being losses for men that partly did not extend beyond the first year of the transition to the caregiver role, Kramer and Bleidorn explained. While adaptation effects set in for men, women continued to decrease with ongoing caregiving, especially in life satisfaction.

Related content: The psychological research behind aging

Respondents reported an average of 1 to 2 hours of caregiving per daypossibly because relatives tend to be hospitalized or moved to long-term care facilities when they require more intense levels of caregiving, Kramer said. Still, respondents well-being was found to further decrease when they reported more hours of caregiving. Caregiver well-being did not differ according to whether they were also employed full-time, however, and did not differ significantly with the type of care provided.

These findings conflict with previous research based on set-point theories of well-being, which proposes that people often bounce back to their average levels of emotional well-being after adapting to trying circumstances, and on potential well-being gains that may be associated with caregiving, Kramer and Bleidorn wrote. The contrary findings of Kramer and Bleidorns research underscore the need for interventions designed to support informal caregivers during the first 2 years of caregiving, including increased access to formal caregiving programs.

Considering the generally negative well-being effects of informal caregiving, policies designed to reduce the need for informal care through easier access to formal long-term care or combined forms of care may alleviate the detrimental effects of informal care, Kramer and Bleidorn wrote.

Further research is needed to determine how policy and cultural differences may influence the experiences of informal caregivers. Caregiver well-being may be worse in countries without strong formal care systems or universal healthcare to support families, Kramer said. All three countries in the study also have relatively individualist cultures, which may cause informal caregivers to experience the role as more stressful than those in collectivist cultures where multigenerational households are more common.

Related content we think youll enjoy

Feedback on this article? Email [email protected] or login to comment.

Reference

Kramer, M. D., & Bleidorn, W. (2024). The Well-Being Costs of Informal Caregiving. Psychological Science, 35(12), 1382-1394. https://doi.org/10.1177/09567976241279203
With discovery now complete, dueling summary judgment motions have been filed in a closely watched book banning case in Escambia County, Fla., over the removal of Peter Parnell and Justin Richardsons 2005 picture book And Tango Makes Three.

In a filing this week, the authors, who first filed suit in June 2023, argue that the removal of their bookan illustrated book based on a true story about two male penguins who adopt and raise a penguin chickwas removed based on unconstitutional, anti-LGBTQ+ viewpoint discrimination and should be returned to school library shelves.

Following Floridas enactment of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and a challenge from a District teacher with a documented history of homophobia, Defendant removed Tango from District school libraries, the filing states. There is no dispute that Defendant did so because Tango depicts a same-sex relationship, a viewpoint-discriminatory justification prohibited by the First Amendment.

In their own motion for summary judgment, lawyers for defendants Escambia County counter they should prevail because school officials have the authority to remove any book from library shelves for any reason, citing a common defense in several book banning cases now underway across the nationthat which books go on library shelves is government speech and thus immune from First Amendment scrutiny.

In establishing and implementing certain governmental functions, the government, including its educational institutions, has the discretion to promote policies and values of its own choosing free from forum analysis or the viewpoint-neutrality requirement, the brief states. Simply because a library shelf contains a collection of seemingly disparate ideas and viewpoints, does not mean it is a forum for private speech.

The filings come after officials in neighboring Nassau County settled similar claims with the authors in September, finding that the book contains no obscene material and agreeing to return it, along with several other titles, to school library shelves.

 The bottom line is that it is unclear whether the government speech doctrine applies. 

While the countys government speech argument has largely been unsuccessful in several other high profile book banning lawsuits, including a recent appeals court decision over Iowa's controversial book banning law, SF 496 , the judge in the Tango case, Allen Winsor, appears to be open to the argument. In his April decision to allow the case to proceed, Winsor held that the government speech argument has some force, but said that without a trial on the merits he could not render a decision.

"Indeed, it seems unlikely that a school library will be properly viewed as a forum for authors expression. But the law holds that courts should not find government speech lightly, Winsor concluded. The bottom line is that it is unclear whether the government speech doctrine applies.

The Fifth Circuit court of appeals is also considering the government speech argument in another closely-watched book banning case, Little v. Llano County, in Texas.

Developments in the Tango case also come as Escambia County officials face a separate lawsuit over the removal of books from school library shelves. First filed on May 16 in the Northern district of Florida in Pensacola by PEN America, Penguin Random House, and a group of authors and parents, that suit alleges that administrators and school board members disproportionately targeted books by non-white and/or LGBTQ+ authors and books that contain themes or topics related to race or the LGBTQ+ community. Notably, that complaint lays out how a single language arts teacher at a local high schoolVicki Baggettkicked off what the plaintiffs describe as "a widespreadand largely successfulcampaign to restrict access to books throughout the Escambia County School District. Baggetts efforts are also at issue in the Tango case.

In yet another Florida book banning case, attorneys for the state asked a federal judge earlier this month to toss a closely watched lawsuit filed in August by six major publishers, the Authors Guild, students, parents, and several bestselling authors. The suit challenges two provisions of HB 1069, a recently enacted state law have requires school officials to remove books that describe sexual content from school libraries, which critics say has fueled a surge in improper book bans in Florida schools.
According to a recent white paper published by Xinhua News Agency, the Chinese audiobook market has experienced significant expansion in recent years, growing from 1.96 billion yuan (approximately $270 million) in 2015 to over 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) in 2023. Chinese consumers listened to an average of 8.8 audiobooks last year, surpassing figures reported in the U.S.

But despite the rising popularity of audiobooks, Chinese publishers are still struggling to find sustainable business models, said Winnie Li, senior manager and business development executive at OverDrive, at the inaugural International Summit of Audio Publishers, held in New York City in September. This is primarily due to substantial investment costs, competition, contracting with top-tier narrators, and consumer expectations for free content.

Ximalaya is currently the dominant player in China, capturing over 70% of the market with 345 million active monthly users, followed by QingTing, Lizhi, and others. These platforms employ four primary revenue models, with paid content (subscriptions and one-time purchases) accounting for 51% of revenue.

Advertising serves as a significant secondary revenue stream. Because so many of these platforms offer free listening sessions and free content, theyre really using those free materials as premiums to build a strong listener base, Li explains, and monetizing through integrated ads.

Audiobook publishers in China also offer live broadcasts, capitalizing on the popularity of celebrity narrators. Lastly, platforms sell branded hardware such as headphones and smart devices.

Most listeners fall between ages 24 and 40, equally men and women, with fiction accounting for 60% of listening. And, as in other markets, audiobooks have become part of daily life in China, Li said. Over half of parents make audiobooks a daily ritual with their kids, and 82% of listeners share stories with friends. And, Li said, theres a new trend worth noting: 19% listen to audiobooks with their pets.

A version of this article originally appeared in the 2024 PW Frankfurt Book Fair digital supplement.
The Norwegian government has announced the creation of two literary initiatives honoring Nobel laureate Jon Fosse: an annual translation prize and lecture series.

The Fosse Prize for Translators, which will award NOK 500,000 (approximately $45,000), aims to become one of the world's largest translation awards. On Monday, the organizers announced Hinrich Schmidt-Henkel as the prize's inaugural winner. Schmidt-Henkel translates from Norwegian, Danish, French, and Italian into German, and has translated several of Fosse's major works into German. He has also translated more than two dozen other Norwegian writers, including Tarjei Vesaas, Henrik Ibsen, Cecilie Lveid, and Ruth Lillegraven.

Of course, translating Fosse is not a prerequisite for being considered for the award; rather, the prize recognizes translators who have devoted extensive time to translating Norwegian literature into other languages.

"With this initiative, we hope to establish a new cultural forum that inspires literary conversations, both in Norway and abroad," said Lubna Jaffery, Norway's minister of culture and equality. "We want to showcase the power and role of literature in society and strengthen Norway's position in the international world of literature."

On Monday, the organizers also announced that the first Fosse Lecture will be given on April 24 at the Royal Palace in Oslo by Jean-Luc Marion, a French philosopher and Catholic theologian.

"The Fosse Lecture aims to bring the international literary discourse to Norway, and the Fosse Prize honors those who help make Norwegian literature accessible to an international audience," said Aslak Sira Myhre, Norway's national librarian. "In so doing, we establish new cultural institutions in Norway, and these institutions will endure for generations to come."

The lecture series will feature international academics, authors, playwrights, and intellectuals presenting original work about literature, though speakers are not required to discuss Fosse's work specifically. Each lecture must be original and written specifically for this event.

The National Library of Norway is managing both the Fosse Prize for Translators and the Fosse Lecture in collaboration with Norwegian Literature Abroad (NORLA), the agency that handles translation grants and promotes the country's literary culture around the world. NORLA will also host an international translation seminar in conjunction with the award presentation. Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit is the patron of both the lecture and the prize.

Fosse expressed admiration for both Schmidt-Henkel and Marion as the inaugural honorees. Germany has traditionally been the most important country for translated Norwegian literature and, for many years, Hinrich has been the most important German translator," Fosse said in a video. "So I think it is a perfectly obvious choice."

And about Marion, he said, "I find [Marion's] way of thinking very appealing.... He builds a robust case for literature as a place to understand and experience life or learn something about love. Or God for that matter."
Another two IRIS-T systems to arrive from Germany to Ukraine before Christmas

Major General Christian Freuding, who is the Director of Planning and Command Staff of the Federal Ministry of Defense of the Federal Republic of Germany, has announced the transfer of IRIS-T air defense systems to Ukraine in the near future.

During a meeting with journalists in Kyiv, he emphasized the importance of his visit to Ukraine after the U.S. presidential election and on the eve of the German election. According to him, one of the key messages of this visit is that Germany's support continues.

"In the last few days we have delivered artillery howitzers, tanks, Marder infantry fighting vehicles. We've launched our strike drone program. And the next IRIS-T SLM and SLS systems should arrive in the coming days before Christmas," the Major General said.

Freuding assured that Germany will be on Ukraine's side and will provide support in different areas regardless of any changes in the government and elections.

"You can really rely on German politics, on the German people who will support you regardless of the elections that will take place in about eight weeks," he said.

The Major General also noted that Ukraine has become a second home for him in a way.

"It is quite understandable for me that this war has been going on for more than ten years. I think it is always worthwhile and important to bring this to the attention of the public, especially in Western Europe," he said.
A Fortuitous Confluence of Events

Donald Trumps foreign policy team is shaping up to be great news for Israel, the West, and the proper definition of America First. The erosion of American interests under the Biden Administration means that Trump will return to office looking at a world very different from the one he handed over. Israel is but one of many countries to find itself in a radically changed geopolitical position.

On October 7, 2023, Iran chose to heat up its long-simmering cold war with Israel, initially by proxy but eventually directly. Throughout that entire period, the Biden Administration has preached restraint. Its stated concerns for humanitarian aid and the avoidance of a wider war have hamstrung Israeli military action, prolonged suffering, leaked valuable intelligence, and explicitly protected Iranian nuclear facilities. By all indications, the incoming Trump Administration will take a very different approach.

Bidens misplaced prioritization stems from a longstanding bipartisan elevation of conflict management over military victory. No Western military has set its sights on a crushing, dispositive, region-altering victory since the Second World War. Initially, this preference stemmed from a desire to avoid a direct, potentially nuclear, U.S.-USSR conflict. The historically anomalous, relatively bloodless collapse of the Soviet Empire then entrenched the conceit throughout Western foreign policy intelligentsia that, given enough time and international pressure, all conflicts would resolve themselves. As a result, the concentrated carnage of short decisive wars has given way to multigenerational suffering and instability. Few countries have suffered more from this conflict management doctrine than Israel. Few populations have suffered its depredations more than the hapless Arabs that the UN designated Palestine Refugees.

Fortunately, the confluence of three events has created a unique opening to stabilize the Middle East and reorient it around development and prosperity: (i) The elevation of the new Trump team; (ii) Israels potentially imminent military victory over Iran; and (iii) The revival of the first Trump Administrations dormant Peace to Prosperity Plan. A fourth foreseeable potentially imminent occurrencea succession crisis following the death or disability of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khameiniwould be a welcome addition.

Taken together, their confluence promises to usher in a new Middle East, free of both the Iranian nuclear threat (and possibly the Iranian regime) and the permanently unsettled Palestine Refugees. If handled correctly, the resolutionnot managementof these longstanding problems will also demonstrate the meaning of a true America First foreign policy.

Irans Miscalculation

Irans escalation against Israel was a major miscalculation. It felt emboldened to act in part because of Bidens weakness and in part because of its role (along with China, Russia, and North Korea) in the emerging anti-American axis that that weakness engendered.

What Iran missed is that it is (by far) the most vulnerable member of that allianceand thus a prime target for a more competent, confident America. China and Russia are major military powers with ensconced authoritarian governments. Geography and third-generation totalitarian control render North Korea disturbingly stable. Iran, with a military far less impressive than Russia or China, nuclear capabilities but no known arsenal, geographic proximity to numerous hostile forces, and a large restive population, stands out as the potential weak link.

To be sure, Iran bringsor at the very least, broughtreal assets to the axis. Its global network of irregular and terrorist militias is unrivaled. Its significant oil exports fuel China. Its drone technology has assisted Russias war against Ukraine. And its a nuclear threshold state. By launching its war against Israel, however, Iran put all of those assets at risk.

Israels obliteration of Hamas and reconquest of Gaza, its decapitation of Hezbollah and potentially imminent liberation of Lebanon, and its retaliatory strikes against Yemens Houthis, severely degraded Irans terror proxies. Israels ability to strike visiting dignitaries even in the heart of Teheran highlighted Iranian weakness. Israeli and allied responses to Irans missile-and-drone swarms confirmed that much of the Arab world has evolved in a healthy direction since 1990, when Secretary of State James Baker forced Israeli civilians to absorb Iraqi missiles rather than risk his anti-Saddam Arab alliance. They highlighted the superiority of Western technologydrones, missiles, and missile shieldsto anything Iran can field. And they all-but-eliminated Irans air defenses, leaving critical oil and nuclear facilities open to attack.

The combined effect of Iranian attacks and Israeli responses has been to demonstrate Israels world-leading military strategies, tactics, technologies, and operational capabilities. With no territorial claims on any of its neighbors, Israel has thus shown itself to be a highly desirable allynot to mention a purveyor of military technology and adviceto any neighbor able to overcome its ideological antisemitism.

The Biden Administration has stymied all such positive developments. It has combined the longstanding preference for conflict management with President Obamas strategic desire to balance Iran against its pro-Western neighbors to oppose clear Israeli victory on any front. In fact, it has repeatedly warned Israel that any clear victory would compromise American diplomatic support and military resupply.

President Trump, Secretary of State-designate Marco Rubio, and incoming National Security Advisor Michael Waltz have no such compunctions: They have called for Israel to defeat Hamas and Hezbollah and to eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat. Their imminent arrival will give Israel diplomatic cover, guaranteed resupply, and likely support for attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.

That last objective is key. An operation eliminating the Iranian nuclear threat will ripple around the globe. The Iranian people, who have launched several popular uprisings over the past fifteen years, may finally succeed in toppling their oppressive, theocratic mullahcracy. Given that Khameinis poor health suggests that an Iranian succession crisis is imminent, a military defeat may be all that is needed to nudge victory in a more rational, pro-Western direction.

Further afield, the removal of a key player from the emerging anti-American axis will announce clearly that the period of American weakness is over. Russia will find itself shorn of a key ally, strengthening Ukraines negotiating hand. China will put a primacy on protecting Irans oil production and export capabilities rather than on military escalation. Israel will emerge as the Middle Easts unquestioned strong horse. And the U.S., at relatively low cost and with few direct entanglements, will find itself restored as the dominant regional powerin stark contrast to its recent Iraqi and Afghan misadventures.

Peace to Prosperity

The context couldnt be better for resurrecting the Trump Peace to Prosperity Plan. This remarkable document, released in late January 2020, was overcome by events almost immediately. By March, Covid dominated world news. In September, the Abraham Accords to which it led rendered unrelated provisions at least temporarily moot. Since January 2021, the Biden team has downplayed the Accords and ignored the Plan entirely. Trumps designated Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, may be the perfect person to revive it. His elevationTrumps first named Ambassador, and seemingly misplaced amidst Cabinet-level announcementssuggest a top Administration priority.

In perhaps its most important and most overlooked section, Trumps Plan kicked the Overton Window wide open vis-a-vis a major source of regional stability: The multigenerational Palestine Refugees. Yet its seemingly radical approach was really nothing of the sort. It merely opted to see these stateless people as but one example of a phenomenon that is tragic, widespread, and an easily predictable consequence of the global shift from empires to nation-states. To wit, any territory that long belonged to an empire, newly liberated as the homeland of a formerly captive nation, is also home to many people who preferred imperial rule. Feeling disenfranchised, these residents of the new state will agitate for repatriation until a combination of war casualties, refugees, and population exchanges stabilize the demographics on both sides of the new border. Dissonance with contemporary sensibilities cannot change the equation: Post-liberation and post-war stabilization often hinges on displacement and resettlement.

Examples abound. The 1820 liberation of Greece from Ottoman rule gave rise to a century of instability until a massive population exchange at the end of WWI. Winston Churchill cited this stabilization favorably in a 1944 speech to Parliament advocating the movement of large German and Polish populations to accommodate new borders. The creation of India and Pakistan forced roughly 1.5 million cross-border relocations. Even today, a key Russian claim is that Ukraine has mistreated the large Russian population separated from Mother Russia with the dissolution of the Soviet Empire.

The importance of population transfers to post-war stabilization is hardly controversial. The worlds preeminent refugee agency, the UNHCR, recognizes the durability of resettling displaced populations in places that share their ethnic, cultural, religious, and linguistic ties. Yet when it came to the liberation of the long-captive Jewish nation, the UN inverted that practice. It formed UNRWA around a commitment to the uniquely defined Palestine refugees: [P]ersons whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948, and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict and their descendants.

UNRWA trapped its charges as pawns in the inherently antisemitic struggle against Zionism. A series of patronsArab states, the Soviet Union, the Muslim Brotherhood, Iran, and othersradicalized and weaponized them, demonstrable most recently in the all-of-society barbarism that Gazans exhibited on October 7. The sole purpose of the Palestine Liberation movement, founded in the 1960s, was to ensure that the Middle East could not stabilize as long as it contained a Jewish State. The only viable alternative, which the Peace to Prosperity Plan brought forward, is to afford (at long last) these people the same opportunity for resettlement in culturally aligned homes that the world has granted so many other refugee populations.

This idea is neither new nor radical, but it has been stunningly absent from decades of discussion. Following the widespread expulsion of Jews from Arab and Islamic states, mostly to Israel in the 1950s, a current of Arab intellectual thought argued that the move would legitimate Israeli claims of a population exchange. Elevating humanitarian instincts and diplomatic imperatives over national interest, however, Israels Jews never acted upon that claim to expel Arabsnotably after the Six Day War, when such expulsions might have been expected. As a result, Israel unwittingly contributed to the perpetual instability its Arab neighbors once desired.

Over the years, most of those Arab neighbors have elevated regional stability and their own development above their hatred of the Jewish State. None, however, have admitted the necessary conclusion: Historys only permanent, multi-generational refugee class is incompatible with peace, stability, and development. For decades, the obvious, equitable, and necessary solutioncompleting the population exchangehas been off the table. The entirely predictable result has been prolonged instability and suffering, much of which has been intentional. Peace to Prosperity put that solution back on the table in 2020 at a moment that proved to be inopportune. The plans 2025 revival will bring it back at precisely the right moment.

Sadistic global advocates of prolonged suffering have rallied behind the facially benign slogan of two states living side-by-side in peace and security and an insistence upon creating a new Arab state. All such efforts are innumerate, utopian, and inverted. Innumerate because Israel and Jordan are already two states living side-by-side in any historical definition of Palestine. Utopian because they require the Palestine Liberation movement to eschew its anti-Zionist raison detre. Inverted because what matters is peace and security, not the number of states.

The causes of peace, security, development, and human flourishing require resettling most of todays fourth-generation Arab refugees throughout the Arab/Islamic world. Ideally, that would happen in an orderly fashion, during peacetime, with significant compensation and development aid. It would also incorporate the concomitant claims of the Jewish refugees expelled from Muslim-majority countries.

Trumps Peace to Prosperity Plan shattered the taboo. It was the first significant document to address these issues comprehensively and head on. It called for and sketched the contours of precisely such a program. In the years since its publication, many facts on the ground have changed. Israel and the U.S. accepted the plan and attempted many of its confidence-building recommendations. The Palestinian Authority rejected the Plan out of hand. Hamas demonstrated that it stood fully by its founding declaration of a war to the death against the Jewish State in which no inhuman depravity is off limits. If anything, those developments have provided even further validation of the plans wisdom and necessity.

America First

The incoming Trump Administration must revive Peace to Posterity for the world of 2025. When it does, it will redouble its emphasis on resettlement throughout the Arab/Islamic worldand orient American policy accordingly. Moving forward, all aid directed towards Palestinians must flow through programs and organizations committed to resettlement. All discussions about Palestinians with Arab, Islamic, Palestinian, or Israeli interlocutors must forward effective, humane resettlementfollowed by intensive deradicalization of the sort already underway in several Gulf countries and Abraham Accords signatories. All ties and funding provided to organizations committed to preserving the misery must be severed.

The confluence of an incoming Administration poised to revive a visionary-but-dormant plan and Israels potentially imminent military victory will provide the region with a rare opportunity. It can finally emerge from the century-long, badly mismanaged dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire. It can enter an era of stability, self-determination, and human developmentin other words, peace and prosperity.

The benefits to America are overwhelming, obvious, and demonstrative of a true America First foreign policy. A disturbing strand of thought argues that the only way to put America first is to retreat from world leadership and shrink our military. Todays world, however, is far too connected, and technology has rendered it far too small, for a return to the era in which two oceans protected the American homeland.

America First requires American leadership in all realms, including military and diplomacy. It is the nature of that leadership that must change as the post-WWII order fades and evolves to accommodate the very different world we now inhabit. The U.S. must position itself as the indispensable ally of regional powers committed to maintaining their own military prowess. Valuable allies are those whose militaries will shoulder the lead in protecting their own regions, relying upon the U.S. for materiel, support, and diplomatic cover. Such an arrangement will reduce U.S. costs in both dollars and casualties, while maintaining Americas critical edge in military technology.

The support the U.S. can and should provide Israel in winning both its war against Iran and solving its longstanding refugee problem is the right America First model. Nothing could better exemplify the meaning of America First to the global community than a Middle East shorn of the Iranian nuclear threat, an apocalyptic mullahcracy, an unsolvable, radicalized, weaponized, multi-generation refugee communityand a small American footprint designed to bolster regional allies rather than recreate foreign cultures in the American image.

Bruce Abramson is the Director of New Student & Graduate Admissions at New College of Florida and a Fellow of the Coalition for America. His books include An American Vision for the Middle East (Kindle, 2017) and most recently, American Spirit or Great Awokening? (Academica Press, 2024).
Gizelle Hernandez/Bravo

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 11/26/2024



ADVERTISEMENT

FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS!

Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source!

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

will have a whole new look when it returns for a twelfth season.Bravo has announced it's ordered another season of and that the show is getting a facelift.' upcoming twelfth season will feature Lisa Vanderpump and a brand-new group of "close-knit SUR-vers who are as complicatedly involved with one another as their iconic predecessors," according to the network.Lisa will continue oversee the West Hollywood mainstay SUR -- and now TomTom -- as she welcomes the next batch of servers, hosts and bartenders, who come with their own "drama, situationships and frenemies.""The last 12 years of filming have been an extraordinary run full of laughter, tears and everything in between," Lisa said in a statement."I can't thank enough those who have shared their lives. How I love you all. In the restaurant business, one shift always gives way to another. Cheers to the next generation of ."Season 12 of is set to begin production in 2025, and its premiere date and official cast will be announced at a later date.In addition, will air special highlighting memorable moments from the past 11 seasons -- including a decade of heartbreaks, friendship fallouts, and scandals."What a thrill it is to build on the legacy of this series by doing it all over again," the show's executive producer Alex Baskin said in a statement."With profound appreciation for the original group and their iconic run, we can't wait for the audience to see a dynamic new group of co-workers and friends make their way through life together."is being produced by 32 Flavors and Evolution Media with Lisa, Alex, Barry Poznick, Jenn Levy, Joe Kingsley, and Ken Todd serving as executive producers.premiered its eleventh season in January, but the show veered off from its normal summer filming schedule and postponed Season 12.During a May appearance on Fox's New Day Cleveland, longtime cast member Tom Sandoval suggested that the cast was a little burnt out after "Scandoval," which was the scandal in which Tom had cheated on his former girlfriend of nine years, Ariana Madix.Tom had an affair for about six months with Raquel Leviss, who had also starred on and used to be Ariana's best friend.After Raquel filmed ' Season 10 reunion, she entered a treatment facility to check her mental health in April 2023 amid backlash over the affair.When explaining why cameras wouldn't be rolling in Summer 2024, Tom explained, "I think one of the things is that, coming out of this scandal, it was like we picked up filming right when everything first happened.""And then we kind of had a very short break and then went right into filming this season that you're watching now, Season 11," he added.Tom said Bravo had decided to give "some time to breath" before filming Season 12."They just want to... take a break, maybe -- I mean, I'm really excited about it," Tom shared."Because it's like every year we film my birthday. We film [ Scheana Shay ]'s birthday at times or whatever. To kind of have a different time of the year, it might bring a fresh sort of feeling to our show."Prior to Tom's revelations, multiple outlets had reported that Bravo would be shaking up its shooting schedule and taking a hiatus following Season 11.But , up to that point, had filmed during the summer for an entire decade. Production typically started in May and ran through June or July each year. Andy Cohen discussed ' reported production change during the May 1 episode of his Andy Cohen Live show on SiriusXM."We used to do this all the time with the Housewives. We would say, 'You know what? Let's put cameras down for, you know, four or five months and come back to them.' And they will have lived, you know, life," Andy explained, according to Us Weekly.Andy added how fans probably "forget" about how the show extended production once Tom's affair with Raquel behind Ariana's back made headlines in March 2023 and rocked the entire cast."People forget that we picked up cameras a few, three months after [Ariana] found out about [Tom]'s affair, so that's why she's still in the violently angry stage and you can understand that," Andy said, adding how it was "great" to tape the aftermath of the scandal but now the drama has come and gone."Sometimes you do want people to live their lives and see how things develop and you know, so, I think it's a very good idea."star Lala Kent reportedly said during an Amazon Live session on April 23 that she was having a "hard" time with all the backlash and negativity and so she thought it would be "best" to stay away from it all. Lala Kent , who was pregnant at the time, admitted she had been avoiding "anything to do with Bravo or this season" to help her relax and "enjoy" her pregnancy. (She later gave birth in September)."I love Bravo and I love NBCU, and I love and I love all of you guys. But this is a really important time in my life, and I will be damned if anybody tarnishes or gives me memories of it not being a beautiful time in my life," Lala said.And Raquel did not appear on ' eleventh season.When asked if she had a future on the Bravo reality series in August 2023, Raquel said "hell no" during an episode of Bethenny Frankel 's "ReWives" podcast."I refuse to not respect myself on that level where I would endure that emotional abuse any longer," Raquel vented. "And I can't do that to myself."Raquel said "of course" producers wanted her back, but she apparently had a "no contact policy with every single cast member."Raquel also shared how salary negotiations with Bravo were not in her favor. She alleged that Bravo was not willing to pay her "equally" to Tom and Ariana."I was considering going back if I was going to be paid equally, because I feel like when you pay your employees, it really shows how much you value them," Raquel said at the time. Lisa Vanderpump previously told TMZ that she believes Raquel was paid $361,000 for Season 10, but Us reported that people who starred on the show for a longer period of time earned more.
French energy giant TotalEnergies SE on Monday said it will make no new financial contribution as part of its investments in Adani group companies till the Indian firm's founder is cleared of bribery charges.

Photograph: Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters

The energy giant said it was not aware of the investigation into the alleged corruption.

TotalEnergies is one of the biggest foreign investors in billionaire Gautam Adani's business empire and had previously taken stakes in the group's renewable energy venture Adani Green Energy Ltd (AEGL) and city gas unit Adani Total Gas Ltd (ATGL).

In a statement, the French firm said it learnt of US authorities indicting Gautam Adani and two other executives for allegedly paying $265 million bribes to Indian officials to secure solar power supply contracts for AEGL.

"This indictment does not target AGEL itself, nor any AGEL-related companies," TotalEnergies said.

"Until such time when the accusations against the Adani group individuals and their consequences have been clarified, TotalEnergies will not make any new financial contribution as part of its investments in the Adani group of companies."

Adani group has dismissed the allegations brought in the US court as baseless and has said it would seek all possible legal recourse.

TotalEnergies holds a 19.75 per cent stake in Adani Green Energy Ltd - the renewable energy arm of the Indian group helmed by Gautam Adani.

It also has a 50 per cent stake in three joint venture companies that produce electricity from sunlight and wind with AEGL.

The French firm also holds a 37.4 per cent stake in Adani Total Gas Ltd, which retails CNG to automobiles and pipes natural gas to households for cooking.

"In accordance with its code of conduct, TotalEnergies rejects corruption in any form," the French giant said in the statement.

"TotalEnergies, which is not targeted nor involved in the facts described by such indictment, will take all relevant actions to protect its interests as a minority (19.75 per cent) shareholder of AGEL and as a joint-venture partner (50 per cent) in project companies with AGEL."

The company said it made the investments in Adani's entities "in full compliance with applicable laws".

This was also in line with its own internal governance processes pursuant to due diligence and representations made by the sellers.

"In particular, TotalEnergies was not made aware of the existence of an investigation into the alleged corruption scheme," the statement added.

In January 2021, TotalEnergies acquired a minority interest in the listed company Adani Green Energy Limited (AEGL) of which it now owns 19.75 per cent.

As part of its strategy to enhance its development in renewables in India through direct access to a portfolio of assets, it has also acquired a 50 per cent stake in three joint ventures operating renewable assets (AGEL23 in 2020, AREL9 in 2023, and AREL64 in 2024).

The French energy giant had in February last year put on hold a planned investment in Adani Group's $50 billion hydrogen project pending results of an audit launched following allegations by a US short-seller.

While the partnership, where the French oil giant was to take a 25 per cent stake in the hydrogen venture of the Adani group, was announced in June 2022, TotalEnergies had not yet signed a contract.

As per the June 2022 announcement, TotalEnergies was to take 25 per cent equity in Adani New Industries Ltd (ANIL)  the Adani Group firm that is investing $50 billion over 10 years in a green hydrogen ecosystem, including an initial production capacity of 1 million tonnes before 2030.

The announcement by Total adds to the woes of Adani.

The crisis around the group, which began when Hindenburg released a damning report in January 2023, has also been used by the opposition parties to attack the government, alleging that the tycoon's rise was primarily because of his association with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The government has rejected the allegation.

Hindenburg's allegations of accounting and financial fraud unleashed an over $150 billion rout in market value across Adani's companies.

Adani group has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them malicious and an "attack on India".

The group stocks had recovered most of the losses before last week's indictment in a New York court.

TotalEnergies, France's largest oil and gas company, first joined hands with Adani in 2018 for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) venture before buying a 19.75 per cent stake in AGEL and a stake in solar assets for $2.5 billion in 2020-21.

It also took a 37.4 per cent stake in ATGL.
High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has said that when it comes to support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, the EU is absolutely autonomous and does not depend on the position of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

He said this ahead of a G7 ministerial in Fiuggi, Italy, on Tuesday when asked by reporters about a possible seizure of support for Ukraine as soon as Trump officially takes office.

"We have to continue working to give Ukraine the support that Ukraine needs. We, as Europeans, we are acting independently of what Mr. Trump wants to do. We have our commitments. We have our capacities. When we claim we have a Strategic Autonomy, the least that we can say, and do, is continue supporting Ukraine. We are not pending on Mr. Trump's orders," Borrell said.

At the same time, he admitted that what the United States will do "is very much important."

"But from our side, we have to continue putting all our capacity at the service of the Ukrainian defence. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister is here, to explain to us the situation. We will renew our engagement on supporting Ukraine. This is the position of the European Union  at least on the [past] Friday. I hope it will be the same on [next] Monday," the diplomat said.

This is Borrell's last meeting as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
Essar Group co-founder Shashi Ruia has died after a prolonged illness. He was 80.

IMAGE: Shashi Ruia (left) and Ravi Ruia. Photograph: PTI Photo/Rediff Archives

Ruia, who co-founded metals-to-technology conglomerate Essar with his brother Ravi, died in Mumbai around 23.55 hours on November 25, family sources said.

He had returned from the US, where he was undergoing treatment, about a month back.

His mortal remains will be kept at Ruia House from 1 pm to 3 pm on Tuesday. The funeral procession will leave from Ruia House at 4 pm for the Worli crematorium.

Shashi, a first-generation entrepreneur industrialist, started his career in 1965 under the guidance of his father Nand Kishore Ruia.

He, along with his brother Ravi, laid the foundation of Essar in 1969 by constructing an outer breakwater at Chennai Port. The group expanded into various sectors, including steel, oil refining, exploration and production, telecom, power, and construction.

He is survived by his wife Manju and two sons Prashant and Anshuman.

Condoling Ruia's death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was as a colossal figure in the world of industry. His visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence transformed the business landscape of India, he said, describing his demise as deeply saddening.

Modi said on X, "He also set high benchmarks for innovation and growth. He was always full of ideas, always discussing how we can make our country better."
'If the criminal or civil charges are deemed unworthy or defective, Trump's new justice department and SEC can withdraw the criminal and civil cases.'

Photograph: Alyssa Pointer/Reuters

There remains a possibility that the $265 million bribery case against billionaire Gautam Adani can be withdrawn if the charges against him are deemed 'unworthy or defective' after Donald Trump takes over as the US President, a prominent Indian-American attorney has said.

New York attorney Ravi Batra told PTI that while every new president has a new team, President-elect Trump, who is forgoing FBI checks for his Cabinet, will "neuter any prosecution that's not based in good faith, but is what he has powerfully termed: 'Lawfare'.'

'Essentially, that means the law is being applied selectively to target one's opponents, which naturally denies the target of 'equal protection of the law' guaranteed by our federal constitution,' Batra said.

"That is an issue Gautam Adani can raise with his government, and request them to raise bilaterally" with Trump, who will be sworn in as the 47th US president on January 20, 2025, Batra added.

"If the criminal or civil charges are deemed unworthy or defective, President Trump's new justice department and SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) can withdraw the criminal and civil cases," Batra said adding that the "law is a many splendored thing, as it can, and does, self-correct to retain public confidence in the noble judiciary and the rule of law."

"This principle also has application in the comity of nations, given the all-important prosecutorial discretion. Indeed, that's how prisoner exchanges between nations occur."

"The president, as the federal executive, is Constitutionally empowered to set foreign policy as well as prosecute through his state and justice departments, respectively."

Batra also said that the bribery charge against Adani also raises the issue of extraterritorial application of American laws since the Indian tycoon and others involved in the case do not live in US.

"While our domestic laws remain the same, a preliminary issue arises about extraterritoriality application of US laws," Batra told PTI.

Last week, a five-count criminal indictment was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn charging Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani and Vneet Jaain with conspiracies to commit securities and wire fraud and substantive securities fraud for their roles in a multi-billion-dollar scheme to obtain funds from US investors and global financial institutions on the basis of false and misleading statements.

Prosecutors said the indictment 'alleges schemes to pay over $250 million in bribes to Indian government officials, to lie to investors and banks to raise billions of dollars, and to obstruct justice.'

US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace had announced the charges. Peace was appointed by President Joe Biden as the 48th United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

In the US, the president appoints a United States attorney to each of the 94 federal districts across the country.

The US attorney is the chief federal law enforcement officer in their district and is also involved in civil litigation where the United States is a party, according to the department of Justice Web site.

In a parallel civil case, the SEC charged Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani and Cyril Cabanes, an executive of Azure Power Global Ltd, for conduct arising out of the massive bribery scheme.

According to the SEC's allegations, the bribery scheme was orchestrated to enable the two renewable energy companies to capitalise on a multi-billion-dollar solar energy project that the companies had been awarded by the Indian government.

During the alleged scheme, Adani Green raised more than $175 million from US investors and Azure Power's stock was traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

Last week, SEC announced that its Chair Gary Gensler will step down on January 20, 2025, the day Trump takes the oath of office.

Gensler was nominated by Biden to serve as SEC head in February 2021, confirmed by the US Senate and sworn into office in April 2021.

On Monday, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams, who has served as the chief federal law enforcement officer in the district, announced his intention to resign from his position on December 13, over a month before Trump assumes charge.

Similar announcements from federal officials appointed by Biden are expected in the coming days and weeks as Trump brings in new appointees in his second term.

Trump has nominated Jay Clayton, who was the SEC chairman during his first tenure in the White House, to serve as the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, Manhattan's top federal prosecutor. Presidential appointments require Senate confirmation.

In March 2017, during Trump's first term as President, then US attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara said he was 'fired' from his post after he refused to quit.

Bharara was one of the 46 US attorneys appointed by then president Barack Obama who were asked to resign by the Trump administration.

Months earlier in November 2016 after Trump won the presidential election, he had asked Bharara to stay on in his position as US attorney for the Southern District of New York.
'Money power was deployed like an army in a war.'

'None of the MVA parties had that kind of money.'

IMAGE: Narendra Modi at a Mahayuti rally for the Maharashtra assembly election at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, November 14, 2024. Photograph: Sahil Salvi

"Let us not underestimate the power of money, which was officially and unofficially handed over to voters in various constituencies," journalist and former Congress Rajya Sabha MP Kumar Ketkar, tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com in the first of a two-part interview about the Maharashtra assembly election.

In your Rediff.com interview soon after the MVA's unexpected performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, you had clearly mentioned that the MVA'S victory shouldn't be extrapolated as a sure shot assembly win. And that is what exactly happened.

What did the MVA do to suffer such an utter rout?

Instead of discussing who is wrong and who is right and what mistakes the MVA committed, let us not first underestimate the very aggressive use of official and unofficial money power by the Mahayuti, particularly by the BJP and (Eknath) Shinde that was put to use. The whole money power was deployed like an army in a war.

None of the MVA parties had that kind of money or infrastructural support of finance. Lack of monetary resources was the MVA's biggest weakness.

In my 50 years of journalism, and I have covered elections from 1971 onwards, I have not seen such obscene and vulgar display of money power.

Having said that, let us not also underestimate the mistakes committed by the MVA. Like, for instance, the MVA did not really challenge the system of electronic voting machines (EVMs, after doubts were raised after the Lok Sabha election about manipulation of these voting machines). They should have challenged that.

Their entire protest actions were limited to issues like price rise, unemployment, etc. But their basic fight should have been against institutional capture.

The Election Commission and judiciary defined the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra.

They said that though there is a new party (Eknath Shinde's Sena), it need not have a new name. So they used the same name (Shiv Sena). They (Shinde Sena) were allowed to use the same symbol (bow and arrow as the parent Shiv Sena).

Similarly, Ajit Pawar, after the split in the NCP, enjoyed the original symbol and name.

In both cases (of the split in the NCP and Shiv Sena) the original party was asked to change their symbols. This is outrageous.

Are you saying that this had an impact on the way the Maharashtra assembly election results have come about?

Now what happens is people are used to those symbols for the last 25 years. Naturally, when a voter goes there (to the EVM), her first reaction, reflex action, is to vote according to what she is familiar with. So many votes must have been cast (in favour of the NCP's symbol 'clock' now belonging to Ajit Pawar and the Shiv Sena's 'bow and arrow' that now belongs to Eknath Shinde instead of Sharad Pawar's NCP and Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena).

In my family, two people asked me who (which election symbol) should they vote for, because they didn't know (the candidates and their parties). I had to tell them to disclose to me who they wanted to vote for and accordingly I would have told them about the symbol. Now if this is the confusion in an educated family like ours, this confusion must be quite large enough.

The counter argument to what you said could be that the same voters voted on the same symbols during the Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

While these voters led to the MVA winning 31 out of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra on the NCP (SP) and SS (UBT)'s new symbols, the same voters helped the Mahayuti bag 230-plus assembly constituencies on the 'bow and arrow' and 'clock' symbol. How do you see that?

Absolutely correct question. But the important point is an average Lok Sabha constituency has about 25 lakh to 30 lakh (people, not voters). An average assembly constituency has anywhere between 2.5 lakh and 4 lakh people. Naturally, in an assembly election the importance of the symbol and the candidate and the party is at least 10 times more important than in the Lok Sabha election.

IMAGE: Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders Dr Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, Uddhav Thackeray, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sharad Pawar, Balasaheb Thorat and Ramesh Chennithala at an election meeting in Mumbai. Photograph: Sahil Salvi

That does not mean your question is invalid. But that (number of people in Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies) makes a big difference because in a Lok Sabha election you need not know the candidate. You are voting for something distant.

Moreover, in the Lok Sabha election, the issue was whether you are pro-Modi or anti-Modi and not pro-BJP or anti-BJP.

In the Maharashtra election, Modi was not a factor at all. The only factor was what was the Mahayuti doing. And what did the Mahayuti do?

The kind of largesse that were offered to people like the Laadki Bahin Yojana and many other schemes in which cash was transferred was unprecedented. It was official distribution of cash to a particular segment of voters, women.

Now those women, who never had their own bank accounts -- at least 50 per cent of them never perhaps had an account -- were all dependent on their husbands and the male chauvinistic system. Suddenly they got this financial independence. That is an important factor for women to get impressed by and women were impressed by this particular scheme.

The Laadki Bahin scheme definitely influenced voters. Such a scheme did not exist at the time of the Lok Sabha election.

Why did women voters not heed the MVA election manifesto that promised them Rs 3,000 and free bus travel?

That is a promise, which would materialise only after they came to power, and if they came to power. Whereas this (by the Mahayuti government) is money given -- Rs 7,500 were actually given (between August and November 2024 as part of this scheme).

These moneys were in their (the beneficiary women) hand when they came to vote. What is in hand is far more important, far pricier, than an election-time promise.

Whoever gives you money immediately is important. Let us not underestimate the power of money, which was officially and unofficially handed over to voters in various constituencies.

The actual price of a voter was anywhere between Rs 1,000 and Rs 5,000 in many, many, constituencies. I know because voters have told me. As a reporter, I still keep moving about.

Monetary power, official as well as unofficial, was unprecedented. That is one reason why that (the Maharashtra election outcome) cannot be therefore compared with that of the Lok Sabha.

In the Lok Sabha no largesse like this could be offered, which directly went into personal bank accounts.
A Bangladeshi court on Tuesday denied bail to prominent Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, arrested on sedition charges, and sent him to prison, triggering protests by community members in various locations, including the capital Dhaka and the port city of Chattogram.

IMAGE: Chinmoy Krishna Das. Photograph: ANI on X

Bangladesh police on Monday arrested Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a leader of the Hindu group Sammilita Sanatani Jote, from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area in Dhaka while travelling to Chattogram.

He was then brought to Chattogram.

Officials said Das was escorted to the court amid tight security as a number of his supporters, including lawyers, chanted slogans protesting his arrest.

According to eyewitnesses, Das greeted his supporters gathered at the court premises with folded hands as they chanted slogans and asked them to refrain from chanting religious slogans at the scene.

During the hearing, the lawyers serving as Das' defence counsels requested Chattogram's Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate Kazi Shariful Islam to issue similar arrest warrants for them as well. In response, the judge stated, "I respect your emotions for him."

Islam then briefly adjourned the hearing. Upon resuming, he asked the lawyers to present the bail appeal for consideration, during which Das also made a statement.

Following the conclusion of the arguments, Islam rejected Das' bail petition.

The judge said since Das was arrested from outside the port city, as per law he is required to be kept under judicial custody for 24 hours.

The court then ordered that Das be taken to jail and directed the prison authorities to allow the Hindu priest to practice his religious rituals as per the Jail Code.

Immediately after the court's order at around noon, Das' followers started to protest, disrupting the movement of the prison van carrying him. Protesters were shouting slogans demanding his release, The Daily Star newspaper reported.

Police and members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) fired sound grenades and charged batons at the protesters to clear the way of the van. The van was finally able to leave the court premises at around 3:00 pm, the report said.

Das called on his followers to remain calm from inside the prison van.

"We are not against the state and the government. We, the Sanatanis, are a part of the state... We will not do anything to destabilise the state and destroy peaceful coexistence. We will hold a peaceful protest by controlling our emotions and turning them into strength," he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

The huge gathering around the prison van carrying Das includes hermits, women and children, online portal bdnews24 reported.

The protesters were chanting slogans, including 'Jai Sree Ram', 'We wanted our rights but got prison instead', and 'One two three four, all of them are frauds'. Some of them also blew conch shells, the report said.

Protests broke out demanding Das' release in different districts including Dhaka, Chattogram, Cumilla, Khulna, Dinajpur and Cox's Bazar, it said.

Hundreds of people from the Hindu community on Monday took to the streets at the Cheragi Pahar intersection in Chattogram, demanding his immediate release.

Similarly, the Hindu community members in Dhaka blocked the Shahbagh intersection, protesting the arrest.

Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council also protested Das' arrest and demanded his immediate release.

A case was filed against Das and 18 others on October 30 at Chattogram's Kotwali Police Station leader on the complaint of a leader of former prime minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which accused them of disrespecting the national flag in the city's Laldighi Maidan during a rally of the Hindu community on Oct 25.

Local government affairs adviser and Anti-Discrimination Student's Movement leader Asif Mahmud said Das has been arrested not as a leader of any community but for sedition.

"If someone is involved in any incident like sedition, he will not be spared," he told reporters following a public rally in northwestern Rangpur city on Tuesday.

"If Bangladesh's sovereignty and independence are endangered or the country is exposed to dishonour or contempt, the government will definitely take steps," Mahmud said.

Das was also a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), which recently expelled him.

ISKCON leaders in Bangladesh were not immediately available for comments.

Meanwhile, India on Tuesday noted with 'deep concern' the arrest and denial of bail to Das, and urged the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said, "This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh."

There are 'several documented cases' of arson and looting of minorities' homes and business establishments, as well as theft, vandalism and desecration of deities and temples in Bangladesh.

'It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings,' the statement said.

Bangladesh's minority Hindus, which constitute only about 8 per cent of the 170 million population, have faced over 200 attacks in 50-odd districts since the fall of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government on August 5.
The Bharatiya Janata Party would not rush into announcing its chief ministerial candidate until the distribution of portfolios in the new Maharashtra government is finalised, party sources said on Tuesday.

IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde with his two deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar celebrate Mahayuti's landslide win in the Maharashtra polls. Photograph: @AjitPawarSpeaks/X

The indications that the Mahayuti coalition's decision on who would become the next CM would be delayed emerged as the Governor on Tuesday morning asked Eknath Shinde to act as a caretaker chief minister after he tendered his resignation.

Despite the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP combine's landslide victory in the assembly elections, there is no consensus among the allies on who would occupy the top post.

"The central leadership is in no hurry to name a candidate for the chief minister's post. We have secured a decisive mandate, and the priority now is to work out a comprehensive plan for government formation. That includes finalising ministerial portfolios and distribution of key posts such as district guardian ministers," a state BJP leader told PTI while requesting anonymity.

The careful approach stems from the desire to avoid friction among the coalition partners, he said.

Elaborating, another BJP insider cited the case of Mahendra Thorave, an MLA from Raigad district who had opposed the appointment of NCP's Aditi Tatkare as district guardian minister earlier this year, owing to the long-standing local rivalry.

"We want to address such issues now, ensuring that everyone is on the same page before moving forward," he said.

The BJP won 132 seats, Shiv Sena 57, and the NCP 41 in the November 20 elections. The results were announced on November 23.

With the state's 288-member assembly, a Maharashtra cabinet can have a maximum of 43 ministers, both cabinet and junior. There are 36 districts, and for a chief minister it becomes imperative that each of them gets representation.

"With the ongoing parliamentary session, the central leadership is stretched thin, holding meetings with both Maharashtra BJP leaders and allies while also handling floor management in Parliament," a party leader noted.

As for the announcement of the chief minister candidate, the source said, "The BJP central body will appoint an observer or a team of observers who will visit Mumbai. They will meet the MLAs and senior party functionaries to finalise the cabinet formula. Once that is done, they will announce the party's choice for the leader of the legislative wing."

While Devendra Fadnavis, a former chief minister who was virtually the BJP's face during the campaign, is the frontrunner for the top post following his party's spectacular electoral performance, Shiv Sena leaders have said they would like Eknath Shinde to continue, indicating that the Sena has not ceded its claim.

Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party, the third player in the coalition, is yet to open its cards, though Chhagan Bhujbal, a senior leader of the party, publicly stated recently that Fadnavis was acceptable to them. "This has strengthened the calls from several BJP leaders, including newly-elected MLAs, that Fadnavis should be the next CM," said the source.

However, the BJP remains cautious, as the final decision will not be made until all aspects of cabinet distribution are worked out. "There is no rush. Once the cabinet formula is finalised, we will announce the candidate," said the BJP leader.
The Andhra Pradesh police are on lookout for film director Ram Gopal Varma after he failed to turn up for investigation over his alleged offensive posts against Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and others, a police official said on Monday.

IMAGE: Film director Ram Gopal Varma. Photograph: ANI Photo

A case was booked against the director at Maddipadu police station in Prakasam district on November 11 for allegedly posting morphed photographs of CM Naidu, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan and their family members in an "indecent" manner on social media.

Three Andhra Pradesh Police teams -- two in Hyderabad and one in Tamil Nadu -- are on the lookout for Varma.

The police served two notices and gave time to the director till November 24 and summoned him for probe today, and he failed to show up.

"One team went to Chennai. One team is at his home (in Hyderabad) and another team is searching at Film Nagar in Hyderabad. His phone is switched off," a police official told PTI.

"He (Varma) himself posted on Twitter that he had reached or arrived in Coimbatore. So, based on that, already, one police team has crossed Chennai," the official said.

He further said that the Andhra Pradesh police are coordinating with their Tamil Nadu counterpart to nab the director.

Earlier in the day, Varma's lawyer told reporters that the director had expressed willingness to appear "digitally" before the Andhra police in connection with the case.

Without turning up for the investigation, how can Varma say that he would attend the online probe? asked Prakasam district superintendent of police AR Damodar.

He noted that the police teams are combing every place where Varma is suspected to be present.

Varma's lawyer said, "There is no requirement for physical presence. Now Digital India has come. Likewise, digital policing has also come. So, (physical) presence is not required. Give us virtual mode (opportunity), we will cooperate virtually with the investigation."

Varma will cooperate with the investigation via "digital mode" as "digital policing is prevalent all over India now," he said.

The lawyer claimed that the new Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita law has such provisions. It allows probes in hybrid mode for "small cases" such as the one in which the director has been booked.

"...RGV (Ram Gopal Varma) made no mistake. This is neither sedition nor international mafia. We will follow the rule of law," he said, adding that Varma's response was sent to police through Whatsapp and speed post, "which were not yet responded to by the police".

High drama unfolded at Varma's residence today, after he failed to appear before Andhra Pradesh police. As per local news channels, a state police team was seen waiting at the director's house.

"He (Varma) did not turn up (for the investigation). We are going ahead legally. He was absent for the second time also. First time, he asked for more time and we gave him one week's permission," Prakasam district SP Damodar told PTI on Monday.

According to police sources, Varma was given permission till November 24 after he appealed for more time due to prior cinema shooting engagements. He was summoned for investigation today.

"He (Varma) said he would come any time after November 24. As per his request, we gave him time and summoned him on November 25. Whatever reasons he may cite now, there will be no legal sanctity," said a police official.

The case against Varma was booked on the basis of a complaint received from one Ramalingam (45) from Maddipadu under various sections.

Ramalingam filed the case claiming that the alleged social media posts by Varma reportedly undermined the standing of the CM, Deputy CM and their family members in society and also hurt their personalities.

Police said the time of these alleged offences would emerge in the course of the investigation.
Members of Imran Khan's party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, plan to mount a huge anti-government protest in Islamabad, demanding that Khan be released from prison.

IMAGE: Pakistani Rangers in riot gear in Islamabad, November 25, 2024, stand guard alongside a road to prevent an anti-government rally. Photograph: Salahuddin/Reuters

IMAGE: A police officer walks past a wire laid across a road to prevent an anti-government rally in Islamabad. Photograph: Salahuddin/Reuters

IMAGE: PTI supporters sit atop a vehicle in Peshawar as they head towards Islamabad, November 24, 2024. Photograph: Fayaz Aziz/Reuters

IMAGE: A view of a convoy of PTI supporters in Peshawar as they head towards Islamabad. Photograph: Fayaz Aziz/Reuters

IMAGE: Police detain a PTI supporter in Lahore. Photograph: Khurram/Reuters

IMAGE: A PTI supporter in a prison van after he was detained during an anti-government rally in Lahore. Photograph: Khurram/Reuters

IMAGE: Police officers on motorbikes with shipping containers in the background, used to prevent an anti-government rally by PTI supporters in Islamabad. Photograph: Waseem Khan/Reuters

IMAGE: Police officers walk to guard a road to prevent an anti-government PTI rally in Islamabad. Photograph: Salahuddin/Reuters

IMAGE: Demonstrators gather in support of Imran Khan outside US President-elect Donald J Trump's residence at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, November 23, 2024, here and below. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters

Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Senior Indian Police Service officer Rashmi Shukla on Tuesday assumed the charge as the Maharashtra DGP, a day after she was reinstated to the post following the conclusion of the state assembly elections.

IMAGE: IPS officer Rashmi Shukla . Photograph: ANI Photo

Shukla paid tributes to martyrs at the Commissioner of Police Office in south Mumbai, an official said.

The order reinstating Shukla as the Director General of Police was issued by the state home department on Monday evening.

Shukla was removed from the DGP's post on the Election Commission of India's directives ahead of the state assembly elections and sent on compulsory move after Congress complained about her.

Sanjay Kumar Verma had taken over as the state's top police officer in the absence of Shukla. He was to hold the top post till the election process concluded.

With the completion of the electoral process and announcement of election results, the Model Code of Conduct ceased to be in force on Monday, the home department order said.

Consequently, the government has ended Shukla's period of forced leave and she has been asked to resume her role as DGP, it said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti coalition retained power with a thumping majority in the assembly elections.

An IPS officer of the 1988 batch, Shukla is the first woman to hold the position of Maharashtra DGP.

Shukla had earlier served as the commissioner of the State Intelligence Department.

She was embroiled in a controversy during the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government's tenure when she was named as an accused in an alleged phone tapping case.

The Bombay high court in September 2023 quashed two FIRs registered against Shukla.
Iconic Rajput ruler Maharana Pratap fought against Mughal ruler Akbar nearly 450 ago for self-respect but his descendent Vishvaraj Singh Mewar, who became the titular head of the family on Monday, had to struggle to complete the rituals of accession to the "throne" in Udaipur.

IMAGE: Successor to the Mewar throne, Vishvaraj Singh Mewar waits at a chowk outside the City Palace, Udaipur, to be allowed in, November 25, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Vishvaraj Singh Mewar, a BJP MLA, faced challenge from his uncle Arvind Singh Mewar and his son Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar who allegedly denied him entry into the palace.

Vishvaraj Singh wanted to go and offer prayers at a dhuni (sacred fire) in the City Palace premises and then to Eklingnathji temple to complete the succession rituals.

Earlier in the day on Monday, Vishvaraj was anointed as the titular head in a ceremony in Chittorgarh fort following the demise of his father Mahendra Singh Mewar recently.

Property dispute is at the core of this entire episode, which apparently has turned into a battle of who is supreme.

The City Palace and Eklingnathji temple are under the control of Arvind Singh.

However, after violent protests outside the city palace erupted on Monday night, the district administration has appointed a receiver for the controversial portion of city palace where the dhuni is located and the decision regarding Vishvaraj's entry will be taken by the administrator.

The issue stands unresolved. However, the situation is under control, district officials said.

IMAGE: The gates of the City Palace, Udaipur, shut to keep Vishvaraj Singh Mewar out, November 25, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

"What Lakshyaraj Singh has done is a blot on the history of Mewar. By not allowing Vishvaraj Singh to pay obeisance at the dhuni, he has not only hurt the glorious legacy of Mewar but has also disgraced himself," Randheer Singh Bhindar, head of the erstwhile royal family of Bhindar, told PTI on Tuesday.

Bhindar said that he and others talked to Lakshyaraj Singh and asked him to act in accordance with tradition but he remained adamant.

"We told him that Vishvaraj will return after having a darshan of the dhuni and no one will be occupying that place. The Rajput community is furious with him," he said.

Bhindar, a former MLA, said that Lakshyaraj might have thought that if Vishvaraj is allowed to enter the City Palace and he completes the ritual, then it will be validated that he is the head of the family.

Expressing shock, Devvrat Singh, head of the erstwhile Salumbar royal family, said the way the titular head was treated on Monday has sent a "horrible" message across the country.

"It was just a ten-minute ceremony at the dhuni but he was not allowed. This was the most immature decision and a foolish thing to do. It was totally uncalled for. The tradition has been followed for centuries. This is our culture and the tradition should have been followed gracefully," he said.

The Mewar family head used to be called 'Maharana', a title which was abolished by the Government of India in 1971. However, in community and social circles, many still regard the head as 'Maharana'.

When Mewar was a princely state before the integration of Rajasthan, the 'Maharana' used to have 16 'Umrao' (or ministers), 32 'Thikanerdar' (Battisa) and several Gol sardars for ruling the state.

The titular head is still given the same respect and regard as that of the erstwhile Maharaja and all erstwhile 'Umraos', 'Thikanerdar' and other 'sardars' follow the hierarchy during ceremonies as part of the tradition.

In Monday's anointment ceremony of Vishvaraj Singh in Chittorgarh fort, heads of the Rajput families from Mewar region who held such titles assembled and unanimously accepted Vishvaraj Singh as the head of Mewar family and declared him the titular 'Mahrana'.

In the ceremony, Vishvaraj's 'tilak' was done by the head of the erstwhile Salumbar royal family Devvrat Singh, who slashed his finger on a sword and anointed him in blood -- a tradition which has been followed for hundreds of years.

Vishvaraj and others had plans to go to pay obeisance at the dhuni in Udaipur City Palace and at Eklingnathji temple but both the places are under the control of Arvind Singh Mewar and to prevent Vishvaraj from entering both the places, he through his lawyer got two public notices published in local newspapers on Monday to warn of legal action on trespass or damage to property.

When Vishvaraj Singh and others approached the City Palace, they were prevented by the police. Vishvaraj waited for several hours at Jagdish Chowk to enter the City Palace but tensions escalated in the night when there was stone-pelting from both sides.

Looking at the situation, the district administration has appointed a receiver for a portion where the dhuni is located in the city palace and further decisions regarding entry will be taken by the receiver.

After dhuni, Vishvaraj was scheduled to go to Eklingnathji temple in Udaipur where he was to be given a 'Chhadi' or stick of silver as a symbol of 'Deewan' of Eklingnathji.

However, Vishvaraj Singh, who was waiting in Jagdish Chowk, returned to his residence in Udaipur at 1.30 am Tuesday without visiting the city palace.

IMAGE: Vishvaraj Singh Mewar speaks to the media on the controversy, November 25, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Collector Arvind Poswal said that talks with both the sides have been going on to resolve the issue. He said that there is peace in the area. The collector said that legal action in connection with Monday night's stone-pelting will be taken.

Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar did not respond to calls.

Eklingnathji, a manifestation of Lord Shiva, has been the deity of the erstwhile rulers of Mewar.

Maharana of the erstwhile royal dynasty ruled as his Deewan (or trustee).

As part of the ritual to end the mourning, the titular head is also given a colourful turban in the Eklingnathji temple which is replaced by a white turban symbolising mourning.

Vishvaraj Singh and others wanted to complete these rituals.
The Allahabad high court has directed the Centre to place before it on December 19 the decision taken on a representation moved against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that claimed he concealed his British citizenship in contesting the parliamentary election from Raebareli seat this year.

IMAGE: Rahul Gandhi during Constitution Day celebrations, at Samvidhan Sadan in New Delhi on Tuesday. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo

A bench of justices A R Masoodi and Subhash Vidyarthi passed the order on a public interest litigation filed by S Vignesh Shishir, a Bharatiya Janata Party worker from Karnataka.

The petition also demanded that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) be ordered to register a case and investigate into the matter, saying Gandhi's dual citizenship is a crime under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Passport Act.

While hearing the PIL on the previous occasion, the court had sought information from the Centre whether it had received the petitioner's representation.

In compliance with the order, Deputy Solicitor General S B Pandey informed the court that the representation has been received by the ministry concerned and is currently under process.

In the PIL, Shishir claimed that he has all the documents and some emails of the British government, which prove that Gandhi is a British citizen and due to this he is ineligible to contest elections in India and cannot hold the post of a Lok Sabha member.

The petitioner also claimed that he had sent complaints twice to the competent authority regarding Gandhi's dual citizenship but the present petition has been filed as no action was taken by them.

At this, the court had summoned the details of the action taken on the petitioner's representation.
The Ukrainian government intends to look for opportunities and resources to provide free meals to students of all grades in 2025, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said.

"President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy set an important task: students of all grades should have free meals. We will look for opportunities and resources for this," he said at a government meeting on Tuesday.

The prime minister recalled that in 2024, the state provided free hot meals for all primary school students.

"For this, we provide communities with the appropriate financial resource. Previously, we sent UAH 2 billion to the regions. Today, we are redirecting another UAH 268 million," he said.

The head of government also said that the state budget for 2025 provides UAH 2.9 billion for school meals and another UAH 960 million for the modernization of food service facilities.
The communal violence in Sambhal that claimed four lives and left over 20 people injured has now sparked a debate over a purported rivalry between the Turk and Pathan communities, with political and administrative figures weighing in on the cause of the unrest.

IMAGE: An aerial view of the Shahi Jama Masjid, in Sambhal on Sunday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Uttar Pradesh Excise Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nitin Agarwal attributed the violence to 'the politics of supremacy' between the two groups.

Posting on X on Monday, Agarwal said, "The arson and violence in Sambhal is the result of the politics of supremacy. The Turk-Pathan dispute not only disrupted the peace but also raised questions about the safety of common people. The promptness of the UP police is commendable."

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Agarwal reiterated his claim that the violence was 'pre-meditated' and stemmed from a rivalry between groups led by Sambhal MP Zia ur Rehman Barq, a Turk community leader, and Sohail Iqbal, son of MLA Nawab Iqbal Mehmood, representing the Pathan community.

The unrest began over a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, following a petition that claimed the site was originally a Harihar temple. Protesters clashed with police, leading to stone-pelting, arson, and widespread violence.

Sambhal's Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar Vishnoi said the police have registered multiple FIRs, naming 2,750 individuals, including Barq and Sohail Iqbal, for allegedly instigating the violence.

While minister Agarwal linked the clashes to a deep-rooted rivalry, local historians and political observers have offered differing perspectives.

Prof Manvendra Kumar Pundhir of Aligarh Muslim University dismissed the notion that the unrest stemmed from a historic Turk-Afghan rivalry.

"This theory is completely far-fetched and without any historical evidence," he said, adding that the medieval-era rivalry between Central Asian invaders and Afghans does not hold relevance in modern times.

Instead, Pundhir emphasised adherence to constitutional principles, stating, "Everything should be decided based on the country's Constitution and the Places of Worship Act, 1992. If we continue to rake up such issues, it will lead to chaos."

The rivalry between the Barq and Mehmood families has long been a feature of Sambhal's political landscape. Both families, associated with the Samajwadi Party, have often competed against each other, leading to tensions.

However, SP's district president Asgar Ali Ansari dismissed any claims of discord between the two leaders, asserting, "These allegations are baseless. Both leaders have supported each other in elections."

Sambhal District Magistrate Rajendra Pensiya noted that the violence escalated with the sudden arrival of people from surrounding areas in '5 to 10 km'.

Police are investigating whether this was coordinated as part of a larger conspiracy.

SP Vishnoi refrained from confirming if the political rivalry directly caused the violence, saying that the matter remains under investigation.

Amid simmering political tension over the violence, local authorities have prohibited entry of 'outsiders' in the district till November 30.

SP MLA and Leader of Opposition in Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Mata Prasad Pandey said a delegation of SP was to go to Sambhal on Tuesday but it has deferred the trip after assurance by state police chief Prashant Kumar of a fair probe into the entire episode.

Separately, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai told PTI that his party delegation would visit the strife-torn Sambhal on Wednesday to assess ground situation.

"I will lead the delegation which will comprise human rights workers, legal experts and Congress cadre to meet the victims' families," Rai said.

Meanwhile, as Sambhal moved towards normalcy after violence, Haji Ehtesham, a Peace Committee member and leader of the All India Traders' Association, claimed the violence was instigated by outsiders, and what happened was deeply unfortunate.

"We must move on and restore peace," he said, appealing for calm.

Principal Shiv Shankar Sharma of Saraswati Shishu Mandir noted that such incidents disturb the environment.

"The survey was being conducted as per government orders, there shouldn't have been any issue. However, the people of Sambhal will rebuild communal harmony and work together again," Sharma said.

Deepak Kumar, a trader, said Sambhal has always been a peaceful place.

"I don't understand what happened that day to cause such unrest," he said.

Seema Arya, president of the Women's Upliftment Committee, said, "The Muslim community should understand that the survey was conducted under court orders, and such extreme reactions were unnecessary."

Chanchal Verma, BJP ward 18 councillor, said the poor have suffered the most due to this conflict.
Acting Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, in his first visit to the national capital after leading his ruling alliance to an unprecedented second straight term in the state.

IMAGE: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren calls on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on Tuesday. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Prime Minister's Office posted pictures of the meeting. Soren was accompanied by his wife Kalpana, who has also been elected as an MLA in the recent elections.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader led the combine, which includes the Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Left, to a comprehensive win over the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance.

In a post on X, Soren said he has invited Modi to his oath-taking ceremony in Ranchi on Thursday.

'Met Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji in Delhi today and invited him to attend the swearing-in ceremony of 'Abua sarkar' (our government) on 28th November,' Soren said on X in Hindi.

He also met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge as well as former party chief Rahul Gandhi, besides Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal and his wife, in New Delhi and invited them for his oath-taking.

'Today in Delhi, I met the Congress president respected Mallikarjun Kharge ji, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi ji and senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra ji and invited them to attend the swearing-in ceremony of 'Abua' (our) government on November 28,' Soren said in another post on X.

Soren's JMM-led alliance on Saturday stormed to power in Jharkhand for a second consecutive term, winning 56 seats in the 81-member assembly, despite an all-out campaign blitz by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, which managed only 24 seats.

He also retained the Barhait seat by defeating BJP's Gamliyel Hembrom by a margin of 39,791 votes.

Senior leaders of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), including RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, may attend the swearing-in ceremony on Thursday.

"All top leaders of the bloc are being invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony at Morabadi Ground here on November 28. Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav are likely to attend the event," a Congress leader had earlier said.

As far as ministerial berths are concerned, in all likelihood, there may be four ministers from the grand old party.

The JMM had contested 43 seats and won 34, the highest-ever tally of the party in its history.

The Congress got 16 seats, RJD four and the Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist-Liberation secured two seats in the INDIA bloc.

As per the arrangement, RJD may get one ministerial berth.

Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the oath-taking ceremony.

Soren had on Sunday met Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar and staked claim to form government, soon after leaders of the INDIA bloc in the state unanimously elected him as the legislature party leader.

He will officiate as the acting chief minister till the oath is administered to him.

Soren will be sworn in as the 14th chief minister of Jharkhand, which was carved out of Bihar on November 15, 2000.
Sixteen years have passed since that horrific night in November that claimed 166 lives and wounded over 300 people.

On Tuesday, November 26, 2024, a grateful city paid homage to the martyrs who made the ultimate sacrifice while fighting the cowardly Pakistani murderers during the Mumbai terror attacks of November 26, 27, 28, 29 2008.

All photographs: Sahil Salvi IMAGE: Tukaram Omble sacrificed his life to capture Ajmal Kasab alive without which India would not have had evidence that Pakistan was behind the terror attacks.

IMAGE: Nurses and staff at the Cama Hospital in south Mumbai pay homage to the martyrs of 26/11.

IMAGE: Police personnel pay homage to the 26/11 martyrs at Mumbai's CSMT railway station , where Ajmal Kasab and Ismail Khan murdered 58 people and wounded 104 others, here and below.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
IMAGE: It was a competition and each camel performed to the best of their ability, delighting the crowd. Photograph: ANI

The donkey fair.

The Top Videos of the Week, listed by Shailajanand Mishra.

Also see: The 'stone pelting' festival.

An unusual way of combating air pollution.

Videos chosen by you through your likes on iShare.

What Special About This Great Bustard Chick?

Location: Jaisalmer

It's the first one ever to be born using artificial insemination.

This chick -- representing a new future for a dying breed -- was born at the Sudasari Great Indian Bustard Breeding Centre in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

All Videos: ANI

The Historic Donkey Fair

Location: Chitrakoot

Did you know the Chitrakoot Donkey Fair dates back to the Mughal era?

Held on the banks of the Mandakini river, it reportedly originated during Aurangzeb's reign since donkeys were vital then for transporting goods in the region.

A Unique 'Stone Pelting' Festival

Location: Shimla

Each year, the villagers of Dhami, a small settlement near Shimla, come together to celebrate 'the stone pelting fair'.

The festivities begin with a prayer procession from a temple established by a former king of Dhami, leading up to the main ritual.

Centuries ago, a compassionate queen from Dhami abolished the practice of human sacrifice, reshaping the fair into the symbolic event that continues today.

The Chinese Journalist Who Speaks Hindi

Location: Beijing

Chinese Journalist Zhu Jingjing --- who is also called Meera -- works for the China Media Group's Hindi service.

"My Indian name is Meera," she says, "because normally Indians can't remember my Chinese name."

In the video below, she sings a Bollywood song that she says is "very, very popular" in China.

And That's How They Combat Pollution

Location: Gurugram

With the Air Quality Index remaining very poor in Gurugram, a 32-storey-high housing complex in the city has opted for a unique method of combating air pollution.

Take a look:

Watch The Camels Dance

Location: Pushkar

And in not one but multiple styles.

Banner: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
BRATTLEBORO  A final plan for the Canal Street corridor is coming together.

Concepts and recommendations were presented by SLR Consulting staff at a public workshop Nov. 14. Holly Parker, transportation planner with SLR, said the meeting was the second one to discuss the corridor plan being developed by the town and SLR to improve safety and make it "more welcoming to people coming off the highway."

"You've given us a lot of great feedback here tonight," Parker said. "We've taken notes. We're going to make some refinements to these concepts."

Funded by the state, the project started in the spring with a walking tour of the corridor. Information on data collected over the spring and summer was presented to the public in June. A final report is anticipated in the winter.

Canal Street study seeks improved safety, stormwater management BRATTLEBORO  A study to explore how to improve safety and stormwater management on Canal St

Parker said her team looked at making the best use of limited space for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. Bike lanes and new or expanded sidewalks are being recommended.

Fiona Flynn, transportation engineer with SLR, described one concept including the replacement of a traffic light at Fairground Road with a roundabout near Market 32 and Brattleboro Union High School and pedestrian refuge islands. Another concept would keep the traffic light at Fairground Road, make upgrades to the equipment, and add stamped concrete or asphalt stamped sidewalks and bicycle crossings at the light. Both concepts include a flashing traffic signal for pedestrians crossing at Fairview Street.

Brattleboro Planning Director Sue Fillion said the roundabout has "benefits and drawbacks."

Other recommendations involve refining corners on side streets, evaluating accessibility as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, addressing steep grading near Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, removing the left turn lane onto Pine Street, converting the Washington Street and Birge Street intersection into an all-way stop, removing left turn lanes onto Birge and Washington, realigning the corner where Elm Street and Canal Street meet, installing an additional bus shelter near Elm and adding sidewalk to a section of Bridge Street. Not every idea is included in each concept presented.

One concept would end the bike lane at Clark Street. Another would have it stop at South Main Street.

"In summary, we're basically recommending that South Main Street be realigned to intersect Canal at a more right angle and adding some curb extensions on South Main Street to further shorten the crossing distance," Flynn said. "It's a pretty confusing intersection right now."

Flynn said her group also suggests turning the South Main Street intersection into an all-way stop then refining corners at Main Street and the Brattleboro Food Co-op.

Eva Gwinn, co-owner of Vegan A.F., called the area near her restaurant "unhinged." She said she's witnessed crashes and people being hit.

"People blow that stop sign," said Gary Stroud, neighbor. "Cops are there all the time. It's bad."

Ideas for improvements in that area are being considered by the Traffic Safety Committee, Fillion said.

Stormwater drainage areas also were studied as part of the plan.

"The systems are largely undersized and aging so that creates issues for overland flow as the systems aren't able to capture all of the drainage, which then leads to erosion and damages to private properties," said Brian Cote, senior water resources engineer at SLR. "Our concepts look to improve the drainage but also provide some stormwater treatment along Canal Street."

Priorities include increasing capacity in the stormwater drainage system, disconnecting diversion at the Canal and Birge intersection, reconfiguring and adding catch basements, adding infrastructure for pretreatment opportunities and stabilizing an outlet to the Whetstone Brook.

Parker noted housing is being explored for the former car wash on Canal Street and the Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development, and a new Amtrak station is being constructed nearby. These projects are anticipated to have an effect on the corridor.
BRATTLEBORO  Plans for expanding the number and type of housing units at The Chalet are moving forward.

"Part of the reason why we were attracted to that particular property is because we knew that when the pandemic was over, there would be an opportunity to redevelop it and build more housing," Elizabeth Bridgewater, executive director of the Windham & Windsor Housing Trust, said at the Select Board meeting last week. "There's 17 acres out there on the property. They're not all developable because of the landscape, the topography, the wetlands in the existing structures, but there's a good amount of space to contribute to helping solve the housing crisis in Brattleboro and in Vermont."

Bridgewater said the plan is to improve the living conditions on the property for current residents and expand housing opportunities in Brattleboro, including units for family housing and homeownership.

Peter Paggi, director of real estate development at WWHT, said his group is working toward a multi-phase construction program and exploring single family homes. Ultimately, the goal is to have 70 units, including 60 apartments and 10 homes. The plan includes a loop road around the property with a clearer sense of entry and exit.

Brattleboro doesn't have enough rental units to accommodate a temporary relocation of current residents at The Chalet, Paggi said, so the first phase involves constructing a 30-unit apartment building. A motel wing where residents are living now would be demolished afterwards.

"We do expect all units to come online within about a year-and-a-half to two years of each other," Paggi said. "So this is not going to be a long, drawn out process."

Paggi said the 30-unit apartment building will house a permanent supportive housing program that currently exists in the offices on site. Groundworks Collaborative will have offices in the building, which also will have a community space and private meeting space.

The majority of the financing for the project is anticipated to come from private equity. Bridgewater estimated the first phase will bring in an annual property tax revenue of $33,000 to the town.

In the coming months, the project will go through the local permitting process with the Development Review Board in which Paggi expects the site plan to become "more refined." Preliminary plans were presented to the DRB in September.

Windham & Windsor Housing Trust presents Chalet development plans BRATTLEBORO  Windham & Windsor Housing Trust unveiled its plans Wednesday night to add 

The Chalet opened its doors to new residents under WWHT ownership in January 2021. Bridgewater said the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the state to make "money available for a couple of different initiatives to address the needs of people experiencing homelessness that included the motel program." Funding was given to nonprofits such as the housing trust to develop more permanent housing, she said, but "the timeline to do that was pretty short."

Select Board Vice Chairwoman Elizabeth McLoughlin applauded the housing trust's "desire to build more housing" but asked how the group plans to not overburden municipal services and provide adequate care for residents with a need for supportive services. She noted the site is "one of the top 10" spots where emergency calls are made.

WWHT is "looking at deconcentrating the number of folks exiting homelessness on the property," Bridgewater said.

"So in the initial transition to the new building, whoever's living there at that time will have the opportunity to go over to the new building, however, our long-term plan as people naturally leave the property is to rebalance and decrease the number of people exiting homelessness in that location," she said. "I think what we have learned over the last few years is that the total number there exceeded the capacity to provide support, and I think that's pretty visible in the community."

Bridgewater described the initial project at The Chalet being "somewhat of an experiment." Having the entire population of residents being a group exiting homelessness "may not be the ideal mix," she said.

"I agree that it would be great to have more robust services," she said. "We've had this property open for four years, and we've actually seen ebb and flow in service capacity just based on staffing issues, labor issues, wages."

WWHT has a memorandum of understanding with Groundworks, Bridgewater said, not a contract or a mandate. She said the staffing plan "developed in the heat of the pandemic was more robust than what was actually available based on a number of factors, many of which were just labor shortages."

"I think we are in a continuous conversation about what are the conditions that will make this program the most successful," she said, adding that only one service call from the town was needed at the property in October and it was for a wellness check. "It's been pretty quiet there. We've already been making changes, and I think we're seeing some of the fruits of those changes come to fruition."

Drug use is "a primary concern that we have," Bridgewater said in response to board member Franz Reichsman citing it as a prevalent issue at The Chalet. Brattleboro is "experiencing a lot of challenges with drug trafficking, and it's not just on our properties," she added.

Bridgewater described adopting "a little more aggressive tenant selection policies," working with residents to share information with the police department to address issues, and lobbying the Legislature to expedite the eviction process when someone is engaged in drug dealing or other disruptive activities.

Turning Point of Windham County offered to continue or expand services the recovery center makes available at The Chalet.
The United Kingdom handed over a new batch of Storm Shadow to Ukraine a few weeks ago without public announcement, we are talking about dozens of such cruise missiles, Bloomberg reports.

"According to people familiar with the matter, the UK government has recently supplied Ukraine with dozens more Storm Shadow cruise missiles, for the first time under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who promised to continue supporting the country's war against Russia," the agency said on its website on Tuesday.

It is noted that "the deliveries, which were not publicly announced, took place several weeks ago and were ordered after Kyiv ran out of long-range missiles."

It is noted that the missiles were sent before the recent decision of the United States and Great Britain to allow Ukraine to launch long-range missiles at targets in Russia.

Storm Shadows are high-precision air-launched missiles with a range of more than 250 km (155 miles). They fly close to the terrain at high speeds using a combination of so-called inertial navigation with a global positioning system and terrain navigation.
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.
Lieutenant Colonel Jahara "Franky" Matisek is an active-duty U.S. Air Force officer, a former command pilot, instructor, and Bronze Star recipient, and a professor in the national security affairs department of the U.S. Naval War College. He has researched and written widely on issues of technology in future warfare, hybrid warfare, and security force assistance.

In a conversation with RFE/RL's Georgian Service, Matisek talked about the state of the Russian invasion at the 1,000-day mark and whether the United States has really done all it can for Ukraine. He also floated the notion of a huge demilitarized zone between Ukraine and Belarus. And he said Kyiv's surprise cross-border incursion in Kursk already called "B.S." on Moscow's threat of a nuclear response to invasion.

Matisek's views are his own and do not represent the official position of the U.S. military or the U.S. government.

RFE/RL: Roughly 1,000 days into Russia's full-scale invasion, where do we stand in the Ukraine war? How is it looking?

Jahara "Franky" Matisek: In some ways, it's looking worse, in other ways, it's looking better. The things I would say are looking better are that you have more European unity on training and equipping Ukrainian forces. I would also contend that the U.S. has actually been quite lackluster in the training of Ukrainians, that we've only trained about 20,000. So any perceptions that the U.S. is doing everything for Ukraine, it just isn't true. I would argue that there is also concern about what the next [U.S. President-elect Donald Trump] administration might be doing in regard to the Ukraine war.

And if we must put on our "doomcasting hat" about where this is looking more negative, it is obviously the insertion of North Korean troops into the war. That adds another element. The question becomes: Is this just a limited insertion of 11,000 North Korean troops? But when you start hearing rumors that the North Koreans may end up giving Russia up to 100,000 troops, that's highly concerning because, through the course of the war, Russia seems to be running out of viable manpower to do effective combined-arms maneuvers and have a well-trained and well-equipped army to carry out current operations. So they have to rely on "meat-wave" assaults (operations with large numbers of troops with little regard for individual survival), and the meat-wave assaults work as long as, from a Russian perspective, those people were disposable anyways.

You know, it is very telling about how they work: They basically force the Ukrainians to expose their defenses and positions to take care of the meat-wave assault. Meanwhile, the Russian VDV [Airborne Forces], who are obviously comparatively better than most Russian forces, are able to then use precision fire over time to basically slowly pick off Ukrainian defenses.

Again, the negative is that the Russian war machine continues to grind on. They are still taking more territories, especially in eastern Ukraine. And there is a big question mark as to whether Moscow has achieved its war aims of undermining Western political support for keeping this war up into the third year, especially as we don't know what the incoming Trump administration is going to do.

RFE/RL: With all that in mind, in this theater of war, which act are we watching, and how far are we from the grand finale

Matisek: If you're [Russian President Vladimir] Putin in Moscow, you obviously want to exploit this sort of lame-duck presidency [of outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden]. So you could argue it's quite good that the Biden administration finally relented on allowing longer-range strikes [by Ukraine] into Russian territory. And the Ukrainians have already launched several ATACMS [ballistic missiles into Russia]. The range of the ATACMS is only about 300 kilometers....

RFE/RL: Isn't it a fallacy to refer to them as long-range? They are distinctly short-range. We're not talking about Tomahawks here.

Matisek: Well, for the [U.S.] Army, 300 kilometers is a long-range weapon system. But you're 100 percent right, long-range for the army means something very different from the navy or the air force. I'm an air force pilot, so when I think "long-range," I think I can hit anything on the planet from wherever I am. I like to use the term "anti-strategy" for the narrative that the U.S. basically got cornered into allowing long-range missiles and deep strikes into Russia when it's 300 kilometers. You can drive that in a few hours; that's not long-range if it's a day trip.

So the fact that we even allowed ourselves to get into that debate -- self-defeating, self-deterring, loop or spiral or cycle, whatever you want to call it -- is really unfortunate because, again, it gave the narrative to Putin, which he obviously seized upon.

He just released a new, updated Russian nuclear doctrine. The two biggest things he did in there were [to assert that] any conventional attack on Belarus is now considered an attack on Russia. And the other thing I found very notable is the inclusion of verbiage -- essentially it's directed at Ukraine -- about a country attacking us with the support of a nuclear power -- so that's potentially the U.S., the French, the Brits -- we consider that also within the realm of a response with nuclear weapons.

I think it's "red line" bluffing, because the U.S. and the collective West have been crossing Moscow's red lines for the last three, four years. But it's an attempt to control the narrative and to signal to the West that "Hey, you can't touch this because we've now drawn the line [whereby] your participation in this war, the very act of it, makes you culpable in a potential nuclear war."

RFE/RL: In that case, they don't need to wait for another escalation by "the West." By that Russian logic, the United States is already involved and is therefore a potential target for a nuclear strike. So what are they going to do to implement it?

The Tavberidze Interviews Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Vazha Tavberidze of RFE/RL's Georgian Service has been interviewing diplomats, military experts, and academics who hold a wide spectrum of opinions about the war's course, causes, and effects. To read all of his interviews, click here.

Matisek: Well, I don't think it's any change because Russia already had a nuclear doctrine that if their territory is invaded they're allowed to have a nuclear response. Well, the Ukrainians already demonstrated that that was a line of bullshit. So I don't think the Russians are using a nuclear weapon anytime soon. The Russians can talk, they can rattle the saber about this all they want, but in the end, it would actually do more harm to the Russian war machine. It would hurt them even more, it would make them more isolated. The rest of the world is going to judge the actions of Moscow and them using a nuclear weapon when the survival of the Russian state and Russian leadership is not at stake.

RFE/RL: If we could return to the second half of the previous question: How close are we to an endgame, provided the current trends continue and assuming no Trump intervention happens?

Matisek: I could see this going on another three years.

RFE/RL: Looking at the battlefield, is there still a case to be argued in favor of Ukraine winning this on the battlefield, retaking all its territory and driving Russians out, or has that ship sailed?

Matisek: If I were to cast this into a campfire metaphor: Imagine a big campfire, and if the campfire is the standard of retaking Luhansk and [the rest of] Donbas and Crimea, the chances of that happening are merely a warm ember, and the fire is mostly out. So it does not look good, given current trends, things that I do believe could change -- that would be the European Union sending an EU-flagged mission into Ukraine and drawing a line in the sand, saying that "Russian forces will not cross these lines because we view this as an invasion of Europe."

RFE/RL: How likely is that, given what we've seen from Europe? And curiously enough, one of the peace plans that emerged from President-elect Trump's camp actually includes creating a demilitarized zone and manning it not with U.S. but European troops. So now, without a hint of sarcasm, how realistic is it that Europe says yes to that?

Matisek: The idea of the Russian forces eventually making it to Kyiv or farther west over the next three to five years would compel the Europeans to do that, along with the Americans telling the Europeans, "You have to do this."

And there is a model for this; it is basically how North Korea and South Korea had to be essentially split up. Is that a best ideal outcome? No, of course the best ideal outcome is all Russian forces leaving the entirety of Ukraine. But we have to go back to being realistic. How much are the Americans and the Canadians and the Europeans willing to fight and die for every centimeter of Ukrainian territory? And that becomes a question of political willpower and domestic politics. I think it's just an easier sell having to lock this in place.

And you essentially create a huge DMZ [demilitarized zone], essentially between Ukraine and Belarus, Russia, and the occupied parts of Ukraine. And that would just basically be millions of land mines and Ukrainian defense bases, with probably European Union-flag forces essentially as observers, peacekeepers, and as a part of that sort of deterrent line. It would essentially become just one big trip-wire deterrent, if you will. That would be an ideal outcome for a lot of countries, especially in Europe. It's really depressing and unfortunate, but it's hard to make that case to the average American or average European, that this war is worth actually fighting and dying for. It's worth fighting for, yes, but

RFE/RL: Dying for it is a different matter.

Matisek: Exactly.

RFE/RL: We are talking hypotheticals now, right? If that plan became a reality, somebody would have to man the DMZ, right? It couldn't be only Ukrainians.

Matisek: It would have to be a European Union-flag mission. NATO would not want to be charged with that type of mission.

RFE/RL: Because of Article 5 [of the North Atlantic Treaty, providing for common defense in the event of an attack on any member]?

Matisek: Yes.

RFE/RL: Then we enter the very murky territory of who would actually be willing to send troops there. And further, equally murky territory would be what happens if there is any sort of renewed military conflict and those troops get in harm's way?

Matisek: So, on the first point, I would argue that most Eastern European countries are willing -- the Baltics would be willing to send forces, and Poland for sure -- and then it becomes kind of murky after that. I would argue the French would probably be willing to do it, and I bet the Germans would also be willing to do it. And I would argue we already kind of know who'd be willing to do this, because a template kind of exists: NATO has the EFP, the Enhanced Forward Presence, in the Baltics already, a sort of trip-wire deterrent force.

RFE/RL: But they are very conveniently under the NATO umbrella. These ones wouldn't be.

Matisek: Yes, but, for the sake of argument, there is enough overlap between the EU and NATO, they could use an EFP, they could borrow part of the EFP construct. And I would contend that you would probably get a similar mix of forces from the EU in addition to the Canadians and the Brits and even Norwegians, I bet.

RFE/RL: Since we are discussing armies and, to an extension, manpower: Which is the more pressing issue for Ukraine at this stage, shortage of equipment or shortage of manpower?

Matisek: It's manpower, manpower, manpower. The Europeans and the Americans and the Brits, all these countries that are willing to train Ukrainians, they could train more; it's just a question of whether Ukraine can send more. And get them enough military-aged men and women, as women are also allowed to serve in the Ukrainian Army. So that becomes a huge part.

We know it's in Germany's interest not to allow Ukraine to fall either; I think a big report came out just last week about the anticipation that, if Ukraine were to fall or be abandoned, that Europe would expect 10 million to 15 million Ukrainian refugees and that would be way more disruptive economically and politically.

So, yeah, it's manpower. The only thing you can do to offset the manpower things is having more and more drones. Because they don't have the manpower, you really see the Ukrainians emphasizing cheap drones that are unjammable, that use AI, and that is a way to overcome the manpower issue. But at a certain point, you still need people on the ground to man the drones.

RFE/RL: We have already discussed the ATACMS green light from the United States. Let's circle back to it. What has shifted in the Biden administration's calculations that made them think that now is the time?

Matisek: Oh, it's definitely that the administration has been under a lot of pressure because of the insertion [into Russia's Kursk region] of the 11,000 North Korean troops. They've been under a lot of pressure, I think, internally and externally, about letting the North Koreans get involved in this war without any sort of tit-for-tat-type response. The South Koreans are quite upset and angry about this as well. So this had to be a natural response.

RFE/RL: The general consensus seems to be that it's coming way too late, but still the question needs to be asked: What's the expected impact?

Matisek: Again, the tit-for-tat escalation by the current administration has just been too little too late, constantly. That seems to be a theme -- too little, too late, too much open debating, too much time to give Russia an ability to adjust before these weapons and stuff are used so that you can't exploit them in the moment. I guarantee you, Russians did their best to disperse after that announcement, in terms of massing formations and trying to get things out of stockpiles, just to minimize how much damage can be done by ATACMS. So that's what I find unfortunate about it, that the U.S. is trying to incrementally escalate but do it very openly, and that actually undermines the intent and the purpose. And honestly, this is still a war, so when you do things like this, it makes it feel more like a war of politics and diplomacy than an actual war of militarily defeating Russia and neutering their ability to invade a neighbor ever again.

This transcript has been edited for length and clarity.
Welcome to Wider Europe, RFE/RL's newsletter focusing on the key issues concerning the European Union, NATO, and other institutions and their relationships with the Western Balkans and Europe's Eastern neighborhoods.

I'm RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak, and this week I'm drilling down on one big issue: The future of NATO going into 2025.

Note to Readers: You can now listen to my briefings by clicking on the audio link below. We're actually using an AI version of my voice and would love to know what you think -- and, of course, what we can improve.

The Briefing: NATO Braces For An Unpredictable 2025

When speaking to NATO officials about the incoming U.S administration, I generally hear some variation on "We'll make it work," immediately followed by a reassuring, "Don't worry, we're not in panic mode." But will they? And aren't they, actually?

In his first term as U.S. president, Donald Trump was said to have been toying with a possible U.S. withdrawal from the military alliance over burden-sharing (notably at a summit in Brussels in 2018). Then, on the campaign trail earlier this year, he said he would encourage Russia to do "whatever the hell they want" with NATO members that didn't spend enough of defense -- essentially casting doubt on Article 5, the collective-defense clause of the North Atlantic Treaty that is the cornerstone of the organization. Trump's nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has also questioned why the United States should be the European "emergency contact number," and has described the continent's NATO allies as "outdated, outgunned, invaded, and impotent."

Many NATO diplomats I've chatted with have tried to make sense of the U.S. president-elect's flurry of cabinet picks. In the first administration, you had what one source called "NATO guardrails" in the form of seasoned U.S. generals like Jim Mattis and H.R. McMaster -- people who were very much shaped by the Cold War and NATO's role as a fundamental Western building block. It was pointed out to me that Hegseth has instead been influenced by the Iraq war, and more importantly by Afghanistan. Whisper it if you're in the alliance's Brussels corridors, but Afghanistan is widely seen as a major failure in which NATO pulled out after 20 years and let the Taliban reconquer the place. Moreover, no one's saying it very loudly but inside NATO it's seen as a conflict in which the United States was doing the heavy lifting while many Europeans were present but avoided much of the action.

The Trump team's selection of former acting Attorney-General Matthew Whitaker as ambassador to NATO also raised eyebrows, as he doesn't appear to have much foreign policy experience. The press release announcing the nomination sent mixed messages, saying that Whitaker will both "strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies" and "put AMERICA FIRST." I should note that Trump's NATO ambassador during his first term, Kay Bailey Hutchison, also had little foreign policy experience but ended up being well regarded within the alliance. Diplomats told me it's a good sign that the new pick for NATO ambassador has been announced so early; Trump didn't nominate Hutchinson until June 2017, more than six months into his presidency. Many also seemed reassured by the presumptive national security adviser, Michael Waltz, and by the man picked for secretary of state, Senator Marco Rubio, who is known to many in Europe and co-authored U.S. legislation in 2023 barring any president from exiting NATO without Senate approval or an act Congress.

Keeping The Alliance Relevant

What many say they learned from the first Trump term is that one should heed actions rather than the "noise" playing out in the media. They noted, for example, that Trump increased the U.S. military presence on NATO's eastern flank. They do, however, acknowledge a certain nervousness about the perceived "unpredictability" of the incoming president and his team. All organizations want some sort of stability, but even more so a military one and especially NATO, where even annual summits are carefully choreographed: Major decisions are generally made weeks, if not months, in advance and the final meeting communique is rarely tampered with during the actual summit (unlike, for instance, European Union meetings, at which leaders can fight on for days over every comma).

The key is essentially to keep NATO relevant. And that can only happen if the military alliance can defend every inch of its territory. Simply put: deterrence. And that means 1) plenty of powerful military gear, which the United States has; and 2) the political will to honor Article 5. It's the second of those two things that people at NATO are fretting over.

The Two-Pronged Tactic

The NATO tactic to keep Washington coupled with the alliance going forward is two-pronged and can be detected in pretty much everything that NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has said since taking up the hot seat in October. The first is higher defense spending among NATO's European members; the second is a greater focus on China. In fact, it was Trump who hammered home these two things in his first term, and that has not gone unnoticed inside the alliance. When Trump was last president, just a handful of countries were spending the required 2 percent of GDP on defense; today, it's 24 of the 32 allies, and many credit the rise to Trump's scare tactics (although the war in Ukraine has obviously been a contributing factor). Rutte has been on the record from the very start saying that 2 percent is not enough. NATO officials I've spoken to argue that most must reach 3.5 percent in order to be competitive. The official commitment is there, but the question is whether it's accompanied by political will -- particularly considering that many European economies, notably Germany's, are hardly growing. Another problem is that the European defense market remains fragmented. And while the continent produces good stuff, it's rather "artisanal" in its approach -- in other words, its goods are high-end but take time to manufacture and don't come in bulk. Another NATO diplomat I spoke to was more blunt: "The Americans have better [aircraft] carriers, better drones, better air defense -- just better capabilities in general. Plus, the size of their army dwarfs every European one." Don't rule out European allies buying American in an attempt to please the new administration, instead of going through the longer-term and more painstaking ordeal of ramping up their own domestic production.

On China, NATO has already moved toward a much tougher stance on Beijing. The leaders of the alliance's four Asia-Pacific partners (Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea) have already attended the last three NATO summits, and will be welcomed in the future. The quartet will also have a seat at the table in defense and foreign affairs meetings going forward. NATO diplomats keep arguing that the alliance is good for the United States, as its 32 members account for half the world's military and economic might, while China doesn't have 31 friends or allies. The European Commission recently slapped tariffs on Chinese-produced electric vehicles, and Sino-European relations might further sour following two recent events. The first was news that European intelligence believes Chinese-made military drones have been sent to Russia. The second was the severing last week of two Internet cables under the Baltic Sea, with a Chinese vessel reportedly spotted near both locations. Given that another Chinese ship destroyed the Balticconnector natural gas pipeline that runs between Estonia and Finland in 2023 and that Beijing declined to cooperate on any international investigation (although it acknowledged fault), many European governments might join Washington in becoming more hawkish on China.

The Trump-Whisperer And The EU Problem

Then, of course, there is NATO Secretary-General Rutte himself. The former Dutch prime minister was chosen in part because of a near-mythical belief in Brussels that he is something of a "Trump-whisperer" who developed a good relationship with the American during his first administration. People close to Rutte believe he's one of the few European leaders whom Trump actually respects, and he hasn't been shy about crediting Trump for the increased European defense spending. It's not for nothing that he was at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence over the weekend. Ever the pragmatist, Rutte famously noted before he got his new gig at NATO that Europe must stop worrying about who's in the White House and "dance with whoever is on the dancefloor."

Despite the preparations, people I speak to still ponder what might go wrong. One scenario involves Americans conflating NATO with the European Union. While the belief within the military alliance is that Trump is OK with NATO as long as Europeans pay more, the European Union is bracing for a trade war. Billionaire entrepreneur and avid Trump supporter Elon Musk is a key individual in that context. Musk has sparred publicly with European politicians on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter that he bought two years ago. The fear is that Musk's interests will become very much intertwined with those of the U.S. administration. X is in the EU's regulatory crosshairs, notably in connection with the recently enacted Digital Service Act (DSA) that governs online content moderation in the EU. Most Internet giants try to comply with it; but the European Commission recently opened formal DSA proceedings against X that could result in fines of up to 1 billion euros ($1.04 billion). The fear is that this could erupt into an almighty transatlantic rift, with NATO suffering collateral damage.

Poland's Moment

There is perhaps one European country to watch out for in particular: Poland. Irrespective of the government in Warsaw, relations with Washington are warm. That's for good reason; Poland is spending more than any other NATO member on defense (a projected 4.7 percent of GDP in 2025). It has also invested massively in U.S. weapons: A new U.S. ballistic-missile-defense base was opened there in November, a U.S. company is building nuclear reactors in the country, and 10,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Poland. Will Warsaw be the county that keeps the U.S. anchored in Europe? Many officials I speak to hope so.

Something else to monitor is what might happen to the 90,000 or so U.S. troops deployed elsewhere on European soil, and whether they are redeployed outside Europe or mostly moved from Western Europe to the eastern flank. Poland could prove crucial, with Emmanuel Macron's France hobbled by a government dependent on the support of the far-right National Rally. For its part, Germany is facing federal elections in February that are likely to be followed by protracted coalition talks. But it's also the case that the person tipped so far to emerge as German chancellor, center-right candidate Friedrich Merz, could strike up a well-functioning relationship with Trump, thanks in part to his roots in the business sector and his hawkishness on the issue of immigration.

Ukraine In The Balance

It is ultimately the future of nonmember Ukraine that will shape much debate at NATO in the coming months. Publicly at least, European allies have clung to the notion of "nothing about Ukraine, without Ukraine." But there are signs that Washington is moving in the direction of "land for peace" despite Kyiv's insistence that it won't cede territories to Russia.

While no one I've spoken to is privy to any concrete negotiation plan with Russia, one way or another, NATO will be part of any conversation. For instance, might NATO membership be offered to a "reduced Ukraine"? And would all 32 allies agree to such a thing, as is required for any accession? The concern I invariably hear in this context is that Moscow might immediately test Article 5 by sending a rocket into "reduced Ukraine" in the hope that there's no appetite within the alliance to fight Russia -- a hope informed, perhaps, by recent NATO summits at which Ukraine's invitation to NATO remained as elusive as ever.

Instead, it could be that NATO membership will be on hold for a longer period of time. European diplomats I've spoken to have instead suggested more robust bilateral security deals with Kyiv, sending greater quantities and more sophisticated arms so Ukraine could defend itself if Moscow decided to heat up what could be a budding frozen conflict.

Looking Ahead

Check out the European Parliament plenary this week. On November 27, the chamber is voting on confirmation of the next European Commission, which, if green-lighted, will officially start working on December 1. Then, on November 28, MEPs will vote on a nonbinding resolution on Georgia; the key point to watch is whether they demand new elections there.

That's all for this week. Feel free to reach out to me on any of these issues on X @RikardJozwiak or on e-mail at jozwiakr@rferl.org.

Until next time,

Rikard Jozwiak

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition subscribe here.
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.
Russia was able to attack Ukraine with a record number of drones on Tuesday night only because it bypasses sanctions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Last night, Russia attacked Ukraine, launching a record number of strike drones188against our people. I want to thank our defenders of the sky for repelling the attack. Around 80 drones were shot down, and more than 90 were lost due to location disruption. Unfortunately, there has been damage to our critical infrastructure, Zelenskyy said on X Tuesday.

The President noted that the situation in Ternopil is difficult now, all services and repair crews are working on the ground. Weare doing everything to assist people and restore electricity as quickly as possible, Zelenskyy stressed.

He added that there are 85 foreign components in each of the 188 UAVs. Each contains 85 foreign-made componentsnearly 16,000 in total, without which they could not be launched. These attacks are possible only because of Russias ability to circumvent sanctions through various schemes, the President noted.

Zelenskyy thanked everyone in the world who blocks such supplies, but added that more joint work is needed to ensure that sanctions work and force the Russian Federation to stop this war.

If you are against the war, you must truly be against Russias circumvention of sanctions, the head of state summed up.

As reported, the air defense forces of Ukraine shot down 76 enemy unmanned aerial vehicles out of 188 detected by Radio Technical troops of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Tuesday night.
Pakistan's northwest has been the scene of sporadic bursts of sectarian violence for decades.

In the latest flareup, over 80 people were killed in clashes in the Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province on November 21-23.



The violence erupted when gunmen fired on a convoy of Shi'ite Muslims. The deadly incident triggered retaliatory attacks on the Sunni Muslim community. The sides announced a seven-day cease-fire on November 24.



Troubled History



Pakistan is a Sunni-majority country. But Kurram, a mountainous district bordering Afghanistan, has a large Shi'ite population.



Decades of clashes, often over land, have left thousands of people in Kurram dead. Over 200 people have been killed since July, alone.

Northwestern Pakistan has been a hotbed of militancy for decades. The emergence of Sunni and Shi'ite armed groups in the region has exacerbated sectarian tensions, experts say.



"The rise of militant groups from rival sects has transformed Kurram into a battleground for sectarian dominance," said Ihsanullah Tipu Mehsud, news director at the Khorasan Diary, a website tracking militant groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan.



Shi'a say Sunni extremist groups -- including the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Islamic State-Khorasan, and Lashkar-e Jhangvi -- are trying to exterminate or expel them from Kurram. Many of the groups have targeted Shi'a, whom they see as apostates.



In some of the worst violence in Kurram in recent decades, around 2,000 people, mostly Shi'a, were killed between 2007 and 2011 when the TTP, also known as the Pakistani Taliban, tried to overrun the district.



The Sunni community blames the violence in Kurram on the Zainebiyoun Brigade, a Shi'ite militia made up of Pakistanis who fought in Syria. The group included Shi'a from Kurram, some of whom have returned home in recent years.



Political Marginalization



Experts say the deadly sectarian violence in Kurram is also borne out of weak governance and political marginalization.

Pakistan's border regions -- including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa -- have been the scene of deadly military offensives against Islamist and separatist insurgencies, and the army has been accused of committing widespread human rights abuses.



The federal government in Islamabad and the powerful military, which has an oversized role in domestic and foreign affairs, have also eroded democratic norms and institutions.



In 2019, Islamabad passed a law that granted security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa sweeping powers, including detaining suspects indefinitely or without charge.



Syed Irfan Ashraf, a university lecturer in the northwestern city of Peshawar, said Pakistan's military has tried to enforce an "authoritarian governance model" in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.



"This governance model is taking a huge toll now," he said.
U.S. permission for Ukrainian strikes deeper in Russian territory. A new Russian nuclear doctrine and a ballistic missile attack. Olga Oliker of the Crisis Group joins the host to discuss what the rush of recent developments could mean for the war in Ukraine.
Hundreds of protesters rallied in the Romanians capital, Bucharest, a day after the surprise victory of a pro-Russian far-right candidate in the first round of presidential elections. Protesters at the November 25 rally denounced Calin Georgescu, who has been criticized for anti-NATO and anti-Semitic statements. Georgescu will face pro-Western, center-right candidate Elena Lasconi in a December 8 runoff vote.
Yemen's Huthi rebels have attacked international shipping and fired on U.S. naval forces in the Red Sea for over a year.

The Huthis' missile and drone attacks have disrupted a key global trade route and triggered retaliatory strikes by the United States and Britain.

Now, U.S. media reports suggest that Russia has been helping the rebels pick their targets -- most of them commercial ships owned or operated by Western companies or vessels heading to or coming from Israel.

Experts say Russia is expanding its cooperation with the Huthis, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization that is backed by Iran, including by sharing intelligence.

Moscow could even supply the Huthis with advanced arms in response to Washington loosening restrictions on Ukraine's use of U.S.-supplied weapons.

"It sends a message to the United States that Russia could make life very painful if it wants to, and it's a not-so-veiled threat that could be construed as retaliation for Washington's assistance to Ukraine," said Colin Clarke, director of policy and research at the New York-based Soufan Group intelligence consultancy.

Enemy Of My Enemy

The Huthis have said their attacks on Western and Israeli targets in the Red Sea are in response to Israel's devastating yearlong war in the Gaza Strip.

The rebels have vowed to continue their attacks, which include direct missile and drone attacks on Israel, until a cease-fire is reached in the Palestinian enclave.

The Gaza war has pitted Israel against Iran's so-called axis of resistance, a loose network of state and nonstate actors that include the Huthis, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Shi'ite militias in Iraq and Syria.

Experts say Russia's support for the Huthis aligns with the Kremlin's narratives about opposing the West and empowering anti-Western armed groups globally.

"The Kremlin is interested in having friends who can test the nerves of Moscow's enemies in the Red Sea or anywhere in the Middle East," Ruslan Suleymanov, an academic and oriental studies expert, told Current Time.

He added Russia also wants to be seen supporting any group that "stands up to the West."

U.S. media reports and intelligence in recent months suggest that Russia is providing intelligence, including satellite data, to the Huthis to attack commercial ships in the Red Sea.

Since July, reports have said the Kremlin even threatened to transfer anti-ship missiles to the Huthis, but that the United States and Saudi Arabia dissuaded Russia.

Experts say that could change after Washington on November 17 reportedly allowed Ukraine to use longer-range U.S. Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to strike inside Russia.

"The Russian consideration of arming the Huthis has been directly related to what [Russian President] Vladimir Putin perceives as U.S. escalation against Russia in progressively loosening restrictions on Ukraine's use of U.S.-supplied weaponry," said Kenneth Katzman, former senior Middle East analyst for the U.S. Congress.

In addition to disrupting shipping in the Red Sea, Russia is reportedly using the Huthis to recruit fighters from Yemen to join the war against Ukraine. Moscow is also ensuring that Russian ships can safely transit the Red Sea.

The Huthis have wrested control of Yemen's northwest and Red Sea coastline since the country's devastating civil war erupted in 2014.

Boon For The Huthis

Experts say the Huthis stand to gain by expanding their relations with Russia.

Clarke of the Soufan Group said Russian intelligence helped the rebels more accurately target Western vessels in the Red Sea. It also shows that the Huthis are not an "uncontrollable gang of terrorists," he said.

"On the contrary, they are a rational actor, a highly capable organization that is becoming an even bigger player in the Middle East and doing so through asymmetric means," Clarke added.

Iran is the Huthis' main military backer, supplying them with weapons technology and missile components, according to U.S. intelligence.

Experts say the rebels would benefit significantly from Russian missile technology, which Katzman said was "far more precise and effective" than the arms provided by Tehran.

This could lessen the group's dependence on Iran, an ally of Russia.

"The Russian weaponry might even enable the Huthis to successfully strike U.S. and coalition warships, which could escalate the Red Sea conflict enormously, were the Huthis to actually strike a U.S. naval vessel," Katzman said.
KYIV -- In 2022, for the first time in her 34 years as a teacher, Lydia Prokopenko didn't get to see her first-graders graduate. Instead, her elementary school in eastern Ukraine was shut down, and she was forced into early retirement by a full-scale Russian military invasion.

Her home village, Studenok, was just kilometers from intense fighting in the nearby Holy Mountains National Nature Park, where Russian troops soon wrested control of the park's wooded cliffs. By the time Ukrainian forces recaptured the park in September 2022, it was heavily charred, pocked with blast craters, and criss-crossed with foxholes.

It was also strewn with land mines and unexploded ordnance that would fuel the largest wildfire in the Holy Mountains' history two years later, after a Russian air strike in September. Fire crews couldn't get a handle on the blaze for eight days as it scorched 7,000 hectares of the park and, eventually, took Prokopenko's home and much of her village with it.

"The fire spread so quickly. Such huge balls of fire were flying through the air...that our house couldn't be saved," she said. Now she lives with neighbors, and it's getting increasingly unlikely the 64-year-old former teacher will live long enough to see the Holy Mountains park or its wildlife recover.

Park director Serhiy Priymachuk and other Ukrainian officials say it is difficult to seriously consider restoring the Holy Mountains or any other ecosystem before the end of hostilities -- and even then, it will probably take decades. The park is located in a northern section of the Donetsk region that's been partially occupied by Russian-backed forces since 2014, and remains a theater of heavy fighting.

Ukrainian ecologist Volodymyr Yarotskiy offers a twist on the "butterfly effect" and unforeseen consequences, saying, "This is no longer a 'flap of wings,' this is really a fairly significant impact on the environment."

Accusations Of Ecocide

Since the start of the Russian invasion, the amount of Ukrainian forest destroyed by fire has shot up by a factor of 30, according to the All-Ukrainian Ecology League, an NGO.

The Environment Ministry says 800,000 hectares of forest have been consumed by conflict, including 2,400 hectares that is currently under Russian occupation. In those places, experts say, in addition to the trenches that Russian forces have dug, the occupiers have used the Ukrainian forests as a source for logging.

"From a total area of Ukrainian forest of 10.4 million hectares, almost 3 million hectares of forest has been affected by hostilities," Deputy Environment Minister Olena Kramarenko told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service recently. "Just imagine that [an area] three-quarters the size of Switzerland was burned or destroyed by trenches."

Ukraine is working to hold Russia accountable for such destruction from the invasion, including for actions that Kyiv argues constitute ecocide -- unlawful or reckless acts committed knowing that there is a substantial likelihood of severe, widespread, or long-term damage to the environment. The Ukrainian Prosecutor-General's Office is already investigating 14 cases under the ecocide article of its Criminal Code, including the high-profile destruction in an explosion of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine in June 2023.

Officials say that with each passing day of an invasion that recently hit the 1,000-day mark, Ukraine's ecological crisis worsens.

The Environment Ministry estimates damage to the Holy Mountains park so far at more than 16 billion hryvnyas ($385 million), with a clearer picture to emerge only once the war is over and explosives are cleared.

"Standing on the right bank of the Siverskiy Donets River" that winds through the park, Kramarenko said that due to fire "the forest looks more black than green."

"The land and the air are polluted," said park director Priymachuk, "there's nowhere for insects and birds to live."

Yarotskiy, a researcher at the Kreminna Woods National Nature Park in the nearby Luhansk region, notes that there are no more bats left in the Holy Mountains. "They performed an important function in the forest: They ate the same insects that can be dangerous to trees during reproduction," he told RFE/RL.

Larger animals perished or fled areas of intense fighting at the onset of the invasion, Yarotskiy said, seemingly evidenced by a rise in the populations of moose and deer in the Dnipro-Orylyk Nature Reserve to the west. It is a vicious sequence, he said: "Vegetation disappears, mouse-like rodents disappear. There are no rodents, there's no food base for [larger] predators."

Once vegetation reappears, Yarotskiy adds, rodent populations can then rise quickly with no predators to control their numbers and spread disease, including to humans.

Generations To Recover

Earlier this year, the Environment Ministry announced a plan to restore damaged areas of the Holy Mountains park. But then the massive fire struck, and plans have had to be abandoned or adjusted as the Russian Army continues to advance on the nearby front.

If the fighting ended tomorrow, according to Oleksiy Prykhodko, head of the Lyman Forestry state enterprise, it would still take 50-70 years to restore the areas' forests to their prewar condition. But he and ecologists who spoke to RFE/RL said that work could only begin once the more urgent problem of residual land mines was solved. Reuters reported that at least 14 forest rangers have died of shelling or mine blasts in the park; the Environment Ministry cited military secrecy in declining to provide an updated figure.

To date, Ukraine's State Emergency Service (DSNS) has managed to clear explosives from only about 2 percent of the Holy Mountains park, which is dotted with small settlements.

"According to statements from the Environment Ministry and Defense Ministry, the demining of forests won't begin for 10 years," said Serhiy Zibtsev, director of the Regional East European Fire Monitoring Center. "Because, let's say we have work [to de-mine] the fields and settlements and the roads for 10 years; in 10 years, the places that were restored with planting after the fire will be overgrown to the point where they'll be practically thickets."

Zibtsev says it's possible that the Holy Mountains might never be totally de-mined. He cites the examples of some Balkan countries where dangerous areas were simply made off-limits after the wars that followed the breakup of Yugoslavia. "They fenced off those forests, and that's it," Zibtsev said.

But he's quick to add that while the danger of mines in the national park might remain for at least another decade, nature can do some recovery on its own if it's left to its own devices.

"If you ask a lot of people, leaders, whether this forest will recover, in most cases they'll say that 'No, it won't recover, we need to plant forest [flora],'" Zibtsev said.

"That's not true. It will recover [on its own]; it will just take more time."
The Czech Republic is going to continue supplying ammunition to Ukraine in 2025, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said.

"Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, the Prime Minister of Denmark and the Prime Minister of the Netherlands have already agreed to continue supplies in 2025. After all, it is obvious that Ukraine will need ammunition next year as well. Therefore, we must continue," he said in an interview with European Pravda.

Lipavsky said the promise made this year to purchase and transfer half a million large-caliber ammunition to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, in the event of sufficient international support, will be fulfilled in full by the end of the year. "I can guarantee that we will provide this by the end of this year. I cannot say exactly how many shells we have already transferred and how many are left, but colleagues responsible for this scheme say that we will achieve this figure," he said.

According to the minister, ammunition is purchased from warehouses around the world.

"Considering the fact that defense production in the EU has not yet accelerated, we have found stockpiles of shells around the world and are buying them. We restore some of the shells so that they are in working order. And then we send them to Ukraine," Lipavsky said.

He said a sufficient number of manufactured ammunition that can be purchased for the Armed Forces of Ukraine for 2025 has already been found, but for long-term continuation of deliveries, countries need to increase their own production. "Then we will need to increase production. Ukraine is doing this now, but many other countries should do this," the minister said.

As is known, the Czech Republic was the initiator of ammunition supplies to Ukraine. More than 18 countries have joined the initiative. It was planned to deliver 500,000 rounds of ammunition to Ukraine by the end of 2024.
Start, or finish up, your Christmas shopping with a visit to the annual Silver Bells Craft Show Saturday, Nov. 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fairview High School. With over 30 vendors and counting, the show offers everything from Norwex and Pampered Chef to art by Daphne Johnson Clark and Made in Montana baked goods and jellies by Tammy Baker. Joy Owens will have her famous lefse, Wayward Quilters will be back along with Lindsay Danielson with Side Effects, Jeremy Dean will be selling the 2025 Ornament, Mrs. Renville will be offering another amazing selection of gift baskets and so much more.

Vendor spaces are still available by texting Faith Oakland at 406-480-1476.

While youre shopping for those tasty treats and unique gift items, the kids can enjoy activities planned just for them. The Art Club is fundraising by offering face painting, plus other fun stuff will keep them entertained.

So, plan to bring the family and enjoy shopping!
Featuring Special Guest Ned LeDoux, Concert Sponsored by Kraken Resources

Sidney, MT - Get ready for an unforgettable night of country music under the Montana sky! The Richland County Fair & Rodeo is proud to present country music star and Army Reserve soldier Craig Morgan with special guest Ned LeDoux on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, at 7 p.m.

A multi-faceted entertainer, Morgan has made a name for himself as a country music icon, TV personality, author, celebrated outdoorsman and patriotic Army veteran. One of country music's best-loved artists, Morgan has amassed nearly 2.5 billion career streams and charted over 25 songs on Billboard, thrilling massive crowds with signature hits including "Bonfire", "Almost Home", "Redneck Yacht Club", "International Harvester", "This Ole Boy", "Soldier", and the multi-week No. 1, "That's What I Love About Sunday".

In late 2023, Craig released his newest project Enlisted, a six-song collection of reimagined hits and brand-new songs featuring collaborations with Trace Adkins, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Gary LeVox, Blake Shelton, and Lainey Wilson. Prior to becoming a country music star and TV sensation, Morgan spent 17 years serving our country in the Army and Army Reserve and last year enlisted in the Army Reserve, continuing his military career as a Warrant Officer. He remains committed to supporting active duty and veteran members of our military through work with Operation Finally Home, the USO and more.

Joining Morgan is special guest Ned LeDoux, a dynamic artist carrying on the musical legacy of his legendary father, Chris LeDoux. With his latest album, Buckskin", Ned continues to tell heartfelt stories that capture the spirit of the western prairie, honoring his ranching roots while carving out his own unique sound. Known for his high-energy live performances, Ned brings an authentic western flair that promises to resonate with fans.

Tickets for this incredible event will go on sale starting Nov. 29-Black Friday-with exclusive sale specials available, making them the perfect gift for the holiday season! Secure your tickets early at www.richlandcountyfairandrodeo.com to enjoy a night of music, memories, and Montana magic with Craig Morgan and Ned LeDoux.
G7 calls recent use of IRBM by Russia against Ukraine escalation

The Foreign Ministers of the Group of Seven strongly condemned the Russian Federation's use of an intermediate-range ballistic missile on November 21.

Russias use of an intermediate range ballistic missile on 21 November is further evidence of its reckless and escalatory behaviour. Our support for Ukraines territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence will remain unwavering, the ministers joint statement says.
The Sidney School Board approved the hiring of Kelly Johnson as Interim Middle School Principal at its meeting on Monday, Nov. 18, following the resignation of Ashley Copple. Johnson will begin her duties at the beginning of the second semester. Although there was internal interest in the position, Sidney Superintendent Sukut recommended hiring Johnson to give everyone a level playing field when the position opens up in the spring.

Johnson said she is looking forward to the unexpected opportunity to go back to the job she had for 13 years. "I have missed my interactions with the students and staff at the middle school," she said. "I'm happy to help with the transition." The appointment means no big disruption in the middle of the year since most of the students and parents know Johnson in some capacity, but Johnson emphasized that she will need the cooperation of the students, parents and staff to make the semester a good one.

Johnson retired three and a half years ago and says she has missed being principal. She taught 4th grade full time last year, 3rd grade some of the year before, and has often subbed during her retirement. She feels energetic and is ready to get back in the principal's chair. She hasn't decided whether to pursue the position when it becomes available but she knows she enjoys a challenge and being busy and that her husband, Randy, will support whatever she chooses. In addition to 13 years as principal at Sidney Middle School, Johnson has 21 years of teaching experience.
Giving Tuesday is an annual event created to foster the spirit of giving in the world. It is touted as a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and world.

This year, the Sidney Chamber has chosen to host a progressive dinner to assist our community. Ticket holders will have the choice of starting their journey at either 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. The evening will feature a delicious multi-course meal from various participating restaurants.

Starting at the South 40 for a welcome and cocktails and moving onto the Cattle-ac for hors doeuvres and then to the Meadowlark for salad. The Ranger will host the main course and the night will finish at Amys for dessert. Proceeds from the dinner will benefit local nonprofits, including the Sidney Schools Angel Fund, Kiwanis Coat Drive, Foundation for Community Care, Boys and Girls Club, and Sunrise Womens Clinic.

The evening will be filled with talent from locals, the Riggs Family, Cassidy Wadley, Ryan Olson, and the Sunrise City Rockettes performing. This event is sure to put you in the Holiday Spirit with its memorable trek in downtown Sidney. With only 80 tickets available, this event is expected to fill up quickly. The ticket cost is $50. Get your tickets today online at https://www.eventcreate.com/e/givingtuesdayprogressivedinner or stop in at the Chamber, Boys and Girls Club, Sunrise Womens Clinic, or the Foundation for Community Care.

It is truly one of the most wonderful giving times of the year!

For more information on this event, visit the Sidney Chamber of Commerce website or follow them on Facebook.
The three winning candidates for the government review board were sworn in Monday, Nov.18 at the Sidney City Council meeting. Wade Whiteman, Jordan Mayer and Janet Sergent are now tasked with reviewing Sidney's form of government and making recommendations for improvement if needed.

The first meeting of the board must be held within 10 days of certification of the election. That meeting will be mostly organizational, including choosing a chair person. The members will attend official training Dec. 10 in Sidney, which is hosting the training for Eastern Montana including Glendive and Fairview and several county governments.

All meetings of the study commission will be public with agendas and meeting minutes published on the city website. Residents are encouraged to voice their opinions at those meetings.
Sidney, MT)  Sidney Health Center held its Annual Membership Meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at the Sidney Country Club. The event highlighted the organizations achievements and strategic goals, featuring presentations by CliftonLarsonAllen on audited financials, Medical Staff Representative Dr. Lisa Ross, Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Doty, and Board of Directors President Bob Burnison.

During the meeting, three members were elected to the Board of Directors: incumbents Eric Beenken and Stephanie Livers, along with newcomer Rob Breuer. The Board of Directors also includes Bob Burnison, Susan Duffey, Randy Johnson, Cheryl Van Every, Mike Weber, and Medical Staff Representatives Dr. Tambi and Dr. Noel Nguewoun.

Financial Success in Fiscal Year 2024

Sidney Health Center reported a positive 3.6% operating margin for the fiscal year (July 2023  June 2024), marking a $5.3 million improvement from the previous year and far exceeding the budgeted negative 0.89% operating margin.

Strategic Plan for the Future

CEO Jennifer Doty shared the recently approved strategic plan, developed with CliftonLarsonAllen, which aims to redefine rural healthcare through patient-centered innovation and collaboration. The plan is structured around five core pillars:

Growth: Expanding healthcare access to ensure more patients receive care close to home.

Service/Quality: Delivering high-quality, patient-centered care that exceeds expectations through enhanced technology and innovation.

People: Building a strong organizational culture to attract, develop, and retain top talent, making Sidney Health Center the employer of choice.

Community: Collaborating with provider organizations, businesses, and community groups to enhance regional health outcomes.

Finance: Maximizing stewardship of resources while working to reduce patient costs.

Meeting Highlights

The meeting celebrated quality recognition awards, shared key organizational statistics, and provided updates on medical staff recruitment efforts. Over the past year, Sidney Health Center has welcomed additional physicians and providers in Emergency Department services, Radiology, Oncology, Orthopedics, and a nurse practitioner for the TeleUrology program and Same-Day Clinic.

Comprehensive Medical Services

Sidney Health Centers medical staff includes 45 providers, encompassing physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. This diverse team delivers a wide range of services, including emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, general surgery, orthopedic surgery, ENT, podiatry, oncology, interventional pain management, aesthetic medicine, pathology, urology, and radiology.

A Pillar of the Community

As one of the largest employers in Richland County, Sidney Health Center supports more than 600 employees, with wages and compensation exceeding $63 million annually.

During her presentation, CEO Jennifer Doty emphasized the critical importance of Montanas Medicaid extended coverage to low-income adults, which is up for renewal in 2025. Doty highlighted the potential consequences of losing this coverage, which provides health insurance for 80,000 Montanans.

Reauthorizing the existing Medicaid program in Montana is vital to the health of our community and the sustainability of our hospital. If the expanded portion of the program were eliminated, we would face a $7.37 million gap in funding for critical access hospital services alone, Doty explained. This would force us to evaluate service lines, ultimately impacting our ability to meet our mission. Many of the individuals covered by Medicaid are working people and caregivers who rely on access to affordable, preventive care.

According to state data, Medicaid funded $9.72 million in healthcare services for Richland County patients in the 2023 fiscal year, including:

$7.37 million in critical access hospital services

$1.1 million in physician, advanced practice, and clinic/health center services

$780,872 in pharmacy services

Membership Opportunities

Sidney Health Center is a membership organization. Individuals and businesses can join with a one-time fee of $100. Over the past year, 8 new members joined, bringing the total to 215 individual members and 60 business memberships.

For more information on becoming a member, contact Melissa Papka, Executive Assistant, at 406-488-2027, visit Sidney Health Centers administration office, or explore membership details online at http://www.sidneyhealth.org/About/Membership-Info.
Sidney, MT Sarah Neu, RN. Sidney Health Center was recently honored with The DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation's programs to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day.

During the recent ceremony, Sidney Health Center recognized a total of 6 nursing staff members from across the organization who were nominated by patients and family members for The DAISY Award.

The nomination for Sarah read, "Sarah came on shift and one of her patients was an end-of-life patient. She sanitized her hands and used all proper PPE each and every time she came in the room. Upon the first visit she would clean the entire room, remove and store unused and unneeded equipment and assess the patient and advise the family of each med she was administering. Her body language projected knowledge, strength and compassion. All the staff were amazing to be honest, but Sarah added a personal glow when she entered the room. She took complete control of the room. From closing the blinds and explaining the light sensitivity issues that the patient may be experiencing due to medications, to wiping down every surface, Sarah was exceptional. A member of the family in the room is an RN at another facility and remarked that the level of care and compassion was truly exceptional."

After 20 years in the beauty industry, Sarah Neu, RN, followed her passion for helping people heal by pursuing a career in nursing. She began her journey on MedSurg during the COVID-19 Delta wave, where she quickly developed a love for medical-surgical nursing and the comradery of her team. Sarah takes pride in providing compassionate care to patients at the hospital where she was born, combining her skills with a personal connection to the community. Actively involved in improving post-operative care through committee work, she values advocating for her patients and finds joy in small but meaningful moments that bring them comfort, such as offering a warm blanket to brighten their day.

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues. The award recipient is chosen by a committee at Sidney Health Center. Awards are presented twice a year at celebrations attended by the Honoree's colleagues, patients, and visitors. Each Honoree receives a certificate commending her or him as an "Extraordinary Nurse". The certificate reads: "In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people." Honorees also receive a DAISY Award pin and a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer's Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.

Sidney Health Center's nursing staff is comprised of advanced practice, registered nurses and LPNs, who make up 20% of the workforce across the organization in a variety of areas. If you know a nurse who has provided exceptional care during your hospital stay, clinic visit, emergency situation, outpatient surgery or long-term care stay, you can show your appreciation and gratitude by nominating them for the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. Visit Sidney Health Center's website to learn more at SidneyHealth.org/Patients/Nominate-a-Nurse.
Police Detain Farmer Leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal Hours Before Hunger Strike

Dallewal, who announced hunger strike to demand legal guarantee of MSP, was taken to Ludhianas DMCH hospital.

Jagjit Singh Dallewal Detention Ahead of Hunger Strike Latest News Today: In a dramatic turn of events, police detained Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a coordinator of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), just hours before he was set to begin a fast-unto-death protest at the Khanauri border in Sangrur district.

The 70-year-old farmer leader, who had announced the hunger strike to demand the legal guarantee of MSP (Minimum Support Price), was taken to Ludhianas Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) early Tuesday morning.

Advertisement

Dallewals hunger strike was planned to coincide with the fourth anniversary of the historic farmers protest that began on November 26, 2020, against the now-repealed farm laws.

According to farmer leaders, police action took place around 2:30 AM. Amrik Singh from Bharti Kisan Union (Sidhupur) alleged that the police broke the fibreglass wall of Dallewals temporary hut at the protest site. The cops forcibly took Dallewal to an undisclosed location after he refused to open the door. More than 250 personnel locked other farmers in their huts or trolleys to prevent interference, he said.

Sarwan Singh Pandher, coordinator of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), condemned the midnight operation, which he claimed involved Punjab Police, Haryana Police, and central forces. This is a blatant attempt to suppress our right to protest. We demand the Punjab government immediately disclose Dallewals whereabouts, he said, warning of serious consequences if transparency was not ensured.

Advertisement

In response to the incident, Bharti Kisan Union (Sidhupur) and SKM (Non-Political) have called upon farmers to gather in large numbers at the Khanauri border. SKM has also announced 'Chetavni rallies' across 500 districts nationwide, in coordination with central trade unions. Furthermore, SKM and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha plan to march toward Delhi from the Shambhu border on December 6.

Patiala SSP Dr. Nanak Singh denied claims of detention, stating that Dallewal was hospitalized for medical reasons. Due to his age and health issues, including cancer, we admitted him to DMCH for proper care, Singh explained.

(For more news apart from Jagjit Singh Dallewal Detention Ahead of Hunger Strike Latest News Today, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Chandigarh Blast Today: Blast Rocks 'The City Beautiful' Ahead of PM Narendra Modi's Visit

Prime Minister is set to inaugurate several developmental projects and attend high-level meetings during his visit.

Chandigarh Blast Latest News Today Ahead of PM Narendra Modi visit: A crude bomb explosion outside a club in Sector 26 early Tuesday morning has raised alarm in the city. The blast occurred around 3:30 AM, shattering the clubs windows and leaving residents of the area shaken. The club is reportedly owned by rapper Badshah.

Eyewitnesses reported that two bike-borne individuals were seen hurling the crude bomb before fleeing the scene. No casualties have been reported so far, but the incident has heightened security concerns. The police swiftly cordoned off the area and launched an investigation. Forensic teams have collected evidence from the site, while CCTV footage from nearby establishments is being reviewed to trace the perpetrators.

Advertisement

The timing of the blast has drawn significant attention, as it comes less than a week before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Chandigarh on December 3. The Prime Minister is set to inaugurate several developmental projects and attend high-level meetings during his visit.

In light of the incident, Chandigarh Police have intensified security measures across the city, particularly around key locations expected to host the Prime Minister.

This blast has not only caused concern among residents but also prompted calls for increased vigilance as Chandigarh prepares to welcome the countrys top leadership.

Advertisement

(For more news apart from Chandigarh Blast Latest News Today Ahead of PM Narendra Modi visit, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Most Ukrainians believe that negotiations on freezing hostilities should begin, 64% of respondents more or less agree with this thesis. This is evidenced by the data of a sociological study conducted by the Social Monitoring Center from November 15 to 21, 2024.

According to the study, with the position "Negotiations on freezing hostilities should begin. After all, our country has suffered great losses:" 34% completely agree, 30% more often agree; 13% rather disagree; 19% categorically disagree; 4% find it difficult to answer.

At the same time, the majority of respondents believe that the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine will continue for more than a year. Thus, when asked how long the war will last, citizens answered as follows: more than a year some 47%; up to a year some 18%; up to six months some 11%; up to three months some 9%; find it difficult to answer some 16%.

"People's attitudes towards the duration of the war for more than a year reflect the information background that has been spreading in society recently. At the same time, this indicates a readiness for mobilization  not only military, but also moral, economic, as well as the principle of readiness to accept the inconveniences caused by the war for some time," Director of the Social Monitoring Center Dmytro Dmytruk said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Citizens were also asked to indicate how they feel, in particular, about the statement that "victory in the war must be achieved within the constitutional borders of 1991, regardless of the price. Therefore, I, my friends and close relatives also have to fight to achieve this goal. Some 18% completely agree; 21% more often agree; 20% rather disagree; 36% categorically disagree; find it difficult to answer some 6%.

Sociologists said when they mean negotiations, they do not talk about their conditions or results, but mean negotiations as a fact. "Even the configuration of the issue of freezing the conflict is perceived by Ukrainians more in favor of Ukraine, and the very fact of such negotiations is considered positive," Dmytruk said.

With the thesis "War must continue until complete victory. But it is the job of others to fight, not my loved ones:" 10% completely agree; 9% more often agree; 28% rather disagree; 44% categorically disagree; find it difficult to answer some 10%.

Citizens were also asked whether the decision to "freeze the war" and start negotiations to resolve the conflict is acceptable to them. According to Ukrainians, such a decision and the start of negotiations are: very necessary some 30%; possibly necessary some 31%; quite inappropriate some 11%. This is absolutely unacceptable some 24%; find it difficult to answer some 4%.

As the study shows, Ukrainians trust the former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and now the Ambassador of Ukraine to the UK Valeriy Zaluzhny, as well as Head of the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense Kyrylo Budanov more than the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Thus, Zaluzhny and Budanov are the only public figures whose trust rating is more distrustful. Zaluzhny is trusted by 72% of respondents against 22% who do not trust him, and the level of trust in Budanov reaches 55% against 32% of distrust. At the same time, President Zelenskyy, who is in third place in the rating, has 44% of trust against 52% of distrust.

The current Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky is trusted by 33% of citizens against 53% who do not trust him. The level of trust in the head of government Denys Shmyhal is 21% against distrust from 63% of respondents. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov is trusted by 19%, while 54% do not trust him.

In addition, citizens were asked, if the presidential elections in Ukraine were held next Sunday, who would you vote for? The answers were distributed as follows: Zaluzhny some 27%; Zelenskyy some 16%; Poroshenko some 7%; Budanov some 6%; Razumkov some 4%; Tymoshenko some 4%; citizens were also asked, if it was possible to name one more candidate, who would you choose? The answers were as follows: Zaluzhny some 15%; Budanov some 12%; Zelenskyy some 6%; Prytula some 4%; Razumkov some 3%; Poroshenko some 3%.

The sociological survey was conducted by the Social Monitoring Center by order of the American Political Service through telephone interviews among 1,200 respondents. The study was conducted from November 15 to 21, 2024. The survey error is 1.8-2.9%.
November 26, 2024 UPDATE

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsflash

Newsroom, 26.11.2024, 20:00

ELECTIONS  The Central Election Bureau presented the final results of the first round of the presidential elections in Romania on Tuesday. According to the data, independent candidate Calin Georgescu ranks first in the voters preferences with 22.94% of the votes. In second place is the leader of the Save Romania Union (USR), Elena Lasconi, with 19.18%, and in third place, the president of the Social Democratic Party, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, with 19.15 percent. Next is the president of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, George Simion, with 13.86% of the votes, that of the National Liberal Party, Nicolae Ciuca  8.79% and the former deputy secretary general of NATO, Mircea Geoana, who ran independently and was preferred by 6.32% of the voters. All other candidates got under 5% each. After the results of Sundays election, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu resigned from his position as president of the Social Democrats. The PNL leadership also resigned.

DIPLOMACY  Romania is firmly committed to supporting democratic values of human rights, including gender equality, combating anti-Semitism, xenophobia and any form of discrimination, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday. Romanias foreign policy initiatives are inseparable from the countrys membership in the area of freedoms and rights guaranteed by its status as a member state of the European Union and a NATO ally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release regarding the external concerns that emerged after the first round of the presidential elections. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized the fact that, 35 years since Romania returned to the family of Western democracies, through the courage of those who died in the Romanian Revolution, these values are the ones that guarantee peace, security and prosperity for all Romanian citizens, wherever they may be. In this context, the National Audiovisual Council asked the European Commission to open an official investigation into the TikTok platform. The CNA took as a benchmark the report made by Expert Forum, which established that the electoral preferences for the candidate Calin Georgescu increased from 2 to 22% based on a campaign conducted on the Chinese network. The RENEW group in the European Parliament also asked the social network to provide explanations regarding compliance with the legislation on digital services. We recall that, a year ago, the European Commission asked staff to remove TikTok from their work devices.

EUROPEAN UNION  MEPs reaffirmed their strong support for Ukraine in Strasbourg on Tuesday, condemning cooperation between Russia and North Korea and calling on the European Union to step up its support for Kyivs forces. A recent statement by the leaders of the European Parliament calls on the bloc to step up support for Ukraine in all ways, including politically, financially, militarily and through humanitarian aid. It also reiterated that the EP stands by and supports Ukraine in every way possible until its victory. Also on Tuesday, the European Unions budget for next year was increased to almost 200 billion euros following negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council. The budget proposal was debated in the European Parliament and will be voted on Wednesday, when the final vote on the new European Commission is also scheduled.

G7  The Foreign Ministers of the G7 states on Tuesday voiced their support for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, saying that it is time to reach a diplomatic solution in Lebanon, France Presse reports. On the other hand, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said that Israel has no excuse for refusing the ceasefire in Lebanon, negotiated by the US and France. At a time when diplomatic efforts are intensifying, Israel has increased its bombing of Hezbollah strongholds, especially on the southern outskirts of Beirut. In this context, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, expressed concern about the escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, where according to his office almost 100 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in recent days, including women, children and doctors. We recall that on October 8, 2023, the Lebanese group Hezbollah opened a front against Israel in support of Hamas, its Palestinian ally.

MOLDOVA  Justice, economy and security are the main priorities for the Republic of Moldova in the coming years, President Maia Sandu said on Tuesday, at the European Integration Forum in Chisinau. She emphasized that accession to the EU is the only chance to save democracy, to develop in peace and stability. Despite the anti-EU propaganda and the Kremlins attempts to turn us away, Moldovan citizens have shown that European values are also their values, said Maia Sandu, recalling the constitutional referendum following which the Constitution was amended and the European path was included as a strategic objective. We recall that the neighboring state officially submitted its application for EU accession in March 2022, just a few days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In June the same year, the European Council granted Moldova the candidate country status.
November 26, 2024

A roundup of local and world news

Newsflash

Newsroom, 26.11.2024, 13:55

ELECTIONS The leaders of the Social Democratic Party (in the ruling coalition in Romania) have decided that Victor Negrescu should be in charge with the partys political communication until the December 1 general elections, PM Marcel Ciolacu announced. The latter stepped down as party leader after failing to move into the second round of the presidential ballot. The leaders of the other party in the ruling coalition, the National Liberal Party, also resigned, beginning with its president Nicolae Ciuca, who only came out fifth in the first round. Party heavyweight Ilie Bolojan will serve as interim president for the Liberals. He announced his party would support the pro-European, right-of-centre Elena Lasconi in the second round due on December 8, against the pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu, the surprise winner of the first round.

NATIONAL DAY Nearly 2,500 troops and specialists from the defence ministry, the interior ministry, the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Special Telecommunications Service, the National Penitentiary Administration and the Romanian Customs Authority, with about 190 vehicles and 45 aircraft, will take part in the military parade organised on Sunday, December 1, in Bucharest, on the occasion of Romanias National Day. Along with Romanian soldiers, around 240 foreign troops will also march in the parade, deployed to Romania from Albania, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Poland, Portugal, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Spain, the USA, Turkey and other countries. The foreign units include about 21 vehicles, including combat aircraft.

EUROPEAN UNION A European Parliament plenary session has begun in Strasbourg, where the final vote on the new European Commission will be held tomorrow. The EUs support for Ukraine, amid North Koreas growing involvement on Russias side, and another hot topic, the Gaza Strip situation, are being discussed. Talks are also taking place ahead of the adoption of the Unions 2025 budget. According to the Romanian MEP Victor Negrescu, one of the negotiators, Parliament managed to secure a EUR 10 billion higher budget for next year compared to 2024, namely almost EUR 199.5 billion in commitments and EUR 155 billion in total payments, including amounts for special instruments outside the multiannual financial framework. The issue of Romania and Bulgarias full Schengen accession will also be discussed in the evening, following a recent agreement in Budapest, according to which Austria will withdraw its veto in the Council to allow this last step. Discussions could also include references to the fact that the Dutch Parliament might block this full accession in early December, as the Financial Times wrote a few days ago.

MIDDLE EAST Israel and the Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah are about to conclude a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. According to Lebanese sources, the US and French presidents are expected to announce the ceasefire soon, after intense diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict that began last October, concurrently with Israels war against the Palestinian Hamas group in Gaza. The deal between Israel and Lebanon is not backed, however, by all the political forces in the state or by the presidents of local councils in the towns on the border between the two states, Radio Romanias correspondent reports. According to him, PM Netanyahu has talks today with all the heads of the political factions in the ruling coalition in an attempt to convince them to support the agreement, and in the afternoon he will convene a meeting of the political and security cabinet to the same effect. What seems to have convinced the Israeli PM to accept the deal, the correspondent also says, was the United States guarantee that it would support Israels right to attack Lebanon if the terms of the agreement were violated. (AMP)
Changes on the Romanian political scene

The main parties in Romania, PSD and PNL, have interim leaderships after their leaders grabbed subpar results in the first round of the presidential election

A polling Station in Romania

Stefan Stoica, 26.11.2024, 14:00

On June 9, the Social-Democratic Party (PSD) and the National Liberal Party (PNL), the biggest political parties and coalition partners, won the European parliamentary election by a landslide, after fielding candidates on a single list. Then, in the local election, both parties fared honorably, with the Social-Democrats securing most of the town halls and county councils. Nothing foretold the electoral disaster sustained by the PSD and PNL candidates in the first round of the presidential election. The Liberal and Social-Democrat presidential candidates have tied their names to two historic failures: the leader of PNL, Nicolae Ciuca, ranked fifth with less than 9%, thus becoming the first Liberal candidate not to obtain a two-digit score, while the leader of PSD, Marcel Ciolacu, seen as favorite to win the first round, came only third, with 19%, becoming the first left-wing candidate not to advance to the presidential runoff. Both owned up to their failure and resigned from the leadership of their parties.

On December 1, in-between the two rounds of the presidential election, the parliamentary election is scheduled, and the main parties must quickly recover from the electoral shock. PSD seeks to regain the trust of Romanians in the parliamentary election and will come up with a new approach for communicating with citizens, said the vice-president of the party and the European Parliament, Victor Negrescu, appointed to deal with political communication until the parliamentary election. A strong representation of Social-Democratic values is needed in the future Parliament, Victor Negrescu said, arguing that PSD will intensify its efforts to better explain their governing program to the Romanian people. We have good results in terms of governance and, in this respect, we will also come up with a new approach in the way we communicate with citizens, more directly, more openly, we will them what we are able and want to do in a very direct and honest approach, Negrescu added.

The entire leadership of the Liberal Party resigned, and Ilie Bolojan was appointed interim president. Bolojan is known for his good administrative and economic results in Bihor County (northwest) and in the municipality of Oradea. Ilie Bolojan announced that PNL will support Romanias pro-European direction and center-right policies, which is why in the second round the party will unequivocally support Elena Lasconi, the leader of the Save Romania Union. We recall that, in the presidential runoff slated for December 8, Elena Lasconi will face the surprising winner of the first round, Calin Georgescu, a figure unanimously considered toxic and dangerous due to his extremist and pro-Russian views. Over the coming period, Bolojan pointed out, the Liberals will present the public policies that PNL will support in Parliament: state efficiency and waste reduction, public policies that allow the development of local communities through decentralization and support programs addressing local officials, policies that support the rule of law, an independent justice system and policies related to equity, meritocracy and rules that generate fair behaviors at society level. (VP)
Referendum for Bucharest

The citizens of Bucharest voted on Sunday both in the presidential election and in a referendum called by the general mayor, Nicusor Dan.

Photo: Iulia Opran/RRI

Leyla Cheamil, 26.11.2024, 13:50

On November 24, on the day of the first round of the presidential election in Romania, the citizens of Bucharest were called to the polls also in a referendum initiated by the general mayor Nicusor Dan. Those registered on the electoral lists had to answer two questions proposed by the mayor and a third one proposed by the Social Democratic Party  PSD (in the governing coalition). The first question was whether the citizens agree with the general mayor of Bucharest issuing the construction permits for the entire city of Bucharest, the second asked the citizens if the distribution of income taxes and local taxes and fees collected from the citizens of Bucharest should be approved by the General Council of the City of Bucharest? And the last question was whether the people of Bucharest want the municipality to deal with the prevention of drug use in schools. According to the data provided by the Permanent Electoral Authority, 731,990 citizens voted in the referendum, i.e. 40.96% of the number of those registered on the electoral lists. The referendum therefore passed the validation threshold of 30% and obtained a majority vote in favor of the three proposals.

According to the CURS survey, 97% of the voters said YES for the centralization of building permits in Bucharest, 64% agreed with the second question and 82% voted for the program to prevent the consumption of drugs in schools. The vote must be confirmed by Parliament. I want to thank the citizens of Bucharest who came in such large numbers to the referendum, I thank them for understanding the huge stakes for the city of this democratic exercise, the general mayor Nicusor Dan stated, in a press conference. He said that, through their will, the city is returning to normality and reason, which was corrupted by the political games made 20 years ago, which led to chaos in town planning.

At the same time, the general mayor warned the citizens of Bucharest that the big works that the city needs require time for administrative procedures. The general mayor, Nicusor Dan, also stated, after finding the results, that the political parties cannot ignore the will of 500,000 Bucharest residents and asked for their will to be transposed into legislation: In the debate that we will have in a few weeks on the national budget law, the result of the referendum should be included. In the debate that we will have in the first half of 2025 on the Urban Planning Code, the result of the referendum should also be included, and the Fiscal Code should be amended according to the result of the referendum in the first half of 2025.

He also added that, after the local referendum, the money will be better distributed, and in terms of urban planning, authorizations will be issued legally. (LS)
Japan will on Tuesday release October numbers for producer prices, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Producer prices are expected to rise 2.5 percent on year, easing from 2.6 percent in September.

Singapore will provide October figures for industrial production; in September, industrial output was flat on month and up 9.8 percent on year.

Hong Kong will see October data for imports, exports and trade balance. In September, imports were up 1.4 percent on month and exports added 4.7 percent for a trade deficit of HKD53.2 billion.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Canadian stocks are turning in a mixed performance in cautious trade on Monday. Energy and materials stocks are weak due to lower commodity prices, while , real estate, consumer discretionary and industrials shares are up with strong gains.

The benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index was up 26.93 points or 0.11% at 25,471.21 a little while ago.

The Materials Capped Index is down more than 2.5%. Iamgold Corp (IMG.TO), Lundin Gold (LUG.TO), New Gold (NDG.TO), Torex Gold Resources (TXG.TO), Seabridge Gold Inc (SEA.TO), Orla Mining (OLA.TO), Silvercrest Metals (SIL.TO), Eldorado Gold (ELD.TO), Pan American Silver Corp (PAAS.TO), Centerra Gold (CG.TO), Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM.TO) and Kinross Gold (K.TO) are down 4 to 7%.

The Energy Capped Index is down 2.2%. Baytex Energy (BTE.TO), Tamarack Valley Energy (TVE.TO), Parex Resources (PXT.TO), Athabasca Oil Corp (ATH.TO), Precision Drilling Corp (PD.TO), Headwater Exploration (HWX.TO), MEG Energy (MEG.TO), Suncor Energy (SU.TO) and Whitecap Resources (WCP.TO) are declining 2.5 to 4.3%.

Technology stocks BlackBerry (BB.TO) is rising nearly 9%. Shopify Inc (SHOP.TO) is gaining 4.2%. Quarterhill (QTRH.TO), Open Text Corp (OTEX.TO), Docebo Inc (DCBO.TO), Coveo Solutions (CVO.TO), Constellation Software (CSU.TO), Descartes Systems Group (DSG.TO) and Sangoma Technologies (STC.TO) are gaining 1 to 3%.

Real estate stock Colliers International (CIGI.TO) is up nearly 5%. CDN Apartment (CAR.UN.TO), Boardwalk Real Estate Investment (BEI.UN.TO), Riocan Real Estate (REI.UN.TO), Interrent Real Estate Investment (IIP.UN.TO), Allied Properties Real Estate (AP.UN.TO) and FirstService Corp (FSV.TO) are climbing 2.5 to 3%.

Among consumer discretionary stocks, BRP Inc (DOO.TO) is up 5.4%. Aritzia Inc (ATZ.TO), Mty Food Group (MTY.TO), Magna International (MG.TO) and Linamar Corp (LNR.TO) are up 3.2 to 4%. Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC.TO) and Restaurant Brands International (QSR.TO) are up 2% and 1.1%, respectively.

Industrials shares Richelieu Hardware (RCH.TO), Brookfield Business Partners (BBU.UN.TO), Badger Infrastructure Solutions (BDGI.TO), Ats Corp (ATS.TO), Mda (MDA.TO), Air Canada (AC.TO) and Nfi Group (NFI.TO) are gaining 2 to 5%.

On the economic front, data from Statistics Canada said manufacturing sales in Canada likely rose by 1.3% month-over-month in October, rebounding from a 0.5% decline in September against expectations of a 0.8% drop, according to preliminary estimates.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
It's likely to be a positive start for Canadian stocks on Tuesday as higher crude oil and gold prices are likely to trigger some buying in energy and metal sectors. However, fears of a renewed trade war following U.S. President-elect Donald Trump pledging to impose tariffs on all imports from Mexico, Canada and China, may hurt sentiment and limit market's upside.

Donald Trump has vowed that he will impose massive hikes in tariffs on goods imported from China, Mexico and Canada immediately after taking office.

This is in response to illegal immigration and "crime and drugs" coming across the border from these countries to the United States, according to him.

"On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders," Trump said in a statement posted on Truth Social Monday. "This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!"

Trump added that import duty on Chinese goods will go up by 10% until Beijing takes action to stem the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S.

In Canadian earnings news, Calian Group Ltd. (CGY.TO) reported adjusted net profit of $11.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared to adjusted net profit of $12.7 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (ATD.TO) reported net earnings of $708.8 million, or $0.75 per diluted share for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 compared with $819.2 million, or $0.85 per diluted share for the second quarter of fiscal 2024.

On the economic front, preliminary data on Canadian wholesale sales for the month of October is due at 8:30 AM ET.

Despite posting a new all-time high around mid-morning, the Canadian market ended on a negative note on Monday, due to sharp losses in energy and materials sectors.

A positive reaction to news U.S. President-elect Donald Trump intends to nominate billionaire hedge fund manager Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary buoyed up U.S. stocks, and this aided sentiment a bit on Bay Street.

The benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index, which climbed to 25,542.57, ended down 21.30 points or 0.08% at 25,422.98.

Asian stocks closed broadly lower on Tuesday after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said he plans to impose 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada and an additional 10% on China on his first day in office, ramping up fears of a renewed trade war.

European stocks are weak, amid fears of a renewed trade war after Trump pledged to impose tariffs on all imports from Mexico, Canada and China. French political tensions also weighed on after far-right leader Marine Le Pen said on Monday that she could bring down France's minority government by the end of the year unless changes are made to the country's budget bill.

In commodities, West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures are up $0.69 or 1% at $69.63 a barrel.

Gold futures are gaining $13.00 or 0.5% at $2,631.50 an ounce, while Silver futures are up $0.361 or 1.19% at $30.600 an ounce.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
The U.S. government has offered Intel Corp. up to $7.865 billion in direct funding for its commercial semiconductor manufacturing projects, which is expected to create thousands of jobs. The latest award, together with a 25% investment tax credit which the firm plans to claim, would support the chip maker's plans to invest more than $100 billion in the U.S.

Intel and the Biden-Harris Administration announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce has agreed on terms of the grant under the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act. The Department will disburse the funds based on Intel's completion of project milestones.

Meanwhile, the newly offered funding is lower than the originally proposed $8.5 billion funding, due to a congressional requirement to use CHIPS funding to pay for the $3 billion Secure Enclave program.

The $3 billion contract was awarded to Intel for the Secure Enclave program for expanding manufacturing of leading-edge semiconductors for the U.S. government.

With the offered funding, Intel expects to advance commercial semiconductor manufacturing and advanced packaging projects in Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio and Oregon.

According to Intel, the planned U.S. investments, including projects beyond those supported by CHIPS, would support more than 10,000 company jobs, nearly 20,000 construction jobs, and more than 50,000 indirect jobs with suppliers and supporting industries.

Intel noted that the CHIPS Act award will directly support its investments at sites where the company develops and produces many of the world's most advanced chips and semiconductor packaging technologies. These include Arizona, the Silicon Desert; New Mexico, the Silicon Mesa; Ohio, the Silicon Heartland; and Oregon, the Silicon Forest.

Since the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act more than two years ago, Intel has announced plans to invest more than $100 billion in the U.S. to expand chipmaking and advanced packaging capacity.

The Government has been offering funding to chipmakers, with a view to strengthening the resilience of the U.S. semiconductor supply chain, advancing U.S. leadership, and fueling U.S. global competitiveness.

So far, CHIPS for America has awarded over $19 billion of the over $36 billion in proposed incentives funding. These funding across 20 states are expected to create over 125,000 jobs.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said, "The CHIPS for America program will supercharge American technology and innovation and make our country more secure - and Intel is expected to play an important role in the revitalization of the U.S. semiconductor industry. Thanks to the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, our CHIPS award is catalyzing Intel to make one of the largest investments in semiconductor manufacturing in U.S. history."

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden will continue efforts to increase military assistance to Kyiv, State Department Chief Antony Blinken said on Tuesday.

He said at a press conference in Italy that they would continue their efforts to increase military assistance to Ukraine in order to strengthen its defense capability. According to him, such actions will help Ukraine respond to the escalation conducted by Russia.

In addition, Blinken expressed concern about cooperation between Russia and the DPRK in the military sphere, noting that such a position is shared by the United States, in particular, Japan and South Korea. In addition, he once again called on China to use its influence to achieve a change in Russia's position on Ukraine.
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly has called for increased support for Ukraine, in particular, through long-range missiles, air defense systems and fighter jets, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration has reported.

"The NATO Parliamentary Assembly, at its 70th annual session in Montreal, Canada, on November 25, 2024, approved the resolution Future-proofing the Alliance and supporting Ukraine until victory, with a powerful call for further support of Ukraine and a strategic approach to countering the threat to the West," the Office said.

In particular, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly called on the allied countries to support and increase military, financial and humanitarian support to Ukraine, ensuring the timely supply of ammunition and modern weapons systems, in particular air defense systems, high-precision long-range weapons and multi-purpose fighters.

"The parliamentarians also stressed the need to fulfill the promise of long-term security assistance to Ukraine and using the full potential of NATO within the framework of the NATO Assistance and Training Program for Ukraine in the Field of Security (NSATU), the UkraineNATO Council, the Comprehensive Assistance Package, the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Centre (JATEC), the NATO Mission to Ukraine and other support tools," the message says.

It is emphasized that the resolution calls for continuing to provide this support to Ukraine as long as it resists Russian aggression or the threat of such aggression in the future.

According to the report, the Parliamentary Assembly also called for intensifying the political and practical efforts of the Alliance to help Ukraine receive an invitation as soon as possible and become the 33rd member of NATO.

In addition, in the resolution, parliamentarians, in particular, call for demonstrating an unwavering commitment to NATO's collective defense by ensuring full implementation of the decisions taken at the Washington summit and previous summits, in particular, on investing in air defense.

Among other things, the resolution calls for supporting Ukraine's efforts, expressed in the Ukrainian Peace Formula and the Victory Plan, aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, and remaining faithful to the principle of "nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine."

The resolution also calls for strengthening the sanctions regime against Russia and the DPRK in order to increase the price for their cooperation in aggression against Ukraine, as well as to provide Ukraine with all means, including medium-range missiles, for self-defense and deterrence of further aggression.
Several of the icy moons in the Jupiter and Saturn systems appear to possess internal liquid water oceans. Our knowledge of the Uranian moons is more limited but a future tour of the Uranus system has the potential to detect subsurface oceans. Planning for this requires an understanding of how the moons internal structures  with and without oceans  relate to observable quantities. New research from the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics and the University of California Santa Cruz shows that certain aspects of their rotational states could be diagnostic of the presence or absence of internal liquid water oceans within several of the Uranian moons  such as Miranda, Ariel, and Umbriel  and that combining this with measurements of the gravity field could provide comprehensive constraints on the internal structures and histories of the Uranian moons.

When NASAs Voyager 2 flew by Uranus in 1986, it captured grainy photographs of large ice-covered moons.

Now, NASA plans to send another spacecraft to Uranus, this time equipped to see if those icy moons are hiding liquid water oceans.

The mission is still in an early planning stage, but planetary researchers are preparing for it by building a new computer model that could be used to detect oceans beneath the ice using just the spacecrafts cameras.

Their computer model works by analyzing small oscillations  or wobbles  in the way a moon spins as it orbits its parent planet.

From there it can calculate how much water, ice and rock there is inside. Less wobble means a moon is mostly solid, while a large wobble means the icy surface is floating on a liquid water ocean.

When combined with gravity data, the model computes the oceans depth as well as the thickness of the overlying ice.

If Uranus moons are found to have interior oceans, that could mean there are vast numbers of potentially life-harboring worlds throughout our Galaxy, said Dr. Doug Hemingway, a planetary scientist at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics.

Discovering liquid water oceans inside the moons of Uranus would transform our thinking about the range of possibilities for where life could exist.

All large moons in the Solar System, including the Uranian moons, are tidally locked.

This means that gravity has matched their spin so that the same side always faces their parent planet while they orbit.

This doesnt mean their spin is completely fixed, however, and all tidally locked moons oscillate back and forth as they orbit.

Determining the extent of the wobbles will be key to knowing if Uranus moons contain oceans, and if so, how large they might be.

Moons with a liquid water ocean sloshing about on the inside will wobble more than those that are solid all the way through. However, even the largest oceans will generate only a slight wobble: A moons rotation might deviate only a few hundred feet as it travels through its orbit.

Thats still enough for passing spacecraft to detect. In fact, the technique was previously used to confirm that Saturns moon Enceladus has an interior global ocean.

To find out if the same technique would work at Uranus, Dr. Hemingway and his colleague, Dr. Francis Nimmo from the University of California, Santa Cruz, made theoretical calculations for five of its moons and came up with a range of plausible scenarios.

Detecting smaller oceans will mean a spacecraft will have to get closer or pack extra powerful cameras.

The next step is to extend the model to include measurements by other instruments to see how they improve the picture of the moons interiors, Dr. Hemingway said.

The teams work was published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

_____

D.J. Hemingway & F. Nimmo. 2024. Looking for Subsurface Oceans within the Moons of Uranus Using Librations and Gravity. Geophysical Research Letters 51 (18): e2024GL110409; doi: 10.1029/2024GL110409

This article is a version of a press-release provided by the University of Texas.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. The State Tax Service under the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan hosted an event titled "Cooperation with Business Associations and Entrepreneurs and Its Results" in Azerbaijans Baku on November 26, Trend reports.

The event brought together representatives from government entities, the private sector, business groups, and independent experts.

Opening the event, Samira Musayeva, Deputy Head of the State Tax Service, stated that the main objective of the meeting was to present the results of implemented and planned changes in tax legislation and administration, as well as the outcomes of collaboration with relevant government institutions and business associations. The event also aimed to discuss new directions for further cooperation.

Participants discussed the impact of tax reforms on business activities in Azerbaijan, the improvement of related legislation, and the active involvement of businesses in the process. It was noted that tax reforms play a crucial role in supporting the countrys new economic development priorities and initiatives for a transition to sustainable practices.

Vusal Shikhaliyev, Head of the Economic Policy and Industrial Affairs Department at the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan, emphasized that improvements resulting from cooperation between the public and private sectors are more effective and contribute to more sustainable and comprehensive development.

Nijat Imanov, Head of the Main Department of Tax Policy at the State Tax Service, presented on "Cooperation with Business Associations and Entrepreneurs and its Results," while his deputy, Avaz Guliyev, discussed "Planned Changes to the Tax Code for 2025."

Shaban Abdullayev, Head of the Tax Policy and Revenue Department at the Ministry of Finance, provided information on the "Centralized Electronic Registry System" in the context of tax and customs benefits.

The event also saw discussions on proposed changes to tax legislation and responses to questions raised by the attendees.

Nijat Imanov noted that tax benefits for agricultural producers have been extended. He explained that non-sales income from these activities, as well as subsidies, are exempt from taxes until 2027.

"Dividend income from agricultural enterprises will be tax-exempt for four years starting in 2023. Additionally, tax benefits have been introduced for agro-processing activities. The sale of meat from animals and poultry is now exempt from VAT," he added.

Avaz Guliyev also highlighted that under the "Public-Private Partnership" project, private partners are eligible for tax exemptions on profits, income, property, and land taxes, as well as import duties.

"This project is primarily aimed at attracting large-scale investments," Guliyev noted, adding that it mostly targets projects worth over 30 million manat ($17.6 million) in strategic sectors. The benefits of this project apply for a period of up to 30 years.

He also mentioned that similar incentives will support the green economy, particularly in renewable energy projects, including those related to electricity generation.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. A scientific-practical conference has been held in Baku to mark the 30th anniversary of Azerbaijan's accession to the NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) program's framework document, Trend reports.

The event encompassed a discussion on the historical context, present status, and future potential of Azerbaijan's collaboration with the alliance, the accomplishments of the PfP program, the nation's involvement in NATO-led peacekeeping missions, its contribution to energy security in Europe, and additional subjects related to Azerbaijan's partnership with NATO.

The conference was attended by Acting Head of the Department of Military-Political Affairs at the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan Anar Mutallimov, Assistant Deputy Secretary General of NATO for Operations Burcu San, members of foreign academic circles in related fields, analysts, as well as representatives of local government agencies and relevant educational institutions.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree "On renaming the High-Tech Park of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan," Trend reports.

The decree changes the name of the High-Tech Park to the High-Tech Park of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The Cabinet of Ministers has been instructed to address any issues arising from this decree.
The path to normalization between Azerbaijan and Armenia has become a litmus test not only for regional stability but also for global geopolitical dynamics. Against this backdrop, the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), hosted in Baku, emerged as a strategic moment for diplomacy. However, Yerevans boycott of this pivotal international event starkly underscored the Armenian leadership's unwillingness to embrace a sincere path toward peace.

Yerevans Self-Sabotaging Demands

The Armenian government, under Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, opted to shun COP29, pairing its absence with an array of inflammatory and legally dubious demands. Chief among them was the insistence on the "immediate and unconditional" release of individuals detained on charges of terrorism, mass killings, and crimes against humanity. These demands not only trampled on Azerbaijans sovereignty but also flouted international norms. Unsurprisingly, Baku categorically rejected them.

Armenias exploitative use of international platforms for domestic political posturing raises serious questions about its commitment to rebuilding trust. Instead of constructive engagement, Yerevans leadership seems intent on perpetuating division and mistrust.

Hijacking the Climate Agenda

What was intended as a platform for global environmental dialogue, COP29 also became a stage for underscoring regional political realities. Azerbaijan seized the moment to reaffirm its constructive vision for regional cooperation. Despite the fraught geopolitical landscape, Baku presented pragmatic proposals and garnered widespread appreciation from international participants.

Conversely, Armenias absence signaled its detachment not just from regional initiatives but from its global responsibilities. By boycotting COP29, Yerevan appeared more focused on bolstering its fragile domestic standing than addressing shared challenges. This decision further tarnished its international reputation and cast doubt on its commitment to regional stability.

Azerbaijans Leadership: A Model for Constructive Diplomacy

In stark contrast to Yerevans isolationist tactics, Azerbaijan demonstrated an unwavering dedication to fostering dialogue and collaboration. Bakus proactive engagement at COP29 highlighted its dual commitment to environmental stewardship and peace-building. The event reaffirmed Azerbaijans role as a linchpin for stability in the South Caucasus and showcased its readiness to lead by example.

The Role of the International Community

Yerevans destructive policies demand a clear-eyed response from the international community, particularly from nations and organizations that have traditionally supported Armenia. Ignoring such behavior risks emboldening further obstructionist tactics and jeopardizing the broader peace process.

The normalization of relationsand by extension, regional stabilityrequires Armenia to adopt a more measured and cooperative stance. Political manipulations must give way to dialogue rooted in mutual respect and adherence to international legal norms. Failure to shift gears could see Yerevan squander not only international goodwill but also the chance to ensure its own long-term development.

Missed Opportunities: A Heavy Toll

Armenias boycott of COP29 was not merely a symbolic gesture; it was a strategic blunder with potentially far-reaching consequences. While Baku continues to champion peace through diplomacy and adherence to international law, Yerevans actions reflect a leadership more concerned with maintaining political narratives than addressing tangible issues.

The future of the South Caucasus hinges on the willingness of both parties to bridge divides. Yet, the burden of responsibility falls disproportionately on Armenias leadership, whose political brinkmanship risks derailing the fragile normalization process.

Time for Action, Not Excuses

Armenias refusal to engage constructively at COP29 further exposed its leaderships lack of vision for regional cooperation. By clinging to unworkable demands and avoiding meaningful engagement, Yerevan is isolating itself at a time when international support for balanced diplomacy is crucial.

For peace to become a reality, Yerevan must abandon its counterproductive tactics and align its actions with international standards. The upcoming negotiations represent a critical junctureone that demands bold and rational decision-making. The stakes are high, and the costs of inaction will extend far beyond the borders of the South Caucasus.

Armenia stands at a crossroads: it can either seize this moment to contribute to lasting peace or face the enduring consequences of its political inertia. Time is running out, and the world is watching.

Constitutional Contradictions: Armenias Legal Quagmire Blocking Peace

One of the most significant barriers to peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia lies in Yerevan's entrenched constitutional contradictions. The Armenian Constitution, anchored by the 1990 Declaration of Independence and the 1992 resolution of the Armenian Supreme Council, harbors provisions that openly challenge Azerbaijans territorial integrity and internationally recognized borders. These documents enshrine expansionist claims over Azerbaijans territories, including Nakhchivan and Karabakh, undermining the very foundation of normalization efforts.

The Constitutional Deadlock

While Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has made statements about the potential removal of these contentious provisions, no concrete action has followed. For Azerbaijan, this lack of progress is a clear signal of Yerevans reluctance to engage genuinely in the peace process. Baku rightly perceives the continued presence of these provisions as a strategic tool for political manipulation, enabling Armenia to maintain leverage while avoiding substantive commitments.

A Violation of International Law

Armenias constitutional provisions blatantly defy international law and the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter. The Declaration of Independence refers to Karabakh and surrounding territories as historic Armenian lands, while the 1992 resolution explicitly incorporates these regions into Armenia. Such provisions directly contradict Azerbaijans sovereignty, which has been reaffirmed by numerous UN Security Council resolutions.

For Azerbaijan, repealing these provisions is not merely symbolicit is a non-negotiable prerequisite for signing a peace agreement. Removing these contradictions would establish a legal framework conducive to rebuilding trust and fostering long-term cooperation.

Internal Resistance and External Influence

The socio-political dynamics within Armenia complicate the prospects for constitutional reform. Nationalist factions and opposition forces vehemently oppose any perceived concessions to Azerbaijan, framing them as betrayals of Armenian interests. This domestic resistance significantly limits Pashinyans ability to implement necessary changes.

Compounding this issue is the influence of Armenias powerful diaspora and its allies, particularly France. Pariss unconditional support for Yerevan emboldens Armenia to maintain its hardline stance, undermining efforts to address the constitutional contradictions that impede peace.

International Communitys Tepid Response

Despite periodic calls for Armenia to take tangible steps, the international community has largely failed to apply meaningful pressure on Yerevan. This permissive attitude enables Armenia to avoid accountability while prolonging the conflict. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan has consistently utilized international platforms to highlight these contradictions, emphasizing their critical role in obstructing normalization.

Legal Manipulations: A Growing Threat

Armenias approach to international legal disputes further exacerbates the situation. Yerevan has declared its intention to withdraw existing lawsuits against Azerbaijan only after the signing of a peace agreement, while reserving the right to file new claims. This tactic creates a dangerous precedent, using international legal mechanisms as tools for coercion rather than justice.

In response, Azerbaijan has advocated for clear, binding mechanisms to prevent the misuse of international law. Without such safeguards, the peace process risks being derailed by Armenias propensity for legal maneuvering.

EUMA: Monitoring or Meddling?

The role of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Armenia (EUMA) has added another layer of complexity to the negotiation process. While officially tasked with ensuring security and supporting peace, EUMAs activities often align disproportionately with Armenian interests. Azerbaijan has repeatedly criticized the mission for exacerbating tensions rather than fostering dialogue, accusing it of operating under the guise of neutrality to further Armenias agenda.

The Need for Political Will

Armenias continued refusal to amend its Constitution and fulfill its commitments poses a serious obstacle to the signing of a peace agreement. Azerbaijan remains steadfast in its demand for concrete actions, emphasizing the necessity of aligning Armenias legal framework with international norms.

For Yerevan, the stakes are high. Persisting with evasion and manipulation risks isolating Armenia on the global stage, exacerbating its economic and political challenges. Conversely, embracing constitutional reform and demonstrating a genuine commitment to peace could pave the way for a stable and prosperous South Caucasus.

A Crossroads for Armenia

The path to normalization is clear: respect for territorial integrity, adherence to international law, and meaningful constitutional reform. Armenias leadership must rise to the occasion, setting aside political gamesmanship in favor of constructive dialogue. Failure to act decisively will not only prolong instability but also erode Yerevans credibility as a partner in the international arena.

The time for action is now. Armenia must choose between the burden of isolation and the promise of peace. The consequences of its decision will shape the future of the South Caucasus for generations to come.

Espionage Under the Guise of Monitoring: EUMA's Threat to Regional Stability

The European Union Monitoring Mission in Armenia (EUMA), initially deployed under the pretense of fostering security and stability in the South Caucasus, has drawn significant criticism for its alleged role in exacerbating regional tensions. Emerging evidence suggests that the mission has been engaging in activities far beyond its stated mandate, raising legitimate concerns in Azerbaijan about its neutrality and intentions.

Espionage in Plain Sight

Reports point to EUMAs targeted surveillance of Azerbaijani military positions, strategic infrastructure, and key transit routes, including the strategically vital Zangezur Corridor. The use of advanced technologies, such as surveillance drones, coupled with the involvement of individuals with military intelligence backgrounds, strongly suggests an intelligence-gathering operation rather than a neutral observation mission.

These suspicions are further substantiated by reports in Armenian media of EUMA representatives meeting with Armenian military officials. Such meetings strongly imply information sharing, a direct violation of the impartiality expected from international missions. These activities do not merely undermine the principles of neutrality but actively deepen mistrust between the parties, making the mission a tool for Armenias political and strategic goals.

Political Bias and European Double Standards

The deployment of EUMA was spearheaded by France and other European nations known for their overt support of Armenia. French officials have made no secret of their sympathy for Yerevan, which raises fundamental questions about the missions objectivity. By placing itself squarely on one side of the conflict, the EU has eroded its credibility as a neutral mediator.

Rather than contributing to de-escalation, EUMAs actions appear to be fueling tensions, with Armenia leveraging the mission to bolster its bargaining power in negotiations. Azerbaijan has repeatedly highlighted this bias, warning that the presence of such missions undermines the trust necessary for meaningful dialogue.

Azerbaijans Warnings Ignored

Baku has consistently called out the counterproductive role of external actors in the peace process. Azerbaijans concerns about EUMAs neutrality and potential for misuse as a political tool have been largely ignored by both the EU and Armenia. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyans occasional remarks about revisiting the missions format lack substance, as no tangible steps have been taken to address the imbalance.

Instead, Armenia continues to utilize EUMA as a mechanism to gain leverage in negotiations, further entrenching the regional stalemate. This behavior mirrors the ineffectiveness of the OSCE Minsk Group, which Azerbaijan has rightfully criticized for decades of inaction and bias.

Echoes of the OSCE Minsk Group

The failures of the OSCE Minsk Group serve as a stark warning against reliance on international structures with questionable impartiality. For years, the group maintained the illusion of progress while enabling Armenias intransigence. Today, EUMA appears to be following the same trajectory, prioritizing political posturing over genuine conflict resolution.

Azerbaijan has made it clear that it will not tolerate a repeat of the Minsk Groups failures. The parallels between EUMA and its predecessor are hard to ignore, as both have effectively stalled rather than advanced the normalization process.

The December Negotiations: A Make-or-Break Moment

The upcoming December negotiations represent a critical juncture for the future of Azerbaijan-Armenia relations. While Azerbaijan remains committed to dialogue and compromise, it has firmly outlined its non-negotiable principles, including respect for its territorial integrity and the cessation of provocative actions by Yerevan.

For these talks to succeed, Armenia must demonstrate a genuine willingness to abandon its manipulative tactics. This includes revising its national legislation to align with international law, removing provisions that contravene Azerbaijans sovereignty, and committing to transparency in its dealings with international actors. Failure to take these steps will not only derail the normalization process but also risk isolating Armenia further on the international stage.

EUMA: A Mission of Escalation, Not Stabilization

What began as a mission to ensure stability has devolved into a source of conflict escalation. Azerbaijan is justified in viewing EUMAs activities as a direct threat to its national security. The missions overt partiality has undermined its legitimacy, making it more of a political tool than a peacekeeping mechanism.

If the international community is serious about fostering peace in the South Caucasus, it must address the inherent biases within EUMA and reconsider the missions role. Ensuring impartiality and holding Armenia accountable for its use of such missions as tools of manipulation are essential steps toward restoring trust.

A Historic Opportunity for Peace

The December negotiations present a rare opportunity to break the deadlock and lay the foundation for a lasting peace. However, their success hinges on Armenias willingness to move beyond symbolic declarations and take concrete actions. For diplomacy to prevail, both sides must adhere to principles of mutual respect and international law.

The art of compromise, not political gamesmanship, is what will determine the future of the South Caucasus. If Yerevan fails to rise to the occasion, it risks not only prolonging instability but also sealing its own marginalization in an increasingly interconnected world. The time for decisive action is now.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. A peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia will ensure peace and stability in the Caucasus region, said Yasar Guler, Turkish Minister of National Defense, Trend reports.

Speaking at a meeting of the Planning and Budget Commission in the country's parliament, Guler emphasized the importance of signing a comprehensive peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan, which he believes will contribute to long-term stability in the region.

The Turkish defense minister also discussed the country's successes in the fight against terrorism, noting that, as part of counter-terrorism operations, the Turkish Armed Forces have neutralized 2,654 militants from banned organizations since the beginning of the year.

Guler stressed the importance of regional cooperation in combating terrorism, stating that, in line with agreements with the Iraqi government, concrete steps are being taken to address this issue.
Antarctica might not top the list of most people's typical travel destinations  unless you are a scientist unraveling the mysteries of the universe.

South Dakota Mines is one of 58 institutions across 14 countries that form the IceCube Collaboration - an international team driving the research and mission at the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, the world's largest neutrino observatory located at the geographic South Pole. The collaboration seeks to answer a variety of questions from cosmic rays to dark matter.

IceCube Observatory collects data from its surface array IceTop and an in-ice array. In December, Larissa Paul, a research scientist in the universitys physics department, will add another layer of data when she installs four telescopes at the observatory.

"These telescopes will look into the sky, enabling us to simultaneously capture events in the atmosphere, on the surface and deep within the glacial ice," she explained. "This is the only place on Earth where this is possible. While other projects focus on one or two aspects, we are the only system capable of integrating all three."

Pauls trip to the South Pole is partially funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) grant Windows on the Universe Multi-Messenger Astrophysics: Cosmic-Ray Physics with IceCube. The IceCube observatory, built in 2011, is the first detector of its kind designed to observe the cosmos from deep within the glacial ice. IceTop has 81 stations each with two ice Cherenkov detectors. The in-ice array consists of a hexagonal grid of sensors embedded in a cubic kilometer of ice from 1,450 meters to 2,450 meters depth. The in-ice and surface array detect ultra-short light flashes from particle cascades initiated when high-energy cosmic rays hit the atmosphere. This unique setup enables scientific progress in understanding the origin of high-energy cosmic rays as well as particle physics at energies beyond the reach of the most powerful accelerator ever built.

For this year, we will upgrade the single telescope on the stand to four IceAct telescopes in a fly's eye configuration," Paul said. The combination of the telescopes works like the eye of a fly to better determine the direction of the particles.

The winterovers, those individuals who brave the dark Antarctica winters and are essentially stranded" at the Amundson-Scott South Pole Station, have installed the telescope stand designed and built by Matthias Plum, Ph.D., assistant professor of physics at Mines. They are responsible for operating the station and managing science projects when the station is closed from mid-February to early November. The brief months during austral summer draw a surge of researchers and serve as the peak period for scientific activities.

"There are two telescopes down there and two on the way, Paul said. "I am going to install all four telescopes on the stand and upgrade the electronics box, which was also built at Mines.

Paul's work is an extension of a $6.6 million NSF grant the university received in 2020. The four-year project titled RII Track-2 FEC: The IceCube EPSCoR Initiative (IEI)  IceCube and the Data Revolution brought together scientists from South Dakota Mines, the University of Alabama, the University of AlaskaAnchorage, the University of Delaware, the University of Kansas, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Southern University and A&M College. Xinhua Bai, Ph.D., Mines professor of physics and one of the founding members of the IceCube Collaboration, headed up the research that enhances big data processing and prepares for the planned IceCube Gen-2.

Paul leaves for the South Pole on Dec. 7. This is her second time traveling to Antarctica. Her first trip was when she was living in Germany working on her doctorate.
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaija

BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. The preparatory process for the Araz-2024 joint tactical exercise, held with the special forces of the Azerbaijan Army's Land Forces and the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (SEPAH) Ground Forces near the Aslanduz settlement in the Ardabil province of Iran, has been completed, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense.

In accordance with the scenario, the personnel got acquainted with the training range. Subsequently, the meeting presented reports of the commanders on the exercise.

In line with the next phase of the Araz-2024 joint tactical exercise, servicemen from both countries have commenced the training on the exercise area.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Chris Uhl works in the Grand Rapids office of IFF, located within the 49507 zipcode, right in the heart of the SE neighborhood they invest in. Photo courtesy of IFF.

LINC UP celebrate their recent community development at the groundbreaking ceremony for the MoTown Square Affordable Assisted Living, built in 2024.

Jenkins says IFF has recognized LINC UP as a comprehensive community organization and supported their efforts and events.

Photo rendering of MoTown Square Affordable Assisted Living, slated to open in 2025. Photo courtesy of LINC UP.

Amplify GR celebrates with a groundbreaking of the Boston Square Community Hub. Courtesy photo.

Boston Square residents and neighbors were involved in the steps of the development of the future community hub, providing input and feedback.
Food service giant Compass Group reported a robust full-year performance on Tuesday, with a 10.6% increase in revenue to $42.2bn.

The FTSE 100 company said underlying operating profit rose 16.4% for the 12 months ended 30 September, to $2.998 billion, supported by a 30 basis point improvement in operating margin to 7.1%.

Earnings per share climbed 14.6% to 119.5 cents, reflecting strong profitability.

Operating cash flow grew 18.6% to $2.64bn, while free cash flow rose 14.8% to $1.74bn, enabling the firm to maintain a flexible investment strategy.

The annual dividend per share was lifted 13.7% to 59.8 cents.

Compass put its growth down to organic revenue gains of 10.6%, bolstered by net new business growth of 4.2%, which accelerated in the second half of the year.

Investments of $2.6bn in capital expenditures and acquisitions, including the purchase of Hofmanns, CH&CO, Dupont Restauration, and 4Service, underlined its strategy to expand in core markets while exiting nine non-core geographies.

The group said it returned $1.5bn to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks, ending the year with a strong balance sheet and a net debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 1.3x.

Looking ahead, Compass said it expected high single-digit underlying operating profit growth in 2025, driven by organic revenue growth above 7.5% and further margin expansion.

Over the longer term, the company said it was confident in sustaining mid-to-high single-digit organic revenue growth and profit growth outpacing revenue.

On a statutory basis, operating profit rose 11.7% to $2.584bn, although basic earnings per share fell 10.7% to 82.3 cents due to non-underlying charges, higher finance costs, and tax impacts.

2024 has been a year of strong operational and financial performance, with net new business growth accelerating in the second half as expected, said group chief executive officer Dominic Blakemore.

The business continues to successfully capitalise on the dynamic market trends, using its proven competitive advantages to drive higher revenue and profit growth.

We have exited, or agreed to exit, nine non-core countries, further improving the quality of our portfolio and enabling us to better focus on our core markets with the greatest growth opportunities.

Blakemore said that to support that growth Compass was investing in capital spend to drive net new business, and was currently prioritising strategic acquisitions to further enhance its sectorised approach to clients.

We have a proven track record of successful M&A in North America and are using that blueprint to unlock growth in other regions.

The integration of recent high-quality acquisitions in Europe is progressing well, and we're excited by the capabilities they bring to the group.

In 2025, we expect high single-digit underlying operating profit growth, driven by organic revenue growth above 7.5% and ongoing margin progression.

Longer term, Dominic Blakemore said Compass was confident in sustaining mid-to-high single-digit organic revenue growth with ongoing margin progression, leading to profit growth ahead of revenue growth.

Our priority is to invest in the business through capex and M&A to support future growth, with surplus capital being returned to shareholders as we maintain our strong track record of delivering long-term, compounding shareholder returns.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Retailer Halfords said on Tuesday that changes to National Insurance contributions and minimum wage announced in last months Budget will increase its costs by around 23m, as it reported a dip in interim revenue and profit.

In the 26 weeks to 27 September, reported pre-tax profit was down 23.3% to 17.8m, while underlying pre-tax profit dipped 1.4% to 21m.

Revenue nudged down 1% to 864.8m, with revenue from Autocentres 2.3% lower at 348.7m, while Retail saw a 0.1% decline to 516.1m.

The retailer said that as a business employing more than 12,000 people, the measures announced in the Budget add around 23m of direct labour costs, of which around 9m was already included in FY26 planning assumptions and fully mitigated.

Halfords called on the government to make changes to the Apprenticeship Levy to help mitigate the impact of the new measures.

It also said that it "may" pass on extra costs to customers in its managed services.

Chief executive Graham Stapleton said: "The cost implications from the recent UK Budget are particularly acute for a specialist retailer that provides expert advice and assistance to customers, face to face. While we will work hard to mitigate these costs, we urge the government to consider alternative ways of supporting businesses like ours, including the acceleration of Apprenticeship Levy reform, which would help us to upskill existing colleagues and offset some of the new headwinds.

"Looking ahead, while the short-term outlook remains challenging, we will continue to build on our unique omnichannel platform and focus on what we can control to deliver on our strategy this year and beyond."

At 1000 GMT, the shares were up 13% at 146.14p.

Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell, said: "Halfords results show a business stuck in the slow lane. Make no mistake, the jump in its share price does not reflect a business in perfect health. This is simply a relief rally that full-year earnings guidance hasnt changed.

"Halfords has been the bearer of bad news for a while and the consensus forecast for its 2025 earnings have been cut by 51% since January 2024. Those are savage downgrades, illustrating a business in a pickle.

"It is at the mercy of consumer spending and shoppers have been watching every penny. Sales of nice to have items like bikes have been patchy while motorists have been opting for cheaper options on essentials to keep a car running.

"An additional 23 million in costs as a result of the Budget presents yet another headwind for Halfords and it will have to push up prices, find more cost savings in the business or cut jobs to mitigate this factor, or simply stomach lower profit margins.

"Motorists should brace themselves for servicing and repair prices to go up, but Halfords might find the consumer turns their back completely if prices go up too much on non-essentials. It means management must look in every nook and cranny for ways to save money.

"To its credit, gross margins have improved in the first half and there have been improvements to cash generation. The fact it has maintained the dividend, and not cut it, also shows that management arent panicking about the impact of the Budget on the business and its customers."
Britains financial sector watchdog is incompetent at best, dishonest at worst, according to a damning report by MPs and Lords which called for a big shake-up. An examination of the Financial Conduct Authority, which took almost three years and collected evidence from 175 fraud victims, whistleblowers and the regulators former staff, found there are very significant shortcomings to the FCA.  Guardian

Casinos and bookmakers in Great Britain will be forced to pay a 100m-a-year levy to fund research, education and treatment of gambling harms, under government plans to be announced as soon as this week. Labour is understood to be poised to rubber-stamp the previous governments proposal to do away with a voluntary system that allows industry operators to choose how much to donate to tackle damage caused by gambling and which organisations should receive the money.  Guardian

A giant oil discovery in the Falkland Islands is even bigger than originally thought, it has emerged. An independent report into the North Falkland Basin has upgraded estimates of recoverable oil resources from 791m barrels to 917m  twice the annual output of the entire North Sea. Rockhopper Exploration, the company planning to drill in the field, said it planned to extract 532m barrels, up from a previous estimate of 312m. Most of the remainder could be recovered under further plans.  Telegraph

Partners at BDO have been given a 12 per cent pay rise after a record year for Britains fifth-largest audit firm, despite the industry regulators scathing review of its work. For the first time, BDOs annual revenue surpassed 1 billion having turned over 1.02 billion in the 12 months to the end of June, almost 9 per cent more than the 935 million it posted in its previous financial year.  The Times

Lord Sugars commercial property business, which he runs with his two sons, swung back to a profit last year as the valuation of its portfolio began to stabilise in line with the wider market. The value of Amshold Limiteds buildings, which includes a Premier Inn hotel in Brentwood, Essex, and an Iceland supermarket in Leyton, east London, slipped a further 1.2 million between July 2023 and June this year to 85.7 million.  The Times
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. Military Attache of the US Embassy in Azerbaijan Colonel Kyle Cone and Embassy Political Affairs Specialist Sonia Wettstein took part in an academic conference organized by the Foreign Ministry on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Azerbaijan's joining the NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) program, the publication of US embassy on X said, Trend reports.

The US commends Azerbaijan's active role in PfP and its ongoing commitment to partnership with NATO. We support Azerbaijan's progress toward PfP goals through bilateral security cooperation, particularly through participation in the Joint Training Conference in Istanbul, the publication notes.
Food producer Cranswick backed its guidance for the full year on Tuesday as it reported a jump in interim profit and revenue amid "healthy" demand.

In the 26 weeks to 28 September, adjusted pre-tax profit rose 17.4% to 95.8m on revenue of 1.3bn, up 6.1% on the same period a year earlier. Adjusted group operating profit was up 16.5% to 99.6m.

Cranswick said revenue from its core UK food business grew 6.4%, underpinned by 7% volume growth. Poultry revenue rose 16.4%, with poultry now accounting for 19.5% of total group sales.

Utilities provider Telecom Plus said it was on track to meet full-year guidance and targeted a dividend increase of at least 13% after a sharp increase in customer numbers offset a decline in revenues due to lower energy prices.

The company, which trades as Utilities Warehouse and bundles energy, broadband, mobile phone and insurance services, posted a 9.2% rise in interim pre-tax profit to 39m, while on an adjusted basis they rose 505% to 46.1m. Revenue fell to 698m from 883.6m.

Customer numbers rose 66,829, or 13% on an annualised basis, to 1,078,318.

Chief executive Stuart Burnett said the company was confident in meeting fiscal 2025 guidance of 12%-14% customer growth and 124-128m of adjusted pre-tax profit.

He added that the firms capital allocation policy had been updated to prioritise dividend growth, with a target dividend payout ratio of 80-90% of adjusted net profit.

On the basis of our restated financial guidance, this would result in our full year dividend payout increasing by at least 13% to 94p, he said.

Telecom Plus forecast 3m of extra costs in full-year 2026 due to higher national insurance charges and a rise in the National Living Wage introduced in the new Labour governments recent Budget which we expect to be able to mitigate.

The tax rises introduced in the recent Budget are expected to increase the pressures on household budgets, an environment in which the savings and earnings provided by our business model are likely to be in growing demand, Burnett said.

We look forward to helping more and more people up and down the country as we take further strides towards doubling the business to 2 million customers and beyond."

Market Movers

FTSE 250 - Risers

Burberry Group (BRBY) 944.20p 4.80%

Bakkavor Group (BAKK) 134.50p 3.46%

Telecom Plus (TEP) 1,814.00p 2.72%

Helios Towers (HTWS) 98.80p 2.07%

Genus (GNS) 1,710.00p 1.79%

W.A.G Payment Solutions (WPS) 82.40p 1.73%

Close Brothers Group (CBG) 218.60p 1.48%

PayPoint (PAY) 826.00p 0.98%

Chemring Group (CHG) 363.50p 0.97%

Domino's Pizza Group (DOM) 342.60p 0.94%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

PureTech Health (PRTC) 163.80p -3.87%

Cranswick (CWK) 4,920.00p -3.75%

Just Group (JUST) 142.60p -3.39%

Wizz Air Holdings (WIZZ) 1,320.00p -3.08%

Ithaca Energy (ITH) 113.20p -2.92%

CMC Markets (CMCX) 266.50p -2.74%

Wood Group (John) (WG.) 56.30p -2.60%

Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings (AML) 109.60p -2.49%

Foresight Environmental Infrastructure Limited (FGEN) 72.20p -2.43%

XPS Pensions Group (XPS) 363.00p -2.42%
Dorothy Allison, "who wrote with lyrical, pungent wit about her working-class Southern upbringing--and about the incest and violence that shaped her--and whose acclaimed 1992 novel, Bastard Out of Carolina, based on her harrowing childhood, made her a literary star," died November 5, the New York Times reported. She was 75.

Before her bestselling novel, Allison had published Trash, a collection of short stories, and a self-published poetry chapbook, The Women Who Hate Me.

She "was flat broke in 1989 when she decided to try to sell Bastard Out of Carolina, the novel she had been writing for nearly a decade, to a mainstream publisher," the Times noted. The book was published in 1992 and quickly became a bestseller.

"I believe that storytelling can be a strategy to help you make sense out of your life," she told the Times in 1995. "It's what I've done. Bastard Out of Carolina used a lot of the stories that my grandmother told me and some real things that happened in my life. But I took it over and did what my grandmother did: I made it a different thing. I made a heroic story about a young girl who faces down a monster."

As the Times wrote, critics compared Allison with Flannery O'Connor, William Faulkner, and Harper Lee. Actress Anjelica Huston directed a 1996 TV movie based on Bastard Out of Carolina, which aired on Showtime.

Allison became a hero to incest survivors, young lesbians, and runaways, the Times noted, adding that she was mobbed at readings, but "there was blowback, too. The book was pilloried by some school boards as pornography, and banned at high schools in Maine and California."

In Two or Three Things I Know for Sure, her 1995 memoir adapted from a monologue she had been performing, Allison recalled a lesbian therapist friend who cautioned her about speaking frankly of her abuse. "People might imagine that sexual abuse makes lesbians," her friend told her. Allison replied: "Oh I doubt it. If it did, there would be so many more."

She was the first in her family to go to college--"armed with a National Merit Scholarship, a new dress and a new pair of glasses donated by a local civic group," the Times wrote.

"Thank God it was the '60s and everybody was pretending to be poor anyway," she said later. "But I had to start dating upper-class girls to learn about shoes." Allison also discovered feminism and joined a lesbian collective. She opened a feminist bookstore and ran a women's center.

In addition to teaching creative writing at Emory University, Davidson College, and other institutions, Allison wrote erotica, although she preferred the term "smut." Her most recent novel, Cavedweller (1998), was made into a movie starring Kyra Sedgwick and Aidan Quinn in 2004.

"Every time I sit down to write, I have a great fear that anything I write will reveal me as the monster I was always told I would be," Allison observed in an essay included in Skin: Talking About Sex, Class, and Literature (1994). "But that fear is personal, something I must face in everything I do, every act I contemplate. Writing is an act that claims courage and meaning, and turns back denial, breaks open fear."
A young woman in 14th-century Provence risks everything to cultivate her talents and serve her city in Eleanore of Avignon, the engrossing historical fiction debut of Elizabeth DeLozier.

Eleanore Blanchet learned to be an herbalist and a midwife from her mother, who, in turn, studied under her physician father. While gathering ingredients for her remedies, an accidental meeting with Guigo de Chauliac, physician to Pope Clement VI, brings Eleanore an opportunity: she will use her knowledge of herbalism to treat the pope's ailment, and de Chauliac will take her on as an apprentice. Then Queen Joanna of Naples, accused of murdering her husband, comes to Avignon for trial. The pregnant queen insists on having Eleanore for her midwife, but with plague ravaging the city, Eleanore and de Chauliac will need to muster everything they have to find a treatment.

DeLozier paints a vivid picture of life on the margins of a medieval city. Eleanore's mother, abandoned at the end of her life by those who thought her knowledge was evidence of witchcraft, stands as a sharp warning of what could happen to a woman who steps outside of her place--which is even more of a risk to an unmarried woman like Eleanore. The tension rises as the plague spreads throughout the city and religious fanatics gain power, threatening Eleanore and the Jewish colleagues of de Chauliac with whom they consult in search of a cure to protect those who could turn on them at any moment. The result is a gripping portrait of a woman's bravery in a city on the brink. --Kristen Allen-Vogel, information services librarian at Dayton Metro Library
AzInTelecom LLC, operating under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, took part in the international exhibition - conference "Africa Tech Festival 2024" in the Republic of South Africa (RSA).

AzInTelecom LLC presented a stand at the event, which took place in Cape Town, the capital of the RSA. Visitors were provided with detailed information about AzInTelecom's products and services. The majority of visitors were individuals working in the banking and financial technology sectors across the African continent. Throughout the event, attendees expressed great interest in SIMA's digital solutions platform and appreciated the capabilities of AzInTelecom's cloud services.

The annual Africa Tech Festival is traditionally attended by information and communication technology companies from many countries around the world, mostly from Africa. The event provides valuable opportunities for establishing trade relations and expanding international cooperation. This year's event featured exhibitions and seminars where experts shared their insights and companies showcased their latest technology products.
The government announced it is fostering a supportive environment for the semiconductor design community by giving thousands of students direct access to national chip design infrastructure, aiming to help them design semiconductor chips within five years. The ChipIN Centre, one of the largest facilities set up at C-DAC, provides a comprehensive range of semiconductor design workflows and solutions, to bring national chip design resources directly to the semiconductor design community.

It is a centralized facility that hosts the most advanced tools for the entire chip design cycle (going up to 5 nm or advanced node).

According to the IT Ministry, currently engaged with more than 20,000 students at over 250 academic institutions and entrepreneurs at 45 startup projects, ChipIN Centre aims to provide access to state-of-the-art EDA (electronic design automation) tools to 85,000 students at B.Tech, M.Tech and PhD level to design semiconductor chips within five years.

German multinational Siemens has expanded the reach of its EDA tools under the Chips to Start-up (C2S) Programme, increasing access from 120 to over 250 colleges. Additionally, Siemens is providing its latest powerful Veloce hardware-assisted verification solution to companies approved under the Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme.

We were receiving the huge demand from students, researchers, faculty members, and entrepreneurs across the country in respect of further enhancing and extending the EDA and design solutions from Siemens to more organizations, said Sunita Verma, Group Coordinator (R&D in Electronics and IT), IT Ministry.

The enhanced support from Siemens at the ChipIN Centre will play a crucial role in fulfilling the vision of turning India into a semiconductor powerhouse, she added.

Veloce from Siemens comprising the following main components  Veloce Strato hardware & OS, Veloce Apps and Veloce Protocol Solutions, has a compute facility of 128 CPU cores and a capacity of 640 million gates.

India today presents a significant opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs and researchers to be at the forefront of designing and redefining the semiconductor systems, devices, and products of the future, said Ruchir Dixit, Vice President and Country Manager, EDA, Siemens Digital Industries Software

Siemens is excited to enhance its involvement in the Chips to Start-up (C2S) Programme by extending access to its cutting-edge EDA technology solutions to 250 educational institutions across India, the company stated.
External Affairs Minister (EAM), S. Jaishankar, on Monday, met with the Foreign Minister of Ukraine and discussed the conflict with Russia at the sidelines of the MED Mediterranean Dialogues Conference in Rome, Italy.

Apart from Ukraine, EAM Jaishankar met with his counterparts from France, Lebanon, and Croatia as well.

On his meeting with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, the EAM reiterated India's support for 'dialogue and diplomacy' to end the long-running conflict.

"Good to meet FM of Ukraine @andrii_sybihain Rome today. Useful exchange on advancing our bilateral cooperation. Reiterated India's support for dialogue and diplomacy", he said on his social media handle.

The Ukrainian FM in a post on social media handle said: "I held meaningful talks with @DrSJaishankar on a number of bilateral and international issues. I appreciate India's support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. India's global role is critical to advancing a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine".

He further added: "I informed about the latest developments, Russia's strikes on our energy system, including nuclear objects, and its use of an IRBM. We discussed the implementation of our leaders' agreements and agreed to hold the next intergovernmental commission meeting in the coming months".

EAM Jaishankar also discussed Indo-Pacific, Ukraine, and global issues with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot.

"A useful stock-taking of our bilateral partnership. Also discussed Indo-Pacific, Ukraine, and global issues," EAM Jaishankar said in a post on social media.

He also interacted with Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib and his Croatian counterpart Gordan Grlic Radman.

"Glad to interact with Lebanese FM Abdallah Bou Habib at the @RomeMEDialogues. Look forward to remaining in touch," he said.

"Appreciate seeing FM @grlicradman of Croatia at the@RomeMEDialogues. His sentiments for our ties are always positive," he said in another social media post.

Earlier on Monday, EAM Jaishankar addressed the Rome Mediterranean Dialogue where he said that the new element of the relationship between India and the Mediterranean would be connectivity, and called the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor 'can be a game changer'.

In his opening remarks at the MED Mediterranean Dialogues Conference in Rome, the EAM highlighted the growing significance of connectivity in global relations, especially in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its impact on the region.

He noted that while the conflict has complicated the situation, progress on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) continues on the eastern side, particularly between India, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.

EAM Jaishankar pointed out the importance of the I2U2 grouping, which consists of India, Israel, the UAE, and the US, and is expected to become more active in the future.

He also expressed concerns over the escalating situation in West Asia and mentioned that India has been in regular touch with both Israel and Iran to 'advocate constraints' and 'enhance communication' in an attempt to resolve the conflict between both countries.

He reiterated India's strong condemnation of terrorism, and the abduction of hostages by Hamas, and affirmed support for reaching a ceasefire.

EAM Jaishankar, however, also emphasised the need to abide by international humanitarian law and called large-scale civilian casualties 'unacceptable'.

"Today I focus my remarks on the conflicts. The situation in the Middle East is obviously deeply concerning, both for what has happened and what may still come. India unequivocally condemns terrorism and hostage-taking. It also regards large-scale civilian casualties in military operations to be unacceptable. International humanitarian law cannot be disregarded in immediate terms. We should all support a ceasefire", he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the One Nation One Subscription scheme will strengthen efforts to make India a hub for research, learning and knowledge and will also encourage interdisciplinary studies.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, approved the scheme. It is a Central Sector Scheme aimed at providing country-wide access to scholarly research articles and journal publications.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, Cabinet has approved One Nation One Subscription, which will strengthen our efforts to become a hub for research, learning and knowledge. It will also encourage interdisciplinary studies.

The scheme will be a One Nation One Subscription facility for the government higher education institutions and R&D laboratories of the Central government.

Key highlights of the scheme:

The scheme will be administered through a simple, user-friendly and fully digital process.

A total of about Rs 6,000 crore has been allocated for the scheme for three years, 2025, 2026 and 2027 as a new Central Sector Scheme.

The scheme will build on and further enhance the scope and reach of the range of initiatives undertaken by the Government of India over the past decade in the domains of education, for maximising access to quality higher education for the youth of India. This will supplement the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) initiative to promote research and development and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout government universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories.

The benefits of the scheme will be provided to all Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) under the management of the Central or state government and Research and Development Institutions of the Central government, through a national subscription coordinated by a central agency, namely the Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET), an autonomous inter-university centre of the University Grants Commission (UGC). This list covers more than 6,300 institutions, translating into nearly 1.8 crore students, faculty and researchers, who will be able to potentially avail benefits of the scheme.

An official press release said the scheme is in line with the goals of Viksit Bharat 2047, National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and Anusandhan National Research Foundation. The initiative will expand access to scholarly journals to a vast diaspora of students, faculty, researchers and scientists of all disciplines, including those in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, thereby promoting core as well as interdisciplinary research in the country. The ANRF will periodically review the usage of One Nation One Subscription and publications of Indian authors of these institutions.

The Department of Higher Education (DHE) will have a unified portal One Nation One Subscription through which the institutions will be able to access the journals.

One Nation One Subscription and publications of Indian authors of these institutions. The ANRF will periodically review the usage ofand publications of Indian authors of these institutions.

The DHE and other Ministries having HEIs and R&D Institutions under their management shall be proactively conducting Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns among students, faculty and researchers of these institutions about the availability and method of access to One Nation One Subscription, resulting in improved usage of the facility across the country.

The state governments will also be requested to carry out campaigns at their level to maximise usage of the unique facility by students, faculty and researchers of all government institutions.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Artichokes, broccoli rabe, cabbages and more  its Produce Pete Napolitano who taught some of us for decades the abcs of the fruits and veggie department.

And now New Yorks very own cookbook author  and one of its first cooking superstars courtesy of NBC 4 New Yorks Saturday morning food segment  returns to Staten Island with his wife, Bette, for his new book In the Kitchen with Bette & Produce Pete.
An Osprey being used to ferry White House staff and government officials from a Staten Island event on Monday was grounded due to a safety concern, with one witness reporting flames under the right engine.

The staff and officials were removed from the aircraft, part of the Marine Corps HMX-1 presidential helicopter fleet, and transferred to a second Osprey to continue their trip accompanying President Joe Biden at a Friendsgiving event with members of the U.S. Coast Guard at Ford Wadsworth.

The Osprey had flown into Miller Field in New Dorp, landing at about 5:30 p.m. before the first couple were then whisked by motorcade to the event.

48 1 / 48 President Biden, First Lady visit Staten Island

Hundreds of Staten Islanders had gathered around Miller Field to catch a glimpse of the Bidens.

The helicopter issue caused only a minor delay for Bidens return to Washington on Monday evening.

The incident occurred the same day lawmakers sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asking him to re-ground the militarys entire fleet of V-22 Ospreys until solutions can be put in place to address safety and design issues identified by The Associated Press in its recent in-depth investigation of the aircrafts accident record.

The Marine Corps did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the New York incident. A journalist traveling with the president reported seeing a fire under the right engine shortly before staff were notified the Osprey would be grounded.

Its not the first time White House staff or reporters have had to be removed from an Osprey during a trip due to safety concerns. In November 2023 an Osprey ferrying White House reporters and staff returned to the ground shortly after takeoff after four loud pops were heard and smoke was seen.

In the letter sent Monday to Austin, Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, and Rep. Richard Neal, all Democrats from Massachusetts, said that given the current concerns about the safety of the V-22, the aircraft should be grounded, and should not be deployed again until the platforms significant deficiencies are fully addressed.

The Osprey, which flies like both a helicopter and an airplane, has been in more than 21 major accidents, many of which can be tied back to choices made in its design, the AP found.

The whole fleet was grounded for three months this year following a deadly crash in Japan in November 2023 that killed eight service members, including one from Massachusetts.

Ospreys, which are operated by the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps and used in the presidential fleet, have now returned to flight operations, with some restrictions.

Osprey pilots have told the AP they do not want to see the aircraft grounded, despite safety concerns, because of its unique capabilities. Program officials have said they are working on fixes to improve the V-22s safety and reliability.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter.

The lawmakers also cited the APs reporting that pilots are having to push the V-22s interim power feature to be able to land safely  but are advised against it because it can wear down parts. Interim power was a factor in the most recent accident in October when a Japanese self-defense forces Osprey violently tilted and struck the ground on takeoff. An investigation determined the pilots were to blame for not turning on the interim power during takeoff.

The reality for pilots is that they have to push the aircraft to its limits to stay safe, the lawmakers wrote.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  On Monday, President Joe Biden visited Staten Island, marking the first time in 12 years that a sitting president has come to the borough.

In preparation, road closures and detours sprung up all over Staten Island right around the time of the evening rush hour, while drivers and commuters bore the brunt of the visit.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Island got a rare presidential visit Monday, the first in 12 years.

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden traveled from Washington, D.C. to Staten Island, touching down on Miller Field in New Dorp at about 5:30 p.m.

Once on the borough, a motorcade whisked the first couple and their entourage to Fort Wadsworth, to host a friendsgiving event to thank service members and their families at U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York.

Updates are now concluded, see below for how the day unfolded.

Additional coverage:

Inside President Bidens historic Staten Island Friendsgiving Coast Guard visit: Thank you ... we owe you

Rush-hour delays as Biden visits Staten Island

Hundreds gather at Miller Field to see President Biden, first ladys visit on Staten Island >>

6:36 P.M. -- BIDENS SET TO DEPART AT 8 P.M.

After the introductory remarks, the Bidens joined the line of people serving food at the event, wearing gloves and black White House aprons, according to a Washington Post reporter. They both served roasted Brussels sprouts and butternut squash.

The presidents itinerary has him scheduled to leave Staten Island via Miller Field at 8 p.m.

Live updates are now concluded, but stay tuned on SILive.com for full coverage of the visit.

6:19 P.M. -- PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: WE OWE YOU

President Biden and the First Lady at he podium at the Coast Guards very first friendsgiving,'Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)Jason Paderon

At the top of his speech, the president joked about some of the crying babies in the audience, saying that the Bidens are used to small children ruling at home.

Then he spoke to the group in the room.

Coast Guards motto, Always Ready -- over last year those words took on a sense of truth that they hadnt in a long while, Biden said, then talking about the ways the Coast Guard made a difference over the past year.

He talked about the Coast Guards intercepting weapons sent by Iran to the Houthis, response to the Baltimore bridge collapse and help with Hurricane Helene search-and-rescue, among other events, adding and every day here in New York, you keep this port secure and the people safe, and the world knows it.

Simply put, we owe you, and we owe your families, he said, also saying that he might skip the meal in order to walk around the room to meet all of the service members and families present.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, he said.

The speech ended to rousing applause.

6:12 P.M. -- JILL BIDEN: WITH ALL MY HEART, THANK YOU

We could not be more excited to host the Coast Guards very first friendsgiving, said Jonathan Andrechik, Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York.

It has been the honor of this military moms life to serve as your first lady, and to meet with military families through my Joining Forces initiatives, Jill Biden said during her remarks.

As Coasties split their days between waves and land, you find home in the little moments, in bear hugs and big smiles on little faces, she continued, acknowledging the special service of the Coast Guard.

With all my heart, thank you for your service and your sacrifice, she said.

6:07 P.M. -- EVENT BEGINS AT FORT WADSWORTH

The remarks of the Bidens are streaming live on YouTube.

5:35 P.M. -- BIDEN MOTORCADE HEADS TOWARD FORT WADSWORTH

The Biden motorcade passes McClean Ave. along Fr. Capodanno Blvd. in South Beach, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024.Jan Somma-Hammel

A number of families were out near Miller Field in the cold evening air as the presidential motorcade began to make its way toward Fort Wadsworth.

Some were waving American flags, and were able to spot President Joe Biden waving as his car passed.

5:30 P.M. -- GRIDLOCK ARRIVES WITH THE PRESIDENT

Police are not allowing cars to turn from Hylan Boulevard onto Fingerboard Road, heading toward the Staten Island Expressway. Drivers are being waved to continue along Hylan Boulevard toward a bad chokepoint near Olga Place.

Meanwhile, traffic is now bumper-to-bumper, at a dead stop, on Narrows Road South between Hylan Boulevard and Fingerboard Road. Some drivers were seen going up the one-way stretch of Hylan Boulevard near the Hylan Dartmouth Apartments.

If drivers avoid the most troublesome spots, however, most of Hylan Boulevard appears to be moving well.

5:22 P.M. -- LIVE FEED: BIDENS LAND IN MILLER FIELD

The Advance/SILive.coms Shane DiMaio is streaming live on Facebook from Miller Field as the first couple arrive on Staten Island.

Watch on Facebook >>

5:16 P.M. -- BIDENS HELICOPTER ON THE WAY

After touching down in JFK at about 5 p.m., the Bidens boarded a helicopter bound for Miller Field.

On Staten Island, police helicopters could be heard as far south as Great Kills, with some circling Miller Field ahead of the president and first ladys arrival.

At Fort Wadsworth, service members awaited the president with Rep. Nicole Malliotakis.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis poses with members of the Coast Guard at Fort Wadsworth as they await the Bidens' arrival.Jason Paderon/Staten Island Advance

4:45 P.M. -- FATHER CAPODANNO CLOSURES BEGIN

Two DSNY trucks have now blocked Father Capodanno Boulevard at Seaview Avenue.

Drivers should use alternate routes, or avoid the area if possible.

Father Capodanno was blocked off in preparation for President Joe Biden's motorcade.Mike Matteo/Staten Island Advance

4:38 P.M. -- PEOPLE BEGIN TO GATHER ALONG NEW DORP LANE

A small group of onlookers began to gather along New Dorp lane at 4:30 p.m., about an hour before the Bidens are scheduled to land in Miller Field, trying to catch a glimpse of the first couple.

Onlookers gather on New Dorp Lane ahead of President Joe Biden and Jill Biden's arrival at Miller Field.Owen Reiter

Along Father Capodanno Boulevard there were few lined up, and traffic was still moving at 4:30 p.m., although numerous police vehicles were making their way toward Miller Field.

Theresa Reed of Silver Lake was one of the few early arrivals along the route.

I have never seen an active president in person before, so Im very excited to see him pass by, she said.

4:11 P.M. -- DEPARTING D.C.

The Bidens were pictured departing Washington, D.C. on Air Force One.

The Bidens depart Washington, D.C. and are headed for New. York.Associated Press

They are traveling with a group including personal assistants, aides and press.

3:53 P.M. -- DISSENT, BUT RESPECT

Along Bidens motorcade route to Fort Wadsworth stands the former Island Shores senior home, which now serves as a shelter for migrants -- one of several opened on Staten Island as the city grappled with an influx of more than 200,000 people who had crossed the border.

The shelter has been a flashpoint on Staten Island, with long-standing protests over the course of last year. In the hours leading up to Bidens arrival, two Staten Islanders took up spots in front of the shelter with signs reading Stop Bidens Border Bloodbath and Trump America First/Biden America Last."

We are very excited to voice our dissent with the policies that Joe Biden has, especially right here at 1111 Father Capodanno Boulevard, said Kieran Brown of Annadale, who wore a bright red Trump cap.

But at the same time, it is very important that we maintain respect and we show the hospitality of our Island, regardless of political affiliation, he continued. Were good people and we want the best for our country.

3:42 P.M. -- PREPARING FOR THE PRESIDENT

Preparations for the Bidens' visit have been ongoing all weekend and into Monday.

On Saturday, Miller Field was closed from 8 to 10 a.m. for an aircraft training exercise, Gateway National Recreation Area announced.

Also beginning on Saturday, metal NYPD barricades were set up along Father Capodanno Boulevard, where the motorcade will make its way to Fort Wadsworth.

Over the weekend, Borough President Vito Fossella warned Staten Islanders to be prepared for closure along Father Capodanno Boulevard from about 4 - 8 p.m., and announced that the area park and ride lot would be closed.

Following a contentious election, Staten Islanders were -- as expected -- split in their take on the presidential visit, with some looking forward to the spectacle and others fuming that the president was visiting a borough where president-elect Donald Trump won the majority of votes three presidential contests in a row.

Its very interesting; I never thought Id see a presidential motorcade driving past my house, Donna Curatola told an Advance/SILive.com reporter on Sunday. Whatever your views, its still the president and not something you see every day.

Meanwhile, a large F*** Biden sign was hung from a home on Father Capodanno Boulevard, just past Midland Avenue.

By Monday morning there was also a large police presence in the area preparing security measures for the Bidens' arrival in the evening.

3:16 P.M. -- TURKEYS PARDONED IN DC

Hours before leaving for Staten Island, Biden held an event in Washington, D.C. where he performed the annual pre-Thanksgiving presidential pardon of two lucky turkeys.

President Joe Biden is pictured with John Zimmerman, chair of the National Turkey Federation, from left, and Zimmerman's son Grant, after pardoning the national Thanksgiving turkey Peach during a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) APAP

The 82-year-old president welcomed 2,500 guests to the South Lawn under sunny skies as he cracked jokes about the fates of Peach and Blossom and sounded wistful tones about the last weeks of his presidency after a half-century in Washington power circles.

Its been the honor of my life. Im forever grateful, Biden said, taking note of his impending departure on Jan. 20, 2025.

Biden introduced Peach as a bird who lives by the motto, Keep calm and gobble on. Blossom, the president said, has a different motto: No fowl play. Just Minnesota nice.

***

Local reporting by: Erik Bascome, Jessica Jones-Gorman, Paul Liotta, Mike Matteo, Jason Paderon, Jan Somma-Hammel

Associated Press material was used in this report.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that she has signed five new laws aimed at keeping some of that hard-earned cash in New Yorkers pockets and improving consumer safety this holiday season.

At a time when New Yorkers are experiencing the devastating effects of rising prices, its important that I do everything I can to put more money back in their pockets, Hochul said in a written statement. With the signing of this legislative bill package, were continuing to make progress in making New York more affordable.

Each piece of legislation will impact New Yorkers in one way or another  whether it be at the gym or perusing the internet for a new place to eat.

As written in the statement, the five new laws are as follows:

Legislation S.932D/A.4667B : requires health clubs to accept cancellation of a membership within 10 business days of receiving notice of the cancellation.

Legislation S.4778/A.7167 : prohibits the imposition of certain fees at the expiration of a term on a motor vehicle lease which constitutes administrative, clerical or handling charges.

Legislation S.8182B/A.7939B: requires telemarketers to provide certain information within the first 30 seconds of a call and to disclose certain addresses in written communication to customers.

Legislation S.509B/A.28C : requires restaurants that offer online delivery services to post on their website or mobile application a hyperlink to view recent sanitary inspection grades, on their website.

Legislation S.8880A/A.1010B : prohibits label obstruction of over-the-counter drugs.

While there were no comments from Staten Islands elected officials in the statement, others from around the state celebrated the enactments of these laws.
Republican Donald Trump has been elected to be the 47th president of the United States.

But while Trump has been declared the White House winner over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, there are still a few more boxes that need to be checked before Trump can be sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 2025.

The first of two key dates comes on Dec. 17, when Electoral College electors will meet in their respective state capitols and officially cast their votes for president and vice president.

According to the National Constitution Center, voters in the United States do not select presidential candidates directly. They instead vote for slates of electors that represent each candidate.

The slates are usually chosen by the candidates political party in each state. The chief executive of each state and the District of Columbia then appoint electors approved by each candidate.

On Dec. 17, the electors in each state will meet to select the president and vice president of the United States, in this case, Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance of Ohio. The electors almost always meet in person at the state or federal district capital.

In 48 of 50 states, only the electors who represent the candidate with the most popular votes on Election Day in each state get to cast votes in the Electoral College election. Maine and Nebraska split votes by congressional district.

Each state group sends its endorsed, official vote count certificate to the current vice president of the United States (acting as president of the Senate), state officials, the federal court that has jurisdiction over the state capital area, and the federal Archivist.

The vote certificates must be received in Washington, D.C., by Dec. 25, 2024.

The second big event comes on Jan. 6, 2025, when the new Congress meets for the formal Electoral College vote count and final certification.

The vice president, in this case incumbent Harris, will open the vote certificates and pass them to two members of the House and two members of the Senate, who count the votes.

Harris will be the first incumbent vice president to oversee the certification of their own defeat in a presidential election since Democrat Al Gore in 2001.

If there is a majority winner with at least 270 electoral votes and there are no successful objections filed by members of Congress, the presidential election is certified and over.

Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers attempted to certify the 2020 presidential election on Jan. 6, 2021. Democrat Joe Biden was declared the winner of that election over Trump.

Trump won the Electoral College this year with 312 votes to Harris 226. Trump also leads in the popular vote, but can no longer claim to have a majority of the popular vote over Harris, according to the Cook Political Report.

Go here for updated popular vote numbers on the Cook website.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. The Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan, represented by the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the United Nations (UN) have signed a contribution agreement, Trend reports.

The agreement was signed by the head of the State Agency, Ulvi Mehdiyev, and the UN Deputy Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Li Junhua.

The agreement envisions the introduction of innovations and capacity development in the public service sector in UN member states based on the ASAN Xidmet model.

The UN has recognized the ASAN Xidmet model, which has become an international brand for Azerbaijan, as a best practice and aims to promote it across member countries.

Under the agreement, government officials in participating countries will receive training on advanced public service management and delivery, drawing from Azerbaijan's experience with ASAN Xidmet. The initiative will also include the development of training materials and the organization of intercontinental international events.

The Deputy Secretary-General also received a briefing on the activities of the ASAN Xidmet Center, the INNOLAND Incubation and Acceleration Center, the Bilim Baku Center, the ASAN mobile service, and the ABAD public legal services entity during the meeting.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The Rector of the Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC), Professor Adalat Muradov, has undertaken an official visit to the University of Patras (UPATRAS) in Greece.

During the meeting with the Rector of the University of Patras, Professor Christos Bouras, the parties engaged in comprehensive discussions on fostering academic collaboration between the two institutions.

Following the deliberations, a mutual agreement was reached to establish a Joint Master's Program between UNEC and the University of Patras, which is ranked 3rd in Greece and 761-770 globally in the QS International Rankings, serving approximately 30,000 students. A memorandum of understanding was signed by both rectors to jointly apply for a relevant grant to fund the program.

Furthermore, both institutions agreed to initiate the exchange of students and faculty, as well as to involve sabbatical professors from the University of Patras in academic activities at UNEC, thereby enhancing bilateral cooperation and academic excellence.
Support the Peninsulas only locally-owned newspaper. Subscribe!

Subscribing annually brings you big savings. We also offer monthly and weekly subscriptions.

Premium Subscription

As low as $8.25 per week

Premium Includes:

-- Access to the Daily Journals e-Edition: a digital replica of our daily newspaper including crossword puzzles, games, comics, classifieds and ads. You can download a digital replica of the Daily Journal for offline reading. You can also clip & download articles or images from the e-edition to share with others The most recent 90 issues are available at any given time.

-- Unlimited access to our award-winning online content

-- Commenting access on all stories as a valued member of the DJ community

-- NEW! Access to our online-only digital crossword puzzle. A new puzzle every day, seven days a week!
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 Aussie wines are flowing in China again, but the relief over punitive tariffs being lifted this year faces a sobering reality check from a market that has confounded global expectations. The value of Chinas wine imports more than halved between 2019 and 2023, from $3.3 billion to $1.5 billion, reflecting a market that has been turned on its head since the de facto ban on Australias product which began pre-COVID. Australia is returning to a much-changed market for wine in China The market has shrunk hugely in terms of consumer interest in wine and thats not showing any signs of reversing post COVID, Kym Anderson, a respected wine academic who heads the Wine Economics Research Centre at the University of Adelaide, says. It reflects a profound change in Chinas wine consumption which peaked in 2012 and had dropped more than 65 per cent by 2022, according to Anderson. It is an issue he detailed in a research paper last year titled: Whats happened to the wine market in China? The decline really started when [President] Xi [Jinping] came to office and started tightening up on corruption and public banquets and gift giving  and since 2017 consumption has gone down by about two-thirds or more. So its nothing to do with COVID. The plunge in wine consumption was a stunning reversal for the country that promised to dominate the industrys future.

Advertisement

In Frances wine regions, dozens of Chinese-owned vineyards are up for sale at knockdown prices as bottles of Bordeaux lose their lustre as luxury gifts for Chinas wealthy elite. Even worse, experts say Frances tannin-heavy wines might not suit the Chinese palate. Anderson nominates other factors for the continuing decline, including the Chinese preference for consuming wine outside of the home as a social activity. During COVID, and with the current economic malaise, it has cruelled its consumption in comparison to spirits and beer which dominate as everyday tipples. Taylor Wines boss Mitchell Taylor, agrees. The Chinese market has never completely recovered from that [COVID] disruption and on top of that, at-home consumption is not a natural way for Chinese consumers to enjoy wine  they much prefer to go out, he says. But it may also indicate wines status is more that of an exotic good than a beverage staple  dropping from 4.6 per cent of Chinas alcohol consumption in 2012 to just 1.5 per cent at present. Treasury Wine Estates began making its own China-made version of its Penfolds wines as part of a strategy to keep its brand in China when harsh tariffs were imposed on Australian exports. President Xis crackdown on ostentatious gift-giving and wines Western association back this theory.

Advertisement

Anderson writes the contrast with beer and spirits consumption suggests there has been either a preference swing against wine (because it is viewed politically as an exotic product?) and/or a greater premiumisation of preferences for wine. The latter argument is looking like a silver lining for Aussie producers. Whatever the state of the wine market in China, consumers are keen to reacquaint their love affair with top-shelf Australian wines, according to Taylor. What helps, he says, is Australias fruit-driven flavour and innovative touches like thermo-chromatic labels that change colour when the wine reaches its optimal drinking temperature. Wine is our premium product in China. China is probably the market that really understands our flavour profile, he says. They love the forward fruit flavours and the smoothness that we get in our high-quality wines. Anderson points to an interesting new trend where Chinese women are interested in wine, particularly white wines. White wine goes okay with Chinese food [and] amongst the younger drinkers, a lot of them are females now, which is a bit of a surprise.

Advertisement

Whatever the reason, Australian wines have staged an extraordinary recovery when it comes to raw export numbers at least. The sectors association, Wine Australia, reported that Australian wines had regained the No.2 spot behind France as the top wine exporter to China for the year ended August 2024 despite the fact local exports only restarted in March this year. Taylor Wines managing director Mitchell Taylor says the demand for its premium wines in China took it by surprise. Credit: Peter Rae Australia accounted for 25 per cent of the bottled wine market with an average value of $US18.28 ($28.11) a litre, more than double the value of the average French wine. Both of these stats were noted by Taylor, who said the group is re-stocking in China at the top premium level, which shows the money is still there for quality wines. Were now rushing in, he says, The demand at the very high end has exceeded our expectations. Despite shipping four containers of wine over to China, Taylors is now flying in drops like its $1000 The Legacy Cabernet Sauvignon.

Advertisement

Weve got to do some air freighting to make sure we dont go out of stock, and were rushing through more containers so that we get them there in time for the important Chinese New Year gift-giving occasion. The caveat is that Australian winemakers are refilling their distribution channels, which means the recent success does not reflect consumers actually buying the wines in restaurants, bars and bottle shops. Chinas property market turmoil has hit consumer confidence and spending on items like wine. Credit: Bloomberg And the economic problems will make that transition to consumer sales all the harder as Taylor notes following a recent trip to China. What I found fascinating was that they were really cautious, Taylor says. The feedback on the ground in China he received cited issues like Trump trade worries, a faltering stock market and, most significantly, falling house prices, which is having a significant impact on personal wealth and financial security. Consumer confidence is not there at all. Its making them feel very insecure and is lifting the rate of savings, he says. Taylor is not the only one noticing Chinas thirst for expensive Aussie wines despite the economic turmoil.

Advertisement
Sydneysiders are bracing for the hottest end to spring in five years as the mercury closes in on 40 degrees in the citys west.

The Australian Energy Market Operator has warned of an elevated risk of blackouts this week because of low back-up supplies of electricity, prompting energy generators to boost supply.

Surf school students at Mona Vale beach on Monday. Credit: Nick Moir

The spring heatwave is Sydneys most severe since November 2020, when the hottest day was 43 degrees at Sydney Airport. Globally, 2024 is on track to be the hottest year on record, breaking the previous record set only a year ago.

Professor Matthew England, a climate expert at the University of NSW, said: One of the most certain consequences of climate change is an increase in the frequency and severity of heatwaves.
Advertisement

Eating outRestaurant news A world-renowned restaurant is coming to Sydney. Heres what youll find on the $450-a-head menu Three-hatted Victorian restaurant Brae is popping up at the Sydney Opera House. Heres what chefs Dan Hunter and Danielle Alvarez have in store. Bianca Hrovat November 27, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

One of Australias greatest chefs, Dan Hunter of three-hatted Victorian restaurant Brae, is coming to the Sydney Opera House in January for a $450-per-person dining experience, in collaboration with resident chef and events culinary director Danielle Alvarez. For four nights, Hunter and Alvarez will take over the immersive Yallamundi dining room with Harvest of Purpose, a six-course menu driven by the same seasonal and sustainable ethos that propelled Brae to world renown. Chefs Dan Hunter and Danielle Alvarez in the kitchen at Brae. Therese Bourne Brae, housed in an unassuming cottage on the outskirts of Birregurra, about 115 kilometres south-west of Melbourne, has received numerous accolades since opening in 2013, from making No. 44 on the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants in 2017 to The Age Good Food Guide Restaurant of the Year in 2019. This month, it was awarded three hats by The Age Good Food Guide Awards for the 11th consecutive year.

Advertisement

But while Brae relies on produce from its 12 hectares of organic farmland, Hunter and Alvarez will work with NSW producers such as Sift Produce, which farms tomato, eggplant and onion on Living Earth Farm in Young. I like the comfort of the home ground, so I havent done anything to this extent [out of state] before, Hunter says. Chefs Dan Hunter and Danielle Alvarez at Hunters Victorian restaurant Brae in September. Supplied But it seemed like a good opportunity to do something within such an iconic building, during the Sydney summer, with Danielle. I really like her as a person, as well as the sentiment behind her cooking  Shes on the same page as us. Alvarez hails from the United States, where she cooked at acclaimed restaurants The French Laundry and Chez Panisse in California. In 2014, she came to Sydney to help found Merivales farm-to-table restaurant Freds in Paddington, where she acted as head chef until 2022.

Advertisement

Dan and I have always shared the belief that food should be created and enjoyed in harmony with nature, Alvarez says. Were excited to bring this event to life and hope it inspires and leaves a lasting impact. Braes menu has always been grounded in a sense of place, and the chefs aim to capture the sunshine and frivolity of the harbour city. Well certainly be cooking some Murray cod, its an iconic Australian fish, and Im certainly thinking about stone fruits and strawberries at that time of the year in Sydney, Hunter says.

Advertisement

Each chef will prepare a snack to start, followed by a series of entrees: ajo verde with almonds, cucumber and melon; potato gem with broad bean and hazelnut mountain tomme (buttery cheese); and lemon cucumbers and lemon myrtle. They will be followed by Brae Farm wheat with nut butter and cultured buffalo milk, and farm tomatoes with ricotta and eggplant caramelle. For mains, diners will be served Murray cod with king prawn and kohlrabi, crustacean butter and finger lime, and fennel-rubbed pork loin, roasted on bone, with sweet corn, whey polenta and smoked cherry jus. Duck-liver cream with cocoa and pistachio  a variation of a dish served at Brae this year  will follow; along with summer leaves with herb and buttermilk dressing. To finish, a strawberry gum ice-cream will be served with frozen passionfruit. Passionfruit is maybe one of the most iconic flavours of summer in our country, and itll be a little nod to a pavlova, without being over-the-top, says Hunter.

Advertisement

Guests will be able to choose between the classic ($265 per person) and premium ($450 per person) wine pairings, curated by Trippas White Group sommelier and president of Sommeliers Australia Louella Matthews and Sydney Opera House precinct sommelier Polly Mackarel, with Handpicked Wines. The menu will feature sustainable and organic wines, such as the 2018 Handpicked Highbow Hill chardonnay from Victorias Yarra Valley. There will also be a non-alcoholic beverage pairing ($195 per person) from bartender and hospitality consultant Lee Potter Cavanagh. And where will Hunter be dining when hes in Sydney? Likely at 10 William Street (Paddington), Sixpenny (Stanmore), Ester (Chippendale) and Bar Copains (Surry Hills), he says. Tickets are on sale now for Harvest for Purpose  Brae at the Sydney Opera House, held from January 17 to 20 at 6.30pm. The six-course meal is $450 per person; drink pairings are extra.

Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up
Advertisement

Tips & adviceThe dish The Australian restaurants legendary chef Tetsuya cant stop returning to (and what he loves to order) After 37 years as chef and restaurateur behind iconic Japanese-French restaurant Tetsuyas, he says its the simple classic pasta dishes that really hit the spot. Jane Rocca November 27, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

When Japanese-Australian chef, restaurateur and cookbook author Tetsuya Wakuda isnt running Michelin-starred restaurants in Singapore, Las Vegas and Dubai, hes indulging his love of classic Italian food. The name behind Sydneys legendary Japanese-French restaurant, Tetsuyas, which closed in July after 37 years, is a huge fan of the cuisine.



I love Japanese cuisine, but since arriving in Australia in the 80s, I have made many Italian friends and its the food I like to cook at home or go out and eat, says Wakuda. Tetsuya Wakuda pictured recently at his Waku Ghin restaurant at in Singapore. Franz Navarrete When at home, he likes to cook simple pasta dishes. In Sydney, its his friendships with retired restaurateur and chef Armando Percuoco from Buon Ricordo and Melbournes Ronnie Di Stasio of Di Stasio restaurants fame that lures him back to those restaurants time and again.

Advertisement

Ronnie is like a big brother to me, says Wakuda. I met him and Armando at the end of 80s and early 90s, and they taught me a lot about the food business. With Ronnie, I remember him saying you have to have balls in this business or youll get bored. Hes that type of strong guy, but it is actually like that  he is right. Ron is very warm and kind-hearted, and I applied a lot of what I learned from the Italians in Australia to my own business, he adds. Laura restaurant at Pt Leo Estate. Bonnie Savage Wakuda recently spent the weekend at Victorias two-hatted Pt Leo Estates Laura restaurant  where a menu prepared by executive chef Josep Espuga was not only a homage to the celebrity chef, but where he discovered they had crossed paths once before in Madrid in 2001 at a cooking demonstration. Espuga was employed at La Broche at the time with chef Sergi Arola, and working behind the scenes helping big-name chefs like Tetsuya backstage. The then 20-year-old Spaniard made a point to keep the recipes Tetsuya shared at Madrid Fusion.

Advertisement

Wakuda, who had never ventured to Pt Leo Estate before, was taken by the iconic Peninsula spot, fell in love with its sculpture park and fine dining offering at Laura. The signature confit ocean trout at Tetsuyas recently closed restaurant. Jon Reid I dont get to this part of Victoria at all, so to be at Pt Leo for the first time left me speechless. The food was outstanding. It really is an experience everyone should try, he says. Since closing his iconic Sydney restaurant Tetsuyas, the first-name famous chef says he wont rule out a return. My staff ring me often and say, chef, if you come back to do anything, were coming. Just say when.

Advertisement

My go-to dish at home I keep it simple  any pasta with aglio and olio and peperoncino. Cafe di Stasio in St Kilda is a favourite Testuya dining spot. . Mike Baker My favourite dining spots for Italian food When I am in Melbourne, I always go to Cafe Di Stasio in St Kilda for spaghetti bolognese. I know anybody can make it, but its not like this anywhere else. They make it with beef, tomato and red wine  they use a lot of red wine. It doesnt matter how many times I have it, its the same taste, so good and very satisfying.

Advertisement

In Sydney, I always ordered linguine napoletana from Armando at Buon Ricordo. The mix of tomato, basil, garlic and salt served with linguine hit the spot for me. He used to say to me, its so boring you eat this again, and I would respond but its so good and simple. If another chef tries to make the same, they simply cant. Its the way they cook the pasta, their choice of pasta, how ripe the tomatoes are  thats the skill in itself that leads to a great dish. Restaurant Buon Ricordo, James Brickwood I also love Machiavelli in Sydney. This is a long-standing restaurant and they still serve the same menu. Its been around since 1988, and what I love is that the staff have been here for a long time. I like the mature service team, and its classic Italian food. All these factors combine make it a great experience. I go to Amare at Crown Sydney for seafood-based Italian meals  its impressive. While Giovanni Pilu at Pilu Freshwater Sardinian restaurant is another favourite. I always order their porchetta arrosto  its still as good as the first time I tried it. Azuma restaurant in Sydney. Edwina Pickles

Advertisement

My favourite Japanese dining spot The team at Azuma in Sydney are dear friends of mine, and I am always here. People think I have shares, but no, I just love it. They run a classic Japanese restaurant with properly made stock that makes all the difference. They dont try to mix things up, its very simple food. People think I have shares, but no, I just love it. I order everything when I am here. I start with spinach that is blanched and served with dashi and soy  and finished with shaved bonito on top. Their grilled scampi is a must. Then its tempura and a few pieces of sushi on the day, as well as grilled fish of the day. I always have a miso soup too. Tetsuya Wakuda, pictured at his restaurant in Sydney in 2018. Peter Braig

Advertisement

My guilty pleasure I love sweets. Sugar is my weakness. I like to eat good quality chocolate or dessert made with chocolate. I also love a good creme brulee  the balance of the cream and egg and the texture is always what I am looking for in a good one. I also love the iconic Date Tarte at Rockpool. It is a classic; and in a way its like cream brulee in a sense. I could eat a whole cake. At Di Stasio I order torta di vaniglia  white chocolate and mascarpone with pistachio. It has broken meringue on the top  its always on the menu. The Rockpool Date Tarte that Tetsuya loves. Sahlan Hayes My favourite cafe I love to go to the oldest cafe in Double Bay called 21 Espresso. Its an old Hungarian spot and family restaurant since 1958. I know them and I love this place because its comfortable to visit alone. If you feel like a steak for breakfast, they will make it for you. If you want a simple coffee, you can have that too. I start with an espresso if I am really tired, or an Americano. I always order their spinach cream  its a classic dish. Sometimes Ill eat it with schnitzel and bread if I am really hungry.

Advertisement

The best recipes from Australia's leading chefs straight to your inbox. Sign up
Independent MPs, the Greens and human rights advocates have condemned the bipartisan support to pass a trio of hardline migration bills they say are anti-migrant and akin to the White Australia policy.

However, appearing on the ABCs Afternoon Briefing today, opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said deporting people to paid third countries was a necessary power because we do have a problem with people who cant go anywhere else in the world, and who we do not want to stay in Australia.

Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

But the government has not been transparent  either with us or with the public  about which countries they are negotiating with, about what the terms of the arrangement are, or when they will be settled, the Liberal senator said.

Paterson rejected the suggestion the Coalition was giving the government a blank cheque by supporting the bills without knowing these details.

Loading

We have signed up because we think it is an important principle that deals with a long-standing problem in the migration system, he said.

Paterson said Labor had given the Coalition assurances the legislation was constitutional, despite several recent High Court rulings overturning Commonwealth laws.

Independent senator Lidia Thorpe lambasted the measures as characteristic of a racist government pursuing oppressive legislative reform.

We might as well go back to the White Australia policy ... its absolutely disgusting behaviour, Thorpe told reporters at parliament earlier today, while flanked by crossbench colleagues and refugee rights advocates.

Lidia Thorpe addresses the media today. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Asylum Seeker Resource Centre chief executive Kon Karapanagiotidis said the Albanese government was indistinguishable from the Coalition in its migration policies that ultimately penalise refugees and asylum seekers.

The Labor Party ... the party that once stood for multiculturalism ... has moved to the far right, he said at Parliament House today. There is no difference between the two major parties. I need people [to] understand the gravity of this.

With AAP
Like almost 600,000 other Australians, I was born in China. Despite having lived here for 15 years, as a dissident, I am still tracked and harassed by the Chinese government. I want to offer a warning to our government and my fellow citizens about our relationship with the Asian superpower.

Chinas ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, told Australias National Press Club on Tuesday that Australia and China are friends, not foes. But friends are people who share common values. The truth is there is a fundamental ideological divide between our two nations, and what we value. Chinas ambitions are not merely defensive, but rather aggressively expansionist. Currently, in the face of this fundamental difference, Australia still clings stubbornly to its engagement policy with China, in political, economic and social spheres.

Artist and Age cartoonist Badiucao. Credit: Simon Schluter

The governments initial objective of this policy was to influence China through exchange and dialogue in an attempt to help open up its politics and its economy, and push it towards greater democracy and adherence to international law. The hope was that this would bridge the gap between the two countries political systems and ideologies, preventing conflict and ensuring peace. At the same time, Australias economy would benefit from the further liberalisation of Chinas market.

However, Chinas decades of military expansion and diplomatic coercion show the policy has failed. Human rights have deteriorated further, with crackdowns in Hong Kong, and internment camps and the genocide of the Uyghur population and other minorities in Xinjiang.
Sydney University will allow students to use artificial intelligence in a radical reversal of its cheating policy, conceding bans on technology such as ChatGPT are untenable.

The plan, to be phased in next year, will mean students can use AI for homework or assignments but will be tested without access to the tools at key points in their degrees.

Sydney University students Helia Nateghi Baygi and Angad Chawla think students should be empowered to use AI responsibly. Credit: Kate Geraghty

Pro vice chancellor Professor Adam Bridgeman said the university realised AI was here to stay and students needed to be prepared to use it well in their future careers.

What we need to do is make sure that were not fooling ourselves when we set a piece of homework. AI will help the students complete their homework, and thats fine, he said.
SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here.

As long-serving members of the California Air Resources Board, we have prioritized environmental justice and community health, championing efforts to combat climate change. However, we believe state policies must thoughtfully address the consequences for communities least able to bear the associated costs.

This concern applies to CARB's newly adopted amendments to accelerate the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, or LCFS, which we opposed. The fuel standard program, established in 2011, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation by capping the carbon intensity of fuels. The current program mandates a 20% reduction in fuel carbon intensity by 2030. The proposed amendments push this to a 30% cut by 2030 and 90% by 2045.

Faster implementation, however, risks increasing gasoline prices  a significant burden on low-income communities already struggling with costs. This issue has attracted attention from the media, legislators and the public. Beyond financial concerns, the LCFS has had another, less-publicized consequence: a dramatic transformation of California's dairy industry.

Over the past decade, many dairies have shifted their priorities driven by LCFS incentives, with troubling public health consequences.

California's dairy industry has historically focused on milk production, but today, many dairies are producing renewable natural gas by capturing methane from manure. The LCFS propels this trend through California's carbon credit system, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Under this program, entities earn and sell credits for cutting emissions, and dairies profit by converting methane into renewable natural gas. However, the system rewards larger-scale manure production, as more methane generates more credits and profits. This creates a perverse incentive, prioritizing pollution-heavy practices over sustainable, low-impact solutions.

Capturing methane, a greenhouse gas over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term, is vital for combating climate change. Yet, the methods to achieve reductions matter. The new amendments inadvertently incentivize the growth of mega-dairies now disproportionately concentrated in the Central Valley, where land is cheaper than other parts of the state  a region already grappling with environmental and health challenges.

As mega-dairies expand, their impacts on local communities worsen. According to comments from the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, a climate, health and equity organization working in the Central Valley, these facilities exacerbate air pollution, groundwater depletion and nitrate contamination, disproportionately affecting low-income Latino communities.

The promise of renewable natural gas as a "bridge fuel" is fundamentally flawed. Instead of transitioning toward sustainable decarbonization, the LCFS now encourages the expansion of large-scale dairies to maximize methane generation. Dairies are rewarded not for reducing methane emissions but for capturing what they generate, perpetuating pollution-heavy practices. More waste generated means more profit.

While capturing methane contributes to California's greenhouse gas reduction goals, the collateral damage is undeniable. Mega-dairies are among the largest ammonia emitters, contributing to fine particulate matter pollution that causes respiratory illnesses and premature death. The Central Valley, already burdened with some of the worst air quality in the nation, cannot withstand additional harm. Moreover, nitrate runoff from manure continues to contaminate drinking water, disproportionately affecting disadvantaged communities reliant on domestic wells.

Accelerating LCFS mandates will only hasten the expansion of mega-dairies.

CARB has already undermined efforts to regulate livestock methane emissions. While we successfully pushed for regulations to begin by 2028, a last-minute change allowed mega-dairies to continue to profit from "avoided methane" credits based on flawed assumptions, encouraging herd consolidation and pollution-heavy liquid manure systems. Sustainable alternatives, such as dry handling or pasture-based systems, which generate far fewer pollutants, remain unsupported. For these reasons, we were on the losing side of a 12-2 vote by the board on the LCFS amendment.

Methane is an immediate climate threat, and failure to address it would be catastrophic. However, ignoring the long-term environmental and social costs of factory-farm gas development prioritizes short-term climate gains over public health and equity. Our climate solutions must not come at the expense of environmental justice.

The LCFS program could be improved by capping the size and number of dairy operations eligible for methane incentives. Without such limits, we risk entrenching an industry whose environmental harms outweigh its climate benefits.

Additionally, CARB must prioritize sustainable methane reduction alternatives, including practices that reduce pollution at the source rather than perpetuating harmful systems. Setting these limits would create a fairer and more effective framework for addressing emissions while protecting vulnerable communities.

Fighting climate change is not just about dairies. It is about choosing a path that doesn't result in more harm to vulnerable communities. For the sake of our air, water, and public health, we must ensure our solutions work for everyone, not just for those who profit from pollution.

Dean Florez, a member of the California Air Resources Board, is a former California Senate majority leader. Diane Takvorian, a member of the California Air Resources Board, is the co-founder and former executive director of the Environmental Health Coalition in San Diego/Tijuana.



(COMMENT, BELOW)




BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. The Government of the United Arab Emirates, through its Embassy in the Republic of Azerbaijan, will extend financial support for humanitarian demining activities conducted in Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

To formalize this collaboration, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Mr. Vugar Suleymanov, Chairman of the Board of the Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and H.E. Mohammed Al Blooshi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates to the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Under the agreement, the support will involve strengthening the Agency's technical capabilities, acquiring necessary equipment, and carrying out risk education programs in areas located along the former contact line.

As part of the signing ceremony, a meeting was held between the parties. Mr. Suleymanov expressed gratitude to the UAE for its contribution to Azerbaijan's humanitarian demining efforts.

During the meeting, Ambassador Al Blooshi was provided with a detailed overview of the extensive contamination of the liberated territories with landmines and other explosive devices and the ongoing large-scale humanitarian demining operations addressing this issue. The significance of international resource mobilization and partnerships in tackling Azerbaijan's landmine contamination problem was underscored.

Ambassador Mohamed Al Blooshi emphasized that this assistance from the United Arab Emirates is provided to support the humanitarian demining efforts of the friendly Republic of Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, discussions were held between the parties on the support provided for mine action activities and the future prospects for further development of cooperation in this field.
Cash could still be used in poker machines but it would no longer be possible to play anonymously in a gambling reform model under consideration by the NSW government.

A leaked draft of the Roadmap for Gaming Reform report, the final version of which was delivered to government on Monday, shows the terminology has been changed from cashless to account-based gambling.

Controversially, it recommends a non-binding default limit on the amount of money and time that could be spent on the pokies and for players to be able to amend these limits or opt out of them altogether.

Gaming Minister David Harris has received the gambling reform panels report, but he is not yet releasing it. Credit: Nikki Short

The plan, prepared by the Independent Panel for Gaming Reforms three-person executive committee, recommends a system that holds poker machine players identities on a statewide centralised system.
Theres also an equity component  reducing blame on individuals for stress that is caused by a workplace environment or culture.

Research shows that while many organisations are trying to do the right thing, they are often focusing on individual strategies instead of broader ones, says UNSW associate professor Carlo Caponecchia.

Those strategies are often about helping individuals get better at dealing with the things that can harm them at work, he says. But we dont do that for any other hazard in the workplace.

Workplaces dont train employees to desensitise themselves to loud noises or breathe differently to avoid toxic dust, he adds, and the same is true for managing psychosocial risks.

Caponecchia is a member of the Standards Australia Committee which contributed to the development of the Australian and International Standard on psychosocial risks (AS/ISO45003:2021). This standard informs and complements the recent changes to regulations and guidance in Australia.

When people get injured in this way, they are very costly injuries, he says. It can take a long, long time to rehabilitate, and the experience of people returning to work after a psychological injury can be really quite poor.

How organisations can do better

To better manage psychosocial risk, SafeWork NSWs Casey recommends organisations develop a strong psychosocial safety climate.

Leadership commitment to mental health is key, she says.

Caponecchia says that how work is designed is critical. That includes everything from what tasks workers have to do, how they are supervised, the physical environment they work in, and the processes governing their workflows.

UNSW associate professor Carlo Caponecchia.

Thats not to say that we shouldnt do any of those individual strategies, he says. Its just that they shouldnt be the first port of call, or the only thing that were doing.

Casey recommends integrating risk management into business strategy by making it a core part of human resources and health policies. Encouraging feedback from employees can help identify risks early and she advocates for leaders being properly equipped with the skills they need to recognise and address psychosocial risks.

Creating change through upskilling

As well as contributing to legal reform in this area, Caponecchia designed and leads a self-paced online course offered by UNSW Sydney, Managing Psychosocial Risks at Work. The course teaches participants how to understand and address psychosocial risks in their workplaces.

We focus on the redesign of work, he says. [Its about] work redesign strategies for controlling those risks, and we give people an opportunity to have some practice at developing those redesign strategies in ways that are relevant to real situations in their workplaces.

The broad objective is to give participants the skills and confidence they need to know how to identify psychosocial hazards, and manage the risks that can arise.

The course is taken by professionals from a range of organisations and roles, from workplace safety to human resources and consulting. It has also been designed to give participants a practical assessment they can then bring directly into their workplaces.

What were finding is that the assessment is really useful for people to take and continue using as part of their practice. Learning is about change-making. People enjoy that really practical approach, and relevance to their own workplace.
An anonymous donor has gifted $3 million to a Brisbane school  setting a Queensland record for the largest donation to a girls school by a living alumna.

The St Aidans old girl, now in her 80s, attended the Corinda school for only two years. Due to financial pressure on her parents, she left to find paid work at age 15, a scenario she said filled her with sadness and regret.

Loading

She went back to high school later in life and then went to university, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts.

The anonymous donor made the $3 million contribution in the name of the Creeth family to keep a promise to a family friend to keep the name going after the end of a lineage.

I would have loved to continue my schooling at St Aidans, unfortunately I couldnt, but due to my husband and my good fortune, we have been able to send our daughters and granddaughters there, she said.

As a family we have a philosophy of philanthropy, and through the St Aidans Creeth Scholarship I feel a sense of deep satisfaction knowing I can help girls between Year 10 and 12 who are financially disadvantaged, to keep the well-rounded educational experience that we know St Aidans offers.

Principal Toni Riordan said the school community was grateful to the donor for entrusting to us such a large sum for those that wouldnt normally be able to attend.

Earlier this year, we reported St Aidans arguably achieved Brisbanes best Year 12 results. The schools annual fees are more than $27,000.

The schools administrators say they are confident it is a record donation based on Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission website research.
Melbournes heritage will be put at risk and suburbs will be less desirable and filled with soulless high rises if the government pushes ahead with suburban activity centres, the Royal Historical Society of Victoria has warned.

The society has called on its members and local historical groups to oppose the governments planned activity centres, saying housing should not come at the expense of heritage.

Charles Sowerwine, chair of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, in Essendon North, site of one of the governments planned pilot activity centres. Credit: Justin McManus

The societys chair, Charles Sowerwine, wrote to members on Tuesday expressing concern about the impact on heritage overlays and height controls.

Lets support more housing in places where people want to live, Sowerwine said. But places will become far less sought after if we forget what makes them desirable in the first place. If we destroy heritage to build housing, Melbourne will become Hong Kong without the view, a collection of soulless high-rise buildings.
A man died after a tree branch crushed his car at a camping ground in Victorias north, as wild weather hit the state and storms rolled through Melbourne.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued several severe thunderstorm alerts on Wednesday afternoon, warning of damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding around much of Port Phillip Bay, including Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula.

The severe storms drenched parts of Melbourne as they travelled south-east across the city, dumping as much as 40 millimetres of rain in half an hour in some suburbs.

The Sandringham train line was suspended after a tree branch fell on overhead wires at Middle Brighton station.
A former West Australian MP whose political career unravelled following a fake medals scandal has been left fighting for his life after allegedly being bashed at his work.

Barry Urban, whose lies about his qualifications and service history eventually landed him in jail, was attacked at Tyre Brigade in Kelmscott on Tuesday morning.

Witnesses told 9News Perth they overheard Urban in an argument with a customer about a wheel alignment about 8am, before the 55-year-old was allegedly knocked to the ground.

Emergency services arrived a short time later and rushed Urban to Royal Perth Hospital, where he is set to undergo emergency surgery for critical injuries.
During Darkens sentencing hearing on Tuesday, the court heard he told the girl he was looking for his lost puppy and asked her to help find it, but the girl responded that she wasnt meant to speak to strangers.

Ryan Ashley Darken, 39, drove to a southern suburbs primary school on July 21 last year and approached the girl, who was walking to school with her friends.

A Perth man who lured a nine-year-old girl into his car by asking her to help find his lost puppy has been sentenced to almost 11 years in prison.

The court heard the girl got into the car and was driven to nearby bushland where they got out. However, she began screaming as Darken cable-tied her hands and covered her mouth and eyes with duct tape, telling her: shut up, or Ill hurt you really bad.

The girl was later driven to Port Kennedy IGA, where Darken gave her a $5 note and told her to go into the shop and buy him a Coca-Cola.

He drove off, but the girl, crying and distressed and still with cable ties around her wrists, was approached by shoppers who asked if she was OK.

Meanwhile, a parent at the school who witnessed the girl getting into Darkens car took down the number plate and called police and the girls mother, who started frantically looking for her.

Darken was later arrested in Warnbro. He pleaded guilty to several charges following the incident.
The scale of Sydneys housing challenge has been laid bare by new analysis which shows nearly half of all new private spending on residential building is going towards renovations and rebuilds rather than construction of new homes, with the problem particularly acute in the inner city, north shore and eastern suburbs.

The analysis by KPMG urban economist Terry Rawnsley shows NSW languishing behind other states, with just 51 per cent of private spending on new dwellings  a nearly $8 billion decline over the past seven years.

Approvals and completions in Greater Sydney fell to 25,852 and 21,214 over the year to June, 24 per cent and 18 per cent below the five-year average, respectively.

Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia also recorded decreased spending on new buildings compared with 2017-18 levels. NSW was particularly affected, declining by $7.8 billion over this period compared with $870 million for Western Australia.
Basil Zempilas mayoral campaign manager Cam Sinclair facilitated polling that spruiked the Perth Lord Mayor and Liberal candidate for Churchlands as an electoral saviour for the party at the 2025 election.

Sinclair is a longtime Liberal party member and runs Perth agency Ammo Marketing, which is contracted by party HQ to provide digital advertising services during election campaigns as well as building websites like both Zempilas Churchlands campaign website and Liberal leader Libby Mettams website.

Basil Zempilas and Ammo Marketing founder Cam Sinclair (right) during Zempilas Perth mayoral campaign in 2023. Credit: LinkedIn/Cam Sinclair

He confirmed to WAtoday that his agency was behind the Sodali & Co polling but that it was commissioned by an Ammo Marketing client and was provided only to them  not Zempilas.

We outsourced to Sodali on behalf of our client, he said.
WAs regional housing market is once again outperforming its capital city counterpart, leading the way in value growth, rents and rental yields.

The latest CoreLogic Regional Market Update found while the pace of growth has slowed since earlier in the year, WA and Queensland regions continued to dominate the top-performing lists, taking out the top eight spots for quarterly value growth areas.

CoreLogic Australia economist Kaytlin Ezzy said Geraldton recorded the strongest annual increase with dwelling values up 28.7 per cent over the year to October, adding more than $100,000 to the median value.

She said the lifestyle appeal, relative affordability and favourable conditions for investors were driving buyer confidence in these regions.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. Over 600,000 souls embarked on a journey to the vibrant heart of Baku within the framework of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), Trend reports via the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency.

On this account, in this span of time, a symphony of 47,000 bus journeys and a dance of over 30,000 taxi rides unfolded.

Moreover, up to 100 items were discovered en route and were restored to their proprietors," the agency added.

To note, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which ran until November 22, opened at the Baku Olympic Stadium on November 11. It was the largest event organized by Azerbaijan to date and the first time in the region that it was held in Azerbaijan.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties and is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

A total of 198 countries are parties to the Convention. Unless otherwise decided by the parties, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin with its secretariat in Bonn.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
While you can still arrive at Londons Heathrow Airport, flash your Aussie passport and head to the nearest pub for a pint of Old Peculier, those days are about to end. Australians will soon need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK. This is a visa waiver, similar to the ESTA system introduced by the US in 2008.

Australians arriving in the UK from January 8, 2025, will need a new visa-waiver authorisation. Credit: Bloomberg

The new rules

Except for British and Irish citizens, British Overseas Territory Citizens (BOTC) travelling on a BOTC passport, and anyone with permission to enter and stay in the UK, every incoming eligible traveller regardless of age will require an ETA. That includes anyone transiting through the UK. Eligible travellers are those nationals who are considered a low risk of overstaying or a low security risk, and therefore need not apply for an actual visa.

ETAs will be required for travellers with Australian passports starting January 8, 2025, but you can begin the application process now.
London: An original 200-year-old copy of Captain Matthew Flinders account of the first circumnavigation of Australia  complete with handwritten annotations and corrections  is expected to attract bids of more than six figures at a rare book auction in London next month.

The pre-publication first-edition copy of the pioneering navigator and cartographers work, A Voyage to Terra Australis, is among several items among his familys collection  including a mahogany writing slope and books that Flinders took on his journey  to go under the hammer at auction house Christies on December 11.

Matthew Flinders was believed to be on the point of death when the first copies of Terra Australis came off the press. Credit: Marija Ercegovac

The British naval officer is best known as the commander of HMS Investigator, which he used to sail around Australia and map its coastline. At the time the continent was known as New Holland but, while he did not invent the name Australia, Flinders was credited it with popularising it.

The book of his discoveries cemented the name in the public imagination. He died from a long illness the day after it was published on July 19, 1814.
London: Oscar winner Michael Caine has signed it, tech billionaire Elon Musk is promoting it, and now millions of Brits say they agree. Even Keir Starmer says hes not that surprised.

A petition on the UK parliaments website accusing the five-month-old Labour government of breaking promises and calling for a new general election has gathered more than 2 million signatures  the third highest since 2010.

Keir Starmers approval ratings have collapsed since his July election victory. Credit: Getty Images

While it cannot trigger a new election and is unlikely to drive one, parliament considers all petitions that get more than 100,000 signatures for a debate in the House of Commons.

Starmer, who has suffered the biggest fall in personal approval ratings after winning an election of any prime minister in the modern era, has argued that he inherited a lot of problems from the previous government and that he had decided to take the hard decisions first.
Jerusalem: Israel and Hezbollah began a ceasefire on Wednesday in a major step towards ending nearly 14 months of fighting, as a region on edge wonders whether the truce will hold.

Some celebratory gunshots could be heard in Beiruts southern suburbs, battered over the past two months, but no immediate violations of the ceasefire were reported. Israel has said it will attack if the Lebanese militant group breaks the agreement.

Long-displaced residents started returning to their homes, with hundreds of cars making their way into southern Lebanon amid the celebrations, defying a warning from the Israeli military to stay away from previously evacuated areas.

A man who is returning to his village waves as he carries his belongings on his car after the ceasefire. Credit: AP

The ceasefire calls for an initial two-month halt to fighting and requires Hezbollah to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops are to return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor compliance. Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the border south of the Litani River.
Washington: Mexico and Canada have hit back at Donald Trumps tariff plans, warning about the potential economic impact and urging the president-elect to choose co-operation over the prospect of retaliatory trade wars.

In an ominous but unsurprising development this week, Trump announced on social media that he intended to slap heavy tariffs on Americas neighbours and top trading partners as soon as he returns to the White House in January.

Donald Trump speaks on the southern border with Mexico in August. Only a fraction of his beautiful wall was built during his first term  and mainly to replace older dilapidated sections. Credit: AP

On Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) he also tapped former first term administration official and lawyer Jamieson Greer to be his top trade representative to help oversee the policy and rewrite trade rules in Americas favour.

Under Trumps plan, a 25 per cent tariff would be imposed on Canada to the north and Mexico to the south unless they crack down on drugs and illegal immigrants coming across the border.
~Understanding Coral Bleaching and the Plan for Restoration~



As global coral bleaching is prominently taking over coral structures around the world during the months of October & November, recent studies are indicating that

the bleaching may well extend into the month of December for some areas of the Caribbean. Our sea surface temperature in 2023 and 2024 has been higher than the

average between 1991-2020, which is an alarming signal.

On all islands, this affects not only marine biodiversity but also coastal protection, fisheries, and tourism, all of which depend on healthy reefs.

Tadzio Bervoets, a prominent SXM advocate for the Caribbean marine environment, explains: Coral bleaching, caused by stressors such as elevated ocean temperatures, results in corals expelling the algae essential to their survival, leaving them weakened and vulnerable. Without intervention, this process could severely impact the reefs that protect our coastlines and support marine biodiversity here in Sint Maarten.

In response, scientists and conservationists worldwide are introducing advanced restoration techniques, one of these efforts being the biorock technology, which

uses low-voltage electric currents to stimulate coral growth, promoting resilience and faster recovery. Globally, the biorock technology has gained support from

organizations like the French Initiative for Coral Reefs (IFRECOR), with promising results in regions such as the Maldives, Indonesia, the Seychelles but also closer by in St Barth and Turks & Caicos, where it has helped corals withstand environmental stress and regrow more rapidly. Now, the BioRocks project is set to introduce this

technology locally in Sint Maarten.

Although still in its preparatory stages and pending final permits, its foundation is built on these successful applications, suggesting that biorock could offer similar

Resilience benefits Sint Maartens reefs, aiding in their recovery from increasingly frequent bleaching events.

Bervoets adds, The BioRocks project on Sint Maarten/ St Martin is a pivotal initiative for reef restoration. By enhancing coral resilience, this effort strengthens the islands natural defenses against storm surges and coastal erosionpressures that climate change continues to intensify. BioRocks represents a sustainable approach to adaptation, positioning Sint Maarten as a leader in climate resilience and regional restoration.



Building Climate Resilience Through Coral Restoration

Founder of project BioRocks.org, Ronald Duikersloot, adds: "As bleaching events intensify, the BioRocks project aims to strengthen the long-term resilience of our

reefs. Healthy coral ecosystems serve as crucial coastal buffers. BioRocks is a hopeful step toward addressing both environmental and climate challenges,

offering a sustainable model for coral restoration in the Caribbean. As soon as local policies allow, we are ready to Rock!"

Do you want to support and become a Rock star? Please check out BioRocks.org for more information.
HARBOUR VIEW, PHILIPSBURG:--- Today, November 26, 2024, members of the incoming Council of Ministers Cabinet Mercelina II were appointed and sworn in by His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, Mr. Ajamu G. Baly.

Governor Baly gave the following speech:

Government

Prefet of Saint Barthelemy and Saint Martin; Chairlady of Parliament; Members of Parliament; Acting Vice-chairlady of the Council of Advice; Acting Chairlady of the Audit Chamber; Ombudsman; Prime Minister; Ministers; Minister Plenipotentiary; Secretary general of the Council of Minister: Acting Vice-President of the Joint Court of Justice; Chief Public Prosecutor; Acting Chairlady of the Central Voting Bureau; Chairman of the Electoral Council; Commander of the Marines detachment on Sint. Maarten; Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen;

Good morning,

Postulation day for the parliamentary elections of January 11th 2024, was November 22nd 2023. After the elections, the government was sworn in on May 3rd, 2024. That government lost the majority support of Parliament on May 20th, 2024. As a result, snap elections were called and consequently held on August 19th, 2024. We today have just witnessed the oath-taking of the Council of Ministers, who has the support of the majority of the members of Parliament that were sworn in as a result of the August 19th parliamentary elections on September 20th, 2024.

As you can see, and I am sure also agree, based on the sequence of events of the last year or so, St. Maarten is in need of care at this moment. The aforementioned period, so just over a year, has been one of transitioning into an election period, elections, transitioning into the formation period, the formation, transitioning into elections for a second time, elections, transitioning into the formation period, and now today, the completion of yet another formation of government within one year. All of this undeniably taking government's attention away from fully focusing on governing.

And that at a crucial time of recovering, along with the rest of the world, from the economic impact of a pandemic the likes of which the world hadn't seen in over 100 years. And that on top of recovering from a catastrophic hurricane with the intensity and negative economic impact the likes of which St. Maarten had never seen before.

Our country needs care at this moment.

You, Prime Minister, Ministers, Minister of Plenipotentiary, are the group that has been indirectly democratically chosen by the people of St. Maarten to give our country the care that it needs at this moment. I will repeat that sentence and then I will proceed to dissect it as well.

Prime Minister, Ministers, Minister of Plenipotentiary, you are the group that has been indirectly democratically chosen by the people of St. Maarten to give our country the care that it needs at this moment.

 You are the Group', not individuals, so work as such does not operate as nor in silos, so do not take decisions without considering if and how it may affect another ministry.

 'Indirectly Democratically chosen by the people of St. Maarten' you all have just taken the oath here today as Prime Minister, Minister, Minister of Plenipotentiary of your country because a majority in Parliament has of their free will and mandate put their trust in you.

 A mandate that has been bestowed upon that majority in Parliament and Parliament in general by all of the voters and all of the nonvoters of this country. Yes, non voters as well, because some think there are only consequences when you choose, vote, make a choice but alas, being complacent has its consequences as well. But I digress.

Back to dissecting and the main part.

The needed care:

 Our finances are structurally running low, and the pressure on our utilities is high;

 There is an imbalance in the judicial chain, and this is in part why justice, la,w and order are under threat and in need of urgent attention;

 Our environment is a vital part of our very existence and is suffering from years of neglect and abuse;

 Our infrastructure has been in critical condition for some time now;

 Our tourism product is under threat from internal and external force,s namely indecision and competition,n respectively;

 The high cost of living has our people's quality of life steadily dwindling;

 And our future may be lost if we do not tackle the educational, social, and economic ailments plaguing our youth.

Although politics always plays a hand in all that is going on, and although you all are politicians, you are a person first.

We in this country are a people of persons who care about our loved ones, our friends and family, our neighbors, and each other. If you doubt what I am saying, just take a look at our history of Jollification.

So at this crucial moment in time, this moment of administering the needed aid. We need to see, hear, and care for each other's needs and our country's needs. Making the right decisions for all the people of this country and not being complacent about anything. Semper pro grediens, always progressing.

Prime Minister, as you may have noticed, but if it has not been evident, let me clearly say that I am aiming to speak your language. To your colleague ministers as well. The patient is in your care. We are counting on all of you, in line with your oath, our democratic principles such as, but not limited to, good governance and the rule of law, to together as a team give the care needed via sound, cohesive, holistic, and effective policy and in doing so keeping the patient in a stable condition for 4 long years.

Godspeed to all of you on this journey. Congratulations to the people of St. Maarten, and congratulations to each and every one of you. May all of you be granted much wisdom and discernment in your task ahead. God bless you and your families,s and God bless our sweet St. Maarten land. I thank you.

Please join me as we raise our glasses in unison, serving as a sign of our common support of our newly installed council of ministers. Cheers!
PHILIPSBURG:---The Department of Culture extends its deepest condolences to the community of St. Martin, friends, and family of the late Cultural Icon Grand Dame Ruby Bute. Ms. Ruby Bute will surely be missed by all in the Cultural Creative Industry, locally and internationally.

Ruby Bute was born in Aruba of St. Maarten parents, and she was raised in an area called the Village, which was home to settlers who worked at the Lago oil refinery. In the early 1970s, Ruby moved to St. Maarten, her parents homeland. Self-taught, Ruby has painted since the age of 6, but it was not until the age of 40, she had her first one-woman show in 1983; it was the first one-woman show on the island of St. Maarten. She also became the first woman in St. Martin to publish a book of poetry, 'Golden Voices of SMaatin' in 1989, published by House of Nehesi Publishers. The book is a moving tribute to the rich and long oral tradition of St. Martin and the Caribbean islands, a tradition that permeates the identity of its people and shapes everything.

Ruby Bute has earned a reputation, above all, for her warm chronicling of island life. A self-trained and highly successful artist as well as a well-loved teacher, she spends time painting in her studio and running her gallery, the 'Silk Cotton Grove Art Gallery', situated at her home in Friars Bay and home to one of the island's oldest, ancient Silk-Cotton trees. The gallery was opened in 2009 and has welcomed many visitors. It houses a permanent exhibition of Rubys artwork and fine art prints and also the artwork of several local artists. - (excerpt taken from rubybute.com)

Clara Reyes, the Department Head of Culture, also shares her special tribute to Ms. Ruby Bute, Mama Bute has touched many lives from the young pupils that sat at her feet as she taught during her tenure as a visual arts instructor at the John Larmonie Center, to her studio in South Reward and to her home in Friars Bay. Her home in Friars Bay, surrounded by a stretch of ancient silk cotton trees that stand like sentinels whispering melodies in her ears and bringing to her reach many visitors, young and old, that covered generations from different realms, far and wide. The visitors came by droves in tour busses and in motorcades with visiting heads of state, all seeking an audience with the Grand Dame of Culture on St. Martin.

Ruby Bute was able to put together a considerable body of work that has chronicled not only her life story but also the unfolding story of Sweet SMaatin land. Her immense contribution is a comprehensive sweep across the lifespan of St. Martin culture. Her broad range of expertise stretches into the arts of storytelling expressed through the various mediums of Visual Arts, Poetry, Music, and Spoken Word, which has created a legacy that has and will stand the test of time. Always embracing ways to expand her creative art experience, Ms. Bute also graced the theatrical stage as an actress in many productions. Recently, we got to experience her love for patria and share in her patriotism through her unity flag song dedicated to the unity flag of St. Martin.

As a painter, Ruby Bute artistically framed beautiful images through her vision, captured on wooden window shutters, on canvas, on sketchpads, charcoal etchings, pastels, oils, and acrylic paints, all reflecting brilliant colors and textures, capturing the life of Sweet SMaatin. Her paintings captured it all, from everyday life to the fete, the bacchanal, the boisterous slamming of dominos on tables, wakes, and even late-night drumming sessions under the silk cotton trees.

Affectionally called Moeder, she was also well known for having created illustrious imageries of Carnival, the historical string band musicians, Tanny & the Boys and poignant moments of Mother and Child. Miss Bute's artistry adorns many a wall, be they in private homes or exalted walls of embassies and corridors of power.

Award-winning, Royally decorated, most lauded and celebrated in still photographs that graced numerous magazine covers, featured in newspaper articles, recorded in documentaries, as well as academic research projects, Ruby Butes life was a multifaceted living encyclopedia of stored experiences dense and textured through her revered artistry from which we are all able to revisit images of yesteryears.

Ruby Bute has been documenting and internalizing the St Martin story, and her work will stand as a testimony to her enduring love for this island and her country of birth, Aruba. In her recent autobiography, Ruby was able to create a navel string that runs like roots from parents and grandparents that stretches across the length and breadth of the Caribbean floor, celebrating the oceans and waters that connects us. There is no doubt that Ruby Bute, the artist, the mother, aunt, cousin, this SMAATIN woman, was loved, respected, revered, and honored by many, especially the people of Sweet SMaatin Land.

On November 28th, 2024, from 7:00 pm until 10:00 pm, a colorful cultural celebration entitled "A Love Letter to our Dear Ruby will be held at the Silk Cotton Grove Estate in Friars Bay, celebrating the colorful memory of Lady Ruby Bute (Sunrise: January 13th, 1943  Sunset: November 5th, 2024).

The Homegoing Service for Ms. Bute will be held on November 30th, 2024, from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm at the Silk Cotton Grove Estate in Friars Bay. The family of Ruby Bute kindly asks that in lieu of flowers for her memorial service, donations be made to support the Funtopia Youth Initiative Foundation. These contributions will help to carry on Rubys mission of sharing our cultural heritage with future generations.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. Projects for enhancing the well-being of the population continue, said Sahil Babayev, Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, Trend reports.

As part of a plenary session of the Azerbaijani Parliament, the minister discussed the State Social Protection Fund's draft budget for 2025 and brought attention to the fact that next year's expenditures will be 10.5% higher than this year's.

"The average monthly pension for the upcoming year is projected to reach 535 manat [$314.7], while the average old-age pension is expected to be 571 manat [$335.8]. By the end of this year, the average old-age pension is estimated to be 527.3 manat [$310.1].

As a result of eliminating unjustified and fraudulent payments within the pension system, 955 million manat [$561.7] in unnecessary spending were prevented over the first nine months of 2024 without applying indexation. With the indexation, this figure rises to 1.36 billion manat [$800]," Babayev added.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
NATO and Ukraine hold talks over new Russian missile



Brussels, Belgium, Nov 26 (AFP) Nov 26, 2024



Ambassadors from Ukraine and NATO's 32 members meet Tuesday in Brussels over Russia's firing last week of an experimental hypersonic intermediate-range missile.

Russia on Thursday carried out a strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro which President Vladimir Putin said was a test of its new Oreshnik missile.

Putin said the missile attack was in response to Ukraine firing weapons supplied by the United States and Britain into Russia.

The Kremlin leader warned that Moscow felt "entitled" to hit military facilities in countries that allow Ukraine to use their weapons against Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the strike "the latest bout of Russian madness" and appealed for updated air-defence systems to meet the new threat.

Kyiv says it hopes to get "concrete and meaningful outcomes" after calling the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council.

But diplomats and officials at NATO have played down expectations for any major results from the consultations on Tuesday afternoon at the alliance's Brussels headquarters.

The most that is expected is a reiteration of NATO's earlier insistence that Moscow's deployment of the new weaponry will not "deter NATO allies from supporting Ukraine".

The meeting "provides an opportunity to discuss the current security situation in Ukraine and will include briefings from Ukrainian officials via video link," a NATO official said.

The escalating tensions over Ukraine come as questions hang over the future of Western support following the re-election of Donald Trump in main NATO power the United States.

Trump has cast doubt on maintaining Washington's vast military aid for Kyiv and pledged a quick deal to end the war.

"I cannot imagine that it is in the interest of the United States to allow Putin to come out of those possible negotiations as a winner," senior NATO commander Rob Bauer said Monday.

On the battlefield, Ukraine's fatigued troops are struggling to halt advances by Russian forces in the east of the country.

NATO and Ukraine established the joint council in 2023 that allows Kyiv to call meetings with the alliance when it sees fit.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. SAT-SAS-2024 joint exercise held at the Aksaz Naval Base in Marmaris with the participation of the underwater offense and underwater defense units of the Naval Forces of Azerbaijan and Turkiye continues, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense.

According to the plan, on the next day of the exercise, the marine special forces units practically fulfilled the tasks of organizing circular protection and defense while rappelling from a helicopter into the simulated enemy's rear.

Servicemen demonstrated high professionalism during the fulfillment of the assigned tasks.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
US military aircraft flies over sensitive Taiwan Strait



Taipei, Nov 26 (AFP) Nov 26, 2024



A US military patrol plane flew over politically sensitive waters separating China and Taiwan on Tuesday, as the United States seeks to reinforce the airspace as international.

The United States and its allies regularly cross through the 180-kilometre (112-mile) Taiwan Strait, either by ship or aircraft, angering Beijing.

China considers Taiwan to be part of its territory and claims jurisdiction over the body of water separating the two.

To assert its claims, Beijing regularly deploys fighter jets and warships around the island, while opposing transits by military ships and aircraft belonging to the United States and its allies.

"A US Navy P-8A Poseidon transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace on Nov. 26, 2024 (local time)," the US Navy's 7th Fleet said in a statement.

"The aircraft's transit of the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific."

China on Tuesday said it had monitored the aircraft and condemned the flight for being "openly hyped".

"US remarks distort legal principles, confuse the public and mislead international perception," said Cao Jun, a senior colonel and spokesman for China's Eastern Theatre Air Force, in a statement.

Beijing had "organized naval and air forces to monitor and guard the trajectory of the US aircraft and effectively responded and dealt with it", Cao added.

During a previous transit by a US P-8A Poseidon in September, the Chinese military tailed the aircraft.

The United States is Taiwan's most important security partner, but like most other countries it does not have official diplomatic relations with Taipei.
China deploys forces as US aircraft flies over Taiwan Strait



Taipei, Nov 26 (AFP) Nov 26, 2024



Beijing said Tuesday it deployed air and naval forces to monitor a US military plane as it flew over politically sensitive waters separating China and Taiwan.

The United States and its allies regularly cross through the 180-kilometre (112-mile) Taiwan Strait, either by ship or aircraft, to reinforce the international status of the waterway, angering Beijing.

China considers Taiwan to be part of its territory and claims jurisdiction over the body of water separating the two.

To assert its claims, Beijing regularly deploys fighter jets and warships around the island, while opposing transits by military ships and aircraft belonging to the United States and its allies.

"A US Navy P-8A Poseidon transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace on Nov. 26, 2024 (local time)," the US Navy's 7th Fleet said in a statement.

"The aircraft's transit of the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific."

China said it had monitored the aircraft and condemned the flight for being "openly hyped".

"US remarks distort legal principles, confuse the public and mislead international perception," said Cao Jun, a senior colonel and spokesman for China's Eastern Theatre Air Force, in a statement.

Beijing had "organised naval and air forces to monitor and guard the trajectory of the US aircraft and effectively responded and dealt with it", Cao added.

During a previous transit by a US P-8A Poseidon in September, the Chinese military tailed the aircraft.

The United States is Taiwan's most important security partner, but like most other countries it does not have official diplomatic relations with Taipei.

Taiwan's defence ministry said Tuesday that the US P-8A aircraft flew from south to north through the Taiwan Strait in the morning.

The Taiwan military "fully monitored the movements in the surrounding sea and airspace, and the situation remained normal," the ministry said in a statement.
'Record' drone barrage pummels Ukraine as missile tensions seethe



Kyiv, Ukraine, Nov 26 (AFP) Nov 26, 2024



Russia launched a record 188 drones at Ukraine overnight, Kyiv said Tuesday, amid growing international tensions after Russia fired a nuclear-capable missile that could reach European cities.

The Kremlin declined on Tuesday to confirm that Ukrainian forces had again launched US-provided long-range ATACMS at Russia this week but blamed Washington for escalating the conflict nonetheless.

Moscow and Kyiv have been ratcheting up their drone and missile broadsides, with Ukraine recently firing US long-range missiles at Russia and the Kremlin retaliating with an experimental hypersonic missile.

The barrage came as ambassadors from Ukraine and NATO's 32 members were due to meet in Brussels over Russia's firing last week of the intermediate-range missile on the city of Dnipro.

"During the night attack, the enemy launched a record number of Shahed strike unmanned aerial vehicles and unidentified drones," the air force said Tuesday, referring to Iranian-designed drones and putting the overall number fired at 188.

The air force said it had shot down 76 Russian drones in 17 regions, while another 95 were either lost from their radars or downed by electronic jamming defensive systems. It did not specify what happened to the remainder.

Moscow also fired four Iskander-M ballistic missiles, the air force said.

"Unfortunately, critical infrastructure facilities were hit, private and apartment buildings were damaged in several regions," a statement said.



- Explosions in Kyiv -



AFP journalists heard explosions ring out over the capital, while Kyiv city officials said the air alert had lasted five hours and 10 Russian drones were shot down there.

In the western Ternopil region, which is among those spared the worst of the fighting, authorities said drones had damaged a "critical infrastructure facility," without elaborating.

They said however that the attack had disrupted electricity in the city of Ternopil and surrounding towns, and that engineers were working to stabilise supplies.

Putin had said the new missile attack last week was in response to Ukraine firing weapons supplied by the United States and Britain into Russia.

The Kremlin leader warned that Moscow felt it had the right to hit military facilities in countries that allow Ukraine to use their weapons against Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week called the strike "the latest bout of Russian madness" and appealed for updated air-defence systems to meet the new threat.

Kyiv says it hopes to get "concrete and meaningful outcomes" after calling the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council.

But diplomats and officials at NATO have played down expectations for any major results from the consultations on Tuesday afternoon at the alliance's Brussels headquarters.

The most that is expected is a reiteration of NATO's earlier insistence that Moscow's deployment of the new weaponry will not "deter NATO allies from supporting Ukraine".



- Russian forces advance -



The meeting "provides an opportunity to discuss the current security situation in Ukraine and will include briefings from Ukrainian officials via video link," a NATO official said.

The Kremlin dismissed the meeting saying it was unlikely any significant decisions would be taken.

On the battlefield, Ukraine's fatigued troops are struggling to halt advances by Russian forces in the east of the country.

Russia said Tuesday its troops had captured another village in the Kharkiv region, in an area where the front line had been relatively stable until recently.

The defence ministry said its units had "liberated" the settlement of Kopanky," a village near the Ukrainian-held city of Kupiansk that was previously captured by Russian forces at the start of the 2022 offensive before being re-taken by Ukraine later that year.

Moscow also on Tuesday confirmed it had detained a British man it captured fighting for Ukraine in Kyiv's offensive into Russia's western Kursk region.

A court in the region said it had on Monday ordered James Scott Rhys Anderson be remanded in custody, alleging he had "participated in armed hostilities on the territory of the Kursk region".
Russia vows response to latest Ukraine ATACMS strikes



Moscow, Nov 26 (AFP) Nov 26, 2024



Moscow's military on Tuesday pledged a response to fresh Ukrainian air attacks inside Russia using US-supplied ATACMS missiles.

Ukraine firing the long-range missiles into Russia for the first time last week prompted a furious reaction from Moscow.

Russia's defence ministry on Tuesday said Ukraine had carried out fresh strikes -- on November 23 and 25 -- using ATACMS.

"Retaliatory actions are being prepared," it said in a post on Telegram, without elaborating.

The United States gave Ukraine permission to use the weapons to hit Russian territory earlier this month after months of requests from Kyiv.

In a rare admission, Russia said the fresh strikes had caused damage to military hardware and wounded some of its personnel on the ground.

A strike on the Kursk Vostochny air base wounded two servicemen, the defence ministry said, while a strike on an air defence battery damaged a radar system and also caused "casualties".

It said three of the five missiles fired in the first strike were shot down, while seven of the eight used in the second were destroyed.

Moscow rarely provides such specific details on Ukrainian aerial attacks and almost never admits missiles have reached their intended target.

The defence ministry also posted photos of what it said were the missile fragments, showing large casings with English-language inscriptions on the side.

AFP was unable to immediately verify the images.

The strikes come with tensions having ratched up dramatically in the near three-year conflict over the last few weeks.

Putin last week signed a decree lowering the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons, days before launching the nuclear-capable hypersonic Oreshnik missile at Ukraine.
Israel pounds Beirut as security cabinet to discuss ceasefire



Jerusalem, Nov 26 (AFP) Nov 26, 2024



Israel's security cabinet was set to discuss a proposed ceasefire in its war with Hezbollah in Lebanon Tuesday afternoon, as a hail of air strikes encircled south Beirut in what state media called a "belt of fire".

The United States, European Union, United Nations and G7, among others, have pushed for a halt to the long-running hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which escalated into full-scale war in late September.

But as the pressure for a truce has intensified, so too have air raids and ground battles between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Waves of strikes pounded Hezbollah's south Beirut stronghold Tuesday after a flurry of Israeli evacuation warnings, AFPTV footage showed, in the heaviest raids since Israel's air campaign escalated.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said that "a belt of fire has encircled (the city's) southern suburbs" as raids targeted Burj al-Barajneh, Haret Hreik and Hadath.

The NNA reported that another strike in the central "Nweiri area in Beirut destroyed a four-storey building housing displaced people". It killed three people and injured 26, the health ministry said.

Rola Jaafar, who lives in the building opposite, said: "We were blown away and the walls fell on top of us."

Israel's military said it attacked 20 Hezbollah "terror targets" in the Beirut area, including command centres, "weapons storage facilities" and "components of Hezbollah's financial system".

It also said it had hit 30 targets in south Lebanon since the morning, and troops had "engaged in close-quarters combat with terrorists" and destroyed hidden weapons caches during ground raids in the Litani River region.

On the diplomatic front, Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said the security cabinet would meet later Tuesday to discuss a ceasefire deal, though she declined "to go into details about it because of the sensitivity of the issue".

An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said previously the cabinet would make its decision on Tuesday evening.

The United States and France have led the efforts to broker a ceasefire, and US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Monday talks had reached a "point where we're close".

G7 foreign ministers called Tuesday for an "immediate ceasefire" in Lebanon, saying in a statement: "Now is the time to conclude a diplomatic settlement."

Britain also called for a truce, saying this was "the only way to restore security" for civilians in Lebanon and northern Israel, while Germany said a deal was "within reach".

US news outlet Axios reported that the draft agreement included a 60-day transition period.

During that time, Israeli forces would withdraw, the Lebanese army would redeploy near the border and Hezbollah would move its heavy weapons north of the Litani River, Axios said.

A US-led committee would oversee implementation, with provisions allowing Israel to act against imminent threats if Lebanese forces failed to intervene.

Defence Minister Israel Katz told the UN's Lebanon envoy Tuesday that Israel would have "zero tolerance" when defending its security interests, even after a truce.

"If you do not act, we will do it, forcefully," Katz told Janine Hennis-Plasschaert during a meeting in Tel Aviv, a statement from his office said.



- Deal a 'mistake' -



Israeli media have reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to endorse the US ceasefire proposal.

The war in Lebanon followed nearly a year of limited cross-border exchanges of fire initiated by Hezbollah.

The Lebanese group said it was acting in support of Hamas after the Palestinian group's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked the war in Gaza.

Lebanon says at least 3,799 people have been killed in the country since October 2023, most of them in the past several weeks.

On the Israeli side, the Lebanon hostilities have killed at least 82 soldiers and 47 civilians, authorities say.

The initial exchanges forced tens of thousands of Israelis from their homes, and Israeli officials have said they are fighting so they can return safely.

Some northern residents questioned whether that would be possible under a ceasefire.

"In my opinion, it would be a serious mistake to sign an agreement as long as Hezbollah has not been completely eliminated," said Maryam Younnes, 29, a student from Maalot-Tarshiha.

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir warned on X that a Lebanon ceasefire would be a "historic missed opportunity to eradicate Hezbollah".

But EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Israel had "no more excuses" to refuse a deal.



- 'Scavenging among the rubble' -



Sustained efforts this year by mediators to secure a truce and hostage-release deal in the Gaza war have failed.

Qatar early this month said it was suspending its mediation role until the warring sides showed "seriousness".

In Gaza, the civil defence agency said Tuesday that 11 people were killed in nighttime Israeli strikes across the Palestinian territory.

With the violence showing no signs of stopping, Gazans were left "scavenging among the rubble" for food, said Louise Wateridge, spokeswoman for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.

Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel last year resulted in the deaths of 1,207 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

That toll includes a soldier wounded during Hamas's attack who died Tuesday from his injuries more than a year later, the military said.

Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed 44,249 people in Gaza, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry that the United Nations considers reliable.

burs-dv/smw/srm
Drones spotted flying near US Air Force bases in UK



London, Nov 26 (AFP) Nov 26, 2024



The US Air Force (USAF) on Tuesday said that there had been further sightings overnight of drones flying near bases in the UK, adding it had not yet identified them as hostile.

"We can confirm there were sightings yesterday (Monday) during nighttime hours and can only confirm that the number fluctuated, and varied between the bases over the night," said a USAF in Europe spokesperson, according to a statement sent to AFP by the 100th Air Refueling Wing from its Mildenhall base.

Mildenhall, in eastern England, is one of three bases where drones have been spotted intermittently since November 20.

The other two are the nearby RAF Lakenheath and RAF Feltwell.

The USAF said on Monday that "small unmanned aerial systems were spotted in the vicinity of and over Royal Air Force Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell between Nov. 20 and Nov. 24."

The drones ranged in sizes and configurations, it added.

In Tuesday's update, the USAF said that there had been no impact to the bases' residents or infrastructure, and that the drones "have not been identified as hostile".

"However they are still continuously being monitored to ensure the safety and security of the installation," it added.

A spokesman for the UK's Ministry of Defence said that it took "threats seriously" and was supporting the USAF response.
Gaza's civil defence says 22 killed in Israeli strikes



Gaza City, Palestinian Territories, Nov 26 (AFP) Nov 26, 2024



Gaza's civil defence agency said Tuesday 22 people were killed in Israeli air strikes and shelling of the Palestinian territory, including 11 killed by a strike on a school-turned-shelter for displaced civilians.

"At least 11 Palestinians were killed and more than 40 injured in an Israeli air strike that targeted Al-Hurriya School, which houses thousands of displaced peo

The Israeli army said it struck "Hamas terrorists who were operating inside a command and control centre in Gaza City", adding that it "was embedded inside a compound that previously served as the 'Al-Hurriya' School".

Palestinian militant group Hamas condemned the strike as a "new crime".

Earlier on Tuesday, the agency said 11 people were killed in overnight Israeli air strikes and shelling.

In the northern city of Jabalia, seven people were killed and several wounded in an air strike on a residential building, civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP.

Another person was killed in a strike on a house in nearby Beit Lahia, which along with Jabalia has been the focus of a major Israeli military operation since October 6.

Two people were killed in shelling of Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, Bassal said.

In the southern city of Rafah, an air strike killed one person and wounded several, he added.

The Gaza war began with Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7 last year, which resulted in the deaths of 1,207 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

The figure was updated after an Israeli soldier wounded in the attacks died from his injuries on Tuesday.

Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed 44,249 people in Gaza, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry that the United Nations considers reliable.
Israel pounds Beirut as security cabinet discusses ceasefire plan



Jerusalem, Nov 26 (AFP) Nov 26, 2024



Israel's security cabinet convened to discuss a proposed ceasefire in its war with Hezbollah in Lebanon on Tuesday, as a flurry of air strikes hit central Beirut.

The United States, European Union, United Nations and G7, among others, have pushed for a halt to the long-running hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which escalated into full-scale war in late September.

But as the pressure for a truce has intensified, so too have air strikes and ground battles between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Waves of strikes pounded Hezbollah's south Beirut stronghold after a flurry of Israeli evacuation warnings, AFPTV footage showed, in the heaviest raids since Israel's air campaign escalated.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said that "a belt of fire has encircled (the city's) southern suburbs" as raids targeted Burj al-Barajneh, Haret Hreik and Hadath.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that three strikes hit the central Nweiri neighbourhood and destroyed a "four-storey building housing displaced people". The health ministry said the first strike killed seven people and wounded 37.

"We were blown away and the walls fell on top of us," said Rola Jaafar, who lives in the building opposite.

The Israeli army warned residents of four neighbourhoods of central Beirut to evacuate their homes, the first such warnings it had issued for the city centre in two months of war.

Waves of strikes pounded Hezbollah's south Beirut stronghold after a flurry of Israeli evacuation warnings, AFPTV footage showed, in the heaviest raids since Israel's air campaign escalated.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said that "a belt of fire has encircled (the city's) southern suburbs" as raids targeted Burj al-Barajneh, Haret Hreik and Hadath.

Hezbollah lawmaker Amin Sherri, speaking to reporters at the scene of the strike, accused Israel of "seeking revenge on supporters of the resistance and on all Lebanese" ahead of a possible ceasefire.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli military said it had attacked 20 Hezbollah targets in the Beirut area, including command centres, "weapons storage facilities" and "components of Hezbollah's financial system".

It also said it had hit 30 targets in south Lebanon since the morning, and troops had "engaged in close-quarters combat with terrorists" and destroyed hidden weapons caches during ground raids in the Litani River region.

The military later said at least 20 projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory. Some of them were intercepted.



- Security cabinet meeting -



Israel's security cabinet gathered in Tel Aviv to begin discussing the proposed truce in Lebanon, an official in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office told AFP on Tuesday afternoon.

After the meeting, the prime minister was to issue a public statement, scheduled for 8 pm (1800 GMT), his office said.

The United States and France have spearheaded the truce efforts, and G7 foreign ministers called on Tuesday for an "immediate ceasefire", saying in a statement: "Now is the time to conclude a diplomatic settlement."

US news outlet Axios reported that the draft agreement included a 60-day transition period.

During that time, Israeli forces would withdraw, the Lebanese army would deploy along the border and Hezbollah would pull its heavy weapons back north of the Litani River, some 30kilometres (20 miles) from the frontier, Axios said.

A US-led committee would oversee implementation, with provisions allowing Israel to act against imminent threats if Lebanese forces failed to intervene.

Defence Minister Israel Katz told the UN's Lebanon envoy Tuesday that Israel would have "zero tolerance" when defending its security interests, even after a truce.

"If you do not act, we will do it, forcefully," Katz told Janine Hennis-Plasschaert during a meeting in Tel Aviv, a statement from his office said.

Israeli media have reported that Netanyahu is likely to endorse the US ceasefire proposal.



- Deal a 'mistake' -



The war in Lebanon followed nearly a year of limited cross-border exchanges of fire begun by Hezbollah.

The Lebanese group said it was acting in support of Hamas after the Palestinian group's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked the war in Gaza.

Lebanon says at least 3,799 people have been killed in the country since October 2023, most of them in the past several weeks.

On the Israeli side, the hostilities with Hezbollah have killed at least 82 soldiers and 47 civilians, authorities say.

The initial exchanges forced tens of thousands of Israelis from their homes, and Israeli officials have said they are fighting so they can return safely.

Some northern residents questioned whether that would be possible under a ceasefire.

"In my opinion, it would be a serious mistake to sign an agreement as long as Hezbollah has not been completely eliminated," said Maryam Younnes, 29, a student from Maalot-Tarshiha.

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir warned on X that a Lebanon ceasefire would be a "historic missed opportunity to eradicate Hezbollah".

But EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Israel had "no more excuses" to refuse a deal.



- 'Scavenging among the rubble' -



Sustained efforts this year by mediators to secure a truce and hostage-release deal in the Gaza war have failed.

In Gaza, the civil defence agency said Tuesday that 22 people were killed in Israeli shelling and strikes across the Palestinian territory, including 11 killed by a strike on a school housing the displaced.

With the violence showing no signs of stopping, Gazans were left "scavenging among the rubble" for food, said Louise Wateridge, spokeswoman for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.

Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel last year resulted in the deaths of 1,207 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed 44,249 people in Gaza, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry that the United Nations considers reliable.

burs-smw/kir
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. The Southern Gas Corridor does not transport Russian gas to the EU, said Tim McPhie, Spokesperson for Climate Action and Energy at the European Commission, addressing unfounded claims against Baku regarding the export of Russian gas, Trend reports.

"The Southern Gas Corridor, which supplies the EU markets, is only connected to Azerbaijani gas fields, not to the broader Azerbaijani national gas system. So therefore, the Southern Gas Corridor does not transport Russian gas to the EU.

The information we have is that Azerbaijan imported less than 1 bcm of gas per year from Russia for its domestic consumption in the last two years, while Azerbaijan is exporting around 24 bcm of gas in total, about half of which goes to the EU market. So as I said, that's our overall objective on diversifying away from Russian gas is very clear, and I think the answer there on the origins of the gas that is imported from Azerbaijan is also very clear," he said at a daily briefing.

In July 2022, Azerbaijan and the EU reached an agreement to double gas supplies through the Southern Gas Corridor to 20 bcm annually by 2027, up from current levels.

The Southern Gas Corridor began delivering Azerbaijani gas to Europe on December 31, 2020. It connects the Caspian Sea region to European markets via Georgia and Turkiye.

The project, which cost $33 billionsignificantly lower than the initially forecasted $45 billionis expected to recover its capital expenditures within 8 to 10 years.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. bp is pleased to announce two new Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkiye (AGT) leadership team member appointments.

Chingiz Hajiyev will take on the role of vice-president business development Caspian effective January 2025, based in Baku.

In his new role Chingiz will be a member of bps global oil and gas business development leadership team, reporting to Andy McAuslan, vice president and head of business development, oil & gas. He will specifically focus on bps AGT regional business and will represent business development function on the AGT regional leadership team.

Currently Chingiz is seconded to bp's Incorporated Joint Venture in Iraq (BECL) as chief financial officer for the Rumaila Operating Organization.

Chingiz joined bp in 1998 and worked in a wide range of commercial and financial roles, including business development manager for Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli, business development manager for AGT new access, and Shah Deniz area planning and commercial manager.

Stuart Shaw will take on the role of vice president, production for the Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkiye (AGT) region effective 2 December 2024. In this role Stuart will replace Elkhan Mammadov who will move to bps London offices as senior vice president responsible for managing bps global upstream production activities.

In his new role Stuart will become a member of the AGT regional business leadership team.

Stuart currently serves as vice president production, integration and transformation in the bp central team. His key responsibilities include designing and implementing the production strategy, leading the central production management unit, and driving base management and production excellence across bps global portfolio.

Stuart joined bp in 1998 and has since held a variety of operational and base production management roles across the North Sea, Alaska and Egypt. In addition to holding core operational leadership roles such as offshore installation manager and operations manager, Stuart has also led strategic transformation programmes and overseen the safe and efficient start-up of several bp major projects in the North Sea and Egypt. Prior to his current role, Stuart was vice president, production for North Africa.
But we arrived to the reshoot and it was a better film in a lot of of ways. Other than Halyna. But for now, I want all things Rust to just leave my windshield, so I can go and do other things and be a father to my children.
I'm sorry, but ADHD has become a scam that is wildly overdiagnosed and an excuse for poor behaviour

I'm sorry, but ADHD has become a scam that is wildly overdiagnosed
Judge Richardson said the fire was not as serious as another blaze started earlier that afternoon outside the fire door of the hotel, but the vigorous blaze still posed a serious danger to police and to residents in the houses behind the generator.
A plan for his release presented to the panel was also deemed not robust enough to manage him once he left prison as he retained a propensity to radicalise others  including in any accommodation he is released to or any other person with whom he may come in contact  and there was insufficient evidence to suggest there had been any change in his extremist mindset.
Asked if that included contractors, he said: We are not committing UK troops on the ground to Ukraine, but we continue to support Ukraine with training and military assistance, and we have been absolutely clear that we will continue to do that for as long as is required and is needed.
Ms Ferguson, a founding member of the Northern Ireland Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group, was the final witness to give evidence to module three of the inquiry, which is examining the impact of the pandemic on healthcare systems across the UK.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. The Turan E-Commerce and Export Forum is unfurling its sails in Azerbaijan for the very first time, Trend reports.

Put together by the Founder Club and the Azerbaijan Franchising Association, this forum is all about boosting the economic engine of Azerbaijan and shining a spotlight on national brands in the global arena.

Will be updated
And there are other advantages. I have long thought that the Advocate General seemed a remote figure on the Scottish legal landscape and it is my view that if you are representing Scotlands interests it is vital to be rooted in that nation and aware of what those living there want and need.
In response to the hostile actions of the British side, a decision was made to include on the Russian stop list a number of representatives of the political establishment, the military bloc, high-tech enterprises, and the British journalistic corps who have demonstrated themselves to be anti-Russian, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Contrary to previous reports, these standard dates are the only ones that will be given. It had been suggested back in November that extra dates were being put aside to mark 80 years since Victory in Europe (VE) Day and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day in 1945.
It was reported that four bodies were then found along with three survivors, who were two Belgians and an Egyptian. A fourth and fifth person were later found alive. It is understood they had been in the water for more than 30 hours.
The ceasefire deal was reached on Tuesday, clearing the way for an end to a conflict that has killed thousands of people since it was ignited by the Gaza war last year, was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities, US president Joe Biden said at the White House.
It was previously reported that police in Laos had 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.
The BAFTA actor and Oliver were spotted walking hand-in-hand through Bologna, and fans recognised the couple at a film and photography library, where they posed for selfies, as seen in photos obtained by The Sun.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 26. Kazakhstan's delegation is gearing up to tighten the bonds with China as they set the stage for the upcoming Central Asia-China Summit, Trend reports.

A delegation from Kazakhstan, led by State Advisor Yerlan Karin, participated in events and meetings in the People's Republic of China.

Yerlan Karin met with the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Wang Huning, and the Head of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Li Shulei.

During the meetings, the participants introduced each other to the main areas of work in the socio-economic and cultural-humanitarian spheres, discussed ongoing reforms, and planned joint events to coincide with the second "Central Asia - China" Summit in Kazakhstan. Yerlan Karin also met with the President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Gao Xiang, and delivered a welcoming speech at the first Forum of Analytical Centers of Kazakhstan and China.

Additionally, a delegation of leaders from Kazakhstan's state-owned television companies familiarized themselves with the activities of China's largest media corporation, China Media Group. At this meeting, cooperation in the media sector and the implementation of joint projects were discussed.

Following the meetings, the State Advisor expressed his gratitude to his Chinese colleagues for organizing the events, noting that, thanks to the leaders of both countries, relations between Kazakhstan and China have reached the level of a permanent, comprehensive strategic partnership.

Earlier, during a working visit by Kazakhstan's Prime Minister, Olzhas Bektanov, to the People's Republic of China, 8 commercial agreements were signed between Kazakhstan and China, totaling $2.5 billion. The main goal of the visit was to implement agreements reached between Kazakhstan's President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and Chinese President, Xi Jinping, to double the volume of bilateral trade from the historic record of $41 billion last year.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. The threshold of financial fortitude for non-banking credit organizations (NBCOs), those commercial entities woven into the fabric of Azerbaijan's economic tapestry, has been elevated, Trend reports.

The requirement was raised from 300,000 manat ($176,470) to one million manat ($590,000) following a new decree signed by Governor of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) Taleh Kazimov in connection with "Rules for prudential regulation of NBCO activities" approved by the CBA Board.

According to the decree, the minimum capital for an NBCO set up as a non-commercial legal entity was also determined in the amount of 100,000 manat ($59,000).

Meanwhile, the decree prescribed to determine the structure of the capital in accordance with Article 1.0.7 of the law and include only cash-paid financial instruments in the capital.

When calculating the capital, the following deductions were prescribed to be made from it:

- the net value of intangible assets (taking into account depreciation);

- the amount of deferred tax assets as defined by International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS);

- investments in the capital of subsidiaries and other legal entities;

- reserves created for satisfactory assets in the calculation of equity are not deducted from the capital.

The CBA Financial Markets Legal Support Department has been tasked to ensure the submission of this decree to the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan within three days for inclusion in the State Register of Legal Acts of Azerbaijan.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Deposits of non-government resident customers rose by 1.2 percent month on month to RON 601,965.5 million, while the annual growth rate was 9.8 percent (4.9 percent in real terms), according to National Bank of Romania (BNR) data released on Tuesday.





RON-denominated deposits of residents, representing 70.7 percent of deposits of non government customers, picked up by 1.1 percent to RON 425,783.6 million month on month. In year-on-year comparison, they advanced 13.1 percent (8.0 percent in real terms).RON-denominated deposits of other sectors (non-financial corporations and non-monetary financial institutions) advanced 0.7 percent (to RON 182,590.0 million) month on month and rose by 7.3 percent (2.5 percent in real terms) year on year.Foreign currency-denominated deposits of other sectors picked up by 3.1 percent against September 2024 to RON 55,976.2 million when expressed in RON (similar evolution when expressed in EUR). Compared to October 2023, the indicator rose by 6.7 percent when expressed in RON (6.5 percent when expressed in EUR).
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. Azerbaijan has disclosed the expenditure of the Unemployment Insurance Fund for 2025, Trend reports.

The budget of the Unemployment Insurance Fund was discussed during a session of the Azerbaijani Parliament.

The document reveals that the Fund's budget for 2025 is set at 260.7 million manat ($153.3 million).

The sources of financing for these expenditures are outlined as follows:

- The budget revenues of the Unemployment Insurance Fund for 2025 amount to 206.4 million manat ($121.4 million).

- An additional 54.3 million manat ($31.9 million) will be allocated from the reserve of the Unemployment Insurance Fund, which is set to be created by January 2025.

The Fund is governed by the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Unemployment Insurance, enacted on August 7, 2017. The aforementioned law establishes the organizational, legal, and economic principles of unemployment insurance and governs the relationships among the stakeholders involved in unemployment insurance.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BELLEFONTAINE NEIGHBORS  The pool in the public recreation complex here on Monday was bustling with senior residents who had waited weeks to return to their water aerobics classes and see old friends.

It was like we just had a family reunion, said Ron Roseman, 71, as he hugged the citys mayor on his walk out of the Bellefontaine Neighbors community center.

It was the first day in a month that the public complex, and city hall next door, were open to the public. Employees in this city of 10,370 people walked off the job Oct. 25 to protest a group of aldermen whom the workers blamed for making their jobs untenable.

Among other issues, employees said aldermen had for months blocked the mayors attempts to set a new budget for the year, including an annual pay raise employees were promised two years ago.

But instead of having to resolve the budget impasse, Mayor Dinah Tatman said Monday the city will cover the pay raises using surplus money in the existing budget.

The budget, set in 2022, includes salaries for open positions that were never filled  and Tatman said she remembered she could transfer that funding to other departments for their needs, including employee raises.

Asked why Tatman didnt use the maneuver last month, the mayor said she forgot it was possible until she came across a March email from the citys former treasurer detailing how it was previously done.

I literally forgot, about the email, Tatman said in an interview in city hall Monday. She said she was trying to figure out alternative solutions to the budget impasse when she realized the transfer was a possibility.

Board President James Thomas, who leads a majority with three other aldermen opposed to Tatman, declined comment.

Thomas last week accused the mayor of using the walkout to pressure the aldermen and then ordering employees back to work after it failed.

Tatman on Monday said such a maneuver could have helped avoid a key issue behind the shutdown. But she blamed her opponents on the board who she said blocked the budget, which was supposed to be approved before the start of the fiscal year last July, without offering any compromise.

And she denied any charge she orchestrated the walkout for political purposes. Employees last year agreed to her request to forego their annual pay raise last year because of budget constraints. When they decided to walk out, she said, she felt she needed to support their decision.

What benefit do I gain from a city shutdown? Tatman said. Why would I agree to something that makes me look bad? A shutdown was a mark on my administration. But I had to deal with it because I wanted to support my employees.

Martha Snead, aquatics director for 30 years, said she had always tried to ignore politics in city hall and get along with everyone. But then politics made her and other employees jobs unworkable.

The city hasnt had an updated budget since 2022, forcing departments to stick to the same spending plan. Key jobs have gone unfilled, including a human resources director, finance director, treasurer and permanent police chief.

At one point, employees briefly went without health insurance coverage because the city hadnt paid the insurance bill on time, Snead said. And when employees left their jobs, the positions remained vacant.

Things in general were not running like they should, she said. How can any department operate without a working budget?

The walkout was a last resort, Snead said.

Our goal was to do what was best for employees and residents and make them aware of the dysfunction here in municipal government and how it was holding us back from giving residents services, she said.

Back in city hall, two residents visiting the building to talk to police about a neighborhood concern said they were unaware of the shutdown. They hadnt had any reason to call up to or visit city hall.

But Tracy Ray said she had been waiting for weeks to visit city hall to get an occupancy permit. Ray, of Pagedale, plans to move into Bellefontaine Neighbors next weekend. She read news reports Monday morning that the city was back up and running.

As soon as I saw that on the news, she said, I scrambled to get here.




SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here.

To test your understanding of Social Security, try this short quiz:

1. How much money is in the Social Security trust fund?

2. How much money have you saved in your Social Security retirement account?

3. How much money are you guaranteed to receive in monthly benefits when you retire?

The answer to all three questions is the same: None.

Let's take them in turn.

1. There is no money in the Social Security trust fund. It is true that the Social Security trustees reported holding "asset reserves" of $2.8 trillion at the end of 2023. But those assets are an illusion. Social Security doesn't own $2.8 trillion in gold bullion or shares of stock or real estate or cash. All it has are Treasury bonds  IOUs from the federal government for money that the government has already spent. Between 1983 and 2009, the Social Security system ran surpluses, collecting $2.8 trillion more in payroll taxes than it paid out in benefits. But that money wasn't saved. It wasn't walled off in a lockbox to fund benefits for future retirees. It was simply added to the government's general revenues and used for other federal programs. In other words, the government lent itself the money in exchange for a promise to pay itself back  the equivalent of writing yourself a check to deposit in your checking account. The IOUs in the trust fund are merely an accounting device, nothing more.

As the Office of Management and Budget acknowledged in a candid 2000 report, Social Security's trust fund balances "do not consist of real economic assets that can be drawn down in the future.... Instead, they are claims on the Treasury that, when redeemed, will have to be financed by raising taxes, borrowing from the public, or reducing benefits or other expenditures."

2. You have no money saved in your Social Security retirement account. For many years, the Social Security Administration has provided American workers with an annual personalized statement listing their earnings history and the amount of Social Security (and Medicare) taxes paid over the course of their working career. Many Americans imagine that their Social Security number is linked to the funds that they have been paying into the system since they earned their first paycheck. They're wrong about that, but they can hardly be blamed for believing it.

From the start, Social Security was promoted  falsely but persuasively  as a straightforward pension fund. "We have set up a savings account for the old age of the worker," Franklin D. Roosevelt told Pennsylvania voters in 1936. He said the accounts, to be funded with contributions from both employers and employees, would be "held by the government solely for the benefit of the worker in his old age." FDR was propagating a fable countless Americans have embraced ever since  that the money they pay into Social Security has been saved and invested on their behalf, to be returned to them in monthly benefit checks when they retire. That has never been true. Social Security is a pay-as-you-go scheme: Benefits disbursed to retirees today are funded not by the money withheld from their paychecks through the years but from the payroll taxes collected from current workers.

3. You are not guaranteed any amount of money in benefits when you retire. For all their differences during the presidential campaign, Donald Trump and Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were in adamant agreement on one thing: that Social Security benefits are sacrosanct and must not be cut by "a single penny." But retirees have no ironclad right to that monthly check. "Congress can change the rules" whenever it wants to, as even the Social Security Administration's website concedes, and "benefits which are granted at one time can be withdrawn." As early as 1937, the Supreme Court ruled that payroll taxes go to the Treasury like all other revenue "and are not earmarked in any way." The justices reiterated in 1960 that there are no "accrued property rights" in the Social Security system.

Nothing about Social Security is guaranteed. Congress can reduce benefits, raise the retirement age, increase withholding taxes, or scale back cost of living adjustments. Over the years it has changed the parameters of the program scores of times. "The idea that Social Security taxes and benefits are immutable and can never be revisited," remarks Brian Riedl of the Manhattan Institute, "is wildly ahistorical."

Social Security is swaddled in elaborate myths, but at bottom it is simply a vast government transfer program, taxing money away from one segment of the population  working people  and redistributing it to another segment: retirees. But Social Security is distinguished from other transfer programs in several critical ways.

First, it is almost inconceivably enormous. Social Security consumes more than one-fifth of this year's $6.9 trillion federal budget. By a wide margin, the government spends more on Social Security than on anything else  it is $550 billion more costly than national defense, the second-largest budget item.

Second, because Social Security has always been funded primarily with payroll taxes, it is unsustainable. When the program began, there were 160 workers paying into the system for every retiree taking benefits out of it. But that ratio has plummeted. Today there are about 2.5 workers for each retiree, and the number is still dropping. Within a decade, payroll taxes will cover only 77 percent of scheduled benefits. At that point, unless the law is changed, benefits will have to be cut by 23 percent. Everyone in Washington can see the looming crisis. Yet Republicans and Democrats stubbornly insist that changes to Social Security are "off the books." One way or another, though, changes must come.

Perhaps the most important change of all would be to acknowledge that Social Security has outlived its original purpose. When the program began in 1935, the elderly were the poorest age group in America. Today they are the wealthiest. As Riedl points out, "seniors have the lowest poverty rate of any age group and their average household incomes have grown four times as fast as the average worker since 1980." In FDR's day, there were no IRA and 401(k) accounts, few Americans owned stocks, and the average lifespan was too short for most people to accrue significant wealth. Now that that has changed, does it really make sense to keep taxing younger, poorer workers in order to pay benefits to retirees who are far better off than they are?

For 40 years, Social Security has been called the "third rail" of American politics. It doesn't have to be. If just a few responsible political leaders would step up to take the lead, the nation's most gigantic spending program could be refashioned for the 21st century. With a few relatively straightforward reforms, low-income seniors could be protected while the young could be empowered to build more wealth for themselves. Most Americans understand that Social Security needs fixing. The best way to start is by sweeping away the mythology that has made it so confusing.

Jeff Jacoby is a columnist for The Boston Globe, from which this is reprinted with permission.

(COMMENT, BELOW)




BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. The period of tax exemption on imported platinum, gold, jewelry, and other related items, including processed, sorted, framed, and set diamonds, has been extended until 2027, said Avaz Guliyev, Deputy Head of the Main Department of Tax Policy at the State Tax Service under the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

Speaking at the event "Cooperation with Business Associations and Entrepreneurs and its Results," Guliyev also highlighted the value-added tax (VAT) benefits associated with jewelry products.

"To support the production and processing of jewelry, the VAT exemption period for the import of machinery, equipment, and tools has been extended until 2027. As significant support for the industry, since 2021, the sale of gold and silver in bars, coins, or granules has been exempt from VAT," he added.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
JERUSALEM  Israel approved a United States-brokered cease-fire agreement with Lebanon's Hezbollah on Tuesday, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli warplanes meanwhile carried out the most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs since the start of the conflict and issued a record number of evacuation warnings. At least 24 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities, as Israel signaled it aims to keep pummeling Hezbollah before the cease-fire is set to take hold at 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday.

Another huge airstrike shook Beirut shortly after the cease-fire was announced.

Israel's security Cabinet approved the cease-fire agreement late Tuesday after it was presented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his office said. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement good news and said his administration would make a renewed push for a cease-fire in Gaza.

An Israel-Hezbollah cease-fire would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza, where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East without saying how. The Biden administration spent much of this year trying to broker a cease-fire and hostage release in Gaza but the talks repeatedly sputtered to a halt.

Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year.

Israel says it will attack with might if Hezbollah breaks truce

Netanyahu presented the cease-fire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed a series of accomplishments against Israels enemies across the region. He said a cease-fire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran, which backs both groups.

If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack, he said. For every violation, we will attack with might.

The cease-fire deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troopsand U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor all sides compliance.

But implementation remains a major question mark. Israel has demanded the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations. Lebanese officials have rejected writing that into the proposal.

Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal "was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.

Netanyahus office said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.

Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday that it had not seen the agreement in its final form.

After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials, Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollahs political council, told the Al Jazeera news network.

We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state. of Lebanon, he said. Any violation of sovereignty is refused.

Warplanes bombard Beirut and its southern suburbs

Even as Israeli, U.S, Lebanese and international officials have expressed growing optimism over a cease-fire, Israel has continued its campaign in Lebanon, which it says aims to cripple Hezbollahs military capabilities.

An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in the central Beirut district of Basta  the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near the citys downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs killed at least one person and wounded 13, it said.

Three people were killed in a separate strike in Beirut and three in a strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon. Lebanese state media said another 10 people were killed in the eastern Baalbek province. Israel says it targets Hezbollah fighters and their infrastructure.

Israel also struck a building in Beirut's bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site that is around 400 meters (yards) from Lebanons Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties.

The Israeli military said it struck targets in Beirut and other areas linked to Hezbollah's financial arm.

The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously have not been targeted. The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks before a cease-fire, sent residents fleeing. Traffic was gridlocked, and some cars had mattresses tied to them. Dozens of people, some wearing their pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed loudly overhead.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, kept up its rocket fire, triggering air raid sirens across northern Israel.

Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered.

UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told The Associated Press that peacekeepers will not evacuate.

Israeli forces reach Litani River in southern Lebanon

The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few kilometers (miles) from the Israeli border.

Under the cease-fire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border.

Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have been exchanging barrages ever since.

Israel escalated its campaign of bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes.

More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members.

Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the countrys north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon.

Chehayeb and Mroue reported from Beirut. Associated Press reporters Lujain Jo and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut, and Aamer Madhani in Washington, contributed.
The apparent death of the PRESS Act in Congress should alarm Americans on two levels.

One, the measure  acronym for Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying  seeks to shield a vibrant free press from coercive government intrusion.

But, two, even those who fail to understand the necessity of an uncowed press to the health of a functioning democracy should pause at the mechanism of this legislations demise: After this bill unanimously passed a Republican-controlled House  a testament to its commonsense defense of First Amendment principles that protect Americans of all political persuasions  all it took to ensure its demise in the Senate was a one-line social media outburst from a president-elect: REPUBLICANS MUST KILL THIS BILL!

That Donald Trump wants the PRESS Act dead is hardly surprising. The very impetus for the bipartisan bill was his sustained, un-American attack against the media when he last occupied the White House. But the fact that, by typing five words on his Truth Social network last week, Trump was able to ensure that the bills Republican supporters would shrug and give up should be terrifying even to those who dont revere a free press. This isnt how Americas checks-and-balances government is supposed to work.

Trump has been blunt in voicing his disdain for the free press throughout his decade on the national political stage. His frequent declaration that journalists are the enemies of people is an outright Stalinist construct.

And it wasnt just talk. Trump, obsessed with plugging leaks to the media during his first term as president, ordered the secret seizure of private communications by journalists at The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN and other news outlets. When that activity later came to light, the Biden administrations Justice Department banned prosecutors from using such heavy-handed tactics.

The PRESS Act would codify those limitations in federal law so future administrations couldnt just discard them. It would impose specific restrictions on the governments power to seize private data from journalists or force them to reveal sources.

Although the acts creation stems from Trumps anti-press abuses, the measure found deep support from congressional conservatives  who, after all, have made online free speech a central part of their culture-war crusades. Key proponents have included such stalwart Trump supporters as Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

The measure unanimously passed the House in January. Its passage in the Senate was widely viewed as similarly assured. That is, until Wednesday, when Trump took to his social media platform.

He linked to a PBS NewsHour interview with the CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalists, urging Senate passage. Trumps one-line, capitalized decree alongside the link  REPUBLICANS MUST KILL THIS BILL!  didnt bother with any discussion of why, in his view, the Senate should kill the bill.

It wasnt a debate or even the airing of an opinion; it was a summary order from an incoming president to a supposedly co-equal branch of government.

And thats all it took. The bills House sponsor, Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., issued a statement the next day saying, Its clear we have work to do to achieve consensus on this issue  as if the overwhelming consensus of a unanimous House vote now means nothing.

As a practical matter, Trumps opposition does in fact kill the measure, despite the fact that hes not even in office yet and despite the previous bipartisan support for the bill.

Thats not the way Americas system of government is supposed to work, but its the way todays Republican Party works. Regardless of the merits of the bill, the GOPs Trump supporters in the Senate will never allow it to go forward now that he has issued his five-word command.

Its reminiscent of how Trump summarily killed border reform earlier this year because he wanted a campaign issue rather than a solution. Then, as now, congressional Republicans turned their backs on the best interests of the nation to do Trumps self-focused bidding.

Trump has been blunt about his plans to attack the free press in his second term, which, he has said, could include going after the broadcast licenses of news organizations and even jailing journalists. Those who would shrug off such threats as typical Trumpian bluster should consider that, even prior to taking office, he is able to lay the groundwork for such attacks with a mere social media post ordering congressional Republicans around.

Thats a danger not just to the free press but to the very concept of separated powers.
EQS-Ad-hoc: BOOSTER Precision Components GmbH / Key word(s): Personnel

Robert Lackermeier to become new Managing Director of BOOSTER Precision Components GmbH 26-Nov-2024 / 09:42 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News  a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Robert Lackermeier to become new Managing Director of BOOSTER Precision Components GmbH Frankfurt a. M., 26 November 2024  BOOSTER Precision Components GmbH (bond; ISIN NO0012713520) announces a change in its management team. Robert Lackermeier will be appointed as an additional Managing Director of the company, effective from 1 January 2025. No later than 1 April 2025, he will additionally assume the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The incumbent Managing Director and CEO, Jerko Bartolic, will leave the company at his own request, effective 31 March 2025. Jerko Bartolic will remain closely associated with the company and support selected projects in an advisory capacity over the next two years. The management of Booster Precision Components GmbH Contact: BOOSTER Precision Components GmbH

Ralph Wagner, CFO

Bockenheimer Landstrae 93

60325 Frankfurt a. M.

T +49 69 76758193

mail@booster-precision.com End of Inside Information 26-Nov-2024 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com Language: EnglishCompany: BOOSTER Precision Components GmbH Bockenheimer Landstrae 93 60325 Frankfurt am Main GermanyInternet: https://www.booster-precision.com/ISIN: NO0012713520WKN: A30V3Z Listed: Regulated Unofficial Market in Frankfurt; FNSEEQS News ID: 2038001

End of Announcement EQS News Service 2038001 26-Nov-2024 CET/CEST

EQS-Ad-hoc: BOOSTER Precision Components GmbH / Key word(s): Personnel

Robert Lackermeier to become new Managing Director of BOOSTER Precision Components GmbH

26-Nov-2024 / 09:42 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News  a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Robert Lackermeier to become new Managing Director of BOOSTER Precision Components GmbH Frankfurt a. M., 26 November 2024  BOOSTER Precision Components GmbH (bond; ISIN NO0012713520) announces a change in its management team. Robert Lackermeier will be appointed as an additional Managing Director of the company, effective from 1 January 2025. No later than 1 April 2025, he will additionally assume the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The incumbent Managing Director and CEO, Jerko Bartolic, will leave the company at his own request, effective 31 March 2025. Jerko Bartolic will remain closely associated with the company and support selected projects in an advisory capacity over the next two years. The management of Booster Precision Components GmbH Contact: BOOSTER Precision Components GmbH

Ralph Wagner, CFO

Bockenheimer Landstrae 93

60325 Frankfurt a. M.

T +49 69 76758193

mail@booster-precision.com

Robert Lackermeier to become new Managing Director of BOOSTER Precision Components GmbH

Frankfurt a. M., 26 November 2024  BOOSTER Precision Components GmbH (bond; ISIN NO0012713520) announces a change in its management team. Robert Lackermeier will be appointed as an additional Managing Director of the company, effective from 1 January 2025. No later than 1 April 2025, he will additionally assume the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The incumbent Managing Director and CEO, Jerko Bartolic, will leave the company at his own request, effective 31 March 2025. Jerko Bartolic will remain closely associated with the company and support selected projects in an advisory capacity over the next two years.

The management of Booster Precision Components GmbH

Contact:

BOOSTER Precision Components GmbH

Ralph Wagner, CFO

Bockenheimer Landstrae 93

60325 Frankfurt a. M.

T +49 69 76758193

mail@booster-precision.com

26-Nov-2024 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com

2038001 26-Nov-2024 CET/CEST

2038001 26-Nov-2024 CET/CEST
Why Do Some People Have Bad CTV Ad Experiences?

The allure of CTV is undeniable: It combines the broad reach and brand presence of traditional television with the precision of digital targeting. Yet, as advertisers venture into this new channel, many are met with a critical issueirrelevant ads. This is not simply a symptom of the industry "allowing" poor advertising standards but rather a signal that the infrastructure to handle CTV's unique challenges is still maturing.

Advertisers are grappling with a hybrid model that shares characteristics with both traditional television and digital platforms like Meta. On the one hand, CTV provides the immersive brand experience of TV-quality content; on the other, it promises the data-driven targeting capabilities typically seen in digital channels. The catch? Unlike platforms like Meta, where mobile devices handle most interactions, CTV spans a variety of screenssmart TVs, smartphones, tablets, and PCs. This complexity introduces a range of new challenges for advertisers, particularly around how data is collected and linked to target the right viewer on the right device.

The challenges of cross-device targeting

One of the biggest hurdles lies in cross-device targeting, a crucial tool for CTV. Some companies have made strides with cross-device graphs that are extremely accurate in matching devices to individual users, which allows for effective audience targeting across screens. However, many CTV vendors rely on IP address targeting, a rudimentary approach given the fluidity of IP addresses. For instance, broadband providers like Comcast frequently change household IP addresses. This means that if an advertiser tries to target a user based on browsing data from the day before, they may inadvertently serve ads to a different viewer entirely, resulting in wasted impressions and missed opportunities.

This reliance on IP-based targeting can have a pronounced impact on the user experience, especially when language or content preferences dont match. Imagine a viewer in Texas who only speaks English being served a Spanish-language ad due to outdated or incorrect targeting data. In cases like this, the viewer experience suffers, brands lose relevance, and neither party achieves the desired outcome. Despite these subpar results, the vendors providing this type of targeting continue to take credit for any transactions associated with those impressions, leaving brands in the dark about whether their ads actually reached the intended audience.

The role of multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs)

Another factor complicating CTV advertising is the role of multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs). MVPDscompanies that aggregate channels and distribute them to viewerspossess invaluable user data but typically sell only a portion of their ad inventory. The remainder is filled by the TV channels themselves or by third-party ad exchanges. As a result, viewers may experience ad pods where two different advertisers target the same or similar verticals, creating redundancy and confusion. This fractured setup also means that user data collected by MVPDs is often only partially relevant since they are not responsible for all ads served on their platform.

The limitations of MVPDs become evident in shared-household scenarios. When multiple household members use the same TV but have individual devices linked to the same MVPD account, targeting can become muddled. For example, if one person in a household frequently watches reality TV while another prefers car-related content, the system may struggle to identify whos actually watching at any given moment. As a result, the ad inventory can be filled with irrelevant ads, confusing viewers and limiting the effectiveness of brands efforts to target their intended audience.

Another symptom of CTVs growing pains is evident during binge-watching sessions. As users power through episodes, the ads served may increasingly come from low-cost providers or remnant inventory vendorsthose who sell ad space at lower CPMs. These ads are often irrelevant and suffer from the same IP-based targeting pitfalls, compounding the issue of ineffective advertising and diminishing viewer engagement over time.

Some guiding principles to help advertisers make the most of CTV's potential

Solving these issues is no simple task, but a few guiding principles can help advertisers make the most of CTVs potential. First, its essential to understand how audiences are constructed. Not all CTV vendors use the same targeting methods, and advertisers must ask the right questions. If a vendor relies heavily on IP-based or WiFi targeting alone, its likely time to look elsewhere. The best CTV providers work with accredited cross-device data companies, ensuring that targeting is not only accurate but also transparent. This transparency allows brands to measure and understand the actual reach and performance of their ads.

Another key consideration is how ads are purchased and served. For brands buying directly from networks, its important to work with networks that maintain policies to avoid repetitive verticals in the same ad pod and cap the frequency of ads per user. These safeguards can prevent viewers from seeing the same ad multiple times, improving both the ad experience and brand perception.

In sum, CTV offers tremendous promise, but reaching its full potential requires an industry-wide commitment to smarter, more effective targeting solutions. The rise of CTV demands new standards and approaches that reflect its unique position at the intersection of linear TV and digital advertising. One way to do this would be with some type of universal effectiveness score for all cross-device technologies, which would allow brands and marketers to trust the accuracy of the data they receive. As advertisers, platforms, and regulators align, CTV can evolve into a medium where both viewers and brands benefitone where ads are relevant, experiences are seamless, and every interaction has value. The sooner the industry commits to these improvements, the sooner CTV can truly deliver on its promise as the future of TV.

[Editor's note: This is a contributed article from Keynes Digital. Streaming Media accepts vendor bylines based solely on their value to our readers.]

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.

Related Articles
Air Force Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart, right, was restricted to a military base in Texas for two months following his court-martial conviction. A judge ordered the general to pay nearly $8,000 for his accommodations at the base and denied the officers request to make the Air Force pay. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes)

AUSTIN, Texas  An Air Force general who was restricted to a military base for two months following his court-martial conviction paid nearly $8,000 for his accommodations after a judge declined the officers request to make the service pay.

Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart was ordered to remain within the boundaries of Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Air Force Base in late June after being convicted of conduct unbecoming of an officer for inviting a subordinate female officer to spend the night in his hotel room and dereliction of duty for flying within 12 hours of drinking alcoholic beverages.

Stewarts court-martial also included a charge of sexual assault. But a jury of fellow general officers found him not guilty of sexually assaulting the female officer who served on his staff.

Military judge Col. Matthew Stoffel sentenced Stewart to a reprimand, restriction for two months to Randolph Air Force Base in Texas and to forfeit $10,000 of pay for six months.

In August, Stewarts attorney, Capt. Jordan Grande, filed a motion with the judge requesting Stoffel order the Air Force to pay the cost of the base hotel. Stewart did not live on the base and would require lodging, according to court documents. The nightly rate at the base hotel was $131.

As part of a clemency request, Stewart had previously asked Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson, the commander of Air Education and Training Command and the convening authority on the case, to reduce his fine by the nearly $8,000 cost of the hotel, according to court documents. The request was denied.

Robinson also could have avoided the extra cost on Stewart by coordinating and securing a dorm room for Stewart, according to court documents.

The convening authority is abusing its authority by effectively imposing an additional forfeiture or fine on Maj. Gen. Stewart that was not adjudged at trial, Grande wrote in court records.

Restriction to base is more commonly used in sentences for those already living there, and if they dont, the airmans first sergeant would secure a dorm room for the service member, according to court documents. Instead, Stewarts command refused to obtain and fund accommodations for the restriction period.

The only difference in Maj. Gen. Stewarts case is, of course, his rank, Grande wrote.

Prosecutors responded that requiring anyone other than Stewart to pay for his accommodations during restriction would be a burden to society.

Stoffel on Sept. 3 ruled there is no policy regarding who is responsible for payment or reimbursement of any costs accrued to carry out this type of sentence.

Stewart began his restriction to the base 10 days later and completed it Nov. 12, according to the Air Education and Training Command, the unit at the base to which Stewart is assigned.

The general completed the sentence at the base hotel, a spokesman for Stewart said in statement.

He remains focused on completing his career with professionalism and dedication, according to the statement.

The command did not provide Stewarts current job title or position with the command but said he continues to serve to meet the mission and needs of the Air Force.

When misconduct accusations arose against Stewart in May 2023, he was commander of the 19th Air Force, which oversees much of the services pilot training from its headquarters at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Air Force Base.

There has been no public announcement of Stewarts retirement plans, the command said. Upon retirement, Stewart, a career fighter pilot with more than 30 years of service, would likely face a grade determination board to determine the last rank at which he served honorably.
The USS Beloit (LCS 29) awaits to be commissioned at Veterans Park in Milwaukee, Wis., Nov. 22, 2024, with water patrol provided by the Milwaukee Police Department Boat Unit. The ship commissioning ceremony was Nov. 23. (Diana Salgado/U.S. Marine Corps)

The U.S. Navys newest combat ship was commissioned in a Saturday ceremony held in Milwaukee, Wis., according to a Navy news release.

The subject of the ceremony was the USS Beloit, a Freedom-variant littoral combat ship, or LCS. Littoral combat ships are agile vessels intended for near-shore environments, though they can also operate in the open ocean.

Each of the classs two variants are primarily produced by a different industry team: Freedom-variant ships are made by Lockheed Martin, and Independence-variant ships are produced by Austal USA. The USS Beloit is the 15th Freedom-variant LCS.

The USS Beloit is named for the city of Beloit, Wis., which was a center for heavy industry in the early 20th century  something referenced multiple times at the ceremony, according to the release. The name is a Navy first.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a guest speaker at the ceremony, said she took pride in Wisconsins manufacturing economy. When it comes to our ship building industry our workers have helped sustain Americas security for our national defense for generations, she said.

Baldwins comments were echoed by U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore. [This ship] will be the first commissioned ship named after Beloit, Wis., in honor of that citys contributions to the US Navy, especially the ship engines built in that city, Moore said.

Soldiers of Alpha and Bravo Battery with the 120th Field Artillery Regiment conduct a 19-gun salute from a battery of M119A3 howitzers during a commissioning ceremony for the USS Beloit at Veterans Park in Milwaukee, Wis., Nov. 23, 2024. (Amber Peck/Wisconsin National Guard)

Aside from Baldwin and Moore, other high-profile speakers for the ceremony included Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James Kilby and Lockheed Martin executive Ali Ruwaih.

The ships sponsor is retired Army Reserve Maj. Gen. Marcia Anderson. The trailblazing Anderson, who is the U.S. Armys first Black female reserve officer to reach the rank of major general, was born in Beloit, according to an Army press release.

The event was also attended by veterans of major conflicts, from the war in Iraq to World War II, the Navys release said. The week leading up to the ceremony was characterized by a series of smaller celebrations and events  including a performance by Lee Greenwood, creator of the song God Bless the U.S.A.

Recording artist Lee Greenwood performs his song God Bless the USA at the USS Beloit (LCS 29) chairmans reception in Milwaukee, Wis., on Nov. 22, 2024. The ship was commissioned in Milwaukee, Wis., on Nov. 23, 2024. (EJ Hersom/U.S. Navy) A Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps group tours the USS Beloit (LCS 29) docked in Milwaukee, Wis., on Nov. 21, 2024. The ship was commissioned at Veterans Park in Milwaukee, Wis., on Nov. 23, 2024. (EJ Hersom/U.S. Navy)

The speed with which the Beloit completed its certifications was unusually high for the LCS class, the Navys release said. It completed 19 certifications within seven weeks, each of which was passed on the first go.

The Beloits commissioning came just one week after a similar ceremony was held in Boston for its sister ship, the USS Nantucket  also a Freedom-variant LCS.

The LCS program has come under fire for its cost overruns and maintenance issues, and the Navy has proposed decommissioning some vessels in the class before the end of their service life, to the concern of some in Congress.

Such criticisms were indirectly rebutted by officials at and before the ceremony, who did not simply use the event to praise the U.S. defense industrial base, but also portrayed the Beloit and other new littoral combat ships as thoroughly modern.

USS Beloit (LCS 29) reflects many of the engineering and weapons improvements that the littoral combat ship has gained since the Navy first began operating these ships, Del Toro said in a statement issued prior to the ceremony.

The Beloit will be homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Fla.

An official live stream of the ceremony can be viewed below.
A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker for refueling over the Pacific Ocean on Feb. 1, 2024. (Melany Bermudez/U.S. Air Force)

A U.S. Navy surveillance plane flew over the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, the first such transit there since mid-September, according to the U.S. 7th Fleet.

The P-8A Poseidon, a long-range aircraft equipped with an advanced sensor suite, flew through international airspace over the 110-mile-wide channel that separates mainland China from Taiwan, the fleet announced in a news release Tuesday.

By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds navigational rights and freedoms of all nations, the release said.

The aircraft flew northeast, from the South China Sea to the East China Sea, over the course of about an hour, 7th Fleet spokeswoman Lt. j.g. Sarah Merrill told Stars and Stripes by email Friday.

The flight was not in response to any particular event, she added.

The fleet last advertised a Poseidon flight over the strait on Sept. 17, which marked the first time the aircraft had flown there in five months.

The U.S. routinely sends warships and, less frequently, aircraft, through the channel. So far this calendar year, three Navy planes and seven warships have made the trip.

While the Navy typically describes the transits as a routine means of traveling between the two seas, Beijing views them as provocative and regularly condemns them as support for Taiwan.

China considers the island a breakaway province that must be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Chinas Eastern Theater Command on Wednesday said it scrambled aircraft and dispatched ships to monitor the Poseidons trip. The U.S. distorted legal principles, confused the public and misled international cognition, according to Tuesday post to the commands official Weibo social media account.

Merrill said all interactions with foreign military forces were consistent with international norms and did not impact the operation.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. Amendments were made in Azerbaijan's Tax Code for market entrepreneurs, Deputy Head of the State Tax Service under the Ministry of Economy Samira Musayeva said at an event dubbed Cooperation with Business Associations and Entrepreneurs and Its Results today, Trend reports.

As Musayeva suggests, one of the landscapes shifting in the realm of tax legislation is the refinement of tax administration.

She also indicated that subsequent to the alterations, the market proprietor will permit only an entrepreneur registered with the tax authorities to operate in the market, necessitating the corresponding amendments to the law.

At the same time, the tax burden on entrepreneurs operating in the markets does not increase. The only goal here is to restore accounting, transparency, and legal activities, the official added.

To note, the State Tax Service under the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan is holding an event titled "Cooperation with Business Associations and Entrepreneurs and Its Results" in Azerbaijans Baku.

At the event, attendees get updates about the latest tax laws and regulations, as well as the results of the partnership that was formed with the appropriate government entities, business groups, and entrepreneurs.

The gathering features speeches from Samira Musayeva and Ilkin Valiyev, Deputy Heads of the State Tax Service, Vusal Shikhaliyev, Head of the Economic Policy and Industrial Affairs Department at the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan, Nijat Imanov, Head of the Main Tax Policy Department, and Avaz Guliyev, Deputy Head of the Main Tax Policy Department, among other officials and experts.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Army WWII veteran Ceo Bauer, 101, downs a shot of a local spirit with World War II reenactors in Saint-Avold, France, Nov. 24, 2024. Bauer participated in the liberation of Metz 80 years ago. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

METZ, France  For over 30 years, officials in Metz have invited American soldiers who helped liberate the city from Nazi occupation during World War II to participate in commemorative ceremonies celebrating the citys freedom.

This year marks 80 years since the liberation, but only one soldier could make it back: Pfc. Ceo Bauer, who is 101. It appears this will be the last year a living veteran of the war will be able to share firsthand accounts with the citys people.

Im pragmatic, Bauer said. If the good Lord allows it, I will come back. But I would think this would be my last time.

Stars and Stripes accompanied Bauer for several days as he toured Metz and neighboring areas of France that the U.S. helped liberate eight decades ago.

The visit, which spanned two weeks, was packed with appearances and speaking engagements, at which people lined up to chat, get his autograph and take selfies with him.

The well-wishers met a man quick to share a smile and embrace the moment  at one function, Bauer set aside his walker for a quick dance, with a little help.

Air Force Maj. Christian Maude, right, and his daughter speak with World War II veteran Ceo Bauer, as the 101-year-old signs a book for the family following a ceremony in Saint-Avold, France, on Nov. 24, 2024. Bauer was made a knight of the Order of Lafayette during the ceremony. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes) U.S. Army veteran Ceo Bauer, 101, who served in France during World War II, salutes during a ceremony Nov. 22, 2024, in Metz, France, for his former unit, the 95th Infantry Division, which liberated the city 80 years ago. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes) Lidwine Calte wore 1940s attire to meet World War II veteran Ceo Bauer in Saint-Avold, France, on Nov. 24, 2024. Calte said she was dressed as her grandmother, who was in Paris during the war. She thanked Bauer for helping to liberate France. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

Its been a tiring trip for family and friends traveling with him, some half his age. But even a snowstorm wouldnt stop Bauer from honoring his fellow soldiers.

This is my duty, Bauer said. Ive got a real bad cold and all that, but this isnt about me. Im doing it for others. Im doing it for my comrades, Im doing it for the U.S. military, Im doing it for the United States. Because Im the only one to do it.

Bauer, a Michigan native, was drafted into the Army in 1943 and assigned to I Company, 377th Regiment, 95th Infantry Division.

The division landed on Normandys Omaha Beach in September 1944, a few months after the D-Day landings. At one of his recent speaking engagements, he described a sign he saw while walking up the bluffs that said, Up this path have crossed some of Americas finest manhood.

He still thinks of the sign and gets emotional when recalling all the fine men his unit would go on to lose.

In early November 1944, Bauer and his fellow soldiers received orders to attack and seize Chateau Brieux in Maizieres-les-Metz, just outside the city. As they were carrying them out, they came under attack.

Shrapnel tore through Bauers left arm, side, face and leg. Two soldiers by his side were killed. Unable to walk, he crawled back to his company line and received medical attention.

Bauer was too severely injured to return to battle, but other 95th Infantry Division soldiers entered Metz and advanced further into the Lorraine region. Their efforts earned them the nickname the iron men of Metz.

In 1989, the city erected a monument to the division, and it was around this time that officials began inviting soldiers back to commemorate major anniversaries.

A memorial ceremony at the monument on Friday was hit by a snowstorm. While many officials crossed their arms and shivered, Bauer sat straight up and saluted.

Col. Gabriel Chinchilla, defense attache at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, laid a wreath during the ceremony and spoke fondly of Bauer on the sidelines.

Its amazing all the energy he brings to helping us remember not only what he did, but what many of his other countrymen and fellows from the 95th Division did, Chinchilla said. There are challenges now, in the United Sates and in France, with getting young people to join the military. These little things can go a long way to help people understand what it is to serve.

Col. Gabriel Chinchilla, left, defense attache at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, speaks with American World War II veteran Ceo Bauer on the sidelines of a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Metz, France, at Metz city hall, Nov. 22, 2024. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes) World War II veteran Ceo Bauer, 101, sitting with white blanket, braves snowy weather to honor soldiers of the 95th Infantry Division at the American Eagle of Bellecroix memorial on Nov. 22, 2024, in Metz, France. The unit, known as the "Iron Men of Metz," which Bauer served with during the war, liberated the city from Nazi occupation. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes) Army veteran Ceo Bauer speaks at a ceremony at the city hall in Metz, France, Nov. 22, 2024, to mark the 80th anniversary of the citys liberation during World War II. For decades, former soldiers assigned to the Armys 95th Infantry Division, which liberated Metz from the Nazis, have returned to the city to participate in commemorations. This year, Bauer, 101, was the sole representative of the unit. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

Bauer was joined in France by some 60 members of the 95th Infantry Division Association, a group started by people from the division shortly after the war. Its now made up mostly of their relatives.

Cliff Twaddle, who leads the group, said there are about 10 division members still alive out of nearly 15,000 soldiers.

Theres always a concern that as the years pass, memory will fade, Twaddle said at Metzs City Hall on Friday night. But we continue to get inquiries from relatives of soldiers, and as long as theyre willing to continue to get together, well be here.

After its famous success at Metz, the 95th Infantry Division advanced through the Moselle region and liberated towns like Saint-Avold, not far from the current border with Germany.

The town held its own liberation celebrations over the weekend. On Saturday, there was a screening of the documentary film The Girl who Wore Freedom, which Bauer briefly appears in.

You are here with a living legend, and you will never get this opportunity again, Christian Taylor, the films director, told the audience, visibly emotional. Bauer lightened the mood by telling Taylor she should have included more of him in her film.

Despite the serious nature of his visit, Bauer kept those around him upbeat. After being made a knight of the Order of Lafayette at a ceremony in Saint-Avold on Sunday, he downed a shot of local spirit with World War II reenactors, then tossed the plastic shot glass in the air behind his head.

The award recognizes individuals for strengthening relationships between the United States and France.

Air Force Maj. Christian Maude, who met Bauer earlier this year at D-Day commemorations in Normandy, is stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, about 50 miles east of Saint-Avold.

He came so his two daughters could meet Bauer. The younger of the two is a century younger than the veteran.

Its really important for us to come out and honor him, and its special to share him and his story with my daughters, Maude said.

Lidwine Calte, who lives nearby, wore 1940s attire in memory of her grandmother and thanked Bauer.

This is a very special moment, Calte said. Its the last time that we can listen to what he has to say. We need to learn and keep the memory alive.

Saint-Avold is home to the Lorraine American Cemetery, the largest American cemetery in Europe, which honors the memory of nearly 10,500 military personnel who lost their lives during the war.

Of those, over 150 were assigned to the 95th Infantry Division.

American World War II veteran Ceo Bauer visits the grave of a soldier he knew at the Lorraine American Cemetery at Saint-Avold, France, on Nov. 24, 2024. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes) World War II veteran Ceo Bauer, sitting at left, salutes as the U.S. national anthem is played during a ceremony at the Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, France, on Nov. 24, 2024. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

Brig. Gen. John Cogbill, the deputy commanding general for the 18th Airborne Corps, spoke at the separate ceremony there Sunday afternoon.

The 18th Airborne is based at Fort Liberty in Fayetteville, N.C., a sister city of Saint-Avold, and nearly 300 of its soldiers are buried in the cemetery.

This ceremony is a solemn reminder of the horrible cost of war, Cogbill told the crowd. These headstones represent the heroes who never made it home.

Pointing to Bauer, Cogbill added that some heroes did make it home. Bauer later visited the graves of two men he had known and shared his memories of them.

He passed on similar stories the following day when he visited a school in the small village of Drulingen. Bauer brought with him a black-and-white group photo of his unit and explained to the children how many of those depicted had died or were seriously injured, like himself, while fighting for common values shared by the U.S. and France.

The students asked questions, one of which took Bauer by surprise.

Do you have any pets? a small boy said. His teacher explained that the class was learning how to talk about pets as part of their English lesson.

Bauer answered that he often feeds the cats behind his house in Ithaca, a town in central Michigan. He then had the children chant with him: Vive la France. Long live the United States of America and our free-world allies.

It was a chant Bauer repeated throughout this visit.

Amy Uthe, Bauers great-great niece by marriage, said she will continue to come to France to help carry on the legacy.

We know how important this is to him, and its our responsibility to make sure that that memory lives on, Uthe said.
U.S. Air Force loadmasters and pilots assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, load passengers aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III in support of the Afghanistan evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Afghanistan, Aug. 24, 2021. (Donald R. Allen/U.S. Air Force)

WASHINGTON  One year after the last American troops left Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin acknowledged the questions some veterans still face about the chaotic evacuation and a failed war.

As our country looks back on two decades of combat in Afghanistan, I understand that many people have hard questions about the costs of the war and what their sacrifices meant, Austin said in a letter Tuesday to the Armed Forces. These are important discussions, and I hope we will keep having them with thoughtfulness and respect.

The evacuation mission from Kabul ended Aug. 30, 2021, after the U.S. and its allies flew about 124,000 Afghans and Americans out of the country but left behind thousands of Afghans and American civilians who wanted to escape the victorious Taliban. Thirteen U.S. service members and at least 170 Afghans were killed in a suicide bombing at Kabul airport believed carried out by an offshoot of the Islamic State, or ISIS, four days before the mission was completed.

Over the past year, the Taliban have imposed a stern regime that has suppressed the rights of women and ethnic minorities. The return of the same government that harbored al-Qaida terrorists who plotted the 9/11 attacks was a severe blow to the morale of U.S. veterans, Austin acknowledged.

Last year, I said that although the Afghanistan war has ended, our gratitude to those who served never will, he said. Today, I renew that pledge. To every man and woman who served in Afghanistan: This country will never forget what you did and what you gave.

Austin said many service members still bear the wounds of war  to body and to soul  and 2,461 brave heroes never made it home.

Though the war is over, the threat from terrorist groups in Afghanistan remains, Austin said. On July 31, the U.S. killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri in a drone strike while he was standing on his balcony in Kabul.

We know this work is not done. We must keep a relentless focus on counterterrorism  and we are, he said. In recent months, our military has successfully carried out operations against key ISIS leaders.

Despite the successful attack that killed al-Zawahri, an Aug. 16 report by the Defense Departments Office of the Inspector General noted that Americas abandonment of Afghanistan has increased the difficulty of fighting terrorists in the region.

The U.S. Government has been significantly challenged in its conduct of counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan due to the absence of a physical presence in-country, lack of partner forces, scant intelligence, and lack of access to nearby military bases, the Pentagon report said.

To deal with the terrorist challenge, Austin said the U.S. government is now taking a whole-of-government approach to address the root causes of violent extremism.

Preventing terrorist violence requires much more than military might, Austin said, without elaborating. No one should doubt Americas resolve to keep our people safe.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., right, has blocked the promotion of Army Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, left, to the rank of four-star general and as commander of U.S. Army forces in Europe and Africa. (Hermon Whaley Jr./U.S. Army; Senate.gov)

WASHINGTON  Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma had included Army Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue on a list of people he deemed responsible for the Afghanistan withdrawal disaster.

No one has been held accountable, he wrote on X in September.

Last week, Mullin blocked the promotion of Donahue to four-star general and new commander of U.S. Army forces in Europe, according to a Senate aide who spoke on condition of anonymity. The aide said the block was reportedly at the request of President-elect Donald Trumps transition team.

Donahue led the 82nd Airborne Division as it worked to secure Kabuls airport during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and is best known for being the last U.S. service member to leave the country after 20 years of war.

Trump has threatened to fire senior officers and officials who oversaw the evacuation of American troops and Afghan refugees and blames President Joe Bidens administration for a suicide bomber attack at the airport that killed 13 U.S. service members.

Mullin, 47, has his own grievances with how the withdrawal was carried out. In 2021, as a House member, he twice attempted to embark on unauthorized travel to aid evacuation efforts in Afghanistan but was stopped by the U.S. government.

The Defense Department declined to give Mullin permission to rent a helicopter and fly an American family out of Afghanistan. The State Department then refused to help Mullin enter Tajikistan with large sums of money for a helicopter rental, deeming the plan in violation of Tajikistans laws on cash limits.

Mullin later posted a photo of himself on Instagram, saying he was heading home after helping get Americans out of Afghanistan.

President Biden and his administration are absolutely lying to the American people about Americans and our friends being left behind, he wrote.

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., has had grievances with how the Afghanistan withdrawal was carried out. In 2021, as a House member, he twice attempted to embark on unauthorized travel to aid evacuation efforts in Afghanistan but was stopped by the U.S. government (Sgt. Haden Tolbert/Oklahoma National Guard photo)

Mullin has continued to be an outspoken critic of the withdrawal even though a government watchdog investigation in 2022 found Biden and Trump equally at fault for the rapid collapse of Afghanistans security forces.

In 2023, Mullin joined the Senate after a decade of serving in the House and became a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The committee approved nearly 1,000 promotions  including Donahue  early last week before advancing them to the full upper chamber.

Mullin has not publicly disclosed why he stepped in to block Donahues promotion from being approved in a traditional voice vote by the full Senate. His office did not respond to a request Monday for comment.

Trumps transition team also did not respond to a request for comment.

The Senate aide said the team reportedly contacted Republican senators last week with a request to block Donahues promotion. There are concerns in the Senate that Donahue will have to call Trump to justify his actions in Afghanistan to have the hold lifted, according to the aide.

Trumps transition team is reportedly compiling a list of current and former officials who were involved in the withdrawal and is weighing possible courts-martial against them, according to NBC News.

Lawmakers have raised alarms in recent months that Trump would politicize the military in his second term and purge generals who are not sufficiently loyal to him. There is now fear in the Senate that Donahue is the first in line to face a political loyalty test, the aide said.

Mullin is a staunch Trump supporter and introduced resolutions in 2022 to remove Trumps two impeachments from the congressional record. He also voted against the certification of the 2020 elections results.

Mullin came to Congress as a successful businessman who took over his fathers plumbing company when he was 20. He was a star wrestler in high school and briefly worked as a professional mixed-martial-arts fighter.

It is unclear when Mullin could lift his hold on Donahues promotion, but the Senate can work around it by holding a time-consuming roll call vote on the floor.

The Senate is scheduled to return from recess next week. Any promotions not approved by the end of the year would need to begin the process anew unless senators agree to waive chamber rules.

Army Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue led the 82nd Airborne Division as it worked to secure Kabuls airport during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and is best known for being the last U.S. service member to leave the country after 20 years of war. (Sgt. Alison Strout/U.S. Army photo)

The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment Monday, but spokesman James Adams in a statement last week praised Donahues more than 30 years of military service.

Donahue has served as the commander of XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Liberty, N.C., since 2022 and would lead the Armys Europe and Africa headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany, if approved.

His appointment comes at an extremely critical time in the European region, Adams said. We urge the Senate to confirm all of our highly qualified nominees. Holds on our nominees undermine our military readiness.
Airman 1st Class Dayvon Larry of the 325th Security Forces Squadron, poses at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 1, 2023. (U.S. Air Force)

Airman 1st Class Dayvon Larry left such an impression at a Florida air base that his unit created a program, Delta Lima, in his memory to promote pride and professionalism.

Larry, 31, stood out among his peers in the 325th Security Forces Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base, according to a news release announcing the program in June. He made a mission of selling the Air Force to students at local schools by setting up career days, mentoring young people and getting his Air Force friends to help, his commander said.

He was dedicated to connecting the Air Force with schools in underserved areas, showcasing what we could offer, and inspiring the next generation, Lt. Col. Matt Lowe told Stars and Stripes by email Oct. 18. He wanted to get the fellow squadron members and other Airmen across the base involved in helping him.

That ended just after midnight April 10, 2023, when, according to local police, an MMA fighter punched Larry once behind his left ear outside a bar in Panama City Beach.

Larry fell and was later declared dead from blunt force trauma, according to AL.com, an Alabama news site.

His death was felt deeply across our squadron, Lowe said. We knew we had to attempt to continue what he, and the team he gathered, had started. We organized a team of Defenders in his honor called Delta Lima.

Membership in the eight-member Delta Lima rotates every six months. To qualify, candidates from the 325th must stand out. They must exhibit proficiency in their field, maintain the highest standards of dress and appearance, achieve 90% or better on physical fitness tests and obtain their flight chiefs recommendation, according to an Air Force news release in June.

Senior Airman Joshua Barnes, a 325th Security Forces Squadron patrolman, wears the Delta Lima brassard at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., June 9, 2024. (Zeeshan Naeem/U.S. Air Force) The first Delta Lima brassard is displayed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., June 6, 2024. (U.S. Air Force)

A board chaired by the squadrons chief master sergeant selects the Delta Lima squad. They may wear a distinguishing brassard  an upper arm band  and are assigned special duties. They may be preselected for advanced tactical defender, counter sniper engagement and nuclear convoy courses, among others, the release states.

Soon after his arrest, the man charged with manslaughter in Larrys death, Ross Allen Johnson, 25, originally of Carterville, Ill., went free on $250,000 bond from Bay County, Fla. He is scheduled for a pretrial conference on Jan. 7, according to court records.

However, Johnson is facing an unrelated aggravated assault charge in Nashville that predates Larrys death.

Arrested in January in Oklahoma and transferred to Tennessee, Johnson went free again on Oct. 30 after posting a $35,000 bond in Nashville, according to Davidson County court records. He is due again in court Dec. 4.

Johnsons record in the ring as an MMA fighter was relatively brief, according to a site that tracks the sport. Sherdog.com shows Johnsons record at 5-1 as an amateur in fights between March 2019 and October 2020.

In his one professional bout, on Aug. 14, 2021, Johnson was knocked out in the third round, according to Sherdog.

Larry was from Malone, Fla., population 1,959, a crossroads town 1  hours northeast of Tyndall near the Alabama state line. He was born in Nuremburg, Germany, one of five children of Johnny Larry Jr., an Army first sergeant, and Lillie Bell Larry, according to his obituary at Legacy.com. His father died in 2016.

He aspired to become a handler of military working dogs, Lowe said.

The Delta Lima brassards are numbered, with the first brassard reserved in Larrys honor, according to the Air Force release.

His presence and loss were felt across the base. He made those around him, to include me as the commander, better human beings, Lowe said. I will never forget A1C Dayvon Larry for the leader and person he was.
The Department of Veterans Affairs campus in west Los Angeles is 388 acres that a charity bequeathed to the VA in the 1880s for the specific purpose of housing war veterans. The VA in 2024 is seeking to block a court ruling requiring the agency to fast-track housing development for veterans on the site. (Stars and Stripes)

WASHINGTON  The Department of Veterans Affairs is fighting a federal court order to open 100 shelter beds by January and develop another 750 apartment units by 2026 for homeless veterans in Los Angeles.

Citing budget constraints, the VA has an emergency motion before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to delay the start of construction of a much larger project for addressing veteran homelessness in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

The VA is seeking to block a lower court ruling requiring it to cancel lucrative commercial leases at a Los Angeles campus that it owns and fast track development of up to 1,800 units of permanent housing by 2030.

The VA stated in written arguments Friday that budget constraints prevent it from moving forward with the court-ordered master plan for the sites development. The installation of 100 units of modular housing for $15 million was temporarily halted pending the appeals court decision.

The VA argued it will have to reduce veterans services in other ways to comply with the court order.

The court exceeded its legal authority, and its orders would prevent VA from fulfilling our mission to end veteran homelessness by diverting critical resources from efforts that are proven to get veterans off the streets and save lives, VA spokesman Terrence Hayes said Tuesday.

If the VA was serious about ending veterans homelessness, then building temporary housing to get veterans off the street is a no-brainer, and they need to get it done, said Rob Reynolds, an Army veteran who works as an advocate for homeless veterans represented in the lawsuit. Reynolds served as an infantryman with the 10th Mountain Division from 2006-2010 and deployed to Iraq in 2007.

A decision could come as early as this week, after both sides filed final briefs last week, according to Public Counsel Law Center of Los Angeles, which is representing homeless and disabled veterans in the class-action lawsuit.

Homelessness is lethal, and for those who survive, has devastating repercussions including exacerbation of existing disabilities and health conditions and exposure to violence and other victimization, attorneys for the veterans said in court documents.

The attorneys argued the judges order for 100 shelter beds to be created within 90 days of the court decision and 750 apartment units by 2026 addresses an urgent situation for veterans housing without disrupting VA operations.

Ten percent of the nations homeless veterans are in greater Los Angeles, according to the 2023 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count report.

District Court Judge David Carter ordered the VA to follow a specific timeline for housing development on the 388-acre site located in an affluent suburb of west Los Angeles. He appointed a special master to oversee a schedule for development.

Carter also ordered the VA to terminate its leases at the site with several businesses because they do not primarily service veterans. He had ruled in the class-action case that the VA failed to comply with an agreement to develop its Los Angeles campus with housing for disabled homeless veterans. His ruling was described as a landmark victory for Los Angeles veterans and their advocates.

The ruling ordered the VA to develop 750 emergency shelter beds on the campus at a cost of about $100 million, according to court documents.

Without temporary supportive housing, countless veterans may die on the streets or in shelters while waiting for permanent housing to be built, Carter wrote.

An estimated 3,500 veterans living in the Los Angeles metro area could be impacted by the outcome of the legal battle, according to court documents.

The VA has owned the property since the late 1800s, when a charity bequeathed the land as an old soldiers home for the specific purpose of housing war veterans.

There are now 307 units of housing on the property, which are fully occupied and in constant demand, according to court documents.

The West Los Angeles VA Medical Center is located within a short distance from the campus, which is in Brentwood. Without housing near the hospital, many low-income veterans will be denied access to health care, according to court documents.

The VA has failed to fulfill its commitment to provide housing on the grounds, violating the terms of the deed transfer in 1888, according to the attorneys representing the veterans.

The original lawsuit was filed in November 2022, after the VA fell behind on a previous settlement to develop housing on the site.
President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meet earlier in Bidens term. (Bill OLeary/The Washington Post)

President Joe Bidens recent decisions to allow Ukraine to launch missiles deeper into Russia and to provide Kyiv with controversial antipersonnel land mines were driven by a stark new reality: Russias importing of North Korean troops, Ukrainian battlefield losses and the election of Donald Trump have thrust Ukraine into perhaps its weakest position in nearly three years.

Many U.S. officials now concede that within a few months, Ukraine could be pushed into negotiations with Russia to end the war and that it could be forced to give up territory. Bidens reversal of his previous policies on mines and missiles was intended in part to give Ukraine the strongest possible hand as it enters those potential talks.

The change of direction also caps a long-standing pattern, as Biden has often resisted upgrading Kyivs weaponry for fear of escalation with Russia, only to relent a few months later. The most recent reversals are drawing both praise and criticism from European allies, who say that Ukraine needs every advantage in the coming weeks but are frustrated that it took the president until now to provide the capabilities.

Bidens lame-duck push has renewed a long-standing question among some U.S. and European officials: Why was the assistance not granted earlier, when it might have bolstered Ukraine when its position was more robust, rather than providing a backfill at a moment when Kyiv appears to be flagging?

Kurt Volker, who served as the U.S. ambassador to NATO under President George W. Bush and was the special envoy to Ukraine during Trumps first term, said that the changes were long overdue and that Biden may have emboldened Moscow by not sending more powerful weapons earlier. It gives Russia a sense of impunity, Volker said. They know they have a sanctuary. They know we dont want to escalate, and they can go ahead and carry out the war, conduct strikes and do outrageous things.

But Biden has been keenly sensitive to the risk that Russian President Vladimir Putin might dangerously escalate the conflict, potentially using nuclear weapons, if he felt threatened. White House officials say Bidens decisions have been guided by evolving battlefield conditions, authorizing weapons when those conditions warrant. And they note that Biden has provided many weapons - including cluster munitions, artillery shells and air defense systems and missiles - without Ukraine lobbying or in some cases even asking for them.

The discussions about authorizing the land mines and longer-range Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) began in late October, but no decisions were finalized until after the election, according to two senior administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to detail private conversations.

U.S. officials are especially worried about North Koreas decision to deploy some 10,000 troops to help Russia and the possibility that the number could grow. And they are concerned that as Ukraine shifted troops to the hard-fought Russian Kursk region - which Kyiv took in August - it is losing territory in its east at a faster clip. Top Biden aides ultimately concluded that the ATACMS missiles, which have a range of about 190 miles, could help deter North Korea from sending more troops and that the land mines could help Ukraine defend territory in its east.

Trump has vowed to end the Russia-Ukraine war, which began when Russia invaded in February 2022, within 24 hours, though he has not specified how he would do so. With the current tranche of U.S. military and economic aid to Ukraine set to run out sometime next year, Biden officials have largely resigned themselves to the likelihood that Trump will not provide Ukraine more assistance once he takes office.

In all, the current dynamics suggest that one of Bidens biggest foreign policy accomplishments is increasingly under threat. Biden declared in 2022 that Putin cannot remain in power, but it now appears likely that Putins gamble that he could outlast Western support for Ukraine could come to fruition, as he will soon face a U.S. president far more sympathetic to his position.

Biden has been praised for much of his handling of the war, including his decision to declassify intelligence showing that Russia planned to invade Ukraine, his leadership of a Western alliance that bolstered Kyiv with aid and weapons, and his oversight of an expansion of NATO. But he has also been criticized by some allies for being too slow to provide Ukraine with the advanced weaponry it has asked for, with ATACMS as the latest example.

The controversial decision to send antipersonnel land mines - a weapon that many countries renounced years ago for humanitarian reasons - showed just how urgently the White House sees the situation, U.S. officials said.

Throughout the war, Bidens concern that Putin might react recklessly to an act he considered provocative, even using nuclear or biological weapons, has at times put him at odds with some of his top advisers.

Theres no doubt that on every big issue - ATACMS, F-16s, attacking Russian targets inside Russia - Biden was alone, said Ivo Daalder, former NATO ambassador under President Barack Obama and president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. He was deterred by the prospect of an escalation with Russia. His Cold War view was, the one thing you want to avoid at all costs is a direct military confrontation between the United States and Russia.

Biden, who is 82, has spent more than 50 years steeped in foreign policy and came into office with established views on key issues, including Russia. Much of the presidents worldview was shaped during the Cold War, when the Soviet Union was a global superpower engaged in a nuclear arms race with the United States, an outlook foreign to many of his younger advisers.

Biden has been dedicated to Ukraines defense, expending significant political capital to mobilize tens of billions of dollars of economic and military aid. He has encouraged European countries to do the same, even as the war has rocked the global economy and led to higher gas and heating costs, often framing the conflict as a pivotal battle between authoritarianism and democracy.

But Bidens fear of escalation with Russia has also factored heavily into his decisions to limit the weaponry provided to Kyiv. That fear has often been bolstered by U.S. intelligence agencies; analysts concluded that the powerful ATACMS, for example, might goad Putin into a dramatic response, according to two senior administration officials. Biden ultimately allowed ATACMS to be used inside Russia after North Korea sent troops to aid Moscow, hoping to send Pyongyang a message that it risked suffering significant casualties.

It was not the first time he had hesitated to upgrade Kyivs firepower. Biden initially hesitated to provide M1 Abrams tanks, concerned that they would be too logistically burdensome for Ukrainian troops. Amid urgent pleas from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden ultimately agreed to provide the tanks in January 2023.

Similarly, Biden initially concluded that Ukraine did not need F-16 fighter jets, but in May 2023 the president relented, paving the way for Kyiv to receive the planes, which Zelensky desperately wanted.

Bidens aides say the president has shown appropriate caution, given the unpalatable risk of a nuclear conflict, and they say his decisions have been driven far more by policy than fear of escalation. The aides downplay the notion that providing the weapons earlier would have significantly affected the course of the war.

Many European officials disagree strongly, saying the United States has done just enough to let Ukraine keep fighting but not enough to allow it to prevail.

The antipersonnel land mines in particular - simple, low-cost devices that self-destruct or lose battery charge to render them inactive within days or weeks - could have helped Kyiv bolster its defensive lines in a war where Russia has seeded its own lines inside Ukrainian territory with millions of land mines, all but halting Ukrainian advances, these officials said.

Its two years too late, one senior European official said earlier this month about the decision to send the land mines.

Yet even those who disagree with Bidens decisions say they recognize the pressure he is under to ensure the United States does not become enmeshed in a broader war with a nuclear-armed adversary.

In September 2022, when Ukraine was far exceeding expectations on the battlefield, Washington had intelligence that the Kremlin was contemplating the use of nuclear weapons, according to three people familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss confidential information.

Those intelligence reports were a backdrop for a decision by Biden a few months later to reject a proposal from Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan. In a meeting in the Oval Office, Blinken and Sullivan suggested warning Russia that if it did not stop shooting missiles and drones at civilian targets, the United States would provide Ukraine with ATACMS.

Biden resisted, worried about how Russia would react, and he only relented - partially - nearly a year later, when he agreed to provide Ukraine with medium-range ATACMS in the fall of 2023. The longer-range ATACMS came even later, in the spring of 2024.

Ukrainian leaders have repeatedly complained that Americas habit of saying no when they ask for advanced weapons, only to say yes a few months later, makes the weapons less effective than if they were sent when initially requested. Inside the administration, the Ukrainian requests have often opened divides, with Blinken and the State Department frequently more comfortable granting them than Biden or the Defense Department.

State Department officials have at times said they are confident Putins threats are a bluff. The intelligence community, they contend, tends to raise alarms about dire consequences if Ukraine gets more assistance, but then when the aid has actually been provided, those scenarios have failed to materialize.

When Ukrainian leaders requested permission over the summer to use the longer-range ATACMS missiles to strike within Russian territory, State Department officials were quickly on board. But the Pentagon and White House were opposed, partly because of escalatory concerns and partly because the Pentagon worried about Ukraines dwindling stock of the advanced missiles, officials said at the time.

At the same time, British officials could not let Ukraine use its Storm Shadow missiles against Russian territory, even though they wanted to, because U.S. components in the British missiles gave the White House a veto - and in any case, they wanted to coordinate with the United States. Bidens decision to allow Ukraine to use ATACMS inside Russia freed Britain to make the same move.

As part of an effort to Trump-proof aid to Ukraine, European and NATO policymakers pushed through aid packages ahead of the U.S. election and moved some coordination of military aid from U.S. hands to a new NATO command. But Trumps comeback has renewed questions about the ability of European nations to defend Ukraine without American help.

Once taboo, a quiet recognition is spreading among Kyivs European backers that peace negotiations may require Ukraine to give up some territory to Russia. They are now contemplating what security guarantees Ukraine might receive in return to deter Russia from future attacks.

Blinken made a one-day visit to NATO headquarters earlier this month, and European officials said he brought one central message: Were going to do everything we can to reinforce Ukraine before Trump takes office, and you guys should do the same.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., holds a news conference May 30, 2024, at the Army Aviation Support Facility on Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Ky. (Georgia Napier/U.S. Army National Guard)

WASHINGTON  When Republicans take control of the Senate in January, the chairmanship of a panel that overseas military spending will fall to one of the upper chambers most prominent defense hawks.

Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Senates longest-serving leader, will become chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committees defense subpanel when he steps down from his leadership post next year. He said he intends to use his new perch to pour resources into the military.

Americas national security interests face the gravest array of threats since the Second World War, he said. At this critical moment, a new Senate Republican majority has a responsibility to secure the future of U.S. leadership and primacy.

McConnell is a proponent of former President Ronald Reagans peace through strength approach to foreign policy and is the Senates most vocal Republican supporter of NATO and aiding Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Those positions put him at odds with President-elect Donald Trump, who has threatened to pull the U.S. out of NATO and force Ukraine into negotiations with Russia. In February, Trump said he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want to any NATO member that does not meet the alliances defense spending benchmarks.

McConnell in recent years has pushed back against the growing isolationist bent within his party. He frequently took to the Senate floor this year to urge Republicans to vote for a major aid package for Ukraine and, in July, spoke of the need to counter interconnected threats from Russia, China and Iran.

To meet them seriously, we must invest seriously in our defense, he said during a visit to the Kentucky National Guard earlier this year.

As chairman of the defense appropriations panel, McConnell is expected to advocate for a larger defense budget to expand the defense industrial base, rebuild stockpiles and invest in military strength. He has argued spending on a defense buildup now is cheaper than funding a war later.

In World War II, we were up to 37% of our [Gross Domestic Product on defense]. Right now, were spending about roughly 2% of our GDP, he said in remarks to Guard members. That needs to come up if were going to be adequately prepared to avoid having way more spending, coupled with loss of life as well.

McConnell will find a willing partner for achieving that goal in Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who will become chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Wicker released a plan this year to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP in the next five to seven years, calling for a generational investment. He also proposed raising President Joe Bidens defense budget request for 2025 by $55 billion  an idea McConnell endorsed.

McConnell has also opposed efforts to maintain parity between defense and non-defense expenditures, writing on X in May that this is not the time to shackle defense spending to partisan domestic priorities. That stance is likely to face resistance from Democrats.

McConnell has served in the Senate since 1985. His military service includes a brief stint as a private in the U.S. Army Reserve in Kentucky in 1967. He was honorably discharged after being deemed medically unfit.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. A resident company of the Azerbaijani Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park, managed by the Agency for Development of Economic Zones (ADEZ), Azerbaijan Vanhong Ceramics Co. LLC, has begun the production of new products.

The factory has started the production of core ceramic tiles (non-slip porcelain tiles) for the first time, the agency noted.

The new products are currently being produced in three configurations (60x60 cm, 60x120 cm, and 30x60 cm). These products are primarily used in outdoor areas of residential buildings.

To note, Azerbaijan Vanhong Ceramics Co. LLC, with Chinese capital, began operations in October 2023. To date, the company has sold products worth over 60 million manat ($35.2 million), of which products worth 1.85 million manat ($1.09 million) have been exported.

The produced goods have been exported to Russia, Belarus, Georgia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
A military dental exam in Fort Deposit, Md., in 1943. (Gottscho-Schleisner/Library of Congress)

Folks reported strange things in a New York town in 1945, right after the government announced an experiment adding tiny amounts of fluoride to the municipal drinking water.

Dozens of Newburgh residents called the water department to complain that the water was discoloring their saucepans, hurting the flavor of carbonated beverages and causing digestive upsets, the Washington Evening Star reported on Feb. 22, 1951.

One Newburgh resident demanded restitution from the city, claiming her false teeth dissolved overnight in a glass of tap water.

The same thing happened in North Carolina, where residents of Charlotte flooded the city water department with complaints of illness not long after the water fluoridation program was announced there in 1949.

All of these complaints? They came before the fluoride had actually been added to the water.

The callers had only heard this would happen. Newspapers described it as something used in some insecticides, but didnt mention that it is a mineral naturally occurring in water and soil.

By the time the compound was put in, the Evening Star wrote, ... complaints had ceased.

And so began the fluoride wars, a decades-long battle of science, urban myth, emotion and passionate division.

Its a public debate that has invoked Nazis and Communists, mind control, public poisoning and civil rights. And with President-elect Donald Trumps plans to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. - who promises to end fluoridation of public water - to his Cabinet, its part of todays politics.

Tooth decay had long been a profound public health issue in America.

Not one person in 10 had a mouth full of teeth, Willard VerMeulen told The Washington Post in a 1988 interview when he described his dental practice after arriving in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1924. The dentist went on to describe the Saturday morning routine of extracting scores of rotten teeth from the mouths of children.

Grand Rapids became the first U.S. city to try adding fluoride to its drinking water in 1945.

In the 1940s, bad teeth was the top reason the Selective Service booted aspiring soldiers from the Army. About 17 percent of recruits didnt have six opposing teeth, according to the American Dental Association.

By then, American scientists researching fluoride believed they might have come across a simple antidote for better dental health.

A dentist at work in 1936. (Harris & Ewing/Library of Congress)

It began in 1901, when a dental school graduate from the East Coast headed west to open his first practice and was startled by the pronounced brown stains on the teeth of his patients in Colorado Springs.

Curiously, Frederick McKay observed that the folks with Colorado Brown Stain had otherwise remarkably healthy teeth.

McKay began researching this, and was joined by others hopscotching from Colorado to Idaho to Arkansas, following reports of other brown-toothed children.

The answer finally came exactly 30 years after he met his first mottled tooth. The chief chemist at a company in Pennsylvania, exhausted after years refuting claims that aluminum cookware was poisonous, tested a water sample from one of the brown-tooth towns and found high levels of fluoride.

The early research focused on how to reduce the fluoride levels in some water sources across the nation. The idea was to get rid of the brown stains, the result of over-fluoridation called fluorosis.

Scrub, Scrub, Scrub, Just Like Tub, read the headline of a 1941 story in the Albuquerque Tribune advising people of ways to eliminate the stains.

Eventually, H. Trendley Dean, head of the Dental Hygiene Unit at the National Institutes of Health, homed in on the benefits of fluoride and sought to determine levels that strengthened the teeth but didnt stain them. The Grand Rapids experiment was his first chance to try this out.

Within 11 years of the 15-year experiment, the level of tooth damage from decay dropped by 60 percent among the citys children, according to the National Institutes of Health.

As other municipalities began adding fluoride to the public water supply, studies continued to show improvement in childrens dental health.

The fear of fluoridation, however, began to bloom.

The German chemists (under Hitler) worked out a very ingenious and far-reaching plan of mass control, read one of the many letters opposing fluoridation that were published by the Hartford Courant in February 1955.

A reader in the Chippewa Herald-Telegram in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, urged editors that same year to alert FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover that fluoridation programs should count as an attempt at poisoning the public water supplies.

Historians have debunked the myth of Nazi involvement, and scientists have knocked down scores of theories centering on singular and weird examples of health issues.

The growing dissent may have had something to do with that moment in American culture. Widespread fluoridation was beginning as part of the long list of social developments that swept into the public conscience on the wings of scientific achievement, R. Allan Freeze and Jay H. Lehr wrote in their 2009 book, The Fluoride Wars: How a Modest Public Health Measure Became Americas Longest-Running Political Melodrama.

The authors drew parallels between this public division and the development of nuclear power and the widespread development of genetically altered food.

Like the pasteurization of milk and the iodization of salt, fluoridation was delivered publicly rather than privately, they wrote. Those that wished to avoid the governmental benevolence had to work to do so.

As hundreds of studies were published establishing the dental benefits of fluoride and debunking medical concerns, the nation continued to see hundreds of votes, lawsuits and legislative battles over the practice.

A Canadian paper, the Kingston Whig-Standard, boiled the conflict down in a 1972 editorial that said, This is not a public-health issue. It is a civil rights issue.

NIH calls fluoridation an achievement ranking with the other great preventive health measures of our century.
Shooting a loose dog on a farm is not an inappropriate response when it is impossible to catch them, a council warden told the jury in Diarmuid Phelans trial

The trial of a barrister and landowner accused of murdering an intruder in a row over the killing of a dog has heard farmers are perfectly within their rights to shoot dogs worrying their sheep.

Shooting a loose dog on a farm is not an inappropriate response when it is impossible to catch them, a council warden told the jury in Diarmuid Phelans trial today.

Mr Phelan (56) denies murdering Keith Conlon, (36) who was among a group of trespassers hunting wild animals on his land when he shot and killed a lurcher they had brought. In the ensuing confrontation, the farmer and law professor shot Mr Conlon in the back of the head.

It is alleged he intended to kill or seriously injure Mr Conlon, but Mr Phelan maintains he was firing warning shots in self defence when he accidentally hit the father-of-four.

Mr Conlon was shot at Hazelgrove Farm on February 22, 2022 and died in hospital two days later.

The jury previously heard the lurcher dog killed by Mr Phelan on the day of the shooting was tied to a tree. However, the accused told gardai in interview he thought it was a risk to his sheep when he shot it, it was apparently loose and wasnt visibly tied up.

Today, South Dublin County Council dog warden Philip Behan said there were a number of farms in the area in proximity to large housing estates on Dublins urban margin.

Michael Bowman SC, defending, asked him about the sort of havoc that can be wreaked when a loose dog gets into a flock of sheep.

The biggest problem was dogs worrying sheep, Mr Behan said; dogs would chase them and might not even touch them but ewes would abort or go into labour and with nobody to help them, would die.

When chased, a sheep would fear for its life and go into shock and it could take 48 hours for them to die.

A dog could bite the ears off a sheep which would then have to be put down. Others attacked around the neck, biting into arteries and causing the sheep to lose a severe amount of blood, Mr Behan continued.

Smaller dogs would attack the sheeps hindquarters, causing great damage to the legs and they would again have to be put down. In a pack, smaller dogs would slow down and hold the sheep and the larger dogs would go in and finish off the sheep.

The majority of the dogs involved would be considered household pets and they could be anything up in size from Jack Russells including golden retrievers, collies, rottweilers and great Danes.

Certain dogs such as lurchers or greyhounds could be bred for hunting and crossed with breeds such as pit bulls for speed and aggression, the jury heard.

The response from farmers was that they were perfectly within their rights to shoot loose dogs.

Mr Behan said once a dog is worrying sheep, the farmer has a right to shoot the dog if they see it is free and there is no other option.

They have to report the discharge of the firearm to gardai.

Mr Bowman asked if a farmer believed a dog to be free would they be within their rights to shoot it. Yes, Mr Behan said.

Mr Bowman asked how far a dog like a lurcher could get if loose on land.

Mr Behan said it could run 500 yards in 30 seconds.

He agreed it was not an inappropriate response to shoot a dog in these circumstances.

He said in the Kiltalown area there was an informal neighbourhood watch and farmers would keep in phone and text contact.

Farmers would sometimes catch dogs and hand them over to the warden and the owner could be prosecuted and the dog destroyed.

Only around 50pc of dogs were microchipped and only a fraction of sheep attacks were reported to the warden.

Hunting badgers was illegal under the Wildlife Act, the court heard.

Mr Behan gave evidence about an incident on land one field away from Mr Phelans in September this year when a farmer had no option but to shoot at XL bully dog that went to attack him.

In March last year, on another farm, 31 sheep were killed outright and another 34 aborted as a result of a dog attack.

In cross examination, prosecutor John Byrne SC said legislation gave farmers the option to shoot a dog but the first option was to catch it. Mr Behan agreed.

For the dog to be worrying sheep it has to be loose, Mr Byrne said.

Correct, Mr Behan replied.

The jury has heard Mr Conlon and two other men were hunting either badgers or foxes on Mr Phelans farm when the confrontation happened.

After the shooting, a garda found what was described as a badger sett.

This afternoon, badger expert Paddy Sleeman said he saw this sett when he visited Mr Phelans farm last month.

He said it was a main sett with 22 entrances, five of which were extremely active, indicating it was occupied. He said it had been at that location for some time and he guessed it contained around five badgers.

One hole he saw was of human origin and was typical of a crowning downhole made by hunters.

He explained that after hunters identify the tell tale signs of an active sett, they send an electronically tagged dog down an entrance to trap a badger. When the dog attaches itself to the badger, the signal stops moving, and the hunter is then able to locate it and digs down into the tunnel to get the animal.

Foxes used their setts as well but the badgers were dominant.

Mr Sleeman said badgers were fully protected under the Wildlife Act; their setts could run for kilometres underground and they were a very ecologically important part of the Irish countryside. They were protected from hunting or interference on both sides of the border but were still persecuted.

In cross examination, Dr Sleeman told prosecutor Roisin Lacey SC his observations were based on his recent visit and he was not at the farm in 2022.

Also today, another expert defence witness was cross-examined on his earlier evidence.

Behavioural scientist Dr William Lewinski had said three out of 300 court cases he had been involved in were on behalf of prosecutors but he could not remember the details of these cases.

He said he had not had a consultation with Mr Phelan himself when preparing his report.

Asked about the type of revolver used by Mr Phelan he said there were serious problems with accuracy with this gun when fired quickly.

He had not test fired it but owned one himself and had experience with it, he said.

Mr Byrne put it to him his conclusions were very much on a theoretical basis rather than the real world situation of this shooting. No sir, Mr Lewinski replied.

Re-examined by Sean Guerin SC, defending, the witness said he had prepared a report for the Garda Siochana Commission Ombudsman in the case of two post office robbers who were shot dead by gardai in Dublin in 2005. There was no criminal prosecution arising from this.

Asked again about the revolver, he said in my experience that weapon cannot be fired rapidly and accurately.

The trial continues before the jury and Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford.
Criminal caught with four-inch knife after fleeing from gardai on a bike

A criminal who once boasted that he gave Conor McGregor a few slaps walked free from court this week after armed robbery charges against him were dropped.

Jonathan Johno Frasier (38), who once had a grenade thrown at his home as part of the Crumlin-Drimnagh feud in 2008, is a brother of Mickey Nine Lives Frasier who has survived numerous attempts on his life over the years.

Johno also famously gave an interview to ESPN in 2017 and talked about how he gave Conor McGregor a few slaps over a girl when they were younger but they later became friends and went on holiday abroad together.

Frasier celebrated with pals as he left Dublin Circuit Court this week after being given a suspended sentence for possession of knife in an incident where he tried to make his getaway from gardai on a bicycle while drunk but crashed into a kerb.

Conor McGregor

He had initially been charged with armed robbery arising out the same incident but prosecutors told Judge Orla Crowe that the State was withdrawing those charges after Frasier pleaded guilty to possession of a knife.

When he first appeared in court on the charges it was alleged he lured a young couple to a secluded spot by the Grand Canal to supposedly sell them cocaine before stealing from the woman at knifepoint. It had been alleged Frasier pushed the woman to the ground and held a knife to her throat before taking 450 from her pocket on April 6, 2020.

However, the State withdrew the robbery charge this week. Frasier admitted possession of a knife on the same date.

Detective Garda Mark Melbourne told the court that Garda Gary Burke observed Frasier on a bicycle at 12.40am on April 6, 2020 making his way from Kylemore Road onto Bluebell Avenue.

Garda Burke spoke to Frasier through the window of the patrol car and asked him to stop but the court heard Frasier, who was inebriated, frantically attempted to cycle away but ended up hitting the footpath and falling.

Frasier got up and tried to flee on foot but gardai gave chase and apprehended him.

Garda Christopher Hogan carried out a search of the area where the bike fell and found a four-inch knife with a black handle.

Frasier was remanded in custody and spent ten-and-a-half months behind bars awaiting trial before being granted High Court bail after it was heard he got a spot in a residential drug treatment facility.

Mickey Frasier

Det Garda Melbourne told the court Frasier had 68 previous convictions for offences including possession of drugs, stealing cars, criminal damage, theft, attempted theft, handling stolen property, public order, failing to appear in court, dangerous driving and other road traffic offences.

Frasier was previously caught up in the Crumlin-Drimnagh feud. His older brother Mickey was a childhood friend of Brian Rattigan and was on a number of murder hit lists found by gardai which originated with Fat Freddie Thompsons rival mob.

However, Mickey later fell out with Rattigan associate Joey Redmond and then switched allegiances and became involved with Thompsons crew.

Johno also had links to Thompsons crew.

Their family home was attacked with a fragmentation grenade in 2008 and was targeted multiple more times in other attacks in subsequent years.

Mickey was targeted in multiple attempted hits and was dubbed Mickey Nine Lives as he survived each attempt.

Judge Crowe took into account a number of mitigating circumstances such as Johno Frasiers drug rehabilitation, his guilty plea and his hope for the future with his partner and family and sentenced him to 12 months but suspended it fully for one year.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. Azerbaijan shipped out 89,712 tons of crude oil and oil products to France, bringing in $57.8 million from January through October of this year.

Data obtained by Trend from the country's State Customs Committee shows that exports decreased by 61.6 million, or 51.9 percent, in value and 109,294 tons, or 54.9 percent, in volume compared to the same period last year.

To note, Azerbaijan exported 199,000 tons of crude oil and oil products from bituminous rocks to France, valued at $118.6 million from January through October last year.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Doyle was on bail for assaulting another partner when sustained attack occurred

A man who beat his partner so badly he checked if she was breathing afterwards and later threatened to cut her throat and eat her liver has been jailed for three years.

Ian Doyle (33), who was on bail at the time for assaulting a different partner, did not let the woman leave the house for nearly a week following a sustained attack on her in her home in February 2023. Her four-year-old daughter was asleep upstairs at the time of this first beating.

The woman needed medical attention, but he refused to let her leave the house and instead supplied her with paper stitches and painkillers, which he had bought at a nearby pharmacy.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that after the first attack, the woman tried to leave the house with her young child, but Doyle forced her back inside. The court was shown CCTV footage of this incident.

On another occasion when the little girl requested food, the woman attempted to go downstairs and prepare her a meal, but Doyle pushed the woman down the stairs, causing a wound that she had from the earlier assault to reopen and bleed again. The child witnessed this second attack.

Garda Claire McLoughlin told Patricia McLaughlin SC, prosecuting, that while Doyle kept the woman in the house, he took control of her mobile phone. He allowed her to call her mother daily, as the woman was in a habit of doing this, but he monitored the call.

He also allowed the woman to contact her social worker, but he sent this key worker text messages from the victims phone, purporting to be the victim.

Gda McLoughlin said the woman only managed to call for help when Doyle left the house to attend a court hearing and did not take the womans phone with him.

The first attack took place on a Saturday night and the woman only managed to call her friend for help the following Friday.

This friend took her to hospital, but Doyle was there when they arrived. In the hospital, he kissed the woman and held her hand in front of medical staff, showing concern for her well-being.

Judge Orla Crowe was provided with a booklet of photographs of the house taken by the gardai after the woman managed to report the attacks.

The photographs showed blood splatter all over the house from the front door handle, to the bathroom walls, to the staircase, a blood-stained towel, bed sheets, pillows and clothing.

She was also given a booklet of the womans injuries, which were ultimately taken a week after the first assault.

Doyle, of Cashel Avenue, Crumlin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting the woman causing her harm and threatening to kill or cause serious harm to the woman on dates in February 2023. Charges of assault causing harm and false imprisonment were taken into consideration.

A victim-impact statement was handed into court but not read out. The woman no longer lives in Ireland.

Doyle has 74 previous convictions for offences including assault, public order, violence in a garda station and possession of articles with intent to cause harm. He is currently serving a three-and-a-half-year prison term for assaulting a different partner and is due for release in April 2026.

Gda McLoughlin said gardai arrived at the womans home on February 18, 2023 following an anonymous call about a disturbance there.

They spoke to the victim, whom the garda described as intoxicated, and spoke with Doyle. The woman was not injured and told gardai she was fine. The officers also checked on the womans four-year-old daughter who was asleep upstairs.

The woman later told gardai that after they left, Doyle became agitated and aggressive towards her. She described him as foaming at the mouth before he booted her straight in the chest and landed her across the room.

She said he was booting her all over and she was afraid for her life. She was afraid he would kill her before he dragged her up onto a chair.

Gda McLoughlin said Doyle then took a swinging kick into the right-hand side of her head and the next thing she could recall was waking up on the ground.

Doyle told her he had to check her stomach to make sure she was breathing. I thought I had killed you, he said.

It was at this point that the woman tried to leave the house with her child, but Doyle prevented her from doing so. He kept her in the house for a number of days until she was ultimately able to call her friend.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

Judge Crowe said the attacks occurred within the context of an intimate relationship, but accepted that it was a new relationship, having only started the previous month.

She noted evidence that Doyle began asserting his control over the woman before the assault by trying to pair their phones and demanding that the woman change her phone for one he had bought her. Doyle ultimately smashed the womans phone when she refused to take this new phone as he had suggested.

She noted from the photographs before the court that there was blood splatter throughout the house and that the photographs of the womans injuries, taken a week later, show extensive bruising over her entire body and a very deep cut to her head.

Judge Crowe said Doyle provided the woman with medication after the assault that made her feel dazed and he refused to let her go to the hospital. She noted that the threat he issued to cut her throat and eat her liver were in the days after the first assault when the woman began to feel better.

The judge said when the woman successfully managed to get help, Doyle followed her to the hospital and purported to be a loving partner.

It is an inherently very serious offence, Judge Crowe said, before she noted that the pleas Doyle entered dont capture the whole offending.

It went on for a protracted period of time and was carried out by a man who was on bail for assaulting another partner, the judge continued.

She took into account that the victim-impact statement outlined that the woman was in terrible fear and that she had suffered both medical and psychological trauma.

This assault in her home was unwarranted and unjustified, Judge Crowe said before she described Doyles actions as cruel  in that he didnt allow her out of his control.

She said he subjected the woman to a very frightening series of events, which was documented in the photographs from her home with blood dotted around the house.

Judge Crowe said the CCTV footage showed him bringing her and her child back into the house when they tried to escape.

He showed utter disregard to another human being for her dignity and rights and the dignity and rights of her child. It is a very sad state of affairs, Judge Crowe said.

She set a headline sentence of five years, which she reduced to three years and six months, having taken into account that Doyle had pleaded guilty, although she noted that it was a late plea and that the woman had to come to court for a pre-trial hearing.

Judge Crowe suspended the final six months of the term on condition that Doyle engage with the Probation Service for two years upon his release and engage with any courses they recommended, particularly in relation to violence against intimate partners.

This sentence is to be consecutive to the current sentence he is serving for assaulting a different partner, which is due to expire in April 2026.
The Romanian construction worker was initially charged with assault causing harm

A MAN initially accused of assaulting a Canadian tourist who died after being injured on Dublin's O'Connell Street has had his case upgraded to murder.

A file was submitted to the DPP, who decided that Ionut Danca would face the more serious charge over the alleged attack on Neno Dolmajian on June 23 last.

Mr Danca, 24, appeared at Dublin District Court yesterday when Judge Gerard Jones noted the State needed time to prepare the book of evidence for the trial.

Mr Danca, who has received High Court bail, was ordered to appear again in January to be served with the book of evidence and for a return-for-trial order to be granted.

The Romanian construction worker with an address at Rathdown Square, North Circular Road, Dublin 7, was initially charged with assault causing harm to Mr Dolmajian, but that charge was replaced with the murder allegation.

Mr Dolmajian, who was from Montreal, single and in his 40s, was brought to the Mater Hospital "unresponsive", never regained consciousness and on July 2, he passed away.

At his earlier District Court bail hearing on the assault charge, Detective Sergeant Eoghan Byrne said the accused was allegedly with a group at Cathal Brugha Street when the injured party approached and engaged in conversation.

It was claimed a member of the group struck him, and they moved on to O'Connell Street, where there was another interaction with the injured party.

Some "became hostile", while others tried to intervene.

Ionut Danca

The tourist walked toward the quays but was allegedly knocked on the ground and received a "running kick". The detective described it as a full-force blow to the face.

The court also heard that Danca left the country for two days. He booked a flight from Dublin to Bucharest, and officers waited for him at the airport.

But he went to Belfast instead and flew to Edinburgh and then Naples.

Detective Sergeant Byrne had said gardai went to his Dublin address, but it was "cleaned out," and there were ten bags of his belongings.

It was claimed that "his girlfriend indicated they intended to leave Ireland permanently and have their stuff shipped to Romania."

He had agreed with defence solicitor Evan Moore that the accused had no prior criminal convictions and lived and worked in Ireland for six years and that he came back voluntarily following discussions.

However, that was allegedly after two days of calls, texts, and emails and efforts to locate him.

Another man is also before the courts in connection with the assault on Mr Dolmajian; his case resumes in January.
Mr Hutch, of Cardiffsbridge Avenue, Finglas, had been remanded in custody on May 2, when he had begged a court to put him into protective custody

A Dublin man who allegedly had a live pipe bomb to cause maximum damage is to stand trial in the Courts of Criminal Justice on February 17.

Sammy Hutch (48) is accused of unlawful possession of the device at Cardiffsbridge Avenue, Finglas, on April 30.

When his case was called on Thursday, the court was told Hutch is currently in custody in relation to the matter.

Gardai served Sammy Hutch with a book of evidence when he appeared before Cloverhill District Court last month.

On that occasion, State solicitor John Forde said the DPP had directed trial on indictment and asked that the accuseds case be sent to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Mark OConnell granted a return-for-trial order and told Mr Hutch he must notify the prosecution within 14 days if he intends to use an alibi in his defence.

Mr Hutch, of Cardiffsbridge Avenue, Finglas, had been remanded in custody on May 2, when he had begged a court to put him into protective custody.

Judge OConnell heard Mr Hutch claimed he was in his house on the alleged offence date.

Garda Margaret Revins objected to his bail, citing the seriousness of the charge, which carries a sentence of up to 14 years and involves a confirmed live viable pipe bomb.

She alleged the accused had a clear intention to use it to cause maximum damage, and he was more than a willing participant in the offence.

The defence argued there was no evidence of flight risk and suggested he could obey strict conditions while the trial was not expected to start until 2026.

Mr Hutch was refused bail and granted legal aid.
To wake up to this news this morning, particularly as it involves a man of his age, is deeply upsetting

Gardai at the scene this morning

The family of a man who died following a violent attack in Finglas last night had previously been targeted by the Mr Flashy mob, it has emerged.

Gardai launched a murder investigation after the man died following the incident at a house in Dunsink Green just after midnight.

The victim was taken to Connolly Hospital where he was pronounced dead in the early hours of this morning.

The murder victims relative was previously involved in an ongoing dispute with the drug dealer known as Mr Flashy.

Gardai at the scene this morning

Gardai launch murder investigation after man dies in Finglas house attack

He was later killed in a road traffic crash several years ago linked to a gangland incident.

However, at this stage gardai are not classifying Irelands latest murder as being gangland related.

Tributes have appeared on social media to the victim of last nights attack who was described as one of a kind with the biggest heart in one post.

I will miss our late night chats, please look over your family at this very sad time, one person has written.

Horrible news to wake up to, another has added. Thinking of your sonsand all your grandchildren, may you RIP.

Gardai at the scene this morning

Meanwhile, one local councillor has described the deep sense of shock in the community this morning.

Cllr Keith Connolly said the fact that the victim was a man of his age and with a family had added to local despair.

This area of Dunsink has been very quiet in recent times so for us to be waking up to this news this morning, particularly as it involves a man of his age, is deeply upsetting, Cllr Connolly said.

Id like to offer my condolences to the family and, of course, urge anyone with any information to go to Finglas Garda Station.

Gardai say they are investigating all of the circumstances surrounding the death of a man following a fatal assault in Finglas on Tuesday, November 26.

Shortly before 12.30am, gardai and emergency services responded to reports of an assault outside a residence on Dunsink Green, Finglas, a Garda spokesperson said.

"A man in his 60s was treated at the scene and subsequently pronounced deceased at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown.

The scene at Dunsink Green remains preserved for forensic examination while the Coroner has been notified.

The Garda Technical Bureau and Office of the State Pathologist have been requested to assist in the investigation. A post-mortem examination will be scheduled.

Gardai at the scene this morning

A Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) has been appointed to lead the investigation and an incident room has been established at Finglas Garda Station, gardai added. A Family Liaison Officer (FLO) will be assigned to support the family of the deceased.

Investigating gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward.

They are particularly appealing to those with video footage and motorists who may have dashcam footage from the area at the time to contact them.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Finglas Garda Station on (01) 666 7500, the Garda Confidential Line on (1800) 666 111 or any garda station.

No arrests have been made at this time, gardai added. Investigations are ongoing.
Officers from Finglas Garda Station backed up by the Armed Support Unit arrived on the scene where they arrested one man

A man has been arrested after two other men were injured during a house robbery in Finglas, Dublin 11, in the early hours of this morning,

Gardai received report of a robbery in progress outside a home at Finglas Place at approximately 1.30am.

Officers from Finglas Garda Station backed up by the Armed Support Unit arrived on the scene where they arrested one man.

The man, aged in his 30s, was taken to a garda station in north Dublin where he is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

Two other men, aged in their 60s and 70s, were taken to the Mater Hospital for treatment.

Their injuries are described as non-life threatening.

Gardai added that investigations are ongoing.
It has been reported that the man had been undergoing treatment having been diagnosed with dengue before his death

A 75-year-old Irish tourist has died in India of suspected dengue fever, according to local reports.

The Irishman was found dead in his room at a homestay in Fort Kochi on Sunday.

It has been reported that the man had been undergoing treatment having been diagnosed with dengue before his death.

He had presented to Fort Kochi Government Hospital on Friday suffering a fever.

He later tested positive for dengue and was advised to take fruits and other nutritious food along with medicines since his platelet count was said to be within reasonable limits, local media reports.

However, the homestay operator reportedly informed Opposition Leader Antony Kureethara, who is also a local councillor for the area, that they could not gain access to the mans room on Sunday.

The police were alerted and when the door was opened, the elderly tourist was found dead in his bed, Hindu.com reports.

His son and the embassy were informed of his death and the body has been kept at Ernakulam General Hospital, the report adds.

A death audit might be done to ascertain the cause of his death.

According to the Times of India, the man had arrived in Fort Kochi on November 15 and was staying at a homestay in Kunnumpuram.

After experiencing health issues, he visited a hospital and received treatment. However, he was found dead on Sunday, Mr Kureethara, the Fort Kochi division councillor, said.

Authorities confirmed that the body will be repatriated to Ireland following the necessary procedures.

The inquest has been completed. After the post-mortem and other formalities, we will take steps to send the body to Ireland, a police official from the Fort Kochi police station has said.

Fort Kochi is a seaside town located in the south west of the country. It is a well-known tourist destination where homestays that are similar in concept to that of a bed and breakfast are popular.

Guests are either accommodated in the family home, or in separate quarters nearby.

Dengue fever is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people.

It is common in tropical and subtropical climates and common symptoms include high fever, headache, body aches, nausea and rash.

While most patients will recover within a matter of one two weeks, some people develop severe dengue and need care in a hospital.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has been contacted for comment.
Twenty-eight people were saved by rescuers  with 16 people still missing

Egyptian authorities say 17 people are missing, including foreigners, and 28 have been rescued after a tourist boat sank in the Red Sea (Red Sea Governorate)

More details have emerged about the final moments on a tragic yacht before it sank in the Red Sea on Monday morning.

There was at least one Irish citizen on the yacht which sunk off the coast of Egypt as a rescue operation continues to search for 16 missing people.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that it is providing consular assistance to the family members of the Irish citizen(s) on board, but did not confirm the number or whether they are still missing or safe.

Four British tourists are also feared to be among those missing.

The tourist yacht sank in the Red Sea following warnings about rough seas, Egyptian officials have confirmed.

The Sea Story was carrying 44 people, including 31 foreign nationals from the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain and Ireland.

Twenty-eight people were saved by rescuers, Amr Hanafi, the governor of the Red Sea region said, with 16 people, still missing.

The governor of the Red Sea region, Amr Hanafy, said rescuers saved 28 people from the vessel south of the coastal town of Marsa Alam, and some were airlifted to receive medical treatment.

Hanafy said 31 tourists of various nationalities were on board along with 14 crew.

A spokesperson for travel trade organisation Abta said: We have been in contact with our members to see if they had any customers on the ship affected by this incident.

It has now emerged a distress call was made from the yacht shortly before dawn on Monday.

The vessel had left Marsa Alam for a five-day sailing.

Yachts and boats are docked in the marina at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Hurghada after a tourist boat sank off Red Sea coast (REUTERS/Stringer)

Mr Hanafi said that according to those on board, a high sea wave hit the vessel and caused it to capsize in about five or seven minutes.

Some passengers were inside the cabins, which is why they couldnt get out of the boat, his statement on Facebook said.

Mr Hanafi also ruled out that there was a technical defect to the ship, saying that all the required licences had been obtained for The Sea Story.

The Egyptian Meteorological Authority warned of high waves on the Red Sea and advised against maritime activity on Sunday and Monday.

The yacht was operated by Dive Pro Liveaboard, which is based in the Egyptian resort of Hurghada.

The company said it has no information on the matter.

Rescue operations are being co-ordinated by the Egyptian military and the Red Sea Governorate.

Armed forces aircraft were deployed above the scene as part of the response.

Marsa Alam is a popular destination for tourists embarking on diving holidays, as it is near large areas with coral reefs.

Three Britons died in June last year when the diving boat they were on burst into flames off Marsa Alam.

The fire was caused by a suspected electrical fault.

The Egyptian military was coordinating rescue operations with the governorate.

Many tourist companies have stopped or limited traveling on the Red Sea due to the dangers from conflicts in the region.
She added that she wanted to bless you all for your beautiful messages

Victoria Mary Clarke has revealed how she spent today in bed all day crying on the anniversary of her wedding anniversary to her late soulmate and husband Shane MacGowan.

I am not going to lie, she posted on X this afternoon.

Getting through today has been F***ing hard!!! Been in bed all day crying my eyes out. I love you so much @ShaneMacGowan.

She added that she wanted to bless you all for your beautiful messages.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

And on a hopeful note she ended the powerful message with the declaration that: I can see a better time!!!! alongside a series of red heart emojis.

It is coming up to a year to the day since the Pogues front man passed away on November 30, 2023.

Ahead of the anniversary of his death, artist and writer Victoria spoke about her loss on the Under the Grill podcast with Kevin Dundon and Caoimhe Young.

Victoria had joined Kevin and Caoimhe in the kitchen to chat about the homecooked meals she loved growing up, her angel art and, of course, the love of her life.

She told the podcast: Shane is very much with me. Its weird, sometimes I feel Shane experiencing things through me.

Its almost like hes going, go to that movie, I want to see it. Or talk to that person, or say that joke, I want to say that joke.

Victoria also told how she finds solace in her belief in angels and is set to display her angel paintings for the first time ever in an exhibition in Dublin.

She said: Shane would be delighted; he was always nagging me to display my art.

Victoria also spoke about how Barry Keoghan had been approached to play her late husband in a new movie about the Pogues legend.

We talked about a movie long before he died and thats still in the works, she told the podcast.

We did talk to Barry Keoghan about playing Shane, and hes keen, she added.

Barry would be good, Kevin agreed, although Victoria admitted it was a little bit soon to be thinking about that stuff following the death of Shane last year.

I know theres a couple of people who want to do tribute things. Ive been working with a lot of different musicians on a tribute album that I find really, really healing, she added.

To hear the full chat, you can find the Under the Grill wherever you get your podcast, its also available on YouTube.
The scams were mainly in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, though there have been cases in regional areas, said Coote.

Association president Martin Coote said the fake workers were unqualified and would often smash the lock and surrounding doors, leaving victims intimidated, especially when they were alone.

The scammers then add fake charges amounting to hundreds of dollars and refuse entry into the house until they are paid.

The Master Locksmiths Association says people are being caught out by a fresh scam targeting those who find themselves unable to get into their home and opt for a cheap callout quote.

Homeowners are being warned to watch for overseas criminals posing as bogus emergency locksmiths who lure customers who have been locked out of homes with cheap call-out fees before slapping them with $1000-plus bills.

When you do an online search for a locksmith, youll see paid ads for so-called emergency or 24/7 locksmiths, but some of these are scammers, Coote said.

While legitimate locksmiths do emergency call-out work, they dont sit in cars on the street waiting for the phone to ring, so be very careful when the ad focuses on 24/7 emergencies and quotes low prices.

He said the scammers usually arrived in unmarked vehicles and wore no uniform.

While the quoted fee is usually between $35 and $120, they add fake charges that make the final bill many hundreds, and often more than a thousand dollars, Coote said.

Those seeking their services were often caught by legitimate-looking websites offering emergency, 24/7 locksmith services with low prices and quick services and featured fake reviews.

Coote said overseas-based criminals paid hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for their website to appear at the top of Google searches, which he claimed gives an indication of how much they are making.

People were advised to look out for websites that list only as 24/7 or emergency locksmiths and dont look local, which could be indicated by a reliance on stock images, no about section or mention of who ran the company, and no address listed - or a fake one.

He said similar scams in Australia were being followed closely by police and consumer affairs investigators, but New Zealand authorities were lagging behind.

The police and Government can do something about this, and we want to raise awareness so that they act and the public is protected.

A police spokesperson said they were not aware of instances of this happening. However, they would encourage anyone engaging the services of a locksmith to do their due diligence to ensure the person they were contracting was reputable and a legitimate business.

-NZ Herald.
The pair, who have expressed their sincerest regrets and apologies, have been referred by the Health and Disability Commissioner to the Medical Council of New Zealand and the Medical Radiation Technologists Board because of concerns about their competence.

They also failed to identify signs of an airway malformation in the baby that had to have a lung removed once it was born.

Through multiple ultrasounds, the pair failed to identify signs the baby who died was missing a kidney and bladder, despite there being evidence of possible anomalies in the twin from the 20-week scan onwards.

A twin baby died three days after birth and another newborn needed to have a lung removed after mistakes made by the same sonographer and radiologist while assessing two pregnant women.

Deputy Commissioner Rose Wall has found they also breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers Rights for misdiagnoses of multiple ultrasound scans for the two pregnant women.

Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Rose Wall.

Wall said the common element in each case was the failure of the sonographer and radiologist to maintain their respective standard of clinical practice during the performance of multiple ultrasound scans.

In each case, it resulted in missed opportunities to diagnose issues at the earliest opportunity.

This delay in diagnosis had a profound and lasting impact on the consumers concerned and their wider whanau, Wall said.

Missed signs of airway malfunction

In the first complaint, the radiologist and sonographer failed to identify signs of congenital pulmonary airway malformation in the fetus through multiple ultrasound scans.

Mrs A became pregnant in 2021 and an early scan was reported as normal, with no abnormalities noted. A second ultrasound scan weeks later was acoustically challenging but no fetal abnormality was noted.

At a third scan, measurements obtained were normal, but because of the position of the fetus, not all required measurements could be obtained, and a follow-up anatomy ultrasound scan was scheduled.

The condition was identified by a different radiologist who found multiple cystic lesions had displaced and compressed the babys heart when the pregnancy was at 36 weeks.

The mother was referred urgently to the Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic, where a specialist told her that if the condition had been picked up when it was first noticeable on the ultrasound scans at 20 weeks, the subsequent interventions would likely have been less invasive and more healthy lung tissue could have been saved.

After the late diagnosis, urgent interventions were initiated in utero but were not successful, which led to the baby being born by Caesarean section and requiring multiple surgeries, including the complete removal of his right lung.

The baby remained in the neonatal intensive care unit following surgery and was able to breathe on his own after a few days.

The sonographer and radiologist acknowledged they had both erred in missing the fetal abnormality in the anatomy scan.

Wall said a report into what happened found that three of the four scans performed by the sonographer had suboptimal images, did not adhere to the guidelines at the time, and on numerous occasions had incorrect labelling.

She found the radiologist had failed to recommend the pregnant woman for tertiary referral at the time of the anatomy scan.

Baby born without kidney or bladder

Mrs B became pregnant in 2022 and had a routine scan with no abnormality found.

A third ultrasound scan was also normal and confirmed the pregnancy was twins. A growth scan at 24 weeks was also reported as normal.

A second growth scan weeks later showed one twin was on a smaller growth centile. However, there was no mention of the fetus being significantly below normal range, indicating that he might be a stuck twin, which is where there is a disparity in fluid volume and fetal size but no abnormality recorded.

Weeks later, Mrs B went into labour.

The maternity discharge papers recorded the pregnancy was well until delivery, with the twins born two minutes apart. The firstborn was taken to intensive care where the baby was found to be without a kidney and bladder and died three days later.

The sonographer, Mr C, said he deeply regretted his errors and the effect on the woman and her family.

I again offer my sincerest apology, he said in response to the complaint.

The radiologist, Dr D, said he also sincerely regretted not picking up the renal agenesis diagnosis in his review and report and apologised to the woman and her family for the stress they had suffered.

In the second complaint, Wall said the fetal anatomy imaging for both twins was incomplete, with images taken at the 12-week gestation period inadequate with suboptimal visualisation of the brain, extremities, kidneys and heart in both twins.

An expert adviser concluded that an obstetric review should have been recommended at 28 weeks gestation.

Wall concluded that the report findings emphasised the importance of scheduled maternity ultrasound scans as a principal opportunity to identify fetal developmental issues in utero.

The radiology service has since made changes, including additional training for staff and an audit of previous scans to prevent future occurrences.

Wall determined that the radiologist held overall responsibility for the reporting of each ultrasound scan and was required to provide the sonographer with feedback if the images did not meet the required quality or professional standard.

Wall made further recommendations for the radiographer and sonographer and the radiology service, including that Mr C enter into a mentoring relationship with a senior colleague for at least one year and that he reflect on the departure from the professional guidelines with respect to the images taken for the two women.

Tracy Neal is a Nelson-based Open Justice reporter at NZME. She was previously RNZs regional reporter in Nelson-Marlborough and has covered general news, including court and local government for the Nelson Mail.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the French Development Agency (Agence Francaise de Developpement, AFD) have signed a groundbreaking strategic Co-Financing Framework Agreement at AIIBs headquarters, Trend reports via the AIIB.

This partnership aims to strengthen their collaboration in advancing global sustainable development and promoting climate-resilient infrastructure projects.

The agreement, the first of its kind between AFD and a multilateral development bank (MDB), introduces a mutual reliance framework. This structure enables both institutions to capitalize on their respective expertise in specific sectors or countries, enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of their joint development initiatives.

Over the years, AIIB and AFD have worked together on projects in Egypt, India, and Turkiye, primarily through parallel co-financing led by an MDB. The new framework streamlines procedures, ensuring faster responses to clients' needs and improving project preparation and monitoring.

"This agreement builds on the robust partnership between AIIB and AFD," stated an official announcement, referencing their Memorandum of Understanding signed in June 2023. That document set the stage for broader collaboration on shared priorities, including their joint efforts for the upcoming Fifth Finance in Common (FiCS) Summit.

With this new agreement, AIIB and AFD aim to mobilize critical investments, deliver innovative solutions, and contribute significantly to the global fight against climate change.

Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Juan Cano Malaga Tuesday, 26 November 2024, 14:14 Compartir

The older sister of Paula, the woman who was allegedly murdered by her partner Marco Romeo in Torremolinos last year, has spoken about some of the warning signs in their relationship.

"He wouldn't let her wear make-up or have social media. He was very jealous," said Fatima, Paula's older sister, when looking back at the tragic story and threading together signs that didn't feel quite right. Paula's alleged killer is also under investigation for murdering a previous partner who had been missing for nine years, Sibora Gagani.

The relationship between Fatima and Paula was always very close. They grew up in Churriana - Fatima was the eldest and Paula, the second of three siblings - although they later moved to El Palo. They considered themselves to be from there. "Paula was a smart, intelligent girl who got straight As. She liked chess and was a good chess player. She was the best athlete in the school. She won all the endurance tests," Fatima said.

Paula wanted to study criminology, but a toxic relationship led her astray and pushed her towards drugs, Fatima said. That's when her problems began.

Although they lived in different towns and saw little of each other, the two talked to each other every day. "Paula told me everything," said Fatima, who did not read too much into the warning signs of her relationship with Marco as she was convinced her sister would never hide anything or fall back into the spiral of domestic violence.

"The first time it happened to her - with a partner before Marco - she didn't hesitate for a minute. She called me and said, 'Fatima, he's hitting me'. I was the one who called the police myself and reported it," Fatima added.

Then in 2020, Paula told Fatima she had met an Italian man. She spoke very highly of him: that he was a great cook, that he treated her very well, that he was organised around the house and that he paid attention to the finer details such as bringing her breakfast in bed. In reality, Marco had an almost prison-like routine: he got up early, made the bed, cleaned the house, did the laundry.... and there was a dark side.

At the beginning of the relationship, one of Paula's daughters sent several WhatsApp audios to her aunt - the police tried to recover them, but the mobile had been restored and they were deleted. Her daughter had said that her mother and Marco had argued all afternoon, and that he stayed at the foot of the bed where she was sleeping and that he held a knife in his hand. Fatima asked her sister about it and she told her that it had probably been a nightmare of the girl, who was five years old at the time.

One day, Paula told her sister that Marco didn't like her make-up, that he was jealous, but Fatima knew her sister was jealous too, so she didn't think anything of it. Nor did it surprise her that he didn't want her to make a profile because "all her partners had controlled her social media", so Paula decided it was better not to have them.

'This type of man does his job very well; he fooled the family, he fooled us all'

Even so, Fatima could not imagine that her sister would go through gender-based violence again, let alone not tell her about it. And they didn't notice anything about Marco that made them suspicious, she said. "Those kind of men do their job very well. He fooled the whole family: my mum, my grandmother.... He always had a very calm attitude. And when they had an argument, they tried to make us see that she was the one who was crazy. He fooled us all," Fatima said.

Everyone except for Fatima's partner was fooled. "My fella didn't like it. He said he was going to do something to Paula," Fatima said. His misgivings stemmed from a first break-up between the couple. He didn't like the way Marco tried to convince Paula to resume the relationship, which was bordering on "harassment".

They really knew very little about him; that he was Italian, that he was 45 years old and that he didn't want to go back to his country under any circumstances. "When I asked my sister about Marco's life, I realised that I didn't know anything about him," she said. One day, a friend in Torremolinos told Fatima that her sister's boyfriend had been investigated for the disappearance of a girl. "I told Paula about it and she explained that she knew about it because she had seen it in some newspapers she had found on him."

The girl was Sibora Gagani, a 22-year-old Italian-Albanian who disappeared in July 2014, days after breaking off her relationship with Marco. "He told my sister that they argued and that she [Sibora] left, which she used to do, and that he and the family was looking for her. Paula believed him and they didn't talk about it anymore." Sibora's body was found in June last year after Marco, already arrested for killing Paula, confessed that his ex-girlfriend was walled up in the flat they shared in the Calvario neighbourhood in Torremolinos.

The only suspicious behaviour was noticed by Fatima a week before her sister's murder. She had come to spend a few days in Malaga and, before leaving, she wanted to spend time with Paula. "On that trip, I did notice him strictly controlling the food and drink she was having. He was very upset and didn't like her going out with me," Fatima said.

A few days before the crime, Marco called Fatima to tell her that Paula had left him and kicked him out of the house. She told him to leave Paula alone, and hung up the phone. "I called my sister on 16 May. She told me they had broken up and didn't explain anything else. I asked her if she was afraid, probably because my fella had been going on about how he didn't like him, and she replied that she wasn't, that she felt sorry for him because he had nowhere else to go," Fatima said.

The next day, Marco set Paula up and, according to the prosecution, murdered her by stabbing her 16 times with a 31.5-centimetre kitchen knife he had stolen from the bar where he worked. When the police called Fatima to tell her that her sister had been found dead, she asked: "Did he kill her?"

Fatima knows that nobody is going to give her sister back to her, but she asked for justice for her and for women who suffer abuse, "who have to open their eyes". The family, represented by lawyer Guillermo Smerdou, want the sentence to be served in full: "If it's 28 years - that's the sentence the prosecutor is asking for - it should really be 28 years, and not that in eight years he'll be out. After having killed two girls and having manipulated the system, he cannot go free for good behaviour. Paula did not deserve that death. Not Paula, not any woman," Fatima said.
Chair yoga -- its the latest exercise trend making waves on social media, popping up in feeds with promises of gentle stretches and easy movement for all ages. And lets be honest, who hasnt felt the appeal of something that requires little more than a chair and the willingness to try?

But are the promises real or just another passing fad? Thats exactly what one reader, Liz, wanted to know when she reached out to ask if Id ever looked into chair yoga apps. So heres what I found -- and some truly free ways to bring chair yoga into your life, no gimmicks included.

Dear Cheapskate: You are always my go-to person. Thanks for always being there on your website, daily emails and columns I read in Epoch Times. Im wondering if you have ever looked into chair yoga apps. I see them on social media all the time. They usually say free, then you go in and its free for a week or something. Do you have any thoughts on chair yoga as a viable form of healthy exercise and if there might be apps or other helps that are truly free? -- Liz

Dear Liz: First, thanks so much for your kind words -- that means the world to me. As for chair yoga, it has been the focus of a lot of research that has found it to be a valuable, accessible form of exercise, particularly for people with limited mobility, seniors and those managing chronic conditions.

Studies in medical and therapeutic fields have shown a range of health benefits, including improved flexibility and mobility, enhanced well-being, pain relief, increased strength and balance, and cardiovascular support.

Some might see chair yoga as less effective because it appears simpler or less intense. However, studies confirm that its gentleness doesnt diminish its benefits. In fact, the lower impact makes it sustainable and more accessible, offering an effective solution for those who need a milder form of exercise.

I hope youll check out the following free chair yoga resources:

FREE CHAIR YOGA APPS

Chair Yoga for Seniors by Livo: This app offers personalized workout plans tailored to your fitness level and goals, with guided sessions and video demonstrations. Its available for free on iOS devices.

Yoga-Go: While not exclusively focused on chair yoga, Yoga-Go provides a variety of yoga routines, including options suitable for beginners and those seeking gentle practices. The app offers free content alongside premium features.

ONLINE CHAIR YOGA CLASSES

Yoga with Adriene: Adriene offers a 17-minute chair yoga session designed to help you find mobility in a gentle and supportive way. This practice is available for free on her website.

Accessible Yoga with Jivana Heyman: A 60-minute complete chair yoga class that includes movement, breathing, relaxation and meditation, all done in a chair. This session is freely accessible online.

SilverSneakers: Offers a variety of free online chair yoga classes tailored for seniors, focusing on breathing exercises, seated and standing poses, and overall well-being.

YOUTUBE CHAIR YOGA SESSIONS

Chair Yoga: A 22-minute seated chair yoga session suitable for beginners and seniors. This video is part of a 28-day series available on YouTube.

15-Minute Chair Yoga Class for Seniors & Beginners: A gentle full-body chair yoga class suitable for all levels, focusing on flexibility and relaxation. Available for free on YouTube.

These resources provide a variety of options to incorporate chair yoga into your routine without any cost. Whether you prefer guided apps or online classes, theres something to suit your needs.

You can find more information with specific links to all of the resources above at EverydayCheapskate.com/ChairYoga.

Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at Ask Mary. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book Debt-Proof Living.

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM


An aerial view from February 2024 shows construction progress at Intel's Ohio One campus of nearly 1,000 acres in Licking County, Ohio. Intel announced plans in January 2022, to invest more than $20 billion in the construction of two new leading-edge chip factories in Ohio. The company broke ground in September 2022. The investment will serve the needs of Intel Foundry customers as part of the companys IDM 2.0 strategy.Intel Corp. via Associated Press

Syracuse, N.Y. -- The Biden administration has finalized another multibillion dollar deal to build semiconductor plants in the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced today it has signed a deal with Intel Corp. to provide nearly $8 billion in grants, the largest award under the CHIPS and Science Act. Intel plans to build and upgrade its fabrication plants, or fabs, in Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon and Ohio.

The money comes as Intel is planning to lay off 15,000 employees. The companys expansions using the CHIPS money are expected to create 10,000 manufacturing jobs, the Biden administration said today in a news release.

That leaves just two of the biggest CHIPS deals to be finalized: Samsung and Micron Technology. Micron has already started construction of a fab at its corporate headquarters in Idaho and plans to break ground a year from now on a massive complex in Central New York.

The Commerce Department has also reached final deals with GlobalFoundries to expand its plant in Saratoga County and with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the worlds largest chipmaker, to upgrade and build fabs in Arizona.

Microns deal would be final by the end of the year, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told syracuse.com in late September.

The Biden administration is racing to seal the tentative deals before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office in January. Trump has criticized the CHIPS Act, passed in 2022, and House Speaker Mike Johnson said in Syracuse Nov. 1 that Congress might repeal or alter the law.

The $280 billion CHIPS Act is aimed to bring chipmaking back to the U.S. and create supply chains, train workers and establish research centers to support the complex endeavor of producing computer chips.

Todays announcement says that Intel could get $7.87 billion from the CHIPS Act if it meets certain construction and hiring thresholds. Thats less than the $8.5 billion announced in March when Intel and Commerce reached a tentative agreement. Intel could also get $25 billion in investment tax credits.

Microns tentative deal with the Commerce Department would net the company $4.6 billion in grants and $11.3 billion in tax credits to build the first two fabs in Clay. Micron would also get $1.5 billion in grants for the fab in Boise.
If you look in your kitchen cabinet, chances are you will find a glass Pyrex measuring cup. They are pretty much a staple in any home, almost as common as a dish or spoon.

If you do have one, you could be in line for a refund related to a recent settlement, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

The FTC is sending more than $88,000 in refunds to consumers who bought Chinese-made measuring cups marketed as Made in the USA by Instant Brands, maker of Pyrex-brand kitchen and home products. The settlement comes after the FTC took action against Instant Brands in 2023 charging the company claimed some of its popular glass measuring cups were made in the U.S. despite the fact they were imported from China  more than 110,000 units in all, according to federal officials.

Instant Brands agreed to a settlement with the FTC that stopped the company from making deceptive claims about products being Made in USA and required them to pay a monetary judgment.

Almost 10,300 consumers are due refunds from the settlement. The settlement covers customers who bought Pyrex glass measuring cups imported from China between March 2021 and May 2022 and people should receive their payments directly. Any payment checks should be cashed within 90 days.

Consumers who have questions should contact the refund administrator, Simpluris, at 833-244-7320.

You can go here to see more information about the refund process.
Rome, N.Y.  A Rome man drove away from police trying to stop him this weekend, dragging an officer two blocks, according to Rome police.

On Sunday, police were looking for the man, Lindell M. Reed, to check on his welfare. They had received information that he had been using drugs and alcohol for several days without sleeping and was acting extremely erratic.

At around 11:19 p.m. Sunday, Reed drove to the Rome Police Station and began talking with officers. While officers were talking to Reed, they decided he shouldnt be driving, they said.

Reed was able to get back into his vehicle. Officers attempted to remove Reed and prevent him from driving, but he was able to drive away, police said in a news release.

One officer became caught on the drivers side door of the vehicle as it drove south on North James Street, police said. The officer was dragged about two blocks while attempting to get the driver to stop the vehicle. Reed made a fast turn throwing the officer from the moving vehicle, police said.

The officer was taken to Rome Health by ambulance with a lower leg injury and other injuries, police said. The officer is expected to make a full recovery.

Reed continued to flee the scene at a high speed, police said. Responding officers observed his excessive speed and erratic driving and decided it wasnt safe to pursue his vehicle and called off the pursuit.

Reed and his vehicle were located in the area of Beilby Road early Monday morning. At approximately 8:30 a.m., Reed was taken into custody, police said.

Reed was charged with second-degree assault on a police officer. He was held for arraignment in Rome City Court and remanded to Oneida County Jail on $10,000 bail.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. Representatives from the National Depository Center (NDC) of Azerbaijan and the Bank of New York Mellon (BNY Mellon) have discussed the prospects for custody services, Trend reports.

According to the NDC, the meeting highlighted the role of the Center in the development of Azerbaijan's capital market and its strategic growth plans.

Additionally, the parties explored the potential for cooperation in integrating the NDC's advanced financial infrastructure with BNY Mellon's custody services.

The NDC's development strategy for 2024-2026 emphasizes expanding activities related to establishing and fostering relationships with international financial organizations and depositories.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Hamilton, NY -- U.S. Senator Charles Schumer stopped by Madison County on Tuesday afternoon to call on Congress to continue allowing Medicare to pay for telemedicine.

Nearly 250,000 seniors across Central New York are at-risk of losing telemedicine coverage through Medicare unless Covid-era provisions are allowed to continue.

At Community Memorial Hospital in Hamilton, Schumer, D-NY, said that rural communities would suffer most if telemedicine is cut off from Medicare funding.

This helped thousands of seniors in rural areas across Upstate NY when the closest doctor is hours away access critical health care services, Schumer said. Telehealth is one of the biggest tools for supporting rural Upstate communities that face shortages of doctors.

The convenience of being able to contact a doctor by phone also encourages seniors to seek help instead of putting off potentially important care, the senator said.

Community Memorials CEO and President Jeff Coakley noted that patients at his rural hospital often get telemedicine help from specialized doctors from nearby Syracuse and as far away as Wisconsin.

Schumer said there is bi-partisan support to allow Medicare to keep paying for telemedicine past Dec. 31, which he called the telemedicine cliff.

Im very eager to see it renewed, Schumer said. I think we have a good chance to keep it going.

Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or (315) 470-6070.
By Raga Justin | Times Union, Albany

Albany, N.Y.  Two auto insurance companies will pay over $11 million to New York after data from over 120,000 New York customers was leaked in a November 2020 cyberattack that allowed hackers to exploit the states unemployment system.

Both GEICO and Travelers, major national insurance companies, will pay penalties for their poor data security after an investigation headed by the state attorney general and the state Department of Financial Services.

The 2020 cyberattack was launched by hackers who managed to steal personal information, including drivers licenses and birth dates, from online tools that provide customers with estimates for automobile insurance. Hackers then used that information to file fraudulent unemployment claims during the pandemic caused by the coronavirus.

GEICO and Travelers had weak data security measures in place to safeguard that information, a violation of regulations enforced by the Department of Financial Services, according to state Attorney General Letitia James' office.

GEICO and Travelers offer drivers protection during times of emergencies, but these companies failed to protect consumers' personal information, James said in a statement. Data breaches can lead to serious fraud, and that is why it is important for all companies to take cybersecurity and data protection seriously.

GEICO will pay the larger share of the penalties, nearly $10 million, while Travelers will pay nearly $1.6 million.

The companies also will strengthen security measures, review their systems, conduct risk assessments and develop action plans to address concerns, according to the attorney generals office.

DFSs groundbreaking cybersecurity regulation establishes a vital foundation for ensuring the safety of sensitive consumer data and the resilience of financial institutions, said Adrienne A. Harris, superintendent of the Department of Financial Services.

The cyberattacks began in 2020 on GEICOs public-facing auto insurance quoting tools. The Department of Financial Services notified GEICO of an industry-wide attack but the attorney generals office said the company did not bolster its systems to prevent future attacks. Travelers was hit by hackers using the companys agent portal in April 2021, which the company did not detect for more than seven months.

Some of the data that hackers were able to obtain during the breach was later used in filing fraudulent unemployment claims.

In a statement, company spokesman Michael Young said GEICO self-reported the breach to New York and made improvements to its systems to prevent additional exploitation.

GEICO takes data security very seriously and has since committed significant resources to further strengthen its cybersecurity program, Young said.

Cyberattacks have been cited as a growing threat to the critical infrastructure in New York. The state experienced over 25,000 cyberattacks in 2022, up from more than 16,400 attacks in 2016.

___

(c)2024 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.)

Visit the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) at www.timesunion.com
They say cheaters never prosper, but in New York state they at least wont be charged with a crime.

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill Monday that officially legalizes adultery. Cheating on your spouse had been a misdemeanor in New York state since 1907, punishable by up to three months in jail.

The law was rarely enforced, but such bans on adultery were reportedly created to reduce the number of divorces at a time when adultery was the only way to secure a legal split. A married man and a 25-year-old woman were arrested under the New York law when the mans wife sued for divorce shortly after it took effect in 1907, but only about a dozen people have been charged with it since 1972  with just five cases leading to convictions.

New York lawmakers passed a bill repealing the law in April. Hochuls signature makes it take effect immediately, making adultery no longer a crime under state law.

Adultery was defined in New York as when a person engages in sexual intercourse with another person at a time when he has a living spouse, or the other person has a living spouse. NYS Assemblyman Charles Lavine, who sponsored the bill to repeal the ban, said it was unnecessary since it wasnt enforced and argued prosecutors shouldnt dig into what willing adults do behind closed doors.

It just makes no sense whatsoever and weve come a long way since intimate relationships between consenting adults are considered immoral, he said. Its a joke. This law was someones expression of moral outrage.

Several other states still have adultery laws classifying extramarital affairs as misdemeanors, but Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Michigan charge them as felonies.
By Nathan Porceng | New York Focus

This story originally appeared in New York Focus, a nonprofit news publication investigating power in New York. Sign up for their newsletter here.

Joseph Nickischer cant remember wildfires like this.

Weve had fires that lasted this long, but not this big, Nickischer, a former chief and current volunteer with the Patterson Volunteer Fire Department, told New York Focus. Youre talking fire lines.  Youre not measuring them in a couple hundred feet. Youre measuring them in miles.

Wildfires torched over 6,000 acres in and around New York in the last few weeks. The Hudson Valley and the Catskills bore the brunt of the damage, though smaller brush fires broke out across New York City. Hundreds of people evacuated their homes. Schools closed. Dariel Vasquez, an 18-year-old New York state parks department employee, died while battling the blazes. This October was the driest in well over a century, creating the conditions for Novembers wildfires to spark and rapidly spread.

But as the risk of fires in New York has grown over the years, one thing hasnt changed: the number of park rangers and volunteer firefighters responsible for preventing them and putting them out. Former and current leaders of the states rangers union, part of the Police Benevolent Association of New York State, have expressed fears that blazes could get even bigger and have lobbied state leaders to prioritize wildfire management and better support the rangers.

We have 6 million acres of public land in New York state that 100 rangers are protecting, Robert Praczkajlo, a Department of Environmental Conservation ranger and union leader, told New York Focus. Rangers have nowhere near the staffing and funding they need to perform their everyday duties, he said  let alone combat increasingly frequent and severe wildfires.

Lack of personnel is also a major issue for volunteer firefighters, who serve for free in their spare time. Volunteer firefighters far outnumber DEC rangers and are New Yorks first and most significant defenders against forest fires. But over the past few decades, the ranks of the states volunteer fire departments have shrunk by nearly a third. Nickischer said he doesnt know how to solve the personnel shortage. Theres no solid fix.

Its a really difficult situation, said Praczkajlo. As bad as the fires this past month have been, Praczkajlo fears things could get a lot worse. These massive fires are burning down in the southern part of the state, he said, but if that happened in the Adirondacks right now, under those same conditions, or in the higher elevations of the Catskill Park, it would be millions of acres.

Historically, wildfires rarely troubled New Yorkers, burning around 1,400 acres in an average year. In 1990, the DEC shut down the last of its fire towers, used for over a century to scout for smoke and flames. Today, the towers are tourist attractions.

But in recent years, advocates, academics, and union leaders have warned of the growing risk of widespread wildfires. One reason is that the states climate, which had long stifled fires, could soon turn, Andrew Vander Yacht, an ecologist at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, told New York Focus last year. That would cause swings from periods of heavy precipitation to extended droughts, causing rainfall to concentrate in fewer, heavier events and creating drier and more flammable forest conditions. Vander Yachts predictions appear to have come true. He thinks that New York will see even longer droughts than the one preceding this falls fires, and more destructive fires as a result.

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation employs around 130 rangers who oversee millions of acres of land in the Adirondacks, the Catskills, and other state forests. About 110 of them actively work in the field, conducting search and rescues, enforcing conservation laws, and fighting wildfires.

But they dont have the resources to deal with an increasing fire volume. They dont have shit for money, said Dave Holden, a Catskills-based environmental activist.

The DEC needs at least 150 field rangers, Praczkajlo said. The staffing shortage is so bad that rangers do not even have time to access and spend the limited wildfire funds they have at their disposal, he said.

In February, Praczkajlos predecessor at the union, Art Perryman, went to the state legislature asking for reforms to New Yorks wildfire strategy. He proposed maximizing opportunities for rangers to gain experience fighting out-of-state wildfires, establishing a dedicated wildfire protection fund, and replacing the states aging inventory of forest firefighting equipment. He also told New York Focus that the state needs to use more prescribed burns, which are currently banned in the states largest forested areas.

The Forest Rangers are the front line of defense when it comes to large destructive wildfires and have been since our inception, Perryman testified. We do not currently have the resources and support that we need to adequately address that mission.

Governor Kathy Hochul acknowledged the growing threat of wildfires fueled by climate change last month when she announced the rollout of a data tool to warn New Yorkers about dangerous weather conditions. But the state has not taken up the unions funding and staffing recommendations, Praczkajlo said.

Ive worked just over a thousand hours of overtime, he said. Im not required to work that amount of overtime. But I just cant say no when the phone rings and dispatch says somebody needs help.

DEC spokesperson Denis Slattery said in a statement that the agency has expanded the rangers ranks by graduating three cohorts from the services required six-month basic training academy in recent years. According to Praczkajlo, the academys next class, which graduates this December, will yield just nine new rangers, and there will not be another class until 2026.

Staffing shortages make it harder for DEC rangers to fight out-of-state fires, too. These deployments help prepare rangers to combat forest fires closer to home. In 2022, Quebec sent a 20-person crew to help New York battle a 142-acre wildfire in the Hudson Valley. But last year, when wildfires burned over 12 million acres in Quebec and Nova Scotia, New York sent just 16 of 70 available forest rangers. Perryman said New Yorks failure to reciprocate the Canadians generosity cost the states rangers critical experience.

Some lawmakers are taking note.

Perrymans testimony was prophetic, said state Senator Peter Harckham, who chairs his chambers Environmental Conservation Committee and represents part of the Hudson Valley. He said that if Hochul signs the Climate Change Superfund Act, which would require large industrial emitters of greenhouse gasses to pay for climate adaptation measures, the legislature could allocate some of the funds to the rangers.

Harckham is sponsoring another bill that would establish a climate resiliency office and a task force charged with identifying and planning for climate-related emergencies, including wildfires. Praczkajlo agreed that planning and coordination are crucial. If New York had shifted resources to the southern part of the state earlier, when dry and windy weather patterns first emerged, first responders could have quelled the wildfires there much quicker and prevented much damage, he said. The bill is currently in committee.

We need resiliency on all levels, said Harckham. The same areas that are now getting pounded with wildfires were getting pounded with floods just a few months ago. This is the reality of climate change.

Lawmakers also want to improve the rangers pension plan. Rangers have to serve 25 years before they can retire; the legislature has passed a bill five times that would lower that to 20 years, the retirement cutoff for many other state and local law enforcement officers. Praczkajlo said the longer service requirement has hurt recruitment and prompted experienced rangers to abandon the DEC for other law enforcement agencies. But the bill has been vetoed each time, most recently by Hochul last month.

Additional ranger staffing could also free up rangers to pass their experience on to local volunteer fire departments, whose ranks provide the overwhelming bulk of the states wildfire response  and who lack personnel, training, and resources themselves.

Volunteer firefighters from the Patterson Volunteer Fire Department and other departments deployed to fight the Jennings Creek wildfire. November 11, 2024. | John Barretto and Angela Maass

When wildfires break out, the burden overwhelmingly falls on New Yorks roughly 80,000 volunteer firefighters, who are grappling with funding and personnel shortages of their own.

Jason Smith, chief of the Berne Fire District, led volunteer firefighters battling the Jennings Creek wildfire, which burned over 5,000 acres across New York and New Jersey and took 14 days to contain. Smith told New York Focus that he saw crews from other departments show up with the wrong protective equipment and hoses because they werent properly trained or couldnt afford the right gear.

Specialized wildfire equipment protects firefighters from heat exhaustion and makes it easier for them to maneuver across wooded and rocky terrains  but its expensive. Boots alone cost hundreds of dollars. Outfitting just one volunteer can cost up to $1,000. Nickischer said his department, which services a mixed urban-rural corner of Putnam County, typically spends around $5,000 annually on wildfire equipment. We try to outfit a couple of people per year so theyre not going out there in blue jeans and sneakers, he joked.

New Yorks volunteer fire departments receive some funding through a state-administered program paid for by the US Forest Service. Departments can receive up to $2,500 in matching funds for wildfire equipment like hoses, hard hats, and portable pumps. Nickischer said his department applies almost every year, but theres no guarantee the state will approve it, and the funding doesnt cover all of their costs. Smith would like the state to extend the program to cover every qualifying department every year.

The state also provides some tax and retirement benefits for volunteers and recently began issuing stipends for certain firefighting courses, but offers little additional assistance. Nickischer likes that volunteer service keeps costs low for taxpayers, but he thinks the state should at least reimburse volunteers for basic expenses like gas.

Nickischer insisted that a lack of personnel, not money, is the most significant issue facing volunteer fire departments. As New Yorks rural population declines and people devote less time to all forms of volunteering, departments like his have had a tough time maintaining their ranks. Since the 1990s, the number of volunteer firefighters in the state has plummeted by around 30 percent, according to the Firefighters Association of the State of New York, while calls for service have increased by 29 percent. Its unclear how many of the approximately 80,000 volunteer firefighters left are active, available, and qualified to fight wildfires.

More volunteers make fighting wildfires a lot easier. Nickischer noted that New York City responds to fires with overwhelming force. Around 100 firefighters responded to a two-acre brush fire in Brooklyns Prospect Park this month.

But New Yorks rural and mountain communities bear the biggest brunt of wildfires. Nickischer said his department, located in a town of around 11,000 people near the Connecticut border, has just 40 active firefighters, only five to 10 of whom typically respond to any given call. They have to call volunteers from other jurisdictions to help with anything larger than a small backyard fire, he said.

Last June, Governor Hochuls office announced that 105 volunteer firefighters received payments from the states first round of training stipends. Robert Leonard, a spokesperson for the state Firefighters Association, told New York Focus that the $10 million program could boost recruiting for volunteer departments, but that its too soon to tell.

Vander Yacht, the ecologist at SUNY ESF, recommends that New York actively manage its forests to minimize the risk of wildfires. Controlled burns can clear flammable underbrush and promote the growth of fire-resistant tree species, but the state doesnt allow them in the millions of acres encompassed by the Catskill and Adirondack parks.

Holden hopes the wildfires are a wake-up call for New Yorkers and that the state takes action in time to save its rural and mountain communities. All you have to do is look at what happened in California [with] the Paradise fire, he said, or in Hawaii last year. Theres no reason it cant happen here.

Correction: A previous version of this story said that wildfires burned more than 6,000 acres in New York. It has been updated to reflect that the number also includes parts of New Jersey.
Windham, N.Y.  A pilot and a rescue dog he was transporting to an animal shelter were killed when a small plane crashed in the snowy woods of the Catskill Mountains, though two other dogs were later found to have survived, authorities said.

Seuk Kim, 49, was flying from Maryland to Albany, N.Y., when the plane crashed Sunday evening in a remote area of Windham, about 35 miles southwest of Albany, officials said.

A preliminary investigation indicates the pilot died from the impact, Greene County Sheriff Peter Kusminsky said. The flight was carrying three dogs and was associated with a not-for-profit group that transports rescue animals with help from volunteer pilots, the sheriff said.

Two dogs survived the crash: A Labrador-mix puppy that suffered broken bones, and another dog that had only minor injuries.

It was pretty scared and it was dug down into the snow, Kusminsky said of the puppy with broken bones.

That dog, named Whiskey, was taken to a veterinary hospital in Middleton, Connecticut, according to the nonprofit Kim was delivering the dogs to, the Animal Shelter of Schoharie County. The other dog found safe was a 18-month-old yorkie terrier mix named Pluto.

Tributes to Kim, who was from Springfield, Virginia, poured into an online memorial Monday, with fellow dog rescuers thanking him for flying flights and coordinating pilots across the country.

Over the years, Seuk helped to save the lives of hundreds of animals who would have otherwise been euthanized due to overcrowding at animal shelters, Maggie Pryor, director of the Animal Shelter of Schoharie County, said in a statement.

Cathay West, who operates the Kuddles & Kisses K9 Rescue in Baltimore, Maryland, said she last saw Kim in October at a nearby airport as he handed over to her a dog that had only days before been on a list to be euthanized at an overcrowded shelter in Tennessee.

He was bringing me a momma dog and five puppies, West said. He was so involved in trying to get the word out to volunteer, to other pilots. That this is a good thing to save these dogs so that they dont die in shelters.

A statement from Kims family said he was originally from South Korea and came to this country with little but a dream, and through hard work and perseverance, he built a life of meaning and generosity.

He was a kind, selfless individual who always went out of his way to help others, no matter the circumstances, the statement said. His legacy will live on in the countless lives he touched, both human and animal, it added.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were investigating the crash.

Visibility was poor on Sunday and Kim sought permission to change his altitude due to turbulence before the crash, Kusminsky said.

The plane crashed in woods a couple of miles from the nearest road. Rescuers located the wreckage before midnight in woods covered by about a foot of snow, according to the sheriff.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), a member of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB) Group, presented its Trade Connect Central Asia+ (TCCA+) Program at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

On this account, the ITFC reiterated its dedication to sustainable development paradigms at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) held in the capital of Azerbaijan.`

"Recognizing the impact of trade on CO2 emissions, ITFC actively participated in COP29 events, promoting sustainable trade practices in line with the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. ITFC's initiatives at COP29 emphasized its focus on climate resilience and sustainable agriculture. During a panel session titled 'Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and Organic Farming in Central Asia,' the ITFC introduced the TCCA+ program, aimed at improving access to organic products in markets, enhancing certification, and advancing sustainable practices in the region. The TCCA+ program could play a significant role in implementing sustainable trade practices and innovative technologies in Central Asia," a statement from the ITFC reads.

Furthermore, ITFC engaged in the Baku Initiative for Climate Finance, Investment, and Trade (BICFIT), which is centered on mobilizing climate-resilient capital flows, and endorsed the Baku Ministerial Declaration aimed at forming the Turkic States Partnership for Climate, Innovation, Green Economy, and Trade (CIGET).

Check out the extended interview version for additional information about the TCCA+ program.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Taos Woman: Online Now!

In this years Taos Woman magazine, we get up close with our eight Taosena awards recipients and women who are committed to the community and passionate in spirit.
RahulNagaraj Senior - BHPian



Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,676 Thanked: 25,316 Times

View My Garage





ISRO plans to build a moon-orbiting space station by 2040; Support crew missions to moon surface







The moon-orbiting space station by ISRO, as per reports, will support crewed missions to the moon's surface and serve as a hub for scientific research. The lunar space station will reportedly be completed around the same time ISRO lands an astronaut on the moon. The Indian space agency is also looking to construct a permanent base on the moon's surface by 2050.



The moon-orbiting space station by ISRO seems to be the third and final phase of India's space explorations. The first phase involves conducting robotic missions using homegrown technology. This includes the Chandrayaan-4 sample-return mission scheduled for 2028, with the aim to bring back around 3 kg of samples from the moon's south pole.



The second phase will be achieving a crewed moon landing by 2040, following the construction of the lunar space station. The lunar space station could be similar to ISRO's own earth-orbiting station being built - called the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), which will be operational by 2035.



Source:



Link to Team-BHP news According to reports, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently unveiled an ambitious roadmap to establish its long-term presence in space. As part of these plans, ISRO wants to build a space station around the moon by 2040.The moon-orbiting space station by ISRO, as per reports, will support crewed missions to the moon's surface and serve as a hub for scientific research. The lunar space station will reportedly be completed around the same time ISRO lands an astronaut on the moon. The Indian space agency is also looking to construct a permanent base on the moon's surface by 2050.The moon-orbiting space station by ISRO seems to be the third and final phase of India's space explorations. The first phase involves conducting robotic missions using homegrown technology. This includes the Chandrayaan-4 sample-return mission scheduled for 2028, with the aim to bring back around 3 kg of samples from the moon's south pole.The second phase will be achieving a crewed moon landing by 2040, following the construction of the lunar space station. The lunar space station could be similar to ISRO's own earth-orbiting station being built - called the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), which will be operational by 2035.Source: Space.com Last edited by RahulNagaraj : 25th November 2024 at 15:18 .
Facepalm: Microsoft introduced the Windows Insider testing program as a way to improve the platform by collecting distributed feedback. Since 2014, millions of Insiders have been "testing" new Windows features. Yet, despite their input, every major upgrade still brings fresh headaches and compatibility issues to the operating system.

Microsoft has acknowledged yet another issue in Windows 11, version 24H2. According to the company's official dashboard for known issues, some Ubisoft games are experiencing significant problems after users install the latest Windows update. The affected titles may become unresponsive or even display a "black screen" before crashing.

The impacted games include Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Assassin's Creed Origins, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Star Wars Outlaws, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Ubisoft has released a temporary fix for Star Wars Outlaws, but the patch may introduce additional performance issues. Microsoft has yet to explain why so many Ubisoft games are encountering these problems.

To prevent further disruption, Microsoft has blocked the installation of Windows 11 24H2 on systems with the affected games. The company is advising users to avoid manually upgrading their systems until the issue is resolved. Meanwhile, Microsoft and Ubisoft are collaborating to develop a permanent fix. Frustrated users have taken to social media to voice their dissatisfaction with both Ubisoft and the "very, very broken" 24H2 release of Windows 11.

Gamers have been grappling with these issues for weeks, attempting to troubleshoot on their own by checking the Uplay launcher, updating GPU drivers, installing Visual C++ Redistributable packages, and trying various other fixes. Despite the efforts, nothing has worked. Understandably, users who recently purchased brand-new gaming systems or hardware components are particularly frustrated.

For now, Microsoft has only suggested a few "workarounds" for unresponsive games, such as forcibly closing the application through task manager. Another (unofficial) option is downgrading the operating system to version 23H2, though some users report experiencing game crashes on that version as well.

Beyond gaming-related problems, Windows 11 24H2 is displaying broader instability and incompatibility issues with various hardware and software. Shortly after the upgrade began rolling out last month, owners of WD SSDs reported bugs and BSOD crashes caused by poorly managed I/O caching operations. The Windows Insider program, which aims to transform "technically able" users into effective OS beta testers, appears to be struggling to meet its goals at this point.
In context: After barely weathering the pandemic in 2020, Fujikura is now enjoying a period of unprecedented growth in the Japanese stock market, driven by demand in AI and data center operations. The Tokyo-based company specializes in manufacturing electrical equipment, including power and telecommunication systems, optical fiber devices, and more.

Fujikura Ltd., founded by Zenpachi Fujikura in 1885, continues to thrive, fueled by the rapid growth of AI products and research initiatives. Originally focused on producing silk and cotton-insulated wires, the company has evolved to specialize in advanced cable systems for the modern tech industry.

According to a recent Bloomberg report, Fujikura has become the best-performing stock on the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, with its share price surging over 400 percent in 2024. The company is also set to join the widely followed MSCI global stock market index.

One of Fujikura's most in-demand products is its ultra-thin fiber optic cables, which boast some of the smallest diameters in the industry. These cables can be deployed in tight spaces without requiring additional tunneling, according to CFO Kazuhito Iijima. Notably, Apple is one of Fujikura's largest customers.

Iijima noted that demand for data center products began surging significantly around 2022, leaving company executives puzzled at first. Now, it's clear that AI is the primary driver behind the booming business. Fujikura is projected to achieve 104 billion ($674 million) in operating income during the current fiscal year, marking a 17 percent year-over-year increase.

A substantial 70 percent of Fujikura's revenue comes from outside Japan, with 38 percent originating from the United States. In 2020, the company faced its first loss in a decade, attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic and escalating trade tensions between the US and China. The return of the Trump administration could reignite these challenges, but Fujikura has been preparing for such scenarios.

To mitigate risks, Iijima confirmed that the company has established a US-based production facility dedicated to manufacturing high-density optical fiber cables. The plant is designed to comply with the Build America Buy America Act, ensuring resilience "even if new issues arise that are disadvantageous to imported materials," Iijima stated.

Looking ahead, Fujikura is preparing for emerging opportunities as global data center capacity is projected to grow by 33 percent annually through 2030, according to McKinsey & Company. The company is also exploring future markets, with nuclear fusion reactors  a potential clean energy breakthrough  seen as a promising avenue that will likely require extensive cabling solutions.
Recap: Shortly following a historic courtroom defeat in the United States, Google must also contend with a UK lawsuit worth almost $9 billion. The cases involve the company's supremacy over the search engine and web browser markets, which regulators on both sides of the Atlantic deem anti-competitive.

The UK Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has rejected Google's request to dismiss a 7 billion ($8.8 billion) consumer lawsuit against the company's search and advertising businesses. The decision adds another case to Google's now global regulatory struggle.

Consumer rights advocate Nikki Stopford launched the claim on behalf of every UK resident over 16 who bought goods from businesses in the country that used Google's ad services between January 1, 2011, and September 7, 2023. The lawsuit asserts that the company's commanding lead in the online search and advertising markets allowed it to raise ad prices for businesses, which passed the costs down to consumers. The opt-out claim automatically includes all affected customers.

Additionally, the lawsuit opposes Google's practice of forcing Android device manufacturers to pre-install the company's Chrome browser and make Google their default search engine. It also condemns the company's billions in payments to Apple to make iOS default to Google search.

The CAT case, which Google challenged in September, partially hinges on a 2018 decision in which the European Commission fined the company 4.34 billion ($4.5 billion) over the same policies. It also follows a US judge's monumental recent declaration that Google represents an unlawful monopoly.

In a decision that could shake the tech landscape, the Department of Justice recommended that the company sell Chrome, license out its internal data, cease its search engine revenue deals with manufacturers, and offer publishers opt-out clauses for its AI model training. If Google loses its appeal and the DOJ finds the remedies insufficient, the agency might force the tech giant to sell Android as well.

Google and Apple also recently drew ire from the UK's Competition and Markets Authority. The regulator criticized the companies' revenue-sharing deal, Safari and Chrome's mobile web browser market dominance, and Apple's rules restricting iOS browser development.

Experts and claimants argue that Google's unique position threatens the open web and raises insurmountable barriers for smaller rivals like DuckDuckGo, Bing, and Firefox. According to StatCounter, Google commands 80 percent of the search engine market and 60 percent of the web browser sector.
Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years.TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust

The big picture: Thai authorities have dismantled two sophisticated fraud operations in Bangkok in "Operation Bridge Blast," which targeted Chinese-led gangs employing advanced technologies to defraud unsuspecting victims. The case is yet another reminder that as technology continues to advance, so too do cybercriminals' methods. In just a matter of days, the fraudsters were able to send nearly 1 million messages.

One of the arrested gangs employed a technique known as SMS blasting, a method that exploits cellular network vulnerabilities to bombard nearby mobile devices with fraudulent text messages. The gang's mobile setup was highly sophisticated, consisting of an 8,000-watt mobile power station, a Wi-Fi router, four mobile phones, and a base station simulator, collectively known as a False Base Station.

This equipment allowed the criminals to drive through busy areas of Sukhumvit Road, broadcasting fake SMS messages to nearby devices.

The victims received texts like "Your 9,268 points are about to expire! Claim your gift now!" The scale of this operation was staggering; in just three days from November 11-13, 2024, the gang managed to send nearly 1 million fraudulent messages.

The primary suspect in this operation, a 35-year-old Chinese national identified only as Yang, was apprehended with the SMS blasting equipment in his vehicle. He now faces serious charges, including unauthorized possession and use of radio communication equipment, illegal establishment of a radio communication station, and unauthorized use of telecommunications frequencies.

The second operation uncovered a massive call center scam that used VoIP technology to make fraudulent calls. This sophisticated scheme employed SIP Trunk Solution in an operation with a scale that was just enormous.

The call center scam involved three companies that collectively made over 730 million calls using 11,201 registered phone numbers, all beginning with "02". These firms - Huanyun Information Technology Co., Ltd., Yun Tian Ke Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd., and Prima Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd. - were registered with a mix of Chinese and Thai directors, in a complex web of international fraud.

Authorities have issued warrants for 24 suspects, including nine foreigners and 15 Thai nationals. To date, ten arrests have been made, and Thai law enforcement is seeking Interpol's assistance to apprehend suspects who have fled abroad.

The investigations are ongoing, with authorities working to uncover the full extent of these operations and identify any remaining members of these criminal networks.

Image credit: Khaosod English
The big picture: The AI industry is entering uncharted territory, even as questions remain about the practical limits of scalability and the return on these massive investments. Yet companies like Meta, OpenAI, Microsoft, xAI, and Google continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in AI computing.

A new benchmark for AI prowess has emerged: the ability to amass the most Nvidia chips in a single location. This competition among tech giants is reshaping the AI industry, driving unprecedented investments in computing infrastructure and pushing the boundaries of machine learning.

At the forefront of this technological arms race are companies like Elon Musk's xAI and Mark Zuckerberg's Meta. These firms are building massive super clusters of computer servers, each housing an astounding number of Nvidia's specialized AI processors. The scale of these projects is staggering, with costs running into billions of dollars and chip counts reaching into the hundreds of thousands.

xAI's entry into this high-stakes game is particularly noteworthy. In a remarkably short span of time, the company has built a supercomputer dubbed "Colossus" in Memphis. It boasts 100,000 Nvidia Hopper AI chips, a number that was considered extraordinary just a year ago when clusters of tens of thousands of chips were seen as very large.

Meanwhile, Zuckerberg recently announced that Meta is already training its most advanced AI models on a chip conglomeration that he claims surpasses anything reported by competitors.

The motivation behind these massive investments is clear: larger clusters of interconnected chips have thus far translated into more capable AI models developed at faster rates, with some industry leaders already envisioning clusters containing millions of GPUs.

Nvidia, the company at the center of this technological race, stands to benefit enormously from this trend, and CEO Jensen Huang sees no end in sight for this growth trajectory. He envisions future clusters starting at around 100,000 Blackwell chips.

However, this race towards ever-larger chip clusters is not without its challenges and uncertainties. As the size of these super clusters grows, so do the engineering hurdles. Keeping tens of thousands of power-hungry chips cool is a major concern, leading to innovations in cooling technology. Liquid cooling, where refrigerant is piped directly to the chips, is becoming increasingly common in these massive setups.

Reliability is another significant challenge. Meta researchers have found that a cluster of more than 16,000 Nvidia GPUs experienced routine failures of chips and other components during a 54-day training period for an advanced version of their Llama model.

Despite these challenges, the push towards larger and more powerful AI clusters shows no signs of slowing. Elon Musk has already announced plans to expand xAI's Colossus from 100,000 chips to 200,000 in a single building, with ambitions to reach 300,000 of Nvidia's newest chips by next summer.

The race for AI supremacy is also driving demand for Nvidia's networking equipment, which is rapidly becoming a significant business in its own right. The company's networking revenue reached $3.13 billion in 2024, a 51.8 percent increase from the previous year. Nvidia's networking offerings, including Accelerated Ethernet Switching for AI and the Cloud, Quantum InfiniBand for AI and Scientific Computing, and Bluefield Network Accelerators, are crucial in connecting and managing these massive chip clusters.

Despite these huge expenditures, the question of scalability remains unresolved. Dylan Patel, chief analyst at SemiAnalysis, told the Wall Street Journal that while there's no evidence that these systems will scale effectively to a million chips or a $100 billion system, they have demonstrated impressive scalability from dozens of chips to 100,000.
In a world where digital interactions define our everyday lives, identity verification has become a cornerstone for ensuring trust, security, and compliance. From protecting businesses against fraud to enabling smooth user onboarding, today's top identity verification software is revolutionizing how companies safeguard and verify their customers.

Understanding Identity Verification

Identity verification is the process of confirming that a person's identity matches the details they've provided, usually by cross-referencing with official documents or biometrics. This process is essential for companies in sectors like finance, e-commerce, and healthcare, where regulatory compliance (KYC and AML) and fraud prevention are paramount. Advanced identity verification software utilizes AI, facial recognition, and document verification to create a secure and seamless onboarding experience.

Key Features to Look for in Identity Verification Software

Several features are critical to ensuring effective and secure implementation when choosing an identity verification platform.

Biometric Authentication : Provides accurate user identification through advanced face, fingerprint, or iris recognition, ensuring only genuine users are verified.

: Provides accurate user identification through advanced face, fingerprint, or iris recognition, ensuring only genuine users are verified. Global Document Support : Offers verification of identity documents from multiple countries, enhancing global accessibility and compliance.

: Offers verification of identity documents from multiple countries, enhancing global accessibility and compliance. Real-Time Verification Speeds : Enables swift verification, minimizing onboarding delays and enhancing the user experience.

: Enables swift verification, minimizing onboarding delays and enhancing the user experience. Flexible Integration Options : Supports seamless integration across platforms, including mobile, web, and APIs, for enhanced operational adaptability.

: Supports seamless integration across platforms, including mobile, web, and APIs, for enhanced operational adaptability. Compliance with KYC and AML Regulations : Ensures businesses meet regulatory standards, reducing legal risks and protecting against fraud.

: Ensures businesses meet regulatory standards, reducing legal risks and protecting against fraud. Data Security and Privacy: Implements robust encryption and data handling policies, safeguarding user information throughout the verification process.

These features distinguish the top identity verification software, ensuring that businesses can achieve secure, efficient, and compliant onboarding for their users.

Top 5 Best Identity Verification Software in 2025

1. Jumio  Robust AI-Powered Identity Verification

Overview

Jumio is a market leader in identity verification, offering an AI-driven platform that delivers fast, secure, and accurate identity checks for businesses worldwide. Known for its comprehensive solutions designed to meet KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) compliance requirements, Jumio is trusted by industries such as fintech, e-commerce, and banking. The platform's ability to verify both individual and business identities has made it a go-to solution for organizations looking to streamline their verification processes while maintaining robust security standards.

Outstanding Product Features

Jumio's identity verification platform is packed with features that set it apart from competitors:

AI-Driven Verification : Jumio's advanced artificial intelligence processes identity verifications quickly and accurately. The platform's AI algorithms authenticate documents and biometric data in real-time, providing businesses with a fast and secure onboarding experience. By reducing manual verification steps, Jumio not only increases operational efficiency but also enhances user experience by speeding up the entire process.

: Jumio's advanced artificial intelligence processes identity verifications quickly and accurately. The platform's AI algorithms authenticate documents and biometric data in real-time, providing businesses with a fast and secure onboarding experience. By reducing manual verification steps, Jumio not only increases operational efficiency but also enhances user experience by speeding up the entire process. Jumio Go A standout feature of the platform, Jumio Go offers instant remote identity verification through an easy-to-use mobile app. Using AI technology, Jumio Go scans and verifies identification documents on the spot, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual checks. This rapid verification process enhances both business operations and the user experience.

A standout feature of the platform, Jumio Go offers instant remote identity verification through an easy-to-use mobile app. Using AI technology, Jumio Go scans and verifies identification documents on the spot, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual checks. This rapid verification process enhances both business operations and the user experience. Global Document Support : With the ability to verify over 3,500 types of ID documents from more than 200 countries, Jumio offers unparalleled global coverage. This makes it an ideal solution for companies with international customers or those conducting cross-border operations, providing them with a reliable way to authenticate identities globally.

: With the ability to verify over 3,500 types of ID documents from more than 200 countries, Jumio offers unparalleled global coverage. This makes it an ideal solution for companies with international customers or those conducting cross-border operations, providing them with a reliable way to authenticate identities globally. Biometric Authentication and Liveness Detection : Jumio enhances security by using biometric face recognition paired with liveness detection. This ensures the person being verified is physically present and that the identity document provided is genuine, reducing the risk of fraud and identity theft.

: Jumio enhances security by using biometric face recognition paired with liveness detection. This ensures the person being verified is physically present and that the identity document provided is genuine, reducing the risk of fraud and identity theft. Regulatory Compliance: Jumio's platform is designed to meet stringent regulatory standards, making it suitable for industries where compliance is critical. The platform adheres to KYC and AML regulations, offering businesses peace of mind when managing customer identities.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Instant, AI-Driven Verification : Jumio's platform provides real-time, AI-powered verification, ensuring faster onboarding and improved user experience.

: Jumio's platform provides real-time, AI-powered verification, ensuring faster onboarding and improved user experience. Global Reach : With support for over 3,500 document types and 200+ countries, Jumio allows businesses to operate globally without complications.

: With support for over 3,500 document types and 200+ countries, Jumio allows businesses to operate globally without complications. Regulatory Compliance: Jumio's solutions are trusted by financial institutions and meet the necessary KYC and AML compliance standards.

Cons:

Higher Pricing Tiers: While Jumio offers advanced features, its higher pricing tiers may be more suited to larger businesses, potentially making it less accessible for smaller organizations with limited budgets.

2. iDenfy  Leading Identity Verification and Fraud Prevention Platform

Overview

iDenfy is a globally recognized identity verification and fraud prevention platform that provides businesses with advanced RegTech solutions to ensure security and compliance in different industries. Known for its robust KYC, KYB, and AML features, iDenfy is a highly scalable platform that serves businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises. With an exceptional track record of positive reviews from other businesses, iDenfy has maintained a 4.9-star rating on G2 and has been named the top ID verification provider for its superior service and user experience.

Outstanding Product Features

iDenfy's RegTech solutions are designed to offer a feature-rich approach to ID verification and fraud prevention in one unique platform. This allows regulated entities to ensure complete compliance without the need to partner with multiple vendors.

A few of iDenfy's key capabilities include:

Automated ID Document Verification : iDenfy supports verification across 200+ countries and more than 3,500 types of government-issued ID documents, such as passports, national IDs, and driving licenses. This ensures coverage in different markets, enabling faster scaling and supporting diverse jurisdictional requirements.

: iDenfy supports verification across 200+ countries and more than 3,500 types of government-issued ID documents, such as passports, national IDs, and driving licenses. This ensures coverage in different markets, enabling faster scaling and supporting diverse jurisdictional requirements. AI-Powered Selfie Verification : With advanced biometric technology, iDenfy uses AI-powered face recognition and 3D liveness detection to verify identities and prevent fraud accurately. The technology prevents deepfakes and ensures that only legitimate users gain access quickly yet securely.

: With advanced biometric technology, iDenfy uses AI-powered face recognition and 3D liveness detection to verify identities and prevent fraud accurately. The technology prevents deepfakes and ensures that only legitimate users gain access quickly yet securely. Real-Time Data Extraction : iDenfy's algorithms can read and extract identity data in just 0.02 seconds, making the user onboarding process more efficient. This quick turnaround is essential for businesses looking to optimize user experience and reduce unwanted friction during the KYC process.

: iDenfy's algorithms can read and extract identity data in just 0.02 seconds, making the user onboarding process more efficient. This quick turnaround is essential for businesses looking to optimize user experience and reduce unwanted friction during the KYC process. AI Database Crossmatch : iDenfy's proprietary data crossmatch technology enhances security in the KYB process and accelerates corporate client onboarding by automating UBO verification and AML checks. Crossmatching client data with global government records reduces due diligence time by 30% and provides unparalleled fraud prevention.

: iDenfy's proprietary data crossmatch technology enhances security in the KYB process and accelerates corporate client onboarding by automating UBO verification and AML checks. Crossmatching client data with global government records reduces due diligence time by 30% and provides unparalleled fraud prevention. Flexible Integration Options: iDenfy's solutions can be seamlessly integrated into various platforms, including mobile apps, web platforms, and iFrames. This versatility makes it a popular choice across industries such as fintech, crypto & blockchain, healthcare, e-commerce, as well as age-restricted sectors, and others.

Unique Pricing Model

One of iDenfy's standout features is its pay-per-approved-verification pricing model. Unlike traditional models, businesses only pay for successful verifications, while incomplete or unsuccessful verifications are entirely free. This approach offers significant cost savingsup to 75%for businesses, particularly those with high verification volumes. The platform also offers scalable pricing tiers, including Startup, Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans, providing flexibility to businesses of all sizes.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

High Accuracy : iDenfy's biometric and liveness detection technologies ensure precise verification, providing an impressive 99.99% verification success rate.

: iDenfy's biometric and liveness detection technologies ensure precise verification, providing an impressive 99.99% verification success rate. Cost-Effective : The pay-per-verified user model significantly reduces costs by ensuring businesses only pay for completed verifications.

: The pay-per-verified user model significantly reduces costs by ensuring businesses only pay for completed verifications. Global Coverage : Verification of documents from over 200 countries supports international operations, making it ideal for global businesses.

: Verification of documents from over 200 countries supports international operations, making it ideal for global businesses. Advanced Fraud Prevention: The AI-powered Data Crossmatch feature ensures robust fraud detection and compliance.

Cons:

Limited Customization for Large Enterprises: While iDenfy offers excellent flexibility for most businesses, larger enterprises with complex, specific needs may find some limited customization options.

iDenfy is an industry-leading identity verification platform that combines advanced technology, scalability, and a customer-first approach to ensure secure and compliant digital interactions. With its AI-powered tools, real-time verification, and cost-effective pricing model, iDenfy provides businesses of all sizes with the tools they need to prevent fraud and meet regulatory standards efficiently. Experience the power of iDenfy and elevate your identity verification processes today.

3. Onfido  Versatile Identity Verification Solution for Fast-Growing Businesses

Overview

Onfido is a versatile identity verification platform designed to cater to the needs of fast-growing businesses, particularly in industries like financial technology (fintech) and e-commerce. Known for its rapid and effective verification processes, Onfido leverages advanced AI and biometric analysis to authenticate users, providing a secure and seamless experience. Whether integrated into mobile or web applications, Onfido ensures businesses can verify customers effortlessly across devices, making it an ideal choice for scaling businesses that need to balance security with user experience.

Outstanding Product Features

Biometric and Document Matching : One of Onfido's standout features is its biometric and document verification system. The platform compares live selfies to government-issued documents, ensuring high-accuracy verification in real time. This prevents fraudulent activities and ensures that users are who they claim to be.

: One of Onfido's standout features is its biometric and document verification system. The platform compares live selfies to government-issued documents, ensuring high-accuracy verification in real time. This prevents fraudulent activities and ensures that users are who they claim to be. Seamless Integration : Onfido stands out for its ability to integrate smoothly with existing systems. This makes the platform especially popular among growing businesses that need to implement strong identity verification measures quickly without disrupting their current infrastructure.

: Onfido stands out for its ability to integrate smoothly with existing systems. This makes the platform especially popular among growing businesses that need to implement strong identity verification measures quickly without disrupting their current infrastructure. AI-Powered Authentication : By utilizing artificial intelligence, Onfido provides fast, accurate identity verification. The platform continuously improves its AI algorithms to enhance the verification process, ensuring businesses can rely on the solution to authenticate users with minimal manual intervention quickly.

: By utilizing artificial intelligence, Onfido provides fast, accurate identity verification. The platform continuously improves its AI algorithms to enhance the verification process, ensuring businesses can rely on the solution to authenticate users with minimal manual intervention quickly. Scalable for Growth: As businesses grow, Onfido's scalable solutions allow them to handle increasing verification demands. Whether you are onboarding a handful of users or thousands, the platform can adapt to your needs, making it an ideal choice for companies experiencing rapid expansion.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Scalability : Onfido's platform grows with your business, providing a flexible solution that can handle increasing customer numbers without compromising security or performance.

: Onfido's platform grows with your business, providing a flexible solution that can handle increasing customer numbers without compromising security or performance. Efficient Integration : It integrates seamlessly with mobile apps and websites, enabling businesses to boost security without disrupting their operations.

: It integrates seamlessly with mobile apps and websites, enabling businesses to boost security without disrupting their operations. Reliable Verification: The high-accuracy biometric and document matching ensures a trustworthy verification process that minimizes fraud.

Cons:

Limited Advanced Compliance for Complex Industries: While Onfido is an excellent solution for many industries, its compliance features may not be advanced enough for highly regulated sectors, such as banking or healthcare, where stricter regulatory requirements are needed.

4. Veriff  Reliable Verification for Global Compliance

Overview

Veriff offers secure and efficient identity verification tailored for companies that require global compliance and fraud prevention. With its coverage in over 190 countries, Veriff provides a versatile platform well-suited to industries with stringent regulatory demands, including finance, insurance, and e-commerce. The platform's real-time verification feature ensures a quick and seamless onboarding experience, minimizing delays and improving the overall customer journey.

Outstanding Product Features

Global Coverage and Real-Time Verification : Veriff's platform supports identity verification across more than 190 countries, making it a reliable solution for businesses operating internationally. Its real-time verification ensures users are authenticated quickly, providing a smooth and efficient onboarding process.

: Veriff's platform supports identity verification across more than 190 countries, making it a reliable solution for businesses operating internationally. Its real-time verification ensures users are authenticated quickly, providing a smooth and efficient onboarding process. AI-Driven Security : Veriff's AI-powered platform thoroughly analyzes various verification points, including facial recognition and ID document validation. This multi-step process provides an added layer of security, ensuring that the person being verified is authentic and reducing the risk of fraud.

: Veriff's AI-powered platform thoroughly analyzes various verification points, including facial recognition and ID document validation. This multi-step process provides an added layer of security, ensuring that the person being verified is authentic and reducing the risk of fraud. High Security for Compliance-Focused Industries: Veriff's platform meets the highest security standards, making it an ideal choice for industries like finance, insurance, and fintech. The platform's ability to handle complex compliance requirements, such as KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering), ensures businesses can adhere to industry regulations.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Global Reach : Veriff's coverage in over 190 countries ensures a seamless experience for businesses with an international customer base.

: Veriff's coverage in over 190 countries ensures a seamless experience for businesses with an international customer base. AI-Powered Verification: The advanced AI technology enhances security and helps minimize fraud risks.

Cons:

Pricing: While Veriff offers robust features, its pricing can be on the higher side for businesses seeking comprehensive packages, which may not be ideal for smaller organizations.

5. Trulioo  Identity Verification with Global Reach

Overview

Trulioo is a trusted identity verification solution with a broad global presence, covering over 195 countries. It is widely recognized for its ability to provide secure and quick verifications, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes, from startups to established enterprises.

Outstanding Product Features

Global Coverage : Trulioo supports identity verification across more than 195 countries, offering a seamless experience for companies operating internationally.

: Trulioo supports identity verification across more than 195 countries, offering a seamless experience for companies operating internationally. Document Verification and AML Checks : Trulioo's platform excels in verifying identity documents and conducting Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks, ensuring businesses meet regulatory compliance requirements.

: Trulioo's platform excels in verifying identity documents and conducting Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks, ensuring businesses meet regulatory compliance requirements. Biometric Authentication : The platform includes biometric authentication, adding layer of security to the verification process.

: The platform includes biometric authentication, adding layer of security to the verification process. Easy API Integration: Trulioo's API-based integration simplifies the onboarding process, allowing businesses to adapt and integrate the platform into their existing systems quickly.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Extensive Global Reach : With coverage in over 195 countries, Trulioo is ideal for businesses with an international customer base.

: With coverage in over 195 countries, Trulioo is ideal for businesses with an international customer base. Simple Integration: The platform's easy API integration allows for smooth and rapid deployment.

Cons:

Limited Fraud Detection Features: Trulioo offers solid verification capabilities but lacks advanced fraud detection options compared to some competitors.

Conclusion

Identity verification software is pivotal in today's digital landscape, ensuring user security, regulatory compliance, and streamlined onboarding. Each solution listed here offers unique strengthsfrom Jumio's AI-powered instant verification to iDenfy's cost-effective pricing model and advanced data crossmatch capabilities. Selecting the right platform depends on your company's needs, such as geographical coverage, integration requirements, and specific compliance standards. By adopting a top-tier identity verification solution, businesses can enhance security, reduce fraud, and build trust with their customers.
Photo: Press service of the President of Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, November 26. In a spirit of enlarged cooperation, a tapestry of bilateral agreements was woven, each thread strengthening the bond between Kyrgyzstan and Austria, as President Sadyr Zhaparov graced the Austrian soil with his presence, Trend reports.

During his visit to Austria, Zhaparov held official meetings with Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, and also met with Austrian Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer.

In the course of the meeting, the following documents were acknowledged and signed.:

- A Cooperation Program between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan and the Ministry of European and International Affairs of Austria for 2025-2026.

- A Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Digital Development of Kyrgyzstan and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance on cooperation in innovative technologies, best practices, and economic collaboration.

- A Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision of Kyrgyzstan and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance on cooperation in innovative technologies, mining, and mineral resources.

- A Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Finance of Kyrgyzstan and the Ministry of Finance of Austria.

- A Memorandum of Understanding between the State Service for Intellectual Property and Innovations under the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan and the Austrian Patent Office.

- A Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Energy of Kyrgyzstan and ANDRITZ HYDRO GmBH.

After his visit to Austria, President Zhaparov proceeded to Germany for scheduled bilateral discussions with German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Seed industry hopes innovation can sow success



Geneva, Nov 26 (AFP) Nov 26, 2024



Agriculture can find solutions to counter the negative impacts of climate change on crops, but only if the sector is allowed to innovate, the International Seed Federation's chief told AFP.

"Farmers must constantly adapt" as climate change "brings new diseases to the fields" and challenges the agriculture industry through water shortages, ISF secretary-general Michael Keller told AFP during a recent meeting of the federation in Geneva.

Meanwhile "the world is permanently losing arable land" due to climate change, which causes excessive rainfall in some regions and desertification in others, he explained, while also pointing to the increasing use of concrete.

Faced with the climate crisis and food insecurity, the world must find ways to "increase yields", said Keller, for whom "the call is very clear: let us innovate, but also let us use all the existing tools in terms of selection methods".

The ISF, which represents the major global seed companies, in particular defends the development of so-called new breeding techniques, known as NBTs.

Such techniques change the genetic make-up of plants, for example by using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, which can edit the genes of animals, plants and micro-organisms with extreme precision through snipping DNA.

That means there are no external additions, unlike with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and transgenics.

NBTs are a battleground between those who think such biotechnologies are essential in the face of climate change, and those who want them to remain strictly regulated, like GMOs, fearing what might happen when the plants derived from them spread through nature.

In June, European Union countries gave up on voting on a text deregulating these genetic biotechnologies, due to a lack of support.

Meanwhile in France, the food safety agency Anses in March recommended evaluation on a "case by case" basis before bringing anything to market.

"We need to innovate", and innovation needs to be done "faster and faster", Keller said, calling for new varieties to be developed within the next five years rather than within 10-15 years.

"The more selection methods we have within our reach, the more we will be able to bring new solutions to farmers," he said.



- 'Grey areas' -



While biodiversity is "a priority for the seed sector", Keller stressed the importance of companies having access to plants' genetic resources.

Earlier this month, the COP16 biodiversity summit in Cali, Colombia approved setting up a fund whereby the profits of digitally sequenced genetic data from animals and plants will be shared with their communities of origin.

Companies profiting from such data will pay into the "Cali Fund".

The 196 nations at COP16 hope that the mechanism will raise billions of dollars to finance nature protection.

The measures are "extremely important", because they relate to "access and use of digital information, access to knowledge", and not to the genetic resource itself, Keller pointed out.

He meanwhile stressed the need for greater "clarity" and "predictability", warning that there remained "many grey areas" in how the mechanism would work, and in how a company could prove "it has not used" the information.

The digital sequencing of information on genetic resources -- often drawn from species found in poor countries -- is used among other things to make medicines and cosmetics that can earn billions for their developers.

Few, if any, benefits of the data -- often downloaded from free-access online databases -- ever trickle down to the communities who discovered a species' usefulness in the first place.
Photo: Press service of the President of Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, November 26. The presidents of Kyrgyzstan and Germany, Sadyr Zhaparov and Frank-Walter Steinmeier held talks in Berlin to explore opportunities for enhancing Kyrgyz-German cooperation, Trend reports.

According to the press service of the Kyrgyz President, Zhaparov met with Steinmeier as part of his official visit to Germany.

During their one-on-one meeting, the leaders discussed prospects for collaboration in political, trade-economic, and cultural-humanitarian spheres. They also addressed key issues on the global international agenda and measures to ensure regional security.

Both heads of state expressed mutual readiness to further develop and strengthen Kyrgyz-German relations, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

To note, Zhaparov arrived in Germany for his official visit on November 25, following a visit to Austria.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
French lawmakers back Macron in rejecting EU-Mercosur deal



Paris, Nov 26 (AFP) Nov 26, 2024



French lawmakers on Tuesday overwhelmingly backed President Emmanuel Macron in rejecting a free-trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc, saying it would hurt France's farmers.

By a vote of 484 to 70, the lower-house National Assembly approved the government's opposition to the deal "in its current form", in a non-binding vote.

"Under the current conditions" the draft agreement does not guarantee "fair competition for our farmers", Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard told lawmakers before the vote.

Farmers held new demonstrations nationwide on Tuesday against the pact, with police stopping 50 tractors led by members of the second-largest farmers' union, Rural Coordination (CR), near the European Parliament in the eastern city of Strasbourg.

"We're banned from using insecticides, herbicides, GMO seeds, products that are considered dangerous to human health, and all these countries in South America are working with it, with huge deforestation. It is outrageous," said Cyril Hoffmann of the CR union.

France is strongly opposed to the EU signing off on the deal with the Mercosur bloc of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, saying French farmers would face unfair competition undercutting their livelihoods.

EU countries such as Germany and Spain want it swiftly completed, but Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Tuesday said that Warsaw would not accept the deal.

France is seeking to form a blocking minority against the deal -- an alliance that, under EU rules, would require at least four member states to succeed.

bur/js/bc
Subscription to paid content

Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card.
Yonhap News Agency: This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the DPRK and China, and the DPRK-China Friendship Year jointly announced by the two countries. In April this year, the opening ceremony of the DPRK-China Friendship Year was held in Pyongyang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress Zhao Leji attended the event representing China. When will the closing ceremony of the DPRK-China Friendship Year be held?

Mao Ning: We will release timely information when its available.

Reuters: US President-elect Donald Trump has pledged big tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China. Trump said that the US would impose an additional 10 percent tariff above any other additional tariffs on China on the reason that Beijing has not taken strong enough action to stop the flow of fentanyl crossing into the US from Mexico. Does the ministry have any comment?

Mao Ning: I just noted what you mentioned and we will respond to that later.

The Wall Street Journal: Following up on that previous question, I understand if you dont have any comment yet specifically on the announcement, but could you confirm has China reached out to the Trump transition team to try to talk about this issue yet? And if so, is there any plans for talks before Donald Trump takes office in January?

Mao Ning: I have no information to share. Let me say more broadly that we are open to dialogue and communication.

The Paper: Samoas Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa is on a visit in China. The Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said a few days ago that the two sides will take this visit as an opportunity to build an even closer community with a shared future between China and Pacific Island countries. We also noted that the Australia-based Lowy Institute issued a report recently, saying that China has regained its place as the Pacific Island regions second-largest bilateral donor, with a more competitive, politically targeted model of aid engagement. Can you share more information on that?

Mao Ning: Samoa is one of the first Pacific Island countries to establish diplomatic relations with New China, and to sign the MOU on Belt and Road cooperation with China. China-Samoa cooperation has left its footprints everywhere in Samoa. The Faleolo International Airport, renovated with the support of a Chinese company, is one of the most modernized international airports in the South Pacific, and the China-aided government building, depicted on the new banknotes of Samoa, has become a popular spot for the locals to visit and take photos.

The friendly ties between China and Samoa epitomize Chinas cooperation with Pacific Island countries. China develops its relations with Pacific Island countries under the principle of respecting the Pacific Island countries sovereignty and independence, and their will, cultural traditions and effort to seek strength through unity, and provide economic and technology aid with no political strings attached. We have rolled out close to 500 projects with various kinds of aid and concessional loans to help Pacific Island countries build roads, bridges, ports, hospitals, schools and other infrastructure, and trained over 10,000 professionals, bringing tangible benefits to the local people. China has made active effort to support Pacific Island countries in implementing the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, built new platforms according to their national conditions for climate response, agricultural cooperation, poverty alleviation and development, and kept exploring new areas for cooperation. We will continue carrying out all-round cooperation with Pacific Island countries on the basis of equality, mutual respect, mutual benefit, openness and inclusiveness to support Pacific Island countries development.

China Daily: In her morning press conference on November 22, Mexican President Sheinbaum said that the idea that Chinese products are entering the United States and Canada through Mexico is false. Mexican government will show to the US and Canadian governments that Chinese products are not entering the two countries through Mexico, and that they enter through all channels in terms of trade. She also noted that they have a plan with the aim of substituting these imports that come from China, and producing the majority of them in Mexico. Whats Chinas comment?

Mao Ning: China noted President Sheinbaums remarks. China carries out trade cooperation with other countries in accordance with international rules and market principles, and mutual benefit is a defining feature of such cooperation. We always believe that politicizing economic issues serves no ones interest.

China and Mexico are good friends that trust each other and good partners seeking common development. Imports from China have played an important role in boosting the development of Mexicos manufacturing industry and improving its competitiveness in foreign trade, and brought about tangible benefit to the Mexican people. Maintaining steady and sound economic and trade ties meets the common aspirations of both China and Mexico and serves the long-term interests of all sides. China stands ready to work with Mexico to uphold the sound momentum of our bilateral trade and economic cooperation to boost the development of both countries.

Bloomberg: In his social media posts, Trump seemed to complain that China hadnt done enough to stem the flow of fentanyl to the US. Would the ministry like to comment on this? Does China believe that it has done enough to stop the flow and done enough with the agreements made with the US on this?

Mao Ning: Weve shared on multiple occasions what has been achieved in China-US counternarcotics cooperation. On your specific question, we will respond to that later.

AFP: Denmark said yesterday that it is in talks with China over a ship that may be linked to cutting of cables in the Baltic Sea. Can the Foreign Ministry confirm that the talks are happening and provide any update on the discussions?

Mao Ning: As I have learned, China maintains communication with relevant parties, including Denmark, through diplomatic channels.

Bloomberg: The EU is proposing that itll sanction several Chinese firms that it says helped Russian companies develop attack drones that were deployed against Ukraine. Would the ministry like to comment on this?

Mao Ning: China firmly opposes unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law or authorization of the UN Security Council. On the Ukraine issue, China is committed to promoting talks for peace. China has never provided weapons to parties to the conflict and strictly controls the export of dual-use articles, even drones for civilian use, and opposes using civilian drones for military purposes. The normal exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Russian companies do not target any third party, and should not be disrupted or interfered with by any third party. As we speak, most countries, including European countries and the US, carry out trade with Russia. We urge the EU to refrain from applying double standard and stop listing Chinese companies, smearing China and shifting the blame to China without providing any factual basis. China will do what is necessary to firmly defend the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies.

AFP: In Myanmar, the rebel group, the TNLA, said yesterday that they are ready to reenter talks with Myanmars military junta to end the fighting there. Since China has previously brokered talks between the TNLA and the military, can you tell us if there are any new talks scheduled or if theres been any progress towards talks?

Mao Ning: As a friendly neighbor, China has been paying close attention to what is happening in Myanmar and the situation in northern Myanmar. We firmly oppose wars and turbulence in Myanmar and sincerely hope that stability will be restored soon in the country. We have been urging all parties to the conflict in northern Myanmar to stop the fighting, resolve issues through dialogue and consultation, and jointly bring about a soft landing of the situation in northern Myanmar. China will continue to actively promote talks for peace and provide support and assistance to Myanmars peace process to the best of our capability.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 26. Uzbekistan and China have engaged in a dance of dialogue, seeking to hasten the ink's flow on a trilateral concession agreement, paving the way for the grand tapestry of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, as they prepare to unveil the ceremonial ribbon that heralds the birth of this monumental project, Trend reports.

This came to light during a meeting between Uzbekistans Minister of Transport, Ilkhom Makhkamov, and Chinas Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Yu Jun.

The sides also reviewed a range of issues related to enhancing transport logistics cooperation between the two countries during the meeting.

Delegates from both countries deliberated on matters like augmenting the quota for cargo transport permits, expediting the transit of containers at Chinese ports and borders, and enhancing the frequency of flights for Uzbek airlines to China.

To note, Uzbekistan's foreign trade turnover with China totaled $10.2 billion from January through October of this year. This is 3.5 percent less compared to the same period last year ($10.8 billion from January through October 2023).

On top of that, China emerged as the guiding star in the constellation of Uzbekistan's most significant trading allies during the specified timeframe.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size

When he was 16, Wayne Coyne got a job at a Long John Silvers fast-food joint in his home town of Oklahoma City. About a year later, three men with guns burst into the restaurant and ordered him and the staff to lie on the floor. Coyne found himself with a gun pointed at his head. The men were yelling at him and his co-workers, telling them they were going to kill them unless they could get into the locked safe. As Coyne lay there on the cold floor, he assumed he was going to die.

I obviously didnt die, Coyne says. But it did something to me. For the next six months or so it made me kind of like a Superman. The little insecurities you have and all these little doubts and all these things that stop you from telling people that you love them, or stop you from pursuing being a creative person, or whatever? Those just evaporated. And I was like, F--- it, Im going to say the things I want to say and do the things that I want to do.

I didnt realise it was life-changing at the time, but as my life went on, I saw that being so young and having that jumpstart on not giving a f--- really helped me. I wouldnt recommend anybody having to go through what I did, but it showed me what was important in my life.

Coyne stayed true to that decision he made when he was a teenager. Now 63, he still lives in Oklahoma City, and is speaking from the studio at the back of his house. More than four decades ago, he formed the Flaming Lips and embarked on a dizzying journey of wild experimentation and crazy schemes, combining alternative rock, psychedelia, electronics, symphonics and singalong melodies, creating one of the most joyous live experiences in modern rock.

A traumatic experience in his teens taught Wayne Coyne what was important in my life.

Along the way, Coyne became something like a musical Kurt Vonnegut, fusing the fantastical and the deeply humanist. In his late 50s he embarked on another journey by becoming a father for the first time. He now has two sons, Bloom and Rex, with his wife Katy, whom he married in 2012.

Having kids is the best thing that has ever happened to me, he says. I know everyone says that, but its true. My theory is that if you give them absolutely all your love and all of your attention, somehow their energy gets thrown back into you, but only if you give everything.
It would be nice to report that Nugget is Dead , which is written by and stars Vic Zerbst and Jenna Owen  who first broke through with their comedy-current affairs skits on SBSs The Feed  is a hilarious addition to the fold. But despite the echoes of Muriels Wedding and The Castle , it never quite gets there.

That pales by comparison with the Hallmark Channel, which will release 32 Christmas-themed movies this year, but its clear the local streamer is doing its small bit to build a local festive tradition.

Search for Christmas on Stan (which, like this masthead, is owned by Nine) and youll get about 150 titles, including such staples as Love, Actually , The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and Elf . Youll also find the handful of Australian Christmas movies which Stan has turned out annually since 2020.

Zerbst stars as Steph Stool (a name whose significance and putative hilarity gradually emerges, like a turtle poking its head out of its shell), a trainee dermatologist  or pimple doctor, as her father (Damien Garvey) insists  who has vowed to finally stand up to her perennially triggering family by not going home for the holidays.

Of course, that promise lasts all of two minutes. When she gets a call to say her dog Nugget is dead  well not dead, but not good, clarifies Mum (Gia Carides)  Steph leaves the city and heads home in a panic.

Vic Zerbst as Steph Stool, with Nugget. Credit: Stan/Julia Firak

Home is a town on the NSW south coast, but it could be any slice of bland Australian suburbia. Its meant to look generic and stifling and a little cringy, because thats how Steph sees it. She thinks shes outgrown her origins, and is embarrassed by her hair- and beauty-obsessed cousin (Owen), who has dreams of building a fake eyelash business. But over time, home becomes a place of comfort and familiarity and, Steph finally realises, where she is most herself.

Nugget is Dead fits firmly within the home-for-the-holidays sub-genre of family comedy-drama. Its something they do a lot of in the US, which perhaps explains why the film has already made it to American television, screening on CBS last week. And judging by some of the user reviews on imdb.com, they really didnt know what to make of it.
A Man on the Inside 

Netflix

Has a television leading man ever had a better second act to his career than Ted Danson? A huge star by the time Cheers stopped serving drinks in 1993 after 11 seasons of sitcom success, Danson has developed both a delightful screwball wit and a dramatic gravitas this century. The former has given us Bored to Death, Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Good Place, the latter impressive seasons of Damages and Fargo. His latest show is the ideal distillation of everything Danson delivers.

Ted Danson (standing) in The Man on the Inside. Credit: COLLEEN E. HAYES/NETFLIX

Working once again with The Good Place creator Michael Schur, Danson plays Charles, a widowed and retired engineering professor whose life in San Francisco has reached the clipping-articles-from-the-newspaper-and-sending-them-to-his-daughter phase. When the worried Emily (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) suggests her father find a project, the former academic applies for a freelance gig with a private investigator, Julie (Lilah Richcreek Estrada). She needs an undercover operative to pose as a nursing home resident and snoop around.

Told over eight half-hour episodes  its a perfect weekend binge  A Man on the Inside has a giddy comic energy. Low-key by nature, Charles revels as a spy, complete with surveillance gadgets and a cover story. If hes not that good at his new job, much to Julies droll annoyance, that does create a patina of tension to contrast the humour. The crime Charles is investigating at Pacific View is a theft of a residents heirloom jewellery, as opposed to elder abuse. Theres only larceny in this building.
The classic Bali getaway, once associated primarily with couples in private luxury villas, is evolving as families seek more immersive travel experiences that cater to all ages. With growing interest in family-oriented accommodations, the newly launched Geonet Investment Fund focuses on addressing this expanding market.

Chad Egan, director of Geonet Properties & Finance Group, sees this shift as pivotal in Balis tourism landscape. Egan says that Bali has traditionally catered to the luxury villa market, but theres a clear demand for hotels that offer more space and amenities for families.

Visitors to Bali are now prioritising immersive experiences over basic stays. Credit: iStock

Bali has seen plenty of luxury villa developments, but within the tourism zones there is a lack of purpose-built hotels catering to families and middle-income travellers, he says.

To meet the market demand, the company is stepping into this space with plans to build accommodations that meet the needs of todays middle-income tourists.
A student who wore a keffiyeh-patterned scarf to his graduation ceremony could be permitted to attend his school formal this week on the condition he does not wear the garment and drops claims against his high school.

NSW Education Department secretary Murat Dizdar has offered to meet the 17-year-old Condell Park High School student and said he is working towards a resolution to allow all students to attend the formal.

A pro-Palestine rally outside Condell Park High School after a student was banned from the school formal for wearing a keffiyeh at his graduation. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

The decision to ban the student from the formal after he wore the scarf at his graduation sparked anger from the local community, an online petition and allegations of racism on the schools Facebook page. The student also lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.

A 100-strong group of students, parents and pro-Palestinian protesters held a rally outside of Condell Park High School in Sydneys south-west on Tuesday afternoon, chanting the names of school leaders in anger at the decision.
The two teenagers accused of sparking a bushfire in Perths south that continues to rage into Tuesday were playing with a lighter and deodorant can after school at their semi-rural property when a small explosion caused flames to spread quickly.

The fire, in Champion Lakes, burnt through more than 150 hectares of land, closed Tonkin Highway, and forced the evacuation of people from their homes on Monday.

Smoke in the area. Credit: 9 News Perth

It continues to burn out of control nearly 24 hours later, with a watch and act alert in place.

The 14-year-old boys appeared in Perth Childrens Court on Tuesday, charged with wilfully lighting a fire.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 26. Uzbekistans Ministry of Digital Technologies and Yandex discussed the implementation of projects in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), Trend reports.

At a meeting, Yandex Global CEO Daniil Shuleyko and Uzbekistan's Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov reviewed the issue.

The meeting discussed priorities for strategic cooperation between the Ministry and Yandex, the development of innovations in the field of digital technologies, and practical projects in this area.

During the meeting, both sides noted the promising initiatives aimed at fostering Uzbekistan's digital transformation. These included integrating AI into government management, automating public services, and establishing partnerships with local IT companies.

They also discussed ways to optimize data exchange processes and enhance service efficiency using Yandex technologies and innovations.

Both parties made proposals for equipping young professionals with advanced IT knowledge and skills to enhance their competitiveness in the global market. Joint projects in programming, AI, and data analysis were identified as priority areas for collaboration.

Meanwhile, Yandex Uzbekistan plans to open an office in Tashkent to expand its business in the country.

The new office will become a platform for accelerating the launch of new products and expanding existing services. The company also intends to launch an IT internship program for young developers from Uzbekistan.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Victorias long-promised pokies crackdown will include slashing punters spending to $100 at a time and forcing users to opt into a swipe card system, but the full reforms will not be delivered until 2027.

Details of the new laws were announced on Tuesday morning and the legislation was expected to be brought before parliament in the afternoon, more than a year after the reforms were initially promised.

Laws for pokies reforms will be introduced to Victorian parliament this week. Credit: Jason South

The new laws will reduce the maximum amount of money gamblers can put into a machine at a time from $1000 to $100, mandate a swipe card system and force most of the states 28,800 machines to slow down between each game.

Gaming Minister Melissa Horne said the reforms would provide important protections for poker machine players.
Vang Vieng: A grieving backpacker who has taken it upon himself to try to uncover the truth about a suspected mass methanol poisoning in Laos has recounted his search for his friends through a second-rate health system and while dealing with hostel staff who told him almost nothing.

The mans account is contained in the results of a survey he began soon after his Danish friends Anne-Sofie Coyman, 20, and Freja Sorensen, 21, died in a Laos hospital. He has found that the Nana Backpacker Hostel was the common denominator among eight hospitalisations identified by more than 20 respondents.

Danish backpackers Anne-Sofie Coyman (left) and Freja Sorensen, who died in Laos.

Australians Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles had been staying at Nana and began their fateful night out on November 11 or 12 with the nightly two-hour happy hour at the hostel bar. They died last week. Both were aged 19.

The Danes also went to a hostel bar before they were hospitalised on November 13, the same day American James Hutson, 57, was found dead in a room next to empty bottles of vodka. The other death from the suspected poisoning was 28-year-old British woman Simone White, though her movements beforehand remained unclear.
Singapore: Eight people linked to the Nana Backpackers Hostel have been detained by police in the Laos village of Vang Vieng after the deaths of six tourists in a suspected drink-poisoning incident, local media have reported.

Those detained are the management and staff of the hostel, Laophattana News reported, linked to the deaths of Danish tourists Anne-Sofie Coyman, 20, and Freja Sorensen, 21, and American man James Hutson, 57. All three had been staying at the hostel.

Danish backpackers Anne-Sofie Coyman (left) and Freja Sorensen, who died in Laos.

The report said police had made no mention of the three other tourists who died in the suspected mass poisoning, including Australians Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19, who had also been guests at Nana. The pair were taken to different hospitals in Thailand and later died.

British lawyer Simone White, 28, was the sixth known person to have died.
What started the Israel-Hezbollah conflict? Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel on October 8, 2023, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have exchanged barrages since. Israel escalated its bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes. More than 3760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon in the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2000 Hezbollah members. Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the countrys north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon.

What is Hezbollah? Hezbollah is a Lebanese Shiite Muslim militant group that emerged in the early 1980s during the 15-year Lebanese civil war. Its ideology calls for the destruction of the Israeli state and pledges allegiance to Irans supreme leader. Lebanese police stand in front of a portrait shows the late Hezbollah leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. Credit: AP It has been behind a number of deadly terror attacks around the world and has been declared a terrorist organisation by Australia, the US, Israel, the United Kingdom, the European Union and several countries across the Arab world. The radical group, which constitutes a political party and a military arm, receives hundreds of millions of dollars, as well as substantial training and weapons from Iran. The name Hezbollah translates to party of God or party of Allah.

While it is designated internationally as a terrorist group, its political wing in Lebanon has also developed a substantial social services network for its supporters. However, political support for Hezbollah has fallen, with the group and its allies losing their parliamentary majority in Lebanons most recent 2022 election, when they secured 62 seats in the countrys 128-member parliament. Will this force a Gaza ceasefire deal? Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement between Israel and Hezbollah good news and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza. They, too, deserve an end to the fighting and displacement, Biden said. The people of Gaza have been through hell. Their world has been absolutely shattered. Far too many civilians in Gaza have suffered far too much.

The Biden administration spent much of this year trying to broker a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza, but the talks repeatedly sputtered to a halt. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East without saying how. Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year. What are the reactions from around the world? While France and Biden brokered the ceasefire, Donald Trumps team says the US president-elect should take credit. Everyone is coming to the table because of President Trump, Mike Waltz, Trumps pick for national security adviser, said in a post on X, shortly before Israel signed off on the agreement. His resounding victory sent a clear message to the rest of the world that chaos wont be tolerated. Im glad to see concrete steps towards de-escalation in the Middle East.

French President Emmanuel Macron said it was the culmination of efforts undertaken for many months with the Israeli and Lebanese authorities, in close collaboration with the United States. Loading Lebanons Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the deal. Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said the Lebanese army would be ready to have at least 5000 troops deployed in southern Lebanon as Israeli troops withdraw. Australias Foreign Minister Penny Wong says it should be the catalyst for an end to conflict in the Middle East. Weve been calling for a ceasefire in Gaza for over 11 months now, and we see every week the death toll rising, more children, more women, she said.
TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 26, 2024 -- AutoInsurance.org recently released its list of the top insurance companies that don't require a down payment. Geico tops the list with competitive rates and many potential discounts.

Every policy requires a driver to pay the premium before coverage is instated. An insurance company will only provide coverage if it has received payment for it.

However, some companies may charge an additional amount in addition to the premium. The companies on AutoInsurance.org's list do not charge more than the premium to start coverage.

Top 10 Companies Requiring No Down Payment

The top 10 companies offering auto insurance coverage with no down payment are as follows:

Geico Progressive AAA Farmers USAA Nationwide State Farm Allstate Liberty Mutual The General

Each company has pros and cons, and the best option for one driver may be the worst for another. Melanie Musson, a nationally recognized auto insurance expert with AutoInsurance.org, explains, "Drivers must research for themselves to determine the best insurance provider for their unique situation."

Payment Options

Even though all insurance companies require upfront payment for coverage, some options can help keep that upfront payment as low as possible.

Most car insurance policies are annual or six-month policies. One option is to pay for the entire policy upfront, but people with limited funds may find that too expensive.

Most auto insurance providers will allow policyholders to pay monthly. In that situation, a driver would pay for one month of coverage up front and then make another installment the next month.

Coverage Options

The top car insurance providers listed above offer coverage without a down payment and advertise various coverage options.

The least expensive option is liability-only coverage. It provides enough coverage to comply with legal requirements and protects the policyholder from financial liability related to a crash. However, it does not protect the policyholder from financial loss due to damage to their own vehicle.

Full coverage is more expensive but provides more extensive coverage that protects the policyholder's financial interest in their vehicle. It will protect the car owner from financial loss if the car is damaged by weather, vandalism, or a car accident.

Read AutoInsurance.org's entire report here: Cheap Auto Insurance With No Down Payment in 2024 (Save With These 10 Companies!).

SOURCE AutoInsurance.org
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 26. Saneg (Uzbekistan's largest privately held oil and gas company) opened its first gas station in Tashkent, the company told Trend.

The newly inaugurated gas station marks the 20th addition to the Saneg network. While Tashkent previously hosted two franchise stations under the SEG Tasco brand, this is the first gas station in the city directly operated by Saneg.

Equipped with eight fuel-dispensing units, the station has the capacity to serve up to 1,300 vehicles daily. It offers a full range of fuel options, including RON-80, RON-92, RON-95, and RON-98 grades, as well as diesel fuel. Additionally, electric vehicle owners can access a charging station at the site.

Sanegs branded automotive oils, produced at its facility in Bari, Italy, are also available at the station. These high-standard oils, already popular among drivers, will soon be complemented by an express oil change service, streamlining vehicle maintenance for customers.

In the near future, Saneg plans to open a multimodal refueling complex adjacent to the station.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistans Saneg (the largest private oil and gas company) opened a new terminal of SEG TASCO (a subsidiary of Saneg) in Fergana.

The new terminal was created to implement a number of state decrees and is aimed at improving the quality of service in the region.
Photo: Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 26. Uzbekistan and Germany opened a joint economic chamber in Hamburg, Uzbekistans Chamber of Commerce and Industry told Trend.

The newly established structure will become an effective platform for strengthening trade-economic and investment cooperation between the two countries, realization of joint projects, and promotion of mutual interests of business circles.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan's trade turnover with Germany grew to $856.9 million from January through September 2024. This is 9.2 percent more compared to the same period last year ($784.2 million in January-September 2023).

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

Uzbekistan's exports to Germany in the first nine months of 2024 totaled $63.1 million, while imports from Germany reached $793.9 million during this period.
THE WORLD VODKA AWARDS HAS ANNOUNCED THE COUNTRY WINNERS AND MEDALLISTS IN ITS 2024 COMPETITION.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. Iran is interested in increasing non-oil trade turnover with Qatar to $1 billion a year, Iran's Deputy Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade and Chairman of the Trade Development Organization Mohammad-Ali Dehghan Dehnavi said during a video meeting with the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Qatar Saleh Majid Al-Khulaifi, Trend reports.

According to him, economic relations between Tehran and Doha have so far failed to rise to the proper level as a result of the two countries' efforts. Iran's exports to Qatar consist mainly of fruits and food products. However, we cannot expect to reach an annual trade volume of $1 billion between the two countries by exporting these products.

It is time to take practical steps to develop trade between Iran and Qatar. This calls for addressing the trade-related issues. Currently, small problems have created major obstacles in the trade process.

By simplifying the visa process for Iranian businessmen and facilitating inspections in Qatar, the volume of trade can be increased, he said.

The Iranian deputy minister stated that the obstacles in promoting trade with Qatar are known, and by adjusting the work program, it is hoped that trade will increase.

Qatar's Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Saleh Majid Al-Khulaifi also stated in the video meeting that the strict rules of Qatari customs apply to products imported from all countries. Efforts will be made to speed up the process of releasing Iranian products from Qatari ports and issuing visas to Iranian businessmen. It is hoped that the trade turnover between the two countries will approach the said figure in the near future.

To note, according to the statistics of the Iranian Customs Administration, the non-oil trade turnover between Iran and Qatar during the seven months of the current Iranian year (from March 20 through October 21, 2024) amounted to 315,000 tons worth $174 million. Iran exported 281,000 tons of non-oil products worth $76.8 million to Qatar and imported 33,600 tons of products worth $97.3 million from Qatar.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
100 e-buses to ply in Raipur





Staff Reporter

RAIPUR,

A charging system will be installed at the Amanaka Bus Depot, where electrical works are progressing steadily. E-Bus service is expected to reduce air pollution

The path for the introduction of 100 electric buses in Raipur city under the Prime Ministers e-Bus Service Scheme has been cleared. As per the vision of the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Raipur Urban Public Service Society, the designated implementation agency under the scheme, has been granted administrative approval and permission to invite tenders for civil infrastructure for the bus depot. The approval includes a central share of Rs 8.60 crore, a proportional state share of Rs 5.73 crore, and Rs 12.90 crore for BTM power infrastructure, amounting to a total of Rs 27.23 crore.

The State Urban Development Agency, Chhattisgarh, has issued orders in this regard. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and the guidance of Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Administration and Development Minister Arun Sao, Raipur is set to receive the remarkable gift of 100 electric buses soon. To facilitate this, a charging system will be installed at the Amanaka Bus Depot, where electrical works are progressing steadily. The swift implementation of the Prime Ministers E-Bus Service Scheme is expected to reduce air pollution in Raipur city, providing significant benefits to the residents. The residents will soon witness the direct positive impact of Vishnu Deo Sais good governance through the operation and execution of this scheme. Following the orders of Collector and Ex-Officio Chairman of the Raipur Urban Public Service Society, Dr Gaurav Kumar Singh, and as per the instructions of Municipal Commissioner and Ex-Officio Secretary of the Raipur Urban Public Service Society, Abinash Mishra, directives have been issued to invite tenders as per the approval granted by the state government. It has been emphasised that the work must be given top priority in accordance with the welfare-oriented vision of the central and State Governments.

All further actions will comply with the rules of the District Urban Public Service Society and other related regulations. The approved funds will be utilised strictly for the construction of bus depot civil infrastructure and BTM power infrastructure. No payments for other purposes will be permitted. All actions will adhere to the provisions of the departmental manual and the guidelines issued periodically by the department. If expenses exceed the approved amount, the excess costs will be borne by the society itself. The guidelines issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs under the Prime Ministers E-Bus Service Scheme must be strictly followed. Similarly, compliance with the instructions issued from time to time by the state government and the nodal agency SUDA is mandatory. Before commencing the work, technical approval and other necessary permissions, including no-objection certificates, must be obtained from the competent authority to ensure the work is completed within the stipulated timeframe. Construction work will be carried out as per the DPR maps and layout approved by the competent authority. The scheme will also ensure provisions for rainwater harvesting and the use of energy-efficient equipment.
99th birthday of Sri Sathya Sai Baba celebrated





Staff Reporter

RAIPUR,

Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Paediatric Cardiac Centre in Nava Raipur celebrated 99 years of Sri Sathya Sai in the hospital campus recently. All the children, who have been operated, staff and well-wishers participated in the celebrations. As a special offering from the medical faculty, seven procedures were performed as an offering to Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital and Sowbhagyam were lighted and decorated with flowers and balloons and large-size Rangolis. The day long programme began with Omkaram and Suprabhatam in the Meditation Hall followed by Nagarsankirtanam. Staff members and patient attendants went around the Hospital Campus chanting Babas Bhajans. Special Birth Day song was sung.

Then Aarati was offered. The students and staff members recited Sri Ramcharitmanas. Special Rudrabhishekam was performed with full rituals followed by Gau Puja. Staff members participated in havan. In the special gift of life programme; Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma was the chief guest. He presented Gifts of Life certificates and gifts to the patients from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. He handed over Janmostsav certificates to 2 mothers from Chhattisgarh also. A special cake was cut to mark occasion. Mahamangal Aarati was performed to Baba. Vijay Sharma signaled the vehicles by breaking the coconut for Gram Seva on this occasion. Food prasadam and clothes were distributed to 225 members of 80 families in the labour colony. Devotees and their families from Raipur and the people from the nearby villages visited Sowbhagyam and partook lunch prasadam. The BSc and MSc Nursing students actively participated in day and night programmes. They drew the Rangolis at the important points and wholeheartedly and made the programme a grand success. One evening programme started with Bhajan and Universal Prayer. The Sowbhayam was lit by earthen lamp. The spectacular laser show and fireworks were the befitting finale to birthday celebration.
AIR POLLUTION Sulphur dioxide curbing measuresin Koradi, Khaperkheda thermalpower plants still incomplete





By Kaushik Bhattacharya :

With FGD in all Coal-fired power plants in State, SO2 emissions may dip by 71%

DESPITE a timeline and instructions by the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the installation of flue gas desulfurisation (FGD) systems, which is essential to suppress the sulphur dioxide (SO2 ) emission from coalfired thermal power plants (CFPP), is just in construction stage in Koradi and Khaperkheda Thermal Power Plants in Nagpur. In April 2021, MoEFCC categorised CFPP into three groups, each with specific timelines to install SO2 control technologies by December 2024.

However, in September 2022, these deadlines were extended to December 2026. After the extension by the Ministry, the FGD system which is essential to suppress the SO2 emission from CFPPs, only 8% of the total CFPP electricity generation capacity of the country has installed FGD, revealed a study conducted by Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) recently. Nagpur district is a victim of air pollution with high PM 2.5 level. Koradi and Khaperkheda Thermal Power Plants both cause air pollution in Nagpur city. Even after many protests by green activists of Nagpur, the FGD installation of both thermal power plants are yet to complete. The construction of FGD is going on in all the projects in Koradi and Khaperkheda.

It will take some time but we are acting according to the guidelines of MoEFCC, a senior officer of MahaGenco told The Hitavada on the condition of anonymity The CREAs study was based on the collected satellite data, in which it shows an increase in SO2 levels in India in 2023 compared to 2019, with a notable rise in regions dominated by CFPP, highlighting the influence of power plant emissions on air quality. CREA mentioned that Maharashtra state emitted the highest 542 kilotonnes (kt) of SO2 during the study period. Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have the highest number of CFPP. Along with Maharashtra, other three states Chhattisgarh (509 kt), Madhya Pradesh (470 kt) and Uttar Pradesh (447 kt) also in the top four list for emission of SO2 . Thermal power plants emit 277 kt of particulate matter and 4,327 kt of SO2 over 10 times and 240 times higher, respectively, than the 26.7 kt of particulate matter and 17.8 kt of SO2 from burning 8.9 million tonnes of paddy straw. While paddy straw burning causes seasonal spikes, thermal power plants represent a larger, persistent pollution source year-round, underscoring the need for stricter controls on thermal power plant emissions. Maharashtra also ranked third with the highest particulate matter (PM 2.5) emissions with 29 kt just behind Madhya Pradesh (34 kt) and Uttar Pradesh (32 kt). Nagpur and Chandrapur, which are the power producing cities of the state, were found to have the highest SO2 levels in the country along with Biswanathpur and Cuddalore, claimed the study. According to the study, Maharashtra has the highest capability to decrease the SO2 emissions by 71%, from 542 kt to 158 kt. To reduce the SO2 level and to protect public health, the study advised to set binding timelines for FGD installations across all sectors. Government should impose penalty for delays to ensure compliance and maintain transperancy and accountability.

'Extend deadline by 36 months

Ministry of Power, Government of India urged the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to extend the deadline for installation of Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) in all Thermal Power Plants in the coun- try for compliance of sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission norms recently. FGDs are essential to suppress the SO2 emission from coal-fired thermal power plants (CFPP) to reduce the impact of air pollution at nearby cities and villages. CFPP categorised as A, B a nd C ( based on plants location) are required to be SO2 norm compliant by December 2024, December 2025 and December 2026 respectively. Meanwhile, all CFPPs have to install FGDs as per the given time period. Ministry of Power, in a m emorandum to MoEFCC, informed that out of 600 CFPPs in the country, FGD systems have been installed in only 44 units which produce 22,590 MW electricity. Similarly, bids are awarded in 233 units which generate 1,02,040 MW electricity.

The Ministry of Power also informed that significant constraints have been reported by CFPPs regarding installation of FGD systems. Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has also assessed reasons for delay in FGD system installation, it stated. The constraints are primarily related to, limited domestic manufac- turing capacity due to limited vendor base, dependence on imports (around 17% items - A gitators and Fans, are imported) and, a s udden growth in demand to meet the stipulated timelines, said Jitendra Mishra, Under Secretary, Ministry of Power, government of India in the mem- orandum.

The average time taken for FGD installation after award is around 36-40 months depending upon the vendor or site. The current annual installation capacity is around 16-20 MW per annum (33-39 units). These factors have also resulted in an increase in installation costs of FGD system, Mishra informed. Ministry of Power stated that CFPPs are unable to meet the time- line due to such constraints and limitations and it may result in impos- ing of environmental compensation charges. Therefore, MoEFCC should consider extension in timelines by 36 months beyond the timelines stip- ulated in MoEFCC notification, stated the memorandum
Average of 140 women and girls killed by partner or relative per day in 2023: UN





UNITED NATIONS :

THE deadliest place for women is at home and 140 women and girls on average were killed by an intimate partner or family member per day last year, two UN agencies reported on Monday. Globally, an intimate partner or family member was responsible for the deaths of approximately 51,100 women and girls during 2023, an increase from an estimated 48,800 victims in 2022, UN Women and the UN Office of Drugs and Crime said. The report released on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women said the increase was largely the result of more data being available from countries and not more killings. But the two agencies stressed that Women and girls everywhere continue to be affected by this extreme form of gender-based violence and no region is excluded. And they said, the home is the most dangerous place for women and girls.

The highest number of intimate partner and family killings was in Africa  with an estimated 21,700 victims in 2023, the report said. Africa also had the highest number of victims relative to the size of its population  2.9 victims per 100,000 people. There were also high rates last year in the Americas with 1.6 female victims per 100,000 and in Oceania with 1.5 per 100,000, it said. Rates were significantly lower in Asia at 0.8 victims per 100,000 and Europe at 0.6 per 100,000. According to the report, the intentional killing of women in the private sphere in Europe and the Americas is largely by intimate partners. By contrast, the vast majority of male homicides take place outside homes and families, it said. Even though men and boys account for the vast majority of homicide victims, women and girls continue to be disproportionately affected by lethal violence in the private sphere, the report said.

An estimated 80% of all homicide victims in 2023 were men while 20% were women, but lethal violence within the family takes a much higher toll on women than men, with almost 60% of all women who were intentionally killed in 2023 being victims of intimate partner/family member homicide, it said. The report said that despite efforts to prevent the killing of women and girls by countries, their killings remain at alarmingly high levels. They are often the culmination of repeated episodes of gender-based violence, which means they are preventable through timely and effective interventions, the two agencies said.
Cabinet approves Rs 2,481 crore National Mission on Natural Farming





NEW DELHI :

THE Government on Monday announced a national mission to promote natural farming among one crore farmers across the country with a budget outlay of Rs 2,481 crore. The decision, taken in the Cabinet meeting headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to create an ecosystem for sustainable farming. There is a need to improve the quality of soil and maintain the health of the people with chemical-free food...The National Mission on Natural Farming is a path-breaking decision, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said in a media briefing after the meeting. The mission, with a budget outlay of Rs 2,481 crore, will cover 1 crore farmers across the country, he added. The Minister said natural farming will be promoted on a mission mode after successful experiments in 2019-20 and 2022-23. Currently, around 10 lakh hectares are under natural farming throughout the country, he added.

CENTRE APPROVES 2 HYDRO PROJECTS WORTH RS 3,689 CR IN ARUNACHAL: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Monday approved two hydropower projects entailing an investment of Rs 3,689 crore in Arunachal Pradesh. Govt announces Rs 1,435 cr PAN 2.0 Project The Government on Monday announced the Rs 1,435 crore PAN 2.0 Project to make the permanent account number a common business identifier for all digital systems of Government agencies. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the PAN 2.0 Project of the Income Tax Department with a financial outlay of Rs 1,435 crore, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. The PAN 2.0 Project enables technology-driven transformation of taxpayer registration services and is aimed at ease of access and speedy service delivery with improved quality. The PAN 2.0 Project resonates with the vision of the Government enshrined in Digital India by enabling the use of PAN as Common Identifier for all digital systems of specified government agencies, an official release said.

Cabinet approves 3 rail projects

NEW DELHI,

Nov 25 (PTI)

THE Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved three projects of the Ministry of Railways on Monday with a total cost of Rs 7,927 crore. The projects are the Jalgaon-Manmad fourth line (160 km), Bhusawal-Khandwa third and fourth lines (131 km) and Prayagraj (Iradatganj)-Manikpur third line (84 km). The proposed multi-tracking projects will ease operations and reduce congestion, providing the much-required infrastructural development on the busiest sections between Mumbai and Prayagraj, according to a Government statement. The projects are in line with Honble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modijis vision of a New India, which will make people of the region Atmanirbhar by way of comprehensive development in the area, which will enhance their employment/self-employment opportunities, the statement said.

The Government said these projects are the result of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity, which have been possible through integrated planning, and will provide seamless connectivity for the movement of people, goods and services. The press note said these projects will cover seven districts in three states -- Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh -- and expand the existing network of the Indian Railways by about 639 kilometres.

Besides, the proposed multi-tracking projects will also enhance connectivity to two aspirational districts -- Khandwa and Chitrakoot -- serving approximately 1,319 villages and about 38 lakh people. The proposed projects will enhance connectivity along the Mumbai-?Prayagraj-?Varanasi route by enabling the operation of additional passenger trains, benefitting pilgrims travelling to Jyotirlingas in Nashik (Trimbakeshwar), Khandwa (Omkareshwar) and Varanasi (Kashi Vishwanath), as well as religious places in Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, Gaya and Shirdi, the press note said. Additionally, the projects will promote tourism through improved access to various attractions, such as Khajuraho UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ajanta and Ellora Caves UNESCO World Heritage Site, Devgiri Fort, Asirgarh Fort, Rewa Fort, Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary, Keoti Falls and Purwa Falls etc., it added. According to the government, since these are essential routes for transportation of commodities, such as agricultural products, fertiliser, coal, steel, cement, containers etc., the capacity augmentation works will result in additional freight traffic of a magnitude of 51 MTPA (million tonnes per annum). Talking about the benefits to the environment, the press note said the railways being an environment-friendly and energy-efficient mode of transportation will help both in achieving climate goals and minimising the logistics cost of the country, and lower CO2 emissions (by 271 crore kg), which is equivalent to planting 11 crore trees.
Impose Presidents Rule in Manipur to check violence: RS MP





AIZAWL :

Lone Rajya Sabha member from Mizoram, K Vanlalvena, has reiterated the need for imposing Presidents rule in strife-torn Manipur to contain the ongoing ethnic violence, an official statement said. Vanlalvena called for the imposition of Presidents rule the first and immediate step to contain the violence that has claimed over 250 lives since May last year, it said. The Mizo National Front (MNF) MP said the move is the need of the hour to allow the Centre to directly intervene in the matter.

Despite being an MP from Mizoram, I often raised the Manipur issue and the plight of the tribal people there because different tribes of Mizo have settled in Manipur before the British colonisation, and over 6 lakh of them are still living in the neighbouring state, Vanlalvena said during the all-party meeting in New Delhi on Sunday. Vanlalvena also pointed out the need for setting up a branch office of the UNICEF in Aizawl to deal with refugee and internally displaced children from Myanmar, Bangladesh and Manipur. Earlier, he had pitched for the creation of separate administrative units for Meiteis and Kuki-Zos, as well as imposition of Presidents rule in Manipur. The ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur has claimed 258 lives since May last year, the State Governments Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh had said. The Kuki-Zo community shares ethnic ties with Mizos. Meanwhile, Manipur Rajya Sabha member Leishemba Sanajaoba had, on Sunday, urged Vanlalvena to not intervene in matters concerning the neighbouring state. My friend, Dont cross the line... Please confine in your State issues... Stop interferences in Manipurs issues... Be a good neighbour, Sanajaoba had said in a post on X.

Resignation of police officer in Jiribam accepted IMPHAL,

Nov 25 (PTI)

The Manipur police have accepted the resignation of Jiribam officer in charge Sagapam Ibotombi Singh, who sought to quit his job a few days ago, official order. It is in Jiribam where the November 11 abduction and killing of three women and three children sparked violent protests. Ibotombi Singh tendered his resignation a day after he was transferred from Jiribam police station to the Manipur Police Training Academy in Imphal on November 14. He had cited unavoidable circumstances of my family and other reasons as reasons for quitting the service. The resignation tendered by Inspector Sagapam Ibotombi Singh, the then OC of Jiribam PS vide his letter on 15.11.2024, is hereby accepted and he is allowed to resign from service with immediate effect, according to an order signed by Directive General of Police Rajiv Singh. The order issued on November 23 was made public on Monday. Bodies include six Meitei women and children, who were allegedly abducted from a relief camp on November 11 by Kuki-Zo militants from Jiribams Borobekra area when a group of Kuki youths were engaged in an encounter with CRPF in which 10 of them were killed. Residences of ministers and MLAs were attacked by protesters in Imphal Valley districts following the incidents.

Mobile internet suspension extended IMPHAL,

Nov 25 (PTI)

The Manipur Government extended suspension of mobile internet services for two days in nine districts till November 27, according to an order issued by the Home Department. After violence escalated in the northeastern state on November 16, the administration suspended the services for two days to prevent anti-social elements from spreading content that might create law and order problems. It has been extended several times since then.

The State Government, after reviewing the prevailing law and order situation, has decided to continue suspension of mobile internet services in Imphal West, Imphal East, Kakching, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Pherzawl and Jiribam for another two days in public interests, the order said. Internet services on both mobile phones and broadband were suspended on November 16 after violence broke out in the State following the recovery of bodies of three women and three children. The State Government had lifted the suspension on broadband services on November 19, considering the hardships faced by common people, healthcare facilities, educational institutions and other offices.
MNS may lose symbol as itdraws blank in Mah polls





MUMBAI :

THE Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is at risk of losing its status as a recognised political party and its railway engine poll symbol after its dismal performance in the recently concluded State Assembly election, where it failed to win even one seat. In the elections, none of the 125 candidates fielded by the Raj Thackeray-led party, including his son Amit Thackeray, could strike gold. In an informal interaction with the media, former Maharashtra Legislature Secretary Anant Kalse explained the ECs criteria for a political party to retain its recognition.
Mobile van launched to createawareness among cotton farmers





Business Reporter

Bollworms are a common pest in cotton farming that can cause significant damage to crops The most common variety is the cotton pink bollworm

A MOBILE van was launched on Monday to create awareness for controlling spread of Bollworm on cotton crop. The van was launched by Confederation of Indian Textile Industries, Cotton Development and Research Association (CITI CDRA) Mumbai here in the city. Dr C D Mayee of Agrovision Foundation, was chief guest of the inaugural function. Special guest was Dr Yashwant Gadakh, Vice Chancellor PDKV Akola, while Dr Y G Prasad, Director CICR, Nagpur, Dr Pandian, Incharge GTC Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology, Nagpur, Ravindra Manohre, District Superintendent Agriculture Officer Nagpur, and Dr Archana Kadu, Project Director Atma Nagpur, were also present. Bollworms are a common pest in cotton farming that can cause significant damage to crops. The most common variety is the cotton pink bollworm, also known as PBW or gulabi sundhi. The van was flagged off by dignitaries. The route of the mobile van called Janajagruti Rath will pass through five districts namely Nagpur, Wardha, Chandrapur, Yavatmal, Amravati covering 160 villages. During its tour, farmers will be provided detail information on the topic.
Over 2 lakh farmers visit four-day Agrovision





Business Reporter :

UNION Minister and chief promoter of Agrovision on Monday expressed great satisfaction over the increased number of visitors to the four-day Agrovision Agricultural Exhibition. In his address, Gadkari said more than 2 lakh farmers from various parts of the country visited the expo and benefitted from new technologies and valuable knowledge shared through various workshops. After receiving an overwhelming response from farmers, producers, consumers, agricultural students, and enthusiasts, Indias largest agricultural exhibition, Agrovision, concluded on Monday at PDKV ground, Dabha.

The four-day event was presided over by Gadkari, with Arunachal Pradeshs Minister for Agriculture and Allied Sectors, Gabriel D Wangsu, as the chief guest. Former MP Ramdas Tadas, Central Citrus Institute Director Dr Dilip Ghosh, Organizing Secretary Ravindra Boratkar, and other notable dignitaries also graced the occasion. During the event, the dignitaries launched the agri-industry magazine Agrospectrum, and winners of the Progressive Farmers Awards and an essay competition were felicitated. Nitin Gadkari highlighted the workshops organised to improve farmers lives. He mentioned the display of electric tractors, drones, and advanced agricultural equipment, which sparked great enthusiasm among the attendees. Gadkari distributed the Agrovision Progressive Farmers Awards to Pushpak Khapre, Hemant Shendre, Prateek Kakade, Narendra Nalde, Dnyaneshwar Burde, Dr Jeevan Katore, and Dr Usha Dongarwar. In the essay competition, Pritesh Maske won first prize, followed by Gaurav Dahikar in second place and Rashi Titarmare in third.

Small reservoirs ideal for fish farming

EXPERTS at a workshop titled Fishery Business in Vidarbha, held on the final day of the Agrovision Agricultural Exhibition at PDKV Ground, shared that Vidarbha contributes 54 per cent of Maharashtras freshwater fish production. They noted that small reservoirs are more productive as compared to large ones. The session saw the participation of notable dignitaries, including MAFSU Nagpur Vice Chancellor Dr Nitin Patil, Dean Dr Mukund Amle, Dr Vivek Bhute of Deep Aqua Fisher Pvt. Ltd., Prof. Dr PrashantTelvekar, Prabhakar Mandre, Joint Commissioner of Fisheries Department Shubham Koremewar, Dr Sachin Belsare, Tomeshwar Gaharule, and Leela Patil. Dr Sachin Belsare said fish production in India has doubled, and Nagpur district alone has seen 341 approved fishery projects, of which 173 have been completed. The workshop was conducted by Dr Sahapure.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. Iran considers every proposal, including any proposal for talks between Iran and the US, towards its interests, the spokesperson of the Iranian government Fatemeh Mohajerani said in a briefing in Tehran on November 26, Trend reports.

According to her, every discussion and dialog requires the creation of mutual respect and trust. A number of steps should be taken regarding mutual respect.

Mohajerani stated that a number of issues, including those related to the country's nuclear program, will be discussed in Geneva at the level of deputy foreign ministers of Iran and three European countries (UK, France, and Germany).

To note, the International Atomic Energy Agency adopted the resolution on November 21 with 19 votes against Iran, in favor, 12 abstentions, and 3 against. The resolution urged Tehran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency on a number of issues and also requested it to provide a credible document on uranium residues at two undeclared sites on Iranian territory.

Meanwhile, 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.
Sambhal remains tense FIR against SP MP, SP MLAs son; 25 arrested





SAMBHAL (UP) :

POLICE HAVE lodged seven FIRs in connection with the violence over a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque here, naming Samajwadi Party MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq and local SP MLA Iqbal Mehmoods son Sohail Iqbal as accused, officials said on Monday. The district administration has already imposed prohibitory orders and barred the entry of outsiders into Sambhal till November 30. Internet services are suspended in Sambhal tehsil and Monday was declared a holiday for all schools. A magisterial probe has also been ordered into the violence. Three people were killed and scores of others, including security personnel and administration officials, injured on Sunday as protesters opposing the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid clashed with police.

A fourth injured person died on Monday. Asked about their autopsy reports, Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh said that prima facie, it appears that gunshots from countrymade weapons were the cause of death. However, he did not go into further details. Addressing a press conference on Monday, Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar said seven FIRs have been lodged in connection with the violence. Six people, including Barq and Iqbal, were named and 2,750 others have been mentioned as unidentified, he said. Due to Barqs statement earlier, the situation worsened. He was given a notice earlier for this, he added. The official said that Barqs Jama Masjid ki hifazat (protection of Jama Masjid) remark mobilised the mob. When asked about the MP being in Bengaluru and not Sambhal on Sunday, Kumar said Barqs name was included in the FIR based on his previous statements. He also said that those who tried to damage the mosque by hurling stones would also be identified and rumour mongers would be taken care of. Among the seven FIRs, Kumar said two were registered at the Nakasa police station and the rest at the Sambhal Kotwali. The officer said 25 people have been arrested so far in the case and attempts are on to identify others involved in the violence.

He added that there was peace in the city and people have opened their shops. District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya said late on Sunday that the prohibitory orders had been issued under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). No outsiders, other social organisations or public representatives will enter the district border without the permission of the competent officer, said the order, which came into force with immediate effect. Violation of the order will be punishable under Section 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the BNS. Earlier in the day, Muniraj told reporters that Naeem, Bilal and Nauman -- the three men who died in Sundays violence -- had been buried.

All three were aged about 25. Asked about the role outsiders played in the violence, Pensiya said that according to the probe, people gathered here from places 10-15 kilometres away. Traffic movement in the city is normal and despite the weekly closure, some shops have opened, he said, adding that only the area near the mosque wore a deserted look. A local shopkeeper said that the number of people coming to buy daily items increased in the afternoon. Several houses in the area were seen locked and no one was ready to talk to the media. Heavy police force was deployed in the entire area and patrolling was underway. Tension had been brewing in Sambhal since November 19 when the Jama Masjid was first surveyed on the courts orders following a petition claiming that a Harihar temple had stood at the site.
The Usual Story





THE global effort to combat climate degeneration found itself mired in its usual story -- of some nations playing political games in their bid to dictate the international action suitable to their needs and deeds -- more in violation of common sense on climate control than in support of genuine global goals. True, the COP29 at Baku in Azerbaijan did talk of New Collective Quantified Goals (NCQGs), but carefully avoided a genuine consensus by blocking a few countries -- like India -- from the facility of voting on the issues. Indias strong rejection of the USD 300 billion climate finance package was from that stand-point. When a country as important as India that has remained one of the top followers of the global goals with dedication is kept out of decision-marking, then the entire effort has an unacceptable tilt -- which reflected in Indias rejection of the climate deal at Baku. Thus, the freshest global climate finance package met with a setback right at start.

This has been the story all along -- for years and decades. Whenever the world tried to come to a common ground to combat climate degeneration, it met with hurdles from hegemonistic countries who did not want to leave the control of climate discourse -- obviously for their highly individualised concerns and benefits, high-calibre commerce being one of those. The Baku meet got mired in politics of dominance because a few powerful countries ignored the actual needs of Global South where nations have suffered from obsolete and rejected technologies from advanced Global North -- and are now expected for the sins of others. This is unfortunate. And such a misfortune has always befallen international attempts to combat climate degeneration. That has been the reason why the world could not meet successfully all its Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs) as a precursor to meeting the climate goals. The initial global aim was to meet all the SDGs by the year 2030. With barely 5 years to go, the world has not been able to reach even half of those goals. And now has come the concept of NCQGs whose launch has got mired in international politics. With a country like India rejecting the new climate finance package, universalisation of the NCQGs is not likely to take place. Global powers will have to contend with this situation. Of course, the powers that be in climate politics have earmarked USD 300 billion for financing of the international efforts -- coming from the developed countries -- while the developing countries, most from Global South, will have to make up for USD 1.3 trillion for supporting developed countries for climate action.

The trouble is with these details, as experts seem to suggest. India has often held strong views on the issue and has argued logically and successfully against exploitative climate politics. As the Baku Conference of Parties (CoP29) discussed climate finance package, India should have been allowed to express itself. But that allowance was denied for whatever reason, and India rejected the deal as it was not part of the stake-holding countries. It is time the world powers realised that their lop-sided climate politics would only hurt the long-term global goals, and harm the humanity as a whole in the distance. Many other countries have similar views. The world has not forgotten how many countries have collectively fought political hegemony of a handful of countries. Among those who fought such battles is China that often rejected the efforts of a handful of countries to dominate climate politics. If the situation has not changed even after nearly fifty years of common fight for climate protection, then there is something seriously missing from the multilateralism on the issue as critical as climate control.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. The snapback mechanism of the comprehensive joint action plan on Iran's nuclear program may be activated by October 2025, Iranian expert on European affairs Mourtaza Mekki told local media, Trend reports.

According to him, the EU member states' adoption of the anti-Iran resolution at the International Atomic Energy Agency is a step towards activating the snapback mechanism. This move could further complicate Iran's nuclear program and pose a significant risk to the country. Therefore, it is necessary to seriously think about it and prevent it.

Mekki pointed out that there are other fish to fry when it comes to the current influences on Iran's nuclear program. The EU and US are pulling out all the stops to put the squeeze on Iran by leveraging these issues. It would seem that the issue of Iran's nuclear program is not a priority for European countries.

He added that a number of issues, including Iran's cooperation with Russia in the Russian-Ukrainian war, Iran's missile program, and support for a number of groups in the Middle East, are in the spotlight more than Iran's nuclear program.

If Iran intends to alleviate the current tensions and conflicts with European Union member states, it should follow direct talks with the US. If an agreement is reached between Tehran and Washington, EU member states will also support this agreement, he said.

Meanwhile, 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.

A complaint from one of the participating countries alleging a violation of the plan by another party triggers the various stages under provisions 36 and 37 of the Comprehensive Plan of Joint Action. The complaining country may bring the matter before the UN Security Council if the stages remain unreachable. Should the UN Security Council accept Iran's complaint, it could reinstate international sanctions against Iran. Furthermore, it empowers the members of the UN Security Council to approve a military operation against Iran.

Two years later, Iran responded to the sanctions by implementing a strategic plan for the nuclear sector to counter them. The Iranian parliament made this decision at the end of 2020, leading to the suspension of additional measures and the Additional Protocol in accordance with the nuclear agreement.

Consequently, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) faced a reduction in monitoring capabilities by 2030 percent.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 26. Armenian companies have been helping Russia bypass Western sanctions on gold, says La Gazette du Caucase, a French online newspaper, Trend reports.

This article quotes an investigation by the Armenian online newspaper Hetq and the Russian-language independent media outlet The Insider. According to these reports, since 2022, billions of dollars' worth of Russian gold have been shipped to Armenia, primarily because Armenia does not charge export duties and transactions via private individuals help evade sanctions.

The flow of Russian gold has shifted eastward over the past two years. Prior to the war, much of the gold was exported to the United Kingdom, but since 2022, the main recipients have included the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, and Turkiye. However, in April 2023, these flows stopped, and no Russian gold has been exported outside the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) since then.

Armenia has become a key intermediary in the gold trade. According to the Armenian Customs Service, the country significantly increased its gold imports in 2023, reaching $4.4 billion in the first half of 2024. During the same period, Armenia exported $4.1 billion worth of gold. As stated in the report, 64% of this gold went to the United Arab Emirates, with the rest sent to Hong Kong and China.

Notably, companies linked to Armenian politicians and businessmen with ties to Russia have been involved in importing and re-exporting Russian gold. Among the largest importers of Russian gold in Armenia in 2024 are businesses affiliated with Khachatur Sukiasyan, a member of Armenia's ruling Civil Contract party, and other figures such as Armen Tadevosyan, the owner of Tibi Arm LLC. These companies imported millions of dollars' worth of gold from Russian banks between January and May 2024.

The report also highlights that Armenia has become a hub for not just gold but also diamonds, with Armenian companies facilitating the export of both goods with the approval of the Armenian Ministry of Economy.

In conclusion, the article raises questions about the stance of countries like France, which imposes sanctions on Russia while continuing to support Armenia. This investigation, led by an Armenian outlet, may signal the end of the immunity enjoyed by those involved in facilitating the trade of sanctioned Russian goods.
To conclude the 24th edition of the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve (GPHG), the prize-winning watches were presented from 21 to 23 November in Bucharest, a first for the GPHG in Eastern Europe

Orchestrated by MisterWatch Magazine with the support of Kultho, this exhibition of the 20 exceptional timepieces awarded this year was held in the heart of the Bucharest University Library, an emblematic Romanian cultural site. The opening evening, followed by two days of exhibitions open to the public  complete with guided tours, panel discussions and an exclusive musical dinner  drew more than 1,500 people sharing a passion for watchmaking: a unique experience for a Romanian public enthralled by the technical and artistic prowess of the 20 prize-winning watches.

Grand Prix d'horlogerie de Geneve in Bucharest  GPHG

We invite you to discover the images of our events on the links below and to follow all the GPHG news on our social media.

See you next year for a 25th celebration of watchmaking excellence!
The main star of The Bachelor Season 13, a veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war and public figure Oleksandr "Teren" Budko, has responded sharply to criticism from the military over his participation in the romantic project. Some believe that the soldier is "playing showmanship" and accuse him of "parasitizing on the image of a veteran" as if to gain more media coverage.

ADVERTISIMENT

"You can do it too. I'm not stopping anyone from losing their legs and doing the same thing," Budko said in an interview with Detector Media. "I don't intend to please everyone and I understand that I can never achieve this because there will always be someone who doesn't understand or approve of my activities. But even if I did it just for the sake of my popularity, what's wrong with that?"

Teren added that when his life is covered in the media, it means that the audience is interested in it, because he does not personally ask to "make a story about himself". "Thus, becoming popular just for the sake of popularity is not my goal. I am trying to show that being a veteran with an injury is not the end of the world and not the end of life," the public figure explained.

ADVERTISIMENT

The day before, Oleksandr Budko showed what horrible messages he received because of his participation in The Bachelor. According to the military man, he knew he could become a target, but he did not expect to see such hateful comments. "People who were thanking me yesterday and writing messages with delight, asking me to take a photo, are now tearing me to pieces because their views on life are simply different from mine," he wrote.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
By Farman Aydin, AzerNEWS

French authorities persuaded the Latin American countries and the world it tried to baffle in COP29, showing a so-called commitment to the COP30 to be held in Brazil next year.

The COP29 international climate change conference ended in Azerbaijan last week, during which Baku, the host city received more than 70,000 guests, necessary issues were discussed and poured into an action plan within sessions of the event, solutions were sought, and finally, decisions on the targeted finance were made with common consensus. However one would never imagine that the aftermath of COP29 could have been so much painful for some countries  France, for example.

From the very beginning of the event, several countries were involved in only political disputes, showering accusations, and groundless claims against Azerbaijan as a pretext of convicting Baku over the so-called suppression of human rights in the country. Lets rewind the history a bit further  France, Germany and several EU politicians tried to libel Baku claiming so-called ethnic cleansing in Garabagh or demanding to release several separatist Armenians held in Baku prison.

As no powerful issue was found to hint at Baku, EU parliamentarians gave a spur to Armenian propaganda to boycott the UN Framework of Climate Change Conference.

First of all, COP29 began with France's betrayal of the Paris Agreement document, and this betrayal continued until the end of the event and even after the event. France, which sacrificed the international climate change conference to its own interests by politicizing it, is now blabbering about the results of COP29 and its contributions that no one has been able to see, let alone attend the event.

Meanwhile, Frances Minister of Ecological Transition, Energy, Climate and Risk Prevention Agnes Pannier-Runachers recent post on X social account caused laughter.

True to its neo-colonialist policy, France, indeed, destroys and then wants to rebuild something. Was it not France and the countries that supported it that wanted to see COP29 fail and try to make it achieve a zero result? The French minister should be sure that Baku, as the host, achieved the necessary result even without Frances participation in Baku. The world is no longer interested in what you will do in Belem next year. You showed your true face at the 29th COP in Baku, and it is useless to justify yourself by restoring the ruins you have left as a masterpiece in our world.

French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to the G20 instead of COP29 was a step by the French leader to present his country as a false climate hero in Brazil the following year. It is no longer a secret that its influence in Latin American countries is very low and that it was during Macrons reign that relations between the countries became tense.

Through the ridiculous post of its minister, the French authorities persuaded the Latin American countries and the whole world it tried to baffle in COP29, showing a so-called commitment to the COP30 to be held in Brazil next year. However, everyone with common sense understands that both COP29 and COP30 are part of the world's core problem. The fact that France promised at COP30 what it could not do at COP29 was a ridiculous tale about the sun rising in the west, not the east. Paris did not keep its commitment and was imprinted in the memory of the masses with the shameful image it created at COP29.
First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska told us where her children, 20-year-old Oleksandra and 11-year-old Kyrylo, are now. According to the president's wife, despite the danger, the family lives in Kyiv.

ADVERTISIMENT

The public figure said this in an interview with the Italian TV channel Rai. "I can't tell you all the details because we have to protect the children. However, we are all in Ukraine. We are all in Kyiv. If I sometimes go on business trips like today, my children are always in Ukraine," the guest said. The First Lady also noted that she sometimes sees her husband Volodymyr Zelenskyy because of her work.

The host Bruno Vespi asked the Ukrainian woman what the most difficult moment of the 1,000 days of full-scale war in Ukraine was for her. According to the president's wife, she often receives this question and believes that it is difficult to find an answer: "If we are talking today, the most difficult moment is the dormitory in Hlukhiv, where two days ago a Russian missile killed 12 people, two children. It is difficult."

ADVERTISIMENT

If she had been asked a week ago, Zelenska added, she would have named her native Kryvyi Rih, where a family with three children was killed in a Russian missile attack. "I, for one, am not comforted by this, because I know the house they lived in very well. And when you see these photos of a completely destroyed house from a Russian missile strike, a house you've walked past 100 times, it's hard to experience. And, unfortunately, we are constantly adding more episodes like this in these 1000 days. We count the dead, we count the missing, and these numbers are constantly growing," she explained.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote about how Olena Zelenska met with the Pope and gave him a special gift.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Scientists have been working with artificial intelligence for years. However, the latest generation of algorithms has shown that there are many pitfalls in AI.

ADVERTISIMENT

Some scientists are convinced that AI Fukushima is inevitable. Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis emphasized that to prevent it and make a breakthrough, researchers must identify the right problems, collect the right data, build the right algorithms, and apply them correctly, TheGuardian reports.

Artificial intelligence is "not a magic bullet," Demis Hassabis said. "But if we get it right, it should be an incredible new era of discovery and a new golden age, maybe even a kind of new renaissance," he said.

Instead, Siddhartha Mukherjee, a cancer researcher at Columbia University in New York, emphasizes the pitfalls of AI if the guiding programs fall into the wrong hands. "I think it's almost inevitable, at least in my lifetime, that there will be some version of Fukushima AI," he said, referring to the nuclear accident caused by the 2011 Japanese tsunami.

ADVERTISIMENT

However, most AI researchers are optimistic. For example, in Nairobi, nurses are testing ultrasound scans of pregnant women using artificial intelligence without requiring years of training. And the London-based Materiom company uses artificial intelligence to develop 100% biomaterials, bypassing petrochemicals, experts say.

According to the scientists, artificial intelligence has changed medical imaging, climate models, and weather forecasts, and is learning to hold plasma for nuclear fusion.

Demis Hassabis and his colleague John Jumper received the Nobel Prize for a program that predicts the structures and interactions of proteins. It is used in biomedical science, in particular for drug development.

The Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis went further. In addition to developing new drugs, AI speeds up the involvement in clinical trials, reducing a potentially multi-year process to months.

However, according to scientists, a huge challenge for researchers is the black box problem: many AI programs can make decisions but not explain them, making it difficult to trust the systems.

But this may change, Hassabis said, due to the equivalent of an AI brain scan. "I think that in the next five years, we will get out of the black box era we are in now," the scientist emphasized.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
After her marriage, the wife of British Prince Harry and former actress Meghan Markle immediately switched to a more modest wardrobe, as required by royal protocol. However, she has not lost her Hollywood chic in the way she dresses.

ADVERTISIMENT

And the Duchess demonstrated this during a recent charity dinner in Los Angeles. According to Who What Wear, Markle chose a sweater for this event, which, despite its restrained look, makes the whole look sophisticated and more exquisite.

Markle, who is rarely seen in public nowadays, appeared at the dinner in a sand-colored sleeveless sweater with a high neck. That evening, the Duchess chose a $196 item by Leset Zoe, made from a blend of lambswool, cashmere, and viscose. Such melange made this simple knitwear item the main accent of the Duchess's look.

Stylists say that such an item can be worn on a naked body, or it can be combined, for example, with a shirt. There are many ways to successfully combine and style it. Moreover, are many cheaper versions of such sweaters available on the market which never go out of style because they are considered classic.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.
Scientists say that the Chornobyl exclusion zone, where in 1986 a nuclear power plant accident caused the largest release of radioactive material into the environment in human history, may be habitable. Scientists have come to these conclusions by studying black mutant frogs.

ADVERTISIMENT

Although the eastern tree frogs that live near the exclusion zone have black rather than green skin, like their typical counterparts, their age has not been reduced. This may mean that the exclusion zone - 26,000 square kilometers around the zero point, access to which is limited - is safe for people to live in, DailyMail writes.

German Orizaola, a co-author of the new study and a scientist at the University of Oviedo in Spain, said the research showed no difference in age on the behavior of black and green eastern tree frogs from the Chornobyl zone.

"We found no difference in age or aging rate between frogs collected in the full gradient of radioactive contamination, including areas outside the exclusion zone. That is, the current level of radiation exposed to tree frogs in Chornobyl does not affect their age or aging processes," the researcher said.

ADVERTISIMENT

Herman Orizaola also added that "the age structure and average age of the frogs found in Chornobyl are similar to other populations of the species in Eastern Europe or the Middle East."

As for the black color of the mutant frogs, melanin, a pigment that makes the skin of frogs darker, protects them from radiation, scientists say.

But here, Dr. Orizaola emphasized that this mutation was associated with increased radiation levels shortly after the accident, not with the level of contamination that exists now.

ADVERTISIMENT

Therefore, scientists suggest that the ability of frogs to live normally in the exclusion zone may indicate that this territory is safe for people to live in.

"We do not think that radiation is harmful to these frogs now. More than 90% of the radioactive material released as a result of the accident has already decayed and disappeared from the zone over the past 38 years. And the most harmful radioisotopes, such as 131-I, disappeared within a few months after the accident," the Spanish scientist said.

German Orizaola added that large areas of the exclusion zone now maintain radiation levels comparable to background or "natural" levels in many places in the world, and even lower than in some areas.

ADVERTISIMENT

"The fact that the wildlife that lives there does not suffer from constant exposure to the current level of radiation largely proves that these levels can be considered safe for people," the scientist emphasized.

Despite the safety, Orizola would not settle the Chornobyl zone with people. After all, over the past 38 years, in the absence of human activity, biodiversity in this area has flourished.

"The value of the territory as a natural laboratory for understanding the long-term effects of radiation and as a key area for nature conservation exceeds the value of the territory for human settlement. This area should be preserved, protected from human activity and dedicated to the memory of the accident. This area should be protected as a unique reserve," the Spanish researcher suggested.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez opened a new page in the history of world literature with his novel One Hundred Years of Solitude. The book was first published in 1967, with its plot based on the principles of magical realism, an artistic method in which magical elements are intertwined with a realistic picture of the world.

ADVERTISIMENT

One Hundred Years of Solitude is considered Marquez's real masterpiece. Using the story of the Buendia family and the town of Macondo as an example, the author metaphorically describes the history, beliefs, and customs of Latin America. It has become known that Netflix is filming a series based on the book, as it has published first trailer.

The drama series of the same name, One Hundred Years of Solitude, will be released on December 11. Previously, viewers were shown only a short teaser. In the trailer, you can see much more details, including the main characters.

One Hundred Years of Solitude is a great family saga that tells the story of the Buendia family. In his autobiography, Marquez noted that Macondo is the prototype of one of the towns where he spent his childhood.

ADVERTISIMENT

The writer recalled a time when his aunt was brought an egg that had a strange shape - she was ordered to throw it into the fire because the egg belonged to Basilisk, an unknown creature. In this episode, as well as in the book, the emphasis is not on biography, but on the thinking of people who weave something otherworldly and amazing into their ordinary lives.

Folk beliefs, fictions, images, and myths are the motif of many of Marquez's works, as seemingly incredible things happen in a very ordinary way.

The book contains many references to famous myths or biblical events. Jose Buendia, in order to found Macondo, goes in search of a new land for his descendants. The downpour does not stop for almost five years. The characters' actions seem to be guided by an invisible force, so their fate is predetermined.

It is not yet known to what extent the events of the series will correspond to the book, but the viewers will definitely experience an incredible range of emotions: from sadness to joy, from anger to grief.

Interestingly, the series was produced by Gabriel Garcia Marquez's sons.

It stars Claudio Catano, Jeronimo Baron, Marco Gonzalez, Susana Morales and .

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.
Pambei-led UNLF seeks suggestions-4

|

Contd from previous issue

IMPHAL, Nov 26: The recent incidents of carnage blatantly violated all the laws of war and all relevant international organisations ought to condemn these incidents. The cold blooded murder of innocent women and children was a flagrant act of terrorism and a crime against humanity, the Central Committee, Pambei-led UNLF remarked.

It said that the carnage violated the International Humanitarian Law, international human rights instruments and the Common Article 3 of the Geneva Convention 1949.

Kuki-Zo leaders must be held accountable for these heinous crimes and all of them must be punished as per law after a fair trial, it said.

Conveying solidarity to all the victim families of the violent crisis, the Central Committee asserted that there must be a line of distinction between Kuki-Zo terrorists and the Kuki-Zo people.

The 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs, all the militant groups affiliated to Kuki National Organisation (KNO), United Peoples Front (UPF), Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), and armed mercenaries from Myanmar are enemies of Manipur including the Kuki-Zo people, the Central Committee asserted.

Kuki-Zo leaders are responsible for the war but the common people of Kuki-Zo people joined the war under compelling circumstances.

The common Kuki-Zo people will one day stand up against their leaders when they get the opportunity as exemplified by the Thadou community, it said.

The idea of Manipur encompasses all the communities who have been living together for centuries viz; Thadou, Paite, Gangte, Hmar, Kabui, Tangkhul, Mao, Kom, Rongmei, Anal, Chiru, Chothe, Maring etc.

Manipur will never be complete without Churachandpur, Pherzawl, Ukhrul, Senapati and Chandel, it said.

It will be a grave mistake to throw away the baby with the bath water. We must face the current challenges with all our strength but we must not antagonise the entire communities else the sinister plot of Kuki-Zo leaders will come out victorious, it asserted.

Creation of buffer zones at the adjoining areas of hills and the valley with the blessing of the Government of India is driven by an evil intention to demarcate land areas anew, it said.

The Government of India has been deliberately overlooking the future impacts of the ongoing conflict.

The Western countries plan to check the growing influence of Chinese geopolitics in the region by creating a Zionist or Christian theocratic State will ultimately pose a grave threat to the National security of India. Moreover, it will pose serious challenges to all indigenous communities, the Central Committee warned.

The vision of creating an Akhand Bharat (Greater India) as envisaged by the Doval Doctrine will be nipped in the bud if an independent Zionist State is created in the region.

Indias security think-tank must understand that the Kuki-Zo terrorists will prove to be a serious security threat to India in the long run even if they serve Indias interest temporarily, it said.

The outfit will never recognise any separate administration, union territory or territorial council carved out of Manipur. At the same time, the outfit is always open to the idea of co-existence through power sharing and resource sharing.

The outfit will fight against all communal political demands and exclusivist political agendas, the Central Committee asserted.

The outfit decided to hold dialogue with New Delhi only after the Government of India agreed to respect the distinct history of Manipur and protect its territorial boundary, it said.
An author and a soldier meet in Manipur

|

Lt Gen (Retd) K Himalay Singh

The suitable boy honoured us recently by way of letting my family host him in our house in the suburbs of Imphal, during his stay in Manipur. Vikram Seth, the renowned author, preferred an incognito trip, shy of interacting with large groups of people. Yet, his deep skills to observe, listen and absorb things around him impressed me much.

He almost learnt a few words and sentences of the Manipuri language just by observing the signboards written in the original Manipuri script while taking him around the Kangla, the ancient capital of the kingdom of Manipur in the heart of Imphal city. He studied the architectural style of the relics and the part surviving structures with the keen eyes like that of an owl. As he saw the historical site, he commented that he had not expected to see such sites in the region.

We got talking about the past glories of the kingdom through the centuries and its downfall after the defeat of the Manipuri army in the hands of Burmese kings in 1819 and later the British forces in 1891. The remnants of the structures were mostly religious sites, the Temples which the British learnt not to touch after the great First War of Independence 1857. On one occasion, he was lying down flat on his back to take pictures of a carved design on the curve of the roof, which he claimed was unique in many ways. In short, he had a fair idea of the history of the Kingdom of Manipur during this short visit.

He had travelled across many parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram and Tripura over a period of 15 days before entering Manipur on November 10. He shared with me that he had met with many of his friends along the way. Many shared their views on the situation in the North East, and of Manipur in particular.

As was to be expected, our conversations invariably veered towards the serious situation in Manipur, which has affected the common people for over 18 months now. Our discussions, as concerned citizens, would never end due to the complexity of the issues involved, not only inside the State of Manipur but in the neighbouring Myanmar, and in the overall context of dimensions of security in the Indian States of Assam, Nagaland and Mizoram as well.

I was much impressed that he had a deep understanding of the crisis within a very short time of his visit to the North East region. During a brief interaction with budding writers and authors in Books and Coffee in Imphal, organised by my daughter Priyanka and her friends, a few of those who were present inquired about his views on the present crisis in the State. Vikram carefully refrained from making any politically sensitive comments on his part. He inquired from me about the reasons behind the poor conditions of the roads from Mizoram to Manipur that he had experienced. I did convey that the National Highway project is nearing completion and that very few vehicles actually plied on this road during the last few years.

He even wondered about the budgetary allocations of State road projects in the hill areas, to which I shared the available figures with me, which according to him often did not match with the ground realities.

We agreed that there is something amiss about the whole thing of the delivery system of services and benefits to the people at large in the region. We suspected that greed for money and power may have something to do with it. We agreed that an atmosphere of trust needed to be built to begin genuine dialogue between the leaders of the communities involved, away from the shadow of the gun on both sides. Respecting genuine aspirations and accommodating the possible in an atmosphere of Give and Take while rejecting unjustified calls ensured by the authorities.

As he prepared to take leave from our abode on November 15 for his journey to other parts of the region, he wanted me to sign in the copy of my book Making of a General, a Himalayan Echo, which he kindly accepted from me. From a heap of his books lying nearby for his signatures, he took out a copy of his book From Heaven Lake and asked me to read it. After reaching Shillong a day later, he messaged me about the contrast between Imphal and Shillong. And he added, If only calmer, clearer heads were the ones who made decisions that affect the lives of so many people. How true!

Courtesy NENews
2 steps formula from Mizoram MP Dangerously mischievous

|

There are elements out there who do nothing except add fuel to the fire with their outlandish formula, going so far as to prescribe steps that could resolve the ongoing ethnic clash in Manipur. A two step solution, this is the model championed by Rajya Sabha MP from Mizoram K Vanlalvena and far from being a solution, such a proposition has all the ingredients to further muddy the already muddied water. On closer look it is not even a two step formula for the steps the honourable MP has spelt out runs into three steps-first remove N Biren as the Chief Minister of Manipur, secondly impose Presidents Rule and thirdly administratively divide Manipur into hills and valley and let the Kuki-Zos stay under a separate administrative set up. Not surprisingly the fantastical model floated by the politician from Mizoram has not gone down well with Manipur, with Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba stepping in and advising the Mizoram MP dont cross the line and be a good neighbour. That this came after Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma openly pitched for setting up a Kuki-Zo Nation by carving out territories from Myanmar, Bangladesh and Indias North East while addressing a gathering at the United States recently connects the dot and a pattern emerges. And it is this pattern which has been driving the offensives from the Kuk-Zo militants and it is this which Manipur should not lose sight of. The politics at work, the manner in which the false narratives of the Kuki-Zos have been highlighted to the global audience and across the country, with even the European Parliament taking the issue up at one point of time, should all be pointers to the level of politics that can be taken by the advocates of the Separate Administration call and this should not blow over the heads of all who stand by the idea of Manipur as a geo-political reality. It is against this reality that Manipur should proceed to negate any agenda that threatens the existence of the place and her people and for this to happen, all should be aware of the reality. A reality which says that there is at least one State of the Indian Union which has openly backed the call of the Kuki-Zo militants with a longer vision of ultimately creating a Christian State with backings from some of the more powerful global players. The question is whether Manipur is ready to face the challenges which have been growing by the day for over 18 months now, with no sign that normalcy will set in any time in the coming days.

For starters Manipur has to show that there is a Government in place. Imphal should have the gumption and the moral courage to stand up and spell out the stand of Manipur before New Delhi with conviction. And perhaps the best point to start this should be to start questioning why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has till date not thought it fit to grant even a few minutes of time to delegates from Manipur to discuss the issue. The Congress has been targeting the Prime Minister for refusing to visit Manipur even once in the last 18 months, but the question of greater import is why the Prime Minister has not deemed it necessary to meet any political leaders from Manipur. Or if Delhi is hesitant to meet political leaders, why not meet social leaders, personalities whose credentials are above board ? And more importantly have rooms been created for the non-war mongers to voice their opinion and stand on the issue ? A point which Manipur should seriously deliberate upon and in the process also try to reach out to the other major community, the Nagas which have so far maintained a neutral stand. The service of the Naga community may be utilised to break the ice and see how the process to put Manipur on the track of normalcy may be charted. So far there is nothing to suggest that any initiative on this count has been taken up but the reality demands that such an approach be adopted. Eighteen months of conflict is too long and too many people from either side of the clash divide have died. The focus of the Government and the different CSOs of Manipur should not be lost.
Europe impresses with the number of interesting places to go on vacation  sunny beaches, ski resorts, architectural wonders. And this has played a cruel joke on some cities, as there are now more tourists than locals.

ADVERTISIMENT

According to the Express, a recent study has identified the cities where this ratio is most unfavorable. Tourists here have begun to create inconveniences for the townspeople. And the first place in the list was taken by a rather unexpected destination.

Tallinn, Estonia

The Estonian capital is not considered a European must-see, although those who have visited Tallinn speak of it with admiration. Some tourists call the beautiful old town one of the best in Europe. Tallinn also boasts a unique culture, where northern and eastern European traditions are mixed. Be that as it may, according to researchers, there are currently 10 tourists for every resident in Tallinn.

ADVERTISIMENT

Dublin, Ireland

Dublin ranks in the top ten, with 11 tourists for every resident. Temple Bar is one of the most crowded places in the city, attracting about 3.5 million visitors annually. And the Guinness Storehouse is another famous Dublin landmark where you can always see a whole crowd. However, those who have already been there say that the staff does everything to avoid queues, and so far, they are doing well.

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

ADVERTISIMENT

As one of the most popular tourist cities in Europe, Amsterdam receives 12 tourists for every inhabitant. This overheats the city's housing market and overcrowds local neighborhoods. Amsterdam is especially popular with bar crawlers. That's why the city launched a program to persuade young men aged 18-35 to give up this idea. In addition, Amsterdam has introduced one of the highest tourist taxes in the world, which may scare away travelers in the future.

Heraklion, Greece

Crete is the largest island in Greece and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean. Although it has some incredible remote beaches, such as Balos, the island's capital, Heraklion, remains the center of tourist attention. There are 13 tourists per local. The city's archaeological sites are the main attraction, but those looking for tranquility can find quieter spots elsewhere on the island, especially in the west.

ADVERTISIMENT

Florence, Italy

This romantic Italian city hosts as many as 13 tourists for every inhabitant. Florence is home to several undisputed cultural treasures, including Michelangelo's famous statue of David, Botticelli's Birth of Venus, and Brunelleschi's dome. It is popular with tourists from all over the world. However, excessive tourism has already begun to lead to the closure of some establishments in the city, as they cannot cope with the influx of guests.

Reykjavik, Iceland

ADVERTISIMENT

Reykjavik is another European city that has suffered from overtourism: there are 16 tourists for every resident. The city was once considered an unexpected tourist destination. But now, the capital of Iceland, home to about 140,000 people, receives about two million visitors annually. It is beginning to take measures to combat tourism, reinstating the tourist tax in January after suspending it during the pandemic.

Rhodes, Greece

The second Greek island on the list proves the attractiveness of Mediterranean beach vacations. Rhodes is even more popular than Crete among tourists. It receives 21 tourists per capita, but is facing a crisis that affects both the local population and visitors. Forest fires in 2023 led to the largest evacuation of the island in Greek history. A surge in tourism is overloading the infrastructure and causing significant pollution.

ADVERTISIMENT

Bruges, Belgium

In the Belgian city of Bruges, there are 21 tourists for every inhabitant, which makes the city seem very crowded during the peak summer season and around Christmas. Some locals are disappointed with the large number of visitors. And city officials urge visitors to come in the low season to see Bruges in a quiet and peaceful way. In 2023, more than 8.3 million people visited Bruges, but the city has taken measures to combat excessive tourism, including a ban on new hotels in the historic center and issuing new permits for the construction of holiday homes throughout the city.

Venice, Italy

ADVERTISIMENT

The famous Italian city receives 21 tourists for every inhabitant, so it's no surprise that it ranked second on the list. Venice has already imposed restrictions with its day-trip tax and ban on cruise ships entering its lagoon. However, this still hasn't solved the problem. It is so serious that UNESCO has included Venice in the list of endangered cities. As for the local population, since the 1950s, only 50,000 of the 170,000 residents have remained here. The outflow has primarily affected lower and middle-income residents, young people, and people who rent housing.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik is recognized as the most crowded vacation destination in Europe. For every resident, there are as many as 36 tourists. Known as the historic coastal pearl of Croatia, it suffers from a huge influx of visitors. The old town, surrounded by its famous walls, is the liveliest part of the city and it is becoming more expensive as its popularity grows. This means that Croatian residents were forced to leave Dubrovnik due to the significant rise in the cost of living.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels in Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.
The charge framing is once again deferred in the high profile coal scam case in CBI Special Court in Asansol today as one of the main accused Bikash Mishra was not present in the court.

The judge of the CBI Special Court in Asansol, Rajesh Chakraborty has set 10 December as the date of next hearing in this case. Out of 50 persons named in the coal scam case, one person, a security guard of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) has died, while another person, Binoy Mishra, a TMC youth leader is still absconding.

Advertisement

Charges were supposed to be framed today by CBI in the Rs 1,300 crore alleged coal scam case against 48 persons, and except Bikash Mishra all the other 47 accused persons were present in the court today.

Advertisement

Bikash Mishra was arrested by Kalighat police station in Kolkata yesterday, barely a day ago before the framing of charge sheet by CBI in Asansol CBI Special Court in a POCSO Act case. He is the younger brother of Binoy Mishra.

Binoy Mishras wife has lodged an FIR at Kalighat police station yesterday alleging that her brother-in-law has molested minor daughter. Binoy Mishra is fugitive and a red corner notice has been issued by Interpol already on the request of CBI.

Yesterday, Bikash Mishra was sent to judicial custody for one day by Alipore Court and today he was once again produced before the POCSO Court and sent to eight days police custody for further investigation.

Sekhar Kundu and Somenath Chattoraj, veteran criminal advocates of Asansol Court said that for framing of charges presence of all the accused is mandatory and in absence of even one person, the charges cannot be framed.

Former top officials of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) and the alleged coal mafias were present today amongst other accused.

In November 2024, Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) lodged an FIR in the coal theft case at Raniganj coalfields area. However, four years have passed but still CBI has failed to frame charges in the court.

There are 396 witnesses in this much hyped coal theft case, which has rocked the nation barely few months before the 2021 Assembly polls in the state at that time.

Security has been beefed up by ADPC in the CBI Special Court in Asansol today.
Somewhere, one of the most important collections of Mexican art of the 20th century lies hidden. The treasure is made up of paintings by Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Maria Izquierdo, Rufino Tamayo, Carlos Orozco, Juan Soriano and Gunther Gerszo, among other great artists. It is called the Gelman collection after its creators, Jacques and Natasha Gelman, great patrons of the arts who amassed a large fortune during the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema. After the couples death, the collection passed into the hands of an executor and was exhibited around the world: London, New York, Madrid... until in 2008, after a complicated legal battle, all traces of it were lost. The museum where it was exhibited closed and no one heard from the paintings again, until a few days ago, when an auction at Sothebys set off all the alarms.

The catalogue of more than 30 artworks included Siqueiros por Siqueiros (1939), a self-portrait by David Alfaro Siqueiros; Caballos en el circo (1940) by Maria Izquierdo and Paisaje arcaico (1956), by Gunther Gerzso, which went on sale for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some of these artists, however, have been designated a national artistic asset and their works are prohibited from leaving Mexico. Upon learning of the auction, the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL) blocked the sale of the painting by Maria Izquierdo and urged Sothebys to comply with the legal provisions applicable in Mexico and the United States. The rest of the works in the catalogue were sold. Based on information published by Sothebys, it is estimated that part of the collection is in the United States, except for the work Siqueiros por Siqueiros, which is located in Mexico. There is no information on the rest of the items, INBAL told this newspaper. Mexican authorities also acknowledge that they do not know what condition most of the Gelman collection, made up of some 300 works, is currently in, or even where it is.

Self-portrait 'Siqueiros by Siqueiros' (1939).

The case has reopened a debate in the country about the protection of Mexicos heritage and the cultural loss entailed by the sale of such a valuable collection, valued a few years ago at $200 million. Natasha and Jacques Gelmans last wish was for the works to remain in Mexico, as part of a museographic discourse. It was one of the most important collections of modern art that we had in this country, says the cultural journalist Adriana Malvido, who has followed the case for several decades. The value of the collection cannot be understood without assessing Jacques Gelmans role as a collector, explains the art historian James Oles. He and his wife were authentic patrons who not only bought works, but also promoted the careers of several artists. Among them, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, he adds.

The Gelman legacy

Jacques Gelman, born in Saint Petersburg in 1909, arrived in Mexico in 1938, fleeing the war in Europe and wishing to make a career in the film industry. In Paris he had worked for the Pathe studios, and in Mexico he founded the company POSA Films with a then-unknown individual named Mario Moreno, who would later be known for his famous onscreen character Cantinflas. Together they recorded many of the most famous films starring the Mexican actor, which catapulted them into the world of cinema. In 1941 he married Natasha Zahalka Krawak, who was of Czech origin. In 1943, Gelman commissioned a painting of his wife from Diego Rivera. It was the first of many. The portrait of Natasha Gelman surrounded by calla lilies is considered the first work that gave rise to one of the most important Mexican art collections of the 20th century. Beyond its economic value, the Gelman collection is an important representation of Mexicos artistic identity, says Alberto Bremermann, an expert in the art market.

Natasha and Jacques Gelman in an undated photograph.

Talking about the Gelman collection always arouses the interest of collectors and experts because the couple did not only undertake the task of buying works by artists residing in Mexico. Picasso, Miro, Dali, Renoir, Matisse, Kandinski, Modigliani  the collection also contained the best of European art. Currently, the European part of the collection is on display in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Since the Gelmans death, the collection has not had a real owner, although it was managed by an executor, Robert R. Littman, who curated the collection for the many exhibitions it had abroad. After Jacques Gelmans death, Natasha loaned the Mexican collection for the first time in 1992 to be shown at the Centro Cultural Arte Contemporaneo de Televisa, where Littman was the director. Mrs. Gelman preferred for the paintings to be kept by the private center rather than by the Mexican State. After Natasha Gelmans death and the closure of the Televisa cultural center in 1998, several museums offered to house the collection. There were offers for the collection to be exhibited at the Munal, the Museo Dolores Olmedo, the Franz Mayer... but it didnt end up in any of those, says Malvido.

The collection traveled to more than 20 countries over the next four years, generating income for Littman to continue expanding it. The Vergel Foundation is listed as the owner of the works auctioned a few days ago at Sotheby's. This foundation was created by Littman after the death of Natasha Gelman, in order to manage the works and move them around the world. The traveling exhibition generated enough funds to buy new works, including pieces by Francisco Toledo, Graciela Iturbide and Manuel Alvarez Bravo. This newspaper sought an interview with Robert R. Littman, who declined the offer.

A tough legal battle, a half-brother and Cantinflas' son

In 2004, the collection returned to Mexico to be exhibited at the Centro Cultural Muros, a museum created by the companies Cotsco and Comercial Mexicana in Cuernavaca, Morelos. The idyll would last only a short time. The collection was there for only four years before disappearing. I remember that many of us went to visit the collection as if we were on a pilgrimage, says art historian Maria Minera. In 2006, several lawsuits filed against Littman by Cantinflas adopted son, Mario Moreno Ivanova, blew everything up. Moreno Ivanova claimed that part of the works had been bought through the company founded by his father and Gelman and claimed ownership as Cantinflas heir. Although a judge dismissed the lawsuit, new actors entered the scene. Distant cousins and Natasha Gelmans half-siblings also claimed to be the legitimate heirs of the couple.

In 2007, the lawyer Fuentes Leon and his son, Enrique Fuentes Olvera, bought the inheritance rights from Natashas half-brother, Mario Sebastian Krawak, for $20,000 shortly before his death, and sued for their rights to the works. Although a judge granted them ownership, the decision was overturned in court after a years-long legal battle. This lawsuit was joined by that of a distant cousin of Natasha Gelman, Jerry Jung, who also claimed the inheritance in a U.S. court and attacked Littman. The executor decided to stop exhibiting the paintings and put the collection in safekeeping, until now. The case took years to make headway and ended up dying in court.

Private owners, heritage of the nation

In total, the Gelman Collection has several paintings by Frida Kahlo. Diego in my thoughts (1943), Self-portrait with monkeys (1943), The bride frightened at seeing life opened, (1943) and The Love Embrace of the Universe, the Earth (Mexico), Myself, Diego, and Senor Xolotl (1949), are some of the most important. Notable works by Diego Rivera include Calla Lily Vendors (1943), Modest (1937) and Landscape with Cactus (1931). Diego Rivera has been a designated Artistic Monument since 1954, which prevents his works from being permanently taken out of the country.

Work 'Horses in the Circus' (1940) by the Mexican artist Maria Izquierdo. Cortesia

The same is true of Fridas work, which has been declared a national monument since 1984; Siqueiros since 1980 and Maria Izquierdo, since 2003. This means that there are very few paintings by these authors circulating legally on the market, which makes them rare and very valuable. There are very few works by Frida on the market, that and her life story make her one of the most sought-after artists, says James Oles. Only works that were already abroad before the declaration can be sold. This week, Sothebys put Kahlo creations on sale that do not belong to the Gelman seed collection and that were later acquired by Littman. The drawings are Carma III (1946), The Miscarriage(1932), Masks (Carma I) (1946), Drawing with a Foot (1946) and Collage with Two Flies (1953).

The law does not prevent a private collector from owning the works, but it does require them to keep them in Mexico and to report any movements they make to the authorities. But Mexican art authorities explained to this newspaper that they are unaware about the current condition of the works in the collection since there is no reason for a physical verification of all the works that are Artistic Monuments, unless requested by the interested party. However, those that have been exhibited in different museums around the world have been certified by INBAL specialists and all of them are in good condition, a spokespersona for INBAL stated.

Art historian Maria Minera, however, considers that this is a regrettable oversight and criticizes the fact that the authorities are not more vigilant about where the works are. For example, in the previous six-year period, there was a lot of vigilance about what happened to pre-Hispanic pieces, but not so much with modern art. It would not be the first time that important works by Frida Kahlo, for example, show up abroad, says this specialist, who considers it very likely that all of the Gelman collection artworks, including those considered historical monuments, could be abroad.

Last week it also emerged that a few years ago Littman was in talks with the Mexican State to sell the works, but the purchase never materialized. Actions should have been taken at an institutional level and negotiated, if not the purchase of the entire collection, at least of some pieces, says the attorney Bremermann. Gerardo Estrada, director of INBAL between 1992 and 2000, pointed out in a recent interview with the newspaper Reforma the lack of interest and vision on the part of the State to preserve this heritage within its borders. The works in the Gelman Collection are part of the heritage of a private individual. INBAL will continue to carry out the actions that are its responsibility based on the regulatory provisions on the matter, such as issuing temporary export, reproduction, and exhibition permits and providing technical advice on conservation and restoration, the Institute responded to the question about the actions it will take in light of the latest events.

The outlook for culture in Mexico, however, is not at all encouraging. According to the projected 2025 national budget, the Ministry of Culture will have 30% less public funding and there will be cuts in all departments, including the Institute of Fine Arts and Literature.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
ChipIN Centre offers an extensive range of semiconductor design workflows and solutions, striving to bring national chip design infrastructure directly to the semiconductor design community across the country.

It is a centralized facility which hosts the most advanced tools for the entire chip design cycle (going up to 5 nm or advanced node). It also offers compute and hardware infrastructure, IP cores, and expertise to provide comprehensive services for design fabrication at the SCL foundry and packaging to academic institutions under C2S (Chips to Start-up) Programme and DLI (Design Linked Incentive) scheme of the Ministry of Electronics and IT.

Advertisement

ChipIN centre aims to boost the countrys semiconductor vision, a press statement said.

Advertisement

Presently engaged with an estimated number of 20,000+ students at 250+ academic institutions and entrepreneurs at 45 start-up projects, ChipIN Centre aims to provide access of state-of-the-art EDA (electronic design automation) tools to 85,000 students at B.Tech, M.Tech and PhD level to design semiconductor chips within 5 years to meet the objectives of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Considering the growing demand for EDA tools from Siemens amongst researcher & opportunity to scale the established infrastructure at ChipIN Centre, Siemens has extended the current usage scope of its EDA tools from 120 colleges to 250+ colleges under Chips to Start-up (C2S) Programme and latest powerful Veloce hardware-assisted verification solution from Siemens, to the companies approved under the DLI Scheme.

Veloce from Siemens comprising the main components  Veloce Strato hardware & OS, Veloce Apps and Veloce Protocol Solutions, has a compute facility of 128 CPU cores and capacity of 640 million gates.

This addresses the verification and validation challenges faced by designers of complex SoCs (system on a chips) & highly sophisticated IC (integrated circuit) designs.

We were receiving the huge demand from students, researchers, faculty members & entrepreneurs across the country in respect of further enhancing & extending the EDA & design solutions from Siemens to more organizations. The enhanced support from Siemens at the ChipIN Centre will play a crucial role in fulfilling the vision of turning India into a semiconductor powerhouse. said Sunita Verma, Group Coordinator (R&D in Electronics & IT), Ministry of Electronics and IT.
Chief Minister Atishi on Tuesday inaugurated an underground shooting range here at NCC Bhawan in North West Delhis Rohini.

Build with the help of the latest technology the 25-metre firing range boasts bulletproof ceilings, six firing lanes, and an electronic target control system which will be accessible round the clock on all 365 days, ensuring uninterrupted training for NCC cadets.

Advertisement

Speaking on the occasion, CM Atishi said, Shooting is an expensive sport, but financial constraints should not come in the way of talented athletes. That is why the Delhi Government has introduced this cutting-edge shooting range. Our youth have no shortage of talent, and I am confident that the next Olympic gold medalist will be someone who trains here.

Advertisement

She added, Our country has no shortage of talent, passion, or natural resources. If given the right guidance, no one can stop India from becoming the number one nation in the world.

Highlighting the countrys track record in shooting, the AAP leader remarked, Shooting is a sport where India has consistently performed well. Be it the recent bronze medals by Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh at the 2024 Paris Olympics, or the achievements of legends like Gagan Narang and Abhinav Bindra, shooting has brought pride to the nation. I am confident the next Olympic gold medalist will emerge from this range.

Sports training is often prohibitively expensive, and many talented individuals cannot afford it. This shooting range, along with the upcoming range at Kalkaji, ensures that no child with talent will be left behind due to financial constraints. The Delhi Government is committed to supporting young athletes, providing them the opportunity to win medals for the nation, she added.

Some of the prominent features of the shooting range includes night firing capability with regular and focused lighting, automatic steel bullet trap system, target systems controlled through advanced software and equipped for training with various small arms among others.
Mayor Mahesh Kumar on Tuesday inspected Lado Sarai and Mehrauli wards in South Delhi to review the sanitation facilities and inspected GVP (Garbage Vulnerable Point) in these areas.

During the inspection, the Mayor visited Motilal Nehru Camp jhuggi basti and was informed by the locals about the regular overflow of drain in the middle of the slum, and the adversities faced by them to come out of their house due to this.

Advertisement

Following the complaint, the Mayor directed the officials to clean the entire drain within a week.

Advertisement

Moreover, Kumar stated that the GVP outside Motilal Nehru Camp is being removed and directed officials to take strict action against those throwing garbage at this point.

The Mayor was also informed that cleaning is being done regularly at the main places of the ward.

During the other inspection in the Mehrauli area, he instructed the officials to ensure regular cleaning of the area.

Kumar added that serious efforts are being made by the MCD to eliminate GVP points and the effect of these efforts is visible on the ground.

But a lot of improvement is still required. He said that we are visiting all the wards to ensure cleanliness in Delhi and our aim is to permanently eliminate GVP.
A 50 million-year-old Gastropod Fossil, which was stolen from India International Trade fair (IITF) earlier this month, was recovered with the arrest of an individual.

According to the police, on November 21, Geological Survey of India reported the theft of a fossil from their stall in the Ministry of Mines pavilion located in hall number 4. Based on this, an e-FIR was filed and a case was registered at police station IITF under section 303(2) (theft) of BNS.

Advertisement

Deputy Commissioner of Police (IITF) Sumit Jha said, the police team analysed more than 100 CCTV footage from the nearby pavilions and halls. Using technical analysis, the suspect was identified and was tracked down to Noida.

Advertisement

Jha added that the suspect identified as 49-year-old Manoj, resident of Sector-22, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, was nabbed from his home and the stolen artifact also recovered.

The fossil thief is working in a private firm and is a regular visitor to the Trade Fair with a keen interest in various art forms. On November 21, he stole the Gastropod Fossil from the Geological Survey of India stall with the intention of selling it at a high price, the DCP added.

A gastropod fossil is the preserved remains or impressions of ancient gastropods, a class of mollusks that includes snails, slugs, and their relatives. These fossils are valuable for understanding ancient ecosystems, evolution, and environmental changes over time.
At the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, Bollywood actor and producer Kriti Sanon offered an honest perspective on the ever-debated topic of nepotism in the film industry. The National Award-winning star shared her insights during a masterclass, reflecting on her journey as an outsider in the world of cinema.

Kriti, who made her Bollywood debut without any industry connections, acknowledged the challenges faced by those without a film background.

Advertisement

She noted that it takes time for such individuals to establish themselves and earn coveted opportunities. However, she credited perseverance and talent as key factors in overcoming these barriers.

Advertisement

The industry has welcomed me warmly since I arrived. But when you dont come from a film family, it takes longer to reach your dreams. Whether its landing significant roles or even getting featured on magazine covers, everything is a bit of a struggle. Still, if you work hard and stay consistent, nothing can stop you, Kriti Sanon explained.

While the Bollywood industry often finds itself at the center of nepotism discussions, Kriti pointed out that the responsibility isnt solely on filmmakers. She emphasized that audiences and the media play a significant role in amplifying the influence of star kids.

The industry alone isnt to blame for nepotism. Media coverage and audience interest in star kids create a demand. The industry simply responds by casting them, knowing people will watch. Its a cycle. But, at the end of the day, talent matters. If you lack talent or fail to connect with the audience, you wont last, Kriti said.

The actor also highlighted her belief in meritocracy, reassuring that success is achievable through dedication, regardless of ones background.

On the professional front, Kriti recently starred in Do Patti, alongside Kajol and Shaheer Sheikh. Directed by Shashanka Chaturvedi, the film premiered on Netflix on October 25 and was co-produced by Kriti and Kanika Dhillon.
Ravi Kishan, one of the most prominent figures in Bhojpuri cinema, has expressed his disappointment with the direction the industry has taken in recent years.

Known for his major contributions to the resurgence of Bhojpuri films alongside fellow star Manoj Tiwari, Kishan believes that recent generations of actors and filmmakers have tarnished the reputation of the industry he helped elevate.

Advertisement

In his early career, Ravi Kishan played a crucial role in reviving Bhojpuri cinema, which had long been considered a niche segment. With his hits and a focus on portraying meaningful content, he became a household name.

Advertisement

Despite Bhojpuri cinema tackling social issues and producing serious films in its prime, it has now become synonymous with vulgarity. Criticism has mounted over the years for songs and sequences that often objectify women, a shift that Kishan finds disheartening.

At a recent session at the Sahitya Aaj Tak event at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, the actor opened up about his feelings. He expressed regret that his juniors in the industry had not maintained the standards that he and his contemporaries had worked hard to establish.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jio Studios (@officialjiostudios)

Unfortunately, I feel a bit unhappy with my juniors. They have spoiled Bhojpuri cinemas reputation. 25 crore people speak Bhojpuri, and I am very proud of it. I have even presented a bill to give it greater importance, he said.

Kishan took pride in his role as a trailblazer. He noted that he was the one who helped pave the way for the industrys third phase.

I am the man who heralded the third phase of Bhojpuri cinema, and today, it employs over 1 lakh people. By the time actors junior to me moved to Bombay, I had already set the stage for them, he added. His dream, however, remains focused on restoring the dignity and respect that Bhojpuri cinema once commanded.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the aviation authorities to consider modifying the existing guidelines in conforming with the international norms to deal with unruly air passengers, saying that something creative will have to be done.

A bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan asked the Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati to instruct the concerned authorities to examine and suitably modify the guidelines on unruly passengers in line with international norms.

Advertisement

The Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati appeared for the Central government.

Advertisement

The top courts suggestion asking the authorities concerned with aviation to examine and suitably modify the guidelines on unruly passengers in conformity with international norms came in the course of the hearing of a plea by a woman passenger, who was urinated upon in a New York-Delhi Air India flight on November 26, 2022 by an allegedly inebriated passenger, seeking direction to DGCA and all airlines to frame mandatory SoP and zero tolerance rules to deal with unruly passengers and on board sufferers.

The petitioner Hema Rajaraman has sought direction to the DGCA to include in the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) an explicit zero- tolerance policy with respect to unruly/disruptive behaviour, which would mandate reporting such incidents to aviation regulator and also to law enforcement agencies, failing which action would be taken against the airlines in all cases.

It has sought direction to DGCA to consider including in its May 2017 Civil Aviation Requirements that drunkenness or inebriation on its own to be termed as unruly/disruptive behaviour on an aircraft.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA to solicit the SoPs and the Operations Manuals as required under law from the airline companies laying down procedures for handling unruly/ disruptive behaviour in airports and on aircraft, and to ensure that the same are in compliance with the DGCA norms, seeks the plea.

Accused in the November 26, 2022 incident Shankar Mishra was arrested from Bengaluru on January 6, 2023, for urinating on the woman in the business class of the flight. He was granted bail later.

The plea has said that in fact, the cabin crew facilitated in giving her mobile phone number to the man for him to reimburse the cost of shoes, dry-cleaning, etc.

She was made to sit on the very same seat that was wet and smelled of urine, she has said. It further says that her suffering was compounded when the crew coerced her to enter into a settlement with the passenger who urinated on her.

She continues to deal with the trauma of the incident, she said.

The plea has also sought direction to the Civil Aviation Ministry and DGCA to set guidelines on alcohol policy on international flights of Indian carriers to protect passengers and airline staff, including setting limits on the quantity of alcohol served, without any discrimination based on the class of travel.

Direct DGCA to amend its Passenger Charter to include the rights and recourse for passengers subject to any sort of abuse by staff passengers, which should include redressal mechanisms for victims via an Ombudsman and also parameters of compensation, says the plea.

The petition referred to the statistics tabled in the Rajya Sabha on February 6, 2023, which show that only 63 unruly passengers were put in the No Fly lists.

There would be numerous other incidents of unruly behaviour where no action was taken, said the plea, adding, With the worlds third highest air traffic, and with 132 airports, India needs to ensure that its passengers, both domestic and foreign can travel with a minimum of safety and security. Particularly with 150 million senior citizens forming a sizable vulnerable group, positive steps need to be taken to make flying safe.

The plea has also highlighted how media reports on the incident concerning her were full of conjectures and surmises.

She has urged the court to consider how media reports based on conjectures may affect sub judice cases in the absence of clear guidelines.
In a sharp critique of the Congress, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday accused the party of tampering with the Preamble and strangling the Constitution.

He argued that the original Constitution, drafted by Baba Saheb Ambedkar on November 26, 1949, did not include the words secular or socialist. Alleging that the Congress Party added these terms during the Emergency period, he further stated, The people have delivered a fitting lesson to those who betrayed the Constitution.

Advertisement

The Chief Minister made these remarks during a ceremony here to commemorate Constitution Day. He led the reading of the Preamble, paying tribute to the architects of the Indian Constitution.

Advertisement

Highlighting the strength and comprehensiveness of the Indian Constitution, the Chief Minister described it as the most robust in the world. He credited Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar with laying the foundation of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat through the Constitution.

Extending his congratulations to the people on the occasion, Yogi emphasized the significance of the Constitution Day in reminding citizens of the greatness of Indias democracy and Constitution.

He hailed Baba Saheb Dr. Ambedkar as a true son of India, highlighting how the drafting committee under his leadership incorporated core values like justice, equality, and fraternity into the document, ensuring a strong future for the nation.

The Chief Minister shared historical insights, stating that the Constituent Assembly, formed in 1946 on the demand of freedom fighters, held its first meeting on December 9, 1946. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as its President, and the Constitution was drafted by 13 committees, with the drafting committee chaired by Dr. Ambedkar.

He further explained that the debates of these committees were instrumental in shaping the Constitution and called them its essence. CM Yogi urged the legislature, executive, and judiciary to draw inspiration and guidance from these historic debates, which reflect the spirit and principles of the Indian Constitution.

Praising Indias democracy, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted that the Indian Constitution ensures equal voting rights for individuals of every caste, opinion, and religion.

He noted that while other democracies around the world were grappling with discrimination, India had already granted universal suffrage to all adult citizens in its general elections, a testament to the foresight of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and the Constituent Assembly.

He emphasized that Constitution Day serves as an important occasion to educate citizens about their rights and duties while reinforcing their faith in democracy.

He asserted that it was the BJP government that restored and strengthened this faith, upholding the true essence of the Constitution. He emphasized that the soul of any Constitution lies in its objectives and principles.

CM Yogi further remarked that the public has not hesitated in holding accountable those who tampered with the Indian Constitution.
Outsiders owning land in Uttarakhand will not be able to sell it easily. The Pushkar Singh Dhami government has appealed to the people of Uttarakhand to refrain from buying properties from non-natives.

The Uttarakhand Revenue Department on Tuesday warned non-Uttarakhand residents against selling their properties to locals if the land was purchased by them in even the slightest contravention of the states land law.

Advertisement

The government is consistently getting information that people from outside the state, who had earlier bought land in violation of the states land laws, are now attempting to resell these properties to the natives. Therefore, an appeal has been made to locals not to engage in any land deal with such people under any circumstances. This will help them avoid future financial losses and prevent getting trapped in legal wranglings read a statement issued by the Uttarakhand Additional Secretary, Revenue.

Advertisement

The Additional Secretarys statement stated that continuous efforts are being made by district administrations across the state to identify and take action against people from other states who have bought land in the Himalayan state in violation of the Uttarakhand land laws. According to the Additional Secretary, Revenue, a large number of cases have come to light involving outsiders buying land illegally from natives in Uttarakhand. The administration has made it clear that no person found guilty of cheating locals or violating the states land laws will be spared.

The Additional Secretary further clarified that strict action will be taken against individuals from outside the state who have purchased land in violation of land laws, in accordance with the law. Even if individuals from outside the state manage to successfully land deals with locals, they cannot escape action for violating land laws. Legal action will be taken against them, the statement stressed. District Magistrates have been directed to remain vigilant during the registration of lands by buyers and sellers to identify those involved in violating the states land laws and causing financial losses to locals.
The delay in deciding and declaring the Maharashtra chief minister despite the impressive mandate to the BJP is because the party wants someone who will blindly sign documents benefitting Prime Minister Narendra Modis favoured industrialist friends, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Nana Patole said on Tuesday.

The BJP alliance is not concerned about the welfare of the people of Maharashtra. They want someone who will sell Maharashtra, which is why they will appoint a person as Chief Minister who will blindly sign documents benefiting Prime Minister Narendra Modis favourite industrialists friends, causing the delay, Nana Patole said.

Advertisement

Earlier on Tuesday, Patole met Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in Delhi to discuss the performance of Maharashtras assembly election. The newly elected MP from Nanded, Prof Ravindra Vasantrao Chavan, along with other Congress MPs from Maharashtra, was also present at the meeting.

Advertisement

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Nana Patole stated that the party leadership had been briefed about the Maharashtra Assembly election results.

Patole refused to accept the Maharashtra Assembly election results on Tuesday, saying that the EVM issue is not being taken seriously.

Whatever election results have come, they are not acceptable to anyone, not even to the people of Maharashtra. So have brainstormed on this issue and if you see social media in Maharashtra today, the public says that the government has not come to power through our votes. He said that since nobody is listening to problems raised by the people of alleged mismatch of votes, the Congress is left with no other option but to launch a mass movement against EVMs.

No one is listening to this issue (EVMs), we also went to the Supreme Court, they said to prove it. Public sentiment says that we give our vote to X but it is being marked in the name of Y, so no one is listening to the problems. While the results were unexpected, they have not been accepted by the public. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has been demanding proof about these EVM discrepancies. Due to this, there is a need to launch a mass movement against EVMs, Patole said.

Notably, in a related development on Tuesday, Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge said that like the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Congress will run a nationwide campaign to hold elections through ballot papers, while he spoke at the Samvidhan Rakshak Abhiyaan function in Delhi.

We dont want elections through EVMs. We want elections through ballot paper, Kharge said.

However, on Tuesday, the Supreme Court dismissed a plea seeking to revert to paper ballot voting in elections in the country, saying allegations of tampering of EVMs are raked up only after people lose polls.

What happens is, when you win the election, EVMs are not tampered with. When you lose the election, EVMs are tampered (with), remarked a bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice P B Varale.

Besides ballot paper voting, the rejected plea had sought several directions including a directive to the Election Commission to disqualify candidates for a minimum of five years if found guilty of distributing money, liquor or other material inducement to the voters during polls.
A large majority of Romanian citizens found themselves on Monday asking a pressing question: Who is Calin Georgescu? The politician won the first round of Romanias presidential elections on Sunday, receiving over two million votes, representing 22.95% of the electorate. The question is how this far-right populist  a relatively obscure figure with ties to Russia and rhetoric threatening Romanias pro-West trajectory  managed to secure so much support despite lacking backing from any political party. However, despite his surprise victory on Sunday, the independent candidate faces an uphill battle to claim the presidency.

Georgescu, who now leads the race in the European Unions sixth most populous country, has stirred controversy with his antisemitic, anti-Western, and nationalist discourse. He frequently lauds the Kremlin, suggesting that Romanias best course lies in embracing Russian wisdom, and argues that the EU and NATO fail to represent Romanias interests. Georgescu has also echoed Kremlin propaganda by claiming that Russias invasion of Ukraine  a neighboring country, with which Romania shares a 650-kilometer border  was orchestrated by U.S. defense companies. He has also publicly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him a man who loves his country.

During an election debate on the Digi24 channel, Georgescu dodged repeated questions about whether he admired Putin, refusing to give a direct yes or no answer. Growing visibly irritated, he dismissed the inquiry, claiming he had been asked too often. He has also declared his admiration for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, praising Orbans negotiation skills on the international stage.

In the run-off, Georgescu will face Elena Lasconi, a former center-right journalist. Lasconi triumphed over Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu  a Social Democrat widely regarded as the favorite in pre-election polls  thanks to strong support from Romanias diaspora, with results confirmed early Monday morning. The decisive showdown between Georgescu, 62, and Lasconi, 52, will take place on December 8, one week after the legislative elections.

Georgescus meteoric rise caught pollsters off guard. His unexpected success is widely attributed to his campaign on TikTok, the Chinese social media platform particularly popular among young people. While it is too early to fully analyze his surprise victory, experts argue strong social media presence was a key factor. It is now known how much Georgescu invested in promoting himself on these platforms.

An analysis by the news portal G4Media.ro reports that Georgescus TikTok following spiked ahead of the first round thanks to a surge in hashtags featuring his name during. His TikTok profile, which has over 65,000 followers and 1.3 million likes, gained an additional 30,000 followers in the final week of the campaign. The video announcing his candidacy saw its views skyrocket from 500,000 to over 800,000.

TikTok is also the platform of choice for Diana Sosoaca, a member of the European Parliament and leader of the extremist S.O.S. Romania party. Sosoaca shares Georgescus anti-Ukraine, anti-EU, and anti-NATO stance. The Supreme Court invalidated her candidacy but did not explain the decision. Local media claimed it was for endangering national security.

Georgescus appeal seems to tap into widespread discontent with traditional political parties. Without politicians who act as unifying leaders, people will look for saviors, says sociologist Gelu Duminica. According to Duminica, a professor of political science at the University of Bucharest, democratic parties have distanced themselves from the concerns of ordinary citizens, leaving many feeling abandoned. He adds that the constant infighting among traditional politicians has further alienated voters, pushing them toward outsider candidates like Georgescu.

Expelled from an ultra party

Georgescu has been nominated for the post of prime minister five times over the past decade. His nominations came from the Romanian Civil Society Federation  an organization that infamously congratulated Russia on the annexation of Crimea  and the far-right AUR party in 2016 and 2020, respectively. Although Georgescu once served as the honorary president of AUR, he was expelled for his increasingly radical ideas and after accusing its leader, George Simion, of secretly supporting the Social Democratic Party.

Born on March 26, 1962, in Bucharest, Georgescu studied at the Institute of Agronomy and worked for 17 years at the United Nations in environmental conservation. He has one son with Cristela Georgescu, who describes herself on her website as a naturopathic educator with 20 years of personal experience in natural health, focusing on integral nutrition, apiphytotherapy, gemmotherapy, regenerative detoxification, clinical iridology, bioresonance, and emotional release techniques.

Georgescus nationalist rhetoric often targets foreign companies operating in Romania, accusing them of exploiting the countrys natural resources. This message evokes the protectionist themes associated with former communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. In a televised address, Georgescu praised Romanian legionnaire leader Corneliu Zelea Codreanu and Marshal Ion Antonescu  figures tied to Romanias alliance with Nazi Germany during World War II  describing them as heroes of the Romanian nation. These statements provoked strong criticism from the Jewish community and historians, and the Attorney Generals Office opened a criminal investigation against him for allegedly promoting the cult of individuals responsible for genocide and war crimes.

The dangers of Georgescus ideology were flagged as early as 2022 by Austrian historian Oliver Jens Schmitt. Underestimated by the public, but very present in provincial circles, is the self-proclaimed leader of the Ancestral Earth Movement, Calin Georgescu, he told Spotmedia. He stages himself with a clearly neolegionary language; he even imitates Codreanus slow way of speaking; his movement clearly uses neolegionary symbolism, such as the color green, and stands out through legionary strategies, such as work camps, which are presented in a media-friendly way.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das was admitted to a private hospital in Chennai late on Monday night after he complained of uneasiness. According to the hospital, his condition now is stable and there is no cause for concern.

He was here in the city for official engagements and stayed at the RBI staff quarters. When Das complained of feeling uneasy, he was rushed to Apollo Hospital on Greams Road.

Advertisement

In a brief medical bulletin issued on Tuesday, the hospital said that preliminary examination revealed that Das had experienced acidity and was kept under observation. His condition is stable and would be discharged shortly, the bulletin added.

Advertisement

He assumed office as RBI Governor in 2018 and his tenure comes to an end by December 10 this year. According to reports, given the confidence he enjoys with the Union Government and the Prime Minister in particular, he might get an extension. Unlike some of his predecessors, he keeps a low profile though his stewardship of the central bank has brought stability.

Belonging to the Tamil Nadu cadre, Das had served the state in various capacities right from a District collector in Dindigul to Principal Secretary.
India on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the arrest and denial of bail to ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das and renewed its appeal to the interim government in Bangladesh to ensure the safety and security of all minorities, including their right of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.

We have noted with deep concern the arrest and denial of bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is also the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Jagran Jote. This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus by extremist elements in Bangladesh. There are several documented cases of arson and looting of minorities homes and business establishments, as well as theft and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

Advertisement

The MEA said it is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings.

Advertisement

We also note with concern the attacks on minorities protesting peacefully against the arrest of Shri Das, it added.

Meanwhile, in a post on X, ISKCON said Das has been arrested by the Dhaka Police on baseless charges, adding that the organisation has nothing to do with terrorism anywhere in the world. It also urged the Government of India to take immediate steps and speak to the Government of Bangladesh and convey that ISKCON is a peace-loving Bhakti movement.

It demanded that the Government of Bangladesh release Das immediately.
The Third Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) Meeting between India and Tanzania was held in Goa, today. Both nations explored avenues to deepen bilateral defence ties, including maritime collaboration, service-to-service cooperation, and defence industry partnerships. They reviewed progress from previous JDCC meetings and identified new areas for joint initiatives.

A statement from the Ministry of Defence said that the Indian delegation, led by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad, included senior officials from the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces. Indias High Commissioner to Tanzania, Bishwadip Dey, also participated. The Tanzanian delegation was headed by Land Forces Commander Maj Gen Fadhil Omary Nondo.

Advertisement

As part of their visit, the Tanzanian delegation will tour Goa Shipyard Ltd to observe Indias expertise in shipbuilding and port development. They are also scheduled to visit INS Hansa and the National Institute of Hydrography in Goa.

Advertisement
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stepped down from his post on Tuesday paving the way for the BJP-led Mahayuti to decide its next leadership following a landslide victory in the recently concluded assembly elections.

Earlier today, Shinde, along with his deputies  Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP and Ajit Pawar of the NCP  arrived at Raj Bhavan to tender his resignation. Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan has asked Shinde to continue as the caretaker Chief Minister until the new government is sworn in.

Advertisement

However, three days after the Mahayuti secured a landslide victory in the assembly elections, suspense continues over the Chief Ministers post.

Advertisement

While the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 132 seats, its alliesthe Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP factionwon 57 and 41 seats respectively.

Sources indicate that multiple power-sharing formulas are under discussion within the alliance. One proposal involves Devendra Fadnavis serving as CM for the first two-and-a-half years, followed by Eknath Shinde for the remaining term.

Another formula being floated suggests a two years plus two years plus one year arrangement, with Fadnavis serving as CM for two years, Shinde taking over for the next two, and Ajit Pawar leading in the final year.

The distribution of ministerial berths is also a contentious issue. Reports suggest that the BJP may keep 21 out of the 43 permissible ministerial posts, while the Shinde-led Shiv Sena could get 12, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction might receive 10. Key portfolios are expected to be allocated to Shiv Sena and NCP leaders as part of the power-sharing agreement.

Amid the buzz around Maharashtra government formation, BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye dismissed media reports claiming a finalized formula for the CMs tenure.

The information is not true. No decision about who will become Maharashtra CM has been taken so far, he told The Statesman yesterday.

The three leaders of the Mahayuti alliance are likely to head to Delhi soon to discuss the government formation in Maharashtra with Home Minister Amit Shah. A decision on the new CM is expected after that meeting.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday, asserted that he has never encroached on the Constitution, virtually rejecting the Oppositions campaign against his government over this issue.

I tried to follow the dignity that the Constitution has asked from me and I havent tried to do encroachment, Modi said while speaking on the occasion of the Constitution Day celebrations at the Supreme Court.

Advertisement

Referring to the 26/11 Mumbai terror in 2008, the prime minister declared that every terrorist organisation that challenges Indias security would be given a befitting reply. This is the 75th year of the Indian Constitution  it is a matter of immense pride for the country. I bow to the Constitution and all the members of the Constituent Assembly. We cannot forget that today is also the anniversary of the terror attack in Mumbai. Those who lost their lives, I pay my homage to them. I also want to reiterate the resolution of the country  all those terrorist organisations challenging the security of India will get a befitting reply, he said.

Advertisement

PM Modi further said, Dr Rajendra Prasad, in his speech in the constituent assembly on November 26, 1949, had said India needs nothing but a group of 50 honest people who keep the countrys interest ahead of theirs. This spirit of Nation First will keep the Indian constitution lively for many years to come.

He said Indias Constitution has lived up to every expectation and need of the country.

The prime minister said it is due to the power of the Constitution that, today, the Constitution of Baba Saheb has been implemented completely in Jammu and Kashmir. For the first time, the Constitution Day was celebrated in Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

Today, India is going through a huge phase of transformation, and the Constitution of India is showing us the path. It has become a guiding light for us, Modi said.

During the Constituent Assemblys debate, Babasaheb Ambedkar had said, Constitution is not a mere lawyers document. Its spirit is always the spirit of age, he added.

Modi further said that the country is focusing on ensuring the ease of living for its citizens. Once, the senior citizens who used to get pensions were supposed to prove in the bank that they were alive. However, today, senior citizens have the facility of a Digital Life Certificate from their home. Around 1.5 crore senior citizens have benefited from this facility, the prime minister said.

Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna presented a painting made by a prisoner, lodged in Tihar jail, to PM Modi during the Constitution Day celebrations.

PM Modi also released the Annual Report of the Indian Judiciary (2023-24) on the occasion.
With milk production in Odisha remaining substantially lesser than the per head milk requirement, the State Government has resolved to double the production in the next five years to match the demand.

While the per capita requirement is 300 millilitres of milk per day, about 160 millilitres of milk is being produced in our State whereas the State produces around 72 lakh litres of milk per day, said an official on Tuesday.

Advertisement

The Government has newly launched Mukhyamantri Kamadhenu Yojana to prioritise the dairying and targets to double the milk production in the State in the next 5 years, said Gokulananda Mallick, Minister, Fisheries and Animal Resource Development, while speaking at a programme here to mark National Milk Day.

Advertisement

To promote the dairy sector, financial assistance of up to Rs one crore is being provided for setting up dairy units and milk processing plants under Mukhyamantri Krushi Udyoga Yojana, he said.

Expressing the Governments resolve to accord priority steps to enhance milk production, he said a slew of measures have been undertaken to take care of the cattle farmers.

To provide livestock healthcare services in rural areas, 314 Mobile Veterinary Units are functioning in the State. Artificial insemination is being done through sex sorted semen in order to make dairying more profitable. Dairy farmers are also being provided assistance for fodder cultivation, vaccination and deworming of animals, he said.

As many as 25 successful dairy farmers and entrepreneurs were felicitated on the occasion. A technical session dwelt on the steps to increase milk production, governmental interventions in the dairy sector and livestock healthcare services.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday said that the principals and teachers trained abroad are acting as catalysts for the education revolution in the state by further improving the standard of education to benefit common students.

By Statesman News Service 15 March, 2025 8 mins read
In a significant decision, the Supreme Court has allowed the National Investigation Agencys request to transfer eight criminal cases from the NIA special court in Imphal to Assam. These cases, registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, were originally investigated by the Manipur police before being handed over to the NIA.

A bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan cited the volatile situation in Manipur as the primary reason for the transfer. The prevailing conditions in Manipur are not conducive for ensuring a free and fair trial, the Court observed in its order. The transfer was made under Section 13(2) of the NIA Act, 2008, and Section 406 of the CrPC, 1973.

Advertisement

The Supreme Courts decision comes against the backdrop of ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, which began in May 2023. The conflict primarily involves the Meitei and Kuki communities, with clashes over land, tribal rights, and political representation leaving over 200 people dead and displacing thousands. The unrest has severely impacted governance and judicial processes in the state.

Advertisement

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves, representing some of the respondents, proposed transferring the cases to Delhi to ensure neutrality. Advocates Siddhartha Borgohain and Ahanthem Henry suggested Mizoram or Meghalaya, citing practical difficulties such as blocked roads and high travel costs to Guwahati.

One respondent, a Kuki carpenter on bail, highlighted these challenges, stating, All roads are blocked by militants. I cannot afford the travel expenses. Addressing these concerns, Justice Pardiwala assured that the NIA would be responsible for ensuring the safety of the accused. The Court also allowed accused individuals on bail to attend proceedings via video conferencing to mitigate logistical hardships.

The Supreme Courts decision mirrors its August 25, 2023, order, which transferred 27 Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases from Manipur to Assam for similar reasons. The judgment underscores the judiciarys efforts to uphold justice while acknowledging the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict in Manipur.

The transfer of these cases is part of a broader effort to restore law and order in Manipur, even as the state grapples with prolonged ethnic strife and deep-seated divisions.
Shortly after Eknath Shinde tendered his resignation as Maharashtra Chief Minister to Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan here on Tuesday, 11 am, he was asked by the Governor to head a caretaker government, until a Mahayuti cabinet is sworn-in.

The swearing-in date of the BJP-dominated Mahayuti government has not been decided, but the word is that it could be Wednesday or even scheduled for December 1 or December 2.

Advertisement

Earlier today, NCP chief Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis reached the Governors office to tender their resignations as well. However, despite Devendra Fadnavis being widely acknowledged to be the frontrunner for the post of Maharashtra Chief Minister, the Mahayuti is yet to officially decide or announce its chief ministerial candidate.

Advertisement

Shindes and Shiv Senas insistence that a Bihar model of power sharing must be implemented in Maharashtra is said to be the main reason behind the delay in the Mahayuti officially announcing its CM candidate. As per the Bihar model, Nitish Kumar became CM despite other alliance partners like the BJP winning more seats than his Janata Dal (United). Adopting the same model in Maharashtra would mean ceding the CMs post to Eknath Shinde.

The BJP leadership is also keen to get the caste arithmetic right, since Eknath Shinde who hails from western Maharashtras Satara district, belongs to the politically dominant Maratha community which constitutes a good 28 per cent of the states population.

Shinde had provided ten per cent reservation to the Maratha community under the economically and socially backward category and hence Maratha caste sentiments would have to be taken into account, especially since the Mahayuti wishes to win the soon- to- be held local body polls in Maharashtra. Moreover, there is a demand from the Maratha community that the states CM should be a Maratha.

There is also the Marathi asmita or Marathi pride factor which the BJP is keen to accommodate, especially since it wants to ensure that the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena never gets any opportunity to claim that Marathi asmita was insulted by the Mahayuti and then make it a political issue in Maharashtra to strengthen itself.

Meanwhile, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP has indicated its approval of Mahayutis decision to go with Devendra Fadnavis as the Mhief minister of the Mahayuti government, and Fadnavis is its preferred choice over Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde.

The Ajit-Pawar-led NCPs calculation is that despite winning lesser seats (Ajit Pawar-NCP won 41 assembly seats) than the Eknath Shinde-led Sena (57 seats), Fadnavis as CM, would place it at the same level with the Shinde-led Sena in the Mahayuti equation.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday called for holding elections through ballot paper while Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not read the Constitution of India.

Addressing the gathering at Samvidhan Rakshak Abhiyaan function , the Congress chief said, We dont want elections through EVMs. We want elections through ballot paper.

Advertisement

Attacking the ruling BJP, he asserted that if the elections are held through ballot paper, then they would know where they stand.

Advertisement

The Congress chief said like Bharat Jodo Yatra was held under the leadership of Gandhi, the party will run a nationwide campaign for holding elections through ballot papers.

Notably, the statement of the Congress chief came days after party leader Pawan Khera rejected the poll outcome of the Maharashtra Assembly poll. He alleged foul play in the election process in the state.

In October, the Congress alleged wrongdoing in the electoral processes of the Haryana Assembly polls. The Election Commission (EC) rejected the allegation and had said the party persistently raised unfounded doubts on the core aspects of Indian electoral process.

Kharge, who has been accusing the ruling dispensation of violating the Constitution, said, Those who are weakening the Constitution today, their ancestors were informers of the British. They have no contribution in the freedom struggle.

Referring to assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, he said, Everyone knows who shot Mahatma Gandhi ji.

He said the people of Congress fought for freedom and the nation achieved independence.

On Caste Census, which his party has been demanding , Kharge said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP are afraid of Caste Census.

Modi ji always talks about spreading hatred and blames us. If the BJP really wants unity in the country, then they will have to give up hatred, he added.

Echoing similar sentiments, Leader of Opposition in Lower House Gandhi said, Caste Census will tell us what is the participation of Dalits, backward classes and tribals in the country. Caste Census in the country will lay a strong foundation for development.

BJP wants some billionaires to keep the country under their control. Therefore, they want to abolish the Constitution. We will get the Caste Census done, he said.

Holding aloft a copy of the Constitution, Gandhi said, This is the Constitution of India. Narendra Modi has not read the Constitution of India.

Gandhi added that the Constitution is not just a book, it is a book of truth and non-violence.
With a tone more resolute than optimistic, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday a cease-fire agreement with Lebanon, cautioning that its duration will depend on what happens in the neighboring country. He emphasized that Israel will respond with force to any violation by Hezbollah. Speaking in a televised address with evident pride, Netanyahu hailed the agreement for separating the Gaza and Lebanon fronts. Hamas counted on Hezbollah, but with Hezbollah now out of the equation, Hamas is left alone, he said. This increases our pressure on Hamas and supports the sacred mission of freeing our hostages

Netanyahu added that the cease-fire will enable Israel to focus on its primary adversary, Iran, and clear the way for previously delayed arms shipments from the United States, Israels staunch ally.

While Netanyahu did not specify when the cease-fire will take effect, it is expected to end 11 months of low-intensity conflict with Hezbollah and two and a half months of intense warfare that have resulted in nearly 3,800 deaths in Lebanon. The violence has displaced hundreds of thousands, leaving many without homes or livelihoods, and has severely weakened the Lebanese party-militia. For Israel, the agreement means some 90,000 citizens can return to their homes.

In the final hours before the cease-fire, the Israeli military launched an intense bombardment of Beirut, including strikes on central areas previously untouched by conflict. The city was gripped by fear, with civilians taking refuge in hospitals, traffic jams as residents attempted to flee, and ambulances struggled to navigate the chaos.

U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron are set to make an announcement later Tuesday, with a parallel statement from Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. The deal consists of a 60-day cease-fire, intended to transition into a permanent resolution. During this period, the Israeli army will maintain its presence in southern Lebanon, where it has advanced since October. On Tuesday, it reached the Litani River  18 miles from the border  for the first time since its withdrawal in 2000 after its 18-year-long occupation of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah, in turn, will withdraw its fighters and weapons north of the river.

Following the 60-day period, the Israeli military is expected to withdraw, allowing for the deployment of 5,000 Lebanese Armed Forces troops to oversee adherence to the terms of U.N. Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 conflict between Israel and Lebanon. Troops from the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which monitors compliance with the resolution, will also be deployed.

Israels security Cabinet quickly approved the agreement during a meeting that began at 5:00 PM local time. Netanyahu, who supports the deal alongside top security officials and his inner cabinet, announced plans to present it to the full Council of Ministers later in the evening. Although the agreement enjoys broad backing, three ministers and several northern mayors  whose regions have suffered from Hezbollahs missile and drone strikes since October 2023  are opposed to the deal in principle.

The agreement reflects Hezbollahs diminished strength following significant losses, including the death of longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah and most of its senior command. Israel estimates that 3,000 Hezbollah fighters have been killed, with hundreds more sidelined by hand and eye injuries caused by the September Mossad detonation of walkie-talkies and pagers. Hezbollah has sought to minimize the impact, and on Tuesday released a video titled Despite the Wounds, We Are Still on the Ground, showing injured fighters handling rockets and ammunition in an attempt to project resilience.

The clearest sign of Hezbollahs weakened position is its decision to agree to a ceasefire deal that does not force Israel to stop bombing Gaza, a demand it had adamantly maintained for months. This concession underscores the groups reduced leverage, compounded by Lebanons ongoing economic crisis, which has pushed the poverty rate from 12% in 2012 to a staggering 44% by 2022, the latest available figure.

For Israel, the decision to agree to a cease-fire was driven not only by the advantage it now holds, but also by the necessity of relieving its overstretched military. Professional soldiers and reservists  many of whom have been called to duty up to three times  are showing signs of fatigue. Earlier this month, local media reported that the reservist response rate had fallen to 75-85%, down from the near-total turnout seen after the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. Commentator Ben Caspit warned in Maariv that the situation on the Lebanese front could only get worse from now on.

Before announcing the ceasefire, Israel ramped up its operations with a surge of bombings. In Beirut, the Israeli air force struck 20 targets in Dahieh, Hezbollahs stronghold in the southern suburbs within, in the space of a few minutes. It also brought down a building in the city center without prior evacuation notice, and bombed the Rashidiyya Palestinian refugee camp near Tyre for the first time, resulting in nine reported deaths. Israeli forces also issued an unprecedented warning, advising all the inhabitants of Lebanon that it was preparing to attack numerous branches of Al-Qard Al-Hassan, Hezbollahs microcredit network.

The latest directives from the Israeli army, shared by its Arabic-language spokesman Avichai Adree, include targeting four buildings in central Beirut  areas previously untouched by the conflict. These locations include Ras Beirut, near a station and a church, and Mazraa and Zokak el-Blat, just meters from two schools. Some of these buildings house Shiite families displaced by the ongoing war. Meanwhile, Hezbollah limited its actions to launching a dozen projectiles toward Haifa, Israels third-largest city, and the Galilee region.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
In September 2020, the US sanctioned the then International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, as also restricted the issuing of visas for certain ICC officials solely because they were involved in the ICCs efforts to investigate US personnel in Afghanistan. The ICC had indicated its intent to probe war crimes in Afghanistan. There were multiple reports of US troops being involved in them. Nothing happened, no US individual was charged. The pressure forced the ICC to back down.

In early May this year, the ICC announced that it was investigating crimes against humanity involving Israeli leaders including PM Benjamin Netanyahu and since removed Defense minister Yoav Gallant. In response, 12 US Republican senators issued a letter threatening members of the ICC with sanctions in case it acted. They wrote, Target Israel and we will target you. These arrest warrants would align the ICC with the largest state sponsor of terrorism and its proxy. To be clear, there is no moral equivalence between Hamass terrorism and Israels justified response. Israel and the US have refused to accept the jurisdiction of the ICC. This threat from American Senators resulted in the Human Rights First organisation writing an open letter to President Joe Biden requesting him to oppose them. Nothing happened. In March 2023, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Russian President Putin accusing him of war crimes in Ukraine.

Advertisement

In response, President Biden commented, Hes clearly committed war crimes. Vice President Kamala Harris mentioned that those involved will be held to account. She meant that war crimes prosecutions could only be initiated against non-US allies. Russia denounced the decision of the ICC. The ICC recently issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant and the Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif. Deif was reportedly killed in an air strike by Israel, though this has not been officially announced by Hamas. While Israel is not a member of the ICC, Palestine is.

Advertisement

ICC ruled in 2021 that Palestine is a state and hence it has jurisdiction over the case based on crimes committed in territories of a member state. The ICC warrant mentioned, The Chamber considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals (Netanyahu and Gallant) intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity, from at least 8 October 2023 to 20 May 2024. The ICC Prosecutor behind the issue of the warrants, Karim Khan, is himself facing sexual harassment investigations. Inputs on Khan were possibly leaked by Israels Mossad intending to discredit him and the warrant before they were issued.

The US National Security Council spokesperson mentioned, The US has been clear that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over this matter. In coordination with partners, including Israel, we are discussing next steps. The incoming US National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, commented, you can expect a strong response to the anti-Semitic bias of the ICC and UN come January. It was Trump who had threatened ICC officials in 2020. The US follows a different approach when it comes to itself and its allies. However, the same is not the case with others. Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, as expected, praised the issuance of the warrant. In contrast to the US, most European nations have accepted ICCs jurisdiction and stated they would adhere to its directions.

Statements indicating that they will arrest Netanyahu, if he visits, have been issued from Italy, France, Netherlands and Canada, amongst others. The EUs foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell said that arrest warrants are binding for all EU member states. However, while positive statements are expected, implementing them is another story. The ICC has 124 members on whom it depends for implementing its directions. India is not a member. The warrant once issued cannot be recalled under pressure from other states including the US. Hence, it will stand unless set aside by legal procedures, which may not happen in the case of Netanyahu. However, while arrest is unlikely it will remain an embarrassment and restrict his travel. Apart from Netanyahu and Putin, all other leaders against whom ICC warrants have been issued thus far are from Africa.

They include Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan, Muammar elQaddafi of Libya, William Ruto, the current President of Kenya, and Laurent Gbagbo of Ivory Coast. Rutos warrant was cancelled in 2016. Israel was expected to reject the warrant and it did. In a message on X (formerly Twitter) Netanyahu said, The anti-Semitic decision of the international court in The Hague is a modern Dreyfus trial, and it will end the same way. No outrageous antiIsrael decision will prevent us, and it will not prevent me from continuing to defend our country in every way. The warrant does not prevent leaders of ICC states from meeting Netanyahu in neutral nations or in Israel. It will have no impact on supply of weapons or diplomatic support to Israel. Nor will it impact Israels ongoing operations. Further, the decision to arrest is dependent on states. Putin made a visit to Mongolia, which is an ICC member, post issuance of warrant, where he received a red-carpet welcome.

No nation commented on Mongolias inaction. Hence, while nations are duty bound to adhere to the demands of the ICC, the final decision rests with the state itself. South Africa had also not implemented the ICC warrant when Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir visited it in 2015. Hungary and the Czech Republic, both members of the EU and ICC, as also close allies of Israel, have already refused to implement the warrants.

Because South Africa is a member of the ICC, President Putin did not attend the BRICS summit there last year. It is unlikely that Putin would have been detained; however his visit to the country could have been an embarrassment to South Africa and its government. Hence, he avoided. He is scheduled to visit India next year, which is not a signatory to the Rome declaration. At the end of the day, as with most earlier cases, there would be no arrests, while restricting the travels of Netanyahu. Issuance of warrants would only be a moral victory for the Palestine Authority and Hamas.

(The writer is a retired Major-General of the Indian Army.)
The governments schemes with too many restrictions to make them truly inclusive by focusing only on the target groups often become utterly counterproductive. They not only yield halfhearted benefits to those covered but also exclude many deserving from their purview, which is why universal health, education, and public distribution through public expenditure are demanded. The governments, too, keep promising to work towards that goal with the introduction of partially universal schemes like the Food Security Act, free education up to certain levels, and public-funded health insurance, notwithstanding many incongruities and infirmities in such schemes.

The Centre has recently introduced one such scheme which prima facie appears to be a universal health coverage scheme for all those above 70 years of age. But the devil in the details unfolds the flaws of the scheme, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) for senior citizens above 70, rolled out on 29 October 2024. This scheme is an extension of the PM-JAY launched in 2018 to benefit the bottom 40 per cent of the Indian poor and vulnerable population comprising 12 crore households. While the government gloats over its success seen in its coverage and assistance, with 8.20 crore hospitalizations since its inception till November 1, people are not very happy with the programme because of its non or inadequate coverage of all their health needs besides the indifference of many empaneled hospitals in accepting the PM-JAY. Whatever the claims to the contrary, the PMJAY could not bring any significant change in our poor, rather sick, healthcare system. Health services have become commercial and the burden on people keeps increasing with ever-rising health costs.

Advertisement

As per a NITI Aayog report, 7 per cent of the people, that is about 10 crore people, fall below the poverty line every year due to the high out-of pocket health expenditure they incur. The new sch  eme for senior citizens is going to be no better for them. It considers those above 70 as seniors whereas 60 is normally taken as the benchmark; the Senior Citizens Act 2007 defines a senior citizen to be one who attained 60 years of age or above. Some state governments give old age destitute pensions to persons even below sixty years. So, among other things, people are demanding the inclusion of persons aged 60 and above in this seniors health scheme of the government. Yes, this will involve additional expenditure to meet the additional numbers of people. The government of India has initially allocated (towards its 60 per cent share) Rs. 3,437 crore while states are supposed to meet the remaining 40 per cent of the total cost.

Advertisement

The number of households is expected to be 4.5 crore and the number of persons above 70 to be 6 crore. There are 14.9 crore people above 60 as of July 2022 in India as per the UN Population Funds Report, which means the number of persons between 60 and 70 would be 8.9 crore based on these data sets. For this additional coverage (of the people between 60 and 70) about 150 per cent of the additional expenditure that is Rs.5,100 crore for the current years six months and next year is required. That would not be a big burden for the Central government but would be a great relief to the 8.9 crore sexagenarians in the country. The expenditure is not going to be that big given the fact that a significant number of persons are not using the scheme due partly to lack of awareness of its existence. About 68 per cent of the targeted people are not aware of the scheme as per one study, although it doesnt tally with the official estimates.

Also, there are those who are sufficiently rich and who though entitled are unlikely to utilize the scheme with so many inadequacies and the care providers reticence. The second demand relates to the major challenge the beneficiaries face: many empaneled hospitals are turning down eligible patients. Their agony is not difficult to understand when in an emergency the hospitals refuse admission. That may lead to delayed or no treatment resulting in the further deterioration of their health and resultant complications, at times fatal. So, the demand is to make it mandatory for listed hospitals to treat eligible patients without giving them any scope to refuse based on any plea like non reimbursement of their dues from the government.

The third demand relates to unnecessary paperwork, health cards and other evidence when senior citizens need immediate medical attention. It is, therefore, a genuine expectation of the people not to insist on any document other than the Aadhaar card. Aadhaar shows the age of the patient which is the only condition to become eligible under the scheme. Once Aadhaar is linked to the senior citizens health scheme the other details like previous hospital visits and the benefits already drawn can be checked through it whereby balance eligibility in the given year can be assessed.

There are two other flaws in the scheme that need review. First, the treatment is limited to the extent of only Rs.5 lac per annum per family. If there are more senior citizens above 70 years in one family (certainly there are more as per the governments data which says the scheme will benefit 4.5 crore families and 6 crore individuals) the Rs.5 lac amount is to be apportioned among the members which may be not adequate for the senior citizens health care. Second, not every ailment is treated under the scheme; there is a list of diseases that are not covered. Of course, the government has promised to expand it to cover geriatric treatments because of the introduction of the senior citizens health scheme.

The scheme should be revamped in such a way as to cover all ailments and all health care needs of senior citizens in order to be efficacious, and so that it does not end up an eyewash. Not only should the government overhaul the senior citizens PM-JAY, but it should introspect on its duty as a welfare state to provide universal healthcare to all citizens of the country. The protection of life and personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution cannot be ignored by a democratic government. It is the peoples right to demand quality health care for all and it is the duty of the government to do so in a holistic manner instead of limiting the quantum of benefits and to a very limited number of people.

(The writer is a development economist and commentator on economic and social affairs)
The nomination process for key positions in any US administration is always a window into its priorities and governing style. In the case of Presidentelect Donald Trumps second term, the saga surrounding his choice for Attorney General has offered a particularly vivid glimpse into how loyalty and controversy intersect in his political orbit. Mr Trumps initial pick, Mr Matt Gaetz, ignited a political firestorm. Mr Gaetz, a Congressman with a knack for grabbing headlines, brought with him a swirl of allegations, including an ongoing Congressional investigation into sex trafficking.

Despite his insistence on his innocence and his ability to dodge formal charges, the sheer weight of the accusations made his nomination untenable. His critics pointed not only to the ethical cloud but also to his lack of meaningful legal experience, a glaring omission for the nations top law enforcement role. The backlash was swift and intense, with scepticism coming from both sides of the aisle. The US Justice Department, already burdened with internal morale issues and a perception of politicisation, would have struggled mightily under a leader whose confirmation process was likely to be a protracted and divisive spectacle. Recognising the untenable nature of Mr Gaetzs candidacy, Mr Trump pivoted, thanking him for his loyalty while emphasising his future potential. Enter Ms Pam Bondi, the former Florida Attorney General and a long-time ally of Mr Trump.

Advertisement

Ms Bondis legal credentials are undoubtedly stronger than Mr Gaetzs, but her selection is no less polarising. Her history of staunchly defending Trump, including during Mr Trumps impeachment trial, underscores her loyalty ~ a quality the President-elect values above all else. However, her past controversies, including allegations of accepting a $25,000 donation from Mr Trump while her office declined to pursue a case against Trump University, cast a shadow over her nomination. Ms Bondis arrival as Attorney General-designate signals a clear shift in the Department of Justices priorities under a Trump administration. If confirmed, she is expected to oversee a significant pivot away from civil rights enforcement and corporate accountability, focusing instead on addressing Mr Trumps grievances. Ms Bondi has already publicly criticised the prosecutors pursuing cases against Mr Trump, labelling them as opportunists weaponising the legal system. The stakes surrounding Ms Bondis nomination are enormous.

Advertisement

She would assume leadership of a department that has been at the centre of contentious political battles, from the prosecution of January 6 defendants to investigations into political opponents. Her leadership style and the policies she prioritises will shape the departments trajectory, likely deepening divisions over its perceived role as a neutral arbiter of justice. While Ms Bondis nomination is unlikely to face the same level of resistance as Mr Gaetzs, it is emblematic of the challenges ahead. It will test the resilience of this critical institution. As the dust settles on this latest chapter, the implications for the rule of law and public trust in justice loom large.
After nearly 20 months of runaway violence in an Indian state called Manipur, where the writ of the state does not seem to extend beyond the 10-kilometre square of the capital, Imphal, and more than 250 people have been killed, 60,000 rendered homeless, and thousands of houses demolished and erased from the face of the earth, Manipur is back in the news once again. And this time the powers that control the State at the Centre suddenly seem to be worried, for the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, cancelled his scheduled electioneering trip to Maharashtra and called an emergency meeting in Delhi to discuss the issue. No political leaders were summoned from Manipur for the meeting, just the mandatory Shoguns from the Intelligence Bureau and the military, plus a handful of other pundits.

The backdrop to this awakening of the Kumbhakarna of modern-day India was the killing of 10 Kuki armed marauders in the Jiribam district bordering Assam. They were on a revenge strike after a woman belonging to their community was killed on the 7th of November. They decided to attack the Borobekra Police Station at a nondescript village called Jakuradhor, which also has a CRPF post and an IDP camp for Meiteis. The marauding party, numbering about 50 and heavily armed with rocket-propelled grenades, self-loading rifles, and INSAS rifles, made a three-pronged attack. One targeting the police station, the other the relief camp of the Meitei IDPs, and the third on the CRPF post. They were successful in the first attempt as they killed two Meiteis and tossed their bodies inside a house that they had also burnt. They were held off at the police station, where they exchanged fire with the police and the CRPF. It was the third column that went to attack the CRPF post outside that met its nadir. In their hurry to scalp CRPF scalps, they did not notice the armoured personnel vehicle, which had a manned light machine gun mounted atop. And when the staccato of automatic fire began and hot lead spewed out of the LMG, stitching death along its path, and the full magazine had been emptied, 10 of the Kuki marauders lay dead, their lifeless bodies clutching their weapons or strewn alongside. But the Kukis managed to round up six persons. They included a 60-year-old woman. Y Tumlembam Rani Devi, a 31-year-old housewife; Telem Thoibi Devi, and her eight-year-old daughter Thajamanbi; and also 25-year-old Laishram Heithoibi Devi and her two sons, 2-year-old Chingkheinganba and eight-month-old Langamba. And when the smoke cleared, they were seen being herded on a boat on the Barak River as the rest of the raiding party made a retreat.

Advertisement

Even as the bodies of the raped women and battered bodies of the six began floating down on the Barak River and were fished out by the Assam Police, the clanking on the electric posts on the streets of Imphal began even as the vigilante women groups began trooping out on the streets and began blocking the roads in Imphal and elsewhere in the valley. There were two knee-jerk reactions from Delhi and Imphal. From Delhi, Amit Shah announced the reimposition of the dreaded Armed Forces Powers Act in six police stations whose areas cover the foothills in the valley and the immediate dispatch of two thousand CRPF and BSF troops, and the sounds of the Indian Air Force transport planes were heard till late at night in Imphal ferrying in the troops. An additional five thousand troops were soon added to the deployment.

Advertisement

From Imphal, CM Biren Singh made his famous rhetoric speech on social media, Lemna Tharoi, meaning I will not let them go scot-free, and announced the clamping down of a 24-hour curfew and the shutting down of Internet service to the public. Both have been frequently used since the 3rd of May 2023 as aspirin for headaches or as a panacea. The womenfolk had gathered in the Imphal Market, who issued a 24-hour ultimatum to CM Biren to book the culprits behind the killings of the six in Jiribam. Then the CSOs took over, and on behalf of the agitating women, they met the chief minister. They returned and announced that the 24 hours had been deferred to seven days.

CM Biren Singh then called a hurried Cabinet meeting and served an ultimatum to Delhi to the effect that within five days the culprits behind the killings should be booked and the Kuki organisations behind the killings be branded as terrorist organisations and the immediate rollback of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act be imposed. These are tall orders indeed, but he had a rider attached stating that failing which, his government would abide by the wishes of the government, and that could mean as the people were braying for his head. But CM Biren made sure that he did not invite Yumnam Khemchand, his minister for municipal and urban housing development, and according to Khemchand, he was deliberately not invited, as he had already told CM Biren twice before to resign, as he is unable to control the situation in the state for the last many months.

Also to add woes to CM Birens predicament, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, in his capacity as the president of the National Peoples Party, wrote to JP Nadda, president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, that he is withdrawing the support of his seven MLAs to the NDA government in Manipur. That leaves his double-engine government with 17 fewer MLAs, counting the 10 Kuki MLAs who have moved en masse away from his government. One is not contemplating a no-confidence motion in the House but a general panic amongst the legislators.

Also causing much discomfort to CM Biren Singh is former CJI Chandrachuds parting gift. He had overruled the Solicitor General of Indias pleas to refer to the High Court a complaint filed by the Kukis before the Apex Court, inter alia, a tape in which a voice believed to be that of Biren Singh implied his implications in the ongoing war siding with the Meiteis. The voice can be heard saying that I have given a pass to Amit Shahs instructions not to use rockets on the Kukis, saying yes to him on the face but doing so contrarily behind his back. The voice also spoke about how the weapons snatchers are being protected by him. The CJI did not agree with the solicitor general and told him that we are all very aware of the happenings in Manipur and ordered the tape be presented to the court sealed so that it could be subjected to forensic examinations. Earlier, when the audio on the tape went viral on social media, CM Biren had said that it was not his and was instead a doctored one using artificial intelligence. But the whistleblower, who obviously is a Meitei, had submitted a signed affidavit while handing over the said tape to the Kukis.

Also taking advantage of the atmosphere created by the Jiribam killings, hordes of people fanned out and targeted houses of MLAs, cutting across party lines. Right in the heart of Imphal, mobs attacked and burnt houses and vehicles belonging to R.K. MLA, BJP legislator, and son-in-law of CM Biren Singh, and Keba Singh, BJP MLA, at Tera. And also in Imphals Thangmeiband mob came and looted jewellery and articles meant for the internally displaced persons from the house of Khumukcham Joykishan Singh, BJP MLA. And in faraway Sagolmang, on the Kuki-Meitei warfare front, the house of Th. Lokeshowor Singh, former Speaker and prominent Congress MLA, burned thousands of blankets and jackets meant for village volunteers. It was obvious that political advantages were being taken by political rivals.

What would the emerging scenario be like in the coming days following the arrival of troops with the armour of the AFSPA, by which they can fire to the extent of causing death with no questions asked and can make arrests without warrants on suspicion? Considering that the new deployment would be in areas in the foothills where there are a sizeable number of regular as well as freelance gun-wielding insurgents defending the villages in the periphery of the valley. With one side having a natural barrier with the Kukis, these cadres could easily be trapped in the dragnet.

The belief here is that the BJP High Command would act to have Biren Singh replaced once the election results in Maharashtra and Jharkhand are out. But apart from a Kuki MLA publicly calling him a madman, it has also been pointed out that a not so honourable relation exists between Amit Shah and Biren, hence the formers reluctance to have him replaced.

But Biren Singhs undoing as a chief minister of an Indian state is the way in which he administers the state in times of crisis, notably his heavy dependence on non-state actors, from guarding Meitei Villages to cyber-related issues, where he uses these heavily armed militants to have Facebook posts deleted containing materials detrimental to the interest of his administration.

The writer is a senior journalist at The Statesman
Prime Minister Narendra Modi started giving emphasis on the values and ethos of Sambidhan and since 2015, we have been celebrating Constitution Day (Samvidhan Divas) on 26 November to celebrate the adoption of the Constitution of India by the Constituent Assembly. It is actually a tribute to the framers of the document, especially the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, Dr B. R. Ambedkar.

Drafting this constitution was not so easy as there were multiple types of states and people and problems in India to consider. Even after India gained independence on 15 August 1947, India was under British Parliament with Dominion status and there were princely states and French and Portuguese colonies in the Indian subcontinent. India was divided and discriminated, according to gender, race, region, religion, caste and class.

Advertisement

So laying principles of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity and making India a Socialist Republic was not as easy during the times of the Cold War. But kudos to the 389 (reduced to 299 after the partition of India) members of the Constituent Assembly who framed the worlds lengthiest written constitution, which grounded democratic ethos so deep that India became an iconic example of Democratic Republic while our neighbours and others are facing military coup and civil wars.

Advertisement

In its 395 articles in 22 parts and 8 schedules, our predecessors tried to make a legal framework and solution of the eco-socio-political problems of India. Although it was amended so many times, still, one cannot overlook the foresight of our forefathers and salute them for thinking so comprehensively.

It is not a one-day job, but it took almost three years to draft the constitution, holding 11 sessions over a 165-day period. If one visits the National Library of Kolkata, one will witness the full version of the debate. Nowadays, it is available in digital archives as well. About 36 lakh words were spoken in all and Dr B R Ambedkar had the distinction of having spoken the greatest number of words. The most debated portion of the constitution is about fundamental rights which was debated for about 16 days, i.e., about 14 per cent of the clause-by-clause discussion. Other portions debated the most were the Directive Principles of State Policy (was discussed for about 6 days, about 4 per cent); and the concept of citizenship (about 2 per cent).

But unfortunately, women issues were never discussed as women members contributed to about 2 per cent of the discussions and there were only 15 women members in the Assembly and out of them, only 10 took part in the debates. Members of princely states also were not so active in discussion (contributed to about 6 per cent) and this might have occurred due to their less democratic knowledge. But members from provinces contributed to about 85 per cent of the discussions, maybe because of their log practices of democratic discussion in the time of provincial parliament sessions of British India.

Whatever the percentage, none can doubt the success of constitution-makers about sustainability and the success of the constitution.

Now the question is how much we are following values and principles enshrined in the constitution?

As per the Preamble of 26 November 1949, WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; equality of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation.

As per the Policy and Planning Bureau of the Government of India, every academic institution in India now has programmes to teach their students and teachers the importance of constitutional values and the rights and duties they uphold. No doubt it is a noble effort to remind and reiterate the soul of Indian politics and state culture. Not only students, but all citizens should take a pledge to follow this fundamental philosophy of Indian political culture.

The writer is the Executive Director of, Interdisciplinary Institute of Human Security and Governance
The volatility is almost synonymous with the northeastern region of India. This is not merely internal resentment but also a threat from external and transborder elements as well. Northeast shares land and river borders with a number of countries. With the passing of time, things have become more complicated. The intention of the bordering nations, particularly Bangladesh, to annex northeast is nothing new. This was part of the larger game plan of Islamabad through East Pakistan to sabotage Indias strategic and security interests. Nothing changed after the formation of Bangladesh. However, the recent development of a possible nexus consisting of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and insurgent outfits of Nagaland shows the intensity of the threat not only against the northeast but the entire country. As per media reports, Pakistans Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and Islamists in Bangladesh took an official stand to help the insurgent outfit of the Nagaland National Socialist Council of Nagaland to take forward the anti-India agenda. The media reports also stated NSCN chief Muivah was taking a tougher stand after the alleged failure of the last two rounds of talks between NSCN and New Delhi.

However, this is nothing new. The Naga insurgency has always been used as a tool by Pakistan against India since the beginning. Similarly, the Naga insurgency has been the most complicated issue for India as far as the internal security of India is concerned. On the other hand, one of the major reasons for the turmoil in the northeast is obviously the Naga insurgency, which instigated, provoked, and, at the same time, compelled other ethnic groups of northeast India to form insurgent outfits across the region. However, one needs to heed the characteristic differences between Naga insurgents and others fomented in the northeast. The dominating approach of Naga insurgents against other ethnic groups of the region has been a major cause of conflict in the region. Unlike other insurgent outfits, the religious identity of Nagaland makes it different. The same thing happened in Mizoram and Meghalaya. The Christianity across the northeast propagated by the Naga made the entire belt a favourite hunting ground for the Western powers long back. Naturally, as the prominent insurgent outfit, Naga insurgents always get moral and diplomatic support from western powers. With the change of power equations and the emergence of China as a military power, Beijing has extended its base across the adjoining northeast India. Added to this is Myanmar becoming a puppet dancing on the strings of Beijing. Myanmar shares a large border with several northeastern states.

Advertisement

What do all these mean? One may argue about the possibility of ISI reaching so far; the northeastern frontier region is sabotaging Indias interests at a time when its Pakistani economy is on the verge of collapse. Call it strategy or compulsion, Pakistan can go to any extent to destroy Indias interests. Similarly, if Pakistan heaves on Chinese oxygen, Islamabad needs to prove its loyalty to China.

Advertisement

During the last few months, several significant incidents took place across Southeast Asia. Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina had to leave Dhaka and take Indias asylum. However, the agitations did not stop in Bangladesh after the ouster of Hasina; rather, the movement initiated by the students converted into organised crime in the name of Islam against the Hindu and other religious minorities of Bangladesh. The radical Islamic outfit is always active in Bangladesh. The atrocities against religious minorities exposed the biting reality of Bangladesh. The intensity and the agenda, the tone and trajectory of fanatic elements, made it evidently clear that ISI and its trained militant outfits led the movement in Bangladesh. However, the most important point is the role played by the Bangladeshi army at this phase; they just let Hindus die or flee from Bangladesh.

Even Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and NSA Chief Ajit Doval did not seem proactive except in issuing a statement in the Parliament. New Delhi remained busy showing hospitality to Hasina but paid no attention to protecting the interests of religious minorities in Bangladesh. This callousness proved costly for India as the process of radicalising Bangladesh enhanced. Reports of smugglers and BDR attacking BSF came, but New Delhi hardly paid attention.

Similarly, during the last few months, particularly after the ouster of Hasina, subversive activities increased in Pakistan. The incidents like the agitation at Karachi port, the massacre in Balochistan, the atrocities against China and Pakistan across the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor (CPEC), and such others created a situation more volatile. Things are out of the control of General Asif Munir in present-day Pakistan. But those incidents made India concerned too. Naturally, attention shifted to the Indo-Pak border once again. As Baluch and Sindh atrocities increased, Pakistan strategized a counter-offensive against India, and radical Bangladesh provided ISI with a larger platform to stimulate the northeast. Things began to change in the eastern and northeastern frontiers of India. The result is obvious.

Thus the Pakistan-Bangladesh-Nagaland unholy nexus is not a scattered incident. This is a part of a larger anti-India design led by China. China has used Myanmar against India so far; it has put into use other proxies like Pakistan and Bangladesh this time. This exposes the worst policy failure on the part of New Delhi. But it would be wrong to perceive that things remain confined in Nagaland. The fresh turmoil in Manipur and volatile Nagaland show the gravity of the situation. But India has a larger concern considering religious demography across the India-Bangladesh border. Things may turn against Indias security interests in the bordering area, and this includes a substantial part of West Bengal as well.

In fact, the casual approach of New Delhi towards Indias northeastern region is the genesis of all odds. This casual approach is the outcome of prejudiced perception and utter ignorance about the region. If the leadership of a nation does not learn about one of its integral parts, this is not ignorance but utter negligence. It brings all before the mirror. Such a trust deficit is always against national interests. Reality is: the northeast is more complicated than Kashmir. This has been going on for decades. If a region remains outside the purview of the academic arena, this eventuality is unavoidable. The approach of Pakistan and Bangladesh regarding Nagaland is of larger ramification. It is a direct challenge against Indias territorial integrity. But will New Delhi act sensibly?

The writer is an independent contributor. Views expressed are personal
Barely three days had elapsed since Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo ordered the approval of a complete reform of the Nicaraguan Constitution  with which they protected the family succession and buried what was left of the separation of powers  when the Sandinista parliament on Monday announced changes to the Military Code and the Law on the Organization of the National Police to extend the terms of the heads of the armed forces from five to six years.

In this way, the presidential couple continues to reform fundamental laws at a rapid pace in order, according to the opposition, to adapt its totalitarian model to a new legal framework made to measure. The reform to the legislation affecting the Police and the Army  the main repressive tools of Ortega and Murillo  grants the president full power over these armed institutions, to such an extent that he will not only be able to name the commander-in-chief of the Army and the director of the Police, but he will also be able to extend the position of the head of the police as many times as he wants, according to the interests of the nation.

The current police chief, whose term has been extended, is Commissioner General Francisco Diaz, whose daughter Blanca Diaz is married to Maurice Ortega-Murillo, one of the presidential couples sons. Diaz has been the police chief since August 2018, the year of the massive anti-government protests that police and paramilitaries repressed with such violence that a group of United Nations experts described it as crimes against humanity. Commissioner Diaz has been sanctioned by the United States for being the main operator of repression and human rights violations against Nicaraguans, specifically opponents of all kinds, members of the church, and journalists.

In the case of the reform to the Military Code, the Army remains, on paper, at arms length from the government, since the initiative establishes that no relative of the President and Vice President of the Republic within the fourth degree of consanguinity and second degree of affinity may be appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Army.

In practice, however, General Julio Cesar Aviles has subjected the military to the Ortega-Murillo dictate. Not only has he boycotted the military succession after Ortega extended his term in office for 16 years, but in May 2020 the United States sanctioned him for providing support to the police and paramilitary gangs that committed crimes against the Nicaraguan people.

Self-coup

Nicaraguans had not yet fully assimilated and understood the profound change made to the Constitution when these new reforms were added on Monday, institutionalizing at the highest legal level what was already de facto: Ortega and Murillos control over the armed forces.

After beginning a compaction of the State and an unprecedented purge of public employees, three days ago the presidential couple ordered parliament to approve a tectonic constitutional reform: the new Magna Carta changes the meaning of the State of Nicaragua by naming it revolutionary and socialist, and creates a co-presidency shared between Ortega and Murillo, thus resolving the thorny issue of family succession. In other words, Nicaragua becomes the only country in the world known to have two presidents in office, according to complaints by opponents who prefer to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals against them and their families.

In addition, the reform allows the co-presidents to appoint vice-presidents as they consider necessary, without having to go through the popular vote. This provision has been interpreted by critics as an opening to appoint their own children, such as Laureano Ortega, whom his parents are promoting heavily in the new line of constitutional succession.

In addition to extending their presidential term from five to six years, the co-presidents will enjoy full powers over the Nicaraguan State. The Presidency of the Republic directs the Government and, as head of State, coordinates the legislative, judicial, electoral, control and oversight, regional and municipal bodies, in compliance with the supreme interests of the Nicaraguan people and the provisions of this Constitution, says the new constitutional article 132.

In addition, the co-presidents will be able to officially appoint and remove ministers, vice-ministers, attorneys, directors of autonomous and government agencies, heads of diplomatic missions and heads of special missions, as they had already been doing de facto with the state purge.

In total, this change to the Constitution affects a hundred articles, which legalize paramilitaries, empower the Nicaraguan Army to conduct repression for political reasons alongside the National Police, and justify the stripping of nationality from critics considered traitors to the homeland.

A group of opposition members in exile gave EL PAIS a statement in which they describe what the presidential couple has done as a self-coup. Under the guise of a partial reform to the Political Constitution, they are making a new one, which is the exclusive power of a National Constituent Assembly, they claim. A large number of rights and guarantees established in the dogmatic part of the Constitution are being regressively altered; the nature of a series of institutions is being modified, mainly the Army and the Police, and the door is being left open for the Executive, now called the Presidency, with its absolute power, to regulate and control, through secondary laws, the countrys economy.

The exiled opponents insist that with these reforms, Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo seek the consolidation of a hereditary family dictatorship, accumulating more power than they have, establishing at the constitutional level the dynastic family succession and the absolute power that they already exercise over Nicaragua. By establishing a co-presidency, which replaces the Executive Branch, they resolve their own differences, to satisfy Rosario Murillos personal aspirations.

Another law to protect against international sanctions

In this rush of reforms and new a la carte laws, the presidential couple approved a new regulation on Monday: the Law of Protection against Sanctions and External Aggressions, which puts the national financial system at a crossroads with international banking, because it not only orders banks to not apply future sanctions, ranging from restrictions on financial operations to the closure of bank accounts, but also leaves without effect those sanctions already in place. In other words, it would force national banks to reopen the accounts of sanctioned officials.

In case of non-compliance with the law, the regulations impose fines on financial institutions that do not reverse the sanctions. They also threaten jail and accusations of treason against individuals from financial institutions that decide to comply with international guidelines.

The approval of this law marks Nicaragua as a place of high financial risk and turns it into an outlaw state, explains the researcher Manuel Orozco, since it makes the country a safe place for sanctioned persons and entities. The reaction of the international financial system and its response to this measure remains to be seen. However, the goal of this law is to force domestic banks to look for financial markets other than the United States, which is, for now, Nicaraguas largest trading partner. And the regime is looking, in light of its new international relations, at China, Russia, and Iran.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition




There is a "bearded" joke about a climber who climbed a high mountain and now doesn't know how to get down. He was completely desperate when he suddenly saw a man sitting quietly on a stone.

"Who are you?" the climber asked.

"I am a genie capable of fulfilling any wish," the man replied.

The climber was delighted and asked to be lowered down. The genie told him it was possible, but only in exchange for sexual services from the climber. The climber hesitated at first but eventually agreedhe really wanted to get back down the mountain. In the end, he humored the man. Now, theyre just waiting for the genie to fulfill his promise.

The genie, fastening his fly, asks the climber: "How old are you?"

"Forty," the climber replied.

"Such an adult, and you still believe in fairy tales?" the genie smiled, shook his head, and left.

I wouldnt say that this is exactly the same, but many officials from Yerevan, members of the Armenian opposition, as well as foreign politicians dealing with Armenian affairs, experience something similar to the climber's situation. They too realize too late the sad and shameful consequences of, let's say, excessive belief in their own fabricated fairy tales. The difference is that not everyone will risk admitting their own shame.

In this sense, the revelations of Armenian parliamentarian and member of the Republican Party of Armenia, Tigran Abrahamyan, can be seen almost as a "coming out." On his Facebook page, he decided to speculate on what the UN climate conference COP29, which recently concluded in Baku, gave Armenia. The very way the question is framed is, to put it mildly, touching because no one in Baku promised the Armenian side anything. But in Armenia, as weve seen many times, they really believe in fairy tales.

So, what came out of it? This is what T. Abrahamyan bitterly talks about. He pointed out that Armenia had two main expectations.

"First, under the active pressure of international players, Azerbaijan would return to a constructive course in the negotiation process, and it would be possible to ensure mutual understanding with minimal losses. Second, both inside and outside, there was an expectation that before, during, or immediately after this international event, Azerbaijan, as a gesture of goodwill, would release at least some of the prisoners of war held in Baku prisons," he recited the full list of Armenian hallucinations.

After that, he also engaged in some self-flagellation. Abrahamyan stated that Armenia not only failed to win anything, but Azerbaijan also used the international audience to further strengthen its propaganda against Armenia, make new demands on Yerevan, and label it an aggressor. It should be added here that Tigran stumbled into this discussion without understanding some important nuances. I should remind you that the word "label" in this context means something very specific.

For example, the Rurikids had to beg the Tatar khans for a "label" to own their inheritance. Accordingly, no one in Azerbaijan was planning to grant Armenia a "label." Its also better for Abrahamyan not to flaunt Turkic terms without understanding their meaning. Moreover, Armenia made itself the aggressor many years ago by occupying 20% of our countrys territory and refusing to respect international law and UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions.

All the crimes committed by Armenia against Azerbaijan speak for themselves better than any words could. Our country only needs to remind the world of well-known, indisputable factsthats all. And to believe that our country would not use the COP29 in Baku in this context too, one would have to be an analogue of the climber from the joke above.

"This conference was used not only to solve Azerbaijan's image issues but also to strengthen Baku's position as a whole," T. Abrahamyan continues to be surprised.

He complains that the US president "even thanked Azerbaijan for organizing COP29." And yet, he almost cries because "many European officials praising Azerbaijan have completely forgotten about the Armenian prisoners in Baku prisons."

Yeah. As you can see, we have a solo performance from an Armenian politician, strikingly similar to the climber in the joke. He laments the collapse of hopes for using COP29 in Baku to realize Armenian fantasies. He acknowledges that Azerbaijans blackmail policy has failed, just as the attempt to boycott the event did. He admits that Azerbaijan has strengthened its position in the world following the COP29 outcomes. In general, he states the obvious. Yes, our country brilliantly hosted COP29, achieving historic decisions and exposing in an idiotic light those who tried to obstruct it all. And now, they begin to complain about their fate. What should I say to them in response? The expected answer: "Such adults, and you still believe in fairy tales."
In just 15 minutes in her office, Jineth Bedoya, 50, finishes editing a text, receives four phone calls, carefully reviews some trips, finalizes the last details in an audio note for the launch of her documentary on sexual exploitation in Cartagena, titled Its Not Time to Remain Silent, a name taken from the movement she founded in 2010, and reminds a clueless colleague what is commemorated on November 25. Its the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, she answers with great patience. Although she snorts when asked if her day-to-day life ever stops, she acknowledges minutes later that it is the way she found to hold on to a life. A life that has been under attack and threatened for almost three decades. I fill my schedule because I feel like Im up against time and at any moment theyre going to kill me, she says in the editorial office of El Tiempo, a Colombian newspaper of which she is a gender editor.

In her office there are several purple orchids, feminist slogans, and two framed front pages: the copy from when she was on the cover of Alo magazine, and that of a Spanish newspaper from the day she told her story in public for the first time. Bedoya, a well-known Colombian journalist, was gang-raped and tortured by paramilitaries in 2000 and since then revictimization in court and threats have been routine. The last one was yesterday, explains Bedoya, who is also the U.N. ambassador for the eradication of sexual violence. I did what I always do: do the best I can with my life in case today is the last day.

Thanks to her tireless struggle, Colombia passed a law named after her movement that allocates $500,000 annually to prevent attacks on female reporters. For the journalist, although she claims it is a balm for the soul, it is still ironic. I have a law, but no justice, she says, alluding to the impunity of her aggressors. This is one of the reparation measures ordered by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) ruling. This year, on November 25, she is launching a documentary on sexual exploitation in all the Colombian regional media where she has been investigating for five years. Anyone could ask themselves if, after so much suffering, it was worth dedicating herself to gender journalism. For Bedoya, the answer is a thousand times yes. I will never be able to stop being a journalist, she concludes.

Question. You started the movement Its Not Time to Remain Silent, and now its a law. How do you feel when you look back?

Answer. Im not yet fully aware of it. It all begins with going to speak to an audience in a country that is not mine and saying that I was gang raped, that I was kidnapped, tortured, and that it is difficult but that I continue in journalism. I thought that everything would remain an anecdote, but I woke up a monster, because emotionally its a very heavy burden; just like the path of seeking justice. What has sustained me is precisely what Its Not Time to Remain Silent was building. Being able to accompany victims, put the issue of sexual violence on an international level, getting sexual violence included in the peace process, a national day to raise awareness about it, pushing forward a sentence before the Inter-American Court, the memory center of the movement, an education course for public servants Thats when I say: how great this is!

Q. Kidnappings, abuse, revictimization, exile... Have you ever thought about quitting journalism?

A. Yes, I have had very clear breaking points. In 2011, when my case gained a lot of traction in Colombia, there was a tsunami of people giving information about the case. Thats when the first rapist appears, with his first and last name, and I identify him and hear from his mouth what the order was to kill me. That ended in a suicide attempt. I had to hold on to journalism tooth and nail to say: I have to stop. And the other point was during the trial at the IACHR, because I had to reconstruct the drama of the past 20 years, not only of the episode but the threats, the tapped phones, the deteriorating health... In March 2021, when the government left me on my own, I thought about suicide again, but paradoxically journalism comes back like a superhero and rescues me.

Q. You know the grievances surrounding the armed conflict. What is your view on Petros plan for total peace?

A. Its a paradox, because what is happening is what we victims have warned about in the peace processes. I was in the fourth delegation of victims and I remember that they were told that they had to fill the geographic spaces that the FARC were leaving, because that was where illicit crops were going to increase. And they were asked for guarantees so that there would be no return by the FARC or the creation of dissidents. That was premonitory. And theres something else. They are the biggest drug traffickers in the country and those at the head of sexual exploitation and trafficking in Colombia. I do not understand how you can sit in front of a rapist and give him guarantees in the framework of a social peace, knowing that it is one of the worst crimes.

Q. So the solution lies in more punitive systems?

A. Weve discussed this a lot with the victims: what we understand by justice. For me, it is clear that a rapist cannot be resocialized.

Q. Never?

A. Never. Thats clear to me. A person who is capable of sexually assaulting another person once will do it two or five times. But each victim is individual. The pain is so intimate and personal

Q. You commented in a column on the presidents term mafia dolls. In the following seven days, there were 300,000 tweets and interactions linked to the term. What dangers are there in normalizing these attacks?

A. We women journalists have always been told that we carry the advantage between our legs. That if we have access to a source or information its because we are women, and that if we cannot do X or Y thing its also because we are women. With A we lose, and with B too. In this digital age, we have carried the worst burden. We are violated in a different way, they do not mess with our ideas but with our body. We are the bitch, the slut...

Q. We recently learned about the case of threats against Nicolas Sanchez, from (online media outlet) Voragine. And I think about those threats and those against other journalists like Lydia Cacho and they are diametrically different

A. Absolutely. The IACHR took a phrase that I said during the trial. I told them: If I had been Pablo Perez, they would have shot me at the door of my house, but I am Jineth Bedoya and they raped me to tell me that this was my punishment for being a woman, not for being a journalist. This has been one of the years I have received the biggest number of threats and they are all of the same caliber: Were going to break your ass, were going to do what you liked, were going to cover your mug with acid. My male colleagues are told: you have 24 hours to leave, or we will kill you.

Q. I imagine that despite how common it is, you never get used to it...

A. What human being starts the day off well if the first call they answer is from someone telling them theyre going to break your ass? And even more, knowing that one of your victimizers is free. Just yesterday I received a horrible message and I did what I always do: do the best I can with my life in case today is the last day. If it is, let it be the best. I also think thats why I do so many things, you know? I fill my schedule because I feel like Im up against time and at any moment theyre going to kill me.

Q. Have you been able to trust men again?

A. Its difficult, but life itself is responsible for giving you answers, and many of those who helped me were men. Women cannot be a separate ghetto and be the poor victims. This is a construction of society.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Job Title: National Project Coordinator  Enterprise Development (UN Jobs)

Organisation: International Labour Organization (ILO)

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Grade: NOB

Ref: DC/DAR/NO/2024/06

About US:

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a United Nations agency dealing with labour problems, particularly international labour standards, social protection, and work opportunities for all. The ILO has 187 member states: 186 of the 193 UN member states plus the Cook Islands are members of the ILO. In 1969, the organization received the Nobel Peace Prize for improving peace among classes, pursuing decent work and justice for workers, and providing technical assistance to other developing nations.

About Programme:

The overall ILOs vision within the programme is to strengthen decent work in countries impacted by forced displacement to mitigate stress factors at all levels and support inclusive socio-economic enablers for access to labour markets and empowerment of host communities and of forcibly displaced populations.

The ILO will bring to the programme significant expertise and experience in supporting enabling environments to underpin inclusive socio-economic growth and decent work, strengthen labour markets and promote access to improved working conditions and fundamental rights at work, including through the involvement of its tripartite national constituents The ILO will stimulate labour market demand and immediate job creation through employment-intensive investment, local economic and business development and promotion of specific value chains and market systems.

Job Summary: Within the policy and procedural requirements established by the ILO, the National Project Coordinator -Enterprise Development will support the Programme Manager in Uganda in the specified technical areas across the ILO country programme in the context of the Partnership in Uganda. S/he will ensure that the objectives stated in the project documents are attained at field level, within the stated timeframe and budget and ensure compliance with the ILO and the projects financial and operating procedures. The incumbent will promote ILO policies in the project-related technical areas and other components of the ILO Decent Work Agenda and in line with the Decent Work Country Programme.

Reporting lines

The National Project Coordinator will report directly to the Programme Manager (PM) in Uganda for all operational, technical and administrative issues to ensure delivery of technical-related outputs and overall project implementation. S/he will also receive additional technical support from relevant specialists from DWT Pretoria, CO Dar-es-Salaam and HQ as required.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide advice on analysis of economic and labour market trends in host communities and refugees settlements in order to help design and implement interventions for enterprise development and small business promotion as well as align them with the broader policy frameworks and employment creation potentials through a market system approach.

Provide inputs in the development of knowledge products and tools that support ILO social partners and other project partners to undertake local economic development assessments such as market systems analysis and design, implement appropriate inclusive labour market and market systems development interventions.

Facilitate the effective participation of employers organisations and trade unions in enterprise development initiatives and programmes and local economic development opportunities for host communities and refugee settlements.

Provide inputs, advice and lead capacity building measures for local partners including training providers, BDS providers and social partners.

Provide input and support in the design and operationalization of competitive grant schemes for entrepreneurship and business start-up for refugee host communities and refugees, including for local media aimed at promoting peaceful co-existence of host communities and refugees.

Support the effective monitoring and evaluation of project interventions and undertake periodic monitoring and evaluation of project interventions at project field sites and provide support to project partners on effective use of tools and methodologies for planning, monitoring and reporting on project interventions.

Prepare required technical progress reports and ad hoc reports on the status of project planning and implementation for submission to the ILO and the donor.

Support the design and regular update of the project work plan, both from an RBM and a financial perspective; alert and provide recommendations on delays and areas of criticality.

Prepare terms of references for consultants and participate in sourcing and evaluation of local service providers/consultants as appropriate.

Participate in and as appropriate, lead the organization of conferences, seminars, workshops, training sessions and other project events.

Represent the ILO during field level meetings related to the project as well as other related meetings with other UN agencies (including UNDAF processes), donors field visits and thematic donor meetings, district level and regional forums as well as Sector meetings of tripartite partners.

Assist in the programming and control of project resources; prepare budget estimates and expenditure forecasts based on planned activities.

Collaborate with other projects (both within and out of ILO) in the field and take advantage of opportunities for enhanced project synergy and improved outcomes.

Ensure effective planning and implementation of gender activities in conformity with ILO policies and project implementation plan.

Develop and maintain strong links with ILO specialists within the ILO Decent Work Team in CO Dar, DWT Pretoria, and other colleagues in the field and HQ, on specific technical areas requiring comprehensive and collaborative interventions.

Perform other related duties as assigned.









Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

Education: First level university degree in economics, social sciences, or related field, and strong knowledge on development issues particularly in Uganda

Experience:

At least three years of experience in project management, supervision, administration and implementation of grant/cooperative agreement requirements (including meeting deadlines, achieving targets, and overseeing the preparation and submission of required reports to the project donor).

Technical requirements: good knowledge of enterprise development, as well as market systems approach and entrepreneurship promotion tools.

Languages: Excellent knowledge of English and a good knowledge of an official national language of the duty station.

Competencies:

Good knowledge about social and economic development, including labour and employment trends in the country

Ability to maintain good working relationships with all project stakeholders.

Ability to establish and maintain systems within project operations.

Demonstrated ability to manage technical co-operation projects of international organizations.

Ability to understand and effectively work with Government, workers and employers organizations, non-government organizations and UN agencies.

Ability to conduct action-oriented research and write analytical technical report in English.

Ability to conduct policy discussion and high-level political processes.

Good communication skills, both written and verbal, to successfully advocate for and mobilize action to promote freedom of association and right to collective bargaining principles.

Clear commitment to mainstream gender into project activities.

Ability to lead and work in a team and good interpersonal relations.

Ability to train and guide personnel.

Ability to work under time pressure and meet deadlines.

Ability to work in diversified environments.

Proficient in basic computer software (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Adobe Reader) and ability to use other software packages required by the Office

Ability to work independently with a minimum of supervision.

Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified and interested candidates who wish to join the United Nations International Labour Organization in the aforementioned capacity are encouraged to apply online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 10th December 2024

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline

Date Posted 2024-11-26T05:57 Valid Through 2024-12-11T00:00 Employment Type FULL_TIME Hiring Organization International Labour Organization Job Location Kampala, Kampala, Kampala , 0256, Uganda

Related Jobs


remaining of

Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading.
It has been 15 years since the 26/11 attacks rocked the city of Mumbai and the nation. The memories of that fateful night still linger in the minds of those who lost their loved ones, and yet, it is a tragedy that nobody wants to remember anymore. The injury may have dried up but the wound is so deep, that any mention of it brings back haunting images of loss, pain, tragedy, mayhem, and sheer hopelessness. As THE WEEK tried getting in touch with those who survived the loss of their beloved family members, all we got to hear was, "just let us forget about it and move on. Don't make us go through the pain once again."

In 2018, THE WEEK had met with Mahale, retired senior police inspector, Mumbai Police, who wrote a book in Marathi, titled, 'Kasab Aani Mee' in which he gave a vivid account of the time he spent with Ajmal Kasab, the terrorist, as chief investigating officer of 26/11 attacks.



It was not easy to keep his fury in check at that time, he had said, when a man responsible for the death of hundreds was seated in front of Mahale, arrogant and unremorseful. Of course, everyone wanted to kill him, says Mahale. But for me, the point was to thrash him with my pen by making foolproof documents.



Mahale gained much acclaim for filing a 11,350-page consolidated chargesheet in 90 days. Three bulky iron cupboards in Mumbai's Crime Branch Unit 1 office stand testimony to the amount of work he and his team of 98 officers put in. The attacks were divided into 12 cases; each one was probed by a dedicated officer. Kasab produced IDs claiming that he stayed in Bengaluru and had studied at a college in Hyderabad, says Mahale. My team flew to these places and returned the same day with recorded statements and evidence that proved his claims false. The team met over 2,000 witnesses and spent more than Rs14 lakh. Mahale was part of the convoy that transferred Kasab to Yerwada Central Jail, Pune, for his execution.



He says that Kasab was child-like and insolent, but he concealed his vulnerability very well. But just before entering the Yerwada jail during his last hours, we noticed that his pants were wet, says Mahale. So, mentally he was finished, but you could not tell it from his face.



Both, Vaishali Ombale, who lost her father Tukaram Ombale to bullets fired by Kasab directly into his chest, and Sevantilal Parekh who lost his son and daughter-in-law to the attacks, asked us to not mention the tragedy again.



This was Sunil Parekh's last text to his father, Sevantilal: "Dad, prevail over mom, but see to it that we buy that flat. Our children will bless us." Minutes later, he and his wife, Reshma, were killed when terrorists opened fire on diners at the Tiffin restaurant at the Oberoi Hotel on the night of November 26, 2008. Fifteen years later, tears well up in Sevantilal's eyes as he says, "He lives inside me. He is alive in me."



To Sarla Parekh, whatever happened to her son was destined to be. "I knew it was God's wish," she says. "Sunil always drove himself, but that night he chose to be driven. Had he been driving, he would have gone to park the car instead of entering the hotel at that time," she says.



Time has moved on but the memories of that tragic day remain buried deep inside the hearts of those who've lost those whom they loved. Many of them simply don't want to think about it ever again.
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi highlighted the evolving landscape of warfare and emphasised the relentless pace of change and the need to stay ahead of the curve, while addressing young military commanders and next-generation leaders of the Indian Army who are undergoing training at the Defence Services Technical Staff Course (DSTSC), Pune.

He observed that defence preparedness is not just a requirement but an art, a symphony of strategy and precision. Operational readiness, strategic alignment, and cohesive coordination are the bedrock of a formidable force, he added.

Highlighting the emerging threats and challenges as pertinent in the Indian context, the COAS highlighted the ongoing transformational initiatives being undertaken by the Indian Army and urged the officers to embody the spirit of versatility, adaptability and steely determination in line with this transformation drive.

READ MORE: In an 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat' milestone, Indian Army gets revolutionary tech to extend tank engine life and cut fuel use

He called for for a seismic shift in military thinking, and urged the officers to reimagine and reconstruct the tools and techniques of warfare.

Hailing the Indian Armys monumental contributions to nation-building, he highlighted the unmatched role the force plays in providing humanitarian aid during natural disasters. He also lauded the Armys courage in evacuating Indians from perilous conflict zones, showcasing a blend of tactical brilliance and human compassion.

Stressing the importance of military-diplomatic synergy, General Dwivedi underscored the power of unity in countering external threats.
Two days after the results of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, which saw the ruling Mahayuti sweeping the polls, there is still no word about who the new chief minister is. However, speculations are rife that deliberations in Delhi have gained pace in favour of BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis.

However, Shiv Sena leader and chief minister Eknath Shinde is not happy with the decision, which is delaying the announcement. The reports are that the Shiv Sena leader is likely to be demoted to the position of Deputy CM along with NCP leader Ajit Pawar.

Earlier, there were reports that Shinde had staked a claim for the top post, considering that it was his leadership that led the coalition towards the stunning win. He also claimed the trump card, Ladki Bahin Yojana, was his brainchild.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Naresh Mhaske has called for the 'Bihar model' while insisting that Shinde should continue as the chief minister. "We feel Shinde should be the chief minister, just like in Bihar where BJP did not look at the numbers but still made JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar the CM. Senior leaders of the Mahayuti (in Maharashtra) will ultimately take a decision," Mhaske told reporters on Monday.

The Shiv Sena is also rallying supporters in favour of Eknath Shinde. On Monday, a group of women organised an aarti at the Kopri temple in Thane praying for Shinde to be made the Chief Minister again.

As for NCP, Ajit Pawar is said to have already thrown his weight behind Fadnavis. "There is no formula being discussed. We three (allies) will sit together and discuss on CM's post," he told reporters.

Meanwhile, Fadnavis arrived in Delhi on Monday night for meetings with BJP leadership. Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar was also present along with Fadnavis.

He was seen attending the wedding reception of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's daughter Anjali at a hotel here. He will meet Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President J P Nadda to discuss the modalities of the formation of the next government in Maharashtra.

The BJP won 132 seats in the recent assembly elections while its allies Shiv Sena and NCP emerged victorious on 57 and 41 seats, respectively.
Its not just Mexico. The United States has another neighbor that is also bracing for the immigration policies that Donald Trump has promised to implement as soon as he takes office. Among these are the mass deportations of millions of people, something that Canada fears could end up pushing immigrants north to cross the 5,525-mile (8,891 km) border that separates the two countries. The longest non-militarized international boundary is not usually at the center of the American political debate on immigration, but everything points to it being so under the second Trump presidency: the president-elect himself made this clear on Monday, when he announced that he will subject his two North American neighbors to 25% tariffs from his first day back in power for as long as they do not clamp down on illegal immigration to the United States, among other reasons that he cited.

On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders. This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country! Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem, Trump wrote on his Truth social media account Monday night.

The Canadian government, for its part, responded to the Republicans threat with a statement in which Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc affirmed that both countries have one of the strongest and closest relationships - particularly when it comes to trade and border security. Canada places the highest priority on border security and the integrity of our shared border, the statement continued. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also called the president-elect hours after the tariffs were announced to discuss trade and border security in what has been described as a constructive conversation.

The truth is that Ottawa has been preparing for Trumps return to the presidency for weeks. Determined to avoid surprises following the change of leadership at the White House, as happened in 2016, Canadian officials began engaging with the Republicans team even before the November 5 election, according to reports from Canadian media. Since then, both countries have been discussing issues such as trade and NATO operations, but the primary focus has been immigration  the incoming administrations top priority  as the bilateral situation on this matter has changed significantly in the last eight years.

In January 2017, after Trump signed an executive order early in his first term to suspend entry to the United States of refugees and citizens of certain Muslim countries, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted the following message on social media: To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength. However, the message has since changed. On November 12, Marc Miller, the federal Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, declared that not everyone is welcome here.

In recent months, Ottawa has made several changes to its immigration policies in response to economic and infrastructure pressures. The country has significantly reduced the number of temporary foreign worker and student visas, as well as the quota for permanent residents. Now, the government is also drawing up plans to allocate new resources to the border before Trump arrives in the White House.

Donald Trump attends a campaign event in Allentown, Pennsylvania on October 29, 2024. Brendan McDermid (REUTERS)

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which polices the border, has indicated that it is on alert in response to the president-elects promises of mass deportations, and it is considering an increase in both personnel and material resources. Dominic LeBlanc, Canadas Minister of Public Safety, has reiterated that his countrys agencies have been working for a long time to prepare for various scenarios. LeBlanc has indicated that border surveillance work has improved thanks to growing investment, especially in technology, but that Ottawa could inject additional resources if necessary. In addition, Melanie Joly, Canadas Minister of Foreign Affairs, indicated on November 7 that her country will remain firm in its plan to reduce immigration targets. In this atmosphere of negotiations and probable scenarios, the leftist New Democratic Party is asking the Canadian government to prepare a roadmap with a humanitarian vision in view of a potential influx of thousands of people.

However, the official rhetoric from Ottawa increasingly seeks to convey a message of calm, stressing that cooperation with U.S. authorities will continue. There is an alignment of interests to ensure that the border is secure, said Minister Miller.

Meanwhile, members of the incoming Trump administration have already begun to sound the alarm about what they call an invasion of undocumented immigrants crossing from Canada into the United States, a number that has multiplied by six in the last four years. Although the president-elect has not outlined his plans to reduce immigration from Canada, his next border czar, Tom Homan, has already made it clear that controlling this route will be a priority for the Republican government.

In a recent interview with the local New York television station WWNY, the former head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under Trumps first term said that the northern border constitutes a huge national security issue for the United States. Homan added that special interest aliens  the term the Department of Homeland Security uses to describe immigrants with possible criminal ties, including to terrorism  use Canada as a gateway to the United States because the border is much less heavily policed than the southern one. Its one of the things Ill tackle when Im in the White House, he said.

Homan is originally from a small town in upstate New York near the Canadian border; New York is the northern state with the highest number of border crossings by far, so he has a personal interest in the region. Its my home, Im not going to ignore my home, he said in the same interview.

Border crossings into the US skyrocket

For several years, concern about irregular immigration at the US-Canada border focused primarily on people crossing into Canada to seek asylum due to changes in U.S. policy. The most significant route was the so-called Roxham Trail, a shallow ditch that divides Mooers, New York, from Hemmingford, in Quebec province. The Canadian government closed this route in 2023 after around 40,000 migrants  mostly from Latin America  crossed from the U.S. using this route in a single year.

But that trend has now reversed: Figures show that most crossings are from Canada into the United States. In fiscal year 2024, which ended in October, U.S. authorities apprehended 198,929 migrants at the Canadian border, compared with 32,376 in 2020, according to data from the Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP). Trump and his supporters blame the Biden administration for this, since the numbers were much lower during the Republican's first presidency.

Now, with the mass deportations that Trump intends to carry out, in addition to ending programs that protect certain groups of migrants who are already in the United States legally, such as TPS, parole or DACA, the reality on the ground may change again: more crossings into Canada and fewer into the United States.

The Army National Guard prevents a group of migrants from Venezuela from turning themselves in to immigration officials in Texas, U.S., March 24, 2024. Adrees Latif (REUTERS)

Crossings into the United States are mainly carried out from Quebec province, which has received the largest number of asylum seekers from the United States via irregular routes. Francois Legault, Quebecs provincial premier, declared on November 19: We cannot afford a Roxham Road 2.0. Legault said that the Ontario Provincial Police is also carrying out surveillance work on the border, in collaboration with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Although irregular crossings along the northern border are only a fraction of those on the U.S.-Mexico border, human smuggling activity from Canada has increased considerably in recent years, especially along the border between eastern Ontario, Quebec, New York and Vermont. In addition, authorities encounter many more terrorist suspects at the northern border than at the southern one. This is a reality that Homan mentioned in the television interview: Canada must understand that it cannot be a gateway for terrorists into the United States.

Homan has said he intends to deploy more immigration agents to the northern border and will encourage Trump to negotiate with Prime Minister Trudeau to increase enforcement on the Canadian side. Ottawa and Washington have had a two-decade-old safe third country agreement, a treaty under which asylum seekers are required to apply in the first country they reach, either Canada or the United States. So when asylum seekers travel from one country to the other, they can be turned back, with few exceptions.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
The bypoll debacle has come as a warning signal to the BJP and JDS leadership in Karnataka as the allies have lost their strongholds in Shiggaon and Channapatna.

NDA's decision to field Bharat Bommai, son of former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai and Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of Union minister and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, had raised questions over the saffron party's unwritten rule of shunning dynasty politics. The BJP that frowned upon the Congress party and regional parties for practising "family-centric" politics is now guilty of emulating them.

The growing tendency of the party leadership picking the kith and kin of senior leaders to contest elections on the pretext of "winnability" has rankled the cadres and the veterans in the party.

The anointment of B.Y. Vijayendra, son of former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa, as the state party president, built resentment within the party leaving seniors and contenders for the top post feeling sidelined.

The Congress candidate Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan winning Shiggaon, which was previously won by Basavaraj Bommai four times, is a wake-up call for the BJP leadership not to be dependent on big leaders to win elections but to trust the cadres, say party insiders.

Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, the Vijayapura MLA and a vocal critic of Yediyurappa, said, We never expected such a humiliating defeat in the bypolls. At least now, the party high command should appoint an honest and cultured person in-charge of the state. Arun Singh is a messenger of Yediyurappa and his son Vijayendra. People have rejected the BJP under Vijayendra in this bypoll. I urge the central leadership to give up their fondness for the father-son duo.

Some senior BJP leaders are hoping that the central leadership would rehaul the state unit too after the new national president takes over in December. The party should choose a leader who subscribes to the partys anti-dynastic stance, they say.

Yogeshwar, who had earlier complained that the BJP had changed a lot in recent times, said, Kumaraswamy is selfish. He is responsible for his sons defeat. Nikhil had lost in Mandya and he should have remained in the constituency and worked up his way. But Kumaraswamy contested from Mandya instead of fielding Nikhil once again. Devegowda also agreed to fielding Nikhil from different seats each time. It was unnecessary and people have rejected them. This bypolls is a lesson for Yediyurappa-Vijayendra and Devegowda-Kumaraswamy. They tried to sideline me but people supported me. Yogeshwar added that Devegowda had been accused of ending the political careers of fellow Vokkaliga leaders and their brand of politics was had no purpose or direction, but was caste-centric.

The JDS camp is divided over the alliance and the dynastic politics. JDS MLA G.T. Devegowda slammed Kumaraswamy, saying he will destroy the JDS party built by Devegowda by his unilateral decisions. Kumaraswamy did not consult us while picking Nikhil and did not involve me for the campaign too, said the veteran, who is now cosying up to the Congress party.

Nikhil was fielded by the JDS in Channapatna, a seat vacated by his father. Kumaraswamy picked Nikhil to contest from Channapatna, though BJP leader and local heavy weight C.P. Yogeshwar was keen to contest on a BJP ticket. An upset Yogeshwar contested the bypoll on a Congress ticket and defeated the NDA candidate by 26,000 votes. The shocking defeat of JDS in its own bastion is seen as the waning influence of the Devegowda family in the Vokkaliga belt.

A political greenhorn, Nikhil made his debut in electoral politics from Mandya in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, where he was defeated by actor-turned politician Sumalatha Ambareesh, who won as an independent with a huge margin of 1,25,876 votes. Interestingly, Nikhil's defeat did not go well with his father Kumaraswamy, who was the sitting chief minister. However, the party insiders hinted at discontent brewing among the partyworkers and local leaders over the Devegowda family "promoting" his family members.

In 2023, Nikhil was again picked to contest from Ramanagara, a seat held by his mother Anitha Kumaraswamy, and was defeated by Congress candidate H.A. Iqbal Hussain by 10,715 votes.

This bypoll has witnessed voters clearly rejecting dynastic politics of the allies. Nikhil, the grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Devegowda, was defeated despite Devegowda, at 92, campaigned extensively in Channapatna. Bharat, an entrepreneur and grandson of former chief minister late S.R. Bommai made his political debut though it would have made better sense for the BJP to field a candidate belonging to the Panchamasali Lingayat community, as the constituency has majority of voters belonging to this subsect of Lingayat and minorities.

Deputy chief minister D.K. Shivakumar claimed that the BJP and JDS leaders and workers had supported the Congress in the by-election. Look at the voting numbers in the last assembly elections and this by-election. As many as 50,000 votes have shifted in Shiggaon. The Congress candidate in Channapatna had secured 15,000 votes in the last election but that number has gone up to 1.12 lakh votes this time. How can such a major shift happen without the support of BJP and JDS voters and supporters? asked Shivakumar.

On the other hand, the ruling party winning all three seats, is a shot in the arm for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who is embattled in the MUDA and Valmiki Corporation scams. The victory has strengthened his position within the party and the government much like it has helped the KPCC chief DK Shivakumar establish his dominance over his home district, especially after the humiliating defeat of his younger brother D.K. Suresh in the Parliament elections last May. Suresh lost the Bengaluru Rural seat to BJP candidate Dr Manjunath, the son-in-law of Devegowda.
In view of cyclone Fengal, the Tamil Nadu government has deployed eight disaster management teams. On Tuesday, the state witnessed widespread rains as the depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a deep depression with central pressure at 1000 hPa and wind speeds of 50-60 kmph. The deep depression is expected to move north-northwest, parallel to the Sri Lankan coast and is likely to develop into a cyclonic storm Fengal.

Chennai and its neighbouring districts of Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Thiruvallur are likely to witness rains. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) the deep depression is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm and bring heavy to very heavy rains in Tamil Nadu. Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai and Cuddalore districts have been identified as vulnerable and the district administrations have made precautionary arrangements. The deep depression is expected to move towards the Tamil Nadu coast, skirting the Sri Lankan coastline, over the next two days. From November 27 to 29, it may slow down as it moves with minimal steering.

Deep Depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 8 kmph during past 6 hours andlay centred at 1730 hours IST of today, the 26th November 2024 over thesame region near latitude 7.0N and longitude 82.7E, about 240 km southeast ofTrincomalee, pic.twitter.com/Jb6gPzqCXK  India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) November 26, 2024

The IMD has issued weather warnings for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. It had issued a red alert in the coastal and a few interior districts in Tamil Nadu, saying extremely very heavy rainfall will lash these districts till November 29. The IMD is tracking the movement and intensification of the weather.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin chaired a high-level meeting in Chennai, reviewing the preparedness in the central districts of Nagappatinam, Cuddalore and Mayiladuthurai. Seven teams from the 4th Battalion of the NDRF, including two canine units of 30 rescuers per team, have already arrived in these districts as a precautionary measure. The teams have also been deployed in Karaikal, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai districts. A total of 13 teams of the NDRF and nine teams of the SDRF are on standby, according to an official release from the Tamil Nadu government.

Deep Depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 8 kmph during past 6 hours andlay centred at 1730 hours IST of today, the 26th November 2024 over thesame region near latitude 7.0N and longitude 82.7E, about 240 km southeast ofTrincomalee, pic.twitter.com/Jb6gPzqCXK  India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) November 26, 2024

The government has also deputed four IAS officersJohny Tom Varghese, Kavitha Ramu, Gayathri Krishnan, and S.A. Ramanto oversee the preparation. These officers are already on the ground, working to consolidate relief and rescue efforts in Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur, and Cuddalore districts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India is going through a huge phase of transformation and that the Constitution is showing us the path. Speaking at the Constitution Day celebrations in the Supreme Court, Modi said Indias Constitution has lived up to our every need and expectation.

Modi claimed that the Constitution has been fully implemented in Jammu and Kashmir, in an apparent reference to the abrogation of Article 370.

"Our Constitution has lived up to every expectation and need of the country. It's due to the power of the Constitution that, today, the Constitution of Baba Saheb has been implemented completely in Jammu and Kashmir. For the first time, the Constitution Day was celebrated in Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

Addressing a programme marking #75YearsOfConstitution at Supreme Court. https://t.co/l8orUdZV7Q  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 26, 2024

The prime minister said the Constitution is serving as a guiding light for the people as India is going through a transformation phase.

Today, India is going through a huge phase of transformation, and the Constitution of India is showing us the path. It has become a guiding light for us, he said.

Modi touched upon the 2008 Mumbai terror attack and reiterated that the terrorist groups challenging Indias security will get a befitting reply.

We cannot forget that today is also the anniversary of the terror attack in Mumbai. Those who lost their lives, I pay my homage to them. I also want to reiterate the resolution of the country - all those terrorist organisations challenging the security of India will get befitting reply," he said.

The prime minister recalled the words of Indias first president Rajendra Prasad that India does not need anything more than a group of honest people who will keep the country's interests above their own.

"This sentiment of 'nation first' will keep alive the Constitution for centuries to come," he said.
Days after Naxal leader Vikram Gowda (46) was gunned down by the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) in Peethebailu in Hebri taluk, Udupi district, the civil society members of a government-appointed high-level committee to facilitate surrender and rehabilitation of Naxals in the state have demanded an investigation into the killing suspecting it to be a fake encounter by the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF).

ALSO READ: Who was Vikram Gowda, the Karnataka Naxal leader gunned down by ANF?

We will consider this as a murder as we cannot accept it to be an encounter based on only the police statement. We suspect the police firing was unprovoked though they have claimed that the Naxals had opened fire and Vikram had died in exchange of fire. We will visit the spot and speak to the locals before we write to the chief secretary (who heads the committee). We want a judicial probe into the incident. We urge the government to end these extrajudicial killings, said writer Banjagere Jayaprakash, who is one of the three civil society members on the state-level committee, besides journalist Parvatheesh and advocate K.P. Sripal.

ALSO READ: Karnataka CM justifies killing of Naxal leader in encounter

Jayaprakash claimed that the committee had written a letter to Vikram Gowda and his team trying to convince them to surrender. We had expressed our sympathy towards their struggle and demands and asked them to surrender while reminding them armed struggle was anti-Constitutional. But we doubt if the letter reached them. Even now, we urge the Naxals who are underground to surrender and be part of the mainstream, said Jayaprakash, adding that the ANF had not informed the committee about the movement of the Naxals.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G. Parameshwara defended the ANF action stating that the Maoist had been evading arrest for the last two decades and was wanted in 61 cases.

The encounter was lawful and necessary for public safety, said Parameshwara.

DGP for Internal Security Pronab Mohanty, who had visited Hebri on November 19a day after the encounterhad clarified that the encounter was not pre-planned. The police teams came face-to-face with Gowda during combing operations. Gowda was armed and there had been no indications of his surrender. The primary focus of the police was to encourage Naxal operatives to surrender. Multiple surrender and rehabilitation packages are available for those willing to give up arms, said Mohanty, adding that it was a legitimate operation supported by evidence that is in the possession of the ANF.

Even as the combing operations are underway across Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Dakshina Kannada, and neighbouring districts, Mohanty assured the citizens that public safety was their priority.

IGP (Operations) and Commander, ANF, D. Roopa Moudgil shared a post in defence of her team.

Our boys fight against all odds in the forest without thinking about their lives and their families. That needs to be upheld, showcased, encouraged. They act in good faith, given their "mandate", what they are supposed to do dutifully, said IPS Roopa, adding that Vikram Gowda alias Sreekant was active in trijunction forest of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala and had been on the most wanted list for last 20 years.

Elaborating on the operation, Roopa said that the team, led from front by Mohanty, was successful in the operation and killing of Gowda, who possessed deadly weapons. Combing was continuous and has been continuous in the forest. Jitendra Dayama, a young 2019 batch officer, and his hardworking boys executed the plan meticulously and collected intelligence, said the senior officer, adding that ANFs goodwill among the locals owing to their creating basic infrastructure, water pipes, solar power, wooden bridges across small streams resulted in them sharing information about the Naxals.

Vikram Gowda, 46 years old, was the ringleader of the South India naxal gang and he had 61 cases of murder, extortion, Arms Act cases against him in Karnataka and about 19 cases in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, she added.

BJP leader C.T. Ravi slammed Jayaprakash for expressing sympathy towards the Naxals. It is alarming to note that some people are expressing sympathy towards Naxals known for armed insurrection and use of violence. We have seen many people lose their lives due to Naxal attacks. Adivasis, farmers, police and journalists have been killed by Naxals in the country. But Banjagere Jayaprakash who stayed mum over all those instances, is today sympathising with Vikarm Gowda. This is anti-democratic and anti-constitutional. The anti-national forces are growing stronger because of the Naxal sympathisers occupying high positions, Ravi said.
After the partys poor show in the recently concluded Maharashtra Assembly polls, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday stressed the nation should revert to the old paper ballot system for elections. Several Congress had blamed the EVMs for the partys loss in the Maharashtra election though the Congress-JMM alliance won in Jharkhand Assembly polls.



Addressing party workers during the Constitution Day celebrations at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi, Kharge said they dont need electronic voting machines and said a major nationwide campaign must be conducted to return to paper ballots for voting. We don't want EVMs, we want ballot paper," he said. Kharge added a campaign on the scale of the Bharat Jodo Yatra must be conducted to return to ballot paper system of polling.

The Congress president said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is afraid of conducting caste census as everyone will start demanding their share.

The Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance performed poorly in the Maharashtra election, with the alliance winning less than 100 seats in the recently concluded polls. The Congress, which contested in 101 seats managed to win only 16. Several Congress leaders blamed the functioning of electronic voting machines for the partys poor performance.

Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Monday charged EVM manipulation led to Maha Vikas Aghadis loss in the polls. "We analysed the Maharashtra poll outcome deeply. We felt that in many places EVMs were manipulated," PTI reported quoting the Karnataka minister. The manipulations are done selectively so that no one can question it, Parameshwara charged.
When it was time to clamp down on miscreants, the security forces were missing and when it is time for a healing touch, Manipur is preparing to become the tiniest state with maximum boots on the ground. The deployment plan includes presence of nearly 7,000 security personnel of central armed police forces, besides army columns and Assam Rifles, to assist the state government in law and order duties.

While it is necessary to crack down on insurgents and miscreants and restore peace, there is simmering discontent on absence of governance in troubled areas, a situation which mere presence of armed policemen cannot fill.

Senior officials in the security establishment pointed out that states like Punjab, affected by militancy and Andhra Pradesh which suffered naxal violence, could not restore peace nor win the hearts and minds of people through heavy deployment of security forces. Instead, internal strife in all these states came to an end only through a governance model that was inclusive and addressed peoples issues to find a solution within, instead of looking for an out of the box solution that included a dominant security approach.

The protests in Manipur against the Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act are an indicator of the need for the state government to step up and undertake confidence building measures with both the warring communities. This may include a special approach towards the tribals who feel excluded from decision making bodies.

What is required is a blueprint of governance model outlining steps for the state government to create a participatory structure where rights of all communities are protected whether it is acquisition of land or relief and rehabilitation measures, said a government official in New Delhi.

But with the imposition of AFSPA in six police stations in five districts to contain activities of insurgent groups, it seems to be a delayed approach where the additional paramilitary forces will carry out searches, seizures and operations in areas declared disturbed by the home ministry, without adequately addressing why these peaceful districts turned disturbed in the first place.

NIA launches probe

Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) registered a case in the recent violence in Jiribam which resulted in the killing of six women and children in Manipur.

The NIA re-registered three cases afresh on November 13 after the Union Home Ministry decided to hand over the investigations to the anti-terror agency considering the gravity of the offences, amid escalating violence in the strife-torn state. With little headway into which armed groups were behind the killing, the NIA has been tasked to unearth the larger conspiracy behind the brutal attacks.

In the first case on November 11, several houses were burnt and two civilians were killed at Borobekra. Later, unknown militants abducted and murdered six persons including three women and three children.

The second case relates to the November 11 attack on a CRPF post located at Jakuradhor Karong and Borobekra police stations, in Jiribam, by armed militants in which one CRPF constable sustained bullet injuries. The NIA said that during a search by security forces and the police team, dead bodies of unidentified armed militants, along with arms and ammunition, were recovered from the vicinity of the attack. The third case taken up by the NIA is of the murder of a woman at Jiribram by armed militants on November 7.

Several months ago, the looting of arms and ammunition from police armoury and the killing of innocents in mob violence demanded a clamp down by security forces. However, at that time, tales of inefficiency of police forces left the common man disillusioned.

Today, people of Manipur need governance, said a senior government official, to restore confidence in the elected government, explaining that even today the tiny northeastern state has not reported calls for secessionist violence.
Parents of the trainee doctor who was brutally killed at Kolkatas RG Kar Medical College and Hospital met West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari at the state assembly on Tuesday. They broke down while speaking with the LoP, who assured them of all support in their pursuit of justice for their daughter.



Everyone is standing by our side, we want you to be by our side in the coming days, her mother said. What offense did my daughter even commit that she was killed in such a cruel way? Even today I don't know what happened to my daughter that night, she added while interacting with the press.



The deceased trainee doctors father was also seen asking for public support and said if the second chargesheet by the CBI doesnt deliver justice, they too would start protesting on the streets.



The trial will proceed in the court and thats fine. But the injustices that we have endured must be put on trial before common people, he said, adding that the movement on the street has to be continued for justice.

ALSO READ: After Jhargram doctor's death, a nursing student attempts suicide at R G Kar Medical College: Report

Voicing his support for the "constitutional" demand made by the victim's father, LoP Adhikari pledged to take the fight for her justice to the "court of public opinion."



He said, He said judicial fight will continue. Judiciary is a pillar (of our democracy). But the theme of our constitution is for the people, by the people, of the people."



During the day the LoP also led a march of the BJP MLAs in the assembly, calling for the immediate release of Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in Bangladesh. He urged all Hindus in Bangladesh to stand united against "radical forces."



Chinmoy Krishna Das, who heads the Pundarik Dham in Chittagong and serves as a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jot, was arrested on Monday at Dhaka airport by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police on charges of sedition.
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav slammed the Uttar Pradesh government and police for registering cases against party leaders in connection with violence over surveying a Mughal-era mosque in Sambhal. Yadav charged fake cases have been registered against party leaders and held the state government responsible for clashes.



VIDEO | Here's what Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) said on Sambhal violence and subsequent police action.



"This incident is unfortunate. Our MP Ziaur Rahman Barq was not in Sambhal, despite that an FIR has been lodged against him... has anyone ever seen pic.twitter.com/etvqNs9J8q  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 25, 2024

The INDIA bloc leader questioned why a case has been registered against their MP Ziaur Rahman Barq while he was not even present in Sambhal at the time of the riots. .False cases are being filed against the MP there, the MLA there and his son. If there is any fault, it is the government's, Yadav charged. The SP leader questioned why a second survey was conducted at the site and it should have been conducted only after discussions with all stakeholders.

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: Security heightened at Sambhal's Shahi Jama Masjid where an incident of stone pelting took place when a survey team arrived to conduct a survey of the mosque on 24th November. pic.twitter.com/ICSrqmcJOt  ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2024

The Uttar Pradesh police have registered a case against Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rehman Barq and local SP MLA Iqbal Mehmood's son, Sohail Iqbal in connection with the violence in Sambhal. The district administration said they have sufficient evidence to prove that Barq committed provocative acts.

Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh said, There is evidence against MP Ziaur Rahman Barq that he has committed provocative acts. Action has been taken against him as under the provisions of the BNS," Hindustan Times reported.

Violent clashes erupted in Sambhal on Sunday after a survey team reached Shahi Jama Masjid to survey the site as per the directions of a local court. The team had conducted a survey earlier on November 19. The survey was ordered by the court hearing a petition claiming the Mughal-era mosque was constructed by demolishing a temple.

A violent mob pelted stones on the survey team, forcing police to use tear gas to disperse protesters. Four persons died in the clashes and police have so far arrested 25 persons in connection with the violence.

Prohibitory orders are in place in Sambhal till November 30. According to authorities, schools reopened on Tuesday and outsiders are restricted from entering Sambhal till the end of the month. However, internet services continue to remain suspended.
An uneasy calm prevailed at Katra in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir after Monday's violent protests against the installation of a proposed ropeway along the Vaishno Devi shrine route, in which a dozen protesters and an officer were injured.

The protesters, including shopkeepers, labourers, pony operators, and porters, say the project will deprive them of their livelihoods.

The strike began on November 22 after the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board announced a Rs 250-crore ropeway project connecting Tarakote Marg to Sanji Chhat.

#WATCH | J&K: People hold protest against the Mata Vaishno Devi ropeway project, in Katra pic.twitter.com/soomGQqYCa  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2024

On Monday, the situation worsened after a CRPF vehicle, while attempting to pass through the protest site at Katras main Chowk, was allegedly attacked by the protesters. The protesters allege that the police resorted to unprovoked lathi-charge against them. In the ensuing clashes, 12 protesters and a police officer were injured.

The protesters demanded that the project be cancelled or that those affected be compensated.

Deputy Commissioner Reasi Vishesh Paul Mahajan held talks with protest leader Bhupinder Singh, resulting in a temporary suspension of the strike until December 15.

Mahajan told THE WEEK that the protesters called off their strike after being informed that a solution to their demands would be sought through talks. About the demand for compensation, he said, That will not be decided at my level. Everything will be discussed with the stakeholders.

Mahajan stated that they would seek a solution that is beneficial for all. There are multiple stakeholders, he said. One group comprises the shopkeepers, and the other is of the horse and pony wallas. We will find a solution that is beneficial for all, including the yatris.

He noted that for now, the work on the ropeway has been stopped. We will see how to proceed, the officer said.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has also addressed the situation, stating that the protesters' concerns will be considered. Local Congress leaders are supporting the protesters.

Karan Singh, a Congress activist, stated that his party supports the demands of the protesters. The horse, pony, and palki (palanquin) owners have demanded Rs 20 lakh as compensation if the project has to be executed, Singh said. If that is done, there will be no objection from horse, pony, and palki owners.

He said that Congress leader Bupinder Singh was arrested after Mondays protests.  We demand all those who have been arrested under different FIRs be released.
A 19-year-old woman was found murdered in a service apartment at Indiranagar in Bengaluru, police said on Tuesday, adding that they are in search of her male friend who is on the run.

The deceased, identified as Maya Gogoi, a native of Assam, is a YouTube content creator and was working at a private firm in Jayanagar. According to police, she was stabbed to death allegedly by her male friend Aarav Hanoy (21), who hails from Kannur in Kerala.

Hanoy is an employee at Lips caller overseas in HSR layout.

Police have filed a case under Section 103 for murder and 238 for causing disappearance of evidence of offence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The body of the woman was in a partially decomposed situation and the exact date of the crime can be ascertained only after police gets the post-mortem report.

Police examined the CCTV footage which showed both the woman and the suspect arriving at the apartment on November 23. He allegedly fled the spot after killing her.

"Both of them entered the lodge on November 23 at 12:28 pm. The suspect went out of the lodge today at 8:19 am," a senior police officer told news agency PTI. He said the suspect might have stayed in the room with the body.

Police have formed multiple teams to nab the accused.

The woman came to Bengaluru just six months ago and was staying at an apartment in Whitefield area with her sister and a friend.
President-elect Donald Trump continues to court the working class following his election victory. To lead the Labor Department he has picked an outspoken advocate for union activity: Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a Latina congresswoman from Oregon who lost her re-election bid in November, but has made her position on workers rights clear in Washington, something that could clash with traditional alliances between the Republican Party and business interests.

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 wrote on his Truth Social platform last Friday.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer, 56, began her political career in 2002 as a member of the Parks Committee in the city of Happy Valley, Oregon. She later joined the City Council, which she eventually chaired. In 2010, she made history by becoming the municipalitys first Latina mayor (a position to which she was re-elected and held until 2018). In 2022, she was elected the first Latina woman to represent Oregons fifth congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.

With the unions on her side

Chavez-DeRemer has earned the trust of labor groups. In the past, she has received support from steelworkers, firefighters, carpenters and the Teamsters, of which her father was a member. Teamsters president Sean OBrien declared his enthusiasm for her nomination. Congratulations to Chavez-DeRemer on your nomination! 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. Lets get to work!

The Teamsters Joint Council No. 37, which represents thousands of industrial workers in Oregon, Idaho and Washington, also endorsed her. It was the first time in 20 years that the group openly supported a Republican candidate for Congress. In those years, Chavez-DeRemer championed the PRO Act, legislation that would make it easier to unionize at the federal level (passed by the House but stalled in the Senate), and co-sponsored another bill to protect public employees from Social Security benefit cuts. House Speaker Mike Johnson went so far as to declare that no one has had more union support in the Republican party than she has.

But the challenge facing the former mayor is considerable. She will be moving in a cabinet full of billionaires, including Elon Musk, appointed head of the Department of Government Efficiency and happy to fire any worker who goes on strike. She will also face bureaucrats at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, whose figures on the economy and unemployment have been harshly attacked by Trump. But the biggest challenge will be managing Trumps plan to undertake the largest deportation in the countrys history, in the face of demands from economic sectors and companies that depend on the immigrant workforce.

Latin roots and a love of animals

One of the keys to Chavez-DeRemers success has been to maintain a public profile as an unpretentious public servant on the side of the average citizen. Her Mexican origins have also kept her close to the causes and interests of those most in need. I am proud of my Latin roots and the achievements of the Hispanic community in our great country, she once posted on her Facebook account. On her social networks, she can be seen receiving recognition from the NFIB (an organization that defends small businesses in the 50 states of the union), as a spokesperson for the fight against breast cancer or celebrating National Dog Day.

She has been married for three decades, is the mother of 28-year-old twins, and has never been involved in any scandal. Together with her husband, Dr. Shawn DeRemer, she founded an anesthesia management company with which she has opened several medical clinics in the country.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
A Bangladeshi court on Tuesday denied bail to prominent Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, who was arrested on sedition charges.

The leader of the Hindu group Sammilita Sanatani Jote, Krishna Das, was arrested from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area in Dhaka while travelling to Chattogram.

ALSO READ | Why was Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das arrested in Bangladesh?

MEA India Statement on the arrest of Hindu leader Saint Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh



We have noted with deep concern the arrest and denial of bail to Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is also the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote. This incident follows pic.twitter.com/elXDd2KMRP  DeshGujarat (@DeshGujarat) November 26, 2024

Supporters gathered outside the court complex chanting slogans. Das greeted his supporters at the court premises and asked them to refrain from chanting religious slogans at the scene.

Chattogram's Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate Kazi Shariful Islam rejected Das's bail petition after hearing the arguments.

The judge said since Das was arrested from outside the port city, as per law he is required to be kept under judicial custody for 24 hours.

The court later directed the prison authorities to allow the Hindu priest to practice his religious rituals as per the Jail Code.

Protesters and the police clashed outside the court when Das was taken in the prison vehicle to jail.

"We are not against the state and the government. We, the Sanatanis, are a part of the state... We will not do anything to destabilise the state and destroy peaceful coexistence. We will hold a peaceful protest by controlling our emotions and turning them into strength," Das was quoted as saying by The Daily Star newspaper.

Protests broke out in different districts including Dhaka, Chattogram, Cumilla, Khulna, Dinajpur and Cox's Bazar.

A complaint was filed against Das and 18 others accusing them of disrespecting the national flag in the city's Laldighi Maidan during a rally of the Hindu community on Oct 25.

Das was also a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), which recently expelled him.

Amid tensions, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed "deep concern" over the arrest and denial of bail to Das. India also urged the Bangladeshi authorites to ensure safety and security of Hindus and all minorities.

"This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh," MEA said in a statement.
Amid protests in Bangladesh over the arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a lawyer was killed on Tuesday. Clashes erupted between security personnel and protesters in several parts of Bangladesh after bail was denied to Das by the Bangladesh court.

The victim was identified as Saiful Islam, a 35-year-old assistant public prosecutor and a member of the Chattogram District Bar Association.

ALSO READ | Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das arrest: Bangladesh court denies bail amid protests

In a few hours notice, Sanatanis in massive numbers gathered at the heart of Kolkata to raise voice against the regular pre-planned & concerted attacks on the Hindu Community of Bangladesh at Chattogram and other places by the radical interim regime.

I have urged all the pic.twitter.com/ig2fUGT8mU  Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) November 26, 2024

Around six others were injured in the clash and were rushed to Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

According to Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, president of the Chittagong Lawyers' Association, the protesters dragged the lawyer from beneath his chamber and hacked him to death.

Police used sound grenades, tear gas shells, and baton charges to disperse the protesters.

ALSO READ | Why was Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das arrested in Bangladesh?

Deputy Commissioner of City Police Liaquat Ali said that they have launched an investigation into the death of the lawyer.

The leader of the Hindu group Sammilita Sanatani Jote, Krishna Das, was arrested on sedition charges.

After reports of arrest, protests broke out in different districts including Dhaka, Chattogram, Cumilla, Khulna, Dinajpur and Cox's Bazar.

Das was also a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), which recently expelled him.

Bangladesh responds to Indias concern

While reacting to India's concerns over the arrest of the Hindu priest, Bangladesh said that the monk's arrest had been "misconstrued by certain quarters".

Our statement on the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das:https://t.co/HbaFUPWds0 pic.twitter.com/cdgSx6iUQb  Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) November 26, 2024

"The Government of Bangladesh maintains that such unfounded statements not only misrepresent facts but also stand contrary to the spirit of Friendship and understanding between the two neighbouring countries," Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Ministry said India's statement didn't "reflect the harmony" that existed between people of all faiths and commitment in Bangladesh.

"Ensuring safety and security of all citizens, particularly the members of religious minorities remains a duty of the Government of Bangladesh," it added.

Bangladesh's judiciary was "fully independent" and the government didn't interfere in the judiciary's work. "The matter under question is at present being dealt with by the court of law," it said.
Russia on Tuesday expelled a British diplomat over allegations of spying as tensions soar over the conflict in Ukraine.

In a statement, Russia's Federal Security Service, said the diplomat, identified as Edward Pryor Wilkes, had provided false personal data while seeking permission to enter the country.

The security agency alleged that he has worked for British intelligence under diplomatic cover, replacing one of the six British diplomats who were expelled from Russia in August. The FSB alleged that Wilkes was involved in intelligence and subversive activities that threatened the security of the Russian Federation.

Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Wilkes has been ordered to leave the country within two weeks.

The British ambassador was summoned by the foreign ministry to hand over the notice.

This is the seventh British diplomat in four months on charges of espionage. The earlier six diplomats worked in the "political department" of the British embassy in Moscow. Meanwhile, Russia's allegations were rejected by the UK.

Ukraine hit Russia twice in the last three days with US-made missiles

Ukraine has hit Russia twice with US-produced ATACMS missiles over the last three days. Moscow said that it is "preparing for a response".

"According to confirmed data, over the past three days, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have carried out two strikes with long-range Western weapons on targets in the Kursk region," the defence ministry said.

Ukraine fired five ATACMS in the area of Lotaryovka, 37km northwest of Kursk, aiming for an S-400 anti-aircraft system last Saturday.

"Two reached their target," it said.

Ukraine also launched another strike with eight ATACMS... on the Kursk-Vostochny airfield" on Monday, it said.

"The Russian Ministry of Defence is monitoring the situation and response actions are being prepared," it said.
By the US standards, the Uruguayan election campaign was boring. No polarization, no hate speeches, no fake news, no lies, no attacks against the election system, no threats to challenge electoral outcome, no vulgar language and no abusive behaviour. The debates were decent and the campaigns were civilized.

The election process was conducted competently and transparently and the results were announced quickly. There were no anachronistic procedures or attempts to rig as happened in the USA.

Both the winner and the defeated are moderates and pragmatic. The opposition candidate who won did not threaten to undo what the ruling party had done.

Since the restoration of democracy from military dictatorship in 1985, the Centre-right and Centre-right have been in power alternately. The conservatives ruled for four terms from 1985 to 2005 followed by three terms of Centre-left from 2005 to 2020. The conservatives returned to power in 2020 and they have now been replaced by the leftists.

The only difference Orsi would make in foreign policy is that he would show solidarity with the leftist governments in the region unlike his predecessor who aligned himself more with other conservative presidents.

In domestic policies, Orsi would spend more on social welfare but would let the private sector also flourish without constraints.

The President-elect Orsi is a former history teacher who was elected twice as mayor of a town. He says he would not occupy the stately presidential house, following in the footsteps of ex-president Jose Mujica who set an example of austerity and simplicity. Mujica was described by BBC as the  worlds poorest President. He refused to move to the official residence and continued to stay in his ramshackle farmhouse, driving his own 1987 model Volkswagon Beetle, working on his field, growing flowers and vegetables . He lead a simple and unostentatious life. He donated 90% of his salary to charity. Mujica was a leftist guerrilla fighter and was put in jail for fourteen years by the military dictatorship. So when he stood for election, there was fear that he would be vengeful. But he forgave the military and showed magnanimity and pragmatism. In one of his campaign speeches, Mujica vowed to distance the left from "the stupid ideologies that come from the 1970s  I refer to things like unconditional love of everything that is state-run, scorn for businessmen and intrinsic hate of the United States. He said, I'll shout it if they want: Down with isms! Up with a left that is capable of thinking outside the box! In other words, I am more than completely cured of simplifications, of dividing the world into good and evil, of thinking in black and white. I have repented!"

Although the economy is small, the country has very low levels of poverty and inequality. Uruguay is part of the Mercosur customs union which includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia.

The Indian IT giant TCS opened its first Latin America office in Uruguay in 2002. Gabriel Rozman, an Uruguayan took TCS across Latin America and scaled up the operations. The TCS Chennai office building, the largest in India, was designed by an Uruguayan architect Carlos Ott.

The small market of Uruguay is big destination for India' exports. Last year India's exports were an impressive 521 million dollars. This is more than India's exports to the neighboring Cambodia (185 million dollars) or Kazhakstan (237 million) whose populations and economies are much bigger.

Uruguay is considered as the Switzerland of South America. Many rich Argentines and Brazilians as well as other South Americans spend vacations in Uruguay, have houses there and keep their money in Uruguayan banks.

Uruguay is in the vanguard in Latin America in legalizing same-sex marriage, consumption and production of Marijuana and abortion rights. Uruguay passed a law in December 2013 decriminalizing, legalizing and regulating the production, sale and consumption of cannabis

Of course, Uruguay is a small country of 3.6 million population sandwiched between the big brothers Brazil and Argentina. But the little Uruguay has a big lesson for Brazil and USA which have suffered the disgraceful culture and dangerous power of violent far-right extremism. Uruguay has demonstrated to these countries and the world that politics can be pursued without extremism, hatred and polarization.

There will never be an Uruguayan Trump or Bolsonaro.

The author is an expert in Latin American affairs
The arrest of a Hindu monk in Bangladesh from Shahjalal International Airport Monday afternoon has sparked protests with ISCKON and Bangaldeshi minority associations condemning the act.

Chinmoy Krishna Das, spokesperson of Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha, and head of Pundarik Dham in Chittagong, was arrested by the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Shahjalal International Airport on Monday at 4:30 pm.



Though the specific details of the complaint against him were not immediately disclosed by the officials, local media reports cite that he was arrested on the complaint of former BNP leader Firoze Khan on the allegation of desecration of the national flag.



Just now Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, the spokesperson of the Bangladesh United Sanatan Awakening Alliance, has been presented at the Chattogram court. He was sent to Chattogram from Dhaka overnight. We demand his immediate release. #FreeChinmoyKrishnaDas pic.twitter.com/O1aHcffCbE  Radharamn Das   (@RadharamnDas) November 26, 2024

The alleged incident leading to the arrest happened on October 25 during the protest led by the Hindu community in Rangpur, 300 kms north of Dhaka. Hundreds of minorities took out a march seeking stronger legal protections and setting up a ministry dedicated to minority affairs.



The Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha held a rally in Chattogram attended by Chinmay Krishna Das. Soon after the rally, a sedition case was filed against him and 18 others. The allegations were that they hoisted a saffron flag above the official flag of Bangladesh during the rally.



A video of the incident that went viral also showed a group of people with saffron headbands putting up saffron flags near a flag that was projected as Bangladesh's national flag at Zero Point in the New Market area of Chattogram.



According to Bangladesh's Penal Code, sedition can lead to imprisonment for up to life.



However, Chinmoy Krishna Das had denied involvement in the issue, stating he was not at the protest site when the incident happened. He added that the incident happened 2 km from the Lal Dighi protest site.



The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council strongly condemned and protested the arrest of Chinmay Krishna Das Brahmachari, stating his arrest could affect the country's image in terms of freedom of speech.



ISKCON too has sought help from External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, tagging him in a post. "I just received the shocking news that Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a Hindu monk & the face and leader of Bangladeshi minorities in these difficult times, has been arrested by the Dhaka police and taken to an undisclosed location. Kind attention," Radharamn Das, ISKCON spokesperson, posted on X.


US president-elect Donald Trump on Monday said he will impose tariffs on imports from China and neighbouring countries like Canada and Mexico.

Trump posted on Truth Social that on the first day of his presidency, he will sign documents to impose 25 per cent tariff on all goods imported from Canada and Mexico.

President-elect Donald Trump pledged big tariffs on the United States' three largest trading partners - Canada, Mexico and China - detailing how he will implement campaign promises that could trigger trade war https://t.co/ilEqmUJbsv pic.twitter.com/2v3eVcvzeX  Reuters (@Reuters) November 26, 2024

"On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25 percent tariff on ALL products coming into the United States," Trump posted.

In another post, he said China will be slapped with a 10 per cent tariff above any additional tariffs.

Will Trump spare India on tariffs?

India exports $75 billion worth of goods to the US. Interestingly, Trump did not mention India while announcing tariff plans. However, it is not clear whether he will make an exception for India in the long run.

While campaigning, Trump said was a "very big abuser" when it comes to trade, triggering worries about tariff hikes.

The tariff hikes on Beijing could benefit New Delhi as several manufacturers would be forced to leave China and pick rival hubs like India.

Responding to Trump's tariff plan, Chinese embassy representative Liu Pengyu said the China-US economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature and warned that no one will win a trade war or a tariff war.

This comes after Trump said he would impose tariffs until China stops the flow of illegal drugs, including fentanyl, to the US.

Liu said China has notified the US of the progress in the law enforcement operations, dismissing claims that Beijing is knowingly allowing fentanyl flow to the US.
New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Tuesday cleared Singapore's sovereign wealth fund Temasek Holdings' proposed acquisition of a stake in foodtech company Rebel Foods.

Temasek Holdings, through its arm Jongsong Investments Pte, is acquiring a stake in Rebel Foods -- which owns Faasos, Behrouz Biryani, Oven Story and other cloud kitchens.

The proposed combination envisages the subscription to certain compulsorily convertible preference shares and the acquisition of equity shares of Rebel Foods Private Ltd (Rebel Foods) by Jongsong Investments Pte Ltd, the regulator said in a release.

In September, Rebel Foods, the cloud kitchen startup, was in talks to raise funds in a range of USD 100-150 million in a fresh round led by Temasek.

Founded in 2011 by Jaydeep Barman and Kallol Banerjee, Rebel Foods is the world's largest internet restaurant company, having over 450 kitchens across 70 cities.

Rebel Foods currently operates over 45 brands across multiple countries.

Further, Rebel Foods has been expanding into offline stores as it looks to tap a growing audience base and increase revenue streams. The company competes with Binny Bansal-backed Curefoods and Tiger Global-funded Eatclub, among others.

In another release, fair trade regulator CCI approved the acquisition of Fosroc Top One Ltd, Fosroc Top Two Ltd, and Fosroc Supply FZE by Starcin Holding France SAS (Starcin).

The proposed combination involves the acquisition of 100 per cent of the issued shares of Fosroc Top One, Fosroc Top Two, and Fosroc Supply FZE by Starcin, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA (Saint-Gobain).

Fosroc Top One, Fosroc Top Two, and Fosroc Supply FZE are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Fosroc Group Holdings Ltd (Fosroc).

Starcin provides an array of services, including strategy and commercial development, legal, financial, and accounting, etc.

Saint-Gobain's business lines include the production and sale of products, solutions and services for construction and housing, including building glass, ceilings, and building chemicals.

It also manufactures high-performance solutions like automotive glass, ceramics, and performance plastics while Fosroc is an international manufacturer and supplier of high-performance, low-volume chemicals for the construction industry.

In June, Saint-Gobain announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire FOSROC for USD 1,025 million (approximately 960 million euros) in cash.

Deals beyond a certain threshold require approval from the regulator, which keeps a tab on unfair business practices and promotes fair competition in the marketplace.
New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has set aside a petition seeking to initiate insolvency proceedings against Amazon Wholesale (India).

A three-member NCLAT bench upheld the order passed by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), which had in March this year dismissed the insolvency plea filed by Multiplier Brand Solutions.

Multiplier Brand Solutions had filed the plea under Section 9 of the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code. It had alleged a default of Rs 3.7 crore for eight invoices raised between March 2023 and May 2023.

However, rejecting it, NCLAT said the "claim of Appellant for payment of invoices which are the subject matter of Section 9 Application was disputed much before Demand Notice was issued".

The appellate tribunal further said: "The adjudicating authority (NCLT) has not committed any error in refusing to initiate CIRP, there being pre-existing dispute which is reflected with the correspondence which took place between the parties much prior to issuance of demand notice."

Multiplier Brand Solutions had entered into a novation and substitution agreement with Amazon Seller Services and Amazon Wholesale (India) and provided its services.

It had raised invoices amounting to Rs 3.69 crore from March 2023 to May 2023. However, the amount was disputed by Amazon.

Later claiming default over the said invoices, Multiplier Brand Solutions approached the Delhi bench of NCLT.

This was opposed by Amazon which submitted the existence of a dispute regarding the amount claimed by the operational creditor before the issuance of the demand notice.

Agreeing to this, NCLT rejected the plea. However, it said it was not expressing any opinion on entitlement or the claim raised by the petitioner on the corporate debtor.

This order was challenged by Multiplier Brand Solutions in April this year before the appellate tribunal, NCLAT.
New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Tuesday approved Kotak Mahindra Bank's proposed acquisition of Standard Chartered Bank India's personal loans portfolio for Rs 4,100 crore.

"The proposed combination is in the nature of an acquisition of the Target Business (unsecured personal loans portfolio) by Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd (acquirer) from the Standard Chartered Bank, India Branch (Transferor)," CCI said in a release.

Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd is a listed entity engaged in the business of providing a range of banking and financial services.

"CCI approves the proposed combination involving the acquisition of standard unsecured personal loans portfolio of Standard Chartered Bank, India Branch by Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd," according to a post by CCI on X.

In October this year, private sector lender Kotak Mahindra Bank announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire the personal loan book of Standard Chartered Bank, India, for Rs 4,100 crore (about USD 490 million) to further strengthen its position in the retail credit market.

The acquisition aligns with Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd's (KMBL) strategy to transform for scale and focus on customer-centric growth.

The high-quality loan book from Standard Chartered Bank allows KMBL to build on its strength in the affluent customer segment.

Deals beyond a certain threshold require approval from the regulator, which keeps a tab on unfair business practices and promotes fair competition in the marketplace.
New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) The Finance Ministry on Tuesday issued a host of suggestions with regard to 'Transfer Policy' of public sector banks with an aim to promote greater transparency.

According to an advisory issued to heads of public sector banks (PSBs), the Department of Financial Services asked lenders to incorporate advices suitably in their respective 'Transfer Policy' with the approval of their boards and take immediate action for its implementation and compliance from 2025-26.

"PSBs are also advised to send a copy of the policy, so modified, to this Department, at the earliest," the communication said.

The transfer policy has been reviewed with an aim to promote greater transparency and ensure formulation of a uniform and non-discretionary policy, it said.

Some of the changes advised include banks to automate the transfer process and to develop an online process for the same with facilities of giving location preference options to its employees, it said.

"Women employees be transferred as far as possible to nearby places, stations, regions," the letter said, adding that grievances received from employees citing violation of transfer policies be dealt in a considerate manner.

Transfer timelines are clearly defined and strictly adhered to and transfer exercises may be completed before June, every year, it said.

Mid-year transfers may be avoided as far as possible except in case of promotions and administrative exigencies, it added.

"Banks to accommodate officers up to Scale-III in the respective linguistic region in order to ensure seamless customer service to the extent possible, considering various factors including availability of vacancies, administrative exigencies etc," it said.

It further asked banks to designate certain regions as 'Difficult areas' and the employees posted there be given preference for transfer after completion of their tenure.
New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) The Delhi High Court has stayed clean energy agency SECI's decision to bar Anil Ambani group firm Reliance Power Ltd from participating in auctions for three years, the company said on Tuesday.

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) had earlier this month barred Reliance Power and its units from participating in auctions for three years over allegations of submitting a fake bank guarantee to support its bid for a recent battery storage tender.

"High Court of Delhi, in its hearing held today, has granted stay on notice of debarment and public notice issued by SECI against the company, including all its subsidiaries except Reliance NU BESS Limited (formerly known as Maharashtra Energy Generation Limited)," the firm said in a stock exchange filing.

Reliance NU BESS had submitted a bank guarantee purportedly issued by the FirstRand Bank through its branch supposed to be located in Manila City, Manila, the Philippines.

Upon detailed investigation, it was confirmed by the Indian branch of the above Bank that there does not exist any such branch of the bank in the Philippines, prompting SECI to conclude that the BG submitted was a fake document.

On November 6, SECI announced debarring Reliance Power and Reliance NU BESS from participating in SECI tenders for three years for submitting "fake documents".

Reliance Power said it had challenged the notice of debarment by SECI in the Delhi High Court.
New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) Industry body COAI on Tuesday said the Cabinet nod for bank guarantee waiver for past spectrum purchases is a "landmark decision" that would help reduce financial burden on telecom operators in the country.

The association - whose members include Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio - further said the move will enhance cash flow, free up capital and enable capital investments in network expansion and technology upgrades. This, COAI said, will ensure a stronger and robust rollout of telecom networks in the future.

"COAI welcomes the Union Cabinets move and thanks the Government on approving the waiving of bank guarantee for telecom operators on spectrum purchased before 2022. This landmark decision will significantly help reduce the financial burden on the telecom operators in the country," SP Kochhar, Director General of COAI said in a statement.

The Union Cabinet has waived the requirement to submit bank guarantees for spectrum purchased through auctions held before 2022 - a move that offers a breather to debt-ridden Vodafone Idea as it already crossed the timeline to submit Rs 24,746.9 crore bank guarantee for spectrum payment coming up between October 2025 and September 2026.

The decision will also provide relief to Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio who have bought radiowaves through various auctions that were held before 2022.

"While we are studying the details of the decision and will be able to have a more substantial view of the same, we feel positive that this decision will enhance cash flow, free up capital and enable capital investments in network expansion and technology upgrades, ensuring a stronger and robust rollout of telecom networks in the future," COAI said.

Meanwhile, Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA), in a statement, termed the decision a pivotal moment of financial relief and strategic support for India's telecom sector.

"By removing the bank guarantee requirements retroactively, the government has created a more flexible financial environment that will enable telecom operators to optimise their capital allocation, enhance liquidity, and accelerate infrastructure investments," Manoj Kumar Singh, Director General, DIPA said.

This decision is particularly significant for operators like Vodafone Idea, who have been navigating complex financial challenges, DIPA noted.
New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) Comestic major L'Oreal India reported a marginal decline in profit to Rs 487.46 crore in FY24, while its revenue from operations -- income from net sales -- was up 12.6 per cent to Rs 5,576.47 crore, according to an RoC filing.

Its total income, which includes other income, was up 13.83 per cent to Rs 5,684.60 crore for the financial year ended March 31, 2024.

L'Oreal India Pvt Ltd had reported a profit of Rs 488.35 crore and its revenue from operations was at Rs 4,952.55 crore a year earlier, for 2022-23, according to financial data accessed through business intelligence platform Tofler.

Its "advertising promotional expenses" in FY24 were up 23.7 per cent to Rs 1,714.54 crore, as against Rs 1,385.74 crore a year ago.

Moreover, the royalty paid to its French parent firm was up 16.3 per cent to Rs 265.16 crore in FY24. This "cost royalty" was at Rs 228.05 for FY23.

L'Oreal India is a subsidiary of French multinational L'Oreal SA, which owns a 99.99 per cent stake in the company.

Total expenses of L'Oreal India were at Rs 5,022.87 crore, up 16.56 per cent in FY24.

In FY24, L'Oreal India's revenue from the sale of products was at Rs 5,368.52 crore, up 14 per cent as against Rs 4,711.96 crore a year ago.

Its revenue from the sale of services such as contract research and innovation, etc, was at Rs 203.32 crore.

L'Oreal India has been operating in India since 1994. It now has a portfolio of 13 brands here -- L'Oreal Paris, Garnier, Maybelline New York, NYX Professional Makeup -- which are available in mass market channels.

While in hair and beauty salons it has brands L'Oreal Professionnel, Matrix, Kerastase, Cheryl's Cosmeceuticals, Redken and in selective distribution Kiehl's, Lancome, Yves Saint Laurent. It is also present in pharmacy and chemist channels through CeraVe.
Karachi, Nov 26 (PTI) A 17-year-old African elephant named Madhubala will be reunited with her two sisters after 15 years on Tuesday as she was moved from Karachi Zoo to the citys Safari Park.

Karachi Zoo authorities, with the assistance of Four Paws International, an animal welfare organisation, transported Madhubala to the sprawling Safari Park on the other side of the city.

The operation was followed by curious bystanders who cheered and whistled as the elephant was put in a specially-made container, lifted by a crane and then taken on a truck in a motorcade to the Safari Park where her two sisters have been living since 2009.

Madhubala has been placed in a night room for now and she will meet her sisters Sonu and Malaika in a day or two once she has settled in her new surroundings, said Dr Khalil Ahmed of Four Paws International.

Madhubala has been living alone in solitary confinement at the famous and historic Karachi Zoo since her companion Noor Jahan died a year ago in tragic circumstances.

Madhubala is now the countrys second and last elephant freed from zoo captivity. The first was Islamabads Kaavan, who was moved to a sanctuary in Cambodia in 2020 by Four Paws.

Once at the Safari Park, Madhubala gracefully settled down in her night room and was treated to a feast with cucumbers, carrots, bananas, apples and watermelons placed nearby.

Dr Khalil said it would be a big day for Madhubala to reunite with her sisters.

The sisters were brought to Karachi as calves in 2009 and were separated when Madhubala was placed in the Karachi Zoo with Noor Jahan and Sonu and Malaika went to Safari Park.

Elephants have a good memory and dont forget very easily so the reunion would be easy and special for them. Elephants love to be in families and most of them are herds of females, Khalil said.
Melbourne, Nov 26 (The Conversation) Australian celebrity and public relations maven Roxy Jacenko has said she regrets turning her daughter, Pixie Curtis, into a child social media influencer.

The 13-year-olds Instagram account had long been used by her mother to generate income via brand sponsorships and online businesses such as Pixies Bows and Pixies Toys. But Jacenko is now saying the money wasnt worth the negative effects of Pixies public persona, which included being bullied at school.

This admission, along with the governments decision to ban social media for under-16s, is a timely reminder for parents to reflect on how they share images of their own children online  even for those of us who dont intend to make our children influencers.



Parents views on sharenting

A 2019 survey of 613 Australian parents (mostly mothers) found 15% posted images of their children to Facebook at least once a week, while 13% posted at least weekly to Instagram. Only 20% said they never shared images to Facebook, and 37% never shared them to Instagram.

Research has found parents who choose to not share images of their children are often driven by concerns over privacy and future consequences.

Parent influencers, however, remain much more likely to do this  and are often unaware of the potential risks. Nonetheless, a number of them are now pushing back against the practice and offering alternatives to posting images of ones children online.

According to research by one of us (Katrin), many Australian parents understand their childrens images and details (such as name, address and school) can be considered sensitive information.

They associate this identifiable information with risks posed by bad actors (such as paedophiles) who could identify and follow their children both online and offline. These concerns are further fuelled by media reports of such incidents.

Many parents will use strategies to minimise risk, such as by blurring childrens faces in online posts, or covering them with emojis. They may also crop the image, or have the child turn away from the camera to protect their identity.

That said, some people may still be able to identity the child in question, such as by feeding the image through an online image search and certain AI tools. An images metadata may also include details such as where and when a photo was taken, making it easier to trace.



Balancing risks with benefits

Although the concerns are clear, sharing images of ones children in online spaces can also have many benefits for families.

By reducing the information they share about their kids, parents may also miss out on opportunities to gain social support from peers and celebrate major milestones in their kids lives. After all, many families use social media platforms as digital family albums and tools to archive key memories.

Katrins research also found that families  particularly those from diverse cultural backgrounds  may also use these platforms to maintain important connections with loved ones living overseas.

Similarly, parents from non-traditional family structures, such as same-sex parents, often depend on social media as important spaces to proudly share, advocate for and normalise their experience of family life.



What to ask yourself before you post

Despite the move to ban social media for children under 16, it doesnt look like Australia will follow Frances lead in curtailing sharenting through legislation such as a childrens image rights law.

In France, this law aims to tackle the risks of sharenting by enshrining childrens right to privacy. It means protecting childrens privacy is among a parents legal duty  and that children legally need to be consulted.

Nonetheless, there are several things parents can consider before they share their childs data, including images and video. For instance, they can:



1. get consent from a child (if they are old enough) before before posting about them



2. share carefully. Try sharing less through public avenues, or be more mindful of your audience. Ensure identifiable information such as school logos are not featured in images. You can even remove a photos metadata



3. review the policies and practices of institutions your child may be part of. Check if they ask for childrens consent before taking video or photographic images  as well as options for opting out



4. have a conversation with your child, partner and other family members (such as grandparents) about an approach that feels comfortable when it comes to sharing your childs images. You may ask friends and family members to reduce unnecessary sharing



5. consciously select password-protected apps or online platforms to share photos with family and friends, rather than social media



6. regularly review each platforms provided privacy settings, and purposefully use these features. For example, you may set your Facebook account to private, or only participate in private Facebook groups.



Posting content online comes with a range of risks, some of which remain unknown in the face of developing technologies. But it can also have immeasurable benefits. Its important all family members consider these nuances and share the responsibility of making balanced, informed decisions about their online practices. (The Conversation) AMS
Karo (Indonesia), Nov 26 (AP) Indonesian rescuers have recovered 20 bodies and are looking for two villagers who remain missing after flash floods on Sumatra island caused mud and rocks to tumble down mountainsides, officials said Tuesday.

Torrential rains over the weekend caused rivers to burst their banks in four hilly districts in North Sumatra province, washing away houses and destroying farms.

Four more bodies were recovered Monday evening in Karo Regency, bringing the total there to 10, National Disaster Management Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said in a statement Tuesday.

Flash floods also left four people dead in Deli Serdang district, and rescue workers were still searching for two people who were swept away.

Earlier, rescuers recovered two bodies in villages in South Tapanuli district, and four members of a family, including two children, in Harang Julu, a mountainside village in Padang Lawas district.

Seasonal rain from about October to March frequently causes flooding and landslides in Indonesia, an archipelago of 17,000 islands where millions of people live in mountainous areas or near fertile flood plains. (AP) NPK

NPK
Manila (Philippines), Nov 26 (AP) Philippine authorities handed a subpoena to Vice President Sara Duterte's office Tuesday, inviting her to answer investigators' questions after she publicly threatened to have the president, his wife and the House of Representatives speaker assassinated if she were killed in an unspecified plot herself.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Monday described her threat as a criminal plot and vowed to fight it and uphold the rule of law in the country in a looming showdown between the country's two top leaders.

The national police and the military expressed alarm and immediately boosted Marcos's security. National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said the threats were a national security concern.

Duterte, a 46-year-old lawyer, said her remarks were not an actual threat but an expression of concern over her own safety due to unspecified danger to her life. The Marcos administration's statements against her were a farce and part of efforts to persecute critics like her, Duterte said.

The subpoena ordered Duterte to appear before the National Bureau of Investigation on Friday to shed light on the investigation for alleged grave threats.

Duterte said Monday she was willing to face an investigation but demanded the Marcos administration also respond to her questions, including alleged irregularities in government.

Under Philippine law, such public remarks may constitute a crime of threatening to inflict a wrong on a person or their family and is punishable by a prison term and fine.

Marcos ran with Duterte as his vice-presidential running mate in 2022 elections and both won landslide victories on a campaign call of national unity. In the Philippines, the two positions are elected separately.

The two leaders and their camps, however, soon had a bitter falling out over key differences, including in their approaches to China's aggressive territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea.

Duterte resigned from the Marcos Cabinet in June as education secretary and head of an anti-insurgency body and became one of the most vocal critics of the president, his wife and his cousin Martin Romualdez, who heads the House of Representatives.

The House has been investigating alleged misuse of confidential government funds by Duterte as vice president and when she headed the Department of Education. (AP) NPK

NPK
Dhaka, Nov 26 (PTI) A court in Bangladesh on Tuesday ordered to send to jail Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a leader of the Hindu group Sammilita Sanatani Jote, after turning down his bail appeal.

The court of Chattogram Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate Kazi Shariful Islam issued the order around 11:45 am on Tuesday, BDNews24.com said.

The followers of the Hindu priest began to chant slogans in protest at the court premises as he was not granted bail, the news portal added.

Bangladesh police on Monday arrested Das from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area in Dhaka.

Das was detained in line with a request from (regular police)," spokesman of the Police's Detective Branch Rezaul Karim said. However, the arrest was made without giving details of the charges.

Citing Sanatani Jagran Jote's key organiser, Gaurang Das Brahmachari, Bdnews24 news portal said on Monday that Das was supposed to go to Chattogram by air from Dhaka.

Earlier, on October 30, a case was filed against 19 people, including Das, at Chattogram's Kotwali Police Station, accusing them of disrespecting Bangladesh's national flag in Chattogram's New Market area during a rally of the Hindu community.
Athens, Nov 26 (AP) NATO's new Secretary General Mark Rutte on Tuesday said the alliance needs to go further to support Ukraine in its fight against a Russian invasion and accused Moscow of dangerously escalating the conflict by bringing in thousands of North Korean troops.

In pursuing its illegal war in Ukraine, Russia makes use of North Korean weapons and troops, Iranian drones and Chinese dual use goods for its defense industry, Rutte said while on a visit to Greece. This is a dangerous expansion of the war and a challenge to global peace and security.

Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister who took over as NATO chief last month, met Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens and thanked him for Greek support for Ukraine that includes weapons and ammunition, as well as training for F-16 pilots and technicians.

Our support for Ukraine has kept them in the fight, but we need to go further to change the trajectory of the conflict, Rutte said.

Greece spends over 3% of its gross domestic product on defense, above the 2% committed minimum for NATO members, and is seeking a change in European Union budget rules to allow for greater military spending. It also wants to help create a common European air defence system.

We agree on one of the fundamental priorities for all allies: the need to strengthen our collective defence, a goal that requires a strong defence industry with significant investments, Mitsotakis said, adding that Athens backed a more functional relationship between NATO and the European Union, to further strengthen the European pillar of the alliance.

Europe's NATO members have been discussing plans to boost defence investments for months due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and uncertainty surrounding the incoming US administration following the election victory of President-elect Donald Trump.

Rutte's visit to Athens follows meetings with Trump in Florida and Turkish leaders in Ankara Monday.

Rutte also held talks with Greece's Minister of Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis and Minister of Defence Nikos Dendias.

Several thousand protesters marched through central Athens in opposition to the NATO chief's visit. The largest rally was organised by a Communist-backed trade union, at which protesters chanted: Give us money for health and education, not NATO killers. (AP) SCY

SCY
Dakar (Senegal), Nov 26 (AP) Interpol arrested 1,006 suspects in Africa during a two-month operation clamping down on cybercrime that left tens of thousands of victims, including some who were trafficked, and produced millions in financial damages, the global police organisation said Tuesday.

Operation Serengeti, a joint operation with Afripol, the African Union's police agency, ran from Sept 2 to Oct 31 in 19 African countries and targeted criminals behind ransomware, business email compromise, digital extortion and online scams, the agency said in a statement.

From multi-level marketing scams to credit card fraud on an industrial scale, the increasing volume and sophistication of cybercrime attacks is of serious concern," said Valdecy Urquiza, the Secretary General of Interpol.

Interpol pinpointed 35,000 victims, with cases linked to nearly USD 193 million in financial losses worldwide, stating that local police authorities and private sector partners, including internet service providers, played a key role in the operation.

Through Serengeti, Afripol has significantly enhanced support for law enforcement in African Union Member States," Jalel Chelba, Afripol's Executive Director, said in the statement.

In Kenya, the police made nearly two dozen arrests in an online credit card fraud case linked to losses of USD 8.6 million. In the West African country of Senegal, officers arrested eight people, including five Chinese nationals, for a USD 6 million online Ponzi scheme.

Chelba said Afripol's focus now includes emerging threats like Artificial Intelligence-driven malware and advanced cyberattack techniques.

Other dismantled networks included a group in Cameroon suspected of using a multi-level marketing scam for human trafficking, an international criminal group in Angola running an illegal virtual casino and a cryptocurrency investment scam in Nigeria, the agency said.

Interpol, which has 196 member countries and celebrated its centennial last year, works to help national police forces communicate with each other and track suspects and criminals in fields like counterterrorism, financial crime, child pornography, cybercrime and organised crime.

The world's biggest  if not best-funded  police organisation has been grappling with new challenges including a growing caseload of cybercrime and child sex abuse, and increasing divisions among its member countries.

Interpol had a total budget of about 176 million euros (about USD 188 million) last year, compared to more than 200 million euros at the European Union's police agency, Europol, and some USD 11 billion at the FBI in the United States. (AP) SCY

SCY
Moscow, Nov 26 (AP) Russian authorities on Tuesday ordered a British diplomat to leave the country on allegations of spying as tensions soar over the conflict in Ukraine.

Russia's Federal Security Service, the top domestic security and counterintelligence agency, said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies that the diplomat had provided false personal data while seeking permission to enter the country.

The agency, known under its Russian acronym FSB, alleged that he has worked for British intelligence under diplomatic cover, replacing one of the six British diplomats who were expelled from Russia in August. The FSB alleged that the diplomat was involved in intelligence and subversive activities that threatened the security of the Russian Federation.

Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said a decision has made to revoke the diplomat's accreditation and he has been ordered to leave the country within two weeks. She said that the ministry has summoned the British ambassador to hand over the notice.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office had no immediate comment.

Russia announced the expulsion of six British diplomats in September weeks after it happened. Moscow accused them of spying, allegations rejected by the UK as completely baseless.

Russia and NATO allies have carried out multiple rounds of mutual expulsions of diplomats as relations have sunk to the lowest levels since the Cold War after the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022. (AP) SCY

SCY
Mexico City, Nov 26 (AP) President Claudia Sheinbaum has suggested Mexico could retaliate with tariffs of its own, after US President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose 25% tariffs on Mexican goods if the country doesn't stop the flow of drugs and migrants across the border.

Sheinbaum said she was willing to engage in talks on the issues, but said drugs were a US problem.

One tariff would be followed by another in response, and so on until we put at risk common businesses, Sheinbaum said, referring to US automakers that have plants on both sides of the border.

She said Tuesday that Mexico had done a lot to stem the flow of migrants, noting caravans of migrants no longer reach the border. She also said Mexico had worked to stem the flow of drugs, like the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl, even though it is a problem of public health and consumption in your country's society. (AP) SCY

SCY
Rome, Nov 26 (PTI) Asserting that one is not going to find a solution from the battlefield, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that at some stage, "people will come to the table" when it comes to the prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The 69-year-old, who is in Italy on an official visit from November 24-26 to participate in the Outreach session of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, said "the sooner they do it, the better because the rest of the world is being affected".

Jaishankar said this during an interview to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

"We have today two major conflicts taking place simultaneously. This is putting the entire international system under great stress, he said.

"And we cannot be just spectators and say, well, that's the way it is. It may or may not work. We will not know until we try. But we do believe that on both these conflicts, in Ukraine and in the Middle East, countries need to take initiatives, make efforts, however difficult it looks, to try and find some common ground, something better than what we have today," he was quoted as saying in the interview published on Tuesday.

On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the union minister reiterated that India thinks that there should be "diplomacy to find a way of ending the conflict". "And that's what we are trying to do," he said.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict that began in February 2022 entered its 1,000th day on November 19.

Asked what were the pathways he saw, the minister said, "Engaging the participants."

"So you have to talk to Moscow and you have to talk to Kyiv. And that's what we are trying to do. Look, it's now nearly three years. You're not going to get a solution from the battlefield, right? We have to negotiate. At some stage, people will come to the table. The sooner they do it, the better, because the rest of the world is affected," the minister added.

It's not just that Europe is taking the brunt of this conflict. Everybody else's life is also impacted by what is happening. So, do understand there is a big feeling across very large parts of the world. More effort needs to be done to actually get the participants back to the negotiation table," he said.

The EAM further said that "the case for countries taking an initiative to return to the negotiating table is compelling". "And, I would say to you this is a very widespread sentiment in the world".

Asked what sense he was getting of the future course of this conflict, the EAM said, "We will know what Russia wants or Ukraine wants only when they get down to negotiation."

At a round-table session in New Delhi on November 20, Russian envoy to India Denis Alipov had said that there is not much ground for negotiation at present but Moscow is prepared to sit and talk with Kyiv, provided there is an "acceptable basis" for it.
Dhaka, Nov 26 (PTI) A lawyer was killed on Tuesday during clashes between the security personnel and followers of a Hindu community leader, who was denied bail and sent to jail by a Bangladesh court, according to local media reports.

The victim was identified as Saiful Islam, a 35-year-old assistant public prosecutor and a member of the Chattogram District Bar Association, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.

Citing Dr Nibedita Ghosh, a duty doctor at the emergency department of Chittagong Medical College Hospital, the paper said that six others were injured in the clashes that erupted after Chattograms Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate court denied bail to prominent Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, arrested on sedition charges.

Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, president of the Chittagong Lawyers' Association, said that protesters dragged a lawyer from beneath his chamber and hacked him to death.

As Das was being taken away in a police van, he addressed the crowd through a hand mike, urging them to remain calm.

Around 3 pm, the law enforcement agencies resorted to sound grenades, tear gas shells, and baton charges, dispersing the protesters.

Deputy Commissioner of City Police Liaquat Ali confirmed one death but said they were still investigating the cause.

The Daily Star newspaper reported that at least 10 people, including journalists, were injured during the clash.
Rome, Nov 26 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and discussed the state of the world and the India-US partnership, which continues to move forward.

The 69-year-old union minister, who is in Italy on an official visit from November 24-26 to participate in the Outreach session of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, met Blinken in Fiuggi.

"Always good to meet @SecBlinken, this time in Fiuggi, Italy. Discussed the state of the world and India-US partnership, which continues to move forward," he said in a post on X.

Earlier, the external affairs minister met South Koreas Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul. Pleasure to meet @FMChoTaeyul of RoK at the G7 FMM in Fiuggi. Value our conversation on the global situation, he posted on X.

On Monday, Jaishankar met his counterparts from several countries, including the UK, France and Ukraine, and discussed ways to deepen cooperation in multiple sectors as well as regional and international developments.
Mumbai, Nov 26 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday asked supporters not to throng his official residence Varsha in south Mumbai to pitch for his continuation as CM.

"After the great victory of the Mahayuti alliance, our government will be formed once again in the state. As a grand alliance, we contested the election together and are still together today, Shinde said on X, asking his supporters not to assemble outside the Varsha bungalow, or any other location in his support.

Out of love for me, some people have appealed to everyone to gather together and come to Mumbai. I am deeply grateful for your love. But I appeal that no one should come together in my support in such a manner," Shinde said.

Despite the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance securing a massive victory, winning 230 seats in the 288-member assembly, consensus has eluded the ruling combines leaders so far on who should be the next CM.

Shindes supporters have been saying that he should continue as CM as the landslide win was achieved under his leadership. Leaders of the BJP, which recorded its highest ever tally in the state assembly elections, have been pitching for Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis to take oath at the CM for a third time.

In the recent assembly elections, the BJP secured 132 seats, while allies Shiv Sena and NCP won 57 and 41 seats respectively. The counting of votes for the November 20 polls was held on Saturday.
Mumbai, Nov 26 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde resigned on Tuesday, paving the way for the appointment of a new government amid haggling by his Shiv Sena faction for continuity and the BJP pressing for its candidate for the top post.





The uncertainty surrounding the selection of Shinde's successor remains, as coalition leaders have yet to reach a consensus on the candidate.







Accompanied by Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, Shinde met Governor C P Radhakrishnan earlier in the day to officially submit his resignation.







Following this, the Governor requested Shinde to continue in a caretaker role until the new Chief Minister is sworn in. The outgoing assembly's term concluded on Tuesday, adding urgency to the transition process.







The ruling Mahayuti coalition showed an impressive performance in the recent assembly elections, where it secured a commanding 230 out of 288 seats. The BJP on its own walked away with 132 seats followed by Shiv Sena Shinde faction with 57 and Ajit Pawar led NCP with 41 seats.







Deepak Kesarkar, a minister in the Shinde cabinet, told reporters later about the resignation and the Governor's directive for Shinde to act as caretaker chief minister.







To a question, Kesarkar said the new government will be sworn in at the earliest.







Despite the coalition's electoral victory, the Mahayuti alliance, which comprises the BJP, Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's NCP, is grappling with disagreements regarding the next Chief Minister.







When asked about the leadership transition, Kesarkar emphasised that while party officials hope for a candidate from their ranks, the ultimate decision will rest with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, which they will accept.







As the political drama unfolds in Maharashtra, all eyes remain on the ruling coalition's leadership dynamics and the upcoming swearing-in ceremony for the new Chief Minister.
Mumbai, Nov 26 (PTI) The Maharashtra government has reinstated IPS officer Rashmi Shukla as the Director General of Police (DGP) and chief of the police force of Maharashtra, after the conclusion of the assembly polls, an order issued by the state home department said on Monday evening.

Senior IPS officer Sanjay Kumar Verma had taken over as the DGP of Maharashtra, a day after DGP Rashmi Shukla was removed on an Election Commission of India directive ahead of the assembly polls.

Shukla was removed from the post after a demand by Maharashtra Congress unit chief Nana Patole.

Verma was to hold the top post till the elections process was over, while Shukla was sent on compulsory leave for the same duration, as per a previous government order.

However, with the completion of the electoral process and the announcement of election results on Sunday, the Election Commission of India officially declared the Model Code of Conduct concluded on Monday, the home department order said.

As a result, the government has ended Shuklas period of enforced leave and she has been directed to resume her role as DGP, with Verma transferring the charge back to her, it said.

The official government order detailing this change has been digitally signed and published on the Maharashtra governments official website.
Patna, Nov 26 (PTI) Senior Congress leader Mohan Prakash on Tuesday accused the Narendra Modi government at the Centre of a conspiracy to reduce religious minorities and other weaker sections of the society to second-class citizens.

The AICC in-charge for Bihar made the remarks at the party's state headquarters here, while addressing a function organised on the occasion of Constitution Day.

Prakash also hailed the recent Supreme Court verdict, which upheld the words "secular" and "socialist", inserted into the Preamble by an amendment brought during Indira Gandhi's Prime Ministership.

"The BJP is today shedding crocodile tears on the Constitution. But the fact is, the party's leader Subramanyam Swamy had challenged the validity of the Constitutional amendment. Now, Modi must utter a word or two on the matter, the Congress leader said.

"There appears to be a conspiracy by the government to make SCs, STs, Muslims, Christians... all weaker sections second-class citizens, he alleged.

Prakash reminded Congress workers of the role played by party leaders of previous generation, especially those from Bihar like late Sachchidanand Sinha, in drafting the Constitution and remarked, "we must prove to be worthy inheritors of the legacy handed over by our ancestors".

Speaking at the same function, state Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh made mention of the initial antagonism towards the Constitution of the RSS.

"Is it not true the then RSS chief M S Golwalkar had condemned the Constitution, calling it a patchwork of things borrowed from other countries that was being imposed on India? Singh said.

The Rajya Sabha MP pointed out "this attitude of the RSS had led the then Union home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to impose a ban on the organisation, which was lifted only after the RSS leadership tendered an apology and promised to abide by the Constitution".
Kolkata, Nov 26 (PTI) The West Bengal government was planning to introduce drones for fire-fighting operations in the state, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sujit Bose said on Tuesday.

Speaking in the assembly, he said 75 new fire engines and six hydraulic ladders would be inducted into service in January.

"The number of fire incidents in Kolkata has gone down. In 2022-23, there were 1,590 incidents of fire, and in 2023-2024, it was 920," he said in reply to a question.

Bose said the revamped Kalighat and Tollygunge fire stations in Kolkata, and the new ones in Kalimpong district and Labhpur in Birbhum district would be made operational soon.

New fire stations are being planned in Tarapith in Birbhum, Banarhat in Jalpaiguri, Itahar in Uttar Dinajpur, and Darjeeling, he said.

Later, Bose told reporters that the state government was planning to gradually introduce 10 drones for fire-fighting operations.

The minister said that investigations into some incidents of fire in Kolkata have revealed that "dishonest" businessmen have "deliberately" torched their properties for insurance money.
Bhubaneswar, Nov 26 (PTI) The Odisha Assembly on Tuesday was adjourned for about an hour as opposition BJD and Congress members shouted slogans over the death of three tribal women by eating mango kernel gruel allegedly due to lack of foodgrain.

As soon as the House made obituary reference to six ex-members, Speaker Surama Padhy allowed Question House. However, the BJD and Congress MLAs trooped into the well of the House and protested the death of tribal women in Kandhamal district.

The members raised slogans against the Mohan Charan Majhi government accusing it of failing to streamline public distribution system for which the people at Mandipanka village in Kandhamal district faced food scarcity leading to the death of three tribal women.

As the din continued in the well of the House, the Speaker adjourned the proceeding till 12.25 pm.

Earlier, Leader of the House and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi moved an obituary reference and the House paid tribute to six of its ex-members. The obituary reference was made over the demise of former minister Samit Dey, ex-members Dhaneswar Majhi, Makardwaj Pradhan, Niranjan Pradhan, Utkal Keshari Parida and Purna Chandra Majhi.

Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik and Congress Legislature Party leader Ram Chandra Kadam also expressed their grief and condoled the demise of six emmbers. The House observed a one-minute silence in respect of the departed former members of the Assembly.

The winter session of the Odisha assembly began here on Tuesday and will continue till December 31. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who is also in charge of the Finance department, is scheduled to present supplementary budget in the afternoon session of the House.
New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said Constitution day celebration at a time when people lost their lives in Sambhal is not right and alleged that leaders of Opposition are not being allowed to visit the violence-hit area in Uttar Pradesh.

Extending wishes on Constitution day, he said, "The true celebration of the Constitution is when we follow it."

"We are Samajwadi (socialists), Babasaheb BR Ambedkar's Constitution protects us and gives us our rights. We respect the Constitution but to celebrate at a time when many people have lost their lives in Sambhal is not right," he said.

The country is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution as Samvidhan Divas. The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution at the Central Hall of Parliament on November 26, 1949. It came into force on January 26, 1950.

"What has been done by the government in Sambhal, people have lost their lives. Justice is being denied, people are being accused in false cases," Yadav alleged.

"The government is filing false cases against our MP, MLA and son of the MLA. Government is at fault. When the survey was done once, what was the need for the survey a second time?" he asked.

Chaos reigned in Sambhal city's Kot Garvi area on Sunday as people opposing a court-ordered survey of the Jama Masjid clashed with police, resulting in the death of four persons.

The clashes, which involved gunfire and stone-pelting, also left 20 people injured, including Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ramesh Chandra.

The survey followed a petition in a local court, claiming that the site of the mosque was previously a Harihar temple.

"They could have held a discussion, we are not against the survey, but there were BJP workers raising slogans while the team was conducting the survey. Was any action taken against them?" Yadav questioned.

"The government has banned the Internet, imposed curfew so that the Opposition cannot reach there. Our LoPs of both the houses want to go there but the government is not giving us permission," he said.

SP Lok Sabha member Dimple Yadav alleged that the violence in Sambhal was ignited to avoid discussion on how by-elections were held in the state.

"The atmosphere witnessed during the Uttar Pradesh elections clearly showed that the administration fully supported BJP. The theft and looting of votes were something the (state) government wanted to suppress. That is why the Sambhal incident was deliberately orchestrated," she said.

SP MP Iqra Hasan said the party boycotted the Constitution Day celebrations due to the incident in Sambhal.

"Our party boycotted the celebrations because an incident took place in our state (Uttar Pradesh) which is like a black spot on the Constitution. The people who are in power at the Centre and the state talk about the Constitution on one hand and on the other disrespect it. It is a very sad incident, we are in pain," she said.
Prayagraj, Nov 26 (PTI) For the first time, robotic fire tenders will be deployed at Mahakumbh 2025 to enhance fire safety at the world's largest spiritual gathering, according to officials.

Alongside these cutting-edge machines, 200 specially trained fire commandos will be stationed to manage emergencies and protect visitors.

Additional Director General (Fire Services) Padmaja Chauhan said that three robotic fire tenders, weighing 20-25 kilograms each, will be used to reach areas inaccessible to personnel.

These robots are capable of climbing stairs and extinguishing fires with precision, ensuring faster and safer responses, he said.

"The inclusion of robotic fire tenders marks a technological leap in fire management. They can be easily carried and deployed in sensitive zones," Chauhan said.

Additionally, Mahakumbh will feature an articulating water tower capable of spraying water from a height of 35 meters. The tower is equipped with a high-tech camera to monitor fire-prone areas from above, he said.

To bolster human resources, a Special Trained Rescue Group (STRG) has been established, modelled after the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), the ADG said.

The unit comprises 200 personnel trained by the NDRF and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Hyderabad, who will be deployed in high-risk zones during the fair, he said.

"Our focus is on preventing fire incidents altogether. Daily fire audits will be conducted, and sanitation workers will check for the unsafe use of equipment like blowers and immersion rods in camps," Chauhan added.

Highlighting the increased emphasis on safety, Chauhan noted that the budget for fire services has been raised significantly from Rs 6 crore during the last Kumbh to Rs 67 crore for Mahakumbh 2025.
Aligarh, Nov 26 (PTI) The Aarakshan Sangharsh Morcha on Tuesday held a march demanding reservation for Dalits and backward and Other Backward Classes in admission at Aligarh Muslim University.

The march was taken out by the newly-formed students' body amid tight security on the university campus. Barricades were raised at roads leading to the campus by the authorities.

The protesters gathered at Raja Mahendra Pratap chowk in the Civil Lines locality and then marched to the University Circle at the entry point of the campus, raising anti-AMU and religious slogans.

At the end of the march, some protesters tried to get past the barricades but met with force.

Protesters handed a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Additional City Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Mishra, who received it on behalf of the District Magistrate.

Mishra later told reporters that the procession was carried out peacefully.

The students in their memorandum demanded reservation for Hindu Dalits, backwards, and tribal in AMU till the Supreme Court passes a judgement on the issue.

A varsity official said protesters raised "provocative slogans" near the AMU Circle.

"The issue of reservation to any community now rests totally with the Supreme Court of India which is examining the entire matter in the light of the Constitution of the country and the legal status of the University," AMU spokesman and Member In-charge, Public Relations, Prof Mohammad Asim Siddiqui said.

He said a false impression was being created and that there was no reservation for Muslims in any course at the varsity.

"The only reservation which exists is reservation for internal students which include members of all communities. So the question of providing religion- or caste-based reservation does not arise till the apex court decides on this matter," Siddiqui said.
Jaipur, Nov 25 (PTI) BJP MLA Vishvaraj Singh and his supporters were denied entry into City Palace, Udaipur, hours after he was anointed the titular head of the erstwhile royal family of Mewar on Monday.

The situation outside the palace was tense with a heavy deployment of police to prevent any untoward incident. Stones were reportedly pelted from inside the palace.

Vishvaraj Singh was anointed as the head of the erstwhile royal family in Chittorgarh fort on Monday morning, following the demise of his father Mahendra Singh Mewar earlier this month.

However, a cloud of a feud between Mahendra Singh Mewar and his estranged younger brother Arvind Singh Mewar -- who are descendants of Rajput king Maharana Pratap -- hung over the occasion.

Vishvaraj Singh's uncle Arvind Singh issued a public notice against the newly annointed royal family head's planned visit to the Eklingnath temple of the family deity and the City Palace in Udaipur as part of rituals of the royal ceremony.

Both the temple and the palace are under the control of Arvind Singh who is the chairman and managing trustee of Shree Eklingji Trust in Udaipur.

Policemen were deployed outside the gates of the City Palace to maintain law and order after Arvind Singh's notices were issued in the morning.

His notices published in local newspapers warned of legal action for trespass or damage to the property.

After the ceremony in Chittorgarh fort, Vishvaraj Singh and his supporters reached Udaipur in the evening to visit the City Palace and the Eklingnathji temple but they could not enter due to heavy police deployment.

Vishvaraj Singh's supporters tried to cross the barricading but the police stopped them.

Senior police officials, Udaipur collector Arvind Poswal and SP Yogesh Goyal spoke to Vishvaraj Singh and his supporters and tried to resolve the issue. They also spoke to Arvind Singh's son but the talks remained inconclusive.

Given the tense situation, police have sent a report to the additional district magistrate to appoint a receiver for the area in the City Palace from Bali Pol to Dhuni. Vishvaraj Singh had planned to visit Dhuni for a darshan after his anointment.

After being denied entry, the Nathdwara MLA went to Jagdish Chowk with his supporters, barely a few metres away from the City Palace.
Shimla, Nov 26 (PTI) BJP leader Shanta Kumar has asked Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to clarify if Baddi Superintendent of Police Ilma Afroz was sent on leave to placate some "influential leaders" who were upset with her good work.

In a Facebook post, the former chief minister questioned Sukhu and the government's "silence", and asked him to clear the air on the IPS officer's "mysterious" leave.

He said that social media and news from other sources suggest that SP Afroz is a capable and honest officer who has taken strict action against "illegal activities of a politician's family" and that is why she has been sent on leave by the government.

Since the government has not given any clarification in this regard, it is only natural to believe such news, the BJP leader said.

He said Afroz was a talented and competent person from an ordinary family who went to a reputed institution like Oxford for education. She passed the IPS examination to become SP and discharged her duty honestly, Shanta Kumar said.

She should not be punished for her honesty and dedication to duty as it will bring a bad name for the government, he added.

The sand mining mafia was growing in the state and as per some new sources, Afroz's leave was ordered due to pressure from this mafia, the BJP leader said in his post.

Chief Minister Sukhu had earlier said that Afroz has gone on leave citing family reasons. When contacted, Afroz was not available for comment.
Prayagraj, Nov 26 (PTI) The Allahabad High Court has ruled that merely because a person is a central government employee does not entitle him to appointment in state services.

Dismissing a writ petition filed by one Vishal Saraswat, Justice Salil Kumar Rai observed, "Two different public employers may have different views regarding the suitability of a candidate for appointment and one employer is not bound by the decision and discretion of the other employer."

"The state government cannot be saddled with the liability to mechanically and slavishly follow the decision taken by the central government or the Rajya Sabha secretariat," the high court said.

Saraswat had approached the high court after the Uttar Pradesh government refused to appoint him in the state services, citing the pendency of a dowry case against him.

The petitioner was granted provisional appointment as assistant legislative committee - protocol / executive officer in the Rajya Sabha secretariat on December 21, 2020. The said appointment was subject to the outcome of a criminal case of harassment for dowry against the petitioner and his family members in 2017.

Later, the petitioner cleared the combined state and upper subordinate service examination, 2019 conducted by the UP Public Service Commission and secured first position.

After disclosure of the pending criminal case, a report was sought by the UP government from the Rajya Sabha secretariat, whereby it was communicated that the petitioner had no disciplinary enquiry pending against him.

However, the additional chief secretary, appointment section-III, UP government, on February 28, 2024 rejected a representation of the petitioner based on charges in the criminal case.

The petitioner filed the writ petition challenging the rejection as being violative of Article 14 (right to equality) and 16 (right to equality in the matter of public employment) of the Constitution.

It was argued that once the petitioner was an employee of the central government in Group-A service, the state government could not reject his appointment on grounds of the criminal case.

It was further argued that the criminal prosecution lodged against the entire family was false, a fact that was not considered by the additional chief secretary of the UP government.

The court, in its decision passed on November 22, noted that the petitioner had truthfully disclosed the pendency of the criminal case against him at the time of submitting the application form.

However, it relied upon a case of Avtar Singh vs Union of India (2016), in which it was held that pendency of criminal trial is a valid ground for rejection of candidature as eventual conviction might make the person unsuitable for the job.

Dismissing the petition, the court observed that merely being a part of the Rajya Sabha secretariat did not make him eligible for appointment in the state government.
Bengaluru, Nov 25 (PTI) Karnataka minister K H Muniyappa on Monday said the officials have been instructed to restore the Below Poverty Line and Above Poverty Line ration cards as they existed earlier.

The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister said the decision to this effect was taken in a meeting on November 21 on the orders of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Muniyappa said he has instructed officials to correct all the ration cards by November 28 and distribute rice to the BPL ration card holders with all the facilities.

This comes after some confusion in the state over the cancellation of many Below Poverty Line ration cards while the list of BPL families was being revised. The minister clarified that there was no need to worry for the eligible beneficiaries.

"Steps are being taken to ensure that the eligible beneficiaries are not inconvenienced, and the ineligible ration cards of taxpayers and government employees will be transferred to APL," he said.

The minister underlined that the state government has introduced pro-poor schemes for the benefit of economically weaker sections.
Bengaluru, Nov 26 (PTI) Karnataka has emerged as the top state in India with the highest Positive Talent Balance (PTB), according to a study by Xpheno, a Bengaluru-based specialist staffing company, on Tuesday.

The report, released by Karnataka Minister for Large and Medium Industries M B Patil, highlights that Karnataka is among only nine states to record a PTB during the 12-month study period ending October.

According to the minister, Haryana and Telangana secured the second and third positions, respectively. Karnatakas active white-collar talent base stands at 59.7 lakh, with 64 per cent having a minimum of one years work experience.

"Bengaluru dominates as the primary location in Karnataka, accounting for 34 lakh experienced white-collar professionals. It continues to attract domestic and international enterprises, driving significant talent movement," the report stated.

The IT/ITeS sector leads employment contribution in Karnataka, engaging over 37 per cent (14.3 lakh) of the states white-collar workforce. Other prominent sectors include BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance), Business Consulting & Services, Accounting & Auditing, and Automotive.

Karnatakas PTB of 63,500 during the 12 months was achieved with 1,36,500 white-collar professionals relocating to the state, while 73,000 transitioned out. Inbound talent interest remains strong, with 32 lakh jobseekers from across India preferring Karnataka, including 17 lakh from other major cities.

"The report positions Karnataka, particularly Bengaluru, as the leading destination for white-collar talent, thanks to its world-class infrastructure and job opportunities," the minister said.

Patil noted that Karnatakas ability to attract and retain more talent than it loses is encouraging multinational corporations (MNCs) to establish Global Capability Centers (GCCs) in the state. Strong talent corridors connecting Karnataka to major cities across India also make it a preferred choice for job seekers and returning NRI professionals.

The report further noted that women account for 5153 per cent of Karnatakas annual academic output, underscoring their significant contribution to the states talent pool.
Palakkad (Kerala), Nov 26 (PTI) Amidst the rift in Kerala BJP over the party's loss in the Palakkad Assembly by-poll, the Congress on Tuesday tried to cash in on the opportunity by inviting dissident leaders of the saffron party to its fold.



The displeasure openly expressed by the Chairperson and many councillors of the BJP-ruled Palakkad Municipality over the selection of C Krishnakumar as the party candidate in the Assembly by-poll, prompted the grand old party to make the political move.



The district leadership of the Congress made it clear that if the BJP councillors wish to renounce Hindutva and embrace the Congress ideology, they would be welcomed.



Senior Congress leader and Palakkad MP, V K Sreekandan and DCC president A Thankappan extended the invitation through the media.



However, they said they didn't hold any talks with any of the BJP councillors in this regard, and the matter would be taken up only after they expressed willingness to quit the saffron party.



Thankappan said the BJP councillors are yet to spell out their stand in this regard.



"We can take a call (on inviting them) only when they say clearly, like Sandeep G Varier, that they cannot adjust with the ideology of the BJP anymore and they believe in the ideology of the Congress," he told media.



The DCC president, however, made it clear that the Congress party is already strong and it does not need anyone from outside to strengthen it.





But if anyone expresses their desire to join the Congress, they would not be kept waiting at the doorstep. The portals of the party would be thrown open for them, he added.



Meanwhile, BJP leader and party candidate in the Palakkad by-poll, Krishnakumar rejected the reports of discontentment among BJP councillors in the district and said some of them reacted emotionally on Monday, and now they were convinced of the party stand.



He was replying to a question about the criticism by the party's municipal chairperson, Prameela Sasidharan, about the candidate selection.



"She has reacted emotionally, and now she is convinced about the party's stand. There are no differences of opinion in the party. Even if there is anything, we will sort it out," he said here.



BJP national council member N Sivarajan also dismissed reports of the resentment among the BJP councillors and the Congress's attempt to woo them post the by-polls.



A significant loss in the BJP's vote share in the recent by-election in Palakkad Assembly triggered strong reactions on Monday from the local leaders, who raised questions on the selection of the candidate and criticised the state party president, K Surendran, who was, however, backed by the national leadership.

Veteran leaders, including Sivarajan publicly criticised Surendran, the candidate C Krishnakumar, and election in-charge P Raghunath over the vote loss.

They also urged the party leadership to ascertain whether there were shortcomings in the candidate selection process in Palakkad, where the party has a strong presence in the state.

Amid mounting criticism, Surendran held a press conference in Kozhikode and had said that he took moral responsibility for the setbacks.

Meanwhile, rubbishing reports that Surendran had expressed willingness to quit taking moral responsibility for the defeat in Palakkad, the central BJP accused the CPI(M)-led LDF and the Congress-led UDF of "spreading rumours."



In the by-poll, BJP's Krishnakumar secured 39,549 votes (28.63 per cent), while Congress candidate Mamkootathil won with 58,389 votes (42.27 per cent). CPI(M)-backed P Sarin garnered 37,293 votes (27 per cent).
KYODO NEWS - Nov 26, 2024 - 20:38 | All, Japan

An engine being developed for use in the Epsilon S small rocket exploded Tuesday during a combustion test at a facility in southwestern Japan, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said, the second such incident in 16 months.

The explosion occurred 49 seconds after ignition at 8:30 a.m. at the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture. There were no injuries or damage to buildings outside the center.

The combustion pressure was higher than expected, JAXA said, adding it will continue to investigate the cause. The ground test for the second-stage engine was scheduled to last about 2 minutes.

"We are extremely sorry that we were unable to meet expectations," JAXA project manager Takayuki Imoto said at a press conference. "We can learn from failure. We will take advantage of this opportunity to develop a more reliable rocket."

The engine was 3.2 meters long with a diameter of 2.5 meters. It carried about 18 tons of solid fuel, about 3 tons more than the second-stage engine of the conventional Epsilon rocket, according to JAXA.

The space agency plans to launch an Epsilon rocket using almost the same type of engine with a Vietnamese satellite on board by the end of March, but changes to the plan seem inevitable due to the need for an investigation.

The explosion followed a similar incident in July last year when the same type of engine exploded during a test at the Noshiro Testing Center in the northeastern prefecture of Akita, severely damaging both the engine and facilities at the test site.

JAXA is developing the Epsilon S as the successor to the current Epsilon series to enhance the country's competitiveness in the growing satellite launch market, but the continuous failures could potentially slow progress.

Related coverage:

Japan's 2 new astronauts show excitement, with Moon possibly in sight

FOCUS: Japan parties vow to ramp up cybersecurity abilities as threats rise

Japan's space agency officially approves 2 astronauts after training


Viewed of

Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading.
CNN host Fareed Zakaria lauded Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy on Sunday as brilliant leaders of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative announced by President Donald Trump aimed at cutting federal spending and streamlining government operations.

Zakaria noted that the appointment of Musk and Ramaswamy to spearhead DOGE marks a potential turning point in the GOPs long-standing promise to roll back expansive government programs established under Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal. While he stopped short of endorsing their plan outright, Zakaria praised their effort to tackle inefficiency and waste in federal programs.

Of Donald Trumps recent announcements, the one that intrigues, even excites me the most, is the establishment of DOGE, Zakaria said during his broadcast. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who will be in charge of DOGE, are both brilliant, and the federal government has clearly become too expansive and its writ too cumbersome.

Zakaria outlined the challenges facing the initiative, noting that core programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and military spending are politically untouchable. This leaves just 15% of the federal budget, encompassing areas such as veterans benefits, agricultural subsidies, and infrastructure spending, as potential targets for reform. He acknowledged Musks ambition for $2 trillion in cuts but stressed the difficulty of achieving such reductions without significant sacrifices.

The CNN host also highlighted the historical context of DOGE, reflecting on the Republican Partys decades-long struggle to fulfill its promise of repealing New Deal policies. Ever since the 1930s, the partys strongest ideologues have promised to repeal the New Deal and dismantle the architecture of the federal government that was largely constructed by FDR. But they never did, Zakaria said.

He pointed out that even Republican presidents, from Dwight Eisenhower to Donald Trump, have largely maintained government spending levels, while Bill Clinton was the last president to balance the federal budget. Despite these obstacles, Zakaria expressed optimism about the potential for meaningful reform.

The U.S. federal government is smaller than much of the industrialized world in terms of spending as a percentage of GDP. It still desperately needs reform and streamlining, Zakaria said. With DOGE, we may finally get an effort to actually deliver on the central Republican promise of the last 70 years. And we will find out what America thinks of it.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Last week Sunday and Monday, one hundred Eruv professionals from all over the US and Canada, gathered in the Marriott of Saddle Brook, NJ, for the second annual City Eruv Conference, where participants learned and shared ideas on the subject of Eruvin.

The two-day event, complete with lodging options for out-of-towners, meals and tefillos, was arranged through the partnership of the OUs Director of Halachah Initiatives, Rabbi Ezra Sarna, and Rabbi Baruch Gore of the National Eruv Initiative. The committee chairs of the conference were Rabbi Chaim Meir Steinmetz of the Monsey Eruv and Rabbi Micha Shotkin, well known expert Eruv builder.

The conference began with Visnitzer Dayan, Rav Yechiel Steinmetz, covering the common mistakes in city and country Eruvin. Through interactive slideshow presentations, the numerous rabbonim and poskim shared their encounters with halachic challenges. Other presenters included: Rav Chaim Jachter, Rav Yitzchak Isaac Kresch, Rav Mordechai Willig, Rav Moshe Steiner, Rav Mordechai Fuchs, and Rav Shlomo Francis. Topics ranged from in-depth halacha shiurim to best practices in Eruv maintenance and construction.

On Monday, the conference organizers presented awards to those who have represented the Eruv organizations on the legal and political front. Reb Yoel Friedman, Chief Chaplain & Liaison of the Bergen County Sheriff & Prosecutors Office, was recognized for his efforts and accomplishments in securing building permits on major highways and partnerships with governmental agencies. Lawyers Bob Sugarman, Yehudah Buchweitz, and David Yolkut were recognized for defending Eruvin in numerous high profile court cases. They, in turn, gave credit to Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP for the firms value of community work.

At lunch break, the roundtable discussion was equally entertaining and informative, as participants shared their personal stories and tips. Some showcased creative solutions to the unique halachic issues that face their local Eruv, while others humbly shared challenges and triumphs.

The event continued with presentations on Eruv checking standards, traffic safety, and bucket-truck tours in the parking lot. Eruv builders gave hands-on tool and equipment demonstrations while others acquired Eruvin seforim that were either donated or put out for sale by the mechabrim. R Gore led the final session showcasing newly developed Eruv educational resources that attendees could use in their communities.

Pioneering the advantages of technology for the use of Torah and Mitzvos, OUs R Sarna presented the OU Eruv Software 2.0, which will make Eruv checking and documenting a whole lot easier. Through documentation and mapping, upkeep of the Eruv is kept to precise detail for the weekly checkers to follow. Tutorials about the software debuted at the conference. The software is already in use in many communities throughout the world.

The importance of the initiative was visible by the diversity of the crowd, as Eruv poskim and checkers stemmed from various communities and backgrounds. The incredible variety of cities represented, the diversity of attire, and the multitude of unique personalities only amplified the remarkable sense of achdus and fellowship, was Yoshi Falbers, CEO of The Chesed Fund and lead corporate sponsor, impression of the event. It was truly inspiring to see such unity in sharing the responsibility, improvement, and dedication to shmiras Shabbos across North America. This was an absolutely unparalleled event and a true kiddush Hashem.

Rabbi Chaim Heinneman, Rosh Kollel of the Cincinnati Community Kollel, who was present at the event, commented: I thoroughly enjoyed the great mix of Halacha, Hashkafa and the practical aspects that was shared at the Eruv Conference.

Another corporate sponsor of the conference, Central Jersey Screw & Bolt, is a longtime supplier for Eruv builders. Every time I get contacted by an eruv builder, I see it as an opportunity to help the Jewish people. When we were given the opportunity to be a sponsor and help with this holy event, it was a no brainer! said Moe Bamberger, COO of Central Jersey Screw & Bolt. It was amazing looking around the room and seeing the achdus of Yidden from every walk of life, and every part of the USA and Canada, united in one common goal of improving Eruvin.

As Rabbi Yossi Rodal of Seattles North End Eruv, put it: The unity was beautiful.

To learn more, visit www.ou.org/city-eruv-conference/
I am deeply concerned about President-elect Donald Trumps plan to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. While the broader economic implications of such a move are staggering, the specific impact on Jewish households, schools, and businesses could be crippling. This is not just a political issue; its one that strikes at the heart of how our communities function on a daily basis.

For many Jewish families, particularly large ones, undocumented workers are essential. These workers are not a luxurythey are the backbone of our homes. Managing large households and paying even for the basics, often with both parents working or one parent in kollel, is already a financial juggling act. Affordable help allows families to keep things running, ensuring homes are clean and children are cared for.

Take away this affordable labor, and the burden on families, particularly on mothers, will become overwhelming. Who will step in to fill this void? Certainly not the local workforce, which isnt eager to take on these rolesand even if they were, the costs would skyrocket, pushing many families into financial hardship.

Our schools and shuls face an equally dire situation. Yeshivos and shuls often rely on undocumented workers for maintenance, cleaning, and kitchen services. These roles are critical to keeping operations running smoothly and within budget. If these workers are deported, the financial strain on schools will ripple down to parents, who are already stretched thin by tuition costs.

Losing these workers doesnt just mean scrambling to fill their roles; it could mean cutting programs, reducing staff, and/or increasing tuition, which is already at unaffordable levels. Its a no-win scenario for schools, students, and families.

Small businesses in our community, from kosher food manufacturers to construction companies to retail shops, also depend on undocumented labor. These are not jobs that American citizens or legal residents are clamoring forthey are often physically demanding and low-paying, roles that undocumented workers fill with reliability and dedication.

Without these workers, many businesses will face hard choices: scale back operations, increase prices, or close altogether. This isnt just bad for the businessesits bad for the community as a whole, which relies on these businesses for jobs, services, and products.

The idea that deportations will free up jobs for American workers is simply unrealistic. In reality, most of the jobs these workers fill are not ones that locals are willing to take. And even if they were, the disruption caused by suddenly losing such a large portion of the workforce would have devastating consequencesnot just for the Jewish community, but for the entire economy.

Economists have pointed out that industries like construction and caregiving would be crippled by mass deportations. Our Jewish communities may not be building skyscrapers, but we rely on these same workers for the infrastructure of our daily lives. Deporting them doesnt solve a problem; it creates new, much larger ones.

What frustrates me most is the lack of recognition of the symbiotic relationship between undocumented workers and the communities they serve. These individuals are not just workers; they are integral to the fabric of our society  whether you are willing to admit it or not. They provide services that make our lives possible while supporting their own families. Deporting them disrupts lives on both sides of the equation.

If Trumps administration truly wants to fix the immigration system, there are better ways to do it. A guest-worker program or a pathway to legal status for those already here would ensure that these workers can continue contributing to the economy while also addressing national security concerns. Its a solution that benefits everyone.

Mass deportations, on the other hand, are utterly impractical  not to mention cruel to those who have built law-abiding lives. They ignore the reality of how deeply these workers are embedded in our communities and how essential they are to our lives.

As members of Jewish communities, we should speak out against these plansnot just for the sake of the workers who would be uprooted, but for the sake of our families, schools, and businesses that would suffer in their absence. We are stronger together, and breaking apart this delicate system will harm us all.

Sincerely,

Chana

The views expressed in this letter do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
When Donald Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. circled up aboard the president-elects plane over some McDonalds burgers and fries recently, Donald Trump Jr. was seated in the center of that power foursome.

The central spot occupied by Trumps eldest son, as captured in a photo widely shared online, reflects how Trump Jr. has become a prominent player in his fathers political orbit and a potential heir to his Make America Great Again movement.

For the son of a president-elect, Trump has already had an outsized impact on the next White House. He lobbied hard for the former president to choose his good friend, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, to be his running mate.

I exerted 10,000% of my political capital, Trump Jr. said of his effort in an interview with Tucker Carlson on the night of the election. I may get a favor from my father in like, 2076. I used it all.

As an honorary chair of the Republican president-elects transition team, Trump Jr. is part of a core group of people deciding who will fill top jobs in the next White House, and his imprint is clear.

Trump Jr. pushed in particular for roles for former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, whom the president-elect has chosen to be director of national intelligence, and Kennedy, who is in line to lead Health and Human Services.

Another close ally, Sergio Gor, will be running the personnel office. He and Trump Jr. run a publishing company, Winning Team Publishing, which has published two of the former presidents books.

The younger Trump has said he has no plans to join his fathers administration in the way his younger sister Ivanka Trump did during the first Trump term. His brother Eric is also an honorary chair of the transition but hasnt been as much of a political player. Erics wife Lara has been more involved, serving as co-chair of the Republican National Committee.

Trump Jr. is expected to continue to be a vocal supporter of his father and his agenda and has made it clear he wants to be an influential voice from the outside, according to a person familiar with his thinking who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning.

The president-elects style  brash, indelicate and pugilistic  is distilled in his son. Donald Trump Jr. often takes a more aggressive tack than his father, in his calls for disrupting government as usual, in the way he dives into the culture wars with gusto and in his enthusiasm for trolling.

Hes probably the best embodiment of the take-no-crap attitude of the Republican Party, said Scott Jennings, a Republican political strategist.

Trump Jr.s attitude and the way he communicates dont make him sound like a regular political figure, Jennings said, and thats part of the appeal.

I think thats one thing about the Trumps that is probably broadly true but certainly for him: They just dont participate in the normal political pablum that sort of pre-Trump politicians were schooled in or trained to do.

The 46-year-old is fluent in the online world of conservative politics and attuned to cultural issues that catch on with the MAGA faithful.

The posts on Trumps X account, where he has more than 13 million followers, are often peppered with exclamation points and emojis. On Instagram, he is a prolific poster of conservative memes.

He flexes between interviews on established media outlets like Fox News and an array of podcasts influential among young conservatives, and he hosts his own twice a week, Triggered With Don Jr. During the campaign, he pushed for the former president to make appearances on podcasts as part of an effort to reach young men, including the popular Joe Rogan podcast.

Trump Jr.s aggressive style has particular appeal with younger men.

I think thats one of the reasons a lot of these young men like it because thats how they talk, Jennings said.

Trump Jr. has said he has no plans to run for office himself, but hes been working to cultivate the next generation of his fathers movement, boosting like-minded, communication-savvy Republicans.

Beyond his political activity, the father of five also serves as executive vice president at the Trump organizations main family business, has launched a new crypto platform and recently announced hes joining a venture capital firm that invests in conservative-focused businesses.

In an earlier time, Trump Jr. appeared with his father on The Apprentice, the reality show that helped propel the billionaires first presidential campaign. When Donald Trump launched his White House bid in 2015 and faced skepticism from swaths of the Republican Party, Trump Jr.s outreach helped his father win more support, especially among conservatives who saw someone who espoused their views and as an avid hunter and fisherman who is a staunch supporter of the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms.

Hes been increasingly visible in Republican politics since then, campaigning not just for his father but for like-minded candidates. He was a backer of Vance in his 2022 Ohio Senate race, nudging his father to do the same, and this year threw his support heavily behind successful Republican Senate candidates Jim Banks in Indiana, Bernie Moreno in Ohio and Tim Sheehy in Montana.

Trump Jr. helped broker a relationship with Kennedy as the Democrat-turned-independent suspended his presidential campaign, working to bring him into the MAGA fold and endorse his father. He floated the idea of Kennedy joining the administration early, saying in an interview with conservative host Glenn Beck that I loved the idea, of Kennedy joining a Trump White House.

I love the idea of giving him some sort of role in some sort of major three-letter entity or whatever it may be and let him blow it up, Trump Jr. said, a reference to the many initials for government agencies.

The two hit it off, and Trump Jr., an avid outdoorsman, shared images on social media in October of a day he spent with Kennedy enjoying the latters favored hobby: falconry.

The choice of anti-vaccine activist Kennedy to run the nations public health agencies is sure to draw tough scrutiny during confirmation proceedings in the Senate, even with a Republican majority,

Trump Jr., in a recent interview on Fox News, acknowledged some of his fathers choices will face pushback.

They are going to be actual disrupters, he said. Thats what the American people want.

(AP)
Workers who clean airplanes, remove trash and help with wheelchairs at Charlottes airport, one of the nations busiest, went on strike Monday during a busy week of Thanksgiving travel to demand higher wages.

The Service Employees International Union announced the strike in a statement early Monday, saying the workers would demand an end to poverty wages and respect on the job during the holiday travel season. The strike was expected to last 24 hours, said union spokesperson Sean Keady.

Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services cast ballots Friday to authorize the work stoppage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a hub for American Airlines. The two companies contract with American, one of the worlds biggest carriers, to provide services such as cleaning airplane interiors, removing trash and escorting passengers in wheelchairs.

Workers say they previously complained that they cant afford basic necessities, including food, housing or car repairs. They described living paycheck to paycheck while performing jobs that keep planes running on schedule. Most of them earn $12.50 to $19 an hour, union officials said.

Those workers should make $22 to $25 an hour, said the Rev. Glencie Rhedrick, of Charlotte Clergy Coalition for Justice, at an SEIU Workers United rally across from the airport. She was joined by striking employees and advocates, many raising signs that read, Respect Black and Brown workers and Respect, Protect, Pay Us.

We cannot live on the wages that we are being paid, ABM cabin cleaner Priscilla Hoyle said at the rally. I can honestly say its hard every single day with my children, working a full-time job but having to look my kids in the eyes and sit there and say, I dont know if were going to have a home today.

ABM said in a statement Monday that it would take steps to minimize the strikes impact on travelers. There are avenues for employees to communicate issues, the company said, including a national hotline and a general open door policy for managers at our worksite.

We keep employee safety and job satisfaction at the forefront of everything we do, and we are committed to addressing concerns swiftly, ABM said.

Prospect Airport Services said last week that the company recognized the seriousness of the potential for a strike during the busy holiday travel season. It did not respond to a request for comment Monday. American Airlines also did not immediately return a message seeking comment Monday.

Several hundred workers participated in the work stoppage. About 800 workers were affected by the unions push for higher wages, but an exact number who walked off was unclear, said union spokesperson Ana Tinsly.

Timothy Lowe II, a wheelchair attendant, said at the rally that he has heard of co-workers having to sleep in their cars or in U-Hauls because they cant afford rent. At the end of his shifts, Lowe said, he has to figure out where to spend the night because he doesnt make enough for a deposit on a home.

We just want to be able to have everything thats a necessity paid for by the job that hired us to do a great job so they can make billions, he said.

Charlotte airport officials have said this holiday travel season is expected to be the busiest on record, with an estimated 1.02 million passengers departing the airport between last Thursday and the Monday after Thanksgiving. Airport officials said in a statement Monday morning that they were monitoring and actively engaged with all partners to ensure terminal operations are not impacted, noting that the striking workers arent employed by the citys aviation department.

The unions North Carolina director, Niecy Brown, said at the rally that many people will travel through the Charlotte airport for Thanksgiving to spend time with family, but that the striking workers wont have that same holiday experience because of low wages.

They dont have a table to go to; they dont have a home to go to, she said.

In addition to walking off the job and rallying, striking workers plan to hold a Strikesgiving lunch in place of the Thanksgiving meal that many of the workers wont be able to afford later this week, union officials said.

(AP)
President-elect Donald Trump announced plans on Monday evening to impose a 25% tariff on all products entering the United States from Canada and Mexico, along with an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports. The measures, Trump said, are aimed at addressing illegal immigration and the flow of drugs, particularly fentanyl, into the country.

As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before, Trump wrote on Truth Social. Citing an unstoppable caravan crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, he pledged immediate action:

On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, Trump said. This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country! Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long-simmering problem.

In another post, Trump directed criticism at China, accusing it of failing to crack down on drug traffickers despite prior discussions about imposing the death penalty for such crimes.

I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States  But to no avail, he stated. Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America.

CNBCs Washington correspondent Megan Cassella noted that implementing such tariffs on day one would require Trump to declare an economic emergency, a move that would likely face significant legal challenges. Additionally, the proposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico would disrupt the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a trade pact renegotiated during Trumps first term, which would likely provoke retaliatory measures from trading partners and strain diplomatic relations.

Trumps focus on tariffs as a tool to combat immigration and drug trafficking reflects a continuation of his hardline stance on trade and border security. Critics argue that such measures could harm American consumers and businesses by raising the cost of imported goods and destabilizing established trade agreements.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A 14-year-old Jewish girl sustained serious head and facial injuries in a violent antisemitic attack on Monday night in Stamford Hill, North London. The incident occurred as a group of young Jewish girls were walking to a rehearsal, when a man reportedly threw glass bottles at them from a balcony at the Woodberry Down Estate.

One of the girls was severely injured in the attack and was rushed to the Royal London Hospital by Hatzolah EMTs for treatment.

The Metropolitan Polices Hackney division and Shomrim have launched an investigation into the incident, and are appealing for witnesses and information as they work to identify the perpetrator.

The attack has sparked widespread concern and calls for heightened security measures in the area. Community leaders have urged authorities to take robust action to combat the rising tide of antisemitism, while encouraging residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity.

The Stamford Hill area, home to a large Orthodox Jewish community, has seen a troubling rise in antisemitic incidents in recent years, prompting renewed calls for stronger protection measures.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Russian authorities on Tuesday ordered a British diplomat to leave the country on allegations of spying as tensions soar over the conflict in Ukraine.

Russias Federal Security Service, the top domestic security and counterintelligence agency, said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies that the diplomat, identified as Edward Pryor Wilkes, had provided false personal data while seeking permission to enter the country.

The agency, known under its Russian acronym FSB, alleged that he has worked for British intelligence under diplomatic cover, replacing one of the six British diplomats who were expelled from Russia in August. The FSB alleged that Wilkes was involved in intelligence and subversive activities that threatened the security of the Russian Federation.

Russias Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that a decision has made to revoke Wilkes accreditation and he has been ordered to leave the country within two weeks. She said that the ministry has summoned the British ambassador to hand over the notice.

The U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office had no immediate comment.

Russia announced the expulsion of six British diplomats in September weeks after it happened. Moscow accused them of spying, allegations rejected by the U.K. as completely baseless.

Russia and NATO allies have carried out multiple rounds of mutual expulsions of diplomats as relations have sunk to the lowest levels since the Cold War after the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

(AP)
KYODO NEWS - Nov 26, 2024 - 22:33 | All, Japan

An erroneous report by Japan's Kyodo News claiming that House of Councillors lawmaker Akiko Ikuina visited the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo was "extremely regrettable," the top government spokesman said Tuesday.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a press conference that the report had had a negative impact on an event held Sunday on Sado Island to commemorate Japanese and Korean victims who worked at a gold and silver mine complex.

Hayashi's remarks came a day after Japan's largest news agency admitted to releasing a story saying that Ikuina, a former actress, visited the shrine on Aug. 15, 2022, without directly confirming it with her. She had not actually done so.

Ikuina, now serving as a parliamentary vice foreign minister, attended the event on the island in the Sea of Japan. But South Korean officials were absent, saying they had failed to reach a consensus on the ceremony with Japan.

On Tuesday, Kyodo News President Toru Mizutani met with Vice Minister Masataka Okano at the Foreign Ministry and apologized for the erroneous report, acknowledging that it had affected Japan-South Korea ties.

Visits to the shrine, seen as a symbol of Japan's wartime militarism, by politicians have drawn a sharp rebuke from neighboring countries. Japan ruled the Korean Peninsula from 1910 and 1945.

Hayashi said the Japanese government, led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, plans to demand an explanation from Kyodo News regarding the false report, as it could influence the future of relations between the two Asian nations.

The South Korean government, however, said later Tuesday that its foreign minister and Japan's counterpart have agreed to work together to prevent the issue from disrupting their diplomatic relationship.

The ministers met on the sidelines of the Group of Seven foreign ministerial meeting in Italy. South Korea is not a member of the G7 but has been invited to attend as a guest.

Sado's gold and silver mine complex was added to UNESCO's World Heritage list in July, although South Korea initially objected, citing links to wartime forced labor. The country later agreed after Japan pledged to hold annual memorial events.

Instead of participating in Sunday's event, South Korean officials and family members of the victims held a separate memorial service on Sado Island the following day. The South Korean Foreign Ministry said Tuesday their absence was due to "Japan's attitude."

South Korea, however, did not elaborate on the details of the matter, while urging Japan to maintain close communication to avoid bilateral tensions, as ties have improved since conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol took office in 2022.

Yasukuni added 14 Class-A war criminals, including wartime Prime Minister Gen. Hideki Tojo, to the enshrined deities in 1978, stirring controversy at home and abroad. Tojo was executed by hanging for crimes against peace.

Related coverage:

Japan holds Sado mine laborers' commemoration, South Korea abstains
John Tinniswood, recognized as the worlds oldest man, has died at the age of 112 in a care home in Southport, northwest England. Guinness World Records confirmed his passing on Monday, quoting a statement from his family.

Born in Liverpool on August 26, 1912, Tinniswood lived through momentous events in modern history, including both World Wars and the sinking of the Titanic in the year of his birth. He became the worlds oldest man in April 2024, following the death of 114-year-old Venezuelan Juan Vicente Perez.

In a statement, Tinniswoods family said, His last day was surrounded by music and love, expressing gratitude to the caregivers who looked after him over the years.

Tinniswood attributed his extraordinary longevity to pure luck, famously telling Guinness World Records, You either live long or you live short, and you cant do much about it. However, he advised moderation in all aspects of life to maintain good health, noting, If you drink too much or you eat too much or you walk too much, if you do too much of anything, youre going to suffer eventually.

During World War II, Tinniswood served in an administrative role with the Royal Army Pay Corps. After the war, he worked in accounts for major oil companies Shell and BP.

Tinniswood also maintained a personal tradition of eating fish and chips every Friday. Staff at his care home affectionately remembered him as a big chatterbox.

Guinness World Records stated that the worlds oldest living woman is currently 116-year-old Tomiko Itooka from Japan.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

Sometimes, we need a 2.0 version of how we approach things  a veritable reboot, so to speak. The holy mitzvah of honoring parents resonates deeply within the very fabric of our neshamos, touching not just our actions but the essence of who we are as human beings. Everyone knows about this mitzvah  it is one of the Aseres HaDibros. Indeed, according to the Gemorah in Kiddushin (31a), it is also one of the natural laws that the entire world is well aware of.

Understanding Different Types of Honor

The Distinction Between Kavod and Moreh

In terms of technical halacha, the first thing we must do is differentiate between obligations that stem from Kavod  honor and obligations whose source is Moreh or showing awe. For example, the obligation to serve ones father or mother comes from the obligation of honor. On the other hand, the fact that we dont sit in his or her seat comes from Moreh. Most of the obligations that apply to other relatives come from Kavod.

Step-Parents and Biblical Obligations

The Gemorah in Kesuvos (103a) teaches that the word Es in Kabaid es avicha comes to include the step-mother, as codified in Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deah 240:21). A fascinating debate exists among the Rishonim regarding whether this obligation is biblical. The Rambam (Hilchos Mamrin 6:15) maintains it is biblical, while the Meiri (Kesuvos 103a) contends it is only Rabbinic. The accepted halacha follows the Rambams view that it is Biblical, though the obligation stems from Kavod rather than Moreh (See Betzail HaChochma 3:95).

Forms of Address and Respect

The prohibition against calling parents by their first names stems from Moreh. While technically permissible for step-parents, the established Minhag in Klal Yisroel is to refrain from doing so. Rav Chaim Kanievsky ztl (I forgot where he said it and the only reference I have is Letter #9) cautions about using terms like Dad or Mom in front of ones biological parents unless certain of their comfort with this practice.

Duration and Extent of Obligations

After Passing Away  Obligations

The Chayei Odom (67:22) states that after a parents passing, the obligation becomes Rabbinic in nature. However, the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deah 240:21) characterizes it as a Davar Hagun  a proper ethical imperative rather than a full halachic obligation, representing a subtle but significant distinction in approaches.

Siblings and Extended Family

The Gemorah in Kesuvos (103a) derives from the extra Vov in ves imecha an obligation to honor older siblings. The Ramban (Hasagos LeSefer haMitzvos, Shoresh 2) explains this stems from the potential disrespect to parents if their descendants are treated improperly. While the Minchas Chinuch (#33) considers this Biblical, the Aruch haShulchan (Yoreh Deah 240:43) views it as Rabbinic.

In-Laws and Grandparents

The Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deah 240:24) mandates honoring in-laws, though debates exist regarding its Biblical or Rabbinic status. Regarding grandparents, the Ramah (Responsa #118) requires their honor, contrary to the Maharik (Shoresh 30). The Minchas Elazar (3:33) even prioritizes grandparental honor above that of in-laws.

Practical Implementation: Insights from Chayeinu Magazine

The Foundation of Attitude

There is an absolutely remarkable magazine that is called Chayeinu that is published in Lakewood, New Jersey ([email protected]). It brings us back to our true Torah values of yester-year. A recent article by Mrs. Miriam Lapides (and a Mrs. E.S. Trocki) emphasizes a reboot beginning with a fundamental shift in our perspective. This involves developing an ayin tovah (favorable judgment) and recognizing the divine providence in our parent-child relationships. The magazine suggests maintaining a gratitude journal specifically dedicated to recording daily appreciation for parents contributions, wisdom, and sacrifices. It recommends other changes as well.

Communication and Connection

Regular communication forms the cornerstone of honoring parents. This includes:

Daily Updates and Sharing

The magazine emphasizes establishing a routine of sharing daily experiences, such as childrens achievements, work developments, and personal growth moments. This should be done with intention and regularity, treating it as a sacred obligation rather than a casual check-in.

Seeking Guidance

Following the example of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbachs family, where children and grandchildren would consult their grandmother about Pesach preparations, we should actively seek our parents counsel. This applies not only to major life decisions but also to matters where their experience and wisdom can provide valuable insight.

Blessing Requests

The practice of requesting parental blessings (brachos) should be integrated into lifes significant moments, including new endeavors, celebrations, and challenges. The magazine specifically mentions following up afterward to share outcomes, creating an ongoing dialogue of spiritual connection.

Practical Expressions of Honor

Technology and Connection

Modern technology offers numerous opportunities for honoring parents through various means of communication. When parents call, children should make every effort to answer the phone immediately. If answering immediately is not possible, one should ensure to return the call as soon as possible, ideally within the same day. Families who live at a distance should establish regular video call schedules, perhaps weekly or bi-weekly, to maintain strong visual connections. Children should make it a regular practice to share photos and videos of grandchildrens activities, such as school events, performances, or everyday moments. Creating and sharing digital albums of family moments allows parents to feel connected to their childrens and grandchildrens lives even when physically separated.

Physical Presence and Hospitality

When hosting parents, one should create an environment that demonstrates supreme honor through several important practices. Taking time to prepare parents favorite meals shows thoughtfulness and consideration, while ensuring their accommodations are comfortable and well-prepared demonstrates respect. Special attention should be given to seating arrangements, ensuring parents have comfortable and appropriate places to sit in each room. The home should be maintained in an exceptionally clean and organized state before and during their visit. Children should anticipate their parents needs before they arise, such as having preferred beverages available or ensuring reading materials are within easy reach.

Meaningful Gift-Giving

The art of giving should reflect deep thoughtfulness and understanding through various approaches. Children should select practical items that will enhance their parents daily lives, such as helpful kitchen gadgets or comfort-improving items. Gifts should be personalized to show attention to parents specific interests, such as books by favorite authors or items related to their hobbies. Grandchildren should be encouraged to create handmade items that carry special meaning and emotional value. When selecting gifts, children should choose items that demonstrate careful remembrance of their parents preferences, showing that their likes and dislikes are valued and remembered.

Building Lasting Relationships

Conflict Resolution

The magazine provides guidance for handling challenging situations with wisdom and sensitivity. When disagreements arise, they should be approached with respect and understanding, maintaining dignified communication even in difficult moments. In situations where additional support is needed, families should not hesitate to seek professional guidance while maintaining appropriate boundaries. Even during periods of difficulty, children must maintain honor and respect for their parents. Families should develop specific strategies for showing respect within appropriate boundaries when challenging situations arise.

Creating Family Traditions

Establishing regular practices that honor parents should become a cornerstone of family life. Families should institute weekly or monthly gatherings that bring everyone together in meaningful ways. Parents should be given honored roles in family celebrations that highlight their importance in the family structure. Families should actively document family history and stories through recordings, written accounts, or digital archives. Regular opportunities should be created for grandparents and grandchildren to form strong bonds through shared activities and experiences.

Legacy Building

Teaching the next generation about honoring parents requires conscious effort and planning. Parents should consistently model proper behavior toward grandparents, showing their children through direct example how to demonstrate respect and honor. Families should regularly share stories of family heritage, helping younger generations understand their roots and family values. Creating opportunities for multi-generational activities helps strengthen bonds across all age groups. Families should actively document their traditions and values through various means, ensuring these important practices continue through future generations.

Conclusion

The comprehensive obligation to honor parents and family members extends far beyond basic respect, encompassing a complete framework for building and maintaining meaningful family relationships. Lets not forget  this is our Mesorah. Through careful attention to both halachic requirements and practical implementation, we create a legacy of honor that enriches our families and fulfills this fundamental mitzvah with depth and meaning. As we integrate these practices into our daily lives, we not only fulfill our obligations but also create a foundation for generations of family connection and respect.

The author can be reached at [email protected]
A Massachusetts man has pleaded guilty in federal court to threatening to kill members of the states Jewish community and bomb local synagogues.

John Reardon, 59, of Millis, Massachusetts, pleads guilty to one count of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs by threat of force, one count of transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure a person, and one count of stalking using a facility of interstate commerce.

This defendants threats to bomb synagogues and kill Jewish children stoked fear in the hearts of congregants at a time when Jews are already facing a disturbing increase in threats, Attorney General Merrick Garland says in a statement. No person and no community in this country should have to live in fear of hate-fueled violence.

Jodi Cohen, the special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Field Office, says the guilty plea sends a message that you cannot call and threaten people with violent physical harm and not face repercussions.

People of all races and faiths deserve to feel safe in their communities, she says.

In January, Reardon called Congregation Agudas Achim in Attleboro, Massachusetts, and left a voicemail making several threats to kill congregants and bomb the synagogue, including that if you can kill the Palestinians, we can kill you, federal authorities said. Ten minutes later, he allegedly made a call to another local synagogue and a Jewish organization.

Reardon was arrested days later.

(AP)
This afternoon, the coalition leading the fight against the States attempt to regulate yeshiva education filed a brief laying out its case with the New York Court of Appeals  the States highest court.

The SED regulations at issue in the lawsuit limit the rights of parents to direct the education of their children and force private schools to obtain substantially equivalent status from the State Education Department to continue to operate. As the brief explains, there is also no legal or statutory basis for SED or LSAs to unilaterally decide that parents have not met their compulsory education obligations or to direct them to unenroll their children from the nonpublic school they have chosen.

While SEDs new regulations purport to wield wide authority over parents and private schools, until very recently SED conceded that it had no such authority. In fact, the yeshivas brief unearthed SED memoranda from just a few years ago where SED conceded that it did not have that authority. In those memos to local school districts, SED wrote that they do not have direct authority over private schools and also conceded that the only way a parents choice of private school could be overridden was if a petition was filed in Family Court by public school authorities to the effect that their children are truant. Now SED is acting directly contrary to those limits on its authority.

The yeshivas also pointed out the hypocrisy of the State Education Department, which seeks to come down hard on private schools that dont receive its substantially equivalent badge but doesnt even have the authority over public schools. While SED is busy bothering yeshivas, the legislature has strictly limited its authority over public schools. For a public school, when a school ranks among the lowest-performing public schools for ten consecutive years, the Education Law permits SED to take action against the school, including appointing a receiver to take control of the school and restructure it. Thats right. Failing public schools are given 10 years, and even then they arent closed, but must operate with a receiver in place.

The yeshivas also reminded the court about the fundamental rights parents have to ensure their children receive a religious education. One judge of the Court of Appeals described the rights of parents to control the education of their children and to instruct their children in a religious setting as true and absolute rights under natural law, antedating, and superior to, any human constitution or statute, while the United States Supreme Court described parents rights to direct the upbringing and education of children under their control as a fundamental theory of liberty

upon which all governments in this Union repose. If only the State Education Department took time off from harassing private school parents and read its history.

The yeshiva effort is lead by PEARLS, which has been at the forefront of protecting the rights of yeshiva parents and yeshivas for the past decade.

READ THE BRIEF HERE

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The murder of Rabbi Tzvi Kogan, Hyd has left the Jewish kehilla in the Emirates shaken.

UKs Guardian reported that Rimon Market, the small kosher supermarket managed by Rabbi Kogan, Hyd, in Dubai was closed on Sunday. The store had suffered online harassment from Palestinians over the past year.

An Associated Press journalist who visited the site on Sunday said that the mezuzahs on the front and back doors of the supermarket appeared to have been ripped off.

The Israeli and Jewish community in the United Arab Emirates began operating openly in 2020, when the UAE became the first Arab country in 30 years to establish official relations with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords, brokered by the US during the Trump administration.

The UAE has maintained stable diplomatic ties with Israel during the 13 months of the war in Gaza. However, Israelis and Jews in the UAE lowered their public profile in the wake of the worldwide antisemitic and anti-Israel protests that erupted following the October 7 Hamas assault on Israel.

Community members told Reuters that unofficial shuls in Dubai were closed after October 7 due to security concerns, with Jews davening at home instead. There are no official shuls in Dubai, the largest city and commercial center of the UAE, with the only official shul in the country in the capital city of Abu Dhabi.

There are no official statistics on the number of Jews or Israelis living in the UAE. However, according to Reuters, Jewish groups estimate there are several thousand Jews in the country.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir this week filed a complaint to Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara through his attorney, David Peter, requesting that the investigation currently being conducted against members of his ministry be transferred to an objective police officer.

An investigation was launched by Israel Polices Lahav 433 crime unit into five employees of the National Security Ministry on alleged charges of issuing gun permits without the proper authority.

Following October 7, Ben-Gvir led an initiative to loosen the strict criteria required for civilians to receive gun licenses. In some cases, civilians who received guns under the new criteria used them to neutralize terrorists.

The request comes against the backdrop of concerns about a possible conflict of interest, as the officer leading the investigatoin, Chef Superintendent Keren Toledano, was passed over for a promotion when Ben-Gvir made a recent round of appointments.

A fundamental principle of law is that every person should disqualify themselves from dealing with a matter in which there is a concern of a conflict of interest, the complaint stated.

I call on the Attorney-General to publish all materials relevant to the matter so that the public can judge the integrity of the process for itself. Every person, especially a public official, is entitled to a fair process. I am confident that the judicial system will know how to uphold this fundamental principle.

Ben-Gvir previously said that Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara tried to fabricate a criminal case against him.

A recent report about State Attorney Amit Aisman, who also tried to fabricate a case against Ben-Gvir, indicates that he also picks and chooses cases based on the suspects political alignments.

Channel 12 journalist Amit Segal reported this week that Aisman was deeply involved in the leaks case at the Prime Ministers Office, participating in lengthy meetings and several conference calls about the case. On the other hand, regarding the very severe case in which three left-wing rioters stole Navy flares and threw them at Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahus home in Caesarea, causing a fire, Aisman did not find it appropriate to clear his schedule to hold even one meeting on the case.

It should be noted that to date, neither Aisman nor Baharav-Miara have deemed it necessary to issue any statement on the flares case and certainly did not become involved in the investigation as they did regarding the investigation surrounding the Prime Ministers Office.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
A joint American-French statement is expected to be issued shortly after 10 p.m. local time announcing that a ceasefire has been reached in Lebanon. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati is set to deliver a parallel statement welcoming the development.

But as Israels government prepares to give final approval to the agreement, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz vowed to respond decisively to any breaches of the truce.

We will act against any threat, anytime and anywhere, Katz told UN Special Envoy for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, according to a statement from his office. Katz underscored concerns that Hezbollah might use the ceasefire to rebuild its military presence near the Israeli border.

The agreement, brokered by the United States and France, includes a 60-day truce during which Israeli forces will withdraw from southern Lebanon, allowing the Lebanese army to deploy in the area. The agreement requires Hezbollah to end its armed presence south of the Litani River, a condition that international observers have long struggled to enforce.

Israel has repeatedly criticized the failure of UN Resolution 1701, adopted in 2006, which prohibited armed groups other than the Lebanese army from operating near the border. Despite the resolution, Hezbollah has continued to maintain a significant military presence in the region, constructing tunnels, stockpiling weapons, and launching attacks on Israel. The terror group also reportedly planned a large-scale invasion of Israeli territory following Hamass October 7 attack in southern Israel, though the operation was foiled.

Several months back, the now-dead leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, vowed that his group of murderers would never agree to a ceasefire with Israel until the war in Gaza is over.

A ceasefire in Lebanon without one in Gaza would mean all our sacrifices were for nothing, Nasrallah said. So, apparently all of Hezbollahs sacrifices  including Nasrallahs own death  was for nothing. Well done.

Over the past two months, Israel has conducted a campaign of airstrikes and ground incursions aimed at dismantling Hezbollahs infrastructure in southern Lebanon.

Katz has warned that any attempt by Hezbollah to regroup or rearm will be met with immediate military action.

Every house in southern Lebanon that is rebuilt and in which a terrorist base is established will be demolished, Katz declared. Every rearming and regrouping by terrorists will be attacked, and every threat to our forces or Israeli citizens will be immediately destroyed.

The ceasefire places major responsibility on UNIFIL, the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon, and the Lebanese army. While UNIFIL has often been criticized for its inability to enforce demilitarization in southern Lebanon, it has maintained that the responsibility ultimately lies with the Lebanese government.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib expressed optimism about the deal, stating that the army would deploy at least 5,000 troops to the region within 60 days.

Bou Habib also noted that U.S. aid could play a critical role in rebuilding infrastructure destroyed during Israeli strikes, a key aspect of the agreements implementation.

Katz stressed that the ceasefire must include strict oversight to prevent arms smuggling and domestic weapons production by Hezbollah. He warned that any violations would prompt immediate Israeli intervention.

If you dont do it, we will, Katz told the UN official, and with great force.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Israeli fighter jets carried out a widespread wave of airstrikes across Lebanon on Tuesday, targeting more than 180 Hezbollah sites in what the IDF described as major blows to the terror groups infrastructure. The strikes hit command centers, weapon depots, and other Hezbollah facilities in Beirut, southern Lebanon, and the Beqaa Valley.

Among the targets were 20 Hezbollah sites in Beiruts southern suburbs, which were hit in rapid succession within two minutes by eight fighter jets. Seven of the buildings destroyed were used by Hezbollah for managing and storing funds, including headquarters and vaults of the Al-Qard al-Hasan association, a financial institution linked to the group. The remaining 13 sites in the city included a Hezbollah aerial forces center, an intelligence division command room, and weapons depots, the IDF said. The military emphasized that evacuation warnings were issued to civilians in the vicinity prior to the strikes.

The airstrikes extended beyond Beirut, targeting Hezbollah facilities in southern Lebanon, including Naqoura and Yater. The IDF confirmed the destruction of command rooms and additional weapons depots in these areas. A building associated with Hezbollahs aerial forces, responsible for launching drone attacks on Israel, was also struck.

In the Beqaa Valley, several key Hezbollah sites were destroyed as part of the IDFs extensive campaign against the groups military and financial infrastructure. Additionally, more than 20 rocket launchers, including those used in recent attacks on Haifa, were neutralized.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The stage is set for an unforgettable night of music and celebration this Chanukah as an all-star lineup, presented by Chabad of South Broward, comes together for a once-in-a-lifetime Chanukah Festival and concert on Sunday, December 29, 2024. Taking place on the fifth night of Chanukah in Hollywood-Ft. Lauderdale, the spectacular 45th Chanukah Festival promises to bring light, joy and inspiration to the Florida community and beyond.

Headlining this incredible evening are Avraham Fried, Shulem Lemmer, Alex Clare and Itzik Dadya, with live music by the Mendy Hershkowitz Band. Adding even more excitement, a special surprise guest will fly in from Israel to make this an unforgettable celebration. This remarkable lineup of talent, coupled with the production expertise of Apex Creatives, promises to create an atmosphere of unity and inspiration, perfectly capturing the essence of Chanukah as a time for connection and shared joy.

Held in the heart of South Florida at the spacious and modern Rick Case Arena, the concert is expected to draw thousands of attendees for a night filled with uplifting music, festive energy and the warmth of community spirit.

This is not just a concert; its a moment to come together and feel the power of music and tradition as we celebrate the light of Chanukah, said Rabbi Raphael Tennenhaus of Chabad of South Broward. With such an extraordinary lineup, its sure to be an experience that will leave everyone inspired.

Tickets are on sale now and selling quickly. Fans of all ages are encouraged to reserve their seats early. Experience the magic of Chanukah like never beforejoin us on December 29th for an evening that will light up the night and your hearts. Visit chanukahfestival.com today to secure your tickets.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 26, 2024 - 11:30 | All, Japan

The main funeral ceremony for Princess Yuriko, the oldest member of the Japanese imperial family and great-aunt of Emperor Naruhito, was held Tuesday at a cemetery in Tokyo after her death aged 101 earlier this month.

Following a wake on Sunday and Monday, the Shinto ritual, called Renso-no-Gi, took place at the Toshimagaoka Cemetery for the imperial family in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward, with her granddaughter Princess Akiko serving as the chief mourner.

Around 500 people attended the ceremony, including Crown Prince Fumihito, Crown Princess Kiko, and Princess Aiko, the only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and other government officials were also among the participants.

The emperor and empress, as well as former Emperor Akihito and former Empress Michiko, did not attend the ceremony in line with custom.

Separately, some 900 members of the public bid farewell to the late princess, who lived through World War II and worked to improve maternal and child health in the following decades.

"I've heard she experienced difficult years. I hope she rests in peace," said Nobuhiro Sakaki, 76, a Tokyoite who paid tribute.

"She was a compassionate and strong person," said Yoko Endo, 53, from Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo.

After a cremation in the afternoon at a crematorium in Shinjuku Ward, her ashes were interred alongside those of her husband, Prince Mikasa, in a grave at the cemetery.

A member of Japan's former nobility, she married Prince Mikasa, the youngest brother of Emperor Hirohito, posthumously known as Emperor Showa, in 1941 at age 18. The couple had three sons and two daughters.

She outlived all three of their sons -- Princes Tomohito, Katsura and Takamado, who died in 2012, 2014 and 2002, respectively, as well as her husband, who died in 2016.

Princes Yuriko was an honorary vice president of the Japanese Red Cross Society and previously served as president of the Imperial Gift Foundation Boshi-Aiiku-Kai, which promotes maternal and child health, from 1948 to 2010.

She was hospitalized in March due to a mild stroke and aspiration pneumonitis and had been receiving treatment. She died of natural causes at a Tokyo hospital on the morning of Nov. 15.

Her death reduces the number of Japanese imperial family members to 16. The family has been shrinking under the requirement of the 1947 Imperial House Law that female members leave upon marriage to a commoner.

Related coverage:

Japan's Princess Yuriko, great-aunt of emperor, dies at 101

Japan's emperor, empress express thanks for state visit to Britain
KYODO NEWS - Nov 26, 2024 - 21:49 | All, Japan, World, Travel/Tourism, Expo

Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura said Tuesday that Ukraine, which has been under invasion by Russia since February 2022, will participate in the 2025 World Expo in the prefecture.

Yoshimura's remarks come amid concerns that Ukraine may face difficulties in allocating funds for the international event, as the country is burdened by the financial strain of the war with Russia.

"Ukraine is currently in a very difficult situation, but its attendance is meaningful as it serves as an appeal for peace," Yoshimura told reporters during a visit to France. In November 2023, Russia announced that it would withdraw from the expo.

Sources familiar with the matter said Ukraine believes that it can reduce the burden of exhibiting by using a building provided by the Japan Association for the International Exposition, rather than constructing its own facility.

A Japanese government source said Ukraine is considering taking part in the "Type C" pavilion, which will be built by the organizer and shared among participants, adding the nation is expected to complete its preparations in time for the opening in April next year.

Related coverage:

2025 Osaka Expo centerpiece "Grand Ring" lit up for first time

Life-sized Gundam robot statue completed for 2025 World Expo

(Pavilion)Famous artworks to highlight Italy, Vatican pavilions
Up to 40 gardai swooped in on one Limerick town in a planned operation shortly after first light this Tuesday morning.

Thirty four arrests were made in Kilmallock by officers from Limerick County Community Engagement Functional Area, and Limerick Divisional Crime Functional area in a joint day of action this Tuesday, November 26.

The intelligence-led operation was supported by Limerick Divisional Roads Policing Unit, Regional Armed Support Unit, and gardai from Clare / Tipperary Division, along with Customs and Revenue, the Department of Social Protection and Limerick City and County Council's dog warden.

A garda spokesperson said the operation included detecting and preventing theft and fraud, and organised retail crime offences; enforcement of road traffic legislation; and control of dogs legislation targeting the possession of controlled breeds.

Read Also: Aldi issues urgent recall of popular party food ahead of Christmas shopping rush

"As part of the operation, which involved over 40 garda personnel, a residential property was searched and four multi-agency checkpoints were conducted.

"A total of 34 people were arrested for various alleged offences, including outstanding bench warrants and three arrests under Operation Tairge," said a garda spokesperson.

One vehicle was detected by customs with Green Diesel and a fine was levied.

One pit bull dog was seized by Limerick City and County Council.

"Three males were arrested in connection with the operation, and are currently detained pursuant to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, at Garda stations in the County Limerick and County Tipperary areas," said a garda spokesperson.
It would be helpful for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to provide clarity on the decision to not take an allegation against Conor McGregor to a criminal trial, the leader of Sinn Fein has said.

Hundreds of people marched in solidarity with Ms Hand in Dublin on Monday evening, after she won a civil case against the MMA fighter.

Ms Hand, who accused Mr 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 the Irish capital on Friday.

Speaking on Tuesday, Mary Lou McDonald said she wanted to reiterate Sinn Feins solidarity with Ms Hand, adding that: Shes been through a horrible, horrible ordeal.

I think she deserves  and I think women more broadly deserve  the absolute reassurance that the DPP has really interrogated this matter correctly and has taken the correct course of action.

I am aware that there is a distinction between a criminal charge and a civil case, and the burden of proof is different in both.

Its not for me to do the DPP job for them but I think it is reasonable and Ive heard it in countless conversations women asking how is it that since the civil case was successful, that a criminal charge was not pursued?

And I think in the interest of public confidence, it would be very helpful to have an answer, a response from the DPP on that matter.

A spokeswoman for the DPP said it does not comment on individual cases, but that documents on general considerations for decisions to prosecute are available on its website.
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said the stakes are high in the years ahead after US President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China.

Late on Monday, Mr Trump said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China, on his first day in office.

The tariffs, if implemented, could dramatically raise prices for American consumers. The US is the largest importer of goods in the world, with Mexico, China and Canada its top three suppliers, according to the most recent US data.

Mr Trump said he would sign an executive order imposing the new tariffs on his first day of administration.

The USA is one of Irelands largest export market, with medical and pharmaceutical products making up the largest share in total exports.

Reacting to the news, Mr Donohoe said: In relation to trade policy, I followed what President-elect Trump has announced during the night and his views in relation to Mexico, China and Canada.

It just underlines to me, the change in the centre ground regarding trade, and if you are as trade intensive and exporting as Europe and Ireland is, that means the stakes are high in the next few years.

I will respectfully argue that we dont want to be rudderless and adrift here in Ireland at a moment in which such change is brewing.
You read the news from Armenia, and it feels like something straight out of a YouTube show. The prime minister of the country asks a member of parliament from the ruling party to resign over a scandal, then sends the parliamentary speaker to persuade him only for the deputy to refuse and send the speaker away in return!

To recap, all this fuss started a couple of weeks ago. Armenian parliamentarian Hovik Aghazaryan launched a verbal attack on the head of the Investigative Committee, Karamyan, from the rostrum. Aghazaryan accused the official of pressuring businesses, protecting a network of extortionists, and so on.

What a touching concern for Armenian entrepreneurs! Especially one in particular Aghazaryan's own son, who had recently run into trouble with the authorities.

Karamyan didnt stay silent, and the scandal quickly escalated. Armenian politicians were burning up with outrage, much like they did back in 2020.

By the way, Karamyan was fired after all that. But now, for the third day in a row, Ovik Aghazaryan is being persuaded by the entire Armenian political world to resign. First, Pashinyan directly called on Aghazaryan to step down during a conversation with the media. Then Speaker Alain Simonyan, Pashinyans loyal mouthpiece, echoed the same message. Simonyan even arranged a face-to-face meeting with Aghazaryan.

But... of course, Ovik didnt attend that meeting. When journalists asked him when he would finally hand in his mandate, Aghazaryan gave a vague response along the lines of, "I need to think a little more."

Its clear that Hovik will keep stalling for time, and he couldnt care less about Pashinyan and Simonyan combined. But heres the question:

Can you imagine this happening in a normal country? Unlikely. But for the "banana republic" of Armenia, this is just another day. Its a perfect example of the absurdity thats become routine.
By Miya Tanaka, KYODO NEWS - Nov 27, 2024 - 08:07 | All, World, Japan

A Japanese parent bereaved by the 1985 Japan Airlines jumbo jet crash called on Tuesday for support for families of air accident victims in their sorrow and attempts to seek the truth, as the U.N. aviation agency explores ways to globally enhance assistance for those most affected.

"I hope to see all-out efforts so that the families will not have to suffer more than once," Kuniko Miyajima, 77, told an event organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization, recalling the loss of her 9-year-old son in the world's deadliest single-aircraft accident and underscoring the need for preparedness in the event of future tragedies.

The Symposium on Assistance to Aircraft Accident Victims and their Families, scheduled for three days from Tuesday in the Netherlands, follows the first-ever such international event organized by ICAO in 2021 on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria.

In addition to national authorities and airline operators, the gathering was attended by relatives of air crash victims worldwide, enabling them to seek global cooperation toward better care and treatment by sharing their experiences and discussing best practices.

"We believe it is essential that we listen to the witness statements of victims and their loved ones as we set out to explore the possibilities of improving support to crash victims and their families," Richard Ossendorp, the Netherlands representative to ICAO, told Kyodo News ahead of the event in Haarlem, a city near Amsterdam.

Japan sent speakers to the symposium for the first time, according to an official of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. A senior official from Japan Airlines Co. also joined in order to explain its efforts to improve safety awareness.

The move comes as ICAO, the aviation standard-setter, has intensified efforts to address family assistance in civil aircraft disasters, with its assembly adopting a resolution in 2022 urging member states to establish legislation, regulations and policies to support victims and their families.

The outcome of the symposium will be reported to the ICAO Council, the agency's 36-member governing body. It will also contribute to an updated resolution at the next ICAO Assembly in 2025, the organizer said.

While the ICAO has said it is "obliging" member states to establish legislation and policies to assist aircraft accident victims and their families, having elevated the issue to a "standard" from "recommended practice" in 2022, the U.N. agency has no enforcement mechanisms, raising questions about its effectiveness.

Under a related ICAO policy and accompanying manual, family assistance includes notification of involvement, victim accounting, travel coordination and timely provision of information on the progress of the accident investigation, as well as addressing immediate financial needs and psychological support.

Miyajima's account echoed the importance of such needs as she spoke during a session to hear the "voice of the victims," along with other representatives linked to the 2008 Spanair plane crash in Madrid and the 2014 downing of a Malaysia Airlines plane in eastern Ukraine that allegedly involved a Russian-made missile.

"There needs to be a system under which victims can obtain information quickly, and equally, after an accident. They must also be able to receive financial and emotional support," she said.

Miyajima said she still recalls the warmth of her son Ken's hand before he boarded JAL Flight 123 alone. The Boeing 747 crashed northwest of Tokyo on Aug. 12, 1985, killing all but four of the 524 crew members and passengers.

It was only Ken's right hand and fragments of his body that were later returned to the family.

She also said accident investigation and the provision of victim support should both start in the immediate aftermath without delay, as it is often the earnest desire of bereaved families to know how their loved ones died, in hopes of finding out the cause and preventing something similar from happening again.

"Professionalism and independence of accident investigation bodies must be improved to create more public trust," she said.

The Japanese government's official investigation report, released in 1987, blamed the accident on faulty repairs conducted by Boeing Co. on the plane's rear pressure bulkhead that JAL could not detect in subsequent inspections.

The probe, however, did not fully satisfy the victims' families, especially because Boeing workers did not cooperate in the investigation amid fears that the process could potentially result in them being criminally prosecuted in Japan.

Miyajima, meanwhile, brought attention to the significance of the bereaved families' association, which was launched about four months after the accident for mutual support and to campaign for safer skies.

Noting that "grief never recedes," Miyajima, who has led the association named the 8.12 liaison group, said, "Even after 39 years, the victims are still connected with each other, like family. And today, I am very happy to connect with so many victims across the world."

Related coverage:

Kin mark 39th anniversary of fatal 1985 Japan Airlines jet crash
KYODO NEWS - Nov 26, 2024 - 09:18 | All, Japan

The Japanese government said Monday it is considering cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent by fiscal 2035 compared with fiscal 2013 levels.

The Environment Ministry and the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry proposed the new target, up 14 percentage points from the current goal, at a joint meeting, saying that a more aggressive cut is necessary to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

As a U.N. climate panel has requested each country to submit its new emissions reduction target for 2035 by February, the government plans to include a numerical target in a draft plan for global warming countermeasures expected to be compiled by the end of the year.

The plan will be drawn up in cooperation with the ruling parties, as well as relevant ministries and agencies.

During the meeting, some participants said the country needs to set more ambitious targets, while others supported the proposed targets -- a 60 percent reduction by fiscal 2035 and a cut of 73 percent by fiscal 2040.

Japan currently aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 46 percent by fiscal 2030 compared with fiscal 2013 levels.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has assessed that global greenhouse gas emissions must be cut by 60 percent by 2035 compared to 2019 levels to limit warming to 1.5 C compared to pre-industrial levels.

Related coverage:

Japan megabank to use solar panels on sheep farm to shave emissions

Japan to mull setting target of 60-66% emissions cut by FY 2035
KYODO NEWS - Nov 26, 2024 - 23:00 | All, World, Japan

The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.

----------

Amazon Japan suspected of forcing retailers to cut product prices

TOKYO - Japan's antitrust watchdog conducted an on-site investigation of the Japanese unit of Amazon.com Inc. on Tuesday for allegedly forcing retailers to cut prices of products sold on its online shopping website, sources close to the matter said.

Amazon Japan G.K. is alleged to have violated the antimonopoly law by forcing retailers to reduce prices in return for displaying their products in the most visible positions for users of its platform, with the involvement of its U.S. headquarters also suspected.

----------

Japan rocket engine explodes during test, 2nd time in 16 months

TOKYO - An engine being developed for use in the Epsilon S small rocket went up in flames Tuesday during a combustion test at a facility in southwestern Japan, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.

The fire at the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture follows another incident in July 2023 when the same engine exploded during a test at the Noshiro Testing Center in northeastern Japan.

----------

Princess Yuriko's funeral held at Tokyo cemetery

TOKYO - The main funeral ceremony for Princess Yuriko, the oldest member of the Japanese imperial family and great-aunt of Emperor Naruhito, was held Tuesday at a cemetery in Tokyo after her death aged 101 earlier this month.

Following a wake on Sunday and Monday, the Shinto ritual, called Renso-no-Gi, took place at the Toshimagaoka Cemetery for the imperial family in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward, with her granddaughter Princess Akiko serving as the chief mourner.

----------

Mental, family records among info items for Japan security clearance

TOKYO - The Japanese government said Tuesday that it is considering requiring not only employment and travel history but also mental health records and the nationality of family members determining access to critical information under a "security clearance" system.

When seeking access to information designated by the government as classified, individuals -- whether from the private or public sector -- may also need to report their drinking habits, according to a draft proposal.

----------

Japan's PM to vow in Diet speech to use IT to boost local economies

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is expected to pledge in a parliamentary speech that his government will use information technology to revitalize flagging local economies, sources close to the matter said Tuesday.

Ishiba is also likely to promise to implement measures to enhance the value of Japanese agriculture, the sources said. He is scheduled to deliver a policy speech on Friday, one day after the extraordinary Diet session is convened.

----------

False report on Yasukuni visit "regrettable": Japan government spokesman

TOKYO - An erroneous report by Japan's Kyodo News claiming that House of Councillors lawmaker Akiko Ikuina visited the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo was "extremely regrettable," the top government spokesman said Tuesday.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a press conference that the report had had a negative impact on an event held Sunday on Sado Island to commemorate Japanese and Korean victims who worked at a gold and silver mine complex.

----------

Trump vows 25% tariffs on Mexico, Canada, another 10% on China

WASHINGTON - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said Monday he will impose an additional 10 percent tariffs on goods from China and 25 percent tariffs on all imports from Mexico and Canada, in retaliation for drug trafficking and illegal immigration.

The pair posts on by Trump on his Truth Social platform signaled an aggressive trade policy that would likely impact other major exporters such as Japan and South Korea.

----------

Baseball: Sugano, Kondo snare Japan's MVP honors

TOKYO - Major League Baseball aspirant Tomoyuki Sugano became a three-time Central League MVP while SoftBank Hawks outfielder Kensuke Kondo won the Pacific League's top honor as Nippon Professional Baseball handed out its awards for the 2024 season on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old Sugano bounced back from three pedestrian seasons to lead the CL in wins, going 15-3 and finishing second with a 1.67 ERA for the league champion Yomiuri Giants. He received 253 of the 302 first-place votes cast for the CL award.

Video: Japanese Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko hold press conference ahead of their trip to Turkey
COLOMBO, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's National Building Research Organization (NBRO) on Tuesday issued early landslide warnings for 10 districts.

The NBRO issued the warning to the districts in Sri Lanka's Western, Southern, Uva, Central, Sabaragamuwa, and North Western Provinces.

Residents in these areas are advised to be watchful for sudden appearance of water sprouts and cracks on walls and on the soil, as these may be signs of impending landslides, the NBRO said.

Earlier, Sri Lanka's Department of Meteorology issued a red alert warning that the deep depression in the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm on Wednesday. 
CAIRO, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty urged on Tuesday for "unconditional" entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza "to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people."

During his meeting with his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani in Italy on the sidelines of the two-day Group of Seven foreign ministers' meeting, Abdelatty said Cairo will hold a ministerial conference on Dec. 2 to enhance the humanitarian response in Gaza, according to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

Abdelatty also warned of the seriousness of the situation in the West Bank due to Israel's continued settlement expansion policy, the statement said.

Egypt's official news agency MENA reported earlier this month that the Cairo ministerial conference is expected to be attended by representatives of all concerned UN agencies.

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 Gaza has risen to 44,249, with injuries up to 104,746, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Tuesday. 
FUZHOU, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- China has built more than 9,100 intangible cultural heritage workshops nationwide, spanning over 1,721 county-level areas, according to a meeting held by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Longyan, Fujian Province, from Sunday to Tuesday.

These workshops have directly employed more than 270,000 people who were lifted out of destitution under the country's poverty alleviation campaign, offering them a per capita yearly income of over 36,000 yuan (about 5,006 U.S. dollars).

Relevant authorities have supported localities to leverage intangible cultural heritage in advancing rural revitalization, passing on fine traditional culture, boosting employment and income, and building better rural areas, said the meeting.

It called for efforts to improve the intangible cultural heritage protection system in rural areas, and raise both the quality and efficiency of intangible cultural heritage workshops.

Intangible cultural heritage workshops refer to various business entities or production and processing venues that rely on intangible cultural heritage and traditional craftsmanship to achieve the aim of preserving intangible cultural heritage and providing working opportunities for local people. 
KISUMU, Kenya, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- A two-day regional conference opened in Kenya's lakeside city of Kisumu Tuesday amid calls for African institutions to deepen understanding of the continent's economy and the unique challenges it faces.

The Fourth Investment Conference of the African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network (AfSNET), hosted by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the County Government of Kisumu and the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa), provided a platform for governments to deliberate on ways of enhancing trade and advancing goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Kenyan President William Ruto said in his opening remarks that African institutions should be strengthened to spearhead the continent's agenda.

Ruto cited the Afreximbank as an example, noting that such institutions should be able to provide customized solutions. "We see the value in growing African institutions that understand our landscape and our economies. They can better support and use creative means to support our economies," he said.

The Kenyan leader said the bank facilitates deeper collaboration among Sub-Saharan countries in line with the aspirations of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.

Kenya has a framework agreement with Afreximbank worth 3 billion U.S. dollars, Ruto said, stressing that it has significantly supported the country's development agenda.

"They have supported our fuel imports, commodity trade and other aspects of economic endeavors," the president said, adding that Kenya would sign more agreements with the bank, focusing on infrastructure development, the cotton value chain and investments in the textile industry.

The investment conference brought together over 250 participants including Afreximbank President and Board Chair Benedict Oramah and UCLG Africa Secretary-General Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi.

Oramah urged African nations to do away with visa restrictions to facilitate the cross-border movement of people, goods and services. 
Terms of Use

This Government of Tamil Nadu website (https://www.tn.gov.in)is designed, developed and hosted by National Informatics Centre,(NIC) Government of India in consultation with Department of Information Technology (IT).

Though all efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy and correctness of the content on this Portal, the same should not be construed as a statement of law or used for any legal purposes. NIC or IT Department accepts no responsibility in relation to the accuracy, completeness, usefulness or otherwise, of the contents. Users are advised to verify/check any information with the relevant Government department(s) and/or other source(s), and to obtain any appropriate professional advice before acting on the information provided in the Portal.

Users are hereby informed not to use, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, update, share or store any information that:

1. belongs to another person;

2. is harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, blasphemous, objectionable, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, pornographic, pedophilic, libelous, invasive of another's privacy, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable, disparaging, relating or encouraging money laundering or gambling, or otherwise unlawful in any manner whatever;

3. harm minors in any way;

4. infringes any patent, trademark, copyright or other proprietary rights;

5. violates any law for the time being in force;

6.discloses sensitive personal information of other person or to which the user does not have any right to;

7. causes annoyance or inconvenience or deceives or misleads the addressee about the origin of such messages or communicates any information which is grossly offensive or menacing in nature;

8. impersonate another person;

9. contains software viruses or any other computer code, files or programs designed to interrupt, destroy or limit the functionality of any computer resource;

10.threatens the unity, integrity, defence, security or sovereignty of India, friendly relations with foreign states, or public order or causes incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence or prevents investigation of any offence or is insulting any other nation.

It is hereby informed that in case of non compliance with terms of use of the services and privacy policy provided in this portal, on bringing it to the notice to the system administrator through the eMail ID provided in the contact us link of this portal with authentic proof, the violated user will be blocked immediately and access rights of the users to this portal will be terminated without any notice after verifying the details.

In no event will the IT Department or NIC be liable for any expense, loss or damage including, without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any expense, loss or damage whatsoever arising from use, or loss of use, of data,arising out of or in connection with the use of this Portal.

These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Indian Laws. Any dispute arising under these terms and conditions shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of India. In this case, Madras High Court will be the primary court unless otherwise informed by the Department.








Tonight we celebrate the promo work of model, actress, artist & hottie Joy as we check pop culture, community reporting and top headlines.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Protesters Display Other Talents

'Yeehaw!' variety show raises $36k for the ongoing work of Kansas City Tenants Union Saturday night at the Midland, Yeehaw!: A Benefit for Kansas City, raised over 36k for The Kansas City Tenants Union. The benefit show brought in 17,000 people for a night of comedy, music and support for their community. Each performer donated their time, and all proceeds from the event go directly to KC Tenants.

Downgrade Replacement Debuts

Buck O'Neil Bridge flyover ramp from NB I-35 to US 169 will open Tuesday The Buck O'Neil Bridge flyover ramp from northbound I-35 to northbound U.S. Highway 169 is set to open this week as progress on the major project continues.

Spoiler

: It's Just A Bus

Kansas City looks to take next steps in 'rapid transportation' from KCI to downtown A Kansas City, Missouri, City Council committee is set to meet next week to consider next steps in implementing a "rapid transportation" plan between KCI and downtown Kansas City.

Mascot Beef Deets

Buc-ee's sues KC-owned Duckees Drive Thru for trademark, copyright infringement - Kansas City Business Journal Who knew convenience store chains with cartoon animals for mascots could be so feral? A KC-based business is learning that firsthand.

Science Translates Bug

Insects are making sounds the human ear can't hear. One Midwest scientist is listening Thousands of insect species use vibrations to communicate. Now, in part because of the foundational research of a Midwestern biology professor, more researchers are exploring insect vibrational communication to ward against pests and understand climate change.

Witness Diva Stems

Joy Corrigan bares her long legs in denim shorts during photo shoot Joy Corrigan displayed her killer legs during a photo shoot in Beverly Hills this week. She wore a pair of high-waisted denim shorts and carried a large tan purse

Progressive Movie Maker Against Prez

Michael Moore lashes out at Biden, says he's leading America into World War III: 'This is your legacy?' Far-left filmmaker Michael Moore wrote a scathing open letter to President Biden, accusing him of doubling down on his "worst mistakes" as he left office.

MAGA Trades Threat

Trump pledges 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, deeper tariffs on China U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Monday that on his first day in office he would impose a 25% tariff on all products from Mexico and Canada, and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China, citing concerns over illegal immigration and the trade of illicit drugs.

Law-fare Postscript

Smith moves to drop Jan. 6, classified documents cases against Trump Special counsel Jack Smith moved to dismiss both his election interference case and classified documents case against President-elect Trump, citing Justice Department policy against prosecuting a s...

Middle-East Peace Maybe

Israel says it's moving towards Lebanon ceasefire Israel is moving towards a ceasefire in the war with Hezbollah but there are still issues to address, its government said on Monday, while two senior Lebanese officials voiced guarded optimism of a deal soon even as Israeli strikes pounded Lebanon.

NATO Readies For War

Europeans will ramp up military support for Ukraine, says German defence minister Europeans will step up military support for Ukraine, Germany's defence minister pledged on Monday after talks with his British, French, Italian and Polish counterparts on how to foster defence efforts as Donald Trump is set to return to the White House.

Handles Of Spicy Sort Confused

Charity responds to embarrassed shop workers who displayed sex toys in window thinking they were doorknobs The charity shop worker was pretty mortified by the mix-up, donning some rubber gloves to get rid of them.

Chuck Shares EPIC Review

Rye - Upscale American Bistro I finally had the chance this past summer to visit the Mission Farms location of Rye. It was a family member's birthday. I had heard lots of buzz about the restaurant from fellow food critics and the local foodie scene.

Local Freeze Emerges

Winter coat weather is here, temperatures continue to fall into the week Light rain, a few flakes possible Wednesday

And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Senior Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Senior Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong here on Tuesday, calling for further synergizing development strategies and boosting bilateral cooperation.

Commending the remarkable achievements Singapore made during Lee's tenure as prime minister, Xi spoke highly of Lee's long-time support for China-Singapore cooperation. The two sides established an all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership last year, setting a strategic course for the development of bilateral ties, Xi said.

Noting that next year will mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Singapore, Xi called on the two countries to strengthen high-level exchanges, further synergize development strategies, and deepen cooperation in various fields, so as to deliver more benefits to the two peoples and make greater contributions to regional peace and prosperity.

As this year marks the 30th anniversary of the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park in east China's Jiangsu Province, Xi said the industrial park represents a vivid example of bilateral cooperation and bears witness to Singapore's deep involvement in China's reform and opening up.

"China will always focus on running its own affairs well, and has confidence in maintaining sound economic momentum in the long run and achieving high-quality development," said Xi.

China welcomes Singapore to continue being a forerunner in cooperation with China, advance major cooperation projects, seize the opportunities brought by digital and green development, and write a new chapter in bilateral cooperation in the new era, said Xi.

Xi said that amid risks and challenges, not a single country can be immune, while upholding solidarity, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness is the right path to tread.

China is ready to work with Singapore to practice genuine multilateralism, follow the trend of economic globalization, uphold international fairness and justice, reject bloc confrontation and division, and build an Asian community with a shared future, Xi added.

Recalling his China visit last year, Lee said the bilateral relations have since been further strengthened, and the meeting of the bilateral cooperation mechanism has been successfully held. He said Singapore has full confidence in China's future, adding that the country will continue deepening cooperation with China and take an active part in Chinese modernization.

Lee went on to say that under the current complex international situation, all countries should have a long-term vision and stay committed to multilateralism to jointly address risks and challenges and better benefit the people.

The two sides also exchanged views on major issues of common concern, such as China-U.S. relations and the regional situation. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Senior Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)
An early evening ruckus near a hotspot housing project resulted in tragedy this evening and this town's latest deadly shooting.

Here's the first report followed by more deets . . .



Homicide 1300 Block of West Bluff Dr.

Tonight at 8:25pm officers were dispatched to the 1300 block of West Bluff Dr on a shooting call.

On arrival officers were notified that two shooting victims had just left the scene in a vehicle.



Additional responding officers located a vehicle just to the east on Ceaser Chavez with two adult female shooting victims inside. Officers called for EMS to that location who transported both victims to the hospital for treatment.



At the hospital one of the shooting victims was listed in stable condition. The second shooting victim was declared deceased by medical personnel.



Preliminary investigation indicates that there was a large disturbance outside an apartment on West Bluff Dr. involving multiple people, including the victims. The disturbance escalated when additional people arrived at the location and one or more of them fired gunshots striking both victims.



Detectives and Crime Scene Personnel are processing evidence at the original scene and the other secondary scene where the vehicle was located, as well as canvassing for witnesses to try to get a better idea of what led up to the shooting.



If anyone heard or saw anything in this area or has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.



We are committed to assisting victims of violent crimes through use of Missouris Protection Program for Victims/Witnesses of Violent Crime. Funding for temporary, or even permanent relocation, may be available but is subject to pre-approval by the States administering agency.



We are working with Partners for Peace in all our homicide investigations to monitor risks for retaliation and provide social services to affected residents.

###########



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

1 woman died, another woman injured in shooting Monday night in Kansas City's Westside neighborhood One woman died and another woman was injured in a shooting Monday night in Kansas City, Missouri's, Westside neighborhood, police said.

Shooting in west Kansas City sparks homicide investigation A shooting near Gage Park in Kansas City, Missouri, has led police to begin a homicide investigation.

Developing . . .
MANILA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Senate on Tuesday approved the 6.352-trillion-peso (107.69 billion U.S. dollars) national budget for 2025.

With a vote of 18-0, the senators approved the 2025 General Appropriations Bill on the third and final reading. One abstained.

The House of Representatives has passed the proposed bill earlier.

The Senate approval paved the way for the Senate and the House of Representatives to convene in a bicameral conference committee to reconcile their versions.

The lawmakers will finalize the spending plan bill before sending the final version to President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos for his approval and signature.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the proposed 2025 budget is equivalent to 22.1 percent of gross domestic product and 10.1 percent higher than the 2024 national budget. 
Welcome Guest! You are here: Home

Meet Aditya Singh  The Judge who ordered Sambhal Jama Masjid survey

November 19, 2024 was the day when Civil Judge (Senior Division), Sambhal at Chandausi, Aditya Singh ordered a survey of Sambhal Jama Masjid.

Tuesday November 26, 2024 10:52 PM , ummid.com News Network

November 19, 2024 was the day when Civil Judge (Senior Division), Sambhal at Chandausi, Aditya Singh ordered a survey of Sambhal Jama Masjid.

Aditya Singh ordered the survey of the historic Masjid in response to a petition filed by Vishnu Shankar Jain, who has so far filed petitions in different courts against various Masajid, and also Taj Mahal in Agra.

In his petitions, he claimed these Masajid and Taj Mahal have been built after demolishing temples.

Sambhal Jama Masjid was built in 1526 during the Mughal era. What sparked the protest is that Vishnu Jain filed his petition on Nov 19, 2024, Aditya Singh accepted his petition for a hearing and also ordered the survey of the Jama Masjid the same day without hearing the opposite side.

Aditya Singh in his order also appointed an "Advocate Commissioner" to conduct the survey and asked him to submit a report by Nov 29, 2024.

The Additional Commissioner and his team obliged and conducted the survey of the Samhhal Jama Masjid on the same day (Nov 19).

Why violence in Sambhal?

When the team went to the Jama Masjid for a second round of survey early in the morning on Sunday Nov 24, 2024, protests erupted reportedly because some right wing activists accompanying the survey team raised religious and provocative slogans.

In the melee, clashes erupted between security forces and the protesters. As a result, stone pelting from both the sides started (this is what is seen in the video footages). Four Muslims were killed in firing, over 20 others, including some policemen, were injured.

The district administration claimed the Police did not resort to firing whereas eyewitnesses and the family members of the victims, including Jamiat Ulama i Hind , have said the Muslim youths were killed in Police firing.

Slamming the Sambhal violence, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi held the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh responsible for the deaths of the Muslim youths . He also accused the district administration of bias and hasty decision.

Police later filed FIRs against some 800 people, including Sambhal MP Zia ur Rahman Barq for inciting violence.

As the situation in Sambhal is still tense, internet services suspended and schools and colleges shut, the name of Civil Judge Aditya Singh is again and again cropping in the media.

Who is Aditya Singh?

Born on Nov 11, 1988, Aditya Singht originally hails from Muzaffar Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh. After graduating from a local college, he prepared and cleared the UPPSC Judiciary exam in 2018.

His first posting was as Judicial Magistrate in Saharanpur in June 2018. He was promoted as Civil Judge (Junior Division) in January 2019.

He also served as Additional Civil Judge in Deoband from October 2019 to April 2021, and as Civil Judge Deoband from April 2021 till July 2022 when he was transferred to Chandpur in Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh.

A year later, he was promoted and took charge as Sr Civil Judge on Nov 21, 2023 in Sambhal.

Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates.

Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
Sambhal Mourns While India Celebrates Constitution

The whole Hindu ecosystem is busy turning the attention to a Hindu leader arrested in Bangladesh, wanting people to worry more about Bangladesh and not the Muslims of their own country

Tuesday November 26, 2024 7:30 PM , Raqif Makhdoomi

Dont search Shiv ling in every Masjid, says RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, while addressing a seminar after the Ayodhya land dispute case was won. According to him, Ram Janmabhoomin was a movement and now they dont want another movement to come up.

But it looks like they arent ready to listen to him. When he says stop, they want to keep on getting one Masjid after another, and trying to convert into Mandir.

Sambhal Jama Masjid has triggered a fresh anti-Muslim riots in Sambhal of Utter Pradesh. An ASI Survey was ordered by the court without letting the other side put its viewpoint. According to the law of land, a sheer injustice has been done to Muslim side while ordering the survey.

Nonetheless, the survey took place, and leading to another anti-Muslim riots. Five young Muslims were mercilessly killed and the right wing is celebrating the killings, while crying for the Hindus of Bangladesh.

Bilal Ansari, 25-year- old, Nadeem Ahmaed, 35-year-old, Mohammed Kaif , 18-year-old, Ayan 19-year-old, and Naeem Ghazi, 35-year-old - these are the names of Muslim youth who have lost their lives in the anti-Muslim riot in Sambhal.

There is no mass condemnation on these killings, the only reason is that they are Muslims and this will cost the political parties votes. Bharat jodo and Mohbbat ki dukaan both have disappeared. The leaders, who during campaigns become Muslim rights activists, now dont even mention Muslims in their speeches. Just because they dont want to annoy the large Hindu population.

The whole Hindu ecosystem is busy turning the attention to a Hindu leader arrested in Bangladesh. They want people to worry more about Bangladesh and not the Muslims of their own country. The minorities of other countries are innocent and the minorities of India are reason for every wrong that happens in India. Riots are always because of Muslims, thats what the right wing wants the whole world to believe.

For India, lacking behind in economic growth is also because of Muslims, because the government has to provide them freebies and the whole tax burden is on Hindus. A simple logic and simple Maths is needed to debunk these false claims, but the right wing lacks both.

Since the coming to power of Modi not only people but the police have changed their way of dealing with the law and order. There used to be some respect for Standard Operating Procedure, commonly known as SOP. The most efficient part of this SOP is firing has to be last option and that too blow the knee. But now the firing is the first and only option that too directly above chest, and to cause death.

Also Read: Jamiat demands 50L compensation for Sambhal youths killed in Police firing

In a video, a policeman is seen directly firing towards protesters. In the same video, a policeman can be easily heard abusing the crowd and threatening.

Wait, if you are surprised let me remind you all this is happening in Uttar Pradesh a lawless state ruled by Adityanath. Now you must have gone from Oh, my God to This keeps happening. A state where rule of law is just a shield to hide behind.

Happy constitutional Day!!!!!!

Divisional Commissioner was asked about the killing. But, instead of condemning the killing, he turned the guns towards the families of all those who got killed. He clearly made sure that no blame is put on the Police.

Furthermore he tried to present the stone pelting of Sambhal as the only stone pelting incident in India. In a stone pelting incident by Hindus, a SP rank officer was badly injured. He was hit on head but thats not violence because what a Hindu does is a matter of rights but the same act becomes act of terror when a Muslim does it.

If you think I am trying to justify the Sambal incident, because of me myself being a Muslim. I request you to go out and check Twitter. There, you will get to know that I am purely talking about facts nothing more. This country has turned into a complete Hindu Rashtra, without being declared one.

A police officer in a press conference displays a two sided knife and justifies killing of 3 boys, who were killed till then. I fail to understand what had come to the mind of that police officer before displaying that two sided kitchen knife. The police officer was very much unaware of the fact that none has been killed with that and no incident related to knife was even reported. But thats enough for the majority Hindus to justify the killings.

The sword of police always falls on the Muslims. In general, the law is to protect the victim, but in India, the largest democracy, the law is to protect the accused, only when they are Hindus.

The UP police filed 7 FIRs against 2,500 people in Sambhal. This is not the end. The FIR has been filed against MP Zia ur Rehman who was in Bangalore attending Waqf board meeting and MLA Sohail Iqbal.

Both have been accused of provoking people. This despite the fact that local residents hold the Police responsible for provoking the general public.

But who listens to other side when the other side is Muslim?

The survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid was ordered without giving the other side make a representation. Even in the most heinous crimes, the accused is heard and is given all the rights to defend himself. Even Rajat Sharma like journalist called it unjustified. Even he called out the authorities for not hearing the Muslim side and ordering the survey in a hurry.

Zafar Ali - the lawyer of the Jama Masjid was detained soon after he held a press conference, exposing the role of authorities in causing the violence. To counter him, DC and SP held a press conference but the truth was already out.

Its not a hidden fact that the Hindus in India are Islamophobic, and nothing can hide that. They dont hate the common Muslims in particular they hate the Muslims in general. A glaring example is of Vice President Hamid Ansari and how his farewell event was held. How he was disrespected for his views, is well known to everyone.

India is beyond repair, even if Congress makes a come back in center that too with full and absolute majority it wont make any difference. Remember the idol of Ram was put inside the Babri Masjid by Rajiv Gandhi.

[Raqif Makhdoomi is a Law student and Human Rights defender. Views are personal.]

Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates.

Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
Welcome Guest! You are here: Home

Sharjah Makes Arabic Medium of Instruction in Nurseries

Sharjah has asked the government nursery schools across the Emirate to adopt Arabic as medium of instruction

Tuesday November 26, 2024 5:08 PM , ummid.com News Network

Sharjah: Sharjah has asked the government nursery schools across the Emirate to adopt Arabic as medium of instruction.

The decision was taken at the 14th meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Sharjah Education Academy at its headquarters in the University City in Sharjah presided by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

A wise decision

Parents have hailed the decision calling it a wise decision.

"We need to prioritise Arabic from an early age because it is our mother tongue," R. Musabah, an Emirati mother, told Khaleej Times.

Teaching English too early can weaken children's ability to learn and speak Arabic well. Not getting enough exposure to Arabic can lead to difficulties later on, she added.

Musabah also reflected on the deep connection between language and culture, emphasising that strong Arabic skills would help children maintain their heritage and foster better family relationships.

"It's essential that we help the next generation grow up valuing their language and culture," she said.

Aisha Mohamed, a Palestinian expat and mother of two boys, shared her excitement about the new initiative as well.

"This is fantastic news for us! At home, my sons speak English most of the time because they only use English at school," she explained.

"By introducing Arabic in nurseries, we can ensure they become fluent in both languages. It's essential for their identity and understanding of our culture," she added.

New platform to boost Arabic education

Meanwhile, Zayed University has launched a new digital platform ZAI Platform to boost Arabic education and help non-Arabic speaking populace to easily learn the language.

The platform aims to transform the way Arabic is taught and learned, empowering educators and students with accessible tools.

We have prepared Arabic vocabulary and phrases and provided the English translation and transliteration to make it easy for expats and non-native Arabic speakers to pronounce it in Arabic, Dr Hanada Taha Thomure, Endowed Chair of Arabic Language at Zayed University told Khaleej Times.

The list of phrases and vocabulary we have selected covers commonly used sentences and words in the Arab world and greatly helps in facilitating communication with Arabic speakers. (These include)  how to greet people in Arabic, order food in restaurants, buy groceries at a supermarket etc, she added.

Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates.

Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
HOUSTON, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- More than 30 experts and scholars from China and the United States gathered Sunday in New Orleans, Louisiana, to discuss topics such as the impacts of artificial intelligence and globalization on the future of the media.

At the 10th Annual U.S.-China Communication Scholars Summit, Stephen Hartnett, former president of the U.S. National Communication Association (NCA), said that now more than ever, scholars need to model cordial communication, ethical persuasion, and fact-based reasoning, and also need to hold strong in the face of de-globalization.

Professor Dong Qingwen from University of the Pacific, who is also a member of the international cooperation committee of the NCA, said that the ten-year event was a journey of intellectual exchange and mutual growth, which has enriched the disciplines and broadened the horizons.

The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, a documentary which won the best documentary award at the 37th Golden Rooster Awards, was screened at the venue. Its director Fang Li had an online discussion with the guests.

During the closing ceremony, the Television School of Communication University of China (CUC) was awarded the Valued Partner Award.

This year marks a decade of close cooperation between the CUC and the NCA. Since 2014, the two institutions have jointly held a series of summits including this event.

The summit is one of the pre-conference events marking the 110th anniversary of the NCA, a non-profit academic organization on journalism and communication, said the organizers. 
By Qabil Ashirov



The peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia will ensure calm and stability in the Caucasus region, Azernews reports that Turkish National Defense Minister Ya?ar Guler said this at the discussion of the 2025 budget of the National Defense Ministry in the plan-budget commission of the parliament.

He stressed the importance of signing a large-scale peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan.

The National Defense Minister also reported on the successes achieved in the fight against terrorism. He noted that within the anti-terrorist operations of the Turkish Armed Forces, 2,654 militants of the organizations banned from operating in the region have been neutralized since the beginning of this year.

According to the minister, the Turkish army has changed its strategy for fighting terrorism in recent years.

"Short-term strikes with a well-defined list of targets have been replaced by large-scale operations without predetermined deadlines. Such a strategy made it possible to deal a strong blow to terrorist organizations, especially the PKK," Y. Guler said, stressing his determination to completely eliminate the threat of terrorism against Turkiye.

The Turkish minister drew attention to the importance of cooperation between the countries of the region in the fight against terrorism and said that concrete steps are being taken in this area based on the agreements reached with the Iraqi government.

As for the situation in Cyprus, Ya?ar Guler noted that Ankara is carefully monitoring "the stability-threatening actions of the Greek community of the island."

The minister added that Turkiye observes "an increase in the activity of foreign countries in the south of Cyprus under the pretext of humanitarian activities".
TOKYO, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- A fire broke out on Tuesday during a combustion test of the solid-fuel small rocket Epsilon S at Japan's Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, local media reported.

The incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. local time during a combustion test of the second stage of the Epsilon S. The test was planned to last approximately 120 seconds, but a fire broke out at the test site, prompting firefighting efforts, national broadcaster NHK cited information from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

No injuries have been reported, according to local police and fire authorities. 
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Senior Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Senior Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong in Beijing on Tuesday, calling for further synergy of development strategies and enhanced cooperation.

Commending the remarkable achievements Singapore made during Lee's tenure as prime minister, Xi spoke highly of Lee's long-term support for China-Singapore cooperation. The two sides established an all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership last year, setting a strategic course for the development of bilateral ties, Xi said.

Noting that next year will mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Singapore, Xi called on the two countries to strengthen high-level exchanges and deepen cooperation in various fields, so as to deliver more benefits to the two peoples and make greater contributions to regional peace and prosperity. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Senior Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)
The professional industry is changing and one way for university students to get prepared is through internships, which is where knowledge and practical skills meet.

Unlike part-time jobs for students, internships are more encouraging because they can learn with their hands, minus the burden of the mid-term outcome, with the right skills they're studying for in the university. They connect the real classroom theories with professional practices, hence allowing the students to experiment, get wrong, and grow.

Where real work holds higher stakes, internships are designed to help students learn the ropes and prepare for the demands of their future careers.

Why an Internship is Important to All Students?

The actual element of learning should be in a class, but typically, the concepts and theories form the majority of the learning.

According to Texas State University, internships bring ideas into actuality by allowing students to experience real-life applications. Through internships, students learn how businesses really are run, how teams work together, and how to apply learned academic principles to real life. For example, marketing students may develop social media campaigns or analyze consumer data, while an engineering intern may assist in designing a product or solving technical issues.

This provides hands-on experience that teaches students the ins and outs of practical skills: how to communicate properly, to understand their time management, and generally problem-solving skills, since these are skills that textbooks cannot fully teach but are essential in any career.

Benefits of Internships

One of the biggest advantages of internships is networking. Internships allow students to work alongside professionals, opening doors to mentorship opportunities and industry contacts. These relationships can prove helpful when searching for a full-time job or seeking career advice, per George Fox University.

Confidence is also built through internships. The problems of the real world are often intimidating to students experiencing them for the first time. Students who can overcome such obstacles really get a sense of what they are actually capable of doing. From completing a project to standing in front of a team to pitch their ideas, from just being in a professional space, internships help students gear up for the challenges of a future job.

Internships also help students explore potential career paths. Most students start college without knowing what they really want to do for the rest of their lives, and internships introduce them to various roles or industries. Internships allow students to try out a particular job to see whether it is close to their interests and competencies.

Additionally, internships illuminate weaknesses students may possess to be bettered. For instance, a student interning in journalism may realize that they may need stronger writing skills or a better understanding of deadlines. This self-awareness allows students to hone their abilities before entering the job market.

In short, an internship is one of the ultimate training before entering the real world. They provide hands-on experience, confidence, and professional networks, and guide students in their choice of career.
The University of Austin (UATX) seeks to challenge higher learning by preserving free speech and openness regarding ideology, which could potentially clash with Trump's education plans for the country.

Founded by a group of professors and professionals working at renowned universities, UATX provides an alternative to the present campus climate, which tends to shelter students from controversial ideas.

According to CBS News, the crux of UATX is that universities ought to be arenas for open debate and a diversity of opinions. It doesn't stifle but encourages debate; it is both the philosophy behind their approach to academics and the kind of culture they are trying to institute.

In that sense, UATX can operate on an open campus where differences in political thought are welcomed not condemned. Its first class of 92 students is diverse in political background, and this institution values intellectual diversity. In fact, classes at this university are small, seminar-style classes that cultivate thinking and respectful debate. The students are encouraged to challenge each other's views, not because the point is to win arguments, but so that one could develop a deeper understanding of complex issues.

The UATX founders argued that universities should be more focused on intellectual curiosity and less concerned with political correctness or ideology.

Read more: University of Texas Employee Arrested for Allegedly Failing to Register as Sex Offender

UATX Free Tuition

Furthermore, UATX challenges the rising cost of higher education by offering free tuition for students whose families earn less than $100,000, per NBC News.

Unlike most universities, which tend to focus on DEI in admission, UATX accentuates MEI. There is no admission to this university based on someone's race, gender, or even the current socioeconomic background, but solely on their ability to think and have a thoughtful discussion.

With the support of private donors, UATX has managed to collect nearly $200 million to sustain its mission and fund operational costs- including tuition. However, the model the university operates under does not come without sacrifice. Students have to live outside of the campus, where they cook by themselves, and they don't have college access to amenities like dorms and meal plans.

UATX sees this as an added benefit, an attempt to cut costs and focus on its main mission: education and intellectual engagement. This minimalism is not everyone's cup of tea; however, it only reaffirms the university's commitment to its core mission of free speech and open debate that needs to be fostered in those who come there.

By offering an opportunity to learn in a free, open space, the University of Austin seeks to disturb higher education's status quo where meaningful discourse would be undeterred by censorship. UATX hopes to guide the future of higher education into the mold where ideas, not political agendas, are put forward.
US colleges warn international students to return to campus before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office.

The warning pertains more to changes in immigration policy that could deter students who are undocumented or have visas from being allowed to re-enter the country if they travel abroad.

According to BBC, emails and advisories have been sent out, targeting especially students who are undocumented or hold visas. Many universities, such as the University of Massachusetts, MIT, and Wesleyan, have been advising their students to return from winter break early so they do not get caught up in any complications.

Currently, more than 400,000 undocumented students are enrolled in US higher education, and many more attend with visas.

Trump's Education Policies on International Students

Trump has promised the largest deportation operation in history and has hinted that he will be strict on immigration. In his previous presidency, Trump imposed travel bans on several predominantly Muslim countries and proposed limits on student visas.

Even though his new administration said that deportation of criminals and security threats are the primary focuses, students and universities are concerned about its impact on international education. Some fear that their visas would put them at risk of being denied entry back into the country or even deported.

NDTV reported that universities like Yale have led webinars, while others issue advisories "out of an abundance of caution."

Students from China and Japan, in particular, have been anxious, amid frayed relations with the US, asking themselves if they will be able to complete their education in the country. The same issue has been raised by students who were brought to the country as children, under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which Trump previously tried to end. But now, universities are encouraging these students to prepare for possible program changes, considering that most of the Congress are Republicans.

While the exact changes in immigration policies toward Trump are vague, universities seem to take the initiative to prepare international students for this change. Returning to campus before the new policy implementation could avoid complications and safeguard the continuation of their academic journey.
You probably heard the dark side of fraternities and sororities in college, as they are often associated with brutal initiations or hazing, violence, and other upheavals that disrupt college campuses. While this can be true for some unsupervised groups, those who stay intact with college safety rules can provide benefits to members.

Greek life often places students in leadership roles, from organizing events to overseeing philanthropic projects. This hands-on experience can even help prepare students for leadership positions in their future careers, since employers look for early skills, such as teamwork, time management, and communication, even for fresh graduates.

Academic Performance

While Greek life is often bemoaned for social activities, many fraternities and sororities focus heavily on academics.

In fact, College Scholarships shared that most Greek organizations have scholarship programs and study groups that encourage members to maintain high academic standards. They create a supportive culture in which the students strive to do better academically. In most cases, fraternities and sororities have specific academic chairs that may help facilitate tutoring and such, plus make academic support services available.

Members usually keep each other on track toward their goals by focusing their minds on their academics, thus pushing them to perform better academically.

Philanthropy

Greek organizations are celebrated for community service, College Scholarships reported. In fact, most fraternities and sororities engage in fundraising activities, volunteer work, and community involvement with local organizations. As a member, you also have a role in these philanthropic sidelines, such engagements allow you to contribute to specific communities, which also builds you to become responsible, and socially aware.

Lifelong Friendships and Networking

Fraternities and sororities in colleges are particularly recognized as close-knit communities that foster student bonding for life. With these organizations, the University of New Mexico stated that students instantly have a built-in social network which can be very helpful to freshmen or first-time students navigating their way on campus. The sense of camaraderie that is developed in coordinating events, living together, and thus supporting each other can often stretch far beyond college years.

Many Greek alumni maintain strong connections with their chapters, which can provide valuable career networking opportunities. These friendships and connections can help members both socially and professionally long after graduation.

Personal Growth

The structured nature of Greek life encourages personal development and accountability since members are expected to balance their role and their academic lives, which in return, instills values like respect, integrity, and personal responsibility. In return, you can use these values as a benchmark when you're now a young adult facing interpersonal challenges. If the college version of you, with all the deadlines and organizational commitment, can surpass these challenges, why can't an adult version of you?

Is It Good to Join Fraternities and Sororities in College?

Some fraternities and sororities in college are beneficial for your transition from your university life to professional life, something you may not get by just attending your usual classes. From leadership development, academic performance, community contribution, and network, Greek life provides some of the most valuable opportunities for growth personally and professionally.

But at the same time, it must be recognized that Greek life is not entirely ideal. Many fraternities and sororities do promote healthy experiences and values while others are responsible for countless incidents of violence and hazing. Hazing is among the worst of these issues since there are still incidents where dangerous practices in some organizations may result in injury, emotional trauma, or worse, death for students. Violence, alcohol abuse, and unhealthy power dynamics characterize some of the environments in Greek organizations.

Ultimatelythe decision of whether to join the fraternity or sorority should be preceded by research on the particular chapter one is considering. You must speak with current members and learn about the chapter's reputation, values, and importance. After all, you want to find the right fraternity or sorority for youwhat you stand for and feel for as well as what can be academically accomplished.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

PML-N member of the Punjab Assembly Hina Pervaiz Butt, in her recent statement, strongly criticized PTI founder's wife Bushra Bibi, stating that she is harming the country in her attempts to fulfill personal ambitions and elevate her political stature

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2024) PML-N member of the Punjab Assembly Hina Pervaiz Butt, in her recent statement, strongly criticized PTI founder's wife Bushra Bibi, stating that she is harming the country in her attempts to fulfill personal ambitions and elevate her political stature.

Hina Pervaiz Butt said that this woman is not only undermining public trust but also disrupting the political environment of the country.

She further added that Pinky Peerni's activities would also prove detrimental for PTI. She claimed that this woman is driving the party towards ruin. Hina Pervaiz Butt demanded the government to immediately arrest this "mischievous woman" to save the country from further damage.
(@FahadShabbir)

Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday emphasized the need to strengthen trade ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in key sectors such as textiles, agriculture, and technology to achieve shared prosperity

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2024) Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday emphasized the need to strengthen trade ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in key sectors such as textiles, agriculture, and technology to achieve shared prosperity.

During his official visit to Saudi Arabia, he accompanied by his delegation, held separate meetings with the Speaker of the Saudi Shura Council and the Saudi Arabia-Pakistan Friendship Group, according to a news release

Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, Chairman Senate, is currently in Saudi Arabia on an official visit on the invitation of Dr. Abdullah

ibn Muhammad Al ash-Sheikh, Speaker of the Shura Council and Saudi-Pakistan Friendship group.

The visit aims to strengthen Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations, focusing on economic cooperation, legislative collaboration, and regional stability.

During high-level meetings, Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani proposed the establishment of a parliamentary friendship committee between the Senate and the Shura Council to promote regular dialogue and joint initiatives, particularly on economic and security matters.

Gilani praised the growing trade relations, noting that bilateral trade reached $4.5 billion in 2023, and called for increased cooperation in sectors like textiles, agriculture, and technology.

He also expressed gratitude for Saudi Arabias humanitarian support during Pakistan's crises and for facilitating the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage for Pakistani citizens.

Highlighting shared religious and cultural ties, the chairman Senate proposed closer cooperation between the two legislative bodies to address regional challenges, including peace in Palestine and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

He informed the Saudi side about the brutal use of force by the Indian army to suppress the voices. Violation of human rights has become a norm in IIOJK.

The situation demands the global community to take notice of the situation.

He further said that Israeli forces have made the lives of the Palestinians miserable.

Crimes against humanity are being committed in Gaza, he said and added that Pakistan wants an amicable solution to these issues as per aspirations of the people in accordance with the UN resolutions and the international laws.

Chairman Senate reaffirmed Pakistans commitment to deepening ties with Saudi Arabia and strengthening the bond between both nations.

Senate Chairman Gilani expressed deep gratitude for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation, recalling his previous visits to Saudi Arabia in 2008 and 2011, which further solidified the friendship between the two countries.

He also acknowledged the recent visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Pakistan and reiterated his commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.

He commended the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in driving Saudi Vision 2030 and emphasized Pakistans readiness to contribute to this ambitious vision, particularly in areas such as infrastructure development and technology.

As his visit continued, Gilani reiterated Pakistans unwavering commitment to further strengthening the Saudi-Pakistan partnership across all sectors, including trade, security, and regional collaboration.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2024) Pakistan and Belarus on Tuesday, expressing satisfaction at the current positive trajectory of bilateral relations, agreed to maintain the momentum through regular high-level engagement and institutional cooperation.

The bilateral relations were discussed during the delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko, who is currently on a three-day official visit to Pakistan.

The talks are reflective of the excellent bilateral relations between Pakistan and Belarus, according to a PM Office press release.

The two sides discussed the full spectrum of bilateral relations as well as important regional and global developments.

The two leaders reaffirmed the shared commitment of both countries to the deepening of their political dialogue, strengthening inter-parliamentary exchanges and, in particular, enhancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

Prime Minister Shehbaz and President Lukashenko also witnessed the exchange of several important agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) aimed at fostering closer collaboration between Pakistan and Belarus in key sectors.

The agreements and MOUs encompassed cooperation in environmental protection, disaster management, halal trade, audit institutions, financial intelligence-sharing, vocational education and science & technology.

One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the signing of the "Roadmap for Comprehensive Cooperation between Pakistan and Belarus for 2025-2027," which outlines a strategic framework for enhancing economic ties through high-level meetings, inter-governmental commissions, and targeted collaborative initiatives.

In the talks, both sides emphasised the importance of regional economic integration and connectivity, and agreed to improve the legal frameworks needed to facilitate bilateral economic collaboration.

The Belarusian president appreciated the efforts by Prime Minister Shehbaz to take the bilateral relations to new dimensions and expressed his country's full cooperation in this regard.

He also invited PM Shehbaz to visit Belarus as it would further expand the relationship.

Accepting the invitation, the prime minister said that during his visit, the MoUs will be formalized into agreements. He also issued instructions to the ministers concerned to take necessary steps in this regard as soon as possible.
(@Abdulla99267510)

Development takes place just a day after JCP nominated nine-judges for constitutional benches

KARACHI: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-Nov 26th, 2024) The Sindh High Court's (SHC) regular benches on Tuesday recused to hear constitutional petitions after formation of dedicated constitutional benches.

A SHC division bench led by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar was hearing a case related to the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA).

During the proceedings, the petitioners counsel argued that the matter fell under Article 199(2) of the Constitution and sought an urgent hearing.

Justice Panhwar observed that petitions involving restraining orders against provincial or Federal governments or their institutions should be addressed by the constitutional bench. He advised the counsel to obtain permission from Justice KK Agha and clarified that while conditional permission could be granted, it would first need to be determined whether the case should be heard by a regular or constitutional bench.

In a separate development, the court declined to entertain cases concerning call-up notices, account de-freezing, protection requests and postponed all these matters for an indefinite time.

Additionally, a petition regarding the quashing of an FIR was directed to be converted into a Section 561 application and presented to the appropriate bench.

Just a day before, Judicial Commission of Pakistan nominated nine judges for constitutional benches in the SHC.

Justice KK Agha has been appointed as the head of these constitutional benches as well as the constitutional committee.
Berlin, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2024) Germany's former chancellor Angela Merkel gives a spirited defence of her 16 years at the helm of Europe's top economy in her memoir "Freedom", released in 30 languages on Tuesday.

Since she stepped down in 2021, Merkel has been accused of having been too soft on Russia, leaving Germany dangerously reliant on cheap Russian gas and sparking turmoil and the rise of the far right with her open-door migrant policy.

Her autobiography is released as wars rage in Ukraine and the middle East, Donald Trump is headed back to the White House and Germany faces snap elections after its ruling coalition collapsed this month.

Merkel, 70, remembered for her calm and unflappable leadership style, rejects blame for any of the current turmoil, in the 736-page autobiography co-written with longtime adviser Beate Baumann.

After years out of the public eye, she has given multiple media interviews, reflecting on her childhood under East German communism and tense encounters with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump, who she felt "was captivated by politicians with autocratic and dictatorial tendencies".

In the full memoir, she gives further insights into her thoughts and actions -- including during the 2015 mass refugee influx, which came to define the final years of her leadership.

Critics have charged that Merkel's refusal to push back large numbers of asylum-seekers at the Austrian border led to more than one million arrivals and fuelled the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Merkel, who at the time posed for a selfie with one Syrian refugee, says she "still does not understand ... how anyone could have assumed that a friendly face in a photo would be enough to encourage entire legions to flee their homeland".

While affirming that "Europe must always protect its external borders", she stresses that "prosperity and the rule of law will always make Germany and Europe ... places where people want to go".

In addition, she writes in the French edition of the book, fast-ageing Germany's "lack of manpower makes legal migration essential".

Her bold declaration at the time -- "wir schaffen das" in German or "we can do this" -- was a "banal" statement with the message that "where there are obstacles, we must work to overcome them", she argues.

And on the AfD, she cautions Germany's mainstream parties against adopting their rhetoric "without proposing concrete solutions to existing problems", warning that with such an approach mainstream movements "will fail".

Merkel, who speaks Russian, also defends her engagement over the years with Putin, who speaks German -- despite her misgivings about the former KGB agent who once allowed a labrador into a meeting between them, apparently playing on her fear of dogs.

She describes the Russian leader as "a man perpetually on the lookout, afraid of being mistreated and always ready to strike, including by playing at exercising his power with a dog and making others wait".

Nevertheless, she says that "despite all the difficulties" she was right "not to let contacts with Russia be broken off ... and to also preserve ties through trade relations".

The reality is, she argues, that "Russia is, with the United States, one of the two main nuclear powers in the world".

She also defends her opposition to Ukraine joining NATO at a 2008 Bucharest summit, considering it illusory to think that candidate status would have protected it from Putin's aggression.

After the summit, she remembers flying home with the feeling that "we in NATO had no common strategy for dealing with Russia".

Russia's full-scale attack on Ukraine in February 2022, and the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines, cut Germany off from cheap Russian gas, with the taps' closure a key driver of its ongoing economic malaise.

But Merkel rejects criticism for having allowed the Baltic Sea pipelines in the first place, pointing out that Nord Stream 1 was signed off on by her predecessor, the Social Democrat Gerhard Schroeder, long a friend of Putin.

On Nord Stream 2, which she approved after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, she argues that at the time it would have been "difficult to get companies and gas users in Germany and in many EU member states to accept" having to import more expensive liquefied natural gas from other sources.

Merkel says the gas was needed as a transitional energy source as Germany was pursuing both a switch to renewable energy and the phase-out of nuclear power following Japan's 2011 Fukushima disaster.

On nuclear power itself, she argues that "we do not need it to meet our climate goals" and that the German phase-out can "inspire courage in other countries" to follow suit.
TUNIS, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian Prime Minister Kamel Madouri on Monday met with a delegation from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on broadening cooperation in Tunisia's energy and digitalization sectors.

During the meeting with the delegation led by EBRD Vice President Matteo Patrone, Madouri expressed the wish to see more diversified cooperation between Tunisia and the EBRD on technological innovation and green economy, according to a statement released by the Tunisian government on Monday night.

"Tunisia is living to the rhythm of a momentum of revision and development of a flexible and attractive legal framework that encourages public and private investments and tends to boost the realization of mega-public projects," Madouri noted.

He mentioned the legislation to be adopted and the procedures to be implemented to stimulate investments, particularly in transport, renewable energy, mining, water desalination, health, infrastructure and modern technologies.

According to the statement, Patrone voiced the EBRD's continuous support for both Tunisia's national projects and its small and medium enterprises, in addition to cooperation and financing programs on phosphate, energy transformation, water, land and rail transport, and infrastructure projects. 
BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday that the United States should cherish the goodwill of China and safeguard the hard-won positive situation of China-U.S. cooperation on drug control.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on social media that he "had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States -- But to no avail... and drugs are pouring into our country." The United States will be charging China an additional 10 percent tariff on all Chinese imports, he added.

When asked to comment on the remarks, the spokesperson said China is one of the world's toughest countries on counternarcotics both in terms of policy and its implementation. Fentanyl is an issue for the United States. In the spirit of humanity, China has given support to the U.S. response to this issue.

According to the spokesperson, as early as in 2019, China officially scheduled all fentanyl-related substances and is the first country in the world ever to do so. China has carried out extensive and in-depth counternarcotics cooperation with the United States, which has been highly productive. This is a clear fact for all to see.

"China remains ready to continue counternarcotics cooperation with the United States on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect. We hope the United States will not take China's goodwill for granted and work to ensure that the hard-won positive dynamics will stay in the counternarcotics cooperation," the spokesperson said. 
Over 18,000 people in Mexico have registered online to run for Supreme Court seats and federal judgeships in the country's contentious new selection process, but a random drawing in the end will determine who gets on the ballot, officials said Monday.

"The registration to be a member of the judiciary was a success, something unprecedented, historic," President Claudia Sheinbaum told the press Monday morning. Sheinbaum defends this reform promulgated by her predecessor and mentor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

The ruling party pushed through a constitutional reform in September to make all federal judges stand for election, replacing the system where court employees and lawyers mainly move up through the ranks.

Current court employees and their supporters have staged dozens of demonstrations against the reforms, calling them part of a ruling-party campaign to weaken checks and balances and eliminate independent regulatory and oversight bodies.

Now, candidates for Supreme Court seats and federal judgeships need only a law degree, a grade point average of 3.2, "five years of professional experience" and five letters of recommendation from neighbors or friends. That, and some luck in the final drawing.

Officials rejected criticism that has called the process rushed or amateurish for the often highly technical posts that can hear cases involving intellectual property, organized crime and constitutional law.

"The results have been spectacular," said Arturo Zaldivar, a top adviser to Sheinbaum.

According to the plan, evaluation committees will have just over a month to review thousands of resumes and whittle the field to about 10 candidates or fewer for each of the 881 judgeships and nine seats on the Supreme Court.

Then 1,793 names chosen at random from those selected will appear on the ballot on June 1.

Critics warn that many who land on the ballot will be unknowns who perhaps have never argued a case in the courts they seek to run.

"You don't elect a doctor or a surgeon for an operation based on their popularity. You elect them based on their technical expertise, their ability, their knowledge," said Sergio Mendez Silva, the legal coordinator for the civic group Foundation for Justice. "That also applies for a judge."

With candidates now having to run election campaigns, critics warn there is a chance drug cartels or political parties could finance them to get friendly judges onto the bench.

There are also concerns that the evaluation committees deciding who makes the cut for the selection to appear on ballots may not be impartial. Most committee members were appointed by the legislative or executive branches, controlled by the ruling Morena party.

Some critics argue that the current justice system, which is riddled with nepotism, corruption and a lack of accountability, needs to be changed.

"We need a justice system that gives results," said Martinez Garza, an academic and former head of the human rights commission in the northern border state of

Nuevo Leon who has registered to run for a Supreme Court seat.

Trials in Mexico can last for years, and the ruling party has added to the growing list of crimes for which bail is not allowed, meaning that a large percentage of the prison population is people awaiting trial.

Some material for this report came from Agence France-Presse.
A new report from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center says the number of people displaced in Africa has tripled to 35 million. Of these, 32.5 million abandoned their homes due to conflict and violence. The report, published Tuesday, says government efforts to address internal displacement on the continent have been commendable but not enough.

Twenty-four-year-old Amani Kalindi has not known peace since he was a boy growing up in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The truck driver is one of the millions of Africans displaced from their homes due to conflict, disasters, and climate change.

He said people are living in constant fear, fleeing to seek safety, but then hit with new dangers and forced to flee again. War has been a constant problem, with foreign armed groups invading the country to fight over its resources and minerals, he said, adding that inter-communal violence is also a threat.

Kalindi said that, with nowhere else to turn, he arrived in Uganda on Saturday after spending years in Ituri and North and South Kivu provinces in the DRC. Escaping danger, he joined millions of others from Africa and beyond in registering as a refugee.

In a new report published Tuesday, the Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Center says the large majority of people displaced worldwide are in Africa.

The report looks at the new trends and developments of the displaced from 2009 to 2023 and found that the number of people forced from their homes has tripled to 35 million. Almost 93 percent are displaced due to conflict and violence, and 26 million of them are displaced in just five countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Somalia and Sudan.

Experts say poverty, inequality and marginalization are among the many factors that fuel conflict and violence, and armed groups have exploited these grievances, which create more displacements.

IDMC director Alexandra Bilak said violence is not solely to blame for the crisis.

"So, five countries on the African continent are generating the most conflict-related internal displacement, but our report also shows that disaster displacement is also rising. We are now reporting six times more disaster displacements than 15 years ago," Bilak said.

Floods and droughts trigger the majority of disaster displacements. IDMC researchers warn climate change will make these weather-related events more frequent and intense, and they expect these displacement trends to continue.

With the heightening conflict in Sudan, the chronic armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and weather-related disasters hitting communities, Balik said it's hard to see the numbers going down.

"It's hard to be optimistic. We know that with the impact of climate change, the disasters we already see today are likely to increase in the future, Balik said. We have seen prolonged periods of drought across the Horn of Africa. And without more investments in the underlying causes of this displacement, we fear that the number will continue rising."

The Internal Displacement and Monitoring Center notes that some African countries have developed national policies to protect and assist internally displaced persons in accordance with a 2009 African Union agreement.

Beyond national legislation and policies, Nigeria issues birth certificates and national identification cards to the displaced, ensuring they are recognized and have access to government services.

Balik said implementing such solutions is necessary for countries to reach their development goals.
Nearly three weeks after the 2024 election, with almost all of the votes counted, it has become clear that Donald Trump won his second term in the White House by orchestrating a nationwide rightward shift in voting patterns that largely persisted across most of the 50 states, whether their electoral votes went to Trump or to his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.

The main force behind Trump's victory was strong support from his base, which is generally made up of white Americans without a college degree. His win would not have been possible, however, had the president-elect not improved his showing among groups who tend to support Democratic candidates.

Trump won larger shares of the vote in parts of the country with large Hispanic and Asian American populations, many of whom appeared to respond to his criticism of the Biden administration's handling of the economy and of immigration. Many areas of the country with a large concentration of Black voters, who have historically favored Democrats, saw lower turnout than in past years, creating a further disadvantage for Harris.

The shift in favor of Trump was apparent in an overwhelming majority of communities across the country. An analysis of county-level data updated by CNN on November 22 demonstrated that in nearly nine of 10 U.S. counties, Trump's 2024 vote share had improved over that of 2020.

'He did much better'

Drew McCoy, president of Decision Desk HQ, an organization that gathers data on elections in the United States, told VOA that Trump's improvement with the electorate had been broad and cut across several demographic groups.

"We definitely have a lot of data on how Trump did, and across the board, he did much better," McCoy said, mentioning that the president-elect had improved among white voters, Hispanic voters and Asian American voters.

Meanwhile, while many had predicted a sharp increase in the gender gap in favor of Harris, it never materialized.

While female voters appear to have favored Harris decisively, McCoy said the margin was "essentially flat" compared with Trump's last two runs for the presidency.

"It wasn't the blowout across the board with women that many people were expecting," McCoy said.

The shift in the Hispanic vote was especially noticeable, he said. For example, in the heavily Hispanic Rio Grande Valley, just north of the border with Mexico, Trump's share of the vote surged. In Florida's Miami-Dade County region, which Hillary Clinton won by 30 percentage points in 2016, Trump won by 13 points.

Popular and electoral vote tally

Trump became the first Republican candidate in two decades to win the popular vote.

As of November 25, The Associated Press tally had Trump with precisely 50% of the vote and Harris at 48.4%, with the remainder scattered among third-party candidates.

In total, Americans cast more than 151 million votes for president, about 4 million fewer than were cast in 2020, when Trump lost to Joe Biden. However, Trump won approximately 77 million votes, nearly 3 million more than he did in 2020.

Each U.S. state has a specified number of votes in the Electoral College, which is the body that officially elects the president. Each state allocates its votes to candidates based on the popular result in that state, in most cases on a winner-take-all basis.

Trump needed 270 electoral votes to win. He received 312, or 58% of the total available. Historically, that is not a large percentage. Many presidents have won well over 75% of the electoral vote. However, in the seven presidential elections held since 2000, only Barack Obama, in 2008 and 2012, won more than 58% of electoral votes.

Swing state sweep

In the months leading up to the election, the American public's attention was focused on seven battleground states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

In 2020, Trump lost all of them, except for North Carolina, to Biden. This time, Trump won them all, in some cases by larger margins than Biden enjoyed in 2020.

In Arizona, which Biden won by just over 10,000 votes in 2020, Trump won by nearly 200,000 votes. Much of the swing was attributable to a shift in the Hispanic vote toward Trump. He trimmed Biden's advantage considerably, in both more diverse Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, as well as the heavily Hispanic counties along the state's southern border with Mexico.

In Georgia, Harris' chance for victory hinged on running up her margins in the city of Atlanta and its densely populated suburbs, which represent the core of Democratic support in an otherwise reliably Republican state. In the end, she failed to do so, winning by a slimmer margin than Biden did in populous Fulton, Gwinnett and DeKalb counties.

In Michigan, many of the same dynamics at play across the country remained in force, but Harris' performance was further hindered by the presence of large Arab American voting blocs in several metropolitan areas.

The Biden administration's support for Israel in its ongoing wars in Gaza and Lebanon greatly angered many Arab Americans, and helped hand the state to Trump. In some precincts in the majority Arab American city of Dearborn, where Biden received 88% of the vote in 2020, Harris not only lost to Trump, but came in third, behind Green Party candidate Jill Stein.

Betting on Las Vegas

In Nevada, some 7 in 10 voters live in Clark County, in and around the city of Las Vegas. Nearly 1 in 3 voters in Clark are Hispanic, and the county also has Nevada's largest share of Black and Asian American voters. Biden beat Trump by more than nine percentage points four years ago, but Harris won by less than three, a difference that appears to have been driven by Hispanic and Asian American voters switching to the Republican candidate.

Democrats in North Carolina may have been hopeful that the presence of a popular Democratic gubernatorial candidate on the ticket on the ticket would give Harris a shot at a pickup there. However, Trump improved his margin in the state, winning with 51% of the vote.

One of the things that harmed Harris in North Carolina was earning fewer votes than Biden in majority-Black counties. For example, in majority-Black areas like Bertie and Hertford counties, her winning margin fell by six and seven percentage points, respectively. She also performed worse among college-educated white voters.

In Pennsylvania, which put Biden over the top in 2020, Harris also underperformed. In the city of Philadelphia, she garnered 50,000 fewer votes than Biden had four years earlier. Trump won a much higher share of the vote in several communities with high concentrations of Hispanic voters than he had in 2020 and remained dominant in the state's more rural areas.

Finally, in Wisconsin, Trump triumphed by increasing his vote totals in counties across In some counties in the rural southwestern part of the state, where the white population exceeds 95%, he won by as much as six percentage points more than he did in 2020.

Safe and sound

In the days and weeks leading up to the election, there had been considerable concern about whether the balloting would be disrupted in any way. Trump frequently claimed that fraud was likely, and there was also considerable evidence that non-U.S. actors were using social media to sow doubts about the safety and soundness of the process.

Also, after 2020, when the counting of ballots took several days in a number of key states, there were questions about how long it would take to name a winner.

Several weeks after the polls closed, groups that monitor elections in the U.S told VOA that in terms of its administration, the election had been an unqualified success.

David Becker, executive director and founder of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation & Research, called the election "a triumph of public service."

"The election ended up being safe and secure, even with massive amounts of disinformation, even with foreign adversaries like Russia circulating fake videos, even with bomb threats and [the] firebombing of a couple of drop boxes in the Pacific Northwest. All of those things were handled, and largely, everything went very well," he said.

"We had clear results, with a winner declared by the media less than 12 hours after the polls closed," Becker said. "We had no certification challenges. That's just a remarkable success by the professionals who run elections around the country."

Mark Lindeman, policy and strategy director for Verified Voting, an organization that works to ensure the responsible use of technology in elections, agreed.

"The 2024 election went very smoothly, thanks to a lot of preparation and hard work by election officials," Lindeman said.

"Over the last eight years since 2016, the entire country has wrapped its head around election-related cybersecurity. And the level of training and the level of resources both have improved quite substantially," he said.
President Joe Biden kicked off his final holiday season at the White House on Monday by issuing the traditional reprieve to two turkeys who will bypass the Thanksgiving table to live out their days in southern Minnesota.

Biden welcomed 2,500 guests to the South Lawn under sunny skies as he cracked jokes about the fates of Peach and Blossom and sounded wistful tones about the last weeks of his presidency after a half-century in Washington power circles.

Its been the honor of my life. Im forever grateful, Biden said, taking note of his impending departure on January 20, 2025. That's when power will transfer to Republican President-elect Donald Trump, the man Biden defeated four years ago and was battling again until he was pressured to bow out of the race amid concerns about his age and viability. Biden is 82.

Until Inauguration Day, the president and first lady Jill Biden will continue a busy run of festivities that will double as their long goodbye. The White House schedule in December is replete with holiday parties for various constituencies, from West Wing staff to members of Congress and the White House press corps.

Turkey talk

Biden relished the brief ceremony with the pardoned turkeys, named for the official flower of the president's home state of Delaware.

The peach pie in my state is one of my favorites, he said during remarks that were occasionally interrupted by Peach gobbling atop the table to Biden's right. Peach is making a last-minute plea, Biden said at one point, drawing laughter from an overflow crowd that included Cabinet members, White House staff and their families, and students from 4H programs and Future Farmers of America chapters.

Biden introduced Peach as a bird who lives by the motto, Keep calm and gobble on.  Blossom, the president said, has a different motto: No fowl play. Just Minnesota nice.

Peach and Blossom came from the farm of John Zimmerman, near the southern Minnesota city of Northfield. Zimmerman, who has raised about 4 million turkeys, is president of the National Turkey Federation, the group that has gifted U.S. presidents Thanksgiving turkeys since the Truman administration after World War II. President Harry Truman, however, preferred to eat the birds. Official pardon ceremonies did not become an annual White House tradition until the administration of President George H.W. Bush in 1989.

Separately Monday, first lady Jill Biden received the official White House Christmas tree that will be decorated and put on display in the Blue Room. The 18.5-foot (5.64-meter) Fraser fir came from a farm in an area of western North Carolina that recently was devastated by Hurricane Helene.

Cartners Christmas Tree Farm lost thousands of trees in the storm but this one remained standing and they named it Tremendous for the extraordinary hope that it represents, Jill Biden said at the event.

The Bidens were also traveling to New York City on Monday for an evening Friendsgiving event at a Coast Guard station on Staten Island.

Biden began his valedictory calendar Friday night with a gala for hundreds of his friends, supporters and staff members who gathered in a pavilion erected on the South Lawn, with a view out to the Lincoln Memorial.

Cabinet secretaries, Democratic donors and his longest-serving staff members came together to hear from the president and pay tribute, with no evidence that Biden was effectively forced from the Democratic ticket this summer and watched Vice President Kamala Harris suffer defeat on November 5.

Even as the first couple avoided the context surrounding the president's coming exit, those political realities were nonetheless apparent, as younger Democrats like Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Biden's Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg not only raised their glasses to the president but held forth with many attendees who could remain in the party's power circles in the 2028 election cycle and beyond.
A new bipartisan bill introduced in both the House of Representatives and the Senate seeks to address the criminal activities of the Islamic Republic of Iran on U.S. territory. The draft bill proposes enhancing criminal penalties for individuals who engage in unlawful actions on behalf of the Iranian government or other adversaries of the United States.

See the full story here.
California could offer rebates for electric vehicle purchases if the incoming Trump administration eliminates a federal tax credit for people who buy electric cars, Governor Gavin Newsom said Monday.

Newsom, a Democrat, proposed creating a new version of the states Clean Vehicle Rebate Program, which was phased out in 2023 after funding 594,000 cars and saving 456 million gallons of fuel, Newsoms office said.

Consumers continue to prove the skeptics wrong  zero-emission vehicles are here to stay," Newsom said in a statement. "Were not turning back on a clean transportation future  were going to make it more affordable for people to drive vehicles that dont pollute.

Newsoms proposal is part of his plan to protect California's progressive policies ahead of Republican President-elect Donald Trump's second term. He called the state Legislature to convene in a special session to help Trump-proof state laws by giving the attorney generals office more funding to fight federal challenges.

But a budget shortfall could complicate Californias resistance efforts. Early budget projections show the state could face a $2 billion deficit next year, according to a report released last week by the nonpartisan Legislative Analysts Office. Thats an improvement from an estimated $46.8 billion deficit the state faced last year, but the shortfall could still curtail the states ability to expand new programs and fight federal legal challenges. Legislative leaders in both chambers have said the state needs to stay prudent in anticipation of future budget deficits.

Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Trump's transition team, said the president-elect would deliver on his campaign promises, including stopping attacks on gas-powered cars.

When he takes office, President Trump will support the auto industry, allowing space for both gas-powered cars AND electric vehicles, she said in a statement.

Money for the new rebate system could come from the state's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which is funded by polluters under the states cap-and-trade program, the governor's office said.

Officials didnt say how much the program would cost or how the rebates would work.

California has surpassed 2 million zero-emission vehicles sold, according to Newsom's office. The state has passed policies in recent years to transition away from fossil fuel-powered, cars, trucks, trains and lawn mowers.

Trump previously vowed to end federal electric vehicle tax credits, which are worth up to $7,500 for new zero-emission vehicles. Theres also a $4,000 credit for used ones. But Trump later softened his stance as Tesla CEO Elon Musk became a supporter and adviser.

Newsom's proposed rebates could exclude Tesla and other automakers in an effort to promote more market competition and innovation, according to the governor's office. But that is subject to negotiation with the state Legislature.

Musk called Tesla's possible exclusion insane in a post on X. About 42% of rebates went to people buying or leasing Tesla vehicles under the state's previous clean vehicle rebate program, according to data from the California Air Resources Board.

Trump criticized Newsom on social media after the governor called for a special session, calling out the high cost of living in California and the states homelessness crisis. Trump said Newsom was stopping all of the GREAT things that can be done to Make California Great Again.

Newsom said on his podcast earlier this month that he reached out to Trump after the election. He said at a news conference last week that he still hadnt heard back from the president-elect.

California's defunct Clean Vehicle Rebate Program offered rebates on electric cars as high as $2,500.
Special Council Jack Smith asked a judge to dismiss the charges against president-elect Donald Trump, citing the Justice Departments policy of not indicting sitting presidents. The U.S. says it is pushing hard for a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah and Turkey appears to be hosting Hamas officials. Plus, a look at Donald Trump's choice to lead the Environmental Protection Agency and the death toll in Sudan.
China's military said on Tuesday it deployed naval and air forces to monitor and warn a U.S. Navy patrol aircraft that flew through the sensitive Taiwan Strait, denouncing the United States for trying to "mislead" the international community.

Around once a month, U.S. military ships or aircraft pass through or above the waterway that separates democratically governed Taiwan from China - missions that always anger Beijing.

China claims sovereignty over the island of Taiwan and says it has jurisdiction over the strait. Taiwan and the United States dispute that, saying the strait is an international waterway.

The U.S. Navy's 7th fleet said a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft had flown through the strait "in international airspace," adding that the flight demonstrated the United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

"By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations," it said in a statement.

China's military criticized the flight as "public hype," adding that it monitored the U.S. aircraft throughout its transit and "effectively" responded to the situation.

"The relevant remarks by the U.S. distort legal principles, confuse public opinion and mislead international perceptions," the military's Eastern Theatre Command said in a statement.

"We urge the U.S. side to stop distorting and hyping up and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability."

Taiwan's defense ministry said the P-8A flew in a northerly direction through the strait and that the Taiwanese military monitored it, adding the "situation was as normal."

In April, China's military said it sent fighter jets to monitor and warn a U.S. Navy Poseidon in the Taiwan Strait, a mission that took place just hours after a call between the Chinese and U.S. defense chiefs.
The number of people killed in Sudans civil war is far higher than previously thought, according to new research, as aid agencies warn that the conflict has created the worlds worst hunger crisis with millions on the brink of famine.

The study by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine suggests that deaths in Khartoum state alone were higher than previous estimates for the entire country.

In Khartoum State, between April 2023 and June 2024, the researchers estimate over 61,000 people died of all causes, a 50% increase in the pre-war death rate. Over the same period, it is estimated that there were over 26,000 deaths due to violence in Khartoum State, significantly higher than the 20,178 intentional-injury deaths reported by ACLED for the entire country, the report said.

ACLED, or Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, is a non-profit organization whose figures are widely used by international organizations, including the United Nations, and national governments.

The research from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine showed that the leading cause of death was preventable disease and starvation. It indicates that the nationwide death toll in Sudan is far higher than previous estimates, as over 90% of both all-cause and violent deaths in Khartoum State went unrecorded, suggesting the death toll in other regions is also significantly higher than recorded figures.

Sudans civil war erupted in April 2023, a brutal power struggle between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The conflict has cut off entire communities and devastated most government services, making it difficult to reach an accurate estimate of the number of excess deaths caused by the conflict.

The study used a relatively new technique known as capture-recapture analysis which compares data from multiple sources to arrive at accurate estimates when not all data are recorded.

It allows us to estimate the number of unrecorded events, in this case, deaths. We've done that by collecting data from three different sources, triangulating those three sources and comparing them and seeing the amount of overlap there was. The less there was an overlap between the three source lists, the more unrecorded deaths we estimated to have occurred, lead author Maysoon Dahab told VOA.

Separately, the aid group Doctors without Borders says that since January this year, one in six of its patients at a Khartoum hospital were children under 15, with many sustaining severe injuries from gunshots, explosions and shrapnel. The organization said there has also been a rise in cases of severe malnutrition among children.

The United Nations says the conflict has forced 11 million people to flee their homes, with some 25 million people - half of Sudans population  needing food aid, making it the worlds biggest hunger crisis.

Its vital that more is done to end the suffering, said Maysoon Dahab of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

So, in the case of the international community, ensuring the understanding that the aid effort needs to be increased, scaled up and put out to inaccessible populations. In terms of actors who are shaping the war, what we hope to put out in terms of the research is the true price of this war. So that they are able to make their decision based on those facts, she told VOA.

Visiting Khartoum last week for talks with Sudans army chief, the United States Special Envoy to Sudan, Thomas Perriello, said efforts international efforts were ongoing to end the violence. We also share the aspiration for this war to end as soon as possible, to see an end to the horrific atrocities, Perriello told reporters in Port Sudan on November 18.

However, there are few signs that either the Sudanese army or the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces are ready to agree a truce.

Meanwhile, Russia last week vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire, saying the process excluded Sudan itself.

Britain, which sponsored the resolution alongside Sierra Leone, strongly criticized Moscows decision.

This Russian veto is a disgrace, and it shows to the world yet again Russias true colors, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said. Shame on [Russian President Vladimir] Putin for pretending to be a partner of the Global South while condemning black Africans to further killing, further rape, further starvation in a brutal war, he added.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called on Israel to agree Tuesday to a cease-fire with the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militant group, saying there are no more excuses.

Speaking to reporters ahead of a meeting of G-7 foreign ministers in Italy, Borrell said a cease-fire is absolutely necessary for civilians displaced by several months of intensified fighting along the Israel-Lebanon border.

He expressed hope that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government would approve a cease-fire proposal today without seeking to add additional stipulations that could delay or derail an agreement.

No more excuses. No more additional requests. Stop this fighting. Stop killing people. And lets start thinking on peace, Borrell said.

U.S. officials expressed hope Monday that a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah was close.

Speaking to reporters during a press call, national security spokesperson John Kirby described recent talks in Beirut led by U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein as "constructive," adding, "We believe that the trajectory of this is going in a very positive direction."

In New York on Monday, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said negotiations toward a ceasefire, aimed at ending the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese Shia militia, are "moving forward" but have not been finalized."

He added that Israel would retain the ability to strike southern Lebanon under any agreement.

We will make sure that we will have the ability to neutralize any threat that will not be dealt [with] in southern Lebanon. I hope that the Lebanese army will take care of that in the future, but if they will fail, again, we will be there, Danon said.

Meanwhile, Lebanon's deputy speaker, Elias Bou Saab, said there are no major obstacles to implementing a U.S.-proposed ceasefire deal, which requires Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon and Lebanese troop deployment within 60 days.

A five-nation committee, chaired by the United States and including France, will oversee the process, according to Bou Saab.

At the State Department, officials declined to comment on the details and terms of the ceasefire proposal but acknowledged that significant progress has been made toward an agreement.

We don't believe we have an agreement yet. We believe we're close to an agreement. We believe that we have narrowed the gap significantly. But there are still steps that we need to see taken, spokesperson Matthew Miller said during a briefing on Monday, without specifying what those steps are.

Hezbollah started firing on Israel more than a year ago in support of Hamas militants, who attacked Israel in October 2023 and have been warring with Israel in Gaza since then.

The fighting has caused a humanitarian crisis, displacing hundreds of thousands.

On Monday, the United Nations World Food Program announced that it has provided emergency aid to more than a half-million people in Lebanon since the conflict began. The WFP said it plans to reach 1 million people and is continuing to work tirelessly to deliver critical assistance to affected communities.

Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and captured about 250 hostages in their October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the current war in Gaza. Israel says it believes Hamas is still holding 101 hostages, including 35 the military says are dead.

Israels counteroffensive in Gaza has killed at least 44,235 Palestinians, according to the territory's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count.

Hamas and Hezbollah have been designated as terror groups by the United States, the United Kingdom and other Western countries.

VOA State Department bureau chief Nike Ching and United Nations Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko held delegation-level talks here on Tuesday and agreed to deepen inter-parliamentary exchanges, enhancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation, said an official statement.

The Media Wing of the Prime Minister Office said in the statement that the talks were reflective of the bilateral relations between Pakistan and Belarus, with the full spectrum of bilateral relations as well as important regional and global developments.

Both leaders expressed their satisfaction at the current positive trajectory of Pakistan-Belarus relations and agreed to maintain the momentum through regular high-level engagement and institutional cooperation, added the PM Office.

Lukashenko arrived in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on Monday on a three-day visit on the invitation of Sharif.

The two leaders also witnessed the signing of several agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to foster closer collaboration between Pakistan and Belarus in key sectors, including environmental protection, disaster management, halal trade, audit institutions, financial intelligence sharing, education, science and technology, international road transport, extradition, health services.

The PM Office added that both sides also signed an agreement on the "Roadmap for Comprehensive Cooperation between Pakistan and Belarus for 2025-2027," which outlines a strategic framework for enhancing economic ties through high-level meetings, inter-governmental commissions, and targeted collaborative initiatives. 
French prosecutors asked for the maximum 20-year prison sentence for Dominique Pelicot, who organized the repeated mass rape of his then-wife by knocking her unconscious with drugs and inviting dozens of strangers to abuse her in the family home.

Pelicot, 71, has admitted the charges in a trial that attracted worldwide attention and turned into an examination of the pervasiveness of sexual violence in France and beyond. Fifty other men also stand trial for participating in the sex acts.

The prosecutors, who will over the next two days say what sentences they seek against the co-accused, rejected the arguments made by many of the men that they did not realize they were raping Gisele Pelicot or had not intended to do it.

Gisele Pelicot appeared motionless while the accused abused her in thousands of videos and pictures recorded by her then-husband and shown in court over the past weeks.

"The accused are trying to shirk responsibility by saying they thought Gisele Pelicot consented," public prosecutor Laure Chabaud told the court on Monday.

"But it's not possible, today, in 2024, to consider that," Chabaud said, adding that video and pictures clearly showed Gisele Pelicot was unconscious and therefore unable to give her consent.

As for Dominique Pelicot, "the maximum sentence is 20 years, which is a lot ... but at the same time ... too little in view of the seriousness of the acts that were committed and repeated," Chabaud said.

The prosecutors also said they were seeking a 17-year sentence for Jean-Pierre Marechal, 63, who has admitted to working with Dominique Pelicot to drug his own wife, Cilia, and for both men to rape her, after the men met on a now-shuttered website.

The verdicts and sentences are expected around December 20.

Gisele Pelicot, 71, could have demanded the trial be kept behind closed doors but instead asked for it be held in public, saying she hoped it would help other women speak up and show that victims have nothing to be ashamed of.

The trial has triggered protest rallies in support of Gisele Pelicot and spurred soul searching, including a debate on whether to update France's rape law.

Unlike in some other European countries, French law makes no mention of a requirement that sex involve consent and requires prosecutors to prove a perpetrator's intent to rape using "violence, coercion, threat or surprise."

Dominique Pelicot's lawyer, Beatrice Zavarro, told reporters it was not a surprise that prosecutors had sought the longest sentence possible.
Hossein Ronaghi, a civil rights activist in Iran, has been holding sit-ins across Tehran with his lips sewn shut in solidarity with the demands of Kianoush Sanjari, another outspoken government critic and former journalist who jumped to his death from a building earlier this month in protest against Irans authoritarian rulers. Ronaghi was once again arrested by agents of the Islamic Republic's intelligence forces on Sunday but was later released. He said he planned to hold another protest outside Tehrans Evin Prison, which has long been used to hold political prisoners.

See the full story here.
The U.S. Justice Department told a federal judge that Google illegally dominated online advertising technology in seeking a second antitrust win against the company.

The closing arguments in Alexandria cap a 15-day trial held in September in which prosecutors sought to show Google monopolized markets for publisher ad servers and advertiser ad networks and tried to dominate the market for ad exchanges, which sit between buyers and sellers.

Google rigged the rules of the road, said DOJ lawyer Aaron Teitelbaum, who asked the judge to hold Google accountable for anti-competitive conduct and added that Google is "once, twice, three times a monopolist."

Another DOJ lawyer, Julia Tarver Wood, compared the case to the Charles Dickens novel A Tale of Two Cities and said U.S. Judge Leonie Brinkema had to decide whether to adopt the DOJ or Google version of the state of the ad market.

Google lawyer Karen Dunn said the DOJ had not met its legal burden and was asking Brinkema to overrule key precedents. "The law simply does not support what the plaintiffs are arguing in this case," Dunn said.

She argued the DOJ was ignoring Google's legitimate business decisions and the robust quality of the online advertising market. The company argues the government had cherry-picked a narrow slice of the online market and did not account for aggressive competition.

Shares of Alphabet, the parent company of Google, were up 1.4% in afternoon trading.

Publishers testified at the trial that they could not switch away from Google, even when it rolled out features they disliked, since there was no other way to access the huge advertising demand within Google's ad network.

In 2017, News Corp estimated losing at least $9 million in ad revenue that year if it had switched away, one witness said.

If Brinkema finds that Google broke the law, she would consider prosecutors' request to make Google at least sell off Google Ad Manager, a platform that includes the company's publisher ad server and its ad exchange.

Google offered to sell the ad exchange this year to end a European Union antitrust investigation, but European publishers rejected the proposal as insufficient, Reuters first reported in September.

Analysts view the ad tech case as a smaller financial risk than the case in which a judge ruled Google maintains an illegal monopoly in online search, and in which prosecutors have argued the company must be forced to sell its Chrome browser.
Australia's Indian Ocean territory of Christmas Island will be connected by subsea cable to the northern garrison city of Darwin, a project backed by Alphabet's Google that Australia says will boost its digital resilience.

Christmas Island is 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) west of the Australian mainland, with a small population of 1,250, but strategically located in the Indian Ocean, 350 kilometers (215 miles) from Jakarta.

The cable announcement comes as the Australian and U.S. militaries upgrade airfields in Australia's north, where a rotating force of U.S. Marines will be joined by Japanese troops next year.

Google's vice president of global network infrastructure, Brian Quigley, said in a statement the Bosun cable will link Darwin to Christmas Island, while another subsea cable will connect Melbourne on Australia's east coast to the west coast city of Perth, then on to Christmas Island and Singapore.

Australia is seeking to reduce its exposure to digital disruption by building more subsea cable pathways to Asia to its west, and through the South Pacific to the United States.

"These new cable systems will not only expand and strengthen the resilience of Australia's own digital connectivity through new and diversified routes but will also complement the Government's active work with industry and government partners to support secure, resilient and reliable connectivity across the Pacific," Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said in a statement.

The other partners in the cable project include Australian data center company NextDC, Macquarie-backed telecommunications group Vocus, and SUBCO.

SUBCO previously built an Indian Ocean cable from Perth to Oman, with spurs to the U.S. military base of Diego Garcia, and Cocos Islands, where Australia is upgrading a runway for defense surveillance aircraft.

Although 900 kilometers (560 miles) apart, Christmas Island is seen as an Indian Ocean neighbor of Cocos Islands, which the Australian Defense Force has said is key to its maritime surveillance operations in a region where China is increasing submarine activity.

The new cables will also link to a Pacific Islands network being built by Google and jointly funded by the United States, connecting the U.S. and Australia through hubs in Fiji and French Polynesia.

Vocus said in a statement the two networks will form the world's largest submarine cable system spanning 42,500 kilometers (26,408 miles) of fiber optic cable running between the U.S. and Asia via Australia.
Survivors of sexual violence in Haiti face worsening risks and dwindling support amid the growing influence of armed gangs, a collapsed health care system and a frozen justice system, a report warned on Monday.

Nearly 4,000 women and girls reported being victims of sexual violence in the first 10 months of 2024, Human Rights Watch said in the report, noting that many people do not report due to fear of retaliation and poor prospects of receiving help.

Those who do seek care often cannot do so within the critical 72-hour window to access drugs to treat HIV exposure or emergency contraception, the report said, as many cannot afford private health care and as public clinics shut down due to violence.

In October, the United Nations warned that just 24% of health facilities were operating in Port-au-Prince's metropolitan area. This month, Doctors Without Borders, a major free health care provider, halted operations, citing rape and death threats from police.

Haitian feminist organization Neges Mawon said it has this year received reports of some 230 rapes in just two neighborhoods outside the capital, and four pregnant women died due to poor health care and blocked medical supplies.

Abortion is illegal in Haiti

A 25-year-old mother of four told HRW that she was raped by four men in Port-au-Prince's Cite Soleil area while looking for water.

"Now, they do whatever they want to all of us," she said. "I couldn't go to the doctor. I didn't have money."

In a separate report released on Monday, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime said outgunned police, a "woefully" under-resourced international mission, political infighting and violent vigilantism are aggravating Haiti's general crisis.

"It is difficult to identify any meaningful inroads on the part of law enforcement," it said, adding that the transitional presidential council's recent ouster of the prime minister resulted in the council's "reigning over a mountain of ashes."

The prime minister's replacement saw the two women who previously held senior Cabinet positions  foreign affairs and economy  removed from their posts.

"More than 150 feminist and human rights groups have endorsed an action plan to ensure the full participation of women," Neges Mawon said on X. "It is clear fighting violence against women and girls is not a priority for this government."
On November 20, the United Nations General Assembly Third Committee, whose focus includes humanitarian matters, approved a draft resolution on the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran.

The resolution condemned Irans alarming increase in capital punishment cases, noting the Islamic Republic had put people to death "on the basis of forced confessions, and without fair trial and due process."

The assembly also expressed concern over Irans continued imposition of the death penalty against minors and called on Tehran to stop "the widespread and systematic use of arbitrary arrests and detention."

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei criticized the resolution, calling it a "a great political and moral disgrace for the West."

"The resolution was a clear sign of reducing the noble concept of human rights to a tool for exerting political pressure on independent nations," Baghaei said.

As a democratic system, he said, Iran considers itself obligated to protect and promote human rights and fulfill its international obligations based on the principles enshrined in the constitution, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

That claim is misleading.

Iran is one of the last countries on Earth to execute individuals who committed crimes as minors. Iran has denied detainees due process, subjected them to torture and secured convictions based on forced confessions. The bulk of the death sentences carried out by Iranian courts are for drug-related offenses.

Thus, Iran systematically violates its obligations as a party to the U.N. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Adopted in 1966, the ICCPR states that for countries that have not abolished the death penalty:

"A sentence of death may be imposed only for the most serious crimes;

[it] shall not be imposed for crimes committed by persons below 18 years of age and shall not be carried out on pregnant women;

[that] no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention;

[and that] detainees shall be treated with humanity, maintain their inherent dignity and right to due process."

According to the Norway-based Iran Human Rights nonprofit organization, Iran executed at least 70 people convicted of offenses while juveniles between 2010 and 2023.

In August 2022, British human rights group Amnesty International reported that Iran can sentence girls as young as 9, and boys as young as 15, to execution.

Reports indicate that Iranian authorities have subjected female prisoners, including minors, to forced matrimony and rape to prevent them from "going to heaven" after execution, based on the theological belief that virgins go to heaven.

In 2021, U.N. experts estimated there were 85 juvenile offenders on death row in Iran, with the majority of those sentenced to death coming from marginalized groups.

Iran Human Rights said the exact number of juveniles on death row in Iranian prisons is unknown due to a "lack of transparency in the Iranian Judiciary."

Iran has ramped up executions following the 2022-23 mass "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman. Amini died in police custody after Irans morality police, the Guidance Patrol, detained her for "improperly" wearing a mandatory headscarf.

Amnesty International said Iran executed 853 people in 2023, a 48% increase over the previous year, to "instill fear in the population and tighten their grip on power."

Members of the Baluchi ethnic minority, who comprise an estimated 5% of Irans population, accounted for 20% of recorded executions, Amnesty International reported.

Iran Human Rights said 56% of those executed were sentenced on drug-related charges, despite the ICCPRs stance that the death penalty should be imposed only "for the most serious crimes."

Iran Human Rights also said Iran executed eight "Woman, Life, Freedom" protesters in 2023.

Thirty-four percent of people who Iranian courts sentenced to death were convicted on murder charges.

Iranian authorities also routinely rely on forced confessions, including in capital cases, to secure convictions.

As previously reported by VOA, Iranian state-run media regularly broadcasts forced confessions, even though forced confessions are not admissible in court and are illegal under Iranian and international law.

Victims have described their torturers using lighters, cutters, cattle prods and cables, as well as forcibly injecting them with hallucinatory drugs and subjecting them to years in solitary confinement, to elicit confessions.

Two years before the Amini protests, the International Federation for Human Rights and Justice for Iran reported that Iranian state-owned media had broadcast at least 355 forced confessions between 2009 and 2019.

In August, Amnesty International said Iranian authorities arbitrarily executed Reza Rasaei, a 34-year-old member of the Kurdish ethnic minority, over his connection with the Amini protests following a "grossly unfair trial."

Amnesty International said Iranian authorities subjected Rasaei to beatings, electric shocks, suffocation and sexual violence to force a confession from him.

Rasaei was the 10th person executed in connection with the Amini protests.
A cease-fire between Israel and the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah went into effect early Wednesday, bringing a halt in fighting that U.S. and French leaders said could create a path to another truce in the Gaza Strip.

As the cease-fire went into place, there were streams of cars heading toward southern Lebanon where months of intensified fighting and Israeli evacuation orders forced people to flee their homes.

Israels military warned people to stay away from the villages where it had previously ordered evacuations.

The United States, along with France, played a key role in brokering the settlement, which Israels Security Cabinet approved late Tuesday.

U.S. President Joe Biden called the ceasefire a critical step  to end the violence in the Mideast. He said that Iran and its proxies, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas militants in Gaza, have paid a heavy price in more than a year of fighting Israeli forces.

He said the Israeli-Hezbollah agreement is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities."

Watch related video by Patsy Widakuswara:

But Biden warned, "Let me be clear, if Hezbollah or anyone else breaks the deal and pose a direct threat to Israel, then Israel retains the right to self-defense consistent with international law, just like any country in facing a terrorist group pledged to that country's destruction."

The outgoing U.S. leader, with less than two months remaining in his four-year term, said that with Hezbollah agreeing to end its attacks on Israel, Hamas has a choice to make. Their only way out is to release the hostages [it is holding in Gaza], including American citizens."

"Over the coming days, the United States will make another push for Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and others to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, Biden said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he favored a truce with Hezbollah so Israel could focus its attention on the broader threat posed by Iran, refresh its forces and isolate Hamas in its ongoing fight against Israel in Gaza.

Netanyahu vowed that if Hezbollah renews its attacks on Israel or rearms itself, Israel would immediately resume its bombardment of militant sites in Lebanon.

The length of the ceasefire will depend on what happens in Lebanon, Netanyahu said. With the full understanding of the United States, we are preserving full military freedom of action  if Hezbollah breaks the agreement and seeks to arm itself, we will attack.

Netanyahus move toward a halt in nearly 14 months of fighting with Hezbollah came after a day of Israeli attacks on militant targets in Lebanon.

Hours before the cease-fire went into effect, Israeli forces struck along the Lebanon-Syria border in attacks that Syrias state news agency said killed at least six people.

The Israeli military said it struck transit routes between Syria and Lebanon that were used to deliver weapons to Hezbollah.

Israel has for years conducted airstrikes in Syria in a campaign to disrupt weapons flows to the Iran-backed militants.

The Syrian Arab Red Crescent said one of its volunteers was killed and another injured in the strikes at the border crossings, which happened as they were trying to rescue wounded people. A statement from the organization said several ambulances were damaged, and it called on all sides in the conflict to respect humanitarian law and protect humanitarian workers.

Hezbollah began attacking Israel in October 2023 in support of Hamas militants fighting their war with Israel in Gaza.

The ceasefire deal, brokered by U.S. and French diplomats, includes a halt in the fighting and a 60-day period in which Israel and Hezbollah would both withdraw from southern Lebanon.

Ahead of the deal, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters at a news conference at a G7 foreign ministers meeting in Italy that the ceasefire was the best way to guarantee there is peace, there is stability.

Blinken said the deal to end Israel-Hezbollah fighting also could push Hamas to reach a long-stalled cease-fire pact in Gaza because it would no longer have an Iranian-funded ally fighting Israel on a second front in northern Israel and Lebanon.

Under the cease-fire, Israeli forces are obligated to retreat south of the Lebanon-Israel border, while Hezbollah moves north of the Litani River. The plan calls for the Lebanese army, which is not involved in the Israeli-Hezbollah fighting, to patrol the region between the two warring sides.

The fighting in Lebanon has caused a humanitarian crisis, displacing hundreds of thousands of people.

On Monday, the United Nations World Food Program announced that it has provided emergency aid to more than a half million people in Lebanon since the conflict began. The WFP said it plans to reach 1 million people and is continuing to work to deliver critical assistance to affected communities.

In the October 2023 attack on Israel that ignited the Middle East warfare, Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and captured about 250 hostages. Israel says it believes Hamas is still holding 101 hostages, including 35 the military says are dead.

Israels counteroffensive in Gaza has killed more than 44,235 Palestinians, according to the territory's health ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count. The Israeli military says the death toll includes thousands of Hamas fighters, while the health ministry says more than half are women and children.

Hamas and Hezbollah have been designated as terror groups by the United States, the United Kingdom and other Western countries.

VOA State Department bureau chief Nike Ching, United Nations correspondent Margaret Besheer and White House bureau chief Patsy Widakuswara contributed to this report. Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
The Somali government says it will begin evacuating the survivors of two boats, carrying mostly Somali migrants, which capsized off the coast of Madagascar Saturday. Twenty-four passengers were killed while 46 others survived. The passengers were attempting to migrate in search of a better life, away from Somalias chronic drought, violence and food insecurity.

During a news briefing in Mogadishu, Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalin Fiqi confirmed the fatality figures from the capsizing of the two boats off the coast of Madagascar, in the Indian Ocean on Saturday.

Fiqi said that while authorities believe most of the migrants are Somalis, they suspect that a small number are from other countries. He said migrants identified as Somalis will be brought back to their home country.

He said, "We have made significant efforts over the past two days, particularly through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and their embassy staff in Addis Ababa; they have maintained close communication with their headquarters and the office of the president. Together, they have worked effectively to determine the best way to evacuate these survivors after assessing the nationalities of those involved."

Migration from Somalia has been on the rise in recent years, mainly due to a lack of security and lack of employment opportunities in the country.

There are no reliable estimates of how many have migrated. Zakariye Yusuf Abdirahman, program manager of the Coalition of Somalia Human Rights Defenders, said many Somali youths have a sense of hopelessness that drives them to seek opportunities elsewhere, even if it means facing dangerous conditions.

He said that with the ongoing insecurity and employment challenges in the country, the burdens people face continue to increase daily. He also said there seems to be no end in sight, and this situation particularly affects the youth who are striving for a better life and future.

Some Somali lawmakers accuse the government of failing to create opportunities for young people under 30 years old, who make up 75 percent of the population.

Mohamed Ibrahim Moallimu, an opposition member of parliament, said young Somalis should try to make their country a better place rather than flee.

The lawmaker said he understands why young people are leaving the country. He believes that the insecurity caused by terrorism and the lack of employment opportunities are significant challenges contributing to their disappointment with their homeland. However, he encourages them to recognize that they have the power to create change in their country.

One major reason people say they are leaving is the heavy taxes placed on businesses by both the government and militant group al-Shabab, which has led to widespread protests in recent months. This situation has forced many individuals to shut down their businesses.

Asma Mohamed of Mogadishu is one such individual.

She said that, although it is tragic to hear about the incident in Madagascar, the youth involved believed they had no other option. She explains that she used to run a stall. However, when both the government and al-Shabab militants imposed taxes on her, she was forced to close her business. Now, she said, she is preparing to leave the country.

Meanwhile, dozens of Somalis who left and got as far as Madagascar are preparing to come back, no doubt happy to be alive after the boat sinking, but no closer to migrating from the country they desperately wanted to leave.
Libyan military officials said Monday that they apprehended hundreds of migrants traversing the country's vast desert hoping to ultimately cross the Mediterranean Sea in pursuit of a better life in Europe.

The 444th Brigade, a powerful militia group that operates under the auspices of the Libyan army, said in a statement that its patrolling commanders detained more than 300 migrants and referred them to authorities.

In a post on Facebook, the group condemned smuggling and human trafficking and said its patrols would continue efforts to block smuggling routes. It posted satellite images of the desert and pictures of what appeared to be migrants sitting in rows in front of armed and masked militants.

The apprehensions come as Libya remains a primary point of departure for people from the Middle East and Africa aiming to reach Europe. Many are escaping war or poverty and many employ smugglers to help them negotiate treacherous deserts and sea routes. Roughly 38,000 people have arrived in Italy and Malta from Libya this year, according to UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency.

The overcrowded boats used by migrants and smugglers are known to routinely capsize, and a key priority for European leaders has been to encourage North African countries to prevent migrants from reaching the sea. But unlike in Morocco and Tunisia  where tens of thousands of migrants also attempt to pass through en route to the southern shores of Europe  fighting between rival governments in Libya has added additional challenges to migration management partnerships.

Migrant apprehensions are rarely reported in Libya, though the country's state news service, LANA, reported more than 2,000 arrests in July.

The oil-rich country plunged into turmoil after a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Since then, the country has been divided between dueling governments in the east and west, each backed by militias and foreign powers. Human traffickers have for years benefited from the political chaos.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk in July said migrants in the country had been subjected to torture, forced labor and starvation while being detained.
PHNOM PENH, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Global Chinese Economic and Technology (GCET) Summit 2024 was convened in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Tuesday, aiming at promoting cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as the world.

In his keynote address at the summit, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said China's high-quality development, driven by artificial intelligence, digital economy, humanoid robots, new materials, and other innovation industries, will benefit the whole region.

"When China, as the main driver of global growth, is focusing on high-quality development, I believe that the whole region stands to gain from such policy orientation," he told the summit with about 300 participants.

Michael Yeoh, president of the KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific, said the summit aimed to promote better understanding between nations, particularly in the Global South, and increase cooperation to build a shared future based on mutual trust, respect and benefits.

"We believe the GCET summit can be a bridge between the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Global South with an increasingly multi-polar world going forward," he said.

"China is a global leader in digital and green technologies and can assist ASEAN and the Global South with digital transformation and green transition," he said.

The full-day summit saw experts sharing views on the role of overseas Chinese entrepreneurs and investors in driving foreign direct investment, and the contributions of China's Belt and Road Initiative and the RCEP to regional and global socio-economic development.

They also discussed digital technology, artificial intelligence, and green growth, which are key driving forces for the new economy.

Since its foundation in 2009, the GCET summit has been held in many countries such as China, Malaysia, Australia and Britain. 
Chinese exiles gathered in cities around the world to mark the second anniversary of the White Paper Movement in China, saying the demonstrations against the COVID-19 lockdown policies have inspired a new generation of pro-democracy Chinese activists.

To prevent the spread of coronavirus across China, the Chinese government from early 2020 to late 2022 regularly imposed lockdowns on entire buildings, villages and even cities.

The 2022 movement was a nationwide citizen-initiated protest that eventually forced the Chinese government to end the restrictive policies in November of that year.

In Amsterdam, a candlelight vigil marked the anniversary with some 50 people who held flowers, candles, pieces of blank paper, or wore white masks. They gathered at Dam Square in downtown Amsterdam on Sunday.

Other commemorations were held in Berlin, London, San Francisco and Tokyo. At the events, exiled activists shared their experiences during the monthlong, nationwide protest from two years ago.

They remembered the protesters who remain in detention after participating in the demonstrations and commemorated those who lost their lives during a deadly building fire in Xinjiangs capital of Urumqi. Lockdown measures may have kept firefighters from entering the high-rise in time and prevented some residents from exiting the building. The fire killed 10 people.

Following the deadly event, a protest erupted on the campus of Nanjing University of Media and Communication on November 25, 2022, where students held up blank pieces of paper as symbols of their protests against the Chinese authorities control of free speech.

Following lengthy lockdowns across China, It felt like the civil society was on the brink of an explosion in November 2022, so when I read the news about the deadly fire in Xinjiang, I felt like we were all living in hell, said Rei Xia, an exiled Chinese activist and one of the organizers of the vigil in Amsterdam.

The movement was dubbed the White Paper Movement or the White Paper Revolution as demonstrations spread to several cities, including Shanghai. Police arrested many participants. Those detained said they were tortured.

I also remembered being forced into a corner at the detention center while the guards tried to force me to confess to some forged testimonies by threatening to shave my head or prolonging my detention, Rei Xia told VOA by phone.

"I was surrounded by the police at the scene, punched and kicked, and then I was picked up and carried to the van by the police, said Jack Wei, a former White Paper Movement participant from Chengdu, who now lives in the United States.

When interrogated, I said that I was against the pandemic prevention policy ... and I wanted to eat [and] not do coronavirus tests. They forced me to sign a letter of repentance and gave me a warning, he recalled during a conference in San Francisco on November 17.

VOA reached out to the Chinese foreign ministry and the Chinese embassy in Washington for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.

While hundreds of overseas Chinese took part in candlelight vigils, relevant keywords were censored on the Chinese internet. When VOA entered the White Paper Movement on the popular microblogging site Weibo, there were no relevant results.

Although many protesters were targeted in the nationwide crackdown following the protests, Huang Yicheng, a 28-year-old former student of Peking University, managed to escape from arrest and hid.

Months later, he fled to Germany via Hong Kong and began to publicly advocate for other White Paper protesters who had been arrested or detained by Chinese authorities.

I become an advocate for other participants after going into exile, and I have to cope with all kinds of harassment and risks associated with the Chinese governments increasingly frequent transnational repression campaigns, he told VOA.

While memories of the movement have faded for some people, Huang said the protests created powerful symbols that continue to inspire a younger generation of Chinese activists.

The blank papers, candles, flowers and the road sign of Urumqi Road are all important symbols of resistance for young Chinese activists, Huang said.

Some exiled Chinese activists said the White Paper Movement has also rejuvenated the overseas Chinese democracy movement, which has been mainly headed by activists from the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989.

Since the White Paper Movement, many young Chinese people abroad have begun to emerge, and this trend provides new hope for the overseas Chinese democracy movement, U.S.-based Chinese human rights lawyer Teng Biao told VOA by phone.

Huang in Germany said some strategies used by activists outside of China have inspired protesters in major Chinese cities, but the rapidly shrinking space for dissent and activism in China is making attempts to organize protests more difficult.

After overseas Chinese people in New York combined Chinese political sarcasm with Halloween in 2022, we have seen similar tactics being used by young Chinese people in Shanghai during Halloween in 2023 and 2024, but local police quickly impose restrictions and arrest people, he said.

Teng in the U.S. said Beijings efforts to tighten control over civil society have not only deprived Chinese people of their basic rights and freedoms but also led to violent acts across the country.

The Chinese authorities attempt to limit freedom of speech and restrict citizens basic rights have pushed many people to the brink and at a time when the Chinese economy remains sluggish, the underlying social crisis will be exposed, he said.

Huang said since the Chinese government will likely maintain its repressive approach to controlling civil society, overseas Chinese activists like him can only try to highlight the problems that exist in China.

We can only urge people in foreign countries to pay attention to the different kinds of problems in China. He said he is worried the violent attacks in recent weeks may cause deeper issues in the country going forward.

With no hint of Beijing loosening its control over the country in the horizon, Xia in Amsterdam said she is determined to keep tracking social and human rights issues in China.

Social movements have become an important part of my life because of the White Paper Movement, and this experience has really empowered me, she said.

Zhou Chenxing from VOA Mandarin contributed to the report.
In Gaza, aid workers and families say new Israeli laws that would effectively bar UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, from operating in the Strip, could be catastrophic for the 2 million people already suffering from a year of violence and a looming famine. Heather Murdock reports from Istanbul. Camera: Said Kilany
In northern Gaza, families are still fleeing what is left of their homes.

They told us to leave immediately, said one woman, who stopped briefly to tell a VOA cameraman what was going on.

Families behind her streamed down the bombed-out street, carrying belongings in backpacks and plastic sacks, and other items, such as pans and buckets, in their hands.

We have nothing else to lose. We lost our children. We lost everything, she said, as a male family member urged her to keep moving.

The United Nations said the Israeli military is subjecting an entire population to bombing, siege and risk of starvation.

And in the next two months, the situation could get immeasurably worse, added Roger Hearn, director of relief and social services for UNRWA, the U.N.s agency for Palestinian refugees. Over the objections of much of the international community, Israeli laws that would essentially halt UNRWA operations in the Gaza Strip are expected to take effect in late January.

People are facing catastrophic hunger in Gaza, said Hearn in a phone interview from an airport on his way home from Gaza. People are struggling to get the basics, such as water. Most people in Gaza are displaced.  So, to actually take that one step further and say, OK, UNRWA is forbidden from working in Gaza, would be a very cruel addition to a situation where people are already in dire need.

Israel accuses UNRWA of having Hamas members among its staff in Gaza, including participants of the October 7, 2023, terror attack that sparked the war when Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped more than 250 others.

The United States, Britain and other Western countries designate Hamas as a terror group.

In a letter to the U.N. early this month, Israel withdrew from the 1967 agreement recognizing UNRWA, according to The Times of Israel.

UNRWA  the organization whose employees participated in the October 7th massacre and many of whose employees are Hamas operatives  is part of the problem in the Gaza Strip and not part of the solution, said Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, according to the news site.

And while UNRWA disputes these allegations, Hearn said the most urgent issue on their agenda is trying to convince Israel not to implement the new laws. People in Gaza are now starving, even as trucks containing enough food to feed the Strip for months languish across the border in Egypt.

Aid that gets in is hard to distribute amid ongoing battles, bombings and looting.

Aid workers in Gaza say they still have hope that the laws will not go into force.

We hope that the active parties in the international community will intervene and prevent this disaster, says Abu Sharaf Jadallah, a local leader and relief worker who helps distribute UNRWA aid in Gaza.

Many other organizations serve communities in Gaza, but UNRWA, he added, is the only aid group that serves the entire population of 2 million people.

Long-term losses

Further south, in Khan Younis and Deir Albalah, Gaza, where conditions for displaced families are marginally better than in the north, humanitarian aid is not nearly enough to feed the people.

They are malnourished and increasingly sick. Soon, many also may face starvation.

Families here say they fear that if UNRWA stops working in Gaza, they will have even less access to food and clean water. However, the long-term consequences of an UNRWA ban could be even more devastating, they say.

Before the current war, UNRWA was providing education for 350,000 children in Gaza. Palestinians in general, and Gaza specifically, have one of the worlds highest literacy rates. But that status is already in jeopardy as children here face a second year without classes.

UNRWA schools now mostly serve as crowded and undersupplied emergency shelters. But locals say that to cripple the future education system at this time would be a massive blow.

It will be a terrible thing, said Rasheed Abu Eida, a 50-year-old father of six. A country deprived of education.

Now, his children are just trying to survive, he said. Besides trauma from constant bombings, they have suffered from severe weight loss and other illnesses.

My children are destroyed, Eida said.

New law controversy

The international community has widely objected to the laws, with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saying, It would be a catastrophe in what is already an unmitigated disaster.

The laws were approved by Israels parliament in late October and would bar UNRWA from operating in Israel, which controls all access to Gaza, and curtail the agencys activities inside the Strip.

Israel has said that more than 10% of the UNRWA staff of about 13,000 people in Gaza has ties to Hamas, and that 12 employees participated in the October 7 attack.

UNRWA has fired nine employees in response to these allegations and says it has seen no evidence to support the claim that more than 1,400 other staff members have ties to Hamas.

Israel says other organizations and U.N. agencies can take up the work of UNRWA, but the U.N. says it would be virtually impossible to replace UNRWAs complex systems on the ground during war time.

Locals say the potential loss of the organization, which has been helping Palestinians since 1950, is unthinkable. The organization serves Palestinian communities in Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.

A ban on UNRWA would mean no care for refugees, said Fatma Alzahraa Sharqawy, a displaced mother of four. And not only the refugees who left their villages and cities in the past, but all of Palestine. So, if the United Nations and UNRWA is banned, it means the international community has abandoned the Palestinian cause.

Said Kilany contributed to this report.
Philippine authorities handed a subpoena to Vice President Sara Dutertes office Tuesday, inviting her to answer investigators' questions after she publicly threatened to have the president, his wife and the House of Representatives speaker assassinated if she were killed in an unspecified plot herself.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday described her threat as a criminal plot and vowed to fight it and uphold the rule of law in the country in a looming showdown between the countrys two top leaders.

The national police and the military expressed alarm and immediately boosted Marcoss security. National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said the threats were a national security concern.

Duterte, a 46-year-old lawyer, said her remarks were not an actual threat but an expression of concern over her own safety due to unspecified danger to her life. The Marcos administrations statements against her were a farce and part of efforts to persecute critics like her, Duterte said.

The subpoena ordered Duterte to appear before the National Bureau of Investigation on Friday to shed light on the investigation for alleged grave threats.

Duterte said Monday she was willing to face an investigation but demanded the Marcos administration also respond to her questions, including alleged irregularities in government.

Under Philippine law, such public remarks may constitute a crime of threatening to inflict a wrong on a person or their family and are punishable by a prison term and fine.

Marcos ran with Duterte as his vice-presidential running mate in 2022 elections and both won landslide victories on a campaign call of national unity. In the Philippines, the two positions are elected separately.

The two leaders and their camps, however, soon had a bitter falling out over key differences, including in their approaches to Chinas aggressive territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea.

Duterte resigned from the Marcos Cabinet in June as education secretary and head of an anti-insurgency body and became one of the most vocal critics of the president, his wife and his cousin Martin Romualdez, who heads the House of Representatives.

The House has been investigating alleged misuse of confidential government funds by Duterte as vice president and when she headed the Department of Education.


On November 21, the Russian Armed Forces struck an area near a defense industry facility in Dnipro, Ukraine, with an experimental Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile.

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed in a video address the day after the attack that the Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile could not be intercepted:

There are no means of countering such weapons today. Missiles attack targets at a speed of Mach 10, which is 2.5 to 3 kilometers per second. Air defense systems currently available in the world and missile defense systems being created by the Americans in Europe cannot intercept such missiles. It is impossible."

The claim is likely false.

While hypersonic weapons present unique challenges to missile defense, experts and available evidence suggest that Putins claim is an exaggeration of the current technological realities.

Ukraines Main Intelligence Directorate reported that the Oreshnik missile was launched from Russia's Kapustin Yar 4th Missile Test Range in the Astrakhan region. The missile traveled for approximately 15 minutes before striking the city of Dnipro. The missile was equipped with six nonnuclear warheads, each containing six submunitions, and it achieved a speed of Mach 11 during its flight.

The Pentagon has described the Oreshnik as a new, experimental intermediate-range missile derived from the RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile.

Speed and maneuverability challenges

Hypersonic missiles travel at speeds greater than Mach 5 while maneuvering unpredictably, making them far more difficult to track and intercept than conventional ballistic missiles. Their speed and agility significantly cut the time defense systems have to respond, posing a serious challenge to current radar and sensor technologies.

However, describing interception as impossible ignores ongoing advancements in missile-defense technology. Systems such as the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense are designed to counter fast-moving threats, including some hypersonic missiles. While not foolproof, these systems are continually being upgraded to address evolving threats.

According to Fabian Hoffmann, a doctoral research fellow at the Oslo Nuclear Project, the U.S. and Israel possess anti-missile systems capable of shooting down an Oreshnik.

Systems like SM-3 from Aegis or Aegis Ashore, as well as most likely Arrow 3 and THAAD, can absolutely deal with this type of threat, Hoffmann told CNN on November 22.

Emerging countermeasures

Several countries, including the United States, are developing technologies specifically aimed at countering hypersonic threats. Key initiatives include:

The Glide Phase Interceptor being developed by Northrop Grumman in collaboration with Raytheon. These companies are working under contracts with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency to create a system capable of intercepting hypersonic missiles during the glide phase of their trajectory, when they are most vulnerable.

Advanced radar systems such as the new generation Long-Range Discrimination Radar are designed to detect and track hypersonic weapons.

Directed energy weapons are laser-based systems being explored as potential countermeasures for hypersonic threats.

Testing and real-world evidence



Despite Putins claim, Russia has not provided conclusive evidence that the Oreshnik missile is operationally deployed or that it has been tested in conditions replicating modern Western missile defense environments. So far, Russia has used Oreshnik once and against a country that does not have Western air defense systems capable of shooting down hypersonic missiles.

According to Maxim Starchak, an expert on Russian nuclear policy and strategic weapons, Moscow tends to exaggerate its capabilities and itself may not actually know if air defense systems can intercept this [Oreshnik] missile. These claims remain unsubstantiated without tests or real combat attempts to shoot it down.



Previous tests of Russian hypersonic weapons, such as the Avangard glide vehicle, have demonstrated capabilities but also faced skepticism regarding their real-world applicability and effectiveness.

Furthermore, the United States and its allies have conducted successful interceptions of fast-moving targets in controlled environments. For example, tests of THAAD and Aegis systems have demonstrated their ability to intercept medium-range ballistic missiles, albeit inconsistently against hypersonic targets.

Other Russian hypersonic missiles impossible to intercept

Putins statement fits a pattern of emphasizing Russias advanced military capabilities to assert strategic dominance and influence international perception. Previously, he made similar claims about the impossibility of intercepting other weapons systems, including the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile and the Zircon hypersonic missile.

Despite Russian claims that the missile is on "combat alert," the Sarmat has faced significant setbacks since its 2022 flight test, with four failed launches, the latest occurring on September 21, 2024.

The Zircon missile, capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 9, is one of the fastest hypersonic weapons. Nevertheless, when Russia launched two Zircon missiles at Kyiv on March 25, according to Ukrainian sources, both were intercepted by air defense systems.

Photographs of missile debris were later published. Ukrainian officials, including Major Illia Yevlash, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, assert that systems like the Patriot and the SAMP/T can destroy the Zircon in its terminal phase, slowing to Mach 4.5, a view supported by Western analysts such as former Royal Navy Commander Tom Sharpe.

The good news is that in missile warfare, especially dealing with Russian weapons, claimed and actual capabilities are often very different.  Is Zircon an undefeatable superweapon: no. Is learning how to counter it difficult, yes, Sharpe wrote April 3 in The Telegraph.


A powerful rebel group has seized a key trading town in northeastern Myanmar on the Chinese border, taking control of a lucrative rare earth mining hub in another setback for the military-led government, according to witnesses.

The apparent loss of Kanpaiti to the Kachin Independence Army leaves Myanmar's military in control of only one town with a border crossing, Muse, and deprives it of potential profits from the mines that provide China with rare earth minerals critical for electric motors and wind turbines, as well as high-tech weapons and a broad range of electronics.

Neither Colonel Naw Bu, the KIA's spokesperson, nor Thet Swe, spokesperson for the military, responded to multiple requests for comment, but several local media outlets reported that Kanpaiti fell last week. The ongoing civil war and military restrictions make travel for journalists nearly impossible, but the reports were confirmed by witnesses by telephone.

Video clips circulating on social media, which could not be independently verified, showed what was said to be a KIA member raising the group's flag at the tunnel through the mountain to China. Other clips showed a vast quantity of weapons allegedly captured by the KIA.

The military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, triggering intensified fighting with long-established armed militias organized by Myanmar's ethnic minority groups in its border regions, which have struggled for decades for more autonomy.

The once-mighty armed forces, known as the Tatmadaw, have suffered a series of unprecedented defeats over the past year, especially in areas to the east near the Chinese border and in the western state of Rakhine, after an alliance of three powerful militias launched a coordinated offensive on Oct. 27, 2023.

Since then, other militias organized along ethnic lines have joined in, including the KIA in the northern state of Kachin.

In Kachin's so-called Special Region 1, where Kanpaiti is located, the KIA since late September has been increasing assaults on a rival ethnic militia, the New Democratic Army-Kachin, which is allied with the government military and had provided border guard forces.

The NDA-K also controlled the web of small, unlicensed operations where heavy rare earth elements are mined, then sold directly to China's big state-owned mining conglomerates or through intermediaries.

There are more than 300 unregulated mines in the area, producing most of the $1.4 billion in rare earths for sale to China last year "at a terrible cost to the environment and local communities," according to a report issued by London-based environmental group Global Witness in May.
In a closed-door trial Tuesday, a Russian court sentenced a journalist to four years in prison for her work with foreign media outlets.

Nika Novak was arrested in December 2023 on accusations of preparing inaccurate materials to discredit the Russian armed forces.

The FSB security service said that Novaks work was "aimed at causing reputational damage to Russia and an attempt to destabilize the country and its war in Ukraine, according to the Interfax news agency.

The court, which is in the Siberian region of Zabaykalsky Krai, did not say which foreign media outlet Novak is accused of working for.

Novak worked previously for the Russian news websites Chita and Zab.ru, and had been a freelance reporter at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty or RFE/RL.

A sister network to VOA, RFE/RL is an independent U.S.-funded media outlet. Moscow designates RFE/RL a so-called foreign agent.

RFE/RL President Stephen Capus on Tuesday condemned the sentence handed to Novak.

These politically motivated charges are intended to silence individual reporters and cause a chilling effect. We call for Nika's immediate release to her family, Capus said in a statement shared with VOA.

Russia has ramped up its arrests and harassment of independent journalists since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Shortly after, the government issued directives on how media could report the war, and legislators enacted a law to penalize anyone authorities deemed to be spreading false news or information that could discredit the military.

Russian authorities have also issued several arrest warrants in absentia. In October, authorities ordered the arrest in absentia of a CNN correspondent who had reported from Russias Kursk region as Ukraine forces made advances.

The Memorial human rights group described Novak as a "political prisoner." It added that the journalist appeared to hold anti-Ukrainian views," based on social media posts, but had criticized local authorities for supporting the offensive, according to AFP.

The Coalition for Women in Journalism has also condemned Novaks detention. In a statement at the time of her arrest, the group said, The Kremlin is continuously abusing legislation to target journalists and activists. This must stop.

The serious charges and lengthy prison term facing Novak are deeply worrying, the statement said, adding that the coalition called on Russia to drop the charges and release the journalist.

This report contains information from Agence France-Presse.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is warning of a new military operation into Syria to create a 30-kilometer-deep security zone. The operation is aimed at Kurdish militants, which Ankara accuses of being linked to PKK rebels fighting Turkey. Last month, the PKK carried out a deadly attack in the Turkish capital, Ankara. Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul.
Ukraines military said Tuesday it shot down 76 Russian drones in overnight attacks that targeted areas across the country and damaged critical infrastructure facilities.

Ukraines air force said Russia launched 188 total drones, along with four missiles, in the latest daily aerial assault, and that there was also damage to apartment buildings in several regions.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down drones in the Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odessa, Poltava, Rivne, Sumy, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia and Zhytomyr regions.

Serhiy Lysak, governor of Dnipropetrovsk, said on Telegram that one drone hit the center of Nikopol.

Russias Defense Ministry said Tuesday it shot down 39 Ukrainian aerial drones overnight.

Most of the drones were shot down over the Rostov region, with other intercepts taking place over Bryansk, Belgorod, Kursk, Oryol, Voronezh and Russia-occupied Crimea.

Officials in Rostov, Bryansk and Voronezh said on Telegram there were no reports of damage or casualties from the attacks.
Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives have asked Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to rethink ties with Hong Kong's banking sector, saying the city has become a top location for money laundering and sanctions evasion.

Hong Kong has turned into a hub for many violations of U.S. trade controls, including export of controlled Western technology to Russia and the creation of front companies to buy Iranian oil, the bipartisan leaders of the House of Representatives Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party said in a letter to Yellen.

The letter, scheduled to be publicly released on Monday, said that Hong Kong has shifted from being a trusted global financial center to a critical player in the deepening authoritarian axis of China, Iran, Russia and North Korea.

"We must now question whether longstanding U.S. policy towards Hong Kong, particularly towards its financial and banking sector, is appropriate," a copy of the letter seen by Reuters said.

The letter, signed by Republican John Moolenaar, who chairs the committee, and Raja Krishnamoorthi, the committee's ranking Democrat, cited research that shows nearly 40% of goods shipped from Hong Kong to Russia in 2023 were high-priority items such as semiconductors that Russia could use to prosecute its war in Ukraine.

The U.S. Treasury Department did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comments. Hong Kong's trade office in New York could not be immediately reached for comment.
ZHENGZHOU, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Y-20 transport aircraft of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force departed Tuesday afternoon for the Republic of Korea (ROK) to repatriate the remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who died during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea.

This marks the 11th repatriation of CPV martyrs' remains since the signing of a handover agreement between China and the ROK.

From 2014 to 2023, the two countries, in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, successfully handed over the remains of 938 CPV martyrs, along with related artifacts.

About 74 years ago, the CPV crossed the Yalu River and fought alongside the army and civilians of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. After an arduous fight that lasted almost three years, the CPV eventually won the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. More than 197,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the war. 
A former U.S. telecom company employee who provided information about Chinese dissidents and Falun Gong members to China was sentenced to four years in prison on Monday, the Justice Department said.

Ping Li, 59, of Wesley Chapel, Florida, admitted in a plea agreement to acting as an unregistered agent of the Chinese government, the department said in a statement.

Li, who emigrated to the United States from China, provided corporate information to China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) and personal details about an individual affiliated with the Falun Gong spiritual movement who lived in Florida.

The Falun Gong movement is banned in China.

The U.S. Justice Department said Li worked for a major U.S. telecom company and an international information technology company. The companies were not identified in court documents, but according to press reports, they were Verizon and InfoSys, respectively.

"From at least as early as 2012, [Li] served as a cooperative contact working at the direction of officers of the MSS to obtain information of interest to the [Chinese] government," the Justice Department said. "Li obtained a wide variety of information at the request of the MSS, including information concerning Chinese dissidents and pro-democracy advocates, members of the Falun Gong religious movement, and U.S.-based nongovernmental organizations."

A 71-year-old Chinese man was sentenced to 20 months in prison in California last week for taking part in a plot targeting the Falun Gong in the United States.

John Chen, of Los Angeles, was also convicted of acting as an unregistered agent of the Chinese government.

China calls the Falun Gong movement, founded in 1992, an evil cult, outlawing it in 1999 after 10,000 members peacefully demonstrated outside a government building in Beijing.
The United States is urging the Zimbabwe government to double down on reforms aimed at returning the country to the prosperity it once enjoyed.

Speaking to reporters in Harare on Monday, Pamela Tremont, the U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe, said her country wants to have cordial relations with the southern African nation.

She urged the government to pursue political and financial reforms that she said would deliver Zimbabwes people the prosperity and dignity they deserve.

"We're here today as part of our commitment to the Zimbabwe people that is long-standing and consistent, and we're here to advocate for the reforms that the international community has been asking for for many years," Tremont said. "We're quite clear  we need public officials to quit using their public offices for private gain. We need the judiciary to be able to deliver justice independently of political considerations."

The United States also wants "the rights to assembly and free speech to be fully respected, in Zimbabwe, she said.

Tremont spoke as talks on restructuring Zimbabwes $21 billion debt began.

Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank Group, called for negotiations on the debt to speed up.

Even wars never last this long," Adesina said. "It is clearly time to bring this to a close  end the decades of untold damage to the economy of Zimbabwe, the suffering of its people, and have a new beginning with collective hope, aspiration and shared prosperity for its people, today and well into the future. It is time to make Zimbabwe beautiful again. No one, no matter how strong, can run up a hill carrying on their back piles of sand. The $21 billion debt of Zimbabwe, of which the bulk is actually arrears, has made arrears the new debt stacked like piles of sandbags on the back of Zimbabwe.

"We all agree we must play our part to correct this anomaly and give a new lease of life to this nation and its people so Zimbabwe can run again.

Adesina was asking institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to finance new loans for Zimbabwe and forgive or reduce old debts.

At the same meeting, President Emmerson Mnangagwa appealed for debt to be restructured so Zimbabwe can access credit lines.

The successful implementation of our arrears clearance and debt resolution strategy is key for Zimbabwe to unlock new concessional external financing critical for achieving our economic development objectives," the president said. "I call for the continued support of the international financial institutions, development partners, our creditors and the international community for the arrears clearance and debt resolution process. Access to external financing will be key for long-term funding [of] our projects and programs. I am looking forward to achieving the set objective of this structured dialogue.

Zimbabwes national debt has climbed steadily since the early 2000s, when land confiscations by the government led to sharply reduced food production and sent the economy into a tailspin.

Some government officials maintain that Zimbabwe cannot access credit lines because of the targeted sanctions imposed on some leaders for alleged election rigging and human rights abuses in the early 2000s.
Exiled members of Chinas Uyghur minority group accuse Beijing of human rights violations and say the Communist Party chief in the Xinjiang region where most of them are from has been more heavy-handed in his approach toward them than his predecessor.

Members of the largely Turkic Muslim minority group said they had hoped Ma Xingrui, with his technocratic background, might moderate the regions hardline stance, but three years into his current position, observers said the opposite is happening in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwest China.

Under Mas watch, arbitrary detentions have persisted, and forced labor has expanded, especially in Belt and Road projects, said Abduweli Ayup, a Norway-based Uyghur activist. Chinas Belt and Road Initiative is a global infrastructure and trade endeavor that has lasted for more than 10 years.

Ayup also said that under Ma, 240 Uyghurs who sought refuge in cities such as Shanghai and Beijing were forced to return to Xinjiang.

These individuals were arrested and forcibly returned to Xinjiang, where their fates remain uncertain, Ayup told VOA, citing information from trusted sources from China.

Obtaining and verifying information from inside China has been challenging due to the government's tight control over communications and the peoples fear of repercussions for disclosing sensitive details.

Despite the risks, Uyghurs from within and outside of China rely on discreet networks and encrypted messaging to get the word out, often at great peril, according to Ayup and other exiles.

Activists said they notice during Mas tenure, he has not only upheld but intensified the internment of over 1 million Uyghurs, turning temporary detentions into long-term imprisonments.

The United States and Canada have accused China of genocide. The European Union and rights organizations have condemned Chinas policies against the Uyghurs and described Beijings approach as crimes against humanity.

Chinese authorities deny allegations of repression in Xinjiang, framing their policies as efforts to combat terrorism, extremism and separatism.

China is a law-based country. Judicial departments handle cases in accordance with law, Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, wrote in a response to a VOA request for comment.

Repression extends beyond Xinjiang

Observers said Beijings narrative sharply contradicts firsthand accounts and international reports that accuse China of human rights abuses, including mass detentions and cultural erasure.

Some Uyghurs have tried to move out of Xinjiang and away from the scrutiny of Chinese officials within the region. But the crackdown has spilled beyond Xinjiangs borders, targeting Uyghurs in other parts of China, Ayup said.

One such case involves Irpan Yarmemet, a Uyghur content producer who was arrested in Shanghai in September for traveling to Turkey eight years ago to study. Ayup said Yarmemet was living in Shanghai for fear of arbitrary detention in Xinjiang. After his arrest, he was detained in Xinjiang. It is unknown whether he is charged or convicted of a crime.

His hopes of staying safe by avoiding Xinjiang were dashed, Ayup said. The recent arrests and forced returns show that the crackdown under Ma Xingrui has no geographical boundaries.

The human cost

Uyghur exile Madina Mehmet, now living in the Netherlands, said leaving China was a matter of survival.

In 2012, she enrolled at Beijing Foreign Studies University but was forced out after just a year.

They kept pressuring me to remove my headscarf, Mehmet said. They wouldnt let me live in peace. I couldnt take it anymore.

She eventually secured a university scholarship in Turkey, where she lived and studied for eight years. She then moved to the Netherlands. However, Beijings reach continued to haunt her.

While I was in Turkey, Chinese officials demanded proof that I was a student there, she said. Even now, they interrogate my mother in Urumqi, asking for my address and details about my life in the Netherlands. Urumqi is Xinjiangs capital.

Mehmet said her relatives have also been scrutinized for their travels. She said almost a decade ago, her sister, Mihray Mehmet, cousin and aunt had either studied or traveled to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, all countries Beijing has deemed sensitive.

In late 2021, Madina Mehmet said, the three women were detained in Urumqi. They were falsely accused of being connected to terrorist organizations, said Mehmet.

Rights groups reported that Uyghurs who had visited a sensitive country prior to 2017 would be scrutinized for possible arrests and interrogations.

My sister was an exceptional student, Mehmet said of her sister, who was attending Xinjiang Medical University when her academic aspirations were derailed by state harassment over her headscarf.

Teachers humiliated her by forcibly removing it in front of her classmates, Mehmet said. Mihray Mehmet eventually left university to study in Egypt  a decision later used to justify her detention.

VOA asked the Chinese Embassy in Washington about Mihray Mehmets case, and Liu responded by saying, I have not heard about the case you mentioned.

Last year, Madina Mehmets aunt was released from detention, but her sister and cousin were sentenced to at least seven years in prison.

Theyve committed no crime, Mehmet told VOA. My sisters children  just 3 and 5 years old when she was arrested  are growing up without their mother.

Despite the risks of speaking out, Madina Mehmet refuses to stay silent.

I want the Chinese government to release my sister and cousin, she said. They deserve to be free, to raise their children, to live without fear.

Targeting prominent Uyghurs

Rehmutulla Semet, the vice chair of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Xinjiang and a prominent real estate developer, was also a target of Chinas Xinjing policies. He was sentenced to 19 years in prison in 2021 on charges of assisting terrorist activities and gathering a crowd to disrupt public order, according to a source who requested anonymity out of fear of reprisal.

Sources close to Semet fear retaliation and request not to be revealed but told VOA the charges are false. They said he was targeted due to his ethnicity, social status and wealth.

Since Mas arrival in Xinjiang, Semets assets, valued at more than $400 million, have been seized. Some of his assets were auctioned off on platforms such as Douyin, Chinas domestic version of TikTok.

One of his signature buildings, the Gold Coin Hill Building, a high-rise in Urumqi, was among those auctioned off, a source told VOA. He owned similar buildings in other major cities in the region, all of which were officially confiscated by the government this past August.

Ayup said such prosecutions are part of a broader pattern of stripping influential Uyghurs of their wealth and silencing dissent.

Mehmet and Ayup are part of a growing number of Uyghur exiles who are calling for international accountability and action.

The world must act  justice for Uyghurs is long overdue, Mehmet said.
The United Arab Emirates said Monday police arrested three Uzbek nationals for the killing of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi, an attack that's raised concerns for the burgeoning Israeli community in the country.

The statement from the country's Interior Ministry offered no motive for the slaying of Zvi Kogan, though an Israeli Foreign Ministry official later told The Associated Press that he simply had been "killed because of who he was."

Kogan, 28, an ultra-Orthodox rabbi who went missing on Thursday, ran a kosher grocery store in the city of Dubai, where Israelis have flocked for commerce and tourism since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in the 2020 Abraham Accords.

The agreement has held through more than a year of soaring regional tensions unleashed by Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack into southern Israel. But Israel's devastating retaliatory offensive in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon, after months of fighting with the Hezbollah militant group, have stoked anger among Emiratis, Arab nationals and others living in the UAE.

The Interior Ministry statement identified the three men as Olimboy Tohirovich, 28, Makhmudjon Abdurakhim, 28, and Azizbek Kamilovich, 33. The state-run WAM news agency carried images of the three men, blindfolds covering their faces in prison uniforms and flip flops.

The preliminary probe into the men is "in preparation for referring them to the public prosecution for further investigation," the Interior Ministry said.

It wasn't immediately clear if the three men had lawyers or had sought consular assistance in the UAE, an autocratically ruled nation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. The Uzbek Consulate in Dubai did not respond to a request for comment regarding the arrests.

Israeli media reports, citing unnamed security officials, had alleged Uzbeks were involved in Kogan's killing. Uzbeks and other transnational criminal gangs previously have been hired in Iranian plots targeting dissidents and others.

Iran, which supports Hamas and Hezbollah, has also been threatening to retaliate against Israel after a wave of airstrikes Israel carried out in October in response to an Iranian ballistic missile attack. Iran's Embassy in Abu Dhabi has denied Tehran was involved in the rabbi's slaying.

While the UAE statement did not mention Iran, Iranian intelligence services have carried out past kidnappings in the UAE.

Western officials believe Iran runs intelligence operations in the UAE and keeps tabs on the hundreds of thousands of Iranians living across the country.

Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon told reporters Monday that the "terrorists" who killed the rabbi would be brought to justice and pointed a finger at the "axis of evil"  a phrase Israel has used to refer to Iran and its allies. That echoed remarks Sunday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also used the phrase "axis of evil."

Kogan's wife, Rivky, is an American citizen. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nayhan, the UAE's foreign minister, to condemn Kogan's killing.

Blinken "expressed appreciation for the UAE's close security cooperation with the United States and other partners in the region, as well as its long-standing tradition of and commitment to tolerance and freedom of worship," the State Department said.

Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President-elect Donald Trump who helped broker the Abraham Accords, pledged $1 million to Chabad UAE, the religious organization for which Kogan worked. Kushner's brother Joshua pledged another $1 million.

"Let us come together from all faiths to pick up where Rabbi Kogan left off and bring his work, and the work of those building the UAE into a thriving destination of tolerance, bridge building and mutual benefit, to new heights," Jared Kushner wrote on the social platform X.

Kogan's body was flown back to Israel on Monday ahead of a planned funeral the following day. His casket, covered in a prayer shawl, arrived to Kfar Chabad, Israel, on Monday night in front of a crowd of hundreds who gathered in the rain to honor him.

"How long will Jews continue to die for the sanctification of God?" Rabbi Yosef Yitzhak Aharonov asked those gathered.

The procession then took Kogan's body to be buried at the Mount of Olives in east Jerusalem.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry official, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation and diplomatic matters, said authorities believe Kogan's death came from his identity as an ultra-Orthodox Jew, not anything else.

"He was attacked because of who he was," the official said.

Since the Oct. 7 attacks, Israelis and Jews in the UAE have been on edge. Worship, which typically requires 10 Jewish men to happen, still takes place but not at sites previously used by the community, the official said.

The official acknowledged that tensions likely boil beneath the surface in the UAE, but praised the Emirati government for their investigation into Kogan's killing. Israeli security services have been involved in the probe, the official said. That likely includes the Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence service.

The UAE, while strenuously criticizing the conduct of the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip, has maintained its diplomatic relations with Israel. Israeli diplomats also have returned to Bahrain, the official said.

"They might not agree with what we do in the war ... but the dialogue allows them to send in all the humanitarian aid," the official said of the Emirati government.

The official added: "It's been challenging to the relationship, but in a way, that keeps it strong."

The RANE Network, a risk consultancy, separately warned that countries like that UAE that have normalized ties with Israel "will likely face a similarly low risk of attacks by lone actors, small cells or jihadist groups against Israeli, Jewish or even Western individuals and businesses allegedly associated with Israel."

"The incident highlights heightened anti-Israeli sentiment in the region over the war in Gaza, as well as the ongoing shadow war between Iran and Israel," it added.
NEW YORK (AP)  Walk into any supermarket and you can generally buy a banana for less than $1. But a banana duct-taped to a wall? That sold for $6.2 million at an auction at Sotheby's in New York.

The yellow banana fixed to the white wall with silver duct tape is a work entitled "Comedian," by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. It first debuted in 2019 as an edition of three fruits at the Art Basel Miami Beach fair, where it became a much-discussed sensation.

Was it a prank? A commentary on the state of the art world? Another artist took the banana off the wall and ate it. A backup banana was brought in. Selfie-seeking crowds became so thick, "Comedian" was withdrawn from view, but three editions of it sold for between $120,000 and $150,000, according to Perrotin gallery.

Five years later, someone has now paid more than 40 times that higher price point at the Sothebys auction. Or, more accurately, they have purchased a certificate of authenticity that gives them the authority to duct-tape a banana to a wall and call it Comedian.

Bidding started at $800,000 and within minutes shot up to $2 million, then $3 million, then $4 million, as the auctioneer joked, Its slipping through the auction room. The final hammer price announced in the room Wednesday was $5.2 million, which didn't include the about $1 million in auction house fees, paid by the buyer.

Sothebys calls Cattelan among Contemporary Arts most brilliant provocateurs.

He has persistently disrupted the art worlds status quo in meaningful, irreverent, and often controversial ways, the auction house said in a description of Comedian.

"What Cattelan is really doing is turning a mirror to the contemporary art world and asking questions, provoking thought about how we ascribe value to artworks, what we define as an artwork," Galperin said.

The banana that was on display in Miami is long gone. Sotheby's says the fruit always was meant to be replaced regularly, along with the tape.

"What you buy when you buy Cattelan's 'Comedian' is not the banana itself, but a certificate of authenticity that grants the owner the permission and authority to reproduce this banana and duct tape on their wall as an original artwork by Maurizio Cattelan," Galperin said.

The very title of the piece suggests Cattelan himself likely didn't intend for it to be taken seriously. But Chloe Cooper Jones, an associate professor at the Columbia University School of the Arts, said it is worth thinking about the context.

Cattelan premiered the work at an art fair, visited by well-off art collectors, where "Comedian" was sure to get a lot of attention on social media. That might mean the art constituted a dare, of sorts, to the collectors to invest in something absurd, she said.

If "Comedian" is just a tool for understanding the insular, capitalist, art-collecting world, Cooper Jones said, "it's not that interesting of an idea."

But she thinks it might go beyond poking fun at rich people.

Cattelan is often thought of as a "trickster artist," she said. "But his work is often at the intersection of the sort of humor and the deeply macabre. He's quite often looking at ways of provoking us, not just for the sake of provocation, but to ask us to look into some of the sort of darkest parts of history and of ourselves."

And there is a dark side to the banana, a fruit with a history entangled with imperialism, labor exploitation and corporate power.

"It would be hard to come up with a better, simple symbol of global trade and all of its exploitations than the banana," Cooper Jones said. If "Comedian" is about making people think about their moral complicity in the production of objects they take for granted, then it's "at least a more useful tool or it's at least an additional sort of place to go in terms of the questions that this work could be asking," she said.

"Comedian" hits the block around the same time that Sotheby's is also auctioning one of the famed paintings in the "Water Lilies" series by the French impressionist Claude Monet, with an expected value of around $60 million.

When asked to compare Cattelan's banana to a classic like Monet's "Nympheas," Galperin says impressionism was not considered art when the movement began.

"No important, profound, meaningful artwork of the past 100 years or 200 years, or our history for that matter, did not provoke some kind of discomfort when it was first unveiled," Galperin said.
Russia has deployed thousands of North Korean soldiers to defend its Kursk region, attacked in August by Ukrainian integral nationalists.

Washington considers this fact as a development of the war it has been waging since 1950, despite a ceasefire, against the Korean and Chinese communists, even more than as a development of the one it has been waging through Ukrainian proxy against Russia since 2022. It therefore responded on November 19 by guiding six ATACMS (Army TACtical Missile System) missiles that it had given to kyiv against Russia [1]. They were directed not only against the Kursk Oblast, but also against the Bryansk Oblast, where they failed to hit an ammunition depot. London, for its part, decided on November 21 to guide the Storm Shadow missiles it gave to kyiv in the same way. All of the allied missiles were destroyed in flight by Russian anti-aircraft defense.

On the contrary, Moscow considers the Kursk attack as a continuation of the CIAs secret war in Ukraine and as the one organized in the 1950s against the USSR, both with the support of Stepan Banderas Ukrainian integral nationalists.

The West does not understand these events because it has forgotten Beijings support for Pyongyang, wrongly thinks that Kursk and Bryansk are in Ukraine and ignores the secret war during which the Anglo-Saxons allied themselves with the last Nazis (which means that it also did not understand the objective of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine).

ATACMS missiles can be fired from HIMARS mobile launchers. The latest models have a range of 300 kilometers and fly at an altitude of 50,000 meters. The latest versions of the Storm Shadow missiles, on the other hand, have a range of about 400 kilometers. None can therefore reach deep into Russia.

Russia has a wide range of responses to allied attacks It can, in retaliation, support the Anglo-Saxons adversaries in another theater of combat. This is what it did, during the bombing of one of its gas pipelines by kyiv, to which it responded by guiding a Yemeni missile, on September 15, which destroyed an Israeli oil pipeline [2] a major event that was covered by Israeli military censorship and ignored by the Western press. On November 19, it modified its nuclear doctrine, leaving open the option of a nuclear response. Finally, it can make use of its military dominance. Ukraine announced that, on November 20, Moscow had fired a long-range ballistic missile (i.e. capable of reaching the United States from Russia), RS-26 Rubezh. We now know that it was something else.

Unbeknownst to us, the battlefields of Ukraine and the Middle East have already come together, as the US neoconservatives (the Straussians), the Israeli revisionist Zionists [3]; and the Ukrainian integral nationalists [4] have allied themselves once again, as in the Second World War. These three groups, historically linked to the Tripatite Axis, are in favor of a final confrontation. The only ones missing are the Japanese militarists of the new Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba.

Immediately after the launch of the US ATACMS missiles and even before that of the British Storm Shadows, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree promulgating his countrys new nuclear doctrine that he had announced on September 24 [5]. It authorizes the use of nuclear weapons in five new cases:

1) if reliable information is received about the launch of ballistic missiles targeting the territory of Russia or its allies.

2) if nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction strike the territory of Russia or its allies, or are used to strike Russian military units or installations abroad.

3) if the impact of an enemy on the Russian government or military installations is of critical importance that could undermine the capability of a retaliatory nuclear strike.

4) if aggression against Russia or Belarus with conventional weapons poses a serious threat to their sovereignty and territorial integrity.

5) if reliable information is received about the takeoff or launch of strategic and tactical aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, hypersonic vehicles or other flying vehicles and their crossing of the Russian border.

On November 21, that is, after the British launches, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a televised address [6] in which he revealed that the Russian armies had destroyed a Ukrainian military-industrial center, but had not used a conventional RS-26 Rubezh ballistic missile as the Ukrainians had announced. On the other hand, they had tested a new generation of hypersonic weapons, in this case an Oreshnik ballistic missile with nuclear range but conventionally loaded. This one was launched from Astrakhan (Caspian Sea) on a satellite factory in Dnipro. Its speed, greater than Mach 10, currently does not allow any army in the world to intercept it. It combines the capabilities of the old Iskander missiles and the new Kinjal missiles with even greater speed and maneuverability.

President Putin recalled that Russia, without being obliged to do so, continues to respect the INF Treaty from which the United States withdrew in 2019 [7]. The Pentagon, which is very behind from a technical point of view, has redeployed intermediate-range missiles in Europe and Asia-Pacific, as at the time of the Euromissile crisis, while Russia produces them, but does not deploy them. Vladimir Putin then warned the West by suggesting that civilians leave dangerous areas that Russia could strike with nuclear-charged Oreshnik missiles.

This speech may not be followed by attacks and its sole objective may be to show Russian military superiority over the West, already recognized in July by the US National Commission on Defense Strategy, established by Congress when the 2022 military planning law was adopted [8]. Its only effect will then be to boost Russian arms sales.

In any case, the world has never been so close to a nuclear war because there have never been several nuclear powers, one of which is clearly technically ahead of all the others.

On November 22, President Putin gathered missile system developers and arms industry leaders [9]. He congratulated them on the success of Oreshnik and asked them to mass produce it.
Illustration: Giacomo Gambineri

This article was originally published on February 1, 2016. Jim Abrahams, one of the three writer-directors of Airplane!, died on November 26, 2024.

There are few movies as quotable as the 1980 disaster-movie parody Airplane!  and of the movies many memorable gags, arguably the most enduring is the moment when reluctant pilot Ted Striker (Robert Hays) tells Dr. Rumack (Leslie Nielsen), Surely you cant be serious, and Rumack replies, I am serious  and dont call me Shirley.

As part of our weeklong 100 Jokes That Shaped Comedy series, we dug into the origins and execution of that exchange  as well as the overall comedic mechanics of Airplane!  with the trio who wrote and directed the film, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker.

What was the origin of Dont call me Shirley?

Jerry Zucker: The origin of that joke is similar to the origin of a lot of jokes in the movie: While we were writing, we used to watch a lot of old, serious movies that had a lot of this overly dramatic dialogue. Wed say, Wait, wait, wait. Stop the tape, and wed go back and wed put in our punch line or our gag in the background. That was one of those lines where someone actually did say, Surely you cant be serious.

David Zucker: The other person might have even said, I am serious. But we added the Dont call me Shirley.

So youd do that for lots of the dialogue?

Jerry Zucker: A lot of it, yeah.

Jim Abrahams: Constantly. Theres a line in [1957 airplane thriller] Zero Hour! that says  how does the line go?

Jerry Zucker: Stewardess, can you face some unpleasant facts? And then, in Zero Hour!, she says, Yes. But in our movie, she says, No.

David Zucker: Or We need somebody who can not only fly this plane, but who didnt have fish for dinner.

Abrahams: Thats an actual line! That was a line from Zero Hour! Written by Arthur Hailey.

David Zucker: The whole plot of Zero Hour! is that everyone on a plane who ate fish, including the pilots, got sick.

Jerry Zucker: We just put that line in, verbatim.

What do you recall of filming the Dont call me Shirley gag?

Abrahams: Well, Paramount Pictures was apprehensive about three first-time directors working together on a movie.

David Zucker: Our contract said they could fire us after one week.

Abrahams: As it turned out, the Dont call me Shirley scene was filmed on the first day of shooting. When Paramount Pictures watched the dailies and saw that joke and the way it played, they were relieved. They finally understood the concept and were much more comfortable dealing with us.

Jerry Zucker: We got the call and it was kind of like, Oh, now we get it. I think they previously said, Okay, fine, you can have [Robert] Stack, [Lloyd] Bridges, [Leslie] Nielsen, and [Peter] Graves, but I dont think very many people understood what we were doing by casting these serious, straight-men actors until they saw it.

David Zucker: It was a radical concept. We were doing a comedy without comedians. I think the studio most likely green-lit it thinking this was Animal House on an airplane, and it turned out to be totally different than what they imagined.

Jerry Zucker: Its a line that a lot of different people could have said, and it wouldve been funny  people wouldve gotten it. But I dont think it would be remembered in the same way if it hadnt been said the way Leslie Nielsen says it.

David Zucker: Thats a good point. We love Bill Murray and people who do comedy well, but it wouldnt have been the same if a comedian had said that line.

What direction did you give Leslie for that scene?

Jerry Zucker: I think we had shown him Zero Hour! previously because we wanted him to see the style. We told everyone that playing it straight doesnt quite do it, because they think they have it, but theyre still winking. We told them to play it like they dont know theyre in a comedy. Like no one told them. Just the way Leslie would have played this in The Poseidon Adventure, or any other of the films or television shows he had done. Leslie, more than anyone, really got that and relished it. He loved it. For the whole movie, Leslie didnt need a ton of direction on performance.

David Zucker: He just jumped into the water and swam. He knew what he was doing.

Abrahams: You can intercut scenes from The Poseidon Adventure with his performance in Airplane! and you cant distinguish, performance-wise, between them.

That line is followed almost immediately by another wordplay gag, the bit where Ted says, Its an entirely different kind of flying altogether, and Rumack and Randy repeat that line, all together. Most of the movie is like that. How did you keep it from getting too joke-dense?

Jerry Zucker: It took us a while to sell the movie, and we just kept putting in jokes and putting in jokes. If a joke lasted for all that time between the time we wrote it and when we finally shot it, we figured it was probably a pretty good joke. But that was part of our idea of the kind of movie we wanted to make: We wanted the jokes to come really fast.

David Zucker: For ten years before that, we had done a live comedy show on Pico Boulevard called Kentucky Fried Theater, and that show also had a fast pace. We found that it was easier to keep an audience laughing than to start them up all over again. Thats where we got the pace of Airplane!

Jerry Zucker: Also, in this movie, we knew we werent going to be able to rely on just a funny character to make a mediocre line delightful because theyre making a face. So we better have another joke.

How often do you go back and watch the movie?

David Zucker: More often than youd think because theyre constantly having screenings. Theres the 25-year, the 30-year, the 35-year anniversary. A lot of film festivals. Weve literally been all over the world showing it.

What gag tends to get the biggest laughs, on average?

David Zucker: Some of the gags, like Dont call me Shirley, its almost like when you see a concert and the musicians start playing a song and the audience recognizes it and they applaud. Some of the things I enjoy are the really simple things that got laughs 35 years ago and will get laughs 35 years from now. Like when the stewardess says, Im 26 and Im not married, and the other lady comes in and says, Yeah, Im scared, too, but at least I have a husband. That joke always works! Its so simple!

Abrahams: Ive had many different favorites over the years. In recent years, the one that sticks most with me is You can tell me  Im a doctor. Thats because, when we wrote that, who knows what we were thinking, but as life has gone on, my family has absolutely been subjected to medical arrogance. Whatever that mentality is that allowed Leslie to say in the movie, You can tell me  Im a doctor has become satiric in my later life instead of just a parodic point of view.

David Zucker: The easiest, hugest laugh used to be the reporters running into the phone booth. But I think, with the passing of decades, I dont know if people know what phone booths were!

Jerry Zucker: Sometimes I like some of the odd stuff. Like Leslie saying, What the hells going on back there? and then you see the womans in stirrups and hes holding a speculum. Not because its the funniest joke in the film, but its just odd, in a way. Its not a clear play on words or anything. Everyone get in crash positions, Ive always been fond of.

What do you think the comedic legacy of Airplane! is?

Jerry Zucker: One of the great things about DVDs is every new generation, everybody sees it. Its easy to see it more times. It has more of a legacy now than it did when it just came out and kinda vanished, like all movies.

David Zucker: I love going to parties and not having to put out any effort to be funny. I did Airplane!, I dont have to be funny. Theyll laugh at anything.

Abrahams: Its impossible for us to answer these kinds of questions seriously because the whole point is to not take things seriously. Thats what Airplane! is about. Thats what I hope the legacy of Airplane!, if there is any, is. Even in that line, Dont call me Shirley, we pointed out that there are things in culture and media that we all take seriously that we dont need to take seriously. I like to think, even today, when you hear in the news somebody say surely this, or surely that, I like to think that theres a whole bunch of people around the world who hear that and kinda chuckle to themselves because they remember the line and they know they dont have to take that seriously.

Jerry Zucker: And then, of course, theres, Have you ever seen a grown man naked? Why didnt that make your top 100 jokes? Shouldnt that have been in one of the hundred?

We tried to allocate only one joke per work of art.

David Zucker: Dont you think some works of art deserve three or five mentions?

Jerry Zucker: I would think, if youre doing this thing properly, youd just wanna take the best lines. If Blazing Saddles has five of them, then great.

David Zucker: Well, Blazing Saddles would probably have one. But Airplane! would probably have ten, dont you think? But whatever you want to do is fine, I guess.
Photo: Stefano Guidi/Getty Images

Three years after the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Rust finally premiered at the Torino Film Festival in Italy  and Alec Baldwin has no plans to watch the films final cut. He told Variety, I was sent a rough cut early on, before everything got a little more sticky and difficult. So I havent seen the film. But, again, I hope the film is released, that it comes out Right now, no. Only because this is obviously the most difficult thing Ive ever dealt with in my life. He also reiterated that when speaking about the films finances, he gave everything to her husband, Hutchins husband, Matt Hutchins, and that he owns the film. Baldwin explained, I waived my fee. I gave them back the fee in the budget. I waived all my backend. He concluded by expressing how the tragedy really took a toll on him and his family: The last two years of this situation have just hammered me, just drained me.
The end is in sight for What We Do in the Shadows. Vampires may live forever, but this show will not, and with only three episodes left before the series finale, I assume well shift into story mode starting next week. But before we wrap up six years of undead tomfoolery into a nice episodic bow, we pause for, well, one last round of undead tomfoolery. This weeks episode seems like it originates from an inside joke on the What We Do in the Shadows set  and not in a bad way. If you had the privilege of hearing Matt Berry and Kayvan Novak goof off between takes while you waited for a lightbulb to get replaced or a stunt harness to get rigged, wouldnt you want to share that with the world too?

The wrap-party vibe is palpable throughout P.I. Undercover: New York, which is ostensibly a comedic siege a la season fives Local News episode but is really more of an excuse to film Berry and Novak walking around doing silly voices and making fun of all the lingo you find on a TV set. (I figured them all out but taffy. I still dont know what taffy is, at least in this context.) Episode director Kyle Newacheck kinda-sorta playing himself as the empty-headed idiot  Laszlos words, not mine  in charge of P.I. Undercover: New York underlines the good humor of the whole exercise. So does writer Max Brockman praising himself through Laszlos dialogue about how indispensable writers are for a TV series.

But the real siren song here is not ego but the irresistible pull of swag. Sure, Laszlo might lust after Nandors sweated shirt with the kangaroo-inspired pock-ET now. But thats just because he cant have one. Thats the thing about swag: You only want it if you cant have it. Once you get it, youre stuck trying to figure out what youre going to do with this crap thats taking up space in your house. I should know  Im one of those reviewers who gets their turn this week when Colin looks up reviews of P.I. Undercover online. I felt a little called out by the phrase winsomely entertaining copaganda, but, again, not in an unfriendly way. We all get ours this week  even you, the person about to leave a comment on this recap!

The main story line of P.I. Undercover: New York splits into three branches fairly quickly as Nandor gets swept up in the excitement of production, Laszlo  jaded by his career in adult pictures, I assume  grumbles cynically on the sidelines, and Guillermo fangirls out over Jack Mancuso, who turns out to be a No pictures, please type. (Swag solves this problem, too, as it does everything.) Lest we forget, his intense fandom of Interview With the Vampire is what got Guillermo into vampires to begin with, so his devotion to the PIU franchise shouldnt be a surprise. Hes a stan at heart. If he were to ever get into Taylor Swift, people might die.

Nadja has a little bit of the fangirl in her as well. She has been bingeing the televisual series Sexy City on her portable computer device, treating it like an exercise in mastering the chatter of human females. Nadjas arc this week is in the spirit of a running gag in which WWDITS hangs absurd takes on Live, Laugh, Love signs in the background of scenes, riffing on basic-bitch culture. Nadjas interest in visiting Colins old work buddy Joel  which she pronounces as Jowel, a callback to Jesh in season one  is largely anthropological, a visit to the deliciously mild world of humanity.

Those particularly in tune with human comedy may recognize the reference baked into this weeks premise: Guest star Zach Woods and Mark Proksch were both part of the ensemble cast of The Office, so when Colin says that he and Joel worked together pushing paper around a few years back, hes pulling Dunder Mifflin into the world of What We Do in the Shadows. We dont have many episodes left to build out this shared universe, though  a spinoff, perhaps?

I personally have seen episodes of Sexy City only on mute at the nail salon, so Im not sure if cuckolding is ever discussed at brunch between Carrie and the gals or on a romantic date with Mr. Bigs. But Nadja picks up on the swinger vibes in Joels large prefab suburban home immediately, informing Colin that I think her vagina is pulsing for you as soon as Joels wife, Becky, says that Colin isnt like other men. Since the camera crew started following her around, Nadja has reined in her hedonistic tendencies; the vampires havent hosted their annual orgy since season one, at least not on-camera. But she knows perversion when she sees it  or maybe smells it.

That being said, this week shes in bestie mode and agrees to make up an excuse and leave rather than encouraging Colin to have sex with Becky while Joel watches. I assume this is at least partially because she doesnt want to get roped into the situation as well  its never good to be a fourth wheel, especially between two unhappy, heterosexual humans and an oblivious bald energy vampire. Instead, they go for a nice little walk. This week, its Colin whos getting drained  eyyyyy.

Craven Mirth

 I thought it was very funny that this weeks episode is rated TV-MA for violence. Language, sure, given all the wife-fucking talk. But violence? I guess they murdered a couple of PAs 

 What are you up to, you creamy snake? All dressed up like a bowl of millet.

 The tongue-kissing between Proksch and Natasia Demetriou this week was very silly and must have been very giggly to film.

 In fact, this week Demetriou triumphs over her TV vampire husband to win the line-delivery prize for her attempts at behaving like a normal human woman who loves wine. (Sorry to succulent Chinese meal.)

 Maybe humans are all such weird freaks because, you know, they try so hard to be normal that they repress all their most horny desires and then they just end up squirting themselves to death. Wise words.
HANGZHOU, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The first research achievements of a project on Chinese silks were debuted on Monday in Hangzhou, the capital of east China's Zhejiang Province.

The project, "A Comprehensive Collection of Chinese Silks," focuses on analyzing and cataloging traditional Chinese silk artifacts from across the country over various historical periods.

The project's first research findings have been published in five volumes on silk collections from museums in central China's Hunan Province, south China's Guangdong Province and northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, as well as those preserved in the Palace Museum and the China National Silk Museum.

The volumes were compiled by Zhejiang University, the China National Silk Museum and other research institutions across the country.

The research team behind the project compiled the findings based on broad research on the most representative Chinese silk artifacts preserved in institutions at home and abroad, said Zhao Feng, head of School of Art and Archaeology at Zhejiang University and editor-in-chief of the published volumes.

The project has gathered Chinese silk art resources that have been scattered around the globe, and aims to publish 100 volumes in total, Zhao said. 
Pope to inaugurate livestream service on 2 December.

The Vatican is to install a live webcam at St Peter's Tomb as part of a series of technological initiatives being undertaken by the Holy See for the Jubilee Year 2025.

The livestream will be inaugurated by Pope Francis on 2 December, allowing the Catholic faithful around the world to view the tomb of the apostle and the first pope.

The Vatican's outreach efforts during Holy Year will also include the installation of a webcam on the basilica's Holy Door, which Pope Francis will open on Christmas Eve, marking the official launch of Jubilee 2025.

According to tradition, pilgrims who travel to Rome and pass through the Holy Doors may obtain a plenary indulgence.

The Vatican said that the livestream link showing the Holy Doors will offer "symbolic" access to those unable to make the pilgrimage in person.

The Vatican recently launched a 3D virtual replica of St Peter's Basilica, with the help of cutting-edge AI technology, in a collaboration with Microsoft.

The so-called digital twin of St Peter's, created from 400,000 high-resolution images taken over a four period, allows virtual visitors to explore the landmark from anywhere in the world.

Last month the Vatican presented its official Jubilee mascot, an anime cartoon character called Luce, whose name means "light" in Italian.

Rome is currently in a race against time to finish up a slew of public works projects in time for Jubilee Year which is set to attract around 32 million pilgrims and tourists to the Eternal City.
Gilbert OSullivan will be making his long-awaited return to his hometown of Waterford tonight.

Earlier this year, O'Sullivan announced to the Waterford News & Star that a show in Waterford was on the agenda for 2024.

He said: Thats the plan, it has to be. We are going to be doing two shows in Cork, two nights in Dublin in September and the plan is to come to Waterford, so that will happen.

An initial two gig return was subsequently announced in June by Theatre Royal, for December 9 and 10.

Tickets went on sale on Thursday, May 30, with high demand expected. Theatre Royal urged those interested to buy early to avoid disappointment. Fans eagerly joined an online queue to secure tickets, excited to see the Waterford native perform in his hometown.

Tickets sold out in under 20 minutes and with countless disappointed fans missing out, calls for a further date began to circulate online.

An additional gig was subsequently announced for November 28. Once again sales rocketed and Theatre Royal revealed that additional gigs were agreed with Gilbert for November 26 and 29.

Tickets for all five shows sold out.

OSullivan was recently granted the Freedom of Waterford, in recognition of his contribution to global popular culture through his music.

During the acceptance ceremony, he was described as a signal composer and performer from Waterford roots who has made an indelible mark on the world of modern music.

The Cork Road natives career has spanned 50 years. His first single success, Nothing Rhymed, was released in 1970 and almost overnight it achieved Top 10 status in the UK and Europe.

He has achieved Top 10 singles and Number 1s around the world, including the classic Alone Again (Naturally), which topped the US charts and earned him three Grammy nominations.

He performs tonight at the Theatre Royal at 8pm.
Even though we were told that we wouldnt be having an election in November, here we are in the depths of a dark November having an election. After two failed referendums on family and care in March, followed by Local and European elections in June, the Irish electorate will find themselves treading a well-worn path to their local polling place - again.

All over the county, politicians are trying to convince you of how well they have worked for Waterford, how terrible the other crowd are, why you cant trust others, and that they are the ones that should get your No. 1 vote come Friday, November 29. At least it will be good practice for them when writing their letters to Santa.

The Government was coming towards the end of its mandate. There had to be an election by around the end of February 2025. Yet, the dancing around the date had been going on for months since a decent enough showing for Fine Gael in the Local and European election results in June. Once the budget was delivered the starting gun had already been fired on a general election campaign. We knew what was going to happen, we just needed a date.

What felt like one of the longest talked about elections, is now a campaign of a mere three weeks. Most major parties only released their manifestos with about two weeks to go to the polling date, which meant serious policy debate couldnt happen. There was only a drip feed of ideas to discuss, one-off measures, which only served to annoy people with the state of the current provision of public services, and not enough structural changes to actually change the direction of the country.

Resulting in some voters finding it easy to know who they wont vote for but still wondering who to actually vote for.

If you were to listen to any of the parties that have made up the outgoing coalition, youd be forgiven for thinking that they were never in power at all. The perennial issues of housing and health care are still to be solved. Deciding you know now how to fix everything when youve just asked the President to dissolve the Dail is more likely to annoy voters than inspire them.

The next Dail will face the complicating factor of an increase in members returned. Due to the increasing population, 174 TDs will be returned to the next Dail. That means that you will need to get more than 87 TDs to go along with your ideas in order to create the slimmest of majorities.

The days of single-party government are long over in this country. The traditional big beasts of Irish party politics of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail will be lucky to get more than 50% combined in the next election.

No party is running enough candidates to even try for a single-party government. Therefore, a coalition of two or more parties is the only workable way to get these numbers across the line.

Traditionally, the smaller the party that forms into a coalition, the more power that it has, but also the bigger the beating it will receive at the following general election. The larger party will essentially eat up the votes of the smaller party and make it take the blame for everything that the public does not like. The Greens have learned this in previous governments and may yet learn again this time around. They can form a support group with Labour and anyone else who is left hanging around from the now defunct Progressive Democrats.

Yet with all these negatives it can work for the smaller parties to step up into government in their own policy interests. For all the pitfalls at the next electoral cycle, they tend to get more cabinet positions than their proportional share of the seats and do get to hold the larger party to ransom when it comes to key issues. No party wants to have a general election that they didnt plan for.

When it comes to forming the coalition, the ball is in the court of the party with the most seats to start the talks. Thats why it would probably be a bad idea for any small party to start ruling parties in or out until we start getting firm results from the counts rather than before even the postal ballots are returned.

Following the last two general elections, its taken months not weeks for the parties to sit down and agree to a programme for government to start the business of running the country. When all the votes are counted in December we might need to ask Santa ourselves for a government that will deliver what we need, never mind what we want.

Dr Jennifer Kavanagh

Dr Jennifer Kavanagh is a Lecturer in Law at SETU Waterford
In racing parlance, the horses are under starter's orders and the off is just about upon us. Friday 29th will tell us whats in store for the next five years. The polls suggest Fianna Fail plus Fine Gael coupled with some sort of small party mudguard or group of reliable independents is inevitable. Sinn Fein is down from the poll heights of a year ago and has never recovered its mojo, although its performance in this constituency in the local elections was in stark contrast to the results achieved elsewhere. Whether that transfers to a general election remains to be seen. Could they surprise us again?

The government parties are running on a sensible, you can trust us message, while promising, should they be re-elected, an unprecedented level of investment in everything you can imagine. In many ways the run-up to the election has been a dismal bidding war.

The national media commentary has also been critical of this when we haves it we spends it attitude, particularly in light of emerging security threats in Europe and wider economic worries about what the Trump administration is likely to do in 2024.

Many people may hold their noses and plump for the security blanket of the devil you know etc. The election analysis by Michael McDowell is very interesting and worth a read in the Irish Times of November 20th last, if you can lay your hands upon it. He believes neither Fianna Fail nor Fine Gael can reasonably aspire to govern without each other and neither party will enter a coalition with Sinn Fein.

In a comment that is particularly true for Waterford, he writes the unashamed auction politics coming from all parties rings hollow. It all lacks credibility. Why didnt the bigger parties deliver half of their newly devised promises when they had the chance to do so?

For us that means last week, last month, last year? Why indeed?

Our asks in the past five years were relatively modest, 24/7 cardiology, airport runway and engineering building at SETU. None of those three headline local policies have been delivered. Thats a stark condemnation of any government, which reinforces the long-felt sense of grievance that Waterford as a regional city is traditionally an outlier in government capital spending.

Some suggest that sense of otherness is derived from the War of Independence and the local love affair with Unionist/ Redmondism. Waterford continued to elect a member of the Redmond family to the Dail up to 1952. One deceased Fianna Fail mayor of Waterford once told me that de Valera had predicted he would live to see the grass grow on the Quays in Waterford following his treatment in the city in the 1918 election campaign. Such stuff may be apocryphal, but there is a long-lasting, persistent and deeply embedded sense among locals that we do not get a fair crack of the government investment whip.

Others suggest that our problems are far more prosaic, being a willingness to vote for mediocre representation. Evidence of political power is the investment that flowed this way during the ministerial tenure of Martin Cullen. The ignoranti will tell you that most of what came our way was coming anyway but anyone examining the past 15 years of coalition government, when Waterford power was noticeably absent, finds a different answer. Things were coming but never arrived.

Things will come next time out if you return us to power! 24/7 cardiology is coming, but regardless of how its dressed-up in terms of recruitment and backfilling of posts, it is not here. This represents an unwillingness to deliver acute medical equity to this city and region.

Blame the HSE, the Dept. of Health, the politics of the situation, but the result is still the same. There is no commitment to it in the Fianna Fail, Fine Gael or Sinn Fein manifestos. Likewise with the proposed new engineering block for SETU Waterford, which is on the stocks since 2008. It has been effectively cancelled by government for the second time in two decades. There is no commitment to it in any of the three big party manifestos. And, the airport runway debacle is an ongoing terrible indictment of equitable government.

The Fine Gael 2024 manifesto rightly references Waterford city in terms of the need for balanced regional development. Thats great news, again, but when investment did not come in the past five years will it come in the next five years? Senator John Cummins suggests that the lack of a Fine Gael TD is at play across the board. Eg, failure to build the SETU engineering building is shocking, but remember, it was not built when Waterford had two Fine Gael TDs.

Sinn Feins voice in opposition has been Waterford-light. This has disappointed many who gave David Cullinane 20,000 first preferences last time out. Is the election of two Sinn Fein TDs likely to improve matters very much in that context given the opaque nature of that partys national decision making?

Is a campaign based on electing a TD for a particular geographic area of the constituency difficult to sustain? Is that really what the people of West Waterford want?

The Green Party disappointed Waterford in power. Our voice was hardly heard about the airport runway and the failure to fund it has been very difficult to sell. Locals see the ask as tiny in terms of the national finances. Conventional wisdom suggests the Greens' Marc O Cathasaigh will not be in the next Dail, unless of course a Tramore vote solidifies around him. Independent Matt Shanahan was the standout Waterford presence in the last Dail. Never was the word Waterford heard so often or Waterford issues so deeply probed at leaders question time. Even Fianna Fail Minister Mary Butler acknowledged on WLR FM that Mr Shanahan has done sterling work for UHW. He was the only South East Oireachtas member to resist the unfunded creation of SETU. The lack of capital investment on the Cork Road over nearly two decades, when compared to every other third-level campus in the country, reinforces that position and underlines Waterfords perennial problem in securing a fair share of state investment.

Anyway, the final decision on who will represent us for the next five years is down to you, the voters of Waterford.
By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Minister Paschal Donohoe has been accused of chickening out of debates by Sinn Feins finance spokesman Pearse Doherty.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Mr Doherty said the cost-of-living crisis will be a key factor in voters decisions on Friday.

He said he had heard that Mr Donohoe wanted to debate him on the economy, but added: Ive been there in the Virgin (Media) studio when he wasnt, and tonight he was supposed to turn up, and now we hear that he has chickened out.

Pearse Doherty. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA.

I would call on Paschal Donohoe to meet me and debate how he has failed the Irish people over and over again on the issues of the cost of living.

Turn up to tonights debate. It is not acceptable that you have now chickened out twice on this issue.

Mr Doherty also accused Fine Gael of having a brass neck.

He pointed to a representative of Fine Gael leader Simon Harris contacting national broadcaster RTE over a video clip of him walking away from an interaction with a carer.

Mr Doherty said: I think it would be really important now, given the enormity of this, I think it was watched eight million times, that Fine Gael actually clarifies what were they leaning on RTE to try and achieve?

Were they trying to make sure that the package wasnt aired?

I think that the conversation should now be made public by Fine Gael.

He added: When it comes to Fine Gael, theyve got a brass neck.

A spokeswoman for the Fine Gael minister said he had taken part in a number of debates taking Sinn Fein head on in terms of the damage that party would inflict on our economy if in power.

The spokeswoman said: Minister Donohoe looks forward to doing so again (on Wednesday) morning and at any other opportunity across the coming days.

Mr Donohoe and Mr Doherty are due to take part in a debate on RTEs Claire Byrne radio programme on Wednesday morning.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto in Beijing on Tuesday, discussing issues including deepening bilateral cooperation and developing a healthy and stable China-EU relationship.

Both sides highlighted the historic significance of the elevation of bilateral ties to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era in May when Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Hungary.

Noting that Hungary was the first European country to sign a cooperation document on the Belt and Road Initiative with China, Wang said the practical bilateral cooperation has yielded fruitful results, which fully demonstrates that as long as there is mutual respect, trust, and support, economic cooperation between the two sides will enjoy broad prospects.

Wang expressed the hope that the new European Union institutions will adhere to the orientation and cooperative tone of the China-EU partnership, view China's development objectively, pursue a positive and pragmatic policy toward China, and promote the sustained, healthy, and stable development of China-EU relations.

Szijjarto said that Hungary looks forward to expanding and deepening cooperation in various fields with China, facilitating personnel exchanges, and enhancing friendship between the two peoples.

Noting that both Hungary and China support peace and advocate an international system based on mutual respect, Szijjarto said Hungary is committed to promoting the positive and healthy development of EU-China relations and is willing to work with China to promote world peace and stability. 
By David Young, PA

The President of Ireland has led tributes to former government minister Gemma Hussey, who has died at the age of 86.

The first female to hold the position of minister for education, the former Fine Gael TD was a strong advocate for womens rights.

It was with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Gemma Hussey this evening.



Gemma was a true champion of equality, a trailblazer for female leadership in politics and a dear friend.



My heartfelt condolences go to her family and friends. pic.twitter.com/c5hjyRpxTb  Frances Fitzgerald (@FitzgeraldFrncs) November 26, 2024

President Michael D Higgins said: A lifelong committed feminist, Gemma Hussey was a passionate advocate and inspiration for the vitally important increase in the number of women serving in our political system.

As a dedicated and effective government minister, she set a stirring example of the key role which must be held by women in politics.

In introducing aural and oral exams and establishing the National Parents Council as minister for education, she put in place lasting reforms which have benefited all those who have grown up in Ireland in the succeeding decades.

Throughout her career, she remained true to her principles and advocated for social reforms at a time when not all of the causes she supported were popular with all parts of Irish society.

Gemma Hussey was a pioneering presence for women in politics as the first female Minister for Education. Read my statement here... https://t.co/cmyCIQtfbK via @rte pic.twitter.com/zHJ6kKhSCI  Norma Foley T.D (@NormaFoleyTD1) November 26, 2024

President Higgins said that after her departure from the political front line, Ms Hussey remained an incisive commentator and an always valuable voice on the political system.

May I express my deepest sympathies to Gemmas children Rachel, Ruth and Andrew, and to all her family, friends and former colleagues, he added.

Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris called her a trailblazer.

He noted she was Fine Gaels first female cabinet member.

Gemma was a passionate progressive for womans rights, education reform and Irelands place in the world, particularly the potential of European Union membership, he said.

Gemma was a TD for my own native Wicklow, where her long service and delivery is remembered to this day.

But above all Gemma was a patriot, a Fine Gael stalwart and a kind and generous person. I was one of the people lucky to enjoy her company, her advice and her good humour.

To all of her family, colleagues and friends, l am truly sorry for your loss. May she rest in peace.

Current Education minister Norma Foley also paid tribute, describing Ms Hussey as a pioneering presence for women in politics.

She was a courageous and determined politician who showed the way for women at the highest level in politics, said the Fianna Fail minister.

She was highly regarded for the work she did in steering and guiding the development of the Irish education system.
By Jessica Coates, PA

The Irish Times lead with an election story saying that a Fianna Fail-Fine Gael coalition is still the preferred option, a story about solicitor Cahir O'Higgins' jail sentence, and a story about senior officials at Children's Health Ireland resigning.

The Irish Examiner leads with a story about violence against women, a story about planning refusal blocking 1,800 Cork apartments, a story about peacekeepers returning from Lebanon, and a story about Micheal Martin ruling out a Fianna Fail-Sinn Fein coalition. It also features a story about the inquest of Shane O'Connor and a story saying that at least one Irish person is feared to be lost after a yacht sank in the Red Sea on Monday.

The Echo leads with an election story, a story about a large scale residential development for Glanmire, and story about postmasters asking for government funding.

The Irish Independent leads with a story saying that Tanaiste Micheal Martin has ruled out a coalition with Sinn Fein.

The Irish Daily Mail leads with a story claiming that Fine Gael sent frantic messages to RTE about how they were going to handle the now-viral video of Taoiseach Simon Harris and a care worker in Cork.

The Herald lead with a story about solicitor Cahir O'Higgins' jail sentence.

The Irish Daily Mirror lead with a story about the rally that took place in Dublin on Monday evening in solidarity with Nikita Hand.

The Irish Daily Star lead with a story saying that the director of My Left Foot was spotted filming with Gerry Hutch, but also feature a story on the march in Dublin on Monday.

British newspapers

Business backlash to Labours October Budget continues to dominate Tuesdays British newspaper headlines.

The UK Daily Mail claims Chancellor Rachel Reeves has ruled out further tax rises in the face of a growing backlash.

The Daily Telegraph says businesses have turned on Ms Reeves, saying she has six months to win them over after Octobers Budget.

TELEGRAPH: Reeves tax rises are milking us, say bosses #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/YdOXPlPZQq  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) November 25, 2024

However, the i reports that public spending cuts are on the way from 2026 after the Chancellors vow against further tax rises.

Tuesday's front page: Public spending cuts on the way from 2026 as Reeves vows no more tax rises#Tomorrowspaperstoday



Latest by @hugogye: https://t.co/UaQOYTeexf pic.twitter.com/4Pj3qwT99c  The i paper (@theipaper) November 25, 2024

The Guardian writes Labour has pledged to ensure no young person is left behind amid a new drive to get teens into the workforce and higher education.

GUARDIAN: Labour makes pledge to ensure no young person is left behind #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/GZoBQjRZeC  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) November 25, 2024

Prime Minister Keir Starmer says Britain isnt working, calling on employers to do more to keep those battling long-term illnesses in their roles, according to The Times UK.

TIMES: Britain isnt working, admits PM in jobs push #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/BqaOF5eszF  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) November 25, 2024

Metro leads on a pledge from the Prime Minister, who has promised to make drink spiking a specific criminal offence.

Tomorrow's Papers Today 



STARMER: I'LL MAKE SPIKING A CRIME



 As Metro launches 'This Is Not Right' campaign#tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/oxgRRdaj0N  Metro (@MetroUK) November 25, 2024

The Financial Times leads on a new report from MPs and Lords, warning the Financial Conduct Authority is incompetent at best and dishonest at worst.

Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Tuesday 26 November https://t.co/6BCGrEmUY2 pic.twitter.com/ZQPlsw1SlG  Financial Times (@FT) November 25, 2024

The Daily Express touts an exclusive, reporting Britain will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two with extra bank holidays.

EXPRESS: Bank holiday thank you to nations heroes #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/wPnBEjVYmc  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) November 25, 2024

The UK Daily Star reports the number of pets abandoned before the holiday season has risen by 50% as owners struggle with the cost of living.

Lastly, the UK Daily Mirror splashes on clean-up efforts from Storm Bert, days after it wreaked havoc across the UK.
Bubble tea chain Chatime and its managing director Chen Charlley Zhao have been penalised for underpaying more than 150 employees, some earning rates as low as $7.59 an hour, and many of whom were vulnerable junior workers and international students.

The Federal Circuit and Family Court ordered the bubble tea business to pay $120,960 and Zhao a personal penalty of $11,880 for his involvement in the underpayments.

Chatime has been fined for underpaying staff. Credit: Simon Schluter

The Fair Work Ombudsman launched legal action in 2019 against Chatime and Zhao after conducting an audit in 2016 that found staff employed at stores directly operated by the chain were paid flat rates as low as $7.59 to $24.30 an hour and routinely did not receive award entitlements like loadings and penalty rates.

In total, 152 workers  including 41 who were aged below 21 and nearly 100 visa holders and international students  were underpaid some $162,533 between August and December 2016.
An 18-year-old who police allege has links to street gangs was one of three shirtless teens arrested in a dramatic sea, air and land operation at Manlys Little Manly Beach on Monday afternoon.

The major sting involving a police helicopter, police boat and officers on land picked up Bryan Boney, 18, Jack Dempsey, 18, and Kyen Nolan, 19, who police say were involved in the theft of a motocross bike from Heathcote in September.

Footage published by the Manly Observer shows several shirtless men, wearing only football shorts, being marched along the shoreline by the 10 officers on the sand at the popular harbour beach.

Police also allegedly seized a number of knives.
A disgraced nurse has been ordered to hand back more than $880,000 she inherited from a 92-year-old patient she met just weeks before his death.

Abha Anuradha Kumar was ordered by the Supreme Court last week to return the money after obtaining a grant of probate to manage the estate of Lionel Cox in 2015, including proceeds from the sale of his Fitzroy home.

Abha Anuradha Kumar (right) must return $880,000 she inherited from Lionel Cox, a patient she met just weeks before he died. Credit: Marija Ercegovac

Justice Melissa Daly ordered the grant of probate be revoked on November 21. The funds, which Kumar had been required to pay into a trust account managed by the court, will be disbursed to several cousins of Cox or their estates, according to the order.

The value of the estate had been diminished by a series of transfers made by Kumar to pay for administrative fees and legal costs, including a $150,000 costs order arising from a hearing in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in 2019.
Labor has gained Senate approval for laws to ease student loans for three million Australians by scaling back the indexation of their debts, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese vows to leave nothing on the field in the campaign to win the next election.

The government has also passed laws to back a $16 billion funding boost for public schools and a $3.6 billion wage increase for childcare workers in the latest stage of a fraught negotiation in the upper house.

But the Greens are holding out for changes to the governments Nature Positive plan, which aims to set up Environment Protection Australia to regulate new projects, in a last-minute tussle over the scale of the powers to protect wildlife and native forests.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the governments success on two housing bills after the Greens agreed on Monday to support the Help to Buy and Build to Rent schemes. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Albanese used a private meeting with Labor caucus members on Tuesday to signal his hope that the party can maintain its majority at the next election, while urging colleagues to campaign over the summer.
Tech giant Huawei climbed to the top of the smartphone market in China last year when it released the Mate 60 Pro, a phone that contained a tiny computer chip more advanced than any previously made by a Chinese company.

The chips used by Huaweis smartphones have become a symbol in the struggle between China and the United States for control over advanced technology.

Huaweis new Mate 70 phone.

Policymakers in Washington have spent years trying to prevent Chinese companies from being able to make the kind of chip Huawei uses in its Mate phone. But Huawei has pressed ahead, and the phone has burnished its image as a national leader, triumphant in the face of US restrictions.

Shoppers in China were excited to buy a phone with state-of-the-art components that had been made entirely at home. Huawei was able to appeal to Chinese customers who previously would have been more likely to buy iPhones, eating into Apples most important market outside the United States.
Few people get to leave their mark on the travel world like Arthur Frommer. The founder of the Frommers guidebook empire  and the founder of the very idea of budget travel  died recently at the age of 95, and leaves behind an enviable legacy.

Frommer pioneered budget travel in the 1950s with the release of his book Europe on 5 Dollars a Day, a tome that opened Americans eyes to a whole different way of seeing the world outside the five-star, grand-tour experience that was the norm then, available to only the lucky, wealthy few.

Arthur Frommer in Australia in 1991. Credit: Kylie Anee Pickett

Frommers book helped democratise travel, while also encouraging a more immersive style, one that eschewed the hermetically-sealed luxury experience in favour of a more immersive, thoughtful approach. He was a little like our own Tony Wheeler, the founder of Lonely Planet, though he didnt just spread word of a movement, he started the whole thing.

Perhaps unfortunately, or perhaps impressively, Frommer also lived long enough to see that movement boom, and then begin to disappear. Because budget travel, Frommers budget travel, isnt the same as it used to be.
AMMAN, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army said Tuesday it air-dropped some 6.6 tons of essential food supplies on the northern Gaza Strip using two Royal Jordanian Air Force planes.

According to the state-run Petra news agency, the army reaffirmed continued efforts to send humanitarian and medical aid through airdrops, humanitarian air bridges, and land convoys to Gaza to help the people there overcome the difficult circumstances.

Since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Jordanian army has made 124 airdrops, with an additional 266 airdrops carried out in cooperation with other countries. 
WCO Deputy Secretary General Ricardo Trevino Chapa attended the high-level debriefing and interim evaluation meeting of Operation DEMETER in Xiamen, China, from 19 to 21 November 2024, which was organized by the WCO in cooperation with China Customs and sponsored by China Customs Cooperation Fund (CCF-China). Aiming to evaluate progress and chart future courses with Customs administrations and enforcement partners, the event saw the attendance of the Vice Minister of China Customs, officials from the European Anti-Fraud Office and the BRS Secretariat, and representatives from partner international organizations. Discussions helped identify new strategies and partnerships to support enforcement bodies.

Recognizing the exceptional achievements made throughout 10 iterations of Operation DEMETER since 2009, Ricardo Trevino Chapa declared: Operation Demeter gives an overview of the extent of environmental crime and of the need to increase vigilance. It is imperative to redouble our efforts to ensure a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable world.

Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, highlighted in his speech that Operation DEMETER was a unique opportunity for countries to strengthen the implementation of the Basel Convention on the ground, and encouraged Customs and environmental authorities to develop strong relationships.

Operation DEMETER X

The tenth iteration of WCO Operation DEMETER, which targets illicit wastes, ozone depleting substances (ODS) and potent greenhouse gases, took place over eight weeks in the second semester of 2024. It saw the participation of a record 110 Customs administrations and led to 450 seizures.

Operation DEMETER dates back to 2009 and is perhaps the most well-known of the efforts deployed by the Customs community to implement the provisions of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, and, since 2019, to implement the provisions of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, including the Kigali Amendment[1].

These Operations enable participating Customs administrations to gauge their targeting capacities and to share data on seizures as well as insights to identify high-risk consignments and strengthen cooperation mechanisms.

Cooperation is intended to take place not only at the international level, but also nationally, with agencies in charge of implementing regulations on the movement of the targeted products. Each iteration of Operation Demeter has demonstrated the importance of joint enforcement actions at the national level to effectively combat environmental crime.

Seizures illustrate the extent of illicit trade

In the course of Operation DEMETER X, 450 seizures related to the targeted commodities were reported by 47 Customs administrations via CENcomm, the WCOs secure and encrypted communication tool.

These seizures included 324 seizures of waste, 99 seizures of ODS, HFCs and equipment containing or relying on controlled substances under the Montreal Protocol, and 27 seizures of other commodities, including restricted or prohibited commodities such as hazardous chemicals.

In terms of quantities, cumulatively, 10,285,338.48 kg and 1,441,843 pieces (not weighed) were seized, including:

9,839,184.93 kg of waste and an additional non-weighed 1,422,981 pieces of waste;

344,625.9 kg of ODS & HFCs, and 24,198.9 kg and 11,620 pieces of equipment containing or relying on controlled substances; and

77,328.75 kg and 7,242 pieces of other restricted or prohibited goods.

Waste

E-waste, plastic waste, metal waste, and end-of-life vehicles were the most traded categories of illegal waste in terms of the number of seizures. In terms of quantity in kg, plastic waste was the first category, constituting 24.71% of the overall quantity seized. It was followed by metal waste, paper waste, end-of-life vehicles/machinery, and e-waste.

The majority of seizures (55.25%) were made at export and in transit. This highlights sustained efforts and growing awareness in both departure and transit territories. The majority of seizures made at export (53.09%) took place in Europe. A notable number of seizures was also made in Asia and in North America.

Countries of Asia and Africa were major destinations, with 45.99% and 37.96% respectively of the total number of seizures being made on cargo sent to one of the two continents. Africa was the first destination for illegal waste shipments departing from Europe, with 72 (41.86%) of the seizures related to waste being destined for an African country, followed by Asia with 62 seizures (36.05%).

Vessels were the primary mode of conveyance for waste seizures and the majority of commodities seized were not concealed. Customs administrations reported that illicit shipments were detected using risk profiling, routine control and random selection.

Substances controlled under Montreal Protocol

17 Customs administrations reported seizures related to substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment, which entered into force in 2019. Administrations from Gambia, Bulgaria and Italy stood out in the number of seizures they reported. However, in terms of the quantity seized, Sri Lanka took first place, followed by Italy and North Macedonia.

HFCs were the most prominently trafficked known commodities in terms of the number of seizures, while unspecified controlled substances and mixtures topped the list in terms of quantity seized. Eight Customs administrations reported 27 seizures totalling 24,198.9 kg, along with an additional 11,620 pieces of equipment.

Vessels and vehicles were the predominant modes of conveyance both for substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol and for equipment containing or relying on the controlled substances. Most seizures took place at inland and border posts and at seaports, with some seizures made at traders and sellers premises. Most seizures resulted from routine control.

Building capacities

The WCO Secretariat provided guidance to participants ahead of Operation DEMETER X, in line with the Guidelines on the Implementation of WCO Operations at National Level. Additionally, participants received instructions and advice on developing risk profiles for targeted commodities.

Some officers participated in the workshops in Mauritius, China, and Senegal organized by the WCO Secretariat with the financial support of China Customs. These events brought together over 150 Customs officers and environmental stakeholders who carried out in-depth and practical exercises related to illegal trade in waste, ODS and HFCs. They also received training on the CENcomm tool which significantly improved the quality of the information they reported. In addition, 46 Customs officers designated as National Contact Points for Operation Demeter attended regional workshops organized by the Basel Convention Secretariat.

Milestone

The tenth iteration of Operation DEMETER represents a milestone in several ways.

Capacity building activities undertaken ahead of the Operation have been strengthened, including through enhanced cooperation with the Basel Convention Secretariat. One of the WCO workshops was designed jointly with the latter and was open to participants from environmental agencies, setting the foundations for future joint training events in the future. Thanks to the success of the joint workshop, the Basel Convention Secretariat invited Customs officers to participate to its own workshops during the Operation.

Collaboration has also been established this year with the Green Customs Initiative (GCI) Secretariat, which brings together the WCO, other international organizations and the secretariats of relevant trade-related Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). Fruitful discussions have already taken place to discuss ways to enhance future preparation and operational activities.

Although it is difficult to compare results from one operation to the next given that the number of participants and the length of each operation differ, the number of reported seizures has notably increased in the last three years, from 139 in 2022 to 351 in 2023 and 450 in 2024. The quantities seized have also grown. This has enabled the WCO Secretariat to develop meaningful analysis for the benefit of participating administrations and partners.

Appreciation

Operation DEMETER X received financial backing from China Customs and extensive technical support from the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for Asia/Pacific. Additionally, a range of international partners, including the Basel Convention Secretariat, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the UNODC Unwaste Project, INTERPOL, and the European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL), alongside the WCO RILO network, played pivotal roles in bolstering capacity building activities and facilitating information sharing within their respective networks.

[1] This amendment commits countries to phasing down the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which contribute to global warming and climate change.
Following the expulsion of the French ambassador, the authorities in Niger declared the EU ambassador persona non grata. It wasn't enough for Paris to remove itself from the situationnow Josep Borrell has also been left in an uncomfortable position. The rapid loss of influence and connections in Africa by European countries and the European Union as a whole is, without exaggeration, one of their greatest failures in decades.





Borrell, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, seems to be preparing the most challenging circumstances for his successor. Before leaving, he appears to be setting up time bombs, forcing the new head of the European External Action Service to deal with the fallout.





Interestingly, Mr. Borrell seems indifferent to the consequences. He appears to care little about Africa or its geopolitical issues. His focus seems to be on securing a well-paid pension, which, by the way, will likely be supplemented by dividends from his friends among the Catalan separatists, whom he has secretly supported throughout his career.





It is ironic that Borrells failure may further complicate the situation for other former colonizers like him. But what about uranium for European nuclear power plants? With relations deteriorating with Niger, the pool of suppliers for nuclear fuel for European countries has significantly shrunk. More and more reliance will likely be placed on the only remaining viable fuel delivery route to Europethrough Central Asia and Azerbaijan.





For this, however, Europe will need to carefully assess the geopolitical map and reassess its strategies. The question is: will they be able to do so?
JAKARTA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- A total of 20 people have been killed in flash floods and landslides that occurred in Indonesia's North Sumatra province last Saturday, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported on Tuesday.

"As of today, the fatalities include 10 from Karo Regency, four from Deli Serdang, four from Padang Lawas, and two from South Tapanuli," said BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari in a press release.

The hydrometeorological disaster occurred following heavy rainfall that caused flash floods in South Tapanuli and Deli Serdang, as well as landslides in Padang Lawas and Karo on Saturday.

In addition, six houses were severely damaged by the flash floods in Deli Serdang and landslides in Karo, along with damage to several schools and places of worship.

Authorities are still assessing the extent of the damage and searching for two missing people in Deli Serdang.

The agency has urged people to remain vigilant as the peak of the rainy season is expected to continue until next year. 
VIENTIANE, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Patuxay monument in Lao capital Vientiane was illuminated in orange to commemorate the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women.

The event on Monday, organized by the Lao government in partnership with the United Nations and its development partners, also launched the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

The campaign aimed to raise awareness and foster actions to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls.

The campaign will feature a series of impactful activities, including seminars, media campaigns, and public discussions on critical topics.

The event saw active engagement from a wide range of stakeholders, including both public and private sector representatives. 
MANILA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday approved a policy-based loan of 50 million U.S. dollars to support Cambodia's efforts to make the business environment more investment-friendly.

The ADB said the second subprogram of the ongoing Trade and Competitiveness Program is reinforcing the government's efforts to leverage private sector investments to achieve higher, inclusive, and sustainable growth to improve the lives and livelihoods of its citizens.

"This program supports the ADB's continued commitment to advancing Cambodia's economic potential and creating a more robust enabling ecosystem for business to grow, leading to increased investment, job creation, and sustainable economic growth," said ADB Country Director for Cambodia Jyotsana Varma.

The program focuses on micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, and also seeks to facilitate smoother, more efficient cross-border trade by improving regulatory frameworks, streamlining procedures, and reducing barriers to trade, leading to Cambodia being better positioned to participate in regional and global markets, Varma said. 
NEW DELHI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least four women were killed and five other people were injured in an explosion that damaged three houses in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, police said Tuesday.

The blast took place around midnight in Morena town, about 464 km north of Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh.

"At around 12:00 a.m. (local time), we came to know about a major blast inside a house at Rathore Colony that killed two women and injured five others. The blast also completely damaged two houses adjacent to it. Immediately earthmovers and fire brigade teams were rushed to the spot to initiate a rescue operation," a police officer said.

"Early today two more bodies of women were recovered, taking the death toll to four. The injured were rushed to a hospital in Gwalior and are undergoing treatment."

Sameer Saurabh, a senior police officer, told reporters that the cause of the blast was being investigated and a forensic science laboratory team was on the spot collecting the evidence.

Local media quoted residents as saying that illegal crackers were stored in one of the three houses and could have caused the blast.

Accidental explosions are common at Indian firecracker factories and shops as owners usually ignore safety standards. 
Snow, snow, beautiful, glorious snow. Wasnt it lovely to see the soft, white, large flakes of snow begin to fall on Wednesday evening last?

RTE and the Met Office had been issuing warnings, orange and yellow, for the southern half of the country and I feared we here in Mayo were to be left out. I felt a twinge of envy for the Kerry, Cork, Clare and Waterford people and indeed for Galway since they were forecast to suffer the brunt of the icy, snow-laden blasts from the north.

Once RTE got word that the snow was already falling in Mayo they caught up with the snow and predicted that Mayo would be hit. Some prediction. We were at yellow warning levels within minutes, by which time there was already two inches of the most beautiful, crisp white coat of unblemished snow carpeting my driveway, lawn, trees (a carpet covering oak, beech, birch and palm is a bit of a contradiction, but sure what the hell, Gods in his heaven, alls well with the world and the snow is falling).

And it continued through the night, such that the skylights allowed no light in, the hallway was pitch black, the silence was golden as no traffic flowed until the council gritter showed the way with its golden, yellow, swirling warning light throwing an amber hue on the otherwise bright, white snowy scene.

Then came the early morning bread delivery men (ladies?), tradespeople (I find it difficult to be politically correct) and labourers, slowly making their snail-like way to work and disturbing the silence and the sleep of the slumbering older folk, the retired and the work-from-home generation still wrapped up snugly in their four-tog duvets of white duck feathers and down. And, as the dawn creeps in to take the crisp sharpness off the landscape, there follows the noise, the intrusive noise, of the trucks, the mini-mix marvels, the 32-wheeler high-sided SuperValu delivery vehicles, the construction industry on the way to make more houses before the end of the calendar year so as to massage the figures for affordable homes before Santa calls. At least the school buses have the sense to stay at home.

Once the traffic begins to flow - and it is not long before it is a constant stream - there is no point in continuing the snuggle and wrestling with the duvet. Be always up and doing boys was the exhortation that reverberated through the national school system of the dim and distant (though not forgotten) past and God help the students who failed to respond to the sage advice of their masters. While the weak-willed may have lingered a little longer, the up and doing lads hit the floor for a morning of calisthenics and/or Pilates as the more mature people settled for some genteel stretching and toe-tipping and groaning as muscles reacted to the stress of infrequently used postures. (Now, if you believe that last scenario you should perhaps have a chat with your counsellor!)

The beautiful idyll of snow-white nirvana on the main road is quickly turned to slush as the reality of work in this island of full employment hits home. Two makeshift lanes, one going north and one going south, form in the snow as the wheels churn the pristine whiteness into a watery grey slush and spray it to alternate sides, forming long high furrows to block driveways and imprison the silent sufferers in their homes. Smoke, curtesy of the dye-back ash, starts to curl from chimneys not quite used to such an early incendiary jolt. Things settle down and life goes on. The time for standing and staring gives way to the important (?) matter of government.

The election

There is the enigma of trying to fit 16 candidates into five Mayo seats and it falls to columnists such as my good self to try to predict the volatility of an electorate that is careful, cute, canny, cautious and tight as a clam when expressing a preference in terms of number one, two, three, flour and five. So in order to work the oracle and predict the future it is necessary, strange as it might seem, to look back. The last Independent TD in Mayo was Jerry Cowley. That was in 2002 and he served until 2007. He tried unsuccessfully to return to the Dail. Mayo is not known as Independent territory. Beverley Flynn also served as an Independent but she had been elected for Fianna Fail and many in the party remained with her when she was banished to the Independent benches for the 2007 election.

Fine Gael has dominated Mayo for the past two decades, winning an unprecedented four seats out of five in 2011. They were disappointed when they did not take the four seats. Prior to Fine Gael becoming the dominant party, Fianna Fail had their golden era taking four out of six (two three seaters) on a number of occasions. But, the mighty have fallen. While the two dominant parties still harbour hopes of taking two seats each in next Fridays election the route to success is by no means clear.

There are 16 candidates declared for the five seats. The reality is that at least half of those declared do not have a chance. So, it is important that we salute all of those who have put their names forward, especially those who dont have the proverbial snowballs. The also rans play their role in the democratic system. They are vital to it. They provide the electorate, who may be fed up with the so called major parties, with choice.

As well as FG/FFers we now have, in Sinn Fein, a viable party of change. If we are to believe the polls Sinn Fein have shot their bolt and perhaps they have nationwide, but they are in with a chance of two Mayo seats. In outgoing TD they have the impressive Rose Conway-Walsh while Cllr Gerry Murray is a proven vote-getter who has built up a solid base in his east Mayo stronghold. They are strategically well placed at opposite ends of the county so it is easy to draw the line within which each can battle for their votes.

Fine Gael have adopted what many see as a risky strategy, running four candidates. Past election results suggest that Fine Gael can elect two, if not three candidates, but those results were, to a large extent, based on three highly popular and respected vote getters - Enda Kenny, Michael Ring and the late John OMahony - none of whom are in the field. It will be interesting to see how that works out on Count Day.

Fianna Fail is running two candidates, outgoing Dara Calleary and Senator Lisa Chambers, hoping to win two seats. It is a ploy that may work but it suggests a lack of ambition. The results of the most recent elections suggest they are being realistic. The party seems to have a greater number of workers on the ground than in recent elections and that may bring a change but they will have to get a huge boost in numbers not something that is likely if there is a demand for change.

It is unlikely that Aontus Paul Lawless can win a seat this time around and, of the Independents, Cllrs Patsy OBrien and Chris Maxwell have the best credentials. OBrien, a disaffected Fine Gael councillor, had an impressive tally of 2,700 first preference votes in the recent local election. In the absence of Michael Ring, he would hope to significantly improve on those numbers, but he has a lot of building to do.

Maxwell is a former Fianna Fail local election candidate who had his Road to Damascus moment prior to the last local elections. He has moved a little to the right and runs as an Independent Ireland candidate. He had an impressive outing in the council elections, gathering over 1,700 first preferences, but theres a long, long way from there to the Dail.

You know I dont have much faith in the polls so I dont have to wait for the next load of blather (think Trump!) to come out over the remaining days before polling. Here is my prediction (with more than a week to go): two FG (Alan Dillon and Mark Duffy); two Sinn Fein (Rose Conway Walsh and Gerry Murray) and one FF (Dara Calleary). The count will be eagerly awaited.

Thought for the Day

The only infallible rule we know is, that the man who is always talking about being a gentleman never is one.

- R.S. Surtees ( Ask Mamma)
By Cillian Sherlock, PA

The UK Government is not minded to fund the North correctly, Mary Lou McDonald claimed as she defended Sinn Feins record in the power-sharing Executive.

Ms McDonald made the remarks as she seeks to lead Sinn Fein to victory in the general election on Friday, and become Taoiseach.

The Sinn Fein leader was responding to questioning on how the party could stand over pledges on housing delivery on the Republic of Ireland, given under supply in Northern Ireland.

The housing portfolio north of the border was previously held by Sinn Fein MLA Deirdre Hargey.

Ms McDonald said Ms Hargey had set out a hugely ambitious, transformational plan during her time in the role.

However, she added: The Tories, sadly, who unfortunately hold the purse strings, and now the successor government, under (Sir) Keir Starmer, are not minded to fund the North correctly.

Thats at the root of the problem.

Ms McDonald said the picture of the public service in Northern Ireland is generally not good, adding that to compare the two jurisdictions is like comparing apples and oranges.

Speaking on RTEs Six One News, she added: North of the border, there is not the capacity to raise or vary taxes.

You are looking at an entirely different scenario and I regret that deeply.

Im a united Irelander, but sadly, at this point in time, our country is partitioned.

Ms McDonald said First Minister Michelle ONeill and other Sinn Fein members of the Executive aim high when making demands from the UK Government, adding that they are constantly putting pressure on the Treasury.

She said: Its a matter of great frustration to me as a Republican and a united Irelander, that on the one hand the British government, the system, insists that it remain and hold jurisdiction in the North, and yet it wont fund the place correctly.

Ms McDonald said Sinn Fein has delivered in spades in very challenging circumstances in the multi-party power-sharing arrangement.

She argued that this showed Sinn Feins ability to hold things together.

Asked about complaints that Northern Irelands health service is not provided adequate funding by the Sinn Fein Finance Minister, Ms McDonald said Caoimhe Archibald can not do a loaves and fishes job.

She added: Shes a brilliant, brilliant woman and a brilliant minister, but she does not have the power of miracles, unfortunately.
The Ivy Towers Hotel in Castlebar is the venue for an Oiche Mhor Cheoil agus Amhranaiochta on Thursday night next, November 28th, in honour of Eadaoin Ni Mhaicin. The show, which starts at 8pm, is being organised by Craobh an Phiarsaigh de Chonradh na Gaeilge in Castlebar.

Eadaoin is a traditional and folk musician from Balla and has composed a large repertoire of music in recent years. Her music has taken her all around the globe where she has graced stages in all the continents. She is a proficient performer on the fiddle, the harp and the piano and she has also been known to sing a song or two. Recently she has devoted a lot of her time to composing and her compositions have a wide following.

Her most recent composition, Resurrect, has just been released with her band Astra Bloc while in October she released New Dawn with LEDA.

Eadaoin is a primary school teacher but, post-Covid, she bid adieu to the classroom to pursue her dream of performing music full time. By this stage she has played on stages from China to America, from Azerbaijan to Canada and throughout the continent of Europe. She has performed with Michael Flatley and Frankie Gavin. She played with Lord of the Dance and David Guineys Velocity on Broadway. She has entertained Prince Albert of Monaco and world renowned peacemaker, George Mitchell. She performs regularly at Aras an Uachtarain and the Guinness Storehouse. And that is only the beginning.

Recently, Eadaoin hit the headlines when she joined the world renowned Corrs on stage at the Hydro in Glasgow. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Sharon Corr was unable to take the stage and, at very short notice, Eadaoin was asked to take her place. Although only having a few hours notice Eadaoins performance drew wide praise and she got significant coverage from the BBC, Radio 5, Scottish TV among other media outlets.

Eadaoin will be joined on stage in the Ivy Towers by Freda Nic Giolla Chathain, Liam Mac Congail and Paddy O hEanachain.

All are welcome at the Oiche Mhor Cheoil agus Amhranaiochta in the Ivy Towers and refreshments will be served. There is no entry fee.

Further information from Conradh na Gaeilge Mhaigh Eo at 094-9022444 or 087-9781166 or email eolas@conradhmhaigheo.ie.
Olivia Kelleher

A 46-year-old former model who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of a mother of two had consumed 12 alcoholic drinks, which included cocktails, prosecco, wine and gin, in the hours before the crash.

Ms Sheila Dunne (50) who was described by her daughter as an amazing woman  worth her weight in gold" died following a single vehicle crash in Sarsfield Court in Glanmire in Cork last February.

Poignantly, her husband Ted died of Covid-19 in February 2021.

The death of Ms Dunne left their two children without any living parent. The special needs assistant was just 1.5km from her home in Glanmire when the crash that ended her life occurred.

Jennifer Thomas of Oakfield View, Glanmire, Co Cork appeared before Cork Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday having pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Sheila Dunne on February 11th last.

Defence counsel Tom Creed, SC, told Judge Helen Boyle that unfounded social media rumours and inaccurate newspaper reports had circulated in the wake of the crash. He said that malicious rumours had spread in Cork that the body of Sheila Dunne had been moved in the vehicle.

Investigating garda Dt Garda Mark Durcan confirmed that there was no truth to any suggestions that Jennifer Thomas or any other person had moved the body of Sheila Dunne following the crash.

Detective Garda Durcan said that the crash occurred at 7.30pm on February 11th last at Sarsfield Court in Glanmire in Cork.

Ms Thomas had been socialising with Sheila, her friend of over 20 years, from lunchtime that day when they went for a meal at a restaurant in Douglas in the city. They went to a bar in Blackrock in Cork and then on to a bar in Glanmire prior to getting in to Jennifers SUV.

Dt Garda Durcan said that in the minutes before the crash occurred Jennifer fell asleep before the wheel twice whilst stopped at traffic lights. On one occasion a passer-by observed that Jennifer was asleep and knocked on the window of the vehicle telling her to park-up.

Instead, she did two U-turns in a matter of minutes and drove on the wrong side of the road at Hazelwood Road in Glanmire.

She knocked down traffic cones as she drove towards Sallybrook and narrowly missed knocking down two pedestrians on the footpath.

Dt Garda Durcan said that Ms Thomas took a left-hand bend at Sarsfield Court in Glanmire and failed to straighten up, entering a grass verge.

The Bluetooth system in the car automatically called the emergency services. Speed was not a factor in the case.

Dt Garda Durcan said that Ms Thomas was wearing her seat beat when the collision occurred. However, Sheila Dunne was not.

He indicated that the impact of the collision led Sheila, who was in the front passenger seat, to fall on top of Jennifer Thomas. Dt Garda Durcan said that roof had to be cut off the vehicle in order to extricate the women.

He stated that when gardai arrived at the scene Jennifer Thomas was asked who was driving. She said that she was and then she got erratic and was unable to give a definitive answer. She then said that Sheila Dunne was driving as she had more control.

When she was shown CCTV at a later date by gardai, Ms Thomas accepted that she was driving. She also said she had no recollection of the collision due to concussion. However, there was no medical evidence of concussion.

Ms Dunne died in hospital two days after the crash.

Lilley Dunne, the 23-year-old daughter of Sheila Dunne, said in her victim impact statement that she came to court with a shattered heart weighed down heavily by the loss of her rock of a mother Sheila.

The court heard that Ms Thomas had 10 previous convictions for road traffic offences, larceny and misuse of drugs.

Defence barrister Tom Creed, SC, said that his clients previous convictions for larceny and misuse of drugs occurred when she was a teenager.

Mr Creed said that his client has suffered from long-term mental health difficulties and often wishes that she died during the crash. He added that Ms Thomas was hugely remorseful for her actions. Mr Creed said that his client accepted that getting behind the wheel drunk was an outrageous thing to do.

Judge Boyle offered her sincere condolences to the family of the deceased.

Ms Thomas was remanded in custody pending her sentencing on Thursday. She was warned that she was facing a custodial sentence.
BEIRUT, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed and 16 others injured on Tuesday in an Israeli airstrike targeting al-Noueiri, a densely populated area in central Beirut, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported.

According to al-Jadeed local TV channel, the airstrike targeted and wrecked a residential building.

Ambulances rushed to the area to transport the victims to hospitals, and Civil Defense teams are working to remove the rubble in search of casualties.

The raid on Beirut coincided with a belt of fire that enveloped Beirut's southern suburbs with dozens of violent raids on the areas of Al-Hadath, Haret Hreik, Ghobeiry, and Burj Al-Barajneh, following a series of Israeli warnings to evacuate 20 buildings and those adjacent to them.

The latest airstrike on Beirut came as the Israeli political-security cabinet is reportedly expected to discuss and approve a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon on Tuesday evening, more than a year after the fighting broke out between Israel and Hezbollah on Oct. 8, 2023.

On Monday, Lebanon's Deputy Parliament Speaker Elias Bou Saab said a ceasefire deal with Israel has become close after a meeting of the Parliament Bureau.

"We are approaching the ceasefire moment. This week or in the next 10 days, there will be a decisive position," Bou Saab said, according to the Lebanese official National News Agency.

But he also noted that the final decision for a ceasefire in Lebanon will be made according to developments in the war field.

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. 
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Mainly cloudy, mild, and mainly dry after some morning fog and drizzle taper off. .

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, a bit breezy, and mild; perhaps a spotty shower.
Ci Wang, a counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, addresses a press conference held in Kathmandu, Nepal, Nov. 26, 2024. A charity project aimed at lighting up the countryside was highlighted in Kathmandu on Tuesday, under which 500 households in remote mountainous areas of Nepal shall be illuminated with solar lamps. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua)

KATHMANDU, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- A charity project aimed at lighting up the countryside was highlighted in Kathmandu on Tuesday, under which 500 households in remote mountainous areas of Nepal shall be illuminated with solar lamps.

Initially, 90 households in Mindupa and Sim villages of Kabhreplanchowk district in Bagmati province will be covered under the project funded by Huayan Temple and Huayan Cultural and Educational Foundation from southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, and 80 households in the two villages have already been illuminated with solar lamps.

"This effort has greatly helped the people from the areas, mainly school-going children," said Dinesh Lama, chairman of Roshi Rural Municipality in Kabhreplanchowk.

Addressing a press conference about the project, Lama noted that women involved in cottage industry like sewing and knitting have benefitted from the project as well.

He added that the project is "very relevant" in Nepal, as many villages have no access to power supply.

Under another project to be launched by the temple and foundation in Chongqing, advanced water purification equipment will be installed at 100 schools in Nepal, as the country has been beset with the problem of water pollution.

Master De An, the abbot of Huayan Temple, voiced readiness to launch more charity programs to help the needy around the world in line with China's Belt and Road Initiative.

"It is believed that the installation of solar lamps will greatly improve the life quality of local people, create a better learning environment for children and enhance the potential for local development," said Ci Wang, a counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, which initiated the projects.

He said the embassy will continue to support the temple's plan to help supply clean drinking water to Nepali schools. 
Chinese Premier Li Qiang holds talks with Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang held talks with Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, prime minister of the Independent State of Samoa, in Beijing on Tuesday.

Li said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties nearly half a century ago, bilateral relations have been developing in a sound and steady manner, with increasingly close economic and trade exchanges and fruitful cooperation in various fields, which have delivered tangible benefits to the two peoples.

China is ready to work with Samoa to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, further deepen political mutual trust, firmly support each other's core interests, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, and constantly enrich the connotation of China-Samoa comprehensive strategic partnership, he said.

Li pointed out that China is willing to strengthen the synergy of development strategies with Samoa, expand economic and trade cooperation, promote trade and investment facilitation, strengthen cooperation on agriculture, fisheries, clean energy, and disaster prevention and mitigation, and promote common development and prosperity.

Noting that both China and Samoa belong to the Global South, Li expressed China's willingness to strengthen communication and coordination with Samoa in the multilateral arena, jointly tackle the challenge of climate change, promote an equal and orderly multi-polar world and economic globalization that benefits all, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

Samoa abides by the one-China principle and firmly supports China's position, Mata'afa said, noting that her country is willing to take the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties next year to step up high-level exchanges with China, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and strengthen people-to-people and sub-national exchanges.

She said Samoa expects China to continue supporting the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China to jointly tackle climate change and other global challenges. 

Chinese Premier Li Qiang holds talks with Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)
Wits Business School announces first South Africa-India Energy Conference

When: Thursday, 28 November 2024 Where:

Wits University Start time: 8:00 Enquiries: Alison Gaylard on alison.gaylard@wits.ac.za.

Wits Business School is pleased to announce its upcoming energy conference in partnership with the Consulate General of India, Johannesburg.

The two-day conference, dubbed Matla-Urja (meaning energy in Sesotho and Hindi) will bring together industry leaders and academics from South Africa and India to engage on both shared and divergent energy challenges as well as explore investment opportunities.

India is the third largest energy consumer globally and has emerged as a global leader in the energy transition. The country has created a power surplus and has turned around its entire energy supply chain in order to meet its goal of providing secure and sustainable energy to its vast citizenship. Despite progress made in its transition to a clean energy future, India faces significant challenges ahead, including funding and mitigation of climate change issues.

South Africa faces the multipronged challenge of providing affordable, secure and clean energy for its citizens in ways that simultaneously combat poverty, unemployment and inequality. In the context of a near collapse of its national grid resulting in rolling black-outs, South Africas goal is to ensuring security of electricity supply while pursuing a diversified energy mix.

With the shared challenge of transitioning to a low-carbon economy while addressing critical socio-economic and environmental issues, South Africa and India can benefit from the sharing of best practice, research and experience, as well as finding areas of common interest for future collaboration and investment.

The inaugural Matla-Urja Energy Conference will take place at Wits Business School on the 28 November and will consider energy market developments, the future energy mix and efficiency initiatives, energy financing, and infrastructure.

The conference will be preceded by an Academic Conference on 27 November, the sessions of which will include the role of oil and gas in the just energy transition, energy modelling, and skills and capacity development. Post-conference activities will include delegates visits to both Sasol and Eskom.

For information on the Academic Conference and to present a paper please contact: David.phaho@wits.ac.za
Witsie medic earns prestigious Rhodes Scholarship for 2025

Wonderful Khumalo, a soon-to-be doctor and proud Witsie, has been awarded the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, granting him the opportunity to study at the University of Oxford in 2025.

The 23-year-old from the Katlehong, in the southeast of Johannesburg, is the only Witsie to be selected from the Southern Africa region this year and is set to join an elite group of scholars from across the globe.

The Rhodes Scholarship, celebrated as one of the most distinguished academic awards, allows young leaders to pursue full-time postgraduate study at one of the worlds leading institutions. For Khumalo, the accolade is not just a personal milestone but a testament to resilience, purpose, and service.

Being selected for this scholarship is an incredible honor. It serves as a powerful reminder that my dreams are valid, my purpose is meaningful, and my efforts have never been in vain. It reinforces the belief that anything is truly possible, Khumalo shared in an email to Wits Alumni Relations.

Reflecting on the journey ahead, he added: Studying at Oxford represents the chance to meet people from diverse backgrounds, share experiences, and engage in cultural exchangesall while working to address some of the worlds most pressing challenges. To be part of the Rhodes Scholar community, with its legacy of purpose-driven individuals, is a dream come true.

Khumalo said his time at Wits has been a rollercoaster of emotions and experiences. As chairperson of both the Medical Students Council and the Health Sciences Students Council and as head of pathology education at Wrapitupa Wits Medical Societyhe has had a distinguished record of service and student leadership. He also played a leading role as the head of pathology education at Wrapitup, a Wits Medical Society for a two-year period, delivering tutorials to third and fourth year medical students.

These roles were the highlight of my journey, offering invaluable lessons and building the resilience I needed to excel during the rigorous Rhodes Scholarship interviews. Wits has taught me the depths of failure and the peaks of success, both of which have shaped me into who I am today. As Mama Charlotte Maxeke said, If you can rise, bring someone with you.

As an aspiring orthopaedic surgeon, Khumalo plans to specialise in musculoskeletal sciences, focusing on rheumatological and musculoskeletal diseases in immunocompromised individuals. His ultimate goal is to transform orthopaedic practice in resource-constrained settings, addressing some of the leading causes of disability worldwide.

One of my greatest passions is reimagining how orthopaedics is viewed, practiced, and taught, particularly in under-resourced areas, he said. Despite the allure of Europe, I am deeply committed to returning to South Africa. There is no place like home, and I believe that true success lies in giving back to the communities that shaped us.

Khumalo joins a proud lineage of Wits Rhodes Scholars including Dr Bradley Segal (MBBCh 2021, MSc Eng 2022) who was awarded the scholarship in 2024 as well as Michael Beukman (BSc 2021, BSc Hons 2022) and Akudziwe Mawere (MBBCh 2022) who were awarded the prestigious scholarship for 2023.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, who is on an official visit to China, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa in Beijing on Tuesday, saying China is willing to make empowering Pacific Island countries to tackle climate change a priority in its cooperation with these countries.

China will work with Pacific Island countries to promote the full and effective implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement, honor the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, uphold fairness, justice and the common interests of the Global South, and build a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi told Mata'afa.

Noting that Samoa was among the first Pacific Island countries to establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China nearly five decades ago, Xi said the two countries have maintained traditional friendship, mutual respect, equal treatment and win-win cooperation.

He said China supports Samoa in safeguarding its sovereignty and independence, and exploring a development path suited to its national conditions.

China will continue to provide assistance to Samoa in its economic and social development, and tap the potential of economy, trade, investment, agriculture and fisheries to achieve common development, Xi said.

Xi stressed that China does not attach political strings to its assistance to the Pacific Island countries, and China's policy toward Pacific Island countries is open and inclusive, without targeting any third party or engaging in geopolitical competition or spheres of influence.

Mata'afa said Samoa hopes to learn from China's experience in achieving modernization, especially in poverty reduction and green development.

Thanking China for its long-time valuable assistance to Samoa, Mata'afa said Samoa firmly adheres to the one-China principle and supports the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi.

Samoa regards China as an important strategic partner and looks forward to taking the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year to further advance bilateral relations, Mata'afa said. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, who is on an official visit to China, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)
TASHKENT, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan aims to boost its automotive industry exports to 700 million U.S. dollars by 2025, the presidential press service said in a statement on Monday.

According to the statement, the automotive sector accounts for 10 percent of the country's industrial production. Over the past ten months, 338,000 passenger cars were manufactured, and 1,400 types of components were localized.

Economic measures have reduced industry costs by 4 percent, with exports reaching 455 million dollars, it said.

"Next year, the plan is to produce 450,000 vehicles and increase exports to 700 million dollars. Cooperation with regional enterprises will be strengthened, and localization will be expanded," the statement said. 
TOKYO, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 jolted off Japan's western Ishikawa Tuesday, according to the country's weather agency.

The temblor occurred at 10:47 p.m. local time at a depth of 10 km, measuring lower 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in parts of the prefecture, said the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

The epicenter was located at a latitude of 37 degrees north and a longitude of 136.5 degrees east.

Wajima city of the Ishikawa Prefecture recorded seismic intensities of lower 5, while Eastern and Western Toyama Prefecture and some areas in Fukui Prefecture experienced intensities of 4.

Authorities advise monitoring further updates closely. No tsunami warnings have been issued.

A series of strong quakes of up to 7.6 magnitude jolted the prefecture and its vicinity in January this year, leaving more than 400 people dead and many still living in shelters. 
Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev has criticized Politico for disseminating misleading information about Azerbaijans gas imports from Russia and failing to issue an apology or correction, Azernews reports.

Taking to the social media platform X, Hajiyev expressed his frustration, writing, I regret that POLITICO Europe, instead of apologizing to Azerbaijan and retracting its fake news article, continues to spread disinformation to mislead the European and global public.

Politico had cited Azerbaijani media claims that the country imported 141.6 million cubic meters of gas from Russia in 2024. Hajiyev clarified that this figure referred to a seasonal swap operation rather than an import, explaining, The fact you referred to is a swap operation, not an import. Such seasonal exchanges occur between neighboring states and this is normal. I regret that the article fails to differentiate between swap and import.

He also underscored that the Southern Gas Corridor, which supplies the European Union, exclusively connects to Azerbaijani gas fields. Hajiyev cited European Commission energy spokesperson Tim McPhie, who confirmed, The Southern Gas Corridor, which supplies EU markets, is only connected to Azerbaijani gas fields, not to the broader Azerbaijani natural gas system.

Hajiyev endorsed McPhies statement, asserting, The EU officials statement is entirely accurate, and we are fully aligned with that. Therefore, Azerbaijan did not import any gas from Russia in 2024. Period!

Concluding his critique, Hajiyev likened Politicos persistence to a futile search for a non-existent black cat in a dark room. He referenced an Azerbaijani proverb, adding, A liar has to be chased to the end.
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng delivers a speech while attending the opening ceremony of the second China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Tuesday called for promoting win-win cooperation, optimization and upgrading as well as green transition of global industrial and supply chains.

Han made the three-point proposal while addressing the opening ceremony of the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), which will run from Tuesday to Saturday in Beijing.

China will adhere to the right course of economic globalization, and enhance business and industrial capacity cooperation with other countries for a positive interplay among industries and shared benefits, Han said.

He noted that the country will deepen its innovation-driven development strategy, accelerate the development of new quality productive forces, and create a broader space for cooperation concerning deep integration of industrial and supply chains.

He said China is willing to work with all other countries to expand cooperation in areas such as the green industry and clean energy -- to boost global green development.

Noting that China has long been participating in and benefiting from global industrial and supply chain cooperation, while firmly upholding and contributing to such cooperation, Han said the country has made positive contributions to the development of the world economy.

China stands ready to work with other countries to build an open world economic system, and ensure stable and unimpeded global industrial and supply chains, he added.

As the world's first national-level exhibition focusing on supply chains, the CISCE gathers industry leaders and experts from around the world and helps promote global cooperation in industrial and supply chains.

Themed "Connecting the World for a Shared Future," the expo's opening ceremony was attended by about 1,100 participants. 

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng talks with an exhibitor as he tours the exhibition venue after the opening ceremony of the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2024. Han attended the opening ceremony of the second CISCE and delivered a speech here on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)
Xac minh 'than y' chua ung thu bang phuong phap 'truyen nang luong' "Than y" Nguyen Van Kien (trai) lam viec voi co quan chuc nang - Anh: Cong an cung cap Ngay 28-2, ong Nguyen Tuong Duy - chu tich UBND xa Hai Yang (huyen ak oa, Gia Lai) - cho hay ang phoi hop cac co quan chuc nang xac minh truong hop nguoi xung...

An Giang lien tiep xuat hien mua trai mua

Mua bat chot giua cao iem ma kh khien nguoi dn bat ngo. Theo ng Luu Van Ninh, Gim oc i Kh tuong Thuy van tinh An Giang, nguyn nhn cua hien tuong ny l do nhieu ong nhiet oi trn cao trong ieu kien La Nina ket hop cua ra pha Nam khoi khng kh lanh...
PHNOM PENH, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a 50 million U.S. dollars policy-based loan to support Cambodia's efforts to make the business environment more investment-friendly, upgrade businesses toward higher competitiveness, and ease trade barriers.

In its press release on Tuesday, the lender said this second subprogram of the ongoing Trade and Competitiveness Program is reinforcing the government's efforts to leverage private sector investments to achieve higher, inclusive, and sustainable growth to improve the lives and livelihoods of its citizens.

"This program supports ADB's continued commitment to advancing Cambodia's economic potential and creating a more robust enabling ecosystem for business to grow, leading to increased investment, job creation, and sustainable economic growth," said ADB Country Director for Cambodia Jyotsana Varma.

It focuses on micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) as they are the backbone of the economy, and their growth is crucial to drive competitiveness, she added.

"Through targeted incentives, we aim to empower them to diversify, integrate digital solutions, and increase productivity," Varma said. "This program also seeks to facilitate smoother, more efficient cross-border trade by improving regulatory frameworks, streamlining procedures, and reducing barriers to trade, leading to Cambodia being better positioned to participate in regional and global markets."

The program will help streamline business regulations and enhance public services, making it easier to do business in Cambodia.

"By 2027, the program would lead to some 50,000 MSMEs being formally registered in the online business registration system, and digitally secure necessary business licenses, certificates, and permits," the press release said.

In parallel, the program provides incentives and technological support to MSMEs to encourage them to expand in strategic sectors and move up the value chain, it added. 
Vehicles move along a road in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Nov. 26, 2024. Sri Lanka's Department of Meteorology issued a red alert on Tuesday, warning that the deep depression in the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm on Wednesday. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua)

COLOMBO, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Department of Meteorology issued a red alert on Tuesday, warning that the deep depression in the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm on Wednesday.

The department said the depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into a deep depression. The system was located some 170 km southeast of Batticaloa and 240 km of Trincomalee in eastern Sri Lanka at around 11:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday.

It is likely to move closer to the east coast of Sri Lanka and intensify further into a cyclonic storm on Wednesday. Under the influence of the system cloudy skies will prevail over most parts of the country, the department said.

The department said very heavy showers and gusty winds can be expected in Northern, North Central, Eastern, Uva, North Western and Central Provinces.

The deep and shallow sea areas around the country will be rough to very rough as the wind speed can increase up to 60-70 km per hour at times, according to the department.

Naval and fishing communities have been warned not to venture to the deep and shallow sea areas around the country until further notice. 

A pedestrian walks on a street in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Nov. 26, 2024. Sri Lanka's Department of Meteorology issued a red alert on Tuesday, warning that the deep depression in the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm on Wednesday. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua)

A pedestrian walks on a flooded street in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Nov. 26, 2024. Sri Lanka's Department of Meteorology issued a red alert on Tuesday, warning that the deep depression in the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm on Wednesday. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua)
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.

(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Wang Shasha
A spike in alcohol consumption among people in the US in 2020 continued to rise slightly in 2021 and 2022.
Weather Alert

The National Weather Service in Paducah has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Eastern Massac County in southern Illinois... Southern Pope County in southern Illinois... Southeastern Ballard County in western Kentucky... McCracken County in western Kentucky... North central Graves County in western Kentucky... * Until 1115 AM CDT. * At 1032 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Barkley Regional Airport, or near Lone Oak, moving northeast at 45 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. SOURCE...Public. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Lone Oak, Barkley Regional Airport, Metropolis, Hamletsburg, Paducah, West Paducah, Brookport, Lovelaceville, and Reidland. This includes the following highways... Interstate 24 in Kentucky between Mile Markers 1 and 12. Interstate 24 in Illinois between Mile Markers 31 and 38. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. && HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED; MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN; WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED; MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EASTERN MASSAC...SOUTHERN POPE...WEST CENTRAL LIVINGSTON...EASTERN BALLARD...MCCRACKEN AND NORTH CENTRAL GRAVES COUNTIES THROUGH 1115 AM CDT... At 1030 AM CDT, the public reported a strong thunderstorm near Barkley Regional Airport, or near Lone Oak, moving northeast at 45 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph. SOURCE...Public. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include... Lone Oak, Barkley Regional Airport, Metropolis, Paducah, West Paducah, Brookport, and Lovelaceville. This includes the following highways... Interstate 24 in Kentucky between Mile Markers 1 and 12. Interstate 24 in Illinois between Mile Markers 32 and 38. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. && MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN; MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, meets with Senior Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Wang Huning, China's top political advisor, met with Senior Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong in Beijing on Tuesday.

Wang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, said that China is willing to maintain close, high-level exchange with Singapore, strengthen practical cooperation in various fields, enhance the friendship between the two peoples, push for new progress in China-Singapore relations, and contribute to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.

The CPPCC National Committee is ready to make positive contributions to this end, Wang said.

Lee noted that Singapore-China relations have sound development momentum. As the two countries will celebrate the 35th anniversary of their diplomatic ties next year, Singapore adheres to the one-China policy and is ready to strengthen strategic communication with China, upgrade the level and effectiveness of cooperation continuously, and push bilateral ties to a new level, he said. 
Frank Auerbach, one of the worlds leading modern painters and last survivor of the post-World War II London School of figurative art that also included Lucien Freud and Francis Bacon, died November 11, aged 93, at his home in Camden Town, north London.

The German-born British artist believed that the purpose of art is to make us see things anew, to see the world in a way that its difficult to describe in words. His ability to extract and give material expression to the psychological essence of those around himhis friends, family, fellow artists and sitterscomes across most dramatically in his emotionally intense, thickly layered, swirling portraits, exemplified by his 1961 work E.O.W. IV. Estella Olive West was his earliest sitter and companion from the 1950s to the 1970s. Auerbach said West was perhaps his greatest influence and someone he loved for her nature, courage and anti-Puritanism.

Head of EOW IV, 1961, National Gallery of Scotland

West also appears in six wonderful charcoal and chalk drawings displayed earlier this year alongside drawings of other sitters and two self-portraits from the 1950s in the Courtauld Gallerys Frank Auerbach: The Charcoal Heads exhibition.

Head of EOW, 1956, British Museum [Photo by The artist, courtesy of Frankie Rossi Art Projects, London. Press Release, The 2024 Charcoal Heads Exhibition, The Courtauld Gallery]

Self-Portrait, 1958, Private Collection [Photo by The artist, courtesy of Frankie Rossi Art Projects, London. Press Release, The 2024 Charcoal Heads Exhibition, The Courtauld Gallery]

Another exhibition, Frank Auerbach: Portraits of London, the first survey dedicated to the London landscapes from his seven-decade career, is currently showing (until December 7) at the Offer Waterman & Francis Outred gallery, St George Street, London. The landscapes, which beautifully capture light, space and texture, are a record of the development of a postwar London characterised by destruction and poverty but also by a movement of the working class and intelligentsia for a better, egalitarian society, amongst whom one can count Auerbach.

The gallery describes Portraits of London as following the arc of the artists career from the enigmatic, densely impastoed, earth-toned building sites of the 1950s, through the vibrant, linear landscapes of the 1960s, to the more fluid and exuberant works of the past 30 years.

Mornington Crescent with the Statue of Sickerts Father-In-Law III, Summer Morning,1966, Private Collection [Photo by Frank Auerbach, Courtesy Frankie Rossi Art Projects. Photographer: Prudence Cuming Associates. Thanks to Offer Waterman & Francis Outred gallery]

Albert Street II, 2010, Private Collection [Photo by Frank Auerbach, Courtesy Frankie Rossi Art Projects. Photographer: Prudence Cuming Associates. Thanks to Offer Waterman & Francis Outred gallery]

Although Auerbach was not overtly political, he was a deeply humanistic, socially aware and cultured individual totally immersed in his art. Apart from a few weeks, he never left London, working until his death 364 days a year in the same studio he bought in 1954. He would rework a painting continually, reapplying and scraping off paintoften over months or yearsinsisting he could not leave a painting until it had an independent life of its own.

Though his paintings were eventually to sell for vast sumsa record $7 million was paid in 2023 for a 1969 version of his Mornington Crescent seriesAuerbach lived frugally. He despised the commercialisation of art, explaining,

When I was young I thought like everyone else that the aim was... to become marvellous and be famous. Totally fallen away by now. Ive had no contact with whats called the Art World. I live an amazingly restrictive life and go on in this very quiet way.

In a rare interview, broadcast earlier this year on the BBC radio programme This Cultural Life, Auerbach likened his artwork to poetry. Im susceptible to poetry, he explained,

Im not susceptible to music at all, ballet or organised religion... Throughout my life one of the many mysteries of life is how the muse, as it were, picks people. Because she picks the most disparate people... Totally incompatible people and then turns them into great poets. Something similar happens in my trade. People are chosen mysteriously from early on and they dont know what has drawn them to this.

Screengrab from BBC radio programme This Cultural Life, broadcast January 27 and 29, 2024 [Photo: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001vsbv]

The softly spoken, still lucid and witty artist launched into a word perfect recitation from memory of William Butler Yeatss poem Hound Voicea rousing call to arms, to join the struggle for liberation and freedom, symbolised by the wild and independent hound of the title. The poem begins:

Because we love bare hills and stunted trees

And were the last to choose the settled ground,

Its boredom of the desk or of the spade, because

So many years companioned by a hound,

Our voices carry

That interview was also remarkable for the way Auerbach eschewed postmodernist ideas of victimhood and identity, something, he of all people, could lay claim to. Auerbach was a Jewish child refugee, born in Berlin in 1931 and sent to England at the tender age of seven just before the outbreak of the Second World War by his father Max, a Jewish patent lawyer, and his mother, Lithuanian art student Charlotte Nora Burchard. His mother had packed two suitcases for him, one with everyday clothes, the other full of sheets, napkins and tablecloths for when he got married later on. Max and Charlotte both perished in Auschwitz in 1942.

Auerbach revealed he only escaped their fate because his family were fairly prosperous. He was one of six children allowed into the country sponsored by a family friend, the author Iris Origo, on the condition they would not be a burden on the British state.

Auerbach remarks that he was not part of the Kindertransport scheme in which the Conservative government of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain reluctantly and temporarily relaxed Britains rigid immigration rules to allow a token 10,000 unaccompanied, mainly Jewish children into Britain. This was the result of public revulsion at the November 9-10, 1938 anti-Jewish pogrom in Germany known as Kristallnacht (Night of the Broken Glass). The government refused to fund the rescue, denying visas to the children of less wealthy parents and all Jewish adults in Nazi Germany. Kristallnacht was the prelude to the most terrible atrocity of the 20th centurythe extermination of six million Jews in the Holocaust.

Auerbach claims he never tried to find out about his parents and simply moved on... life is too short to brood over the past. He plunged into life at Bunce Court, a progressive school in Kent, which housed many Jewish refugee children, and a little republic pretty much cut off from the world. He recalls the enormous impression a reproduction of J.M.W. Turners The Fighting Temeraire made on him as a boy and continued to influence him as an example of art breaking the rules. Fellow artist and close friend Leon Kossoff later compared Auerbachs art to a gleam of light and warmth and life... the same light that seems to glow through the late, great, thin Turners.

The Fighting Temeraire. 1839, by Joseph Mallord William Turner [Photo: National Gallery of Art]

Auerbach started painting when he arrived in London from school at 16, first at St Martins School of Art, then the Royal College of Art and subsequently under David Bomberg in 1948, whose thickly painted impasto method was to prove so influential. Auerbach described him as the most original, stubborn, radical intelligence that was to be found in art schools. Auerbach once traced his painting heritage, from Bomberg, back through Walter Sickert to Whistler, Degas, Ingres and right to Raphael.

Auerbachs first exhibition took place at the Beaux-Arts Gallery in 1956, his first retrospective exhibition was at the Hayward Gallery in 1978 and he was Britains representative at the 1986 Venice Biennale. That Auerbach was able to develop a figurative style of art, sticking to his profound and optimistic belief that I feel there is no grander entity than the individual human being is extraordinary, given the postwar artistic environment.

The succession of terrible defeats and betrayals that artists witnessedincluding the rise of Nazism and Stalinism and the horrors of the Holocaustresulted in many cases in demoralisation, despair and doubt (or worse) about the working class and the possibility of the socialist transformation of society.

Britain saw the demise of the Kitchen Sink school of artists who, whilst expressing sympathy for the plight of the working class, could only see the mundane and oppressed nature of its existence. Pop Art and its arch-exponent Andy Warhol were in the ascendancy, with young British artist Richard Hamilton praising it for its popular, transient, expendable, mass-produced, witty, sexy, gimmicky, glamorous and big business nature. The abstract expressionists produced bold and enduring paintings but failed to grasp and creatively transform in their work the social reality they inhabited.

In Auerbach, by contrast, we have one of the few artists whose paintings glow with a light that believes in the possibilities of life and humanity.
A series of five unexplained bomb scares were widely reported in the UK in just 96 hours. They are being used to fuel a hysterical anti-Russian atmosphere in the week the Starmer Labour government gave Ukraine the green light to use UK Storm Shadow missiles to target Russian territoryin a de facto declaration of war.

No-one should take at face value any report emanating from the police and security services and their amplification by Britains yellow press.

The sequence of events in chronological order is as follows:

On Wednesday, November 20, Buchanan Bus station in Glasgow was evacuated after a suspicious package was reported at 1.10 p.m. Police carried out a controlled explosion. This followed an initial report that Police Scotland described as a credible threat. The BBC reported, However, nothing suspicious was found and Three men arrested over possession of offensive weapons after the evacuation of Buchanan Bus Station in Glasgow have been released without charge. Nearby Glasgow Caledonian University campus was also evacuated as a precaution and Trains from Queen Street which run through a tunnel and the bus station were also affected.

On Friday, November 22 London Gatwick Airport was the scene of another bomb scare. At around 8:20 a.m,, a Sussex Police bomb disposal team reportedly made the package safe, according to the force. The South Terminal was evacuated and shut for four hours. Despite causing disruption for thousands of travellerswith dozens of flights delayed, grounded and forced to turn back mid-airit was reported that that two people detained during the investigation were allowed to continue their journeys. All that was revealed was that a suspected prohibited item was found in luggage.

Also Friday, the US Embassy in London was locked down due to what was described as a suspicious package. An armed police unit carried out a controlled explosion within a cordoned area. The Metropolitan Police said, Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow.

At around 5 p.m. the same day, the Cheshire Police and bomb squads carried out a controlled explosion at the bus and railway stations in Chester city centre. The BBC reported, Cheshire Police later said report of a package on the buses appeared to have been malicious and it wanted to speak to a female passenger who spoke to a bus driver.

On Saturday November 23, a controlled explosion was carried out by specialist officers on a package outside Londons Euston station, one of the largest and busiest in the capital. The station was evacuated and a Metropolitan Police cordon put in place.

Euston Station entrance in 2017, with the statue of Robert Stephenson [Photo by Reading Tom from Reading, UK / CC BY 2.0

Two more events should be noted. On Saturday, the BBC, the Guardian and Independent reported that the United States Air Force (USAF) had confirmed that unidentified drones have been spotted over three airbases. The BBC commented, The incidents, which occurred between Wednesday and Friday, saw small unmanned aerial systems spotted over RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall, in Suffolk, and RAF Feltwell in the neighbouring county of Norfolk.

The USAF, which uses the bases, said it was unclear at this stage whether the drones were considered hostile.

On Sunday, the Mail, Express and Sun reported, based on an account in the German tabloid Bild, that a mystery drone was seen following the Royal Navys flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, two days earlier. The Mail reported that the carrier seemed to be tailed by an unidentified 1.5-by-1.5 metre drone at the entrance to the port of Hamburg, Germany, on Friday.

The German military tried to target the drone with HP-47 jammers before it flew away, according to the German newspaper Bild.

This has all the hallmarks of a black propaganda campaign to condition the population for outright war against Russia. Significant mobilizations of the police and state forces are being organised with the explanation that there is an ongoing domestic terror threat that must be combatted, and that Russia is likely pulling the strings.

For years the former Conservative government, backed by the Labour Party when in opposition, have clamped down on basic democratic rights on the premise that extremism must be eradicatedespecially opposition to the UKs backing of Israel's genocide in Gaza. This not only continues but, like the war in Ukraine, has accelerated now Labour is in government.

While the multiple bomb scare operations were being reported, senior figures within Britains ruling elite doubled down on warning that Britain and its allies was being targeting for hybrid warfare by Moscow, with critical UK infrastructure the main target.

On Monday Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden, whose portfolio includes national security, told participants at a NATO cybersecurity conference in London, Military power is one thing. But cyberwar can also be destabilising and debilitating. And with a cyber attack, Russia can turn off the lights for millions of people. It can shut down power grids.

He added, The aim is to gain a strategic advantage, to degrade the states that support Ukraine. Nothing was safe any more as, Here in the UK, Russia has targeted our media, our telecoms, our political and democratic institutions, and our energy infrastructure.

McFadden added for good measure, Some of the biggest threats in cyberspace emanate from China, North Korea and Iran.

The government is backed to the hilt by a virulently anti-Russian media. On Monday, the Guardian editorialised on Europes duty to Ukraine: solidarity must not waver in the age of Trump. It warned that the permission by the US and Britain to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles against Russian territory was not a gamechanger in what has become a cruel, relentless war of attrition.

The potential withdrawal of American aid by an isolationist Donald Trump next year, in order to force an unjust peace on Ukraine, certainly would be. European nations urgently require a strategy to respond to that prospect.

Noting growing anti-war sentiment, it warned, A sense of war weariness has become more widespread in Europe following the failed Ukrainian counter-offensive of 2023, the subsequent outbreak of war in the Middle East, and an ongoing cost of living crisis.

This followed an op-ed published in the newspaper Saturday by Simon Tisdall: After Kyiv used Storm Shadow missiles, Russias leader asserted his right to attack the UK and US. In truth, he has been doing exactly that for two years now.

Tisdall stated, Britain and its allies have been under constant Russian attack since the war began. Using sabotage, arson, deniable cyber-attacks and aggressive and passive forms of covert hybrid and cognitive warfare, Putin has tried to impose a high cost for western support of Ukraine.

Tisdall claimed, Suspected Russian hybrid warfare actions on land, in Europe and the UK, are multiplying in scope and seriousness. They range from large-scale cyber-attacks, as in Estonia, to the concealing of incendiary devices in parcels aboard aircraft in Germany, Poland and the UK.

Tisdall noted that a summit held in Poland last week of the foreign ministers of Poland, Germany and France, plus the UK, Italy and Spain, agreed that Moscows escalating hybrid activities against NATO and EU countries are unprecedented in their variety and scale, creating significant security risks.

As to how far the imperialists will go in making the case for war and justifying repression, it should be recalled that in a previous period of heightened global and class tensions, NATO operated an underground army of extreme right-wing forces, Gladio, which specialized in acts of sabotage throughout Europe.

The most class conscious workers also know that every genuine terrorist act in the UK over several decades since the US-led war on terror in 2001 was carried out, not by Russia, but by forces that were well-known to the intelligence agencies beforehandthe most recent being the Abedi brothers, with Salman Abedi able to blow up Manchester Arena in 2017, killing 22 people.
Elevenlabs AudioNative Player

With eight weeks until Inauguration Day, the incoming Trump administration is wasting no time in preparing its agenda. Trump has assembled a cabinet dominated by billionaires and fascists, intent on unleashing a massive assault on immigrants while dismantling the democratic and social rights of the working class.

Donald Trump, right, and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shake hands during their meeting at Trump Tower, on Sept. 27, 2024, in New York. [AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson]

In response, top Democrats, from Biden to Bernie Sanders, have pledged to work with the incoming administration, emphasizing collaboration and compromise with Trump and their Republican colleagues. The Democrats overriding concern is not Trumps authoritarian designs but safeguarding the continuity of the Biden administrations central imperialist objective: the war against Russia in Ukraine.

The war was the main topic of discussion at the White House meeting a week after the election, when Biden offered to do everything we can to make sure youre accommodated. Behind closed doors, the outgoing and incoming presidents discussed the plans for a major escalation of the war and, in particular, the authorization for Ukraine to use US-provided long-range missiles to target cities deep inside Russia, which it has now done.

During the campaign, Trump made occasional warnings about the danger of World War III, while stating that he favored some sort of negotiated end to the conflict in Ukraine. This, however, will be among the first demagogic statements that will be jettisoned. The incoming administration will be no less committed than the outgoing one to the defense of the core strategic interests of American imperialism.

In a significant statement, Representative Michael Waltz, Trumps choice for national security advisor, declared in an interview with Fox News over the weekend, in relation to Ukraine:

For our adversaries out there that think this is a time of opportunity, that they can play one administration off the other, theyre wrong. We are hand-in-glove, we are one team with the United States in this transition.

Waltz said that he has had numerous discussions with Bidens National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, as part of the seamless transition to the Trump administration. While still calling for a negotiated end to the conflict, Waltz stressed the need to restore deterrence and get ahead of this escalation ladderthat is, engage in some sort of massive military provocation or preemptive action to force a deal.

The conflict in Ukraine is central to the imperatives of American imperialism. An underlying driving force has been the effort to secure control over strategic resources, in both Ukraine and Russia itself, which are seen as critical to control over the world economy.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent Trump ally, laid bare the material motives of US imperialism, declaring Sunday:

This war is about money. ... The richest country in all of Europe for rare earth minerals is Ukraine, two to seven trillion dollars worth of minerals. ... So Donald Trumps going to do a deal to get our money back, to enrich ourselves with rare earth minerals, a good deal for Ukraine and us.

The US puppet regime in Kiev hopes that it can appeal to Trump on this basis to take, if anything, a more aggressive stance. In a commentary on Monday, under the headline Ukraine prepares to sell Trump on why U.S. should maintain support, the Washington Post reported on efforts of the Ukrainian government to convince Trump that the war is a cost-effective economic and geostrategic opportunity that will ultimately enrich and secure the United States and its interests.

Using speculation about Trumps policies as a pretext, the imperialist powers of Europe are preparing to assert their own interests more aggressively. According to the French daily Le Monde, sensitive discussions, most of which are classified, have been relaunched in light of a potential American withdrawal of support for Kyiv once Donald Trump takes office on January 20, 2025.

Among the options being discussed is the direct deployment of European troops into the war. According to Le Monde, plans for the deployment of troops, which were initially raised by French President Emmanuel Macron in February, are now being revived. A British military source revealed that discussions are underway between the UK and France on defense cooperation, particularly with a view to creating a hard core of allies in Europe, focused on Ukraine and wider European security.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated during a visit to London last week that European powers must not set and express red lines in their support for Ukraine. When asked by the BBC about deploying French troops, Barrot responded, We do not discard any option.

The war in Ukraine is itself only a component part of an escalating global war, indeed the initial stages of world war. This includes the US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza, a campaign of brutal imperialist violence supported by both Democrats and Republicans, as well as the intensifying US confrontation with China.

For the past nearly three years, the escalation of the war in Ukraine has followed a relentless logic. For American imperialism, military victory against Russia is seen as necessary not only in relation to Russia itself but for its implications in this broader war. As the Washington Post editorialized on Saturday, abandonment of Ukraineor a deal that leaves Ukraine untenably territorially diminished would signal that Western resolve comes with an expiration date.

For its part, the Trump administration and its cabal of fascists and militarists will come to power under conditions of escalating economic, political and social crisis. Its dreams of imposing a massive assault on the working class will encounter enormous resistance, and its nationalist policies will confront the reality of a globally interconnected world economy. It will seek, as the American ruling class has during the past 30 years of unending and expanding war, to resolve the internal crisis of American capitalism through military force.

Writing in the midst of World War I, Lenin explained:

The monstrous horrors of the imperialist war, the suffering caused by the high cost of living everywhere engender a revolutionary mood; and the ruling classes, the bourgeoisie and its servitors, the governments, are more and more moving into a blind alley from which they can never extricate themselves without tremendous upheavals.

Once again, tremendous upheavals are in store.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced on Saturday that it had reached a staff-level agreement under Sri Lankas $US3 billion bailout loan program with the new Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)/National Peoples Power (NPP) government and thanked it for its excellent collaboration.

The agreement was announced just two days after President Anura Dissanayake stated in his policy address to parliament on Thursday that the government was committed to implement the IMF demands in full, ditching his previous promise to renegotiate the terms.

Dissanayake told parliament that due to the scale of the crisis in Sri Lanka even the smallest error could have significant repercussions There is no room for mistakes.

Peter Breuer, International Monetary Fund Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, arrives to speak at a media conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. [AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena]

The IMF team led by Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, held discussions with the president, ministers and senior state officials over the week from November 17.

After declaring the new governments mandate would reinvigorate reforms and rebuild business confidence, Breuer added: Regrettably, challenges in Sri Lanka havent gotten less despite the change in the government and it had to proceed with the austerity measures.

Having agreed to the IMFs punishing terms, Sri Lanka will have access to about $333 million in financing subject to the approval by IMF management and the IMF Executive Board. IMF approval will be contingent on submission of a 2025 budget consistent with program objectives and adequate progress being made on debt restructuring.

Dissanayake, who is also the finance minister, has announced that next years budget will be presented to the parliament in February with approval projected for March.

The IMF is demanding that the 2025 budget achieve a primary surplus of 2.3 percent of GDPthat is, four times of last years surplus of 0.6 percent. To achieve this, the government will have to make even deeper inroads into the social position of working people.

According to a pre-election budgetary position report released by Dissanayake, the government has amassed revenues that have already risen by 41 percent in the first eight months of this yearreaching 2,557 billion rupees ($US8.7 billion) compared to the same period last year. The increase is far greater tax collection, up by 41 percent and totaling 2,348 billion rupees, mainly being shouldered by workers and the poor.

Other key proposals include further tax hikes on workers, deepening cuts to health and education spending, and the comprehensive restructuring and privatization of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), potentially resulting in the loss of at least 500,000 public sector jobs. The public sector currently employs 1.4 million people.

All of this is being done in the name of establishing debt sustainabilitythat is, creating conditions to resume loan repayments after the previous Gotabhaya Rajapakse government defaulted in April 2022. From 2028, the Sri Lankan government must resume the payment of $5 billion annually to the international loan sharks.

In his inaugural speech to the parliament, Dissanayake made clear that his government had rapidly caved in to IMF demands on debt restructuring. The discussions, he said, were in the final stages and his government would reach a common understanding regarding bilateral debt without debating whether the plan was good or badeffectively junking his criticisms of the previous President Ranil Wickremesinghe government.

Other election promises, including to reduce pay as you earn (PAYE) tax and electricity rates, have also been jettisoned. The IMF made clear neither will take place, saying the government had to avoid new tax exemptions and ensure cost recovery in fuel and electricity pricing and resolving legacy debts to maintain its fiscal position.

Dissanayake has already halted an inadequate wage increase announced by the former Wickremesinghe government for public sector employees, which was to take effect in January 2025.

In the run-up to the parliamentary election, Dissanayake promised relief from high Advance Personal Income Taxes for lower-income earners and to remove the Value Added Tax (VAT) on certain essential goods and services. All this has been proven to be lies.

Even for the government to provide meagre Aswesuma allowances for the extreme poor, the IMF has demanded it redouble the effort to meet fiscal targets, meaning greater revenue from workers through taxes and other means.

The impact of the austerity measures imposed have already been drastic. More than quarter of the population live in poverty while malnutrition among of children is in the worlds highest bracket. Over 60 percent of the population have had to alter their food intake as a result of reduced real wages and incomes.

A World Bank update on Sri Lanka released on October 10 stated that food insecurity remains high, and poverty has nearly doubled in 2024 and is forecast to persist until 2026.

The IMF statement vaguely stated on the importance for Sri Lanka of rebuilding external buffers through strong reserves accumulation against ongoing global uncertainty. In reality, the economic crisis in Sri Lanka was simply an acute expression of the global crisis of capitalism fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic and US-led wars in Ukraine against Russia and in the Middle East.

Far from improving, the global crisis is only worsening, meaning that countries like Sri Lanka will only face an endless series of demands for austerity. In her report in October, IMF managing director Kristian Georgieva pointed to an unforgiving combination of low growth and high debta difficult future internationally.

As indicated in his parliamentary address last week, President Dissanayake will use the governments two-third majority to steamroller the IMF harsh measures through parliament, overriding any constitutional and legal restraints.

The president is also well aware, however, that implementing the IMFs demands will provoke widespread opposition from working people, many of whom voted for the JVP/NPP believing it would improve their lot, not make it worse. The government will not hesitate to resort to use police state measures against protests and strikes.

The working class needs to prepare both politically and organizationally to confront the Dissanayake governments attacks on their social and democratic rights.

The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) calls on workers to establish their own action committees in every factory, workplace, plantation, and neighborhood, independent of all bourgeois parties and trade union bureaucracies. Similar committees should be set up by the rural poor in their communities.

The SEP is campaigning for a Democratic and Socialist Congress of Workers and Rural Masses, consisting of democratically-elected delegates from these action committees as the means to formulate and implement a strategy to defend the interests of working people.

We call on workers to take up the struggle to repudiate foreign debt and nationalize the banks and major corporations in order to build an independent political movement of the working class, united with the rural poor, for a government of workers and peasants committed to socialist policies.
TOKYO, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government has maintained its assessment that the country's economy is recovering gradually despite some areas of stagnation.

In its monthly economic report for November, Japan's Cabinet Office observed mixed trends in consumer spending.

While a persistent rise in food prices has driven cost-saving behaviors, recovery in automobile sales, which had previously declined due to certification irregularities, has contributed to an improved outlook.

For business investment, the government reiterated that investments in areas such as software remain solid.

The outlook for imports was upgraded for the first time in six months. Increased imports of products such as mobile phones and automobiles were cited as the reason for the revision.

All taken into consideration, the Cabinet Office reaffirmed its overall view, describing the economy as "recovering gradually despite some areas of stagnation," marking the fourth consecutive month without a change.

However, the report also highlighted uncertainties that could affect the economy's trajectory. It emphasized the need to closely monitor the potential impacts of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's forthcoming policy directions, rising prices, and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. 
On November 23, a podcast sponsored by Bay Area middle-class radical Steven Zeltzera longtime opponent of the Socialist Equality Partyinvited Democratic Socialists of America member and Zionist-funded historian Aidan Beatty to promote his scurrilous biography of Gerry Healy. Zeltzer assembled a panel of four other Socialist Equality Party haters to laud Beattys hackwork.

After 90 minutes of diatribes against Healy and the SEP, I was finally allowed to speak. Within little more than three minutes, Zeltzer interrupted me to stop my exposure of Beattys lies as well as his decade-long reliance on funding from Zionist and pro-Israel organizations.

Despite the disruption, I challenged Beatty to explain his falsification of history and why Zionist foundations funded his anti-Healy and anti-SEP project.

Beatty refused to explain his connections with pro-Zionist organizations. Beatty was also challenged by labor historian Tom Mackaman, who elaborated on Beattys historical falsifications, and SEP national secretary Joseph Kishore.

We are posting the audio record of my remarks and those of Mackaman and Kishore, as well as Beattys refusal to respond to the issues raised by these speakers.
The incoming Trump administration and the cabal of fascists and anti-immigrant fanatics that Trump has selected for top cabinet and other government posts are planning what Trump border czar Tom Homan has called a mass deportation operation.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks as ex-President Donald Trump listens during a briefing at Shelby Park on the U.S.-Mexico border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas. [AP Photo/Eric Gay]

Trump and his Vice President-elect, J.D. Vance, have floated the idea of deporting 15-20 million people, with Trump going as high as 22 million. In multiple interviews, Vance has claimed that the administration would aim to deport as many as 1 million people a year, more than double the previous high of over 435,000 deported in 2013 by then-President Barack Obama.

Last month, the American Immigration Council (AIC), a pro-immigrant organization, conducted a major study on the devastating social and economic costs of Trumps proposed deportation force.

The organization noted, citing Department of Homeland Security statistics, that as of 2022 there were roughly 11 million people in the United States who lacked permanent legal status and faced the possibility of removal. This includes asylum seekers, Dreamers (immigrants brought to the US as children), refugees and those with temporary protected status, such as the roughly 12,000-15,000 Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio.



The 11 million people living and working in the United States illegally include roughly 5 percent of the entire civilian workforce. While there are undocumented persons in every US state, roughly half (47 percent) of the total reside in California, Texas and Florida.

A 2016 Pew Research Center survey found that unauthorized immigrants accounted for 17 percent of the workforce in the US agriculture industry and 13 percent of the construction industry workforce.

That same survey found that among the business and service sectors, which includes legal services, waste management, advertising, landscaping, dry cleaning, nail salons and car washes, non-citizen immigrants comprised 22 percent of the workforce in 2014.

AIC found that if the Trump administration were to begin by targeting these immigrants for deportation, some 4 million mixed-status families (families with at least one undocumented person) could be separated. This would affect some 8.5 million US citizens, including 5.1 million US citizen children who currently live with an undocumented family member who, in many cases, is the main source of income.

In its study, the AIC noted that immigrants work across US industries, and without their labor US gross domestic product would drop between 4.2 and 6.8 percent. While not eligible for Social Security and other government social programs, in 2022 undocumented households paid $46.8 billion in federal taxes and $29.3 billion in state and local taxes, according to the AIC. Immigrants without legal status also contributed $22.6 billion to Social Security and $5.7 billion to Medicare.



The AIC made what it called a highly conservative estimate that it would cost at least $315 billion to do a one-time mass deportation operation aimed at some 13.3 million people who do not have permanent legal status. It emphasized that this figure does not take into account the long-term costs of a sustained mass deportation operation or the incalculable additional costs necessary to acquire the institutional capacity to remove over 13 million people in a short period of timeincalculable because there is simply no reality in which such a singular operation is possible.

The group noted that to accomplish a police operation on this scale would require mass detention as an interim step. And while the US has a sprawling prison-industrial complex that incarcerates roughly 1 out every 185 people in the country, the fifth highest rate in the world, that total population is some 1.9 million people. In other words, the AIC estimated that ICE detention capacity would have to create 24 times more ... detention capacity than currently exists.

It estimated that to deport 1 million people a year, even assuming 20 percent of the population would self-deport under a police-state regime, the cost of maintaining the operation until completion would be just under $1 trillion and cost roughly $88 billion a year for over a decade.

In addition to the economic factor, there is worry among sections of the ruling class that Trumps deportation operation will provoke a massive counter-response in the working class. There is no reason to believe that millions of people, including students and workers, will passively sit on their hands as their friends, family and co-workers are handcuffed and frog-marched out of schools, workplaces and homes to be detained and deported.

Trumps allies are continuing the anti-immigrant agitation in the lead-up to his inauguration. On Tuesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott posted a video on his X account showing more death buoys being deployed into the Rio Grande River to deter, injure and kill immigrants.

Abbott has been illegally deploying National Guard troops along the Rio Grande for over a year in a direct usurpation of federal authority. The Biden administration filed a court challenge early this year which was overruled by the conservative Fifth Circuit. Since then, the administration has dropped the issue as Abbott has continued to militarize the Texas-Mexico border.

Each of the buoys is a 4-foot sphere that spins independently, preventing anyone from climbing over it. In between each sphere is a metal saw blade that can easily cut human skin and cause mass trauma. The buoys are fastened together with heavy metal cables and anchored in place with concrete blocks. In order to prevent anyone from swimming under the buoys, there is a mesh fence under the water in between the concrete blocks and metal cables.

The attacks being prepared by Trump and those currently underway by the Biden-Harris administration constitute an attack on the democratic rights of the entire international working class. The solution to capitalist inequality is not mass deportations and protectionism through tariffs, but social ownership of the productive forces and the elimination of the nation-state system through the creation of a scientifically planned and globally integrated economy.

This requires the independent mobilization of the working class against both big business parties and the capitalist system.


The US and Fiji have started talks aimed at strengthening military ties between Washington and the strategically-important Pacific Island nation, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told media after a two-day visit last week.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III shakes hands with Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in Fiji, Nov. 23, 2024. [Photo: Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jack Sanders, Department of Defense]

Austin was on his 12th trip to the Indo-Pacific region as defense secretary, but the first visit by any US defense secretary to Fiji. Austin said negotiations were underway on a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) which would enable the US to deploy and redeploy forces in support of Fiji. It could allow the Pentagon to station troops either permanently or temporarily in Fiji, though US officials speaking before the visit said they did not know how many there would be.

The SOFA follows an agreement signed by Austin during a visit to Papua New Guinea (PNG) in July last year, which gives Washington uninhibited access to numerous PNG military and civilian locations, including its important naval base on Manus Island. The US-PNG Agreement was met with protests by hundreds of university students accusing Prime Minister James Marape of drawing PNG into broader geopolitical turmoil.

In a live-streamed press conference with Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka on November 23, Austin declared the SOFA would help us train with the Fijians on a very routine basis. He pledged $US4.9 million to support Fijis military modernisation and signed a bilateral logistics cooperation deal allowing the US to leave stores of military equipment on the island.

In turn Rabuka, sporting a US stars-and-stripes themed tie, called Austins visit a historic moment in the US and Fiji relationship. He said Fiji looked forward to continuing to work closely with the United States going forward, including with the new incoming Trump administration. Austin said the close US-Fiji relationship would endure far beyond transition of administrations.

Fiji and US forces already train together in Exercise Cartwheel, held annually in Fijis Nausori Highlands, allowing troops to work together in a jungle warfare environmentclearly in preparation for deployment in the Pacific. Troops from Australia, New Zealand and Britain are also involved. The SOFA agreement provides the basis for an upgraded, permanent military partnership.

Rabuka, a former military commander and coup leader, insisted that the strengthened military ties were about peace, and how we guard and protect and promote that peace. His administration, however, is aligning with Washington as it militarises the Indo-Pacific region in preparation for war against China.

Fiji continues to maintain ties with Beijing, but this is an increasingly fraught balancing act. After Rabuka took office in early 2023, he insisted on dealing with Fijis traditional partnersAustralia, New Zealand and the USover policing and security issues, promising to tear up a 2011 police co-operation agreement with China. In an attempt to restore relations, he visited Beijing last year, reaffirming Fijis support for the one-China policy and signing bilateral deals on trade, infrastructure and Chinese-language education.

On his return, Rabuka convinced leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), held in Tonga in August, to adopt his proposal to make the Pacific Ocean a Zone of Peace. Promoting the concept earlier at Sydneys Lowy Institute, Rabuka had maintained that Fiji would not take sides between the US and China. We are friendly with China and the US and do not want to be caught in the struggle between the superpowers, he declared.

But the US is seeking to secure its unchallenged economic and geostrategic dominance over the Pacific. Austins visit to Fiji was the last stop on a trip that took him to Australia, the Philippines and to Laos for an ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting.

According to a statement by the US Department of Defense, the purpose of the secretarys tour was to drive ongoing efforts to modernize our alliances and partnerships toward our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacificthat is, to boost key alliances and strategic partnerships across the region to maintain US hegemony.

Meeting with Australian and Japanese defence ministers in Darwin, Austin approved plans to integrate Japanese military forces with their Australian and US counterparts and hold annual trilateral training with joint amphibious forces from 2025. In the Philippines, which is on the front line of the build-up against China, Austin reaffirmed Washingtons ironclad commitment to the US-Philippine mutual defense treaty and signed a new agreement on enhanced sharing of information and military technology.

The entire Pacific region has become a geo-strategic cauldron, with even tiny island states such as Fiji caught up in the escalating drive to war. Under pressure from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the PIF summit approved Canberras Pacific Policing Initiative, which will see the formation of multi-country police units, with up to 200 officers, trained and led by the Australian Federal Police, designed to push back against China.

Rabukas predecessor Frank Bainimarama, Fijis leader from his 2006 coup until 2022, had initially fostered ties with Beijing and sought to persuade other Pacific leaders to adopt an independent path outside the influence of Canberra and Wellington. From 2016, under intense diplomatic and economic pressure from the US and its regional allies, Bainimarama changed course. As chair of the PIF, he invited US Vice President Kamala Harris to address its 2022 Suva summit, from which China was excluded. Harris announced a major escalation of US involvement in the Pacific aimed against China.

According to Defense News, during his four years in office, Austin has helped recast Americas military role in the Indo-Pacific. Its allies are working more often with each other, and America is working more closely with its allies, the publication declared. The US is now spreading its forces widely across the region to confront China by signing new basing agreements with old and new allies and island states including Fiji.

Due to its relative size and strategic location in the Southwest Pacific, Fiji has become a focus of US diplomatic and military activity, especially after the Solomon Islands signed a policing agreement with Beijing following riots in Honiara in 2021. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Suva in 2022, the most senior US official to do so in almost four decades. He denounced both Russia and China, accusing the latter of coercion and aggression which spans the globe, but it is most acute in the Indo-Pacific.

The rhetoric turns reality on its head. Ever since World War II, the US has regarded the Pacific as an American lake and, along with Australia and New Zealand, has repeatedly intervened in the region.

Recently, Washington threatened the Solomon Islands with regime change if China was allowed a military base there. In February this year US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma warned PNG to reject an offer of a policing pact with China. Verma stated bluntly that it is a competition for influence in the region between China and the US and its allies, adding we have to compete aggressively.

As part of the escalating confrontation, wherever Washington has a presence a vast expansion of military facilities is under way. The Pentagon has begun to refurbish WWIIera airbases in the American neo-colonies in the North Pacific of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia and the Northern Marianas. In 2020, US engineers rebuilt an airstrip on Angaur Island in Palau and planning is going ahead to install an elaborate radar system and missile facility in the islands.

Rabuka is meanwhile supporting the criminal actions of US imperialism throughout the world. Last October Fiji led other Pacific Island states in opposing a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. An attorney representing Palestine at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) also revealed that Fiji and the US were the only two states to side with Israel at an ICJ hearing. Fiji has also regularly lined up behind NATO to condemn Russia over Ukraine.
Defying mass popular opposition to a military escalation threatening total war with Russia, London and Paris are planning a large-scale ground intervention in Ukraine. These plans, discussed behind the backs of the population, not only threaten to provoke a nuclear war between Europe and Russia, they entail deep attacks on the working class to finance the build-up of European military forces.

Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg meets NATO troops at an airbase in Tallinn, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. (Leon Neal/Pool Photo via AP) [AP Photo/Leon Neal]

Yesterday, in an article titled Discussions over sending European troops to Ukraine reignited, the French daily Le Monde reported: Paris and London are not ruling out leading a military coalition in Ukraine. It cited a British military source and wrote: Discussions are underway between the UK and France on defense cooperation, particularly with a view to creating a hard core of allies in Europe, focused on Ukraine and wider European security.

This followed high-level talks between London and Paris after Ukraine launched long-range strikes on Russia with British Storm Shadow missiles. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told the BBC that France had authorized Ukraine to fire French SCALP missiles at Russia in self-defense, though he refused to say whether SCALP missiles had been used to bomb Russia. Asked if France would send its army to Ukraine, Barrot said: We do not discard any option.

Barrot demanded European countries massively increase defense spending. Of course we will have to spend more if we want to do more, and I think that we have to face these new challenges.

These plans make clear that the NATO imperialist powers are dragging the world into a Third World War. Even if it does not immediately provoke a nuclear war with Russia, it will also trigger a bitter confrontation with the European working class. President Emmanuel Macron financed his last major increase to Frances military budget last year by slashing pensions. He imposed these cuts by decree, without a parliamentary vote, ordering riot police to assault mass strikes and protests, ultimately relying on Frances corrupt union bureaucracies to call off the struggle.

Finding billions of pounds and euros needed to prepare the British, French and other European militaries for an armed stand-off against Russia in Ukraine would require further deep social attacks on European workers.

Le Monde said French military contracting firm Defense Conseil International (DCI), which is 55 percent state-owned, plans to deploy its forces to Ukraine: Composed of 80 percent ex-military personnel, DCI would be ready to continue training Ukrainian soldiers in Ukraine, as it is already doing in France and Poland. If necessary, it could also maintain French military equipment sent to Kyiv. To this end, DCI has been approached by Babcock, its British counterpart already present in Ukraine, to share the latters local facilities.

Elie Tenenbaum, a strategist at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) think tank, told Le Monde France is also considering other models. This meant, Le Monde wrote, plans to send conventional troops to Ukraine, in the event of a ceasefire agreement, to guarantee the countrys security and Russias compliance with the ceasefire. These troops, he said, would be positioned in eastern Ukraine, on the border with Russia.

Such plans face overwhelming popular opposition, above all in the working class. Earlier this year, a Eurasia Group poll found that 91 percent of Americans and 89 percent of Western Europeans oppose a NATO ground intervention into Ukraine. Nonetheless, the European imperialist powers are proceeding precisely with such plans.

Le Monde presented a carefully sanitized version of discussions in European ruling circles of the war with Russia and Trumps election as US president. Trump has repeatedly said he wants to scale back US military support to Ukraine. The European powers, for their part, are calling for working out a deal with Trump based on escalating their own military involvement.

The various plans for Ukraine circulating among Trumps advisers, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal, involve Kyiv promising not to join NATO for at least 20 years. In exchange, the US would continue to pump Ukraine full of weapons to deter a future Russian attack. Under that plan, the front line would essentially lock in place and both sides would agree to an 800-mile demilitarized zone.

We can do training and other support, but the barrel of the gun is going to be European, the Journal cited a member of Trumps transition team as saying. We are not sending American men and women to uphold peace in Ukraine. And we are not paying for it. Get the Poles, Germans, British and French to do it.

The argument that such a policy would provide a lasting basis for peace in Ukraine has no credibility whatsoever. The Kremlin invaded Ukraine in order to keep Ukraine from joining NATO, and there is no reason to believe that it would accept a settlement in which Kiev would merely postpone its decision to join the NATO alliance for two decades. More broadly, however, the European escalation in Ukraine is bound up with European war plans against Russian allies, like China, Iran and Syria.

Such wars would prevent any secure and lasting peace on the Russian-Ukraine border and likely provoke an explosive escalation of the conflict. Indeed, in a series of provocative public statements over the last several days, the French military command has made clear it aims to participate in a global war escalation, so as to independently assert French imperialist interests.

The world we shaped after the end of the Cold War is falling apart, French Army Commander General Pierre Schill told French officers last week in a speech at the Military School in Paris. The instability of the context forces us to think seriously. Who knows what our role will be tomorrow in security guarantees offered to Ukraine or to Lebanon?  Our goal is to intimidate, to be feared.

French armed forces Chief of Staff General Thierry Burkhard told Le Figaro that France must be ready to send troops to Ukraine, the Near East, Africa and the Indo-Pacific region, working closely with NATO. All these crisis areas have their own particular features, and it is not clear that we should prioritize the one or the other. We must manage all these theaters.  This requires a global vision, and above all coordinating action with our allies. No single country can manage these crises alone.

Such threats of global military intervention not only intensify the conflict between the European imperialist powers and other major powers, but also intensify tensions among European imperialist powers, which twice in the 20th century exploded into world war. Indeed, discussion of European intervention in Ukraine immediately raises the question of which European powers will control Ukraines vast mineral, industrial and agricultural resources.

Currently, the French army is working on plans minimizing the role of Germany, Europes dominant economic power. Plans for a European intervention in Ukraine raises the question of the leadership of this military coalition. Germany currently appears considerably weakened by its domestic political difficulties, Le Monde wrote, citing the IFRIs Tenenbaum: France and the UK, the only two nuclear powers in Europe, would therefore play a key role. The Baltic States, Poland and the Scandinavian countries also appear to be essential candidates.

Whatever rival invasion plans are being discussed in European ruling circles, they underscore that the capitalist media have marketed the Ukraine war to the public on false pretenses. It is not a war to protect Ukrainian independence from Russia. Rather, it is a war, driven above all by the imperialist powers, to decide how Ukraines economy is to be carved up between the major powers.

Avoiding a further catastrophic escalation of the war requires alerting the working class in France, Britain, across Europe and internationally to these dangers, and building an international, socialist movement in the working class against imperialist war.
On Friday, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Republican Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon for secretary of the US Labor Department. The nomination was immediately hailed by Teamsters President Sean OBrien, AFL-CIO President Liz Schuler and the leaders of both teacher unions.

Chavez-DeRemer, Trump and Teamsters President Sean O'Brien [Photo: Sean O'Brien]

The nomination was opposed by right-wing news outlets and business groups for running counter, in the words of the Wall Street Journal editorial board, to the president-elects supposed agenda of devolving power to the states, expanding school choice, empowering workers and easing business regulation.

But the selection of Chavez-DeRemerwho combines right-wing politics with support for the institutional and financial interests of the labor bureaucracywill not interfere with the incoming administrations program of social counterrevolution. On the contrary, it is aimed at drawing in sections of the union apparatus to suppress the inevitable explosion of working class opposition to the destruction of core social and democratic rights, the deportation of millions of immigrants and the gutting of any restrictions on the exploitation of the working class.

If that fails, Trump plans to deploy far more direct methods of state and extra-parliamentary repression against strikes, mass protests and other collective actions by the working class.

Chavez-DeRemer is one of only three Republicans in the US House of Representatives to co-sponsor the AFL-CIO-backed Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. Among other things, the bill would place restrictions on designating workers as contractors and would make it an unfair labor practice for employers to coerce workers to attend anti-union meetings. In a sop to the labor bureaucracy, it would also require all employees covered by a labor agreement to pay unions for the cost of representation, regardless of state Right-to-Work laws to the contrary.

The Oregon Republican also backed the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, which sets a minimum nationwide standard for the collective bargaining rights of public sector workers.

Chavez-DeRemers support for the bills was largely symbolic since there was never a chance that they would be adopted by the Senate, regardless of which party was in control.

Far from being a champion of workers rights, Chavez-DeRemer is a Trump loyalist, who supported his tax cuts for the rich and regularly denounces the radical left. A multi-millionaire co-owner, with her husband, of Anesthesia Associates Northwest in Portland, Oregon, she had a net worth of between $3,954,010 and $17,129,998, according to her House Candidate Personal Financial Disclosure, filed on October 15, 2021.

After losing her bid for reelection on November 5, Chavez-DeRemer posted on X on November 15 that Trump had a clear mandate to fix our Southern border, reduce crime and restore our economy. Four days later, she claimed, President Trump 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!

To claim that the corporate and financial oligarchs who control the Republican Party speak for the working class is a monumental fraud. Trump only prevailed because of the collapse of support for the Democratic Party, whose indifference to the economic and social concerns of the working class, along with its obsession with identity politics and single-minded focus on expanding US imperialisms wars for global domination, allowed Trump to exploit popular discontent and win the election.

In his November 22 statement on the nomination of Chavez-DeRemer, Trump declared, Together, we will achieve historic cooperation between Business and Labor that will restore the American Dream for Working Families.

There are other sections of the incoming administration who have also cozied up to the labor bureaucracy. In early 2021, US Senator from Florida Marco RubioTrumps current nominee for secretary of statesupported the unionization campaign by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) at the Amazon facility in Bessemer, Alabama. In a USA Today column Rubio wrote at the time that he was generally against adversarial relationships between employers and employees, but Amazon should be punished for bowing to China and putting its corporate interests before national interests.

Fertile ground for fascism

With its rabid anti-communism, economic nationalism and fear and hatred of the militancy of the working class, the American labor bureaucracy has long been fertile ground for fascism. Trumps election will draw these reactionary layers ever closer to the incoming administration while othersmore aligned with the discredited Democratic Partyare being attracted to Trump to preserve their income and assets from an inevitable upheaval by the working class.

Teamsters President Sean OBrien has led the charge of union bureaucrats into Trumps arms. In an X statement on the nomination, OBrien said:

Thank you @realDonaldTrump for putting American workers first by nominating Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer for US Labor Secretary. 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.  Congratulations to @LChavezDeRemer on your nomination! 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. Lets get to work! #TeamsterStrong

Before the election, OBrien was a featured speaker at the Republican National Convention, and the Teamsters bureaucracy all but endorsed Trump by withholding an endorsement of a Democratic nominee for the first time in three decades. At the same time, the Teamsters bureaucracy endorsed the fascist US senator from Missouri and January 6 conspirator Josh Hawley.

In a November 13 video interview with the far-right The Free Press internet media outlet, OBrien signaled his support for Trumps anti-immigrant crackdown.

The immigration issue is a real issue. Ill speak on a couple of angles on this. Number one, were all products of immigrants somewhere. My great-grandfather and great-grandmother came over from Ireland, they came over the right way. I have a problem when people come into this country with the agenda to commit crimes and do things that are not popular in America. Thats a problem.

AFL-CIO President Liz Schuler praised Chavez-DeRemers pro-labor record in Congress but attempted to distance herself from the incoming administrations dramatically anti-worker agenda. She concluded by saying, The AFL-CIO 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.

National Education Association President Becky Pringle praised Chavez-DeRemer but said educators 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.

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten was more obsequious towards the incoming administration, declaring: It is significant that the Pres-elect nominated Rep. Chavez-DeRemer for Labor. Her record suggests real support of workers & their right to unionize. I hope it means the Trump admin will actually respect collective bargaining and workers voices from Teamsters to teachers.

Weingarten spent much of the first Trump administration traveling from state to state to beat back the teachers wildcat strikes against austerity and school privatization in West Virginia, Oklahoma and Arizona in 2018-19. She has also given her full-throated support to Trumps pick to head the Department of Education, billionaire wrestling executive Linda McMahon. A longtime US State Department operative, Weingarten is no stranger to working with fascists, including in the Ukrainian regime.

The leaders of the German trade unions also tried to prove their worthiness to the Hitler regime after it came to power in 1933, even marching under the swastika on May 1. That did not stop the Nazis the following day from raiding the trade union offices, arresting and murdering numerous trade union officials and disbanding the ADGB union federation.

Under the four years of the Biden administration, the labor bureaucracy played a critical role in suppressing mass opposition to the profits-before-lives pandemic policy and the efforts to impose the increasing costs of the transition to a war economy on the backs of the working class. This was summed up in Bidens statement that the AFL-CIO was his domestic NATO.

In examining the current integration of the union bureaucracy into the incoming Trump administration, it is worthwhile to recall the words of Leon Trotsky in his 1940 work Trade Unions in the Epoch of Imperialist Decay:

The labor bureaucrats do their level best in words and deeds to demonstrate to the democratic state how reliable and indispensable they are in peace-time and especially in time of war. By transforming the trade unions into organs of the state, fascism invents nothing new; it merely draws to their ultimate conclusion the tendencies inherent in imperialism.

The last four years have seen an immense growth of the class struggle throughout the world and within the United States. This includes the overwhelming rejection of sellout contracts and militant strikes, which have increasingly taken the form of an open revolt against the pro-capitalist and pro-war labor bureaucracy. This will only intensify as the naked class interests Trump speaks for become apparent to masses of workers, including the millions who voted for him.

This resistance will require the formation of new organizations of working class self-determination--rank-and-file committees, which operate independently of and in opposition to the union bureaucracies. The development of an industrial and political counteroffensive against the incoming Trump administration will require a conscious political struggle by the working class against both corporate-controlled parties and the capitalist system they defend.
Earlier this month, the World Socialist Web Site published a critique of a Stanford University conference held in October to promote the discredited anti-public-health manifesto known as the Great Barrington Declaration. One of three authors of the declaration, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford public policy professor, responded by attacking the WSWS on his social media account.

Bhattacharya wrote, The World Socialist Web Site published an article with the premise that the US did not lock down hard enough. The piece compares covid deaths in Sweden and Norway (Sweden has more). But it omits that Sweden had lower all-cause excess deaths than Norway. He then called the critique another hit piece and added, The lockdowns were an assault on the working class, and perhaps the socialists are embarrassed they promoted them.

Bhattacharya is not just an apologist for the crimes against public health committed under the first Trump administration that were continued and expanded under the Biden administration. He is on the brink of making the transition from propagandist for social murder to active participant, as he was reported Sunday to be Trumps likely choice to head the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Given that Bhattacharya has focused his career on the economics of health carethat is, how to minimize the costs to the capitalist ruling elite of keeping enough workers alive to produce their profitshis area of expertise is in the withholding of care rather than its expansion. Hence his prominent role in the Great Barrington Declaration, which urged Trump to push through the reopening of schools, factories and other workplaces and infect as much of the population as possible, in order to produce what the authors claimed would be herd immunity.

This call for universal infection and mass death was only slightly disguised by language about focused protection for the elderly and immunocompromised, those most vulnerable to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Bhattacharya and the other authors and signatories of the Great Barrington Declaration always knew that such protection was impossible, however, given the infectiousness of the virus, its constant mutation, and the collapse of all forms of mitigation such as masking, social distancing and proper ventilation.

The impact of the COVID pandemic

We will take up the distortion of health care figures in Norway and Sweden, which Bhattacharya seeks to defend in his tweet. But it is first necessary to review the horrific outcome of the policies he proposed in 2020, as the Trump administration sought to undo the lockdowns and school closures initially imposed by an upsurge in the working class against being forced to continue working in crowded factories and offices as the pandemic spread.

There was a counter-campaign to this spontaneous response by working people to protect themselves. Trump himself denounced the closures and lockdowns and issued calls to liberate various states, which sparked armed demonstrations by groups of his fascist supporters. The corporate media took up the mantra that the cure cant be worse than the disease, first voiced by New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman.

Bhattacharya and other pro-Trump figures in the medical community, such as Dr. Scott Atlas, who became the White House COVID czar, sought to give a scientific-sounding cover for what was a purely economic argument: measures taken to protect the population from the pandemic were too costly to the capitalist class, whose profits would be slashed by the reluctance of workers to risk infection.

Trump White House adviser Dr. Scott Atlas with the authors of the Great Barrington Declaration, Jay Bhattacharya, Sunetra Gupta, and Martin Kulldorff, October 5, 2020 [Photo: Scott Atlas (Twitter)]

Bhattacharya and his discredited colleagues are opposing essential public health measures now, for the future, and for the US and the entire world. Despite the continuing global threat posed by SARS-CoV-2, impacting population life and well-being, the COVID denialists have proposed that freedom and liberties must remain sacrosanct. Their right-wing populist appeals to the working class are hollow and malicious. It is only the capitalist class that will be free to exploit, while workers are free to work, get infected with COVID-19 or other pathogens, and become debilitated or die.

As of the end of 2023, the cumulative global incidence of Long COVID stood at 410 million individuals, or five percent of the worlds population, a figure now likely approaching 500 million. In the fifth year of the pandemic, 50,000 or more people will officially die from COVID just in the US. The economic impact of this mass debilitation promoted by the COVID denialists like Bhattacharya has been placed at an annual rate of $1 trillion, a figure equivalent to one percent of the global economy, and hard facts which they say are to be accepted as the price of doing business.

Had the world accepted the premise that COVID was to run roughshod over the globe, researchers at Imperial College London placed the estimated death toll for 2020 alone at 40 million. The author of that report, Dr. Patrick Walker, said in 2020:

We estimate that the world faces an unprecedented acute public health emergency in the coming weeks and months. Our findings suggest that all countries face a choice between intensive and costly measures to suppress transmission or risk health systems becoming rapidly overwhelmed. However, our results highlight that rapid, decisive and collective action now will save millions of lives in the next year.

Sweden, Norway and the disastrous results of forever COVID

Bhattacharya claims that hard lockdowns did not save lives or that all-cause excess deaths in Sweden, which pursued a herd immunity policy from the beginning, are now lower than in Norway. This is an attempt to employ statistical flimflam to cloud the real issues at stake.

His mention of hard lockdowns is nonsensical. There is no such thing as hard or soft lockdowns. The purpose of lockdowns is to contain an outbreak that is growing uncontrollably. It is used to stop the spread of disease to protect lives while giving authorities the opportunity to shift resources to address the pandemic, which should be to eliminate it. However, in a global economy, public health requires a global posture.

Graph compares COVID deaths in the US, Sweden and Norway (which adopted a far more rigorous pandemic mitigation program. [Photo: Our World in Data]

Although Chinas Zero-COVID policy saw periods where cities were open to routine social engagement when COVID was eliminated, the pressures placed on the country by international capital led them to abandon the policy that protected the well-being of the population and led to the death of more than 1.3 million people.

When a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) was declared on January 30, 2020, and it was soon understood that the virus was airborne, the capitalist class ignored the warnings of principled scientists. When the situation became dire and autoworkers took the lead in many countries in demanding a public health response and threatening a mass rebellion, the ruling elites were forced to respond, and then only with limited lockdowns that were not enough to stem the tide of infections.

Bhattacharya and the COVID denialists silence on these developments reveal their pro-capitalist stance. In their eugenicist views, they make the claim that everyone is going to die sooner or later, therefore we must place social value not in mortality rates but profits. Those that are no longer productive are deemed socially useless. Despite their supposed focused protection and holding Sweden as a model of public health response, 95 percent of all COVID deaths since the start of the pandemic (21,752 of 22,642) in Sweden occurred among those 65 years and older.

However, it bears reviewing the actual data between Norway and Sweden and a close examination of whether lockdowns saved lives.

The answer to the second part of the question was given by the WHO in their study published in Nature that found that by January 2022, excess deaths had reached almost 15 million globally, a figure almost three times the official figures. A curious finding of their analysis, however, was that in the first six months of the pandemic, those countries, especially in the South-East Asian Region, that implemented lockdowns in earnest, saw excess deaths relative to expected deaths go negative. In other words, there were excess lives saved. Additionally, three recent studies found that the limited measures employed in the US indeed saved lives, and where these measures were adhered to more intently, the number of lives saved improved.

Global excess and reported COVID-19 deaths and death rates per 100,000 population. [Photo by Nature magazine / CC BY 4.0

Bearing this in mind, it is also important to review the total deaths before and during the pandemic to provide an accurate comparison between Norway, which had adopted a comprehensive public health program (at least until the Omicron phase) and Sweden, which, under their former state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell, pioneered the herd-immunity strategy.

The life expectancy for both countries is similar at around 84.5 years. Sweden, at just over ten million population, has twice as many people as Norway.

Pre-pandemic, the leading causes of deaths in both countries were cancer and heart disease. The average per capita death rate from 2015 to 2019, was 17 percent higher in Sweden at 904.6 deaths per 100,000 people, compared to Norway at 772.7 per 100,000 people (mainly due to higher deaths from cardiovascular causes in Sweden). Swedens death rate in 2019 had dropped sharply to 864.3 per 100,000. Of note, in the US, that figure was around 984 per 100,000 people.

In the first year of the pandemic, Sweden saw 9,900 COVID deaths, a per capita rate equal to that of the US. Norway had only 440 deaths from COVID or a figure that was more than twenty-fold lower. Total deaths for Sweden for 2020 stood at 98,124. Using the previous five years death tolls, the expected number would have been 93,630. If utilizing the 2019 total deaths count which was 88,766, the entire 2020 excess death toll in Sweden could be attributed to COVID deaths.

In Norway, the per capita death rate for 2020 fell below their five-year average at 755 per 100,000. While only 40,612 people died in 2020 in Norway, expected deaths were estimated at 41,572. This means that almost a thousand lives were saved because of the measures they implemented. These benefits remained in place through 2021. However, once the Omicron variant came to dominate the pandemic landscape in late 2021, Norway, like many other countries, took the plunge and accepted the virus, just as in the US Dr. Anthony Fauci was suggesting that Omicron was the live-virus vaccine that would bring about the mythical herd immunity long espoused by the Great Barrington ghouls.

In the year that followed, Norway saw its total COVID deaths jump from around 1,000 to 4,800. But by the time Omicron reached Swedens boundaries, the country had already accumulated 15,000 COVID deaths. Swedish deaths did not quadruple, because many of those who would have died from Omicron had already been killed by the previous variants of the virus.

By the end of 2022, Swedens COVID death toll had reached 22,400, or an increase of 7,500. In other words, the per capita death toll from COVID between the two countries began to converge after the emergence of Omicron due to Norways complete relaxation of all mitigation measures. The figures thus disprove the fraudulent claims of the COVID contrarians, that public health measures do not protect life, when in fact they do have a positive impactuntil they are abandoned.

In 2022, Norway saw its per capita death rate swell to 829 deaths per 100,000 people. In Sweden it stood at 898 deaths per 100,000, below its pre-pandemic averages, but above its 2019 low. This statistical illusion stems from the decimation of the elderly in the first two years of the pandemic that seemed to show in Swedens excess death toll a modicum of improvement compared to Norways. Bhattacharyas claims of improvement in excess death rates, from this perspective, is not only ludicrous, but also a sham.

Norways per capita death rate has since declined to 785 per 100,000 in 2023, partially due to loss of lives among the elderly.

Standardized Mortality per million in Finland (red), Denmark (blue), Norway (green), and Sweden (Yellow). [Photo: European Journal of Epidemiology, September 2024; Authors Anton Nilsson and Tea Lallukka.]

With the forever COVID policy now in place globally, which was accompanied by the complete dismantling of all pandemic surveillance systems, the complex and numerous factors affecting the year-to-year total deaths are no longer as clearly linked to the pandemic. However, excess deaths remain elevated globally, primarily due to the myriad long-term health effects of COVID-19 infection and reinfection.

Conclusion

The Stanford University conference which the WSWS criticized was little more than a public audition for those who would seek high positions in the wrecking operation that the Trump administration is preparing for public health. It was aimed at portraying the Great Barrington Declaration as a contribution to science which had provoked controversy that would now be overcome by polite exchanges of scholarly points of view.

The dean of Stanfords Graduate School of Business, Jonathan Levin, declared in his remarks, When I was invited to participate in the event  it was with understanding to bring people with different perspectives and engage in a day of discussions and in that way repair some of the rifts that opened during COVID.

He claimed to be surprised that health scientists were not open to repairing these rifts or revisit fresh thinking offered by such as Bhattacharya. But the purpose of the conference was to claim the objective historically proven principles of public health were, after all, dogmatic and wrong, and that the initial response to the pandemictemporary lockdowns and school closureswere ill-conceived. Not only did these measures supposedly cause irreparable harm to the economy and to children, they were somehow responsible for the excess deaths that accumulated.

Levin expressed concern: As an observer and a leader of this university, I found that episode dispiriting in a way that goes beyond the specifics of this event. We have many issues today at Stanford and on other campuses where views are divided. He evidently sensed, with some trepidation, that opposition to mass death during the pandemic and opposition to mass death in Gaza today are connected.

Given the comparatively high number of deaths per capita experienced in countries that first adopted the herd immunity policy promoted by Bhattacharya and others, this policy of mass infection is tantamount to social murder.

It should be noted that the elimination strategy remains viable because the technical know-how and understanding of the nature of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is well-understood. What is lacking is the will of the financial markets to invest in such measures or to accept the profit losses associated with even the slightest disruption of production.

As Dr. Yaneer Bar-Yam and colleagues from New England Complex Systems Institute wrote in 2020:

The challenge of regulating travel during a pandemic is that the travel has both indirect economic benefits and indirect economic costs. The cost of a missed business trip or leisure travel is highly variable, as is the economic costs of induced outbreaks, as well as the disease, suffering and death that can arise. Unfortunately, wishful thinking based upon non-pandemic conditions may guide decision making so that clarity is needed both about what is known and not known for effective action.

Indeed, Bar-Yam and colleagues provide an important framework to utilize temporary lockdowns as part an international strategy to achieve elimination. While these require considerable investments, the life and economic savings of these measures are commensurate. Additionally, these temporary lockdowns could be used to address public health gaps such as infrastructure investment in clean air technologies like HEPA filtration and Far-UV irradiation, alongside massive investments to research and develop more effective vaccines and treatments.

Given Bhattacharyas supposed public health policy credentials, one would think these concepts would be at the forefront of his work. But as is evident, the COVID-19 pandemic was a trigger event that has exposed and accelerated reaction among different social layers. Bhattacharya, easily succumbing to this reaction, has offered his services to the powers-that-be. He calls for no future lockdowns and no future responses.

Meanwhile, a few hundred miles away from the Stanford campus in Californias Central Valley, the carcasses of cattle infected with H5N1 bird flu are left discarded by the roadside, allowed to rot in the sun, while dozens of workers have already fallen sick across the United States.
A Long March-2C carrier rocket carrying two satellites blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 25, 2024. The rocket blasted off at 7:39 a.m. (Beijing Time) and sent the pair of satellites, Siwei Gaojing-2 03 and Siwei Gaojing-2 04, into the preset orbit. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua)

The Champs-Elysees is lit by Christmas holiday lights in Paris, France, Nov. 24, 2024. The annual Christmas season lighting ceremony was held here on Sunday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Giant panda Le Le frolics on a tree branch at the Dujiangyan base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 19, 2024. Le Le, male, was born at the River Wonders wildlife park in Singapore on Aug. 14, 2021.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have been playing the role of "ambassadors," fostering bridges of friendship between China and other countries. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

This photo taken on Nov. 25, 2024 shows an exhibition held at a collection hall of Chinese painting series from past dynasties in Yuhang District, Hangzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province. As the Second Liangzhu Forum kicked off in Hangzhou, the collection hall opened to the public officially on Monday. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

This photo taken on Nov. 25, 2024 shows the opening ceremony of the Second Liangzhu Forum in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. Under the theme of "exchanges and mutual learning for a new model of human progress," the Second Liangzhu Forum being held in Hangzhou from Monday to Wednesday, has gathered more than 300 Chinese and foreign cultural officials, diplomats, scholars, writers, archaeologists and musicians from more than 60 countries and regions to tap the rich cultural resources of Liangzhu further. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

The Changsha missile destroyer leaves the dock of Stonecutters Island in Hong Kong, south China, Nov. 25, 2024. A Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy fleet comprising the Hainan amphibious assault ship and the Changsha missile destroyer visited Hong Kong from Nov. 21 to 25. (Photo by Yi Ding/Xinhua)

Employees collect cocoons at a production line of Yashilin Changsha (International) Silkworm Silk Intellectual Industry Project in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, Nov. 24, 2024.

Hunan has a long history of mulberry planting and silkworm farming. Nowadays, Hunan has leveraged its advantages in resources for sericulture and sped up intelligent transformation to drive this industry to rejuvenate.

As one of the intelligent programs, the Yashilin Changsha (International) Silkworm Silk Intellectual Industry Project, funded by Zhongjian Xinke Sericulture Biotechnology Industry Co., Ltd., has realized an industrialized and digital cultivation of silkworms with multiple self-developed production lines and workshops. (Xinhua/Wang Jingqiang)

Children ride a camel at the Nubian village of Gharb Sohail in Aswan, Egypt, Nov. 24, 2024.

Gharb Sohail, a Nubian village lying along the west bank of Nile, is a popular tourist destination in Aswan where visitors have the chance to know Nubian's unique cultures, traditions, crafts and food. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)
BAGHDAD, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Iraq exported about 103.14 million barrels of crude oil in October, compared to 99 million in September, the country's Oil Ministry announced Tuesday.

During the month, approximately 102.3 million barrels were exported from oil fields in central and southern Iraq via the Port of Basra, 524,356 barrels from the Qayyara oilfield in the northern province of Nineveh, and 318,007 barrels were sent to neighboring Jordan, the ministry said in a statement, citing statistics from the State Organization for Marketing of Oil, an Iraqi company.

Iraq's economy relies heavily on crude oil exports, which account for about 90 percent of the country's revenues. 
GUANGZHOU, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Enterprises from south China's Guangdong Province and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) signed 126 projects worth over 100 billion yuan (about 14 billion U.S. dollars) during a business promotion activity held on Monday.

The projects cover various fields including trade and investment, financial cooperation, modern logistics, innovative technology, green development, low-altitude economy, as well as culture, tourism and sports, according to authorities in Guangdong.

As China's manufacturing hub, Guangdong boasts over 76,000 high-tech enterprises. The province produces about 70 percent of the world's consumer drones, 40 percent of the world's smartphones, one-quarter of China's new energy vehicles, and one-fifth of the country's integrated circuits.

Guangdong looks forward to joining hands with Hong Kong to create an international consumer hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and sharing the capabilities of its large-scale market, according to the provincial government.

The business promotion activity was held in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong and co-hosted by Guangdong provincial government and the Hong Kong SAR government. 
VIENTIANE, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government is taking significant steps to boost domestic production and cut imports, aiming to strengthen the processing industry, promote the use and export of Laos-made products, and minimize the export of unprocessed raw materials.

Key measures include supporting businesses across various sectors, prioritizing industries that produce import substitutes, and addressing challenges to create a favorable environment for local production.

The Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce will lead efforts to improve regulations, streamline procedures, and provide targeted support to businesses, Lao News Agency reported on Tuesday.

Speaking at the ongoing eighth ordinary session of the National Assembly's ninth legislature, Lao Minister of Industry and Commerce Malaythong Kommasith reiterated the government's commitment to developing robust production databases. These databases will provide accurate, comprehensive information for research, planning, and identifying competitive domestic products through import data and feasibility studies.

The government is also focused on overcoming existing obstacles, including improving the business environment for trade and investment, reducing production and transportation costs, stabilizing economic and financial conditions, and revising policies, laws, and regulations to attract investment in key industries.

Additionally, consultations will be held with credible local and foreign investors who have the financial capacity and relevant expertise. These engagements aim to refine policies that support effective production and ensure alignment with international standards. 
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

The Empress, one of the best period pieces on Netflix, is back for a new season of intense palace intrigue, breathtaking gowns, and sexy romance among the Hapsburg royals. The German-language romance series debuted on Netflix in September 2022, introducing fans to the headstrong Empress Elisabeth (a.k.a. "Sisi") of Austria as she fell in love with and wed Emperor Franz Joseph I. The show quickly won acclaim and a passionate fanbase, even taking home the International Emmy for Best Drama. (More importantly, Sisi's wedding dress was immediately considered a contender for the best TV looks of all time.)

After season 1 depicts Elisabeth's struggles to adjust to the harsh standards of life at court, season 2 jumps ahead to the birth of her second child when the royal family's legacy is in danger. Since season 2 recently debuted on Netflix on November 22, we're breaking down the show's cast. Below, find a guide to the talented German actors bringing The Empress to life.

Devrim Lingnau as Empress Elisabeth Sisi Von Wittelsbach

Devrim Lingnau as Empress Elisabeth Sisi Von Wittelsbach wearing a top hat and on a horse in 'The Empress.'

Elisabeth, called Sisi by her family, is a very headstrong, bold woman who grew up in the countryside, determined to marry for love and freedom. Luckily, after the emperor chose to marry her instead of her sister, the two fell in love in season 1, as Elisabeth struggled to adapt to court life. After a time jump, season 2 begins with Sisi happy and expecting her second child, though she is pressured to produce a male heir.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Devrim Lingnau, 26, is a Turkish-German actress who studied ballet and art before beginning her acting career. She made her film and TV debuts in 2014 and has since appeared in German productions, including Fluch des Falken, Allmen, Under Suspicion, Der Kriminalist, and Borgia.

Philip Froissant as Emperor Franz Joseph

Philip Froissant as Emperor Franz Joseph wearing royal garb and sitting on a throne in 'The Empress.'

At the start of The Empress, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria is already dealing with unhappy subjects and a war on the horizon. In the middle of all that, he and Elisabeth have an instant connection, which is quickly tested during their marriage as Franz finds himself torn between his wife's desires and his mother's.

Philip Froissant, 30, won the Deutscher Fernsehpreis (the German Equivalent of the Emmys) for Best Actor for his global breakout performance as Franz in The Empress's first season. Before that, the French-German actor mostly worked in theater; his other credits include the Netflix thriller Black Island and the Paramount+ miniseries One Trillion Dollars.

Melika Foroutan as Archduchess Sophie

Melika Foroutan as Archduchess Sophie standing in the shadows by the curtains in 'The Empress.'

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Franz's domineering mother Sophie (above, right) is determined to do what's best for the Austrian empire and her son, which often puts her at odds with Sisi's untraditional views. This continues in season 2, with Sophie leading the call for Elisabeth to have a boy and ensure the royal family's legacy.

Melika Foroutan, 48, is a German-Iranian actress who has starred in dozens of roles since her debut in 2000. She's best known for the series Tribes of Europa and Sleeping Dog, as well as the films Pari and Seven Days.

Johannes Nussbaum as Archduke Maximilian

Johannes Nussbaum as Archduke Maximilian holding a piece of paper on a beach in 'The Empress.'

Franz's brother Maximilian is the troublemaker of the royal family, an unrepentant womanizer who covets what Franz has, from the emperor's throne to Elisabeth herself. After banishing his brother into exile at the end of season 1, Franz calls Maximilian back for an important mission involving Napoleon.

Johanness Nussbaum, 29, is an Austrian actor who was still in school when he won the Romy (Austrias most prestigious film and television award) for Best Young Actor for his role in the series Vorstadtweiber. He has since appeared in stage and screen productions including A Hidden Life, Steirerkreuz, and MDRJago.

Almila Bagriacik as Leontine von Apafi

Almila Bagriacik as Leontine von Apafi wearing a black cloak and hat walking through a lawn in 'The Empress.'

Countess Leontine von Apafi is a loyal friend and ally of Elisabeth, who serves as one of her ladies in waiting. Leontine is quite different from the rest of Sisi's ladies, as she's hiding several huge secretsthe most monumental of season 2 involving her love life.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Almila Bagriacik, 34, is an award-winning Turkish-German actress with dozens of credits across both countries, including When We Leave, Hordur, Life Song, 4 Blocks, Hunting Season, and Tatort.

Alexander Finkenwirth as Alexander von Bach

Alexander Finkenwirth as Alexander von Bach writing a leatter in 'The Empress.'

Alexander von Bach is the Austrian empire's interior minister, whose main goal is to ensure the safety of the Austrian subjects and ultimately end the war. He's played by Alexander Finkenwirth, 38, who debuted in 2013 and has acted in German productions including Allmen, Bauhaus - A New Era, Deutschland 89, Buba, and Push.

Runa Greiner as Charlotte von Stubenberg

Six Austrian ladies-in-waiting sit and stand in the Empress's chamber and drink tea, in the Netflix show 'The Empress.'

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Charlotte von Stubenberg (above, wearing white), another of Elisabeth's ladies in waiting, is played by Runa Greiner, 28. She made her debut as a teen actress in 2011 and went on to star in German productions including Charite, Blaumacher, Freaks, Rampensau, Tina mobil, and The Interpreter of Silence. Most recently, she starred as Ember Bell in Prime Video's Maxton Hall: The World Between Us.

Josephine Thiesen as Princess Marie Charlotte of Belgium

Josephine Thiesen as Princess Marie Charlotte of Belgium with her hair up and holding a champagne flute in 'The Empress.'

Princess Marie Charlotte of Belgium is a new addition in The Empress season 2 who falls in love with Maximilian after a chance encounter. She's played by Josephine Thiesen, in the German newcomer's second TV role besides the Max miniseries Two Sides of the Abyss.
(This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information)

PANAMA CITY BEACH  An upcoming music festival is on track to be one of the biggest events in the Beach's history.

According to Rendy Lovelady, executive producer of the Gulf Coast Jam, next summer's concert was on track to sell out, with about two-thirds of tickets claimed by the end of November. Known to attract thousand of people to Panama City Beach, the event is slated to be held May 29 to June 1 at Frank Brown Park.

Tickets to the 2025 Gulf Coast Jam, which will be held May 29 to June 1 in Panama City Beach, are selling out fast.

"We'll be sold out in the next few months," Lovelady said. "It's exciting. It gives you some sense of peace of mind that you've built something that is worthy of Panama City Beach, is worthy of the state and is worthy of southeast."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According a November post on the Gulf Coast Jam's Facebook page, ticket prices for the 2025 concert are:

Four-day college student tickets  $199

Four-day military, medical personnel and first responder tickets  $199

Four-day general admission tickets  $209

Four-day VIP standing tickets  $569

Four-day VIP seated tickets  $599

Four-day super VIP tickets  sold out

Four-day side stage tickets  $1,500 (less than 10% remaining as of Dec. 12)

Four-day overlook club tickets  $1,700 (less than 30% remaining as of Dec. 12)

Payment plans are available for all tiers of tickets.

They are broken up into six payments, with tickets for college student, military members, medical personnel and first responders requiring a $43.68 initial payment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

General admission tickets require a $45.31 initial payment, VIP standing tickets require a $103.88 initial payment, VIP seated tickets require a $108.76 initial payment, side stage tickets require a $282.57 initial payment and overlook club tickets require a $331.01 initial payment.

Lovelady announced on Nov. 22 that Sam Barber will replace Lauren Alaina, who was previously announced as a performer but had to drop out.

The complete lineup for the 2025 Gulf Coast Jam is:

Thursday, May 29  Jason Byrd, Angie K, Restless Road, NEEDTOBREATHE and co-headliners Jordan Davis and Sam Hunt.

Friday, May 30  Mason Via, Emily Nenni, Darryl Worley, Tyler Farr, Randy Houser and headliner Lainey Wilson.

Saturday, May 31  Josh Mitcham, Waylon Wyatt, Carter Faith, Sam Barber, The Red Clay Strays and headliner Tyler Childers.

Sunday, June 1  Brian Fuller, Jake Kohn, Mackenzie Carpenter, Dasha, Megan Moroney and headliner Blake Shelton.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Past reports note the 2024 Gulf Coast Jam garnered the largest turnout in the event's history. It had about 120,000 participants over the four days  5,000 to 10,000 more than in 2023, which previously held the record.

About 30,000 people attended the event each night. This included 25,000 ticket-holders, event staff, performers and their crews. Officials expect about a similar turnout in 2025.

More on Frank Brown Park: Panama City Beach approves $107,000 for design of 10 pickleball courts at Frank Brown Park

Tickets for the 2025 Gulf Coast Jam can be purchased at gulfcoastjam.com.

"We're trying to make it affordable to all people," Lovelady said. "We try to make it as easy as possible."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Tickets selling out for 2025 Gulf Coast Jam in Panama City Beach
Russia vetoed a U.N. cease-fire resolution between Sudan's military and paramilitary forces as the humanitarian crisis in the country deepens.
Cruise lines don't add an item to their banned lists without a lot of thought.

That's because when they do this, they have to communicate the change to passengers. Many cruisers won't hear about the change and will be entirely unpleased when the item they'd been allowed to bring on board is confiscated until the end of the cruise. (Unless its something like alcohol. And anything more serious than that, youll probably get taken off the ship.)

Related: Carnival Cruise Line quietly removed a very special on-board space

Royal Caribbean proved that recently with its confusing ban on multiplug outlets. It used to allow multiplug outlet extenders that did not include surge protectors. Under its new rules, passengers can bring only devices that create multiple USB and USB-C ports, not more plugs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The cruise line made that change for safety reasons on its flagship-brand Royal Caribbean vessels but has not made it on its Celebrity Cruises brand.

That has led to loose enforcement and some angry passengers having their devices confiscated when other cruisers with the same (or similar) devices are able to bring them on board.

Cruise News Today's Doug Parker has more info on Carnival's latest ban, as well as some information about why Norwegian has been canceling cruises. And he looks at a new study on cruise-ship health.

Want the latest cruise news and deals? Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter.

Carnival clarifies ban on a popular item

Transcript:

This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Carnival Cruise Line has clarified its recently implemented ban on Bluetooth speakers. Now, according to Carnival's Facebook admin, John Heald, this also extends to speaker devices like white noise machines, which are often used for guests for better sleep.

When a passenger asked about bringing white noise machines on the ship, he said he is afraid it may be taken at the gangway. To be clear, this policy prohibits all Bluetooth portable speakers, Walkman and transistor radios with wireless capabilities, and boomboxes.

Even speakers sold in Carnival's onboard gift shops are subject to the ban and will be held until debark.

Norwegian cancels cruises; Cunard shares health info

And we're learning more about that string of cancellations from Norwegian Cruise Line last week that impacted over 169,000 passengers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Norwegian Jewel will now sail from Miami during the 25-26 cruise season after NCL canceled its original Tampa-based schedule.

The ship's new itineraries will run from Miami from November of 25 to April of 26 to the Bahamas, Southern Caribbean and the Panama Canal.

Impacted guests there will receive full refunds and a 10% discount on a future cruise. As mentioned last week, the redeployment is also impacting three other ships:

The Norwegian Dawn, which will now sail the Western Caribbean instead of Africa.

Norwegian Star will sail the Bahamas and Southern Caribbean. And Norwegian Jade will focus on the Mexican Riviera.

ALSO READ: Top travel agents share how to get the best price on your cruise

And proof that cruising makes you healthy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cunard has research showing that slow travel aboard the Queen Mary II boosts cognitive abilities and emotional well-being.

A study by the Human Understanding Agency found that just five days at sea can improve memory by 29%, problem solving by 125% and attention by 14%. Oh, but we're not done.

Relaxation levels also rose by 158% with stress dropping by 35%. This study was done by neuroscientist Dr. Jack Lewis.

Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to have all your questions answered.
David Goettler of Germany and Nicolas Hojak of Switzerland have done a rare ascent of the north face of 6,378m Ganchenpo in Nepal's Langtang. Goettler admits that they do not know if their line is new. We might need the collaboration of the climbing community to solve the riddle.

Goettler told ExplorersWeb that they found the face in excellent condition. It allowed a quick, single-push ascent, with no need to rope up for most of the route.

Change of plans

The climbers started from Kyanjing Gompa village. After trekking for five hours, they camped for the first night at 4,700m, just before the glacier. Ganchenpo is also known as Fluted Peak because of its icy, fluted north face. Goettler and Hojak had planned to go up a mixed line running along the right side of the north face, but conditions were not as expected. There was a lack of continuous ice, leaving only crumbly-looking rock.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After some discussion, the pair chose to go up the center of the face, completely on ice and snow.

"We had no bivouac equipment with us, so our our style was to simply climb up and down as quickly as possible," Hojac wrote on Instagram. "We were also worried by the forecast, which reported winds of over 70kph at 7,000m."

The climbers roped up to pass the bergschrund. Photo: David Goettler

The following day, they crossed the glacier and the bergschrund to the base of the north face. They then climbed one of the face's ice gullies without ropes until the last 60m. Here, they found sugary snow and a five-meter section of 80 ice that ended at the ridge next to the summit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We made the last few steps to the summit and shook hands," said Hojak. "What a wonderful moment to be standing up here! In the distance, we could see 8,027m Shisha Pangma, [and] to the left, Langtang Lirung."

The whole ascent took just four hours.

New 'official' route

On the descent, the climbers took the peak's normal route back to their tent at 4,700m. The entire return trip took 12 hours.

"Despite strong winds in the forecast, we were very lucky with almost no wind when we topped out," Goettler said.

Hojac posted on his social media that they tried to climb the classic north face route.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Although this has already had two ascents, it is still a cool line on this mountain," Hojac said.

Goetller was less sure their line had been climbed before, at least legally. "Our line is different to what Freire and his partner climbed last year, but maybe some other parties [without a permit] climbed this exact line before," he told ExplorersWeb.

Joshua Harrin and Oswaldo Freire climbed a line up the center of the north face of Ganchenpo last fall. They called their new 1,000m route Cold Therapy and graded it AI4+. According to The Himalayan Database, theirs was the first ascent of the north face. The other few climbs on Ganchenpo were done via from the south and west.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Yet this peak has a history of unauthorized climbs. It is possible that one or more of these teams could have been on the north side and possibly even on Goettler and Hojac's exact line. If anyone in the climbing community can provide clarity, please contact us. Note that Ganchenpo is often spelled Ganchempo.

Goettler and Hojac have now finished with autumn climbing in Nepal. This winter, Goettler does not intend to attempt a bigger peak, as he has done in recent years. Previously, he and Herve Barmasse attempted winter alpine-style climbs on Nanga Parbat's Rupal side and on Dhaulagiri.

Advertisement Advertisement
Continuing a tradition that goes back years, President Joe Biden will partake in his last turkey pardon during his administration.

Every year, the president "pardons" one or two turkeys before the Thanksgiving holiday. This may be one of the more eccentric jobs the president takes on during their tenure, but the yearly "pardoning" has become a tradition of its own.

Here's what you need to know about the tradition:

What is the turkey pardoning?

It is believed Abraham Lincoln was the first president to pardon a turkey in 1863. Lincoln's son Tad allegedly became attached to the turkey that was fated to be served at the family's Christmas meal, according to the History Channel.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lincoln was said to have spared the bird from becoming dinner, based on an 1865 dispatch by White House reporter Noah Brooks. This account, however, may be overstated, the White House Historical Association reports.

Starting in 1947, the National Turkey Federation began giving the president a turkey ahead of Thanksgiving.

"The White House Presentation signals the beginning of the holiday season of national thanks, historically representing agricultures bountiful harvest," the federation's website states. Each year, the president receives the National Thanksgiving Turkey and an alternate.

The first president to receive a live turkey was Harry S. Truman, from the National Turkey Federation. As a result, he is often credited as the first to pardon a turkey. But the 33rd president does not hold that title.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The turkeys Truman received actually met the fate of becoming a holiday feast. In 1948, Truman said to reporters that the birds would "come in handy" for Christmas dinner, according to the History Channel.

How long has the turkey pardon been observed?

The national Thanksgiving turkey presentation has been observed since 1947, according to the National Turkey Federation.

Who was the first president to pardon a turkey?

Ronald Reagan was the first to formally use the term "pardon" in regard to a turkey, the History Channel reports. In 1987, Reagan was asked by reporters if he'd pardon his aides who had been accused in the Iran-Contra scandal. He ignored those questions, but joked, "I'll pardon him," of the 55-pound Thanksgiving bird.

It wasn't until the George H.W. Bush presidency that pardoning turkeys became commonplace for the president.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

From then on, two lucky birds get to live out the remainder of their days without worrying about ending up on the Thanksgiving dinner table.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: How did the presidential turkey pardon start? What to know about it
JERUSALEM, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Tuesday in separate statements that it has carried out extensive strikes against Hezbollah military targets across Lebanon, and has killed the commander of Hezbollah's operations unit in the coastal sector.

In Beirut, the Israeli army targeted infrastructure sites used by Hezbollah's coast-to-sea missile unit, command centers, and additional facilities, as well as its management and financial storage facilities, including headquarters, cash depots, and branches of the financial Qard al-Hasan Association, which Hezbollah uses to collect and store funds for military buildup, the IDF said.

In southern Lebanon, the Israeli army attacked at least 30 Hezbollah targets, it said.

Meanwhile, the IDF said the Israeli Air Force attacked and killed Ahmad Sabhi Hazima, commander of Hezbollah's operations unit in the coastal sector, in the city of Tyre in southern Lebanon.

According to the IDF, "Hazima advanced numerous terror attacks including infiltration plans into Israeli territory and firing anti-tank missiles at Israeli communities in the Western Galilee area."

The Israeli attacks came as the Israeli political-security cabinet is reportedly expected to discuss and approve a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon on Tuesday evening or Wednesday, more than a year after the fighting broke out between Israel and Hezbollah on Oct. 8, 2023.

On Monday, Lebanon's Deputy Parliament Speaker Elias Bou Saab said a ceasefire deal with Israel has become close after a meeting of the Parliament Bureau.

"We are approaching the ceasefire moment. This week or in the next 10 days, there will be a decisive position," Bou Saab said, according to the Lebanese official National News Agency.

But he also noted that the final decision for a ceasefire in Lebanon will be made according to developments in the war field.

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. 
GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP)  Greensboro police began a homicide investigation after a person was found dead on Monday, according to a Greensboro Police Department news release.

Around 12:25 p.m., Greensboro police responded to Yanceyville Road near King Fisher Trail when they were told about a dead person.

Officers found a dead male off the side of the road down an embankment. He had an injury consistent with a gunshot wound, police say.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police are investigating his death as a homicide. Investigators have not been able to determine his identity.

This is the citys 40th homicide of 2024.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at (336) 373-1000. Residents can also download the mobile P3tips app for Apple or Android phones to submit a mobile tip, or go to P3tips.com to submit a web tip. All tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP.
Millions of Americans live abroad, including in Mexico and Canada.

It's hard to know exactly how many US citizens live overseas and all their reasons for moving.

Many say the cost of living, healthcare, and safety concerns draw them to different countries.

Whether it's wanderlust, retirement, cost of living, family ties, or other reasons, some Americans long to live abroad.

They tend to flock to certain parts of the globe more than others. The US's closest neighbors, Mexico and Canada, are top picks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Others include locations like the UK and Australia where English is the primary language.

Yet, there are a few on the list that may surprise you.

Using census data, the Association of Americans Resident Overseas estimated the countries with the highest number of US citizens.

It's a rough estimate since embassies don't keep an official registry of Americans overseas and the US census doesn't track citizens abroad, Doris L. Speer, president of the nonprofit AARO, told Business Insider via email.

Here are the top 10 countries where Americans are choosing to live after they leave the US, according to the AARO.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

10. Spain: an estimated 108,684 US citizens

People looking at Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images

From the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Mediterranean coast, Spain has a diverse landscape with bustling cities and charming towns in between.

Compared to other European countries, its cost of living is relatively low. Vibrant nightlife, sunny beaches, high-quality healthcare, and a relaxed lifestyle all make Americans' lists of reasons to move to Spain, while some retirees find their money goes further in Spain.

Non-Spanish and non-Catalan speakers may have trouble navigating some parts of the country, and smaller homes, a slower pace, and unfamiliar bureaucracy all take getting used to for some Americans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Spain offers a yearlong digital nomad visa. Retirees can apply for a non-lucrative visa (or NLV), which allows them to live, but not work, in the country.

GDP: $1.73 trillion

Economy ranking based on GDP: #15

9. Japan: an estimated 111,021 US citizens

Shibuya crossing in Tokyo, Japan. Marco Bottigelli/Getty Images

Japan has a population of over 124 million people, and just a tiny fraction of that number are US citizens.

Because the country's population is over 97% Japanese, Americans tend to stick out.

"It was a culture shock to see only one type of ethnicity all around me at all times," Genie Doi, who is Korean-American, recently told BI.

However, Japan's safety, scenery, and quality of life can be huge incentives to move there.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I was very concerned about gun violence, which is almost nonexistent in Japan," Floridian Alex Evans told BI in 2023. He and his family moved to Mukaishima Island, Japan, in June 2022.

Other US citizens have said some challenges living in the country include a lack of size inclusivity in clothing, difficulties with the language  even with years of study  and the time it takes to travel to other countries from an island nation.

Foreigners who want to live in Japan for six months can apply for a "digital nomad" residence. Those looking to stay even longer can look into visas on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs site.

GDP: $4.07 trillion

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Economy ranking based on GDP: #4

8. France: an estimated 117,462 US citizens

The Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. HADI ZAHER/Getty Images

From 1954's "Sabrina" to "Emily in Paris," Americans' fascination with France has existed for decades.

US citizens who immigrate there rave about everything from the food to the fashion to the art and architecture.

However, at least a few US citizens have found the visa process tricky and had difficulty finding housing.

Particularly in Paris, some Americans said racism is prevalent. Others had trouble making friends or experienced a language barrier if they didn't speak French.

Filling out lots of forms and waiting for answers isn't uncommon. "The bureaucracy is unbelievably frustrating," Rick Jones, who moved to Paris in 2018, told BI in July.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Francophiles hoping to work or attend school can apply for residence cards or student visas.

GDP: $3.17 trillion

Economy ranking based on GDP: #7

7. South Korea: an estimated 129,499 US citizens

The Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul, South Korea. William Tang/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Visitors flock to South Korea to revel in the land of K-pop and K-dramas or to experience the food, shopping, museums, and natural wonders.

US citizens who stay longer have touted universal healthcare, a good quality of life, and convenient public transportation as reasons to love Korea. The high-speed trains cover much of the country, making it easy to travel between big cities.

Among the challenges new residents to Korea face are difficulty with the language, high housing prices, finding employment, and the distance from the US.

Moving to South Korea requires a visa, with most requirements involving work, school, or family. Job hunters can stay for six months with the possibility of extending the visa to a year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

GDP: $1.87 trillion

Economy ranking based on GDP: #12

6. Australia: an estimated 218,216 US citizens

The skyline in Melbourne, Australia. Kokkai Ng/Getty Images

Australia is known for its beautiful beaches and gorgeous weather. For those looking to live there permanently, though, it also boasts a solid economy, good healthcare, childcare stipends, and perks like retirement assistance.

Melbourne and Sydney are among the top 10 most livable cities in the 2024 Economist Intelligence Unit's Global Liveability Index. The country is also one of the most welcoming of migrants, based on a 2019 Gallup survey.

However, for Americans, it is very far from home. It can take nearly 24 hours to travel from the East Coast of the US to Australia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Another potential downside is that the country's drier, hotter weather is expected to worsen due to the climate crisis, according to the Australian government.

There are visa options for people who want to call Australia home. However, its immigration laws tend to favor the wealthy, giving preference to individuals with education qualifications, professional experience, and who are English-speaking. The Global Talent Program offers visas to "exceptionally talented and prominent individuals."

GDP: $1.8 trillion

Economy ranking based on GDP: #14

5. Germany: an estimated 238,652 US citizens

A boat sails along the Spree River in Berlin, Germany. Hannes P Albert/picture alliance via Getty Images

For decades, Germany has been Europe's economic powerhouse. Many American immigrants to the country found job opportunities, reliable public healthcare, affordable childcare, and a generous amount of time off from work.

Weeks of vacation time allowed them the opportunity to travel around Europe. The country shares a border with Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, and Switzerland.

Recently, Germany's economic growth has slowed, the Associated Press reported in 2023. This fall, the government announced tighter border controls and some political analysts are concerned about the re-emergence of far-right politics in recent elections.

Skilled workers can apply for visas and stay for 12 months while looking for a job. The country also recently eased some of its rules around obtaining citizenship, the AP reported in January.

GDP: $4.71 trillion

Economy ranking based on GDP: #3

4. Israel: an estimated 281,137 US citizens

The skyline in Tel Aviv, Israel. Richard T. Nowitz/Getty Images

Over the years, Israel has attracted high-tech startups and wealthy individuals, fueling a luxury real estate boom in some cities.

However, Israel's conflict with Hamas and the continued invasion of Gaza have slowed the inflow of millionaires who no longer consider the country a safe haven, according to one investment migration advisory firm.

While many US citizens move to cities far from the conflicts, others are living in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Some have blamed these settlers for increased violence against Palestinians over the past year.

Those wishing to move to Israel need a visa. The country's Law of Return allows those with Jewish parents or grandparents to apply for citizenship.

GDP: $528 billion

Economy ranking based on GDP: #30

3. United Kingdom: an estimated 325,321 US citizens

A view of Big Ben in London, England. Jakub Porzycki/Getty Images

Like Canada, the UK is full of native English speakers, which can ease the transition to living in a new country.

The financial website Investopedia found that prescriptions, groceries, and rent are often cheaper in the UK compared to the US, but gas and energy prices can be higher depending on where you live.

Americans living in the UK who spoke with BI have cited its National Health Service, proximity to the rest of Europe, and work-life balance as benefits of their new home.

These perks can offset lower wages and homesickness.

"Despite lower take-home pay, I'm way less stressed," Wales resident Regina Beach told BI in 2023. "The five-weeks paid holiday  that everyone actually takes  certainly helps."

Some potential downsides, which Americans may struggle to adjust to include smaller homes and the rainy weather. The UK's pub culture isn't for everyone, either.

You can apply for work and study visas to start living in the UK. The government's website provides information on settlement, which allows you to live, work, and study there for good.

GDP: $3.59 trillion

Economy ranking based on GDP: #6

2. Canada: an estimated 1,050,898 US citizens

The skyline in Toronto, Canada. Grant Faint/Getty Images

The US's neighbor to the north has scenic beauty, vibrant cities, a large English-speaking population, and universal healthcare. These are all attractive reasons for Americans to relocate, though temporary or permanent residency is a little more difficult to attain than in Mexico.

Americans won't necessarily find affordable housing in some of the country's larger cities, like Toronto and Vancouver. But for some, Canada offers a feeling of safety, especially with the US's high rates of gun violence.

Despite the benefits of universal healthcare, some transplants from the US found that there can be long waiting lists for specialists and certain treatments.

While the country does offer paths to becoming a permanent resident or citizen, they're often tied to work or family connections. Skilled workers and entrepreneurs can apply for visas, and relatives can sponsor certain family members so they can live, study, and work in the country.

GDP: $2.21 trillion

Economy ranking based on GDP: #9

1. Mexico: an estimated 1,182,346 US citizens

The Cablebus Public Transportation System above the Iztapalapa neighborhood in Mexico City. Yuri Cortez/AFP via Getty Images

Mexico draws many Americans who want to stay close to friends and family while settling in a new country.

The ability to hop across the border to use their Medicare is also important for many retirees, she said.

Housing, groceries, and healthcare are typically less expensive than in the US, though the influx of newcomers is causing rising rents and housing shortages in some areas like Mexico City.

Many US citizens obtain a temporary resident visa that allows them to live in Mexico for up to four years. Retirees looking to stay can apply for a permanent resident visa, which allows them to stay indefinitely.

GDP: $1.85 trillion, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Economy ranking based on GDP: #13

Read the original article on Business Insider
Since 2005, Walmart has partnered with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to fund a program called Acres for America. At its outset, Walmart promised the program would conserve a single acre of wildlife habitat for every acre of land it developed. It has far exceeded that goal in the last 2 decades. Over the next decade, Walmart has committed to taking the program even further.

On Nov. 21, 2024, it announced a 10-year, $34.5 million commitment to extend its work with NFWF, supporting Acres for America. In addition to Walmarts previous donations, this is now the largest contribution to an NFWF program in the Foundations 40-year history. NFWF said this initiative is now a leading public-private land conservation partnership in the U.S.

Acres for America not only permanently protects land across the country thats significant for nature and wildlife, Ryan Pettigrew, senior manager for Acres for America at Walmart told GearJunkie. It also enables local management and public access to the land, so that generations to come can enjoy our natural resources.

Walmarts Acres for America: 10 Years, 2 Million Acres Protected

Acres for America has funded 126 projects in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico in the last 20 years. Through those, it has protected over 2 million acres to support the conservation habitats for birds, fish, plants, and wildlife. Those spaces also provide local access to the outdoors and support economies that depend on forestry, ranching, and recreation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is such an important program for large-scale conservation projects across the nation, and this 10-year renewal will allow us to continue to support and catalyze the permanent protection of lands and wildlife habitat of national significance, Chris West, director of the Rocky Mountain Regional Office for the NFWF told GearJunkie. These are such amazing projects.

West said one of the coolest parts of Acres for America is that it is sometimes the key private financing that can help take a conservation project from a vision to a reality.

Sometimes its the final piece of the puzzle, the funding that is needed to close the deal, he said.

This year, there are seven new Acres for America grants totaling $4 million. They were awarded to projects in California, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and South Carolina. Together, they will protect more than 100,000 acres of wildlife habitat.

Connected and Protected: Acres for America Projects

How does NFWF select the project it plans to pursue through Acres for America? According to West, it runs an annual Request for Proposals to attract projects that need funding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Conservation experts evaluate those based on things like quality of wildlife habitat, and connectivity to other protected lands. They also consider the impact on local communities (such as access to nature, watershed protection, flood risk reduction, etc.).

West said it varies from project to project, but he noted that generally, many of these projects are or will be open for the public to enjoy, for all sorts of opportunities from hunting and fishing, biking, hiking and wildlife viewing.

Walmarts $70 million investment, along with federal, state, and local funding, has generated more than $1.2 billion in total matching contributions.

Walmarts sustained commitment to conservation is as inspirational as it is significant, Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF, said in a press release. The company has helped make more than 125 projects a reality from Maine to California and everywhere in between. Thousands of species of our native wildlife are dependent on the habitats protected and connected by Acres for America projects.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To see a map of all the Acres for America projects, check out the NFWF webpage. The website also lists many grant opportunities for other conservation initiatives and organizations.

Im proud of what the program has accomplished in its first 20 years, Pettigrew said. In the next 10 years, were excited about our continued work with NFWF to protect even more special places across the country.

The post 10 More Years of Acres for America: Walmart Pledges $34.5 Million to Habitat Conservation appeared first on GearJunkie.
Investigative Summary:

More than 86,000 Texas teens have been sent to court for missing school since lawmakers 2015 reforms made truancy a civil matter, rather than criminal. A KXAN investigation found cases are escalating every year, with more than 12,000 this year. Meanwhile, no state agency is tracking whether the students are being helped or harmed.

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN)  Nathaniel Karles brother answered a knock at the door on April 15, then called back into the house for Nathaniel to come to the porch. There was a uniformed officer there who needed to speak with him.

Body camera footage of the encounter shows 17-year-old Nathaniel stoically step outside to face the constable. Beneath the surface, Nathaniel was feeling the opposite, he later told KXAN in an interview.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I was so scared. I was like, This is my day. Im going to jail, Nathaniel said.

Fortunately, the constable was holding a clipboard, not handcuffs. Nathaniel soon learned he wasnt going to jail. The constable was serving him papers and referring him to court for truant conduct  the legal term for missing too much school. He had over 20 absences that school year at Georgetown High School.

At that point, Georgetown Independent School District decided it had done its duty to help get Nathaniel to class. Now, the courts would handle him.

court paperwork being handed to boy and mom

What happened on Nathaniels porch that day in April is a scene that plays out thousands of times per year in Texas: kids served papers for truancy and sent before a judge to find a way forward with their education. This year, the number of students sent to court exceeded 12,000  a near-record high. In one Central Texas county, truancy cases doubled in a year. KXAN also obtained records showing students who are homeless and others in special education programs were referred to court for absences, which experts say is potentially troubling.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At the rate Texas is going, next year the state will have the most truant conduct cases since 2015  the year lawmakers dismantled the old criminal-penalty-based system. Back then, state leaders recognized the damage caused by charging students with a misdemeanor for school absences. There was significant media coverage and ample studies at the time. With a deep understanding of the problem, legislators flipped truancy to make it a civil matter, rather than criminal.

Now, nearly a decade into Texas reformed civil truancy system, the impact on teens like Nathaniel isnt so clear.

A KXAN investigation found no state agency is tracking how courts are handling cases, or the outcomes of judges orders  which can range from relatively basic to life-changing for a youth.

No tracking

Data collected by the states Office of Court Administration show the numbers of students and parents sent to court for truant conduct. The data also show which counties and cities the cases are handled in. Beyond that, its murky.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

KXAN filed more than 200 records requests with Central Texas justice of the peace courts, municipal courts and school districts to get an understanding of how students are impacted by this system. We asked for the number of cases theyve received, and the types of orders judges have given students  for example, if they were ordered to get a G.E.D.

The information we received back was spotty. Some courts and districts provided detailed records. Many provided only basic information. Some courts flat-out declined.

This chart shows statewide totals by year for truant conduct and parent contributing to nonattendance cases since 2016 that were handled in justice of the peace courts and municipal courts. Source: Texas Office of Court Administration (KXAN Interactive/David Barer)

The Texas Education Agency, which oversees public schools in the state, confirmed it does not collect information on the orders judges are giving or how the cases are turning out.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

TEA does not have authority to require courts to provide data on the handling of truant conduct cases and therefore cannot collect the data from the courts, an agency spokesperson told KXAN, adding that it has no knowledge of any other agency tracking that information.

With little overarching evidence of what is and isnt working in truancy court, education experts and policy advocates told KXAN they are concerned.

The fact that we dont know, at least globally through the data, it should be very concerning because how can we make smart, informed policy decisions about whether these interventions are working? said Paige Duggins-Clay, an attorney and legal analyst with the Intercultural Development Research Association.

Underlying problems

Following Nathaniels case offers a glimpse into the truancy enforcement system  where juvenile records are kept confidential by law. Judges and experts told KXAN they often find absences are caused by underlying problems at home, within families or with a students mental or physical health.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nathaniel said his absences trace back to family issues. His dad was charged with a sex crime against a child. While police investigated the case  before his dad was arrested  Nathaniel feared his father would try to pick him up at school. So, he stayed home. Thats when most of his absences piled up.

You know, their dad could have shown up at the school any given time, said Nathaniels mom, Rosa Yharte. Nathaniel was very afraid to go to school, she added.

Nathaniels father is currently in jail awaiting trial on two charges of indecency with a child sexual contact, a second-degree felony.

Hays CISD can remove students from school after 5 straight absences without notice

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most truant conduct cases are handled in justice of the peace court; a smaller percentage are sent to municipal courts. In tandem with their kids, parents are often charged with a misdemeanor for contributing to nonattendance. Statewide, over 18,000 parent contributing cases were filed in 2024, OCA data shows.

Nathaniels case went to Williamson Countys Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace. Rosa said they were given two options: Nathaniel could finish high school through a G.E.D. or enroll in a homeschool program. A G.E.D. is the commonly used acronym for a General Education Development credential, an equivalent to a high school diploma that can be earned after passing four tests.

boy stands in front of court

Rosa knew Nathaniel  who was in a special education program  wouldnt handle the G.E.D. route well since it lacked the services he had access to at his previous high school, she said. She ultimately enrolled him in a nearby charter school.

Nathaniels case was one of more than nearly 4,000 truant conduct cases filed in Williamson County justice of the peace courts since 2016.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In recent years, theres been a sharp increase in that county, mostly coming from Hutto ISD in eastern Williamson County, according to court records.

Driving the docket

Truancy cases in Judge Rhonda Reddens courtroom in Williamson County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 ballooned by nearly a thousand percent  from 38 in 2022 to 408 in 2023, according to data her court provided.

You have to understand, JPs dont drive the docket, Redden told KXAN. The docket gets driven by the schools and then it has to go through the county attorney before we actually get it on our desk.

The cases hitting her desk primarily come from the larger school districts in her area: Hutto, Jarrell and Taylor, she said. Of those, Hutto ISD has filed the most, according to her office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Redden said the cases coming into her court escalated when districts saw how she was using remedial orders. As Redden put it, the school districts wanted a problem solver.

two women speak

There was also a big push with a couple of the different school districts that wanted to get their truancy under control, Redden said. Once they figured out that I was going to actually do something with remedial orders, I was going to follow up on them and I was going to take them through to the end of the remedial order, they started really filing.

When KXAN asked Hutto ISD for data on its truant conduct cases, the district said it couldnt determine from its records how many cases were against students and how many were against parents.

Hutto ISD declined KXANs interview request. In a statement, the district said it does not employ dedicated truancy officers and instead uses its police department and staff from the Parent and Family Engagement Office to improve attendance with home visits and other family support measures.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Eliska Padilla, a spokesperson for Hutto ISD, said the districts truancy process has undergone significant adjustments this school year, resulting in just a single truancy filing being made so far.

All truancy filings are preceded by comprehensive prevention measures to ensure that families receive the support and resources needed to improve attendance, Padilla said.

Without saying which district they came from, Redden acknowledged she has seen cases that she had to dismiss because she was legally required to.

Ive got kids that are homeless, Redden said. Ive got kids that have, you know, theyre in foster systems and all kinds of stuff  I cant even hear those cases.

According to TEA guidance, if a school determines a students absences are the result of pregnancy, being in the state foster program, homelessness, or being the principal income earner for the students family, the district shall offer additional counseling to the student and may not refer the student to a truancy court.

Redden wouldnt speculate on what the districts could do better to control truancy. Thats not where I work, she said, adding that she has firm confidence the districts are doing everything they can before referring cases to her court.

Schools are overloaded, just trying to get kids to do what they need to do, she said.

Redden spoke to KXAN from her courtroom, but she could only speak generally because juvenile cases are confidential by law.

With little access to individual student information, KXAN sat and watched multiple cases in Travis and Burnet County courts to get a better sense of the process and circumstances of students.

KXAN in court

KXAN watched two court sessions on Oct. 16 in Marble Falls Municipal Court, where Judge Cheryl Pounds handled a half dozen truant conduct cases. Each high school teen was accompanied by at least one parent. Some of the parents faced misdemeanor charges for contributing to truancy.

None of the students or parents had a lawyer. There were no spectators other than KXAN, and Marble Falls ISD had no representative at the hearings. An armed officer stood guard at the front of the court during the proceedings.

At the outset, the parents and kids silently watched a video recording of Pounds explaining the court process and their rights. Anything the child said could be used against them, Pounds said in the video, and the child had a right to a jury trial and the right to cross-examine witnesses.

Each family was called to sit in front of the judge and explain their issues. They then received remedial orders. One high school junior was struggling with attendance because she feared her dad and thought he might show up to her school. Her mother also had a medical condition that would soon require heart surgery, so life was not easy at home.

In another case, a boys migraines were so severe he missed multiple days and didnt have a doctors excuse. His parents explained they had medical documentation about his condition from a neurologist.

Catalyst  The Hanging on Backbone Creek

Pounds ordered both students to attend six hours of tutorial per week to get back on track, and the girl was told to have a parent meeting with a school official. None of the students or families were assessed fees. In each case emerged details of an underlying cause for truancy  something more than mere defiance.

Marble Falls ISD told KXAN it makes every effort to make sure it has a representative at truancy court. The lack of representation at the Oct. 16 hearing KXAN watched was an isolated incident, and a district representative was present at all other hearings this year, according to a district spokesperson.

After court, Pounds told KXAN her top goal is to get kids to graduate. Truancy court is dear to my heart, she said.

Cord Woerner, the Marble Falls Municipal Court juvenile case manager, told KXAN the court uses myriad tools  from ordering tutorials, to mental health evaluations, to communicating with school officials  to handle each students particular case.

Every case is unique and has its own circumstances to deal with, Woerner told KXAN in an email. Our ultimate goal in dealing with and enforcing the state truancy laws are determine what the root causes are, assist the family with the resources they need to help them remedy the situation, ensure that the student is working to complete make up hours or credits that they will need for their education and ultimately receive their diploma.

Marble Falls Municipal Court has seen a relatively steady stream of cases since 2015, totaling over 500, according to OCA data.

Scattered court data

KXAN attempted to get data in Central Texas showing how often remedial orders, like the ones Pounds issued, are used.

In response, courts often could not, or chose not to, provide that information.

For example, Williamson County Precinct 2 justice court provided basic numbers of truancy cases filed, but no specifics on the types of remedial orders used. Information from the countys Precinct 3 justice court showed the number of G.E.D. orders since 2017  a total of 44.

Travis Countys five justice of the peace courts, which have had the most cases of truant conduct and parent contributing of any county in Central Texas since 2015, provided no information to KXAN. Jointly, the courts said they have discretion over whether to release the information and chose not to, according to a letter from the Travis County Attorneys Office.

We do know cases are going up. Since 2016, over 86,000 kids have been sent to court for truant conduct. The number peaked in 2019, at just over 12,800. When the pandemic hit in 2020, filings slumped but immediately started climbing again. This year, truant conduct cases topped 12,000, and they are on pace to set a record next year, according to the Office of Court Administrations fiscal year data.

KXAN mapped the total number of truant conduct cases in county justice of the peace courts and city municipal courts from 2016 to 2024. The shaded counties show the total cases for all justice courts in that county, and the dots represent the overall number of cases in each citys court. Source: Texas Office of Court Administration (KXAN Interactive/David Barer)

State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, said he was alarmed by the growth in cases and lack of information.

When you begin to look at the number of cases that have been filed, we have a systemic problem that we have not addressed, West told KXAN. We cant just keep throwing money at the problem. We need to redouble our efforts and figure out systemically whats the best approach to this.

Wrap-around services from school districts that should be helping could be caught up in budget deficits, he said.

We are not doing something right as a state, as a county, as a city, as a school district, West said.

Though statewide data is lacking, advocacy organizations have identified problems with the civil truancy system in specific districts.

Overuse of truancy

In February, four advocacy organizations  Disability Rights Texas, Texas Appleseed, Texas Civil Rights Project and the National Center for Youth Law  filed a Texas Education Agency complaint against Corpus Christi ISD on the South Texas coast, accusing the district of violating students rights.

Through its overuse of truancy court referrals, CCISD discriminates against students with disabilities and ultimately removes them from classroom instruction, violating their right to a free and appropriate public education, according to a February news release.

Corpus Christi ISD engaged in truancy referrals at a far higher rate than nearby districts  sending 3% of its students to truancy court. Thirteen percent of those students had special education needs, the complaint alleged.

A TEA investigation later confirmed the allegations against CCISD, finding the district violated its federal obligation to identify and evaluate students with disabilities it referred to truancy court in 2023 and early 2024, according to Disability Rights.

In response to the complaint and TEA findings, CCISD told KXAN it revised its truancy procedures and added a checklist with preventative measures to help students prior to taking the matter to court. The steps also require a meeting if those measures arent successful, according to a district spokesperson.

CCISD faces similar challenges that other districts face throughout the state, CCISD said in a statement to KXAN. These challenges include a highly mobile student population, high chronic absenteeism, and barriers to attendance faced by our students which may include transportation, housing, financial, and medical and mental health issues.

Olivia Lee, an attorney with Disability Rights Texas, said shes seeing an increase in the number of students with special needs across the state being sent to court.

Its coming up more and more frequently lately, which is concerning, Lee said. I feel like schools dont really know what to do with it when it comes to students with disabilities. They treat it as a general education issue.

Nearly every expert, judge and lawmaker KXAN spoke with, including Lee, agreed on one thing: schools are strapped for resources and that plays a role in their ability to tackle truancy before it goes to court.

Underfunded

There need to be so many resources available on the front end that, you know, these young people dont even have to think about going with a justice court appearance, Duggins-Clay said. Were seeing, unfortunately, our students and our families being scapegoated for the failures of policy, right? Because we havent invested in schools.

Texas schools handling of bullying case highlights Title IX challenges

Heather Stoner, executive director for campus and student services with Georgetown ISD, said the districts goal is not to send kids to truancy court.

Truancy court is pretty much the last resort for us, she said. The district wants to work with parents to find the root cause of absenteeism and provide support.

A big hurdle, Stoner said, is resources and funding. District and campus administrators have full plates, and the list of needs is growing.

For (the district) to be able to dedicate the amount of time that it takes to have individualized conversations with families about, specifically, attendance, it would be fantastic if there were additional resources to help fund positions that could be a liaison, Stoner said.

Scattered district data

To get a better idea of the cases coming from schools, KXAN requested data from every Central Texas school district showing the total number of students they referred to truancy court  including demographic and racial information, and whether the student was homeless or pregnant at the time. KXAN also requested the number of times districts recommended students be ordered to get their G.E.D.

The responses from school districts were scattershot. Some provided the information we asked for. Some did not. The results did show instances of vulnerable students and their parents being referred to court.

For example, Marble Falls ISD records show the district filed truancy cases on 10 homeless students or their parents, including two who were in a special education program, according to district data.

Marble Falls ISD told KXAN it takes the matter of student truancy seriously and evaluates each case on an individual basis, with a focus on understanding and addressing the underlying causes of absenteeism, according to spokesperson Megan Hamilton.

Regarding students classified as homeless, Hamilton said the district assesses the cause of their missed school days. If the review finds the students lack of attendance isnt related to their status as homeless, we may proceed with a court filing when it is deemed in the best interest of the student, Hamilton said in an email.

If our review determines that the students lack of attendance is unrelated to their McKinney- Vento status, we may proceed with a court filing when it is deemed in the best interest of the student, Hamilton said in an email.

Hamilton also said sending students to truancy court can serve as a pathway to additional resources, like court-ordered mental health services or counseling.

For kids in special education, there is a long list of interventions school districts can use before referring them to court, said Lee with Disability Rights Texas.

Interventions can include functional behavior assessments, trying a shortened school day to get them back in the classroom, creating an individualized education program, commonly called an IEP, or providing counseling, Lee said, to name a few.

How often  and how vigorously  schools use truancy interventions isnt clear. District records for students are kept private under federal law.

Hutto ISD provided data showing several students or parents of homeless students and kids in special education were sent to truancy court. All of them were on truancy prevention measures, but the data doesnt specify what those measures were.

Nathaniel provided his court records to KXAN. They include his student attendance support plan created by Georgetown ISD. In the section listing causes for Nathaniels absences, the plan doesnt note issues the family told KXAN about  like his fear his dad could show up. In a section for explaining the root causes of Nathaniels absences, the only boxes checked are for school reluctance/refusal, medical problems attributed to COVID, etc. and transportation issues. District officials left blank a line where they could explain other safety issues. The district notes it attempted to call and email a parent but didnt reach anyone or get a response.

See Nathaniels attendance support plan here.

Judge Evelyn McLean oversees Williamson Countys third precinct justice court. She wouldnt discuss Nathaniels case because of confidentiality laws, but she explained how she generally handles truancy. The cases that make it to her desk are created by the district, then vetted and moved to her by the county attorneys office.

Other than the testimony thats given in the courtroom, I dont have any prior knowledge of the case until I hear it, McLean said.

woman does paperwork at her desk

Like Redden, McLean said she believed the school districts were doing their due diligence before sending kids to court. She also acknowledged court is not always the place for correcting truant behavior.

I dont think its the courts job to get the kiddos to school, but if the parents and the school district arent able to do it and it ends up in our court, then we absolutely want to help in any way we can, McLean said.

In their own courtrooms, McLean and Redden both said they strive to help kids.

McLean said she has gone as far as visiting one student at his house to help him get on track after his father took his own life two months before graduation, and he stopped going to school. She assigned him a mentor and he was able to walk the stage for a diploma. Read McLeans full statement and response to KXAN here.

Those anecdotes provide snapshots of how truancy court can correct behavior. But with hundreds of courts handling truancy cases across the state, and no oversight of the outcomes, its unclear how thousands of students are faring in the system.

When KXAN asked Nathaniels mom Rosa about her thoughts on the statewide truancy numbers and data issues, she didnt have much to say. Her focus is more on her own house, her own family and Nathaniels future. Perhaps, his case could have been handled differently, she said.

I was very frustrated because it seems like they didnt give him another chance, Rosa said. They didnt give him another chance and with his special education, you know, and the one-on-one treatment, I felt like he should have went to Georgetown High School, like they should have gave him an opportunity to try again.

KXANs Investigative Photojournalist Richie Bowes, Graphic Artist Wendy Gonzalez, Director of Investigations & Innovation Josh Hinkle, Investigative Photojournalist Chris Nelson and Digital Director Kate Winkle 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 KXAN Austin.
LAKE CHARLES, La. (KLFY)  A 12-year-old boy from Lake Charles was arrested Monday for threatening to shoot at a school, authorities said.

Calcasieu Parish Sheriffs Office deputies were dispatched to a home in Lake Charles Monday evening after receiving information from the Louisiana State Police in reference to a school threat.

Investigators said a 12-year-old made a threat online about a shooting at a unspecified school. When detectives spoke with the boy, who attends F.K. White Middle School, he confirmed he made the threat, officials said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He was arrested and booked into the Juvenile Detention Center and charged with menacing.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

KLFY Daily Digest

Latest news

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  A 16-year-old boy was arrested in California to face charges connected to the death of a 15-year-old boy shot in Norfolk in 2023, police said.

Previous Coverage: Police: 15-year-old killed in Vernon Dr. shooting in Norfolk

WAVY previously reported that on Oct. 19, 2023, around 3:30 p.m., police were called to the 1700 block of Vernon Drive for the report of a gunshot victim. When officers arrived, they found a 15-year-old boy suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 15-year-old was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Just over a year later, a 16-year-old boy was charged with second-degree murder, and use of a firearm in relation to the incident.

The teen was taken into police custody in California on Oct. 28, and extradited back to Virginia on Nov. 22.

He is being held in Norfolk Detention Center. Detectives have not released a motive, or any other circumstances related to this incident.

Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Australian police arrested 170 climate change activists in the state of New South Wales during a protest from Friday through Sunday. Representing the group Rising Tide Australia, the protesters shut down maritime traffic in the Port of Newcastle, which is one of the worlds biggest exporters of coal and coal products. It is also the largest bulk shipping port on Australias highly populated east coast.

Its in a unique place, being the largest coal port in the world, exporting vast amounts of coal, Dr. Peter Schofield, a doctor and activist at Rising Tide Australia, said in a statement. If we can make a difference here and if we can demonstrate our commitment as a community and as a government to influencing things such that, you know, we minimize that, that can have worldwide implications.

Thousands of Australians showed up on the coast to express their support for the peaceful protesters. Local law enforcement officials, on the other hand, threw the book at the newly-arrested activists while depicting them in disparaging terms. New South Wales police minister Yasmin Catley called the protest irresponsible theatrics, adding that the police had done an outstanding job managing this dangerous and volatile situation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Although the police may issue more arrests, so far they have arrested 156 adults and 14 youths from the three days of protest. Thirty-two were only charged with not complying with a direction from an authorized officer related to safety, while another 138 were charged with disruption of a major facility. Two were refused bail to appear at Newcastle local court on Monday. The casualties from the event include one police officer suffering a fractured ankle.

Though the world keeps heating at an unprecedented rate thanks to burning fossil fuels, the global community is doing little to nothing to stop the release of greenhouse gases. This year is on track to be the hottest in recorded history, passing a critical 1.5 C warming threshold established by the Paris climate agreement. Yet we are releasing more greenhouse gases than ever before, according to recent research. Meanwhile, protestors who bring attention to this issue are increasingly surveilled, arrested and branded as terrorists.
DENVER (KDVR)  An 18-year-old man from Aurora was killed in a crash on Interstate 70 over the weekend.

Colorado State Patrol said its troopers responded to a report of a wrong-way driver on I-70 near Watkins around 12:15 a.m. Sunday. CSP said the driver was traveling west in the eastbound lanes of the interstate.

FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox

Once a trooper arrived on the scene, CSP said they noticed a Subaru Impreza parked the wrong direction on the inside shoulder of eastbound I-70.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to CSP, the trooper was traveling west and tried to get the drivers attention with a spotlight, however, they drove away proceeding west in the eastbound lanes.

CSP said the trooper turned his emergency lights on and followed the wrong-way driver from the right side of the road. After several minutes of this, CSP said the driver crashed head-on with a semi-truck.

The wrong-way driver was killed on the scene, and the truck driver was uninjured.

CSP said the 18-year-olds identity will be released by the Arapahoe County Coroners Office.

The Westminster Police Department is leading an investigation with the 17th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team, CSP said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
DARE COUNTY, N.C. (WAVY)  The Dare County Sheriffs Office said a man has been arrested after allegedly stabbing another person on Roanoke Island.

At 12:21 p.m. Monday, deputies responded to 150 block of Etheridge Road after a 911 call claiming a person had been stabbed. Once on scene, officers arrested the suspect.

Dylan Riggs, 18, of Manteo, has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill inflicting serious injury. He is currently being held without bond.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Dare County Sheriffs Office at 252-475-5980.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR)  The Lynchburg Police Department has made an arrest in connection to a social media bomb threat investigation in Lynchburg.

On Tuesday, November 26 at 8:50 a.m. the department responded to a bomb threat at the J Crew Customer Service and Distribution Center at Ivy Cres Road.

The bomb threat was found on Instagram and allegedly posted by a part-time employee at the facility.

Three people hurt by train in Lynchburg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officers quickly investigated the situation and made contact with the person believed to have made the threat.

19-year-old Nakayla Foster was arrested after an investigation and has been charged with Threat of Arson, Explosives, and Bombs under the statute for offenders 15 years or older.

Foster is being held without bond at the Blue Ridge Regional Jail.

Anyone with information surrounding the incident is to contact Officer Wilson at (434) 907-1051 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 798-5900. Anonymous tips can also be submitted online at http://p3tips.com or through the P3 Tips mobile app.

Check back with WFXR News for more information as it becomes available.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
By Alimat Aliyeva

China has successfully launched the optical observation satellites "Seraei-Gaojing-20-3" and "Seraei-Gaojing-20-4" aboard a "Changzheng-2-Xi" rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the north-western part of the country.

The launch took place at 07:39 Beijing time, and the satellites have already been successfully placed in their designated orbits.

Chinese state media did not provide extensive details about the launch, but they did note that it marked the 547th mission using the Changzheng (Long March) series of launch vehicles, a significant milestone for Chinas space program.

The "Seraei-Gaojing" satellites are part of a commercial initiative by China Siwei Survey and Mapping Technology, a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). These satellites are equipped to provide high-resolution optical Earth observation data, which is used for a wide range of applications including topographic surveying and mapping, disaster prevention and management, as well as monitoring maritime activities.

Interestingly, the Gaojing-20 series of satellites are part of Chinas growing ambitions in space-based Earth observation, alongside similar global projects aimed at improving environmental monitoring, urban planning, and even military reconnaissance.

This successful launch adds to China's increasingly robust space capabilities, with the country steadily enhancing its satellite constellation, positioning itself as a key player in the global space race.
Palestinians are seen among tents for displaced people in the Al-Yarmouk stadium in Gaza City, on Nov. 24, 2024. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

In recent months, preparations ahead of the rainy season were severely restricted by the challenges aid agencies face in bringing sufficient supplies into Gaza.

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- UN humanitarians said on Monday they and their partners have been evaluating flood damage in a response to multiple sites for displaced Gazans hit by heavy weekend rainfall.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it had received reports that the rains damaged people's tents and other belongings.

"Our humanitarian partners have been carrying out field visits in multiple areas to assess the impact of the latest rains and to mobilize response efforts," OCHA said. "Our partners estimate that about 1.6 million people live in makeshift shelters across Gaza."

The office said that in recent months, preparations ahead of the rainy season were severely restricted by the challenges aid agencies face in bringing sufficient supplies into Gaza.

The agencies recently complained that Israeli authorities impeded, delayed or even denied aid shipments into Gaza. Also, gangs last week looted a more than 100-truck aid convoy, hijacking 97 of the vehicles. A UN spokesman said they remain missing.

Palestinians are seen among tents for displaced people in the Al-Yarmouk stadium in Gaza City, on Nov. 24, 2024. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

"Our partners have assessed about 100 flood-prone areas, which are hosting more than 450,000 men, women and children in Khan Younis, Deir al Balah and in the Rafah area," OCHA said. "At nearly all of these sites, local groups are supporting with preparations for potential rains and floods."

The office said sandbags were put in place at 20 sites. However, at 90 percent of the areas assessed by aid partners, there were no workable plans if flooding made the sites uninhabitable. 
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A man convicted in the murder of Gregory Dillon has received his prison sentence.

The Montgomery County Prosecutors Office released on Tuesday that JaShawn Jones, 19 will serve 21 years to life in prison for the deadly shooting that occurred on Aug. 10 of last year.

The shooting occurred on the 40 block of Monmouth Avenue. Upon arrival, Dayton police located Dillon, who had suffered two gunshot wounds to the head, deceased at the scene.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An investigation of the shooting, alongside eyewitness statements, indicated that the shooting occurred during an altercation between the two.

Jones was indicted on August 17, 2023 of the following:

Murder

Felonious assault with a deadly weapon

Felonious assault with serious physical harm

Reckless homicide

Having weapons while under disability with a prior offense of violence

At an immediate trial, Jones was found guilty on the murder and felonious assault charges. A later trial found Jones guilty of the weapons charges as well.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
TALIHINA, Okla. (KFOR)  Mountains at the doorstep.

Winding Stairs, Ouachita, and Kiamichi ranges settle out in southern LeFlore County around this small town where former mayor and longtime resident Donnie Faulkner has lived since he was 5.

Its beautiful. Gorgeous, he remarks as we stroll the grounds of the old Choctaw Nation Hospital, now abandoned.

Its a perfect place.

But look beneath the colorful tree canopy, and there still exists the remnants of a much different era that was coming to a close right around the time Donnie broke his collarbone and went straight to the ER at the old Choctaw Nation Hospital.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is where I came, he recalls, and then I was able to transfer over to Fort Smith for further treatment.

The Bigfoot Museum of Oklahoma started with its own unexplained encounter

There was another medical facility here even before this one.

The WPA built solid rock structure replaced the older Carter Hospital.

There are still a few cabins on the hospital grounds that date back to the early 1900s.

Thousands of people worked in these buildings at one time or another, says Faulkner.

This place though, and another hospital building just over the hill, less than a mile away, were built mainly to house tuberculosis patients.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theyve been playing in Edgemere Park since 1939 and still meet there at least once a year

A leading cause of death in the early 20th century, the Eastern Oklahoma Sanitorium took in TB sufferers from 1921 to the 1970s.

Both facilities were the reason so many doctors called Talihina home.

He explains, People dont realize that Talihina actually had one of the largest doctor populations per capita in the state.

The old Choctaw Nation Hospital constructed in the 1930s closed its doors when the tribe built a new hospital in the late 90s.

The grounds of the Eastern OK Sanitorium, including the old childrens ward, became a veterans home until 2023.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Faulkner insists there is still life in them yet and a community ready to serve.

The people in southeast Oklahoma, especially Talihina, love their jobs, Faulkner continues. They took great care of their patients, and they did everything they could to make them feel at home.

History hangs on beneath the changing seasons of time itself.

You can find more information on the old Choctaw Nation Hospital and the Eastern Oklahoma TB Sanitorium with this link and this link.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
COOSA COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT)  Two people were killed in a crash involving a Ford F-750 dump truck on Highway 280 Monday morning, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Sylacauga resident William Mathews, 65, was fatally injured when the Ford he was operating overturned, departed the road and hit a guardrail before falling down an embankment. Annette Mathews, a 64-year-old also from Sylacauga, was a passenger in the vehicle. The crash happened around 9 a.m. about two miles west of Kellyton.

What you need to know before traveling this Thanksgiving

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

William and Annette Mathews, who reportedly were not wearing seat belts, were pronounced dead at the scene. Troopers with the ALEAs Highway Patrol Division are investigating the crash.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW)  Police in Shaker Heights have identified the two men who were killed in a shooting early Sunday morning.

The victims were identified as 24-year-old Nisiah Sanders and 30-year-old Myron Rainey, according to a Shaker Heights press release on Monday.

At this time, there is no evidence suggesting a third party was involved in the shootings, and

as of this release no arrests have been made, the Monday release said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Man flees on 3 tires, says he doesnt know where he got the Jeep : Police

According to a Sunday morning press release, at about 3:30 a.m. police officers were called to the 17000 block of Shaker Boulevard for a report of multiple gunshots. Officials report that responding officers detained several people attempting to leave the area and found two male victims dead outside of a home.

Several hours later, shortly after 10 a.m. on Sunday, the city advised motorists to avoid the area of Shaker Boulevard, between Attleboro and Lee roads, due to police activity and what officials characterized in an email to FOX 8 as an active investigation.

Family testifies for Menendez brothers at hearing

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In an updated press release, police said the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is assisting with the investigation and said the two victims had attended a house party.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
(NewsNation)  A 2-year-old girl from El Salvador, traveling alone with nothing more than a piece of paper bearing a phone number, was found by Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) officials, spotlighting the growing crisis of unaccompanied migrant children at the U.S. southern border.

Lt. Chris Olivarez told NewsNation that the child was part of a larger group of 60 unaccompanied minors encountered in Eagle Pass ranging in age from 2 to 17 years old. The toddler carried a single piece of paper with a phone number and a name, claiming her parents were already in the United States.

We dont know who this little girl is going to end up with or who is that person behind that phone number, Olivarez said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An August Department of Homeland Security report revealed that more than 32,000 unaccompanied children failed to attend immigration hearings between 2019 and 2023, with another nearly 300,000 never receiving a court date.

Trumps mass deportation plans create anxiety among immigrants

The child was examined for signs of abuse and turned over to Border Patrol, with her ultimate destination uncertain.

Olivarez speculated that increased migration might be linked to potential political changes, suggesting desperation to get more kids across by themselves as a new administration approaches.

The Texas DPS reported encountering 211 immigrants in Maverick County, including the 60 unaccompanied children and six immigrants from Mali and Angola.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is a stark example of the precarious journey these children make, Olivarez said in a post on X, highlighting the risks of human trafficking and the vulnerability of unaccompanied minors.

National Guard training for mass illegal crossings at border

The agency claims to have rescued over 900 children during Operation Lone Star from potential abandonment and human smuggling.

Last week, Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana, released a report claiming that failures by President Joe Bidens administration have led to the exploitation and abuse of migrant children.

Cassidy launched a formal investigation more than a year and a half ago into the administrations policies on the treatment and care of unaccompanied children after he said he noticed an alarming rise in illegal child labor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

NewsNations Damita Menezes 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.
Two California residents are facing charges for an Amazon scam that targeted a woman in Allegheny County, police say.

The Allegheny County Police Department says this fraud investigation began on Nov. 21 after a 71-year-old woman in Crafton came to police about a Nov. 19 call from people claiming to be from the Amazon Fraud Department. Court documents state the victim was reportedly told her profile was used to open 13 financial accounts linked to more than $360,000 in illegal purchases of firearms, narcotics and pornography. She was then told she needed to rectify the situation and follow the callers instructions, or she could be held criminally liable.

Police say the callers identified themselves as federal law enforcement officials and they coerced the woman to take out money from her bank account and to tell no one about the situation, to avoid tipping off the people responsible for hacking her Amazon account.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Once the scammers learned identifying information about the victim, court documents said they started asking about the money she had at her disposal. Once she disclosed she had $115,000 in her bank account, she was told she must deplete the account in its entirety to protect it, by removing money in $30,000 increments and different PNC branches across the Pittsburgh region.

The plan to remove $30,000 at a time didnt work, court documents said. The scammers then told her to obtain a cashiers check and use it to purchase gold that could be given to the alleged federal officers. She was told that once she turned over the gold, she would be given a check to open a new account.

Court documents state the woman transferred $97,400 from her account to purchase 35 ounces of gold coins. Once the purchase was made, she remained in contact with the scammers who tried to set up a time to pick up the coins and sent her false law enforcement credentials.

On Nov. 22, ACPD detectives and the FBI worked with the victim in an operation to target the scammers, ultimately leading to their arrest in the parking lot of a Pittsburgh Giant Eagle.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

ACPD identifies the suspected scammers as Shuai Jiao, 34, and Daxue Yang, 35, both of California. The pair are facing multiple charges, including theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception and financial exploitation of an older adult. Both have been arraigned and are being held at the Allegheny County Jail without bail.

Court documents state the pair have no ties to the Pittsburgh region.

With the holidays approaching, ACPD wants the community to be alert for possible scams. Click here to see scam warning signs.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
ST. LOUIS  A Venice, Illinois, man appeared in court on Monday and pleaded not guilty to a September carjacking in the citys Tower Grove East neighborhood.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office the Eastern District of Missouri, Harry Moore, 20, was indicted for the carjacking and using a firearm in a violent crime last week.

The indictment said Moore is accused of stealing a 2022 Subaru Outback at gunpoint on September 9.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Second man arrested in womans St. Louis death after Clayton abduction

Additionally, a motion sought to have Moore held in jail until trial for stealing a Cadillac CTS with two other suspects. At the time of the second carjacking, Moore and the two suspects ordered the victim to unlock his cellphone and provide a pin number for his ATM card.

Reportedly, Moore had used the ATM card a short time later to withdraw cash at a BP gas station. Additionally, Moore was allegedly caught on camera later that morning in Ballpark Village sitting on the window frame of the stolen Subaru and firing shots at a man running away.

According to SLMPD, Moore is also believed to have stolen a vehicle from a St. Clair County circuit judges home, and police believe that vehicle was used when stealing the Subaru Outback on September 9.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Moore is accused of one felony count of carjacking and one felony count of possession and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime.

The U.S. Attorneys Office said a carjacking charge is punishable by up to 15 years, a $250,000 fine, or both. The brandishing charge is also punishable up to seven years.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Twenty-two people were arrested in Pennsylvania in connection to a human trafficking operation tied to two massage businesses, officials said.

The District Attorney for Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Sean M. McCormack said in a press release Tuesday that the arrests were made across multiple operations over the last month. Officials also said that more arrests are expected in connection to this operation.

Called Closed2Trafficking, the operation seeks to focus on illegal commercial sexual trafficking and exploitation of individuals," according to the press release. It was conducted with continuing operations called Impact Demand, which seeks to target the customers of the sex trade, officials said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The attorneys office said it had executed search warrants at two area massage parlors: GL Massage and Lis Asian Massage, both located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Carlisle is located about 25 miles west of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Here's what to know about the arrests.

Warrants at massage parlors lead to arrests

According to the release, arrests were made between October and early November. The first arrests were made in October, when six men were apprehended for what officials called promoting prostitution.

Then on Nov. 6, a person from Flushing, New York was arrested for prostitution during a warrant search at GL Massage. Other arrests were made at Lis Spa as well, where two people from Flushing, New York and one woman from Newport, Pennsylvania were arrested and accused of prostitution.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And on Nov. 8, 13 men were arrested as part of another prostitution detail, according to the district attorney.

Unfortunately, human trafficking exists here in Cumberland County and todays operation is part of our ongoing effort to root out human trafficking and to send a message that Cumberland County is not the place to set up one of these operations, McCormack said in the release. "Cumberland County is 'Closed to Human Trafficking.'"

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 22 arrested in Pennsylvania in connection to human trafficking
MURRAY, Utah (ABC4)  A 22-year-old man has been arrested and is currently facing several charges, including murder, after one person died in a shooting last Thursday, Nov. 21.

Body of missing Santaquin man found, family urges those in need to seek help: Your life matters deeply

Pirawn Yohan Mula is facing the following charges:

Murder, a first-degree felony

Possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, a third-degree felony

Two counts of discharge of a firearm, a class B misdemeanor

Intoxication, a class C misdemeanor

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Thursday, Nov. 21 around 8 p.m., a call came into Murray Police about shots fired in the area of 4500 South and State Street, near an apartment complex.

Police say witnesses reported seeing the suspected shooter and two other males leaving the scene in a white SUV after shots were fired. Life-saving measures were attempted on the victim before he was pronounced deceased. Police are not releasing the name of the victim at this time but said he looked to be in his 20s.

Police canvassed the area for witnesses and police were able to identify Mula through the investigation. Witnesses told police Mula arrived at the scene and got into a physical altercation with the victim. Mula allegedly drew a handgun and shot the victim in the head. Mula shot the victim one more time before fleeing in the white SUV, according to the affidavit.

Police said that Mula was on probation at the time of his arrest and was reportedly intoxicated when the incident occurred.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police arrested Mula around noon the following day and interviewed him about the incident before booking him into Salt Lake 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.
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD)  A 23-year-old Mount Pleasant resident was arrested for crimes against children, the state attorney generals office said Monday.

Mason Clayton was arrested on Nov. 20 and charged with one count of the sexual exploitation of a minor in the third degree. The offense carries a maximum punishment of up to years in prison.

Investigators said Clayton was in possession of child sexual abuse material.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Mount Pleasant Police Department arrested Clayton.

Investigators from the Attorney Generals Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Charleston County Sheriffs Office, and the states ICAC Task Force members assisted with the investigation.

The South Carolina Attorney Generals Office will prosecute this case.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
CHENGDU, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Global Panda Partners 2024 (GPP), an academic, open and international platform for dialogue and exchange aimed at building consensus and jointly planning the construction of global ecological civilization, opened on Tuesday in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Themed "Harmonious Coexistence Between Man and Nature," the conference brings together government agencies, professionals and the general public as panda partners, drawing more than 380 attendees from more than 30 countries and regions.

Participants from various sectors discussed topics such as ecological civilization, panda culture and international cultural tourism, jointly exploring a scientific path that prioritizes ecology and pursues green development.

The opening ceremony featured the release of a think-tank report on ecological civilization construction co-authored by a national high-level think tank affiliated with Xinhua, China's state news agency, and another research institution.

The event is hosted by Xinhua News Agency Sichuan Branch, Xinhua News Agency News and Information Center, China Wildlife Conservation Association and Chengdu Media Group. 
For the past year, 25 Investigates has been digging into teacher sexual misconduct in Massachusetts public schools. Now, a new layer to this story. We asked the state for documentation of teachers whose education licenses were suspended or revoked for sexual misconduct. Within the records, we uncovered evidence of a system thats failing to keep kids safe.

Records obtained through a public records request from 25 Investigates reveal a teacher who exchanged more than 1,000 text messages with a student he was in a sexual relationship with in 2013.

Another teacher was taking a student on day trips and spending the night with them on weekends in 2015.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And one, who though not in a classroom since 2002, still held their teachers license in 2020, despite being a Level 3 registered sex offender.

If we wait until the cases have already occurred, weve already failed these children, said Jetta Bernier, executive director of Enough Abuse, a Massachusetts-based non-profit that works with school districts across the country to prevent child sexual abuse.

She examined some of the 25 Investigates findings.

The big losers here are the kids, are the students, Bernier said.

25 Investigates asked the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, or DESE, for 10 years of documentation of educators who lost their teachers licenses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They provided us with about 60 records spanning from 2013 to 2023.

We found:

35 teachers surrendered their license when confronted with allegations of sexual abuse or misconduct;

7 had faced allegations of inappropriate relationships with students in other states;

15 licensed teachers had criminal convictions, principally for child sex crimes, in other states.

Possessing a license does not necessarily mean the teacher was in a Massachusetts classroom.

DESE says many times, the employment action at the district level comes first, and triggers a licensure investigation.

In November 2023, 25 Investigates created our own database of teacher sexual misconduct cases in Massachusetts. Our numbers surpassed that amount DESE was able to supply.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We found at least 75 school personnel in Massachusetts have either faced criminal charges or lawsuits filed since 2002 accusing them of sexually abusing students; 65 faced criminal charges.

Theres mandated reporting for abuse and neglect, but not child sexual abuse, said state Sen. Joan Lovely.

Lovely is the Assistant Majority leader in the Massachusetts Senate. Shes also a survivor of child sexual abuse.

Im a survivor at the age of six, Lovely said. For me, I had years of stomachaches. I was in and out of the doctors office testing everything for years. They couldnt figure it out. It was because I was being sexually abused.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lovely has been leading the charge on Beacon Hill by sponsoring a bevy of bills to better protect kids in schools.

They include:

Requiring schools have sex abuse prevention training to spot signs of grooming and abuse;

Prohibiting age of consent as a defense for child sexual abuse;

Enhancing employment screenings to keep known abusers out of schools.

Advocates refer to that as passing the trash.

The perpetrator shows up in another school system and the behavior repeats. And now you have another child who is being sexually abused, Lovely said.

For instance, in 2018, records reveal DESE sent a letter to a teacher in Oxford notifying them of allegations of misconduct. Thats when the department said it learned of damaging sexual relationships the teacher had with many female high school students, including students in South Carolina and Rhode Island.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Allegations included physical contact, exchanging nude photographs and highly sexualized text messages.

That teacher later surrendered his license.

Another had surrendered a Rhode Island teaching license in 2006 after having a sexual relationship with a female student.

But Massachusetts became aware of that allegation and license surrender a decade later.

That teachers license was eventually revoked by Massachusetts.

The system is very haphazard. Its helter-skelter, said Bernier.

Bernier says that system should be airtight.

Thats going to make sure that every case involving the violation of a childs rights to privacy and to their sexual health is going to be recorded so that we know how large the problem is, Bernier said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For the last year, 25 Investigates has been asking DESE to talk with us about our findings, the concerns of survivors and advocates, and the legislative pushes.

They have refused at every turn.

In a written statement to 25 Investigates, DESE spokesperson Jacqueline Reis said, The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education works closely with school districts to keep children safe by addressing instances of educator misconduct.

Were not reporting to a national database. And thats what we need to do, Lovely said. There is a national database where this information would be reported to. And then for every single person thats going to be employed in a school system, public or private, that database is reviewed to make sure that person is not on that database.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

DESE says it does report licensure actions, including actions based on child sexual abuse, to the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) database.

25 Investigates also reached out to Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano about the legislative efforts failing to get across the finish line for so many years.

The Senate has made meaningful progress on sexual assault education and prevention during this session, Spilka said in a statement. Our work has included protecting victims of revenge porn, closing legal loopholes that may exist when sexual assault by a medical professional occurs, lengthening the statute of limitations for sexual assault victims, and codifying educational programs to teach young people about consent and healthy relationships. We will continue striving to protect our residents and young people, and look forward to continued conversations.

Speaker Mariano declined to offer any comment.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Three thieves are accused of stealing luxury cars from across the Southeast, bringing them to Charlotte, changing the vehicle identification numbers, and selling them for below-market value.

The three suspects have been doing this for years, according to the Department of Justice.

Investigators caught Francisco Pena, Jason Spearman, and Jonathan Stitt in Charlotte.

From left: Jason Spearman, Fransisco Pena, Jonathan Stitt

They are accused of conspiring with each other to steal multiple luxury cars, including a 2021 Dodge Charger Redeye that belonged to 72-year-old Ioanni Kalivas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It really tore me up, Kalivas told Channel 9. You know, my wife died. Im by myself and my dog. And I saved up to get this -- to get the Charger and it was part of my family.

He said the Charger was stolen in 2021 out of his driveway in Maryland. Bobo, his dog, alerted him to the thieves but it was too late.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department got a hit on the Charger on Sugar Creek Road last year. It was repainted red, and had a South Carolina plate and a fake VIN.

This is really shocking, Kalivas said. It just blew my mind. I cant -- its unbelievable.

The FBI and CMPD said it was one of many cars the trio conspired to steal over four years.

Im so glad that theyre doing this federally, charging them federally, Kalivas said.

If convicted, the suspects face up to 35 years in prison.
Palm Beach County schools are working to tamp down on vaping in campus bathrooms to the tune of $150,000 per year, according to data provided by the school district.

That's the price tag of a pilot program run by the district that installed restroom vape detectors at three school campuses before the start of the school year. The school district has declined to say which schools are part of the program.

The devices were created by the New York-based company Halo Smart Sensor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The sensors send notifications to school administrators if they detect vaping in the restroom, Superintendent Mike Burke said. The sensors do not contain cameras, but the Halo Smart Sensor website says the alarms can be calibrated to sense gunshots, fights or loud noises.

Palm Beach County schools Superintendent Mike Burke joins a student for breakfast on the first day of school on Aug. 12, 2024. Burke announced the vape detector program a few weeks before the first day of school.

Halo Smart Sensor's website also says the devices can differentiate between vaping, vaping with THC or intentionally masking vaping by using perfume or spray deodorant to cover up the aerosol.

Here's what to know about the sensors and how they work:

What is vaping?

Vaping is a form of electronic smoking in which the user inhales from a battery-powered device that creates an aerosol often containing nicotine and flavorings. Unlike smoking traditional cigarettes, users may exhale an odorless cloud or a cloud of fruit-scented vapor after using the vaping device.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Common disposable brands of e-cigarettes include Elf Bar, Esco Bars and Mr. Fog. Vuse and JUUL vapes feature reusable batteries with interchangeable pods.

Some vape batteries can be used with cartridges that contain the active substance in marijuana known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the element primarily responsible for effects on a person's mental state.

In 2023, the CDC found that 2.1 million people under 18 years old used e-cigarettes or vapes. That amounts to 4.6% of middle school students and 10% of high school students nationwide. Vaping can lead to nicotine addiction, which can damage young people's bodies and their ability to focus, the CDC found.

While researchers do not yet know all the effects vaping can have on the body, particles inhaled while vaping can cause inflammation, swelling and irritation in the lungs. That can lead to lung damage, including scarring and narrowing of the tubes that bring air to and from the lungs, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

How many Palm Beach County students have gotten in trouble for vaping at school?

During the 2022-23 school year, the latest data available from the state Department of Education, Palm Beach County recorded 2,069 incidents in which a student was disciplined for vaping at schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Vaping made up 32% of the district's total 6,445 disciplinary incidents that school year.

That may suggest the problem is more widespread or more strictly enforced in Palm Beach County than in other urban school districts in Florida because this county's share of vaping incidents appears high compared with all discipline.

In Broward and Miami-Dade counties, vaping incidents make up 22% and 27% of disciplinary incidents, according to data from the same year. In Orange and Duval counties, those figures are 13.3% and 10.3%, respectively.

Statewide, about 21% of Florida's total 120,297 disciplinary incidents during the 2022-23 school year were vaping-related.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

From earlier this year: Vape detectors: Some Palm Beach County schools will test the devices this year. What to know

What is the punishment for a Palm Beach County student found vaping at school?

If an elementary school student is found to have vaped on campus, the student code of conduct calls for up to three days of out of school suspension.

Middle and high school students may be suspended for up to five days for their first offense.

Will all Palm Beach County schools get vaping detectors?

The school district has not announced whether it will install vape detectors on additional campuses or expand the pilot program itself.

Additionally, the school board has not yet publicly discussed the results of the pilot program.

A screenshot of the public website belonging to Halo Smart Sensor, a company contracted by the Palm Beach County School District to provide vape detectors to three campuses this school year.

How did the school district pay for the vape detectors?

The school district paid for the vape detectors using money from a lawsuit settlement with e-cigarette manufacturer Juul Labs Inc.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In March 2023, the school board approved the settlement as a result of a national lawsuit brought by more than 1,400 agencies attempting to recoup resources they sunk into fighting youth e-cigarette use.

Juul is a brand of e-cigarette that is shaped like a USB flash drive. Like other e-cigarettes, the device became popular with teens, who are prohibited from buying tobacco in Florida until age 21.

The settlement has promised more than $10 million for Palm Beach County schools over the next five years, according to district staff.

The school board approved $150,000 for the vape detector project last January.

Want more education news? Sign up for ourExtra Credit weekly newsletter, delivered every Friday!

Katherine Kokal is a journalist covering education at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at kkokal@pbpost.com. Help support our work; subscribe today!

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County spent $150K on vape detectors for school bathrooms
Researchers and citizen scientists have found three new species at Amowa Forest Preserve in East Moline. A new flowering plant, the three birds orchid, has been discovered, as well as false mermaid weed and a rare insect, the bancrofti bee. Jeffrey Craver, director of the Rock Island County Forest Preserve District, spoke with Our Quad Cities News via Zoom to talk about the new species that have been found at Amowa.

three birds orchid (Mik Holgersson)

three birds orchid (Mik Holgersson)

three birds orchid (Mik Holgersson)

three birds orchid (Mik Holgersson)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

three birds orchid (Mik Holgersson)

The three birds orchard was found by Mick Holgersson, he said. He was contracted to do some invasive species work for the district, mainly removal of honeysuckle at the Preserve. He came across the three birds orchid when he was performing that work. We also contracted him to do a little bit of surveying of the area as well. The three birds orchid is more of a summer ephemeral and pops up in deciduous areas. Needless to say, its a relatively uncommon species for our area. Its not something that weve been able to observe or document here, and observations or documentations throughout Rock Island County are very few and far between. Its not to say that it isnt somewhere else here in Rock Island County, but because, again, its an ephemeral. It pops up, it blooms, could be blooming for 24 to maybe 72 hours and then its gone. Its one of those things that you stumble across. You cant really go out and look for it. You can go out and look for it based on some certain conditions, so if we get a really warm evening, maybe with some rainfall, or whatever the conditions that this plant really likes, it pops up. Its not something you can go out and say, okay, we know this has hit here. Its not like a coneflower or something thats up in the spring and its there and it flowers and its flowering for weeks, days at a time. It pops up, it flowers and hopefully gets pollinated, and then it recesses and it goes away. We found that one two summers ago, and luckily, we found several populations on the Amowa West property. We were able to confirm it again with some observations this year by some individuals and staff. I believe they went out and I dont think they found it on the first time going out, but they found it this spring.

false mermaid weed (Mik Holgersson)

Grant Fessler observed and documented the false mermaid weed, which is a spring ephemeral. Theyre very, very small; the flowers for both of these, I dont believe, are anything bigger than the size of a dime head. Thats not really going to stand out to the average individual. You have to stumble across them and know what youre looking for. A lot of people would assume that theyre kind of little green sprouts coming up in the spring and also in the summertime. When the three birds orchid is coming up and going into bloom, you still have all the other greenery and understory vegetation thats going on. It would really blend in where a lot of your spring ephemerals.

bancrofti bee (Angella Moorehouse)

While the plants were discovered in the past couple of years, Craver says the new bee was discovered during a recent citizen scientist event. We had a (Bi-CAN) BioBlitz this summer. It was a group from Nahant Marsh, the Forest Preserve staff, some Illinois Nature Preserve commission folks came in, lots of citizen science volunteers, and I think we may have had the Fish and Wildlife Service. They brought a pretty good collective of experts together, and Angela Morehouse from the Illinois Nature Preserve Commission was able to photograph and get an observation and confirmation from one of the leading bee experts in the country. It was identified as a rare bee species called Protandrena bancrofti, more commonly known as the bancrofti bee or the Minnesota bee.

Unfortunately, not much is known about the bancrofti bee. Data on solitary bees and the general decline on solitary bee species in general, theres just not a lot there, Craver said. When you look for observations and confirmations of those off from observations of that particular bee, theyre few and far between, so were not outside its normal range. But theres that one where we were, it was very interesting. Theres the potential for that bee to possibly get listed as a state threatened or endangered species. But again, the data on a lot of the bee species out there, theres just not a lot of it there.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Craver says hundreds of species have been identified at Amowa during Bi-CAN BioBlitz events. We found close to 900 different species at the park. Thats invertebrates, vertebrates, fungi, the whole gamut of what they could take in with the volunteers and the instruments that they had at the time. So that was pretty exciting to find that high of a number for that small of a site.

The Forest Preserve District has a new way people can show their support for the preserve; theyre offering Amowa is the place to bee tshirts for sale on their website. A portion of each sale goes to the Larry Toppert Endowment Fund.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  Three weeks after leaving the Florida Senate because of term limits, Lauren Book is running to return to Tallahassee.

Quite simply, my work is not done, Book said in a statement Tuesday morning. Residents deserve bipartisan solutions to the real problems our communities face, and as one of the most effective Democratic members of the Florida Senate in recent history, I have a proven track record of working across the aisle to achieve meaningful results.

Book, a Broward Democrat, filed paperwork on Monday to run for a different state Senate seat than the one she vacated.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The move has been the subject of discussion among political insiders, and was expected. Filing paperwork now to set up a campaign committee is a marker  and a warning to other potential candidates that theyd face a formidable challenge if they get into the race.

Book spent a total of eight years in the state Senate, and for the last few years was her partys leader there. For the past two years, she represented the 35th state Senate District in southern and western Broward.

The 37th District takes in Browards east coast and a section of northeast Miami-Dade County, and in her announcement Book highlighted her ties to the district.

I have spent most of my life deeply rooted in this community: I was born in Hollywood, grew up in Aventura, and have headquartered my nonprofit foundation to protect children from sexual abuse in District 37 for the past 17+ years. Representing this district is a natural continuation of my work to fight for the issues that matter most to the people of Broward and Miami-Dade counties, Book said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Book would have to move to run in the 37th District, but shes already had to do that once before. When Republicans crafted new Senate district maps for the 2022 election, they placed most of the territory shed previously represented in one district and her home in another district. So she moved and won after a bruising primary in which she defeated Barbara Sharief. Sharief ran again this year and won, and is Books successor.

Just when Book would actually be attempting to return to the Senate is unclear.

Shes filing paperwork stating plans to run in 2028, when the current senator, Democrat Jason Pizzo, is term-limited. But hes thinking of seeking his partys 2026 nomination for governor. Under Floridas resign-to-run law, hed have to resign from the Senate if he runs for governor.

If that happens, Book will run for the job in 2026, her spokesperson said via email.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Book, in her announcement, touted her background as Democratic leader in the Senate, her work supporting abortion rights  she was a founder of the Reproductive Freedom Collective of Broward County  and also what she said was her ability to work across party lines. State government is completely controlled by Republicans.

And shes continuing her work at the Laurens Kids Foundation child abuse prevention program, and in April will lead the 10th trek across the state to raise awareness about child sexual abuse.

The 37th District, where Book plans to run favors the Democrats. Pizzo received 58.2% of the vote this year to 41.8% for Republican Imtiaz Mohammad.

The 37th Senate District takes in most of Broward east of Interstate 95 from Davie Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale north to the Palm Beach County line. South of Davie Boulevard it takes in nearly all of Broward east of Floridas Turnpike. It includes the downtown Fort Lauderdale business district, wealthy enclaves along the coast, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Port Everglades. It also includes a pocket of northeast Miami-Dade County, including Aventura.

The 35th District, which Book represented for the past two years, is the southwest quarter of the county, mostly south of Interstate 595 and west of Floridas Turnpike.

---------
Nov. 25NEW LONDON  For the first time in nearly 175 years, pedestrians gazing up through a narrow slice of State Street this month got an unobstructed view of the horizon, though that vista isn't expected to stay clear for long.

The Eastern Connecticut Housing Opportunities (ECHO) group has submitted plans for a four-story, mixed-use complex with 46 apartments to be built at 66 Union St., the former location of the demolished First Congregational Church.

Plans for the estimated $30 million project, set to be discussed by the Planning and Zoning Commission on Dec. 5, show commercial space at ground level with apartments on the upper floors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The building's total area includes 3,487 square feet of office/commercial space with a State Street entrance. Another 52,025 square feet of residential space on the building's upper floors will be filled with a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments ranging in sizes from 946 square feet to 1,465 square feet, plans show.

A coastal site plan document states the wood-frame complex will be built over an 18-to-24-month period with construction anticipated to begin in the fall of 2025.

The longest portion of the building faces Union Street with a narrow section on the south-facing State Street side. The building's highest point is marked by an elevator tower capped by a pyramid-shaped slate roof.

"The tall tower form is also intended to recall the majestic stone steeple which previously anchored the site with its impressive height and form," the Paul Bailey Architects group said in an Oct. 8 design review memo.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The church's steeple collapsed onto the building's roof on Jan. 25 prompting the city to demolish the damaged structure, then owned by Engaging Heaven Ministries.

ECHO purchased the property in July for $125,000 and began clearing the rubble in October. Tons of dirt, twisted metal and splintered wood were separated and removed from the site. Blocks of granite that once made up the church were segregated on the property for use in the new building.

The property is expected to be "substantially cleared" by the first week in December, Andrew Woodstock, ECHO's director of real estate development, said on Monday.

Woodstock said few intact objects from the church were recovered from the demolition site. He said a bell yoke was found, but the bell itself had shattered into hundreds of pieces. Even the hundreds of granite blocks set to be re-used will need attention.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"They'll have to be re-cut," Woodstock said. "We'll also be leaving a concrete pad in place for now at the old parish building."

ECHO President and CEO Julie Savin could not immediately be reached to comment on Monday.

Renderings show granite blocks, culled from the church collapse site, used for a "grand entrance" leading to the commercial space and as a base wrapping around the structure. The stone will also be used to create arched openings on three sides leading to parking areas.

The project calls for 21 on-site parking spots, an exercise room, clubhouse and recreation space, as well as a patio and rooftop terrace.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The new owner and architect wanted the new building to be respectful to both the memory of the historic stone church and also to blend in with the amazingly diverse and beautiful historic neighborhood in the which the now vacant site is located," the design memo states.

No official cause for the steeple collapse has been released by the city, though experts have blamed issues with the church's construction in 1850, as well as aged mortar.

The Planning and Zoning Commission will meet to discuss the project at 7 p.m., Dec. 5 at City Hall.

j.penney@theday.com
Holiday shoppers can find a heap of deals in surplus.

Think a $32 42-inch TCL smart TV or $5 Philips Sonic rechargeable electric toothbrushes, 12-piece Wahl dog clipper kits or Black & Decker corded blowers.

Those are among the deals that have come out of an online auction thats operating from a massive Brownsburg warehouse.

Find surplus deals near Indianapolis

Hundreds of items come up for bid every day at the AllSurplus Deals website which lets consumers bid on returns and overstock items from major retailers, then drive out the facility in Brownsburg to retrieve their winnings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its a service of Maryland-based Liquidity Services, a publicly traded company that operates a network of e-commerce sites selling construction equipment, real estate, bathtubs and consumer products.

Its Plainfield warehouse had been operating for about 20 years, providing goods to resellers, small stores and flea markets bidding on pallets and truckloads of merchandise through its website, liquidation.com.

A consumer auction brand was launched in October 2023 to accommodate the shopper looking for a single microwave oven or dinette set as opposed to a few dozen. The local warehouse operations moved to a 203,840-square-foot facility at 10255 Archer Drive in Brownsburg in 2024.

Items sit in a warehouse Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, ready for purchase at Liquidity Services, who has typically sold liquidated goods to mall businesses and organizations. The site has added a new online consumer auction business through its Plainfield warehouse, letting folks bid on items such as furniture, electronics and toys, and pick them up from the local warehouse.

The goods come from the likes of Home Depot, Lowes and Wayfair. Liquidity Services works with eight of the nations 10 largest retailers, bringing their overstock and returned goods to the warehouses and reselling them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

About 17% of all purchases from retailers are returned. The rate is higher for online purchases. Many are in perfect condition, as a customer might be unhappy with the color or fit, or just changed their mind regarding the purchase.

$5 Star Wars playset

The result is steep discounts on practically new items  from furniture to home electronics to toys.

On Nov. 26, a 7.5-quart Figmint Enamel Dutch Oven, valued at $70, was available for $15, and a Star Wars Young Jedi Adventures Tenoo Jedi Temple Playset, which retails at $30.99, had a single bid of $5.

The Brownsburg auction site is one of five AllSurplus Deals sites offering curbside pickup. The first opened in Phoenix, Arizona; others are in Pittston, Pennsylvania; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Dallas, Texas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Each item is processed on-site by a worker who unloads, examines and notes the condition, including missing pieces or damage for the listing description.

How bidding on surplus goods works

Its free to register and bid.

New items go on the block each day, with customers having 24 hours to try for the goods.

The winning bidder gets an email prompt to pay for the item and then another to schedule a pickup time when workers will bring the loot to the customers vehicle.

Theres no shipping.

Buyers are encouraged to use the onsite inspection area to check purchases and make sure they are not defective or not to the listing. If something's amiss, a refund can be requested. Once it's left the property, there are no refunds.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To bid for items at the Brownsburg warehouse, visit AllSurplus.com/deals/indianapolis.

Savings at Liquidator stores

Brick-and-mortar liquidator retailers are selling overstock and returns from large retailers and vendors looking to clear merchandise.

Bulldog Liquidators, multiple locations, bulldogliquidators.com

Items include electronics, furniture, toys, housewares and sporting goods.

Bartons Discounts Retail Store, 2222 Hillside Ave., Indianapolis, shopbartons.com

Merchandise includes furniture, housewares, clothing, toys, pantry items and personal care products.

IU Surplus Store, 3050 E. Discovery Parkway, Bloomington, instagram.com/iusurplus

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Open to the public, this store sells unneeded Indiana University property. All proceeds go back into the university and helps support students.

Recent deals include a Sharp Liquid Crystal 90" Smart TV for $500 and an Octane Fitness Elliptical Trainer for $200.

Items also are available at online auctions at govdeals.com.

Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X:@cherylvjackson, or on Bluesky: @cherylvjackson.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana surplus stores offer deep discounts. How to find deals
Rescue teams are still searching for missing people after the 'Sea Story' yacht capsized on Monday, Nov. 25, with 44 passengers onboard

Stringer/picture alliance via Getty Rescuers wait on the beach for possible survivors after a boat sank at a harbor in Marsa Alam on Nov. 25 Rescuers wait on the beach for possible survivors after a boat sank at a harbor in Marsa Alam on Nov. 25

Four bodies have reportedly been recovered from a tourist yacht that capsized off Egypts Red Sea coast on Monday, Nov. 25.

The bodies were recovered from the Sea Story on the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 26, the Red Sea provincial governor, Amr Hanafi said, per BBC News and German outlet DW News.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The governor did not share where the bodies were located on the boat.

Three people, two Belgians and one Egyptian, were also found alive Tuesday, bringing the total number of rescued passengers to 31, according to multiple outlets.



Stringer/picture alliance via Getty Rescuers and ambulance cars wait on the beach for possible survivors after a boat sank after departing Marsa Alam, Egypt Rescuers and ambulance cars wait on the beach for possible survivors after a boat sank after departing Marsa Alam, Egypt

Related: 17 Missing After Newly-Built Tourist Yacht Capsizes During 5-Day Trip on the Red Sea

The update comes as rescue teams continue to search for the people who remain missing after the Sea Story was struck by high waves near the Sataya Reef. The yacht sank within 5-7 minutes as 31 tourists and 13 crew were on board for a five-day diving trip, the Associated Press, BBC News and U.K. newspaper The Times reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 14-metre boat departed from Porto Ghalib in Marsa Alam on Sunday, Nov. 24, and was due to arrive at Hurghada Marina on Friday, Nov. 29, per The Telegraph and Reuters.

A distress signal was sent out to the Red Sea governorate at approximately 5:30 a.m. local time after the 14-metre boat had departed Marsa Alam, according to the outlets.

Hanafi confirmed that the boat had passed its most recent safety inspection with no technical issues in March, per Reuters.

The Egyptian Meteorological Authority warned the boat about the high waves on the Red Sea for Sunday and Monday on Saturday, Nov. 23, according to reports.

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.

An earlier report from the BBC stated there were 14 crew members onboard the Sea Story who were all Egyptian. The 31 tourists were American, British, Spanish, German, Slovakian, Swiss, Belgian, Polish, Norwegian, Irish, Finnish and Chinese nationals, according to the outlet.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was previously reported that 28 people were immediately rescued after the incident, per multiple outlets.

According to the yacht's maker Dive Pro Liveaboard, the Sea Story was built in 2022 as a four-deck vessel and registered in Safaga, Egypt. There were life jackets stored in each cabin and two safety rafts onboard available to carry 25 people each.

Dive Pro Liveaboard did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.

A tourist who was onboard the boat told U.K. newspaper The Sun, "It was pitch black and the water was all around us. I tried to swim up but the current was so strong I felt like I was suffocating. What saved me was my life jacket that kept me on the surface until rescue teams arrived.

A diver who witnessed the incident while in the water also told the outlet, "I was on the surface when things started to go wrong. I felt the boat tilting sharply, and I tried to hold on to something stable, but the capsizing was very fast. I heard screams from inside the cabins, but many were unable to get out because the doors were closed and the place was filled with water."


Three additional people -- two Belgian nationals and an Egyptian -- were rescued after a tourist boat sank Monday off the Egyptian coast, bringing the total number of survivors to 31, Amr Hanafy, the regional governor, said on Tuesday.

Four bodies, whose identities were not publicly released, were also recovered from the sea, he added.

The Sea Story sank off the southeastern Egyptian town of Marsa Alam, near the Shaab Satayah area, which is popular for its coral reefs, the Red Sea Governorate said. Forty-four people were onboard when it sank, officials said.

PHOTO: Divers gear up for a training session with tourists near the beach where survivors from the boat that capsized off Egypt's Red Sea coast yesterday were brought, in Marsa Alam, Egypt, Nov. 26, 2024. (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)

MORE: More than a dozen missing after tourist boat sinks off Egyptian coast, officials say

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rescue teams were still searching for nine missing people, Hanafy said Tuesday. Those missing include two British nationals, a diplomatic source who requested anonymity told ABC News on Tuesday.

Egyptian authorities were working with embassies and consulates to provide necessary assistance and documentation, according to a statement from the governorate. The U.S. Embassy in Cairo told ABC News it was not aware of any U.S. citizen fatalities in the incident.

PHOTO: Divers gear up for a training session with tourists on the beach, where survivors from the boat that capsized off Egypt's Red Sea coast yesterday were brought, in Marsa Alam, Egypt, Nov. 26, 2024. (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)

Hanafi said strong waves caused the boat to capsize and sink within minutes. He said the 34-meter boat, privately owned by an Egyptian national, had no technical issues and had passed its last safety inspection in March.

The Sea Story set sail from the port of Ghalib in Marsa Alam on Sunday for a diving trip and was scheduled to arrive at Hurghada Marina on Friday. A crew member sent a distress signal at 5.30 a.m. on Monday before the ship dropped off the radar, officials said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Egypt's Red Sea resorts are popular with tourists for their beaches and diving spots.

ABC News' Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.

4 dead, 9 missing after tourist boat sinks off Egyptian coast, officials say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
ANKARA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police detained 54 suspected members of the Islamic State (IS) group during a series of nationwide operations, Turkiye's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Tuesday.

The operations, named "GURZ-26," were conducted across 18 provinces, including Afyonkarahisar, Aydin, Bursa and Istanbul, Yerlikaya stated on X, without specifying the time frame of the operations.

Of the 54 suspects, 20 were formally arrested, while judicial control measures were imposed on 11 others, he added.

In budget discussions at parliament, Yerlikaya disclosed that Turkish security forces carried out 1,205 operations against IS across Turkiye in the first 10 months of 2024. These efforts resulted in the arrest of 655 individuals, with judicial controls placed on an additional 566 suspects.

Turkish police have been regularly conducting counter-terrorism operations against IS members across the country.

The Turkish government designated IS as a terrorist organization in 2013, blaming it for a spate of deadly attacks in the country since 2015, including a January attack on a Roman Catholic church in Istanbul that killed one person. 
DENVER (KDVR)  Four juvenile males were injured in a Sunday night shooting in Denver and police are looking for the suspect.

At 9:43 p.m., the Denver Police Department posted on X that officers were investigating a shooting in the area of East Montview Boulevard and North Quebec Street.

Three people were taken to local hospitals.

FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox

Hours later on Monday, Denver police provided an update and said a fourth victim was located. All four victims were identified as juvenile males.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The investigation is still in its early stages and police did not say the extent of injuries that the juveniles suffered.

Denver police said there have been no arrests and did not provide suspect information. However, anyone who may have witnessed the shooting or has information is asked to call the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous and still be eligible for a cash reward.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
FREDERICK COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  The Frederick County Sheriffs Office (FCSO) said during a patrol, deputies found four cars stolen cars last week.

FCSO said deputies found four Honda CR-V cars on Thursday, Nov. 21 at the Monrovia Park N Ride on Baldwin Road. Their total estimated cost is over $117,000.

It all happened around 2:15 p.m. when a deputy was on a routine patrol. That deputy identified a suspiciously parked white Honda CR-V in the corner of a parking lot.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The deputy went to investigate and found out it was stolen. The deputy then saw three other Honda CR-Vs that were parked similarly. It was found out that those cars were stolen as well.

Frederick County installs 9 new naloxone distribution boxes to combat opioid overdoses

All four cars had Delaware license plates and were reported stolen from Middletown.

FCSO reached out to the New Castle County Police Department in Delaware to let them know of the stolen cars.

All the cars were towed for safekeeping, pending the owners retrieval.

The stolen cars are still being investigated and anyone with information is asked to call (301) 600-2071.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics teams latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.

In todays edition, senior politics reporter Alex Seitz-Wald breaks down the long-standing Democratic truisms that were challenged by the results of the 2024 elections. Plus, special counsel Jack Smith filed to drop all federal charges against Donald Trump in the election interference and classified documents cases.

Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.

5 Democratic assumptions shattered by the 2024 election

By Alex Seitz-Wald

Democrats have been eager to draw tactical lessons from their second loss to Donald Trump, but theyve so far been more reluctant to reconsider some of the fundamental assumptions about the broader political landscape that has guided their strategy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The party has been slow to update its mythology to the Trump-era political realignment, leading many Democrats to continue leaning on truisms that may no longer be true.

As the final votes are still being counted, it will take some time for the full story of the election to become clear. But exit polls and results from key areas around the country have already revealed new realities that Democrats will need to adjust to as they rebuild for the future.

Here are five of the partys core assumptions that have been challenged by the 2024 election outcome:

1. Higher turnout benefits Democrats: Democrats have long taken for granted a simple truism: The more people who vote, the better for Democrats. That may have been true once  though that is also unclear  and its a feel-good story for a party that aligns itself with democracy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But in the Trump era, Democrats have become the party of more reliable voters (college-educated, higher-income and older voters), while Republicans often stand to gain by turning out low-propensity voters (non-college-educated and blue-collar voters) who are mostly apolitical but like Trump.

That dynamic helps why Democrats have performed better in recent midterm, off-year and special elections and why polls have consistently underestimated Trumps support. Non-presidential elections have lower turnout, so the edge often goes to the party with the most reliable voters, which until recently was typically Republicans.

2. Democrats are the party of the working class: For more than a century, Democrats have viewed themselves as the party of workers and the GOP as the party of the bosses. Strongly aligned with labor unions, Democrats have supported welfare programs and populist economic politics like higher taxes on the wealthy.

In 2024, Democrats lost the working class by the two most common measures  income and education levels. NBC News exit polls show Trump won voters without college degrees 56%-42%, while he narrowly won voters with family incomes of $30,000 to $100,000 annually. Kamala Harris won voters with annual incomes over $200,000.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thats a reversal from the previous elections. Even as she lost the 2016 election to Trump, Hillary Clinton still won low-income voters by double-digit margins and kept the education gap close, while Barack Obama easily won non-college-educated voters in 2012, according to NBC News exit polls.

3. Trump cant expand his base: This is one reason why some Democrats viewed Trump as beatable, especially after his 2020 defeat. But on his third run for the White House, Trump expanded his base of support into major cities, onto Native American reservations and into heavily Latino communities.

He gained ground in battleground state cities like Philadelphia and Detroit, while improving his performance in even famously liberal areas like Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles County and Chicagos Cook County. And he regained ground in affluent suburbs that had drifted away from the GOP in recent years, such as Loudoun County, Virginia.

4. Latinos and immigrants will vote against restrictive immigration policies: Democrats have based their Latino outreach and immigration policies around this implicitly accepted assumption.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Trump had the best-ever performance for a Republican presidential candidate among Latinos, according to NBC News exit polls, outright winning Latino men, while increasing support among Asian Americans and in immigrant communities from Dearborn, Michigan to Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Trump nearly swept the heavily Latino counties in Texas along the border with Mexico, several of which have voted Democratic for generations. And the only Manhattan precinct to go for a Republican presidential candidate this decade is an apartment complex thats home mainly to Chinese immigrants.

5. The Electoral College is biased against Democrats: Until this month, both Republicans elected president in the 21st Century lost the popular vote, leading many Democrats to conclude the Electoral College is structurally biased against them.

The idea has some merit, as big blue states like California and New York are unrepresented relative to low-population red ones like Wyoming. But Trump won both the Electoral College and popular vote this year as Harris performance fell in those Democratic bastions.

Jack Smith files to drop all federal charges against Trump

By Ryan J. Reilly and Ken Dilanian

Special counsel Jack Smith on Monday filed motions to drop all federal charges against President-elect Donald Trump regarding his mishandling of classified documents and his effort to overturn his 2020 presidential election in the lead-up to the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the U.S Capitol.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hours later, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan granted Smiths motion to dismiss the Jan. 6-related indictment, formally bringing to an end the case that alleged Trump unlawfully conspired to overturn his 2020 loss to President Joe Biden.

Trump was indicted in June 2023 in a federal court in Miami on 37 felony counts related to mishandling classified documents that he took from the White House to his Florida home. They included willful retention of national defense information, making false statements, and conspiracy to obstruct justice. A Florida judge dismissed the case, but Smiths office had sought an appeal.

Trump was separately indicted on four felonies in August 2023 for his attempt to reverse the 2020 election results: conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights.

Trump has claimed that the prosecutions were politically motivated. He has never publicly conceded that his election claims were, in fact, false, and he pleaded not guilty in both federal cases.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The federal indictments of Trump were an extraordinary moment in American history  the first-ever accusation that a president had illegally sought to cling to power, mishandled classified information and attempted to obstruct a federal investigation.

Their dismissal is also a historic moment. Fifty years after lawmakers from both parties forced Richard Nixon to resign the presidency amid allegations of criminal conduct in office, half of American voters chose to return Trump to the presidency.

Trumps election means that the Justice Departments longstanding position that a sitting president cannot be charged with a crime will apply to him after he takes office on Jan. 20.

Read more 





 Todays top stories

<strong> Trumps DOJ:</strong> Missouri GOP Sen. Eric Schmitt said Sunday on Meet the Press that <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/trump-should-fire-doj-employees-investigated-cases-2020-schmitt-rcna181530">Trump should fire Justice Department staff</a> that worked on the cases against him, amid questions whether the agencys incoming leadership <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/will-trumps-former-defense-lawyer-protect-justice-department-trump-rcna181002">will protect career attorneys</a> and the agency from political influence. The president-elects attorney general pick, Pam Bondi, once called to investigate those who investigated Trump. <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/pam-bondi-attorney-general-justice-department-rcna181493">Read more </a>

<strong> From the ballot box to the courtroom:</strong> After voters approved ballot measures expanding or protecting abortion in several states, advocates are gearing up for likely court challenges. <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/abortion-rights-advocates-prepare-legal-battles-newly-passed-ballot-me-rcna180953">Read more </a>

<strong> He is not Mitt Romney, and he is not Donald Trump:</strong> Sen.-elect John Curtis represents ruby-red Utah, but he's already not been afraid to break with Trump, including on Matt Gaetz's scuttled nomination for attorney general. <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/-not-mitt-romney-not-donald-trump-romneys-senate-successor-makes-early-rcna181265">Read more </a>

<strong>A new record:</strong> The Congressional Black Caucus will start 2025 with a record number of members, 62, as the number of Black federal lawmakers overall reaches new heights. <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/congressional-black-caucus-record-62-members-plan-fight-trumps-agenda-rcna180855">Read more </a>

<strong> Mark your calendar:</strong> The Democratic National Committee will elect a new chairman on Feb. 1 after holding four public forums throughout January for candidates to make their pitches <strong>.</strong> <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/democrats-elect-new-dnc-party-chair-feb-1-rcna181658">Read more</a>

<strong> A re-rebate:</strong> California Gov. Gavin Newsom said his state will provide rebates for electric vehicles if the Trump administration rolls back the tax credit for them. <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/trump-electric-car-rebates-will-california-will-offer-rebates-rcna181626">Read more </a>

<strong> Talking turkey:</strong> Biden pardoned two turkeys, Peach and Blossom, his last time carrying out an annual White House tradition. <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/biden-pardons-last-turkeys-presidency-rcna181629">Read more </a>

Thats all from the Politics Desk for now. If you have feedback  likes or dislikes  email us at politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com

And if youre a fan, please share with everyone and anyone. They can sign up here.





This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
DECATUR COUNTY, Iowa  Multiple dogs described as emaciated were rescued from a filthy trailer in Decatur County, the Animal Rescue League of Iowa announced on Monday.

Hy-Vee deal means new name for GrimesPlex

According to the ARL, the Animal Welfare & Response Team were called to assist the Decatur County Sheriffs Office in rescuing several dogs from a trailer. The ARL said when the team arrived they saw several puppies poking their heads out of broken windows on the trailer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One dog and four puppies were found living in chaos inside the trailer, the ARL said. The inside of the trailer was described as being tight and filled with feces, trash, and destroyed furniture.

Puppy rescued in Decatur County. Photo courtesy of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa. Puppies poking their heads out of broken window of trailer. Photo courtesy of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa. Emaciated dog rescued in Decatur County. Photo courtesy of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.

The ARL said the dogs didnt have access to food or water and they were emaciated  with their hipbones jutting out and their ribs visible through their fur. According to the ARL, the puppies weighed less than half of what they should for their age.

All the dogs are now under the care of the ARL and are on feeding plans to get them back to a healthy weight.

Anyone who would like to donate to help can do so on the ARLs website.

Latest Iowa News:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com.
President-elect Trump is rounding out his Cabinet just a few weeks after securing a second White House term, filling the top jobs that will carry out his agenda in the years to come.

Trump has had some history-making picks, including the first woman to ever serve as White House chief of staff, as well as some other controversial choices. Trump has already had one withdrawal  former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) took his name out of attorney general consideration after it was clear he would not muster enough GOP support in the Senate to get confirmed.

Trumps Cabinet is also rounded out by a number of media personalities, including those with a history of prominent engagements with Fox News.

Here are five takeaways on Trumps Cabinet picks.

Many MAGA loyalists, but not all

Trump has long been a figure who prizes loyalty, and his Cabinet choices reflect that.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Unlike his first administration, when he nominated several more establishment-type figures who he did not have a previous relationship with, this time Trump quickly assembled a team of agency leaders who have been staunch allies with solid credentials in the MAGA movement.

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) has been tapped to serve as ambassador to the United Nations, former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) is the pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, former Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) is Trumps choice to lead the CIA and former Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) has been chosen for the Department of Veterans Affairs. All four were part of Trumps impeachment defense team in 2020.

Trumps pick for attorney general, Pam Bondi, also served as an attorney for his impeachment defense team and worked on efforts to challenge the 2020 election results.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) has tied herself closely to Trump and his orbit for years, parlaying that into a nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Brooke Rollins, Trumps nominee to lead the Department of Agriculture, was a top White House aide in his first term and a leader of the influential America First Policy Institute in recent years as it sought to promote Trumps agenda while he was out of office.

But other picks fit less neatly into Trumps preference for loyalists.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) was one of Trumps fiercest rivals during the 2016 GOP primary before becoming a strong ally during his presidency. He is Trumps pick for secretary of State.

Treasury secretary nominee Scott Bessent is a former Democratic donor who only recently became an adviser to Trump and his campaign.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) ran against Trump in the 2024 GOP primary before dropping out and endorsing him, eventually getting the nod to lead the Department of the Interior.

Women secure top jobs

Trumps Cabinet choices exhibit some diversity, including two Latino nominees, a Black nominee to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development and an openly gay nominee for Treasury secretary.

But perhaps most notable is the number of women poised to take on top jobs in the next Trump administration, especially because much was made of Trumps issues appealing to female voters during the 2024 campaign.

Trump has tapped women to lead the Department of Homeland Security (Noem), Justice Department (Bondi), Department of Agriculture (Rollins), Department of Labor (Oregon GOP Rep. Lori Chavez-Deremer) and Department of Education (Linda McMahon).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He has also chosen women to serve as director of national intelligence (former Hawaii Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard), ambassador to the United Nations (Stefanik) and surgeon general (Dr. Janette Nesheiwat), as well as White House press secretary (Karoline Leavitt).

Mark Cuban, the businessman who campaigned for Trumps rival Vice President Harris, suggested in October that Trump did not want to be challenged by women in his orbit, comments that drew pushback from Susie Wiles  Trumps pick for White House chief of staff  and others.

A spectrum of ideologies

Trump has never fit the traditional mold of a conservative Republican, and the Cabinet he has assembled in many ways reflects the coalition he built to return to the White House.

He has nominated two long-time Democrats in Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the latter of whom has drawn criticism from some conservatives for his shifting views on abortion access.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trumps pick to lead the Labor Department, Chavez-DeRemer, had the backing of labor groups like the Teamsters and was one of just a few House Republicans to sign on in support of the PRO Act, which would have bolstered collective bargaining rights. Trump has in the past spoken hostilely about striking workers.

And Scott Bessent, who is Trumps choice to serve as Treasury secretary, is a former Democratic donor who worked with George Soros, the financier and backer of progressive causes who has become a boogeyman on the right.

Some of Trumps nominees are also making history as the first in their roles. Bessent is the first openly gay Treasury nominee. Leavitt is the youngest individual to serve as press secretary. And Wiles is the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff.

Fox News appearances boots Cabinet pick profiles

If there was a common thread to be found among many of Trumps picks, its that they were regular presences on Fox News or had other television experience.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pete Hegseth, the nominee for Defense secretary, has for years served as a co-host on Fox & Friends Weekend. Sean Duffy, Trumps pick for Transportation secretary, had been a co-host of a show on Fox Business Network and a contributor to Fox News, in addition to a former participant on the MTV reality hit The Real World.

Mehmet Oz, who was tapped to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is a former daytime talk show host once made famous by Oprah Winfrey. Nesheiwat, the choice for surgeon general, was also a frequent Fox News guest.

Other nominees, including Rubio, Stefanik, Noem and Leavitt, were regulars on Fox News and other cable news shows as they defended Trump and promoted his campaign messaging on the airwaves.

One source close to the transition said Trump was reviewing television clips of some candidates as he made his final decisions, a reflection of how much the president-elect values someone who both looks the part and can deliver his desired message.

Some difficult confirmation battles lay ahead

As Trump rounds out the list of 15 Cabinet roles, as well as other key appointments, not all of his choices are guaranteed to glide through the confirmation process, even with Republicans holding 53 seats in the Senate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gaetzs withdrawal amid questions about sexual misconduct and a House Ethics Committee report on his behavior showed that GOP senators would not merely fall in line and give Trumps nominees a rubber stamp, and there are a few nominees likely to face intense scrutiny in the weeks to come.

Hegseth is facing his own sexual assault allegation related to a 2017 incident at a California hotel, which was detailed in a recently released police report. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter was consensual and denied wrongdoing. And while he is a veteran, he has not run an operation as sprawling as the Pentagon.

Gabbard, Trumps choice to serve as director of national intelligence, is likely to face questions from senators over her foreign policy views and rhetoric. She has previously been accused of parroting Russian talking points about its invasion of Ukraine, and she faced backlash for meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, whom she also refused to call a war criminal.

Well have lots of questions, Republican Sen. James Lankford (Okla.) said to CNNs State of the Union anchor Dana Bash. She met with [Assad]. Well want to know what the purpose was and what the direction for that was, as a member of Congress. Well want to get a chance to talk about past comments that shes made and get them into full context.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bondi will likely face questions from Democrats in particular who may voice concerns about Trumps pledge to use the Justice Department to go after his political rivals.

And Kennedys repeated anti-vaccine rhetoric, among other controversial views, is certain to come under a microscope as he seeks confirmation to run the Department of Health and Human Services.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO)  One woman died in a crash off Interstate 90, according to a news release from the Department of Public Safety.

Multiple significant crashes closes I-90 in Pennington Co.

Preliminary crash information indicates Lois Watson, 68, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was driving a 2024 Chevy Silverado and was traveling westbound on I-90 near mile marker 344. She drifted into the median, corrected her steering and then entered the north ditch where the vehicle rolled.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Watson died of her injuries at the scene. The two passengers were taken to the hospital for their injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Its Tuesday, November 26. Take a look at todays top stories with KELOLAND On the Go.

Authorities in western South Dakota are assisting with traffic control on Interstate 90.

Multiple significant crashes closes I-90 in Pennington Co.

One woman died in a crash off Interstate 90, according to a news release from the Department of Public Safety.

68-year-old dies in Hanson County crash

Aside from the cold start, it should be a quiet day. Highs will reach the 30s for many in KELOLAND as winds will be light.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Remaining Cold Through The Weekend

Download the KELOLAND News app to find the latest headlines while on the go.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Seven people were arrested during an investigation in southeast Georgia.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Glynn County police said the operation happened last Thursday morning.

During the investigation, the following people were identified as suspects and their list of charges:

Caleb Pensyl was charged with violation of probation and failure to appear.

Amanda Vermeulen was charged with violation of probation, possession of a Schedule II drug (methamphetamine), and possession of drug-related objects.

Detrick Edwards was charged with failure to appear and possession of a Schedule II drug (cocaine).

Carl Crews was charged with violation of probation and failure to appear.

Anthony Lewis was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of marijuana more than an ounce.

Justin Smith was charged with violation of probation.

Lafon Ferguson was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

TRENDING STORIES:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Glynn County officials said they seized three guns, 369.72 grams of marijuana and 1.34 grams of meth.

GCPDs and Georgia Department of Community Supervisions continued joint commitment in confronting and eliminating drug and violent crimes in Glynn County, the department said.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information can call the GCPD at 912-554-3645 or anonymously via Silent Witness at 912- 264-1333.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Several guns were seized at the NFTA station in downtown Buffalo from a man who police believe planned on selling them, police said Tuesday.

Police arrested 29-year-old Jaleel Battle on Friday. Police said he had been traveling by bus to Buffalo from Atlanta. When he arrived, police executed a search warrant and found seven guns, including a Glock 26 handgun and a Smith & Wesson M&P .40. NFTA police believe Battle planned on selling them.

He was arrested and charged with the following:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

seven counts, criminal possession of a firearm

second-degree criminal possession of a weapon

possession of a weapon that has been defaced

possession of large capacity ammunition feeding device

Our Transit Police officers are dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of our community, NFTA police chief Brian Patterson said in a news release. This arrest underscores the importance of strong partnerships with federal agencies like Homeland Security and our commitment to keeping illegal weapons off our streets.

Latest Local News

Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet speaks at the Global Chinese Economic and Technology (GCET) Summit 2024 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Nov. 26, 2024. The GCET Summit 2024 was convened in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Tuesday, aiming at promoting cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as the world. In his keynote address at the summit, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said China's high-quality development, driven by artificial intelligence, digital economy, humanoid robots, new materials, and other innovation industries, will benefit the whole region. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said here on Tuesday that the whole region has stood to benefit from China's high-quality development, particularly in economy, technology and green development.

In his keynote address at the Global Chinese Economic and Technology (GCET) Summit 2024 in Phnom Penh, Manet said China has projected that its high-quality development will be driven by artificial intelligence, digital economy, humanoid robots, low-altitude economy (i.e. drones), new materials, and other innovation industries.

"When China, as the main driver of global growth is focusing on high-quality development, I believe that the whole region stands to gain from such policy orientation," he told the summit, with about 300 participants.

"For instance, through the Belt and Road Initiative and our strong bilateral relations, Chinese businesses have been at the forefront of bringing technological advancement to Cambodia," he added.

The Cambodian leader said that the deep-rooted cultural ties between Cambodia and China, combined with strong government-to-government relations, have created a uniquely favorable environment where Chinese investments thrive.

Kin Phea, director general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, a think tank under the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said Asian countries have greatly benefited from China's economic growth and rapid technological development.

"China's high-quality development has not only brought forth new opportunities and transformations to reshape China's economy, but also have a broader impact on the economic landscape of the Asian region," he told Xinhua.

The GCET summit is an annual international forum. Its purpose is to improve business linkages and connectivity between China and the world, providing a platform for high-level discussions on global and regional events in relation to China's rise as a world-leading economy. 
DENVER (KDVR)  A 7-year-old boy who authorities said was abducted by 26-year-old Crystal Denmon was safely located Monday afternoon, according to the Lakewood Police Department.

An Amber Alert was issued for the child, who at the time was last seen at 12:50 p.m. in Cheraw, Colorado, which is located in Otero County at the southeast part of the state.

The Amber Alert has been discontinued.

Were so happy to announce the child and the subject of this Amber Alert was recovered safe and unharmed at about 3:45 this afternoon by Colorado State Patrol troopers outside of a little crossroads called Last Chance, Colorado, Lakewood Police Department Public Information Officer Rob Albrets said. The state patrol contacted the vehicle the child was recovered unharmed and the female suspect was taken into custody.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Denmon was considered armed and dangerous, and authorities warned the public to not approach her if seen.

LPD said the family was cooperative in the investigation. Stephanie Vaugh-Green, grandmother of the 7-year-old, said they are excited to see him again.

Girl it felt like a ton of trillion bricks being lifted off of me. I was able to jump up without my cane and just praise the lord, Green said.

No further details were immediately available.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  An Abilene man accused of committing 3 separate hit-and-run crashes in a row has been arrested.

Sylas Smart was taken into custody on three counts of Unlawful Collision Involving Injury Friday in connection to the crashes, which happened on the same day in May 2024.

First, court documents state Smart struck a vehicle on the 4200 block of N 1st Street, then he hit a vehicle on the 100 block of Hwy 83/84, and finally he crashed into a third vehicle that was stopped at the intersection of Texas Avenue and Rexie Circle.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Smart allegedly fled the scene of all three crashes without rendering aid or providing his information, and the documents state all three of the other drivers involved did need medical treatment.

The documents state Smart was eventually arrested on unrelated charges when he entered the main gate of Dyess Air Force Base later that day without authorization. Investigators then learned his license was invalid.

Smart was released from jail after posting bonds worth nearly $40,000.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  An 83-year-old bank robbery suspect remains locked up in the Mahoning County Jail after appearing in court Monday.

Read next: Mother and son arrested after woman reports attack

Having already spent the last four days behind bars, 83-year-old Forrest Lytell appeared in Austintown Court via video from the Justice Center dressed in jail orange.

Lytell was arrested last Thursday, just a week after his birthday. Police say he had held up the PNC Bank branch on Mahoning Avenue by handing the teller a handwritten note demanding all her money or else.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to police reports, the bank teller handed just over $600 to Lytell, including several bills that could be tracked. Officers were able to quickly catch up with him and recover the money.

Lytell said little during questioning on Thursday but wondered how officers were able to catch him so quickly.

Lytell did admit he needed some help. In court, he told the judge hes been retired since 2001 and only receives social security.

And thats the only one you receive, the judge asked.

Yes, sir, Lytell said.

Lytell remains in the county jail on $13,000 bond. Hes due back in court next month.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  Deputies with the Anderson County Sheriffs Office arrested a Nebraska man accused of sexually targeting an underage girl from the Upstate.

According to the sheriffs office, 36-year-old Luis Romero of Omaha, Nebraska reached out to a teenage girl from Powdersville on social media.

Thankfully, we had a very diligent parent who was an involved parent who knew that, hey, somethings not right with my childs cell phone. Messages like this should not be popping up, said Shale Remien, Anderson Co. Sheriffs Office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reports state Romero, under the screenname daddydaycare, encouraged the girl to send sexually explicit photos. Romero is also accused of sending images and videos of himself.

Investigators recovered enough information for the Nebraska State Police to arrest Romero at his home last month, according to reports. He has since been brought to the Anderson County Detention Center, where he is charged with three counts of criminal solicitation of a minor, three counts of unlawfully disseminating obscene material and three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

The material we gathered on Romero exposes some of the most disturbing content Ive seen come across my desk. Its imperative to monitor our childrens online activity, as strangers will take advantage of being behind a screen. A reminder I tell the parents is the day you give a child a phone is the day you allow some of their childhood to end. Stay vigilant, stay involved, Detective Jordan Smith said.

According to the sheriffs office, detectives have reason to believe Romero targeted more young victims. If you have any information, reach out to the Anderson County Sheriffs Office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
The Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original story.)

A bipartisan bill that would modernize Ohios adoption process unanimously passed the Ohio Senate last week.

House Bill 5 heads back to the Ohio House for concurrence. The House unanimously passed the bill last year and would head to Gov. Mike DeWines desk for his signature if the chamber concurs with the changes. The Ohio Houses next scheduled session is Dec. 4.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

State Reps. Sharon Ray, R-Wadsworth, and Rachel Baker, D-Cincinnati, introduced the bill last year at the start of the General Assembly and this piece of legislation is personal to both of them. Ray was adopted as a child and Baker has three adopted children.

Ray and Baker worked with probate judges to come up with the bill. The states probate judges go through the Ohio Revised Code every few years to try to update various sections, including the adoption laws.

Most of the changes are fairly minor, but it really will streamline the process for the adoption process in Ohio, State Sen. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville, said during last weeks Senate session. It really will help those practitioners and those judges and those families that are going through this process.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

State Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson, D-Toledo, said H.B. 5 is vital legislation that is long overdue.

It is a good bill, and it does, what I think, will really shave off some of the anxiety, some of the problems that folks who are trying to go through that process, and also for children who are not sure about being in limbo for as long as the current processes, she said.

More than 3,300 Ohio children are waiting to be adopted, according to AdoptUSKids, a national nonprofit that connects foster care children to families.

Whats in the bill?

In addition to modernizing the states adoption process, H.B. 5 would offer more consistency from county to county.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For foster-to-adopt situations, Ohio law requires a six month waiting period before an adoption can take place and says time spent in the foster home can be counted towards the waiting period. H.B. 5 would include kinship caregivers in that provision in an effort to speed up the adoption process.

H.B. 5 would allow an adult with a developmental disability to be adopted. Ohios law current only allows adults with an intellectual disability to be adopted.

The bill would double financial support for pregnant mothers to cover living expenses, increasing it from $3,000 to $6,000.

Under the bill, a court could reconsider an adoption decree if there is evidence the child is a victim of trafficking.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill also touches on foreign adoptions. Ohio law currently permits parents to petition the court to finalize a foreign adoption. H.B. 5 would allow foreign adoption decrees to be automatically finalized if either parent is an Ohio resident and an IR-3 or IH-3 visa has been issued to the child by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Follow OCJ Reporter Megan Henry on X.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
WARNING: This article contains descriptions of alleged sexual contact with a child and may be distressing for some readers. Discretion is advised.

(COLORADO SPRINGS)  FOX21 News has received more details on the case of the 30-year veteran officer with the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) who was arrested for allegedly intimidating a victim.

According to an arrest affidavit, 58-year-old Sergeant Glenn Eric Thomas had intimidated the victim, a 10-year-old girl, into retracting a previous statement she had made about Thomas inappropriately touching her.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: CSPD officer arrested for allegedly intimidating a victim

The inappropriate touching incident allegedly happened on Saturday, Aug. 24, when the 10-year-old spent the night at Thomas home. The court documents allege the 10-year-old was in Thomas bed when he reached under her shirt and touched and rubbed her breasts. She said she pretended to be asleep until Thomas got up and left.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) was notified, and a case worker conducted an interview on Sept. 11, in which the 10-year-old disclosed the same statement about the incident. On Sept. 20, she was also interviewed by the Woodland Park Police Department (WPPD), where she also told police the same thing about Thomas touching her inappropriately.

On Oct. 4, Thomas was interviewed by WPPD and denied ever touching the 10-year-olds breast or anywhere else on her body.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After that interview, Thomas called CSPD Lieutenant Shannon Snuggs and asked her for a professional and recorded response on whether he should confront the 10-year-old about the accusation.

You dont want anybody to think youre trying to influence what [the child] says or how shes feeling, or intimidate her in any way, Snuggs told Thomas. And so, if Woodland Parks investigation is ongoing then I dont know that confronting [the child] with anything that is said at this point is the best course of action.

Regardless of Snuggs advice, the documents state that Thomas went to the 10-year-olds school and confronted her. Video surveillance showed Thomas was in the office with the 10-year-old and wanted someone to be present for the conversation he wanted to have with her.

The three then went to a conference room where Thomas told the 10-year-old he was visited by Teller County and thus was late and couldnt bring her food. He then told the 10-year-old he wanted to know what was going on.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The documents allege Thomas twice asked the 10-year-old if she was lying to somebody, to which she replied yes. Thomas continued the conversation asking about specific incidents. The third party asked what the allegations were and was told by Thomas that it was about the alleged inappropriate touch. The third party in the room told Thomas to leave and they asked the 10-year-old if she had lied to WPPD, to which she replied yes and was then sent back to class.

WPPD was contacted, and police advised that CSPD be contacted to report the incident, as the school was not in the WPPD jurisdiction.

The 10-year-old told an investigator who was interviewing her she couldnt tell Thomas the allegations were true because she felt like he would hurt her.

I did not want to say yes you did this and like confront him on it. Because he would obviously hurt me, the child reportedly told an investigator.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The child told the investigator that she had witnessed several violent incidents involving Thomas, citing an example where he allegedly kicked down a door to a room and left bruises and cuts on an unidentified individual. She also talked about a time when Thomas allegedly pointed a gun at her and another person in their Teller County home.

The affidavit said the child told an investigator after the incident with the gun that Thomas allegedly bought wish paper but called it lie paper, instructing the child to write lies on the paper then burn it and never tell the lie again.

According to the affidavit, on Oct. 9, the DHS Case Worker re-interviewed the child, and she said she lied to both Thomas and the third party at the school because she was scared of Thomas. The case worker also told police that Thomas allegedly asked the child why did you lie, which the case worker felt was a leading question, and that he did not bring lunch as a form of punishment.

The affidavit alleges that Thomas attempt to influence the child to provide false information through his body language, tone, and the threat that Thomas would be arrested, constituted victim intimidation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is appealing a decision that permanently struck down Ohio's most restrictive abortion ban and other abortion regulations.

The notice of appeal, filed Friday, hints at what Yost's office will challenge: Does a challenge to Ohio's ban on most abortions allow a judge to block other abortion restrictions and policies without further review?

Seeking appellate review is a necessary and appropriate step," Yost spokesperson Bethany McCorkle said. "The state respects the will of the people regarding the six-week abortion ban, but the state is also obligated to protect provisions in Senate Bill 23, as passed by the General Assembly and signed by the governor, that the constitutional amendment does not address. It is up to the courts to determine how conflicts between those two documents are resolved.

Advertisement Advertisement

In October, Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Christian Jenkins permanently struck down an Ohio law that required doctors to check for cardiac activity before performing an abortion. Those who didn't follow this protocol faced criminal charges and the loss of their medical licenses.

He based that decision on a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2023 that protects access to abortion and other reproductive decisions. Ohio voters have spoken. The Ohio Constitution now unequivocally protects the right to abortion, Jenkins wrote.

But Jenkins' order also blocked the requirement to check for embryonic or fetal cardiac activity and to inform patients of the probability of bringing the pregnancy to term, among other abortion regulations.

The state argued that those other aspects of the law should remain "untouched." Attorneys who sued over the ban didn't specifically challenge those portions of the law, the Ohio Attorney General's Office contended.

Advertisement Advertisement

The First District Court of Appeals, which covers Hamilton County, will review the case. Yost's office didn't ask to accelerate it. All abortion challenges will ultimately end up at the Ohio Supreme Court, where Republicans will hold a 6-1 majority starting next year.

Abortion case appeal by Jessie Balmert on Scribd

Jessie Balmert covers state government and politics for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost to appeal abortion ban case
Michael Gilligan retrieves items from his house on Newbury Street in Auburn, Maine after the Dec. 18, 2023 storm. (Photo by Jim Neuger/Maine Morning Star)

Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey is suing fossil fuel companies for deceiving Mainers about how their products contributed to climate change.

Frey is looking to hold Exxon, Shell, Chevron, BP, Sunoco and the American Petroleum Institute accountable for failing to warn consumers and concealing their knowledge of the consequences increased use of fossil fuels can have, such as extreme weather, sea-level rise, warmer temperatures, property damage and negative impacts on public health, according to a news release Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The state is demanding a jury trial and relief through damages, penalties and more, the release says. The suit also asks the defendants to pay for both past and future climate-related harms caused by the fossil fuel industry and stop their alleged deception in Maine.

The complaint alleges that the defendants knew about the potentially devastating consequences that use of fossil fuels could have as early as the 1960s. Rather than warn the public, the lawsuit alleges that the companies protected their own assets from climate change impacts and used public relations campaigns to discredit scientific consensus on climate change to create doubt about the effects of burning fossil fuels.

The suit comes two weeks after newly unearthed documents published by the international investigative outlet DeSmog showed that scientists were warning fossil fuel companies as early as 1955 about the long term consequences of their work, which they in turn sought to conceal.

For over half a century, these companies chose to fuel profits instead of following their own science to prevent what are now likely irreversible, catastrophic climate effects, Frey said. In so doing, they burdened the state and our citizens with the consequences of their greed and deception.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a statement, Gov. Janet Mills pointed to the three significant storms last winter that flooded roadways, ravaged coastal communities, and caused significant damage to fishing infrastructure as proof that climate change is harming our lives, our health, and our economy. She added that it is time for the fossil fuel industry to be held responsible.

In addition to detailing past, current and future injuries caused by the defendants, the complaint filed by Frey alleges seven violations of Maine law including negligence, failure to warn, multiple forms of nuisance and infractions under the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act. It also alleges that the American Petroleum Institute aided and abetted the fossil fuel companies deceptive conduct.

Maine is following in the footsteps of more than 20 other states, cities, counties and tribes who have brought similar climate deception lawsuits, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont.

In a statement, Theodore J. Boutrous, Jr. of Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher, who serves as counsel for Chevron, Corporation, dismissed the suit as meritless.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Addressing climate change requires a coordinated federal and international policy response, not meritless state court litigation attacking essential energy production, Boutrous said. Identical claims have been dismissed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and state courts in Delaware and Maryland. As the Baltimore city circuit court recently held, state law cannot provide a remedy to claims involving foreign emissions.

This story was updated to include a quote from Chevrons attorney.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
The U.S. Army wants to test an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar on its AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, using a standard Apache weapons pylon. A radar of this kind would be a very valuable tool for spotting, tracking, and engaging targets, especially in bad weather and at extended ranges, including airborne threats, but it would also be able to perform more general intelligence-gathering and provide improved situational awareness, along with other functions. If successful, the radar could find its way onto other Army platforms, both rotary and fixed-wing, the service has said.

A Request for Information (RFI) for the potential inflight demonstration of the radar on an AH-64 was published by the U.S. government recently. Specifically, the Project Manager for Apache Attack Helicopter is conducting market research into potential sources that could provide a suitable radar. Then, a demonstration would be conducted at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, using the latest AH-64E V6 version.

A U.S. Army AH-64E Apache attack helicopter, assigned to the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, simulates an opposing force for an attack on a patrol base at Grafenwoehr training area, Germany, Aug. 14, 2024. U.S. Army U.S. Army photo by Capt. Leara Shumate

According to the RFI, a state-of-the-art AESA radar would have the potential to be tested across a wide variety of functions, with the desired capabilities including fire control, pilotage, pilot aid in degraded visual environments (DVE), pole/tower and cable detection, airborne hazards, terrain following (TF), terrain avoidance (TA), and shoreline mapping using augmented reality (AR) techniques.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is not uncommon for an RFI like this to be open-ended to try to solicit a broad array of possible options for addressing a problem set and this one notes that the Army is also interested in potential radar solutions that can only provide some of the outlined capabilities.

Also, while the Apache is at the center of the program, at least as far as the inflight demonstration is concerned, the Army says its also looking at the potential to fit the same radar in the UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters, as well as the forthcoming Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA), which you can read more about here. The RFI also mentions the possibility of putting the radar on undisclosed fixed-wing Army aircraft.

A rendering of the U.S. Armys Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) tiltrotor. Bell

Potentially, more than one vendor might end up being selected for an inflight demonstration of their system. Furthermore, the RFI states, the Army is also looking for responses from companies not yet able to integrate [AESA radar] onto a surrogate aircraft and these are encouraged to highlight technical maturity limitations and other feasible demonstration capabilities.

The trials should take place over a three-week period, culminating with a demonstration day.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As for the planned scope of the AH-64E V6 demonstration, this will see the AESA radar used to collect data against relevant targets at various ranges. Targets will be stationary and moving and will be on land (motorcycle, truck, and tank), in a littoral environment, and airborne (AH-64, MD530, T-6 Texan II, and undisclosed drones).

The proposed scenario for the inflight demonstration includes attack profiles for ground, air, and littoral targeting, a nap-of-the-earth (NOE) route for terrain mapping (TM), TF, and TA, a DVE landing profile to preview pilot-aided symbology, and an overwater route for shoreline/synthetic aperture radar (SAR) mapping.

Most fundamentally, an AESA radar differs from a more traditional radar in that it uses a matrix formed of hundreds of very small radar modules that are used to steer an electronic beam, instead of the radar antenna physically moving to point at a target. This makes AESAs far more reliable than mechanically scanned types, and they can benefit from better range, fidelity, and resistance to electronic warfare, and can do multiple tasks, from sensing to electronic attack to communications. The beam in an AESA radar can be moved around and modulated much more quickly, which also allows the radar to conduct multiple tasks simultaneously. In the Army demonstration, for example, this might involve surveilling a battlefield for targets on the ground and in the air, as well as monitoring weather along the AH-64s flight path.

The inclusion of drone targets in the test campaign is interesting, as this is a growing area of interest for the Army and the AH-64 community in particular.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As we have discussed before, Army AH-64s are now practicing to refine their ability to detect and destroy enemy aerial drones, including while forward deployed to the Middle East. At the same time, AESA radars offer notable advantages over legacy radars when it comes to detecting one-way attack munitions and other smaller kamikaze drones. Above all, AESA radars are typically able to spot objects of interest, even small ones and those with low radar cross-sections, faster and farther away.

A U.S. Army AH-64D fires a Hellfire missile at a small aerial drone during training in the CENTCOM AOR on Sept. 23, 2024. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Dean John Kd De Dios

The U.S. Armys decision to test an AESA radar on the AH-64 is also interesting in light of plans to modernize this design, something that Boeing discussed at length with TWZ only recently.

While an AESA radar was not specifically mentioned, there is an ambition to move the AH-64s current Longbow fire-control radar from its mast-mounted position and integrate it into the fuselage, to bring aerodynamic improvements.

As we observed at the time, one way of installing a radar internally could be to use a conformal AESA array, a technology that is getting ever smaller and more versatile.

A Boeing product card showing the major improvement strands foreseen for future modernized versions of the AH-64. Boeing

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Now, however, the Army is looking at what could potentially be a simpler solution  mounting an AESA radar externally, under one of the AH-64s stub wings. On the other hand, such an installation would take away valuable space and weight that would otherwise be used for weapons, external fuel, or other stores.

The latest versions of the AH-64 also have major advantages when it comes to installing a radar of this kind, thanks to its open architecture that makes bolting on systems like this a far easier and quicker process. Another big advantage lies in the AH-64s datalink system, which means a single AESA-equipped Apache could provide targeting to a formation of the same type or other platforms.

While AESA radars are rarely found on helicopters  other than a handful of specific airborne early warning types  its notable that Russia has also been working to include this kind of technology on its Ka-52 Hokum attack helicopter.

The naval Ka-52K version has been fitted with a Rezets AESA radar, while the land-based Ka-52M is expected to receive a new AESA radar, likely the V006 Rezets from the Zaslon company. This is an X-band radar that, according to the manufacturer, can detect a group of tanks from 25 miles and a fighter aircraft from up to 31 miles.

The V006 or RZ-001 Rezets (cutter) radar with active electronic scanning antenna, possibly implemented in the Ka-52M in its new configuration. Piotr Butowski

Other Russian AESA options for attack helicopters exist, too, notably the FH02 from Phazotron-NIIR, which actually combines two separate antennas: a mechanical slotted array for the Ka and an AESA for the X-band. According to the company, a tank can be detected at a distance of 12.4 miles in the Ka range or 21.8 miles in the X range.

A diagram showing the FH02 radar in the nose of a Ka-52. Phazotron

In terms of existing Western-made AESA radars that are optimized for helicopters, the European company Leonardo offers the Osprey 30 that has already been installed on the U.S. Navy MQ-8C Fire Scout rotary-wing drone (where it is designated AN/ZPY-8) as well as the Norwegian version of the Leonardo AW101 helicopter.

A Norwegian Leonardo AW101 helicopter, which is fitted with a Leonardo Osprey 30 AESA radar. Airwolfhound/Wikimedia Commons tim felce

In particular, the Osprey 30 is compact enough that it can be fitted in an installation with no rotating antenna but still provides 360-degree coverage, using up to four separate fixed antennas. Its small size and the fact that the U.S. military already uses it could make the Osprey radar an attractive option for the U.S. Army AH-64 demonstration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Small-sized AESA radars are also something that the Army has been testing on some of its fixed-wing aircraft, including Northrops AN/ZPY-5 Vehicle and Dismount Exploitation Radar (VADER), fitted in a pod on the Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (EMARSS), which is based on a Beechcraft King Air 350, and which you can read more about here.

For now, we dont know what options might be pitched for the AESA demonstration, but its certainly significant that four decades after the AH-64 first entered service, the Army is now looking seriously at introducing a new type of radar that promises to add major new capabilities in a variety of environments, for both targeting and navigation functions.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
AIKEN, S.C. (WJBF)  The city has owned the Jackson Petroleum property here on Williamsburg Street SE since 2021. Developers want to turn it into a mixed-use space.

it was a Brownsfield site and we obtained a federal EPA grant to remediate the site, and we removed a number of barrels and soil and put the property out to bid, Aiken City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh shared.

Now, MarketSide Villages plans to transform the site into a mixed-use village. It will include restaurants and apartments, blending with the nearby Aiken Farmers Market, a local favorite since the 1950s.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I think the type of plans the prospective owners have will be something that is in sync and complements very well the mission and goals of what we do at the Farmers Market.

Two large buildings on the property will stay, while the rest will likely be torn down. City officials say the development will help expand Aikens downtown and bring new life to an area with so much potential.

Theres been some entrepreneurial work down in that eastern area. I think this would be another logical step towards extending our downtown east, toward the Farmers Market, he said.

Once completed, the development will not only enhance the area but also generate new tax revenue for the city. Leaders say it will take about two and a half years to complete.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The city will move forward with transferring the property to the new owners in the coming weeks.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
Rescuers work near the site where a boat sank in the Red Sea, in Marsa Alam, the Red Sea Province, Egypt, on Nov. 25, 2024. (Xinhua)

CAIRO, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Four Egyptians and 12 foreigners were still missing after a boat sank in the Red Sea earlier in the day, Governor of Egypt's Red Sea Province Amr Hanafy said on Monday.

A total of 28 people have been rescued and are "in good health," while search operations and investigations into the incident are still ongoing, Hanafy said in a statement.

The Red Sea Province announced on its official Facebook page Monday that a safari boat had sunk off the northern coast of Marsa Alam, a coastal town in southeastern Egypt on the Red Sea.

Ambulances are seen near the site where a boat sank in the Red Sea, in Marsa Alam, the Red Sea Province, Egypt, on Nov. 25, 2024. (Xinhua)

According to Hanafy, the boat carried 44 passengers, including 13 Egyptians and 31 others from 11 countries: Germany, Britain, the United States, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain, and Ireland.

Earlier on Monday, the Chinese Embassy in Egypt said in a statement that two Chinese tourists had been rescued by passing vessels near the site of the incident. The embassy has contacted the two tourists, who are reported to be in good health.

The boat underwent its last maritime safety inspection in March and was issued a one-year validity certificate, said Hanafy.

Rescuers work near the site where a boat sank in the Red Sea, in Marsa Alam, the Red Sea Province, Egypt, on Nov. 25, 2024. (Xinhua)

There have been no comments or technical defects regarding the boat, he said, adding that the initial cause was said to be a large sea wave hitting the boat and causing it to capsize.

Egyptian authorities reported that the boat, named Sea Story, departed from Port Ghalib in Marsa Alam on Sunday and was scheduled to arrive at Hurghada Marina on Friday.

According to initial information, the boat sank near a coral reef in the north of Marsa Alam. The Red Sea Province's control center received a distress signal from a crew member at around 5:30 a.m. local time (0330 GMT). 
Ukraines defence forces have destroyed over 10 drones attacking the city of Kyiv on the night of 25-26 November.

Source: Kyiv City Military Administration on Telegram

Quote from Kyiv City Military Administration Head Serhii Popko: "An air-raid warning was in effect in the city for over five hours. Assets and personnel of the defence forces detected and destroyed over 10 Russian UAVs threatening Kyiv."

Details: Popko added that there were no casualties or damage.

Background: On the evening of 25 November, Russian troops launched kamikaze drones into Ukraine.

Support UP or become our patron!
Airbnb is launching a scheme that will allow tenants to sub-let their rental properties amid criticism the website is driving up prices and fuelling a housing crisis.

The property portal said the scheme is designed to make it easier for tenants to become Airbnb hosts, as long as the property remains their primary residence.

It is currently only available to commercial landlords, not individual landlords and their tenants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, estate agency Knight Frank warned that without verification measures in place, the initiative could leave landlords at risk from tenants who list their properties without approval.

Gary Hall, head of lettings at Knight Frank, said: We currently have the issue of tenants who Airbnb their properties across London without permission.

Airbnb needs to do more to make sure it is done with the permission of the landlord.

At the moment there is abuse, and we dont want the problem to get worse.

The majority of tenancy agreements ban sub-letting by the tenant, however an investigation by The Telegraph found that council tenants were illegally letting homes on Airbnb for 9,000 a month.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Under the new scheme tenants will have to sign a contract with their landlord that puts in place rules including a limit on the amount of time the property can be sub-let on Airbnb and how much of the revenue the landlord receives from the platform  likely between 10pc and 25pc, according to the Financial Times.

Tools provided to landlords who have signed up to the scheme include visibility for building management of the number of hosts and booked guests at any given time.

Property managers also have access to listing reviews and approval to ensure it adheres to building community rules. They can also cap how many nights the property can be rented out via Airbnb.

Scheme to expand outside of London

Airbnb launched the initiative on Monday in London  with 1,500 flats in three properties owned by developer and commercial landlord Greystar.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Maria Hatch, senior director at Greystar said: Given the success of our partnership in the US, were pleased to help introduce Airbnb-friendly Apartments to the UK. It adds financial flexibility for residents and our community management teams have visibility into hosting activity, which means they can help ensure everything runs smoothly and there is no impact to the wider community.

The platform has said it is in talks with other landlords to include more properties and is looking to expand outside of the capital.

Currently active in the US, the Airbnb-friendly Apartments scheme includes over 750 buildings comprising more than 200,000 units.

The launch comes as Airbnb and other short-term let platforms  including Booking.com and Vrbo  face backlash in areas where locals say they have been priced out.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Councils implementing restrictions argue that, as landlords look to buy properties in order to rent them out as short-term holiday lets, it drives up property prices and rental costs as demand increases on the depleted housing supply.

The Spanish city of Malaga has banned short-term rentals as it becomes the latest European hotspot to crack down on platforms. In Malaga short-term holiday lets account for 65pc of all tourist accommodation, according to a study by local authorities.

Malaga, in Spain, has recently banned short-term rentals - iStockphoto

City rules will forbid the creation of new holiday lets in areas that locals say have become saturated by tourist accommodation. Edinburgh launched a similar crackdown via a new licencing system  which backfired after the council was forced to lift suspensions it had placed on 450 landlords.

Michael Gove, the former housing secretary, has previously criticised online letting sites for turning seaside towns into permanent Airbnb settings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last month Rachel Blake, the MP for Cities of London and Westminster, told the House of Commons that the rise of Airbnb in cities, particularly London, was damaging communities.

An Airbnb spokesman said: Airbnb-friendly Apartments enable landlords and renters to mutually benefit from clear and permitted part-time home sharing in accordance with their rental agreement. With rental prices remaining elevated, 79 percent of UK renters are seeking ways to supplement their income, and 55 percent would consider home-sharing to earn extra money.

Airbnb-Friendly Apartments offers a solution, providing landlords with oversight to help them share in the benefits of responsible home-sharing while empowering renters to earn extra income.

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 community at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam is mourning after a missing airman was found dead near a local beach Sunday morning.

The remains of Senior Airman Roque Santos, a fuels service center controller with the 36th Logistics Readiness Squadron, were discovered near Family Beach after the base launched search-and-rescue operations to find him. Stars and Stripes reported Monday that Santos had been fishing Saturday and did not return when expected.

The entire 36th LRS team is in mourning over the loss of one of our own, his squadron commander, Maj. Stephen Moulton, said. Roque was our brother, a beloved member of the team and always committed to serving with honor and integrity as a controller.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Santos was an avid spearfisher, and had been spearfishing at the time of his disappearance, Andersen said in an email after the initial publication of this story. A local Coast Guard search and rescue team notified Andersen at about 7:30 pm Saturday that Santos was missing.

An investigation into Santos death is ongoing, the base said.

Santos began serving at Andersen in March 2022. Base officials said he quickly established himself as a standout performer.

In his first role there as a fuels facility technician, Santos was in charge of inspecting, maintaining and operating the services largest fuels facility infrastructure, and kept fuel flowing during four major multinational exercises.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

His strong performance prompted his superiors to give him more responsibility as a fuels service center controller, managing 42 refueling assets and 27 technicians across 2,000 operations.

Andersen said Santos hard work led his flight to be named the top fuels management flight for Pacific Air Forces in 2022, as well as being named the 2022 Wing Large Team of the Year Award.

A base spokesperson said in an email to Air Force Times that Santos was well-liked, and was very passionate about serving and being an airman.

Moulton and Brig. Gen. Thomas Palenske, commander of the 36th Wing at Andersen, said the base is working to support Santos family and members of the bases community who are grieving.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Roque was an integral part of the Team Andersen family, Palenske said. I want to extend my deepest condolences to Roques family during this difficult time. Our priority is ensuring that everyone affected by this tragedy gets the support they need. We will use this time to come together and honor Roque and ensure he is remembered.

This story has been updated with additional information from Andersen Air Force Base.
Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen walks toward a podium during inauguration ceremonies at the Alabama State Capitol on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023 in Montgomery, Alabama. Allen said Tuesday he did not think new restrictions on voting affected turnout. (Stew Milne/Alabama Reflector)

The results of the 2024 general election have been made official Tuesday at the State Elections Canvassing Board meeting.

Representatives from both the Alabama Attorney General and Governors Office, as well as Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen signed and certified the results. The office estimated earlier this month that about 2.2 million people voted in the election, or 58.5% of registered voters. The turnout in percentage terms was the lowest for a presidential election in the state since 1988. About 2.3 million Alabamians voted in the 2020 presidential election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As far as turnout, that is up to the voters to get out and go vote, Allen said in an interview with media following the certification of the results.

The Secretary of State, who pushed restrictions on drop boxes as a legislator, said he did not believe new laws, including efforts to criminalize some forms of absentee ballot assistance, affected turnout.

I think our elections are safe, secure, and transparent because of the policies that the Legislature, in years past, have implemented and the governor has signed in, and I think that is one thing that people have confidence in, is our elections in the state of Alabama, he said.

Alabama has some of the countrys lowest rates of voter participation, with experts citing a history of voter suppression, a lack of early voting and an absence of competitive races as contributing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Alabamas highest turnout in the last 38 years was the 1992 presidential contest, when 76% of eligible voters cast ballots.

The thing I want to talk about is commending the probate judges, circuit clerks, sheriffs, board of registrars, and all our poll workers for administering a fair, secure, transparent election, Allen said to open the interview. We had a great election day. Without those local election officials, we wouldnt have elections.
DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN) Those wanting to become electricians in Alabama will have a new apprenticeship program to consider at Wallace Community College.

Wallace Community College-Dothan launched the first state-recognized Electrician Apprenticeship program in partnership with Diamond-R-Electric.

We are thrilled to partner with Diamond -R- Electric in offering this innovative apprenticeship program, said Martha Compton, WCCD Associate Dean of Career and Technical Education. The support from the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship has been tremendous. This program sets a new standard for the state, giving students hands-on training that not only builds their skills but also moves them closer to journeyman certification, significantly enhancing their career pathways.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The program has been approved by the Alabama Electrician Board and will count for 2,000 of the 8,000 required journeyman hours.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com.
The House chambers are seen on Friday, May 13, 2022, at the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Funding Alaska schools in a stable way, addressing energy needs, reforming public employee retirements and balancing the state budget are the top priorities for the state House of Representatives majority caucus, incoming leaders said.

The majority filled out its leadership team and committee chairs on Saturday, three days after the unofficial election results were released on Nov. 20.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The caucus currently has 21 members, which is the bare minimum to form a majority in the 40-member House. It includes 14 Democrats, five independents and two Republicans. The 19 members who are not in the majority are all Republicans.

Former state Rep. Chuck Kopp, a Republican, is seen in his office on Sept. 5, 2024. Kopp is rejoining the Legislature as majority leader four years after losing a Republican primary.(Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Incoming majority leader Chuck Kopp of Anchorage is one of the two majority Republicans. In an interview, he said the caucus priorities crossed party lines. He said the education, energy, employment and budget issues relate to attracting and retaining young Alaskans.

Theyre not a Republican-Democrat thing. Theyre an Alaskan-first thing, and that is what we organized around, Kopp said. And our caucus is open to anyone who recognizes that those are priority items that have to be addressed, and it is such a priority that theyre willing to subordinate their partisan fear, to look at the issues honestly and say, Im going to work on this with my whole heart and mind to do whats best for Alaska, and to make sure that our focus is on the next generation moving our state, you know, in such a way that our young people stay here.

Previous narrow majorities have struggled, and Kopp expressed hope that more representatives will join the caucus.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is not the number that we will end up at, Kopp said of the 21 members. We have active conversations going with many members, and I expect that that will not be what our organization looks like.

Kopp said the outgoing majority was ungovernable, due to divisions over the size of the budget and whether to draw down savings to pay larger Permanent Fund dividends. He also noted that a consensus in favor of increasing school funding fell apart after Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed a change to the formula used to set state school funding.

When it was vetoed, that consensus fell off to below the three quarter threshold, and it really threw the state into severe instability, instability as far as planning for an education budget and and we know what the outfall of that was, Kopp said.

School district leaders and teachers said coworkers are leaving due to uncertainty.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The majority leadership team includes three co-chairs of the powerful finance committee: Reps. Neal Foster, D-Nome, who will oversees all bills other than the major annual budget bills; Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage, who will oversee the operating budget that pays for state agency operations; and Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, who will oversee the capital budget, which pays for infrastructure like roads and bridges as well as for maintenance.

They join the three previously announced leaders: Rep. Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, who will be speaker; Kopp; and Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, who will chair the rules committee, which determines when bills are scheduled for votes by the full chamber.

In a statement announcing the caucus released on Saturday, caucus members said they have set four priorities: education, energy, retirement reform and balanced budgets.

We have heard loud and clear from Alaskans that we need stable education funding for great schools with small class sizes, said Edgmon and Reps. Andi Story, D-Juneau, and Rebecca Himschoot, I-Sitka, in a joint statement. Story and Himschoot will co-chair the education committee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Other committee chairs working on the caucus priorities include: Rep. Maxine Dibert, D-Fairbanks, and Rep.-elect Robyn Burke, D-Utqiagvik, resource committee co-chairs; and Rep. Donna Mears, D-Anchorage, and Rep.-elect Ky Holland, I-Anchorage, energy committee co-chairs, according to the news release.

The rest of the committee chairs will be: Rep. Ashley Carrick, D-Fairbanks, state affairs; Rep. Genevieve Mina, D-Anchorage, health and social services; Rep. Zack Fields and Rep.-elect Carolyn Hall, both D-Anchorage, labor and commerce co-chairs; Mears and Himschoot, community and regional affairs co-chairs; Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage, judiciary; Rep.-elect Ted Eischeid, D-Anchorage, and Carrick, transportation co-chairs; Eischeid, military and veteran affairs; Gray, joint armed services; Stutes, fisheries; and Edgmon and Dibert, tribal affairs co-chairs.

Along with the three co-chairs, the three other majority members of the finance committee are Rep. Sara Hannan, D-Juneau; Rep. Alyse Galvin, I-Anchorage; and Rep.-elect Nellie Jimmie, D-Toksook Bay.

Edgmon and Foster are switching caucuses, two years after joining the current majority, which is predominantly Republican.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Republican caucus, now headed into the minority, hasnt announced its leadership yet. Speaker Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, was quoted in a pair of news releases last week congratulating former Rep. David Nelson, R-Anchorage, on his win over Rep. Cliff Groh, D-Anchorage, and discussing the importance of addressing energy issues for House Republicans. Tilton did not immediately respond to an interview request late Monday afternoon.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Nov. 25Two dozen charter school teachers throughout the state were named by a nonprofit to leadership programs with two distinct objectives: creating innovative learning opportunities for students in the classroom and advocating for educational reform within the state.

Teach Plus named 13 policy fellows and 11 innovation change agents. The fellows, which includes seven teachers from Albuquerque, will collaborate with lawmakers at the roundhouse. The change agents, two of which are from Albuquerque, will work to improve their students' reading, math and science proficiency.

Andrea Lopez of Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School was named a policy fellow. Alexandra Ulibarri, an arts specialist at Voz Collegiate Preparatory Charter School, is a change agent.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The other policy fellows from Albuquerque are: Brande Bernat of Solare Collegiate Charter School, Shannon Beyer of Albuquerque School of Excellence, Elizabeth Leung of Albuquerque Collegiate Charter School, Michael Mack of Albuquerque Charter Academy, Joaquin Sanchez of South Valley Academy and Lauren Scott of Mountain Mahogany Community School.

The only other change agent from Albuquerque is Lee Ann Trzcienski of Albuquerque Collegiate Charter School.

Lopez and Ulibarri sat down for interviews with the Journal at their schools.

Andrea Lopez

During her two-year fellowship, Lopez, Cottonwood Classical's director of special education and teacher of sixth and seventh grade English Language Arts, will help lead the charge to change state graduation requirements for math. Her work as a fellow will run the gauntlet, from writing op-eds to engaging in person with lawmakers in Santa Fe.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For Lopez, being selected as a fellow initially felt "odd," given that she has been diagnosed with dyscalculia, a learning disability that makes it difficult to do math.

"But then the more we talked about it, the more it's like, 'Oh, wait a minute! I'm the one we're catering to. I'm that person. I was the class clown who got thrown out of math because I didn't like it,'" Lopez said.

During the fellowship, Lopez and three other charter school teachers will focus on making higher level math curriculum "more accessible" to students throughout the state. The group will also look for better ways to find, train and retain math teachers. Lopez and the teachers are still researching their chosen topic before presenting proposals to lawmakers.

Lopez believes K-12 students are not given enough time to learn basic algebra.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"(It's) the basis for every other math they do, going up through high school," she said.

One year of algebra should be broken up into two so that it "gives kids the time to really understand mathematics before they get thrown into algebra 2 or calculus," she said.

Lopez's comments comes following Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's signing of House Bill 171, which provides more choice to students in the courses they take while keeping the minimum number of units to graduate at 24. The law will take effect for students entering their freshman year in 2025-2026.

The law requires high school students to graduate with four math units, two of which include algebra I and geometry or an equivalent; and that algebra 2 should be included as a math course, according to amendments to the bill found online.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lopez said there is a need for all students, especially in special education, to earn four units of math, but she disagrees with the law's seemingly "one size fits all" pathway for credits in the subject.

"(The state) opened up the flexibility after geometry, but what they're missing is the fact that if kids don't have that base for algebra before they go to those algebra 2 or higher classes, they're not going to find that level of success they could if they had a better foundation for math," Lopez said.

She said she would like to see the same needs-based approach in a special education curriculum applied to graduation requirements.

Lopez hopes the Legislature has an appetite for discussing graduation requirements during the 2025 session, which opens Jan. 21.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We're 50th (among states) in math in the country. Obviously, what we've done over the years has not worked, and it's also gotten worse," she said. "(Lawmakers) have got to start listening and looking outside of the political spectrum and look at the data. What do you have to lose by trying something different?"

Benjamin Garcia, the principal of Cottonwood Classical, said he believes Lopez deserves the fellowship due to her "consistent unwavering advocacy for students with disabilities."

Alexandra Ulibarri

For two years, Ulibarri has worked at Voz to design and implement the school's arts curriculum, focused on digital art and computer-based learning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ulibarri, who studied art in Spain, does not have a teaching degree but earned her license through a one-year alternative program called LEAP (Leading Educators through Alternative Pathways). Ulibarri was enrolled in LEAP while working as a teaching assistant at Voz.

"Once (LEAP) had ended, I thought, 'Oh, I will miss that opportunity to reflect,'" Ulibarri said. "When they nominated me (as a change agent), I considered that a new opportunity to have that same space."

As a change agent, Ulibarri will focus on two projects over the course of the current school year. This semester, her aim is to create more opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and learning among her students.

"My vision, really, for the art program, outside of Teach Plus, was to have an art program that allows students to see that art is not just traditional painting or something that is found in a museum  but art is in our everyday way of living," Ulibarri said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She believes there are so many ways to create art, including through the use of technology. That is why Ulibarri's students are conceptualizing sculptures and animating them with robotics parts.

Ulibarri is not sure what next semester's project will be, but she plans to collaborate with her school to come up with one.

Isaac Rivas-Savell, founder and head of school at Voz, said his school has partnered with Teach Plus before, which made the nomination of Ulibarri "seamless."

"Alex was an ideal candidate to participate and steward this role within Teach Plus," Rivas-Savell said. "She continues to be a really thoughtful leader within our organization so we knew that it was an easy nomination to make."

Editor's note: This story was revised to reflect the title of Cottonwood Classical Preparatory Principal Benjamin Garcia.
The prosecutor in Alec Baldwins manslaughter case for the movie Rust, has filed an appeal, looking to overturn a judges decision to throw out the charge.

The notice was filed Thursday in New Mexico court by special prosecutor Kari Morrissey.

When the judge dismissed Baldwins case over the summer, Morrissey argued in a separate court filing that there were insufficient facts to support Judge Mary Marlowe Sommers ruling that the state withheld evidence and the case could not be retried.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection to the 2021 deadly shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western movie Rust. The charge against Baldwin was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cant be brought back to court after the prosecution exhausts its appeals.

We sincerely doubt Attorney General Torrez will be pursuing this appeal, which would only further the unethical and corrupt conduct that gave rise to the Courts dismissal, Baldwins attorneys Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro said in a statement to The Hill.

The case was dismissed about halfway through trial. Baldwin pleaded not guilty.

Baldwin, 66, was pointing a gun while on set and it went off, killing Hutchins and wounding the movies director Joel Souza.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The state was accused of withholding evidence because it did not turn over ammunition that was brought into a sheriffs office in March by a man who said it could have been from the shooting. It was dismissed after that.

The films armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in March and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Prosecutors argued she brought live ammunition on set when there are rules against it.

 Updated Nov. 27 at 1:57 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  In Hawaii, the spirit of aloha is essential for building strong community ties. Whether you grew up here or you moved here at some point in your life, you have encountered aloha from many different sources.

From our community, we experience aloha when we are kind and courteous. In our work, we encounter aloha in honesty and good faith business dealings. On the aina, we experience aloha in a personal way. There are so many ways to embrace aloha.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

For people living on an island, aloha is especially important to driving an empathetic and cooperative society. Being greedy and selfish in island life can lead to many consequences we wouldnt normally experience on the continent. Isolation, depression, hopelessness can creep in so very easily.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So, KHON2.com had the great opportunity to learn more about this from Kumu Bradford Lum.

Kumu Lum believes that in order to have a successful life, one must embrace and live aloha. But how does one do that?

In todays world, many challenges threaten community harmony, from conflicts to dishonesty.

Kumu Bradford Lum noted, We have wars, we have people who lie and cheat.

These issues make the spirit of aloha even more crucial. Kumu Lum believes that embracing aloha helps individuals navigate these challenges, fostering kindness and compassion amid adversity.

Kumu Lum asserted, Aloha helps us face these challenges head-on.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

By promoting empathy and understanding, individuals can build stronger connections that will allow them to support each other during tough times.

He encourages community members to practice aloha  People trying to do the right thing can inspire change.

Moreover, Kumu Lum emphasizes the role of aloha in fostering a sense of belonging.

Life is in the breath; life is in the water, he explained as he illustrated how essential these connections are for the well-being of individuals and the community as a whole.

Aloha encourages people to value their relationships and work together toward common goals.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kumu Lum believes that now more than ever, we need the spirit of aloha to overcome societal challenges.

Spreading aloha and awareness is vital, he concluded, as he urges everyone to embrace this spirit for a better future.

By prioritizing kindness and understanding, communities can navigate obstacles more effectively in order to foster a harmonious and resilient society.

November is National Native American Heritage Month in the United States. So, check out Kumu Lums Aloha Segment every Tuesday through November.

Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8

This is the sixth in a six-part series examining what aloha is and how we can embrace it in our lives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
ISTANBUL, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police have seized a large collection of historical artifacts spanning multiple empires and centuries in a series of operations across Istanbul, the Istanbul Directorate of Security said Tuesday.

Two suspected smugglers were detained during operations conducted between Nov. 11-21 in the Fatih district, the directorate said on social media platform X.

Among the recovered items were 150 coins varying in date, size, and origin, as well as 334 Christian religious icons, it said.

Additionally, police uncovered 63 items dating back to the 17th-20th centuries, including weapons, glassware, jewelry, ring stones, and documents written or illustrated on materials such as papyrus, parchment, and metal, it said.

Officers also seized a set of silver spoons believed to date back to the late Ottoman period, along with seals from the late Ottoman and early Republican eras and ceramic tiles produced in the renowned Kutahya and Iznik workshops in Turkiye, it said.

Other significant findings include several Ottoman fortress rifles and ivory objects thought to depict religious figures, it said.

The seized artifacts will be delivered to three museum directorates in Istanbul, it added. 
The sons of an American woman executed for spying on the United States during the Cold War want President Joe Biden to clear her name before he leaves office.

Ethel Rosenberg and her husband, Julius, were executed on June 19, 1953, for conspiracy to commit espionage. They were accused of giving the secret of the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union, meaning they supposedly passed vital technological information to help the Soviets develop their own bomb.

As the author of a book on the Rosenberg case, I know that there was no secret, and that while Julius was a spy, Ethel was not.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Yet generations of Americans have learned that the Rosenbergs  both of them  betrayed their country. If now, 75 years later, we know that an innocent woman was killed, how can the government rectify this?

A miscarriage of justice that orphaned two boys

In 2015, Rosenberg sons Michael and Robert Meeropol  they took the last name of the couple who adopted them after their parents deaths  argued in The New York Times that their mother was wrongfully convicted and executed. They urged then-President Barack Obama to exonerate Ethel, which would officially declare her not guilty of the crime for which she was killed.

Many were sympathetic to their plea. Executing the Rosenbergs orphaned the two boys  6-year-old Robert and 10-year-old Michael. But theirs wasnt just an emotional plea. The facts were on their side.

Documents from the case reveal that FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover knew Ethel was not an active spy. FBI agents arrested her only as leverage to pressure Julius to name his dozen or so collaborators.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An electrical engineer and devoted communist, Julius gained access to classified information while working with Emerson Radio Corp. and the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He recruited and managed a spy ring that provided whatever military information it could to the Soviet Union.

The pressure on Julius didnt work, and he never named names. He and Ethel were electrocuted after a trial riddled with problems such as perjured testimony and an incompetent defense team.

The trial also featured inappropriate communications between the presiding judge and federal prosecutors.

Judge Irving Kaufman had lobbied to preside over the Rosenberg case, and Justice Department officials supported his selection to further pressure Julius: Kaufman was open to imposing the death penalty.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After the jury found the couple guilty, Kaufman consulted with the prosecuting attorneys to determine whether both Rosenbergs should get the same sentence. Prosecutors were reluctant to support Ethels execution. Judge Kaufman decided to sentence both Ethel and Julius to death anyway.

Getting it wrong

The crime for which they died was not spying but conspiracy to commit espionage. Prosecutors argued that since Ethel was cognizant of her husbands espionage activities, she was involved in the conspiracy.

I used to think that, too.

In all likelihood Ethels role in the spy ring was at least that of an aware spectator, I wrote in a 2015 opinion piece after the Rosenberg sons requested her exoneration, placing her inside the fluid category of conspiracy in the eyes of the law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I concluded that imposing the death penalty on Ethel was a cruel and unjust act for which the U.S. government should apologize  but not exonerate.

I was wrong.

I now believe that a presidential exoneration is appropriate and necessary because it will correct the view that Ethel was an active spy. It will address the serious flaws in her trial and conviction. And it will set right the historical record.

Many popular books, textbooks, tweets and news sites get the case wrong. They incorrectly lump Julius and Ethel together, labeling both as spies for the Soviet Union, and claim they were convicted of espionage. Time magazine once ranked the couple among Americas Top 10 Crime Duos.

Ethel and Julius Rosenberg in prison transport after their March 1953 conviction. AP Images, file

For decades, the U.S. government has gotten the facts of its own criminal case wrong, too.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The National Security Agency falsely stated in a 2018 publication that the couple were executed for treason. Even the FBIs website incorrectly claims Julius and Ethel together ran an espionage ring that passed atomic bomb secrets to the Soviet Union.

Correcting the record

A newly declassified document clarifies the truth.

In August 2024, the Rosenberg sons obtained a handwritten memo from August 1950 authored by the NSAs chief analyst, Meredith Gardner. He wrote that, based on Soviet intelligence, Ethel knew about Julius espionage work but due to illness she did not engage in the work herself.

This document confirms what other sources such as the FBI had already indicated: Ethel was not a spy and did not engage in the work of espionage and  most importantly  U.S. government officials knew it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They knew it when FBI agents arrested Ethel on Aug. 11, 1950. They knew it when the jury convicted her nine months later. They knew it when the judge sentenced her to death on April 5, 1951. And they knew it when prison officials executed her on Friday, June 19, 1953.

Now, Michael and Robert Meeropol are using the declassified memo to urge Biden to exonerate (Ethel) Rosenberg by issuing a formal presidential proclamation saying that she was wrongly convicted and executed.

Full exoneration

I, too, have come to believe Ethel Rosenbergs killing was a morally repugnant miscarriage of justice.

Thats why a presidential pardon by Biden, who is now contemplating his end-of-term pardon list, would not be sufficient redress. A pardon forgives someone for a crime they committed. Ethel Rosenberg did not commit the crime for which she was convicted, so its the U.S. government that should beg forgiveness from Ethels descendants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

President Biden has the power to right this historic injustice, said Jennifer Meeropol, Ethels granddaughter and director of the Rosenberg Fund for Children, on Sept. 10, 2024. Only a full exoneration, Meeropol argued, could redress the harm done to my family and bring peace to my father and uncle in their lifetimes.

This almost surely will not happen under President-elect Donald Trump.

Roy Cohn, Trumps late personal lawyer, was an important member of the Rosenberg trial prosecutorial team. Cohn claimed in interviews throughout his life that Ethel alone was the ringleader, who led Julius around by a leash. He was wrong, but Trump wont likely contradict his mentor.

We historians know that our understanding of the past is always evolving. When new facts cast light on a past injustice, I think we should learn from those mistakes and correct the injustices that we can.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Exonerating Ethel would be an important step toward truth. And it would correct the historical record.

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: Lori Clune, California State University, Fresno

Read more:



Lori Clune 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.
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)  Be careful when youre cruising for your next good deal online  you could be on a fake website.

It often starts the same way. For one Connecticut customer, they saw an ad on Instagram for what they thought was a Stealth bowling ball. Fast forward several weeks, and the bowling ball never arrived, the companys website no longer exists  and the customer is out $40.

Its a growing problem. Nationally, imposter website scams are up 125%, according to data from the Better Business Bureau.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It can be easy to be fooled. Imposter websites use ads that look legitimate, and the sites will feature the same logos, fonts and products as real ones. Advertisements on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook can add to the legitimacy.

A lot of these do start on social media, and were seeing more and more of those, as well, said Kristen Johnson, the director of communications for the Connecticut arm of the BBB.

She said that scammers are claiming to sell viral items like beauty products and Stanley cups. If youre online, she warned, theres a chance youll be targeted by a fake website.

An example of a fake Amazon website, according to the BBB. (Source: BBB)

The BBBs scam tracker is full of Connecticut customers being duped. A Nov. 12 report states that a victim spent $80 for a hoodie. After receiving a fake delivery notification, they sent multiple emails to the phone number listed on the website. Now, the website doesnt exist.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In another report, the victim figured out they were being scammed after PayPal showed their money was sent to a business with a different name than what they thought theyd bought the item from. Last week, someone in Connecticut spent $199 on electronics that were upgraded, and then delivered to a city they didnt live in. When they checked the companys address, it showed up for a home in Connecticut, and the phone number was for Massachusetts.

Those fake websites can often pose as Amazon, but have a URL thats a few letters different. Once you hand over your credit card information, scammers can then steal it and rack up a bill.

Johnson said it often takes months to find out youve been scammed. You order a Christmas present that never shows up. Then, youre told the package is delayed again, and again, and again.

The reality is painting a different picture than what most think the average victim looks like. Customers between the ages of 18 and 24 are losing the most money to scam websites, according to the BBB.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They are just gaining buying power, but they dont have the experience with money, and they dont have the life experience, Johnson said. They are more risk adverse, as well.

However, its hard to get the full view of how widespread the problem is. Johnson said only 15% of victims will report theyve been scammed because it takes time and they could be embarrassed to admit they lost money.

$3.5M recovered after Connecticut business scammed out of $5.4M

Theres a few ways to check if a business is legitimate. Look carefully at a websites URL. Https shows that your credit card information will be encrypted. There should also be a lock symbol near the address bar. Check that the company has a physical address, and then look it up to make sure its not a vacant building or a parking lot. A real business should have a phone number and return policy. Rampant grammatical and spelling errors can be a sign that its a scam, as well.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Johnson suggests paying for an online purchase with a credit card, since itll be easier and faster to get your money back. A company requiring you to pay with gift cards, cryptocurrency or through a money wire is also a red flag.

Looking up a company via the BBBs website is another tool. Searching the website name and scam online can also help you see if other customers have reported problems.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Joe Biden entered office operating under the misapprehension that America was a spent force.

He gambled that grisly images of desperate Afghans clinging to a C-17 [would] fade, replaced by collective relief that no more Americans will die in a murky, brutal war, the Atlantics Peter Nicholas wrote in the bloody summer of 2021. Biden banked on the notion that American patriotism was transactional. If the voting public continued to live well enough, they would compartmentalise the historic national humiliation Biden engineered in Afghanistan. The fact that Bidens job approval ratings never recovered from this tone-setting debacle suggests he bet wrong.

The outgoing President did not, however, revisit his assumptions as his presidency raked itself over one rocky shoal after another. Bidens efforts to preserve Ukrainian sovereignty amid Russias war of naked territorial expansionism were similarly hamstrung by his dim view of Americas capabilities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bidens timid national security team bought into this notion that, well, if we give them too much, then Russias going to use a tactical nuke on us, House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Michael McCaul observed in April. It was because the Biden White House lost faith in the deterrent power of the Wests nuclear and non-nuclear assets that the President seemed paralysed by the prospect of Russian escalation.

High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), tanks, cluster munitions, Patriot missile-defense systems, F-16 fighter aircraft, Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), and so on  the President agonised over the disbursement of these platforms only to give in well after the point at which they might have had maximum utility on the battlefield.

It would be a tragedy if the second Trump administration entered office possessed of the same delusions that contributed to its predecessors mishandling of American interests abroad. But there are those in Donald Trumps orbit who appear to be similarly convinced that the United States is a declining power that must triage its priorities.

Elbridge Colby, Trumps former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development, is often one of those voices. He has maintained that it is nothing short of a delusion to presume that the US can compete against Russia and China simultaneously. Thus, preventing Ukraine from being swallowed up by Russia is a distraction from what should be our foremost task: containing Chinese expansionism. To be blunt, he and his co-author wrote, Taiwan is more important than Ukraine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fair enough, but a hard-nosed calculation about competing interests doesnt seem to be the only assumption guiding Colbys diagnosis. Quoting a line from a Wall Street Journal article about the war imposed on Israel by the October 7 attacks  The Gaza conflict has forced the US to refocus on the Middle East after years of redirecting diplomatic and military resources to counter a rising China  he wrote on social media: Distraction is also a choice, not just forced.

The article he cited to justify his observation also noted that one of the Iran-backed terrorist groups at war with Israel  the Yemeni Houthis  has embarked on a successful campaign of maritime terrorism against shipping interests in the Gulf of Aden, to say nothing of US Navy assets. The erosion of US hegemony on the high seas, forcing commercial interests to shadow Russian and Chinese vessels as they transit into the Suez Canal, is hardly a distraction. Only if we conclude that the obligations of the worlds sole superpower and the guarantor of the global marketplace are the distraction does any of this make sense.

Those who advocate retrenchment as the remedy to what they see as the Wests various deficiencies do not dwell much on the consequences that would accompany their policy preferences. In Ukraine, those consequences could be grave.

Given the conditions Bidens inconstancy brought about, its hard to see how the Trump administration can pursue its desire to see that conflict resolved absent a negotiated cease-fire. At best, that process will hand Moscow another frozen conflict  one that it will thaw out at its leisure.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the meantime, the Kremlin will engineer a series of crises along the line of contact, just as it did when the Minsk frameworks were operative. Shorn of its industrial eastern oblasts, Ukraine will struggle to rebuild itself and reconstitute its forces, contributing to the anxiety of Nato members on the frontier with living memories of Russian domination. If those allies conclude that Washingtons collective security guarantees arent worth much and Ukraine comes to look like a failed state, those nations may take their security into their own hands  introducing far more complexity, instability, and prospects for conflagration into the mix.

How this dynamic results in a more secure America, only the advocates of retrenchment seem to grasp. If, however, the Trump administration 2.0 enters office set on engineering Americas retreat from the world stage, it will stumble into the same pitfalls that cost Democrats the trust of the American people.

Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review

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.
Is Donald Trumps election a signal that a cultural shift is under way, or an economic one? Perhaps they are one and the same, as evidenced by the decision by Walmart to phase out its diversity, equity and inclusion programmes.

The company is not undertaking tweaks to those policies, but a complete overhaul. It is pulling certain products from its shelves, including chest-binders and trans books marketed to children. Rather than injecting another $100 million into the Center for Racial Equity  a non-profit set up in 2020 to give a boost to minority-owned companies  the fund will be wound down. Internally, there will be change, too: the phrase DEI is to be removed from company materials.

We are willing to change alongside our associates and customers who represent all of America, a Walmart spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal. Weve been on a journey and know we arent perfect. It appears that company bosses have clocked that seemingly innocuous words like diversity have taken on a far deeper, more politicised, meaning. While Walmart insists that it remains committed to these ideas in their genuine form, it is clearly rejecting what the phrase DEI has come to represent: a radical version of identity politics that Americans just rejected at the polls.

Change in the tides

The statement from Walmart doesnt leave much room for doubt that its decision is linked to changing political tides. The largest employer in America  the federal government  is also about to experience a radical shake-up when Trump gets back into the Oval Office and instructs his new Department of Government Efficiency  run by Elon Musk  to slash every DEI initiative it can unearth. Its no real surprise, then, that Americas largest private employer  Walmart  might follow suit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But is Trump really shifting the direction of the wind? Or was he blown into office once again by voters who had already made up their mind that DEI had gone too far?

Walmart may be making changes after the election, but plenty did so beforehand. Harley Davidson ditched some of its DEI programmes this spring, making clear that it had no hiring quotas and would remove socially motivated content from staff training. Just before election day, meanwhile, it was revealed that Boeing had also scrapped its DEI policy. It had come under fire after several deadly aircraft accidents had left people  including Musk  asking questions about the companys priorities.

These changes came after the big tech companies, including Meta and Google, scaled back their DEI hires in 2023, despite commitments made only a few years previous to expand these roles and departments.

It seems that the trendsetter here isnt Walmart  or even Donald Trump. Change within the countrys biggest institutions and corporations reflects, rather than dictates, where the country has been moving for some time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Of course, this is not the end of the DEI agenda. Institutions where progressivism dominates  like universities  are likely to double down on these kinds of programmes. The urge to place people into identity boxes could even worsen for a while in such places. The emphasis on our differences may grow louder in the short-term.

It will be part of the ongoing refusal to acknowledge what happened on November 5: that people didnt like being told their gender meant they had to vote a certain way. They didnt like being lectured that their language and their heritage was inherently offensive (use of the word Latinx by progressives was found to have actually made Trump more popular among Latino voters).

This rejection of cultural progressivism is not an overnight phenomenon but a slow build-up of frustration, as Americans have become increasingly agitated at being pitted against one another. As the country demands a return to the natural meanings of diversity and inclusion, its no surprise that not just politicians, but businesses, are taking note.

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.
Officials in Laos have released the names of three tourists  including one American  who died of suspected methanol poisoning from drinking tainted alcohol.

James Louis Hutson, 57, of the US, and Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20 and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21, both Danish, were staying at the Nana hostel in Van Vieng, approximately two hours north of the nation's capital Vientiane, when they became ill.

Three other tourists have also died from suspected methanol poisoning in the town last week, according to the BBC.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Van Vieng's governor, Bounchan Malavong, visited the hostel where the tourists were staying and assured the public that an investigation would be launched to find those responsible for the deaths.

Both of the Danish women were found unconscious in their room on November 13. The night prior they had visited a bar in the city, according to local media. The women were sent to a hospital for treatment but died overnight of sudden heart failure, according to medical staff.

Tourists walk past the closed Nana Backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, where six tourists died from suspected methanol poisoning by way of tainted alcohol (AP)

Hutson died the same day the women were found unconscious. When he did not come out of his room, hotel staff entered and found him dead on his bed. Empty drink glasses were found in his room. He had no bruising or other signs of foul play, according to local media.

The hostel has since been closed pending the investigation as two of the other tourists who died  a pair of Australian women, Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19-years-old, and a British woman named Simone White had taken free shots at there before they went out for the night.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The manager of the hostel has denied knowing anything about the poisonings, noting that the same night the tourists died that 100 other guests were served drinks and suffered no ill effects.

Methanol can be fatal if ingested, even in amounts as small as 25 milliliter, or less than 1 ounce. Nevertheless, the substance is sometimes added to alcoholic drinks because it is cheaper than typical consumer alcohol.

The father of Bianca Jones  one of the Australian women who died  has urged the government in Laos to "investigate this to the fullest extent, to make sure this incident doesn't happen again," Nine News reported.

"We can't have the passing of our daughter .... not lead to change to protect others," he said.

Vang Vieng is known to backpackers as a party town with incredible scenery. It has long served as the final stop for the Banana Pancake backpacking trail between Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam (AP)

Vang Vieng is known to backpackers as a party town with incredible scenery. It has long served as the final stop for the Banana Pancake backpacking trail between Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, according to the BBC.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hostel rooms are cheap in the city  less than $10  and buckets of beer can be half that cost, according to the broadcaster.

Officials in Laos have worked to clean up the town's image to make it more family-friendly, but the location is still well-known for providing cheap services to international travelers.

Southeast Asia in particular is among the worst places in the world for methanol poisoning, according to Doctors Without Borders. The medical association reports that thousands of methanol poisoning incidents occur in the region every year.
Is Iran poised for a succession in leadership? Well, that depends on what you read.

For weeks, rumors have been swirling about the health of the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as a possible replacement. In late October 2024, the Jerusalem Post picked up a New York Times report that initially suggested the octogenarian leader, who has served in the role since 1989, was seriously ill. While the Times report was updated with a correction saying it had erroneously reported on what was known about his current health, it did say that a quiet battle had emerged over his succession, including that his second son, Mojtaba, could succeed him.

The rumor mill again kicked into overdrive in late November, with various media outlets, including those in Israel, suggesting that Khamenei had fallen into a coma and that the race was on to appoint his successor should he remain incapacitated or worse. Iranian sources quickly refuted the speculation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Such conjecture is nothing new, with reports as far back as 2007 and more recently in 2022 pointing to the supreme leaders purportedly ill health.

The truth of Khameneis health aside, the speculation points to an ever-present reality: The conflict between Iran on one side and Israel and the West on the other is not just about military might and threats  there is also an information battle being waged.

In that battle, the narrative of Khameneis poor health can be seen as a proxy for the health and stability of the Islamic Republic. One story has it that the Islamic Republic is unstable and just one major event away from wholesale change; the other, that the government in Tehran is well positioned to deal with both internal succession and external ideological foes.

The war of words

The speculation regarding Khameneis health comes amid a particularly tense moment in Israeli-Iranian relations. For the past year, the long-time foes have exchanged fiery rhetoric, which has been exacerbated by a series of escalatory events, including high-profile assassinations of Iran-alligned figures in Gaza, Lebanon and Tehran, and more lately direct military confrontation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Throughout, both sides have utilized media and online platforms to push opposing official narratives that then find digital echo chambers.

Take the tit-for-tat missile strikes in October. Israel and Iran sought to downplay the impact of the respective strikes on their own territory by feeding media with statements suggesting little damage had been done.

At the same time, media sources from inside both nations were quick to suggest that the strikes had fulfilled their goals. Iranian media suggested Iranian missiles hit about 90% of Israeli targets; Israeli media countered that major Iranian nuclear research facilities had been hit and severely impaired Irans research capabilities.

Such narratives are designed not only to send self-proclaimed messages of victory to the other side but also to appease domestic audiences. For Tehran, the messaging is intended to extend further, namely to regional partners  suggesting that Israel had been weakened by Irans attack and that Tehran still has their back.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Social media has played a key role in getting these counter messages across to a wider public. Since 2010, Iran has sought to distort the social media landscape through the establishment of pro-regime sock puppets that amplify pro-government propaganda. Former Iranian Intelligence Minister Heider Moslehi acknowledged back in 2011 that Tehran had made a large investment in heavy information warfare.

Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses lawmakers in the Knesset, Israels parliament, in Jerusalem on Nov. 18, 2024. AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg

Meanwhile, Israel and other opponents of the Iranian government utilize online platforms to carry messages directly to the people of Iran, too. Both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the former Shah of Iran, have used YouTube and other platforms to encourage rebellion against the government in Tehran.

Iran has used similar digital channels, with veteran diplomat Mohammad Javad Zarif using the platform to highlight Irans culture and history and shared values with Jews, while at the same time slamming the Israeli government for its role in pushing the Trump administration to abandon the Iran nuclear deal in 2018.

What does it all mean?

The exchange of missile strikes by Iran and Israel in October prompted widespread speculation among media outlets, politicians and diplomats that the region was on the brink of a full-scale conventional war.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Indeed, the rhetorical exchanges between Tehran and Tel Aviv include explicit threats of devastating retaliatory measures and warnings of significant escalation. Yet the cycle of reciprocal strikes has, to date, appeared to satisfy the strategic objectives of both sides military leadership.

And for now, the information and messaging war is again seemingly taking precedence over actual hot war.

After the last missile strike, carried out by Israel on Oct. 26, Iran stated that it retained the right to respond at a time and method of its choosing. But that, too, was perhaps an extension of the media narrative campaign.

Rather, the current situation suggests to me a deliberate and calculated strategy by both Iranian and Israeli forces to conserve their respective military resources, while attempting to achieve domestic and regional objectives via the information war.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For Israel, this means pushing the narrative that it has displayed the capability to reach critical Iranian infrastructure and sensitive security targets as desired. For Iran, it takes the form of saying it has reestablished sufficient deterrence against a stronger Israeli military.

Having escalated into direct military confrontation, the Iran-Israel conflict appears to have entered a new transitional phase.

Iranian state media continue to condemn Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon, while simultaneously issuing statements from senior military commanders reaffirming Tehrans readiness to respond to perceived acts of aggression.

But for now, at least, warfare is being conducted via information and disinformation rather than through conventional military weapons.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

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: Shirvin Zeinalzadeh, Arizona State University

Read more:



Shirvin Zeinalzadeh 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.
Nov. 25A man was shot and killed in an East Anchorage apartment Saturday afternoon after an argument over stolen money, charges filed in the case said.

Santino Figueroa, 18, is facing a charge of second-degree murder tied to the shooting.

During an interview with police, Figueroa said his girlfriend had money stolen out of her wallet in a neighbor's apartment on the 4300 block of San Ernesto Avenue earlier that day, according to a sworn affidavit written by officer Morgan Padrnos and filed with the charges. He was upset about the money and got a gun from his apartment around 1:40 p.m., the affidavit said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When he went to the neighbor's apartment, Figueroa told police, he argued with two men inside and then felt one of them "put a gun to his neck," the affidavit said. Figueroa told police he saw the other man reach for a gun, so he shot him and also fired at the man who held a gun to him, it said.

The first man was shot three times and died at Providence Alaska Medical Center, the affidavit said. Police spokeswoman Shelly Wozniak said the department could not provide information about any wounds or criminal charges involving the other man due to "the nature of the ongoing investigation."

Figueroa said he shot the man in self-defense, according to the affidavit. He appeared in court Sunday and remained in custody at the Anchorage Correctional Complex on Monday morning.

Police in a statement still posted Monday morning described the situation as a shooting investigation without updates about Figueroa's arrest or the victim's death. Wozniak said the community relations unit had not received an internal update about the case and therefore had not updated the statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Saturday's shooting is one of three since Friday in Anchorage. Two other men were seriously wounded in separate incidents.

Police said a man was being treated for life-threatening injuries tied to a shooting on the 5000 block of Mountain View Drive around 9:30 p.m. Friday. Police received reports about a shooting and officers were notified after responding to the area that the victim had checked into a hospital, Wozniak said. No arrests had been made by Monday and the investigation is ongoing, she said.

A 25-year-old man was shot in his midsection near the 8900 block of Jewel Lake Road just before 2:30 a.m. Monday, police said. Malcolm Thomas, 25, was taken into custody after the shooting and is facing charges of first- and third-degree assault, misconduct with a weapon, reckless endangerment and tampering with evidence.

Wozniak said the department did not have updates about the status of the men wounded in shootings on Friday and Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police on Monday identified 38-year-old Avery Jackson as the man who was fatally shot on Nov. 15. Officers found him in a vehicle near East 17th Avenue and Early View Drive when they were called to the area on reports of gunfire, police said. No arrests had been made and few details had been released about the homicide investigation by Monday.

In total, 32 people have died by homicide in Anchorage so far this year.
Nov. 26Anchorage police said Tuesday that they were ramping up patrols of the U-Med neighborhood and urged the public to remain vigilant after a man was wounded by gunfire near the University Lake Park trail system the previous evening.

As of Tuesday afternoon, no one had been taken into custody or arrested in the shooting reported just after 10:45 p.m. Monday, police said. They described it as an isolated incident and said other encounters have not been reported.

A witness said a man he did not know fired multiple rounds at him and another person as they stood outside the Alaska Native Medical Center campus near the trails. The man appeared to lure them over by yelling for help, said the witness, who was not hurt. The other man was shot.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He "self-admitted" at the hospital for treatment, police said. The wounded man is reportedly in stable condition.

In an update midmorning Tuesday, the police department said more than 30 officers searched for 3 1/2 hours overnight without finding a suspect.

Residents should expect to see an increased police presence in the University-Medical District and on adjoining trails, Deputy Chief of Operations Brian Wilson said in an interview Tuesday. Some officers are out on fat-tire bicycles on the trails, he said.

Asked if the public should be concerned about an armed gunman who appears to have randomly targeted strangers, Wilson said he "understands that feeling and that concern" but detectives just don't have enough information at the moment to provide more details.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We're trying as fast as we can to go through evidence to get answers," he said. "In the meantime, all we can do is have a heightened presence so everyone understands that we're out there, we're taking it seriously."

Wilson said he'd recommend people in the area "be vigilant. Always be looking out. Travel in pairs and groups when you can. Keep earbuds out of both your ears. Hear and see and be intentional in what you're doing."

Police spokeswoman Shelly Wozniak in an update Tuesday afternoon said there was still no suspect information to release and detectives were still following up on leads.

"The motive, and any relationship between the parties involved, is under investigation," Wozniak said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police said officers will be patrolling neighborhoods, public spaces and schools in the area on Tuesday and through the holiday week.

The area includes heavily trafficked facilities at the University of Alaska Anchorage and both ANMC and Providence Alaska Medical Center campuses. It also includes trails and the University Lake dog park.

"While the current information regarding the suspect is quite limited, we encourage the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities or concerns to the police immediately," police said. They urged anyone who seees anyone who might be suspicious to call 911 rather than engaging with them.

University of Alaska Anchorage police issued an alert about a "possible shooting" at the Alaska Native Medical Center campus just after midnight. The alert described the suspect as a man wearing all black with a camouflage brim hat.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Anchorage police had not released any suspect information by the end of the day Tuesday. Wilson said it appeared the university police received initial information that allowed them to distribute a description.

Detectives are working with their counterparts at the university, he said. "There is not a suspect description that we can provide at this time, which is why we have not put out one."

Gambell resident Nikolai Avalnun, 21, said he was one of the men the shooter fired at Monday night. Avalnun said he was smoking outside ANMC patient housing when he and another man heard someone calling for help from the woods.

The other man went to check on that person and had taken maybe 10 steps when "the shooter took aim and started shooting," Avalnun wrote in a message. "He shot so fast and they hit all around us."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bullets whizzed by his head and hit the ground as Avalnun ran, he said. "First time I feel the air pressure of bullets on my hair."

Avalnun said he did not recognize the man with the weapon.

"He called for help and then he aimed at us," Avalnun said, saying it appeared the man tried to lure them closer so he could kill them.

Avalnun said the man who was wounded late Monday was doing well on Tuesday. "He was able to run away with a bullet wound," he said.

The two men had just met, he said. "But we're real close now."

The incident triggered a lockdown at Alaska Native Medical Center that was lifted by around 3 a.m. Tuesday, a hospital representative said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During the initial search, Anchorage patrol officers searched University Lake Park and adjacent trails on foot and also used drones to search the area, police said. They said special operations units including SWAT, crisis negotiation and Mobile Intervention Team units responded to the area just after 12:15 a.m. An update just before 2:45 a.m. said officers had broken down the perimeter and detectives would continue to process the scene.

The police update Tuesday also included a list of safe trail practices including staying alert and traveling in groups if possible. Police are coordinating with Alaska State Troopers and the university police department as well as hospital and university security.

Police asked anyone with surveillance footage of the area or other information regarding the shooting investigation who has not yet spoken to officers to call APD Dispatch at 311 (option 1) or 907-786-8900 (option 0). Anonymous tips can be submitted online at anchoragecrimestoppers.com.
Andrew Cuomo has joined the new high-powered legal team defending Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against alleged war crimes in Gaza after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Jewish leader Thursday.

The disgraced ex-governor discussed his new role to thunderous applause Sunday night while addressing the National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education.

This is the moment that counts. This is the moment that is going to be in the history books. This is the moment that true friends stand up, shoulder to shoulder and fight for the State of Israel, Cuomo said at the Edison Ballroom in Times Square.

Andrew Cuomo has joined the legal team defending Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against alleged war crimes in Gaza. Aaron Schwartz  CNP

I am proud to be on the legal defense for the prime minister against the arrest warrant at the ICC and I am proud to stand against antisemitism.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Alan Dershowitz, the former Harvard law professor and defense lawyer, is assembling the legal team to defend the embattled Israeli leader, which he first announced in a Wall Street Journal column.

The tribunal in The Hague accused Netanyahu and fired-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of crimes against humanity and war crimes through Israels military campaign in the Palestinian enclave after Oct. 7.

Netanyahu is the first leader of a modern Western democracy to be wanted by the worlds top war crimes court.

The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Gallant.

The tribunal in The Hague accused Netanyahu and fired-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of crimes against humanity and war crimes through Israels military campaign in the Palestinian enclave after Oct. 7. REUTERS

Other elected officials were in attendance Sunday, including Cuomo rival state Attorney General Letitia James, who commissioned the scathing investigative report regarding sexual misconduct claims against the ex-governor that triggered his resignation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Cuomo, who resigned in 2021 facing the threat of impeachment over the accusations he denies, is now considering a political comeback positioning himself as a moderate while he mulls a run for New York City mayor.

Cuomo blasted the New York Times in a statement Sunday for the papers refusal to call out antisemitism in its headline regarding the murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan  which said the rabbi disappeared and was found dead in Dubai.

Rabbi Kogan was not found dead, he was murdered. There is a disturbing pattern whereby some in the media  and particularly the @nytimes  downplay antisemitic acts, Cuomo wrote.

During his speech Sunday night, Cuomo said, [Kogan] didnt go missing and his body wasnt found. He was taken by terrorists and he was murdered. And thats antisemitism.

Netanyahu is the first leader of a modern Western democracy to be wanted by the worlds top war crimes court. AFP via Getty Images

Earlier Sunday, US Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx) also condemned the Times for its portrayal of the killing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Contrary to the NY Times, Rabbi Zvi Kogan did not just disappear in Dubai. He was abducted and murdered because he was a Jew, Torres said.

The media should call the kidnapping and killing of Rabbi Kogan exactly what it is: an act of antisemitic terror.

Torres is toying with a political run of his own against Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. The congressman has unleashed an onslaught of recent attacks against the Hochuls leadership, calling her the new Joe Biden.

Cuomo had no comment about Torres political future.
This photo taken on Nov. 26, 2024 shows copies of a report titled "Toward a More Beautiful China and Cleaner World: Understanding Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization," released at the ongoing Global Panda Partners 2024 conference, in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

CHENGDU, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- A report released on Tuesday expounds on China's ecological progress and contributions to global sustainability.

Titled "Toward a More Beautiful China and Cleaner World: Understanding Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization," the report stems from a collaboration between a national high-level think tank affiliated with Xinhua, China's state news agency, and the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization.

The report, released during the ongoing Global Panda Partners 2024 conference in Chengdu, capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province, consists of four sections.

It outlines the historical context and key elements of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, reviews China's initiatives to advance eco-environmental conservation, defines the institutional frameworks supporting efforts to build a Beautiful China, and summarizes Chinese wisdom regarding the creation of a clean and beautiful world.

According to the report, China has consistently advanced the green and low-carbon transformation of its economy and society, made significant strides in the fight against pollution, achieved remarkable progress in ecological protection and restoration, and cultivated a societal shift toward a simpler, more sustainable, and environmentally friendly way of life.

As highlighted in the report, green development has become a prominent feature of Chinese modernization.

From 2012 to 2023, China supported its average annual economic growth at more than 6 percent with an annual energy consumption growth rate of 3 percent. Its energy consumption intensity dropped by 26.4 percent accumulatively during the same period, making China one of the countries in the world with the fastest decline in energy consumption intensity.

China has risen to significant environmental challenges and made substantial progress in advancing institutional reforms within the ecological civilization framework, the report says.

The country currently boasts a comprehensive legal framework for ecological and environmental protection, encompassing over 30 national laws, more than 100 administrative regulations, and over 1,000 local statutes. Additionally, the country has maintained a firm and unwavering stance against environmental violations.

Facts emphasized in the report showcase that China's eco-environment conservation endeavors bear profound significance that extends beyond its borders.

The country is committed to peaking carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 -- goals that will represent the largest reduction in carbon intensity globally and the fastest transition from carbon peaking to neutrality in history, the report notes.

China is taking the lead in the global transition toward clean energy, according to the report. The country ranks first globally in installed capacities for hydropower, wind, solar, and biomass energy, as well as new energy vehicle ownership.

China was the first country to achieve zero net growth in land degradation. Its efforts have significantly reduced desertified and sandified areas, contributing to a quarter of the world's newly added green spaces since 2000.

The report highlights that, as a major country, China has moved decisively from being a participant to a leader in global environmental governance.

According to the report, as of November 2024, China has signed 54 climate-related South-South cooperation agreements with 42 developing countries, hosted over 300 capacity-building workshops, and offered more than 10,000 training opportunities to over 120 developing nations.

China has launched the Belt and Road South-South Cooperation Initiative on Climate Change, established the Belt and Road Energy Partnership, and formed the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition with over 170 partners in more than 40 countries, the report notes.

At Tuesday's event, former UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova expressed appreciation for China's commitment to advancing ecological civilization.

"In order to be a credible partner in international cooperation, you have to start to work at home," Bokova told Xinhua. Noting that China has made significant decisions and actions both domestically and internationally, Bokova expressed the hope that these efforts will continue to contribute to the global environmental agenda.

As the only media-based think tank in China's array of national high-end think tanks, the national high-level think tank of Xinhua, with policy research as its main focus, has in recent years carried out forward-looking, strategic and preparatory research concerning major domestic and global issues -- producing many influential research outcomes in the process.

Themed "Harmonious Coexistence Between Man and Nature," Global Panda Partners 2024 serves as a platform for dialogue and exchange, aiming to foster consensus and collaborative efforts in building a global ecological civilization. 

A delegate reads a report titled "Toward a More Beautiful China and Cleaner World: Understanding Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization" at the ongoing Global Panda Partners 2024 conference in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

A delegate reads a report titled "Toward a More Beautiful China and Cleaner World: Understanding Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization" at the ongoing Global Panda Partners 2024 conference in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

A delegate reads a report titled "Toward a More Beautiful China and Cleaner World: Understanding Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization" at the ongoing Global Panda Partners 2024 conference in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

A delegate reads a report titled "Toward a More Beautiful China and Cleaner World: Understanding Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization" at the ongoing Global Panda Partners 2024 conference in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)
LIBERTY, Mo.  There are new developments regarding a trial for Andrew Lester, the man accused of shooting Ralph Yarl after he came to his door by mistake.

On Tuesday, in a Clay County courtroom, it was revealed that Lesters attorney had read his mental health evaluation, and they will be proceeding with the trial in February. They didnt discuss the results of the evaluation.

Family of Ralph Yarl speaks out following defense attorneys motion

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In September, a mental evaluation was ordered for Lester following a motion from his attorneys claiming Lester couldnt remember facts relating to the case and showed clear signs of confusion.

Lester has a pre-trial hearing set for January 24.

His Jury trial is set to begin on February 18. Its expected to last two weeks.

Lester is charged with shooting Ralph Yarl, who was trying to pick up his siblings when he went to Lesters home by mistake. The defense argues Lester was acting in self-defense and feared for his life.

FOX4 wasnt able to get a comment from Lesters attorney following the court hearing on Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ralph Yarls family released the following statement to FOX4 Tuesday evening:

The family of Ralph Yarl is grateful that the trial against Andrew Lester is moving forward. This case represents more than just accountabilityits a step toward justice for the trauma Ralph and our family have endured simply because he rang the doorbell at the wrong home. We remain committed to seeking fairness and ensuring that no other family has to face such pain due to the color of their skin. Thank you to all who continue to support justice for Ralph and our eagerness to put this chapter behind us.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Barack Obama seems to be at peace with himself, mused a wistful Angela Merkel a few months after retiring as German chancellor in 2021. But: Im still searching. In the interview with Der Spiegel, she appeared to envy Winston Churchill, the late Queen Elizabeth II and former American presidents, claiming that after office, they [were and] are treated with greater respect in public than German chancellors.

Merkel clearly fears for her legacy. Since Russias invasion of Ukraine, she has been criticised for Germanys dependency on Russian gas, inadequate military spending and economic stagnation. Her critics have questioned whether, as a woman and as a former East German, she has done enough for equality and unity in her country. The East remains poorer than the West; she famously avoided calling herself a feminist in 2017. She was once hailed as the leader of the free world, but as the respected German journalist Eckart Lohse recently wrote, she has left behind a country of unfinished business  a sense only reinforced by the recent collapse of her successor Olaf Scholzs coalition.

Now, Germanys first female chancellor attempts to set the record straight with her autobiography, Freedom: Memoirs 1954-2021. Co-authored with her longstanding advisor Beate Baumann, the 720-page book covers what Merkel calls her two lives, the first up to 1990 in a dictatorship and the second since 1990 in a democracy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She was born in Hamburg, West Germany, in 1954, but her father, a Left-wing idealist, moved the young family to East Germany to take up a position as a Lutheran pastor. They were never far from the pressures of the Stasi  at one point, Merkel avoided becoming an informant, saying she was too communicative a child  but it was still a happy childhood. She went on to become a research scientist, and when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, she joined a new political party, Democratic Beginning. This was the start of a steep political career that would take her to the top.

In public, Merkel has always been very guarded about mentioning her past in the East  something she describes as being used against her repeatedly by the West German-dominated media and rival politicians. Her memoirs offered her a chance to reflect on these two lives, and yet, we learn little new in these passages. Like the rest of Freedom, they read more like a carefully curated retort to Merkels many critics rather than the intimate introspection that her publishers promise.

Merkel entered politics after the Berlin Wall came down, in 1989 - Alamy

Following a whistle-stop tour of her political rise, Merkel dedicates the bulk of her book to her years as German chancellor. She rightly identifies the defining moment of those 16 years as her decision to open Germanys borders to hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers, in 2015. There was a before and an after, she tells us on the first page. The decision piled social and economic pressures on Germany and fuelled the rise and radicalisation of Germanys far-Right party, Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD), which celebrated historic gains in Germanys state elections in September. Merkel still believes that opening the borders was the right thing to do, given what she regarded as a humanitarian crisis. But most Germans disagree, with surveys suggesting that three in four now want a U-turn on the countrys asylum policy.

I stand by my decisions: Merkel as Minister for Women and Youth in 1994

But Merkel doesnt appear to acknowledge that her decision may have had immediate consequences. Freedom dedicates only one paragraph to the mass sexual assaults in Cologne on New Years Eve in 2015, largely committed, as Merkel puts it, by young men with North African or Arabic background. (Police statistics indicated that one in three of the named suspects were asylum seekers, excluding many of the unregistered suspects). The event provoked much political debate: media outlets were slow to report the ethnic background of the perpetrators, which gave rise to the impression that the authorities were trying to cover something up. For Merkel, this impression was devastating. She also gives neither space nor sympathy for the 600 women affected.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theres a similar defensiveness about her energy policy. Complaining that she stands accused of having led Germany into an irresponsible dependency on Russian gas, Merkel still tries to justify Germanys panicked exit from nuclear power, which she accelerated following the 2011 Fukushima accident in Japan. But Germany produced a fifth of its electricity through its nuclear plants then. She frames the increasing reliance on energy from Putins Russia during her tenure as inevitable.

Merkel with the late Queen and former German president Joachim Gauck in 2015 - Getty

We may learn little new about the former chancellors politics, but what Freedom does afford are captivating glimpses into her encounters with other world leaders. Its well-known that Putin, knowing that Merkel was afraid of dogs, attempted to intimidate her in 2007 by bringing his black Labrador Koni to a meeting. Its less known that this was preceded by another dig a year earlier, when he gave her a stuffed toy dog, quipping that it wouldnt bite. All I could do was grin and bear it.

Putin brings his pet dog Koni to a meeting with Merkel in 2007 - AFP

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She scolds herself for mistaking Donald Trump for someone completely normal, when they met in 2016. By contrast, time spent on George W Bushs ranch in Texas in 2007 flew by the memory remained of streams, bridges, and nature as far as the eye could see. It had been rustic, relaxed, and simply beautiful. She was self-conscious about speaking to the late Queen in English, writing that she admired the monarch for her principle to never explain, never complain.

It seems that Merkel decided to write her memoirs in the same spirit. I stand by my decisions, she told reporters last week, when they challenged her on her energy and Russia policies. Those who slog through these well-worn justifications are rewarded with flashing glimpses into the former chancellors decision-making, as well as the inner workings of geopolitics. But Freedom is unlikely to lend Merkel a Churchillian place in modern German history.

Katja Hoyers books include Beyond the Wall. Freedom is published by Macmillan at 35. To order your copy for 30, call 0330 173 0523 or visit Telegraph Books

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
The News

Angela Merkel has set out to secure her reputation in a 700-page memoir in which the former German chancellor defends her 16 years in office. Critics increasingly believe that her leadership led Germany to chronic underinvestment, an underfunded military, and the growth of the far right.

Once heralded as the most powerful woman in the world, Merkel has seen her legacy tarnished in Germany, as much of the blame for the countrys current economic malaise and geopolitical uncertainty has fallen on her.

In her book, , Merkel also describes her tumultuous relationship with US President-elect Donald Trump, who declined to shake her hand in front of cameras in 2017. He is the challenge for the world, especially for multilateralism, Merkel said in an interview with Der Spiegel. What awaits us is no triviality.

SIGNALS

Merkels self-defense fails to convince critics

Sources: The Economist, Financial Times, El Pais

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since Time Magazine declared Angela Merkel 2015s person of the year, her reputation has taken a nose dive. Almost every big decision Merkel took put Germany and Europe in a worse position, The Economist argued. In her memoir, Merkel defends her governments decision to increase Germanys dependency on Russian gas, saying alternative energy sources would have been too expensive; an argument the Financial Times described as a baffling refusal to admit her mistake. She also stands by her decision to keep Germanys borders open during the 2015 refugee crisis, which critics say contributed to the far rights rise. Others are more forgiving, with one El Pais columnist noting that Europe has been running around like a headless chicken ever since Merkel left office.

Merkel describes Trump as emotional salesman with a penchant for autocrats

Source: Die Zeit

US President-elect Donald Trump looms large in Merkels biography. She writes that he approached negotiations during his first term at an emotional level and a winner-take-all instinct. When Merkel sought advice from Pope Francis on how to deal with the Republicans threats to withdraw the US from the Paris climate agreement, the Catholic leader told her: Bend, bend bend, but make sure it doesnt break. Merkel also writes that Trump seemed fascinated by Russian President Vladimir Putin. In the years that followed, I had the impression that politicians with autocratic and dictatorial traits captivated him, she writes.

Merkel reverses stance on Germanys debt brake

Source: Handelsblatt

Merkel reverses her position on Germanys debt brake, the constitutional limit on federal borrowing that has become a central political fault line in the months leading up to national elections in February. The debt brake was implemented under Merkels leadership, with the aim of protecting future generations from ballooning debt. Critics have argued that it has led to chronic underinvestment in Germanys infrastructure and military, and the policy led to the collapse of the government after coalition parties disagreed on whether to suspend the rule to fund Ukraine. Merkel writes in her memoir that while debt should not be used to fund social spending, the rule should be relaxed to allow for investments in the future.
Angela Merkel has defended her 2015 selfie with a Syrian refugee after opening Germanys borders, as she insisted she had no regrets about her response to the migration crisis.

Writing in her memoir Freiheit [Freedom], the former chancellor revealed that she was baffled by the furore in Germany over the photograph, which was taken at a reception centre in Berlin.

She recalled in her memoir, published on Tuesday: I went over to some people who were standing near me so as not to leave without a greeting. One of them  a refugee from Syria, as it later emerged  came up to me, held up his cell phone and said, selfie. At that moment, I did not have the slightest idea of the stir this picture would create, but simply thought: Why not?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The picture of Mrs Merkel, smiling beside Syrian refugee Anas Modamani as he took the selfie, became a symbol of her open-door refugee policy.

Under the slogan wir schaffen das [we can manage it], Mrs Merkel allowed nearly a million people to apply for asylum in Germany, which in turn would lead to the anti-migrant Alternative fur Deutschland [AfD] party surging in the polls.

Lack of economic and social prospects

But writing in Freiheit, Mrs Merkel, 70, denied that the selfie was a key factor in huge numbers of refugees, as well as migrant workers, choosing Germany as their new home in Europe.

Even now, I cannot understand how anyone could assume that a friendly face on a photo could encourage people to flee their homeland in droves. Or that, conversely, the grimmest possible expression would have stopped them from doing so, she wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She added: I was and remain convinced that no one makes the decision to leave their homeland lightly, not even those who do so due only to a lack of economic and social prospects and who do not have any chance of being recognised as asylum seekers in Germany.

On the wider issue of labour migration, Mrs Merkel also stressed in her memoir that a lack of manpower makes legal migration essential in Germany.

Addressing the countrys economic woes, she said she was also in favour of relaxing Germanys debt brake, which imposes strict limits on borrowing.

The idea of a debt brake in the interests of future generations is still right and proper. But...it needs to be reformed to allow higher levels of debt to be assumed for the sake of investment in the future, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Her intervention is significant as the question of whether to reform the debt brake is set to be a major issue in Germany ahead of elections in February.

Mrs Merkel also provided some insight in the memoir into her meetings with Donald Trump, whom she described as being apparently fascinated with [Vladimir Putin], the Russian president.

As for Putin himself, she said the Russian leader deliberately allowed his dog into their 2007 meeting in Sochi as he knew she was afraid of them.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
A Virginia pilot dedicated to rescuing pets and animals was killed when his plane crashed over the weekend in the snowy woods of the Catskill Mountains, police said.

The pilot, identified on Monday as 49-year-old Seuk Kim, was traveling from Maryland to New York when his propeller-driven Mooney M20J went down early Sunday evening in a remote area of Windham, some 35 miles from his destination in Albany. Hed been transporting three dogs at the time, all of them associated with a not-for-profit group that transports rescue animals with help from volunteer pilots, according to Green County Sheriff Peter Kusminsky.

First responders  including sheriffs deputies, state forest rangers, state police and local firefighters  descended on the crash scene around 6 p.m. They eventually located two of the dog passengers: a Labrador-mix puppy named Whiskey, who suffered broken bones, and an 8-month-old terrier mix named Pluto, who was left with only minor injuries.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was pretty scared and it was dug down into the snow, Kusminsky said of Whiskey, who was rushed to a hospital in Connecticut for treatment.

The third canine, meanwhile did not survive.

Per a preliminary investigation, Kim died from the crash impact. News of the tragedy prompted scores of tributes for the pilot, including from Maggie Pryor, director of the Animal Shelter of Schoharie County. The dogs had been headed for the Connecticut shelter, police said.

Over the years, Seuk helped to save the lives of hundreds of animals who would have otherwise been euthanized due to overcrowding at animal shelters, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kims family in a statement said he was originally from South Korea and came to this country with little but a dream, and through hard work and perseverance, he built a life of meaning and generosity.

He was a kind, selfless individual who always went out of his way to help others, no matter the circumstances, the statement said. His legacy will live on in the countless lives he touched, both human and animal.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing.

With News Wire Services
A volunteer pilot known for helping transport rescue animals to shelters died in a plane crash in New York on Sunday while transporting three dogs to a no-kill shelter.

Seuk Kim, 49, and the three canines were flying from Maryland to Albany, New York, when the plane crashed in Windham, a small town in the Catskill Mountains, the Greene County Sheriffs office said.

One of the dogs also died in the crash, but two survived.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kim was on his way to deliver the dogs to the Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley (ASSV), a no-kill shelter in Howes Cave, New York. He was part of a network of freedom flight volunteer pilots who transported pets rescued from euthanasia lists at high-kill shelters to other rescues.

Whiskey, who broke two legs in the plane crash. - Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley

Over the years, Seuk helped to save the lives of hundreds of animals who would have otherwise been euthanized due to overcrowding at animal shelters, ASSV Executive Director Maggie Pryor said in a statement to CNN.

Pluto being rescued from crash site on November 25, 2024. - Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley

Forever Changed Animal Rescue, a non-profit organization, said Kim had flown countless hours to help relocate abandoned animals, including the famous Connie the Container Dog, a canine who was rescued from a shipping container in Texas after being trapped for over eight days with no food or water.

Both surviving dogs were transported to receive the appropriate veterinary care, according to the ASSV.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Labrador mix puppy Whiskey broke two legs, while yorkie-terrier mix Pluto sustained minor injuries.

The ASSV will oversee the two dogs medical recoveries before they are put up for adoption.

Kims family knew him as a generous, free-spirited man who was always willing to lend a hand to others  including most recently those hard hit by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.

Seuk was an extraordinary hero that left a lasting impression on anyone that had the pleasure of meeting him, Christine Kim, Kims cousin, told CNN. Seuk was charitable, kind, and bright. He was our familys anchor and this is a loss we feel tremendously.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident. No cause has been determined.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A terrorist suspect wanted in connection with two animal rights-related bombings in Northern California 20 years ago has been captured in the United Kingdom, the FBI announced Tuesday.

Daniel Andreas San Diego, 46, who was arrested in Wales with assistance from British authorities, was placed on the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorist List in 2009 after eluding capture.

Federal investigators alleged that on Aug. 28, 2003, San Diego, then 25, planted two bombs at the offices of Chiron Inc., a biotech firm in Emeryville. The first bomb detonated in the early morning hours, but the second bomb, which authorities said was set to detonate an hour after the initial blast when it would be likely to kill or injure first responders, was located and the area was cleared before it went off.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A spokesman for the company at the time said the bombings had followed a long, escalating series of harassment incidents on the part of animal rights activists against Chiron executives that began that May. The activists said the company was conducting medical tests on laboratory animals.

The following month, on Sept. 26, 2003, FBI officials alleged that San Diego planted another bomb at a company in Pleasanton.

"This device was wrapped in nails to cause more substantial injuries to anyone within range of the shrapnel," the FBI said in a statement at the time. "Although no one was injured in either case, the construction, placement and timing of the devices indicated San Diego intended to cause serious injury or death."

A federal arrest warrant was issued on Oct. 5, 2003, but San Diego disappeared before he could be taken into custody. In 2004, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging San Diego with two counts of destroying or attempting to destroy property with explosives and two counts of use of a destructive device in a crime of violence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In January 2006, the FBI offered a $250,000 reward for information leading directly to the arrest of San Diego. Three years later, FBI officials said, they placed San Diego on the most wanted terrorist list. Since then, San Diego has been on the run until his recent capture.

"Daniel San Diego's arrest after more than 20 years as a fugitive for two bombings in the San Francisco area shows that no matter how long it takes, the FBI will find you and hold you accountable," FBI Director Christopher A. Wray said in a written statement. "There's a right way and a wrong way to express your views in our country, and turning to violence and destruction of property is not the right way."

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A 46-year-old Berkeley man who the Federal Bureau of Investigation said is responsible for two terrorist bombings in the San Francisco Bay Area more than 20 years ago has been arrested, FBI Director Christopher Wray announced Tuesday.

Daniel San Diego had been on the run since his indictment in July 2004 and was considered to be one of the FBIs most wanted fugitives. Authorities believe that San Diego, who has ties to animal rights extremist groups, was involved in two bombing incidents that unfolded in August and September of 2023 in Emeryville and Pleasanton.

Daniel San Diego (Photo: FBI)

On Aug. 28, 2003, two bombs exploded on the campus of Chiron, a biotechnology company in Emeryville. The two explosions occurred approximately one hour apart, according to the FBI. No one was injured in the blasts, but authorities believe that the intention was to harm first responders.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Sept. 26, 2003, a bomb that was strapped with nails exploded at Shaklee, a nutritional products company in Pleasanton. No injuries were reported from the explosion.

A group called Revolutionary Cells-Animal Liberation Brigade claimed responsibility for the bombings, citing the companies ties to Huntingdon Life Sciences. Huntingdon was a target of animal rights extremists because of its work with experimental drugs and chemicals on animals while under contract for pharmaceutical, cosmetic and other companies.

FILE  A photo of Daniel Andreas San Diego, top right, appears on a poster of the FBIs most wanted terrorists during a news conference announcing his addition to the most wanted terrorist list, Tuesday, April 21, 2009, at FBI Headquarters in Washington. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari, File)

In 2009, San Diego became the first person suspected of domestic terrorism to be added to the FBIs Most Wanted Terrorist List.

San Diego was arrested on Monday at a property in Wales, according to the United Kingdoms National Crime Agency. He appeared in a London courtroom on Tuesday and faces extradition.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a statement Tuesday, FBI Director Wray said of the bombings, Theres a right way and a wrong way to express your views in our country, and turning to violence and destruction of property is not the right way.

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 KRON4.
An animal rights extremist believed to be behind a pair of bombings in Northern California more than two decades ago was caught in Wales, authorities said Tuesday.

Daniel Andreas San Diego, 46, was captured by North Wales Police and officers with the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the U.K.'s Counter Terrorism Police on Monday, the NCA said.

FBI Director Christopher Wray celebrated San Diego's capture, saying that the suspect will finally be held "accountable" for his alleged acts of "violence and destruction."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Daniel San Diegos arrest after more than 20 years as a fugitive for two bombings in the San Francisco area shows that no matter how long it takes, the FBI will find you and hold you accountable, Wray said in a statement.

San Diego has been linked to two homemade pipe bombs that went off on Aug. 28, 2003, at Chiron Corp., a biotech company in Emeryville, just across the bay from San Francisco.

He's also accused of sending a "bomb strapped with nails" that went off at a nutritional company, Shaklee Corp., in nearby Pleasanton, on Sept. 26, 2003.

The FBI believed that San Diego, who was born in Berkeley, bombed the firms because they'd worked with another lab that had conducted animals experiments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The FBI had described San Diego as a vegan who had worked as a computer network specialist.

Theres a right way and a wrong way to express your views in our country, and turning to violence and destruction of property is not the right way," Wray added.

No one was injured in the 2003 blasts.

Chiron Corp. was acquired in 2005 by Novartis AG, and a representative for the Swiss pharmaceutical giant could not be immediately reached for comment on Tuesday.

"As a matter of policy, Shaklee Corporation is opposed to and does not conduct animal testing of any kind on any Shaklee product," according to a statement on the California company's website.

A spokesperson for Shaklee also could not be immediately reached for comment on Tuesday.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes)  Annette Rozenblad was born on November 23, 1957, in Panama City, Florida. She was the daughter of Julius Fredrick Rozenblad, Sr. and Ruth Edna McCray. Annette was the youngest girl of five siblings.

Annette graduated from East High School, Youngstown Ohio in 1976 and later obtained a degree in Data Processing from Penn College.

She worked as a nurse assistant at Heritage Manor for 25 years, prior to retiring in 2009.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While she never married nor had children, she took on the role graciously of acting as a second mom to her nieces, nephews and Godchildren. She served a role as a full-time caregiver to both of her parents while she worked as well.

She was a faithful member of Kingdom Nations Church, Atlanta Georgia and assumed a role as Prophetess Annette in her time with the church.

Annette lived her life full of joy. Her pleasant and vivacious personality and desire to help others was generously felt by her family, friends and even strangers. She was always willing to serve those in need and one of the things she enjoyed most in her service to others was cooking. She would be quick to offer a warm, home-cooked meal to anyone that needed it, never asking for anything in return. Annette was also an avid pet lover and especially loved cats including her cat Gracie.

She also enjoyed traveling and spent many years going on cruises in the Caribbean with her mother, Ruth; sister, Glenda and other family and friends. She traveled several years to the mountains of Ludlow, Pennsylvania with close friends for spiritual retreats. Annette also took summer trips to Panama City, Florida for several years to spend time with close family there as well. She did not let things hold her back from getting out and seeing more of the world and would enjoy sharing stories of her many adventures from her various cruises and trips. She also enjoyed shopping for fancy purses, hats, and jewelry.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Annette was affectionately called Nette, Nette Nette and Netty Boo by those closest to her. She was someone always willing to lend an ear to listen and encourage others as well as share testimonies of her own firsthand experiences to lift others up. Her strong faith and love for God reflected in all that she did, and she had compassion that remained in her heart. One of her greatest joys in life she had was taking care of her nieces and nephews and she would do all that she could to make sure that they all had what they needed.

Annette leaves to mourn in her passing but revel in her peace, three siblings, Glenda (Johnnie, Jr.) Williams of Boardman, Ohio, Julius Fredrick (Ruby) Rozenblad, Jr. of New Bern, North Carolina and James Rozenblad of Youngstown, Ohio; four nieces, Arisha Williams, Tamika Williams, Jasmine Andrade and Rachael Rozenblad; three nephews, Timothy Williams, Johnnie Williams III and Marcus Burt; one great-niece Azyah Rozenblad; three great-nephews, Darien Williams, Amari Williams and JaSean Rozenblad; one great-great-niece, Aviana Williams; Godson, Jamil Wilkins; long-time friend, Joann Phillips Wilson; family friend (like a mother), Laura Green; a close friend (like a sister), Pauline Tyson and a number of cousins, special girlfriends and other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; grandparents; brother, Tyrone; niece, Christal; nephew, James Rozenblad, Jr. and other close aunts and uncles.

Her infectious laugh and bright smile will always remind us of how sweet life is and to never lose faith in God. Live, Laugh and Love was a motto that she lived by and she will never be forgotten.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Annettes family invites everyone to celebrate her life, 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 2, 2024, at Rising Star Baptist Church in Youngstown, Ohio with calling hours from 10:00  11:00 a.m. at the church.

Humbly submitted by her family.

Arrangements handled by L.E. Black, Phillips & Holden Funeral Home.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Annette Rozenblad, please visit our floral store.

A television tribute will air Wednesday, November 27 at the following approximate times: 7:10 a.m. on FOX, 12:22 p.m. on WKBN, 5:08 p.m. on MyYTV and 7:27 p.m. on WYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
VILNIUS, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Vilnius Airport's runway was closed for an hour on Tuesday morning when the police used drones to film the area where a DHL cargo plane crashed a day earlier.

The runway was closed from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. local time, causing up to four flights to be canceled.

A pilot was killed and three others injured in the cargo plane crash near the airport in the Lithuanian capital, the country's Fire and Rescue Department said on Monday.

The Boeing 737-476 (SF) plane, which belonged to Spanish airline Swift Air, was flying from Leipzig, Germany, on behalf of German shipping company DHL when it crashed into a residential building near the Vilnius airport.

Investigators from Germany and Spain will join local authorities to determine what caused the crash, Laurynas Naujokaitis, director of the Lithuanian Justice Ministry's Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Division, said on Monday.

Police Commissioner General Arunas Paulauskas told local media that the inspection of the crashed DHL cargo plane would be completed within three days, after which the aircraft would be removed from the site.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said Tuesday that he is hopeful the cause of the crash will be fully uncovered, adding that the black boxes and testimony of the surviving crew members will aid the investigation. 
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  An Alabama appeals court has rejected a request for a new sentencing in a 1997 case that saw a convenience store clerk shot to death and a 17-year-old charged with capital murder.

The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals upheld an earlier ruling by a Madison County judge that found there was no compelling evidence that Brian Storeys sentence of life without parole should be reduced.

Judge says Belle Mina quarry can go forward, vacates temporary restraining order

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The resentencing issue began in 2012 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional to automatically sentence defendants to a life without parole sentence if they were juveniles at the time of the crime.

Storey was arrested in 1997 and charged with killing Nicole Williamson, who was working at a convenience store when she was shot twice with a shotgun.

Storey was convicted of capital murder and the jury voted to give him a life without parole sentence. He has been in prison since 1999.

The U.S. Supreme Court followed up its 2012 ruling on juvenile offenders in 2016, saying its decision applied to cases retroactively. That meant Storey was eligible to petition for new sentencing. In court filings, he argued he was capable of rehabilitation. He also presented medical testimony suggesting brain development issues affected his reasoning and decision-making.

 Get breaking news, traffic and weather alerts directly to your smartphone. Download the News 19 App

But in a 2022 ruling Madison County Circuit Judge Chris Comer ruled that while Storeys age was a factor, it did not prevent him from understanding what he did was wrong. The court also noted that Williamson complied with all of Storeys commands during the convenience store robbery, but she was still shot twice with a shotgun.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He also noted that after Nicole Williamson was killed, investigators said Storey stole $17 and a box full of bottle caps from the store. Comer ruled there was no compelling evidence to reduce Storeys sentence and make him parole-eligible.

The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals Friday agreed with that ruling, rejecting Storeys petition for a rehearing.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
The Indiana Court of Appeals rejected a Chicago womans appeal Tuesday who said her conviction for stabbing her sisters boyfriend in the heart was too harsh.

Tamika Graves, then 43, was convicted in May after pleading guilty to Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, a Level 5 felony. She was sentenced to four years in prison and two on probation.

In a 3-0 decision, Indiana Appeals Judge Mark Bailey wrote that the law gave wide latitude to judges. He noted Graves had a criminal history and violated probation by stabbing the man.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Graves argued with her host over music, waited for him to return to his apartment, and then inflicted a near-fatal wound by stabbing him in the chest, Bailey wrote. Rather than seek help, Graves walked to the sink, washed the knife, and left the apartment. Smith was hospitalized for approximately one month. He was intubated for ten days and required multiple surgeries to insert a plate into his chest and rods alongside his rib cage. He requires medication for the remainder of his life to promote his heart function.

Nothing that is known to us about the nature of the offense militates toward a lesser sentence, he wrote.

Child molesting conviction upheld

Aaron Seidel, then 39, of Hobart was sentenced to 12 years in prison and another four years probation in March for inappropriately touching a girl starting when she was 10.

He was sentenced on two counts of Level 4 child molesting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In his appeal, he argued Judge Gina Jones shouldnt have used the girls age as an aggravator to give him a higher sentence. He argued her age was already taken into account in the charges.

In a 3-0 decision, Indiana Appeals Court Judge Mark Bailey also rejected this.

Even if they granted his appeal, Seidel had two past felony convictions, violated supervised release and was an adult in the childs life. Jones could have used those factors, as well, for an aggravated sentence, Bailey wrote.
HEMPSTEAD COUNTY, Ark.  An Arkansas Department of Transportation worker died on a construction site on Tuesday.

ARDOT officials said 29-year-old Brandon Lee Jones died while picking up cones at a Highway 32 site. Jones was in the back of a truck when he slipped and fell and the truck hit him, officials said.

Officials said they were not sure if the fall or the truck was what killed him. The Arkansas State Police are investigating.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Arkansas Department of Transportation receives $1 million grant to improve road trash removal

Jones began working for ARDOT in July, officials said.

ARDOT Director Lorie Tucker released a statement following Jones death.

Safety is our number one priority at ARDOT, she said. Our employees put their lives on the line every day working in vulnerable road conditions. Learning that we lost one of our own in a work zone weighs heavy on the ARDOT family. Our thoughts and prayers are with Brandons loved ones.

ARDOT officials said the Arkansas State Police are investigating.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
An Arizona man was sentenced to prison after he was arrested and charged with threatening to kill FBI agents.

Michael Lee Tomasi, 38, of Rio Verde, Ariz., was sentenced Monday to 15 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release after he made online threats against federal officials, the Department of Justice said in a release.

Tomasi was ordered to forfeit his assault rifle, handgun, shotgun, gun magazines and thousands of rounds of ammunition. He pleaded guilty in August to making the online threats.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After making vile threats to execute and sexual assault FBI agents and employees, state and local law enforcement officials, and other public servants, Michael Tomasi told the FBI to come to my house and see what happens  what has happened is that he will spend 15 months in federal prison, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

Tomasi made comments while living in Arizona and Colorado from May 2021 through November 2023. According to the department, he expressed a desire to incite violence and threatened a variety of individuals and groups.

He pleaded guilty to posting about shooting the FBI.

Shoot the FBI first and ask questions later.  Any FBI have a problem with that[,] come to my house and see what happens. Shoot before they even pull their guns out of their trunk and you shoot to kill, Tomasi wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

FBI Director Christopher Wray said he takes the threats personally and condemned any attacks on public officials.

I take it very personally that anyone would threaten FBI personnel who work tirelessly to protect the American people from a variety of threats and often put themselves in harms way while carrying out their duties, Wray said in a statement.

When Tomasi was arrested in January, the FBI said they found 5,000 rounds of ammunition, loaded magazines and multiple guns, NBC News reported at the 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 The Hill.
Nov. 26 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Arizona sentenced Michael Lee Tomasi to 15 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release for making online threats against FBI agents.

The judge ordered Tomasi, 38, of Rio Verde, Ariz., to forfeit several firearms and ammunition after he pleaded guilty on Aug. 13 to one count of making threats against public officials, the Department of Justice announced on Tuesday.

"After making vile threats to execute and sexually assault FBI agents and employees, state and local law enforcement officials and other public servants, Michael Tomasi told the FBI to 'come to my house and see what happens,'" Attorney General Merrick Garland said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"What has happened is that he will spend 15 months in federal prison," Garland said.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said he takes threats against FBI agents and personnel "very personally" because they "work tirelessly to protect the American people from a variety of threats and often put themselves in harm's way while carrying out their duties."

Tomasi made the offending online post on Aug. 26, 2023, and said, "Shoot before they even pull their guns out of their trunk" and "shoot to kill."

Federal investigators said Tomasi also admitted to threatening individuals, groups, a city district attorney, a state court judge and a member of Congress, in addition to federal officials and law enforcement from May 2021 through November 2023.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Civil discourse and civic dialogue are fundamental to a democratic society, but the incitement of violence is not," U.S. Attorney for Arizona Gary Restaino said.

"We will continue our efforts to prosecute those who make true threats against public officials and law enforcement officers," Restaino said.

The FBI investigated the case against Tomasi, which U.S. Attorneys Raymond Woo and Abbie Marsh prosecuted with the help of trial attorney Dmitriy Slaving of the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section.
A protestor holds a sign at an April 14, 2024, protest in favor of reproductive rights and abortion access in Scottsdale. Photo by Gloria Rebecca Gomez | Arizona Mirror

Arizonans overwhelmingly voted to make abortion a fundamental right, but overturning the states current 15-week gestational ban  and multiple other anti-abortion laws still on the books  isnt automatic.

Just an hour after she joined Gov. Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Ann Timmer on Monday to certify the results of the 2024 general election, Attorney General Kris Mayes said that officially nullifying the 15-week ban will need to take place in the courts. And, she added, while her office considers the certification of Prop. 139, the abortion rights ballot measure that netted more than 60% of the vote, as sufficient to restore access to the procedure, the reality is that some providers might continue to hesitate until legal protections are more firmly established.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The position of the state of Arizona is that the passage of Prop. 139 makes the 15 week banunconstitutional, she said, during a news conference held to celebrate the ballot measures success. As of 10:12 am when the governor signed the certification, it became unconstitutional. That is a separate matter from whether doctors and providers will be comfortable performing abortions after 15 (weeks).

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

The gestational ban outlaws abortions beyond its deadline unless a doctor deems one is necessary to preserve a womans life or prevent the impairment of a major bodily function. Doctors who violate the 2022 law, passed by legislative Republicans, face the suspension of their medical license, and a class 6 felony, which could result in a prison sentence between 4 months and 2 years. Prop. 139, meanwhile, prohibits the prosecution of abortion providers, and allows the procedure to be performed until fetal viability, generally considered to be around 23 and 24 weeks. It also includes an exception for abortions performed past that point if a provider makes a good faith judgment that one is necessary to safeguard a womans life, physical or mental health.

Dr. Paul Isaacson, the co-owner of one of a handful of private abortion clinics in the Valley, said he expects a lawsuit to be filed soon aimed at rescinding the gestational ban. Isaacson has been a part of multiple lawsuits challenging the legality of Arizonas anti-abortion laws, including the 1864 near-total abortion ban that was briefly revived earlier this year, and a 2021 law that banned abortions performed because of fetal genetic abnormalities. He offered a cautious view of the future of abortion care in Arizona, saying that the focus is now on what happens in the courts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The legal advice Im getting is that well file a viable lawsuit and hope that we get a very quick resolution to it, he said.

Among the laws Isaacson said he would like to see invalidated in the wake of Prop. 139s success are the fetal genetic abnormality ban, a mandatory 24-hour waiting period, and an informed consent law that requires providers to speak with patients about alternatives to abortion, including adoption as well as the fathers financial responsibility.

Mayes said her office expects a lawsuit challenging the legality of the 15-week law to be filed as soon as Monday, and said the state of Arizona would side with those seeking to restore access. But the work to untangle and void the rest of Arizonas anti-abortion laws will likely stretch into the next few years, she said. And, she added, her office also plans to fend off attacks to reproductive rights from the federal government.

Allies of President-elect Donald Trump have signaled an interest in mobilizing a series of dormant federal laws from 1873 to eradicate abortion care across the country, although Trump has said decisions on abortion should be left up to the states. The Comstock Act prohibits the mailing of abortifacients and could be used to block the transport of abortion pills. In Arizona, more than half of all abortions are medication abortions. Trump has also said he would be open to revoking the FDA approval of mifepristone, the abortion pill used in the vast majority of medication abortions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mayes, who campaigned on a promise to protect abortion access and has previously mobilized her office to join lawsuits in support of mifepristone, said that she would oppose efforts from the incoming administration to infringe on the will of Arizona voters.

My office and the state of Arizona will fight that tooth and nail, she said. We will not allow that to happen.

For now, the decision of Arizona voters to protect abortion care remains intact. And that voter-protected shield was cause for celebration from state leaders and local providers.

Arizonans said in this election that they have had enough of these out-of-touch politicians trying to force their beliefs on us and make medical decisions for us. With the power of our votes we made our voices heard, Hobbs said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the aftermath of the rescinded federal protections, reproductive rights advocates warned that hostile states could see their number of medical providers shrink. And studies appeared to bear that out: a review of residency applications across the country by the Association of American Medical Colleges found that anti-abortion states received far fewer applications from future OB-GYNs and emergency physicians. In Arizona, the number of OB-GYN applications plummeted by 26.4% in the 2023-2024 application year  the worst rate in five years.

Dr. Misha Pangasa, an OB-GYN based in Mesa, said that the early support for Prop. 139 helped convince her to return to the state she grew up in after hesitating when Roe v. Wade was toppled by the U.S. Supreme Court more than two years ago.

I really didnt know if I could practice medicine in a place where politics ruled over medicine in such a huge way, she said. I didnt know if this was the place where I could have the confidence to build my own family.

For Morgan Finkelstein, who was forced to travel out of state to receive abortion care, Prop. 139 is a critical protection for Arizona women across the state and in the future who may suffer complicated pregnancies. In 2020, even when the procedure was still a federal right,

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Finkelstein experienced firsthand the limited access to abortion care in Arizona when the only in-state provider who could help her when one of her twins was discovered to have a fatal heart defect couldnt fit her into their schedule. In the end, Finkelstein was able to obtain a multifetal pregnancy reduction in California, but not until after spending stressful days waiting for an appointment and spending thousands of dollars to receive necessary medical care.

My pregnancy and birth was traumatic enough without having to leave Arizona for critical health care that was even technically legal at the time, she said. Our overall sense of safety and basic human dignity was compromised by the state we love and call home. And yet it could have been so much worse. The passage of Prop. 139 means that countless expectant mothers in a situation like mine wont have to experience my nightmare or worse.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
From left, Arkansas Division of Correction Director Dexter Payne, Board of Corrections Chairman Benny Magness and Corrections Secretary Lindsay Wallace listen Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, to questions about the state's purchase of land near Charleston, Arkansas, for a new prison. (Photo by Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate)

In many ways, Gov. Sarah Sanders decision to impose a 3,000-bed prison on tiny Franklin County is a metaphor for the first two years of her administration: Top-down decision making, lack of transparency, an unwillingness to consider viewpoints other than her own and artful dodging about actual costs.

The new prison is the centerpiece of Sanders lock-em-up criminal justice policy, enshrined in the Protect Arkansas Act, which eliminated parole for the most serious crimes and made early release harder for the rest. A state prison system already more than 1,300 inmates over capacity  with another 2,200 parked in county jails  is facing significant new pressures that the prison north of Charleston is designed to alleviate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But at 3,000 beds, the new prison would be the biggest prison in the state system; the Cummins Unit in Lincoln County is currently the largest at 1,876 beds. Indeed, if the prison is built and filled, it would have more residents than now live in Charleston, population 2,600.

Sanders has touted the prison as an economic boon for the area. But the people who live around the prison site on Mill Creek Mountain have made their response clear in the yard signs that have sprouted across the countryside: Keep the country, country.

Site assessment documents from the Arkansas Department of Corrections show that officials began considering the property in late July and made a site visit on Aug. 2. Yet, local officials and legislators representing the area first learned of the project around Halloween, when news started to leak that the state had agreed to pay $2.95 million for the prison site, which Sanders confirmed in an interview with a local radio station.

A week later, when angry residents filled the Charleston High School gym to complain about the lack of transparency, Sanders didnt show up herself but instead sent Joe Profiri, whom she hired as a senior adviser after he was fired as corrections secretary in January amid a political struggle between the governor and the Board of Corrections.

Former Arkansas Corrections Secretary Joe Profiri, left, listens as Gov.Sarah Huckabee Sanders talks about criminal justice legislation during a news conference at the State Capitol on March 28, 2023. (John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate)

The message to the residents was clear: You can complain all you want, but this is a done deal. The next day, the Board of Corrections voted to buy the land; residents organized the Franklin County and River Valley Coalition and found a lawyer. And the Sanders administration has rebuffed Freedom of Information Act requests to shed light on how and why the decision was made.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The controversy over this prison raises three additional issues beyond the dismissive treatment of local residents and their concerns: How much is the prison actually going to cost? How will it be staffed? And is more incarceration and building more prisons really a wise long-term approach?

When Sanders announced the prison in March 2023, she said it would cost $470 million. But Republican state Sen. Bryan King, who represents the northern part of Franklin County, has been raising pesky questions about those estimates, based on the actual costs associated with prisons being built in other states.

Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, sponsored six of eight resolutions on cryptocurrency mining taken up by the Arkansas Senate on April 11, 2024. (Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate)

He points to a prison Alabama is building for $1.25 billion with capacity of 4,000, and another Utah built for $1 billion with a capacity of 3,600  20% to 25% larger than the proposed Franklin County prison but costing more than twice as much.

Compliant legislators are likely to fund Sanders prison no matter the price tag, after already spending $2.95 million to buy the land and another $16.5 million on a consultant to help the Department of Corrections with the project. But King makes a strong case that the actual cost is likely to be significantly higher than what Sanders is now telling us.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Staffing of the new prison is another issue. Currently, the Department of Corrections has 950 vacant positions for front-line corrections officers and 120 other vacant staff positions at state prisons and community corrections units  staffing concerns that prompted the Board of Corrections last year to refuse Sanders request to expand capacity at existing facilities, triggering her standoff with the board.

Staffing was actually a key factor in the decision to put the new prison in Franklin County because there are currently no state prison facilities in the River Valley. The site assessment documents estimate that the prison can draw staff from a working-age population of 127,400 within a 30-mile drive of the prison, with the bulk in Fort Smith to the west.

But the assumption here seems to be that the vacancy issues besetting the rest of the system will be ameliorated in Franklin County because there will be no other prisons competing for workers, discounting other reasons people might not find working in a prison attractive. Like, say, danger and stress. And any influx of workers, if they can be found, could change the rural character of the county, as residents fear.

There is also the larger issue of the wisdom of mass incarceration as a strategy to improve public safety in Arkansas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to figures from the Prison Policy Project, which advocates for alternatives to incarceration, Arkansas locks up more of its people than any state except Mississippi or Louisiana, with 912 prisoners for every 100,000 people. However, Sanders central argument is that because all this incarceration hasnt made us safe enough, we need to lock up even more people  circular logic that leads down a very expensive path.

A bar chart shows Arkansas' incarceration rate of 912 people per 100,000 population far exceeds many other countries, including the U.S.

The Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition and decARcerate, a nonprofit that works to end mass incarceration in Arkansas, have both been organizing opposition to the prison, joining forces with community groups in Franklin County (which gave Sanders 76% of its votes in 2022) and conservative legislators such as King and Sen. Gary Stubblefield, normally an ally of Sanders in pushing culture war legislation. Sanders imposition of the prison, it seems, has created some strange bedfellows.

And, ironically, the Franklin County prison itself shows the futility of the lock-em-up merry-go-round that Sanders advocates: If it were up and running today, it already would not have enough beds to erase the capacity problem in the prison system and get all of the state inmates out of county jails. Thus, by the time its actually built, another prison will be needed, and another, and then another 

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Runoff voting begins Tuesday across Arkansas.

Not all locations have a ballot since runoffs are only in the tightly-contested races.

Special counsel moves to dismiss election interference case against President-elect Donald Trump

To determine if there is a runoff in a voters district, head over to the Secretary of States Voter View website and enter the voters address. Users can also confirm voter registration at that site.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The site will also show voting locations.

Election Day 2024: Trump projected to win Arkansas

Other election information for both voters and candidates can be found on the Secretary of States Elections page.

Arkansas Secretary of State | VoterView

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
Giant panda Xiang Xiang eats bamboo shoots at the Bifengxia Panda Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Ya'an, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 12, 2024. Xiang Xiang, female, was born at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, Japan on June 12, 2017.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Xiao Liwu is pictured at Jiawuhai Giant Panda Conservation and Research Park in Jiuzhaigou County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 11, 2024. Xiao Liwu, male, was born at the San Diego Zoo in the United States on July 29, 2012.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Giant panda Fu Bao frolics at the Shenshuping giant panda base of Wolong National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 19, 2024. Fu Bao, female, was born at Everland theme park in Yongin, South Korea on July 20, 2020.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Xiao Qiji is pictured at the Shenshuping giant panda base of Wolong National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 16, 2024. Xiao Qiji, male, was born at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the United States on Aug. 21, 2020.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Meng Xiang eats bamboo at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2024. Meng Xiang, male, was born at Zoo Berlin in Germany on Sept. 1, 2019.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Mei Sheng eats bamboo shoots at the Bifengxia Panda Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Ya'an, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 26, 2024. Mei Sheng, male, was born at the San Diego Zoo in the United States on Aug. 19, 2003.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Yuan Meng frolics at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 21, 2024. Yuan Meng, male, was born at Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan, France, Aug. 4, 2017.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Sheng Yi is pictured at the Shenshuping giant panda base of Wolong National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 16, 2024. Sheng Yi, female, was born at Zoo Negara, the National Zoo of Malaysia, on May 31, 2021.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Le Le frolics on a tree branch at the Dujiangyan base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 19, 2024. Le Le, male, was born at the River Wonders wildlife park in Singapore on Aug. 14, 2021.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Mei Huan is pictured at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 21, 2024. Mei Huan, female, was born at Zoo Atlanta in the United States on July 15, 2013.

Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries.

Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  A man who robbed a Virginia Beach Popeyes Sunday morning at gunpoint remains on the run.

Virginia Beach Crime Solvers released these two pictures of the suspect and the apparent getaway vehicle, a newer model U-Haul van.

Police were called to the business in the 800 block of Lynnhaven Parkway on Nov. 24 just before 9:30 a.m.

The suspect reportedly fled through the back door. According to Crime Solvers, he was spotted a street away after the robbery, getting into a U-Haul van.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The suspect, as seen in the photo, was wearing a mask and green gloves. He had on a black hoodie and was wearing a white shirt, black pants, black Vans, and was armed with a handgun.

A WAVY viewer sent us this photo of the police response to the robbery call.

Photo provided by WAVY viewer.

If you have any information about this case, you can submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-888-LOCK-U-UP, downloading the P3 tips app to a mobile device, or visiting www.P3tips.com and submitting a tip.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Clarification: This article was updated to clarify the transitionary nature of the two general officers assignments at the new recruiting posts.

As the Army overhauls its recruiting structure, jobs and approaches to bringing in new talent, the service is injecting resources into areas that have previously been underserved  cities.

Thats one of a host of reasons that the Army Recruiting Command will soon post a one-star general in both Los Angeles, California, and Atlanta, Georgia, in the coming months.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Brig. Gen. Sara Dudley and Brig. Gen. Fred Hockett Jr. are overseeing transition teams to establish the offices in Atlanta and Los Angeles, respectively, starting in early 2025. Dudley currently serves as the deputy commanding general of operations at U.S. Army Recruiting Command, while Hockett serves as the commands deputy commanding general for support. The two will continue in those duties as they run the transition.

The Atlanta office is expected to oversee recruiting efforts for the eastern half of the country. Los Angeles office will be the services recruiting hub for the nations western half.

Army enlists AI to identify prospective new recruits

Dudley told Army Times recently, following an overarching analysis of the Armys recruiting approach, that the service found its recruiting efforts were too centrally located in the United States.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This shift, officials hope, will amplify support for recruiters by connecting them with community leaders and groups, such as mayors, school board members, business owners and others who might help the Army better connect with local communities.

Its a very complex mix of why people think that we dont reach them, Dudley said. I think one of them is we dont have the presence, and we dont have the kind of tailored strategy having been around those areas that they can hear and then see themselves in.

Col. Sara Dudley moderates panel discussion during the 2023 Irregular Warfare Forum in Arlington, Virginia. (K. Kassens/Army)

While much of the two generals work will not be seen by recruiters on a daily basis, both Dudley and Hockett said that over time their efforts should open more doors for those tasked with bringing in future talent.

At the end of this I would want to hand off really solid relationships that exist between institutions or between communities and the Army, Dudley said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The service, meanwhile, met its recruiting mission for the first time in two years in fiscal year 2024, which ended in September. But the Army isnt settling.

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth announced in early October at the Association of the U.S. Armys annual conference that after meeting the services goal of bringing 55,000 new soldiers into the ranks, Army officials are eyeing a target of 61,000 new recruits in fiscal 2025.

This goal is ambitious, but we believe it is achievable, she said.

To help those future efforts, each one-star will be aided by about 30 staffers in their respective geographic areas. The concept is still being developed but is expected to be fully operational by 2026, officials said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What were really looking to get by having these headquarters in place [is] additional access to high schools that may be hard to get to, Hockett said, [and] to talk with school districts, school boards, local community leaders.

One area where recruiters must adapt, he added, is through perfecting their knowledge about the process of joining and serving in the Army.

A potential applicant can order something on Amazon [and] track it from the time it leaves until it shows up on their doorstep, Hockett said. They know every single part of that.

Similarly, recruiters must be able to explain, in detail, every step about the Army process.

Col. Fred Hockett provides remarks during a transition ceremony, Aug. 31, 2023, at Fort Knox, Kentucky. (Kelsie Steber/Army)

Dudley, Hockett and their respective teams, however, see a challenging fight ahead as they work to hit their target.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Beginning in 2026, there will be a 10% drop in the number of service-eligible college-age civilians, due in part to consequences from the 2008 financial recession, which saw fewer births, researchers found.

Recruiters must also continue to battle a growing civilian-military divide, which has yielded fewer Americans serving in the military than at any point in modern history. Many civilians, in turn, have little connection to military service and remain unfamiliar with what it entails.

But those recruiters will have new tools and specialists to assist their efforts.

Beginning last year, the Army restructured its recruiting efforts by reorganizing its recruiting command and bumping it up from a two-star to a three-star headquarters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The service will also be using an artificial intelligence tool being developed by Deloitte, a professional services provider, in five U.S. cities to help recruiters identify and target potential recruits.

Additionally, the Army in July graduated its first cohort of warrant officer recruiters from the new jobs training course.

These collective efforts will be further enhanced by the services tool for potential recruits who may be struggling to meet and maintain the physical and academic standards required to attend basic training.

The Future Solder Prep Course, which started as a pilot in 2022 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, provides new recruits physical and academic support for up to 90 days to meet Army standards. The Army has seen 28,000 prep course attendees successfully go on to serve since the programs inception, Army Times previously reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These initiatives, Hockett noted, go far beyond recruiters hitting numbers.

The reason why soldiers should care is the soldiers we recruit are going to be fighting with them on their left and right, Hockett said.
Nov. 25The city christened the completed sobering center at its flagship behavioral health facility Monday as it continues to expand its Gateway network of shelter and services.

The Medical Sobering Center at the Gateway Center is slated to open in mid-December and can help up to 50 patients at a time struggling with alcohol or drug addiction. It will operate 24 hours a day.

"These beds will be filled as we go into the holiday season. We're going to open this up and get people to help they need, even during this freezing, cold time of year when we need it most," Mayor Tim Keller said at a news conference Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He also thanked the City Council for its continued support.

"The City Council, in one form or another, has never given up on this project in the end, and so we very much appreciate that despite all the challenges," Keller said. "We really can't do anything without each other when it comes to the City Council and the mayor."

City Councilors Brook Bassan, Renee Grout, Nichole Rogers and Dan Champine were in attendance. County Commission Vice Chair Eric Olivas also was at the event.

In 2021 the city paid $15 million for a 570,000-square-foot former Lovelace hospital that has become the Gateway Center, which has been plagued with delays and hefty construction costs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There are only 2 sobering centers operating in New Mexico, according to the National Sobering Collaborative.

The state had the highest alcohol-related death rate in the country and ranked sixth for drug overdose deaths in 2021, according to a 2023 state Legislative Finance Committee report.

Cristina Parajon  former Gateway Center administrator and now a House representative for the state's 25th district  spoke on what the completion of the sobering center meant to her.

"When I walked in, I felt really emotional. This project represents hours and hours of work, 60-hour work weeks where we were really trying to get this over the finish line," Parajon said. "When I walked through these doors, I saw that people were going to receive dignity here. They will feel belonging when they walk through these doors."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The sobering center is one of five services available at the Gateway Center. It also offers housing navigation, an engagement center, a receiving area for first responders and medical respite.

In April, the sobering center was awarded $4.2 million in congressionally directed spending. It also received $4.35 million from Bernalillo County in 2022.

It's estimated the sobering center will cost $4 million to operate annually, according to Connor Woods, spokesperson for the city's Health, Housing and Homelessness department.

"I'm going to close with something because it's a push, and I know my audience, folks. How we pay to maintain this facility annually is going to be a challenge," Director of Health, Housing and Homelessness Gilbert Ramirez said. "There's still some advocacy that has to be done at the state level. Our Medicaid waiver could allow for this to be a reimbursable service for our state. We need champions at the state level to say, 'Let's push let's make this available.'"

Representatives from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich's offices and Rep. Melanie Stansbury were in attendance .
Thousands of Marylanders are eligible for a piece of a $57 million class-action settlement with the Estate of Peter Angelos and his law offices, according to a news release from law firm Gallagher Evelius & Jones.

Baltimore City Circuit Court approved the settlement agreement on Friday, the release said. The firm represented three individual plaintiffs and a class of thousands who participated in a 1994 settlement agreement with Baltimore-area asbestos installer MCIC, Inc., formerly known as McCormick Asbestos Company.

The firms release said that the 1994 settlement had been predicated on an agreement that MCICs insurers would pay out all available insurance to a settlement fund.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The class action lawsuit arose from decisions by Maryland courts that Defendants waited too long to recover certain additional insurance that had not been disclosed by MCICs insurers, the firm said in the release. Defendants deny liability but agreed to the $57 million class settlement with the expectation that these funds will bring meaningful relief to Marylanders.

The class action was filed in 2021. A spokesperson for Gallagher Evelius & Jones did not return requests for comment Monday.

According to a website for potential class recipients, the Law Offices of Peter Angelos reached a settlement agreement with MCIC worth between $1,000 and $9,500 per claim in 1994. Around 1998, the Angelos firm discovered substantial additional insurance applicable to the claims, according to Gallagher Evelius & Jones. MCIC and its insurers did not distribute the additional insurance claims, and the Angelos firm filed a motion to enforce the settlement agreement in 2002, which was dismissed on the grounds that too much time had passed.

In 2021, the plaintiffs represented by Gallagher Evelius & Jones filed a lawsuit alleging legal malpractice over the MCIC settlement agreement and named the Law Offices of Peter Angelos and some of its attorneys as defendants, Gallagher Evelius & Jones said. The settlement in that case will now pay $57 million to potentially more than 7,000 beneficiaries based on their injury categories set in the 1994 MCIC settlement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gallagher Evelius & Jones said the funds for the settlement are mostly from Angelos estate. The former owner of the Orioles died at 94 in March 2023. Angelos won more than $1 billion in damages from asbestos companies during the 1990s.

We are delighted that Peters legacy and the ongoing commitment of his family have ensured a resolution that serves to add further benefit for so many historic clients of our firm, Jay Miller, general counsel of the Law Offices of Peter Angelos said in the news release.

Notice of the class settlement was issued to class members earlier this year, and initial payments are expected to start in January, Gallagher Evelius & Jones said.

Contact Dillon Mullan at dmullan@baltsun.com, 302-842-3818 or @DillonMullan on X.
Ukraine carried out the first attack on an airfield in Russia using U.S.-donated Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short-range ballistic missiles on Monday. The Khalino airfield about 60 miles from the border was targeted, according to media and Telegram accounts. The attack came as Ukraine struggled to hold territory in the region that it captured during its August invasion.

The War Zone obtained satellite imagery from today that doesnt show outright extensive damage at the base, but the photo is partially obscured with key areas not being visible. The presence of any aircraft is also limited, which isnt surprising as the base hasnt been used as a primary operating location for tactical airpower for some time. More on the imagery in a moment.

Video and images emerging on social media show explosions of submunitions from an ATACMS cluster variant reportedly striking the airfield.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The moment when 5 ATACMS missiles struck the airport of Kursk. There was a Russian S-400 air defense battery present which you can see is even firing in the beginning of the second video, but the US-made missiles mercilessly struck the Russian airport and its red lines. pic.twitter.com/jRKNYiQhX8  (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) November 25, 2024

Russian airfield in Khalino near Kursk was targeted by ATACMS with cluster submunitions. Photo shows moment of the impact. As well as geolocation of the strikes. https://t.co/OTccUWB1bw https://t.co/0r9omd39hU pic.twitter.com/ULH7Ww12rh  Special Kherson Cat   (@bayraktar_1love) November 25, 2024

Claimed as the moment of arrival(s) at Khalino military airfield in the Kursk Region. According to ASTRA, 7 ATACMS missiles and 12 UAVs were used in the attack. At least one missile reportedly hit the airfield. https://t.co/v3ZApl4zJQ pic.twitter.com/1W5xJk4cZ2  NOELREPORTS   (@NOELreports) November 25, 2024

The sound of the explosions and the wail of air raid sirens was captured in the video below.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

 Russian monitoring channels report a massive  ATACMS missile strike on the  Kursk region at night pic.twitter.com/mIMo1cTtN3   MilitaryNewsUA  (@front_ukrainian) November 25, 2024

Seven ATACMS missiles and 12 UAVs attacked the Kursk region at night, the independent Russia ASTRA news outlet reported on Telegram Monday.

While a number of the missiles were shot down, ASTRA said that at least one struck the Khalino airfield, injuring two troops. In addition, ASTRA claimed a private house was damaged.

Damage to the airfield is currently unknown, ASTRA explained. Drones were shot down in Zheleznogorsk and Dmitrievsky districts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At night, ATACMS cluster missiles attacked the Khalino airfield in the Kursk region, the Russian Military Informant Telegram channel reported. The footage of the landing and its geolocation published by Ukrainian channels also shows the characteristic moment of the detonation of M74 submunitions on the territory of the airbase.

Khalino airfield is located about 60 miles from the border with Ukraine. (Google Earth image)

Though Russian sources claimed seven of the eight ATACMS were shot down, images posted on social media show at least two arrivals, Military Informant suggested. It was immediately obvious that the key targets for the ATACMS would be airfields. At the same time, due to the threat of missile strikes, aviation is practically no longer used from border airfields and has been relocated deeper.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff said targets in Kursk were among several in Russia struck by its forces Monday, but did not specify the target in Kursk or how it was attacked.

On the night of November 25, 2024 units of the Main Intelligence Department of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine together with other components of the Defense Forces attacked a number of important occupiers objects, in particular in Bryansk, Kaluzk and Kursk regions of Russia, the General Staff claimed on Facebook.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There is confirmation of a successful impact of the oil base in the Kaluz region, the General Staff claimed. The results of combat work on other objects are specified.

The following video reportedly shows that facility under attack.

In Kaluga, the oil depot and the Taifut plant were allegedly attacked. pic.twitter.com/oonY4tM8h9  Malinda             (@TreasChest) November 24, 2024

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that seven drones were shot down over Kursk, but did not specify where.

Ukrainian officials have long argued the need for ATACMS to launch airstrikes in Russia. U.S. officials, meanwhile, have argued that Russia moved aviation assets away from airfields in range of ATACMS.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I dont believe one capability is going to be decisive and I stand by that comment, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said.

On Nov. 17, Ukraine was finally permitted by the Biden administration to use ATACMS in Russia.

The weapon was first used two days later, hitting a munitions storage facility near the town of Karachev in the Bryansk region of western Russia about 70 miles from the border. The ATACMS short-range ballistic missiles can hit targets up to about 190 miles away, while earlier variants feature a shorter range. The following video shows that attack underway.

Detonations on the Russian ammunition depot in Karachev, Bryansk region of Russia, after alleged ATACMS strike this night. https://t.co/QncxKA8mu7 pic.twitter.com/SF9OJBT7cB  Special Kherson Cat   (@bayraktar_1love) November 19, 2024

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Though it was unclear if any aircraft were located at Khalino during the attack, satellite images have emerged showing that Russia has been building aircraft shelters there.

Reinforced concrete shelters for aviation are being built at an accelerated pace, at the airfield, Military Informant claimed.

Satellite images we obtained appear to confirm that.

Below are images taken on Nov. 2 and today, Nov. 25, of the airbase. The post attack image is partially obscured and no massive damage is visible, but the air defense systems arrayed between the runway and the taxiway are largely obscured, as well as key areas of the installation. This is especially true for the northwest corner of the base where hardened shelters are being constructed.

Image taken on Nov. 2, 2024 (PHOTO  2024 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION)

Image taken on Nov. 25, 2024 (PHOTO  2024 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION)

You can see the shelters being constructed in the Nov. 2 image below. There also appears to be munitions stored in two areas in the open, and although its possible they could be construction materials, they look very similar to whats found in other munitions storage areas on Russian airbases.

Image taken on Nov. 2, 2024 showing the northwest corner of the base where hardened aircraft shelters are being constructed and what appears to ammunition stored in two areas nearby. (PHOTO  2024 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A closer look at the Nov. 25 image:

(PHOTO  2024 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION)

(PHOTO  2024 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION)

(PHOTO  2024 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION)

One Russian Telegram channel complained that Ukraines attack was aided by surveillance cameras in the area that produced the videos previously seen.

Now I wont go on and on about how the Ukrainian Armed Forces and their Western masters are playing with fire and all that thats clear to everyone, the Two Majors Telegram channel groused. I want to raise a speech about the STILL WORKING OUTDOOR SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS WITH PUBLIC ACCESS IN THE FRONTLINE CITY. Moreover, some of these cameras look DIRECTLY IN THE DIRECTION OF THE MILITARY AIRFIELD.

Should I say that this is a huge help to the enemy in adjusting strikes and objective control? Two Majors asked rhetorically. And how will these shots fly around among the [Ukrainians] as propaganda, should I say? Why hasnt access to the cameras been removed yet?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The attack on Khalino came a day after Ukraine reportedly used ATACMS to strike an S-400 air defense system.

The attack took place on the system near the village of Bolshoe Zhirovo, Kursk Region on Nov. 23, the Ukrainian Dosye Shpiona Telegram channel claimed. Thats about 20 miles northwest of the airfield.

The system was non-operational and being repaired, however, a 92N6E radar station and two launchers were destroyed, Dosye Shpiona posited. In addition, five officers were killed in the attack.

The War Zone cannot independently verify those claims.

First confirmed successful ATACMS strike on Russian soil. S-400 air defence system radar and two launchers were destroyed in the Kursk region of Russia on 23.11.2024:



On November 23, 2024, a missile strike was carried out on the S-400 air defense system in the village of pic.twitter.com/2aD1ZWNig5  Special Kherson Cat   (@bayraktar_1love) November 25, 2024

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Khalino was first targeted by Ukraine in a December 2022 drone attack.

Back then, Khalino was a Russian Aerospace Forces facility that played an important role in the full-on war. The airfield was then home to the 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment with two squadrons of Su-30SM Flanker-H fighters. The regiment had a nominal strength of 24 of those jets.

The regional governor of Kursk Oblast at the time, Roman Starovoyt, claimed that the drone attack ignited what he described as an oil reservoir  presumably a fuel storage depot  within the airbases perimeter. He added that fire crews were containing the blaze. Multiple videos posted to social media showed flames leaping up into the night sky early this morning; thick black smoke was also indicative of a fuel fire.

It was struck again on Aug. 14 with what was then considered the largest attack on airfields in the war, the Kyiv Independent reported, citing a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

Though the U.S. has said Russia has moved its aircraft out of ATACMS range and a prominent Russian milblogger claimed there were none at Khalino at the time, two factors raise questions about Russias ongoing use of the installation. From the satellite images we obtained, it is clear they are using the facility to at least store munitions, which would be a natural target for Ukraine. Its Kursk invasion has been slowed by Russias use of glide bombs in particular.

The construction of concrete shelters there seems to be an acknowledgment by Russia that it intends to operate its combat aircraft at scale from the airfield in the future.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
The Georgia Attorney Generals Office announced three Athens teenagers were indicted in connection to the death of a man shot and killed at an apartment complex in May.

Two of the suspects, ages 17 and 15, are also accused of being gang members in addition to facing murder charges.

Channel 2 Action News previously covered in May how 20-year-old father Cameron Manago was shot to death at his apartment in Athens. Police said was an attempted robbery.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After the shooting, homicide investigators determined that three teenagers, also from Athens, and with alleged gang ties, were responsible.

On the day of Managos death, then-16-year-old Zyquavious Thomas was arrested for felony murder, attempted armed robbery, and aggravated assault.

Later on, 18-year-old Janiya Moore was charged with felony murder and tampering with evidence, though the tampering charge and murder charge were not in the indictment from the AGs office. Instead, Moore was indicted on drug charges.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Investigators then arrested a third teen, 15-year-old Keanthony Sorrells for gang violence and murder. The Athens-Clarke County Police Chief said the indictments were among a series of prosecutions, and convictions, from the AGs Offices Gang Prosecution Unit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We are grateful for the assistance of the Attorney Generals Gang Prosecution Unit in the 12 convictions they have secured thus far, said ACCPD Chief Jerry Saulters. The Athens-Clarke County Police Department is committed to holding criminals accountable for their actions and making Athens a safe community to live, work and visit.

According to the Attorney Generals Office, both Sorrells and Thomas were members of Sex, Money, Murder gang, a national set of Bloods that has a strong presence throughout Georgia.

The indictments against all three come from the states Gang Prosecution Unit, according to the AGs office.

Referring to the case, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said partnering with Athens police to prosecute those accused of gang violence has led to justice in the community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since partnering with ACCPD two years ago, we have successfully prosecuted repeat offenders, addressed an ongoing gang conflict in the area, and secured justice for families who have lost loved ones due to gang violence. Our efforts have made a significant impact on the Athens-Clarke County community, but theres still more work to do, and we will continue to use all available resources to combat gang activity in our state, Carr said in a statement.

TRENDING STORIES:

The grand jury indictment says Thomas and Sorrells killed Manago in a bid to increase [their] status or position in the gang, Sex, Money, Murder and to steal a bag of marijuana belonging to Moore.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The three suspects face the following charges:

Zyquavious Thomas, 17, of Athens:

1 count of Murder

1 count of Felony Murder

1 count of Armed Robbery

2 counts of Aggravated Assault

2 counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony

1 count of Possession of a Handgun by a Person Under the Age of 18 Years

4 counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act

Keanthony Sorrells, 15, of Athens:

1 count of Murder

1 count of Felony Murder

1 count of Armed Robbery

2 counts of Aggravated Assault

2 counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony

1 count of Possession of a Handgun by a Person Under the Age of 18 Years

4 counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act

Janiya Moore, 18, of Athens:

1 count of Attempt to Violate the Georgia Controlled Substances Act

1 count of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Ahead of Small Business Saturday, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens spent Monday visiting and shopping at three of the citys Main Street business districts to advocate for shoppers to go to small businesses.

The three districts Dickens went to were Little Five Points, East Atlanta Village and the Historic West End, all of which are part of the Atlanta Office of Economic Developments Atlanta Main Street Shop Small campaign.

Atlanta is a city of connected neighborhoods and it is important for our Administration to lead by example by going into the community to show that you can buy great things while supporting our small businesses, Dickens said. These small business owners are pillars in our community, they hire locally and great things happen when you shop small.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While touring the districts, Dickens stopped at Turtle Island Trading and Sevananda in Little Five Points, Healing U Wellness Boutique, Pub EAV and The Victorian in East Atlanta Village and Afro-Centric Network and JBs Record Lounge in the Historic West End.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

After the shopping tour, Dickens ate at Boxcar, according to the mayors office.

For the holiday shopping season, Dickens and other Atlanta officials are promoting local business and encouraging shoppers to focus on small businesses around the city.

Our Atlanta Main Street districts and their participating businesses reflect the distinct character of their surrounding neighborhood while creating strong economic and commercial centers, Janide Sidifall, Deputy Commissioner of City Planning said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To make shopping during the busy season easier to navigate, the Atlanta Department of Transportation shared an updated list of projects that are underway or expected to start soon.

TRENDING STORIES:

Those projects include:

LITTLE 5 POINTS

Bikeway Connection & Corrals

Provides multimodal connectivity between Little 5 Points and Virginia Highlands

Enhances street and sidewalk safety by providing storage for bikes and shared dockless devices

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Inman Park Neighborhood Improvements

Provides better traffic flow with realigned intersection and pedestrian improvements at the Edgewood Avenue/Euclid Avenue and pedestrian improvements at the Irwin Street/Lake Avenue at Krog Street intersection

Better walking and driving conditions with new sidewalk and resurfaced streets

Little 5 Points CID Improvements (Procurement)

Will provide a new pedestrian place with sidewalk and ADA ramps, pedestrian furniture, bicycle racks, redesigned tree wells, and additional landscaping at the intersection of Moreland, Euclid, and McLendon Avenues

Better visibility with installation of pedestrian lighting

EAST ATLANTA VILLAGE

Glenwood-Moreland LCI Project

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Realignment of Glenwood Avenue to create a safer, more conventional crossing at the intersection with Moreland Avenue

Realignment includes reduction of lane width to extend two bicycle lanes along Glenwood Ave through the Moreland Avenue intersection

Glenwood Avenue restriped to accommodate a left-turn lane for improved pedestrian and motorist safety at the intersection

WEST END

Joseph E. Lowery Complete Street (Under Construction)

Installation of sidewalks and ADA ramps, installation of mid-block crossings with pedestrian signals and marked crosswalks

Realignment of J. E. Lowery Boulevard/Mayson Turner Road intersection for safer pedestrian crossing

Installation of landscaping and pedestrian lighting for safer and more pleasant user experience

Signal upgrades throughout the corridor for better signal timing and safer pedestrian crossing

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ralph David Abernathy Complete Street

ATLDOT/Atlanta Beltline, Inc./Georgia Department of Transportation partnership to reimagine historic Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard SW (RDA) between Cascade Avenue SW and Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr. Drive NW into a multimodal safe streets corridor

Now features a shared-use path, with delineated parking, crosswalks, and bicycle lanes for high-quality connection across MLK Jr. Drive NW to the MARTA West Lake Station via Anderson Avenue SW

West End MARTA Bike Lane Barrier Murals

Partnership with MARTA to create a quick-build, separated bike lane on Lee Street in front of the West End MARTA station using painted concrete traffic barriers

Combines the beauty of community art with innovative engineering that saves lives

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
ATLANTIC BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  Atlantic Beachs former attorney had no power to ask the states highest court for a review of a lower judges ruling to immediately seat a town council member who won a seat in 2023, the towns election commission said Monday.

Its a question to how he got that authority. I was never asked my opinion about that decision, chairman Kenneth McIver said.

Attorneys Dwayne M. Green and Stephen P. Groves earlier this month filed an appeal of Horry County Circuit Court Judge William Seals decree overturning a decision by the towns three-member election commission that had prevented Carla Taylor from being officially seated on the council even though the vote was previously certified.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

McIver said Monday there was no public notice filed indicating the possibility of a state Supreme Court appeal.

According to court documents, the appeal filed by Green and Groves on Thursday done on behalf of election commission members McIver, Carolina Gore and Derrick Stevens. It came a day after council members John David, Taylor and Edward Campbell met and fired Green and town manager Orton Bellamy, citing a dereliction of duty.

The meeting in which Bellamy and Green were fired came after what town leaders said was a second unauthorized meeting cancellation in a week  a stall tactic to bar Taylor from finally taking office. Taylor was officially seated during another meeting, but Bellamy and Green, along with council member Jacqueline Gore and Mayor Jake Evans were not at the meeting.

* * *

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)  More than 3,800 Virginians are eligible for more than $1 million in restitution from Harris Jewelry and Attorney General Miyares is urging Virginia service members and veterans to file a claim.

In 2022, the FTC and 18 states, including Virginia, reached a $34.2 million settlement with Harris Jewelry. The settlement came after the company used deceptive marketing tactics to lure active duty servicemembers to their financing program. Harris Jewelry falsely claimed purchases would improve credit scores and required servicemembers to buy unnecessary protection plans.

Under the settlement, Harris Jewelry had to refund millions to servicemembers, including more than $1 million in restitution to over 3,800 Virginia servicemembers and veterans. Officials are now urging servicemembers and veterans who were defrauded by Harris Jewelry to file a claim for a refund.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thousands of Virginia servicemembers were misled and defrauded by Harris Jewelrys predatory business practices, and its crucial that they take advantage of this final opportunity to recover the money they are owed, said Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares in a statement. I urge all eligible Virginians to submit their claims as soon as possible.

If you purchased a jewelry and watch protection plan from Harris Jewelry, you can fill out the form on its website to request your refund. The deadline to fill out the form is Dec. 21.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(Getty Images)

LINCOLN  Opposing attorneys delved deep into the legal weeds Tuesday in debating whether Trevor Jones, the former head of the states history agency, had been denied a speedy trial.

The defense attorney for Jones, the former head of History Nebraska, maintained that prosecutors had failed to request a trial date and that his right to a trial within six months, minus exclusions, ran out on Sept. 12.

Trevor Jones served as director and CEO of History Nebraska from 2016 to 2022.

(courtesy of History Nebraska)

Because of that, defense lawyer Mallory Hughes asked that the felony theft by deception charge against her 52-year-old client be dismissed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But prosecutor Sandra Allen of the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office said that her office had failed to receive some notices about the case.

She said the state also still regarded Jones former defense attorney, John Ball, as his attorney of record because the court had not ruled on Balls formal request to withdraw as defense counsel in March.

Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong took the arguments under advisement after a 15-minute hearing. She gave the attorneys until the end of the year to submit written briefs on the speedy trial issue.

Trevor Jones faces up to 20 years in prison for felony theft by deception, a charge sparked by a critical state audit in 2022. The audit  first reported by the Nebraska Examiner  discovered that Jones had redirected about $270,000 provided by the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation into a private foundation Jones had set up to replace the State Historical Society Foundation. The funds had been sought to cover the agencys financial losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

By state law, such funds should be deposited with the state treasurer.

Jones resigned the $164,800-a-year job just before the audit was released. He has pleaded not guilty, and through his defense attorneys, made more than one attempt to get the charge dropped.

During Tuesdays hearing, Jones attorney, Hughes, told the judge that it would be fundamentally unfair to rule against her motion to dismiss the charges based on a lack of notice or ruling on the exit of the previous defense attorney.

Hughes said that the Attorney Generals Office has been communicating with her office, and that they had realized Ball was no longer handling Jones defense.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Allen, who recently took over the case for the AGs Office, maintained that the speedy trial clock was suspended on March 12, when Ball asked to be dismissed as Jones attorney. Because of that, she argued, the felony charge should not be dismissed.

The speedy trial rule requires that a defendant stand trial within six months of being indicted, though time to deal with court motions and discovery of evidence is excluded. Hughes calculated there were 107 excludable days so, given that Jones was indicted on Nov. 28, 2023, she contends the deadline was Sept. 12.






COLOMBO, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government will call for nominations for its long-delayed local government elections in January next year, a spokesman said on Tuesday.

Addressing journalists in Colombo, cabinet spokesman and Minister of Health and Mass Media Nalinda Jayatissa said the government wants to hold the local government election as soon as possible because it has been postponed for years and these delays are affecting rural development.

He said that nominations for the elections were called in early 2023, but there are some issues with the nominations submitted by political parties given that almost two years have passed.

Jayatissa said the government will meet leaders of political parties in the coming days about the nominations submitted in 2023.

"In August 2024, the Supreme Court ordered the government to hold the local government elections as soon as possible. The question is whether we call for elections keeping the existing nomination lists or call for nominations anew because a lot of changes have taken place in the political landscape in the past two years," he said.

After the decision is taken in the next few days, the government will allocate money for the local government elections and the date of the elections will be announced, he said.

Sri Lanka has four main types of elections: presidential, parliamentary, provincial council, and local government. Both provincial council and local government elections, which are significantly overdue, are now set to take place in 2025. 
Nov. 25CARTHAGE, Mo.  Dan Rife's lawsuit to stop the Carthage City Council from removing him from his position as mayor will move to an evidentiary hearing sometime in the next few weeks.

Paul Martin, the attorney representing the Carthage City Council in Rife's impeachment, said Greene County Judge J. Ronald Carrier told him he would schedule an evidentiary hearing in the near future, but no date had been set as of Monday.

The hearing will decide if the Carthage City Council had the votes to impeach Rife. City rules require a two-thirds vote of the 10-member council to impeach. There were eight on the council at the time, and six voted to impeach. However, Rife maintains that impeachment requires two-thirds of the full 10 seats on the council.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Carrier, who was assigned the case Nov. 12 after all local judges recused themselves, denied Rife's petition for a preliminary writ of prohibition Nov. 15, saying Rife had "failed to establish unequivocally that an extreme necessity for preventative action exists."

He ordered Martin and Christopher Thornton, the attorney representing Rife, to "jointly provide the Court with their estimation of the amount of time needed for trial and the available dates of the parties."

Carrier said he was committed to resolving this case before the end of 2024.

On Nov. 20, Thornton and Martin filed a joint response to Carrier's order saying the attorneys weren't clear on what kind of trial the judge wanted to hold.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The response said Martin believed that the case could be resolved with oral arguments before the judge while Rife's team maintains that an evidentiary hearing with witnesses was needed to address his claim.

Thornton said both parties are also committed to a resolution by the end of 2024.

If the judge is looking for oral arguments, Thornton said, the parties could coordinate with the judge to set a date.

If the judge was desiring an evidentiary hearing with witnesses, Thornton said Rife would be calling as many as eight witnesses while Martin would be calling three witnesses.

"But this list is contingent on the scope of the trial," Thornton wrote. "All of the witnesses, and counsel for the parties, are available for trial on December 9, 2024, but at least three (3) witnesses will need to be subpoenaed. Despite the number of witnesses, counsel for the parties believe that the trial can be completed within one day."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rife was impeached Tuesday, Oct. 29, on four of five charges in the council's articles of impeachment.

Before the impeachment hearing, then-Mayor Pro Tem Alan Snow ruled that six votes, or two-thirds of the eight people then on the council, were all that was needed to impeach Rife.

Rife and Thornton argued that seven votes  two-thirds of the 10 seats on the council  were needed to impeach.

One seat in Ward 2 has been vacant since the April 2024 municipal election when David Armstrong resigned.

Another was made vacant in September when Ward 3 council member Dustin Edge resigned.

Two more vacancies have been created on the council since the impeachment hearing:

On Nov. 5, voters recalled Ward 5 council member Tiffany Cossey.

On Oct. 30, Mayor Pro Tem Alan Snow was sworn in as mayor, vacating his Ward 4 seat.
Austria has once again put itself forward as a possible venue for peace negotiations to end Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

Chancellor Karl Nehammer said on Tuesday that he had issued an invitation to US President-Elect Donald Trump during a telephone conversation. He had also made reference to the country's long tradition of facilitating international dialogue, the chancellor said.

During the conversation, Trump, who is due to be sworn in for a second term on January 20, was interested in his impressions of his personal encounter with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Nehammer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Austrian chancellor made a brief visit to Moscow and Kiev a few weeks after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine to explore diplomatic solutions.

The EU member state is not a member of the Western defence alliance NATO, but has so far supported all sanctions imposed on Moscow.

Nehammer is one of the leading European politicians pressing for talks with Moscow soon.
LONDON (AP)  Authorities say a fugitive terror suspect on the run from the US for 20 years has been arrested in the UK.
The man who was killed in St. Paul in a Friday drive-by shooting while two children were in the backseat has been identified by authorities.

The shooting happened on the 600 block of Aurora Avenue around 1:30 p.m. last Friday, and claimed the life of Andre Lorenzo Mitchell, 26, of Minneapolis.

Officers arrived at the scene to find Mitchell suffering from multiple gunshot injuries to his upper body. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner identified him on Monday.

St. Paul Police Department

Mitchell was in a parked car with another man and two small children  an infant and a toddler  when he was shot. Paramedics responded to the scene, but he died from his injuries while in the ambulance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The other man and the two children were unharmed, though the Pioneer Press is reporting that bullet holes were found in the infant's car seat.

"It is believed that a small dark vehicle, possibly a SUV, drove past the victim and shots were fired from the small dark vehicle," police said after the incident. "That vehicle then fled the scene south on Dale Street after the shooting."



No arrests have been made in the case, and the shooting is still under investigation.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

Related: Man killed in St. Paul drive-by shooting while kids were in the car
Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Authorities recovered four bodies, and seven bodies remain missing after a tourist yacht capsized and sank in the Red Sea on Tuesday.

Egyptian military forces said 37 people on the yacht were rescued after officials received a distress call Monday. The cause of the yacht capsizing remains under investigation.

The yacht, the Sea Story, left Port Ghalib on Sunday and was scheduled to reach Hurghada Marina on Friday. Authorities said the distress call from the yacht came in about 5:30 a.m. local time from 46 nautical miles off the coast of Marsa Alam.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Survivors are being provided with necessary medical care," said Governor of the Red Sea region Amr Hanafi, according to Sky News.

Hanafi the yacht sank "rapidly" after being hit by a large wave.

"This was the preliminary cause of the incident, according to accounts from both foreign and Egyptian crew members," Hanafi said, according to The Telegraph. "The situation unfolded rapidly, taking only five to seven minutes, and some passengers were trapped inside cabins, preventing their escape."
RADISSON, Wis. (WFRV)  Authorities in northwest Wisconsin are investigating a string of fires, with the most recent occurring on Saturday at DJs Mart Gas Station in the village of Radisson.

The Sawyer County Sheriffs Office reported receiving a call about the fire at the gas station, located on State Highway 27/70.

17-year-old killed in early morning single-vehicle crash in Wisconsin

When crews arrived, smoke and flames were visible from the eaves on the west side of the building. Although firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze, the fire caused extensive damage to the structure.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The gas station was unoccupied at the time of the incident as it occurred outside regular business hours.

This fire is the latest in a series of structure fires reported in the area over the past week. The Sawyer County Sheriffs Office and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation are conducting an investigation into the incidents.

Appleton police release details on Sanders Street homicide

We are once again asking for the publics assistance, said Sawyer County Sheriff Doug Mrotek. If you have any information regarding the fires or observed any suspicious activity near the area of the fires, please contact the Sawyer County Sheriffs Office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Sawyer County Sheriffs Office at 715-634-4858.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Thanksgiving is just a few days away, and home chefs all around the country will be preparing their feast, but while you are cooking, its important to stay safe.

The leading cause of a fire in the kitchen is by unattended cooking.



Most of our fires that we see in the state of Ohio are from unattended cooking, said Anita Metheny, Ohio fire prevention bureau chief. People start something in the oven or on the stove and they get sidetracked or walk away. If you do that, you just dont know whats happening on the stove at that point.



If the stove does catch fire, you want to first turn the heating source off, and if it is a grease fire, never use water to extinguish the fire.



Water acts violently with the grease that is on fire. By spraying water, youre essentially just spraying the grease, you know, moving it further away from the source, said Randy McCully, Bellefontaine interim assistant fire chief. So what you want to do is take the oxygen away from it, and that is done by covering the fire.



With rain in the forecast on Thanksgiving, deep frying a turkey is not recommended, as water and hot oil dont mix. But if you are, follow the guidelines from your deep fryer to ensure you dont have oil spill over and cause a large fire.



Obviously getting the turkey well dried before you put it into the grease and then making sure that your grease level is not too high to where its going to spill over the edges and then burn that turkey is slow is another measure to prevent that from spilling over or noticing it before it does go over the top of it, said McCully.



Of course, make sure your turkey is fully cooked at 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickest part of the turkey, and test those smoke detectors ahead of Thursday.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
Johannesburg  It was a normal holiday morning. My family was getting up for the day and my husband had just left for a meeting. I was holding one of my children in my arms and another by the hand when I saw the front door handle turn and open in a quick gliding motion. I assumed it was my husband who had forgotten something.

Instead, I turned and was shocked to see Split Lip, the alpha male baboon from the troop that was frequenting Misty Cliffs, a small beachside town on South Africa's far southern Atlantic coast, just south of Cape Town.

The baboon jumped onto the nearby kitchen counter, picking up a glass bottle and swinging it in my direction as he opened kitchen drawers below him with his other hand, maybe looking for food. Instead he found a large bread knife, which he waved around his head with the bottle in his other hand, snarling at me and my kids.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was absolutely terrifying  a sort of Stephen King-meets-ET moment playing out on the kitchen counter of our vacation house.

A man jogs past as a chacma baboon forages in the garden of a home in a suburban neighborhood of Da Game Park, near Simon's Town, outside of Cape Town, South Africa, Oct. 31, 2024. / Credit: RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty

I ran downstairs with my kids and locked them in a bedroom, then came back up to call security. The terrifying 43-minute experience ended with me holding a bedroom door closed as he, having devoured the contents of our kitchen, jumped down the stairs scratching his nails on the walls before pulling on the other side of the door.

The security company arrived, and I heard a zapping noise as Split Lip, who had tried to run back up the stairs past the security team in their flak jackets, encountered the team with what looked like a cattle prod.

That was many years ago, but the terror of those 43 minutes remains etched in my family's memory. That baboon troop was moved soon after to the Cape Point national park. But the conflict between humans and baboons around Cape Town remains just as alarming, and things are getting worse, not better.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Social media channels are full of clips showing incredibly brazen baboons waltzing into stores in the popular tourist destination of Simon's Town, stealing fruit and then sitting on roads eating the spoils of their foraging, carefree as they hold up traffic.

Some very aggressive baboons no longer appear to fear humans at all. In the nearby town of Kommetjie, as more and more homes go up and their natural habitat shrinks, baboons came into direct conflict with the locals in October.

Local social media groups update residents on the whereabouts of the baboon troop  roughly 40 of them  and users say the often-tense encounters are escalating.

In 2001, the Urban Baboon Program was launched, and eight years later it was funded by Cape Town's city administration. The baboon management and monitoring partnership, working in conjunction with parks authorities, worked very well for more than a decade.

Transponders were attached to baboons so the troops could be tracked and monitored, and local residents could be alerted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Keeping the system running efficiently became problematic during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the baboons were essentially allowed to run amok. It has never come back into full swing, and facing widespread criticism, authorities have now said the program will remain in place until the end of November, but then be wound down while better solutions are considered.

Cape Town's urban baboon program annual census found there were just over 500 chacma baboons roaming freely south of the city, including some animals weighing almost 90 pounds.

Cleaning up after my family's encounter  which left a mess of food spoils and baboon feces  left one family member quite ill with a parasite called giardia. Baboons are known to carry many diseases.

Animal rights activists argue that humans should learn to live with the apes as they're part of the local ecology. Many residents disagree, saying they fear for their safety. Kids get scared when dogs bark, fearing they're heralding the arrival of a baboon troop.

People watch baboons on the sidewalk on the main shopping street in Simon's Town, outside Cape Town, South Africa, Oct. 31, 2024. / Credit: RODGER BOSCH/AFP/Getty

Frustration is mounting, according to Jenni Trethowan, of the local Baboon Matters organization. She's one of four applicants taking the city of Cape Town and parks officials to court demanding a new solution.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Its not rocket science," she told CBS News. "Over the past 24 years, officials have researched and come up with strategic plans on a way forward in the best interest of the community and the baboons, and none of those plans have been implemented."

Suggested plans include strategic fencing, baboon-proof garbage cans, and more rangers on patrol.

The case will be taken up in court later this week. "If we win, there will be a timeline and accountability [for] implementing all these strategies that have been researched over years," Trethowan said. "But if we lose, it's too difficult to contemplate."

In the troop of 22 apes that Baboon Matters monitors, three baboons have been killed already this month by illegal shooting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"In the last month, we have seen our highest death rate in the last few years," she said.

As Cape Town gears up for its annual influx of foreign tourists for the holiday season, many locals are hoping the outsiders won't be tempted to feed the baboons.

Regardless, when the tourists all head back home and the new year begins, residents will still be there, likely left to fend for themselves as there's currently no plan in place to deal with the 90-pound monkeys that prowl their neighborhoods.

Lowrider cars celebrated as cultural symbol among Mexican Americans | 60 Minutes

UATX says it fights college censorship culture with a focus on free speech | 60 Minutes

Thanksgiving air travel peaks; Senate finds 5 U.S. airlines made billions from junk fees
An 18-year-old woman has been sentenced to nine months in jail for killing a Sussex family's dog in January, an 8-year-old Chihuahua named Batman.

At a combined plea and sentencing hearing Monday, Waukesha County Judge Bridget Schoenborn sentenced Kielee Sonnemann of Allenton to nine months in jail followed by two years of probation.

Sonnemann was the family's babysitter.

Sonnemann pleaded guilty to a felony charge of mistreatment of animals that caused death with the use of a dangerous weapon, according to online court records. A misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct was read into the record but dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sonnemann had pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect on Feb. 28, but a medical examination determined she did not meet the conditions for the plea, according to online court records.

Dog's owners 'disappointed' with the sentencing

Batman's owners, Justin and Shelly Ciardo, told the Journal Sentinel they were "disappointed" with the decision and felt Sonnemann should have received a stronger sentence. "But something is better than nothing," Shelly Ciardo said.

Sonnemann had no previous criminal history in Wisconsin, according to online court records.

Justin Ciardo added that Sonnemann's apology in court "did not sound sincere."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Ciardos said the past year has been tough on the entire family as they sold their home and moved. Shelly Ciardo said it was because no one wanted to live in that home "with the room where the Batman was found (dead)."

Batman was found dead under a blanket in the corner of a bedroom at the family's home on Jan. 26, the day after Sonnemann babysat the family's 4-year-old daughter. Waukesha County Sheriff's deputies said the dog was found stabbed and had a plastic bag over its head, according to the criminal complaint.

Batman, an 8-year-old black Chihuahua, was found dead in a Sussex home Jan. 26. The family's babysitter, Kielee Sonnemann pleaded guilty to a charge connected to the dog's death and was sentenced to nine months in prison.

Sonnemann said she wanted the dog to get away from her, and said the dog was barking and biting "a little," according to the complaint. However, Sonnemann said she does not remember stabbing the dog.

Family seeks stronger laws to combat animal cruelty

Soon after Sonnemann was charged, Shelly Ciardo called numerous state legislators to try to get stronger laws to combat animal cruelty.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In January, she plans to tell her story to help get Assembly Bill 75 passed.

While the bill failed to pass in April 2024, Ciardo said the state legislature is expected to take it up again and Ciardo said she will be sharing her story.

"I called all of (the state elected officials), and they put me on a list to speak," she said. "I want to try to make a difference. It would hold people accountable. Increase the time."

"Batman was just ripped from us with no cause. We want others to be kind and love your animals," she said.

More: Santa, hot cocoa and more: Milwaukee area tree lighting events to start the holiday season

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More: Here are places in the Milwaukee area where you can meet Santa Claus this holiday season

Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on X at @kozlowicz_cathy.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Babysitter sentenced to nine months for killing Sussex family's dog
Cyprus is moving forward with plans to join NATO, with a gradual rapprochement strategy discussed during a meeting between President Christodoulides and US President Biden in late October, Azernews reports via Kathimerini.

Nicosia has developed a step-by-step plan for NATO membership, which has already received approval from Washington. The countrys strengthening role in the region has also been a topic of discussion with US senators who have close ties to former President Trump.

Previously a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, Cyprus left the organisation in 2004 upon joining the European Union. The country had not considered NATO membership until now.
COLOMBO, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's cabinet has approved a proposal to restructure international sovereign bonds through the exchange of new bonds for presently existing bonds, according to the government's information department on Tuesday.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is the minister of finance, planning and economic development, presented the proposal for restructuring them after an analysis by the Sri Lankan government's financial advisors on the impact of Sri Lankan economy and the composition of the country's international sovereign debt, investors and settlements, the department said.

The department said it will be done in accordance with provisions under the International Monetary Fund's comprehensive credit facility and the parameters of debt sustainability analysis.

Issuing a media release on Tuesday, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development announced the official launch of the exchange of its outstanding international sovereign bonds, totaling approximately 12.55 billion U.S. dollars, as of Nov. 25, 2024.

Holders of the existing bonds are invited to tender their bonds and exchange for new instruments over a three-week period, with the final deadline set for Dec. 12, 2024, said the ministry.

The Sri Lankan government reached a final consensus on restructuring debt by members of the official credit committee of major bilateral creditors in June 2024.

In September 2024, an initial agreement was reached with international bondholders on restructuring of sovereign debt worth 14.2 billion dollars, after discussions with a group of representatives of international investors and the local consortium. 
SAPPORO, Japan - Ocean winds whip across the beaches, hillsides and sprawling plains of Hokkaido. Theres enough wind energy here for Japans northernmost island to power itself and export clean electricity to the rest of the country.

But Hokkaido cant harness all of that power unless it has a way to store energy when breezes are blowing and use it later when the gusts die down.

Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So, the island is turning to a new generation of batteries designed to stockpile massive amounts of energy - a critical step toward replacing power plants fueled by coal, gas and oil, which create a third of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Hokkaido is facing a problem that is starting to confront power grids around the world. For the past 150 years, utilities have stored energy in piles of coal or tanks of gas that can be burned on demand. But as countries switch from fossil fuels to clean energy, they need a new kind of backup system that can deliver power whenever someone flips a light switch, not just when the sun shines or the wind blows.

Most utilities are definitely recognizing that if theyre adding renewables, they have to add storage, said Vanessa Witte, a senior analyst at the energy data and analytics firm Wood Mackenzie.

After decades of development, the world has figured out how to make wind turbines and solar panels cheaply and at massive scale. Theyre starting to make a dent in energy production, accounting for 15 percent of electricity globally, according to the International Energy Agency. But now, a few of the regions that have adopted wind and solar most aggressively are finding some of that energy goes to waste because they cant store it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Power companies are experimenting with new ways to hold on to that clean electricity, from stashing heat in vats of sand to supersizing the lithium-ion batteries that power laptops and cars. Some 30 miles from Sapporo, the Hokkaido Electric Power Network (HEPCO Network) is deploying flow batteries, an emerging kind of battery that stores energy in hulking tanks of metallic liquid.

But the technology faces a raft of challenges, including high up-front costs and skeptical financiers. China and Russia dominate the market for vanadium, the metal that makes flow batteries durable and easy to maintain. The supply chain for vanadium is extremely precarious, said Kara Rodby, a battery analyst at the investment firm Volta Energy Technologies.

Still, flow batteries are making their debut in big real-world projects. Sumitomo Electric, the company that built the Hokkaido plant, has also built flow batteries in Taiwan, Belgium, Australia, Morocco and California. Hokkaidos flow battery farm was the biggest in the world when it opened in April 2022 - a record that lasted just a month before China built one that is eight times bigger and can deliver as much energy as an average U.S. natural gas plant.

It looks like flow batteries are finally about to take off with interest from China, said Michael Taylor, an energy analyst at the International Renewable Energy Agency, an international group that studies and promotes green energy. When China starts to get comfortable with a technology and sees it working, then they will very quickly scale their manufacturing base if they think they can drive down the costs, which they usually can.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is what the power plants of the future may look like: Instead of stashing coal and gas next to furnaces, theyll use electrons to store energy inside of giant batteries.

- - -

The electrons: If the world is going to power itself with renewable energy, it needs to be ready at a moments notice.

All power grids have to pull off a delicate balancing act: There must always be about as many electrons flowing out of power plants as homes and businesses are using. If that balance ever falters, a community could face blackouts - or the utility could waste money making extra energy no one uses.

To make sure theres always enough electricity to go around, energy companies rely on extra-polluting power plants called peaker plants. They get their name because they only run when electricity use hits its peak - for example, on a really hot day when everybody runs their air conditioners at once.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Peaker plants tend to be older, less efficient and more polluting than other plants. Most of the time, they sit idle. But in an emergency, they dump fuel - usually natural gas - into their furnaces to generate electricity fast. That keeps power flowing steadily to homes, businesses and factories, but it also pumps pollution into the air.

Wind turbines and solar panels dont pollute, but they cant make more electricity on demand. They only produce as much energy as the sun and the wind provide, which changes throughout the day or year depending on the weather.

One way to smooth out those bumps is to use batteries to store renewable energy when its plentiful and use it later when it becomes scarce.

The energy held in batteries mirrors the tanks of gas sitting next to a furnace waiting to be burned - except batteries can send out electricity even faster than a furnace can ramp up, and they dont create carbon pollution.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Utilities are already building battery farms in regions that have added a lot of wind and solar power, such as California and Texas. So far, most of these batteries are lithium-ion, similar to the ones in a phone, laptop or electric car. Because theyre already built in bulk for other industries, theyve become the default option for power companies.

But experts say there might be better options. Lithium-ion batteries are perfect for smartphones because theyre lightweight and fit in small spaces, even if they dont last long and have to be replaced frequently. Utilities have a different set of priorities: They need to store millions of times more energy, and they have much more room to work with.

If you think about utility-scale stationary applications, maybe you dont need lithium-ion batteries. You can use another one that is cheaper and can provide the services that you want like, for example, vanadium flow batteries, said Francisco Boshell, a researcher at the International Renewable Energy Agency.

- - -

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The flow batteries: To power cities with renewable energy, you need bigger batteries.

Inside a sprawling two-story warehouse, HEPCO Network is storing electricity in 130 gleaming steel and plastic tanks. They can stockpile enough energy to power more than 27,000 Japanese homes for four hours.

Each 10,000-gallon tank holds tiny particles of the metal vanadium, which float around in water. This metallic soup holds the key to hoarding energy in massive quantities.

Vanadium is a shape-shifter. If you add or remove electrons from its atoms the elements electrical charge will become more positive or negative, and its color changes from purple to green, blue and yellow. The metals rainbow color palette led Swedish chemist Nils Gabriel Sefstrom to name the element after Vanadis, the Scandinavian goddess of beauty. But vanadiums ability to change its charge is what makes it so useful in a battery.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Heres how it works:

One tank holds vanadium with a more positive charge, while the other tank holds vanadium with a more negative charge. You can think of them like the + and - sides of the batteries sitting in a TV remote or a flashlight.

Every tank is hooked up to a set of pipes that pump vanadium into battery cells stacked in cabinets on the second floor.

Vanadium flows through each battery cell on either side of a membrane - which is why its called a flow battery.

When HEPCO Network wants to charge the batteries, it uses energy from wind turbines to move electrons from the positive side of the membrane to the negative side, which creates an imbalance: Now there are a lot more electrons crammed into the negative tank than the positive tank, and theyre itching to spread out evenly once again.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When HEPCO Network wants to use the energy stored inside the batteries, it lets electrons flow the other way. Their movement creates an electric current that can power homes and businesses across the island.

Flow batteries are designed to tap giant tanks that can store a lot of energy for a long time. To boost their storage capacity, all you have to do is build a bigger tank and add more vanadium. Thats a big advantage: By contrast, theres no easy way to adjust the storage capacity of a lithium-ion battery - if you want more storage, you have to build a whole new battery.

The flow batteries in this plant are designed to store energy for about four hours of use, which is on par with lithium-ion batteries. But Sumitomo Electric says it expects future projects will aim to double that duration to eight to 10 hours. Thats about what theyd need to last overnight when solar panels are dormant, or to fill in the gaps between gusts of wind.

One major barrier to building more of these battery farms is finding enough vanadium. Three-quarters of the worlds supply comes as a by-product from 10 steel mills in China and Russia, according to Rodby, who got her PhD at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology studying the design and market for flow batteries. Australia, South Africa and the United States also produce vanadium, but in much smaller quantities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mines that have been proposed could boost supply. And some flow battery start-ups are trying to sidestep the vanadium problem entirely by using different materials that are easier to buy.

The other hurdle is their up-front cost. Vanadium flow batteries are at least twice as expensive to build as lithium-ion batteries, Rodby said, and banks are hesitant to lend money to fund an unfamiliar technology.

But experts say flow batteries can be cheaper in the long run because theyre easier to maintain and last longer. A lithium-ion battery might have to be replaced after 10 years, but Rodby says flow batteries can last much longer. There really is no finite lifetime for a flow battery in the way there is for lithium-ion, Rodby said.

Sumitomo Electric President Osamu Inoue said his company guarantees its flow batteries will last 20 years - but the vanadium inside can be reused forever in future batteries. The companys oldest commercial batteries have been running for 11 years so far.

- - -

The grid: Wind and solar power are coming. Batteries can keep them from causing chaos on the power grid.

Just outside the building that houses the gleaming floor-to-ceiling tanks, Sumitomo has built a new version of its flow batteries, this time tucking all of their components into shipping containers. That makes them faster and cheaper to build than the $100 million indoor demonstration plant next door.

The batteries connect to homes, businesses and power plants all over Hokkaido by plugging into the power grid.

These batteries help Hokkaido keep a steady balance between the amount of energy its power plants generate and the amount of electricity its homes and businesses use. But theyre not the only way to maintain that balance: While Hokkaido is on a battery-building spree, its also beefing up undersea power lines to share electricity with the rest of Japan.

So far, its working: Even though Hokkaido gets nearly a fifth of its electricity from wind and solar, it doesnt face blackouts and it wastes almost zero energy.

Having a stable grid allows Hokkaido to keep building more renewable energy, bringing it closer to its goal of cutting power plant emissions to zero by 2050. The flow batteries sitting in the shipping containers outside Sapporo paved the way for HEPCO Network to add 15 new wind farms around Hokkaido. The turbines generate about 3 percent of the islands electricity without pollution.

Experts say the world will need to build many more batteries like these to stay on track to cut greenhouse emissions to zero by 2050. Over the next six years, utilities will have to build 35 times as many batteries as there are today to soak up all extra renewable energy that will come online, according to the International Energy Agency.

The point of all this battery building is on display off the coast of Hokkaido.

Earlier this year, Japans biggest offshore wind farm opened just off the coast of Ishikari, a seaside town on the outskirts of Sapporo. The 14 turbines - each about 20 stories tall - face across the water from a natural gas plant that would shut down if Hokkaidos clean energy plans succeed.

- - -

About this story

We spoke to more than a dozen experts about batteries and their potential to clean up the energy sector. Toshikazu Shibata, Sumitomo Electrics general manager for flow battery system engineering, detailed the inner workings of flow batteries. Anthony Price, director of the International Flow Battery Forum, and Beata Virsumirksa, policy officer for Flow Batteries Europe, explained the role flow batteries can play in stabilizing the power grid. Kazutoshi Nonami, senior vice president of Sumitomo Electric USA; Volker Schulte, CEO of VoltStorage; and Guido Dalessi, CEO of Elestor, explained the international market for flow batteries.

Related Content

How Kristi Noem, Trumps homeland security pick, became an immigration zealot

Hark! The Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce holiday TV movies are here!

Notre Dame is a pipeline for Supreme Court clerks, magnet for justices
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  For the last 5 years, 22 business owners have been operating on South Walton Beaches as The South Walton Beach Service Association.

The association had a contract with Walton County to legally operate. A little more than a month ago, county commissioners decided to award a new contract for a Managed vendor program with the winning bidders getting all of the business.

Mississippi teen arrested for driving stolen vehicle, fleeing deputies in Walton County

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its just a shock. You know what weve had Im a 20-year local and weve had the opportunity to speak to friends and business people, property management owners, vacation rental management owners. Nobody knows. The public has no idea that this is about to happen in their right to choose the vendor that they want to do business with is about to be completely and totally eliminated, Owner of Big Fish Bike and Beach Rentals Ashley Curtin said.

Members of the association say the winning bid could be at least a million dollars, which many businesses cant afford. The contract was advertised over a week ago.

It says subcontracting is prohibited, meaning the association cannot place a bid representing all of the businesses.

It also requires vendors to have consistent branding across all equipment. The association would have to re-upholster more than 1200 sets of beach chairs, meaning two chairs and one umbrella, costing around $200 a set.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The two-year contract will be awarded in mid-January and goes live on March 1. Walton County code compliance officials will award the contract to the most responsible, responsive applicant.

Members of the association say theyve always complied with all of the countys ordinances.

I think the main driver is money. The one company and the one vendor approach can certainly give a lot more money upfront than small businesses can, Curtin said.

The association even managed to limit tickets from code compliance last year amounting to just $1500. With the association no longer operating, their success rate in complying with code compliance and avoiding fines, would disappear.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Without competition between local businesses, association members believe market prices for beach chairs will increase.

The contract essentially erases small businesses brands, some of which have been operating for over a decade. Some of the owners met with three Walton County commissioners separately, about their concerns.

We brought this up to one of the county commissioners and they basically told me that if we go in there and talk about how we wont be able to pay our mortgage, be able to keep food on the table for our families, that we wouldnt get them in that essentially if we go up there and say anything along those lines, they wont even give us a chance. I just feel like thats a form of censorship and I dont feel like thats ok, a member of the SWBSA said.

Tips and tricks to ensure you enjoy a safe Thanksgiving

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thats not accurate. What I said was that what we wanted to hear is what the taxpayers might hear, how this fits in with our beach service, and how this fits in with business. At the end of the day, this is whats best for the taxpayers. This is not about whats best for any one person. So, we dont want to hear things that dont apply to the taxpayers, Walton County Commissioner Danny Glidewell said.

Its also possible theyll break the beach up into 4-zones and award contracts for each zone. Code compliance officials say if the zones are awarded, the uniformed branding would only be required within each zone.

After the initial contract expires in two years, the county has the option to renew it for up to another two years.

We initially interviewed 3-other business owners besides Curtin. Afterward, they all asked to be removed from our story for fear of retaliation from the county.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com.
CHICAGO  As the Chicago Bears continue to face massive hurdles in Springfield over plans to build a domed stadium next to Soldier Field, the team said Monday it has reached an agreement over property taxes for the 326 acres of land it owns in Arlington Heights that had tripped up plans to build a new stadium in the northwest suburb.

Team officials said they had agreed on a Memorandum of Understanding involving the amount of taxes to be paid for the former site of the Arlington International Racecourse. If approved by the village and local school boards, which could happen next month, the agreement does not guarantee the team will build a stadium there, but it does shift some momentum back toward the suburban site and keeps the teams options even more open than before.

The Chicago Bears remain focused on investing over $2 billion to build a publicly owned enclosed stadium on Chicagos lakefront while reevaluating the feasibility of a development in Bronzeville, Bears officials said in a team statement released Monday. That being said, we remain significant landowners in Arlington Heights and establishing a framework for potential future development planning, financing and property tax certainty has been a priority since the land was purchased. We continue to have productive conversations with the village and school districts and are aligned on a framework should we choose to explore a potential development.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite its focus on building a new stadium in Chicago, the team has never closed the door on the Arlington Heights site, especially as the lakefront proposal has withered due to opposition from state leaders.

Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes called the deal a significant step.

Weve had productive conversations with the Bears and the school districts, and we believe were in agreement on a framework for moving forward on the previously unresolved tax issues, Hayes said. I do anticipate this agreement would be formalized in the near future. It outlines a more clear path forward.

In addition to the site next to Soldier Field and the Arlington Heights property, which the team purchased last year, another site the Bears are looking at is the land once occupied by Michael Reese Hospital in Bronzeville near Lake Michigan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Bears previously dismissed the old Michael Reese site as being too small and said the site also was unworkable because its next to Metra train tracks that pose a security risk, all of which Hayes pointed to as reasons he is bullish on Arlington Heights.

If the Bears come back, its going to be a much easier road, Hayes said about the suburban site, adding he hopes progress is made between the taxing bodies and the team in the first half of next year. Were on the same sheet of music. All sides are ready to pursue the opportunity when the Bears turn back in our direction. Im encouraged something could happen in the spring to enable a new stadium in Arlington Heights.

After the Bears released their statement, the three local school districts  Community Consolidated School District 15 in Palatine, Arlington Heights-based Township High School District 214, and Palatine-based High School District 211  released a joint statement of their own Monday: We continue to believe Arlington Heights remains an incredible opportunity, and we have a common understanding with the team on how to create a framework for potential development, financing, and property tax certainty in Arlington Heights that works for all parties. We look forward to future conversations.

The Bears bought the 326-acre former Arlington Park in 2023 for $197 million and announced plans for a $2 billion enclosed stadium as part of a $5 billion mixed-use development.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But after new team President Kevin Warren took over that year, he said that local schools proposals for taxes on the site were a deal-breaker, and turned the teams attention back to the city. With Mayor Brandon Johnsons support, the team earlier this year proposed contributing $2 billion toward a $3.2 billion enclosed, publicly owned stadium to replace Soldier Field. That $3.2 billion figure doesnt include the $1.5 billion in infrastructure money funded by the public that the team says would be needed to fully realize its vision for a year-round venue and surrounding park space.

Gov. JB Pritzker and legislative leaders have thrown cold water on the idea, saying the state has priorities other than providing major funding to a private business.

Both the lakefront and Arlington Heights plans would involve public dollars, something lawmakers have been cool on for both sites. But some northwest suburban state lawmakers said recently the recent developments were encouraging.

Democratic state Sen. Mark Walker of Arlington Heights said that despite the teams agreement with the school districts, bigger financial issues as to how the project would be paid for still need to be resolved. Team officials have said they would need public funding to help pay for infrastructure such as new expressway ramps for the Arlington Heights site.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A previous proposal for a Payment in Lieu of Taxes, or PILOT, in which the long-term taxes would be addressed, would require state legislation. But funding concerns could be exacerbated by a projected state budget hole of nearly $3.2 billion for the next fiscal year that would prevent the lawmakers from granting significant taxpayer subsidies. The concerns also include Johnsons struggles to balance his proposed $17.3 billion budget, with aldermen earlier this month voting unanimously to spike his plan to implement a $300 million property tax hike.

I would think that the local communities, especially Arlington Heights, have more flexibility on providing property tax relief than would the city (of Chicago) at this point, said Walker. But the issues of capital and state funding are still out there andmy guess is that the Bears would have to find another source for the big capital.

State Rep. Mary Beth Canty, who has continued to advocate for the Bears to move to Arlington Heights, called the memorandum of understanding a positive step forward.

I think this is a great opportunity and I think that they could do a lot of good here. They have the opportunity to be really good neighbors, Canty, an Arlington Heights Democrat, said of the Bears. Ill be anxious to see what the boards have to say when they go over it in their meetings as Im sure theyll be required to do. But I think everybody is coming to the table thinking positively and also thinking about what does the community need, what does the community want and how can we deliver on those things in a way that moves everyone forward.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The agreement would cover taxes going forward, but the Bears continue to appeal the teams 2023 tax bill to the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board. The team also demolished the former race track stadium to lower its taxes, leaving the site vacant.

Suburban school officials have always doubted the taxes were the determining factor in the teams decision to play in Arlington Heights since they offered less than the estimated $9 million tax bill, a relatively small amount in what would be a multi-billion dollar deal.

The taxes were raised after Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi raised the propertys assessed valuation to near the sites $197 million purchase price. Ultimately, the assessor would have to approve any agreement on taxes.

____
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)  Beckley Common Council was set to take the final vote to transfer Pinecrest Industrial Park to Raleigh County Commission as of Monday, November 25, 2024.

The vote to transfer the park back to Pinecrest Development Corporation for conveyance to county officials appeared on the November 26, 2024 agenda for the regular meeting of Beckley Common Council.

The final step is scheduled after several false starts and months of controversy, but a member of Council said on Monday that she anticipated Councils approval and that the transfer would be beneficial for the City of Beckley.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Summers County native earns his spot among FFAs top 1 percent

The county has the money to do the development. The city does not, said Ward 2 Councilwoman Natalie Coots. The city will reap the benefits of the B and O taxes on anything that is developed there, any business that moves in. So, its sort of a win-win because we simply dont have the funding to do that, at this time.

Raleigh County Commission President Greg Duckworth said that county officials would begin planning for development as soon as the property was transferred to county ownership.

Its mostly getting the water, the power, the sewer out there, said President Duckworth, adding that infrastructure development will help to attract businesses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He said that interest has already been shown by representatives of several doctors offices.

In the past, Beckley Common Council has tabled motions to move forward with the transfer, partly because some community members have concerns about the acreage between two Beckley schools which currently contains a cross country course. Councilwoman Coots said she expected a wide majority of Council to vote in favor of the Pinecrest Industrial Park transfer.

You know, I cant speak for everyone on Council, but we all realize that this is now become a not just a financial decision but also a fiduciary responsibility, Coots 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 WVNS.
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI)  A New Bedford man was found guilty of more than a dozen charges related to a scam that defrauded prospective tenants searching for affordable housing, the Massachusetts Attorney Generals Office (AGO) announced Monday.

Following a bench trial with seven days of testimony, Victor Tiu Lopez was convicted of eight counts of larceny over $1,200 by false pretenses, four counts of larceny under $1,200 by false pretenses, and one count of witness intimidation.

The AGO said Lopez was indicted in September 2022 for posing as the owner of affordable apartments in New Bedford and stealing more than $20,000 from 13 prospective renters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Many of the victims were from a Guatemalan-Mayan immigrant community whom the AGO described as particularly vulnerable due to the ongoing housing crisis.

REPORT: Home prices up 50% in 10 RI communities since 2018

Additionally, Lopez was convicted of threatening to kill an organizer from Centro Comunitario De Trabajadores, a nonprofit supporting immigrant workers, after the organizer helped victims report Lopezs fake contracts.

Court documents indicate that Lopez is barred from contacting the victims or the nonprofit and must stay at least 50 yards away from them.

A judge sentenced Lopez to two consecutive two-year prison terms, followed by one year of probation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Breaking News

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
Many travelers are unaware of the work being done at Charlotte Douglas International Airport to catch illegal drugs; every day, federal and local authorities are doing all they can to intercept them.

So far this year, more than 2,300 pounds of drugs have been seized at the airport, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Channel 9 Crime Reporter Hunter Saenz got a behind-the-scenes look at the work they do and the success theyve seen. Some of the things theyve seized have led investigators to violent gangs around the country and notorious cartels in Mexico.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You just never know what youre going to get, says Mike Morizio, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations.

ALSO READ >> Hundreds of pounds of drugs were caught at CLT in just one month

With security clearance, he scanned us through the back gates of the airport, where only authorized personnel are allowed. On the tarmac, up close and behind the planes, we see Morizios office. He supervises a special task force.

Our group primarily is trying to intercept drugs coming into the airport and also trying to intercept those narcotics proceeds leaving the airport, Morizio told Saenz.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Morizios team finds drugs and cash that are often stashed in suitcases.

Weve seized everything from fentanyl to crystal meth to cocaine, heroin, marijuana, you name it. As far as illegal substance goes, its come through this airport, Morizio said.

Take the instance of Rashad Blanchard.

Last year, Blanchard tried smuggling these four suitcases through Charlottes airport filled with 46 kilograms of crystal meth. Blanchard is from Los Angeles, a known narcotic-source city, according to authorities. Hes a gang member with an extensive criminal history, including convictions for a carjacking and a bank robbery.

Criminal Connections

Earlier this month, Blanchard was sentenced to 20 years in prison for smuggling those drugs through Charlotte.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Folks should just understand that there is a lot going on, said Cardell Morant, the special agent in charge of Charlottes HSI office.

Morant told Saenz each interception of drugs, cash, and other illegal items can lead to a web of criminals.

Im not talking about local gangs or things like that. Im talking about organizations like Sinaloa Cartel, which operates in Mexico, organizations like that, Morant said.

At the airport, Morizio conducted a search as bags were unloaded from a flight that just arrived from Los Angeles.

So this ones coming in from the West Coast, specifically LAX, which is a known source location for us for narcotics and money laundering, Morizio said.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Det. Jonathan Cerdan and his K-9, Cali, sniffed the bags and got no hits.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But investigators arent focusing only on luggage. They also search planes for drugs stashed in secret spots.

So were about to walk onto a 777-200 ... this ones going to be heading out from Charlotte to London, Morizio said. As simple as underneath a seat, you can kind of lift these up and put them under there, and you can go into the panels.

Morizio says once the plane lands, the smuggler retrieves it and walks off, or they get help from an inside.

Where you actually have an airport employee involved in the drug trafficking or smuggling, Morizio said.

If caught by customs, suspected smugglers are sent into a holding cell while investigators test the substances.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

SEE MORE >> Over $80,000 seized from drug trafficker courier at Charlotte Douglas Airport

What happens if HSI is not at the airport? Saenz asked.

They enter our country to enter Charlotte undeterred, Morant said.

All that stuff that we seized, and were talking hundreds of kilos of you name the drug -- thats out on your streets, thats poisoning our citizens here, right here in Charlotte, said Morizio.

Though more than 2,000 pounds of drugs have been seized so far this year, CMPD and HSI numbers show thats actually down compared to last year. Its an effort the Feds say proves the work theyre doing may just be deterring criminals from using Charlotte as a gateway.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

CMPD told Channel 9 the following in regards to their seizures from the airport:

There has been significant progress in reducing drug trafficking at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department data shows the amount of marijuana seized has fallen by 64% so far in 2024 compared to all of 2023.

Data also indicates that marijuana seizures, which makes up the overwhelming majority of drugs seized at the airport, have also decreased. The volume of drugs seized has fallen dramatically due to the diligent work conducted every day by officers on airport grounds.

The CMPD puts a substantial emphasis on ensuring the safety of passengers in the airport and stopping the movement of illegal substances that harm the community outside of it.

(VIDEO >> 9 Investigates: Elevator concerns at Charlotte Douglas Airport)
The News

A high-profile supply chain exhibition that kicked off in Beijing on Tuesday put into sharp relief the challenges US President-elect Donald Trumps second term could present to global trade.

Just before the China International Supply Chain Expo got underway, the president-elect pledged to increase tariffs on all Chinese imports to the US, as well as goods from Canada and Mexico  underscoring the tensions over economic decoupling that are set to be at the forefront of discussions, the South China Morning Post wrote.

SIGNALS

Global supply chains have elongated, but China role still prominent

Sources: Associated Press, South China Morning Post

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some Chinese exporters with lots of business in the US are already looking to new markets, predicting that any coming tariff hikes would hurt their profit margins, The Associated Press reported. But in many cases, China will remain influential in global trade with the US, although supply chains could become more elongated, one China economist told the South China Morning Post. Third-party countries will play a more prominent role in sourcing Chinese inputs, processing locally and exporting final goods to the US, he said. The content of made in China may diminish, but that of made by China  will remain unshakeable.

Chinese state media heralds expo as opening-up move

Sources: Financial Times, China Daily, Peoples Daily

Even as Beijing pursues a more nationalist economic agenda and foreign investment in the country shrinks, state media outlets heralded the supply chain expo as a sign that China is further expanding its international influence. Without explicitly mentioning the US, state media outlet China Daily wrote in an editorial: At a time when the unilateralism and protectionism of some major economies are negatively impacting the international supply chain the event is expected to play a prominent role in boosting the openness and inclusiveness of the global economy. Peoples Daily, meanwhile, focused on the attendance of Apple CEO Tim Cook at the summit, and his praise for Chinese suppliers.
With expectations growing of an imminent ceasefire to stop the fighting in Lebanon, Israel has struck multiple targets in the Lebanese capital Beirut from the air, in particular targeting the city's southern suburbs.

More than a year after the start of the war between Israel and the Hezbollah militia, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said on Tuesday that a ceasefire deal was just awaiting a green light from Israel.

"In principle, [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu agreed and we are agreed as a government," Bou Habib told Italian television station Rai.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The final decision is for the Israeli Cabinet, the minister said.

According to media reports, Netanyahu is convening his security Cabinet later Tuesday to approve a 60-day ceasefire with Hezbollah.

Asked whether a ceasefire was 100% certain, Bou Habib said: 100% nobody can give you. You have to ask Mr Netanyahu for that.

Israel: 'Zerotolerance' of ceasefire violations

Israel will take tough action against Hezbollah even after a ceasefire in the event of violations, the country's defence minister said on Tuesday.

"It will no longer be as it was before," said Israel Katz, according to his office, at a meeting with UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We will act against any threat, anytime, anywhere," Katz said.

"Any house in southern Lebanon that is rebuilt and used as a terrorist base will be destroyed," Katz continued.

In addition, he said, action would be taken against any rearmament of Hezbollah and any attempted arms smuggling. "Any threat to our troops or Israeli citizens will be immediately destroyed."

He emphasized that the Israeli government would show "zero tolerance" towards any violations of a ceasefire. At the same time, he called on the UN peacekeeping force, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to effectively implement a ceasefire.

Beirut targeted by multiple airstrikes

Even as expectations rose for a ceasefire, the Israeli Air Force carried out massive strikes on Beirut's centre and the city's southern suburbs, a hotbed of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A building near the densely populated districts of Nuwairi and Ras al-Naba was bombed, according to witnesses and security sources.

At least seven people were killed and 37 people were injured, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

Samir, a resident of a building in the Ras Beirut district by the coast, told dpa: "I am trying to get my children out of the area ... enough is enough."

Later, dozens of simultaneous airstrikes hit the southern Dahiyeh suburbs. The sound of huge explosions echoed throughout the city and caused panic among residents.

Witnesses said thick clouds of smoke rose while parts of the suburbs were engulfed in a ring of fire.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Israels armed forces confirmed attacks on terror targets, without initially giving further details.

The army had issued evacuation warnings for at least 20 sites in Beirut's southern suburbs.

Israel also attacked Burj al-Barajneh, another area in the southern suburbs. Residents reported that large explosions rocked the city.

At least six buildings were destroyed in the attack, according to Lebanese security sources.

As night fell the Israeli army issued more evacuation warnings to areas inside Beirut and flares were seen over the city.

Israeli troops reach Litani River

Further south in Lebanon, Israeli ground troops reached the symbolic Litani River during their advance into the neighbouring country, the military said on Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Israeli army published a picture on the social media platform X that apparently showed soldiers crossing a bridge over the river.

Numerous weapons and enemy infrastructure have been found and destroyed in the area, the message said.

As part of a ceasefire deal expected soon, Israel wants the Lebanese Hezbollah militia to withdraw permanently behind the Litani River, 30 kilometres from the official border. This withdrawal was also specified in UN resolution 1701, which marked the end of the last Lebanon War in 2006.

The agreement provides, among other things, calls for the full implementation of the resolution and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon.
Many took to social media over the past few days to mourn Matt Verde, Oswego resident and restaurant owner, who died on Sunday after he was struck by a vehicle days earlier.

Verde owned Neat Kitchen + Bar, which has locations in both Oswego and Westmont. In a Facebook post, Westmont Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau Board Chair Becky Rheintgen said his death leaves behind a deep void in the hearts of his family, friends and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

Matt was more than a business owner  he was a core part of our business community, a passionate entrepreneur and a generous supporter of local initiatives, Rheintgen said in the post. Through Neat Kitchen + Bar, he brought people together, fostering a sense of community and creating a warm and welcoming space where countless memories were made.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the Oswego Police Department, Verde was attempting to walk across an access road in the shopping center at 2700 Route 34 on Nov. 21 at around 9:40 p.m. when he was hit by a car.

Preliminary investigations indicated that a 17-year-old girl was driving southbound on the access road between the Meijer parking lot and the stores in the 1400 block of Douglas Road when she struck Verde, who was crossing the access road westbound, police said.

According to the polices news release, a witness reported seeing a man wearing dark clothing heading diagonally through the parking lot shortly before the crash.

No charges have been filed, and the crash is still under investigation, officials said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The girl was not injured in the crash, but it left Verde with serious, life-threatening injuries, which he succumbed to on Sunday, police said.

A GoFundMe campaign was set up over the weekend to support Verde. Now, those proceeds are set to go to his family for upcoming arrangements and expenses, according to an update on the fundraisers webpage.

The campaign was set up by Carrie and Steve Fleck, owners of Dolce Restaurant and Wine Bar in Westmont, after the request of so many and with the approval from the family, the two wrote on the campaigns webpage.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the campaign had raised $73,664, surpassing its $50,000 goal with 665 donations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In an update to both the GoFundMe campaign webpage and the restaurants Facebook page, the Flecks said that they are devastated by this ending but know that Matts work is not done as he watches over all of us from heaven.

Other local restaurants also remembered Verde in their own Facebook posts. Hinsdale Wine Shop said on its page that Verde was more than just a local business owner, he was also a friend and a beacon of kindness in our community.

Matt was a kind, compassionate and genuine man who treated everyone with respect and warmth, Hinsdale Wine Shops post said.

Candace Buchanan, owner of Mrs. Ts Pizza, said on the restaurants Facebook page that she is heartbroken and speechless. Verde would always go out of his way to make her feel welcome after her business opened just over a year ago, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Matt was always thinking about what he could do to help the next person. I am deeply sorry for the loss of a good friend, Buchanan said in the Facebook post.

On the GoFundMe campaign page, the Flecks asked people to continue to support both Neat Kitchen + Bar locations so the family can continue to have income.

Both restaurants are set to stay open, Cindy Maquet of Neat Kitchen + Bar told The Beacon News in an email. That is what Verde would have wanted, so the Neat team, which is like a family, will continue his legacy and the success of both restaurants, she said.

Matt was truly an incredible person and his presence will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him, Maquet said.

rsmith@chicagotribune.com
A Bemidji man was convicted on Wednesday of sharing and receiving material depicting the sexual abuse of children on the dark web.

A federal jury convicted Craig Myran, 47, on two counts of advertising child pornography, one count of distributing child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography after a three-day trial.

According to court records, Myran actively participated on a "dark web" site dedicated to discussing and sharing child sexual abuse images and videos since at least 2022.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Myran used an account to make over a thousand posts on this site, including at least one in which he asked for specific files of sexual abuse material of children from other users, and another post in which he shared files of sexual abuse material to other users.

FBI agents executed a warrant to search Myrans apartment on Dec. 8, 2022. They found multiple hard drives and a cell phone, which contained evidence tying Myran to his unique account on the dark website.

Some of the material found include files of the child abuse material that he shared and requested, a message directed to his unique alias, and thousands of other sexually explicit images of children.

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.

Related: Prison for Twin Cities man who trafficked fentanyl in stuffed animals
VIENTIANE, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Senior journalists and media officials from member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathered in Lao capital Vientiane for the eighth ASEAN Media Forum (AMF), highlighting the pivotal role of media in advancing ASEAN's regional integration and discussing the future of connectivity.

The forum featured several panel discussions focusing on ASEAN connectivity and resilience in areas such as infrastructure, logistics, institutional capacity building, energy integration, and regional challenges.

Speaking at the meeting on Monday, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn emphasized the importance of accurate and timely information in fostering a deeper understanding of ASEAN's goals and achievements.

"As we advance our community-building process, it is crucial to foster a sense of belonging among our peoples. Clear communication about what regional integration means and what it doesn't is essential to accurately informing our stakeholders."

"This underscores the importance of collaboration between the ASEAN Secretariat and the media in raising awareness, promoting understanding, and addressing misconceptions about the ASEAN integration agenda," he said.

Also speaking at the meeting, Lao Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Phosy Keomanyvong said: "This event is a tribute to our shared vision for a more connected and resilient ASEAN, reflecting the theme of Laos' ASEAN chairmanship in 2024."

He emphasized that the forum is a vital component of the ASEAN Communication Master Plan 2018-2025, providing a platform for ASEAN spokespersons, particularly the ASEAN chair. 
(KRON)  Its Thanksgiving week, and, according to AAA, millions of Americans are expected to travel to see their loved ones  an estimated 79.9 million to be more specific. Thats a projected 1.7 million more people than the previous record set in 2023, a two percent increase.

This years Thanksgiving travel period stretches through a seven-day period from Tuesday, Nov. 26 to Monday, Dec. 2, AAA says. In previous years, the organization listed the Thanksgiving holiday travel period from Wednesday to Sunday.

The overwhelming majority of those travelers will be traveling by car. According to AAA, about 71.7 million drivers are set to hit the road between this Tuesday through Sunday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

AAA released its best and worst times to hit the road this Thanksgiving. It also released a list of the worst travel times for specific metros, including San Francisco.

CHP to start maximum enforcement period ahead of Thanksgiving holiday

AAA: Best and Worst Times to Drive

Date Worst Travel Time Best Travel Time Tuesday, 11/26 1 p.m.  7 p.m. Before 11 a.m. Wednesday, 11/27 1 p.m.  5 p.m. Before 10 a.m. Thursday, 11/28  Minimal Traffic Expected n/a Friday, 11/29 7 a.m.  10 a.m. After 1 p.m. Saturday, 11/30 4 p.m.  8 p.m. Before 1 p.m. Sunday, 12/1 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Before 1 p.m. Monday, 12/2 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Before 8 a.m./After 7 p.m.

Traffic on Interstate 80 over the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge in San Francisco on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. (Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The most congested highway route will be driving from San Francisco to Sacramento via I-80 eastbound on Tuesday, Nov 26 around 7:30 p.m., according to AAA. That drive is estimated to take three hours and two minutes, AAA says.

For those traveling from Los Angeles to head north to the Bay Area via I-5, the worst time to travel will be Wednesday night around 7:45 p.m. Los Angeles to Bakersfield is estimated to take three hours and 49 minutes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to AAA data partner, INRIX, the worst times to travel by car are on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. The best time to drive is on Thanksgiving Day when roads and highways are usually clear.

SFO named best airport in North America: magazine

AAAs Road Trip Tips

Get a full vehicle inspection before setting out on your trip.

Leave early and allow extra time to get to your destination, so you are not in a rush.

Identify alternate routes in case you encounter congestion or road closures.

Avoid distractions while driving. Program your GPS before your drive.

Ensure everyone in the vehicle wears their seatbelt.

Never drive impaired

With a record number of travelers expected to be on the road, drivers should follow traffic apps and local news alerts to avoid major delays, Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, said in a statement. This is especially important for drivers in metropolitan areas like Boston, New York, LA, Seattle, and Washington, DC, where traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
After pardoning turkeys at the White House on Monday morning, President Joe Biden joined first lady Jill Biden for a trip to New York to continue an early celebration of Thanksgiving.

The first couple delivered remarks and served food at a "Friendsgiving" event with service members and their families at the U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York in Staten Island as part of the first lady's Joining Forces initiative to support military families.

"We have one sacred obligation... to care for those we send into harm's way," the president said during brief remarks prior to dishing out food.

PHOTO: US-POLITICS-BIDEN (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

He then put on a dark blue apron featuring a presidential seal, snacking on some bread before slipping on some plastic sanitary gloves and dishing out vegetables.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

MORE: 'Your nation has your back,' Joe and Jill Biden tell those who were in Helene's deadly path

During his remarks, Biden expressed gratitude for the U.S. Coast Guard members who rushed to the front lines when back-to-back hurricanes impacted the southeast earlier this year.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden serves food at a 'Friendsgiving' dinner in honor of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday with service members and their families at the Coast Guard Sector New York in Staten Island, New York, Nov. 25, 2024. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

"Helene hit the coast shore you rushed to the front lines, the search and rescue missions, up and down the coast," he said of the deadly hurricane.

"When Hurricane Milton hit less than two weeks later, it stuck up again to help your fellow Americans," he added.

"Simply put, we owe you," the president said.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks during a 'Friendsgiving' dinner in honor of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday with service members and their families at the Coast Guard Sector New York in Staten Island, New York, Nov. 25, 2024. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: Biden pardons 'Peach' and 'Blossom' in White House Thanksgiving turkey tradition

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Earlier Monday, Biden pardoned two turkeys from Minnesota, named Peach and Blossom, during the annual White House ceremony.

He said the birds were named after the Delaware state flower: the Peach Blossom.

"This event marks the official start of the holiday season here in Washington," the president said to an estimated crowd of 2,500 gathered on the South Lawn. "It's also my last time to speak here as your president during this season and give thanks and gratitude. So let me say to you: It's been the honor of my life. I'm forever grateful."

Biden celebrates 'Friendsgiving' with service members in New York originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
US President Joe Biden has hailed the "courageous" ceasefire deal to end over a year of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, calling it a "new start" for Lebanon.

Biden, speaking at the White House, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had informed him that his country's security cabinet had approved the deal brokered by the US and France.

The ceasefire will go into effect on Wednesday at 4 am local time (0200 GMT), Biden said, heralding the development as "good news."

He said the 60-day deal, if fully implemented, is "designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities."
US President Joe Biden has announced that hostilities along the Israel-Lebanon border will cease on 27 November at 04:00 local time.

Source: Reuters, citing Biden's speech and his post on X

Details: The US President shared "good news" from the Middle East after talks with the prime ministers of Israel and Lebanon.

Biden stated that Israel would gradually withdraw its forces from Lebanese territory over a 60-day period. He emphasised that the US, alongside France and other nations, will "provide the necessary support" to implement the peace agreement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Quote: "This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities. What is left of Hezbollah and other terrorist organisations will not be allowed, I emphasise, will not be allowed to threaten the security of Israel again."

He also clarified that "there'll be no U.S. troops deployed in southern Lebanon. This is consistent with my commitment to the American people to not put U.S. troops in combat in this conflict."

Biden stated that the Lebanese people deserve safety and a future, just as the people of Gaza do.

Background:

The Israeli government approved a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outlined three reasons for pursuing the truce: addressing the threat from Iran, replenishing depleted weapon stockpiles, and allowing the military to recuperate.

Support UP or become our patron!
(Bloomberg) -- The Biden administration is offering a $4.9 billion conditional loan guarantee for a high-voltage transmission line project spanning Kansas to Missouri.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The funding being offered to Grain Belt Express LLC could be overturned by the incoming Trump administration if not finalized by the Jan. 20 inauguration. The 2,500-megawatt line, being developed by privately held Invenergy LLC, would connect multiple regional power networks and strengthen grid reliance, the Energy Department said on Monday.

Long-distance lines are needed to cart robust but remote solar and wind power to cities  and to help boost electric capacity at a time of mounting demand.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
A blame game between the Biden administration and GOP lawmakers is underway after a key disaster loan program saw its funds run out in the middle of a destructive hurricane season.

The Biden administration said the Small Business Administration (SBA) needs $2 billion in funding after its disaster loan account  which businesses and homeowners rely on for low-interest loans to recover from disasters  was exhausted in the aftermath of hurricanes Helene and Milton.

But Republicans are ramping up scrutiny on the agencys handling of the disaster dollars and pressing for more information around the circumstances surrounding the funding lapse.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The agencys refusal to be transparent made it as clear as mud when SBA was going to run out of money and how it spent the billions in existing disaster funding, Sen. Joni Ernst (Iowa), top Republican on the Senate Small Business Committee, said in a statement to The Hill on Monday.

Innocent disaster victims should not be left out in the cold because of a bureaucratic bungle.

The SBA has pushed back strongly on GOP criticism, saying its been highly vocal and transparent about its loan program funding levels, while noting Congresss inaction.

In a letter obtained by The Hill, the SBA told Ernst last week that the agency has been raising the need for additional funding with spending negotiators since last year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The agency pointed to previous work with the Office of Management and Budget to ask for supplemental funding, and said it began regularly briefing the Appropriations Committees in August 2024 about dwindling balances in SBAs disaster subsidy loan account.

As required by statute since 2008, SBA has provided detailed, monthly performance reports to Congress with the overall available subsidy balances, along with data on loan applications, disbursements, activity, disaster declarations, and related activity, the office said.

Multiple members of your Committee staff have received these reports. SBA is also publishing these monthly disaster lending reports online, it continued. Despite Congress inaction, SBA disaster assistance staff are funded and continue to support survivors and process applications.

It also pointed to the lack of emergency spending in the stopgap government funding bill Congress passed in September to stave off a shutdown before leaving town for recess in October as the 2024 campaign season kicked into overdrive.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The letter comes weeks after Ernst and other Republicans on the Small Business Committee sent their own to SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, pressing for reporting regarding the disaster loan programs spend rate, staffing levels for disasters, documentation and communication related to funding requests and other information.

At the time, the group of GOP lawmakers  which also included Sens. Tim Scott (S.C.), Todd Young (Ind.) and James Risch (Idaho)  also raised concern over what they described as a failure by the office to provide its authorizing committees statutorily required information.

We must consider whether SBAs internal decisions were the catalyst for this unfortunate situation, they wrote then, while also accusing the agency of failing to comply, or partially complying, with reporting requirements to ensure Congress is provided with sufficient notification and information before any shortfall occurs in its disaster account.

Scott and Ernst have also since introduced bipartisan legislation along with Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) that includes emergency funding for the SBA and measures requiring a review of the causes leading up to the shortfall and the identification of administrative actions that can be taken to prevent any future funding shortfall.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The push marks only one of the latest instances this year that an agency has faced heat from lawmakers over a request for emergency funds.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) warned earlier this year that benefits payments for veterans were at risk of being disrupted in October absent congressional action due to a roughly $3 billion budget shortfall.

Lawmakers averted the threat of a benefits cliff after passing bipartisan legislation to plug the shortfall  but not without measures requiring the VA secretary to submit reporting to lawmakers detailing ways to improve forecasting and budget assumptions.

Members from both sides of the aisle representing states hard hit by the storms are dialing up the pressure for disaster aid. But some GOP negotiators have signaled potential hurdles over requests for funds for programs like the Education Department and the Environmental Protection Agency tucked in the Biden administrations broader $100 billion ask for disaster funds.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It needs to be a very robust package. We understand that. We agree with that, House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) told reporters last week.

Where we have some disagreement at this point is some of the programmatic  adds the administration wants and theres some things we think they left out that they ought to consider, he said.

Meanwhile, Tillis said at a hearing held by the Senate Appropriations Committee last week that he fully backs the administrations request for $100 billion. But he also added thats only the beginning.

Weve got to react differently to storms. This may be the first, but it wont be the last like weve seen in North Carolina, and we owe it to the American people to be ready to do better, Tillis said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

President Biden said SBAs disaster loan program tapped out of funds in mid-October. The agency said that without additional funding from Congress it is unable to make new loans, but officials say it has continued to process loan applications.

Pressed for comment on Monday following the recent GOP criticism, SBA cited Guzmans testimony before Senate appropriators last week about what the agency described as a growing backlog of more than $1 billion in loan offers to survivors of Hurricanes Helene, Milton, and other disasters that the Agency is ready to disburse as soon as Congress provides additional funding.

The SBA knows disaster survivors urgently need these funds and stands ready to deliver them as soon as Congress acts.

Guzman told Senate appropriators that the SBA in fiscal 2024 approved over 27,000 disaster loans totaling $1.7 billion and 160 disaster declarations across the nation and territories.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

SBA is currently supporting more than 400 total disaster declarations across the nation and managing a portfolio of 2.5 million loans valued at $285 billion, she said at the hearing, also noting there are more than 12,500 disaster victims who are already in the queue.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A row is brewing between the White House and Robert F Kennedy Jr after the Biden administration proposed making millions of Americans eligible for government-funded weight-loss drugs.

The move from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would allow Medicaid and Medicare to cover access to drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy or Zepbound, and could cost taxpayers up to $35 billion over the next decade.

The proposed rule would not come into effect until days after Mr Trumps inauguration, meaning the president-elects administration could thwart it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Among those likely to object to the plans is Mr Kennedy, Mr Trumps controversial nomination for HHS secretary, who has been a staunch critic of the weight-loss drugs.

Mr Kennedy has continually railed against the medication and has said it should not be covered by government-funded programs.

For half the price of Ozempic, we could purchase regeneratively raised, organic food for every American, three meals a day and a gym membership, for every obese American, Mr Kennedy said earlier this year.

Under current rules hundreds of thousands of people can access the drugs through Medicare or Medicaid if they are given it to treat other health conditions such as diabetes or heart disease.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Medicare has been barred from offering the drugs under a decades-old law that prohibits the government-backed insurance program from covering weight-loss products.

The rule proposed by the Biden administration, however, would recognise obesity as a disease that can be treated and those with a BMI of 30 or above would qualify for coverage.

Its a good day for anyone who suffers from obesity, Xavier Becerra, the current HHS secretary, said, adding: Its a game changer for Americans who cant afford these drugs otherwise.

Mr Becerra estimated the change would see an extra 7.5 million people qualify for the drugs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But research suggests the numbers could be much higher.

Weight-loss drug market has exploded

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimate roughly 28 million people on Medicaid are considered obese.

Medicare spent around $4.6 billion covering Ozempic for around 780,000 beneficiaries in 2022, according to federal data.

The weight-loss drug market has exploded following the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) approval of weekly injectables such as Novo Nordisks Wegovy and Ozempic and Eli Lillys Zepbound to treat obesity.

People can lose as much as 15 per cent to 25 per cent of their body weight on the drugs, which imitate the hormones that regulate appetites by communicating fullness between the gut and brain when people eat.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The cost of the drugs, which can cost more than $1,000 a month means the drug has predominantly been accessed by the wealthy.

Obesity recognised as chronic disease

Biden administration officials told the Washington Post they now recognised obesity is a chronic disease based on changes in medical consensus.

Mr Becerra implored Mr Kennedy to look at the science showing the benefit of weight-loss drugs.

We really need to use every tool weve got in the toolbox  to try to keep America healthy, Mr Becerra told the US newspaper. We should let science drive us to where well go.

The move comes after a bipartisan coalition of congressional members lobbied for access to the drug on Medicare, arguing that it could save billions in the long run from treating chronic diseases associated with obesity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr Kennedy has previously said he would oppose the proposed congressional bill.

Healthy eating and exercise

The former presidential candidate, who adopted the tag line Make America Healthy Again after he dropped out of the race to endorse Mr Trump, has proposed focusing on healthy eating and exercise to tackle the countrys obesity epidemic.

If we just gave good food, three meals a day, to every man, woman and child in our country, we could solve the obesity and diabetes epidemic overnight, Mr Kennedy said on Fox News before the election.

He added that Novo Nordisk, the drugs maker, is counting on selling it to Americans because we are so stupid and so addicted to drugs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Speaking in Philadelphia in September, Mr Kennedy said: If a doctors patient has diabetes or obesity, the doctor ought to be able to say, Im going to recommend gym membership, and Im going to recommend good food, and Medicaid ought to be able to finance those things the same as they would Ozempic.

And in a post responding to a New York Times op-ed on Ozempic on X, formerly Twitter, in September, Mr Kennedy said weight-shaming is cruel and that obesity is not a failure of character.

He said the solution should be to address the problem at its root rather than focusing on a drug that may palliate the symptom  and gladden the wallets of distant Big Pharma execs.

He added: When Im working in the next administration, I will address our sick food system  and the corrupt government agencies  to help make our country healthy again.

Trump views on drug not clear

While Mr Kennedy is against the drug, Mr Trumps views on it are less clear. Some people have suggested Mr Trumps apparent weight loss has been aided by the use of weight-loss drugs, although there is no evidence to suggest this.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr Kennedys nomination to lead the HHS in the Trump administration requires senate confirmation. He may have difficulty drumming up enough support in light of some of his controversial views against vaccines and his suggestion fluoride is lowering childrens IQ.

While Mr Kennedy has been a staunch critic of the drug, Dr Mehmet Oz, Mr Trumps pick to lead The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, previously endorsed weight-loss drugs.

[F]or those who want to lose a few pounds, Ozempic and other semaglutide medications can be a big help, he wrote on Instagram last year.

He added: We need to make it as easy as possible for people to meet their health goals, period.

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.
Millions of Americans with obesity would be eligible to have popular weight-loss drugs like Wegovy or Zepbound covered by Medicare or Medicaid under a new rule the Biden administration proposed Tuesday morning.

The costly proposal from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services immediately sets the stage for a showdown between the powerful pharmaceutical industry and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an outspoken opponent of the weight-loss drugs who, as President-elect Donald Trumps nominee to lead the agency, could block the measure.

While the rule would give millions of people access to weekly injectables that have helped people shed pounds so quickly that some have labeled them miracle drugs, it would cost taxpayers as much as $35 billion over the next decade.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its a good day for anyone who suffers from obesity, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra told The Associated Press in an interview. Its a game changer for Americans who cant afford these drugs otherwise.

The rule would not be finalized until January, days after Trump takes office. A bipartisan coalition of congressional members has lobbied for the drugs to be covered by Medicare, saying it could save the government from spending billions of dollars on treating chronic ailments that stem from obesity. While its unclear where Trump himself stands on coverage of the weight-loss drugs, his allies and Cabinet picks who have vowed to cut government spending could balk at the upfront price tag.

Under the proposal, only those who are considered obese  someone who has a body mass index of 30 or higher  would qualify for coverage. Some people may already get coverage of the drugs through Medicare or Medicaid, if they have diabetes or are at risk for stroke or heart disease.

Becerra estimated that an additional 3.5 million people on Medicare and 4 million on Medicaid could qualify for coverage of the drugs. But research suggests far more people might qualify, with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimating roughly 28 million people on Medicaid are considered obese.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Medicare has been barred from offering the drugs under a decades-old law that prohibits the government-backed insurance program from covering weight-loss products. The rule proposed by the Biden administration, however, would recognize obesity as a disease that can be treated with the help of the drugs.

The anti-obesity drug market has expanded significantly in recent years, with the Food and Drug Administration approving a new class of weekly injectables like Novo Nordisks Wegovy and Eli Lillys Zepbound to treat obesity.

People can lose as much as 15% to 25% of their body weight on the drugs, which imitate the hormones that regulate appetites by communicating fullness between the gut and brain when people eat.

The cost of the drugs has largely limited them to the wealthy, including celebrities who boast of their benefits. A monthly supply of Wegovy rings up at $1,300 and Zepbound will put you out $1,000. Shortages of the drugs have also limited the supplies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kennedy, who as Trumps nominee for HHS secretary is subject to Senate confirmation, has railed against the drugs popularity. In speeches and on social media, hes said the U.S. should not cover the drugs through Medicaid or Medicare. Instead, he supports a broad expansion of coverage for healthier foods and gym memberships.

For half the price of Ozempic, we could purchase regeneratively raised, organic food for every American, three meals a day and a gym membership, for every obese American, Kennedy said to a group of federal lawmakers during a roundtable earlier this year. Ozempic is a diabetes drug that can stimulate weight loss.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  Some of New York Citys Business Improvement Districts say they are an unintended causality of the War on Rats. The BIDS helps maintain many of the garbage cans you see on city street corners.

Laura Rothrock, the President of the Long Island City Business Improvement District, tells PIX11 News If the trash cans are overflowing, we will tie up the bag and leave it next to the can for Sanitation to pick up. What Sanitation is telling us now; is we will be fined for any bags of public trash that are left next to the public container.

More Local News

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rothrock also says the BIDS dont have the money to buy new, larger containers to hold the garbage when its full. She said, Our budgets are capped by legislation, so we cant even increase our total budgets if we wanted to.

Albert Dalipi, a Deputy Director of the Fordham Road Business Improvement District, tells PIX11 News Were not necessarily opposed to containerization if we had funding for it, the problem is we dont have funding for it.

Joshua Goodman, a Deputy Commissioner with the Department of Sanitation tells PIX11 News No one is saying the BIDS will be fined for random bags of trash placed next to the public cans. Goodman said If BID leaves a bag on the corner, and we observe it, there could be a fine. If we dont observe it, there will be no fine.

Nearly half a million New Yorkers bought the official NYC trash bins

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Goodman said that no new rule has officially been proposed, but that there are discussions with the BIDS about how to roll out this next phase of the containerization plan. A draft proposal is expected by the end of the year, with fines for violations not starting before August 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 PIX11.
BAGHDAD, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani and visiting Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak discussed here on Tuesday ways to develop and strengthen bilateral ties in various fields, particularly in energy, artificial intelligence applications, and digital cooperation.

A statement by his media office said that al-Sudani, who received Novak and his accompanying delegation in Baghdad, expressed Iraq's desire to establish mechanisms for advancing relations with Russia in a manner that ensures mutual benefits and serves the shared interests of both countries.

For his part, Novak reaffirmed Russia's commitment to cooperating with Iraq, highlighting the progress achieved following al-Sudani's visit to Moscow in October 2023 and the agreements reached to serve the interests of both nations, said the statement. 
Happy Tuesday and welcome to another edition of Rent Free. This week's newsletter covers:

The official launch of Congress' new YIMBY Caucus.

President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

A new report on Los Angeles' slow-as-molasses disbursement of homelessness dollars.

But first! We take a look at the final version of New York City's major zoning overhaul.

A Watered Down 'City of Yes' Nears Passage

It's been a long journey for New York's City of Yes for Housing OpportunityMayor Eric Adams' plan to allow "a little more housing in every neighborhood."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Adams first announced this suite of reforms to pare back minimum parking requirements and allow more housing near transit stops, in commercial zones, and in low-density areas all the way back in June 2022.

"We are going to turn New York into a city of yes. Yes in my backyard. Yes on my block. Yes in my borough," he said at the time. New York's YIMBY ("yes in my backyard") activists heralded the plan as a vibe shiftthe city was at last getting in on the movement to allow more housing in more places.

The intervening two and a half years saw city planning staff draft a detailed version of these rules, the city's community boards and borough presidents demand changes, and the City Planning Commission and City Council insert amendments that all had the effect of watering the proposal down.

On Thursday, the City Council's zoning committee made what is expected to be a final set of changes to the 1,400-page zoning overhaul. The plan now goes back to the City Planning Commission for one final look before the whole City Council votes on it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The ultimate version of the City of Yes is less ambitious than what Adams proposed and enables less housing than what many housing policy wonks say the city needs. Still, progress is progress.

More Parking, Bigger Units, Less Housing

The biggest changes made by the City Council on Thursday all have to do with parking.

The original version of Adams' City of Yes plan called for the total elimination of parking minimumsrules that require developers to include a set number of off-street parking spaces for every new home they build.

Critics of parking minimums argue that the policy drives up developers' costs, leads to an overproduction of parking compared to what the market would provide, and makes smaller-lot multifamily development infeasible. Dozens of cities and a handful of states have pared back or abolished these rules and witnessed more housing construction as a result.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But following the lead of urban Minneapolis was a bridge too far for New York City council members. Their Thursday parking amendments to the City of Yes divide the city into three zones.

In zone one, covering most of Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn and Queens, parking minimums are eliminated. In zone two, parking minimums are eliminated for smaller projects near transit stops and reduced for other types of housing. In zone three, existing parking minimums are left mostly untouched.

Eric Kober, a former New York city planner and a scholar with the Manhattan Institute, says that developers will respond to the new rules by proposing smaller projects that avoid the remaining parking minimums.

More housing will get built as a result, but "you're promoting inefficiency because each building has to have its own heating system, its own elevator, and so on," he says. Incentivizing developers to pursue smaller projects will also make some mixed-use retail-residential projects more difficult, he says.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The hodgepodge of other amendments made by the City Council on Thursday all have the effect of allowing less housing than the original City of Yes plan.

The City Council reduced the number of areas where newly legal accessory dwelling units (ADUs) will be allowed and will require that anyone building an ADU must live on the property.

Changes that would have allowed developers to build smaller studio units have been pared back. The lowest-density areas are exempted from new rules that would allow small apartments on commercially zoned streets.

(See here for a summary of the City Council's changes.)

A Little More Housing in Some Neighborhoods

The city estimated that Adams' original City of Yes plan would enable an additional 109,000 housing units to be built. The City Council's amendments whittle this down to 80,000 unitsand that's a very rough estimate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The City of Yes will not transform New York from a high-regulation, high-cost jurisdiction into a fast-building boom town. But the reforms are a positive, worthwhile improvement, says Alex Armlovich, a New York-based housing policy researcher at the Niskanen Center.

"As a first step, it's big enough to still be a very real first step," he says.

It's notable that the City Council passed Adams' City of Yes after the mayor was indicted on federal corruption charges. The mayoral candidates running to replace Adams have all endorsed the City of Yes as well.

That suggests the political winds in New York are shifting in a more pro-development direction.

Congress Gets a YIMBY Caucus

At a Thursday Capitol Hill press conference, assembled Congress members and advocates officially announced the formation of a bipartisan YIMBY conference that will work to advance housing supply legislation in the incoming Congress.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Where Republicans and Democrats agree on this issue is we understand that building housing is critically important, that there's a housing crisis in many of our states, and this is also a jobs issue, and oftentimes that housing is overregulated," said Rep. Robert Garcia (DCalif.) at the press conference.

President-elect Donald Trump's campaign trail proposal for increasing housing supply was to open up federal lands in Western states for residential development.

Asked by this reporter whether that was something the YIMBY Caucus could work with Trump on, Garcia said yes.

"There's a lot of opportunity to build housing on federal land. We've overregulated where we should and can build," he said, adding that state bodies like the California Coastal Commission are also a big part of the problem.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Regarding what kind of legislation would fare best in a Republican Congress, Garcia suggested potential additional tax credit for developers, particularly tax credits for commercial-to-residential projects. The tax bill Congress will take up next year could be a vehicle for moving some of those policies, said Garcia.

He also expressed support for the idea of including incentives for land use deregulation in existing federal grants.

A New HUD Secretary at Last

Trump announced that he'll nominate former Texas state Rep. Scott Turner to helm HUD.

Turner held a housing position in the first Trump White House, where he worked to promote investment in tax-advantaged "Opportunity Zones." In 2023, he was hired as the chief visionary officer for multifamily development firm JPI.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That would seem to make him a pretty conventional and qualified HUD secretary. Housing industry professionals and associations have been quick to praise Turner's selection.

The Opportunity Zones program that Turner promoted to investors was not without controversy. Created in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the program allowed investors to defer or write off federal taxes on investments in low-income census tracts designated by a state's governor as Opportunity Zones.

A 2019 ProPublica investigation found that some high-income areas were being designated as Opportunity Zones. An analysis by the Niskanen Center found a similar pattern. A 2021 Government Accountability Office report said the IRS lacked the necessary data to properly oversee the program and evaluate its performance.

L.A. Is Sitting on Millions of Unspent Homelessness Dollars

A new analysis from Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia found that around half of the city's $1.3 billion annual homeless budget went unspent this fiscal year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Homelessness is still at a historic high," Mejia said in a press release. "The City had a record high homelessness budget at its fingertips but failed to spend over half a billion dollars of it."

Mejia's report blamed the city's cumbersome and outdated processes at city hall, plus "siloed efforts" and a lack of staff for the failure to spend all its allotted homeless dollars.

"While the Controller is saying there's too much money being spent one day, and not enough being spent the next, Mayor [Karen] Bass has been executing a prudent and comprehensive strategy that brought down homelessness overall for the first time in years," said a city hall spokesperson to the Los Angeles Times in response.

Spending quickly and efficiently is apparently too much to ask of city hall.

Quick Hits

Providence, Rhode Island, has enacted a new comprehensive land use plan that calls for more types of housing and more affordable housing, but also more regulation of the aesthetics of what new housing can look like.

A property owner in Hermosa Beach, California, is asking officials in the coastal community to waive code requirements that his single-story commercial building include an elevator to allow access from the handicapped parking space in the elevated parking lot in the rear of the building. The city already waived requirements that the building come with rooftop solar panels. The owner says that the building is already handicap accessible and that the elevator would make it harder to rent out the currently vacant building.

A lesson on supply and demand: New York City cracked down on Airbnb and new hotel construction. Now hotel prices are at record highs.

NIMBY ("not in my backyard") stronghold Berkeley, California, elects a pro-housing mayor.

Developers pivot to building hotels and smaller condo buildings to avoid Portland, Maine's affordable housing mandates.

The post Big City, Little Reforms appeared first on Reason.com.
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO)  Many of the desks will bear different names in the Senate and House when South Dakotas 2025 legislative session opens on January 14, and now we know there will be a lot of new faces in key roles chairing House and Senate committees.

House Speaker-elect Jon Hansen and Senate president pro tem-elect Chris Karr released their committee assignment lists on Monday. The House will have new chairs on 13 of its 14 standing committees, while the 14 standing Senate committees will have 12 new chairs.

State auditor cracks down on agencies spending

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Heres a look at what can best be described as a big shake-up:

House Agriculture and Natural Resources  Marty Overweg replaces Roger Chase, who was term-limited after eight years in the House and didnt seek election to the Senate.

House Appropriations  Mike Derby returns as chair.

House Commerce and Energy  Karla Lems replaces Mike Weisgram, who was re-elected without opposition. This will be the first time Lems is on the committee. She spent her first term on the Local Government and Agriculture and Natural Resources committees.

House Education  Lana Greenfield returns to chair a committee she last ran a term ago, replacing Mike Stevens. Greenfield was term-limited in 2022 after eight consecutive years in the House. After sitting out a term, she was re-elected this year to her old seat. Stevens, who had been speaker pro tem during the current term, was re-elected but lost his run for speaker.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

House Government Operations and Audit  Marty Overweg replaces Ernie Otten, who won election to the Senate.

House Health and Human Services  Brian Mulder replaces Kevin Jensen, who was term-limited after eight consecutive years in the house and won election to the Senate.

House Judiciary  Mike Stevens moves up from vice chair, replacing Jon Hansen, the new speaker.

House Legislative Procedure  Jon Hansen replaces Hugh Bartels, whos been House speaker during the 2023-24 term. Bartels didnt seek election to the Senate after serving eight consecutive years in the House.

House Local Government  Greg Jamison replaces Becky Drury, who lost in a Republican primary.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

House Military and Veterans Affairs  Tim Goodwin replaces Tim Reisch. Goodwin, who was in the House at the time, challenged and lost to Julie Frye-Mueller in the 2022 Senate Republican primary. He won election to his old House seat this year. Both are retired military. Reisch, a past South Dakota National Guard adjutant general, will remain on the committee as vice chair.

House Retirement Laws  Mike Weisgram moves up, succeeding Hugh Bartels, who was term-limited and didnt run for the Senate.

House State Affairs  Scott Odenbach replaces Will Mortenson after defeating him for House Republican leader. This will be Odenbachs first time on the committee.

House Taxation  Aaron Aylward moves up, succeeding Kirk Chaffee, who lost in a Republican Senate primary.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

House Transportation  Tony Randolph moves up, succeeding Rocky Blare, who didnt seek re-election.

Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources  Tom Pischke succeeds Herman Otten, who won election to his old House seat. It will be Pischkes first time on the committee.

Senate Appropriations  Ernie Otten, who moved from the House, replaces Jean Hunhoff, who lost in a Republican Senate primary.

Senate Commerce and Energy  Casey Crabtree returns to chair the same committee he chaired in 2021-2022. He replaces David Wheeler.

Senate Education  Kyle Schoenfish returns.

Senate Government Operations and Audit  Taffy Howard replaces Dean Wink, who didnt seek re-election. Howard last served in the House in 2022, when she ran for U.S. House and lost to Dusty Johnson in the Republican primary.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senate Health and Human Services  Kevin Jensen, who was term-limited in the House, won election to the Senate and will reprise the chair role he held with House Health and Human Services. He replaces Erin Tobin, who lost in a Republican Senate primary.

Senate Judiciary  David Wheeler, a lawyer, moves up and replaces Helene Duhamel, who is not a lawyer. Duhamel remains on the committee.

Senate Legislative Procedure  Chris Karr, who was term-limited after eight consecutive years in the House and won election to the Senate, succeeds Lee Schoenbeck, who didnt seek re-election.

Senate Local Government  Tim Reed returns.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senate Military and Veterans Affairs  Larry Zikmund moves up, replacing David Johnson, who lost in a Republican Senate primary.

Senate Retirement Laws  Randy Deibert moves up, succeeding Jim Bolin, who was term-limited in the Senate and didnt seek election to the House.

Senate State Affairs  Jim Mehlhaff replaces Casey Crabtree after defeating him for Senate Republican leader. This will be Mehlhaffs first time on the committee.

Senate Taxation  Steve Kolbeck succeeds Jim Stalzer, who was term-limited after eight consecutive years in the Senate and didnt run for the House. This will be Kolbecks first time on the committee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senate Transportation  Randy Deibert moves up, succeeding Joshua Klumb, who was term-limited after eight consecutive years in the Senate and didnt seek election to the House.

For the full list of House committee appointments, look here. For the full list of Senate committee appointments, look here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
Tobacco and nicotine products would eventually become banned in Massachusetts, under a regulatory trajectory that a trio of lawmakers hope will become law next session.

Sen. Jason Lewis and Reps. Tommy Vitolo and Kate Lipper-Garabedian announced Monday they plan to file legislation in January that would permanently block Bay Staters who are not yet old enough to buy tobacco and nicotine products from ever doing so legally here in the future.

Their plan, embraced by public health advocates that have pursued similar initiatives at the local levels, marks a dramatic escalation of the Legislatures 2019 ban on the sale of all flavored tobacco products, which was partially aimed at curbing youth uptake of the substances. At a press conference, the lawmakers acknowledged they expect to encounter opposition from the tobacco industry, and touted local and state polices that have made inroads at combatting tobacco and nicotine addiction.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Nicotine-Free Generation (NFG) bill aims to prevent future generations from becoming addicted to the substances, while allowing anyone who is already 21 or older at the time of the laws passage to continue purchasing nicotine and tobacco products, which lead to heightened risk of lung cancer, heart disease, stroke and other illnesses. The proposal, should it win approval, would gradually eliminate all sales of nicotine and tobacco products, the lawmakers said.

People must be 21 and older to buy nicotine and tobacco products in Massachusetts.

Citizens for Adult Choice, which has condemned NFG initiatives across Massachusetts cities and towns, described the overarching policy as the next step in an authoritarian movement that seeks to dictate many life choices of adults. The groups website, paid for by the New England Convenience Store & Energy Marketers Association, claims the policy creates a slippery slope that could pave the way for public health bans on alcohol, marijuana, sugary beverages, fast food and placing a wager.

The bill would replace the existing age-based eligibility system by instituting a birth cutoff date for which Massachusetts residents could still lawfully buy nicotine and tobacco products. A spokesman for Lewis could not say what that cutoff date would be.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Vitolo said nicotine products are so addictive that it would be unfair to take them away from long-time users.

And, because they are so addictive, it would be unfair to allow those currently too young to lawfully purchase these products to ever do so, Vitolo said. This legislation treats everyone fairly. Those who are not old enough now to obtain nicotine products will never be old enough to buy them in Massachusetts. Those who are old enough today will always be old enough.

Vitolo represents Brookline, which in 2021 became the first municipality in the country to ban the sale of nicotine products to individuals born after Jan. 1, 2000.

The Supreme Judicial Court upheld Brooklines ordinance despite pushback from some retailers, including convenience store owners. Similar policies have since been adopted in Concord, Malden, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield and Winchester, according to the lawmakers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Vitolo and Lipper-Garabedian say they expect to encounter legal challenges should their bill become law.

Presumably, there a lot of special interests and profit motivations that may lead to judicial action, Lipper-Garabedian said. And at the same time, the SJC decision gives us a lot of confidence that this can be upheld.

Lewis called the bill the next step in a decades-long effort to reduce the harm caused by the addictive products. Massachusetts would be the first state in the country to enact such a restriction on tobacco and nicotine products, Lewis said.

By gradually, effectively raising the age, it will make it more difficult for teenagers to get access to tobacco products. Now I acknowledge its not going to make it impossible -- they will still find ways, but it will make it more difficult, Lewis said. These products will be less available and accessible to teenagers, and so I believe that that will lead to a reduction in the usage of these products by young people, and eventually by people of all ages.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meher Shahrawat, a Winchester High School senior who works with the Mystic Valley Public Health Coalition, said NFG represents an end, as said policies such as flavor bans are not working to prevent high school students from using the products. The solution, she said, is eliminating nicotine completely for future generations.

I think that NFG is efficient in the sense that it truly does call for a nicotine-free next generation, but it does so gradually, so that it is not an immediate detriment economically, Shahrawat said.

The reality is that this policy is not a detriment to store owners and distributors at the current moment because this policy is strategic, she added. Its based on birth year, and itll take some time for convenience stores to lose their tobacco and nicotine sales. This allows them to adapt and to stay in business.

The New England Convenience Store & Energy Marketers Association has repeatedly rebuked other local nicotine-free generation measures, calling them a discriminatory ban for adults who would not be old enough to buy the products. The association says restricting the choices of legal products to some adults is fundamentally wrong, warns the ban creates and supports a dangerous illicit market, and fails to address under-age youth use and nicotine products.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Worcester earlier this year rejected a measure to phase out the sale of cigarettes and other nicotine products in the city, the Telegram & Gazette reported. The newspaper also published a column from Peter Brennan, executive director of the association, praising Worcesters action to protect the rights of customers and small businesses.

Worcester was correct to reject this governmental overreach, especially as access to gambling, combustible cannabis and alcohol is being expanded daily, Brennan wrote. All these products  including nicotine and tobacco  are legal and belong where they currently are today: in licensed, regulated environments that only sell age-restricted products to adults. To single out tobacco and nicotine while removing barriers to access for these other harmful products is governmental hypocrisy at its worst.

After Massachusetts restricted the sale of flavored tobacco products in 2019, New York and New Jersey a year later banned the sale of flavored e-cigarettes, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. California later banned the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and menthol cigarettes, a measure that was challenged by a tobacco industry coalition but upheld by voters, according to Reuters.

Vitolo noted the Massachusetts flavor ban was filed and passed in the same session.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were hoping for a similar speediness by the Legislature, Vitolo said. Were prepared to have 200 conversations, one with each member of the House and Senate, and work with our colleagues one at a time until we get there.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month said that tobacco product use among middle and high schoolers reached its lowest point in 25 years. Some 2.25 million middle and high school students reported using a tobacco product in 2024, compared to 2.8 million in 2023. Health officials attributed the decline to a major drop in e-cigarette use.

Beyond state and local laws, companies have taken major steps to tackle tobacco addiction.

Stop & Shop, the commonwealths largest grocery store chain, stopped selling tobacco products over the summer as the company voiced its commitment to improving community health outcomes. CVS stopped selling cigarettes in 2014, becoming the first nationwide pharmacy to ban the products from its stores.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Senate Bill 382, promising hurricane relief and changes to power held by state officials, has been vetoed by Gov. Cooper.

This legislation is a sham. It does not send money to Western North Carolina but merely shuffles money from one fund to another in Raleigh, Gov. Cooper said in a statement on Tuesday.

SB 382 provides hundreds of millions of dollars in relief money for areas impacted by Hurricane Helene, but it also changes powers reserved for the governor and attorney general. It passed the House on Tuesday, Nov. 19, and the Senate on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This legislation was titled disaster relief but instead violates the constitution by taking appointments away from the next Governor for the Board of Elections, Utilities Commission and Commander of the NC Highway Patrol, letting political parties choose appellate judges and interfering with the Attorney Generals ability to advocate for lower electric bills for consumers. Instead of giving small business grants to disaster counties, it strikes a cruel blow by blocking the extension of better unemployment benefits for people who have lost jobs because of natural disasters. Finally, it plays politics by taking away two judges elected by the people and adding two judges appointed by the legislature, taking away authority from the Lieutenant Governor and the Superintendent of Public Instruction and more, Gov. Cooper said.

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. Legislators are expected to be back in Raleigh in the beginning of December.

The full text of the bill can be read here:

S382v3Download

This is a Developing Story . Check back for updates

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Poultry in a backyard flock in Maricopa County tested positive for bird flu on Nov. 21, according to a joint news release from the Arizona Department of Agriculture and the Arizona Department of Health Services.

The owner reported signs of illness in their flock to the Sick Bird Hotline in order to mitigate the risk of spread. Samples sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory for testing were confirmed positive shortly after that.

This is the second reported bird flu outbreak in Arizona within the last couple of weeks, with the other coming from a commercial farm in Pinal County on Nov. 11.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There have been no other confirmed cases of bird flu in the state.

The affected location has been placed under quarantine, and efforts have been made to eliminate the virus and implement sanitation efforts, the news release confirmed. The situation is being monitored by an experienced team, the news release said.

In a Nov. 22 letter, Rep. Ruben Gallego urged U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to take immediate action to address the ongoing spread of bird influenza in the wake of multiple grocers' reports that predict a shortage of eggs going into the holiday season.

"As the virus continues to spread, supply shocks threaten to increase the price of eggs going into the holiday season  an added cost Arizonans cannot afford," Gallego said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Maricopa County Supervisor Clint Hickman, vice president of marketing and sales for Hickman's Family Farms, told The Arizona Republic that he did not know about the outbreak in Maricopa County.

"Thankfully, our farms in Maricopa County have not been infected with avian influenza," Hickman said.

Hickman's Family Farms is Arizona's largest egg producer.

"Without immediate emergency approval of bovine and avian vaccines and mandated use, we are going to continue to play whack-a-mole with the continued devastating results to supply and prices," Hickman said in the letter that Gallego addressed to Vilsack.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk to the general public is low. Those most at risk of exposure are people directly involved with the daily care and husbandry of the birds.

"ADHS is collaborating with AZDA and local health departments in the response to avian influenza and will continue to monitor influenza activity in Arizona in collaboration with local health departments," said ADHS Assistant Director of Preparedness Nicole Witt. "While the risk to the general public remains low, workers and individuals that may be at risk for exposure to avian influenza should follow public health guidance."

To prevent an outbreak, the letter that Gallego sent included a list of questions for the poultry market to consider.

"It is truly in our best interests to work together on a bipartisan basis to prevent further avian influenza spread," Gallego said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Information regarding protective actions for workers and the monitoring of bird flu can be found on the CDCs website.

Sick Bird Hotline: If you see signs of illness in your poultry, report them immediately to the USDA at1-866-536-7593. You can also contact your local cooperative extension office, local veterinarian, or the state veterinarian. For wild bird illness, contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

(This story has been updated to add new information and photos.)

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Maricopa County backyard flock tests positive for bird flu
Over the weekend, California state health officials warned the public to avoid drinking raw milk from a Fresno-based dairy farm that was being sold in stores. H5N1, the virus driving the current bird flu outbreak, was detected in a retail milk sample.

No illnesses associated with this lot of raw milk have been reported, the state department of public health said in a statement. Out of an abundance of caution, and due to the ongoing spread of bird flu in dairy cows, poultry and sporadic human cases, consumers should not consume any of the affected raw milk.

As part of the states bird flu response, public health officials have been testing retail raw milk to help prevent consumers from getting the virus. Drinking raw milk, or having it splash in a persons eyes, nose or mouth, can be one way that a person can get infected. Stores are being encouraged to toss Raw Farm products with lot ID #20241109. The company issued a voluntary recall. Though it is currently unknown if someone can contract bird flu from drinking raw milk, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 4.4% of U.S. adults consume unpasteurized milk at least once a year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since April, public health departments have found bird flu infections in 55 people, with all but two linked to poultry or cattle exposure. More than half of those have been in California and many of those in recent weeks. This month, the state of California also detected a bird flu infection in a child in the Bay Area whom did not have contact with farm animals, leaving unanswered questions regarding sources of exposure. The more cases in humans, the greater the risk of the H5N1 virus mutating to spread more efficiently between people, risking another pandemic like COVID-19.

The child is recovering from their illness, the CDC wrote in a release. An investigation by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) into the child's possible H5N1 exposure source is ongoing.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  State and federal officials are monitoring bird flu cases in Kansas amid an increase in infections in humans.

KSNT 27 News checked in with representatives of the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) and Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) on the state of bird flu cases in Kansas. While no new outbreaks have been detected since the first months of 2024, risk factors for infections are rising as wild migratory birds fly over the Sunflower State.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says on its website that bird flu, also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), is spread worldwide by birds with sporadic infections and outbreaks being detected in humans and other animals. Migrating birds take to the skies in the fall, potentially acting as a source for new outbreaks at places which are most susceptible to the bird flu such as poultry farms and zoos.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Heather Lansdowne with the KDA said poultry farm owners should consult her departments website or the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) for best practices regarding the bird flu. This includes covering stored feed and removing potential nesting areas for wild birds.

Where are the best places to go shed hunting in Kansas?

As wild birds begin their fall migration, poultry owners should be more vigilant in implementing these practices to protect their flocks, as wild birds continue to be a major risk factor for the spread of the virus, Lansdowne said.

Lansdowne said the majority of bird flu cases in Kansas have been in birds with only four coming from dairy cattle. She said there have been seven positive cases in poultry between Jan. 4 and April 9 this year with no new detections over the summer and fall so far. A total of 15 positive cases in birds were identified in 2023. Positive detections of bird flu often result in quarantines to prevent it from getting into new areas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The most common source of HPAI among poultry premises is wild migrating waterfowl, Lansdowne said. The source of the transmission on dairies has not been determined, but in other states there is data that after the initial introduction by wild migrating birds, the movement from one farm to another has contributed to the transmission of the virus.

Jill Bronaugh with the KDHE confirms no human cases of bird flu have been detected yet in Kansas. However, as has been shown in other states, there is a possibility people can become infected with bird flu.

Farm workers are at the greatest risk due to their increased interactions with domesticated birds.

The risk of avian influenza to the general public is still thought to be low, Bronaugh said. Those at highest risk include workers who may be exposed to infected animals.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dog treats sold in Kansas recalled due to salmonella risk

Bronaugh encourages farm workers to check with the CDC by using this link for more information on how to protect themselves from the bird flu. Farm workers interested in getting a free seasonal influenza shot can click here.

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

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  Birmingham police announced Monday are searching for a missing 58-year-old.

The Birmingham Police Department stated Morris Johnson has not been seen or heard from since Nov. 18 when was feeling sick and went to seek medical attention. Johnson was driving a black Chevrolet Avalanche with Alabama tag #1A0P5BR.

Morris Johnson (Photo courtesy of the Birmingham Police Department)

Johnson is 6-foot-7 and weighs around 260 pounds. He was last observed wearing a black pullover and black pants. Johnson may be living with an unknown medical condition.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Those with information on Johnsons whereabouts are urged to call the BPD at 205-328-9311 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL)  The Birthplace of Country Music Museum has been recognized for its historical excellence.

The museum was honored with the Award for Excellence by the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH). The Birthplace of Country Music Museum (BCM) was awarded for its Ive Endured: Women in Old-Time Music exhibit.

According to a news release from the museum, the AASLH Leadership in History Awards is the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history in the country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Former Letcher Co. sheriff pleads not guilty to new murder charge

Dr. Rene Rodgers, the head curator at BCM, said the significance of the award is tremendous.

Its probably one of the biggest honors and prestigious awards that you can get from them and from most any institution, Rodgers said. And it just really is focused in on good history. So for us and all the passion we put into this exhibit, it really means a lot to have been recognized by them.

The exhibit has already been featured in two other museums and was on display in Pennsylvania as of Monday. The exhibit will head to Baltimore in the near future.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rodgers said the museum expects the exhibit to be featured in at least five different states as it travels to other institutions.

Just knowing that people are as excited about the content and that theyre using it to tell their own regional stories of women, and this music is really important to us, Rodgers said.

According to Aja Bain, the senior manager for professional development and publications at AASLH, the exhibit was almost entirely grant-funded.

[It] was just such a perfect example of a multifaceted exhibit that really spoke to the mission of the museum and spoke to the needs of their audiences, Bain said. So it wasnt just an exhibit. It also had a traveling component. It had lots and lots of great programming to reach out and work with teachers on both sides of the state line to develop curriculum.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bain told News Channel 11 the role of women in early country music is often overlooked.

For a long time, weve had this idea that men built country music, and men sort of brought this to the masses, Bain said. And thats not really true. Women were equal participants, and they definitely had their own contributions to make and share. So we were really pleased to see an exhibit like this done so well to really open up peoples eyes about the importance of those two things.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ISTANBUL, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Turkish officials in Trabzon, a city on the Black Sea coast of northeastern Turkiye, are encouraging Chinese tourists to explore its unique traditions, rich cultural heritage, and historic landmarks.

Local authorities believe that the city's unique blend of folk traditions and craftsmanship will appeal to Chinese tourists with a passion for historical legacies.

According to Governor Aziz Yildirim, one example that "tops the list of must-see experiences" is the Horon dance, an essential part of the city's cultural identity.

"This energetic dance, accompanied by the soulful sounds of the kemence, a distinctive traditional string instrument, represents a cultural celebration in which both locals and tourists can join," Yildirim told Xinhua.

Handicrafts are another key element of Trabzon's cultural appeal, Yildirim noted, citing Kazaziye art as a prime example of exceptional craftsmanship.

The traditional craft involves wrapping gold and silver threads around silk or nylon wires to create delicate and detailed pieces of art, often used in jewelry and decorative objects.

Meanwhile, Trabzon's Mayor Ahmet Metin Genc expressed his hope to "strengthen the close relationship" between Turkiye and China through tourism and eagerly anticipated Chinese tourists visiting the city known for its "Sumela Monastery, stunning mountains, plateaus, lush greenery, and scenic coastline."

Perched on a dramatic cliff at an altitude of approximately 1,200 meters, the Sumela Monastery, now a museum, was once a Greek Orthodox monastery in the Pontic Mountains.

Genc also mentioned that the local municipality is considering adding Chinese cuisine to the city's offerings, helping Chinese visitors feel more at home while enjoying Trabzon's local delicacies.

Trabzon's Director of Culture and Tourism Tamer Erdogan said the city has received only 933 Chinese tourists over the past 10 months, a figure that fell short of expectations.

Despite this, Erdogan expressed confidence that increased promotional efforts could help attract more visitors in the coming year. "We always welcome the people of China to Trabzon. The city is harmonious and offers a place where they can feel at home," he told Xinhua.

According to the latest data from Turkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the number of visitors from China to Turkiye in the first nine months of 2024 reached 352,473, marking an increase of 77.29 percent. 
(Bloomberg) -- Bitcoin posted its longest losing streak in the period since Donald Trumps US election victory, after a failed run at $100,000 cooled the speculative fervor sparked by the president-elects embrace of crypto.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The four straight days of declines have lopped about 9% off the digital asset, which traded at $91,100 as of 3:23 p.m. Tuesday in New York. The wider crypto market gave up some of its $1 trillion advance since Election Day on Nov. 5.

The difficulty of trying to crack $100,000 for the first time could convince traders that the top is in, and profits should be locked in now, wrote Noelle Acheson, author of the Crypto Is Macro Now newsletter. However, any such episode should be fleeting, she added.

Cryptocurrencies also faced a bout of risk aversion earlier Tuesday after Trump roiled markets by vowing additional tariffs on China as well as US neighbors Canada and Mexico.

High-flying crypto-related stocks such as MicroStrategy also declined. The Bitcoin proxy slumped around 13%, though it remains up more than 400% this year. Coinbase, the largest US crypto exchange, fell around 6%.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

People have been looking for an excuse to take some profits, said Adrian Przelozny, chief executive of crypto exchange Independent Reserve. Were still very confident the current bullish market sentiment will continue into 2025.

Trumps Pledges

Trump has pledged to make the US the global home for crypto by fostering supportive regulations as well as a national Bitcoin stockpile. Questions remain about how quickly he can make the changes and whether all are feasible.

In a research note, TD Cowen analyst Jaret Seiberg said the president-elect after his Jan. 20 inauguration will gain immediate control of the Securities & Exchange Commission, adding that would be a positive sign when it comes to easing crypto enforcement and facilitating a path to compliance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump, a onetime crypto skeptic, pivoted into a supporter after digital-asset firms spent heavily during election campaigning to promote their interests. Growing signs emerged in recent days of a tightening US embrace of crypto.

As a result, approximately $7 billion poured into US spot-Bitcoin exchange-traded funds after the election, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. But the dozen ETFs saw a $438 million outflow on Monday as demand eased.

Such profit-taking is natural after a strong accumulation phase, and we anticipate these outflows will not last more than 23 days before institutional demand returns, said Valentin Fournier, a BRN analyst.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
State troopers are investigating a call received last Monday from a man in Irwin who said he was scammed out of $18,000.

Police said the man got an email from who he thought was McAfee Security for his computer. The person said they had refunded him $20,000 instead of $2,000, and deposited too much money into his bank account.

They told him to withdraw $17,900, go to the Sunoco on Lowry Avenue in Jeannette, and use a machine there to convert that money into Bitcoin.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Once he did that, he was told to send a picture of the receipt with the information on how the company could access the funds.

Just like that, that man was out all of that money.

Unfortunately, obviously once they start to walk you down that path, youre headed for a scam, said Trooper Steve Limani, of the Pennsylvania State Police.

This type of scam is common, and Limani says it can happen to anyone.

This gentleman was very trusting and was trying to, in his mind, do the right thing and give this money back, but ultimately he was being scammed and I feel awful that it happened, he told Channel 11s Andrew Havranek.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Limani said right now, troopers are investigating six Bitcoin scams similar to this involving a victim in Westmoreland County in the last month.

Theyre different except at the end. At the end of the scam, its always go to Bitcoin, Limani said.

He said that makes these cases harder to investigate and track where the money goes. Limani said scammers often are successful this time of year as people let their guards down around the holidays.

The best way to keep your money safe if you get an email or phone call like this? Talk to your own bank.

The bank personnel, theyve all been trained at almost every single one of these banks, Limani said. So, if you just tell them why youre doing some of the things youre doing, and just ask them for advice, theyll be able to tell you right away because theyve probably had a dozen people already be a part of that same scenario.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Investigators in Lithuania have recovered the black boxes of the cargo aircraft that crashed near Vilnius airport on Monday, killing one person, as the search for the cause of the crash continues.

In addition to the flight data recorder, the voice recorder has also been found and removed from the wreckage, the Lithuanian Justice Ministry announced on Tuesday.

The so-called black boxes could provide information about the cause of the crash.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lithuania's police chief Arunas Paulauskas also said on Tuesday that he expects the investigation of the crash site to be completed in a few days.

"I think that the on-site inspection can be completed within the next two to three days. Then a new phase will follow: the removal of the aircraft debris from the site. We are currently actively looking for a hangar where we can store these parts," Paulauskas said at a press conference in Vilnius.

The Swift Air plane, which was flying from Leipzig to Vilnius for German logistics giant DHL, crashed near Vilnius airport early on Monday morning, just a few metres from a residential building.

German experts are involved in the investigation, and investigators from Spain and the United States are also expected to arrive in Lithuania.

Appeal for information

Paulauskas on Tuesday appealed for help from the public in Vilnius: "If anyone has videos that could be useful for the investigation, please share them with the police," he said, according to a report by Lithuanian radio.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Videos could be uploaded onto a police portal and made available to investigators, the police chief said.

According to a representative of the prosecutor general's office in Vilnius, investigators have interviewed 19 people as witnesses so far. Police have also scanned the airport and crash site with a drone.

The runway of Vilnius airport was closed for an hour from 10 am (0800 GMT) on Tuesday as part of the investigation, an airport representative confirmed to dpa.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, who visited the crash site on Monday, said the suspicion of a possible act of sabotage should not be overemphasized but it could not yet be ruled out, in comments on Lithuanian radio on Tuesday morning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"This is being investigated with all seriousness," he said.

Previous warnings

The crash attracted a great deal of attention, especially in light of warnings issued by German security authorities in August about "unconventional incendiary devices" being sent by unknown individuals using parcel service providers.

The warning was reportedly linked in security circles to an incident at the DHL logistics centre in Leipzig, which serves as the company's global hub. In July, a package sent from the Baltic States, which reportedly contained an incendiary device, is said to have caught fire there.

Paulauskas has said the circumstances of the accident showed that the incident was probably not caused by an external influence.
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the outgoing chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to testify before the committee about the Biden administrations withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.

After months of good faith efforts that were too often met with stonewalling from the State Department, Im proud to have secured Secretary Blinkens appearance before my committee, McCaul said in a statement posted by the committee on the social platform X.

I trust his testimony will provide some long-overdue accountability and transparency for the American people, our Afghan allies, and our Gold Star families, he added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Republicans have heavily criticized President Biden and the Pentagon over the removal of troops from Afghanistan since the chaotic and deadly 17-day evacuation was carried out in August 2021, one of the biggest controversies of the administration.

Just days into the withdrawal, the Taliban overtook Kabul, much more quickly than the administration had anticipated. Crowds gathered around Hamid Karzai International Airport, and dramatic images were seen of people falling as they sought to hang on to planes exiting the region.

An estimated 100,000 partners of U.S. government efforts were left behind, a number that swells when taking into account others vulnerable under Taliban rule.

A blast near the airport, which the Taliban later claimed responsibility for, also led to the deaths of 13 U.S. service members. They were posthumously awarded Congressional Gold Medals.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A long-awaited report was released from GOP members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in September, painting Biden as determined to leave the country but fumbling preparations that set the stage for a chaotic and deadly exit from Americas longest war.

The report criticizes Biden for a rushed effort regardless of counsel from allies and advisers that led to unnecessary deaths and accuses the Biden administration of failing to see warning signs of how quickly Kabul would fall to the Taliban and delaying the planning for and calling of an evacuation  fearing both the optics of such an exit and further destabilization in the country.

The Hill has contacted the State Department for comment.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

The US, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and Hungary account for 80% of global supply of blood plasma. | Credit: Avalon/Getty Images

A new NHS call for blood donors to make  and keep  appointments in the run-up to Christmas has reignited the debate around how to increase rates of donation, including the use of financial incentives.

For many, the idea of paying for blood plasma "elicits concerns about the commodification of the human body", said Politico. For others, "paying donors a flat fee for their time and trouble should be part of the solution" to what is a growing global shortfall.

How often does the UK run low on blood?

The festive period is an annual crunch time for blood stocks "as cold weather, seasonal illnesses and busier diaries lead to more unfilled and missed appointments, while demand from hospitals can rise", according to the NHS Give Blood website. Last December, donations were 10% below the monthly average, with demand for the vital O-negative blood type  the universal type used to save lives in emergencies  exceeding collections.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is not just a winter problem. This summer, the BBC reported that blood stocks had dropped to "unprecedentedly low" levels in England, following a "perfect storm" of no-show appointments as donors went on holiday, as well as increased demand following a cyber-attack which affected services in London. At the time, there was a 1.6-day supply of O-negative blood in England, well below the six-day target.

Which countries allow blood donors to be paid?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) about 118.5 million blood donations were collected worldwide in 2023. Of these, 40% were drawn from high-income countries, home to just 16% of the world's population.

The US, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and Hungary currently allow for a flat-fee payment for donating blood, and these five nations account for 80% of the global supply of plasma, the main component of blood, and a crucial ingredient in a range of medicines. In the US, the average payment per plasma donation is $80-$85 (63-67), said Matthew Hotchko of the Marketing Research Bureau, while blood and plasma donors in Austria receive an average of 30 (25) per donation, with a maximum of 50 donations permitted per year.

Many other countries offer "non-monetary compensation like time off work or vouchers", said Politico.

Would paying donors boost donations in the UK?

Only around 7% of people in the UK donate blood on a regular basis, according to a YouGov poll from 2022, with most of these aged 45 or older. According to the survey, more than a third of Britons who do not currently donate blood said they would do so if they were paid.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Young people, in particular, are more likely to state they would donate blood if they were paid, with the number of potential donors rising to 47% of non-donors aged 18-24, and 46% of those aged 25-49 if money were involved.

What are the drawbacks?

Despite evidence suggesting paying donors could help solve global blood plasma shortages, the WHO wants to move towards "100% voluntary, non-paid blood donation in every country, as blood-borne infections are lowest among voluntary, unpaid blood donors", said The Independent.

Concern over safety is, however, not "well founded", said The Economist. In places such as Britain, scandals involving infected blood "loom large in the public consciousness". Yet there is "little evidence that plasma that is paid for is more likely to transmit disease than plasma from unpaid sources", said the magazine, "and even if it was, plasma can be heavily processed to ensure it is safe".

Another worry is that the privatisation of blood services leads to the exploitation of donors. The US made $37 billion (29 billion) from exports of blood products last year, more than from coal or gold, and with a "large and growing population of people on the economic ropes", the business of Americans' blood plasma has become a "hugely profitable one", said The Guardian.

In Hungary's case, paid donations have led to "some troubling unintended consequences", reported Balkan Insight. Although by law donors can be paid only 7,500 forints (15) in cash, there is no regulation on additional incentives, such as shopping vouchers and entry into prize draws and lotteries. In left-behind regions, home to the "most vulnerable, racialised and financially disadvantaged segments of societies", a "wild west" of private donation centres has turned plasma donation into a "regular, if dangerous, form of income".
A group of neo-Nazis who marched through the Short North this month were not arrested because police determined they were not the aggressors in a fight that broke out, according to documents and video footage.

In body camera footage Columbus police released Monday, the neo-Nazis told police they had never experienced a response like the one they received in Columbus. They said people pulled guns on them and threw cans and vegetables as they marched, waved flags and yelled racial slurs. One of the officers noted the men were covered in pepper spray.

The Nov. 16 march drew stern condemnation from city hall to the White House, but no arrests were made. A group of Black men organized a counter-march the next day, following the same route in the Short North with a message of peace. In a statement, Columbus police previously said they could not find sufficient probable cause to file any charges against the neo-Nazis.

Columbus police detain a group of neo-Nazis in the back of a U-Haul following a march in the Short North on Nov. 16.

Police initially made contact with the neo-Nazis in a chaotic scene on a sidewalk near Goodale Park at about 1:15 p.m., according to a radio log printout from Columbus police. There the neo-Nazis, wearing black and red clothing and carrying black flags with red swastikas, told police they were leaving because they were under attack. In the background, bystanders shouted at them to take off their masks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They told police they were marching because "our country is being invaded and white people are being ostracized." While they refused to tell police where they lived, they referenced past marches in other cities.

Police said they'd received a report that they were spraying people with pepper spray and hair spray. The neo-Nazis said they were pepper sprayed first, and hadn't instigated any violence. Footage previously obtained by the Dispatch showed one of the neo-Nazis spraying something in a person's face, and 911 callers said the neo-Nazis had pepper sprayed people.

Several officers, including multiple Black officers, were present at the scene on the sidewalk. One Black officer tried to reason with the marchers, pointing out that they were bound to see confrontation from people for shouting hateful things.

"I definitely feel your First Amendment rights to say whatever nonsense this is, but c'mon, man," the officer said. "The Buckeyes are playing. Man, come on."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to police records and video, officers followed the neo-Nazis to the Goodale Park parking lot, where they loaded themselves into a U-Haul with an Arizona license plate to leave town. Officers pulled the U-Haul over to continue investigating the assault report.

All the neo-Nazis initially refused to provide identification, the footage shows. The driver, identified on the police report as a known white supremacist provided a Louisiana driver's license when police explained that he legally had to. The neo-Nazis in the back of the U-Haul said they had no identification and refused to provide their names or say where they were from.

In June 2023, the man was charged with criminal mischief for an incident in which several people hung swastikas and other antisemitic banners from a bridge in Orlando.

The neo-Nazis repeatedly asserted their First Amendment rights and accused police of detaining them for saying words. They complained about being told to keep their hands above their heads, saying they were losing circulation. One complained that he had to use the bathroom.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One neo-Nazi carrying a long, fixed-blade knife at his hip was placed into the back of a police cruiser after police said his hands were too close to the knife. Another was armed with a gun. The driver was armed with pepper spray, officers said.

While the neo-Nazis were detained, police spoke on the phone to a witness to the confrontation. She said she was driving by when the incident happened, and she saw the neo-Nazis approach a pair of Black men, telling them to "bow down" and calling them slurs.

The witness said someone tried to rip a flag out of the neo-Nazis hands, and a fight ensued. Her account of events matched what the neo-Nazis had told police, officers said in the footage, so they released the man armed with a knife from the backseat of the cruiser and told the neo-Nazis they were free to go.

A police report identified the group as "Hate Club 1844." The driver is the only neo-Nazi named in the report. The others are identified only as about 10-11 unknown white men.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We do this all over the U.S., and weve never been attacked like this, man, the driver told police from his seat in the U-Haul.

bagallion@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Neo-Nazis march in Columbus Ohio: See body-cam footage
CHERRY, Ill. (WCIA)  Human remains found in northern Illinois have been positively identified as those of a man from the Champaign area, who was reported missing earlier this year.

The Champaign Police Department informed WCIA in late March that they received a call of a 20-year-old missing man named Jaylyon Rucker. Rucker is from the area but was reported missing out of Peru; officials directed WCIA to contact the Peru Police Department for further information. WCIA then reached out to the Peru Police Department multiple times, but received no response.

Champaign Co. Crime Stoppers seeking tips on $5k credit card theft

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This week, the Bureau County Coroner informed WCIA that human remains were found near a mine in Cherry on June 8. An autopsy was performed three days later, but the remains were decomposed to the point that a positive identification could not be made.

After months of investigation and examinations, DNA analysis was finally able to identify the remains as those of Jaylyon Anthony Rucker.

While we are happy to finally be able to return Jaylyon to his family so that he may be laid to rest, we extend our deepest condolences to his loved ones, Coroner Alexandria Wamhoff said in a statement.

WCIA reached out to the Bureau County Sheriffs Office for more details and has not heard back yet.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wamhoff thanked all of the investigators who helped in identifying Ruckers body. The Bureau County Sherriffs Department, Peru Police Department, LaSalle County Coroners Office, Champaign County Coroners Office and Illinois State Police all assisted in the investigation.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
JERUSALEM, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Israel's security cabinet approved on Tuesday night a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported that the ceasefire, brokered by the United States and France, was expected to take effect on Wednesday at 4 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) in Israel and Lebanon.

The security cabinet approved the ceasefire by a majority of ten votes to one, with far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir casting the sole dissenting vote.

"Israel appreciates the United States' contribution to the process and reserves its right to act against any threat to its security," the statement said.

Meanwhile, less than six hours before the ceasefire was due to take effect, air defense sirens sounded in several areas in northern and central Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces said the sirens were activated following the launch of three projectiles from Lebanon, which were successfully intercepted by the Israeli Air Force. No casualties were reported. 
COPIAH COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV)  A systemwide boil water notice has been issued for Union Church Waterworks Association customers.

According to the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), the water system serves customers in Jefferson, Copiah, Lincoln and Claiborne counties.

Exclusive: Former director of Thalia Mara Hall speaks out

Officials said the notice was issued as the result of repair work performed on the water system after a pump failure. Health officials strongly recommend that all water be boiled vigorously for one minute before it is consumed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Residents will be notified by their system when the advisory is lifted. For more information, customers may contact Union Church Waterworks Association at 601-660-3972.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily News

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV.
AABRA, Lebanon  Mayada El Sayed, duct tape wrapped around her fingers to prevent bruising, efficiently strips ripe olives from a tree, seemingly undeterred by the ever-present threat of bombs.

El Sayed, 45, said she was scared by the regular strikes  one of which was less than half a mile from Bustan El Zeitoun grove where she was working, a few miles inland from Lebanons Mediterranean coast and a 45-minute drive south of the capital, Beirut  as Israel pushes into the neighboring country to fight the Hezbollah militant group.

The mother of three said she worried about something happening to her children at their home in the town of Haret Saida, the site of multiple Israeli airstrikes on homes and businesses. She said she feared she wouldnt be able to get home to them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel the day after Hamas terror attacks on Oct. 7, 2023. Lebanese health officials say more than 3,600 people have been killed in the country since fighting began last year. The United Nations refugee agency says 1.3 million people have been internally displaced.

Hezbollah attacks have killed about 100 civilians and soldiers in northern Israel, the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and southern Lebanon over the last year, according to Israel, and 60,000 civilians have been evacuated from the north. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to pursue military action against Hezbollah until those displaced Israeli families can safely return home.

Farm to table

Amid the death and mass displacement, farmers are experiencing other profound losses. Olives are one of the regions key crops, but only one month into the conflict, more than 47,000 olive trees had already been lost in southern Lebanon, according to a February report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Since then it has only gotten harder for olive farmers, with Israel stepping up its air and ground campaign and moving troops and tanks into the region in September

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its very vulnerable for the farmers  they wait throughout the year to harvest, and they live from what they produce, said Walid Mushantaf, manager of Bustan El Zeitoun.

Harvested olives on the ground at the Bustan El Zeitoun grove.

Mushantaf said many other farmers had been unable to get into their groves and that their harvests would go to waste.

He worked to build up his farm after the Lebanese Civil War ended in 1990 and said the land had previously been earmarked as a construction site before he converted it.

I was born in this village, and I know my grandfather used to go to the olive grove and have a nap in the summer under a tree, he said. It was like his second home.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

El Sayed, who lives with her husband and their three children  Ibrahim, 16; Ahmed, 14; and Zainab, 12  as well as her mother-in-law, said she is her familys sole breadwinner.

We have to pay bills  rent for the house, electricity, government bills for water, internet. We need to work, and to eat, she said.

She goes home at the end of the day, but 15 other workers live at the grove.

Walid Mushantaf at his grove.

One of them, Youssef Muqbil, 32, an Egyptian, said he relies on olive farming to support his wife and two children, ages 11 and 13, back home in Egypt.

When the workers at the grove hear about airstrikes nearby, they retreat into their houses, but that doesnt stop the sounds.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The strikes are so near us, he said, explaining how terrifying these experiences are for the workers.

The war has dealt a significant blow to Rose Bechara Perinis company, Darmmess, after equipment used in processing the olives was bombed.

A lot of the farmers from Deir Mimas, the village where her business is based, have been displaced to Beirut and are waiting on a miracle that could allow them to safely return home to their livelihoods, she added.

Olives are the economy. Its our income, its our subsistence, its our heritage, she said. Its everything in the village.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Bond was reduced Tuesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for a city man accused of improper conduct with a young boy in 2017 and 2018.

Read next: Boardman couple reports $65K stolen in bank scam

Judge John Durkin lowered the bond for Malachi Woodall, 25, from $200,000 to $100,000 after his attorney, Mike Yacovone, filed a motion to reduce it.

Woodall was secretly indicted Oct. 3 by a grand jury on four counts of rape, a first-degree felony that could carry a life sentence if convicted; two counts of gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony; and two counts of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, a fourth-degree felony.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He was arraigned Oct. 16 in common pleas court, which was when his bail was set.

Assistant Prosecutor Daniel Yoziwak opposed the motion, telling the judge that the victims in the case were also opposed.

Yacovone told the judge his client is indigent and he can not afford bail. Yacovone said Woodall has never been arrested before, has a job and family support. He also said that Woodall knew of the allegations, which were several years old, and never ran away even though he knew an investigation was taking place.

Yacovone proposed a $75,000 bond.

Judge Durkin said he is allowed to consider public safety when considering bond, but recent Ohio Supreme Court decisions on bond have favored giving defendants a chance to make bond because a bond is supposed to guarantee a defendants appearance at trial and not be a punishment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
Boohoo Group is facing the possibility of backlash after revelations emerged that it has rekindled ties with a manufacturer it had jettisoned in the aftermath of its so-called sweatshop scandal four years ago.

The British e-tail juggernaut had nixed G.N. Euro, which bills itself as Leicesters largest privately owned womens clothing manufacturer, during a culling of hundreds of suppliers linked to worker exploitation in the East Midlands city in 2021, nearly a year after allegations of poverty pay and unsafe conditions amid a life-threatening global pandemic roiled the Nasty Gal and PrettyLittleThing owners reputation.

More from Sourcing Journal

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But a Telegraph investigation revealed last week that G.N. Euro is resupplying Boohoo, albeit from a different site in Morocco under the moniker of Euro Touch. While there is no evidence of labor malfeasance from the new factory, the news comes amid a fervid power struggle between Boohoo co-founder Mahmud Kaman and Frasers Group billionaire Mike Ashley, who could have further justification for his demands for Kamans ouster as a director, following a demotion from board chairman to executive vice-chair, for a sustained track record of governance failures. Ashley himself has been gunning for the top spot of CEO.

Alison Levitt, the former Crown Prosecution Service legal advisor who led a monthslong independent investigation into Boohoos domestic operations, also cited weak corporate governance for the many failings in the Leicester supply chain, including flagrant infringement of health, safety and minimum wage rules. She also said that the Debenhams parent claimed no responsibility for the consequences for those who made the clothes they sold.

The imbroglio led to the sourcing and compliance overhaul that Boohoo dubbed its Agenda for Change, as overseen by accountancy giant KPMG and retired judge Brian Leveson. Changes included the publication of its supplier list, participation in the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry, and a new forensic audit procedure meant to root out hidden exploitation and potential fraud, though many labor activists continued to question if its transformation was more than a whitewash. A model factory that Boohoo opened to great fanfare in Leicester in 2022 has since closed.

Alena Ivanova, campaigns and activism lead at Labour Behind the Label, a Bristol-based worker rights group, said that Boohoos revival of a relationship with a previous supplier isnt cause for criticism per se because it wants to see brands working with manufacturers to improve working conditions and raise wages through long-term commitments that uplift purchasing practices.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But sadly, in this case, it seems that old habits die hard, she said. No lessons have been learned, no guarantees have been made either for the workers in Leicester left behind nor for the workers at the new site in Morocco, and its business as usual for those who care little about ethical practices.

Certainly, that appears to be the case for the 1,200 garment workers who have been illegally underpaid over the past five years, according to data from HM Revenue & Customs that BBC obtained last week.

Figures show that a total of 177,678 pounds ($223,275) in national minimum wage arrears were identified from 2019 to 2024, resulting in penalties of 338,504 pounds ($425,374) issued to the offending companies during the same period. At its height, Boohoo made up to 60-70 percent of the 2 million garments that Leicester factories pumped out every week. All of that diminished following Covid-19 and Leicesters high-profile tarring in its aftermath, however.

The reality is that we need brands to step up and commit to working with suppliers to prevent underpayment in the first placewithout the security of orders and better purchasing practices that prioritize and ring-fence a living wage for the workers, suppliers are left competing on price and squeezing workers. Or else, they shut shop, Ivanova said. Currently in Leicester, the choice seems to be between underpayment or no payment at all. Workers rely on these jobs and so are often forced to accept lower pay or poor conditions even when they know they are owed more.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Boohoo, which received lender consent on Monday to raise up to 39.3 million pounds ($49.4 million) to prop up recent losses, said that it remains open and transparent about its entire supplier base and that it doesnt work with suppliers that cannot adhere to our highest standards.

We only onboard a supplier or factory that goes through our strict onboarding process and due diligence checks, no exceptions, a spokesperson said, characterizing this as a non-story. Every supplier signs our code of conduct, has a valid third-party social compliance audit and is visited regularly by our ethical teams on the ground for an audit.

G.N. Euro said its fully committed to maintaining the highest ethical and legal standards of labor rights, workplace conditions and business integrity at its facilities in the United Kingdom and Morocco and that it categorically rejects any claims to the contrary. During the time in question, meaning the pandemic period, G.N. Euro was the subject of multiple third-party audits, none of which, a representative said, identified compliance violations or concerns.

Meanwhile, Labour Behind the Label has been campaigning Britains biggest names, including Marks & Spencer, Matalan and Next, to commit to manufacturing at least 1 percent of their production in Leicester.

Ultimately, a more sustainable industry will require long-term commitment, Ivanova said. We need brands to plan not just for responsible exit strategies, but responsible staying strategies to ensure better outcomes for workers.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  In observance of World AIDS Day, the Border AIDS Partnership (BAP) will host its 17th annual Spotlight Silent Art Auctions the first week of December.

The juried fine art competition and junction will take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the El Paso Community Foundation Room, 333 N. Oregon St., BAP said in a news release.

BAP said this years event, which features the theme Positive Voices, will showcase original artwork from renowned local artists. All bidding will be conducted online.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tickets to attend are $20 and can be purchased here.

Our silent art auction is a dynamic way for local artists and the community to come together and support critical resources for individuals battling HIV/AIDS in El Paso, Ciudad Juarez, and Las Cruces, Floyd Johnson, BAP board member and event committee chairman said. In previous years, attendees have bid on stunning pieces from artists like Gaspar Enriquez, Suzi Davidoff, and Patrick Gabaldon. This year promises to be just as exciting with contributions from both celebrated and emerging artists.

Honoring those weve lost, particularly around World AIDS Day, is an integral part of our mission. This event gives us the privilege of uniting our vibrant border community through art and advocacy, Edgar Picazo, BAP treasurer added.

BAP was established in 1994 through a collaboration between the El Paso Community Foundation and the US/Mexico Border Health Association to combat the challenges posed by HIV/AIDS in the region, according to the news release.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since becoming an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, BAP has provided over $2.5 million in funding for innovative HIV prevention and education programs across El Paso, Southern New Mexico, and Ciudad Juarez, read the news release.

In addition, BAP grantees have included impactful organizations such as Centro Caritativo Para Atencion de Enfermos de Sida, UMCs Teen Advisory Board, Programa Companeros, HIVida, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, among others.

For more information, call (915) 533-4020 or visit www.facebook.com/borderaidspartnership.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
The name Boris Epshteynwhich belongs to a top aide to Donald Trumphas appeared in not one but two jaw-droppingly scandalous headlines out of the president-elects camp in the past week.

Last Monday, it broke that Elon Musk had reportedly confronted Epshteyn at a Mar-a-Lago dinner table with an accusation that he had leaked potential Trump cabinet picks to the media, sparking a massive blow-up. But an even bigger bombshell dropped yesterday, when it emerged that Epshteyn was being investigated by the Trump transition teams own lawyers over credible concerns that he shook down potential Trump administration candidates for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

While he now appears poised for a fall from Trumpian grace, Epshteyn had until recently held a key position in Trumps inner circle on the back of a precipitous rise.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So heres what to know about the man who has been one of the president-elects most influential advisorsfrom his personal ties to the Trump family, to his early days as Trumps personal TV attack dog, to his emotionally explosive run-ins with the law, to his eyebrow-raising connections to Russia, to his latest headline-grabbing scandals.

Entrance Into the Trump Orbit

How did Epshteyn go from a bit player in Republican politics to holding the ear of a once and future president?

Epshteyn first entered the Trump orbit when he became college buddies with his second-eldest son, Eric Trump. The two overlapped at Georgetown University in the early 2000s, and Epshteyn attended the younger Trumps wedding in 2014, according to The New York Times. Epshteyn said he was proud to call [Eric Trump] a friend after the latter gave a speech at the 2016 Republican National Convention.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Before signing on to Team Trump, Epshteyns political claim to fame was his brief post-law-school stint in 2008 as a communications aide for late Sen. John McCains unsuccessful presidential campaign. After that, he was a managing director for a small investment bank, West America Securities, whose CEO was a close friend of his uncle, per the Times. Epshteyns time there ended, though, after the firmknown for its run-ins with regulatorswas in 2013 effectively shut down by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Epshteyn is among Trumps inner circle of advisers.

Although he made occasional television appearances as a Republican analyst in 2012, it was during Trumps first presidential campaign, in 2016, that Epshteyn made a name for himself as Trumps TV attack dog, as the Times dubbed him at the time. He became a recognizable character on cable news, brazenly defending Trump against scandal upon scandal in the lead-up to his first presidential win.

Boris takes a certain amount of delight in trying to bully the interviewer, MSNBC host Joy Reid told the Times in 2016. He sees every night as combat and he goes in as very combative.

Boris is abrasive, she added. That is who he is both on the air and off.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Epshteyns dauntless belligerence apparently impressed Trump, who named him a special assistant in his first administration.

After-Hours Legal Troubles

Epshteyns pugnacious personality apparently bleeds into his personal life, as well. In 2014, he faced assault charges over a bar fight in Scottsdale, Arizona, per the Times. They were dropped, however, after he agreed to take anger-management classes and perform community service.

That wasnt the last of Epshteyns explosive encounters with law enforcement, however. He was arrested again in Arizona, in 2021, after repeatedly groping two women in a nightclub. Epshteyn pleaded guilty after prosecutors reduced the charges from attempted sexual assault and assault-touching to just disorderly conduct. He was ordered to pay a fine and serve probation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The arrest was captured in police body-cam footage that emerged in August 2023, while Epshteyn was working on Trumps second successful campaign for president.

Ties to Russia

Epshteyn, who was born and raised in Moscow, has raised eyebrows for his outlook on Russia and his efforts to influence Trump on the matter.

Broadcast news outlets were admonished by Media Matters for allowing Epshteyn to appear on behalf Trump, and sometimes offer defenses of Russian President Vladimir Putin, without disclosing his own business ties to the country. He was reportedly consulting for companies operating out of Eastern Europe and moderated a 2013 investment conference panel titled Invest in Moscow! that featured mostly Russian government officials.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Earlier this month, the Times reported that Epshteyn had made a bid to be a special envoy to the Russia-Ukraine war in the upcoming Trump administration despite having no foreign policy experience. On a plane flying to Washington, D.C., for Trumps post-election meeting with Joe Biden, Epshteyn tried to convince the president-elects team that he was worthy of the role because he had relatives on both sides of the conflict.

Reportedly, several people on the plane were shocked and troubled by the prospectbut Trump was not among them. Although he did not promise him the position, he listened to Epshteyns case with apparent interest.

Efforts to Overturn 2020 Election

Epshteyn, along with Rudy Giuliani, was one of the lawyers who masterminded Trumps efforts to prevent Joe Biden from taking office after he beat Trump in the 2020 election. He was a leading figure in the teams Washington-based election-overturning command center during the days leading up the Jan. 6, 2021, attempted insurrection. He has openly admitted to working on the infamous alternate electors scheme, which intended to implant pro-Trump electors in key states that the former president had lost. Earlier this year, he was indicted for his efforts to flip the election outcome in Arizona.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Epshteyn also reportedly masterminded Trumps legal strategy in the face of an array of criminal investigations over the past several years, urging Trump to delay the proceedings as much as possible, according to the Times. The aggressive strategy appears to have paid off, with Trump back in the White House and the Justice Departments charges against him dropped. But other members of the presidents legal team have been unsparingly critical of his advice.

Some people close to Trump have criticized the quality of Epshteyns legal advice.

I dont know where [Epshteyn] filed his law license, an anonymous source close to Trump t old Politico . They must be selling them at 7-11. I dont think it serves the president well to be taking legal advice from Boris and hopefully he will see that sometime soon.

Butting Heads With a Billionaire

Last week, Elon Musk, a relative newcomer to the Trump circle, is reported to have loudly and publicly accused Epshteyn of leaking Trump administration picks to the media. The huge explosion was the boiling of persisting tensions between the two men, according to Axios.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Epshteyn reportedly pleaded ignorance to Musks allegations.

Before the blow-up, Musk had questioned whether Epshteynwho reportedly pushed for Trumps most controversial and eventually flubbed cabinet nominee, Matt Gaetzhas had an undue level of influence on the president-elects picks.

Neither the transition team, Epshteyn, or Musk commented to Axios on the report.

Epshteyn has had a precipitous rise into the upper echelons of Trumps team.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pay to Play

Now, Epshteyn has suffered a blow that might just knock him back out of the Trump orbitalthough only time will tell.

The transition teams own lawyers found evidence that Epshteyn had asked for thousands of dollars from officials in exchange for the aides efforts to have Trump name them to the new administration, according to The New York Times.

Scott Bessent, Trumps pick for treasury secretary, was one of the people who was approached by Epshteyn about a possible deal. The men met in February, and Epshteyn asked for a monthly fee of $30,000 to $40,000 in exchange for his support. Bessent reportedly turned down the offer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Epshteyn also solicited $100,000 from another unnamed figure, described as a defense contractor, although they too declined the offer.

Former Gov. Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens also told the transition team, according to CBS News, that Mr. Epshteyns overall tone and behavior gave me the impression of an implicit expectation to engage in business dealings with him before he would advocate for or suggest my appointment to the President.

This created a sense of unease and pressure on my part, he added, explaining that he was worried about the ethics of Ephsteyns implied deal.

Very specifically, I was concerned that there was an offer to advance a nomination in return for financial payments, Greitens said.

Epshteyn has denied the allegations against him.

I am honored to work for President Trump and with his team, he said in a statement to the Daily Beast. These fake claims are false and defamatory and will not distract us from Making America Great Again.

Trumps transition team appeared to suggest Wednesday that the scandal was behind them.

As is standard practice, a broad review of the campaigns consulting agreements has been conducted and completed, including as to Boris, among others, spokesman Steven Cheung told the Beast. We are now moving ahead together as a team to help President Trump Make America Great Again.
Sanctuary cities across Massachusetts and the U.S. are facing threats of losing federal funding from President-elect Donald Trump and advisors.

Boston is among a list of eight sanctuary cities in the Commonwealth, and that could soon grow to nine as Natick town leaders consider sanctuary city policies.

Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has outlined the cuts she envisions targeting more than 100 sanctuary cities across the country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Greene is the incoming chair of a newly created subcommittee, working alongside the Department of Government Efficiency, which will focus on lowering federal spending.

If these Democrat governors and mayors want to use their federal dollars, and they want to use this funding to harbor illegal criminal aliens, then yeah, were coming after their money, and they dont deserve a single penny of it, said Rep. Greene.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said Boston is in tune with following the laws associated with federal funding.

We are a country of laws, and we are working very closely to make sure the city is always moving where we can to follow the laws associated with any federal funding, Mayor Wu said on Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mayor Wu faced backlash last week from President-elect Donald Trumps incoming border czar Tom Homan over Bostons sanctuary city status.

She pointed to the the Trust Act thats been on the books in Boston for a decade.

The ordinance does not allow police to cooperate with federal immigration and customs enforcement on criminal investigations.

Wu is not wavering on her promise to protect hardworking law-abiding immigrants and has been focused on securing federal resources before January.

In my recent trip to DC, I did have the chance to meet with some of the White House officials who focus on federal grants to cities and talked about the grants that Boston has been awarded and what that will look like over the next couple weeks, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Immigration advocates told Boston 25 News they are concerned that there will be a risk to federal funds as a method of retaliation once Trump takes office.

During his first term, Trump attempted to withhold funding from sanctuary cities by signing an executive order that cut funding to them, but it was blocked by federal courts.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Robert F Kennedy Jr, President-elect Donald Trumps nominee for health and human services secretary, said in a resurfaced clip that he became a star student after he started taking heroin.

The former 2024 independent presidential candidate, known for his anti-vaccine record and health conspiracies, claimed in a July interview with the Shawn Ryan Show that his grades improved in high school once he started taking the opioid.

Ill tell you something about heroin, he said. I did very very poorly in school until I started doing narcotics then I went to the top of my class because my mind was so restless and turbulent and I could not sit still, the HHS secretary nominee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

RFK Jr said today he believes he would have been diagnosed with ADHD.

In school, before he started taking heroin, he described himself as non-compos mentis, a Latin phrase meaning not of sound mind. But once he started using the drug, he claims he rose in the ranks to the top of his class: Suddenly I could sit still and I could read and I could concentrate. I could listen to what people were saying and things made sense to me.

Robert F Kennedy Jr opens up about his addiction and claims heroin helped him rise to the top of his class (Shawn Ryan Show)

I was probably at some level medicating myself, he reflected. It worked for him at the time, and if it still worked, Id still be doing it.

Heroin is highly addictive, and thousands of Americans die of overdoses each year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It works really great in the beginning but then it begins exacting a cause, Kennedy said, and then the cause gets worse and worse and it kills you. It killed my brother, he added, referring to his brother David, who died at the age of 29 in 1984 from a drug overdose.

RFK Jr said his foray into drugs began in the summer after his father, Robert F Kennedy, was assassinated in 1968. His older brothers friend invited him to a party. Hitchhiking home, an older boy picked him up and offered him LSD. Later that day, after a 10-hour acid trip, he ran into some boys in the woods who offered him crystal meth. He took some, snorted it and felt great, he said.

Within a month, I was shooting heroin and that was my kind of drug of choice, RFK Jr said. For the next 14 years, cocaine and heroin became his drugs of choice, he said.

It hollows out your whole life. You have a one-dimensional life. It was what I would describe as a bundle of appetites that was a full-time job to feed them, RFK Jr said.

RFK Jr is infamous for his anti-vaccine views (Robert F Kennedy Jr/X)

He said his family didnt know about his drug use; he wrote books and went to law school in the time he was on heroin. He got arrested in 1983 for heroin possession, he said. Thats when he was able to get sober.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For years, he was constantly trying to quit, he said.

To me, the most demoralizing feature of that disease was my incapacity to keep contracts with myself. I would tell myself at 9:00 in the morning I am never going to do that again. I would believe it. I would mean it, he said. At 4:00 in the afternoon, it was like I had no control over that person that I was going to be at 4.00, you know, when the addict would step into my head and take control.

The same month of the interview, while running still running for the White House, RFK Jr said he wanted to create wellness camps for those struggling with addiction to spend time as much time as they need, three or four years if they need it, to learn to get re-parented, to reconnect with communities.

He added: We have a whole generation of kids who are dispossessed, theyre alienated, theyre marginalized, their suicide rates are exploding  the second largest killer for young people is drug addiction.
When you think of Thanksgiving dinner, most people will visualize a massive spread of food, seemingly enough to feed an army.

But for thousands who have difficulty putting food on the table, thats far from a reality.

I think the economy is struggling, and a lot of folks are struggling with food insecurity like I said, and I think the mission is just trying to be the source of that help to our neighbors, said Brian Johansson, CEO of the Erie City Mission.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thats why Erie City Mission gave out around 1,000 turkeys and dinner boxes to those in need on Monday.

Mercyhurst University to host Nutcracker ballet performances this weekend

Each box feeds a family of five and is filled with standard turkey and fixing, but also fresh ingredients, homemade cookies and a family-friendly game.

Its no cost to people receiving dinners, and no questions asked. Plus, its everything those in need this holiday season say they could ask for.

God is good, and its a blessing helping people that cant afford this for themselves, said Nathaniel Johnson, a Box of Love recipient.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I know how it is to be homeless. Ive been homeless since I was 18 years old, so to give back to the community is something different that people can enjoy. I just helped out an older lady out who said her refrigerator was empty. I understand what it is to have an empty refrigerator and stuff like that. She gave me a hug, and to give back to the community that really blessed me and it blessed the whole community which is a lot happier now, said Quenel Wallace, a volunteer.

YMCA of Greater Erie making changes to benefit local families

The CEO said that this is one of the most well-attended Box of Love giveaways in recent memory, saying that people started lining up as early as midnight.

When all is said and done, the city mission estimates more than 5,000 people who wouldnt have been able to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal this week now can.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ive been doing this 30 years and the reality is that were all blessed, but some folks are struggling. I think its really an eye-opener to me to know that in our country there are still people struggling to put food on the table. Its tragic, I think. Erie City Mission is privileged to be a part of the solution, said Johansson.

Erie City Mission serves around 150,000 meals per year and although there were a lot of people on Monday, their work to feed and take care of those in need goes on year-round.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
JERUSALEM, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday he would recommend a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon for approval by the Israeli cabinet.

In a televised speech, Netanyahu pledged to facilitate the return of residents displaced from Israel's northern border areas, warning, "If Hezbollah violates the deal, we will strike again." 
MORTON, Ill. (WMBD)  The Tazewell County Coroner, Charles Hanley, is reporting that a man is dead after an accident on Sunday.

Samson Vlahos, 21, died from multiple blunt force injuries sustained during a fall from a structure, Hanley said

The Tazewell County Coroner responded to a home near the 27000 block of Lakeland Road in rural Morton. Authorities were informed of the accident at 7:32 a.m. The fall appears to be accidental. A toxicology report is pending.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Blunt force trauma was the cause of death for two in Peoria County motorcycle accident

This incident remains under investigation by the Tazewell County Sheriffs Office and the Tazewell County Coroners Office.

Vlahos was a Bradley University Senior Construction Major, according to a letter sent to students.

The flags on Bradleys campus will be lowered to half-staff for the next three days to honor his memory.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The worlds largest trade union federation has filed complaints with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) against three fashion retailers that it says are profiting from eroding labor rights in Myanmar by continuing to place orders in the junta-ruled Southeast Asian nation, breaching the intergovernmental organizations guidelines for responsible business conduct aimed at minimizing and remedying supply chain harms.

IndustriALL Global Union, together with banned affiliates Confederation of Trade Unions, Myanmar and Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar, charged Next, New Yorker and LPP at OECD contact points in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland earlier this month with reneging on their obligations to operate ethically regarding human rights. Companies that have continued sourcing from Myanmar following the violent 2021 military coup, they say, are benefiting from an environment of fear, forced labor and exploitation in a country with no freedom of association and little rule of law.

More from Sourcing Journal

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We have been urging multinational companies to exit from Myanmar as their existence contributes to the severe violations of human rights and labor rights in the country, said Khaing Zar Aung, the exiled president of the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar. The brands pretend they comply with the OECD guidelines and human rights due diligence, which is impossible under a military dictatorship. Industrial zones are under martial law and the right to freedom of association is banned.

But while many high-profile purveyors, including H&M Group, Zara owner Inditex, Uniqlo parent Fast Retailing, Lidl, Marks & Spencer and Primark, have declared that they will be cutting ties with Myanmaralbeit at different and sometimes unspecified time framesa significant number, including household names such as Adidas and Bestseller, still remain. Those that continue to stick by Myanmar have cited concerns that divesting would exacerbate already deteriorating conditions for workers. They also claim to employ a heightened version of human rights due diligence to root out potential violations, a tack that runs counter to the growing, if not universal, consensus that independent oversight cannot occur under such hostile conditions.

Polands LPP, which is linked to at least 29 complaints, many involving multiple workers, in an allegation tracker updated by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC), maintains the same reasons for staying. The brand says that its suppliers are required to adopt its code of conduct, which aligns with International Labour Organization conventions and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is not subject to any negotiations.

We are currently undergoing thorough supplier audits in Myanmar; we verify reported cases of abuse very carefully, a spokesperson said, noting that it places particular emphasis on occupational health and safety, employment conditions, wages, work hours and freedom of association. In accordance with the provisions of the code, if violations are detected, we have the right to gradually reduce the number of orders and resign from cooperation with such a supplier or immediately terminate the contract.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Britains Next, which is linked to two cases in BHRRCs tracker, and Germany-based New Yorker, which is associated with five, did not respond to requests for comment.

Karina Ufert, CEO of the European Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar, which advocates for European businesses operating in the country, believes that responsible sourcing from Myanmar is still achievable.

We see brands responding to challenges in the operating environment by strengthening their social and environmental responsibility efforts, maintaining engagement with trade unions and labor organizations, and participating in initiatives such as MADE in Myanmar, which currently covers more than 150 supplier factories, she said, referring to a European Union-funded project that promotes social and environmental compliance. While we acknowledge challenges in Myanmars garment sector, including instances of excessive overtime and worker migration driven by low wages, positive change can only be achieved through sustained engagement and close collaboration with all stakeholders on the ground, particularly labor representatives, who continue playing a vital role in improving working conditions.

But IndustriALLs OECD filings also come just as the International Labour Organization announced that it would be taking action against the Myanmar junta for non-observance of conventions relating to forced labor and freedom of association.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The governing body of the ILO, the UN agency said in early November, has decided to place on the agenda of the 113th session of the International Labour Conference in June an item concerning measures under Article 33 of the constitution to secure compliance by Myanmar with the recommendations of the 2023 commission of inquiry, which included a cessation by authorities of all forms of violence and other inhumane treatment against trade unionists and the restoration of the protection of basic civil liberties. Member states that fail to comply with Article 33 can face consequences such as economic sanctions and legal proceedings.

We strongly believe that the ILO must invoke Article 33 and sanction the regime in Myanmar for its failure to uphold basic workers rights, said IndustriALL general secretary Atle Hie. The ILO Commission of Inquiry of October last year found widespread violations of freedom of association and forced labor conventions. The junta refused to accept the report, and conditions for workers remain terrible, with union leaders killed, in prison or in hiding. The regime is waging a civil war against its own population and must be held to account.

IndustriALL, whose framework for responsible business disengagement many exiting brands have referred to, will continue to review the situation in Myanmar, it said. That includes looking at other brands sourcing there.

There is significant evidence of systemic violations of workers rights and brands that remain in Myanmar cannot claim ignorance of the abuses, Hie said. The largest global brands have already left the countrybrands that stay prioritize profits over human and workers rights. We are considering filing further complaints regarding other brands that remain.
Jhei Soares attempted to escape the heavy rain alongside her husband, who managed to survive the mass flooding

JHEI SOARES/Instagram Jhei Soares. Jhei Soares.

Brazilian beauty influencer Jhei Soares died in a flash flood at age 28 on Sunday, Nov. 24.

CNN Brazil reported that the social media star  whose real name is Jenniffer Soares Martins  was with her husband as she was caught in a flood in the Minas Gerais area of Brazil. In a video shared by the New York Post, Soares and her spouse, Wallison Lima, leaned on each other beside their car as someone attempted to rescue them with an extended ladder.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The State Civil Defense Coordination issued a statement acquired by CNN Brazil, which explains that the content creator exited her vehicle amid the storm. The couple attempted to shield themselves with the body of the car as those attempting to help with the ladder seemingly tried to advise them on how to escape.

JHEI SOARES/Instagram Jhei Soares. Jhei Soares.

Related: Australian Fitness Influencer Dies at 30 Shortly After Sharing a Birthday Post About 'Dying Young'

Security footage shared by CNN Brazil shows that Soares was swept away into the flooded street after another car collided with hers. Lima appeared to stand for only a few seconds longer before being dragged down into the water as well.

Around the time of her death, Soares had over 86,000 followers on Instagram, where she shared style and beauty updates on her life.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Though Soares was found dead after the flooding accident, her husband survived. He's since shared social media updates mourning the loss of his wife.

JHEI SOARES/Instagram

Related: Brazilian Influencers Drown at 'Devil's Throat' After Refusing to Wear Life Jackets to Take Selfies and Tan

In recent Instagram Stories, Lima posted photos of him and Soares and addressed her directly in Portuguese. "I don't know what I do without you here," read an English translation of his post from Monday, Nov. 25. "I don't how I'm going to go on without you it's killing me inside."

He captioned another selfie, "I just wanted to be like this with you now."


The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has charged former McNairy County sheriff's deputy Connor Brackin with seven counts of aggravated animal cruelty and eight counts of reckless endangerment. Brackin, who was reportedly responding to an animal welfare call, went to a couple's home while they were at dinner and shot and killed seven of the couple's eight dogs. According to the affidavit, Brackin fired his service weapon into campers where some of the dogs were being contained. Brackin resigned from the sheriff's office after he was arrested.

The post Brickbat: Puppycide Detective appeared first on Reason.com.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH)  Its a problem that plagues every city and town in Connecticut: dangerous drivers who refuse to stop for school buses. Now, AI Technology has come to Bridgeport as the first city to bring these cameras online in a widespread way. These cameras capture video live and in real time.

Now, 270 buses have been outfitted with these cameras.

The individual who violated the traffic violation has the ability to go to court and defend themselves until the judge sees the video and says, Is that you? Is that your car? Bridgeports Deputy School Superintendent Dr. Royce Avery said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bridgeport to implement school bus stop arm cameras

These cameras capture violators in a unique way. They record the cars front and back license plates live and in real-time. The violations are also tracked by GPS and time-stamped.

Bridgeport police said these cameras are a huge help because an officer has to actually see you passing a school bus before you get a ticket. However, having an officer at every bus stop in the city is nearly impossible. Lt. Stacey Lyons told News 8 investigative reporter Jeff Derderian that something disastrous could happen in a split second at a bus stop.

The kids get excited to be out of school to see their parents and cross the street, and they dont always pay attention, Lyons said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lamont, DOT say states wrong-way driving prevention tech is working

Each ticket is reviewed by three people  not AI or a computer  and then an evidence packet detailing the violation is compiled. At that point, its sent to the municipality and reviewed again to ensure the violation is accurate, according to a spokesperson at Bus Patrol, who is the equipment vendor and runs the program. This initiative is violator-funded, meaning the people violating the law of not stopping are paying the bill.

In October alone, officials with the City of Bridgeport told News 8 that 903 citations were sent to people. Each citation represents a person who decided not to stop for a bus once they saw the red lights flashing. The fine is currently $250. There is an appeal process for every person who receives a ticket.

The company hopes to expand the program in Connecticut in the near future.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Watch the entire story above.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
A stolen McLaren was found at a Woodbridge residence with a fraudulent vehicle identification number, police said. (Irvine Police Department)

An Irvine man orchestrated what amounts to a car-laundering scheme, buying stolen cars and trucks and reselling them with counterfeit identifiers, police allege.

Zihua Zhang, 37, was arrested Thursday while driving a Dodge Durango SRT that Irvine police said had been stolen. At his residence in Woodbridge, police said they found a bigger prize: a stolen purple McLaren worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

A detective with the Irvine Police Department had been tracking an auto theft operation, which led to the arrest. Zhang is accused of purchasing stolen luxury cars, replacing their vehicle identification numbers with fakes and selling them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Durango SRT that Zhang was driving when he was stopped Thursday had an altered VIN plate, police said in a statement.

Read more: Marriage, service, TikTok fame: How the Menendez brothers spent 34 years in prison

Along with the McLaren, police said they found fraudulent VIN plates, license plates and checks at Zhang's residence, as well as three unregistered firearms.

He was booked at the Orange County jail. Irvine police did not disclose Monday whether Zhang remained in custody.

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.
FALL BRANCH, Tenn. (WJHL)  BrightRidge placed the first of four new fiber network cabinets in Fall Branch to provide high-speed broadband to residents, the company announced Tuesday.

The project, under the Tennessee Middle-Mile Broadband grant, will serve 122 customers without broadband.

As the remaining fiber networks are completed in Fall Branch in the coming months, the grant will bring broadband to 339 customers, BrightRidge said in a news release.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One occupant suffers smoke inhalation during house fire in Washington Co., Tenn.

In total, the grant will run fiber optic lines along 235 miles of route, according to the release.

We certainly wouldnt be able to even consider serving these customers in the near term without the Tennessee broadband grant, BrightRidge Broadband Chief Broadband Officer Stacy Evans said in the news release. Now that we have the green light, we will move forward as quickly as possible to begin serving these folks who currently have no access to high-speed broadband.

The grant will provide access to up to 10 GB in western Washington County and the northeast corner of Greene County, including rural Fall Branch, South Central, Sulphur Springs-Bowmantown-Leesburg and west to the Greene County line north of Highway 11E, portions of Lamar, Dry Creek and Conklin, south of Jonesborough areas and areas south of Gray.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

BrightRidge customers in grant areas can check their addresses for eligibility and construction dates here.

Those without access to 100Mb/20Mb broadband service at their homes are asked to email BrightRidge at ContactUs@BrightRidge.com with their name, address and acknowledgment of lack of service.

Locations will then be included in a federal BEAD grant application to extend fiber internet to remaining homes, BrightRidgde 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
When it comes to life or death, Keir Starmer cant make up his mind. Yes, on one of the most significant ethical questions MPs will face in this Parliament, our Prime Minister prefers to sit on the fence. This is not a jab at undecided voters grappling with this complex and highly personal issue. But it is a reminder that questions of this nature should rise above polling or party agendas. Some matters demand moral courage, not mere political calculation. This is one of them. This is a matter of conscience.

Reasonable people will disagree on assisted suicide. Those who back the Assisted Dying Bill often do so from a place of compassion and empathy, believing that individuals should have the right to choose how and when they die, especially in cases of unbearable, chronic illness.

Some support the Bill because they cannot bear to see loved ones suffer. They argue that autonomy over ones end-of-life decisions is a final, fundamental right. Then there are those who, quietly but unmistakably, see a utilitarian benefit in the Bill, hinting that assisted dying could relieve the burden on our overstretched healthcare system, especially with an ageing population.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But having reviewed the Bill myself, I will be voting against it. In 2015, I also voted against assisted suicide, and little has changed since. The risk of abuse remains, and the legislation presents a clear step down a slippery slope toward what, in my view, could eventually become institutionalised, state-sanctioned death.

First, lets look at the safeguards  such as they are. The Bill requires that two independent doctors sign off on the decision to end someones life. A judge must then give final approval after reviewing evidence from a doctor and, in some cases, from the individual themselves.

This sounds thorough, but it barely differs from the 2015 proposal Parliament rejected. A process that takes only seven days is hardly a meaningful safeguard when we are talking about irreversible decisions. Coupled with the real risk that, in the inevitable legal challenge that will follow its enactment, the Act will likely be broadened in scope by the European Court of Human Rights by virtue of its expansive interpretation of non-discrimination laws, this law would really mean letting the genie out of the bottle.

The Bill also claims to prevent anyone from coercing another person into assisted suicide by requiring proof of dishonesty, coercion, or pressure to prosecute an offence. This wording might look strong on paper, but in practice, it will be exceedingly difficult to enforce.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The burden of proof is high: courts would need evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, not merely a balance of probabilities, to show that coercion caused the person to request assisted suicide. Imagine the subtle pressures that could influence a decision. A patient may feel obliged to end their life after witnessing their familys struggles to care for them. They might feel, however subtly, that theyve become a burden. How would a jury discern between a caring doctor discussing options and a doctor who subtly nudges a patient toward assisted suicide?

This isnt theoretical. Consider countries like Canada, where broad interpretations of assisted suicide legislation have led to cases in which people with treatable conditions have been offered euthanasia, rather than care. In the absence of adequate safeguards, we are leaving our most vulnerable open to coercion, even if it may be unintentional. As the campaign group Our Duty of Care has pointed out, no law can perfectly safeguard against all forms of pressure that might lead someone to choose death.

Then, theres the troubling shift in our values that this legislation represents. This Bill would give the state a formal role in deciding who lives and who dies. Involving the apparatus of the state in such intimate, human experiences is a line we should not cross. This is not just a question of individual rights; it is a question of how we value human life.

The introduction of assisted suicide would fundamentally alter our societys commitment to protecting the vulnerable and, in doing so, risks opening the door to outcomes that are deeply concerning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We stand at a moral crossroads. Keir Starmer may be undecided, but the time for decision is upon us all. And for those of us who still believe in a society that protects its weakest and most vulnerable, the answer is clear. The Assisted Dying Bill is a step too far. We must be there to comfort and protect, not to judge that life has outlived its worth. Let us not sanction a society that, however unintentionally, nudges its most fragile toward the grave.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Britain has blacklisted a so-called shadow fleet of oil tankers that London said Russia uses to transport billions of dollars' worth of oil and oil products a year. The move seeks to restrict a significant revenue source for the Kremlin's war against Ukraine.

The sanctions, targeting 30 ships, were announced Monday, increasing the total number of Russia's shadow fleet vessels designated by Britain to 73, marking the largest package yet from London targeting Russia's underground oil transportation network.

"Russia's oil revenues are fuelling the fires of war and destruction in Ukraine," Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I will work with our G7 partners and beyond to exert relentless pressure on the Kremlin, disrupt the flow of money into its war chest, erode its military machine, and constrain its malign behaviour worldwide."

The sanctions prohibit the vessels from entering British ports and open them to detention, among other measures.

According to London, half of the ships blacklisted Monday transported more than $4.3 billion worth of oil and oil products, such as gasoline, for Russia last year.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office added that two insurance companies -- Alfastrakhovanie and VSK -- were also hit for enabling these vessels.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The sanctions were unveiled as Lammy attended a G7 meeting in Italy where he was to push for continued pressure on Russia.

The sanctions come a week after Britain sanctioned 10 people accused of facilitating Russian President Vladimir Putin's attempts to forcibly deport and indoctrinate Ukraine's children as part of an effort to erase Ukrainian cultural heritage.

Britain, the United States and other democratic allies have repeatedly imposed sanctions and punitive measures against Russia over its war in Ukraine, which began with the Kremlin's invasion of its neighbor on Feb. 24, 2022.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine on Monday issued a statement expressing gratitude to London for the fresh sanctions.

"As long as Russian oil revenues remain unchecked, the war risks prolonged aggression, and Moscow lacks incentive to pursue peace. Cutting off this financial lifeline is essential to limiting Russia's capacity for aggression," he said on X.
NEW YORK, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Tax credits or not, U.S. auto companies show no intention of retreating from a steady transition away from gas-burning cars and trucks, especially given the enormous investment they have already made: since 2021, the industry has spent at least 160 billion U.S. dollars on planning, designing and building electric vehicles (EV), according to the Center for Auto Research.

Most automakers say their ambitious plans for transitioning to electric vehicles won't change regardless of policy changes in Washington. "We plan for the long term, so political considerations aren't a factor in how we approach product development or capital investments," David Christ, vice president of Toyota North America, which is building a battery factory in North Carolina, told local media.

Hyundai, the Korean automaker, which has spent more than 7 billion dollars on an EV factory in Georgia, sped up construction of the huge plant near Savannah and is now building EVs in the United States to try to capitalize on the tax credits for buyers, The Associated Press (AP) reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, GM, Ford and Stellantis all declined to comment, though their executives have said in the past that they will continue to develop EVs while still selling gasoline vehicles and hybrids. At present, Ford and GM, while profitable overall, are losing money on EVs, unlike Tesla, though both expect their electric-vehicle operations to generate positive earnings in the coming years.

In campaigning for the presidency, Donald Trump condemned the federal tax for EV buyers, up to 7,500 dollars per vehicle, as part of a "green new scam" that would devastate the auto industry.

Trump's transition team is reportedly working on plans to abolish the tax credits and to roll back the more stringent fuel-economy rules that were pushed through by the Joe Biden administration, said the AP report. "It is far from clear, though, that the Trump administration could actually rescind the credits." 
British Airways unveiled its new first-class cabin on Monday.

Business Insider was among the first to see inside the upgraded suite.

It has a sleek, modern design and a touchscreen for flight attendants.

British Airways is investing billions to transform the UK flag carrier.

After unveiling its updated short-haul interior in March, BA showed off its new first-class cabin at its London headquarters on Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Set to debut on the Airbus A380 in 2026, it's an impressive upgrade from the current premium products  especially on the superjumbo jet, which has an older design.

The airline said the new first-class's modern curves and ambient light nod to Concorde, while the materials and design come from different parts of the UK.

Business Insider was among the first people to see inside the new suite. It has plenty of stowage space, a huge seat, and touchscreen controls. In the center, there's the option to remove the divider so couples or friends can sit together.

Here's what British Airways' new first class looks like.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

British Airways unveiled its new first-class suite on Monday.

The mockup cabins were on display at Monday's event. Pete Syme/Business Insider

"First is a really important cabin for us, and we are, as always, committed with our incredible colleagues to making this as premium and as special as possible," said Calum Laming, BA's chief customer officer.

"And in fact, our ambition throughout this whole transformation journey is to take British Airways to the next level and to make it really special," he added.

The new exterior looked sleek with its privacy doors and mood lighting.

A man pressing the privacy door's button. Pete Syme/Business Insider

The concept was first developed by Tangerine Design Consultancy, a London-based firm that has worked with Apple and Toyota and was where Apple legend Jony Ive started his career.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was brought to life with the help of Collins Aerospace.

There's also a touchscreen control panel that makes flight attendants' jobs simpler.

Every suite has a touchscreen on the outside. Pete Syme/Business Insider

The panel's options could let a flight attendant adjust the seating position without having to reach into the suite.

There are also mood lighting options including Relax, Dine, and Cinema.

And a closet with an eye-catching red interior.

The closet is the first of several spaces to feature the eye-catching red. Pete Syme/Business Insider

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The color red features as a tasteful splash of brightness in details throughout the suite.

A carry-on can be wheeled into the bottom of the closet, while the top has space for pajamas.

The inside was even more impressive and modern.

The seat can lie flat to 6 feet 7 inches. Pete Syme/Business Insider

The seat is ultra-wide at 36.5 inches and can lie flat with a bed length of 6 feet 7 inches.

British Airways describes the 60-inch curved wall as providing a "cocooned" space that improves privacy while still feeling spacious. The airline also said soft paneling inside the seat helps absorb sound.

There's enough space for two, with a movable ottoman that can work as a second seat.

A first-person view from the suite. Pete Syme/Business Insider

Note the seatbelt on top, while there's some more storage space underneath too.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Also, that TV is 32 inches and has 4K resolution.

The leather for the ottoman, seat surround, cupboard interiors, and headrest comes from Muirhead in Scotland. It's the same type of luxury leather that featured on Concorde and the Orient Express.

Couples can find more benefits in the center suites.

A rendered image of two center suites. Courtesy of British Airways

The dividers can be fully opened to create a shared space for dining or a feeling like a double bed when sleeping.

It's a similar feature to Qatar Airways' QSuite, which was named the world's best business class at this year's Skytrax awards.

The console has several seat control buttons and a wireless charging port.

The console in British Airways' new first-class suite. Pete Syme/Business Insider

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There are more charging options and a control panel next to the seat.

The control tablet can be taken out of its holder and used as a remote. Pete Syme/Business Insider

It features an international charging port, plus USB-A and USB-C outlets.

The wireless control tablet includes a do-not-disturb option to notify the crew if you want to sleep or enjoy privacy the whole journey.

Underneath, there's some more stowage space.

The suite features plenty of stowage areas. Pete Syme/Business Insider

It's a good size for a handbag or purse, while another drawer opens up beneath the seat-control buttons  with the same red interior.

British Airways said the red leather with cream stitching is supposed to reflect a bespoke Savile Row suit.

Above that, there are two cupboards with amenities and a minibar.

First-class passengers can find water and snacks in the cupboard. Pete Syme/Business Insider

It appeared elegant, with the left cupboard swinging open while the right one had a sliding door.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

By the windows, there was a device holder too.

The window buttons and device holder. Pete Syme/Business Insider

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It means passengers can prop up their phone or tablet in flight.

As well as the lamp near the TV, there's a reading light over the passenger's shoulder.

The reading light. Pete Syme/Business Insider

British Airways' new first-class is set to launch on its Airbus A380 jets in 2026.

A British Airways Airbus A380. JoanValls/Urbanandsport /NurPhoto via Getty Images

British Airways has 12 Airbus A380s, making it the third-largest operator of the type.

The new first-class cabin is set to have 12 seats instead of 14. But with the same number of flight attendants, customers should be able to enjoy more attention.

Read the original article on Business Insider
British beer is under threat because of the Governments tractor tax, hop farmers have warned.

The British Hop Association (BHA) said Labours inheritance tax raid could sound the death knell for hop producers, forcing breweries to import the crop from abroad instead.

Hops, which give beers and ales their bitter flavour, are the flower of the common hop plant and have been used by British brewers since the medieval period.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, there are now just 44 hop-growing farms left in the country and industry representatives have warned that the Governments 20 per cent inheritance tax on farming assets worth more than 1 million could force many of them out of business.

Mark Andrews, of the BHA, told The Telegraph that the tax raid would definitely hurt production.

Things are a struggle enough as it is, said the 10th-generation hop and cider apple farmer from Ledbury, Herefordshire.

A very large tax bill, even though it can be spread over 10 years I can see hop production diminishing.

It could be the death knell for British hop growing. Brewers would have to import much more foreign hops.

The British Hop Association estimates that total acreage under hop cultivation has declined by 40 per cent in five years - Christopher Jones

The BHA estimates that Britains total acreage under hop cultivation has declined by 40 per cent since 2019.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr Andrews farms 150 acres, 35 of which are used to grow nine different varieties of hop.

He said: We have 150 acres in Herefordshire. Were quite small really. Hop farms tend to be on the small side.

Im in my late 50s, so we might be able to prepare for the tax. But anyone whos in their 70s has got a real problem.

Most of the farms will be caught more than they were. There are small revenues but big capital values so it would be a major struggle [to pay the tax].

For a pint to be entirely made in Britain, all of its ingredients  malt, hops, yeast and water  would have to be sourced and processed domestically.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Increased imports of foreign-grown hops would therefore make wholly British-made beers and ales rarer.

The British Beer and Pub Association also warned that breweries would be harmed if the countrys hop farmers were jeopardised.

A spokesman for the organisation, which represents 90 per cent of the countrys brewers and 20,000 pubs, said breweries rely so much on hop and grain growers.

The farming sector forms a crucial part of the brewing and beer supply chain, which, if jeopardised, could impact many brewers across the country who themselves are currently [facing] significant new cost challenges, they added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Government has attracted major criticism over its changes to agricultural property relief, which were announced in last months Budget.

Previously, farmland and other assets qualifying for the relief could be passed on free from inheritance tax.

However, from April 2026, only up to 1 million will be exempt  with any amount above this subject to a 20 per cent charge on death.

Thousands of farmers marched on Whitehall last week to protest the changes, which they say will lead to the dissolution of family farms, many of which have been passed down the generations for centuries.

The National Farmers Union (NFU), citing Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) figures, has said approximately two-thirds of farms are worth over 1 million and would therefore be at risk.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Government maintains that fewer than 500 estates a year will be affected by the changes. This is based on data from HM Revenue and Customs showing the number of estates claiming agricultural property relief each year.

A spokesman for Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, said he had recognised the strength of feeling among farmers when he met with Tom Bradshaw, president of the NFU, on Monday afternoon.

However, he refused to make any compromises on the policy.

Sir Keirs official deputy spokesman told reporters: The Prime Minister took the opportunity to have a constructive conversation with Mr Bradshaw about why we believe the changes are the right approach and to discuss how we can support them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were not considering mitigations for the policy. Were fully committed to implementing it as weve set out.

The spokesman added that the pair had a wide-ranging conversation in which the Prime Minister recognised the strength of feeling about the changes to agricultural property relief set out in the Budget and listened to the NFUs concerns.

They added: In the meeting, they discussed the Governments commitment to solidly protecting the interests of British farmers, including in trade negotiations and public sector procurement, as well as working together to make sure environmental land management schemes deliver for farmers.

Mr Bradshaw said: I welcome the Prime Minister asking to hear directly about farmers concerns, and I am grateful to him for taking the time to do so. I hope we can work together towards a resolution on this issue.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Defra was approached for comment.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Approximately 60 members of the British armed forces have reportedly deployed across three air bases in the United Kingdom that host American forces in response to ongoing drone incidents. Nearly a week ago, mysterious drone incursions began over RAF Lakenheath, the U.S. Air Forces main fighter hub in the country, which TWZ was first to report. It subsequently emerged that other bases had been experiencing concerning activity by still unidentified uncrewed aerial systems at the same time.

The Times newspaper in the United Kingdom was among the first to report on the reinforcements sent to RAF Lakenheath, as well as RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell, citing anonymous sources. RAF Lakenheath, as well as RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell, had experienced drone incursions between Nov. 20 and Nov. 22. Lakenheath and Mildenhall, at least, also then saw similar drone activity yesterday. All three facilities are situated in eastern England.

The 48th Fighter Wing, with its F-35A Joint Strike Fighters and F-15E Strike Eagles, and the 100th Air Refueling Wing, which flies KC-135s, are the main units at Lakenheath and Mildenhall respectively. There have also been signs that Lakenheath is at least being prepared to re-host U.S. nuclear bombs after those weapons were removed from the country in 2008. Feltwell also houses personnel from the 48th Fighter Wing and serves as an additional logistical node for American forces in the country.

A US Air Force F-35A lands at RAF Lakenheath. USAF

A military source  confirmed that the RAF had offered the US a counter-drone system that can electronically take command of an enemy drone and turn it back on itself to try to identify those flying the drones, according to The Times newspaper in the United Kingdom, though it is unclear if the capability or others have actually been deployed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Ninja  negation of improvised non-state joint aerial-threats  is a counter-drone system able to identify targets up to 7km [approximately 4.3 miles] away, The Times story adds without confirming whether this could be among the counter-drone capabilities on offer. When the hostile drone gets closer, the system overrides the command system and sends new instructions, according to the defense firm Leonardo.

NINJA was originally developed for the U.S. Air Force and subsequently became part of the Royal Air Force ORCUS counter-drone system, which also includes a counter-drone electronic warfare jamming system called Guardian and various sensors.

A graphic showing elements of the RAFs Orcus counter-drone suite. Crown copyright

We take threats seriously and maintain robust measures at defense sites. We are supporting the US Air Force response, the U.K. Ministry of Defense told The War Zone when asked for more information. We are not offering detail on numbers, locations or equipment.

We employ multi-layered and credible force protection measures, we will not go into specifics and it would be inappropriate to comment further on operational security matters, however, we can confirm we are working closely with USVF [U.S. Visiting Force], Police and other partners to respond to recent events, the U.K. Ministry of Defense had also told TWZ yesterday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Small unmanned aerial systems continue to be spotted in the vicinity of and over Royal Air Force Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Feltwell and RAF Fairford since Nov. 20, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), the services top command in the region, said in an update to its press release on the ongoing situation today. To date, installation leaders have determined that none of the incursions impacted base residents, facilities or assets. The Air Force is taking all appropriate measures to safeguard the aforementioned installations and their residents.

The number of [uncrewed aerial] systems has fluctuated, and they have ranged in sizes and configurations. Our units continue to monitor the airspace and are working with host-nation authorities and mission partners to ensure the safety of base personnel, facilities and assets, the release adds. To safeguard operational security, we do not discuss specific force protection measures, however we retain the right to protect our installations. We request individuals in the area to contact either local police or Security Forces if they see anything suspicious, to include sUASs or drone activity.

An aerial view of RAF Lakenheath. David Goddard/Getty Images

I can confirm the situation is ongoing and our units continue to monitor the airspace and are working with host-nation authorities and mission partners to ensure the safety of base personnel, facilities, and assets, a USAFE spokesperson had earlier told Sky News. To safeguard operational security, we do not discuss specific force protection measures, however we retain the right to protect our installations.

We can confirm there were sightings yesterday during night-time hours and can only confirm that the number fluctuated and varied between the bases over the night, USAFE said as well, according to The Times. Since November 20, there has been no impact to residents or infrastructure and they have not been identified as hostile.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, they are still continuously being monitored to ensure the safety and security of the installations.

Who is operating the drones and for what purpose remains unknown. U.S. and U.K. authorities are reportedly investigating whether the activity is part of some kind of larger coordinated operation and who might be responsible.

A satellite image of RAF Lakenheath. Google Earth

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Regardless, the incursions over the three British air bases and the continued drone activity in their vicinity for nearly a week underscores very real concerns about uncrewed aerial threats to critical military facilities and civilian infrastructure. TWZ has been on the leading edge of covering this topic for years and has broken multiple stories now about drone incursions over key U.S. bases and training ranges, as well as uncrewed aerial systems harassing American forces off the coasts of the United States and making worrisome overflights of important non-military sites. A spate of drone incursions over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia in December 2023, which TWZ was the first report on, has now become a particular national cause celebre.

The United Kingdom is no stranger to the still-growing danger posed by drones. Though the exact circumstances remain unclear, reports of unauthorized uncrewed aerial activity paralyzed Gatwick Airport for multiple days in December 2018.

Concerning drone incursions, including some potentially tied to Russia, have been reported elsewhere in Europe in recent years. There has been a surge in reports more recently about sabotage plots and other attacks against targets in Europe orchestrated or otherwise fomented by the Russian government. This includes reported fears of a possible drone attack on Geilenkirchen Air Base in Germany, which hosts NATOs fleet of E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, in August.

Since the news about the incursions over Langley broke, other unauthorized drone activity over and around U.S. and allied military bases, as well as options (or the lack thereof) for neutralizing those threats, has been getting greater attention. Domestically, American forces are faced with sometimes confusing and obtuse authorities about when and how they can knock down drones flying over sensitive sites, as you can read more about here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the meantime, TWZ is continuing to follow the ongoing situation around the three air bases in the United Kingdom closely.

UPDATE: 2:20 PM EST 

Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder responded to questions about the drone incidents in the United Kingdom at a routine press conference today.

What I would tell you  is that they [the drones] are being actively monitored. Installation leaders have determined, so far, that none of these incursions impact the base residents, the facilities, or the assets that we have on those bases, Ryder said. Were, of course, continuing to work with host nation authorities and our mission partners to ensure the safety of our personnel, our facilities, and the equipment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You know, the bottom line is, its something that were going to take seriously, [and] were continuing to look into it, but as of right now, [it] has not had any significant mission impact, he continued. I wont get into force protection measures. We, of course, always maintain the right to defend ourselves if we deem something to be a threat, but, again, well continue to work with the local host nation authorities there.

I dont want to speculate and draw unnecessary connections. You know, again, this is something that well look into as, Ryder added when asked if there might be any link to other drone incursions over U.S. facilities. You know, small UASs, drones, have become something thats, you know, relatively common now across the landscape. Its something that the Department has been looking closely at in terms of how it applies to our facilities, our personnel, whether its in combat zones or outside of combat zones.

Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder



on the latest drone threats over US airbases in the UK. pic.twitter.com/SBb4pRSNXx  wow (@wow36932525) November 26, 2024

Ryder also declined to speak to what the drones flying over and around the bases in the United Kingdom might have been doing or who their operators might be.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Again, I dont want to get into the specifics in terms of tactics, techniques, and procedures [TTP] as it relates to force protection. Certainly, we have a variety of means at our disposal, and we will protect our personnel and our facilities, Ryder said. Again, just to kind of put this into context, you know, even here in the United States, right, if there are drones that are being flown by hobbyists or some other entity, you want to make sure that youre doing due diligence, not only to protect yourself and the safety of others, but also using appropriate measures in order to not inadvertently Create second [or] third order effects, in other words, potentially harming the civilian communities in which we operate in and around.

Ryder did not directly answer questions about reports of British military personnel now having reinforced RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell.

Were working very closely with the authorities there. We are taking it seriously. Were monitoring, taking appropriate measures. Again, Im not going to get into the specific TTPs in terms of when and if we feel that we need to take something down at this point, he said. The assessment is that these do not pose any type of, you know, effect on our operations or safety of our personnel.

Its not uncommon if we have, you know, small teams that go around the world that are specialists in various capabilities, he noted, speaking generally.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com
A Brooklyn man who once tried to kidnap a teenager in Sweden is accused of grooming two 13-year-old girls he met on a Reddit forum and paying them to send him sexually explicit videos of themselves.

Dewitt John, 31, has a history of violence and abuse against young women, starting with his attempt to abduct a 17-year-old in Stockholm in 2014, according to federal prosecutors.

John is accused of striking up a conversation with a 13-year-old girl who posted topless photos of herself this March on a Reddit group where teenagers ask if theyre ugly. The girl included her age in one of her posts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He replied to the girl and offered to pay her for photos, then struck up a conversation with her on Instagram and started offering her money through Cash App to send him videos of herself.

On March 31, he asked the girl to make something special for him, giving her instructions on what to do before saying, Tell daddy how much you want him to f you, according to a criminal complaint. He then sent her $20, the feds allege.

John pressured the young teen to send her videos, even though the girl said she was scared and told him, I dont really want to, I dont feel comfortable with that and Im only 13, according to the complaint.

The minor connected John to one of her friends, also 13, whom he also convinced to sell him explicit videos of herself, the feds allege.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

John was arrested on Nov. 19 and charged with federal child porn offenses.

It wasnt immediately clear Tuesday how authorities learned of his alleged abuse.

John spent about a year in a Swedish prison in 2014, after he tried to abduct a 17-year-old girl he met online, according to court documents.

He met her twice in person, and  after becoming enraged when she wanted to cut off contact  in April 2014 he traveled to Stockholm with an army knife, rope and cable ties, the feds said. He then used a car tool to force himself into the teens house, but her father was home and forced John to leave.

Related Articles

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Swedish authorities learned that he told the teen he had a gun under his bed in his Brooklyn home, and found evidence that he used his phone to search for information about the penalty for murder in Sweden.

He also sent a series of increasingly violent messages to a Virginia woman in 2021 and 2022, the feds said. He met the woman online when she was 18, and the communications turned violent when she didnt reciprocate his romantic interests, the feds said.

You all ought to know your place. Youre nothing, should all be raped to be put in your place. Thats what you need. Hope you get to experience that to show your worth. Taliban has the right idea in putting [you] where you belong. You deserve it and everything that happens to you. Worthless s, he wrote in one message.

Well i aint no beta b- lover boy no mo, nor do I associate with any other beta cucks. the only b- here is you where things belong. Man on top women below. As how the lord intended it . . . You represent all the years Ive had to deal with people like you, he wrote in another message. All this pent up resentment I hold on to. Finally someones going to take the consequences . . . Nuke 1 on its way. You wont personally hear from me again. You may see me but you wont hear from me again. Remember im crazy just like putin. Save the biggest nuke for last.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He also threatened to murder the Virginia womans family, and told another person that he planned to visit the woman, boasting, Well. Murder suicide it is.

The threats led to two warrants for the defendants arrest in Virginia this year, the feds allege.

John was released on $100,000 bond to house arrest at his mothers home.

His lawyer declined comment Tuesday.
(WIVT/WBGH)  The proposed Broome Technology Park near Airport Road launched a new, online survey, and wants your feedback.

The Broome County Industrial Development Agency, or The Agency, has proposed the development of a tech park, spanning the Towns of Maine and Union.

Last week, The Agency started a survey on its website, to hear what the community thinks of the development.

The survey is in a short answer format, and all responses are anonymous.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The questions ask about your knowledge of the project, whether you support it or not, and why.

The Agency says the Tech Park could bring in significant investment from businesses, which could counteract Broome Countys high poverty rates.

However, some neighbors are adamantly opposed to the project.

You can take the survey online at BroomeTechParkcom.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Two brothers are facing charges for a shooting that forced people to take cover as bullets struck vehicles and nearby businesses, including an indoor playground with dozens of children, according to documents obtained by 8 News Now.

The shooting occurred on Sunday, Nov. 3, outside of the LOL Kids Club on South Rainbow Boulevard near Warm Springs Road. According to documents, there were more than 50 people, mostly children, playing inside when the gunfire erupted, hitting the building and breaking windows.

Upon arrival, officers spoke with a man who explained that he had gone to Dollar Tree to purchase a birthday balloon and card for his grandmother. While there, he noticed a Hyundai Santa Fe parked next to his BMW.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Moments later, he saw a man leaning out of the drivers side window of the Hyundai, appearing to write something on his car. The man told police that he stepped out of the store to confront the driver and tell him to leave his vehicle alone.

In response, the driver of the Hyundai yelled back, using explicit language.

The Hyundai then drove off, and the man got into his car to follow them. However, he lost sight of the Hyundai but did get a license plate number. The man then returned to the store to retrieve his gifts, police said.

Police said at this point, a Challenger entered the parking lot. While the man did not pay much attention to the Challenger, he began to feel something was off and walked back toward his BMW, he told LVMPD officers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the arrest report as he got closer, a man in the Challenger yelled at him, then pulled out a handgun and began shooting. The man ran towards the LOL Kids Club, seeking shelter. He entered the store but quickly left upon seeing children inside, a witness told police.

Through surveillance footage, a police officer said he observed parents grabbing their children in an attempt to get them to safety.

The Challenger drove off, and the man told police he believed the passenger was the same person he had seen in the Hyundai.

Through their investigation, police conducted a record check of the vehicle and traced it to a specific address. Surveillance footage confirmed the Hyundai had arrived at that address.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Nov. 4, LVMPD said they observed a man leave the residence, and when they attempted a stop, the man fled on foot, discarding a black gun. He was apprehended shortly and identified as Vontahg McGuire. A background check revealed that McGuire was a convicted felon from Michigan.

Police continued surveillance on the residence and saw a Mercedes arrive. When they attempted to stop the Mercedes, a man matching the description of the individual seen in surveillance footage exited the vehicle and entered the residence disobeying police commands.

After about 15 minutes, the man surrendered and was taken into custody. He was identified as Vametrius McGuire.

Court documents show different spellings for both mens surnames but Vanmetris McGruie and Vontahj McGuire are both facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and assault with a deadly weapon. Vontahj McGuire, a convicted felon, also faces charges of illegally carrying a weapon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Buffalo man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Monday after the fatal shooting of a man on Glenwood Avenue in 2022, the Erie County District Attorneys Office announced.

Martinko Jamel Caver, 45, shot George McGee, III, 33, on the 300 block of Glenwood Avenue, officials said. The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Sept. 5, 2022.

McGee was pronounced deceased at ECMC.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Caver pleaded guilty to the highest count against him. He faces 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced Jan. 30 and is currently being held without bail.

Latest Local News

Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
Last week, the Bureau of Reclamations released potential alternative guidelines to replace the current Colorado River management plans that expire post-2026. Five proposals were published that the bureau will review for analysis in the draft environmental impact statement.

Ahead of schedule, drafts of the guidelines were expected to be released in December. After reviewing and listening to public feedback over the drafts, the long federal process is expected to have an agreement by August 2026 and new plans in place beginning in 2027.

In a press release published last Wednesday by the U.S. Department of the Interior, the shared hope that the seven basin states (Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, California and Nevada) and Mexico can come to a consensus ensuring water security for the 40 million people dependent on it was expressed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We continue to support and encourage all partners as they work toward another consensus agreement that will both protect the long-term stability of the Colorado River Basin and meet the needs of all communities, acting Deputy Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis said in the press release.

The five potential water management options the Bureau of Reclamation will review for analysis in the draft impact statement:

Alternative 1: Federal authorities.

Alternative 2: Federal authorities hybrid.

Alternative 3: Cooperative conservation.

Alternative 4: Basin hybrid.

Alternative 5: No action.

As the West continues to face drought conditions, now is the time for more investment, innovation and collaboration for urgent and essential progress across the Colorado River Basin. The river is one of our nations most invaluable natural resources, White House national climate adviser Ali Zaidi said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We owe it to future generations to find long-term solutions that ensure the rivers continued stability.

An overview of the plans

Under the federal authorities plan, protecting critical infrastructure already in place would be prioritized, similar to how the river has been previously managed  no new delivery or storage methods. Lake Powell releases to lower basin states would vary between 5 million acre-feet and 9.5 million acre-feet, depending on reservoir elevation.

Lower Basin shortages could reach up to 3.5 million acre-feet and be distributed based on water use priorities among the states. This alternative does not propose new mechanisms for water delivery or storage but includes explicit awareness for unused Tribal water.

The federal authorities hybrid plan takes into account proposals from tribes, federal agencies and stakeholders to achieve robust protection of critical infrastructure while benefiting key resources (e.g., natural, hydropower and recreation) through a new approach to distributing storage between Lake Powell and Lake Mead that enhances the reservoirs ability to support the Basin, according to the bureaus summary of the alternatives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It links Lake Powells releases to combined reservoir levels, long-term hydrological patterns and Lower Basin delivery needs. New storage and delivery mechanisms would allow for greater flexibility. Contributions from both basins include Upper Basin conservation stored in Lake Powell and Lower Basin shortages starting at 1.5 million acre-feet and potentially rising to 3.5 million acre-feet, ensuring overall basin cooperation.

Inspired by conservation groups, the cooperative conservation plan seeks to stabilize water storage while fostering stewardship and water-saving measures. It introduces ideas like elevation triggers and an operationally neutral water pool, allowing conserved water to be used flexibly across the system for environmental and infrastructure needs without dictating how the reservoirs are managed. Both measures could be incorporated into other plans, allowing for a Frankenstein approach to crafting a final plan that incorporates the best components of each, Western Resource Advocates regional policy manager John Berggren said.

The intake towers of Hoover Dam near Boulder City, Nev., are pictured on Monday, Oct. 10, 2022. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Regarding the conservation reserve pool, Berggren, who participated in creating the conservation alternative, told the Deseret News, Once users conserve that water and they put it into this pool, the Bureau of Reclamation has the ability and the flexibility to move that water wherever its needed because its operationally neutral.

In other words, it doesnt impact decisions at Lake Powell or Lake Mead. So if its needed in Lake Powell to buffer temperature changes in Glen Canyon dam releases, (or) if its needed in Lake Powell for high flow experiments in Grand Canyon, it can be there. if its needed in Lake Mead to help protect Hoover Dam and critical infrastructure, this pool of water can be moved down there. So the whole idea is, lets encourage conservation, and once people conserve that water, they still have access to it because its their water, but while its in this new pool, lets get some beneficial use out of it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The basin hybrid plan incorporates ideas from both upper and lower basin states as well as Tribal nations. Its aim is to have coordinated operations and may facilitate greater agreement across the Basin. It bases Lake Powells releases mainly on its elevation, ranging from 5 to 12 million acre-feet.

The no-action plan is a required alternative  more of a control group  and is not likely to gain any traction.

The fundamental challenge and issue between the upper and lower basin states right now is everyone agrees we need to find ways to use less water or conserve water. The fundamental disagreement is, whos going to do that? And is it mandatory, or is it voluntary? So thats where the difference comes in, Berggren said.
Vandals broke into a South Los Angeles elementary school for the sixth time since July over the weekend, causing an estimated $115,000 in damage and adding to a steady toll of recent losses due to theft and vandalism in the L.A. Unified School District.

This semester alone there have been 171 incidents of burglary and vandalism in the nation's second-largest school system, with Wadsworth Elementary, the site of a Monday news conference, especially hard hit. Districtwide the damage is in the millions of dollars annually, officials said, although they did not release specific figures.

L.A. schools Supt. Alberto Carvalho conceded it was a problem that the school system would typically avoid highlighting.

Officials inspect damage from a break-in at Wadsworth Elementary School. (Howard Blume / Los Angeles Times)

"We don't want negative news, right?" Carvalho said. "We don't necessarily talk about it, but to target, burglarize, vandalize, steal from poor schools  that is reprehensible. So I want to make sure that the community would know about it, and hopefully somebody provides information."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The damage estimate could rise at Wadsworth once an inventory is completed, which might have to wait for several days because schools have begun their weeklong Thanksgiving break.

The break-in occurred sometime Sunday. Principal Jenny Guzman-Murdock said she had been at the school as recently as Saturday.

Although the campus gets locked up tight, it lacks a burglar alarm, and security cameras have arrived but have not yet been installed. Some schools already have such systems and there are plans to install them at all campuses at significant expense.

The vandals apparently used heavy tools to pry open dead-bolted, metal-reinforced doors  doing major damage to the doors. In all, 24 rooms were broken into, Guzman-Murdock said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read more: 'Dangerous people ... have taken control.' LAUSD declares itself an immigrant, LGBTQ+ sanctuary

Some staff members showed up to quickly clean up, including community representative Maricela Almaraz, who restored order in the parent center because, she said, she didn't want the parents to see the damage.

No one had yet gotten to a second-floor classroom that was in disarray, with crayons, books and papers dumped on the floor and chairs overturned. Graffiti marred a wall just outside the classroom.

Parent Bertha Cuevas said the vandalism made her angry and apprehensive.

"It's like the kids are going to have too much trauma in their brains," said Cuevas, who stood outside the campus with her third-grade son and first-grade daughter. "And I don't think that's right. I think this school needs to have security cameras on the street, every part of the school."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cuevas praised the school for being attentive to children with special needs.

Among LAUSD schools, Wadsworth Elementary has been especially hard hit. (Howard Blume / Los Angeles Times)

Keeping buildings and property secure is one more challenge added to the school system's safety puzzle.

Student activists and some parents have called for eliminating all school police  saying that education dollars should be spent on counselors, mental health and achievement programs instead. In response to such calls, the Board of Education voted in 2020 to slash school police funding by 30%.

But even at its largest, the school police force was never big enough for around-the-clock patrols at some 1,000 campuses in the sprawling district. Instead, Carvalho said, campus security had to be enhanced with a combination of measures.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I think the solution is one of additional supervision, better community relations, additional information brought to us by members of the community," he said. "We have a pretty good idea that these are not outsiders  from outside of the community  coming in. These are individuals who probably live in the community. And we're hoping that this appeal results in somebody who knows something bringing information to us."

Read more: LAUSDs Black student achievement program upended, targeted by conservative Virginia group

He called special attention to the district's LASAR app, which stands for Los Angeles Schools Anonymous Reporting. Carvalho emphasized that leads reported on LASAR could remain anonymous.

Stolen laptops are clearly marked as L.A. Unified property and can be shut down remotely, he added, making them of little use to thieves. But when they are taken  even when they are later dumped  they still must be replaced at considerable cost, becoming lost educational dollars.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some incidents appear to be professional jobs "largely driven by organized crime," Carvalho said. "So the stealing of copper, the stealing of catalytic converters. There are adult, criminal entities that organize that, and we want to create community awareness about that as well, which may help "bring those who are responsible to justice."

There's really no one to monitor security cameras at schools, but they are potentially helpful for deterrence and gathering evidence after the fact. Burglar alarms also are a deterrent.

The school police department  even in its reduced form  has vacant positions. The current strategy is to use officers almost entirely for patrols and emergency situations during school hours.

Los Angeles Unified has been hit by increased crime and violence since students returned to in-person learning after the campus closures of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Even if a large group of pro-police parents prevail in preserving the police department, there currently are not enough officers to patrol campus at the level prior to the reductions. And there's only a skeleton crew after hours.

An April report listed 382 police department positions, of which 323 were filled.

Carvalho said he may need to deploy some officers around the clock to sensitive areas, including bus yards, to protect such assets as the catalytic converters on buses.

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.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A new decision from the Third Court of Appeals could land the Burnet County Judge back in court on criminal charges that were previously thrown out.

Judge James Oakley faced several criminal accusations, including abuse of office, official oppression and tampering with evidence and was indicted in 2023. The claims centered around two different issues: his role as a Pedernales Electrical Cooperative board member while also serving as Burnet County judge and, separately, the handling of a vehicle collision in 2021.

Oakley was suspended from his position. He was ultimately reinstated, after a jury found Oakley not guilty of one charge and a visiting district judge, Dib Waldrip, granted Oakleys motions to quash several of the other charges.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Oakley originally asked the court to toss out the charges because the indictments didnt meet the necessary legal standard  specifically, a part of due process called fair notice  he argued.

However, a panel of judges from the Third Court of Appeals said Waldrip erred in his decision to quash the claims  at least in part because it was based on reasons Oakley did not originally argue in his original motions. Oakley had originally asked the court to toss out the charges because the indictments didnt meet the necessary legal standard  specifically, a part of due process called fair notice.

The appeals courts opinion, filed earlier this month, ruled the charging documents in this case did serve as adequate notice under the law. It overturned Waldrips orders and sent the case back down to the lower courts.

KXAN reached out to Waldrip for comment on this update and did not hear back.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Oakleys defense attorney, John Carsey, said he was surprised by their decision but stressed that it has nothing to do with Oakleys guilt or innocence.

In an email to KXAN, he wrote, The original orders quashing the indictments were based solely on the charging instruments that were filed and had nothing to do with the evidentiary facts of the cases. We will be challenging the State to prove with evidence the allegations contained in the indictments.

He also said they plan to file a motion for a rehearing in front of the Court of Appeals.

He noted that he believes all of the claims against his client are spurious, but especially the claims involving the 2021 vehicle collision.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It involved a run-of-the-mill fender-bender which occurred when Oakley was turning off of Hwy 71 onto the road to his house. Another vehicle was exiting a gas station and collided with the trailer which Oakley was towing. A portion of the bumper of the other vehicle was removed from the other vehicle in the collision. In order to clear the road of debris (as is required by state law) Oakley picked up the piece of the bumper and placed it next to the other vehicle. For this, he was ultimately indicted for the felony offense of Tampering with Physical Evidence, Carsey wrote.

The Burnet County District Attorney Sonny McAfee, however, told KXAN he does not take cases to grand juries that are run-of-the-mill fender benders and said this case was carefully reviewed before charging decisions were made.

The district attorneys office must decide to pursue the charges against Oakley, and McAfee told KXAN it is his intention to try the case. However, his term ends on Dec. 31  meaning the decision would fall to his successor, Perry Thomas, if the case has not resolved by the end of the year. That seems likely, McAfee said.

If Oakleys attorney files motion for a rehearing, the appeals court would also have to decide about reexamining the case before anything moved toward a trial in district court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Still, McAfee maintains the cases are certainly worth pursuing.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
YANGON, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar authorities have seized over 332 kg of heroin and more than 4.1 million stimulant tablets in central Myanmar's Mandalay region, the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) reported late Tuesday.

Acting on a tip-off, anti-narcotics police raided a location in Kyaukse township where narcotics were being transferred, together with 147.4 kg of heroin and 4.148 million stimulant tablets on Nov. 17, according to the report.

An additional 184.8 kg of heroin in connection with the case was also seized on Nov. 19 in the same township, it said.

Investigations revealed that the drugs came from Shan state, the report said.

The seized drugs are approximately worth over 14.5 billion kyats (about 6.9 million U.S. dollars) on black market, it said.

The arrested suspects have been charged under the country's laws, and a further investigation is ongoing, the report added. 
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  A Burrillville man who investigators say hoarded hundreds of guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition has lost an appeal seeking to have his prison sentence reduced.

Ronald Andruchuk, 40, was sentenced to more than five years in prison last year after pleading guilty to three federal counts that he lied on applications when buying firearms.

Investigators found more than 200 guns strewn around his Burrillville home, along with more than 25,000 rounds of ammunition and a flamethrower.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In his plea deal with the government, Andruchuk agreed he could not appeal his sentence as long as the judge did not go over a recommended guideline range when handing down the punishment.

Andruchuk appealed anyway, arguing there was insufficient evidence to support the sentence, as well as ineffective legal counsel.

On Tuesday, a three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Andruchuks arguments.

In the 23-page decision written by U.S. Circuit Judge Bruce Selya, the court noted Andruchuk fully understood his ability to appeal was all but closed off during his change-of-plea hearing because he was repeatedly asked by the sentencing judge about what he was agreeing to.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The waiver of appeal was knowing and voluntary, Selya wrote, adding the sentence fell within the guideline range to prevent an appeal.

Andruchuk made a technical argument that despite the plea agreement preventing an appeal, he was allowed to do so because of an issue with the evidence presented at sentencing.

He said part of his 63-month sentence was calculated on the governments accusation that he possessed illegal large-capacity magazines. Under federal rules, those magazines needed to be attached to semiautomatic weapons for them to count toward a higher sentence. But Andruchuk said the evidence the government presented did not expressly show any magazines connected to the guns.

Selya rejected the argument, writing that no one questioned the evidence at the time because the defendant himself conceded the accuracy of all the facts presented at sentencing. The facts were written in whats called a presentence investigative (PSI) report the judge uses to determine an appropriate sentence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To be sure, the defendant argues that the government never proved that this jumble of guns and ammunition contained a magazine capable of accepting more than 15 rounds, either attached or in close proximity to a semiautomatic firearm, Selya wrote. But under the circumstances of this case, the governments decision to rest on the PSI report may well be a result of the defendants stipulation to the facts.

Selya noted that had the issue been raised, then the government likely would have had the opportunity to present sufficient facts to satisfy the rule. And either way, the mountain of evidence presented to the court left no doubt that the sentence was appropriate.

We discern no clear or obvious error in the district courts calculation of the guideline range, Selya wrote.

The appeals court also rejected Andruchuks argument of ineffective counsel, but for procedural reasons. Selya wrote that the defendant first must raise the matter with the lower court before the 1st Circuit can consider the matter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy sentenced Andruchuk in April 2023. He is currently serving his time at a federal prison in Virginia with a projected release date of September 2026. He had been in custody for 14 months prior to his sentencing.

Andruchuk pleaded guilty earlier that year to three federal charges, including two counts of making false statements during a firearm purchase and possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substances.

He is also facing state ghost gun and drug charges, which are on hold while he serves his federal sentence.

Along with the weapons strewn around the house, Andruchuk was charged with firing in a compact area for shooting rounds into the woods near his home, sending bullets toward his neighbors home.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At sentencing, Andruchuk admitted to suffering from a drug addiction, and called his arrest a blessing in disguise because it forced him into sobriety.

Tim White (twhite@wpri.com) is Target 12 managing editor and chief investigative reporter and host of Newsmakers for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily Roundup

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
CONKLIN, NY (WIVT/WBGH)  Janes Diner in Conklin was named the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerces Business of the Week.

Jane, an immigrant from Greece, opened the diner in 1994, and just two years ago, sold it to the current owner, Konstantina Ontivero.

Janes Diner serves breakfast all day, 7 days a week, but Ontivero says theyre known just as much for their dinners.

Specifically, the chicken parm, the fried haddock, or the seafood combo.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She says she tries to come with a new special dish every day.

Ontivero says when you come to Janes, you know youre getting good, inexpensive food, served with a smile.

Everybody here knows us, everybody knows what were about. Everybody comes in, we make you feel like family. We know you, we know your kids, we know your grandkids. We see you every single day. Theres nothing we dont talk about, its a family here, says Ontivero.

Ontivero says she became a member of the Greater Binghamton Chamber shortly after taking over two years ago.

Janes is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

On Sundays from 7 to 3, Monday from 6 to 3, and Tuesdays from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The restaurant posts updates and daily specials online, just lookup Janes Diner on Facebook.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34.
Butterball is facing resurfaced allegations of abuse, prompting some Americans to boycott the major turkey manufacturer just days before Thanksgiving.

As millions of people across the United States prepare their turkey-filled Thanksgiving menus, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has drawn attention to its undercover investigation of Butterballs manufacturing plant in Ozark, Arkansas, which took place between April and July 2006.

On November 5, the non-profit organization posted an interview clip with an unidentified investigator, who claimed he witnessed harrowing instances of sexual assault against the live turkeys at the Butterball plant.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the graphic video, the undercover worker accused a Butterball employee of shoving his finger up a turkeys cloaca, or vagina. Another worker allegedly humped a turkey while it was restrained.

The clip then cut to footage of the Butterball plant, which PETA reported slaughters approximately 50,000 birds each day.

Undercover footage also showed a worker sitting on a turkey, while another clip showed an employee kicking the bird. I kicked the f*** out of the motherf***er, they said.

Some Americans are boycotting Butterball turkey this Thanksgiving amid resurfaced abuse allegations (Getty Images)

In the investigators witness log, he claimed to have seen Butterball employees cruelly slamming live birds in shackles, while another worker strangled a bird to death.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One worker said he likes to kill birds for fun, and pointed out one he had punched in the face, he wrote in the witness log, as another note read: A worker violently threw birds into the shackles and grabbed one by her neck, and another worker humped a bird whose legs and head he had crammed into the shackle.

The resurfaced footage has since prompted many people on social media to declare theyll no longer be purchasing Butterball turkey for their Thanksgiving dinner.

This absolutely BREAKS MY HEART, one TikTok user commented under a reposted clip of the PETA investigation.

Just bought a Butterball turkey today and definitely returning it tomorrow first thing in the morning, another person wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, a woman posted a TikTok video of herself returning the Butterball turkey she had purchased after SA (sexual assault) allegations.

PETA resurfaces footage from 2006 undercover investigation at Butterball plant in Arkansas (PETA)

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Amber Canavan  the vegan campaign project manager for PETA  explained that the online response from people boycotting Butterball is exactly what any animal advocate wants to see right before Thanksgiving.

Were just seeing dozens and dozens of people swearing off turkey this year, she said. Its never too late to go out there and grab that vegan roast. Spare that turkey from the horrors of the slaughterhouse.

However, Butterball has since refuted PETAs efforts to initiate a boycott against the manufacturers turkey, specifically by pointing out that the undercover investigation took place nearly 20 years ago.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We are aware of a video from nearly 20 years ago, which is being re-shared across social media. This video is not current and in no way reflects our animal welfare policies, a Butterball spokesperson said in a statement to The Independent.

Animal care and well-being is central to who we are as a company, and we are committed to the ethical and responsible care of our flocks. That means maintaining the health and well-being of our turkeys is an ongoing effort.

The spokesperson explained that Butterball has yearly audits conducted by a third party to make sure facilities are complying with the 200+ science-based standards of best practice for care of turkeys.

An estimated 293.5 million Americans are planning on eating turkey this Thanksgiving (Getty Images)

They added: Butterball was the first and remains the only turkey company that is American Humane certified. We are proud to be one of every three turkeys on the table this Thanksgiving.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 46 million turkeys are eaten on Thanksgiving. Thats about 21 percent of the around 216.5 million turkeys produced in the U.S. each year.

According to the 2024 Butterball Togetherness Report, 87 percent of Americans hosting Thanksgiving plan to serve turkey. This means roughly 293.5 million people will eat turkey on Thanksgiving in 2024.

Despite turkey taking center stage on many Thanksgiving dinner tables, some Americans have declared the bird to be their least favorite Thanksgiving dish.

In a survey conducted by the Vacationer, which asked 1,042 American adults which traditional Thanksgiving foods they like and dislike, nearly 35 percent of Americans considered turkey to be their least favorite.

Stuffing or dressing ranked the second-least favorite with about 32 percent of participants polled, followed by ham at nearly 32 percent.
Chinas electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has announced its intentions to release its new Blade battery design in 2025.

The same was revealed by Cao Shuang, General Manager of BYD's Automotive Sales Division for Central Asia, at the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29).

Shuang revealed that the company is planning to release the next generation of Blade batteries for EVs in 2025, as per him the new model is expected to offer an extended lifespan, alongside enhancing the driving range of the EVs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is expected that the second-generation Blade battery will build on the less bulky first model lithium-iron-phosphate battery the company had launched in 2020.

The first model Blade battery had reportedly been considered safer, and non-flammable as compared to the other offerings in the market for powering EVs.

What makes BYDs Blade batteries better?

BYD states that its Blade battery uses Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP), which has undergone testing through the nail penetration method.

In the nail penetration test, a nail is driven through the center of the battery cell until it penetrates to the other side, causing a short circuit inside the battery cell.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

BYD had earlier reported that its Blade battery had demonstrated higher safety standards in the test as compared to Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide and Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide batteries.

Its design resembles that of a blade, making it thinner and longer than conventional batteries. This design enables Blade batteries to dissipate heat more quickly than typical rectangular cell batteries.

In the event of a short circuit within a cell, it does not affect other cells, thus preventing continuous electrical short circuits, as per the company.

One of the biggest advantages of the Blade battery is that it is designed using cell-to-pack technology (CTP). It means each cell can be directly packed without the need for module packing, allowing for more cells to be added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Furthermore, it can also enhance the structural strength of the EVs by serving as a reinforcement material for their frames.

Additional benefits

The company also states that the Blade batteries have lower production costs compared to NMC (Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide) battery.

Its decomposition temperature is around 518 degree Fahrenheit (270 degree Celsius) as compared to the NMCs 410 degree Fahrenheit (210 degree Celsius) and NCAs 302 degree Fahrenheit (150 degree Celsius).

The higher decomposition temperature makes it safer for use. Moreover, once damaged the LFP Blade battery releases less heat - approximately 200 J/g, whereas NMC and NCA batteries can release up to 600 and 900 J/g of heat, respectively.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A report by South Korean publication Korea JoongAng Daily mentions that BYD is pitching Blade batteries as a viable alternative for powering EVs in the Asian country.

The report states the Chinese manufacturer is presenting it as a safe option to help curtail the fear in the minds of the consumers which resulted from a number of EV battery fires reported in the country.

The company is planning its official debut in the Korean market in January 2025.
WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. (WTNH)  The Connecticut Airport Authority anticipates a busy holiday season at Bradley International Airport (BDL), which already kicked off on Friday.

The CAA expects 95,000 travelers will depart from BDL over the 10-day timeframe from Nov. 22 to Dec. 1.

Do not wash your turkey and other Thanksgiving tips to keep your food safe

Airport officials said theyre well prepared to handle the influx of travelers and are working to ensure everyone has a smooth journey.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The busiest days were expected to be the Saturday and Sunday before and after Thanksgiving.

On a national scale, AAA projects a record of nearly 80 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from their homes over the Thanksgiving travel period.

AAA Northeast said its the busiest holiday for travel and the agency continues to see demand soar post-pandemic and as Americans reconnect with family and friends.

Most people, about 70 million, will be traveling by car and will be going to warm and sunny destinations. Florida has four cities on the list of top domestic destinations.

Thanksgiving Travel Latest: Airport strike, staff shortages and weather could impact holiday travel

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So its going to be a busy one. If you are traveling this Thanksgiving here are some tips:

Arrive early

Stay connected with your airline

Pre-plan where to park

According to AAA, the best times to travel for drivers are:

Monday, Nov. 25, between 1 and 5 p.m. and before 11 a.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 26, between 1 and 7 p.m. and before 10 a.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 27, between 1 and 5 p.m. and before 10 a.m.

Thursday, Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving Day)

The worst times for traffic are expected to be:

Friday, Nov. 29, between 7 to 10 a.m. and after 1 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 30, between 4 to 8 p.m. and before 1 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 1, between noon and 6 p.m. and before 1 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 2, between 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Plus, before 8 a.m. and after 7 p.m.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
Huw Pill said overall employment in Britain was likely higher than official figures show, but said that suggested productivity levels were even worse than feared.

On Tuesday, the Bank of Englands chief economist also warned the Budget tax hikes were a disincentive to employment that could push up prices and reduce wage growth.

Industry leaders have warned the Chancellor that the extra cost will stifle investment and that there are certainly going to be job losses as a result.

Ms Reeves raised taxes by 40bn in last months budget, with businesses bearing the brunt as she put up employer National Insurance contributions by 25bn.

And they do not understand that the public clearly no longer trust a word they say.

Writing for The Telegraph, Mr Stride said: At the end of the day, this is because this is who Labour are. They do not understand what our economy really needs.

It came as MPs are set to vote on the Budget on Wednesday, with the Tories planning to table a so-called wrecking amendment aimed at sinking the whole package.

Mel Stride, the shadow chancellor, said that the apparent about-turn was reminiscent of their promise during the election campaign that they had no plans for tax rises.

We have taken tough decisions to bring stability back so the focus can now be on growing the economy and reforming public services.

As the Chancellor said, this was a once in a Parliament Budget to wipe the slate clean, repair the nations finances and begin to fix public services, he said.

He said: What the Chancellor was saying, is to make clear that that need to fix the foundations is a one-time deal, that there will not be a further ask of the business community comparable to what we had to do at the beginning of this Parliament.

Asked by MPs on the Commons business committee on Tuesday about Ms Reevess promise, Mr Reynolds would not repeat the pledge and appeared to move the goalposts.

The Conservatives said that the Business Secretary had let the mask slip.

Mr Reynoldss comments came a day after Ms Reeves told business leaders at the CBI conference she was not going to come back for more in the next five years.

He insisted that the Government was only committed to ensuring that future rises were not comparable to the 25 billion raid in the Budget .

Jonathan Reynolds, the Business Secretary, opened the door to future tax increases on companies as he appeared to contradict the Chancellor.

Businesses may face further tax rises, a Cabinet minister warned on Tuesday  less than 24 hours after Rachel Reeves pledged that levies would not go up again.

Story Continues

However, Ms Reeves has argued that the Budget was a one-off and drastic action was required to fill what she claimed was a 22bn financial black hole left by the Tories.

Weve put our public finances back on a firm footing, and weve now set the budgets for public services for the duration of this Parliament, she told the CBI.

Public services now need to live within their means because Im really clear, Im not coming back with more borrowing or more taxes.

Mr Reynolds remarks will raise fresh fears that ministers are planning to launch substantial new tax increases on businesses in future to fund public spending.

Economists have warned that it will not be possible for the Chancellor to keep her promise not to raise taxes earlier without squeezing public spending.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies said Ms Reeves, who has also pledged no return to austerity, will need to put up levies by a further 9bn a year.

Ben Zaranko, an economist at the IFS, pointed to calls for more defence spending and the threat of Donald Trump putting tariffs on British goods.

It seems to me more likely that its going to have to come from tax rises because the global economic environment is looking like there are clouds gathering, he added.

The split between two senior Cabinet members came as the Tories prepared to launch a last-minute attempt on Wednesday to thwart Ms Reevess first Budget.

Mr Stride will table an amendment aimed at voting down the package, including the VAT raid on private schools and inheritance tax hike on farmers.

It contains a raft of measures which will be deeply damaging to this countrys economy, to growth, to aspiration, and to working families, he said.

But even in the face of all this, Labour will marshal their MPs to vote this amendment down.

In doing so, they will be sending the clear signal that they know just as well as we do the damage they are doing to our country, but they are willing to press ahead nonetheless.

Labour MPs know damage theyre doing  but will press ahead anyway

By Mel Stride

We are on the eve of this Labour Government bringing to the House its Finance Bill.

This Bill is the vehicle by which the Labour Party will drive through just some of its disastrous Budget changes into law.

And it contains a raft of measures which will be deeply damaging to this countrys economy, to growth, to aspiration, and to working families  many of which Labour did not have the courage to tell the British people about during the election, and instead tried to conceal.

Contained in this legislation are Labours plans to introduce VAT on independent schools, increase taxes on our energy supply, entrepreneurs, investors and homeowners.

The introduction of VAT on independent schools will force thousands of pupils to leave their schools, potentially midway through the academic year, and with no guarantee there would be a space available for them.

Its effects will be disproportionately felt by SEND pupils who rely on the specialist provisions they receive to ensure their education needs are met.

So, it is no wonder that so many of our Western counterparts would not even countenance such a move.

And yet Labour is set to make us the first country in Europe to see such a measure.

Their energy profits levy rises will hammer our oil and gas sector, which supports up to 200,000 jobs. Trade bodies in the industry are warning thousands of these could be lost, alongside billions of pounds in investment, thanks to Labours ill thought through energy policy.

When this Bill passes, it will be bill payers that will be forced to pick up the tab for Ed Milibands ideological crusade, as he continues to prioritise his GB energy vanity project over cheap and secure energy.

Their plans to increase capital gains tax  and investors Relief  will put a shot across the bows of aspiration for so many.

In raising capital gains tax, Labour is sending the dangerous signal to entrepreneurs and those looking to make their hard-earned savings work for them that they are not supportive of wealth creators who grow our economy.

So, in the face of such a wanton assault on so many, we Conservatives stand resolute in our opposition, and we have introduced an amendment to the Bill making clear that we believe this legislation does not deserve to pass.

And this is not opposition for the sake of opposition itself, but instead knowing full well that any Budget that leads to warnings from the Office for Budget Responsibility that it will drive up inflation, depress wages and lower living standards, is simply not fit for purpose.

But even in the face of all this, Labour will marshal their MPs to vote this amendment down.

In doing so, they will be sending the clear signal that they know just as well as we do the damage they are doing to our country, but they are willing to press ahead nonetheless.

We have already seen these flashes of recognition from the Government, the growing realisation that their old school socialist tax and spend agenda is not what this country needs.

Rachel Reeves herself tried to reassure rightfully anxious business leaders at the CBI this week that her tax-raising campaign was over.

And for 24 hours you would be forgiven for believing she might actually mean this.

But then the inevitable came when their Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds let the mask slip  refusing to echo the Chancellor and instead delivering a form of words that was reminiscent of their promise during the election campaign that they had no plans for tax rises.

At the end of the day, this is because this is who Labour are. They do not understand what our economy really needs. They do not understand it is individuals, not the state, that creates growth. They do not understand that businesses need certainty, and support, not more regulation and more barriers. And they do not understand that the public clearly no longer trust a word they say.

So we still stand up against them in the House on this Bill, and on every occasion they put their own ambition before the country, until we return to the British public at the next election, ready to stand tall for the country and with a clear plan to deliver.

Mel Stride is the shadow chancellor

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.
Antonio Pascual Mateo was killed after he threw his lights over a nearby high-voltage power line on Nov. 21, authorities say

GoFundMe Antonio Pascual Mateo Antonio Pascual Mateo

A Southern California man has died from "high voltage electrocution" while hanging up Christmas lights.

Antonio Pascual Mateo, 24, was putting the lights on the roof of a home in Escondido when he threw the cable over a nearby high-voltage power line at 10:48 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21, according to a San Diego County Examiners report.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Paramedics arrived on scene to find the decedent hanging upside down from a tree. After recovering the decedent, paramedics initiated advanced cardiovascular life support and transported the decedent to the nearest local hospital, the medical examiner stated.

Escondido resident Mateo was transported to Palomar Medical Center where, despite aggressive life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead an hour and 20 minutes later.

The official cause of death was concluded to be high-voltage electrocution, per the Examiner's report.

Steven White/iStock/Getty An extension step ladder against side of roof with a strand of Christmas lights An extension step ladder against side of roof with a strand of Christmas lights

Related: Singer Ayres Sasaki, 35, Dead After Being Electrocuted on Stage in Freak Accident

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Escondido Battalion Chief told Fox 5 San Diego of the incident that first responders found a worker suspended in the air via a waist harness, it appeared that he had come in contact with some high-power tension lines.

The Escondido Fire Department did not immediately reply when contacted by PEOPLE for further information.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.



A GoFundMe page has been set up by Mateos family to raise money for him to be brought back to his home country of Guatemala for burial. The page has so far received nearly $10,000 in donations.

According to the page, Mateo fell in a tree and was left trapped for an hour there after being electrocuted as the rescue team was forced to wait until the power company had to turn off power.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The family added that it was unfortunately too late to save Mateo.

He was a brother, a son and an uncle  He had so much to live [for], only 24 years old. He had been working on putting up Christmas lights around the tree. He always took care of his mother and family, the family shared. "...forever young he will remain. Christmas lights forever have a meaning to us, he will remain in our hearts for eternity."


(Bloomberg) -- As Elon Musk prepares to wield more power in Washington, the state where he built his fortune is girding for a fight.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gavin Newsom is positioning California as a foil to Donald Trumps policies, laying the groundwork for resistance on everything from deportations to regulation rollbacks. On Monday, the Democratic governor delivered a plan that squarely touches on Musks Tesla Inc.: a rebate for electric-vehicle buyers if the president-elect repeals a federal subsidy.

Notably, the proposal includes market-share limitations that would leave out popular Tesla models.

The exclusion marks another turn in the fraught relationship between Newsom and Musk, a key member of Trumps inner circle who has been tapped to co-lead an effort to slash federal spending. The governors office said the policy is designed so more carmakers can take root  thats a blow for Tesla, a company started in Silicon Valley and nurtured by Californias climate goals and incentives.

Musk has made no secret of his disdain for deep-blue California and its policies. He relocated Teslas headquarters to Austin from Palo Alto in 2021 after clashing with Newsom over pandemic lockdowns.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In July, as his shift into Republican politics deepened, he announced that his companies X and SpaceX would also leave the state for Texas, saying the final straw was a new law signed by Newsom that bans school districts from requiring teachers to notify parents of changes to a students gender identity.

Yet just last year, Musk and Newsom struck a cooperative tone by announcing a Tesla global engineering headquarters in Palo Alto. The car company also maintains a huge presence with a factory in Fremont  a point Musk made in an X post Monday, calling Newsoms policy insane.

Think of the relationship between Newsom and Musk as love-hate, love-hate, love-hate-hate, said Dan Schnur, a political analyst who teaches at University of Southern California and the University of California at Berkeley. As Musk gets closer to Trump, he becomes a more lucrative political target for Newsom.

Newsom, whos widely seen as having presidential ambitions, is stepping up potential roadblocks to the Trump administration. He called a special legislative session to be held next week aimed at providing money for the states department of justice to potentially sue the administration or defend against federal lawsuits. Hes also touring Republican strongholds in the state, promoting his economic message and offering reassurances that their concerns are heard.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a statement Monday, Newsom said California would be doubling down on its commitment to clean air and green jobs.

Were not turning back on a clean transportation future  were going to make it more affordable for people to drive vehicles that dont pollute, he said.

Details of the EV proposal  including Teslas possible omission from the credits  will be negotiated with the state legislature and could change, Newsoms office said. Leading lawmakers havent indicated their support for the measure, especially as California faces challenging budget talks in the new year.

We will review this proposal and all others as part of the larger budget negotiations, the office of Mike McGuire, the senate president pro tempore, said in a statement. A representative for Robert Rivas, who heads the state assembly, didnt return a request for comment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ro Khanna, a Democratic congressman whose district includes Fremont, said it would be foolish to exclude Tesla. He alluded to President Joe Bidens decision not to invite the company to a summit for EV makers early in his tenure  a move that rankled Musk and contributed to his contentious relationship with the administration.

Lets not play politics with keeping manufacturing in California, Khanna said on X. Have we learned nothing from snubbing @elonmusk at the Biden EV summit?

Dominant Share

For Tesla, the limits on rebates would mean the company will still be a big fish, but the pond will grow, said Jessica Caldwell, executive director of insights at Edmunds. She said its unclear why Tesla should be excluded.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If the goal is lets sell more EVs, it seems a bit misdefined, Caldwell said, pointing to Teslas significant market share and name recognition. The company made up 54.5% of all EVs registered in the state during the first three quarters of this year, down from 63% during the same period last year. Hyundai Motor Co. holds a distant second place with 5.6% share.

While its dominance has ebbed, Tesla still has enough market heft in California and the US to lessen the impact of purchase subsidies on its business. Its also turned an adjusted profit every year since 2020, while the EV businesses of rivals such as Rivian Automotive Inc. and legacy carmakers including Ford Motor Co. continue to lose money.

As manufacturers introduce more EV models  including at lower price points  the market is beginning to open up to more buyers. Californias potential move could break Teslas longtime stranglehold on the market and boost smaller players that have struggled to break through.

Excluding Tesla from the states credit would be a net negative for the company, because doing so would put it at a disadvantage to fossil-fueled vehicles, RBC Capital Markets analyst Tom Narayan said in a note to clients.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We do wonder how the governors office will justify such a policy, he said, noting that the state has issued a mandate for all new cars to be zero-emissions by 2035.

Gil Tal, director of the Electric Vehicle Research Center at the University of California at Davis, said Tesla has less of a need for the buyer incentive than smaller carmakers. Yet he also said the companys exclusion probably isnt necessary to spur competition.

Schnur, the political consultant, said its hard not to see Newsoms move as punitive.

There is no evidence that the Newsom administration has penalized large-scale renewable energy companies in their previous efforts to get the state off of fossil fuels, he said. It is more than a little bit suspicious.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

--With assistance from Ryan Beene and Keith Laing.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
A pedestrian walks by an ad for a rental home in Berkeley, Calif. California voters rejected a measure to usher in statewide rent control even as Berkeleys electorate approved a local ordinance capping annual rental hikes. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

California voters last week trounced a proposal to lift statewide restrictions on local rent control, signaling to other left-leaning states that similar caps on skyrocketing rents might be an uphill climb.

It was, in fact, the third time Californians have said no.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The measures defeat disappointed tenant advocates who argue that rent control would help curb the rapid rise in rents across the state. But for landlords and the housing industry, the latest defeat of the ballot question signals that statewide rent control remains a tough sell.

I think its actually more clear now than ever that rent control on a statewide level isnt something most Californians want, said Alexandra Alvarado, director of marketing and education at American Apartment Owners Association, an industry group that helps landlords with tenant screening and other services.

This is the third time its failed, and I think that sends a strong message, she said. But I also think that those who are deeply in support of rent control arent going to stop trying to put it up for a vote.

Polls show about three-quarters of Americans believe housing affordability is a significant problem  but California was the only state in the 2024 election cycle to put up a tenant protection measure for a statewide vote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Proposition 33 asked California voters if they wanted to repeal the states 1995 Costa-Hawkins Housing Act, which restricts local rent control on apartments built after that year in most of California, and on all single-family homes and condominiums. Many supporters of the law think it has kept Californias housing market open to new development.

The measure drew significant investment from both sides. The Los Angeles Times reported that backers of Proposition 33, led by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, raised nearly $48 million, while opponents, including the California Apartment Association, raised almost $125 million.

It failed by 61%-39%.

Its a disappointing loss, and I dont think it actually means that people in California and across the country dont want affordable housing, said Chris Melody Fields Figueredo, executive director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, a liberal-leaning advocacy group. A lot of money was put into defeating Prop 33, and there was a lot of misinformation that was given to voters about what rent control actually does.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

California voters have shown repeatedly they understand that rental control can limit housing supply and hurt affordability, said Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, a real estate and finance professor at Columbia University. The better approach, he said, is for government to shorten the time it takes to build housing by streamlining permitting and land use approvals.

Rent burdens have increased everywhere in the country, and renters are clearly frustrated by the rising cost of housing, he told Stateline in an email. The best way to improve the situation is to build more housing.

Elsewhere in California

Despite the failure of Proposition 33, other statewide tenant protections still exist in California. Under a 2019 statewide law, landlords are limited to annual rent increases of no more than 10% on most properties over 15 years old.

California rent prices continue to outpace wages, however, and advocates say that landlords and developers can and have skirted the 2019 law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its a disappointing loss, and I dont think it actually means that people in California and across the country dont want affordable housing.

 Chris Melody Fields Figueredo, executive director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center

According to a recent Stateline analysis, 56% of California tenants spend at least 30% of their income on housing, a situation known as being cost burdened. Its the fifth-highest rate in the country.

And since the COVID-19 pandemic, the deficit of affordable housing has deepened nationally, with rental prices up 26%, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Alvarado, of the industry group, argued that Proposition 33s failure doesnt represent a rejection of all affordable housing efforts in the state but reflects a divisive issue in an ideologically diverse state.

California is more than just Berkeley and San Francisco, and voters sent a clear message on a statewide level, she said. While Prop 33 failed, affordable housing measures at the local level are still advancing.

On the same day Californians rejected the rent control measure, Los Angeles County voters raised their sales tax half a penny to fund affordable housing and address the homelessness crisis there.

Those who opposed Proposition 33 were looking for alternatives to fix the affordable housing problem  even if it costs money  without constraining development, Alvarado said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ultimately, many developers and investors in California see Proposition 33s defeat as essential for housing development in the state.

Edgar Khalatian, a prominent Los Angeles real estate attorney, argued that repealing the states Costa-Hawkins Act could have had a chilling effect on construction, especially in anti-development municipalities.

My read on the consequence of the vote is that housing will be built in California, he said in an interview. Anti-housing municipalities were preparing their rent control ordinances, which would have made development unfeasible.

Khalatian said local requirements and price controls can drive up housing costs  and not just for developers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

People dont realize its not the developer that ultimately pays for added expenses or delays  its the tenant, he said. If the project becomes too expensive to build, it simply doesnt get built.

The path forward is local

Proponents of rent control, such as Fields Figueredo, believe efforts to cap rent increases should continue at the local level, where they have had success.

Since January 2021, states and localities across the country have implemented more than 300 new tenant protections, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a nonprofit that pushes for housing affordability.

This year, voters in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, voted for rent control on mobile homes. And in a landslide, Hoboken, New Jersey, voters rejected a proposal that would have scaled back current regulations for raising rent on rent-controlled apartments in the city.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since 2016, more than 25 local rent control ballot measures have been proposed in 18 jurisdictions in California, with roughly half gaining approval, according to a Stateline review.

Proposition 33s failure blocked a proposed San Francisco ordinance that was tied to the measures passage. The ordinance would have expanded rent control protections beyond buildings constructed before 1979, but it was contingent on a statewide repeal of Costa-Hawkins restrictions.

In Berkeley, though, 52% of voters approved a tenant protections measure that, among other provisions, includes a rent increase cap of 5%. And Santa Ana voters overwhelmingly approved a rent stabilization ordinance that also requires landlords to have a just cause to terminate a lease.

The path forward is local, Fields Figueredo said. Local rent control efforts allows for deeper conversations with residents, while statewide ballots tend to scatter the messaging.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But voters in some parts of California still resist municipal rent control efforts. Voters in three Marin County cities rejected ballot measures that would have enacted or expanded rent control ordinances in their communities.

Fairfax voters repealed rent control and renter protections that the town council passed in 2022. In Larkspur, voters rejected new tenant protections and an expansion of a rent control ordinance that was upheld in March. And in San Anselmo, voters rejected two measures: one that would have enacted a rent control ordinance, and another that would have penalized landlords who own at least three dwellings for ending a tenancy without finding fault.

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.
A so-called court in the Russian-occupied part of Kherson Oblast has sentenced Ihor Protokovylo, a member of Kakhovka City Council, to 12 years in a high-security prison for "espionage". Protokovylo was abducted by Russian forces in the spring of 2022.

Source: Volodymyr Saldo, collaborator and self-proclaimed "governor" of Kherson Oblast, on Telegram

Quote: "Ukrainian citizen Ihor Protokovylo has been found guilty in a criminal case under Article 276 of the Russian Criminal Code  espionage. The court... sentenced the accused to 12 years in a high-security prison."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Details: The investigation found that Protokovylo allegedly used a messenger app on his phone to transmit information about the locations of Russian military units to an officer from Ukraines Security Service in April 2022.

Background: Russian forces abducted the Ukrainian deputy in the spring of 2022, taking him from his home. Ihor Protokovylo's whereabouts remained unknown until this announcement.

Support UP or become our patron!
HARARE, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The opening up of the Chinese market to Zimbabwean agricultural produce has added momentum to the country's efforts in diversifying exports, a senior official from Zimbabwe's ruling party has said.

Christopher Mutsvangwa, Zimbabwe's ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) party Politburo member and ZANU PF secretary for information and publicity, told Xinhua in a recent interview that the country is willing to capitalize on China's high-level opening up to boost development.

"It's an exciting period for African agriculture now that China has developed a substantial middle-class population. Their palates are changing, they are also getting interested in food from diverse regions beyond China. And they have the spending power, the disposable income to afford to buy any good quality food from anywhere else in the world," said Mutsvangwa, who is also a former Zimbabwean ambassador to China.

In recent years, an increasing variety of agricultural products from the southern African country have made their way into the Chinese market, driven by China's opening of its market to African products and the implementation of preferential policies to expand imports from African countries.

During the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in early September, China and Zimbabwe signed a protocol for phytosanitary requirements for the exports of Zimbabwean avocados to China.

Mutsvangwa said Africa has not been able to produce enough food due to a lack of investment in agriculture, which resulted in food insecurity despite the abundance of agricultural land.

"There was a lack of investment in African agriculture. The investment in African agriculture by the Western countries was in fancy food crops and other crops not for consumption, like cocoa and tobacco. These were crops which the Western countries wanted for their industries," he said.

With the arrival of China and other Asian countries with a large middle class, there has been a demand for quality African produce, he said. "So, this is a chance for African agriculture to become part of the global food value chain."

On the production of tobacco, one of Zimbabwe's major foreign currency earners, Mutsvangwa said demand for the tobacco leaf in China created a lucrative and ready market for Zimbabwean tobacco.

"The biggest tobacco company in the world, China Tobacco, came to Zimbabwe in 2004 and started investing. And today, the tobacco trade alone is millions of U.S. dollars with China," said Mutsvangwa.

Following the success of exporting crops such as tobacco to China, Zimbabwe is now aiming to diversify into other produce, he said. "We are very happy that China has now allowed Zimbabwean citrus (into the Chinese market). We need to increase our production because this is a huge market. Remember, it's 1.4 billion people. So our current production is still very much below what China expects."

He noted that with a green light given to citrus and macadamia exports to China, Zimbabwe also has the potential to export sesame and other agricultural produce. "I see a very very bright prospect and I am happy now that our customs department and our phytosanitary departments in agriculture are exchanging information and signing agreements. And Chinese teams are coming to inspect the potential of Zimbabwe."

With the expanding trade portfolio, trade figures between China and Zimbabwe have shown a positive trajectory.

Commenting on Zimbabwe's imports from China, he said more Chinese agricultural equipment and machinery can also find their way into the Zimbabwean market as the growing trade in agricultural products creates new opportunities.

"So, the prospects are very promising, both in the trade for crops and in the buying of equipment from China, but also in capital investment by Chinese food giants to make sure that we have a complete value chain from the field in Zimbabwe to the supermarket in China," Mutsvangwa said. 
A Cook County judge is expected to determine members of the Calumet City electoral board after the city clerk, who is challenging Mayor Thaddeus Jones eligibility, objected to its makeup.

Clerk Nyota Figgs is objecting to Jones bid for reelection, saying the mayors principal residence is not in the city and that a referendum passed in 2020 prohibits a Calumet City official from also being a state legislator. Jones has been a state representative since 2011.

A municipal electoral board normally includes the mayor, clerk and longest serving alderman. However, because both the mayor and clerk are involved in the objection, the electoral board created for these objections has been attorney Tom Jaconetty, as chair, and the two longest serving aldermen, Ramonde Williams and Anthony Smith.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Figgs and her attorney, Burt Odelson of Odelson, Murphey, Frazier and McGrath, said both Williams and Smith are biased in their support for Jones, having close political ties to the mayor. Williams, Smith and Jones are among those whose campaigns have received funding raised by the Calumet City Democrats United political party, according to filings on the Illinois State Board of Elections website.

You cant get a fair and impartial hearing because they raise money with him, Odelson said Tuesday. The two aldermen will vote any way that theyre told to vote  its as simple as that.

Odelson said he believes Jones will be knocked off the ballot despite an unsuccessful challenge to his candidacy when he first ran for the mayors seat in 2021. Odelson said the referendum passed to prohibit candidates from running for mayor if they also hold an elected, paid office created by the state constitution had not been certified when Jones filed his petition for that election.

Jones attorney, Ed Mullen of Bucktown Law in Chicago, said the Illinois General Assembly passed a bill prohibiting such a restriction on who is allowed to seek local office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If the state legislature passes a law, it supersedes the referendum, Mullen said.

But Odelson said the legislature does not have the authority to reverse action taken in a direct vote, and that Jones prompted the change state law.

They cant retroactively go back and undo the votes of the people, Odelson said.

Figgs, who also is running for reelection, faces a candidacy challenge from city auditor Alyssia Benford. Benford claims Figgs does not reside in Calumet City, but at an address in North Chicago.

Figgs also objects to the makeup of the electoral board, and Cook County Judge Maureen Ward Kirby is to rule next week. If she determines Williams and Smith cannot serve on the board, she will appoint new members, Odelson said.

The next electoral board meeting with a potentially different board is scheduled for Dec. 6 at City Hall, 204 Pulaski Road, Calumet City.

ostevens@chicagotribune.com
(Bloomberg) -- Canadas oil industry stressed the economic and security benefits of its exports to the US, while also using President Elect Donald Trumps threat to impose tariffs on the countrys goods as a chance to criticize Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The US imports almost 4 million barrels of relatively cheap Canadian crude a day, an arrangement that allows the US to export an even greater amount of its own higher-value oil while still meeting domestic demand. For Canada, energy products have accounted for about a third of its exports to the US in recent years, the largest single category.

While oil and gas were excluded from tariffs in Trumps first administration, his post on Monday said he would impose 25% tariffs on ALL products from Mexico and Canada on his first day in office.

The Canada-US energy partnership is more than 100 years old and is highly correlated to national security, energy security, economic security and geopolitical security, Lisa Baiton, chief executive officer of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, said in an emailed statement. The tariffs would result in higher gasoline and energy costs to American consumers while threatening North American energy security.

The trade group also said Trumps threat should prompt Trudeau to reconsider policy that kills our biggest GDP generators and job creators, including a proposed cap on oil and gas emissions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith similarly said in a post that Trudeau should work with Trump  who said the tariffs were needed to clamp down on migrants and illegal drugs crossing the borders  to address his valid concerns related to illegal activities at our shared border.

The premier, whose province produces the majority of Canadas oil, stressed that Albertas energy exports to the US travel through pipelines that dont contribute to those illegal activities.

As the largest exporter of oil and gas to the US, we look forward to working with the new administration to strengthen energy security for both the US and Canada, Smith said.

--With assistance from Jay Zhao-Murray.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  When a child is diagnosed with cancer, families deal with a mountain of worry. Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada is stepping in to help with financial and emotional support while also creating a safe space for families.

On Nov. 13, Candlelighters marked the grand opening of its new facility on Flamingo near Durango. Inside the soon-to-be play therapy room, 22-month-old Savannah, along with her brothers Logan, 8, and Matthew, 6, play fought with swords and all kinds of new toys.

Nothing seems to slow this trio down. The new building, double the size of the previous one, offers expanded services for families like the Hansens.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its a community you can come to and you arent looked at the family who has cancer, Sarah Hansen said.

Savannah was born with Leukemia. She was just eleven days old when the Hansens found themselves traveling to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

She was born with bruise-like spots all over her, and obviously with two other children I already knew that wasnt normal, Sarah said. You just think, whats best for my kid? You dont think of the financial ramifications that are going to follow and how youre going to do it. You just know you have to do it.

When a child is diagnosed with cancer, families deal with a mountain of worry. (KLAS) Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada steps in to help with financial and emotional support and also provide a safe place for family-friendly events. (KLAS) Not only were they with cancer survivors, kids actively going through active treatment, theyre also with siblings so its kind of like that bond and that community, Sarah said. (KLAS) A childhood cancer diagnosis impacts everybody, Kimberly Kindig said. (KLAS)

Savannah is now in remission. While Candlelighters provided crucial financial support, Sarah shared that the nonprofit helped the entire family in countless ways, especially her sons.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Not only were they with cancer survivors, kids actively going through active treatment, theyre also with siblings so its kind of like that bond and that community, Sarah said.

Kimberly Kindig, CEO of Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, explained that a childhood cancer diagnosis affects the entire family. She emphasized that the nonprofit supports families from the moment of diagnosis, through treatment, and into recovery.

To just wrap our arms around these children and these families and let them know they dont have to do this alone, Kindig said.

To provide support, Candlelighters recently introduced the Angel Sibs program. This initiative focuses on siblings, acknowledging the challenges children and teens face when coping with loss at such a young age.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The program follows an evidence-based curriculum designed for children ages 9 to 17 who are involved with Candlelighters. The first session began in August, and Kindig shared that a new session will start after the new year, with plans for continued growth.

To learn more about the program or find out about volunteer opportunities, click here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Rudy Giuliani interrupted a routine court hearing Tuesday with a bizarre rant about his dire financial straits as the former New York City mayor faces the ramifications of defaming two Georgia election workers.

Giuliani blurted out I dont have a credit card and I cant pay my bills when questioned about why he had not yet turned over the title to his 1980 Mercedes-Benz convertible to help satisfy the $148 million judgment against him for defamation.

U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman scolded the onetime presidential candidate for his explosion and warned him against further eruptions during a touchy hearing in Manhattan federal court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Giuliani, 80, appeared to take umbrage at Limans disbelief that a former U.S. attorney was struggling to get a duplicate title to a vehicle. Giuliani grabbed a microphone and cut him off.

Your implication that I have been not diligent about this is totally incorrect, Giuliani snapped, according to Reuters, as he insisted he was not impoverished but that everything I have is tied up, The Associated Press reported.

I dont have a car, I dont have a credit card, I dont have cash, Giuliani said. I cant pay my bills.

In response, Liman told Giulianis defense lawyers that the court would take action if he spoke out again and warned that the former personal attorney for Donald Trump would need to be a sworn witness to intervene again.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last year, Giuliani was found liable for defaming two poll workers in Atlanta, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, by falsely accusing them of tampering with ballots cast in the 2020 elections. Giuliani led a team of lawyers and others who challenged Trumps election loss with dozens of lawsuits and multiple accusations that never proved successful.

His rant Tuesday came as the judge refused to delay a Jan. 16 trial over the disposition of prized assets that Giuliani is trying to shield from confiscation. Giuliani wanted to delay his trial date with Freeman and Moss so he could attend Trumps Jan. 20 presidential inauguration.

Related...
A 10-year-old female on a county road in Hendry County.

A 2-year-old male in Collier County.

A 4-year-old female on a busy Interstate 75 in Broward County.

These Florida panthers were each killed by cars this year in one of the deadliest spans for the endangered animals since 2018. Through Friday, 30 panthers had died, and 23 were caused by car strikes, state data show.

Four of the years panther deaths are listed as unknown, and a male panther was hit in February by a train in Glades County.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The most recent panther death was announced Monday night by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The remains of a male panther, likely 3 or 4 years old, were collected Friday on the side of State Road 29 in Collier County, the agency announced. That was just five days after a female was found dead off Interstate 75 in Lee County.

The suspected cause of death for both panthers? Car strikes.

The number of panthers killed by vehicles so far this year is similar to recent years, with 25 deaths in 2022 and 21 a year before that. The peak was 33 car strike-related deaths in 2016, according to agency spokesperson Lisa Thompson. Historically, as the panther population increased, the number of panthers killed by collisions with vehicles has also increased  but its hard to draw conclusions with a years worth of data, she said.

Environmental groups were quick to attribute the grim milestone to the blistering growth and development in southwest Florida, where the vast majority of the estimated remaining 200 panthers roam the wild.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With an onslaught of proposed developments in our panthers last home, I sadly expect to see even more senseless deaths as traffic floods into southwest Floridas last wild places, said Elise Bennett, Florida and Caribbean director at the nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity. We need to curb reckless development and build wildlife crossings to protect these incredible animals from becoming roadkill.

A key to the panthers survival as wilderness shrinks, biologists say, is a northward migration away from the diminishing habitat of southwest Florida.

In 2017, state biologists announced the promising milestone that Florida panther kittens had been found north of the Caloosahatchee River in southwest Florida for the first time in decades. Earlier this year, the Tampa Bay Times joined the staff of ZooTampa on an expedition into Lake Wale Ridge State Forest, 60 miles east of downtown Tampa. Zoo staff there in April documented a male panther on a trail camera, a hopeful sign that panthers are surviving further north.

We have to coexist and share this beautiful state with its incredible wildlife, Chris Massaro, ZooTampas senior vice president of zoological operations, said at the time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While a major ingredient for survival, moving northward is not without its risks.

In 2022, for instance, an adult male Florida panther was killed by a car in Hillsborough County, becoming the first official panther death in the county in nearly 20 years, according to the state wildlife agency.

State wildlife experts encourage Florida drivers to slow down and follow speed limits, especially in areas where panthers are known to live. Several panther zones are posted across South Florida in areas where the animals are known to cross busy roadways. But advocacy groups worry more wildlife crossings are urgently needed, ensuring safe passage away from whizzing cars.

While a grim year for the loss of panther life, there was the excitement of new life documented, too.

On Aug. 20, biologists reported the first known panther litter of the year. Experts found three kittens in Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest  two females and a male. The kittens were less than a month old.
Its stature can almost brush the sky, yet, its the story behind this years Christmas tree at Bank of America Stadium that has many hooked.

The Norwegian Spruce will officially be lit Tuesday evening, following a long road to get to the stadium from western North Carolina.

In areas throughout the southeast, Hurricane Helene changed the landscape this fall.

The road to get in was washed out, and then the roads out on the highway were washed away as well, said Marian Hamilton, who owns the property where the tree originally grew.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

SPECIAL SECTION >> Hurricane Helene stories

Everywhere I looked, I see people a lot worse than me, so [Im] fortunate, said Wayne Holden, the co-owner of Sugar Mountain Nursery in Newland.

Holden once served in Vietnam, but now hes running his landscaping business in Avery County. For years, hes worked with members of the Panthers organization to procure the stadium tree.

Well Ive made 76 revolutions around the sun and this is the worst that Ive seen, Holden told Channel 9s DaShawn Brown. How tragic could it be that you lose your house, your barn, your horses, your dogs, and you feel fortunate that you didnt go down the creek with them. And I know these people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After Helene, Holden got to work using his own equipment to help repair the roads. Then he continued with his day job.

We had done trees for [Jerry] Richardson, who owned Spartan Foods at the time before he bought the Panthers, and we furnished him a tree for 27 years, Holden said. When he moved to the Panthers, everybody said, Well, when are you going to do the Panthers tree?

>>Carolina Panthers, Charlotte FC could get new stadium in 2046

Finding the perfect tree of its size required its own process.

Tree farms only grow trees so big, and we have one farm that specializes, but we only get ten trees from him, and were actually doing 23 to 25 trees from 25 to 55-foot. So you have to advertise to people, Holden said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its how he met Hamilton.

He just came up one morning, I told my husband, Theres a man in our yard, Hamilton said.

Just decided to drive up the road ... this tree is in my neighborhood. [I] look up, theres the tree. I said, Thats the Panthers tree, Holden said.

He described is as a near perfect tree, barring some damage from the hurricane.

Wayne said they could repair it. They have limbs to go in it, theyll have to do their magic, Hamilton told Brown.

It now stands as a welcome wonder in Charlotte, especially now, after the impact the storm had on the Carolinas.

Were survivors, Holden said. Mountain people survive.

(VIDEO >> Christmas comeback: Tree raised at Biltmore Estate)
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)  Chances and Services for Youth (CASY) and J. Fords Black Angus once again partner to host an annual community Thanksgiving dinner in Terre Haute.

Casy will begin serving the meal at 4:30 p.m. until the food runs out. Its happening Tuesday, November 26, at the Booker T. Washington Community Center, 1101 S. 13th St. Terre Haute.

Heres where you can dine in the Valley on Thanksgiving

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The dinner is free and open to the public, and it focuses on serving those who might not get to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner this year.

J. Fords Black Angus financially supports the meal, allowing CASY to provide more than 200 meals to needy families.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com.
Ryan Kobayashi was among the family members who traveled to Los Angeles to search for his missing daughter

Ryan Kobayashi, the father of missing Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi died by suicide, according to the L.A. County medical examiner. He was 58.

His cause of death was multiple blunt force traumatic injuries, according to the medical examiner report reviewed by PEOPLE. The location of his death was listed as a parking lot.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officials stated that Ryan, who traveled to Los Angeles to look for his daughter, died in a parking lot near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Sunday, Nov. 24, two weeks after Hannah went missing.

A spokesman previously told PEOPLE that law enforcement was called to the area for "an apparent suicide."

Speaking with PEOPLE on Monday, Nov. 25, Hannah's aunt and Ryan's former sister-in-law said that the family believed he had a mental health emergency.

"Weve been searching tirelessly," said Larie Pidgeon, 45. "I think it just became so overwhelming for him driving the streets, going to Skid Row and seeing where his daughter could possibly have ended up."

Related: Aunt of Woman Who Disappeared Before Flight in L.A. Pleads 'Don't Forget About Her' During Rally

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She added that the family wanted to dispel any rumors that he had anything to do with his daughters disappearance and said they did not believe he was lured to his death."

In a GoFundMe set up for Li, Ryan's fiancee, niece Emi Ko wrote, "He has been living his absolute worst nightmare, since Hannahs disappearance, and now, with his passing, our family is grappling with unimaginable grief."

LAPD Hannah Kobayashi Hannah Kobayashi

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.

Pidgeon previously told PEOPLE that 30-year-old Hannah had left Maui on Nov. 8 and was supposed to make a connecting flight to New York City at LAX, but missed it because of her tight layover.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She said Hannah had contacted another aunt, Geordan Montalvo, and told her she missed her flight and was trying to rebook.



LAPD Hannah Kobayashi Hannah Kobayashi

The family said they have confirmed sightings of Hannah at the airport the following day  but started to receive concerning messages from her on Nov. 11.

Hannah's last pinned location was at LAX around 4 p.m. local time on Nov. 11, Pidgeon told PEOPLE. That day, the family got a confirmed sighting of Hannah and an unidentified person getting on the train, but she hasn't been seen since reportedly exiting at Pico Station.

Following Ryan's death, Pidgeon told PEOPLE the family will keep searching for Hannah. "We're still here," she said. "Were a family doing the best we can now with two tragedies."

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.
YAOUNDE, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Officials from Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea are meeting in La Paz, a city in Equatorial Guinea, to discuss the border demarcation issue between the two countries, Cameroon's Ministry of Territorial Administration said Tuesday.

This is the first time for experts from both sides, who are members of the technical subcommission in charge of the border demarcation, meeting to discuss the border issue.

"This meeting will provide a legal framework to facilitate the demarcation of our common borders," said Cameroon's Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji at the beginning of the three-day meeting. He believed that the meeting, which opened Monday, would help trace the border between the two countries and determine the geographical distinctions, among other issues.

"We wish to see fruitful deliberations which guarantee mutually beneficial ties between our two brotherly countries," said Equatorial Guinean Minister of State for Interior and Local Administration Faustino Ndong Esono Eyang.

Both countries want to make the border "an instrument of economic empowerment and peace," Eyang said, stressing that there is no border dispute between the two countries.

The two sides are expected to finalize a working document that will help the experts when they visit the border Wednesday.

Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea share a border of approximately 200 km. 
The Israeli security cabinet approved a ceasefire deal with Lebanon's Hezbollah group to end more than a year of fighting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.

The deal is to come into force on Wednesday at 4 am (0200 GMT), after which fighting would stop for 60 days.

Israeli jets continued to pound parts of Lebanon late Tuesday, including launching more strikes on residential areas of Beirut.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Speaking from the White House, US President Joe Biden hailed the "courageous" agreement, calling it a "new start" for Lebanon.

He said the deal brokered by the US and France, if fully implemented, is "designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities."

Caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called the agreement "an essential step towards spreading calm and stability in Lebanon, and the return of the displaced to their homes and cities."

The text is based on the United Nations resolution 1701 that marked the end of the last Lebanon War in 2006 but was never fully implemented.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The deal states that during the 60-day ceasefire, Israel is to withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon, Biden explained in his speech.

Hezbollah fighters are to return behind the Litani River, about 30 kilometres north of the de facto Israeli-Lebanese border.

Reports say that total of 10,000 Lebanese army troops, which are not involved in the war, are to be stationed in the border area in parallel with the Israeli withdrawal. Of this total, 5,000 are already in place.

The agreement is to be monitored by a group of states led by the United States, along with France, Lebanon, Israel and the UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Around 10,000 UNIFIL peacekeepers are already stationed in the country, but have allegedly repeatedly failed to monitor the border area.

The monitoring is also to ensure that the militia does not rearm. In a later step, Israel and Lebanon should also negotiate contentious border issues, the reports said.

Tens of thousands of people in both countries are waiting to return to their homes once the fighting has ended. Around 800,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon, while hundreds of thousands more have fled across the border to Syria.

An estimated 60,000 Israelis have been evacuated from the north as a result of heavy fire from Lebanon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Coalition partners in the Israeli government previously criticized the proposed deal, with the far-right Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir calling it a "serious mistake," saying the country was missing an opportunity to crush the weakened Hezbollah.

In the end, however, Ben-Gvir backed down from his threat to resign from the government in the event of a ceasefire.

In an address to the nation earlier on Tuesday, Netanyahu warned that Iran-backed Hezbollah would face retaliation for any violations of the deal.

"With the United States' full understanding, we maintain full freedom of military action. If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to arm itself, we will attack. If it tries to rebuild terrorist infrastructure near the border, we will attack. If it launches a rocket, if it digs a tunnel, if it brings in a truck carrying rockets, we will attack," he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Netanyahu noted that in recent months that Israel had killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and other members of the leadership, destroyed most of the group's missile arsenal and demolished an underground tunnel network in southern Lebanon.

"A year later, it is not the same Hezbollah. We have pushed them decades back," the prime minister said.

The ceasefire does not refer to the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which has been ongoing since October 7, 2023.

Israel has been fighting for more than a year on several fronts.

Hezbollah has struck northern Israel almost daily since the beginning of the Gaza war more than a year ago. Israel responded with massive airstrikes and, at the end of September, a ground offensive into southern Lebanon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The war between Israel and Hezbollah has killed almost 3,800 people in Lebanon over the last year, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

Before Netanyahu spoke, the Israeli Air Force had carried out multiple strikes on Beirut's centre and the city's southern suburbs, a hotbed of the Hezbollah movement. The Lebanese Health Ministry said at least 11 people were killed in central Beirut neighbourhoods on Tuesday.

The bombardments continued after the ceasefire was announced by the Israeli and US leaders.

A residential apartment in the first floor of a building in the Khandaq al-Ghamiq area of Beirut was hit shortly before midnight.

The warplanes also targeted areas in Akkar in northern Lebanon.
Apopka police announced the arrest of a 34-year-old woman charged in the death of her 4-year-old daughter.

Police said that on Sep. 22 Caitlyn Swatkowski, 34, was involved in a single-vehicle crash on State Road

429 that tragically resulted in the death of her 4-year-old daughter and caused serious bodily injury to another child in the vehicle.

Read: Body of missing 7-year-old boy with autism found in Volusia County pond, deputies say

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Following an investigation, detectives from the Apopka Police Department obtained arrest warrants for Swatkowski.

On Tuesday, while attending an unrelated court hearing in Volusia County, Swatkowski was taken into custody and booked into the Volusia County Jail.

Read: Minority-owned & women-owned business growth surges since pandemic

Swatkowski was charged with the following felonies: aggravated manslaughter of a child, DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, child neglect with great bodily harm, and dui causing serious bodily injury.

Read: Clermont woman convicted of killing, burying her husband had been sentenced for life

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.




Nov. 26URBANA  Six months after finishing his sentence for another conviction, a Champaign man is back in jail after he was found guilty of being a felon in possession of firearms and possession of cocaine with intent to deliver.

George Edwards, 30, had been free due to a pretrial release that was revoked directly following his conviction Monday.

He had been serving time for violating parole for resisting a police officer during the same Dec. 15, 2021, search of his home that led to the drug and firearm charges.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He also had a previous felony conviction of possession of a stolen firearm from 2020.

Members of multiple Champaign County law-enforcement agencies testified in Edwards' trial because they were all members of the Champaign County Street Crimes Task Force, which performed the search.

During the 2021 incident, the task force formed a perimeter around Edwards' Champaign home as they prepared to arrest him for alleged domestic battery.

When he left his home and attempted to get into a vehicle to leave, police arrested him.

Police said he was initially compliant, other than throwing his keys to the ground and telling a man nearby to pick them up.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An officer grabbed the keys first.

But police said as they tried to move Edwards into a squad car, he began trying to escape, which led to the charge and conviction for resisting arrest.

As police waited for a warrant to search the house, officers on either side of the trailer home saw the man who had been asked to get the keys going in and out, but he was never identified.

Defense attorney Debra Nielsen of Tinley Park identified that unidentified person as a potential issue during her closing arguments, as well as a potential lack of evidence linking Edwards to the weapons found in the home.

Once they had a warrant, police searched the house and, in the primary bedroom, found a duffel bag containing four firearms, bags of pills and cocaine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police believed the pills to be MDMA, also known as Ecstasy, but testing revealed they were not an illicit substance, so a related charge against Williams was dropped.

Of the four firearms, one pistol was outfitted with a switch that turns a semiautomatic weapon into an automatic weapon, also referred to legally as a machine gun.

James Hobson, who is currently an Illinois state trooper but was a Champaign police officer on the task force in 2021, explained that another alleged firearm, a 300 Blackout AR-style pistol, was being built from a kit and was "80 percent complete."

Since it was only 80 percent complete and thus legally not a firearm, it passed Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives standards to be delivered by mail.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It may still not have been fully put together when police found it.

For that reason, Judge Roger Webber acquitted Edwards on one count of possession of a firearm.

He made the same ruling on a second count due to some confusion during the testimony between it and another alleged firearm, because the state was required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that all of the items found were actually firearms by legal definition.

Webber ruled that DNA evidence on the firearms, combined with evidence such as mail addressed to Edwards that proved he lived at the address police searched, was enough to determine they belonged to Edwards.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Webber also said that while the amount of cocaine discovered, 21.2 grams, is not significantly above a reasonable amount for personal use, other items found suggested Edwards was dealing.

The duffel bag in question also contained multiple empty plastic bags and four scales.

Edwards will be detained until at least Jan. 6, at which time the defense will present any post-trial motions prior to his sentencing.
Nov. 25OTTAWA  Putnam County Common Pleas Court Judge Keith Schierloh on Monday struck down a defense motion seeking a change in venue for the murder trial of Konner Dunklee.

Dunklee, 26, Lima, is charged in the April shooting death of 30-year-old Deshler resident Farrah Croninger at Kitchen Enterprises Trucking Company in Leipsic. Michael Kitchen, 54, was also injured during the shooting.

Dunklee appeared Monday in Putnam County Common Pleas Court for a hearing surrounding several issues raised by his court-appointed attorney, Drew Mahalik. In addition to a motion seeking to move Dunklee's trial to a new location, based on what Mahalik said was "widespread and prejudicial" pretrial publicity that could cause his client's right to an impartial jury to be jeopardized, Mahalik also petitioned the court to allow a medical expert and private investigator to be hired by the defense.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Schierloh denied all three motions, stating that no information contained in the motions supported the need for a medical expert or a private investigator. The judge granted Mahalik the right to file another change of venue motion if issues arise during the jury selection process.

The lone defense motion granted by the court was to allow Dunklee to wear civilian clothing from all future hearings. A final pretrial hearing was scheduled for Jan. 6 and a jury trial is now set to begin Feb. 4.

Dunklee was indicted in April by a Putnam County grand jury on charges of aggravated murder; murder, attempt to commit an offense; felonious assault; and assault. A plea of not guilty by reason of insanity was entered on his behalf in May but a psychological evaluation last month determined Dunklee was competent to stand trial.

Police say Croninger died April 18 when Dunklee entered the trucking company office in Leipsic with a gun and opened fire. Deputies from the Putnam County Sheriff's Office responded at 4:05 p.m. that day to several 911 calls that reported shots being fired. Upon their arrival officers found Croninger dead at the scene. Dunklee fled the scene and was later arrested in Allen County. He is being held in the Putnam County jail on a $1 million bond.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Putnam County Prosecuting Attorney Gary Lammers has said his office will seek "the harshest possible penalty" for Dunklee, which is life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Featured Local Savings
Nov. 25NEOSHO, Mo.  A Joplin man has been charged with making terroristic threats and harassing an employee at the Neosho post office, causing a Nov. 1 shutdown of the building.

Newton County Prosecutor Will Lynch filed felony charges of first-degree harassment and making a terrorist threat in the second degree against Zachary Earl Weaver, 39.

According to a probable-cause statement, Weaver called a post office employee and said he was going to shoot the person he called and also shoot up the post office. After the alleged threats, the post office was closed to everyone except law enforcement. The postal employee reported that calls were made throughout the morning. Weaver allegedly told the person that he was planning to end his own life and that it was the fault of the person to whom he spoke.

Judge Jacob R. Skouby issued a warrant for Weaver's arrest and set bond at $5,000 cash or surety. The judge also ordered that Weaver have no contact with the postal employee.
A Twin Cities Fleet Farm employee, who is just 17-years-old, suffered critical injuries Sunday after being stabbed inside the store by a Kansas man, authorities allege.

Prosecutors on Tuesday charged 31-year-old Gerald Dwayne Hudson, of Kansas City, KS, with one count each of 1st- and 2nd-degree assault in connection with the incident, which happened around 2 p.m. at the west metro Fleet Farm store in Carver.

According to the criminal complaint, the teenage girl injured in the attack suffered "significant blood loss" from a large laceration to her neck, briefly lost consciousness and was hospitalized in critical but stable condition.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hudson fled the store on foot and drove off in his SUV, charges allege. He was later arrested in Chanhassen and remains in the Carver County Jail.

Photo courtesy of Tony Webster via Wikimedia Commons.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim told police she does not know Hudson and witnesses reported her say something to the effect of "he just stabbed me" in the moments after the attack.

The girl's injury measured around two to three inches long and produced an entrance and exit wound on opposite sides of her neck, splitting open an inch or more wide.

According to the complaint, Hudson made unsolicited, voluntary statements in the jail, including: "I didn't stab anyone, I don't have any guns or anything like that, I just hit someone with a thing."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He's additionally quoted as saying: "There wasn't any kind of deadly weapon that was involved like a gun, or knife, or a bat or anything like that there was just like a quick brief conversation, and I just like, I just well hit her with a plastic thing."



Charges state Hudson later provided a statement to investigators, explaining he'd asked the victim where an item was in the store and that she maybe "said something that didn't sound right to me."

Hudson allegedly admitted he then picked up a "thing" and hit the employee with it.

According to the complaint, Hudson also asked if he was speaking with the homicide investigator and asked if the victim had "passed away."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Charges state the weapon used in the attack has not been located.

According to the Star Tribune, Hudson was wanted by federal authorities at the time of the incident in connection with absconding from a residential re-entry center in 2020.

He was on supervised release at the time related to a case involving illegal possession of a gun by a felon on a college campus.
WALDORF, Md. (DC News Now) Parents rallied against Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) after a disturbing incident sent a second grader to the hospital.

Parents are demanding transparency and accountability from Paul Barnhart Elementary School after a second-grade student was hospitalized when their coat allegedly got stuck on a bathroom hook while playing with a fourth-grader.

The student could not get free so the other fourth-grade student went to get help from staff.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The family of the second grader who was hospitalized spoke out in tears. They did not want to be identified and said their son is physically OK but emotionally and mentally they are not well and plan to sue.

We know this fight is going to be a long journey, but we are not letting up, the students mother said. We are not taking no water breaks. Were going to fight until theres no more fight in us.

School community raises concerns after incident in Charles County school bathroom sends student to hospital

Tears were flowing from the family as they recalled the traumatic day on Nov. 15 when they found out what happened to their child.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is going to be a long process, the grandmother of the second grader, said. Hes a child. A lot of people say kids bounce back. How do you bounce back from a bathroom stall?

The mother of the boy said her child was hung in the school bathroom by a fourth grader.

CCPS said the students involved were horseplaying when the child was caught on a hook.

I dont believe it at all, Courtney, a parent at the county, said. I dont believe that this is the first incident. I know its not the first incident because what I said happened to my son on the 14th.

Courtney said her second-grader was beaten by the same fourth-grader.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Whats so unsettling is the fact that this school is saying that this is horseplay when they found the same fourth grader punching and kicking my son the day before who is also a second-grader, Courtney said.

Investigation underway after man kills 15-year-old stepson, Charles County Sheriffs Office says

Now, parents want to see increased safety measures from the school district.

What was the school or staff doing or failing to do to protect him or any other child? the hospitalized students grandmother said.

The Charles County Sheriffs Office is still investigating the incident.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
(NewsNation)  Charlotte Douglas International Airport workers are back on the job after striking on Monday.

Employees went on strike Monday to protest their current wages, but have returned to work despite the situation remaining unsolved.

The Service Employees International Union released a statement Monday calling for an end to poverty wages and respect on the job during the holiday travel season.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thanksgiving Travel Latest: TSA braces for busiest ever holiday

According to authorities, workers at the airport in North Carolinas biggest city are paid between $12.50 and $19 an hour.

Laura Kelly, an American Airlines wheelchair and escort agent at Charlotte Douglas, joined Morning in America to discuss why she and her colleagues protested, and are now back working.

Were pretty much asking for at least a $2 raise on each of our pays, Kelly told NewsNation.

Asked what would happen if a pay raise did not occur, Kelly remained uncertain.

Im not quite sure when the last time that the ABM or Prospect gave a pay raise, but I truly believe that we do deserve one, and Im hoping, with what we did yesterday and us actually getting our voices heard, maybe they will actually give us one before the Christmas holidays, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  The Department of Justice handed out nearly $7 million in grants to help combat the opioid crisis in seven North Carolina counties, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced Monday.

The $6.8 million in grants, which include Gaston and Catawba counties, target opioids, stimulants, and other substances and support local treatment programs. The funding will assist communities with the prevention, diversion, treatment and recovery needs of individuals affected by substance-use disorders.

Attorney General Josh Stein finalizes $1.37 billion opioid settlement with Kroger

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Attorneys Office says there were an estimated 107,543 drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2023, of which 81,083 were due to a synthetic opioid, primarily fentanyl.

The funding allocated to Western North Carolina will strengthen local efforts to fight the opioid crises and its impact on our communities, said U.S. Attorney Dena King. These grants further our commitment to work with our local partners to support public health and help build safe and healthy communities.

The following counties received the grant funds:

Catawba County was awarded $1.3 million to support its existing collaborative Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (L.E.A.D.) and Medicated Assisted Treatment (M.A.T.) programs.

Gaston County was awarded $1.2 million to support services provided to children and their families in foster care as a result of parental drug use.

Henderson County, $1.3 million, supplement funding for its Recovery Community Center and to expand its capacity.

Jackson Count, $998,952, to implement a comprehensive program designed to impact the overdose crisis and community-wide effects of illicit opioid substances.

Transylvania County, $999,947, to support its Bridging Reentry: Expanding Access to Treatment and Holistic Care (BREATH-C) program, that aims to reduce the impact of substance misuse on justice involved residents.

Wilkes County, $999,900, to implement a program to increase access recovery support services and to reduce the impact of illicit substances on individuals and communities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Charlotte City Manager Marcus Jones is getting a pay raise of 5%, Mayor Vi Lyles announced at Mondays City Council meeting.

The raise will bring his base salary to about $474,530.

For the second year in a row, the City Council did not vote in open session on the raise, a potential violation of North Carolina open meeting laws.

Council members also didnt vote in open session last year on raises for the city clerk and city attorney. A pair of attorneys told The Charlotte Observer at the time that was a likely violation of North Carolina open meeting laws.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

City spokesman Jason Schneider said Monday the City Council approved the raise in a recent closed session and that the city clerks office could potentially provide the vote tally.

In contrast, the Mecklenburg County Commission voted in open session in September on a raise for County Manager Dena Diorio. Commissioners also got a summation of Diorios latest performance review during that public meeting.

Asked about the legality of not voting in open session on raises, Lyles said she follows the guidance of the city attorneys office.

Lyles also announced Monday the council approved a 2% raise for the city clerk. The raises are effective retroactive to July 1, she said.
By Alimat Aliyeva

Kazakhstan intends to increase the capacity of the TMTM transit corridors (Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, Middle Corridor) and the North-South corridor, Azernews reports.

It was noted that in the first 10 months of this year, traffic along the TMTM corridor increased by 68%, reaching 3.8 million tons.

"Currently, active work is underway to increase the capacity of the TMTM and North-South transit corridors," the minister said.

He added that "due to changes in global logistics routes," the importance of the North-South corridor is growing every day.

"The capacity of the corridor is 10 million tons per year. The actual volume of cargo transported this year amounted to 1.8 million tons. Given the corridors potential, we plan to increase its capacity to 20 million tons," Karabayev stated.

To this end, the Minister noted, a Roadmap for the synchronized development of the corridor with Iran, Turkmenistan, and Russia was signed in July of this year. To attract more cargo traffic along this corridor, Kazakhstan has introduced special tariff discounts of 50% for transit transportation. Additionally, efforts are underway to establish a Single Logistics Operator on the eastern North-South route, similar to the United Transport and Logistics Company (UTLC).

Currently, the Kazakh and Russian sides have completed the preparatory procedures for the creation of a joint venture, and the Turkmen sides position on participation in the project is awaited.
Sun Haiyan, deputy head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Nov. 25, 2024. A delegation of the CPC led by Sun visited Sri Lanka from Nov. 23 to 26. (Xinhua/Wu Yue)

COLOMBO, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- A delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC), led by Sun Haiyan, deputy head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, visited Sri Lanka from Nov. 23 to 26.

During the visit, the delegation met with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, as well as the main leaders of the ruling and opposition parties and representatives of parliamentarians.

During the meetings, the delegation introduced the spirit of the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and had in-depth exchanges with the Sri Lankan side on China-Sri Lanka relations and cooperation in various fields.

Expressing its firm commitment to a friendly policy toward China, the Sri Lankan side hoped to deepen cooperation in various fields between China and Sri Lanka, share China's development opportunities, further strengthen inter-party relations and exchanges of experience in governance, and promote the comprehensive development and expansion of China-Sri Lanka relations. 

Sun Haiyan, deputy head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Nov. 24, 2024. A delegation of the CPC led by Sun visited Sri Lanka from Nov. 23 to 26. (Xinhua/Chen Dongshu)
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is investigating what led to a pursuit that ended with two people dead.

Mannford Police called for OHP backup around 6:00 p.m. on Monday.

The chase ended on Highway 16 near 321 West Avenue in Creek County.

Troopers used a tactical maneuver to stop the vehicle they were pursuing.

The two people in that vehicle didnt survive.

Investigators are trying to piece together what made the driver decide to try to outrun police.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Nov. 25CHATFIELD, Minn.  As their school district contemplates adopting an alternative calendar, students in Chatfield may find themselves having to attend classes for only four days a week in the future.

Chatfield Public Schools has started researching the possibility of restructuring its schedule. A decision will be made on the matter in early 2025. The district recently hosted a public input session to gauge the community's reception of the proposal.

"We had a really, really good turnout," Superintendent Ed Harris said during a recent school board meeting. "I feel like we had a really healthy discussion."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Chatfield is expected to hold another public input meeting on Dec. 4. The district will then make a recommendation on the issue to the school board on Jan. 8, 2025.

Out of more than 300 school districts in Minnesota, only six have a four-day school week, according to documentation from the Minnesota Legislature. If Chatfield were to make the change, it would be the only district to do so in Southeast Minnesota.

There are 29 districts that have alternative schedules or individual schools with alternative schedules. That includes Rochester's Longfellow Elementary, which operates on a 45-15 calendar. That means for every 45 days of classes, it has 15 days of break.

Although Byron Public Schools recently considered the option when discussing budget cuts, Superintendent Mike Neubeck says it is unlikely the district would move forward with the option for next year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a frequently-asked-questions document prepared for the district's families, Harris outlined some reasons to pursue the option, ranging from the mental health of students to staff recruitment and retention. In the document, Harris spoke about his former time as a superintendent in Ogilvie, which implemented the option in 2009.

"Ogilvie has continued with the four-day week ever since, with annual surveys showing over 90% of parents, students and support staff support for keeping it," Harris wrote in the document.

Chatfield Schools hasn't filed an application with the Minnesota Department of Education to make the change.

The district also has highlighted the fact that the transition would be a way to reduce costs. The district will have to cut $250,000 to $300,000 for the next school year. Moving to a four-day week would represent $150,000 worth of savings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rather than decreasing the overall amount of instruction time, however, the district instead would lengthen the school day, starting 25 minutes earlier and ending 20 minutes later.

During the district's Oct. 9 school board meeting, High School Principal Eric Nelson said that, if approved, the new schedule would result in the addition of 10 minutes to each of the classes throughout the day.

"It's really aimed at trying to limit the changes at the high school," Nelson said. "The beauty of that is that instead of changing everything in their world ... we're changing the dynamics of the days of the week if that move were to occur. But what those days look like isn't particularly different from what they're used to now."
Oklahoma and Cherokee Nation officials have reached an agreement to renew their motor vehicle tag compact for 10 years after a lengthy dispute.

Gov. Kevin Stitt had insisted for months on making major changes to the compact, which was set to expire Dec. 31, citing his concerns regarding the state's access to drivers personal information and unpaid tolls. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. had criticized some of Stitt's demands and said the tribe would stop working with the state if an agreement could not be reached.

However, Stitt and Hoskin both expressed support for the terms of their agreement announced Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The new compact is a government-to-government agreement that will protect the rights of our citizens and ensure we can continue to provide essential funding for public schools, roads and law enforcement agencies," Hoskin said in a statement. I am grateful for the good faith negotiations from our partners in Oklahoma and the support of the Cherokee people for this fundamental exercise of our self-determination and government interests.

More: Oklahoma governor to tribal leaders: Let's make a deal on license plates

The governor also said he appreciated the Cherokee Nation's efforts to work out a deal that would allow the state to collect tolls from drivers with Cherokee plates who do not have PikePass, a previous point of contention for Stitt.

"Were all Oklahomans and we all drive on the same roads and bridges, Stitt said. Its important that were all contributing to the things that make us a top ten state.

Cherokee Nation, state of Oklahoma agree on car tag compact

If approved by the Cherokee Nation council and the Legislature's Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations, the compact would allow Cherokee Nation citizens who live outside of the tribe's jurisdiction to use state tag offices or Cherokee Nation tag offices to obtain Cherokee plates.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The agreement stipulates that the Cherokee Nation will share driver information for PlatePay billing, and continue sharing that information with law enforcement. The tribal nation also agreed to pay Oklahoma $2 million over three years to help cover unpaid tolls, and in exchange, the state agreed to waive any additional fees incurred through Nov. 30 by drivers with Cherokee plates.

More: Oklahoma governor signs more compacts with tribal nations, here are all the details

Cherokee tag agreement follows drawn out dispute over data concerns

The agreement comes after Stitt incorrectly claimed earlier this year that police only have reliable information about drivers with Chickasaw Nation and Choctaw Nation plates. He also faulted the Cherokee Nation and other tribal nations over Oklahomas inability to collect cashless tolls from drivers with their plates issued by those tribes.

Stitt said tribal citizens were racking up millions of dollars in unpaid tolls because turnpike officials lacked their plate information. A bill that would have allowed law enforcement officials to share tribal plate data with the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority failed to advance earlier this year over concerns from tribal leaders.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More: Oklahoma, Choctaw Nation sign latest tribal compact: What to know about the deal

In response to Stitt's criticism, Hoskin called the situation a problem of the states own creation, saying Oklahoma officials failed to ensure the readers could access tribal tag data before they powered on plate pay systems across the state.

The controversy over car tag compacts started in 2023, when they were set to expire along with other state-tribal deals to share the proceeds of cigarette taxes collected on tribal lands. Lawmakers extended all of the agreements for one year over Stitt's objections. The new deadline for all the deals to be renewed or risk expiration is Dec. 31.

More: Oklahoma's governor emails 14 tribal leaders his offer to extend tobacco tax compacts

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While Stitt has now agreed to renew the state's three car tag compacts with tribal nations, it's unclear how many state-tribal tobacco tax agreements may be within weeks of running out.

Stitt and the elected leaders of at least 11 tribal nations have signed on to long-term tobacco tax agreements since the start of the year, and others are in negotiation, according to Abegail Cave, a spokesperson for the governor.

The number of tribes in negotiation is unclear. At least eight compacts appear on track to expire by Dec. 31 if they aren't renewed.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt reach car compact agreement
CHESAPEAKE  The murder conviction of a man sentenced earlier this year to 48 years in prison for the fatal shooting of another man was set aside by a judge, and a new trial was set for next year.

In a two-sentence order signed last week, Chesapeake Circuit Judge Robert G. MacDonald granted a defense motion to set aside the guilty verdicts issued to Thomas Lee Ireland at the end of his trial in May.

The dismissal of a jurys verdicts by a judge is rarely seen in Virginia. State law says a verdict can be set aside for errors made during trial, or if the court determines the evidence was insufficient to support a conviction. If the reason is due to insufficient evidence, the case cant be retried. But if its due to errors at trial, a new trial must be set.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A jury found Ireland guilty of first-degree murder, armed burglary and using a firearm to commit a felony after a three-day trial. The panel then sentenced him to 48 years.

There was no dispute that Ireland was the person who shot and killed 69-year-old Roger Flip Hardy at Hardys home on Feb. 6, 2022, according to court filings. The question for the jury was whether Ireland acted in self defense.

Several people had gathered that night at Hardys Indian River area home, where they drank heavily, played cards and danced, according to the 22-page defense motion filed by Chesapeake Senior Assistant Public Defender Faith Winstead.

Ireland was among the people who showed up, but he was repeatedly asked to leave and eventually escorted out after he became unruly. Ireland came back inside a short time later, and thats when the shooting occurred.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Three witnesses testified at trial, but their accounts differed, according to the motion. Priscilla Minor told the jury that Ireland had busted though the screen door when he came back inside, even though there was no damage to the door, Winstead wrote. Minors testimony at various hearings about whether Hardy had a gun also was inconsistent, the defense lawyer said, and she was the only witness to say Ireland pushed Hardy.

Witness Demetrius Turner, however, told the jury Hardy was pointing a gun at Ireland when Ireland shot him, according to the defense motion. He also said Hardy was moving quickly towards Ireland, and that Ireland was backing out the door when he fired. Hardy was struck twice in the chest and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Turner said he took Hardys gun and placed it in a beer box in the kitchen before police arrived. He didnt tell investigators or prosecutors about that until right before a previous trial date for Ireland, which resulted in the trial being delayed.

Winstead argued the verdicts should be set aside because of the inherent incredibility of Patricia Minors testimony, and the lack of evidence indicating Ireland intended to kill Hardy when he came back inside.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She also claimed that a jury instruction about the right to arm law was improperly allowed because its only supposed to be applied to defendants, and not victims. In the Ireland trial, prosecutors argued the law applied to Hardy, the victim.

A person who reasonably believes that another intends to attack him for the purpose of killing him or doing him serious bodily harm has a right to arm himself for his own necessary self-protection, Winstead wrote.

This (jury) instruction can be given only when the evidence shows that the defendant armed himself with planning and deliberation for the purpose of being able to defend himself from a future attack In fact, counsel cannot find a single case in Virginia where this instruction has been given to bolster the Commonwealths theory of the case.

Irelands new trial is scheduled for February. Hes being held without bond in the city jail.

Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com
CHICAGO  Bri Johnsons ambition is hard to miss.

The 20-year-old is studying to be a medical assistant and will soon start applying for externships at several local hospitals. Her next big goal is buying a car  a nice car thats going to get me from point A to point B.

But the thing that topped Johnsons list of priorities on a fall afternoon, days before she moved into an apartment in Little Village, was getting a white desk and decorating her place, where she was set to live with a roommate. After years of temporary living situations, she was happy and excited and ready to be on my own.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Johnson, who until late October had been one of estimated thousands of homeless young people in Chicago, spent years in foster care and later on staying with relatives in Illinois and Mississippi. She was matter-of-fact about where that left her: Long story short, I didnt have nowhere to go.

Homeless youth like Johnson tend to be less visible than other segments of the citys homeless population, typically sheltering with friends or family in temporary living situations as opposed to the tent cities that have drawn significant attention from media and residents. Experts say this group, whose ages range from 18 to 24 and tend to be disproportionately Black, have needs distinct from their school-age counterparts and older people without homes.

That has begun to be recognized. Last month, Chicago and Cook County officials, advocates and social service providers initiated a 2-year planning process to overhaul their approach for this age group.

Advocates say the work has become more urgent after the reelection of former President Donald Trump, who in the past has demonstrated hostile views toward the LGBTQ+ population, which makes up a large portion of homeless youth seeking refuge in Illinois and, more specifically, Chicago.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You go from a sense of potential and possibility to a real sense of protection and mitigation, said Andrea Durbin, CEO of Illinois Collaboration on Youth. I think that adds a sense of urgency to make sure that we have capacity in our systems to be able to respond to that.

Indeed, as attitudes and legal protections toward LGBTQ+ populations have deteriorated in other parts of the country, some Chicago-based organizations have reported a spike in the past two years of unaccompanied youth from outside Chicago who seek their help.

Were at a moment where national policy and state policy are pushing people out of their communities, said Niya Kelly, director of state legislative policy, equity and transformation for the Chicago Coalition to end Homelessness. They may end up in the state of Illinois or in Chicago because it feels safe, or safer, like you can build a community here.

Nyxx Ramsey, 24, is one of them. Ramsey, originally from West Virginia, had been in Chicago for a year as of Oct. 18.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I love it here, said Ramsey, whose pronouns are they/them. Even though my situation isnt the best, at least its in Chicago.

Although Ramsey is still looking for work and a place to live, they are here to stay.

A system that puts young people first

Ramsey, like many other young people without a place to go, spends quite a bit of time at the Center on Halsted in the Lakeview neighborhood.

Unlike school-age homeless people or chronically homeless adults, homeless youth are extremely likely to cobble together their living arrangements by couch surfing, the jumping among the homes of relatives and friends and shelters. The Center on Halsted offers them a place to shower and charge their phones and a clean place to sit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The transient way of life, combined with the fact that many runaway or unaccompanied youth dont want to be found, makes them very difficult to count, experts say. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development counts only literal homelessness  someone sleeping in a shelter, a car or out on the street  in its tally of homeless people. The Chicago point-in-time count uses the same definition, leading advocates to argue that the citys official number of young homeless people is likely a serious undercount.

The citys most recent count of its homeless population reported that about 10%, or 495 people, of its homeless population were 18 to 24. The Chicago Coalition to end Homelessness estimated in a 2023 report using 2021 figures that about 11,885 people ages 14 to 24 were homeless, factoring in the high likelihood of couch-surfing.

Betsy Carlson of Covenant House Illinois said the disparity between the estimates could have a negative impact on addressing youth-specific homelessness.

If its a severe undercount, and it certainly has been, then those resources are just simply not going to be there, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Carlson is part of the steering committee for what is known as a needs assessment, funded by a roughly $1.3 million HUD grant and meant to help homelessness organizations in Chicago and nearby suburbs coordinate and adjust their services to the needs of the young people who use them.

Durbin, of the Illinois Collaboration on Youth, said that between the yearslong budget impasse that has hamstrung funding to social services and the pandemic, the youth homeless response system has been through a lot and is still rebuilding itself.

She sees the evaluation as an opportunity to ask two questions: How do we build a system that puts young people first, and what is it that they want?

I think people have very good intentions, but I think when you know better, you do better, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She said any changes to homelessness services should be based on the needs and experiences of the young people meant to use them.

She thought it was likely that problems arose when young peoples trust in systems meant to help them eroded  either because of a safety concern or a lack of follow-through on services.

For example, a lot of times, young people who have been in foster care, dont want to be identified as having been in foster care, she said. Even though I might say, as an adult, Hey, because you were in foster care, youre actually legally entitled to an education, housing, health care.

Asked what input she would give as providers try to rethink services for homeless youth, Johnson said shed prioritize spreading information about the resources that are already available.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I feel like 90% of the young people that get out of the system dont know whats available, so they start going toward other things, she said. Some people dont even know that they can apply for Link or medical insurance, but that kind of thing would help out a person so much.

By late October, Johnson and a roommate had been living in a third-floor apartment on a tree-lined Little Village street for about a month.

Hardware waited on the wall for a mounted TV. A box of Fruity Pebbles sat on the fridge. The apartment was immaculate.

I have to have it clean, Johnson said. Its getting cold; mice will be looking for a home. It just wont be this one.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Johnson was already thinking about her Christmas decorations  possibly a Hello Kitty theme for the tree. She sat on the couch in Tim Burton pajama pants and a red sweatshirt. It was warm and sunny and quiet.

Its usually quiet like this, she said. I come straight back from school to this.

Johnson still had a lot to do. She needed to get some things from storage with a relative. Externship applications loomed. But she plans to keep going.

Finding their way to Chicago

Ramsey describes their journey from West Virginia to Virginia, downstate Carbondale and finally Chicago as an escape.

Ramsey has held onto a lot from their youth in Appalachia, both good and bad. Theyll eagerly explain legends around cryptids and recount moments where their use of the word toboggan to describe a hat rather than a sled created serious confusion. When they find stable housing, they plan to decorate it like back home  a lot of camo, a lot of woodsy stuff, like antlers on the wall.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But when Ramsey left in 2021, it was in part because theyd reached a breaking point with attitudes toward LGBTQ+ people in their hometown, in their family and in the church they belonged to.

I was just public enemy No. 1 in my family, Ramsey said.

When Ramsey was discharged from the treatment program that originally brought them to Chicago and dropped off outside the Night Ministrys Crib, they said their first thought was the inevitable happened.

They were intimidated by the city at first. They got lost a lot. Shortly after Ramsey arrived, a friend took them to the Northalsted Halloween parade, which they described as a culture shock  but a good one.

Back home is very Dont say gay, they said. But then here its like, rainbow crosswalks, rainbow flags. The first time I saw a rainbow crosswalk, I cried.

Ramsey curled up on a couch in a friends Lakeview apartment with a large iced coffee and a bag of crumpled clothes to catch their breath before they went to inquire about another job. They were trying to build a life in the city, they said.

Milo Miles and Lunar Bowen are trying too. Miles, originally from South Carolina, and Bowen, originally from Indiana, met at the Broadway Youth Center shortly after they both arrived in Chicago.

Bowen, 23, was having a conversation with someone else in a communal room at the center when Miles, 25, approached him.

He asked me, Were you talking to me? and I said, No, but I can be! Bowen said.

The couple has navigated the often-turbulent network of resources and social services together, starting with housing. But they said it seemed like the importance of internet access and phone service was often overlooked.

Besides the fact that many jobs are remote and internet-based, they said, a phone was a lifeline for a person navigating the patchwork of logistics and safety concerns that accompany homelessness.

While I was homeless, it was like, At least I have my phone, Bowen said. I could text people. I could call people if I got into a situation or a part of Chicago where I didnt feel safe.

Despite how much the pair still needs to manage, from health care to education to making friends, they said theyd rather be figuring it out in Chicago than anywhere else.

I have not wanted to leave. Even after being homeless, I wouldnt trade it for the world, Miles said. Both of us decided Chicago is home.
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)  Chicopee City Councilor Samuel Shumsky urges civility after receiving threats and experiencing an alleged vehicle tampering incident following a recent council meeting.

Chicopee police investigate shooting that left two injured

In a statement released Monday on councilor Shumskys personal Instagram, Shumsky described recent events after the councils latest meeting. At that meeting, he voted to advance a topic for discussion during a subcommittee meeting planned for December 16 at 6 p.m.

Since then, he has received threatening phone calls, with two wishing him severe injury or death.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the days following that decision, the public has been very open about how they would like to handle it, with some conversations and statements aimed toward me going as far as to suggest that my well-being could be affected. Chicopee City Councilor Samuel Shumsky

The City Council was voting on an application for a new Service Station for the area on Burnett Road. Some residents who live in the area have expressed quality-of-life concerns about the project. Shumsky told 22News he started to receive threats after voting to move the proposal to a subcommittee, I received two phone calls from private numbers that wished me harm in some ways, said Shumsky.

Shumsky revealed that he received numerous phone calls, two of which included threats of severe injury and death. Additionally, he reported that someone loosened the lug nuts on his car, nearly causing a tire to fall off while he was driving on Interstate 291. I could feel the vibration of the car do you know vehicle its hard to maneuver at that point, Shumsky told 22News.

The backlash is all stemming from a vote on this land at the end of I-291 in Chicopee, a service station that has been a project two years in the making. The original proposal was unanimously rejected by the city council.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This new proposal  still being met with opposition. Chicopee Mayor John Vieau expressed his frustration, I am disappointed as Mayor that there are people in this city that are willing to wish harm upon a city councilor who is just trying to represent his district, said Mayor Vieau.

In the face of this and for the sake of civility, I am asking everyone to please step back and attack the nature of this issue, not a physical attack towards me or others, Shumsky said, adding that no council or committee members should face such hostility.

The city councilor emphasized his concern, adding, I will not stand silent when expressions of threats, wishes, or acts of harm against me to be injured or, even worse, killed.

We have the liberty to agree and to disagree respectfully, Shumsky said. Men and women have fought and died for this right. We do not have the right to threaten those with whom we may have a difference of opinion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shumsky concluded, We are not just Ward 6, Chicopee, or Massachusetts, but the United States of America. Lets engage with respect and civility.

Shumsky said he notified police but as of Tuesday morning, Chicopee Police said no formal report has been made. Chicopee police also confirmed with 22News that the messages sent to councilor Shumsky were inappropriate, but not direct threats and could be considered freedom of speech.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
The soaring cost of child care in the U.S. can now exceed what families pay for housing or college.

That's according to recently released data that outlines the heavy financial burden on the nearly 14 million American parents who rely on paid caregivers to look after their children. Families spent as much as $15,600 per year on full-day care per child in 2022 (the latest year for which data is available), although those with infants can face costs as high as $31,544 annually, according to a recently updated database compiled by the Department of Labor.

That exceeds the U.S. median rent of $15,216 that same year, while some families are spending as much as almost 30% of their annual earnings on child care, the agency noted. Overall, the cost of child care has soared more than 50% over the last decade.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Having a young child in this country is a cause of poverty. It's not correlated with it, it is a cause of poverty," Elliot Haspel, the author of the nonfiction book "Crawling Behind, America's Childcare Crisis and How to Fix It," told the Harvard Graduate School of Education in October.

Haspel noted that the demographic group most likely to face eviction "are Black children under the age of five. And a lot of this is a child care story. It isn't a housing story."

Families with infants typically pay more for child care, as well as those living in more populous counties or using center-based, instead of home-based, care, the Labor Department found.

"The fact that the median cost of center-based infant care is more than the median cost of rent should be of urgent concern," Wendy Chun-Hoon, director of the Department of Labor's Women's Bureau, said in a statement. "Families are struggling and women are disproportionately impacted."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Counties in which center infant prices demand the highest portion of median family income include:

Sterns County, MinnesotaBronx County, New York Piute County, Utah Essex County, VermontGrays Harbor and Wahkiakum counties in Washington Guanica County, Puerto RicoChild care can cost more than housing or college

The cost burden of paying for child care can exceed a typical family's annual housing costs, and even cost more than in-state tuition at public universities, other research has found.

In some U.S. states, child care expenses are consuming more than a quarter of an average household's total income, with a typical family spending $700 a month on the service, Bank of America found in a 2023 report.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2022, the cost of child care for two kids in a center exceeded the typical annual mortgage payment in 41 states and the District of Columbia, while infant care costs at a center surpassed in-state tuition at a public university in 32 states and D.C., according to the advocacy organization First Focus.

While consuming a large chunk of many families' income, child care workers are generally poorly paid. As of May 2023, wages averaged $15.42 an hour, or just over $32,000 a year, according to federal data. Overall, the nation's child care workforce is among the lowest 5% paid of all occupations, noted Haspel.

The COVID-19 pandemic worsened an existing shortage of child care workers as thousands left the industry in favor of higher-paid work. More than half of child care providers surveyed in 2024 said their programs were under-enrolled relative to their current capacity for reasons including staffing shortages, First Focus found.

The infusion of $24 billion in federal pandemic aid to child care providers, along with $14 billion more to help states address the issues, stopped costs from rising even further, the Labor Department said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We know interventions like the American Rescue Plan have helped, but more federal investments are needed to ensure child care is accessible and affordable for all," Chun-Hoon said, referring to the massive 2021 stimulus bill aimed at shoring up the economy during the health crisis.

Grateful Dead members reflect on Phil Lesh's impact on the band, their lives

Some North Carolina homeowners still can't return home after Helene landslides

New White House rule would make weight loss drugs available for people on Medicare and Medicaid
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)  The New Orleans Police Department is investigating a fatal single-car crash in New Orleans East on Tuesday, Nov. 26.

NOPD officers said around 9:40 a.m., they were called to the scene of the crash in the 6500 block of Morrison Road.

Three men hospitalized in separate shootings across New Orleans

Upon arrival, officers were alerted of an injured juvenile male. He was taken to a hospital where he later died from his injuries.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Morrison Road will be closed as the cause of the crash remains under investigation.

The Orleans Parish Coroner will release the victims identity after an autopsy is done and the family is notified.

Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

Latest Posts

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO.
ISTANBUL, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police detained two suspected members of the Islamic State (IS) in Istanbul on Tuesday over an alleged plot to carry out a bomb attack, local media reported.

The operation followed intelligence received by the Istanbul Police Department's Counter-terrorism Branch, indicating IS plans to target the city, the Demiroren news agency said.

Authorities identified one suspect, who operated online under the alias Bekir Al Kurdi, after he made inquiries on social media about constructing a pressure cooker bomb. Investigators traced him to the Gaziosmanpasa district, where he was found working with another suspect, police said.

Searches of their residence uncovered high-sensitivity explosives, large quantities of bomb-making chemicals, laboratory equipment, camouflage gear, masks, lab clothing, IS flags, banned publications, and digital materials, according to police.

Turkiye, which designated IS as a terrorist organization in 2013, has faced multiple attacks by the group in recent years. Turkish security forces have ramped up counter-terrorism operations nationwide, targeting suspected members and supporters. 
Haitis armed-gang crisis just got worse  and even more complicated.

A new report by the United Nations leading child welfare agency, UNICEF, says the number of children being recruited by the countrys violent gangs has soared by 70% in the last year.

The unprecedented spike, registered between the second quarter of 2023 and this year, is yet another example of how children in Haiti, already kept out of school due to violence and rape by gangs, are increasingly being robbed of their childhood.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Children in Haiti are trapped in a vicious cycle  recruited into the very armed groups that are fueling their desperation, and the numbers are growing, said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. This unacceptable trend must be reversed by ensuring childrens safety and welfare are prioritized by all parties.

As many as half of all members of armed gangs in Haiti are children, the U.N. said. This revelations come as Haiti sees an escalation in violence by armed groups and rising vigilantism by residents desperate to protect their neighborhoods from being overtaken.

A separate report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime says that as the country finds itself trapped between escalating violence and political paralysis, criminal groups are taking advantage of the institutional collapse and political vacuum to expand their territories.

In a political-institutional vacuum, the gangs have weaponized violence to exert pressure on the system, the report said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last week, dozens of suspected gang leaders were killed by police and residents during an attempt to invade the upscale community of Petion-Ville in the capital. While police put the official death toll at 28, Haitis National Human Rights Defense Network said the actual number killed after police intercepted three vehicles on Tuesday was 90. Overall, at least 108 people were killed over a three-day span of violence involving gangs and communities fighting back.

In one of the photos of the Tuesday incident, the charred body of a young child could be seen in the back of a vehicle. A 43-year-old resident in the Bourdon community of the capital, who spoke to the Miami Herald on condition of anonymity out of fear for his safety, said that among three armed gang members he saw running through the community fleeing police was a boy around 12 years old toting an automatic rifle and wearing flip flops.

A 12-year-old child with a huge Galil in his hands, that is sad, said the man, who like most people in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood was awakened by the sounds of gunfire and screams as police attempted to capture the invaders. These children are the most dangerous.

A father of three, the man said he is still shaken by the site of the heavily armed child, who was lost inside the community and trying to find his way out.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Children should not be living these kinds of things, he said, blaming the recruitment of children by armed gangs on the government, which has failed to protect children and for years ignored an epidemic of street kids who have presumably been recruited into the armed groups. The state has not taken responsibility.

UNICEF says that the rise in child recruitment by armed groups has been fueled by escalating violence, pervasive poverty, lack of education and near collapse of critical infrastructure and social services in Haiti.

Children are often coerced into joining to support their families, or under threats to their safety, the agency said in a statement. Many are recruited after being separated from their caretakers, stripped of protection and survival options.

The recruitment of kids, as well as the rape of girls in Haiti by armed gangs, is a grave violation of childrens rights, said UNICEF, calling on Haitian authorities to prioritize the protection of children.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In Port-au-Prince, 1.2 million children live under the threat of armed violence. An estimated 25% of the more than 703,000 internally displaced people  of whom 365,000 are children  are currently in the city living under dire conditions and exposed to multiple threats.

Children in many parts of Haiti are subjected to atrocities no child should ever have to experience, leaving them with psychological and emotional scars that might haunt them for a lifetime, Russell said. Chaos and horror have become part of daily life.
The 2024 U.N. climate talks ended in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Nov. 24 after two weeks of arguments, agreements and side deals involving 106 heads of states and over 50,000 business leaders, activists and government representatives of almost every country.

Few say the conference was a resounding success. But neither was it a failure.

The central task of the conference, known as COP29, was to come up with funding to help developing countries become more resilient to the effects of climate change and to transition to more sustainable economic growth.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The biggest challenge was agreeing on who should pay, and the results say a lot about the shifting international dynamics and offer some insight into Chinas role. As a political science professor who has worked on clean tech policy involving Asia, I followed the talks with interest.

Slow global progress

Over three decades of global climate talks, the worlds countries have agreed to cut their emissions, phase out fossil fuels, end inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies and stop deforestation, among many other landmark deals.

They have acknowledged since the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, when they agreed to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, that greenhouse gas emissions produced by human activities, including the burning of fossil fuels, would harm the climate and ecosystems, and that the governments of the world must work together to solve the crisis.

But progress has been slow.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Greenhouse gas emissions were at record highs in 2024. Governments are still subsidizing fossil fuels, encouraging their use. And the world is failing to keep warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius compared with preindustrial times  a target established under the 2015 Paris Agreement to avoid the worst effects of climate change.

Extreme weather, from lethal heat waves to devastating tropical cyclones and floods, has become more intense as temperatures have risen. And the poorest countries have faced some of the worst damage from climate change, while doing the least cause it.

Money for the poorest countries

Developing countries argue that they need US$1.3 trillion a year in financial support and investment by 2035 from the wealthiest nations  historically the largest greenhouse gas emitters  to adapt to climate change and develop sustainably as they grow.

That matters to countries everywhere because how these fast-growing populations build out energy systems and transportation in the coming decades will affect the future for the entire planet.

Negotiators at the COP29 climate talks. Less developed countries were unhappy with the outcome. Kiara Worth/UN Climate Change via Flickr

At the Baku conference, member nations agreed to triple their existing pledge of $100 billion a year to at least $300 billion a year by 2035 to help developing countries. But that was far short of what economists have estimated those countries will need to develop clean energy economies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The money can also come from a variety of sources. Developing countries wanted grants, rather than loans that would increase what for many is already crushing debt. Under the new agreement, countries can count funding that comes from private investments and loans from the World Bank and other development banks, as well as public funds.

Groups have proposed raising some of those funds with additional taxes on international shipping and aviation. A U.N. study projects that if levies were set somewhere between $150 and $300 for each ton of carbon pollution, the fund could generate as much as $127 billion per year. Other proposals have included taxing fossil fuels, cryptocurrencies and plastics, which all contribute to climate change, as well as financial transactions and carbon trading.

Chinas expanding role

How much of a leadership role China takes in global climate efforts is an important question going forward, particularly with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump expected to throttle back U.S. support for climate policies and international funding.

China is now the worlds largest emitter of greenhouse gases and the second-largest economy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

China also stands to gain as provider of the market majority of green technologies, including solar panels, wind turbines, batteries and electric vehicles.

Whether or not China should be expected to contribute funding at a level comparable to the other major emitters was so hotly contested at COP29 that it almost shut down the entire conference.

Previously, only those countries listed by the U.N. as developed countries  a list that doesnt include China  were expected to provide funds. The COP29 agreement expands that by calling on all actors to work together to enable the scaling up of financing.

In the end, a compromise was reached. The final agreement encourages developing countries to make contributions on a voluntary basis, excluding China from the heavier expectations placed on richer nations.

Side deals offer signs of progress

In a conference fraught with deep division and threatened with collapse, some bright spots of climate progress emerged from the side events.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In one declaration, 25 nations plus the European Union agreed to no new coal power developments. There were also agreements on ocean protection and deforestation. Other declarations marked efforts to reenergize hydrogen energy production and expanded ambitious plans to reduce methane emissions.

Future of UN climate talks

However, after two weeks of bickering and a final resolution that doesnt go far enough, the U.N. climate talks process itself is in question.

In a letter on Nov. 15, 2024, former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and a group of global climate leaders called for a fundamental overhaul to the COP and a shift from negotiation to implementation.

After back-to-back climate conferences hosted by oil-producing states, where fossil-fuel companies used the gathering to make deals for more fossil fuels on the side, the letter also calls for strict eligibility requirements for conference hosts to exclude countries who do not support the phase out/transition away from fossil energy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With Trump promising to again withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, it is possible the climate leadership will fall to China, which may bring a new style of climate solutions to the table.

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: Lucia Green-Weiskel, Trinity College

Read more:



Lucia Green-Weiskel has received funding from various US-based foundations for climate related policy work in China through the Innovation Center for Energy and Transportation. Lucia is currently a Senior Advisor to the Innovation Center for Energy and Transportation and received credentials to virtually attend the COP29 through this organization.
China deployed naval and air forces to track and follow a U.S. Navy reconnaissance plane as it transited Tuesday over the Taiwan Strait, the Chinese military said, amid simmering tension between the two superpowers over the fate of the self-ruled island of Taiwan.

Colonel Cao Jun, a spokesperson for the Chinese army's Eastern Theater Command Air Force, condemned the U.S. for carrying out the flight and said it had threatened peace and stability in the region.

The 7th Fleet of the U.S. Navy said Tuesday that a P-8A Poseidon patrol and reconnaissance plane had transited the international airspace over the Taiwan Strait "in accordance with international law," adding that the plane's presence showed, "the United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific."

A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime reconnaissance and patrol aircraft is seen flying near the Naval Air Facility in Kanagawa, Japan, in a May 2, 2020 file photo. / Credit: Damon Coulter/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty

"The United States military flies, sails and operates anywhere international law allows," said the statement posted to the U.S. Navy website.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the description on the website of manufacturer Boeing, the P-8A Poseidon excels at "anti-submarine warfare; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and search and rescue."

Taiwan's Ministry of Defense said in a statement that it had noted the presence of five Chinese warplanes and seven naval vessels around the island. Four of the Chinese planes entered Taiwanese airspace, and Taiwan deployed "aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities."

China has long claimed the democratically governed island of Taiwan as part of its territory, and President Xi Jinping has vowed to bring it back under Beijing's control after more than seven decades  by force if necessary.

While the U.S. recognizes Beijing as the sole legal government of China, domestic American law obligates the U.S. to provide Taiwan with military hardware in support of the island's democratically elected government if it comes under threat.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most U.S. administrations have maintained a policy of strategic ambiguity on the extent to which they would support Taiwan in the face of a Chinese invasion, however.

In a September 2022 interview with 60 Minutes, President Biden said the U.S. would intervene militarily to protect Taiwan from China, "if, in fact, there was an unprecedented attack."

/ Credit: Getty/iStockphoto

President-elect Donald Trump has largely dodged questions on whether the U.S. would intervene militarily if China were to launch an invasion of Taiwan. In an interview earlier this year, he said Taiwan should pay the U.S. more for helping in its defense.

China's military routinely carries out land, navy and air exercises in the Taiwan Strait, the body of water that separates China and Taiwan, which is only about 100 miles across at its narrowest point. Those drills always draw condemnation from both the island's government in Taipei, and from the White House.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lowrider cars celebrated as cultural symbol among Mexican Americans | 60 Minutes

UATX says it fights college censorship culture with a focus on free speech | 60 Minutes

Trump doubles down on tariff promise after federal election interference charges dismissed
The Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education has failed its students and parents at a critical time. The hiring of a superintendent  the leader of the 36,000-student district  is one of the most important roles they play. But the board abandoned due diligence and ignored due process when members abruptly decided at their Nov. 19 meeting to forgo a formal search process and name interim Superintendent Shauna Murphy to the role permanently.

The fact that Murphy herself was surprised  and didn't formally apply  tells you everything you need to know about how haphazardly the board handled such a monumental choice. Surprises are great for birthdays and anniversaries, but not picking superintendents.

Even if the board was leaning toward hiring Murphy, she should have gone through some sort of formal hiring process - for the good of the district, the community and Murphy. A professional process would have given Murphy a chance to present her long-term vision for the district for everyone to see. Right now, we don't know what her vision is, and we aren't sure the full board does either. Will she be an agent of change or more of the same? It's also not entirely clear what Murphy has done in the six months since she's had to the job to merit keeping it long-term.

Advertisement Advertisement

To her credit, Murphy has made herself accessible and available to the community through town halls and "Sundaes with Shauna," which gives people a chance to chat, share ideas or ask questions of her over a few scoops of ice cream. And she has been in the district for 25 years, so a lot of people know her already. Still, by skipping a process, the board effectively cut off parents and other stakeholders from meeting with Murphy as a formal candidate, which would have allowed them to give feedback, ask questions and hear from Murphy about her plans. The board instead decided it would rely on three-year-old data from its last superintendent search and more recent "climate surveys"  weak substitutes for true community engagement. CPS parents have a right to be upset and should make their voices heard.

Shauna Murphy, left, interim Cincinnati Public School superintendent, tours Bond Hill Academy with Principal Renee Crawford, Wednesday, August, 14, 2024. Murphy attended Bond Hill as a student in 5th and 6th grade. CPS is welcoming approximately 35,000 students this school year. There are 3,200 teachers and a total of 6,500 staff.

To be clear, this is not about Murphy's abilities or qualifications to do the job. It's about the process  or lack thereof  board members used to hire her. We believe the way the board handled the appointment did a disservice to the new superintendent. The school board used a similarly hurried process when Murphy became the interim this past May, interviewing her and a handful of candidates for only 10 minutes and without requesting any data, work product or references. At the time, board member Ben Lindy  who abstained from voting for Murphy  called it a "reckless," rushed, behind-closed-doors affair with no clear plan. "This is not the way to provide good governance for our district," Lindy said.

The board seems to have learned little since then.

Opinion: CPS transition to interim superintendent is questionable

Advertisement Advertisement

Instead of coming into the job with the full support of the board, Murphy now knows at least three of her bosses (she was hired with a 4-3 vote of the board) don't agree with how she got there. That's not exactly setting up your top administrator for success from the start. And because Murphy  through no fault of her own  did not get the chance to emerge from a robust field of candidates in a national, state, or even local search, she now has to face questions about whether she is the best person to lead CPS. In a job that's already under the public's microscope, the board's lack of transparency and inclusion has only heightened the scrutiny of every decision Murphy makes moving forward.

Ben Lindy was one of three Cincinnati Public Schools board members to vote against moving interim Superintendent Shauna Murphy into the job perminently. Murphy got the position by a 4-3 vote of the board.

Perhaps the board felt compelled to hire Murphy in this fashion because of timing. Contract negotiations with the district's unions are looming, legislation that could impact Ohio's public schools is pending at the Statehouse in Columbus, and staffing transitions throughout CPS await approval. The board as a whole seemed reticent to move forward on much of anything until a permanent superintendent was in place.

That's why it's hard to understand why the board has been dragging its feet with the superintendent search. The district parted ways with ex-superintendent Iranetta Wright months ago, and the process for finding her permanent replacement should have started immediately. Sure, the district had to prioritize dealing with a nearly $30 million budget deficit and repairing the fractured culture of its workforce, but finding the next superintendent was too important to be placed on the back burner for so long. Any sense of urgency the board felt to appoint Murphy was of their own creation.

Opinion: Superintendent latest casualty of Cincinnati's parochial attitude

Shauna Murphy is Cincinnati Public Schools' new superintendent.

Most worrisome is the dysfunction and mistrust among board members that was on full display. The fact that a board member would make a motion for such an important move without notifying his colleagues in advance doesn't pass the smell test. Some board members will argue that nothing was done out of order at the meeting and that such motions are not uncommon. But that's disingenuous.

Advertisement Advertisement

The board's handling of Murphy's hiring was bad government, plain and simple. It was a byproduct of a board whose members don't trust each other's motives or intentions, who act covertly to achieve their desired results and who walk out of meetings when things don't go their way. And that doesn't bode well for anyone.

Some board members hope hiring Murphy will bring some much-needed stability back to Ohio's second-largest public school district. She now has her shot to prove she's up to the task. CPS students continue to struggle with proficiency in math and reading and the district is in desperate need of a leader who can bring marked improvement in those areas and on the state report card. CPS can ill afford to have another superintendent who lasts two years or less, so we should all be rooting for Murphy's success and hoping she lives up to her words: "I promise I will not let you down in this role."

The school board, however, did let us down. And the stability this board craves for the district starts with them getting their house in order. Until that happens, it doesn't matter who is the superintendent.

Opinion and Engagement Editor Kevin S. Aldridge writes this on behalf of The Enquirer's editorial board, which includes Editor Beryl Love and Senior News Director of Content Jackie Borchardt. Editorials are fact-based assessments of issues of importance to the communities we serve. These are not the opinions of our reporting staff members, who strive for neutrality in their reporting.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Abandoning CPS superintendent search was bad government | Editorial
An office sits vacant in San Francisco in October 2022. The city is one of several across the country offering incentives to convert unused office space into housing. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Read more Stateline coverage of how communities across the country are trying to create more affordable housing.

Nearly a fifth of office space across the country sits empty, a record high vacancy rate thats expected to keep growing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Seeking both to boost their economies and ease their housing shortages, cities are taking steps to encourage the conversion of unused office space into much-needed housing. They include reductions in approval times, exemptions from affordable housing rules and changes in building code requirements. Some cities and states also are providing tax incentives or subsidies to developers.

Cities need to focus on making conversions feasible by removing unnecessary regulatory barriers, said Alex Horowitz, project director of the Housing Policy Initiative at The Pew Charitable Trusts.

The U.S. is short millions of homes, and office vacancy rates are at record highs. It makes all the sense in the world to convert underused commercial space into housing, but the cost per square foot is just too high.

Purchasing and converting an office building for residential use costs an average of $685 per square foot. Buying a completed multifamily property costs an average of $600 per square foot, while building a new multifamily development costs about $588 per square foot.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Regulatory hurdles  such as outdated building codes, minimum unit sizes and natural light requirements  push up costs. Cities are trying a variety of ways to overcome these obstacles.

From coast to coast

In September, Minneapolis peeled away several regulations in an effort to encourage conversions, including removing public hearing requirements, requiring less intensive traffic studies, and exempting converted buildings from the typical requirement that 20% to 30% of units be rented at below-market rates.

San Francisco has waived certain planning and building code requirements as well as real estate transfer taxes for downtown conversions that are approved before 2030.

Seattle in July approved exemptions for commercial-to-residential conversions from certain design development standards and from housing affordability requirements.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

New York Citys Office Conversion Accelerator program provides a single point of contact for office building owners to streamline conversions, from zoning questions to permitting.

And Denver last year launched an adaptive reuse pilot program to make it easier and faster to get conversions approved by the city.

Jon Gambrill, managing director of global architecture firm Genslers Denver office, said that converting the top 16 buildings identified by the firm and city leaders into housing could add more than 5,000 units to the downtown area.

It makes all the sense in the world to convert underused commercial space into housing, but the cost per square foot is just too high.

 Alex Horowitz, project director of the Housing Policy Initiative at The Pew Charitable Trusts

Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle stand to benefit the most from converting underused offices to housing, according to a June Urban Institute analysis.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Still, conversions have made little dent in the housing crisis so far.

Between 2016 and April 2024, office-to-multifamily conversion projects created more than 22,000 apartments, according to CBRE, a commercial real estate services and investment firm. The 169 projects planned or underway are estimated to produce another 31,000 apartments over the next several years. Despite the growth, that total is less than a half-percent of total U.S. apartment inventory.

During a June presentation by Seattles Office of Planning and Community Development, city leaders estimated that they expect fewer than a dozen conversion projects to result in 1,000 to 2,000 new housing units over seven years.

Money matters

Cities and states also are trying to promote conversions by offering incentives and funding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

New York Citys 2025 budget included a new incentive for conversion of commercial properties to rental housing, offering up to a 90% tax exemption for projects with at least 25% affordable units.

Chicago has committed $151 million for developers to transform four office buildings into 1,000 apartments, about a third of which would have affordable rental rates.

Washington, D.C., provides 20-year tax abatements for commercial-to-residential conversions through its Housing in Downtown initiative.

The District of Columbia led the nation in adaptive reuse from 2021 to 2024, creating 5,820 new housing units from office properties, followed by New York (5,215 units) and Dallas (3,163 units), according to RentCafe, an apartment search website.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

California in 2022 approved $400 million for office-to-residential projects.

Commercial-to-residential legislation has hit some hurdles.

California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in October vetoed legislation that would have provided financial incentives for developers, including the option for local governments to allocate up to 30 years of property tax revenue to support affordable housing conversions. It also would have fast-tracked the approval process for conversion of office buildings into residential or mixed-use developments.

Newsom objected to changes in labor practices including the issuance of stop-work orders for violations and procedures for contesting violations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And in Colorado, a bill that would have offered refundable tax credits up to $3 million per commercial-to-housing project starting in 2026 failed in the legislature earlier this year.

Still, experts expect housing conversion efforts to increase across the country.

All Americans, particularly underserved communities, need homes they can afford, said Pews Horowitz. But outdated rules make it harder to create deeply affordable housing.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and X.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  The Abilene Taylor County Health District has a new unique way to track local health threats through its Poop Report, also known as the Wastewater Report.

Public Health Director Annette Lerma explained that wastewater is collected at the City of Abilene Hamby Water Reclamation Facility. Samples are then sent to a laboratory to test for five different viruses.

We track Covid, Flu, RSV, Norovirus, and M-pox. There is an auto sample thats installed, and it kind of sucks up the sample, and the wonderful folks at the wastewater plant collect the actual vial of samples that they send off to the lab, explained Lerma.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

City of Abilene talking sh*t: How dog poop ends up in our water

Lerma added that while this type of technology isnt new, many large cities like Houston used it to track COVID-19. However, it can be costly, which is why she is thankful for a grant from the Department of State Health Services. They partnered with Baylor University to conduct free testing, sending the results to the Abilene Taylor County Health District weekly.

When we see that the viral load in the wastewater is trending upward, we can put out the information. We have it available now on our website, then we also send it to medical providers who are on our distribution list, and its kind of a heads up for them to know whats circulating in the community, added Lerma.

Wastewater tests can find mpox, study finds. Expect more bugs to be tracked that way

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The results give them a closer look at how to assist the community better.

One particular week, we saw a 76% increase in COVID that week, but for that same week, when you look at the wastewater, it was actually a 250% increase or something like that, so it tells a much bigger story, said Lerma.

Lerma hopes that one day, the department can track other viruses and more.

In the near future, and the one Im really excited about is opioid tracking, so being able to tell what kind of load there is in terms of the opioid use in our city, shared Lerma.

To see the wastewater report, visit here: Local Data | Abilene, TX



Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
MANASSAS, VA  At Monday's Manassas City Council meeting, a new city manager who already works for the city government was appointed.

Steve Burke, an assistant city manager for operations and director of public works, was named the new city manager, effective Feb. 3, 2025. The appointment came after a national search to replace former City Manager W. Patrick Pate, who left to become city manager of Winston-Salem, North Carolina in November 2023. Police Chief Doug Keen has been serving as interim city manager.

Burke, who was the public works director from 2016 to 2018, returned to Manassas in January 2024 after serving as town manager of Luray, Virginia. He has also been town manager of Front Royal, Virginia and has over 30 years of experience in local government in Virginia and Florida.



Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I greatly appreciate the opportunity from the Mayor and the members of City Council to serve

the residents of Manassas as the City Manager," Burke said. "I look forward to working with

City Council and the outstanding members of the City staff to continue to make Manassas a

wonderful place to live, work, play, and visit."

The city government worked with public sector executive search firm Baker Tilly to find a new city manager. The search process produced no candidates after interviews last fall. During a second round, the city considered over 100 applicants. Burke was among the five final candidates the search firm presented to City Council for consideration.

As Burke's February start date approaches, one of his first tasks will be appointing a new water and sewer director, searching for a new public workers director and advancing capital projects. The city manager also typically proposes the budget in late February.

According to the city, Burke led the work to update the city's pavement management plan and start a utility cost of service and rate study. In his previous Luray role, he oversaw the town's daily operations, zoning administration, developed and managed the annual operating and capital budgets, led community outreach and coordinated the COVID-19 pandemic response. Burke has a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Florida, and is a registered professional engineer in Virginia and Florida. He and his wife, Cary, live in Manassas.



Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger and City Council members thanked Keen for filling the interim city manager role during the search. When Burke becomes city manager, Keen will return to his assistant city manager and continue serving as police chief.

City Of Manassas Official Named As New City Manager originally appeared on the Manassas Patch
Last week's London Tourism Commission meeting involved discussion surrounding the Mill Street playground plans, a possible job opening coming soon, and the ongoing Bell Bennett and Fairgrounds projects.

Guest Amy Riddle of Bluegrass Recreation Sales & Installation informed the commission of three options for the Mill Street playground which they discussed at their September meeting. Each of the options include three separate areas based on age groups.

The first option would include ramps that allow wheelchair users to access the highest level of the playground. However, Riddle said, "As we talked a little bit more, we kind of discussed how you all already had maybe the Wellness Park and some other ramped playgrounds."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Though none of the commissioners expressed a particular interest in the first option, Commissioner Josh Samples favored option 2 and Commissioner Amber Royster favored option 3.

Option 2 features a turf-covered area for children aged 6-23 months to provide a soft, sensory-friendly surface ideal for crawling. This section also includes sensory items such as the Top Builders Friendly Fence and Market Stand, designed to support motor development. The 2-5 age structure then features a The Very Hungry Caterpillar theme, which was acquired at a discounted rate.

Option 2 additionally includes a larger structure for older children with a Double Stack Text Deck, a roller slide (designed to prevent static for children with cochlear implants), and 14-foot tube slides. Other inclusive features are a wheelchair-accessible ramp for engagement with the playground, generation swing seats (which allow parents and children to swing together), and a duplex spinner designed to provide a calming sensory experience for children with autism.

Option 3 intends to blend nature and urban elements, creating a modern and inviting playground. Key features of the option include a roller slide incorporated into the 2-5 age group structure and shaded areas for comfort and usability in various weather conditions. Royster likes the option due to its steel structures in comparison to the recycled plastic ones the playground currently has, as the plastic structures have around a 15-year life expectancy. She shared that the steel ones have about a 25-year life expectancy, while reminding her fellow commissioners that the playground's newest structure was installed in 2008.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The committee also discussed whether they should make the playground changes all at once or in phases  the latter of which would cost more. Ultimately, commissioners approved the formation of a subcommittee to further look into their options. Members of the newly formed committee will include Royster, Samples, and Chase Carson.

On December 11 at 5:30 p.m., the city tourism commission will also meet for a special-called meeting to discuss the addition of a director position. An in-depth job description will be discussed at that time, but the role would seemingly require an individual with experience in marketing who would attend events to get the London name "out there." Also in relation to promoting the city, committee members approved to have a billboard placed "north and south for spring 2025."

Additionally approved was Ben Sizemore's request for the final six pads needed to complete the sewer section project. Each pad is estimated to cost $6,000, consistent with previous phases. Furthermore, Sizemore informed the committee that the pump track, which has reached the end of its lifespan, is currently closed but still a safety concern. Commissioners had the option of either replacing the track or removing it and decided to remove it.

Regarding old business, Commission Chair Phil Smith shared that structural updates regarding the Belle Bennett project have brought good news, with the costs coming in far below initial expectations. However, the cost of steel beams, which the structural engineer encouraged, will be priced higher than the wooden ones which they initially looked into.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At this time, the committee has received quotes back from two companies  both of which are from out of town. A steel fabrication company's quote for a truss and truss system "was somewhere over $16,000." Secondly, another company said that the complete demo, involving wooden beams and including the crane use and moving everything out, would cost $234,000. Now that the committee plans to have steel beams placed, they must look into the difference this would make within that cost but are still impressed by the amount.

It additionally helps that a large portion of the cost could be provided by an unspecified local organization. The organization has pledged $100,000 at this time. However, "They're willing to do that if it's feasible," Smith clarified. "They will have to vote again to make sure that it works for them."

Smith proceeded to share that many envision the facility as a performing arts center, as the community currently lacks a designated location for children's theatre or adult theatre such as Millstone Community Theatre Guild who had representatives present.

Liz Michael spoke on behalf of the theatre, saying, "We want to keep going but we desperately need a home. We need a place to have our props and our costumes."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While the exact uses of the building remains up for debate, Starr Handy went on to make the motion that they move forward by beginning to advertise for bids for the roof. Though Commissioner Todd Roberts was opposed, the others approved the motion.

An additionally exciting matter for the commission is the fact that the Fairgrounds project has gone to bid. Smith thanked Laurel Judge Executive David Westerfield, Mayor Randall Weddle, and London City Council for the role they have played in the project.

Bringing the Nov. 18 meeting to a close, the commission approved for there to be weekly reports submitted. These reports will detail major ongoing projects, their status, and future plans, in order for committee members to stay informed.

The London City Tourism Commission meets at the London Community Center on the third Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. Their next regular meeting will be held on December 16.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  City Walk BHAM is hosting its annual tree lighting ceremony Sunday.

The ceremony will be held in both the Green and City Walk Social blocks in the venue from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. It will feature food trucks, Christmas trivia and caroling.

White Christmas in Alabama? Dont Bet On It!

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 CBS 42.
WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  The annual tree lighting ceremony, which has been a tradition since the 1950s, will take place this Saturday at the new Elm Street Plaza location.

The event begins at 4:45 p.m. featuring performances by the Westfield High School pep band and show choir. Santa and Mrs. Claus are set to arrive before Mayor McCabe turns the tree lights on at 5:30 p.m. Families are invited to enjoy hot cocoa and visit Santa.

Tracking Massachusetts storm system Thanksgiving week

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The mayors office said that the decision to move the tree display from Park Square was due to the safety concerns of pedestrians. The police are no longer allowed to volunteer to help people cross Elm and Broad streets for the tree-lighting event.

The loss of the police volunteers has caused a strain on the PD to assist with all city events, McCabe said, This year, with the newly completed Elm Street Plaza, we have a beautiful venue for downtown events that is more accessible. We simply owe it to everyone to act in the best interest of public safety.

A menorah will also be on display at the Elm Street Plaza during Hannukah, December 25th through January 2nd.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
FIUGGI, Italy, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) countries called on Israel to comply with its obligations under international law at a meeting concluded on Tuesday.

The ministers said in a statement that they support a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.

The ministers expressed their concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. They called on the Israeli government to ease obstacles on humanitarian aid to civilians in areas rocked by conflicts.

They said that "Israel must fully comply with its obligations under international law in all circumstances, including International Humanitarian Law."

The two-day meeting was held in Fiuggi and Anagni, southeast of Rome.

The G7 comprises Canada, the United States, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Japan. 
Did Texas just give the Trump administration hundreds of thousands of acres on which to build immigrant detention facilities? Texas just gifted Trump 355,000 acres for deportation camps, reads a viral Threads post with more than 1,400 likes. I want you to think about that critically, says one.

The claim is partly false. The Texas General Land Office (GLO) did offer the incoming administration state land to use for immigration facilities. However, it offered only about 1,400 acres, not 355,000 acres as the post claims.

On November 20, the GLO announced that it had sent a letter to the incoming Trump administration offering state-owned land for use in the administrations deportation efforts. I am writing to formally offer 1,402 acres of land in Starr County, Texas, to be used to construct deportation facilities, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham wrote in the letter. My office is fully prepared to enter into an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or the United States Border Patrol to allow a facility to be built for the processing, detention, and coordination of the largest deportation of violent criminals in the nations history.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A representative for the GLO reiterated the information in the offices press release when asked by The Dispatch Fact Check about the false information. Commissioner Buckingham is offering the incoming Trump Administration 1,402 acres of land to lease in Starr County for deportation efforts, the representative wrote.

The Texas GLO acquired the landa ranch along the southern border in Starr Countyin late October. Upon its acquisition, the GLO immediately signed an agreement with the Texas Facilities Commission granting it a 7,681-foot easement along which it could construct a border wall. The same day, the GLO also announced that it had purchased the 353,785-acre Brewster Ranch in Brewster County, adding to the approximately 13 million acres of existing state land owned by Texas. The GLO has not yet disclosed what the land will be used for, but some of it will likely continue to be leased for ranching operations. Though the two ranches are in separate counties and different parts of the state, the combined purchases total approximately 355,000 acreslikely the source of the 355,000-acre figure cited in the post.

If you have a claim you would like to see us fact check, please send us an email at factcheck@thedispatch.com. If you would like to suggest a correction to this piece or any other Dispatch article, please email corrections@thedispatch.com.

Read more at The Dispatch

The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  Cleveland police are asking the public for help in locating a missing 15-year-old boy.

According to a press release from the Cleveland Division of Police, 15-year-old James Fugate, Jr. is considered to be endangered.

Man flees on 3 tires, says he doesnt know where he got the Jeep : Police

He is described as being 5 feet 3 inches tall, about 160 pounds with blonde or strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the release, Fugate was last seen on Nov. 21 on the 3500 block of West 66th Street.

Justice Dept. seeks to dismiss Trump charges

According to police, Fugate does have medical conditions and it is not confirmed if he has his medication.

Anyone with information about Fugates whereabouts is asked to call Detective Zola at 216-623-2755 or 216-621-1234.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

This post originally appeared on The 19th.

Half of people with HIV in the United States are living in places that are vulnerable to extreme weather and climate disasters, according to a new analysis from the left-leaning Center for American Progress (CAP).

The report from CAP released Wednesday finds that the areas of the country where HIV is being diagnosed at disproportionately high rates are also places most at risk of disasters. The analysis used data from the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) program, a federal program that aims to reduce the rate of new HIV infections, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) national risk index. FEMAs tool takes into account the frequency of disasters, but also the vulnerability of the population, accounting for certain at-risk demographics like low-income and socially disadvantaged people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fifty locations, including 48 counties, Washington, D.C., and San Juan, Puerto Rico, have been designated by EHE as high-priority areas to combat HIV because they are where more than 50 percent of new HIV cases occur. On average, those places had a national risk index score of 96.8 out of a 100.

It is not surprising that those most at-risk live in areas particularly vulnerable to extreme weather and climate events. That is true for many other climate-sensitive health outcomes, said Kristie Ebi, professor of global health at the University of Washington, who reviewed the analysis. The poor and marginalized are generally at higher risk and often live in less desirable locations that are less desirable because of vulnerability to extreme weather and climate events.

Haley Norris, policy analyst with CAP and author of the report, said what stood out to them was the variability in threats faced by the different parts of the country. On the West Coast, wildfires cause issues for people with HIV because many develop lung conditions that are exacerbated by wildfire smoke. In the South and Northeast, flooding and hurricanes pose unique health issues for people with HIV by making it more difficult to access medical care. All three of these types of climate disasters are becoming more destructive due to climate change.

Were seeing extreme weather and climate events that are quite far outside of historic experience, Ebi said, pointing to flooding in Asheville, North Carolina, as one recent example.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For those with HIV, those extreme events are making it harder to stay on track with their medications, which stop the disease from progressing to AIDS and prevent transmission to others.

Vatsana Chanthala is director of the New Orleans Health Departments Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, a federal initiative that provides funding for clinics and treatments that support low-income people. New Orleans is located in one of the priority jurisdictions to combat new HIV infections.

After Hurricane Ida in 2021, her team surveyed patients in the program to gain a better understanding of how the disaster may have disrupted their care or access to medications. HIV treatment involves taking antiretrovirals daily or bimonthly injections to suppress the virus and keep it at a level that prevents it from spreading. After Ida, pharmacies closed due to damage; electricity was also out for nearly two weeks in parts of the city, making it difficult to contact pharmacies to refill lost prescriptions or others that had run out, Chanthala said. The high cost of the drugs means some pharmacies were hesitant to fill prescriptions, worried that people wouldnt come to pick them up.

The cost of the drugs were also an issue for those who evacuated: Many did not know that they could use their insurance to cover medication out of state, so they did not attempt to purchase the medication due to out-of-pocket costs, Chanthala found. Of the 194 patients surveyed, 30 percent of those who evacuated said they had trouble accessing care, and of those who stayed in New Orleans, 32 percent also had trouble accessing care.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Another barrier to taking medications is the stigma surrounding HIV. In times of disaster, many people evacuate to the homes of family and friends, and some people in the survey said their family was unaware they had HIV.

Theres still a lot of fear with HIV and so many clients dont disclose their status, Chanthala said. And so they find ways to hide their medications, and if theyre around people, theyre less likely to take those medications out.

Norris, the author of the CAP report, said one study on HIV care and wildfires in California also found that people expressed fear of disclosing they had the disease.

These are people who are going through extremely stressful, life-destroying situations and they have to do the emotional calculation of, will disclosing this make me less safe? they said. That is the hardest part of the puzzle for us to figure out. It is not just about access, it is the reality that HIV stigma is still very alive and well and still very powerful.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The risk associated with not taking medications is high for people with HIV. If someone stops taking their antiretrovirals, also known as ART, or if they run out of medication, their viral load will go up over time, said Dr. Paula Seal, who works at the HIV Outpatient Clinic at the University Medical Center New Orleans. The length of time it would take for that to happen depends on the individual patient and when they were diagnosed with HIV.

But Seal said they stress the importance of patients staying on their medication.

When you have trouble is when patients are running out of medications because if they dont have enough medicine, then they start skipping doses to make it last longer, thats when we run into problems, and then the virus can become resistant to those medications, Seal said.

You Can Now Buy Syphilis Tests Over the Counter

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The tests can be purchsed at drugstores and online retailers.

To offset those risks, Seal and other providers follow a hurricane preparedness protocol, talking with patients every year before hurricane season hits and urging them to refill their prescriptions. In many instances people can get up to 90 days covered by insurance, which could last through a hurricane season. Seal also provides numbers to pharmacies they can contact if something happens to their medication.

This October, the Biden administration updated its guidelines for providers who are treating people with HIV who have been displaced, Norris said. The new guidelines walk providers, who might not have expertise in treating HIV, through how to assess and prescribe medication for new patients who otherwise may have disruption in their care. Providing ART is very complex, its really really good that they were able to get that out when they did, they said.

One way that the Ryan White Program could become more nimble is by having its services follow the enrolled patients, Chanthala said. Currently patients at the Ryan White clinics have access to wrap-around services, like transportation and help with housing, but they lose that support if they evacuate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Medications are important, and adherence is important. But if a person needs food, needs a place to stay, thats going to be first on their minds, she said.

Currently these supports are not provided through money directly, but Chanthala thinks that in disaster situations having that flexibility to provide funds for people with high medical needs could also help: If they cant afford gas to get out of the area, they arent going to evacuate.

Get the best of whats queer. Sign up for them.'s weekly newsletter here.

Originally Appeared on them.
A 30-year-old Clinton man has been sentenced after he pleaded guilty to thefts  including a car  from a hospital, according to court records.

Garrett Robb (Clinton County Jail)

On Friday, Garrett Robb appeared with his attorney in Clinton County Court for sentencing.

A judge sentenced him to a period not to exceed five years, with credit for time served in the county jail in connection with the case, after he pleaded guilty to second-degree theft. He also pleaded guilty to third-degree theft, and was sentenced to a period not to exceed two years, also with credit for time served, court records show.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the sentences of incarceration were suspended, court records say, and Robb was placed on probation pending good behavior for a period of three years.



Specific conditions of probation say Robb will complete the program at the Residential Corrections Facility in Davenport, obtain a substance-abuse evaluation and successfully complete any recommended treatment, which may include inpatient or outpatient treatment; abstain from the use of alcohol and controlled substances and submit to random urinalysis testing to ensure compliance; obtain and maintain employment; maintain a stable residence; and have no further law violations

Robb, according to court documents will stay at the Clinton County Jail until bed space is available at the Residential Corrections Facility.

April thefts at a hospital

According to affidavits, on April 22, Clinton Police were dispatched to Mercy North, 1410 N. 4th St., for a report of a theft about 12:11 p.m. A victim told an officer she was working on the third floor of the hospital and noticed an iPhone 14, $40 cash and car keys were missing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The victim left the office door open and the phone and a purse inside, affidavits show.

At 11:32 a.m., police were notified about a vehicle theft at the hospital, say affidavits.

MercyOne security reviewed camera video and saw a man with dark blond hair and a beard get out of the elevator, enter the open office door at 11:14 a.m. and then leave the office at 11:23 a.m. He was the only person observed entering or leaving the office. The officer was able to identify the man as Garrett Robb from previous contacts, affidavits say.

At 11:32 a.m. police were notified about the theft of a red Buick Enclave from the hospital. The victim had left the car running with the keys inside to go pick up a patient directly inside the sliding doors. When the victim began to push the patient out to the car in a wheelchair, he saw the car being driven away by a man with a beard who left southbound on the 1300 block of North 4th Street, affidavits show.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Affidavits say that surveillance video shows the man leave in the car.

At 12:41 p.m., the stolen red Buick Enclave was stopped on the 600 block of South Washington Boulevard in Camanche, and Robb was the driver. Inside of the vehicle officers located medical supplies, and $10 cash. Near the scene of the traffic stop officers also located (the other victims) iPhone that had been thrown from the vehicle.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD)  A man wearing a clown mask is accused of robbing a Wyoming bank, indicating he had a gun and would not hesitate to use it, court records show.

It was the note he handed to the teller, police say, that helped bring about his arrest.

The Nov. 8 robbery happened at the PNC Bank branch on 28th Street SW at Buchanan Avenue.

Police look for man who robbed Wyoming bank

Police say 62-year-old Garabed Tadian entered the branch wearing a clown mask and passed a note stating that he had a gun and would kill them if he was not given money, court records show.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He fled with less than $1,000 in cash, according to court records.

The suspect was identified from a return of a palm print on the note he had passed, a Wyoming officer wrote in a probable cause affidavit.

Using surveillance footage from numerous locations, Garabed was seen with numerous articles of evidence in relation to the robbery, the officer wrote.

The defendant was arraigned in Wyoming District Court last week on separate counts of bank robbery and armed robbery. Both charges are punishable by up to life in prison.

Tadian has a probable cause conference set for Wednesday in Wyoming District Court. He remains in the Kent County jail on a $100,000 bond.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

2nd man charged after bank robbed twice in matter of weeks

The Nov. 8 heist at the PNC branch is the third bank robbery in Wyoming this year. Police have made arrests in all three cases.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Jack Dura

Associated Press

BISMARCK, N.D.  A coalition of conservation groups and Native American tribal citizens on Friday called on President Joe Biden to designate nearly 140,000 acres of rugged, scenic Badlands as North Dakota's first national monument, a proposal several tribal nations say would preserve the area's indigenous and cultural heritage.

The proposed Maah Daah Hey National Monument would encompass 11 noncontiguous, newly designated units totaling 139,729 acres (56,546 hectares) in the Little Missouri National Grassland. The proposed units would hug the popular recreation trail of the same name and neighbor Theodore Roosevelt National Park, named for the 26th president who ranched and roamed in the Badlands as a young man in the 1880s.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When you tell the story of landscape, you have to tell the story of people, said Michael Barthelemy, an enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation and director of Native American studies at Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College. You have to tell the story of the people that first inhabited those places and the symbiotic relationship between the people and the landscape, how the people worked to shape the land and how the land worked to shape the people.

The U.S. Forest Service would manage the proposed monument. The National Park Service oversees many national monuments, which are similar to national parks and usually designated by the president to protect the landscape's features.

Supporters have traveled twice to Washington to meet with White House, Interior Department, Forest Service and Department of Agriculture officials. But the effort faces an uphill battle with less than two months remaining in Bidens term and potential headwinds in President-elect Donald Trump 's incoming administration.

If unsuccessful, the group would turn to the Trump administration because we believe this is a good idea regardless of who's president, Dakota Resource Council Executive Director Scott Skokos said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dozens if not hundreds of oil and natural gas wells dot the landscape where the proposed monument would span, according to the supporters map. But the proposed units have no oil and gas leases, private inholdings or surface occupancy, and no grazing leases would be removed, said North Dakota Wildlife Federation Executive Director John Bradley.

The proposal is supported by the MHA Nation, the Spirit Lake Tribe and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe through council resolutions.

If created, the monument would help tribal citizens stay connected to their identity, said Democratic state Rep. Lisa Finley-DeVille, an MHA Nation enrolled member.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is Trump's pick to lead the Interior Department, which oversees the National Park Service. In a written statement, Burgum said: North Dakota is proof that we can protect our precious parks, cultural heritage and natural resources AND responsibly develop our vast energy resources.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven's office said Friday was the first they had heard of the proposal, but any effort that would make it harder for ranchers to operate and that could restrict multiple use, including energy development, is going to raise concerns with Senator Hoeven.
BILOXI, Miss. (WJTV)  The United States Coast Guard suspended its search for a missing shrimper off of the Mississippi coast.

Tracking the Tropics: A look back at the 2024 hurricane season

According to officials, the Coast Guard started searching for a 75-year-old man about five miles offshore of Biloxi on Monday, November 25. They said a fishing vessel was found with nobody on board.

The Coast Guard air and boat crews searched for 37 hours, but they were unable to find the man.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily News

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV.
The family of a New York couple missing since 1980 says authorities informed them that human remains found inside a car submerged in a Georgia pond are those of the pair.

We are deeply saddened and equally relieved that our grandparents Charles and Catherine Romers 44-year mystery disappearance has been solved. While this discovery brings closure, it still has been very emotional, the Romer family said in a statement to CNN Thursday.

CNN reached out to the Glynn County Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to confirm the identities of the remains but did not receive an immediate response.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On November 22, a human bone was found inside a submerged Lincoln Continental, prompting authorities to drain the pond in Brunswick to search for further remains.

Kim Romer told CNN that she received a call from a detective the same day, informing her that a single bone and her grandparents initials in a monogrammed headrest were found in the car, confirming that it was definitely theirs.

The vehicle is similar to the description of a vehicle that Charles and Catherine Romer were believed to be driving when reported missing in April 1980, the Glynn County Police Department announced on social media on November 23.

Ultimately a match must be determined by the VIN number, and it has not been possible yet to get that from the vehicle found in the pond, a department spokesperson told CNN on Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Romers were on their way back to New York after a vacation in Miami when they disappeared near the Brunswick Holiday Inn, now known as the Royal Inn, CNN affiliate WABC reported. Housekeepers found their bags and personal items in their hotel room the day after they were last seen.

The car was found in a pond along Interstate 95 and New Jesup Highway, near the hotel where the couple was last seen.

Authorities credited Sunshine State Sonar, a nonprofit focused on locating missing persons, and the Camden County Dive Team for their assistance in finding the vehicle.

Sunshine State Sonar said they acted on a tip regarding a submerged vehicle and found a 1970s Ford sedan. A second vehicle was then discovered, they said, which matched the description of the Romers 1979 Lincoln Continental.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There was zero visibility  so everything was by feel, Sunshine State Sonar co-founder John Martin told CNN Wednesday. The team used a part number from a grille they removed from the car to identify the make and model, Martin said.

I went back down and dove the vehicle and found an open window, Martin told CNNs John Berman. I reached inside the window and just started feeling around. I felt something hard and long, so I grabbed whatever it was, brought it to the surface of the water and, sure enough, it happened to be a  bone.

The Romers disappearance has puzzled their families, investigators and the community of Scarsdale, New York, for more than 40 years. All the investigations and psychics and everything, the police, they worked so hard. And they thought it was foul play, Christine Seaman Heller, a granddaughter of the missing woman, told WABC of the years of searching.

The investigation led her late father, Catherine Romers son, to travel to Georgia for years seeking answers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That was all we were consumed about until today, Seaman Heller told the news outlet. Its always been such a mystery. It would be so wonderful to find out. Just have some peace. Maybe it wasnt a horrible ending, maybe it was just an accident.

Sadly, Charles Romer Jr, Jim Romer and Frank Heller are not with us to share this momentous turn of events and to know their parents will finally be laid to rest in peace, granddaughters Kim Romer and Diane Romer Pao said in the family statement. They also thanked South Carolinians Jason Souhrada and Adam Brown for their assistance finding the vehicle.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Greg Lopez speaks during the Republican special nomination convention for Colorado's 4th Congressional District in Hugo on March 28, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)

As U.S. Rep. Greg Lopezs short tenure in Congress nears an end, the self-described placeholder said its been an honor and a privilege to have voters from the 4th Congressional District trust him to be their voice in Congress.

Im a congressman not only for those people that voted for me, but also for those people that did not vote for me, because I represent the entire district, regardless of party affiliation, Lopez, an Elizabeth Republican, told Newsline. Thats the mindset I had when I walked in, and thats the mindset that I will have for the rest of my time in Congress.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lopez found himself in Congress following former U.S. Rep. Ken Bucks resignation in March. Shortly afterwards, Lopez secured the Republican nomination to finish Bucks term, and went on to defeat Democrat Trisha Calverese in the June special election.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Lopez said he wouldnt change anything about his time in Congress, though he joked it wouldve been nice if Rep. Buck would have resigned earlier.

That wouldve gave me more time to do more stuff, he said, and added that many people in both Colorado and Washington D.C. have asked him to stay involved in politics.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dont be surprised if you do see my name on a ballot in 2026, he said.

Races for a U.S. Senate seat, Colorado governor and three other statewide offices will be on the ballot in two years.

Im probably going to miss it a little bit, but all in all I knew when I went in that I was coming home, Lopez said, and its coming to an end, but Ive really enjoyed it.

Of all the bills and resolutions he has voted on while in Congress, Lopez said he was most glad to be able to vote in favor of a measure that would remove protections the Biden administration implemented for transgender athletes in girls and womens sports.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Congress passed a continuing resolution to fund the government through Dec. 20, but its still unclear what Congress will do to fund the government through the new year.

Lopez said he wants his proposal to address zombie programs to be considered during the budget process  the Congressional Budget Office found more $516 billion in spending going to programs that Congress has not reauthorized.

Everybody knows about it, but theyre a little shy because it does take boldness and courage to address it, Lopez said. We need to evaluate these programs and either reauthorize them because theyre still valuable, or we need to terminate them and not fund them.

Lopez said House Republican leadership has told him that we need you to come back, whatever you do, however you do it. Theyve told him he understands the issues being discussed and asks good questions during the process, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The most successful legislators are the ones that can actually build relationships and are willing to talk to their colleagues on both sides of the aisle, Lopez said. Those are the ones that seem to be the most impactful, or the ones that seem to get most things done because theyre building coalitions and theyre statesmen. Thats what I wanted to engage in.

While he hasnt had any legislation pass, Lopez said hes introduced some good bills and he is proud of the seeds that Ive planted in the topics he pursued. That includes a bill that would create a red card system to allow authorized immigrants to work. He also introduced a bill he said is intended to educate the public about our national debt, requiring the countrys national debt over the last three years to be printed at the top of any ballot with a federal candidate.

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert will succeed Lopez representing the 4th District after switching from the 3rd Congressional District. Lopez said he hopes she continues to be a strong voice for the 4th Districts constituents and makes sure their needs are addressed.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
LISBON, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for peace and rebuilding trust at the 10th United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Global Forum held in the Portuguese city of Cascais.

At the official opening ceremony of the forum, Guterres said that in today's "very difficult times" and "in every corner of the world, we see the social fabric under serious strain ... we need peace. Above all, peace!"

He stressed that "everywhere, we must uphold the values of the UN Charter and international law."

"The absence of peace is leading to an erosion of trust" in the multilateral system, in societies, as well as in one another, the UN chief said.

Guterres emphasized that "Rebuilding trust is our essential task," adding that efforts must be expanded in four "crucial areas" including communities, online, across cultures, and institutions.

"In these turbulent times ... the most powerful force of all is the recognition that we are more united by our common fate than divided by our distinct identities," he said.

The three-day event kicked off on Monday under the theme "United in Peace: Restoring Trust, Reshaping the Future - Reflecting on Two Decades of Dialogue for Humanity." 
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  A Denver man has been arrested in Colorado Springs after a tip led to the discovery of over 650,000 fentanyl pills hidden in suitcases and backpacks.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), someone in Albuquerque, NM alerted authorities to two suspicious men who were traveling by bus to Denver. The DEA said one of the men became nervous and ran, leaving behind two large suitcases. The Albuquerque Police Department responded to seize the abandoned suitcases, and a search warrant resulted in the seizure of approximately 330,000 fentanyl pills and two ounces of heroin.

The second man continued on the Denver-bound bus with his own two suitcases. The DEA said its office in Colorado Springs was contacted, and it detained the second man in Colorado Springs. A K-9 with the Colorado Springs Police Department alerted to the presence of narcotics in the mans suitcases and backpack.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A search warrant on the mans bags resulted in an additional 340,000 fentanyl pills and several thousand dollars in cash.

The number of fentanyl pills seized in this case is almost enough to give every resident in the

city of Denver one fake pill, said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge

Jonathan Pullen. The DEA added that the amount of pills seized in this one case equates to about 25% of Colorados fake pill seizures for all of 2023.

This is a prime example of see something, say something, said Pullen. As a result, 670,000 fake pills are now off the streets of Colorado and New Mexico.

The suspect in custody was later identified as a fugitive from Denver, wanted on outstanding

drug trafficking warrants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
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?
DENVER (KDVR)  While many government bodies are on break for the holiday week, one group of local teenagers is meeting downtown to go over their legislative proposals.

For the 70th year, teenagers from across Colorado are gathering to work through the mock legislation that they drafted themselves via the YMCA of Metro Denvers Youth in Government program.

Denver Public Schools set to close 7 schools, but community advocates arent giving up

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

High-school-aged Coloradans are working through a mock version of every aspect of the legislative process.

You get to create an idea of what you want to impact your community. And then you get to bring it to the floor and debate on it. Our justices and attorneys are working through an appellate case and a judicial review. And then our media team is highlighting all the news happening throughout, said Celeste Medina, Colorado State Youth and Government Program Director.

Teens are working throughout the week up until the holiday, even holding elections for leadership roles.

Youth governor Qynton Salyer, a senior at a high school in Broomfield, is back for his fourth year. He said he has seen participation in the program double since he first started.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Weve blown up. Were not at the size of, like, Texas program where we have like 6,000 people, but for what we facilitate now, were doing great. And the biggest part of growth is changing the conference and making it more equitable, Salyer said. We canceled a family Thanksgiving trip so I can be here because I love the program so much.

Salyer said this year, he has seen proposals put forward by his fellow young delegates that mean a lot to them.

I got the bill book for the first time two weeks ago and it was 162 pages. And at first, I thought, holy cow, Im not going to be able to get through all this. But then I look at it and you just see the passion within the pages of each policy. I mean one that stuck out to me was Pueblo kid, who wrote to get the lunch program in Pueblo more state funding. Thats passion, Salyer said.

The YMCA does have a national conference that focuses on federal proposals. Some of the students who participated in Colorados program hope to move on to that program in the future.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Donald Trump wont be sworn in as our 47th president for two more months, but hes already pleasing his base in one way:

Undocumented immigrants and their allies are running scared.

The former and future commander in chief repeatedly vowed during his campaign to start mass deportations the moment he enters office. Those affected are taking Trump at his word. Nonprofits and community leaders dedicated to helping immigrants are strategizing about how to mount a defense. Sanctuary cities such as Los Angeles and Santa Ana are readying for lawsuits by the Trump administration or the withholding of federal funds.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, the migrants themselves are prepared for the worst. I know people who are making plans to leave for their home countries, U.S.-born children in tow, by Inauguration Day. The terror of not knowing whats coming is leaving too many people I care about depressed and with little to no hope for the future.

Read more: With Trump vowing deportations, workers in Los Angeles race the clock for a reprieve

As the son of a man who first entered this country in the trunk of a Chevy in the 1960s, I have lived a life where people without papers were the norm instead of a Fox News talking point, and Im angry. Ive spent my career as a journalist  in articles and books, on radio and television  trying to convince skeptics through stats, anecdotes and appeals to reason that people who entered the country illegally are no different from native-born citizens in the content of their character. That nearly all of them embody the spirit of those who came here under the gaze of the Statue of Liberty so long ago, no matter how much Trump and his future vice president, JD Vance, railed to the contrary.

With sentiment against undocumented immigrants higher than it has been in decades  especially among Latinos  writing positive stories about the estimated 11 million U.S. residents who arent supposed to be here can feel as futile as screaming into a hurricane.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That doesnt mean Im giving up.

Thats why, as this country readies for Thanksgiving, I want to give gracias to undocumented immigrants. It's a sentiment they don't hear nearly enough.

Young migrants line up for a class at a "tender-age" facility for babies, children and teens, in San Benito, Texas, in 2019. (Eric Gay / Associated Press)

Thank you to the estimated 42% of farmworkers who lack legal authority to work in this country, according to the latest U.S. Department of Labors National Agricultural Workers Survey. Theres a good chance that the bounty on your table this Thursday passed through their hands.

Thank you to the undocumented immigrants who pay $96.7 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2022, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, which also found that they paid $25.7 billion into Social Security and $6 billion into Medicare. They contribute to systems that they cannot benefit from but that critics of illegal immigration tap into without a second thought.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thank you to the estimated half-million Mexican nationals and their American-born children spurred to leave this country by federal and local officials during the Great Depression because undocumented immigrants werent worthy of economic relief. Those repatriated people left behind nearly everything but their dignity.

To the hundreds of thousands of Mexican men deported in the 1950s under Operation Wetback, a federal program Trump has praised despite its offensive name: Thank you for not keeping quiet about the abuse and humiliation you all endured.

To the Cubans who entered the U.S. on makeshift rafts, knowing you wouldnt get deported if you landed in Florida while the same privilege wasn't extended to Haitians: Thank you for exposing the hypocrisy of this nations immigration policy.

To the unaccompanied minors who have come from Central America for the last quarter of a century: Thank you for showing more bravery in your young lives than anyone in Trump's administration can ever dream of.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read more: My Dad, the illegal immigrant

To the so-called paper sons and daughters, Chinese nationals who stayed in the U.S. by pretending you were related to American citizens: Thank you for the ingenuity you showed in circumventing sanctioned racism.

Thank you to the Chinese migrants escaping mass lynchings during the Mexican Revolution, whose mere intent of entering this country led to the creation of the Border Patrol  you showed how Americans welcome persecuted people only if it suits the political climate.

To the so-called ship jumpers, migrants from Southern and Eastern Europe  but especially Greece  who arrived at port cities and sneaked past immigration authorities after the U.S. in effect barred migration from the region in 1924: Thank you for the reminder that this country discriminated against people we now consider white but who were seen as subhuman at the time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To the people who came here without papers as children  long known as Dreamers  who are culturally American and now face the prospect of being sent to countries you have only faint memories of, or no memories at all: Gracias for forcing politicians to carve out protections for ustedes, protections Trump's cronies have vowed to end even as their boss has expressed some sympathy in the past.

To Marine Cpl. Jose Angel Garibay, Orange Countys first casualty of the Iraq war: You came here illegally as an infant, grew up in Costa Mesa as a legal resident and became a citizen only after losing your life in 2003: Thank you for your sacrifice.

To the undocumented people who were and are my friends, my classmates, my interns and co-workers: Thank you for teaching me that citizenship is usually wasted on the ungrateful and not granted enough to those who deserve it.

Thank you to the thousands who are planning to take to the streets in the coming days and weeks, hoping against hope that mass protests will make a difference to a man with a shriveled heart and the people who elected him. Hope must spring eternal even in the face of gloom  especially in the face of it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And to my father, of course, who came to this country illegally multiple times, who still proudly calls himself a mojado  a wetback  as a reminder of where he came from and how.

Papi: Gracias for leaving Mexico as an 18-year-old neer-do-well with no chance of getting a green card through the proper channels and proving that anyone can succeed in this country if they have the drive.

I can never forsake undocumented immigrants because of all of you, public opinion be damned.

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.
Despite all the talk about Donald Trump being a unique political figure in American history, there's one way in which he has behaved like every other politician on the stump: He's promised not to lay a hand on Social Security.

With more than 67 million Americans collecting stipends now and hundreds of millions more counting on benefits for their retirement, any threat to the system's benefits sends a shudder through the nation's workers. That's why a promise not to cut benefits has become embedded into American politics for most of the program's nine decades of existence.

But that hasn't eliminated the threat of benefit cuts, chiefly from Republicans. Social Security's internal workings are so recondite and poorly understood by average voters that numerous possible ways of imposing benefit cuts or otherwise harming the program are hiding in plain sight. Trump mentioned some during his recent presidential campaign and attempted others during his last term.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I'm not sure that this administration is going to be in the business of strengthening and protecting Social Security.

Social Security Commissioner Martin O'Malley

Trump's fellow Republicans have alluded to yet others. In March, the House GOP caucus released a budget proposal that would eviscerate Social Security.

The caucus members groused about how Social Security has expanded since it was originally signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1935, through the addition of disability benefits, dependents and survivors benefits, and the incorporation of automatic cost-of-living adjustments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Predictably, they dont mention who was responsible for these changes: Disability was added in 1956, under Dwight Eisenhower; cost-of-living adjustments were enacted in 1972, under Richard Nixon, and went into effect in 1975, under Gerald Ford. All three presidents were Republicans.

The committee called for modest adjustments to the retirement age for future retirees to account for increases in life expectancy, raising the retirement age to 69 from the current standard of 67 for new retirees. That's a benefit cut, and one that would hit low-income and Black Americans harder than others.

Here's the bottom line: It would be folly to be complacent about what the current political majority might do to Social Security.

Read more: Column: A conservative think tank says Trump policies would crater the economy  but it's being kind

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"There's a very serious worry on the horizon," Social Security Commissioner Martin O'Malley told Al Sharpton on MSNBC last weekend, "because Donald Trump's policies would seriously reduce the fiscal health of Social Security.... There's a lot of talk among people around him about all sorts of gimmicks." (O'Malley is leaving the commissioner's post to run for the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee.)

O'Malley is backed up by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a hive of conservative budget hawks.

Trump's campaign proposals, the CRFB calculated in October, could cost Social Security's cash reserves $1.3 trillion to $2.75 trillion over 10 years, hastening the exhaustion of its trust funds by three years, to 2031.

That would provoke a cut in benefits of as much as 33% if Congress fails to act in the interim, the committee reckoned  pointing to Trump's proposals to eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits, impose across-the-board tariffs on imported goods and deport millions of immigrants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Let's take a look at the proposal Trump aired during the campaign to eliminate the federal income tax on Social Security benefits.

That's a crowd-pleaser  after all, who doesn't love lower taxes? It certainly would mean more take-home pay for those paying tax on their benefits, which is almost everyone except the lowest-income Americans. But it would erode the system's fiscal stability at a crucial time. Trump couldn't cut these taxes without congressional consent.

Social Security benefits are taxed on a progressive scale. Typically, couples with "combined income" of $32,000 to $44,000 are taxed on 50% of their benefits; those with more than $44,000 pay tax on up to 85% of their benefits. (For individuals, the first threshold is $25,000 to $34,000.)

Read more: Column: Social Security is again in the crosshairs of a GOP budget, even though a long-term fix would be simple

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Combined income" is defined as taxpayers' adjusted gross income, plus their nontaxable interest earnings and half of their Social Security benefits.

Eliminating the tax on benefits, therefore, could put as much as $4,200 a year back in the pockets of an average benefit-collecting household. Those taxes, however, are paid back to the Social Security and Medicare systems.

For Social Security, which receives the tax on the first 50% of benefits, they're vital to the program's revenue stream $50.7 billion, or 3.75% of all revenues, in 2023. Benefit taxation is projected to yield about $133 billion annually by 2033, accounting for more than 6.5% of the program's income.

There are only two ways to keep Social Security whole  reduce benefits or increase the payroll tax that provides the largest chunk of income. Taxpayers would have to pay one way or another. And the joy of having more take-home pay now would evaporate when the bills start coming due.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During his first term, Trump and his acolytes took aim at Social Security's disability insurance program, a favorite target of conservative Republicans. During an appearance on the CBS program "Face the Nation" in 2017, Trump's budget director, Mick Mulvaney, led the charge.

"Do you really think that Social Security disability insurance is part of what people think of when they think of Social Security?" Mulvaney asked the moderator, John Dickerson. "I dont think so. Its the fastest-growing program. It grew tremendously under President Obama. Its a very wasteful program, and we want to try and fix that.

Dickerson did not push back. Eisenhower, a Republican, had added disability coverage to Social Security in 1956, six decades earlier. Not only was disability not the "fastest-growing program," it had been shrinking  falling from a peak of 11 million beneficiaries, including disabled workers and their dependents, in 2013, to 10.4 million when Mulvaney was speaking; the rolls would continue to decline, falling to about 8.5 million in 2023.

Read more: Column: An exhaustive debunking of the dumbest myths about Social Security

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As for the assertion that disability was "wasteful," the truth was that the disability error rate, which counts both overpayments and underpayments to beneficiaries, was well below 1% of all benefits, then-acting Social Security Commissioner Carolyn Colvin advised Congress in 2012.

Trump advanced the attack on disability through his 2020 budget, which aimed to cut disability benefits by $70 billion over a decade. Mulvaney even bragged about hoodwinking Trump into violating his promise not to cut Social Security by telling him the cuts would be in "disability insurance" without revealing that disability insurance is part of Social Security.

Republicans consistently slander disability recipients as malingerers and layabouts. That's based on the groundless notion that disability is easy to apply for and receive.

The disability certification process is long and difficult. Applicants must show that they have a physical or mental condition that prevents them from earning even $1,550 a month, or $18,600 a year, on their own. The approval process can take months, and even after appeals, only about 40% of applicants end up with benefits.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What's important about the attacks on disability in Trump's first term is that claims tend to rise along with the unemployment rate. The reason is that as job opportunities decline in general, the jobs available to the disabled become especially scarce. When desk jobs disappear and all thats left are laborers positions, the opportunities for the physically and mentally challenged become only more limited.

That could be a factor if Trump's economic policies, such as his intention to jack up tariffs on all imported goods, produce a recession. If that happens, keep your eye on the palaver about disability; it's almost certain to experience a resurgence.

One tried-and-true method of undermining Social Security is starving the program of administrative resources, a GOP hobby horse for years. "Social Security, today, is serving more customers than ever before with staffing levels Congress has reduced to 50-year lows," O'Malley told the House Appropriations Committee earlier this month.

The consequences have included wait times on the program's 800 number that ballooned to nearly an hour, O'Malley said. Of the average 7 million clients who called the number each month for advice or assistance, 4 million "hung up in frustration after waiting far too long."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The backlog of initial disability determinations reached a near-record of 1.2 million applicants awaiting a decision, some for more than a year. The program estimated that about 30,000 applicants died in 2023 while awaiting decisions.

Read more: Column: America's retirement system is mediocre. The new House speaker wants to make it downright awful

The crisis in customer service matters because it erodes public confidence that the program will be there for them when their turn comes to claim benefits.

Then there's Trump's threat to deport as many as 11 million undocumented immigrants. An estimated 8.3 million unauthorized residents are part of the U.S. labor force. Social Security's dirty little secret is that those who are working are actually improving the program's fiscal health. That's because they often submit falsified Social Security numbers to employers, so payroll taxes are withheld from their earnings  but because they don't have legal Social Security numbers they can never collect benefits.

Furthermore, the mass deportations Trump has promised are likely to debilitate local and state economies. With the laborers needed to pick crops and build houses disappearing, those industries could stagnate, throwing native-born jobholders out of work. Less money will be coming into Social Security's coffers. The overall loss to the program could be $300 billion to $1 trillion over a decade, the CRFB estimated.

The most dire prospect for Social Security in the coming term may be indifference to its future. Under a Democratic administration and with Democratic majorities in Congress, the prospects were good for the advancement of proposals to broaden and expand Social Security benefits.

Will anything like that happen in Trump's next term? O'Malley tried to be judicious during his MSNBC appearance, but his opinion was clear: "I'm not sure," he said, "that this administration is going to be in the business of strengthening and protecting Social Security."

Get the latest from Michael Hiltzik

Commentary on economics and more from a Pulitzer Prize winner.

Sign me up.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
VIENNA Twp., Ohio (WKBN)  The fiscal commission overseeing Vienna Township got a look at a draft Monday of how the township will get out of fiscal emergency.

The plan depends on three things: continuing the use of traffic cameras and voters approving a renewal levy for police and a replacement levy for fire.

The draft provided to the seven-member commission overseeing Viennas fiscal emergency projected the townships finances through 2028. The general fund and police department are showing positive balances but the road and fire departments  even out five years  have negative balances.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If were spending more than were taking in still were going to have a job for us when we get to this next part, said commission member Michael Hillman.



Vienna Trustee Mike Haddle is also on the fiscal commission.

This one has like the middle of the road I think on the options, Haddle said. Fire levy increase, police levy renewed and traffic cameras stay until the end of 2028.



There are issues with some of those options. The police renewal and fire levy increase would be on the ballot next year and voters would be asked to increase a levy for a fire department, which at the moment, is all volunteer.

I find it hard to believe that Vienna Township citizens are going to vote for a levy if they have no fire and EMS, said commission member Cindy Johnson.



Haddle said the trustees are looking for ways to provide some services. Also, both Haddle and fellow trustee Rich Dascenzo are up for re-election next year  and not everyone is happy with their decision to use traffic cameras.

We got township considerations. Sean mentioned traffic cameras arent popular, Haddle said.



Missing from the draft of the financial recovery plan was any money for capital improvements. Through 2028 the capital improvements budget is zero.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Vienna is currently running a deficit of $1.25 million and still owes bills from 2023.

The commission will meet again Dec. 30 at which time it hopes to approve a final financial recovery plan.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BOSTON, Mass. (SHNS) A symbol of enduring gratitude, this years Christmas tree has arrived in the Boston Common, marking the 53rd annual donation of a tree from Nova Scotia.

The tree, a 45-foot white spruce, was driven down from the rural community of Mattie Settlement in Antigonish County on Sunday and arrived in the Common on Tuesday morning. It will be lit on December 5, and stand in the park throughout the holiday season.

City of Westfield to hold annual tree lighting at new location

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The donation is a commemoration of 106 years of gratitude between the people of Nova Scotia and Boston, Park Ranger Walter Evans said at a small ceremony Tuesday in the rain on the Common.

The story dates back to 1917, when the city of Boston provided emergency aid to Halifax, Nova Scotia, after a devastating munitions explosion in the harbor, which claimed the lives of roughly 1,900 people and destroyed much of the city.

Every building within a two square mile radius was utterly destroyed by the fire and blast  the largest man-made explosion of the pre-Atomic Age. It shattered windows 50 miles away, and for a brief instant, the bottom of the harbor could be seen, Evans explained of the Halifax disaster.

A transmission made its way successfully to Boston, and Gov. Samuel McCall and Boston Mayor James Curley had an emergency meeting of the Massachusetts Committee on Public Safety at 2:30 that afternoon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

By 10 p.m., Evans said, a train carrying medical personnel, supplies, and emergency equipment was on its way to Halifax while a Blizzard dropped 16 inches of snow on the Canadian city overnight.

Subsequent trains arrived with 100 doctors, 300 nurses, Red Cross personnel, and over $1 million of supplies. All of this without being asked. The people of Halifax were beyond grateful to the city of Boston and in 1918 sent a Christmas tree as a token of appreciation to the citizens of Boston for the assistance during their worst hour, Evans said.

In 1971, the Canadian province began the tradition of sending a tree every year to honor that fateful day.

This years tree was donated by Hugh and Liz Ryan, landowners in Antigonish County.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We have watched this tree grow from a young sapling to its present height for the last 30 years. We are happy and proud to donate this tree to Boston as a heartfelt thank you for all the help received during a great hardship in Halifax, the family said in a statement.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
U.S. Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, speaks to the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce on Nov. 26, 2024, in Brandon. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

BRANDON  Incoming U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, signaled Tuesday hes willing to push back against potential attempts by President-elect Donald Trump to expand presidential power over federal spending.

Every president is going to come in and try to do as much as they can by executive action as possible, Thune said. Congress, in some cases, is going to be the entity that sometimes will have to put the brakes on.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thune spoke Tuesday to the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and also took questions from reporters. He said Republicans in Congress will work with Trump to achieve shared policy goals.

The things we want to achieve at present are by and large the same, Thune said. How we get there is another matter, and well have to work through that.

Trumps pick for his budget director, Russ Vought, served in the same role during the first Trump administration. Vought has since outlined an aggressive vision for presidential power in Project 2025, a 922-page document from the conservative-leaning Heritage Foundation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The President should use every possible tool to propose and impose fiscal discipline on the federal government. Vought wrote. Anything short of that would constitute abject failure.

Trump has meanwhile tried to assert greater control over the Cabinet selection process, calling for the Senate to recess the chamber early next year so he can appoint whoever he wants without having to go through the confirmation process.

Thune said Tuesday he plans to immediately begin committee hearings on Cabinet nominees when Congress is sworn in on Jan. 3, 2025.

Thatll give the Senate a head start vetting Trumps nominees before his inauguration on Jan. 20. After Trump is sworn in, Thune expects some nominations to quickly hit the floor of the Senate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The committees cant report them out until the president is officially sworn in and theyre officially nominated, Thune told the audience Tuesday in Brandon. But they could do hearings.

Thune told South Dakota reporters after the event that even though some questions have been raised about nominees, they deserve a fair process where senators question them on their background, qualifications and whether they ought to be in these really important positions.

Thune said he has not taken recess appointments off the table if Democrats try to obstruct or delay the confirmation of nominees when they reach the Senate floor, particularly if theyre well regarded and they have bipartisan support.

Top priorities for Republican senators heading into the new session of Congress, Thune said, include extending Trumps 2017 tax cuts and securing the nations southern border.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thune said he plans to begin drafting a budget reconciliation resolution to push an extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, key provisions of which expire at the end of 2025. The reconciliation process allows tax and spending bills to pass the Senate with 51 votes, instead of the 60 needed for most Senate legislation. Republicans will control 53 seats in the new Senate and will also control the House.

Failing to extend the tax cuts would lead to a $4 trillion tax increase, Thune said.

States Newsrooms D.C. Bureau contributed to this report.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar in December 2021. Photo by Gage Skidmore (modified) | Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

Republican Congressman from Arizona Paul Gosar shared a number of conspiracy theories in his official House of Representatives newsletter this week, including one with antisemitic ties.

This isnt the first time Gosars newsletter has courted controversy as twice he has used it to promote websites that shared antisemitic messages like Holocaust denialism.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the Prescott Republicans weekly newsletter to constituents, Gosar responded to an email from a Surprise man who said he opposed President-elect Donald Trumps nominations of Robert F. Kenney Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard to positions in his new administration.

Gosar defended former Congresswoman Gabbard, who has been criticized for her lack of experience working with the intelligence community, something Gosar believes makes her right for the job.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Many are saying that she has no background in the so-called intelligence community that was famously responsible for quashing the Hunter Biden laptop story, fabricating Russia-Gate, replacing Ukraines government in 2014, launching a false flag operation on a U.S. naval vessel in coordination with the Israeli government in 1967, perpetrating the Bay of Pigs fiasco, and perhaps even killing President John F. Kennedy, Gosar said in the newsletter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gosars defense of Gabbard is full of conspiracy theories such as Hunter Bidens alleged involvement in a bribery scandal with connections to Russia as well as myths about the assassination of President Kennedy.

His mention of the sinking of the U.S.S. Liberty ties to an antisemitic conspiracy theory.

Congressman Gosars reference to the USS Liberty incident as part of a broader critique of the intelligence community in his newsletter is misguided at best and antisemitic at worst, Sarah Kader, deputy regional director of the Anti-Defamation Leagues Arizona chapter said in a statement to the Arizona Mirror.

The USS Liberty incident has been historically misused by conspiracy theorists and antisemites to promote harmful narratives targeting the Jewish community and the U.S.-Israel relationship, Kader said. Longstanding conspiracy theories about the USS Liberty have been repeatedly debunked and by referencing it in this context, Gosar perpetuates falsehoods that feed into antisemitic tropes and undermines public discourse.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gosars office did not respond to a request for comment for the story or answer questions about who wrote the Congressmans reply in the newsletter.

In 2023, Gosars newsletter linked to an article on a website that had previously posted a video by a famed Holocaust denier and featured the same coded language used by neo-Nazis.

Gosars newsletter has also linked to a different website with an author who promoted a book that claims the Holocaust was a fraud. The website is heavily pro-Kremlin, often republishing articles from the Russian state-run propaganda websites Russia Today and Sputnik.

Iran has recently seized upon U.S.S. Liberty conspiracy theories and has used them to amplify hate against Jewish people and Israel. The theories have also been a go-to for neo-Nazis and other antisemites.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gosar has long amplified extremists with his platform.

In 2021, Gosar promoted the work of known white nationalist Vincent James Foxx, who became the unofficial propagandist for a neo-Nazi fight club. Gosar spoke at the same white nationalist conference as Foxx a few years earlier, alongside Holocaust-denier and antisemite Nick Fuentes, the first sitting politician to do so.

The work that Gosar promoted mentioned the great replacement theory, the idea, popular among white supremacists, that white Americans are being replaced by immigrants. It has been seized upon by extremist groups such as the American Identity Movement and Generation Identity.

The great replacement theory has also inspired violence. Fears of immigrants undermining his vision of a white Christian Europe motivated Anders Behring Breiviks murderous rampage in 2011 at a Norwegian youth summer camp.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the U.S., the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh in 2018 was the deadliest attack against the Jewish community in United States history. Just before perpetrating the attack, the killer took to right-wing social media site Gab to say he believed that immigrants were being brought in to replace and kill our people.

The next year in New Zealand, 51 people would be killed and 40 injured but not before the shooter would post a 74-page manifesto titled The Great Replacement.

In 2019, in El Paso, Texas, a shooter who killed 23 in a Walmart would cite the New Zealand shooters manifesto in one of his own saying it was a response to the hispanic invasion of Texas.

Gosar has frequently seized on meme culture used by white supremacists and neo-Nazis on his Twitter account, including the #DarkMAGA movement, which has roots in accelerationist neo-Nazi meme culture and many memes related to it often express a desire for violence against perceived enemies. In many cases, they are accompanied by neo-Nazi imagery.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gosars staff said they were unaware of #DarkMAGA until it was brought to their attention by the Mirror.

Gosar has also employed two white nationalists in his office.

As a public servant, the Congressmans words have significant influence, Kader said. We urge him to consider the implications of referencing such narratives and the potential harm they can cause to Jewish Americans, the broader community, and the vital U.S.-Israel alliance.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Israel launched airstrikes on Beirut on Monday, hitting several neighborhoods in the Lebanese capital and causing panic among residents, according to local sources and Israeli officials.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the strikes targeted areas such as Barbour, Hamra, Salim Salam, and the area near the Kuwaiti embassy in Bir Hassan. Warnings were issued for people to evacuate from Ras Nabaa, Zkak Blat, Msaytbeh, Corniche al-Mazraa, and Ras Beirut.

Many civilians fled the targeted areas by car or on foot, causing panic and traffic jams across the city. Al-Jadeed, the local TV channel, reported at least three people were killed and 10 others injured in Israel's airstrike on Barbour in central Beirut on Tuesday evening.

These rare attacks on central Beirut came amid rising speculation about a potential ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.

On Tuesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, working with IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, approved new plans for further strikes, according to the Defense Ministry. IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee urged residents in southern Beirut suburbs to leave and stay at least 500 meters away from likely targets.

The IDF earlier said it had hit sites linked to Hezbollah in Beirut, Tyre, the Litani River, the Saluki area, and southern Lebanon, as the conflict continued to escalate. 
Conor McGregor has broken his silence following the conclusion of a high-profile sexual assault case. The former UFC champion shared his thoughts on social media, addressing the outcome of the case that has drawn widespread attention. His response has sparked significant public reaction.

Heres what Conor McGregor said after sexual assault case loss.

What did Conor McGregor say after sexual assault case loss?

Conor McGregor has publicly addressed the outcome of the sexual assault civil case in Dublin that found him liable for raping Nikita Hand in 2018. A jury announced its verdict on Friday, ordering McGregor to pay approximately $250,000 in damages after a 12-day trial. On Monday, the UFC star broke his silence and released a statement on X (formerly Twitter). McGregor reiterated his innocence and vowed to appeal the decision.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

McGregor wrote, People want to hear from me, I needed time. I know I made mistakes. Six years ago, I should have never responded to [Hands] outreaches. I should have shut the party down. I should never have stepped out on the woman I love the most in the world. Thats all on me.

Conor McGregor continued to deny the allegations, stating that the encounter with Hand was consensual and supported by witness testimony during the trial. However, he acknowledged regret over cheating on his fiancee, Dee Devlin, with whom he shares four children.

Hand testified that McGregor had brutally raped her in a hotel penthouse on December 9, 2018. She alleged that he choked her, threatened her life, and left her with bruises. McGregor firmly denied these accusations and said that no coercion was involved. (via AP News)

As a consequence of the verdict, McGregor has faced professional fallout. This includes being removed from the popular Hitman video game series, where his character could be downloaded as an add-on. While his character can no longer be purchased, players who already downloaded it can still access it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In spite of the legal setback, McGregor stated his intention to move forward. I cant go back and I will move forward. I am beyond grateful to my family, friends and supporters all over the world who have stayed by my side. Thats it. No more. Getting back to the gym- the fight game awaits! he concluded.

The post Conor McGregor Reacts to Sexual Assault Case Verdict appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
A judge ruled in favor of a controversial mixed-use project in Charles Village on Monday in a dispute between Baltimore-based MCB Real Estate and a homeowner who argued the buildings height was unlawful and unhealthy.

San San Yu, owner since 2008 of a two-story rowhouse on 32nd Street, filed suit in May in Baltimore Circuit Court against the development team and city officials.

The lawsuit accused the Baltimore City Council of making legal errors when it approved an ordinance allowing the former longtime home of local grocer Eddies Market to be redeveloped as a seven-story building with student apartments and retail.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Yu, who lives across an alley from the site, objects because the building would tower over her end-of-group home in closer proximity to existing buildings, blocking sunlight and air, her attorney, John C. Murphy, said during a two-hour court hearing before Judge Lawrence P. Fletcher-Hill.

Murphy said Yu estimated her home would lose more than $180,000 in value. Yu, who suffers from lung cancer, now has the benefit of sunlight streaming in from the west, Murphy said.

She feels her health is threatened by not having light come in, he said.

Partners MCB, the developer of Harborplace and Workshop Development announced plans for the Charles Village project three years ago after buying the Eddies building for $1.5 million after the owners retired. It will replace the Eddies building and a second commercial building on the block.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The proposed redevelopment, just a few blocks from the Johns Hopkins University Homewood campus in an area known for its historic rowhomes, was initially planned for about 220 student housing beds.

It will include Washington-based independent grocer Streets Market. Streets opened a temporary store in the former Eddies and plans to anchor the new project.

The City Council had amended zoning to allow the taller building. About 127 people had signed up in opposition to that proposal, which would make the change in a designated planned unit development, at the developers request.

Murphy and Thiru Vignarajah, another attorney for Yu, argued that development should be subject to a 12-acre Charles Village planned unit development zone approved by the council in 1996 that generally limited height to five stories.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Comprehensive rezoning in 2017 known as Transform Baltimore grandfathered in such planned development zones, the attorneys argued.

Any council approved zoning changes had to meet a standard of not having an adverse effect on surrounding properties, Murphy said.

Jamar Brown, an attorney for MCB and Workshop, said the councils amendment came about after working with and gathering input from community members for several years.

As a result, he said, the project went through a redesign that offers benefits such as a widened alley, sound buffers, building notches to lessen shade, an improved streetscape and retention of a neighborhood grocery store.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He said Yu failed to identify any legal errors and contended that the council has the authority to make amendments when adverse effects are outweighed by community benefits.

There will always be some adverse impacts of every development project, Brown said.

After the hearing, Yu said she hopes to appeal. Several neighbors who attended said they were disappointed in a project they fear will open the door for similar redevelopment.

One resident, Carol Anderson-Austra, said she opposes a project she believes will clash with the character of the neighborhood and the aesthetics.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Douglas E. Schmidt, a principal with Workshop Development, countered that developers, over several years, went through design changes in response to the community.

He said developers are working on obtaining permits and hope to break ground by late spring or early summer.

Have a news tip? Contact Lorraine Mirabella at lmirabella@baltsun.com, (410) 332-6672 and @lmirabella on X.
Theyre really in uncharted waters.

The coastal country of Indonesia is milking its abundance of fish to compensate for a drastic cow shortage for programs like school lunches.

As local fishermen off the shores of the city of Indramayu haul loads of ponyfish, they are sent twice a day to a factory to be deboned and ground into a fine, white, protein-filled powder.

Later, the milk of the sea is brought to another facility for a sugary flavor of either strawberry or chocolate, the Wall Street Journal reported.

In a bizarre move, Indonesia is looking to convert fish into milk for a national program. Mdv Edwards  stock.adobe.com

Fittingly, the powder simply needs water added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It just tastes like normal milk, at least to me, said manager Mafatihul Khoiri of milk maker Berikan Protein Initiative, which began distribution last year.

The program is being promoted as a good source of protein for kids and other drinkers. @ kkpgoid/Instagram

Local media reports have cast on the fishy topic as it is being mulled over for the Southeast Asian nations school lunch programs in the new year. It is touted there as a good source of protein, and experts hope that fish milk could net a $4.5 billion industry that puts 200,000 people to work, according to the Journal.

The unorthodox idea of incorporating fish nutrients into everyday life isnt anything unique to the area, which is looking for answers on combatting cow shortages.

Fish collagen is a typical protein used in the United States for skin care, and the European Union employed scientists to work out a way of removing chemicals that cause salmon protein powders pungent, marine smell last year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rasmus Ree, a researcher with the EU-funded research institute Norce, said what Indonesia is fishing for is something that would be useful, and hopefully economically viable.

Drinkers of the milk also have not expressed an intolerance for its taste. A 23-year-old named Rosaedah even proclaimed it delicious! after having the beverage on three occasions.

However, some nutrition experts are sour on the concept for reasons related to ultra-processing as it is mixed with sugar and artificial sweetening. Locally, the Jakarta Post also called fish milk more of a political distraction than a meaningful nutritional intervention.

The fish milk comes in powder form and needs water added. @ ahlinyagizi.id/Instagram

Even Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin believes there are other ways to manage the bovine scarcity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We can grow cows  Or we can import the milk from Australia. Or we can buy an Australian cow company or milk company, he told the Journal.

There are many, many, many options to do before we are milking the fish, he said.
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  A 40-year-old Conway woman is the second person to be arrested after Horry County authorities said four children between the ages of 1 and 14 tested positive for cocaine and amphetamines earlier this year.

Tina Marie Gilbow was arrested on Monday and charged with four counts of unlawful conduct toward a child. She is being held on a $40,000 bond at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center, according to online jail records.

Robert Earl John Reeve / Photo: J. Reuben Long Detention Center

Robert Earl John Reeve, 38, was arrested on Nov. 14 and is facing the same charges. He was also still in jail Tuesday on a $40,000 bond. His arrest came after authorities said he punched a wall while leaving a supervised visit with his children, who had been removed from his custody by Horry County Department of Social Services in September after the positive drug tests.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The incident happened at the DSS office on Industrial Park Road, according to an Horry County police incident report, which said Reeve became agitated because he didnt like the outcome of his supervised visit with his children.

According to arrest warrants, the four children in the custody of Gilbow and Reeve tested positive for the drugs in August. Gilbow and Reeve also tested positive for the drugs during the investigation.

The Department of Social Services took custody of the children on Sept. 5 after authorities went to the Red Hill motel in the 1200 block of Highway 501 Business.

* * *

Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
The man who died after being shot and then involved in a crash in Dayton over the weekend has been identified.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Djuan Hall, 34, was identified on Tuesday by the Montgomery County Coroners Office.

TRENDING STORIES:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As News Center 7 previously reported, police were called to the 4600 block of Forsythe Avenue on an initial report of a shooting around 7:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Someone just got shot in my house, one 911 caller told dispatchers.

Before police got to the scene, an additional call came in regarding a crash where someone in a vehicle had been shot, according to Lt. Steven Bauer.

When police arrived at the scene, they found a crash on the 1900 block of Arlene Avenue.

Hall was found shot in the vehicle that caused the crash. He was taken to Miami Valley Hospital where he died a day later, according to the coroners office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A female who was in the car that drove away from the scene was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries from the crash.

The driver of the other vehicle involved in the crash was not injured.

The Dayton Police Departments Homicide Unit is investigating the shooting and the crash.

[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]




CORRALES, N.M. (KRQE)  A growing number of coyote attacks has Corrales city leaders warning neighbors. Additionally, some think the village needs to bolster its efforts in addressing the problem.

It is another warning about coyotes in Corrales: this time comes weeks after Mayor James Fahey put out a bulletin about the growing number of attacks reported in the village through October.

I know some of the people who have talked, have complained, have lived here for quite a while, so theyre accustomed to the coyotes, but theyre  theyre just kind [of] becoming very urbanized, said Mayor James Fahey.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sandia National Laboratories new supercomputer ranked 20th fastest in world

In years past, similar problems sparked the village to create a Coyote Management Plan, which, in part, asks people to report sightings to animal control. However, some neighbors said this year, the problem is different, and the wild animals are showing less fear.

I have noticed that this is just getting increasingly more severe that a coyote would come into our yard in the daylight, and it was not like it was nighttime and almost killed our pet, said Renee Delgado-Riley.

Renee Delgado-Riley said her Jack-Russell Terrier was attacked by a coyote last month when the dog was just 20 feet away from them. The attack left the dog with puncture wounds all over its body. Delgado-Riley created a petition for residents to sign urging the Village Administration to revamp the plan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its really frustrating that the village just says, Well, we cant get rid of them. Thats not what Im advocating for, and I dont think thats what our community is advocating for. We just want safety to be a priority, said Renee Delgado-Riley.

While her pet survived, Delgado-Riley wants to see the village change its plan to be more proactive, including increasing coyote hazing and ways to report sightings more efficiently.

Story continues below

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I believe that the more information we can collect to show the problem, then perhaps we can get more help in dealing with the problem, said Mayor Fahey.

The mayor also is suggesting that neighbors keep their pets on leash and not leave food outside. The village said its continuing to monitor the coyote population through resident reports.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
A Cook County corrections officer was acquitted Friday of charges stemming from an alleged jail beating amid allegations that an assistant states attorney hid evidence in the case, according to court records.

Reginald Roberson, 53, was found not guilty by Judge William Gamboney of aggravated battery and official misconduct in the wake of accusations of prosecutorial misconduct made by Robersons attorney. The defense alleged a deal with a witness against Roberson was not disclosed.

The acquittal marks another setback for States Attorney Kim Foxxs law enforcement accountability unit days before she steps down after eight turbulent years in office. The Law Enforcement Accountability Division, known as LEAD, investigates officers accused of wrongdoing, but the unit has struggled to win cases.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im not exactly a person whos out there with a big banner saying, I love the police. Im a defense lawyer. I respect the police and their job, but I want there to be accountability for police, said Robersons attorney Tracey Harkins speaking of the overall prosecution, and this was the most egregious display of power by the states attorneys office that I have really seen in awhile.

The states attorneys office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On Dec. 29, 2021, Roberson allegedly placed handcuffs over his knuckles and hit a 29-year-old individual in custody multiple times in the jails receiving area, according to a 2023 statement from the sheriffs office, which moved to fire Roberson. The detainee was treated for minor injuries.

The alleged beating was spotted by staffers who were reviewing footage on jail cameras, the sheriffs office said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Harkins, though, had argued that the detainee put his hands on Roberson first, and that he used reasonable force to subdue the detainee.

In June, the case went to trial before Gamboney and was up for a ruling, when Harkins received an email Aug. 5 from an assistant states attorney that disclosed a promise made to the detainee who was the complaining witness against Roberson, according to a motion for a mistrial Harkins filed.

According to the disclosure, former Assistant States Attorney Tiffani Mims had made a promise to the detainee that if Roberson were convicted, the states attorneys office would get a designation removed from his file that would allow him better housing options in the jail.

By law, prosecutors must disclose to the defense any deals made with witnesses that could be seen to influence or motivate their testimony. By only disclosing it after the trial concluded, the office violated Robersons rights, Harkins argued.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Harkins filed a motion asking the judge to declare a mistrial with prejudice, which would bar the state from retrying him.

According to the motion for a mistrial, Mims emailed her colleagues to let them know of the promise she made with the detainee so they could follow through with the agreement because she was unexpectedly removed from the case.

I got on the horn (with the prosecutors) and used the exact words, I dont think I need to tell you this is not, not a big deal, Harkins said.

The motion said Mims employment with the office ended shortly after the events after August 5, 2024. The motion included a screenshot from a social media account from Mims posted on Aug. 31 that called her departure from the office unexpected.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gamboney denied the motion for a mistrial, but allowed evidence to be reopened in the trial. He then found Roberson not guilty.

Throughout Foxxs tenure, a number of law enforcement officers have been charged in connection to alleged wrongdoing in their official capacity, but the cases have generally not resulted in guilty verdicts. She has in the past spoken about the difficulties of trying such cases, saying the office has not brought charges lightly but said they do not have to excuse behavior that runs afoul of the law.

In September 2023, a judge found two police officers not guilty in the shooting of an unarmed man in Pilsen in July 2022.

Earlier in 2023, a Chicago police sergeant was acquitted by a judge after he was accused of pinning down a 14-year-old in Park Ridge.

In 2022, Chicago police Officer Melvina Bogard was acquitted by a judge after prosecutors charged her with aggravated battery and official misconduct in connection with a shooting at the Grand Red Line stop in 2020.
TEXARKANA, USA (KTAL/KMSS)  Small businesses in Texarkana have enlisted the help of elves to convince customers to shop locally for the holidays.

A Citywide Elf Hunt is being held as part of a two-week-long Small Business Saturday celebration.

Participating businesses have signed up to be a part of it and they have a little elf in their store with a QR code and you go in there, you scan it, you fill out the information. says Brooke Stone, Communications Manager for the City of Texarkana, TX.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Each elf that you can find and scan enters you into a pot for a chance to win prizes.

More: Texarkana News

It gets people in their door that might not already know about them and maybe theyre from a surrounding area. says Stone.

With over 50 businesses participating on both sides of the state line, there are plenty of chances to win something special.

So the more elves you find the more businesses that you go and visit, the more times your name goes in the pot to win prizes and all the participating businesses have donated gift cards or merchandise to be a part of those giveaways. says Stone.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Cities of Texarkana, Texas, and Arkansas are working alongside Main Street Texarkana, the Texarkana USA Chamber of Commerce, Communities Unlimited, and the Northeast Texas Small Business Development Center to make this happen. They are releasing hints to help shoppers find the elves on the Facebook Event page. I was able to find one at Unique Flowers & Gifts.

Here at Unique is a local shop where you can get handmade, high-quality, unique products, and your money stays in the community. Its very simple. says Joey Worrell with Unique Flowers & Gifts

They hope the elf hunt helps customers and owners of small businesses have happy holidays.

Small businesses have a huge economic impact on communities and so its very, very important to shop local, because youre not just shopping at a big box store, youre helping a family put food on their table a lot of the time. says Stone.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The last day of the scavenger hunt is Friday, December 6th. The prize winners will be announced the following Monday.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
Nov. 26After an attempt failed to set a cap on tobacco stores at two in the city, the Albert Lea City Council voted 4-2 Monday to approve setting the maximum at four, up two from the current number in operation.

The vote was part of a larger discussion about limits on the number of adult-themed businesses in the community, including off-sale liquor, sexually-oriented businesses, tobacco stores, and consumption and display permits.

With the vote, eight off-sale liquor stores could be allowed in the city, along with one sexually-oriented business, four tobacco stores and two consumption and display permits.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"These are legal products," said 3rd Ward Councilor Jason Howland in discussion about the tobacco stores. "State law says you have to be 21 to purchase them. They aren't accessible to youth."

He acknowledged there are plenty of other ways that youth can get access to tobacco but said the intent of the ordinance is to establish setbacks so the market is not oversaturated. He said he thought having four tobacco stores would not be oversaturated.

"We want to be open for businesses here in Albert Lea, for businesses and growth," Howland said. "I don't see this as a danger to youth if two more tobacco stores happen to get licenses and open in Albert Lea."

Discussion about the businesses came as the council in recent months has talked about the zoning and number of cannabis businesses it would allow with the legalization of marijuana by the state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last month, the council approved allowing two retail cannabis establishments in the city.

The council earlier this year approved a six-month moratorium on the creation of new tobacco, off-sale liquor, sexually-oriented business and cannabis licenses for up to six months as it studied how to regulate the businesses equitably. All of the businesses work with people ages 21 and over.

City Clerk Daphney Maras said the moratorium was set to expire in three days. If a new ordinance was not in place, the city would have to follow the same guidelines previously in place, and technically new businesses could come in and apply for licenses.

Sixth Ward Councilor Brian Anderson said he believed limiting the number of tobacco stores to two would be a mistake based on the free market alone and said doing so would increase the perceived value of the two existing stores. If the council ever expanded the limits up to three or four, it would be unfair to those owners.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He questioned the role of government in limiting the numbers at all but said in the interest of public health he could support tabling the portion on tobacco stores to review further.

Second Ward Councilor Larry Baker said he also wanted to work with the Public Health Department.

First Ward Councilor Rachel Christensen said a lot of the community had reached out to her about the issue  almost as many as when the council changed the city logo.

She talked about attending the meetings of the National Vitality Center and how Blue Zones is an important part of the city's culture.

"Yeah it's legal, but that doesn't mean it's good," Christensen said. "Tobacco, vaping, these things are not healthy and they are not in the community's best interest to vote, and certainly not on the basis of money."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The comments came after Lana Howe, health educator and coordinator of the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership in Freeborn County through the Public Health Department, spoke during the public forum against expanding the limit for tobacco stores from two to four.

"Numerous studies have shown a direct correlation between availability of tobacco products and increased youth smoking rates," she said. "By increasing the number of tobacco stores, we risk exposing these youth people to harmful marketing tactics and making it easier for them to get access to these very addictive products."

She asked the council to keep in mind the impact on youth and community health, as well as the long-term impact that the decision would make.

"While short-term economic gains may be tempting, the long-term costs of increased tobacco use, including increased health care expenses and lost productivity, far outweigh any potential benefits," she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Howe said Public Health works with the American Lung Association and Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Health and said there were some concerns with the language in the ordinance. She said she would be happy to set up a time to review it with city leaders.

City Manager Ian Rigg said he had pulled definitions in the ordinance from state statute and said he wanted to emphasize that in addition to setbacks from schools and day cares, current zoning laws would require the businesses to be 500 feet from each other so the stores would not feel so concentrated in one area.

Albert Lea Mayor Rich Murray said regardless of the vote, he thought the city should work with Public Health.

The vote to set the cap at two tobacco stores failed, with Christensen, Murray and Baker voting in favor and Howland, Anderson and 4th Ward Councilor Reid Olson voting against.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The vote to cap tobacco stores at four ultimately passed with Howland, Anderson, Olson and Baker voting in favor and Christensen and Murray voting against. Councilor Robert Rasmussen was absent.

Councilors on both side of the vote talked about wanting to go and revisit the ordinance with Public Health staff.

In a separate vote, the council also voted to move part of an ordinance on social host violations and underage drinking to Chapter 22, relating to Health. Language was added to include cannabis where alcohol is noted.
This photo taken on Nov. 26, 2024 shows the smoke caused by Israeli airstrikes in West Bekaa, Lebanon. At least 41 people were killed and several others injured on Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, the Lebanese National News Agency reported. (Photo by Maher Kamar/Xinhua)

JERUSALEM/BEIRUT, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Israel's security cabinet approved on Tuesday night a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported that the ceasefire, brokered by the United States and France, was expected to take effect on Wednesday at 4 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) in Israel and Lebanon.

The security cabinet approved the ceasefire by a majority of ten votes to one, with far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir casting the sole dissenting vote.

"Israel appreciates the United States' contribution to the process and reserves its right to act against any threat to its security," the statement said.

In a recorded video speech earlier in the day, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attributed the ceasefire decision to three reasons -- focus shifted to threats from Iran, the need for a refresh of forces and replenishment of weapons, as well as the isolation of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

"With Hezbollah out of the picture, Hamas is left alone in the campaign. Our pressure on it will increase, and this will assist in achieving the goal of freeing our hostages," Netanyahu said.

The prime minister also reiterated his determination to "do whatever it takes to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons."

Shortly after the approval, Biden gave a speech at the White House, saying he had spoken to Netanyahu and Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

He said that Israel would gradually withdraw its forces over a period of 60 days. Meanwhile, the Lebanese army and state security forces will take control of their territory bordering Israel, while ensuring that Hezbollah will not regroup there.

"Civilians on both sides will soon be able to safely return to their communities," he said.

In a statement released by the Lebanese Council of Ministers, Mikati welcomed the ceasefire decision, saying it is a "fundamental step towards establishing calm and stability in Lebanon and returning the displaced to their homes and cities." He added it also "helps establish regional stability."

Mikati reiterated the government's commitment to implementing UN Resolution 1701, strengthening the army's presence in the south, and cooperating with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

"I also demand the Israeli enemy fully commit to the ceasefire decision, withdraw from all areas and sites it occupies, and fully abide by UN Resolution 1701," he said.

Meanwhile, airstrikes continued both ways between Israel and Hezbollah hours ahead of the ceasefire taking effect. At least 41 people were killed and several others injured on Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, the Lebanese National News Agency reported.

Israel also pummelled central Beirut on Tuesday, targeting several neighborhoods and causing widespread panic among residents, following the first-ever Israeli evacuation orders issued for the area, according to local sources and Israeli officials.

In Israel, air defense sirens sounded Tuesday evening in several northern and central areas.

The Israel Defense Forces said the sirens were activated following the launch of three projectiles from Lebanon, which were successfully intercepted by the Israeli Air Force. No casualties were reported. 

This photo shows the smoke caused by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon's southeastern town of Khiam, Nov. 26, 2024. At least 41 people were killed and several others injured on Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, the Lebanese National News Agency reported. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)

This photo shows the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes in Nabi Sheet, Lebanon, Nov. 26, 2024. At least 41 people were killed and several others injured on Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, the Lebanese National News Agency reported. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)

This photo shows the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes in Nabi Sheet, Lebanon, Nov. 26, 2024. At least 41 people were killed and several others injured on Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, the Lebanese National News Agency reported. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)

This photo shows the smoke caused by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon's southeastern town of Khiam, Nov. 26, 2024. At least 41 people were killed and several others injured on Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, the Lebanese National News Agency reported. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Nov. 26, 2024 shows the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes in West Bekaa, Lebanon. At least 41 people were killed and several others injured on Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, the Lebanese National News Agency reported. (Photo by Maher Kamar/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Nov. 26, 2024 shows the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes in West Bekaa, Lebanon. At least 41 people were killed and several others injured on Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, the Lebanese National News Agency reported. (Photo by Maher Kamar/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Nov. 26, 2024 shows the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes in West Bekaa, Lebanon. At least 41 people were killed and several others injured on Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, the Lebanese National News Agency reported. (Photo by Maher Kamar/Xinhua)

This photo taken from Israel's side of the Israel-Lebanon border on Nov. 27, 2024 shows destroyed buildings in southern Lebanon. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

This photo taken from Israel's side of the Israel-Lebanon border on Nov. 27, 2024 shows destroyed buildings in southern Lebanon. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
Montana State Hospital at Warm Springs (Photo via Wikimedia Commons | CC-BY-SA 3.0).

At a meeting on Monday, Lake County Attorney James Lapotka told a group of lawmakers, peace officers and judges about two recent cases his office handled that protected Montanans Constitutional rights  but had tragic results.

Lake County released a person from jail who later went to a relatives home, set it on fire with gasoline and tried to fire a crossbow at a person because the former prisoner was convinced his relative was possessed by the devil.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Another case centered on a person being brought into custody after attacking another resident with a hammer.

Both needed help. Both needed to stay incarcerated. But neither one was able to.

Its not OK theyre being held for more than 200 days without a clear plan, Lapotka said. The state is failing to meet its burden because they have Constitutional rights.

The meeting that happened in Polson on Monday could have happened in any one of Montanas other 55 counties, the Lake County leaders said. Its just that Lake County is literally at its limit, its max. So, they gathered law enforcement, members of the court and legislators to let them know the county is at its breaking point when it comes to jailing residents and needing state services.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They said its becoming more common for judges to have to dismiss criminal charges because of constitutional protections guaranteeing a speedy trial. Many of those charged with crimes come to jails and detention facilities across the state either in clear mental crisis, or theres a question of whether theyre even competent enough to stand trial or help in their own defense. The wait for an evaluation takes so long that it violates their guarantee of a speedy trial, their liberty, and due process.

Lapotka said its easy to keep someone incarcerated when theyve hurt a cop or killed someone.

Well keep someone here for five years or however long it takes, Lapotka said. But what happens to the person who just shoots and injures someone but doesnt kill them?

Lapotka offered tours on Monday morning to show any of the officials what happens when residents sue the county  Lake County is currently going through construction of more than $1 million for an outdoor recreation space for its county inmates, paid for by taxpayers after a successful lawsuit against Lake County because of overcrowding. He said that jails and detention centers throughout the state will be the target of more lawsuits because of overcrowding and backlog.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Helena fails to appropriate these funds for the state programs, and it falls to the county, Lapotka said.

Judge John Mercer pointed out a Lake County resident who had a long history of drinking and assault. He served limited time for more than four DUIs and violated parole for nearly 10 years before being charged with a sex crime he pleaded guilty to.

Had that person been brought in here, and served his sentence, that rape might not have occurred. The state needs to take a hard look at this because things are getting worse with mental illness and crime, Mercer said.

Many in the room said that while the problem has been ongoing for years, if not decades, a combination of increasing population and a dramatic increase in methamphetamine and opioids has made it an emergency.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But a huge backlog at the states forensic evaluation complex in Galen, or the states mental hospital in Warm Springs, means counties have to hold some people charged with misdemeanor crimes for weeks or even months. It has now gotten to the point where counties, and judges in particular, must release the person charged, knowing that these people could hurt others or themselves again.

Unlike the previous practice, the Montana State Hospital is no longer accepting involuntary commitments which was a shock to both of us, said Lake County District Court Judge Molly Owen, who was part of the meeting, along with fellow Judge Mercer.

Officials at the meeting said that it can take as long as 18 months for a forensic evaluation through the state, which helps explain some of the backlog.

Chad Parker, the deputy legal counsel for the Montana Department of Health and Human Services, knows about the problem, understands the frustration, but admits: There are few beds available, and even fewer community-based services to help the backlog.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These are situations that are all-too-familiar with us, Parker said. Our hearts are breaking for you, and there are very valid issues here.

Parker said that from 2015 to 2024, the state averaged from 40 to 50 civil commitments per year  that is, people being found mentally unfit in Montana communities, but not because of a criminal charge.

In 2024, there were more than 70 admissions for five months in a row to the state, according to data.

A lot of that is crossover drug-induced psychosis, Parker said. We cant stabilize a group quickly enough before the next group comes in.

Owen told the audience that she had to dismiss a criminal case against a woman after that woman had sat in jail for more than nine months without any progress on her case.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This was a criminal case with a victim, Owen said. Some may disagree with my decision, but without any movement and speedy right to trial, I agreed. She had to be released.

The problem of mental health in county jails also causes headaches for law enforcement. The participants at Mondays meeting described a common theme: A person who has allegedly committed a crime is brought into a detention facility, but theyre held because of concerns about a mental health issue. That can mean the person spends weeks or even months, occupying a bed that could be used for others.

The result has become a ballooning of warrants. Lake County statistics said as many as 5,000 warrants are active in the county, with an estimated 25% of them criminal, but those cannot be processed because jails are overcrowded.

Mercer described another one of the consequences of backlogged services throughout the state. Many of the people who arrive at the detention facility for misdemeanor crimes may be a danger to others or themselves, so jail staff hold them for evaluation. Yet, few others facing misdemeanor charges are held because of overcrowding, making punishment more severe for those suffering from mental illness.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We know that jails are not good for mental health, Mercer said. Judges believe that these people are a threat, but is it fair to just hold them?

Solutions on the horizon?

Parker said that changes and solutions are coming in the next few months. For example, 20 to 30 more beds will likely be opening in Galen, according to state Sen. John Esp, R-Big Timber.

Esp and others talked of the need for more regional facilities. For years, Montana lawmakers have discussed moving away from institutional models, centered on places like the mens state prison in Deer Lodge or the state hospital in Warm Springs. Instead, theyve discussed having smaller institutions regionally located throughout the state.

Some lawmakers have also discussed building out a system of step-down facilities that have gradually been decreasing penalties and rules to help ease transition back into society.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In my view, weve been ignoring this for 20 years, Esp said. We need more step-down facilities. We are not interested in a Warm Springs East or West.

Sen. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, said that one of the ideas that he believes could make a big difference is to continue the controversial program of moving more prisoners from state facilities, like in Deer Lodge, to out-of-state, privately contracted facilities. He proposed that doing this would free up more bed spaces at state facilities and open up more beds in county jails.

However, Private prisons are not a long-term solution, Hertz said.

Other lawmakers who joined the conversation also rallied behind the idea of channeling the money the state is making from taxing sales of recreational marijuana to help address the issue, including sending more money toward drug and alcohol treatment, prevention and law enforcement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Others on Monday seemed to support the idea of having more addictions treatment programs, although they said that the idea of building those programs throughout the state is proving difficult.

Meanwhile, problems in one area of the state, often find their way to another.

Lapotka said that Lake County recently got a number of calls from Yellowstone County about one of the residents who had several outstanding warrants from Lake County. Every time Yellowstone County called to Lake County, there was no room at the jail in Polson, and the man seemed to be getting arrested for minor offenses.

That took a turn when the man got drunk and ran from the police, getting into a head-on car accident, killing another person.

Without an arrest and without doing anything, they wander around for years with warrants and their problems dont get any better, Lapotka said. Its having a very, very negative effect on public safety.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The controversial Chicas Locas night club and the County have reached a tentative agreement, according to KTEP public radio.

The County Attorneys Office also confirmed a settlement is being worked out.

A lengthy court hearing was held Monday, Nov. 25. The County had been seeking to shut down the club, which opened up in the former Jaguars site in East El Paso.

Casey Wallace, a private attorney for Chicas Locas, says a pending agreement with the El Paso County Attorneys Office will pave the way for the club to open in March, according to KTEP.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wallace also told KTEP the club owners have gotten permitted work done satisfying requirements from the City of El Paso.

The two sides will have until Dec. 6 to finalize their agreement. The club will also have to show that they have hired off-duty police or level-4 security and they will have to pay thousands of dollars in bonds, KTEP said.

The County Attorneys Office said late Monday night that the owners of Chicas Locas are agreeing to stay closed until March 1.

They will also surrender a $5,000 bond, place a new $10,000 bond, make attempts to hire off-duty law enforcement to work as security or have level 4 security officers in place when they open, make no appeals of this settlement and show compliance with the original agreement before opening.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)  Court documents have revealed new information on the man accused of shooting at a police vehicle with an officer inside.

Anthony Vega, 39, has been charged with attempted murder after police said he started a shooting spree on Nov. 11 at 2 a.m. in downtown Portsmouth by firing at police video cameras.

Man in custody after firing multiple shots at police car in Portsmouth

Court documents revealed officers were able to recover a stolen assault rifle with two magazines tied together, as well as a shotgun. After running the serial number of the rifle, it was found to be stolen out of New York.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The documents also state Vega called an officer in a marked car dirty before shooting in his direction.

As a result of the shooting, the vehicle had a bullet hole above the windshield, just to the right of the driver, police said. Several buildings were also shot, according to police, including the United Methodist Church on Queen Street and two residential buildings.

No officers were hurt due to the shooting, police said.

Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
COVENTRY, Conn. (WTHN)  A Coventry man was arrested on Tuesday for child porn possession, according to police.

Ronny Kohler was charged with possession of child porn in the first degree.

This comes after police said 13 cyber tipline reports were received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Coventry police took over the case after it was determined the files were accessed by an IP address at a Coventry location.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Woman tased for pulling knife on Milford officers after REI robbery

Police obtained a search warrant for Kohlers residents and with the help of the Connecticut Computer Crimes Unit, seized several electronic items, which were examined by the forensic science laboratory.

The examination found over 300 images and videos of child sexual abuse material and over 400 images and videos of child sexual exploitation material, according to police.

Kohler was detained on a $300,000 court-set bond and arraigned on Nov. 16 in Rockville.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI)  The Cranston City Council is mulling an ordinance put forth by Mayor Ken Hopkins that would make an executive order giving officers the power to break up homeless encampments on city property permanent.

Anthony Moretti, Hopkins chief of staff, told 12 News the ordinance was introduced with safety in mind.

Its merely to protect the public and to protect the people of these encampments and get them suitable housing, Moretti explained.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Moretti described Hopkins ordinance as a compassionate compromise to his previous proposal, which would have granted officers permission to fine those living in temporary shelters on city property.

Hopkins ordinance also ensures that the officers will work alongside advocates to find safer and more suitable housing options.

SEE ALSO: Protesters demand action as pallet shelters sit empty

It is not intended to pick on homeless people or people in the encampments, Moretti explained. Its not suitable housing. Its unsafe, its unsanitary and its subject to crime amongst themselves.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island is urging councilors to reject the measure, arguing that it punishes those whose only true offense is lacking a home.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Instead of breaking up the encampments, the ACLU called for a more empathetic response to the issue.

Jessica Salter of the Amos House noted that there arent enough resources or shelter beds in the state for those people to move to.

Until we can offer someone something better, we need to think long and hard about the choices were making to destroy property and remove people from what minor sense of safety they might have, Salter said.

Nothing was decided Monday night since the councilors voted to send the ordinance to the committee for further study.

NEXT: Home prices up 50% in 10 RI communities since 2018

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily Roundup

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  A crash in the middle of a major construction zone on south U.S. 127 shut down all southbound lanes of traffic on the highway Tuesday afternoon.

Ingham County sent an alert at 3:07 p.m. announcing southbound U.S. 127 south of Saginaw was closed due to an accident in the construction zone. Authorities are encouraging drivers to find alternative routes.

As of 4 p.m., MDOT said the crash scene was cleared, but traffic remains very congested in the area.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Michigan Department of Transportation traffic map also shows an alert. The U.S. 127 at Interstate 496 interchange has been undergoing major construction for months.

Screenshot of the MDOT traffic condition map showing a crash alert south of Trowbridge Rd. exit on U.S. 127 South on November 26. (WLNS)

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG)  Two men who were wanted for warrants out of Texas were arrested after a traffic stop led to officers finding cloned credit cards and skimming devices, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriffs Office.

FDOT reconfiguring North Palafox Street  what drivers should know

According to an SRCSO Facebook post, deputies made a traffic stop on a vehicle for speeding and failing to obey a traffic control device.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When they stopped the vehicle, deputies found that the driver, Roslandy Garcia Cruz, had a nationwide extradition warrant out of Texas for violating probation tied to previous convictions, including fraud and possession of skimming devices.

Deputies also found that the passenger, Yonasan Gonzalez Perez, had a warrant out of Highlands County, Fla. for possession of a skimming device and criminal mischief, according to SRCSO.

Officials said they found nine Walmart gift cards hidden under the back seat of the vehicle and three credit card skimming devices.

Pensacola business temporarily closed after car crashes into building

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Deputies were able to confirm that the gift cards had been cloned with stolen credit card information from multiple banks including Navy Federal Credit Union, Chase Bank and Capital One, according to SRCSO.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Editors Note: The following arrest and incident reports were supplied by the Abilene Police Department. All information below comes from reports made by responding officers, and all suspects are considered not guilty unless determined otherwise in a court of law.

Incidents

200 block of E Beltway S  Burglary of Habitation

Water and pliers were reported stolen during a burglary.

800 block of Westridge Drive  Theft of Property

A victim reported a package containing a cellphone was stolen from her front porch.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

5400 block of S 7th Street  Fraudulent Use/Possession of Identifying Information

A victim reported his social security debit card was used fraudulently.

4300 block of Southwest Drive  Fraudulent Use/Possession of Identifying Information

A suspect was identified for stealing merchandise a local department store.

2900 block of Southwest Drive  Criminal Trespass

A victim wanted to report a violation of protective order.

6200 block of S 7th Street  Theft of Motor Vehicle

A reporting party stated his trailer worth $5,500 was reported stolen.

800 block of Ballinger Street  Theft of Firearm

A revolver was reported stolen during a vehicle burglary.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

600 block of Pecan Street  Criminal Trespass

Unknown suspect suspects forced entry into a victims unoccupied residence without permission.

5100 block of S Clack Street  Theft of Property

A victim reported a known suspect took her cellphone and refused to return it.

1200 block of Yeomans Road  Criminal Mischief

A victim reported his vehicle was damaged and items were stolen.

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION  Driving While Intoxicated

A suspect was arrested for DWI and leaving the scene of an accident.

1900 block of Matador Street  Assault Family Violence

An assault family violence report was taken in south Abilene.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

1600 block of Matador Street  Assault Family Violence

An assault family violence report was taken in south Abilene.

1100 block of Oak Street  Theft of Property

A bicycle worth $100 was reported stolen.

500 block of EN 23rd Street  Assault Family Violence

A victim claimed she was assaulted by her live-in boyfriend.

1700 block of W Lake Road  Criminal Mischief

A report for criminal mischief was taken in north Abilene.

1900 block of Denton Street  Assault

A victim reported a known suspect pushed him into a wall after a verbal altercation.

1600 block of S 14th Street  Assault

A male physically assaulted his ex-girlfriend and her cousin over an argument they were having.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

1400 block of Friars Street  Theft of Firearm

A report was taken for stolen firearm.

5200 block of S 1st Street  Aggravated Assault Deadly Weapon

Police responded to a disturbance in progress involving a deadly weapon at a south Abilene inn.

2800 block of E Overland Trail  Aggravated Assault Deadly Weapon

Police responded to disturbance at a north Abilene convenience store where a suspect displayed a deadly weapon during an argument.

1500 block of E Stamford Street  Theft of Property

A victim stated a known suspect stolen $238 by deception at a north Abilene motel.

2400 block of S 1st Street  Robbery

A suspect robbed a convenience store and was identified and arrested.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

500 block of S Judge Ely Boulevard  Assault

Police responded to a call for service in south Abilene.

Arrests

Christopher Holomb  Driving While Intoxicated

Verenice Hernandez  Public Intoxication

Samantha Woodhams  Warrant

Joseph Gutierrez  Public Intoxication

Jeremy Dotson  Public Intoxication

Florensio Salazar  Driving While Intoxicated, Unlawful Carrying Weapon

Evan Greene  Possession of Marijuana

Anthony Main-Kerstell  Possession of Marijuana

Codey Thomas  Driving While Intoxicated

Wesley Anthony  Driving While Intoxicated

John Turner  Public Intoxication

Megan Tullos  Warrant

Vanessa Lopez  Warrant

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ryan Farrar  Driving While Intoxicated, Leaving Scene of Accident

Tobias Gonzales  Possession of Controlled Substance

Derrick Spotwood  Public Intoxication

Andrew Gaona  Possession of Controlled Substance

Thomas Annett  Public Intoxication

Shantera Battee  Warrant

David Russell  Warrant

Danny  Assault Threat/Contact

Jason Hutchings  Driving While Intoxicated

Scottlan Reynolds  Assault Threat/Contact

Miriyah Dornin  Warrant

Britny Wise  Warrant

Nathan Latimer  Robbery

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
CAPE TOWN, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- South Africa saw a decrease in serious crimes in the third quarter of this year, according to the latest crime statistics released by the police ministry on Monday.

From July 1 to Sept. 30, the 17 categories of community-reported serious crimes, including murder, robbery and carjacking, showed an overall decline of 5.1 percent, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu announced during the release of the quarterly crime statistics.

"Contact crime decreased by 3 percent, property-related crime saw a reduction of 9.9 percent, and other serious crimes decreased by 3.4 percent," Mchunu said.

"Focusing on contact crime, the statistics indicate that murder decreased by 5.8 percent, sexual offenses by 2.5 percent, and robbery with aggravating circumstances by 8.8 percent," he said. "Additionally, rape decreased by 3.1 percent, while robbery at residential premises and non-residential premises decreased by 1.3 percent and 21.1 percent, respectively."

Among the 17 community-reported crime categories monitored, increases were observed only in attempted murder, assault with grievous bodily harm and commercial crime, which rose by 2.2 percent, 1 percent and 18.5 percent, respectively, according to the report.

"Despite these gains, the persistence of high crime rates underscores the urgency of doubling our efforts in law enforcement, prevention, and community involvement," said Mchunu.

The police minister said that more needs to be done, highlighting the importance of collective efforts to tackle crime in the country.

"Crime-fighting requires relentless determination, collaboration, and resourcefulness. The South African Police Service continues to adapt to evolving criminal tactics, leveraging intelligence and technology to stay ahead," he added. 
Felonies

The following people were booked into the Lee County-Tupelo Adult Jail in connection with felony charges ending Monday at 11 a.m.

Jodeci D. Agnew, 28, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Verona Police Department, possession of methamphetamine, malicious mischief, no drivers license, no insurance.

Timothy Barker, 41, of Nettleton, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, possession of methamphetamine, possession of precursors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Joshua Leigh Butler, 49, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of a Schedule II drug, violation of probation, eluding, expired drivers license, possession of a controlled substance,

Brandon V. Clifton, 35, of Belden, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, simple assault on a law enforcement officer, possession of marijuana,

Jose Luis Garcia, 58, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, grand larceny.

Demarcus Rashad Gaston, 35, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of a firearm by a felon, domestic violence.

Katrina Marie Hickman, 23, of Saltillo, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, credit card fraud.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Melvin earl Holland, 52, of Ecru, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, driving under the influence fourth offense, felony fleeing, failure to yield to blue lights.

Zackery Hubbard, 30, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, two counts of uttering a forgery, false ID.

Quentasha Leshay Johnson, 28, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, posting injurious messages, violation of probation.

Adrian Rashad McCoy, 29, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of methamphetamine, possession of fentanyl, possession of cocaine, speeding, possession of a controlled substance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ernest L. Morris, 36, of Blue Mountain, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, capias for possession of methamphetamine.

Delmetreia Iesha Pryor, 24, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Mississippi Department of Corrections, violation of probation.

Danarius Sanitize Richardson, 25, of Mooreville, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, violation of Intensive Supervision Program.

Lashundra Sharp, 42, of Plantersville, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, aggravated domestic violence.

Jordan Vance, 21, of Verona, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, burglary of a commercial building, two counts of no drivers license, no insurance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jimmy L. Word, 51, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of cocaine, driving with a suspended license, possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle.

Lee County Sheriffs Office

The following reports were filed Monday by the Lee County Sheriffs Office.

A Ridge Cove Drive, Saltillo, man said overnight, someone entered his truck and stole a Smith & Wesson .380 pistol from the center console. The truck door was open the next morning. He said he usually locks the doors.

An Amory man left his truck unlocked at his girlfriends Bentgrass Circle, Saltillo, address. The next morning, the door was open and items in the cabin were moved. The only thing that was missing was his Kimber 1911 pistol with a gold barrel, fluted slide and snake skin handles.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An East Point Drive, Saltillo, man said overnight, someone broke the drivers window of his Chevy Silverado. Nothing appeared to be missing from the truck.

A Crossridge Circle, Mooreville, woman said overnight someone entered her unlocked SUV and stole a Smith & Wesson .40-caliber pistol and $500 cash from her purse. Her daughter reported hearing a car door shut around 10 p.m. the night before. She has security cameras but they were not working at the time of the incident.

A North Ridge Drive, Saltillo, man said overnight, someone entered his mothers car and stole her wallet and the cash inside. None of the other vehicles were bothered.

A County Road 2432, Guntown, man heard dogs barking outside at 1:30 a.m. He walked outside and saw someone shining a flashlight in his yard. He fired a rifle shot into the air and yelled that whoever was there did not need to be there. At that point, his neighbors dogs appeared and ran at him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A West Shore Drive, Saltillo, man said overnight someone entered his unlocked truck and stole a G-Force 12-gauge shotgun. He found the trucks door open the next morning.

An East Point Drive, Saltillo, man said someone entered his daughters unlocked Kia Seltos during the night. The rear hatch of the crossover was open the next morning. The only thing that appeared to be missing was an Apple phone charger.

A Winfield Drive, Verona, woman said she held a yard sale, and a Black man paid for some items with a counterfeit $100 bill. She did not realize it was a fake and said For Motion Picture Purposes Only until after the man had left. She did not know the name of the man but said she had security footage of him.

A County Road 752, Shannon, woman heard around a dozen gunshots just outside her residence around 10 p.m. Saturday. She was not sure where the shots came from. Deputies rode through the area but did not see or hear anyone shooting weapons.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A Tupelo man said he has a County Road 1900, Saltillo, house for sale. His sister called and said there was a black Dodge truck parked at the house. Deputies went to the address and found the back door unlocked but no one inside. The man said the realtor has left the back door unlocked before. It might have just been potential buyer looking at the house, since it is on the market.

Anyone with information on any of these reports is urged to call the Lee County Sheriff's Office at 841-9041, the Tupelo Police Department at 841-6491 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Mississippi at (800) 773-TIPS or download the P3 Tip App and leave an anonymous tip that way.
A man faces forgery and identity theft charges for allegedly using a fake license in an attempt to impersonate someone at a bank in Oxford last week.

Oxford police responded to the bank on Friday around 3:40 p.m. on the report of someone using a phony ID to access a customers account information, according to Connecticut State Police.

An employee of the bank told police that an individual had come in with a drivers license in an attempt to retrieve account statements from a customer of the bank, state police said. The information on the identification matched that of the customer, but a scanned photo of the customers license that was kept in the banks system showed that the individual was not the same person.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The employee contacted police as the individual was kept waiting at the bank, state police said.

According to state police, officers conducted a check using Department of Motor Vehicle records and confirmed that all of the information was correct on the identification, but the photo was not the same individual.

The man was arrested and taken to Troop A in Southbury. State police said he refused to give police his identity. He was eventually identified as 42-year-old Oronde S. Homan of Bridgeport, according to state police.

State police alleged that Homan later admitted that his friend had given him a fake license and asked him to use it to attempt to obtain bank statements. He was charged with second-degree forgery, third-degree identity theft and criminal impersonation.

Homan was released on a $15,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Derby Superior Court on Dec. 5.

State police said they notified the identity theft victim of the incident.
A man was arrested on a DUI charge on Sunday in connection with a wrong-way crash on Interstate 95 in Darien.

Troopers responded to reports of the multi-car crash at 3:14 a.m. on I-95 North just before a rest stop, according to Connecticut State Police.

Responding troopers found that one of the vehicles involved, a Jeep Liberty, was facing the wrong way. Further investigation found that the Liberty was being driven south in the northbound lanes before the collision.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The driver of the Liberty, 36-year-old Ramon Tusa Llivicosa of Stratford, allegedly admitted to troopers that he had consumed alcohol before the crash, according to state police. He also said he was traveling from Norwalk to New Jersey and that he was not injured.

No one else involved in the crash reported any injuries, state police said.

Llivicosa allegedly failed field sobriety testing before he was taken into custody on charges of illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs and driving the wrong way on a divided highway, according to state police.

Llivicosa was later released on a $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on Dec. 17.
FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI)  The family of Anthony Harden, the man shot and killed by Fall River police in 2021, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and several members of its police department.

Eric Mack, Hardens brother who oversees his estate, along with his other brother  Antone Harden  filed the civil rights lawsuit earlier this month in Massachusetts federal court. The family accused police of unlawfully killing Harden and then covering it up by making it look like he had attacked police with a knife.

The men also accused the city of illegally detaining Antone at gunpoint the same night Harden was killed in violation of his civil rights. Antone lived in the same building and police took him in handcuffs to headquarters after the shooting where they were pressuring him to give them information that police could try to use to support the false narrative about Harden, according to the lawsuit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In addition to the civil rights claims, the family is seeking injunctive relief against the city, calling on the courts to step in and overhaul the police department to address its embedded, historic culture of police coverups, racist attitudes, fabrication of evidence and the use of excessive force.

The police department is pushing back, accusing Mack of going on a media campaign and, attempting to slander the brave men and women of our agency and discredit the investigation conducted by the Bristol County District Attorney.

The police department outlined Hardens criminal history, including when he allegedly assaulted a woman in 2013 and beat a woman with a stick in 2019. When officers responded to the second incident, police said Harden was holding his 5-month-old daughter while brandishing a sword.

Police said he threatened to squeeze the child to death during a more than three-hour standoff with police that ensued. Harden was under GPS monitoring awaiting trial for the 2019 case when police came to his home in 2021 after a woman said Harden assaulted her two days earlier.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sergeant Matthew Mendes sent Target 12 a statement on behalf of the police department, standing by the officers who were involved in Hardens death.

Attorney Mack has made serious allegations of wrongdoing by the Fall River Police Department, the statement said. That is the right of every citizen, and the court will decide where the truth lies. We are confident that the officers acted not only bravely but appropriately given the circumstances.

Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan declined to comment, citing the ongoing litigation.

The Harden family lawsuit is the latest development in a yearslong fight Mack and his family have leveled against the Fall River Police Department and Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn over of Hardens death and the ensuing investigation into what happened.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The lawsuit names several defendants, including the two police officers  Chelsea Campellone and Michael Sullivan  who went to Hardens rooming apartment the night he was killed. Campellone shot Harden twice inside his bedroom within minutes of the officers arriving.

Police and Quinn have since said the shooting was warranted because Harden lunged at Sullivan with a steak knife. In 2022, Quinn ruled that Campellones use of deadly force was justified, saying, the use of force was not excessive because two shots were reasonable under the circumstance to prevent the officer from suffering seriously [sic] bodily injury and/or death.

But the Harden family has never accepted Quinns conclusion and have since scrutinized the officers stories, poked holes in the material evidence and even offered a cash reward to anyone who comes forward with evidence that helps them prove police engaged in a coverup.

To avoid holding officers accountable for their misconduct, various FRPD officers engaged in a coverup to protect Campellone and Sullivan by, among other things, claiming falsely that Anthony had a knife and attempted to stab Sullivan, the family wrote in the lawsuit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The federal lawsuit takes aim at Campellones mental wellbeing at the time of the shooting, noting she was engaged in her own domestic violence dispute and had been involved in four separate police cruiser crashes. In one of the crashes, she struck a telephone pole, hit her head on the windshield and lost consciousness. She was taken to the hospital, according to the lawsuit.

Despite her personal and professional issues, the Harden family alleged she never sought leave from her employment due to emotional distress, and the department never reviewed her behavior under its Early Warning System Policy, which is supposed to identify potentially concerning patterns of behavior among officers.

The police department hit back in the statement, criticizing Mack for having brought up Campellones personal issues publicly.

It is regrettable that Attorney Mack is attempting to continually publicly traumatize one of the officers involved, Furtado said. That officer is a survivor of domestic violence and does not deserve to be re-victimized by Attorney Macks attempts to discredit her, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Attorney Mack also continues to cast unfounded allegations on the officers fitness for duty, based solely on his own subjective opinion, she added. Such statements are irrelevant to this case and raise serious questions about the ethical nature of the lawsuit.

Campellone later received the medal of valor from the Fall River Police Department and the Massachusetts Police Association for her actions in the Harden incident.

In addition to scrutinizing the police officers involved in the shooting, the Harden family lawsuit examines the muddled and sometimes conflicting details police later provided about the knife that Quinn determined Harden was wielding at the time of the shooting.

Both Campellone and Sullivan reported seeing something in his hand when they said he tried to attack Sullivan, but neither officer said they were certain it was a knife, telling investigators everything happened so fast.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Emergency responders said they never saw a knife when they tried to save Harden from his gunshot wounds, and it wasnt until later when an officer who accompanied Sullivan to the hospital called a policeman at the scene to say hed found a knife and place it behind a TV stand on a table nearby to get it out of the way.

Hardens girlfriend at the time had told investigators, among other things, that Anthony kept knives and dishes behind the television in his bedroom, according to the lawsuit. The family said the kitchen was undergoing renovations at the time.

When you have police officers and you have paramedics denying the existence of a knife, and the knife is found later in the evening behind a television set where an officer says he put the knife  thats just not a credible story, Mack told Target 12 earlier this year.

The lawsuit also took aim at the personal relationship between Quinn and Sullivan, which is something Mack has scrutinized in the past and Quinn never disclosed during his investigation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Quinns son and Sullivan were close friends growing up and became college roommates, and the family alleged Quinn at one point even provided financial assistance to Sullivan when he was young.

Despite these obvious conflicts and biases, and clear appearances of improprieties, DA Quinn never disclosed the conflict of interest, recused himself, or his office, from the investigation into Anthonys death, the family alleged.

Quinn has since downplayed the significance and relevance of the relationship, arguing in a separate legal matter that a direct friendship does not create a conflict of interest. Mack currently has a petition pending with the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to have Quinn removed from office. Quinn in court documents has criticized Mack and his motivations.

It is understandable that [Mack] is personally suffering from the loss of his brother, but that connection makes him particularly unsuited to determine whether criminal charges should issue, Quinn wrote in a 2022 court filing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Beyond the Harden death, the family outlined a series of issues within the department over the past decade, including officers criminally convicted of beating suspects and lying in police reports, saying disparaging things about Black residents of Fall River and getting sued over civil-rights issues at least 10 times in the last 10 years.

The family accused the city of allowing a pattern of conduct that discriminates against Black residents, gets innocent people arrested and deprives residents of their rights.

The conduct, the family alleged, has allowed Fall River police officers to commit excessive force, unreasonable detentions, false arrests and fabricated police reports, according to the complaint.

These failures on the part of the [city] are signs of recklessness and gross negligence and exhibit a deliberate indifference by [the city], which is a shock to the conscience of all people, the family wrote in the lawsuit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Eli Sherman (esherman@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and on Facebook.

Tim White (twhite@wpri.com) is Target 12 managing editor and chief investigative reporter and host of Newsmakers for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily Roundup

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
New York City Council members slammed the head of CUNY Monday after he was unable to answer questions about the steps he is taking to fight antisemitism on campus.

I do think it is outrageous that when were having this hearing on such an important topic, that the most rudimentary questions youve been unable to answer, said Councilwoman Julie Menin (D-Manhattan), part of its Jewish caucus. Its just wholly unsatisfactory. Its not enough just to show up.

The issue has become a source of friction since last springs pro-Palestinian protests against the war in Gaza roiled college campuses across the city. The Council hearing came two months after the release of a high-profile report critical of current policies to combat antisemitism.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Over three hours on Monday, CUNY Chancellor Felix Matos Rodriguez tried to assure the Committee on Higher Education that CUNY is making progress on a number of recommendations from September by former chief judge Jonathan Lippman, including an overhauled anti-discrimination portal where students can lodge complaints.

But Council members repeatedly chided top CUNY officials for coming unprepared to answer their questions. Neither the chancellor nor his deputies were able to say how many complaints had been made since the portals inception, or what was the most common form of discrimination on campus.

The independent review was ordered by Gov. Hochul in the aftermath of Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel, as tensions boiled over on New York campuses. In the report, Lippman found CUNYs online reporting portal was ineffective and operates as a black box, where people seldom know if their complaints are being thoroughly addressed or even considered. Students echoed those concerns during the hearing, saying they have been openly targeted with harmful stereotypes or excluded because of their backgrounds.

I know the frustration of being ignored when incidents get reported. I saw no reprimand for these actions, and was left feeling invisible and unsupported by my administration, said Maya Gavriel, a Jewish student at Baruch College, where a building was vandalized last month with the message: OCT 7 IS FOREVER before the anniversary of Hamas attacks.

Related Articles

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Adding to their concerns that little action was being taken, administrators declined to share student and staff disciplinary data. Congress made similar requests of university presidents during campus antisemitism hearings last school year, sparking tensions between college administrations and their faculty who said it violated academic freedom.

During the hearing, Matos Rodriguez announced CUNY planned to release a request for proposals later that day to improve its in-house reporting portal. The updated tool, expected to be live this summer, will provide regular updates on the statuses of complaints, he said. But the chancellor cautioned the technology is only half of the problem.

We need additional resources to be able to have more individuals out there, investigating the complaints so that we can get back on a timely manner to our students, to our faculty and staff, he said. So technology is part of the equation, but we also are going to need additional personnel to do this, no matter how effective the technology might be.

At least one elected seemed more keen on taking funding away. Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (R-Brooklyn), who last year brought a gun to a pro-Palestine protest at CUNYs Brooklyn College, threatened to work with President-elect Donald Trump to keep the public university system in line.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We should be more afraid of the incoming administration that promised to defund and take away accreditation from any universities that dont deal with antisemitism on their campuses, Vernikov said, and I look forward to working with that administration to highlight the issues at City University of New York.

Over the past two years, CUNY has invested $1.3 million in campus programs to combat hate, including $550,000 provided by the Council, Matos Rodriguez said during the hearing. Among the legislative bodys investments was an effort to scale up constructive dialogue trainings for CUNY students and faculty and staff. The chancellor also referenced a freedom of expression working group, previewed last week during his yearly State of the University address.

I think in your heart, you know this is an important issue, Councilman Eric Dinowitz (D-Bronx), chairman of the Higher Education Committee, told Matos Rodriguez. But with that, this hearing is not about whats in your heart. Its about CUNY policies, and the policies that have so far failed to meaningfully keep our students safe and make them feel welcome on our CUNY campuses.

At the same time, other students said the report and its followup hearing was making them feel less safe. A network of pro-Palestinian student groups across CUNY campuses criticized the inquiry as an attempt to crack down on their advocacy.

This hearing and the Lippman report are part of a coordinated campaign to criminalize Palestinian solidarity at CUNY, read a statement by CUNY4Palestine. They seek to delegitimize the movement for Palestinian liberation by falsely equating it with anti-semitism, when in fact it is about human rights, justice, and ending the genocide.
NEW YORK  New York City Council members slammed the head of the City University of New York Monday after he was unable to answer questions about the steps he is taking to fight antisemitism on campus.

I do think it is outrageous that when were having this hearing on such an important topic, that the most rudimentary questions youve been unable to answer, said Councilwoman Julie Menin, D-Manhattan, part of its Jewish caucus. Its just wholly unsatisfactory. Its not enough just to show up.

The issue has become a source of friction since last springs pro-Palestinian protests against the war in Gaza roiled college campuses across the city. The Council hearing came two months after the release of a high-profile report critical of current policies to combat antisemitism.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Over three hours on Monday, CUNY Chancellor Felix Matos Rodriguez tried to assure the Committee on Higher Education that CUNY is making progress on a number of recommendations from September by former chief judge Jonathan Lippman, including an overhauled anti-discrimination portal where students can lodge complaints.

But Council members repeatedly chided top CUNY officials for coming unprepared to answer their questions. Neither the chancellor nor his deputies were able to say how many complaints had been made since the portals inception, or what was the most common form of discrimination on campus.

The independent review was ordered by Gov. Kathy Hochul in the aftermath of Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel, as tensions boiled over on New York campuses. In the report, Lippman found CUNYs online reporting portal was ineffective and operates as a black box, where people seldom know if their complaints are being thoroughly addressed or even considered. Students echoed those concerns during the hearing, saying they have been openly targeted with harmful stereotypes or excluded because of their backgrounds.

I know the frustration of being ignored when incidents get reported. I saw no reprimand for these actions, and was left feeling invisible and unsupported by my administration, said Maya Gavriel, a Jewish student at Baruch College, where a building was vandalized last month with the message: OCT 7 IS FOREVER before the anniversary of Hamas attacks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Adding to their concerns that little action was being taken, administrators declined to share student and staff disciplinary data. Congress made similar requests of university presidents during campus antisemitism hearings last school year, sparking tensions between college administrations and their faculty who said it violated academic freedom.

During the hearing, Matos Rodriguez announced CUNY planned to release a request for proposals later that day to improve its in-house reporting portal. The updated tool, expected to be live this summer, will provide regular updates on the statuses of complaints, he said. But the chancellor cautioned the technology is only half of the problem.

We need additional resources to be able to have more individuals out there, investigating the complaints so that we can get back on a timely manner to our students, to our faculty and staff, he said. So technology is part of the equation, but we also are going to need additional personnel to do this, no matter how effective the technology might be.

At least one elected seemed more keen on taking funding away. Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, R-Brooklyn, who last year brought a gun to a pro-Palestine protest at CUNYs Brooklyn College, threatened to work with president-elect Donald Trump to keep the public university system in line.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We should be more afraid of the incoming administration that promised to defund and take away accreditation from any universities that dont deal with antisemitism on their campuses, Vernikov said, and I look forward to working with that administration to highlight the issues at City University of New York.

Over the past two years, CUNY has invested $1.3 million in campus programs to combat hate, including $550,000 provided by the Council, Matos Rodriguez said during the hearing. Among the legislative bodys investments was an effort to scale up constructive dialogue trainings for CUNY students and faculty and staff. The chancellor also referenced a freedom of expression working group, previewed last week during his yearly State of the University address.

I think in your heart, you know this is an important issue, Councilman Eric Dinowitz, D-Bronx, chair of the higher education committee, told Matos Rodriguez. But with that, this hearing is not about whats in your heart. Its about CUNY policies, and the policies that have so far failed to meaningfully keep our students safe and make them feel welcome on our CUNY campuses.

At the same time, other students said the report and its follow-up hearing was making them feel less safe. A network of pro-Palestinian student groups across CUNY campuses criticized the inquiry as an attempt to crack down on their advocacy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This hearing and the Lippman report are part of a coordinated campaign to criminalize Palestinian solidarity at CUNY, read a statement by CUNY4Palestine. They seek to delegitimize the movement for Palestinian liberation by falsely equating it with anti-semitism, when in fact it is about human rights, justice, and ending the genocide.

_____
The Embassy of Ukraine in the Czechia has facilitated the delivery of 11 ambulances to the Ukrainian defence forces.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on Facebook, reported by European Pravda

Details: Embassy diplomats took part in the delivery of Czech aid to the Ukrainian defence forces. This time, 11 ambulances equipped with medical equipment were delivered, and they will serve on various fronts in Ukraine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The total value of the aid is 13 million Czech crowns (about US$522,900). The initiative was implemented by the Czech NGO Post Bellum in coordination with the Embassy.

Ambulances that were sent by the Czech NGO

Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

According to the ministry, Post Bellum has been collecting and sending various types of aid to the Ukrainian defence forces in coordination with the embassy since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Background:

At the end of October, 18 ambulances and medical kits were sent from Slovakia to medics in Kyiv and Sumy oblasts.

In late November, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) handed over 63 water generators to water suppliers in several oblasts of Ukraine.

Support UP or become our patron!
The 50-year-old cold case of D.B. Cooper may have seen a new development after an amateur sleuth claims to have found the parachute used by the infamous, yet still unidentified plane hijacker.

YouTuber Dan Gryder said that he found a modified device matching the one used in the 1971 hijacking on a property in North Carolina, and has handed it over to the FBI.

Gryder, who has been looking into the case off and on for almost 20 years, said in a video series about his investigation that the rig was literally one in a billion. This is the rig he used... we just solved it, he says.

YouTuber Dan Gryder pictured holding what he believes to be the parachute used by the infamous and unidentified plane hijacker D.B. Cooper (Probable Cause: Dan Gryder/ YouTube)

D. B. Cooper, also known as Dan Cooper, hijacked Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 on November 24 1971. During the flight, Cooper told a flight attendant he had a bomb, demanding $200,000 in ransom and four parachutes upon landing in Seattle.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However soon after taking off again with the intention of heading to Mexico, Cooper opened the aircrafts door and parachuted into the night over southwestern Washington. His true identity and whereabouts remain a mystery to this day.

Gryder found what he claims is Coopers parachute on a property owned by the family of the late Richard McCoy Jr  one of the men considered by the FBI to be a serious suspect in the case.

FBI artist rendering of D.B. Cooper, who hijacked Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 on November 24, 1971 (FBI)

McCoy staged a near identical hijacking in April 1972, after boarding a flight in Denver, Colorado, and demanding four parachutes and $500,000 while brandishing a weapon. He later also bailed out of the aircraft.

McCoy was killed two years later in a shootout with FBI agents after he escaped from federal prison. Investigators have pointed out that his photo bears a striking resemblance to a sketch made of D.B. Cooper.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite Gryders handing over of the parachute, the FBI has yet to update the case status on its website. The last update was made in July 2016, in which the agency said it would no longer be actively investigating the case.

Gryder found the parachute rig on a property in North Carolina owned by the family of the late Richard McCoy, one of the men suspected to have been D.B. Cooper (Probably Cause: Dan Gryder/ YouTube)

However, it added that should specific physical evidence emergerelated specifically to the parachutes or the money taken by the hijackerindividuals with those materials are asked to contact their local FBI field office.

According to Cowboy State Daily, McCoys children, Chante and Richard III, have said they agree with Gryders discovery and have long suspected their father was the hijacker.

In his series, Gryder said that FBI investigators told him a possible next step would be to exhume McCoys body and attempt to get a DNA match with evidence left behind.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  According to a deposition included in recent court paperwork, Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley made it clear that she believes she was lied to during the course of the investigation into then-Greece Police Chief Drew Forsythes DWAI crash back in the fall of 2021.

Background

Oct. 21, 2021, Forsythe wrecked a town-owned Tahoe. According to Doorley in new testimony submitted early this month, it happened after a night of drinking.

Doorley: I believe based on the video from the Hyatt (where investigators said Forsythe was directly before the crash) that there was alcohol involved. And it was my intent to charge him with leaving the scene of a property damage accident and DWI.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Forsythe later pleaded guilty to DWAI. But when the investigation first began, Forsythe told a different story  that he had swerved to avoid hitting a deer. The night of the crash, the responding officers never conducted any sort of sobriety test and Forsythe was not checked for drunk driving. In recent testimony, Doorley said this wasnt normal.

Attorney: Was there an alcohol influence report done in this case?

Doorley: No.

Attorney: Does that surprise you?

Doorley: Frankly, yes, based upon my observations of what Chief Forsythe drank over a period of time.

She further claimed the officers that night appeared more interested in helping Forsythe out.

Attorney: In terms of safety, do you think that their concern included concealing the fact that he was, you know, committing a crime?

Doorley: Absolutely. I mean, they were trying to protect one of their own. I hate to say it. You know, thats exactly what they were doing.

Casey Voekls involvement

Doorley said she didnt even find out about the crash until Casey Voekl, deputy chief in Greece at the time, called her two days later suggesting her office investigate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Voekl later filed a lawsuit against the Town of Greece, Greece Police Department, Supervisor Bill Reilich and Deputy Supervisor Michelle Marini after Forsythe resigned, claiming he was demoted to patrolman because he had reached out to Doorley.

As part of that lawsuit, Voekls attorney filed Doorleys deposition in which she was asked about the case. While she said she doesnt have any evidence Greece Town Supervisor Bill Reilich engaged in a cover-up, Doorley does question Michelle Marinis honesty.

Doorley: She knew early on. And that was not reflected in the testimonyor the statement that she provided to the District Attorneys Office. Attorney: Would that mean that she had been dishonest in the statement that she provided to

the District Attorneys Office?

Doorley: Thats correct.

Marini was Deputy Supervisor when this happened but no longer holds that post and is now fighting corruption charges.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Town of Greece official pleads not guilty to corruption charges

Voekls attorney included Doorleys testimony in an effort to prove widespread misconduct on the part of the town.

Marinis alleged contact with Forsythe

Part of the reason Doorley became suspicious of Marini, was because of a conversation allegedly had between Marini and Forsythe around the time of the crash.

Attorney: A 10/22/2021, 8:40 p.m. message, which I think weve decided is technically 4:40 p.m. Eastern time. Doorley: Correct.

Attorney: And what does that  what does that message from Michelle Marini state?

Doorley: It says Okay. Just checking to be sure. I Hope they know how much time they wasted for us today.

Attorney: So that was 4:40 on 10/22. That would have been the day after the accident; is that accurate?

Doorley: Thats correct. So that would have been Friday.

Attorney: Do you know what shes referencing in this text message?

Doorley: I cant be certain.

Attorney: Would it be with respect to the accident?

Doorley: That seems to be the whole litany of text messages between her and Drew Forsythe over the 21st and the 22nd and forward.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Doorley also said Forsythe told her early on when he discussed his wishes to resign, Marini allegedly told him not to. When asked if she knew why, Doorley said no.

Doorleys request for an independent investigation & Bryan Roots lawsuit

Doorley requested an independent investigation, right around the time media got ahold of pictures taken of Forsythes vehicle. She also emphasized the importance of having someone outside of the Town of Greece looking into the case.

Bryan Root, another officer suing the town over the matter, said he was unfairly targeted, claiming he was passed over for promotion 11 times because he was the one who took the pictures of Forsythes wrecked car the day after the crash and gave them to someone else, who then gave them to the media.

When Marini heard of these photos, she allegedly wanted to know who our (the towns) enemies are, referring to the person responsible for taking and leaking those photos.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The (Bryan Root) lawsuit claimed the Town of Greece attempted to cover up Forsythes crash, presumably to lessen any impact it could have on its Town Supervisors re-election bid. It also claimed attorney Karlee Bolanos, representing the town, threatened Root with arrest for meddling with public election laws. Greece Town Supervisor Bill Reilich won his reelection campaign days after the crash.

Doorley early on came out in a press conference, appointing Joe Morabito to lead the independent investigation, who appeared to have had some help from Mark Case. However, the attorney in recent litigation noted that their investigation ended up taking a turn.

Attorney: Does it strike you as odd that Casey Voelkl and Bryan Root became the target, that those two would be the targets in light of the fact that theyre now claiming that they were the two whistleblowers that brought the accident, one to you and one to the newspaper?

Doorley: Its curious.

Doorley: In my opinion, it looked like they were trying to deflect what really happened at the scene.

Attorney: And that was  and by deflection, does that make Casey Voelkl the scapegoat?

Doorley: Yes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Supervisor Reilichs office did not return an after-hour request for comment.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
BEIRUT, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Israel launched airstrikes on Beirut on Tuesday, targeting several neighborhoods in the Lebanese capital and causing widespread panic among residents, according to local sources and Israeli officials.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck areas including Barbour, Hamra, Salim Salam, and the vicinity of the Kuwaiti embassy in Bir Hassan. The IDF also issued evacuation warnings for the residents of Ras Nabaa, Zkak Blat, Msaytbeh, Corniche al-Mazraa, and Ras Beirut.

Many civilians fled the targeted areas by car and on foot, creating traffic jams and further chaos across the city. Local media reported at least 10 people were killed and 47 others injured in the Tuesday airstrikes.

These rare attacks on central Beirut occurred amid ongoing tensions and speculation about a potential ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. In a televised speech on Tuesday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would recommend a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon for approval by the Israeli cabinet.

Earlier that day, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, in coordination with IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, approved new plans for additional strikes, according to the Israeli Defense Ministry. IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee urged residents in southern Beirut suburbs to evacuate and maintain a distance of at least 500 meters from potential targets.

Also on Tuesday, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called on the international community to intervene immediately.

In a statement from the Lebanese Council of Ministers, Mikati condemned the attacks, saying, "The hysterical Israeli aggression this evening on Beirut and various Lebanese regions, which specifically targets civilians, confirms once again that the Israeli enemy does not respect any law." 
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The Shelby County District Attorneys Office has been granted emergency appeals for two cases where a judge released suspects charged with attempted murder on their own recognizances.

The rulings sparked outrage from state leaders including the Speaker of the House.

Judge Bill Anderson has also been under fire from State Senator Brent Taylor for some of his court decisions.

He said Anderson is releasing suspects charged with serious crimes without any bail.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Christopher Smith is accused of shooting at police during a 12-hour standoff in Whitehaven earlier this month.

Christopher Smith (SCSO)

His mother told Memphis Police that hes a veteran experiencing mental health issues.

Weak as a kittens meow: Sen. Taylor criticizes Steve Mulroy, DAs Office

Tyreese Earnest was also released without bail.

Tyreese Earnest (SCSO)

He is one of three people accused of shooting a man outside the FedEx Complex in October.

The District Attorneys office said Judge Anderson did not fully consider the risk both men were to public safety.

In a statement on Facebook, the DAs office said the following:

Were glad the court granted the writ and acknowledged the legal error in the general sessions court decision. This is a useful clarification which we hope will impact future bail decisions. Shelby Countys Sheriffs Office

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A hearing for both cases has been set for December 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 WREG.com.
Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, has announced his resignation amid looming trials for high profile defendants Mayor Eric Adams and Sean Diddy Combs.

Nominated by President Joe Biden for the position in 2021, Williams resignation will be effective Dec. 13 at 11:59 p.m., according to NBC 4 NY. This will mark the end of a transformative era in one of the nations most prestigious prosecutorial offices.

Ed Kim, Williams deputy, will assume the role of acting U.S. Attorney beginning December 14.

US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams speaks at a press conference in New York, on September 26, 2024, on the indictment of New York City Mayor Eric Adams. US federal agents raided the official residence of Mayor Adams early September 26 ahead of the expected announcement of criminal charges against the former city cop once touted as a rising Democratic Party star. The search at the residence known as Gracie Mansion began before dawn, and is the latest shock twist in a graft investigation against the Adams administration.

Today is a bittersweet day for me, Williams stated. It is bitter in the sense that I am leaving my dream job, leading an institution I love that is filled with the finest public servants in the world. It is sweet in that I am confident I am leaving at a time when the Office is functioning at an incredibly high level  upholding and exceeding its already high standard of excellence, integrity, and independence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Williams tenure has been marked by high-profile prosecutions, including the indictment of New York City Mayor Eric Adams on federal corruption charges last month, and the ongoing case against rap mogul Sean Diddy Combs, who faces federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges.

His sudden resignation comes amid speculation surrounding President Donald Trumps plans to nominate former SEC Chair Jay Clayton to the position once Trump assumes office.

A respected figure in legal circles, Williams, the first Black U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, brought a focus on combating corruption, financial crime, and systemic abuse. Under his leadership, the office upheld its reputation for independence and fearless pursuit of justice, often tackling cases with significant political implications.

This includes the high profile prosecutions and convictions of Sen. Robert Menendez, Sam Bankman-Fried, and other notable offenders.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a House Republicans Conference meeting at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill on November 13, 2024 in Washington, DC. As is tradition with incoming presidents, Trump is traveling to Washington, DC to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House as well as Republican members of Congress on Capitol Hill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More from VIBE.com

Sign up for Vibe's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
(NewsNation)  The case of Daniel Penny, the former Marine accused of choking a man to death on a New York City subway, will move to closing arguments next week after a judge refused to dismiss charges against the defendant Monday.

Penny appeared in court for several hours as attorneys argued before a judge what would be included in jury instructions after the Thanksgiving holiday. After the judge overruled the Penny attorneys motion for dismissal, they argued very specific points of the case and what would be part of the judges instructions to the jury.

Menendez brothers resentencing hearing moved to January

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Penny is accused in the death of Jordan Neely, to whom prosecutors argue Penny applied a deadly chokehold. Attorneys for Penny argue that their client was not trying to kill Neely but rather to restrain him after witnesses claimed Neely was acting erratically.

The defense rested Friday after electing not to have Penny testify in his own defense.

The prosecution has focused throughout the trial on the chokehold that Penny allegedly applied to Neely. The medical examiner testified that the pressure applied to Neely caused his death. In response, a defense expert testified that Neelys death was caused by a combination of factors, including schizophrenia, sickle cell anemia and the presence of a synthetic drug.

The case is set to resume on December 2 when closing arguments begin before it is handed over to the jury for deliberations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
About the charges: On Friday, police charged Alpha Phi with one misdemeanor count of facilitating an underage alcohol house and two Beta Alpha Omega members, Matthew Catrambone and Samuel Terry, with providing alcohol to a person under 21. Catrambone and Terry are both scheduled to appear in court in January. The police described Jangs drowning as a result of alcohol consumption and lack of supervision, with no one realizing he was unaccounted for after the group dispersed during the storm. Jangs family also informed authorities that he could not swim. Dartmouths former dean, Scott Brown, remembered Jang as an engaged member of the college community.
Captain Ed Evans began his day well before dawn, preparing Southwest plane 8921 for a nearly 19-hour journey. The year-old Boeing 737 MAX8 flew nearly 4,000 miles, traveling from Baltimore to Denver, Long Beach, Reno, Las Vegas, Sacramento and back to Las Vegas.

"Planes start in 118 airports where we operate every day, and they could end up somewhere totally different," Evans said.

For the airline, the holiday season requires precision and efficiency.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We're ready to go," Evans said. "I think we're in great shape and looking forward to the holiday travel season."

Thanksgiving week is crunch time for airlines, and Southwest Airlines is expecting a record number of passengers this year, with 4.7 million people flying to or from their holiday destinations.

At each stop, the team works quickly to prepare the plane for its next departure. Ryan Robles, a flight attendant, described it as a race against the clock.

"We've got a 45-minute turn, so it becomes very important to be prompt," Robles said.

Behind the scenes at Southwest Airlines

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, ground crews hustle to load luggage and restock the plane. The focus is to load all the bags so the plane can get back out onto the runway.

On this journey, the crew changed multiple times. Flight attendants swapped out twice, and the pilots changed in Reno. In Denver, husband-and-wife team Andrew Witmer and Jordan Baumgarner worked to quickly restock snacks and drinks.

"I'm very competitive," Jordan said. Andrew added, "We try to race each other."

Across six flights, the plane carried 698 passengers and 578 checked bags. Among the passengers was Katie Jones, who was taking her 3-year-old son, Clark, to Disneyland for his birthday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"What do you want to go see? Mickey? The Toy Story ride?" Jones asked her excited son.

Running an airline is no small task, according to Southwest CEO Bob Jordan.

"Everything wants to stay in motion all the time. The minute you stop or slow down, things are out of place," Jordan explained.

Inside Southwest's network operation center in Dallas, Sarah Heugel monitored the cross-country journey, watching for turbulence, bad weather, or airport backups that could cause delays.

"We can see pretty much anything that they're going to encounter and anticipate things to happen," she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As night fell, plane 8921 completed its last stop of the day, remaining on schedule entire journey. Its rest would be briefjust seven hours-- time for any maintenance checks and restocking before a new day of travel.

For passengers, it's a chance to connect with loved ones during the holidays. For the airline, it's a delicate dance of coordination and teamwork to keep everything moving.

Lowrider cars celebrated as cultural symbol among Mexican Americans | 60 Minutes

UATX says it fights college censorship culture with a focus on free speech | 60 Minutes

How to help your dog lose weight and stay healthy
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Thursday is Thanksgiving, a U.S. national holiday celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday in November, falling this year on Nov. 28.

In observance of Thanksgiving Day, most postal carriers will not deliver mail.

Whats open and closed in Ohio on Thanksgiving 2024

The United States Postal Service recognizes Thanksgiving Day as one of 11 federal holidays in which it does not deliver any mail. Post offices will also be closed, with all USPS services returning to normal on Friday. The holidays USPS observes include New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

DHL, a global logistics company, also suspends operations on all public holidays, including Thanksgiving.

As for United Parcel Service (UPS), all store locations will be closed and packages will not be delivered. Stores will reopen and deliveries will resume on Friday. However, UPS Express Critical service is available, customers can call 1-800-714-8779 or visit upsexpresscritical.com.

Share your photos: Ohio State fans cross out Ms ahead of Michigan game

FedEx will also suspend operations on Thursday. FedEx Custom Critical services are available, however, this is a specialty service that requires a separate account.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Additionally, Amazon does not deliver on Thanksgiving since it is one of the companys seven observed holidays. According to Amazons website, its same-day delivery is not available to Prime members on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, or New Years Day. Prime members can also expect limited availability on certain holidays and high-volume shopping days, including Black Friday and Prime Day.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
DENVER (KDVR)  The Drug Enforcement Administration said Monday that a tip led to the seizure of around 670,000 fake pills headed to Denver from Albuquerque.

The seizures happened in Albuquerque and Colorado Springs.

According to a release by the DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division, a concerned citizen reported two suspicious men in Albuquerque who were traveling to Denver by bus.

Both men became nervous and one of the men fled, leaving behind two large suitcases. The Albuquerque Police Department responded and seized the two suitcases.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wheat Ridge police use drone to catch burglary suspect

A search warrant was obtained and around 330,000 fake pills and two ounces of heroin were found in the bags.

The second man continued on and boarded the bus to Denver. He also had two suitcases.

The DEA office in Colorado Springs was contacted. They later detained the second man and seized the suitcases and a backpack.

A Colorado Springs Police Department K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics on all three. A search warrant was obtained and around 340,000 fake pills and several thousand dollars in cash were seized from the bags, according to the DEA

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the DEA, the suspect arrested in Colorado Springs was later identified as a fugitive Denver resident who was wanted on outstanding drug trafficking warrants.

The number of fentanyl pills seized in this case is almost enough to give every resident in the city of Denver one fake pill, DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen said.

There were 2.61 million pills seized in Colorado in all of 2023.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
ANTIOCH, Calif. (KRON)  More than a month has passed since a woman in Antioch was killed by a hit-and-run driver. The victims sister told KRON4 the driver has not been caught and she is hoping for justice this holiday.

Terri Redds sister, Patricia Redd, was killed near Lone Tree Way at Canada Valley Road in Antioch.

Patricia used to live in an encampment behind the Lowes Shopping Center at the intersection.

San Francisco watchdog Ricci Wynne arrested, suspected of pimping

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thats where she was hit by a car on Saturday, Oct. 12.

She was in the crosswalk crossing the street with her dog in her arms and just ran them both down, said Terri.

In a news release following the incident, the Antioch Police Department stated the victim was unconscious when officers and paramedics responded just before 8:30 p.m. Terri spoke with investigators who she said told her speed factored into the crash.

Person never stopped. Person kept going. Didnt even slow down to see if she was OK, said Terri.

Terri said her sister died from her injuries 11 days after the collision, making this the first Thanksgiving she will celebrate without her sister.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its gonna be tough. Its gonna be very tough, said Terri.

She just hopes the person behind the wheel that night comes forward, because she feels her sister should still be alive.

She took a lot of people under her wing, said Terri. She played mother role to a lot of people. She took care of everybody. Shed give the shirt off her back for anybody. She was a great person.

Terri said investigators described the car in question as a white sedan.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
WALTERBORO, S.C. (WCBD)  A shooting that left a man dead and two others injured has some Walterboro business owners concerned about safety.

The incident Friday night began as an altercation at Lowcountry Lanes, a bowling alley on Wichman Street, and ended with shots fired.

Pamela Kellogg teaches glass art classes and hosts paint parties at her nearby business. I just opened up on August 1 of this year. It has started to hop, business is really picking up, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As her business grows, Kellogg said hearing about a shooting not far from the main shopping street is concerning. Its concerning because Im here a lot with paint parties, so its a little unnerving, she said.

Colleton County Fire Rescue said three adult men were found at the scene with gunshot wounds on Friday around 11 p.m. One victim was taken to Colleton Medical Center where he later died; a second was airlifted to Trident Medical Center with critical injuries; a third suffered a gunshot wound to the arm.

Photo courtesy Colleton County Fire Rescue

Kellogg said crimes like this seem to be happening everywhere more frequently.

Its everywhere. Im actually from Syracuse, New York. It comes all the way down the East Coast. Its everywhere. I guess its going to be on my mind now probably for a long time, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Walterboro Police Department has not said whether any arrests were made; however, they are investigating the incident.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  Deputies are investigating a death reported in Greenville County on Monday night.

According to the Greenville County Sheriffs Office, a call came in regarding a man lying in the road at around 6:50 p.m., at the intersection of Pine Street and Alice Street.

When they arrived at the scene, deputies found Pedro Juan Pascual, 19, of Greenville dead. An autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pascuals death remains under investigation. No arrests have been reported, and anyone with information about the death is asked to call (864) 23-CRIME.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
TUNIS, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian security forces have dismantled a human trafficking network involved in smuggling undocumented migrants to Europe, the National Guard announced on Tuesday.

A raid in Ben Arous province, near the capital Tunis, led to the arrest of the network's alleged leader, a woman accused of organizing and overseeing the smuggling operations. A second woman, described as an accomplice, was also detained, with authorities seizing forged documents and cash during the operation, according to a National Guard statement.

The statement did not disclose the timing of the raid or the nationalities of those arrested.

The crackdown is part of broader efforts to bolster border security and disrupt transnational criminal activities, the National Guard said. It urged citizens to report suspicious activities and reiterated its commitment to dismantling human trafficking networks.

Tunisia remains a key transit point for migrants attempting to reach Europe, with smugglers exploiting vulnerable populations for profit. 
A death investigation is underway at a Kettering apartment complex Monday night, a Kettering Police Officer told News Center 7 on scene.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Kettering police and medics were called to the 2000 block of Bobbie Place before 11 p.m.

TRENDING STORIES:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

News Center 7 crews on scene saw several Kettering police cruisers.

An officer told News Center 7 that detectives and the coroners office had been called to the scene.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]




PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  The Prince Georges County Police Department (PGPD) said it has opened a homicide investigation months after a man was found dead in a park in Bladensburg.

Police announced Monday that its homicide detectives are working to identify suspect(s) connected to the death of 55-year-old Ricardo Ramos Andrade, of Colmar Manor.

Charles County parents demand accountability after student was hospitalized

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the police department, on Sept. 25, just after 6:30 a.m., officers with the Maryland-National Capital Park Police were called to a park in the 4600 block of Annapolis Road for an unresponsive man.

Once on the scene, officers found Andrade dead.

His body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, where staff determined on Nov. 22 that Andrade died from blunt force trauma, ruling his death a homicide.

Detectives are asking anyone with information about Andrades case to call 301-516-2512.

The PGPD said it is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and indictment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Glynn County police, along with several other agencies, are investigating a pond between the Royal Inn Hotel and Interstate 95 along New Jesup Highway, where human remains and a car have been recovered.

Authorities believe this could be connected to a missing persons case dating back to 1980.

Crews have been on-site, working to recover both the vehicle and the remains. The investigation began when a tip from the Sunshine State Sonar team, a Florida-based dive group, led to the discovery.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Glynn County Police Departments Public Information Officer, Lawton Dodd, spoke with Action News Jax Monday about the ongoing investigation.

Read: A 1980s cold case may reopen after bodies and a vehicle have been resurfaced

They went in to search the lake and found a car that matches the description of a vehicle connected to a missing persons case from 44 years ago. They alerted us, and we called in the Camden County dive team, since they have a Blackwater dive team, which we do not, Dodd said.

Dodd said the vehicle recovered is believed to be a Lincoln Continental, though theres still uncertainty. During the search, another vehicle was discovered in the same pond.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read: Glynn County police: Human remains and car found in pond on Friday

There were two cars found. You can dismiss the second oneit was from a drunk driving accident that happened years after the original one, Dodd said.

The Lincoln Continental is in extremely poor condition, submerged for more than four decades. Dodd said investigators are being cautious as they work to retrieve it without compromising any potential evidence.

We havent been able to fully access it yet. Were not sure well be able to recover it without destroying whatever evidence might still be in the car, Dodd said.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Police said the vehicle recovered from the pond near Interstate 95 is connected to Charles and Catherine Romer, a wealthy couple from New York who vanished after checking into a Holiday Inn in Brunswick, Georgia, on April 8th, 1980.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They said the last confirmed sighting of the Romers was when they were seen carrying their belongings into their room at the Royal Inn Hotel, but they were never heard from again.

Authorities are now investigating whether the remains and vehicle found could finally provide answers in this decades-old missing persons case.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

We also asked why this pond wasnt searched in previous decades.

Its a good question, but its unclear whether it was searched back then. Were currently looking into old records to determine if it was, Dodd said.

Dodd confirmed that the family of the missing person has been contacted, though he could not disclose their identity at this time. As for the tip that led to the discovery, the origin remains unclear.

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
DAYTONA BEACH  A Thanksgiving tradition for many, deep-fired turkey can be part of a memorable and delicious meal, but cooking it the wrong way can really ruin your holiday.

Thats why Volusia County Fire Rescue held a demonstration recently on how deep frying a store-bought frozen turkey could result in a dangerous fiery mess if you do it the wrong way.

Nine times out of 10, everybody thinks that fires, when youre cooking during the holidays, (are due to) leaving oven mittens out or clothes or accidents like that, said Volusia Fire Chief Joe King. But predominantly, most of your fires are (due to) the food actually lighting on fire.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Turkey Day: A guide to Thanksgiving Day: Store hours, food options, travel tips and weather forecast

Firefighters used a propane gas tank to heat up the oil-filled pot setup at the departments training services facility on Tiger Bay Road.

Frozen turkey + hot oil = big fire

With the oil and pot hot and ready for the bird, firefighters demonstrated what might be a common mistake made by those who have little or no experience frying a turkey.

Using a hook at the end of a rod to lower two birds into the pot - one half frozen and another completely frozen - the demonstration began.

Volusia County firefighters remove a turkey after only a few seconds in hot oil during a demonstration of improperly frying a turkey, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024.

While the first turkey made the oil spill just enough to ignite the area around the pot, the fully frozen turkey sent more oil over the pots edge resulting in a huge fireball.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In most accidents resulting from failed attempts at deep-frying turkeys, the fast reaction of the bird with the oil and someones proximity to the pot can be life-threatening, King said.

More: Will Publix, Costco be open on Thanksgiving Day? What's open, closed on Thursday

What happens a lot of times is people will start lowering the turkey in with their hands, King explained. And when (the oil) starts to overflow, they get nervous and drop it, and then it splashes and thats what happens."

How to avoid accidents when deep-frying your Thanksgiving turkey

The trick, therefore, is to make sure the bird is fully thawed and dry before it goes anywhere near the pot.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As a general rule, the best way to defrost a turkey is by leaving it in your fridge one day for every five pounds. In other words, a 15-pound turkey will take approximately three days in the fridge to defrost.

Everybody knows it takes 45 minutes to an hour to fry a turkey, King said. Dont wait until the last minute to get your pot ready.

Volusia County firefighter Leslie Jones shows the effects of dropping a frozen turkey into 350-degree oil during a demonstration of the dangers improperly deep-frying turkeys, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024.

He also encouraged residents to prepare their pots ahead of time and make sure they are ready.

A couple days before, make sure everything is working right, he said. Most of your pots today have safeties on them, where they only work for 15 minutes and then you always have to reset it. And the purpose of that is for you not to leave it unattended.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Leaving food cooking unattended, the fire chief added, can be dangerous regardless of what youre cooking.

Other steps to take ahead of frying your turkey, King suggested, are:

Fill the pot with water to test how much is enough before it starts to overflow.

Dont fry the turkey indoors.

Have a plan B in case its a rainy day.

Keep the pot at least 10 feet away from your house.

Keep an eye on pets and children around the pot.

If a fire does happen, King said people should try to turn the gas off and cover the fire.

If you have a fire at your house, even if you have a fire extinguisher, its best to call 911, King said, adding that the department does not get many calls related to deep-fried turkeys.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thanksgiving travel: Tips for getting there at PBIA and finding where traffic is snarled

Many times they happen and we dont know, when its a little problem and people put it out, he said.

Today, King added, most people use electric fires as a safe alternative to propane gas tanks.

You dont want to plan to have friends and family over for dinner and invite the fire department.

Fall break: When are Palm Beach County schools closed for Thanksgiving 2024? The countdown begins

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Deep frying turkey in hot oil safety tips for Thanksgiving
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Burning is now allowed on state public lands following a weekslong ban, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced Tuesday.

The recent round of rain has been caused the state to lift the forest fire danger level to the low to moderate stage. However, DEEP warns that the Connecticut is still in the midst of fire season, calling it one of the most challenging in recent history.

All of Fairfield, Litchfield, New Haven, Hartford, Windham, Middlesex and Tolland counties are classified as being in a severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The southeastern part of New London County was in a moderate drought, and the rest of the county was classified as severe.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dozens of cities and towns still have burn bans in effect.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) has intercepted a conversation between North Korean military personnel deployed by Russia in Kursk Oblast.

Source: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine

Details: A North Korean soldier on duty on the radio is conducting a communication check and hurrying the soldiers: "Get out quickly! Faster, faster, move back."

Background:

On 7 November, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that there had already been losses among the North Korean troops fighting on the side of Russia in Kursk Oblast.

A record number of North Korean citizens arrived in Russia in the third quarter of 2024, citing "training" as their reason for travel amid reports of North Korean troops being deployed to participate in the war against Ukraine.

The US Department of State said that Russia's success on the battlefield using the North Korean military will depend on the level of their integration into the Russian army.

Last week, the United States confirmed that North Korean troops had recently participated in hostilities in Kursk Oblast for the first time.

In addition, according to The New York Times, 50,000 Russian and North Korean troops are preparing to launch a large-scale counteroffensive in Kursk Oblast.

Support UP or become our patron!
The defence ministers of five major European countries have called for continued support for Ukraine amidst concerns about the potential influence of US President-elect Donald Trump.

Source: Politico, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Germany's Defence Minister Boris Pistorius hosted his counterparts from France, Italy, Poland and the UK in Berlin on Monday, 25 November. The meeting took place in a new format, which UK Defence Secretary John Healey called E5.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

All five ministers emphasised the need for continued military assistance to Ukraine, with Healey even calling for "doubling" support for Kyiv.

"The five of us want to keep the [Ukraine Defence Contact Group] alive," Pistorius said, referring to the US-led Ramstein format, which organises military assistance for Kyiv.

The ministers did not directly mention Donald Trump, but his presence was felt as European countries are expected to seek to maintain their support for him.

"Europe must coordinate its efforts more, it must harmonise its actions, it must aim higher, in order also to be a good partner for the United States," Polish Defence Minister Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz noted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The ministers also agreed that it is not about how much NATO countries spend on weapons and ammunition but how they spend it.

"Regardless of whether defence spending rises to 2, 2.5 or 3 per cent of GDP, we need to close the capability gaps, this is the most important thing," Pistorius told reporters.

The German minister pointed out that meeting NATO requirements for forces and capabilities will require increased spending. "Well probably talk about more than 2 per cent, everyone knows that," he added.

Background:

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, in an interview with European Pravda, stated that Europe must be tough on US President-elect Donald Trump if it wants to help Ukraine.

The media reported that Europe is calling on the Biden administration to strengthen US support for Ukraine to bolster Kyiv's position as much as possible before Donald Trump's inauguration in January.

Support UP or become our patron!
DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH)  A Delaware man found guilty of shooting a person to death in broad daylight will serve at least 27 years in prison.

According to the Delaware County Prosecutors Office Rayshawn Anderson, who was found guilty of murder with firearm specifications and one weapons charge, will serve life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 27 years.

Ohio Supreme Court unable to decide transgender birth certificate case

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Anderson, now 18, was originally charged in juvenile court, but the prosecutors office sought to try him as an adult. He was 17-years-old when he confronted the victim, Alonzo Byrd, outside his home in March and shot Byrd five times in the road in broad daylight.

Rayshawn Anderson (Courtesy/Delaware County Sheriffs Office)

The trial lasted seven days before the jury returned a verdict, according to prosecutors.

The sentence includes a mandatory sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years for the murder charge, 6-9 years in prison for discharging a firearm on or near a prohibited premises charge, and six years for two separate firearm specifications. Judge Gormley found that Andersons conduct warranted consecutive sentences.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  In recognition of Prematurity Awareness Month, Delta Sigma Theta made a generous donation to Piedmont Columbus Regional Friday morning.

The local hospital received 168 books from the sorority on Nov. 22. This donation helps to raise awareness of the impact premature birth has on infants and families.

The books will be used to read to the babies in Piedmonts Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  A former Delta Township firefighter is suing the township alleging discrimination and retaliation following an on-the-job injury.

The three-count lawsuit filed Nov. 18 in Eaton County Circuit Court alleges Delta Township retaliated against Nathaniel House for an injury that happened at work and violated the Michigan Persons with Disability Act in two different ways. Its seeking more than $25,000 in damages.

The Township is aware of litigation against the Township by a former employee. We do not comment on pending litigation, Brian Reed, Delta Township Manager, wrote in an email to 6 News in response to inquiries about the lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges Nathaniel House injured his back on Feb. 21, 2024, while lifting a patient. That injury was disabling, the lawsuit argues.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As a result of the on-the-job injury, House was placed on Workers Compensation. Workers Compensation is a form of insurance created by a 1912 law. The program is administered by the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Workers Compensation provides compensation to workers who suffer an injury on the job and protects employers liability, LEO explains on its website.

COMPLAINTDownload

deltaDownload

The lawsuit alleges House was ordered off work by doctors until March 4, 2024. At that time, doctors cleared him to return to a restricted light duty schedule and workload. The lawsuit alleges Delta Township Fire Department leadership failed to provide House with any specific job duties or expectations but required him to drive to work each day.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He was still undergoing extensive physical therapy.

House lives in Munger, Mich., a small city in Bay County, 103 miles from Delta Township administrative offices, 7710 W. Saginaw Hwy.

That extensive time driving a vehicle further exacerbated plaintiffs [House] back condition, the lawsuit contends.

House contends in his lawsuit that he sought accommodations for his disability on multiple occasions, but was instead subjected to retaliation by township officials. Specifically, he contends, township officials refused to allow him to transfer to a part-time position that would not require heavy-duty activity and interfered with his small business. That small business was a mentoring and training program for firefighters and emergency medical personnel.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He alleges the township, by refusing to accommodate his disability fired him from the job. The technical term is constructive discharge. The U.S. Department of Labor defines constructive discharge as when a workers resignation or retirement may be found not to be voluntary because the employer has created a hostile or intolerable work environment or has applied other forms of pressure or coercion which forced the employee to quit or resign.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
JERUSALEM, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Israel's security cabinet approved a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah on Tuesday night, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported that the ceasefire was expected to take effect on Wednesday at 4 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) in Israel and Lebanon.

The security cabinet approved the ceasefire by a majority of ten votes to one, with far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir casting the sole dissenting vote. 
Getty Images

Liquified natural gas prices are forecast to increase heading into 2025 as demand is set to outpace supply, according to an analysis from the federal Energy Information Administration.

Average dry gas production wobbled down from 2023 to 2024, with companies ramping down production to try and counter record low prices over the past year, Reuters reported. While companies are expected to increase production again in 2025, demand is expected to well outpace supply and cause a spike in prices.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The combination of growing LNG exports, increased electrical generation demand and the prospect of winter weather suggests a tighter supply-demand picture for natural gas in 2025 and beyond, Thomas Jorden, CEO at Coterra Energy, said in a statement.

The EIA explains how rising demand for exports means domestic gas prices are predicted to rise 33% from a four-year low in 2024 to a three-year high in 2025, mainly because of increased liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, Bank of America analysts said in a statement, according to Reuters.

Louisiana produces and uses vast amounts of natural gas, and price increases could affect consumers who live in the state as well as industry interests

The United States was the worlds largest liquefied natural gas exporter in 2023, with Louisiana handling 61% of the U.S. liquified natural gas exports, according to the Energy Information Administration. Natural gas was also the primary fuel used to generate electricity in Louisiana in 2023, driving 76% of net electricity generation in the state and fueling seven of the 10 highest annual power-generating plants in Louisiana.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

New operations planned to enter the market, such as the newest phase of Venture Globals Plaquemines facility, will likely increase supply and stabilize prices, but only after it becomes operational at the end of this year and begins consistent production after a testing phase.

Increasing industry interest in LNG export facilities along Louisianas coast also come with controversy centering on the safety of residents living around the facilities and environmental costs. The Biden administration paused permitting for new LNG export terminals earlier this year amid threats of climate change and domestic price increases, but the incoming Trump administration is moving to immediately lift the pause and allow new export permits into next year.
A Democratic megadonor has said the Harris campaigns $1.5 billion spending spree should disqualify the vice president forever.

John Morgan argued that those who donated to the Harris campaign were attempting to beat Trump, not elect the vice president, adding that the massive spending by the campaign should worry Democrats.

All of a sudden, everybodys got the keys to the candy store, ad buyers, talent consultants, Morgan told NewsNation on Monday night. Theres 100 days to do it, and the money started pouring in.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris campaign raised huge sums of money - but where did it go? (Getty Images)

The attorney claimed that ego and a craving to get commissions on placed ads motivated large parts of the spending spree.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kamala Harris and her former running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, are set to speak to the Democratic National Committees finance directors. It has been reported that the campaign is $20 million in debt despite raising more than $1 billion.

As much as $15m was spent on event production, $4 million on private jets, and $1m was paid to Oprah Winfreys company, The Hill noted.

When NewsNation host Chris Cuomo asked Morgan if he believed someone stole the funds, he said: Maybe legally.

He said that the $1.5 billion spent during four months proves that Harris shouldnt be in charge of another campaign.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I think this disqualifies her forever, Morgan told Cuomo. If you cant run a campaign, you cant run America.

The same thing is going to follow Harris for the rest of her career. She cannot be trusted with the money, and the donors are going to be, like, Where is this money?

Questions have been raised about how much money was paid to celebrities like Oprah Winfrey during the campaign (AP)

In July, Morgan told Cuomo that hes a Joe Biden-Democrat, that he now sees himself as an independent, and that he wouldnt raise any money for the Harris campaign.

You have to be enthusiastic or hoping for a political appointment to be asking friends for money. I am neither. Its others turn now, Morgan, an attorney based in Orlando, wrote on X at the time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He told The Hill that he didnt think Harris would win.

She would not be my first choice, Morgan told the outlet this summer. But its a done deal.

Morgan called for Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear or Independent West Virginia Senator John Manchin, a former Democrat, to lead the Democrats into November.

DNC finance committee member Lindy Li told NewsNation that the confusion about the funds and conflict within the party has prompted some members of staff to depart.

But the Harris campaign argues that the money is not the problem.

The Harris campaigns chief financial officer, Patrick Stauffer, told The Hill that As of Election Day, there were no outstanding debts or bills overdue and there will be no debt on either the DNC or HFP report for post general report.
You can watch the full interview with John Morgan here.

(NewsNation)  Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are set to address their National Finance Committee next week amid reports that the campaign is $20 million in debt after a lavish spending spree.

Political megadonor John Morgan tells CUOMO on Monday that those who poured money into the Harris-Walz campaign were trying to defeat Trump, not elect Harris  and her campaigns spending is cause for serious concern.

Kamala Harris shouldnt run again over campaign spending: John Morgan

All of a sudden, everybodys got the keys to the candy store, ad buyers, talent consultants. Theres 100 days to do it, and the money started pouring in, Morgan said, adding that ego and a crazy desire to obtain commissions on placed ads drove much of the spending.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It included $15 million for event production, $4 million in private jets and an additional $1 million to Oprahs company, among other pricy purchases.

When asked if Morgan believes someone possibly stole the money, he said, Maybe legally.

FILE  Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, speaks at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Aug. 22, 2024 in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File) Vice President Harris speaks during a campaign rally outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Nov. 4, 2024, in Philadelphia. Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris appears on NBCs Saturday Night Live, with Maya Rudolph, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 in New York. Harris has made an unannounced trip to New York to appear briefly stepping away from the battleground states shes been campaigning in with just three days to go before the election. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Vice President Kamala Harris delivers a concession speech after the 2024 presidential election, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, on the campus of Howard University in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Kamala Harris, campaigns with former President Barack Obama on October 24, 2024. Supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris wave American flags before she gives her closing argument speech at The Ellipse in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 with one week to go before Election Day. (Greg Nash/The Hill) Musical artist Beyonce, right, and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, left, embrace on stage during a campaign rally Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan) Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Harris speaks during a CNN town hall in Aston, Pa., Oct. 23, 2024. Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally at the Wisconsin State Fair Expo in West Allis, Wis., Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris arrives to speak at a campaign event Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

He added that the reported $1.5 billion spent in four months is proof that Harris shouldnt run again.

I think this disqualifies her forever, Morgan said. If you cant run a campaign, you cant run America.

The same thing is going to follow Harris for the rest of her career. She cannot be trusted with the money, and the donors are going to be, like, Where is this money?' he added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Obama, Pelosi did not want Kamala Harris to be nominee: Democrat megadonor

DNC staffers resign

Lindy Li, a member of the DNC finance committee, told NewsNations Rich McHugh the internal strife and monetary confusion at the center of the party have led some staffers to leave altogether.

Trump pledges Mexico, Canada, China tariffs over border, fentanyl

The money, Harris campaign says, is not an issue.

As of Election Day, there were no outstanding debts or bills overdue and there will be no debt on either the DNC or HFP report for post general report, Patrick Stauffer, Harris campaigns chief financial officer, told The Hill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Morgan told NewsNations Chris Cuomo in July that he wouldnt fundraise for Harris after her entrance to the presidential race, calling himself a Joe Biden-Democrat and identifying as an independent.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The News

Senate Democrats dont sound like theyre gearing up for a repeat of the hell no approach to Donald Trumps Cabinet picks that they adopted during his first term.

Trump nominees like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Pete Hegseth and Tulsi Gabbard probably wont get many Democratic votes, according to interviews with a half-dozen of the partys senators, spanning the partys ideological spectrum. But a repeat of the rage the party channeled in public eight years ago looks unlikely.

If you vote against everyone, then you lose whatever value or whatever statement that youre trying to make, said Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who has already backed several Trump nominees, including Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state and Rep. Elise Stefanik as ambassador to the United Nations. Has anyone checked? If you win, you pick the people. And its like, if youve got the votes, [opposition is] not going to really change the outcome.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If you want to lose your mind about an obvious kind of supreme troll like [Matt] Gaetz, then Im not that Democrat, Fetterman told Semafor, even as he faces criticism from a former aide for his openness to supporting his own 2022 rival Mehmet Oz for a top health job.

Grab a fucking grip and get over yourselves and realize that thats what [Trump] does. I mean, he loves that shit.

As Democrats lick their wounds following a disastrous 2024 election, their handling of Trumps nominees is the first signal of their long-term strategy for countering him. During his first term, then-Sen. Kamala Harris joined Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren and other Democrats in vocally opposing nearly every early nominee Trump tapped. This time, its less clear how overt that Democratic pushback campaign will be.

For now, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and his deputies seem perfectly happy with keeping the onus on Republicans to deal with potentially problematic Trump picks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We should make a good faith effort to exercise our constitutional responsibility. I am not for foot-dragging. The president ought to have this team in place, Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois told Semafor.

Senate Democrats cant stop Trumps top nominees, but they can delay confirmations and aggressively circulate damaging details about the picks. While most presidents try to get as many of their nominees confirmed as possible on Inauguration Day, a single Democratic senator can object and force the majority party to burn time on procedural votes on nominees.

Republicans routinely forced that kind of delay on President Joe Bidens nominees, and Durbin acknowledged some Democrats might be looking for payback once Trump takes office: Whether they follow through or do that, I cant tell.

Know More

Harris, Booker and Warren burnished their national political brands in the aftermath of Trumps first election, using viral moments during confirmation hearings for his nominees to become rising Democratic powerhouses (and, later, presidential hopefuls). The newer Democratic senators, from Fetterman to Adam Schiff to Mark Kelly, are all telegraphing a more measured approach to Trump  even if they are likely to vote against many of his nominees.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kelly, a centrist whos won two races in battleground Arizona, isnt particularly enamored with Hegseths qualifications for defense secretary. What in his time on Fox News has he learned that equips him to run the biggest enterprise on the planet? Kelly asked of Hegseth, an Army veteran.

But the Arizonan still isnt convinced that Democrats should do all they can to disrupt Trumps efforts to govern.

They dont have to agree with me on anything. Theres going to be disagreements. But I do want to see people who are qualified, Kelly told Semafor. Im not in the category of, like, try to slow him down. Because if he has the right people, I want them in those positions as early as possible. I think its the best thing for our country.

Even some of the most progressive senators are declining to vent their fury at Trumps picks. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said hes undecided on all nominees when asked about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were ready to move forward on Day One, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., another progressive antagonist of Trumps picks in the first term. Im willing to have a vote. That doesnt mean I approve a vote to confirm.

The View From The Intelligence Chair

One of the trickiest nominees for Democrats to handle is Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii who is now nominated to be Trumps top intelligence adviser.

Recent national intelligence directors have gotten confirmed with big bipartisan votes  Bidens intelligence chief was confirmed immediately on Jan. 20  but Gabbards past warmth toward Russia and Syria mean shes on track for a frostier reception.

Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, set himself apart from more progressive colleagues, noting that I voted for a lot of Trump nominees the first time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But also there are serious, serious questions about this nominee that I need to get answers to, Warner told Semafor of Gabbard. Theres been lots of stories. Ive met Tulsi a little bit, and my job is to sort through whats true, whats not, and go through an appropriate review process.

Burgesss view

Were going to learn a lot about the Democratic Party in January. Most congressional Democrats reject the idea that Trump has any mandate after his wins in both the popular vote and electoral college, yet the party is also starting to internalize that simply being anti-Trump isnt enough to sway voters.

Its clear that Democrats dont want to be seen as 100% antagonistic toward his nominees  which is why you hear Democrats like Schiff and Fetterman speak warmly of Rubio, for example.

Unless more clamor builds in the Democratic base to stand up to Trump, the partys newer senators may veer away from the firebrand model that Harris, Booker and Warren used in 2017.

That doesnt mean fights over Cabinet picks, but it may mean that Democrats end up leaning back and letting Republicans struggle among themselves over riskier picks like Kennedy, Hegseth and Gabbard.
A coalition of Democratic senators and representatives is calling on the Biden administration to finalize its plans to limit marijuana prosecutions at the federal level before he leaves office.

In a Tuesday letter drafted by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) along with Reps. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), legislators wrote that the simple descheduling of marijuana will not end federal criminalization, resolve its harms, or meaningfully address the gap between federal and state cannabis policy. Possession and use of recreational marijuana  and much state-legal medical marijuana  will continue to be a violation of federal law.

The letter was also signed by Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), as well as Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.), James McGovern (D-Mass.), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

President Joe Biden issued several rounds of pardons to individuals convicted of marijuana possession and other nonviolent drug offenses throughout his administration. Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit. Criminal records for marijuana possession have also imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities, Biden said in 2022 after the wave of pardons.

Lawmakers point out that while the pardons relieved of some collateral consequences that flowed from their marijuana convictions, they have resulted in virtually no releases from prison, because few individuals were in federal prisons for these low-level offenses. They point to estimates that at least 3,000 individuals still remain in federal prison for other marijuana-related offenses.

The Biden Administration has the opportunity to further reduce the harms of marijuanas criminalization before the end of this Administration, the lawmakers write, requesting that Biden issue broader clemency  including another round of pardons and commutations to reduce sentences or end terms of incarceration  for individuals convicted of other cannabis-related offenses, as well as issuing a memorandum deprioritizing the prosecution of individuals and businesses for or state-legal marijuana activity.

Data cited by lawmakers notes that deprioritization of arrests and seizures related to marijuana possession are necessary given that of the almost 700,000 drug possession arrests each year, one-third are for marijuana possession, and Black Americans are almost four times more likely than white Americans to be arrested for marijuana possession.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trumps picks to staff his Cabinet and high-level executive roles already indicate the potential for intense disagreement over the future of weed legalization under a second Trump term. In one of his only rational medical stances, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  Trumps pick to head the Department of Health and Human Services  has advocated for the rollback of restrictions on access to medical marijuana. By contrast Marty Makary, Trumps pick to head the Food and Drug Administration, has called weed a gateway drug and suggested pot use leads to cognitive decline.

Matt Gaetz, Trumps first pick to serve as attorney general, was one of the most pro-cannabis members of Congress before his resignation. His replacement, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, has a more mixed record that includes a vote against cannabis legalization in Florida.

Trumps first attorney general during his first term in office, Jeff Sessions, rescinded Obama-era policies directing the Justice Department to deprioritize anti-marijuana enforcement in states where the use and possession of the drug had been legalized. Trump himself, however, has indicated he could be open to progress on cannabis policy. He granted clemency to some Americans incarcerated for cannabis-related offenses on his way out of office, and this September wrote on Truth Social that it is time to end needless arrests and incarcerations of adults for small amounts of marijuana for personal use, that he would be voting in favor of Floridas cannabis legalization amendment, and that as president he will continue to focus on research to unlock the medical uses of marijuana to a Schedule 3 drug, and work with Congress to pass common sense laws.

Trump cant exactly be taken at his word, though, and its easy to see the issue falling by the wayside  as it largely did during his first term in office. Its understandable why Democrats want Biden to do what he can before the president-elect takes office and Republicans take control of Congress.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read the full letter from Democratic lawmakers:

More from Rolling Stone

Best of Rolling Stone

Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Its that time of year again and the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley is preparing for the holiday season.

The Rescue Mission is an important part of the Continuum of Care, addressing the needs of the homeless, providing shelter and meeting the basic needs of people in the community.

CEO John Muckridge spoke in-depth about new programs and the missions new facility.

New building allows more to be served

Since moving into the new facility, Muckridge says theyve been able to increase the number of people they serve.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We have 186 beds for folks who come in who are men, women or children experiencing homelessness. So we have a capacity of 186 and then we serve breakfast, lunch and dinner 365 days a year. And on average, were averaging about 400 meals a day now at the Rescue Mission, which has also increased since the new building has been built, Muckridge said.

The new shelter now also provides separation in the facility for families, and the female and male population.

So we have one side of the building that houses 100 single men, men that are staying there by themselves. And then we have the other side of the building, which has 86 beds, and that houses single women, women with small children, dads with kids, husbands and wives  whole family units there on that side of the building as well, Muckridge said.

The Mission has been able to provide these services without government funding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We do not receive any government funding. Our main purpose at the Rescue Mission is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to every soul that we can, and so we dont receive government funding. So we have the ability, because of the generosity of the local individuals, local businesses, local foundations and local churches, to continue to fulfill the mission, which was established in 1893 and, by Gods grace, has been able to sustain all of the changes in the country, Muckridge said.

Meals served every day, including Thanksgiving dinner

The meals at the Rescue Mission are for residents, as well as the public.

Breakfast starts early in the morning, 5:30, and goes till about 7:30. Lunch starts at noon, goes to about 1:30, 2, and then dinner starts at 5, goes to about 7, Muckridge said.

On Thanksgiving, the food is given even more special attention.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thanksgiving dinner at the Mission is free and open to the public. It will be served from 1-5 p.m. and again from 6-7 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

Individuals in the community in need of a good meal can come to the Rescue Mission.

Were just not serving the folks that are staying at the shelterBut the folks that maybe are choosing not to come to the shelter for whatever reason, theyre still able to come in and grab a meal throughout the day.

In the meal program, there is one director and four cooks.

We rely heavily on volunteers, and thats the kitchen food service department, is where we get the majority of our volunteers, Muckridge said. Some folks come in, bring food, prepare the food that they bring and serve. Some folks come in and prepare the food and serve, some folks come in just to serve.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Muckridge said volunteers are extremely important to their mission. Imagine if nonprofits had to pay workers minimum wage in place of volunteers.

The weight of the responsibility that we have, and the fact that we are open 24/7 and serving all these meals. Its not financially possible to be able to pay enough people to come in and meet this need, and so the volunteer component helps us with that, he said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
With the election interference charges against President-elect Donald Trump dropped and special counsel Jack Smith moving to have the classified documents case against him dismissed as well, the prosecutions of the former president are coming to an anticlimactic end. They have, however, left a lasting impact on the American legal landscape.

Smith on Monday moved to have both federal cases against Trump dismissed without prejudice  a signal that Smith still believes in the arguments put forth in the case. Judge Tanya Chtuckan, overseeing the election interference case in Washington D.C. quickly agreed to Smiths request. Smith previously appealed Judge Aileen Cannon's dismissal of the classified documents case but has since asked the court to drop the matter.

Smiths decision was based on the Justice Department policy dating back to the Nixon administration, which states that the department cannot charge a sitting president with a crime, meaning that the federal cases against Trump have been expected to end since he won the 2024 election. Smiths choice to file for dismissal without prejudice means prosecutors working for a future administration could theoretically reopen the case against Trump.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Governments proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind," Smiths office wrote in the filing in Washington D.C. The Governments position on the merits of the defendants prosecution has not changed. But the circumstances have.

Saikrishna Prakash, a professor at the University of Virginia School of Law, told Salon that the filings were entirely expected and reaffirmed the Justice Department policy, saying that the precedent thats set is that the DOJ has now acted on its view that a sitting president cant be prosecuted.

Different people will draw different conclusions about the whole prosecution. Trump and his allies will draw the conclusion that this should never have been brought. Other people might draw the conclusion that Merrick Garland shouldve appointed a prosecutor earlier, Prakash said. I dont know what to make of the two critiques, they arent both obviously wrong. Im not sure they can both be right.

Bennett Gershman, a law professor at Pace University, disagreed, saying that because the decision is based on Justice Department policy and not law, the move to dismiss sets absolutely no precedent for future prosecutions by special counsels.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Additionally, given the irregular, unusual, and unprecedented conduct of Trump and his team in spurning traditional rules for presidential transitions, there is nothing about dismissing the charges that can even remotely be seen as setting any precedent for the future, Gershman said.

Gershman went on to note that, despite Trump not being tried for his alleged crimes, his co-defendants still could be and that proof of Trumps criminal conduct would likely be described in detail in that prosecution. Smith will also be filing a report on his investigation to the Department of Justice before Trump takes office, which Gershman expects to be scathing even though it may never be released to the public.

Finally, it is amusing to me to note how Trump has viciously attacked the Justice Department and every prosecutor who has investigated and charged him for 'weaponizing' the criminal justice system against him and his cronies, Gershman said. Now, with the shoe on the other foot, so to speak, it is Trump and his cronies who are making plans to weaponize the Justice Department against Trumps enemies.

Ty Cobb, a former member of the Trump White Houses legal team, told Salon the biggest legacy of the cases against Trump will likely be the Supreme Courts ruling on presidential immunity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The January 6 case in DC has validated the precedent that a former president is subject to indictment and prosecution, Cobb said.

He said that while the immunity decision has drawn significant criticism, the Supreme Courts opinion, that a president can be prosecuted for everything besides official acts and that these acts are determined to be official or not based on a case by case fact-based assessment will be significant long after Trump leaves the stage. In Cobbs opinion, the Supreme Court drew the line aggressively but still largely in line with how the issue is viewed at the Department of Justice.

There is no individual in history who has stressed the Constitution in regards to the rule of law more than Trump has, Cobb said. We actually know a lot more about the Constitution because of Trump. Not everything we know is glorious. On the other hand, he has forced the courts to define the outer limits in terms of the three branches of government.
When local council members gathered in the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia last week to discuss new measures promoting Russian investment, a group of protestors rose to meet them.

The proposed legislation, which would have legalized Russian investment and land ownership in the occupied region, had already sparked unrest. On Nov. 19, protesters blocked bridges around the Abkhazian capital of Sukhumi.

By Nov. 22, the crowd had descended on Abkhazia's parliament building. Protesters smashed through the gates with a truck and stormed the compound as police officers fired tear gas. At least 14 people were injured. The region's de facto president, Aslan Bzhania, resigned days later.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The investment bill was shelved.

This episode of seeming defiance may have sparked unease in the Kremlin. Moscow has been funding the Abkhazian government since the Russo-Georgian war in 2008, when it rolled troops into the region and declared Abkhazia and the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia to be independent states.

Aslan Bzhania, the leader of Russian-occupied Georgian breakaway region of Abkhazia, in Moscow on June 24, 2020. (Alexey Nikolsky / Pool / AFP via Getty Images)

But the political situation is far from clear cut. The same demonstrators protesting against pro-Russia legislation were also those that hoisted the Russian tricolor as they stormed Abkhazian government buildings.

The pro-Russian protesters effectively ousting a pro-Russian president in protest of the adoption of a Russian-friendly piece of legislation shows how the Kremlin can endure political turmoil in the region.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read also: If Georgian Dream stays its course, we cant consider them a democratic partner, expert says

Pro-Russian, pro-Abkhazian

Many of Russia's goals in Abkhazia are firmly geopolitical. Although small  slightly over 8,600 square kilometers  a Russian-controlled Abkhazia can be used to reinforce Moscow's influence in the South Caucasus and to pressure Russia's southern neighbor, Georgia.

Russian troops are deployed in the region, which acts as a key transport corridor between the North and South Caucasus., Iits position on the Black Sea is already being used by Moscow to build a permanent Russian naval base.

For most Abkhazians, meanwhile, Moscow's presence in the area has a far more tangible day-to-day impact. Russia supports the region financially, provides Abkhazians with passports to travel abroad, and provides quotas for Abkhazian students to study at Russian universities. All of this creates broad, pro-Russian public support.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Abkhazians see Russia as a guarantor of their independence," says Dr Piotr Sieniawski, an assistant professor at the Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw.

"Abkhazia is very much dependent on Russia: somewhere between 50 and 60% of the region's budget is made up of direct subsidies from Moscow. Without Russia, it would be very difficult for Abkhazia to survive (as a breakaway state)."

Such support comes with demands  a fact of which Abkhazia's elites are particularly aware, says Sieniawski.

But far more than being pro-Russian, local communities are pro-Abkhazian. They are aware of their own interests  and tensions are quick to rise if Russia's demands are seen to collide with Abkhaz needs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That includes any law that would allow Russians to buy tracts of land along Abkhazia's tourist-friendly Black Sea coast, says Olesya Vartanyan, a conflict analyst specializing in security, peace processes, and foreign policy in the South Caucasus. Currently, only Abkhazians are allowed to own land in the breakaway region.

Russian soldiers move across Georgia on Aug. 22, 2008 near Igoeti, Georgia, following the launch of an all-out war against the country. (Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)

Residents of Sukhumi celebrate the recognition of their independence by Russia on Aug. 26, 2008. U.S. President George W. Bush denounced Russian recognition of Georgia's regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, warning Moscow it must "reconsider this irresponsible decision." (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

"The protests aren't about, 'we want Russia out.' It's more about, 'we want to protect our own interests,'" Vartanyan says. "They are very much afraid that if Russian companies start purchasing property, then there will be very little space left for local people. The phrase that is usually used is: 'We will become servants to the Russians, rather than their hosts.'"

Small town politics

In many cases, such fears could be easily pushed aside by politicians, who may be inclined to wave through Russian-friendly legislation and benefit financially from a more developed tourism economy.

But Abkhazia's unique history and geographical position makemakes it difficult for officials to simply discard public opinion. Its small population means that ordinary people are not only more likely to have access to politicians, but they are also very likely to have worked alongside them, attended school with them, or even be related to them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a province of just 244,000 people where informal connections often outweigh official communication channels, there is little escape from an angry populace.

"Everybody knows everyone in Abkhazia. If an ordinary person meets an Abkhazian politician somewhere in Sukhumi, they feel they have the right to express their opinions openly  and that the politician should be listening," says Sieniawski.

Another well-used Russian anti-protest tactic  simple police violence  is unlikely to quell demonstrations in the region.

Most local families did not surrender their weapons after the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict of the 1990s, when Abkhazia declared itself an independent state for the first time. This easy access to arms means that state violence could easily cascade into a more serious conflict.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"It is really very difficult to imagine that local leaders could hire some external group of bodyguards to enter the presidential administration and throw out protesters by force. That would definitely have led to further bloodshed," says Vartanyan.

"Each local family has access to weaponry  and everyone knows it. It is a threat that can be activated the moment someone feels that their rights are violated. It's like a nuclear weapon nobody wants to use," she adds.

Read also: Whoever enters parliament enters Russia, Georgian president says

Delaying the inevitable

Until recently, Abkhazia's de-facto leadership had found a simple answer to uncomfortable Russian demands: endless delays and procrastination.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Russian businesses, many of whom are taking an increasing interest in places like Abkhazia as sanctions bar them from investing elsewhere, have been vocal in their dissatisfaction.

"Previously, Russian companies wouldn't want to invest in (occupied territories like) Abkhazia so as not to spoil their relations with Western partners," says Vartanyan. "After being sanctioned, that doesn't matter anymore."

Yet, while this foot-dragging is irksome, it is not necessarily worrying for Moscow. With the Kremlin's ultimate trump card in hand  Russia's control of the occupied region's political survivability  it is unlikely that officials in Sukhumi can outrun Moscow's demands indefinitely.

"If Russia is financing Abkhazia, they will be asking for something in return. Now, maybe this particular investment bill was not so high on Russia's political agenda, but these demands will be back again sooner or later," says Sieniawski. "I think this dynamic of attempted resistance will remain, but the question is to what extent they can resist."

A once opulent Soviet era train station sits in ruins in the contested region of Sukhumi, Abkhazia. (Tyson Paul/Loop Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Georgian border police hand food over a barbed wire fence to a local farmer, who stands on the Russian-controlled territory of South Ossetia in Khurvaleti village, Georgia on May 23, 2022. (Daro Sulakauri/Getty Images)

Even the prospect of power change and early elections in Abkhazia does not change this power balance  nor the larger geopolitical picture that matters so much to the Kremlin.

While the protesters who stormed the Abkhazian parliament may not have wanted to welcome Russian neighbors, they also weren't pushing to change the status quofor example, for the rapprochement with Georgia, which lost control of the occupied territory after the breakup of the Soviet Union and the Russian invasion years after.

As long as the larger picture  the balance of power, the wider geopolitical plans  remains stable, Moscow can simply adjust the details of the deal with whoever becomes Sukhumi's next de facto leader.

"In real terms, for Russia, nothing changes. They are still a dominant player. They are still expected to pay local salaries," says Vartanyan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"If other foreign countries were to start recognizing Abkhazia as an independent state, then that might concern the Kremlin because it would provide Sukhumi with more space to maneuver. But I don't see that happening."

"Moscow has nothing to worry about in Abkhazia."

Sign up for our newsletter

WTF is wrong with Russia?

Sign up

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Detroits Reparations Task Force is publicly distancing itself from policy recommendations drafted by Co-Chair Keith Williams without other members' input due to his frustrations with a perceived lack of progress from the group.

Williams recently delivered a binder of documents outlining his proposals to City Council President Mary Sheffield and provided a copy to BridgeDetroit. In response, the task force issued a statement Nov. 20 clarifying that Williams report does not reflect their work during the last two years and shouldnt be considered an official document from the group.

Its the latest challenge for the task force formed by the City Council in 2023 after Detroiters overwhelmingly backed a ballot initiative to produce reparations policies. Recommendations are due by March 31, 2025, after the City Council extended an October deadline.

Detroit Reparation Task Force co-chair Keith Williams, center, speaks, next to co-chair Lauren Hood during a meeting at Coleman A. Young Municipal Center in Detroit on Thursday, April 13, 2023.

Williams, who helped craft the ballot proposal, was appointed by Sheffield to lead a group of academics, activists and policy thinkers. For months, hes neglected public meetings and missed internal meetings of the task forces executive committee, citing scheduling issues. He told BridgeDetroit hes been absent for the meetings because he no longer finds value in attending.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Williams said his own recommendations were presented on behalf of the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus, not as co-chair of the reparations task force. He gave the task force a look at the proposal before bringing it to City Council members.

Im trying to help facilitate this process, Williams said. Weve been at this for almost two years. Theyre taking too long to get this thing done.

His recommendations center on increasing access to property and economic opportunities, including financial compensation, homebuyer assistance, small business grants, scholarships, workforce training and neighborhood investments. Williams estimated it would cost at least $2 million annually to staff a new reparations office, with additional costs for programs.

Task force Co-Chair Cidney Calloway said Williams is undermining the group and sowing unnecessary confusion about the direction of its work. Calloway said the task force is hiring a professional writer to draft official policy recommendations and is on track to meet the March 2025 deadline.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were all just blindsided, Calloway said of the report Williams gave to council members. Its not even like a leadership clash because in order for there to be a clash there has to be another part of leadership that has a following to it.

Task force finds its footing

The task force stumbled out of the gate after the death of founding member JoAnn Watson and the resignation of several members.

Transparency and public engagement improved this spring after Emberly Vick was hired as a project manager, though she was succeeded by Evan Daugherty after leaving earlier this year to focus on her studies at Wayne State Law School.

More: Detroit reparations task force progresses, but has work to do before submitting report

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Two studies were completed by the University of Michigan and Columbia University on behalf of the task force. The U-M report outlines harms caused by city policies while the Columbia report explored harms identified by Black residents.

Both reports connected discriminatory policies to inequities in food access, pollution, education, public safety, economic development and housing. The U-M report concludes that policies rooted in discrimination laid the groundwork for segregation, displacement and disinvestment for Black communities.

A survey launched this year collected feedback from residents on harms that should be addressed with reparations policies. Top-ranked priorities dealt with improving conditions in schools. Most respondents (88%) identified as residents and Black (84%).

Respondents want Detroit Public Schools buildings upgraded to meet code requirements, lead service pipes replaced to ensure clean drinking water, more teachers hired to reduce class sizes, free lunches and free bussing provided to Black students.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Other-high ranking proposals include reducing the tax liability of Black homeowners who were overtaxed by the city, prohibiting the Wayne County Treasurers Office from auctioning foreclosed properties, funding co-op grocery stores, home repair grants, cash payments and mental health services

Its unclear how the city would pay for reparations initiatives. Possibilities include creating a nonprofit foundation, seeking money from corporations that contract with the city and using a portion of marijuana sales tax revenue. State law prevents Detroit from creating new taxes, which poses complications for raising revenue.

The City Council issued a formal apology to Black residents for its historical role in perpetuating systemic racism and discrimination. It outlines several specific incidents and larger injustices in Detroits painful history from the 1920s to the present day.

Examples include the 1943 Detroit race riot and 1967 uprising, multiple eras of discriminatory policing and the 1992 killing of Malice Green, a failure to address the educational needs of Black students, redlining and the construction of freeways and industrial factories in Black neighborhoods.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sheffield, who led the reparations ballot proposal with Williams and selected the groups executive committee, said shes encouraged by steps taken this year. She said reparations policies must deal with education, housing and economic justice, but shes waiting to see what the task force recommends.

Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield announces a new grant fund for legacy businesses at a Nov. 21, 2024 press conference at Berts Marketplace in Detroit.

They had a rough start, but nonetheless you have members who are dedicated to doing the work, Sheffield said. Well give them the time and grace needed, but were looking forward to the report that comes out. Im going to look at all the recommendations and go from there.

She declined to weigh in on Williams decision to submit his own plan.

Sheffield formed a campaign committee to consider running for mayor in 2025. She expects the task forces work will continue long into the future, whether shes in office or not. Sheffield said that may result in creation of a reparations office to guide implementation of policies adopted by the City Council.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Even after this task force is over, I dont think the conversation is done, Sheffield said. This is going to be a long-term strategy, a long-term commitment for reparations.

Its been an interesting journey.

It cant be all my way

Williams said hes frustrated by delays and wants to move the work forward. He said the council could take immediate action to implement his vision.

Recommendations in Williams report primarily focus on access to property and economic opportunity. He suggested financial compensation, payment assistance for first-time homeowners, small business grants, establishing Black-owned banks, college scholarships, workforce training programs and neighborhood investments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Williams calculated wage gaps between Black and white Detroiters going back to 1929 and tallied $42 billion in lost income. He estimated it would cost $2 million annually to staff a city reparations office plus tens of millions more to fund programs.

How to pay for it? Williams suggested amending the Michigan Constitution so Detroit could levy new taxes, but that would require the state Legislature to take action.

Black Bottom, a historic example of how urban planning dismantled majority-Black neighborhoods, could be a model for reparative strategies. Williams suggested board investments in affordable housing, retail spaces, business incubators, markets, outdoor plazas and cultural hubs, modern streetcars and safe streets for bikes and pedestrians.

Williams said hes open to feedback.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Oh, Lord, in this world youve got to compromise, Williams said. It cant be all my way. But dont take me on the journey thats not gonna bring nothing to closure.

Calloway said it was difficult to take his report seriously as it appeared to have been created using artificial intelligence tools. Williams confirmed that he used ChatGPT to research and write parts of the document, but that shouldnt matter.

The conflict reflects long-running tensions between Williams and other task force members. Williams said the group pushed him away while task force members describe him as a dominating presence that hasnt been open to collaboration.

Williams argues hes in the best position to lead the group because he shepherded the ballot initiative that resulted in the task force. Calloway said hes sidestepping a public process that was meant to pool the expertise of multiple community representatives and incorporate feedback from Detroiters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He has no idea what the work looks like, where we are in regards to any real movement and how the public meetings have changed and evolved, Calloway said. We didnt have any feedback (on Williams report) because we didnt even know what we were looking at for real, and because (hes) not there to really collaborate with us.

(This story has been updated.)

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit reparations task force rejects rogue policy report from leader
By Alimat Aliyeva

The American Walt Disney Co. will pay $43.3 million to settle claims that the company systematically paid women in middle management positions less than men in comparable roles, Azernews reports.

This settlement is expected to resolve a legal dispute that began in 2019 when product manager Laronda Rasmussen, who is still employed at the company, filed a lawsuit against Disney. Later, nine other plaintiffs joined the case.

The lawsuit alleges that, over nearly a decade, Disney paid female middle managers at least $151 million less than their male counterparts with similar experience and qualifications.

Disney denies these allegations and does not acknowledge them in the settlement agreement. "We have always sought to pay our employees fairly," the company stated.

The settlement requires approval from a judge. If approved, it will allow Disney to avoid a jury trial.

Disney shares dropped by 0.2% in pre-market trading on Tuesday. However, since the start of this year, the companys stock has increased by 28.5%.
BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The People's Republic of China and the Independent State of Samoa on Tuesday issued a joint statement in Beijing.

Please see the attachment for the full text of the statement.

Full text: Joint Statement Between the People's Republic of China and the Independent State of Samoa
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  Governor Mike DeWine was in Trumbull County Monday joining the Warren City School District in marking the opening of its new multimillion-dollar recreation and wellness center.

This is an amazing, absolutely amazing place, DeWine said.

Touring the brand new facility at Warren G. Harding High School, DeWine got a first-hand look at areas designated for robotics and e-sports and got a chance to see renderings up close for the space that will be occupied by Akron Childrens Hospital.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is a place that kids are going to love. Its also very important for their future, DeWine said.

Senior Sonia Pitts said the facility is impressive.

Its beautiful. Huge first, and Ive never been part of a school where they had a separate wellness center, Pitts said.

DeWine was in Warren to help students and school board members cut the ribbon inside the new center with a ceremony to honor the work, dedication, and collaboration it took to make the facility a reality.

This is a great, great facility. Its gonna give kids more opportunity to be healthy, more opportunity to dream their dreams about what they can become, DeWine said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The $34 million Student Recreation and Wellness Center came at no additional cost to taxpayers. About half of the projects funding came in the form of grants.

They put a lot of different sources together to create this multi-purpose building that I think schools will come from all over Ohio just to look at this facility, DeWine said.

Superintendent Steve Chiaro said the project is evidence of teamwork.

For him to see this in use is a testament to the partnerships that can happen when were looking at the funding that is available out there and what we do for positive outcomes, he said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
Photo: Ricky Vigil M / Justin E Palmer (Getty Images)

Sean Diddy Combs walked into a New York City court room Friday, Nov. 22 hoping a judge will grant him an early release on bail. With this marking the third time Diddy has tried to get bail, theres a lot at stake for the disgraced Hip-Hop mogul facing sex trafficking and racketeering charges.  Phenix S Halley

Read More

Photo: JOCE/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images (Getty Images)

Friday, Nov. 22, rap mogul Sean Diddy Combs was due in court for a hearing on his fourth request at bond. As we await for the judges decision, heres what we know about the chances of Combs being released.  Kalyn Womack

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read More

Photo: Jon Kopaloff/WireImage (Getty Images)

In the ongoing battle over whether Sean Diddy Combs should be granted bail or not, his attorneys refreshed the memory of the court with a piece of information that is critical toward determining whether the rapper is too dangerous to be released from jail.  Kalyn Womack

Read More

Photo: Daniel Zuchnik/WireImage (Getty Images)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A federal judge ruled in favor of rap mogul Sean Diddy Combs following the shocking claim that federal prosecutors had his cell raided and seized his legal documents for trial.  Kalyn Womack

Read More

Photo: Lloyd Bishop/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal (Getty Images)

The latest filing to hit the court docket in the pending federal sex crime case against Bad Boy founder Sean Diddy Combs is yet another attempt at bond. Combs request comes after spending his 55th birthday behind bars and his negotiations are serious.  Kalyn Womack

Read More

Photo: Scott Dudelson (Getty Images)

Sean Diddy Combs is trying once again to obtain his freedom outside bars as he awaits federal prosecution on charges of racketeering and sex trafficking.  Kalyn Womack

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read More

Photo: Scott Dudelson (Getty Images)

A federal judge has denied Sean Diddy Combs bail in a hearing Tuesday, confirming that he will remain in federal custody upon the indictment he received Monday.  Kalyn Womack

Read More

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
(Bloomberg) -- Namibia, which is gearing up to become a major oil and gas producer, holds elections on Wednesday that have been billed as the most hotly contested in the arid southern African nation since it gained independence in 1990.

The South West Africa Peoples Organisation has dominated Namibian politics for the past 35 years, but its support has steadily slipped amid public anger over a lack of jobs, graft and high levels of inequality. Its flagbearer is Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, currently the deputy president, who stands to become Namibias first female leader if she wins.

The biggest threat to the ruling party is likely to come from the four-year-old Independent Patriots for Change. Its founder Panduleni Itula, a former Swapo member who secured 29% of the vote when ran for president as an independent in 2019, is seen as the strongest of Nandi-Ndaitwahs 14 challengers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A survey published in July by research company Afrobarometer showed 76% of Namibians believed the country was heading in the wrong direction, with unemployment and corruption among the respondents top concerns. The study showed similar levels of disgruntlement with the status quo in Botswana, where the party that ruled the country for almost six decades finished fourth in Oct. 30 elections, and in Mauritius, where an opposition coalition won all 60 parliamentary seats in a Nov. 10 vote.

It is possible, albeit unlikely, that Swapo  which garnered 65.5% support in 2019  will relinquish its parliamentary majority, according to Henning Melber, an associate at the Nordic Africa Institute at the University of Uppsala.

We witness more political contestation, with new parties challenging the dominance of Swapo, he said. In the absence of any reliable voter surveys or polls ahead of the election, much is left to assumptions and speculation.

The next administration will need to manage an anticipated hydrocarbon boom following recent offshore discoveries in the Orange Basin by companies including TotalEnergies SE and Shell Plc.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The government expects commercial production to begin as early as 2029 and predicts the revenue will transform Namibias economy. Opposition parties have, however, cautioned that Swapo has a poor record in managing the countrys natural resources, which include diamonds and uranium, and there is a danger oil and gas proceeds may benefit a select few unless transparency and accountability are prioritized.

The nations new leaders will also have to tackle a slew of other challenges: A 43% unemployment rate; a crippling drought that has further depleted water resources in what was already sub-Saharan Africas driest country; and a mushrooming housing crisis  the latest census reveals that almost a third of households are accommodated in shacks, up from 16% in 2011.

Under Namibias electoral system, the 96 elected seats in the National Assembly are allocated to parties in proportion to the percentage the vote they win. To secure the presidency, a candidate needs to win more than half the vote, failing which a runoff is held. The incumbent president is Nangolo Mbumba, 83, who took office in February following the death of Hage Geingob. He declined to run for a full term.

Some 1.47 million people have registered to cast ballots, a 12.7% increase since the last national election five years ago.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

--With assistance from Chris Miller and Monique Vanek.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Clarksville-Montgomery School System issued an apology Tuesday after a mock intruder drill led a middle school class to evacuate to a nearby neighborhood.

On Tuesday, Nov. 26 officials said a pre-planned intruder drill was performed at Richview Middle School, adding that the drills happen quarterly.

However, at some point during the drill, an administrator allegedly used the wrong script, which caused concern for everyone.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

TN school to vote on new mascot following order from Ohio university

The school system sent a message to families about the incident, which read in-part:

We deeply apologize for this mistake and the concerns it caused. This should have been a routine drill, but the script used was for an actual emergency not a drill. We appreciate the quick actions of students, employees, families, and law enforcement. We will ensure this never happens again during a drill. Thank you for your understanding and support. Clarksville-Montgomery County School System

One class and teacher reportedly evacuated to a neighborhood. School resource officers, law enforcement personnel, and school administrators were able to get everyone back inside the building in minutes, officials said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

READ MORE | Latest headlines from Clarksville and Montgomery County

According to the school system, there will be action-review and retraining to make sure quarterly lockdown drills are up to CMCSS expectations.

No additional details were released. To view the districts Active Threat Plan and lockdown drills, click here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) will hold its leadership elections Feb. 1, less than two weeks after President-elect Trump is inaugurated.

Elections will take place at the partys winter meeting in National Harbor, Md., according to a Monday press release.

Jamie Harrison, chair of the DNC, rolled out next steps for the election, which will decide the roles of chair, vice chairs, treasurer, secretary and national finance chair. The DNC will host four forums, mixed in-person and online, for candidates to present themselves. The forums will be held in January, but further details are unknown at this time.

The DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee is scheduled to meet Dec. 12 to recommend rules for nominations and elections.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As my time as Chair comes to a close, and we prepare to undertake the critical work of holding the Trump Administration and Republican Party accountable for their extremism and false promises, we are beginning to lay out the process for upcoming DNC officer elections in the New Year, Harrison said in the release. The DNC is committed to running a transparent, equitable, and impartial election for the next generation of leadership to guide the party forward.

There are 448 active DNC members, including 200 state elected members from 57 states, territories and Democrats Abroad and 73 at-large members elected by the DNC.

Harrison has been chair since Jan. 21, 2021, and is not expected to try for another term.

Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley (D) said on Nov. 18 he would run for the spot. Minnesota state Democratic leader Ken Martin jumped in the following day, and multiple other names are being floated for the slot. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel is reportedly weighing a bid , though David Axelrod  who was an adviser to former President Obama  and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) publicly clashed over the suggestion in recent weeks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What we need to see is somebody who can take the very, very clear lessons of not just this election, but the past several presidential elections, where weve gone from winning very conclusively [to] eking out and white-knuckling a very narrow victory  and really apply it to how we approach elections writ large going forward, said Democratic strategist Jon Reinish told The Hill.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Providence Animal Control is seeking information about a dog that was discovered tied to a chain link fence in the capital city.

The male dachshund and beagle mix was found attached to a lead in a Mawney Street parking lot early Sunday morning.

The dog, whose name is Eros, has an unregistered microchip.

Anyone who knows the dog or can identify his owner is asked to contact Providence Animal Control by calling (401) 243-6040.

Eros (Courtesy: Providence Animal Control)

Eros (Courtesy: Providence Animal Control)

Close

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily Roundup

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
Cooper the 11-year-old Australian miniature shepherd has chased balls at the Clarks Creek dog park in Puyallup for most of his life.

Weve been going there since he was 16 weeks, owner Dawn Woods told The News Tribune recently.

Its about a five-minute drive from her home.

The dog park at 1710 12th Ave. SW had grass when it opened in 2007, according to News Tribune archives. Its had wood chips for about the last 10 years, and as the city has layered more and more wood chips in the park over that decade, Woods and other residents say drainage has gotten worse and worse.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theyve gotten increasingly frustrated with the swampy mess and recently started speaking out and pushing the city for help, saying that the wood chips cause problems for humans and their pups.

Woods said she doesnt go to the park as often or stay as long as she used to because of the wood chips. The past four years or so, she said, shes noticed Coopers paws have become more sensitive to the surface. She also worries about bacteria from feces and urine in the stagnant pools of water, and that the older Cooper gets, the harder it will be for him to fight off possible infections.

Cooper doesnt do really well with bark, Woods said.

Among other problems, he gets little pieces stuck between the pads of his feet, she said, and holds his paw up and acts like hes hurt.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

City officials say theyre listening, and that theyre working on it.

If there are issues, we definitely want to hear about them and try to address those, Parks & Recreation Director Cody Geddes told The News Tribune on Nov. 20. What weve done to try to help so far might not be hitting the mark for everyone, but were certainly trying to improve things as we move forward.

Residents who use the park went to the Parks & Recreation Board meeting Sept. 9 after Geddes asked them to come and share their concerns.

They just want that dog park to be the best dog park ever, city spokesperson Eric Johnson told The News Tribune. We see that and we hear that. We take those concerns very seriously.

Dexter the yellow lab is reflected in a puddle of water as he waits to fetch a ball from owner Casey Clifton at Clarks Creek Park off-leash dog area in Puyallup, Washington, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. Users are concerned that thick layers of bark mulch have created a soggy, stinky quagmire.

Gene Sorensen, 67, spoke on behalf of the group at the meeting Sept. 9. Hes lived in Puyallup for 35 years and said he advocated for the creation of the park.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He takes his 3-year-old Romanian raven shepherd, Eddie, and his 6-year-old Himalayan sheepdog, Max, to the park.

Before that, hed bring his shepherd/lab mix, Chip, who has since passed away.

He was a big ball player, Sorensen told The News Tribune on a trip to the park this month. He just loved this place.

Sorensen pointed out the swampiness of the park to the News Tribune reporter who visited.

Its such a bog in here now, he said. ... Its just layer on top of layer.

Gene Sorensen (left) and Casey Clifton play with the dogs at Clarks Creek Park off-leash dog area in Puyallup, Washington, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. Users are concerned that thick layers of bark mulch have created a soggy, stinky quagmire.

Sorensen explained to the board Sept. 9 that the wood chips that have accumulated over the years to create a mess in the park, and that theyre thick enough that it makes it hard to walk.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He told the board that feces and urine soaked into the chips create microbial problems, and that the chips give dogs splinters, too.

Drainage problems have been getting worse, he told the board, which creates stagnant puddles at the park, and mosquitoes are a problem.

Owners used to dig little trenches with their Chuckit! ball launchers, he said, to help drain the puddles.

One member of the board said at the meeting that his family doesnt take their dog to the park because of the drainage issue.

Cloe the dog sniffs around a mud puddle in the Clarks Creek Park off-leash dog area in Puyallup, Washington, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. Users are concerned that thick layers of bark mulch have created a soggy, stinky quagmire.

Sorensen told the board that its a close-knit group of neighbors that uses the park daily, and that they volunteer their time to help maintain it, such as cleaning along the fence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

His hope, he told the board, is that the city could move the bark to the back of the dog park before the rainy season, as an interim measure. Ultimately, he said, his hope is that the city can dispose of the bark and install washed stone dust (crushed granite or basalt), that he said has worked well for other dog parks.

The board asked if Sorensens group would be willing to help move the wood chips, and he said he had about 20 dog owners ready to do the work.

We love our park, he told the board. Were willing to take care of it and help you.

He also made a pitch to the board to get a water source at the park, which he said he was promised 20 years ago and quipped that he asks for every five years or so.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sorensen raised his concerns again at a City Council meeting this month.

Eddie the dog says hello to Casey Clifton as they play at Clarks Creek Park off-leash dog area in Puyallup, Washington, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. Users are concerned that thick layers of bark mulch have created a soggy, stinky quagmire.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Whats next for the Clarks Creek dog park?

Geddes, who has led the Parks & Recreation Department for 18 months, said the citys stormwater engineer visited the park recently and determined that state Department of Ecology regulations would require the city to do mitigation projects if they used washed stone dust. For instance, the city might be required to install a retention pond or some sort of drainage system, which he said could be costly.

Its a 20,000-square-foot park, and the state would consider washed stone dust to be an impervious surface, which triggers extra requirements, Geddes said.

The plan is to stop and kind of take into account what the other options might be at this point, he said.

Asked if washed stone dust is off the list completely, Geddes said its just lower on the list now. Sand is one of the surfaces the city is looking at.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Chambers Creek Regional Park has a dog park with a sand surface, he said, and the city plans to research what that involves and how it is maintained, in addition to whats working and not working for other cities, and what the different options cost.

As for removing all the wood chips in the meantime, he worries that doing that would turn the park into a big mud pit. The city is trying to help with the drainage where it can during the rainy months, he said.

Geddes said his understanding is that the city installed the wood chips about 10 years ago after users asked them to address concerns about the park being too muddy.

We are hearing from a vocal group, but also probably need to talk to other dog park users, he said, to find out what others want.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Johnson, the city spokesperson, said the city probably would survey residents in the spring about different surface options for the park after it has researched viable surfaces for Clarks Creek and learned more about what other cities do. He also pointed out that there are geographic challenges, given the proximity to the creek.

Its possible the city would look at summer or fall 2025 to install new surfacing, Geddes said.

Clarks Creek is the only dog park theyre looking at for now. Dog park users at the Rainier Woods park near Shaw Road and Cherokee Boulevard havent raised the same concerns, he said, and some donate to help get new wood chips.

It just gets really disgusting.

Fairfax County in Virginia is one of the places Sorensens group identified that uses washed stone dust for most of its parks.

Review of other jurisdictions dog park design guidelines has proved that there is no universal consensus on the best type of surfacing, the countys 2020 dog park study report said. All surfacing types, such as natural turf, washed stone dust, wood mulch, and synthetic turf have pros and cons related to use, maintenance, and cost to be considered.

The washed stone dust drains well, has a moderate cost, requires minimal maintenance and has a high durability, the report said, though parks with it can get dusty at times.

Maintenance of wood mulch is more difficult, the county found, though its cheaper to replace.

The composition and color of wood mulch makes dog waste difficult to detect and remove, the report said. Additionally, wood mulch does not drain as well as the other surface types and holds odors.

Dog owner Sarah Robinson, 27, said even if Puyallup doesnt get washed stone dust, getting rid of the wood chips would be preferable.

Shes been using the dog park since she moved to Puyallup a couple years ago. Its about a 10-minute drive from her home.

She takes her 8-year-old Pomeranian, Kira, and her 6-year-old husky mix, Maya.

My husky likes to play, she said. My Pomeranian just kind of follows me around.

Things arent so bad over the summer, she said, but it gets worse during the rainy season.

Dog owners have to keep a close eye to prevent their pups from drinking from the puddles in the bark, she said.

It just gets really disgusting, Robinson said.

Tia Sosa, 47, lives along the creek. She walks to the dog park with Daisy, her 18-month-old Australian shepherd, and Duke, her 11-month-old German shepherd.

Theyre both very young, so I need the dog park, she said. Theyre both very high energy.

Having a park they can walk to is important, she said. Duke gets car sick.

The trails at Clarks Creek are nice in the summer, she said, but they get slippery in the winter, and it gets dark too early in the winter months to use them safely, she said.

She slipped in January and hurt her ankle pretty badly, she said.

I do feel safe enough to take them to the dog park and let them run for 20 minutes, she said.

That comes at a muddy price, though.

Its a pain, because I get home and I basically have to give them a bath, and its awful, she said. ... Daisy is very dramatic.

The bark got high enough in the spring, she said, that dogs could jump over the fence. Daisy was one of the escape artists.

She also said she gets bug bites and that her daughter got one that became infected. Fleas are pretty bad at the park, she said.

Thats going to be any place you go, but the wood chips dont help, she said.

Getting rid of the wood chips, she said, would help a whole bunch of things.

Woods, who owns the miniature Aussie, told The News Tribune the park had sand and grass when she started going there.

There was puddles and stuff, but not as bad as it is now, she said.

She worries about how bacteria in the puddles at the park could affect her senior dog. Cooper defiantly tries to play in the water and drops his ball in it sometimes when she tells him not to.

Cooper

Shes had trouble with infection at the park herself, she said. She has immune system trouble and a mosquito bite in September turned into sepsis, she said.

She also worries that Cooper ingests pieces of the bark that stick to the ball she throws for him. She finds bits of bark in his poop sometimes. One of his buddies, Chico, tries to eat the bark on purpose, she said.

Cooper only plays for about 30 minutes at Clarks Creek before his paws start hurting and she takes him home.

We would go for hikes and all that and he was fine, she said. It just seemed to be that bark.

Sorensens close-knit group of dog owners does weekend trips together, including to the Fort Steilacoom Dog Park in Lakewood.

Woods said watching the dogs play on the grass there, versus at Clarks Creek, is like night and day.

The dogs are so happy, she said about the weekend visits.

Eddie, one of Sorensens dogs, bounces around like a big teddy bear, she said.

Theyre just happy, Woods said. Even with it raining, theyre just hopping around.

Cooper plays for hours there, she said, bounding after his ball on the grass and sand.
CHEYENNE  Wyomings small group of Democratic legislators say theyre willing and ready to build relationships with members of the new Legislature, but remain uncertain as to how those relationships will materialize in the upcoming 2025 general session.

As the minority party, Democratic lawmakers say they have long worked hand in hand with their Republican colleagues to find common ground on legislation. During their caucus at the state Capitol on Sunday, Democratic Party lawmakers said they anticipate a challenging session next year, unsure of how their working relationships will go with the slew of new, incoming lawmakers who ran on a more conservative platform.

The Wyoming Freedom Caucus, a group of hardline Republicans, gained control of the House of Representatives in the general election, and a majority of its allies held their seats in the upper chamber. All four leadership positions in the House were filled by members aligned with the far-right group during the Republican caucus in Casper, the previous day.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cautiously optimistic

Rep. Ken Chestek, D-Laramie, said he doesnt doubt that Democrats face a unique set of challenges, but he also doesnt want to assume that the new Legislature will burn the place down.

If they do start burning things down, were the firemen, Chestek said. And we need to be the voice for a lot of constituencies in Wyoming who would be hurt by the system being burned to the ground. But I dont want to assume that this may happen.

Minority Floor Leader Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, said the Democrats have worked diligently with their Republican colleagues to prevent bad legislation and damage from happening.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is the first time in his 14 years of legislative service, however, that he doesnt see any clear paths to protect the state, Rothfuss said.

Legislative work in the upcoming session is going to require diligence and open communication with the public, he said.

What my mind is on is protecting people of the state from this institution, while also protecting the institution itself, Rothfuss said. And we have challenges.

Minority Whip Rep. Karlee Provenza, D-Laramie, said Democrats managed to achieve great things during the 2024 budget session, such as passing pay increases for public school teachers and public employees, despite being the minority voice.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I dont know what the future holds for us, she said. But I do know that if harm is caused in the state of Wyoming, it will be our job to articulate it and to tell that story, so that people at home understand what is happening.

Rothfuss sole Democratic colleague in the Senate, Minority Whip Sen. Mike Gierau, D-Jackson, shared a more optimistic attitude. The Democratic Party has always been effective in communicating its ideals with leadership in the upper chamber, Gierau said, and he doesnt anticipate this new slate of Senate leaders to be any different.

Sen. Bo Biteman, R-Ranchester, was nominated Saturday to be the next Senate president; Sen. Salazar, R-Riverton, is the nominee for Senate vice president; and Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne is slated to be majority floor leader in the upper chamber.

We push our ideas, because this is a battle of bad ideas, Gierau said. We know ours are better, and so we just have to communicate that.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Minority Caucus Chair Rep. Trey Sherwood, D-Laramie, said every member chose to run because they felt called to serve their community. Understanding how they want to help their constituents is part of the working-relationship process, she said.

Whether you call it a strategy or just relationship building, I think that will help inform me, and our caucus, (to understand) how we build support for ideas that benefit that members community and our community and the state, Sherwood said.

Working with the Democrats

The Democratic Party has long been the minority group in the Equality States governing body, but they face a new, more conservative atmosphere for the upcoming session, with a Freedom Caucus majority in the House and several allies in the Senate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im kind of struck by the gravity of the shift were going to see in the Legislature, Provenza said.

Many Republican lawmakers who had served in the Legislature for nearly a decade, or longer, lost their primary election races to their Freedom Caucus-endorsed opponents  and Wyomings capital city was no exception. Two of Cheyennes longest-serving Republican legislators, Reps. Dan Zwonitzer and Dave Zwonitzer, lost their House District races to Ann Lucas and Steve Johnson, two legislative newcomers whose campaigns were endorsed by the Wyoming Freedom Caucus.

Provenza noted that when the Wyoming Freedom Caucus was the minority group in the House, they treated the Legislature like an election.

They ran bills. They took the forced votes so that they could send mailers to our districts and to their fellow Republican districts, Provenza said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Republican lawmakers previously told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle that several bills that seemed to uphold conservative values, such as parental rights in education, contained gotcha amendments, as Rep. Tom Walters, R-Casper, who lost his re-election campaign this year, described it. Walters said several bills pushed by House Freedom Caucus members were used as campaign fodder.

Theyre misleading what the vote was really about in so many instances, and that never used to be the case, Walters said.

Open members of the Freedom Caucus interviewed by the WTE denied any knowledge or use of this tactic.

Minority Floor Leader Rep. Mike Yin, D-Jackson, said several Republican newcomers in the Legislature who ousted the incumbent in House district races ran on a platform criticizing Republicans for working with the Democrats. The question for him was whether these new members would continue to ice out their Democratic colleagues.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With a very new chamber  we are going to be the experienced leaders, Yin said. I look forward to us both getting to know all of the new members that come in the chamber, as well as being a source of information.

Meeting Wyomings needs

Laramie County saw the lowest voter-turnout in a primary election in more than a decade this fall, and this trend was reflected across the state. Provenza said less than 30% of Wyoming voters elected members who represent more than 90% of the Legislature. Her goal is to meet the voters where theyre at, and understand what their issues are, but its difficult when so few voiced who they wanted to represent them.

What our voter turnout demonstrated is that people are not inspired by their elected leaders, Provenza said. Theyre not inspired by their government, and they feel unheard by their government.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Democratic Party did gain one new member of the Legislature following the general election, bringing the total of Democratic lawmakers up to eight, with two members in the Senate and now six in the House.

The small but mighty group of Democrats, as Sherwood put it, met at the state Capitols Historic Supreme Court Chamber on Sunday afternoon to re-elect members into legislative leadership positions. With no opposition in the race, all of the Democrats held onto leadership roles in their respective chambers.

In the upper chamber, Gierau is the minority whip, a position hes had since 2019, and Rothfuss is the minority floor leader, a post hes held since 2013.

On the House side, Provenza serves as minority whip, Yin is minority floor leader and Sherwood is the minority caucus chair.
DENVER (KDVR)  Its only been one day since Aurora police said they would ramp up traffic enforcement efforts, and the department has already caught a handful of perpetrators.

On Friday, the Aurora Police Department gave a heads-up to all drivers that it would be ramping up traffic enforcement during the holiday week, beginning on Monday. Police said they would cite anyone caught speeding, driving aggressively or driving with registration violations.

See the latest traffic conditions in Denver on FOX31

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The department also said they would automatically impound cars if the driver didnt have a license or insurance, or had registration violations.

And the department meant it.

On Tuesday, Aurora police shared examples of drivers who have already been caught on X.

Within the first day of the enforcement period, Aurora police said officers saw tags that expired in February 2024  which is cause for a citation. The driver also had an arrest warrant for no insurance, no drivers license and no insurance, so, the vehicle was towed.

In another example, Aurora police said commercial vehicles were not exempt from the requirements. The department caught a commercial truck with tags that expired in 2023 and its back tire was flat.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Where to expect snowy roads, winter driving conditions for Thanksgiving week

Fake tags will also not be accepted. Aurora police said they caught a driver traveling with a fake temporary tag. The driver received a mandatory court appearance before a judge.

Aurora police caught a driver with a fake temporary tag. (Aurora Police Department) Aurora police caught a commercial motor vehicle with an expired tag and a flat tire (Aurora Police Department) Aurora police towed a vehicle after the driver was without a license and insurance (Aurora Police Department)

Officers will also be ticketing speeders. They posted on X about catching a driver going 105 mph in a 60 mph construction zone.

The department posted two other photos of cars being towed and left a stern message for drivers.

Dont let this be you today. Dont want to have updated registration? Insurance? Or a drivers license? Your vehicle will be towed. And you will be required to go to court, said the Aurora Police Department on X.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While its only day two of the enforcement period, Aurora police said this is not a short-term operation. However, deadly traffic incidents do go up during the holidays, so be sure your information is up to date before you hit the road and drive responsibly.

FOX31 spoke with the Aurora city council member who sponsored the new ordinance.

(The ordinance) highlights the importance of ensuring that vehicles meet basic requirements for safety and legality. If vehicles are stopped, and they do not have valid tags, valid license, and valid insurance, these vehicles will be immediately towed and impounded. This will serve as a reminder that driving is a privilege that comes with essential responsibilities, Aurora Ward IV Council Member Stephanie Hancock said.

FOX31 spoke with the APD Motor Teams Supervisor Sgt. Scott Benedict about the new towing program who said cars violating the ordinance shouldnt be on the road.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So, if they dont have a drivers license, they dont have registration, and they dont have insurance, then its automatic tow, Benedict said.

Drivers told FOX31 they have mixed reaction to the new ordinance.

I think its gotten pretty out of hand where I am at risk constantly of somebody running into me and causing an accident and they dont have insurance, a driver named Aaron said. He asked us only to use his first name.

I think its a big inconvenience. They (drivers) should be able to wait and let somebody else pick up the vehicle. Its just another impact on them financially and cant afford that, said driver Chataya Bridge.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
NAIROBI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Ten students from Kenyan tertiary institutions were recently named finalists in the Huawei-sponsored Leadership, Employability, Advancement, and Possibilities (LEAP) Digital Talent Study Camp, held in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province.

According to a statement from Huawei Kenya released Tuesday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, the 10 Kenyan students were divided into two teams, showcasing their expertise in cutting-edge digital technologies.

One team developed an innovative solution named Mafreeco, inspired by the Swahili word Mafuriko, meaning floods. This digital tool proposes a smart system designed to address Kenya's recurring flooding challenges by clearing drainage systems of trash and debris.

"The Mafreeco team's creativity and technical prowess earned them a spot in the Tech4Good finals, where they competed against standout teams from South Africa, Mauritius, and Malawi," Huawei said.

Ashley Yigo, a member of the Mafreeco team, highlighted the intense effort required to reach the finals, stressing that their success was the result of countless hours of hard work to meet global standards.

"It was an invaluable experience, gaining global insights into technology and networking. It was also great to meet other students from around the continent," Yigo said.

The week-long camp, which began on Nov. 17, included courses on 5G and 5.5G technologies, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and a leadership workshop. It culminated in the Tech4Good competition, where Sub-Saharan African teams developed technology-driven solutions for pressing societal challenges.

In addition to technical learning, the camp offered students hands-on experience with modern technologies, emphasizing the crucial role of digital skills in securing a sustainable future for young people. Participants also had the opportunity for cultural exchange, strengthening friendships and fostering regional collaboration.

The LEAP Digital Talent Study Camp, launched by Huawei in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2022, is part of its broader initiative to cultivate a digitally skilled workforce across Africa. The immersive program is designed to inspire the next generation of innovators to embrace modern technologies and advance socioeconomic transformation on the continent. 
Donald Trump is asking The New York Times to apologize to its readers for spending years writing so-called junk about him.

Will the failing New York Times apologize to its readers for getting years of Trump coverage so wrong. They write such phony junk, knowing full well how incorrect it is, only meaning to demean, the president-elect wrote in a Truth Social post late Monday.

He then attacked NYT reporter Maggie Haberman, taking shots at her skills as a journalist as well as her overall intelligence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Magot [sic] Hagerman, a third rate writer and fourth rate intellect, writes story after story, always terrible, and yet I almost never speak to her, Trump went on. He then pivoted back to slamming NYT in general while gloating about his win against Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 Presidential Election

They do no fact checking, because facts dont matter to them. I dont believe Ive had a legitimately good story in the NYT for years, AND YET I WON, IN RECORD FASHION, THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN DECADES. WHERE IS THE APOLOGY? he concluded.

Trump targeting news organizations isnt new for the countrys next commander-in-chief.

Ironically enough, The NYT outlined Trumps long history of bullying media platforms in post last month, titled Trump Ratchets Up Threats on the Media. The publication detailed how Trump sparked a fake news campaign against CNN, stated CBS should lose its license and listed his past habit of blocking journalists from political rallies.

It is unclear if The New York Times will indeed apologize.

The post Donald Trump Asks the New York Times to Apologize for Years of Writing Phony Junk About Him appeared first on TheWrap.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg took to X on Monday to fact-check misleading claims about the state of a Biden administration initiative to build more electric vehicle charges.

Earlier that day, Michael Rulli claimed that the federal government had spent $7.5bn to build eight electric vehicle charging stations, in what he called evidence of squandering billions on something nobody wants, while millions struggle to afford the things they need. The president-elects son, Donald Trump Jr., retweeted Rullis message, claiming the program does not seem like a great return on investment...but hey he checked a woke box so its totally worth it.

In response to the posts, Buttigieg said their information was false.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To start with, $7.5B has not been spent, nor anything like that. Thats the entire program budget for the NEVI [National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure] program, which is to help build out a national charging network by 2030, the official wrote in a thread.

Secondly, there are chargers now operational in nine states (which does not mean 9 chargers, to be clear). These are only the first handful though. Most are to be built in the 2nd half of the decade, he added. Third, in this program the chargers are built by the states, not the federal government. And while it takes time to get a novel multi-billion dollar program going across 50 states, the states are on track.

The exchange got the attention of Trump ally and EV manufacturer Elon Musk, who said Buttigiegs information was helpful to understand.

Buttigieg said claims online about massive overspending on EV chargers were misleading (AFP via Getty Images)

Despite the rebuttal from Buttigieg, conservatives arent the only ones concerned about the slow rollout of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Laws $7.5bn plan to spur EV charging stations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As of March of this year, only seven stations in four states had been built.

I think a lot of people who are watching this are getting concerned about the timeline, Alexander Laska, deputy director for transportation and innovation at the center-left think tank Third Way toldThe Washington Post at the time.

The Department of Transportation has approved plans for further NEVI projects in all 50 states, according to its website.

The back-and-forth on X is also a reminder of Musks unique position within the incoming administration, which combines personal interest and public policy.

Musk, as head of the Trump administrations non-governmental DOGE commission on cutting government spending, could have enormous influence over the federal budget, which currently provides contracts and subsidies to Musk enterprises like SpaceX and Tesla.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The worlds richest person, despite publicly boasting that Tesla didnt need the subsidies, recently railed against a California plan to restart consumer EV tax credits if Trump follows through on an expected move to cut them, instituting a state policy that might not include Tesla.

The billionaire called the proposal insane.
Donald Trump Jr said his father has discussed banning mainstream media journalists from the White House press briefing room.

The president-elects son said on his podcast, Triggered with Donald Trump Jr, that they were considering opening up the briefing room to podcasters like Joe Rogan when asked if it was time to take away seats belonging to traditional media.

I wonder now, as your father is assembling his team, as maybe (the incoming White House press secretary) Karoline Leavitt is looking at the new press briefing room chart, maybe its time to reorder that chart and maybe take away some peoples seats, Daily Wire political commentator Michael Knowles pondered.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were gonna break some news here, Trump Jr replied. Because I literally had this conversation withI was flying backI was on the plane with my father, I think it was coming back from the SpaceX launch with Elon [Musk] last week. And we were talking about the podcast world and some of our friends and Rogan and guys like you.

Trump Jr said his father was considering his options given how the media has behaved.

We had the conversation about opening up the press room to a lot of these independent journalists, he said. If the New York Times has lied, theyve been averse to everything, theyre functioning as the marketing arm to the Democrat party, why not open it up to people who have larger viewerships, stronger followings?

Donald Trump hosted Michael Knowles on his podcast where they discussed taking away seats in the briefing room from mainstream journalists (Triggered with Donald Trump Jr/Rumble)

We had that conversation. That may be in the works, he added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, whether or not podcasters like Rogan, who is based in Austin, Texas, will logistically be able to attend daily briefings at the White House is another matter.

Trump often lashes out atthe mainstream media and the failing New York Times. Last night in a Truth Social rant, he demanded an apology for its junk coverage of him, singling out its correspondent Maggie Haberman for particular criticism.

Will the failing New York Times apologize to its readers for getting years of Trump coverage so wrong, the president-elect wrote in the post.

They write such phony junk, knowing full well how incorrect it is, only meaning to demean.

Donald Trump poses for a photo with popular podcaster Joe Rogan (Getty Images)

Pivoting to Haberman, Trump mockingly misspelled the reporters name as he wrote: Magot Hagerman, a third rate writer and fourth rate intellect, writes story after story, always terrible, and yet I almost never speak to her.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During the campaign Trump, 78, courted young male voters by engaging with YouTubers and bro podcasters, many of whom were young, wildly popular with Gen-Z and sympathetic toward his MAGA movement.

Trump sat down with podcasters like The Nelk Boys and Theo Von. He also went on Logan Pauls Impaulsive podcast, gifting him a t-shirt featuring his Fulton County, Georgia mugshot.

His 18-year-old son Barron and friend Bo Loudon were reportedly responsible for getting Trump to sit down with Kick influencer Adin Ross in August and, towards the end of the campaign, he appeared on Rogans podcast, where he reached an audience of nearly 40 million.
The pithiest summary of Donald Trumps last presidency was by the comedian John Mulaney. He compared it to a horse being set loose in a hospital. No one knows what the horse is gonna do next, Mulaney said, least of all the horse. Hes never been in a hospital before!

The prevailing theory about Trumps second term is that the horse now knows its way around the hospital. I have my doubts. Whatever practical knowledge Trump picked up in the first term is outweighed by the accelerating cognitive decline he displayed over the past year. He was a weak president before, and he may be an even weaker one this time.

In saying this, I dont dispute that Trumps instincts are dangerously authoritarian. Nor would I argue that a bumbling maximum leader is harmlessquite the opposite, in fact. Trumps last presidency did serious damage. He redistributed income upward to the rich; he separated children from their parents at the border; he secured an anti-Roe majority on the Supreme Court; and he reduced the proportion of the population covered by health insurance just as a deadly pandemic arrived to kill 40 percent more people than in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But as the latter two examples demonstrate, not all these ghastly outcomes were deliberate, and indeed Trumps mismanagement of Covid probably cost him reelection. In memoirs, participants in Trumps first term dont describe Trump as an evil mastermind. They describe him as vain, foolish, petty, mercurial, and easy prey for con artists and crackpots of every stripe. The result was bedlam. He was a horse loose in a hospital.

In a 2020 journal article, Immature Leadership: Donald Trump and the American Presidency, the Tufts political scientist Daniel Drezner argued, persuasively, that Trumps presidency was hampered by his temper tantrums, his short attention span and his poor impulse control. Trumps tantrums led to poor decision-making and pathological staff strategies for coping with it. Trumps short attention span resulted in a series of policy announcements that generate[d] poor follow-through and implementation. Trumps poor impulse control persuaded many foreign diplomats to discount many of his threats. What this added up to, Drezner concluded, was a weak presidency.

A strong president imposes discipline on his team. Infighting is kept to a minimum and stays out of the newspapers. That doesnt come close to describing Trumps first term, during which rival White House power centers leaked like a sieve to an ever-grateful Washington press corps. One Trump aide titled his administration memoir Team of Vipers.

Trumps second presidency hasnt even started, and already the members of his inner circle are at one anothers throats. The Washington Posts Ashley Parker, Josh Dawsey, and Michael Scherer describe shouting matches, expulsions from meetings and name-calling. As during Trumps first term, competing factions have begun to run roughshod over each other. The Wall Street Journals Brian Schwartz and Andrew Restuccia quoted an unnamed Trump adviser using the term knife fight to describe the competition for treasury secretary between Scott Bessent and Howard Lutnik. (Bessent got the nod, and Trump nominated Lutnik for commerce secretary.)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Weak impulse control prompted Trump to make four seriously outrageous Cabinet nominations. These all face serious resistance from Senate Republicans, and one of them (Matt Gaetz) withdrew less than three weeks after Election Day. Some see Gaetzs nomination as a diversionary tactic to draw attention away from the other threeTulsi Gabbard (director of National Intelligence), Pete Hegseth (Defense), and Robert Kennedy Jr. (Health and Human Services)or as a stalking horse for Pam Bondi, the Trump apparatchik nominated for attorney general after Gaetz withdrew. If that was the strategy (and I dont believe it was), Gaetzs rise and fall occurred too quickly to do the others any good. Its seldom wise to ascribe shrewdness to anything that Trump does.

That said, Trumps second term wont be short on terrible political appointments, and Trumps inherent weakness as president will create a power vacuum for many of these miscreants to exploit. Thats where the danger of his presidency lies.

For example, no president in his right mindnot even a very conservative onewould ever hand power to Stephen Miller. But Miller enjoyed quite a lot of influence in Trumps first term, and hell have even more in his second. Trump is anti-immigrant because it plays well politically. Miller is anti-immigrant because hes an angry fanatic.

During Trumps first term, Miller, acting in concert with his former boss, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, implemented a zero tolerance policy that deliberately separated migrating parents and children at the border to deter others from coming. This was a humanitarian catastrophe that caused lasting damage; of the nearly 5,000 families that were separated, about one thousand remain so. After the manifest cruelty of zero tolerance drew terrible publicity, Trump responded initially by stating meekly that he was powerless to change it, and then, when that didnt fly, Trump signed an executive order ending the policy. I didnt like the sight or the feeling of families being separated, said the president whod approved it. Under a settlement reached last December in a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, the federal government is barred from reimposing zero tolerance until 2031.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Millers ambitions for Trumps second term are more sweeping. Hes the mastermind behind the mass deportation plan that will (among other things) damage the economy if enacted on the scale he hopes. Once again, Miller is likely to be given free rein, this time acting in concert with incoming border czar Tom Homan and, if shes confirmed, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Miller will also try to kill the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, try to eliminate Temporary Protected Status for immigrants fleeing war or natural disasters, and try to eliminate birthright citizenship, even though this last is guaranteed in the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution. As with child separation, Trump will give these and other anti-immigration policies carte blanche and then reverse course on any components that generate more adverse publicity than he can tolerate.

Whats true of Stephen Miller (and Tom Homan and Kristi Noem) is also true of Russell Vought, Trumps pick to run the Office of Management and Budget (which Vought also ran last time). Vought is another out-of-control extremist who in a recent interview with Tucker Carlson preached dismantlement of independent federal agencies and the civil service by applying a radical constitutional perspective. Trump will let Vought do whatever he wants up to and until Vought generates too much unfavorable publicity with one policy or other, at which point Trump will back down.

One might argue that the chaos Trumps appointees generate is very much the point; that creating havoc within the federal government serves Trumps larger purpose of tearing down the administrative state. But thats Steve Bannons life mission, not Trumps. Like every other rich fathead, Trump wants to cut taxes and halt regulations; beyond that his policies are entirely transactional. Hell do something if it helps him or enriches him or gratifies his bottomless need to be cheered at political rallies. Hell avoid anything that doesnt do those things. Thats his compass.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its been noted that Trump possesses a disquieting affinity for people accused of committing, or tolerating, sexual misconduct; for proto-fascists; and for various other seedy types that normal people would cross the street to avoid. Where does he find them? The attraction isnt ideological. Before he encountered Robert Kennedy Jr., for instance, I doubt Trump had strong views about fluoridation. Trump just enjoys people who are transgressive like his own vulgar selfespecially when they suck up to him. That these people are usually frauds of one type or another, or flat-out evil or crazy, is something hes either slow to notice or doesnt care about. He just likes that theyre vivid and shameless and that they encourage him to follow his own worst instincts. Hes like a child who wants to run away with the circus.

Trump is dangerous, but he isnt dangerous because, in returning to the White House, hes finally achieved mastery at working the levers of power. Hes dangerous because, like last time, he wont have a clue. Once again, his weakness will liberate the spectacularly bad actors with which he staffs his administration. No wonder every scoundrel in the country is desperate to get on board. Its the opportunity of a lifetime.
ALBANY  With December on the horizon, it was the time of year when visions of sugar plums, in the form of funding for big projects, danced in the heads of government officials in Dougherty County.

The annual monetary requests are part of the process for local state legislators ahead of the start of the Georgia General Assemblys work in 2025. The first day of the session is Jan. 13, and the Pre-2025 session held Monday allowed local elected officials and other entities to let legislators know what their plans are for the coming year.

Cuthbert Republican state Rep. Gerald Greene said that he had alerted the officials to focus on a few main priorities instead of presenting a wish list for the upcoming legislative session.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lawmakers under the Gold Dome will have a priority that will outweigh much of the ordinary business as they deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

Weve got big issues to the east of us to take care of those counties, just like we did when (Hurricane) Michael hit us, Greene said during an interview ahead of the meeting. I was in Vidalia and Augusta. Its just unbelievable the devastation.

Gov. Brian Kemp has declared his intention to provide some $12.8 billion to recovery efforts, said Greene, whose District 154 includes all or part of nine counties, including Dougherty County.

Thats going to be the first priority that happens here, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For the Dougherty County Commission, the top priority presented was a systemwide library improvement plan, including the reconstruction of the West Town Library. The commission is requesting $450,000 for the West Town project, which would be matched with $450,000 in sales tax funds dedicated to the project. The additional $400,000 requested would go toward systemwide lighting, signage, security and safety improvements.

The second county request is $1.5 million to fund broadband internet expansion.

The expansion project is important to the county economically as well as for residents, including Marines who work at Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany, Chairman Lorenzo Heard told Greene and state Rep. Bill Yearta, R-Sylvester, who also attended the meeting.

The countys final request was for a $1 million grant to conduct environmental remediation of brownfield spaces.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For the Dougherty County School System, the top priority was for funding to continue the systems popular pre-K expansion. Even after adding 16 classrooms last year, the system needs more space, Deputy Schools Superintendent Rodney Bullard Sr. said. The expansion included four special education classrooms.

The system has a total of 489 students in its Pre-K program, 29 of whom are special education students.

We have a pre-existing waiting list, Bullard said. We were able to fill up the classes at the Morningside site very quickly.

The school systems other requests included providing additional state funding for economically disadvantaged students, reducing the pace of rising health care costs, addressing the shortage of teachers and more funds for early literacy programs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For Albany Technical College, the three projects listed come with a total price tag of $23 million. That includes $3 million for the renovation and expansion of the colleges welding lab and classrooms, $17 million for a criminal justice demonstration and VECTR (veterans education career transition resource) center, and $3 million to hire more instructors in nursing to address the need for more nurses that is an issue nationwide.

Other entities that addressed the legislators included Albany State University, the city of Albany, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce and the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  One of the most popular Downtown Kansas City businesses will be closing their doors.

New Orleans style Cajun/Creole restaurant KC Daiquiri Shop will be closing on Dec. 1, restaurant owners Calvin Vick and Kinley Strickland announced on social media Monday.

A slow economy, challenges with local and state government and ongoing legal battles with neighboring businesses were cited as the reasons for their decision.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mom says Independence police pointed gun at teen son, mistaking him for chase suspect

The KC Daquiri Shop came to the Kansas City metro in 2019 as sister location to the Daquiri Shoppe in Dallas, Texas. The owners opened up a KC Daiquiri Shop Bistreaux in 2019 in Overland Park. That location closed in 2023.

The full statement on the closure reads:

Dear Valued KC Community,

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closing of our beloved KC Daiquiri Shop on Dec 1st. After six incredible years of serving you, this decision has not come lightly. We have faced a slow economy, challenges with local and state government, and ongoing legal battles with neighboring businesses that have been less than supportive.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Throughout our journey, we have been proud to provide not just delicious food and drinks, but also a place where our community could gather, connect, and celebrate. We have created jobs, offered opportunities to second-chance felons and our displaced citizens, and continued to foster a sense of belonging that we hope has enriched your lives as much as it has enriched ours.

While this chapter is coming to a close, we want to emphasize that this is not the end. It is a chance for us to regroup, reflect, and rebuild. We believe in the resilience of our community and the power of support we have always shared. We trust that this moment will lead to new beginnings and opportunities for us all.

Thank you for the love, support, and memories over the years. We will carry the spirit of the DaqShop and the connections weve made into whatever comes next. Keep an eye out for what lies aheadwe are excited for the future!

With gratitude and hope,

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Calvin & Kinley,

Owners KC Daiquiri Shop.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
STOUGHTON, Wis. (WFRV)  Authorities in southern Wisconsin reportedly arrested a man for his 6th OWI after he was found with an alcohol level more than triple the limit.

According to the Stoughton Police Department, on November 23 a 57-year-old man was pulled over for a traffic violation. The release says the driver had five previous convictions for OWI.

Authorities claim that the driver had an alcohol level more than triple the legal limit. Additionally, the driver was reportedly cited for multiple traffic violations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

17-year-old killed in early morning single-vehicle crash in Wisconsin

He was taken to the Dane County Jail according to authorities.

No additional information was provided.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
(Bloomberg) -- Former Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte called on the military to correct what he described as fractured governance, as the current administration began a probe into his daughters threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There is a fractured governance in the Philippines today, Duterte said in a late Monday briefing aired on SMNI News Facebook page. In the face of so many errors thereit is only the military who can correct it.

But the ex-leader said hes not calling for the establishment of a junta, adding the military doesnt need to mount a coup. They can just say we no longer want to play your game, were out.

Duterte also asked the military how long it would continue to support Marcos, who the ex-president again described as a drug addict. The anti-drug agency earlier denied Dutertes claim, and Marcos also accused Duterte of drug use.

The former presidents remarks add to the increasing tensions between the Philippines top political families, which reached a boiling point over the weekend after the ex-leaders daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, said she had contracted someone to assassinate Marcos if she is killed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read: The Assassination Threat Shaking Philippines Politics: QuickTake

The National Bureau of Investigation has issued a subpoena to Vice President Duterte, asking her to shed light on the investigation for alleged grave threat. The vice president has said her weekend remarks were taken out of context and that she was concerned for her safety.

Common sense should be enough for us to understand and accept that a supposed conditional act of revenge does not constitute to an active threat. This is a plan without a flesh, she said in a statement on Tuesday.

The emerging political crisis in the Southeast Asian nation comes at a time when its economy is among the fastest-growing in the region. S&P Global Ratings on Tuesday upgraded the Philippines credit outlook to positive, citing its fiscal reforms, improved infrastructure and policy environment that have helped keep economic growth strong over the past decade.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Marcos economic managers, in a joint statement, said the country is determined to achieve an A rating and the administration is ensuring that the transformation of the economy will not be set back by political challenges.

The former leaders remarks drew a strong pushback from the office of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, which warned: The state will act resolutely to go against all unlawful attempts and challenges.

No motive is more selfish than calling for a sitting president to be overthrown so that your daughter can take over, it said in a statement. And he will go to great and evil lengths, such as insulting our professional armed forces by asking them to betray their oath, for his plan to succeed.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Romeo Brawner on Saturday said the military will stay loyal to the Constitution and remain non-partisan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

(Updates with joint statement from Marcos economic managers in ninth paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Nov. 26Niagara Falls is another step closer to seeing a solar farm spring up on a portion of the infamous Love Canal site.

The Niagara Falls City Council approved a proposed zoning code change last week, a first step in allowing the large-scale solar renewable energy project. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) had requested that the council change the zoning of 16 acres of city-owned land, south of Colvin Boulevard, north of the LaSalle Expressway and between 93rd and 95th streets from R1-A (Single Family Residential) to OS (Open Space). The change allows for the land that was once the location of the Griffin Housing Development to be reclaimed and developed into the Vincent Welch Build-Ready Solar project.

The proposed solar farm site is a short distance from what was the Hooker Chemical Company's Love Canal landfill, described by Gillian D. Black, director of NYSERDA's Build-Ready program, as "directly west of the fenced and capped Love Canal site."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It's not exactly prime property in the city. But there's still a ways to go  NYSERDA has to do further testing on the suitability of the Love Canal site. A determination of whether the location would allow it to be connected to the larger New York electrical grid, and its cost, has to be determined.

When a site is identified for redevelopment, Build-Ready says it undertakes the project design, engineering, permitting, and electrical grid interconnection review as well as developing a host community benefit package.

We appreciated the cautious approach, though it appears to be out of financial concerns rather than environmental. As has been explained a few times now, Build-Ready's initial plan for the Love Canal site is a ballasted solar electric system that generally uses concrete weights to anchor the framing that holds the panels used for solar energy collection to the ground.

Black, the director of NYSERDA's Build-Ready program, has said such systems are well-engineered for contaminated properties like the Love Canal because they do not need posts or post holes to be held in place.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"There is no need to puncture the ground," Black said, "which is the best for capped properties (like the Love Canal) where the caps can or should not be penetrated."

That's definitely a relief. As we've said, on the surface this seems like a great use of land that would likely never see interest in development. We can't think of a better place to put a solar farm than a brownfield, a landfill or other abandoned site.

Still, this isn't a done deal and we'll await word with the city on what National Grid determines is the best course of action for the site and what the next steps in the process will be.

We expect there will be plenty of opportunities for the public to weigh in on the project.
Fresh off a national campaign that greatly focused on womens rights, the Indiana Senate Democratic caucus sent a contradictory message when it re-elected Greg Taylor as its leader.

The vote to retain Taylor came Nov. 18, just a few hours after the Indianapolis Star reported troubling accusations made by three women, two statehouse staffers and an intern, claiming the state senator sexually harassed them over an eight-year period. Taylor hasnt denied the claims.

Such behavior would, and deservedly so, get a person fired at just about any job. But Indiana Democrats decided to keep the status quo and allow Taylor to maintain a position of power. The state party, though not in charge of the caucus, furthered the mistake by not addressing the claims until after the vote was held.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its a terrible message to send to Hoosiers, especially women who too often face workplace harassment, and proof that poor behavior by men elected to office isnt unique to any political party. The Democratic caucus had other options, including state Sen. Andrea Hunley, yet ultimately selected a man who will be tainted by these allegations moving forward.

State Sen. Shelli Yoder deserves credit. She declined to seek another term as assistant minority leader due to Taylors re-election.

The serious allegations involving my colleague Senator Taylor demanded accountability and action. While the outcome was not what I had hoped for, I did everything in my power to stand up for what is right and to ensure these issues were addressed  not for personal gain or political positioning, but because it was the right thing to do, Yoder said in a statement, according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle.

Thats another loss for the Indiana Democratic Party, as Yoder is one of its few bright spots when it comes to the Statehouse. Republicans hold a supermajority and infighting among Democrats over a poor and avoidable decision to re-elect Taylor only strengthens the GOPs position.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Women deserve the opportunity to work without fear of being sexually harassed. According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions latest three-year study, more than 78% of sexual harassment charges in the workplace were filed by women. Just imagine how many cases arent reported because women are scared of retribution or believe that nothing will be done about it.

Based on the actions of the Indiana Senate Democratic caucus, those women have a point.

If the claims are true, Taylor should step down from the leadership position and give serious consideration to resigning as a senator. Those who voted to retain Taylor as minority leader should do some soul-searching. Its hypocritical to espouse protections for women while selecting a man like Taylor for leadership.

Jeffersonville News and Tribune
KIGALI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda and the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) signed an agreement Monday to establish the institute's African Regional Office in Kigali, the Rwandan capital.

The agreement, signed by Rwanda's Minister of Health Sabin Nsanzimana and IVI Director General Jerome Kim, paves the way for the regional headquarters to serve as a hub for global health research, innovation, and collaboration, the Ministry of Health said in a statement late Monday night.

"The establishment of the International Vaccine Institute in Rwanda marks a significant step toward the sustained advancement of healthcare research and equitable access to vaccines across the continent and beyond," said Nsanzimana, adding that Rwanda is committed to addressing vaccine inequities through local production of vaccines, therapeutics, and other life-saving medical products.

The Kigali-based IVI office said it will represent IVI in Africa, expand its member base and engagement, and emphasize clinical trial training capacity. It will also foster joint grant applications with local partners to accelerate vaccine research and innovation across the continent.

The IVI, headquartered in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, was established in 1997 under the initiative of the United Nations Development Program. Its mission is to discover, develop, and deliver safe, effective, and affordable vaccines for global health. Rwanda was chosen to host the African office following a rigorous evaluation of proposals from five African nations.

Early this month, Rwanda and the African Union (AU) inaugurated the African Medicines Agency headquarters in Kigali, paving the way for the continental regulatory body's operations. The specialized AU agency will facilitate pandemic preparedness, expand access to medicines, support collaboration among regulators, and build resilient health systems across the continent.

Rwanda is also the first of three African nations to host an mRNA manufacturing facility, with vaccines dedicated to serving AU members and advancing access to innovative medicines. 
Drive through enough neighborhoods in Los Angeles, and you might notice an odd phenomenon: In front of some newer apartment and commercial buildings, the street is slightly wider, and the sidewalk meanders around the indentation. If several properties on a block have been recently redeveloped, the street begins to look like a jigsaw-puzzle piece, widening and narrowing repeatedly.

That's because new developments are often automatically required to dedicate part of their property to the city for road expansion  even if the road isn't congested.

In theory, these spot street widenings are supposed to improve traffic flow. In practice, because development happens sporadically, the parcel-by-parcel widenings end up taking out mature trees, parkways and sidewalk space while providing little to no congestion relief.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read more: Editorial: How L.A. squanders millions that could be spent fixing its streets and sidewalks

Worse, the mandate needlessly drives up the cost of housing. In an analysis of L.A.s street dedication ordinance published in 2016, UCLA urban planning professor Michael Manville surveyed several developers and estimated that the road widening cost them about $11,000 to $50,000 per unit.

I've studied urban regulations for 20 years, and this is probably the dumbest regulation I've ever encountered," Manville said recently.

Lawmakers are finally beginning to see spot street widening requirements for what they are: zombie regulations that don't accomplish what was intended but are really hard to kill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read more: Editorial: L.A. can't become an affordable, livable city by protecting single-family zoning

The state Legislature started trying to slay the zombie this year. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles) to limit local governments' power to require that housing developers widen the roads in front of their projects. Agencies may still require street dedications if they can demonstrate their necessity.

A Google Street View image of 1747 S. Barrington Ave. shows the road widening in front of a new apartment building. (Google Maps)

And this month, the Los Angeles City Council approved reforms designed to greatly reduce the number of spot street widenings. Proposed two years ago, the reforms will limit the circumstances when roadway widening is required. For example, the Bureau of Engineering will no longer automatically mandate spot widening in established neighborhoods.

The council also adopted a recommendation to change the municipal code so that road and sidewalk changes are required only if theyre needed for good street design, environmental reasons or to improve the experience of pedestrians and cyclists as well as motorists.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read more: How L.A. can fix our scary sidewalks for the Olympics

Thats important. For decades, Los Angeles prioritized drivers above all other road users  and vehicle speeds over safety and quality-of-life concerns.

The city began requiring street dedications in 1961. Even then, the Department of Building and Safety warned that the spot widenings would lead to irregular street alignments, thus hindering maintenance, drainage, and traffic flow, Manville wrote in his analysis. The idea was that properties would be continuously redeveloped and that the streets would eventually reach new, consistent widths.

Sixty-three years later, that hasnt happened. But builders have been ordered to chop down trees, tear out grass parkways, move streetlights and power poles, and even reduce sidewalk space  and for what? A couple of extra feet of asphalt that may not even be wide enough for street parking.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Plus, there is increasing recognition that wider streets encourage motorists to speed, which is not ideal for safe, walkable and pleasant streets.

Los Angeles needs more housing and safer streets. The city can't afford to keep zombie regulations that defeat those goals on the books.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Police in Laos have arrested eight people over the suspected mass methanol poisoning which killed six foreign tourists in backpacking hotspot Vang Vieng.

The Laos government promised justice after two Danish, two Australians, a Briton and an American citizen died after becoming ill following a night out at Nana Backpackers Hostel in the small riverside town on 12 November.

Police said those detained were all employees of Nana Backpacker Hostel, of Vietnamese nationality and aged between 23 and 44 years old.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Authorities say they suspect that the deaths were caused by poisoning, possibly due to tainted drinks laced with methanol.

The Vang Vieng district authorities launched investigation which is working alongside various ministries and organisations, said it is continuing to investigate the deaths and collect relevant data to determine the exact cause of deaths.

The government said it had been conducting investigations to find causes of the incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with the law.

However, little further information has been made available about the circumstances surrounding the deaths in the one-party communist state, where the media is tightly controlled.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Among those who died were Australian teenagers, Holly Bowles, 19, and Bianca Jones, 19.

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 confirmed last week.

Jones and Bowles were evacuated for an emergency treatment to Thailand after the poisoning. Thai authorities confirmed that Jones had died by brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system.

Simone White, a 28-year-old British woman, also died from suspected methanol poisoning during her stay in the district with her friend Bethany Clarke. Ms Clarke said they drank free shots offered by one of the bars and added that six of us who drank from the same place are in hospital currently with methanol poisoning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Two young Danish women Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, as well as the only male, a 57-year-old American, James Louis Hutson, also died.

At least 12 other foreign tourists were hospitalised after consuming the tainted drinks from the same guesthouse.

The deaths prompted governments in the US and UK to issue travel warnings to its citizens visiting the country in recent days. The UK urged its nationals travelling to Laos to only consume alcohol from licensed liquor stores and take care if [drinks are] offered, particularly for free, or when buying spirit-based drinks.

The idyllic town of Vang Vieng in central Laos which is surrounded by limestone mountains, at the centre of an international scandal after becoming a famous destination for young western backpackers for what is called tubing, where tourists ride a large, inflated rubber tyre tubes down the Nam Song River, taking halts at bars along the way.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It has earned the reputation as a destination on the Southeast Asian Banana Pancake Trail for its cheap bars and wild parties.

Methanol, a tasteless and odourless liquid, is sometimes added to liquor as a cheaper alternative to ethanol and has been blamed for mass deaths in Asia.

In 2012, around 50 people were killed in Cambodia after party-goers drank rice wine contaminated by methanol.

Between 2018 to 2019, at least 40 people have died in Philippines after drinking palm liquor- laced with methanol.
With increased political polarization, rules governing who can participate in primary elections have received more attention from advocates looking to reduce that polarization. That has led to an election reform movement across the country that during this past election put nine ballot measures before voters across seven states and Washington, seeking to reform current systems.

Reformers argue that party-focused systems exclude large swaths of independent voters who do not identify with any political party. Since candidates need to appeal to their partys base in order to advance to the general election, the choices voters are left with in November tend to represent party interests.

And reformers say that new systems would make elected officials more responsive to the entire electorate, as building a broader coalition of voters would be necessary to win.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In three other states, advocates who object to changing the system put measures on the ballot to reaffirm the status quo or repeal previously adopted reforms.

Primary election systems and the rules determining who can vote in them have long been debated. A key difference between sides is the purpose of the primary  is it how political parties choose their champions? Or is it simply the first stage of a two-stage contest that determines who holds public office?

In states that are dominated by a single party, primaries are often the decisive election for who takes office. Therefore, the rules governing primaries matter greatly. I have been researching the effects of primary systems for over a decade, particularly what happens when a state changes from one system to another, and can offer some insight.

In the 2024 election, voters proved hesitant to overhaul the election systems they were already familiar with, as almost all of the reforms failed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Voters become familiar with the electoral system they live under and can be slow to embrace changes to that system. It can take several election cycles before they fully adapt to these changes.

Primary election types

There are three major types of primary system: open primaries, where voters select which partys ballot they want to fill out in the privacy of the voting booth; closed primaries, where voters must publicly become a member of that party in order to receive their ballot; and multi-party primaries, where all candidates are listed on a single ballot, regardless of party, and a set number of top finishers advance to the general election.

While most states have some form of open or closed primary, which are partisan in nature, reformers across the U.S. have pushed for greater adoption of multi-party primaries.

California and Washington state use a top-two multiparty primary system, where all candidates, regardless of party, are listed together and the two candidates that receive the most votes advance to the general election, even if they are from the same party.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This turns the general election into a natural runoff where someone is guaranteed to receive more than 50% of the vote. South Dakota just rejected switching to this system.

In Alaska, a top-four system was recently implemented where the four candidates who get the most votes in the primary advance and the general election is decided by a ranked choice ballot system that eliminates the candidate receiving the lowest number of votes and redistributes their votes to the voters next preferred candidate until a 50% majority is achieved. This allows for an instant runoff without holding a separate election.

A repeal of the Alaskan system was one of this years ballot measures. After two weeks of counting votes, the repeal appears to have failed by a narrow 0.2 percentage-point margin, leaving the new system in place.

Voters in Alaska, some of whom are seen voting here at Anchorages City Hall, turned down by a narrow margin a repeal of recently adopted voting reforms. Hasan Akbas/Anadolu via Getty Images

Package deal or piecemeal

Four states  Arizona, Colorado, Idaho and Nevada  voted on ballot measures that sought to implement an Alaska-style change, combining new primary systems with a shift to a ranked choice system in the general election. Since voters were not able to pick just the elements they liked, this meant opposition to one part of the reform meant they were opposed to the entire reform.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Boise State Universitys Ninth Annual Idaho Public Policy Survey, conducted a year prior to the election, found Idahoans divided over the two components of its ballot measure. While a 58% majority favored a top-four primary system, 50% said they opposed ranked choice voting. Only 29% expressed support for both options at once  the combination that the ballot measure proposed.

What followed the survey was an intense year of campaigning by both sides, with nearly US$1 million spent trying to convince Idahoans to support or oppose the effort by the week prior to Election Day. The election result for Idahos ballot measure? Only 30% were in favor, 70% against. Idahoans were unmoved.

Montana reformers took a different approach and ran two proposals independently: One ballot measure would have established a top-four primary system, while a second would have required a 50% plus one majority threshold to win the general election. Whether that was accomplished by ranked choice voting or a separate runoff election was left up to the state Legislature.

While both measures failed, the top-four initiative failed by only 3 points, compared with the 50% plus one initiative failing by 21 points. Voters signaled a different tolerance for the two approaches.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Arizona, in addition to a potential reform that failed by 17 points, also got to vote on a constitutional amendment that would have required partisan primaries.

The proposal would have prohibited all forms of multi-party primaries for partisan office  including superseding any local laws that said otherwise  and guaranteed that political parties would have one candidate per office on a general election ballot. It too failed  by a 16-point margin. Despite a large fundraising advantage by pro-reform advocates, Arizona voters largely resisted any type of election change this year.

The impact of political parties

Party discipline at all levels, from elected officials and party leaders to rank-and-file members, may have been influential in these outcomes.

Political parties tend to view the purpose of a primary as selecting their nominee and will resist efforts to change that. In Idaho, Republican opposition to ranked choice voting was near unified, regardless of which faction of the party one belonged to. In Colorado, opposition came from both Republicans and Democrats. It was the same in Nevada.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While opposition to top-four primary reform is not as pronounced as that against ranked choice voting, the widespread failure of these ballot measures, often by double-digit margins  only Washington, D.C.s reform effort passed  suggests there is currently little appetite among voters for systemwide reform.

This leaves reform-minded groups with the choice of either starting over to try again or finding new ways to navigate the current systems.

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: Matthew May, Boise State University

Read more:



Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Matthew May 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.
A college student walks across the University of Idaho's Moscow campus. (Courtesy of the University of Idaho)

The Idaho State Board of Education is considering a proposal that would ban diversity-equity-inclusion programs on all college campuses.

But, in its deliberations, is the board also looking at the unintended consequences of such action?

A bit of background: The Idaho State Legislature has repeatedly expressed displeasure/distrust of DEI programs. Several legislators have called DEI unfair because it reportedly makes white students feel guilty about their place in society. To date, the Legislature has yet to define DEI despite heated debates on the topic. Still, in 2023 the Legislature passed a higher education budget prohibiting DEI activities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As a result, many state schools  including the University of Idaho  are preparing to disband their diversity programs. At UI, this would include the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Womens Center, the African American Student Center and the LGBTQA Center.

For many people, DEI means promoting fair treatment of all people, but especially those groups who have been historically underrepresented or objects of discrimination due to their identity or disability. Traditionally, this includes people of different races, cultural backgrounds, religions, physical or intellectual abilities, economic and political backgrounds.

In short, diversity includes those things which separate us from one another as humans. Many people consider DEI as human rights.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

By eliminating programs which can help people better understand other cultures and people, the SBOE and state Legislature will be placing Idaho students at a disadvantage in understanding the world.

As a professor, many times I had to explain to students why another culture was different. Not bad, just different. So many students made truly shocking/insulting statements to people of other cultures purely out of ignorance, often they did not know it was an insult. In the business world, it would be a disaster.

If Idaho is preparing students to work in this deeply interconnected world, the students must know how to interact with other cultures and people, or they will not be successful in their jobs.

Recently, UI administrators announced a new program designed to help first generation students cope better with college life. While this is a great start, by losing programs such as the Womens Center and the African American Student Center  along with groups for Latino/Chicano/Hispanic, Asian and Native American students  many students may feel as though they have no immediate support system.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Literally hundreds of my former female students used the Womens Center as a safe place. The support ranged from adjusting to life as a woman on campus to dealing with gender inequality to rape or dealing with trauma.

African American students have a particular need for such a center since Idaho is 80 percent white. Having a space where there are other people who look like them and understand their cultures is important for their own mental health. The same is true of other groups.

Therein lies the financial rub for the state in the form of an unintended consequence. Without such support systems in place, many students will choose another school, another state for college and Idaho will lose tuition. More importantly, they will lose the more expensive out-of-state and international tuition and a wide range of multicultural students who bring a wealth of knowledge to Idahoans.

There is also the issue of accreditation. University programs with national accreditation demand diversity programs; without diversity, the program loses accreditation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Idaho students could opt to go to another state rather than stay home, feeling they would be better supported emotionally and professionally elsewhere.

This is not to say there would be an immediate mass exodus from Idaho schools. What it will do is make recruiting the best and brightest students  and faculty  much more difficult, leading to a loss in both student and faculty retention and revenues for the schools.

Hopefully, the SBOE and Legislature will look carefully at all the consequences. Exposing students to other ideas is not a bad thing, it helps them with their critical thinking skills and determining their own ideals as adults.

But the bottom line is still the simple fact that if such a rule is passed, it will be the students who suffer first, then eventually the states finances as people decide not to go to school or work at Idahos colleges anymore.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Elon Musk says he still cant believe that his Department of Government Efficiency that President-elect Donald Trump tapped him to lead earlier this month is real.

The billionaire Tesla CEO was appointed by Trump to head the newly created department, also known as DOGE, in the politicians second administration alongside biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. (Ramaswamy holds shares in BuzzFeed, HuffPosts parent company.)

The proposed advisory commission, which is not an official government department, has garnered mixed reactions and sparked concerns about how it will operate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a post shared on his social media platform, X, formerly called Twitter, on Sunday, Musk wrote, I still cant believe @DOGE is real, alongside multiple crying-laughing emojis.

But I think its actually going to work, he added in a follow-up post.

Trump has described DOGE as an effort to slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. He has not detailed how it will be staffed or funded.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a loyal supporter of Trump, was recently tapped to head a new House subcommittee that will work in conjunction with DOGE.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a statement, Greene said if approved for the new position, our subcommittee will provide transparency and truth to the American people through hearings, according to ABC News.

The goal of DOGE is to bring accountability and GUT useless government agencies, she added.

Ramaswamy echoed Greenes promise to cut financial and bureaucratic waste while appearing on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures last week.

We expect certain agencies to be deleted outright, Ramaswamy said. We expect mass reductions in force in areas of the federal government that are bloated. We expect massive cuts among federal contractors and others who are overbilling the federal government.

Related...
A top State Department official privately said the Biden administration should have demonstrated greater concern for Palestinians at the start of Israels ongoing U.S.-backed offensive in the Gaza Strip and suggested that frustration among diplomats over the policy should be measured by their leaks to HuffPost.

A Nov. 7, 2023, email, which was subsequently leaked to HuffPost, depicts tense early conversations within the government over President Joe Bidens embrace of the Israeli military campaign. It also shows officials struggling to use the influence of the U.S.  Israels chief military and diplomatic backer  for purposes like Bidens stated goals of minimizing civilian casualties and securing a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In the email, Ned Price  then a senior adviser to Secretary of State Antony Blinken  described a discussion between State Department leaders and agency officials. The skeptics highlighted global criticism of Israels gruesome U.S.-backed airstrikes and invasion of Gaza and argued we made ourselves complicit in their excesses, Price wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Price sent the message, marked sensitive but unclassified, to fellow high-ranking officials amid a wave of internal State Department listening sessions and town halls organized as outrage grew among the agencys staff. He began the email by sharing his view of whether those workforce discussions were adequately addressing State Department officials concerns.

The proof will be in the pudding  or the Huffington Post, he wrote, using the former name for HuffPost and adding that a session he ran that day seemed to go fairly smoothly.

HuffPost first reported on widespread dissent over the Gaza policy among U.S. government officials, and the mutiny brewing at the State Department in particular, over the administrations reluctance to draw a firmer line with Israel as it retaliated for the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by the Gaza-based Palestinian militant group Hamas.

In his email, Price wrote he was offering a synopsis of a meeting he held hours earlier with officials from across the department. He said he expressed: There are things that the Administration could/should have done differently at the outset, e.g. focusing messaging on the humanitarian piece from day-one and consistently going to great lengths to differentiate the Palestinian people from Hamas, among other elements.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Price, a former spokesperson for the State Department under Biden and for the White House under President Barack Obama, added that he sought to explain why the administration chose its post-Oct. 7 approach.

His portrayal echoes public and private arguments from other Biden aides that public support for Israel made it possible for Washington to privately push Israeli officials on matters like humanitarian aid for Palestinians and alterations of fighting plans to shield innocent people. A key factor in that tack was Bidens view that his years of working on foreign policy meant he knew how best to handle the Israelis, according to current and former officials.

I walked through that rationale, pegged to our policy goals and the sincerely held belief  informed by decades of experience among our principals  re how to maximize leverage with our Israeli partners, wrote Price, who is now the deputy to the U.S. representative to the United Nations.

Additionally, he argued the Biden administration had undergone a constructive evolution in its remarks about the war.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Price cited news conferences by Blinken, seemingly referring to a Nov. 3 appearance in Israel when the secretary said we need to do more to protect Palestinian civilians and his Nov. 6 support for a pause in the fighting in Gaza. And he pointed to a Nov. 6 White House statement about a call between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that noted: The President reiterated his steadfast support for Israel and the protection of Israeli citizens from Hamas and all other threats while also emphasizing the imperative to protect Palestinian civilians and reduce civilian harm in the course of military operations.

Despite those administration statements, Price wrote, even among some segments of our workforce, impressions seem to have calcified in the early days.

A State Department spokesperson declined to comment on the arguments in the email and the specific reference to HuffPost.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Critics of Bidens Gaza policy say its chief flaw is not messaging but a lack of tangible pressure that meaningfully shifts Israeli behavior.

Officials at the State Department and other government agencies have urged the administration to consider cutting off U.S. weapons for Israel unless it does more to limit civilian suffering. A sizable coalition of lawmakers and humanitarian and human rights groups have echoed those calls, saying the current American policy allows Israel to violate international and U.S. laws governing conduct in warfare and, by extension, puts the Biden administration itself in breach of the law.

Israel says it respects international standards for military operations and American statutes governing the use of U.S.-provided military equipment.

Though the Biden administration conceded in May it is reasonable to assess that [U.S.-provided weapons] have been used by Israeli security forces since October 7 in instances inconsistent with its [international law] obligations or with established best practices for mitigating civilian harm, the administration has continued sending bombs and other weaponry to Israel and resisting efforts to alter its policy, including a push against some arms deals by senators last week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Administration spokespeople regularly cite moves by Israel that appear to address humanitarian concerns, but experts say the problem is inconsistency and that ad hoc changes so far are insufficient given the scale of the crisis in Gaza.

Exasperation with Bidens approach and fears it is enabling atrocities and damaging Americas standing abroad persist inside the administration, officials have told HuffPost.

Last week, the International Criminal Court (ICC) bolstered global pressure over the Gaza war by issuing arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister. Former State Department lawyer Brian Finucane told HuffPost the step was one more reminder to U.S. officials that they have been aiding and abetting men credibly accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Josh Paul, a veteran State Department official who quit over Bidens Gaza policy, said he continues to hear internal alarm among government staff.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The degree of dissent has, if anything,increased over the past year, said Paul, whose October 2023 resignation was first reported by HuffPost. Since then, four other State Department officials have publicly resigned because of their opposition to the U.S. role, as have several staff at other agencies and military personnel.

Scores of diplomats have signed formal rebukes over the Gaza policy using a special State Department channel for internal critique  joining a chorus of concerned civil servants across Western countries close to Israel. HuffPost revealed when the first of the so-called dissent cables was in the works. The State Department has said Blinken welcomes different points of view.

Bidens obstinacy has limited internal pushback since, and some State Department officials skeptical of his approach have told HuffPost they felt the criticism was never taken seriously.

The degree to which dissent is expressed internally has decreased, and that is because people have found that it is not making a difference, so many people have essentially just given up and decided not to work on these issues, said Paul, who now runs a lobbying organization called A New Policy that seeks a more balanced U.S. approach to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The State Departments listening sessions and town halls even at their peak were only about trying to massage the dissent rather than address it, he added.

The Biden administration could still ramp up efforts to help Palestinian civilians before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Israel is imposing restrictions on aid that have recently reduced the amount of food entering Gaza to nearly the lowest levels seen during the war, and deadly Israeli strikes continue on targets in the region that include hospitals.

Men mourn over the bodies of victims from an Israeli airstrike outside a hospital in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, on Nov. 17. Abdel Kareem Hana/Associated Press

Twenty White House staffers sent an internal letter to the president and top officials on Nov. 18 urging them to pressure Israel to end its offensives in Gaza, Lebanon and the occupied West Bank, and demonstrate accountability for sending U.S. support to Israel in seeming violation of American law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its time for this administration to think about their legacy, one signatory of the letter, an official with a decade of experience working at the White House, recently told HuffPost.

The Biden teams decisions arguably have even greater significance now as Trump appears poised to institute a policy that involves less scrutiny of Israel.

On its current course, the outgoing administration is laying the groundwork for Trump by disregarding U.S. law and echoing Israels condemnations of the ICC warrants, Paul said.

Rather than even consider the advice of government officials, the incoming Trump administration will likely target those who question overwhelming U.S. support for Israel.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trumps choice for secretary of state, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), has demanded investigations of federal employees who signed a letter seeking a cease-fire in Gaza. His choice for ambassador to the United Nations, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), has sought to clamp down on anti-war protests on college campuses.

There is concern that expressing dissent on this issue at this time will put people at the top of the list for dismissal under Schedule F, Paul told HuffPost, referring to a policy Trump plans to institute to make it easier to fire bureaucrats.

The Hamas-led attack that sparked the current Israeli-Palestinian fighting killed 1,200 Israelis, the majority of them civilians, and led to 250 people being taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities. The Israeli campaign in Gaza since then has killed more than 44,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, health officials there report, and has reduced the strip to a wasteland.

Do you have information you want to share anonymously about the State Department, Gaza policy or related matters? Contact akbar.58 on Signal.

Related...
EMANUEL COUNTY, Ga. (WJBF)  The Emanuel County Sheriff has recovered five vehicles stolen from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

Sheriff Jeff Brewer tells NewsChannel 6 that the vehicles were being sold by individuals living in Emanuel County.

Three suspects have been arrested with the assistance of Swainsboro Police Department, were allegedly selling relatively new vehicles through Facebook Marketplace for low prices.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They have been identified as Josues Alejandr Martane and Simone David of Houston, Texas; and Nelson David Camacho of Arlington, Texas.

The VIN numbers were also tampered with.

Josues Alejandr Martane

Simone David

Nelson David Camacho

Authorities say the suspects are Venezuelan and in the United States Illegally.

The Emanuel County Sheriffs Office wants the public to be aware if you recently purchased a vehicle from David Guerrero on Facebook Marketplace, or purchased a relatively new vehicle for a low price.

Those who believe they have been encountered an individual selling possibly stolen vehicle to please call (478) 237-7526 and speak with an Investigator.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to Sheriff Brewer, hes communicated with other law enforcement agencies in the surrounding area that are also recovering stolen vehicles from DFW.

This is a developing story.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Emerson College researchers released the November 2024 National Poll showing how Democrat and Republican voters feel after the election.

The poll finds President-elect Donald Trump has 54% of voter support. His favorability rating was closer to 48% before the election. At the same time, President Bidens approval rating among surveyed voters dropped to 36%, the lowest it has been since he has held the Oval Office.

Support for Trump varies between gender, race, and age groups. Emerson researchers said 61% of men view Trump favorably, while 48% of women feel positively about him. Trump has support from 59% of White voters, 53% of Hispanic voters, and 28% of Black voters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Part of the President-elects growth in favorability came from voters younger than 30 years old. About 55% of them expressed support for Trump. His strongest age cohort is with voters in their 40s and 50s with 60% saying they view him favorably.

Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said voters were asked how surprised they were by the results of the 2024 election.

There is a sharp difference in reaction to the election results based on who voters supported: 67% of Harris voters were surprised by the results, while 71% of Trump voters were not surprised by his victory, Kimball said.

Support for potential cabinet nominees is more mixed than support for the incoming Commander in Chief. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received 47% support, while Tulsi Gabbard and Dr. Mehmet Oz saw 40% and 41% favorable responses respectively.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pollsters are beginning to map a road to the White House in 2028. They offered participants an open-ended question about who they would potentially vote for in the next election cycle. 37% of Democrats surveyed said they would vote for Kamala Harris if she ran again. Others say they would support Gavin Newsom (7%) and Pete Buttigieg (4%) were other popular choices, over Gretchen Whitmer (3%), Josh Shapiro (3%), Michelle Obama (2%), and Bernie Sanders (2%). The largest bloc behind Harris supporters were those who said they were undecided (35%).

Republican voters were also largely undecided (51%) about who should take the White House in 2028. Vice President-elect JD Vance received 30% support. Other potential nominees included Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (5%), Vivek Ramaswamy (3%), Nikki Haley (2%) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (2%).

Respondents who listed Donald Trump as their preferred nominee were reclassified into the undecided category as he is ineligible to run for a third term under the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(WBOY)  After becoming the 100th woman to ever go to space last week, West Virginia native Emily Calandrelli said she spent her flight home crying after she watched hoards of men sexualize and belittle her on the internet.

Calandrelli became one of the few West Virginians and the 100th woman to go to space on Friday after a successful 10-minute Blue Origin flight on the New Shepard.

NS-28 Astronaut Emily Calandrelli during training at Launch Site One. (November 20, 2024, Blue Origin photo)

A video of her emotional reaction while on the flight was shared on social media, but it was taken down across all platforms within 24 hours because small men on the internet tried to humiliate, belittle, and objectify her, according to an Instagram post Calandrelli made on Nov. 24.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I refuse to be embarrassed for my wonderment and joy. I love that I am someone who feels experiences with her whole heart, Calandrelli said in part.

UHC becomes first West Virginia hospital to use new technology to detect cancer in surgery

The post said that Calandrelli plans to share the video on her own social media platforms soon.

The Morgantown native is known for science programs Emilys Wonder Lab on Netflix and Emilys Science Lab on YouTube and has a large following on Instagram and TikTok as The Space Gal. She was one of six people on Fridays New Shepard flight and one of two women.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You can read Calandrellis full post on her Instagram page 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.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  After personally identifiable information was leaked in a cybersecurity incident at Granite School District, all employees have been urged to place fraud alerts on their accounts, according to the district.

In a statement shared with ABC4.com, district officials said employees and patrons were first notified of the breach on Oct. 18, with additional emails being sent on Nov. 20, Nov. 22, and Nov. 25.

Not a fan of skiing or snowboarding? Here are some other winter activities to do in Utah

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Granite School District invests significant resources into protecting our student and employee information, the statement reads. Even with those investments, we recently experienced a cyber security incident that resulted in the compromise of personal identifiable information.

The investigation is ongoing, and the district said it is still working to determine what type of information has been compromised after the incident.

The district said its information technology team has been working with the Utah State Board of Education, the FBI, the Utah Cyber Security Center, and an external forensic cyber security team to look into the incident.

We know this has caused enormous stress and frustration for our employees and patrons, the district said. We regret the actions of the threat actors and the extra burden this has placed on families leading up to the holiday season.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Granite School District said it will send out more communications after all individuals who have been affected have been given the proper resources and support.

We are working diligently to minimize the impact as much as possible, Granite School District said.

Connor Comeau 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 ABC4 Utah.
From the The Collision on The Dispatch

Welcome back one final time to The Collision! Things have been quiet around here, and like special counsel Jack Smith, it looks like well be shutting down our look at the collision between presidential politics and the law. (But we still have a bunch of other great newsletters, so dont miss your chance to take $25 off an annual membership. Use the code BLACKFRIDAY to give yourself the gift of better understanding and subscribe to The Dispatch today. Join now!)

The Docket

There will be no sentencing of Donald Trump for his New York criminal conviction today or possibly ever. Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records under New York state law in May. But Trump was never sentenced and now that he won the presidential election, whether the conviction will even stand is unclear. With appeals pending, Judge Juan Merchan last week granted Trumps request to file a motion to dismiss his criminal case as well as postponing the sentencing hearing that had been scheduled for today. Merchans order requires Trumps legal team to submit its motion by the end of December 2 while prosecutors have a week to respond. What does this mean? That Trump is unlikely to be sentenced before he is inaugurated as president in January. And while he holds the office of the presidency, further proceedingsincluding appeals and sentencingwill have to wait for four more years because it would interfere with his ability to execute the duties of his office.

Here, by the way, was Trump spokesman (and incoming White House communications director) Steve Cheungs response to the news out of Manhattan: 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. All of the sham lawfare attacks against President Trump are now destroyed and we are focused on Making America Great Again.

Down in Georgia last week, the states court of appeals canceled oral arguments scheduled for December 5 in the question concerning whether Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis should be disqualified from prosecuting her election interference case against Trump and several co-conspirators. While its still unclear why the court is no longer holding oral argumentsone of the attorneys for a co-defendant suggested to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that it could mean the court will decide the question on the merits without a need for any oral argumentsit does represent another lengthy delay. And, again, no matter if Willis is retained or a new prosecutor is selected to continue pursuing the case, a state cannot continue to pursue criminal charges against someone who currently holds the office of the president.

Although a state almost certainly cannot pursue criminal charges against a sitting president under our Constitution, the Supreme Court has previously heldduring the Clinton administrationthat civil processes may continue. This will include the New York attorney generals fraud case, which resulted in a $450 million judgement against Trump and the Trump organization and is currently being appealed. It also includes both the $5 million judgement and the separate $83 million judgment against Trump in which he was found liable for liable for sexual abuse and defamation against E. Jean Carroll. Trumps nominee for solicitor general, John Sauer, argued on appeal to the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in September that the jury was prevented from certain evidence and that other inflammatory testimony was improperly introduced during the trial.

The annual presidential turkey pardon ceremony was a relatively dour affair, as President Joe Biden went light on the jokes Monday at the White House and struck a more somber tone ahead of his final Thanksgiving as president. From the New York Post: Retiring President Biden granted a presidential reprieve Monday to poultry named Peach and Blossom at the traditional pre-Thanksgiving turkey pardon  as hard-partying two-time felon Hunter Biden, who has been at the White House since last week, is still waiting to learn if his dad will give him clemency. Okay, then.

Collision Averted

The federal prosecution of Donald Trump is going out with a whimper.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Special counsel Jack Smith filed a motion Monday to dismiss his offices case against Trump in Washington, D.C. Smith argued that his election interference case, per the guidance of the Justice Department and the famous 2000 opinion from the departments Office of Legal Counsel, should be dismissed before Trumps inauguration on January 20. Simply put, a sitting president cannot be prosecuted by his own Justice Department.

That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Governments proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind, Smiths filing read.

By that same justification, Smith argued in a separate filing on Monday to dismiss his offices appeal of the decision by Judge Aileen Cannon to dismiss his classified-documents case against Trump in the Southern District of Florida. (Remember when Cannon did this, way back in the summer, before President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race? It was forever ago.)

Meanwhile, it took just a couple of hours for Judge Tanya Chutkan of the D.C. Circuit Court to respond to Smiths request. She granted the motion, dismissing without prejudice the superseding indictment on Trumps election interference in a single-page order. Theoretically, that means the case could be brought again once Trump leaves office in a little more than four years. But effectively? Its over, done, kaput.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The American People re-elected President Trump with an overwhelming mandate to Make America Great Again, said Steven Cheung in a statement after news of Smiths election-interference motion broke. Todays decision by the DOJ ends the unconstitutional federal cases against President Trump, and is a major victory for the rule of law. The American People and President Trump want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country.

But its not clear whether the special counsels work is entirely done. Under Department of Justice regulations, a special counsel doesnt get to just close the books and walk off into the sunset.

At the conclusion of the Special Counsels work, he or she shall provide the Attorney General with a confidential report explaining the prosecution or declination decisions reached by the Special Counsel, the regulatory language states. What exactly will Smiths report to Attorney General Merrick Garland say? Of course, it could be a one-page summary of Smiths court filings in these cases with the indictments attached in the appendix. Or  not.

In the January 6 case, the indictment itself provided a fulsome description of the evidence that Smith intended to present at trial, but did the DOJ have any yet-to-be-made-public bombshells in the classified documents case? Does Smith have some parting shots for the Supreme Courts immunity decision that hed like to share with the class? If Smith provides a more detailed report to Garland, will the AG release it to the public ahead of Trumps inauguration? Would releasing such a report be more likely to kneecap Trump politically just weeks before he takes office or would it simply make the Department of Justice look bitter and partisan?

And solike any show that gets unexpectedly canceled before the next season was set to airwe leave you with a few loose ends and a cliffhanger that may never be resolved. More likely than not, this is the last Collision newsletter. But never say never 

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.
If you have an abiding interest in American history, as I do, I suggest that you pay close attention to what is happening in Washington D.C. as we speak. What youre witnessing is probably the last special counsel or special prosecutor that will ever be appointed to investigate a president or prosecute a former president. What began in 1973 with the appointment of former Solicitor General Archibald Cox as a special prosecutor to investigate the Watergate affair, as it was popularly known, came to a screeching halt Monday when special counsel Jack Smith filed a motion to drop all January 6 charges against Donald Trump. Hours later, Judge Tanya Chutkin granted Smiths motion and dismissed the four felony counts against Trump.

Not one, but two federal grand juries had indicted Trump for violating federal laws by attempting to get the results of the 2020 election overturned. The second grand jury was empaneled after the Supreme Court last summer issued its infamous decision in Trump v. United States essentially giving him immunity from prosecution for anything he did while serving his first term in the White House. Oh, they dressed up the decision as best they could to make it seem like they hadnt given Trump a get-out-of-jail-free card by creating two categories of presidential acts  official and unofficial  and saying the immunity applied absolutely to the first and presumptively to the last. But that was a joke all along, as Trumps lawyers immediately filed for charges to be dropped against him, calling all of his actions as president official. With a Supreme Court containing six arch-conservative members, three of whom were appointed by Trump himself, there was little doubt which way the court would rule whenever Trumps appeals reached them.

The whole idea of special counsels has occupied a gray area of the law and politics all along. Richard Nixon got rid of Archibald Cox as special prosecutor in the infamous Saturday night massacre, which also resulted in the resignation of Elliot Richardson, Nixons attorney general, as well as his deputy, William Ruckelshaus, after they refused to carry out Nixons order to fire Cox. Nixon had to appoint the odious Robert Bork, then solicitor general, to replace Cox as acting attorney general in order to get someone in office at the Department of Justice who was willing to carry out his order to fire Cox.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is what happened in addition to the firings that night in October of 1973 that probably added to the motivation of special counsel Smith to drop the charges today. Immediately after Cox was fired and Richardson and Ruckelshaus had resigned, Nixons chief of staff, Alexander M. Haig, ordered the cordoning off of all three of their offices. The FBI moved in to seal the offices of the special prosecutor, the attorney general, and the deputy attorney general. All their papers and the so-called work product of Coxs investigation of Watergate were seized, including materials that not yet been presented to a grand jury that was hearing evidence against Nixon. Evidence the grand jury had seen was also among the papers seized in the middle of the night. Grand jury testimony and evidence was secret and considered sacrosanct within the DOJ. Special prosecutor Cox issued a statement late that night after his firing and the seizure of all evidence from his office: Whether we shall continue to be a Government of laws and not of men is now for Congress and ultimately the American people to decide.

The outcry after the Saturday Night Massacre resulted less than two weeks later in Leon Jaworski's appointment to replace Cox. Jaworski would go on to sue Nixon over the White House tapes. The suit would land at the Supreme Court, which ruled that Jaworski had the right to sue Nixon and that Nixon had to hand over the tapes, not the summaries he had attempted to yield previously, to the special prosecutor. That decision came on July 24, 1974. On August 9, after the House judiciary committee voted on articles of impeachment, Nixon resigned the presidency.

Well, the long and the short of it is that were in a different age, with a different Supreme Court, and certainly a different former president who was being investigated by Smith, and who will return to office on January 20 of next year, having won the 2024 election earlier this month. During the campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly said he would fire special prosecutor Smith on day one, and his surrogates have been all over television since the election claiming that not only will anyone in the Department of Justice associated with the prosecution of Trump be fired, but that charges would be brought against Jack Smith and all the prosecutors in his office.

It's obvious that Smith is trying to get ahead of Trump firing him and his assistant prosecutors. The Florida charges against Trump for theft and mishandling of government secrets were already dismissed by Judge Aileen Cannon. Smith had filed a motion with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to reinstate the charges. He will doubtlessly drop that motion, and the Florida charges against Trump will disappear in the same way the Washington charges have.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Smiths motion to drop the January 6 charges against Trump was filed without prejudice, which means that the charges can be refiled at some point in the future. Because Trump has not yet taken office, the Department of Justice and the office of the special counsel are still under the control of Merrick Garland, who appointed Smith, and President Joe Biden, who appointed Garland.

Smith and his assistant prosecutors will probably now resign their commissions as special counsels, and the office will be closed. The work product of both investigations, into Trumps actions surrounding January 6 and his theft and mishandling of secret documents, belongs to the United States government. I dont know what will become of all that evidence. I do know that there are copying machines throughout the Department of Justice. I know that flash drives are available cheap on Amazon and from places like Best Buy, so I would expect that the evidence will be preserved in some manner by what we might call parties interested in the preservation of democracy. Perhaps Smith could prevail upon Judge Chutkan to issue some sort of court order for the preservation of evidence. It is beyond unlikely that Judge Cannon would issue such an order, so thats not going to happen in the classified documents case.

I cant predict the future, but from what I know about the Department of Justice, I think Trump would find it difficult to get Jack Smith and any of his assistant prosecutors indicted for doing jobs they had been assigned to as employees of the Department of Justice. For an example of what happened the last time Trump sought punitive investigations of prosecutors, we need look no further than Attorney General William Barrs appointment of John Durham to investigate the investigators associated with the Mueller investigation of the Trump campaigns Russia associations.

Durham spent three years trying to get something on the Mueller investigators. He managed to convict one FBI officer of altering an email associated with renewing a FISA wiretap of former Trump campaign official Carter Page. The FBI official, Kevin Clinesmith, pleaded guilty to a single charge of adding the phrase, and not a source to a CIA statement about the agencys prior association with Page. Clinesmith got 12 months probation and 400 hours of community service. Durhams other big prosecution was of Michael Sussmann for lying to the FBI about who he was representing concerning an investigation of a bank allegedly associated with the Trump campaign. Sussmann was acquitted by a jury after only six hours of deliberation. Two prosecutors resigned from Durhams team in protest of the prosecution.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Special counsel Jack Smith and his team of prosecutors are getting out while the getting is good, as the saying goes. Trump failed with the appointment of his chief lackey, Matt Gaetz, to be attorney general. So he appointed former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi instead.

The next four years will tell us how successful Donald Trump will be in politicizing the United States system of justice from top to bottom. Hes already got the Supreme Court on his team. Will Pam Bondi be able to bring the DOJ along with her? Stay tuned.
WACO, Texas (FOX 44)  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing giraffes under the Endangered Species Act, aiming to bolster conservation efforts for the iconic species.

The proposal focuses on several subspecies of the northern giraffe, native to central, eastern, and western Africa. This decision comes in response to a dramatic decline in giraffe populations, largely due to poaching, habitat loss, and climate change.

If finalized, the designation would offer enhanced protections for giraffes in the U.S., potentially reducing illegal hunting and increasing funding for global conservation initiatives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At the Cameron Park Zoo, where the giraffe exhibit is a popular attraction, efforts to ensure the well-being of the animals are already underway.

Gordon Henley, the Zoos general curator, emphasizes its collaboration with multiple organizations in giraffes natural habitats. Their goal is to ensure that the majestic creatures have safe spaces to live and thrive.

We participate in whats called an SSP, which is a Species Survival Plan, and that ensures that theres always a captive population for zoos to be able to have and exhibit giraffes. So that way we no longer have to take animals out of the wild or anything like that. We have a sustainable population within the United States so that we will always have a secure population, Henley explains.

Henley also notes that the proposed endangered status provides added protection for giraffes in the Zoos care.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If we were to try to import giraffes or increase our pedigree in a captive setting, this will provide more layers of protection for those animals, Henley says.

For zoo visitors like Eric Tignor, a lifelong animal lover and veterinary student, the news was both surprising and concerning.

I think, like, all animals going endangered, it sucks. You know, You never want to hear about that. But like, you know, giraffes, theyre kind of majestic, says Tignor. I just hope they take care of them. I think thats what we all want from all zoos is just to make sure that you know, their animals are being well fed and just well-groomed, well, taken care of.

Tignors concern is shared by many visitors who are unaware of the ongoing threats facing giraffes in the wild. The Zoos educational efforts, Henley adds, are key to spreading awareness about these issues.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Henley says if any visitors have questions about their giraffes Dane, Elley, and Jenny, zoo staff will be happy to answer any questions.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services proposed action is part of a larger effort to ensure giraffe conservation, both in the wild and within U.S. borders. By providing these protections, the agency aims to help curb illegal hunting and support sustainable conservation programs, ensuring that the United States does not contribute to the species decline.

As the giraffe population continues to dwindle across the globe, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services action serves as a crucial step in safeguarding the future of these skyscrapers of the savanna.

For zoos like Cameron Park, its a reminder of the ongoing responsibility to protect these gentle giants and educate the public on the urgent need for their preservation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44.
ENDICOTT, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  A number of people were displaced over the weekend as fire ravaged an apartment building in Endicott.

Endicott firefighters were called to 310 East Main Street at about 6:50 p.m. on Saturday for what was originally reported as a smoke condition.

Firefighters discovered the back porch fully engulfed, and the flames spread into the second and third floors and the roof. First responders quickly evacuated people from the building.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One person took a private vehicle to the hospital for treatment of an injury.

The Red Cross is assisting the tenants with temporary shelter.

The fire remains under investigation.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34.
ENDWELL, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  New York State Police arrested an Endwell man for setting fire to his apartment and then threatening first responders with a knife.

Police responded to 2708 North Street just before midnight on Saturday November 16.

Police say 46-year-old Michael Stephens started the fire, menaced police officers with a knife before retreating into his apartment.

A trooper used a ladder to climb up to a window and remove Stephens from the home.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Stephens was taken to Wilson Hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation.

Hes charged with arson and menacing a police officer.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34.
Denmark has long trailed its Nordic neighbors in attracting foreign shoots to its shores, but that might be about to change.

The countrys government is to introduce a production rebate scheme worth 125M krone ($17.5M) to overseas productions. Expected to launch in 2026, the hope is it will be put Denmark in the frame for more film and TV shoots that the likes of Sweden, Iceland or Norway might otherwise snag and turn the European country into a production powerhouse.

More from Deadline

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Danish government noted that the Swedish scheme amounts to about half of the new offer, with the Norwegian scheme also far smaller.

The actual shape of the scheme is yet to be determined, but Minister of Culture Jakob Engel-Schmidt will begin a dialog with industry leaders to create the system. What is known is productions shot in Denmark will have some costs incurred during production reimbursed.

Denmark has a huge strategic interest in laying the groundwork for strong film and TV productions, said Engel-Schmidt. Its crazy that a series like Miss Smillas Sense of Snow, which takes place in Greenland and Denmark, has been filmed in Latvia, Lithuania and Iceland, all of which have production discounts. Its a waste of jobs, Danish storytelling tradition and exposure of our fantastic kingdom.

Engel-Schmidts team noted that Netflix has previously stated it has 16 planned productions in Sweden, six in Norway and only three in Denmark during the 2024-26 period.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thats why Im proud that we are now taking a big step towards making Denmark a European powerhouse for film and TV productions. And who knows, maybe the next version of the hit series Emily in Paris will involve the main character moving to Copenhagen?

Minister of Cities and Rural Districts Morten Dahlin added that film and TV productions help showcase Denmark abroad, and would attract tourism and revenue from abroad. It is therefore enormously good news for both Danish film and TV production and for Danish tourism that we can now introduce a discount on productions shot in Denmark, he added.

The Danish government noted the cultural contribution levy on international streamers is expected to generate 98M krone next year, and that extraordinary film support has been dished out this year to the tune of 40M krone.

Production rebates already exist in all other European countries (except Luxembourg), meaning this relief system is well overdue in Denmark, which is known for creating the Nordic noir genre and shows such as The Killing, Nordland 99 and The Bridge.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I am very pleased that Denmark will now become a more attractive country for production of films and series, said Anna Porse Nielsen, Director of Denmarks Producers Association.

Best of Deadline

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Yes, many of the characters in Gladiator and its new sequel are based on actual figures from ancient Rome

Aidan Monaghan/Paramount Pictures Denzel Washington in "Gladiator II" Denzel Washington in "Gladiator II"

Gladiator II might seem too wild to be believed  Colosseum rhinos and baboons and sharks, oh my!  but its based on real-life Roman history and people.

Many of the characters in director Ridley Scotts Paul Mescal-starring sequel are inspired by history, says Roman culture expert Shadi Bartsch, the University of Chicagos Helen A. Regenstein Distinguished Service Professor of Classics.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Just as Joaquin Phoenix played Commodus, an actual Roman emperor, in the 2000 hit starring Russell Crowe, the new characters Geta, Caracalla and Macrinus each did rule the empire.

Note: Gladiator II spoilers follow.

There was a guy called Macrinus, who was a Roman Emperor who ruled right after Caracalla, confirms Bartsch of the character played in the movie by Denzel Washington. A Berber with darker skin, Macrinus was born in the Roman province of Mauritania, which happens to be in North Africa, she says, noting that the empire in those times was "an interestingly colorblind society."

Related: Ridley Scott Says Russell Crowe Once Asked to Star in Gladiator II: 'I Want to Come Back from the Dead' (Exclusive)

Aidan Monaghan/Paramount Pictures (Left-right:) Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal and Connie Nielsen in 'Gladiator II' (Left-right:) Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal and Connie Nielsen in 'Gladiator II'

Macrinus "was the first Emperor who did not come from the senatorial class, instead serving under Caracalla as a Praetorian prefect dealing with Romes civic affairs, adds Bartsch.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, despite eventually ruling, he was also the first emperor who never, ever got to visit Rome. He was an absent Roman emperor.

This contrasts with the events of Gladiator II, in which Scott and writers David Scarpa and Peter Craig keep Washingtons character almost entirely within the ancient city. From there, Macrinus maneuvers Mescals Lucius Verus (a fictional character, although that name is borrowed from the real-life Marcus Aurelius brother) to fight in the Colosseum while he jockeys for power behind the scenes.

Related: Denzel Washington Says He Didnt Know the Right Way to Greet King Charles at the Gladiator II Premiere

All you had to do was have an army and kill the previous emperor in order to rule, explains Bartsch. You would travel with your army around the Roman provinces continuing warfare, continuing to enlarge the boundaries of the emperor. But you didn't have to come to Rome, and Macrinus didn't.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Furthermore, the Macrinus depicted by Washington calls himself a formerly enslaved person, which differs from history: Macrinus was definitely not a former slave.

Aidan Monaghan/Paramount Pictures Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington in 'Gladiator II' Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington in 'Gladiator II'

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The movies Caracalla, played by Fred Hechinger, and Geta, played by Joseph Quinn, were in fact co-emperors around the time Macrinus was gaining power. Their father, emperor Severus, wanted them to rule together, says Bartsch, which they did  until, two years later, Caracalla has Geta killed so that he doesn't have to share the rule.

While its not accurate that Macrinus would have assisted Caracalla in murdering Geta by their own hands, as is depicted in the movie, the large-scale transfers of power are based on real history, as Bartsch explains: Macrinus later conspired against Caracalla and had him murdered in a bid to protect his own life.

Paramount Pictures Fred Hechinger and Joseph Quinn in 'Gladiator II' Fred Hechinger and Joseph Quinn in 'Gladiator II'

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Related: Ridley Scott Says 'There's Already an Idea' for Gladiator III

What about the movie depicting poor Caracalla as having syphilis? Nope, answers Bartsch. If he were an advanced syphilitic, his nose tip would be black.

Gladiator II, also starring Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi, is in theaters now.
"In an era where cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated, we urge the EPA to prioritize the resilience of our water systems."

Food & Wine / Photo Illustration by Doan Nguyen / Getty Images

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Inspector General is warning millions of Americans that their water may be vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks.



On Nov. 13, the agency released its Management Implication Report, highlighting vulnerabilities throughout the drinking and wastewater utility industry across the nation. The report conducted a "passive assessment," which covered 1,062 drinking water systems that serve 193 million people across the United States, to identify "cybersecurity vulnerabilities." It noted that its results from an October 8, 2024 scan identified 97 drinking water systems, which serve approximately 26.6 million users, as having "critical or high-risk cybersecurity vulnerabilities."

The findings also explained that, "Although not rising to a level of critical or high-risk cybersecurity vulnerabilities, an additional 211 drinking water systems, servicing over 82.7 million people, were identified as medium and low by having externally visible open portals."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Related: Some of Amazon's Best Black Friday Deals Are Already Live, and We Found the 50 Greatest

A cyberattack on water might sound strange, but the goal of these assaults is to target the digital systems that support major infrastructures. It requires an expansive digital network to manage the drinking water for millions of people, ensuring that they have consistent access to clean, properly-treated water. It's this underlying computer system that's under threat, and which is crucial to ensuring that the quality of our water is safe. Halting the distribution of water in the case of a cyberattack harms individuals by limiting their access to water, and can also have dramatic financial impacts for distributors.

One example given is the California State Water Project, which serves over 27 million people, accounting for more than two-thirds of Californias population. The report noted that if there was a state-wide water service disruption, it could have the potential to cost "at least $61 billion in lost revenue per day."



Even smaller communities could face a massive economic impact. The report reviewed Charlotte Water, which serves over 890,000 people across six counties near Charlotte, North Carolina. It outlined that if there was a water service disruption across all Charlotte Water facilities, it could cost at least $132 million in lost revenue per day, and depending on the extent and location of damages, "replacement costs for all facilities could exceed $5 billion."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The agency has long-standing concerns with cybersecurity-related threats and vulnerabilities facing the water sector and continues to work diligently within the water sector to mitigate these vulnerabilities by providing direct technical assistance, guidance, tools, training, and funding that can aid water and wastewater owners and operators with improving cybersecurity," a spokesperson for the EPA shared with Newsweek.

However, despite knowing the risks and seeing the potential economic impact, the EPA noted that it does not have its "own cybersecurity incident reporting system that water and wastewater systems could use to notify the EPA of cybersecurity incidents." Instead it currently relies on the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to provide this channel of communication.

Related: Social Media Users Love Chia Seed Water, but Is It Safe to Drink?

The report also found no "policies and procedures related to the EPAs coordination with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and other federal and state authorities involved in sector-specific emergency response, security plans, metrics, and mitigation strategies." This means there is no formal process established between the two agencies for what to do if a cybersecurity breach is reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The published findings observed that the Government Accountability Office recommended in August that the EPA develop and implement a national cybersecurity strategy, evaluate the "sufficiency of its legal authorities to carry out its cybersecurity responsibilities," and seek any additional resources it deems necessary.

While these types of attacks might seem far-fetched, unfortunately this is no longer a hypothetical. In early October 2024, American Water, a New Jersey-based company and the largest water utility in the U.S, was hit by a cyberattack. It noted on its website at the time that it had learned of unauthorized activity in our computer networks and systems, which it said was the "result of a cybersecurity incident. As NBC reported, attacks that target American infrastructure  like water systems  are increasingly common, and can sometimes be linked to geopolitical rivals.

In an era where cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated, we urge the EPA to prioritize the resilience of our water systems and take seriously the issues we highlight in this report, EPA Inspector General Sean ODonnell told Cybersecurity Dive. We are committed to providing robust oversight that bolsters the Agencys efforts to protect water infrastructure and improve the sectors security posture."


BOSTON - An IV bag dangled from a curtain rod, pumping fluids into the patient. A paramedic drew a blood sample as an Olympic womens rugby match blared on the television facing the womans bed.

Lucia Louis was home. Not that long ago, she lingered in an emergency room, stricken with a painful salmonella infection. Rest in the ER proved elusive. Doors slammed, and a patient profanely told a nurse to shut up. Urine drenched a shared toilet. Louis yearned for her reclining Sleep Number king-size mattress rather than a flimsy hospital bed that made her back ache.

Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im in the comfort of my home, Louis, 55, said this summer as she snacked on Ritz crackers her husband had brought from the kitchen. Its peaceful.

Shed opted to receive treatment through a home hospital program operated by Mass General Brigham, among the scores of health systems shifting patients to their homes to be monitored virtually and with daily visits as a way to ease pressure on crowded facilities.

For some seriously ill patients, a hospital is the last place they want to be. A place of healing can instead be a place where they acquire infections, become isolated from family and surrender privacy at a time of deep vulnerability.

The hospital-at-home movement has proliferated during the past decade, reshaping how acute care is delivered and health systems are financed. But nurses and others raise concerns about whether health companies will shutter or gut hospitals and deprive patients of regular, immediate in-person care.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The federal government in 2020 eased regulations on home hospital programs to keep people out of facilities overwhelmed by covid cases. Now, health-care leaders are lobbying Congress for a five-year extension, a decision that could cement the rise of home hospital services - or make them a pandemic relic.

If Congress does not act before the end of the year, patients cared for at home through these programs must be discharged or returned to the hospital on Dec. 31, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which oversees these programs.

The 2020 waiver helped home hospital initiatives be financially feasible by making it easier to receive Medicare funding. CMS has given approval to 373 facilities in 39 states to operate home hospital programs under the waiver.

A September CMS report comparing patients cared for in these programs with those treated in hospitals found that the death rate for home patients was lower, the likelihood of acquiring harmful conditions was lower but not enough to be statistically significant, and readmission rates varied depending on the underlying problem. The study had limitations, especially because of the unusual circumstances during the coronavirus pandemic, but the report said the findings were consistent with other research concluding that hospital care can be provided safely at home.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Other studies have shown that patients, usually those being treated for chronic diseases, can have better outcomes and lower odds of being readmitted if they are treated at home rather than at hospitals.

But crucial questions are still being investigated, such as drilling deeper into which types of patients benefit the most and how best to check their progress. Critics worry patients could be harmed while that research continues.

Jay Pandit, director of digital medicine at the Scripps Research Translational Institute, said more studies are needed to examine how to use digital technology and telehealth to monitor patients without jeopardizing their safety. Pandit, who wrote a paper examining hospital-at-home programs, said research would be stymied if Congress let the waiver expire.

For years, weve known people heal and feel better at home, Pandit said. We can do this in the right way.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Leaders of the Mass General Brigham health system, the largest in the state, have pitched their growing home-care program to Congress as an example of why this model should expand nationally.

In hospital offices, staff triage which patients can safely be cared for at home and give them the option to do so. Most accept the offer. Instead of having a call bell, patients wear yellow rubber bracelets displaying a 24/7 hotline number and are given tablets for video calls with hospital staff. They wear devices affixed to their chests and arms to remotely monitor vital signs.

A paramedic or nurse comes in person twice a day, and at least one medical professional considered advanced, such as a physician assistant, nurse practitioner or doctor, visits virtually or in person once a day.

A paramedic, Ben Berry, stopped by Louiss home in Bostons Dorchester neighborhood on her third day of recovery, replacing her IV line, running a blood sample through a handheld device that returned results in minutes and administering medication. For most of his eight years as a paramedic, Berry was used to showing up after patients called 911 and trying to stabilize them. Now, he gets to help them recover.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He placed a video call to a certified nurse practitioner and held up the phone in one hand while he pressed down on Louiss bare belly with the other searching for places where she still ached. Louis recalled her relief in the emergency room when a health worker told her she didnt have to stay at the hospital.

Her husband, Oswin Louis, who replaced medical staff as her primary caregiver, questions why someone would leave the hospital. From his perspective, its better to receive care in private at such a vulnerable time without burdening family members.

Leave me in the hospital and go, Oswin Louis said. I dont want anyone around me.

Critics of hospital-at-home programs say the responsibility to care for patients shouldnt fall on relatives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

National Nurses United, the countrys largest registered nurses union, asserts that patients are better served in hospitals where registered nurses and other medical professionals are always down the hallway.

Before the pandemic-era waiver, federal officials required patients treated at home to have a registered nurse on-site at all times.

Burdening family members with care that should be provided by registered nurses and other health care professionals allows the hospital industry to increase its profits at the expense of patient safety, the nurses union wrote in a 2022 report accusing hospital-at-home programs of being dangerous for patients.

While research has not identified serious safety issues with hospital-at-home programs, advocates of in-hospital nursing point to studies - largely referring to what happens in traditional health-care settings - finding that medical errors are less common when nurses regularly monitor patients.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nurses also fear that the movement toward home care will accelerate hospital closures and the loss of acute-care beds by providing an alternative with lower overhead and labor costs.

There is no such thing as a hospital at home, said Nancy Hagans, president of National Nurses United. A hospital is where you have the health-care setting with everything thats needed to care for a patient. When you send a patient home by themselves, you are cutting corners.

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Massachusetts), who favors extending the waiver, said he has not seen evidence that hospitals are using at-home programs to gut traditional hospital operations and said Congress could revisit the issue if that happens. Still, he was sympathetic to the nurses concerns.

I understand their paranoia and their suspicions because theres a long history of hospital administrations trying to cut cost by cutting staffing, McGovern said. But it seems to me to be working, and it should be allowed to continue to work.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So far, home hospital programs are usually too small and inefficient to offer a cheaper alternative to acute care wards, according to hospital leaders and a federal report to Congress.

Nancy Foster, vice president for quality and patient safety policy at the American Hospital Association, said home programs offer other financial upsides: building loyalty among patients who might return to the hospital for elective care, alleviating staff burnout by offering alternatives to hospital chaos and reducing readmissions among long-term patients.

The economics of home hospital care remain a work in progress. Mass General Brigham executives believe that providing care to patients in their homes will ultimately prove more cost-effective, even though the costs are now similar to providing care in hospitals. They expect to realize savings as more patients go from hospital bed to their own bed.

Private insurance plans also reimburse at-home hospital care at rates similar to in-hospital care.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Stephen Dorner, an emergency physician and the chief clinical and innovation officer for the at-home program, said hospital crowding has worsened during the last decade, increasing financial pressures on the system.

One recent afternoon, more than 80 patients languished in the ER waiting for a bed at the systems flagship, Massachusetts General Hospital - something that would have been unheard of when he started the job, Dorner said.

Patients reclined on stretchers in hallways and in front of nurses stations.

We need you to lay down. Its a busy hallway, a staff member in scrubs admonished a patient who stood up to walk. People in waiting room chairs were hooked to IV bags.

That morning, two patients were approved to return home for care. Eventually, the system hopes to treat 10 percent of patients at home.

It would be even more crowded without the home program, Dorner said. We cant build our capabilities and hire fast enough.

Bringing hospital care to homes comes with its own complications.

Lauren Doctoroff, an internal medicine physician at Massachusetts General who splits her time between home visits and occasional hospital rounds, wore a cardigan and jeans, sneakers and a yellow surgical mask as she stopped by the home of Paul Costa, who was recovering from congestive heart failure. The 80-year-old hair salon owner was making progress and seemed happier seeing a doctor and paramedic while he sat in his living room. But his home case also presented logistic challenges, Doctoroff explained.

The hospital had to send a car later that day to take him back to the facility for an MRI, which, if hed been an inpatient, would have been as simple as wheeling him downstairs. His lab work would have been done sooner for the doctor to figure out how to adjust his medication. And when he needed to take a dose of Ativan, a controlled substance that helps ease anxiety, he had to connect with a nurse who monitored him over a video call.

Sometimes, Doctoroff spends more time driving to the homes of patients than seeing them. Patients get disappointed when their conditions deteriorate, forcing them back to the hospital. The program is not a great fit for people who need intensive treatment by specialists or extensive testing to diagnose their condition.

But Doctoroff has noticed that patients with dementia and other cognitive dysfunction find more solace in a familiar setting than a frenetic, destabilizing hospital. Some older patients warmly recall the days of doctors making house visits.

Patients are much happier. They sleep better, Doctoroff said.

And thats how Costa felt, too, in his home in Lynnfield, a Boston suburb, when Doctoroff visited. It was his wifes birthday, and she didnt have to spend it visiting him in the hospital. He ate macaroni for dinner instead of what he called gross hospital food. Going to the bathroom was no longer a project.

This is like heaven, Costa said. The hospital is like hell.

Related Content

Notre Dame is a pipeline for Supreme Court clerks, magnet for justices

It may be a soggy, snowy Thanksgiving for some. Find out where.

Biden seizes on Israel-Hezbollah deal to push for broader Mideast peace
Eric Trump appeared to mix up tariffs and sanctions during an appearance on Fox News on Monday night, aggressively going after Mexico, Canada, and China as his top targets.

You want to allow drugs to come through our southern border? We're going to tariff you, he said. You want to allow them to come through Canada? We're going to tariff you.

Donald Trumps second son proceeded to rant about costing the economies of the three countries billions, while failing to acknowledge the impact tariffs have on American consumers as prices on imported goods are inevitably hiked in response.

Eric Trump appears on Fox News on Monday, November 25, 2024. He aggressively went after Mexico, Canada, and China (Screenshot / Fox News)

His president-elect father pledged on Monday to hike tariffs on goods from Mexico, China, and Canada in an attempt to get them to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs coming into the U.S.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump threatened to put in place a tariff of 25 percent on Canada and Mexico. Eric Trumps Fox News hit came just moments after the former president posted on Truth Social that China would face additional tariffs.

I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States  But to no avail, he wrote.

Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before, he claimed.

Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10 percent Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America.

Trumps argument is that putting tariffs on imported goods will help American businesses flourish (REUTERS)

Eric Trump continued his fathers rant on Fox News, going after China.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

China, if you're going to allow this stuff to get sold in our country, largely produced in China, we're going to add another 10 percent ... We are going to cost your countries, your economies, we're going to cost your businesses billions, hundreds of billions of dollars if you think ... you're going to poison Americans, he said.

It's not going to happen. You're not going to destroy our youth. You're not going to destroy our society. You're not going to destroy our families. You're not going to do it. It's going to cost you.

The president-elect said on numerous occasions during the campaign that a tariff is not a cost to the American consumer but to another country. But at least one rather significant group disagrees  economists.

A popular delusion is that foreigners would bear the burden, the Bloomberg editorial board wrote before the election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tariffs are paid to the government by the retailer or manufacturer importing the products, not the country where the goods were purchased from. Trumps tariffs may help some companies whose products are already made in the U.S., but economists have warned that tariffs would raise costs for US companies who have to buy goods from abroad.

U.S. companies may take on that extra cost and make a smaller profit, or as is more likely, they could pass those costs on to the American consumer.

Washington Post and CNN political commentator Catherine Rampell noted on Bluesky on Monday that If you voted out the incumbent because you thought grocery prices were too high, I got some bad news from you.

For example, 90 percent of our avocados come from Mexico. Guac is REALLY gonna cost extra, she added.

We import $105B in cement/lime/minerals and $28B in lumber/paper from Canada. We also *already* tariff that lumber to death, Rampell said. Expect construction costs to go through the roof.
NAIROBI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Experts on Tuesday began a three-day meeting in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi to promote animal health in Africa.

The Continental Conference for Veterinary Workforce 2024 brought together more than 175 participants, including veterinary professionals, policymakers, representatives of international organizations, private sector stakeholders and donors to address critical issues in veterinary services and veterinary workforce development in Africa.

Andrew Karanja, cabinet secretary of Kenya's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, said that animal health is crucial in Africa because more than 50 percent of the population of the region relies on livestock to sustain its livelihood.

"Veterinary professionals can help Africa maintain animal health through early diagnosis and treatment of diseases that affect their productivity," Karanja said, adding that years of underinvestment means that many African countries face a shortage of skilled veterinary professionals.

Francois Caya, chief of staff of the World Organization for Animal Health, an intergovernmental organization, urged African governments to put in place legislation that will promote animal welfare and disease control to provide a safe environment for animals. Caya also called for cross-border collaboration to tackle transboundary animal and zoonotic diseases that are disruptive to the livelihood of livestock keepers resulting in loss of income for farmers.

Huyam Ahmed Mohammed Elamin Salih, director of the African Union's Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources, said that one of the most effective ways to promote animal health is through vaccination programs, especially for common diseases such as foot and mouth, rabies and anthrax.

Salih added that Africa can leverage modern technology such as telemedicine to expand access to veterinary services even to underserved communities.

Carolin Schumacher, chief executive officer of the Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines, said that investing in veterinary education is one avenue to encourage more Africans to become veterinary professionals. Schumacher also highlighted the role of increased collaboration between governments, universities and industry in research to develop medicines to tackle local diseases. 
Boris Epshteyn will be ejected from Donald Trumps inner MAGA sanctum and face retribution if allegations that he peddled influence in the new administration for cash prove true, according to one of Trumps sons.

Epshteyn, who has variously served as a Trump adviser since 2016, is accused of asking potential administration appointees to pay him monthly fees if they wanted him to advocate for them to the president-elect, according to an internal probe by Trumps legal team.

Eric Trump, the executive vice president of the Trump Organization, said Monday night that there will be no tolerance if the allegations prove true.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

My fathers been very clear: You do not do that under any circumstance and, believe me, there will be repercussions if somebody was, Trump said on Fox News The Ingraham Angle.

I certainly hope the reportings false. I can also tell you if its true, that person will probably no longer be around, he added.

The Washington Post spoke to two people familiar with the report by Trumps attorneys, who said Treasury Secretary pick Scott Bessent was among those who Epshteyn failed at soliciting for cash.

Epshteyn has denied wrongdoing, calling the fake claims against him false and defamatory.

While Eric Trump said he believes Epshteyn is a good human being and hopes the reporting is false, the tone of his remarkswhich departed from the Trump teams oft-preferred communications strategy of doubling down and denialsdid not go unnoticed.

Eric Trump on the internal investigation into Boris Epshteyn, whom he called a good human being: My fathers been incredibly clear: You do not do that under any circumstance...I can also tell you if its true, that person will probably no longer be around. pic.twitter.com/b2zObobQT9  Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) November 26, 2024

Thats not subtle, said New York Times political reporter Maggie Haberman, after hearing Trumps remarks played during a CNN panel. It was gentle about Boris, but I interpret that as a warning shot.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Donald Trump ordered the internal probe of Epshteyns activities last week after his team received complaints.

I suppose every president has people around them who try to make money off them on the outside, he told Just the News on Monday, noting he was unaware of anyone on his team soliciting payments for access. Its a shame, but it happens, but no one working for me in any capacity should be looking to make money.

Epshteyn has been one of the MAGA worlds most dedicated and zealous partisans. He was indicted in Arizona earlier this year for his alleged participation in the campaigns fake elector plot that sought to overturn the 2020 election results.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  An Army career counselor with the 1st Armored Division received a special commendation on Monday morning, Nov. 25, from U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, for her outstanding contributions to the El Paso community.

Sgt. 1st Class Samantha Recker operates Recker Outreach LLC, a private organization that helps transition homeless veterans into homes and find employment in the El Paso area, the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss Public Affairs Office said in a news release.

The organization also runs an eight-week, at-risk youth program, helping students to graduate from high school.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To date, the organization has helped 11 veterans find homes, nine find employment, and has enrolled 112 students with 89 successfully graduating high school, according to the news release.

Her (Reckers) outreach exemplifies her dedication to helping people in need and her selfless service to the community, read the news release.

I house three homeless veterans at a time. We try to get them off the street and back on their feet. And transition them into the new world successfully, Recker said.

Recker explained how the organization takes a look into veterans individual needs and creates a plan for them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We provide them with basic needs  safety, food, and hygiene. We give them that self-confidence back. We get them into either an employment field or we work on their disability, just depending on their particular situation. And we go from there, Recker said.

Veterans struggling and in need of help can reach out to the organization at (915) 275-9916 or visit their website here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said during the Halifax International Security Forum that Ukraine needs greater investment in its military production capabilities, not foreign troops on its battlefield.

Speaking to The Hill, Pevkur stressed that Ukraine could manage its defense effectively if supplied with the necessary resources. "As far as I know, Ukrainians can handle all of this, when we can deliver all what they need for fighting with Russia," Pevkur said.

Pevkur highlighted Ukraines growing capacity to produce military equipment, including howitzers at six to seven times the rate of France. However, he noted a critical funding gap: "Their industry is really ramping up production... but it only has $15 billion to spend, while its capacity is about $30 billion. So when you dont have anything to give from your own stockpiles, give them money. Its a simple message," he told The Hill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reflecting on Ukraines past counteroffensives, Pevkur called the lack of sufficient equipment during the surprise Kursk incursion in August a missed opportunity.

"There was a huge momentum in this war during the Kursk counteroffensive, but that time, Ukrainians didnt have enough equipment or enough firepower to push even further," he said. He urged Western allies to commit fully to helping Ukraine achieve victory, rather than merely sustaining its fight.

Pevkur warned that the next six months of political transitions in the U.S. and Europe could embolden adversaries like Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.

Estonia remains vigilant against potential hybrid attacks, with Pevkur citing suspected Russian cyber attacks, sabotage of Baltic undersea cables, and interference with flight communications as examples of ongoing threats. "We know very clearly what Russia is capable of... That is why the prevention of those kinds of attacks, also reaction to those kinds of attacks, is very, very important," he said.

Read also: Lithuania delivers new military aid package to Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur, speaking on the sidelines at the Halifax International Security Forum, has called for investment in Ukraines defence industry.

Source: The Hill

Details: Pevkur called for a renewed push for funding Ukraines domestic military production, noting that Ukrainians produce six to seven times more howitzers annually than, for example, France.

Quote: "Their industry is really ramping up production."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More details: Pevkur added that Ukrainian industry is capable of manufacturing military equipment worth about US$30 billion annually but can currently spend only US$15 billion.

"That means theres twice as much capacity in Ukrainian industry. So when you dont have anything to give from your own stockpiles, give them money, its a simple message," he said.

Pevkur stated that Ukraines unexpected incursion into Russia's Kursk Oblast in August 2024 was a missed opportunity to enhance support for Kyiv.

"There was a huge momentum in this war during the Kursk counteroffensive, but that time, Ukrainians didn't have enough equipment or enough firepower to push even further," he noted.

Support UP or become our patron!
Permanent representatives of European Union member states will meet on 27 November, to discuss the 15th package of sanctions against Russia, which includes measures targeting Russia's shadow fleet and Chinese companies allegedly supplying weapons to Moscow.

Source: Reuters, citing European diplomats, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The proposals, prepared by the European Commission for member states, include adding 29 legal entities and 54 individuals to the sanctions list. For the first time, Chinese companies are expected to be included in response to their alleged support for Russia's military production.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

EU ambassadors will also discuss new measures to tackle Russia's shadow fleet, used to bypass the price cap on seaborne oil. This includes blacklisting 48 tankers.

Reuters revealed that the forthcoming sanctions package will also strengthen restrictions on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) and expand the application of the "No Russia" clause that would oblige subsidiaries of EU companies in third countries to prohibit the re-export of certain goods to Russia.

The EU also intends to pressure financial institutions that help Russia circumvent Western sanctions, following a similar move by the US earlier this year.

Approval of the sanctions requires unanimity among all 27 EU member states. It remains unclear when the package might be finalised.

Support UP or become our patron!
The 15th package of anti-Russian sanctions imposed by the European Union will include about 50 individuals and 30 legal entities.

Source: Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Ukrainian Presidents Commissioner for Sanctions Policy

Details: In particular, the new sanctions will affect the following individuals or entities:

Russian arms manufacturers and some Chinese companies that supply them with components;

Companies that help Moscow obtain critical components, including entities from: Russia, Serbia, Iran, Hong Kong, China, India, UAE and Thailand;

North Korean officials involved in sending military personnel to the territory of the Russian Federation;

Companies involved in oil transportation and their executives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In addition, the new package of sanctions will include a ban on access to European ports for about 45 Russian oil tankers, as well as several technical amendments to Euroclear/unfrozen assets.

Background: The United States imposed sanctions on Gazprombank, one of the few major Russian lenders not yet blacklisted, in order to limit the Kremlin's ability to finance its military efforts.

Support UP or become our patron!
(Bloomberg) -- The European Union is proposing to sanction several Chinese firms that it claims helped Russian companies develop attack drones that were deployed against Ukraine.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The European Commission, the EUs executive arm, is also looking into imposing restrictions on additional Russian oil tankers to curb Moscows ability to circumvent existing restrictive measures, according to documents seen by Bloomberg.

The proposals come as Group of Seven foreign ministers meeting in Italy this week are set to pledge appropriate measures against China and other countries that are supporting Russias war effort in Ukraine, Bloomberg reported Monday. The EU measures would require the backing of all 27 member states.

Some of the firms have already been sanctioned by the US and UK.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Mao Ning denied the allegations and said that China was opposed to unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We have never provided any weapons and we have strictly controlled dual-use item, including the export of drones, she said at a press briefing Tuesday in Beijing. We will take necessary measures to uphold the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.

A spokesperson from the commission declined to comment.

The EU also proposed adding a Chinese national, who controls a company that has breached EU trade restrictions, to the sanctions program; a Hong Kong-based firm that has provided Russian military firms with banned microelectronic components; and North Korean defense officials involved with the countrys decision to deploy troops to aid Russia, according to the documents.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has sought to portray Beijing as neutral regarding the war in Ukraine and has pushed to improve international ties, not least to help ensure exports continue to buoy Chinas struggling economy. China has repeatedly criticized Western sanctions and has said it wont supply lethal aid to either side.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As part of what would be the blocs 15th sanctions package since Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the commission is proposing to list more than 50 individuals and nearly 30 entities, freezing their assets and imposing travel bans, according to the documents.

Those targeted include mostly Russian military manufacturers as well as a small group of Chinese firms supplying them and others alleged to be collaborating with Russian entities to make attack drones, also providing them with key components such as engines.

Bloomberg reported in July that Chinese and Russian companies are developing an attack drone similar to an Iranian model deployed in Ukraine. This raised fears that Beijing may be edging closer to providing the sort of lethal aid that western officials have warned against.

The fresh set of measures, which could still be changed, also include banning more than 45 Russian oil tankers from accessing European ports and services for high-risk shipping practices, as the bloc and its allies work to cut Moscows oil revenues and its ability to get around a price cap on Russian crude.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Other proposed sanctions would hit Russian firms transporting oil as well as numerous military personnel and company executives. As part of ongoing efforts to tighten the enforcement of existing measures, the EU is also proposing trade restrictions on some three dozen entities involved in helping Moscow get its hands on banned technologies used in weapons found in Ukraine or needed to build them. That list includes firms in Russia, Serbia, Iran, India, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates as well as China and Hong Kong, according to the documents.

The EU is also proposing a derogation mechanism to allow EU central securities depositories to unfreeze some of the cash they hold in the face of increased litigation in Russia.

--With assistance from Philip Glamann.

(Updates with Chinese comment in the fifth paragraph.)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
The EU's 15th sanctions package will include 30 legal entities from at least eight countries and 50 individuals, the Ukrainian presidents commissioner for sanctions, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, said on Nov. 26.

According to Vlasiuk, "companies that help Moscow obtain critical components" will be on the sanctions list, "including entities from Russia, Serbia, Iran, Hong Kong, China, India, the United Arab Emirates, and Thailand."

The list will also include "North Korean officials involved in the dispatch of troops to Russia," said the Ukrainian official who was involved in the package's preparations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

North Korea is believed to have sent over 10,000 troops to boost Russian forces, with the first clashes with Ukraine already reported in Russia's Kursk Oblast.

Ahead of the coming sanctions package, the Chinese Foreign Ministry called upon the EU not to sanction Chinese entities or individuals, claiming that China never supplied weapons to the parties to the conflict.

Overwhelming evidence shows that Russian military hardware, especially drones, contain parts supplied by China. Recent reports indicate that the EU obtained evidence of China's production of "lethal aid" for Russia, namely attack drones.

The upcoming package will also reportedly ban access for 45 Russian oil tankers to European ports and sanction oil transportation companies and their executives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shortly after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU introduced sanctions on key figures of Russias energy and military industry, curtailed Russia's access to Western-operated financial services, and froze Russias assets held in Western bank accounts.

Loopholes and malicious actors allowed countries and individuals to evade sanctions and continue doing business with Russia, necessitating the introduction of further packages and fine-tuning of the existing ones.

Read also: EU has convincing evidence of reported Chinese attack drone production for Russia, media reports

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A 19-year-old Evanston woman has been charged with a felony for hiding the death of her newborn, Evanston police said in a news release.

Layarria Searcy, of the 1900 block of Jackson Avenue gave birth to a live girl on Aug. 25, police said.

Shortly after birth, the girl died. Searcy disposed of the babys remains in a garbage receptacle, per police, who searched for the remains but did not find them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Cook County medical examiners office routinely determines an individuals cause of death by performing autopsies, but in the absence of a body, they have no way to glean information about the cause and manner of death.

The infants cause of death remains unknown, per police.

According to police, Searcy did not report her infants death to the authorities and took steps to conceal the incident.

The Cook County states attorneys office reviewed the findings of the investigation and indicted Searcy on one felony count of concealment of a death, per police.

Per Cook County Circuit Court records, an individual named Lacara Reckley was named as a co-defendant in the case, and is also charged with concealing a death.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reckley, 43, resides at the same address as Searcy, according to court records. Evanston police declined to comment on their relationship.

Police also did not comment on why there was a delay between the August death and the November charges.

Evanston police Cmdr. Ryan Glew said the investigation remains active, and anticipates being able to say more about it after it concludes.

Cook County Judge Lorraine Murphy on Nov. 19 granted Searcy a pre-trial release, meaning she was not detained in custody, per court records.

Searcy is due back in court for a status hearing on Jan. 9 and Reckley will have her next status hearing Dec. 20. An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt.
EVANSTON, Ill.  A woman was charged with concealing her infants death in Evanston.

The investigation into Layarria Searcy, 19, began on Aug. 29, according to police.

Searcy gave birth to a baby girl on Aug. 25 at her home in the 1900 block of Jackson Avenue.

Shortly after birth, the infant passed away.

Police allege Searcy did not report the death to authorities and took steps to conceal the incident.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The infant was discarded in a garbage receptacle, but police were not able to recover the remains.

Without the body, the medical examiners office was unable to determine the cause and manner of death.

Searcy indicted on a count of concealment of a death and she was arrested on Nov. 19.

According to the Chicago Tribune, a co-defendant named Lacara Reckley is also facing a concealing a death charge in the case.

The investigation into this incident remains active.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
KHARTOUM, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The number of cholera cases in Sudan has climbed to 42,725, including 1,180 deaths, Sudan's health ministry announced on Tuesday.

"The cholera epidemiological situation report revealed the recording of 253 new cases, including one death, bringing the total cases to 42,725, including 1,180 deaths in 11 states of the country," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said that most of the new cholera cases were recorded in Kassala, Gedaref, and River Nile states, which are currently hosting around 400,000 displaced persons from the eastern region of Gezira State in central Sudan.

Meanwhile, the ministry announced a drop in dengue fever infection rates, with 15 new infections recorded and no additional deaths, bringing the total to 7,250 infections and 15 deaths across eight states.

The ministry further noted a rise in malaria infection rates in Kassala state in eastern Sudan, with a decline in other states.

Sudan's Health Minister Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim officially declared a cholera outbreak in the country on Aug. 17. The ministry attributed the spread of cholera to deteriorating environmental conditions caused by the war and the use of unclean water.

Since fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in April 2023, epidemic diseases such as cholera, malaria, measles, and dengue fever have spread, leading to hundreds of deaths.

The conflict has resulted in more than 27,120 deaths and displaced over 14 million people, both within Sudan and across its borders, according to estimates by international organizations. 
Congressman Gregory Meeks is worried Donald Trump is surrounding himself with yes people with his controversial cabinet picks.

While speaking on CNN, the New York Congressman sounded the alarm after weeks of Trumps many controversial cabinet appointments following his presidential election win. He also echoed quotes made by Trumps vice president JD Vance calling him Americas Hitler.

Ive got concerns about him and his background and the things that he said and the people that he put in place, Meeks said. When he has said he looks at their resume, he doesnt. He wants to know if they are loyal to him. Theres reasons why youve heard Republicans  even his current vice president JD Vance once described him as maybe Americas Hitler. Why? Because even Hitler was elected democratically.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He continued, You cant just go along with what someone says, and it seems to me that the president is putting in place some yes people.

Trumps number of alarming cabinet choices began with Fox & Friends co-host Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense and Tulsi Gabbard as the Director of National Intelligence. The president-elect really dropped jaws by picking Matt Gaetz as his pick for Attorney General, despite allegations of him having sex with two minors.

Gaetz bowed out of the appointment last week saying, While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition.

Trump quickly named Florida AG Pam Bondi as his replacement for Gaetz appointment as Attorney General.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He also announced that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will co-head the newly instated Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations cut wasteful expenditures and restructure federal agencies  essential to the Save America Movement, Trump said in the announcement where he also called this effort The Manhattan Project of our time.

The post Even Hitler Was Elected Democratically: NY Congressman Sounds the Alarm on Trump Cabinet Picks as Yes People appeared first on TheWrap.
Native American Heritage Month is a time to honor the histories, cultures and contributions of Indigenous peoples. But this recognition shouldnt be confined to just one month.

As Oklahomans, we are fortunate to live in a state rich with opportunities to explore and celebrate Native cultures. These experiences are available year-round, offering countless ways to deepen our understanding and cultivate genuine cultural appreciation.

A great starting point is the First Americans Museum (FAM). FAM, which opened in 2021, has quickly become a statewide cultural cornerstone. Led by Kelli Mosteller, a Citizen Potawatomi Nation tribal member, the museum regularly hosts events and exhibitions that highlight the rich diversity of Indigenous experiences. Visiting the museum provides an immersive look into the stories of Oklahomas 39 tribal nations and beyond.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More: November is the month to pay special tribute to Native Americans | Opinion

Similarly, the Citizen Potawatomi Nations (CPN) Cultural Heritage Center (CHC) offers an in-depth exploration of Potawatomi history, traditions, art and language. The CHCs programming is designed to engage everyone, from youth to elders, in preserving the tribes unique culture. Whether attending a workshop on traditional craft-making or joining a language class, visitors leave with a deeper appreciation of the Potawatomi way of life.

Language preservation is another impactful way to connect with Native heritage. Every two weeks, an Indigenous language disappears  a loss that erases centuries of cultural knowledge. Learning the Potawatomi language, Bodewadmimwen, or any Indigenous language, is a step toward reversing this trend. Many tribal language departments offer online and in-person resources, making it even easier to help preserve Native languages.

Food is also a universal, underrated bridge between cultures. Native American dishes often feature simple, healthy ingredients and bold flavors. Exploring Indigenous cuisine  whether by visiting Native-owned restaurants or experimenting with recipes at home  can connect you to their traditions and stories.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More: Interior Dept. committed to a 'Road to Healing' on behalf of Native Americans | Opinion

Celebrating Native heritage doesnt require grand gestures. As Oklahomans, were in a unique situation to be surrounded by Indigenous cultures, and learning about them can be beneficial to everyone. By visiting local cultural institutions, learning a few words in an Indigenous language, or sharing a meal inspired by Native traditions, Oklahomans can honor and celebrate Native American culture every day of the year.

Lets make the effort to recognize and appreciate it this month and every month after.

Blake Norton

Blake Norton is the director of CPNs Cultural Heritage Center in Shawnee.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahomans can celebrate tribal culture every day of the year. | Opinion
Phoenix businessman John Katsenes laid out a vision for his city while running for reelection to his council seat in 1972.

He believed the municipality should pursue a path of "aggressive annexation" to prepare itself for the decades to come. In time, he felt the city could become one of the country's greatest, and he stressed on the campaign trail that Phoenicians had "a unique chance" to preserve open spaces and ready the area for the growth ahead.

As it turned out, he was right. Katsenes died Sunday in a city that has grown into a bustling metropolis and still bears his fingerprints today.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He served only a short time on the Phoenix City Council  four years, which constituted two terms in the early 1970s. Katsenes was later appointed to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors for a brief stint in 1993.

But the time he spent in the public eye was unquestionably consequential. As a councilmember, Katsenes would push to acquire and protect land that would eventually become the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, one of the city's most prized amenities.

"He did have incredible foresight," said Jerry Lewkowitz, who attended high school with Katsenes and became his lifelong friend. "He was just a very, very nice man."

He was also among the councilmembers who opposed a plan to build Interstate 10 over the city, a movement that ultimately resulted in the construction of the Deck Park Tunnel to carry freeway traffic underneath park space in downtown Phoenix. His daughter, Andrea Katsenes Pappas, was among the many Phoenicians who benefitted from his efforts to "save downtown."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I had a house in Willo," she said. "And my dad used to always drive through there, and he'd be like, 'I can't believe this place is so hip now.'"

Later, he helped dig Maricopa County out of millions in debt as a member of the Board of Supervisors. Through it all, he maintained a pivotal role in the community. Katsenes was active in the Greek Orthodox Church and helped found a local chapter of the Big Brothers Big Sisters youth group. He also founded a local insurance firm and was a life-member of the Thunderbirds, an all-male charity organization.

Those who knew Katsenes described him as an astute businessman who was deeply invested in his community and saw its potential. He was a fiscal hawk who valued taxpayer money but saw the importance of investing in the Valley's long-term future, knowing his family would continue to call the region home for decades to come.

"I don't think he was a man in politics," said Jim Bloom, who served as Katsenes' chief of staff during his time as a county supervisor. "He was just a really good businessman, a really good community leader who was willing to give some of his time to politics."

'Everybody liked him': Katsenes remembered for kindness, a full life

Katsenes was born in Bisbee on Feb. 16, 1930. As a young child, his family moved north to Phoenix. Later in his life, he would purchase a small ranch in Cochise County  but he considered himself a lifelong Phoenician.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"He was super proud of what he did. He loved Arizona and loved this city," Katsenes Pappas said. "I think sometimes, being 94, he kind of thinks people forgot what he worked so hard to do."

Bloom described him as "a hands-on manager" and "an old-school gentleman" with a practical mind. He said Katsenes "understood how things work." Bloom first met Katsenes at an interview to serve as his chief of staff. As he pulled into the parking lot of Katsenes' office, he saw his future boss sweeping dirt off the pavement in a full suit.

"He was an insurance broker, but he wanted to keep his parking lot clean," Bloom said. "Sweeping the blacktop  nobody would do that."

Katsenes was also a family man. Katsenes Pappas said police officers used to bring her father "his briefing book and papers" every Friday, and she and her siblings would take turns answering the door. She called it "the greatest thrill."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As an elementary schooler, she once took flyers for her father's reelection into the classroom and handed them out. The principal had to call home and ask Katsenes to pick up the papers, because his daughter couldn't campaign on his behalf at her public school.

The support went both ways. Katsenes wrote in a documentary listing his achievements that "his pride in the success of his three children" was his "most important accomplishment." He also attributed his "success and happiness" to his wife's "support and encouragement."

Many of those who knew him  including Lewkowitz and former Maricopa County Supervisor Andy Kunasek  told The Arizona Republic that Katsenes was highly regarded in his community.

"He was just a really kind guy," Bloom said. "A lot of people say that about a lot of people, but he was. Everybody liked him."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A search of the archives revealed little negative press throughout Katsenes' political career. In 1976, a reporter wrote a front-page article alleging that city officials, including Katsenes, worked out a deal to allow a contractor to take a large amount of city-owned fill dirt in exchange for clearing an estimated 720 yards of rubble from a city lot. Thirty-five truckloads of the dirt went to the local Greek Orthodox Church.

About a week later, the paper received a furious missive from a reader. William Pilcher identified himself as a "competitor of John Katsenes in the insurance business for many years," and blasted The Republic's telling of the story. He said he was confident in Katsenes' "honesty and capabilities" and "often wondered how he took the time to run for the City Council."

"I am not even a close friend of John Katsenes, but I thank God for people like him," Pilcher said. "I abhore those people who do not report the facts or print half-truths without devoting their precious time to check out the facts. Perhaps the newspaper should look a little closer before 'dumping dirt' on conscientious citizens."

City immortalizes pieces of former leader's legacy

Katsenes fostered a love of public service in his family.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Katsenes Pappas worked in politics for years, serving as a staffer for Congressmen John Rhodes and Eldon Rudd on Capitol Hill. She came back to Arizona to work for Govs. Fife Symington and Jane Hull. She now works in public relations, but said she still volunteers in politics and her community.

Her brother, Tom Katsenes, took over the family insurance business. Her sister, Karyn Katsenes, works as a physician in Denver, Colorado.

"Politics kind of became a thing that growing up," she said.

Katsenes Pappas said her father and her nephew  who shared his grandfather's name  often went on adventures around Phoenix to find all of the plaques he was mentioned in.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There is one at Echo Canyon and another at the Deer Valley Airport, but they didn't ever manage to find them all. One still remains hidden somewhere near Phoenix Symphony Hall.

"We need to go back and find that one," Katsenes Pappas said.

Reach the reporter at sasha.hupka@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X: @SashaHupka. Follow her on Instagram or Threads: @sashahupkasnaps.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 'Everybody liked him': Former Phoenix leader John Katsenes dies at 94
CHICAGO  Supplies of Viagra and visits to massage parlors for sexual favors were part of Mondays startling testimony from Danny Solis, the former Chicago alderman grabbing center stage on his second day of testimony in the corruption trial of former Speaker of the House Michael Madigan.

Solis also testified about his tangled financial affairs, the foreclosure on his home after his wife discovered he was having an affair and the gifts and campaign donations the FBI mole admitted to pocketing from developers and others trying to bribe him.

He also admitted to accepting trips to Las Vegas on private planes, Bulls and Bears tickets and other gifts from prominent businesses and developers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Joined by co-defendant Michael McCain, Madigan watched on as Solis answered questions from a federal prosecutor.

PREVIOUS: Ex-Chicago alderman, FBI mole Danny Solis testifies in Madigan corruption trial

Did you pay Mr. (Roberto) Caldero for the Viagra? prosecutors asked Solis about Caldero, who a judge later sentenced to three years in prison for attempting to bribe Solis while he wore an FBI wire.

No. I didnt pay for the Viagra, Solis testified, adding that he also did not pay for sexual encounters all allegedly arranged by Caldero.

Why was it that, assistant US attorney Diane MacArthur asked Solis, Mr. Caldero was willing to do these things for you? Whether it was the massages? Or the Viagra?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He wanted to influence me in his requests, too, Solis answered.

Prosecutors say requests for favors extended to Chicagos Chinatown. Madigan allegedly met with Chinese developers looking to build in Solis ward. According to prosecutors, Madigan and his private law firm angled to do the hotels tax work.

Video and sound secretly recorded by developer See Wong played Monday in court.

I think theres two basic options,  Madigan said to Chinese developers. Option 1 is a straighter retainer. The other is a percentage of the savings.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

The FBI captured the Madigan hard sale with Soliss help through wiring. Solis also testified that he arranged a 2017 meeting with Union West developers looking to convert an apartment building into luxury condos. Prosecutors say the arrangement exposed the corrupt criminal conspiracy, implicating Madigan and McClain.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Ex-dental assistant accused of sexually assaulting patients now suspected in OSU peeping tom case

STILLWATER, Okla. (KFOR)  The former dental assistant accused of filming while he sexually assaulted sedated young male patients is now a suspect in a 2021 peeping tom incident reported on Oklahoma State Universitys campus

On Monday, OSU Campus Police (OSUPD) confirmed to News 4 theyve identified Cody Allen Stolfa, 36, as a suspect in a case from Sept. 2021 when someone reported a man matching Stolfas description took unwanted pictures of them in OSUs library.

Former Stillwater dental assistant charged with sexually assaulting numerous patientsincluding minors, sharing footage online

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Stolfa has been in jail since Stillwater Police (SPD) arrested him on July 10 on accusations he filmed himself sexually assaulting a young male patient who was sedated following an oral surgery at Central Oklahoma Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates in Stillwater, where Stolfa worked as a dental assistant.

As News 4 reported last week, following Solfas July arrest, SPD served warrants for and seized Stolfas phones and computers, finding more videos he allegedly shot in that dental clinic.

In total, police say he filmed himself sexually assaulting 16 male patients between the ages of 15 and 23 during the three months he worked at the clinic in 2021.

They also unearthed 3.2 Terabytes worth of files containing child sexual abuse material, and more homemade pictures and videos of people who appeared to not be aware they were on camera.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

OSUPD Public Information Officer, Capt. Colt Chandler, told News 4 SPD investigators believed some of the concerning pictures appeared to have been taken on OSUs campus.

Tulsa man sentenced for recording women in dressing rooms

The imagery in the background, like wallpaper environment that you could capture or see in the video, looked like places that could potentially be on campus, Chandler told News 4 on Monday.

He said OSUPD and SPD investigators matched the pictures to a location in the OSU campus library.

He said metadata on the pictures showed they were taken in 2021.

With that information in mind, OSUPD investigators looked back through crime report logs from that year and location.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In review of our cases, we found out that we had a peeping tom case reported to us in 2021late September, Chandler said.

In that case, someone reported a man matching Stolfas description took unwanted pictures of them on his phone.

The victim reportedly could see the pictures on the mans phone screen before he left the library.

OSU Police looked back at surveillance pictures taken in the library on that day in 2021.

In one of those photographs was a pretty unique tattoo thats located on the suspects left calf, Chandler said. And so we shared that information with SPD and they were able to confirm that that is indeed the suspect involved in both cases.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Peeping Tom caught on camera in Edmond neighborhood

Chandler says OSUPD has now referred the peeping tom case to the Payne County District Attorneys Office, who will determine whether or not Stolfa will face charges.

He says while OSUPD has only been able to tie Stolfa to the one case from 2021, they want anyone who feels like he may have done something similar to them, to please give OSUPD a call.

Meanwhile, Stolfa faces a slew of criminal charges for the allegations at the dental clinic.

Tulsa-based Attorney Tim Gilpin says it probably wont end with that.

Civil liability comes to mind not only for the person that did it, but their employer, Gilpin said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

News 4 has learned at least one of the patients plans to file a civil suit.

The patients attorneys declined to comment on Monday.

Gilpin said he would not be surprised to see the multiple patients sue to clinic.

The employers obligation is to monitor their employees to check their backgrounds, and to make sure theyre not the kind of people and that theyre not doing this kind of thing to their patients.

News 4 checked with the Oklahoma State Board of Dentistry.

They confirmed they did issue Stolfa a permit to work as a dental assistant back in April 2021 after he passed a background check and met all other requirements.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The permit expired in December 2021 after Stolfa stopped working at the clinic.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(Bloomberg) -- Former hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson plans to run for New York City mayor, joining a crowded field of Democrats seeking to succeed the embattled Eric Adams next year.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We need to shake up our city government and abandon a lot of terrible ideas, which can only be done by an outsider  a businessperson, not a career politician, Tilson said in a letter announcing his candidacy Tuesday. We need a leader who can unify New Yorkers and bring fresh thinking.

Tilson, 58, who used to run hedge fund Kase Capital Management, is active in New York philanthropic circles. He sits on the advisory board of Bill Ackmans Pershing Square Foundation, and serves on the board of the KIPP Academy charter school in the South Bronx.

In the lengthy letter, Tilson pledged that if elected his priorities would include cutting violent crime, addressing high housing costs, reining in spending and improving city schools.

Tilson, a longtime Democratic donor, said he had never contemplated running for any political office until three weeks ago, after Vice President Kamala Harris, whose candidacy he supported, lost the presidential election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I believe a major reason she  and we  lost is that Americans looked at New York City (and San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Chicago, DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Newark, etc.) and the solid-blue states in which theyre located, where Democrats have one-party rule, and thought to themselves: I dont want any part of that. If thats what the Democratic party is offering  high taxes, crime and cost of living, lousy schools, the woke mob running amok, etc.  Id rather vote for Trump, in spite of my many misgivings. What a damning indictment! Tilson wrote.

When one of his friends suggested he should run for mayor, he initially laughed off the suggestion, he said in an interview. But when he looked at the New York Times polling and the betting market for the current field of candidates, he figured he might have a chance.

I dont think Im likely to win, but I dont think its impossible, he said, even though he wont seek the backing of the powerful teachers union and has no experience in politics or in overseeing a large organization. Kase Capital, which he ran for almost two decades, never managed much more than $200 million.

Growing Field

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tilson is the latest potential entrant in a rapidly growing field of candidates considering challenging Adams in the June Democratic primary, which has swelled to include City Comptroller Brad Lander, former New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer and Queens State Senator Jessica Ramos, among a host of others.

Tilson isnt the first Wall Street veteran to seek the New York City mayoralty  in 2021, former Citigroup Inc. banker Ray McGuire ran in the Democratic primary, scooping up celebrity endorsements from Jay-Z and Spike Lee, and raising millions in private contributions. But McGuire came in seventh in the primary, ultimately earning just 3% of all ballots cast in the citys ranked-choice voting system. And of course Mike Bloomberg, owner of Bloomberg News, served three terms as mayor, from 2002 through 2013.

Unlike both McGuire and Bloomberg, who didnt participate in the citys public campaign financing system, Tilson said he would join the citys public campaign matching funds program, which matches every $1 donated by a city resident with $8 in city funds, up to $250. In the letter announcing his candidacy, Tilson said he couldnt afford to self-fund his candidacy, but he also pledged not to accept any donations from people or organizations with business before the city.

In September, Adams became the first sitting mayor in modern New York City history to be indicted on federal corruption charges. A former police captain who was elected in 2021 on a pledge to address then-swelling crime rates, Adams has since struggled with low poll ratings and an exodus of top staff.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

(Updates with details from a Tilson interview in seventh and eighth paragraphs.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Kentucky District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, was fatally shot September 19 in his chambers. Letcher County Sheriff Shawn "Mickey" Stines, 43, has been arrested and charged with his murder. Photo courtesy of Letcher County/UPI

Nov. 26 (UPI) -- A former Kentucky county sheriff accused of fatally shooting a judge in his courthouse chambers in September has pleaded not guilty to one count of murder.

Shawn "Mickey" Stines, the 43-year-old former sheriff of Letcher County, Ky., was arraigned Monday in the same courthouse where he is accused of killing District Judge Kevin Mullins.

Stines' attorney, Kerri Bartley, entered his not-guilty plea before state Judge Julia Adams, who presided over the arraignment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Adams told the packed court that Stines would be held without bond.

Stines was arrested Sept. 19 by Kentucky State Police officers responding to shots fired at the Letcher County Courthouse in Whitesburg, located in southeastern Kentucky.

Mullins was found suffering from gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.

No motive has been provided, but authorities stated following the incident that the shooting followed an unspecified argument between Mullins and Stines in the courthouse chambers.

Stines retired days after his arrest under pressure from Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Kentucky General Counsel S. Travis Mayo.

On Thursday, it was announced that a Letcher County Grand Jury had indicted Stines on one count of murder of a public official. If convicted, Stines could face the death penalty.
Ukraine's Former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Nov. 25 called out Joe Rogan for not allowing a pro-Ukrainian voice into his podcast after the popular U.S. podcaster lashed out against Ukraine over supposedly "starting World War III."

"Freaking at Ukrainians without giving them a chance to speak isnt a fair fight," Kuleba wrote on X.

"If you ever feel like having a real conversation, lets sit down and chat about anything Ukraine-related  dragons included. You know your stuff, I know mine. Cigars on me," he added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kuleba's rebuke follows that of former professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko, who accused Rogan of "repeating Russian propaganda" after the U.S. podcaster lambasted Washington's decision to allow Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia.

Joe Rogan is one of the most popular podcasters in the world, with over 18 million followers on YouTube.

In his recent episode, Rogan voiced fears that outgoing U.S. President Joe Bidens decision on long-range strikes could lead to World War III.

"How are you allowed to do that when you are on your way out. Like people dont want you to be there anymore, maybe that would be a good thing we would like to avoid from a dying former president. The whole thing is nuts," Rogan said in a recent episode.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During the electoral campaign, Rogan endorsed Donald Trump, who criticized military aid for Ukraine and said he would bring both sides to the negotiating table. The Biden administration has sought to speed up military support for Kyiv before Trump takes office in January.

"(Ukraine's President Volodymyr) Zelensky says Putin is terrified. F**k you, man. You f**king people are about to start World War III," Rogan said.

Kuleba has been in office between 2020 and September 2024. He has been at the forefront of Ukraine's efforts to engage its international allies and secure new partnerships since the beginning of the full-scale war.

Read also: Youre repeating Russian propaganda, Ukrainian boxing champion Klitschko responds to Joe Rogan

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Abha Anuradha Kumar has been ordered by the Australian Supreme Court to surrender the remaining inheritance to the patient's family, according to reports

Getty Stock image of a woman assisting an elderly patient Stock image of a woman assisting an elderly patient

A former nurse has been ordered to hand over half a million dollars she inherited from a 92-year-old patient to his family in Australia, according to multiple reports.

Abha Anuradha Kumar has been ordered by the Australian Supreme Court to return $800,000 of remaining inheritance from a grant of probate she received from her late patient Lionel Cox, 92, after knowing him for less than a month, per the Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Mail and The Age.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Nov. 21, Judge Melissa Daly revoked Kumars grant to manage the estate and sale proceeds of Coxs home in Victoria after claims made by a lawyer of Coxs cousin that his will stating Kumars inheritance was made under the most suspicious circumstances imaginable, per the Daily Mail.

Kumar met Cox on July 3, 2015, when she worked as a manager at Cambridge House, a care facility for the elderly, in Collingwood, according to a case and review document from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, which was published in 2019.

Getty A stock image of a person holding an elderly man's hand A stock image of a person holding an elderly man's hand

Related: Pa. Nurse Sentenced to Life After Pleading Guilty to Killing Patients with Fatal Insulin Doses: 'Pure Evil'

The ex-nurse found out within three days of Coxs arrival at the home that he owned a property and hadnt created a will as he had no known immediate family. Kumar obtained a will kit and convinced two staff members to witness Cox writing the will, per SMH, Daily Mail and The Age.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kumar reportedly did not mention that she was the executor and the sole beneficiary, per the Daily Mail

Cox died of pneumonia on Aug. 9, 2015, according to the outlet.

Kumar was not working on the day of his death and called a junior staffer at Cambridge House following the news to search for his house key before his body was removed from the home, per SMH.

She was subsequently listed as the informant on Cox's death certificate and given the grant of probate, according to the outlet.

The court's decision to revoke Kumars inheritance comes after she received a summons for revocation by the Supreme Court launched by State Trustees in August 2021. They claimed that Coxs will was not created to align with his wishes, per SMH.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2019, Kumar was banned from working as a registered health practitioner over allegations of professional misconduct following an investigation conducted by the Nursing and Midwifery Board, per Sydney Morning Herald.

The original value of Cox's estate inherited by Kumar was over $1 million, however, this decreased after she used the money to fund administrative fees and legal costs, including $150,000 for the 2019 hearing, according to reports.

Ms. Kumar transgressed the boundaries that should and ordinarily do exist between a registered nurse and her patient in that she was over-involved in the affairs of Mr. Lionel Cox, the Nursing and Midwifery Board stated in their review.

Coxs cousin Geoffrey's lawyer, James Dimond, said of the latest court decision, Its an important reminder that the law can and will catch up with you eventually. This is a rare situation involving a medical professional, but elderly and vulnerable people are separated from their assets or pressured to sign dodgy wills and other legal documents all the time," per SMH.

PEOPLE reached out to the Australian Supreme Court for comment, but they did not immediately respond.
Uganda's education official Ismail Mulindwa addresses the ceremony during the 10th anniversary celebration of Confucius Institute at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, on Nov. 25, 2024. The Confucius Institute at Makerere University, Uganda's premier institution, celebrated its 10th anniversary Monday, marking a decade of fostering cultural and linguistic exchanges between China and Uganda. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

KAMPALA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Confucius Institute at Makerere University, Uganda's premier institution, celebrated its 10th anniversary Monday, marking a decade of fostering cultural and linguistic exchanges between China and Uganda.

The vibrant ceremony, held at the university, featured cultural performances such as Chinese songs and dances. Delegations from China, university faculty and students, and representatives of Uganda's Chinese community attended the event.

Uganda's State Minister for Higher Education John Muyingo praised the institute's role in strengthening Uganda-China ties through language and cultural exchange over the past decade, in a message delivered by education official Ismail Mulindwa.

Muyingo highlighted the institute's instrumental role in introducing Chinese language instruction in Ugandan secondary schools and supporting its integration into higher education curricula.

He noted that with the Chinese language now being taught and examined at higher levels, including universities, the ministry aims to establish a Bachelor of Arts in education program featuring Chinese language as a teaching subject. This, he said, would support efforts to train enough teachers to meet the growing demand for Chinese language education.

"I urge all stakeholders to continue advancing cross-cultural understanding, innovation, and cooperation as we look to the future to strengthen the bond between Uganda and China, harnessing the transformative power of education and cultural extension for the betterment of our nations," said the minister.

Fan Xuecheng, minister counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Uganda, commended the institute's teachers, volunteers, and students for their dedication, which has deepened the friendship between the two nations.

"The pragmatic cooperation between China and Uganda sets a fine example for developing countries to seek development through unity and cooperation. Cultural exchanges and mutual learning have always been an integral part and vivid characteristics of China-Uganda cooperation," Fan said.

Deng Guojun, vice president of Xiangtan University, which co-established the Confucius Institute at Makerere University, said the two universities have forged a close bond through the China-Africa Universities 20+20 Cooperation Plan initiated by China's Ministry of Education. This program connects 20 African universities with 20 Chinese counterparts, fostering collaboration and mutual development.

Deng emphasized the strong bond forged between the two universities, expressing pride in their shared achievements. "These achievements fill us with pride, and we look forward to the continued success of the Confucius Institute in the years ahead."

Vice Chancellor of Makerere University Barnabas Nawangwe noted the growing interest in Chinese language studies, driven by expanding economic ties between the two countries. He called for continued investment in infrastructure and programs to meet the increasing demand.

"In the next decade, we envision the Confucius Institute at Makerere University becoming the leading center for Chinese language and cultural studies in East Africa," Nawangwe said.

The event also marked the launch of two new associations, namely the Alumni Association of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University and the Uganda Chinese Language Teachers Association.

The celebrations also coincided with the 20th anniversary of the Confucius Institute globally, highlighting its broader impact on promoting cultural and educational exchanges worldwide. 

Students perform during the 10th anniversary celebration of Confucius Institute at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, on Nov. 25, 2024. The Confucius Institute at Makerere University, Uganda's premier institution, celebrated its 10th anniversary Monday, marking a decade of fostering cultural and linguistic exchanges between China and Uganda. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

Chinese language teachers perform during the 10th anniversary celebration of Confucius Institute at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, on Nov. 25, 2024. The Confucius Institute at Makerere University, Uganda's premier institution, celebrated its 10th anniversary Monday, marking a decade of fostering cultural and linguistic exchanges between China and Uganda. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

Students and teachers perform during the 10th anniversary celebration of Confucius Institute at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, on Nov. 25, 2024. The Confucius Institute at Makerere University, Uganda's premier institution, celebrated its 10th anniversary Monday, marking a decade of fostering cultural and linguistic exchanges between China and Uganda. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

Vice Chancellor of Makerere University Barnabas Nawangwe addresses the 10th anniversary celebration of Confucius Institute at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, on Nov. 25, 2024. The Confucius Institute at Makerere University, Uganda's premier institution, celebrated its 10th anniversary Monday, marking a decade of fostering cultural and linguistic exchanges between China and Uganda. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

Students perform during the 10th anniversary celebration of Confucius Institute at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, on Nov. 25, 2024. The Confucius Institute at Makerere University, Uganda's premier institution, celebrated its 10th anniversary Monday, marking a decade of fostering cultural and linguistic exchanges between China and Uganda. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)
At least six members of the security forces were killed when they tried to stop thousands of charged supporters of the jailed former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan from storming the capital Islamabad, officials said on Tuesday.

The members of the paramilitary Rangers were killed after a vehicle ploughed into them as protesters stormed the capital late on Monday night, a spokesman for the capital police said.

Earlier, two policemen were killed on the outskirts of Islamabad whereas more than 100 security officials have been wounded in clashes with the protesters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thousands of protesters led by Khan's wife fought pitched battles with riot police, who used tear gas and baton charges to disperse them, officials and the party said.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said during a late-night press conference that the government had offered the protesters an alternate venue for their protest. However, Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Pakistan Movement for Justice, PTI) insisted going in front of the parliament house.

The protesters are slowly advancing towards their destination despite stiff resistance from the security forces.

The government has deployed thousands of police officers, paramilitary and army troops and put the capital under an indefinite lockdown since Saturday as Khans supporters threatened to release him by force.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The protesters began their march from the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province backed by the regional government on Sunday.

Khan has been in jail since August 2023 and is facing trial for allegedly inciting violence on May 9 of that year - the day when his supporters went on a rampage and attacked military installations.

Khan denies the allegations. All of his convictions have been either suspended or overturned in recent months.

Supporters of the former Prime Minister and chairman of opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, gather to attend a protest demanding his release, in Peshawar. Khan, currently imprisoned, called on his supporters to participate in a 'peaceful protest' at D-Chowk emphasizing the need to oppose what he termed the 'illegal' nature of his imprisonment. Hussain Ali/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper outlines the damages and relief money needed after Hurricane Helene at a press conference on Oct. 23, 2024 in Raleigh. (Photo: Galen Bacharier)

If North Carolina Republican legislative leaders were hoping to prevent a gubernatorial veto of their ambitious 131-page proposal to reorganize several aspects of state government and take away the powers of statewide offices soon to be filled by Democrats by attaching changes to Hurricane Helene relief legislation, the plan has failed.

Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the bill this morning. This is from an unusually strong statement that Cooper issued to accompany the veto:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This legislation is a sham. It does not send money to Western North Carolina but merely shuffles money from one fund to another in Raleigh. This legislation was titled disaster relief but instead violates the constitution by taking appointments away from the next Governor for the Board of Elections, Utilities Commission and Commander of the NC Highway Patrol, letting political parties choose appellate judges and interfering with the Attorney Generals ability to advocate for lower electric bills for consumers. Instead of giving small business grants to disaster counties it strikes a cruel blow by blocking the extension of better unemployment benefits for people who have lost jobs because of natural disasters. Finally, it plays politics by taking away two judges elected by the people and adding two judges appointed by the legislature, taking away authority from the Lieutenant Governor and the Superintendent of Public Instruction and more.

The General Assembly returns to Raleigh on Monday December 2. With precise supermajorities in both the House and the Senate, Republicans would appear to have the votes necessary to override the veto. It is notable, however, that three House Republicans from western North Carolina  Majority Whip Karl Gillespie (R-Macon), Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Swain), and Rep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood)  voted no on the legislation when it was approved last week. None of the three has yet given a public indication as to how they would vote on an override motion.
Connecticut Democratic Attorney General William Tong speaks at a public meeting in Stamford, Conn., after this months election. Tong and other officials in blue states are vowing to build a firewall of reproductive health protections as they anticipate federal and state attacks on abortion access under the Trump administration. (John Moore/Getty Images)

Read more Stateline coverage on how states are either protecting or curbing access to abortion.

Officials in blue states are vowing to build a firewall of reproductive health protections as they anticipate federal and state attacks on abortion access under the Trump administration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were going on offense, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, a Democrat, told Stateline. We are in an unprecedented war on American women and patients. State attorneys general, particularly my colleagues and I who support abortion rights and reproductive freedom, have been building this firewall for some time now.

President-elect Donald Trump has said he would leave abortion access up to individual states in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Courts 2022 Dobbs ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade and dismantled the federal right to abortion.

But even in states with strong abortion protections, such as Connecticut and Massachusetts, lawmakers and other officials are already discussing ways to stave off legal challenges from various quarters, including federal agencies under a Trump administration and anti-abortion lawmakers in conservative states.

What were watching is this interplay between protective states and the Trump-Vance administration, and what impact that administration will have on state laws and access to sexual and reproductive health care, said Candace Gibson, director of state policy at the Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy organization focused on advancing reproductive rights.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its going to be an interesting time.

Targeting abortion pills

Tong said one of his biggest concerns is that legislative efforts and legal challenges from anti-abortion lawmakers in red states could lead to nationwide restrictions on the medication mifepristone. Its one of two drugs most commonly used in medication abortion, which now accounts for nearly two-thirds of all abortions.

If you ban that, it will be nothing if not a nationwide ban on abortion, he said.

Conservative-led states could follow the example of Louisiana, which passed a law in its most recent legislative session to classify mifepristone and the drug misoprostol as controlled substances. Both are used in medication abortions as well as to treat other conditions, such as life-threatening postpartum hemorrhaging. Since Louisianas law took effect, hospitals in the state have pulled mifepristone and misoprostol from obstetric hemorrhage carts and instead stored them in passcode-protected cabinets outside of labor and delivery rooms. Its a move some physicians worry could waste precious time in emergency situations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last week, Republican state Rep.-elect Pat Curry filed a similar bill in Texas. Conservative lawmakers in North Carolina hastily passed a law in 2023, overriding Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers veto, that included additional restrictions on dispensing abortion medication. That law has been mired in lawsuits.

But last month, Democratic attorneys general in 17 states and the District of Columbia asked a federal appeals court to uphold a ruling that North Carolina cant impose restrictions on mifepristone that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said are medically unnecessary.

Meanwhile, anti-abortion groups released a Make America Pro-Life Again Roadmap last week, outlining their plans to hammer away at abortion access at federal and state levels, including an emphasis on challenging mifepristone access.

We have a siege engine ready for these legal walls that well face at some state legislatures and legislative levels, and also at federal levels, said Kristan Hawkins, president of the anti-abortion organization Students for Life Action, on a media call last week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hawkins said legislators in nine states  Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wyoming  would be filing bills targeting the sale or distribution of medications that can be used for abortions.

Arizona state Rep. Rachel Jones, a Republican, said on a recent call with media that she plans to target abortion pills in her fight against Arizonas new constitutional amendment protecting abortion access, which voters approved earlier this month.

There are other ways, at the front of this, to encourage women to make a different decision before they even go into that abortion clinic, before they order the pills, to stop the ability to be able to do that so easily through the mail, Jones said. She said she plans to educate her legislative colleagues on how to combat the big push for medication abortion.

Bolstering shield laws

A number of states have passed shield laws designed to minimize the legal risks for people who provide or access abortions. But just eight states  California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington  protect abortion providers from legal action regardless of where their patient is located.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For example, telehealth providers in states including California, Massachusetts and New York prescribe abortion medication to patients in states where abortion is banned. Shield laws attempt to protect those providers from prosecution.

State shield laws havent seen many challenges yet, but they could be coming, said Gibson, of the Guttmacher Institute.

Attorneys in the reproductive justice division of the Massachusetts attorney generals office are looking at ways to further strengthen the states shield law. With the incoming Trump administration, they anticipate more efforts from conservative prosecutors and attorneys general to mount legal challenges with the expectation of a friendlier federal atmosphere.

My office, including through our Reproductive Justice Unit, will continue to ensure that Massachusetts remains a leader in advancing access to care, protecting our health care rights, and addressing disparities, while working in collaboration with my counterparts across the country, said Massachusetts Democratic Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell in a statement to Stateline.

Regional impact

Officials in blue states also are shoring up protections for contraceptive access, digital privacy and emergency abortion care in hospitals. For example, in Maryland, Democratic lawmakers passed a sweeping online data privacy law in April, in an attempt to limit how tech platforms and phone apps can gather and use consumers personal data, including reproductive health data.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Policymakers understand these state bans on abortion access arent just state bans, that they have a regional impact as well.

 Candace Gibson, Guttmacher Institute

Connecticut and Massachusetts are among the states looking at ways to strengthen their laws to protect reproductive emergency care if the Trump administration reverses current federal guidelines that say abortion is covered under the hospital emergency care law known as EMTALA.

If the Trump administration says hospitals are no longer federally required to provide abortions as part of emergency reproductive care, Tong said, even patients in a state such as Connecticut could be affected. Without state requirements, religiously affiliated hospitals, for example, could refuse to terminate pregnancies in situations where a patients life or health could be at risk.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gibson said she expects to continue seeing more state lawmakers filing contraception protection bills in upcoming legislative sessions. In Virginias most recent session, Democratic lawmakers passed a bill to guarantee access to contraception, though it was vetoed by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Earlier this year, Campbell, of Massachusetts, organized a working group of Democratic state attorneys general and others to collaborate on how to use shield laws and other legal and legislative tools to protect abortion rights.

Theres been an increase in collaboration conversations amongst different state policymakers, Gibson said in an interview with Stateline. I think policymakers understand these state bans on abortion access arent just state bans, that they have a regional impact as well.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and X.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  Every New Mexican with a phone bill has been paying the same rate for 911 fees since 1989. However, on Monday, officials from the New Mexico Association of Counties say its time for a fee increase.

Experts said tacking on 99 cents to the phone bill would go a long way in helping 911 centers: The 9-1-1 emergency surcharge of 51 cents has not increased since the inception in 1989. Weve added some different lines to it, some wireline, wireless, VOIP phones, prepaid phones; but its never been increased from the 51 cents, stated Nicole Brown, with the New Mexico Association of Counties.

New Mexico receives $18.6M to help residents heat their homes during winter

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Whether you knew it or not, roughly half a dollar is added to every New Mexicans phone bill per line for a 911 surchargeused to pay for things like 911 centers equipment and training.

This is the third lowest surcharge in the nation despite New Mexico having one of the highest numbers of 911 calls per capita, Brown said. She explained, that according to the Department of Finance 911 Bureau, the call volume in the state equals 1,169 calls per 1,000 residents.

Only one PSAP, or public service answering point, was fully staffed in 2024. We, as a directors affiliate, believe that some of that can be attributed to low wages, Brown said.

On top of that, experts claimed the money that is collected from the surcharge only covers about 20 percent of the costs; the rest is shouldered by local governments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This creates an inequitable 911 landscape across the state, especially in our more rural counties and small towns, said Julian Sena, with the New Mexico Association of Counties.

The money they do get cant be used on wages: New Mexicos 911 fund has some of the strictest limitations on what 911 emergencys surcharge can cover compared to nearly every other state in the nation, Sena explained.

With the advent of newer Next Generation technology for 911 dispatchers, which experts are seeking to implement, theyre asking lawmakers to consider a price hike of 99 centsraising the 911 surcharge to $1.50 per line.

Weve kind of done everything we can do with 51 cents. Its just that time to increase it, Brown stated.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Battle continues for East Mountain residents as Campbell Ranch development moves forward

If the price gets enacted, New Mexicos rate would still be under the national average of $1.81.

Experts also want to modernize the language in the Enhanced 911 Act, so it can evolve with changing technologies, and expand what the 911 fund can pay for, including better wages for dispatchers and the cost of new tech.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
A gap in Washington's drug endangerment law makes it difficult for prosecutors to charge someone for exposing a child to opioids or other controlled substances. But a new law, adopted unanimously by the Pierce County Council earlier this year, aims to encourage state legislators to revisit the policy.

Pierce County adopted the law, which makes reckless drug exposure a gross misdemeanor, five months ago. Now county officials have turned their attention to the state, where efforts to expand felony endangerment laws failed to gain traction over the last two years.

State law makes accidental or negligent drug poisonings a felony only in cases that involve methamphetamines. The exclusion of other drugs, Pierce County officials say, restricts their ability to hold people accountable to the same degree for other drug-related exposures.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pierce County Prosecutor Mary Robnett, whose office brought the endangerment policy to council, said they would urge lawmakers to revisit endangerment laws during next years legislative session. They are also encouraging cities to pass similar laws at the local level.

The Gig Harbor City Council heard a first reading on an ordinance creating a city-level endangerment statute on Monday. The city ordinance mirrors the policy adopted at the county level.

City Police Chief Kelly Busey said they had been encouraged to pass an ordinance, noting that it may apply some pressure to the state.

There is the urging of the city council to lean on the state Legislature a bit, he said during a meeting this month.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Washington adopted its endangerment with a controlled substance statute in 2002. The law made exposing a child to methamphetamines, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine or anhydrous ammonia a class B felony, punishable by up to a decade in prison.

Cases of accidental exposure involving children are uncommon. Yet some officials argue state endangerment statutes should be updated to reflect the growing presence of opioids like fentanyl, which have surpassed methamphetamines as the primary drug of concern.

Before 2021, meth was the most common drug seized by law enforcement and submitted for testing, according to data from Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute at the University of Washington. Non-heroin opioids, primary fentanyl, surpassed it in 2022.

In the 90s and early 2000s methamphetamine was big. That was the drug of choice and thats what we saw a lot of on the street, Busey said. Now it's fentanyl.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite the changing landscape, proposals seeking to expand state endangerment statutes to include a reference to opioids and other drugs have faced roadblocks in the state house. Legislators have expressed worries about criminalizing addiction and separating parents from children.

State Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, introduced a bill, SB 5010, to broaden the states endangerment law in 2023. The policy specifically added references to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Wilson and the Clark County Prosecutors Office argued that without that update there were few avenues to provide accountability if a child survived an accidental poisoning.

When a child dies from an accidental or negligent drug exposure, prosecutors can file felony manslaughter charges. If they survive, prosecutors are unable to bring felony charges unless the incident involves methamphetamines.

We have laws that allow for charges if a child is exposed to drugs and they die, Wilson said in 2023. Our laws are way outdated and do not allow for charges of endangerment for those little children and babies where lifesaving measures were successful.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

King County Prosecutor Lisa Manion voiced support for the bill in an open letter, writing it was a common-sense solution to more appropriately address the serious act of exposing a child to fentanyl as felony-level behavior.

The current law was written decades ago, well before anyone foresaw the fentanyl crisis impacting our community, she said.

Kitsap County Prosecutor Chad Enright said it was good that some people were trying to do something, noting that while accidental exposures are uncommon, they are concerning. He said Kitsap County had a case in March in which a 5-year-old was exposed to fentanyl, but they were unable to file charges.

Wilsons bill passed out of the Senate with near-unanimous support during the 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions, before stalling in the House. The lower chambers Community Safety, Justice & Reentry Committee, has twice returned it to the Senate Rules Committee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rep. Tarra Simmons, D-Bremerton and vice chair of that House Community Safety Committee, did not return a message seeking comment.

Opponents of the bill argued that those who use drugs around children likely have complex substance use disorders and would benefit from treatment and social services. The threat of prison time, they say, is not an effective response and would likely make the situation worse.

Pierce County Councilmember Robyn Denson, who represents Gig Harbor and the Key Peninsula, said the primary goal of the local endangerment ordinance is to protect vulnerable populations, like children, from harm. Until this law was in place, county officials said they had few tools available to protect children facing drug exposure.

The new Pierce County endangerment law allows prosecutors to charge people with a gross misdemeanor  as opposed to a felony  if they knowingly or recklessly expose a child to a controlled substance other than cannabis. Substances obtained legally through a medical professional are also excluded.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A gross misdemeanor means a person convicted could face up to a year in jail. Prosecutors say they will prioritize deferral to treatment, where possible.

Denson said she was unsure if the change would encourage more people to seek treatment, but remained hopeful.

The more serious charge may cause more individuals to avail themselves of our therapeutic treatment courts, for example, which provide a great deal of support to people seeking recovery from substance abuse disorders, she wrote in an email.

Robnett, the Pierce County prosecutor, pushed back on the idea that the bill was criminalizing addiction. She drew a distinction between punishing an individual for making the choice to use an illicit substance versus penalizing someone for use that impacts a child.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its a chance for somebody in the system to keep that child safe, she said. Its a chance for an intervention. I hope a lifesaving chance.

Conor Wilson is a Murrow News fellow, reporting for the Kitsap Sun and Gig Harbor Now, a nonprofit newsroom based in Gig Harbor, through a program managed by Washington State University.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Pierce County takes lead on adding fentanyl to law about exposing kids
The US Marine Corps made a significant milestone by launching the first combat air strikes using the F-35C Lightning II aircraft on November 9 and 10.

The operation was carried out by the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, which is assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).

During this mission, VMFA 314 targeted Houthi weapons storage facilities located within Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These facilities were not only critical to the Houthis operations but also housed various conventional weapons, including anti-ship missiles.

Combat debut

The Iranian-backed Houthis have utilized these weapons to threaten US and international military and civilian vessels navigating the crucial maritime corridors of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Lt. Col. Jeffrey "Wiki" Davis, the commanding officer of VMFA-314, expressed pride in being the first squadron to deploy the F-35C in combat, stating, The F-35C demonstrated its warfighting advantage by transiting contested airspace and striking targets in the heart of Houthi territory over multiple days. My Marines are honored to be first to fight with the F-35C.

The F-35C is a fifth-generation, long-range stealth fighter jet used by the US Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. This multi-role aircraft is designed for various missions, including air-to-air combat, air-to-ground strikes, surveillance, and electronic warfare.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Capt. Gerald Dutch Tritz, commander of CVW 9, highlighted the importance of the F-35Cs capabilities, saying, The offensive and defensive capabilities of the F-35C absolutely enhance our air wing's striking arm. The now battle-tested Air Wing of the Future has proven itself a game changer across all carrier air wing missions.

VMFA 314, known as the Black Knights, transitioned from the F-18 to the F-35C in 2020, marking them as the first fleet squadron in the Navy and Marine Corps to operate the fifth-generation fighter aircraft.

They have a rich history, being the first operational Marine squadron to fly the F-4 Phantom and F-18 Hornet.

F-35C fighter

The F-35C is tailored for operations aboard aircraft carriers, with features specifically designed to meet naval requirements.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It can launch via catapults and land using arrestor wires, making it highly adaptable for maritime aviation.

With a wingspan of 43 feet, the F-35C provides enhanced lift for carrier takeoffs and landings, and its wingtips are foldable to maximize space on crowded decks.

Due to its larger fuel capacity, the F-35C boasts the longest internal combat range of over 1,200 nautical miles. This allows for long missions with minimal reliance on aerial refueling.

Its stealth features are supported by radar-absorbent materials and a low-observable design, enabling the aircraft to evade detection while carrying weapons internally.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Equipped with advanced sensors, including the Distributed Aperture System (DAS) for situational awareness, an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, and an Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS), the F-35C enhances its effectiveness in combat.

These systems integrate seamlessly to provide a clear and comprehensive operational environment.

Contrary to the F-35B, which prioritizes vertical lift and has a reduced payload, the F-35C maximizes range and endurance without sacrificing operational capability.

It is designed explicitly for carrier operations, marking a significant advancement in naval aviation and underscoring the US Marine Corps commitment to maintaining a technological edge in combat operations.
As millions of Americans prepare to travel this Thanksgiving week, early reports suggest minimal disruptions nationwide. However, one Texas airport is expected to be among the busiest this holiday season.

As of 7:30 a.m., only 25 U.S. flights had been canceled, with 366 delayed, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware. In Dallas-Fort Worth, 22 flights have been affected10 departures and 12 arrivals.

While most travelers can anticipate smooth journeys, active weather systems may complicate plans in some regions. A wintry mix and slushy conditions are forecast in parts of the Midwest, while rain could bring delays along the East Coast.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Airlines are encouraging passengers to check flight statuses before heading to the airport, though no waivers have been issued for weather-related changes or cancellations. Meanwhile, the Transportation Security Administration is gearing up for record-breaking passenger numbers, advising travelers to arrive early and pack smartly.

"Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, and this year were expecting to set new records across the board, from driving to flying and cruising," said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, in a statement. "Americans reconnect with family and friends over Thanksgiving, and travel is a big part of that. AAA continues to see travel demand soar post-pandemic with our members looking for new adventures and memorable vacations."

Texas airport delays: See live flight status

FlightAware shows minimal disruptions the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

See up-to-date information of Texas' 10 busiest airports.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To view flights at smaller airports in Texas, visit FlightAware and search by flight number or location.

What will be the busiest days to fly over the Thanksgiving holiday?

The busiest day for air travel will be Sunday, Dec. 1, while the least busy day will be Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28; Black Friday, Nov. 29; and Tuesday, Dec. 3.

For Thanksgiving week, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Denver International Airport are expected to be the busiest airports, especially in the morning between 8 a.m. and noon, USA TODAY reports.

What is the DOT Dashboard?

The Department of Transportation created a dashboard for travelers to easily access information about services that U.S. airlines provide in the case of cancellations or delays

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Click here to access the DOT Cancellation and Delay Dashboard.

A new rule from the DOT that went into effect at the end of October requires airlines to refund passengers if their flight is significantly delayed for reasons within the carrier's control and also makes airlines more responsible for following their own customer commitments in those cases.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Thanksgiving travel: Flights to and from Texas
Claim:

"In My Daddy's Belly" is a real book for children about a pregnant trans man.

Rating:

Rating: True

In late 2023 and through 2024, rumors circulated online about a children's book titled "In My Daddy's Belly," which supposedly tells the story of a man who gets pregnant and gives birth:

This video had gained 33,300 views as of this writing, as well as nearly 2,000 likes. "As parents, it is our job, it is our responsibility to protect our little children," the TikTok user said, enjoining parents to "teach them the right thing" as he showed an image of a heterosexual couple with a child. The claim that the book was real appeared in several TikTok videos. It also appeared in a Reddit post asking if such a book would be confusing for children.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The book is real. Its author is Logan Brown, a trans man from Manchester, England, who became pregnant by his partner and gave birth in 2023. The book, which was published in November 2023, seeks to explain to children in accessible terms that trans men  men whose assigned sex at birth was female  can have babies.

According to Brown, the pair had not been a couple for very long when Brown unexpectedly became pregnant.

Brown isn't the only trans man to have carried a pregnancy to term. Those who do call themselves "seahorse dads," after the only species  along with sea dragons  whose males carry the eggs and give birth. In 2019, a documentary titled "Seahorse: The Dad Who Gave Birth," was released to critical acclaim, recounting the journey of Freddy McConnell, a trans man who had a baby.

On Jan. 22, 2024, McConnell shared a video on TikTok of himself reading Brown's book with his children:

In June 2023, Brown appeared on the cover of the U.K. edition of Glamour magazine, with a featured interview:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the interview, Brown provided more context on how the pregnancy occurred. "We've not even been together that long, to be honest," he said. "That's why it's a big shocker that we're even having a baby together." At the time, Brown was off testosterone for health reasons. Brown had been recounting his story in a blog, titled "Up the Duff Man" ("up the duff" is a British expression that means pregnant). At the time of the interview, Brown was also writing two books. One of them was an autobiography and the other was the children's book "In My Daddy's Belly."

Brown said he was the target of transphobic harassment during the pregnancy. Similarly, his book received many negative reviews on the Amazon page, most of which expressed transphobic views, some citing religion and others purporting to draw from science to criticize the book. "This is only accurate according to feelings, not actual science," one wrote. Of the 124 one-star reviews, only one was from a verified purchase.

Sources:

Amazon Page for 'In My Daddy's Belly: The Story of a Transgender Dad Giving Birth'. https://www.amazon.com/My-Daddys-Belly-Transgender-giving/dp/1916975003#customerReviews.

Finlay, Jeanie. Watch SEAHORSE: The Dad Who Gave Birth Online | Vimeo On Demand. 2019. Vimeo, https://vimeo.com/ondemand/seahorsefilm.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Laws, Chloe. 'Logan Brown: "I'm a Pregnant Trans Man and I Do Exist. No Matter What Anyone Says, I Am Literally Living Proof"'. Glamour UK, 1 June 2023, https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/logan-brown-interview-2023.

Seahorse: The Dad Who Gave Birth - Movie Reviews | Rotten Tomatoes. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/seahorse_the_dad_who_gave_birth_2019/reviews. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

'Up the Duff Man'. Up the Duff Man, https://uptheduffman.wordpress.com/. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Seahorses and Their First Cousins, Sea Dragons, Are the Only Species in Which the Male Gets Pregnant and Gives Birth. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/seahorse.html. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
Claim:

Project 2025, a conservative coalition's plan for a future U.S. Republican presidency, proposes eliminating the federal Head Start education program.

Rating:

Rating: True

For several months, claims that Project 2025 intends to eliminate the U.S. Head Start program, which provides early childhood education and services to low-income families, have circulated in various media outlets and on social media platforms, including posts by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. "Donald Trump's Project 2025 would eliminate the Department of Education and get rid of Head Start," Harris' account on Facebook wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

https://www.facebook.com/KamalaHarris/videos/8532267636858572/

"Project 2025 cuts the Head Start program," one X user wrote, adding that, "Project 2025 aims to cut pathways to success."

Indeed, the claim circulated on multiple social media platforms, including Facebook, X, TikTok, and Instagram.

They are correct. "Mandate for Leadership 2025: The Conservative Promise," a document outlining Project 2025's goals, explicitly recommends eliminating the Head Start program, so we have rated this claim as true.

What Project 2025 Document Says?

The recommendation to eliminate Head Start has sparked significant criticism, as many view it as essential for supporting low-income families. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (DHHS) website, Head Start programs support children's growth from birth to age 5 through services centered around early learning and development, health, and family well-being.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The proposal to eliminate Head Start was outlined in the "Mandate for Leadership" chapter on the DHHS, authored by Roger Severino, vice president of domestic policy at The Heritage Foundation. Specifically, this recommendation appeared in the section about the Office of Head Start (OHS) on page 482, reading:

Eliminate the Head Start program. Head Start, originally established and funded to support low-income families, is fraught with scandal and abuse. With a budget of more than $11 billion, the program should function to protect and educate minors. Sadly, it has done exactly the opposite. In fact, "approximately 1 in 4 grant recipients had incidents in which children were abused, left unsupervised, or released to an unauthorized person between October 2015 and May 2020." [...] Research has demonstrated that federal Head Start centers, which provide preschool care to children from low-income families, have little or no long-term academic value for children. Given its unaddressed crisis of rampant abuse and lack of positive outcomes, this program should be eliminated along with the entire OHS. At the very least, the program's COVID-19 vaccine and mask requirements should be rescinded.

The document criticizes Head Start for alleged inefficiencies, safety violations, and a lack of long-term academic benefits for participating children. The paragraph referenced an article from the Heritage Foundation in November 2022, titled, "Over 1,000 Safety Violations Mar Head Start. Children Deserve Better," authored by Madison Marino, senior research associate from the Center for Education Policy at The Heritage Foundation.

"Head Start has faced multiple occurrences of financial fraud and child abuse over many decades. And those who attend Head Start do no better in school than similar children who do not, which means Head Start has little or no long-term academic value for children," the article claimed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The article was originally published by the The Daily Signal, a conservative news website, and was based on an actual, September 2022 review released by the U.S. Office of Inspector General, titled, "ACF [Administration for Children and Families] Should Improve Oversight of Head Start To Better Protect Children's Safety."

The federal review stated that "approximately one in four Head Start grant recipients received an adverse finding from ACF for child abuse, lack of supervision, or unauthorized release between October 2015 and May 2020. These adverse findings encompassed 1,029 individual incidents." It also concluded that the ACF "is not aware of all incidents in which children in the care of a Head Start center are abused, left unsupervised, or released to an unauthorized person, impeding ACF's efforts to protect children's safety."

Project 2025 and Education

This was not the first claim related to education and Project 2025 that we have investigated. For instance, in August 2024, we fact-checked whether Project 2025 proposes that all public high school students should be required to take the military entrance exam (true). We also confirmed Project 2025 has called to shut down the U.S. Department of Education. In September 2024, we looked at claims that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said: "I'm gonna close the Department of Education and move education back to the states" (true).

Trump has publicly distanced himself from the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 document. Instead, he presented Agenda47 as his official set of proposals, which shares some common objectives with Project 2025. The degree of influence Project 2025 will have on his administration is yet to be determined.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For further reading, we recommend our comprehensive article on the topic, "What to Know About Project 2025, the Pro-Trump Plan to Overhaul US Government."

Sources:

Doan, Madison Marino. "Over 1,000 Safety Violations Mar Head Start. Children Deserve Better." The Daily Signal, 9 Nov. 2022, https://www.dailysignal.com/2022/11/09/over-1000-safety-violations-mar-head-start-children-deserve-better/.

---. "Over 1,000 Safety Violations Mar Head Start. Children Deserve Better." The Heritage Foundation, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/over-1000-safety-violations-mar-head-start-children-deserve-better. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

PerryCook, Taija. "Trump Announced He'll Close US Department of Education If Reelected?" Snopes, 24 Sept. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/trump-said-he-will-close-department-of-education/.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rascouet-Paz, Anna. "Project 2025 Wants To Kill US Department of Education." Snopes, 14 Aug. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/project-2025-kill-us-department-of-education/.

Wrona, Aleksandra. "Project 2025 Wants All Public High School Students To Take Military Entrance Exam?" Snopes, 14 Aug. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/project-2025-high-school-military-exam/.

Wrona, Nur Ibrahim, Aleksandra. "What's Project 2025? Unpacking the Pro-Trump Plan to Overhaul US Government." Snopes, 3 July 2024, https://www.snopes.com//news/2024/07/03/project-2025-trump-us-government/.
Claim:

The U.S. government has been funding "toilets in Africa."

Rating:

Rating: True

Context:

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene did not specify what she was referring to when she discussed the government funding "toilets in Africa." However, USAID did fund the Sanitation Service Delivery initiative, among others, in West African countries, which aimed to increase access to hygienic sanitation services. Likewise, a similar program was ongoing in Liberia, according to a September 2024 USAID report.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Nov. 24, 2024, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene spoke with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo to discuss (archived) her role on a subcommittee tied to President-elect Donald Trump's new Department of Government Efficiency.

The Georgia Republican said the department was planning to "comb through" numerous funds and initiatives to figure out what they deemed wasteful, including the U.S. government's purported funding of "toilets in Africa."

WATCH: My exclusive interview with @MariaBartiromo on @FoxNews



I lay out my vision for the @GOPoversight Subcommittee on DOGE and the steps we need to take to GUT federal agencies, FIRE unelected bureaucrats, and deliver for the American people!



 pic.twitter.com/QralX2HJHj  Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) November 24, 2024

She then said DOGE would be looking "all over" to identify the government's wasteful spending and added that they would scrutinize:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

[] every single government department, program, grant programs, contracts; it is everywhere. And so when we look into a deep dive into this massive problem that's caused America to be $36 trillion in debt, we're going to have to go into all kinds of buckets. And that's how I'll be separating things on the oversight subcommittee on DOGE. We'll be looking at everything from government-funded media programs like NPR, that spread nothing but Democrat propaganda. We'll be going into grant programs that fund things like sex apps in Malaysia, toilets in Africa, all kinds of programs that don't help the American people.

While Greene did not identify which "toilets in Africa" program she was referring to, the U.S. government has supported sanitation initiatives in Africa through the United States Agency for International Development.

Snopes reached out to USAID to learn more about the specifics of the program, but given that it is a government agency, we have rated the claim that the U.S. government has funded such efforts in the region as true.

USAID supports international development and humanitarian assistance efforts in partner countries. From October 2014 to September 2021, the agency gave almost $20 million to sanitation initiatives in West African countries through the Sanitation Service Delivery program.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to a webpage on the initiative, SSD aimed to help build better sanitation networks in a series of countries by helping entrepreneurs develop toilet-building initiatives among other areas.

The Sanitation Service Delivery (SSD) program began with an analysis of the urban sanitation markets in Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana to identify constraints and potential areas for intervention. Guided by the findings of the analysis, SSD developed sets of interventions called sanitation delivery models to catalyze the creation of a more efficient and inclusive sanitation market system that is attractive to consumers and generates profits for local micro-enterprises. Each country is currently implementing latrine product sales and improved human waste services management. The models are uniquely designed to address the specific local sanitation challenges. Through these interventions, SSD is improving the enabling environment by operationalizing consumer loans for sanitation. SSD efforts are also helping entrepreneurs to develop toilet building businesses, as well as innovate new sanitation technologies and services. In addition, SSD creates sanitation management business models that influence policy and practices across the region. The project is also building government capacity to improve sanitation infrastructure and increase collaboration with the private sector.

While the above effort concluded in 2021, at least one similar USAID funded initiative is ongoing. According to a September 2024 USAID report, the agency is currently funding the Countywide Sanitation Activity  a partnership between local government and private organizations  in the West African country of Liberia, which aims to "address the persistent and widespread issue of open defecation (OD) in five counties" across the nation. The initiative is working with local communities to find durable, environmentally sustainable, locally available and cost-effective ways to carry out toilet construction.

Snopes asked USAID about the present status of the SSD, other similar ongoing efforts and the amount of funds going into the building of actual toilets in countries across Africa. We will update this story if we get more information.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While Greene is correct in saying the U.S. government funds such sanitation initiatives, many commentators have criticized DOGE for what they say are implausible and disruptive plans to cut federal agencies and minimize spending.

Sources:

Dwoskin, Elizabeth, et al. "Musk and Ramaswamy Race to Build a 'DOGE' Team for War with Washington." The Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2024, https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/11/24/musk-ramaswamy-doge-trump. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

"Liberia Countywide Sanitation Project." PSI, 25 May 2023, https://www.psi.org/liberia-countywide-sanitation-project/. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

"Sanitation Service Delivery (SSD) | West Africa Regional." U.S. Agency for International Development, 15 Dec. 2022, https://www.usaid.gov/west-africa-regional/document/sanitation-service-delivery-ssd-1. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The More You Learn About Elon Musk's DOGE, the Less Sense It Makes." The New Republic. The New Republic, https://newrepublic.com/article/188750/doge-ramaswamy-musk-trump-agency. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

"Together We Can Tailor Sanitation Solutions: Liberia's Investment in CLA." USAID Learning Lab. https://usaidlearninglab.org/resources/together-we-can-tailor-sanitation-solutions-liberias-investment-cla. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

Wade, Peter. "MTG Calls America 'Spoiled,' Threatens to Defund NPR and 'Toilets in Africa.'" Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2024, https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/mtg-america-spoiled-defund-npr-toilets-africa-1235179124/. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

"What We Do." U.S. Agency for International Development, 28 Oct. 2024, https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
NAIROBI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations agencies, under the umbrella of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, on Tuesday launched a joint nutrition program with the Kenyan government to confront malnutrition and improve the livelihoods of children in the country.

The program being led by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) will address food insecurity, hygiene and sanitation, safe drinking water, health and education.

Shaheen Nilofer, UNICEF representative to Kenya, said that enhanced governance will ensure the delivery of quality nutrition services and sustainable multi-sectoral nutrition programs.

"We intend to improve access to food and nutrition interventions for food insecure populations in Kenya," Nilofer said during the joint program's launch in Kenya's capital of Nairobi.

The UNICEF official noted that the joint program aims to tackle the root causes of the triple burden of malnutrition in Kenya, which is stunting, wasting and obesity, rather than treating the symptoms.

In addition, the UN and Kenya plan to support and improve access to nutrition interventions for people in informal and humanitarian settings, Nilofer said.

Mary Muriuki, principal secretary of the Ministry of Health, stressed that partnerships are key to eliminating childhood malnutrition in Kenya, where stunting among children below five years of age declined from 40 percent in 1993 to 18 percent in 2022.

Kenya's emergency response systems have been strengthened, enabling the country to avert the death of acutely malnourished children, according to Muriuki.

The collaborative effort, which is also funded by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the World Food Program, and the UN Refugee Agency, has a budget of 52.6 million U.S. dollars and will operate from 2023 to 2026.

It is expected to scale up high-impact, low-cost nutrition interventions, enhance governance and multi-sectoral coordination, strengthen capacity at county and community levels, and build resilience against climate shocks and emergencies.

The project will guarantee equitable access to integrated nutrition services, prioritizing women, children, and marginalized populations in semi-arid regions and informal urban settlements. 
MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11)  Rep. Ritchie Torres is holding a news conference on Tuesday after he slammed the city and state for how they handled 51-year-old Roman Rivera, a homeless man accused of stabbing and killing three people across Manhattan.

Rivera has an extensive criminal background with arrests in multiple states, according to authorities. He allegedly assaulted a correction officer in the Bellevue prison ward, sources previously told PIX11 News.

More Local News

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rivera was also at Rikers Island from February to October of this year after pleading guilty to burglary and assault. He was originally sentenced to 364 days behind bars but was released early by the Department of Correction after serving two-thirds of it, sources said.

Not only did the State and the City fail to punish Ramon Rivera for assaulting a law enforcement officer, the City released him early for good behavior,' Torres said. There are mothers and fathers; daughters and sons; wives and husbands who will no longer have loved ones because their government fundamentally failed them.

Torres called on officials to prohibit the early release of suspects who are not only a danger to themselves, but also to the public.

The bureaucrat in DOC who authorized the early release of Ramon should be fired. Those who cannot be entrusted with public safety should no longer be employed by the people of New York, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The press conference will be held at 1 p.m. in Lower Manhattan. Rivera confessed to the stabbings when he was arrested, according to court documents.

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Nov. 25Yarmouth High School dismissed students early Monday after students complained that they were feeling dizzy and lightheaded, including a few who fainted  despite a series of air quality tests that found no issues.

The Yarmouth School Department initially evacuated the building late Monday morning, citing an "air quality complaint" in an announcement to families.

Superintendent Andrew Dolloff said three students fainted within 30 minutes of one another, "which is highly, highly unusual," starting around 10:30 a.m. The students, who did not know each other and are in different grades, were each transported to a hospital, where they were tested for the presence of carbon monoxide, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Yarmouth fire Chief Michael Robitaille said his and other departments used four different multigas meters to test the building but found no indications of contamination. Crews also checked the rooftop vents and heating systems but found no blockages or leaks, he said.

"One medical (incident) turned into two; two turned into three," Robitaille said. "Could it have just been a coincidence? Potentially. I don't know. ... It has me stumped also, let me just say that."

One student tested positive for carbon monoxide, but less than would be in the bloodstream of a cigarette smoker, Robitaille said. Another student's test showed trace amounts of the gas, but less than the threshold for a positive reading, he said. The third showed no presence of the gas.

Dolloff added that none of the students tested positive for drugs or alcohol.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a message to families around 8:30 p.m., Dolloff said two of the students had been released from the hospital and were "recovering well," though the district had not heard about the other student.

Since the early tests showed no worrying signs, administrators briefly reopened the school Monday. But the district evacuated the school again and closed the school for the day at 1:35 p.m., the department announced on its website.

"Although air quality tests have produced excellent results, we are experiencing a concerning number of students indicating that they do not feel well," the department said in a later announcement early in the afternoon.

Between six and 10 students reported feeling light-headed or dizzy after returning to the building, Dolloff said, prompting administrators to close the building out of an abundance of caution while further tests could be conducted. None of those students were transported to the hospital.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dolloff said one hypothesis is that an idling truck outside the facility may have wafted gas into the building, briefly contaminating the air.

"We're going to be checking our video cameras next," he said.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that is produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels like gasoline, natural gas or wood. Gas- and oil-burning furnaces, portable generators, and gasoline engines produce carbon monoxide; inhaling it causes illness and death. The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The school is slated to open as usual Tuesday, Dolloff said.

Robitaille said he was "very comfortable" declaring that the school is safe.

Staff Writer Morgan Womack contributed reporting.

Copy the Story Link
It was a somber and emotional memorial service for the man who was the battalion chief at the Pittsburgh Fire Bureau station in East Liberty.

Friends and fellow firefighters gathered at St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland to remember and honor John Walshs dedication to his profession. The Battalion Chief who died in the line of duty made an indelible mark on the Fire Bureau.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Pittsburgh Fire Battalion Chief John Walsh dies while in command of fire in East Hills

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The hearse carrying the body of Walsh left the funeral home in Scott Township and drove under a huge American flag draped between two fire trucks.

The procession arrived at St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland just before 10 a.m., where firefighters lined the steps to the Cathedral to pay their last respects as bagpipes played in the background.

During the service, Walsh was remembered for his calm and commanding presence.

He was described as a real firemans chief, who made a difference in the bureau.

His attitude, his command presence, his way of being a tactician, and technician on the fire ground. Thats something we can all learn from, Pittsburgh Fire Chief Darryl Jones said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A friend remembered Walsh as committed to get the job done and would do anything to help anyone.

This was very sad, an unexpected death, a line of duty death, very, very sad. His character was the best ever, a no nonsense chief but loved by everybody. His personality would light up a room, said John Albenese, a volunteer firefighter who knew Walsh for years and said Walsh was his mentor.

The International Association of Firefighters honored Walsh by presenting his wife with the medal of honor.

At the end of the funeral mass, his final end of watch call echoed over the radio.

Walsh often attended funeral services for other fallen firefighters across the country. Today, firefighters returned the favor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They came from as far away as New York, Cleveland and Philadelphia.

To support my brothers in the Pittsburgh Fire Department. I never met the chief, but he would do it for me, said Mark Erlacher, a retired firefighter who drove in from Philadelphia today just to attend the funeral.

Walsh was with the Fire Bureau for 37 years.

In 1994, he suffered severe burns after coming into contact with live electrical wires while fighting a fire on the South Side. He fought his way back to work.

Its a lesson in perseverance the Bureau wont soon forget.

We have a task to continue to honor him, to grow upon what he left us, the resilience that he showed by coming back to work after being so severely injured, Chief Jones said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Walsh is survived by his wife of 36 years, his parents and siblings.

His father is a retired Pittsburgh Firefighter.

Walsh was buried during a private ceremony at a cemetery near Gibsonia.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
The customary Christmas tree delivery on Nov. 25, 2024, to the Kansas governor's mansion from Fontana marked the beginning of the holiday season. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)

CEDAR CREST  About a year ago, Ed Bartoszeks mother could ride a tractor through the rows of pines on the family tree farm in Fontana.

His mother, Faye, now sits in a wheelchair after suffering a stroke in October of last year, but she was able to witness Monday a tree grown at her 60s-era tree farm tucked into a corner at the governors mansion at Cedar Crest.

Owners of the Fontana Pines Christmas Tree Farm Ed Bartoszek and his mother, Faye, greet Santa Clause on Nov. 25, 2024, at the governors mansion in Topeka. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)

Getting her up here was most important, Bartoszek said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its the first Christmas tree the Bartoszek family has been able to donate to Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly from their farm, Fontana Pines, south of Kansas City. As it was delivered in a horse-drawn carriage and carried by the teen-aged members of the family into the mansion, Ed Bartoszek said he was filled with emotion.

Im feeling overwhelmed. Its a nice feeling, he said.

The tree was a 9-foot scotch pine, and Ed Bartoszek wandered the four fields of trees on his property to find the right one for Kelly.

Members of the Kansas Forest Service, the Kansas Christmas Tree Growers Association and the horses current and former owners welcomed the tree Monday alongside Kelly to mark the beginning of the holiday season.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The same pair of horses have delivered a Christmas tree to the governors mansion off and on for more than a decade.

Cecil and Robert Carter, the horses former owners, have been a part of the ceremonious delivery during those years, and this year will likely be their last as they sold the business. The horses will carry on with new owners.

Its a relief, Cecil Carter said. The thing that we miss most is being out in the public.

The Carters talked Monday on their drive to Cedar Crest about the politics, or lack thereof, in their business, Cecil said. Each governor is different. Former Gov. Sam Brownback used to like to get into the carriage and hold the reigns, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When I do a job, theres no political feelings whatsoever, Cecil Carter said.

Race, gender, political beliefs dont matter to him, he said.

Kelly visited with Faye Bartoszek and the rest of the family and posed for photos in her home. She advised Kansans preparing for potentially opinionated holiday gatherings to do exactly what Im going to do  and thats steer away from conversations that are divisive.
It has been two weeks since a fisherman near Lumber City, Ga. pulled the body of Devin Jeter from a river.

They havent told us much about anything. We dont know when he died or how he died, Melanie Jeter, Devins sister told Channel 2s Michael Doudna.

Im still crying because I wont see that smile again. He just lit up a room. He was just such a nice, young man who loved what he did, Perry Delaney Jeter, Devins grandmother, said.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The Jeter family expressed frustration Monday that they have not gotten closure to their loved ones death, and felt their initial pleas for help were ignored.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Devin Jeter was last seen alive on Nov. 7.

The 25-year-old was in Atlanta looking for a car and visiting family.

When his car search was unsuccessful, he told his family he would be back next weekend and rented a car with the plans of driving overnight to make it to his Jacksonville base by morning.

That was the whole purpose of his leaving that night because he wanted to go to work the next day, Melanie said.

However, Devin never arrived, and his family said he did not respond to phone calls or text messages.

When he didnt show up, we knew something had happened, Perry Delaney Jeter said.

The family went to the police and Enterprise, asking for him to be reported missing on Friday, Nov. 8. However, they say no report was filed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They kept telling us, oh he will come back, he probably just went off alone, wanted to be left alone, he didnt want to be bothered, Melanie said.

Everybody kept trying to pass the buck, like, oh he just went off somewhere, no he didnt go off somewhere. He was too responsible. He had a duty to perform when he got back, Perry Delaney Jeter said.

According to an incident report provided by the family, the incident report for a missing person was filed on November 10, more than 48 hours after he disappeared.

It is unclear if the police contacted Enterprise or started searching before Nov. 10.

Atlanta Police did not answer clarifying questions sent via email.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Nov. 11, Devins body was pulled from a river near Lumber City.

A week later, the Jeep he rented was pulled out with no discernable damage.

If they had gotten on it, we think it would have made a big difference, Perry Delaney Jeter said.

Despite locating the body and the Jeep, the family said they have not been given a clear picture of what happened to him.

In an email, the GBI said their investigation at this point does not indicate foul play, however anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI regional investigative office in Eastman at 478-374-6988, or share tips anonymously via the GBIs tip line at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at GBIs tip submission page, or through the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The family believes if the word got out earlier, Devin may have been located faster, potentially finding him alive or in a condition where his body could have helped provide more answers and closure.

TRENDING STORIES:

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
The family of a man who hasnt been seen since earlier this month says they have found him dead.

Jiare Schneider, 31, had aspirations of becoming a social media and TikTok star, according to his family.

Police say Schneider was found sitting in a car that crossed Brown Road, drove through some overgrowth and crashed into a tree. They did not comment on when this crash happened.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

He was last seen on Brown Road on Nov. 15.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Channel 2s Audrey Washington spoke with family members on Tuesday in the area of Brown Road and Poston Road in Clayton County, where dozens of officers were gathered.

Family members told Washington they had been searching in the area and came across Schneiders body and a silver Toyota 4Runner, which was the car he was last known to have been driving.

TRENDING STORIES:

There is no word on what led up to Schneiders disappearance or death.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
The family of a woman shot dead by a former New Mexico police officer has reached a $20 million settlement with the city that employed him, ahead of his murder trial next year.

Las Cruces police officer Felipe Hernandez killed Teresa Gomez, 45, last year and the city said in a statement Monday that his actions "on the morning of Oct. 3, 2023, were so severe that charges were brought against Hernandez."

In January, Hernandez was charged with second-degree murder and later fired from the police department. He has pleaded not guilty and his trial is scheduled for June 2, 2025.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The shooting, which was captured on body camera footage, happened after Hernandez questioned Gomez and a passenger about trespassing after he saw the two of them sitting in a parked vehicle in an area that he described as "public housing." Hernandez approached the vehicle on a bicycle, proceeding to tell Gomez to step out of her vehicle.

At one point he tells her: "Youre going to get tazed." A minutes-long interaction takes place between the three and Gomez eventually leaves the vehicle to speak with the officer.

Hernandez recognized the passenger in the vehicle as a person who was allegedly the subject of multiple warrants for trespassing. Hernandez then tells Gomez to step outside of the vehicle, tell her there are rules that need to be followed.

"I will really, really make your life a living hell," he said, according to the video.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After returning to the vehicle, Gomez then attempts to flee the scene and Hernandez fires at least three shots into the vehicle. She was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

In its statement Monday, the city of Las Cruces said that the settlement should not indicate criminal guilt on the part of Hernandez and noted that it will respect the criminal justice 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," it added.

Shannon Kennedy, attorney for Gomez family, said in a statement to the Las Cruces Sun-News that Gomezs parents, children and siblings are still mourning her loss.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"They are grateful to the City of Las Cruces for recognizing the injustice of Teresas death," Kennedy said. "They trust that the city will redouble efforts to make sure no other family suffers the tragedy of losing a loved one to abusive police conduct."

NBC News has contacted an attorney for Hernandez for comment overnight and had not received a response at the time of publication.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, Manhattan (PIX11)  Grammy-nominated rapper Fat Joe is hosting his annual Thanksgiving food drive in Manhattan on Tuesday.

Hell help hand out Thanksgiving items to roughly 5,000 disadvantaged families at his UP NYC store in Washington Heights starting at 10:30 a.m.

More Local News

The items include turkeys, ham, pasta and canned goods.

Fat Joe will also be handing out gift cards at Bravo Supermarkets and CTown Supermarkets.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Last week, Donald Trumps lawyers asked Justice Juan Merchan to dismiss the New York hush money case against him because he isby dint of securing the presidencynow too big to sentence. The Georgia, Florida, and New York criminal trials thus seem to have all gone the way of the Dodo bird. This week on Amicus Plus, Dahlia Lithwick was joined by investigative reporter Andrea Bernstein, host of the Slate Plus series The Law According to Trump, and Slates jurisprudence editor, Jeremy Stahl, who has been covering the Trump trials over the past few years. Together, they examine how the once and future president has managed to outrun and outmaneuver the law in every single case pending against him. Their conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Dahlia Lithwick: The unknowable test that the Supreme Court handed down in the Trump immunity decisionwith the inner and outer perimeters and the official and the unofficial actshas become a Wheres Waldo? map of potential criminal liability that is now just Trumps opening (and closing) legal argument. For all practical purposes thats the argument for dismissing the New York sentencing: He has infinite executive power. Thanks, John Roberts. That kind of feels like heads, Trump wins, tails Trump wins, and nothing works.

Andrea Bernstein: The law, according to Trump, is to just delay, and to keep doing things that are outrageous until they become normal. People who have gone to regular law schools and grown up as traditional prosecutors have never confronted this before. He threw up a lot of defenses. He did a lot of things that nobody expected, and that certainly delayed things a lot.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I also think that the Jack Smith cases were caught up in this post-Biden 2020 election feelingthat a lot of people had, not just prosecutorsthat the Trump era is over; lets put that behind us and lets move forward, lets not have the country wrapped up in this forever. Thats not entirely crazy. To prosecute somebody like Donald Trump, you have to really, really want to, and I think that summoning the will to do that took a while. That is a not-insignificant part of the reason that we are where we are now.

Another thing to think about is how, in the first Jack Smith indictment, Trump was charged with essentially monkeying around with the Justice Department in unlawful ways. We now know that that behaviorwhich could maybe have been explained away as a kind of bug from the end of 2020 because Trump wanted to stay in officethats going to be a feature of the Trump Justice Department this time around. Thats a really disturbing and crushing view of this attempt to bring legal accountabilitythat its ending up as the opposite. Not only is the election interference from that first indictment not a crime, but Trump is pretty clearly telling us its how he plans to use the Department of Justice.

Jeremy Stahl: Donald Trump has said he wants to prosecute Jack Smith, right? It remains to be seen whether or not that actually happens, but just the thought that it might is horrific, chilling, and dangerous, and the immunity ruling specifically creates an opportunity to fulfill those kinds of really frightening pledges.

Lithwick: And Trump is filling Justice Department slots with the criminal defense lawyers who made these actual arguments for him in court. Again, thank you, John Roberts. We now see the president-elect rewarding the same people who made these expansive arguments about the presidents power over the Justice Department. Were seeing those people running the Justice Department. Its an entirely self-fulfilling prophecy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bernstein: Right. Todd Blanche is going to be the deputy attorney general. Im still sort of processing that. He was the lead lawyer in The People of the State of New York v. Trump, the hush money case. Emil Bove, another one of Trumps lawyers, has also been offered a senior position in the Justice Department.

John Sauer, who argued the immunity case at the Supreme Court, is going to be the solicitor general of the United States under Trump. Will Scharf, who was another counsel in that case, will be at the White House. So were not just talking about the people who argued in general for Trump; were talking about the people who argued for him in the courtroom now making decisions about whether prosecutions or investigations or other legal actions that the DOJ could be involved in will go forward.

Lithwick: And its the same people who were saying he can hire SEAL Team Six to assassinate rivals, who literally have now been told by the Supreme Court, Hey thats fineor at least, Thats ambiguous. But certainly he can do whatever the heck he wants with his attorney generalthose are the people who will be running DOJ.

And Im thinking about a recent op-ed in the New York Times which argued that the Trump trials were responsible for the election result. If, in fact, the takeaway is we should not have accountability because it makes the accused look sympathetic, that certainly explains all of Trumps Cabinet picks right now. These are people who have experienced no accountability, but they apparently are sympathetic to massive numbers of people, and here we are literally faulting the legal system for trying to construct accountability.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bernstein: Ive heard the argument that these cases helped Trumpand of course on the day of his conviction, he raised more money than ever. But the alternative is much worse, and I still think its worth it, even given where we are now.

Stahl: SCOTUSBlog publisher Thomas Goldstein recently wrote a different Times op-ed, and one line stood out to me: No man is above the law. But Mr. Trump isnt an ordinary man. Its the antithesis of everything that the justice system is meant to be. This is how we got here, because of how Trump has been treated for decades. The fatal flaw is not rejecting that premise, but having accepted it for so damn long.

Lithwick: What youve just said, Jeremy, really distills what scares me. We went into 2016 hearing the sort of Nixonian valence, which was: If the president does it, it isnt illegal. Now its turned into: If Donald Trump does it, it isnt illegal. It doesnt have to be an official act, it just has to be a thing that he says he cant be held accountable for.

Stahl: And that notion, beyond just immunity, is now the entirety of his legal argument. The legal argument now is: Trump is too big to charge, to have been prosecuted, or even to now be considered a felonwhich he legally is, and theres no going back from that.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lithwick: And its important to really underline the fact that the next four years cant possibly be more of the same, because there are no rules anymore.

Bernstein: So, I taught a class at Bennington College this fall and we read Hannah Arendts Truth and Politics, and in this essay Arendt stubbornly refuses to let go of the value of the idea of factual truth. She is obviously clear-eyed in how tyrants try to undermine factual truth in very effective ways. But she ends the essay being somewhat optimistic. She says that there are three areasthe courts, journalism, and academiawhere it is still possible to nurture the truth, even under extreme duress. And in the last line of that essay, this is what she says about truth: Its the ground on which we stand and the sky that stretches above us. Im going with that, because I think the alternative is to give up, and Im not willing to give up on the idea of factual truth.

So even though were here and we keep talking about how truth has been eroded, along with the idea of the rule of law, these things have not been extinguished in human history.

Stahl: All I can say to that is Co-sign.

Lithwick: Co-sign a third time.
The mystery swirling around the disappearance of Hawaiian photographer Hannah Kobayashi took a tragic turn this weekend when her father took his own life in a parking lot near Los Angeles International Airport.



Ryan Kobayashi, 58, flew to Los Angeles to join the search for his 31-year-old daughter, who was last heard from on Nov. 11. He was found dead Sunday morning at 4 a.m. at 6151 W. Century Blvd., a business near the airport, the LAPD said. On Monday, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner released its determination that her father Ryan's manner of death was suicide and the cause was multiple blunt force traumatic injuries after he jumped from a roof.



Hannah landed at LAX on Nov. 8 and went missing sometime after leaving the airport in multi-colored leggings and a black jacket, according to a missing page created for her by the California State Attorney General's Office.

Related: Mystery Swirls Around the Disappearance of a Woman Who Missed Her Connection at LAX

"Ryan Kobayashi flew to Los Angeles immediately after learning of Hannahs disappearance. Tragically, Ryan is no longer with us, leaving us all heartbroken and at a loss for words," his niece Emi Ko wrote in a GoFundMe page that is raising money for the 58-year-old man's fiance. "He has been living his absolute worst nightmare, since Hannahs disappearance, and now, with his passing, our family is grappling with unimaginable grief. Ryans love for his family was boundless, and he would do anything to protect and care for his daughters."



Hannah, her family believes, is in "imminent danger," according to a statement from the RAD Movement, a nonprofit that helps the families of missing persons. "The family of Hannah Kobayashi is urgently pleading with the public to maintain focus on the search for her. Hannah IS still actively missing and is believed to be in imminent danger. It is crucial for everyone to remain vigilant in their efforts to locate Hannah."



The organization also recognized Ryan Kobayashi's suicide, writing that her "family endured a devastating tragedy today. After tirelessly searching throughout Los Angeles for 13 days, Hannahs father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically took his own life. This loss has compounded the familys suffering immeasurably."

Related: Inside Los Angeles Magazine's Leading Man Party

Hannah had planned her trip to NYC from Maui with a former boyfriend, her family told reporters. When they broke up, the airline tickets were nonrefundable, so they decided to keep their tickets but change seats and travel separately.



The ex-boyfriend, unlike Hannah, boarded a connecting flight to New York City from Los Angeles. Hannah left the airport Nov. 8, and was spotted the next day at a bookstore in the Grove shopping center. Then on Sunday Nov. 10, she returned to the Grove and was captured in a video posted by a shopper and posted on YouTube attending a Lebron James popup event at the Nike store. A photo of the event was also posted on Hannah's Instagram page that same day.



She sent cryptic text messages to family members. The LAPD issued a missing persons poster for Hannah on Nov. 13.

Missing Person poster for Hannah Kobayashi, whose family believes she is in "imminent danger" LAPD

The family said that her cell phone pinged at LAX on Nov. 11, but she has not been seen or heard from since. The family also said they have seen surveillance video of her with a stranger entering a Metro station near the Crypto Arena in DTLA in an worrisome state.



Ryan Kobayashi held a rally with missing posters for his daughter near that location on Thursday. Anyone with any information is asked to call the LAPD at 877-275-5273 or the Rad Movement 619-904-0840.
RABAT, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Moroccan King Mohammed VI on Tuesday called for "decisive action" to achieve an immediate, comprehensive, and sustainable ceasefire in Palestinian territories, emphasizing the importance of joint efforts to protect human rights, implement UN resolutions, and uphold international law.

In a letter to Cheikh Niang, chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, which falls on Nov. 29, the king reaffirmed Morocco's unwavering support for the Palestinian people's right to establish an independent state along pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, according to Morocco's official news agency MAP.

The king described the situation in the Palestinian territories, particularly the Gaza Strip, as "tragic," urging global conscience and immediate action. He expressed deep concern over Israel's ongoing military actions in Palestinian territories, unilateral measures, and provocations in Jerusalem, which he said undermine peace efforts and exacerbate tensions.

King Mohammed VI also called on the international community, especially influential nations, to intensify diplomatic efforts to revive negotiations and address the "impasse" in the Middle East peace process. 
It was a story that gripped the country and one that has yet to be solved. In the early hours of Dec. 26, 1996, JonBenet Ramseys mother, Patsy, found a ransom note on the stairs of their Boulder, Colorado home saying JonBenet had been kidnapped.

The note demanded $118,000  father John Ramseys exact bonus that year - if they wanted to see their daughter again. Patsy called 911.

Seven hours later, John Ramsey found his daughters lifeless body in a small room in the basement of their house.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its been 28 years since the case captivated the county.

Following JonBenets death, the Ramseys moved to the Atlanta area in 1997 to get away from media attention and the intense scrutiny the family underwent following the murder.

The case has been brought back to life in a new Netflix docuseries called Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey? and John Ramsey has been working with the series director, Joe Berlinger, to try and solve his daughters killing.

JonBenets autopsy determined she had been sexually assaulted and strangled, and her skull was fractured. Unknown DNA was found under her fingernails and in her underwear, clearing her parents as suspects in 2008.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We think the crime can be solved, Berlinger said. We want to pressure the Boulder police to test DNA.

RELATED STORIES:

The docuseries revisits the early stages of the investigation. From the beginning, there were questions about the polices handling of the investigation.

Early on, they looked into this crazy idea that the parents were responsible, Berlinger said. They get tunnel vision, so theyre not looking to investigate all possibilities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The crime scene is also under scrutiny, as it was potentially contaminated, which created additional challenges, according to Berlinger.

John Ramsey is confident that advancements in DNA technology can help identify his daughters killer.

Theres been a number of old, old cold cases solved using this genealogy research, John Ramsey told ABC News. Lets do a reverse family tree and see if he (the killer) had a relative living in Boulder in 1996. Thats what were asking the police to do.

Channel 2 Action News has highlighted some of that technology in recent months. Last November, Channel 2s Karyn Greer visited Othram Labs in Woodlands, Texas, where they analyze familial DNA.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Traditional forensic testing looks at 20 markers in DNA to make a match and is then uploaded to a federal database to see if there is a match to a suspect.

Instead of 20 markers like the current technology, Othram is able to get hundreds of thousands of markers to build a DNA profile.

Most of our cases are solving between fourth and sixth cousin, and some even beyond. And so that is what you need in order to be able to figure out where someone belongs, said Kristen Mittelman, chief development officer for Othram. Hundreds of cases every day come to us that have been stagnant, a dead end for decades and no hope. And now theres hope that all those cases can be looked at.

Familial DNA has been able to help solve several cases here in Georgia, most notably connecting who left Baby India too die in the woods in 2019. Luckily the child was found, but it took years for the suspect to be found.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Through familial DNA and a genealogical database, Othram Labs found Baby Indias biological father.

Police dont believe the father knew about the pregnancy-- but that lead helped them identify Baby Indias biological mother, Karima Jiwani, 40, who is in the Forsyth County Jail charged with murder, cruelty to children, aggravated assault, and reckless abandonment.

As for the Ramseys, much has changed about their lives since JonBenets death.

JonBenet was laid to rest in Marietta. Buried beside her, is her mother Patsy, who died from ovarian cancer in 2006.

John Ramsey remarried in 2011 and now lives between Michigan and Las Vegas with his new wife.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

John Andrew Ramsey, JonBenets older half-brother, said that while the family is focused on healing, they have not lost the will to find the killer.

I think its really important for people to understand that this case can be solved. Theres a narrative out there that this is an unsolved homicide and that we just have to accept that as fact, and that is not the truth, said John Andrew Ramsey. If we leverage the evidence [and] we follow the facts, we will find this killer.

ABC News, The Associated Press and People Magazine contributed to this article.
Hannah Kobayashis aunt says shes received new hope after police told her Monday theres reason to believe the missing 31-year-old is still somewhere in Los Angeles after weeks of being unaccounted for.

That makes us believe that shes still out there, Larie Pidgeon told the Daily Beast by phone. Theres a ton of manpower from the LAPD on it and it has been escalated. So that makes us believe that shes still out there, and theres still hope.

That small slice of positivity comes at a trying time for the Kobayashi family.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Not only did Hannah vanish without explanation, but her dad, Ryan Kobayashi, took his own life at Los Angeles International Airport over the weekend. That tragedy came after he spent 13 days desperately searching for his daughter to no avail, Pidgeon said. Police said Ryans body was found on the ground floor of a parking garage around 4 a.m. Sunday.

Pidgeon told the Beast the grief-stricken dads suicide was the result of a broken heart after many sleepless nights in Los Angeles, where his daughter was last seen on Nov. 11.

The aunt added that Ryan, 58, had flown to California from his home in Hawaii and left no stone unturned. That included searching in areas he wouldnt have expected his daughter to be in, like within Skid Row and its large homeless population.

He was tireless. He couldnt take it, Pidgeon said. He loved his daughter endlessly.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pidgeon, 45, said shes been organizing and searching within L.A. for two weeks after traveling down from her home in northern California. Other loved ones have made the trek from Hawaii and from New York City to have boots on the ground.

Hannah flew into LAX but was supposed to only be there briefly on a short layover before she jetted to New York City. Once there, she was set to visit her aunt and enjoy a bucket list trip in the city.

That flight for the Big Apple was scheduled to leave on Nov. 8, but Hannah never boarded. Her family last heard from her over text the following day, but they said she didnt sound like her usual self.

She mentioned feeling scared, and that someone might be trying to steal her money and identity, Pidgeon said to KTLA. Strange, cryptic messagesthings about the matrix, it was so unlike her. And then all of a sudden, no more communication.

Events in LA have been organized to rally support for finding Hannah and raise awareness about her mysterious case.

Security cameras captured Pidgeon at a shopping center on Nov. 10 and 11, and then again at the airport and a local train station the following daythough she never boarded a flight. Since then, however, there have been no sightings of Hannah that have been made public. Her cell phone has remained off.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pidgeon said previously that she fears Hannah may have been abducted or trafficked. The family has launched a massive effort to find her, with over $25,000 being raised by Monday evening on GoFundMe. There have been rallies held in the city to help raise awareness and get Hannahs face on fliers all across the nations second-most populated city.

Those who call Pidgeons cellphone when shes away are now greeted with a heart-wrenching plea to Hannah in her voicemail, just in case she calls. She offered a similar one over the phone to the Beast on Monday.

Hannah, we are tirelessly searching for you, she said. We are keeping hope alive. We are sharing your name. We are making people pay attention to you. We love you with everything that we are and I need you to not give up hope because were not giving up hope until we find you.

If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
The FBI investigation into the infamous D.B. Cooper incidentAmericas only unsolved plane hijackingofficially ended in 2016. But federal law enforcement may be regaining interest in the case after examining a parachute rig long hidden inside a familys storage.

The D.B. Cooper incident

On November 24, 1971, a man registered as Dan Cooper boarded Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 traveling from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington. Once in midair Cooper passed a note to a stewardess informing her that his battered briefcase supposedly contained a bomb, and that he would detonate it unless he received $200,000 in cash and four parachutes. Flight 305s pilots landed their plane in Seattle, at which point authorities delivered Coopers demands before the aircraft again took off for Portland. It was during this flight that the hijacker strapped on one of the parachutes, clutched his ransom money, and leapt into the night sky.

What followed was one of the most high-profile US criminal investigations of all timea case that spanned over 45 years, resulted in more than 800 suspect leads, and ended in no official charges or clear culprits.

Although the FBI appreciated the immense number of tips provided by members of the public, none to date have resulted in a definitive identification of the hijacker, the Bureau announced on July 12, 2016.  In order to solve a case, the FBI must prove culpability beyond a reasonable doubt, and, unfortunately, none of the well-meaning tips or applications of new investigative technology have yielded the necessary proof.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Authorities did take care to note, however, that should specific physical evidence emergerelated specifically to the parachutes or the money taken by the hijackerindividuals with those materials are asked to contact their local FBI field office.

Seven years later, a retired pilot, recreational skydiver, and YouTuber took the FBI up on its offer.

A one in a billion piece of evidence

As highlighted earlier this week in a two-part report from Wyomings Cowboy State Daily, D.B. Cooper sleuth Dan Gryder believes he may finally possess evidence that can conclusively pin the hijackers identity to a man named Richard McCoy II. McCoy is a familiar name to Cooper case followers as one of the FBIs longtime principal suspects, although many critics have dismissed him as the culprit.

Newsletter background image

Get the Popular Science newsletter

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Email address Sign up Thank you!

By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

But although never proven to be the mystery hijacker, McCoys own story is wild enoughhe conducted a nearly identical flight robbery just five months after the D.B. Cooper incident. Unlike Cooper, however, McCoy didnt fade into myth. Instead, law enforcement apprehended him within 72 hours thanks to fingerprints left in the plane, and McCoy was subsequently sentenced to 45 years in prison, although he always maintained his innocence. McCoy then managed to break out of his maximum security facility in Pennsylvania in 1974. Three months later, McCoy was cornered by police in Virginia City, Virginia, and killed in a shootout.

Gryder attempted to contact McCoys now-adult children, Chante and Richard Rick III, multiple times over the years, but they refused to comment in order to protect their mother, Karen, from implication in the D.B. Cooper case. After Karen McCoys death in 2020, however, they felt it was time to discuss the alleged family secret. Following extensive communications, Gryder eventually traveled to North Carolina to meet the surviving McCoys and assess their evidence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to Gryders own, extensive two-part YouTube documentary, the items believed to prove both their father and mothers roles in the robbery include a skydiving log that coincided with both the D.B. Cooper and Utah hijackings. They also revealed a heavily modified military surplus bailout parachute rig that they allege their father used to jump out of Flight 305 in 1971.

That rig is literally one in a billion, Gryder told Cowboy State Daily.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The potential smoking guns allegedly didnt just catch the interest of Gryder, either. On November 18th, a third entry in his YouTube series explained the new finds prompted the FBI to contact Gryder, as well as arrange for a visit to the McCoy familys property in North Carolina. Additional video footage reportedly depicts at least seven vehicles and over a dozen FBI agents assessing every nook and cranny for around four hours, according to McCoy III speaking with the Wyoming paper. If true, it marks the first documented D.B. Cooper case follow-up its official close in 2016.

[ Related: Bitcoin bro searched how can I know for sure if I am being investigated by the FBI before FBI arrest. ]

But now, the D.B. Cooper caseand its potential McCoy family linksremain in limbo. Rick McCoy III stated he has provided DNA samples to the FBI, and is willing to exhume his fathers body for further analysis. The FBI did not respond to Popular Sciences request for comment, and redirected Cowboy State Daily to its last case update in 2016. If it does become clear that Richard McCoy II was D.B. Cooper, however, it would put to rest one of US law enforcements longest and most unique cases.
An FBI special agent has been arrested in Montgomery County, Maryland, and stands accused of sexually assaulting two women, according to police.

Special Agent Eduardo Valdivia, 40, is charged with 10 counts, including two counts of second-degree rape.

According to court records, the alleged attacks took place in May 2024 and September 2024.

PHOTO: The FBI seal is shown in the election security command center at FBI headquarters on Nov. 4, 2024. (ABC News)

MORE: Klobuchar says she can't make a decision on Trump nominees without FBI background checks

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Valdivia is in custody in the Montgomery County Correctional Facility and is scheduled to appear for a bond hearing in district court on Tuesday.

"The FBI takes allegations of criminal violations and misconduct very seriously. We are aware of the matter involving the recent arrest of an FBI employee and are fully cooperating with the Montgomery County Police Department," the FBI's Washington Field Office said in a statement to ABC News.

"Regarding the employment of Eduardo Valdivia, he is currently suspended pending the conclusion of the Montgomery County Police Department investigation," the statement said.

MORE: Convicted Jan. 6 rioter now found guilty of plotting to kill FBI agents

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Valdivia was previously charged with attempted murder in a 2020 off-duty shooting after a verbal exchange on a Metro train car. The incident was captured by security cameras.

A jury in Montgomery County found Valdivia not guilty in that case after a trial in 2022.

FBI special agent charged with sexually assaulting 2 women originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG)  A section of North Palafox Street will be reconfigured starting Tuesday, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

Florida doctor can no longer practice in Alabama following deadly surgical error: Alabama Medical Licensure Commission

According to an FDOT news release, drivers will encounter a new traffic configuration on North Palafox Street, also known as U.S. 29 and State Road 95, between Cervantes Street, also known as State Road 10A, and West Yonge Street.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The configuration is permanent and includes three changes, according to FDOT:

Reducing travel lanes from four to two, with one lane in each direction.

Adding seven-foot bicycle lanes in each direction.

Adding a six-foot buffer strip shoulder between the travel lanes and bicycle lanes.

This configuration, according to FDOT, is part of the North Palafox safety project, which extends from Cervantes Street to Brent Lane or State Road 296.

Escambia County deputies searching for homicide suspect: ECSO

FDOT said the project includes resurfacing, traffic signal upgrades, curb and gutter construction, new pavement markings and sidewalks complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

FDOT officials expect the project to be completed in December. However, all activities are weather dependent.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Gerald R. Ford International Airport | Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority photo

An opinion issued late last year remanding back to state court a lawsuit against the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority for contamination from chemicals known as PFAS has been affirmed.

Last Fridays decision by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a December 2023 ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan that a lawsuit filed by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel against the airport authority should be heard in the 17th Circuit Court in Kent County.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Michigan residents deserve to have access to safe, clean drinking water, Nessel said. I am pleased the Sixth Circuit has affirmed that state court is the appropriate venue for this lawsuit, as it is for countless other PFAS cases handled by my Department. I will continue to fight in state court to ensure that those responsible for PFAS contamination are forced to repair the damage they have caused our communities.

09917306914

In her lawsuit, Nessel contends the airport authority is liable for the airports previous and known releases of PFAS-containing firefighting foams, as well as for violations of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit.

According to Nessels office, the releases have impacted nearby properties with the chemicals found in residential drinking water wells in neighboring Cascade Charter Township, as well as in streams and other groundwater downgradient of the airport. The full extent of the PFAS emanating from the airport is unknown.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The airport had argued it was acting under the authority of the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and thus the case belonged in federal court.

But in its ruling, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals found no merit to that argument.

the Airport Authority operates the Airport as a local entity and complies with FAA regulations applicable to all airports. There is no contractual relationship or delegation of federal duties, stated the opinion. The FAA does not direct the Airport Authoritys day-to-day operations or exercise control over its employees.

In its lawsuit, the state is seeking injunctive and declaratory relief, past and future remediation and monitoring costs, and damages for the loss and destruction of natural resources.
Firefighters walk near fire hoses set up to protect homes and cabins threatened by the Lava Fire near Lake Cascade on Sept. 11. (Clark Corbin/Idaho Capital Sun)

Working for the Bureau of Land Management as an initial attack firefighter during my summers in college, you would learn pretty fast how to properly move the hose to quickly fight the flame. During my last summer, our engine had a firefighter on our crew whose only experience was digging lines and not moving water. One night we were trying to quickly catch a growing wildfire, but our new crewmate kept getting tangled in the hose.

Federal forest managers seem to be tangled in their own hose reel as they attempt to manage escalating fire concerns. Inundated with too much federal land, overwhelmed with bureaucratic red tape, and heavily reliant on distant oversight federal forest managers are failing to adequately manage their wildfires. Idaho Congressman Russ Fulcher alongside U.S. Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch recently wrote to the U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore saying: The scale and severity of these incidents can be attributed to inadequate federal preventative measures and delayed response times.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the Boise and Payette national forests, the Lava Fire continues to consume precious public timber resources, amounting to almost 100,000 acres of federal and state-managed land. Even at the end of fire season nearby complex fires still intensify the severity of the situation, though containment has increased. As of September, the state is facing an estimated $45.8 million bill for wildfire expenses for 2024 (not including the recent fires that burned in October) compared to $14.6 million in 2023.

A portion of this increased expenditure can be attributed to the large fires on federal lands that were not promptly contained and grew into large complex fires. Idaho Gov. Brad Little said: They [the federal government] have got to do more containment, and theyve got to do more management. The Idaho Legislature will need to decide in the coming session if they will pre-fund the emergency fire suppression fund. If they choose to not increase funding, the Idaho Department of Lands will need to wait until 2026 for a supplemental request.

Defenders of the federal governments role as public land managers only need to look at the findings of the Congressional Budget Office to realize that they are poor managers of our forest resources. Less than 1/3 of the fires start on federal lands, but these grow hotter and larger than five times the average size of non-federal fires. Slow containment, poorly managed, unhealthy forests, and excessive lands overwhelm federal managers, and Western states, like Idaho, continue to bear the consequences.

First, federal officials need to prioritize quick containment and that can only be accomplished if personnel and experience match the need. In July of 2024, federal wildfire managers increased to a Preparedness Level 5, signifying all hands on deck. But according to reports from on the ground, there were not enough hands to meet the need (despite finally hitting the hiring goal of 101% in July). As of July 2024, 2,417 nationwide requests for necessary fire resources had gone unmet, with a critical lack of experienced firefighters.

A wildfire helicopter flies over the U.S. Army wildfire base near Lake Cascade and the Lava Fire on Sept. 11. (Clark Corbin/Idaho Capital Sun)

In the past three years, the U.S. Forest Service has lost 45% of its permanent employees, meaning in-fill into these positions is from firefighters with less experience. A firefighter serving on the fires in Idahos Boise National Forest said: There were not enough firefighters to fill the crews to catch them all. The new fires are all big now too, but hardly anyone is on them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Second, under-utilized and poorly managed forests define federal lands in the West, accompanied by the excessive and binding red tape for project initiation. Federal managers need to utilize the best available science to remediate the excessive fuel loads and accelerate management projects. Harvesting is one tool in which the states excel far beyond any federal program. For every dollar spent on federal lands, the payback is $0.73, but states earn $14.51 per dollar spent, with a much smaller land base. Not to mention that new growth of trees is less than half of the number of trees that are dying every year, and harvesting only accounts for 11% of the tree mortality, the rest is attributed to disease and fires. Leaving federal forests to rot or burn is an economic waste and an even bigger environmental tragedy.

Finally, the federal government is overburdened with Western land that goes unutilized and unmanaged. The federal government owns 45% of lands in the lower 11 contiguous Western states, contrasted with the 4% ownership in the Eastern states. Utahs recent lawsuit against the federal governments hoarding of unappropriated federal land is a positive assertion that Western lands need the influence of state management and resources, not outsourcing to bureaucratic management on the East Coast.

State officials have demonstrated their superior protection of our forest and wildland resources as the federal government continues to get tangled in its own hose reel. Fires will continue to rage out of control unless the federal government learns from the Western states how to properly steward Western lands with sufficient and experienced personal, efficient, and scientific forest management practices, and finally by reappropriating land back to the citizens and communities who live and work near these resources.

This article was first published by the Idaho Capital Sun, part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: info@idahocapitalsun.com. Follow Idaho Capital Sun on Facebook and X.
Federal investigators in Manhattan are seeking records from Evolv Technologies, the controversial manufacturer of weapon detectors used by Mayor Adams administration as part of several pilot programs, the Daily News has learned.

The Massachusetts-based tech firm disclosed in a mandatory U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing last week that it received a voluntary document request on Nov. 1 from Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams office.

Evolvs filing didnt specify what particular records the feds are seeking. Its also unclear what probe the federal request to Evolv was issued in connection with. A Williams spokesman declined to comment late Monday, and Evolv reps didnt immediately respond to messages.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The company is continuing to cooperate with that probe and several other ongoing investigations it faces, Evolv said in the filing.

Evolv announced in October it had discovered as part of an internal review some of its employees engaged in misconduct during business deals pertaining to extra-contractual terms that caused its revenue figures to look bloated. The company has since fired its CEO and chief financial officer, while declining to elaborate on the specifics of the misconduct at hand.

In its new SEC filing, Evolv revealed its continuing internal review has found some of its senior finance and accounting personnel knew as early as this past July about the conditions that preempted the misconduct, but did not raise alarm.

Seperately, the company is facing a Federal Trade Commission probe into allegations it has been dishonest with investors and customers about what their detection tech is capable of.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Evolv is also facing scrutiny from the city Department of Investigation over its dealings with the Adams administration, including what sort of vetting City Hall did of the company before allowing it to deploy its weapons detection technology in several settings.

The city has used Evolv scanners in at least three pilot programs since 2022, most notably in a trial in the subways in which straphangers passed through the machines at turnstiles. The city is still reviewing the results of that trial.

The latest investigative request fielded by Evolv from Williams office came just a few days before the election of incoming President Donald Trump, who has since announced hes seeking to replace Williams with corporate lawyer Jay Clayton. Williams announced Monday he would step down before Trump took office.

Williams office indicted the mayor in September and is continuing to conduct multiple corruption investigations into top Adams administration officials. Its not clear whether Evolv is facing any scrutiny related to those cases.
In July, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service implemented a new incentive-based program that offers rebates for hunters who choose to use lead-free ammo at a select number of wildlife refuges around the country. And on Nov. 19, the USFWS launched a website where hunters at those refuges can go to get reimbursed for their ammo purchases. Heres a brief guide to the pilot program and how the reimbursements work.

The Feds incentive program went into effect July 24 at seven national wildlife refuges. Because of the varying regulations at each refuge, the dates and rules (including the kinds of weapons permitted) vary from one to the next. (Remember, non-toxic shot is already required for hunting waterfowl nationwide. So the new program mostly applies to deer and elk hunters.) The list of participating refuges and the kinds of hunting opportunities allowed there are as follows:

Blackwater NWR, Maryland  Deer hunting. Hunters need a special refuge permit, and rifle season runs from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1. Visit the refuges website for exact dates and regulations.

Canaan Valley NWR, West Virginia  Hunting for all species. General gun season runs from Sept. 1 to Feb. 28. Visit the refuges website for exact dates and regulations.

Patoka NWR, Indiana  Deer hunting. Hunters need a special refuge permit, and rifle season runs from Nov. 16 to Dec. 1. Muzzleloader season runs Dec. 7-22. Visit the refuges website for exact dates and regulations.

Pocosin Lakes NWR, North Carolina  Deer hunting. Visit the refuges website for exact dates and regulations.

Wallkill River NWR, New Jersey  Hunting for all species. Visit the refuges website for exact dates and regulations.

William L. Finley NWR, Oregon  Elk hunting. Hunters need a special antlerless-only permit. Shotguns only, various hunts scheduled from Sept. 14 to Oct. 25. Visit the refuges website for exact dates and regulations.

Trempeleau NWR, Wisconsin  Deer Hunting. Hunters need a special permit, and rifle season runs from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1. Visit the refuges website for exact dates and regulations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Three of the above refuges (Blackwater, Canaan, and Wallkill) are hosting additional education workshops about non-toxic ammo, according to the USFWS. There are also opportunities to test ammunition at the three refuges, although its unclear what those opportunities look like.

Newsletter background image

Sign up for the Outdoor Life Newsletter

Get the hottest outdoor news and cutting-edge gear reviews.

Email address Sign Up Thank you!

By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Hunters at participating refuges who opted to go lead-free can start the process of claiming their rebate by filling out this online form. Along with the form, hunters will need to provide a copy of their refuge permit along with a receipt of the ammo purchase. Only ammo purchases made after July 24 are eligible for reimbursement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Eligible participants will receive prepaid debit cards for $50 per box of rifle ammunition and $25 per box of shotgun or muzzleloader ammunition. There is a limit of two boxes per eligible hunter. Hunters who reload their own ammo are also eligible for up to $100 for lead-free components for rifle ammunition and up to $50 for lead-free components for shotgun ammunition.

The USFWS specifies, however, that the rebates will be provided on a first come, first serve basis until the available funds at each refuge are exhausted. So the sooner you submit your proof of purchase, the better your chances for getting reimbursed.

The ongoing pilot program that launched in July is a new approach in the USFWS strategy to get hunters to go lead-free. Instead of forcing them to switch to non-lead ammunition  which is still occurring on some refuges  the idea is to incentivize hunters to switch themselves. The USFWS will monitor the pilot program to judge its effectiveness and to see if it could be expanded to additional refuges in the future.

Read Next: Instead of Banning Lead Outright, Feds to Try Paying Hunters to Use Non-Toxic Ammo on Certain Wildlife Refuges

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hunters have traditionally pushed back on lead ammo restrictions and outright bans, citing the higher cost of non-lead ammunition and, in some cases, its efficacy. The cost difference between lead and non-lead alternatives could legitimately keep some hunters out of the field, and this was a major objection voiced by hunters when the feds tried to enact a sweeping lead-ammo ban in 2017. The new, non-regulatory approach was supported by the Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Council, and its the feds attempt to use the carrot instead of the proverbial stick.

To be clear, stricter regulations will still play a role going forward. At least one of the refuges participating in the new pilot program, the Patoka NWR in Indiana, is already planning to phase out lead ammo and fishing tackle by 2026.
SYDNEY, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in Western Australia (WA) on Tuesday ordered residents of two communities to evacuate due to a nearby life-threatening bushfire.

The WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) issued a bushfire emergency alert on Tuesday morning for the communities of Cooljarloo and Wedge Island, approximately 150 km north of Perth, advising residents to leave immediately.

"You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive," the alert said. "There is a threat to lives and homes."

It ordered residents to leave in a northern direction for a safer place if the way is clear.

"Leaving at the last minute could put your life in danger," the alert said.

The bushfire was first reported on Monday morning and remains out of control.

Several roads in the area have been closed, and an evacuation center has been opened in Jurien Bay to the north of the two communities.

The DFES said that people who cannot leave need to prepare to shelter from the approaching fire in their homes.

"You must shelter before the fire arrives, as the extreme heat will kill you before the flames reach you," it said.

People sheltering at home were advised to go to a room with running water and a clear exit. 
An anonymous student eats lunch. (miniseries/Getty Images)

Most of Virginias public universities and colleges are aware of student food insecurity at their institutions, according to a November survey conducted by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. 80% labeled on-campus food insecurity as a somewhat or very problematic issue.

The total number of college students experiencing food insecurity is unclear because not all public colleges and universities are tracking the issue, and the economic and social stigma associated with food insecurity has prevented students from asking for help.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A total of 35 of 39 institutions completed the survey, representing 343,797 students.

According to SCHEV, the coordinating body for the states colleges and universities, eight institutions said they had researched food insecurity affecting their students, while 19 had not and eight did not know or preferred not to say.

Most schools estimated between 25% to 49% of their students faced food insecurities, and another third estimated between 1% and 24%. Most of these estimates (53%) were based partly on estimates or best guesses, and partly on data collected, monitored or maintained by the institution and/or other organization(s), SCHEV reported.

Del. Rae Cousins, D-Richmond, who carried the successful legislation directing the council to survey each public institution of higher education to identify how they address food insecurity, said she was pleased to see the report confirm her observations. She hopes to receive student input as lawmakers consider the recommendations and potential legislative solutions to prevent students from going hungry.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I sympathize with these kids because I know how important food and nourishment has been to me, how important it is to my daughter  whos three years old and so whatever I can do to ensure that people are getting the nutrition that they need, especially our kids and our students  while theyre in school, Im just all in for it, said Cousins.

In January 2022, the federal government made it possible for colleges and universities to pinpoint how many students were in need after it permitted institutions to use financial aid or FAFSA data to determine the SNAP eligibility of students, the study states.

In Virginia, 26% of institutions have not used the data and the remaining 34% did not respond if they had. SNAP, also referred to as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a government initiative that provides monthly food benefits to low-income people and families.

SCHEV also found that private donations are the most frequently mentioned source of funding to address food insecurity at colleges and universities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The report indicated that federal grants and state general fund dollars are rarely obtained. Some institutions use student emergency funds permitted under the 2024-26 biennial budget to address food insecurity.

In its report, SCHEV recommended that institutions normalize asking for and accepting government help, involve students in developing and implementing campus services, and leverage existing legislation and funding to grow on-campus support programs.

The report also recommends policymakers increase state support for direct partnerships between public institutions of higher education and the Department of Social Services, and invest in expanding access to tested, effective services for students across institutions.

In addition, SCHEV advised policymakers to work with federal partners and legislators to increase state flexibility for SNAP.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
In 1970, the groundbreaking invention known as the "Ultrasonic Bath" captured the world's attention at the Japan World Exposition.

Created by Sanyo Electric, today known as Panasonic Holdings Corp, this innovative device was likened to a futuristic human washing machine.

The egg-shaped pod provided an unusual bathing experience by automatically filling with hot water, utilizing ultrasound waves, and deploying massage balls to knead users bodies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fast forward over five decades, and this unconventional idea is poised for a resurgence with a modern twist.

Human washing machine

Osaka-based Science Co is set to unveil an upgraded version of the human washing machine, called the Mirai Ningen Sentakuki or Future Human Washing Machine.

This highly anticipated device will be showcased at the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion and receive support from local government organizations.

Attendees at the expo will have the opportunity to see the machine in action and experience its unique features firsthand.

Science Co is already working on a consumer-grade model designed for home use, which will bridge the gap between exhibition novelty and practical functionality.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During an informational lecture in October, chairman Yasuaki Aoyama shared that the prototype is well on its way to completion, with approximately 70% of its development finalized.

The company plans to offer trial experiences to 1,000 visitors during the expo, allowing seven to eight daily users to reserve a spot through a dedicated web platform.

Fighter jet-inspired

This human washing machine has undergone a striking transformation, now resembling the cockpit of a sophisticated jet fighter.

Its sleek, modern design features a transparent cover that opens with a pivoting motion.

Once seated in the ergonomically designed center, users are surrounded by warm water that partially fills the chamber.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Embedded advanced sensors monitor vital signs such as pulse rate, allowing for precise temperature adjustments to ensure a gentle and secure washing experience.

Adding to the innovation, the integrated artificial intelligence system evaluates each user's emotional staterelaxed or excitedand projects tailored visual displays onto the transparent cover's interior, enhancing tranquility and rejuvenation.

This process, including washing and drying, can be completed in 15 minutes, offering a compact yet immersive self-care experience.

AI-enhanced

The revival of the human washing machine aligns with broader trends toward health technology, smart devices, and the increasing integration of AI into our daily routines.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The fusion of biometric sensors and AI-driven emotional analysis represents a significant advancement in personalized wellness solutions. Such devices are revolutionizing various industries, blending convenience with cutting-edge innovation.

From a market perspective, introducing a home-use model could disrupt the personal care sector, targeting consumers who prioritize efficiency, luxury, and avant-garde design.

Concepts like this pave the way for a future filled with more automated, AI-enhanced self-care solutions, potentially touching everything from fitness equipment to medical diagnostics.

As technology continues to evolve, the ability to customize experiences according to individual preferences will likely drive the shift towards hyper-personalization in our daily lives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In this light, the human washing machine transcends its quirky origins to become a symbol of what is possible at the intersection of technology and everyday living, highlighting the future of wellness and self-care.

Its emergence signals a nostalgic nod to the past and a visionary leap into a high-tech future where personal care is seamlessly integrated with advanced technology.
A major European airline has announced it will be cancelling almost 300 flights two weeks before Christmas as pilots go on strike.

Finnair, the flag carrier airline for Finland, said on Saturday that industrial action would be taking place on 9 and 13 December, impacting approximately 33,000 customers.

The strikes will also impact some individual flights in the days before and after the strike.

Finnair has had to cancel around 140 flights from 9 December and 150 from 13 December. Customers will be contacted by the airline if their flight has been cancelled, and where possible will be offered a new route.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Finnair told The Independent that approximately 80 per cent of their customers have been offered new routing already.

The full list of cancelled flights includes domestic, European and international flights, with some cancelled flights also falling on 10, 11, and 14 December.

Due to the thousands of customers who will experience a flight cancellation in December, Finnair said it will not be possible to offer every person a re-routing that is close to their original booking.

In these cases, the airline asks them to contact customer service to find a suitable route option, and if that cannot be found, customers can apply for a refund of the ticket price.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We are extremely sorry for the worry and inconvenience this situation causes our customers," says Finnairs COO Jaakko Schildt.

"Finding suitable new flights for thousands of customers takes time, and our customer service will be congested during the weekend, so we ask our customers to be patient.

We are all doing our utmost to make it possible for our customers to carry out their travel plans despite this unfortunate situation."

The Finnish Air Pilots Association called the strike due to the stagnation of negotiations between them and the Service Sector Employers Palta in Finland over voluntary flexibilities and cuts the pilots say they took in recent years due to Covid-19 and Russian airspace closure, according to the union.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The union says it is seeking compensation for its members working conditions following these cuts.

We are extremely sorry for the possible inconvenience caused to our passengers by the work stoppages, the association said.

It is a matter of honour for pilots to transport our passengers safely and on time to their destination, but in this situation we have no other options under pressure from the employer.

However, Palta said that pilots have been paid a bonus in autumn 2023 as a reward in coping with crises in aviation as well as being involved in an ongoing staff bonus system.

Schildt said it is disappointing that the union has chosen to strike rather than negotiate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This unfortunately disrupts the travel plans of thousands of our customers during the pre-Christmas season, he added.

We are doing everything we can to serve our customers well even in this difficult situation and will offer alternative flights to as many customers as possible.

For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  A single-family home on Gasque Lane near the Myrtle Beach International Airport was destroyed by fire Tuesday morning, according to Horry County Fire Rescue.

Crews were dispatched at 10:44 a.m., and no injuries were reported.

News13 photo / Alec Daniels News13 photo / Alec Daniels News13 photo / Alec Daniels News13 photo / Alec Daniels Photo: Horry County Fire Rescue News13 photo / Alec Daniels

No additional details were immediately available. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Any displaced residents will be offered assistance from the American Red Cross of South Carolina, authorities said.

The Myrtle Beach Fire Department assisted at the scene.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

* * *

Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  An allegedly intoxicated Memphis firefighter crashed into a sheriffs office cruiser Monday night with his two kids, a loaded gun and four empty vodka bottles in his SUV, the Shelby County Sheriffs Office said.

Delandrion Todd, 38, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving, child abuse and neglect, open container violation, possession of a handgun while intoxicated and two traffic violations.

Deputies said they were working an accident at Hacks Cross Road and Lowrance Road just outside the city limits at 7:45, when a white Dodge Durango hit the back of the cruiser.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Todd, the driver, was detained and deputies said they smelled alcohol on his breath. He refused a field sobriety test, but deputies say they found four empty bottles of Amsterdam Vodka inside the Durango.

Delandrion Todd

Memphis police squad car set on fire in front of station

One of the vodka bottles, along with a loaded 9 mm handgun, was found inside a Memphis Fire Department backpack, deputies said.

MFD confirmed that Todd is an employee:

The Memphis Fire Department is aware of Delandrion Todds arrest and the charges included in the Affidavit of Complaint. He has been employed with the Memphis Fire Department since 2015. In accordance with our standard procedures, we are conducting our internal investigation and do not have any additional information we can provide at this time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The childrens mother was contacted and retrieved the children. Their ages were not listed in the report.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
The amount of fireworks being imported into Germany remains noticeably below the pre-coronavirus pandemic levels, although it has risen so far this year compared to 2023, according to new government figures released on Tuesday.

Through the first three quarters of 2024, Germans imported a total of 25,900 tons of fireworks, 6.8% more than during the same period in the previous year, according to the Federal Statistical Office.

But in 2019, the last full year before the pandemic struck, the figure for the first three quarters was 29,800 tons.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

China supplies 99% of imported firecrackers and rockets. More are likely to be ordered in the final quarter, which includes the lead-up to the New Year holiday, when many in Germany like to set off large quantities of fireworks.

Authorities banned the sale of fireworks in Germany during the coronavirus pandemic as part of an effort to avoid injuries that would require care from overburdened hospitals.

That ban was lifted and, despite repeated debates about environmental and safety risks, there was a strong resurgence in sales in 2023.

That rebound is continuing in the current year.

German fireworks producers export only a tiny quantity compared to total imports. Through the first three quarters of 2024, German producers exported around 1,000 tons, a drop from the previous year.
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY Lafaele Folaumoeloa with his wife, Ane, and their three children.

1 /6 FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY Lafaele Folaumoeloa with his wife, Ane, and their three children.

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY A blessing was held Friday for the first homes at Kilohana that were ready for Maui wildfire families to move into.

2 /6 FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY A blessing was held Friday for the first homes at Kilohana that were ready for Maui wildfire families to move into.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY FEMA Regional Administrator Bob Fenton, fourth from left, said Friday at a blessing ceremony, Our commitment to West Maui extends beyond today and beyond Kilohana. He is pictured with U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda, left, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen and Gov. Josh Green.

3 /6 FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY FEMA Regional Administrator Bob Fenton, fourth from left, said Friday at a blessing ceremony, Our commitment to West Maui extends beyond today and beyond Kilohana. He is pictured with U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda, left, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen and Gov. Josh Green.

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY The first FEMA modular homes are seen at Kilohana.

4 /6 FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY The first FEMA modular homes are seen at Kilohana.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY Officials gathered Friday with the Folaumoeloa family outside their new home.

5 /6 FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY Officials gathered Friday with the Folaumoeloa family outside their new home.

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY Maui Council member Tamara Paltin spoke during the blessing ceremony.

6 /6 FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY Maui Council member Tamara Paltin spoke during the blessing ceremony.

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY Lafaele Folaumoeloa with his wife, Ane, and their three children.

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY A blessing was held Friday for the first homes at Kilohana that were ready for Maui wildfire families to move into.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY FEMA Regional Administrator Bob Fenton, fourth from left, said Friday at a blessing ceremony, Our commitment to West Maui extends beyond today and beyond Kilohana. He is pictured with U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda, left, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen and Gov. Josh Green.

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY The first FEMA modular homes are seen at Kilohana.

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY Officials gathered Friday with the Folaumoeloa family outside their new home.

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY Maui Council member Tamara Paltin spoke during the blessing ceremony.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An initial increment of new rent-free temporary homes developed in Lahaina by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for survivors of the 2023 Maui wildfires has opened for use.

The first 24 homes in FEMAs 167-unit temporary housing community called Kilohana were provided to fire survivors over the past weekend.

Lafaele Folaumoeloa and his wife, Ane, along with their three children were among the first families to see their new home during a blessing ceremony Friday.

Oh my goodness,  Folau moeloa said during a tour of the home as he tapped his chest with his hand. We home. We home.

Three companiesDynamic, Timberline and Acuityare building Kilohanas one-, two-and three-bedroom modular units on the mainland and shipping them to Maui where they are being installed on 34 acres of state land where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and private contractors had to blast rock as part of grading work before installing utility and road infrastructure for the project.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

FEMA expects to have all the homes, which have beds, desks, dining tables and other basic furnishings, ready for use in phases.

Don 't miss out on what 's happening !

Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE !

Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA.

An agency representative Monday could not say how long it is expected to take to have all 167 homes ready for use. About half the units are on the site, though most still need to be installed, while the rest are expected to arrive on Maui by early December.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bob Fenton, administrator for the region of FEMA that includes Hawaii, said Friday that more than just temporary housing for fire survivors is being built.

Our commitment to West Maui extends beyond today and beyond Kilohana,  he said during the blessing ceremony. Through our long-term recovery office, we will continue working on the recovery efforts to support this community for years to come.

The modular homes, FEMA said, are designed to last 30 or more years and can be relocated to help increase Mauis housing stock after the Kilohana units are no longer needed for use by fire survivors on the site where the state has longer-term plans for an affordable-housing subdivision.

Gov. Josh Green, who participated in Fridays ceremony, called it a magic moment. He said later in a post on Facebook, For so many families, Kilohana represents more than just a place to stayit is a vital step toward healing and rebuilding in the place they have always called home.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Maui Mayor Richard Bissen noted during the ceremony that it was not an easy or inexpensive task for FEMA to develop the project.

FEMA provided $95 million to the Army Corps of Engineers for Kilohanas infrastructure work.

Kilohana units also meet local and international building codes, which was a first for modular temporary housing produced by FEMA, the agency said.

The project is adjacent to a similar but larger one with 450 units being developed by the state Department of Human Services called Ka La i Ola where the first dozen units were ready for occupancy in August. Like Kilohana, Ka La i Ola is being completed in phases, and the last phase is scheduled for completion in March.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

FEMA also is working to place modular homes on vacant lots in West Maui where property owners do not intend to rebuild within the next two to three years. For such lots that meet certain conditions for suitability, FEMA intends to lease them and provide two or more modular homes on each lot for use by fire survivors.

The Aug. 8, 2023, wildfire killed 102 people and claimed roughly 3, 500 homes in Lahaina. A fire in Kula on the same day destroyed 19 homes.

Initially, FEMA housed survivors in Maui hotels, then gradually transitioned to leasing about 1, 300 homes on the island at vacation rental rates and making them available to fire survivors.

FEMA did not deploy trailered mobile homes for disaster survivors on Maui because state or local government officials did not request them. Green decided such homes were not a desirable or dignified option.

Green and other local government officials had asked FEMA to build 1, 000 homes, but the agencys core mission and main capabilities dont include building new homes for emergency disaster relief. Still, FEMA agreed to develop some modular homes as an absolute last alternative  to what the agency typically provides.
KENTUCKY (FOX 56)  Kentuckys medical cannabis program goes live at the start of the new year. As Jan. 1 draws closer, the state is taking another step in preparing for the launch of the new program, deciding, by lottery, the limited number of medical cannabis dispensaries that are being evenly spread across the state.

Using a random number generator under the watchful eyes of lottery officials and countless others watching the live feed from afar, 36 licensees were drawn from a pool of more than 2500 eligible applications covering 9 of the 11 regions. The drawing for the final two most populous regions will be held on Dec. 16.

We can always expand dispensaries, but what we saw with hemp, with all the licenses that went out, is it crashed the market, having too many individuals that were out there licensed in the very beginning, Gov. Andy Beshear said, explaining that the program is not something the administration wants to rush.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Every step from seed to sale must happen within state lines. The state only licensed cultivators and processors; now the next step is working with the new dispensary license holders on their needs.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

You know, the dispensaries are about finding the location, having the inspections, getting all of the permitting that they need. That is going to be able to go on concurrently with the product ultimately being created here in Kentucky, Beshear said.

Beshear acknowledged most storefronts are unlikely to be fully operational by Jan. 1, but said the wheels will be in motion, thanks to legislation passed earlier this year that moved up some of the timeline.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Region 3Northeast

RTZ 20 LLCAshland, Boyd County

Boarder Construction LLCAshland, Boyd County

Southern Green Wellness LLCMt. Sterling, Montgomery County

Bluegrass Blooms LLC  Ashland, Boyd County

Region 4South Central

Zeus Agoraios LLCFranklin, Simpson County

AR-MO-KY-MS Cannabis Ventures LLCBowling Green, Warren County

PROMO PULSE LLCBowling Green, Warren County

FLOWER RADAR LLCBowling Green, Warren County

Region 5Cumberland

REED KY DISPENSARY LLCSomerset, Pulaski County

ERH KY LLCSomerset, Pulaski County

JM Medicinals LLCRussell Springs, Russell County

No 1 Boundary LLCCorbin, Whitley County

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Region 6Mountain

BSRKYAPP LLCMartin, Floyd County

HYE Property Management LLCStanton, Powell County

Kentuckyzen LLCPikeville, Pike County

REED KY DISPENSARY LLCPikeville, Pike County

Region 7Pennyrile

Mallard Club LLCOak Grove, Christian County

ARKY Capital Investments LLCEddyville, Lyon County

River City Relief House LLCEddyville, Lyon County

DPDMJF Cannabis Holding Company LLCEddyville, Lyon County

Region 8West Kentucky

OM MED LLCPaducah, McCracken County

KY-CannCo LLCPaducah, McCracken County

Green4U LLCMayfield, Graves County

Leiber Canna II LLCPaducah, McCracken County

Region 9Lincoln Trail

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Barrio Capital Partners LLCElizabethtown, Hardin County

Thoroughtrek LLCRadcliff, Hardin County

NGHKCEastview, Hardin County

Wynn Win LLCElizabethtown, Hardin County

Region 10Northern Kentucky

YELLOW FLOWERS LLCErlanger, Kenton County

Nicole TirellaAlexandria, Campbell County

Bluegrass Cannacare LLCFlorence, Boone County

GREEN GRASS CANNABIS LLCErlanger, Kenton County

Region 11Green River

OTC KY three LLCHenderson, Henderson County

Bungalow House LLCOwensboro, Daviess County

Tree Soft LLCHenderson, Henderson County

CP INVESTMENT LLCOwensboro, Daviess County

Read more of the latest Kentucky news

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Authorized medical cannabis practitioners can begin issuing certifications to patients starting Dec. 1, and those patients can begin applying for a medical cannabis card on Jan. 1.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Alimat Aliyeva

According to a survey conducted from November 5 to 18 by the international marketing research company Ipsos, the majority of Swedish residents believe that the country should accept fewer refugees than it currently does, Azernews reports.

Only 12 percent of respondents support increasing the intake of refugees, while more than half are in favor of reducing it.

Following the refugee crisis of 2015, when hundreds of thousands of people fled the war in Syria, public opinion in Sweden became more cautious regarding the acceptance of refugees. Even when the war between Russia and Ukraine broke out in 2022, attitudes towards refugees temporarily became more positive. However, this trend quickly reversed in the following year.

Opinions on refugee admissions vary depending on political affiliation. The greatest opposition to increased immigration is found among voters of the far-right, nationalist, and populist Sweden Democrats, as well as the conservative Christian Democrats. While voters from the Left Party and the Green Party represent a smaller portion of the population on this issue, they are generally more supportive of increasing refugee admissions.

There are also notable differences in attitudes towards refugees based on education level and place of residence. Residents of larger cities and those with higher levels of education tend to be more supportive of refugee intake. In contrast, rural residents and people with lower levels of education are generally more skeptical. Additionally, women are more likely to have a positive view of refugee reception compared to men.
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's digital economy is poised to reach 31 billion U.S. dollars in gross merchandise value (GMV) in 2024, an increase of 16 percent from 2023, according to the latest e-Conomy SEA 2024 report by Google, Temasek and Bain & Company.

The trio said in a statement on Tuesday that Malaysia's digital economy has progressed towards profitability while maintaining double-digit growth for GMV.

Deeper digital participation among users, effective monetization strategies, and the recovery of pandemic-impacted sectors are expected to drive continued growth, said the statement.

According to the report, e-commerce remains the largest contributor to the digital economy in Malaysia with its GMV growing by 17 percent year on year to 16 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, as major ecommerce platforms reinvest in GMV growth, paired with the rise of video commerce.

Meanwhile, online travel posted the fastest GMV growth compared to other sectors at 19 percent year-on-year growth to reach 8 billion dollars in GMV in 2024 as Malaysia's international tourism is experiencing a robust recovery and expected to exceed pre-pandemic levels in 2024.

Food delivery and transport sector in Malaysia has also grown 10 percent year-on-year to reach 4 billion dollars in GMV in 2024, driven by the recovery of commuter demand and international travel.

Online media in Malaysia has also shown consistent growth with its GMV expected to grow 10 percent year-on-year to 4 billion dollars in 2024, driven by the increasing popularity of digital content, games and streaming services.

Malaysia's digital financial services also continue on an upward trajectory as various Malaysia's digital banks offer compelling features and ease of access.

The report also estimated Malaysia's current data center capacity at 120MW and expects that to expand five times over the coming years.

It is noted that Malaysia has recorded a large artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure investment among Southeast Asia countries at 15 billion dollars in the first half of 2024. 
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  The holidays are in full swing at the White House. First Lady Jill Biden welcomed the official White House Christmas tree on Monday.

The event is a longstanding tradition, but this year the tree has some extra meaning because of where it came from.

This beautiful Fraser fir was grown at the Cartners Christmas tree farm, Biden said.

The Cartners farm is located in Western North Carolina, a region that was devastated by Hurricane Helene two months ago. The Cartner family said they did sustain some damage, but the tree that was selected as the White House centerpiece survived.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And they named it tree-mendous, for the extraordinary hope it represents, Biden said.

Members of the North Carolina National Guard were present for the tree delivery. The First Lady recognized their work on the hurricane recovery efforts and thanked them for their strength and service.

The official tree is an 18.5-foot Fraser fir that was planted 25 years ago. Sam Cartner Junior says his parents founded the farm where it was grown decades ago, and the family has been growing Christmas trees ever since.

My parents were extremely humble people, and they would not like all the attention, but they would be very proud, Cartner said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He says he wants the tree to serve as a symbol of the regions resilience through a challenging time.

Faith and hope and love and joy and family and generosity. All those good things, Cartner said.

Next, the tree will get all spruced up when volunteers from across the country arrive next week to decorate the White House.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  The holidays are in full swing at the White House. First lady Jill Biden welcomed the official White House Christmas tree on Monday.

The event is a longstanding tradition, but this year the tree has some extra meaning because of where it came from.

This beautiful Fraser fir was grown at the Cartners Christmas tree farm, Biden said.

The Cartners farm is located in Western North Carolina, a region that was devastated by Hurricane Helene two months ago. The Cartner family said they did sustain some damage, but the tree that was selected as the White House centerpiece survived.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And they named it tree-mendous, for the extraordinary hope it represents, Biden said.

Members of the North Carolina National Guard were present for the tree delivery. The first lady recognized their work on the hurricane recovery efforts and thanked them for their strength and service.

The official tree is an 18.5 foot Fraser fir that was planted 25 years ago. Sam Cartner Junior says his parents founded the farm where it was grown decades ago, and the family has been growing Christmas trees ever since.

My parents were extremely humble people, and they would not like all the attention, but they would be very proud, Cartner said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He says he wants the tree to serve as a symbol of the regions resilience through a challenging time.

Faith and hope and love and joy and family and generosity. All those good things, Cartner said.

Next, the tree will get all spruced up when volunteers from across the country arrive next week to decorate the White House.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Event organizers across Vermont are preparing to give back to their communities this year with free Thanksgiving meals. Weve found five places across the state offering food for everyone.

Vermont Law & Graduate School Community Thanksgiving Dinner

Located in South Royalton, this community dinner is open to all. To register for dine-in or delivery, contact Courtney Potter at communitythanksgiving@vermontlaw.edu or 802-831-1238, or Carol Greene (Royalton and Area Lions Club) at 802-291-3750.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Location: 166 Chelsea Street, South Royalton, VT 05068

Date: November 28

Time: 11:30 a.m.  1:00 p.m.

Marthas Kitchen Thanksgiving Dinner

Located in Saint Albans, Marthas Kitchen aims to provide basic food needs and a sense of community. The kitchen is also accepting donations on a daily basis from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. All are welcome to their in-person dinner this Thanksgiving.

Location: 139 Lake Street, Saint Albans, VT 05478

Date: November 28

Time: 11:30 a.m.  1:00 p.m.

Fletcher Free Library Thanksgiving Dinner

Located in Burlington, the Fletcher Free Library is offering free to-go meals before and during their limited service hours on Thanksgiving. Pick up a book and enjoy a meal courtesy of the Farmhouse Group.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Location: 235 College Street, Burlington, VT 05401

Date: November 27 and 28

Time: All day November 27, 12:00 p.m.  4:00 p.m. November 28

Another Way Thanksgiving Dinner

Located in Montpelier, Another Way Community Center provides mental health resources through community and peer support. They are always accepting donations, and will be hosting a Harvest Meal this week.

Location: 125 Barre Street, Montpelier, VT 05602

Date: November 28

Time: 12:00 p.m.  2:00 p.m.

Gustos Bar Thanksgiving Dinner

Located in Barre, Gustos Bar is offering a free Thanksgiving meal while accepting donations to support a local charity. Anyone can message or call to reserve a plate, but the restaurant will also accept walk-ins while supplies last.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Location: 28 Prospect Street, Barre, VT 05641

Date: November 28

Time: 11:00 a.m.  2:00 p.m.

For more Thanksgiving dinners this week, Vermont 211 provides a detailed, up-to-date list.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44.
A passenger jet headed from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Everett, Washington, had to abort take off on Tuesday morning after striking a bird, airline officials said.

Horizon Flight 2052, an Embraer 175 operated by Alaska Airlines, was accelerating down runway 25L at about 10 a.m. when passengers and crew heard a loud bang, according to live footage recorded by AirlineVideos.

The pilot managed to slow the plane and return to the gate for inspection. A Horizon Airlines spokesperson later confirmed it was a bird strike.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Our pilots are trained for these situations and exited the runway safely without any issue, the airline said in a statement. We are swapping guests to another available aircraft, and we apologize for any concern or inconvenience this experience may have caused.

Bird strikes are extremely common in commercial aviation and are also extremely destructive and potentially deadly.

19,603 strikes were reported in the United States in 2023, an increase of 14 percent over 2022, according to a recent report from the Federal Aviation Administration, which called the issue a growing concern for safety.

Forty-nine people have died in bird strike incidents from 1990 through 2023, the FAA said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mitigation efforts typically involve removing potential habitats for birds, clearing trash and other sources of food, trapping and relocation.

The FAA is recommending that airports widen their view of how to control bird populations to include areas as far as five miles from the runways.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WKRG)  A Florida doctor accused of a deadly surgical error can no longer practice medicine in Alabama, according to licensing officials.

The Alabama Medical Licensure Commission accepted the full surrender of Dr. Thomas Shaknovskys license to practice medicine in Alabama on Monday, Nov. 25.

Race for Matt Gaetzs District 1 seat losing competitors after Donald Trump endorsement of Jimmy Patronis

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This comes after Dr. Shaknovsky, who had been licensed in Alabama since 2016, was accused of removing the wrong organ during a splenectomy, resulting in the death of a patient in Florida.

In August, 70-year-old William Bill Bryan underwent surgery at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach for a splenectomy, a procedure to remove the spleen, WKRG previously reported. However, Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky, DO, allegedly removed Bryans liver instead, which led to Bryans death.

Dr. Shaknovskys license was temporarily suspended in October with the Medical Licensure Commission citing concerns that him practicing medicing would constitute risk to patients.

Officials with the Board of Medical Examiners said the decision to fully suspend Dr. Shaknovskys license was made in order to ensure public safety.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

1 dead after Monday morning crash involving dump truck in Baldwin County, witness says

Our duty is to ensure that physicians licensed in Alabama meet the highest standards of patient care and professionalism, said William M. Perkins, Executive Director of the Board of Medical Examiners.

When a physicians actions jeopardize patient safety, we act decisively to safeguard the public.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Over a year after four Black kids lost their mother to a shooting stemming from a neighborhood feud, the white woman who fired the fatal bullet is finally facing her punishment for the heartbreaking incident.

In a sentencing hearing Monday, a judge ordered 60-year-old Susan Lorincz of Ocala, Fla., a white woman, to serve 25 years in prison. She was convicted of manslaughter by an all-white jury after fatally shooting 35-year-old Ajike AJ Owens, a Black woman, following a dispute over Owens children playing outside.

Police said on June 2, 2023, Owens knocked on Lorinczs front door after her children accused the woman of throwing a pair of roller skates at them and yelling racial slurs. According to police records, the two consistently called 911 on one another over the past year - Lorincz often accusing Owens children of trespassing or playing loudly and Owens accusing the woman of acting inappropriately. That evening marked the permanent end to their feud. Police said Lorincz fired a shot from her handgun behind the door, striking Owens in the chest. She succumbed to her injuries.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In her initial argument to the police, per surveillance and body camera footage, Lorincz hysterically explained how she was in fear of her life alleging Owens threatened to kill her. However, one officer testified at Lorinczs trial that they believed she was faking the duress.

Lorinczs public defender Amanda Sizemore, asked the court Monday for a lenient sentence, putting forth mitigating evidence including Lorinczs mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder linked to childhood sex abuse and a number of health issues, per The New York Times. Still, Circuit Judge Robert Hodges sentenced her to just five years short of the maximum sentence she faced which was 30 years.

I find the shooting was completely unnecessary, said the judge, per ABC News. Lorincz didnt take the stand but did offer an apology to Owens family.

I am so sorry I took [Owens] life. I never intended to kill her. I could not understand why she was so angry. I so wish I could go back and change things so she was still here. I would trade my life, she said, per The Times.

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
DELTONA, Fla. (WFLA)  Florida deputies have found the missing 7-year-old boy out of Deltona dead in a body of water on Tuesday morning.

According to the Volusia Sheriffs Office, the boy, Charlie, had autism and was non-verbal.

Woman seriously injured after part of semi-trailer falls off I-75 overpass

Charlie was last seen running north on Stillwater Avenue in Deltona on Monday around 8 p.m. after leaving his home, wearing a black T-shirt and white/grey shorts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Volusia deputies deployed K-9s on the ground to assist in their search, as did air units. Surrounding agencies helped the sheriffs office search throughout the night.

Volusia Sheriffs Office

The search remained ongoing into Tuesday morning until officials canceled the missing child alert at 10:22 a.m.

Our prayers go out to Charlies family, loved ones and community, the Volusia Sheriffs Office said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
OCALA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Florida tax preparer will serve federal prison time for defrauding both his clients and the IRS, the Florida Department of Judgement announced Monday.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber sentenced Steven Cabrera, of Ocala, to three years in prison on charges of preparing false tax documents, submitting false tax documents, and willfully failing to file tax returns. Cabrera pleaded guilty in August.

Court documents show Cabrera, who worked as a tax preparer from 2017 to 2019, added unauthorized and fraudulent deductions and credits to his clients tax returns without their knowledge and embezzled the additional returns for his use.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cabrera also defrauded clients directly by telling them to make out checks to the IRS and pledging he would send the funds to the IRS himself, documents say. Instead, he deposited those checks into an account he owned for a fictitious business called International Resort Services.

The DOJ said Cabrera contributed to losses of nearly $1 million.

Its certainly a bold move to invoke the name of the IRS when attempting to defraud not only the government but people who are putting their trust in you, said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigations Tampa Field Office. The real IRS is always going to show up, investigate, and put a stop to these types of scams.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If your return preparer exhibits any of the behaviors shown in this case, please visit IRS.gov and click on the Get your tax record button. From there, you can verify the accuracy of the information on your tax record and, if necessary, report any fraudulent or inaccurate information.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
A woman who shot her neighbor dead in Florida, provoking racial tensions, has been sentenced for the violent crime.

On Monday (Nov. 25), Susan Lorincz was sentenced to 25 years in prison for manslaughter in the death of Ajike AJ Owens, according to CNN. The news outlet reported Owens family and prosecutors asked that Lorincz receive the maximum penalty of 30 years.

I stand before you not only mourning the loss of my daughter, but also the loss of our hopes, dreams, and the future that we often spoke of, shared Owens mother, Pamela Dias, before the sentencing. Our plans and promises to one another as mother and daughter will never come to light. They all died the night Susan Lorincz killed my daughter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The outlet reported Dias later said she was pleased with the sentence.

Pamela Dias, center, the mother of Ajike AJ Owen, arrives as mourners gather for a remembrance service at Immerse Church of Ocala for Owens. Thursday, June 8, 2023, in Ocala, Fla. Owens was fatally shot by her neighbor Susan Lorincz last week when she went to her door. Lorincz was arrested Tuesday June 6 and charged in the shooting.

Judge Robert Hodges called the crime a very aggravated manslaughter, however asserted lack of a prior criminal history impacted his decision to not order the maximum sentence. Lorincz was convicted of manslaughter for shooting through her door in June 2023, killing Owens in front of two of her children. Lorinzc claimed she was in fear for her life.

I am so sorry I took AJs life. I never intended to kill her, shared Lorincz with the court. Per CNN, Lorinczs sister testified that as children, they suffered abuse and were raised in a family with a history of addiction and mental illness.

Before the shooting, Owens allegedly knocked on Lorinczs door to question her about an argument she had with her child, with Lorenzc firing shots. At the time, witnesses to the incident claimed that Lorincz called Owens kids black slaves during the ordeal. During her trial, Lorinczs legal team argued she had no choice.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At the time of her arrest, Lorincz was charged with felony manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, and two counts of assault.

More from VIBE.com

Sign up for Vibe's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chief Minister of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province Sarfraz Bugti has said that targeted operations against terrorist groups will be launched in the province to curb militant activities.

Bugti told media on Monday that the operations would focus on areas housing terrorist camps.

"We are determined to root out the elements responsible for destabilizing the province and to ensure the safety of our citizens," he added.

On Nov. 19, the National Action Plan Apex Committee decided to launch a comprehensive military operation against terrorist organizations in the province. 
(WFRV)  A man in Fond du Lac was reportedly convicted of Reckless Homicide tied to a fentanyl overdose back in 2023.

Fond du Lac District Attorney Eric Toney announced that 41-year-old Adrian Santiago-Hernandez pleaded no contest and was found guilty of homicide. This stems from a fentanyl overdose on August 14, 2023.

Officials say that bond was revoked for Santiago-Hernandez and a status conference is scheduled for January 21 at 3:30 p.m.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Crash in Wisconsin sends a school bus upside down into a pond

The co-defendant, identified as Larry Plumber, has a status conference scheduled for December 19 at 1:15 p.m.

This is another devastating loss from the deadly effects of fentanyl. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be the with families devastated by fentanyl. We will continue to work with law enforcement to fight for justice on their behalf and hold those accountable that distribute poison into our communities. Eric Toney, Fond du Lac County District Attorney

No additional information was provided.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
WACO, Texas (FOX 44)  The Central Texas Food Bank hosted an event on Monday to help families and people in need for the holiday season.

Food Bank officials were very pleased with the turnout of volunteers this year. They say when the holiday season comes around, there tends to be a spike in the attendance of volunteers  but that starts to lose steam after the holidays.

The atmosphere of the food drive was joyous and active, with volunteers having fun and connecting with the community. The food drive had canned goods such as cranberries. They also had other Thanksgiving staples like stuffing, fresh produce, and the big-ticket itemturkey!

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So throughout the month of November we are distributing over 30,000 turkeys in our 21 counties here in this area. We serve those 21 counties, and we know that regarding food insecurities, 530,000 people in this service area dont know where their next meal is going to come from, says Central Texas Food Bank Vice President of Marketing and Communication Noelle Newtown.

The food pantry is getting a new facility in Waco in December of next year, and is hoping to get even more of a turnout than Mondays event in hopes of helping more families celebrate the holiday.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44.
Former Arizona Coyotes player Paul Bissonnette was assaulted Sunday at a restaurant, according to Scottsdale police.

Bissonnette was reportedly at the Houston's near McDonald Drive and Scottsdale Road when a fight began inside the restaurant between six men and restaurant management, and he attempted to help management calm the disruptive group and get them to leave. The situation escalated to the men assaulting Bissonnette both inside and outside of the restaurant, Scottsdale police confirmed.

One suspect faces charges in connection with the incident of aggravated assault and forgery, both felonies, as well as disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, according to police. Police also said five others were facing possible misdemeanor charges. Of these, four were charged with assault and disorderly conduct, and one was charged with only disorderly conduct.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to charging documents, video showed three or four men attacking Bissonnette, who tried to run away before the felony suspect held him to the ground and kicked him in what appeared to be the head and neck area. The felony suspect then tried to kick him again but missed and fell backward, which allowed Bissonnette to flee to a nearby business, court documents detailed.

Police arrested five of the men at the scene with an arrest of the felony suspect made at the nearby hotel where he was staying and had fled to, according to court documents.

The felony suspect was found to have a forged military identification card, which he admitted to being fraudulent, charging documents said.

Bissonnette was taken to the hospital with what police said appeared to be non-threatening injuries. Court documents noted these injuries were to his face, neck and right shoulder.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 39-year-old Bissonnette played left wing for the Coyotes between 2009 and 2014.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Former Arizona Coyotes player assaulted at Scottsdale restaurant
CLEVELAND (WJW)  Basheer Jones, who previously represented Ward 7 as a Cleveland City Council member, is facing bribery and fraud charges, accused of duping nonprofits out of thousands of dollars and using his position as a public official for personal financial gain.

The announcement came in a press release Monday from the Department of Justice  Northern District of Ohio which states Jones, working with associated involved in the schemes, defrauded multiple community stakeholders out of more than $200,000.

Local man sentenced for a potato chips dispute that turned violent

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to court documents, the release said, from about December 2018 to June 2021, Jones, 40, allegedly deceived local nonprofits into making payments toward projects they thought would benefit the city of Cleveland and revitalize Ward 7, but the money instead was ultimately benefitting Jones.

According to the release, the money was being funneled into bank accounts controlled by Jones romantic partner who would then, at the direction of Jones, divert the funds to herself, Jones and other associates who were involved.

The information alleges that Jones deceptively advised nonprofits to provide funding to move community projects forward or to hire a purported consultant, with the full knowledge that the funds would flow back to himself, the release said.

In one case, Jones recommended that a nonprofit hire a consultant for community outreach, according to the release. However, the consultant who quickly submitted a proposal and whose business was ultimately contracted, was Joness co-conspirator and romantic partner who submitted the proposal and requested $5,000 per month at Jones prompting, according to officials.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The investigation discovered that she did not provide the nonprofit with substantial services in exchange for payments she received, the release said.

According to the release, Jones later defrauded the same nonprofit out of an additional $50,000, through his romantic partners consulting business, claiming that he needed the money to plan a community event benefiting school children. He promised the city would reimburse the organization, but no such event was ever held and the $50,000 was instead divided amongst Jones, his romantic partner and other associates.

According to the release, some of the projects Jones pushed included seeking community funding to rehabilitate certain distressed properties while concealing his financial interest in them.

2 men shot to death at Shaker Heights house party IDd

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In one instance, Jones devised a bribery scheme under which he arranged for co-conspirators, including his romantic partner, to acquire a dilapidated property on Superior Road, and used his position as councilperson to pass ordinances allocating city funds to buy that property from them, the release said.

Jones allegedly arranged for a co-conspirator to buy the property a minimal cost, and after asking a nonprofit to purchase and rehabilitate the property, and promising city funding, Jones sponsored an emergency ordinance to fund the nonprofits purchase and renovation of the property.

When he was unable to convince the nonprofit to proceed, the release said, he arranged to transfer the property to his romantic partners consulting business, with the understanding that she too would share the proceeds of the sale with him, and after sponsoring another ordinance to reauthorize city funding for the same project, Jones sought to finalize the nonprofits purchase of the property from his partners entity for $80,000. The scheme failed when the nonprofit decided not to proceed with the purchase.

Jones and his partner did succeed in obtaining the money for the sale of a different property to another nonprofit, according to officials. He allegedly misled them to believe he was helping them acquire the property from the original owner, but he was simultaneously arranging for his romantic partner to acquire the property from the original owner in the name of another business entity, and then immediately to resell it to the nonprofit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ex-casino dealer in Cleveland accused of stealing from the pot

Jones and his partner arranged to purchase the property for only $1, promising to pay a $40,500 city demolition bill. But without paying that bill or disclosing it, Joness partner immediately re-sold the property to the nonprofit for $45,000, the release said.

This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of the Inspector General, and the IRS  Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erica Barnhill and Elliot Morrison

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  A former sergeant with the Hillsdale County Sheriffs Office has taken a plea deal, pleading guilty to two criminal charges stemming from a 2021 incident at the Hillsdale County Jail.

The Office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Tuesday that Ronald Leggitt has pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault and one count of misconduct in office.

The incident reportedly took place on Dec. 16, 2021, when Leggitt was serving as supervisor of the jail.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to prosecutors, a woman was arrested, had resisted officers during the booking process, and continued to exhibit resistant and disruptive behavior. However, prosecutors say Leggitt took measures too far.

Sign up for the News 8 daily newsletter

Over the course of 80 minutes, the 44-year-old from Marshall allegedly sprayed the inmate six times with pepper spray, several times just inches away from the womans face.

Prosecutors say during five of the six alleged assaults, the inmate was secured in a restraint chair, including cuffs on her ankles and wrists and a chest restraint.

Charges were first filed against Leggitt in March. He was bound over for trial in July.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He initially faced seven felony charges, six counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of misconduct in office. As part of the plea deal, Leggitt has also relinquished his MCOLES certification (Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards), which means he can no longer work as a police officer in the state.

Michigan hunter charged with illegally killing deer

The misconduct in office charge carries a punishment of up to five years in prison. The aggravated assault charge is a misdemeanor, with a maximum punishment of one year in prison. Nessels office did not detail whether a recommended sentence was part of the plea deal.

Leggitt is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 29.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  A former Hillsdale County Sheriffs Department sergeant pled guilty to two charges stemming from a 2021 incident where he assaulted an inmate at the Hillsdale County Jail.

Ronald Leggitt, 44, of Marshall, pled guilty to one count of misconduct in office and one count of aggravated assault for an assault that took place at the Hillsdale County Jail on Dec. 16, 2021.

According to the Michigan Attorney General, Leggitt was supervising operations and staff at the Hillsdale County Jail when a woman was brought into custody. Staff were informed that she had resisted officers during the arrest, and she continued to be resistant and disruptive while in custody.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Over the course of 80 minutes, Leggit maced her six separate times from a few inches away. In five of six of those cases, the woman was in an emergency restraint chair, where she was secured by the wrists, ankle, and chest.

Leggit initially faced seven chargessix assault charges and one count of misconduct in office.

He pled guilty to one count of misconduct in office and one count of aggravated assault. Misconduct in office is a 5-year felony, and aggravated assault a 1-year misdemeanor.

As part of his plea, Leggit also forfeited his MCOLES certification, a requirement for employment as a police officer in Michigan. He will be sentenced on Jan. 29, 2025.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
Nov. 25GRAND FORKS  The former CEO of Langdon's hospital, who was allegedly caught masturbating in Grand Forks' Grand Cities Mall, turned himself in on Friday, Nov. 22, nearly a month after a warrant was issued for his arrest. After an initial court appearance that afternoon, he was released with no bail.

Jeffery Dalton Stanley, 56, is charged with Class A misdemeanor indecent exposure-masturbation. He faces up to 360 days in jail and $3,000 in fines.

With assistance from a witness of the alleged crime,

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

the Herald previously linked Stanley to the Cavalier County Memorial Hospital

 which is now known as Langdon Prairie Health.

An affidavit filed in the case says Stanley was caught on video, seated on a couch in a common area of the mall, masturbating on Oct. 21.

Multiple people witnessed the incident, but none who remained on scene after an officer arrived would agree to sign a citizen's arrest form, the affidavit said. This is required for lesser charges that law enforcement does not personally witness; otherwise, the accused cannot be apprehended until a judge signs off on an arrest warrant.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Three witnesses came forward later that day to express their desire to press charges, and their willingness to sign citizen's arrest forms. The criminal case was filed three days later, on Oct. 24, and an arrest warrant was issued the following day.

Stanley was not located by law enforcement for weeks after the alleged offense.

He retained an attorney, Blake Dylan Hankey, who filed a court document Nov. 20 stating that Stanley planned to turn himself in on Nov. 22, and would be able to appear for a court hearing that afternoon.

The Grand Forks County Correctional Center's intake log for that day says Stanley was booked at 10:28 a.m. and released later that day  presumably shortly after his hearing, where he was granted a $500 unsecured appearance bond.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Stanley was released with no cost to him, but he risks forfeiting $500 if he fails to appear for any future hearings or violates any conditions of his release.

Andrew Eyre, who is representing the state in this case, declined to comment based on the North Dakota Rules of Professional Conduct, which limit what he is supposed to share with the media regarding ongoing criminal cases.

Stanley pleaded not guilty to the crime, and his next appearance, a final dispositional conference, is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. March 27.
Nov. 26A 58-year-old former teacher at Lee Christian School faces a bench trial before a judge on Dec. 2.

Daniel Jeremy Abraham, who is no longer listed on the school's website under staff, was arrested Nov. 15, 2023 and charged with indecent liberties, a felony, and sexual battery, a misdemeanor.

The date of the alleged offense was Nov. 2, 2023, according to a court document.

He was held without bond for a day and then given a $5,000 secured bond the next day. He paid $500 and was released Nov. 16, 2023, according to eCourts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Abraham, who resides in Spring Lake, waived a jury trial, according to a Nov. 13 filing by his attorney, William C.W. Pruden.

The Sanford Herald previously reported that Abraham allegedly touched a student inappropriately.
MANILA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' Department of Agriculture on Tuesday said it has approved the additional importation of 8,280 metric tons (MT) of frozen small pelagic fish to address the impact on the domestic supply of recent typhoons.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the country needs to import 30,000 metric tons of fish, such as round scad and mackerel, to ensure the supply in the market.

"The initial fish import volume is intended to supplement supply in wet markets during the closed-fishing season in major fish spawning areas in the country," Laurel said.

The closed-fishing season starts in November and extends through the middle of March, the department said. 
WASHINGTON (WCBD)- A retired North Charleston police officer was sentenced last Wednesday to probation for participating in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Thomas Edward Blackwood, 70, pleaded guilty in July to one count of disorderly and disruptive conducting in a restricting building and ground and one count of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

He was sentenced on November 20 to four years of probation and ordered to pay $500 in restitution, according to federal documents.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prosecutors said Blackwood traveled with a friend to Washington D.C. to attend the Stop the Steal rally at the Ellipse. They then joined the crowd as they marched toward the Capitol building.

Blackwood and his friend ignored downed barricades, shattered glass, and broken doors and entered the Capitol where they were shortly stopped by police and escorted out, according to prosecutors. The pair then reentered the building before exiting again approximately 30 minutes later.

via DOJ

Blackwoods attorney, Mark Peper, wrote in a Nov. 18 sentencing memo that his client accepted full responsibility for his behavior but that there was no evidence he assaulted law enforcement or destroyed property.

Peper further noted that Blackwood was unaware of the violence that had transpired ahead of him which allowed him access to the restricted grounds and left as soon as he discovered what was happening.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

North Charleston officers work together to potentially save mans life

But, prosecutors argued that Blackwood knew better than to enter the building given his law enforcement background  he retired from the North Charleston Police Department in 2008 after serving 30 years  and his previous work as a lobbyist in Washington.

As he entered the U.S. Capitol grounds, walked up the Capitol steps, stood on the West Plaza, and then repeatedly entered the building, Blackwood undoubtedly saw violence and aggression towards the police, and yet he did not leave, a Nov. 7 prosecution sentencing memo stated. He knew he was not allowed in that building, but he nonetheless chose to enter and remain there. Twice.

Prosecutors recommended a 30-day jail sentence, 36 months probation, community service and restitution.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The defense asked for a fine, probation, and restitution, citing Blackwoods recent heart attack, lack of prior criminal history, and acceptance of responsibility.

should he have any desire to participate in a similar rally in the future, which he does not, his physical condition would prevent him from even traveling to the area, much less participating, Peper wrote.

More than 1,500 individuals nationwide have been charged with crimes related to the attack on the U.S. Capitol by Donald Trump supporters. The president-elect has vowed to pardon them.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
Former Phoenix New Times editor Michael Lacey was released from custody months after he was sentenced to five years in federal prison in the Backpage trial that was centered on prostitution.

Judges with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit granted the 76-year-old's request to be released on bail pending his appeal on Nov. 21, saying he raised good arguments and provided details that could potentially result in the reversal of his conviction, according to court documents.

Phoenix New Times co-founder Michael Lacey

Lacey's lawyer confirmed Monday he was out of custody and said the grounds for his client's release were not uncommon or "earth-shattering." He said there were "very important" things to be decided on appeal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lacey was sentenced in August in Phoenix for laundering proceeds from the sale of Backpage.com, the website he co-founded and prosecutors called an online brothel. He was also fined $3 million.

Last year, a federal jury found him guilty of setting up a trust in Hungary to benefit his sons. Prosecutors said Lacey did so to conceal the source of the funds. Testimony during trial showed Lacey intended to shield the money from seizure by the government.

Lacey's lawyer told The Arizona Republic he believes "100%" that his client's conviction could be overturned, saying Lacey wasn't trying to hide anything and that he disclosed to the federal government details about his money.

"There wasn't anything concealed overseas," New York-based lawyer Paul Cambria said. "No concealment."

Backpage.com co-founder Michael Lacey (right) leaves a hearing at Sandra Day O'Connor U.S. Courthouse in Phoenix with colleague Stephen Lemons on Aug. 18, 2023.

Also sentenced in August were Scott Spear and Jon Brunst, former executives who ran Backpage. They were convicted on a multitude of charges and were each sentenced to 10 years in prison. Brunst was also fined $50,000.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Both were denied their requests to be released on bail pending their appeals because, according to court documents, they did not make strong arguments or present details that could reverse their convictions, call for a new trial or give them a reduced prison term.

All were sentenced after weeks of testimony that laid out the government's theory on how Backpage worked with prostitutes and pimps to post thinly-veiled ads for prostitution.

Before he was sentenced, Lacey said in a statement he had little to do with the operations of Backpage. He said he wasn't involved in the business aspect of things  he ran the journalists and editors.

Lacey co-founded the webpage to compete with the online classified website, Craigslist. In 2010, after Craigslist shut down its adult section, which had ads for escorts and massages, prosecutors said Backpage tried to serve as the new home for those ads.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The site generated $150 million annually by 2013, according to trial testimony. More than 90% of the sites revenue came from what prosecutors contended were barely disguised prostitution ads.

Republic reporter Richard Ruelas contributed.

Elena Santa Cruz is a criminal justice reporter for The Republic. Reach her at elena.santacruz@gannett.com. Follow her on X @ecsantacruz3.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Former Phoenix New Times editor released on bail pending appeal
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  Former Akron police officer Geoffrey Parker will be spending more than two decades behind bars on child sex abuse material-related charges.

Read next: Truck driver receives sentence for having 44 pounds of cocaine in vehicle

Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas Judge Ronald Rice sentenced Parker to 24 to 28 years in prison. Parker will also be required to register as a Tier 2 sex offender.



You are losing your freedom, Judge Rice said.



Parker previously pleaded guilty to eight felonies, including three counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance, three counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, one count of gross sexual imposition, and one count of pandering obscenity involving a minor.



What I did was wrong. I regret it every day, Parker told the court.



The victims mother asked the court to place Parker on probation so he could receive therapy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Assistant Prosecutor Gabe Wildman said the court was not required to adopt her ridiculous position. Wildman called Parker both dangerous and a predator.



Parker was placed on unpaid leave in August when he was first charged in the case.

According to a complaint, Parker was accused of engaging in the sharing of sexually explicit videos with minors engaging in sex acts and photographing a child in a state of nudity and then sharing the picture online to receive other explicit images of children. Prosecutor said the crimes happened in Weathersfield.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 former Reading man charged this fall with causing the death of a 3-year-old boy in Reading nearly four years ago was ordered held for court on all charges after a preliminary hearing.

Elijah Matias, 23, of Cogan Station, Lycoming County, was returned to Berks County Prison without bail to await further court action following the hearing Monday before District Judge Alvin B. Robinson in Reading Central Court.

Matias faces first- and third-degree murder and related charges in the January 2021 death of the child.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Investigators with the Berks County district attorneys office gave this account:

On Jan. 28, 2021, Reading police were dispatched to the 400 block of Schuylkill Avenue for a report of a 3-year-old male in respiratory distress. The child was transported to Reading Hospital, where he was pronounced dead that night.

Reading detectives learned the victim was in the sole care of his mothers lover, Matias, just before the 911 call was made from the residence.

Two days later, forensic pathologist Dr. Neil Hoffman conducted an autopsy on the victim at Reading Hospital. It revealed the child had suffered internal and external injuries that were in various stages of healing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The cause of death was determined to have been blunt force trauma resulting in lacerations to the boys liver, mesentery and pancreas. Based on Hoffmans findings, the childs death was ruled a homicide.

The investigation continued after the autopsy, but no arrests were made for more than three years.

This past April as part of Berks District Attorney John Adams cold case initiative, Reading police and county detectives began to work together on the investigation. They reexamined the medical records relating to the injuries and abuse suffered by the victim over the hours, days and weeks leading up to his death.

In consultation with Hoffman and other medical professionals, police learned that the boys fatal injuries were inflicted just hours before his death. These findings allowed investigators to narrow down the timeline and focus on the victims activities on the evening of the death. It was determined the victim was under Matias sole care and supervision in the hours preceding his death.

An arrest warrant for Matias was issued Oct. 7.

Matias was arrested three days later at his Lycoming County residence by members of the United States Marshalls Fugitive Task Force.
A former St. Paul police officer federally convicted of using excessive force was mistakenly released from prison early, but he returned to custody and petitioned a judge for compassionate release. The judge denied his request Monday.

A jury in November 2019 found Brett Palkowitsch guilty of depriving Frank Baker of his civil rights on June 24, 2016, when he kicked Baker as the man screamed in pain with a police dog clamped onto his leg. A judge sentenced Palkowitsch to a six-year term in 2021.

U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey Bryan wrote in Mondays order that he acknowledges that Palkowitschs unexpected return to prison after a brief reunion with his family is extraordinarily unusual and undoubtedly took an emotional toll on Palkowitsch and his family. The Court also acknowledges that the incarceration of a parent often creates a difficult situation in which the unincarcerated parent is made to support a household and children alone.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But, Bryan continued, Palkowitsch has not provided legal authority to support his particular request and has not established that the present circumstances are extraordinary or compelling in such a way that the compassionate release statute and governing policy permit the Court to release Palkowitsch from prison.

Palkowitsch and five other officers were responding to an anonymous report about a fight involving an armed man, who was described as Black with dreadlocks and wearing a white T-shirt. Baker, returning to his East Side apartment, fit the general description but it turned out the 52-year-old was unarmed and not the suspect.

Baker later filed a federal lawsuit against St. Paul and the city agreed to a historic $2 million settlement in 2017.

A federal grand jury indicted Palkowitsch in 2019. He was charged with one count of deprivation of rights, a federal civil rights violation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At his trial, Palkowitsch testified that he acted within the limits of the law and according to his training when he delivered three kicks to Baker, in an attempt to control a man he believed was an armed, uncooperative suspect. But three fellow officers who were at the scene with Palkowitsch testified otherwise.

COVID delayed sentence

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Palkowitsch wasnt sentenced until May 2021 and remained out of custody on pretrial release for 842 days between then and his initial appearance, Bryan wrote in his order.

Palkowitsch self-surrendered and began serving his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institute in Ashland, Ky., in June 2021. After initial meetings with his unit team, he was told the Bureau of Prisons had given him 842 days of credit and a release date of April 2024.

Palkowitschs wife asked his appellate counsel to explain the credit calculation, who informed her that, after speaking with peers  and discussing current cases with staff members at various levels of the BOP, he learned that the credits were given to inmates who were not in-custody during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bryan wrote in summary.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

BOP released Palkowitsch from custody on May 2, 2023, less than two years after hed begun his six-year sentence. He returned home and enjoyed normal family life with his wife and two children, Bryan wrote. Several weeks later, Palkowitsch was informed that BOP made an error. He was initially told he could serve the remainder of his sentence on home confinement, but then was told he had to return to BOP custody.

Related Articles

Palkowitsch and his family were shocked and were not given any clear explanation about what had happened, Bryans summary continued. Palkowitsch turned himself in on June 27, 2023, and has been in custody since.

In a July 2023 letter to the court, a BOP senior deputy assistant director wrote that the agency had mistakenly assumed that Palkowitsch had been in custody from the time of initial appearance on January 31, 2019, until his sentencing and, as a result, had allocated him 842 days of credit for time served. Because of this error, the letter stated, BOP had erroneously released him and they expressed regret for this unfortunate error.'

Palkowitsch, who is 37, is now in the custody of a Minnesota residential re-entry center, also known as a halfway house, which BOP uses for inmates who are nearing release.
A former agriculture teacher for Cache Public Schools has accused the school district of retaliation for reporting alleged acts of sexual harassment committed by a teacher against herself and students.

Kelly Jenkins has made the accusations in a lawsuit filed against the school district in Oklahoma City federal court.

In the lawsuit, Jenkins claims the harassment started in August 2019 when a fellow teacher started asking her inappropriate questions of a sexual nature. Jenkins claims this continued through late February 2022.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jenkins claims she told the teacher to stop the alleged behavior. When he did not, she reported the matter to district Superintendent Chad Hance.

Jenkins claims Hance said he would take care of it, but instead took no disciplinary or other corrective action to Jenkins knowledge.

Reached by phone, Hance declined to comment, citing the ongoing litigation.

After her report, Jenkins claims the teacher stopped making sexual comments.

More: Nex Benedict: Investigation reveals Owasso 'deliberately indifferent' to student rights

The lawsuit claims the teacher retaliated against Jenkins and harassed her by barging into her classroom for no educational purpose, peeking through curtains into her classroom, giving instructions to Jenkins students that contradicted Jenkins instructions, and by telling various people that he was going to get Jenkins fired.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jenkins claims she reported this to school administrators, but no corrective action was taken.

Mark Hammons, an Oklahoma City-based attorney representing Jenkins, said the school district wanted the matter to go away.

They just never wanted to look into the allegations against that teacher, even though there were students involved in it, he said. They did a kind of perfunctory investigation.

Claims of sexual harassment reported by former teacher, students

In March 2023, Jenkins claims she became aware of and reported inappropriate sexual behavior by the teacher toward female students and female parents of students.

Those reports allege the teacher:

Showed an employee of the school a topless photo on his phone of what was reported to be a student.

Asked a female student to discuss the dress of waitresses at a local restaurant and asked if she worked there.

The teacher had made unwelcome sexual overtures toward a female parent.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jenkins also claims a female student reported that on a high school trip, the teacher was inappropriately sexually texting a female staff member.

Be the first to know: Sign up for breaking news email alerts

Another female student reported that she was concerned about the emotional safety of his female students, Jenkins claims.

The lawsuit alleges a lack of corrective action created a hostile and abusive work environment. No investigation was undertaken, including student interviews, according to the lawsuit.

Jenkins states in the lawsuit she made reports to law enforcement regarding sexual misconduct directed by the teacher toward underage female students and the mothers of students.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jenkins claims that on Feb. 22, Hance came to her classroom and was physically threatening and yelling at her in front of students.

According to the lawsuit:

On April 17, 2024, she was notified in writing that she was being fired.

On May 21, she was placed on administrative leave.

On July 16, the school board terminated her employment.

KSWO-TV described the lengthy school board meeting during which Jenkins was terminated as tense between her supporters and some school officials agreeing with the decision.

In August, Jenkins spoke at a meeting of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Commission.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She later told media outlet NonDoc she was disappointed with how the OSBI handled her complaints about Cache Public Schools, as an investigation apparently went nowhere.

She said her termination came after she had been on medical leave for several months.

Jenkins also took her complaints to District Attorney Kyle Cabelka, who serves Comanche and Cotton counties.

Reached by phone, Cabelka told The Oklahoman that an OSBI investigation did not yield enough evidence to prosecute the matter.

By the end of it, my office chose not to file criminal charges, he said.

Jenkins claims she has suffered lost earnings, past, present and future, together with suffering emotional distress and dignitary harms, for which she is entitled to compensation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She is seeking an unspecified amount of compensatory damages, as well as costs and attorneys fees.

It's not for us to say that the guy should be fired, Hammons said. But the school district needs to take these things seriously. Be proactive and have a really serious set of policies that they're going to enforce.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Lawsuit claims Cache schools retaliated over sexual harassment reports
Four bodies have been found after a yacht capsized in the Red Sea.

Two British tourists were thought to be among 16 people missing after the sinking of the diving vessel, called the Sea Story, on Monday.

Major General Amr Hanafi, the governor of the Red Sea area, said naval forces had rescued five people alive  two Belgian nationals, one Swiss, one Finnish and one Egyptian.

In addition, four bodies have been recovered, though their identities have yet to be confirmed.

Medics and rescue services assembled on the dock to pull survivors from the water - EGYPTIAN PRESS CENTER/SHUTTERSTOCK

The Governor said the search continues for eight individuals who remain unaccounted for.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Distress signals were sent out shortly before dawn on Monday morning after reports of a huge wave hitting the boat.

A search and rescue operation coordinated by the Egyptian military had recovered 28 survivors by Monday night  with some airlifted to safety and others transported to shore by warship.

The BBC reported that two Britons are among the missing. The Foreign office confirmed it was supporting a number of British nationals in relation to the incident.

One Finnish national, one Swiss national and four Egyptians are also believed to be among those unaccounted for.

All 13 of the yachts crew members are Egyptian. The Chinese embassy in Egypt confirmed two of its nationals were in good health after being rescued.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Others believed to be onboard include five Spanish, four Germans and other passengers from Poland, Belgium, Slovakia and Ireland.

A search and rescue operation coordinated by the Egyptian military had recovered 28 survivors by Monday night - STR/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Took only five to seven minutes

The rescue operation was paused at 5pm on Monday evening (3pm GMT) after the 44-metre timber-hulled boat was thought to have capsized near Shaab Satayah, a popular coral reef often visited on diving trips.

Maj Gen Hanafi said the sinking unfolded rapidly after a large wave.

This was the preliminary cause of the incident, according to accounts from both foreign and Egyptian crew members, he said.

The situation unfolded rapidly, taking only five to seven minutes, and some passengers were trapped inside cabins, preventing their escape.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A diving resort manager close to the rescue operation told journalists the Sea Story was hit by a wave in the middle of the night, throwing the vessel on its side, according to an account by a surviving crew member.

The Sea Story had embarked on a five-day diving trip after leaving the eastern town of Marsa Alam on Sunday - Red Sea Governorate

Officials said the vessel had embarked on a five-day diving trip, having left the eastern town of Marsa Alam on Sunday.

Maj Gen Hanafi said the boat had passed its last safety inspection in March 2024, with no technical issues reported.

The boat, owned by an Egyptian national, was 34m long and had received a one-year safety certificate from the Maritime Safety Authority.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident, which occurred during rough weather.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 28 survivors were rescued with minor injuries and none required hospitalisation.

The 28 survivors were rescued with minor injuries and none required hospitalisation - AFP

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Egyptian Red Sea Ports Authority reported waves of up to 4m and wind speeds of 34 knots (40mph) in the area on Sunday, leading to the closure of maritime traffic.

The Red Sea, renowned for its coral reefs and marine life, is a hub for Egypts tourism industry, which plays a critical role in the countrys economy.

Sea Storys sinking comes a year after three British tourists died when their Egyptian diving boat caught fire off the coast of Marsa Alam.

Videos showed some of the 29 people on board the Hurricane yacht diving into the water to escape flames after a suspected electrical fault in the engine room in June 2023.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In February 2024, the yacht Sea Legend caught fire in Egypt with 17 dive guests on board, resulting in the death of one tourist.

A separate vessel suffered severe damage from strong waves in the area in June this year, although no casualties were reported.

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.
Rescue workers have recovered four bodies from the water after Monday's capsizing of a tourist boat in the Red Sea.

The governor responsible for the region, Amr Hanafi, confirmed to dpa on Tuesday that the bodies had been found, but could not provide any information on the nationality of the fatalities.

These are the first confirmed deaths in the accident. Of the original 44 people on board, 31 survivors have been rescued. Nine people are still missing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The governor said the search for them is ongoing, involving helicopters and an Egyptian military frigate.

The German Foreign Office said six Germans were on board the boat, three of whom are missing and three of whom have been rescued.

Hanafi said earlier that around 20 holidaymakers from European countries were on the boat. People from Egypt, China and the United States were also among those on board.

The Sea Story vessel sank on Monday morning off the Egyptian coast, about 80 kilometres from Marsa Alam, a popular holiday resort for divers.

It set off from Marsa Alam on Sunday and was scheduled to dock in Hurghada, a beach resort city further north, after a five-day trip involving diving excursions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The boat sent out a distress call early on Monday morning, Hanafi said.

He wrote on Facebook that a large wave hit Sea Story and caused it to capsize, citing descriptions given by the crew and tourists after the accident.

Local media described the weather conditions as "unstable."

The multi-storey boat capsized within minutes and some did not make it out of their cabins in time, Hanafi said, adding that the boat had no technical defects and had all the necessary permits and checks, including an inspection in the spring.

"All rescued passengers are fine," Hanafi said. They were being accommodated in a hotel in Marsa Alam. With the help of various embassies, the authorities are working to get them replacement travel documents for the journey home.
PRAGUE, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Prague firefighters reported Tuesday that they were tackling a fire in a dressing room at the historic National Theater in the Czech capital.

"The intervention is at the second alarm level. The site is under investigation, and the extent of the fire is being assessed," the Prague Fire Brigade stated on social media platform X.

Firefighters were alerted to the blaze shortly before 3 p.m. local time, with smoke seen rising from the upper floors of the building. The structure has been evacuated, according to the Czech News Agency.

"The site investigation is ongoing. The intervention involves the use of high-altitude equipment," the fire brigade added in an updated post.

Local medical rescuers confirmed on X that no injuries have been reported so far. 
Nov. 26DIXON  On the ballot for the April 2025 election will be two incumbents running for two open seats on the Dixon City Council along with two incumbents and two newcomers running for two open seats on the Sterling City Council, according to the Dixon and Sterling City Clerk's offices.

The two open seats on Dixon's council come as the terms of Councilman Chris Bishop and Councilman Dennis Considine end in April 2025. For Sterling, two alderman at large positions are up for election as the terms of Alderman Jim Wise and Alderwoman Kaitlyn Ekquist end in April 2025.

Dixon City Council candidates

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The only two candidates in the running are the incumbents, Bishop and Considine, seeking to serve another four-year term on the council, according to Dixon City Clerk Keesha Kunde.

Bishop was first elected to serve on the council in 2015 for a two-year term. He ran for election again in 2021 and was elected to his current four-year term. In March, he ran as a Republican in the Illinois State Senate District 37 primary but lost to former Dixon Mayor Li Arellano.

As for Considine, the end of his term will mark 14 years of his involvement in Dixon's government. He was first elected before the city transitioned to the city manager form of government in 2015 and has continued to run for reelection since then.

[ Two Dixon City Council members will run for reelection in April ]

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prior to the election, voters will get a chance to hear from the candidates during a question-and-answer forum hosted by Discover Dixon. However, a venue and date for the forum has not yet been decided, according to Discover Dixon Events Director Jennifer Lang.

Sterling City Council

In the running for two, four-year, alderman-at-large positions on Sterling's City Council are incumbents Wise and Ekquist as well as two newcomers, Ryan Nares and Allen Przysucha.

Wise was first elected to the council in 2017 and was reelected in 2021 to serve his current four-year term. Ekquist was first elected to the council in 2021 for her current term.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

[ Two incumbents will seek reelection to Sterling City Council ]

As for the newcomers, Nares is a business owner who in October opened the Mercantile Ballroom & Cocktail Lounge, at 117 W. Third St. in Sterling, with his wife and co-owner Ashley Nares. The couple also own Nares Event Co. and 'Til Death Photo and Film.

Przysucha currently serves on the Sterling planning commission and as a youth committee member for Sterling Township. He is also a board member at United Way of Whiteside County and is a member of the Sterling Noon Rotary Club, according to his candidate Facebook page.

According to Janna Groharing, executive director at Sterling Main Street, the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce typically holds a candidate forum for City Council elections, but as of Monday no plans had yet been made.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Election information

There will be no primary election in either Whiteside County or Lee County, according to the county clerk's offices. Statewide, election day is on April 1, 2025, and early voting begins Feb. 20, 2025.

Aside from City Council members, there will also be other elected officials, such as school board members, on the April ballot. Certified sample ballots will become available Jan. 23, 2025, Lee County Clerk and Recorder Nancy Petersen said.

In Lee County, early voting is held in the election department on the first floor of the Old Lee County Courthouse, 112 E. Second St. in Dixon, according to Petersen.

In Whiteside County it is held at the courthouse in Morrison at 200 E. Knox St., according to Whiteside County Clerk Dana Nelson.
President-elect Donald Trump's economic agenda is antithetical to the financial interests of American agriculture, writes farmer Ben Palen. (Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

It is a well-known fact that a majority of farmers voted for Donald Trump. The focus of this column is not about the morality of that choice but rather about a president-elect whose economic agenda is antithetical to the financial interests of American agriculture.

Earlier this year, I wrote an article that addressed a fundamental issue with our agricultural economy. It pointed out that since the dawn of this century the world has added 398 million acres of land for the production of food grains, feed grains, and oil seeds. Much of that acreage has been in tropical regions. At the same time, population growth in China, a primary buyer of U.S. agricultural goods, has slowed, and the population is aging. Similar trends can be seen in other countries that have been traditional importers of U.S. goods. We are also faced with major geopolitical events, such as the Ukraine-Russia war, and most resolutions of that war would likely adversely affect U.S. farmers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The world has changed. Competition among major producing nations has changed the ability of American agriculture to be a preferred and low-cost provider of grains to other nations.

Against this backdrop, one must ponder the question of how an isolationist foreign policy and the use of heavy tariffs, can possibly lead to anything other than serious adverse consequences for our U.S. agricultural sector. History teaches us lessons, and sadly we often forget them while drunk on the political cocktail of the moment. During the first Trump presidency, significant tariffs were imposed on China. This led to major impacts on U.S. farmers.

What did the government do? The Trump administration created an ad hoc disaster relief program that paid billions to U.S. farmers. Ad hoc is just a shiny term for an administration not being able to get its act together to have a consistent and logical approach to setting policy. It is akin to government by chaos, e.g., going from one fire drill to another.

Trump was elected based on many promises, one of which was to drain the swamp. There is a lot of chatter about reducing government outlays for all sorts of programs. Trump wants to put America first.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Setting aside political differences, the reality is that America is not an island of itself. It is an important part of the larger world. Withdrawal from engagement with other nations, whether in the context of trade or overall foreign relations, cannot lead to good consequences from the standpoint of economic security for America, nor for our nations ability to play a strong role in maintaining a stable and peaceful world.

My fellow farmers, it is time for a reality check. There is way more than a theoretical risk of losing a large share of the markets for our grains and livestock. Dont count on that brown envelope from Uncle Sam in your mailbox to bail you out from hardship. From the extensive reading that I have done on the topic of the economic impact of Trump tariffs, no credible economist paints any picture other than one of significant detrimental consequences to our agricultural sector.

The same is true for many other segments of the economy.

America has to maintain a global perspective  rather than one that stops at our shores  to stay competitive and to remain in its role as a world leader. The proposed paths of a Trump presidency are antithetical to those roles.

Ben Palen is a Kansas native and a fifth-generation farmer and agriculture consultant in Colorado and Kansas. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
Former ESPN host Sage Steele blasted the 4B feminist movement and called its followers not real women and not desirable in a fiery interview Monday night on Hannity.

The movement, which started in South Korea, surged in popularity in the U.S. after Donald Trump beat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Proponents of the movement refuse to marry, have children, date, or have sex with men.

Fox News Sean Hannity on Monday night described 4B followers as the women who are shaving their heads, withholding sex, threatening to divorce their husbands, and stockpiling abortion pills.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hannity said 4B is his favorite topic, adding ... because theyre nuts.

Steele, who left ESPN in 2021, laughed at his description, saying: They are psychotic, frankly. But they are not real women in that way in my mind, I guess. They are not desirable women.

Sage Steele said 4B feminists are psychotic.

She said she was trying to speak for most red-blooded American men like the Fox News host. Steele added that Trump derangement syndrome had gone off the cliff.

There is something wrong upstairs, in my mind, for so many of these women who are reacting that way. And the scary thing is that a lot of them are smart, educated women who are choosing to believe these things, she added.

Trumps election victory has caused a surge in interest in the 4B movement.

Trumps pending return to the White House has triggered a flurry of online curiosity about 4B.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We have pandered and begged for mens safety and done all the things that we were supposed to, and they still hate us, Ashli Pollard, a 36-year-old in St. Louis, told CNN about her interest in 4B.

So if youre going to hate us, then were going to do what we want.
A MAGA influencer who appeared multiple times on Fox News criticizing crime and homelessness in San Francisco was booked into jail on Monday on suspicion of pimping a woman for sex work.

Ricci Lee Wynne, 39, also known as Raw Ricci, was taken into custody shortly after he arrived at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday night, according to an emailed police statement. Wynne was charged with pimping and pandering following a search of his apartment.

According to police reports cited by the San Francisco Standard, Wynnes arrest came after he was investigated in the sexual assault of a 15-year-old. At the time of his arrest, Wynne was traveling with an adult woman, whom police believe he was pimping out for sex work.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The woman was detained and then released, according to San Francisco police.

Ricci Lee Wynne has garnered more than 100,000 followers on Instagram and over 29,000 followers on X with his content complaining about crime in San Francisco. Instagram @rawricci415

Its unclear if Wynne has an attorney representing him. Jail records show he remained in custody on Tuesday.

During their search, detectives found three cell phones that allegedly belonged to Wynne and that revealed evidence that he was involved in sex work, including rates and services, according to the Standard. Police said Wynne denied owning the cell phones and being a pimp, the Standard reported.

In 2019, Wynne was arrested and accused of possessing weapons and advertising a cocaine buffet on Snapchat, the Mercury News reported. He pleaded guilty and was released in 2021 on time served and ordered into a drug treatment program after his attorney called for compassion and detailed his struggles with substance abuse.

Ricci Lee Wynne appears with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Fox News. FOX News

Wynne has garnered more than 100,000 followers on Instagram and over 29,000 followers on X with content showing him harassing homeless people and people using drugs in the streets of San Franciscos SoMa and Tenderloin districts. One video shows Wynne opening the door of a womans car without her permission as he jokes about its disrepair.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Can you get the fuck away from me, please? she responds.

Wynne then asks a man lying on the sidewalk if he realizes the car is parked in a tow-away zone, then in a separate clip goes on a monologue about how he believes parking enforcement is giving special treatment to people who are homeless.

Last year, Wynne appeared on Fox News as a guest on Jesse Watters Primetime and Tucker Carlson Tonight criticizing crime rates in the city.

Through the 2024 election campaign, crime has been a top issue in San Francisco  even though statistics show violent crime and property crime rates are falling.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wynnes case remains open and active, according to the police statement. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the San Francisco Police Department.

Related...
Fox News Kayleigh McEnany called out CNN on Tuesday over its past coverage of Donald Trumps 2019 tariff plan for Mexico, saying the news organization had an emotional breakdown.

The former White House Press Secretarys remarks came in conversation with commentator Dagen McDowell on Outnumbered. The pundits were discussing how Trumps newly announced Day 1 tariff plan for both Mexico and Canada echoed his 2019 move, in an apparent move to strengthen the borders.

The bigger story is that it takes a threat like this to get them to do this, McDowell said. And what kind of neighbor are you to have allowed this to happen over the last four years just because Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and their brethren of open borders have allowed it? I think in the way it has been covered in all of the regime media is that its an economics story.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thats when McEnany shared her thoughts: I love that you mentioned the regime media  and they will no longer be the regime media, because I hardly think theyll stand in line with the Trump regime. The program then pulled up CNNs previous coverage reporting on Trumps promise of tariffs on Mexico.

Trump Erupts Over Immigration, Threatening Mexico With Tariffs, McEnany read. They had a panic attack  It was an eruption. You know what he erupted? Well, now we have 2-year-olds coming to our southern border on their own, probably via cartels. Now we have innocent women murdered, but Trump just erupted over the border for no reason, according to CNN.

In May 2019, Trumps administration released a statement stating it would impose a 5% tariff on all goods imported from Mexico, only if the country didnt stop migrants from crossing into the U.S.

If the illegal migration crisis is alleviated through effective actions taken by Mexico, to be determined in our sole discretion and judgement, the Tariffs will be removed, the official White House statement read at the time. Two weeks later, Trump announced that hed be dropping the tariffs after reaching a signed deal with Mexico.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I am pleased to inform you that The United States of America has reached a signed agreement with Mexico, Trump tweeted June 7, 2019. The Tariffs scheduled to be implemented by the U.S. on Monday, against Mexico, are hereby indefinitely suspended. Mexico, in turn, has agreed to take strong measures to stem the tide of Migration through Mexico, and to our Southern Border. Mexico reportedly said it would send 6,000 National Guard troops to the southern border to halt further illegal migration. By June 14, 2019, thousands of Mexican National Guard members were sent to the border with Guatemala.

https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1137155056044826626?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1137155057667989511%7Ctwgr%5Ecf65c4d901bee3b101e1d9cd469853d4c5f24c2e%7Ctwcon%5Es2_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com%2Fstory%2F2019%2F06%2F07%2Fmexico-troops-southeastern-border-1514223

Five years later on Monday, Trump served up a new round of proposed tariffs, targeting Canada and Mexico with a 25% tax on imported goods, and charging China with a higher tax of 10% in an effort to curve the transportation of drugs into the U.S.

On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders, Trump wrote on Truth Social. This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country! Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He continued: I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States  But to no avail.

All three countries involved have since acknowledged Trumps executive order proposal, though nothing official is yet in effect.

The president-elect is set to be inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2025.

The post Fox News Kayleigh McEnany Calls Out CNN for Past Trump Tariff Coverage: They Had a Panic Attack | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Fox News host Laura Ingraham took a few seconds from her Monday night show to apologize to viewers for showing a photo of New York Attorney General Letitia James instead of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

During a portion of The Ingraham Angle, the host lambasted the prosecutors, district attorneys and judges who brought criminal indictments or held proceedings against Donald Trump, calling them modern-day Keystone cops.

Laura Ingraham, the host of The Ingraham Angle criticized Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis but an image on-screen showed a photo of New York Attorney General Letitia James (Fox News)

Specifically, Ingraham named Special Counsel Jack Smith, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Willis.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But a side-by-side graphic accompanying Ingrahams comment showed Smith, Bragg and James  the New York AG who promised to hold Trump accountable  instead of Willis. Both Willis and Williams are Black women.

Later on, Ingraham apologized for the mix-up.

Ingraham shows a picture of Letitia James while referencing Fani Willis pic.twitter.com/oK5872Nj3w  Acyn (@Acyn) November 26, 2024

Earlier on The Angle we accidentally showed a graphic of a photo that had another vicious anti-Trump figure, Letitia James, when we were talking about Fani Willis so that was our mistake, Ingraham said.

But they both hate Trump, she added.

James, the first woman and woman of color elected as New York AG, brought a civil lawsuit against Trump, his adult sons and the Trump Organization over financial fraud. Ultimately, a judge found evidence of fraud and ordered the defendants to pay millions of dollars in penalties.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Willis, also the first woman to hold the Fulton County DA position, investigated and charged Trump along with 18 co-defendants in a sprawling indictment accusing them of orchestrating a plot to try and overturn the 2020 election results in Fulton County, Georgia.

That case faced multiple interruptions, including a separate investigation into Willis relationship with prosecutor Nathan Wade. Proceedings in the case were indefinitely paused before Trump won the election.

Ingraham: Earlier we accidentally showed a graphic that had a photo of another vicious anti-Trump figure, Letitia James when we were talking about Fani Willis. That was our mistake. They both hate Trump pic.twitter.com/CT1cHGO388  Acyn (@Acyn) November 26, 2024

Social media users blasted the Fox News host over the picture swap.

Referring to Fani Willis while using a photo of Letitia James - because apparently Laura Ingraham thinks all Black women look the same, one X user wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Another person criticized Ingraham for making a backhanded apology for the photo mix-up.

Because being a Republican means never having to actually apologize. Racists gonna racist, the X user said.

Fox News seemingly later corrected the side-by-side photo of Smith, Bragg and Willis for a clip featured on its website.

The Independent has asked Fox News for comment.
Front Range Community College announced a new partnership with Regis University on Monday to help students pursue pharmacy careers, marking the colleges first partnership with a doctoral program.

Regis University in Denver has opened new pathways for FRCC students to apply for its Doctor of Pharmacy, or PharmD, program.

This partnership opens exciting new doors for our health sciences students who are eager to pursue careers in pharmacy, Angie Peach, dean of the School of Health Science and Wellness at FRCC, said in a release. We look forward to collaborating with Regis University to support our students as they advance in their healthcare education and professional journeys.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The collaboration creates a direct pathway for FRCC students in health sciences and biology programs to apply to the PharmD program at Regis University.

FRCC will promote Regis Universitys PharmD program to its students as part of the agreement. Representatives from Regis Universitys School of Pharmacy will also visit FRCCs campuses annually, either in person or virtually, to provide program information and answer questions from students and faculty. FRCC has campuses in Longmont, Fort Collins and Westminster.

FRCC students need to complete certain required courses, which add up to 72 credits, to apply for the Doctor of Pharmacy program. Next fall, FRCC will offer a new associates degree in pharmaceutical science that will encompass all the required courses. Students can begin taking the required courses now.

Were thrilled to collaborate with Front Range Community College to broaden pharmacy career pathways for their students, Samit Shah, dean of Regis Universitys School of Pharmacy, said in a release. This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting students in achieving their academic and professional ambitions, equipping them to make a lasting impact in healthcare and their communities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Regis offers three-year and four-year pathways in its doctor of pharmacy program, as well as dual degree and certificate programs.

Graduates of the program have a range of clinical pharmacy positions they can pursue, according to the universitys website. The program also prepares its students to play significant roles in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and clinical diagnostics industries. They can also work in clinical research organizations and public health and regulatory roles including the Center for Disease Control, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health.

For more information, visit regis.edu/academics/colleges-and-schools/rueckert-hartman/pharmacy/index.
People are three times more likely to undergo at-home colon cancer screening if they're provided a free test, a new study says.

About 30% of patients mailed a free stool test kit completed their screening within six months, compared with about 10% of those who weren't sent a kit, researchers reported Monday in JAMA Network Open.

The kit, a fecal immunochemical test (FIT), uses antibodies to detect blood in stool. This blood is an early warning sign of colon cancer, and those who test positive are urged to undergo a colonoscopy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Mailed FIT is an excellent complement to usual care screening services," researcher Alison Brenner, an associate professor at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, said in a news release. "It reaches a lot of patients who, for whatever reason, aren't getting screened in usual care and significantly increases screening rates."

Colon cancer can be prevented, by early detection and removal of pre-cancerous polyps inside the GI tract.

Guidelines recommend that adults 45 to 75 undergo regular screening. Thanks to screening, colon cancer rates among seniors 65 and older have declined, but rates among those under 50 have been rising during the past three decades.

Colonoscopy is considered the gold standard of colon cancer screening, because doctors can examine the entire colon and remove polyps during the procedure. Screening is done once every 10 years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But a colonoscopy involves the use of powerful laxatives to prepare for the procedure, which is performed under sedation. The prospect causes some to skip the screening.

Due to these qualms, doctors also offer stool tests to screen for colon cancer. These tests, taken once a year, can help keep tabs on a person's cancer risk.

For this study, researchers recruited more than 4,000 people 50 to 75 receiving medical care at low-income health centers in North Carolina.

Half were mailed free FIT kits, and also received support for a follow-up colonoscopy if the test was positive. The other half received usual care, which included a recommendation to undergo colon cancer screening.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After a year, about 35% of those mailed a free kit had taken the FIT test, compared with about 17% of those receiving usual care, researchers said.

The free kit group also had a higher follow-up rate among those with a positive test - 69%, compared with 44% in the control group.

"Reaching a largely unscreened, predominantly low-income population using centralized mailed screening kits and patient navigation for those with abnormal tests can substantially increase guideline-recommended colorectal cancer screening," researcher Dr. Daniel Reuland, co-director of the UNC Lineberger Carolina Cancer Screening Initiative, said in a news release.

Based on these findings, researchers are looking into ways to expand the program.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"FIT testing is inexpensive, so we anticipate that this kind of outreach will be a very cost-effective way to improve population screening," Reuland said. "In tandem with this, we're working to find ways to scale and sustain this kind of intervention to have greater impact."

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about colon cancer screening.

Copyright  2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Freiburg have become the third Bundesliga club to leave social media platform X, saying that "values such as diversity and tolerance, which the club stands for with its statutes, are being treated with contempt."

Freiburg follow St Pauli Hamburg and Werder Bremen, who have left the platform formerly known as Twitter for the same reasons.

"The rapid radicalization of the platform is reflected in a flood of hatred, hate speech and conspiracy theories. There is hardly any regulation or sanctions," a club statement said on Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"On the contrary: Elon Musk, who took over Twitter two years ago, is personally responsible for the publication and dissemination of much of this content.

"In view of the current development of X, remaining on the platform can no longer be justified," the club said.

Like St Pauli and Bremen, Frfeiburg will switch to the Bluesky platform and expressed hope that their 307,000 followers from X will make the transition with them.
LONDON, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The British Department for Work and Pensions released a white paper on Tuesday outlining reforms designed to address unemployment and promote youth employment.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall emphasized that the white paper reflects the Labour government's commitment to fostering a healthier, wealthier nation while reducing reliance on welfare programs.

The reform agenda includes a 240 million-pound (302.7 million U.S. dollars) investment in employment support, aiming to achieve an 80 percent employment rate as promised in Labour's manifesto. The ultimate goal is for the United Kingdom to achieve the highest employment rate among G7 nations.

One of the key changes involves transforming Jobcenters into a National Jobs and Careers Service. This revamped service will prioritize skill-building and career development over benefit monitoring. Additionally, a Youth Guarantee will ensure that all individuals aged 18-21 in England have access to education, apprenticeships, or training opportunities.

The proposals also focus on tackling mental health challenges and economic inactivity. The government intends to invest 125 million pounds in eight pilot areas to integrate health, skills, and employment support. This initiative includes deploying 8,500 mental health staff, enhancing support for severe mental illnesses, reducing waiting lists at 20 National Health Service (NHS) Trusts in high-inactivity regions, and expanding preventive healthcare. Targeted measures will also be implemented to better support people with disabilities.

Job security and workplace flexibility will be addressed through a separate Employment Rights Bill aimed at reducing job insecurity and expanding opportunities for flexible working arrangements.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer highlighted that the reforms mark a shift from a culture of "blaming and shaming" unemployed individuals. "To put more money in people's pockets, unlock growth, and make people better off, the government will help people into decent, well-paid jobs and give children and young people the best start in life." (1 pound = 1.26 U.S. dollar) 
An animal rights extremist accused of carrying out two California bombings in 2003 was arrested in the UK after being on the run for more than twenty years.

Daniel Andreas San Diego, 46, was arrested Monday in a rural area of north Wales, the National Crime Agency said on Tuesday. San Diego was one of the FBIs most wanted fugitives, with officials offering a $250,000 reward for information on him.

Investigators say San Diego planted two bombs that exploded about an hour apart on August 28, 2003, on the campus of a biotechnology company in Emeryville, California. He's also accused of setting off another bomb police say was strapped with nails at a nutritional products company in Pleasanton, California, a month later.

A photo from 2009 showing FBI Assistant Director of the Counterterrorism Division Michael J. Heimbach announcing Daniel Andreas San Diego as the latest addition to the FBIs Most Wanted Terrorist List (AFP via Getty Images)

The bombings didn't injure anyone, but authorities said the biotechnology bomb was intended to harm first responders.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police believe San Diego bombed the firms because they worked with another organization that had conducted experiments on animals, according to NBC. The FBI says the 46-year-old is a vegan who worked as a computer network specialist and has owned a handgun.

"Daniel San Diego's arrest after more than 20 years as a fugitive for two bombings in the San Francisco area shows that no matter how long it takes, the FBI will find you and hold you accountable," FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement.

"There's a right way and a wrong way to express your views in our country, and turning to violence and destruction of property is not the right way, he added.

San Diego is in custody after making his first court appearance in Westminster Magistrates' Court to face extradition.

Additional reporting from AP.
Daniel Andreas San Diego, one of the FBI's most wanted terror suspects, has been arrested in Wales, U.S. authorities said Tuesday.

The FBI said it coordinated with U.K. authorities to arrest San Diego, who has been wanted in connection with two animal rights-related bombings in Northern California in 2003. He was put on the Most Wanted Terrorists list in 2009.

"Daniel San Diego's arrest after more than 20 years as a fugitive for two bombings in the San Francisco area shows that no matter how long it takes, the FBI will find you and hold you accountable," FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement announcing the arrest. "There's a right way and a wrong way to express your views in our country, and turning to violence and destruction of property is not the right way."

Daniel Andreas San Diego. / Credit: Federal Bureau of Investigation

The U.K. National Crime Agency said that San Diego was arrested in Conwy, a town near Wales' northern coast. He was arrested by officers from the agency's Joint International Crime Center at a property in a rural area next to a woodland, an agency spokesperson said in a statement to CBS News.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

San Diego allegedly planted two bombs at the offices of Chiron Inc. in Emeryville, California, in August 2003. The first bomb detonated early in the morning. The second, which was set to detonate an hour after the initial blast and may have been meant to kill or injure first responders according to the FBI, was found and cleared before it could go off.

A month later, San Diego allegedly planted another bomb at a company in Pleasanton, California. That bomb was wrapped in nails, the FBI said, but no one was injured when it went off.

A federal arrest warrant was issued for San Diego in October 2003, but he disappeared before he could be taken into custody. A federal grand jury indicted San Diego with two counts of destroying or attempting to destroy property with explosives and two counts of use of a destructive device in a crime of violence in 2004.

San Diego was considered armed and dangerous during the two decades he went uncaptured. He had ties to animal rights extremist groups, the FBI said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

San Diego made his first court appearance on Tuesday as extradition proceedings began to return him to the United States, the National Crime Agency said. He was ordered to remain in custody.

Some North Carolina homeowners still can't return home after Helene landslides

New White House rule would make weight loss drugs available for people on Medicare and Medicaid

Kate Winslet | Sunday on 60 Minutes
A Georgia tax preparer faces decades in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The Federal Bureau of Investigation began investigating a multi-state unemployment benefit scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to court documents and statements made in a Clarke County court, FBI agents found text messages between people involved in the plot and 33-year-old Jessica Crawford, a tax preparer with Crawford Tax Services in Athens.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officials said Crawford filed for unemployment benefits on behalf of those individuals, who had created fake businesses or submitted incorrect information to fraudulently obtain benefits. In return, Crawford received a percentage of the money.

TRENDING STORIES:

The Middle District of Georgia U.S. Attorneys Office said in April 2022, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents conducted an undercover operation at Crawfords business. When the undercover agent met with Crawford to prepare taxes, the 33-year-old asked if the undercover agent did anything on the side.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At first, the undercover agent (UA) responded no, but Crawford said that expenses could be knocked off if he did and the UA said he mowed an aunts lawn sometimes, to which Crawford said that was good enough, authorities said.

The DAs office said the agent did not give any income or expense amount but Crawford generated a Schedule C business for landscaping on the agents federal income tax return, based solely on their conversation.

Crawford produced a Form 1040 and filed electronically, including a fake Schedule C loss of $19,373, and claimed an earned income tax credit (EITC), a child tax credit (CTC), and qualified business income (QBI) deduction, which were affected by the phony Schedule C loss. As a result, the UAs return claimed a fake federal income tax refund of $12,359.

The IRS completed a thorough examination of 1,261 total tax returns filed by Crawford in tax years 2020 and 2021. Of those, the IRS determined that Crawford fraudulently filed tax returns on behalf of clients which resulted in losses to the IRS of more than $3 million from falsely claimed Form 7202 credits for sick leave and family leave, tax credits and dependent care credits.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

On Friday, Crawford pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false income tax returns.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She faces a maximum of 30 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release and a $1 million fine.

Jessica Crawford lied and took advantage of funds designed to help those who were truly in need during the pandemic, said FBI Atlantas Acting Special Agent in Charge Sean Burke.

Crawford will be sentenced on March 19, 2025.




Nov. 25New Mexico's average gas price rose slightly last week, and more fluctuations are possible heading into this week as a high volume of travelers hit the roads for the Thanksgiving holiday.

According to AAA, 5.3 million Mountain State residents are expected to travel 50 miles or more this Thursday, which is the "highest travel volume on record for the holiday," a news release stated.

As of last Thursday, New Mexico's average gas price was $2.91, an increase of 4 cents from the week prior and 15 cents less than last week's national average of $3.09.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Farmington drivers were paying the most on average at $3.13, down 9 cents from the week prior, and Santa Fe drivers were paying the least on average at $2.86, up 6 cents from the week prior.

Despite the increase, Daniel Armbruster, a spokesperson for AAA New Mexico, said in a statement that New Mexico's Thanksgiving travelers "will pay the lowest average gas prices for this holiday since the pandemic year of 2020."

Prices could fluctuate this week as demand for fuel increases through the holiday.
Russian gas monopoly Gazprom is planning for 2025 with the assumption that gas transit to Europe via Ukraine will cease after 31 December 2024.

Source: Reuters

Details: Ukraine has announced its intention to end the current transit agreement, which would mark the conclusion of more than half a century of gas supplies from Siberia to Central Europe. This transit has historically been a stable source of revenue for the Russian budget.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite Kyivs statements about its unwillingness to extend the deal, which generates up to US$1 billion annually for Ukraine in transit fees, Moscow has signaled readiness for negotiations and the possibility of continuing supplies through Ukrainian territory.

However, Russia, once Europes largest supplier of natural gas, has lost nearly all its European clients. This shift is a result of the EU's efforts to reduce dependency on Russian energy and the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline in 2022.

A source familiar with Gazproms plans revealed that Russias baseline scenario for next year assumes a complete halt to gas transit through Ukraine.

It is anticipated that Russian gas exports to "far abroad" markets (Europe and Turkiye) will decrease by 20% in 2025, amounting to less than 39 billion cubic metres, compared to over 49 billion cubic metres in 2024 due to the end of Ukrainian transit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Background:

The termination of the transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine on 31 December is expected to have little impact on the strengthened European gas market.

The Ukrainian government is not holding official negotiations on extending the transit of Russian gas after the current agreement expires.

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has expressed confidence in the outcome of potential negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to ensure the continued supply of Russian gas to several European countries through Ukrainian territory.

Ukraine has no intention of extending the gas transit agreement with Russia, which expires at the end of 2024. However, it is open to discussing the transit of gas from other suppliers through its gas transmission system if requested by Europe.

Support UP or become our patron!
(Bloomberg) -- Russias Gazprom PJSC is preparing for a scenario where natural gas flows via Ukraine halt entirely next year.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gazproms plans, which are yet to be approved by management, set out a base-case scenario where no gas transits through Ukraine when the current deal ends at the end of the year, according to a person familiar with the matter. Reuters first reported the news.

Although flows through Ukraine now account for less than 5% of the continents supplies, some central European countries still rely on this supply and have been exploring alternatives, including a deal with Azerbaijan. But with just weeks left to find a solution, no agreement has been reached yet.

Gazprom declined to comment.

With tensions escalating in Ukraine, whether gas flows on Jan. 1 is becoming a political decision. Moscow has maintained its willing to continue to supply gas but Kyiv is reluctant to keep enabling a key source of income for Russia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

European gas markets have been volatile because of the uncertainty about whether an alternative can be agreed to get Russian gas to the region and gas prices in Europe are near their highest level this year. Nations such as Slovakia still depend on the Russian shipments as other supplies, such as liquefied natural gas, would be more expensive.

Should flows stop, replenishing inventories in Europe would be much more difficult next year. Stored fuel is already being used up more rapidly than usual for this time of year after a colder start to winter. Europe, while reducing its dependence on Russian pipeline gas, increasingly depends on imports of LNG from Moscow and also the US.

Slovakia has been pitching back up routes should talks fail. But time is running out with new obstacles emerging.

Austrias OMV AG was cut off from Gazproms supply this month after stopping payments following an arbitration award, and the US sanctioned Gazprombank which handles payments for Russian gas supplies in Europe.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

(Updates detail from fourth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)  The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is looking at crime patterns this year to improve public safety and appropriately fund the right resources across the state of Georgia.

According to the Georgia Uniform Crime Reporting program, a violent crime is committed in Georgia every fifteen minutes.

On average, that includes 9 reported rape cases a day, 2 murders a day and 12 robberies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The most common type of crime in Georgia in 2023 was larceny and motor vehicle theft.

Last year, the GBI was called out to 7,000 investigations across its 15 offices in the state. The most frequent volume of cases are officer involved shootings.

The GBIs director says they want to staff resources like how they expanded the gang prosecution unit to Macon, Columbus and southeast Georgia. Right now they have 900 employees but they want funding to hire more officers due to the 12% retention rate.

I think we are maintaining but there is always a need mostly due to retirements. We want to be able to back fill as quickly as we can. We are always looking to hire and going through different divisions so we dont leave vacant positions too long and thats just to keep our work where it needs to be, said GBI Director, Chris Hosey.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Another goal is to fund GBIs technology which the director says has reduced back logs in auto thefts and burglary cases.

Next year, the GBI will expand its cold case unit and certify two criminal profilers who will identify the personality of a criminal to help identify key suspects in an 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 WJBF.
HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY)  The General Electric Aerospaces 747 is one big plane, and after seeing it, you can understand why it has the nickname, Queen of the Skies.

If youve never been on this plane before, heres the specs: Its more than 230 feet long and has a wing span of nearly 210 feet.

Inside the aircraft, you can see it was converted when GE bought it for research, and thats why its here today.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This week we were up generating contrails, and NASA was flying around, scanning those contrails with a LIDAR instrument as part of our RISE program to help understand how contrails are formed and how our designs in the future can help mitigate them and the potential impacts that they have relative to climate driven, said Nate Kamps, GE Aerospace flight test engineer.

Airplane contrails develop near the engines. When you see a plane creating them, its the leftover water vapor from the process of the engine leaving behind warm and humid air in a cold environment. Its just like on a cold winter day when you see the exhaust smoke from the tailpipe from the car in front of you. Researchers at NASA Langley have partnered with GE to study them using their light detecting and ranging on board the Gulfstream III.

So were using NASAs state of the art high altitude LIDAR, which shoots a laser beam down below the aircraft and measures the light thats scattered back by the atmosphere, said Richard Moore, scientist with NASA Langley Research Center. And so that includes atmospheric layers of moisture that we expect to be conducive for contrail formation.

The flight campaign is over, but scientists will keep studying the data and learn more so we can make our next flight even more efficient.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
After more than a year of war, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock believes a ceasefire between Israel and the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon is "within reach."

At the meeting of the G7 foreign ministers in Italy, Baerbock spoke of progress towards a political solution thanks to direct mediation by the United States and France.

The German government had worked intensively on this with "closely coordinated shuttle diplomacy."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We are at a critical moment right now - perhaps a moment that also gives us hope," said Baerbock at the meeting, which is being held in the small town of Fiuggi in central Italy.

However, hope alone should not be relied upon, she said. Close coordination is particularly important, including between the Group of Seven (G7) democratic industrialized nations and Arab countries.

The minister added: "Giving up, despite setbacks, is simply not an option."
This photo taken on May 10, 2024 shows the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow, Russia. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

MOSCOW/KIEV, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Russia is considering possibly deploying medium-range and short-range missiles in Asia if U.S. missiles appear in the same region, local media reported Monday, citing Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.

"The appearance of such U.S. systems in any region of the world will determine our next steps, including in the field of organizing a military and military-technical response," Ryabkov told reporters when asked whether Russia is considering the possibility of deploying medium-range and short-range missiles in Asia.

The diplomat also said that U.S. bases in Europe, including those where tactical nuclear weapons are deployed, are not excluded as potential targets for Russia in the event of a hypothetical military conflict.

General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Monday announced that the Ukrainian forces launched a series of overnight attacks on "important facilities" in three regions of western Russia.

An oil depot in the Kaluga region was struck during the attack, the General Staff said in a statement on Facebook, adding that outcomes of strikes on other targets in the Bryansk and the Kursk regions are still being assessed. 
German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck reacted with concern to plans for stiff new tariffs from US President-elect Donald Trump, warning on Tuesday that increased costs of imports in the United States would hurt everyone.

Habeck, speaking at a conference with German industrial leaders in Berlin, said he couldn't speculate about what might happen but warned that Trump's tariff plans discussed during the campaign could have serious consequences.

On Monday night, Trump announced that he intends to impose an additional 25% tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada, as well as additional tariffs on trade with China.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Of course, last night's decisions may indicate that this is all meant very seriously," Habeck said on Tuesday.

He called for the European Union to craft a unified response to any new US trade barriers - "not to split into two or three country blocs, but to speak together as Europe."

Trump has also threatened to impose higher tariffs on imports from the EU, which could hit the export-heavy German economy particularly hard.

"We are stronger when we cooperate, and we weaken ourselves when we compete, or compete in such a way that we weaken the economic substance of the other countries," said Habeck.
German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck reacted with concern to plans for stiff new tariffs from US President-elect Donald Trump, warning on Tuesday that increased costs of imports in the United States would hurt everyone.

Habeck, speaking at a conference with German industrial leaders in Berlin, said he couldn't speculate about what might happen but warned that Trump's tariff plans discussed during the campaign could have serious consequences.

On Monday night, Trump announced that he intends to impose an additional 25% tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada, as well as additional tariffs on trade with China.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Of course, last night's decisions may indicate that this is all meant very seriously," Habeck said on Tuesday.

He called for the European Union to craft a unified response to any new US trade barriers - "not to split into two or three country blocs, but to speak together as Europe."

Trump has also threatened to impose higher tariffs on imports from the EU, which could hit the export-heavy German economy particularly hard.

"We are stronger when we cooperate, and we weaken ourselves when we compete, or compete in such a way that we weaken the economic substance of the other countries," said Habeck.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The leader of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), an influential major business lobby group, warned that Trump's tariff talk should be a clear call to action for European leaders.

"Trump's plans for new tariffs have hit North America, Canada, Mexico and China tonight," BDI President Siegfried Russwurm said at the event on Tuesday. "In principle, we could wait for the EU and Germany to appear on the list. That would do us massive damage."

However, Russwurm said he is firmly convinced that Trump's tariff plans would also do massive damage the US economy as well, in addition to increasing the competitive pressure on Germany and Europe.

"That's why this wake-up call must also go to Brussels, including the EU," said Russwurm.
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs is providing an additional 65 million for the repair of Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Source: European Pravda, citing the ministry

The funds will be provided for the repair of Ukraine's energy infrastructure through the Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau ("Credit Institute for Reconstruction", KfW). The funds will be directed to the Energy Support Fund for Ukraine, managed by the Energy Community, which has also received contributions from numerous other international donors since 2022.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Quote: "Ukraines civilian energy infrastructure remains a target of ongoing Russian airstrikes. A collapse in energy supply during the third winter of the war would have disastrous consequences for the Ukrainian economy and its people. Thats why supporting Ukraine is more crucial than ever.

By contributing to the Energy Support Fund for Ukraine, were playing a vital role in maintaining the country's energy supply, ensuring that the people of Ukraine can continue to receive electricity and heating," said Robert Habeck, Germanys Minister for Economic Affairs and Vice Chancellor.

The Energy Support Fund is used to finance spare parts and equipment needed to repair Ukraine's damaged energy infrastructure.

The European Energy Community oversees the procurement of goods through tenders and monitors the use of the funds. This allows Ukrainian energy companies to repair the damaged grid infrastructure and power plants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Germany's contributions are also focused on strengthening the resilience of Ukraines energy system in a sustainable way. Part of the funds is being directed to "green" energy transition projects, which are setting the foundation for the future expansion of Ukraines decentralized energy system.

Background:

By the end of 2023, Germany had already contributed more than 155 million to the Energy Support Fund. With this new payment, Germanys total contribution will reach 360 million by the end of 2024.

During her visit to Kyiv on 4 November, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also announced an additional 200 million in winter aid for Ukraine.

Support UP or become our patron!
Germany has once again made funds available to repair Ukraine's energy infrastructure, allocating 65 million ($68 million) to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, Germany's Economy Ministry announced on Tuesday.

The fund has been supported by international donors since 2022, following the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of the country.

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck stressed that Ukraine's civilian energy infrastructure continues to be the target of massive Russian air strikes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"A collapse of the energy supply in the third winter of war would have catastrophic consequences for the Ukrainian economy and population," said Habeck.

That makes support for Ukraine more important than ever, he said.

The German funds are not only intended to finance repairs to destroyed infrastructure, but also to promote green energy transition projects in Ukraine. According to the ministry, renewable energy projects are intended to strengthen the resilience of the Ukrainian energy system in the long term.

With the latest payment, Germany's total participation in the fund will rise to 360 million by the end of 2024. Germany remains the largest donor to the fund, which has raised around 629 million since February 2022.
Germany will supply Ukraine with two additional IRIS-T air defense systems, including the medium-range SLM and short-range SLS models, by the end of the year, Major General Christian Freuding, head of the Bundeswehr's Situation Center Ukraine, told journalists in Kyiv on Nov. 25.

"The next IRIS-T SLM (medium-range) and SLS (short-range) systems should arrive in Ukraine in the coming days and weeks, before Christmas," Freuding was quoted as saying. He added that Germanys support for Ukraine would continue beyond Christmas and the Feb. 23 federal elections in Germany.

On Nov. 13, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine would receive the sixth German IRIS-T air defense system by the end of the year following his call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Ukraine will then have a total of seven systems in its arsenal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The IRIS-T is a state-of-the-art surface-to-air missile system designed to counter aircraft, helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles. In September, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced plans to deliver an additional 17 IRIS-T systems, further bolstering Ukraine's defensive capabilities.

Germany has been a key defense partner for Ukraine since the start of Russias full-scale invasion, providing a range of equipment, including IRIS-T and Patriot air defense systems, anti-aircraft and artillery systems, armored vehicles, Leopard tanks, drones, and ammunition.

On Nov. 20, the German government announced a new military aid package featuring howitzers, vehicles, and hundreds of drones.

Read also: Media: EU parliament speaker calls for sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The European Energy Community receives an additional 65 million from Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) to repair Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Source: press service of the BMWK

Details: The Ukraine Energy Support Fund will receive financial support.

Ukraine finances equipment and replacement parts for the damaged energy infrastructure through the Energy Support Fund. The European Energy Community regulates the use of funds and arranges tenders for the acquisition of commodities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is mentioned that Ukrainian energy providers can repair the damaged power plants and network infrastructure in this way.

Quote: "German contributions are also intended to improve the Ukrainian energy system's sustainability in an environmentally friendly manner. In order to do this, a portion of the cash donated is allocated to green energy transition initiatives," the BMWK said.

Additionally, photovoltaic systems and batteries will be installed in vital state buildings (such as hospitals and schools) to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and generators.

Support UP or become our patron!
The number of wild wolf packs confirmed in Germany has risen to 209, according to new figures from the country's Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) published on Tuesday.

In total, 1,601 individual wolves were detected across Germany during the monitoring year, which lasted from May 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024.

In the previous monitoring period from 2022 to 2023, the nationwide number of wolf packs was 184. For the current monitoring year, more than 40,000 reports and pieces of evidence from the states were evaluated.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The current report counted 535 adult wolves, 162 yearlings (wolves in their second year of life) and 781 pups.

In the previous period, a total of 1,339 wolves were counted.

According to the report, the eastern German state of Brandenburg had the most wolf packs with 58, followed by the western state of Lower Saxony (48) and the eastern state of Saxony (37).

The Federal Documentation and Advisory Centre on Wolves (DBBW) was involved in the publication. In addition to the 209 wolf packs, the report found 46 wolf pairs and 19 sedentary individual wolves living in Germany.

Wolf territory in Germany runs in a rough arc across the country from Saxony in the south-east through the states of Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to Lower Saxony in the north-west.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, some wolves have also been confirmed in most other German states as well.

The report said the bodies of 193 wolves were found dead during the monitoring period, and most of them - 150 - were killed in traffic accidents.

Thirteen wolves were intentionally killed illegally during the period.

The BfN also said that five wolves "were removed as part of management measures," but did not provide further details about the removals.
Donald Trump on Nov. 19, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas. - Credit: Brandon Bell/Getty Images

A guitar company touting an endorsement from President-elect Donald Trump has been hit by a cease and desist order from Gibson.

According to Guitar World, the 130-year-old guitar manufacturer confirmed that it had sent the warning to Trump Guitars owner 16 Creative as the design infringes upon Gibsons exclusive trademarks, particularly the iconic Les Paul body shape.

More from Rolling Stone

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Trump Guitars website lists an American Eagle Series inlaid with Trumps campaign slogan Make America Great Again in authentic pearl up the neck of the guitar with the number 45 branded on the headstock.

Although its not clear if Trump owns the company, Trump Guitars claims they have the only guitar officially endorsed by President Donald J. Trump, and the homepage shows the president-elect holding one of the guitars.

One of the acoustic guitars features Trump signing its body, and according to its product page, Only 275 of these beautiful guitars will be signed. While a nonsigned guitar costs $1,250, a six-string baring Trumps signature runs for more than $10,000.

For anyone looking for additional ways to light cash on fire, Trump Guitars also sells the Presidential Series in black, gold, and red finishes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The site also states that the instruments are custom designed and developed by a veteran-owned company with the help of a master luthier. Notably, as Guitar World points out, the FAQ section says that its guitars are manufactured by multiple providers that are both domestic and international, so its quite possible that the guitars branded with the American flag and image of a bald eagle are not entirely made in the U.S.

Best of Rolling Stone

Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
President-elect Donald J. Trump, Gibson Les Paul (Getty Images)

Renowned guitar manufacturer Gibson has sent a cease-and-desist letter to the company behind a new line of guitars endorsed by President-elect Donald J. Trump, Guitar World reports and Pitchfork can confirm. Gibson claims that 16 Creative is selling guitars with designs that infringe upon Gibsons exclusive trademarks, particularly the iconic Les Paul body shape, a representative for Gibson tells Pitchfork.

Last week, Trump proudly shared a photo of himself holding an American Eagle Electric Guitar on his Truth Social account. The guitar, which bears the president-elects Make America Great Again slogan, is sold out, according to the manufacturers website, but had been available for $1,500 (or $11,500, if you wanted one autographed by Trump). The website also sells acoustic guitars, but, as Guitar World points out, it is 16 Creatives electric guitars that most closely resemble the Gibson Les Paul. And, as The Associated Press notes, it is unclear what financial relationship the president-elect has with the guitar company beyond his endorsement.

TULSA, OKLAHOMA - JUNE 20: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the BOK Center, June 20, 2020 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Trump is holding his first political rally since the start of the coronavirus pandemic at the BOK Center today while infection rates in the state of Oklahoma continue to rise. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Musicians Might Be Able to Finally Stop Trump From Using Their Songs

From the Rolling Stones to Rihanna, artists are finding new ways to make the president stop playing their music at campaign events.

Originally Appeared on Pitchfork
Rudy Giuliani lashed out in a federal courtroom after a judge admonished the cash-strapped former New York City mayor for failing to keep up with court orders after he defamed two women with his 2020 election lies.

Inside a Manhattan courthouse Tuesday, Judge Lewis Liman refused to delay an upcoming trial in the case after Giulianis repeated delays, missed deadlines, and failure to show anything close to due diligence around evidence requirements, including turning over the title to a Mercedes Benz he was ordered to send the women.

Giuliani then interrupted the judge, speaking out from the defense table after shaking his head and clicking his pen in frustration.

Former Donald Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani speaks to reporters after leaving a hearing in a case stemming from a blockbuster defamation judgment (REUTERS)

Your implication that Ive not been diligent about it is totally incorrect, he said. Everything I have is tied up. I dont have a car. I dont have a credit card. I dont have cash. I cant get to bank accounts that truly would be mine because they have put stop orders on, for example, my Social Security account.  I dont have a penny, and its been tied up by them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Liman warned Giuliani that he will not be allowed to speak next time, or the court will have to take action.

Hes either represented by counsel, or hes permitted to proceed pro se  he cant have hybrid representation, Liman told his attorney Joseph Cammarata. There should be no higher priority for your client than complying with the courts orders, period.

Liman also ruled that the social calendar surrounding Donald Trumps inauguration is not an excuse for Trumps former attorney to skip an upcoming trial surrounding the case.

A court sketch depicts Giuliani lashing out in court after a federal judge admonished him for failing to stick to court orders in a long-running defamation case. (REUTERS)

Those hearings will deal with Giulianis attempt to exempt his Florida condominium from the list of property he has been ordered to turn over to two former election workers who are trying to collect on a nearly $150 million defamation judgment against him. The hearing will also deal with the fate of Giulianis World Series rings, which he claims to have gifted to his son Andrew.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cammarata  who replaced two attorneys who formally quit on the former mayor on Tuesday morning  asked to postpone any hearings until late January or February, when Trump will be in office, alleging that attorneys for the two women have tried to bombard, seek and destroy his client with multiple legal battles.

There is not enough breathing room for my client, said Cammarata, who accused the women of leading a strategic effort to force Giuliani to defend himself from sanctions and potential incarceration as he faces a contempt hearing in Washington DC for allegedly repeatedly defaming the women again in recent days.

Giuliani cannot start the litigation clock by firing one another and hiring another, Liman said.

A frustrated Giuliani reacts as a federal judge rejects his attempt to delay an upcoming trial in his property turnover case (REUTERS)

A trial date set for January 16 in the court-order enforcement case from Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss will come more than a year after a jury determined that Giuliani defamed the mother-daughter duo with his false claims that they manipulated votes in Georgia in 2020  statements that were amplified in media appearances and in front of state officials.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The women faced an avalanche of harassment and abuse, were forced to leave their homes and effectively went into hiding to avoid threats.

That $148 million judgment prompted Trumps former attorney  who waged a spurious legal campaign to try to overturn his loss in states Joe Biden won  to file for bankruptcy, which has since been dismissed.

With the litigation against him unfrozen, the women have pressed a federal judge in New York to enforce Giulianis property turnover orders, and are in the process of obtaining lines from cash accounts, a 1980 Mercedes convertible, and his Manhattan penthouse apartment, among other items.

Giuliani has been accused of dragging his feet, being lackadaisical at best and intrinsically obstructive at worst, according to Aaron Nathan, an attorney for the defamed women.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last week, Cammarata staged a press conference on a sidewalk outside Nathans law office to blast the defamation verdict as astronomical, unconstitutional and un-American.

Speaking outside a federal courthouse in Manhattan on Tuesday, Giuliani claims he is being punished (REUTERS)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He told Judge Liman that his office has been threatened for taking up the case. The judge wasnt convinced.

To complain that your office is being threatened while youre holding a press conference outside [Nathans law office] is kind of hard to take, Liman said.

Attorneys for the women have also pressed the court to get the bottom of recently discovered bank accounts and LLCs established by his associates who funneled cash to hide his assets from the judge, Nathan said Tuesday.

During a seven-minute press conference outside the courthouse after his outburst inside, Giuliani claimed that he is being punished by the Biden administration for his efforts to publicize the contents of the so-called Hunter Biden laptop.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Judge Liman, who was appointed by Trump, is as left as you get, Giuliani said.

The reality is I have no cash, he said. So right now, if I wanted to call a taxi cab, I cant do it. I dont have a credit card. I dont have a checking account.

Asked whether he regrets the defamatory statements about Freeman and Moss, Giuliani said: I do not regret it for a minute.

I regret the persecution Ive been put through, he said.
KIEV, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Russia launched 188 combat drones at Ukraine in an overnight attack, marking the highest number of drones fired in an attack since the conflict began, the Ukrainian Air Force said on Tuesday.

In addition to drones, Russia fired four Iskander-M ballistic missiles, the air force said in a statement.

The Ukrainian air defense shot down 76 drones across 17 regions, while contact was lost with 96 others. Five drones reportedly crossed Ukraine's border with Belarus, the statement said.

The air force said that critical infrastructure was struck, and private residences sustained damage in the attack.

In the western Ternopil region, the strike damaged a critical infrastructure facility, resulting in power outages in the city of Ternopil and nearby settlements, the regional military administration said.

In the northeastern Sumy region, a "significant number" of drones hit infrastructure facilities in the Shostka community, Shostka Mayor Mykola Noha wrote on Facebook.

Meanwhile, in the Kiev region, which was under air raid alert for seven hours, debris from the intercepted drones damaged two apartment buildings and four private houses, said regional governor Ruslan Kravchenko.

There have been no reports of casualties from the attack so far. 
The News

Welcome to the final edition of our Global Hot List. Its been a jam-packed cycle of elections in 2024. As we near the end, we have one last retrospective of all the most consequential votes that took place. From India, to Mexico, to the UK and the USA, the worlds course was charted in the year that saw more than one billion people cast a ballot.

The List

1. USA  New world order

Donald Trump returning to office is the most consequential election result this year. Trumps victory has reset not only US politics, but world politics, with figures like Francis Fukuyama declaring it a huge blow to liberalism itself. A new Trump administration is set to push all kinds of institutions to their limits: NATO, the trade establishment, even potentially American democracy itself. Time will tell the extent to which Trump is hemmed in by thin majorities in Congress, but expect presidential power to be exerted to the max.

2. India  Even Modi

Global incumbent backlash came for everyone this year  even the seemingly invincible Narendra Modi. Defying projections of a blowout for the Hindu nationalist BJP, Indias opposition scored a respectable result, relegating Modis party beneath a majority for the first time under his leadership. Now the prime minister has been forced to rely on partners in his NDA alliance, and hes ramped up spending in order to shore up support. With Modi uncertain to run again in 2029, for the first time, it seems uncertain that the BJP will maintain its grip on Indian politics. A recent state election in Maharashtra boded well for the BJPs prospects, but a strong challenge from an energized opposition remains on the horizon.

3. Mexico  Defying gravity

The election of Mexicos first woman president stood in defiance to all the worlds trends this year. Claudia Sheinbaum won as the nominee for President AMLOs Morena party, securing 5 million more votes than even he did. With incumbents losing ground around the world, the results were a rare example of a governing party doing better than its last election performance. Sheinbaum, still popular for now, will have a six-year term in office, where she will fight for another exemption from the malaise that has gripped so many other governments.

4. South Africa  Course change

A historic election is rewriting South Africas political culture. Following the stunning loss of its majority in this years legislative elections, South Africas long-ruling African National Congress was forced into dealmaking with opposition parties. A new Government of National Unity emerged that is composed of the ANC, the Democratic Alliance, and several smaller conservative parties. Left out of the arrangement is the Progressive Caucus of mostly left-wing parties, including the Spear of the Nation movement led by former president Jacob Zuma, and an insurgent Marxist party, the Economic Freedom Fighters.

5. Japan  Down, not out

Japans long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party lost its majority for only the third time in its history. For the LDP, the results were about as bad as could be expected, as the party clocked in below 200 seats in lower house elections. But dont expect a sea-change in governance. The balance of parliament overall is still firmly on the right, and voters still prefer the LDP to remain in power given the lack of a majority for a workable alternative.

6. Pakistan  Wrath of Khan

A vote decried by political opposition as rigged has set the stage for years of turmoil in Pakistan. Former prime minister Imran Khan remains in prison after being ousted from office and convicted of corruption charges. Despite his sentence, Khans party managed an upset result in parliamentary elections, which supporters and even an elected official say were manipulated to understate his support. Khan remains the major dividing line in Pakistani politics, and his movement is not giving up, continuing their push to free their leader from prison and see him eventually returned to power. Just this week, major protests are showing the continued strength of Khans support.

7. UK  Pendulum swing

One of UK Labours biggest-ever victories is already being unwound by incumbent backlash. Labour won more than 400 seats in an election that crystallized discontent with 14 years of Tory governance in the country. Labour wont be up for re-election until 2029, but already the wheels have come off their support, as Conservatives have taken a lead in some polls, and the nationalist Reform UK party led by Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage remains prominent with double digit backing.

8. France  Paris burning

An inexplicable French snap election has only led to more governing headaches. President Macron called the election supposedly hoping to take advantage of chaos among his opposition. The actual outcome was a scramble to stop the far-right, and historic victory for a left led by firebrand candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon. In creating a governing arrangement, however, Macron opted for an uneasy dependence on support from Marine Le Pens far-right party  which has already threatened to pull the plug on his increasingly unpopular government.

9. Senegal  Decolonial mandate

Senegals election shows how decolonial politics are gaining ground across Africa. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, elected as president earlier this year, called a snap election to shore up support for his agenda, and was given a clear mandate for policies that have taken aim at the lingering impact of colonial exploitation. Across the continent in countries like Namibia and South Africa, similar movements have gained ground, and a wave of coups has led to reversals in foreign policy towards former colonial powers like France.

Notable

Romanias upcoming presidential election could have massive implications for the EU. The vote pits a center-right reformist in a surprise match-up against a far-right candidate who has been termed an agent of Russian interests.
Service members participating in operations against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen are now authorized to receive the Global War on Terrorism Service and Expeditionary Medals, according to a Pentagon spokesperson.

In a June 18 memo, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Ronald T. Keohane stated personnel involved in three Red Sea missions combating Houthi rebels  Operations Prosperity Guardian, Poseidon Archer and Pandora Throttle  were qualified for the award.

The Global War on Terrorism Service and Expeditionary Medals were signed into existence in 2003 through an executive order by President George W. Bush. The Expeditionary Medal is for service members mobilized to a specific unit, while the Service Medal is for personnel who directly or indirectly supported operations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

How one warship thwarting a Houthi attack a year ago changed the Navy

The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal was considered an essentially automatic award for troops since its introduction in 2003, with the Army, for example, stating in 2004 that all active duty troops who served after Sept. 11, 2001, deserved the award because theyd all served in some way in support of GWOT.

However, eligibility for the award has narrowed over the years. Eligibility requirements were amended so that troops had to serve 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days in support of a Global War on Terrorism-focused deployment, and in 2022, the Defense Department restricted the award further to service members who directly served in a designated military [counter-terrorism] operation for at least 30 days.

For Houthi operations, the area of eligibility for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal includes total airspace, land area, territorial waters, and boundaries of the Southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Bab A-l Mandeb Strait, according to the June 18 memo.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The U.S. military has been engaged against the Houthis since Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack against Israel, as U.S. warships and fighter jets have destroyed Houthi missiles and drones targeting civilian and military ships in the Red Sea and U.S. bombers have struck targets in Yemen.

In April, the Navy authorized combat awards and devices for sailors serving in the Red Sea area. Sailors from the destroyer Carney and the Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group have received the Combat Action Ribbon for their efforts to stop Houthi attacks during Middle East deployments.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  The Goodwill Industries of Arkansas and the Little Rock School District Early Childhood Department are joining forces to support early childhood education and workforce development.

Officials with the Goodwill Industries of Arkansas said the partnership will focus on expanding access to quality early childhood education, enhancing professional development opportunities and fostering a supportive learning environment for children and adults.

The LRSD and Goodwill partnership will provide families the support needed to make their dreams a reality, Ester Jones, director of Early Childhood Programs for the Little Rock School District, said. We will work together to find pathways for families to connect to the appropriate resources and ensure their children receive a quality education.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Little Rock School District outlines plans for federal magnet school grant

Officials said the partnership will provide employees and Excel Center students an opportunity to pursue careers in early education and obtain Child Development Associate certifications, professional early childhood development training and more.

Were thrilled to partner with LRSD to create a clear pathway for our employees and Excel Center students to pursue careers in early childhood education, GIA Sr. vice president and chief mission officer Edie Stewart said. One of the most beneficial wrap-around services provided by The Excel Center is our drop-in center that provides free childcare. This partnership not only benefits our students but maybe more significantly impacts their children who are seeing the importance of education being modeled by their parents.

Goodwill Industries of Arkansas receives nearly $500,000 grant to provide mental health training focused on youth

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To learn more about Goodwill Industries of Arkansas, visit GoodwillAR.org. For more information on the Little Rock School District, visit LRSD.org.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Google wrapped up the tech giants second antitrust trial in two years Monday, as the company seeks to fend off monopoly allegations in the advertising technology space.

After a relatively brief two-week trial in September, the two sides reconvened in U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkemas Alexandria, Va., courtroom for closing arguments, offering competing visions of how ad tech functions and Googles role.

This case is about two different versions of reality, DOJ lawyer Julia Tarver Wood said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The lawsuit, which was originally filed in 2023, centers on the tools used by website publishers and advertisers to sell and buy ad space online.

The DOJ identified three different markets  one for publishers to sell their ad space, one for advertisers to buy and place ads and one connecting publishers and advertisers. The agency argues that Google has a monopoly over all three markets.

Google is once, twice, three times a monopolist, DOJ lawyer Aaron Teitelbaum said Monday.

The government alleges that the tech giant achieved its dominant position by eliminating competitors through acquisitions, and then using this dominance to force more publishers and advertisers to use its services.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Google, on the other hand, argues that there is one, two-sided market between publishers and advertisers that extends well beyond online ads to include ads on apps, social media and connected television.

Within this market, the tech giant says it faces stiff competition from the likes of Microsoft, Meta, Amazon and TikTok.

To side against Google would mean overturning Supreme Court precedent, Google lawyer Karen Dunn said. She argued that the DOJ is attempting to make Google deal with its rivals, which would be at odds with the 2004 Supreme Court decision in Verizon v. Trinko.

She also pointed to the 2018 decision in Ohio v. American Express, in which the court ruled that the credit card industry consisted of a single, two-sided market.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Brinkema appeared skeptical of that argument, suggesting that the Google case appears to be a completely different setup. However, she also pushed back against the DOJs assertion of three distinct markets in the ad tech space.

The judge will ultimately decide the case, which received a bench trial after Google submitted a $2.3 million check in June to cover potential damages.

The decision in the ad tech case could be crucial for Google, which suffered a major loss in August when a federal judge found that it maintained an illegal monopoly over online search.

The DOJ has asked the judge in the search case to order Google to sell off its Chrome business, arguing that the tech giants ownership and control of the browser stands in the way of its efforts to open up the market.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kent Walker, Googles chief legal officer and president of global affairs, called the potential breakup a staggering proposal, contending that it goes well beyond the decision in the case and would break Googles products.

In both cases, the tech giant has come under scrutiny over its handling of internal communications.

Google has faced accusations that it destroyed relevant evidence due to its practices of automatically deleting instant messages and relying on employees to turn off this feature when facing litigation. Some have also suggested the tech giant overused legal privilege to shield documents.

At the ad tech trial, Brinkema lamented that an awful lot of evidence has likely been destroyed, according to The New York Times.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, Google argued in a statement to the Times that it has responded comprehensively to inquiries and litigation over the years, producing millions of documents in the DOJs two antitrust cases.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox announced on Tuesday how Utah will assist President-elect Donald Trump in his plans to deport migrants who break the law after entering the country illegally.

Trump said he will implement the largest mass deportation program in U.S. history. During his reelection campaign, Trump alternated between promises to deport all migrants who have entered the country illegally  at least 11 million people  and promises to focus on those migrants with criminal behavior.

During an August campaign event at the southern border in Arizona, Trump said in response to a question from the Deseret News that his deportation agenda will depend on local law enforcement identifying and turning over migrants to the federal government who will then return them to their countries of origin.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cox, a frequent critic of President Joe Bidens handling of border security, signaled his support for Trumps plans to deport migrants who commit crime in a press release on Tuesday.

As he has in the past, Cox pushed for a balanced view of immigration enforcement that combines the importance of strengthened border security and the value of streamlined work visa programs to meet the states needs.

Utah will continue to be known as a place that welcomes refugees and migrants who enter the country legally, Cox said.

We have zero tolerance, however, for those who demonstrate a threat to public safety while in the country illegally, Cox said. Federal immigration authorities have failed in their duty to the American people and theyve left states and localities to independently manage the fallout of those failures. Were grateful to have an administration coming in who will take these problems seriously.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cox proposed five policy priorities to increase coordination with federal and local partners to identify and deport more illegal immigrants who have committed crimes and pose a threat to public safety.

The priorities, which will be pursued in a joint effort with the Utah Department of Public Safety and the Utah Department of Corrections, include:

Adding checkpoints where those who have been arrested for a crime can be identified as migrants who entered the country illegally. Develop additional trainings for local and state authorities to turn over migrants with criminal behavior to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Collaborate with the states new fentanyl task force to address fentanyl distribution conducted by migrants in the state illegally. Work with the Utah Legislature to pass policies related to criminal behavior by migrants who have entered the country illegally. Cooperate with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to reduce regulatory obstacles to identifying, housing and deporting migrants who have committed crimes.

When it comes to immigration policy, the safety of Utah residents is my top priority, Cox said in the press release.

Costs of the border crisis

Cox has repeatedly argued that the Biden administrations policies of decreasing thresholds for asylum claims and allowing migrants to await court hearings in the interior of the country  policies which Biden has tightened up or reversed in the final months of his presidency  have contributed to every state being a border state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Migrants who entered the country illegally make up around 4.6% of Utahs prison population, Coxs press release said, costing Utahns upwards of $16 million every year. The majority of crimes committed by these inmates are sex offenses and murder, the statement said.

They also include drug distribution and gang activity. More than half of the drug-related felony offenses committed this year along the Jordan River Trail were committed by migrants who had entered the country illegally. And members of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua were identified in Utah this last spring.

Over the last four years, Utah law enforcement has run into multiple problems with Bidens ICE agents refusing to find additional detention space in the state for arrested migrants and releasing migrants back into Utah communities after they were turned over to ICE by state law enforcement.

ICE officers are briefed outside of the ICE office in Murray in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010. | Kristin Murphy

Many Utah communities have been impacted by increased levels of immigration. The southwest corner of Salt Lake Valley has been especially affected, as schools there deal with increased numbers of English language learners and county courts have had to increase budgets to address migrant criminal activity.

State Legislature respond to Coxs announcement

In response to Coxs call for state legislative action on migrant crime, Utahs House Republican supermajority told the Deseret News it is working on a package of bills to address the public safety impacts of illegal immigration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While the details are still being worked through, we know for certain that we must act to address the strain on Utahs communities, public safety resources, and education system, House majority whip Karianne Lisonbee, R-Clearfield, said in a statement.

The bill package will include policies to deter human and drug trafficking and other criminal activity that endangers Utah residents, according to Lisonbee. We appreciate Gov. Coxs partnership and look forward to working with the incoming Trump administration to address this critical issue.

Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, said Utahs tradition of finding collaborative solutions to difficult problems does not mean the state should not pursue tough-on-crime policies as they relate to immigration.

The rise in fentanyl distribution and gang activity is devastating families and communitiesand it can not be tolerated. We must continue to tackle crime, drug trafficking and gang violence to protect Utahns, Adams told the Deseret News in a statement. Strengthening coordination among federal, state and local agencies will reduce the financial burden on taxpayers and ensure that those who break the law are held accountable.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The state legislatures Democratic leadership expressed worry that Coxs announcement did not do enough to distinguish between those who commit crimes and those seeking better lives for themselves and their families.

Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, and House Minority Leader Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, responded to Coxs policy initiatives by saying lawmakers need to work to increase trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities to ensure victims feel safe reporting crimes.

The governors announcement raises serious concerns about equating immigration with criminality and scapegoating undocumented communities, Escamilla and Romero said in a joint statement. While we all want to hold criminals accountable and ensure public safety, this approach risks creating fear and misrepresenting undocumented individuals, many of whom contribute significantly to Utahs economy, culture, and workforce.

Jennie Murray, president and CEO of the National Immigration Forum, shared the same concern that Coxs initiatives could expand beyond a focus just on those migrants who have committed crimes and pose a threat to public safety.

Enforcement resources should focus on removing bad actors to make our communities safer, Murray told the Deseret News in a statement. The governors policy seems reasonable, but well be watching how its implemented.
Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday announced plans to open another juvenile rehabilitation facility in Washington  a proposal that he cast as necessary amid an avalanche of new offenders.

Inslee shared the proposal during a news conference at the Green Hill School in Chehalis. Since last year, Green Hill has experienced a 60% spike in its youth population.

The states other juvenile detention center in Snoqualmie has also dealt with unsustainable overcrowding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Weve had, essentially, you might call it a juvenile crime wave thats going on in the last couple of years in the state of Washington, Inslee told reporters, adding that it was unpredicted and unpredictable.

The outgoing governor joined leaders from the Department of Children, Youth and Families in discussing the proposal that theyll send to lawmakers early next year.

The new facility, on the grounds of the Stafford Creek Corrections Center in Aberdeen, would feature a program aimed at building peer-mentorship and leadership skills, according to a DCYF fact sheet provided at the news conference. Young people would then [transition] back to Green Hill where they will be able to secure a position using those skills.

Vocational and higher-educational programming, as well as cognitive-behavioral treatment, would be offered, the one-page information sheet says.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The new facility would help up to 48 men ages 18 to 25, the governor has said. The goal is to open the site in February.

DCYF would operate, staff and maintain the new juvenile justice center, Inslee said.

Avalanche of new offenders

More than 230 youth have been housed at Green Hill since this fall, pushing the center roughly 30% above its 180-person capacity, according to a post Monday on Inslees Medium page.

Juveniles can now stay at detention centers until they turn 25 because of recent legislation, as noted by the Washington State Standard. The move keeps them out of prison but has led to a booming population at these facilities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Inslee said Monday that the plan to open the Aberdeen site is a short-term fix to an uptick in arrests.

The fact of the matter is were getting just an avalanche of new juvenile offenders that are being sent to the states juvenile justice system, Inslee said.

The overcrowding hasnt been great for Green Hill.

The facility has seen an increase in crimes such as assault and drug possession, plus overdoses and riots, according to The Chronicle. Some 228 aggressive acts have unfolded in such centers across Washington as of July 23.

Yet Inslee cited recent improvements at Green Hill during Mondays event, including an 80% reduction in assaults over the past several months.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

State Rep. Tana Senn told McClatchy on Monday that the rise in juvenile crime isnt unique to Washington. Its also unfolding nationwide. Fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has played a role in this problem, as have mental health and poverty.

DCYF handles child care, child welfare and juvenile justice but misses a gap in between, Senn said.

Once a child is 12 and no longer has child care, we dont see them again unless they get in trouble, the Mercer Island Democrat added.

Children need continued support, be it via after-school and enrichment activities or mentorship, she said.

Because most crime happens between the hours of 3 and 6. And what is that? That is after-school time, Senn said. So, we could help kids and help crime at the same time.

Staff burning out

While a new juvenile facility would help stem overflow elsewhere, Inslee said it wouldnt be cheap.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The governor did not provide an estimated cost on Monday but plans to unveil a budget proposal next month. The plan comes as Washington is staring down a steep budget shortfall: one between $10 billion and $12 billion.

The Department of Children, Youth and Families has submitted a placeholder budget request between $4.8 million and $9 million, according to the Washington State Standard. Advocates argue that a new facility is crucial for the safety of young residents and staff alike.

Bailey Smith, mental health coordinator at Green Hill, told reporters that overcrowding at the facility has had devastating effects. Its contributed to added stress and self-harming tendencies among youth, about 85% of whom have some type of mental-health need.

Smiths co-worker, Eugene Barkley, echoed those concerns.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Due to the conditions, staff are burning out at an alarming rate, he said. If the staff arent healthy, they cannot serve the residents.

Inslee described juvenile crime as a social issue. Part of it can be traced to the presence of guns. Then theres the mental-health component and disintegration of support systems.

State Sen. Claire Wilson, an Auburn Democrat, said Monday that communities need to focus on prevention efforts.

I believe were one of the only places in the world where you have to do the wrong thing to get what you need to do it right, she said. And we must fix that.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Following a historic wildfire season that brought several mega fires to Oregon, Governor Tina Kotek called for a special legislative session on Tuesday to help cover costs.

The governor called for the session to begin Dec. 12 for lawmakers to appropriate existing funds to state agencies.

The session comes after 2024s wildfire season burned a record 1.9 million acres, exceeding Oregons 10-year average of 640,000 acres per season. The fires also incurred costs upwards of $350 million, according to the governors office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hillsboro DUI driver hits nearly 100 mph driving on rims, police say

While more than half of the costs will be covered by disaster relief from the federal government, Kotek explained the state needs to pay as soon as possible.

The unprecedented 2024 wildfire season required all of us to work together to protect life, land, and property, and that spirit of cooperation must continue in order to meet our fiscal responsibilities, Kotek said in a statement. I am grateful to legislative leaders for coming to consensus that our best course of action is to ensure the states fire season costs are addressed and bills paid by the end of the calendar year.

In her call for a special session, Kotek asked the Oregon legislature for $218 million to be allocated to the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Oregon Department of the State Fire Marshal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Oregon McDonalds employee arrested for alleged theft of $22,000

Fighting wildfires of the magnitude we saw this season required a tremendous level of resources that even wildfire experts couldnt foresee, said House Speaker Julie Fahey (D-West Eugene & Veneta). Now, as we approach the end of the year and the holiday season, we need to make good on our commitments and pay our bills so that the contractors who fought fires in Oregon can be made whole. Convening now will enable us to do so, and to chart a bipartisan path forward to address our states most pressing needs.

Officials said 2024s wildfires destroyed at least 42 homes, 132 structures, and caused severe disruptions and damage to transportation facilities, utility infrastructure, and natural resource economies.

Extreme infernos also hit Gilliam, Grant, Jefferson, Umatilla, Wasco, and Wheeler counties the hardest, injuring 26 civilians and fire responders, and killing an air tanker pilot.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Eye on Northwest Politics

Koteks call for a special session comes after she declared a State of Emergency in response to the wildfire threat in July and invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act for firefighting resources 17 times, marking a state record.

House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby) released a statement reacting to the governors call for a special session, criticizing bureaucratic dysfunction within the Oregon Department of Forestry for being insolvent, after the historic fire season.

We remain committed to fixing whats broken in Oregon. The Governor has responded to closed-door calls for a special session with her announcement today. Good for her. While we have had zero communications from the Governor on this monumental challenge, we are glad to hear she is willing to allow the legislature to work cooperatively to fix her insolvent agencys problems, for the first time in the press. Evidently, the Governor will be communicating via press release rather than a phone call. That is her prerogative, Drazan said in a press release.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Republican leader added, Despite this bizarre approach to leadership, Republicans welcome the opportunity to solve this problem by ensuring the people who work to protect Oregon communities during wildfire season are paid for their service, Drazan added. This bi-partisan legislative call for a special session will immediately address those compensation needsmany of which are months in arrears.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
RALEIGH  Governor Roy Cooper pardoned two turkeys, Ethel and Bertha, from the Thanksgiving table at the North Carolina Turkey Pardon Ceremony at the Executive Mansion. The governor was joined by NC Poultry Federation executive director Bob Ford, MANNA FoodBank CEO Claire Neal, and Representatives from Prestage Farms, according to a press release from the governor's office.

On Thanksgiving, we take the time to appreciate all we have and thank those who have helped us. This year, we have witnessed the strength, resilience and kindness of our communities as we work to help those in Western North Carolina, said Cooper. I am thankful for all those who have donated their time and support to Western North Carolina, including Prestage Farms and their generous donation to MANNA FoodBank.

North Carolina has a strong and productive agricultural community that feeds people in this state and beyond, said Scott Prestage, vice president of Prestage Farms turkey division. We are proud to be a member of that community and today, we are grateful for this special opportunity to partner with Manna Food Bank and their strong network of organizations to provide turkey products to support our neighbors in western North Carolina.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We are deeply grateful to Governor Cooper, his staff, and Prestage Farms for their incredible generosity in making this gift possible for our neighbors in need across Western North Carolina, said Claire Neal, CEO of MANNA FoodBank. As we continue recovering from the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene, this donation of turkey breasts will ensure that thousands of families across the 16 counties we serve can share a holiday meal with their loved ones. Everyone deserves not only the essential food and resources they need but also the opportunity to experience the joy and togetherness of the holiday season. Thanks to this partnership, we can bring comfort and nourishment to our neighbors during a time when its needed most.

"North Carolina is ranked # 2 in turkey production. It's an integral part of the state economy employing close to 11,000 people across the state and generating an additional 26,000 jobs in ancillary industries, said NC Poultry Federation executive director Bob Ford. Thanksgiving is a special time of year when we give thanks and celebrate the bounty of all of North Carolina's Agricultural commodities. We especially want to thank Governor Cooper for his support and official pardon of this year's official NC Thanksgiving turkey."

Ethel and Bertha are 23-week-old hens from Sampson County and weigh 26 and 28 pounds, respectively. After the ceremony, the turkeys will retire at Naylor Family Farm in Fuquay-Varina, according to the press release.

Prestage Farms announced they are donating nearly 3,000 turkey breasts, about 27,000 pounds, to MANNA FoodBank in Asheville to support Western North Carolina, according to the press release.
BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. business leader on Tuesday called for concerted efforts to guarantee supply chain stability in the face of increasing challenges in the world, saying "a stable and predictable business environment serves everyone's interests."

"We need to ensure that our trade policies and our business environments reflect the spirit of cooperation and progress that we've worked so hard to achieve," Sean Stein, the incoming president of the U.S.-China Business Council, said here at the second China International Supply Chain Expo.

China and the United States should prioritize establishing greater certainty in economic interactions, Stein said in his speech at the opening of the expo, stressing "it's essential for us to support ongoing trade and collaboration."

Stein's words came amid growing tension in economic ties between the world's two largest economies, with tariff hikes on Chinese-made electric vehicles and U.S. investment restrictions over sectors like chips, AI and quantum computing against China.

Despite the headwinds, the ongoing expo in China's capital, which runs from Tuesday to Saturday, has attracted more businesses compared with the inaugural expo held last year, in particular attendees from the United States. Foreign exhibitors accounted for 32 percent of the total, compared with 26 percent a year earlier, with U.S. companies contributing the largest share.

The expo is expected to further strengthen global consensus on industrial and supply chain cooperation, helping businesses from across the world integrate more effectively into the global supply chain, according to the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the organizer of the expo.

Apple CEO Tim Cook on Monday visited the booth of Apple's four Chinese suppliers at the expo and highlighted the significance of China in the Apple supply chain. "I am so proud that Apple has an exhibit here with our partners. We could not do what we do without them," he said.

Stein's Tuesday speech communicated a similar stance on global supply chain cooperation as he emphasized how interconnectedness has helped "support innovation, sustain jobs, and uphold and uplift communities, not just in the United States and China, but around the world."

Stein recognized China's efforts in the area, such as policies to create "a unified national market in which companies from all over the world can thrive."

Stein called on businesses to leverage the expo as a platform to deepen dialogues, explore new opportunities and strengthen commercial plans.

"Only by maintaining these open channels of communication, building trust, can we collectively rise to meet the new challenges and reaffirm our commitment to fostering a stable and collaborative global trading environment," he said. 
The boat Sea Story that sank off the Egyptian coast apparently crashed in heavy waves in the Red Sea.

A large wave hit the boat and caused it to capsize, the governor responsible for the region, Amr Hanafi, wrote on Facebook.

He referred to descriptions given by the crew and tourists after the accident. The multi-storey Sea Story capsized within minutes and some did not make it out of their cabins in time. The boat had no technical defects and had all the necessary permits, including an inspection in the spring, explained Hanafi.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hanafi also explained that 16 of a total of 44 people on board the Sea Story were still missing. Previously, there was talk of 17 missing people out of a total of 45 people on board.

According to the Foreign Office in Berlin, there are also Germans among the missing passengers.

Hanafi previously said that four Germans and two Swiss people were on board, as well as around 20 holidaymakers from other European countries. The search for the missing people continues.

Since the accident, 28 survivors have been rescued following an emergency call early Monday morning. Another tourist boat picked up some of them, Hanafi explained. "All of the rescued passengers are doing well," Hanafi said in his statement.

They have been accommodated in a hotel in Marsa Alam and work is being done with the help of the various embassies to get them documents for their journey home.
GRANBY, Conn. (WTNH)  Granby police say a local man was arrested this week after allegedly fleeing from police during a traffic stop.

The incident happened when police were dispatched to Hartford Avenue around 9:49 p.m. Monday, where a driver was reportedly failing to stay in their lane.

Vehicle causes damages to houses garage in Granby

A Granby police officer located the swerving vehicle and stopped it, but the suspect allegedly drove away as the officer approached.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Later, the driver was found in Southwick, Massachusetts, with assistance from the Southwick Police Department.

Ricky Lynn Sweeney, 49, was charged with engaging police in pursuit, interfering with an officer, and failure to maintain lane.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Nov. 25GRAND FORKS  The Grand Forks City Council reviewed bids for improvements at the Central and Corporate parking ramps during its Committee of the Whole meeting Monday night.

The council recommended approving the $1,572,800 bid from Western Construction Group for repairs to the ramps to ensure they last well into the future. The bid was 33% lower than the estimate Houston Engineering made for the project, meaning the city will pursue replacing the Central Ramp's elevator in a separate bid package.

"This is good news. We don't always have good bids that come in," Planning and Community Development Director Ryan Brooks told the council. Brooks also told the council the elevator bid would be next on the to-do list.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most of the work is concentrated in the Corporate Ramp, with repairs to concrete and structural ties. Going forward, the city hopes to avoid having to do large capital repairs all at once for the ramps and instead spread out the repair work. The city budgeted $1.98 million in the 2025 budget for repairs to the ramp and

also began doing annual transfers into the parking ramp capital fund to fund future projects.

The city is transferring funds from economic development, starting at $50,000 a year with transfers growing to $100,000 a year by 2030. City staff members hope to make the ramps self-sufficient in the future. Earlier this year, rates at the ramps were raised

for the first time since 2015

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

.

According to a September 2023 condition assessments on the ramps, both ramps are in good condition structurally but need maintenance to preserve long-term use. Both ramps have deteriorated from the North Dakota winters and water seepage. At that time, it was estimated that the Corporate Ramp needed more than $682,000 in repairs and the Central Ramp needed more than $283,000, not including potential design and engineering costs incurred.

This isn't the only parking ramp project underway in Grand Forks. The Grand Forks County Ramp

was closed for much of the summer for a $3 million rehabilitation project.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A potential property swap between the city and county, as the county has limited capital funds, was discussed but ultimately went nowhere due to the costs of the rehabilitation. To fund it, the county used American Rescue Plan dollars.

In other news, the council:

* Reviewed the city's 2025 North Dakota legislative priorities.

Much is the same as the 2023 session, with emphasis

on "prairie dog" infrastructure funding being moved ahead in priority and ending administrative fees for 911 operations that phone companies charge.

* Reviewed the 2025 Arts Regrant program. This is the second year the city has administered the disbursement of funds. A total of $159,135 will be given to 17 organizations.
MORAVIAN FALLS, N.C. (WGHP)  A man is facing a charge of murder after being accused of killing his 86-year-old grandmother, according to the Alexander County Sheriffs Office.

At around 9:18 p.m. on Monday, the Alexander County 911 center got a call from a concerned family member requesting a welfare check at a home on the 100 block of Russel Gap Road in Moravian Falls.

When deputies arrived at the home, no one answered the door. They made their way inside and found 86-year-old Betty Kerley Tedder dead inside the home.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Investigators say that Tedder was suffering from apparent trauma.

Deputies later found 39-year-old Nathan Lee Lowe inside the home. He was arrested and charged with murder as well as malicious conduct by a prisoner.

Nathan Lowe (Alexander County Sheriffs Office)

Lowe is being held without bond and will make his first appearance in court on Dec. 2.

Investigators say that Lowe is Tedders grandson.

According to North Carolina Department of Adult Correction records, Lowe served three years in prison from Feb. 2021 to April 2024 and is currently on post-release parole.

Inmate release records from the department of correction show that Lowe was released on parole or a return to parole on April 3, 2024.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Records also show that Lowe was convicted on a charge of felony breaking and entering on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. Lowe was given a suspended sentence and probation for a period of 24 months.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP.
(FOX40.COM)  A Granite Bay man was arrested on Friday and is facing felony charges in connection to his alleged actions during the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, according to the United States District Attorneys Office.

The 45-year-old man is said to have walked with a large crowd of people to the U.S. Capitol building after attending the Stop the Steal Rally, according to court reports.

Once arriving at the Capitols West Front, the man is said to have then made his way to the front of the crowd and joined the rest of the rioters in taking down barricades and pushing past law enforcement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Video footage allegedly shows the man grabbing a bike rack at the front of the police line and ripping it away from an officer.

Marysville family rescues woman trapped underwater after rollover car crash in canal

When rioters rushed through the first police line at 2:28 p.m., the man is said to be seen moving with them where he allegedly grabbed an officers arm.

During the push towards the Capitol, the man tripped on a step and had an officer fall on him after they were shoved by a rioter, according to the district attorneys office.

At this point the man is alleged to have gotten back up and lunged at an officer, causing other officers to hit the man with their batons.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The officers attacks did not stop the man who is said to have then turned around and with the help of another rioter shoved their backs into an officer, pushing them into an elevated platform on the West Plaza.

Bodies found in American River where two men went missing

At 2:56 p.m., the man is said to have been seen in a passageway known as The Tunnel as rioters threw objects at the officers.

The man allegedly worked with rioters to push through the police line and at 3 p.m. he is said to have helped pass a police riot shield from the entrance of the Tunnel to other rioters.

Shortly after, the man allegedly made his way to the front of the rioters where he helped in another attempt to push back the officers for several minutes before leaving the Tunnel.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The man is facing felony charges of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and civil disorder.

Additionally, he is facing five misdemeanor charges of:

 Entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds

 Disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds

 Engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds

 Disorderly conduct in a Capitol building

 Act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings

This case is being investigated by the FBIs Sacramento and Washington Field Offices. Assistance was provided by the United States Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
The time has arrived for desert-dwellers staying in Phoenix for Thanksgiving to brag about their food comas by the pool as friends and family from the north head to dinner in the cold.

While it wont be the warmest Thanksgiving in Phoenix  that was in 2017, 2014 and 1950 when temperatures reached 87 degrees  meteorologists predict a high of 74 degrees. Thats five degrees above normal for the date, continuing a warmer-than-usual trend this fall.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts below-average temperatures for the Pacific Northwest and Midwest this week and above-average precipitation for much of the country, potentially complicating holiday plans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In Phoenix, the low temperature will be in the 50s, with no chance of rain.

We have no weather concerns over Thanksgiving and into the weekend, said Alex Young, lead meteorologist for the National Weather Service Phoenix.

Temperatures will remain in the mid-70s through the holiday weekend, still above normal and partly cloudy.

For those heading up to Flagstaff for holiday festivities, itll be much cooler. Thanksgiving Day highs will be in the mid to upper 40s, with lows in the 20s. Although there is a slight chance of rain and snow on Wednesday night, the rest of the week should be dry.

Talking turkey: What's the weather like on Thanksgiving? Mild and dry, except in years when it's not

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Popular Thanksgiving road-trip destinations like San Diego and Las Vegas will also be moderately warm and sunny.

The high temperature on Thanksgiving day in San Diego will be 69 degrees with lows in the 50s, and Las Vegas will range from a 61-degree high to a 42-degree low.

And if you're wondering when to plan that poolside call home on Thursday, temperatures this time of year usually hit their peak between 2 and 3 p.m.

Hayleigh Evans writes about extreme weather and related topics for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Email her with story tips at hayleigh.evans@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Warm temperatures, sunny skies forecast for Thanksgiving in Phoenix
Jupiters immense sizeabout 1,000 Earths could fit inside of itand its swirling and jiggly Great Red Spot typically get most of the attention. Now, the planets northern and southern poles have entered the discussion. A team of astronomers have discovered equally large spots at both poles that appear and disappear seemingly at random. The findings are detailed in a study published November 26 in the journal Nature Astronomy.

The dark UV ovals were first detected by NASAs Hubble Space Telescope during the late 1990s at the north and south poles. During the Cassini spacecrafts flyby of Jupiter in 2000, it also confirmed these ovals at Jupiters north pole, but the ovals did not get a lot of attention from scientists.

Newsletter background image

Get the Popular Science newsletter

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Email address Sign up Thank you!

By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Eventually, study co-author University of California, Berkeley undergraduate Troy Tsubota conducted a systematic study of recent Hubble images and found that the ovals were a common feature at the south pole. He counted eight southern UV-dark ovals between 1994 and 2022. In all 25 of Hubbles maps that show Jupiters north pole, Tsubota and Berkeley astronomer and co-author Michael Wong found only two northern UV-dark ovals.

The spots are shaped like ovals that are about the size of our planet and are only visible at ultraviolet wavelengths. They are embedded in layers of stratospheric haze at Jupiters top and bottom, similar to the northern and southern lights on Earth. Since the spots absorb more UV light than the surrounding area, they look dark on images taken by Hubble. In annual images of Jupiter taken by Hubble between 2015 and 2022, a dark UV oval appears about 75 percent of the time at its south pole. Dark ovals appear in only one of the eight images taken of the north pole.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the team, these dark UV ovals are a hint that some unusual processes are taking place in Jupiters strong magnetic field. This field spreads down to the poles and deep into the planets atmosphere, much deeper than the magnetic processes that can create auroras here on Earth.

Most of the Hubble images had been captured as part of the Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) by Amy Simon, a planetary scientist at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and a co-author of the study. OPAL astronomers use Hubble to make yearly observations of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune in order to understand their atmospheric dynamics and evolution over time.

In the first two months, we realized these OPAL images were like a gold mine, in some sense, and I very quickly was able to construct this analysis pipeline and send all the images through to see what we get, Tsubota, now a senior at Berkley, said in a statement. Thats when we realized we could actually do some good science and real data analysis and start talking with collaborators about why these show up.

The team at Berkeley then consulted two experts on planetary atmospheres to help them determine what might be causing these areas of dense haze: study co-authors Tom Stallard from Northumbria University in the United Kingdom and Xi Zhang at the University of California, Santa Cruz. According to Stallards theory, the dark oval is likely stirred from above by a vortex that is created when Jupiters magnetic field lines experience friction in two very distant locations. The friction could be happening in the ionospherewhere spinning motion has been detected with ground-based telescopesand in the sheet of ionized plasma that surrounds its moon Io.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The vortex spins fastest in the ionosphere and weakens as it reaches each deeper layer. Similar to a tornado hitting dusty ground, the deepest extent of the vortex riles up the hazy atmosphere to create the dense spots on the poles. Its not clear if the mixing dredges up more haze from below or creates additional debris. The team suspects that the ovals form over the course of roughly one month and dissipates in a couple of weeks.

[Related: Jupiters Great Red Spot keeps shrinking.]

The haze in the dark ovals is 50 times thicker than the typical concentration which suggests it likely forms due to swirling vortex dynamics rather than chemical reactions triggered by high-energy particles from the upper atmosphere, Zhang said in a statement. Our observations showed that the timing and location of these energetic particles do not correlate with the appearance of the dark ovals.

According to the team, these results reinforce that OPAL can help us learn how the atmospheric dynamics in the solar systems giant planets differ from what we know on Earth.

Studying connections between different atmospheric layers is very important for all planets, whether its an exoplanet, Jupiter or Earth, Wong said in a statement. We see evidence for a process connecting everything in the entire Jupiter system, from the interior dynamo to the satellites and their plasma torii to the ionosphere to the stratospheric hazes. Finding these examples helps us to understand the planet as a whole.
CENTRAL, La. (BRPROUD)  A local roadway in Central has become a safety concern for residents and city officials.

Greenwell Springs Road, a busy stretch between Denham Springs and Hooper Road, has become a hotspot for accidents, including some deadly crashes in recent months. Now, local police and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) are working to address the dangers and prevent further tragedies.

Chief Roger Corcoran of the Central Police Department said speeding and distracted driving are major contributors to the crashes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This vehicle here is clearly not going 45 miles an hour, but were going to write those people tickets, Corcoran said while standing near the roadway.

In addition to enforcing speed limits, Corcoran is urging drivers to be especially cautious during the busy holiday season.

Slow down, please, said Corcoran. This is the holiday season. Were going to have extra people coming through here, and Im going to try to put extra officers out there.

DOTD officials emphasized that wearing seatbelts is a simple but critical step to save lives.

We can reduce by at least 40% the number of fatalities if we would all just wear our seatbelts, said Rodney Mallett, Public Information Director for DOTD.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While immediate safety measures are underway, DOTD has announced long-term plans to improve the road itself. A nearly $2 million project is set to begin in 2025, targeting safety upgrades along 20 miles of Greenwell Springs Road.

Were going to install some safety features to our rural roads. Greenwell Springs is part of that, Mallett explained.

Deadline for Louisiana businesses to apply for Small Business Administration disaster loan coming up

Officials stress that reducing accidents on Greenwell Springs Road requires a collaborative effort between authorities and drivers. Police are stepping up patrols, but drivers are urged to follow speed limits, stay alert, and buckle up.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With enforcement and upcoming infrastructure improvements, residents and officials hope to see a safer future for this well-traveled roadway.

Latest News

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com.
VESTAL, NY (WIVT/WBGH)  Witnesses recount a gruesome scene in Vestal yesterday as a large dog attacked and killed a much smaller dog while waiting in line for a veterinary clinic.

Vestal Police were called to the Tractor Supply Company store on the Parkway yesterday afternoon during its weekly PetVet walk-in clinic. Police say an elderly gentleman had his giant mastiff dog on a leash but could not control it.

The large dog attacked a small dog that was also waiting for vet services. The vicious attack shocked those standing in line and the smaller dog was killed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The case was referred to the Vestal Dog Control Officer who will decide whether the mastiffs owner will face any criminal charges and whether there will be any consequences for the dog.

News 34 reached out to Tractor Supply for comment but hasnt received a reply.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34.
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN)  In Springfield, community leaders say that some Haitian families have started to relocate amid high political tension.

Cities like Springfield have been a national focus of immigration, after President-elect Trump called for mass deportation of illegal immigrants across the country.

Officials in Springfield say the local Haitian community is taking action ahead of former President Donald Trump taking office again.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The president of the Haitian Support Center in Springfield says some families have left the city to escape tension among residents, with some entering sanctuary cities like nearby Dayton and Columbus.

Some of them, they relocate in those areas just to follow or observe the unfolding of the situation with the expectation that they can come back if everything gets back to normal, said Viles Dorsainvil, Haitian Support Center president.

Current estimates project nearly 20,000 Haitian migrants living in Springfield, many of whom are benefactors of temporary protected status to live in the U.S.

Dorsainvil says safety is a top priority for families living in the Miami Valley, but many are expressing feelings of anxiety and uncertainty.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We still have some kind of anxiety going on, of fear just because people do not know what will be happening with the upcoming the next administration, said Dorsainvil.

He says the Haitian community stands in solidarity across Ohio, but adds that families who have relocated during this time still hope to move back to the Springfield area.

But I believe if everything gets back on track to normalcy, they will come back to this region, said Dorsainvil.

Those Haitians living in the Springfield under a temporary protection say they are working to apply for permanent living status.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- California Governor Gavin Newsom said on Monday the western U.S. state will step in to provide rebates for zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) buyers if the incoming Trump administration follows through on its threat to eliminate the federal tax credit.

"We will intervene if the Trump administration eliminates the federal tax credit, doubling down on our commitment to clean air and green jobs in California," said Newsom in a statement, noting that "We're not turning back on a clean transportation future -- we're going to make it more affordable for people to drive vehicles that don't pollute."

California, the most populous state in the United States, continues to lead the nation in ZEV adoption, surpassing 2 million electric, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen-powered vehicles sold across the state, home to around 10 million residents, according to the Democratic governor's statement.

In the third quarter of 2024, Californians purchased 115,897 ZEVs, representing 26.4 percent of all new vehicle sales in the state. Over 30 percent of new ZEVs sold in the country are sold in California, Newsom noted.

Newsom's statement pointed out that the state is spending billions to speed ZEV infrastructure deployment, tear down barriers, and deploy infrastructure in hard-to-reach and low-income areas.

The governor said if the Trump administration eliminates the federal tax credit, he will propose creating a new version of the state's successful Clean Vehicle Rebate Program, which was phased out in 2023. The plan has funded more than 594,000 vehicles and saved more than 456 million gallons of fuel.

Under the law, consumers can lower the purchase price of a new electric vehicle by up to 7,500 U.S. dollars.

"The EV rebate promise is only Newsom's latest move against the incoming Trump administration," commented The Sacramento Bee, a major newspaper published in the state's capital city.

"The governor's proposal comes not only as California officials gear up for a battle with the incoming Trump administration over environmental policy, but also amid growing concerns about rising energy costs in the state," the newspaper added.

Tesla's electric vehicles would be shut out from consumer rebates under the proposal by Newsom, pitting the prospective Democratic presidential hopeful against Republican power player Elon Musk, reported Bloomberg News.

His office told Bloomberg News that the current proposal includes market-share limitations that would exclude Tesla's popular EV models. The details, including Tesla's possible omission from the credits, will be negotiated with the state legislature and could change, said the report, citing Newsom's office.

Musk condemned the proposal on his X platform.

"Even though Tesla is the only company who manufactures their EVs in California!," said Musk, adding that "This is insane." 
Curious about the recent passing of literary icon Barbara Taylor Bradford? The celebrated author, known for her captivating novels like A Woman of Substance, left behind a legacy that reshaped modern storytelling. Her death on November 24, 2024, has sparked reflections on her prolific career and the unforgettable mark she left on readers worldwide.

So, who was Barbara Taylor Bradford, and what made her such a powerful force in literature? Heres everything you need to know about her life, her achievements, and the enduring impact of her work.

Barbara Taylor Bradford passes away at 81, claims report

Renowned novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford, best known for her debut work A Woman of Substance, passed away at the age of 91 on November 24, 2024, at her home.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The announcement, confirmed by her representatives, stated that she died peacefully after a short illness, surrounded by loved ones (via The Guardian). Taylor Bradfords literary career spanned over four decades. Over 91 million copies of her novels were sold worldwide, translated into around 40 languages.

Readers and critics often called Taylor Bradford the grande dame of blockbusters for her impactful storytelling. She crafted sagas of strong, ambitious women overcoming challenges. Her debut novel, published in 1979, became a hallmark of her career. It inspired many adaptations and sequels, including the Emma Harte series. She received many accolades during her lifetime, including an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II in 2007 for her contributions to the world of literature.

Born in Leeds, England, in 1933, Taylor Bradford began her career as a typist, then became a reporter before transitioning to womens editorial roles. After marrying American producer Robert Bradford in 1963, she relocated to the U.S., where her career as a novelist flourished. Her works often reflected themes of resilience and ambition, with protagonists inspired by her experiences and observations. Her novels, many of them bestsellers, captivated readers with vivid settings. These ranged from early 20th-century Yorkshire to the modern-day glamour of London. (via The Washington Post)

Despite personal tragedies, including the loss of her husband in 2019, Taylor Bradford remained dedicated to her craft. She published her novel, The Wonder of It All, in 2023, exemplifying her passion for storytelling. Her husband adapted many of her novels for television, and her works continue to inspire readers and writers alike.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Saint Thomas Church in New York will host Taylor Bradfords private funeral. Her family plans to lay her to rest next to her husband. Her literary contributions remain a testament to her perseverance, talent, and extraordinary life.

The post What Happened to Barbara Taylor Bradford? Bold Heroines Novelist Passes Away appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Hannah Kobayashi was on a trip to New York City to explore the city's art scene as an aspiring photographer  but she never made it to the Big Apple.

The Hawaii woman, 30, landed at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Nov. 8, where she was scheduled to take a connecting flight to N.Y.C. However, Hannah never made it onto the plane, Hannah's family told Fox affiliate KHON.

A little over a month later, Hannah was found on Dec. 11. "We are incredibly relieved and grateful that Hannah has been found safe," her sister and mother, Sydni Kobayashi and Brandi Yee, said in a statement to PEOPLE through their attorney, Sara Azari. Four days later, police confirmed Hannah crossed the border back into the U.S. and "did not appear to be under any distress."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"My focus now is on my healing, my peace and my creativity. I am deeply grateful to my family and everyone who has shown me kindness and compassion during this time," Kobayashi said in a statement through her lawyer.

Prior to finding her, however, Hannah's phone last pinned her location at LAX on Nov. 11, which was also the final time anyone from her family heard from her. However, Hannah's communication was out of character for her, her aunt, Larie Pidgeon, wrote on Facebook three days later.

"Hannahs last message to us was alarming  she mentioned feeling scared, and that someone might be trying to steal her money and identity," Pidgeon said. "She hasnt been heard from since, and we are gravely concerned for her safety.

Two weeks later, Hannah's father died. Ryan Kobayashi was found dead in a parking lot on Nov. 24, with the L.A. County medical examiner later confirming his cause of death was suicide.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Dec. 2, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell told reporters that surveillance footage from U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows Hannah crossing the U.S.-Mexico border on Nov. 12, alone and with her luggage. Now, police have determined her to be a "voluntary missing person."

So what happened to Hannah Kobayashi? Here's everything we know so far about the seeming disappearance of the Hawaii native  and how she was found.

Who is Hannah Kobayashi?

LAPD Missing person Hannah Kobayashi was last seen at LAX Airport on November 8th, 2024 Missing person Hannah Kobayashi was last seen at LAX Airport on November 8th, 2024

Hannah is a 30-year-old woman from Hawaii who lost contact with her family days after missing her scheduled Nov. 8 connecting flight to N.Y.C. Her aunt described her as "so special and kind" during a rally outside Crypto.com Arena on Nov. 21, per KTLA.

Shes a beautiful girl inside and outside, Hannah's father, Ryan Kobayashi, said at the event.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hannah was heading to N.Y.C. for a concert and to enjoy the city's art scene as an aspiring photographer herself, NBC News reported.

Hannah loved to travel. She loved photography, art, music. I wasnt too close with her  growing up. We havent had contact for a while, Ryan told CNN. Im just trying to make up. Im trying to get her back. Thats my main focus.



What happened to Hannah Kobayashi?

LAPD Hannah Kobayashi. Hannah Kobayashi.

On Nov. 8, Hannah flew from Maui, Hawaii, to Los Angeles, where she had a layover before a connecting flight to N.Y.C. However, she never made the second flight.

So I reached out to her and Im like, Hey, are you in New York yet? And shes like, Not yet. And it was weird because the flight that she was supposed to go on had already flown, Yee, Hannah's mother, told KHON.



Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hannah's sister, Sydni, told CNN that Hannah was struggling to rebook her flight and had left LAX. On Nov. 9, she was seen at a Taschen bookstore at The Grove shopping center in L.A. and sent a Venmo payment to two people whose names the family didn't recognize.

That evening, she went back to LAX and called her other aunt, Geordan Montalvo, to tell her she was still trying to get on a flight to New York. "She was like, 'This is a nightmare. I dont understand whats going on with these airlines, Im trying to get to you,'  Pidgeon told PEOPLE.

The following day, Hannah was spotted attending the LeBron XXII Trial Experience, which was held at the Nike store at The Grove, in a YouTube video posted on Nov. 10.

The last time Hannah's family heard from her was on Nov. 11, when her location showed her back at LAX. Pidgeon told Hawaii News Now that Montalvo also tried to contact her.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Her phone pinged at LAX at 4 p.m. and then after that, Geordan kept trying to talk to her, and then it went dark. Her phone went dead, and her communication cut off completely, she said.

Previously, Hannah had texted a friend after she failed to board the plane, I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds for someone I thought I loved."

"She texted her that she was scared and that she couldnt come back home or something," Sydni told Hawaii News Now. "It was just really weird texts  it doesnt sound like her, like theres just something off about it. So I wasnt too sure. I dont know if its her or if someone else was texting.

Sydni elaborated to CNN that the texts used language that Hannah didn't normally employ, like "hun," "love" and "babe," causing her to think it may not have been her sister who was sending them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She doesnt use the word hun. Love and babe, but never hun. Even her close friends have said the same," she said.

A ticketing agent told the family that they spoke with Hannah earlier on Nov. 11, sharing that she was trying to buy a ticket either back to Maui or to New York, Pidgeon told PEOPLE.

However, police confirmed that Hannah later left the airport on Nov. 11 "with an unidentified person" and took the train, Pidgeon told KGMB/KHNL. We havent heard about [it], Pidgeon told the outlet. She knows no one in L.A. Our entire family knows no one in L.A.



Pidgeon also added that Hannah did not look well in the surveillance video showing her leaving with the stranger. The pair were later seen getting off the train at Pico Station, an area the family later looked through after coming to L.A. to help with the search for Hannah.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It wasn't a good neighborhood," Pidgeon told PEOPLE. "And the officers that were there and people that we spoke with, they were like, you don't come here after dark."

However, on Dec. 2, police confirmed that Hannah did not go missing, but was instead a "voluntary missing person" after seeing video surveillance of her crossing into Mexico on foot around noon local time on Nov. 12.



Following the news, her family said in a statement to NBC News and NewsNation that they are "committed to doing everything possible to bring her home safely.

We are deeply grateful for the urgency and dedication law enforcement has shown in investigating Hannahs disappearance, they said.



Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A week later, Hannah was found. She crossed the border back into the U.S. on Dec. 15, writing in a statement that she was "unaware" of the media coverage surrounding her disappearance while she was gone.

"I was unaware of everything that was happening in the media while I was away, and I am still processing it all. I kindly ask for respect for myself, my family, and my loved ones as I navigate through this challenging time. Thank you for your understanding," she said.



What did the police say about her seeming disappearance?

Courtesy of Larie Pidgeon Hannah Kobayashi Hannah Kobayashi

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to PEOPLE on Nov. 15 that a missing persons report had been filed for Hannah. Five days later, they confirmed that an investigation was "ongoing" and that "there is no further information at this time."

Hannah's family, who have been helping with the ongoing search, have expressed concern that she might have been abducted or trafficked. Police have not publicly accused anyone of wrongdoing in Hannah's case.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

LAPD Chief McDonnell announced at a Nov. 26 Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners meeting that police determined that Hannah intentionally did not board her connecting flight to N.Y.C.

However, four days later, her mother and sister addressed the investigation in a statement on Facebook, writing that it does not appear that Hannah intentionally missed her flight," and that the police did not inform the family of their "alleged findings."

These alleged findings have yet to be relayed to my mother and I directly from the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department or any detective involved in Hannahs case, Hannah's sister wrote.

After confirming that Hannah voluntarily left the country, police confirmed the investigation found no evidence that Kobayashi "is being trafficked or is the victim of foul play," McDonnell said.

While the investigation will not continue in Mexico, McDonnell confirmed that if Hannah returns to the U.S., law enforcement will be informed.

McDonnell added that investigators found that Hannah "expressed the desire to step away from modern connectivity" before she left for N.Y.C., but there was "no indication that there would be anything to cause this to happen."

What happened to Hannah Kobayashi's dad?

ABC 7 Ryan Kobayashi, father of missing woman Hannah Kobayashi. Ryan Kobayashi, father of missing woman Hannah Kobayashi.

Two weeks after Hannah allegedly disappeared, her father was found dead in a parking structure near LAX around 4 a.m. on Nov. 24. A medical examiner report confirmed he died by suicide.

Before his cause of death was confirmed by authorities, his family told PEOPLE they believed he killed himself amid a mental health emergency.



He died of a broken heart, Pidgeon, his former sister-in-law, told PEOPLE. Weve been searching tirelessly. I think it just became so overwhelming for him driving the streets, going to Skid Row and seeing where his daughter could possibly have ended up."

The family also stressed that they didn't believe any rumors that Ryan had something to do with Hannah's death or was lured to his death, Pidgeon told PEOPLE.

He wanted to do everything he could, she said. He showed up when it mattered the most.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.



Read the original article on People
A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPMs Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version.

A Structural And Institutional Failure

I know you have little appetite for reading about the inglorious end of the federal prosecutions of Donald Trump. I dont have much appetite for writing about it at this point. But it needs to be acknowledged for the travesty it is, while trying not to sound melodramatic.

The historic conclusion of Trumps prosecution for Jan. 6  and for all practical purposes it is over  is a withering indictment of structural and institutional failures that will haunt us for decades to come. The ignoble end of the Mar-a-Lago prosecution, while similarly confounding, strikes somewhat less directly at the constitutional order.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At this late stage, finger-pointing at the many culprits who share responsibility for this absurd outcome seems inadequate to the long-term challenge of fixing the structural deficiencies and institutional inadequacies that have left the rule of law exposed, vulnerable, and unprotected.

What is required now is the difficult, long-term, low-odds challenge of reimagining a constitutional order that functions as the founders intended, elevating one person from among the people to administer the national government without making them a monarch, potentate, or tyrant.

The problem, of course, is that we must undertake this generational challenge while now confronted with a newly rearranged constitutional order that has brought us closer than ever before to having precisely the kind of ruler the founders most feared and warned of.

Its not an undertaking for the faint of heart.

For The Record

The relevant documents are short and to the point:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Special Counsel Jack Smiths Motion to Dismiss the Jan. 6 Case against Donald Trump

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkans Opinion granting Smiths Motion to Dismiss

Special Counsel Jack Smiths Motion to Dismiss the Mar-a-Lago appeal as to Donald Trump

Reactions To The Dismissal Of Trumps Federal Cases

The end of the two federal criminal cases against President-elect Donald J. Trump on Monday left momentous, unsettled questions about constraints on criminal wrongdoing by presidents, from the scope of presidential immunity to whether the Justice Department may continue to appoint outside special counsels to investigate high-level wrongdoing. Charlie Savage

But lets be real: Its over. If you have to say the words equitable tolling in describing a vision of presidential accountability, youre not really talking about presidential accountability. Youre talking about a fantasy. Youre lighting votive candles with pictures of prosecutors.Benjamin Wittes

It is hard to escape the grim conclusion: No president out of office has done more to grow the power of the presidency than Donald Trump. And the fact that this strengthening of the office is the result of his misdeeds, and empowers the president to undertake further misdeeds with impunity, is profoundly disturbing.Kim Wehle

Kicker Of The Day

WASHINGTON, DC  JANUARY 6: Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as people try to storm the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC.  Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. (photo by Brent Stirton/Getty Images)

NBC News concludes its story on the dismissal of the Jan. 6 case against Trump with this gut punch: He is expected to walk through the lower west tunnel, where some of the worst violence of Jan. 6 took place, to be sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 2025.

Look Who Passed Trumps Litmus Test

Trump has picked more than a dozen people for key roles in his new administration who showed up to support him in court during his hush money trial, the NYT reports.

What Was Boris Epshteyn Up To?

Morning Memo is likely to return to this story, but in the meantime, be careful about which bucket you put it in. A close adviser to President-elect Trump allegedly seeking pay-to-play arrangements epitomizes the kind of corruption that has always swirled around Trump and is likely to continue on steroids in his second term. Self-dealing by Boris Epshteyn seems to be whats alleged, but Im not sure that context alone is sufficient to capture the full mix of internal power struggles, back-stabbing, and perhaps even worse levels of corruption. Its telling that the news of the internal Trump investigation first emerged at John Solomons right-wing Just the News and included a Trump interview. Dont get me wrong, whatever bucket or buckets it belongs in is BAD. But the precise contours of this alleged episode, and its full dimensions, are still unclear.

RFK Jr. Accuser Comes Forward

A woman who worked in the late 1990s as an intern in Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.s office and as a babysitter for his family has spoken to the WSJ and is willing to testify to the Senate about her sexual misconduct allegations against him.

Headline Of The Day

Public Notice: A government by toxic men, for toxic men

Trump Transition Miscellany

Tariffs : The major question is whether the threats are a negotiating ploy to wring concessions on trade and other policy priorities from U.S. trading partners, or the start of a sustained campaign to reshape global trade and the American economy.WSJ

Deportations : Tom Homan, President-elect Donald Trumps new border czar, has warned states that refuse to cooperate with mass deportation plans may face having their federal funding slashed.HuffPost

Taxes: Republicans are trying to fit as many priorities as possible into one bill early next year, combining tax cuts, spending cuts, energy policy, border security and President-elect Donald Trumps campaign promises.WSJ

Its Come To This 

You might find yourself reluctantly rooting for no-longer-leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to curb the worst excesses of Trump on Ukraine and executive power:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr. McConnell, whose current term ends in 2027 and who has not said whether he will seek another, has said he plans to focus intently during the next two years on advancing his interventionist strain of foreign policy, which flies in the face of the president-elects America First approach. He also wants to concentrate on preserving the Senates institutional independence at a time when Mr. Trump, who will have a governing trifecta in January, has made clear that he means to bend the chamber to his will.

Good Read

WSJ: Christopher Rufo Has Trumps Ear and Wants to End DEI for Good

Boebert On Cameo

House ethics rules prohibit profiting off your office, but you do you, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO).

State Judge Upholds Missouri Ban On Gender-Affirming Care

A Missouri circuit court judge on Monday declined to restore access to gender-affirming care for minors in the state, ruling in a 74-page judgment that a law banning children from accessing medical care is constitutional.HuffPost

A Civilized Way To Travel

PHILADELPHIA, PA- JULY 10, 2014: The SS United States can be seen for miles as one drives toward South Philadelphia. The SS United States, which is slowly rusting away in Philadelphia, has been the target of numerous save our ship schemes, all of which have failed. (Photo by Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

After I mentioned in yesterdays Morning Memo the imminent demise of the SS United States, I heard from a couple of readers about their youthful experiences as passengers aboard the ship, back when she made regular transatlantic crossings:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

MM Reader MA:

I took the USSS from France to NYC in 1961. I have a cup with its photo. It was very fast and so very bumpy, but a kind steward got me outside in the wind and cajoled me into thinking I could do it.

TPM Reader SB:

My family sailed back from Southampton on the SS United States in September of 1966. I was 11. We went through a hurricane along the way and they put ropes up along the gangways to give folks something to hold onto as they walked around. The ship rolled a crazy amount (to my eyes) but everyone just dealt with it. There were no roll stabilizers on those liners. They would dampen the table cloths in the dining areas so the plates and cups wouldnt slide. One special evening we ordered Baked Alaska as the desert. What a treat that was! After we were through the brunt of the storm the captain speeded up and the belief was we were doing closer to 40 knots to make up time. The indoor pool had been emptied during the storm but refilled (partially) and the water would slosh back and forth like a modern wave pool. The VW bus we had purchased in Europe came home with us and we drove it off the dock in NYC with all our luggage. Very civilized.

Thanks for sharing!

Do you like Morning Memo? Let us know!
Kamala Harris has told her aides to keep her options open in case she decides to run for president again in 2028, according to reports.

Sources close to the Harris family told Politico that the vice president has vowed to "stay in the fight" and may even run to be governor of California in 2026.

The sources said Harris would be pondering her path forward over the coming holiday season, but has told allies and advisers she doesn't want to rule anything out.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In particular, she is said to be planning out how and when she will criticise Donald Trump as she strives to "reassert" her prominence in the Democratic Party.

"She doesnt have to decide if she wants to run for something again in the next six months," one former Harris campaign aide told Politico.

"The natural thing to do would be to set up some type of entity that would give her the opportunity to travel and give speeches and preserve her political relationships."

Harris has reportedly vowed to stay in the fight following her defeat to Trump (AP)

Another person close to Harris said: "There will be a desire to hear her voice, and there wont be a vacuum for long."

The report comes as Democrats debate their future political strategy following Harris's decisive defeat by Trump in November's election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite that loss, a recent poll by Echelon Insights found her leading the pack for potential 2028 Democratic nominees, with 41 per cent compared to Gavin Newsom's 8 per cent and Josh Shapiro's 7 per cent.

Staying in the running for either the presidency or the California governorship would require maintaining links with other Democratic grandees, rebuilding her online following and potentially setting up a new fundraising organisation.

Meanwhile, Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff are preparing to vacate the Naval Observatory in Washington DC  the official residence of the vice president, analogous to the White House  and must choose whether to return to their old home in Los Angeles
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Hartford is ready to transform into a winter wonderland once again.

Hartford unveils calendar of holiday events

Thousands of people are expected to put on their ice skates when Winterfest returns on Friday to Bushnell Park. There will be free skate rentals and free lessons.

Hartford is the place to be for the holidays, Mayor Arunan Arulampalam said, adding that he expects 40,000 people to skate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The rink will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Jan. 5. It will not be open on Christmas Day.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT)  On Monday, Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker, U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), members of the Hattiesburg City Council and community leaders gathered to celebrate the opening of the Hall Avenue East Overpass.

For generations of Hattiesburgers, blocked train crossings have long stood as a paralyzing obstacle for safe, efficient transportation, said Barker. This overpass provides a real solution, and we are thrilled for the neighborhoods and businesses who can now remain connected to the rest of the city, regardless of how many trains come through our downtown.

USM awards full-tuition scholarships to Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science seniors

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The $15.33 million project provides a grade-separated crossing over the Canadian National rail line, eliminating one of the most significant transportation bottlenecks in the downtown area.

The people of Hattiesburg and the surrounding region have been waiting for this day for a long time. This project will make the community safer, keep rail lines moving, spur economic development throughout the area, and possibly save lives. It has been great to work with Mayor Barker and other city leaders to fix this century-old problem, stated Wicker.

The Hall Avenue East Overpass and the roundabout will be open for travel on Wednesday, November 27, at 8:00 a.m.

Close

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily News

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV.
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)  Police departments across New Haven County have teamed up with Connecticut State Police to crack down on auto theft.

We do find that a lot of the crimes lead back to a stolen car, or are committed from a stolen car, said Lt. Derek Werner, of the New Haven Police Department.

This task force was created as car thefts continue to be a pervasive issue in the New Haven area and across the state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

New Haven police and other departments team up for auto theft task force

Weve seen very positive results, Werner said.

Hitting the streets with New Haven Officer Christian Bruckhart, News 8 followed along as he looked for stolen cars.

Just because its a stolen car, doesnt mean its not out there committing robberies and shootings and homicides, he said.

He specifically looked for a stolen car believed to be linked to a shooting in the citys hill neighborhood. It was found on Woosley Street, with the task force closely monitoring it for hours.

If you have a suspect vehicle, do you sit on it for a while and maybe the suspect comes back? Bruckhart said. If youre going to sit on it, how long do you sit on it? We know there was a shooting, we know these individuals are potentially armed, so we want to recover the gun, as well.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Utilizing neighborhood and city cameras, the team was able to track the suspects movements to a nearby house.

Police said collaboration is key: theyre getting information from the Real Time Crime Center, detectives are canvassing neighborhoods, residents are providing witness accounts and the task force has boots on the ground.

Since the task force started, its recovered 42 stolen cars, made 14 arrests and seized three illegal firearms. The team told News 8 it goes out weekly, responding to everything from street takeovers to the recovery of stolen cars.

But it cant do this work alone. The team relies on the public for help.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lock your car, lock your doors, Bruckhart said.

While you do your part, theyll continue to do the work.

This task force not only helps to protect the community, Werner said. But, also finds leads and solves crimes.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)  A New Haven state legislator was tapped to co-chair a key committee in the General Assembly, legislative leaders announced.

State Rep. Roland Lemar, a Democrat representing portions of New Haven and East Haven, will serve as House chair of the General Law Committee. The General Law Committee has wide jurisdiction over a range of areas, including the states gaming policies, fair trade and sales practices, and all matters related to regulating alcoholic beverages.

Former Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell to lie in state at capitol

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Committee chairs exercise considerable influence over the legislative process. Their position affords them the ability to set priorities and determine which legislation is given a shot at passage by the entire General Assembly.

The General Law Committees wide-ranging responsibilities typically mean its co-chairs are front and center during some of the most high-profile legislative debates.

This session, we will be taking the lead on emerging national issues such as the regulation of artificial intelligence, cyber security, online privacy concerns, and more, Lemar said in a statement.

I know Roland is ready for this new challenge in General Law, Speaker of the House Matt Ritter (D-Hartford) said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lemar is a member of New Havens influential state legislative delegation, which includes State Senate President Martin Looney and State Rep. Toni Walker, the House chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee.

Lemar is among a handful of Democratic state representatives who will receive new committee chair assignments for the upcoming term, which begins in early January. Lemar currently chairs the Transportation Committee, a position he has held for six years.

State Rep. Aimee Berger-Girvalo (D-Ridgefield) was named the new House chair of the Transportation Committee by Speaker Ritter and House Majority Leader Jason Rojas (D-East Hartford). Ritter also told News 8 he intends to name State Rep. Jenn Leeper (D-Fairfield) as House chair of the Education Committee, a position that was vacated by outgoing State Rep. Jeff Currey (D-East Hartford).

Ritter and Rojas have been rolling out their picks to lead legislative committees. Each committee is led by a member of the State Senate majority and state House majority.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Other picks for House committee chairs include:

State Rep. Maria Horn (D-Salisbury) for the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee.

State Rep. Steve Stafstrom (D-Bridgeport) for the Judiciary Committee

State Rep. Eleni Kavros DeGraw (D-Avon) for the Planning and Development Committee

State Rep. Cristin McCarthy-Vahey (D-Fairfield) for the Public Health Committee.

State Rep. Jason Doucette (D-Manchester) for the Banking Committee.

State Rep. Pat Boyd (D-Pomfret) for the Public Safety Committee.

Ritter said he will announce additional leadership positions next week. Democrats in the State Senate have yet to roll out their roster of committee chairs. Republicans in both chambers of the legislature have also yet to name ranking members  a position that mirrors the Democratic majoritys committee chairs  for each committee.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Back in 2001, Amazon was in serious trouble. The dot-com bubble had burst and Amazon's stock had tanked by 90%.

Many thought it wouldn't survive. But Jeff Bezos found inspiration in an unexpected place: a coffee meeting with Jim Sinegal, the founder of Costco. According to Brad Stones 2013 book The Everything Store, they met at a Starbucks inside a Barnes & Noble near Amazon's Bellevue headquarters.

Don't Miss:

Sinegal wasn't there to offer a magic fix  he simply explained Costco's secret sauce. The key? Value. Costco kept prices incredibly low by cutting unnecessary costs, sticking to a strict 15% markup and treating suppliers fairly to secure great deals.

Sinegal told Bezos, "The membership fee is a one-time pain, but it's reinforced every time customers walk in and see forty-seven-inch televisions that are two hundred dollars less than anyplace else. That trust kept customers returning, knowing they'd always find great deals.

Bezos took this advice seriously. Days after the meeting, he called a team meeting at Amazon to discuss the company's pricing strategy  or lack thereof.

See Also: The global games market is projected to generate $272B by the end of the year  for $0.55/share, this VC-backed startup with a 7M+ userbase gives investors easy access to this asset market.

The goal? Make Amazon synonymous with lower prices. According to The New York Times, Bezos famously said, "There are two kinds of companies: those that raise prices and those that work to lower them. We are going to be the second, full-stop."

Soon after, Amazon slashed prices on books, music and videos  its flagship products  by as much as 30%. It worked. By the end of 2001, Amazon posted its first profitable quarter. "We had a great Q4," Bezos told Fox News in January 2002. "What really drove it was lower prices for customers."

Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing  you can become an investor for $0.80 per share today.

The Costco connection didn't stop there. Inspired by Costco's membership model, Amazon launched Prime in 2005. It wasn't just about free shipping but creating compelling value that customers couldn't resist.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Governors around the country are preparing for a balance of power shift in Washington, D.C. as President-Elect Donald Trumps term begins in two months.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

The President-Elect recently nominated Robert Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human services, which has come with much criticism from some in the medical community due to his thoughts on vaccines.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hawaiis Governor Josh Green is a physician who went to Samoa in 2019 to help administer vaccines during a measles outbreak that killed 83 people, many of them children. The virus broke out when vaccine coverage plummeted following a tragic accident in 2018 when two children were given powder-based MMR vaccines that were mistakenly mixed with muscle relaxants, leading to their deaths. Governor Green blames RFK Jr. for stoking fears of vaccines in the aftermath.

RFK Jr. went to Samoa and demagogued the idea that vaccines were hurting people, Gov. Green said. He collapsed that vaccination program and that meant 83 people died. We were asked by the prime minister to come in and I took a medical mission team, to Samoa. We vaccinated the entire country. We did just under 37,000 vaccines in two days and that stopped the measles. If he does that kind of thing in America, youll see outbreaks of measles, mumps, rubella, polio, meningitis. Hes a terrible pick for HHS secretary and I hope that the President-Elect will pick someone else. A conservative Republican, perhaps, totally fine. His former surgeon general, Dr. (Jerome) Adams, is a good person, for example. So we have to, again, look out for our keiki. This stuff shouldnt be political, and our RFK should go down.

Currently, Hawaiis health department requires 11 vaccines for schools. Incomplete immunizations have gone up from 3.44% in 2019-2020, to 7.63% in 2021-2022, and the latest report in 2022-2023 is 18.7%. Gov. Green is concerned about what is happening.

Thats part of the trend where you have people, using misinformation or even disinformation to torpedo vaccination programs, which are totally safe. And then youre gonna see outbreaks in areas that are more rural where people dont have as much health literacy. I experienced that as a physician in Kau where sometimes we saw dips in the vaccination rates. Look, vaccinations are our best preventative measure to keep kids healthy. We should not be questioning that. Theres lots of good health debates that can occur, but vaccinations are safe.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
When it comes to weather Thanksgiving week, the forecasters have mixed opinions, with some predicting some rain and even snow, while others calling for none.

What they do agree on, however, is it will be cold with highs in the 30s.

So if you head to the parade Thursday, bundle up; it'll be colder than turkey leftovers.

The Detroit Public Schools All-City High School Marching Band performs in front of the Fox Theatre during America's Thanksgiving Parade on Woodward Avenue in Detroit on Nov. 25, 2021.

"Cold will be the main story heading in December," Dave Kook, a National Weather Service meteorologist in White Lake Township, said Monday. "Today is going to be the warmest day of the week, where we get near 50."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Overnight, a cold front was expected to sweep through southeast Michigan, and, he said, bring temperatures down for the remainder of the week, with highs topping out around 40 degrees, and on Thanksgiving through the weekend in the 30s.

There is a low pressure system, Kook said, thats tracking south of metro Detroit, and that could bring some rain and snow, but different models show different movement of that system, which means the southern half of Michigan could remain dry.

How much rain or snow?

"It won't be heavy," Kook said, given "the models cant even agree its even going to occur."

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Weather forecast: Expect very cold Thanksgiving parade in Detroit
The judge presiding over the Karen Read murder case heard several key motions on Tuesday as the prosecution and defense continue to prepare for the Mansfield womans upcoming retrial.

WATCH LIVE: Karen Read case returns to court with judge hearing arguments on motions. WATCH LIVE: Karen Read case returns to court with judge hearing arguments on key motions, including phone records request. Posted by Boston 25 News on Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone heard arguments on Special Prosecutor Hank Brennans request to review the phone records of Reads parents, William Read and Janet Read.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Brennan has stated in court filings that its imperative to view the phone records because data shows Read called and texted her mother and her father several times after she allegedly struck and killed her Boston Police Officer boyfriend, John OKeefe, outside a home in Canton during a blizzard in January 2022.

The prosecution alleges William Read has made conflicting statements about conversations with his daughter and they plan to call him as a witness at the next trial. Brennan has also stated that Janet Reads phone records must be made available due to potential impeachment evidence.

Reads legal team stated its intention to fight the Norfolk District Attorneys Office motions in subsequent filings.

The defense claims prosecutors already have records of calls between Karen Read and her father from Karens phone, calling Brennans push a fishing expedition and an inappropriate attempt to invade privacy.

All stand as the jury files out to the courtroom, to start their fifth day of deliberations in the murder trial for Karen Read in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Monday, July 1, 2024. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Karen Read jurors tell judge theyve been unable to reach unanimous verdict

Day 3 of jury deliberations finishes without verdict in Karen Read trial

Karen Read awaits the juries verdict in her murder case at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday June 26, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Defense attorneys in Karen Read murder trial argue with judge over jury verdict slip

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some witnesses are in the courtroom on Tuesday include Brian Albert, Colin Albert, and Jennifer McCabe.

Karen Read

Karen Read, center right, is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Karen Read is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Karen Read

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Karen Read smiles after listening to her attorney Alan Jackson during her trial at Norfolk County Superior Court, Friday, May 17, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)

Karen Read

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Karen Read

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Karen Read sits with her legal team team in court Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (David McGlynn/New York Post via AP, Pool)

Karen Read sits with her legal team team in court, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (David McGlynn/New York Post via AP, Pool)

Reads lawyers have also requested that Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey produce all of his personal emails and text messages.

Reads trial ended in July when hopelessly deadlocked jurors told Cannone they couldnt come to a unanimous decision, leading to a mistrial.

The SJC is currently determining if jurors who sat through Reads first trial for the death of John OKeefe will be questioned about their deliberations. The SJC will issue a written decision that could take four months before it is published.

Reads lawyers have been fighting to dismiss her second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a deadly crash charge for double jeopardy reasons. Double jeopardy is a legal protection that prohibits anyone from being prosecuted twice for the same crime.

Read is accused of hitting OKeefe with her SUV and leaving him to die after a night of drinking. The defense has sought to portray Read as the victim, saying OKeefe was actually killed inside Brian Alberts home and then dragged outside and left for dead.

Morrisseys office opposes Reads bid to get the charges dropped and argues that Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone was correct when she ruled all of Reads charges should remain for her retrial.

Cannone has scheduled Reads retrial for January 2025.

RELATED:

Karen Reads legal team adds new attorney as 2nd murder trial approaches

Sale of Karen Reads Mansfield home closes as she prepares for 2nd murder trial

Judge approves new testing of Karen Reads Lexus

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
This week marks two months since Hurricane Helene blew through wreaking havoc on parts of metro Atlanta. For one family, theyre thankful to be alive after the car they were in was almost washed away in flood waters.

On Monday, they reunited with the crews that saved their lives.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The night Hurricane Helene blew through metro Atlanta, the Atlanta Fire Swift Water Rescue team was busy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We were going from one to the other, said Battalion Chief Scott Seely with Atlanta Fire Rescue. They made dozens of rescues that night, including one with a couple and a new baby in trouble.

We got the call for a vehicle with a family on the top, said Seely. We were under time constraints because we didnt know if the vehicle was going to be stable enough to make the rescue. We didnt know if it was going to slip. We actually set other units downstream at the Moores Mill Bridge just in case.

That family was Elisabeth Anderson, her husband, two dogs, and at the time, 7-week-old baby Henry.

We were very scared but calm somehow, said Anderson. I was still worried. We were probably on the car for an hour.

TRENDING STORIES:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But then came a boat, with Lt. Daniel Queen, firefighter Joseph Polk and Sgt. James Reddick on board.

I was really excited when we climbed onto the raft, said Anderson. We might not be here if it werent for them.

Two months later, the Andersons stopped by Fire Station 11 Monday to reunite with the crews that plucked them from dangerous flood waters.

Its a moment, that the crews dont often experience.

A lot of times with these calls we dont know the outcome after we get back from the call, said Seely.

The Andersons left more than just lunch for the crews. They left a donation from Andersons company Paragon Bank for the Atlanta Professional Fire Foundation to help buy whatever gear they might need.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Andersons are certain their Thanksgiving wouldnt be the same without the Swift Water Rescue team.

Thank you so much. Thank you, firefighters, for everything you do, said Anderson.

If you want to donate to the Atlanta Professional Fire Foundation, click here.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Nov. 26 (UPI) -- At least two people were injured, one seriously, amid an uptick in Hezbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel overnight ahead of a meeting later Tuesday of the country's security cabinet to approve a 60-day cease-fire with the Iran-backed group.

The two casualties came in Nahariya, where a 70-year-old woman and a man in his 80s sustained shrapnel injuries after a barrage of 10 rockets were launched at Israel's most northerly coastal city and other settlements in the Western Galilee region.

The Magen David Adom national emergency service said the woman's condition was serious. Several other people were being treated for shock and anxiety.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Air raid sirens sounded along Israel's northern border with Lebanon on Tuesday morning before a rocket struck a home in Kiryat Shmona, police and fire and rescue services said, but no one was reported hurt.

Separately, the Israeli military reported one of its soldiers was seriously wounded in the Mount Hermon area on the Lebanon-Syria border in a drone strike. Israel Defense Forces said it was investigating the incident after a drone launched from Lebanon detonated near troops.

Israel responded with airstrikes on Beirut and Tyre in southern Lebanon.

The IDF issued evacuation orders for specific buildings, including two schools, in the Burj Al-Barajneh and pond enclosure districts of Beirut's southern suburbs before hitting what it said were "Hezbollah facilities and interests."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"You are located near Hezbollah facilities and interests, against which the IDF will operate in the near future. For your safety and the safety of your family members, you must evacuate these buildings and those adjacent to them immediately and stay away from them for a distance of no less than 500 meters," the IDF warned in a post on X.

Footage circulating online showed palls of black smoke rising from areas of the capital.

The IDF also claimed its warplanes killed Hezbollah commander Ahmed Sobhi Hazima in a targeted attack on the Tyre area in the south.

Hazima was the group's operations commander for the coastal sector, according to the Israeli military, having replaced a previous commander the IDF killed in a raid Nov. 17.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The so-called Hazima was supervising numerous terrorist plots, including plans to storm the border and launch anti-tank shells toward Israeli towns from the western sector before Operation Northern Arrows," said IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee in a post on X.

"This elimination further impairs the Hezbollah terrorist organization's ability to advance and carry out terrorist activities from southern Lebanon against Israeli civilians on the northern border."

France and the European Union added their support to a draft cease-fire agreement negotiated by U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein for a 60-day transition period during which Israel withdraws its forces from south Lebanon, Hezbollah retreats north of the Litani River with its heavy weapons and the Lebanese Army, backed by the U.N. peacekeeping force, would fill a vacuum close to the border.

President Emmanuel Macron urged Israel and Hezbollah to "quickly seize this opportunity" presented by the negotiations which he said had "significantly advanced" as of late Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby expressed optimism, saying he believed "we've reached this point where we're close," but warned the effort might not get to the finish line.

Reports in Israeli and international media said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed in principle to a U.S.-backed cease-fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon and was working out how to sell it to the Israeli public.

Jerusalem saw the deal not as the end of the war but as a cessation of hostilities, according to a government official quoted by The Times of Israel, who said. "We don't know how long it will last. It could be a month, it could be a year."

Reports carried by Kan, Ynet and Haaretz, cited officials in Jerusalem, Washington and Beirut, said approval of the proposal was not final, that several sticking points remained to be resolved and that the state of play had been communicated to Lebanon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The plan has provoked angry response from some quarters in Israel including Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir who called it "a big mistake" and a "missed opportunity to eradicate Hezbollah."

Lebanon's Deputy House Speaker, Bou Saab, told reporters at the end of a parliament session Monday that Lebanon would "not accept anything that harms its sovereignty," accusing Israel of "escalating to obtain concessions" from Lebanon.
BEIRUT (Reuters) -Hezbollah will remain active after its war with Israel ends, including by helping displaced Lebanese return to their villages and rebuilding areas destroyed by Israeli strikes, senior Hezbollah official Hassan Fadlallah said on Tuesday.

"From now, we confirm that the Resistance (Hezbollah) will remain, will continue, will carry on," Fadlallah, who is also a member of Lebanon's parliament, told Reuters in an interview.

"And the proof of that is that when Israel's aggression against Lebanon ends, then the Resistance that was fighting in the battlefield will itself be working to help its people to return (home) and to rebuild," he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fadlallah said that Hezbollah's health, social and developmental institutions were prepared "for the day after" and would coordinate with the Lebanese state to shelter the displaced, remove rubble from damaged areas, bury victims and help with reconstruction.

That was all contingent on a ceasefire, which was expected to be announced later on Tuesday evening.

Lebanon was facing "dangerous, sensitive hours" until that announcement comes, Fadlallah said.

"We are in dangerous and sensitive hours because we have become accustomed to the Israeli entity - when there is a phase of an end to hostilities, it intensifies its attacks on Lebanese areas. That is what we are seeing in these hours," he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fadlallah was referring to the Israeli air force's intensified strikes on Tuesday afternoon on Beirut and its southern suburbs. In the hours after he spoke to Reuters, the Israeli military issued its first evacuation orders for four neighbourhoods in central Beirut, a major escalation.

(Reporting by Laila Bassam; Writing by Maya GebeilyEditing by Peter Graff, William Maclean)
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  There were positive results in the city Monday as two of its school districts celebrate their 2024 Annual Performance Reports (APRs).

Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS) regained its accreditation in 2022. Hickman Mills has been provisionally accredited since 2012, the only school district in our metro provisionally accredited.

Missouris Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released the information for school districts across the state Monday, Hickman Mills scored a 72.7% for 2024. Deputy Superintendent Casey Klapmeyer says a district has to score at least a 70% to get fully accredited, but Hickman Mills still isnt at that full accreditation level. DESEs report for Hickman Mills show that it is improving though.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Chiefs K Spencer Shrader thankful after game-winning field goal vs. Panthers

At this time, the earliest point at which a districts classification would be raised would be after the 2025 APR data is released, DESE Chief Communications Officer Mallory McGowin said in a statement sent to FOX4 Monday. At that point, the 2024 and 2025 APR Composite Scores, which include multiple years of data, will provide the information necessary for DESE to make the classification recommendation to the State Board of Education. This is not an automatic accreditation process; the state board of education would vote to take action on any change in accreditation status.

In a separate statement, McGowin also confirmed the 2025 APRs wont come out until about this same time next year.

What we have been in conversations with DESE about is the alternative framework that they have used previously when they used to classify Kansas City Public Schools, Klapmeyer said in an interview with FOX4 Monday afternoon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Klapmeyer says at the time KCPS received its accreditation, Hickman Mills scores were higher than theirs, so the districts asking DESE to reclassify them to being accredited in January of 2025 as opposed to months later in November or December of that year.



Were just asking for equity in terms of the system that they use, Klapmeyer continued, talking about DESE. Clearly, we know were heading in the right direction when we have moved out of the 60% range this year, but over 70 districts are still in that range in Missouri. Its clear were making progress that other districts arent even seeing.



An APR was not generated in 2020 or 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, McGowin said when asked why KCPS was classified with an alternative framework. DESE was also transitioning from MSIP [Missouri School Improvement Program] 5 to MSIP 6, at the time. Both of those factors led to the use of an alternative framework for KCPS classification decision.

Monday, KCPS held a press conference with Mayor Quinton Lucas in celebration of their 2024 APR. It was 73.2%, 0.5% higher than Hickman Mills. FOX4 asked Mayor Lucas about Hickman Mills situation. He said he hasnt read up on it.

All I know is I have great respect for Superintendent [Yaw] Obeng, Mayor Lucas said, talking about Hickman Mills Superintendent. I know he is doing strong work in making sure that they have enough faculty and making sure that they can address all the issues necessary to build a great public school district in that area of Southeast Kansas City.

Regardless of the Hickman Mills accreditation status, 5th grade teacher Myesha Bell says shes noticed improvements in her classroom.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mahomes fined over $14K for violent gesture at Buffalo game last week

The kids are more confident, and so theyre feeling the changes, Bell said. Theyre changing as well in their confidence and how they answer questions or how they just talk amongst each other when we do partner talks in the classroom.

Klapmeyer also believes some of the APR data for his district is incorrect, and once it gets corrected, their score will increase, giving the district a three year composite of above 70%. One of Klapmeyers colleagues will have a conversation with a DESE worker about it Tuesday.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL)  Two Northeast Tennessee state representatives have been reelected to leadership positions within the Republican party.

Every other year, Tennessee House Republicans meet to elect leaders for the upcoming General Assembly in Nashville.

What grocery stores in the Tri-Cities are open for Thanksgiving 2024?

On Tuesday, House Republicans reelected several representatives to key positions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Local State Reps. Tim Hicks (R-Gray) and Rebecca Alexander (R-Jonesborough) were reelected to their positions. Hicks was elected to another term as caucus vice chair and Alexander to the position of treasurer.

Both Hicks and Alexander defeated Democratic challengers in the Nov. 5 general election.

I am honored to continue serving my colleagues as vice-chairman of the House Republican Caucus, Hicks said in a statement. I appreciate the trust they have placed in me, and I look forward to working with them to ensure Tennessee remains prosperous for generations to come.

It is an honor and privilege to be reelected as caucus treasurer for another two years, Alexander said in a statement. Im grateful my colleagues have entrusted me with this important role, and I look forward to working together as we continue to build a stronger, safer Tennessee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A news release from Alexanders office states she will be responsible for caucus funds and will be over financial reports submitted to the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance. She will also be in charge of financial reports, record keeping and information disclosure among the caucus members.

Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) was reelected as Speaker of the House for a fourth term.

Additionally, State Reps. William Lamberth, Jeremy Faison and Johnny Garrett were reelected to their positions as majority leader, caucus chairman and majority whip, respectively.

The Tennessee House GOP held onto its supermajority in November, with 75 Republican representatives to 24 Democrats.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 114th Tennessee General Assembly is set to convene on Jan. 14, 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
CHICAGO  Kevin Jackson was released from prison last month, more than two decades after he was convicted of murder in the fatal shooting of a man at a West Englewood gas station.

Now 43, Jackson has always maintained his innocence. Police and prosecutors said several witnesses identified him as the shooter, but each recanted at Jacksons 2003 trial while claiming threatening, intimidating and coercive efforts by the two lead Chicago police detectives assigned to the case.

One of those detectives retired from the Chicago Police Department last year amid growing scrutiny of his past casework.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the other has continued to rise through the ranks of CPD, earning praise and promotions along the way.

John Foster, a CPD veteran of more than 30 years, is now commander of Area 5 detectives, overseeing the investigations of the most serious crimes reported across Chicagos Northwest Side, everywhere north of Division Street and west of the Chicago River.

Jackson has yet to petition for a certificate of innocence, but Cook County prosecutors have signaled they will drop the case. That decision comes in the wake of a special prosecutors report into Jacksons conviction that declared, Action is required because the conviction that keeps Jackson in prison lacks any reliable evidentiary support, resting exclusively on now-disavowed witness statements that were obtained by police coercion and misconduct.

Defense lawyers also challenged the police.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its a prime example of policing tactics that dont keep Chicago communities safe, Elizabeth Bacon, one of Jacksons attorneys, told the Tribune in a recent interview. Theyre manufacturing evidence against, in this case, an innocent person. It not only ruins his life, but it also leaves the actual violent criminals in the streets free to continue terrorizing these communities.

In response to the special report, a panel of appellate court justices fell on Jacksons side. His defense was clear, they wrote. Any reasonable review of the case would determine these convictions resulted solely from coerced and false statements, the panel said.

The clear slap-down of Fosters work leaves open questions around a highly decorated officer who is by many accounts a sharp department leader who has enjoyed a great career. Foster and the CPD leaders who have promoted him were not made available by the department for this story.

Highest clearance rate

Eric Winstrom, the chief of police in Grand Rapids, Michigan, since 2022, was commander of Area 5 detectives before Foster.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In fact, he recruited Foster, who until that point had spent his career on the South Side, to Area 5 in 2020. After Winstrom left CPD for Michigan, he called Foster the best investigator in the Chicago Police Department.

And data suggest Foster has found success.

CPD records obtained by the Tribune via the Freedom of Information Act show Area 5 has the highest homicide clearance rate of any of the CPDs five areas in 2024.

To be sure, Area 5 is not known as a high-crime zone, with 26 recorded homicides through late October. That is the fewest killings among the departments areas, with Area 5 being home to scores of municipal employees and many well-heeled Chicagoans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But in that same time, 22 of the homicides that occurred in Area 5 were cleared, bringing the areas clearance rate to 85%. Citywide, CPDs homicide clearance rate this year and last year is 51%, CPD officials have said.

Boosting the clearance rate and supporting detectives have remained oft-stated goals of Mayor Brandon Johnsons administration. Last year, as part of the latest contract between the city and the Fraternal Order of Police, CPD restructured the schedules of homicide detectives in an effort to give them more ownership over their cases.

Interim CPD Superintendent Fred Waller promoted Foster to commander of Area 5 in June 2023, city records show. CPD declined to make Foster, Waller and Antoinette Ursitti, the departments chief of detectives, available for interviews. Further, a CPD spokesperson did not respond when asked if and when the department was made aware of the special prosecutors report on the Kevin Jackson case.

Fosters early career

Early during his time with the department, records show, Foster faced several accusations of racist behavior, though none of those allegations were sustained by internal CPD investigators.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Before becoming a detective in 2000, Foster took a leave of absence from CPD in the hopes of joining the Drug Enforcement Agency, but he was kicked out after just a few months for using a racist term to refer to a Black recruit in his same class, records show. He faced a monthlong suspension when he returned to CPD in 1998.

The tainted prosecution of Kevin Jackson stemmed from a 2001 shooting at a West Englewood gas station that left 54-year-old Ernest Jenkins dead and another man injured. Foster and fellow detective Brian Forberg were assigned to investigate.

In the weeks that followed, Jacksons lawyers say, the detectives ratcheted up efforts to close the case.

Jacksons lawyers say the detectives threatened to bring charges against witnesses with outstanding warrants who, at first, refused to say Jackson was the shooter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Polygraph examination results were misrepresented, according to the special prosecutors report. Lawyers also alleged detectives threatened that the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services would take custody of some witnesses children unless they cooperated, which the same report noted.

Rather than intimidating the suspect, they intimidate the witnesses. And why do that? Well, because witnesses dont have any particular recourse, Bacon, the Jackson lawyer, said. Theyre not represented by counsel. Theyre very unlikely after an episode of intimidation or coercion to seek redress. Theyre just trying to, frankly, get out of the police detention and the police station and get on with their lives.

Forberg and Foster have come under scrutiny in the past year with other defendants also accusing them of coercing and manipulating witnesses in order to close cases. Forberg was married to an assistant states attorney who worked closely with the conviction integrity unit (now called the conviction review unit), which reviews potential wrongful convictions.

Not how John operates

Foster remained a homicide detective in Area 1 on the South Side until 2012, when he was promoted to sergeant and assigned to the South Chicago District (4th), according to records from the citys Human Resources Department. The following year, Foster returned to the bureau of detectives when he was assigned as a sergeant in Area South.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The fact that hes now in a position of leadership to promulgate and promote this type of approach, and the fact that hes been promoted based on results he achieved using this type of approach, is an indictment of the Chicago Police Department as far as Im concerned, Bacon said.

Promoted to lieutenant in 2019, Foster returned to patrol, overseeing beat cops assigned to the Calumet District (5th). Then, in 2020, Winstrom asked Foster to come to the Northwest Side to serve as the homicide lieutenant.

Of anybody that I could have gotten, John was the one person that I wanted to get, Winstrom told the Tribune earlier this month.

Winstrom says there were three main reasons he tapped Foster  who he described as a workaholic and the most tenacious guy youve ever met  to become the Area 5 homicide lieutenant.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That he actually cares about people, that he will work a 48-hour day if its required, and, not only is he a very smart guy, but hes kept up with all the changes in technology, Winstrom said. I mean, he was perfect. Those were all the reasons I brought him (to Area 5).

I first started working with John in 2005, Winstrom added. In an era where it was still kind of like a Tough guy, us against them mentality, he didnt have that. He had the compassion. He cared about the victims.

In 2005, the Illinois legislature passed a law requiring that all interrogations of homicide or sexual assault suspects be electronically recorded. Winstrom noted that there likely exists hundreds if not thousands of hours of footage of Foster conducting interrogations.

Having known Foster for nearly two decades, Winstrom raised doubts over the allegations of coercion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since 2005, since weve worked together, you can demonstrably show John Fosters style is not coercion, Winstrom said. Thats not how John operates. Hes an extremely effective investigator and, like I said, all of his interviews have been recorded since 2005 and hes maintained that effective level.

-------

Tribune reporter Madeline Buckley contributed.

____
By Alimat Aliyeva

The Global Food Security Summit begins today in Abu Dhabi. The event is part of Global Food Week, which will run until November 28, Azernews reports.

The summit is expected to be attended by 21 world ministers and representatives of government agencies responsible for food security.

The discussions will focus on sustainable solutions to food security, global cooperation, increasing joint efforts between countries and organizations, strengthening food security systems, and combating hunger.

Over 80 experts will participate in the summit, sharing insights on the latest innovations in food security, including climate-optimized agriculture, agricultural technology, and supply chains.

The main goal of the summit is to develop practical strategies for building sustainable food systems that can address future challenges, create global partnerships to tackle common problems, and improve food security worldwide.

Additionally, the Abu Dhabi International Food Fair will be held as part of Food Week. It is expected that around 700 companies from more than 70 countries in the food and beverage industry will participate. The exhibition will showcase leading brands from around the world, representing the latest innovations in food technology and the sustainable food industry.

The exhibition serves as a comprehensive platform for establishing trade relations and sharing knowledge within the food sector. The Museum of Food of the Future will also be featured, an initiative launched by the Spanish Institute of Boards, which explores methods and innovations in zero-waste food production.

Seminars, discussions, and live contests related to coffee culture will be held on the Abu Dhabi Coffee Platform, organized as part of Global Food Week.

Michelin-starred chefs will demonstrate their culinary skills at Global Food Week Gourmet, blending global flavors with sustainable and innovative practices.

At the same time, the 10th Abu Dhabi Date Exhibition, which is part of the Week, will provide an ideal platform for networking among suppliers, manufacturers, specialists, and visitors in the date industry. More than 20 palm-producing countries will participate in the exhibition.

Additionally, the Guest Buyer program, designed to connect food and beverage suppliers with major buyers, will offer unique opportunities for building trade relationships in sectors such as catering, aviation, hospitality, and more.

Visitors to the exhibitions will have the chance to participate in sessions and discussions led by faculty from the University of the United Arab Emirates and other international academic institutions, gaining insights from future leaders in the field of food security innovation.

Global Food Week is being held under the patronage of the Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Board of the Abu Dhabi Organization for Agriculture and Food Security, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
MicroStrategy Makes Record-Breaking Bitcoin Purchase, Bolstering Its Holdings to Over $37 Billion

MicroStrategy has made headlines with its largest Bitcoin purchase to date, acquiring 55,500 BTC between Nov. 18 and 24 for $5.4 billion. The purchase, disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), was made at an average price of $97,862 per Bitcoin. This move elevates the companys total holdings to 386,700 BTC, valued at approximately $37.6 billion.

The firms cumulative Bitcoin investment now totals $21.9 billion, with an average acquisition cost of $56,761 per Bitcoin. The latest acquisition was funded through a $3 billion debt offering, netting $2.97 billion, alongside $2.46 billion raised from the sale of 5.6 million shares.

MicroStrategys recent Bitcoin activity reflects an intensification of its investment strategy. Earlier this month, the company purchased 51,780 BTC for $4.6 billion, following a $2 billion acquisition just weeks before. These aggressive buys coincide with Bitcoins price surge, nearing the $100,000 milestone.

Michael Saylor, MicroStrategys executive chairman, highlighted the company's growing stake via social media, pointing out its year-to-date Bitcoin yield of 59.3%. This proprietary metric tracks the increase in Bitcoin holdings against share dilution.

Despite its ambitious Bitcoin strategy, MicroStrategys stock has faced volatility. While shares surged by 4% during pre-market trading on Nov. 25, they closed the day down 1% at $418. The stock has risen 500% year-to-date, driven by Bitcoins record-setting rally.

However, the company has faced skepticism. Citron Research recently announced a short position against MicroStrategy, citing concerns over its valuation. The stock trades at a 2.5x premium relative to its Bitcoin holdings, which some analysts believe is unsustainable.

MicroStrategy has bold plans to raise $42 billion over the next three years via equity and fixed-income securities to fund additional Bitcoin acquisitions. Analysts at Bernstein estimate the firm could own 4% of Bitcoins total supply by 2033, potentially accumulating 830,000 BTC valued at $830 billion, assuming Bitcoin reaches $1 million per coin.

This month alone, MicroStrategy added 134,480 Bitcoin, valued at $13 billiona volume it previously took three years to acquire. Other firms are following its lead; Semler Scientific, a medical device maker, recently announced the purchase of 297 Bitcoin, bringing its total holdings to 1,570 BTC.

As Bitcoins price rallies, MicroStrategys position as the largest corporate Bitcoin holder solidifies. The companys strategy underscores its confidence in Bitcoin as a key asset for the long term.
MYSTIC, Conn. (WTNH)  High school students helped release a rehabilitated seal back into the ocean on Tuesday in Rhode Island, according to a press release from the Mystic Aquarium.

Students at Ella T. Grasso Technical High School in Groton were able to join scientists at the beach in Charleston, Rhode Island to watch the hooded seal return to its ocean home.

Hundreds watch Mystic Aquarium staff release 4 rehabilitated seals into the Madison coast

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is one of those experiences that I never would have guessed Id have the opportunity to have, but volunteering at the Aquarium through my school, it was amazing, high school student Christopher Prosdocimo said. Its like I became one with nature. I cant describe it.

The seal had arrived at the Mystic Aquarium after being found in Providence, Rhode Island back in September. The aquarium says that the seal was severely dehydrated and had a stomach full of rocks and gravel.

The seal was released with a satellite tag and an acoustic tag, contributing to research.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BENTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  At least one person was killed in a crash on Highway 70 Monday evening, according to a social media post from the Benton County Sheriffs Office.

The Benton County Sheriffs Office said the road would be shut down for at least a few hours, if not until morning, due to a fatality wreck near Big Daddys.

 Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts 

An hour later, the Benton County Sheriffs Office added that a water main broke during the course of the crash on Highway 70 E.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Due to the loss of water, it is asked to conserve as much water as possible, by using only that water that is essential, a Facebook post from the sheriffs office reads, in part.

Benton County Schools will be closed on Tuesday, Nov. 26 due to damage on the main water line servicing the city of Camden, officials said.

Camden Water and Wastewater System reported that a HAZMAT team was coming from Illinois to remove a tanker full of anhydrous ammonia.

A boil water advisory remains in effect in the area. A water distribution point has since been set up at the old Walmart building at 190 Highway 641 North in Camden, officials said. Supplies are limited, so cases are limited to one per household.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The roadway fully reopened to traffic around 7 a.m. Tuesday. However, later that same day, Nichole Lawrence with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) advised travelers to be ready for possible full closure again as crews continue to clean up the crash site.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

News 2 has reached out to the Benton County Sheriffs Office for more information.

 Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go.

 Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox.

 Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee.

This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa (KCAU)  After months of construction, Highway 75 through Sioux Center is opening back up to traffic for the winter.

In a release Monday, the city announced that an ongoing four-year, 2.5-mile project, which is a collaboration between the city and the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), is about halfway done. The project aims to rebuild Highway 75 based on safety, function, and showcasing Sioux Centers character, the city says.

Sioux City council passes proposal for barge terminal

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During 2024 in particular, contractors substantially completed the first phase from 20th Street South to 13th Street South. Paving, landscaped medians, streetlights and trail connections have all been added, according to the release.

Contractors then began work on the second phase, which has included removing old pavement, adding traffic signals, laying new concrete, and more from 13th Street South to 5th Street South. Some additional work on this segment is set to be finished in the spring of 2025.

We truly appreciate the progress crews made this year and especially want to thank the community for their patience in enduring this season of construction, Sioux Centers assistant utilities manager Adam Fedders said in a statement.

Once construction starts up again next spring, contractors will begin to focus on improvements from 5th Street South to around Central Park, a section which includes downtown Sioux Center. Then, in 2026, the project will wrap up with construction taking place from near Central Park to 12th Street North.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sioux Gateway Airport sees increase in business

This is a complex project, and progress takes time, Sioux Centers utilities manager Murray Hulstein said in a statement. Along with repaving the highway, were making the long-term investment of underground utility replacements to set Sioux Center up well for the future.

The second phase of the project, which started this year and consists of the rest of the project, was approved last year for about $29 million.

The Iowa DOT is also planning an additional improvement project on Highway 75, which would go from 12th Street North to Highway 18 near Hull, Iowa. You can learn more and submit feedback online until Dec. 2 by clicking here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A man was arrested in Hillsboro on Nov. 25 for driving on Highway 26 with a blood-alcohol content nearly four times the legal limit, police say.

Medford resident Skylar Peplinski, 35, was allegedly seen driving on the rims of white Toyota Tundra at speeds close to 100 mph prior to his arrest, according to the Hillsboro Police Department.

A few minutes later, callers to 911 reported the pickup crashed near Brookwood Parkway, HPD said. Officers located the pickup truck and the driver.  Peplinskis blood alcohol content was found to be .29%

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hillsboro woman dies on motorized scooter after being struck by car

Peplinski was booked into the Washington County Jail for DUII and Reckless Driving. He has since been released from jail.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Hillsboro police are requesting public assistance in tracking down a suspect who is accused of robbing a bar Thursday night.

Hillsboro woman dies on motorized scooter after being struck by car

Authorities responded to the robbery at Dottys on SE Tualatin Valley Highway just after 2 p.m.

A suspect demanded cash and discharged a firearm inside the business. Thankfully, no one was injured, and the suspect fled the scene without receiving any cash, police said.

Hillsboro police are requesting public assistance in tracking down a suspect who is accused of robbing a bar Thursday night. (HPD)

Anyone with information about the incident or the identity of the suspect is asked to call police.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  The Hinds County Election Commission worked to finalize the preparations for a runoff election on Tuesday for one of the countys judicial seats.

Officials want to make sure voters head to the right location to cast their ballots.

They can go to the Hinds County website. Theres a link there. Then go to the Secretary of States website. Theres a link there. And if all else fails, they can call here, and we can tell them where they need to go and vote, said Yvonne Horton, Hinds County District 4 Election Commissioner.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

State Auditor calls for more money in Mississippi classrooms

Bridgette Morgan and Yemi Kings are in the race for the District 2 judge seat. Each candidate has key issues that theyre focusing on with both honing in on youth and the jail system.

I kind of serve as a dual core prosecutor and a youth court mentor and a second chance program. So Ive, you know, kind of got a front row seat, you know, to whats going on with our youth in the criminal system. I want to continue in my role as a mentor, but I also want to bring some of the programs over to the county court because, with our youth court, second chance mentorship program, that is 18. But, you know, we still get people that are technically minors, between the ages of 19, 20 and 21, that can still benefit from those services. And I want to bring it over to the county court, said Kings.

The overcrowded jails, the young people who are charged as adults and also the budget that were dealing with the city. So if you have overcrowded jails, this is built into the county budget, as well as the municipal court budget, because youre charging people $50 per day per inmate, right? And that and people are now sending people to Tallahatchie because were overcrowded And so, the concerns for me with the young people are those people who are charged as adults. Theyre young folks, and were filling the jails with them, as well. But I want to see them in the places like Job Corps right now. Right now, Job Corps does not participate in court ordered Job Corps. And so when I met with them and took a tour there, they were open to partnering with me if I should win the election, said Morgan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily News

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV.
Big news for nature lovers: The Wildlife Trusts purchased a big chunk of the 9,500-acre Rothbury Estate from a royal English family to restore its natural beauty.

Owned by the Duke of Northumberland's son, the estate was previously used for fishing, shooting, and sheep farming, the Guardian reported. But under the Wildlife Trusts' care, shooting is out, and regenerative agriculture is in. The British charity network will work with locals to grow fruits and veggies and produce sustainable meats while shaping the estate's future together.

The purchase makes history as the largest land sale in England in 30 years  bringing the UK one step closer to its goal to protect 30% of its land for nature by 2030.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The Rothbury Estate will come to play a key role in revitalizing local economies, delivering multiple societal and environmental benefits  and it'll provide the most amazing example for the rest of the country on a scale not seen before," the Wildlife Trusts' chief executive Craig Bennett said in a release.

The newly purchased land includes woodlands, riversides, and farmland home to red squirrels, bumblebees, merlins, cuckoos, red grouse, and emperor moths. Bennett envisions the area as a biodiversity hotspot, telling the Guardian, "We want Northumberland to become an amazing destination for eco-tourism."

Land trusts like this don't just protect cute critters; they help rehabilitate land, safeguard waterways, and capture carbon from the atmosphere. Trusts also improve quality of life.

For instance, in the U.S., the Kestrel Land Trust is overseeing 53 acres of land in Easthampton, Massachusetts, in a mixed-use project with 42 acres of protected green space alongside affordable housing in an effort to address the need for conservation and affordable housing in an area that can benefit from both.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Rothbury project is just the beginning for local conservationists. The Wildlife Trusts plan to buy the rest of the Rothbury Estate over the next two years once it secures enough funding.

"We're very excited to be part of a once in a generation opportunity for securing a stunning area of countryside where people and nature can thrive side by side," Northumberland Wildlife Trust's chief executive Mike Pratt said in a release.

Northumberland county councilor Steven Bridgett told BBC he would be watching the project closely.

"Whether this benefits the local community, those that have farmed the land for generations and have put food on our tables, remains to be seen," Bridgett said. "The environment is important but just as important is food security and we can't eat bark."

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The News

Global HIV infection rates are dropping rapidly, a new study found, but likely not fast enough to meet the United Nations 2030 target to cut HIV incidence and death by 90% from 2010 levels.

New infections dropped by a fifth between 2010 and 2021, while HIV-related deaths fell by 40% in the same period. Preventative treatments are driving the decline, with the most precipitous drop in new infections seen in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the study found, although overall rates of infection remain highest there.

New vaccines are raising hopes that the disease may soon be eradicated; one recent clinical trial in Africa found a twice-yearly injection of an antiviral drug protected young women from the disease: Africa is excited, women are excited, we have waited long for this, one Ugandan healthcare worker told The New York Times of the trial.

A chart showing the estimated number of people living with HIV globally.

SIGNALS

Africas progress must not breed complacency, health advocates say

Source: The Economist

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Africa has borne the brunt of the global HIV pandemic; with the greatest number of people infected and the extremely high cost of early treatments, for years most all infected people were expected to die from HIV/AIDS. Now, most people infected with HIV are receiving some treatment, The Economist wrote, with the majority of gains being seen in Africa. Yet the success has come with a danger of complacency, a public health advocate with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria warned: There is a diminishing sense of urgency. The battle to reach the UNs 2030 target still faces significant roadblocks, he added, including stigma, gaps in prevention measures, and the criminalization of homosexuality in some African nations.

Eastern Europe is an outlier  Russian influence could be the reason

Sources: The Guardian, Carnegie Politika

Global HIV infections are diminishing, but in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, AIDS-related deaths have risen 34% since 2010, The Guardian reported, while the new study also found similar worrisome trends. Russias hardline approach to drug use and the LGBTQ population, as well as a proliferation of Kremlin-inspired laws in neighboring countries that put stricter controls on foreign charities and organizations, have significantly hampered prevention and treatment efforts in the region, public health advocates told the outlet. Russian influence is clear and growing, Michel Kazatchkine, the special adviser to WHO Europe, said.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  The Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center announced the death of Ho Ho the Sun Bear Monday evening.

Ho Ho was born Oct. 19, 1989 at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, according to a news release from the Zoo. Ho Ho was believed to be the oldest Sun Bear in North America. He has been at the Topeka Zoo since 2017, after being at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha.

Ho Ho brought an extraordinary light to the Topeka Zoo. He was a favorite among staff, guests, and fans across the country. His personality and charm reminded us all why we do what we do, said Fawn Moser, Deputy Director of the Zoo.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the news release, Ho Ho became a star on social media. People traveled from different states to visit him, and even sent him a birthday card on his 35th birthday. Zookeepers made Ho Hos 35th birthday decorations to fit the presidential theme; as a way to honor his age eligibility to run for office, according to the news release.

What are the risks for flying a drone near an accident?

While we mourn his passing, we also celebrate the incredible impact Ho Ho had on the lives of so many. He will forever hold a special place in our hearts and in the legacy of the Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center. Statement excerpt from Topeka Zoo news release

The Topeka Zoo encourages people to share favorite memories and messages on its social media channels.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The residents of Rock Springs Vista are now left trying to figure out their next move as their HOA voted in favor of increasing their communitys fees by 168%.

Long-time resident Kara Jones said since the meeting was canceled, she and the others want a recall.

It is my understanding that if you cancel a meeting, especially if its a budget meeting, you cannot ratify that budget so because theres people who werent able to attend the meeting, I had a ton of questions that I never got to ask, Jones said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jones stating that its the lack of transparency between the board and the residents that is so frustrating.

The jump that we are experiencing from $278 to $416 is enormous, Jones added. I want our monthly assessment to be reasonable and I also want it to be able to fund our community. About 80% of the people who live in our community are retired or disabled and on a fixed income.

8 News Now spoke with attorney, Nick Haley with the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada who shared that there are ways to fight this.

In the case of an old association, youre eventually going to have to replace plumbing, sewer lines, etc. These are expensive items, so you need the money for them, but you also need to prepare your residents for those expenses, Haley added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Also stating that if a board meeting is canceled and doesnt allow its residents in, its violating NRS 116. Residents can also file a complaint with the Real Estate Division of Nevada which regulates and enforces HOA laws.

Rock Springs Vista HOA President, Marcus Gafter shared his side, acknowledging that things got out of hand at the meeting but insists that this increase is warranted.

Most of our expenses are unavoidable, Gafter shared with 8 News Now. Republic services, water, plumbing, we inherited an absolute disaster of plumbing from our previous board.

The next Rock Springs Vista HOA meeting is set for January.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Moldova's energy minister has reportedly held talks with the CEO of Gazprom to discuss alternative routes for supplying Russian gas to the countrys breakaway region, Transdniestria, if transit through Ukraine ceases, reported Reuters, citing sources.

The current gas transit agreement between Ukraine and Russia is set to end on 31 December 2024, and Ukraine has announced it will not extend it. This poses challenges for Transdniestria, a region reliant on Russian gas.

"They (Energy Minister Victor Parlicov and CEO Alexei Miller) focused on alternative routes for gas supplies to the Transdniestrian region of Moldova, if transit through Ukraine is disrupted," Moldova's Energy Ministry said in a statement after the talks in St Petersburg.

Transdniestria hosts a significant power plant fuelled by Russian gas, supplying electricity to both the breakaway region and much of Moldova. This plant is crucial for Transdniestria's economy.

Under President Maia Sandu, Moldova has reduced its dependency on Russian gas since 2022, opting for European suppliers. However, Gazprom continues to supply Transdniestria at no cost.

The recent talks marked a rare official meeting between Moldova and Russia, whose relations have been strained since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which Moldova condemned.

Parlicov told Reuters that the talks were critical to ensuring stability in Moldova and the region.

Parlicov said: "We are not waiting until the last minute to address these challenges and are taking calculated steps to manage any risks. Engaging in dialogue with Gazprom is a necessary part of assessing the state of play and identifying workable solutions."

"As part of this effort, I have met Gazprom as the deadline for reserving capacity on an alternative route approaches."

If Ukraine ends Russian gas transit, an alternative route for Transdniestria could involve the TurkStream pipeline through Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania.

Gazprom announced that both parties "agreed to continue discussing options for organising deliveries of Russian natural gas to Moldova from 1 January 2025".

Parlicov noted that Moldovagaz, a Gazprom subsidiary managing gas distribution in Moldova, had proactively reached out to Gazprom to explore alternative delivery routes.

"While we have not yet received a response, we remain fully engaged in exploring all viable options to safeguard Moldovas energy needs.

"The destabilisation of Moldova's Transdniestria region serves no one's interests  not Moldova's, not Ukraine's and certainly not the European Union's," he added.
WROC is encourages you to SHOP LOCAL this holiday season! Support the following local businesses below that showcase their hot holiday gifts for this shopping season!

Crossfield Heating & Air Conditioning

Click for website

44 Donovan St., Webster

Longtime HVAC contractor offering installations and repairs, as well as maintenance and energy audits.

Dash Fun Machines

Click for website

2366, NY-332, Canandaigua

Powersports dealer selling motorcycles by Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Stark, and Stacyc, plus offering repairs.

Limelight Auto

Click for website

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

1175 Ridge Rd., Webster

Company providing window tinting, car detailing, remote car starters, and other auto services.

Performance Hobbies

Click for website

15 W. Main St., Webster

Independent hobby shop offering model kits and supplies for cars, planes, boats, and more.

The Strong National Museum of Play

Click for website

1 Manhattan Square Dr., Rochester

The Strong is a highly interactive, collections-based museum devoted to the history and exploration of play.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
Editors Note: CNNs 5 Things newsletter is your one-stop shop for the latest headlines and fascinating stories to start and end your busy day. Sign up here.

 Welcome to 5 Things PM! A majority of social media influencers dont verify information before sharing it with their audiences, according to a new study, underscoring concerns that some of the biggest online figures are spreading misleading claims.

Heres what else you might have missed during your busy day:

5 things

Brendan McDermid/Reuters

1 Holiday shopping: Americans plan to spend about $900 on average this year on gifts, food, decorations and other seasonal items. Black Friday is nearly here, and the sales are in full swing. Heres what you can expect from retailers in the weeks ahead.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

2 Fueling a frenzy: A former neighbor of Lyle and Erik Menendez in California described the fascination surrounding the brothers murder case as chaotic. A Netflix documentary put them back in the spotlight and made their previous home a tourist destination again.

3 Ancient rituals: Researchers discovered residue from psychedelic drugs, bodily fluids and alcohol inside a 2,000-year-old mug. The new findings suggest that Egyptians drank hallucinogenic beverages during religious ceremonies.

4 Yea or nay? Some people have strong feelings about whether its OK to pee in the shower. Urologists say its generally fine, but there are certain situations when using the shower as a makeshift toilet might not be a good idea.

5 A life well-lived: John Tinniswood, the worlds oldest man, died at the age of 112 surrounded by music and love, his family said. He recently described his longevity as pure luck but shared some advice for younger generations.

Watch this

 Lotsa pasta: Tori Paschal said hosting a Thanksgiving feast for seven people cost her almost $500 last year. With food prices still high and a baby on the way, shes making spaghetti this year.

Top headlines

 What could get more expensive if Trump launches a new trade war with Mexico and Canada

 Israeli security cabinet approves Lebanon ceasefire deal, after 11th-hour strikes on central Beirut

 Analysis: Alito is determined to tear up precedent in Trumps next term. Kagan will try to save it

Whats buzzing

 Feuding rappers: Drake accused a record company of using bots to artificially inflate Kendrick Lamars song Not Like Us on Spotify. The diss track has nearly 900 million streams on the platform, according to the petition.

Check this out

 Flying high: British Airways is taking luxury to new heights. The airline just unveiled a refreshed design for first-class seats on its A380 planes, and theyre set to debut in 2026.

British Airways

Quotable

 Tough times: Although Delaware just elected Sarah McBride, making her the first out transgender person to serve in Congress, people in the trans community say theyre on edge after Donald Trumps election victory.

Quiz time

Ting Shen/Bloomberg/Getty Images

 Red Lobster brought back which beloved menu item after emerging from bankruptcy?

A. Endless shrimp

B. Hush puppies

C. Cheddar bay biscuits

D. Endless lobster

 Scroll down for the answer.

Good vibes

 Too cool for school: More than 220 projects entered a prestigious international architecture competition, and a humble suburban school in Australia beat out skyscrapers, museums and airport terminals to be named the worlds best new building. Take a look.

Thanks for reading

 Well see you tomorrow.

 Quiz answer: B. The cornmeal fritters are returning to the menu, but dont expect to see the endless shrimp deal anytime soon.

 Check out all of CNNs newsletters.

5 Things PM is produced by CNNs Tricia Escobedo, Chris Good, Meghan Pryce and Kimberly Richardson.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP)  The finalist for the Holyoke Police chief position will be interviewed by Mayor Joshua Garcia in a public session next week.

Holyoke fire crews called to building fire on Cabot Street

This will be conducted in the City Council Chambers at Holyoke City Hall on Thursday, December 5.

The interview will conclude a competitive selection process by Public Safety Consultants. Mayor Garcia invites the public to attend the interview in person. For those unable to attend, the interview will be streamed live.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The suspect accused in a home invasion that led to a deadly police shooting was a no-show in court Tuesday morning on a new charge of lewdness.

Alejandra Boudreaux, 31, was scheduled to appear in a Las Vegas courtroom on the lewdness charge but refused to be transported from jail to the courthouse. This is the third time Boudreaux has refused to go to court.

She was forced to appear in court on Monday where she lifted her shirt and exposed a breast in the courtroom. She was escorted from the courtroom and later charged with lewdness in addition to the other charges she already faced in the police shooting that left a homeowner who called 911 dead.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Boudreaux is currently being held on a $1 million bail on charges related to the death of Brandon Durham, 43, who was shot by a police officer on Nov. 11. Las Vegas Metropolitan police responded to Dunhams home after he called 911 to report a home invasion. LVMPD Officer Alexander Bookman shot and killed Dunham as he struggled with Boudreaux over a knife.

Boudreaux told police she had a casual sexual relationship with Durham. Boudreaux is a transgender woman with a criminal history in Florida.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (DC News Now)  The holiday season will be extra special for a young family in Washington County as they move into a new, affordable home.

The nonprofit Habitat for Humanity is helping families in the area who face barriers to home ownership.

Kimberly Israela and her family eagerly anticipate their new home, which was made possible with the organizations help.

Its nice to have somewhere we can be settled and be secure and call home, said Israela.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Melanie Watts and LaKenya Austin work for the nonprofit and guided the Israela family through the qualification process.

It is a wonderful program, said Watts. We provide home ownership for people who may not be able to afford a traditional loan on their own.

Pharmacy technician program puts high school graduates on career track

Austin emphasized the work that not only the organization but also the families involved put in to make it possible.

It is a hand up, not a handout, she noted. The Israelas had to go through a process of helping to build their own home.

Habitat construction manager Bill Rizetto started the week putting the finishing touches on the home the Israela family will move into.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were doing the best we can through our no interest loans and other programs, Rizetto said. Were able to make a difference.

The Israela family settles on their new home this week and moves in next week, after Thanksgiving.

Im excited; were getting in before Christmas. I love decorating for Christmas, and thatll be nice for the kids to be settled in, Israela 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 DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Joe Rogan, one of the world's most popular podcasters, has sparked outrage in Ukraine, after claiming that Kyiv and its Western allies, rather than Russia, "are about to start World War III."

In an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience last Friday, the U.S. host criticized the outgoing President Joe Bidens administration for allowing Ukraine to strike with Storm Shadow and ATACMS long-range missiles deep into Russian territory.

In response to their use, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "test" of a nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missile, carried out in a strike on the city of Dnipro, central Ukraine on Nov. 21.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite the long-running nuclear rhetoric emanating from the Kremlin, and the fact Moscow launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the first place, Rogan pinned all the blame for the escalation of international tensions on Biden and President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"How are you allowed to (authorize strikes inside Russia) when you are on your way out? Like, people dont want you to be there anymore," Rogan said. There should be some sort of pause for significant actions that could potentially start World War III.

"Zelensky says Putin is terrified. F**k you, man. You f**king people are about to start World War III," Rogan said, adding that negotiations with Moscow should be the path Kyiv pursues over military action.

Rogan also repeated unfounded stories that Zelensky uses drugs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"This is cocaine-like behavior. Putins f**king scared, man, Putins terrified. We got him. We got him, man, we got him.

"Like, what are you talking about? He has nuclear missiles. You f**king monkeys," Rogan said.

Prominent Ukrainians including former professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko, and former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba have publicly condemned Rogan's statements.

On Nov. 26, the Kyiv Independent went out on the streets of Kyiv to see what people thought about them.

Natalia Romanets, purchasing manager

Natalia Romanets, purchasing manager in Kyiv, Ukraine on Nov. 26, 2024. (The Kyiv Independent)

Let him come to Kyiv, let him come to Ukraine, see everything with his own eyes, and then make some conclusions. Because it's hard to assess the situation from so many thousands of kilometers away. I think he just doesn't feel or understand what is happening in the world.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It's strange. I thought Americans were polite, well-mannered people but what he is saying about us is simply offensive.

If he were attacked somewhere in America, at a gas station, for example, and they put a knife to his throat, how would he negotiate?

Maybe he knows some formula or scenarios for negotiating in such circumstances with a knife pressing on an artery. Its hard to talk when you're being killed.

Albina Volobuieva, sales worker

Albina Volobuueva, sales worker in Kyiv, Ukraine on Nov. 26, 2024. (The Kyiv Independent)

(Rogan) does not live in Ukraine, so he cannot comment on it. He has nothing to do with us. This war already feels like World War III to me  many countries are already involved, they help us in various ways, and they also suffer because of it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So, to me, World War III has already begun  and has been going for quite some time now.

I would be glad if this were over because I can't handle the constant deaths, explosions, people being taken away, and men going to war anymore. Life in the country is really tense right now. But if there were negotiations, they should be for the benefit of our country and our people.

This person's words are very strange and incorrect.

Yelyzaveta Kovalenko, social media manager

Yelyzaveta Kovalenko, social media manager in Kyiv, Ukraine on Nov. 26, 2024. (The Kyiv Independent)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We are now simply hostages of Russia, which has come to our land.

We didn't call them, we didn't start this war, and we didn't want it. We were living peaceful lives in Ukraine, and they just invaded us. We have nothing else left to defend ourselves with.

Putin will never be satisfied. Therefore, negotiations should only end with the recognition that we are a sovereign entity that no one else should touch.

(Rogan) has never been in a state of war for three years, like our president. Considering how tired he already is, how he has no strength left, one could think all kinds of things about him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But our president still addresses the Ukrainian people daily and supports us by doing that.

Introducing official merch

from the Kyiv Independent

Shop now

Liudmyla Kushnir, on maternity leave

I would say this podcaster transfers the responsibility of the Russians onto us. But thats not right. We did not start the war.

The responsibility is absolutely on them (Russians) for the possible start of World War III. We are being killed, and we have nothing left to do, only fight.

Who even said that Russia wants negotiations?

Oksana Hres, sales worker

Oksana Hres, sales worker in Kyiv, Ukraine on Nov. 26, 2024. (The Kyiv Independent)



Stop Putin, and then there will be no World War III.

Tell the mothers, children, and wives of tortured people about negotiations, about how you can somehow reach an agreement when you can't return the children who were tortured to death.

Viktor, programmer

As for his last words about World War III, I think he should remember the words of (Ukraine's former Commander-in-Chief Valerii) Zaluzhnyi about the fact that World War III has already begun, and so it makes sense to figure out what side he wants to be on.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To start negotiations, both sides need to want to do it. Unfortunately, no one is willing to make concessions right now.

Olha Serova, fashion industry manager

Olha Serova, fashion industry manager in Kyiv, Ukraine on Nov. 26, 2024. (The Kyiv Independent)

If I were to comment on this situation, I'd probably say f*ck you. What else can I say?

I think that advising to enter negotiations means he's only superficially observing the situation. Because if a person delves deeper into it, he will understand that negotiating with (Putin) is impossible.

Yuliia-Mariia Pismeniuk, economics student

The fact that Russia launches a bunch of missiles at Ukraine  is that normal? Should we feel safe?

We did not start this war. And in fact, the greater responsibility lies with Russia, with Putin, for starting World War III.

Mykola Korotkyi, video producer

Mykola Korotkyi, video producer in Kyiv, Ukraine on Nov. 26, 2024. (The Kyiv Independent)

Honestly, go f**k yourself. Come here, live here, and truly understand whats happening instead of making assumptions with your headlines.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We would then look at you as if you were actually experiencing whats happening in Ukraine every night. I'm not just talking about Kyiv, but places where glide bombs and other (weapons) are dropped. That's why someone like you, such a d*ckhead, shouldnt open your mouth.

If the U.S. had fulfilled their international agreements on time, supported Ukraine, and taken a proper stance on what was happening, there would be no World War III.

Read also: Kuleba: Joe Rogan, lets talk and set the record straight on Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong has become a center for financial crime as Beijing tightened its grip on the city, US lawmakers said, highlighting the worsening ties between the former British colony and Washington.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong in mid-2020, the city has shifted from a trusted global financial center to a critical player in the deepening authoritarian axis of China, Iran, Russia and North Korea, the heads of the House China Select Committee said in a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

The letter was signed by the committee chairman, Representative John Moolenaar of Michigan, and the panels top Democrat, Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois. They added that the shift raised questions over whether longstanding US policy towards Hong Kong, particularly towards its financial and banking sector, is appropriate.

Hong Kongs government didnt immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

The relationship between Hong Kong and the US has deteriorated over a crackdown on dissent that American officials say has eroded the rule of law and democratic rights.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

US lawmakers have stepped up efforts to penalize the city, though it remains unclear if those efforts will bear fruit. In September, the House passed a bill that could see the closure of the citys economic and trade offices in the US. The measure still needs to be approved by the Senate and signed by the president to become law.

President-elect Donald Trumps pick for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has said the offices are mouthpieces for the ruling Communist Party. Hong Kong officials have strongly condemned the bills passage, with Chief Executive John Lee saying American businesses will suffer if it is passed.

In their letter, Moolenaar and Krishnamoorthi said Hong Kong had become a global leader in illicit practices such as:

Giving Russia access to prohibited Western technology

Forming front companies for buying banned Iranian oil

Helping with the trade of gold from Russia

Running ships that conduct illegal trade with North Korea

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The letter also cited research that it said showed that some 40% of goods shipped to Russia from Hong Kong last year were on a common high priority list of items that the US and European Union use to focus sanctions enforcement.

Those items included semiconductors and other technology that Russia most needs for its war in Ukraine, the letter said.

In July, Ukraines then-foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, asked Lee to take steps to prevent Russia and its companies from using the city to circumvent sanctions put in place by Western governments over Moscows full-scale invasion in 2022.

The Hong Kong government said at the time it implements United Nation Security Council sanctions but didnt directly answer a question on whether it helped Moscow evade trade curbs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Chinas state-owned banks have tightened curbs on funding to Russian clients after the US authorized secondary sanctions on overseas financial firms that aid Moscows war effort, Bloomberg News reported earlier this year.

That move marked an escalation of curbs that state banks had in place since at least early 2022.

(Updates with more context.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  In the new year, Republicans will take control of the White House, the House and the Senate. So, it remains to be seen if bipartisan compromise will be common on Capitol Hill when one party has the upper hand.

Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) is proud of her reputation for successfully working with Republicans during her time in Congress.

I have found that there can be quite a lot of commonality issue to issue, Spanberger said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In January, when Republicans take over the majorities in both chambers of Congress, Spanberger wont be there. Shes leaving her House seat to run for governor of Virginia. But she has some advice for those left in the minority.

I hope that certainly my colleagues on the Democratic side of the aisle will find partners, if not in the White House, then in the halls of Congress, Spanberger said.

She says the key to that is finding shared interest in specific issues.

Building coalitions. And sometimes thats of course across party lines, sometimes its across region or topic, Spanberger said. Working with other members who have a lot of agriculture in their district, or focus on rural hospitals, or focus on infrastructure investments or broadband.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the past few years, the Senate has had support from members of both parties to pass major bills on issues like infrastructure, guns, and computer chips.

Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) is among a handful of Republicans who voted with the Democrats to pass those packages.

Ive got a lot of friends on the other side of the aisle that said thank you for being bipartisan. I tell them all the same thing: I cant wait to see you do the same, Tillis said.

He says Republicans had to compromise in this Congress in order to get things done. Next Congress the roles will be reversed.

My Democrat colleagues have not taken a bipartisan vote yet, Tillis said. When we have a majority in the Senate and Im trying to get something done Im going to see if they have the courage to take the heat back home for voting with Republicans on things that are going to help this country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He says he hopes to see that happen in areas like shoring up social security and reforming immigration policy.

Im equal opportunity. Ill spar with Republicans and Democrats when I think they stand in the way of good policy and Ill work with all of them when theyre willing to come together on good policy, Tillis 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 DC News Now | Washington, DC.
The North African country of Morocco has drafted regulations for the crypto sector, its central bank's head said Tuesday.

Abdellatif Jouahri, governor of Bank Al-Maghrib, did not provide many details about these regulations in a speech. The country previously banned crypto in 2017.

"In this regard, Bank Al-Maghrib, with the participation of all stakeholders and the support of the World Bank, has prepared a draft law regulating cryptoassets, which is currently in the adoption process," he said at an international conference in Rabat.

Morocco will also continue to explore whether or not central bank digital currencies - which are digital tokens issued by central banks - can contribute to the country's policy objectives like financial inclusion, he said. The country launched its CBDC project three years ago, though Jouahri did not share much detail about this effort either.

"It is a long-term endeavor that must take into account the national socioeconomic context, the evolution of the regional and international environment, as well as the impact on some of the missions of the central bank, particularly monetary policy and financial stability," he said.

African nations have been exploring how to regulate the sector in line with western countries. South Africa launched a licensing regime for firms last year, while Nigeria has lately been prioritizing an enforcement-based approach, as exemplified in its treatment of the Binance exchange and compliance chief Tigran Gambaryan.
Police in Laos have detained the manager and seven staff members of a backpacker hostel in Vang Vieng following the deaths of six tourists from suspected methanol poisoning, state media reported Tuesday.

Two Danish citizens, an American, a Briton and two Australians died following what media said was a night out in the town on November 12.

The victims include Briton Simone White, 28, two young Australians, Holly Bowles and her best friend Bianca Jones, and two young Danish women, Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, the BBC reported. Only one of the victims, 57-year-old U.S. citizen James Louis Hutson, was male.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police have detained the 34-year-old manager of the Nana Backpacker Hostel and seven other employees for interrogation, the Laos Post said on Tuesday.

Tourists leaving the Nana Backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, on Nov. 22, 2024. / Credit: Anupam Nath / AP

Local media reported that all those detained were Vietnamese nationals.

The owners of the hostel, which is now closed, have previously denied serving illicit alcohol, the BBC reported.

Vang Vieng has been a fixture on the Southeast Asia backpacker trail since Laos' secretive communist rulers opened the country to tourism decades ago.

The town was once synonymous with alcohol and drug-fuelled jungle parties for backpackers but has since re-branded as an eco-tourism destination.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Alcohol tainted with methanol is suspected to be the cause of the deaths.

Methanol is a toxic alcohol that can be added to liquor to increase its potency but can cause blindness, liver damage and death.

On their travel advice websites, U.K. and Australian authorities have warned their citizens to beware of methanol poisoning while consuming alcohol in Laos.

On Saturday the Laos government expressed "sincere sympathy and deepest condolences to the families of the deceased," adding an investigation was underway to find the cause of the incident.

Lowrider cars celebrated as cultural symbol among Mexican Americans | 60 Minutes

UATX says it fights college censorship culture with a focus on free speech | 60 Minutes

Sneak peek: The Firefighter's Secret
Nov. 25A house fire killed two people near Coeur d'Alene on Sunday night, the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.

911 callers reported sounds of an explosion on the 8600 block of West Carnie Road around 7:30 p.m., the release said. When Kootenai County deputies arrived, the home was fully engulfed in flames.

Once the fire was extinguished several hours later, firefighters found two people dead in the rubble, the release said. The Idaho State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.

The identities of the victims have not been released.
The bombardment of northern Israel from Lebanon continued on Tuesday, despite hopes of an early ceasefire.

A house in the border town of Kiryat Shmona was directly hit and damaged by a new rocket salvo, Israeli media reported. There were initially no reports of any injuries.

After more than a year of war, there are growing signs of an imminent ceasefire between Israel and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to media reports, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to convene the security Cabinet on Tuesday evening to approve a 60-day ceasefire with Hezbollah.

Lebanese government sources in Beirut have also expressed optimism.
House Republicans are pushing back on Senate GOP negotiators over how long to extend President-elect Trumps tax cuts, which are due to expire at the end of 2025.

Sources familiar with the early discussions between Senate and House Republicans say the House GOP is floating the idea of a four-year extension of the law so its impact on the federal deficit, as determined by the Joint Committee on Taxation, wont give House conservatives sticker shock.

Sources familiar with the closely held talks emphasize they are fluid and nothing has been decided yet.

Were having conversations with them and with our colleagues about that and so those are continuing, incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said of the discussions over how long to extend the Trump tax cuts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) and House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) know theyll be operating with a very small majority next year and wont be able to afford more than a few defections from fiscal conservatives in the GOP conference.

Thats why theyre mindful about how much a package could add to the deficit.

A 10-year extension of Trumps tax cuts would add more than $4 trillion, which might not sit well with fiscal hawks in the House who are alarmed over the size of the nations $36 trillion debt. Of that staggering sum, $28.5 trillion is held by the public and $7.4 trillion is held by the government.

A shorter-term extension of the expiring tax law  say, a four-year extension  would be scored by the Joint Committee on Taxation as adding much less to the deficit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A tax package with a smaller price tag would be easier to pass through the House and would require fewer offsets to placate conservatives worried about the political optics and fiscal implications of adding more than $4 trillion to the debt.

Senate Republicans, who will be operating with a comfortable 53-seat majority next year, want to extend the expiring Trump tax cuts for at least another 10 years, which would give individuals, families and many businesses more certainty about the future.

Thune, a member of the Finance Committee who was a key architect of the 2017 tax law, signaled that his preference is for a 10-year extension. But he cautioned that leaders need to figure out what package can get the votes to pass.

Its certainly aspirational, he said of a 10-year extension. But its always going to be what the traffic will bear.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Weve got to figure what the House can pass and what we can pass, but we are having those discussions as we speak, he said.

One Senate Republican source called the House GOPs concerns about the budgetary impact of the tax package and the desire to limit its duration bananas, arguing that a full 10-year extension should be the starting point of any talks.

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), who will take over as chair of the powerful Senate Finance Committee next year, is calling on Republicans to adopt a novel budget concept.

He says the GOP should score the tax package as a continuation of current policy, which means the cuts set to expire at the end of the year wouldnt count if they are extended. That interpretation would lead to a much smaller budgetary score.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Congress has always scored tax cuts under current law.

Since the Trump cuts are due to expire at the end of next year, the cost under current law of extending them another decade would be huge  more than $4 trillion  compared to letting them expire.

Crapo says the traditional scoring system, which would calculate the tax package as adding to the deficit, is broken.

Under our current scoring rules, the failure to stop tax increases from happening is being considered a deficit, he told Larry Kudlow in an interview on Fox Business, warning that if the Trump tax cuts expire, its a $4 trillion tax increase on Americans, $2.5 trillion of which will fall on people making less than $400,000 [per year].

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There is a difference between a tax increase and $4 trillion of spending, and we just have to get that message out to America, he said.

Crapo says hes talked to Trump about the issue and that the president-elect agrees with his view.

He agrees. He knows that we have got to be bold and strong and tell the American people whats really going here in this fight, and he wants to go big, he said.

We could try to change the baseline, and we may be able to do that and force them to score it differently, Crapo said of the steps GOP lawmakers could take to guide the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation, the agencies that will calculate the official price tag of the tax bill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A spokesperson for Senate Finance Committee Republicans said they want to extend the Trump tax cuts for as long as possible.

Many Senate Republicans have expressed a desire for as much permanency as possible, Amanda Critchfield said.

Some conservative Republicans are already balking at the idea that the tax bills impact on the deficit can be waved away by scoring it as a continuation of current policy, calling Crapos argument a budgetary gimmick.

The need to offset is certainly something that is on our radar, a conservative GOP aide said. A very large portion of this  I would love to start at all of it  should be paid for by following through on President Trumps promise to downsize government.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reconciliation seems like a pretty solid opportunity to make that happen, the source added.

The aide said, the Finance Committee and Ways and Means folks may be squabbling over how to decrease the score as much as possible because they dont want to go as far as we probably should to pay for it.

The source warned that some conservatives might have a problem voting for a tax package that is scored as adding trillions of dollars to the deficit if it isnt paired with major spending cuts.

Just a few defections in the House would be enough to sink a tax bill if Democrats stay unified and vote against it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rohit Kumar, co-leader of PwCs national tax office and a former Senate GOP leadership aide, said while Crapos strategy of not scoring the budgetary impact of the tax package up front may be a tough decision to make politically, it would avoid other tough decisions in the future.

If we use the current policy baseline, then we dont have to worry about the beyond-the-budget-window effects and we can do permanence. And if we cant do permanence, we can at least do 10 years, he said. His argument is, we make one decision up front  and it makes every decision that we make afterward a lot easier.

The contrasting approach is that first decision is too hard to make, we cant make it, we have to stick to the current-law baseline. And then you end up making a bunch of smaller but maybe more hard choices: Which provisions to extend? How long to extend them? Which offsetting tax increases can pass muster? Which offsetting spending reductions can pass muster?

Right now, Republicans are projected to control at least 220 House seats, and Democrats are projected to control at least 213. There are undecided races in Californias 13th and 45th districts, where ballots are still being counted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the projected math is further complicated by the departure of several Republican lawmakers who will join the Trump administration, such as Rep. Mike Waltz (Fla.), who is resigning in January to become Trumps national security adviser.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Nearly half of the students in the Sioux Falls School District are on free or reduced meals.

But what about families who have applied and dont qualify, but still struggle?

Update: 14 Sioux Falls homicides mapped in 2024

A non-profit is stepping in to help and you can help increase the impact.

Mark Fonder is in the restaurant business. He owns the Barrel House and Kravn.

But he doesnt just have a passion for feeding customers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He also helps raise money for school meals through the non-profit he co-founded, Hungry Hearts.

Basic needs. Make sure theyve got a hot meal and can learn, Fonder said.

On Monday, Hungry Hearts announced a big pledge to the Sioux Falls School Districts Angel Fund.

This money is helping kids whose families have applied for free and reduced benefits, and theyve been denied. And weve got some different brackets and ways theyre helping them out. Theyre covering the complete meal cost for some kids, and weve got some matching funds for others, SFSD Child Nutrition Coordinator Gay Anderson said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The non-profit will match up to $100,000 in donations to the fund, bringing the total to $200,000.

Were only the vessel. The community is the one who is supporting all of this, and were able to do it because of the community, Hungry Hearts Vice President Jesse Severson said.

The money will cover the needs of about 480 kids this school year.

Were not trying to give them something they dont need. Were trying to give them something they need to grow and develop, Severson said.

Theyre going to be the future, leaders, workers, everything. We want to make sure they have the basic necessities to learn, Fonder said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hungry Hearts announced the pledge to the school board Monday.

To help out, you can donate directly to the Angel Fund.





Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SHARKEY COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV)  Hunters found skeletal remains in the Delta National Forest in Sharkey County.

Sharkey County Coroner Robert Barfield said the remains were found on November 20. He said the remains had been there for some time.

Man shot, killed over pair of tennis shoes in Jackson

The remains were sent to the crime lab in order to be identified.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) is assisting the Sharkey County Sheriffs Office with the case.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily News

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV.
The husband of a woman who was found murdered in the boot of a car was previously arrested after his wife made a report of domestic abuse against him.

An international manhunt has been launched for Pankaj Lamba after the body of 24-year-old Harshita Brella was found in Ilford, east London, on Nov 14.

Ms Brella is believed to have been killed in Corby, Northamptonshire, on Nov 10, with 23-year-old Lamba named by police as a prime suspect in her killing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has said they are investigating Northamptonshire Police after Ms Brella made a report of domestic abuse in August.

Lamba was then arrested on Sept 3 and released with bail conditions and a domestic violence protection notice, they added.

Detectives from Northamptonshire Police believe Pankaj Lamba has fled the country - Northamptonshire Police

Derrick Campbell, the IOPC regional director, said: We will be examining the police response to Ms Brellas report of domestic abuse made at the end of August this year. We will look into further contact Northamptonshire Police had with Ms Brella concerning the case.

Our investigation will consider the actions and decisions taken by Northamptonshire Police in relation to the report made by Ms Brella and their subsequent investigation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Our thoughts are with Ms Brellas family and all those affected by her death. We will be contacting Ms Brellas family to explain our role and express our sincere condolences.

The family paid tribute to Ms Brella in a statement released this week.

Speaking from their home in India, they said: Harshita, you left this world but you are still with us in our hearts and will always be there. We will never forget you till our last breath. Always stay with us. We miss you in every moment of our life.

Ms Brellas family have also criticised the police for alleged failings in the case.

Her elder sister, Sonia Dabas, told the Guardian: I believe the police did not do enough to help her or protect my sister. She reported her abuse but the police processes just made her feel even more scared and alone. It drove her back to Pankaj.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Nov. 26 (UPI) -- An Osprey V-22 helicopter in the Marine Corps' HMX-1 presidential fleet with White House staff and officials aboard was grounded after an engine caught fire during a "Friendsgiving" trip to New York City accompanying President Joe Biden.

The passengers were safely transferred onto a second Osprey and continued their journey after the incident, which occurred Monday as they were being flown from a U.S. Coast Guard event on Staten Island.

The incident came as Democratic Massachusetts lawmakers Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, and Rep. Richard Neal wrote to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, urging him to ground the entire Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey fleet in the wake of numerous incidents, most recently a crash off Japan that killed eight U.S. servicemen in Japan in November 2023.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Given the current concerns about the safety of the V-22, the aircraft should be grounded, and should not be deployed again until the platform's significant deficiencies are fully addressed," the lawmakers wrote.

The entire fleet of V-22 Ospreys -- a hybrid aircraft that takes off, hovers and lands like a helicopter but flies like a regular plane -- across the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and the presidential fleet was grounded in December 2023 after the Japan tragedy and only cleared to resume operating in March, albeit with some restrictions.

A Pentagon investigation found the crash was caused by a "catastrophic failure" of a part in one of its proprotor gearboxes and pilot error.

Naval Air Systems Command said at the time that it had made the call to allow the V-22s to return to flight following "a meticulous and data-driven approach prioritizing the safety of our aircrews" that involved testing "risk-mitigation controls."

However, command officials refused to identify the component that failed. They insisted the processes they had implemented would allow the aircraft to resume flying safely.
The Kindship in Demand Act, or KIND Act, (HB4781) is a bill making its way through the Illinois Legislature to make it easier for kids in foster care to stay with their families.

Our Quad Cities News Illinois Capitol Bureau correspondent Theodora Koulouvaris explains how its focus is for family members taking care of a child to have the financial resources they need.

For more information, click here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
By Ludwig Burger and Stine Jacobsen

(Reuters) - Shares of weight-loss drugmakers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly rose on Tuesday after U.S. President Joe Biden proposed expanding coverage of anti-obesity drugs under state-run health plans and as a potential rival drug missed expectations in a trial.

Under the proposal, out-of-pocket expenses for the drugs would be reduced for millions of Americans on Medicare and Medicaid, for some by as much as 95%.

"This is an important step forward for patients," Novo Nordisk said in a statement commenting on the proposal, adding that the coverage could become effective in 2026.

Novo shares pared initial gains of as much as 4.9% to trade 1.5% higher at 1445 GMT. U.S. peer Eli Lilly shares were up over 3%.

Alexander Jenke, a portfolio manager at Medical Strategy in Munich, which manages 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) in assets, said previous trial results on cardiovascular health benefits of Novo's weekly shot Wegovy had paved the way for the policy change.

"Its a logical step after a number of trial results that showed a positive effect on co-morbidities beyond just weight loss. But there remains some uncertainty as to how the next administration will deal with this," said Jenke.

Separately, a would-be challenger in the fast-growing obesity therapy market, Amgen, said its experimental drug MariTide led to an average weight loss of up to 20% in a mid-stage trial with overweight or obese participants.

Amgen's shares were down nearly 8% ahead of the U.S. market open, as the data fell short of investor expectations.

Medical Strategy's Jenke said both pieces of news were probably buoying Novo shares and that the prospect of less aggressive rivalry from Amgen also helped Lilly's stock.

Current rules for the Medicare and Medicaid health insurance programmes cover the use of drugs such as Lilly's Mounjaro and Novo's Ozempic and Wegovy for certain conditions like diabetes, but not for obesity as a condition on its own.

The White House said in a statement the proposal could lower out-of-pocket costs for weight-loss drugs by up to 95%, expanding access to millions of Americans.

($1 = 0.9521 euros)

(Reporting by Stine Jacobsen in Copenhagen, Jesus Calero in Gdansk, Ludwig Burger in Frankfurt. Editing by Jason Neely and Mark Potter)
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Starting on January 1st, 2025, the minimum wage in Illinois will go up again, thanks to a law passed in 2019.

The minimum wage was $8 an hour when the law was passed, with the rate of pay increasing each year until it reaches the final scheduled increase of $15 an hour in 2025.

So, starting January 1st, 2025, the Illinois minimum wage will be $15 an hour, according to the Illinois Department of Labor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tipped workers will also see a minimum wage increase, from $8.40 an hour to $9 an hour. Thats thanks to a state law that says tipped workers must earn at least 60% of the states minimum wage.

Workers under the age of 18, working less than 650 hours per year, will see an increase from $12 to $13 an hour.

A new bill passed this year, called the Dignity in Pay Act, also eliminates the subminimum wage by 2029 for people living on social security disability, allowing them to earn the full minimum wage.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Britains public sector accounts will not be signed off by the official audit watchdog for the first time amid turmoil over council finances.

Inadequate figures on the vast majority of local authority finances has led the National Audit Office (NAO) to disclaim the nations Whole Government Accounts (WGA), which combines the accounts of more than 10,000 public bodies.

The regulator warned of severe backlogs in audits of local authority finances, which meant it did not have sufficient, appropriate evidence to form an opinion on the entire WGA.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The warning will be a headache for Angela Rayner, the Local Government Secretary, who is now in charge of local authority finances, which are in widespread crisis.

Eight councils have effectively declared bankruptcy since 2020, many of whom went under because of bad investments.

Thurrock Council, for example, effectively declared bankruptcy in 2022 after racking up 1.3bn in debt on solar farms. Woking Council declared bankruptcy in 2023 with 1.2bn in debt following investments in hotels and skyscrapers.

The accountant Grant Thornton has warned that four in 10 will be at risk of going under over the next five years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Just 43 of Englands 426 local authorities submitted data to the WGA that was considered reliable.

Of the nearly 90pc of local authorities that failed to produce adequate figures, 46pc sent submissions that had not been audited. Another 44pc sent nothing at all.

Gareth Davies, the head of the NAO, said: It is clearly not acceptable that delays in audited accounts for English local authorities have made it impossible for me to provide assurance on the Whole of Government Accounts for 2022-23.

It is essential that the steps being taken by Government to restore timely and robust local authority audited accounts are effective.

Stuart Hoddinott, a senior researcher at the Institute for Government (IfG), said the warning means the Government has no oversight of whether councils have made investments that might blow up in their faces in the next few years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr Hoddinott said: The Government doesnt have any understanding at all of which authorities are most at risk of financial failure and therefore cant target support to the ones that most need it, or intervene to prevent things from deteriorating quickly.

This is a pretty big move by the NAO. They have never done it before and it is not something they would do lightly.

Mr Hoddinott blamed two changes made during the Tory-Lib Dem coalition government years.

First, the government encouraged councils to become more entrepreneurial in the wake of grant funding cuts and offered cheap debt via the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That sparked a boom in council borrowing as local authorities took out loans to make investments, not all of them sensible.

Then in 2015, Eric Pickles, then local government secretary, abolished the Audit Commission, a public body which audited local authority finances, meaning councils instead had to turn to private sector auditors.

However, this is both complicated specialist work and not particularly profitable for private sector accountants, who did not ramp up capacity.

As a result, nearly a decade on, the whole system of auditing local authority accounts is wholly inadequate, Mr Hoddinott said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A Treasury spokesman said: The Whole of Government Accounts remains a valuable and reliable source of information for a wide range of stakeholders.

We are working with local authorities to improve reporting and transparency and ensure the accounts are as detailed as possible, while making significant additional disclosures to the National Audit Office to address any missing data.

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.
Postsecondary education is changing lives in Oklahoma prisons. The research has shown us that there are plenty of reasons to support these opportunities  reducing recidivism, improving prison safety for incarcerated people and staff, and increasing employment rates after release, to name a few. I discussed these in my op-ed earlier this year on how hiring individuals returning from incarceration can address the ongoing labor shortage in our state. I want to breathe life into these statistics for you today by sharing a more human story  Ninas story.

Nina enrolled in college courses while incarcerated in Oklahomas Mabel Bassett Correctional Center. She took physics, chemistry and geology classes, studying in some of the most challenging learning conditions any college student can face. She contended with lockdowns, limited time with faculty and few opportunities for quiet study. Even securing a scientific calculator for her calculus classes proved challenging  it took months and required several approvals.

More: Hiring individuals returning from incarceration can address the ongoing labor shortage

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Nina persevered. She graduated with an associate degree while incarcerated and went on to receive bachelors and masters degrees in geology. She now works as a planetary geochemist and consults with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration  better known as NASA. From reentry to the stars is a pretty remarkable journey.

Its true, Nina is remarkable. But there are so many more remarkable people like Nina in our states prisons. And we are working hard to get them the opportunities that will unlock their potential and prepare them to follow in Ninas footsteps. In July of 2023, incarcerated people regained eligibility for Pell Grants  the primary federal need-based financial aid available to postsecondary students in the United States  from which they had been barred for almost 30 years. Pell reinstatement is good for Oklahoma. Thanks to a federal pilot program that launched Pell eligibility early for some colleges, Oklahoma has five Pell-eligible colleges teaching in prison, and 1,876 people have enrolled in their programs since 2016. Pell reinstatement is good for Oklahoma.

Having a college education eases the transition from prison back to a community, but there are still so many challenges people face outside the prison gates. At a roundtable I participated in this past April, we discussed how finding safe housing is a major obstacle for people returning to the community. Even with a well-paying job, housing providers may be reluctant to house people with a conviction history.

This is what were taking on next in Oklahoma. This year, my office will work with partners like Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform and the Vera Institute of Justice to open doors for formerly incarcerated people for public and affordable housing. We know the people leaving our prisons will be successful, and we want them to be our neighbors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More: How an Oklahoma prison newspaper helps inmates 'live a life of purpose'

Ninety-five percent of people in state prisons across the United States will return home, and people who have participated in postsecondary education programs in prison may have up to 48% lower odds of returning to prison than those who have not. People with safe housing after release see about 34% lower odds of recidivism. The combination of these two efforts in Oklahoma will grow our economy, make our communities safer and unlock the potential of formerly incarcerated Oklahomans here in the Sooner State.

Tricia Everest

Tricia Everest is Oklahoma secretary of public safety.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Pell Grants for incarcerated Oklahomans benefit us all | Opinion
(Bloomberg) -- Tom Homan, Donald Trumps pick for border czar, vowed to unleash a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration and escalate enforcement along the southern border with Mexico.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Speaking on Fox News ahead of a visit to the frontier with Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday, Homan pledged to work closely with the state to ramp up security measures and said Trump will use sweeping executive actions to tighten US immigration policy.

We are sending a strong message to the rest of the world, if you cross this border illegally, you are going to be detained, Homan said on Fox.

The comments set the stage for an aggressive policy pivot as Trump prepares to reenter the White House with a promise to undertake mass deportations, though the details are still unclear and any program will likely require substantial funding from Congress and the cooperation of countries to accept returning migrants. Abbott spent billions of state money beefing up border security over the past few years amid what he called an invasion of migrants, many of them asylum seekers, crossing over the border. He implemented a busing program that sent many of those released into the US on one-way trips to cities including New York and Chicago.

On Monday, Trump signaled plans to link his tariff policy to immigration enforcement, citing concerns over crime and fentanyl trafficking as key justifications.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Homan, speaking at an event with National Guard soldiers and Department of Public Safety troops in Eagle Pass, Texas, reiterated plans for a massive roundup of people in the country illegally. He warned governors and mayors that theyll need to cooperate with federal officials seeking to carry out deportations.

There is going to be a mass deportation, Homan said. Game on. Time to get this done.

Homan praised Abbotts border policies, which include constructing barriers and arresting individuals who cross the border illegally. Homan emphasized that a Trump administration would partner with Texas, rather than pursue lawsuits against its efforts to secure the border  a critique of the Biden administrations legal challenges to Abbotts measures.

Were not waiting until Jan. 20. Were already planning to lock down the state of Texas and ensure 100% border security across the Southwest, Homan said on Fox.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The approach may include reinstating third-country agreements, reviving the Remain in Mexico policy, and halting catch-and-release practices. Homan added that executive orders would play a central role in bypassing congressional gridlock on asylum laws.

Texas officials have signaled the state might pull back on its own border efforts as the federal government steps up enforcement under Trump. The program has cost $11 billion, and Abbotts office had asked lawmakers for another $2.9 billion in the next legislative sessions, according to the Texas Tribune.

The Texas General Land Office perviously offered Trump 1,400 acres of land near the border in Rio Grande City to build deportation facilities. The agency said Tuesday that it will seek to identify other plots that the federal government can use to facilitate deportations.

But encounters with migrants at the southern border have plummeted since President Joe Bidens executive order in June severely limited options for asylum. Since that change, encounters between ports of entry are down 55%, while the number of individuals released into the US ahead of immigration court hearings has fallen by two-thirds, according to US Customs and Border Protection data.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Homan became the public face of the zero tolerance immigration policies during Trumps first term in office. These initiatives broke with the practice of keeping families together during detentions and deportations and left thousands of undocumented migrant children separated from family members, drawing widespread backlash. Homan had also overseen deportations for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement under former President Barack Obama.

Immigration was a top issue for voters in the 2024 election, coming in second only behind the economy among importance for swing-state voters, according to polls conducted by Bloomberg News and Morning Consult. Net migration surged during the Biden administration, reaching 2.6 million in 2022 and 3.3 million in 2023, up from an average of 900,000 people per year from 2010 to 2019, according to figures from the Congressional Budget Office.

(Updates to add Texas General Land Offices statement in 12th paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs announced on Monday that the Department of the Interior has accepted the retrocession of partial criminal jurisdiction over the Skokomish Nation from the State of Washington. The Tribe collaborated with the State of Washington and the Department to reassume jurisdiction over specific crimes within its reservation boundaries.

Jurisdiction over criminal matters is a fundamental part of a nations government. Restoring this jurisdiction to the Skokomish Nation is a significant act in support of Tribal sovereignty and self-governance, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland (Bay Mills Indian Community) said. This retrocession is part of our work under the Biden-Harris administration to give back what has been taken away from Tribes by the harmful policies of the past.

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.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 1953, Congress enacted Public Law 83-280 as part of its broader Termination Policy, aimed at undermining the sovereign existence of Indian Tribes. The law transferred criminal jurisdiction over Indian people on Indian lands from the federal government to certain states. Retrocession allows a state to return jurisdiction, enabling a Tribe to assume control through self-determination and self-governance.

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington Tessa M. Gorman applauded the Skokomish Nations determination to secure retrocession.

We look forward to working with our law enforcement partners, the FBI, and the Skokomish Tribal Police Department, to further our collective mission of keeping the Skokomish Tribal community safe, prosecuting criminal conduct, and protecting the rights of its Tribal citizens." Gorman said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The State of Washington retains partial criminal jurisdiction over the Skokomish Nation Reservation as provided in the Revised Code of Washington Section 37.12.010, including over offenses committed by non-Indians on Tribal land.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
Will Indiana join the states that have legalized marijuana for medicinal or recreational use? (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

The late John Prine, in his 1971 classic song, Illegal Smile, wrote: You may see me tonight, with an illegal smile. It dont cost very much, but it lasts a long while. The journey marijuana has traveled in American culture during my lifetime is a fascinating one. A quick review of the music written about it alone, lays out a chronology of an embattled, yet steady shift in perspective since Prine wrote about it.

Last week, Leslie Bonilla Muniz wrote for the Indiana Capital Chronicle, Prominent Republicans back safe and regulated marijuana. Republicans? Yes, Republicans. This election issue varied in prominence from state to state this year, but one thing that has become clear across the country is that the once prominent partisan lines of disagreement among citizens are gone.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Safe and Regulated Indiana has produced a thirty second ad encouraging Hoosiers to contact their legislators to support legalization, though they steer clear of that word. They also dont announce on their website specifics about who is in their coalition, though I do like the sites anonymous scroll of individuals, listed by first name and hometown only, showing the volume of support.

Its this anonymity that is easy to identify as a campaign weakness. This is no longer 1971. Supporting a safe and regulated marijuana market in a state surrounded by existing markets, really doesnt have much risk. More accurately, support is the viewpoint of the majority, just about everywhere in America.

Last year, Ohio voted to legalize marijuana for both medical and recreational use by a 57-43 vote. While Kentucky hasnt legalized recreational use, legalized medical usage goes into effect on January 1, completing the surrounding of Indiana with markets.

To listen to a podcast version of this column, go here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But its not just our neighbors. Earlier this month, Florida voted on its own referendum. And while the vote failed to achieve that states needed 60% threshold for adoption, it did achieve a 56-44 percent majority of support. Talk about winning by failing.

If I were a politician in Florida, it would be uncomfortable, to say the least, to block policy progress on an issue with plus-12 support. And this isnt polling data that pundits can attack with scientific or credibility rhetoric. This is a vote of the citizenry, following a robust public campaign on the issue. Florida is not a neighbor of Indiana though, so why should any Hoosier care about it?

Primarily because Floridians and Hoosiers vote alike more than either state would likely care to admit. Florida voted for Trump, 56-43. Indiana also did, 59-40.

Whats more important to me though, is that all data, whether looking at election results or polling, shows that safe and regulated use is what Americans support. The concern all of this is raising for me is the disconnection between those who are elected and those who are doing the electing. The marijuana debate, and the Indiana General Assemblys resistance to movement on the issue, is documenting its disconnection from Hoosier voters again.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One thing I hear and read more often each day is from people irritated by the regular smell of marijuana in the air. I walk several miles every day, most of it in downtown Indianapolis, and rarely do I go on a long walk anymore without smelling it. But Ive always liked the smell of it, so dont list me as a complainer on that front. Further, it also shows that even without a legal market, the illegal presence of it here is likely as prominent as it was the last time I traveled to San Francisco.

More and more, people are using it openly, even without a new law.

The odor issue is not without merit, though. Andrew Zaleski wrote a detailed piece about it for Bloomberg in April, studying the issue from New York to Amsterdam. There are initiatives and legal action being pursued on the odor front, but these movements seem to lack energy. As reported in the article, One 2023 survey of 600 New Jersey residents, for example, found that barely one-fifth of people complained about people smoking pot in the open.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I guess it just doesnt stink enough.

Ive written about Indianas perimeter before. The contrast our state has with those just on the other side of our lines continues to become more stark. Even with our red neighbors.

Yes, the electorate in all of our surrounding states have taken a monumentally different position on what I believe to be the issue of the day, womens reproductive health. But all four of our border states have also surrounded Indiana with illegal smiles.

How illegal? Prine wrote: Wont you please tell the man I didnt kill anyone. No, Im just tryin to have me some fun.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Hours after giving birth in mid-October, an 18-year-old Twin Falls woman placed her infant daughter in her black Audi, according to a probable cause affidavit written by the Blackfoot Police Department.

The young woman sat the newborn baby in an upright position, wrapped her in a towel and strapped a seat belt across her small body before driving two hours east to Blackfoot, where the states only Safe Haven Baby Box is located.

But when staff from Grove Creek Medical Center opened the baby box minutes later, they quickly realized the infant had died long before she was placed in the box, according to a news release from Safe Haven Baby Boxes, an organization that helps install the devices throughout the country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We are heartbroken. Let this be clear: This is an illegal, deadly abandonment, Safe Haven Baby Boxes Founder Monica Kelsey said in the release. Anonymity is only allowed when an infant is safely surrendered completely unharmed.

Over a month later, prosecutors have charged the infants mother. The young woman is facing a felony for failing to report the death of her newborn daughter to law enforcement or the coroner, according to a news release from the Blackfoot Police Department. If convicted, she could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and face up to a $50,000 fine.

Under Idaho law, babies younger than 30 days can be legally surrendered as long as they are personally delivered to a hospital, fire station, law enforcement agency or a medical service provider. The Safe Haven Act prohibits the agency from inquiring about the parents identity, or if the organization is aware of the parents identity, it is required to keep that information confidential.

Gov. Brad Little expanded the law earlier this year to include newborn safety devices, like the baby box, after Sen. Julie VanOrden, R-Pinegree, pushed the Legislature to amend the law. Grove Creek Medical Center installed the baby box  the states only one  in July.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As the only organization that provides an anonymous surrender option, we are on the front lines of educating the public on how this program works, Kelsey said. We will continue to educate citizens on the stark differences between illegal abandonment and legal, safe surrender of an unharmed newborn.

Baby was cold to the touch, affidavit said

Just after 1 p.m. Oct. 13, officers from the Blackfoot Police Department responded to Grove Creek, a hospital that specializes in labor and delivery services, after being informed that medical staff had found the infant, according to the affidavit.

Both officers and medical staff at the scene noticed that the baby was cold to the touch, blue and non-responsive, indicating the girl had been dead for some time, the affidavit said. Officers said they also observed lividity, or discoloration of the skin, because of settling and pooling blood, and a still-attached placenta.

While the hospitals cameras didnt point directly at the Safe Haven box for anonymity purposes, detectives were able to observe a black Audi drive through the area in front of the box and quickly leave, according to the affidavit. The vehicle didnt have license plates but did have a Carmax brand placard, which detectives said helped them identify the young woman.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The woman told police in an interview that on the evening of Oct. 12, shed gone into labor in her home when her family wasnt there. She said the baby was still alive when she gave birth, the affidavit said. The 18-year-old had been hiding the pregnancy from her family.

The infant cried and made noise after the woman gave birth, she told police. The woman said she attempted to breastfeed her daughter multiple times and slept with the baby in her room that night, according to the affidavit. The woman said she looked online for a safe haven box, and after finding the one in Blackfoot, drove to the hospital.

When asked by police when she last heard the baby cry, the woman said that it was the morning of Oct. 13 and that she thought she heard her daughter make noises during the car ride, but could not be sure, according to the affidavit.

Police alleged that the woman lied to detectives during the interview when she told them that she parked by a nearby restaurant for about an hour while she decided whether to leave her baby, according to the affidavit. Footage from Cal Ranch showed that the woman had driven through the parking lot briefly, the affidavit said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The woman also searched several things on the internet in the hours and days after leaving her baby, according to the affidavit, including: If a baby passes before being placed in the safe haven will you still get in trouble.

Bingham County Magistrate Judge Cleve Colson set the womans bail at $10,000 on Friday after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defense. Her bond was initially set at $75,000. The woman, who has posted bond to get out of jail, has a hearing scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Dec. 5 at the Bingham County Courthouse, court records showed.
By Abhirup Roy

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -Rivian said on Monday it has received conditional approval for a loan of up to $6.6 billion from the U.S. Department of Energy to build the electric vehicle maker's production facility in Georgia.

The announcement comes ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, who is expected to undo many of the Biden administration's EV-friendly policies and incentives.

Operation of the Georgia plant, where Rivian plans to build future vehicles such as its smaller, less expensive R2 SUVs and R3 crossovers, will begin in 2028, the California-based startup said in a statement.

Rivian shares are down about 50% this year as the young company has struggled to produce its roomy electric SUVs and pickup trucks while grappling with a part shortage, and has pushed to slash costs.

To conserve cash and hasten the production of R2 - seen critical to Rivian's success amid a slowdown in EV growth - Rivian paused construction of the Georgia plant earlier this year.

It instead decided to start building R2 in 2026 at its Normal, Illinois plant where it makes its flagship R1S SUVs and R1T pickup trucks.

"This loan would enable Rivian to more aggressively scale our U.S. manufacturing footprint for our competitively priced R2 and R3 vehicles that emphasize both capability and affordability," Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said in the statement.

Rivian must satisfy certain technical, legal, environmental, and financial conditions before the energy department grants the loan, said the company.

As part of the conditions for the loan, Rivian will not actively oppose union organizing efforts at the Georgia plant, a source aware of the matter told Reuters, adding that the loan approval will not guarantee unionization at the facility.

Rivian will work with the Energy Department to close the loan before the Trump administration takes over, the source said.

Rivian did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

EV LOAN PROGRAM

The loan comes from the government's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing loan program that has previously provided low-cost loans to other automakers, including Tesla, Ford and General Motors.

The company had earlier forecast the cost of the Georgia plant at $5 billion.

Rivian said it expects the Georgia plant to employ about 7,500 operations staff through 2030.

"Financially supporting the Project will help Rivian bring 400,000 electric vehicles (EVs) to market and into greater use," the Department of Energy said in an October assessment as it considered the loan.
(Bloomberg) -- ING Groep NV is preparing for fallout from US President-elect Donald Trumps pledge to place tariffs on foreign goods, underscoring how geopolitical developments increasingly impact lenders across the world.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Before this months elections, ING weighed how potential outcomes would change economic, monetary and fiscal policies and affect the bank and its clients, Chief Risk Officer Ljiljana Cortan said in an interview. With Trump the clear winner, the Netherlands largest bank is now set to factor that into its annual risk planning, an exercise thats key to steering the lender.

In our stress testing, we look at severe but plausible scenarios and US tariffs were, and now are more than before, a very plausible one, she said in Amsterdam last week. If tariffs would become our new reality, their impact would probably only be felt end of 2025 or early 2026, as it takes time for them to be implemented.

The comments show how banks across the world are increasingly factoring in political turmoil and armed conflicts in their risk management, rather than just backward-looking economic statistics and data on borrowers creditworthiness. The European Central Bank has called out growing risks from an uncertain geopolitical environment for the financial sector, urging lenders to improve their resilience.

Read also: Trump Roils Markets With Tariff Threat on China, Mexico, Canada

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cortan declined to say how hard ING could be hit, for example through an increase of credit loss provisions. With operations in more than 40 countries, ING is a key financier of global trade, but that international presence also means some of these trends would be offset, she added.

The effect is highly dependent on the mix of your portfolio, she said. Some industries and regions would be likely hit harder than others, but strong companies in those industries and regions will be able to adapt.

Cortan has been INGs risk chief since the start of 2021, when the economy was still mired in the pandemic. She previously held the same role at UniCredit SpAs German unit and worked in various positions at the Italian lender in Milan.

The potential tariff policies of the new Trump administration, which are also triggering anxiety among hedge-fund titans and investors, are only the latest in a string of global developments that have impacted how banks assess their balance sheet.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

ING ranks geopolitical risks in terms of their probability and impact, with Cortan citing a potential conflict involving Taiwan, the situation in the Middle East and the war between Russia and Ukraine as examples.

We have to recognize that the volatility of geopolitics and its effect on the economy is the new normal, she said. Beside all the human tragedy that first comes to my mind, crises have strongly affected the global economy. The traditional risk management approach isnt suitable any more.

Thats also why the ECB is poised to formally elevate next month the importance of potential hits from political events including wars in its annual list of banking supervisory priorities for the coming years, Bloomberg has reported. That will entail increasing requests for information as well on-site inspections for banks, people familiar with the matter have said.

Cortan said its understandable that watchdogs need to be more hands on given the uncertainty. ING is making use of technology to keep up with those demands.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The environment has become more complex and more challenging, so its not realistic to expect the supervisory burden to decline any time soon, said Cortan.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
South Bay Correctional Facility via Florida Department of Corrections

Inmates at South Bay Correctional Facility, a private state prison for men located in Palm Beach County, went without water for parts of Sunday and Monday, according to accounts by loved ones of inmates at the facility, which is run by the GEO Group.

The situation became a topic for discussion among prison reform advocates in Florida on social media on Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Access to clean water is a basic human right, and such conditions could pose serious health risks to the incarcerated individuals, said Lindsey Prouty on X.

Inhumane!! Any other place would have many people investigating and responding immediately!! We wouldnt allow animals to be kept this way! What does this say when we treat people like this? said prison reform advocate Danielle Wa on X.

The Florida Department of Corrections told the Phoenix in a written statement on Tuesday morning that South Bay Correctional is undergoing routine plumbing repairs which occasionally requires technicians to temporarily turn off the water supply to a specific building. Anytime drinking water becomes temporarily unavailable due to repairs or maintenance, other accommodations such as providing bottled water, is made until normal operations resume.

That statement fails to address the broader and more concerning reality at South Bay Correctional, said Denise Rock, executive director with Florida Cares, a prison reform advocacy group.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Temporary water shutoffs for routine plumbing repairs should not result in prisoners being left without reliable access to water for days at a time, Rock told the Phoenix in a text message. Multiple reports from within the facility indicate that this disruption was not routine, it involves something with the lift station.

Rock said she has received reports from loved ones of inmates at South Bay Correctional as late as 6 a.m. on Tuesday that they had not had running water since 2 p.m. on Sunday. Numerous people reported that they were provided with one bucket of water Monday morning to flush their toilet and nothing after 8 p.m. on Monday, when they were provided with four small bottles of water, she said.

Clearly this is inhumane and unacceptable, she said, adding that all incarcerated individuals should receive bottled water within two hours of a water shortage. She cited multiple credible reports of inmates going without water for more than 24 hours.

FDC has a responsibility to ensure that all individuals in its care have continuous access to water, she added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An official with the GEO Group told the Phoenix they would not comment about the situation.

We would refer to the Florida Department of Corrections, said Christopher V. Ferreira, director of corporate relations for the GEO Group.
Across the country, high-quality, accessible and affordable early child care can be difficult to find.

A growing program in Alabama aims to ease that problem by expanding the number of at-home day care centers, in a move its creator believes will provide more care options to stressed parents and also give the workforce a boost.

Alabama has a large workforce and a large workforce need at the same time, said Holly Glasgow, director of child development at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa. And we know that child care is one of those things that is often a barrier.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Glasgow is leading 3by3, a program run out of Shelton State that aims to bring more at-home day care centers to local families.

Holly Glasgow, director of child development at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa.

There are fewer than 50 licensed child care centers in Tuscaloosa County, and Glasgow estimates that there are about 3,000 child care spots available for the more than 12,000 kids under the age of 5.

We realized pretty quickly that regardless of how much money they were able to raise, it would not be enough to really build enough centers across our state to be able to effectively change what we have in terms of the number of child care slots, Glasgow said.

But what we could do instead was really focus on family child care homes. They give us the ability to kind of meet the needs of the workforce a little bit differently. They give us the opportunity to add child care in a family setting, she added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The lack of affordable, quality child care has bedeviled parents and employers across the country for several years, even becoming a talking point in this years presidential election. It has played a central role in discussions about the economy since the pandemic, when many child care centers closed and some parents could not return to work. According to the Census Bureau, 35% of parents with children under age 5 have no formal child care arrangements.

In the Tuscaloosa area, where major employers include manufacturing facilities that operate 24 hours a day, it can be challenging to find child care during off-hours.

Holly Glasgow and Lynnette Washington prepare lunch at Mama Bs Rising Stars daycare, a 3by3 program participant.

When you combine the shortage with shift-based work, one thing becomes clear: Tuscaloosa County needs more child care for its families  and part of that care at night, the programs website says.

The 3by3 program matches people who want to start at-home day cares with grants and partner organizations to help cover startup costs, one of the greatest barriers to entry for people who want to start an at-home day care.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The participants also receive about 100 hours of training, learning everything from social media marketing to the required alterations they must make to their homes.

Glasgow assists in making sure each house is up to code, visiting often and stocking each one with toys, books, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers, outlet covers and more.

Glasgow assists in making sure each house is up to code.

Angie Williams, a 3by3 program participant, arranges items in a play kitchen before her final state inspection.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most of these homes have the capacity to care for three to six children.

The program, which launched earlier this year, has helped to set up 19 at-home day cares, each with three to six children. The operators keep all of their profits.

Among them is Lynnette Washington, a member of the inaugural 3by3 program cohort who started a home day care that her daughter can also attend.

To be able to help kids and parents and stuff like that, because everybody got to work, and to be able to help, thats an awesome feeling, she said.

Lynnette Washington, a member of the inaugural 3by3 program cohort, plays with children at her Mama Bs Rising Stars daycare.

Receiving quality child care at a young age can improve numerous outcomes for children, said Steve Barnett, senior co-director of the National Institute for Early Education Research.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We know that kids who dont get these investments can be 18 months behind when they start school. Its very difficult to ever catch up, Barnett said.

Their language, literacy and math skills, we set the foundation for all of that. Thats so important for the rest of their lives, he added. And we know that if we do this well, kids will be more likely to go on to higher education and to be more productive and successful. And actually theyll live longer lives, healthier because of this.

Glasgow said she has big dreams for 3by3.

I dont think Alabama is where we will stop. I do think going forward, well be able to provide a model for other states, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Early care and early education is pivotal, Glasgow added. We have to make it better. And its much easier to spend the money doing it better at the beginning than to remediate the issues at the end. By leaps and bounds.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
In the lame duck session, the energy on Capitol Hill is busy and frazzled, as Democrats try to squeeze in any lingering priorities before theyre shut out of power for at least two years. Republicans are largely intent on blocking or slowing down those priorities, while members jockey for position in the new trifecta.

Amid the frenzy, a bipartisan group  somewhat unusual in and of itself  is quietly making a longshot, eleventh-hour attempt to pass federal protections for journalists and other critics before President-Elect Donald Trump and his famously thin-skinned coterie take over.

On the House side, the effort is being led by Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Kevin Kiley (R-CA). On the Senate side, its being spearheaded by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR). Both sides plan to introduce their bills in early December, per spokespeople from Raskin and Wydens offices. TPM is first to report the existence of this legislation, and the plans to introduce it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im very interested in the whole anti-SLAPP issue, Wyden told TPM in a Senate elevator on his way back from a vote.

The legislation, a federal anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) bill, would help journalists and other critics dismiss frivolous lawsuits in federal court. Both Trump and his close advisors, including billionaire Elon Musk, have made liberal use of the kind of suit anti-SLAPP legislation would address; plaintiffs often file these suits without any hope of winning their cases, but aim to chill criticism, bury their critics in legal fees and force them to disclose sensitive information through discovery. Trump has sued or at least sent letters threatening to sue a host of media companies, including CBS, the New York Times, the Daily Beast and the Washington Post. Musk is currently waging lawfare against Media Matters, which laid off staff, the advocacy news outlet said, in response to his legal assault.

Advocates have been pushing for a federal anti-SLAPP law because the state patchwork of laws varies in strength. Additionally, some federal appellate circuits allow state anti-SLAPP protections to be invoked in federal cases and some dont, encouraging the often rich and powerful plaintiffs who want to file these suits to forum shop for a court in which the defendant cant use state protections. This threat looms largest for vulnerable people including independent journalists or those at small outlets, who lack a battery of lawyers to protect them, and even low-profile critics who are dragged to court for circulating a petition or making critical comments online.

Raskin and Kiley are planning to reintroduce Raskins SLAPP Protection Act, which didnt go far when he introduced it in 2022. Wyden will introduce a Senate version of the bill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He now has a Republican partner on the bill, Caitlin Vogus, senior adviser for Freedom of the Press Foundation, told TPM of Raskin, who has long been pushing the issue. That could be part of the ingredients going into making it happen now.

The bipartisan team, an increasing rarity in Congress even on anodyne issues, stems at least in part from the mens relationship outside of the House. Kiley took Raskins class at Yale Law when the latter was taking weekly trips from the Maryland Senate to give his lecture.

The two collaborated on the PRESS Act, which passed through the House in 2022. That bill, meant to protect journalists from the federal government forcing them to disclose information and identify sources, has stalled out in the Senate. The bill has bipartisan support in the upper chamber  including from Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC)  but was reportedly blocked by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) at the Senate Judiciary Committee. He previously said it would open a floodgate of leaks damaging to law enforcement and our nations security. Cottons office did not respond to a request for comment.

Trump likely ended any lingering chance that the bill would pass anyway, writing on Truth Social last week that REPUBLICANS MUST KILL THIS BILL! and linking to a PBS interview in which Jodie Ginsberg, the CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalists, urged the Senate to pass it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Based on the feedback weve received from Senators and President Trump, its clear we have work to do to achieve consensus on this issue, Kiley said in a statement. Im looking forward to working with the new Administration on a great many areas of common ground as we begin a new era of American prosperity.

After at least the moral victory of House passage for the PRESS Act, Raskin and Kiley are teaming up again  a notable collaboration, as recruiting Republicans to support the bills has proven difficult.

This was a bipartisan issue historically, Vogus said. But weve seen an uptick in SLAPP cases filed by conservatives, or at least very high-profile cases filed by conservatives.

Republican opposition will make the bills difficult to pass, particularly through the Senate  even though, as advocates point out, Republicans too have benefitted from anti-SLAPP protections in the past.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump himself has used state level anti-SLAPP laws in his defense at least twice. He invoked the Texas anti-SLAPP law when Stormy Daniels sued him for tweets in which he accused her of lying about their affair. That case was dismissed.

And just last week, Trumps lawyers indicated that they may rely on Pennsylvanias anti-SLAPP law in a case where the exonerated Central Park Five sued him for defamation.

President-Elect Trumps statements about the Central Park Five, made in the context of responding to accusations during a nationally televised debate, squarely fall within the protections afforded by Pennsylvanias anti-SLAPP statute, his lawyer wrote in a letter to the U.S. District judge.

Still, passing bipartisan legislation at all, much less in the graveyard of the lame duck, will prove daunting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Frankly, getting the bill passed during the lame duck shouldnt be the goal  its very difficult to get anything passed during the lame duck when theres so much going on, Vogus said. Getting the bill introduced puts down a marker that Congress cares about this and can tackle it right away in the next Congress.

That would require a come-to-Jesus moment from Republican majorities in both chambers, and from their leader, who, in between touting his Cabinet nominees at midnight on Tuesday, was busy railing against the New York Times Magot Hagerman, a third rate writer and fourth rate intellect, for failing to write flattering stories about him.
The city of Richmond's Office of Elections (Anna West/Capital News Service)

An investigation into allegations of misuse of public resources by Richmond General Registrar Keith Balmer and his office has confirmed 25 of 26 claims of waste, fraud, and abuse, leading to nearly $500,000 in wasted taxpayer funds, according to a report released this week by the citys inspector general.

The city council is now calling on the Richmond Electoral Board to review the findings and issue a response.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Richmond City Council strives to ensure that taxpayer resources are used in an efficient and effective manner. The Richmond Office of Inspector Generals findings of the use of public resources in the Richmond Office of Elections raises serious concerns, the council said in a joint statement.

Richmonds Inspector General James Osuna launched the probe in May after one of his investigators contacted the Department of Elections last year to seek assistance with complaints from a former employee of Balmer.

According to documents obtained by The Mercury earlier this year through a Freedom of Information Act request, the employee had shared unverified allegations of management issues, including hiring family and friends, questionable spending, and other concerns within the Richmond election office.

Osuna declined to comment for this story, and Balmer did not respond to phone calls and emails.

Keith Balmer, General Registrar of the City of Richmond. (Courtesy of Keith Balmer)

City officials initially believed the State Board of Elections should address the complaints due to its statewide oversight of registrars. However, state officials determined the matter was a local issue, because the allegations did not directly involve election policy or voting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Claims of nepotism in the Richmond election office had surfaced publicly on another occasion. Earlier this year, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that Balmer hired his brother and paid $2,300 to his wifes company for training election workers on accommodating voters with disabilities.

Osunas investigation confirmed that Balmer violated procurement policies and misused government resources by hiring a security company between January and May without proper authorization.

Originally contracted to provide a $50-per-hour security guard for early voting, the agreement expanded to include personal protection services at $85 per hour, emergency training, and equipment purchases.

In total, the company billed the city more than $200,000, depleting the Office of Elections budget and prompting Balmer to seek additional funding from Richmond City Council.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Osuna also found that Balmer misused public funds by hiring a private security firm to investigate alleged election interference, violating Virginia law. The registrar allegedly authorized the firm to probe claims that two former employees tried to discourage election officers from participating in future elections, costing the city more than $4,400 for services like background checks and evidence review.

Balmer falsely claimed that the city attorney had approved the investigation, but it was later determined that the latter had not been consulted. He also bypassed law enforcement and other relevant authorities, using city funds for a private investigation instead.

Between August and November 2023, Balmer violated procurement policies by approving a remodel of a leased building without following required bidding procedures, the investigation found.

The project, which included carpet and flooring replacement, wall repairs, electrical work and a remodeled bathroom, was done using a contractor preferred by the landlord, bypassing the necessary competitive bidding process.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite the citys lease agreement, which places maintenance responsibility on the landlord, Balmer approved the project without proper documentation, including quotes from multiple vendors, Osuna wrote.

The work was divided into 21 separate purchase orders, each under the $50,000 threshold to avoid triggering a competitive bidding requirement, totaling $229,969. This strategy violated city policies governing small purchases and split purchases.

The remodel was done without the landlords approval or building permits, and the project cost exceeded the amount allowed for non-competitive bidding. The Deputy General Registrar, who oversees the budget, was unaware of the total cost of the work, the investigation found.

On July 5, 2023, Balmer failed to report a workplace domestic violence incident involving two city employees, the probe confirmed. The incident occurred at the annual Voter Registrars Association of Virginia Conference, where one temporary employee was arrested for domestic assault against their partner, a full-time city employee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Upon returning from the conference, the victim was unreachable, prompting a welfare check. The Office of Elections received notice of the incident, and the Employee Relations manager reached out to Balmer for assistance.

Despite Balmers awareness of the situation  which included prior reports of domestic conflict in the workplace  he did not take action, as required under the city code, Osuna found. Instead, he pressured the assaulted employee to resign, claiming safety concerns, without consulting Human Resources or the city attorney, which led to the alleged victim being denied unemployment benefits.

Report Office of ELections

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Balmer also violated city regulations by spending $7,500 to hire three Virginia Commonwealth University students to paint murals in the lobby of a city-leased facility and by purchasing more than $8,700 worth of artwork without proper authorization, according to the investigation.

The murals, completed between February and December of last year, were paid for using invoice payment forms, with each student receiving $2,500. Additionally, Balmer used a government P-Card to buy 12 art pieces from a local art center, with prices ranging from $175 to $1,800. None of the purchases followed the required Department of Procurement Services (DPS) procedures for exempted artwork.

One allegation claimed that Balmer improperly purchased a Ford Explorer for the Office of Elections in February 2023 without Fleet Management authorization and removed city logos from the vehicle in violation of policy.

However, the investigation confirmed that the purchase followed proper city procedures, and the citys fleet manager approved the removal of the logos at the General Registrars request due to safety concerns.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Balmer still violated city policies when he used a city vehicle for personal errands, transporting non-city personnel, and as a take-home vehicle without authorization, according to the investigation.

Balmer assumed control of the Richmond election office after former registrar Kirk Showalter was removed in 2021, partly due to pressure from the Democratic Party of Virginia. While the Richmond Electoral Board is now under Republican control following Gov. Glenn Youngkins 2021 victory, the shift in power did not affect Balmers position.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
The Iowa Supreme Court vacated an appeals court decision and ruled that Graphite Construction Group was not entitled to retainage funds before its project with DMACC was complete. (Photo by Kathie Obradovich/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that Des Moines Area Community College did not have to pay a construction company retainage dollars before a project was finished, reversing an appeals court decision to the contrary.

In an opinion released Friday, the Iowa Supreme Court affirmed the Polk County District Courts opinion that DMACC was right to refuse Graphite Construction Groups request to compel payment from DMACC of retainage funds before the project was completed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Justice David May wrote the courts opinion.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

According to the opinion, DMACC hired Graphite Construction Group in 2019 to complete a construction project on the community colleges Ankeny campus. DMACC President Rob Denson said in an email the company was hired as the low bidder on the $9.8 million project to renovate the colleges automotive building, which houses its automotive and diesel program.

While DMACC generally acquiesced to monthly progress payment requests from the company, it kept 5% of those funds as retainage, or money that is withheld to ensure that material and labor can be paid for, according to the opinion. Once all claims for payments are completed, any leftover dollars are given to the contracted company.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Jan. 4, 2022, when the project was close to finished, Graphite requested its final payment. At that time, the only funds that were left under the contract were $510,000 in retainage, the opinion stated. DMACC declined the request on the basis that the work was still incomplete.

The opinion stated that during this time, subcontractor Metro Concrete alleged that Graphite owed more than $212,000 for unpaid services. Metro filed suit on the claim after receiving a demand from Graphite to do so, according to the opinion.

Graphites claim was that DMACC was required to pay at least part of the retainage under Iowa code, as after Metro filed suit, Graphite filed a bond for $424,000. Graphite also sought to have its attorney fees covered. The opinion stated that DMACC resisted the claim on the grounds that work had not been completed.

The contract set forth a substantial completion deadline of August 14, 2020 and a final completion deadline of October 12, 2020, Denson said in his email. By January of 2023, final completion of the project had still not been achieved, so DMACC terminated its contract with Graphite and thereafter hired various other contractors to finish out the project, which is now complete.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The district court ruled against Graphite on both requests, the opinion stated, saying DMACC wasnt required to release retainage before final completion of the project. Graphite appealed the decision, and the court of appeals reversed the decision for the retainage, but not attorneys fees.

DMACC sought the Iowa Supreme Courts opinion, according to the statement.

Sections of Iowa Code chapter 573 pertain to retainage, of which Graphite claimed it had rights to even though the project was not yet complete, according to the opinion, since it had filed the bond after Metro Concretes claim and completed other procedures.

Mays opinion stated that the code does not allow the retainage to be paid before completion and final acceptance of the project, and therefore, Graphite cannot claim it. While there are exceptions, none applied in this case.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The district court was correct to deny the contractors motion to compel release of the retainage, the opinion document stated.

The college was backed by organizations including the Community Colleges of Iowa, Iowa Association of School Boards, Iowa State Association of Counties and Iowa League of Cities in speaking against the appeals court ruling, with the filing an amicus brief agreeing with the district courts decision.

Denson said in his email that the courts ruling is important for DMACC as well as any other public owner who has a construction project in the works.

This decision protects the integrity of the retainage for public owners, as well as contractors and subcontractors, in situations like this where the general contractor was requesting release of a portion of the retainage before final completion of the project, Denson said in his email.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Nov. 25ALEXANDRIA, S.D.  An Iowa woman was killed Saturday in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 90 near Alexandria.

The crash occurred at 8:41 a.m. Saturday about 1 mile north of Alexandria on I-90, according to the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.

The South Dakota Department of Public Safety said a 2024 Chevy Silverado was traveling westbound on I-90 near mile marker 344. A 68-year-old driver of the Silverado drifted into the median, corrected steering, then entered the north ditch where the vehicle rolled.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 68-year-old woman from Council Bluffs, Iowa died at the scene of the crash. Two passengers were in the vehicle. A 62-year-old woman from Oceanside, California suffered serious life-threatening injuries and was transported to a Sioux Falls hospital. A 4-year-old girl suffered minor injuries, as well.

All three individuals in the vehicle were wearing seat belts. The names of the people involved have not been released pending notification of family members.

The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
(Bloomberg) -- Ireland's election, like so many this year, has been littered with politicians promising voters the earth. What makes this different is that whoever wins has the money to deliver on many of their promises.

The country is flush with cash, raking in billions of euros in taxes from US firms with operations there, as well as a one-off payment from Apple Inc. There's no guarantee that the money will keep flowing in at the same rate, but the pot is proving attractive to politicians trying to woo voters ahead of polling day on Friday.

The governing coalition kicked off the spree with a giveaway budget in October as Prime Minister Simon Harris sought to protect his lead in polls. During the election campaign, all parties have promised a range of tax cuts and investment programs ahead of what looks like an increasingly tight vote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With so much money available, at stake is whether Ireland has learned the lessons of the past, can better manage its finances and avoid another domestically driven boom-and-bust cycle.

The government badly miscalculated before, in the early 2000s, when public spending soared during a period of rampant bank lending and house price growth. That era  known as the Celtic Tiger  ended in a catastrophic property crash that crippled banks and left the country in need of a bailout from the European Union and the IMF.

Now the government is making an effort to be responsible, putting aside huge sums into a sovereign wealth fund. Set up this summer and already at more than 8 billion, the aim is to grow it to as much as 100 billion in a decade.

The fund can be tapped from 2041, but crises in areas like housing and healthcare means theres a need for spending right now. In addition, politicians are fighting for election votes. Harris's Fine Gael is proposing a 1,000 payout for all newborns, an idea that rivals have likened to Celtic Tiger-era largess. Fianna Fail, its coalition partner, will cut taxes and other levies on incomes, as will Sinn Fein, which also wants to spend much more on capital projects.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"They've got this massive fiscal surplus made possible by the kind of paper profits that are located here by US multinationals," said Aidan Regan, professor of political economy at University College Dublin. "They can promise all things to everyone and that is an enviable position."

The election is likely to be close. Harris, who took over in April, called the election a few months ahead of schedule to capitalize on his lead at the time. But hes lost that advantage and a poll Monday put no more than two percentage points between three biggest parties.

The numbers still suggest Harriss Fine Gael will be in a position to try to form another coalition with Fianna Fail. The current incumbents have previously ruled out partnering with Sinn Fein, a once fringe party historically linked to the Irish Republican Army terrorist group.

Windfall Taxes

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Attractive tax incentives  some controversial and now closed  played a large part in helping Ireland get US corporates such as Microsoft, Intel, Pfizer, Google and others to open operations and create thousands of jobs.

While the tax revenue they generate has surged, officials say some of that has a "windfall" element. Without it, this years estimated budget surplus of 25 billion falls to just 1.5 billion. The public finances also got a 14 billion back payment from Apple after a European court ruling.

"If you were to strip away those windfall corporation tax receipts, basically the ones that they're nice when we're getting them, we really can't plan any long-term spending around them," said Emma Howard, an economist at Technological University Dublin.

In addition, taxes are highly concentrated in a small number of US firms. Just three companies accounted for 43% of all corporation tax revenue in 2022, according to Irelands budget watchdog.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read More:

Irish Election Looks Like a Lost Moment for Crisis-Hit Sinn Fein

Whats at Stake When Ireland Heads to the Polls?: QuickTake

That leaves the country of just over 5 million people at the mercy of factors outside its control, such as cycles in the global tech sector. And Donald Trump's presidency  with its promise of trade tariffs and protectionist measures  adds another risk.

Even if politicians can justify their promises, another issue is a poor track record when it comes to responsible spending. The latest example came just months ago in the form of a small bike shelter at parliament buildings. The revelations about the cost  almost 340,000  sparked national outrage.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There is an air of unreality around the entire debate," said John McHale, a professor at the University of Galway. "There is a disconnect between the risks around the future of Ireland's economic model that seem to be crystallizing with the election of Trump. But you see all the parties, to different degrees, opening the spigots."

The last time Ireland threw money around was its first real era of plenty. Donough Kilmurray, who left Ireland in the mid-1990s and worked at Goldman Sachs, remembers returning home for visits and seeing the impact of easy money, well-paying jobs and a turbocharged economy.

"We went from way below normal lending, borrowing and spending to above normal and way, way beyond it," said Kilmurray, who's now chief investment officer at Dublin broker Davy. "But we didn't know what normal was because we'd never had that access, never had that money before."

The new Future Ireland Fund is an attempt to deal with money more maturely.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It will be run by the National Treasury Management Agency, whose building sits on the quayside of Dublin's river Liffey, next door to the central bank. It's a symbolic location, a reminder of the not-too-distant economic disasters and the behavior Ireland can't afford to repeat.

The central bank's building was once the unfinished headquarters of the now defunct Anglo Irish Bank, whose reckless lending and attempted cover up of its finances capture much of the Celtic Tiger hubris and folly.

Frank O'Connor, chief executive officer of the NTMA, joined in 2010 and says Ireland has come a long way since then.

When you think about the contrast'' with that period, O'Connor said. Ireland was looking to the Troika partners to fund the country," he said, referring to the institutions that managed bailouts during the euro-area debt crisis.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Now, the FIF will use the current tax jackpot to build a cushion for the future. The plan is to add the equivalent of 0.8% of GDP annually.

The fund isn't without critics, as Ireland has immediate spending needs, particularly in housing. Parts of its electricity network are straining as power demand from users like data centers increases. Such infrastructure issues, if not addressed, undermine Ireland's attractiveness to international investment, with implications for tax revenue.

The windfall element of Ireland's riches makes its fund similar to those, like Norway's, that are built on oil and gas, according to Javier Capape Aguilar, director of the Sovereign Wealth Lab at IE University in Spain.

"It looks like a natural resource fund, because the flow of resources looks quite stable and strong," he said. "But similarly to oil funds, they know that probably one day this source of income can disappear.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

--With assistance from Olivia Fletcher.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
HILLIARD, Ohio (WCMH)  The Noor Islamic Cultural Center bought a 220,000 sq. ft. office building with big plans to enhance the fabric of the Hilliard community.

Those plans have been on hold as the proposal for the building has not passed Hilliard zoning approval, and now Noor is threatening legal action. The sticking point is space for religious activities, prayer, and gathering.

How to navigate holiday stress

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its an empty building, Hilliard City Councilmember Les Carrier said. Weve got a group that wants to make something really nice, wants to be supportive of children, the growth and development and all kinds of things that go with that. I know thats a great outcome, an out-of-the-box outcome.

Carrier has been one of the projects supporters on the council.

Our comprehensive plan is basically designed where the landowner has to bring us tax revenue and large amounts in certain areas before there will be approval for development and I think thats wrong, he said. I think its fundamentally wrong.

Part of the building, which Noor said is only about 20,000 sq. ft. or 9% of the buildings space, would be designated for religious activities and thus would not generate the same tax revenue for the city if it were office space.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ohio Senator-elect lays out plans as he prepares to head to Washington

Hilliard released a statement that said in part: The current permitted use of the 5550 Britton Parkway property  office  is the same today as it was when Noors holding entity bought it. No rights have been taken from Noor.

Monday night a group of angry citizens met at City Hall to let leaders know they were disappointed.

We love our city, Noor Board of Directors Chairman Ronney Abaza said. We dont want to have to sue our city to assert our rights, but the message that we are here tonight to make on behalf of our community is that were willing to go all the way if we have to. Were not giving up.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This empty building thats been there for 18 months with no tenants, no tax revenue, its still there and its still empty, Abaza added. We have a list of tenants ready to come in if our proposal would have been accepted.

The group believes the city is suppressing its religious freedoms and exercising government overreach. Noor representatives have not had conversations or negotiations with the city since a vote on Nov. 12.

Marysville schools reduces pay-to-play fees

Why would we reach out to someone whos told us that we are not negotiating? Abaza said. Were not willing to budge and this is it and unfortunately, the loser is the city of Hilliard and the residents of Hilliard.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A statement from the City of Hilliard said it has been negotiating in good faith. The statement said, Unfortunately there has been significant misinformation spread concerning this proposal and the Citys efforts to work with the applicant. Hilliard leaders negotiated diligently with Noor for the past 10 months and have worked hard to accommodate their evolving plans, including allowing up to 56,000 sq. ft. for school and event space that could be used for religious and nonreligious activities. These efforts to accommodate were rejected by the applicant.

Noor leaders Abaza and Director Fadi Suleiman said Monday that is not the case.

The response has always been, This is the position of the city and it does not, its not going to change, Abaza said. They are adult enough to know what the next steps should be if they really want to sit down and work through this. The door is always open.

Noor leaders said they are already drawing up paperwork for litigation against Hilliard, but they would like to avoid it if possible.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were hopeful that the city council will come to its senses and understand that its not in the interest of the city and its not worth it in terms of taxpayer dollars, Abaza said. Were not giving up. Were not going to sell this building and leave town like the previous owner did. We are not going to lay down and allow anyone to abuse us and treat us unfairly.

Why Columbus is handing out home security cameras

Carrier understands the groups frustration and would like to find a solution before the matter ends up in court.

We didnt treat them very well, he said. From what I understand, we told them no and then didnt tell them what. The only thing we said is its zoned this and thats what its going to be. I think its on us as leaders and us as a city personnel to help them be successful, because that makes us successful.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
NEWTON, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV)  Illinois State Police (ISP) are investigating a fatal shooting that happened Sunday afternoon in Newton.

ISP confirmed that around 2:30 p.m., Sunday afternoon, the Newton Police Department requested the Illinois State Police Zone 8 Investigations to investigate a shooting death that occurred in the 300 Block of N. Walnut Street in Newton, Jasper County.

Billie Creek Village set to host holiday event; Soft opening for new Cafe

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

ISP noted that this is an open investigation and that there are no further details available at this time.

Mywabashvalley.com will update this story as more information becomes available.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com.
BEIRUT, Lebanon, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- A 60-day cease-fire suspends the 13-month war between Israel and Hezbollah after a new wave of Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut, its suburbs and other Lebanese regions Tuesday.

The Israeli Security Cabinet on Tuesday voted 10-1 to approve the U.S.-led cease-fire deal that ends fighting with Hezbollah in Lebanon, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.

The cease-fire would last for 60 days and might become the foundation for a permanent truce.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Netanyahu said the cease-fire with Hezbollah enables Israel Defense Forces to focus on the war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip and hostilities with Iran.

Prior to the Israeli security cabinet's approval of the cease-fire, Netanyahu announced the initial agreement, which would prevent an escalation of the war between Israel and Hezbollah.

An explosion rocks buildings after the Israeli army launched airstrikes on the Dahieh district in Beirut in Lebanon on Tuesday. Photo by Rahim Rhea/UPI

"This evening, I will bring a cease-fire outline for the cabinet's approval," he said in a public broadcast in Israel, adding that he expected the cabinet to approve it.

Diplomats from France and the United States brokered the cease-fire deal.

People stand next to a damaged building after an Israeli airstrike in the Al-Chiyah area in southern Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday. Photo by Wael Hamseh/EPA-EFE

"After many weeks of tireless diplomacy, Israel and Lebanon have accepted a cessation of hostilities," Biden and Macron said Tuesday in a joint statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The announcement today will cease the fighting in Lebanon and secure Israel from the threat of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations operating from Lebanon," Biden and Macron added.

A man carries a flag of Hezbollah at the site of buildings destroyed by Israeli forces overnight in Tayouneh on the outskirts of Beirut's southern suburbs on Tuesday. Photo by Rahim Rhea/UPI

They said the United States and France will work with Israel and Lebanon to ensure the cease-fire is implemented fully and enforced.

"We remain determined to prevent this conflict from becoming another cycle of violence," the two leaders said.

A dog surveys its surroundings at the site of destroyed buildings on the outskirts of Beirut's southern suburbs on Tuesday. Photo by Rahim Rhea/UPI

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Although Biden and Macron say the cease-fire is between Israel and Lebanon, Hezbollah, which is a designated foreign terrorist organization, is the organization against whom Israel declared war.

The cease-fire is a "fundamental step towards establishing calm and stability in Lebanon and the return of the displaced to their homes and cities" and helps "establish regional stability," Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said in a statement Tuesday.

People inspect destroyed buildings at the site of an Israeli overnight airstrike on the outskirts of Beirut's southern suburbs,on Tuesday. Photo by Rahim Rhea/UPI

Mikati said Israel must withdraw from all occupied Lebanese territory to show its commitment to the cease-fire.

Lebanon also will increase its military presence in southern Lebanon and cooperate with U.N. peacekeeping forces, Mikati said.

President Joe Biden announced the United States and France-brokered 60-day cease-fire agreement between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah at the White House on Tuesday. Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI

At least 3,823 people were killed and 15,859 were wounded in Lebanon since October 2023, though the majority were killed following Israel ramping up its military operations starting Sept. 23, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nearly 1.2 million were displaced, mainly from the southern suburbs of Beirut, as well as from southern and eastern Lebanon, because of the intensive Israeli air and ground bombardments.

Iran-backed Hezbollah has been attacking Israel across the southern Lebanese border since the second day of Israel's war against Hamas, which is another Iran-proxy militia.

The fighting prompted the evacuation of more than 60,000 northern Israelis, and Israeli intensified its fighting in Lebanon after updating its war objectives in mid-September to include the return of northern Israelis to their homes.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin championed the cease-fire agreement as an "historic moment" that will enable displaced citizens on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border to return safely home.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The ceasefire announced by President Biden is good for Israel, good for Lebanon and good for the security of the region," he said in a statement.

Israel's security cabinet approved the cease-fire after the IDF said it targeted 20 locations with airstrikes in two minutes on Tuesday in the southern suburbs of Beirut where Hezbollah generally is headquartered.

The Israeli Army issued warnings to evacuate several buildings in several neighborhoods inside Beirut, saying that it "will carry out attacks on the floors where the terrorists are located."

The warnings triggered fears and panic, prompting residents to leave the city in a chaotic way or seek safety in quarters not listed in the warnings. Dozens sought refuge at the American University Hospital in Ras Beirut.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Three people were killed and 10 were injured when an apartment was hit and set on fire in the Barbour area. Israel hit for the second time the Nuwairi neighborhood in which seven people were killed and 37 wounded in the earlier air strike that flattened their four-story building.

The targeted building in Nuwairi was inhabited by displaced families who has fled from their villages, according to the official Lebanese news agency.

Rescue teams rushed to the site to evacuate the casualties and remove the rubble.

Beirut's southern suburbs were the mostly hit after Israel carried a series of air attacks, causing powerful explosions and big cloud of smoke. Dozens of buildings were flattened.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The state-run Lebanese news agency said "a belt of fire" surrounds the southern suburbs.

The Israeli Army said it has begun "an extensive" wave of airstrikes in Beirut on Tuesday afternoon after it issued evacuation warnings to 20 buildings in the southern suburbs.

The Army said it struck "20 Hezbollah sites within two minutes" and the "fast and extensive wave of airstrikes was carried out by eight fighter jets," The Times of Israel reported.

It claimed that seven targeted buildings were used by Hezbollah for "the management and storage of funds, including headquarters, vaults and branches of the Al-Qard al-Hasan association, known to be used by Hezbollah as a quasi-bank."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The other 13 sites included "a Hezbollah aerial forces center, an intelligence division command room, weapon depots and other military infrastructure," it added.

The Israeli claims could not be confirmed independently.

The strikes also targeted villages in southern and eastern Lebanon. One hit the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh near the southern port city of Tyre where two people, including a child, were killed and 20 wounded.

The attack on the village of Shakra in southern Lebanon killed six people and wounded four others.

Lebanon's Mikati denounced on Tuesday evening the "hysteric Israeli aggression" toward Beirut and various other Lebanese regions that "target especially the civilians."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mikati said that attacking Beirut, which hosts a large number of displaced people, "proves the enemy's hatred" and that Israel "does not respect any law."

He called on the international community to stop the "Israeli aggression" and implement an "immediate cease-fire," but the Israeli security cabinet since has approved the 60-day cease-fire.
Israel and Lebanon agreed to a cease-fire on Tuesday, ending 14 months of fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

The Israeli Cabinet approved the agreement late Tuesday following a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backing the deal.

The Israeli leader said that the cease-fire is needed to refocus attention on the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the threat posed by Iran.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A good deal is a deal that is enforced, and we will enforce it, Netanyahu said. With Gods help, we will establish security, we will rehabilitate the north and continue, united, until victory.

President Joe Biden said that he had spoken to both Netanyahu and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. Both Israels government and Lebanons government, which includes Hezbollah political representatives, have agreed to the deal, per Biden.

Biden hailed the cease-fire agreement  which was brokered by the U.S. and France  as a key step toward averting the outbreak of a wider regional war and eventually stabilizing the Middle East.

Today's announcement brings us closer to realizing the affirmative agenda that I've been pushing forward during my entire presidency, a vision for the future of Middle East, where its at peace and prosperous and integrated across borders, Biden said, reiterating his commitment to a future where Israelis and Palestinians enjoy equal measures of security, prosperity and yes, dignity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The deal is a major win for the White House, which has sought to finalize a detente with Hezbollah in the last weeks of Bidens presidency. The agreement came together after a round of negotiations in the Middle East last week in which special envoy Amos Hochstein met with Lebanese and Israeli officials and urged them to agree to a deal. Before traveling to Israel, Hochstein had voiced optimism to reporters that a deal was progressing.

Biden described the cease-fire as a permanent cessation of fighting, starting at 4 a.m. Lebanon time on Wednesday. It also includes a 60-day implementation window during which the Lebanese army will deploy to the countrys south and Israeli troops will withdraw. No U.S. combat troops will be deployed to Lebanon, though he said the U.S. and France will in concert provide the Lebanese army with the necessary assistance.

A senior Biden administration official, who briefed reporters on condition that they not be named, added that Hezbollah will retreat north of the Litani River, a key demand of Israel. Under the terms of U.N. Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Lebanon War, Hezbollah was to retreat beyond the Litani River in southern Lebanon, but never did.

Hezbollah was cautious in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We doubt Netanyahu's commitment, who has accustomed us to deception, and we will not allow him to pass a trap through the agreement, Mahmoud Qamati, the deputy head of Hezbollah's political council, told a Hezbollah-operated television station in Lebanon. We must analyze the points that Netanyahu agreed to before the government signing tomorrow.

The Biden administration official clarified that Hezbollah is still bound by the terms of the cease-fire agreement, even if it does not agree entirely with the contours of the deal.

We negotiate with the state of Lebanon. And the government of Lebanon has to take responsibility for what happens in Lebanon now, the official said. They are also in communication with both Hezbollah and with Iran, and the expectations are clear. So when this is reached, this cease-fire is reached, it represents all the entities.

France and the United States will also join the tripartite mechanism created in the wake of the 2006 war. The official explained that the U.S. will work with both Lebanon and Israel to address complaints from either side.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The White House had increasingly seen a Lebanon cease-fire deal as integral to achieving a bigger diplomatic prize: a cease-fire between Israel and the militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. An agreement became all the more important as Israel and Iran traded airstrikes and attacks in October, as worries mounted that conflict between Israel and Iran and its proxies in the region could plunge the Middle East into a wider war.

But a cease-fire deal proved elusive for weeks, as Israel wanted to ensure it could deter further attacks from Hezbollah in the future.

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah at the Israeli-Lebanese border began shortly after last years Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. But volleys of attacks between Israel and Hezbollah intensified in the fall of 2024, as Israel began conducting strikes against top Hezbollah officials, including the militant groups then-leader Hassan Nasrallah. The mission of the military campaign, which also saw Israel launch limited ground incursions into Lebanon, was to reduce the militant groups potency and establish further deterrence with Iran, one of Hezbollahs principal backers.

In hitting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, Israel regularly struck civilian infrastructure in the densely populated capital of Beirut. More than 3,000 civilians have died, per Lebanons health ministry. And hours before the cease-fire took effect, Israel launched one last volley of strikes against alleged Hezbollah targets in Beirut.
(Bloomberg) -- Israels security cabinet began deliberating a cease-fire with Lebanon-based Hezbollah, according to an Israeli official, even as the air force conducted some of its heaviest strikes yet on Beirut.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The meeting of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus top coalition members started Tuesday afternoon, with a vote likely to take place later on a US-drafted proposal. If they approve the plan without calling for significant changes  which would require Hezbollahs consent  a 60-day cease-fire could potentially start immediately.

Netanyahu will give a televised speech at 8 p.m. local time, his office said.

Oil and gold prices have fallen this week, with traders optimistic a truce would help calm the Middle East. The Israeli shekel also strengthened.

The talks are taking place after Israel said its warplanes struck Hezbollah targets in the southern suburbs of Beirut and central parts of the city, some of which have not been bombed so far in the war. The military earlier asked residents in several buildings to leave immediately, and plumes of smoke were seen rising from many locations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lebanese television stations showed scenes of panic, with residents fleeing central Beirut on foot and in cars.

Hezbollah fired projectiles into Israel earlier on Tuesday and sirens sounded in northern areas of the country, including the city of Haifa.

One of the security cabinets roughly 10 members, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, is opposed to a deal, arguing that Israel should continue its military campaign and crush Hezbollah. Some mayors of northern Israeli towns devastated by rocket and drone salvos from the Iranian-backed group over the past 13 months have made similar comments.

Still, its likely Netanyahu can get approval for a deal even without the support of Ben-Gvir. Hezbollah has already backed the proposal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The full agreement hasnt been made public. Broadly, it says Hezbollah fighters must retreat north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) away from the Israeli border. The Lebanese army, which is separate from Hezbollah, will deploy more forces in the south of the country to beef up a contingent of United Nations peacekeepers, helping to ensure the militant group doesnt operate there.

The Israel Defense Forces earlier said its troops had reached the Litani, about two months after they began a ground incursion of Lebanon.

Israel has insisted on being able to strike Hezbollah positions if it deems the organization is breaching the cease-fire terms. The Lebanese government and Hezbollah have said they wont accept that. Its unclear how the proposal squares those positions.

Lebanons Prime Minister Najib Mikati is expected to speak on Tuesday evening to confirm the countrys approval of a cease-fire following an Israeli announcement, according to Lebanese media.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sharren Haskel, Israels deputy foreign minister, whos not a security cabinet member, said the process of implementing a truce would become clear only after a vote.

It is a very sensitive time, she told reporters ahead of the meeting. There needs to be a discussion. There might be a vote as well. And on whether and how this will be conducted, then we will know the rest of the process as well.

Around 3,100 people have been killed in Lebanon by Israeli strikes and the ground offensive in the past two months, while 1.2 million  more than a fifth of the population  have been displaced. About 50 Israeli troops have been killed in combat in southern Lebanon.

Israel and Hezbollah have been in conflict since the latter began striking Israeli territory in October 2023 in solidarity with Hamas. Both Hezbollah and Hamas, which triggered the ongoing war in Gaza with its attack on southern Israel, are designated as terrorist organizations by the US and many other countries.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Talks between Israel and Hamas over a cease-fire in Gaza have stalled for months. Though the conflicts are connected, theres little sign a deal over Lebanon would increase the chances of a truce in Gaza.

(Updates with more detail.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Israels air force has carried out massive strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, a hotbed of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement, ahead of a possible ceasefire to end the fighting in Lebanon.

Dozens of airstrikes simultaneously hit the Dahiyeh suburbs.

The sound of huge explosions echoed throughout the city and caused panic among residents, in the heaviest wave of recent attacks.

According to eyewitnesses, thick clouds of smoke rose while parts of the suburbs were engulfed in flames.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Israels armed forces confirmed attacks on terror targets, without initially giving further details.

The army earlier issued evacuation warnings for at least 20 sites in Beirut's southern suburbs.
The News

US President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that Israel has reached a ceasefire deal with Lebanons Hezbollah, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Cabinet voted in favor of the proposal. The ceasefire is set to take effect at 4 a.m. local time in Lebanon on Wednesday, Biden said.

This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities, the president said in an address at the White House. Were determined this conflict will not be just another cycle of violence.

Under the agreement, Israeli troops would withdraw from southern Lebanon while Hezbollah would move its forces and heavy weaponry north, away from the Israeli-Lebanon border.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Speaking after his Cabinet voted to approve the deal, Netanyahu said that the length of the ceasefire will depend on what happens in Lebanon.

With the full understanding of the United States, we are preserving full military freedom of action  if Hezbollah breaks the agreement and seeks to arm itself, we will attack, Netanyahu said.

In the televised address, Netanyahu said Israel remains committed to eliminating Hamas in Gaza, and that the countrys national security priority was to prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are backed by Tehran.

What is left of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations will not be allowed, I emphasize, will not be allowed to threaten the security of Israel again, Biden said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Stressing that the US hoped to reach a similar ceasefire in Gaza with Hamas, Biden announced a new negotiating round that will include Qatar, Egypt, Turkey.

Just as the Lebanese people deserve a future of security and prosperity, so do the people of Gaza. They too deserve an end to the fighting and displacement, Biden said The people of Gaza have been through hell.
Israel's government is expected to approve a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to a senior U.S. official familiar with the negotiations. NBC News' Hala Gorani reports from Jerusalem on what the deal calls for and when it could be agreed to.
(Bloomberg) -- Israels government is confident the economy, strained by wars in Gaza and Lebanon, will rebound strongly next year as fighting eases.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We do expect the conflict to wind down, Shmuel Abramzon, the Finance Ministrys chief economist, said to Bloomberg Television on Tuesday. We expect a positive year in 2025, he said.

The government sees gross domestic product rising 4.3% next year, higher than the projection of just 0.4% in 2024.

Abramzon, speaking from Jerusalem, said markets supported the view of an economic rally next year. He cited the strengthening of Israels shekel since early October and rise in the stock market, as well as falling prices for the governments credit-default swaps. Yields on Israeli sovereign local-currency bonds have also dropped in that period.

Thats largely down to Israels military successes against Hezbollah and growing optimism that a cease-fire with the Lebanese militant group is imminent.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theres still substantial uncertainty that needs to be resolved, Abramzon said. An economic improvement will rely on the way things end up on the security front.

The cabinet of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is confident the parliament, or Knesset, will pass its 2025 budget without trying to make major changes, he said.

The parliamentary process is always somewhat tough with negotiations, he said. At the end of the day, its a coalition parliament that the cabinet has quite strong control over.

The spending plan forecasts a fiscal deficit of 4.4% of gross domestic product next year. That would be down from the 2024 figure, which will probably end up around 8% because of a surge in war-related spending and a slowdown in many sectors of the economy. The 2025 plan includes taxation measures and some spending cuts that total around 35 billion shekels ($9.6 billion).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

--With assistance from Joumanna Bercetche.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
A ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon appeared to be holding after it came into effect at 4 a.m. local time Wednesday (10 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday). President Biden announced the ceasefire deal Tuesday, saying the U.S. and France had helped broker the agreement.

Celebratory gunshots were heard in Beirut, where people took to the streets to cheer the cessation of hostilities  however long it lasts.

Lebanon's army said it was preparing to send troops to the country's south, where they will help ensure the truce deal is adhered to, and they asked residents of the border region not to return until Israeli forces pull out, according to the Reuters news agency.

Vehicles on the highway between Sidon and Tyre on Nov. 27, 2024, as displaced people make their way back to their homes in the south of Lebanon after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect. / Credit: MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images

The Israeli military warned Lebanese residents to stay away from previously evacuated areas across the south, east and around the capital Beirut, but several highways were crowded with vehicles carrying people back to their homes, many of which were in ruins after months of devastating Israeli airstrikes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The ceasefire doesn't cover the ongoing fighting in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, another militant group backed by Iran. But Hamas said Wednesday that it, too, was ready to negotiate a truce.

"We have informed mediators in Egypt, Qatar and Turkey that Hamas is ready for a ceasefire agreement and a serious deal to exchange prisoners," a senior Hamas official told the French news agency AFP, again accusing Israel of blocking a truce deal.

The Reuters news agency quoted Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri as saying the group understood Lebanon's right to reach a unilateral agreement with Israel to protect its people, and that he hoped a deal to end the war in Gaza could also be reached.

A man celebrates carrying a picture of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Nov. 27, 2024. / Credit: Bilal Hussein/AP

Mr. Biden's announcement came Tuesday as the Israel security cabinet approved the ceasefire, after urging from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The war between Israel and the so called Iranian proxy group Hezbollah has killed almost 3,800 people in Lebanon over the last year and left about 16,000 others wounded, according to the country's health ministry.

"I have some good news to report from the Middle East," Mr. Biden said on the White House South Lawn. "I just spoke with the Prime Minister[s] of Israel and Lebanon. I'm pleased to announce that their governments have accepted the United States' proposal to end the devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. I want to thank President Macron of France for his partnership in reaching this moment."

"This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities," he added. "What is left of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations will not be allowed  I emphasize, will not be allowed  to threaten the security of Israel ever again."

President Biden delivers remarks regarding a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah, in the White House Rose Garden, Nov. 26, 2024. / Credit: Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post/Getty

Under the agreement, over the next 60 days, the Lebanese Army and state security forces will take control once again, Mr. Biden said, and Israel will gradually withdraw its remaining forces. Since the war with Hezbollah began, more than 70,000 Israelis have been "forced to live as refugees in their own country," he said, while over 300,000 Lebanese people have been forced from their homes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Let's be clear," Mr. Biden said. "Israel did not launch this war. The Lebanese people did not seek that war either, nor did the United States."

Echoing earlier remarks by Netanyahu, Mr. Biden said that if Hezbollah or anyone else violates the ceasefire and poses a direct threat to Israel, then Israel retains the right to self-defense.

In a joint statement released later, Mr. Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron said "the announcement today will cease the fighting in Lebanon, and secure Israel from the threat of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations operating from Lebanon," adding that it would "create the conditions to restore lasting calm and allow residents in both countries to return safely to their homes on both sides of the Blue Line [Lebanon-Israel border]."

In this screen grab image from video provide by the Israeli Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a televised statement Nov. 26, 2024, in Jerusalem, Israel. / Credit: Israeli Government Press Office via AP

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Netanyahu said Israel's war cabinet had approved the ceasefire and he had urged ministers in the full cabinet to approve the deal Tuesday night. He did not give specifics, but said if Hezbollah breaks the terms, Israel would "respond severely."

The ceasefire has halted the deadliest war to take place in Lebanon since its civil war, which ended in 1990.

Under the agreement, there will be 60 days permitted for the full withdrawal of Israeli forces  a gradual withdrawal to allow the Lebanese forces to mobilize and move in to secure the area. A U.S. official told CBS News earlier Tuesday that the first peel-off of Israeli troops would begin within 10 days.

Hezbollah is expected to pull its forces and heavy weapons back about 20 miles from the Israeli border, to the Litani River, a senior Biden administration official told reporters in a call Tuesday, while the Lebanese Armed Forces will move south of that line and take up positions. Hezbollah, as part of the agreement, will not be permitted to rebuild infrastructure or weaponry again in the area they vacate, the official said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"As the Lebanese military deploys and reaches the south, the Israeli military will withdraw," the official explained.

U.S. troops will not deploy in the area, but the U.S. and France will provide additional support  including equipment, training and financial resources  to the Lebanese army, the official added. That will be done through the Military Technical Committee, a previously formed international coalition that was revived by the U.S. a few months ago.

The U.S. and France will also join an existing mechanism referred to as the Tripartite Mechanism which was created shortly after the last war between Israel and Lebanon in 2006, the official said. The U.S. will chair it, and through diplomats and military personnel, receive and attempt to address complaints by either side of potential violations.

The Biden administration official said the incoming Trump team was not involved in the ceasefire negotiations, however, following the election  and once it appeared that a deal may be close  the current administration briefed President-elect Donald Trump's national security team for the first time on the tenets of the deal, saying the Trump team seemed supportive.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to a U.S. official, Iran was also briefed, given Tehran's longtime support of Hezbollah. Long a powerful military and political entity in Lebanon, Hezbollah has been designated a terrorist group by both the U.S. and Israel for years.

Hezbollah started firing rockets into Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, in support of its Hamas allies who sparked the war in Gaza with their terror attack the previous day.

Israel carried out airstrikes on purported Hezbollah targets for months, but in September it dramatically escalated its assault on the Iranian proxy group, including by launching ground operations in the south of Lebanon.

CBS News correspondent Debora Patta said rockets were still flying in both directions over Israel's northern border on Tuesday before the deal was announced, with Israel and Hezbollah trading some of their heaviest fire to date.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite the deal to end the fighting in Lebanon that was sparked by the parallel war in Gaza, negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have thus far gone nowhere.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier Tuesday that deescalating tension in the region with a Lebanon truce "can also help us to end the conflict in Gaza."

"In particular, Hamas will know it can't count on other fronts opening up in the war," he said.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement late Tuesday that "as we welcome the news of this ceasefire, we also hope that deescalating tensions across the Israel-Lebanon border also brings renewed hope for ending the tragic conflict in Gaza. We must continue to focus on improving the desperate humanitarian conditions in Gaza, and we remain committed to securing the release of all of the hostages in Gaza, including U.S. citizens."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Many in the decimated Palestinian territory are hungry, and recent rainstorms have made living conditions there even worse. A winter chill has set in, and there were reports of a fresh Israeli strike killing about 15 people Tuesday in Gaza City.

Some North Carolina homeowners still can't return home after Helene landslides

New White House rule would make weight loss drugs available for people on Medicare and Medicaid

Inside 23andMe CEO Anne Wojcicki's vision for the company: It "will transform health care"
The Israeli and U.S. governments announced a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah in Lebanon that will begin Wednesday morning at 4 a.m. local time.

I have good news from the Middle East, President Biden said in remarks from the White House Tuesday afternoon.

Im pleased to announce that their governments have accepted the United States proposal to end the devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, he said, also thanking French President Emanuel Macron as a key mediator.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shortly ahead of Bidens announcement, the Israeli government announced its security cabinet had accepted the proposal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking ahead of the expected agreement, said Israel had pushed Hezbollah back decades. He said calm on the northern border is needed to focus attention on Iran, provide rest for troops and replenish stocks, and isolate Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

With the United States full understanding, we maintain full freedom of military action. If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to arm itself, we will attack, Netanyahu said. If it tries to rebuild terrorist infrastructure near the border, we will attack. If it launches a rocket, if it digs a tunnel, if it brings in a truck carrying rockets, we will attack.

President Biden was also expected to make an on-camera message about the ceasefire on Tuesday afternoon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The terms of the deal include a 60-day truce in which Israel will gradually withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon and Hezbollah will withdraw its troops north of the Litani River in Lebanon.

During that time, the Lebanese army and State security forces will deploy to the areas of the border zone and a new enforcement mechanism, overseen by the United States, France and others, aimed at ensuring that Hezbollah cannot rebuild its infrastructure.

Were determined this conflict will not be just another cycle of violence, and so the United States, with the full support of France and our other allies has pledged to work with Israel and Lebanon to ensure that this arrangement is fully implemented, Biden said.

No U.S. troops will be deployed, the president added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Let me be clear, if Hezbollah or anyone else breaks the deal and poses a direct threat to Israel, then Israel retains the right to self defense consistent with international law, just like any country facing a terrorist group pledged to that countrys destruction, Biden said.

Hezbollahs new leader, Naim Qassem, reportedly said in a video address last week that the group had agreed to this path of indirect negotiation, but had made some suggested changes to the proposed agreement.

Among Hezbollahs two conditions, he said, were for Israel to stop all attacks on Lebanon and preserve Lebanese sovereignty.

Hours before Israels cabinet approved the deal, the Israeli Air Force carried out waves of airstrikes across Beirut that killed at least 18 people; while the Israeli military said Hezbollah had launched at least 60 rockets into Israel over the course of Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Pentagon issued support for the deal, with spokesperson Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder saying the Department of Defense is consulting closely with our interagency partners in terms of what potential contributions the DOD can make.

The deal represents a major breakthrough to halt more than a year of cross-border rocket fire between Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and Israel, which escalated into an Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon.

Biden also said the U.S. will renew a push for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The fighting was punctuated by brazen Israeli military and intelligence operations  from the assassination of Hezbollahs long-time leader Hasan Nasrallah, strikes taking out a number of the groups senior leadership; and a synchronized explosion of pagers and walkie-talkies wounding hundreds of rank-and-file members of the U.S.-designated terrorist organization.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While Biden and his senior advisor Amos Hochstein shepherded the deal across the finish line, Netanyahus agreement is reportedly seen as a gift to President-elect Trump, removing at least one foreign policy challenge from the docket ahead of his inauguration.

The truce would bring calm to at least one front in the multi-front conflicts in the Middle East. Hezbollah began firing rockets at Israel on Oct. 8 following Hamass attack on Oct. 7, where gunmen killed about 1,200 people and took about 250 people hostage.

Israel continues military operations in the Gaza Strip against Hamas and to try and rescue hostages as ceasefire efforts have failed to take root  prolonging a catastrophic humanitarian crisis for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where more than 40,000 people are believed killed in more than a year of war between Israel and Hamas.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking from Italy after a meeting with foreign ministers of G7 countries, said a ceasefire in Lebanon can have very positive effects of also ending the conflict in Gaza.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Updated: 4:12 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The News

Israel and Hezbollah are closing in on a deal to halt the 14-month-long fighting in Lebanon that could be finalized as soon as today, according to US and Israeli officials.

Israeli media reported that the war cabinet would likely approve a deal on Tuesday, while the Biden administration was decidedly more cautious: Were close, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said. Until you get everything done, you dont have a deal.

The US and France-brokered truce would bring some much-needed respite to Lebanon, which has been hammered by the war: Some 3,750 people have been killed, and more than a million displaced.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Israel carried out airstrikes in Beiruts southern suburbs on Tuesday after issuing its biggest evacuation order yet, Reuters reported.

SIGNALS

Palestinians fear Israel will ramp up its military operations in Gaza

Sources: Arab News, The Times of Israel

Reports of an imminent ceasefire in Lebanon have left Palestinians in Gaza feeling abandoned and fearful that Israel will renew its focus on the enclave, Arab News reported: We are afraid the Israeli army will now have a free hand in Gaza, a businessman in Gaza City said. But officials told The Times of Israel that the move could give fresh impetus to a ceasefire in Gaza by isolating Hamas and forcing it to the negotiating table: What Hamas wanted was support from Hezbollah and others. Once you cut the connection, you have the ability to reach a deal. Its a strategic achievement, an Israeli official said.

An achievement for Biden, but long term vision no closer to becoming reality

Sources: Semafor, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft

A ceasefire would be a major achievement for US President Joe Biden in the final weeks of his administration, which has so far been unsuccessful in bringing about an end to the year-long conflict in Gaza, Semafors Morgan Chalfant wrote. But even if a truce is agreed, a two-state solution  the US official objective in the region  is no closer to becoming a reality, the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft argued: The US has consistently provided both military assistance and diplomatic cover to Israel despite the Netanyahu governments explicitly expansionist territorial agenda in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
The US and France are set to announce a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel imminently.

French president Emmanuel Macron said significant progress had been made on ceasefire discussions while White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said they were close to fruition.

The Shia militia and Israel have exchanged near-daily rocket fire across the southern Lebanon border since Hamas launched its cross-border attack into southern Israel on 7 October last year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On 1 October 2024, Israel launched a ground invasion into southern Lebanon and has carried out airstrikes across Beirut, killing senior Hezbollah commanders.

But the exchange of fire could come to an end with Israels cabinet to meet in Jerusalem on Tuesday to approve a truce deal with Hezbollah, according to a senior Israeli official, news agency Reuters has reported.

Reports of a ceasefire come as Israeli airstrikes levelled more of the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut on Monday (AP)

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus office has declined to comment on the reports.

US state department spokesperson Matthew Miller said gaps between the two parties had narrowed significantly but there were still steps needed to reach an agreement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Often times the very last stages of an agreement are the most difficult because the hardest issues are left to the end, he said. We are pushing as hard as we can.

Israeli airstrikes hit southern Beirut on Monday, following a weekend of attacks targeting central Beirut (AP)

Lebanons deputy parliament speaker Elias Bou Saab said the proposal would entail an Israeli military withdrawal from south Lebanon.

In exchange, regular Lebanese army troops would be deployed in the border region, long a Hezbollah stronghold, within 60 days.

A sticking point over who would monitor compliance with the ceasefire was resolved in the last 24 hours with an agreement to set up a five-country committee, including France and chaired by the United States, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite diplomatic progress, hostilities have intensified. Over the weekend, Israel carried out powerful airstrikes, one of which killed at least 29 people in central Beirut, while Hezbollah unleashed one of its biggest rocket salvos yet on Sunday, firing 250 missiles into Israel.

In Beirut, Israeli airstrikes levelled more of the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs on Monday, sending clouds of debris billowing over the Lebanese capital.

Lebanons health ministry said Israeli attacks killed 31 people and wounded 62 across the country on Monday.

Over the past year, more than 3,750 people have been killed and over one million have been forced from their homes, according to the ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its figures.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Israel has dealt major blows to Hezbollah, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah and other top commanders, and inflicting massive destruction in Lebanon in areas where the group holds sway.

Israel says its military offensive is aimed at enabling tens of thousands of Israelis to return to homes they evacuated when Hezbollah began firing across the Lebanese border into Israel more than a year ago.
The Israeli air force on Tuesday attacked targets in Beirut, ahead of a possible ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia.

After issuing evacuation calls to residents in the area, the military attacked Burj al-Barajneh, a southern suburb of the Lebanese capital.

Residents reported that large explosions rocked the city.

At least six buildings were destroyed in the attack, according to Lebanese security sources.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Israeli army also announced that a commander of the pro-Iranian Shiite militia Hezbollah had been killed in an airstrike near the coastal city of Tyre.

The man was involved in planning attacks on Israeli targets, the Israeli side said.

The attacks came a few hours before a meeting of the Israeli security Cabinet. According to media reports, a 60-day ceasefire with Hezbollah could be approved at the meeting.
Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, a hotbed of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement, intensified on Monday afternoon, as a potential ceasefire deal between Israel and the militants appeared to be getting closer.

The strikes on Ghobeiry, Haret Hreik and Tayyouneh came after evacuation warnings were issued by the Israeli military.

Videos showed a building of at least eight-storeys levelled to the ground in Tayyouneh. The loud explosion was heard across the city.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A house was hit in Choueifat, an area outside of Hezbollah's stronghold, without prior warning, Lebanese security sources said.

The Israeli army said it conducted intelligence-based strikes on approximately "25 terror targets belonging to Hezbollah's Executive Council in Lebanon, including in Nabatieh, Baalbek, Beqaa Valley, Dahieh, and the outskirts of Beirut."

According to Israeli media reports, the Israeli Cabinet will approve an agreement for a ceasefire with Hezbollah on Tuesday evening. The text of this agreement to end more than a year of hostilities has been fully negotiated, they reported.

Lebanese government officials in Beirut have expressed optimism, but stressed that the decision now rested with Israel.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A current draft ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel envisages full implementation of the deal agreed to at the end of the previous war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006. Accordingly, the Lebanese army would be stationed in the border area with Israel to prevent Hezbollah fighters from returning.

Hezbollah has been targeting northern Israel with missiles and drones for more than a year in a show of support for allied Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Israel initially responded to shelling by Hezbollah with counter-attacks, but since September has launched massive airstrikes in the country and a ground offensive in southern Lebanon.

UN: 45 Lebanese soldiers killed in Israeli attacks so far

Meanwhile, the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon denounced the attacks by Israel on the Lebanese army during its war with Hezbollah.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said 45 Lebanese army soldiers have been killed so far in Israeli attacks on targets in Lebanon.

"UNIFIL is seriously concerned by numerous strikes on the Lebanese Armed Forces inside the Lebanese territories, despite their declared non-involvement in the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel," a statement said.

Such attacks constitute a "flagrant violation" of international humanitarian law, UNIFIL said.

The Lebanese army is not an active party in the war between Hezbollah and the Israeli military.

Heavy smoke billows after an Israeli air strike that targeted an area in Beirut southern suburb. Marwan Naamani/dpa
Israel and Lebanon agreed Tuesday to a cease-fire aimed at ending a nearly 14-month conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah that has left more than 3,000 people dead and threatened to ignite a wider regional war.

President Biden announced the agreement from the White House on Tuesday afternoon.

"Effective 4 a.m. tomorrow local time, the fighting across the Lebanese-Israeli border will end. Will end," Biden said. "This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities. I applaud the courageous decision made by the leaders of Lebanon and Israel to end the violence."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier Tuesday that his security Cabinet voted to approve the agreement, despite fierce opposition from some of the more radical members of his coalition.

Though the deal does not involve the separate conflict between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, Biden administration officials said they hoped it would lead to an agreement to end fighting there too, and see the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Even as the deal was finalized, Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes across Lebanon, striking areas in the countrys south and east, along with the suburbs of the capital  areas where Hezbollah militants hold sway.

Several airstrikes also hit the heart of Beirut, killing at least 10 people, according to Lebanons Health Ministry.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The length of the cease-fire will depend on what happens in Lebanon, Netanyahu said. He added that Israel would maintain the option to act against violations.

"If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and seeks to arm itself, we will attack," he said.

In pushing his ministers to accept the agreement, Netanyahu argued it would allow Israel to focus its attention on the threat from Iran, give Israeli troops an opportunity to replenish their stocks and isolate Hamas.

The agreement will initiate a 60-day truce that would see both sides gradually withdraw: Israeli troops out of south Lebanon to Israeli territory, and Hezbollah to areas north of the Litani River, nearly 20 miles north of the Lebanese-Israeli border. During the truce, a monitoring mechanism would be established that would ensure Hezbollah is not able to reconstitute itself or wage attacks on Israel from southern Lebanon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A U.S.-led committee would oversee implementation of the withdrawal, but Biden said U.S. troops would not deploy in southern Lebanon to do so.

Lebanese officials say about 5,000 soldiers from Lebanons army  which has remained neutral during the conflict  would then enter south Lebanon, along with United Nations peacekeeping forces.

Lebanon's caretaker government is set to meet Wednesday to give final approval to the proposal. Biden said he spoke to the leaders of Israel and Lebanon and both communicated their countries' acceptance.

Despite the optimism, many elements of the cease-fire proposal  which came about after vigorous negotiations brokered by the U.S. and France  remain unclear.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read more: What war? For some in Beirut, blocking out the Israel-Hezbollah conflict is just survival

One of the larger sticking points is whether Israel would be able to continue striking Hezbollah throughout Lebanon if the group attempts to reestablish a presence south of the Litani River, or if it continues to wage attacks on Israel or smuggle weapons.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz told the U.N.s Lebanon envoy Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert on Tuesday that Israel would act forcefully against any breach of the cease-fire agreement.

If you do not act, we will do it, forcefully, Katz said in a statement. Any house rebuilt in south Lebanon and used as a terrorist base will be destroyed, any rearming or terrorist organization will be attacked, any attempt at transferring arms will be foiled, and any threat against our forces or our citizens will be immediately eliminated.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lebanese leaders have dismissed such terms as an unacceptable breach of Lebanons sovereignty.

In the end, U.S. officials acknowledged that Israel retained the de facto ability to attack, but that the streamlined mechanism would be in place to evaluate any perceived violation with hopes of averting escalation.

The cease-fire would officially be an agreement between Israel and Lebanon. It includes a Lebanese lawmaker who has been negotiating on Hezbollah's behalf. But Hezbollah, a paramilitary faction and political party that is backed by Iran, is not officially a party to the agreement. Still, a senior U.S official, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity, said the terms that Lebanon agrees to will apply to Hezbollah.

Another question is the fate of Hezbollah's weapons. Before the war, the group was considered one of the world's premier paramilitary factions, with an arsenal more powerful than that of the Lebanese army. The cease-fire agreement  based on a U.N. resolution that established a 2006 truce between Hezbollah and Israel that was never fully implemented  has provisions that would force the group to surrender its arms.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A cease-fire would end a conflict that began a day after Hamas' Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel, when Hezbollah initiated a rocket campaign in northern Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

In the months of tit-for-tat strikes that followed, about 60,000 people from northern Israel and about 100,000 Lebanese from southern Lebanon were displaced.

In September, Israel escalated its attacks, conducting thousands of airstrikes on Hezbollah-dominated parts of the country and launching an invasion that saw Israeli troops enter southern Lebanon for the first time since 2006. It also assassinated Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.

Since Oct. 8, 2023, more than 3,823 people have been killed in Lebanon and 15,859 injured, according to Lebanese government data, the majority of them in the last two months. More than 25% of those killed were women and children, according to the government data, which do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, about 1.2 million people  almost a quarter of Lebanon's population  have been displaced, with wide swaths of the country destroyed.

The Israeli government said Tuesday that 78 Israelis have been killed in attacks by Hezbollah and its allies, including 47 civilians.

Even as senior Israeli ministers were meeting at military headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israeli warplanes launched some 180 airstrikes across Lebanon, according to a statement from the military. It issued evacuation warnings for some cities. The military said it was targeting Hezbollahs infrastructure, including the group's financial arm.

Among the targets were four neighborhoods of central Beirut that had been spared from the fighting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One attack hit Hamra, a popular shopping district in the capital that in recent months has become a sanctuary for hundreds of thousands displaced from the Dahiyeh, the constellation of suburbs south of Beirut where many of Hezbollah's offices are headquartered.

The Dahiyeh too was pounded by an intense barrage of more than 20 airstrikes, leaving the area obscured by a curtain of smoke and rocking buildings in adjacent neighborhoods.

"The hysterical Israeli aggression this evening on Beirut and various Lebanese regions, which specifically targets civilians, confirms once again that the Israeli enemy does not respect any law or consideration," said Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati in a statement Tuesday. He called on the international community "to act quickly to stop this aggression and implement an immediate ceasefire."

Meanwhile, Hezbollah continued its barrage against northern Israel, lobbing dozens of projectiles across the border.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bulos reported from Amman and Wilkinson from Washington.

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.
Israel will take tough action against the Lebanese Hezbollah militia even after a ceasefire in the event of violations, the country's defence minister said on Tuesday.

"It will no longer be as it was before," said Israel Katz, according to his office, at a meeting with the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert.

"We will act against any threat, anytime, anywhere," Katz said.

"Any house in southern Lebanon that is rebuilt and used as a terrorist base will be destroyed," Katz continued.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In addition, he said, action would be taken against any rearmament of Hezbollah and any attempted arms smuggling. "Any threat to our troops or Israeli citizens will be immediately destroyed."

He emphasized that the Israeli government would show "zero tolerance" towards any violations of a ceasefire. At the same time, he called on the UN peacekeeping force, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to effectively implement a ceasefire.
A ceasefire between Israeli forces and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah took effect Wednesday morning local time, according to a timeline laid out by US President Joe Biden, after Israel and Lebanon agreed a deal to end the more than year-long conflict.

Speaking earlier in the White House Rose Garden, Biden said the deal is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities. He said he had spoken with the leaders of Israel and Lebanon, and that both countries accepted the US proposal to end the devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

The Israeli security cabinet voted on Tuesday to approve the deal by a majority of 10 to one, the Israeli Prime Ministers office said, thanking the United States for its involvement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 60-day ceasefire aims to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, with the hope that it could form the basis of a lasting truce.

Resolution 1701 was adopted to end a 34-day war between Israel and Lebanon in 2006, and had kept relative calm in the area for nearly two decades. That lasted until the day after Hamas October 7 attack on Israel last year, when Hezbollah attacked Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian militant group, beginning more than a year of cross-border skirmishes.

The resolution stipulated that Israel must withdraw all its forces from southern Lebanon, and that the only armed groups present south of the Litani river should be the Lebanese military and UN peacekeeping forces.

A US senior administration official said Tuesday that while Israeli forces would not immediately withdraw as the deal went into effect, they must do so within 60 days under the terms of the agreement. During that time, Hezbollah fighters are also expected to retreat some 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Israel-Lebanon border.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a symbolic milestone earlier Tuesday, Israeli soldiers reached the Litani river for the first time the military began ground operations in Lebanon in September.

In the hours before the vote, Israel drastically stepped up its strikes on Beirut, targeting central areas of the city  not just its Hezbollah-dominated southern suburbs  for the first time in the conflict. At least 10 people were killed in the strikes on central Beirut, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.

Soon after Bidens announcement, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for three buildings in the southern Beirut suburbs of Bourj Al-Barajne and Ghbaire.

In a pre-recorded televised address Tuesday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hezbollah was no longer the same after Israels offensive, and gave three reasons why he is now pursuing a ceasefire.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

First, to allow Israel to focus on the Iranian threat, Netanyahu said. Second, to replenish the countrys military forces and equipment, which he said had been depleted in part by big delays in the supply of weapons and munitions. And third, to leave Hamas isolated in Gaza, without Hezbollah able to fight alongside it, he said.

Although the deal represents a significant breakthrough  after months of negotiations that a US State Department spokesperson described as incredibly frustrating  it is not yet clear whether it will lead to a lasting peace.

Before the vote, the deal was met with fury from the more extreme wing of Netanyahus coalition, and trepidation from residents of northern Israel, many of whom have been displaced by the conflict, along with residents of southern Lebanon across the border.

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir on Monday called the deal a historic mistake that failed to achieve the wars main goal of returning displaced Israelis to their homes in the north. Ben Gvir has also long worked to thwart potential ceasefire deals between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mayors of Israels northernmost communities were outraged by reports that Netanyahus government was set to approve the deal, with one calling it a surrender agreement and a disgrace on a historic scale.

Avihay Shtern, the mayor the Kiryat Shmona  where Hezbollah fire has forced residents out of their homes  urged Israeli leaders to stop and think about the children of Kiryat Shmona before approving the deal.

I dont understand how we got from absolute victory to total surrender, Shtern wrote in a Facebook post he shared with CNN.

In his address, Netanyahu stressed that Israel will respond forcefully if Hezbollah violates the agreement and attempts to rearm.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If it tries to rebuild terrorist infrastructure near the border, we will attack. If it launches a rocket, if it digs a tunnel, if it brings in a truck carrying rockets, we will attack, Netanyahu said in a fiery speech.

This story has been updated with additional developments.

CNNs Samantha Waldenberg contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
CAIRO (Reuters) -An Israeli air strike killed at least 13 Palestinians at a school sheltering displaced families in Gaza City, medics said on Tuesday.

They said that dozens of people were also wounded in the Israeli strike that hit the Al-Hurreya School in the Zeitoun neighborhood, one of the oldest suburbs of Gaza City.

Later on Tuesday, an Israeli air strike on a house also in Zeitoun suburb killed seven people and wounded others, medics said. Another strike killed at least one man in the southern city of Rafah, raising the number of Palestinians killed by Israel on Tuesday to 21.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There has been no Israeli comment on either of the incidents.

Israel's 13-month campaign in Gaza has killed more than 44,200 people and displaced nearly all the enclave's population at least once, according to Gaza officials.

The war erupted when Hamas gunmen attacked Israeli communities on Oct. 7 2023, killing around 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages.

(Reporting by Nidal Al-MughrabiEditing by Peter Graff and Chizu Nomiyama)
Israeli ground troops have reached the symbolic Litani River during their advance in southern Lebanon, the military said on Tuesday.

The Israeli army published a picture on the social media platform X that apparently showed soldiers crossing a bridge over the river.

Numerous weapons and enemy infrastructure have been found and destroyed in the area, the message said.

As part of a ceasefire deal expected soon, Israel wants the Lebanese Hezbollah militia to withdraw permanently behind the Litani River, 30 kilometres from the official border. This withdrawal was also specified in UN resolution 1701, which marked the end of the last Lebanon War in 2006.

A draft ceasefire agreement provides, among other things, for the full implementation of the resolution and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon.
Israeli soldiers reached the Litani river in Lebanon on Tuesday, in a strategic victory hours before a vote by Israels security cabinet widely expected to agree a ceasefire with Hezbollah.

Israel has been trying to push Hezbollah north of the Litani, citing UN Security Council resolution 1701, which stipulates that the terror group must withdraw from southern Lebanon.

A picture of soldiers led by Ori Gordin, commanding officer of the IDF Northern Command, on banks of the Litani circulated on social media, marking the symbolic achievement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, Lebanese news channel Al Jadeed reported that the US and France would announce the end of the war between Israel and Hezbollah at 8pm GMT on Tuesday.

The Israel Defence Force (IDF) said a number of elite and reservist units took part in intelligence-based raids based on terrorist infrastructure concealed in the complex terrain along the river.

IDF

A spokesman told The Telegraph that the IDF reached the stretch of the Litani closest to the Israeli border, a distance of roughly three miles.

Israel Ziv, a former IDF operations directorate chief, told The Telegraph Israel was signalling to Hezbollah that it could take this area or even go further north if we want to. He added: Hezbollah is not in a position to stop the IDF.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Israels security cabinet was expected to meet on Tuesday at 5.30pm Israel time (3.30pm GMT) at IDF headquarters to vote on the American ceasefire proposal.

The proposal has divided the Israeli public from its politicians. Itamar Ben-Gvir, the national security minister, repeated his opposition to a deal on Tuesday morning, calling it a historic mistake.

The National Unity party and Yisrael Beitenu, both in the opposition coalition, also voiced their opposition to a ceasefire.

Netanyahu buys short-term peace in the north, at the price of seriously harming the long-term security of the people of Israel, warned Avigdor Lieberman, the Yisrael Beitenu leader and former defence minister.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr Ziv, however, said Israel should agree the ceasefire tonight, adding: It would have been even better to reach it weeks ago. But its beneficial to us.

Hezbollah was hit very hard and it will take them at least five years to rebuild their army. And thats if nobody stops them.

Abdallah Bou Habib, Lebanons foreign minister, expressed hope for a ceasefire by the end of Tuesday, saying the Lebanese army could send at least 5,000 soldiers to southern Lebanon, according to Reuters.

Hassan Fadlallah, a senior Hezbollah official and member of Lebanons parliament, said on Tuesday the terror group would remain active after the war. He said it would help displaced Lebanese return to their villages and rebuild areas destroyed by Israeli strikes.

Fadlallah told Reuters that Lebanon was facing dangerous, sensitive hours before the anticipated ceasefire announcement, with the Israeli air force intensifying strikes on Tuesday afternoon on Beirut and its southern suburbs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A Downing Street spokesman urged all parties to engage in efforts to reach a ceasefire and indeed a long-term sustainable peace in the Middle East.

Israel to build Lebanon border fence

Hopes that a ceasefire agreement could be reached came as Israel said it was planning to build a new fence along its border with Jordan, in an attempt to prevent Iranian weapons reaching Palestinian terror groups in the West Bank.

Israel fears that the West Bank could become another Gaza, with Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other terror groups armed to the teeth, mainly with weapons smuggled through Jordan.

The defence ministry said detailed engineering planning had begun for the construction of a 190-mile border fence, from Eilat in the south to the Israel-annexed Golan Heights in the north.

Elite and reservist Israeli soldier surround ther commanding officer, Ori Gordin, on Tuesday - IDF

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The project was announced by Israel Katz, the defence minister, when he visited IDF Central Command in the West Bank this week.

Mr Katz, like his predecessor Yoav Gallant, reiterated the relentless, institutionalised, and organised Iranian effort to establish an eastern front against Israel by smuggling weapons to Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

We are going to do it very quickly, Mr Katz promised, about a fence expected to take several months to build and to cost millions of pounds.

The King Hussein Bridge, the only border crossing between Jordan and the West Bank, has also become a target for terror attacks. In September, a Jordanian truck driver shot and killed three Israelis there.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, visited the crossing three days later, promising to crack down on attempts to smuggle both terrorists and weapons from Jordan into the West Bank and Israeli cities.

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.
JERUSALEM  Not long after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he had recommended that his Cabinet approve a ceasefire with Hezbollah to end hostilities in Lebanon, his office announced that the ministers had done just that.

But Israel "reserves its right to act against any threat to its security," his office said.

"The ceasefire allows us to focus on the Iranian threat," Netanyahu said in a televised address. "We will complete the elimination of Hamas, the return of all the hostages and the return of the residents of the north."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The deal, which was brokered by the United States and lauded by President Joe Biden, will be implemented Wednesday at 4 a.m. local time.

Earlier, a high-ranking intelligence official in Israel who was briefed on the ceasefire terms told NBC News that Israel forces would withdraw from Lebanon over 60 days under the deal.

Hezbollah, Irans most important proxy, would also withdraw to the north of Lebanons Litani River and about 5,000 Lebanese army troops will move to the south. The Lebanese military is not officially a party to the conflict.

The aftermath of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Tuesday.

Lisa Johnson, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., submitted the proposal last week to Lebanons Parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, according to an adviser to the speaker, Ali Hamdan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hezbollah began trading fire with Israel on Oct. 8 last year, a day after Hamas launched its terrorist attack on Israel from Gaza. Hezbollah says it is supporting the Palestinian resistance; Israel sees it as another attempt by Tehran to attack the Jewish state.

Amid this flurry of diplomatic activity, Israel fired missiles into Lebanon on Monday, killing at least 31 people in Beirut and the port city of Tyre. Meanwhile, Hezbollah fired more than 200 rockets at Israel on Sunday, leaving neighborhoods in flames, according to the Israeli military.

The strategically important Litani River is a key part of any deal from Israel's perspective, Israeli ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon said Monday.

The stipulation that Hezbollah withdraw north of the strategic waterway was also part of the deal that ended the 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon. But Hezbollah remained entrenched in the region. Israel sees its continued presence there as a grave threat.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We are moving forward on this front, Danon told reporters at the U.N. in New York. Our goal was very clear, which is to push Hezbollah north of the Litany River. We havent finalized it, but we are moving forward.

Its important that Hezbollah will not be allowed to come back to the fence, and we will do whatever is necessary to guarantee it, he added.

Israeli government spokesman David Mencer told Reuters that the agreement would also allow Israeli to act in self-defense to remove Hezbollahs threat and enable the safe return of the residents of the north of Israel.

Residents embrace at the site of a Lebanese rocket attack in Rinatya, central Israel on Sunday.

On Monday, three senior Biden administration officials told NBC News that a deal to end the conflict between Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah militia was close but not complete.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Israel has said it will not stop its attacks until the 60,000 residents of northern Israel who have been driven from their homes can return safely. Around 90 Israeli soldiers and 50 Israeli civilians have been killed, according to officials in the country.

More than 3,500 people have been killed in Lebanon by Israeli bombing since the fighting started, according to Lebanons health ministry, a campaign that has displaced some 1.2 million people and unleashed a humanitarian crisis.

In this multifront war in the Middle East, the Lebanon conflict has become a key focus for Israel in recent months. Thats partly down to Hezbollahs mighty missile arsenal, bigger than any other non-state group in the world and thought to be capable of overwhelming Israels missile defense.

Displaced Palestinians gather to receive a hot meal at the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza on Monday.

After Hamas terror attack in which 1,200 people were killed and 250 kidnapped, Hezbollah started firing missiles at Israel, which responded by launching rockets of its own. This then flared to a full-scale war in September, with Israel killing Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and significantly weakening the group.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

War is still grinding on in Gaza, where a humanitarian catastrophe is playing out and more than 44,000 people have been killed, according to local officials.

The ceasefire would be limited to Lebanon, meaning it would not bring relief to Palestinians in Gaza or the dozens of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

The families of the hostages said they strongly urge any agreement to include a demand for the release of those who are being held.

The October 7 attack, orchestrated by Hamas and supported by Iran, saw Hezbollah join the conflict, linking its fate to the war in Gaza and the atrocities of the October 7 massacre, the families said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The current efforts to secure an agreement ending the war on the northern front present a vital opportunity to bring all hostages home. The northern front and the hostages release are inseparably linked  we cannot and must not treat them as separate issues.

Hala Gorani reported from Jerusalem, and Alexander Smith from London.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
"No excuses" remain for Israel to refuse a ceasefire with the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, set to be voted on in Israel's cabinet Tuesday, the European Union's foreign policy chief said.

Josep Borrell said that all of Israel's security concerns had been addressed in the deal, which was brokered by the US and France.

There is not an excuse for not implementing a ceasefire. Otherwise, Lebanon will fall apart, Borrell told reporters on Tuesday morning at the G7 foreign ministers' summit in Italy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Under the proposed deal reported by local media, Israeli troops would withdraw from Lebanon and stop fighting for an initial period of 60 days.

Israel's Channel 12 reported that other criteria for the deal include the setup of a multi-national committee  headed by the US  to monitor its implementation.

In return, Hezbollah would replace its forces south of the Litani River with Lebanese Army troops.

Israel's ambassador to Washington, Mike Herzog, told Israeli Army Radio that a deal between his country and militant group Hezbollah could be reached "within days".

Herzog said that although there were "points to finalise", the parties are close to clinching a deal that would see hostilities cease for the first time since Israel launched a ground operation in Lebanon in early October.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Related

Although members of Hezbollah have yet to comment on the potential ceasefire, a top Hamas official in Lebanon said that the Palestinian militant group would support a ceasefire agreement between Israel and its Lebanese ally.

Any announcement of a ceasefire is welcome. Hezbollah has stood by our people and made significant sacrifices, Osama Hamdan told the Lebanese broadcaster Al-Mayadeen.

Despite the ongoing talks, airstrikes killed at least 31 people in Lebanon on Monday, with Lebanon's Health Ministry reporting that 26 were killed in southern Lebanon, four in the eastern Baalbek-Hermel province and one in Choueifat, a neighbourhood in Beirut's southern suburbs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One of Israel's key demands is that it be allowed to reserve the right to act should Hezbollah violate the emerging deal.

Hezbollah began attacking Israel after its armed forces launched a ground and air operation in the Gaza Strip in retaliation to Hamas' attack on southern Israel on 7 October.

The war between the two sides escalated in September, with Israel launching massive airstrikes in Lebanon and sending troops into the country's south.

On Monday, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said that Israeli strikes had killed 3,768 people since the bombing began. In Israel, more than 70 have been killed, 40 of them civilians.
ITHACA, N.Y. (WETM)  An Ithaca man was arrested on Sunday after police accused him of assaulting a woman and threatening her with an axe.

Cameron McCaffery was arrested on Sunday, Nov. 24, on the charges of assault in the second degree, a class D felony, unlawful imprisonment in the first degree, a class D felony, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, a class D felony, menacing in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor, and assault in the third degree, a class A misdemeanor.

One person killed, another injured after falling in Ithaca gorges

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, police responded to an apartment building on East Green Street for the report of a physical domestic incident, the Ithaca Police Department said.

The victim told officers that McCaffery assaulted her and threatened her with an axe. Police found McCaffery at the scene and arrested him. He was later taken to the Tompkins County Jail for processing and was held without bail.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
INDIANA, Pa.  Indiana University of Pennsylvania netted four more clinical training affiliation agreements during IUPs and Indiana Regional Medical Centers third annual Pennsylvania Mountains Rural Health Conference Thursday.

These affiliations will bolster the schools proposed college of osteopathic medicine and included agreement with Broad Top Area Medical Center; Hyndman Area Health Centers; Nulton Diagnostic and Treatment Center; and The Primary Health Network.

IUP signed its first clinical training agreement with Punxsutawney Area Hospital in June and the second with IRMC in September.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Affiliations are needed as part of a successful accreditation process for the osteopathic medical program.

All four of these providers will offer unique and innovative training opportunities for our students, and we are grateful for their foresight and willingness to be part of the mission of preparing caring and experienced physicians for our communities, IUP President Michael Driscoll said in a release.

IUP is grateful for the support and we look forward to our students being part of the Broad Top, Hyndman, Nulton and Primary Health Network programs.

Representatives from each of the organizations expressed excitement at the new partnerships.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We are thrilled to officially partner with Indiana University of Pennsylvania as a clinical partner, Nulton Diagnostic President Larry Nulton said in the release. This collaboration represents a significant step in advancing mental health services and education in our community.

Brian Stratta, chief medical officer at Hyndman Area Health Center, echoed the sentiment.

Together, we are committed to meeting the health care needs of our community by bringing much-needed physicians back to the rural areas we serve, he said in a statement.

Miko Rose, the IUP proposed college of medicines founding dean, stated in the release that these affiliations demonstrate the broad community support and endorsement of our proposed college of osteopathic medicine and these agreements continue to move us forward in our work, especially as we seek accreditation.

She continued: As we look to recruiting students who want to stay in underserved communities, it is important to have partners in place that share our commitment to federally underserved sites and a grassroots and compassionate approach to serving patients.
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT)  One group in Jacksonville is looking to help military families this upcoming holiday season.

Hope for the Warriors hosted a free food drive Tuesday, giving away turkey, bags of potatoes, apples and some canned vegetables. The nonprofit was able to support 214 families.

This was possible with the help of their donors, Joe Stock and Food Lion. Stock used to be their director of operations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its a great cause, both Hope for the Warriors and Food Lion. What they do in the communities through Food Lion Feeds and give them back to the communities, thats so important. These are our customers. These are our people, Stock said.

This is just one of the many things Hope for the Warriors does for the military community. They offer a variety of services geared toward helping military families get back on their feet.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT.
Just as the Oklahoma County jail advisory task force put criminal justice practitioners in charge, replacing the business leaders who founded it, the organization finds itself without a daily chief.

The search is on for a new executive director after Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed Timothy Tardibono as director of the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs.

The task force, created by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce to work on the quandary of jail overcrowding, had just turned to the courthouse for guidance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

District Attorney Vicki Behenna was made chairman of the panel, formally the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Advisory Council, informally called CJAC, after co-founder Clay Bennett, chairman of the OKC Thunder, stepped down in September.

Chief Public Defender Brigitte Biffle was made vice chairman, succeeding Tony Tyler, co-owner of Tyler Media.

More: Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Advisory Council turns to the courthouse for leadership

Greater OKC Chamber: Timothy Tardibono was 'a driving force' for Oklahoma County jail reform

Tim Tardibono, executive director of the Criminal Justice Advisory Council, speaks during a news conference at the Oklahoma County jail.

Tardibono had been executive director of CJAC, a criminal justice coordinating council, since the chamber founded the panel in 2018. He did not respond to an inquiry by The Oklahoman. He became head of the juvenile affairs office on Nov. 8.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tardibono did say in a prepared statement:

Oklahoma is blessed with numerous natural resources, but none more important than our children and youth. It is a privilege to accept Governor Stitts call ... to lead and advance the governors mission to provide quality service to our children, their families and Oklahomas residents.

Criminal justice coordinating councils like CJAC are made up of elected and appointed executive-level policymakers who "meet collaboratively to ... address system issues, manage limited resources, make improvements to the local criminal justice system, meaningfully address crime, and enhance public safety," according to the National Institute of Corrections.

For six years, Tardibono was "a driving force behind the councils mission to build an economical, efficient and smart local justice system that truly reflects our community's core values of fairness, compassion, and good governance," said Christy Gillenwater, president and CEO of the chamber.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We are grateful for Tims unwavering commitment to justice reform and his tireless efforts to build a more equitable system," Gillenwater said. "His dedication to improving the criminal justice system has left a lasting impact on our region and we thank him once again for his incredible contributions to the CJAC and our community.

More: Oklahoma County jail trust chairman calls out impasse with city: 'It's everybody's problem'

Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Advisory Council says it's making progress on improvement to county jail operations

The Oklahoma County jail

At its most recent meeting, the Criminal Justice Advisory Council presented its annual report and said it keeps making progress on its six main aims.

"Provide transparency and accountability for the local justice system."

"Keep those charged with lower-level offenses out of the jail entirely."

"Create effective, evidence-based processes for deciding who remains in jail pretrial and who goes home."

"Improve the processes that move cases through the court system."

"Create alternatives to jail for people with mental illness and/or substance use disorders."

"Stop jailing people who dont have money for not paying fines, fees and court costs."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More: OK County jail trust drops agreement with state mental health agency over 'failures'

Chief Public Defender: CJAC executive is especially important 'with the current state of things' at the Oklahoma County jail

Brigitte Biffle, chief public defender for Oklahoma County

Plenty of work remains, and the officials serving on the council hope a new executive is named in January, Biffle said.

"This is such an important position, especially with the current state of things," she said. "There are real issues with the current Oklahoma County jail and the need for a new facility. There are so many issues plaguing the current facility, and there is a real lack of staffing."

With the condition and design of the present jail limiting improvements that can be made, and lack of funds to build new jail, "action and recommendations are needed on how to move forward," Biffle said. "I think CJAC plays an important role in educating the community and advising leaders on how to address these issues."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While the executive search continues, Mike Jackson, the chamber's senior vice president of government and community relations, is interim director of the council, said Rachel Shortt, director of communications for the chamber.

Mike Jackson and his team will be handling Tim Tardibonos workload until his position has been filled, and the chamber is also working with CJAC on the search.

More: Moody's affirms Oklahoma County credit rating. How it affects debt on the new county jail

Staff Writer Richard Mize covers Oklahoma County government and the city of Edmond. He previously covered housing, commercial real estate and related topics for the newspaper and Oklahoman.com, starting in 1999. Contact him at rmize@oklahoman.com.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You can support Richard's work, and that of his colleagues, by purchasing a digital subscription to The Oklahoman. Right now, you can get 6 months of subscriber-only access for $1.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Advisory Council seeks new executive
(WJET/WFXP) City of Jamestown Police in New York are asking the public for information on a teenager who has been missing since the beginning of November.

According to Jamestown Police, 15-year-old Natas Smith has been missing since November 7 but is not believed to be in danger.

Person of interest named for August shooting death in Jamestown, BOLO issued

Smith is described as a white male, 510, 120 pounds with brown eyes and black hair and was last seen wearing a black hoodie, black jeans, purple/pink high-top sneakers with a gray backpack.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police are also reminding the public that knowingly harboring a missing juvenile can be punishable by law with up to a year in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.

Chautauqua officials reminding public on proper battery disposal after landfill fire

Anyone with information is asked to call Jamestown Police at 716-483-7537.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Jano Mattaeo, an 18-year veteran of the Kern County Public Defenders Office who currently supervises the preliminary hearing unit, has been named Chief Deputy Public Defender.

Mattaeo said he was honored by the appointment.

Our mission is to ensure everyone has a voice in the courtroom, and we remain steadfast in fighting for the rights of every resident of Kern County and California, he said in a release. I look forward to continuing my career alongside the brightest and most dedicated clerical staff, investigators, and attorneys in our community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Before joining the Public Defenders Office, Mattaeo served as in-house counsel for National Health Services Inc., now known as OMNI.

Mattaeo has litigated more than 100 jury trials, including murder cases  securing numerous acquittals, according to the release. It goes on to say he brings a wealth of experience, skill, integrity, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to justice to his new role.

Mattaeo is licensed to practice law in both California and New Jersey. He earned his bachelors degree from California State University, Fullerton, and his Juris Doctor from Western State University College of Law.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
By Kantaro Komiya

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan's space agency aborted an engine test for the Epsilon S rocket on Tuesday after it exploded and caught fire, a repeated failure that will likely push the rocket's debut launch beyond the March-end target and delay the national space programme.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said the combustion test resulted in an explosion of the second-stage motor 49 seconds after the ignition, causing fire at the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While no one was injured and the fire was put out within an hour, the blast damaged the facility, and the cause remains unclear, JAXA's Epsilon project manager Takayuki Imoto told a media briefing.

"We are sorry that we couldn't meet everyone's expectations...but a silver lining was that we found (the issue) at a ground test, before putting it for a flight," Imoto said, adding it will likely take at least several months to investigate the cause and take necessary countermeasures.

JAXA partnered with the aerospace unit of heavy machinery maker IHI to develop Epsilon S, the next generation in the Epsilon solid-fuel small rocket series.

Shares in IHI were down as much as 7% in Tokyo trade. An IHI Aerospace spokesperson said the company was investigating the cause.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Epsilon S's debut flight was slated by the end of the fiscal year through March 31 depending on the success of Tuesday's engine test.

The test was conducted after previous failures triggered months of investigation which have delayed space missions and satellite launch plans.

In July last year, an Epsilon S engine test failed due to thermal damage to its ignition systems. That followed a launch failure of a previous-generation Epsilon rocket in 2022.

JAXA's larger flagship rocket H3, built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, failed at its first launch last year but has succeeded in three flights this year, launching Japanese satellites and winning orders including from French satellite operator Eutelsat.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The H3 and Epsilon S are central to JAXA's ambition to build cost-competitive rockets amid the rise of American commercial launch providers such as market leader SpaceX and small rocket maker Rocket Lab.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, the top government spokesperson, said at a regular press briefing that rocket development is "extremely important" to ensure the autonomy of Japan's space programme.

In the private sector, IHI-backed Space One is set to attempt the second launch of its Kairos small rocket on Dec. 14 after the first flight exploded in March. It aims to become the first Japanese business to put a satellite in orbit.

(Reporting by Kantaro Komiya; Editing by Tom Hogue, Christopher Cushing and Ed Osmond)
This is an adapted excerpt from the Nov. 24 episode of Inside with Jen Psaki.

I know it might not seem like it, but Matt Gaetzs very short-lived ride as Donald Trumps pick for attorney general actually did teach us some very important lessons. For starters, it reminded us that the vetting process for Cabinet members is kind of important. That probably shouldnt be breaking news given that its a process that presidential transitions of both parties have engaged in for decades.

For anyone who has been through it before, it can feel a bit like a very invasive exam. Call it a colonoscopy, call it a root canal, call it whatever you want, but the point is its not exactly pleasant. Typically, the transition team asks you everything about your background: They ask about your clients, your financial records and your personal life. Youre put through an FBI background check, which often involves them calling your friends and family and asking them even more questions. Then you go through hours of interviews about what they find with a team of lawyers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thats just some of what typically happens before you are even offered one of these top jobs that require Senate confirmation, which makes sense because they are some of the most important jobs in our government.

Now, of course, Trump took a bit of a different approach and, as we saw this week, that can come with certain consequences. There are consequences for Trump himself if his picks dont get confirmed, for Senate Republicans who are put in an awkward spot and, more importantly, for the American people if a number of these picks manage to get through.

Consider the new details about Gaetz that were unearthed in recent days, like this document that, according to The New York Times, was prepared by federal investigators and shows a web of payments Gaetz allegedly made, including thousands of dollars to two women who testified that he hired them for sex. The former Florida congressman continues to deny the allegations, but after a steady drip of highly damaging information, Gaetz dropped his bid for attorney general after just eight crazy days.

Then theres Pete Hegseth, Trumps pick for head of the Defense Department, and police records that were recently released that detail an allegation of sexual assault from 2017. Hegseth has said the encounter was consensual.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hegseth was never charged and denies any wrongdoing; his lawyer did acknowledge the woman was paid in a settlement. The police report paints a vivid and horrifying scene of a woman who alleges she remembers saying no a lot as Hegseth took her phone. She alleges Hegseth physically blocked her from leaving a hotel room and sexually assaulted her. She later went to the hospital and underwent a sexual assault kit exam.

Trumps transition team was reportedly blindsided by these new details, but again, one surefire way to not be blindsided by things like that is to put your nominees through a vetting process.

And then theres Tulsi Gabbard, Trumps pick for director of national intelligence. Three sources familiar with the matter told CNN that Gabbard was briefly placed on a government watch list earlier this year that prompts additional security screening before flights after her overseas travel patterns and foreign connections triggered a government algorithm. Gabbard told Fox News she believed she was put on the list for criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris.

That report comes as questions continue to swirl about her 2017 meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and her pro-Russia and pro-Vladimir Putin rhetoric. In 2015, for instance, Gabbard tweeted: Al-Qaeda attacked us on 9/11 and must be defeated. Obama wont bomb them in Syria. Putin did. #neverforget911.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So its no surprise that Republican senators reportedly want access to her FBI file to see if theres more unknown information about her.

Now, trust me, these are all things that would have come up in a typical vetting process. These are all questions that would have been asked and answered to some degree. Now, maybe Trump would have moved forward with all of these nominees regardless, but these are all things that the Senate and, most importantly, the public deserve to know about the people who are going to serve in incredibly important, high-ranking government roles.

The only reason we know any of it right now is because of the press. Trump is clearly not going to do his due diligence; hes not going to ask the questions and hes not going to require vetting or the FBI background checks.

So if he wont do those things, journalists have to. Without a free press, we wouldnt know about Gaetzs alleged Venmo payments, Hegseths police report or Gabbards time on a government watch list. It is because of the free press that we have learned a whole lot about these people that we didnt know even one week ago.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But heres the important part: Theres still a lot that we dont know.

Gaetz dropping out doesnt mean Trumps next choice for attorney general deserves less scrutiny. It doesnt mean Hegseth or Gabbard deserves less scrutiny. It doesnt mean anyone should stop the questions, stop the digging or stop the pressure. It actually means the opposite.

The stakes are so high and theres still so much we dont know about these other Cabinet choices. So we need to keep asking questions  that goes for reporters, members of Congress, their staff, citizens and all of you.

Heres a good place to start: Just hours after Gaetz dropped out, Trump announced his new pick for attorney general, Pam Bondi. And while, no, she is not Gaetz, there are still a lot of questions everyone should be asking about her, too.

Allison Detzel contributed.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Police seized the marijuana hidden in an Uber Eats burrito order

Township of Washington Police/Instagram A bag of marijuana seized by Washington Township police. A bag of marijuana seized by Washington Township police.

An Uber Eats driver in New Jersey learned the blazing hot burrito he was transporting wasn't what it seemed.

The courier picked up a burrito meal order at a Lindenwold, N.J., eatery and intended to deliver it to Glassboro, but stopped in Washington Township to investigate the pungent, unmistakable smell of marijuana coming from the food, the Washington Township police said on Instagram on Nov. 24.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The driver called the police, and upon arriving, Officer Lou DeStefano started to unwrap the tinfoil-covered cylinder: It wasn't a warm tortilla stuffed with barbacoa or carnitas, but a baggie filled with more than an oz. of marijuana.

"This wasnt the kind of wrap anyone ordered," Washington Township police wrote in their Instagram post. "The burrito is now in evidence, and were cooking up an investigation."

Also discovered in the stash was a bottle of water and a box of soup.

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 are asking the public to call their tipline at 856-589-0330 if they know anything about the "high-flying delivery."

New Jersey legalized cannabis in 2021, and people are permitted to possess up to 6 oz. of at a time. Sales are only allowed at dispensaries licensed by the state, and only up to an oz. at a time, though it's not clear if the marijuana in question was being transported as part of a transaction.
Jewish students at the City University of New York recalled horrifying acts of antisemitism during a City Council hearing Monday  as the schools chancellor was grilled over his handling of on-campus hate.

CUNY Chancellor Felix V. Matos Rodriguez was slammed by lawmakers for providing scant details about what actions he has taken since an independent report found the public university needed to overhaul its policies to combat an alarming number of antisemitic incidents.

We want a CUNY that is safe and welcoming for all students. Those conversations become very challenging when that data doesnt exist, or it exists, but its not being shared, or you didnt come prepared with it, Councilmember Eric Dinowitz (D-Bronx), chair of the Committee on Higher Education, scolded.

CUNY Chancellor Felix V. Matos Rodriguez answering questions on his handling of on-campus antisemitism during a City Council hearing on Nov. 25, 2024. NYC.gov

Rodriguez, for instance, was unable to provide the number of complaints made by students or staff or say whether any faculty members had been disciplined.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its just wholly unsatisfactory. Its not enough just to show up, Councilmember Julie Menin (D-Manhattan), who is also on the committee, fumed.

The report  commissioned by Gov. Kathy Hochul and conducted by former New York chief judge Jonathan Lippman  made 13 recommendations to CUNY, including in regards to revamping its complaints system, hiring practices and training of diversity officers and professors.

Other recommendations from the report, released in September, included collaborating with law enforcement and security professionals to ensure students felt safe and developing a clear definition of antisemitism.

Councilmember Eric Dinowitz scolded Rodriguez for not having data on the actions taken to combat a rise in antisemitic incidents on CUNY campuses. NYC.gov

Students who testified at the hearing Monday begged CUNY to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliances definition of antisemitism, which reads: Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The students recalled the fear they felt when protests erupted on campus in the aftermath of Hamas Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

They publicly labeled me a genocide enabler simply because I called out the antisemitism of their protest, one student said.

All I ask is that Jewish students are treated with the same respect and dignity that any other student would be granted.

Another student, who was told to remove his star of David necklace while on campus, said his return to school after a trip from Israel was something of a nightmare.

I came to understand that my safety at school could not be guaranteed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rodriguez said a plan to revamp the schools complaints system was underway, and that he was looking to expedite its rollout with an emergency procurement process for the contract.

He also touted other actions the university system  which counts 25 campuses  had taken, including hiring private security officers, launching a case management system, student surveys and inclusion campaigns.

Councilmember Julie Menin told Rodriguez that his testimony was wholly unsatisfactory. NYC.gov

The chancellor said a Freedom of Expression Working Group would clarify the schools policy on freedom of speech.

Tensions and challenges do arise, but we have the rules and regulations in place to investigate and do not hesitate to enforce them, he said.



CUNY, which receives $975,381 in city funding and $2.1 billion from the state, has seen a spate of antisemitism incidents since the Hamas attack and ensuing war in Gaza, including anti-Israel protesters taunting Jewish students on video about the hostages taken by the terror group on Oct. 7, 2023.

Administrators at CUNYs Baruch College were recently put on blast for telling students they could not guarantee their security if they proceeded with a Sept. 26 event celebrating the Jewish New Year.
Nov. 26The best show in Chicago  the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan  has taken a leap into the stratosphere.

Here's one headline touting the highlights.

"Massages, affairs and a suitcase of cash in China: The soap opera life of ex-Alderman Daniel Solis takes center stage in Madigan corruption trial"

That's star prosecution witness Solis, who briefly took the stand last week and returned Monday to undergo lengthy questioning by prosecution and defense lawyers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

How lengthy? Media outlets are suggesting that Solis' testimony  including an anticipated "brutal" cross-examination by defense lawyers  will last into December.

Solis, a corrupt former alderman who agreed to work undercover for the FBI, has already helped take down the now-imprisoned former powerhouse Alderman Ed Burke. Now prosecutors are offering his testimony to help nail Madigan.

One set of charges against Madigan involve the long-running bribery corruption scandal involving the Commonwealth Edison utility, a plot prosecutors charge Madigan orchestrated.

The other involves Madigan's allegedly illegal effort to secure business for his law firm through promises to assist a developer trying to gain control of a state-owned property for the construction of a hotel.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Solis, chairman of the city council's zoning committee, was heavily involved in the latter. He arranged, at Madigan's behest, a meeting with the developer and recorded dozens of conversations and meetings with Madigan that are being introduced as evidence.

Recordings indicate that in return for helping Madigan's law firm with businesses coming before his zoning committee, Madigan agreed to arrange for Solis to get a well-paid job on the state payroll.

But it's going to be a tough slog for Solis on the witness stand thanks to the multiple skeletons in his closet. One media outlet highlighted Solis' skittishness when he entered the courtroom last week.

"When Danny Solis finally stepped into the well of a federal court ... he made a sharp turn toward the jury box and then another toward the witness stand that had been waiting for him for more than eight years," the Chicago Tribune reported. "The path he chose kept him as far as possible from a man on the other side of the courtroom, former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Though Solis never looked Madigan's way, Madigan's eyes seemed transfixed on the most highly anticipated witness in the trial."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Questionable characters are frequently presented by prosecutors in government corruption and organized-crime cases. They lay the groundwork for the defense to question in detail their multiple character flaws.

But just as defense lawyers hammer on the untrustworthy nature of some government witnesses, so do, in a perverse way, federal prosecutors, who contend that birds of a feather flock together.

In this case, the government will ask why Madigan spent so much time working with Solis if he is the sleaze the defense claims. Their answer is, obviously, that Madigan is no different.

Then prosecutors will take their argument a step further by telling jurors they can look to the video- and audiotapes for confirmation of the truth of Solis' testimony.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So far, the biggest surprise in Solis' testimony is his implication of his sister  Patty Solis Doyle, a powerhouse Democratic pol  in shady dealings involving large sums of money. She is not charged with any wrongdoing, although it was revealed that the feds briefly wiretapped her communications.

Madigan, who vehemently denies the charges, has assembled a small army of powerhouse lawyers to handle his defense.

The defense contends that ComEd lavished Madigan with legal gratuities to win his favor, not to buy his vote on company-backed legislation. It's unclear what defense they'll raise in the Solis/zoning issues, except to claim that Madigan's actions fell well short of criminal activity.
The use of artificial intelligence, various aspects of criminal law and the work of the U.S. Supreme Court were among the topics discussed in Colorado Springs at least week's biennial gathering of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit.
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Every year, Jim Ned Intermediate students find a way to give back through a community project. This year, the students participated in Sock-tober, seeking to help those in need, especially with the cooler weather.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The idea came from school Physical Education teacher Mellissa Shaner after working personally with the Christian Service Center nonprofit. She told KTAB/KRBC she was not expecting the total amount of socks they raised.

This is the first time our campus has done socks. I thought we might get 500 pairs of socks in total. [One 6th grade] class alone brought 1,100 pairs of socks. In total, we collected over 3,800 pairs of socks. So, way more than I ever expected, Shaner said.

Free & affordable holiday meal options in the Big Country

The class that received the most donations was rewarded with a picnic and personally delivered the donations to the center. Students contributed between 1 and 800 pairs of socks, all of which made a difference in the Key City.

Joe Arguijo, Operation manager for the Christian Service Center, said that while socks may seem insignificant, they become a vital need in many lives when experiencing hardships.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Socks is one of those very crucial items to have and help during the winter or at any time for homeless that need socks while theyre wearing shoes and walking from place to place, Arguijo said. Its such an encouragement to see the young kids want to help others. Its very contagious.

Whata-birthday: Abilene Whataburger opens doors to couple celebrating birthday

The students learned the importance of giving back, something Shaner said she wants all her students to remember.

I want them to be encouraged to find opportunities to serve and be generous, too, Shaner said. I love the fact that they all jumped on board. They wanted to help, and they encouraged their classmates to bring socks. My own kid came home and said, Mom, weve got to bring more socks because they wanted to really do good.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
Utah Rep. John Curtis has a proposal to help Americans wade through the seemingly endless slop of spam texts and emails that would direct a federal agency to develop an artificial intelligence tool to analyze such communications and identify possibly fraudulent activity.

Curtis, a Republican congressman and senator-elect, introduced the Spam Communications Assessment and Mitigation (SCAM) Platform Act Thursday, which, if passed, would direct the Federal Communications Commission to create an online "tool that uses artificial intelligence to assist the public in identifying likely scams." The tool would be required to be able to analyze "emails, text messages, website addresses and scans or photographs of physical materials" and provide the user with a likelihood that the material is part of a scam.

"Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their efforts to deceive Americans," Curtis said. "This legislation harnesses the power of AI to address evolving scam tactics. The SCAM Platform Act would provide a secure, user-friendly tool to help individuals quickly determine whether a communication they've received could be fraudulent."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The FCC already has online guides for identifying various phone scams, filing complaints with the agency and how to stop robocalls and texts. Unwanted calls are top complaints received by the agency, according to its website.

Curtis serves on the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, which is tasked with overseeing the FCC and general electronic communications legislation. Congress is out of session for the Thanksgiving holiday and will meet for three weeks in December before the next Congress is sworn in, but Curtis is hopeful his bill will be considered by then.

The SCAM Platform Act can pass as a stand-alone bill, or as part of a larger package. If it is not passed before the end of the year, it would need to be reintroduced after the 119th Congress is sworn in on Jan. 3.

Government and AI

Since the release of ChatGPT nearly two years ago, governments have been increasingly interested in harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and guarding against its potential downsides. Congress hasn't been known to be the most nimble when it comes to adapting to emerging technologies, but lawmakers in Washington have been exploring options for mitigating worst-case scenarios having to do with biological, chemical and nuclear weapons.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Utah Sen. Mitt Romney  whose seat Curtis will fill in January  was among a group of bipartisan senators who proposed a framework for AI regulation earlier this year.

The Biden administration has also been working on rules to limit U.S. investments in artificial intelligence in China, and another government commission has proposed an initiative similar to the Manhattan Project to fund development of new artificial intelligence systems, per Reuters.

In Utah, lawmakers have created a so-called regulatory sandbox where companies working on AI development can partner with the government, academic institutions and other stakeholders to have a seat at the table when it comes to regulation of the industry. The state launched its Office of Artificial Intelligence in July.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  The number one John Denver tribute artist will be heading to the Sioux City Hard Rock! Catch Ted Vigil on the Anthem stage on March 21, 2025.

According to a release, tickets go on sale on Friday, November 29, at 10 a.m., and can be purchased online or in person at the Rock Shop. Shows inside Anthem are limited to guests 21 or older.

Comedian Billy Gardell coming to Sioux City Hard Rock

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The release states that Siouxlanders can expect a performance that embodies the late music icon through looks, voice, and an unforgettable show.

Apparently the audience thinks they all look and sound like John. I dont see it. I see it with Ted, John Denvers lead guitarist Steve Weisberg stated. A very strong physical resemblanceuncanny!

Vigil will be bringing years of accomplishments and experience to the stage, taking first place in The Talent Quest 2006 and winning KOMO TVs Afternoon Celebrity Look Alike contest.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  News Channel 11 spoke with another local artist about the meaning behind his work thats featured in the FL3TCH3R Exhibit at East Tennessee State University (ETSU), and his decision to submit his art to the exhibit.

FL3TCH3R Exhibit: Social & Politically Engaged Art has been an annual exhibit at ETSUs Reece Museum for years, and pieces featured in this years exhibit have created controversy among the local community and even state and federal politicians.

State Sen. Rusty Crowe, Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger and Congressman Tim Burchett are three politicians who have spoken out against pieces featured in the exhibit, namely one called Evolution by Joel Gibbs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

PREVIOUS: Art exhibit at ETSUs Reece Museum draws controversy

According to the exhibits website, the annual art event aims to provoke thought and dialogue through its juried selection of artworks that are politically or socially-themed.

Johnson City-based artist Jason Flack had his painting Accepted Image: Culture Crisis included in this years FL3TCH3R Exhibit. He told News Channel 11 that he thinks people should seek out opposing ideas and artwork that makes them uncomfortable.

I think art should expose how you feel, he said. If its hit a nerve or made you tilt your head, youre doing it by definition, in my opinion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Flack discussed the meaning behind his artwork and why he chose to submit it to the FL3TCH3R Exhibit.

So the image is a distorted figure that actually has a head sort of removed, Ill say, from the body, which is on purpose. There are lyrics on, I believe its right side. Its, its going in one ear and out the other.

Artist Jason Flack (WJHL)

I wanted to make sure I put it in the museum for the Fletcher exhibit for a reason. There are things that I feel that are being overlooked, especially in this sort of hyper-political climate that are around or involved with sort of the hip-hop and black community, so to speak.

Flack said he thinks taking risks in creating artwork yields more impactful results.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And its areas where a lot of folks wont touch, because if you criticize, then youre called, you know, insert name. But if you dont talk about it, then youre kind of a culprit, is how I would put it. Im not afraid to go there. Im not afraid to point out, like, what are the kids looking at and what are the adults even looking at?

He noted that his painting aims to make people question what the online material theyre consuming, specifically music, does to their brain, mindsets and beliefs. His focus was on mainstream rap and the subject matter thats the base of many songs.

To hear what some of the rappers are saying about their body parts, its not conducive to young mens success. When they talk about those same women that talk about their body parts, especially when we have concerns about whats being seen and heard in our families now and what were exposed to in the household. Thats a big concern for me.

As for the widespread calls for Joel Gibbs artwork Evolution to be removed from the exhibit, Flack said he thinks his peers work should remain where it is.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

President Noland said it exactly like a reasonable, honorable person: I didnt like this. I didnt like that. But its got to go up now. Ill take that same approach. Im an artist. I cannot flirt with that, I cannot caress or hug censorship. Anything that says take it down, I have to go. No, no, no.'

The FL3TCH3R Exhibit will be on display until Dec. 6. at ETSUs Reece Museum.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
The life of every member of the Ramsey clan changed forever when 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey was found viciously killed in the basement the day after Christmas in 1996.

But the life of an investigator  and subsequently the rest of his family  was about to change, too; Lou Smit just didnt know it yet as he drove to Boulder from Colorado Springs in the months immediately after the murder.

The retired veteran detective had been called in by Boulders district attorney to advise as local police grappled with media chaos and infighting while attempting to investigate a sensational murder  an almost unheard-of crime in the well-heeled, leafy community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Smit, however, already had more than 200 murder cases under his belt. Hed also helped score high-profile convictions, including after the investigation into the 1975 killing of Karen Grammer, sister of Frasier actor Kelsey, and the murder of a woman whose killer later confessed to taking 47 other lives.

Smit  a married father of four and grandfather known for his habit of perennially carrying a toothpick in his mouth  threw himself into the investigation. He applied the same dedication that had earned him near legendary status among his colleagues, even agreeing to take on the case despite difficult family circumstances.

Lou Smit, a detective who worked in Colorado Springs law enforcement for decades, came out of retirement at the request of Boulder authorities after the 1996 murder of JonBenet Ramsey (Cindy Marra)

A week or two after he started, he moved to Boulder, Smits daughter, Cindy Marra, tells The Independent, detailing how a local couple let him use a spare room as his base during the week. We had to all get together as a family, because my mom had been dealing with cancer, and so we had to have some kind of a plan to take care of her.

Despite her illness, Smits wife, Barbara, also lent a hand.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We have his journal; he dictated into a recorder every day, and my mom would then transcribe it, Cindy says. And within the first couple of days, in that journal, he already said: Something is not right. Something is not right. Here I see evidence of an intruder.

Cindy caught up with her dad by phone when he finally could come up for some air as he pored over the case.

I remember just saying to him: So, who did it? The mom or the dad? Because thats what we had been fed by the media, she tells The Independent. He goes, Well, I dont think it was either. I dont think it is a family member. I think an intruder broke into that home and killed her.

So that was really surprising to me.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Smit, who at the time had grandchildren of similar ages to JonBenet, became convinced that the perpetrator entered the home through a basement window. He proved it was possible by climbing into and out of the window himself. Smit believed the killer used a stun gun on JonBenet, pointing to marks on her body as evidence.

Smit, posing with his four children, was devoted to finding JonBenets killer and asked his family and friends to continue the investigation after his 2010 death (Cindy Marra)

In accordance with the investigative transfer theory  that a killer brings or leaves something to a crime scene  he posited that JonBenets attacker brought with him duct tape, cordage and a stun gun as part of a kidnap kit, then left with the evidence.

Smit also pointed to DNA collected from under the childs fingernails and on her underwear that was ruled by a lab report from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to be foreign and male, excluding JonBenets parents and nine-year-old brother, who were home at the time.

All of this put him at odds with Boulder police, who seemed dead-set on their theory that someone within the Ramsey family was responsible. (Within four years of JonBenets murder, one former Boulder detective went on national television to claim she feared for her life when she looked into John Ramseys eyes after he discovered his daughters body in the basement; another detective wrote a book placing blame squarely on Patsy, hypothesizing she killed her daughter in anger over a bedwetting incident.)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Eighteen months after he joined the JonBenet investigation, Smit resigned, writing in his September 1998 letter that the Ramseys did not do it.

There is substantial, credible evidence of an intruder and a lack of evidence that the parents are involved, he wrote.

Smits friends and family note the toll the case took on him as he hit repeated obstacles with Boulder authorities. He had to fight to present evidence to a grand jury looking into JonBenets murder.

Years after Smits 2010 death, it emerged that the grand jury had voted to indict the parents on child abuse charges, but its important to note that grand juries only hear arguments and evidence hand-picked by prosecutors. There is no defense.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was just hard for him to think that people were just proactively trying to thwart his investigation or his observations, Cindy says. It always made us angry, because we knew he didnt deserve it. We knew these people just were on their own page.

Smits friend and former law enforcement colleague, John Wesley Anderson, published a book last year about the detectives quest to get justice for JonBenet; he is among the group working to continue Smits effort to solve the case (WildBlue Press)

Calling him a delusional old man or anything like that was just so off. It just was so wrong.

Smit had dedicated his life to family, faith and the force, applying in 1966 to the department where his cousin, Bill, already served as a police officer.

The problem was the 5-foot, 9-inch minimum height requirement  Lou was only five feet 8  inches, writes John Wesley Anderson, a fellow Colorado Springs detective who asked Smit to be his best man at his 1997 wedding, in Lou and JonBenet: A Legendary Lawmans Quest to Solve a Child Beauty Queens Murder.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lou really wanted to be a police officer and told Bill to whack him over the head with his nightstick. Later, at his medical exam, Lou measured exactly 5-feet 9- inches tall, including the bump on his head.

Within a decade of joining the department, Smit proudly brought his children to the trial of Freddie Glenn, who was convicted in 1976 of the murder of Karen Grammer and two other victims. Glenn later confessed to dozens more.

We didnt know who Kelsey Grammer was at all, but I just remember going to that trial and being just so impressed, Cindy says, who calls her father my hero.

Filmmaker Joe Berlinger, whose three-part documentary Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet premieres on Netflix Monday and lays out much of Smits work, uses the same word to describe the detective.

Smits wife, Barbara, was suffering from cancer at the time he agreed to help with the JonBenet investigation; Barb assisted in the effort, too, transcribing notes he dictated into a recorder (Cindy Marra)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Smit was a total hero  a really smart cop who became personally attached to this case who was horribly mistreated by the Boulder police, Berlinger tells The Independent, adding that he believed the then-Boulder DA did the smart thing: hired a well-regarded investigator, somebody who had tremendous respect.

And the Boulder police were okay with it, until he came up with the wrong conclusion for them, and then they smeared him and said hes like a delusional old man looking for fame and fortune, Berlinger continues. The opposite was true. I wish Id had the pleasure to meet him in person  he struck me as somebody who was deeply dedicated to his craft and deeply dedicated to the truth.

Smit is described in the documentary by law enforcement friends in similar terms; one compares him to a modern-day Sherlock Holmes. He continued to work the case on his own and with the Ramseys; as he was dying of colon cancer, he enlisted help.

He was trying to get the evidence in front of more and more people, but he just ran out of time, his friend Anderson tells The Independent.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Anderson is among a group of family and friends carrying on Smits mission in his memory after the detectives death 14 years ago at the age of 75.

Weeks before Smit entered hospice, while he was still in the hospital, Cindy recalls her father reiterating his hope that the investigation go on after his death.

A new Netflix documentary puts forth much of the investigative work done by Smit, who was known for perennially carrying a toothpick in his mouth (Cindy Marra)

My husband and I were in the room at that time, and he again, just said, Just make sure that somebody continues to follow up on this. And he said, Get a pen, get a pencil and paper  and write this down, she says. And he gave me a name, and he goes, Start there.

That was his number one person of interest at the time, Cindy says; following her fathers death, she convened a dedicated group that did exactly what her father asked, and theyve been working their way through his list of likely culprits ever since  going to so far as to obtain DNA from individuals across the country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They have a GoFundMe to help defray the costs; in the days before the release of the Netflix documentary, donations totalled nearly $64,000.

It speaks to the impact that my dad had on not only his children and grandchildren, but on the people that he worked with, because we have just been on a mission to fulfill his dying wish  and I think that, if he wasnt who he was to all of us, we would have given up a long time ago, Cindy says.

Anderson, who says he served as an advisor for the new Netflix documentary, considers whether Smit would find the continuing efforts to solve JonBenets murder bittersweet .

Having known Lou most of my life, Im sure he would be  from a professional perspective  very thankful that theres so much attention to the investigation, to the facts of the case and keeping the case alive, he says.

He had a wonderful quote, and he would often say, on cold cases that we had or cases that were waiting to be solved, he said: If nothing else, you have to stir the pot.

To me, what that always meant was, if nothing else, lets go re-interview some witnesses, lets do something we havent done, lets keep that pot from growing cold on the stove. And I think, with this Netflix documentary, its really a big spoon to stir that pot.

I think its going to have kind of a ripple effect where other people will say, I thought that was solved, or Ive been waiting to share this information or I thought it was the mother, but now its not  so were hoping that more significant leads will come out.
When we were under attack, so to speak, by the media and the police, it didn't matter, John says in Netflixs 'Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey?'

Courtesy of Netflix John Ramsey John Ramsey

John Ramsey, the father of slain 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey, is speaking out in a new docuseries about how he felt after being accused by police of killing his daughter  a theory he blames the media for amplifying.

When we were under attack, so to speak, by the media and the police, it didn't matter, John says in the first episode of Netflixs Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey?, which began streaming Monday, Nov. 25. We had lost our child. I mean, I would have been happy to die, quite frankly, to relieve the pain."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The docuseries highlights the multiple suspects police investigated  including one who authorities believe falsely confessed  but DNA evidence has yet to link anyone to JonBenets Dec. 26, 1996, murder.

Earlier that morning, Johns wife Patsy called police after noticing their daughter was missing. On the call, Patsy, who has since died, frantically revealed that she'd discovered a chilling ransom note asking for $118,000  the exact amount of a workplace bonus recently received by John  for JonBenets safe return.

After John found JonBenet's body, it was revealed that she'd been sexually assaulted and strangled in their home. The child beauty pageant queen had duct tape over her mouth and a garrote twisted around her neck.

Mark Fix/ZUMA JonBenet Ramsey JonBenet Ramsey

Related: John Ramsey Reveals Why He Didn't Cry When He Found His Daughter JonBenet's Body (Exclusive)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

JonBenet's death was ruled a homicide and the parents quickly became persons of interest. Their son, Burke, who was 9 at the time of his sisters murder, also fell under suspicion.

In 1998, a grand jury voted to indict the parents for child abuse resulting in death and accessory to a crime. But the district attorney at the time said there was not enough evidence to bring charges against the couple.

Then, in 2008, a statement by then-District Attorney Mary Lacy publicly apologized to the family for how the office placed suspicion on them. The statement announced that evidence had cleared JonBenet's parents as well as Burke.

John has long maintained his innocence, and his wife Patsy did the same until her 2006 death due to ovarian cancer. He was interviewed in the docuseries and talked about how his distrust of the police impacted the couple's involvement in the investigation.

John Ramsey and JonBenet Ramsey; PEOPLE's Dec. 9, 2024 cover.

For more about John Ramseys fight to see JonBenet's murder solved in his lifetime, subscribe now to PEOPLE or pick up the new issue of People, on newsstands next week.

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, John recently told PEOPLE. Well, they never did. They made that decision on day one, and tried desperately to prove it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Related: JonBenet Ramsey's Dad John Thinks He Knows Who Murdered Her  and Claims 'Police Blew It Off' (Exclusive)

Today, John says he would like state-of-the-art labs that use genetic genealogy and other advanced DNA technology to crack the cold case by examining seven items from the crime scene that he says have never been tested or were examined with outdated methods.

The evidence also includes the ransom note and a suitcase found under an open basement window where some believe the killer entered and exited the home.

We're begging the police to engage, he told PEOPLE. There are cutting-edge DNA labs that want to help and who believe they can move the case forward.


On the day after Christmas in 1996, John and Patsy Ramsey woke up to discover their 6-year-old daughter, JonBenet, a child beauty queen, was missing from the family's Boulder, Colorado, home.

A handwritten ransom note demanding $118,000  John's exact bonus that year  was found on the stairs by the kitchen. Seven hours later, John discovered his daughter's lifeless body in a small room in the basement.

For decades, the case has captivated the nation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Now, 28 years later, John Ramsey remains hopeful that his daughter's killer will be caught. He believes new DNA technology could aid police in re-investigating JonBenet's murder, a case that drew global attention.

MORE: 84-year-old arrested in 1974 cold case murder after he's ID'd with genetic genealogy

JonBenet's autopsy determined she had been sexually assaulted and strangled, and her skull was fractured. Unknown DNA was found under her fingernails and in her underwear.

VIDEO: JonBenet Ramsey's father believes his daughter's 28-year-old murder can be solved (ABCNews.com)

The Ramseys quickly became suspects, even though no evidence connected them to the crime.

The Ramseys have consistently claimed they were not involved in JonBenet's murder. However, the Boulder District Attorney's Office took 12 years to fully exonerate the Ramseys and their son, Burke.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As the weeks passed without any arrests in the case, a media frenzy began to build, fueled by nonstop tabloid images of JonBenet competing in beauty pageants.

A number of suspects surfaced, including a man named John Mark Karr, who confessed to the killing in 2006. However, his DNA did not match the evidence, so he was never charged. The case remained open.

To this day, John Ramsey believes his family has a cloud over them because there are still people in the country who believe that he and his late wife Patsy, who died in 2006, are responsible for JonBenet's murder.

"There'd still be 5 to 10% of the population that think, 'yeah yeah it was the father or yeah it was the mother,'" John said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite the loss of his wife and daughter, John Ramsey remains steadfast. He has now remarried and finds comfort in his children and grandchildren.

John is also working with director Joe Berlinger on a new docuseries streaming on Netflix titled, "Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey?"

"We think the crime can be solved," Berlinger said. "We want to pressure the Boulder police to test DNA."

The docuseries revisits the early stages of the investigation. From the beginning, there were questions about the police's handling of the investigation.

"Early on, they looked into this crazy idea that the parents were responsible," Berlinger said. "They get tunnel vision, so they're not looking to investigate all possibilities."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The crime scene is also under scrutiny, as it was potentially contaminated, which created additional challenges, according to Berlinger.

People were streaming through the house, moving from the kitchen to the living room.

The Boulder Police Department told "Nightline": "We are dedicated to following up on every lead. We continue to collaborate with DNA experts and our law enforcement partners across the country until this tragic case is resolved. This investigation will always remain a priority for the Boulder Police Department."

John Ramsey is confident that advancements in DNA technology can help identify his daughter's killer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"There's been a number of old, old cold cases solved using this genealogy research," John Ramsey said. "Let's do a reverse family tree and see if he (the killer) had a relative living in Boulder in 1996. That's what we're asking the police to do."

JonBenet Ramsey's father says advances in DNA technology can help police solve daughter's 1996 murder originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A new three-part docuseries, which explores the 28-year mystery surrounding the death of a 6-year-old beauty pageant star, is now on Netflix.

JonBenet Ramsey, who was killed in her family's home in Boulder, Colorado, in December 1996, is the focus of Netflix's new series, "Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey," which premiered on the streaming platform Monday.

According to USA TODAY, there have been several television specials over the years that have investigated Ramsey's mysterious murder. But the new Netflix series pivots from the usual storyline, focusing on why it was wrong to suspect the childs parents, John and Patricia Ramsey, and her brother Burke Ramsey for her death.

Advertisement Advertisement

But who is Burke Ramsey and where is he now? What about her other siblings? Here's what we know about them, including the sister with Greater Cincinnati ties.

Who is JonBenet Ramsey?

JonBenet Ramsey was born Aug. 6, 1990, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Patricia "Patsy" Ramsey, a 1977 Miss West Virginia pageant winner, and John Bennett Ramsey, a businessman and author, per The Guardian. Ramsey's first name is a combination of her father's first and middle names.

JonBenet Ramsey, a beauty pageant winner, was 6 years old when she was found strangled in the basement of her home in Boulder, Colorado, on Dec. 26, 1996.

Ramsey had one full sibling named Burke Ramsey, who was 9 years old when she died. She also had three older half-siblings from her fathers first marriage.

What happened to JonBenet Ramsey?

According to Biography.com, JonBenet Ramsey's mother contacted the police on the morning of Dec. 26, 1996, after finding a three-page ransom note demanding $118,000 for the return of her daughter. After an hours-long search, JonBenet Ramsey's father, John Ramsey, found his daughter lying dead in their basement.

Advertisement Advertisement

JonBenet Ramsey had reportedly been strangled with a cord and one of her mother's paintbrushes. She also sustained a fracture to her skull and had shown signs of being sexually assaulted. Her death was ruled as a homicide and became one of the country's most famous unsolved murder investigations.

Who killed JonBenet Ramsey?

No one has ever been charged with Ramsey's death.

Who is Burke Ramsey?

Burke Ramsey is the older brother of JonBenet Ramsey and is the only other child of John and Patricia Ramsey. He was just 9 when his sister was tragically murdered.

Burke Ramsey was one of many suspects in his sister's homicide, with investigators citing his behavior during interviews as reason for his possible involvement. However, the Boulder District Attorneys Office said in 2008 that it had cleared Burke Ramsey, and his parents, of having any involvement in the murder, NBC News reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Burke Ramsey declined to participate in Netflix's Cold Case series, producers said, citing his treatment by the media and "online web sleuths, per USA TODAY. In 2019, Burke received an undisclosed settlement from CBS following a defamation suit stemming from a 2016 special that pinned the killing on him.

Where is JonBenet Ramsey's brother now?

Director Joe Berlinger told the "Today" show that Burke Ramsey, 37, is doing fine and explained why he did not appear in the Netflix special.

We didnt want to pressure Burke and he didnt want to talk to us, and he just didnt want to participate. So we respected that," Berlinger said.

Public records show that Ramsey currently lives in Michigan and works in technology management, according to the "Today" show.

Who is Elizabeth Pasch Ramsey?

Elizabeth Pasch Ramsey is the eldest daughter of John Ramsey and his first wife, Lucinda Pasch. She was reportedly born in 1969.

Advertisement Advertisement

She died in a car accident near Chicago in 1992 when she was 22 years old. Her boyfriend, Matthew Derrington, also died after his BMW collided with a bakery truck during a storm.

According to an SF Gate article from 1997, Elizabeth Ramsey, who worked as a flight attendant at the time, was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority at Miami University in Oxford. The Netflix series references Elizabeth Ramsey and how her death impacted the family before JonBenet Ramseys murder, Us Weekly reported.

Who is John Andrew Ramsey?

According to People magazine, John Andrew Ramsey is JonBenet Ramsey's half-brother and is the youngest child of John Ramsey and Lucinda Pasch. He was reportedly born in 1976, making him either 47 or 48 years old.

Vanity Fair states that he and his older sisters, Elizabeth Ramsey and Melinda Ramsey, grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. He and Melinda were on their way to Colorado to spend the holidays with their stepfamily when they were informed of the tragedy.

Advertisement Advertisement

"I think I was paged or I was handed a note by one of the flight attendants saying that I needed to call home," he told ABC News' "20/20" in 2021. "I yelled and screamed and kicked to get on the airplane to Denver. I remember just thinking and processing it all."

By the time he and his sister Melinda Ramsey arrived, JonBenet Ramsey's body had been found and the property was labeled a crime scene, People reported.

John Andrew Ramsey has been vocal about his younger's sister murder investigation and has worked to absolve his family of any suspicion. He also appears in Netflix's "Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey?"

Who is Melinda Ramsey?

Melinda Ramsey is John Ramsey and Lucinda Pasch's youngest daughter. She was reportedly born in 1972 and is approximately 52 years old.

Advertisement Advertisement

Us Weekly writes that archival photos of Melinda Ramsey are featured throughout the Netflix series, but she did not appear in the show in person. She has stayed out of the spotlight since her half-sister's murder and hasnt participated in any of the documentaries about the case.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Who are JonBenet Ramsey's siblings? Sister went to school in Ohio
Nov. 25A Joplin man was shot and killed Sunday night by a Jasper County deputy who was dispatched to quell a disturbance, according to the Jasper County Sheriff's Department.

Resident Michael Antwiler, 60, was pronounced dead at 8:24 p.m. at a hospital after the 6:42 p.m. shooting at a residence at 850 W. Fountain Road.

Jasper County Chief Deputy Sheriff Derek Walrod said the Missouri State Highway Patrol has been called to investigate the shooting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The sheriff's department said that when deputies arrived at the house, Antwiler stepped out onto the porch with a shotgun and fired at a deputy. The deputy returned fire that struck Antwiler. The deputy provided first aid until an ambulance arrived to take Antwiler to the hospital.

The statement does not name the deputy or the hospital where Antwiler was taken. It also does not provide more details about the location of Antwiler's injury.

An autopsy has been scheduled for Wednesday, the department said.

The deputy was not injured.

Walrod said the deputy's name would likely be released later in the investigation and that the deputy has been put on administrative leave.
Andrew Lester, the Kansas City man charged in the April 2023 shooting of Ralph Yarl after the teenager mistakenly went to the wrong house, is fit to stand trial in February 2025, a judge said on Tuesday, according to Kansas City ABC affiliate KMBC.

The ruling came after the judge reviewed the findings of Lesters mental exam, which he ordered last month after Lesters attorney argued that the 86-year-old's mental and physical capacity have diminished.

ABC News reached out to Lesters attorney Steven Salmon for comment.

PHOTO: Ralph Yarl, a Black 16-year-old who was shot and wounded by a homeowner after mistakenly going to the wrong house to pick up his siblings, holds a bass clarinet in this picture obtained from social media. (Lee Merritt via Reuters)

In October, a Clay County judge rescheduled Lester's trial, which was initially set for Oct. 7, to begin on Feb. 18, 2025, pending the results of the mental evaluation. That exam was ordered by the judge after Salmon filed a motion requesting it, according to court documents obtained by ABC News.

PHOTO: Booking photo provided by the Clay County, Mo., Sheriff's Office of Andrew Lester. (Clay County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)

In the motion, Salmon claimed that Lester is facing health conditions that could impair his ability to understand legal proceedings or assist in his defense at trial.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He said in the motion that Lester has lost more than 50 pounds, experienced issues with his memory and has exhibited confusion surrounding the details of the case. He also noted that Lester had also suffered a broken hip, heart issues and hospitalization since the case began.

New trial date set for Ralph Yarl shooting suspect pending mental health evaluation

PHOTO: Ralph Yarl (ABC News)

Salmon also noted that Lester has faced "stress" due to "overwhelming media attention, as well as death threats and other unwanted attention, making it difficult for him to interact socially with anyone."

Lester was charged with one count of felony assault in the first-degree and one count of armed criminal action, also a felony, in the shooting of Yarl, a Black teenager who mistakenly went to Lester's Kansas City home after arriving at the wrong address to pick up his twin brothers from a play date on April 13, 2023.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lester, who is white, pleaded not guilty later that month and was released on a $200,000 bond.

Yarl, who was 16 at the time, was shot in the head and in the right arm, by Lester, according to police. The now 18-year-old suffered a traumatic brain injury, his family previously told ABC News.

According to a probable cause statement obtained by ABC News, Lester told police that he "believed someone was attempting to break into the house" and grabbed a gun before going to the door because he was scared.

Yarl opened up about the shooting in an exclusive interview with Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts in July 2023, where he reflected on his recovery and the harrowing experience.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"He points [the gun] at me  so I kinda, like, brace and I turn my head," Yarl told Roberts. "Then it happened. And then I'm on the ground ... and then I fall on the glass. The shattered glass. And then before I know it I'm running away shouting, 'Help me, help me.'"

Judge says Ralph Yarl shooting suspect is fit to stand trial after mental exam originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Representatives of international media have visited Gala State Historical and Ethnographic Reserve during the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) held in Baku, Azernews reports.

The media tours began with a visit to the From Waste to Art Museum created on the territory of the Gala Reserve. The guests were very interested in the creation of art samples from waste using the Zero Waste approach.

Then the media representatives visited the Gala open-air archaeological and ethnographic museum complex, got acquainted with the rural life of Absheron in the 18th century, ancient crafts such as carpet weaving, pottery, blacksmithing, and took part in master classes.

The participants of the media tour were provided with detailed information about the lifestyle of the residents of Absheron villages, as well as about the architectural and archaeological monuments on the territory of the Gala Reserve.

In addition, representatives of foreign media were told about the environmentally friendly Gurama art, revived in the Gala Reserve. The guests visited the exhibition "Guram Art. Unity of Time", organized as part of the COP29 event.

Note that the media tours to the Gala Reserve were organized by the Media Development Agency together with the COP29 Operating Company with the support of the Icherisheher State Historical and Architectural Reserve Administration.

The 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29) was held in Baku, Azerbaijan on November 11-22.

The event 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.

Established in 2008, Gala State Historical Ethnographic Reserve is home to a rich collection of artifacts unearthed during archaeological excavations, making it a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts.

At the reserve, visitors can explore the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography, the Museum of Antiques, and the Castle Museum, which together house over 2,000 archaeological and architectural relics.

Among them are ancient rock paintings, pottery, jewelry, weapons, and coins, among other fascinating artifacts. Of particular interest are the 18th-century tandir, two underground passages from the 10th to 15th centuries, and various traditional dwellings such as portable animal skin tents and stone and straw houses with domes.

The Reserve also boasts ancient mounds, grave stones, places of worship, and other captivating monuments that capture the curiosity of visitors. One standout feature of Gala settlement is its stunning rock carvings. Dating back centuries, they depict the hunting scenes, anthropomorphic figures, and zoomorphic images. Scenes of sacrifice, as well as depictions of deer, goats, and oxen, can also be admired here.

These ancient findings are housed in the open-air museum, alongside a mosque located next to the Gesr tower. Gala is renowned as one of the oldest shopping centers in history. As early as the 17th century, the European traveler Engelbert Kaempfer mentioned the mining of high-quality salt in the village.

In the 18th century, Johann Lerch detailed his journey to Gala in his notes, while the Russian traveler Berezin mentioned the fortress in the 19th century. Today, Gala State Reserve faithfully preserves the essence of Azerbaijan's historical past.

Every year, numerous visitors flock to the Reserve to immerse themselves in the unforgettable ambiance of this remarkable place.
Colorado Democratic chair Shad Murib on Wednesday launched a bid for a second, two-year term running the state party in next year's biennial reorganization meeting.
President-elect Trumps criminal indictment accusing him of conspiring to subvert the 2020 election results is no more.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan on Monday swiftly granted special counsel Jack Smiths motion to dismiss the case following Trumps election victory.

The court will therefore grant the Government leave to dismiss this case, Chutkan wrote.

She dismissed it without prejudice, leaving open a theoretical possibility that the government can bring charges again after Trump leaves office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the two-page opinion officially marks the end of the historic indictment brought last year, which charged Trump with four felonies over his efforts to overturn his election loss to President Biden that culminated in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.

Earlier in the day, Smith moved to drop both of his criminal cases against Trump in alignment with a Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president.

After careful consideration, the Department has determined that OLCs prior opinions concerning the Constitutions prohibition on federal indictment and prosecution of a sitting President apply to this situation and that as a result this prosecution must be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated, Smith wrote, referencing the Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel.

Smith has similarly asked to drop his appeal seeking to revive Trumps criminal charges in Florida, where the former president stands accused of mishandling classified documents and obstructing the governments efforts to retrieve them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has not yet approved the dismissal but is expected to do so. The courts procedures enable the clerk to sign off without requiring any judges approval.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  A federal judge granted a motion to continue the trial for three local leaders charged in connection to the Jackson bribery scandal.

On Tuesday, November 26, U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III granted the motion to continue the trial due to the complex nature of the case. A new date for the trial has not been announced.

Jackson Bribery Scandal: Motion Granted to Continue TrialDownload

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The attorneys for the federal government, Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba, Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and Jackson City Councilman Aaron Banks, Ward 6, said a large amount of evidence, including hundreds of hours of audio and video recordings and thousands of pages of discovery, need to be reviewed.

Lumumba, Owens and Banks were indicted in connection to the bribery scandal.

Reaction to Jacksons bribery scandal after recent indictments

Owens has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering. Lumumba has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering. Banks has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the unsealed indictment, Owens conspired with Lumumba, Banks, former Jackson City Councilwoman Angelique Lee, Ward 2, Sherik Marve Smith and others to carry out a bribery scheme to enrich themselves from October 2023 to May 2024.

The documents stated that Owens, on behalf of two individuals purporting to be real estate developers from Nashville, Tennessee, facilitated more than $80,000 in bribe payments to Banks, Lumumba and Lee in exchange for their agreement to take official action to ensure the approval of the developers proposed downtown Jackson development project. The two developers were confidential human sources for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

A picture of Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba (Left) and Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens (Right) from the unsealed indictment. (Courtesy: United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi) A picture of Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba (Left) and Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens (Right) from the unsealed indictment. (Courtesy: United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi) A picture from the unsealed indictment shows Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens holding cash. (Courtesy: United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi) Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens arrives at federal court in downtown Jackson on Nov. 7, 2024. (WJTV) Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba arrives at federal court in downtown Jackson on Nov. 7, 2024. (WJTV) Jackson City Councilman Aaron Banks arrives at federal court in downtown Jackson on Nov. 7, 2024. (WJTV)

Owens allegedly solicited and accepted at least $115,000 in cash and promises of future financial benefits from the developers to use his relationships with Banks, Lumumba and Lee to act as an intermediary for the over $80,000 in bribe payments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In January 2024, Banks allegedly solicited a $50,000 bribe in exchange for future votes in favor of the project. The documents stated that he also accepted an initial payment of $10,000 in cash from the developers via Owens in February 2024, along with a promise of funding for the employment of a family member and a protective detail service.

Prosecutors said Lee accepted cash, deposits and other gifts for her future votes in favor of the proposed real estate development project in the City of Jackson. The documents showed that Lee accepted $19,000 from February 2024 to March 2024.

The court documents stated that about March and April 2024, Lumumba accepted a bribe payment of $50,000 from the developers via Owens in the form of five $10,000 campaign-donation checks to disguise the true source of the funds in an attempt to avoid scrutiny from the public and law enforcement.

Lumumba directed a city employee to move a deadline to favor the purported developers project, and Banks and Lee agreed to vote in favor of it, according to the indictments unsealed Thursday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Owens, Lumumba, Smith and the purported developers traveled in April on a private jet paid by the FBI to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, according to the newly unsealed indictment. During a meeting on a yacht that was recorded on audio and video, Lumumba received five campaign checks for $10,000 each, and he called a Jackson city employee and instructed that person to move a deadline for submission of proposals to develop the property near the convention center, the indictment says. The deadline was moved in a way to benefit the purported developers who were working for the FBI by likely eliminating any of their competition, the indictment says.

Banks, Lumumba and Owens were in federal court for their initial appearance on Thursday, November 7. The three men pled not guilty to the charges against them, and they each received a $10,000 unsecured bond. Banks, Lumumba and Owens were ordered to give up their passports.

Bribery case adds to problems in Mississippi city with water woes and policing disputes

Lee and Sherik Marve Smith were previously charged in connection to a bribery scandal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Smith  who is an insurance broker and a relative of Owens, according to court documents  was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery. Smith waived his right to prosecution by indictment and consented to prosecution by information, and he pled guilty to the charge. His sentencing has been scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on February 19, 2025.

Smith conspired to give cash payments and campaign contributions to two Jackson elected officials, and the money came from the purported developers who were working for the FBI, according to court documents.

The case was brought against Lee in August 2024, and she resigned from the Jackson City Council after she was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery.

Investigators said the FBI raided Lees home in May 2024 and found items in connection to the bribery case, except a sweatshirt and perfume. The Associated Press reported the seizure occurred on the same day agents raided the offices of Owens and the downtown cigar shop that he owns.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Among the items found in the district attorneys office was a lockbox made to look like a book labeled as the U.S. Constitution, containing about $20,000 in cash, with about $9,900 showing serial numbers confirming it was paid by the purported developers to Owens, according to the newly unsealed indictment.

Lee pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery, and her sentencing was pushed back to a later date.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily News

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV.
In fiscal year 2022, the U.S. certified about 370,000 foreign nationals through the H-2A visa program to work on farms such as this one in Jessamine County. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Jamie Lucke)

A federal judge in Kentucky has blocked the Biden administrations expanded protections for farmworkers who come to work in the United States under H-2A visas.

The injunction issued Monday by U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves applies in Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and Alabama. Plaintiffs in the case  Kentucky farmers and Republican attorneys general from the four states  argued that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) rules would allow foreign farmworkers to unionize.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reeves agreed, saying the rules rephrase the National Labor Relations Act to extend American workers right to unionize to foreign H-2A workers, a change that he said would require action by Congress.

The Final Rule not so sneakily creates substantive collective bargaining rights for H-2A agricultural workers through the prohibitions it places on their employers, Reeves wrote. Framing these provisions as mere expansions of anti-retaliation policies, the DOL attempts to grant H-2A workers substantive rights without Congressional authorization.

The DOL had finalized the rules to give temporary farmworkers additional legal protections against employer retaliation, unsafe working conditions and illegal recruitment practices.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A voicemail left with the U.S. Department of Labor media relations office asking about the injunction was not immediately returned.

In fiscal year 2022, the DOL certified approximately 370,000 workers through the H-2A visa process. According to the nonprofit research organization Center for Global Development, the majority of H-2A visa workers come from Mexico.

Coleman, the Kentucky attorney general, in a statement said the unlawful and unnecessary Biden administration rule would have made it harder to get farmers products to grocery store shelves and would have increased already high prices for families.

We will continue to do whats right to stand up for Kentuckys farmers, Coleman said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reeves declined a request from plaintiffs to block the federal rules nationwide, curbing the impact of his order to just the states and individual farmers and farm labor organizations that asked for an injunction.

The new rules had already been blocked in 17 other states after a separate ruling from a federal judge in Georgia.

Read the ruling

farmworkers 4393ed72-08ed-4b84-9c34-ad62406b7a1b
LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT)  A Limestone County judge has ordered that a rock quarry in Belle Mina can move forward after he rejected a motion for an injunction blocking the development.

In an order on Monday, Circuit Judge Matthew Huggins ruled that a rock quarry planned to go in the Belle Mina community in Limestone County can move forward. The decision comes after a hearing on a potential preliminary injunction pausing the quarry on Friday.

One injured in Harvest shooting, Madison County Sheriffs Office investigating

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In his order, Huggins pushed back against the plaintiffs claims that the quarry would be near a public school or a TVA Industrial Development Megasite, both of which would have made the quarry uncompliant with state law regarding the placement of quarries in Limestone County.

The decision comes as a blow to members of the Belle Mina community who have opposed the quarry, with many saying the construction on the quarry has been disruptive to their daily lives.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
PORTSMOUTH  A formal recount of all ballots cast for the Portsmouth City Council race will be held next month.

Last week, council incumbent DeAndre Barnes filed a petition in Portsmouth Circuit Court formally requesting a recount after finishing within 1% of his opponent, Bill Dodson Jr. Barnes trails by just 21 votes.

Barnes, represented by Jeffrey Breit, and Dodson, represented by Christopher Woodfin, met in Portsmouth Circuit Court Tuesday to establish Dec. 17 as the date of the recount. They also coordinated with Portsmouth City Attorney Lavonda Graham-Williams, whos representing General Registrar Alexandra Abell and the electoral board.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Attorneys and the registrars office are finalizing details of the recount, but it will be conducted in Portsmouth Circuit Court with a handful of observers and elections officials. Its expected to be complete within a day using two high-speed voting machines. Clerk of Court Cynthia Morrison said the certified ballots have been secured in an enclosed metal cage in the courts archive area, which is only accessible by her and her staff. Morrison said she will transport the ballots to the court room where the recount will be conducted, and shell remain on-site.

Barnes received 11,718 votes (11.7%), while Dodson received 11,739 (11.7%) in a crowded city council race with 11 candidates vying for three at-large seats. Yolanda C. Edmonds Thomas was the top vote-getter in Portsmouth with 15,962 votes (15.9%), and Kathryn W. Kitty Bryant secured the second seat with 12,119 votes (12.1%).

Related Articles

Portsmouth Judge Brenda Spry presided over Tuesdays hearing, but she said the Virginia Supreme Court will appoint a panel of judges for the recount case.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Virginia state code requires the city to cover the cost of the recount if the difference in votes is 0.5% or less. At this time, its not known how much it will cost.

But this recount will mark the first for a local race in Portsmouth, Abell previously said. The city held a recount for the statewide attorney generals race in 2013 at a cost of a little more than $11,000 with about 26,000 votes to review.

For the upcoming recount, elections officials will need to recalculate more than 41,000 votes, Abell said.

Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, natalie.anderson@virginiamedia.com
The lottery to give social equity applicants preapproval on licenses for the cannabis retail market will not take place on Tuesday as planned.

The lottery has been postponed by a Ramsey County District Court judge, siding with a group of applicants who were rejected during the first round of the selection process run by the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). The applicants sued to halt the lottery, arguing that the process didn't have clear criteria and lacked an opportunity for appeals.

The OCM issued rejections to nearly two-thirds of applicants last week, just a couple of days before announcing that a lottery for the remaining 648 applicants would take place on Nov. 26.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Judge Stephen Smith said the state was free to file an appeal, per Minnesota Public Radio.

Unsplash

"While we are disappointed by the decision to prevent OCM from moving forward with the license preapproval lottery tomorrow, we stand by the process used to review applicants," the OCM said in a statement on Monday.

"Minnesota's approach has always aimed to protect the integrity of a social equity license, and the rigorous review also allowed us to identify and prevent bad actors from entering the system," the statement continues. "State statute sets high standards for applicants to successfully complete applications while also filtering out those with malicious intent."

Previously, the OCM said many of the rejected applicants attempted to game the system using methods that included flooding the system to increase their chances of being selected in the lottery.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The preapproval process was set up to offer individuals negatively impacted by cannabis prohibition, veterans, and individuals in low-income areas an opportunity to compete with the well-funded businesses entering the market.

A new date has not been set for the lottery. "We remain committed to launching an equitable, sustainable, and responsible adult-use cannabis marketplace in Minnesota," the OCM says.

The state legalized the recreational use of cannabis for adults in 2023, but the process of opening a legal marketplace has been slow. No licenses have been issued for commercial growers or sellers at this point, even though the state hoped to open the market in early 2025.

Related: When do Minnesota malls open on Black Friday 2024
While they remain a singularly popular pop-culture genre, the police and court procedurals that draw the eyes and attention of television viewers on a daily basis have, unfortunately, given most people an idealized view of how our legal system works. This is never more true than in how the public has come to view the role that science and forensic evidence play in criminal proceedings. Judges and juries are supposed to weigh evidence from scientific experts presenting the most current version of the scientific consensus in their areas of expertise. So how do so many people keep going to jail based on junk science?

Part of the blame lies with judicial arrogance. Contrary to our mythology around the judiciary, judges are not objective observers and often struggle to remove personal and societal biases from their analyses of the cases before them. Despite not being scientists, judges, led by the U.S. Supreme Court, have concentrated power in themselves at the expense of reliance on scientific expertise.

Although the Supreme Courts recent ruling in Loper Bright v. Raimondo, which overturned Chevron deference by courts to agency experts, does not impact courtroom deliberations directly, it provides a glimpse into this all-consuming arrogance of the judiciaryand its misaligned confidence in its ability to discern truth, despite both empirical and anecdotal evidence of its inability to do so effectively. The stakes for criminal defendants could not be higher.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And we are currently in a face-to-face crisis with the high costs of this arrogance. Robert Roberson has been on death row in Texas since 2003 after being found guilty of murdering his 2-year-old daughter via shaken baby syndrome. The problem? The entire premise of shaken baby syndrome, or SBS, has been seriously discredited.

Defendants convicted under shaken baby syndrome theories, including Roberson, have been challenging their convictions based on these scientific developments, and some have even been successful. However, despite decades of evidence that SBS cannot be accurately diagnosed as its own disorder or injury, Roberson is set to be the first person in the United States executed because of the mythology thats been erected around SBS. Even though Roberson has a legitimate claim to make against his conviction, which has earned bipartisan support in Texas and nationwide, the Texas Supreme Court paid all of this no heed, recently clearing the way for Robersons execution without the opportunity for a new trial.

Unfortunately, our courts willingness to accept lethal junk science is not restricted to SBS. The problem is so widespread that, in recent years, Texas and six other states have passed laws allowing defendants to appeal their convictions on the basis of advancements in science to ensure no one remains in prison over faulty evidence and theories. Nevertheless, some legislators say that the law is not being properly applied in Robersons case.

The steadfast unwillingness to reckon with the faulty science that may send a man to his death also flies in the face of what other states have done to curb the destructive effects of junk science. Elsewhere, courts have established higher standards, holding that certain scientific evidencesuch as the faulty theories of drug recognition expertsmay not be used as evidence. The lack of uniform standards where science is concerned is especially galling. Roberson and others stand to potentially lose their freedoms, livelihoods, and their lives, solely due to a fluke in geography.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite the positive developments that have peppered the legal and literal landscape, courts continue to rely on disputed forensic techniques, which has led to thousands of defendants spending time in prison on faulty evidence. According to the Federal Rules of Evidence, expert testimony must be the product of reliable principles and methods to be admissible. However, for decades, courts have relied on testimony about bite-mark analysis, despite the fact that the judge who presided over the case in which its use was originally sanctioned has since conceded that the technique had not been proven to be scientifically reliable.

This is far from the only popularized form of forensic technique that has withered under the weight of scientific inquiry. A report by the National Academy of Sciences has suggested that blood-spatter analysis is unreliable and should not be used; courts still accept it as evidence anyway. And 911 call analysisa thoroughly bizarre technique that proceeds from the belief that a linguistic analysis of callers speech patterns can reliably reveal criminal culpabilityhas contributed to many criminal convictions despite having no scientific basis at all.

Beyond being unreliable, admitting junk science as evidence at trial also introduces racial bias into the proceedings. Several forensic techniques have been shown to be applied in a manner that is more likely to implicate racial minorities. For example, one study showed that Black babies were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with SBS than others, implicating their caregivers in their deaths.

The problem of courts admitting junk science into evidence has gotten so bad that Justice Sonia Sotomayor called it out in a statement after the denial of review for a case relying on bite-mark analysis: Thousands of innocent people may currently be incarcerated despite a modern consensus that the central piece of evidence at their trials lacked any scientific basis. However, she did not sound a hopeful note about federal courts addressing the problem anytime soon. Rather, she encouraged state legislatures to pass laws to facilitate review of convictions based on junk science. Some may take up that cause; this will only ensure that the nations patchwork set of standards remains the status quo.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the absence of federal legislation that might bring order and uniformity to the tattered quilt of scientific standards under which we now reside, judges need to start placing more restrictions on the use of unproven forensic techniques as evidence in their courtrooms. The Federal Rules of Evidence provide judges with significant discretion over what expert testimony to admit at trial. Furthermore, judges should make independent determinations about which techniques are scientifically sound rather than relying on other courts precedents alone, which allows for mistakes by even a single judge to proliferate across the court system. To make fair assessments of these methods, judges need training in how to analyze scientific techniques, and they need to defer to scientific experts in the field rather than professional forensics witnesses selling their techniques as reliable without empirical evidence.

The stakes for defendants like Robert Roberson are too high for judges to allow unreliable, biased techniques into their courtrooms. Based on current judicial attitudes toward science, perhaps this is naive, but we must expect better from our legal system or innocent people will continue to spend decades behind bars or even be executed, not because they did anything wrong but because we couldnt be bothered to find the truth.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  An Albuquerque man was found guilty of all charges in connection to a rape that occurred nearly 30 years ago.

Gilbert Contreras was taken into custody in 2022 after a rape kit from 1994 was processed and linked his DNA to the crime. On Monday, a jury found him guilty of two counts of criminal sexual penetration and kidnapping.

The victim was a 43-year-old woman who was running near the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park on Nov. 26, 1994, when she was attacked and then raped.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Before the jury issued their verdict, they heard from both the prosecution and defense in the case. Naked, bound, and still gagged, she [the victim] waited. She played dead. She tried to seem unconscious until she felt like she could start to work her way back toward the trail shed been running on that day, prosecutor Jack Bennett Jacks said, describing the victims actions at the time.

Story continues below

The woman passed away in 2013, and her rape kit remained untested until 2020. Then two years later came the DNA match to Contreras. In closing arguments, the defense and prosecution focused on the credibility of the DNA evidence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There was no due diligence in this investigation, not in 1994, and not today. There were issues with the lab, all the way through which was glossed over, said defense attorney Adam D. Oakey.

The prosecution dismissed that claim, saying there were no issues with the evidence or the lab it was processed in.

The defense also claimed that at one point there could have been a consensual relationship between the victim and Contreras, to which the prosecution responded, It wasnt mentioned in opening, and theres no evidence of it.

At sentencing, Contreras faces up to 72 years in prison, according to the District Attorneys office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Nov. 26Maine must strengthen its community-based services for children with behavioral health challenges to keep them from being placed outside the home, according to an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice filed Tuesday in federal court.

The agreement ends a lawsuit filed in September by the federal agency, which said the state has been violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by "unnecessarily segregating children with behavioral health disabilities in hospitals, residential facilities and a state-operated juvenile detention facility."

Maine officials were put on notice in 2022 about alleged violations of the ADA, and the Justice Department filed suit this year after failing to see adequate progress.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kristen Clarke, an assistant attorney general with the Justice Department, said the agreement ensures "that children with disabilities can live at home surrounded by the love and support of their families rather than isolated away in facilities.

"We know that too many children with behavioral health disabilities end up in juvenile justice settings or in out-of-home placements, often in different states far from their families, disrupting their lives in ways that can cause permanent harm," she said. "Under this agreement, more children will have access to community-based services and in-home behavioral health services so that they can grow up surrounded by family and loved ones."

Gov. Janet Mills, in a written statement announcing the agreement, said her administration has been working for more than two years to address the concerns.

"I shared many of the U.S. DOJ's concerns, many of which preceded my administration, and we have worked closely with the Legislature to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to strengthen the system  important reforms which we believe in and we that we continue to implement," she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mills said she believed the state would have prevailed had the matter gone to trial but that a settlement was a better outcome.

"Protracted, expensive litigation would only have detracted from what's most important  continuing to improve our children's behavioral health system," she said.

View this document on Scribd

The agreement requires the state to appoint or hire within 120 days a children's behavioral services integration coordinator who will monitor the state's compliance. The state also must begin developing an implementation plan within 120 days that details strategies and evaluation metrics. The plan is required to be updated biennially and will be subject to scrutiny by an independent reviewer. That reviewer will file annual reports.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The agreement will be in place for six years and terminated only once the state is in substantial compliance.

Advocates have for years argued that staffing shortages in Maine's behavioral health system contributed to a lack of services. The lawsuit detailed wait lists with hundreds of children who didn't receive care for months or more than a year in some cases. It also alleged that Maine crisis responders have told some parents to call the police when they needed assistance.

"Children will be assumed capable of having their needs met with a family, in a family home," the settlement says. "A family home means an integrated, non-disability-specific setting in which children live with a family who help the child go to school, recreate and receive services."

No recent case highlights the state's lack of services more than 13-year-old Abby Bedard, of Bingham, who spent 10 months in the emergency department at Reddington-Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan because there was no available option for her care. Bedard has cerebral palsy, gets seizures from epilepsy, and has numerous mental and developmental health challenges, including an intellectual disability, suicidal ideations and behaviors she can't control, such as harming herself and assaulting her parents.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bedard finally moved into a group home in Orono last month.

Other disabled children have been held at Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland, the state's only juvenile detention facility, often because parents or caregivers can't safely keep a child at home.

All Maine children under the age of 21 who are eligible for behavioral health services and are at serious risk of out-of-home placement are covered by the agreement.

The agreement also says the state will furnish all services "in an individualized manner consistent with the preference, goals, needs and abilities of each child and their family." It retains the rights of parents or guardians to pursue services outside a family home if they choose.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It's not clear how much money the state might have to spend to come into compliance. The agreement does call for improving payment rates and supports for community providers to help address current and future workforce shortages, and asks the state to provide prompt mobile crisis intervention to help children avoid entering emergency departments or law enforcement contact.

Mills said her administration already has made unprecedented investments to strengthen behavioral health services for children.

Since the Justice Department's initial inquiry in 2022, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services has reduced the total number of children in residential treatment from 290 to 192 and has reduced out-of-state care numbers from 250 to 69.

The department also has reduced the wait list for home and community-based services by 42% and reduced the wait list for rehabilitative and community support services by 21.8%, according to the administration's statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

BEGINNING OF A LONG ROAD

"I'm pleased that the U.S. DOJ and the department have agreed on a path forward to strengthen Maine's children's behavioral health services. The settlement allows the department to prioritize the critical work needed to improve access to services over litigation," DHHS Commissioner Sara Gagne-Holmes said in a written statement. "The state of Maine agrees that it has an obligation to protect and care for children with disabilities and behavioral health needs, and that's why we've dedicated years of time and investments to rebuild Maine's children's behavioral health services.

Nancy Cronin, executive director of Maine's Developmental Disability Council, said she's optimistic about the agreement but called it only a "framework."

"It's going to take some real infrastructure building," she said. "This settlement is very clearly the beginning of a long road."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cronin also said that the state can't lose sight of the many children who are still on a wait list for services right now.

"They don't go away while we plan and restructure this system," she said. "I won't be happy or satisfied until I see children getting their needs met on a regular basis."

Copy the Story Link
Senior advisers to Vice President Kamala Harris failed presidential campaign suggested this week that there just wasnt much else Harris could have done to beat Donald Trump.

Harris couldnt have distanced herself from President Joe Biden, they said, because she was loyal. She couldnt have responded more forcefully to attacks over trans rights, because doing so would have been playing Trumps game.

And she might not have had much chance of winning anyway, given the deficit she inherited from Biden when he dropped out of the race in July.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We were hopeful. I dont know how optimistic we were, but we thought, OK, this is tied, and if a couple things break our way [we could win], David Plouffe, a senior adviser to the campaign, said Tuesday on the Pod Save America podcast in a joint interview with fellow Harris campaign alums Jen OMalley Dillon, Quentin Fulks and Stephanie Cutter.

Plouffe said the campaigns internal polling never had Harris ahead of Trump.

We didnt get the breaks we needed on Election Day, he said. I think it surprised people, because there was these public polls that came out in late September, early October, showing us with leads that we never saw.

Theres no doubt that voter anger over high prices hurt Harris, just as it has hurt incumbent politicians all over the world. Since Trumps victory, however, Democrats have debated the relative impacts of other factors, such as the campaigns muted response to Trumps anti-trans TV ads and Harris decision not to say how shed be different from Biden.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During an early October appearance on The View, Sunny Hostin, one of the hosts of the daytime talk show, asked Harris if there was anything she would have done differently than Biden, whose approval rating had been underwater since 2021.

There is not a thing that comes to mind, Harris said, in an answer ready-made for a Trump TV ad. And Ive been part of most of the decisions that have had impact.

Many Democratic pollsters and strategists have questioned why Harris didnt give some example of how shed be different, such as by saying she would have acted faster than Biden did to reduce migrant crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Cutter said the campaign heard the second-guessing  but, she said, Harris was merely being true to herself and loyal to Biden, and saying otherwise would have backfired.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We knew we had to show her as her own person and point to the future and not try to rehash the past, Cutter said. But she also felt that she was part of the administration, and unless we said something like, Well, I would have handled the border completely differently, we were never going to satisfy anybody.

She had tremendous loyalty to President Biden, Cutter continued. Imagine if we said, Well, we would have taken this approach on the border. Imagine the round of stories coming out after that, of people saying, Well, she never said that in the meeting.

Since Election Day, Democrats have also debated the impact of Trumps anti-trans messaging, with some lawmakers questioning the partys fealty to trans rights activists with uncompromising positions. The Trump campaign spent significant resources on ads highlighting Harris past support for gender-affirming care, including surgery, for people incarcerated in federal prisons.

Fulks, Harris former deputy campaign manager, called those ads very effective, though he and Plouffe said they doubted whether the ads actually moved voters. Some polling has shown the issue moved independent voters who broke for Trump.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I ultimately dont believe that it was about the issue of trans. I think that it made her seem out of touch, and it was sort of a pseudo-economic ad underneath it, because he was saying youre going to pay for it with taxpayer money, Fulks said, adding that the fact the ads used video of Harris stating her position in her own words made them more damaging.

We tested a ton of responses to this, direct responses, and none of them ever tested as well as basically her talking about what she would do... the future, the type of president that she would be, Fulks said.

The campaigns internal research, Fulks said, indicated they should focus their message on attacking Trump or introducing Harris to voters in a positive way, rather than defending her from Trumps attacks. (Plouffe noted that two Democratic candidates did put out ads responding to anti-trans attacks; neither won their race.)

If we spent this entire race pushing back on immigration attacks or crime attacks and pushing back against trans attacks, at what point are we bringing Trump down and/or introducing the vice president on our own terms? Fulks said. Were playing on their field.

Related...
(NewsNation)  Its been three weeks since Election Day, and despite her loss, Vice President Kamala Harris appears to still be fundraising, reportedly telling advisers shes staying in the fight and exploring her political options.

Harris and her former running mate, Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, will host a call Tuesday to thank top donors and possibly lay the foundation for her path forward in politics.

Donald Trump Jr helping pick the most controversial Cabinet of modern times

Whats in store for Kamala Harris political future?

The invitation to the call with the National Finance Committee stated, Your support and leadership made this campaign possible, and the Vice President and Governor Walz are looking forward to having the opportunity to reconnect and express their appreciation for your partnership and support.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Harris has been telling her advisers to keep her options open. That could include another presidential bid in 2028 or throwing her hat in the ring to replace California Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose term is up in 2026. A recent poll from the University of Californias Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and the Los Angeles Times suggests that nearly half of California voters would support Harris if she were to enter the race.

What have other former presidential candidates done?

Democratic strategists who spoke to NewsNations partner The Hill said Harris has built a following she could maintain beyond the election. Her campaign website makes a similar declaration, Our fight continues, written in large text above a request for donations.

Historically, candidates who lost the presidential race have taken the back seat while remaining somewhat active in their party.

If Harris were to go that route, it could chart her career long-term.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
JUNCTION CITY (KSNT)  A northeast Kansas animal shelter will temporarily close to monitor symptoms that are similar to kennel cough.

The Junction City, KS Animal Shelter posted on social media Monday, Nov. 25 that it will be closed for a minimum of one week. This closure takes place so the shelter can monitor symptoms that could resemble kennel cough. This is a highly contagious respiratory disease, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Out of IMMENSE PRECAUTION, we will be halting all adoptions or showings until we are able to verify if this is Kennel Cough or not. Once clear, we will send an update out. Statement excerpt from social media post

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What are the risks for flying a drone near an accident?

Because of the kind of shelter it is and the amount of dogs it houses, this is a very common illness shelters may see. The illness can spread due to one stray dog coming into the shelter, according to the post. Dog owners in the area are encouraged to stay vigilant when theyre out at public places, as these could be areas where the illness can spread.

Symptoms of kennel cough are a strong cough, sometimes with a honking sound, runny nose, sneezing, lethargy, loss of appetite and low fever, according to the AKC.

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.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Nov. 25A Kansas City man with a long record of prison sentences for drug trafficking has been charged with four counts of assault against Joplin police officers on Sunday during a traffic stop on Interstate 44 at Range Line Road.

Lamarr Taldmage Davis, 45, has been charged in Newton County with one count of first-degree drug trafficking and resisting arrest along with the four counts alleging assault of law enforcement officers in a struggle that started at 3:26 p.m. Davis was listed in court records Monday as being in custody of Joplin police with Judge Jacob R. Skouby ordering the man be held in jail without bond.

Prosecutor Will Lynch filed a request in the associate circuit court of Newton County asking for a high bond or no bond for Davis, citing the six felonies alleged as the result of Sunday's arrest as well as past state and federal prison sentences for drug and weapons violations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Davis also faces pending charges in Craig County, Oklahoma, similar to those here. Those charges allege aggravated trafficking of drugs, eluding or attempting to elude an officer, possession of controlled drugs and drug proceeds. He was released in Oklahoma on $200,000 bond.

In the Joplin arrest, Officer Josh Cahoon said in a probable-cause statement filed in Newton County court that he was driving behind a 2024 Ford Escape westbound on I-44 just east of an off-ramp at Range Line when he saw the vehicle following another too closely.

After stopping Davis and having him exit the car, Calhoon began to take his K-9 from the patrol car to search the Davis car at a time when three other officers had arrived. Davis then ran and got into the driver's seat of his car. Calhoon got into the passenger side as the three other officers tried to pull Davis out from the driver's side. Calhoon said in his sworn statement he had to continuously grab Davis's arms to keep him from shifting the car into drive.

Davis was then subdued with a Taser and was taken into custody.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Calhoon reported in the statement that his K-9 alerted to the Davis vehicle and officers conducted a search, finding a plastic bag containing three baggies of a white substance. The statement says that it was believed to be about 42 grams of a fentanyl compound or methamphetamine.

The resisting arrest charge alleges that Davis knew the officers were trying to arrest him on a traffic offense and that he tried to flee in a manner that created a risk of injuries to the officers by trying to drive away while the officers were detaining him.

In the motion about bond for Davis, the prosecutor cited the six new charges. He also cited a criminal record dating back to 1997 when Davis served a seven-year sentence in Missouri for burglary and assault.

After early release on that sentence, Davis was sentenced in 2000 in federal court in Missouri for transporting firearms illegally and was sentenced to serve 32 months in prison.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He then served a 10-year federal sentence for a 2004 conviction of possession of narcotics. In 2013, Davis was convicted of resisting arrest and sentenced to three years in prison, according to the bond motion.

"It is important to remember that Mr. Davis is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law," Lynch said in a statement about the arrest. "The facts alleged in the probable cause statement were alarming to me as officer safety continues to be one of my primary concerns as prosecutor."
KANSAS (KSNT)  The Biden administration approved a loan guarantee of $4.9 billion for a controversial project that would dissect Kansas with an electric transmission line.

On Monday, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it would be giving a conditional loan to Grian Belt Express LLC as part of the Biden-Harris Administrations Investing in America plan.

If completed the project would run a 578-mile-long 2,500-megawatt transmission line from Ford County, KS to Callaway County, MO. Parts of that project are already approved. According to the DOE, the project will connect three regional grids together: the Southwest Power Pool, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator and Associated Electric Cooperative Incorporated.

KSN Graphic

The US DOT highlights several reasons to move forward with the project such as: improving grid reliability and resilience, alleviating congestion and reducing consumer costs, meeting future generation and demand growth and increasing clean energy integration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The loan comes in the form of a conditional commitment. The DOE describes a conditional commitment as a loan or a loan guarantee to a project on the terms and subject to conditions set forth in a term sheet negotiated between DOE and the applicant.

Topeka church focusing on the gift of giving this holiday season

The project has sparked concerns about eminent domain being used to move landowners out of the way of the project. Pawnee County Attorney Douglass McNett expressed his concerns:

I think where the confusion has arisen between the Grain Belt and the Department of Energys proposed energy corridor is it looks like the Department of Energy simply used the schematics or the drawing that Grain Belt has established privately as their basis and just said ok well go 2.5 miles either side of that grain belt transmission line, said McNett. He says Pawnee County does not have concerns with the transmission line itself. Its the proposed energy corridor that would, in theory, give the federal government the authority to use eminent domain to take a five-mile swath for potential future needs, he added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senator Roger Marshalls office released a statement about the proposal earlier this year.

The Biden-Harris Administrations plan to federalize the approval process for future transmission lines, including the use of eminent domain, if needed, is wrong. I have stood firm in my opposition to giving the federal government the ability to overrule states on local projects and will continue to push back on this Administrations overreach of power. We must let Kansans be the ones who approve new projects for their communities, not Washington DC bureaucrats, said Sen. Marshall in a statement.

According to the Grain Belt Express website, the project will bring $1.2 billion in cost savings to Kansas customers, 19,350 direct jobs to the Sunflower State and $8.1 billion in economic activity during the construction.

Resources

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

KSN News Carina Branson contributed to this article.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Eric Pahls, a Republican political consultant with Big Dog Strategies, and Cole Robinson, right, executive director of the Johnson County Democratic Party, find some common ground despite disagreements about why the GOP did unexpectedly well against Democrats in 2024 races for Kansas Legislature. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Dole Institute video)

TOPEKA  Johnson County Democratic Party executive director Cole Robinson says the outcome of November elections for the Kansas Legislature affirmed the partisan value of Republicans supermajorities in the House and Senate, and the gravity of political calculations by voters in the 2030 governors race.

Robinson said that from a Democrats perspective it was essential to focus during the next three election cycles on ending the GOPs two-thirds majorities in the Legislature and to place another Democrat in the governors office in 2030. Both steps would be pivotal to limiting the power of Republican lawmakers to once again gerrymander legislative districts for their benefit when boundaries were redrawn in 2032, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If youre in favor of more moderate politics in Kansas, the most important race of our intermediate lifetimes is the 2030 gubernatorial, Robinson said. If Democrats should break out of the superminority at some point, then that 2030 governors race will allow for fair maps in 2032.

The November election affirmed that the Senate and House maps signed into law in 2022 would give Republican candidates decisive advantages through the next three election cycles, he said.

Robinson was joined recently at the Dole Institute of Politics in Lawrence by Eric Pahls, vice president of the political consulting firm Big Dog Strategies, for a postmortem on the November elections in Kansas. In terms of the Legislature, Republicans outperformed expectations by broadening supermajorities in both chambers.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kellys political action committee and the Kansas Democratic Party failed in a bid to take enough seats to disrupt the GOPs ability to thwart Kellys vetoes. It takes two-thirds votes in the House and Senate to override a veto.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pahls, who helmed the successful 2nd District congressional campaign of Republican Derek Schmidt, said Republicans in legislative contests were aided by Democrats focusing on the wrong issues.

Democrats decided to attack Republicans in an attempt to raise fear among voters about termination of abortion rights, defunding of public education and the legacy of former Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, Pahls said. But GOP candidates and the majority of voters in legislative races talked about kitchen-table economics, lowering property taxes and enhancing public safety, he said.

It goes back to messaging, said Pahls, who thought Johnson County Democrats had good messaging in county and federal races. They just never laid out the case why you should put (more Democrats) in the Legislature.

When the Legislature convenes at 2 p.m. Jan. 13 in Topeka, the House will contain 88 Republicans and 37 Democrats. Thats three more GOP members than in the 2024 session. In the Senate, there will be 31 Republicans and nine Democrats. The Republican majority in the Senate grew by two, but GOP leaderships grip will tighten because a handful of contrarian Republicans didnt seek reelection.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pahls and Robinson agreed that framing elections based on candidates loathing or affinity for Brownback, who was among the states least popular governors, had likely come to an end in 2024.

Robinson said the Brownback attack lines had become stale. And, Pahls said it no longer made practical sense to attempt to appeal to voters based on decisions Brownback made more than a decade ago.

The duo agreed funding from special-interest groups aligned with conservatives  Americans for Prosperity, Kansas Chamber and Kansans for Life  had a heavy influence on legislative campaigns in November. The political action committees operated by these and other organizations invested in early political mailers and digital advertising that set the tone for unknown Democrats challenging Republican incumbents.

Our candidates were getting defined before they could even get to the door or even send out their own campaign materials, Robinson said. Its successful campaign tactics. Its totally at a different level than a lot of the Democratic attacks on the incumbents.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He asserted Republican-oriented organizations and candidates turned slivers of truth into narrative tidal waves that were impossible for Democrats to defend against. Its a feature of the Kansas Republican Partys playbook, he said, because it works.

We just got massively outspent, especially on negative advertising, Robinson said. You put all that together and it just highlights the disadvantages we have right now against the Republicans in legislative races.

Pahls said Democrats should concede they failed to deliver messaging that was credible and relevant to voters in 2024. The ability to recruit quality candidates shouldnt be overstated, he said.

You can literally just outwork your opponent, Pahls said. Usually the messaging victor goes to the person with the most cash. However, that can be outdone. If you have a message that can cut through the noise, you can beat a money disparity.
KSNF/KODE  A Kansas man is charged with multiple drug counts after a traffic stop on I-44.

Lamarr Davis, 45, is charged with drug trafficking, assault on law enforcement, and resisting arrest.

Lamarr Davis, 45.

Just before 3:30 Sunday afternoon, a Joplin officer pulled Davis vehicle over near the Range Line exit on I-44 for a traffic violation.

FOUR STATES CRIME

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The officer said as he was getting his K9 partner to search the vehicle, Davis tried to drive away.

Court records say three other officers were also on scene, and all four had to wrestle with Davis to keep him from driving off, which included using a TASER on him.

Investigators say they located a plastic baggie with a white rock substance that tested positive for fentanyl or meth.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Kansas Food Bank provides some of the food for open-door distribution. It has enough to get through this week, but it needs more to make it through the holiday season since more families are turning to food pantries for help.

Each year, the Wichita facility distributes more than 15 million pounds of food to about 200 food pantries across the state.

You know we work with about 700 partners across Kansas, and so while 4,000 turkeys is incredible, we also still rely on the donations coming in to purchase additional food, said Kate Birkhofer, the marketing and communications manager for the Kansas Food Bank.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Help thousands of area children through Salvation Army Angel Tree

The need has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic and hasnt tapered off like they expected.

This holiday season is just a continuation of that. You know, were seeing a lot of families that may be turning to pantries for the first time, but were also seeing a lot of families and individuals who more consistently need assistance, said Birkhofer.

Birkhofer says any type of donation, whether food or funds, helps during the holiday season.

You can find a distribution resource guide below:

2024-Wichita-Holiday-Resource-Guide-FULL-PAGE-FINALDownload

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To learn more about the Kansas Food Bank, 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 KSN-TV.
Tony Mattivi, director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, urged the 2025 Legislature to approve plans for a new $114.4 million headquarters building in Topeka. He said the existing facilities posed fire-safety risks, lacked a suitable perimeter and were otherwise inadequate to complete the agency's law enforcement mission. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  The director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation proposed construction of a $114.4 million headquarters to replace administrative buildings that subjected employees to fire-safety dangers and security threats from homeless people and drug addicts.

Tony Mattivi, director of the state law enforcement agency, told the Kansas Legislatures joint budget committee Monday the headquarters located in a former Topeka junior high school was declared functionally obsolete in 1996. That main structure was built in 1929 a decade before the KBI was created.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Consultants concluded the two adjoining buildings making up the headquarters complex couldnt continue to accommodate a functioning workplace, Mattivi said.

Our headquarters isnt safe, the KBI director said. I am failing miserably in my obligation to give our employees a safe place to work.

Mattivi said the stone structure serving as the central administrative building wasnt equipped with life-safety systems such as smoke-containment and fire-sprinkler systems. The largely wood-framed building lacked internal barriers to prevent spread of flames.

It isnt compliant with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. There are numerous code issues due to antiquated infrastructure, he said. Portions of the sewer pipe system, for example, were about 100 years old.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mattivi said the headquarters didnt have a command post to coordinate law enforcement emergencies. Nor did it have dedicated classroom space, an indoor firing range, an evidence processing room, kennel facilities for K-9s, an incinerator or agent equipment lockers, he said.

The headquarters didnt meet external security standards because it lacked fencing and didnt have enough property for a stand-off perimeter, Mattivi said. An alley runs between the two KBI buildings. Some of the agencys 250 employees must walk through that alley from building to building.

I dont mean to be unkind to anyone, but were in a horrible neighborhood, Mattivi said. Employees walk between two buildings through an alley and are often confronted by homeless people and drug addicts, because thats what surrounds the KBI building.

Mattivi said consultants and state officials considered renovation of the existing buildings, relocating to vacant office space and building a new headquarters. The best option is to build a headquarters with 134,000 square feet on seven to nine acres in Topeka, the KBI director said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rep. Will Carpenter, an El Dorado Republican on the legislative budget committee, said the KBI should forward to the 2025 Legislature estimates of what it would cost to renovate the existing administrative facility.

I think if were going to look at that we need to look at the whole picture, Carpenter said.

The Legislature should explore alternatives such as acquiring empty office space for use by the KBI, said Republican Rep. Kyle Hoffman of Coldwater.

Mattivi said the $114.4 million estimate for construction of a new headquarters reflected an updated plan for square footage and construction costs. An earlier proposal placed the preliminary cost at less than $95 million. Neither estimate included the cost of land acquisition.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The KBI started the process of assessing land in the Topeka area for a new headquarters in anticipation of competitive bidding for land and construction, Mattivi said.

Mattivi also urged the Legislature to approve $1.6 million for cybersecurity upgrades at the KBI.

The information we have is so sensitive that a data breach would be disastrous, the director said.

The KBI proposed the state allocate $1.2 million for specialized equipment at the KBIs main laboratory in Topeka. In addition, the agency recommended an appropriation of $500,000 to address shortcomings in a computer system used to track offenders and $239,000 to improve recruitment and retention of KBI staff, especially information technology professionals.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, the KBI has proceeded with development of planning for a $55 million agency laboratory on the campus of Pittsburg State University. The land was donated by PSU and the Legislature approved $40 million for the project. The remaining funding would come from the federal government.

Ground is expected to be broken on that southeast Kansas laboratory in June 2025 or about six months later than previously anticipated. The laboratory could be occupied by December 2026, Mattivi said.
After a police chase that started in Iowa and ended in a Missouri car crash that claimed the lives of two Kearney teens, their families are preparing to bury them.

Lucy Yeates and Kole Cunningham, 18, were killed Nov. 17 when a Nebraska driver fleeing Iowa police hit their car head-on while driving the wrong way in the northbound lanes of Interstate 29.

A celebration of life for Kole Cunningham will be held Nov. 26 from 4 to 7 at Knights of Columbus Hall, at 705 North Jefferson St. in Kearney. Members of the public are invited to attend; however, the service is closed to cameras and to the media.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Memorial services for Lucy Yeates will be held on Dec. 7 at 11 a.m. at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Liberty. The services are also open to the public but closed to cameras and the media.

Lucys twin sister Aubrey Yeates survived the crash and is being treated for severe injuries at a Nebraska hospital. The three friends were on their way to a Billie Eilish concert at the time of the crash, which happened around 7:20 a.m. in Atchison County, near the Missouri-Iowa border.

The Nebraska man also died in the crash, while his 1-year-old son survived. The Fremont County (Iowa) Sheriffs Office has said the chase did not violate the agencys pursuit policy when it crossed state lines, even as some officers joined the suspect in driving southbound in northbound lanes.

Aubrey, Lucy and Kole all graduated from Kearney High School last year. At the time of his death, Kole was a first-semester student at Maple Woods Community college, where he hoped to study botany, according to an obituary shared online.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Koles parents Tim and Shannon Cunningham wrote that Kole illuminated his life with unconditional love and support to all those around him. Kole was artistic and passionate about music, according to the obituary, taking an active role in fan communities online supporting Billie Eilish and Adele.

Kole is survived by his identical twin brother Kamp, for whose college education Tim and Shannon are collecting donations in honor of Koles memory.

Lucy was also a first-year college student, the Yeates family previously shared, with an interest in studying business and leadership.

This incredibly senseless and tragic event has left our families with a hole that will never be filled, Lucys parents Sam and Mandy Yeates previously shared.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A GoFundMe fundraiser supporting Aubreys recovery has raised over $25,000 as of Monday night. A Meal Train fundraiser supporting the Cunningham family raised more than $15,500 by Monday night.

Previous reporting by Kendrick Calfee contributed to this article.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  For the first Mixed Plate after a three-year COVID hiatus, Pamela Young takes us to Ha Long Bay in Vietnam.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

The dragons did it, said the ancients. To thward marauders from the North, the gods sent dragons, who spit out precious jewels into the sea to block invading ships.

Mixed Plate on the road again after 3-year hiatus

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The jewels remain today, as the islets of Ha Long Bay.

Today, Ha Long has new invaders, these bringing cash instead of crossbows and they are welcomed by a populace that thrives on the business of nine million tourists every year.

Of the nearly 2,000 islets, about 40 are inhabited by villagers who know they are blessed and still protected.

Folks here said those guardian dragons never left Ha Long. If you look closely, you just might be able to see them.

Theyre nestled within the stalactites of the islet caves, carved by millions of years of erosion. Many of the limestone monoliths are hollow, providing shelter for birds, butterflies and the occasional resting dragon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A bay the size of three Manhattans needs more than mythical monsters to keep it safe.

No single-use plastic container is allowed on bay vessels, yet typhoons and floods deposit tons of debris into prime fishing grounds.

Check out more news from around Hawaii

Local authorities enforce strict marine environment laws to keep Ha Long pristine.

The stakes are high for the tourism and fishing industries. Residents believe ignoring the rules will create challenges far too great for even dragons to overcome.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
This is a rough transcript of the remarks made by Judge Matthew Barrett on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024 in the Mesa County Justice Center on the Tina Peters case. Minor edits have been made for clarity.
About a year into dating, Bruce Johnson and Caroline Settino got engaged in 2017 after Johnson proposed with a $70,000 Tiffany ring.

But instead of the ring helping them live happily ever after, it brought them to court.

After Johnson broke up with Settino a few months into their engagement, he sued to get the ring back. It was a controversial lawsuit, because a 65-year-old legal precedent said that if you choose to break up, you forfeit the ring, according to The Washington Post.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But on Friday, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court took Johnsons side, ruling that, from now on, an engagement ring must be returned to the buyer if the wedding falls through, regardless of whos at fault, as the Post reported.

Engagement ring etiquette

The courts ruling centered on the idea that determining fault is difficult.

In the case of Johnson and Settinos break up, Johnson was the one who actually called off the wedding. But he only did so after a period of conflict involving both parties.

His decision was reasonable based on the actions of both people, a lower court that also ruled in favor of Johnson said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court said that engagement rings should be considered a conditional gift, something thats not fully transferred to the recipient until the marriage takes place.

During the hearing and in a statement released after Fridays ruling, Settinos attorney criticized that claim, arguing that it doesnt make sense to say the gift of the ring wont be fully vested until the engagement plays out.

Youre transferring title of property ownership, and the ring is either yours or its mine, the attorney said, according to The Washington Post. There is no such thing as this, Its yours for now but then Im going to bring action to take it back.

But Johnsons attorney applauded the court for taking Johnsons side and updating what she felt was an outdated legal precedent.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They moved the law in Massachusetts in the right direction, Stephanie Taverna Siden, Johnsons attorney, told The Washington Post. And our client felt justified in getting the ring back and having the law in Massachusetts be developed so that hopefully no other parties will have to fight over this.

Engagement ring laws

This months ruling only applies to engagement ring conflicts in Massachusetts, although judges elsewhere may take cues in the future from what the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court said.

As it stands, many states already see engagement rings as conditional gifts, while others take fault into consideration, as Massachusetts used to do, according to USA Today.

Montana is an interesting exception: That state considers the engagement ring an unconditional gift. The ring is kept by the recipient, even if the marriage never occurs and no matter who broke the engagement, USA Today reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Montanas law, as well as the laws focused on fault, goes against the wisdom of etiquette experts, who generally advise returning the ring to the person who proposed, especially if its a family ring.

Once a marriage takes place, most states say that the gift-giving process is complete and that the ring belongs to the recipient, even after a divorce, per USA Today.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  Kentucky will start its first online auction for confiscated alcohol this week.

The auction opens Wednesday and will close on December 11.

There are 32 bottles up for grabs, including two bottles of Old Rip Van Winkle 10-year.

A new law gives the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control the ability to dispose alcoholic beverages through public auction.

Officials say auction items cannot be shipped, so winning bidders will have to travel to Frankfort to pick them up.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Below are a few of the items that are included in the auction:

Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon Aged 10 years Makers Mark Breeders Cup (Signed by Mike Smith) Old Fitzgerald  Counties of Ireland  Porcelain Decanter 1973

To view the full list of bottles included in the auction, click here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
Kentucky Power's gas-fired Big Sandy power plant in Lawrence County. (Creative Commons photo)

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman and an industry group are asking the states utility regulator to approve a settlement with Kentucky Power that would return nearly $17 million to ratepayers.

The proposed settlement comes after a hearing earlier this year in which experts hired by Coleman and the industrial utility customers criticized Kentucky Powers costs to purchase fuel for electricity generation as too high.

Attorney General Russell Coleman

The proposed settlement with Kentucky Power, which would have to be approved by the Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC), would provide an average total credit of $51.19 over the winter months of 2025 and 2026 to about 131,000 Kentucky Power residential ratepayers. The credit line on bills would read Fuel Adjustment Credit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Coleman in a statement last week said the settlement would bring real relief for Kentuckians who are already paying the highest utility rates in the state.

Our office is proud to fulfill our responsibility to promote affordable and reliable energy for families who will soon see the savings on their monthly electricity bills, Coleman said.

A state report last year found investor-owned Kentucky Power, a subsidiary of Ohio-based American Electric Power (AEP), had the highest average monthly residential utility bills of all Kentucky utilities at $187 a month.

Kentucky Power spokesperson Sarah Nusbaum in a statement said the proposed settlement reflects our commitment to balancing the needs of our customers with sound financial and operational practices.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

By avoiding prolonged litigation, we are able to provide meaningful relief to customers while creating a path for continued collaboration with stakeholders, Nusbaum said.

A mechanism called the fuel adjustment clause (FAC) plays a large role in how much utility bills are from month to month. The FAC allows Kentucky electric utilities to automatically pass along to ratepayers the cost of fuel purchases  such as buying coal or natural gas for fossil fuel-fired plants that provide almost all of Kentuckys electricity  without having to seek an increase in their base rates.

The PSC requires electric utilities to go through a formal review process every two years to examine the reasonableness of fuel costs collected through the fuel adjustment clause; the PSC in a case this year was reviewing fuel costs collected from November 2020 to October 2022, leading to the proposed settlement.

Consultants hired by Coleman and the industry group Kentucky Industrial Utility Customers argued in written testimony that Kentucky Powers fuel costs collected through the adjustment clause over the two years were excessive and unreasonable.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lane Kollen, a vice president at J. Kennedy and Associates Inc. in Georgia, testified the very poor operation of Kentucky Powers coal-fired power plants during the two years led Kentucky Power to rely on its more expensive natural gas-fired combustion turbine at its Big Sandy Power Plant in Lawrence County or purchase more expensive power on the PJM energy grid operator market.

Kollen said there were several months when units were offline at the coal-fired Rockport Generating Station in Indiana, which Kentucky Power stopped buying power from in December 2022. Likewise for the coal-fired Mitchell Power Plant in West Virginia, co-owned by Kentucky Power with another AEP subsidiary Wheeling Power. Kollen said neither coal-fired power plant was operating in the month of October 2022.

The costs of operating [the Big Sandy Power Plant] and the energy purchases significantly exceed the lower fuel costs of the Companys base load coal-fired generating units, Kollen said.

The consultant added that with the coal-fired power plants operating poorly, Kentucky Power also couldnt sell coal-fired power to the wider energy grid market and collect revenue from those sales to reduce costs for ratepayers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kollen and another consultant pointed to a cost threshold mechanism that Kentucky Power uses to determine if the cost of fuel purchases each month are reasonable and can be collected through the fuel adjustment clause. If the cost of fuel purchased in a month is below that threshold, known as the peak unit equivalent (PUE), then Kentucky Power can collect the costs through the FAC.

The consultants argued that Kentucky Powers cost threshold for determining if the cost of fuel purchases is reasonable was too high, leading to inflated fuel costs being borne by ratepayers.

Kentucky Power in a rebuttal argued its coal-fired power plants did not perform poorly and that outages were planned well in advance during expected times of lower electricity demand and approved by the regional electric grid operator. Additionally, Kentucky Power said it did not have control over when the Rockport Generating Station was offline as it was buying power from the plant.

Before reaching a settlement with Coleman and the group representing industrial utility customers, Kentucky Power had argued changing its cost threshold mechanism amounted to impermissible retroactive ratemaking after the mechanism had previously been decided in another PSC case in 2018.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The settlement agreement says Kentucky Power will also prospectively modify its PUE mechanism along with providing the credit to ratepayers bills.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
BARDSTOWN, Ky. (FOX 56)  A Kentucky woman has been indicted after allegedly running an unlicensed child care facility.

According to the Nelson County Sheriffs Office, 27-year-old Katelyn Rogers was indicted by a grand jury on human trafficking and criminal abuse charges.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Facebook, the sheriffs office said the charges stem from their investigation into incidents that happened in Nelson County between February and May 30 of this year.

While running the child care facility, she allegedly coerced and manipulated an employee to work without pay, using intimidation to compel her continued labor, according to the sheriffs office.

Shes also allegedly attempted to influence and intimidate the same employee to mislead investigators regarding the number of children they were caring for and other details of the facilitys operations.

Rogers allegedly altered video footage and deleted text messages to hinder an ongoing investigation.

LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nelson County Sheriffs Office also said Rogers intentionally abused a child under 12 with acts of torture, cruel confinement, or other forms of cruel punishment.

The sheriffs office asks anyone with information about this case to contact our office at 502-348-1840.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Monday said President-elect Donald Trump should have never picked former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to lead the Justice Department.

In an interview with Fox News Jesse Waters, McCarthy said Gaetzs intended nomination was dragging down Trumps approval rating when it comes to how he is handling the transition and his Cabinet pick announcements.

Trump got rid of the problem, now hes in a very good place, McCarthy said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And youre saying the problem was Matt Gaetz? Waters asked.

Well, thats a fear for all young girls. They need their justice, McCarthy replied.

Waters interjected noting the longstanding feud between the former speaker and Gaetz.

Were going to have a pay-per-view fight between you two, Waters joked.

No, McCarthy added. Lets be very honest that theres no reason why that man shouldve ever been nominated. Those girls need justice and that is not the place for him.

While its unclear if Gaetzs decision to withdraw his name from consideration for the role of U.S. attorney general increased Trumps favorability ratings, a CBS News poll released Monday indicated that among Trumps controversial picks, Gaetz was the one viewed least favorably by respondents.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

McCarthys critical comments on Gaetz appear to be in reference to the scrutiny the Florida Republican has faced over sexual misconduct allegations.

Gaetz, who has denied wrongdoing, was under investigation by the House Ethics Committee over those allegations but the probe ended once the Florida Republican resigned from Congress after Trump named him as his pick to lead the DOJ.

Gaetz was also investigated by the Justice Department but federal prosecutors did not pursue charges against him.

Watters: You are saying the problem was Matt Gaetz?



McCarthy: Thats a fear for all young girls.. there is no reason why that man shouldve been nominated pic.twitter.com/B88oMSqQ7V  Acyn (@Acyn) November 26, 2024

McCarthy and Gaetz are longstanding rivals.

Gaetz is widely seen as the architect of McCarthys ouster after he filed a resolution to declare the speakers office vacant in October 2023.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

McCarthy, who has repeatedly claimed that Gaetz orchestrated his removal in an effort to stop the ethics probe, vowed revenge. While McCarthy backed Gaetzs primary challenger in the 2024 election, Gaetz still managed to prevail and go on to win the general election.

Despite no longer being considered to lead the DOJ, Gaetz said he doesnt want back his old job.

Im still going to be in the fight, but its going to be from a new perch. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress, Gaetz told conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

For now, Gaetz is following in the footsteps of former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) by offering to film personalized videos on the video-sharing website Cameo for about $500 each.

Related...
COLOGNE and PARIS  Top defense officials from Europes biggest military spenders want the international Ukraine Defense Contact Group to continue working after Donald Trump assumes the U.S. presidency, which many analysts here believe will not be as favorable to Kyiv as the Biden White House.

The 50-plus nation forum, also known as the Ramstein Group, has been hosted by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, representing Ukraines most powerful ally in the defense against Russias invasion. Its regular meetings at the air base in Germany, or sometimes via teleconference, have been instrumental in drumming up new rounds of military aid and financial contributions to the war-torn nation.

Keeping the group going is a priority for top defense leaders from Germany, France, the U.K, Poland and Italy, who met in Berlin on Monday to take stock of Europes defense strategy as Trump ascends to the White House once again

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The five of us want to stick to the UDCG format, keep supporting it and lobby for its continued existence, German Defense Secretary Boris Pistorius told reporters.

Pistorius noted that Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who dialed into the meeting remotely, had made the request.

Another goal of the five-nation group is to focus on building Ukraines defense industry, as the local production of weapons would cut down fielding times, Pistorius said. Special emphasis will be on providing Ukraine with artificial intelligence-enabled drones as well as munitions, especially artillery rounds, he added.

The ministers stressed the importance of maintaining military support for Ukraine, while at the same time ramping up their own defense spending.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, France in the coming weeks will provide Ukraine with Mistral air defense missiles and other weapon systems, including equipment its supplying together with Italy, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu told reporters in Berlin.

The aid will be funded using interest income from frozen Russian assets, an innovative solution that will please French and European taxpayers, according to the French minister.

The country has been training an entire brigade in the east of France, which includes equipping the force of more than 2,000 soldiers with VAB armored personnel carriers, AMX 10 RC infantry fighting vehicles and Caesar 155mm artillery.

Lecornu said the work of training the brigade is complementary to what France is doing in Poland, noting that Umerov had asked for continued support in training troops.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The French defense minister said he expects to make quick progress on the European Long-Range Strike Approach, the proposal to develop a land-based long-range cruise missile.

France, Germany, Italy and Poland signed on for ELSA in July, with the U.K. and Sweden joining later this year. The project touches on Europes capability to provide security for the continent, not only against threats from the east but also the Middle East, Lecornu said.

Pan-European missile maker MBDA has proposed a truck-mounted version of its naval cruise missile as a short-term option for the ELSA project.

Leaders from the United States and Germany agreed at the NATO summit in Washington this summer to station U.S. medium-range and long-range missiles in Germany to deter Russia, under what Pistorius labeled an interim solution until the ELSA project yields results.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As is the case with most trans-Atlantic security projects, theres no telling if the incoming Trump administration plans to follow through on the missile commitment.

Either way, Pistorius told reporters there is no fallback plan.

There are no indications that the decision would change, he said, adding, If that were to happen, wed have to think anew about alternative interim solutions.
LA PLUME, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  A college in Lackawanna County could potentially lose its accreditation.

Keystone College was informed by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) after the organization publically posted the decision on their website.

This comes after the college announced cuts and layoffs in June.

Statements released on future of Keystone College

Keystone College President John F. Pullo, SR said in a released statement that the school plans to appeal the decision.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Of course, we strongly disagree and are extremely disappointed with the Commissions decision, and we intend to exercise our right to appeal this decision. We will be notifying MSCHE of our intention to appeal this week, . . . We all knew that the process of rebuilding Keystone and changing our trajectory would not be easy. At the same time, I feel the adverse action taken by MSCHE significantly undervalues the progress the College has made over the past several months to strengthen our financial situation, rectify our weaknesses, and move forward. I pledge that we will pursue every possible opportunity as we prepare our appeal. During the appeal process, Keystone will retain its accreditation status and will continue to operate. Keystone College President John F. Pullo, Sr.

As noted in the statement, Keystone will retain its accreditation and operate normally until a final decision has 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 PAhomepage.com.
Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey? Her Father Thinks He Knows Exactly Who Murdered Her

A mysterious ransom note. A wealthy family. A child found dead in her own homes basement. These elements may sound like the start of a murder mystery novel, but theyre the haunting reality of one of Americas most notorious cold cases. Now, after decades of investigation, everyone still wants to know: who killed JonBenet Ramsey?

More from StyleCaster

Related: How Did JonBenet Ramsey Die? Her Autopsy Reveals the Gruesome Details Behind Her Murder

In the early hours of December 26, 1996, Patsy Ramsey discovered a three-page ransom note demanding $118,000 for the safe return of her 6-year-old daughter, JonBenet. The former child beauty pageant stars body was later found in the basement of their Boulder, Colorado homeshe had been struck on the head and strangled with a makeshift garrote. The haunting discovery would eventually launch decades of investigation, countless theories, and a media frenzy that continues to this day.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The initial investigation into JonBenets death was complicated by several factors: the crime scene had been contaminated by friends and family who gathered at the house after Patsys 911 call, critical evidence was potentially compromised, and police faced criticism for not immediately securing the scene. The case would come to involve multiple law enforcement agencies, private investigators, and even psychics, all trying to answer the question of who killed JonBenet Ramsey.

Who killed JonBenet Ramsey?

While no one has ever been charged with JonBenets murderand DNA evidence has failed to conclusively identify her killernumerous suspects have emerged over the years. From family members to local figures to distant confessors, each person of interest has added another layer to this complex case. Below, were taking a look at all of the major suspects in one of Americas most infamous unsolved murders.

John Ramsey

John Ramsey

As JonBenets father and a successful businessman, John Ramsey faced intense scrutiny in the wake of his daughters murder. He was the one who discovered JonBenets body in the basement wine cellar, hours after the initial search of the home. Police initially viewed his behavior during the discovery as suspicioussome investigators noted he carried her body upstairs and laid her down, potentially compromising the crime scene.

The investigation also revealed John had received a Christmas bonus of $118,000eerily close to the ransom notes demand of $118,000. However, despite early suspicions, DNA evidence eventually cleared both John and his immediate family members. In subsequent years, John has remained active in seeking justice for his daughter, frequently advocating for new investigations and the use of advanced DNA testing techniques.

Patsy Ramsey

Patsy Ramsey

A former beauty queen herself, JonBenets mother Patsy Ramsey came under particular scrutiny as the person who discovered the lengthy ransom note and called 911. Some investigators found it suspicious that the three-page ransom note was written on paper from a pad found in the house, using a pen from the house. Handwriting analysts spent months studying the note against Patsys writing samples, though results were inconclusive.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police were also puzzled by Patsy being fully dressed in the same clothes from the previous day when she made the 911 call. However, like her husband, Patsy was eventually cleared by DNA evidence. She maintained her innocence until her death from ovarian cancer in 2006.

Burke Ramsey

Burke Ramsey

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nine years old at the time of his sisters murder, Burke Ramsey has faced persistent speculation about his possible involvement in the case. Some investigators pointed to his behavior during interviewsincluding smiling while discussing his sisters deathas concerning. However, child psychology experts have noted that children often display unexpected reactions to trauma.

The speculation reached new heights in 2016 with CBSs docuseries The Case of: JonBenet Ramsey. During this time, forensic pathologist Werner Spitz made explosive claims about Burkes involvement. Its the boy who did it, whether he was jealous or mentally unfit or something. I dont know the why, Im not a psychiatrist, but what I am sure about is what I know about him, Spitz said in an interview with CBS Detroit, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Burke responded with legal action, filing a $150 million defamation lawsuit against Spitz, followed by a $750 million suit against CBS. These suits demonstrated how serious allegations against Burke had becomeand how intensely he defended his innocence. Like his parents, Burke was eventually cleared by DNA evidence.

Gary Oliva

Convicted sex offender Gary Oliva was living in Boulder when JonBenet was found strangled to death after what looked like a potential sexual assault, given that there was a droplet of blood on her underwear. In 2000, police discovered a magazine cutout of JonBenet in his backpack during a drug-related arrest.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The case took an interesting turn when Olivas high school friend, Michael Vail, came forward with a chilling account. Speaking to InTouch magazine in 2018, Vail revealed that Oliva had called him shortly after the murder, reportedly saying I hurt a little girl. I hurt a little girl. What particularly disturbed Vail was a haunting detail about the crime scene: the knots used in JonBenets case were eerily similar to those used in a previous incident where Oliva had attempted to harm his own mother with a telephone cord. My blood ran cold when I read that, Vail told the magazine about his troubled friend.

Michael Helgoth

A 26-year-old electrician by the name of Michael Helgoth emerged as another person of interest. Private investigator Ollie Gray described Helgoth, who worked at a local auto salvage yard, as a hellraiser and pointed to a possible property dispute with the Ramseys as potential motivation. The investigation took a dark turn when Helgoth died by suicide just two days after a 1997 press conference where the Boulder DA announced they were closing in on a suspect. While a boot print similar to his was allegedly found near the Ramsey home, DNA evidence ultimately cleared him, too.

John Mark Karr

John Mark Karr

Former schoolteacher John Mark Karr became one of the cases most notorious suspects after his shocking 2006 confession. Arrested in Thailand, Karr provided disturbing details about the crime in a series of diary entries. In one particularly chilling account, writing under the name Daxis, Karr wrote, Close your pretty eyes, sweetheart. Daxis loves you so much. Oh God, I love you, JonBenet. And my lovers eyes are slowly closing

However, Karrs DNA ultimately didnt match evidence found at the scene, and investigators couldnt verify he was ever in Boulder. His confession was ultimately dismissed as an attempt to gain notoriety.

Linda Hoffman-Pugh

The Ramseys housekeeper found herself under scrutiny due to her access to the home and familiarity with the familys routines. During the investigation, she testified for eight hours before a grand jury, where she made notable statements about Patsy Ramseys behavior, saying, I think she had multiple personalities. Shed be in a good mood and then shed be cranky. She got into arguments with JonBenet about wearing a dress or about a friend coming over. I had never seen Patsy so upset.

Bill McReynolds

Known as Santa Bill to the neighborhood children, McReynolds had played Santa at a Christmas party at the Ramsey home just days before the tragedy. While initial speculation swirled around his relationship with JonBenetincluding stories about him keeping a vial of her gifted glitterhe was ultimately cleared of any involvement. Local coverage of McReynolds appeared to be more sensational than substantial, and no evidence ever linked him to the crime.

The Unnamed Intruder

The Unnamed Intruder

One of the most compelling potential connections to JonBenets murder emerged nine months after her death, when another terrifying incident occurred just two miles from the Ramsey home. A masked intruder broke into the house of a 12-year-old girl who, like JonBenet, attended a local dance studio. The suspect assaulted the child before being scared off by the girls mother.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

John Ramsey sees striking similarities between this attack and his daughters murder. To me, it could easily have been the same person, Ramsey told People in an interview ahead of Netflixs Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey? documentary in November 2024. I think the method of operation was exactly the same. I believe the killer was in the house when we came home, waited til we went to sleep.

The parallel circumstances are chilling: in both cases, the intruder was seemingly already inside when the families returned home. In the second incident, the family had even set their burglar alarm, unaware of the danger lurking inside. They came home, set the burglar alarm, and the killer was already in the house. A very similar method, and yet the police blew it off. It was the same investigator as our case, Ramsey explained to People.

Despite these similarities, investigators dismissed any connection between the two cases. The father of the 12-year-old victim shared Johns frustration with law enforcements handling of the situation, telling Ramsey, On a scale of one to 10, I rate the police minus five. This dismissal of a potential lead has remained a point of contention for John Ramsey, who maintains, Yes, I think that was very possibly the same person.

Best of StyleCaster

Sign up for Stylecaster's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Kim Dotcom, the controversial internet entrepreneur whose Megaupload website was once a treasure trove of illegally uploaded songs, television and movies, has apparently suffered a stroke.

Dotcom has long been fighting deportation from New Zealand to the United States over copyright infringement accusations. His X social media account announced his medical condition on Monday.

UPDATE: I am recovering from a serious stroke. I have the best health professionals helping me to make a recovery. I will be back as soon as I can. Please be patient and pray for my family and I.  Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) November 25, 2024

I have the best health professionals helping me to make a recovery. I will be back as soon as I can. Please be patient and pray for my family and I, the post said. Dotcoms lawyer, Ira Rothken, confirmed to Associated Press that the post was accurate, but did not say who wrote it or provide other details.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The U.S. government has been attempting to extradite Dotcom on charges of copyright infringement, money laundering and racketeering. In August, New Zealands justice minister agreed to send him to the U.S., but no date was set for the transport. His lawyer indicated a challenge to the justice ministers order was underway.

The Megaupload site once was the worlds largest file-sharing outlet. It was shut down in 2012, but not before prosecutors contend it earned at least $175 million and called it the purveyor of the largest criminal copyright case in U.S. history. The Dotcom mansion in Auckland was the scene of a dramatic raid by law enforcement that preceded the Megaupload closing.

Dotcom has also veered into controversy over his politics. His X account promotes antisemitic discussions and conspiracy theories.

I love New Zealand. Im not leaving, Dotcom wrote on X in August after the justice minister decided to allow U.S. extradition.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Two of Dotcoms former business partners pled guilty to the charges they faced and served time in a New Zealand jail. An extradition bid against another partner was ended when he died of cancer.

The post Kim Dotcom Suffers Serious Stroke Amid Legal Battle to Prevent US Extradition appeared first on TheWrap.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is accused of failing to comply with a federal grant requirement to investigate misconduct in its forensics lab, which has been found to have mishandled DNA findings for years. The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado and the Korey Wise Innocence Project have demanded more accountability and transparency in the CBI's ongoing investigation of its former star forensic scientist, Yvonne Woods, who was found to have mishandled, falsified or deleted DNA findings for years at the lab. The CBI has reported discovering 809 "anomalies" in her past work dating back to 1994.
American politician Huey Long (1893-1935) smiles while sitting behind several NBC microphones during a radio broadcast. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

If you visit Asuncion, Paraguay, you may wish to walk the streetone block, reallynamed for former Sen. Huey Long of Louisiana. Theres even a plaque for The Kingfish.

Its what remains of the nations once grander tribute from 90 years ago to the wildly corrupt (and wildly entertaining) Louisianan who, at the height of his power, drew some 7 million Americans into his Share Our Wealth Society with the promise every man a king. His weekly radio broadcasts on NBC in 1934 were among the most popular in the nation and he was, at the time of his assassination the next year, a credible threat in the Democratic Party to President Franklin Roosevelts renomination in 1936.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Long hardly invented the idea of confiscating the fortunes of the super rich and spreading the money around, an appealing proposal from before the very start of American politics. But in times of economic distress and perceived extreme economic disparity, redistribution tends to be particularly popular. Even now. And in the second dip of the Great Depression, Long was the preeminent populist.

Master of the soundbite, first as governor of Louisiana and then as a bomb-throwing freshman senator, Long was a favorite of the press for his colorful colloquial language and stunts. Hed spar with reporters, who would bait him with the charges of his many critics and get lots of good copy in return. Asked if he was a demagogue, Long retorted, I would describe a demagogue as a politician who dont keep his promises 

But Long was not a joke. At a time when many Americans, including prominent and influential ones, envied the modernity and flexibility of European fascism, Long was bringing the same view from the bottom up. A perfect democracy can come close to looking like a dictatorship, he opined. A democracy in which the people are so satisfied they have no complaint.

What any demagogueespecially an aspiring populist authoritarianneeds most of all are the right enemies. And there, Long was uniquely blessed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The famous villain of the Progressive era in which Long first rose to power was John D. Rockefellers Standard Oil. Even after it was broken up by federal regulators in 1911, Standard Oil remained in the minds of many Americans synonymous with greed and monopolistic power. That was especially true in Louisiana, where the petroleum industry found bountiful reserves, an ideal place for its refineries, and frequently pliant local officials who were looking to bring jobs for their voters and, too often, line their own pockets.

After running for governor as a kindly reformer in 1924, Long reinvented himself for 1928 as the sworn enemy of big oil in general and Standard in particular. It worked. And when the company threatened to pull its operations out of the Pelican State because of Longs draconian measures, he crowed, If they got to leave, they can go to Hell and stay there.

Long would add other enemies to his demonology when he came to Washington as a senator in 1933, but his favorite villain would always be Standard.

Thats why when Long was looking for ways to make national news, he was immediately drawn to a simmering conflict in South America. The Chaco region, straddling the border between Bolivia and Paraguay, and the Paraguay River running through it had become a flashpoint because of, you guessed it, oil.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Both countries are landlocked, so when oil was discovered there, the river took on new strategic importance. Access to the Atlantic Ocean and North American markets depended on controlling the river.

Bolivia had always been among the friendliest Latin American nation to the U.S., and it had the superior oil reserves, drawing big investments from Standard Oil. On the other side was the smaller but feistier Paraguay, and its deep-pocketed European oil backers at Royal Dutch Shell.

The conflict was the bloodiest on the continent in the 20th century in part because of the well-financed backers of each side. The Chaco War saw the first deployment of many new military technologies that had been developed during and after World War I. Like the civil war in Spain, it was a terrible foretaste of what was to come in the 1940s.

This all proved to be a major headache for the new Roosevelt administration, which was not looking for foreign entanglements as it tried to put the New Deal in place. Neither was Washington interested in seeing major disruptions to petroleum supplies. The answer was a studied neutrality that American diplomats hoped would eventually lead to the larger and better armed Bolivian military wearing down their opponents.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The wearing down took longer than the Americans had hoped, and by 1934 the conflict was becoming a substantial embarrassment to the Roosevelt administration as the new presidents critics at home and abroad alleged Yankee imperialism and petro-fueled disregard for the oppressed.

That was too good an opportunity for Long to pass up, and when he had the chance, he took to the floor to denounce Roosevelt as the handmaiden to Standard Oil and of America as supporting domestic murderers and an international conspirator. He timed his speech for exactly the moment when U.S. officials were trying to force Paraguay to the treaty table.

Which is why when the Paraguayan army captured a Bolivian fort soon after, they renamed it Fort Long in his honor. His pressure on the Roosevelt administration had played its small part in keeping the conflict going and letting Paraguay end up with the better end of the eventual truce.

And thats why you can take a walk, albeit a very short one, on a South American street named for a Louisiana politician.

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.
Editors Note: This story contains discussion of suicide. Help is available if you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters.

In the US: Call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Globally: The International Association for Suicide Prevention and Befrienders Worldwide have contact information for crisis centers around the world.

Its been two weeks since Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi went missing after she did not board a connecting flight to New York City during a layover at Los Angeles International Airport on November 8.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Her father, Ryan Kobayashi, was found dead Sunday, after he had traveled to Los Angeles to search for her.

Ryan Kobayashis body was found Sunday around 4 a.m. on West Century Boulevard, the LAPD confirmed to CNN  at an address near the airport. The Los Angeles County medical examiners office determined he died by suicide.

The Kobayashi family said the devastating tragedy only adds to their anguish.

After tirelessly searching throughout Los Angeles for 13 days, Hannahs father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically took his own life. This loss has compounded the familys suffering immeasurably, the family said in a statement released through a nonprofit group helping with the search.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As the search for Hannah continues, heres what we know:

A planned trip to New York

On November 8, she took a flight from Maui to Los Angeles. She was supposed to take a connecting flight from Los Angeles International Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport the same day but did not board, her sister said.

Hannah had plans to spend time with an aunt in upstate New York earlier this month, her sister Sydni told CNN. Hannah also planned to photograph a show in Brooklyn on November 13, according to a manager for the musician who said she reached out to him for a press pass.

Hannah had the same itinerary as an ex-boyfriend. The pair decided to keep their flights since they could not get a refund but would be going their separate ways once they landed in New York, Sydni said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The next day, Hannah was spotted at a Taschen bookstore at The Grove shopping center in Los Angeles, her sister said, and it is unclear why she was there. Hannah then sent a Venmo payment to two people whose names the family does not recognize, Sydni said.

On Sunday, November 10, a video was posted on YouTube showing Hannah at the LeBron XXII Trial Experience, an event held at the Nike store in the same shopping center. A photo of the event was also posted on her Instagram account, her sister said.

On November 11  the last day anyone heard from the missing woman  her mother texted her, asking whether she made it to New York. Hannah responded no, her sister said. Hannah also sent messages to a friend saying she did not feel safe, and someone was trying to steal her identity and money, according to screenshots her sister sent to CNN.

Deep Hackers wiped my identity, stole all of my funds, & have had me on a mind f**k since Friday, one message to a friend said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Another message said, I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds, followed by one saying, For someone I thought I loved.

On November 15, the Los Angeles Police Departments missing persons unit made a poster about Hannahs disappearance, saying she was last seen at the airport. It said she has freckles on her face and a tattoo on her forearm. The Maui Police Department also said its assisting in the search for Hannah.

In a statement posted to Facebook on November 17, Sydni said the family had obtained surveillance footage showing her sister around the downtown Metro train station near Crypto.com Arena, although it was unclear exactly when the footage was taken.

In the footage, Hannah is not alone and does not appear to be in good condition, the family wrote, saying they are unable to share further details.

Ryan died of a broken heart

Hannahs father Ryan traveled to Los Angeles not long after his daughters disappearance to help look for her.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hannah loved to travel. She loved photography, art, music. I wasnt too close with her  growing up. We havent had contact for a while, the elder Kobayashi told CNNs Veronica Miracle in an interview last week. Im just trying to make up. Im trying to get her back. Thats my main focus.

But after searching for his 30-year-old daughter for nearly two weeks, he was found dead, according to a family statement.

Hannahs aunt, Larie Pidgeon, briefly spoke with CNN about Ryans death.

As you can imagine the family is devastated, Pidgeon said on Monday. We also want to make it clear that Ryan died of a broken heart.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A newly released statement Monday from the family said they are overwhelmed by the immense outpouring of love and support during this time.

The loss of Ryan has been a heartbreaking tragedy for all of us, and we are forever grateful for the compassion and strength you have shown. As we navigate the unimaginable grief, we are holding onto hope and turning to our community for help, the statement said.

The search for our beloved Hannah must continue with the same love and determination that Ryan would have wanted. We need your help, we need your strength. Our family needs you. The search for our dear Hannah must continue with unwavering hope and determination. She is still out there, and we believe that together, we can bring her home, it continued.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Ryans fiancee during this unimaginable time.

CNNs Karina Tsui, Amanda Jackson, Elizabeth Wolfe, Maria Aguilar Prieto, Natasha Chen and Chris Boyette contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  People are already making their way out of town ahead of Thanksgiving Thursday.

According to AAA, a record 5.8 million people are expected to fly domestically for Thanksgiving this year while 71.7 million people will be hitting the road to make it home for the holiday.

Kim Hunt, vice president of communications for the Birmingham Airport Authority, said Friday was extremely busy and may end up being the busiest day of this travel season. Based on this, she believes that people are extending their trips and not just going for a couple of days like they used to.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Restaurants that will be open Thanksgiving Day in the Birmingham area

Mary McAlhaney, who recently flew in from Charlotte, North Carolina to Birmingham, said shes glad to beat the holiday crowd.

The closer you get to Thanksgiving, good luck, she said.

Chad Jeter, who flew in early from Philadelphia, said his trip will have to be cut short this year.

Unfortunately, I have to go back to work before Thanksgiving hits, Jeter said, adding that hell be leaving Wednesday.

Jeter will be in good company; Wednesday is expected to be a busy travel day for the flying public.

Hunt warned drivers that the parking deck at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport may be near capacity at times and lines may be longer at the ticket counter and security checkpoint.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We tell people, you know get here out here two hours before your scheduled departure that way if you get in a line that you werent anticipating, you dont run the risk of missing your flight, Hunt said.

Birmingham-Southern College looking for potential buyers after purchase agreement with Miles College expires

AAA also projects a record Clay Ingram, public relations and marketing manager with AAA Alabama, said that for those who will be driving for the holidays, checking the tire air pressure is important

Theyre very important in your safety to control the vehicle like you need to, to make sure you have adequate traction especially with the rain that were likely to see on Thanksgiving day and then there a lot of people driving around on underinflated tires, Ingram said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Alan Gaskin, owner of Hutchinson Automotive, said drivers should make sure their cars are road ready by checking their tires, the car battery and fluid levels, including oil.

Batteries have cells in them, Gaskin said, adding that extreme cold can have a negative impact on battery life, especially those that are not in good condition. So you can be fine one minute, and then you get back in your car, it just starts clicking, because the batterys gone bad.

Gaskin said the average lifespan of a car battery is about three years, so its a good idea to carry jumper cables or a jump box in case of emergency.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  The Knoxville Police Department arrested a student at West High School for possessing a firearm on school property on Tuesday, Nov. 26.

In the press release, KPD said a school resources officer was told a 15-year-old boy had brought a handgun to school. According to the release, another student told the school administration that the teen was showing it off in a school bathroom.

Clinton Police, TBI investigating early morning fire that left 1 dead

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

KPD said the student was located and searched. A gun was found in his backpack, which KPD said was loaded. The student was then arrested and charged for carrying a weapon on school property. KPD added that the student did not make any threats.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
Tuesdays Top Stories

Tuesdays Five Facts

[1] Jury convicts Albuquerque man in 30-year-old cold case rape of jogger in the Bosque  An Albuquerque man is awaiting sentencing after being convicted of raping a woman nearly 30 years ago. In November 1994, Gilbert Contreras raped a woman who was out jogging near the Bosque. The womans rape kit sat untested until 2020, when Contreras DNA came back as a match in the case. The victim has since passed away. At sentencing, Contreras faces up to 72 years in prison, according to the District Attorneys office.

[2] Prolific shoplifter behind bars just before officials highlight crime-fighting efforts  APD officers arrested 38-year-old Melissa Owens and 31-year-old Blake Scott Montgomery at a Target in northeast Albuquerque. The two are accused of stealing nearly $2,500 worth of goods. According to the criminal complaint, police were on scene as the pair walked out of the store. The detective who searched Owens on Thursday said she had fentanyl pills and crystal meth in her possession.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

[3] System brings precipitation and colder weather ahead  As the Jet Stream to the north moves southward in the northern tier of the region, more clouds with chilly rain showers in the northern-valley floors, as well as some heavier mountain snow, will ensue through the next couple of days before Thanksgiving, where pesky northeasterly winds will pick up along the tail-end of the departing storm system that will move east, leaving behind temporarily cooler air with even lower humidity.

[4] Corrales leaders warn residents about a rise in coyote attacks  Corrales saw a number of coyote attacks throughout October, leaving both pets and livestock injured. Pas issues prompted officials to create the Coyote Management Plan, which asks people to report possible coyote sightings. Residents are asking the village to be more proactive. The mayor suggests that community members keep their pets on a leash, even when walking through open space areas.

[5] Impact of lowriders featured on 60 Minutes  A recent episode of 60 Minutes featured a journey to the self proclaimed Lowrider Capital of the World. Correspondent Bill Whitaker traveled to Espanola, where he caught up with local artist Rob Vanderslice, who told him that working on the cars helped him get past his darkest times. The story looked at the cars shift from counter culture to mainstream.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Griffin Nemeth, center, a youth advisory board coordinator for the hashtag movement, #iCANendthetrend, testified before a legislative committee in 2023 alongside youth advocate Sydney Shaffer, right, and Dr. Anthony Weaver, a retired internal medicine physician. (Photo provided)

Advocates who work to end smoking and vaping among youth in Kentucky are asking lawmakers to move future Juul settlement dollars from the states general fund into the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program during the 2025 legislative session.

For free resources on quitting tobacco, visit Quit Now Kentucky, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit the American Cancer Societys cessation program, Empowered to Quit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network used the Great American Smokeout last week to renew their call on Kentucky lawmakers to do more to reduce tobacco use. The day is dedicated each year to encouraging tobacco users to quit smoking.

Doug Hogan, the government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in Kentucky, told the Lantern the organization would like to capture future JUUL settlement dollars for the purpose of decreasing the number of youth smokers and vapers.

The vaping epidemic is rampant in our middle schools and our high schools, he said. And so, what we want to do is capture Juul settlement funding and give it to the states tobacco and prevention cessation program so that they then can use that money for prevention in middle and high schools primarily.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Juul, an e-cigarette company, has to pay Kentucky more than $14 million dollars following a lawsuit over marketing practices aimed at youth. JUULs next payment to Kentucky  about $1.3 million  is due Dec. 31.

Juul then owes the state slightly more than $2 million in December 2025 and again in December 2026.

Theres a number of programs that can certainly be scaled up and reach additional students throughout our school systems, throughout the entire state, if theres funding for those programs, Hogan added. And we believe the JUUL funds provide  that revenue source that will allow the program to increase its reach for additional students to come into contact with their program and resources.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States and is responsible for nearly 9,000 deaths annually in Kentucky, according to the American Cancer Society.

Vapes are just everywhere

One of the programs Hogan said could benefit from Juul dollars is #iCANendthetrend at the University of Kentucky, which is student-run and provides prevention tools to Kentuckians.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Griffin Nemeth, a youth advisory board coordinator for the hashtag movement, said with more money, #iCANendthetrend could reach more students in Kentucky.

We know that youth are one of the most targeted groups by the industry, and so that already makes it tough to combat manipulation, especially being reached through social media, said Nemeth, a second-year pharmacy student at UK. We know that theres a youth mental health crisis going on, and so that makes it really tough for youth to find an outlet.

Youth will turn to vaping as a way to manage anxiety, Nemeth said, and finding products isnt difficult.

Its just everywhere, he said. We see the vapes being made available  just in baskets laying out, in unlocked cabinets, right next to candy. Those are  the point of sale things that really entice them into using these products, regardless of whether they know the health consequences or not.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nicotine, which is in vapes, is addictive and can damage parts of the brain connected to learning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Youth also face pressure from peers, Nemeth said, to try vapes or cigarettes.

Griffin Nemeth, a youth advisory board coordinator for the hashtag movement, #iCANendthetrend, explains chemicals inhaled from an e-cigarette. (Photo provided)

Especially for younger middle school students, who are probably more molded by their peers than maybe older students in high school, we know that if their peers start doing something, regardless of what it is, thats how trends come and go, that theyre more likely to start doing it as well, he said.

Once a minor is addicted to nicotine, Nemeth said, they need more resources to aid in recovery. Nicotine replacement therapy, which can help people quit smoking, is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use on minors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We know that there are more youth than ever who are wanting to quit using tobacco and nicotine products, which is really great, but, unfortunately, there arent a lot of great youth cessation services out there, Nemeth said.

Past and future legislative efforts

Two bills that did not advance during the 2024 legislative session  House Bill 813 and Senate Bill 335  would have moved Juul settlement dollars from the General Fund to the Department for Public Health to support the Smoking and Vaping Cessation Program. Both were dead on arrival.

At least one lawmaker wants to try again in 2025.

Rep. Robert Duvall, R-Bowling Green, wasnt available for an interview, but said in a statement that the settlement presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to make a significant investment in programs aimed a stopping vaping before it starts, as well as treatment programs to free youth already addicted to these products.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, we only have one chance to invest these funds, Duvall said. And I know we all want to get the best results possible. Im looking forward to the discussions that will come after the bill is filed.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
LA VERGNE, Tenn. (WKRN)  La Vergne police are investigating a possible road rage shooting that sent one person to an area hospital on Monday.

The La Vergne Police Department said that the shooting happened Monday afternoon in the 170 block of Fergus Road. A 39-year-old La Vergne man suffered from a single gunshot wound as a result of the incident and was transported to an area hospital. As of publication, that man is in stable condition.

No charges filed after La Vergne police investigate possible kidnapping/

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A preliminary investigation suggested the shooting could have resulted from a road rage incident, police added. Authorities are actively working to identify the suspect or suspects involved.

There is no active threat to the public at this time, though authorities have asked people to avoid the area as they continue to investigate. Fergus Road was reopened just before 4:30 p.m. Monday.

 Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go.

 Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox.

 Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee.

This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch

The problem with seeking rhyme or reason in Donald Trumps policies is that not only is he not an ideologue, hesahemmercurial.

He believes in America First  yet began his first term as president by bombing Syria and ended up assassinating the head of Irans Quds Force.

Hes a populist fighting for the working man  whose biggest domestic accomplishment was a tax-cuts bill that primarily benefited the rich.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hes a pro-lifer who kept his promise to end Roe v. Wade  and now promises to protect access to abortion in blue states.

In conclusion, Trumpworld is a land of contrasts.

For years, ambitious nationalists have tried to put intellectual meat on the bone of Trumpism in hopes of converting one unstable mans whims into a proper philosophy of government. Its a fools errand. Trump is a snarl of narcissism, transactionalism, paranoia, and grievance; he has a few strong beliefslike limiting immigration and tariff-ing everything in sightbut beyond those its anyones guess what he might do in a second term or which advisers will prevail upon him.

But thats not very satisfying punditry, is it?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Insightful commentary tries to find order in apparent chaos. In his latest New York Times column, Ross Douthat did his best to systematize the messy coalition Trump has assembled for his new Cabinet by offering three theories for why the president-elect chose the nominees he did. Maybe hes building a Euro-style parliamentary government that includes leaders of allied factions. Or maybe hes chosen a team of human wrecking balls yearning to demolish their own agencies. Or maybe, as Im inclined to believe, he prizes a team of podcasters wholl do a lot of talking on television and not much decision-making.

The probable truth is that none of these is correct, though. Theres no specific strategic rationale guiding Trumps nominations, I suspect, just a tangle of vibes that appeal to him as he considers each vacancy. How loyal is the candidate? Is he or she broadly anti-establishment in outlook? Has he or she demonstrated unusual contempt for, or ruthlessness toward, political opponents? Is he or she good on television?

Practically every major nominee has been some combination of crony, contrarian, killer, and commentator. (Ironically, the example par excellence is the one who already withdrew.) Even Marco Rubio, one of the least Trumpy of the group, transformed years ago into a dependable MAGA apologist eager to do battle on Sunday morning TV in defense of his patron.

Theyre all birds of a feather with slight differences in plumage. But there is an exception.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Friday, Trump nominated Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon to be his new labor secretary. Of all his picks, shes the most unusualand has received an interesting reception on the right.

Slightly different.

I guess it shouldnt be surprising he picked a pro-union labor secretary, one of my editors said this morning of Chavez-DeRemers selection, but this feels weird in a slightly different way than, say, RFK.

It does, and no wonder. Chavez-DeRemer isnt a prominent Trump surrogate whos raised big bucks for him and slobbered over him in media appearances, as new treasury secretary nominee Scott Bessent has. She isnt a well-known conspiratorial kook beloved by Trumps populist base like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. or Tulsi Gabbard is. Shes earned no reputation for ruthlessness of which Im aware, unlike Matt Gaetz and Pete Hegseth. And I dont think Ive ever seen her on television. Insofar as shes done appearances, theyve been forgettable in a way thats uncharacteristic for Trump nominees.

Shes undistinguished as a crony, contrarian, killer, or commentator. What is she doing in this Cabinet?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Chavez-DeRemer is the clearest (and maybe only) example in the bunch of the parliamentary coalition theory Douthat described. Her most notable action since joining Congress last year was supporting the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, a pro-union bill that would have expanded collective bargaining rights and undercut red states right-to-work laws. Nominating her is plainly Trumps attempt to consolidate the electoral gains hes made with union members by placing a labor-friendly Republican atop the Labor Department. Populist righties wanted a party of the working man and now, by God, theyve got it.

Thats one thing that makes her nomination weird. There really is strategic logic to it. Its not just a matter of Trump grooving on the nominees obsequiousness and retributionist vibes.

But the other thing that makes the pick weird is how mortified many conservatives have been by it.

It makes sense that Senate Republicans like Bill Cassidy would look askance at Chavez-DeRemer, as Congress still has a healthy number of legislators who were weaned on Reaganism. But I was surprised by how much backlash there was online Friday night as news of her nomination circulated. Since 2015 the Trumpist project has sought to uninstall movement conservatism as the software for Republican politicsand that project is almost complete. The GOP as an institution no longer prioritizes small government, containing rival foreign powers, restricting the number of abortions performed in America, or even basic decency or competence in its leadership.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theres hardly any Reaganism left  except when it comes to having a pro-union labor secretary, apparently, which seems to cross some atavistic Buckleyite red line. Weird, as my editor said. And even weirder is the fact that Trumps electoral performance among union members has gotten plenty of media hype, which you might think would earn him the benefit of the doubt on this nomination among partisan conservatives who are ecstatic about his victory.

Why is Lori Chavez-DeRemer a bridge too far for lapsed Reaganites when massive deficits, rethinking U.S. alliances, and backing away from national abortion restrictions havent been? I think the answer has less to do with ideology than with tribalism, as virtually everything in modern right-wing politics does.

Forced labor.

There is some ideological mooring here. Its worth remembering that two of the biggest star turns in Obama-era Republican politics came at the expense of organized labor. Chris Christie became a right-wing media sensation by battling New Jerseys teachers unions, and Scott Walker scored a major legislative victory over intense Democratic opposition by reforming collective bargaining in Wisconsin.

But a lot of conservative ideological mooring has come unmoored under Trump. Why hasnt right-wing opinion about unions done so as well?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One reason, I assume, is the role teachers unions played in lobbying to keep schools closed during the pandemic after it became clear that children had little to fear from COVID. Despite politicians bending over backward to prioritize teachers safety, from ushering them toward the front of the line for vaccines to appropriating nearly $200 billion for public education to address COVID-related problems, unions encouraged friendly Democratic politicians to extend closures well into 2021. Parents outrage at the learning loss their children suffered may have helped reelect Trump; his nominees to fill the public health positions in his Cabinet are all COVID contrarians, coincidentally enough.

The human face of union opposition to reopening schools was Randi Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers. Shes become a top-tier political villain in Republican politics because of ityet there she was on Friday night cheering Donald Trumps nominee to lead the Labor Department. It is significant that the Pres-elect nominated Rep. Chavez-DeRemer for Labor, she tweeted. Her record suggests real support of workers & their right to unionize. I hope it means the Trump admin will actually respect collective bargaining and workers voices from Teamsters to teachers.

The implied warranty in Trumps Us-and-Them brand of politics is that hell use public power to ruthlessly punish the rights cultural enemies. That Weingarten, the dictionary definition of a tribal enemy, should be gratified by his choice on labor policy feels like a grievous breach of that warranty.

Theres another reason why Chavez-DeRemer might be hard for partisan conservatives to swallow, though. Compared with issues like government spending and foreign interventions, theres been little ideological work done by populists to uninstall the Reaganite conventional wisdom on unions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Consider: Trump began signaling as early as 2016 that hes reluctant to reform entitlements (although he does pay lip service to the idea occasionally) and ran enormous deficits as president even before COVID arrived. From his early days as a presidential candidate he made clear that he doesnt view traditional U.S. allies and enemies the way Reaganites do and proved the point by holding an infamous summit with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki in 2018. His Republican fans have been marinating in all of that anti-conservative contrarianism daily for nearly 10 years, regularly amplified by talented demagogues in the media they like to consume.

Inevitably, little by little, theyve been conditioned not to care about fiscal responsibility or about defending the international liberal order from authoritarians. Ditto for formerly outre beliefs like anti-vaxxism and curing economic ills with tariffs: A lot of political energy has been spent over the last few years smuggling those ideas into mainstream right-wing thought. But comparatively little has been devoted to presenting organized labor as beneficial to the economy or useful to the working joes who voted for Trump on November 5.

That means unions are still Democrat-coded. The old Reaganite software on that topic is still running.

In fact, while partisan conservatives are doubtless grateful for the support of union members in defeating Kamala Harris, they may have assumed that the political alliance the two groups have formed was a purely cultural one. Trump owes blue-collar Democrats who supported him this year the same thing he owes Republicans, Reaganites might have imagineda war on crime, illegal immigration, and all things woke. That he might also feel obliged to meet them halfway (or more than halfway) on actual labor issues may not have occurred to many.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its one thing for them to watch their tribe of Republicans be turned inside out ideologically, with yesterdays constitutional conservatives devolving into power-worshipping authoritarians today. Its quite another for them to find themselves in a new coalition with members of the other tribe and Trump seemingly converting to those members beliefs rather than insisting that they convert to his.

Why, its enough to make someone wonder who the Us and who the Them really is.

Whats conservative?

Responding to Douthat on Sunday, Jonah Goldberg said that he largely agreed that movement conservatives are now just one faction among several in the Republican Partys new coalition. But what is annoying, he went on to say, is the least conservative elements of this coalition are the most determined to insist that any criticism of, or deviation from, the popular front party line are not conservative.

Is that true? Im asking earnestly.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In my experience the word conservative is used less often nowadays to describe the components of Trumps party, even the elements of it that have traditionally used that term in describing themselves. Social conservatives increasingly are evangelicals or just Christians; fiscal conservatives are a functionally extinct species and dont have a name at all. The closest thing, I suppose, is Elon Musks dopey half-commission, half-meme DOGE.

Trump himself rarely talks about conservatism, of course, and was way ahead of the curve in separating it conceptually from the Republican Party he hoped to build.

But I think I know what Jonah means. Never Trumpers are often mocked by the right for justifying their support for Democrats on conservative grounds, never mind the arguments on the policy merits. If the GOP is now amorphous enough ideologically to include organized labor, Jonah might say, the least its fanboys can do in attacking those of us who want no part of it is to stop concern-trolling us about the fate of a conservatism for which they dont care a whit.

That too is ultimately explained by tribalism, though. Populists who scold others for betraying conservatism by criticizing Trump are reaching for the most useful weapon at hand with which to bludgeon a right-wing opponent. After eight years, youre not going to shame Jonah Goldberg or me by accusing us of being traitors to Trump or to MAGA nationalism. We dont care. Were not on those teams. But we are on Team Conservative, and so if youre looking to wound us by accusing us of having failed our tribe somehow, thats the way to go.

Conservative has become an empty byword for tribal authenticity, in other words, as the GOP becomes less conservative in substance. Nothing would be more absurd or more predictable than MAGA fanatics hammering Senate Republicans for being unconservative by opposing Lori Chavez-DeRemerexcept, I suppose, Senate Democrats then turning around and helping her get confirmed by voting for her en masse.

Republicans might confirm her without their help, though. A leader like Trump whos capable of persuading millions of Reaganites to embrace absurdly profligate spending and isolationism can surely persuade them to love unions as well. Having already gotten his base to back a pro-choicer, a former George Soros adviser, and a Bashar Assad apologist for his Cabinet, getting them to back a crony of Big Labor should be a piece of cake.

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.
You are the owner of this article.
(Bloomberg) -- Keir Starmers government set out plans to get more Britons back into work, spur economic growth and reduce the welfare bill, but the prime minister risked further accusations of indecision by putting off the most contentious decisions.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall published the Get Britain Working white paper on Tuesday, as the government tries to tackle the inactivity holding back economic growth. The plan includes a guarantee of education or training for every young person, and the removal of benefits for those who refuse.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Kendall called the measures the biggest reforms to employment support in a generation, and said they represent the first steps toward reaching the governments ambition  first announced in July  to increase the employment rate to 80% from 74.8%.

People who can work, must work, she said.

Reforming Britains benefit system  which now costs 137 billion ($172 billion)  is a typical pledge for any new administration, but the stakes are particularly high for Starmers given his promise to rebuild public finances and deliver growth. The Labour government is following through on 3 billion of welfare spending cuts budgeted by the previous Conservative administration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kendall said job centers would be changed to focus more on job creation rather than benefits, and the government will launch an independent review running to next summer looking at how employers can be better supported to employ people with disabilities or health conditions.

Other major decisions are also put off until next year, particularly on which benefits will be cut and how. The direction of travel, though, is clear. In a news release ahead of Kendalls announcement sad the government will seek to overhaul health and disability payments to get costs down.

A consultation on the changes will open in the spring to put the views and voices of disabled people at the heart of any policy changes that directly affect them, the government said.

Any cuts will be particularly contentious, given many in the Labour Party hoped its return to power after 14 years would lead to a more generous approach to benefits. That may explain the ministers reluctance to set out details.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said tough decision would need to be taken on welfare, but has not spelled out how they will be implemented. Alison McGovern, the employment minister, said last month the government will deliver savings through our own reforms, including genuine support to help disabled people into work.

The government argues that the issues are complicated and that the challenge is stark. An estimated 9.3 million working-age adults are economically inactive, 700,000 more than before the pandemic. Long-term sickness in the UK has reached a record 2.8 million people, while one in eight young people are not in education, employment or training.

While the official data points to a surge in inactivity, economists still debate the scale of the problem.

Bank of England Chief Economist Huw Pill said Tuesday that Office for National Statistics data may overstate the role of long-term sickness after major doubts over the accuracy of its Labour Force Survey. The ONS is currently working on a new survey covering estimates for unemployment, employment and economic inactivity after a plunge in response rates.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a hearing in the House of Lords, Pill said the ONS long-term sickness estimate is quite significantly higher than a figure implied by government administrative data looking sickness and disability benefit claims. He also said that BOE analysis echoes recent research by the Resolution Foundation suggesting that employment is much higher than official data shows.

Still, the government has made it a priority, though several of Starmers most contentious changes are being pushed into consultation rather than immediate action. Thats the case for National Health Service reform, which the back-to-work plan relies on to get waiting lists down. Labours slumping poll ratings part reflect voters questioning whether the party had a plan for power.

The counter argument is the one Reeves used to justify her tax-raising budget, that the fiscal inheritance from the Tories has tied Labours hands.

Her Conservative predecessor, Jeremy Hunt, had baked in welfare savings by outlining plans to stop unemployed people who were not looking for work  due to long-term sickness or disability  from claiming free prescriptions and discounted bus travel. Another plan was to scrap the controversial Work Capability Assessment used to determine if people can receive additional benefits payments due to a health condition.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hunt never had to implement the cuts because the Conservatives lost the general election, but the savings were budgeted and Reeves has chosen to find a way to match them.

--With assistance from Tom Rees.

(Update with economist on scale of inactivity problem from 12th paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Before Covid, the UK jobs market was in its best shape for decades, with record levels of employment, low unemployment and an economy which created new jobs all the time. But the story since the pandemic has been one of rising economic inactivity, as more and more Britons are either unable, or unwilling, to participate in work. We were among the few developed countries to see our worklessness rate soar post-lockdown, spurring Liz Kendall, the Work and Pensions Secretary, to set an ambitious target of 80 per cent employment.

But if the Government believes that its Get Britain Working plan will cure this malady, its misdiagnosed the disease. Many, among them early retirees, students and carers, will have good reason to be out of the labour market. However, the fastest growing cohort among the economically inactive are those taking time out of work because they are ill. By the end of this Parliament, the Office for Budget Responsibility now forecasts, they will have ballooned in number from 3.2 million today to 4.1 million, driven in large part by the rise in mental illness. Yet this can has been kicked into 2025, when a consultation on the health and disability benefits system is to be published.

Britain will soon have almost as many people on long-term sickness benefits as Panama does citizens, representing a crushing burden on the state and a terrible waste of human potential.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Stemming the tide will involve widespread culture change and an acceptance from Labour that the current welfare bill is unsustainable. The measures in Labours white paper  including yet more NHS funding, a Jobcentre revamp and employer local mayors to shape and effective work, health and skills offer  suggest it fails to grasp the scale of this gargantuan challenge.

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.
Sir Keir Starmer has declared Britain simply isnt working as he unveiled plans to bring more people into work and slash the countrys spiralling benefits bill.

The prime minister is planning to replace the network of Jobcentres with a new National Jobs and Careers Service, while more NHS staff will be sent to areas with higher rates of joblessness.

Young people will be offered additional employment and training opportunities, including with the Premier League, the Royal Shakespeare Company and Channel Four, while extra powers will be handed to mayors to develop their own employment plans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The reforms, to be unveiled by work and pensions sectretary Liz Kendall today, will also see an expansion of mental health support and efforts to tackle obesity.

The Get Britain Working Again white paper is part of a government pledge to bring more than two million people back into work.

While unemployment stands at almost 1.5 million, economic inactivity has also soared to more than nine million, with 2.8 million people out of work due to long-term sickness  a major driver of the rise in joblessness since the pandemic.

Sir Keir said: From the broken NHS, flatlining economy, and the millions of people left unemployed and trapped in an inactivity spiral  this government inherited a country that simply isnt working. But today weve set out a plan to fix this.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Our reforms put an end to the culture of blaming and shaming people who for too long havent been getting the support they need to get back to work.

Keir Starmer and DWP secretary Liz Kendall are set to unveil the Get Britain Working Again white paper on Tuesday (PA)

Tackling economic inactivity, which has risen by 600,000 people since the pandemic, is seen as vital to both boosting economic growth and reducing a spiralling welfare bill that threatens to demand more resources from the Treasury.

The new system replacing Jobcentres is expected to have a greater focus on helping people back into work rather than monitoring benefit claims, Labour has said.

Employment minister Alison McGovern said one in eight young people being out of work is not acceptable. If you have a break in your career at the very beginning, the consequences stay with you throughout your whole working life, she warned.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ms McGovern told Sky News: We cant allow that to happen.

Although further detail on Ms Kendalls plan to also bring in benefit sanctions for those who dont engage with the Department of Work and Pensions has not yet been provided.

Labour ministers have come under fire recently for the move.

Writing on Twitter/X, veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott accused the prime minister of peddling the benefit scrounger mythology as he vowed in the Mail on Sunday to tackle the bulging benefits bill blighting our society.

Jobcentres will be overhauled under government plans (Philip Toscano/PA) (PA Wire)

Speaking on LBC, Policy in Practice director Deven Ghelani said the language is a continuation of Conservative policies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There are certain messages that politicians believe the public need to get elected, to show theyre being tough, which blinds us from what some of the real challenges are. And I think this is another example of this happening, he said.

However, the think tank boss also said that Labours tone shows the party is much more aware of the challenges that people on disability face.

He adds that the number of people unable to work due to long-term sickness  a record 2.8 million in February  demonstrate the consequences of a really sharp programme of austerity under previous Conservative administrations.

Addressing this, Labours wide-ranging white paper has also reaffirmed Labours commitment to fix the NHS, outlining the need to prevent ill health that leads to economic inactivity. The party has pledged 22.6 billion in 2025/26 to improve the NHS and deliver 40,000 more appointments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The government has remained coy on planned overhaul to health and disability benefits but promises that a consultation will be published in Spring. Acknowledging campaigner calls, ministers say the views of disabled people will be at the heart of this.

However, the party still maintains a commitment to Conservative spending plans to shave 3bn from the welfare bill over the next four years. This has led to fears from welfare rights campaigners that much-maligned reforms to disability benefit health assessments may still be on the cards.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Several residents of the Lamplighter Inn went before the Charlotte City Council Monday night as the rundown motel near Interstate 85 and Freedom Drive is set to be shut down on Dec. 11.

Those who spoke before the council asked for safe, adequate and consistent housing.

The property has been cited multiple times for unsafe plumbing, pests and no trash collection. Tenants are frequently without hot water.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lamplighter Inn residents working on next steps after housing location shuts down

There are people breaking in rooms, there are people who are doing different things and our kids arent safe, and its not that were not trying, were really trying hard, said Shanice Williams. We go to work every day, we just had an obstacle that we couldnt get over.

Advocates, like Micah Belong, expressed frustration with the councils priorities.

Why are you wasting the money that should be housing those children on stupid stadiums? The affordable housing crisis in this city is your responsibility, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

City council members did not vote on any items regarding the soon-to-be-closed motel, but Mayor Vi Lyles did signal that the city will work to find a solution for the displaced.

On Friday, the city said that Lamplighter residents that are unable to relocate by the closing date will be provided temporary housing at another hotel or referred to the countys homelessness services. They were informed of the closure the same day.

I think the most important thing is that we try to get information on where we are on housing and emergency housing, this isnt the first time we have had people have to vacate a hotel, she told the council.

On Dec. 11, all utility services at the property will be shut down. At that point, the fire department will require all remaining residents to evacuate. Last reported, approximately 70 people still live at the Lamplighter Inn.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
PERMIAN BASIN (KMID/KPEJ)  State Representative Brooks Landgraf recently filed House Bill 268, which aims to address the rise in false emergency threats targeting schools and critical infrastructure. Landgraf said the legislation seeks to deter the dangerous hoaxes by increasing penalties and requiring offenders to reimburse the public for wasted emergency resources.

In the last few years, our schools have faced a disturbing rise in hoax threats, including false reports of school shootings and bomb threats, Landgraf said. These acts are not harmlessthey disrupt classrooms, traumatize communities, and place a financial burden on our law enforcement and emergency responders.

Landgraf introduces bill to reinvest in Permian Basin communities

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

HB 268 would update the Texas Penal Code by elevating the penalty for hoax threats involving schools to a third-degree felony. It would also empower emergency responders to seek restitution for the resources expended in responding to the false reports.

These hoaxes not only create chaos in our schools but also risk desensitizing the public to genuine threats, Landgraf added. This legislation has a clear objective: to deter hoax calls, protect public safety, and ensure that our emergency responders can focus on real threats, not false alarms.

The proposal comes after a series of false emergency reports targeting Texas schools, including incidents in the Permian Basin that caused widespread panic and disrupted class days. By imposing stricter penalties, HB 268 aims to safeguard students, educators and communities from the harmful consequences of these baseless threats.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin.
Nick Lyons is not your typical small-time landlord. While he does own a handful of properties, he also runs two companies that provide rental inspections to homeowners and estate agents.

It therefore came as a surprise when earlier this year his managing agent called to tell him the fire brigade had discovered a marijuana farm in one of his south London flats.

Every room was full of the hemp plant, sitting alongside grow bags and water filtration apparatus. It transpired that the third-floor property, which was left uninhabitable, had been sublet without his consent.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was the irrigation system in what was once the bathroom which finally gave the elaborate operation away. Water had leaked into the flat below and the London Fire Brigade was called. Officers forced entry, only to discover far more than a leaking tap on the inside.

Landlord Nick Lyons was alerted to the state of his rental when the fire brigade investigated a report of a leak

The police were brought in, the plants removed, and then repairs began. Mr Lyons said the police warned him it was unlikely anyone would be charged because finding the responsible individuals was a low priority.

Mr Lyonss property is now finally being cleared but the farms installation caused around 10,000-worth of damage to the flat. Ceilings were tampered with to fit ventilation systems, the electrics were altered to bypass the meter, and an ad-hoc filtration system caused leak damage.

The tenants excuse was plausible

It later turned out that the tenant was living in France and had been subletting the property. As for the mid-term inspections, which were meant to be carried out every three months, none had been done in over a year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The tenant always had an excuse, Mr Lyonss agent told him. If tenants refuse inspections with a valid excuse, the law states that neither the landlord nor their agent can enter.

Mr Lyonss flat-turned-cannabis-farm had displayed some suspicious activity a year into the tenancy, which began four years ago. The tenant was sourced by the agent, they were referenced, insurance was taken out and mid-term inspections commenced without refusal.

But 12 months in, neighbours eyebrows started to raise. They noticed the windows were blacked out with paper, so called the police and the agent to report suspicious activity.

Illegal tenants have caused thousands of pounds-worth of damage

This happened several times, and each time the agent inspected the property, the police spoke to the tenant, and nothing pointing to a drug operation was found.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr Lyons said: The tenant explained that he worked nights and blacked out the windows to sleep during the day. It seemed plausible, so no further issues were raised.

Red flags ignored

But fast-forward to August of this year, and Mr Lyons has had to fork out five figures for damages.

The property boss said: Naturally, my first question to the agent was: how did you miss this during your mid-term inspections? It was impossible to overlook. The agent then admitted they hadnt been able to complete any inspections in the past year. The tenant always had an excuse, and because of his good track record, they didnt push further.

This case should have raised red flags. The agent should have arranged to meet me at the property if access was repeatedly denied. Had this been done earlier, we might have discovered the problem before it escalated.

Mr Lyonss managing agent failed to inform him of several missed opportunities to inspect the flat

Mr Lyons considers himself to be a meticulous landlord who does not cut corners. He says he uses a well-known, reputable letting agent, ensures all properties have deposit protection, and always takes out rent protection insurance through reputable companies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He also makes sure mandatory compliance requirements  such as electrical, gas safety and energy performance certificates  are met, and even takes care of lesser-known obligations such as legionella risk assessments.

Most importantly, he insists on detailed inventories, signed check-ins, quarterly property visits, and independent check-outs.

Mr Lyons challenged his agent by referencing the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, specifically Section 11, which gives landlords the right to enter the property with 24 hours written notice to complete essential repairs or maintenance. Landlords can also enter their property without a tenants permission in cases of an emergency  such as a gas leak or flood.

If a landlord suspects illegal activity, this does not  on its own  warrant entry without permission. Lawyers advise landlords in this scenario to contact the police with the evidence and then issue a standard 24-hour notice to inspect. If the tenant then continues to refuse entry, that can constitute a breach of the tenancy agreement.

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.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Clark County prosecutors filed a new charge Monday afternoon against the woman accused of sparking a police shooting after that woman exposed herself to reporters in court.

Alejandra Boudreaux, 31, appeared in court for the first time Monday on charges connected to a home invasion on Nov. 11. A police officer responding to a 911 call from the homeowner, Brandon Durham, 43, shot and killed Durham as he and Boudreaux struggled over a knife.

In court Monday, Boudreaux first mimed to the camera that she was sorry. She then exposed her breast before a marshall removed her from the room.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Records show prosecutors filed a new open and gross lewdness charge against Boudreaux afterward. She was expected to return to court Tuesday on the additional charge.

In court Monday, Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Amy Wilson set bail at $1 million on charges including disregarding the safety of a person resulting in death, and home invasion. Boudreaux was previously ordered to appear by any means necessary after failing to show twice last week.

Alejandra Boudreaux appears in a 2019 booking photo from Florida. (BCSO/KLAS)

Police responded to Durhams home after he called 911 and said someone was attempting to enter his home.

8 News Now first reported Durham called 911 the night before in an attempt to trespass Boudreaux out. One of the officers who responded was the same officer who later killed Durham.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Boudreaux, who has a criminal history in Florida and identifies as a transgender woman, was scheduled for another court hearing connected to the home invasion on Dec. 16.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Republican congresswoman Lauren Boebert briefly followed her former colleagues Matt Gaetz and George Santos onto the paid video app Cameo  before abruptly deactivating her account.

The controversial Colorado representative posted a clip on Saturday offering "America First pep talks", birthday wishes, or other recorded messages for a fee of $250 or more.

The account reportedly did not initially identify her as a serving congresswoman, instead describing her as an "influencer", a "political commentator", and "not your typical Republican politician".

Lauren Boeberts video on Cameo, which has now been deleted (Lauren Boebert via Cameo)

But according to reports, the account soon stopped taking bookings and then went offline entirely after experts questioned whether it would break congressional ethics laws.

Members of Congress are not allowed to receive money or "things or value" for speeches or media appearances, known as "honoraria", and cannot make more than $31,815 from outside income.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Though Boebert's fellow Republicans Matt Gaetz and George Santos do offer videos on Cameo, both of them have resigned from their seats.

Matt Gaetz, who quit as a congressman after Donald Trump nominated him for Attorney General, recently joined Cameo (AFP via Getty Images)

"Hey Cameo, its your girl from Colorado, Lauren Boebert," the 37-year-old said in her now-deleted video. "I am so excited to be joining another platform where I can connect directly with supporters from all over the world.

"Whether you or someone you know needs an America First pep talk, if you want to surprise friends or family with a message for a special day, or if you just want to know my thoughts on whatevers on your mind, Cameo is the place to connect with me.

Cameo allows actors, musicians, and other prominent people to earn money by recording short video messages for their fans (or haters).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Aaron Scherb, senior director of legislative affairs at the political watchdog group Common Cause, told Colorado Politics that it is not clear whether Boebert's accounts would have been allowed because the House Ethics Committee hasn't yet addressed the question.

"Until they provide some sort of formal guidance, the expectation is that members would probably be allowed to sign up for it," said Scherb. "It seems like it could potentially violate the ban on honoraria, but its untested."
Rep. Lauren Boebert joined Cameo on Saturday, offering personalized videos for $250 and up.

But her account was taken down on Monday evening, per reports.

She's the latest Republican to join Cameo, but she may have broken House ethics rules in doing so.

Rep. Lauren Boebert has taken down her Cameo account just days after creating it.

The firebrand Colorado conservative joined the online platform on Saturday, offering personalized videos for a starting fee of $250.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a now-deleted video posted on the platform, Boebert said she was offering "America First pep talks," surprise videos for a special day, or other recorded messages.

However, according to reports, her account was deactivated Monday evening. Business Insider found no results in the early hours of Tuesday.

Boebert became the first member of Congress to join Cameo, and the latest Republican to create an account.

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida created an account on Friday, after withdrawing from consideration to be US attorney general under President-elect Donald Trump.

Former Rep. George Santos of New York also joined the platform last December, after more than two-thirds of the chamber voted to expel him from the House.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, by becoming the first Congress member to join the platform while holding office, Boebert may have broken House ethics rules.

The rules state that House members are not allowed to receive any payment of money or a thing of value for an appearance, speech, or article.

It defines a speech as an address, oration, talk, lecture, or other form of oral presentation, whether delivered in person, transmitted electronically, recorded, or broadcast.

Aaron Scherb, senior director of legislative affairs at Common Cause, a nonprofit organization that seeks to hold power to account, said that profiting from Cameo could "potentially violate the ban," but he added that it remains "untested."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The House Ethics Committee hasn't yet weighed in on the question, Scherb told Colorado Politics on Monday.

He also said that members of Congress would probably be allowed to sign up until the committee provided formal guidance, but they'd need to abide by the maximum outside income limit for House members, which stands at $31,815.

Boebert won Colorado's 4th Congressional District in November.

She previously represented Colorado's 3rd Congressional District but chose to run in a different seat after narrowly winning reelection in 2022.

Boebert overcame significant headwinds, including the lingering embarrassment of her "Beetlejuice" scandal , fatigue with aspects of her political persona , and accusations of being a "carpetbagger ," or someone who runs for office in an area where they don't live.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Boebert only moved to her current district at the beginning of this year.

Cameo and Boebert's office didn't immediately respond to BI requests for comments made outside working hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Thieves ransacked a South Los Angeles elementary school over the weekend, marking the sixth time the school has been targeted in the last four months, creating an enormous challenge for students, teachers and administrators.

In footage of the aftermath at Wadsworth Avenue Elementary School, chairs were knocked over, school supplies were dumped and devices used by students were either stolen or damaged.

In all, 24 classrooms were broken into and vandalized.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is a poor school, and it breaks my heart, LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvahlo said. Quite frankly, it infuriates me.

Frustrated with the onslaught of break-ins at the school, the superintendent also said that, unfortunately, its common across LAUSD.

This is not unique, he added. This semester alone, weve had 171 incidents of vandalism, burglary, defacing the schools, the stealing of catalytic converters on buses, the stealing of copper and the damaging of air conditioning units.

LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvahlo touring Wadsworth Ave. Elementary School after a recent break-in on Nov. 25, 2024. (KTLA) Damage done to Wadsworth Ave Elementary School after vandals broke into the school for the sixth time since July 2024. (KTLA) Damage done to Wadsworth Ave Elementary School after vandals broke into the school for the sixth time since July 2024. (KTLA) Damage done to Wadsworth Ave Elementary School after vandals broke into the school for the sixth time since July 2024. (KTLA) Damage done to Wadsworth Ave Elementary School after vandals broke into the school for the sixth time since July 2024. (KTLA)

Beyond the cost of repairs and replacing damaged property, Carvahlo said the break-ins are a major inconvenience for students, teachers and other district staff.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wadsworth Avenue Elementary Principal Jenny Guzman-Murdoch echoed the sentiment.

Its more destruction and its disruptive for our students and our teachers and staff, she said.

Bertha Cuevas, who lives nearby and has a daughter in first grade there, said she received a call from school officials notifying her of the recent burglary.

Devastated Southern California family of man, 21, killed in mass shooting, arson speaks out

Its disappointing. I wake up every day in the morning to bring my kids to school and its really terrible that some people are doing this, she explained to KTLAs Jacqueline Sarkissian.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While the school is equipped with burglar alarms, officials are in the process of installing security cameras as well.

In total, officials say the latest break-in caused an estimated $115,000 in damage.

Carvahlo said police will increase patrols in the area and urged anyone who may have information about the burglary to contact L.A. school police or the Los Angeles Police Department.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
FAIRVIEW, Texas (ABC4)  A Texas town and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have reached an agreement on plans for a proposed temple after entering into mediation last Monday.

Sam Penrod, a spokesperson for the LDS Church, confirmed that the church and town have compromised on plans for the proposed McKinney Texas Temple, which is set to be on a plot of land in Fairview, Texas (roughly 25 miles outside of Dallas). Leaders in Fairview unanimously denied the construction of the temple back in August.

PREVIOUSLY: LDS Church to enter non-binding mediation with Texas town over temple

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Height was one of several issues brought up by town leaders in Fairview, with the other being that the temple was proposed in an area with dark sky regulations.

The original temple plans called for a 43,000-square-foot temple and a 174-foot tall spire that local leaders said would be totally out of place in the area.

Penrod says the church adjusted its plans during mediation and agreed to a smaller temple and a reduced spire height compared to the original dimensions.

This proposal includes a smaller single-story temple of approximately 30,000 square feet and a steeple height of 120 feet, Penrod said in a statement to ABC4.com.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fairview Mayor Henry Lessner said that both the town and the church made big compromises during the mediation.

[The church] made a significant concession from what they originally wanted to build, Lessner said to ABC4.com. Considering they made a big concession, were willing to go along with that. I know that they [the church] want to and we [the town] want to avoid a lawsuit. No one knows how that would go. I think what we did and what they did, I think that we ought to be able to live with each other and go in peace so to speak.

Penrod is grateful that the two sides reached an agreement.

We are grateful that town officials from Fairview were willing to discuss the concerns of the community with Church representatives and we were able to reach an agreement to move forward, Penrod told ABC4.com. A new proposal is now in place that represents a mutually agreed compromise between the Church and the town and has the support of the mayor and the council.

The Austin Texas Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

According to Mayor Lessner, plans now call for something similar to the Austin Texas Temple plans. The Austin Texas Temple plans call for a single-story temple that is 30,000 square feet in size with a single tower at the center. He compared the style of the proposed building in Fairview to the Mission Revival or Spanish Colonial style that is seen in places like San Antonio, Southern California, and the McAllen Texas Temple.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The plans agreed upon by the church and Fairviews leaders do not mean that the temple will be built, however. The temple still has to go through a re-submission process with the towns Planning and Zoning board. Only after going through public hearings for planning and zoning will the temple be brought to the town council in the form of public hearings for consideration by the town council.

On Tuesday, Dec. 3, the town will hold a council workshop to review, discuss, and hear public comments regarding the non-binding settlement agreement with the LDS Church.

The Church looks forward to participating in this public process and presenting this new plan for a temple on the Churchs property in Fairview, Penrod said.

Dark sky regulations with temples are an issue here in Utah as well. The Heber Valley Utah Temple of the LDS church broke ground in October of 2022, but full-scale construction is still pending due to ongoing legal battles regarding the temple.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Heber Valley Utah Temple has had its fair share of legal actions taken both for and against the construction of the temple regarding Heber Citys dark sky ordinance, the most recent action taken in May and still currently going through the courts 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.
Editors note: The FDNY initially reported there were 15 people injured. Corrected story below.

MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11)  At least 14 people, including a firefighter, were injured in a fire in Manhattan on Tuesday, according to the FDNY.

The fire broke out at a six-story apartment building on West 204th Street around 8:30 a.m. At least 100 firefighters and EMS personnel responded to the scene, fire officials said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More Local News

Ten people were taken to local hospitals. Everyone else was treated at the scene, according to the FDNY.

The fire was under control just before 10 a.m. Fire marshals are investigating the cause.

This is a developing story. Please refresh the page for updates.

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
More than a year after the start of the war between Israel and the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon, an agreement on a ceasefire could be imminent, according to Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib.

"In principle, [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu agreed and we are agreed as a government," Bou Habib told Italian television station Rai.

The final decision is for the Israeli Cabinet, the minister said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to media reports, Netanyahu is convening his security Cabinet later Tuesday to approve a 60-day ceasefire with Hezbollah.

Asked whether a ceasefire was 100% certain, Bou Habib said: 100% nobody can give you. You have to ask Mr Netanyahu for that.
Rajaa is a displaced 63-year-old widow from south Lebanon who has been praying for a ceasefire deal to end the devastating war between Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah and Israel. To date, the conflict has killed thousands and caused over 1 million Lebanese to flee their homes. As the winter months set in on the Lebanese mountains Rajaa, whose name means hope, grew more desperate. Her phone calls have become more frequent. Firas my dear, do you think peace is near? Im cold.

The U.S.-brokered truce that Lebanon signed on to and Israels war cabinet backed today, is a far cry from any kind of divine victory Hezbollah proclaimed after its last major war with Israel in 2006. A leaked draft indicates the group will be required to withdraw its heavy weaponry from south Lebanon, a key Israeli demand. The deal also creates an American-led monitoring and enforcement mechanism to verify that withdrawal, and to prevent Iran from replenishing the groups historically formidable arsenal.

But will U.S. supervision and guarantees bring lasting stability to this volatile Lebanon-Israel border? Or will it prove to be just another intermission between wars as Hezbollah regroups now that its leadership has been decapitated?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read More: The Myth of Hezbollah Has Been Shattered

Israel is skeptical. The arrangement that ended the July 2006 war, U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, was largely left unenforced. In its wake, Hezbollah grew exponentially stronger as Iran furnished it with ballistic missiles and precision-guided munitions while U.N. peacekeepers and the Lebanese Armed Forces looked the other way.

To address these concerns, the U.S. has reportedly provided Israel a side-letter of assurance that consents to continued aerial reconnaissance over Lebanon, and Tel Avivs right to strike at emerging threats if the monitoring and enforcement mechanism fail. Senior Israeli officials have privately told their American counterparts, We will do less if the mechanism does more, but we will have to do more if it ultimately does less.

But Washingtons assurances and the U.S.-led monitoring mechanism can only do so much without a willing and capable partner in Beirut, a Lebanese government that is ready to work with the international community to expand the states sovereignty, enforce border controls, and curb what remains of Hezbollahs military might.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Lebanese army is the most respected institution in an otherwise diverse and sectarian country. But it cannot be the required partner without political directives from a sovereign-minded President. Even if the two-year-old presidential vacuum in Lebanon comes to an end, the country cannot possibly work with international donors to undertake the mammoth task of reconstruction without a reformist governmentone that no longer consents to Hezbollahs brandishing of Iranian arms under the rubric of resistance to Israel.

Amos Hochstein, the charismatic U.S. envoy leading the ceasefire talks, has largely shied away from Lebanons archaic internal affairs and the question of the day after. Much more is required, not only to reboot the stalled political process in Beirut, but also to prevent Lebanon from backsliding into civil strife, as it did following the last major Hezbollah-Israel war. In 2008, the militant group launched a military assault against a Lebanese government that tried to limit its power.

Lebanon is a country that will need active management to achieve any sustained progress. Before Washington is fully consumed by the inauguration of Donald Trump in January, Hochstein would do well to enlist the help of France and Saudi Arabia, U.S. partners who have traditionally wielded significant influence in Lebanon and who have a long track record of mediating between the bickering Lebanese parties.

France has been grudgingly watching from the sidelines as Hochstein asserted American leadership at the expense of French diplomacy over its former protectorate. But in the days ahead, as the guns finally fall silent, Hochstein should support Paris and encourage it to resume talks with the disparate Lebanese factions to end years of political gridlock that have crippled state institutions and left the economy in tatters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Saudis, who hosted and facilitated the talks that ended the 15-year Lebanese civil war in 1990, have also been hands-off, foregoing a role in Lebanon to focus on their countrys unprecedented economic and social transformation. But they too now have an interest in stepping up, realizing that progress on their vision of regional integration and normalization with Israel will depend on durable ceasefires in Lebanon and Gaza.

Both the Saudis and the French maintain a pragmatic, if still largely adversarial, relationship with Iran. This will matter for the politics surrounding a diminished, but still significant Iranian role in Lebanon and the region.

When French President Emanuel Macron visits Saudi Arabia on a landmark state visit in early December, he should propose co-hosting a post-war national dialogue of Lebanese leaders under American, French, and Saudi patronage to reboot Beiruts stalled politics, and to set clear conditions for the billions of U.S. dollars needed for reconstruction. And as Trump returns to office next year, appointing a capable successor to Hochstein to work with all the parties should be a foreign policy priority.

The Italian political philosopher Antonio Gramsci famously warned that a great variety of morbid symptoms appear in the interregnum that occurs when the old is dying and the new cannot yet be born. We must beware of what might follow a much-anticipated Israel-Lebanon ceasefire if Beirut is left unattended.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If the millions like Rajaa, a second mother to me, return to shattered villages with no prospect of rebuilding and little hope of a dignified existence, Hochsteins ceasefire wont last long.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
A Lebanon man will spend the rest of his life in prison for fatally shooting a 23-year-old woman last year.

Elijah Thomas, 28, was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison following his conviction at a two-day bench trial earlier this month. On Nov. 5, Warren County Common Pleas Judge Donald Oda II found Thomas guilty of aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault and improper discharge of a firearm.

Thomas was found responsible for the June 2023 killing of 23-year-old Katelyn Puckett. Prosecutors say he planned the shooting ahead of time, approaching Puckett as she returned to her Franklin apartment and opened fire at close range. He fired nine rounds and struck her six times, they said.

Advertisement Advertisement

His first opportunity for parole will be in 40 to 42 years, the Warren County Prosecutor's Office said in a press release issued Tuesday.

Franklin Police Department detectives found nine shell casings at the scene. A neighbor's ring camera recorded audio of the shooting. Family members told law enforcement Thomas had made multiple threats of violence in the days and weeks preceding the shooting, prosecutors said.

Detectives also used GPS location data and found he waited outside the apartment for more than 30 minutes before Puckett and her companions returned home.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Warren County judge sentences man to life in prison for fatal shooting
LEBANON, Ohio (WDTN)  A man has been sentenced to life in prison after killing a 23-year-old woman last year.

Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell announced the sentencing of Elijah Malik Thomas, 28, of Lebanon, for the 2023 killing of Katelyn Puckett, 23 of Franklin. Thomas received life in prison on aggravated murder and firearm charges.

According to court records, on June 17, 2023, Thomas approached Puckett as she returned home and fired nine shots toward her. Six shots struck the woman and she was pronounced dead on scene.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thomas fled the scene but with multiple eyewitness accounts and surveillance footage from the shooting, detectives were able to track Thomas down and arrest him.

Family members shared with law enforcement multiple violent threats by Thomas in the days and weeks preceding the shooting. GPS location data showed Thomas waited for more than 30 minutes for Puckett to return home.

On Nov. 5, Judge Donald Oda II found Thomas guilty following a two-day court trial. Judge Oda remarked Thomas planned the murder and showed little remorse for his actions.

Thomas first opportunity for parole will be in 40 to 42 years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
The House advance a bill that would give Treasury Dept. the power to strip tax exempt status from organizations it deems "terrorist supporting."(Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

U.S. Rep. Susie Lee provoked the ire of local and state organizers for supporting legislation deemed a nonprofit killer. But Lee isnt the only Nevada congressional Democrat to support previous versions of the bill.

The Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, or H.R. 9495, passed the House 219-184 last week. She was one of 15 Democrats to vote with Republicans in support.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill would allow the U.S. Treasury secretary the sole power to strip tax exempt status from any nonprofit organization the administration deemed terrorist supporting and postponed tax deadlines for American who were detained or held hostage abroad.

Lee was one of 52 Democrats to support the bill during an earlier vote on Nov. 12 to advance the bill. That vote failed to get the two-thirds vote needed to pass the House under suspension of the rules procedure, prompting the final vote last week.

After mounting pressure from groups, 22 of the 52 Democrats switched their votes and 15 didnt vote.

Lee was one of 15 Democrats to continue supporting the bill, prompting swift criticism from numerous groups, including some that endorsed the congresswoman for the last several election cycles.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

ACLU of Nevada, Make the Road Nevada, Planned Parenthood of Nevada and Institute for a Progressive Nevada were among more than two dozen Nevada nonprofit organizations condemning Lees vote. They also criticized Republican U.S. Rep Mark Amodei for voting in support.

Athar Haseebullah, the executive director of the ACLU of Nevada, said the group always considered Lee an ally in advocating for civil liberties and civil rights. But said her support for the legislation empowers Donald Trumps hand-picked head of the Treasury Department to revoke organizations nonprofit statuses in an arbitrary fashion.

Trump announced Friday that hedge fund manager Scott Bessent would be his pick for treasury secretary.

If this administration moves to declare undocumented people terrorists, a possibility, if not a probability, based on the administrations rhetoric of declaring an invasion at our southern border, churches that provide support to those individuals could be subject to the revocation of their nonprofit status, Haseebullah said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Describing the legislation as a direct danger to the voices of our community, Leo Murrieta, the executive director of Make the Road Nevada, said Lees vote was deeply disappointing. Make the Road Action Nevada, the organizations political arm, endorsed Lee in the election.

In this decision, the executive branch is granted broad powers to silence the opposition and target justice-seeking organizations, undermining the principles of fairness and democracy, he said.

The bill outlines a procedure for the Treasury Dept. to notify nonprofits and give them an opportunity to respond.

Even the threat of designation could cause loss of funding and result in organizations self-censoring themselves to avoid accusations of terrorist support, said Shelbie Swartz, the executive director of the Institute for a Progressive Nevada.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lee declined to answer questions on whether she has seen the statements from nonprofits or what she thought of her Democratic colleagues who changed their support.

This bipartisan bill would protect American hostages and their families from unnecessary financial harm and ensure we are holding our nations adversaries accountable to keep Americans safe. she said in an emailed statement, which was identical to one she provided the Current following her Nov. 12 vote.

An earlier iteration of the bill, H.R. 6408, featured similar provisions allowing the treasury department to strip tax exempt status from terrorist supporting organizations.

The bill passed 382-11 in April but never received a hearing in the Senate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The vote for that legislation was taken against the backdrop of widespread protests on college campuses and elsewhere against the mass atrocities in Gaza, leading many groups to interpret the legislation as an effort to suppress groups critical of Israeli policy.

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), one of the few Democrats who voted against the measure at the time, contended the bill was unconstitutional for allowing unchecked power to target nonprofit organizations.

At that time, 179 Democrats supported the bill, including Lee and U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford.

Horsford voted against H.R 9495.

His office didnt respond to questions about whether his vote against the November iteration of the legislation was due to Donald Trump winning the presidential election, or if the language in the legislation goes too far regardless of who is in the White House.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

U.S. Rep Dina Titus didnt vote on the measure in April.

Titus co-sponsored the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, the latest iteration, but voted against it in both November votes.

Dick Cooper, a spokesman for Titus, said the language she introduced was related strictly to tax relief for hostages.

Her bill was combined with another bill in the Ways and Means Committee and that bill eventually became H.R. 9495, Cooper said. When it became clear that H.R. 9495 could be used by the Treasury Department against non-profit organizations and stifle dissent, she withdrew her support.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After the first time she voted against the bill in November, Titus told the Current she supported provisions that provide essential tax relief to Americans wrongfully detained and held hostage and worried that the sections on non-profit tax-exempt status could be abused by a future administration.

Uncertain future

There is no indication whether the Senate will hear the bill before the end of the year, but groups are already urging Democratic U.S. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen to vote against the legislation if it comes up for a vote.

We implore Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen to take the true threat of this legislation into account when voting on this bill, said Lindsey Harmon, the executive director of the Nevada Education Fund for Planned Parenthood Affiliates.

In an email to the Current, Rosens office said the senator will review this bill if it comes to the Senate for a vote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senator Cortez Masto will carefully review this legislation if it comes up for a vote in the Senate, said Lauren Wodarski, a spokeswoman for Cortez Masto.

This story has been updated to reflect the number of nonprofits opposed to Lees vote.
NEW YORK  Rudy Giuliani lashed out in court Tuesday at the federal judge who ordered him to turn over his belongings to the two Georgia women who won a $148 million defamation verdict against him, telling the judge every implication you make is against me.

I dont have a car. I dont have a credit card, Giuliani told U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman, raising his voice from the defense table during a hearing. They have put a stop order on, for example, my Social Security account, he said of the women, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.

Cutting off Giulianis outburst, Liman threatened the former New York City mayor. I permitted Mr. Giuliani to speak. Next time, I will not permit him to speak and the court will have to take action, he said. As the judge admonished him, Giuliani banged lightly on the table with a pen, shaking his head.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Liman previously threatened to hold GIuliani in contempt after he missed a court-imposed deadline to turn over assets to the women.

Giulianis eruption Tuesday came after Liman  who described Giuliani as a competent person, noting that he was previously the Manhattan U.S. Attorney  questioned why Giuliani hadnt yet handed over the title to a vintage Mercedes-Benz convertible that he was ordered to surrender to Freeman and Moss. Giuliani turned over the car, watches and a ring to the women earlier this month and is in the process of turning over his New York City apartment.

Freeman and Moss won the verdict last year after Giuliani falsely accused them of committing election fraud in the 2020 election.

Earlier in the proceeding, Liman refused Giulianis request to delay the date of a trial, set to begin Jan. 16, over whether Giuliani has tried to shield his Palm Beach condo from creditors by falsely claiming it as his homestead. Giuliani asked for the delay in order to attend President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration on Jan. 20.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Giulianis lawyer Joseph Cammarata had argued that Giuliani regularly consults with Trump and wants to exercise his political right to be there.

In denying the request, Liman noted that defendants social calendar does not constitute good cause to delay the trial date.

Giulianis latest clash in court came as Freeman and Moss have also asked a different federal judge to hold him in contemptfor repeating false claims like those that led to the defamation judgment against him. That judge, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, has ordered Giuliani to come to court for a hearing over the contempt motion on Dec. 12.

Speaking to reporters in the hallway outside the courtroom on Tuesday, Giuliani continued his tirade about Liman, calling him an activist Democrat.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Liman is a Trump appointee.

Have you figured out what side hes on? Are you too dumb to see what side hes on? Giuliani asked. Ive been a lawyer for 55 years. I can figure out what side hes on.

He doesnt give a damn about the truth, he continued. He just gives a damn about being popular.

After stepping into an elevator, Giuliani could be heard shouting, this is lawfare with capital letters.
The Empty Stocking Fund raised $1,638,093 this campaign season for 20 local health and human service organizations, the campaign's second-high
I want to express my gratitude to Sen. Bob Casey for his steadfast dedication to the fight against Alzheimers disease during his Senate tenure.

According to the Alzheimers Association, nearly 7 million Americans are living with the disease, including 282,100 Pennsylvanians. Casey has been a tireless advocate, championing policies to increase research funding, support caregivers and improve access to resources for those impacted. My mother was part of this statistic, and her struggles never leave me.

His leadership was instrumental in securing historic funding increases for Alzheimers research at the National Institutes of Health, bringing us closer to breakthroughs in prevention, treatment, and care.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The senator played a critical role in the Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure for Alzheimers Act, which enhances education and community-based programs across the country, including in Pennsylvania. His advocacy staffer Tia Watson and the policy team always took the time to hear about why we needed these pieces of legislation.

Additionally, his unwavering support for caregivers has addressed the emotional and financial toll families endure. He has shown compassion and understanding for those navigating this challenging disease.

As he prepares to leave the Senate, his advocacy leaves an indelible mark, inspiring hope for millions affected by Alzheimers.

I thank Sen. Casey for his remarkable leadership and commitment to this cause.

Lynn Cronomiz

Robeson Township
Statehood for Puerto Rico deserves respect (Reading Eagle, Nov. 23) certainly caught my attention; probably like many other former U.S. servicemen and servicewomen as well as other Americans who have visited this beautiful Island nation and its friendly people.

I would remind readers that many of us took Spanish, the language of Puerto Rico, as our required language in school, probably because Spanish was, and is, one of the most spoken and read languages in the world.

When the subject of Puerto Ricos statehood initially arose years ago, it was quickly quashed because of bias against certain ethnicities that may have affected our governmental and educational institutions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

History documents that our world has changed for the better during the short lifetimes of most Americans, and that our nation has become what it has because of the amalgamation of many ethnicities and religions.

Jim Chett

Jefferson Township
Nov. 25U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be considering the community-backed proposal to build their new Border Patrol station near the Thousand Islands Bridge, thanks to advocacy from Senator Charles E. Schumer, local elected officials and the community at large.

On Monday, a senior CBP official, writing on behalf of the CBP Commissioner, confirmed that the agency would in fact be considering the property  which is just north of the cloverleaf intersection of I-81 and Route 12 owned by the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority  after project officials last month had sent a letter disqualifying the site.

"Due to the continued interest from the community, and CBP's commitment to evaluating all potential sites, the cloverleaf TIBA property or a nearby property in the cloverleaf area will be included in the (supplemental environmental assessment)," wrote Troy A. Miller, a senior official with CBP. "The addition of the cloverleaf-area property will require the completion of biological and cultural resource surveys."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For years, CBP has been working to construct a new Border Patrol station in the Thousand Islands region, to replace their overcrowded station on Wellesley Island. Their primary identified site has been on Blind Bay, in the town of Orleans, and local officials, environmentalists and community residents have banded together to express extreme concern over any plan to develop that area of the St. Lawrence River shoreline.

They argue that Blind Bay is environmentally sensitive, and CBP's plan to build a new 49,000 square foot facility with docks, parking garages, kennels and more would interrupt and infringe on the rural, undeveloped character of the area.

CBP has since identified another property, where the current Dockside Cottages vacation rental cabins are located in the town of Clayton, as a secondary site. That also garnered pushback from local residents, neighbors and elected officials, who argue that it would have a terrible impact on the residential character of that neighborhood.

The community, in a series of in-person meetings with CBP officials in August, rallied behind a plan they put forward to build the property by the Thousand Islands Bridge  an area with nearby highway access, more commercial and industrial development, fewer nearby residences and a less environmentally-sensitive ecosystem.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But in September, CBP sent an email to Assemblyman Scott A. Gray, R-Watertown, rejecting the bridge-adjacent property.

Daniel A. Githens, in the CBP Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Chief, said the property would require a split operation because it didn't have nearby water access, and posed security risks because it could be easily seen from the bridge.

"Placement beneath the Thousand Islands Bridge would enable individuals to monitor the property from a high vantage point without a means to counteract it," he wrote.

But CBP officials hadn't undertaken on-site review of the property that was on offer  local officials said it does have nearby water access underneath the bridge structure, and said the overview available from the bridge could be counteracted and was also a point of concern at any other shoreline property being considered.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Now, CBP will conduct a full site review of the cloverleaf area property  considering the layout, the location, the ecology and what impact a construction project would have on nearby plants, animals and human developments.

"Following our repeated efforts to make them reconsider their too-narrow focus on potential sites, CBP has wisely heeded the community's calls to add the cloverleaf property as a potential site for a new Border Patrol facility," Schumer said in a statement. "By getting the CBP to do a full public meeting in the north country, I made sure the Thousand Island and St. Lawrence River community had voices heard loud and clear throughout this process. And when it seemed CBP was unwisely not properly considering the cloverleaf property, which local leaders believe is best to ensure the north country's environment and tourism economy as well as CBP's mission; I was proud to lead the charge to get them to reverse course."
To the editor: A letter writer expressed her belief that if President-elect Donald Trump "was all of the undesirables he was labeled, [President] Biden never would have invited him to the White House."

Biden invited Trump to the White House because he believes in the peaceful transfer of power. To this day, Trump maintains that he did not lose the 2020 election. He did not attend Biden's inauguration.

Biden is a decent man who doesn't hold grudges, and he felt it was the right thing to do to invite Trump to the White House.

Bonnie Vandenberg, Capistrano Beach

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
An outgoing Long Island school district superintendent was busted for drunk driving after critically injuring a motorcyclist in a weekend smash-up, authorities said.

Dr. Michael Hynes, 53  the Superintendent of Schools for the Port Washington Union Free School District  left 63-year-old Alberto Fernandez with serious injuries in the collision just after 9 p.m. Sunday in Sayville, Suffolk County Police said.

Hynes was driving his Honda Civic north on Railroad Avenue when he tried to turn left onto Depot Street and slammed into Fernandez, who was heading south on a Harley-Davidson, authorities said.

Dr. Michael Hynes, 53  the Superintendent of Schools for the Port Washington Union Free School District  was busted for driving while intoxicated after a late Sunday crash that seriously injured a motorcyclist, cops said. portnet.org

Fernandez, of Sayville, was taken to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore for treatment of serious injuries, cops said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, Hynes  who had bloodshot glassy eyes, slurred speech and was unsteady on his feet  was slapped with a misdemeanor driving while intoxicated charge, according to cops and a criminal complaint.

The arrest marked the first such offense for Hynes, who was released on his own recognizance during his Monday arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip.

Hynes was released on his own recognizance during his Monday arraignment. Google Maps

In a statement issued to families, the district said that Dr. Christopher Shields will immediately take over the role of acting superintendent to ensure stability and continuity in our district during this time.

We are committed to keeping you informed and will share updates as soon as more details become available, the statement said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hynes was already set to resign from his post, effective Dec. 13, Port Washington News reported.

An opportunity has presented itself, which is something I have never experienced so far in public education, Hynes told the outlet earlier this month, without detailing his new endeavor.

This experience, I believe, will be good for me and my family.

Hynes is a Fulbright Specialist who also serves as an associate professor of education and leadership at Long Island University and Stony Brook University, according to his online biography.

He was featured in the full-length documentary Chasing Childhood and also authored the book, Staying Grounded: 12 Principles for Transforming School Leader Effectiveness.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Dayton Metro Library leaders organized a forum after a series of incidents at local public libraries, including a massive fight that occurred at the DML Southeast Branch last month.

Library leaders created the forum in an effort to engage more community members in a discussion-based setting to brainstorm solutions to the issue.

In a twist departing from last months panel-based forum, this time it was library leaders who were being asked the questions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Every seat was filled in DMLs Southeast Branch, with community members looking to offer suggestions to local leaders on how the libraries can better support Daytons youth.

One issue they discussed was the continued decline of third spaces for kids. First spaces are where you live, second spaces are where you work or go to school, and a third space is an area to spend time with no expectation of buying anything.

Libraries for a long time have become that, and that was part of the design of our new facilities is that we want to be that and to be a community space for people, said Rachel Gut, DML deputy executive director. But I think, as one person in the forum offered, there are other third spaces as well. Libraries arent the only third space.



This is something DML officials foresee continuing, and want to tackle the issue with community feedback.

This is not an ideal outcome for anyone, said Joel Pruce, University of Daytons Human Rights Center. Weve invited people together to apply their unique knowledge in the service of understanding why this incident happened and to determine collectively what wed like to see done to address this concern.



Attendees of the forum were separated into smaller groups to discuss and further identify challenges.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theres a problem, a very definite problem, but you have to have the conversation, said Judy Orick, Belmont Business Association.

One problem organizers faced though  the teenage demographic was noticeably absent from the forum.

I think we need to step out of the meeting rooms, go out into the community and engage with them there, said Maggie Burke, Gem City Action.

DML officials say that including the youth demographic in the conversation is a must, and they will be working to get the word out about their next meeting in the hopes that more teens will attend.

Its critical that they tell us what they want and need from their library.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

DMLs next meeting on the topic will be Dec. 10 at 4:30 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
A New York City library worker, who is 6ft 2 inches tall and weighs 360 pounds, is suing his employers for $4.6 million after he was allegedly forced to work at a desk that was too small for him and caused him to suffer serious mental health problems.

William Martin claims that not only were his concerns ignored by management at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL) but that he was intentionally scheduled to work at the crampy desk in order to show him who was boss.

Martin is suing SNFL for discrimination, workplace harassment and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. He also claims he was defamed by a fellow worker who accused him of falling asleep on the job.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to a lawsuit filed earlier this month, Martin first brought his health and safety concerns about the first-floor service desk to his employers in October 2021. He said that the desk, which had a staggered countertop and a 12-inch drop, lacked the necessary accommodations for a man of his size.

Martin requested a service desk with the appropriate and necessary accommodations such as sufficient leg room and even countertop, the lawsuit, obtained by The Independent, stated.

Though his supervisor was initially quite empathetic to his plight, higher-ups refused to intervene, and Martin was forced to involve his union and he was later moved off the desk.

However, in June 2023 he was forced to raise the issue again, this time via legal counsel, after another supervisor assigned him to the inadequate desk.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This resulted in a supervisor changing the desk assignment schedule for the month of July and dramatically increas[ing] the frequency of assigning Williams to the aforementioned first-floor service desk that lacked the appropriate accommodations, the lawsuit stated. Thus, the SNFL apparently retaliated by forcing William to do exactly the one thing he knew detrimental to his health and safety.

The library managements outrageous pattern of discrimination, harassment and hostile work environment has since escalated, according to the suit, with Martin being forced to work on the ill-fitting desk weekly. It is the SNFLs way to bully William and intimidate him, showing him who is the boss, it said.

The lawsuit also claimed that, in addition to scheduling Martin to work on the small desk, the librarys HR department later claimed they had no record of him raising concerns about his health in 2021.

He was also suspended following Kangaroo court proceedings where he was cornered by a supervisor for a meeting in which he did not have a union rep present. In September 2023, a supervising Librarian also defamed William by falsely claiming he saw Martin sleeping at work.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Williams mental health has been damaged to such extent that he could no longer bring himself to work at the SNFL that has dehumanized him, that he would tremble just at the thought of going back to work at the SNFL, and that he has developed anxiety and depression, the lawsuit stated.

In the lawsuit Martin has called for damages totalling $4.6 million, plus any other sum that the court deems necessary.

A spokesperson for the organization told The Independent that the case was without merit. We take employee accommodations and concerns with utmost seriousness, and are dedicated to treating our staff across the Library with fairness and respect, they said.
St. Cloud will be hosting its 12th annual tree lighting ceremony and Weihnachtsmarkt Dec. 5 outside of the River's Edge Convention Center downtown.

The event starts at 4:45 p.m. with the tree lighting. It will take place between doors B and C of the convention center and will be accompanied by festive songs from the Minnesota Center Chorale.

The tree lighting event will also feature the Minnesota Center Chorale and booths for local businesses.

After the tree lighting, visitors can make their way to level 3 of the River's Edge Ramp for the Weihnachtsmarkt, or winter market, that will run from 5 to 8 p.m.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The market will offer items from a small collection of local vendors, Mayor's Office Executive Assistant Alisa Schmidt said.

Ready for holiday visitors: St. Cloud's historic Foley Mansion opens for tours

"(It's) a night where people can come and enjoy some vendors and catch up on some shopping that they might need to do," she said.

Kinder Coffee Lab will provide hot chocolate, while Olde Brick House will serve traditional German fare such as sausage, sauerkraut and pretzels. Beaver Island Brewing is also set to serve a hot wine at the market.

Several other businesses at the market will sell handmade home decor items. Pflueger Farms is set to sell ceramics and jams, and Cloud Nine Creations will offer ornaments, crocheted items and jewelry. Other vendors such as Warm Hearts and The Hippie Life will sell baked goods, kitchen items and bath and body products.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Visitors can also buy a coffee mug unique to the event. This collector's item features a design that changes each year. This year's design is extra special, Schmidt said, as Mayor Dave Kleis is featured on the mug to celebrate his last year in office.

Thanksgiving in St. Cloud: Where to get a takeout Thanksgiving Day meal

For those concerned about braving the cold, the event will have heaters and a warming station, Schmidt said. However, she hopes the cold weather will not deter people from supporting local businesses.

"The tree lighting ceremonies are always nice. It kind of just kick starts the holiday season for the city of St. Cloud," she said. "It's a quaint little market to show vendors that (visitors) may not see anywhere else, or to enjoy some food from some of our local eateries."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For those looking for more ways to start celebrating the holiday season, the city of St. Cloud and the St. Cloud East End Community will also be turning on new holiday lights along E. St. Germain St. Nov. 26. The event starts at 4 p.m., and visitors can gather at Iron Street Distillery.

Teagan King covers business and development for the St. Cloud Times. She can be reached at teking@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Christmas in St. Cloud: tree lighting, winter market kick off holidays
Welcome to Checking In, a review series in which our editors and contributors rate the best new (and revamped) luxury hotels based on a rigorousand occasionally tongue-in-cheek10-point system: Each question answered yes gets one point. Will room service bring you caviar? Does your suite have its own butler? Does the bathroom have a bidet? Find out below.

This is the ideal perch for F1 fans.

In three words: Unexpected gulf oasis.

More from Robb Report

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The basics:

Raffles Al Areen Palace is in the southern half of island nation Bahrain, which means its a fair drive to the main drags of Manama, but the F1 track that draws so much attention is right next door. Its a series of 78 self-contained villas ranged on an almost 33-acre site, each with their own pool and indoor-outdoor dining areas (come summertime, the mercury can regularly hit six figures) There are one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations, though theyre very similar in layout. A former Banyan Tree property, it was gut-renovated for three years, reimagining every element before it reopened under the Raffles flag just under a year ago.

The best room:

Other than bedrooms, theres not much difference between the villas herebut opt for one thats closer to the main pool and building for convenience, but still tucked away, like 106 & 107 or 404 & 406.

The Rundown

78 self-contained villas vanish over a massive 33-acre site.

Greeted by name at check-in?

Yes, and every time I encountered any staffer they knew who I wasno mean feat when there are almost 80 rooms and the propertys running at 70 percent occupancy, as it was when I was in residence.

Welcome drink ready & waiting? Bonus point if it wasnt just juice.

Yes. A fresh pineapple, passion fruit and mint mocktail, but I was impressed when a bottle of my go-to Pinot Grigio arrived at my room after the GM spotted Id always default to a glass of that white at meals.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Private butler in the room?

Yes. And Kavi was one of the best butlers Ive encountered in years, a seasoned pro with more than a decade of experience. He was responsive via WhatsApp and thoughtful, too: On my last night, noticing Id ordered Middle Eastern food at every meal, he offered to ask the chef to cook up a Bahraini dinner for me, with local dishes that werent on the menu. The result: a delicious assortment of spreads and dips plus an okra stew and chicken biryani-style main. It was the best last supper I could have imagined.

Sheet thread count 300 or higher?

Double that: 600-thread count Mascioni Hotel Collection sheets, and crisply comfy to boot. Shout out, too, to the monogrammed silky pajamas which I desperately wanted to slip into my bag to take home, as well as the faux leather slippers.

Heated floor in the bathroom or bidet? Or both.

Yes, there was a bidet; no five-star hotel in the region would design a bathroom without one.

Are the toiletries full-sized?

Yes. Theyre the standard La Bottega Ortigia Ambra. Its a pity there was only one set, though, as there were two showersone indoor, one outside. It would have been thoughtful to leave toiletries in both and avoid having to cart them out to shower alfresco. If only I hadnt be solo: The outdoor shower had two nozzles, not quite close enough to be intended for just one person.

Every room is the best room at this all-villa stay.

Private pool for the rooms exclusive use?

Yes. Every villa comes with its own pool and Jacuzzi at its center, plus a daybed and towels. The main pool was splashier, with water features and a bar, and you can swim through to the indoor pool without leaving the water (another nod to midsummers scorching temperatures). Truly, though, there was never a need for a dip anywhere other than in complete privacysince the walls around each villa were more than six feet high, you can skinny dip with abandon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Worth spending Friday night in the lobby bar?

Yes, though it wouldnt be Friday hereafter all, the weekend starts on Thursday night. Theres a Writers Lounge, one of the Raffles signatures, with a pool table and a few armchairs. Its no scene, this is a place you come to hide away rather than mingle, but its a relaxing alternative to the villa.

Caviar on the room service menu?

Yes. The special occasion menu features Kaviari Ossetra Caviar. A classic choice.

Would you buy the hotel if you could?

Yes. Its not as conveniently located as some of the other luxe spots here, which are much closer to Manama and the old town, Muharraq, which is also the site of the airport. Thats partly the point, though: Coming to this property is about holing up, hiding out and unwinding. The service, design, and food were all top notch.

The Verdict

An under-rated top hotel in an under-rated oasis.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bahrains an underrated destination in the Gulf, overlooked by its flashier neighbors like Qatar or Dubai. It also has long associations with horse-racing (the royal familys been breeding purebred Arabians for more than 200 years) and F1, not to mention being the source of the worlds best natural pearls, which thrive in the waters off its coast (cultured pearls were banned here in the 1920s, not long after the technique was invented). Its also one of the more liberal regimes here, albeit with its own issues, and theres a strong international vibe to everyday life (as a former British protectorate, English is widely spoken by almost everyone). The major market for this hotel is undoubtedly wealthy Saudis and expats living in the Kingdom, as Bahrains a short drive over a causeway for the weekend, but Id strongly recommend it as part of any long-haul trip to the region.

Average daily rate: $897

Score: 10



What Our Score Means:

1-3: Fire your travel agent if they suggest you stay here.

4-6: Solid if youre in a pinchbut only if youre in a pinch.

7-8: Very good. Wed stay here again and recommend it without qualms.

9-10: Forget booking a week. When can we move in permanently?

Best of Robb Report

Sign up for RobbReports's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
Clay Robbins, left, is the 2024 Sachem Award honoree, the eighth and final recipient to be honored with the award under Gov. Eric Holcomb. (Photo from Governor's Office)

An Indianapolis philanthropic leader received the 2024 Sachem Award from Gov. Eric Holcomb, the latest in a long line of Hoosiers honored for their community contributions.

Clay Robbins, the chair and CEO of the Lilly Endowment, Inc., is a lifelong Hoosier, born and raised in the states largest city. This is Holcombs eighth and final Sachem Award honoree.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Clay is a transformational leader in Indiana, and his humble service to our great state truly represents the very best of what it means to be an exemplary Hoosier, Holcomb said. His thoughtful approach to philanthropy and heart for improving the lives of Hoosiers will continue to inspire those who seek to create positive change in their communities, and it is for this reason, and many more, that I am bestowing my eighth and final Sachem to Mr. Robbins.

Click here for a complete list of Sachem Award recipients.

Robbins is a graduate of Perry Meridian High School and Wabash College. He additionally earned his J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School in 1982. At the Baker & Daniels law firm he focused on tax-exempt organizations, estate and gift tax, and immigration law.

He joined the Lilly Endowment in 1993. The organization, found in 1937, supports religious causes alongside community development and education. It is one of the nations largest private philanthropic organizations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since its founding in 1999, Robbins has also been a board member of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership. He is a former board member of United Way of Central Indiana, the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee and Damar Homes, Inc. Previously, he also led the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra as a director and president.

Robbins lives with his wife, Amy, in Indianapolis and enjoys spending time with his three sons and their families.

Indiana Gov. Edgar D. Whitcomb introduced Sachems to state government, using an Algonquin term for village leaders, in 1970 as a group of business and industry leaders tasked with serving as state hosts. The concept dissolved in 1989, only to be revived in 2005 by Gov. Mitch Daniels as an honor based on moral example, not achievement alone.

Robbins is the nineteenth person to receive the award, a specially designed sculpture.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Fourth Judicial District Judge David Prince tossed out a case brought by a developer against a Hay Creek Valley resident asking El Paso County to uphold its own fire evacuation standards.
Nov. 25LIMA  A Lima man was offered a plea deal on his third-degree felony charge of abduction and his bond was reduced Monday in the Allen County Common Pleas Court.

If Arthur Brown III, 25, pleaded guilty to the charge, then the most prison time he could receive is 1 1/2 years and the prosecutors would make no sentencing recommendations, so the decision would be up to Judge Jeffrey Reed. The deal will expire at noon on Dec. 9. Brown's attorney, Assistant Public Defender Stephen Chamberlain, said Brown is not in a position to accept the offer yet.

Brown's bond was also lowered from $150,000 to $25,000 and he posted bond a few hours later. A Crime Victim Services representative said the victim had no opposition to the bond being lowered.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to court documents, Brown allegedly threatened to stab the victim to death and said he would watch her die. The victim recorded the incident on her phone and said Brown took her phone and threw it at a window, causing the window's glass to break. Brown wouldn't allow her to leave the residence for approximately 15 to 20 minutes  which is where the abduction charge originated  and was said to have a steak knife in his lap, which the victim got a picture of.

Brown's jury trial is still scheduled to begin Dec. 17.

Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451.

Featured Local Savings
Nov. 25LIMA  A Lima teen waived his speedy trial rights Monday in his case with charges including aggravated robbery, felonious assault, grand theft and having weapons under disability in the Allen County Common Pleas Court.

Cardarius Burns' jury trial originally scheduled to begin Dec. 17 has been postponed, and a scheduling conference in the case will be held Jan. 13.

The charges against Burns stem from an incident that occurred Feb. 13 resulting in the death of 14-year-old Lauralye Sterling.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Malik Dennis is accused of firing the shot that killed the teen while she was inside 788 Greenlawn Ave. At a municipal court hearing for Dennis, attorney Stephen Chamberlain from the Allen County Public Defenders Office said it was learned that Dennis had been robbed a short time before the shooting by two juveniles who were also inside the Greenlawn Avenue residence. Burns, 18, is alleged to have been one of those juveniles.

Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451.

Featured Local Savings
Hayes sentence of 180 days was reduced to 120 days following the initial publication of this story. It has been updated to 120 days in the story below.

SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO)  A Lincoln County judge has handed down a sentence for a man who pleaded no contest to child pornography.

Noem signs executive order for state employee training

Rocky Hayes was sentenced to 120 days on electronic monitoring. He was arrested in 2022, after DCI agents found illegal videos in his home.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A no contest plea means Hayes did not admit guilt, but will accept the conviction.

KELOLANDs Tom Hanson was in the courtroom for Tuesdays sentencing and will have a full report later Tuesday on KELOLAND News.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
Several members of Congress are threatening the International Criminal Court with sanctions after it issued arrest warrants related to the war in the Middle East.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been given a wide berth by its allies to bomb Gaza as part of his declared war on Hamas, stemming from the militant groups Oct. 7 attacks in Israel last year. But last week, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, former Israeli defense chief Yoav Gallant and Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, charging them with war crimes and crimes against humanity. (The Israeli military says it killed Deif in July, but Hamas has not confirmed his death.)

The United States historically has refused to recognize the ICCs jurisdiction, holding concerns that the court could bring charges against American troops abroad. Israel has taken the same stance, so its not exactly a surprise that President Joe Biden and pro-Israel figures on Capitol Hill condemned the warrants. The list of incensed lawmakers included Reps. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., and Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., as well as Sens. Jackie Rosen and John Fetterman, D-Pa.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rosen called for Biden  who welcomed last years ICC arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin  to swiftly respond to this overreach. Torres said sanctions are in order, while Moskowitz cited an antisemitic double standard. Fetterman was, true to form, more crass in his response.

But Republicans were arguably even more rabid in their reaction. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, for example, took things a step further, threatening to sanction American allies into economic oblivion if they comply with the ICCs arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant. (Graham also embraced the Putin warrant last year and urged the international community to support the court.)

During an interview with Fox News Sean Hannity on Friday, Graham warned:

Youre gonna have to pick the rogue ICC vs. America. Im working with [Sen.] 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.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When Hannity asked what the penalty should be, Graham replied, We should crush your economy, because were next. Why cant they go after Trump or any other American president under this theory?

One might respond that the International Criminal Court cant go after Donald Trump or any other American president  unless they commit a crime against humanity.

The aforementioned Cotton offered an ominous threat of his own, referencing a 2002 law signed by President George W. Bush.

The ICC is a kangaroo court and Karim Khan is a deranged fanatic, he wrote on X. 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.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The U.S. has had a complicated relationship with the court for more than 20 years, but the looming return of Trump  who supports allowing Israel to finish the job in Gaza  to the White House may only serve to embolden lawmakers in their defiance of the ICCs findings.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
On Tuesday, 26 November, Lithuania presented Russian charge d'affaires Alexander Elkin with a letter of protest against Russia's war crimes in Ukraine.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Lithuania invited Elkin to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 26 November and presented him with a note expressing a strong protest against Russia's continued war crimes against Ukraine and its people, the ministry said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Quote: "As Russia continues its aggression against Ukraine and increasingly shells Ukrainian cities, their residents and the critical infrastructure, reports of unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war being shot by Russian forces and other war crimes committed by the aggressor appear with appalling regularity," the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry stated.

According to the government, at least three such cases involving over 20 Ukrainian military personnel were reported in October and November of 2024 alone.

"Today, during the meeting, the representative of the Russian Federation was told that if the Russian leadership and countrys law enforcement agencies did not take action to investigate and prevent these crimes, they would be considered complicit in these crimes," Lithuania informed.

The statement said that Russian diplomats who defend Russia's military aggression against Ukraine and who actively or passively absolve the Russian Federation of culpability for a number of war crimes will also be held accountable.

Background:

On 26 November, Ukrainian law enforcers uncovered another war crime by the Russians and opened an investigation into the execution of five Ukrainian prisoners of war on the Pokrovsk front in Donetsk Oblast.

A representative of the Russian Embassy was summoned to the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry on 18 November and presented with a note of protest over Russia's full-scale, 1,000-day-old invasion on Ukraine.

Western leaders, members of governments and ambassadors issued statements of solidarity with Ukraine on the 1,000th day since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Support UP or become our patron!
A team of Lithuanian investigators recovered the black boxes from Monday's deadly cargo plane crash, as they began their probe into what caused the aircraft to go down and worked to clear the crash site.

Investigators from the U.S. were dispatched to aid in the investigation, officials said. German aviation experts had arrived to help, while Spanish investigators were expected to arrive later Tuesday.

The jet crashed on Monday morning less than a mile from the runway at Vilnius International Airport, officials said. One of the four people onboard was killed in the crash, local officials said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lithuanian police and prosecutors have opened a "pre-trial" investigation into the crash, according to Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, whose office held a meeting late Monday on the government response.

PHOTO: Lithuanian police search the area where a DHL cargo plane crashed near the Vilnius International Airport in Vilnius on Nov. 25, 2024. (Petras Malukas/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: DHL cargo plane crashes in Lithuania, killing 1, local officials say

The government has ordered an investigation under the country's criminal code, which calls for probes into "'Improper maintenance or repair of vehicles or roads, or of equipment thereon,' which provides for liability in the event of loss of life, serious injury to persons or very serious damage to property," the prime minister's office said.

"I urge everyone to have confidence in the investigating authorities' ability to conduct a thorough and professional investigation within an optimal timeframe," Simonyte said in a statement. "Only these investigations will uncover the true causes of the incidentspeculation and guesswork will not help establish the truth."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The investigation will be led by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Division, with aid from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, the board said on Monday.

PHOTO: A piece of debris from a DHL cargo plane which crashed into a house is seen near the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, Lithuania, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (Mindaugas Kulbis/AP)

The results of that investigation are expected to be made public, the NTSB said.

Lithuanian officials said on Tuesday that they expected the inspection of the crashed plane to be mostly completed within three days, at which point the destroyed plane will be removed from the site. Officials told reporters that they were searching for a hanger where they can begin to place aircraft parts.

The DHL cargo plane -- a Boeing 737-476 operated by Swiftair -- had flown into Lithuania from Germany. It crashed in a residential area in Liepkalnis, on the outskirts of the capital, Vilnius, the Lithuanian airport authority said in a statement posted on social media on Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One of the pilots, who was from Spain, was pronounced dead at the scene and the other was transferred to a local hospital in critical condition, Bozena Jerenkovic, a medical doctor who was part of the emergency team on site, told ABC News on Monday. It appeared that the cockpit had been separated from the plane's fuselage, she added.

The Lithuanian National Crisis Management Center confirmed to ABC News that the pilot is in critical condition. The other two people who were injured in the crash are doing OK, the center said.

ABC News has reached out to Bonn, Germany-based DHL for comment.

ABC News' Joe Simonetti and Melissa Gaffney contributed to this report.

Black boxes found as Lithuania begins investigation into deadly DHL plane crash originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Police have appealed for public help following the crash of a cargo plane in Lithuania on Monday morning.

Police chief Arunas Paulauskas called on the people of Vilnius to provide the authorities with any videos that may contain information about the crashed aircraft.

The Swift Air plane, which was flying from Leipzig to Vilnius for German logistics firm DHL, crashed near Vilnius airport early on Monday morning, just a few metres from a residential building. One person was killed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to the people of Vilnius: If anyone has videos that could be useful for the investigation, please share them with the police," Paulauskas said, according to a report by Lithuanian radio.

This could be done very easily via the ePolicija.lt portal, where videos could be uploaded which would then be available to investigators, the police chief said.

According to a representative of the Prosecutor General's Office in Vilnius, investigators have interviewed 19 people as witnesses so far. Police have also scanned the airport and crash site with a drone. The search for the flight data recorder continues.
After nearly six months, Christine and Adam Ellis finally got the phone call they'd been waiting for: their missing cat, Moot, was alive and well.

Christine Ellis said she and her husband never lost hope throughout Moot's gut-wrenching absence. Before her disappearance, Moot had already lived a storied life.

The Ellises first noticed a little calico near their Indianapolis house in March 2023. They began leaving out food for her. After about a month, they started calling her Moot. The couple set up a surveillance camera to make sure she was getting enough to eat. Once the Ellises finally managed to transport the cat to a vet appointment, they learned Moot was pregnant with five kittens.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The couple was about to travel to Czechia for their wedding, which would take place soon after Moot's due date. They knew they couldn't dedicate the time needed to newborn kitten care  a round-the-clock job  so the vet recommended a foster program with special expertise in neonatal feline care. But the Ellises already loved Moot.

"When we dropped her off for the foster care program, we wrote this multi-page letter saying how much we adored her and wanted to adopt her," Christine Ellis said.

Moot, a 2-year-old Indianapolis cat, has been reunited with her family following a six-month disappearance. Owner Christine Ellis said the former stray loves spending time with people and cuddling.

The kittens were adopted once they were old enough, and the Ellises officially adopted Moot in October 2023. She matured into a loving, happy cat who loves spending time around her people.

In May 2024, Christine and Adam Ellis traveled to Italy for a belated honeymoon, so Moot stayed with family members in Illinois. The couple had just flown back to Indianapolis when they learned Moot escaped her babysitters' home by breaking through a screen door. The Ellises suspect she saw a squirrel.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The couple immediately drove to Illinois. They caught passing glances of her in the first few days of her disappearance, but they were never able to get close enough to catch her.

The Ellises were devastated. For the next six months, they put up flyers, made social media posts, and called shelters throughout Illinois. Christine Ellis estimated they heard about a potential sighting about once per month, but nothing ever panned out.

Right before Halloween, Christine Ellis's mother posted laminated flyers throughout her neighborhood. The Ellises hoped that families might recognize Moot's picture while out trick-or-treating.

Then, on Nov. 2, a man called about a stray calico visiting his porch. Christine Ellis asked him for a picture. She and her husband immediately recognized the distinctive freckle on the cat's nose.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The man managed to lure Moot into his garage. His house sat only about one and a half miles from the site of her escape.

"You can tell she's smiling," Christine Ellis said of her cat Moot, who recently returned home to Indianapolis after six months on her own in fall 2024.

Christine and Adam Ellis drove three hours the next morning to pick up their beloved cat. Moot is now safely back at home, where she enjoys playing with her favorite blue string, cuddling and getting belly rubs.

Moot's veterinarian gave her a clean bill of health, and she's re-acclimating to the indoor lifestyle.

"It still feels like a shock," Christine Ellis said. "She's just such a little gem, and we're so happy to have her back in our family."

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis cat reunited with family six months after disappearance
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  June Summers is a Youngstown author who wrote a nonfiction memoir about a woman with a special story who she admires the most.

Her latest book, Hope Unleashed: Coping with Cancer with Courage and Love: The True Story of an Animal Rescue Caregiver shares the journey of her hero: her late daughter Wendelin. Wendy passed away from inflammatory breast cancer in 2009 at the age of 42.

I couldnt have written the last book without her. She was a phenomenal person, June said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wendy had her first dog, Peanuts, when she was a child. June said the dog died when it was hit by a car. Even though Wendy was heartbroken, her love for furry friends never wavered.

The Youngstown native loved animals so much that she started taking animals into her house in Florida when she was an adult. When she accumulated too many animals for the neighborhood, Wendy and June decided to sell both of their Florida houses to move in together into a bigger house. This way they could live together and help maintain their own animal rescue.

Wendy worked in the office of an Italian restaurant near their home outside of Orlando, Florida. However, her favorite job was taking care of her animals.

June believes that Wendy took care of approximately 100 animals during her lifetime.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She has records of her animals. I have charts that she had written in hand, each dog, each cat, when they came to live with us, how old they were, and what they looked like, June said.

The book details Wendys painful seven-and-a-half-year battle with cancer and how taking care of the animals motivated her to keep fighting.

She fought that for seven and a half years, still maintaining the animals. I helped her on weekends, and I paid a lot of the bills. But it was her. She did everything with it, June said.

June shared many stories about Wendys last days. Wendy loved Disney, and her mom said she was determined to spend the whole day at Walt Disney World even though she had a broken back. Wendy did not let the cancer slow her down.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She had to wear this brace, but we were there from morning till night. She didnt complain one little bit, June said.

June shared what she would do every night with Wendy to build up her daughters strength.

She would be in bed, and I would go in there and we would hold hands. We would say the Lords Prayer, and I would say I love you every single night. We would do that until the end, she said.

June cant wait to share Wendys story with the world and tell people how she overcame everything that stood in her way.

When it was getting near the end, I said, Are you afraid? She said, I just want it to end. So she never complained; she just endured whatever she had to do, June said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After Wendys death, June worked to find homes for her animals. Today, June lives in Youngstown with her two cats Captain and Shadow. At 84 years old, she continues to publish fiction novels. June has now published seven books since 2016. She said with a chuckle that she would continue to write books to keep herself busy.

I retired, and when you retire, you have to have something to do. Otherwise, you go crazy, June said.

June will hold book signings where she will be signing copies of all of her books. All of her books can be purchased and autographed at the signings. The book signing dates, times, and locations are listed below:

November 30: Leanas Books and More in Austintown from 1-4 p.m.

December 7: Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County in Vienna from 12-4 p.m.

December 14: Leanas Books and More at the Eastwood Mall from 1-4 p.m.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More information about June Summers and her books can be found on Amazon.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Colorado's second-highest court ruled last month that the city of Colorado Springs cannot be held liable for a vehicle crash in which traffic lights were functioning normally in one direction and were inoperative in the perpendicular direction.

The Colorado Governmental Immunity Act, with limited exceptions, shields public entities from lawsuits over injuries they cause. Its purpose is to protect tax dollars and prevent a flood of lawsuits from disrupting government services.

One of those exceptions, however, allows governments to be sued due to their "failure to repair a traffic control signal on which conflicting directions are displayed." The question for the state's Court of Appeals was whether an intersection in which some cars see a working traffic light and other cars are met by an unlighted signal amounts to "conflicting directions."

No, determined a three-judge appellate panel.

Under Colorado's traffic laws, explained Judge Ted C. Tow III, the driver with a green light should proceed normally and the driver facing an inoperative light has the obligation to proceed only when the intersection is clear.

Because the drivers who collided "could have followed these directions simultaneously without issue, the signals were not incompatible," he wrote in the Oct. 31 opinion.

Case: Sandoval v. City of Colorado Springs Decided: October 31, 2024 Jurisdiction: El Paso County Ruling: 3-0 Judges: Ted C. Tow III (author) Neeti V. Pawar Timothy J. Schutz

In the underlying case, construction was occurring at the intersection of S. Tejon Street and E. Costilla Street in August 2019. Bernard E. Sandoval drove up to the intersection and faced an unilluminated light. Treating the intersection as a four-way stop, he proceeded and was hit by a driver traveling in the perpendicular direction whose light was green.

Sandoval sued various parties for negligence, prompting the city to invoke the governmental immunity law.

District Court Judge Amanda J. Philipps declined to dismiss the lawsuit, finding the conflicting-directions exception applied.

"The eastbound driver had a green light as he approached the intersection, Plaintiff had no operable traffic light as he approached the intersection, there were conflicting traffic signals to the drivers," she wrote in January.

Featured Local Savings

On appeal, the city maintained the signals did not conflict because it was possible for Sandoval to treat his light as a stop sign and for the other driver to proceed on green without inevitably colliding.

"If its sufficiently confusing that its creating a dangerous condition, does that change our analysis?" asked Judge Neeti V. Pawar during oral arguments.

"I dont think it does," responded W. Erik Lamphere of the Colorado Springs city attorney's office.

Sandoval's lawyer, on the other hand, argued drivers should treat an intersection as a four-way stop when the lights are dark for all directions.

"But what if the lights arent out for all. What do you do?" asked Tow.

"Thats the conflict," said attorney Brian Hugen.

"The driver with the green thinks he has a green light, which he does. The driver on other side thinks he has a stop sign, which means he cant go until its safe," countered Tow. "There has to be an actual conflict, according to the statute."

The panel agreed with the city that the circumstances of Sandoval's collision did not involve conflicting traffic signals. Drivers who face an inoperative light are not required to treat the intersection as a four-way stop, Tow noted. Rather, they must treat their light as a stop sign and wait for any vehicles that may have the right-of-way.

"Sandovals assumptions that all signals were out and that other cars would stop does not rest on any legal authority," Tow concluded.

The case is Sandoval v. City of Colorado Springs.
AKRON, Ohio (WJW)  An Akron man learned Monday he will spend several years behind bars after he was convicted of shooting a man in the face because he wouldnt share his potato chips.

Police: 2 dead in Shaker Heights identified

Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich announced Monday in a press release that Melvin Wright, 43, was sentenced to 9-12 years in prison for the crime.

Wright previously pleaded guilty and was convicted on several charges including attempted murder for the incident that happened on Nov. 28, 2023.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the release, Wright approached the victim inside a nightclub in Akron and asked for some of his chips. When the victim, who was not named, refused, Wright followed him to his car and shot him in the face.

The victim drove to the hospital where he received medical treatment for six days. He did survive.

Summit County is safer without Melvin Wright on our streets, Prosecutor Kolkovich was quoted in the press release. Senseless violence has no place in Akron, and I am grateful that the survivor of this crime is continuing his courageous recovery. Thank you to my assistant prosecutors and the Akron and Metro Transit police departments for their work in holding Wright accountable.

Man flees on 3 tires, says he doesnt know where he got the Jeep : Police

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wright has also been designated as a Violent Offender, according to the release, so upon his release from prison, he must annually register as a Violent Offender for 10 years.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
A Dayton manufacturing facility is set to close early next year.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

idX Corporation will close its facility on Needmore Road on January 22, 2025, according to a WARN notice filed with the state last week.

TRENDING STORIES:

The closure will result in 66 employees losing their jobs.

All affected employees have been notified pursuant to WARN concurrent with the issuance of this letter, the companys director of external relations wrote in the notice.

As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00, a spokesperson for idX released the following statement:

At UFP we do not make these difficult choices lightly or easily. As a people-first company, concern for our employees is always at the top of our list and we had hoped for a faster economic recovery. Our local team will work with our Dayton team members to relocate as many interested current workers as possible.

Our IDX business is tied closely to the success of the retail market, which has recently reported weak performance. However other sectors IDX serves, like health and architectural features, remain resilient and we are looking forward to doing more of that work as we adjust to current markets.

The companys website says theyre the preeminent designer & manufacturer of consumer environments.

[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]




LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR)  It is one of the busiest times of the year for any means of transportation. Thanksgiving is almost here, and roadways, runways, and railways will be filled with holiday travelers.

According to AAA, about 92 percent of all Thanksgiving travelers will drive to their destination, with the busiest travel days being Tuesday, Wednesday, and the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Roadways are likely to get clogged with traffic most of the day on those days.

AAAs mid-Atlantic spokesperson Morgan Dean said it would be best for people to drive early in the morning or late at night to avoid constant traffic backup, although it is unlikely people will avoid traffic together at those times.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

TSA expects to break passenger volume this Thanksgiving

Drivers in Virginia do have some good news. The current average price of gas per gallon is $2.95, which is one of the lowest it has been all year, and only four cents higher than the lowest average price per gallon in the commonwealth in all of 2024.

For anyone traveling out of state, a lot of Virginias neighboring states have even lower average gas prices right now.

Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina all have cheaper averages than Virginia, Dean said. If youre driving through those states, try and plan out some of those gas stops in some of those areas where gas is cheaper.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thanksgiving is also a busy time of year for train travel. Most of the trips into and out of Roanoke over the next week are sold out.

However, there is still room for people with flexible schedules, and anyone who already purchased their train tickets is encouraged you show up a bit earlier than normal.

Definitely arrive a little bit earlier than you normally would and anticipate some crowds because they will be there, Karina Romero, the communications manager for the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, said. If youre traveling in a group, perhaps have everyone board together because that will make it easier when the conductor comes around to check tickets.

According to TSA screenings, airports across the country have had multiple record-setting days for screenings, and we could see another this week. Local airports like the one in Lynchburg are ready for the rush.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite a 24-hour workers strike at the Charlotte airport, no flights in Lynchburg have been affected yet.

As of right now, we have not been made aware of any impacts to Lynchburg, based on the strike going on at Charlotte, Cedric Simon, the acting airport director for the Lynchburg Regional Airport 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 WFXRtv.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Good Neighbor House hosted an event to provide resources to those experiencing housing instability as winter approaches.

Those experiencing housing instability were able to visit Good Neighbor House at 627 East First Street Monday afternoon to receive blankets, coats, hats, gloves, socks as well as hot soup and emergency supplies for the winter.

Foodbank to host pop-up drive-thru ahead of Thanksgiving

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Alongside food and clothing, Good Neighbor House also provides resources to underserved individuals to help them find medical, dental and eye care. They say its all about giving back to Miami Valley neighbors.

Good Neighbor House is all about serving our neighbors. We love to be a part of every event that we can to help support people that are in need in our community, said Shellie Rice, food pantry manager for Good Neighbor.

Also at the event was Good Neighbor House partner Access to Excess, a local food rescue organization.

Access to Excess helps redistribute vegetables and other surplus foods to community members in need. Director Jen Burns says events like this are why they love partnering with fellow nonprofits.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Good Neighbor House is one of our favorite nonprofits to partner with, because theyre always doing something, giving back to everybody in the community, said Jen Burns, director of Access to Excess. And so we love partnering with them on events like this, where we can give back and provide food for all, clothing for all, and, just give everybody a nice, resourceful night.

Both organizations are always looking for more volunteers and monetary donations, especially as the colder months approach. To learn more about Good Neighbor House and Access to Excess, visit their respective websites.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
AKRON, Ohio (WJW)  An Akron teenager who pleaded guilty in the shooting death of a man in February learned his sentence.

Local man sentenced for a potato chips dispute that turned violent

In a press release Monday, Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich announced that Jontay Johnson, 19, will spend at least 15 years in prison for his role in the death of Carlos Godineaux.

In February, the release said, Godineaux was shot and killed on Bellevue Avenue near Diagonal Road on Akrons west side after he went to the area to sell shoes to someone he met through Facebook Marketplace.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Evidence and tips led police to Johnson and a 15-year-old.

This was a senseless tragedy that led to the death of a young father of three, Prosecutor Kolkovich said. My sympathy goes to the victims family, and I am thankful that those responsible for his death have been held accountable.

Johnson previously pleaded guilty to the following charges:

Complicity to Commit Involuntary Manslaughter  a Felony of the 1st Degree

Complicity to Commit Aggravated Robbery  a Felony of the 1st Degree

Having Weapons Under Disability  a Felony of the 3rd Degree

I-Team: New video from wild street takeovers along with new action, new questions

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 15-year-old admitted to one count of murder in juvenile court and is currently committed to the Ohio Department of Youth Services until he is 21, the release said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
WARRENSBURG, Mo.  Its been a long road to recovery both physically and emotionally for a Colorado teen who had three generations of her family killed by another teen asleep at the wheel in June.

Obviously he didnt mean to kill three people, but he took my entire family from me, Alex Moffett, 19, of Erie, Colorado, said.

Mom says Independence police pointed gun at teen son, mistaking him for chase suspect

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Her father Derek Moffett, 55, and grandmother Patricia Moffett, 83, died at the scene in Warrensburg. She was airlifted to Research Medical Center in Kansas City from that crash along with her sister, Catherine Moffett, 16. Only she survived.

Its approaching the time of year Alex remembers her little sister dancing the Nutcracker with the Kansas City Ballet before they moved to Erie, Colorado, outside Denver. Or the time shed look forward to Thanksgiving dinner with her dad and grandma.

Every time I look at a picture of my sister my heart just stops for a minute. Its really hard to just process. My dad was my best friend ever, he was the best person, Alex said in an interview Monday.

The dad and teenage daughters traveled this summer to see the girls grandmother in Overland Park, Kansas, but mostly so the girls could see Chris Stapleton.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

My grandma was taking us to Warrensburg because she grew up there, so she just wanted to show us around, she said.

They went to the cemetery where her family was buried and had lunch before approaching the intersection of Missouri Highway 50 and Business Route 50.

A 16-year-old driver of a truck who the Missouri Highway Patrol says was asleep at the wheel left the road went airborne and struck their SUV killing Derek and Patricia Moffett instantly. Catherine died at the hospital after donating her organs.

Its been hard for sure, but it does hope in a really weird way that she was able to live on in the people she was able to save, Alex said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The physical toll on the Montana State student has been equally grueling. Shes had to have facial reconstruction, elbow replacement and wrist surgery after suffering a punctured lung and multiple fractures to her, pelvis, ribs, arm, wrist and orbital bones.

Mahomes fined over $14K for violent gesture at Buffalo game last week

While she was still at Research Medical Center, one of her surgeons managed to connect with the country music star who she and her family had planned to see in concert.

We were supposed to just have a Facetime with him and they called and were like we are in really bad service, well call you back in a few minutes. Like a minute later, we got a knock on my door and they just came in.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Stapleton sang her his song Traveller, which he wrote after his dads death, as he came back to Kansas City a few days after his concert to visit Alex on Fathers Day.

Its perhaps part of how the teen whos gone through the unimaginable has been able to put things in perspective. Shes still in physical therapy. She says shes thankful for everyone who cared for her and her sister and is learning not to take a minute for granted.

The other driver, who has not been charged as the Missouri Highway Patrol continues its investigation, Alex says, part of me wants his life to be over and the other part of me wants him to just be able to go on and live a really good life and make something of it and make a difference in the world.

Highly anticipated Red Bridge Grocery Store to open in December

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Alex Moffett remained at home in Colorado with her mother for her rehabilitation where shes also working part-time at a Dairy Queen. A GoFundMe was created to help with medical expenses.

She says she plans to return to Montana State next semester, where shes majoring in construction engineering technology. In early December, she plans to go to Las Vegas to finally be able to see Stapleton in concert.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
LONG BEACH, CA  A South Bay man pleaded guilty Monday to accusations of fraudulently filing for unemployment 118 times to obtain COVID-19 benefits to fund his Long Beach nonprofit, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Reginald Foster Jr., 38 of Westchester, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and bank fraud, and one count of unauthorized access devices.

In court, Foster admitted that from June 2020 to October 2020, he conspired with others to fraudulently obtain unemployment benefits under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the DOJ said. Congress passed the CARES Act in March 2020 to provide economic relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Foster exploited the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) provision of the CARES Act, which is designed to expand access to unemployment benefits to self-employed workers, independent contractors, and others who would not otherwise have been eligible because of the pandemic," the DOJ said in a statement.

According to the DOJ, Foster and his co-conspirators filed 118 fraudulent applications in the names of other people, who had not authorized him to do so. The applications included false information to ensure EDD would approve them and send debit cards to Fosters' mailing address.

Foster used the debit cards to make transfers to his Long Beach-based nonprofit, Champs Up! LLC, which aims to provide guidance to middle school students in Los Angeles and Long Beach.



"The greatest work a human can do is to work on 'self.' This means waking up intentionally to work on 'self' and the practice of being the best version of self every day," the Champs Up website reads. "The real money is the value of 'self.' It creates our realities, and generates money."



Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the DOJ, Foster also used the debit cards to make $1,000 withdrawals at ATMs before transferring them to his co-conspirators, who also made withdrawals. In total, the court alleged Foster and his co-conspirators withdrew almost $1.5 million.

EDD and Bank of America froze the remaining benefits when the scheme was uncovered, preventing further losses of up to $4 million.

Foster is scheduled to be sentenced on March 24, 2025, when he will face a statutory maximum of 30 years in federal prison for the conspiracy count and up to 10 years for the unauthorized access devices count.

Foster remains free on $50,000 bond.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Co-defendants Shelece Counts, 31 of Westlake, and Isaiah Herbert Lawrence, 31 of Houston, have both pleaded not guilty to criminal charges and are scheduled to go to trial on Jan. 21, 2025.



Long Beach CEO Pleads Guilty To Fraud originally appeared on the Long Beach Patch
A For Sale sign is seen on March 19 in Austin, Texas. Policymakers are watching for indications of what President-elect Donald Trump plans to do to ease housing costs next year after an election where voters were laser-focused on the economy. Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images.

Americans hand over a huge chunk of their paycheck for a roof over their heads. Policymakers are looking out for indications of what President-elect Donald Trump plans to do to ease housing costs next year after an election where voters were laser-focused on the economy.

Housing accounted for 32.9% of consumers spending in 2023, making it the largest share of consumer expenditures, according to the most recently available data Bureau of Labor Statistics. And overall housing costs increased 4.7% from 2022.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This year, many Americans still struggle to find affordable housing, whether they choose to rent or buy a home.

Theres a lot economists and housing advocates still dont know about what to expect from a second Trump term. Its unclear which campaign promises will find their way into administrative rules or legislation, even with a Republican trifecta  the GOP will control the White House and both chambers of Congress.

But policy experts, researchers and economic analysts are looking at Trumps record, his recent remarks on housing, and Project 2025  the conservative Heritage Foundations 900-page plan to overhaul the executive branch  for a glimpse of what may lie ahead.

Tariffs and the cost of building homes

Trump has spoken frequently of his proposed 60% tariff on goods from China, which he has said would create more manufacturing jobs in the U.S. Tariffs could be as high as 20% on goods from other countries.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But housing economists and other experts say that could be bad news for building more affordable housing.

Selma Hepp, chief economist for CoreLogic, a financial services company, said tariffs are one of her main concerns about the effects of a second Trump term.

One of the biggest concerns is not just lumber [costs], but the overall cost of materials, which have been going up, said Selma Hepp, chief economist for CoreLogic, a financial services company.

Construction material prices have risen 38.8% since February 2020, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of October Producer Price Index data.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kurt Paulsen, professor of urban planning in the department of planning and landscape architecture at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, said building costs are already high from tariffs on Canadian lumber that Trump first imposed and that the Biden administration kept and increased.

It used to be in construction that you would get a bid from a contractor or a subcontractor or supplier and it would be good for 60 days. Now, the bids are good for like five days because you dont know where prices are going to be, he said.

Immigration policy and its effect on construction labor

Trump tweeted on Nov. 18 that he is planning to use the declaration of a national emergency as part of his mass deportation plan.

Besides disrupting lives, Trumps plan could have effects on what it costs to build housing, Hepp said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There is the cost of labor as well, if we do indeed have all these deportations. Thats a big, big concern, she said. A large share of labor in the construction industry obviously comes from immigrants. That is a huge issue for new construction and particularly new construction as it relates to affordable housing.

Foreign-born construction workers made up 3 million of the 11.9 million people who work in the construction industry in 2023, according to the latest American Community Survey data.

Trumps not in my backyard rhetoric

The former president hasnt always been clear on where he stands with zoning regulations and making way for more affordable housing in a wide variety of neighborhoods.

In a July Bloomberg interview, Trump spoke critically of zoning regulations and said that they drive up housing costs. But Trump also has a record of tending toward a not in my backyard, or NIMBY, approach to housing that maintained some of these zoning regulations. The Trump administration moved to roll back an Obama-era regulation that tied HUD funding to assessing and reducing housing discrimination in neighborhoods.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hell talk about reducing regulations on developers, but hell also use this NIMBYism talking about protecting suburbs from low-income housing and you really cant have it both ways, said Sarah Saadian, senior vice president of public policy and field organizing at the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Paulsen said Project 2025 embraces a pushback against anti-NIMBY approaches to expand multi-family housing.

What I read in the Project 2025 documents is a clear statement that says every local community and neighborhood should be able to choose the housing it wants to accept or not. The challenge of that is that if every community in every neighborhood can veto housing, then we just dont get enough housing and prices go up and prices and rents go up, he said.

A more punitive approach to homelessness

Last year, homelessness rose to its highest level recorded since the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development began collecting this information in 2007. The ending of pandemic safety nets that gave some households better financial stability and a lack of affordable housing supply contributed to the number of unhoused people, the report explained.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump has been outspoken on his view that homeless people should be off our streets. The president-elect has also proposed putting unhoused people with mental health issues into mental institutions.

Theres a movement that I think is largely reflected in Project 2025 that says, actually, cities need more coercive policy tools to enforce public order and to require that someone whos camping take a shelter placement even if they dont want it, Paulsen said.

Saadian said that given the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson, which makes it easier to criminalize unhoused populations for sleeping outside, shes worried about a changing political environment where policies that prioritize stable housing over policing fall out of favor.

I think all of that just shows a culture shift in the political dynamic here that were definitely worried about, she said.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Law enforcement officers in Colorado Springs and Albuquerque seized about 670,000 fentanyl pills earlier this month, according to a Monday news release from the Drug Enforcement Administration.

One man was arrested in connection with the drugs, which were being transported by bus from Albuquerque to Denver, the federal agency said.

The number of fentanyl pills seized in this case is almost enough to give every resident in the city of Denver one fake pill, said Jonathan Pullen, DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division special agent in charge.

The DEA designation nationwide for the seized tablets is fake pills, otherwise known as counterfeit Oxycodone M30s  fakes.

A bystander at an Albuquerque bus depot saw two suspicious men carrying two suitcases each on a bus bound for Denver and called police, according to the release. One man ran, leaving the luggage behind. Police seized the two suitcases and, after obtaining a search warrant, found about 330,000 pills and two ounces of heroin.

The second man, who stayed on the bus, was later arrested in Colorado Springs with two suitcases and a backpack, officials said. A Colorado Springs K-9 detected narcotics in all three bags, which reportedly held about 340,000 tablets with fentanyl and several thousand dollars in cash.

Seizures of this size are only possible with the collaborative work with our partner agencies on the DEA Task Force and community members who are courageous enough to do something about it, said Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez.

Featured Local Savings

The arrested suspect, whose name was not released, has been identified as a Denver resident with outstanding arrest warrants for drug trafficking. A second suspect remains on the loose.

This is a prime example of see something, say something, Pullen said. As a result, 670,000 fake pills are now off the streets of Colorado and New Mexico.

The 670,000 pills amount to about 25% of Colorados entire pill seizures in 2023, officials said. About 2.61 million fentanyl tablets pills were recovered in Colorado last year.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A worker at a Mexican restaurant was shot Sunday night after police say he confronted two men trying to break into his Dodge Charger.

Shots rang out just before 8 at Los Comales on Perkins Road in Parkway Village.

Police say the victim was inside the restaurant when he saw two men trying to break into his car outside. He confronted them and they ran away.

Employee fires shot at suspect breaking into Hickory Hill Wendys

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The victim went inside to get his phone and call police and, while he was on the phone, the suspects returned and tried to steal his car again.

He went outside to confront them a second time, and thats when he said the suspects shot him.

The victim was taken to a hospital in critical condition with wounds to his finger, upper leg and elbow; the suspects got away in a white Nissan sedan.

Restaurant Inspection Scores, November 19  November 25

Police said multiple rounds of ammunition struck the restaurant, with more than a dozen people inside. The victim with the Charger was the only person who was reported injured.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Los Comales posted a statement to Facebook, saying the person who was shot was one of their employees.

As many of you may know, we were victims of an automobile robbery last night that caused damage to our restaurant and one of our employees. Thankfully our employee is currently out of risk and now recovering. We will increase our security to ensure the safety of all our customers and employees. We appreciate all your concerns and support during this tough time.

If you have any information that could help police, call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
BATON ROUGE, LA. (BRPROUD)  Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry called for the reprimand of an LSU law professor on Tuesday, Nov 26. According to a transcript provided by Landry, the man encouraged students to think critically about the incoming presidential administrations policies, staffing and how they could affect society and the students law careers.

According to a letter from Landry to the LSU Board of Supervisors, the governor cited free speech as a concern, noting Executive Order JML 24-154. The order, signed Oct. 1, stated that higher ed institutions should protect constitutional free speech rights. Louisiana law also states students should be free from discriminatory retaliation based on their political views.

Professors are banned from imposing their stances on students and cannot make them attend rallies or engage in political activity outside the classroom. Teachers also cant make students take part in political action for a grade.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Wednesday, Nov. 27, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill followed suit, publishing a letter she wrote to the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center asking for an investigation.

Law schools should defend diversity of thought and speech. Law professors shouldnt be singling out students for their political beliefs. It chills speech, it chills the academic environment, and it violates both the university and law schools policies, Murrill said in a news release from her office.

According to Landry, LSU law professor Nicholas Bryner made political comments to a class on Nov. 6, the day after the national presidential election. Landry provided a transcript of the alleged statements.

Trump 2.0 has a Cabinet and executive branch of different ideas and eclectic personalities

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bryner reportedly said students who voted for president-elect Donald Trump and dont support him but do support his policies will have to prove that with their behavior. He said some students, particularly minorities, are uncomfortable in the law school. Bryner asked students to reflect on why that would be the case.

He noted that he does not teach politics but does teach law and mentioned how these issues could affect students in the future. According to his staff profile, Bryner is the director of the Climate Change Law and Policy Project at LSU. He teaches:

Environmental law.

Administrative law.

Natural resources law and policy.

Energy law and regulation.

The law is going to change, and administrative law is going to change. I perceive this vote as really like a rejection of the idea that we are governed by a people with expertise. Um, there is a lot in administrative law about ensuring that the government makes rational decisions, right. Thats the arbitrary and capricious test. Is the government acting and making rational decisions? Um, is there space for, you know, reviewing whether the government has acted, uh, rationally with adequate reasons to support what its doing? Bryner said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He encouraged students to think about what that rejection of expertise means as they study and begin practicing law and how they plan to approach the issue.

Since his election, Trump has named several women and minorities to cabinet positions. Notably, his first choice for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, declined the offer after it was made clear he wouldnt get enough support for confirmation. Other leadership choices include TV personalities.

If the school does not discipline Mr. Bryner for his comments, I hope the Board will look into the matter as LSU professors are prohibited from utilizing state resources to influence public policy, Landry wrote.

The so-called party of free speech seems intent on silencing voices in our classrooms when those voices dont align with their agenda. This isnt about protecting students or fostering dialogue  its about shutting down educators who dare to challenge the status quo. Young Democrats of Louisiana President Jay Braxton

Louisiana deserves leaders who protect  not persecute  academic freedom. Unfortunately, Landrys actions come at no surprise considering his other recent acts of political encroachment. He is not respecting the personal views of those whose opinions and perspectives are different from his, and he is improperly using his elected position to push his own personal agenda in our publicly-funded schools and spaces. We have to fight back. Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Randal Gaines

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

BRProud has reached out to LSU for a statement and not yet received a response.

Latest News

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com.
Clouds pass above the LSU Law Center on Monday, March 20, 2023, on Highland Road in Baton Rouge, La. (Matthew Perschall for Louisiana Illuminator)

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry is calling on LSU to punish a law professor for comments he made about the presidential election in the classroom.

Administrative law professor Nick Bryner drew the ire of the governor for calling on students who voted for Donald Trump because they like his policies, and not him personally, to prove it through their actions. Landry posted a video of Bryners comments on social media last week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I dont know if anybody falls in that category, but if you voted for Trump on the idea that you dont like him personally but that you like his policies, I just want you to think about the message that that sends to other people and how you can prove that, by treating other people in a way that matches that sentiment, Bryner told his students Nov. 6, the day after the election.

Landry posted the video of the professors comments last week on X, formerly Twitter, and followed that up Monday with a letter to LSU President William Tate, LSU Law Dean Alena Allen and members of the LSU Board of Supervisors calling on them to discipline Bryner.

If the school does not discipline Mr. Bryner for his comments, I hope that the Board will look into the matter, as LSU professors are prohibited from utilizing state resources to influence public policy, Landry wrote.

Neither Bryner, LSU spokesman Todd Woodward, Allen nor Board of Supervisors Chairman Jimmie Woods have responded to requests for comment.

Our Administration will not stand by silently as this professor defies the voices of 76 million Americans who voted for @realDonaldTrump. pic.twitter.com/BSAtWud2m3  Governor Jeff Landry (@LAGovJeffLandry) November 26, 2024

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

First Amendment advocates are criticizing Landry for his response to what they believe is protected speech.

The professors comments are very clearly protected by the First Amendment and academic freedom, said Katie Schwartzmann, director of the Tulane First Amendment Law Clinic. It is absolutely terrifying for our governor to call upon LSU to discipline a professor for his speech.

Our classrooms are the incubators of our democracy, and they must be protected for the free exchange of ideas. We cannot allow the persecution or prosecution of teachers for the ideas discussed in their classrooms, Schwartzmann added.

Adam Steinbaugh, an attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a nonpartisan campus free speech organization known for defending controversial conservative speech on university campuses, said Landry was using the banner of free speech to engage in censorship.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Here you have a state official, you know, the highest official in the state of Louisiana, focusing on a maybe two-minute comment by a law professor to adult law students and commenting on civility and using current events as a basis to encourage civility, and the governor is [stating] that the mere discussion of a professors political views is imposing it on law students, Steinbaugh said.

Steinbaugh said Bryners comments are lawful, especially because they pertain to his area of expertise.

The law is going to change, and administrative law is going to change, Bryner said in the video. I perceive this vote as really like a rejection of the idea that we are governed by a people with expertise  There is a lot in administrative law about ensuring that the government makes rational decisions.

This professor has defied the 76 million Americans who voted for President @realDonaldTrump  to silence and belittle those in his class who voted for our next president. This is not the kind of behavior we want at @LSU and our universities. pic.twitter.com/ncGETXE2Qs  Governor Jeff Landry (@LAGovJeffLandry) November 17, 2024

The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, a conservative court that encompasses Louisiana, has held that faculty members have the First Amendment right to discuss pedagogically relevant material in their classes, Steinbaugh said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I have had the unfortunate experience of having gone to law school, and if they cut out all of the lectures and comments about civility, itd be about probably taking a year off the three years of law school, Steinbaugh joked.

This is not the first time Landry has asked for LSU to punish a professor for making comments he doesnt like.

When he was the attorney general in 2021, Landry called on the university to take action against tenured mass communication professor Bob Mann, who referred to Assistant Attorney General Lauryn Sudduth as a flunkie after Sudduth appeared at a Faculty Senate meeting to read a letter from Landry containing COVID-19 vaccine misinformation.

Mann, who announced his retirement from LSU shortly after Landry was elected partially due to fear of retaliation, defended Bryner.



Landry probably doesnt recognize it, but what this professor meant was that we should treat people as we would want to be treated, Mann said. Im not sure what legal right LSU or any of us have to punish someone for advising people to follow the Golden Rule. I hope that LSU does not allow a governor to bully them into punishing a distinguished professor who clearly cares deeply about the well-being of his students.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Like Mann, Bryner is also tenured. Tenure provides an indefinite academic appointment to qualifying faculty members who have demonstrated excellence in their field. Academics with tenure can only be terminated for cause, and it typically only happens in extreme circumstances. Tenure is viewed as a key part of academic freedom at American public universities and a shield against political, corporate and religious intervention.

Landry charged that Bryners comments violate LSUs policies on academic freedom as well as state law.

Landry argued that a bill he signed into law earlier this year, Act 485 by Sen. Valarie Hodges, R-Denham Springs, prohibits speech such as Bryners.

Steinbaugh said Landry is misinterpreting the law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hes twisting the law to suggest that in order to protect free speech, we need to censor people, and that the mere discussion of views is imposing them on other people, Steinbaugh said. I certainly dont think it can be reasonably read that way. And if it is read that way, then it is requiring people to shut up in the name of free speech.

Landry spokeswoman Kate Kelly has not yet responded to a question regarding how Landry got the video, which appears to be a classroom video typically made accessible to students enrolled in a course.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Copies of "That Librarian," written by Amanda Jones, a school librarian from Louisiana, are displayed at New South Bookstore in Montgomery on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. Jones spoke to a group about facing harassment after publicly opposing restrictions on library content. (Ralph Chapoco/Alabama Reflector)

Amanda Jones, a school librarian and educator for more than two decades in Livingston Parish, Louisiana faced harassment and threats after speaking out against censorship at a July 2022 meeting of the local library board. As Jones tells it, she faced memes accusing her of want to give pornography and erotica to young children.

They put my face on these memes and circulated them all around our community, Jones said in an interview Saturday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The harassment continued for weeks until Jones had enough and decided to respond. First with a lawsuit, then with a book titled That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America that details what she experienced for the more than two years after she first spoke out.

As I was writing it, I also wanted to explain how libraries work, and I also wanted to explain that what was happening to me was not unique, that it is happening to people all across the United States, so I write about a lot of different areas in the United States, and the librarians that it is happening to, she said.

Jones spoke Saturday at The New South Bookstore, an independent bookseller and former publishing company located in downtown Montgomery.

Attempts to restrict book access have also erupted in Alabama. In Prattville, a long-running battle over access to childrens books led to the dismissal of the local librarian and a federal lawsuit. Libraries in Fairhope, Ozark and Huntsville have also faced attempts at restrictions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With how librarians have been treated, there are two sides to the story, said Andrew Foster, the former chief librarian for the Autauga-Prattville Public Library, who moderated the conversation with Jones at the event. In any case, it is not OK to have attacks and some of the things that Amanda has gone through, and other librarians have gone through. One of the first things to know about is awareness of the situation, and awareness of both sides of the situation so that informed decisions can be made.

Jones ordeal began with the statement she provided to her local library board after some in the community sought to restrict books identified as having adult themes. Jones said that censorship is harmful to our community, but will be extremely harmful to our most vulnerable  our children.

The citizens of our parish consist of taxpayers who are white, Black, brown, gay, straight, Christian, non-Christian  people from all backgrounds and walks of life, and no one portion of the community should dictate what the rest of the citizens have access to, Jones said during the board meeting. Just because you dont want to read it or see it, it doesnt give you the right to deny others or demand its relocation.

Jones alleged in a lawsuit filed August 2022 that Michael Lunsford, the executive director of Citizens for a New Louisiana, a nonprofit that seeks to restrict access to library materials it deems inappropriate for children, began accusing Jones of promoting pornography and erotica to children.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An attorney representing Citizens for a New Louisiana and Michael Lundsford declined comment on Monday.

The posts prompted other comments.

Pedophile, groomer, sicko, pig, I need to be purged, I need to be slapped, wait till I get a hold of her, that kind of stuff, Jones said of the comments. Like hundreds, and people who I grew up with.

At first, the comments stunned Jones.

The weekend I was targeted, I cried until my eyes swelled shut and I couldnt see anymore, Jones said. About a week later my sister said to me, They messed with the wrong one because you are going to come out of this. And then I remembered who I was, that I was stubborn. I got pissed off, I started to rally the troops, and I started to fight back.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A lower court judge dismissed the lawsuit in March 2023, ruling that the statements that Lundsford made did not amount to defamation because they were opinion. Jones has appealed the decision to the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Similar restriction attempts have occurred in Alabama.

In Prattville, the controversy began in 2023 when a parent borrowed a book from the childrens section that contained inclusive pronouns other than male and female. The parent expressed her concerns to other parents and the situation escalated, with like-minded parents attending Prattville City Council and Autauga County Commission meetings to complain about the materials found within the library.

A new library board appointed by the Autauga County Commission voted earlier this year to restrict the type of materials that staff could allow as part of its circulation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The restrictions targeted those that the board members believed contained sexually explicit material, but also materials that targeted vulnerable populations, such as LGBTQ+ groups.

Opposition groups formed, including Read Freely Prattville that eventually became Read Freely Alabama, and have filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the policies on free speech grounds.

Foster, removed from his position, also filed a lawsuit in county circuit court that was eventually settled.

Under pressure from Gov. Kay Ivey, the Alabama Public Library Service modified its administrative code to mandate that libraries adopt policies to ensure they do not have inappropriate materials within the childrens section.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rep. Arnold Mooney, R-Indian Springs sponsored that would apply criminal statutes related to obscenity to public libraries, school libraries, and education personnel working in them.

The session ended before the Legislature could act on his proposal, but Mooney refiled the bill for the 2025 session. Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, also prefiled a bill that did not pass during the 2024 session that allows city council members and county commissioners to terminate members of any library board with a two-thirds vote and appoint new members to four-year terms.

Jones said similar bills have been filed in Louisiana.

We had HB 777 that, had it passed, librarians who attended American Library Association conferences, they are professional conferences, could serve up to two years hard labor in prison, Jones said to attendees. That was an actual bill that my former friend filed, who is a state legislator, and it was nicknamed the Amanda Jones bill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Similar legislation and other movements have been forming in states, which started in Florida but has also taken hold in Texas and as far west as Utah.

I found out about Ms. Jones when I was on Amazon a few months ago, said Lacie Sutherland, the former cataloging and acquisitions librarian for the Autauga-Prattville Public Library. This is literally my story. I preordered it that day. I have been her biggest fan ever since.

Jones told attendees that defending library books required empathy.

First of all, we cannot act like people who are banning books, Jones said. We cannot go to meetings and scream at people and call them names. I have been told, I am going to hell, God is going to wrap a millstone around my neck and drown me, I need to be shot, killed, purged.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The second takes advantage of community.

There is an ecosystem, where you have the academic librarians, and the public (librarians) and the school, and the parents, and the student activists, and we all have to work together, Jones said. It is going to take all of us. We saw that last year in the Legislature. We had nine anti-library bills in the Legislature, nine. We defeated all but one.

Jones continues to respond to the efforts of those who want censorship, to those who want to ban specific books meant for marginalized groups and communities of color.

My daughter is 17, so she doesnt see it yet, Jones said. But I am hoping that when she is 25, 30 or 40, something good that will come out of this is that she will say, My mom is on the right side of history.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
I stand proudly before you this week as a Non-Crime Non-Hate Non-Incident. Not quite victorious  still a bit too bruised and vulnerable for that  but entirely vindicated. After 11 horrible days, last Thursday afternoon Essex Police admitted what any sane person had known all along. No Further Action, the email to my solicitor said. There was no case against me, and never should have been. Sending two officers to my home on Remembrance Sunday to inform me I was accused by some anonymous victim of stirring up racial hatred in a year-old deleted tweet was such outrageous police over-reach that it made headlines around the world. Britain Polices Speech but Not Much Else, the Wall Street Journal observed tartly. The British bobby, previously armed with only a nightstick and common decency, has become an Orwellian snooper, wrote Dominic Green in the article.

Other reactions from the Land of the Free were equally incredulous. Elon Musk called the UK a tyrannical police state, which may yet have damaging, real-world consequences with our biggest trading partner. (President-elect Donald Trump has already announced tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China; it could happen to Starmers Stasi Britain if right-hand-man Musk encourages Trump to play hardball against the enemies of free speech.)

As my friend and colleague Daniel Hannan wrote on Sunday from South Carolina, Americans simply cannot believe that the home of Magna Carta is pursuing two-tier justice, allowing the bad guys to run free while hounding innocent civilians for saying something that hurt someones feelings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I was blessed, of course, to have high-profile figures like Lord Hannan, Kemi Badenoch, Nigel Farage, Sarah Vine, Lionel Shriver, Toby Young and the brilliant Free Speech Union (they offered wise counsel and paid for my excellent lawyer Luke Gittos) speaking out with ringing clarity on my behalf. (The Tory leader rang to congratulate me on Thursday evening and I was in such a state of elated relief I was jabbering and could barely hold a conversation with her. Sorry, Kemi.)

The wholehearted support of The Telegraphs editor, Chris Evans, and our phenomenal news desk showed the coppers at Chelmsford HQ what great investigative work should look like. Seemingly more interested in drag queens than drug dealers, the irredeemably woke higher echelons of Essex Police were taught a short, sharp lesson: dont mess with the real boys in blue  our crack team of reporters who exposed the forces pitiful crime-solving statistics. Our campaign has elicited calls from some of the most distinguished coppers in the land for the use of non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) to be urgently reviewed, if not banned altogether.

A great news organisation like this one can shine an unforgiving spotlight on wrongdoing even  make that especially  when the wrong arises in an arm of the state which has a duty to exercise its power with caution and common sense. It may have been my name in the headlines this past fortnight but, make no mistake, The Telegraph was fighting, and continues to fight, for freedom of speech and to protect tens of thousands of men and women (even children for crying out loud) from these ludicrous, draconian instruments. (Do you think there is a bet among police to see who can record the nuttiest NCHI? If so, the dirty pants on a washing line incident has just taken a commanding lead.)

The support of you, my readers, Planet Normal listeners and well-wishers meant the world. True to form, many of you managed to extract bitter comedy from the sinister absurdity imposed on me by the police. Bill wondered: Its so deeply unfunny that I have to ask whether its a crime to hate Non-Crime Hate Incidents? Careful how you go, Bill; jokes are on their little list!

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Earlier this week, when the Prime Minister announced that perpetrators of spiking will feel the full force of the law Melanie commented: When I first saw that I thought Starmer said perpetrators of speaking and I wasnt even surprised.

Anna reminded me that one of the tests during witch-hunts in the 16th century was for the accused woman to touch her accuser. If the person said they felt pain at her touch the woman was declared a witch and put to death. Not much change, then, said Anna wryly.

Unsurprisingly, trust and respect for the police are in freefall. Several of you joked that you would have more chance of getting elusive coppers out to your burglary/car theft if you posted something offensive on X (formerly Twitter). Al, a longstanding Telegraph subscriber, spoke for many: In my sixties, white, male, worked hard, paid taxes all my life. As a young man always had a healthy respect for the police. I now feel contempt and hate towards them. Why is that? It should concern them because it doesnt bother me in the slightest.

It really should concern them. Essex Constabulary, and other forces, would do well to remember that, in this country, they police by popular consent. Sir Robert Peel established the nine principles of policing, which were described by Charles Reith in his New Study of Police History as unique in history and throughout the world, because it derived, not from fear, but almost exclusively from public co-operation with the police, induced by them designedly by behaviour which secures and maintains for them the approval, respect and affection of the public.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If the British people believe their police are acting to silence unhelpful dissent among the majority in order to cosset minorities with protected characteristics, at the behest of a repressive state, then friendly co-operation will be withdrawn, and we should all fear what chaos follows.

While prosecutions against mainly white, working-class Southport rioters (and trigger-happy tweeters) were railroaded through in record time, no charges have yet been brought against the men involved in a fight with police at Manchester Airport in July this year, in which a woman police constable had her nose broken.

Police chiefs are fretting about community tensions, I suspect. (This has led Reform UK to take the extraordinary step of threatening to bring a private prosecution.) Im afraid this looks a lot like the opposite of their job description: policing with fear and favouritism.

Responding to widespread criticism of the way officers are recording NCHIs, Lord Herbert, the chairman of the College of Policing, told The Telegraph that trust was being damaged by the perception that forces were getting involved in mere disputes at the expense of tackling crimes. It is not a perception, my Lord. Its now generally accepted that the police show more zeal in tackling bad thoughts than bad men. Officers have largely ignored the statutory guidance introduced in 2023 by Suella Braverman when she was home secretary. I said police should only intervene if there is a serious threat, Braverman told me.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We agreed that, although your columnist can get a bit excitable on occasion, serious threat to society she is not. At the very least, I think I am owed an explanation from Essex Police and Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington. So, here are eight questions:

Who thought it was appropriate to send two officers to my house on Remembrance Sunday? Why was my original Non-Crime Hate Incident escalated to a criminal investigation under the Public Order Act? Who thought that was a credible charge when two former home secretaries, a law lord, a former solicitor general, three KCs, two very senior police officers and the nice man who works in Coral the bookmakers beneath my office all looked at my tweet and said it didnt come near the threshold for criminal investigation? Why did Essex Police say it was unethical for me to write about my deeply upsetting experience and why did you report The Telegraph to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) as if the paper didnt have a perfect right to to expose your behaviour? I understand you confirmed which tweet of mine had supposedly caused offence and the identity of my accuser to the Guardian. Do you think that was ethical? Oh, and why was the redacted transcript of my doorstep conversation with officers leaked to The Sunday Times in a clear attempt to discredit my account? Instead of apologising for what Labour MP Graham Stringer called the Stasi-like behaviour of Essex Police, why did you double down in a further attempt to scare and silence me, announcing that Gold Command was taking over my case? How was that proportionate? Do you feel proud of using police powers to scare a law-abiding middle-aged woman when people in our county cant get your attention for actual crimes? Why did Essex Commissioner for Police Roger Hirst give an interview to LBC in which he talked about crimes like mine attracting prison sentences of up to seven years. I wasnt charged with any crime, was I? Whose decision was it to declare No Further Action? Did the CPS tell you that there wasnt a chance in hell of obtaining a conviction because no one in their right mind thought my tweet incited hatred? More generally, your force records 700 NCHIs every year and that number has been increasing. Do you think that is a good use of police time or do you think the taxpayer would prefer you to track villains not opinions?

Eventually, I will have answers from the police to all those questions. The case is now in the hands of my superb solicitors. But what can we do about the metastasising cancer of Orwellian hate crimes that have such a chilling effect on peoples ability to speak and post freely?

Actually, theres quite a lot we can do. (Look what people power achieved after Nigel Farages debanking scandal.) If you or a family member or a friend has been approached by the police over a hate crime, please get in touch with me. Dont feel ashamed or stigmatised; youre almost certainly not the one who needs to feel shame. Where appropriate, I will draw public attention to specific NCHIs. Together we will fight these insanities one by one, putting the onus onto the police to justify their actions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You can submit a Subject Access Request (Sar) to your local police force to find out if you have ever been investigated for a hate crime or had an NCHI recorded against your name. If you have, join the Free Speech Union (FSU), which has had quite a bit of success getting them removed from peoples records (I recommend joining the FSU anyway  this nightmare could happen to anyone).

That mirthless munchkin Yvette Cooper was apparently all set to lower the bar for NCHIs so even more unwary tweeters and cheeky kids in the playground could have their collars felt. But the Home Secretary quickly changed her tune after my case drew embarrassing attention to officers wasting their time on trivial cases. She now says police will be told only to record NCHIs when theres a clear risk to community tensions under new common sense guidance.

Twaddle. Such guidance already exists and is ignored by police who are keen to boost their results by nabbing low-hanging fruit like me. How else do you explain an imam who called for attacks on Jewish homes being ignored while I am the one accused of inciting racial hatred? Farcical.

Police should not record any episodes as NCHIs if they conclude no crime has been committed because it will show up if a person has to do an enhanced DBS check when they apply for a job. The police should also be consistent when it comes to which reports of possible hate crimes they investigate: stop treating some ethnic or religious groups as more worthy of protection than others.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One officer, among the scores of police who emailed to commiserate with my predicament, described his foundation degree in policing thus: It was as though they had gathered every Left-wing nut-job they could find and forced us to listen to them and then parrot back what we had been subjected to. One of the main messages permeating through all of it was the need to protect the strands of diversity. I think they had identified seven or maybe nine groups at the time. Black people, religious groups, women and so on. These were like protected species, this diversity drive was massive and constant, we were hardly prepared for day-to-day policing.

Instead of teaching police their job is to protect specific groups from the wicked majority, the College of Policing needs to make sure police are better trained when it comes to understanding the vital importance of free speech and what legal protection it enjoys under the law. Free speech is not a nice add-on; it is the core of who we are as a nation.

Personally, I want to see NCHIs scrapped altogether, and I wont rest until that happens. Ill be damned if theyre going to upset someone like they upset me. Non-crime hate nonsense is fundamentally un-British and encourages a snitch society which is inimical to our national character. Relying on an allegation of hate from a third party and then allowing individual officers to decide what is proportionate is a recipe for injustice as well as a serious threat to liberty. I agree with Young when he says, We should repeal all the laws that have created speech crimes and revert to the English Common Law principle that all political/contentious speech is permitted unless its overwhelmingly likely to lead to an imminent breach of the peace.

As for me, my mood goes up and down; sometimes happy its over, angry it ever happened at all. On Thursday night, I am giving a talk at a sold-out charity do for the Sick Childrens Trust. Normally, I would go along in high spirits to such an event, glad to meet lots of readers and be of use for a great cause. The truth is, after what Essex Police did to me, I will look out over the audience and think, Are there people who think I am the person my anonymous accuser said I was? Thats what a hate crime allegation does.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If I have just one tiny regret at not getting to go for my voluntary interview at the police station, its that Allisons Army never got a chance to assemble outside Chelmsford HQ. Our riot would have been the politest in history, wouldnt it? Sandwiches, thermos flasks, canvas fold-up stools, poo bags. After you, no after YOU! Jolly cross with the police, mind you.

Luke the solicitor and I had planned what we would do when the police asked me questions about the long-forgotten tweet. Instead of saying, No comment, I would reply each time: Its a free country. Its a free country. Its a free country.

And we must go on saying it for as long as we have breath, or theyll take it away. Let them try.

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.
As last week got underway, Matt Gaetz was Donald Trumps choice to be the attorney general of the United States. As this week got underway, the Florida Republican was an unemployed former congressman with a Cameo account.

Sometimes, when the mighty fall, they fall quickly.

Indeed, one of the many extraordinary elements of the Gaetz fiasco was the speed with which it began, unfolded, and collapsed. It was on Nov. 13  just one week after Trump won a second term  when the president-elect announced that he wanted the scandal-plagued and manifestly unqualified GOP lawmaker to serve as the nations chief law enforcement officer. Eight days later, Gaetz withdrew from consideration. The next day, Trump announced that a different Florida Republican  former state Attorney General Pam Bondi  would be his new choice for attorney general, and much of the political world moved on.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Perhaps, however, it moved on a bit too quickly. The developments came and went at such a pace, against a backdrop of many other controversial nomination announcements, that there was little time for accountability  which is a shame, because some accountability is in order given the severity of this debacle.

For Trump, this was both an important and humiliating post-election failure. He not only selected someone who had no business serving in the position, he did so while abandoning a responsible vetting process. Just as notably, the president-elect invested real political capital into these efforts, reaching out to several individual senators in the hopes of persuading them to back Gaetz to lead the Justice Department. It didn't work.

For Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, the embarrassment was just as severe. In his first post-election task, the Ohio Republican urged his fellow GOP senators to support Gaetz, even taking a personal and hands-on role, bringing Gaetz from office to office as part of the lobbying effort. Vance, we now know, failed spectacularly.

But the humiliation extends to some on Capitol Hill, too. Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, for example, suggested he was prepared to vote to confirm Gaetz, and even senators who knew better left little doubt that they were ready to put partisan interests above the nations interests. The New York Times reported two weeks ago:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hes smart  clever guy, Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, said of Mr. Gaetz, adding: I usually support presidential picks to be in their cabinet. Ive done that for both sides. Thats my disposition.

I realize that political cycles move quickly, but Grahams willingness to back Gaetz should leave a scar on the senators record that does not fade.

As for others on Capitol Hill, there might be a temptation to think the system worked. A president-elect made an obscene choice for attorney general; responsible senators from both parties balked; and the utterly insane nomination fight ended before it began in earnest.

But that interpretation seems overly generous. Gaetz walked away because he didnt have  and wouldnt have  the votes needed to advance, but its not as if the Senate GOP conference spoke with one voice. The New York Times reported last week:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr. Gaetz told people close to him that after conversations with senators and members of their staffs, he had concluded that there were at least four Republican senators in the next Congress who were implacably opposed to his nomination: Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and the newly elected John Curtis of Utah. With a 53-member majority, four defections would be enough to defeat the nomination.

Im glad there were four Senate Republicans who balked, but lets not celebrate too heartily: There shouldve been 53 Senate Republicans who balked.

Those GOP senators who were prepared to toe the party line shouldnt be forgotten anytime soon.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Soon after taking office in 2021, Rep. Lauren Boebert quickly became one of Congress most controversial members. Six months into her first term, The Washington Posts Dana Milbank wrote a column describing the far-right Colorado Republican as being lost in a cacophony of crazy.

In the years that followed, Boeberts reputation managed to get worse, culminating in an incident last year when the Colorado Republican attended a family-friendly Beetlejuice musical production in Denver, only to get kicked out of the venue for causing a disturbance at the show. The lawmaker denied any wrongdoing, right up until surveillance footage from within the theater proved that she had obviously acted inappropriately.

A year later, Boebert managed to switch congressional districts and win another term, at which point she managed to fall into yet another mess of her own making. The Hill reported:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) briefly offered videos on Cameo, a website on which public figures sell personalized videos to fans, before the page went offline amid questions about whether it would have violated House ethics rules. An introductory video from Boebert was visible on Cameo as of Monday morning, and a screenshot posted by a Semafor reporter showed her charging $250 per video.

Hey, Cameo, its your girl from Colorado, Lauren Boebert. I am so excited to be joining another platform where I can connect directly with supporters from all over the world, she said in the video. Whether you or someone you know needs an America First pep talk, if you want to surprise friends or family with a message for a special day, or if you just want to know my thoughts on whatevers on your mind, Cameo is the place to connect with me. You can book a video now on my Cameo profile, and I will be seeing you and talking with you soon.

A spokesperson for Cameo confirmed to The Denver Post not only that Boeberts account was authentic, but also that she was the first sitting federal lawmaker to use the platform.

A Cameo spokesperson confirmed the authenticity of the Boebert account to The Denver Post, noting that she was the first sitting member of Congress to join the platform.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But its not because the other 534 members on Capitol Hill are shy. The New Republic explained that Boeberts Cameo account appeared to violate House rules.

First, theres an outside income limit of $31,815, so shed have to watch how much money she makes, and second, under House rules, members are prohibited from receiving honoraria, defined as a payment of money or thing of value for an appearance, speech, or article. Now, if Boebert was having her Cameo proceeds go to her campaign account, that would probably be in line with House rules, but that is prohibited by the video platform.

Or put another way, the existence of Boeberts Cameo account was likely to result in a House Ethics Committee investigation, which probably helps explain why the account disappeared after one day.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Boris Epshteyn is probably not a household name, but for those who keep an eye on Donald Trump and those in his orbit, Epshteyn is a highly relevant figure.

He worked as a former special assistant to the then-president in the Trump White House seven years ago  he helped oversee the Republicans TV surrogate operation  before leaving for reasons that were never fully explained. From there, Epshteyn joined the Sinclair Broadcasting Group, working as an on-air commentator. (Remember the Bottom Line with Boris segments?)

In the years that followed, Epshteyn worked his way back to Trumps team and was even among the Republicans indicted as part of the fake-elector scheme. Two weeks ago, The New York Times profiled Epshteyn, his influential role as a member of Trumps inner circle and the extraordinary power hes received from the president-elect.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Although there are those close to Mr. Trump who despise Mr. Epshteyn, there is nobody in the president-elects orbit who at this point would doubt the level of his influence, the article explained. He has quickly become one of the most powerful figures in the early days of the presidential transition, despite having no formal role in it. He has become a significant gatekeeper for Mr. Trump, including shaping some of the information he receives about personnel and cabinet selections.

Two weeks later, however, there are new questions about how, exactly, Epshteyn has tried to use that position. The Washington Post reported:

A top adviser to President-elect Donald Trump asked potential administration nominees to give him monthly consulting fees in exchange for advocating for them to Trump, a written review by Trumps legal team concluded. The scathing review of Boris Epshteyn, a top lawyer to Trump who has extensive sway in the transition, was prepared by Trumps attorneys in recent days, according to two people familiar with the report.

While several other major news organizations have run similar reports, the story has not been independently verified by MSNBC or NBC News.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nevertheless, the allegations, if true, are quite damaging. In fact, at face value, Epshteyn has been accused of running an old-fashioned shake-down scheme: He allegedly approached those seeking positions in the incoming Trump administration, told them he could use his influence to give them a boost, and simultaneously asked that they pay him lucrative consulting fees  including, by some accounts, up to $100,000 per month.

The allegations, in other words, are that Epshteyn launched a simple pay-to-play gambit, trying to cash in on his powerful position on Team Trump. This was uncovered, the reports added, by an internal investigation led by members of Trumps operation.

When The Rachel Maddow Show reached out to Epshteyn for comment, he told us, I am honored to work for President Trump and with his team. These fake claims are false and defamatory and will not distract us from Making America Great Again.

Why does all of this matter? In part because its an early indication of what we can expect in the coming months and years from Trump and those around him. Epshteyn has clashed with some of his colleagues, which made it inevitable that theyd go after him. The infighting, backbiting and sabotage will almost certainly continue in the incoming White House, because thats how Team Trump rolls.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But more important still is the nature of the allegations, the prospect that Trump administration positions might be perceived as being for sale and concerns about systemic corruption surrounding the Republican president-elect and his operation.

I dont imagine weve heard the last of this one.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
A variety of political writers tend to have something else they focus on, separate from political news. Jamelle Bouie, for example, is interested in photography. Political scientist Dan Drezner routinely covers science fiction. NBC News Sahil Kapur is both a senior national political reporter and a part-time correspondent for Formula 1 racing.

What about me? I care about guitars. In fact, Ive been playing guitar for decades. Mom bought me my first guitar at a flea market when I was just nine, and its been an important part of my life. Many readers might find that surprising because Ive never had a reason to mention it, since theres rarely overlap between guitar-related news and the day-to-day political news that I cover for a living.

That is, until now. Billboard magazine reported:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Guitar manufacturer Gibson has issued a cease-and-desist against the branding agency behind a line of guitars endorsed by President-elect Donald Trump, alleging the design infringes the companys trademarks, Billboard has confirmed. The cease-and-desist against 16 Creative alleges the guitar line infringes on its trademark for the iconic Les Paul body shape, a Gibson spokesperson tells Billboard.

If this story is unfamiliar to you, lets back up and review how we arrived at this point.

One of the many strange things about Trumps 2024 campaign was the frequency with which the Republican would unveil new branded merchandise that had nothing to do with his candidacy. In fact, the list of side-deals became a running joke: The GOP nominee pitched everything from Trump-branded watches to silver Trump commemorative coins, batches of digital trading cards to a weird cryptocurrency project, gold sneakers to Trump-endorsed Bibles.

Those assuming that the president-elect would stop doing this after the election were quickly proven wrong. Last week, Trump published an item to his social media platform letting would-be customers know about the Limited Edition 45 Guitar, complete with an Make America Great Again pearl inlay on the fretboard.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While the prices vary, the listings at GetTrumpGuitars.com show that the most expensive model was selling for $11,500.

Theres certainly room for conversation about whether these guitars are worth the price. Similar instruments are available for far less, though they wont have Trumps endorsement  but thats not the first question that came to mind when he started pitching these products.

Rather, the obvious concern was that the Trump-backed electric guitar looks indistinguishable from a Gibson Les Paul, complete with the standard humbucker pickups. It was hard not to wonder whether Gibsons legal team might have some questions along these lines. And as it turns out, the legendary guitar manufacturers attorneys apparently noticed the GetTrumpGuitars.com sales and took a keen interest.

While MSNBC and NBC News have not independently confirmed Billboard magazines reporting, Gibsons representatives have confirmed to a variety of outlets that the company has sent a cease-and-desist letter to the company pitching the Trump-backed instruments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This shouldnt have come as too big of a surprise to the president-elects business partners. As Guitar World magazine explained last week, In recent years, Gibson has staunchly defended its intellectual property. ... As a result, questions quickly arose from guitarists as to how the firm will react to Trump Guitars offerings, given the potential political implications if it were to take legal action.

I wont pretend to know what might happen next. Will there be litigation? Will Trump start threatening Gibson? Will the company selling the instruments back down? Will Gibson face some kind of MAGA backlash? Watch this space.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
President-elect Donald Trumps explosive congresswoman Nancy Mace actually used to boast about being pro trans, but is now in the midst of an X tiradeincluding repeatedly calling transgender people mentally ill.

In July 2023, Mace positioned herself as an ally, even going as far as to say that she supported children exploring their gender identities. Children changing pronouns, coloring their hair and wearing gender-fluctuating clothes didnt bother the South Carolina rep, she said.

If they wanna take on a different pronoun or a different gender identity or grow their hair out, or wear a dress or wear pants, or do those things as a minorthose are all things that I think most people would support. Be who you want to be, but dont make permanent changes as a child, Mace said on The Takeout on CBS News.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She added: They may decide as an adult, Hey, instead of being Johnny, I want to be Jillthats OK, she said.

Mace now appears to have done a complete 180 on her views. Recent Elon Musk-backed messages mark a stark departure from the congresswomans pro-trans rhetoric.

Early Tuesday she even shared a typical culture war post by X commander-in-chief Musk, who has had a high profile falling out with his own trans daughter. In the meme shared by the Tesla and SpaceX CEO, mental illness is referred to. Mace shared it and urged people to hold the line, also dubbing the billionaire a legend.

Musk has been at the forefront of the anti-trans push

Your mental illness is not my new reality, the MAGA attack dog barked in another post, echoing Musks meme.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In texts with CNN this week, she reiterated her past support for LGBTQ rightsand said her recent departure in tone was more to do with protecting womens private spaces.

Mace also appears to have amped up restrictive measures on trans people in her state. Last week, she introduced a motion in the U.S. House of Representatives to ban transgender women from using womens restrooms at the Capitol. Mace now wants this to apply to every federal building and federally funded school.

Her ratcheting up came after the election of the first out transgender person in Congress, Sarah McBride. For her part, McBride, said the vitriol was an attempt to misdirect voters away from more central issues.

Sarah McBride has dismissed Mace's comments

The Delaware rep, who will join Donald Trumps new administration in January, told CBS on Sunday: I think we are all united that attempts to attack a vulnerable community are not only mean-spirited but really an attempt to misdirect.

Maces opinions havent always been so easy to discern. Just a month after voicing her support of children exploring their identities, she took a stand against transgender women competing in womens sports.
With the support of the Culture Ministry, Azerbaijani young talents have distinguished by their success in various fields of culture participated in the "I TURKSOY Turkic World Youth Meeting" held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Azernews reports.

The event aims to strengthen cultural and historical ties among Turkic peoples and to enhance the spirit of brotherhood and unity.

During the meeting, the participants engaged in seminars, discussions, and presentations related to promoting the cultural heritage of the Turkic world, sharing their thoughts.

Young talents put forward proposals for addressing common issues and implementing joint projects, while exploring collaboration opportunities to further strengthen connections among the youth.

The Azerbaijani delegation also contributed by showcasing the country's rich cultural heritage, supporting the development of cultural integration and dialogue as part of the Turkic world.

This event holds particular significance for strengthening the ties of Azerbaijani youth with the Turkic world, facilitating experience exchange, and establishing new friendships.

The International Organization of Turkic Culture, TURKSOY, was established in 1993 upon signature of its founding agreement by the Ministers of Culture of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Turkiye

Over the past years, TURKSOY has made significant contributions to promoting Turkic cultural heritage through different initiatives. Most of these projects have become a tradition and are continued every year.

Since its establishment, TURKSOY has been carrying out activities to strengthen the ties of brotherhood and solidarity among Turkic peoples, transmit the common Turkic culture to future generations and introduce it to the world.

The organization actively collaborates with international bodies like UNESCO and maintains partnerships with institutions such as the Organization of Turkic States and the International Turkish Academy.

Azerbaijan actively participates in TURKSOY's initiatives, hosting events like the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World project in Shusha city.

Many events of cultural significance, including the Kharibulbul International Folklore Festival, the Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival, the Cultural Days of the Turkic People, the Vagif Poetry Days, the International Festival of Children's Creativity, Wonderland Shusha 2023 International Scout Camp, and other events were organized in Azerbaijan's cultural center in accordance with the Action Plan.
The Pikes Peak Library District Board of Trustees and the Colorado Springs City Council met Monday to talk through the controversial decision to close the Rockrimmon Library branch.

Six of the seven library board members attended the city work session Monday morning. Aaron Salt spoke on the board's behalf for over an hour, answering some of the city's questions about how and why the decision was made to close the library branch by the end of November.

Several councilmembers asked the board how the decision to not renew the library's lease was made and voiced discomfort with aspects of the process. There was no indication, however, that the council would continue to press the issue beyond the work session.

About 30 Rockrimmon library supporters sat in the audience during the meeting, some with signs asking for the library to remain open. The Save Rockrimmon Library campaign says they have raised around $60,000 in pledged donations to cover part of the cost of renewing the library's release for one more year.

David Leinweber was one of three council members who sent a letter of concern to the Board of Trustees last week about the speed of the Rockrimmon decision.

At Monday's meeting, Leinweber said he had come to understand why the board made its decision, even if he disagreed. Leinweber said the fate of Rockrimmon was an example of why more collaboration was needed between the library, the city government and the school districts in Colorado Springs to preserve community assets like the library.

"There's going to need to be partnerships that have to be made," Leinweber said. "I don't expect you guys to change your mind because you've looked at that facility and it doesn't meet your standards."

The most pointed questions for the library board came from council member Dave Donelson, who represents the Rockrimmon area in District 1. Donelson said that closing a library branch should be a last resort option. He asked why the board wasn't looking to cut some of its programs or combine some of the 11 department directors among the library staff.

"Are they more important than keeping library branches open? Are they more important than keeping Rockrimmon open?" Donelson asked.

Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters.

"We are currently understaffed by 35 to 40 employees, and you are suggesting that we exacerbate that issue and cut jobs out of our organization," Salt replied.

The preliminary 2025 budget for the Pikes Peak Library District shows the district is facing a $1.6 million revenue shortfall. The district has estimated that the cost to lease and operate the Rockrimmon branch was around $500,000.

Donelson pressed Salt for details about how the board measured the financial success of library branches. Measures like the cost per item checked out, where Rockrimmon performed well, were not included as factors in the facilities master plan created by the library district over the last year. Salt said that a lot of cost and staffing factors were considered but may not have swayed the board's decision.

Nancy Henjum asked about the long-term vision for the library district and whether the board's goal was to expand locations or keep reducing them. Salt did not answer the question directly, but said that he personally wanted the district to show more financial stability before pursuing any levy increases or ballot measures.

"Asking the taxpayers to make up the delta for bad decisions previously is not something I'm keen to do," Salt said.

Yolanda Avila was the most supportive council member for the library board. Avila said it was a double standard for the city to advocate for its home rule right on certain issues while also trying to change the decision made by the Board of Trustees.

The library district has been exploring options to replace the Rockrimmon branch on the west side. Salt said he and other board members have visited a few properties that could be bought or leased but haven't found a desirable space that met the rough budget goal of $18 per square foot.

"We're not going to jump into a lease just because we're trying to provide this. We want to make sure it actually meets the needs we have," Salt said.

The Rockrimmon branch is scheduled to close its doors to the public on Saturday. Books and materials will be moved to the Library 21C and Manitou Springs branches by the end of the year.
A 26-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after his mother was shot and seriously injured at her home in Maine over the weekend, state police said Monday.

Samuel Bell also faces the charge of elevated aggravated assault in connection with the shooting of his mother, 58-year-old Christina Bell, in Belgrade on Sunday, state police said. She is being treated at a Boston hospital and she is expected to survive.

At approximately 11:03 a.m. Sunday, the Augusta Regional Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a shooting at a residence at 15 Point Road in Belgrade.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When emergency crews arrived, they found Christina Bell, who lives at the residence, suffering from serious injuries. She was flown to Maine Medical Center in Portland, and then transferred to a Boston hospital, state police said.

Her son, Samuel Bell, left the residence in his vehicle and was later taken into custody by troopers without incident a short distance away on Guptill Road. He did not live at the residence with his parents, state police said. He was taken to the Kennebec County Correctional Facility.

Belgrade is a small town in Kennebec County, north of Augusta. The towns population was 3,250 at the 2020 census.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
(Photo by Getty Images)

Maine has reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice after the agency took legal action against the state over its childrens behavioral health services.

Gov. Janet Mills announced Tuesday that her administration reached an agreement with the federal agency after years of negotiations. Though Mills said the concerns preceded her time as chief executive, she has worked with the state Legislature to invest $260 million in increasing accessibility, availability, quality and consistency of childrens behavioral health services.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mills said she is confident the state could have successfully defended itself in the lawsuit, but asked herself: At what cost? Protracted, expensive litigation would only have detracted from whats most important  continuing to improve our childrens behavioral health system. She added that the settlement recognizes the improvements the state has already made while outlining a path to continue that progress to ensure the state is in compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

We all strongly agree that in-community behavioral health services are critical, and we are committed to continuing to strengthen the delivery of those services for Maine children who need them, Mills said in the news release.

Kim Moody, executive director of Disability Rights Maine, said in a statement, On behalf of Maine kids, we are so thankful to see this agreement.

The State of Maine will now honor our commitment to our children by addressing the systemic failures that have hurt children and their families by relying on harmful institutionalization, Moody said. Kids belong in their homes and communities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The settlement comes after the DOJ filed a complaint in September alleging that Maine unnecessarily segregated hundreds of children with mental health and/or developmental disability, often sending them out of state, without giving their families much of a choice in the matter.

As part of the agreement the state will increase the availability of community-based behavioral health services for children, while allowing families to make informed choices about accessing services outside of their homes. It also includes commitments to provide timely assessments, reduce wait lists and lessen the need for short term stays in hospitals and other institutional settings.

Mary Bonauto, senior director of Civil Rights & Legal Strategies at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD Law), said the agreement will children with behavioral health needs can access timely community-based services that will keep them out of hospital emergency departments, in-state and out-of-state institutions, and the Long Creek Youth Detention Center in South Portland.

Our young people are our future and this agreement will get them more of the care they need and in the places they need it  at home and in communities  so that they can grow, thrive and take their places as the next generation of Maine people, Bonauto said. We are now turning the corner on institutionalization and secure detention at Long Creek so that young people have the future they deserve.

Improvements to childrens behavioral health services

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services is also making improvements such as spending $15.4 million annually to expand accessibility of the Maine Crisis Line, as well as the Mobile Crisis and the Cumberland County Crisis Receiving Center. This includes doubling the staff at the Maine Crisis Line. There are also investments in home treatment options and wraparound services.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The State of Maine agrees that it has an obligation to protect and care for children with disabilities and behavioral health needs, and thats why weve dedicated years of time and investments to rebuild Maines childrens behavioral health services, said Sara Gagne-Holmes, commissioner of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.

The department is also piloting a childrens behavioral health walk up center in Bangor to provide immediate mental health support. This pilot has already served 150 youth experiencing anxiety, depression, suicidality and other behavioral health needs by providing them with follow up support and helping coordinate higher levels of care within their community.

The department has also allocated $237 million to revise the reimbursement rate for behavioral health services with MaineCare providers.

As a result of the states efforts to improve services, the total number of Maine children in in-state residential treatment has decreased by about 100, while the number of children in out-of-state care has dropped from 250 to 69. Waitlists for home and community-based services have also decreased since June 2022.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Mills administration has budgeted another $2.2 million to streamline the assessment for medium and high intensity services, implement in-home family therapy, expand the childrens behavioral health workforce and add news positions that will conduct quality assurance reviews and provide other support to deliver high quality care.

This story was updated to include statements from Disability Rights Maine and GLAD.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
STORY: :: File

More than 700 trucks are on their way to famine-stricken areas of Sudan as part of a major scale-up of aid.

That's after clearance was given by the Sudanese government.

:: File

The army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have been locked in conflict since April 2023 causing acute hunger and disease .

:: File

Both sides are accused of impeding aid deliveries. They blame each other.

The World Food Programme's Leni Kinzli said the fleet will be clearly labelled in the hopes of access is granted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

''In total, the trucks are carrying about 17,500 tons of assistance, enough for about 1.5 million people for one month.

:: File

14 areas of the country are facing famine or are at risk of famine, including Zamzam camp in the Darfur region.

Kinzli said food began arriving there on Friday (November 22) with a second convoy on the way.

My colleagues on the ground in Zamzam camp told me that people were lined up on the side of the road cheering as these trucks rolled in. They tell me that people in the camp are resorting to extreme measures to survive because food is so scarce. Families are eating crushed peanut shells, which are usually used as animal fodder.''

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

:: File

Despite the celebrations, the aid is considered a drop in the ocean compared to the need.

Many parents are mourning the death of children who died from malnutrition, Kinzli said.

On Monday (November 25), the head of Sudan's sovereign council said he would allow airports in army-controlled areas isolated by the fighting - to serve as humanitarian hubs for U.N. agencies to facilitate deliveries.
BENSENVILLE, Ill. (WGN)  An evolving project dating back more than 15 years with a goal of creating western access to Chicagos OHare International Airport is progressing as officials eye a 2027 completion date.

On Monday, transportation officials with the Illinois Tollway, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, local mayors, and others were at the Illinois Tollways M-16 Maintenance Facility to share their excitement about the projects milestones and next steps.

What were doing here is about more than just roads and bridges that are being constructed, said Cassaundra Rouse, Executive Director of the Illinois Tollway.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The I-490/I-390 Interchange Project, funded by the Illinois Tollway, is estimated to cost about $534 million, including money collected at the tolls, and is slated to be completed by the end of 2027.

The more than six-mile interstate highway, also known as the I-490 Tollway, will connect businesses and communities with better access to not only OHare, but also other transit facilities and other distribution hubs.

I-490 will connect the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) near Des Plaines on the northern end to the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) near Franklin Park on the southern end.

More from Courtney: Plan Commission OKs proposed quantum computing campus on former US Steel site

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In addition, we are building a new interchange to connect the communities of Bensenville and Franklin Park to the interstate, and we are also relocating the UP-railroad bridge over the Canadian Pacific/Kansas City Railyard, Rouse said.

In total, 16 ramps and 15 bridges will be built as part of the project. Authorities said theyre making significant progress toward this and shared their excitement about the interchange that will connect I-490 to I-390 and York Road, as well as providing access to OHare.

We will continue to make excellent construction progress here and we have just started work to build the last six ramps for this interchange, Rouse said.

On Monday, the new I-490 Tollway mainline pavement and bridges that have been built were revealed by engineers on the project. Those will accommodate the approach runway lighting equipment on the west side of the airport.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As part of the project, a unique solution allowed taxiway routes to stay open during construction by lifting approach runway lighting off ground level. Manar Nashif, Chief Engineering Officer with the Illinois Tollway, said they have been able to complete relocating lights on three of four runways.

A very complex project, but we were able to successfully complete that, Nashif said.

More from Courtney: Suspect found dead after off-duty CPD detective injured during attempt to stop deadly stabbing on Northwest Side

According to the Illinois Tollway, they completed construction of the flyover ramps connecting I-490 Tollway to the Tri-State Tollway in 2024, and they have reached substantial completion of the full interchange on the north end of the project near Des Plaines. It will connect I-490 to the Jane Addams Tollway.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
GREENE COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL)  Jordan Allen, the man accused of killing his 7-year-old brother and grandmother while he was still a juvenile in 2022, appeared in court for a hearing Monday.

Allen faces two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his brother, Jessie Allen, and his grandmother, Sherry Cole, in April 2022.

At the time of their deaths, Allen was 16 years old.

On Monday, Allen appeared for a motions hearing involving two witnesses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Allens defense team has requested DNA information from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).

PREVIOUS: Greene County murder suspect Jordan Allen appears in court for motion hearing

The case is set to go to trial on Jan. 13, 2025.

Court documents obtained by News Channel 11 in December 2022 state Allen made statements to detectives after the alleged killings. Allen allegedly told investigators he had planned to kill them earlier in the day.

Allen was taken into custody after the Greene County Sheriffs Department and TBI responded to a home in the 7100 block of Old Snapps Ferry Road on the night of April 24, 2022. Both Jessie and Cole were found dead with trauma to their heads.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A petition filed in juvenile court while Allen was still a minor states he admitted to hitting the victim in the head multiple times with a hammer.

Allens case was bound over to Greene County Criminal Court in 2022, and prosecutors confirmed he would be tried as an adult.

Allen was previously found competent to stand trial after a psychological evaluation.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)  A Boulder County man is facing 15 charges after his visit to Highline State Park resulted in a law enforcement pursuit.

At about 8:40 a.m. Monday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers contacted a man at Highline State Park who was recreating without the required park pass and fishing license. According to the release, officers observed the man behaving oddly but were able to bring him to the Visitor Center to purchase the required documents.

Once he purchased the required documents, CPW officers discovered the man, 30-year-old Christopher Beamon, was wanted for a felony warrant in Boulder County. When officers tried to contact Beamon in his vehicle, he accelerated towards the officers at high speed. Officers moved to safety and followed Beamon out of the park, notifying the Colorado State Patrol and the Mesa County Sheriffs Office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shortly after he left the park, state troopers identified Beamons van near Loma and began a pursuit, assisted by the Mesa County Sheriffs Office and the Grand Junction Police Department. During the pursuit, Beamon attempted to hit a CSP vehicle and refused to comply with a felony stop.

Beamons vehicle stopped on Interstate 70 Frontage Road between 23 and 23 1/2 roads, at which time troopers attempted to get him to exit the vehicle by conducting loudhail calls. Beamon then armed himself with a large knife, prompting a Mesa County Sheriffs deputy to fire two less-lethal 40mm rounds into the van and deploy an armored vehicle  or BearCat  to immobilize the vehicle and prevent Beamon from escaping.

At 10:26 a.m., Beamon exited his vehicle and was taken into custody without further incident. He faces the following charges:

Two counts of attempted first-degree assault.

Two counts of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon.

Vehicular eluding.

Reckless endangerment.

Obstruction of a peace officer.

Violation of a protection order.

Reckless driving.

Driving under the influence.

Unlawful operation of a motor vehicle on Department of Parks and Outdoor Recreation property without first purchasing the required park pass.

Possession of an open alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle.

Possession of an open marijuana container.

Unlawful parking or operation of a motor vehicle in an undesignated area on Department of Parks and Outdoor Recreation property.

Unlawful operation of a motor vehicle in excess of the posted speed limit on Department of Parks and Outdoor Recreation property.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A man accused of getting into a scuffle with a trooper after a stolen vehicle pursuit downtown on Sunday is now in jail.

Johnny Landon, 22, is charged with theft of property $10000-$60000, evading arrest, resisting official detention, and assault on first responder.

On November 24 around 11:35 p.m., troopers say they were patrolling the 600 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue when they saw a white Hyundai Tucson driving with the headlights off.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The trooper says the Hyundai was recognized from a previous Be On The Lookout after being reported stolen. After confirming the vehicle was from the BOLO, the trooper attempted a traffic stop at that time.

That is when the trooper says the Hyundai turned southbound on Walnut Street and sped away. A vehicle pursuit was then initiated.

18-year-old charged with leading trooper on chase in stolen car

According to reports, the Hyundai evaded arrest for nearly 23 minutes before coming to a dead end on North Riverside Drive. Several people then got out of the Hyundai and ran on foot, reports state.

The trooper says one of the suspects was caught and later identified as Johnny Landon. As the trooper was attempting to place Landon in handcuffs, Landon reportedly yanked his arms away in an attempt to run and removed his shirt that was within the troopers grasp.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When the trooper got close enough to Landon to reach over the fence dividing them, he grabbed Landons arm. Landon pulled downward, causing the trooper to be thrown over the metal fence between them and hit the ground, the trooper says. This also caused the troopers shirt to rip.

Young people arrested for crimes

Additional troopers made the scene and placed Landon into custody and in the patrol car after a brief struggle on the ground.

Landon is set to face a judge on Tuesday morning. He is currently held in jail on a $10,000 bond.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  A man facing a murder charge in connection with a June 2023 shooting in the parking lot of a Carolina Forest-area Planet Fitness had a co-defendant and was recently extradited from Connecticut following his arrest in February, Horry County police said.

Branden Huertas was charged in the June 19, 2023, death of David Roldan-Dimas, 20, of York County, South Carolina. The shooting happened in the 1000 block of Glenforest Road.

An arrest warrant said Huertas acted in concert with a co-defendant, but that person was not identified. Horry County police spokesperson Mikayla Moskov told News13 that the names of Huertas and the co-defendant were entered into the National Crime Information Center after the shooting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Moskov said Huertas and that person were arrested in February on unrelated charges in Connecticut and flagged as also wanted out of Horry County.

Since February 2024, we have been awaiting their extradition from CT to SC; however, the individuals had to go through the legal process in CT for their charges before being extradited here, she said. One subject  Huertas  became eligible for extradition before the other subject, and thus he was brought back to SC this week and has been served the charge from HCPD for murder.

The co-defendant remains in Connecticut and has not been charged by Horry County police yet, Moskov said, anticipating that they wont be extradited for some time.

According to a police report, officers were called to the area at about 9:15 p.m. When they arrived, they found Roldan-Dimas unresponsive with a gunshot wound inside a black Chevrolet Camaro that had hit a parked Nissan SUV. Officers removed Roldan-Dimas from the car and began CPR, but he did not survive, the report said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Huertas was booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center on Thursday, where he remains as of this writing without bond. Count on News13 for updates.

* * *

Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

* * *

Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
A man convicted of killing a woman near a Franklin apartment complex last year has been sentenced.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Elijah Thomas, 28, of Lebanon, was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday. His first opportunity for parole will be in 40 to 42 years, according to the Warren County Prosecutors Office.

Thomas was found guilty during a two-day bench trial of aggravated murder, two counts of murder, felonious assault, and improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation earlier this month.

TRENDING STORIES:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The charges were in connection to the killing of Katelyn Puckett, 23, in June 2023.

In the early hours of June 17 Thomas allegedly ambushed Puckett in the 100 block of Boulder Drive, near Emerald Edge Apartments, Franklin Police Department previously told News Center 7.

He fired nine shots at close range before running from the scene. Six of the shots hit Puckett, killing her.

The shooting was captured on a neighbors doorbell camera.

During the investigation, Pucketts family told police that Thomas had made multiple violent threats toward her in the days and weeks before the shooting.

GPS location data showed that Thomas had been lying in wait for more than 30 minutes before Puckett and her companions returned home, prosecutors said.

During court proceedings, Judge Donald E. Oda II noted that Thomas showed little remorse for his actions.

[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]




BURLINGTON, Vt. (myCV)  UVM Police say they have cited the man detained during an investigation into an attempted sexual assault on campus for trespassing.

UVM police did not identify the man, who fled during his encounter with officers near Slade Hall on November 10. At the time, campus police were investigating a reported assault on November 2 at South Prospect and Maple streets, in which a man tackled a woman and tried to remove her clothing.

Police released a Campus Advisory to students and media with the mans photo and asking for help identifying him. They later said he was not involved in the assault.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

UVM police said the man was issued Trespass Notice, but did not offer any new information about the investigation into the attempted assault.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44.
A memorial service for Jim Bishop, who single-handedly built one of Colorados most unique landmarks, will be held Dec. 6 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Pueblo, according to a Facebook post.

Bishop, who began building Bishop Castle southwest of Pueblo in 1969 and never stopped adding to it, died last Thursday. He was 80.

The castle has become a well-known tourist attraction, drawing visitors with its decorative iron work and stained glass. Bishop, who was known as a brash, eccentric figure, remained committed to keeping the attraction free to the public.

Everyone who loved Jim and his work is welcome to attend, the social media post stated.

The memorial service is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
LORAIN, Ohio (WJW)  The Lorain Police Department is investigating after a man was shot and killed Monday.

Expect an enhanced presence of OSP troopers this weekend

According to a press release Tuesday, the victim, identified as Leonard McCall Jr., 39, was shot multiple times.

He was found near a residence in the 400 block of W. 14 Street in Lorain. Officers immediately started lifesaving measures, but he died at the scene.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At this time, no specific suspects have been identified.

Local man sentenced for a potato chips dispute that turned violent

The Lorain Police Department is asking anyone with information to contact the Criminal Investigations Bureau at (440) 204-2105.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Prosecutors charged a 19-year-old man with murder in the deaths of four people he allegedly shot in their Lancaster home, which he then allegedly set on fire to cover his tracks.

The Los Angeles County district attorney's office announced Tuesday that Miguel Diego Sandoval was charged with shooting Edwin Garcia, 24; Matthew Montebello, 23; and siblings Janvi Maquindang, 24, and Christine Aca-ac, 29, in the early morning of Nov. 16. He is accused of breaking into the home while the roommates were asleep and shooting them around 1:30 a.m. with a handgun.

Sandoval then set fire to the house to cover up his crimes, according to prosecutors. Although Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies rescued Montebello from the burning home, he later died from his injuries in the hospital. Garcia, Maquindang and Aca-ac all died at the scene; another victim, described as a teenager, who was in the home was not injured.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read more: 3 bodies found amid flames, chaos at Temple City home; police say roommate has confessed

Prosecutors charged Sandoval with four counts of murder, one felony count of first-degree residential burglary with person present and one felony count of arson of an inhabited structure or property. Authorities also say that Sandoval intentionally killed the victims by means of lying in wait and committed multiple murders, according to the charges.

Sandoval is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 27 for arraignment. He's being held without bail, and if convicted as charged could face a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

A motive for the killings has not been announced by investigators, but the victims' relatives told news station KTLA that Sandoval was an ex-boyfriend of one of the roommates.

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.
Nov. 25One of two Dayton men accused of following family members leaving a funeral for a 14-year-old homicide victim and then shooting at them is headed to prison.

Daviontay Maurice Travis Hunter, 21, pleaded guilty Wednesday to felonious assault. Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Timothy O'Connell immediately sentenced him to two to three years in prison, according to court records filed Thursday.

Hunter's co-defendant, Thomas Michael Peck Jr., 20, was in court Monday for the final pretrial hearing before his Dec. 2 trial.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hunter and Peck had been scheduled to be tried together and Peck's attorney filed a motion to sever their trials. However, Hunter reached a plea agreement six days after the motion was filed so O'Connell ruled the motion moot, according to court documents.

Dayton police were dispatched around 4:50 p.m. March 25 to the 1500 block of Watson Street for a shots fired complaint.

Three people said their vehicle was shot four times when they left the funeral for family member Corey Prater and were followed by a Chrysler 300 reportedly driven by Peck who was accompanied by Hunter, according to an affidavit filed in Dayton Municipal Court.

"Witnesses identified Mr. Peck and Mr. Hunter as the individuals who shot at (the) vehicle, which was occupied at the time of the shooting," the document stated.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hunter admitted to police that he and Peck were in the Chrysler 300 and followed the trio, but he said he didn't shoot, according to documents.

It is not clear whether the shots fired incident was connected to the deadly shooting nearly two weeks earlier.

Prater and 17-year-old Javonta Morgan were shot and killed the evening of March 14 in the 1600 block of Miami Chapel Road, near Louise Troy Elementary School, during a fight involving a group of boys, a 911 caller reported.

A 14-year-old boy is facing murder charges in Montgomery County Juvenile Court. The Dayton Daily News is not naming him because his case is not in adult court.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Years after the murder of a 28-year-old Madison woman, a man was found guilty on multiple charges related to the case.

According to the district attorneys office, Ricky Johnson was found guilty of felony first-degree premeditated murder and felony possession of a firearm late last week. Johnson was put on trial for the 2022 murder of Trashai Siske.

Siske was found fatally shot inside her Sealy Drive apartment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

SEPTEMBER 2022: Madison woman shot, killed in her apartment; homicides up 400% in the area

At the time, a witness reportedly told police that they heard an argument coming from Siskes apartment prior to gunshots.

Authorities searched for Johnson for months before he was ultimately captured in February 2023 when investigators learned he had been driving into Nashville from Sumner County.

PREVIOUS: Suspect captured in Madison womans murder

The district attorneys office added the guilty verdict was secured in part because the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) had been able to use Siskes phone to link her to Johnson. Johnsons car had also been seen at the apartment, but was later found abandoned in Ashland City with identifying documents inside.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  A man was found guilty of attempted murder after shooting an East Rochester police officer.

52-year-old Raymond Noel was convicted Tuesday morning on the charges of attempted aggravated murder, attempted aggravated assault upon a police officer or peace officer, and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

On January 14, 2024, Officer Brad Steve was one of the officers who responded to an unknown call at a Garfield Street apartment. He saw Noel with an illegally possessed handgun.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As officers tried to de-escalate the situation, Noel pointed the gun at Officer Steve, who then fired at Noel. Noel fired multiple shots, one of which hit Officer Steve in the chest. He was protected by his vest.

Chief Michael Brandenburg of the East Rochester Police Department issued a statement after the verdict, expressing his gratitude for the DAs Office and the jury:

I am grateful that the criminal justice system, which ensures accountability for ones actions, has done so today. The guilty verdict we received reflects the consequences of the choices Raymond Noel made on that day.

Noel now faces a maximum of 40 years to life in prison. He will be sentenced on January 15, 2025.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Buffalo man has pleaded guilty in connection to a fatal shooting in the citys University Heights neighborhood in September 2023, the Erie County District Attorneys Office said Tuesday.

Michael Barnes, 37, admitted to shooting and killing 28-year-old Thomas Davis with an illegal gun on the 3011 block of Main Street near Winspear Avenue in the early morning hours of Sept. 12, 2023.

Barnes was arrested a week later and charged with second-degree murder. On Monday, he pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He faces a maximum of 25 years in prison when he is sentenced on Feb. 6, 2025. He is being held without bail.

Latest Local News

Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11)  A man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to shoving an 85-year-old man onto subway tracks in Manhattan last year, according to the Manhattan District Attorneys Office.

Brittan Jones, 30, got into an argument with the man, who was sleeping on a bench at the Rockefeller Center station, back on Nov. 15, 2023. Jones then shoved the victim onto the train tracks before fleeing the scene.

More Local News

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The FDNY, MTA, and NYPD helped get the man off the tracks. He was taken to a hospital for a hip fracture.

Jones, of Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted assault. He could be sentenced to seven years in prison and five years post-release supervision, according to officials.

Today, Brittan Jones is facing accountability for shoving an 85-year-old man onto the subway tracks at the Rockefeller Center station, said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Every New Yorker deserves to be safe in our subway system, and those who jeopardize their safety will be held accountable.

Jones will be sentenced on Dec. 18.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Nov. 25CAVALIER COUNTY  A Hillsboro, Kansas, man was arraigned Thursday, Nov. 1, and pleaded not guilty to five felony charges alleging he had online sexual contact with Cavalier County minors over a years-long period.

Matthew Alyn McCarty, 34, is charged in three separate criminal cases.

In the first, filed Sept. 19, he is charged with Class B felony luring minors by computer-defendant at least 22 years of age, believes the victim to be under age 15. The alleged victim was 10 years old and he was 25 years old at the time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The second case, filed the same day, includes three charges: Class A felony use of a minor in a sexual performance, Class C felony luring minors by computer-defendant at least 22 years of age, believes the victim to be between ages 15 and 17 and Class A misdemeanor indecent exposure to a minor by any electronic means.

The alleged victim was 15 years old and he was 31 at the time, documents say.

The girl told law enforcement she felt uncomfortable and scared that McCarty was out to get her, according to the documents.

In the final case,

which was filed Oct. 11, McCarty is charged with Class A felony use of a minor in sexual performance by persuasion, inducement, coercion or enticement; Class C felony luring minors by computer-defendant at least 22 years of age, believes the victim to be between ages 15 and 17; and Class A misdemeanor indecent exposure to a minor by any electronic means.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An additional charge of Class B felony sexual extortion was originally filed with the third case, but was dismissed a few days later.

Documents say the alleged victim was 17 and he was 27 at the time.

Court documents in all three cases allege that McCarty told law enforcement he engaged in these interactions for his own sexual gratification, and that he was aware of the girls' ages while doing so.

The Class A felony charges have maximum 20-year sentences.

McCarty's next court appearance, a pretrial conference, is scheduled for 10 a.m. Feb. 20. He remains in custody at the Pembina County Correctional Center on a $50,000 cash bond.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A Campbell man charged with three counts of illegal or open dumping and burning pleaded not guilty Tuesday at his arraignment in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Samuel Horvath, 30, was given a $5,000 bond on the charges, all unclassified felonies, by Magistrate Dominic DeLaentis. He is allowed to post 10% of that bond.

A Dec. 11 pretrial date has been set before Judge John Durkin as well as a Jan. 6 trial date. Durkin.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer McLaughlin Bonish said the charges carry a sentence of two to four years in prison and fines from $10,000 to $25,000. Bonish also said this is the first time in all her years as a prosecutor she has seen dumping offenses charged as felonies.

Horvath is accused of dumping tires in 2022 under a bridge on McGuffey Road in Youngstown and also dumping solid waste somewhere in Youngstown, Bonish said.

A grand jury secretly indicted Horvath Oct. 10. He was picked up Monday by Austintown police and taken into custody on a warrant stemming from that indictment.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A man who pleaded guilty in October to charges he beat a woman in January was sentenced Tuesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Joshua Clardy, 36, received a 30-month sentence from Judge Maureen Sweeney following guilty pleas Oct. 17 to charges of felonious assault, a second-degree felony and domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony.

Clardy was arrested in February after a woman told police he beat her on Jan. 26 with a variety of objects on the North Side. The victim was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center to be treated for her injuries.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reports said the woman had cuts and bruises all over her body.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  On Tuesday, a man convicted in a deadly Warren bar shooting learned the punishment for his crime.

Zaa-Von Hameed was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison.

He showed no emotion as he stood before Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas Judge Andrew Logan for sentencing.

This was a senseless, senseless tragedy. Too many guns, too many places to use them. I hope you think about this for the next 23 years to life as you serve your time, Logan said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Earlier this month, a jury found Hameed guilty of aggravated murder in connection to the May 13 death of Nathaniel Bradley.

Nate was a very nice, easygoing person. He was sort of like the family clown. He kept everybody laughing and going, said Virginia Simpson, Bradleys grandmother.

She says she wants justice for her grandson.

Bradleys brother, Rahja Bradley, read a letter from Bradleys mother, Heather Williams, who asked for a life sentence.

Your honor, I believe its only fair. He can still talk, and see his family, hug his mother and family. Nathaniel will never be able to do these affections again. All we have are memories and pictures, pain and sorrow.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bradley was shot and killed at the now-closed ParkPlace 24 Tavern. Investigators had said the two men were fighting before the shooting.

What could have been just a normal rough and tumble at a bar late at night  it used to result in people having a busted lip and a scraped knuckle  and now somebody pulls out guns, the first thing that happens. Its a way of life that has to be dissuaded here, Logan said.

Hameed told the court he plans to file an appeal.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
[Attached video shows previous Fox 8 coverage]

CLEVELAND (WJW)  A man convicted in the stabbing of a clinic worker in Maple Heights was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Jason Halasz of Independence learned his fate in a Cuyahoga County courtroom Tuesday afternoon.

9 indicted in illegal bar scheme across Northeast Ohio

The attack happened April 24 while Halasz was a patient receiving treatment in a private room of the Signature Health clinic along Southgate Park Boulevard.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Authorities said Halasz stabbed the 49-year-old caregiver in the neck and chest with a knife while in the room, and then fled down a hallway. The caregiver reportedly chased Halasz and was stabbed again.

Another employee intervened by throwing a chair at Halasz which allowed a security guard to subdue Halasz at gunpoint, according to a previous news release.

The victim did survive.

Man dies after being shot multiple times: Police

The facility, in the Southgate USA plaza, serves children and adults and specializes in mental health care and addiction recovery as well as primary medical care, according to the Signature Health website.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Halasz previously pleaded not guilty to his indicted charges of attempted murder and felonious assault. He was ordered to have no contact with the victim.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A Campbell man was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison for a chase earlier this year when he drove the wrong way.

Gregory Direnzo, 38, received the sentence from Judge John Durkin in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court following Nov. 19 guilty pleas to charges of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony and obstructing official business, a fifth-degree felony.

Reports said police tried to pull over a car about 7:55 p.m. May 31 driven by Direnzo for an illegal turn at East Marion and South Avenues, but instead of stopping for police, the car continued onto Interstate 680 North.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reports said the car exited the freeway on Marshal Street, but it was traveling north in the southbound lanes of the road before stopping on Hogue Street.

Direnzo got out of the car as the officer told him if he ran he would have his police dog, Spawn, chase him. The man ran, however, and Spawn chased the man before latching onto his arm, reports said. Spawn and Direnzo both tumbled down a small hill, reports said.

Reports said the officer tried to drag both Spawn and Direnzo up the hill, but Direnzo would not stop reaching in his pants and at one point tried to light a cigarette, reports said. Other officers then arrived and they helped drag Direnzo up the hill as Spawn released his grip on him.

Direnzo continued reaching in his pockets and was warned repeatedly to stop, reports said. When he did not, Spawn once again latched onto his arm before Direnzo stopped resisting and he was handcuffed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reports said Direnzo has multiple suspensions on his license and when he was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center to have his arm examined, he told officers he had smoked crack cocaine just before the chase started and he was having hallucinations while he was being treated.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 man has been arrested following a stabbing in Lynn Monday night that left a man seriously injured.

Police say a 37-year-old man suffered serious wounds after being stabbed on Liberty Street around 7: 53 p.m., Lynn police said.

Officers were able to save the victims life by applying tourniquets before transporting him to Massachusetts General Hospital. He is expected to survive.

Alejandro Esteban, 54, of Lynn was arrested and charged with armed assault to murder.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We would like to thank the life-saving actions of our responding First Division officers, the thorough investigation by our Detectives assigned to the Criminal Investigative Division and the assistance of the Massachusetts State Police in this investigation, said Lynn police in a statement.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
CHICAGO  Police are investigating a shooting on the citys Southwest Side Tuesday morning.

The shooting happened around 5:20 a.m. on the 3100 block of West 59th Street in the Gage Park neighborhood.

According to police, a 57-year-old man was driving southbound when a silver or gold sedan pulled up alongside him and someone inside opened fire.

The man was shot in the head, causing him to lose control of his vehicle and drive into a building.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He was transported to Christ Hospital in critical condition.

Child dead after being hit by car in Schaumburg

A 24-year-old male passenger in the victims vehicle was not shot, but was transported to Christ Hospital in good condition for an evaluation.

No other injuries were reported.

The offending vehicle fled in an unknown direction.

No one is in custody at this time. Area One detectives are investigating.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A man is in critical condition following a shooting Monday night in San Franciscos Bret Harte neighborhood, according to the San Francisco Police Department.

Police responded at 8:46 p.m. to the 1200 block of Gilman Avenue on the report of gunfire. Arriving officers located a man who was suffering from gunshot wounds, SFPD said. The officers on scene provided aid until paramedics rushed the man to an area hospital. The injuries are considered life-threatening.

San Francisco watchdog Ricci Wynne arrested, suspected of pimping

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

No arrests have been made in connection to the shooting as of Tuesday morning. Police did not disclose whether any suspects have been identified.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the San Francisco Police Department at (415)-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PIKE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  A man wanted in Pike County on multiple child sex abuse charges has been arrested in New Jersey.

According to the Pike County District Attorneys Office, Everett McKean, who was wanted on sexual abuse of children, was arrested by the Seaside Heights Police Department in New Jersey.

Rikers Island inmate faces cooking oil theft charges in Pa.

In Pike County, McKean is charged with three counts of involuntary deviated sexual intercourse less than 13 Years of age, six counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse less than 16 years of age, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, and other related offenses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officials noted McKean is facing charges in New Jersey and the district attorneys office will have him extradited to Pike County soon.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
A California man who went missing 25 years ago has been found at a hospital after his sister saw his picture in a news article, authorities said.

The discovery unfolded when the sister called authorities on Friday to say she was sent a USA Today article published this spring that showed a photo of a man who looked like her brother, the Lassen County Sheriff's Office said.

The woman's brother had vanished in 1999 from Doyle, California, which is near Reno, Nevada, authorities said. It appears he went missing voluntarily, according to the sheriff's office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

MORE: Menendez brothers listen to court hearing on phone as aunts testify on their behalf

The USA Today article published this spring asked the public to help identify a nonverbal man who was in a hospital in the Los Angeles area, the sheriff's office said.

Lassen County sheriff's deputy Derek Kennemore contacted the hospital and learned the unidentified man was transferred to another LA-area hospital in July, authorities said.

A Los Angeles police detective went to the second hospital and fingerprinted the patient, which confirmed his identity as the man reported missing in 1999, the sheriff's office said in a statement Monday.

Kennemore gave the man's sister the news, and the family will soon be reunited, authorities said. The sheriff's office is keeping the man's identity private.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

MORE: Social media influencer arrested after filming herself getting ready to steal from store using fake barcodes: Police

The sister "was super excited," Capt. Mike Carney of the Lassen County Sheriff's Office told ABC News on Tuesday. "She was very appreciative that we took the time just to follow up on it. She was over the moon and anxious to call other family members to let them know."

"It's gonna make their Thanksgiving that much better," he said.

Carney called this a "perfect example" of not giving up on missing persons cases.

"Be tenacious when it comes to these things, because there are family members that want answers," he said.

Man who went missing in 1999 found after sister sees his picture in news article: Sheriff originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
MANASSAS, Va. (DC News Now)  The City of Manassas is welcoming a new city manager.

The Manassas City Council announced that Steve Burke had been selected to fill the position. This comes after the former city manager, W. Patrick Pate, became the City Manager of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in November 2023.

Burke is currently an Assistant City Manager for Operations and Director of Public Works. He returned to Manassas in January after serving as the Town Manager of Luray. He has over 30 years of experience in local government positions in Florida and Virginia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service share Thanksgiving safety tips

During his role as the City Manager of Luray, he oversaw daily operations, zoning administration, led community outreach and more.

Burke studied at the University of Florida, obtaining his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He is a registered professional engineer in Virginia and Florida.

Steve Burke (Photo Courtesy: City of Manassas)

I greatly appreciate the opportunity from the Mayor and the members of City Council to serve

the residents of Manassas as the City Manager, said Burke. I look forward to working with

City Council and the outstanding members of the City staff to continue to make Manassas a

wonderful place to live, work, play, and visit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Burke will assume his position on Feb. 3, 2025.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
A top federal prosecutor in Manhattan is set to resign in December, the U.S. attorneys office for the Southern District of New York said in a Monday press release.

According to the release, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said Monday that he plans to exit his current role at the U.S. attorneys office for the Southern District of New York at 11:59 p.m. on December 13, 2024.

Today is a bittersweet day for me, as I announce my resignation as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. It is bitter in the sense that I am leaving my dream job, leading an institution I love that is filled with the finest public servants in the world, Williams said in a statement in the release.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is sweet in that I am confident I am leaving at a time when the Office is functioning at an incredibly high level  upholding and exceeding its already high standard of excellence, integrity, and independence, he continued.

President Biden tapped Williams to be U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York in August 2021. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) recommended Williams, who had served as chief of the Manhattan offices securities and commodities fraud task forces prior to his current role, to Biden in March 2021.

Notable figures like New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) and former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) have faced prosecution from the U.S. attorneys office for the Southern District of New York during Williamss time as its leader.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A 16-year-old boy died after being shot in Maricopa on Friday, according to a city spokesperson.

Maricopa police said they received a call at about 7:15 p.m. and discovered the boy with a gunshot wound.

Police said the boy was transported to a Phoenix-area hospital where he later died from his injuries.

His name has not been released.

In a statement to the Arizona Republic, the city spokesperson said police have no reason to believe there is an ongoing threat to the community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The investigation into his death was underway, she confirmed Tuesday afternoon.

Police are asking the community in the area of this incident in Maricopa Meadows that if they have any information they believe can assist MPD in their investigation to reach out to MPDs non-emergency line at 520-568-3673.

Reporter Maritza Dominguez covers Mesa, Gilbert and Queen Creek and can be reached at maritza.dominguez@arizonarepublic.com or 480-271-0646. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @maritzacdom.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Police investigating after Maricopa teen dies from gunshot
If China invades Taiwan, U.S. Marine Corps units and their High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) would be rushed to southwestern Japanese islands near Taiwan and abutting the East China Sea, while a relatively new U.S. Army unit built in part to stop China from closing off the South China Sea would head to adjacent military bases in the Philippines.

Thats the gist of a report in the Japanese press over the weekend that offers a potential glimpse at how two components of U.S. missile forces would be rapidly arrayed to flank China should Beijing move to invade Taiwan. The anonymously sourced Kyodo News report fits with everything we previously understood about U.S. contingency planning in the region.

Kyodos report states that the missile unit deployment layout will be featured in a joint Taiwan contingency plan that the United States and Japan will finalize next month. It also comes as Tokyo has sought to shed decades of post-World War II pacifistic defense military policies in favor of a beefier military budget and a more active role in countering Chinas ascendance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If war breaks out, a U.S. Marine littoral regiment and its HIMARS contingent would head to Japanese island chains that abut the East China Sea, according to Kyodo, which does not specify the islands but reports that they are part of the Kagoshima and Okinawa prefectures. Kyodo did not name Marine units, but the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment is based out of nearby Camp Hansen, Okinawa.

A U.S. Army-fired High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System. (U.S. Marine Corps) U.S. Marine Corps

Marine littoral regiments are a key piece of the services Force Design 2030, which seeks to make Marine units more autonomous, self-sufficient and agile should a war in the Pacific occur. Marines have already been using HIMARS during exercises in the region, including in the latest iteration of the Balikatan exercise in the Philippines this past May.

HIMARS can fire a single Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missile or up to six artillery rockets without reloading. The artillery rockets include the M30/31 Guided Multiple-Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) variety, turning these projectiles into highly-precise rapid strike weapons. GMLRS has a range of around 50 miles, while the much larger and harder-hitting ATACMS can reach out 180 miles. The forthcoming Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) will replace the ATACMS, offering much greater range and eventually anti-ship capabilities, among other critical improvements. Extended Range GMLRS (ER GMLRS) will double the range of the current M30/31 guided rockets as well.

From an early stage, when a Taiwan contingency becomes highly imminent, temporary bases will be set up on inhabited islands of the island chain, based on U.S. military guidelines for dispatching Marines in small formations to several locations, Kyodo reported Sunday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Japans Self-Defense Forces would largely play a support role, fueling and supplying the Marines, according to the report.

Meanwhile, in the South China Sea, U.S. Army units would deploy long-range fires from a Multi-Domain Task Force, Kyodo reports. That Army unit type was first stood up in 2017 and is tasked with challenging anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) defense from peer adversaries, namely China.

A U.S. Army M142 High Mobility Rocket System (HIMARS) waits for its turn to fire in the Philippines in May during Exercise Balikatan 24. (U.S. Marine Corps) Cpl. Kyle Chan

TWZ laid out what such units entail back in 2021:

This MDTF is a testbed organization of sorts that is exploring how to integrate various advanced technologies, including new weapons and greatly improved networking capabilities, as well as associated tactics, techniques, and procedures, into future operations, especially against higher-end opponents, such as China or Russia. This unit set to receive the first operational battery equipped with the Armys future Long Range Hypersonic Weapon, as well as a Mid-Range Capability Battery that could be equipped with land-based SM-6s and Tomahawks, or other weapons, such as Increment 2 PrSMs, depending on how the service proceeds in those development efforts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While more units of this type are in the works, the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) in particular would likely be tasked with the mission of running things from the Philippines. The first-of-its-kind command is based out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, and is assigned to the Indo-Pacific.

Already, a Combined Information and Effects Fusion Cell (CIEFC) assigned to the 1st MDTF has been operating in tandem with the Philippines Northern Luzon command, according to the U.S. Army. That cell began working there during Balikatan 23, providing real-time maritime domain awareness. Since then, it has continued to operate out of Camp Aquino, increasing bilateral maritime domain awareness and supporting Filipino humanitarian and disaster relief efforts, the Army said in June.

The 1st MDTF is also the only unit sporting a Dark Eagle Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) battery, the Army said. That weapon is still in testing though.

The U.S. Armys Dark Eagle hypersonic weapon system. (U.S. Army) The U.S. Armys Dark Eagle ground-based hypersonic weapon. (U.S. Army)

The U.S. Army was busy rotating systems through the Philippines earlier this year. It sent elements of its new Typhon ground-based missile system there in April. Typhon can fire SM-6 multi-purpose missiles and Tomahawk cruise missiles, the former of which will work as a quasi-ballistic missile used for land and anti-ship attack strikes. Typhons arrival provided a glimpse of whats to come as the service works to permanently base these systems in Chinas backyard, TWZ previously reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The War Zone was not immediately able to confirm the details in the report, with Japanese officials not responding to requests for comment. A Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment on the articles accuracy.

We wont speculate on what could happen and for operational security reasons, we wont confirm how the United States would respond, the spokesperson said. Philippine officials also declined comment.

If confirmed, Kyodos reporting underscores the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance, and it reflects the practical manifestations of a 2023 agreement between Washington and Manila to increase the number of bases in the Philippines that American forces can operate from. Under that agreement, the island nation agreed to allow U.S. boots on nine installations, up from five.

As the U.S. watches and waits for what China may eventually do regarding Taiwan, the report reinforces the importance of alliances, and that America wont be able to do everything it can if it doesnt have friendly soil from which to operate.

Contact the author: geoff@twz.com
Nov. 26FAIRMONT  World War II veteran Paul McCue, 98, will get to see a street named in his honor after approval by Clarksburg City Council last Thursday.

"To honor a man like that, and just to see the smile on his face, to me it represents what it means to be a good American," Clarksburg Councilmember Wayne Worth said. "And, what it means to be a good community servant."

Clarksburg City Council presented McCue with a replica street sign bearing his name which will sit atop the signage for Myra Street. Worth said no addresses will change, the sign will only be decorative but will raise awareness for McCue's service as part of the generation that said no to fascism and fought it overseas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Marion County Veterans Advocate Kip Price, of Monongah, who has worked for a better part of the year on getting some kind of public recognition for McCue, said the street sign was perfect because McCue's other preferred method, a bridge renaming, could not take place unless McCue died first. The state typically owns bridges throughout West Virginia, and the rules for naming bridges after individuals require those individuals to be deceased before dedicating the bridge to them.

Price got the idea for having a street in Clarksburg named after McCue after he found inspiration in Fairmont's own new commemorative street naming program. Catherine Dooley Taylor was the first individual to have a street in Fairmont named under this program. Price called Annette Wright, Clarksburg City Clerk, and presented her the idea.

"She was excited when I explained it to her, she knows all about Mr. Paul over there," Price said. "I sent her that picture of the one that was done in Fairmont. She said, 'Yes, we're gonna look into this immediately." She didn't waste no time, and she spread the word with the proper people over there  Public Works department, city manager, and everybody else involved. She thought it was a brilliant idea, and what a way to honor him."

McCue almost didn't make the council meeting where he was scheduled to receive his replica sign. The veteran's nursing home told him something special was going to happen at the City Council meeting, but the message must have been lost in translation because McCue didn't realize at first there was going to be a segment dedicated to him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Price said the nursing home was trying to keep a secret. Council cancelled the segment initially, but after Price got in touch with McCue and hurriedly clarified the situation, Brian and Christy Daugherty volunteered to drive McCue to council at the last minute. Council updated its agenda and all ended well.

Worth said there's going to be a ceremony to place the sign most likely the week of Dec. 9. There had been hopes of doing it sooner than that, but with a cold snap in the forecast in the coming week, Worth said it wouldn't do to have a 98 year old in freezing weather for a ceremony.

Worth said there's only 1,100 World War II era veterans left in West Virginia.

"Even after going through a Great Depression, they still took it upon themselves to serve their country," Worth said. "A lot of them paid the ultimate sacrifices for that. But the ones who did survive and lived to tell their story, we should take full advantage to hear and document their (stories). Because you know, here in the next five years, 10 years, they're all going to be gone."

Reach Esteban at efernandez@timeswv.com
Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has baselessly suggested that President Joe Biden may be trying to start a nuclear war in Europe before he leaves office in order to sabotage Donald Trumps incoming administration.

The Georgia populist, who is never short of a wild conspiracy theory, took to X on Monday to respond to a thinly-sourced post by conservative influencer Mario Nawfal on the Russia-Ukraine war that read: WTF: U.S WANTS TO ARM UKRAINE WITH NUKES BEFORE BIDEN LEAVES?!

In a jaw-dropping twist, Biden officials are reportedly seriously considering giving nuclear weapons to Ukraine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nawfal continued by claiming the Biden administration is floating the idea of returning nuclear arms removed after the Soviet Unions fall and posed the question: Is this about aiding Ukraine  or is something more at play?

Greene amplified the post to her four million followers by commenting: This is INSANE and completely unconstitutional, possibly an act of treason.

This must be stopped immediately!! Is the Biden admin trying to start a nuclear war and use it as the reason to stop the transfer of power to Trump?

It is true that Biden recently moved to authorize Ukraine to use American-made, long-range ATACMS missiles to strike inside Russia for the first time  as well as to use anti-personnel mines on its own territory  in order to help his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky as much as possible before departing the world stage.

Marjorie Taylor Greene (speaking at a Donald Trump presidential campaign event in Savannah, Georgia, in September) is never short of a wild conspiracy theory (AP)

However, there is no evidence at all to suggest he is seeking to escalate the war for domestic political gain or has any intention of returning nuclear weapons to the former Soviet satellite state for the first time in three decades  a move that Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev has warned would invite a direct retaliation from Moscow.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The world is no nearer to a nuclear war than it was before the latest Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Michael Clarke, a professor in the Department of War Studies and former director general of the Royal United Services Institute, assured Newsweek in response to Greenes post.

Mutual deterrence is designed precisely to shield the major powers, and coincidentally the rest of the world, against reckless nuclear threats.

Russias invasion of its western neighbor in February 2022 came a little over a year into Bidens presidency.

Throughout the ongoing war, the 46th commander-in-chief has proven a staunch ally to Ukraine, donating US arms, funding and humanitarian aid while imposing harsh sanctions on Vladimir Putins aggressor nation.

Marjorie Taylor Greene warning of nuclear war on social media on November 25 2024 (Marjorie Taylor Greene/X)

It is by no means certain that Trump will continue to support Kyiv to the same extent when he takes office. He has spoken with Zelensky since his election victory and, throughout the 2024 campaign, repeatedly made clear his priority was to bring the conflict to an end as soon as possible.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When Bidens policy shift on long-range weapons was first announced, Greene was one of a number of MAGA insiders, along with Donald Trump Jr and Richard Grenell, to accuse the president of setting in motion a Third World War.

On his way out of office, Joe Biden is dangerously trying to start WWIII by authorizing Ukraine the use of US long range missiles into Russia, Greene wrote on X, seizing on the opportunity to call for an end to American financial support for Kyiv.

The American people gave a mandate on Nov 5th against these exact America last decisions and do NOT want to fund or fight foreign wars. We want to fix our own problems. Enough of this, it must stop.

The same argument was made this week by influential podcaster Joe Rogan, drawing an angry response from Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, who accused him of parroting Russian propaganda.

Greene, who was recently appointed by Trump to lead a subcommittee supporting Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamys Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has in the past been widely associated with a string of unfounded conspiracy theories, from QAnon and Jewish space lasers to, more recently, Democrats controlling the weather.
Marriott Hotels is using AI to serve up some serious food waste reduction across its hotels.

As reported by National World, Marriott has reduced food waste across 53 of its hotels in the U.K., Ireland, and Nordic regions.

Through Winnow AI technology and The PLEDGE, a global food waste certification, Marriott has reduced food waste by 25% within the first six months of 2024. This initiative, implemented across Marriott's kitchens, helps track and minimize food waste in real time, allowing chefs and kitchen staff to make more informed choices on ordering, portioning, and menu planning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The project is making significant improvements. Marriott reported cutting their waste by nearly 486 tons of pollution emissions, equivalent to the amount produced to charge over 32 million mobile phones.

Reducing food waste protects our planet in so many ways. Not only does it cut down on pollution from food production and transport, but it also conserves resources like water  141 billion gallons saved in one recent study. Landfilled food waste produces methane, a gas with 80 times the warming impact of carbon dioxide over 20 years. Composting reduces methane and provides nutrient-rich soil, supporting sustainable farming.

That said, the talk of water savings in particular highlights a bit of a paradox with the advent of AI, in that the technology is so power-hungry and thus heat-generating that Google's data centers alone consumed about 5.6 billion gallons of water for cooling in 2023. Of course, this use by Marriott is a drop in a different bucket by comparison, but just 20-50 prompts require about a 16.9-ounce bottle's worth of water for cooling. That's not even to mention the energy usage, which often draws from polluting sources  and even creating just four AI-generated images consumes the power of an entire fully charged cellphone.

Uses of AI like this one surely do more good than harm, but every impressive feat of AI should still come with a reminder that it should be used responsibly on needs that justify its costs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Executive Chef Anna Pazdera at Marriott Heathrow shared how AI insights have helped staff get creative with surplus ingredients  transforming items like banana peels into delicious vegetarian options. Hotels also engage guests by offering smaller portions and sharing zero-waste recipes via QR codes, further educating customers on sustainable dining.

Joanna Chugh, Marriott's Area VP, praised the collaborative effort, noting the role of over 3,000 employees in making this initiative a reality.

"We're incredibly proud," she said, emphasizing the strong commitment to sustainability that has also led to Marriott's Green Key certification  a dedication given to hospitality companies who are truly committed to sustainability  across the region.

David Jackson from Winnow celebrated the results, stating, "Marriott is setting a new standard for sustainability in the hospitality industry."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This initiative aligns with other impactful moves by companies aiming to reduce waste, like Albertson's and Trader Joe's food donation programs. By leading the way with smart, resource-efficient solutions, Marriott is not only reducing environmental impact but also creating a dining experience that's better for customers and the planet.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes)  Our beautiful and beloved Mary Loretta Wallace, 61, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at Select Specialty Hospital in Boardman, Ohio.

Mary Wallace, also known as Candy, was born August 18, 1963 In Youngstown, Ohio a daughter of the late George Robert and Mary Taylor Chavis.

Find obituaries from your high school

She graduated from South High School in 1981 and obtained a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a minor in sales and marketing from Youngstown State University in 1989

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mary was the founder and proprietor of Insurance Network Solutions, where she served her community with insurance and investment policies.

Mary was a faithful member of Rising Star Baptist Church. There, she was a member of the praise team, the choir, worked in the nursery and was the President of the Domestic Violence Committee. She was passionate about helping those in need of spiritual and physical assistance, those she encountered both in and out of her daily profession.

Mary was also very passionate about singing, decorating her home and vacationing in Virginia with her family.

Mrs. Wallace leaves to mourn yet leaves behind a legacy of love and cherished memories, her husband and the love of her life of 32 years whom she married August 16, 1992, Kent L. Wallace; her children, Sanitria and Jason Gardner, Ronnell and Regina Elkins, Appollonia Baker, Vanity Wallace, Kent Wallace II and Paris Wallace and their respective spouses; Mr. Presley Gillespie and Mrs. RaShawn Chavis. She leaves in love her nieces and nephews, Brandon Barnes, Karissa and Josh Russell, Portia Gillespie, Corbin Croom and Jarrett Gillespie. She was loved by many including her honorary sisters, Davida Jones and family and Hylemia Blacken and family, in addition to the members of the family group, Sista Girlz, that she founded which included her beloved cousins and their families.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mary will be missed but she will never be forgotten as she is in our hearts.

She was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents and a grandson, Jason Alan Gardner II.

Matthew 25:35-40 (NKJV)..For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me..The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (NKJV)

Visitation will be held from 9:00  10:00 a.m., Saturday November 30, 2024 at Rising Star Baptist Church, 2943 Wardle Avenue, Youngstown, OH 44505, where funeral services will begin at 10:00 a.m.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Arrangements handled by L.E. Black, Phillips & Holden Funeral Home.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mrs. Mary Loretta Wallace, please visit our floral store.

A television tribute will air Wednesday, November 27 at the following approximate times: 5:17 a.m. on WKBN, 8:39 a.m. on FOX, 5:21 p.m. on WYTV and 6:35 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WWLP)Massachusetts federal lawmakers wrote a letter to the Department of Defense on Monday requesting the grounding of the V-22 Osprey aircraft.

Congressman Richard Neal along with Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey have requested the Department of Defense ground the full fleet of Bell Boeing V-22 Ospreys until safety issues are resolved.

The Ospreys safety issues spiked over five years and caused deaths. Pilots still want to fly it

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A V-22 Osprey is an aircraft that takes off like a helicopter but when in the air, can fly more like a plane. In the past decade alone, there have been 7 deadly Osprey crashes with the most recent happening November of 2023, killing a Pittsfield native when the aircraft crashed in a training mission in Japan. Another crash last year resulted in the death of a Marine from Leominster, Massachusetts.

Congressman Richard Neal told 22News that legislators want to seek clarity.

There have been a number of accidents with the Osprey and I think what we want to know is what steps have been taken to ensure the safety of our military and simultaneously if there is a technical issue that needs to be repaired, then the military and the contractors have to get after it, Neal explained.

The letter details how the two recent safety reports from the Air Forces investigation into the November 2023 crash was the result of a long list of institutional and manufacturing issues.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Congressman Neal said when men and women sign up for the military, they understand there can be threats from foreign countries and organizations, but there shouldnt be a threat or concern from our own equipment.

Just last month, an Osprey hit the ground in a flight accident, leading Japan to ground all aircrafts to highlight the safety issues.

Read the letter sent to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin here:

v-22_oversight_letter_122223Download

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BOSTON (WWLP)  A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty on Monday morning in connection with threatening to kill members of the Jewish community and threats to bomb local places of worship.

In a news release from the Department of Justice, 59-year-old John Reardon of Millis pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs by threat of force, one count of transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure a person and one count of stalking using a facility of interstate commerce.

Nine arrested in Massachusetts on drug charges in gang operation takedown

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Jan. 25 Reardon allegedly called Congregation Agudas Achim, a synagogue in Attleboro, and left a voicemail with the following statements:

You do realize that by supporting genocide that means its ok for people to commit genocide against you;

With supporting the killing of innocent little children, that means its OK to kill your children;

From the river to the sea;

People are going to use your logic against you, you stupid f****;

Guess what? We are going to use your logic if you can kill the Palestinians, we can kill you;

If you can bomb their f***ing places of worship we can bomb yours, if you can kill their children we can kill yours;

You people need to stop the f***ing genocide;

End the genocide, or it is time to end Israel and all the Jews;

I supported Jewish people though. Not anymore. A matter of fact I think we should kill you(s) all; and

Have a lousy day and oh dont be surprised if theres pig blood on your steps tomorrow.

This defendants threats to bomb synagogues and kill Jewish children stoked fear in the hearts of congregants at a time when Jews are already facing a disturbing increase in threats, said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. No person and no community in this country should have to live in fear of hate-fueled violence. The Justice Department is committed to using the full force of our investigative and prosecutorial authorities to root out these threats and ensure that all people are protected in the expression of their faith.

John Reardon now stands convicted of inflicting terror on the greater Boston Jewish community by threatening violence against fellow residents of Massachusetts solely because they of their Jewish faith. This insidious, pernicious conduct must be met with the full force of the criminal justice system to make sure victims and potential offenders alike know that hate crimes and acts of antisemitism will never be tolerated, said United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When John Reardon threatened to kill members of the Jewish community and bomb places of worship, the FBI and our partners immediately mobilized. After all, you cannot call and threaten people with violent physical harm and not face repercussions said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division. People of all races and faiths deserve to feel safe in their communities. With todays guilty plea, John Reardon is now a convicted felon.

It is also alleged that within 10 minutes of leaving that voicemail, Reardon called another synagogue and a local Jewish-affiliated organization. He was arrested after those calls were made.

After his arrest, it was discovered that Reardon had also allegedly called the Israeli Consulate in Boston 98 times between Oct. 7, 2023 and Jan. 29, 2024 and made harassing and intimidating statements.

Reardon faces up to 20 years in prison for obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs by threat of force, up to five years in prison for transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure a person, and up to five years in prison for stalking using a facility of interstate commerce.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 14, 2025.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
BOSTON (WWLP)  The Secretary of the Commonwealth released Massachusetts official presidential election turnout statistics, and they show a drop in participation from last cycle.

While the 2020 election had a better turnout than 2016, 2024 saw a decrease in participation, with 3.5 million votes cast this year, as compared to 3.6 million votes in 2020 and almost 3.4 million votes in 2016.

In some cities, turnout was lower than in both 2020 and 2016. In western Massachusetts, both Amherst and Holyoke saw turnout more than 10% lower than the 2016 election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the election overseer, this decline reflects trends across the country. The turnout in Massachusetts appears to reflect a national trend, with a significant drop in participation in several of our cities, especially those with larger minority populations, said Bill Galvin, the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Secretary Galvin explained that since Massachusetts adopted automatic voter registration 4 years ago, turnout cannot be accurately measured as a percentage of registered voters. Simply looking at the percentage of registered voters who voted, in comparison to previous elections, would give a false impression of a significant decline in statewide turnout, said Galvin.

The secretary says several factors could be responsible for lower turnout, including a change in lifestyle and voting behaviors as a result of the pandemic. Despite lower comparative turnout, voter registration in Massachusetts is at a record high with 5 million registered voters.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Its the morning of Halloween and workers at Magnolia and May are trying to make sure the outdoor decorations hold up to the heavy wind and rain thats pounding the MidSouth.

Employees are also swapping out the menus which are changed daily and squeezing fresh lemon to make simple syrup for cocktails.

Chef and owner Chip Dunham is prepping for lunch service in the kitchen. The griddle sizzles with butter for the French toast and chicken. Its a fan favorite along with the double cheeseburger with a crispy cheese skirt that Dunham starts to make.

Chip Dunham, Chef and Owner of Magnolia and May (Photo by WREG)

Dunham is a Memphis native and second-generation restaurant owner. He and his wife opened Magnolia and May as Covid-19 was shutting down the world.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We opened in May of 2020 and weve just been doing it ever since, said Dunham.

Chip Dunham, Chef and Owner of Magnolia and May (Photo by WREG)

They survived a global pandemic and all the challenges since, including finding and keeping employees, which in Memphis, can be compounded by problems with transportation.

We currently have employees that are dependent on public transit and weve had some in the past as well, and its just, its just the challenge of running a restaurant at this time, said Dunham.

Why some fear privatizing parts of MATA will be brought up again

Dunham says the challenge is mainly because of the hours the buses run.

The closest bus stop to the East Memphis restaurant is at Poplar and Mendenhall. Its not far, but according to Dunham, workers say its unreliable.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I have employees tell me all the time theyre sitting at a bus stop, and a bus just drives by them and leaves them at the bus stop when theyre supposed to stop, explained Dunham.

Which means making adjustments when employees are late or have to leave early.

They stop running at like 9:00 or 10:00 and were open till 10:00 and, you know, I have a dishwasher, a cook that has to catch the bus, then all of a sudden, they have to leave before their shift would be over, added Dunham.

The restaurant loses a team member serving the public and that employee loses out on money.

I think it limits peoples economic opportunity because theyre either, A dependent on working somewhere within walking distance and B it just limits the amount of places you can work, said Dunham, who explained the problem is even worse on weekends.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

MATAs interim CEO exits through side door after TransPro presents initial findings

Dunham said, It definitely limits the amount of hours people work because, you know, the bus has a limited schedule on Saturday and Sunday, which is, you know, our busiest day, which would potentially give a potential employee more hours.

Four days a week, including Saturdays, Stephanie Washington rides a bus from her Cherokee Hills neighborhood to downtown Memphis for work.

Stephanie Washington (Photo by WREG)

I catch it like, like eight oclock so I can get there early  if it shows up, Washington explained.

WREG asked, What happens on the days it doesnt show up?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She replied, Have to wait, or I call them and say Im going to be late because the bus didnt show up.

Washington works at Bass Pro at the Pyramid.

I work at the front desk, Im a cashier. Meet a lot of different people, said Washington who we happened to meet on an off day in East Memphis where she was waiting on a bus along a route that runs Poplar Avenue to Exeter in Germantown.

Stephanie Washington (Photo by WREG)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She helps to welcome millions of visitors to Memphis each year. One of the citys major tourist attractions depends on employees like Washington, meanwhile, its hard for her to depend on MATA to get there.

MATA bus (Photo by WREG)

50 percent of MATAs riders use it to get to work, according to a report from a consulting firm the city hired to audit MATAs operations.

MATA consultant says agency needs to hire, not fire, drivers

The same report showed that Memphians who were surveyed, including those who dont use MATA, ranked job access as the most important area for transit improvement.

Ted Townsend, President & CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber (Photo by WREG)

Ted Townsend is the President & CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber, where they recently partnered with Ford and others to fund grants to entrepreneurs for ideas in mobility innovation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We feel that transit mobility equates to economic mobility, said Townsend.

Research from 2021 regarding job proximity reveals Memphis ranked next to last, compared to peer cities, with its percentage of the population that has access to jobs.

New MATA board votes to pause service change, fare increase until 2025

The imperative of mobility and transit options becomes even more challenged when you have that small portion of your population that has job accessibility. So, we obviously have to look at transit in different ways, said Townsend.

Beverly Robertson has seen the growth and decline of public transportation in Memphis. The Bluff City native grew up in Orange Mound and recalled a time when people from all walks of life rode the bus.

Beverly Robertson, Co-Founder and COO of Trust Marketing (Photo by WREG)

Weve got to think about this as a growth strategy, as an economic development attraction strategy for the Memphis marketplace, said Robertson, Co-Founder and COO of Trust Marketing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During her tenure as President and CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber, Robertson met with leaders from some of the areas largest companies about their workforce and transportation challenges.

All of us have a stake in a successful and efficient transit system, because when we realize that it is driving growth, if were not growing, were dying, said Robertson.

MATA bus (Photo by WREG)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The birth of transformation for transit in Memphis starts with changing the narrative, Robertson says.

Even those who think that I dont want to pay for a service that Im not using. Thats not a good way to look at the growth of Memphis. If we only want to pay for services that you use, then a lot of institutions are out of business, added Robertson.

Clean-slate: Mayor Young replaces MATA board members following report

Businesses we all depend on, and their growth, along with the broader communitys Robertson says, requires building a new operating model for public transit which should include government, business leaders, advocates, riders, and innovators lending their voice.

Beverly Robertson, Co-Founder and COO of Trust Marketing (Photo by WREG)

If we position public transit as an investment in the future and growth of Memphis, then I think we make a solid case for dedicated funding for everybody sitting at the table and discussing it. Because when you invest, there is always a return, Robertson said.

Stephanie Washington (Photo by WREG)

Returns that pay off, so riders like Washington arent left wondering if their route will soon be cut, and for business owners like Dunham who see a brighter future for the Bluff City.

Chip Dunham, Chef and Owner of Magnolia and May (Photo by WREG)

If we had a reliable public transportation system, I think it would be a game changer for Memphis, said Dunham.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

 WREG Investigators have spent months digging deeper into the transit authority and its $60 million deficit. We pored through records, listened to hours of meetings and pressed for answers as we work to find out what went wrong. Hear from riders and our top leaders who fear what would happen to the entire community if its not fixed.

See all the stories in this series:

 Why a 3-mile trip to the grocery took this woman 6 hours on MATA

 Fewer buses = more poverty and crime, expert says

 MATA says maintenance facility is sinking

 The economic impact of MATA transit troubles

 MATAs deficit took years to get here. How do we get out?

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Memphis Area Transit Authority said the land underneath its maintenance facility is sinking and is costing them millions in repairs each year.

Its only adding to the list of problems the agency is trying to fix. MATA reports its in a $60 million deficit.

I would kind of say MATA is in a little bit of rehab right now, MATAs Interim CEO Bacarra Mauldin said.

She took WREG Investigators on a tour of the maintenance facility off North Watkins. She said the building was constructed on a landfill nearly five decades ago.

If theres any project we should be full speed ahead on, its getting a maintenance facility, she said. Here are the bays we work on their buses. You see that. How the ground is settling under there. This ground that we are on is sinking.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She told us it is continuously sinking, so they are continuously sinking money into this facility.

Mauldin told us they spend about $5 million a year on the facility to keep it afloat.

In 2022, the Federal Transit Administration announced they were giving MATA $76 million for new buses and a new maintenance facility.

MATAs CEO at the time, Gary Rosenfeld, celebrated the positive impact it would have.

Reliable buses are an important aspect of service delivery, and this will help us gain efficiency in our maintenance operations, he said.

Rosenfeld suddenly left MATA 18 months later. Soon after that, the news of the deficit made headlines.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Memphis Mayor Paul Young called on an independent transit consulting firm to help them figure MATAs operations and what went wrong.

In October, Transpros initial report was released. It addressed the issues at the maintenance facility and suggested MATA salvage decommissioned vehicles and scrap metal to pay for needed short-term repairs.

It also stated MATA reported to the FTA in June and applied this year to build the facility. The project would be complete in 2029.

Transpro said as of June, preliminary engineering was still in progress and claimed MATA hasnt even developed a comprehensive facility master plan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

MATA just said the current plan is a living document with continuous updates as needs and budget commands.

Maudin said in the tour, they identified new land in an industrial zone, and its not on a landfill.

I cant go through a lot of details. We are going through the legal process and negotiations, she said.

Mauldin stressed shes been meeting with the city mayor and his administration weekly as they continue to figure out the best plan moving forward.

She said the board will determine what to do with the current land the maintenance facility is on, but city code states ultimately, that call is left up to the council.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

 WREG Investigators have spent months digging deeper into the transit authority and its $60 million deficit. We pored through records, listened to hours of meetings and pressed for answers as we work to find out what went wrong. Hear from riders and our top leaders who fear what would happen to the entire community if its not fixed.

See all the stories in this series:

 Why a 3-mile trip to the grocery took this woman 6 hours on MATA

 Fewer buses = more poverty and crime, expert says

 MATA says maintenance facility is sinking

 The economic impact of MATA transit troubles

 MATAs deficit took years to get here. How do we get out?

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11)  A Brooklyn father vows to fight for maternal health for women of color after his wife and two other women died while giving birth at Woodhull Hospital.

The Health Department admits the city-run hospital is facing a maternal health crisis.

More Local News

Jose Perez remembers the day in November of last year feeling helpless. Its when his wife Christine Fields went into labor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Perez said, They were not listening to me, my voice was not being heard.

Fields was rushed to Woodhull Hospital and he said just minutes after her arrival she experienced complications following an emergency C-section. Perez said it was the worst day of his life. I went to check on her and she was basically lifeless.

What happened next Perez says, only added to his pain and intense feeling of being disrespected by the very same doctors he entrusted with his wifes care.

After eleven days, Perez said he was finally allowed to take his newborn baby Anual home.

Fields is not the other one going through these same feelings, hes part of a disturbing trend of mothers losing their lives during childbirth.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hospital sued for alleged medical malpractice after Black mother dies after giving birth

Khole Lopez, a 4-year-old, lost her mother Sha-Asia Simple the same day she was born at Woodhull Hospital. She went in for an epidural and I didnt see her after that, said Desiree Williams, Kholes grandmother. The next time I saw her, they were pumping her chest trying to revive her.

In September, 24-year-old Bevorlin Garcia-Barrios also died while giving birth at Woodhull.

The Citys Health Department said an average of 20 women die each year from pregnancy or childbirth-related causes. Black and brown women make up a majority of the fatalities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Black women are nine times more likely to die due to pregnancy-related complications. Experts agree, that racism often drives systemic disparities.

Dr. Christina Pardo, an OBGYN said, This is not just New York City phenomenon. This is evident also in New York State, not to the same level and across the U.S., so this is a disparity when it comes to black women, black families, black communities, and the challenges that they face in their communities and the hospitals.

Dr. Parsi is now doing advocacy work to help women in her own community.

Scientists show how pregnancy changes the brain in innumerable ways

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Alana Wade is a Doula and Yoga instructor, she has been working with pregnant women for years.

Wade said, A lot of people that are Medicaid recipients dont have the best access to spaces when it comes to providers like esthetically, professionally just the lack of holistic care which can be very crucial during pregnancy.

Wade opened Full Circle Wellness in Harlem to help women.

Perez is not on the frontlines in hopes of helping families and changing laws.

In a statement, New York Health and Hospitals said: New York City Health and Hospitals says HIPPA prevents it from speaking about any specific patient case.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But in a statement, the health care system says that it provides quality, culturally responsive health care services to address the disparities and race-based healthcare gaps that historically and disproportionally affect the diverse population of patients we proudly serve.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Nov. 25The St. Joseph School District released its Annual Performance Report Monday, showcasing gains in several areas that move the needle closer to accreditation goals.

Results are based on student performance during statewide assessments showing math and social studies scores rising. For 2024, the St. Joseph School District has a composite score of 67.9% with a 67.5% APR. This indicates a 4.3% gain since 2023.

"Seventy percent of those results are based on our student performance, 30% are based on what (the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) would call our continuous improvement," said Kendra Lau, the district's director of school improvement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lau said that 4.3% gain helps the district get closer to the 70% mark for accreditation. In 2025-26, the three-year composite APR score will dictate each district's accreditation status.

"We're glad that we're 2.1 points from that mark," Lau said.

Hosea Principal Justin McCarthy said the results represent a lot of hard work. While the district still has improvements to make, notably in English/language arts, he believes they show that every kid is getting better every day and it's the teachers and staff who make this possible.

McCarthy said he has seen teacher turnover rates decrease at Hosea during his time at the school.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"When I was here, it was very much a family feel. And so that's what we've created over the seven years," McCarthy said.

Likewise, McCarthy's students have been working hard to improve their learning skills.

"They're very passionate about their learning now. And I can't say that it's always been that way here," he said.

Some notable highlights of the report include curriculum improvements. The SJSD earned twice as many growth points in math this year compared to 2023. Grades 3, 5, 6 and Algebra I all had increases.

In social studies, the district also saw growth, earning 83.3% of the points possible.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

McCarthy said reading also has been a great area of success for his students.

"We made a really positive change with foundational reading in our school district. And I think we're seeing great results," he said.

As far as notable schools, Benton, Lafayette, Bode, Robidoux, Truman, Coleman, Field, Hosea, Hyde, Lindbergh, Pershing, Pickett and Skaith all made improvements. Hyde, Hosea, Coleman and Lindbergh made improvements of more than 15%, while Pershing soared, gaining 30.7%.

"Bode came up almost 10 points on their report," said Lau. "Field Elementary is at 96.5%. They're the highest school in the district."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This data gives school officials positive reinforcement when it comes to some of the approaches they're taking, reflecting not only of staff but the St. Joseph community as well.

Graduation rates also significantly increased, with a 12.2% gain from 2023. The district finished at 89%, which is the highest graduation rate for the district since the pandemic ended.

Graduation follow-ups are doing extremely well. The district continued to earn 100% of the points in this category.

"That really allows us to know what our graduates are doing when they leave us, whether they're employed in the military or they're in a two- or four-year institution," Lau said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Attendance is also at an all-time high since the pandemic. Lau attributes this to an increased focus by parents to get their kids to school and students wanting to come to school.

"Right now in the district, we're at 86% and we've been at 86% since August," she said.

Hosea is currently hovering around the 90% mark, a major increase from the building average of 63% not long ago.

Overall, the district earned 100% of the points dedicated to its Continuous School Improvement Plan, its response to Missouri School Improvement Program standards and a Climate and Culture Survey report. The district also received 100% for its Kindergarten Entry Assessment and Individual Career and Academic Plans for all eighth graders.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Areas of improvement needed include English/language arts, with declines consistent over the last three years continuing.

Science performances have improved but not enough to make an impact. Recently, biology was changed from a ninth-grade course to a 10th-grade class to allow students to retain more of the valuable information needed. Lau said she expects this will show an improvement in years to come.

The district has implemented a new assessment system to help teachers adjust their instruction before students get to the end-of-year exam.

Superintendent Gabe Edgar said despite the gains he knows there is room to do better.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The district is targeting proficiency improvements in a number of ways which include a laser focus on data-driven instruction, voice and choice in learning experiences, real-world experiences," he said.

Edgar said reimagining how the district can best serve students is a great way to help future graduates thrive.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has called Matt Gaetzs nomination to become Donald Trumps attorney general a fear for all young girls in the latest war of words between the longtime Republican foes.

Theres been no love lost between the two former GOP congressmen for some time ever since Gaetz led the charge to oust McCarthy as speaker in October 2023.

And so, it seems McCarthy couldnt resist sticking the knife in over Gaetzs failed, shortlived bid to join Trumps administration when he appeared on Fox Newss Jesse Watters Primetime on Monday night.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

McCarthy commended the Trump administration for getting rid of the problem and took a swipe at Gaetz, saying that young girls need their justice.

At this moment in time, you look at his [Trumps] poll approval of what hes doing with this new transition hes bringing. Got rid of the problem, now hes in a very good place and the approvals high, McCarthy said.

And youre saying the problem was Matt Gaetz? Watters said with an awkward smile.

Kevin McCarthy threw a jab at Matt Gaetz during an appearance on Fox News on Monday night (Fox News/Jesse Watters Primetime)

Well, thats a fear for all young girls, McCarthy retorted. They need their justice.

Oh stop it You guys hate each other, Watters replied. Were going to have a pay-per-view fight between you two.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

McCarthy continued: No, no, lets be very honest. Theres no reason why that man shouldve ever been nominated.

Those girls need justice and that is not the place for him. He wouldve stayed in Congress if hed cared about that.

Gaetz was the focus of a sex trafficking investigation by the Department of Justice, the agency he sought to lead in Trumps second administration, and a House Ethics Committee probe over sexual misconduct allegations, including that he paid for sex with an underage girl. The DOJ investigation ended without charges and Gaetz has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing.

Gaetzs attorney general nod on November 13 prompted him to resign from the House, ending the ethics probe.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But calls mounted for the findings of the investigation to be released and doubts grew as to whether he would get enough votes to be approved in the Senate.

Gaetz, pictured at the Republican National Convention in July, was the focus of a House Ethics Committee probe over sexual misconduct allegations (REUTERS)

Eight days after he was tapped for the role, Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration saying he was becoming a distraction to the Trump-Vance transition.

Gaetz and McCarthys feud came to a head in October 2023 when the then-Florida lawmaker led the charge to oust McCarthy as speaker.

The House Ethics Committee investigation opened in 2021 while Nancy Pelosi was speaker, before it was paused during the DOJ probe. It was revived in June 2023, when McCarthy was speaker and the same month Gaetz initiated his ouster.

In April, McCarthy said that Gaetz had been motivated to push him out because he [Gaetz] slept with a 17-year-old.
The future of news is the title of a report out this week from a Committee of the House of Lords. Among its best recommendations is a caution against the use of a kite-mark scheme in which some news content would receive a UK regulatory stamp of approval.

In addressing this concept upfront, the Communications and Digital Committee has tackled a misplaced solution which risks inserting government into the heart of our professions impartiality and trust regime.

Im privileged to lead the Sky News Group as executive chairman. In that capacity alongside our executive editor, I was also privileged to give evidence to this inquiry.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sky News is a uniquely independent outlet  not state-supported in any way, we sit within a multinational conglomerate, Comcast, which has committed to our editorial freedom alongside various other news brands it manages around the world, such as NBC.

We regularly top Ofcoms audience and consumer trust tables in the agencys annual News Consumption survey and this summer posted some of our highest audiences in two years, partly on interest in the UK and US elections.

I was eligible to vote in one of those elections  and it wasnt the one for Westminster.

As an American who has spent more than 25 years covering politics from US newsrooms, I see a lot to like about the UKs distinct framework for trust, impartiality and also freedom of expression.

Sky Newss share of the UK TV audience for the US election grew 29pc vs 2020 - AP Photo/Evan Vucci

And the UK seems interested in whats unfolding in America too: millions live-streamed our US election coverage around the world, while our share of UK TV audience was up 29pc on 2020.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The plurality of UK broadcasting is unique and delicate. Britains news environment could only exist here, benefitting as it does from an engaged audience, a robust press, a mix of funding models, an effective regulator, and ultimately, a belief that journalists have a professional job to do. All that and its in English  the most powerful global language, and the one on which most AI is training.

But we could screw it up. In much of the world, the state controls the media. No one is proposing that for the UK, but it would be a mistake for our industry to invite government in as an arbiter of our credibility.

The Lords were right to call out the dangers of a kite-mark. It is a crude instrument which wont necessarily support investment in robust reporting and investigative journalism.

A government stamp of approval would be no substitute for prominence, which once was the privilege a regulated broadcast regime could bestow.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Those who advocate the kite-mark do not have good answers on the inevitable confirmation bias that will attend any government approving or disapproving of a broadcasters output. Naturally, a portion of the population will disbelieve something that the state has certified.

Not least, our role in the news media should be to challenge the Government sceptically, not to seek their approval  especially in times like Covid or the financial crisis, where official messaging demanded constant scrutiny.

In a lighter moment giving evidence at the Lords, I was asked how Skys role had changed now that were seen as part of the establishment. I said I was flattered that peers viewed me as part of the establishment given that I am not actually from here.

So take it from me, Britains fragile news ecosystem is a cultural jewel which projects good values  and good value  around the world. Dont risk that advantage trying to pick editorial winners and losers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

David Rhodes is executive chairman of Sky News Group

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 Montana State Capitol in Helena on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (Photo by Mike Clark for the Daily Montanan)

Medicaid expansion is a crucial priority for Democrats in the 2025 Montana Legislature  but Democratic leaders said Monday they want to do better than just continue the program.

Rep. SJ Howell of Missoula said Democratic lawmakers will bring legislation that would make the program better, such as helping seasonal workers more easily keep their insurance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Continuing our current Medicaid program is the most important job that we have, but that is the floor, and we do have a vision for ways we can improve the program, said Howell, also House minority whip.

Last week, Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte released his budget proposal for the 2027 biennium, and it includes Medicaid expansion, which covers nearly 80,000 Montanans.

The program will sunset in June 2025 without action by lawmakers.

At a video news conference Monday, Howell and Rep. Mary Caferro, a Helena Democrat and vice chairperson of appropriations, offered their reactions to the governors budget and discussed Medicaid expansion as a priority for Democrats.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We are really pleased that the governors budget includes our current Medicaid program as part of the base budget, Howell said.

On the other hand, Caferro said the most recent income tax cut is the worst one of the three such cuts the governor has proposed, especially in light of increases to property taxes that she said Republicans didnt address in 2023.

The income tax cut means the top 20% of earners get 75% of the cut, and everyone else has to share the remaining 25%, she said. She said it means the lowest earners will get a pittance.

In the meantime, Caferro said Democrats will offer targeted solutions that are fair and that benefit working families, children and elderly people, for instance. She cited a child tax credit bill as one example, and she questioned the benefits of an earlier income tax cut.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Has it made housing more affordable? No, Caferro said. Has it made a loaf of bread more affordable so a parent can feed their kids? No. Has it brought down property taxes, or in some way mitigated the harm that property taxes have placed on the shoulders of Montanans? No.

In the last session, Republicans approved as much as $675 in property tax rebates for 2022 and 2023, but many people who qualified for them never received them, at least in the first year, and Democrats said the rebate also left out renters.

In response to property tax increases, however, the governor also convened a property tax task force, which delivered proposals the 2025 legislature will take up.

This month, Gianforte handily won re-election, and although Republicans lost their supermajority from 2023, they will still control the Montana Legislature with majorities in both chambers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Property taxes and Medicaid expansion are expected to be significant topics of debate for the 2025 legislature.

Lawmakers already have been hearing reports on the effects of Medicaid expansion in Montana, including from groups that have lobbied against expansion in other states, according to reporting from KFF Health News.

The expansion program covers people with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level, or roughly $21,000. The federal government pays 90% of the expansion cost, and the state pays 10%.

Democrats generally see that math as a good deal for the economy and the health of Montanans. However, some Republicans worry the state could be obligated to pay even more down the line should the federal government contribute less than 90% in the future.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At the press conference Monday, Howell and Caferro said they believe Montanans and the leaders they elected see value in the program.

Howell said some Republicans would prefer to see the program end, but Howell and Caferro both said they believe a diverse group of legislators will support its renewal.

I think that every legislator, Republican or Democrat, understands just how important our Medicaid program is, Howell said.

A Department of Public Health and Human Services dashboard had 78,284 adults on Medicaid expansion and 46,255 adults on traditional Medicaid as of August, the most recent month of data posted. Counting children, more than 222,000 Montanans are enrolled in Medicaid altogether, according to the dashboard.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Caferro said the Medicaid expansion program is extremely popular, and it has support from diverse groups. For example, Caferro said a law enforcement officer said Medicaid expansion benefits officers because it supports people in crisis, and not only in the moment.

Whats even more important is that they have aftercare because they have a payer source, Caferro said. Many folks did not have a payer source before.

Both Democrats also said they dont want to see more restrictions placed on people who are insured through Medicaid. Work requirements generally arent allowed under federal Medicaid law, Howell said, and Caferro described them as code clutter and red tape anyway.

An earlier report from the Montana Healthcare Foundation found just 3% of Montanans have no impediment to working and do not work.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The legislators also said they would like to see the program work better for Montanans. For example, Montana used to have continuous eligibility, which the Democrats said helps both the person covered under Medicaid and the provider.

Howell said it means a seasonal worker who wants to pick up a few extra shifts runs into fewer problems under continuous eligibility, which means a person who qualifies for Medicaid has coverage for a year and doesnt have to report picking up those hours to see if they still qualify.

Caferro said it benefits providers because when people lost Medicaid coverage in redetermination  through no fault of their own  nursing homes ended up three months behind getting their reimbursements. She said continuous eligibility creates predictability for businesses caring for people covered through Medicaid.

That creates a more seamless system, Caferro said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When it comes to Medicaid, Howell said Democrats are generally open to discussions about things like provider rates, where and when people can get care, increasing postpartum access  generally, the ways we can leverage Medicaid to make Montanans lives better.

Supporters of Medicaid expansion have said rural hospitals could close without it, and Howell and Caferro both said thats not an exaggeration. Caferro said at recent listening sessions in 13 or so communities, health care leaders said the program is critical to their ability to care for community members.

They are on the margins, Caferro said.

And Howell said no rural hospitals have closed in Montana since the program started in 2015, but in the last decade or so, 136 rural hospitals have closed nationwide, and 75% were in states that did not have Medicaid expansion.

The threat to rural hospitals is real, Howell said.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The City of El Paso is hosting a community meeting to address traffic concerns in the Enchanted Springs Development in Northwest El Paso.

The meeting is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25 at the Westside Regional Command Center, 4801 Osborne.

Residents will have a chance to share their input and ask questions from different City departments, including Traffic, Planning and Inspections, Capital Improvement and Police.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Enchanted Springs is in the area near Abundant Church.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
President-elect Trump won his biggest legal victory so far on Monday when special counsel Jack Smith announced he was seeking the dismissal of the two federal cases Trump was facing.

The decision was taken based on the long-standing view that a sitting president cannot be criminally prosecuted while in office.

The judge in one of the cases, pertaining to Trumps actions around the Capitol riot of Jan. 6, 2021, duly granted the dismissal. U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan noted that the dismissal without prejudice was also consistent with the Governments understanding that the immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In plain terms, that means a prosecution could theoretically be pursued anew after Trump leaves office at the end of his second term.

This seems unlikely as a practical matter, however, given the long pause and the fact that Trump will be 82 by the time his final term concludes. If Trump is succeeded by another Republican, there would be no real chance of a new prosecution.

The situation underlines just what a big personal prize Trump won by defeating Vice President Harris in this months election.

In addition to becoming the first person since former President Grover Cleveland in the late 19th century to win nonconsecutive presidential terms, Trumps victory has also all but vaporized any legal threats he faces.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The second case affected by Smiths move on Monday centered on the discovery of sensitive documents at Mar-a-Lago. The charges included conspiracy to obstruct justice and 32 counts of willful retention of national defense information.

Some legal observers believed the prosecution in the Mar-a-Lago matter had the strongest case of any of the indictments Trump faced.

But the case was dismissed by a Trump-appointed judge in July, who held that Smith had been illegally appointed.

Smiths team were appealing the decision. The appeal will now be abandoned.

The fates of the two other criminal cases that were filed against Trump since he left office in early 2021 are also in jeopardy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trumps team will likely seek the dismissal of the New York case that resulted in his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records in May. The underlying issue in the matter was hush money paid to adult actress Stormy Daniels.

The prosecutor in that case, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D), has already conceded that sentencing would have to wait until Trump finishes his second term. Lawyers for Trump have made the argument that his performance as president would be impeded if the case remained active and that it should be dismissed.

That leaves only a state case in Georgia, pertaining to efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 election result there. It is also mired in pretrial wrangling, as Team Trump seeks to force the removal of prosecutor and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) from the case.

The bottom line is Trump may not face consequences anywhere  even though he will have a black mark in the history books as the first convicted felon to be elected president.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Naturally, Trump and his allies took a victory lap in the wake of Smiths decision.

These cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought, Trump wrote in a social media post.

Allies also chimed in, with Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) arguing that the cases brought by Smith will be remembered as a dark chapter of weaponization. Cotton, echoing Trumps rhetoric about Smith, condemned the prosecutor as fanatical and deranged.

To Democrats and liberal Americans more broadly, however, it is Trumps apparent escape from the legal consequences of his actions that is the real injustice.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) said during a CNN interview that the decision establishes that Donald Trump is above the law and that he will likely escape full accountability for what were crimes charged by a grand jury.

Sen.-elect Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), one of Trumps chief tormentors while in the House of Representatives, complained Monday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and court system had failed to uphold the principle that no one is above the law.

The public deserved better.

Schiff implied that the DOJ under outgoing Attorney General Merrick Garland had waited too long before getting the wheels of justice moving against Trump. Garland appointed Smith in late November 2022, more than two years after President Biden had defeated Trump.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Opinions as to Trumps criminal culpability divide along largely partisan lines, like so much else in contemporary American life. But the belief that he is guilty extends well beyond Democratic partisans or critics in the media.

A New York Times/Siena College poll back in April asked Americans whether or not they believed Trump had committed serious federal crimes.

Fifty-four percent of registered voters said that he had done so, while 34 percent said he had not. Eighty-eight percent of Democrats and 52 percent of independents held this view but only 19 percent of Republicans shared it.

Seventy-two percent of Republicans contended that Trump had not committed such crimes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For now, one thing seems clear.

Trumps election victory has also bought him freedom from any real threat of legal punishment.

The Memo is a reported column by Niall Stanage.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Could the push for the City of Memphis to have its own crime lab be picking up steam?

A lot of local and state voices have been heard this year in the debate for the city to have a crime lab versus just relying on the TBI facility miles away in Jackson, Tennessee.

A city council committee was supposed to take up the crime lab issue Tuesday, but it was tabled until the Dec. 3 meeting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For investigators with the critical job of examining key forensics evidence linked to criminal cases from Memphis and Shelby County, the closest crime lab is 85 miles away and run by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Its one reason some are asking, should Memphis have its own crime lab? Earlier this year. Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy saying hed like to see one in Memphis.

I think it would be a game changer in terms of increasing our solve rate, which is a really important thing we need to improve if we are going to bend the curve, Mulroy has previously said.

Discussions about having a crime lab took center stage after Memphis teacher and runner, Eliza Fletcher was abducted and later found dead.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A rape kit that took about a year to process with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation eventually matched DNA to murder suspect Cleotha Abston, who was also convicted of the rape of different woman.

State leaders discuss possibility of crime lab in Shelby County

This year, some state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle told WREG they are willing to work together for the state to study the feasibility of having a crime lab in Shelby County.

Im looking for a more efficient and effective crime lab. Were going to set the model for the rest of the nation and probably the world, said state Rep. G. A. Hardaway (D-Memphis).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Earlier this year, the Shelby County Commission approved funds to conduct a feasibility study of having a local crime lab.



We can either say, whoa lets just look at the problem, or jump in with both feet and hands to find a solution that works. Thats what the hope is with this TACIR study, said state Rep. Ryan Williams (R-Cookeville).

In a few weeks, a Memphis City Council Public Safety and Homeland Security committee is expected to address the issue.

But some council members are telling your News Leaders they still have several questions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For example, who would run the proposed crime lab? Would it be a partnership between the Memphis Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriffs Office. Would there be any state involvement and how much would it cost to operate?

Those questions must be answered as Memphis looks into having its own crime lab.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A Memphis Police squad car was intentionally set on fire in front of the downtown station Monday night, according to fire investigators.

Just before 9 p.m., officers say a citizen called 911 stating as they were passing by the police station at 444 Main Street, a squad car on the lot adjacent to the front doors was on fire.

Memphis Fire Department arrived and began putting out the fire. Once fire investigators made the scene, they determined that the incident was arson and that someone intentionally used an accelerant near the back of the vehicle.

(Photo by: WREG Staff)

MFD investigators say the accelerant was poured near the back of the squad car, causing the fire to start near the gas tank on the drivers side.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A piece of what was left of a gas can near the back of the drivers side was taken as evidence.

MPD: No cause for concern over Venezuelan gangs locally

Police say there was around $35,000-$45,000 worth of damages to the vehicle. The squad car was parked next to two other vehicles at the time of the fire, but it is unknown if those vehicles were left damaged.

There is no suspect information available at this time.

If you have any information that could help police, call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Lyle and Erik Menendez appeared via audio at a court hearing in Van Nuys Monday as their two elderly aunts asked a judge to resentence the brothers for the 1989 shotgun murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez.



The brothers, who have not been at a court hearing since they were convicted of murdering their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez in the den of their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989, listened as their aunts pleaded with Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic to consider "the boys" release. Jesic pushed the hearing tentatively scheduled for Dec. 11 to Jan. 30, 2025, but agreed to hear from witnesses who traveled to Van Nuys to address the court.



Im not ready to go forward, Jesic said from the bench, saying still had 17 boxes of material to read through, adding that he wanted to give time for incoming Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman to review the case. Out of respect I want the new administration to be able to go through the documents and have their say.

Related: The World Will See the Menendez Brothers (Virtually) Monday as Lawyers Push for Resentencing

Jose's 85-year-old sister Teresita Baralt, her voice quivering, took the stand first to talk about her "baby brother," who she loved, and her "best friend," Kitty. She broke down, telling Jesic that "thirty-five years is a long time."



We miss those that are gone tremendously, but we miss the kids too, Baralt said on the stand in the crowded courtroom. I would like some leniency to have them back. Thirty-five years, its a long time [to be in prison]. I think they have been rehabilitated. They have done a lot of good things. They went to college. They could have done a lot of bad things [in prison] .They didnt.



Lyle, now 56, and Erik, 53, are currently imprisoned at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, an arduous journey for Baralt, who testified that she is battling colon cancer. I would like to be able to see them and hug them, not in the jail," Baralt said. "I want them to come home so I can hug them and see them."

Related: Dozens of Lyle & Erik Menendez Family Members Met With L.A. County Prosecutors To Push For Brothers Release

Brock Lunsford, the assistant head deputy of the DAs post-conviction unit, asked Baralt what she remembered about the three trials she testified she attended for Lyle and Erik, the first in 1993, which ended in a hung jury for both brothers and the last one that ended with a conviction in 1996. Im not trying to be indelicate, but do you know why Erik and Lyle are in prison? Lunsford asked.



Baralt did not hesitate to answer. Oh, absolutely. They killed their parents. We were the executors of the estate, so we were quite close, she said, and then quickly added: "Have you ever made a mistake and paid for it for 35 years? Whether youre sorry or not, its been a long time.

A photo of the late Jose Menendez, who is accused of inflicting horrific abuse on his familyPhoto by IMDb

Kitty's older sister Joan VanderMolen also spoke about her nephews in court on the eve of her 93rd birthday. She has been fighting for their release for decades and emotionally talked about her love for them and the suffering they grappled with sexually from their father, Jose, which VanderMolen said she believes was ignored by her younger sister. "It breaks my heart that my sister Kitty knew."



The abuse, she said, was "unconscionable," something no child should be forced to endure.

Letter written by Erik Menendez to a cousin detailing sexual abuse from his father, Jose MenendezL.A. Superior Court filing

Outside the courthouse, as the status conference hearing wrapped up with the new date from Jesic, media from all over the world waited for news of the brothers' fate from their longtime attorney, Mark Geragos, [Geragos is the co-owner of Engine Vision Media, the parent company of Los Angeles] who described the "impassioned pleas" his clients listened to from their aunts delivered to the judge. It was "a moving experience," he added.



Dozens of Menendez family members support Lyle and Erik's release from prison, and many traveled to Los Angeles to show their support Monday morning.

Related: Juror Who Wanted Manslaughter, Not Murder Conviction, for Erik Menendez Speaks Out

Geragos has pursued multiple avenues in an effort to reduce the Menendez brothers' life sentence, including filing a writ of habeas corpus in May 2023 arguing that new evidence had surfaced that backed the Menendezs claims that their father had sexually abused them as kids, including a bombshell letter hand-written by Erik Menendez to a cousin describing the abuse.



Outgoing District Attorney George Gascon, who announced in late October he believes the brothers were abused and recommended that they be resentenced, is expected to respond to the writ this week.
German carmaker Mercedes Benz has proposed a more efficient braking system for electric vehicles (EVs).



The concept, called 'In-Drive Brakes', relocates the braking system from the wheels to the electric drive motor. Positioned where the half-shafts connect, the innovative design integrates the brakes directly into the motor assembly.



The Mercedes system replaces calipers with a circular brake pad mounted on the electric motor's output shaft. The pad presses against a stationary, water-cooled ring within a sealed enclosure.



While the prototype demonstrates this approach on the rear axle, it has the potential to function on both the front and rear axles.



According to Mercedes, the innovation offers better ride quality, cleaner streets by containing brake dust, and streamlined wheel designs for improved aerodynamics.

Integrated brake innovation

EVs rely on regenerative braking for 98 percent of their deceleration needs, but friction brakes are still essential for the remaining 2 percent, especially during critical high-demand stops.



A complete emergency stop may need up to 2200 kW of power, but regenerative braking usually provides up to 290 kW. However, because friction brakes are rarely used, their rotors typically rust, which results in brake dust, noise, and decreased efficiency.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI_FrKb2dZY&pp=ygUaZXYgaW50ZXJlc3RpbmcgZW5naW5lZXJpbmc%3D

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mercedes is creating an inventive remedy known as In-Drive Brakes to address these problems. This concept relocates the brakes from the wheels to inside the electric drive motor, near the half-shafts connecting to the wheels. Currently demonstrated on the rear axle, the system could potentially work on both axles.



In contrast to traditional disc brakes, the In-Drive Brakes function similarly to a clutch system in manual gearboxes. For EVs, a cleaner, more integrated, and more effective braking solution is provided by a rotating disc that is fixed to the half-shaft.

Effortless EV braking

The proposed braking system replaces conventional disc brakes with a design resembling a manual transmission clutch. It features a rotating disc, integrated with the half-shaft of each wheel, coated with friction material near its edges.

Two fixed, non-rotating flywheel-like plates flank this disc, with an annular hydraulic cylinder compressing the assembly. This causes the friction disc to drag against the fixed plates, slowing the vehicle.



To disperse heat produced during braking, the system has liquid-cooled fixed plates that are completely contained in housings at the motor's ends. Each brake housing incorporates a sump to collect brake dust, ensuring brakes that endure the car's lifespan.

According to Mercedes, by removing the requirement for cooling air passages, this enclosed design guarantees silent operation maintains clean wheels, lowers unsprung weight, and provides design flexibility for wheels.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bVjC7bSTw0&pp=ygUaRVYgaW50ZXJlc3RpbmcgZW5naW5lZXJpbmc%3D

The idea works well with front-motor configurations or even cars without motors, which makes it more appealing for EVs if the price is comparable to that of conventional brakes.



The system complements the cutting-edge technology of the Mercedes Future Technology Lab and is quiet, effective, and low-maintenance. We're excited to see this innovative method used in the next car models since it has the potential to revolutionize braking systems completely.



Mercedes claims the In-Drive Brake system is designed to last the vehicle's lifetime without requiring servicing, potentially saving owners thousands in brake repairs and replacements. Brake dust is collected in a sealed compartment that never needs emptying.
Editors note: A video attached to this article has been removed because it contained inaccurate footage. We apologize for the error.

A holiday favorite is returning to Erie this weekend for anyone looking for plans after Thanksgiving.

The Nutcracker is taking place on Saturday, November 30, at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at the Mary DAngelo Performing Arts Center at Mercyhurst University.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Burton Quinn-Scott Stockings for Soldiers drive kicking off Monday

The artistic director of the Erie Contemporary Ballet Theatre Sarah Purvis said theres a cast of over 110 performers ranging from three to 80 years old who have been rehearsing since August.

Purvis said the show also includes a 40-member orchestra with the conductor of the Louisiana Philharmonic coming into town to be a part of it.

Mush! Sled racers take on muddy terrain at annual North East Dryland Challenge

We are thrilled to bring our tenth annual production to erie we have over 200 costumes and sets that are absolutely amazing its going to be visually impressive its going to be all the senses really seeing and hearing it its just an incredible thing to do its very family-friendly production and its just under two hours long, said Purvis.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Click here for more information on purchasing tickets.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
Germany's longtime former chancellor, Angela Merkel, defended her policy on Ukraine on Tuesday, before presenting her memoirs in Berlin.

She stuck by her refusal to pave the way for Ukraine to join the Western military alliance NATO via a Membership Action Plan at a summit in Bucharest in 2008.

The decision at the summit not to offer Kiev a Membership Action Plan has come under massive scrutiny since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Even after a thorough examination, I come to the conclusion that it was definitely the right thing to do and that there were good reasons for it," Merkel said in the podcast "Politics with Anne Will."

These good reasons "still hold for me today," Merkel said.

She pointed out that a large proportion of the Ukrainian population was against NATO accession at the time. "The country itself was divided," she said.

In addition, Russia still had a contract to station its Black Sea fleet in Crimea for years, she argued, adding that everyone knew that Russia would have seen such a move as a provocation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The former German chancellor is presenting her memoirs later Tuesday, which she wrote together with her long-standing confidante Beate Baumann.

The book, entitled "Freedom. Memories 1954 - 2021," is more than 700 pages long. It will be presented at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin, at an event moderated by Anne Will.

The book "Freiheit. Memories 1954 - 2021" by former Chancellor Angela Merkel is available at the Deutsches Theater before the presentation of her biography. Former Chancellor Merkel wrote her memoirs together with her long-time office manager Beate Baumann. Michael Kappeler/dpa-Pool/dpa
What started as a mission to eliminate police brutality ended in a scandal that has a non-profit founder in big trouble in the District of Columbia.

On November 25, D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb sued Raheem AI and its founder Brandon Anderson for violating the Districts nonprofit and workers rights laws.

According to the Attorney Generals office website, Anderson has been accused of stealing $75,000 from an organization meant to change how the community interacts with local law enforcement to fund his lavish vacations and luxury shopping sprees.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

DC non-profits are required by law to have a President and Treasurer to keep operations and finances separate. The AG says Raheem AI has been operating without a treasurer since 2020, allowing Anderson to have unchecked control over the organizations financials.

In addition to the misuse of funds, the AG says the organization failed to pay its DC-based Deputy Director tens of thousands of dollars in earned wages and forced her into signing an illegal non-compete clause.

Anderson founded Raheem AI in 2017 in honor of his fiance, Raheem, who was killed by the police in Oklahoma in 2007.

He was driving a car that the officer said was stolen. The car had never been stolen. In fact, it was the car that me and my partner had saved up to buy, Anderson said in a 2021 interview. My partners death threw me into two years of clinical depression. The loss of my partner  the killing of my partner  by the police changed my life forever.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Anderson envisioned Raheem AI as providing people with a means to file complaints against the police from their smartphones. It would also eventually provide an alternative to 911, sending aid workers instead of police to deal with non-violent incidents like drug overdoses and mental health issues.

But while the organization raised over four million dollars in donations, the idea, which Anderson called Yelp for police, had technical issues, as some police departments around the country accept complaints online, while others need people to make their complaints over the phone or in person at a police station, according to reporting from The New York Times.

Attorney General Schwalb says his office is prepared to go after Anderson for using a non-profit for his personal gain.

Brandon Anderson misused charitable donations to fund lavish vacations and shopping sprees, and the Raheem AI board of directors let him get away with it, D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb said in a written statement on the departments website. My office will not allow people to masquerade behind noble causes while violating the law.

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Faith leaders around the country and right here in metro Atlanta are extending their prayers and support to megachurch leader, Bishop T.D. Jakes.

As Jakes closed out Sunday service at the Potters House in Dallas, Texas, he dropped his mic and began convulsing.

A Potters House spokesperson wrote:

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

During todays service, Bishop T.D. Jakes experienced a slight health incident and received immediate medical attention following his powerful hour-long message. Bishop Jakes is stable and under the care of medical professionals. The entire Potters House family is grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support from the community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thank you for your understanding and continued prayers.

Jakes is one of the most well-known and prolific faith leaders in the country.

His services draw thousands of parishioners every Sunday.

He hosted the wildly popular, Mega Fest in Metro Atlanta.

We want to thank God for keeping our beloved bishop, Bishop William Murphy of The dReam Center Church of Atlanta told Channel 2s Audrey Washington.

When something like this happens, it sort of serves as a clarion call to the body of Christ, hey lets get back on our post, Murphy added.

Jakes preached at New Birth Cathedral in Stonecrest not too long ago.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pastor Dr. Jamal Bryant said he is keeping the bishop in prayer.

He is a hero and a role model for so many of us. Really charging the gospel for the 21st century. A spiritual father, so to see him in that compromised moment really pushed all of us to prayer, Bryant said.

Our concern is for him as a person. Hes meant so much to the body of Christ and arguably the quintessential leaders of our time, Rev. Darryl Winston of Greater Works Ministries said.

Whats your prayer for him? Washington asked.

My prayer is for God to fully restore our beloved Bishop, Murphy said.

Theres still no word on what caused the medical emergency.

TRENDING STORIES:

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
TAMPA, Fla., (WFLA)  The Metropolitan Ministries is working to make sure anyone who needs a hot meal on Thanksgiving can get one.

In order to help the community, Metropolitan Ministries is asking the community for more donations so they can give hot meals to those who need them.

According to Metro Ministries, donations are down, but the need has been going up.

People are counting on us and we cant do anything without the communitys support. We are a true non-profit and if you look around here, you will see the shelves barely have food on them, said Justine Burke, with Metropolitian Ministries.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Many families are still hurting after Hurricane Helene and Milton.

When the hurricanes hit, we had to hit the pause button on those preparations and go into emergency recovery mode to assist people that were really just upended and had nowhere to go, Burke said.

The non-profit stated they are seeing a 24% drop in their donations as the countdown to Thanksgiving gets closer, but the number of families in need has increased by 20%.

Officials said more than 1,800 families are in urgent need over these next few days.

We have more families in crisis than ever before, we designed this program to help 30,000 families. We decided to increase that to 33,000 families because we know that there are some out there that never came to us for help, said Tim Marks, CEO of Metropolitian Ministries. They were maybe a volunteer or donor, this year because they lost everything, they need some help.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In partnership with the community, 15,000 turkeys and hams, plus food boxes will be distributed at holiday tents and pop-up locations.

These efforts will help provide more than 600,000 warm, individual meals to those who need it, but they said that doesnt cover everyone.

We have people signing up who have never asked for help before. In fact, they may have been a donor before, Burke said.

Items Metro needs the most:

Frozen turkeys and hams

Canned yams

Stuffing

Canned vegetables

Boxed potatoes

Cranberry sauce

Gravy

Cereal

Rice

Beans

Macaroni and cheese

Dessert mixes

Gift cards

Toys/gifts for children ages 4-17.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Any monetary donations will be matched by a donor to help twice as many families in need, which will double the impact of your holiday generosity.

The Tampa tent on Rome Avenue and the West Pasco tent on Little Road will close early at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27.

For more information on how to donate or where to pick up a warm meal, 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 WFLA.
The United States Department of Agricultures Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that a New World screwworm (NWS) was detected in Mexico on Friday, causing the agency to pause animal imports from the country.

The U.S. chief veterinary officer said a NWS was discovered in a cow at an inspection checkpoint close to Mexicos border with Guatemala.

Given the northward movement of NWS, APHIS has in recent months stepped up its efforts in Central America to partner with impacted countries to push this pest out of newly affected areas, Dr. Rosemary Sifford said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With this latest find in Mexico, we will further intensify this work to protect American agriculture and reestablish the barrier in Central America, she added, according to the release.

NWS are fly larvae that infest living tissue of warm-blooded animals, including humans, causing infection, according to the department. The worms often enter animals through open wounds and dont travel more than a couple of miles  unless suitable animals are hard to find in the area, officials explained.

Screwworm infestations are difficult to detect at first. Check your pets and livestock for draining or enlarging wounds, and signs of discomfort, the release states. Also look for screwworm larvae or eggs.

Screwworm eggs are creamy and white and are deposited on near the edges of superficial wounds, it continues. If you suspect your animal is infected with screwworm, contact your veterinarian.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The agency said it will continue working with Mexico and Central America to respond to the infestation.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  Mexican president suggests Mexico could respond to any of Donald Trump's tariffs with tariffs of its own on US products.
Voters fill out their ballots at the Dona Ana Community College East Mesa Campus in Las Cruces on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Leah Romero / Source NM)

The results of the 2024 general elections are now official, after a board made up of the New Mexico governor, secretary of state and chief Supreme Court justice signed off on the results Tuesday.

The trio met for whats called the State Canvassing Board, certifying results for races up and down the ballot. The board affirmed that 928,290 voters cast ballots this election, which amounts to 67.13% of total registered voters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Members also noted that more than 8,000 voters cast ballots provisionally this year, which is a huge increase from the 2020 election.

And board members ordered a recount for District 57 in the New Mexico House of Representatives. That seat in Rio Rancho was left vacant by Republican Rep. Jason Harper, who resigned earlier this year.

The race is currently split by a tiny margin: 130 votes of 16,618 cast. Candidates Republican Catherine Jeanette Cullen and Democrat Michelle Eleanor Sandoval each have 50% of the vote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cullen has the slight lead. If shes still ahead after the recount, Republicans will have 26 seats in the House, compared with 44 seats held by Democrats.

The results of the recount, which is required when candidates are separated by less than 1% of the total votes cast, will be finalized Dec. 16, according to the Secretary of States Office. A Los Alamos County Commission race with five candidates will also be subject to a recount.

The 2024 General Election was run with efficiency and integrity by the states election administrators and every New Mexican should have the highest level of confidence in these official election results, said Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver in a news release.

Heres a breakdown of the voting figures the board certified Tuesday:

Huge increase in provisional ballots amid same-day registration delays

The number of election-day voters increased drastically from the last presidential election in 2020. So did the number of people who voted provisionally.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Across the state on Nov. 5, voters faced delays if they tried to register and vote on the same day, which state officials have attributed to technical difficulties and high demand.

If those seeking same-day registration faced long wait times, county clerks told them to cast provisional ballots. Those ballots can then be counted later once elections officials confirm a voter is eligible.

Some voters, including students at the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University, waited three hours or longer to register and cast ballots. Polling places elsewhere were forced to stay open past the statewide 7 p.m. closing time to deal with the backlog.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This year, 8,091 voters cast provisional ballots, or about .9% of voters. In 2020, just 687 voters cast ballots provisionally, or about 0.1% of voters who cast ballots that year, according to a report from the United States Election Assistance Commission.

The secretary of states office said the high demand for same-day registration caused a brief outage early in the morning, and then the state devoted additional servers to try to efficiently process the registration forms. Still, county clerks and elections observers said they spent the rest of the day trying to catch up.

Elections observers with the Carter Center noted same-day voter registration delays in 14 counties. The group reported voters waited between 10 minutes and more than two hours. Some voters left without voting, according to a news release from the group.

Same-day registration has been legal in New Mexico since 2019 and was expanded in subsequent years. During local elections in 2023, about 4,900 voters used same-day voter registration. That was about 2% of all the voters who cast ballots that election.
(Bloomberg) -- President Claudia Sheinbaum suggested Mexico could respond to Donald Trumps threatened tariffs with levies of its own, warning the economic consequences would be dire.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sheinbaum, reading aloud Tuesday from a letter she directed at the US president-elect after he vowed to slap 25% tariffs on all goods from Mexico and Canada, said cooperation would be a better way to curb the flow of migrants and illegal drugs.

One tariff will be followed by another in response, and so on until we put common companies at risk, Sheinbaum said at her daily press conference in Mexico City. The main exporters from Mexico to the US are General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford Motor Company, which arrived 80 years ago. Why put in place a tariff that puts them at risk?

Sheinbaums calls for collaboration instead of hostility reflect the delicate balance she has sought to maintain since Trumps victory put her nation on the front line of a potential US trade war with China. She has largely avoided taking sides between Washington and Beijing, all while signaling to Trump that she would choose the US  Mexicos top trading partner  if forced.

Sheinbaums letter included a similar nod, calling for joint discussions on the migration and fentanyl Trump cited in his tariff threat. She also pointed to Asian nations  rather than her own  as the original source of fentanyl entering the US, and said she hoped her team and his would be able to meet soon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is publicly known that the chemical precursors used to manufacture fentanyl and other synthetic drugs illegally enter Canada, the United States and Mexico come from Asian countries, Sheinbaum said. International cooperation is urgent.

She also noted that Mexico has detained more than 15,000 people over violence related to drug trafficking in the past year, and that the country is in the process of passing a constitutional reform that would make the production and distribution of fentanyl a grave crime.

Mexicos peso sank to its weakest level in more than two years earlier in the day, exposing the countrys deep vulnerabilities to the trade conflicts he has promised to wage. In all, the currency fell 1.7% Tuesday, closing at 20.65 per dollar.

Mexicos auto sector is particularly exposed to a conflict with the incoming administration in Washington, along with factories that export electronics, plastics and other manufactured goods to US consumers. The Latin American nation became the largest US trading partner as Chinas import share declined in recent years, with the Mexican government estimating theres now $800 billion annually in total trade between the neighboring countries.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its not through threats or tariffs that the migratory phenomenon or drug consumption in the United States will be tended to, she added. Cooperation and mutual understanding are required to deal with these major challenges.

During his campaign, Trump also threatened to turn the planned 2026 review of the US-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement into an outright renegotiation, sparking fears about the future of a pact that along with its predecessor provided a boon to Mexicos manufacturing sector.

The letter to Trump also highlighted how Mexico has cooperated with the US on migration policy at the two countries shared border. Mexico, acting at the behest of the US, has clamped down on transit routes and rounded up migrants who congregated near the border, sending them to the south of the country to await appointments for legal entry through a US government app. The use of that app, known as CBP One, has reduced border encounters by 75% through November 2024, Sheinbaum said in the letter to Trump.

Thats why there are no longer migrant caravans heading to the border, she read out. Even then, its clear we need to find, jointly, a model for labor mobility as needed by your country, but that tends to the causes that lead families to leave their countries of origin due to need.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sheinbaum reiterated that the US should invest a portion of its military budget in peace building and development to tend to the root causes of migration. Its an argument that echoes her predecessor, former president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, and one that she often repeated while on the campaign trail.

She added that her Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard will present on Wednesday a report that will delve deeper into the negative effects the tariffs would have on US companies.

Sheinbaum also noted that she plans to send Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau another letter that lays out how Mexico has supported the strength of the three nations trade relationship and noting that Lopez Obrador advocated for Canada to remain in the treaty in 2018.

--With assistance from Vinicius Andrade and Travis Waldron.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

(Updates with additional comments from Sheinbaums letter throughout.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
PORTALES, N.M. (KRQE)  The Roosevelt County Sheriffs Office arrested a Portales police officer, they said on Monday.

According to the sheriffs office, a domestic report was received on Sunday, and authorities responded to Portales Police Officer Jarvis Halls home. Officer Hall was arrested and placed on administrative leave pending investigation.

The sheriffs office is handling the criminal investigation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  A state representative from Milan has retired from the legislature to focus on his health.

Eliseo Lee Alcon, a Democrat was elected to the state house in 2009, where he advocated for New Mexico veterans, the economy, and the environment.

Lovelace Heart Hospital celebrates the utilization of 1,000 Watchman devices

Alcon also served as chair of the Consumer and Public Affairs Committee and the Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. Earlier this month, Alcon won re-election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cibola and McKinley County Commissions will each nominate a replacement and the governor will appoint one to finish out Alcons term.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver discussed the 2024 election at the state House and Senates Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee on Nov. 12. (Photo by Austin Fisher / Source New Mexico)

New Mexicos top election official has reversed course and says she will not pursue criminal charges over online threats toward her around this months election.

Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, a Democrat, told reporters on Nov. 12 that she was preparing to file a police report tied to harassment she faced on social media that were egged on by a Republican state representative who has made unverified claims of voter fraud in state elections.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Alex Curtas, a spokesperson for Toulouse Oliver, said in an email Monday that plans have changed.

We have not filed a report on this matter and are unlikely to as the most incendiary of the online messages were deleted before we could compile them for review and potential referral, Curtas said.

Had she filed a report, Toulouse Oliver would have gone to state police or the state Department of Justice alleging violations of a 2023 state law making it a felony to intimidate election officials during their official duties.
This is an adapted excerpt from the Nov. 25 episode of The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle.

On Monday, the Democratic National Committee announced that it will elect a new chair Feb. 1, just days after President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration. As a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, I know what qualities it takes to run a party, especially after such a devastating result.

When I came in as chairman in 2009, the Republican Party had just been shellacked by Barack Obama in the 2008 election. That defeat came just two years after Republicans lost control of both the House and the Senate in the midterms. In 2006, I was on the ballot running for Senate in Maryland, and it didnt matter how much folks liked me or the job I was doing as the sitting lieutenant governor; what they were concerned about was where the Republican Party was going under George W. Bushs leadership.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thats exactly the situation the Democratic Party finds itself in now. Americans are asking not only where the party is going, but also who is going to lead it moving forward.

The next DNC chair must have a grounded understanding of where the country is and what it is telling the party. The chair needs to understand that the middle of the country matters as much as the East Coast and the West Coast, and that the South matters as much as the North. The Democrats need a chair who understands how to win across the country.

Now that the next chair is freed from the political whims of the White House, the goal of the next Democratic leader is to rebuild the brand of the party and incorporate it into a 50-state strategy that empowers their candidates to win competitive races across the country.

But an essential ingredient to any future success of the party is understanding that elections arent just won top-down, but you also win elections bottom-up. Creating strategies for those down-ballot candidates to win county executive races, mayoral races and state legislative races will be of immense help to your candidates running statewide and for federal office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A chair who understands how the country is changing, connects the message and the messengers of the party to that change, and understands that winning is not a one-way effort will better position Democrats to be competitive once again. Dont overthink it.

Allison Detzel contributed.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Last week, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the formation of the Missing or Murdered Indigenous People Task Force marking a significant step forward in the fight against systemic issues that have plagued Indigenous populations for generations.

The MMIP Task Force marks a critical first step in combatting abuse and violence against Indigenous people in Michigan, said Attorney General Nessel. By prosecuting and tackling the root causes of these crimes, working directly with this broad coalition of MMIP Task Force members, we can build safer communities and pave the way for justice for the families and victims impacted by this crisis. I look forward to working alongside tribal leaders and state, federal, and nonprofit partners to create real, systematic change for Michigan's Indigenous population.

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.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Studies indicate that nearly 85 percent of Indigenous women experience violence in their lifetime. The formation of the MMIP Task Force will focus on bridging gaps in law enforcement responses and implementing best practices to support victims and their families.

The formation of the task force is being applauded by local Native organizations in Michigan for taking a step forward in the fight to protect the most vulnerable.

Attorney General Nessels leadership is a beacon of hope for our communities, said Andrea Pierce, Chair and co-founder of the Anishinaabek Caucus. Her commitment to working alongside Indigenous leaders and advocates demonstrates a genuine dedication to justice and healing. We believe that this Task Force will not only bring awareness to this crisis but also foster real, tangible changes in how these cases are handled.

The Department of Attorney General held the first MMIP Task Force meeting in September 2024, bringing together tribal leaders, state and federal agencies, and advocacy groups to discuss raising awareness, identifying contributing factors, and developing Michigan-specific solutions to the MMIP crisis. The next MMIP Task Force meeting will be in December 2024.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

My hope is that this task force will help develop and support such a robust multi-jurisdictional response to the epidemic of missing and murdered indigenous people that it can be felt by communities throughout Indian Country, and that real change occurs to make our people feel safer, more protected and heard, and that we not only find justice for victims but realize a reduction in the number of future victims through a focus on prevention, said James Williams, Jr., Tribal Chairman of the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.

Other Michigan tribal representatives shared their appreciation as well.

The Gun Lake Tribe appreciates the collaboration with Michigan Attorney General Nessel and her office on the formation of the MMIP Task Force, said Virginia Sprague-Vanderband, Gun Lake Tribal Council Member. "This grassroots cause which began as MMIW and has turned from the focus solely on women to people are important to our tribal community. In a community that focuses on the wellbeing and protection of all our citizens, we knew we had to participate. Our tribe also has an internal task force focused on policies and procedures that protect these rights from National Indian Child Welfare Association, Domestic Violence, and MMIP. It is an honor to have three Gun Lake Tribe leaders on this statewide task force: Jodie Palmer, Tribal Council Vice-Chair, Liz Cook, General Counsel, and myself Virginia Sprague-Vanderband, Tribal Council. We are excited to be a part of this effort and applaud the state's commitment to this movement.

Were grateful that Attorney General Nessel is leading this new effort to address the heartbreaking issue of violence impacting Indigenous people, said Dorie Rios, Chair of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi. For too long this issue has been largely ignored by local, state and federal law enforcement officials, leaving Tribal members to feel like second-class citizens. This task force will help bring change to a long-overlooked human rights issue.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"As someone who has worked as a social worker in tribal governments here in Michigan and across the country, I have witnessed up close the need to bring greater attention to reducing the high rates of violence within indigenous communities, said Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Chairman Austin Lowes.

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
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  A Michigan man faces several criminal charges for violating hunting laws while illegally harvesting a deer.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says 59-year-old Cecil Day was arrested on Nov. 18 in Otsego County and arraigned on four charges: possession of a firearm with a blood alcohol level over .08%, not wearing hunters orange, and a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Its peak season for car-deer crashes. Why are there so many deer?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Day was reportedly arrested at his home about 10 miles east of Gaylord after the DNR received an anonymous tip. He allegedly got out of his vehicle and shot a deer on private property. Investigators spoke with other witnesses and found two more deer that were shot nearby and left in the field, including a nine-point buck.

The agency is also seeking to file additional deer poaching charges.

Day has been convicted of violating hunting laws before, including incidents in 2018 and 2020.

Sign up for the News 8 daily newsletter

As of Monday, he remained lodged at Otsego County Jail awaiting his preliminary hearing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The DNR encourages all hunters to follow season regulations, be respectful of other hunters and natural resources, and put safety first at all times, the agency said in a news release.

Firearm deer season is currently open. It closes Saturday.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- A Midland man was arrested last Thursday after a search warrant led to the seizure of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana. 46-year-old John Hardy Burkart faces multiple charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance in a drug-free zone and a charge of manufacturing and Delivery of a Controlled Substance in a drug-free zone.

According to officials, an investigation was conducted by the Midland County Sheriffs Office Narcotics Unit in reference to an illicit narcotics distribution in the 4300 block of Mercedes Drive, near Jane Long Elementary School, a drug-free zone.

Crime: City of Odessa Parks Director, Max Reyes, arrested after employee makes outcry

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officials reported that through the investigation, the Narcotics Unit obtained a search warrant, which resulted in the seizure of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana.

According to MCSO, after obtaining an arrest warrant, 46-year-old John Hardy Burkart was arrested on Thursday, November 21, and booked into the Midland County Sheriffs Office Detention Center with a combined bond of $350,000 for Possession of a Controlled Substance in a drug-free zone and a charge of manufacturing and Delivery of a Controlled Substance in a drug-free zone.

Sheriff Criner remains committed to protecting the citizens of Midland County by arresting those who prey on our citizens, the news release stated.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD)  The Midwest Food Bank is helping farmers in North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene.

About a month ago, a local Illinois farmer stopped by the organization and donated over 600 large round alfalfa hay bales. Now, the Midwest Food Bank is in the process of getting it to those who need it.

The Chief Executive Officer, Eric Holder, said these donations are important because the dairy and cattlemen in North Carolina had their hay washed away. And with winter and cold temperatures coming, farmers need to be able to feed their livestock.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were also sending semi loads of food down to that region to help, Holder said, But in this case, were a little bit further up the supply chain. Were providing food to the livestock, both cattle and dairy, to help those families stay in operation.

Midwest Food Bank is looking for volunteers with trucking experience to help with this. If you are interested, call 309-663-5350. Holder says its a wonderful blessing that so many people have already come to together.

Weve dedicated two of our semis, but the support behind the scenes and the kind of the ripple effect of people helping is tremendous, Holder said. We dont have step deck trailers. We had two farmers donate step tech trailers. We dont have a skid steer to load hay. We had a farmer donate a skid steer.

Holder said, they are already in the process of sending the hay bales and hope to finish by December 15th.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com.
Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) will resign from the House on Jan. 20, the day President-elect Trump takes office, to become the national security adviser for Trumps second term, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to The Hill.

His upcoming resignation means that House Republicans, who were already slated to have a razor-tight majority, will be at least two members down when Trump takes office until at least April 1  the date set for the special election to replace both Waltz and former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who withdrew from consideration to be Trumps attorney general last week but said he wont return to Congress.

Staying through Jan. 20, however, means that Waltz will still be in Congress when the House elects its Speaker on Jan. 3  a vote for which the margins in the chamber could play a significant role.

Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd announced receipt of Waltzs resignation letter on Monday, alongside a special election timeline that sets the primary election date for the seat on Jan. 28 and the general special election date on April 1. Politico first reported Waltzs intention to resign on Jan. 20, which a source familiar with the matter confirmed to The Hill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The national security adviser role does not require Senate confirmation, meaning Waltz can take the position immediately.

Waltz and Gaetz are not the only House members leaving Capitol Hill for the Trump administration. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) was tapped to be ambassador to the U.N., and Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.)  who lost reelection  is Trumps pick to be Labor secretary.

The Waltz, Gaetz and Stefanik seats are all safe Republican districts, but the vacancies mean House Republicans will have a tricky time with their slim margins, which could also be a factor in Stefaniks departure timeline.

Decision Desk HQ has projected 220 House seats for Republicans and 213 seats for Democrats, with two races in California remaining too close to call.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

House Republicans will have anywhere from a two-seat to four-seat majority once the seats are filled, but could be down to a one- to three-seat margin until the two Florida seats are filled  and that is before accounting for any other vacancy from Stefanik.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 large speed humps being installed throughout Milwaukee in an effort to reduce reckless driving are drawing mixed reviews from city residents.

The structures  up to six inches tall and several feet wide  technically aren't speed humps at all. They are actually known as raised crosswalks.

Their installation along busy streets like Holton and Center is part of a city-wide effort to promote traffic safety and combat reckless driving. Over the last decade, the number of people killed in traffic crashes in Milwaukee has risen from around 30 to around 90 each year, a recent report from the City of Milwaukee found.

Riverwest resident Brenda Barrales is concerned about a speed hump at the intersection of W Holton St. and E Chambers St., she believes they need better signage as cars have a delayed reaction to the speed hump, on Thursday November 21, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wis.

But some residents worry that the raised crosswalks and speed humps sprouting up around the city are too tall and not well-marked.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One raised crosswalk at the intersection of Holton and Chambers has been a topic of discussion in neighborhood Facebook groups.

Brenda Barrales, 30, is a Riverwest resident. She hit her car on the raised crosswalk when it was put in earlier this year.

Barrales understands the intention of speed humps is to reduce vehicle speed and increase street safety. But she said some of the raised crosswalks and speed humps blend in with the rest of the pavement. Some drivers say they need to brake abruptly right before the raised crosswalk in order to not scrape their cars.

A car drives over a raised crosswalk or speed table.

Barrales said she often hears cars hitting the speed hump on the street where she lives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The only fault is you cant see them, she said. That is the only problem.

Terry Kloss, 54, drives through Riverwest often. The speed hump she is most concerned about is at intersection of Center Street and 1st Street, at the bottom of a hill. She said she almost needs to come to a complete stop to avoid damage to her car.

Kloss understands that speed humps are meant to slow cars down. However, she doubts their efficacy and said there needs to be clearer markings for drivers.

A couple of weeks ago, when I was going down Center Street, I almost felt like I was gonna smash right into the hump, she said.

Speed humps in Milwaukee are more concentrated on the north side and near south side

Vehicle fatalities have spiked in Milwaukee County while declining in rest of state

How to make safer streets is a question City Engineer Kevin Muhs grapples with every day.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It's a particularly tough problem in Milwaukee.

A Wisconsin Policy Forum report in April found that automobile fatalities in Milwaukee County have doubled since 2002 even as they declined in the rest of the state. In particular, speeding-related deaths tripled.

Data released by the city in August suggests that the city's traffic calming measures are having an impact. Of the 14 projects completed from 2020 to 2023, all show a reduction in speeding.

Most speed humps in the city are put in at residents' request, according to Muhs, although the city's Department of Public Works has also initiated some of its own projects. Muhs said the city is prioritizing traffic safety projects near areas with high traffic injury rates and schools next to major roads.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So far this year, the city has completed 45 traffic calming projects. A single project could encompass several measures, including speed humps, raised crosswalks and curbside extensions, among others. The city has also installed 104 speed humps at the request of residents.

More: Speed bumps can cut down on reckless driving. Here's how to get one installed in your Milwaukee neighborhood.

Still, Muhs gets mixed feedback from residents about the height of the new speed humps and raised crosswalks. Some hope to make them lower, while others wish to make them taller to further slow down traffic.

Generally, speed humps are around four inches tall, and raised crosswalks range from three to six inches.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To Muhs, determining the height of a speed hump is a balancing act that takes into account the existing neighborhood design, various vehicle types, and minimizing injury to people. Larger cars like SUVs and trucks generally do not need to slow down as much as smaller, lower cars to pass through a speed hump smoothly and without getting scraped.

Muhs said the trade-off is seeing lives saved.

Given the choice between a crash involving a kid walking to school and getting hit by a car versus a rear end, fender bender situation, we would prefer the fender bender, Muhs said. Even though, obviously we dont want any crashes to occur if we can avoid it.

Muhs also said the signage and paint for the raised crosswalks and speed humps follows federal guidance. The Department of Public Works does not have plans to change the markings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Muhs acknowledged that the paint may have faded on some older speed humps. The city has the ability to ask contractors to repaint or repair the signage at those locations if residents report issues on the city's service requests website.

Research supports the effectiveness of speed humps and other traffic calming measures

According to Muhs, residents on Milwaukee's north side and near south side have been the most active when it comes to requesting traffic calming measures.

Muhs said cost, traffic patterns, and community needs play into what kind of structure the city ultimately installs.

Property owners in the immediate area are responsible for a portion of the cost, and the city works with them to identify the most suitable measure they feel comfortable paying for.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For example, a speed hump may cost a typical homeowner a one-time fee of around $70, whereas a traffic circle may cost around $170, according to the citys latest guidebook.

More: Traffic deaths disproportionately affect Milwaukee County and its Black and brown residents, report shows

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee urban planning professor Robert Schneider said research supports the effectiveness of speed humps and other traffic calming measures.

The types of traffic calming changes that the City of Milwaukee is making to its streets have been used in many other communities throughout the country and have been proven to slow speeds, reduce injury risk, and make streets more comfortable for all street users, Schneider said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Schneider said such measures should be accompanied with other investments into jobs, schools, and healthcare in neighborhoods to reduce how often people need to drive.

A vehicle travels over a speed hump on North Booth Street south of East Burleigh Street in Milwaukee on Monday, May 17, 2021. Efforts are underway to install speed hump nearby where group home is located at 3179 N Richards St. Photo by Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK

City officials are also taking more aggressive strategies to change driving habits. Last month, the city attorney announced that his office would no longer dismiss or amend reckless driving charges. The effort was echoed by Police Chief Jeffrey Norman and Mayor Cavalier Johnson.

Local elected officials are also advocating for more red light cameras in areas with higher crash rates. The Wisconsin Policy Forum has noted that increased traffic enforcement could create equity concerns by exposing communities of color to more law enforcement.

If residents are concerned about speeding in front of their house, Muhs said, speed humps are often the best solution.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With any change we make related to trying to manage speeding and reckless driving, theres always an adaptation period where people dont know and they may react last minute, Muhs said. I think that will improve over time as people learn where the raised crosswalks are.

Eva Wen as a data reporter with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be reached at qwen@gannett.com.

This story was updated to add a video and to add new information.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New speed humps draw mixed reviews from Milwaukee residents
If youve been stocking up on your Mirabito Energy rewards, theres an opportunity to donate them to children in need.

Mirabito announced its new charitable drive called, Gallons for Good, to raise money for Upstate Golisano Childrens Hospital and the Upstate Foundation.

Mirabito customers can log onto their online account or mobile app, go to their Home Heat Rewards, and opt in to donate their rewards to Gallons for Good. You can set it up for a one-time donation, or as an ongoing contribution.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At the end of the year, Mirabito will convert the rewards into dollars and donate them to a charity.

For more about Gallons for Good, visit Mirabito.com/cares.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34.
A 19-year-old man who died last week in a two-car wreck caused by a suspected drunk driver in Fircrest has been identified. Relatives and friends said he was a fun-loving young man who had a bright future.

Matthew Nguyen died Nov. 18 of multiple blunt force injuries, according to the Pierce County Medical Examiners Office, when he was driving west on Emerson Street in a Honda Civic and was struck by another driver at the Alameda Avenue intersection. Nguyens 15-year-old sister was also in the car. She was transported to a hospital but was not seriously injured.

Bang Tran, Nguyens father, said the two were on their way to Safeway to get some ingredients so Nguyen could cook steak for dinner. It happened blocks from their Fircrest home, and Tran said they were gone for just a few minutes before he got a call from his daughter and ran to the scene.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Friends and family of Nguyen gathered at the intersection that night as word of the incident spread. Nick Cadle, 19, one in a group of four close friends of Nguyen, said he stayed until the Honda was towed away, and he was in shock for the rest of the night.

The young mans sudden death has devastated those who knew Nguyen as a positive force who loved his family and lifted the spirits of those around him with a contagious laugh and well-cooked meals. Friends said he often liked to take spontaneous road trips in his car or motorcycle, sometimes wearing a Pikachu costume and getting smiles or photos with delighted strangers.

The tragedy clearly weighed heavily on Nguyens father. He said relatives and friends have been pouring into town to help out, but the last few days have been especially hard.

I miss my boy so much, Tran, 53, said.

Matthew Nguyen, 19, is pictured in August 2024 in Vietnam.

After the wreck, a 50-year-old Spokane man was arrested and charged with DUI vehicular homicide. Hes accused of running a red light and driving at high speed. A woman in his car was injured.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The defendant was arraigned in court a day after the incident. Tran didnt go to the hearing. He said he doesnt know how to face the man, who pleaded not guilty and remains in custody at the Pierce County Jail in lieu of $750,000 bail.

Nguyen was born in Tacoma and grew up in Fircrest. He attended Curtis High School, where he was on the swim team and played water polo. Nguyen graduated high school in 2023 then began college at Pacific Lutheran University. This year he was attending Tacoma Community College, where he was studying to become a nurse. Tran said hed just finished a class to be a certified nurse assistant so he could support himself while finishing college.

He just liked to help people, Tran said.

Nguyen also worked as a lifeguard at the Morgan Family YMCA in Tacomas West End, where he met his girlfriend, Kaelin Miller. She was drawn to his lighthearted personality, and the two began dating when they went to prom together in June. Miller, 18, was in Pullman at Washington State University when she learned of the car wreck. She and her parents drove through last weeks storms, braving snow in the mountain passes to get back to Tacoma.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Miller said it feels like time has stopped for everyone who was close to Nguyen. She finds herself talking about him as if hes still around and texting his cell phone. The two had plans to travel down to Oregon later this month for her birthday.

Its hard to turn 19 when you know that hes never going to be anything but 19, Miller said.

It just feels like the impossible, just trying to figure out what were going to do without Matthew in our lives because he was my best friend and my boyfriend and my rock, she said.

Matthew Nguyen is pictured on his 19th birthday.

Nguyens close-knit group of friends  Cadle, Joe Carini, Tanner Bullock and Julian McCune  were similarly hurt. Most of them met through swim team in 9th grade, but Carini became friends with Nguyen in elementary school, and he said they were like brothers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Carini, 19, recalled fond memories of fishing with Nguyen on Gravelly Lake, day trips to Seattle and running to Fred Meyer during the summer for Dr Pepper and watermelon. Similar memories came to mind for Cadle.

We wouldnt ever like have a distinct plan. Wed just do nothing together, Cadle said.

Bullock said Nguyen was the one who would reach out to bring the group of friends together.

He was always there for us, no matter what, and he pushed us in a good way to do better, Bullock, 19, said. He lived up to that himself. He was always putting in 100 percent of what he had that day and trying to be the best person he could.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Friends of Nguyens family have started a GoFundMe to raise money for funeral costs, medical bills and attorney expenses. On Monday, it had raised $9,955.

Tran said there would be a viewing service all day Tuesday at Pope St. John XXIII Parish, 7025 Park Ave. S., Tacoma. There will be a funeral service at the church starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Hannah Kobayashis family is still searching for the missing 31-year-old Maui woman who disappeared two weeks ago after her phone was last located in the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8

New information in the case has led to a tragic development for Hannahs loved ones.

Several members of Hannah Kobayashis family  including her father, Ryan Kobayashi  traveled to Los Angeles after her disappearance. There was tragic news for members of the Kobayashi family after they got word on Saturday, Nov. 23 that Hannah is likely being held against her will in L.A.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Missing Hawaii womans family alarmed over new info: Shes not alone

Were getting driplets, you know, from the investigators. We just know that its like, what theyve been telling us is that its serious, said Hannahs aunt, Larie Pidgeon. The words like human trafficking, abduction, those are becoming a reality in our life. And I think thats another reason that, you know, Ryan just, he just couldnt handle that reality, you know?

According to the L.A. County Coroners Office, Ryan Kobayashi took his own life during the weekend of Nov. 23. The family is adamant that the story stays focused on Hannah, who could still be in danger.

Hannah is still missing, Pidgeon said. Were holding on by a thread, but were not giving up, Bryce.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An LAPD spokesman said there is an open investigation regarding Hannah but would not confirm any other information. The former special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Honolulu said withholding information is not unusual when it comes to potential human trafficking.

They will look and take steps incrementally to gain ground. Sometimes they will lose ground and put out information to see if they can trigger any type of activity. But in in this case, Im sure theyve pulled out all stops. And, you know, there are probably many, many agencies that are engaged in this activity, said former HSI Honolulu special agent in charge Wayne Wills.

Hannahs family who are still in L.A. are focusing their efforts on Union train station, the Arts District and the Crypto.com Arena and hope that a break in the case is still possible 14 days after surveillance video captured Hannah with an unidentified person around 10 p.m. at a subway station near the Crypto arena on Monday, Nov. 11.

Were hoping by canvasing, you know, with her poster that if someone sees her, they remember the conversation they have. You know, most of the tips that are coming in are through fliers, Pidgeon said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hawaii woman spotted twice on camera before disappearing in L.A.

Anyone with information about Hannahs disappearance or knowledge of her whereabouts is asked to contact LAPD.

Hannahs family released a statement on Saturday, Nov. 24:

The family of Hannah Kobayashi is urgently pleading with the public to maintain focus on the search for her. Hannah IS still actively missing and is believed to be in imminent danger. It is crucial for everyone to remain vigilant in their efforts to locate Hannah. The Kobayashi family endured a devastating tragedy today. After tirelessly searching throughout Los Angeles for 13 days, Hannahs father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically took his own life. This loss has compounded the familys suffering immeasurably. What the family needs most in this difficult time is for all communities to rally around them with support, compassion, and prayers. Please be considerate with your comments and posts. The trauma they are enduring is profound, and they now face the additional burden of grieving the loss of their familys pillar and navigating next steps. We kindly ask that you respect the familys privacy during this period. Please refrain from contacting any family members, regardless of any previous connections you may have had. Your understanding and cooperation are greatly appreciated. Allow them the space to grieve and process this significant loss. Again, it is the family wish that the public keep the focus on locating and recovering Hannah safely. If you see Hannah, please call 911 immediately. Please obtain a photograph if possible. Your prompt action is crucial. If youre able to safely keep eyes on her until law enforcement arrives, please do so. In accordance with the familys wishes, all information, tips and media inquiries are to be directed via text to (619) 904-0840 or emailed to radthemovement@gmail.com. Hannah Kobayashis family

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Check out more news from around Hawaii

The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is 988 for those who are struggling with mental health issues.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MADISON, Wis. (WFRV)  A 38-year-old Mississippi man was sentenced to federal prison on Friday for traveling to Wisconsin and engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Reginal Wright was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison followed by a ten-year term of supervised release.

17-year-old killed in early morning single-vehicle crash in Wisconsin

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wright previously pleaded guilty to the crime on August 20, 2024.

Court documents show that on November 7, 2023, Wright traveled to Madison and picked up a 12-year-old girl from her foster home. Wright sexually assaulted the girl while in Wisconsin and then later in Tennessee and Florida.

Law enforcement was able to track the girls location and eventually recovered her from a Greyhound Bus traveling from Florida to Atlanta, Georgia.

BearCat, drones used to arrest man in Marinette County following a shooting incident

At the sentencing, Judge William Conley found that Wright took advantage of a child for his own sexual gratification. Judge Conley also noted the gaping age difference between Wright and the child, who Judge Conley described as vulnerable and clearly childlike.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Judge Conley said that Wright made a sordid decision and caused the child trauma that she may not fully understand until later.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission can spend more on salaries than lawmakers appropriate if there is enough money in the Road Fund, a Missouri Western District of Appeals panel of Judges Gary Witt, left, Mark Pfeiffer, center and Thomas Chapman ruled Tuesday. The judges are shown during oral arguments Nov. 7 at the University of Missouri's law school. (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).

Missouri Department of Transportation employees are entitled to raises included in a market pay plan even if lawmakers havent appropriated enough money to cover the cost, the Western District Missouri Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.

In the unanimous decision, Judge Gary Witt wrote that the Missouri Constitution is unambiguous in the power it gives to the Highways and Transportation Commission to spend money in the state Road Fund.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The only off-limits money in the Road Fund, Witt wrote, is the portion set aside for debt payments.

Once MHTC complies with these requirements, Witt wrote, MHTC retains sole discretion in using and expending the remaining balance of the State Road Fund in accordance with the constitutionally permissible uses.

The ruling comes less than three weeks after the three-judge panel heard arguments and, barring a final appeal to the Supreme Court, ends a case that began in 2021 . The decision upholds a trial court ruling from Cole County.

The dispute began when Commissioner of Administration Ken Zellers refused to issue paychecks that included raises intended to stem rapidly rising turnover in the department.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The heart of the case is language in the Constitution that states money in the Road Fund shall stand appropriated without legislative action for the limited purposes of road construction and maintenance. Money in the road fund comes from fuel taxes and license fees.

The payment of the employees of MHTC is within the constitutionally permissible uses of the State Road Fund to employ such personnel as necessary, Witt wrote.

MoDOT will not comment on the case until the court decision is final, spokeswoman Linda Horn wrote in an email to The Independent.

The Attorney Generals office, which represented Zellers, also did not respond.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In opposing the pay raises, Deputy Solicitor General Sam Freedlund argued to the appeals court that only the debt obligations of the commission could be paid if lawmakers did not appropriate sufficient money. Otherwise, the legislature must appropriate the money, he said.

All sorts of agencies, Im sure, want to pay their employees different amounts, but its the legislation that ultimately controls the public purse strings, Freedlund said.

The judges were skeptical of that argument in the hearing and the ruling shows why. The constitutional language, Witt wrote, unambiguously provides that the entire State Road Fund stands appropriated without legislative action.

The language has never been tested previously because the commission stayed within the annual appropriations made by lawmakers. The market plan went outside the appropriations in an effort to stem massive turnover in the agency.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The department lost an average of 600 employees per year from fiscal 2018 to fiscal 2021 out of an employee base of about 5,000. During that period, state pay raises were small or non-existent.

Turnover has remained high  14%, or 654 employees in fiscal 2024  even as pay raises became more generous throughout state government. Since the lawsuit started, state employees generally have received raises equaling almost 21% more than their salaries in 2021.

The commissions goal for the pay plan was to raise pay levels so 65% of MoDOT employees are at or above the midpoint in the pay range for their job. In the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2024, 89.3% were below the midpoint, according to state budget documents.

The payment of the employees of MHTC is within the constitutionally permissible uses of the State Road Fund to employ such personnel as necessary, Witt wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The lawsuit was filed two months after the first state fuel tax increase in 27 years took effect. State lawmakers approved the tax increase  12.5 cents per gallon phased in over five years  without seeking a statewide vote.

So far, the tax increase has added 10 cents a gallon to the cost of fuel and when fully implemented on July 1, 2025, motorists will be paying a total of 29.9 cents per gallon in state fuel taxes.

The lawsuit enraged some lawmakers. State Sen. Cindy OLaughlin, and five other Republican senators, in a February 2022 letter to the commission, demanded that MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna either resign or be fired.

McKenna survived the attacks. In August, after securing a new job, he told the commission he was resigning after nine years.

This article has been updated to state that MoDOT has no comment on the ruling.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
A Missouri judge upheld the states ban on gender-affirming care for minors Monday, a victory for opponents of the practice in a continuing nationwide battle over transgender issues.

The 2023 law known as Senate Bill 49 prohibits the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgery in people under the age of 18 to treat gender dysphoria, defined by the American Psychiatric Association as the psychological distress that results from an incongruence between ones sex assigned at birth and ones gender identity. An exception is made for children who were already receiving treatment prior to August 2023.

We are the first state in the nation to successfully defend such a law at the trial court level, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said in a statement Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The judges decision to uphold the ban followed a nine-day trial in a lawsuit filed by three transgender children and their parents.

The medical dispute has become more fractured in the last year, with even more medical authorities questioning the evidence for these interventions, Wright County Circuit Judge R. Craig Carter wrote in his 74-page ruling.

Gender-affirming care is highly individualized, and some people may decide to use reversible puberty suppression therapy, including hormone therapy that can lead to gender-affirming physical change. Surgical interventions, however, are not typically done on children and many health care providers do not offer them to minors.

The use of gender-affirming therapy in minors is more controversial than in adults, but the Endocrine Society  whose guidelines Carter cited repeatedly in his opinion  has strongly opposed bans on gender-affirming care for minors. The society sets guidelines that help medical professionals determine the best practices to provide appropriate care for people who are transgender and gender-diverse.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This ruling sends a chilling message that, for some, compassion and equal access to health care are still out of reach, said Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Missouri, which have been providing legal counsel to the plaintiffs. The organizations say they will appeal Mondays ruling.

Doctors who defy the law could have their licenses to practice medicine in Missouri revoked and could also be sued by patients up to 15 years after receiving treatment.

The law also prohibits state Medicaid funds from being used to pay for gender-affirming care for a patient of any age.

In this March 2023 photo, Julia Williams holds a sign in counterprotest during a rally in favor of a ban on gender-affirming health care legislation at the Missouri Statehouse in Jefferson City, Missouri. - Charlie Riedel/AP/File

Nationwide fight over transgender treatment

The ruling refers to substantial medical dispute about the causes and treatments of gender dysphoria. Dozens of major medical groups  including the American Medical Association  say treatment for gender dysphoria is medically necessary and should be determined by shared decision making between the patient and physician. The American Academy of Pediatrics also supports access to gender-affirming care.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The judge in his ruling cited a report by the National Health Service in the UK that concluded that the interventions at issue in this lawsuit rest on remarkably weak evidence and that there is no good evidence on the long-term outcomes of interventions.

In the ruling the judge also noted the World Health Organizations decision not to craft guidelines for treating gender dysphoria in adolescents because the evidence base for children and adolescents is limited and variable.

A majority of states now have bans similar to Missouris in place, Carters ruling noted, and there are multiple challenges to those laws now under appeal.

Mondays decision in Missouri came just a week before the US Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in a challenge to a similar law in Tennessee. In that case, a 15-year-old transgender girl and her parents say the childs mental wellbeing is at stake.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I dont even want to think about having to go back to the dark place I was in before I was able to come out and access the care that my doctors have prescribed for me, the 15-year-old said in a statement released by the ACLU.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A Missouri judge on Monday upheld the states ban on gender-affirming care for minors, allowing the state to continue prohibiting treatments such as hormone therapy and puberty blockers for people under 18.

Circuit Court Judge Robert Craig Carter from southern Douglas County wrote in a 74-page order on Monday that the ban was constitutional. The ruling rejects a lawsuit brought on behalf of families of trans youth, medical providers and national LGBTQ advocacy organizations.

In addition to ruling that the ban was constitutional, Carter went a step further, finding that there was an almost total lack of consensus as to the medical ethics of treating adolescent gender dysphoria, which is typically defined as the feeling of distress when a persons gender identity does not match their sex assigned at birth.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The evidence at trial showed severe disagreement as to whether adolescent gender dysphoria drug and surgical treatment was ethical at all, and if so, what amount of treatment was ethically allowable, Carter wrote in the order.

Carters ruling comes after a nine-day trial that concluded in Jefferson City last month. The trial and lawsuit centered on a law that the Republican-controlled General Assembly passed and Gov. Mike Parson signed into law in 2023.

The law, which took effect in August 2023, bans gender transition surgeries on minors and imposes a three-year moratorium on hormone therapy and puberty blockers unless the patients were already receiving the medications.

The legislation also affects adults, prohibiting Missouri Medicaid dollars from covering gender-affirming care and bans prisons and jails from providing gender-affirming surgeries.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The ban was part of a nationwide push to regulate the lives of transgender people and has sparked fear in Missouris transgender community, prompting some to leave the state. The Kansas City-area was at the center of the fight, with transgender residents straddling two states that sought to restrict their rights.

The ACLU of Missouri and the national LGBTQ civil rights law firm Lambda Legal, representing the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, sharply criticized the ruling in a joint statement. The two groups said they planned to appeal.

The courts findings signal a troubling acceptance of discrimination, ignore an extensive trial record and the voices of transgender Missourians and those who care for them, and deny transgender adolescents and Medicaid beneficiaries from their right to access to evidence-based, effective, and often life-saving medical care, the groups said in the statement.

The lawsuit alleged the ban violated the Missouri Constitution by discriminating against trans patients on the basis of sex and their trans status, and deprives parents of a fundamental right to seek medical care for their children. The law also forces medical providers to choose between abandoning their patients or keeping their medical licenses, according to the suit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Carter disagreed, upholding the law on all counts, according to his order.

Republican Attorney General Andrew Baileys office defended the law in court. The ban came after Bailey had previously attempted to severely restrict gender-affirming care by issuing a regulation, leading even some Republicans to question its legality. He eventually abandoned that effort after lawmakers approved the ban.

Bailey and other Republicans have regularly framed restrictions on gender-affirming care as necessary to protect children, an argument Bailey reiterated after Mondays ruling.

Mutilation is not healthcare, Bailey wrote on social media on Monday. We will never stop fighting to protect your children.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Baileys office put out a release later in the day, saying he was proud of the work his office put in to shine a light on the lack of evidence supporting these irreversible procedures.

We will never stop fighting to ensure Missouri is the safest state in the nation for children, Bailey said.

Impact on Kansas City

Bailey had pushed for restrictions on gender-affirming care after a former employee at Washington University in St. Louis transgender center at St. Louis Childrens Hospital alleged the center was harming patients. The universitys internal report found the allegations to be unfounded.

Despite Baileys argument, the ACLU of Missouri and Lambda Legal said Monday that Missouri had prioritized politics over the well-being of its people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This ruling sends a chilling message that, for some, compassion and equal access to health care are still out of reach, the groups said. The law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner also represented the plaintiffs in the suit.

After the ruling came down, Celeste Michael, a 23-year-old transgender woman from Kansas City, said that she felt for transgender kids. Trans people, she said, are facing even more vitriol and more hatred.

I think its a really scary time to be a trans person, Michael said. If theyre going to go for kids, which are our most vulnerable subset of trans people, theyre going for incarcerated people, which are also some of our most vulnerable trans people, whos to say theyre not going to go for me next?
FREEPORT, Ill. (WTVO)  Highland Community College introduced a new vehicle on Monday designed to bring health care into rural areas.

The Mobile Medical Unit will allow students to work in tandem with nurse practitioners and other qualified staff to screen for blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol risks in patients.

An EKG machine is also on board.

College administrators said the new vehicle will allow better access for those who often struggle to get to and from appointments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To our knowledge, no other community college in Illinois has a mobile medical unit like this one, said HCC President Chris Kuberski. This unit creates a unique learning experience for our students while also serving the health care needs of the communities across our Northwest Illinois district.

Many patients may have difficulty with transportation, or funding to be able to afford transportation to a traditional health care organization, a hospital, or a clinic, said Dean of Nursing, Stephanie Eymann. So, we can run events that take the health care to them, rather than those patients having to try and find a way to get to the clinic

The mobile medical unit will serve communities in Stephenson, Ogle, Jo Daviess, and Carroll counties.

It was funded by Highland Community Colleges nursing program and a $300,000 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  Mobile County Public Schools are improving their Alabama Department of Education report card scores.

The school system improved from a C to a B for the 2023-24 school year, improving by two points.

MCPSS ordered to refund taxes to billion-dollar company

Were moving forward, School Board Vice President Sherry McDade said.

Out of 81 schools in the Mobile County Public School System, 10 schools received an A, 31 received a B, 27 received a C, 12 received a D, and only one school got an F on their report card.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Compared to last year, 10 schools received an A, 17 received a B, 36 received a C, 13 received a D, and five schools got an F.

Were not perfect, District 2 School Board member Don Stringfellow said. There are schools that need to improve, and we are going to be targeting them.

49 counties in Mississippi featured in general election runoff  what voters should know

Stringfellow said the school system dialed in on attendance, reading scores and graduation rates this past year.

This next school year, the school system plans to focus on the lower graded schools. They plan to have meetings to identify individual problems and add more administrators to schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the 23-24 school year, five high schools received a D.

B.C. Rain: 67

Vigor: 61

LeFlore Magnet: 65

Williamson: 61

Theodore: 66

4 Mobile County commercial burglaries lead to 3 arrests: sheriffs office

Four middle schools received a D.

Pillians: 62

Mobile County Training: 67

Chastang-Fournier: 61

Burns: 64

Booker T. Washington: 66

The Pathway Middle School is the only school to receive an F this year.

We want to maintain what we earned this year, Stringfellow said. But we also want to bring everybody else up.

Traffic stop ends in 1 arrest on Airport Boulevard

Mobile County Training Middle School has shown the most improvement. In 2023, they received a 49. However, this year, they received a 67, an 18-point increase.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We wish them continued success to that A grade that we are seeking, McDade said.

Old Shell Road Magnet Elementary, Council Traditional Elementary and Eichold-Mertz School of Math and Science all received a perfect score.

The Alabama State Department of Education has a complete list of all the schools with their grades.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Amtrak trains could start picking up passengers from Dayton and taking them to cities across the state.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

As reported on News Center 7 at 6:00, city officials determined the old Dayton Union Station along W. Sixth Street is an ideal spot for a passenger train station.

TRENDING STORIES:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Federal Railroad Administration is working to fit Dayton into the 3C+D corridor. This corridor goes through Dayton, Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati.

According to a previous News Center 7 report, the 3C corridor hasnt been used for passenger rail since the early 1970s.

What you get to see then, Dayton would be connected, yes to the major cities within Ohio. They will be connected to the network that could get you to Detroit, DC, All Aboard Ohio spokesperson Mitch Radakovich said.

All Aboard Ohio is one of many groups trying to get Amtrak trains to make stops in Dayton.

Were super excited to see the momentum is really rolling now in the 2020s in Dayton, Radakovich said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

News Center 7 reached out to Daytons city planner to learn why the old Union Station is the best spot.

Eventually youll see things like, we call it, transit-oriented development. Where if theres lots around the station, that right now is under-utilized, you might see new buildings being built there where people living in apartments or small businesses operate, Radakovich said.

As previously reported by News Center 7, an infrastructure bill was signed into law in Nov. 2021, putting $66.6 billion into the Amtrak investment.

The Federal Railroad Administration will decide which routes to develop next year.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]




TOWANDA TWP, Pa. (WETM)  A Pennsylvania man was sentenced to up to five years in a Pennsylvania State Correctional Facility for several felony charges after an incident in Towanda Township, the Bradford County District Attorneys Office said.

Tyler Daniel Cordner, 29, of Monroeton was sentenced recently for a minimum of five months to a maximum of 24 months for the charge of criminal trespass, a felony in the third degree, the DAs office said.

Elmira Heights man sentenced for corruption of minors

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cordner was also convicted of a charge of possession of a firearm with an altered manufacturer number, a felony in the second degree. Cordner received a sentence of 18 months to 36 months in a state correctional facility for this charge.

The sentencing stems from an investigation where troopers with the Pennsylvania State Police learned that Cordner entered a womans home on Woodside Road in Towanda Township.

Cordners overall sentence will be 23 months to 60 months in state prison, the DAs office 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 WETM - MyTwinTiers.com.
Nov. 26A group of rabbis is calling for a boycott of Portland.

In a full-page ad that ran in the Portland Press Herald last week, rabbis from the United States and Canada urged their communities to "avoid patronizing and financially contributing to the City of Portland."

The ad was signed by more than 100 Jewish leaders from 22 states and Canada. However, no one from Maine signed their name to the ad.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The effort is a response to the Portland City Council unanimously voting more than two months ago to divest from companies doing business in Israel in protest of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

The council has faced continued backlash for the vote, especially when it became clear that the city had no funds invested in companies doing business in Israel at the time of the vote, making it a purely symbolic act.

The ad in Thursday's Press Herald did not mince words addressing the council's vote to divest.

"Rather than embracing a Jewish community still reeling from the shock of the heinous October 7th massacre and the aftershocks of record-high global antisemitic incidents, the Portland City Council has decided to set a double standard that inspires and encourages antisemitism across the United States," it read.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rabbi Dovid Asher of Synagogue Keneseth Beth Israel in Richmond, Virginia, organized the group that bought the ad.

"This seemed to be the most powerful way to send a message," he said. "Portland, Maine, is not going to impact the state of Israel in any real way, but when you treat Jews differently it makes us all less safe. People don't realize how dangerous it is for Jews right now in this country."

He said condemning Israel while not calling out other international conflicts was antisemitic.

"This hyper-focus on vilifying Jews is just a discrimination beyond imagination," he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Asher said that when he heard about the City Council's vote to divest he felt morally obligated to take action.

"It seemed like Portland was joining a worldwide movement to start an economic war against the Jewish state," he said.

He reached out to other Jewish leaders around the country and in Canada and they decided that taking out an ad in the Press Herald would be the most effective way to reach people. Although his synagogue paid for the ad, he said he collected financial contributions from about a quarter of the people who signed their names to it. Some who didn't want to publicly sign the ad also supported his efforts, he said.

Though no rabbis in Maine signed onto the open letter to Portland, several Jewish leaders in Maine were among those who offered support without attaching their names, Asher said. Rabbis at several synagogues in and around Portland did not respond on Monday to questions about the ad.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a written statement, Jewish Voices for Peace condemned the ad. The organization supported the divestment initiative and describes itself on its website as "The world's largest Jewish organization standing in solidarity with Palestine."

The group's statement said the ad "purposely ignores the fact that Portland Jews were instrumental in the drafting and passage of the city's historic resolution to divest from Israel's genocide of Palestinians. ... We reject this inflammatory message published in this advertisement, paid and supported by out-of-state interests. Their views do not represent the diversity of opinions in Portland's Jewish communities."

While the council's vote was unanimous when the resolution passed in September, Mayor Mark Dion has since publicly apologized for his vote to divest and said he would not vote for such a resolution if he could do it over.

DION'S APOLOGY

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Asher said that Dion's apology was a step in the right direction.

"It's one of the most courageous decisions I've ever seen by a politician in this polarized climate. It was incredibly meaningful," said Asher.

Dion said he is concerned about the ad and that he wants to do what he can to minimize any impact it could have on the city's economy. He hopes that with several new councilors taking their seats next month, that the council might be able to revisit the issue in the coming months.

"Clearly Portland's Jewish community would like us to take action on this," said Dion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While he said council rules would make it impossible to repeal the resolution, he believes it would be possible to pass a new resolution effectively rendering the old one moot, something he said he plans to explore with the new councilors once they take their seats in December.

Council April Fournier, who sponsored the resolution, did not respond Monday to questions about the ad.

Copy the Story Link
A number of drones have again been spotted flying near US Air Force bases in Britain.

The United States Air Force said it was monitoring airspace over RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk and RAF Feltwell in Norfolk, after unidentified drones were spotted overnight.

The sighting comes after small unmanned aerial systems were seen over the bases last week.

A mystery drone was also spotted following British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth as it entered the port of Hamburg, in Germany, on Friday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A US Air Forces in Europe spokesman told Sky News: I can confirm the situation is ongoing and our units continue to monitor the airspace and are working with host-nation authorities and mission partners to ensure the safety of base personnel, facilities, and assets.

To safeguard operational security, we do not discuss specific force protection measures, however we retain the right to protect our installations.

The Royal Air Force has been approached for comment.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  More witnesses testified Tuesday as the defense continues its portion of the sentencing hearing for Austin police officer Christopher Taylor, who a jury found guilty of deadly conduct last month in the 2019 death of Mauris DeSilva.

Police responded to 911 calls of DeSilva walking around his condo complex with a knife to his throat and ultimately shot and killed him on the fifth floor common area.

Taylors attorneys said he acted in accordance with his training and in defense of himself and others. Prosecutors said DeSilva was undergoing a profound mental health episode, and police did not need to shoot him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You can follow view updates from throughout Tuesdays court proceedings below on the social media platform X.

Good morning, back in court again as officer Christopher Taylor's sentencing hearing continues. Today, we'll hear from more of the Defense's witnesses. Remaining witnesses will testify next week. @KXAN_News pic.twitter.com/lIsfbwNUwD  Brianna Hollis (@BriHollisNEWS) November 26, 2024

Former APD top cops didnt discipline Taylor for actions in this case

Former APD Chief Brian Manley and Interim Chief Robin Henderson took the stand Tuesday saying they did not believe Taylor violated any APD policy when confronting DeSilva.

Manley was the chief when this incident happened and said the internal investigation into Taylors actions resulted in Manley deciding not to issue any punishment or suspension. The former chief told prosecutors that during his time in the role, he never issued a suspension related to deadly use of force. He did testify that there have been subsequent policy violations involved in use of force cases which did result in formal discipline. Manley also stated he would not encourage young officers to join APD at this time.

Henderson said she believed that fact should be mitigating evidence the judge should consider when determining Taylors sentence. Below is a transcription of part of the States cross-examination with Henderson on this topic.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prosecutor Rob Drummond: If courts were to extend grace to officers involved in fatal shootings, or in shootings at all or in uses of force at all, because the department did not find they violated procedure, we would be in a situation where, effectively, the police departments discipline would be superseding part of the courts decision making and the jurys decision making. Do you see what Im saying?

Henderson: Absolutely. Yes, sir.

Drummond: Do you find that to be problematic if that were the case?

Henderson: If that were the case.

Defenses first three witnesses wrap before noon Monday

The defense called three witnesses Monday:

Bruce Mills, former interim assistant city manager over public safety

Howard Williams, Texas State professor; State called him as a potential expert witness on the DeSilva case for grand jury proceedings

Rich Daugherty, Taylors former landlord and now close friend

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mills testified that he did not see any issues with the officers response to DeSilva. Williams said that he did not find the officers actions to be criminally negligent, but referenced his previously written report that he noted a reasonable jury may disagree with that.

Daugherty spoke to Taylors character. You can find more details from Mondays testimony below.

Good morning, we're now in the final stretch of the trial for APD officer Christopher Taylor. Defense will present sentencing witnesses today. Recap: Jury found Taylor guilty of deadly conduct, Judge Blazey will determine his sentence. @KXAN_News https://t.co/tIL96zdzOD  Brianna Hollis (@BriHollisNEWS) November 25, 2024

Once proceedings are done Tuesday, the remaining witnesses will testify on Tuesday, Dec. 3, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Nov. 25MORGANTOWN  Morgantown Staff Engineer Drew Gatlin recently told Morgantown City Council the city would need half a billion dollars to complete every sidewalk project on its wish list.

It's going to start with half a million.

Lakecrest Construction, out of Fairmont, has been awarded a $558, 450 contract to take on a series of pedestrian improvements at seven locations across the city.

The project is being funded using American Rescue Plan Act dollars. The city earmarked $1 million of it's $11.2 million ARPA allocation for pedestrian upgrades.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gatlin said this is just the first round of what he believes will be "historic sidewalk investment."

"We did initially promise projects in every single ward. This set of projects does not exactly meet that, but we have seen sidewalk investments in every ward over the past few years, and we will definitely be continuing to bring more proposals as the year goes on, " he said.

This initial group of projects was selected by pulling the top 93 (of some 750) projects identified in the Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization's 2020 Regional Bike and Pedestrian Transportation Plan.

Gatlin worked with the Morgantown Traffic Commission and Pedestrian Safety Board to sort and rank the projects based on cost, visibility /disbursement across the city and risk of complications like required approvals from the state or other entities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In addition to this work, the city has initiated a planning process to develop a comprehensive capital plan for sidewalk and related investments over the next 20 years Among the projects slated for spring are:

First Ward will see a new, highly visible crosswalk on Dorsey Avenue at Wagner Road. The plans include more narrow travel lanes, upgraded curb ramps, shorter crossing distances, flashing lights, and a climbing bike lane from South High Street to Barrickman Street.

Third Ward will see major changes to the sidewalks on Eureka Drive surrounding the Wiles Hill Community Center. The project will close some gaps in the sidewalk on Center Street, eliminate the stairs on Eureka, replace /widen /relocate the sidewalk on Eureka, install a raised crosswalk to and provide a more accessible route down to the playground, and improve drainage along the corridor.

Fourth Ward will see two longstanding gaps in the sidewalk network along Oakland Street finally filled with new sidewalks, new curb ramps, and a raised crosswalk at West Everly. The project will also reconfigure Oakland's intersection with Harding to shorten the crossing distance and narrow the turn radius to slow traffic entering Harding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fourth and Seventh Wards will see a new, highly visible crosswalk on University Avenue between Mulberry and Junior. A new sidewalk will close a gap between Junior and the nearby shops and improve drainage through the corridor while also straightening out and narrowing the Junior / University intersection to a more standard design.

Sixth Ward will see a new entrance threshold to the South Hills neighborhood at the top of the hill on Buckhannon Avenue. The neighborhood entrance will come with speed cushions, radar speed feedback signs, and custom welcome signage on each side of the road to narrow the travel corridor and communicate the neighborhood's "shared streets " characteristics.

Seventh Ward will see a more accessible reconfiguration of the existing Selwin-Lawnview Trail Connector, which will also be paved and lit with pedestrian-scale lighting and outfitted with wayfinding on this important link in one of the Safe Routes to Schools for Suncrest Elementary and Suncrest Middle.

In other city news, Reclaim Company will be paid $81, 998.01 to tear down the former Bartlett House shelter at 1110 University Ave. and the neighboring structure at 1116 University Ave, both of which are still owned by Bartlett House Inc.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The city's code enforcement has inspected the property with the consent of the owner, Bartlett House Inc. and condemned the structure. It is in need of demolition due to the structural conditions, " attorney Ryan Simonton said. "The city is in the process of working with the owner to try to make sure this demolition results in an appropriate redevelopment for that parcel. Those details are not finalized yet."

Reclaim will also demolish a condemned house at 1231 Montrose Ave. for $10, 250.

Simonton said funding for the demolition work is coming through the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's dilapidated properties program.
Getty Images

Sign up for The Agenda  Them's news and politics newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Thursday.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin signed a bill on Saturday banning the adoption of Russian children by people who live in countries where gender-affirming care is legal, according to a report in the Associated Press.

The adoption ban will apply to at least 15 countries, including many European countries, Australia, and Canada, per the Associated Press. Putin banned U.S. citizens from adopting Russian children in 2012.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In July, the author of the bill, Vyacheslav Volodin, who is also speaker of the countrys lower house of Parliament, put out a statement on Telegram that said that it was extremely important to eliminate possible dangers in the form of gender reassignment that adopted children may face in these countries.

This law is the latest in a years-long escalation of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and rhetoric from the Russian government. In 2023, the Russian Supreme Court upheld a lawsuit from Putin against the international LGBT movement, essentially banning LGBTQ+ activism in Russia. In 2022, Putin expanded the countrys ban on LGBTQ+ propaganda to criminalize all depictions of queer people in media and banning information that can make children want to change their sex. Russia also banned gender-affirming surgeries in 2023.

Putin has repeatedly referred to Western countries as Satanic and praised Russias traditional values. While delivering a speech in 2022 announcing the annexation of parts of Ukraine, Putin stopped to ask if those watching wanted children to be offered sex-change operations, which he implied were a Western phenomenon.

Russia Will Now Ban All Depictions of LGBTQ\+ Identity in Media

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An expansion of the country's LGBTQ\+ propaganda law will also ban information that can make children want to change their sex.

Alongside this bill banning adoption to citizens of certain countries, Putin signed another piece of legislation that makes it illegal to distribute material that discourages people from having children; the ban on childlessness propaganda comes with a hefty fine of up to 5 million rubles, or about $50,000. The bill, according to the AP, is part of Putins battle with the West, as he sees any message about not having kids as a way to weaken Russia by encouraging population decline.

Earlier this year, Putin encouraged Russian women to have children to address Russias declining birth rate. He added that women were uniquely suited to both work and perform the role of motherhood because they are beautiful, caring, and charming and possess a secret that men are unable to fathom.

Get the best of whats queer. Sign up for Thems weekly newsletter here.

Originally Appeared on them.
All customers of City of Camden Water System are under a boil water and water conservation advisory after a tanker crash damaged a 100-foot segment of the system's main water line on Nov. 25, 2024.

Residents in Benton County are being told to conserve and boil water after a Monday evening crash on Highway 70 damaged a water main that supplies most of the county with water from the Tennessee River.

An estimated 10,000 people could be without water until the break is repaired, Benton County Sheriff Kenny Christopher said Tuesday. The boil water advisory applies to all City of Camden Water System customers. Several residents have reported having no access to water on the systems Facebook page.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Benton County schools and the Benton County Courthouse are closed, Benton County Emergency Management Agency Director Richard Kee said Tuesday.

Everything that Camden supplies all the way up nearly to the interstate, unless theyve got their own well, if theyre on Camden Water System, then theyre going to be out of water just shortly, if they are not already, Christopher said.

Utility crews must wait to repair the water main until a tank carrying chemicals is safely removed from the area, according to a statement from City of Camden Water Department Superintendent John Beasley.

Three passenger vehicles and a semi truck carrying a tank of chemicals collided on Highway 70 East around 5 p.m. Monday, killing one person. The semi truck hit a guardrail and separated from the tank, which careened down an embankment and damaged about 100 feet of the critical water main, according to Christopher and Beasley.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The water line feeds the Camden Water Treatment Plant and the entirety of the Camden Water System, Beasley said.

The tank contains more than 40,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia, typically used as agricultural fertilizer. The chemical is stored and transported in liquid form in special pressurized tanks, according to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The fertilizer aggressively seeks out moisture due to its lack of water and physical contact can result in serious injuries.

Christopher and Kee said the cargo tank is not thought to be leaking, but will be inspected thoroughly.

Before the tank can be moved, the ammonia must be pumped into a different tanker truck, Christopher said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The water utility will conduct bacterial tests throughout the water system once the repairs are complete and the systems water pressure is restored, according to Beasley. Until then, all customers should use bottled water or bring all water to a boil for at least three minutes and allow it to cool before drinking, freezing, or using water to brush teeth, wash dishes or prepare food.

Residents can collect one case of bottled water per household at a distribution center set up at the old Walmart at 190 Highway 641 North, Post Oak Avenue entrance. Second Harvest Food Bank of West Tennessee and Camden Walmart provided the initial supply of bottled water, according to Beasley.

Christopher said he has contacted the offices of U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn and U.S. Rep. David Kustoff to request assistance to obtain more safe water supply.

Traffic on Highway 70 has been reduced to one alternating lane until further notice, Christopher said.
The Thanksgiving holiday weekend is a popular time to travel, but it can also be a dangerous time to hit the road.

More than 300 people died in car accidents in the U.S. over the 2022 Thanksgiving holiday weekend, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Over the past four years, four highly traveled Ohio routes have seen more fatal crashes than the other roads in the state during the holiday weekend. Two of them run through Greater Cincinnati.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Here's what to know, according to data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Most dangerous Ohio roads to drive over Thanksgiving

The Ohio routes with the most fatalities from 2020 to 2023 over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend were Interstate 71, Interstate 75, U.S. Route 62 and U.S. Route 3, with each road seeing two or more fatalities during that span. North-south routes I-75 and I-71 run parallel with each other through Cincinnati. The other two routes pass through Columbus.

According to state highway patrol data, most crashes over the holiday weekend happened on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

Here's a look at crashes over this time period in Cincinnati and surrounding areas.

Crashes in 2020, from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving through the following Sunday:

Hamilton County: 329 crashes.

Butler County: 77 crashes.

Warren County: 38 crashes.

Clermont County: 68 crashes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There was one fatal crash in Warren County. There were six fatalities and 2,707 crashes statewide.

Crashes in 2021, Wednesday before Thanksgiving through following Sunday:

Hamilton County: 271 crashes.

Butler County: 91 crashes.

Warren County: 36 crashes.

Clermont County: 44 crashes.

There were 14 fatalities and 3,582 total crashes statewide.

Crashes in 2022, Wednesday before Thanksgiving through following Sunday:

Hamilton County: 236 crashes.

Butler County: 86 crashes.

Warren County: 43 crashes.

Clermont County: 41 crashes.

There was one fatal crash in Warren County. Across the state, there were 13 fatalities and 2,498 total crashes.

Crashes in 2023, Wednesday before Thanksgiving through following Sunday:

Hamilton County: 224 crashes.

Butler County: 81 crashes.

Warren County: 38 crashes.

Clermont County: 36 crashes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There were 11 fatalities statewide and 2,449 total crashes.

Exit 12 off southbound Interstate 75.

When is the best day to travel for Thanksgiving?

In Cincinnati, the Ohio Department of Transportation expects there will be heavy travel-related traffic Tuesday, with moderate traffic Wednesday and Sunday. The department anticipates light traffic on Thanksgiving and Friday, and normal traffic Saturday.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 4 Ohio roads are more dangerous than the others over Thanksgiving
BreAnna Johnson, 28, was found fatally shot on Oct. 31, leading to the arrest of her boyfriend Darryl Tyson Jr. on a domestic violence charge

National Gun Violence Memorial BreAnna Johnson BreAnna Johnson

Authorities in Missouri are investigating the fatal shooting of a mother of two, pregnant with twins, who was found slain in her home last month.

BreAnna Johnson, 28, was found dead at her Wentzville, Mo., residence on Oct. 31, local police said at the time.

Johnson was not named in the statement, but a GoFundMe set up by her family, as well as reports by First Alert 4 and FOX 2 Now, identified her as the victim.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wentzville police say they arrested 39-year-old Darryl Tyson Jr. on Oct. 31 and charged him with domestic violence, related to an incident from the day prior to the shooting. He has not been charged in connection with the killing.

National Gun Violence Memorial

The investigation began at about 4:30 a.m. on Oct. 31, when law enforcement responded to a report of a shooting at the Katie Lynn Court residence, the police statement said.

They found Johnson deceased at the scene, and her two children who were physically unharmed. Tyson was taken into custody for questioning, police said.

According to Johnsons mother, she was four months pregnant with twins at the time of the killing, First Alert 4 reported. One of her two children is a 6-month-old and the other child is nearly 2 years old, and Tyson is their father, according to the fundraiser.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The victims mother, Janette Giddens, alleges that Johnson had been physically abused, and received brutal beatings from Tyson, per First Alert 4.

Johnson had reportedly been seeking support from an organization working with domestic violence victims, per FOX 2 Now.

Dr. Cynthia Bennett, founder of the Journey Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse, told the outlet that Johnson had reached out to them for help in January, when she was 7-months-pregnant with her other child.

She was reaching out for safety, Bennett said. She was afraid for her life.

On the day before the killing, police responded to her residence in relation to a domestic dispute, First Alert 4 reported, citing unspecified court documents. Tyson was accused of throwing a phone striking Victim 1 in the head in that incident.

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.

In the GoFundMe set up to assist Johnsons surviving children, her family described her death as an unconscionable loss.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Messiah and Jeremiah will never know first-hand the loving mother who was so beautiful and happy with her babies, reads the plea for financial assistance for Johnson's burial.

Wentzville police says they are working with the St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorneys Office to pursue other charges against Tyson in connection with Johnson's killing.

Tyson is currently being held on $500,000 bond, per police. It wasn't immediately clear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.

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.


Colder air is moving into New Mexico Monday. Warmer weather returns Tuesday as snow and spotty showers will move into northern New Mexico and southern Colorado.

A strong cold front has been moving through eastern and northern New Mexico Monday. This has kept high temperatures over 25 cooler for far eastern parts of the state compared to Saturday. Clouds have been streaming into the state with mid-level moisture ahead of a storm system. This storm will start to bring snow the the San Juan Mountains in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico tonight.

Westerly winds increase across New Mexico Wednesday, bringing a warmup across the state. The strongest winds are going to be along and east of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and east of the Sandias where wind gusts up to 65 mph will be possible Tuesday into Wednesday morning. Snow will pick up in the San Juan Mountains with spotty showers in southwest Colorado and northwest New Mexico.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wednesday afternoon will stay above average for most of New Mexico before another cold front moves in from the northeast late Wednesday afternoon and a Pacific front moves in from the west. These will increase the mountain snow and valley rain chances across northern New Mexico and southern Colorado Wednesday. Winds will also be breezy again.

Rain and mountain snow continues into Thursday morning across northern New Mexico, but will be ending through the morning. No significant travel impacts are expected across New Mexico with this storm system other than some wind and heavier snowfall at high mountain passes, especially in southern Colorado. The San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado could see anywhere from one to two feet of snow above 8,000 with up to 40 above 10,000. In New Mexico, the San Juans could see 5 to 10. The Sangre de Cristo Mountains will also see snow with anywhere from an inch or two to a foot across mountain peaks. Temperatures will also be much colder across the state for Thanksgiving Day with the drier air that will move in by the afternoon.

Theres a lot more uncertainty whether we will see anymore rain or snow linger around into the end of this week. Regardless, temperatures will start a slow warming trend into the weekend, with the return of some breezy winds on Saturday.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  There are 48 gangs operating in Memphis, the citys interim police chief told city leaders, but few signs that Venezuelan gangs have made it here.

The issue of Venezuelan gangs made news in Tennessee after the head of the TBI recently said members had been found in every city in the state.

David Rausch, director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, said two weeks ago that a Venezuelan gang named Tren de Aragua has been spotted in metropolitan areas across the Volunteer State. TBI reported a gang member was arrested Monday in the Chattanooga area.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

TBI director warns of violent Venezuelan gang resurfacing in Tennessee

They are very violent. This is a group that was created in the prisons in Venezuela and they are here and they are in numbers here, explained Rausch.

But so far, Memphis Police Interim Chief C.J. Davis told City Council on Tuesday, there has been little sign of the gangs locally.

Davis was asked about the TBI claims during a Memphis City Council meeting on Tuesday. She said she was aware of two incidents, though she hesitated to use the word incident to describe them.

Davis said that a Venezuelan person was arrested by ICE in Memphis, but was not associated with gang activity in the city.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sometime last year, MPD found Venezuelan gang-type graffiti in the Appling Farms area, she said.

But as far as identifying any real activity  we havent seen anything that would cause any concern about Venezuelan gangs, Davis said. Well keep our eye on it, because we work really closely with TBI.

Memphis police squad car set on fire in front of station

Later in the discussion, MPD officials said 48 gangs are known to operate in the city of Memphis. Some are national  Crips, Bloods, Vice Lords and Gangster Disciples  but most are local subset gangs.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Women need hundreds of thousands more dollars than men to retire comfortably in every U.S. state, including Wisconsin, according to a new study by NetCredit, an online lending company.

The retirement gender gap is no secret: in 2022, women nationally received nearly 33% less in Social Security and pension income than men, the Institute for Women's Policy Research reported.

On average, women in 2022 received about $350 less in monthly Social Security than men, or more than $4,200 less annually, according to USA TODAY.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There are a few key drivers behind this gap, experts say. Women, particularly women of color, are paid less than men and are more likely to leave the workforce for caregiving responsibilities. They also tend to live longer than men, extending their retirement years.

Here's what to know about the retirement savings gender gap in Wisconsin.

Janet Hoppe enjoys an outdoor lunch with her grandson as they spend time at The Kettle Moraine State Forest - Lapham Peak, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How much more money do women need to retire comfortably in Wisconsin?

Women in Wisconsin need a whopping $257,000 more in savings than men to retire comfortably, according to NetCredit.

To land at this number, the company estimated average length of retirement and life expectancy for each gender in every state, and then used a cost-of-living calculator to estimate the savings needed for retirement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

NetCredit found men in Wisconsin need $565,000 to retire comfortably, while women need $823,000.

On average, Wisconsinites need just over $825,000 to retire comfortably, a 2024 GOBankingRates study found. However, retirement in Wisconsin is still cheaper than most other states: the average U.S. adults believes they will need $1.46 million for a comfortable retirement, according to a Northwestern Mutual study released earlier this year.

How much longer do women in Wisconsin need to work to retire comfortably?

The average length of retirement for women in Wisconsin is 16.3 years, compared to 11.2 years for men, NetCredit reported. That leads to women needing to work about seven years more than men in order to retire. Women generally have longer retirement periods than men because of their higher life expectancy. In Wisconsin, the life expectancy for men was 75.2 years in 2020, compared to 80.3 years for women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Women in Wisconsin need more than $250,000 more than men to retire comfortably, according to a new study by NetCredit.

States with the highest retirement savings gender gap

Though the retirement savings gap in Wisconsin is north of a quarter million, the state actually has the sixth-lowest gender gap nationally, NetCredit found.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Here are the states with the highest gender gap in retirement savings:

Hawaii: Women need $423,000 more saved than men New York: Women need $396,000 more saved than men California: Women need $396,000 more saved than men New Jersey: Women need $365,000 more saved than men Maryland: Women need $364,000 more saved than men Arizona: Women need $356,000 more saved than men Massachusetts: Women need $355,000 more saved than men Connecticut: Women need $343,000 more saved than men Illinois: Women need $342,000 more saved than men South Carolina: Women need $334,000 more saved than men

On the other end of the spectrum, the states with the narrowest gender retirement gap are Minnesota and Utah. Women in Minnesota need $246,000 more than men to retire, while women in Utah need $219,000 more.

Why is there a retirement savings gender gap?

Aside from woman's longer life expectancy, a September report by the U.S. Department of Treasury pointed to several, long-persisting inequities that are driving the retirement gender gap:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wage gap: Despite strides in recent decades, women working full-time in 2023 earned about 82 cents for every dollar earned by men  and the disparities are even worse for women of color, the report said. Over a 40-year career, the gender pay gap could leave women with about $406,000 less and women of color with $1 million less than their male counterparts. In Wisconsin last year, women were earning about 84% of the income men were, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Caregiving responsibilities: Women are more likely to take unpaid leave, work part-time or leave the workforce altogether for caregiving duties. In 2022, 14% of women between 25 and 54 years old nationally were full-time caregivers, compared with 1.5% of men. Additionally, women who choose to re-enter the workforce after a leave of absence often face lower wages or less opportunities for promotion and tenure.

Access to retirement plans: Though millions of workers do not have access to employer-sponsored retirement plans, women of color are also disproportionately part of this group, the report said. In 2018, 40% of white women over 65 received income from a pension or retirement savings account, compared to only 27% of Black women, 26% of Asian women and 20% of Hispanic women.

More: Why some Wisconsin Social Security recipients are getting 3 checks this month

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: How much more money do women need than men to retire in Wisconsin?
A tributary to the Great Salt Lake at the Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area is pictured on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. The U.S. Geological Survey installed a stream gauge on this tributary, and 13 others, to monitory water flow into the Great Salt Lake. (Kyle Dunphey/Utah News Dispatch)

Although Utah lawmakers have taken a number of steps aimed at conserving and delivering more water to the Great Salt Lake, its difficult to measure whether those steps are actually making a difference.

That could change thanks to a $3 million investment from the federal government to install 13 new stream gauges positioned on the shores of the Great Salt Lake, measuring how much water is flowing into the beleaguered saline lake.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The $3 million comes from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and allows the U.S. Geological Survey, or USGS, to install and collect data around the Great Salt Lake for the next five years. USGS will also install buoys to measure water temperature, which will help predict future lake levels.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

This enhances our ability to measure the movement of water to the lake and into the lake. It also enhances our ability to monitor evaporation from the lake, salt concentration in the Great Salt Lake and better monitor ecosystems in the Great Salt Lake, said David OLeary, director of the USGS Utah Water Science Center.

Ryan Rowling, data chief for the U.S Geological Surveys Utah Water Science Center, talks near a new stream gauge that will monitor flows to the Great Salt Lake, at the Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (Kyle Dunphey/Utah News Dispatch)

In 2022, lawmakers passed some major changes to Utah water law, including HB33, which allowed the state to lease water from water rights holders in the Great Salt Lake basin. Instead of being used for irrigation or other uses, that leased water would flow to the lake.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was seen as a major step in the right direction, moving away from the use it or lose it mantra that long dominated water rights in Utah. Until HB33, farmers, business owners and other landowners with a water right were often incentivized to use the entire amount of water allocated to them  if they didnt, they risked losing their water right.

Now, HB33 allows the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands to lease that water so the user doesnt have to deplete it. But the state, lacking reliable data, doesnt know exactly how much water it should lease. That will change with the installation of those 13 new stream gauges.

The state and federal government do currently have similar gauges in the Great Salt Lake basin tracking water flowing to the lake, but they are all far upstream. At the Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area, a 20,000-acre wetland on the shore of the lake, the nearest gauge is nearly 10 miles away in Plain City.

Theres a lot of water use and a lot of water that can be coming in, between here and Plain City, said Deputy Great Salt Lake Commissioner Tim Davis, speaking near one of the new stream gauges on Monday that measured flows on a slow-moving tributary emptying into Ogden Bay.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What policies could come from more reliable data? Funding, says Davis.

The Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area, located on the northeast shore of the Great Salt Lake, is pictured on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (Kyle Dunphey/Utah News Dispatch)

The new gauges will allow officials to better measure how much water is actually going to the lake and how much additional water is needed. If the gauges suggest current conservation steps arent enough, Davis can go to lawmakers, armed with the new data, to ask for more funding to lease additional water rights.

And although Davis said his office is not yet advocating for any major legislation this upcoming General Session, current data suggests the lake could use some help.

On Monday, lake levels hovered between 4,191 to 4,192 feet, which mirrors the start of 2021  fueled by drought and excessive water use, lake levels continued to decline that year and into the next, hitting a historic low of 4,188.5 feet in November 2022.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Utah saw a historic amount of snow during 2023, and above-average levels in 2024, giving the lake a much needed boost and putting levels just below the healthy range of 4,198 to 4,205 feet. But since then, levels have again been in decline.

The lake went up three feet and came down three feet. So, theres a lot of work to do, said Davis. Everybody in the basin needs to conserve, dedicate and deliver water to the lake.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly listed the Great Salt Lakes historic low level. The correct level is 4,188.5 feet.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
The Murfreesboro Police Chief Michael Bowen announced the promotion of Sgt. Zachary Ferrell to Lieutenant. and Officers Joshua Sandlin to Sergeant.

"Ferrell and Sandlin's promotions are not only a recognition of their leadership skills and dedication but also a testament to their commitment to serving our department and the residents of the City of Murfreesboro," Bowen said.

Ferrell joined the Murfreesboro Police Department in August 2011. He is currently the FACT Commander and has over 300 hours of crash investigation training. He has also served as a sergeant in the Uniformed Division and as a Field Training Officer.

(L-R): Deputy Chief Cary Gensemer, Deputy Chief Steve Jarrell, Lieutenant Zachary Ferrell, and Chief Michael Bowen.

Ferrell recently completed the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety: School of Police Staff and Command. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in criminal justice from Middle Tennessee State University and is also a Siegel High School graduate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ferrell has been assigned to the Uniformed Division Traffic Unit.

Sandlin began his employment at the MPD in June 2018. He served as a FTO and a member of the Special Operations Unit.

Sandlin is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture business farm and ranch management.

(L-R): Deputy Chief Cary Gensemer, Deputy Chief Steve Jarrell, Sergeant Joshua Sandlin, and Chief Michael Bowen.

Ferrell and Sandlin were recognized at a promotion ceremony at MPD Headquarters on Nov. 15.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Two Murfreesboro Police Department employees recently promoted
MUSCOGEE COUNTY, Ga. (WRBL)  A joint operation between the Muscogee County Sheriffs Office, U.S. Marshalls, the Phenix City Police Department and Columbus Police Department resulted in the arrest of a woman wanted for attempted murder.

Yolanda Crawford was arrested by police at a motel in Muscogee County. She is being charged with felony attempted murder related to a shooting that occurred in Phenix City in early October.

Yolanda Crawford was arrested by police at a motel in Muscogee County. She is being charged with felony attempted murder related to a shooting that occurred in Phenix City in early October 2024

Authorities say Crawford was taken into custody without incident and is being held in the Muscogee County Jail. She is awaiting extradition back to Alabama.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  The interactive Rockys House exhibit from the Mississippi Childrens Museum (MCM) made a stop at the Kathy and Joe Sanderson Tower at Childrens of Mississippi.

Inside the little red house and in its surrounding displays, patients have found games, books and creative outlets including a stage with costumes and a puppet theater. The traveling exhibit arrived at Childrens of Mississippi on November 18.

Whooping cough cases have quintupled. These states have it worst

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rockys House will be at the Kathy and Joe Sanderson Tower at Childrens of Mississippi through January 10, 2025, to encourage reading to young children as part of the partnership of the museum and Childrens of Mississippis Reach Out and Read program.

In the exhibit, Rocky the Reader and his friends Kareem, Ella, Mei, Cody and Mateo guide guests through three primary methods of language and literacy development: playing, talking and reading. At Rockys House, visitors can read a book, ask questions and put their own stories into motion with puppets.

Christy Yarborough reads to granddaughter Avah Davis of Meadville at Rockys House, a display from the Mississippi Childrens Museum. (Courtesy: UMMC) Childrens of Mississippi patient Luke Starkey of Clinton puts on a puppet show for Avah Davis of Meadville. (Courtesy: UMMC) Childrens of Mississippi patient Luke Starkey of Clinton reads inside Rockys House. (Courtesy: UMMC) Benton Davis of Meadville, a Childrens of Mississippi patient, plays with blocks inside Rockys House. (Courtesy: UMMC)

The Reach Out and Read Program, a national nonprofit organization that promotes early literacy and school readiness in pediatric primary care where books are incorporated into the pediatric well child visit, is part of all of Childrens of Mississippis pediatric ambulatory clinics and many other pediatric clinics across the state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily News

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV.
This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.

You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here.

Hello there! Running out of space to cook your Thanksgiving dinner? Your slow cooker could actually be an under-the-radar star. Cookbook authors and chefs explain how you can make almost any part of your holiday meal in a Crock-Pot .

Today, we're looking at what Elon Musk's jab at the F-35 says about the debate over using manned fighters or drones in warfare .

What's on deck:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But first, we're in a dogfight.

If this was forwarded to you, sign up here.

The big story

Pilot ejection

Marc Piasecki/Getty Images; Chelsea Jia Feng/BI

F-35s are typically acquiring targets. Now they're finding themselves in the crosshairs.

The fighter jet was the butt of Elon Musk's joke on X about the declining relevancy of manned jets with the rise of drone tech , write Business Insider's Matthew Loh and Mia Jankowicz.

The billionaire criticized the "idiots" still building aircraft like the F-35, and said using crewed jets to extend the range of missiles or drop bombs was "inefficient" compared to "a reusable drone."

In the past, Musk's jabs on X might have ended there. Now, his status as the co-lead of President-elect Donald Trump's new Department of Government Efficiency puts the comment in a different light.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With promises of cutting trillions of dollars in government spending, DOGE will need to swing big. And the F-35 program, which is expected to cost more than $2 trillion over its entire lifespan and has a history of maintenance issues, could be a massive target for Musk.

The market took notice, as shares of Lockheed Martin, the F-35's lead manufacturer, dropped 3.75% yesterday. The S&P 500 Aerospace & Defense index finished Monday down more than 1%. (Reports of a potential Israel-Hezbollah cease-fire deal also pulled down the sector.)

Musk didn't specify plans to go after the F-35 or other crewed aircraft via DOGE, but an op-ed he wrote with co-lead Vivek Ramaswamy mentioned the Defense Department's $841 billion budget.

US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class August Clawson

Ending support for crewed jets in favor of drones won't be easy.

Drone usage in combat is on the rise, as is evident in the Ukraine war, and offers benefits around cost. But in situations where air and sea combat are more prevalent, like the all-important Indo-Pacific theater, the tech isn't as good of a fit , write BI's Ryan Pickrell and Mia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The jet-drone debate is a microcosm of the type of battles DOGE will likely encounter in its quest to slim down a government that spent $6.75 trillion in fiscal year 2024 .

A fresh set of eyes can often find issues overlooked by those in the thick of it. And Musk has a history of doing what others thought was impossible. SpaceX's progress in returning its Super Heavy booster to its launch site is a good example .

The public and private sector are two very different animals, though.

Even with a Republican-controlled Congress, the government's checks and balances might make it harder to make the type of wholesale changes Musk is known for with his companies.

News brief

Top headlines

3 things in markets

Trump's win is further confirmation of a rise in nationalist sentiments globally. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Trump announced sweeping tariffs on the US's closest neighbors. The president-elect said he'll impose a 25% tariff on all goods from Canada and Mexico . In a Truth Social post on Monday, he accused the two countries of failing to prevent migrants from entering the US. He wrote that both countries will "pay a very big price," and that the tariffs would remain until they "solve this long simmering problem." In a separate post on Truth Social, Trump said he plans to slap an additional 10% levy on Chinese goods. He had previously announced a 60% import tariff on China, which could hit its fast-fashion brands hard . How the Treasury secretary pick thinks about investing. A 2017 presentation from Key Square Capital, Scott Bessent's macro hedge fund, offers some clues to his approach to finding investment ideas . The seven-year-old presentation said there is no "singular framework" for evaluating potential investments and the "guiding research principle is change." Warren Buffett offered advice about estate planning. The legendary investor sent a letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders about his plans to donate $1.2 billion to family foundations . He also shared updates on how his massive wealth will be distributed after he's gone and why parents should have their kids read their wills before they die.

3 things in tech

Illustration by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Google kept tabs on Apple's ad business way before it really got started. A 2022 document unearthed in Google's ongoing antitrust case shows how Google strategists imagined Apple's entry into the industry it's dominated for years. Titled "Operation Black Walnut," it assesses Apple's potential and imagines an ad business its competitor might someday build. Zoom goes camera off. The company best known for its videoconferencing software, had dropped video from its name. Zoom is taking an AI-first approach to corporate communications , CEO Eric Yuan wrote in a company blog post published Monday. In a major rebrand, it will now be known as "Zoom Communications Inc," and it's not the only company adapting its marketing strategy to the industry-wide AI boom. Hybrid cars are so back. As EV sales hit a snag this year, automakers turned toward hybrid models, which are more practical and affordable than charge-only EVs. In the coming years, you can expect a greater menu of green vehicles on dealer lots.

3 things in business

Getty Images; Jenny Chang-Rodriguez/BI

Inside America's love affair with Aldi. Grocery prices have jumped by double-digits over the past few years, and Americans are feeling the sting. But the grocery chain Aldi has remained a safe space. Through a number of cost-cutting strategies, it's managed to maintain lower prices than its competitors and built a dedicated fan following . The chatbots aren't alright. By corporate America's telling, AI is the answer to everything. Yet for many consumers, dealing with a robot customer-service agent actually makes the whole experience worse. Why are so many companies relying on inefficient AI  and will they ever improve ? Macy's missing millions. The department-store giant delayed its earnings report after discovering a single employee deliberately made an accounting error totaling between $132 million and $154 million. One former KPMG manager told BI that even in a situation where someone intentionally introduces errors, "your system of internal control should have caught it."

What's happening today

Court hearing in the Justice Department's antitrust suit against Google, which it accuses of illegally maintaining a monopoly on search.

Federal Open Market Committee meeting minutes are published.

The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Grace Lett, editor, in Chicago. Ella Hopkins, associate editor, in London. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York. Jack Sommers, deputy editor, in London.Milan Sehmbi, fellow, in London.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A 37-year-old woman was fatally stabbed months ago in Washington, deputies said, and DNA testing now helped lead to an arrest.

A 56-year-old Arlington man, identified in news reports as Mark Christopher Downey, was arrested on a charge of second-degree murder on Nov. 22, the Snohomish County Sheriffs Office said in a Facebook post and KING 5 reported.

Hes accused of killing Katie McQueen of Mariposa, California, on Aug. 20, deputies said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A neighbor found McQueens body covered in brush near Lake Stevens, The Everett Herald reported.

Her death was deemed suspicious, but no one was connected to the killing for months, authorities said.

Then the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab confirmed a DNA match from a sample taken from her body, deputies said.

The sample matched Downey, a registered sex offender who had previously been convicted on a murder charge, The Everett Herald and King 5 reported.

Investigators said they learned that Downey and McQueen had gotten into a fight before he stabbed her in the neck. They did not know each other, deputies said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Downey fled to Mexico, where he was arrested Aug. 25 on a probation violation, The Everett Herald reported.

Lake Stevens is about a 35-mile drive north from Seattle.

Remains found in shallow grave in 2012 identified as man last seen in 1986, CA cops say

Innocent 72-year-old deacon spent nearly 50 years convicted of rape charge, suit says

Man who passed polygraph in teens 1979 killing now IDd as suspect, CA officials say
NEW YORK -- The mystery behind a wealthy New York couple's disappearance 44 years ago is starting to unravel.

Charles and Catharine Romer vanished while driving home to Scarsdale from Florida in 1980, but a car recently found in a Georgia pond is the break that eluded investigators for decades.

Water search team used sonar to crack cold case

Shelly McKinney works with the Sunshine State Sonar Team, which tries to crack cold cases by using sonar to search water for vehicles of missing people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We make our maps and one by one we start from where they were last seen and kind of work our way out," McKinney said.

The team decided to investigate the disappearance of the Romers, who vanished after spending a night at a hotel in Brunswick, Georgia -- more than 900 miles from their home on Popham Road in Scarsdale.

On Nov. 22, in the pond directly behind the hotel, the Sonar Team located the missing couple's Lincoln Continental. After the pond was drained, human remains were found inside.

Wednesday, Kim Romer, the couple's granddaughter, said authorities have identified the remains as Charles and Catharine Romer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a statement, Romer said, "We are deeply saddened and equally relieved that our grandparents Charles and Catharine Romer's 44 year mystery disappearance has been solved. While this discovery brings closure, it still has been very emotional. Sadly, Charles Romer Jr., Jim Romer and (Catharine's son) Frank Heller are not with us to share this momentous turn of events and to know their parents will finally be laid to rest in peace."

"We all just figured ... somebody followed them and robbed them"

Charles and Catharine Romer vanished while driving home to Scarsdale, New York from Florida in 1980. / Credit: CBS News New York

Reports said divers searched the pond in 1980. It's possible they simply missed what modern sonar was able to detect.

"As dark and murky as that water, and as muddy as they reported it was, it's likely that it just got missed," said McKinney.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We never knew what happened to any of them. We just all figured somebody had, with all the money they had, somebody followed them and robbed them," said Andy Mavromat, a former clerk at the hotel.

Many people at a senior center near Scarsdale remember the case.

"They were missing, and they were investigating it as a criminal situation and not an accidental situation," said Reva Carapella.

The discovery now has investigators thinking Charles Romer may have accidentally driven into the pond. They will continue the probe to give the Romer family the answers they've been looking for for decades.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Grateful Dead members reflect on Phil Lesh's impact on the band, their lives

Former Navy secretary says Trump's Defense Secretary pick will make the military "weaker"

Some North Carolina homeowners still can't return home after Helene landslides
Former Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife Nadine Menendez appeared in a Manhattan court after getting arraigned on March 11, 2024, in a federal bribery case. The two were indicted for taking bribes of gold bars, cash, a luxury car, and more in exchange for using Menendez's influence to help several businessmen, as well as the governments of Egypt and Qatar. (Spencer Platt | Getty Images)

An attorney for former Sen. Bob Menendezs wife, whose breast cancer treatment has repeatedly delayed her federal bribery trial, wants another delay.

But this time, the requested delay has nothing to do with Nadine Menendez. Instead, her attorney Barry Coburn is worried her trial, now set for Jan. 21 in Manhattan, will interfere with the trial in Washington, D.C., of Nathaniel Noyce, an accused Jan. 6 rioter who Coburn also represents.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The judge in Noyces case set his trial for March 17 to accommodate federal Judge Sidney H. Steins order that both sides in Nadine Menendezs case should keep January and February clear so she can be tried.

But in a Monday filing, Coburn wrote that Nadine Menendezs trial is likely to be lengthier than the 10-week trial her husband and two co-defendants endured earlier this year, because her medical condition will require her to take frequent breaks.

Hes also considering putting on a significant affirmative defense case, which could lengthen the trial beyond the March date when hes due to defend Noyce, Coburn wrote. Under such a defense strategy, the defendant essentially admits the actions theyre accused of, but offers an excuse, justification, or something else to dodge liability.

It is respectfully submitted that the trial in Ms. [Menendezs] case should be continued to avoid this conflict, Coburn wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Noyce, of Richmond, Virginia, was charged with eight crimes, including assaulting officers and engaging in physical violence in a restricted building, and faces a trial thats expected to last two weeks, according to Coburns filing. Prosecutors in that case have objected to delays, Coburn wrote.

Coburn also filed to the court a partially redacted Nov. 12 letter from Nadine Menendezs doctor, who reported significant delays that include media and public interest in her legal issues making leaving her house and traveling to my office difficult.

Dr. Stephanie Cohen, a plastic surgeon based in Bergen County, said she sees no physical impairment that would prevent Nadine Menendez from appearing in court for a trial.

Still, she wrote, I can say in my experience that most women cannot focus on non-breast related issues in their lives until the completion procedure is finished and most will delay even minor events such as vacations, celebrations, even job changes until it is done.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nadine Menendez faces more than a dozen criminal charges relating to a corruption scheme that earned her husband and two co-defendants a guilty-on-all-counts conviction in July. Stein severed Nadine Menendezs case from theirs last spring because of her cancer diagnosis, and her case has been delayed several times since then.

Prosecutors have said she began injecting herself into her husbands political doings just weeks after they began dating in 2018, becoming the go-between linking the former senator to the men who gave them cash, gold bars, a luxury car, and other valuables for political favors. Bob Menendezs defense team blamed his wife for his troubles, saying she took money and made deals without his knowledge.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace as recently as last year called herself pro-transgender rights and said she supported children exploring gender identities with different hairstyles, clothing and preferred pronouns, a stark contrast to more recent comments that have put her in the national spotlight.

Last week, the South Carolina Republican introduced a resolution to amend the rules of the US House of Representatives to ban transgender women from using womens restrooms at the Capitol and filed broader legislation that would apply to every federal building and federally funded school.

The resolution came in direct response to the election of Democratic Rep.-elect Sarah McBride of Delaware, the first out transgender person elected to Congress.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In hundreds of tweets over the last week, Mace has used a flood of anti-transgender rhetoric, including repeatedly calling transgender people mentally ill, which is a stark  and unexplained  departure from her past positioning as a self-proclaimed pro-LGBTQ Republican.

In July 2023, Mace described herself as pro-transgender rights and voiced support for children exploring their identities, such as by changing pronouns, hairstyles or clothing.

If they wanna take on a different pronoun or a different gender identity or grow their hair out, or wear a dress or wear pants, or do those things as a minor  those are all things that I think most people would support. Be who you want to be, but dont make permanent changes as a child, Mace said in an interview last year.

Mace made the comments in the context of saying she opposed gender-affirming care for minors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They may decide as an adult, Hey, instead of being Johnny, I want to be Jill  thats OK, she said. But let them figure that out and make that decision when they can consent.

Its hard to pinpoint a clear through line for when Mace shifted her tone to be so harshly anti-transgender. Just a month after describing herself as pro-transgender rights and supporting children exploring their identities, Mace spoke out against transgender women competing in womens sports. While the shift might not necessarily be contradictory in policy, it represented a departure in tone, moving from seemingly supportive and inclusive language to critical rhetoric.

In texts with CNN, Mace reiterated her past support for LGBTQ rights, including voting for same-sex marriage. She clarified that while she has no issue with individuals dressing as they choose or using preferred pronouns, she opposes transgender women accessing womens private spaces, citing concerns about protecting women and girls. Mace, however, also described transgender individuals as needing to seek help.

Voted for gay marriage twice. Would do it again. Have supported pro LGBTQ legislation. Draw the line at women being forced to undress in front of men or men using our bathrooms or any private spaces, Mace told CNN.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mace has in the past credited her personal connections to LGBTQ individuals for shaping her inclusive rhetoric

In 2021, she co-sponsored the Fairness for All Act, which aimed to ban discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation while carving out exemptions for religious institutions.

I strongly support LGBTQ rights and equality, she said at the time. No one should be discriminated against.  I have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ. Understanding how they feel and how theyve been treated is important. Having been around gay, lesbian and transgender people has informed my opinion over my lifetime.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said last week there is a policy throughout the Capitol complex that effectively bans transgender women from womens restrooms and other female-designated spaces in the Capitol.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

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, the Louisiana Republican said in a statement.

He did not outline how the policy would be enforced but noted that unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol.

McBride responded on social media, Im not here to fight about bathrooms. 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.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Silent but Deadly

Astronauts on the International Space Station this weekend noticed a rancid stink when they popped the hatch on Russia's Progress cargo ship that had just docked with it  and NASA says that anyone who wants to know more will have to speak to mother Russia.

"For any detailed information on what caused the unusual odor, please contact [Russian cosmonaut agency] Roscosmos," NASA news chief Kelly O. Humphries told CNN. Once probed, Roscosmos did not respond to CNN's request for comment.

Smell You Later

It's possible that both the ISS and Roscosmos are trying to pass the blame for the unpleasant stench off on someone else. Neither the US nor Russia seems confident in identifying where the smell originated  though NASA on X-formerly-Twitter suggested it could have to do with "small droplets" astronauts saw when they opened the cargo hold.



Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In any case, space journalist Anatoly Zak, on his website Russian Space Web, charged that the fetid situation was more dire than either US or Russia suggested.

"The [Progress] cargo ship made contact with the docking port of the Poisk module," Zak wrote, "but after [crew members opened] the hatch between Poisk and Progress, it had to be closed immediately due to a toxic smell and possible contamination hazard in the form of droplets."

The US suggested that the smell came from outgassing from Progress' cargo, while Russia blamed the Poisk docking mechanism, Zak said. All told, we don't know where the odor came from, and we also don't know what this latest disagreement means for NASA and Roscosmos' increasingly rocky relationship.

NASA and Roscosmos are also at odds about the slowly leaking Russian portion of the ISS; NASA said the leaks could lead to "catastrophic failure," while Roscosmos maintains they're no big deal.

Usually, the truth is somewhere in between.

More on the stinking ISS: Space Station Astronauts Complain of Horrible Smell After Russian Capsule Docks
Under the Ice

NASA scientists collected some marvelous readings while flying over the arctic ice in Greenland during an April 2024 survey.

The radar instrument onboard NASA's Gulfstream III aircraft spotted an abandoned "city under the ice": a relic of the Cold War that was once used as a military base by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

The extremely remote outpost, dubbed Camp Century, includes a massive network of tunnels dug into the surface layers of the ice roughly 150 miles inland. Between 1959 and 1967, the site was used to test the feasibility of launching nuclear missiles from the Arctic.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Radar data obtained during the more recent flight shows a number of structures reaching into the icy surface underneath a 100-foot layer of ice and snow that accumulated over the last 56 years.

"We were looking for the bed of the ice and out pops Camp Century," said NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory cryospheric scientist Alex Gardner in a statement. "We didnt know what it was at first."

Unexpected Discovery

NASA's UAVSAR (Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar), mounted to the Gulfstream III's belly, collected the data.

"In the new data, individual structures in the secret city are visible in a way that theyve never been seen before," said NASA scientist Chad Greene, who was on board the aircraft during the survey, in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Scientists are using these maps to estimate when the camp could be exposed once again thanks to the ice sheet melting, a process that's being accelerated by climate change.

Experts have previously suggested that the site could start to be uncovered by the end of the century, which could have unintended consequences, including the exposure of radioactive waste materials and chemicals leaching into the surrounding environment.

The discovery of Camp Century was an entirely unexpected outcome for the team. The mission's primary goal was to study the effects of climate change on the Arctic.

"Our goal was to calibrate, validate, and understand the capabilities and limitations of UAVSAR for mapping the ice sheets internal layers and the ice-bed interface," Greene said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Without detailed knowledge of ice thickness, it is impossible to know how the ice sheets will respond to rapidly warming oceans and atmosphere, greatly limiting our ability to project rates of sea level rise," he added.

More on the Arctic: Cybertruck Arctic Expedition Succeeds Without Packing a Single Generator
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) arrested three men from out-of-state who reportedly climbed to the top of the AT&T Batman building Sunday afternoon.

The men were spotted by someone on Broadway, who called the MNPD at 4:40 p.m. Sunday. Officers used binoculars and saw one of the men adjacent to a spire of the building and later saw another lying down on the circular AT&T logo, a press release added.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Once MNPD officers entered the building and went to the roof, though, they could not find anyone, nor could an MNPD helicopter. After conducting a floor-to-floor search of the building, authorities found them inside the mens restroom on the 24th floor.

(Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department) (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department) (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Jacob Thomas Cieszynski, 26, of Chicago; Chase Cooper Lester, 26, of Culloden, Georgia; and Ryan James McGarrity, 20, of Laguna Woods, California, were arrested for aggravated trespassing and disorderly conduct. Lester was also charged with possessing burglary tools after authorities found a crowbar and a screwdriver in his backpack.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Jacob Cieszynski (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department) Chase Lester (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department) Ryan James McGarrity (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

One of the men told officers that they had heard the AT&T Building was the best place to get a view of Nashville, so they entered and climbed the stairs to the roof, the MNPD added in a Monday press release.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Authorities also seized several cameras from the men.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(WJET/WFXP)  National Fuel announced over $70,000 in annual grants are going toward area food banks in light of the holiday season.

Each year, the National Fuel Gas Company Foundations board of directors award grants aimed at reducing food insecurity and enhancing winter safety preparation. This year, $75,000 in total will be going towards these efforts.

Food insecurity and hunger are experienced by many individuals within the communities we serve, said David P. Bauer, Foundation President and President and CEO of National Fuel. We are proud to support the food banks across our service territory whose work is both important and impactful.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The following food banks will get a piece of the $75,000 funding:

Western New York and Northwest Pennsylvania are prone to severe winter weather, weather-related disasters and other emergencies. Partnerships with our American Red Cross chapters and Code Blue are essential as they help numerous people experiencing crisis or hardship access much-needed support services, Bauer said.

Learn more about the National Fuel Foundations efforts by clicking here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
Delegates from NATO member states legislatures voiced their support for Ukraine becoming the 33rd member of the alliance in a resolution adopted by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly on Nov. 25.

Independent from NATO, the assembly has no direct role in overseeing NATO policies.

The assembly urged member states "to step up political and practical efforts to help Ukraine receive an invitation and become the 33rd member of NATO as soon as possible," the resolution read.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kyiv submitted its application to join in September 2022, and in July 2024, the alliance affirmed Ukraine's "irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership"  though Ukraine has not received any definitive news about its future accession.

Seven countries, including the U.S., Germany, and Hungary, are reluctant to greenlight a fast accession for Ukraine, Politico reported in October. Kyiv's entry would require a unanimous agreement among all 32 members.

Members of the Assembly also urged for sustaining and increasing the "military, financial, and humanitarian support for Ukraine, ensuring the timely delivery of munitions and advanced weapon systems, including air defense systems, long-range precision weapons, and multi-role fighter aircraft."

Read also: Is NATO ready for war with Russia?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly has adopted a resolution that, among other things, supports Ukraine's right to strike military targets in the rear of the Russian Federation in self-defence and calls for the supply of appropriate assets.

Source: European Pravda, citing a document supported during the meeting on 25 November in Montreal, Canada

Details: The resolution was proposed by the Political Committee of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Much of it concerns support for Ukraine and measures to put pressure on Russia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The resolution calls on the Allies to develop a joint strategy on Russia before the next NATO Summit in the Netherlands, focusing on the Alliance's ability to deter and counter threats from Russia, and to work in parallel to reduce Russia's ability to wage war, including by ensuring full compliance with sanctions.

The same paragraph also recognises Ukraine's right to strike legitimate military targets on the territory of the aggressor country in accordance with the principle of the right to self-defence, as provided for in Article 51 of the UN Charter.

The document calls for maintaining and increasing military and other support for Ukraine, ensuring timely delivery of weapons and ammunition, including air defence systems, long-range precision weapons and multi-role combat aircraft, and using the potential of all NATO's instruments and formats of cooperation with Ukraine.

One of the paragraphs calls for intensifying political and practical efforts to help Ukraine to be invited to become NATO's 33rd member as soon as possible.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There is also an urge for increased sanctions pressure on Russia and North Korea, which is deepening its support for Russia in the war against Ukraine, and provide Ukraine with all assets, including intermediate-range missiles, to defend itself and deter future aggression.

In addition, it suggested the use of political and economic levers of influence on China to deter it from supporting Russia in the war.

The resolution calls for supporting Ukraine in achieving the goals of the Peace Formula and Victory Plan and expresses support for the principle of "nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine".

Another clause calls for support to ensure that Russian military and officials are held accountable for all crimes committed by Russia during the war against Ukraine and the crime of aggression.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Background:

On Monday, the White House confirmed for the first time the authorisation granted to Ukraine for ATACMS strikes against Russia.

It was also unofficially reported that the UK had provided Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles for the first time under the premiership of Keir Starmer.

Support UP or become our patron!
The U.S. Navy has rejected Eries bid to become the home port for a retired warship.

Its been almost six years since the Oliver Hazard Perry Shipyard began its effort to bring the USS Halyburton to Erie.

Mercyhurst University to host Nutcracker ballet performances this weekend

Plans unveiled in 2023 called for the Halyburton to be located in the east basin of Presque Isle Bay.

In declining Eries application, the Navy cited the need for more information about funding on hand, the first five years of operating expenses and a long-term lease with the port authority.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Erie City Mission passes out thousands of Thanksgiving dinners to those in need

The shipyards CEO got the news in a phone call from the Navy.

The last question I asked was Is this the end of the story? Is this the final chapter? Is it case closed? They said The navy considers this application closed and thats the end,' said Joe Pfadt, CEO of the Oliver Hazard Perry Shipyard.

Pfadt says the USS Halyburton will likely be scrapped or used for target practice and sunk by the Navy.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
Incoming North Carolina House Speaker, Rep. Destin Hall (R-Caldwell), during a House vote on Sept. 11, 2024. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)

In case you ever wondered, heres a sure indicator that a politician has been caught doing something sketchy and underhanded.

When the only explanation they have for an action theyre taking is to mumble that its business as usual or that its analogous to something their political adversaries once did, you know theyre up to no good.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

North Carolinians were reminded of this hard truth last week when Republican lawmakers floated these excuses and other similar ones to justify a massive and secretly crafted scheme to reorganize state government and seize power from offices held by Democrats. The changes were rammed through the legislature (as part of a bill that purported disingenuously to be about hurricane relief) in just a matter of hours.

Senate Republican leader Phill Berger, incoming House Speaker Rep. Destin Hall and outgoing Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson all played this cynical game.

According to Raleighs News & Observer, Hall told reporters after the 131-page bill was approved in a strictly partisan vote that it had been fully and adequately debated because  gee whiz!  the House spent a whole 90 minutes on it and Democratic lawmakers wouldve likely still been opposed if theyd had another month to examine it.

But tonight, you know, we knew that they got the bill a little bit later, so we allowed them debate it, and it sounded like they debated just about every page of it, Hall said smarmily.

Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (Photo: Lynn Bonner)

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (Photo: Galen Bacharier)

Berger, likewise, said the process used was within the rules and was akin to what Democrats have used before  though he did not say how or when that was the case.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile Robinson, whose presence in the Legislative Building to preside over the Senate has been so rare over the past four years that his sudden appearance last week raised concerns that he might try to usurp Gov. Roy Coopers powers and sign the bill while Cooper was in Washington begging for more federal aid, echoed Bergers take by telling WRAL.com the bill was just politics as usual.

All three men are fully aware, however, that their explanations are transparently bogus.

As NC Newsline reporter Galen Bacharier detailed in a Monday report, the bill in question is chockful of dozens of controversial changes  some of them unprecedented, hugely impactful and of questionable constitutionality.

It makes major changes (i.e. cuts) to the powers of the governor, lt. governor, attorney general and superintendent of public instruction.

It makes significant changes to state election law by transferring power from the governor to the state auditor (the auditor!) and erecting new barriers to the counting of votes.

It creates a whole new state government department.

It alters appointments to and leadership of the state utilities commission and abolishes the state Energy Policy Council.

It weakens the state building code.

It makes an array of appropriations  some of the highly questionable  completely unrelated to hurricane relief.

It even grabs some state-owned parking spaces near the Legislative Building for the use of legislators.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And the list goes on.

Halls claim that 41 seconds per page is plenty of time to discuss such a catalogue of important changes  changes of which the general public was not even remotely aware  would be laughable if it werent so outrageous.

Meanwhile, Berger and Robinsons politics as usual take  perhaps a reference to the 1993 decision of state Senate Democrats (later validated by Republicans) to alter the chambers rules governing the competing duties of the Senate President Pro Tem and Lt. Governor  is hardly analogous to such a multifaceted power grab.

But what makes the legislation a downright cruel joke, of course, is that: a) it was labeled as a hurricane relief measure  something designed to embarrass Cooper if he were to veto it, and b) it doesnt even really provide significant relief.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As Bachariers report notes, the bill allots only a tiny fragment of the billions of dollars needed ($225 million) and even that money was not actually appropriated. The bill merely transfers the money from the states savings reserve to its Helene Fund, where it will remain unspent until appropriated at a later date by the legislature.

The whole thing was so absurd that even three House Republicans voted no  something virtually unheard of in the modern, Trumpified North Carolina GOP, where public disagreement is generally verboten. One of the three  Rep. Mark Pless of western North Carolinas Haywood County  even had the guts to decry the lack of process and lack of real aid for his home region in a statement to NC Newslines Brandon Kingdollar.

Of course, the notion that Pless or either of the others  Rep. Karl Gillespie (R-Macon), Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Swain)  would muster the courage vote to sustain a gubernatorial veto still seems hard to imagine, but the mere fact that three such dedicated archconservatives would dare to publicly cross the GOP leadership speaks volumes as to how far out of bounds the bill (and the excuses used to justify it) stray.

One can only hope that at some point soon, the trickle of dissent gives rise to a flood.
DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN)  In northwest Durham, an incident involving a student in crisis led to an officer being injured Monday and a student taken for treatment.

Durham Public Schools confirmed a male officer with the Durham Police Department was at Riverside High School when a situation emerged with a student in crisis.

While trying to assist this student, the officer was injured and taken to a hospital for medical treatment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Durham County Sheriffs Office said the student was not injured but was transported to a health facility.

Durham police said the officer suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Senate President Phil Berger and NC State Board of Elections executive director Karen Brinson Bell. (File photos)

North Carolina Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger is a smart lawyer and has long been one of our states most powerful elected officials.

And unlike some conservatives who are prone to promoting crazy conspiracy theories, Berger has traditionally been more responsible than that.

Unfortunately, that seems to be changing. Last week, Berger made the false and dangerously reckless claim that election officials were corruptly trying to alter the outcome of the closely contested state Supreme Court contest between incumbent Democrat Allison Riggs and Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bergers bluster led State Board of Elections executive director Karen Brinson Bell to take the extraordinary step of publicly demanding a retraction and pointing out how Bergers unfounded comments are encouraging threats of violence toward honest and hardworking election officials.

I ask you, she said in the statement, What sort of free society do we have when the people running elections fear for their lives?

The bottom line: Senator Berger made a dreadful error. He needs to apologize immediately.

For NC Newsline, Im Rob Schofield.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on his security cabinet to approve a ceasefire deal with Lebanon's Hezbollah group to halt the fighting which has been ongoing for more than a year.

"Tonight I will bring before the cabinet a plan for a ceasefire in Lebanon," he said in an address to the nation on Tuesday.

The duration of the ceasefire "depends on what happens in Lebanon," he said, warning the Iran-backed militia that any violations of the terms of the deal would be met with a harsh response.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"If Hezbollah tries to attack us, if it arms itself, if it rebuilds infrastructure next to the border, we will attack them," he said.

Netanyahu said the deal would be submitted to the cabinet on Tuesday evening.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on his security cabinet to approve a ceasefire deal with Lebanon's Hezbollah group to halt the fighting which has been ongoing for more than a year.

"Tonight I will bring before the cabinet a plan for a ceasefire in Lebanon," he said in an address to the nation on Tuesday.

The duration of the ceasefire "depends on what happens in Lebanon," he said, warning the Iran-backed militia that any violations of the terms of the deal would be met with a harsh response.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"If Hezbollah tries to attack us, if it arms itself, if it rebuilds infrastructure next to the border, we will attack them," he said.

Netanyahu said in recent months that Israel had killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and other members of the leadership, destroyed most of the group's missile arsenal and demolished an underground tunnel network in southern Lebanon.

"It is not the same Hezbollah," the prime minister said.

Referring to powerful airstrikes that rocked Lebanon's capital earlier in the day, Netanyahu said: "The earth is shaking in Beirut."

The Israeli Air Force carried out multiple strikes on Beirut's centre and the city's southern suburbs, a hotbed of the Hezbollah movement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Witnesses reported more than 20 attacks. The Lebanese Health Ministry said at least 11 people were killed in central Beirut neighbourhoods.

Netanyahu said the ceasefire deal would be submitted to the cabinet on Tuesday evening.

Israel has been fighting for more than a year on several fronts, against Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip as well as Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Hezbollah has struck northern Israel almost daily since the beginning of the Gaza war more than a year ago. Israel responded with massive airstrikes and, at the end of September, a ground offensive into southern Lebanon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The war between Israel and Hezbollah has killed almost 3,800 people in Lebanon over the last year, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

Following Netanyahu's address, Lebanon's acting Prime Minister Najib Mikati called for the ceasefire to be urgently implemented.

He called Israel's attacks on Beirut "hysterical."
Israel's Cabinet has approved the U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal between Israel and Hezbollah on Tuesday after prolonged negotiations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had submitted the proposal to the Cabinet for approval on Tuesday evening, local time. The deal was approved 10-1, with only far-right minister Ben Gvir voting against the plan.

The deal then went into effect at 4 a.m. Wednesday, local time, as intended.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It went into effect five hours after the agreement was announced by Israel. Shortly after Israel shared the news, there was an announcement at the White House by President Joe Biden.

MORE: A potential Israel-Hezbollah cease-fire deal has emerged. Here's what to expect

The Lebanese army and security forces will deploy in southern Lebanon over the next 60 days and take control of the territory controlled by Hezbollah, Biden said. At the same time, Israel will withdraw its forces over the next 60 days in order for civilians to return to their homes on both sides of the border.

However, with the deal not going into effect until morning, bombing continued in Beirut even as Biden wrapped up his comments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Israel appreciates the U.S. contribution to the process, and reserves its right to act against any threat to its security," the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said, translated from Hebrew.

Netanyahu said earlier, when submitting the deal for approval, that the deal still relies on the actions of Hezbollah.

Hezbollah has not yet officially commented on the ceasefire.

"The duration of the ceasefire depends on what happens in Lebanon," Netanyahu said in a statement. "We will enforce the agreement and respond forcefully to any violation. We will continue together until victory."

PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks about a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, in the Rose Garden of the White House, Nov. 26, 2024, in Washington. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden echoed those thoughts in his comments, saying, "Let me be clear, if Hezbollah, or anyone else, breaks the deal and poses a direct threat to Israel, then Israel retains the right to self-defense, consistent with international law, just like any country when facing a terrorist group pledged to that country's destruction."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The prime minister hailed "great achievements" on all fronts of the war, including killing Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and destroying their weapons across the country.

"With full understanding with the United States, we maintain complete military freedom of action," Netanyahu said in the address, translated from Hebrew. "If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to arm itself -- we will attack. If it tries to renew terrorist infrastructure near the border -- we will attack. If it launches a rocket, if it digs a tunnel, if it brings in a truck with missiles -- we will attack."

MORE: Lebanese American citizen speaks of chaos and heartbreak leaving Beirut

The deal does not affect the ongoing war in Gaza being fought by Israel against Hamas. However, Biden said the U.S. will continue to work to find a peace in Gaza.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Just as the Lebanese people deserve a future of security and prosperity, so do the people of Gaza," Biden said. "They too deserve an end to the fighting and displacement. People of Gaza have been through hell, their worlds absolutely shattered."

He continued, "Far too many civilians in Gaza have suffered far too much, and Hamas has refused for months and months to negotiate a good-faith ceasefire, and a hostage deal. And so now, Hamas has a choice to make their only way out is to release the hostages, including American citizens, which they hold."

PHOTO: Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the Palestinian refugees camp of Rashidiyeh near the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, on Nov. 26, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (Kawnat Haju/AFP via Getty Images)

Netanyahu attended a meeting with security officials on Sunday night regarding a ceasefire with Israel's Hezbollah adversaries in Lebanon, an Israeli official told ABC News.

This was part of ongoing talks, including Netanyahu's meeting last week in Israel with U.S. special envoy Amos Hochstein. Hochstein also traveled to Beirut to discuss a potential way forward.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Netanyahu then held a security cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning to discuss the deal and hold a cabinet vote, Israeli officials said.

In October, Israel invaded southern Lebanon in an escalation of the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group.

Tensions heightened last weekend as the countries' leaders worked to negotiate a ceasefire deal. On Sunday, Hezbollah fired about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel in one of the group's heaviest retaliations in months.

Israeli Cabinet approves ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to be allowed to testify in his corruption trial a week later than had been planned.

The new date was set for December 10 following a decision by the Jerusalem District Court on Tuesday. At the beginning of November, the court had rejected a request by Netanyahu for a 10-week postponement and insisted on the original date of December 2.

Netanyahu's lawyers then asked again for a postponement of 15 days. The judges have now partially agreed to this request.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to media reports, the lawyers had argued that the war in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon had left Netanyahu insufficient time to prepare his statement.

The trial has been going on for more than four years. Among other things, Netanyahu is accused of granting favours to the telecom giant Bezeq when he was communications minister. He is also alleged to have accepted luxury gifts from billionaire friends.
This story was originally published on MyNorthwest.com

The case regarding the mysterious disappearance of the unidentified pirate D.B. Cooper may have had a breakthrough, thanks to a newly uncovered piece of evidence.

According to The Seattle Times, the parachute used by the hijacker may have been found. The children of Richard McCoy II found the parachute in an outbuilding on the family property.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The children have always believed their dad was D.B. Cooper, according to the Times. Chante and Richard III waited until their mother passed before reaching out to Dan Gryder, a retired pilot and skydiver who has been documenting his own search for D.B. Cooper on his YouTube channel in his retirement.

More on D.B. Cooper: New search for DB Cooper clues along Columbia Rivers Tena Bar

The children waited until after their mother passed because they suspected she was complicit in the hijacking. The FBI stopped investigating the case in 2016.

Chante and Richard IIIs father, Richard McCoy II, was arrested five months later after attempting a near identical heist to D.B. Coopers over Utah. He was arrested, and then broke out of jail, eventually dying in a police shootout.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

McCoy was originally dismissed as a suspect by the FBI due to him not matching Coopers description. McCoy was much younger, 27 years old, when the heist occurred. Cooper was described to be in his mid-40s.

Many FBI personnel had come to believe that the real D.B. Cooper died in the jump, but others, including Gryder, believe this recently uncovered piece of evidence could be a breakthrough.

This will definitely prove it was McCoy, Gryder said, according to Yahoo News.

Nov. 24  the 53rd anniversary of Coopers disappearance

In 1971, Cooper, a middle-aged man dressed in a business suit, was on board a plane when he gave a note to a stewardess claiming he had a bomb. He demanded $200,000 in $20 bills (equivalent to approximately $1.5 million in 2024) plus four parachutes in exchange for releasing the passengers. Cooper showed the stewardess the contents of his briefcase, which looked like it contained wires and explosives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The jet circled Seattle while authorities on the ground gathered the cash and the parachutes to meet Coopers demands.

After the plane hovered above the city for nearly three hours, an FBI agent brought the money and the parachutes onto the plane.

Once the passengers were off the plane and the 727 was refueled, it took off again at 7:37 p.m. with its crew of three in the cockpit, and stewardess Tina Mucklow in the cabin with Cooper. After takeoff, Cooper directed Mucklow to join the crew in the cockpit, where she remained for the rest of the flight.

MyNorthwest historian Feliks Banel on D.B. Cooper: Investigators think theyve identified the real D.B. Cooper

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cooper had directed the crew to fly to Mexico at low speed, with the landing gear down and at an altitude no higher than 10,000 feet. This, Cooper was told, would require a fuel stop in Reno, Nevada.

Sometime after sending Mucklow to the cockpit, Cooper took off his necktie and put on one of the parachutes. He took hold of the $200,000 (which weighed about 21 pounds, according to the FBI) and lowered the rear stairs. In the cockpit, an indicator light showed the door opening around 8 p.m. Then, about fifteen minutes later, over an area east of Interstate 5 (I-5) near the community of Woodland, authorities later said, Cooper likely walked down those stairs and jumped off.

All that was left of Cooper was his clip-on necktie. Searchers combed the woods around southwest Washington, but never found a trace of anything.
As a Brown University Health cardiologist and member of the Cardiovascular Institute at Newport Hospital, I am thrilled to share some exciting news about a new, state of the art CT scanner that is already enhancing the care we provide for our patients.

Thanks to the generosity of our philanthropic community, the vision of the Radiology Division Leadership, and the support of our hospital and system leadership, we are proud to announce the arrival of a dual source CT scanner, the first and only of its kind in Rhode Island. With the advent of this advanced imaging we commit both locally and system wide to offering optimal care based on the latest technology.

CT scanning of the heart has become the non-invasive diagnostic test of choice for evaluating the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart. With it we can identify atherosclerosis, both symptomatic and non-symptomatic, that may cause chest pain and lead to a heart attack both in the short and long term. Stress testing, which we have relied on for years, can only identify severely narrowed arteries and, we know, can even miss some of those.

Dr. Joseph B Weiss

To explain the power of the system I like to use a photographic analogy. We are trying to take pictures of the most active of organs on whose constant motion our lives depend. As in photography to get a sharp, clear picture the exposure must be quick to prevent blurring, in essence, a fast shutter speed. The shutter speed of conventional single source CT scanners requires that the heart rate be slow, less than 60 beats per minute preferably close to 50. This is often not achievable for patients with abnormal rhythms such as atrial fibrillation or patients who cannot tolerate the drugs required to achieve a low heart rate. In addition, due to the slow shutter speed a single source CT machine, the period of scanning needs to be extended over several heart beats and the individual images stitched together, a major source of artifacts. The enhanced shutter speed of the new dual source CT scanner allows the acquisition of a complete picture in a single heartbeat. This enables us to evaluate patients with rapid heart rates and atrial fibrillation without the need for any additional rate control medications and yields clearer more diagnostic images. The benefits to patients are obvious, more patients can get better, definitive studies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An additional benefit derives from the efficiency of the technology. The requirement for a slow heart rate usually entails 30-60 minutes of preparation with careful monitoring. With a dual source scanner, its more like point-and-shoot. Less time and trouble per scan equals enhanced availability of the test.

At Newport Hospital, our mission is to provide the highest quality care with a focus on patient comfort and convenience. The new dual-source CT scanner is an intrinsic part of that mission. For patients with troubling symptoms of chest pain and/or abnormal EKGs we now have an amazing tool to render quick and accurate diagnoses.

I am incredibly proud to work alongside a dedicated team that is continually striving to innovate and improve the services we offer. We are very grateful to a wonderfully supportive community that has collaborated with us to achieve this result.

Dr. Joseph Weiss is a Brown University Health cardiologist and member of the Cardiovascular Institute at Newport Hospital.

Health Matters appears monthly in The Newport Daily News and on newportri.com.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: RIs first dual-source CT scanner located at Newport Hospital
In the Australian state of Western Australia, the Labor government has pushed major dirty energy projects forward, derailing the country's climate policies and contradicting its own previous climate goals.

What's happening?

The Guardian posted an opinion article by Carmen Lawrence, a former Labor premier of Western Australia, detailing a major environmental issue happening in WA.

The headline, "Western Australia is tearing up environmental protections  and taking a bet the rest of the country won't notice," wasn't the only accusation in the article.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lawrence went on to write that WA falls behind the rest of the country and is often isolated and cut off, leaving its local government actions to go unnoticed.

"The tyranny of our distance has always meant it's been hard to get the attention of the east coast," Lawrence wrote.

Previous WA climate legislation from 2021 aimed to reach net-zero pollution by 2050. Recently, however, the Labor government in WA has shelved these goals in exchange for pushing forward huge dirty energy projects.

The WA environment minister Reece Whitby recently announced to parliament that the WA government was changing its policies and would no longer seek to regulate planet-warming gases.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Two days after the announcement, the state government passed sweeping reforms to the WA Environmental Protection Authority without prior consultation with environmental groups.

WA is the only Australian state where pollution continues to increase, and there are no plans to reduce it or replace the dirty fuel energy with renewable energy sources, per Lawrence.

Why is pollution in Western Australia important?

The climate crisis is a global concern. Unchecked pollution output anywhere in the world could negatively affect us all.

Human health and safety are greatly impacted by rising global temperatures. Extreme weather events like hurricanes and heat waves are worsened by the climate crisis, and our air and water have become polluted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As the climate crisis worsens, so will its effects on our health and safety.

What's being done about the climate crisis?

Upcoming state and federal elections will allow Australian voters to have their voices heard regarding the government keeping its commitment to reducing pollution output.

In other areas of the world, renewable energy sources like solar and wind are gaining popularity to replace dirty fuel sources and cut down on toxic pollution. In 2023, global renewable energy capacity added to energy systems increased by 50% compared to 2022.

Every country's commitments and actions toward reducing pollution help ensure our safety and the future of our planet.

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.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Gov. Gavin Newsom visited Kern County on Monday for his second stop in a statewide tour to talk about job growth in designated regions.

Newsoms first stop last week was in Fresno County to tackle the Sierra San Joaquin Valley region.

There are 13 total regions, with Kern County being one of them, and all are part of the California Jobs First Economic Blueprint.

Newsom said each region received $5 million, and much more federal, state and local funding is likely to come. He is calling efforts in Kern County the Kern County Regional Plan for California Jobs First.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Newsom met with Kern County elected officials and community leaders to celebrate the finalization of the countys regional economic development plan.

A states commitment is only realized at the local level, Newsom said during a press conference Monday. That vision is realized region by region, community by community.

Fifty-two community meetings went into [Kern Countys] plan, 840 people participated.

Post-election, the tour is also part of Newsoms travels to visit counties that voted for Donald Trump due to frustrations over the economy.

Bakersfield City Councilmember Manpreet Kaur helped lead the Kern County coalition.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Invest in Kern County and what that looks like, and we get to dictate that, Kaur commented as director of the California Jobs First, Kern Coalition. Where we really designed what the future of the workforce will look like, and its in that binder.

Kaur said for Kern County, industries of interest included healthcare and transportation logistics, as well as, Clean energy, advanced manufacturing and agriculture, those were the three main ones as dictated by this report.

The group met at the National Cement Plant in Lebec, a low-emissions cement plant on track to become one of the first fully decarbonized ones in the country.

17 News asked the governor what specific reassurance he can provide to Kern County residents worried a transition away from traditional oil and gas jobs will hurt those dominant industries.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Newsom referred to the location of the press conference.

I think this is an Exhibit A of that process, he began.

Its a process that unfolds over many, many years. And these jobs are constantly iterating, these jobs, these steel worker jobs that are union jobs are getting the skills and the support as this transition begins to unfold over the course of the next many, many years.

I think a big part of the spirit of this planning process is to recognize that anxiety. One has to acknowledge that anxiety, and its real, Newsom said.

Newsom stated all 13 regional plans will be braided into a statewide plan in January.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He also explained these regional efforts go way back, to former California Assemblyman and congressional candidate Rudy Salas Assembly Bill 106.

Salas appeared side-by-side with Newsom on Monday.

Salas proposal aimed to provide statewide grants by region, which is defined in the bill as a geographic area composed of one of more counties and cities that form a functional economy.

The governor also noted pressure came from Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh back in 2020 as well.

[She told me] that you need to step up your game, the state of California needs to step up its game, as it relates to economic development particularly down here in Kern, the governor recalled.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mayor Goh was also in attendance.

Kern County is well positioned to continue to advance our role, leading the new economy of California as we begin to identify and grow our renewable energy footprint, develop our manufacturing sector, entrepreneurship and advancing aerospace in the region, said Associate Vice Chancellor, Public Affairs and Development of KCCD Norma Rojas Mora.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
People participate in a Puerto Rican Day parade in New York City. Multiracial cultures such as Puerto Rican and Dominican may pose problems for new proposed Census Bureau survey formats that ask about race and Hispanic status separately. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

The U.S. Census Bureau and a growing number of states are starting to gather more detailed information about Americans race and ethnicity, a change some advocates of the process say will allow people to choose identities that more closely reflect how they see themselves.

Crunching and sorting through those specific details  known as data disaggregation  will help illuminate disparities in areas such as housing and health outcomes that could be hidden within large racial and ethnic categories. But some experts say the details also might make it harder for Black people from multiracial countries to identify themselves.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Racial data gleaned from the census is important because local, state, tribal and federal governments use it to guide certain civil rights policies and in planning and funding government programs that provide funds or services for specific groups, according to the Census Bureau.

The form will have checkboxes for main categories  current census groupings include Asian, Black or African American and White, among others  followed by more specific checkboxes. Under Asian, for example, might be Chinese, Asian Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean or Japanese. And then there will be an empty box for people to write in more specific subgroups.

Collecting more detail by allowing free-form answers, for example, will make it possible for people to identify themselves as part of more racial and ethnic subgroups  such as Sardinian (an autonomous region within Italy) instead of simply Italian  and include alternative names for certain groups, such as writing Schitsuumsh, the ancient language for Coeur DAlene Tribe.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And the Census Bureau will for the first time include Middle Eastern/North African as a separate racial/ethnic category for respondents with that heritage. Until now, Middle Eastern people who did not choose a race were treated as a subcategory under white, based on a 1944 court ruling intended to protect Arab immigrants from racist laws banning U.S. citizenship for nonwhite immigrants.

Under new federal guidelines approved in March, the bureau also will give people the option to check no race at all if they identify as Hispanic or Middle Eastern/North African.

The Census Bureau already has decided to use more open-ended questions in both the 2027 American Community Survey and the nations 2030 census. But the agency is seeking public comment on the way write-in responses will be categorized.

The bureau wants to hear how people are likely to identify themselves, said Merarys Rios-Vargas, chief of the bureaus Ethnicity and Ancestry Branch, Population Division, in a recent webinar. The agency also is interested in whether there are missing or incorrect entries in its proposed list of possible responses.

Its about peoples lives

Nancy Lopez, a University of New Mexico sociology professor, said she and other experts in Black Hispanic culture think the census should have a visual race or street race question, so people can communicate how others see them as well as how they identify themselves. The answer might be Black or a yet-unrecognized racial category such as brown.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A separate question on race as a visual status helps illuminate the kind of things we are interested in  discrimination in housing, discrimination in employment, discrimination in education and accessing health care in public spaces, said Lopez, who is the daughter of Dominican immigrants and a co-founder of the universitys Institute for the Study of Race & Social Justice.

Its about peoples lives, its about the future, its about children, its about access to opportunities and its about fairness, she added, noting that even if the federal government doesnt add such questions to surveys and the decennial census, state and universities can still do it on their own as they collect data for health care, student enrollment and other topics.

The NALEO Educational Fund, an organization representing Latino elected and appointed officials, supports the decision to make a race choice optional for Hispanics.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Many Latinos did not see themselves in any of the categories for their racial identity, said Rosalind Gold, NALEOs chief public policy officer. Theres a large number of Latinos who feel that identifying as Latino is both their racial and ethnic identity.

Gold said NALEO understands the concern some have that failing to require a race designation will obscure racial information on Black Hispanics. But her group argues that the census can get what it needs by educating the public on how to respond and by including prompts on the questionnaires to guide race choices.

Black Hispanic people often see themselves as having a single racial and ethnic identity, according to several experts in Hispanic identity who spoke at a Census Bureau National Advisory Committee meeting Nov. 7.

They conceptualize themselves as belonging to one [group], said Nicholas Vargas, an associate professor of ethnic studies at the University of California, Berkeley, speaking at the committee meeting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They check Black and they check Dominican  and dont want to be counted as two or more, he said.

In response, Rachel Marks, an adviser for the Census Bureau on race and ethnicity, said the bureau will consider that issue and other feedback on how people want to be represented before making a final decision on survey details.

Its about peoples lives, its about the future, its about children, its about access to opportunities and its about fairness.

 Nancy Lopez, University of New Mexico sociology professor

The bureau may recognize a term, Afro-Latino, that could be used to indicate both Black race and Hispanic ethnicity, according to a proposed code list from the agency, as well as Blaxican for Black Mexican and Blasian for Black Asian.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition of civil rights groups, called the more detailed questions a step forward but also suggested more guidance on the forms to ensure people are categorized the way they want to be. In its comment on the changes, the group noted that in 2020, some people who wrote in British under the Black checkbox were categorized as partly white even if they didnt mean that.

The group also said it is concerned about a conflation of the concepts of race and ethnicity, and it asked for more research to make sure people understand how to respond.

State actions

Some states are acting on their own to gather more detailed data about identity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

New Jersey is among the latest states to pass a law requiring more detailed race and ethnic data collection for state records such as health data and school enrollment.

A similar bill in Michigan would require state agencies that gather information to offer multiracial and Middle Eastern or North African as choices; the bill remains in committee.

And advocates in Oregon, which already has a law requiring detailed ethnic data collection, are asking the state for more details on Asian subgroups who face education challenges.

A December 2023 report by The Leadership Conference Education Fund identified 13 other states with laws requiring more detailed state data on ethnic and racial groups, including laws passed last year in Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts and Nevada.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The states of California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington already had such laws, the group found.

Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify that Black or African American is one census category.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
There are some $4-5 billion of frozen Russian assets in the U.S. and it will be up to President-elect Donald Trump to decide what to do with them when he takes office in January 2025.



After Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western nations froze around $300 billion of assets belonging to the Russian Central Bank. The EU harbors around $220 billion, with $192 billion frozen in Brussels-based company Euroclear, as well as $26 billion in private assets.



The West has been divided about whether to confiscate the assets and hand them over to Ukraine. The G7 took a unified step in October by using the windfall profits to back $50 billion in Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration loans, of which the U.S. will provide $20 billion, to fund Ukraines reconstruction, economic, and defense needs.



The U.S. has so far led the charge after President Joe Biden signed the REPO Act in April. The bill green lit the confiscation of frozen Russian assets in the U.S. for Ukraines reconstruction and humanitarian assistance.



As part of the bill, the U.S. had to locate all Russian assets within its jurisdiction by August. Washington has so far not publicly released a report on the number of assets.

US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrive to give a press conference at the Masseria San Domenico on the sidelines of the G7 Summit hosted by Italy in Apulia region in Savelletri on June 13, 2024. (Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images)

Trump has not directly commented on the frozen Russian assets and his unpredictability makes it hard to know which route he will take. Mobilizing the assets and making Russia pay fits in with his strong-man approach but he may also err on the side of caution for fear of foreign countries, like China and Saudi Arabia, pulling out their assets from the U.S.



Trumps decision will also impact Europe. He could pressure a reluctant Brussels to pick up the slack and resolve the EUs bickering over the issue. If Trump doesnt confiscate U.S.-based assets or he cuts funding for Ukraine, Brussels may have to reevaluate its position on sending Kyiv the lump sum as the countrys defense and reconstruction costs pile up.



At least for now, it seems unlikely that Trump would unfreeze the assets and hand them back to Russia. While he has the legal power to suggest repealing or amending the REPO Act, the decision has to pass through Congress. Many Republicans support confiscation of the assets, including House Speaker Republican Congressman Mike Johnson.



There's no automatic procedure for Trump to get rid of this whole thing entirely, Anna Vlasyuk, a legal research fellow at the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) told the Kyiv Independent.

Read also: Explaining Washingtons REPO Act that could kick-start the confiscation of frozen Russian assets

Pushing Europe

The REPO Act states that the assets should go into a non-interest-bearing Ukrainian support fund to be used for humanitarian help and reconstruction, last estimated at $486 billion, under the administration of the Secretary of State.



It also says that the decision to liquidate the assets needs to be multilateral across all partners. In other words, the U.S. won't do it unless the other G7 nations confirm they will follow suit.



Brussels and London have been bogged down in a debate about what to do with the assets. Opponents have lobbied against transferring the funds to Ukraine, citing concerns that it could destabilize G7 currencies if other countries pull their assets out of the West for fear they could be targeted next.



If Trump does confiscate the assets and the EU doesnt, then countries friendly with Russia could pull their assets from the U.S. and buy bonds in Europe instead, said Vlasyuk. If Trump opts for liquidation, there is an incentive for him to push the others to act as well so as not to destabilize the U.S. dollar.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"A key point of Trumps stance is that the EU should do more to support Ukraine."

If Trump supports full confiscation, he could apply stronger pressure on the EU than Biden has been able to.



The REPO Act has tried to mitigate fears from other countries by explicitly saying that the bill only covers Russian assets, as opposed to those of Russia-friendly countries, due to the unique circumstances of the invasion of Ukraine. It underlines that confiscation is legal as Russia has violated international law thus undermining its sovereign immunity.

The G7 leaders during a summit in Apulia, Italy, on June 13, 2024. (German Chancellor Olaf Scholz/X)

Vlasyuk says the risks presented by opponents of confiscation are blown out of proportion and that G7 currencies are too dominant to divest from. She pointed out that when the RCB ditched the U.S. dollar in 2021, it increased its Euro shares instead of solely relying on non-G7 currencies like the Yuan.



The RCB would like to avoid currencies like dollars, euros, and pounds. But it can't afford it economically, she said.



The EU, nonetheless, has remained cautious and agreed in March to only use the profits generated from Russian assets, approximately $3.2 billion. The G7s ERA loans are so far the most notable breakthrough and will be in Ukraines hands by the end of the year.



While President Volodymyr Zelensky supported the $50 billion loan, he has stressed that the G7 should still go ahead with the full confiscation.

Trumps options

The REPO Act is broad in terms of what it covers, meaning Trump can go after the property, bank accounts, and securities belonging to Russian state-owned companies in the U.S. in addition to oligarch assets.



Vlasyuk believes going after Russian state-owned companies will be an easier option for Trump than oligarch assets. In the U.S., legally proving that individuals are directly complicit in Russias aggression is an uphill battle, she said.



But while the bill obligates the president to locate the Russian assets it does not force confiscation. Trump could simply leave them immobilized without transferring the money to Ukraine if he thinks there is a risk to the U.S. dollar.



Already, Trump has raised alarm bells in Europe by indicating he could cut U.S. aid for Ukraine. If he decides not to act, then a cash-strapped Europe may consider liquidating the assets without Washington to keep funding Ukraine, although this could result in Russia divesting from the Euro, said Vlasyuk.



Trump has insinuated that he will push for negotiations with Russia to freeze the war, previously claiming he could end it "in 24 hours." Halushka says there is a risk that he could use the assets as a bargaining chip.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) looks at U.S. President Donald Trump during the welcoming ceremony before the G20 Summit's Plenary Meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Nov. 30, 2018. (Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images)

This approach is weak: Russia has already accepted the loss of these funds, and freezing them hasnt pressured Moscow into stopping the war, she said.



Instead, Kyiv needs to convince its partners that it will be more worthwhile liquidating the assets for its needs, she added.



The REPO Act does not state that the assets can be used for defense purposes. But if Trump pushes the EU to confiscate the money, then Europe could set aside part of the funds to purchase weapons from the U.S., either with the windfall profits or investing the confiscated money.



This will see the EU increase its support and satisfy Trump while boosting the American defense industry and creating jobs, said Halushka. Ukraine will receive much-needed weapons and rely less on the political turbulence of its partners.



If these assets are confiscated and a significant portion is directed toward purchasing American weapons for Ukraine, it creates a win-win situation, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Introducing official

merch from the Kyiv Independent

Shop now

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Nebraska Board of State Canvassers meet Monday, June 10, 2024, in Lincoln to certify the state's 2024 primary election results. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  Nebraskans made their voices heard this November on various ballot measures  medical cannabis, paid sick leave, abortion and school choice  and most of the measures are set to take effect in December.

Six ballot measures were on Nebraskas Nov. 5 ballot and five got majority support across the state. The State Canvassing Board will meet Dec. 2 to certify the election results. The canvassing board consists of Gov. Jim Pillen, Secretary of State Bob Evnen, Attorney General Mike Hilgers, State Auditor Mike Foley and State Treasurer Tom Briese.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Within 10 days of certification, or by Dec. 12, Pillen must formally proclaim how many votes were cast to approve and reject each measure.

If there are any issues or changes resulting from recounts, which are planned for Dec. 4, the canvassing board could meet again Dec. 10, which would extend the proclamation deadline for Pillen until Dec. 20.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen listens to testimony about the May 2024 primary election as part of the Board of State Canvassers on June 10, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

The day that Pillen issues his proclamation is the day all but one measure takes effect. Its unlikely to be the same day as certification.

For example, former Gov. Pete Ricketts presided over eight successful ballot measures during his time in office, related to the death penalty, Medicaid expansion, payday lending, gambling, voter ID and minimum wage.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ricketts signed the proclamations an average of five days after the initial certification meeting  four days in 2016, eight days in 2018 and 2020, and the day after in 2022, according to records from the Nebraska State Historical Society.

Gambling and voter ID went to the Legislature for further legislation. This years measures do not require legislative approval.

The measures may still go through the Legislature for tweaks, which would require at least 33 votes in the 49-member body because the measures were approved at the ballot box.

Here is a breakdown of what comes next for the different measures:

Medical cannabis

Initiative Measures 437 and 438, from the Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana campaign, to legalize and regulate medical cannabis, will take effect the same day as Pillens proclamations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Measure 437, the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Patient Protection Act, will immediately allow Nebraskans to legally possess 5 ounces of medical cannabis with the written recommendation of their health care practitioner.

That recommendation, which is not a one-to-one prescription under federal law, is valid for two years, or for the period of time the health care practitioner specifies.

Supporters of medical cannabis joined together in support of two related ballot measures for the 2024 general election at a public hearing for Initiative Measures 437 and 438 at the University of Nebraska at Omaha on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. Among those in the photo are Dominic Gillen, far left, and Shelley Gillen, left front row, who is kneeling by their son, Will Gillen. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Measure 438, the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation Act, will also take effect immediately but has more steps in 2025 with the creation of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission.

The new law specifically authorizes a registered cannabis establishment and its employees or agents to possess, manufacture, distribute, deliver or dispense cannabis for medical purposes. It will be up to the commission to set the rules and regulations for the regulatory law. Its unclear how Nebraskans would legally obtain medical cannabis before those regulations are adopted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The three commissioners of the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission will comprise the commission, and the governor can appoint two more members with legislative confirmation.

By July 1, 2025, the new commission must establish criteria to accept or deny applications for registered establishments. By Oct. 1, it must begin granting those registrations.

The new commission will have the sole regulatory authority to oversee the new law, including issuing subpoenas, inspecting operations, imposing administrative fines and acquiring any necessary offices, facilities, counsel or staff to do so.

The legalization measure, 437, received 71.05% approval. The regulatory measure, 438, received 67.29% approval.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Whether the two measures formally take effect will depend on a pending court opinion in Lancaster County District Court. Evnen and Hilgers office have sought to invalidate the measures, alleging circulator fraud or notarial malfeasance.

Five ballot measure campaigns successfully petitioned to appear on the Nebraska ballot in November 2024 for a set of six total citizen-led votes among Nebraskans. Medical marijuana is divided into two measures. (Logos courtesy of the ballot campaign websites)

A Hall County Court judge dismissed all 24 criminal allegations of notarial malfeasance Friday against a campaign notary, pointing to an administrative process for the allegations.

District Judge Susan Strong has been given final briefs after a four-day trial and could rule at any moment. She and multiple attorneys involved in the case have acknowledged the decision is likely to be appealed to the Nebraska Supreme Court no matter the outcome.

Hilgers and Evnen have said they will certify the marijuana-related election results at this juncture. Foley said in an email that he would defer to Hilgers for guidance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The timing of the courts decision does not impact in any way my certification decision, nor would I think, as a matter of law, does it impact whether anyone would or would not vote to certify, Hilgers told reporters Nov. 19.

Ongoing legal challenges against the petitions can continue after December.

Competing abortion measures

Initiative Measure 434, from the Protect Women and Children campaign, will enshrine a ceiling in the Nebraska Constitution for abortion and prohibit most procedures after the first trimester, with exceptions for sexual assault, incest and the life of the mother. The Legislature will retain authority to pass additional restrictions, up to a complete ban. It received 54.94% of the vote.

Supporters of the Protect Women and Children abortion-related petition effort celebrate turn-in of more than 200,000 signatures seeking access to the November 2024 ballot. July 3, 2024. (Courtesy of Protect Women and Children campaign)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The first trimester is roughly 12 weeks gestational age, the same limit as the current state law passed in 2023, Legislative Bill 574, meaning there will be no immediate effects.

State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston cautioned his colleagues not to go further than 12 weeks during the 2023 debate, and he helped to craft an amendment that ultimately prevailed. Pillen has previously said he would fight to end abortion.

Initiative Measure 439, from the Protect Our Rights campaign, failed to garner enough support to enshrine a right to abortion in the State Constitution until fetal viability. That timing would have been defined by a treating health care practitioner. It garnered 49.01% of the vote.

Nebraskan was the first state to place two competing abortion measures on the same ballot and the first to buck a national trend that favored abortion-rights measures in statewide elections.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Supporters of the abortion-restrictions amendment have said their success illustrates an offensive path in other states to push back on abortion. Supporters of the abortion-rights amendment have also vowed to keep fighting and are waiting in part to see what related proposals, if any, are introduced when the new Legislature convenes in January.

State law will protect the new constitutional amendment from being repealed or changed via petition until after the November 2026 election. Petition campaigns will also be prevented from seeking the same measure as Protect Our Rights either in form or in essential substance until after 2026.

School choice

Referendum Measure 435, from the Support Our Schools campaign, will repeal legislation passed this spring to give the State Treasurers Office $10 million for education scholarships for private K-12 school attendance costs. The repeal passed with 57.03% of the vote.

The repeal of LB 1402 will be immediate with Pillens proclamation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As part of the law, $750,000 was set aside for administrative costs. Brieses office distributed education scholarships to nearly 4,000 students before the election.

Jenni Benson, then-president of the Nebraska State Education Association and sponsor of the Support Our Schools ballot referendum, leads supporters in transporting more than 86,000 signatures to the Nebraska Secretary of State. July 17, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Any unspent funds would return to the Legislature after June 30, 2025.

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn sponsored LB 1402 and used it to repeal its predecessor, LB 753, the Opportunity Scholarships Act. That law was set up as an annual $25 million tax credit to encourage donations in order to create the opportunity scholarships.

LB 753 ended Oct. 31, with a total of $9.57 million of refundable income tax credits reserved for Nebraskans. The remaining $15.43 million will be returned to the states budget.

Advocates for the legislation have vowed to try again, though it isnt yet clear who would pick up the mantle from Linehan, who is term-limited.

Paid sick leave

Initiative Measure 436, the Nebraska Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, wont take effect until Oct. 1, 2025. It passed with 74.56% of the vote.

Jodi Lepaopao, campaign manager of Paid Sick Leave for Nebraskans, said the next 10 months will focus on education and following up with community members. The new law is expected to impact more than 250,000 Nebraskans who currently dont have paid sick leave.

After the law is implemented, employees can begin to earn at least one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. Small businesses (fewer than 20 weekly employees) must offer 40 hours of paid sick leave, while larger employers must offer up to 56 hours in a year. Small businesses that had 20 or more employees for at least 20 calendar weeks would fall into the larger category.

Advocates to enshrine a minimum level of paid sick leave for Nebraska workers in state law celebrate the announcement they gathered more than 138,000 signatures in hopes to qualify for the November ballot Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Lincoln. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Employees can use paid sick leave for themselves or a family member for mental or physical illness, injury or health condition or for a medical diagnosis or preventive medical care. Paid sick time could also be used during a public health emergency that closes a business or school.

Family member includes children, parents or legal guardians, a spouse, grandparent, grandchild, sibling or other blood relative. It also includes anyone whose close association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship.

Employee does not include state or federal employees or an individual who works in the state for fewer than 80 hours in a calendar year.

Employers couldnt punish employees for using paid sick leave but could set a written policy for how the employee must orally request to take sick leave.

Employees would not be required to search for a replacement worker. An employer could require a doctors note or other signed documentation after three consecutive work days.

The Nebraska Department of Labor can create additional rules and regulations as necessary.

Lepaopao said the campaign is aware of possible attacks in the Legislature to undermine the policy, such as suggestions to redefine employee or business categories, such as through a micro business exception.

Lepaopao pointed to support from several businesses statewide for the ballot measure, including small business owners, who agreed that the campaigns approach was practical and beneficial to the state.

We are all ready, Lepaopao said, and would oppose any legislation that would undermine the voices of the almost 75% of voters in Nebraska that voted to approve this policy.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  New Mexico State Police say they used a high-tech license plate recognition system to arrest a man who allegedly struck and killed a bicyclist near Deming over the weekend.

At about 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23, NM State Police officers were sent out to a fatal crash involving a vehicle and a bicyclist along New Mexico Highway 11 near milepost 8.

A passing motorist had noticed debris and a bicycle in the dirt off on the shoulder of the road and stopped to check the area.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They called 911 when they saw a man  identified as 69-year-old Kevin OLeary  who was dead near his bicycle, State Police said.

The suspect vehicle had fled the scene and there were no witnesses, State Police said.

A be-on-the-lookout (BOLO) alert was put out for a red vehicle that was suspected to have front-end damage, State Police said.

The State Police used their license plate recognition system to identify the suspect vehicle as a 2011 red Cadillac sedan.

Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection notified NMSP that a vehicle matching that description had crossed into Mexico immediately following the crash at the Columbus port of entry.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The driver of the Cadillac was later identified as 33-year-old Noel Ronquillo Jr. An arrest warrant was obtained for Ronquillo, and he was taken into custody without incident on Monday, Nov. 25 in Deming.

Ronquillo was charged with involuntary manslaughter and knowingly leaving the scene of an accident involving great bodily harm or death.

ALPR (automatic license plate recognition) technology has been widely praised for improving law enforcements ability to track and capture criminals New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler said. In just a short time, this system identified a vehicle that was involved in a homicide, leading to an arrest. If not for this technology, this case might not have been solved so swiftly, and a dangerous offender might have still been on the street.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
(CBS DETROIT)  The Wayne County Prosecutors Office has declined to press charges against Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams following an investigation into carrying a concealed weapon.

Officials say the 23-year-old Williams and his brother, who was driving a black sedan, were pulled over around 1 a.m. on Oct. 8 for allegedly speeding and driving in an unsafe manner. The wide receivers brother told officers that there were two weapons inside the vehicle. Williams brother reportedly showed police a valid Concealed Pistol License (CPL), as well as a drivers license, proof of insurance and registration.

According to the prosecutors office, police found a weapon registered to Williams on the front passenger floorboard. A second weapon was found on the floorboard behind the drivers seat.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Williams was taken into custody for carrying a concealed weapon but later released at the scene when a Detroit Police Department supervisor arrived. His brother was issued traffic citations.

While investigating, the prosecutors office says it could not find another case where the following facts applied:

The driver has a valid CPL.

The driver /CPL holder advises the police at the scene he is carrying both guns in the car.

The defendant admits ownership but does not admit to putting the gun in the car.

The gun is not on the person of the defendant.

The defendant is eligible for a CPL.

Because the case law is silent regarding the specific issue, and the legislative intent of the CPL statute does not support charges under these facts, no charges will issue in this matter, and the warrant is denied, the prosecutors office said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy issued the following statement on her decision not to charge Williams:

We have looked at this case thoroughly and objectively. We did not consider that Mr. Williams is a Detroit professional athlete in our decision making. We have charged Detroit area athletes before and would not have hesitated to do so again if the facts of this case could be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. When it comes to charging decisions, we do not take into consideration who the potential defendant is, how much power and influence they have, or how beloved they may be. We deal with the facts and the law only. While no case has identical facts, we can look at similar facts, if possible, to aid us in our decision making. We really could not recall any case that had facts that mirrored this case. Every case is fact specific. As always, we apply the alleged facts to the existing law. And the applicable law and its accompanying legislative history is far from clear. We had a team of experienced lawyers look at this case  as we often do  especially when the law is unclear or unsettled. We all agreed that this decision is the right and just one. And I am personally certain that the right decision has been made with these specific and unique set of facts. The CPL holder here was the driver and had care, custody, and control of the car. Guidance is needed for the future on how many weapons can a valid CPL say that they have control over? Despite all of this, if Mr. Williams had the gun on his person, he would have been charged. I urge the legislature to immediately look closely at this law so that the prosecutors in Michigan can have steady and meaningful guidance in the future.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
After years of disagreements with administrators, professors at Madera Community College passed a no confidence vote in their president  a symbolic move meant to communicate to the college districts leaders that the relationship between the two parties is not working.

Proponents of the no confidence vote against President Angel Reyna say he has violated facultys right to influence curriculum and the creation of educational programs. Some who disagree with Fridays vote say the root of some facultys opposition to Reyna is personal and disregards potential negative impacts on students.

The 12-2 vote by the colleges Academic Senate, the governance group that represents faculty in academic issues, came just minutes after the group voted to also initiate a meditation attempt with Reyna over issues of participatory governance. It also came two months after the same group voted no confidence in a dean at the Madera campus, Justin Garcia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Erin Heasley, an Academic Senate vice president, told The Fresno Bee that the vote was not meant to call for Reynas firing.

What were asking for is for the (State Center Community College District Board of Trustees) to help us work toward doing participatory governance the way the law outlines, Heasley said. For us, mediation has to be a part of that.

Madera college is one of four campuses under SCCCD leadership, along with Fresno City College, Clovis Community College and Reedley College.

Madera Community College Angel Reyna speaks during the 2024 graduation ceremony at the college in Madera on May 17, 2024.

Reyna responded to The Bees questions about the vote with an emailed statement: We remain committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to address concerns and have always welcomed discussion from those who have questions or thoughts. Our focus is on delivering high-quality education that supports student success and meets the evolving needs of our community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The vote against Reyna comes after Madera colleges involvement the past three years in the Competency-Based Education (CBE) Collaborative, a pilot program including eight California community colleges that empowers learners to progress at their own pace by prioritizing the mastery of skills and knowledge while making time variable, according to a state website. The approach allows students to schedule their own work and intends for them to demonstrate competencies tied to real world expectations.

Madera colleges Academic Senate voted in the spring to stop participating in the implementation of CBE.

Since then, community members, including local elected officials, have voiced support for Reyna and an innovative approach to education that benefits disadvantaged students. Members of the Academic Senate said last week that the issue is not CBE itself, but Reynas tendency to skirt facultys participation in governance  though CBE was an early catalyst, Academic Senate President Lynette Cortes Howden told The Bee.

The resolution against Reyna alleges he continued to pressure the Academic Senate to work on CBE efforts despite the groups decision to pull away from the program. It also says he has pressured non-tenured and part-time faculty, as well as single-person departments, to work on projects that fall outside of the colleges official strategic and education plans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reyna is in the midst of launching an ambitious agave distilling program at Madera college  an effort that Cortes Howden said is a recent example of the president working around the Academic Senates participatory role in curriculum and educational program creation.

An emailed statement from district Chancellor Carole Goldsmith on Monday expressed her unwavering support and confidence in President Reynas leadership at Madera Community College.

His guidance has been instrumental in advancing the educational initiatives that align with our mission to provide high-quality, accessible learning opportunities for all students, Goldsmith said.

Problems with Competency-Based Education?

In her emailed statement to The Bee, Goldsmith said CBE provides students, especially working adults, a personalized and flexible learning experience that doesnt require them to adhere to a traditional college schedule. She said the approach often aligns with industry standards and employer needs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Heasley, the academic senate vice president, told The Bee last week that professors who were initially involved in the colleges CBE efforts ran into roadblocks in recent years, including ones concerned with financial aid laws, student transfers and accreditation.

They (the professors) needed the administration to understand that the roadblocks they were hitting were not just speed bumps  they were full stops, said Heasley, an instructional designer/distance education coordinator at Madera college.

The Academic Senate voted in late September to give Reyna an ultimatum: Submit a written request by October to Chancellor Goldsmith that Madera college be removed from the CBE pilot program, or the group will consider a no confidence vote against the president.

Goldsmith told Bee she is exploring options ... to formally be withdrawn from the State funded CBE Collaborative Pilot Grant Project.

Not all faculty agree

William Mask, a Madera college history instructor, told The Bee last week that he thinks the Academic Senates vote of no confidence against Reyna is a vendetta against the president.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Their argument over the CBE program and the agave program is meritless, and everything theyve used as reasons to not do it have been disproven time and time again, Mask said. Dr. Reyna has been our only president, and hes been incredibly successful.

Mask went on to say that Reyna can create new programs because he is the president, referring to the agave distilling effort.

This agave program gives people hope for tomorrow, hope to change their generational wealth, he said. Someone thats been on a farm for 40 years can come here and get a certificate for their knowledge.
The United States does not have any indication that there is a presence of North Korean troops in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said on Nov. 25.

"What we're seeing is that (North Korean troops are) positioned around the Kursk region, not moving into Ukraine at the moment," Singh said during a press briefing.

The Pentagon's statement clarifies reports of approximately 11,000 North Korean troops amassing in Russia's Kursk Oblast, training alongside Russian troops in the fight against Ukraine. A Pentagon spokesperson said on Nov. 13 that some North Korean troops have already been deployed to fight together with Russian forces.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A source with Ukraine's General Staff also indicated to Reuters on Nov. 23 that the majority of North Korean soldiers were finalizing training.

In recent months, Russia has focused on regaining territory lost in the country's Kursk Oblast following a surprise Ukrainian incursion into the region in August. According to the source in Ukraine's General Staff, Ukraine has lost over 40 percent of the territory it previously gained in Kursk Oblast due to Russian counterattacks.

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.

Addressing unconfirmed reports that upwards of 500 North Korean troops have been killed in Kursk, Singh said that the U.S. could not independently confirm the casualties.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"What we've said before is that they're in (the Kursk) region and certainly poised to engage the Ukrainians in combat. But I can't confirm those reports that there have been casualties yet."

Moscow and Pyongyang signed a strategic partnership agreement in June, pledging to provide military support to one another if either country comes under attack.

On Nov. 25, Reuters reported, citing researchers at the U.S.-based James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, that North Korea is expanding a key weapons production complex that assembles KN-23 short-range ballistic missiles used by Russia against Ukraine.

Read also: North Korea expands plant producing missiles used by Russia against Ukraine, Reuters reports













Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Gov. Kristi Noem announced her seventh executive order Monday in a response to a string of fraud involving state employees.

Update: 14 Sioux Falls homicides mapped in 2024

In a news release, the Republican Governor said she signed an executive order that requires all state employees and supervisors to complete a comprehensive training program that covers the legal and ethical standards related to conflict of interest, public trust, duty to act, controls and service to citizens.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Along with the executive order, Noem said shes calling for enhancements to current policies and systems to safeguard taxpayer dollars, increase resources to the State Board of Internal Control and support a legislative package for clearer and stronger accountability measures.

Noems announcement comes after multiple theft investigations in 2024 involving both current and former state employees. You can view the latest executive order below.

2024-07_Public-Service-and-Integrity-Training-EODownload

The first investigation involved former Department of Social Services employee Lonna Carroll who has pleaded not guilty to charges that she had stolen more than $1.7 million.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the state Department of Revenue, two former employees have been charged in connection with fraud involving ownership titles for motor vehicles. Lynne Hunsley was indicted on seven counts, while Danielle Degenstein has been charged for notarizing a fictitious title in connection with a third former Revenue employee who has since died.

A third investigation involves the state Department of Human Services, state lawmakers revealed a couple weeks ago.

Every dollar that we spend or invest as a state belongs to the people of South Dakota, and they trust us to be wise and responsible with those dollars, Noem said in a news release.

We are taking enhanced measures to strengthen the fortitude of our financial infrastructure and make sure that we are taking care of taxpayer dollars. And we will guarantee that state employees are responsible stewards for the people that they serve, Noem said in a news release.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Noem, who has been nominated by President-election Donald Trump to become Department of Homeland Security Secretary, is slated to give the annual state budget address next week. Her running mate, Lt. Governor Larry Rhoden, would become governor if Noem resigns to accept the federal post.

State lawmakers have also supported issuing subpoenas to look more at the DORs response to alleged corruption.

GOAC will dive into the DSS situation, according to Otten. The committee has a two-day meeting scheduled for December 11-12. Attorney General Marty Jackley has also supported more mandatory reporting to the AG for criminal offenses and stronger whistleblower protections for state employees.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Mohammad Sultani in his Columbia home on Oct. 7, 2024. (Skylar Laird/SC Daily Gazette)

COLUMBIA  When Mohammad Sultani got on the plane from Qatar a year ago, he didnt know anything about South Carolina, the place that would come to be his new home.

Sultani, who was fleeing his home country of Afghanistan, was one of a growing number of refugees that Lutheran Services Carolinas has helped place in the state in the past few years, fueled by crises overseas and more friendly federal immigration policies, said Columbia refugee resettlement director Seth Hershberger.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2020, the nonprofit organization helped 40 people settle in Columbia. In 2024, it helped around 450, Hershberger said.

Including the nonprofits offices in Greenville, Charleston and Myrtle Beach, the group has resettled 1,335 people in South Carolina so far this year.

Its just grown exponentially, Hershberger recently told the SC Daily Gazette. If there are people to help, we always want to help them.

With the possibility of the Trump administration reinstating lower refugee admission ceilings, though, the number of refugees the group might be able to help in the coming years is unclear.

About the nonprofit

Lutheran Services Carolinas, based in Salisbury, North Carolina, was created in 2011 by the merger of two social ministries focused on helping the elderly and children. Along with resettlements, the organization runs senior living communities, transitional homes for children and teens, and recovery and mental health services for adults in North and South Carolina.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The nonprofit accepts donations of money and supplies, as well as various types of volunteers. For more information on how to help, visit lscarolinas.net/getinvolved.

Lutheran Services has the capacity to help as many as 500 refugees in the Midlands alone in the coming year. The question will be whether the federal government will allow enough people into the country to hit that number, Hershberger said.

Everyone the agency helps is entering the country legally, meaning they wouldnt be subject to President-elect Donald Trumps promised deportations of illegal immigrants.

Other policies, though, could strip funding from programs such as Lutheran Services Carolinas. The nonprofit, which works with one of the 10 agencies nationwide cleared to resettle refugees, runs primarily on federal grants, with donations supplementing some needs, Hershberger said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Until any new rules are in place, the group will stay the course. The goal always has been and always will be helping as many of the thousands of people who need to leave their countries as possible, Hershberger said.

Were just here to help people, Hershberger said. Were not here to play the politics game or anything.

Getting to the U.S.

When the Taliban re-took control of Afghanistan in 2021, following the U.S. troop withdrawal, Sultani knew to be afraid. As a Hazara, a persecuted ethnic minority, the now-31-year-old feared for his life and the lives of his wife and children, he said.

The university where Sultani taught English and information technology suggested applying to flee to the United States, so in 2021, that was what Sultani did.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Like others Lutheran Services helps resettle in the United States, Sultani and his family underwent intensive background checks, multiple rounds of interviews and health screenings.

Unlike asylum seekers, who request access at the U.S. border or after already entering, refugees apply for help often years in advance. They are not admitted into the country until their application is accepted, while asylum seekers in the Biden administration can enter the country while waiting for a final decision, which can take years. Refugee programs also differ from special immigrant visas offered to people who helped the U.S. government overseas.

Refugees are the most vetted people that come into the United States, quite literally, Hershberger said.

To qualify for resettlement as a refugee, a person must face persecution in their home country because of their race, nationality, political opinion or participation in a social group. That includes people fleeing the war in Ukraine, which has sent at least 500 people to Upstate South Carolina in the past year, and Afghans like Sultani.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lutheran Services Carolinas placed more than 400 Afghan refugees in South Carolina in 2021, most of whom have stayed in the state since then, Hershberger said.

Once refugees get the OK from the federal government, they are referred to one of 10 resettlement agencies. That includes Global Refuge, under which Lutheran Services Carolinas operates.

Before selecting a local nonprofit, each agency considers sites across the country, evaluating factors such as the job market, existing communities of refugees and whether anyone on that offices staff speaks their language.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For instance, a lot of refugees from Myanmar and Ukraine end up in Columbia because the area has large Burmese and Ukrainian populations, both through refugee resettlements and people moving to the area, Hershberger said.

South Carolina is also a popular choice because the cities, which offer access to medical services and jobs, are relatively affordable, Hershberger said.

Sultani knew nothing about these conversations. When he, his wife, and their two young children got on a plane from Qatar in November 2023, he knew nothing about where they were headed.

Settling in

When the Sultanis arrived, a representative from Lutheran Services Carolinas picked them up from the airport and took them to a hotel. The family spent about a month there before the nonprofit found them an apartment near Lake Wylie in York County, Sultani said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The nonprofit covered the rent and utilities at the new apartment, where the Sultanis lived with another refugee family. Groceries, clothes and other necessities were covered by the group as well. When the Sultanis decided they wanted to move to Columbia, to be closer to the help Lutheran Services provides, the nonprofit paid all the bills at the new place.

Thats the case for every family resettled in the state. Lutheran Services Carolinas covers every expense families need for their first eight months in the country as the adults get used to their new home, learn English and find a new job, Hershberger said.

Few people end up needing help for the entire eight months. Hershberger estimated that about 70% of people are fully independent before the support expires.

They want to work. They want to be able to give back and contribute and pay taxes and have a job and speak English, Hershberger said. Our goal is to help make that happen and help them become self-sufficient and independent as soon as possible.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Manufacturing is a popular job choice for refugees because of the sheer number of open positions. Some people have become plumbers or phlebotomists, learning how to draw blood. Others work in fast food, most often at Chick-fil-A, which offers a program to teach employees English, Hershberger said.

Photos of Mohammad Sultani and his family sit in their Columbia apartment on Oct. 7, 2024. (Skylar Laird/SC Daily Gazette)

The first job a person gets in the U.S. typically doesnt match the career path they were on before.

That was the case for Sultani, who has been searching for a job in information technology since he arrived. Without an equivalent certification to what many companies require, though, he has struggled to find anything, he said.

Instead, he found a job working overnight in a Sleep Number warehouse, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The most important thing is that Im very new here, Sultani said. I dont have credit here.

Despite concerns about immigrants taking jobs away from other workers, employers in fields such as manufacturing often partner with the nonprofit because they cant find people to fill positions, Hershberger said.

There are a lot of misconceptions about how theyre affecting the economy and whether or not theyre safe or here legally, whatever that means, Hershberger said.

New refugees also get a cultural orientation to help them settle in and explain the fact that some people are opposed to immigration. Part of that involves informing refugees of their rights, including making sure they know they are in the country legally, Hershberger said.

Thats especially important as the federal administration cracks down on immigration, he added. After Trump took office in 2016, some immigrants said they stopped using public assistance programs out of fear that they might lose their legal status, according to a study by health research nonprofit KFF.

So, Lutheran Services Carolinas ensures refugees know they are entitled to public assistance programs. The nonprofit helps sign refugees up for programs such as Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to help pay for groceries. Other bureaucracy, such as helping people get state identification cards, also often falls to the nonprofit, Hershberger said.

Its hard to navigate those systems when, you know, you havent had those systems, when youve been living in a refugee camp, Hershberger said.

After the end of the eight months, the nonprofit continues following up with refugees, often to connect them with resources. For instance, refugees who eventually decide to buy a house might turn to the group for help finding a bank to do the mortgage loan. Or, they might reach out for help finding another job that pays more once they have some experience under their belts.

How much the group helps depends on the person. Some get settled in right away and want to handle everything themselves. Others ask for more help, Hershberger said.

I love working with the clients, but if I dont hear from a client for a long time, thats actually a lot of times a good thing for me because it means that theyre becoming self-sufficient, Hershberger said.

I prefer to be here

Only a few days after moving in, Sultani was at a grocery store with his family when a woman approached. This was already odd to Sultani, who wasnt used to people in Afghanistan talking to strangers.

The woman introduced herself and asked if the family needed anything. They exchanged phone numbers, and she started coming over to check on the children. When Sultani and his family moved to their new apartment, she helped them pack and move everything, he said.

That sort of kindness has been more common than the occasional rude comments Sultani hears about immigrants. Generally, he has found South Carolina to be a nice place to live, he said.

The very most important thing is that I have been treated as a human here, Sultani said. There are bad people, but most of the people here, when I talk, they are very kind. They are really accepting.

The Sultanis miss their family back in Afghanistan. Both Sultani and his wife left behind parents and siblings, and theyre not sure when they might be able to return to see them.

Their 5-year-old son, Siawash, and 4-year-old daughter, Aelena, are learning English quickly, even just through watching TV, Sultani said. But he and his wife fear they will forget their native country and the language their grandparents speak, he said.

In the U.S., though, Aelena can go to school, which wouldnt have been possible under Taliban rule. If Sultanis wife wants to pursue a college degree, she can do that. The family doesnt have to live in fear of being killed for their ethnicity, which was the reason Sultani and his wife wanted to leave, he said.

(The Taliban forbids education for girls past 11 years old and prevents women from working. Its rules have led to a decline in girls primary education too.)

I wish I could go back to my country, Sultani said. While he technically could return, I cannot because I have no option to live there.

The way things are now, I prefer to be here, Sultani said.
It could be the end of an era for a place that came to define a certain architectural and food aesthetic for Los Angeles.

If all goes according to plan, the iconic sawtooth "Norms" coffee shop sign on La Cienega Boulevard  one of L.A.'s few remaining examples of Googie coffee shop architecture of the midcentury  would be replaced by "Canes." Goodbye to the retro diner known for steak and eggs, hello to a new outpost for Raising Cane's fast-food chicken strips.

The other Norms locations around Southern California would still operate under the proposal. But the La Cienega location is celebrated. It was the subject of a famous Ed Ruscha painting, "Norm's, La Cienega, On Fire" and was granted historic landmark status for its space-age looks that are so associated with postwar L.A.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The restaurant group that owns Raising Cane's  a fast-food chicken chain  owns the space that houses the Norms location and plans to change it to a Raising Cane's in 2027, when Norms' lease of the space ends.

"Raising Canes plans to keep the legacy of Norms alive and maintain  forever  the iconic Googie-style architecture made famous by Armet & Davis when we begin improvements to restore the property and serve craveable chicken finger meals to the L.A. Community," Raising Cane's representatives said in a statement to The Times.

The company shared a rendering of the new plan for the space with The Times. The main alteration is the change of the iconic sawtooth neon sign to say "Cane's" instead of Norms.

Because the Norms location has been a historic L.A. monument since 2015, Raising Cane's has to present its plan to the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission. It is set to present it to the commission Dec. 5.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But some Angelenos are pushing back against changing the restaurant  even if Raising Cane's does not disturb the site's architectural structure.

"The idea of transforming Norms from a sit-down restaurant, family friendly, affordable to a place to go to get fried chicken is astonishing to me," said Kim Cooper, one of the two people behind Esotouric's Secret Los Angeles.

Cooper discovered the change as she looked through the upcoming agenda for the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission. She noticed Raising Cane's was seeking to change the usage of the space.

"It is so much more than a building. This is a place that has been open 24 hours a day.... Norms is part of peoples lives and has been for 67 years, which in L.A. is basically a millennium," Cooper said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cooper encouraged Angelenos to show up to the Cultural Heritage Commission's December hearing to express their displeasure at Norms becoming a Raising Cane's.

Norms La Cienega was designed by Louis Armet and Eldon Davis in the famous California Googie style in 1957.

Ed Ruscha, "Norm's, La Cienega, on Fire," 1964. Oil and pencil on canvas. From the artist's retrospective, "Ed Ruscha / Now Then," at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

The restaurant's Googie style is a futuristic architecture mode that started in Southern California and featured sharp geometrical shapes, sweeping curves and bright, sometimes neon, lights. The style was often used on gas stations and coffee shops.

"Norms is in the same realm as the Manns Chinese Theater and Pann's and the Hollywood Sign. Its so iconic to Los Angeles," said Damian Sullivan, a television producer and historian of "roadside" architecture.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The first Norms was opened in Hollywood by the eponymous former owner, Norm Roybark, in 1949, with the La Cienega location first opening its doors in 1957. Roybark sold the company to CapitalSpring in 2015.

The chain currently has 24 locations in Los Angeles, Riverside and Orange counties and is even opening a spot in Las Vegas.

Norms did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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.
ALABAMA (WHNT)  The United States Department of Justice awarded over $7.2 million to several North Alabama law enforcement agencies.

The DOJs Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office and the Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded $7,256,829 to several different agencies to help fund law enforcement technology and community-policing initiatives, according to a news release sent out Tuesday.

Our kids have needs 24/7, 365: Madison nonprofit founder talks supporting kids in foster care

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Local law enforcement agencies and officers are the day-to-day superheroes in our communities who keep us safe, said United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona. I am grateful to the Department of Justices COPS Office and the Bureau of Justice Assistance for this much-needed support in keeping our families and communities safe.

Agencies in Hartselle, Fort Payne, Jackson County, Limestone County and Madison County were among those who received funding through these COPS grant programs.

A list of North Alabama agencies that were awarded funds can be found below:

COPS Office Community Policing Development Program The National Association of School Resource Officers was awarded $200,000 to provide SRO training.

COPS Office Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Implementation Program The City of Hartselle was awarded $25,000.

COPS Office Technology and Equipment Program The City of Fort Payne was awarded $670.000 to help improve its local communications and emergency-response systems. The Jackson County Commission was awarded $250,000 for additional patrol vehicles. The Limestone County Commission was awarded $425,000 to improve security and surveillance within the county courthouse. The Madison County Commission was awarded $195,000 to improve security and surveillance within the county jail.



 Get breaking news, traffic and weather alerts directly to your smartphone. Download the News 19 App

The full list of award winners can be found on the DOJs website. Information grants awarded through the Bureau of Justice Assistance can be found here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has just vetoed a sweeping Republican-backed bill  a power grab disguised as a hurricane relief bill  that Republican state lawmakers have tried to fast-track in the waning days of their veto-proof supermajority.

Coopers veto, however, does not put an end to state Republicans efforts to strip power from newly-elected Democrats, a maneuver that Cooper described as a sham, and as playing politics. The Republican-controlled legislature holds its supermajority until December 31, and is expected to override Coopers veto at some point during this time. The General Assembly returns on December 2.

The measure, known as SB 382, which passed along party lines last week in both the state House and Senate  though three House Republicans did vote no  would deliberately weaken the power of the incoming Democratic Gov. Josh Stein and Democratic Attorney General Jeff Jackson. The bill, which does allocate funds for hurricane relief, also calls for the radical restructuring of core election responsibilities throughout the state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This legislation was titled disaster relief but instead violates the constitution by taking appointments from the next Governor for the Board of Elections, Utilities Commission and Commander of the NC Highway Patrol, letting political parties choose appellate judges and interfering with the Attorney Generals ability to advocate for lower electric bills for consumers, Cooper said in a statement on Tuesday morning.

The bill would give the newly-elected Republican state auditor authority over the five-member state election board  a responsibility that has historically been under the purview of the governor. This would make North Carolina the only state that gives the auditor power of elections.

Its really egregious for a 130-plus page bill that has sweeping consequences across pretty much every branch of government in North Carolina, Liz Barber, policy director of the North Carolina ACLU previously told TPM. And its undemocratic in substance because it is a huge power grab from the legislature, taking the powers away from duly elected officials.

If Republicans override Coopers veto, the measure would also compress the timeframe for county boards of elections to tabulate provisional ballots, absentee ballots, as well as shorten the amount of time a voter has to cure a ballot, which again, only makes it more difficult for election administrators to fulfill their responsibilities.

The Governor is spot on in his veto statement, Democratic State Rep. Pricey Harrison told TPM. This was never about Hurricane relief but is yet another purely partisan power grab, taking power away from newly elected statewide Democrats and transferring it to the GOP-led legislature while they have the supermajority for the next five weeks.
US researchers have determined, using satellite imagery, that North Korea is significantly expanding a key production facility for ballistic missiles used by Russia in its war against Ukraine.

Source: Reuters

Details: The facility, known as the February 11 plant, is part of the Ryongsong Machine Complex in the eastern coastal city of Hamhung in North Korea. It is the only known manufacturer of Hwasong-11 solid-fuel ballistic missiles, known as KN-23 in the West.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Satellite images of the plant's premises, captured by Planet Labs in early October, were analysed by US researchers at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS). These images show the construction of an additional assembly building and a residential facility for workers. Entrances to underground structures in the complex are also being upgraded.

According to CNS researcher Sam Lair, the new assembly building is 6070% larger than the previous one, indicating probable plans to significantly increase the plant's production capacity. Furthermore, restrictions on access to tunnels, previously blocked by an overhead crane, have been lifted.

"We see this as a suggestion that they're massively increasing or they're trying to significantly increase the throughput of this factory," Lair stated.

Michael Duitsman, another CNS researcher, suggested that the new structure in the satellite images could be a storage facility but believes it is more likely a new missile assembly line.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

South Korean researchers from SI Analytics, a satellite imagery processing company, also confirmed the new construction at the plant.

Background:

On 4 January 2024, White House Spokesman John Kirby said Russia had used missiles purchased from North Korea at least twice: on 30 December 2023 and on 2 January 2024. These North Korean-made missiles, as Kirby emphasised, are capable of hitting targets at a distance of approximately 900 kilometres.

On 11 September, The New York Times reported that Russia had received new Hwasong-11 ballistic missiles from North Korea and used them in strikes on Kyiv in the summer of 2024. The Hwasong-11 has a range of about 700 km and can be equipped with either nuclear or conventional warheads.

Support UP or become our patron!
Teachers from across the state will be rallying at the State House Tuesday morning as union leaders will be meeting with Governor Maura Healey to discuss the ongoing strikes in Marblehead and Beverly.

This marks another day of no school for hundreds of students on the North Shore because of the ongoing teacher strikes. As teachers in Marblehead and Beverly hit the picket lines againthe kids will stay home for another day.

Today makes is the 11th day that Marblehead students will not be in school. With a half day scheduled for tomorrow before the Thanksgiving break, it seems unlikely a deal will be done before the holiday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Teachers continued to rally Monday outside a Marblehead School Committee news conference. It was held on private property for safety concerns because they claim theyre being harassed. The union is demanding better pay and benefits. But the negotiating has pausedas the Marblehead School Committee is following a court order to begin a fact-finding process through the state.

If the teachers want to come back to school, the doors are open, they can come back tomorrow, we ask them to come back and we will continue to negotiate with them through whatever means will work best for us, said Jenn Schaeffner of the Marblehead School Committee.

Now they have asked for fact-finding, we disagree with it, we would like to keep negotiating but if theres a fact finder thats fine, let that person do his or her work, while we continue to negotiate, said Connor Ryan, a Marblehead teacher.

Meantime, in Beverly, today marks 12 days students will not be going to class because of the ongoing strike there.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Beverly School Committee is no longer at the bargaining table and instead is following a state-mandated fact-finding process that could take more than a week to complete. Also starting this week, striking teachers wont get paid. A Beverly city councilor tried to drum up support for a resolution for pay increases for teachers, but it failed.

A formal city council resolution declaring that would undermine the ongoing work of the school committee and it would commit the city council even if indirectly to appropriating additional funding without regard for whether the city has the means to do so, said Brendan Sweeney, a

As the number of days teachers are on strike add up, so do the fines. The Boston Globe is reporting as of Monday afternoon, the Essex superior court has levied$450,000 in fines against the Marblehead Education Association and $560,000 in fines against the Beverly Teachers Association. Even though the union reports its bankrupt, the strike will continue on today.

If no deal is reached by either district, the state mediator will come back with recommendations on what to do next on December 4th.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Oslo may increase its support for Ukraine to 30 billion kroner ($2.7 billion) in 2025, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store announced on Nov. 26, NRK public broadcaster reported.

Norway has allocated 27 billion kroner ($2.4 billion) to support Ukraine this year, but in the draft state budget for 2025, the funding was reduced to 15 billion kroner ($1.3 billion).

After the Norwegian government met with leaders of the country's parliament earlier in the day, Store said there is a proposal to double funding to at least 30 billion. The final decision is expected to be made on Nov. 28.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Norway is ranked 12th in the world in terms of the amount of aid provided to Ukraine, having so far provided $2.8 billion in humanitarian, financial, and military support, according to the Kiel Institute's Ukraine Support Tracker.

In late October, Store said that Oslo would provide Kyiv with a new 500-million-euro ($543 million) aid package, with over half allocated for military assistance.

Read also: Norway announces $127 million compensation for Romanian Patriot sent to Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Norwegian government, after consultations with the opposition, proposes to increase aid to Ukraine in 2025 to NOK 30 billion (about US$2.7 billion) in comparison to this years NOK 27 billion (about US$2.4 billion).

Source: NRK television and radio company, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Norwegian government and the opposition disagree on how to support Ukraine.

This year, Norway has allocated NOK 27 billion (about US$2.4 billion) to support Ukraine, but in the draft state budget for 2025, this amount was reduced to NOK 15 billion (about US$1.35 billion).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The opposition believes that this is too little and is demanding more support. The Norwegian Conservative Party has proposed to allocate NOK 45 billion (about US$4 billion) next year.

Therefore, the government met with parliamentary leaders in Stortinget on Tuesday to discuss further steps in support.

After the meeting, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre said that the government proposes to double the offer to at least NOK 30 billion (about US$2.7 billion).

"The situation in Ukraine is more serious. And we want Norway to be a clear and leading supporter of Ukraine's struggle," he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In addition to military support for Ukraine, the government also wants the money to be used to secure and increase electricity capacity and energy supply in Ukraine.

This proposal is now to be discussed in party groups.

Stre is travelling to Stockholm to meet with the prime ministers of Nordic and Baltic countries. The prime minister of Poland will also attend the meeting.

"Support for Ukraine will be one of the topics at this meeting," the Norwegian PM said.

The government has agreed to meet again with the parties in Stortinget on Thursday afternoon to conclude an agreement on Norwegian support.

Background:

Last year, Norway approved a NOK 75 billion Nansen programme (about US$6.7 billion) to ensure long-term support for Ukraine through to 2027, i.e. providing NOK 15 billion (about US$1.34 billion) annually.

However, this year, the country's authorities proposed increasing funding for the programme to NOK 135 billion (about US$12 billion) and extending it for another three years until 2030.

Support UP or become our patron!
He showed Paris some love  and some specialty carpentry skills.

Jackson DuBois, a 49-year-old from Cooperstown, NY, spent three months in France last year working to rebuild the 850-year-old Notre Dame Cathedral, which was severely damaged by a fire in April 2019.

After an estimated $767 million in repairs by skilled craftspeople from around the world, it is set to reopen to the public Dec. 8.

Its the most amazing thing Ive ever done, DuBois told The Post of being part of the restoration.

Notre Dame was badly damaged in a fire in 2019. Getty Images

DuBois specializes in timber framing  a traditional building technique that was popular before the 20th century and involves using heavy pieces of timber, not slender wooden two-by-fours or steel beams, for construction.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hes restored historic barns and other agricultural buildings in Upstate New York for both private clients and museums and worked on landmarks in Estonia, Denmark, Poland and the United Kingdom. His timber-framing skills are relatively rare. The Timber Framers Guild, for which he serves as Executive Director, only has around 2,000 members.

The Notre Dame job came to DuBois in a roundabout manner.

In the summer of 2021, he joined a 40-strong team of other American carpenters in Washington, DC, on the Handshouse Truss project. The group worked off of original drawings to hand-build an identical replica of one of Notre-Dames giant trusses to raise awareness for the cathedrals plight and show solidarity with their French counterparts.

Their efforts caught the eye of Notre Dames lead architect, Phillippe Villeneuve, who invited some of the Americans to come work on the cathedral.

DuBois specializes in timber framing  a traditional building technique that was popular before the 20th century and involves using heavy pieces of timber, not slender wooden 2-by-4s or steel beams, for construction.

DuBois was the perfect man for the job. Not only is he skilled in historical carpentry techniques, he also has French heritage dating back to the Huguenots who fled France to settle in New York state in the 17th century. His last name even means of wood in French.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But, he admitted his language skills arent amazing.

My French is quite poor. In France they seem quite disgusted by the way I even pronounce my name, he said. Sometimes, they would just call me New York instead  Luckily, we all spoke the universal language of carpentry.

DuBois was one of a handful of Americans to work on Notre Dame. He and Michael Burrey, a Boston-based builder who also worked on the Handshouse Truss project, were both part of a team based in Thouars in the Loire valley  about 200 miles from Paris.

After years and hundreds of millions of dollars in construction, Notre Dame will reopen to the public Dec. 7. Getty Images

They were tasked with rebuilding the base of the Notre Dame spire and adding profiles on all of the gothic tracery around the windows, including the trefoils, quadrafoils and balustrades.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The work was quite challenging.

In the States, timber framers would rarely be required to reproduce ornate gothic carving and I had some pretty deep anxiety about the prospect of being asked to do it, DuBois said.

To honor the original builders, the team relied heavily on centuries-old tools like twin-headed chisels; an array of old rasps, axes and gouges; and bisaigues or twybils, a simple hand tool designed for carving and chopping green wood.

For the most part we used traditional methods just as they did originally, but the occasional power tool may have been involved, he joked.

DuBois (second from left) was part of a construction crew based in the Loire valley. Courtesy of Jackson Dubois

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tools and work clothes were all provided for workers, but the 6-foot-9 DuBois couldnt fit in the standard uniform. He was initially told they would make him a custom outfit, but, he said that didnt come to fruition.

For the three months he was there, DuBois was paid the standard rate for experienced French carpenters, roughly 27 euros an hour.

[It] covered my bills but [it was] nothing that would make me wealthy, said DuBois, whose wife remained in New York while he was abroad. [But] It was worth it to write Notre Dame de Paris on my time card.

A French-Tunisian woman Delilah provided room and board.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She became a great friend, he said.

DuBois said working on Notre Dame was the coolest thing hell ever do. Courtesy of Jackson Dubois

He spent his downtime riding his bike in the countryside, visiting local markets and canoeing on the Loire River. But, it was no vacation.

I still had to do my laundry, he joked.

It was, however, an experience hell never forget.

Its a sobering realization knowing youve just done the coolest thing you will ever do, he said. Where do you go from here?

DuBois isnt the only New Yorker who has lent a hand with the efforts to rebuild Notre Dame.

The French Heritage Society, based on the Upper East Side, launched a Notre-Dame Fire Restoration Fund and raised $2.6 million.

In the States, timber framers would rarely be required to reproduce ornate gothic carving and I had some pretty deep anxiety about the prospect of being asked to do it, DuBois said. Courtesy of Jackson Dubois

When I first saw the images of the fire, I felt a combination of shock and sadness but that quickly turned into a sense of responsibility to do something, Jennifer Herlein, the organizations Executive Director, told The Post.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On November 8, the cathedrals bells rang out for the first time since the fire, ahead of the opening next month.

DuBois hasnt seen the rebuilt Notre Dame but hopes to visit soon.

Its incredible to think that all these people can come together, from all over the world, to put this place back together, he said. Its a beautiful celebration of humanity  and the world needs that.
These turkeys are flying off the shelf.

Big Apple first responders and a grocery store mogul teamed up Monday to dole out the first of a promised 10,000-holiday turkeys for seniors and the needy in the five boroughs.

The first handful of big birds were handed out outside St. Malachys Church in Times Square, with Mayor Eric Adams joining members of the FDNY and supermarket millionaire John Catsimatidis, the owner of 77 WABC radio whose stores donated the plump poultry again this year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Also on hand were members of the NYPD and Catholic Charities, organizers said.

City firefighters distribute the first of what are to be 10,000 free holiday turkeys for Big Apple seniors and needy families. James Messerschmidt

This is a season of Thanksgiving, not thanks receiving. So we should be giving, Adams said. New York knows it, right? No one gives and contributes to everyday people the way we do here in the greatest city on the globe.

About two dozen turkeys were handed out for starters, with firefighters from Engine 54, Ladder 4, Battalion 9 joined others to pass them out from a big red trolley.

The event followed a similar giveaway last year, when 200 turkeys were distributed to the needy  the first of what was eventually 10,000 oven-bound birds, event rep Renee Cassis told The Post Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This year, organizers said 5,000 turkeys will be donated to needy families for Thanksgiving, with more than 3,000 earmarked for the Bronx, 1,140 for Manhattan, 430 for Brooklyn and Queens, and another 375 to be distributed across the Lower Hudson Valley.

Free turkeys are distributed outside St. Malachys Church near Times Square, the first of 10,000 to be handed out. James Messerschmidt

Supermarket mogul John Catsimatidis is donating the 10,000 turkeys as part of a holiday giveaway, with Mayor Adams. James Messerschmidt

Another 5,000 will be distributed before Christmas, the organizers said.

Oftentimes we dont get an opportunity to be able to do something like this, to be able to help people out in the most difficult times in order to make a meaningful contribution in their lives, especially during these very difficult times, FDNY Uniformed FIrefighters Association President Jim Brosi told reporters.

So times like this really give us a chance to give back, Brosi added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One recipient of the holiday giveaway was an 85-year-old local known lovingly as Grandma Pat.

A city senior receives a free turkey during a holiday giveaway near Times Square, the first of 10,000 birds to be donated. James Messerschmidt

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It feels privileged and great, she told reporters. It picks up my spirits  we need some spirit picking up. Im very appreciative and happy. It can get a little grey and its very nice.

Samuel Guerrero, 76, of Woodside, Queens, said he signed up for a free turkey a week ago.

Its not the turkey itself, this is more humanity. This is human, he said. All of these things count. Its not really the turkey. Its the love.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  Multiple New York City departments are hiring for full-time and part-time receptionists.

The positions are available with agencies, including the Department of Design and Construction, the Department of Social Services, and the Kings County District Attorney.

More Local News

The openings are available throughout the five boroughs, with some not requiring a civil service exam to apply. Salaries range from about $24,500 to $45,700.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Department of Design and Construction has an opening for a part-time receptionist in Queens. Interested applicants should have either a high school diploma or at least three years of experience in community work. No civil service exam is required.

The Department of Social Services is looking for two front-door receptionists, one of which does not require experience. The Kings County District Attorney is also hiring two receptionists, both of which do not require prior experience or the civil service exam.

To apply for any of the positions listed above, click here, and to see more jobs available with the City of New York, click here.

Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
NEW YORK  An NYPD unit initially tasked with tackling quality-of-life complaints across the city has exploded in size but remains a shadow group within the department without any publicly defined parameters or mission statement, the citys Department of Investigation said in a Tuesday report.

While the NYPDs Community Response Team has been repeatedly hailed on social media for cracking down on illegal street vendors, ghost cars and dirt bike and ATV riders over the last two years, the group isnt mentioned on the departments website, DOI investigators discovered.

Nor is it easy to determine if or to what extent the groups crackdowns actually help the communities theyre assisting  even though the team has grown tenfold in the past two years, the report notes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

CRT has expanded significantly, with a team in every patrol borough, without a corresponding expansion of publicly available information about the work of this unit, DOI Inspector General Jeanene Barrett said Tuesday, adding that the units lack of transparency risks noncompliance with the law, ethical breaches and negative policing outcomes.

The DOI recommended that the NYPD immediately release a mission statement for the amorphous group on the department website, as well as information on how the department recruits and trains CRT members and evaluates team performance.

The creation of public policies and procedures [will] enhance knowledge of and confidence in CRTs mission, as well as facilitate future oversight, Barrett said.

The report was the first phase of a continuing investigation of CRT, DOI officials noted. The next phase will concern how many CRT members have been disciplined or are facing discipline.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The CRT was initially formed in 2022 by NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, Chief of Patrol John Chell and Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry as a citywide unit intended to respond to rising numbers of quality-of-life complaints from elected officials and community members, according to the report.

At first, it was considered a pilot program with 16 officers and two sergeants focused on combating illegal cannabis trucks, ghost cars (cars with altered or forged license plates) and unlicensed street vendors.

But, over the last two years, the team has ballooned to 165 members and now operates in every borough, the DOI said.

Initially, the team  nicknamed the khaki boys for their modified uniforms, which include khaki cargo pants and shirts with the NYPD logo on them  was considered ragtag by one senior NYPD official for its informal nature and lack of official status within the department, the report noted. Unit members were in a pilot program staffed by members who were not formally assigned to CRT, but were asked to conduct CRT operations two or three times a week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Today, the unit operates in all five boroughs and has its own unit commander. Yet, still very little is publicly disclosed about how the unit is run, what theyre tasked with doing, and how successful they are.

The recruitment procedures for the team are just as vague, the report said, noting that there had not been an official recruitment process for CRT.

According to members, some officers applied, were interviewed and were temporarily transferred into the unit to see if they were a good fit, the report states. Other officers worked with a member of CRT before joining, which enabled them to join the unit without an interview.

While unit leaders said their members are sent to communities with high numbers of 311 calls for quality-of-life concerns, the CRT doesnt have a mechanism to see if the 311 calls decreased or increased following one of their operations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Anecdotally, DOI investigators were told by the CRT members they interviewed that communities are applauding the work of CRT officers in public, including approaching CRT leadership and officers to say thank you.

Yet the DOI also met with several community advocacy and violence interrupter groups who reported instances of intimidation, questionable stops by CRT, and fear of CRT by community members, the report states, noting that investigators were unable to speak with a fully representative sample of community members impacted by CRTs work.

One of the biggest supporters of CRT is Daughtry, who repeatedly cheers the units work on X.

But even then, the successes Daughtry applauds vary wildly.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Monday alone, Daughtry hailed CRTs crackdown on illegal street vendors on Sixth Ave. in Manhattan, then applauded three CRT members for arresting a man who pulled a gun on them in the Bronx.

Our officers in their unmarked police vehicle observed a group of men drinking alcohol on a street in the middle of the afternoon. As they watched them, one male looked at the car and asked our officers if they had a problem, removed a loaded firearm and held the gun in front of his waistband, Daughtry wrote on X. Our officers jumped out with their guns drawn and immediately apprehended the suspect and recovered his deadly weapon.

Daughtry said the arrest marks the 100th gun your Citywide Community Response Team has removed from NYC streets this year.

The DOI sent a copy of its report to the NYPD on Nov. 7. The department has 90 days to respond to the report once its publicly released, a DOI spokeswoman said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We thank the DOI for its review of the policies and procedures relating to the Community Response Team, an NYPD spokesman said. We look forward to reviewing the report and carefully considering its recommendations.

Meanwhile, Kayla Mamelak, a spokeswoman for Mayor Eric Adams, said the CRT Units mission, basically, is the same as that of all NYPD officers.

Our Community Response Teams were created to rapidly address New Yorkers concerns about safety and have been effective since day one  the report doesnt call any of that into question, she said. While we are still reviewing the report, CRTs mission is the same as that of all NYPD officers, starting with listening to the community and addressing their needs. CRT members  along with the entire NYPD  work every day to improve life in New York City by partnering with the community to enforce laws, keep the peace, reduce fear and maintain order.
POTSDAM, N.Y. (WWTI)  A 21-year-old Massachusetts man is facing child pornography charges after being arrested last week.

New York State Police charged Colin Harrison of Manchester by the Sea, Mass. with one count each of Promotion of a Sexual Performance by a Child and Possession of a Sexual Performance by a Child.

NWS issues winter weather alerts for NNY

This is in connection with an investigation that was started by two online platforms reporting to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. According to authorities child exploitation material had been sent through those online platforms through a Wi-Fi network Harrison had access to.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He was issued appearance tickets for the Town of Potsdam Court on a later date.

The NYSP Troop B Computer Crime Unit was assisted by the Potsdam Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. However, the investigation 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 WWTI - InformNNY.com.
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI)  The New York State Police are seeking the publics help in identifying a man in an alleged larceny case.

According to State Police officials, they responded to the Walmart on State Route 3 in the Town of Watertown on Friday, November 22.

Authorities are attempting to find a person that allegedly left the store without paying for items. The person was caught on surveillance cameras.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Anyone who recognizes the individual in the photo is asked to contact State Police at 315-366-6000 and reference case #NY2400922833.

(Courtesy of New York State Police)

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWTI - InformNNY.com.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla  A new law went into effect at the beginning of November that gives businesses leeway on serving alcohol to customers who are clearly over the age of 21.

Odells Law went into effect earlier this month and removes the requirement for businesses to check IDs before serving alcohol to customers.

New Oklahoma law removes requirement for businesses to check IDs before serving alcohol

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The law is named after a 90-year-old man who was denied a beer because he didnt have his ID on him.

Weve all stood in line at a convenience store, and theres, you know, some guy in front of you thats got a 12-pack, and hes about 80 years old or whatever, you know, I mean, obviously of age, and everybodys piled up, and its just a business-friendly act, said Senator Darrell Weaver, (R) Moore.

The Oklahoma ABLE Commission says while ID checks arent mandated by the state, businesses are still liable for serving those who are underage, so they encourage them to continue checking IDs.

Stillwater Public Schools making a $5.5M budget cut for upcoming school year

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thats the best way to determine if a patron is under age. ABLE will never cite a business for failing to check an I.D., but we will cite someone for the actual sale to a minor, said Lori Carter, assistant director and general counsel, Oklahoma ABLE Commission.

When the law was signed in May, one bartender told News 4 she was nervous about it.

Youre gauging someones age based off of, like, how you deem them, and so I just feel like, no, its not easy to tell. I feel like you just need to verify their age by their ID, said Morghan Taylor.

Thats why many bars and restaurants across the metro tell News 4 that they are choosing to stick to their own policies and will continue checking IDs to ensure they arent serving minors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theres no prohibition to that, I think thats a very important key on this whole piece of legislation, is that if you want to ID people go ahead and ID people, said Sen. Weaver.

With Odells Law now in effect, businesses must weigh convenience against caution.

The ABLE Commission says any business licensed through them can get an administrative citation if they sell alcohol to someone underage, putting the bartender and business at risk.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (PIX11)  An off-duty New York City employee was arrested on Staten Island Monday morning, according to the NYPD.

James Cowan, 45, was taken into custody around 11:49 a.m.

More Local News

Cowan is an employee of the New York City Department of Sanitation, police say.

He was charged with aggravated harassment. Additional information regarding the nature of his arrest was not immediately available.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Ill.  Canteen Township, Illinois, trustees are asking for the town supervisor to resign, claiming she was using town money for personal reasons.

I also received an anonymous package in the mail with documents and bank statements, Township trustee Rickie Thomas said.

Those bank statements for the town in St. Clair County show multiple transactions in July 2023 at Horseshoe Casino in St. Louis. It totals about $1,000.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The township board of trustees discussed these accusations in an executive session in August.

In the executive session minutes seen by FOX 2 News, township supervisor Sally Rodriguez admitted to the transactions, calling them an accident.

I have the same exact bank with the same exact card, she said.

Rodriguez went on to say that her personal card and the township card also had the same exact pin.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily News

Its a complete excuse. How can you go to the casino five times and make a mistake and use the township debit card five times? Thomas said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The townships attorney said in that executive session that there is no lost money to recover. A township official tells FOX 2 that any money taken was repaid very quickly.

After that executive session, Thomas made a motion asking Rodriguez to resign. With a vote of 2 to 1, it passed but is non-binding. We contacted the one no-vote who said, No comment.

By her being an elected official, we cant force her resignation, Thomas explained.

To this date, Rodriguez has chosen not to resign. She declined an interview but said she plans to ask the township lawyer to publicly release the executive session minutes and more from an investigation into the matter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Accident or not, trustee Ann Rodgers says it doesnt change her opinion.

This is not judgement to the supervisor, number one. This is for the best interest of the community that you actually step down, she said.

Rodriguez said she will make her request to release more documents on Nov. 27.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN)  Four people were injured in a crash in Springfield Tuesday morning.

According to the Springfield Police Department, a crash occurred near the busy intersection of E. Main Street and Belmont Avenue at 10:20 a.m. Officials say the crash was in relation to a reported police pursuit.

Springfield Police Presence | WDTN Photo/Chris Smith Springfield Police Presence | WDTN Photo/Chris Smith Springfield Police Presence | WDTN Photo/Chris Smith Springfield Police Presence | WDTN Photo/Chris Smith

The crash heavily damaged several vehicles and injured four people.

2 NEWS spoke with witnesses on scene and obtained the 911 call to uncover more about what happened at the scene.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theres a big major accident at the corner of Belmont and East Main in front of the 7Brew, a 911 caller said. I see no airbags, theres just a lot of shrapnel in the road.

Four cars were involved in the crash, leaving debris scattered in the roadway and multiple people injured.

Witnesses on scene shared what it was like as people ran to check on the victims.

Next thing you know, we got people running by the office, like sprinting, said TJ Stevens, who saw the crash occur. We got people outside screaming, so I look out the window and we see theres a car in a pole and theres a car thats smoking.



Springfield Police Department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol were quickly called to the scene to block off roads and start assessing the situation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We got cars that were all over the place, there mustve been three or four cars that crashed out. It had to have been all of Springfield PD that was up here, said Stevens.

Another witness that spoke with 2 NEWS wished to remain anonymous. He shared how the crash unfolded.

They started going down Belmont and I think they ran the light or was trying to go through it, the witness said. And that truck just like, it hit  I think it jumped the curb and hit the car at 7Brew and did a U-turn in the middle of the road somehow.



Officals say that the four people who were injured only had minor injuries. It is unknown whether police have anyone in custody.

Springfield PD says OSP will handle the investigation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  The Jackson Police Department led a news conference regarding an officer-involved chase and shooting incident in Jackson that happened on Wednesday, Nov. 6.

The City of Jacksons director of Police and Fire Service Elmer Hitt, Jackson County Sheriff Gary Schuette, Lenawee County Sheriff Troy Bevier and Michigan State Police Lieutenant Rene Gonzalez spoke during the conference.

The actions of officers that day were nothing but heroic and extraordinary, said Elmer Hitt, City of Jackson director of Police and Fire Service during the conference.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

New video from deadly police shooting and chase in Jackson

Lenawee County Sheriff Troy Bevier said that on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at approximately 4:15 p.m., Lenawee County Deputies were dispatched to Hickman Hospital for a gunshot victim of a domestic violence incident that occurred at the 500 block of Pentecost Highway in Franklin Township.

Jacob Austin Hikes, 31, was confronted by his father, Robert Hikes, 68, for stealing money from his fathers bank account to buy drugs, Bevier said.

The Jackson County Office of the Sheriff/ WLNS

The sheriff added Jacob Hikes grabbed a long gun during the argument which his father eventually got away from him before Jacob pulled out a pocket knife and grabbed a handgun from a cabinet. Jacob hit Robert in the face with the gun, the sheriff said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mitchell Hickman, 34, Jacobs older brother, attempted to wrestle the gun away from Jacob. The sheriff said the gun during the fight, hitting Mitchell in his right forearm and hand.

Sheriff Beiver then said Jacob left the home telling his father that he was going to kill himself and the police better not come after him or he would shoot.

The vehicle chase began around 4:30 p.m. after the Jackson County Sheriffs Office found Jacob using a cell phone tracking device. Law enforcement then found his maroon-colored van on the 1000 block of Cooper Street on the east side of Jackson.

Jackson Police patrol car with bullet holes after a deadly police shooting and chase in Jackson. (Jackson PD)

Jackson Police patrol car with bullet holes after a deadly police shooting and chase in Jackson. (Jackson PD)

Deputies say Jacob led police on a high-speed chase through town which included many shots being fired by at least the suspect. In a 30-second police dash-camera clip provided by the Jackson County Sheriff, at least 70 shots can be heard.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police say several homes and cars were shot during the police chase but there were no reports of any injuries from bystanders.

Officers reported that he was also throwing pipe bombs out of the vehicle which was also seen in one of the dash-camera clips the sheriff provided. Police later found an additional six pipe bombs were found in his vehicle.

Around 5:41 p.m., police say Sgt. Wes Stanton from the Jackson Police Department was shot in his arm at the intersection of Van Dorn and Elizabeth Street. The bullet went through the sergeants arm and the bullet lodged in his back. Stanton has since been released from the hospital and is recovering.

Deputies say they were able to stop Jacob after multiple shots were fired. He was shot and police performed life-saving efforts on the suspect before he was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lenawee County Sheriff Detectives report that Jacob was a drug addict and possibly suffered from mental illness. He had over 19 encounters with law enforcement and had been arrested 11 times between 2012 and 2022. One of those arrests was for fleeing and eluding in 2022. First responders had been called to his home 24 times since 2013.

Investigators also said they found 33 functional pipe bombs, bomb-making material, literature on constructing bombs, 20 guns and hundreds of magazines of ammunition on the Hikes property on Nov. 13.

This is still an ongoing investigation.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. (Photo by Justin Merriman/Getty Images)

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost will appeal a Hamilton County courts decision to strike down the states six-week abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest that was put into effect for several months after Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022.

Yost, along with Ohio Department of Health director Bruce Vanderhoff and the State Medical Board of Ohios Kim Rothermel and Bruce Saferin, were listed in the notice of appeal filed this week in the 1st District Court of Appeals. The 1st District is the appellate court that oversees Hamilton County.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

The state attorney general is appealing Hamilton County Judge Christian Jenkins decision in October which struck down a 2019 law that banned abortions after six weeks gestation, a time at which supporters of the law said fetal cardiac activity could be detected.

The law was blocked in court almost from the moment it was enacted, with abortion rights advocates suing to stop enforcement of the law.

When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in the summer of 2022, Yost asked a federal court the same day for the law to be released from its injunction.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The law then went into effect for several months, but was then tied up in court again after abortion rights advocates like Preterm Cleveland and Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region asked the Ohio Supreme Court, and then a Hamilton County court, to stop the law once again.

When 57% of Ohio voters approved a reproductive rights constitutional amendment in November 2023, attorneys for the abortions rights groups sought to get the law permanently overturned, with the rights enshrined in the new amendment.

During the case, after the amendment was passed by voters, Yost argued that the law shouldnt be thrown out entirely. He argued that some provisions didnt conflict with the amendment passed by voters and should be kept, such as mandatory waiting periods and multiple appointments required for abortion care.

This past October, Jenkins agreed with the groups, saying the new amendment now unequivocally protects the right to abortion and that the law should be permanently overturned to give meaning to the voice of Ohios voters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Unlike the Ohio Attorney General, this court will uphold the Ohio Constitutions protection of abortion rights, Jenkins wrote in his decision. The will of the people of Ohio will be given effect.

Jenkins used Yosts own legal analysis of the amendment (written prior to its passage) against him in the ruling. Yost wrote in the analysis that the amendment would give greater protection to abortion to be free from regulation than at any time in Ohios history.

Ohio would no longer have the ability to limit abortions at any time before a fetus is viable, Yost wrote. Passage of Issue 1 would invalidate the Heartbeat Act, which restricts abortions (with health and other exceptions) after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which is usually at about six weeks.

Jessie Hill, cooperating attorney for the ACLU of Ohio, who represented abortion rights groups in the case, said they intend to keep fighting to ensure that the amendment is enforced, and Ohioans rights are protected.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We are disappointed that the attorney general continues to spend taxpayer money on this lawsuit and disregard the very clear message that Ohioans sent when an overwhelming majority approved the Reproductive Freedom Amendment to our constitution, Hill said in a statement Tuesday afternoon.

The Attorney Generals Office said seeking appellate review is a necessary and appropriate step.

The state respects the will of the people regarding the six-week abortion ban, but the state is also obligated to protect provisions in (Senate Bill) 23, as passed by the General Assembly and signed by the governor, that the constitutional amendment does not address, spokesperson Bethany McCorkle said in a statement. It is up to the courts to determine how conflicts between those two documents are resolved.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Voters make selections at their voting booths inside an early voting site. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)

Ohio lawmakers are pushing for changes that would make voter list maintenance more frequent and far more demanding. A measure sponsored by Reps. Scott Wiggam, R-Wayne County, and Beth Lear, R-Galena, got an overhaul last week adding in documentary proof of citizenship requirements and moving list maintenance to a monthly rather than yearly process  their initial bill wouldve required checking the list weekly.

Voters whose registrations have discrepancies like mismatched addresses, incorrect drivers license numbers or a missing date of birth, would have to vote with a provisional ballot. For their vote to count theyd have return to the county board with the relevant proof of identity, or residence or citizenship.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the name of transparency, the legislation requires the secretary of state to post reports after those reviews, listing the flagged registrants. Information like drivers license and Social Security numbers or email addresses and phone numbers would get redacted, but the voters name, address, and citizenship status would be included.

In committee, a supporter named Marcell Strbich claimed Ohio is not yet but will be in compliance with federal law if lawmakers approve the legislation.

The federal Voting Rights Act explicitly mandates a program to systematically remove ineligible voters must not be done within 90 days of a federal election, according to DOJ guidance. Wiggam and Lears measure cuts those restrictions out of state law.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

The stakes

Requiring proof of citizenship would make Ohios voter registration system among the strictest in the country. According to the Voting Rights Lab, only three other states Arizona, New Hampshire and Louisiana  have enacted similar requirements, and for two of them those changes have yet to take effect.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While it seems intuitive to require proof of citizenship if only citizens can vote, its far more complex than it seems. Federal law doesnt impose those requirements, so states can only restrict access to state and local races and their own registration forms. In practice that means two classes of votersone with access to the full ballot and a different group of federal only voters who registered on with a federal form.

Also, its not always easy to lay hands on the documents you might need. Remembering which drawer you tucked your birth certificate into is one thing, but what if you got married and changed your name? Do you have a marriage certificate handy, too? One study from the University of Maryland suggested as many as 21 million Americans dont have ready access to their documents.

The average Ohioans personal filing system isnt the only potential weak link. In Arizona for instance, the state supreme court recently determined 98,000 voters had to have access to the full ballot after election officials realized an error in their own filing system.

To be clear, state officials already comb through the voter rolls regularly. Secretary of State Frank LaRose has been particularly aggressive and outspoken about those efforts, but even so, since taking office in 2019, hes identified fewer than 700 cases of potential fraud.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

County prosecutors have largely passed on those cases determining there wasnt enough evidence to bring charges. Frustrated, LaRose referred the cases to Attorney General Dave Yost, who indicted just six people  one of whom was dead.

Notably, Yost took time out to explain just 138 of the registrants sent to his office had ever even cast a ballot, and he questioned the wisdom of peeling off investigators to track down individuals who likely registered in error with no intention of voting.

Supporters testimony

That episode offers an illuminating peek at the way HB 552s supporters think about the voter rolls.

Rep. Richard Brown pressed Strbich on the scope of the issue. You know, theyve looked long and hard for evidence of voter fraud, he said, of noncitizens voting, of dead people voting, et cetera, and after that long and tedious search they finally in October of 24 indicted six people in the entire state of Ohio for illegal voting  six. Brown stressed even those indictments arent yet convictions, and he pressed Strbich to explain why the proposed changes are necessary.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But in his response, Strbichs suspicion wasnt quelled by the attorney generals review. He ignored the actual indictments and instead cited the full number of individuals who might have been charged, even though nearly all of them werent.

The reason we have 137 (sic) only, sir, that we found on that noncitizen annual audit was because the screening criteria of our annual noncitizen audit practically requires that a noncitizen admit that they are a noncitizen, Strbich said.

Those screening criteria zero in on people who have twice indicated they arent citizens to the BMV, and importantly, have taken some voting action in between those two BMV interactions. Strbichs complaints notwithstanding, the secretary of state has already begun running audits that sidestep that formula  generating at least a few of the false positives it was drafted to avoid.

Strbich argued the intent of the bill is to move that kind of review to the front end of the process by ensuring county boards have flagged any voter whos ineligible to vote prior to the election. Theyre not disenfranchised, Strbich insisted, but they would have to vote a provisional ballot until they provide the citizenship or identification documents necessary to prove their eligibility.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An election administration process that does not validate information before creating a voter record and is not transparent to the public is unlikely to achieve accountability weakening that public confidence, he argued.

Will it boost confidence?

Supporters insist the push for a more stringent voter registration system is about election security rather than achieving partisan ends. Still, the demands for heightened scrutiny in Ohio and elsewhere around the country have come almost exclusively from Republicans.

Donald Trumps victory might throw a wrench in that playbook.

Restrictions like the ones laid out in HB 552 will likely have greatest impact on low-propensity voters. For years, received wisdom has held that those only occasional voters tend to support Democrats, and so greater restrictions and lower turnout would redound to the benefit of Republicans. But Trumps apparent success in one of the highest turnout elections in recent memory upends that narrative.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It hasnt changed how Strbich and other supporters view the voter rolls.

I think we owe it to Ohioans, Strbich said, to give them the peace of mind that noncitizens are not, or find out finally, that noncitizens are not en masse, on our voter rolls,

I think we have to do that to keep people believing this is an honest system, he added.

But supporters set an exceptionally high bar for trusting the states voting system. Gail Niederlehner took time out to criticize a different measure in the state Senate which would also require proof of citizenship. To her mind, that measure doesnt go nearly far enough.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It creates a significant loophole, she argued, by only verifying those who have a drivers license or state ID. Others can simply provide a copy of proof of citizenship with this which is not authenticated.

In her own testimony, Niederlehner describes a process where voters who hadnt proven their citizenship would vote provisionally until their documents had been verified by the board. But she also expressed doubts about using those same documents to verify citizenship. In the 2024 election, a judge green lit a secretary of state policy change effectively requiring recently naturalized citizens still holding a noncitizen license bring their naturalization certificate to get a regular ballot.

But to Niederlehner thats not good enough.

So, this document I have in front of me that I say is a proof of citizenship has never been authenticated by anyone in the boards of elections, she complained, and so automatically, they now become a verified citizen.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That skepticism extends to full universe of Ohio residents holding noncitizen license. There are 236,000 people in Ohio with that marking on their license, she said, warning darkly that because of the federal Motor Voter law, each one had been asked if they want to register to vote.

So out of those 236,000 non-residents (sic) who have drivers license numbers, she said, we have no idea, theres no method for us to be able to track, how many of them are on the voting rolls in the present time.

Those kinds of improper registrations make up the bulk of cases flagged by the secretary of state  the same ones that netted just six indictments earlier this year. Like the attorney general, county prosecutors downplay those incidents, arguing theyre usually examples of confusion rather than malfeasance. They note in many circumstances the registrant even checks a box describing themselves as a noncitizen but get registered anyway.

But if the bill were to pass, Niederlehner and others would be able to track those cases  likely getting the names and addresses of individuals with discrepancies as significant as lack of citizenship or as minor as an incorrect address, every month in a public report.

Follow OCJ Reporter Nick Evans on Twitter.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Getty Images.

Funny how Republicans running red states have done a 180 on indoctrination of students in public schools  as long as its Bible-based indoctrination. Ohio appears on the verge of following Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and others in turning public schools into officially sanctioned Sunday schools with religious messages and mandates. The intensifying GOP push to incorporate more religion in public education is clearly an effort to indoctrinate students with preeminently Christian beliefs.

The same right-wingers who were apoplectic over the faux outrage of flaming liberal public-school teachers indoctrinating impressionable youngsters with woke curriculums now think indoctrinating those same students on the one true way should be mandatory. Republican-sponsored legislation in the Ohio House (H.B. 445) and Ohio Senate (S.B. 293) would require public school districts in the state to remove students during school hours for religious instruction off school property.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is a small but hugely significant change in current Ohio law that covers religious release time policy. Now school districts may allow the exodus of students in the middle of the school day for off campus religious education  or not. Under state law, students cannot skip core subjects for Bible study but can blow off other classes in music, art, theatre, physical education or library and lunch periods if permitted by the district.

Some public schools have decided that a well-rounded education also depends on students attending classes not considered core or browsing for books in libraries or testing social skills over lunch. Districts choose not to disrupt already tight academic schedules with students leaving the building for ill-timed religious activities. But that local district control over released time for religious instruction (RTRI) policy would be rescinded by the Republican bills gaining traction in the lame duck session.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

That would set a dangerous precedent of state government essentially promoting religious programs in public education by mandating that districts provide the opportunity for religious instruction on top of the full day of instruction public school teachers are expected to deliver. Secular public schools should not be the new religious battleground, but thats what theyve become in Republican-ruled states pushing Christianity into what ought to be religiously neutral environments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Statehouse fundamentalists in Ohio  led by state Rep. Gary Click, the Fremont pastor who engineered the successful override of the governors veto on legislation targeting gender-affirming care for trans youth  are on an evangelical crusade to introduce indoctrination to public school kids with religious right dogma. They want state law to support their brand of indoctrination even if the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution does not.

It mandates religious neutrality in public schools, places where students and families of all faiths and beliefs are welcomed and nurtured. What is being proposed in Ohio is not about freedom of religion or honoring parents prerogatives to raise their children in a certain faith or no faith. Clicks bill and its companion measure in the Senate want to strip districts of the right to refuse questionable programs or to make their own policies about excusing students during school for extracurricular religious instruction.

The biggest lobbyist campaigning for passage of H.B. 445 and S.B. 293 is Joel Penton, the founder and CEO of a rapidly growing religious right empire. It is aligned with the Heritage Foundation and the Family Research Council, both Project 2025 signatories, as well as Turning Point USA. His LifeWise Academy, an Ohio-based nonprofit, is on a mission to put God back in public schools nationwide. It expects to reach over 600 districts in 30 states this school year, including 169 school districts in Ohio.

The only thing standing in the way of LifeWise proselytizing their version of Christianity to more unchurched K-12 public school students in Ohio are school districts with the power to say no. Penton needs mandatory access to public school districts enacted into state law so he can blanket his mission field in public education with biblical indoctrination and districts will be forced to accommodate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

LifeWise Academy presents itself as a benign, character-building, Jesus-loves-you religious education option with no obligation by anyone to participate. But it actively recruits children in public elementary schools, middle schools and high schools with parental permission to go along for the ride. Then academy staff teach a literal interpretation of the Bible with correlating lessons of moral certitude about the sinfulness of, say, same-sex relationships and gender identity outside the Christian right worldview.

To be clear, Penton and his growing ministry to convert public school students to biblical orthodoxy have an absolute right to believe what they believe and to evangelize all they want. But the First Amendment that established the freedom of religion also established the freedom from religion and what LifeWise and its Republican allies in the General Assembly are doing is testing the church-state divide in public schools by requiring districts to release students for religious instruction.

Its the same pattern in a slate of recent actions in other red states requiring Trump Bibles in every public-school classroom with educators ordered to teach it, requiring students to watch a prayer video, requiring copies of the Ten Commandments in every classroom, requiring religious chaplains as school counselors, requiring Bible-based curriculums in grade schools.

This isnt religious liberty, its religious coercion. Ohio is poised to follow suit.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  An Ohio State business will have its storefront icon on full display for Michigan Week after a lend from a helping hand.

Kroger announced it is loaning its Brutus statue to the College Traditions bookstore after a person severely damaged the statue, which has been a staple attraction since 2008.

Why Columbus is handing out home security cameras

According to Columbus police, the Brutus statue on West Lane Avenue was vandalized at around 3:15 a.m. Sunday. The suspect recorded himself destroying the fiberglass statue, dragging it in the middle of the street, kicking it and throwing it against the neighboring Woody Hayes statue.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The vandalism comes during Michigan Week, the teams last home game and regular season game of the 2024 campaign.

The Brutus the Buckeye statue that was vandalized sometime overnight on Nov. 23 at College Traditions on West Lane Avenue in Columbus near the Ohio State University campus. (COLLEGE TRADITIONS) The shoes of the Brutus the Buckeye statue that was vandalized sometime overnight on Nov. 23 at College Traditions on West Lane Avenue in Columbus near the Ohio State University campus. (COLLEGE TRADITIONS) Kroger is loaning its Brutus statue to College Traditions for Michigan Week (Courtesy/Kroger) Brutus Buckeye was knocked over in front of College Traditions, Lane Avenue, by a skidding car on January 23, 2022. Brutus Buckeye took his familiar spot outside of College Traditions, Lane Avenue on April 7, 2022, after restoration by Eclipse Corp, Gahanna.

The shop acquired Brutus in 2008 as part of Brutus on Parade, an initiative by the university to raise money for the William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library  known now as the Thompson Library. It was damaged in January 2022 after it was struck struck by a skidding car.

Kroger will deliver the replacement statue Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Ohios Supreme Court said its up to the Statehouse to decide whether a transgender woman can change the sex marker on her birth certificate.

The court announced on Nov. 19 it could not reach a decision on whether state law allowed the Clark County Probate Court to grant a request from a trans woman named Hailey Adelaide to amend the sex marker on her birth certificate. Now, the court says its up to the General Assembly to decide whether to create any additional opportunities for persons born in Ohio to amend their birth records.

Poll: Trumps favorability jumps post-election; plus, front-runners for 2028

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We cannot reach a consensus on how this case should be resolved, wrote Justice Patrick Fischer. It is an unfortunate day for the litigants in this case and Ohioans that we cannot reach a consensus.

Justice Joseph Deters, along with Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy and Justice Patrick DeWine, argued that neither the appeals court nor Ohios Supreme Court had the power under the states Constitution to consider Adelaides appeal. This is because the case lacked adversity, meaning there was no interest adverse to Adelaides.

Just as one cannot appeal a probate courts decision on whom to place on a park district board, one cannot appeal a probate courts decision on whether to change a sex marker on a birth certificate, Deters wrote.

However, Fischer and Justices Michael Donnelly, Melody Stewart and Jennifer Brunner disagreed and said the appeals court and the Ohio Supreme Court had the authority to hear the case, but they could not agree on how to resolve Adelaides request.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Voting rights amendment could be on Ohio ballots next election

So, until the Statehouse decides to pass legislation allowing Ohioans to amend the sex marker on their birth certificate, Adelaides certificate will remain unchanged.

Adelaide appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court after the Second District Court of Appeals upheld the Clark County Probate Courts denial of her request. The probate court argued the initial recording of Adelaides marker at birth was not made in error and found there was nothing to be corrected.

All evidence suggests that Adelaide was born in a hospital wherein the information for her birth certificate was prepared, completed, certified, and filed according to the applicable statutes, the ruling stated. There is no allegation that the above-described process was done in error.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A majority of states allow trans Americans to correct the sex marker on their birth certificate. However, in Ohio, Adelaides case demonstrates that the process is contingent on how certain judges interpret state law.

A procedure for trans Ohioans to correct their certificate was established by the Ohio Department of Health in 2021, following a federal 2020 ruling that said trans Ohioans have the right to request a change.

More important than ever to repeal Ohios same-sex marriage ban, lawmakers say

The ODH uses the same process for trans people to change their sex marker as it uses for other corrections to Ohio birth certificates. Applicants need to request a court-ordered correction of a birth record using a form issued by any one of Ohios 88 probate courts, one in each county.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The procedure is free and can be completed by anyone born in Ohio, even if the applicant is now living in another state. However, each court may have varying rules and require different documentation.

Adelaide initially submitted an application in Clark County to change the name on her certificate in September 2021, followed by an application to correct the sex marker the next month. Once a form is received, the changes may take anywhere from four weeks to four months to be processed. Adelaides two applications were consolidated for a hearing in November in 2021.

Court documents show Adelaide explained to the court that she began to question her identity at age four and argued there was an error on her certificate because the male sex marker did not take into account her mental state, documents state. With her testimony, Adelaide included a copy of a letter signed by her mental healthcare provider and a clinical psychologist supervisor.

Procedure calls for the old certificate to be sealed in a vault only accessible to the applicant followed by the ODH issuing a new certificate with no bearing evidence of a change being made. However, at the conclusion of the hearing, the probate court granted Adelaides request for a change of name but withheld a decision on her sex marker application.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

County could be Ohios first to ban anti-LGBTQ+ conversion therapy

Clark County Probate Court issued a written decision denying Adelaides request in December that year.

The court rejected Adelaides arguments that the word sex and the phrase has not been properly and accurately recorded were ambiguous, documents show.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  Health officials in Ohio are sounding the alarm as cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, are on the rise.

With the holiday season approaching, experts are urging people to take precautions to protect themselves and their loved ones from this potentially serious respiratory illness.

Baker Mayfield seeks $12M in lawsuit against his fathers company, alleges breach of contract

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dr. Joe Khabbaza, a pulmonologist with the Cleveland Clinic, shared insights into the growing trend, expressing that while the surge in cases isnt surprising, it is concerning.

Pertussis is often nicknamed the 100 day cough due to the prolonged and violent coughing fits it can cause, is making a notable comeback in Ohio.

So far this year, the state has reported over 1,200 casesalready surpassing last years totals and nearing pre-pandemic levels. For comparison, cases peaked at over 1,600 in 2013.

Dr. Khabbaza explained the nature of the illness:

It kind of acts as a virus. The droplets and other things can lead to symptoms that last up to 100 days.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One of the difficulties with pertussis is that it often mimics the common cold in its early stages, making it hard to diagnose. Dr. Khabbaza explained:

The first week or two can act like a regular cold, and then after that, it can be very violent coughing for weeks and weeks at a time.

Infants and young children face the greatest danger from whooping cough due to their smaller airways, which can become inflamed and obstructed.

See moment cargo plane explodes into fireball

It can kill them because that inflammation makes it hard for air to pass through the lungs, Dr. Khabbaza warned.

For adults, who typically have larger airways, pertussis may be less life-threatening but can still cause severe and prolonged discomfort.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The best way to protect yourself and those around you is to stay up to date on vaccinations, especially if you are in close contact with infants or young children. Dr. Khabbaza stresses that vaccination not only safeguards your health but also prevents the spread of the illness to those who are most vulnerable.

As the holiday season brings people together, taking these precautions can make a significant difference in slowing down the spread of whooping cough and keeping everyone safe.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Nov. 25The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of an accident near Hartshorne that killed an unknown driver Saturday.

Around 2 a.m., Saturday, a driver of a 2012 Chevrolet Impala was traveling northbound on Hartshorne Adamson Road near Sunny Slope Drive. According to Trooper Trey Roberts, the driver departed the roadway at a turn while speeding and struck a tree.

The driver was pronounced deceased at the scene from the injuries sustained in the collision and transported by Chaney-Harkins Funeral Service of McAlester to the Medical Examiner's Office in Tulsa.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Seatbelts were not used and the driver's condition of the driver at the time of the accident is also unknown at this time. Pittsburg County Acting Sheriff Frankie McClendon told the Mcalester News-Capital Monday after the vehicle hit the tree it caught on fire. According to the report, it's unknown whether the air bags deployed.

Trooper Roberts was assisted by the Pittsburg County Sheriff's Office, Hartshorne Police Department, Haileyville Police Department, Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police, Hartshorne Fire Department, and Haileyville Fire Department.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Oklahoma City Police are searching for a driver who hit a man with his car and left the scene.

The victim was found lying in the street near SE 44th and High Monday night.

That person is in critical condition.

There is no description of the suspects car or the suspect 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
JAY, Okla. (KSNW)  An Oklahoma sheriffs office says a mother shot her two young children before taking her own life.

Our sister station, KSNF in Joplin, reports the investigation began around 6 a.m. Saturday, east of Ketchum near the Grand Lake of the Cherokees. The Deleware County Sheriffs Office was called to investigate an abandoned vehicle. Inside, deputies found the bodies of a woman and two young children.

Dog treats distributed to Kansas recalled for potential salmonella

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Authorities say the woman is the mother of the two children, ages 5 and 7. She has been identified as Alisia Pena, 38, of Tulsa.

The two children were shot first, and then she (Pena) turned the gun on herself, said Undersheriff James Morgan.

Morgan says its not clear why Pena and her children were in the area of the lake, but she was last seen with friends in Ketchum around 2:35 a.m. He says it doesnt appear Pena was involved in a domestic issue or custody battle.

We are still interviewing family members and friends, said Morgan.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
There was water on Mars as early as 4.45 billion years ago, just a short time after the planet formed from the leftover dust of the growing Sun.

The evidence? A tiny grain of zircon, smaller than the width of a human hair, with minerals trapped inside that could only have formed in the presence of water. The sting in the tail? That water had to have been hot, like hot springs, or hydrothermal vents under the ocean.

The discovery tells us several things. First, that the delivery of water to Mars during the early days of the Solar System was similar to that of Earth. Second, the presence of hot water could be consistent with the kinds of extremophile microbial life we see in geothermal and hydrothermal environments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The emerging picture is that early Mars and Earth had something in common  both were wet. It is known from analysis of the oldest zircons on Earth that liquid water existed by at least 4.3 billion years ago. We now have evidence for water on Mars that is even older," geologist Aaron Cavosie of Curtin University in Australia told ScienceAlert.

"The evidence for early water on Mars is consistent with the abundant evidence for water on Mars during the Noachian period, which lasted from 4.1 to 3.7 billion years ago. There is good geologic evidence for vestiges of life on Earth at this time, so why not Mars if the conditions were similar? These two planets have clearly taken different paths since then."

Micrograph image of the zircon. (Gillespie et al., Sci. Adv. , 2024)

The water history of Mars is difficult to piece together because, well, it's all the way over at Mars, where our exploration efforts are pretty great, but limited. Every now and then, though, a piece of Mars comes to us. One of these is the famous Martian meteorite NWA 7034, or 'Black Beauty', discovered in the Sahara Desert in 2011.

NWA 7034 is a 320-gram (11.3-ounce) piece of volcanic breccia, a chunk of rock that's made up of other chunks of rock, a bit like Christmas pudding. Some of the pieces that make up the meteorite are tiny crystals of zircon  an absolute goldmine for geologists wanting to study the history of Mars, and the history of the meteorite itself.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Not long ago, scientists at Curtin University studied NWA 7034 zircon and found evidence that the chunk of rock had been smacked by a huge asteroid impact 4.45 billion years ago.

Now, researchers led by geochemist Jack Gillespie, of Curtin University at the time of the study, have taken a closer look at some of the minerals trapped inside zircon. Using nanoscale microscopy, they discovered traces of iron, yttrium, aluminum, and sodium that were caught up inside the zircon as it formed.

It took looking around a bit closer to home to figure out what the deposition process for these minerals must have been.

The Black Beauty meteorite. ( NASA

"Elements like iron, aluminum, and sodium form a series of nice layers in the Martian zircon, similar to those found in an onion. These elements are not normally found in zircon; after finding them in the Martian zircon, we turned our attention back to Earth to find what environments that form in," Cavosie explained.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"One of the few places on Earth where zircons are found with nice layers of these elements is from Olympic Dam, a giant copper, uranium, and gold deposit in South Australia. The connection is that the Olympic Dam zircons are known to have formed in a magmatic-hydrothermal system. That means hot aqueous fluids were present and interacting with the granite when the zircons were forming. These fluids delivered the unusual trace elements, and at Olympic Dam, also concentrated the economic metals."

We don't know the water temperature on Mars. It could have been anywhere from a few hundred to even more than 500 C (932 F), similar to the waters of Yellowstone. Nor do we know how much water there was.

But the discovery does show that there was water on Mars not long after the planets formed some 4.5 billion years ago, circulating in the planet's crust, and heated by the volcanic activity that was much more rampant when the planet was young. And this means that Mars may have been actually pretty soggy, with water delivered the same way water arrived at Earth  via comets and asteroids, and incorporated into the planet as it was forming.

"We can't say for sure if liquid water was present on the surface at this time, but we think it's possible. Some of these magmatic fluids would likely have escaped to the surface and contributed water to the atmosphere," Cavosie said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"This means a lot of warm and wet places within, and probably on, the crust of Mars. Data like those found in our study help to better flesh out the concept of early habitable conditions based on direct analysis of materials formed at that time."

A diagram of the life history of the zircon crystal in the Black Beauty meteorite. (Gillespie et al., Sci. Adv. , 2024)

Now that the researchers have discovered evidence that hot water once existed on Mars, they can work to flesh out their findings further. We don't know whether the magmatic activity that heated the water was generated by activity inside Mars, or from the asteroid bombardment that pummeled the early Solar System, for example. We also don't know whether hydrothermal systems were prevalent on Mars.

It would be pretty incredible if there was just one ancient Martian hydrothermal system, evidence of which just happened to end up in human hands billions of years later. But NWA 7034 is already pretty incredible.

"The zircon  has a bonkers crazy survival story! It formed in a wet hydrothermal shortly after Mars came together as a planet 4.45 billion years ago, it got smacked during an early meteorite impact event and later got violently ejected to land in a pile of rock rubble, where it got buried and altered with fluids billions of years later, and then finally got smacked again by another meteorite, this time getting ejected from Mars!" Cavosie told ScienceAlert.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Instead of heading out into the endless nether-world of space to be lost forever, it ended up crashing into Earth, where it survived being melted away to dust in our atmosphere, just to land in the Sahara desert. Somehow it didn't get buried and lost forever under a sand dune, and instead was found by someone who recognized it as an important stone.

"This rock has only been in the hands of scientists for about 10 years, and look how much it's taught us about Mars."

The research has been published in Science Advances.

Related News
A bronze cannon recently recovered by researchers in Arizona appears to be the oldest known firearm ever found in the continental United States. According to experts, analysis indicates the 40 lbs weapon was likely owned by one of historys most famous and notorious conquistadors, although he may never have fired it in battle.

In 1539, Vazquez de Coronado mortgaged his wifes belongings and took out massive loans to finance an expedition to North America. The Spanish conquistador and his 350 soldiers intended to locate the legendary (and nonexistent) Seven Cities of Gold somewhere north of Mexico. Instead of untold riches, Coronado and his men spent the next three years plundering, enslaving, and murdering their way across the region. Coronado ended his expedition in Mexico City, bankrupt and facing war crime charges, but his influence on North America would linger for generations.

The conquistador and his remaining men didnt pack all their belongings before returning to the then-Spanish settlement, however. According to the authors of a study published on November 21st in the International Journal of Historical Archeology, one site in particular has yielded numerous artifacts linked to the explorers. In the ruins of a stone and adobe structure located in Arizonas Santa Cruz Valley, researchers discovered olive jar and glass shards, European pottery, and weapon componentsincluding a 42-inch-long bronze cannon.

The wall gun was resting on the floor of a Spanish structure. This figure shows it while under excavation, held firmly in place by roots. Credit: International Journal of Historical Archeology

Also known as a wall gun, the early firearm required two operators, and was generally used as a defensive weapon mounted on a wooden tripod on fortification walls. In Coronados case, however, such a cannon would have been utilized for offensive purposes, usually to blast through the thinner walls of structures in Indigenous settlements.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Radiocarbon dating and optically stimulated luminescence methods allowed archeologists to date the cannon to Coronados time, while the other artifacts matched accounts of his expeditions materials and belongings. Unlike more ornate Spanish cannons, however, the wall guns plain casting indicates it may have actually been constructed in Mexico or the Caribbeanand may have even been purchased from Ponce de Leons preceding expedition.

[Related: Focaccia likely originated in Mesopotamia, not in Rome.]

According to researchers, historical records show that the settlement where they recovered the wall gun was at one point attacked by Sobaipuri Oodham locals, forcing Spanish explorers to retreat. Additional discoveries of lead shot and arrowheads at the archeological site collaborate the accounts, although it is unknown why the cannon was apparently never used.
KUPIANSK  Volodymyr paused his Sunday stroll from a shopping center in Kupiansk to take pictures of rubble from a Russian strike that almost killed his wife late last month.

"It was broad daylight when they struck," he said. "Our only luck was that my wife was in the kitchen, so the flying glass did not hit her," Volodymyr said, who lives with his wife only a few meters from the epicenter of the explosion.

Fearing a return of Russian occupation to his increasingly bombed-out front-line city in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv Oblast, Volodymyr refused to provide his full name.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 1.5-ton thermobaric bomb that Russian troops dropped next to the shopping center at the edge of the city killed a 73-year-old woman and injured others.

The use of such destructive weapons against civilians marks the Russian army's upscaled push to occupy the latest Ukrainian city, enduring more suffering and uncertain prospects.

One recent Russian strike on Kupiansk disrupted central water supplies throughout the city, forcing the people left in the city, most of them retirees, to roam streets carrying buckets from wells to their homes.

"There has been no water for two days now, and we're afraid that soon there will be no electricity and (natural) gas," said Ivana in early November, a retiree who glanced into the sky nervously, fearing the possibility of Russian drone strikes from above.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We feel abandoned," she added as Russia's army sped up a grinding advance towards Kupiansk.

People carry belongings in wheelbarrows as authorities in Ukraine's Kharkiv Oblast have announced the start of a mandatory evacuation for the key front-line city of Kupiansk, Ukraine on Oct. 16, 2024. (Fermin Torrano/Anadolu via Getty Images)

A view of a monument opposite the damaged buildings as authorities in Ukraine's Kharkiv Oblast have announced the start of a mandatory evacuation for the key front-line city of Kupiansk, Ukraine on Oct. 16, 2024. (Fermin Torrano/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Russian troops ramped up their efforts near Kupiansk in early September and approached the city's industrial outskirts in the northeast. Earlier in November, Ukrainian forces successfully repelled Russian attempts to break into the city.

The crowd-sourced monitoring website DeepState also reported on Nov. 26 that Ukrainian forces had completed clearing Kupiansk of Russian soldiers. The pressure on the city remains, with Russian troops geared up to try again in the near future.

Divided by the Oskil River, Kupiansk lies at a critical junction between the Russian-occupied Luhansk Oblast and the adjacent Kharkiv Oblast, which Ukraine largely liberated during a surprise counteroffensive in autumn 2022.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Now, with Russia's increasing offensives across the entire front and the U.S. support for Ukraine in the long run remaining uncertain, residents of Kupiansk are expecting the worst to come.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump had promised to end Russia's war swiftly, without providing a clear scenario on how he plans to achieve such a result. The president-elect's inner circle has also been vocal, floating the idea of freezing the war along the current front lines leaving cities like Kupiansk and the residents that remain on the edge or in Russia grip indefinitely.

Read also: Burning horizon: As Russia makes gains near Pokrovsk, civilians remain frozen in inaction

Frozen front lines could leave more Ukrainian towns smoldering in limbo

Russia has a poor record of keeping to ceasefire agreements that predate its full-blown invasion of Ukraine by almost a decade.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We already went through this during the first and second Minsk agreements, through various truces, freezes, but in all cases, Russia always violated these agreements," Serhiy Kuzan, chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center, told the Kyiv Independent.

His comments refer to two ceasefire agreements, one in 2014 and another in 2015 brokered by the West, that froze front lines in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts after Russia occupied part of those regions.

A number of towns and villages were left on the front lines, experiencing occasional shelling, lack of basic necessities, and lacking the ability to escape the years-long war.

A visit to Kupiansk today largely mirrors the devastation brought to the towns left on the front lines. Kupiansk is an increasingly abandoned city.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite a mandatory evacuation order for all citizens announced in mid-October, locals estimate several thousand residents remain despite the mounting risks.

The city is experiencing the third siege in three years after it was briefly occupied by Russian forces in 2022, then liberated during the successful Ukrainian counteroffensive in the autumn of the same year.

Back then, the Ukrainian army's surprise counterattack pushed the Russian troops to about a dozen kilometers from the city's outskirts.

Two years after the retreat, Russia's army has doubled its efforts to recapture it. Since early September, they have advanced several kilometers, approaching the city's eastern outskirts. Earlier this month, Ukraine's army said it was repelling enemy attempts to enter the city.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kuzan, a native of Kharkiv Oblast, said Ukraine's army is in a good position to hold the city's eastern outskirts against Russian incursions "provided that there is a sufficient amount of ammunition and materiel."

However, that remains in doubt as President-elect Trump vows to end the war quickly, pulling the plug on future military aid to Ukraine.

Increasingly uncertain future of US military aid

One of the possible scenarios to follow up on Trump's promise is reducing military aid to Ukraine, forcing the country into giving up territory for peace.

Yet Trump, who has in the past expressed a fancy for Russian President Vladimir Putin, has also said he could boost Ukrainian weapons supplies to pressure Russia into a peace agreement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I believe that what he (Trump) has said about the tools is what he intends to do," former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John E. Herbst told the Kyiv Independent.

People from Kupiansk arrive at an evacuation point as mandatory evacuation from four communities in the Kharkiv Oblast kicks off due to hostilities in the region on Oct. 17, 2024. (Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

"It's not clear (how Trump would achieve peace). I do think that there is going to be some form of cut in aid. It may also be that American military assistance will move from a straight aid program to a loan program," said Herbst, now serving as senior director of the Washington, D.C.-based Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center.

The former ambassador is skeptical about a lasting agreement between Ukraine and Russia should the front line be frozen.

"It would not surprise me if Putin were to agree to negotiate along those lines, maybe even reach an agreement. And then, of course, work immediately to undermine that agreement and continue his aggression against Ukraine," Herbst added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read also: Ukraine aid key to battling Russian invasion  Can Europe fill the gap if Trump pulls the plug?

Kupiansk strategic location

In Kupiansk, the last bridge connecting the two sides of the Oskil River remained open to civilian traffic in late October.

"The Russians are striking the industrial complex on the left not only with glide bombs and FPV drones now, but with artillery and tanks too," a soldier on the ground with the military, call sign Riaba, told the Kyiv Independent. He spoke amid the relentless sound of various calibers crackling and booming in the background without revealing his real name due to security concerns.

"The Russians are attempting to break into the (eastern) part of the city in small units, but so far we repelled them," he said. "They need it because of the railway, if they take it, we'll be in a very, very bad position."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kuzan estimates that Kupiansk holds value to the Russian army due to its highways and railway lines. If captured, it could serve as a springboard for continued north-to-south offensive operations into the heart of the last remaining densely populated urban areas of Donetsk Oblast still held by Ukraine  the cities and agglomerations of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.

"The city is a large railway hub, and the Russian army's logistics is built around railway transportation, not road," Kuzan said.

Although the Russian military has not yet been able to get a foothold, the city remains under indiscriminate bombardment.

"The Russians are on the attack, they are not trying to freeze the front line," Kuzan added.

If Russian forces capture Kupiansk before a ceasefire, they will be in pole position to retake all eastern bank territory south of the city along the Oskil River stretching south to the Donetsk Oblast front lines.

In the unlikely event of a frozen front line, Kuzan sees little chance for Kupiansk to live in peace due to the constant threat of Russian attacks after a ceasefire.

"Both for Kupiansk and our other cities to be able to live and function, it is necessary, first of all, to quickly reduce the strike capabilities of the Russian army," said Kuzan.

A view of the enterence to Kupiansk, Ukraine on Oct. 16, 2024. (Fermin Torrano/Anadolu via Getty Images)

His comments echo President Volodymyr Zelensky's repeated calls for allies to boost firepower supplies, including the provision of more long-range missiles capable of hindering Russian logistics.

"Only in this case can we talk about some kind of stabilization in these cities, having removed their instrument for terror," Kuzan said.

Back in Kupiansk, the scene in early November was nerve-racking.

"We trust God will help us," said Svitlana, a resident selling military chevrons in the middle of the city, despite the sound of small arms fire in the background.

Some people motivated to help feed Ukrainian soldiers protecting the city remained reluctant to evacuate.

"Other than the fact that we were born here, who would sell these boys (the soldiers) hotdogs if we fled?" asked Viktoria, a shopkeeper at the bombed-out shopping center that nearly killed Volodymyr's wife.

As her colleague repaired a damaged roof, Viktoria served customers.

"We remained open that day and will be open for the guys (Ukrainian soldiers) in the future," she added.

The Kyiv Independent reporter Dinara Khalilova contributed to this report.

Read also: Russia preparing a 50,000-people-strong offensive in latest attempt to push Ukrainian army out of Kursk Oblast

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA)  Greenville police have arrested a man they said shot two people in a parking garage over the weekend.

The Greenville Police Department said on Tuesday officers, along with members of the U.S. Marshalls Task force, arrested Jakee Shamar Edward Austin, 21, on two charges of attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and breach of peace.

According to Greenville Police Department, just after 1 a.m. Saturday, officers heard gun shots at a parking garage on North Laurens Street.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At the garage, officers found two victims with gunshot wounds. The victims were transported to the hospital for treatment.

Police said on Monday the investigation into the shooting led the victims in the shooting had previously had a disagreement with Austin at another location prior to the shooting.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
One person is dead after a box truck caught fire early Tuesday morning.

An adult male was killed after a fire began in a box truck at 287 Washington Street shortly before 2:00 a.m.

An autopsy was performed on the body later Tuesday morning.

The cause and manner of death are pending completion of the investigation and laboratory tests, and the identity of the victim is currently unknown. No additional information regarding the victim will be released at this time, the New Hampshire State Fire Marshalls office said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An investigation into how the fire began is ongoing.

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact the New Hampshire State Fire Marshals Office at (603) 223-4289 or fmo@dos.nh.gov.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
MARTINSVILLE, Va. (WFXR)  Martinsville Fire and EMS responded to a structure fire that killed one person and damaged a church on November 26.

Around 1:53 a.m. on Tuesday, fire crews were dispatched to 214 Fayette Street where Martinsville Police were already on the scene. Officers confirmed to firefighters that an occupant was inside the building who then began working to extinguish the fire and find the victim.

The victim was found and pronounced deceased on the scene. Crews removed the deceased victim and continued working to extinguish the blaze.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The fire was under control around 6:10 a.m.; however, crews remained on scene until 7:14 a.m. to completely extinguish the fire.

Christiansburg fire officials share holiday safety tips

The victim was taken to the Medical Examiners Office for a positive identification.

The original structure was destroyed and the neighboring buildings attic endured extensive damage.

The church to the left of the fire sustained heat damage on the exterior and smoke damage to the interior. Damage estimates after preliminary investigation are around $70,000. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Martinsville Fire and Ems were assisted by the following: Henry County Department of Public Safety, Martinsville Volunteer Fire Company, Collinsville Volunteer Fire Department, Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department, City of Martinsville Public Works, Martinsville Electric, and Martinsville Police. Southwest Virginia Gas also assisted with utility control.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The cause of the fire is still unknown and remains under investigation.

Martinsville Fire Department advises citizens to exercise the proper use of electric heaters and that Christmas lights/decor are wired properly.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BARTOW, Fla. (WFLA)  One person has died following a camper fire in Bartow on Monday, the Polk County Fire Rescue announced.

Fire rescue crews arrived on the scene at 3:45 p.m. to find the camper in flames.

The victim was pulled from the camper but life-saving measures were unsuccessful. The victim was pronounced dead on the scene.

Credit: Polk County Fire Rescue Credit: Polk County Fire Rescue Credit: Polk County Fire Rescue Credit: Polk County Fire Rescue

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Polk County Fire Rescue said they got water on the fire at 3:48 p.m. and had it under control by 3:54 p.m.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Florida State Fire Marshals office.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  One person is dead after a shooting in the Weinland Park section of Columbus Monday night.

According to a Columbus police dispatcher, the shooting happened on the 1200 block of North Fourth Street at approximately 8:29 p.m. near Weinland Park Elementary School.

The victim was pronounced dead at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center at 9:10 p.m.

There is no information on what led to the shooting or any suspect information available at this time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
One of the men convicted of murdering 15-year-old Dystiny Myers was denied parole for the third time.

Jason Greenwell, 35, was convicted of Myers second-degree murder in 2010 and sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison. He became eligible for parole in January 2021, according to records from the corrections department.

Greenwell was granted parole twice  in November 2021 and April 2023  only for Gov. Gavin Newsom to reverse the decision before Greenwells release on both occasions. He is currently serving his sentence at San Quentin State Prison, records show.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In both of the parole reversals, Newsom said Greenwell had more work to do before he could be safely released into society. In 2023, the governor said evidence showed Greenwell still posed an unreasonable danger to society if released from prison.

Greenwell was denied parole on Thursday, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed. His next parole hearing will be scheduled in three years, the agency said.

Jason Adam Greenwell prepares to read a letter of apology he wrote to the family of Dystiny Myers in court Tuesday, March 19, 2013.

He was one of five people convicted of the Santa Maria teenagers murder, along with Ty Michael Hill, Frank Jacob York, Rhonda Wisto and Cody Miller.

Three of those  Hill, York and Wisto  are currently serving life sentences without the possibility of parole for Myers murder. Miller, the fifth person convicted of the murder, died in prison in 2016.

The five were convicted of brutally beating Myers, taping her to a chair, then putting her body in a bag before driving to a remote area near Santa Margarita Lake, where they set her body on fire in a shallow grave. According to the San Luis Obispo District Attorneys Office, her partially burned remains were found by a Cal Fire employee.
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP)  One local nonprofit started a walk from Springfield to Greenfield to raise hunger awareness in western Massachusetts.

Springfield honors Native Americans with flag raising event

The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts started its walk from Springfield to Greenfield this Monday morning to fight hunger during the holidays. The first leg of the journey took walkers to Northampton, making stops at food donation centers along the way. Congressman Jim McGovern was one of the walkers. He told 22News how hunger plays a large role in many parts of our community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hunger is costly. If youre not eating you cant learn in school. If you dont have access to food, youre less productive in the workforce. If youre not eating and youre an elderly person taking your medication on an empty stomach, youre in the emergency room. So you know this is costly. Our inaction is costly, said McGovern.

This walk is looking to raise half a million dollars to provide 1.5 million meals to Western Massachusetts. One of the main supporters of this initiative is Monte Belmonte, a radio host with New England Public Media. Dressed up as Glinda from the movie Wicked, he said his costumes are only a small portion of this walks significant impact.

Its become something thats grown beyond my wildest expectations, to not only raise so much money for people in need, but creating like community bonds, building community, and I think more than ever thats something were really going to need to lean into, said Belmonte.

The second leg will start in Northampton at 6 am and end in downtown Greenfield. For information on how to donate, click here.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
The announcements came Friday night, one after another, President-elect Donald Trumps picks for the countrys premier health leadership roles: a New York family physician and Fox News medical contributor for surgeon general; a Florida physician and former congressman to lead the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a surgeon and researcher at Johns Hopkins for the US Food and Drug Administration.

Public health experts, former government officials and researchers  including 10 who spoke with CNN  began meting out praise, critiques and questions about Trumps picks: Dr. Janette Nesheiwat for US surgeon general, Dr. David Weldon for CDC director and Dr. Marty Makary for FDA commissioner, each of whom will face a Senate confirmation hearing.

Several health experts said Makary and Nesheiwat were reasonable choices who may be tested under a federal health department with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist, at the helm of the US Department of Health and Human Services. Several also raised concerns about Weldon, Trumps pick to lead the CDC, who had previously introduced legislation that would have shifted vaccine safety oversight away from the CDC and has repeatedly raised questions about the safety of vaccines that had already been studied.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A key challenge for all of the Trump administrations new public health leaders, the experts said, will be keeping politics out of science.

CNN has reached out to Nesheiwat and Makary for comment and did not receive a response. CNN was not able to reach Weldon.

In a response to questions from CNN, Katie Miller, a spokesperson for the Trump transition, said Mr. Kennedy is the right choice to lead HHS and put Americans back in charge of their health care, not corporations.

Its very hard to defy your boss

Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of Brown Universitys School of Public Health and former White House Covid-19 response coordinator under President Joe Biden, said that one important question for senators to push each of the candidates on will be how they would handle a situation in which recommendations from scientists at the CDC or the FDA conflict with what the health secretary wants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its reasonable to disagree with people on health policy, Jha said. There are people out there who are smart, who are well-trained, who believe in modern medicine, who come out differently than I do because they read data differently than I do. That is a very normal part of scientific discourse.

Several experts who spoke with CNN generally described Makary and Nesheiwat as open-minded physicians who respect the scientific process  even if they disagree with some of their policies. Some said that could put them at odds with Kennedy, whom Trump has chosen for the nations top health post as HHS secretary.

Its very hard to defy your boss, Jha said. Theres going to be an immense pressure on the CDC director, on the FDA commissioner, on all of these people. Itll be very difficult for them to just make the decisions that are right for the health of the American people and not get swayed by someone who doesnt understand evidence and data but has strongly held views.

Weldon has his own partisan past with vaccines, and his nomination for CDC director has garnered far more hesitancy among experts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While Drs Makary and Nesheiwat seemingly lack experience in managing large organizations like the FDA and [the US Public Health Service], I believe they are competent physicians who will prioritize science-based decision making, Dr. Jerome Adams, who served as surgeon general in the first Trump administration, said in an email to CNN.

However, beyond his own lack of experience with large organizations (and the CDC is a behemoth), I have concerns about Dr. Weldons past statements on vaccines and believe he should be closely scrutinized on this issue during confirmation, Adams wrote. The CDC plays a critical role in global health, and it would be disastrous if its leader were to promote unfounded theories and exacerbate vaccine hesitancy.

Vaccine views as a health policy bellwether

Vaccination is far from the only issue on which federal health leaders guide policy, but experts say that it is one of the most important right now  and it could be a bellwether of each leaders approach.

The Covid-19 pandemic brought vaccines to the forefront of public health awareness and created opportunities for increased scrutiny but also dangerous skepticism and conspiracies that have had deadly consequences, said Dr. Peter Hotez, an infectious disease expert and director of vaccine development at Texas Childrens Hospital.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hundreds of thousands of Americans died because they didnt get vaccinated against Covid-19, he said, and big rises in preventable illnesses such as whooping cough and measles have become imminent threats to the health of the American people.

Its so dangerous for the country, and now its deadly, Hotez said. Thats going to continue to be one of our big challenges in uncoupling the anti-science from politics.

The way a public health leader assesses scientific data on vaccines is an important litmus test, said Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, a professor of epidemiology and director of the Pandemic Center at the Brown University School of Public Health.

It shows how someone makes decisions about complex, high-stakes issues and what level of evidence and rigor someone insists upon when making those decisions, she said. When you see someone who says there is no safe and effective vaccine, and that statement is so at odds with all of the evidence we have, that really makes you question the judgment and character of the person who is making that statement. In my view, that is disqualifying for any serious governmental position.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said Weldons efforts in Congress worry him.

I think its very concerning that [the] potential next chief of the CDC is someone who has been a purveyor of vaccine misinformation, particularly relating to the preservative [thimerosal], Adalja wrote in an email, referring to the disproven belief that the preservative is linked to autism. It requires a high degree of an evasion, especially in a physician, to accept fallacious ideas that lead people to diminish their acceptance of what is probably one of humankinds greatest technological developments.

Weldons partisan past and hazy present

Who? Is the most common reaction Dr. Brian Castrucci said hes heard in response to Weldons nomination to lead the CDC.

To the best of anyones knowledge, [Weldon has] not had much interaction or experience working in a health department. It doesnt seem that he has much experience working in the field of public health, said Castrucci, an epidemiologist who is president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, a nonprofit focused on strengthening the US public health system.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I think, unfortunately, given who may have been the nominee, theres almost a sigh of relief, and somehow, not knowing who this person is is acceptable over some of the folks that it could have been. Thats not good enough for me, Castrucci said.

Weldon served 14 years in Congress, representing a Florida district near Tampa from 1995 to 2009.

In 2007, Weldon introduced the Vaccine Safety and Public Confidence Assurance Act, which aimed to create an Agency for Vaccine Safety Evaluation within HHS, independent of the CDC. 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.

Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, recalled a run-in with Weldon during his time on the CDCs Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices, a board of independent experts who advise the agency on how to use vaccines to control diseases.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He said Weldon believed strongly that [the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine] was the cause of autism. And he believed  that if you separate that vaccine into its three component parts, that you can avoid autism, which, of course, is absurd, because already studies had shown that you were at no greater risk of autism if youd gotten that vaccine or you hadnt.

But Weldons position at the time on the House Appropriations Committee, on which the CDC depended for government funding, essentially forced a vote on whether to give the vaccine as three instead of one, Offit recalled. Studies had already showed that this had nothing to do with autism, Offit said, so It was embarrassing.

And Weldon got what he wanted, Offit said. Because the way that story was carried was that we were discussing this like this was actually a real thing to consider, when it wasnt.

These are science-based agencies. They depend on good science to move forward. And when you have someone who has a series of fixed beliefs that they hold with the strength of religious convictions, thats dangerous.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If Kennedy and Weldon are confirmed, Offit said, I think that there is every reason to believe that there will be a dismantling of the way that we perceive and administer vaccines in this country, and that that will cause a decrease in vaccine rates, and the first disease to come back is measles. And I think that we will make measles great again, and thousands of cases will result in some children dying from a disease thats preventable.

Hotez says that Weldons name hasnt been on his radar for more than a decade and a half and that it will be important to hear at the confirmation hearing whether his stance has changed.

CDC directors were formerly appointed by the president, but the position will be subject to Senate confirmation beginning in January.

More unknowns

There is more to learn about Makary and Nesheiwat, too. Neither responded to CNNs requests for comment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The US surgeon general typically serves as the voice of the administrations public health policy while promoting their own agenda of issues that they feel are important to the health of American people.

Hotez says he was in regular conversation with Nesheiwat in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic as leading public health voices in the media worked together to figure out how to process the onslaught of information and communicate effectively to the public. He said she was open-minded and had an interest in really understanding and learning and being educated, and thats a good sign for how she would handle the surgeon general role.

Her regular appearances on Fox News have also battle-tested her ability to present solid health information without conforming to particular points of view, Hotez said. But hes not sure what issues she might choose to promote in this high-profile role.

Other experts have called Makary a contrarian who has correctly made sharp critiques of FDA.

But Offit said he would prefer that Makary take a stronger stance against Kennedys anti-vaccine ideas.

It worries me when people like Makary is in that position that he doesnt say, Dont worry about it. Im very much pro-vaccine. Nothing anti-vaccine is going to ever be part of the FDA. Make people feel better, instead of just trying to whitewash what RFK Jr. constantly says, he said.

Health agencies such as CDC and the FDA typically have a degree of separation and independence from HHS, experts say, but its hard to know how much unorthodox influence Kennedy could exert if he heads the health agency.

A person familiar with Trumps candidate 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.

One hopes that anyone who gets tapped for a role does the work for the American people, on behalf of the American people, fulfilling the obligations of the office, and not necessarily the person who nominated them, Nuzzo said.

CNNs Jacqueline Howard, Brenda Goodman and Meg Tirrell contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
The Onion will have to wait a few more weeks to see whether a court will approve the satirical outlets bid to buy the carcass of Infowars, the site founded by right-wing conspiracy monger Alex Jones.

Earlier this month, the Onion gleefully revealed its winning bid for Infowars, which was sued into bankruptcy (as was Jones) after the families of victims in the 2012 Sandy Hook mass shooting won a judgment of more than $1.4 billion against Jones in a defamation suit. Jones had repeatedly lied and posited baseless conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook massacre. The Onion said it plans to relaunch Infowars in January 2025 as a parody of itself that mocks weird internet personalities like Jones.

More from Variety

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But those plans are now up in the air. On Monday, the judge overseeing the sale of Infowars assets ordered a new hearing to review the auction process  which he previously expressed concerns about  and to consider objections to the Onions bid. Judge Christopher Lopez of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas delayed a hearing in the matter until either Dec. 9 or Dec. 17, the AP reported. According to a docket entry Monday, Parties are to notify the Courts Case Manager once they have agreed on a date for an Evidentiary Hearing.

Lopez could decide to approve the sale of Infowars to the Onion (which entered its winning bid under the name of its parent company, Global Tetrahedron); order a new auction; or give the thumbs-up to the only other bidder in the initial Infowars auction, First United American Companies, which operates the ShopAlexJones.com website. First United and Jones have complained that the trustee overseeing the auction did not comply with Lopezs instructions in the bankruptcy proceeding, as bids were submitted under seal.

I want a fair and transparent process and lets just see where the process goes, Lopez said Monday.

The trustee who oversaw the auction, Christopher Murray, acknowledged in a status meeting with the court on Nov. 14 that the Onion did not have a higher cash bid than First United. The Onions bid included $1.75 million, while First United bid $3.5 million. However, Murray said, the Onions deal was picked as the superior offer because the Connecticut families agreed to forgo much of money Jones owes them in order to pay other creditors. In a subsequent court filing, Murray said the Onions bid was valued at $7 million when factoring in the backing of the Sandy Hook families.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As approved by Murray, the Onions purchase agreement included Infowars intellectual property, including its website, customer lists and inventory; certain social media accounts; and production equipment located in approximately 7,000 square feet of office space at the Infowars facilities in Austin, Texas.

Jones called the original auction rigged on his show, which continues to be available on the Infowars site. Last week, Jones filed a countersuit against Murray, Global Tetrahedron and the Sandy Hook families seeking to nullify the Onions bid. In a court filing on Sunday, Murray called the allegations a desperate attempt to delay the sale of Infowars to the Onion and accused Jones, his lawyers and attorneys for First United of a vicious smear campaign lobbing patently false accusations, per the AP.

Meanwhile, Elon Musks X has inserted itself in the Infowars bankruptcy proceeding. Lawyers for X filed a statement Monday with the Texas bankruptcy court solely to make clear to all parties in interest that the company owns  and does not consent to the sale, assignment or transfer of  X accounts that are maintained by Jones or his company, Free Speech Systems. Those include @infowars, @BANNEDdotVIDEO, @WarRoomShow and @RealAlexJones.

According to the proposed asset purchase agreement filed by Murray with the court, the sale to the Onion includes right, title and interest to [Free Speech System] social media accounts including the X accounts @infowars, @WarRoomShow and @BANNEDdotVIDEO. Thats the part of the bankruptcy sale X is contesting. That said, the asset purchase agreement would bar Jones from using any social-media accounts associated with Infowars once a sale closes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jones, who is banned from most major internet platforms over hate-speech and harassment violations, was reinstated on X by Musk last year. I vehemently disagree with what [Jones] said about Sandy Hook, but are we a platform that believes in freedom of speech or are we not? Musk wrote in December 2023 explaining the decision.

In December 2012, 20 students and six adults died in the shooting at the school in Newtown, Conn. Families of Sandy Hook victims sued Jones for defamation  and ultimately won the $1.4 billion-plus judgment  after Jones called the mass murder a hoax and falsely accused the parents of the children killed at the elementary school of colluding with the U.S. government in a supposed plot to restrict gun rights. (During the defamation trial in Texas, Jones testified that he now believes the Sandy Hook shooting was 100% real.)

The Onion, meanwhile, was acquired in April by Jeff Lawson, co-founder and former CEO of Twilio, a customer-service software company.

The Onions goal with the acquisition is to end Infowars relentless barrage of disinformation for the sake of selling supplements and replace it with The Onions relentless barrage of humor for good, Global Tetrahedron said after its winning bid in the bankruptcy auction was announced Nov. 14.

Best of Variety

Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
A judge on Monday set a hearing for next month on The Onions bid for Infowars, keeping the satirical news websites purchase of Alex Jones media company in limbo for at least a few more weeks.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez scheduled another hearing for an undetermined date in December to decide whether the purchase of Infowars at auction by The Onion and its parent company, Global Tetrahedron, was fair. He also declined to issue a temporary restraining order, per Jones request, to disqualify the satirical sites bid.

I want a fair and transparent process, and lets see where that process goes, Lopez said. Everyone will have their day in court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Onion announced on Nov. 14 that it had bought Infowars at auction with plans to turn it into a website that parodies figures like Jones. The Onions bid was supported by some families of the Sandy Hook shooting victims, whose successful defamation lawsuit against Jones forced him into bankruptcy.

But Jones and the losing bidder, First United American Companies (FUAC), accused the trustee overseeing the auction of colluding with The Onion and the Sandy Hook families. FUAC  a company affiliated with one of Jones online supplement stores  said it had put down twice as much cash as the winning bid. The Onions bid, however, included a pledge from the families to forgo some of the proceeds so that other creditors would get more money than the higher cash bid, which the trustee determined was better for creditors.

Although Infowars was taken down the day the auction sale was announced, it has since been returned to Jones as legal proceedings over the auction process resume, and Jones has continued to broadcast.

Elon Musks X Corp. has also gotten involved in the case, filing a notice of appearance. As NBC News reported, X Corp. is presumed to be an interested party because Jones uses X to broadcast his show and the case involves the potential transfer of Jones X handle in the sale.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lopez, the bankruptcy judge, will eventually decide whether to approve Infowars sale to The Onion, to order a new auction of Infowars intellectual property and website, or to award Infowars to FUAC, the backup bidder.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
(KRON)  The Oakland Police Department (OPD) has released photos of a vehicle of interest connected to the July shooting death of a woman.

San Francisco watchdog Ricci Wynne arrested, suspected of pimping

OPD said Juliette Harris, nicknamed Jewels, was shot on July 25, just after 2 a.m. in the 2000 block of International Boulevard.

When officers arrived at the location, they found Harris lying in the street, and tended to her until medics came. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Oakland Police Department has released photos of a vehicle of interest connected to the July shooting death of 24-year-old Juliette Harris.

Investigators said the vehicle tied to the homicide is described as a white, four-door Toyota Corolla with a spoiler and tinted windows. The car distinctively has missing hubcaps on the rear drivers and front passengers sides.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Anyone with have information on the case is asked contact the OPDs Homicide Section at (510) 238-3821.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
The South Dakota Capitol grounds and lake in Pierre. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)

South Dakotas Open Meetings Commission decided Monday in Pierre that five local governments violated open meetings laws.

The commission found no violation in another case, and postponed a decision on another. Written reprimands will be issued for the violations.

The commission is a five-member body of states attorneys appointed by the state attorney general.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last week, the commission met for the first time in nearly four years following a period of inactivity under a previous attorney general and problems maintaining a full roster of commission members. At last weeks meeting, the commission found violations in five of six cases considered.

Executive session violations

Some of the cases heard Monday involved closed-door meetings known as executive sessions.

State law allows executive sessions only for certain topics, such as personnel matters, consulting with lawyers about litigation and discussing contract negotiations. Government bodies must have the item on the agenda, state the reason for entering the executive session, pass a motion to conduct the executive session, stick to the intended topic while in the executive session, and conduct any final actions on the matter in open session.

In Pennington County, two county commissioners filed complaints about executive sessions against the rest of the countys five-member commission.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Open Meetings Commission found that the county commission violated open meetings laws on Nov. 7, 2023, when it conducted an executive session discussion about compensation comparisons between counties. The board had strayed from the stated purpose of the executive session, which was a discussion of a particular employees performance.

At the same meeting, the board violated open meetings laws when it came back into open session and voted to deny the employees request for a salary increase. The request was not on the commissions agenda.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

The Open Meetings Commission did not find a violation in a third accusation against the Pennington County Commission for a June 6, 2023, meeting. During that meeting, the county commission was in an executive session while it allegedly directed an employee to conduct a wage study and market analysis for department heads. The complaint alleged that the action was improper for an executive session and should have been taken in an open session.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Sturgis City Council was found to have violated executive session laws on two occasions. On May 6 of this year, the council entered a closed session without stating a purpose. On Feb. 16, 2023, the council improperly deliberated in private on whether a city manager or city administrator was better for the community. The discussion was deemed improper for a closed session because it was about the positions in general, rather than a review of a specific employee.

Public notice violations

The Carlyle Township Board of Supervisors in Beadle County was found to have violated state law by failing to post an agenda in advance of a meeting in October 2023.

The Charles Mix County Commission was found to have violated state law by failing to post an agenda for its May 23, 2024, meeting.

The Tripp City Council committed a similar infraction when it failed to post an agenda before a special meeting where a police officers resignation was accepted. The city attorney acknowledged the error and noted that the vote was retaken at a subsequent meeting where it was listed on the agenda.

No violation found

The Open Meetings Commission did not find a violation in a case against the City of Lead Commission. The local government body voted in January of this year to support legislation for a community center and authorized an employee to travel to Pierre to lobby for it. The complaint centered on whether the agenda item, labeled Community Center Update, adequately informed the public of a pending vote.

Decision postponed

The Open Meetings Commission deferred its decision on a complaint against the Green Valley Sanitary District in Pennington County. A complaint alleged that three trustees secured a $200,000 loan for the district without a public vote. The districts attorney argued that open-meetings laws may not apply to sanitary districts. The commission postponed a ruling pending further research.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  Monday morning, volunteers at Northwoods Community Church in Peoria loaded shoe boxes onto semi-trucks headed to children all over the world.

Operation Christmas Child began in 1993. Since then, the global project has sent boxes to over 220 million children worldwide.

Each shoebox is filled with toys, school supplies hygiene items, and a personal note.

Operation Christmas Child gifts shoeboxes to millions of kids in need

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the Area Coordinator, Paul Bierma, Northwoods alone received over 4,000 boxes from local community members. He said this project has allowed parents to teach their children about the gift of giving.

So many parents that Ive talked to take the opportunity to take their kids shopping and the kids really get on board with the idea that theyre buying something for another child that has needs, Bierma said.

Now, the shoe boxes are headed to a processing center in Aurora, Illinois. From there, Bierma said the packages will be sorted by age and gender, and then sent out to kids in need. For those who dropped off a package, packages can be tracked on the Samaritans Purse website.

Last year, over 10.5 million shoe boxes were sent to children around the world. 25,000 of those were from members of the Central Illinois community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com.
Soon after the results of the 2024 presidential election were announced, many governors and mayors responded by stating that their jurisdictions would not cooperate with the Department of Homeland Security on immigration enforcement.

There are understandable reasons why these jurisdictions might be concerned about increased immigration enforcement. According to DHS, there are likely more than 11 million foreign nationals living in the U.S. without status, including over 8 million who have lived here peacefully, productively and without incident since before 2010. Many of these individuals now have U.S. citizen children, spouses and other close relatives in their family.

Conversely, DHS also recently told Congress that there are over 650,000 foreign nationals who are in removal proceedings and have been convicted or charged with a crime. Notably, this number does not include individuals who have criminal histories but have not yet been identified or apprehended by DHS. As to that number, DHS reports that for the period between Oct. 1, 2020, through July 22, 2024, state and local law enforcement agencies declined to cooperate with the feds on nearly 24,000 cases where the department asked jurisdictions to identify or hold criminal detainees until they could be placed into DHS custody.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As with many complicated issues, compromise is required. Homeland Security currently only has funding to hold 41,500 foreign nationals in detention at any given time. As millions of people cannot be detained or removed at one time, this means that priorities must be set. If states and cities want to protect their otherwise law-abiding undocumented residents from deportation, they should assist DHS in its efforts to enforce the immigration laws against foreign nationals with known criminal histories.

The legitimate concerns that states and cities have had with regard to cooperating with DHS can be mitigated. First, many states and cities were concerned that foreign nationals who were unjustly arrested for reasons of racial profiling might then be unjustly placed into removal proceedings. But, these jurisdictions are the very entities in charge of their law enforcement officials. If they are concerned about unjust arrests and racial profiling, they can mitigate the risk of this occurring through officer training and oversight.

Second, many states and cities have expressed concerns that they might be held legally liable for detaining foreign nationals at the request of DHS in cases where the foreign national was not lawfully able to be detained. This risk can be mitigated by advance work and communication in allowing DHS access to jails, prisons and police departments so that DHS knows exactly when a foreign national with a criminal record is about to be released.

That way, DHS can apprehend and detain criminal noncitizens for removal purposes without requiring any jurisdiction to potentially violate laws by holding individuals for longer than permitted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Finally, in the long run, jurisdictions with immigrant communities are likely to benefit in two additional ways by their elected officials cooperation with DHS regarding criminal noncitizens. First, the communities where these individuals would have resided will inevitably be safer, as at least some percentage of this cohort would have likely reoffended.

Second, the American people will be far more likely to support enacting generous legal immigration policies if they know there will be immigration consequences levied upon foreign nationals who commit crimes. The last three Democratic DHS secretaries have all agreed that jurisdictions should work with DHS on detaining and removing foreign nationals with criminal records.

Many lawmakers are fond of saying that solving complicated problems requires use of a scalpel instead of a hatchet. Immigration is no exception. But, if states and cities leave DHS with no scalpels in their toolkit, there is no room for dissatisfaction when the inevitable suboptimal results arise from necessitating the hatchet.

Leon Fresco is an immigration attorney in Holland and Knights Washington, D.C., office. He focuses his practice on providing global immigration representation to businesses, universities and individuals.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Joe Bidens announcement on Tuesday of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah couldnt have come soon enough for Lebanon, a country in the midst of a yearslong economic crisis and intense political paralysis. The war, which began on Oct. 8, 2023, as a series of hostile exchanges across the Israel-Lebanon border and escalated into a heavy Israeli air and ground campaign in Southern Lebanon, has destroyed entire communities and turned some of Beiruts districts into a war zone. Hours before the U.S.-brokered deal with Lebanon was announced, Israel struck multiple Hezbollah targets in Beirut in what was no doubt a message to the Lebanese militia: Israel can sustain the conflict for as long as it sees fit.

In the end, Israel and Hezbollah concluded that they could gain more through negotiations than they could on the battlefield. The agreement is a recitation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended a previous monthlong war between the two adversaries more than 17 years ago but was viewed by all the parties involved, Israel in particular, as a lackluster initiative that wasnt enforced. The current deal seeks to strengthen UNSCR 1701 by adding stronger monitoring. During a 60-day ceasefire, Israeli troops will withdraw from Southern Lebanon, Hezbollah will do the same, and the Lebanese army will re-deploy to the area. Meanwhile, the approximately 60,000 Israelis who have been displaced in northern Israel will get to return home. In effect, the deal allows both Israel and Hezbollah to claim victory; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can boast that Hezbollahs military capacity has been significantly diminished; Hezbollah can claim that its resistance drove Israeli forces out of Lebanon.

Over the long term, the pause in fighting is designed to give Israel and Lebanon the time and space to officially demarcate their shared border. Yet, at the risk of sounding like a pessimist, just getting to that point would be an achievement. A lot can go wrong between now and then. After all, signing an agreement means nothing if it isnt implemented.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There are any number of ways the agreement can go sideways.

First and foremost, the question of whether Hezbollah will actually withdraw north of the Litani River, approximately 20 miles from the Israeli-Lebanese border, is very much in question. Southern Lebanon is Hezbollahs support base; the militia is a core part of the social fabric in the region, its fighters have homes and families there, and the small towns and villages dotting the area have often been given the short end of the stick from the Lebanese government, which has proven incapable of delivering social services or even basic administration. Hezbollah may be willing to move their weapons caches further north, but the idea that tens of thousands of Hezbollah fighters will uproot their lives is difficult to believe. In this case, Israel will then be forced with a choice: renew military operations and risk the resumption of war, or loosen enforcement and risk Hezbollah maintaining its power base.

Second, is the Lebanese army capable of patrolling Southern Lebanon to Israels satisfaction? While the Lebanese army is a well-respected institution inside the country and crosses the usual sectarian divisions that have defined Lebanese political life for decades, its also arguably the weakest military in the Middle East. At 70,000-80,000 soldiers, the Lebanese army is smaller than Hezbollah. The roughly $3 billion in U.S. military aid since 2006 has barely kept the Lebanese army afloat. The defense systems you would expect a modern military to possess  air defenses, fighter and bomber aircraft, patrol vessels, various air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions  are either in short supply or nonexistent. Due in large part to Lebanons financial crisis, some of Lebanons soldiers have to work second jobs to support themselves and their families. Israel understands all this but is nevertheless unlikely to be very patient. If the Lebanese army is unable or unwilling to do the job of clearing Hezbollah forces out and confronting the remnants that remain, the Israeli army will do it for them as Netanyahu made abundantly clear during his remarks upon announcing the ceasefire. This, in effect, would negate the ceasefire and risk plunging the country into war again.

Assuming the ceasefire in Lebanon sticks, Israeli and U.S. officials are hopeful it will change Hamas calculations about continuing its war with Israel in Gaza. What Hamas wanted was support from Hezbollah and others, an Israeli official told the Times of Israel. Once you cut the connection, you have the ability to reach a deal. Its a strategic achievement. Hamas is alone.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But this sounds more like wishful thinking than reality. Hamas has experienced the most destructive war with Israel in its 37-year history, with tens of thousands of its fighters killed, its upper echelon wiped out and its control in Gaza at its weakest since it kicked the Palestinian Authority out of the coastal territory in 2007. Even so, its bottom-line negotiating position remains unchanged: If Israel wants to retrieve the rest of its hostages, it must withdraw entirely from Gaza and end the war permanently. Hamas strategy doesnt depend on Hezbollah, so the notion it will adopt Hezbollahs position now that it is out of the fight is fanciful at best.

If all goes according to plan, Lebanon will now have a chance to rebuild. But how long the peace will stick is another matter entirely.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Special counsel Jack Smith filed a motion with the trial court in the District of Columbia to dismiss the Jan. 6 election interference case against President-elect Donald Trump on Monday, kicking up a flurry of questions  namely, why would the special counsel pull the plug? Smith later filed a motion with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to dismiss the appeal of the government documents case against Trump. While Trump has vowed to fire Smith, why would the special counsel do something to make it easy for Trump, by dismissing the cases himself before Trump is sworn in to office in January? Is this simply an example of what historian Timothy Snyder calls obeying an authoritarian in advance?

Not at all. In fact, this move could be an effort to keep the cases alive in the long term. An interesting tell in each motion is Smiths request to dismiss the cases without prejudice. That means that the cases can be filed again. By dismissing the cases now on his own terms, Smith blocks Trumps attorney general from dismissing the cases for all time.

In addition, by filing his motions pre-emptively, Smith was able to explain his reasons for dismissing the case, rather than allowing Trumps future AG to mischaracterize them. According to Smith, he was dismissing the case not because of the merits or strength of the cases, but because he had to. As Smith explains, the DOJs Office of Legal Counsel, whose opinions are binding on the special counsel, has concluded that a sitting president may not be indicted or criminally prosecuted under the Constitution. OLC reasoned that criminal charges would make it impossible for a president to carry out his constitutional duties in light of the distraction of preparing a criminal defense, the public stigma that would hamper his leadership role and the obstacles prison would impose on his ability to perform his duties.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Smith was careful to note that this relief from criminal prosecution is temporary, and ends when the president leaves office. Smith cites OLC as concluding that this form of immunity for a sitting president would generally result in the delay, but not the forbearance, of any criminal trial That is, Trump gets a reprieve, but only during his term in office.

Of course, as in most criminal cases, the statute of limitations here is five years from the date of the last act alleged in the indictments. In the Jan. 6 case, the last alleged conduct occurred in January 2021, so the deadline for filing new charges would typically be January 2026. In the documents case, in which the last act occurred in August 2022, the statute will expire in August 2027. Both dates will arrive well before Trumps term ends. But Smiths brief contains another tell when he writes that OLC has noted the possibility that a court might equitably toll the statute of limitations to permit proceeding against the President once out of office. That is, a court could call a timeout, pausing it on Trumps inauguration day on Jan. 21, 2025, and then restarting the clock when Trump leaves office in 2029. That would give prosecutors plenty of time to refile charges. Certainly, the tolling issue would be litigated, but by dismissing the case now, Smith preserves this issue for future prosecutors to argue.

Finally, Smith ends by stating that the governments position on the merits of the defendants prosecution has not changed. That is, he stands by the charges that Trump attempted to defraud the United States by interfering with the lawful transfer or presidential power, obstruct the joint session of Congress to certify the election and violate the voting rights of millions of American citizens by falsely claiming fraud in the 2020 election.

Smith further stands by his charges that Trump unlawfully retained sensitive government documents and obstructed the governments investigation when it sought to retrieve them. In fact, the appeal against Trumps two co-defendants in the documents case will continue unless and until a new AG dismisses it. The case was dismissed not because of any decision on the merits of the case, but because District Judge Aileen Cannon found that the appointment of the special counsel was illegal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As OLC has written, the bar on prosecuting a president is not forever  a president is ultimately accountable for his misconduct that occurs before, during, and after his service to the country. As Smith writes, the president lacks the prerogatives of a king and his protection from prosecution.

It may be that a future attorney general, whether serving in a Democratic or Republican administration, will lack the appetite to resuscitate the cases against Trump in 2029. But Smith has done all he can to preserve that possibility.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
In early October, former President Barack Obama stepped into a Pittsburgh house party and, with cameras rolling, suggested that Black men might be seeking alternatives and other reasons to vote against Vice President Kamala Harris for president.

My best friend of 30 years told me over dinner recently that he had voted for Barack Obama  twice  and Hillary Clinton. But Democrats kept telling me how to live, and they just went too far, Mike, he said.

He voted independent in 2020, and then for Trump in 2024. My party lost him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Obamas message to voters in Pittsburgh resonated negatively with people like him, he said, but his frustration isnt with a woman at the top of the ticket or with equality.

Its how (Democrats) force it on you  in our movies, economic policies, corporate processes, how to love, how to talk  all of it, instead of letting us get there on our own, he told me.

While my gut instinct was to say, Youre wrong, I kept listening.

You see, I work with non-white elected officials, organizers and activists. Ive seen and felt their frustration and pain as they tirelessly work to undo years of redlining, unlawful labor practices, corporate malfeasance, discriminatory hiring and lending practices, barriers to voting, and the unjust fear that stepping outside might mean not coming back.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

My friends wife then told me her own friend stopped talking to her after learning she, too, had voted for Trump. Sadness gripped me.

The Democratic Party asks voters to rely on the federal government to solve large, looming problems, only to pull away from voters who disagree with us? Thats unsustainable if you view the relationship between voters and government as a family affair, as I do.

I dont believe that most Trump supporters want chaos and mayhem in the streets. What they do want is for the Democratic Party to drop its for the people charade, especially when its willing to disavow so easily one-time neighbors and friends in the name of the country.

In 2007, then-Sen. Obama, in his announcement speech, asked us to be one to reject the face of a politics thats shut you out. At the time, I was filled with deep cynicism, uncontrollable anger and emotional isolation after my mother died. I found the world to be unfair, but Obama and his campaign challenged me to rise to the occasion, to bring people together in the name of service and hope.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I continue to reject politics that reject people.

You have to understand, my mother suffered from bipolar disorder and struggled with drug addiction to self-medicate. I was removed from my home multiple times to live in the publicly funded California foster care system and with neighbors.

I remember a Republican keeping my mother in her home when she was too debilitated to work. Former Rep. David Dreier (R-Calif.) pushed Section 8 paperwork through the bureaucracy to keep her housed and safe.

I remember group home counselors, neighbors and friends who clothed, fed, housed and loved me. They taught me to read and to be curious.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And I remember my best friend and his immigrant parents, who had traveled from Mexico to the U.S. in the 1970s, as part of the community that cared for me and taught me to respect the experiences of others.

Now, I want to be clear: my best friend isnt storming the Capitol. He has never condoned Republicans harassing gay people, women, transgender individuals, Asians, immigrants or Black people.

He knows that supporting Trumps improprieties is difficult to reconcile, including the 34 felonyh convictions. But he strongly believes that Democrats cloak bad behavior, whereas Trump does not. Choosing between these options, hed rather support the devil he knows.

In 2020, I was thrust into the middle of the George Floyd protests when I decided to run for Claremont City Council in California. My district, a quarter Latino and 10 percent Black, was at odds. The majority of Latino residents believed the defund movement was wrong and supported the police, while the majority of Black residents believed we needed to reduce the police force, which was telling.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More telling, though, were the mostly White liberals with Biden signs in their yards who supported the national defund movement yet spoke out against increasing housing stock to include low-income families and reducing homelessness through comprehensive care programs. To me, this was coded language to keep poor families  mostly Black and Brown  out of their community.

My friend moved to Clark County, Nev., after being priced out of California. His neighbors are Black, Brown and White  Democrats, Republicans and Independents. His kids play with their children; his wife has found new friends; and they have a community that accepts them.

Democrats, he argued, use inclusive language until the issue lands in their backyard, then they obstruct progress to protect the status quo.

After Obamas comments in Pittsburgh, we watched Democrats pounce on President-elect Trump with attack after attack, citing everything we know is wrong with him while telling the nation we are the party to trust. We folded in the face of anger and adversity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last week, President Biden met with President-elect Trump in the Oval Office to discuss a peaceful transition of power. This is the first of many steps for the Democratic Party to rebuild generational trust with the voters we lost.

In the coming weeks, the Democratic Party should call for a unity summit with Republicans to discuss policy solutions for everyday Americans. Compromise can be reached, and a nation can see the opposition parties sitting together, discussing solutions to improve the lives of every American.

Our government is like a family Christmas dinner, filled with opinionated uncles and aunts, sometimes saying outlandish things to provoke a negative reaction. However, we need patient leadership to navigate through those destructive tendencies and bring us together, or the next four, eight, 12 years will be the same as the last eight.

Democrats have been isolating half the nation for nearly a decade, and it hasnt worked. Its time to write a new script.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After dinner, I asked my best friend if he ever considered not being my friend because of my politics. Sensing my insecurity, he said no, because family sticks together, no matter what.

Michael Ceraso is a Democratic strategist who served on four presidential campaigns, including those of President Barack Obama, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Pete Buttigieg. In 2017, he founded Winning Margins, a communications firm focused on amplifying emerging voices in the media, as well as Community Groundwork, a nonprofit supporting two-year students interested in civic careers.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
On the night Donald Trump won the presidency, Delaware sent Sarah McBride to Congress. An experienced and effective state legislator, McBride ran for office on pocketbook issues and the needs and concerns of her state. She won by a resounding margin of more than 15%. Voters saw her skills and experience, as well as her easy way with people, and sent her to Washington to work on their behalf.

Rep.-elect McBride hasnt even been sworn in yet as a member of Congress, but already many of her future Republican colleagues are making it harder for her to do her job. Already, they have gone as far as using their time in Congress to tell her which bathroom she should be allowed to use. This is bad for McBride, for Delawareans and for our country.

Whats going on here? Well, Sarah McBride is transgender. Thats it. Shes just living her life, doing her job. But Reps. Nancy Mace and Marjorie Taylor Greene have decided that McBrides mere presence in the U.S. Capitol is a crisis. They have demonized her with their crusade to police which bathrooms she can use at the Capitol, with the support of Speaker Mike Johnson. Greene even threatened her with physical violence if she ever saw McBride in a womens bathroom.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Amid all the hate thrown McBrides way, shes remained steadfast in her commitment to the needs of Delaware. This is a clearly targeted attack, not only on the first trans woman in Congress, but also on all trans people who work in and visit the Capitol. Maces bill and the speakers support for it have created a hostile work environment. How exactly would this be enforced without violating the privacy of anyone entering a bathroom? While House Republicans claim to protect women and girls, this invasion of privacy would put all women at risk.

And what is the response from the rest of the Republican conference to this disgusting targeting of a future colleague? I have seen exactly zero pushback against their cruelty and fear mongering. The silence of the so-called moderate, governing-minded Republicans has been deafening. As the saying goes, silence is complicity. And while Speaker Johnson claims to be a deeply Christian man, true Christian values would not allow the treatment of a new colleague with such disdain and disrespect, not to mention their direct threats of violence.

As McBride observed last week, this is a blatant attempt from far right-wing extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions to what Americans are facing. Mace and Greenes cruel antics dont change the fact that they are part of the Republican conference that led the least productive Congress in modern history. That is not hyperbole. They literally have nothing to show their constituents about how they lowered costs, increased wages or improved their health outcomes. Democrats are working to give actual economic relief to working people. And the Republicans hope to get people to look away while they prop up a system of gross economic inequality, like when one pickpocket bumps into you so the other can grab your wallet.

And Greene and Mace have an additional incentive beyond the distractions: they are as ever trolling for dollars. The more outrageous you are, the more TV time you receive and the more likes, shares and donations you get from the GOP base. This is the extremely sad and sorry state of affairs in politics today, and people such as Mace and Greene will only stop serving this garbage if we stop consuming it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Unfortunately, we know this same playbook will come directly from the Oval Office in 2025. Earlier this year, Republican strategist Sarah Longwell called the Trump campaign the most vicious, despicable, lie-filled campaign Ive ever seen. It was. From disgusting attacks on women, to nasty racist rhetoric about immigrants and migrants, to the denigration of Puerto Ricans and Black Americans, to cruel assaults on transgender Americans, the fearmongering and scapegoating were breathtaking in their depth and breadth.

The truth of this moment is that there is no bottom to the cruelty MAGA Republicans will use. They will not stop scapegoating and demonizing other Americans because they seem to have nothing else to offer. And if their GOP colleagues wont stand up to them, we have to do it. We must push back against the inhumanity, while also holding them accountable for all the work they are not doing while carrying out their witch hunts.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
The last few months have been tough for Google. After a judge held the company illegally monopolized online search, the Justice Department just proposed remedies, including forcing Google to sell its Chrome web browser, prohibiting exclusive search engine licensing deals and self-preferencing, obliging the company to license its data and web index more broadly and limiting its control over the evolving artificial intelligence industry.

Google may complain that these remedies are excessive and anti-innovation. But forward-looking pro-public tech innovation requires more than a slap on the wrist. It requires leveraging this opportunity to create a digital ecosystem that actually fosters innovation and protects public interests. This is a role that antitrust enforcement has often played, as in previous actions around AT&T and Microsoft.

The United States is good at creating new innovations, but sometimes less good at allowing them to scale in ways that displace incumbents and provide distributed public benefits and shared growth. Instead, yesterdays innovators have become todays entrenched monopolies, freezing out smaller rivals and extracting value from customers. Indeed, economists have found that American companies are hurting economic growth by using their financial resources to entrench their dominance, rather than pursue genuine innovation and risk-taking.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thats what a U.S. federal court found Google guilty of in its decision last August. Google has been paying rivals such as Apple and Samsung enormous sums to cooperate rather than compete, and using its scale and control over distribution channels (such as Chrome and Android) to preference its own products. According to a former Google executive, this was meant to basically freeze the ecosystem in place around Google as the dominant internet search engine. This lets Google extract value from its customers by reducing its quality and increasing its prices.

Distribution channels matter in Googles business, as does having enough data and an index of the web, and attracting advertisers. Any startup that wants to innovate in search needs access to these capabilities to get going.

A strong innovation ecosystem in search would give potential innovators access to these capabilities, opening up the market to newcomers. And thats what the Justice Departments proposed remedies aim to do.

As the DOJ has recognized, remedies need to go beyond just banning the payments that Google makes to its competitors. Banning these payments would restore the incentives of distribution partners such as Apple and Samsung to compete with Google, but it wouldnt give newcomers access to distribution channels and other capabilities they need to actually innovate. Apple and Samsung might create their own search engines or license Bing instead of Google, but small startups still couldnt enter the market. More competition, perhaps, but still a clubby oligopoly of big tech platforms.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The DOJs break-up proposal to force Google to sell Chrome is getting the most attention. Chrome has two-thirds of the worlds browser market. And Google is using Chrome to preference both its core search product, and its new AI tools, leveraging its control over distribution to freeze out AI innovators such as Perplexity, Claude and ChatGPT. Opening up the Chrome platform is essential to distributing the capabilities to innovate to a broader swath of hungry new entrants.

The DOJs proposal to force Google to sell Chrome is a promising step in the right direction, even if it still needs to work out the details. A court order to simply sell Chrome to the highest bidder without other protections could have the unintended effect of delivering it into the hands of todays big tech platforms and AI barons, as a more publicly interested buyer probably couldnt pay as much.

But to fully restore innovation in search, Chrome and other internet browsers need a business model that lets them serve the needs of their users, rather than serve their corporate backers. Tech platforms currently subsidize development of their browsers as vehicles to distribute their other products, and independent browsers (like Firefox) earn revenue from tech platforms that pay them for preferential distribution. Recognizing its natural monopoly characteristics, one proposal to turn search into a public utility business is intriguing  though this might be outside the control of the DOJ and the judiciary.

At this stage in the tech innovation cycle, whats good for Google is probably not whats good for the United States. The company had its time in the sun and developed lasting innovations. But scrappy outsider startups are better at innovating because they lack the bureaucracy, power structures and vested interests of a large organization.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This moment is not just about reining in one company, but its also about reclaiming a digital economy that serves us all. The DOJs proposed remedies are sensible steps toward bolstering a supportive innovation ecosystem by giving newcomers access to the capabilities they need to innovate.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Last week, the Brookings Institution held a security conference with Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command  the U.S. military arm charged with confronting the hostile rise of the Peoples Republic of China.

Here he addressed the growing danger of conflict with China, warning, Over the summer I saw the [largest] rehearsal and the most joint exercises from the Peoples Republic of China that I had ever seen  over an entire career of being an observer.

Paparo recounted that 2027 is now the date by which Xi Jinping has said the Peoples Liberation Army must be ready to seize Taiwan, eight years earlier than Chinas original target date of 2035. He said Beijing has made it a war of necessity rather than a war of choice because of the working of Chinas 2005 Anti-Secession Law, which declared that if Taiwan took too long to accept peaceful unification, China would be entitled to unify it by non-peaceful means. That enactment was Chinas answer to Americas Taiwan Relations Act, which made Taiwans democratic security an official interest of the United States.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The U.S. policy of strategic ambiguity on whether it would defend Taiwan must finally be replaced by strategic clarity  that an attack on any U.S. asset or ally, even if less than massive, will be treated as the act of war it is and will bring down the full non-nuclear force of the U.S. military on China. There can be no question of incremental, tit-for-tat, non-escalatory targeting that would drain U.S. resources and will (and allow Beijing to re-arm and re-group). China must be made to understand the self-destructive stupidity and futility of starting a war with the United States.

It will soon fall on President-elect Trump to send that message to Beijing, and far more effectively than President Biden has. On four different occasions, he told journalists that the U.S. would use military force to defend Taiwan, only to have White House and State Department officials walk back the remarks. Presumably, Marco Rubio as secretary of State and Mike Waltz as national security adviser will ensure that a strong Trump message of resolve will be reinforced, not undermined, by the foreign policy establishment within the federal government, aided and abetted by business leaders more committed to corporate profits than Americas national security.

When Trump was asked by reporters in 2016 the same question that Biden got  What would you do if China attacked Taiwan?  he refused to disclose his intentions but ominously growled, China knows what Im gonna do. Out of office, however, Trump has struck a less Taiwan-friendly note, blaming it for taking away the U.S. computer chip industry and not paying the U.S. for security assistance. He has also said his response to a Chinese attack on Taiwan would merely be to impose crippling tariffs, equivalent to Bidens ineffective warning of purely economic sanctions to forestall Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine.

Xi is likely to be as undeterred by a nonmilitary response as his no-limits strategic partner was in February 2022, since both dictators claim to be playing for existential stakes, reunifying their homelands. Ultimately, tariffs and sanctions can be managed and evaded, but a decisive military response to a hostile military action can impose unacceptable costs and risks for Xi or any subsequent Chinese leader. If Xi is as wise as Trump and many others believe, he wont risk all, including his rule, on a foolish Taiwan venture.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump can show his successor-cum-predecessor how deterrence of aggression actually works and thereby save the world from a catastrophic Chinese miscalculation. Immediately after resuming the presidency in January, he can set the right tone for the U.S.-China relationship by sending a carrier task force through the international waters of the Taiwan Strait for the first time in 18 years.

Joseph Bosco served as China country director for the secretary of Defense from 2005 to 2006 and as Asia-Pacific director of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief from 2009 to 2010. He is a nonresident fellow at the Institute for Corean-American Studies, a member of the advisory board of the Global Taiwan Institute and member of the advisory board of The Vandenberg Coalition.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Donald Trumps political resurgence and election victory have reignited debates about his unconventional leadership style and unorthodox decision-making. Now that his new administration is taking shape, the focus has turned to his Cabinet and other appointments, prompting many to ask: Are these selections the most shocking in American history?

While shock is admittedly a subjective concept, Trumps choices undeniably raise eyebrows due to their sheer defiance of political norms and the surprising mix of qualifications  or lack thereof  in absolutely foundational roles. Examining his selections reveals a broader narrative about the evolution of American politics and the shifting expectations for those in power.

To call Trumps Cabinet appointments shocking requires a look at the context in which they are made. Trump has never shied away from controversy. His outsider status in 2016 and his penchant for breaking with tradition were central to his appeal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Voters knew he wasnt playing by the old rules, and his latest choices appear to double or triple down on that persona. His administrations appointees often reflect not just his political priorities but also what has become his emerging worldview: one shaped by a veritable stew of business interests, populist rhetoric, and a disdain for conventional political expertise.

Trumps choices underscore his broader agenda of challenging established norms. Consider his preference for appointees from the private sector rather than career politicians or bureaucrats. This emphasis is not entirely new; Dwight D. Eisenhower famously brought in corporate leaders during his administration, believing their management skills would translate well to government.

But Trump has gone further, prioritizing loyalty and ideological alignment over traditional qualifications. His reliance on figures with limited policy experience but strong media presence signals a shift from expertise-driven governance to a more personality-driven approach. This break from tradition has shocked many who view governance as requiring deep institutional knowledge.

The controversies surrounding Trumps picks are, of course, profoundly intensified by the ideological polarization of todays political climate. Presidents have historically sought a balance within their Cabinets, choosing individuals who could appeal across factions or represent a diverse array of perspectives. Abraham Lincolns famous Team of Rivals approach exemplifies this; he brought together individuals with competing ideologies to foster debate and ensure all viewpoints were considered. Trumps selections, in contrast, reflect a narrower focus on loyalty and alignment with his agenda, deepening partisan divides and leaving little room for compromise or dissent within his inner circle.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To understand the magnitude of Trumps approach, its helpful to examine as many historical analogues as we can.

Andrew Jacksons administration in the early 19th century offers a striking comparison. Like Trump, Jackson presented himself as a champion of the common man, railing against an entrenched elite. Jacksons appointments to his so-called Kitchen Cabinet were lambasted for prioritizing personal loyalty over qualifications, much like Trumps choices today. Similarly, Franklin D. Roosevelt faced criticism during the New Deal era for appointing confidants and allies whose primary qualification was their unwavering support for his ambitious agenda. Both presidents were accused of undermining the norms of governance to push their political visions forward.

Trumps choices differ in the sheer volume of unconventional appointments and the modern media landscapes amplification of their controversies. If appointees like Betsy DeVos, whose limited experience in public education drew widespread criticism when she was tapped as secretary of Education during Trumps first term, symbolized this shift, the appointment of wrestling mogul Linda McMahon is next-level.

The evolution of these choices provoke sharp debates about the role of qualifications in leadership. Are fresh perspectives and alignment with the presidents vision sufficient, or does a lack of technical expertise risk undermining the effectiveness of federal agencies? The answer depends largely on ones political perspective, but the pattern itself is intentional and unmistakable.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This shift also reflects a broader trend in the politicization of expertise. In past eras, technical knowledge and policy experience were seen as essential for most Cabinet roles. For example, John F. Kennedys appointment of Robert McNamara as secretary of Defense was widely praised for bringing a technocratic approach to military policy, even if his tenure was later criticized for its role in escalating the Vietnam War. In contrast, Trumps choices seem to reject the idea that expertise is a prerequisite, signaling a populist belief that outsiders can break through bureaucratic stagnation and bring real change.

This approach is risky. The federal government is an enormous and complex entity, requiring nuanced understanding to navigate effectively. Appointing individuals who lack familiarity with these intricacies risks inefficiency, mismanagement or outright failure. Supporters see these risks as worthwhile trade-offs if it means dismantling entrenched systems they view as ineffective or corrupt. Trumps choices, then, are not just about personnel but about the very nature of governance and accountability.

The medias role in amplifying the drama surrounding Trumps appointments cannot be overlooked. In an age of hyper-focused 24/7 news cycles and social media, every decision is scrutinized in real time, often with sensationalist framing. This creates a feedback loop: Trump makes a controversial pick, critics and media outlets amplify the outrage, and Trumps supporters rally around him, framing the backlash as proof that hes disrupting the status quo. This dynamic has amplified the perception of his appointments as shocking, even when historical comparisons might suggest otherwise.

Ultimately, whether Trumps Cabinet and related appointments are the most shocking ever depends on ones perspective. To his critics, these choices represent a dangerous departure from the norms and expertise that have historically guided American governance. To his supporters, they are a bold rejection of a failing system and a necessary step toward draining the swamp. Historical comparisons to figures like Jackson and Roosevelt show that unconventional appointments are not unprecedented, but Trumps unique blend of loyalty-driven choices, media-savvy appointees, and polarization have created a distinctive atmosphere.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the end, Trumps appointments are emblematic of his presidency: unpredictable, polarizing and steeped in his outsider ethos. Whether they are shocking or simply reflective of the times, they force Americans to grapple with fundamental questions about leadership, governance and the balance between disruption and tradition.

History will judge whether these appointments were bold innovations or reckless gambles, but their impact on the political landscape is undeniable.

Aron Solomon, JD, is the chief strategy officer for Amplify. He has taught entrepreneurship at McGill University and the University of Pennsylvania, and was elected to Fastcase 50, recognizing the top 50 legal innovators in the world.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 last time a president signed an executive order with a price tag in the hundreds of billions of dollars, that president was Joe Biden, and the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the policy as administrative overreach.

Now, president-elect Donald Trump has announced his own executive order worth hundreds of billions of dollars, promising to sign a massive tariff hike on goods from Mexico, Canada and China on his first day in office.

Those tariffs could be the first test of just how cravenly loyal the Supreme Courts conservative wing is to the man who appointed three of the sitting justices to the bench.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tariff is just a fancy word for a tax paid by U.S. businesses on imported goods, with the added costs passed on to American consumers. Trumps proposed tariffs of 25 percent on all products from Mexico and Canada, and 10 percent on all products from China, will cost about $272 billion per year, economists told CNN.

The president does have some congressional power to enact tariffs, but a policy as massive as the one Trump is proposing would normally trigger something called the major questions doctrine, legal analysts have pointed out.

Thats the same doctrine the Supreme Court used to strike down Bidens student loan forgiveness program and to hamper his efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

It basically says that anytime a federal agency tries to enact a policy with vast economic and political significance, the courts have to scrutinize whether Congress actually intended to give the agency that power, the justices decided in 2022 in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In that case, the Supreme Court held that even though Congress had given the EPA the power to set environmental performance standards by applying the best system of emission reduction, Bidens EPA couldnt reduce emissions by phasing out coal and gas plants.

A year later, in Biden v. Nebraska, the court struck down Bidens $400 billion student loan forgiveness plan, even though Congress had given the Secretary of Education the power to waive or modify laws and regulations governing student loan programs.

Critics have blasted both decisions as a judicial power grab and accused the justices of legislating from the bench. But whatever the merits of the rule itself, the exact same justices that struck down Bidens policies in 2022 and 2023 are likely to decide on Trumps tariffs.

Companies that will be impacted by the new taxes have been preparing lawsuits for weeks, according to a report from NBC, meaning the rule will almost certainly end up litigation. The big question now is whether the Supreme Court will apply the same legal standard for Trump.

In his statement on Monday, Trump seemed to hint at some type of national security justification for the tariffs. His planned executive order is in response to thousands of people pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing crime and drugs at levels never seen before, including fentanyl originating in China, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But so far, national security hasnt figured in the major questions doctrine. In fact, critics argue that the rule itself threatens national security. And even if there were an exception, its not clear what an import tax paid by American companies has to do with illegal border crossings.

Of course, its completely possible the Supreme Courts conservative majority will suddenly, conveniently decide the major questions doctrine doesnt apply to issues of national security, and that all a president has to do is say the phrase national security to end any legal scrutiny.

In that case, the Supreme Court will have passed its first MAGA loyalty test.
President-elect Donald Trump made a surprising choice for secretary of labor on Friday: a Republican congresswoman who has supported major pro-union legislation in the past. Trumps pick of Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, of Oregon, is in line with some of the GOP's recent rhetorical softening in its general hostility to organized labor. But other parts of the incoming administration have lined up behind many anti-labor policies, and its too early to tell if naming Chavez-DeRemer means anything more than projecting labor-friendly optics.

Though Chavez-DeRemer just lost her bid for re-election, she had the support of several Oregon unions. She has also supported two notable pro-union bills in Congress. As Politico reports, Chavez-DeRemer was one of just three House Republicans to sponsor the Democratic-backed PRO Act this Congress, which would make it easier for employees to unionize, among other pro-labor provisions. She also co-sponsored legislation that would lower barriers for public safety workers to collectively bargain.

In addition to local labor support in her congressional race, Politico also reports that Chavez-DeRemer had a powerful union backer for the Labor Department post. According to three people familiar with the conversations, Teamsters President Sean OBrien backed her for labor secretary. One of the most powerful unions in America, the Teamsters declined to endorse either presidential candidate for the first time since 1996, even after President Joe Bidens wins for organized labor included saving the Teamster ailing union pension plan with a huge infusion of federal funds. OBrien posted on X that the pick of Chavez-DeRemer represents Trump putting words into action.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In recent years, a few Republicans have expressed cautiously pro-labor views. When Senate Democrats sent Amazon a letter criticizing its labor practices earlier this year, they wrangled three GOP signatories, including the vice president-elect, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio. Another signatory, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, has called for pro-labor conservatism. The selection of Chavez-DeRemer raises the question of whether these Republicans may put at least a little bit of their money where their mouths are.

But while Chavez-DeRemer has supported some pro-union policies, shes far from a leftist hiding in a Republican suit. The AFL-CIO gave Chavez-DeRemer a 10% score on her first (and only) term in Congress when assessing her voters on issues important to working families. She opposed bills that provided funding for Medicaid coverage and food assistance, and supported a bill that would have undermined unemployment insurance.

As the Economic Policy Institutes Celine McNicholas points out, labor observers will want to see what positions she takes on policies such as overtime protections for workers or workplace safety inspections. During Trumps first term, his administration robbed workers of automatic overtime protection and rolled back workplace safety inspections. He also pursued countless other policies that benefited the wealthy while eviscerating regulations and policies that improve the lives of ordinary workers.

There is good reason to be skeptical that Chavez-DeRemer represents a major turn on labor for the GOP. Chavez-DeRemers ideological outlook matters, but ultimately shell be taking cues from Trump. Trump is staffing up with authors of the radical right-wing policy agenda known as Project 2025. That alone is reason to think Chavez-DeRemer will be given anti-labor directives. The AFL-CIO said in a statement regarding the selection of Chavez-DeRemer, You can stand with working people, or you can stand with Project 2025, but you cant stand with both.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump has allied whole-heartedly with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is the richest man in the world and a staunch union-buster and, according to CNN, is arguing in court that a key federal labor agency, the National Labor Relations Board, was unconstitutional and shouldnt be able to enforce findings against employers. Those arguments have come after Bidens appointees tipped the boards power toward Democrats and workers, reversing the NLRB's systematic assault of workers rights to collective bargaining during Trumps first term. The president-elects allies are exploring the unusual step of firing some of those board members.

Trump and MAGA politicians such as Vance have begun paying lip service to the idea that organized labor deserves some rhetorical support. But if they remain on the same anti-labor policy track that they always have been on  and I suspect for the most part they will  its best to understand it as a cynical plot to cleave the working class and drag them rightward. And the choice of Chavez-DeRemer may be part of the illusion.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
The Orange County School Board is weighing a settlement that would give the historic Hungerford High School property to a community trust in Eatonville in exchange for a small fee and an end to the legal battle over the land.

The school site, owned by the school district since the 1950s, is located in the heart of the historically Black town just north of Orlando.

The town and the Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community, which sued the school district in 2023 to stop the propertys sale to a private developer, have suggested a settlement that would include a lease-purchase plan so a trust  run by town residents  could obtain the 100 acres at a nominal cost, said Karen Castor Dentel, who this month left the school board after serving six years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The deal could resolve a dispute between the local activists, the town, and the school district, which acquired the land seven decades ago on the cheap and under controversial circumstances. The mostly vacant land, which abuts Interstate-4, was recently considered for a state Black history museum and resolving ownership could be a key to the towns revitalization efforts.

Castor Dentel said the board has met several times  behind closed doors as it does for all litigation  to discuss the proposed settlement.

A resolution is unlikely before January, she said.

The property serves as a de-facto gateway to Eatonville and an important piece of history for a town founded by freed slaves. The site was once home to the Robert F. Hungerford Normal and Industrial School, a private boarding school for Black students when segregation-era white school districts would not educate them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The lawsuit, filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center on behalf of the association, aimed to stop the planned $14.6 million sale of the property to developers. Many in Eatonville, including Mayor Angie Gardner, objected to the sale, arguing it could gentrify the area and displace some residents.

The land sits at the western entrance to Eatonvilles downtown, on the corner of Kennedy Boulevard and Wymore Road, and is visible from I-4.

The sale fell through the same month the lawsuit was filed, and the school board then announced that it was no longer seeking a buyer and would work with the town to decide the future of the land. School attorneys have said the district cannot donate the land to Eatonville, as some residents want, though others have questioned that position.

Since then, Castor Dentel and others have worked to resolve the dispute. Castor Dentel, who this month was elected as Orange Countys next supervisor of elections, said she hopes the school board will agree to a deal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This property is not merely an asset to OCPS, it represents a very sacred and important piece of history and resilience and self determination, she said. Thats worth more than what we could sell it for.

Michael Ollendorff, an OCPS spokesman, said the district had no comment on the proposal because it does not comment on pending litigation and that minutes of the executive sessions in which details were shared are exempt from public disclosure before a vote.

Eatonville Mayor Gardner said she wants the school board to accept the settlement and allow the town to decide the propertys future. The towns leaders, she said, have worked to develop a master plan in collaboration with an architectural firm  an effort to show the district how Eatonville will benefit from the land.

Theres really no reason for the school board to say no to this, she added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While details are still in development with public hearings planned, Gardner said one idea would be to develop a Black history museum with classroom, retail and hotel room spaces. Earlier this year, the town made a vigorous effort to designate the land for the states proposed Floridas Black history museum, though a site in St. Johns County edged out Eatonville in a contentious process.

Orange County Public Schools purchased the 300-acre property in the early 1950s for $16,000 and established the public Hungerford High, a segregated public school for Black students. After schools were desegregated, the district continued to operate the school until 2009 when it closed. The buildings were demolished a decade later and now the property is mostly an empty field surrounded by fencing.

The school district and town leaders tried to sell the property to developers for more than a decade, hoping to boost the now-limited tax base in Eatonville and jump-start a revitalization of the town, which has has struggled economically. The school district pays no taxes to the town, though a private owner would.

Town leaders have discussed and debated new projects for the Hungerford property, and town officials initially gave support to the sale that was eventually scuttled in February 2023.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

OCPS previously has sold off several hundred acres of the land and also donated some for Eatonville to build a public library. Now, 100 acres of the Hungerford property remain.

Ruthi Critton, a fifth-generation Eatonville resident, earlier this month urged the school board to resolve the Hungerford issue.

The Hungerford property holds great value to residents, she told the board, and returning the Hungerford land to Eatonville could secure the towns future for generations.

Sometimes when you plant the seed, youre not around to see the shade that the tree provides, Critton said. This is an opportunity to plant that seed.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Two orphaned otter pups that were rescued from a state park this summer have since returned to the wild in Central Oregon.

Partnering animal conservation organizations  Think Wild and Astoria-based Wildlife Center of the North Coast  announced that the pair of North American river otters were released at a tributary along the Deschutes River over the weekend.

Rain clears out in Portland as Thanksgiving approaches

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Bend-Based Think Wild originally revealed that Oregon State Park Ranger Tyler Banks had found three pups in a ditch along the road near Cove Palisades State Park in late June. Wildlife experts noted that all three animals were significantly lethargic and moderately dehydrated, with one dying soon after they were located.

The organization said rehabilitation staff treated the surviving female otters who were found with dirt on their eyes and noses, and plant seeds lodged in their fur. In a subsequent examination, employees determined the animals were between 5 to 6 weeks old.

After the pups were stabilized, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife approved their relocation to the Wildlife Center of the North Coast; Think Wild said it lacked the proper infrastructure to continue long-term care for the animals.

Rescued river otters (Courtesy Think Wild) Rescued river otters (Courtesy Think Wild) Sue Dougherty captures photos of river otters release back into wild (Courtesy Think Wild)

Throughout five months at the WCNC facility located in Astoria, the pups grew from 979 grams and 1,120 grams to about six kilograms. They also learned survival skills involving hunting, swimming and social interactions during their time at the center.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Local woman missing for days in Mt. Hood National Forest

River otters are highly intelligent and can easily become habituated to humans if proper precautions are not taken, Think Wild Director of Wildlife Rehabilitation Pauline Hice said in a statement. Think Wild and the Wildlife Center of the North Coast took extreme measures to ensure the otter pups do not associate humans or their scent with food or safety.

Now that the river otters are back in Central Oregon, they are living in an insulated temporary den where staff will send food through a feeding port to prevent human habituation as they transition.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A federal health agency has sounded the alarm on rising diagnoses of a mild condition dubbed walking pneumonia.

Earlier this fall, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention informed the public that diagnoses of mycoplasma pneumoniae  the bacteria that causes the respiratory infection  had increased nationwide over the course of six months.

Striking teachers in Albany may soon lose district health coverage

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Walking pneumonia specifically refers to less severe cases of the infection. According to Paul Cieslak from Oregon Health Authority, health professionals have long used the nickname to describe instances in which patients arent considered sick enough to be hospitalized.

Common symptoms of the infection include coughing, fevers, headaches and a sore throat.

While cases have risen among all age groups, the CDC reported more significant increases among younger generations. Diagnoses for children between the ages of 2 and 4 grew from 1% to 7.2% from late March to early October, while diagnoses for children between 5 and 17 grew from 3.6% to 7.4% for that same time period.

The agency reported that these increases are particularly notable for those between ages 2 and 4, as Mycoplasma pneumoniae hasnt historically been recognized as a leading cause of pneumonia for this group.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fighting stigma and looking forward on World AIDS Day

Cieslak, who serves as medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations, noted it is most common for 10-year-old kids. He explained that adults are also susceptible to the mild conditions, but older generations have likely already built an immune response to it.

Although national health leaders have reported nationwide increases, OHA doesnt track Oregon-specific data.

I think the reason for that is that it was very uncommon to diagnose mycoplasma, Cieslak told KOIN 6. It was a hard bacterium to culture. More recent tests are able to detect a whole variety of viruses and bacteria that we didnt used to be able to detect, and thats one reason that CDC is able to say that its been on the increase lately.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Local woman missing for days in Mt. Hood National Forest

The medical director said children with walking pneumonia can attend school if they dont have a fever or difficulty breathing. The infection is treatable with antibiotics, like Azithromycin.

Cieslak added that people who have been suffering from pneumonia for a longer period of time should seek medical attention to see whether mycoplasma is the cause.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas, left, tours a Community Warehouse in Tualatin in August. Salinas introduced a bill last week to allow federal funding for furniture banks like Community Warehouse. (U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas' office)

Reasoning that a house without a bed, chair or table isnt a home, a U.S. representative from Oregon introduced a bill to allow federal funding for the nonprofit organizations that provide free furniture to people moving out of homelessness.

U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, introduced House Resolution 10163, the Housing to Homes Act, last week to allow the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to distribute funding to furniture banks, which provide new or gently used free furniture to people in need. Salinas told the Capital Chronicle she doesnt expect to pass the bill in the current congressional term, but she plans to reintroduce it in the next Congress.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Oregons largest furniture bank, Community Warehouse, has served the Portland area for more than 20 years. It accepts gently used furniture, kitchen supplies, bedding and home decor, and people referred by social service agencies are able to shop the warehouse, picking out everything from bed frames to can openers needed to make an empty house or apartment into a home.

Salinas met with leaders from the organization, and after learning more about the model, she said it was a no-brainer to find ways the federal government could help.

I always say I have never lived in or slept in a bedroom without a bed or a mattress, Salinas said. And so to have to do that, that doesnt really feel like home.

The Furniture Bank Network, a directory of furniture banks across the U.S. and Canada, lists 114 sites in the U.S. including two in Oregon  Community Warehouse and the Benton Furniture Share. Other Oregon furniture banks arent listed in the directory, including Furnish Hope in Bend, the Salem Alliance Churchs furniture bank that serves families in Salem and Keizer and the Share Inc. furniture bank in Yamhill County.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theres a higher need than any of the furniture banks can fill. During a presentation to the Oregon Legislature earlier this year, furniture bank leaders estimated that about 300,000 Oregonians  about 7% of the states population  live without most or all of the furniture they need.

Community Warehouse furnishes about 220 homes per month, lawmakers heard, but the demand is closer to 400 families each month. The Salem Alliance Churchs furniture bank furnishes about 28 homes monthly, leaving 70 or more families waiting in an average month.

The Oregon Legislature this spring allocated $1 million to Community Warehouse as part of a $376 million housing-related spending package. Salinas bill wouldnt directly send money to any furniture banks but would allow federal HUD grants to be used for delivering and assembling furniture.

Community Warehouse supports Salinas proposal. Executive Director Anna Kurnizki said in a statement that the bills introduction is a crucial step to recognizing the vital role furniture banks play for people transitioning out of homelessness.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Furnishing a home is not a luxury  its a necessity, Kurnizki said. A bed to sleep on, a table to share meals and a chair to sit on are essential components of a stable, healthy, and hopeful environment. Without these essentials, a housing unit can feel empty and temporary, and the risk of returning to homelessness remains all too real.

Salinas said she saw that effect firsthand when meeting with a man who moved into transitional housing after sleeping in a Salem park.

He was so proud of his little dining table that they had sent him, that he needed an Allen wrench for, and he put it together, she said. So I know the impact and the pride that he had in having furniture in his home.

Salinas said she wanted to bring more attention to furniture banks in part because she didnt know about them until recently. She moved a couple years ago into the 6th Congressional District from her former home in the 5th District  unlike state legislators, members of Congress dont have to live in their districts but Salinas promised to move into the 6th District if elected.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When we moved, we gave away furniture to Goodwill, she said. I didnt know that (there was a furniture bank in Tigard), and I figured if I didnt know that, I imagine other people probably dont know that too.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)  Another planned sweep of New Orleans homeless population has come to a halt.

An Orleans Parish judge has issued a temporary restraining order to prevent state police and other agencies from clearing the encampments about two weeks after Gov. Jeff Landry called for the sweeps completion.

This is the second time a temporary restraining order has been issued. The first one was granted in October after crews began their sweep of the Calliope encampment ahead of the Taylor Swift concerts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Delays only make the situation worse. They only keep people in unsafe, unsanitary conditions thats not fit for humans, said State Representative Alonzo Knox, D-New Orleans. So, any restraining order, any delay tactic, Im not in favor of it, and neither are the people of New Orleans.

Colder weather on the way after a warm Thanksgiving

Knox questions the criticism expressed by local leaders that stemmed from the October sweep.

We had vouchers for people ready to move in housing on that particular day, so I find that to be quite intriguing, nevertheless bizarre, said Knox. But in any case, I think if they have vouchers, we should house the people with them. And why that hasnt been done, its unclear to me.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

New Orleans City Councilman Eugene Green says the citys long-term plan to move homeless people into apartments may be at odds with the pace at which the state wants it done.

Behind me is a location that was once an encampment, said Green as he stood in front of a nearly empty space underneath the bridge at the corner of N Claiborne Avenue and Ursulines Avenue. It was a place filled with needles and overdose deaths and injuries.

Grab a turkey or ham at these Greater New Orleans Thanksgiving giveaways

Green says the city has successfully cleared encampments before and is optimistic about a path forward.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We cant do it completely without the state. I dont think that the state can do it completely without the city, said Green. Its best that we work together.

The state has until Dec. 3 to prove why a TRO should not be ordered. WGNO reached out to the governors office and has not yet heard back.

Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

Latest Posts

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO.
Nov. 26OLYMPIA  The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction releases a report card with data about every school district in the state. The data is updated year-round as new information is reported to OSPI. This is the breakdown of school districts in Grant and Adams counties.

Coulee-Hartline

There were 181 students enrolled in Coulee-Hartline School District for the school year of 2023-24, making it the second smallest school district in the two counties. Almira School District students join Coulee-Hartline for high school; those students are not included. Of those students, 45.9% were low-income. There is no information listed on the number of English language learners.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2022-23 around 81.3% of Coulee-Hartline students graduated in four years, which was slightly lower than the state average which is 83.6%.

The percentage of students in the spring of 2024 on track for college-level learning without needing remedial classes was above Washington average in all three areas tested with 60.9% in English Language Arts, 59.4% in math and 62.9% in science. For students showing foundational grade knowledge, the district was above state average again with 84.4% in ELA, 79.7% in math and 80% in science.

In Coulee-Hartline School District, 78.1% of students attended 90% of school days or more in 2022-23 which was higher than the state average of 69.7%.

There was an average student expenditure in 2022-23 of $20,633 with an average class size of 8 students. There were around 20 classroom teachers in the district who on average had 9.4 years of teaching experience.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ephrata

For the 2023-24 school year, Ephrata School District had an enrollment of 2,860 students, making it the fourth-largest district in the two counties. Among these students, 64.6% were from low-income backgrounds, and 15.3% were English language learners.

"The OSPI report card is a valuable tool we use as we reflect on our work," Ephrata School District Superintendent Ken Murray wrote in an email to the Columbia Basin Herald. "It allows us to celebrate our successes ... while also identifying areas for growth. We exist for kids and their learning. This important tool helps us measure our progress toward our educational objectives and our commitment to excellence."

In the 2022-23 school year, approximately 94.3% of students graduated within four years, the highest rate among local districts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For the spring of 2024, the percentage of students on track for college-level learning without needing remedial classes was below the Washington average: 45.9% in English Language Arts, 36.1% in math, and 40.8% in another math assessment. Students demonstrating foundational grade knowledge fell below the state average with 70.2% in ELA and 62.9% in math but exceeded the state average in science with 66.3%.

In the 2022-23 school year, 68.1% of students attended 90% of school days or more, which was lower than the state average of 69.7%.

The average student expenditure for the 2022-23 school year was $15,487, with an average class size of 18.5 students. The district employed approximately 157 classroom teachers, who had an average of 14.9 years of teaching experience.

Lind

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There were 200 students enrolled in Lind School District for the school year of 2023-24, making them the third-smallest school district surveyed. Of those students 78% were low-income and 15.5% were English language learners.

In 2022-23 there was no information listed on graduation rates because Lind and Ritzville school districts share a high school; The information on the two districts' graduation rates is on Ritzville's report card.

The percentage of students in the spring of 2024 on track for college-level learning without needing remedial classes was below state average in all three areas: 35% in English language arts, 27.2% in math and 30% in science. For students showing foundational grade knowledge, the district was below state average with 60.2% in ELA, 50.5% in math and 57.5% in science.

Some 64.7% of students attended 90% of school days or more in 2022-23, which was lower than the state average of 69.7%.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Average student expenditure in 2022-23 was $31,222 with an average class size of 5.9 students. There were around 34 classroom teachers in the district with an average of 14.7 years' teaching experience.

Moses Lake

Moses Lake School District had an enrollment of 8,835 students for the 2023-24 school year, making it the largest district across the two counties. Of these students, 65.6% came from low-income backgrounds and 15.2% were English language learners.

During the 2022-23 school year, 80.0% of students graduated within four years, which was slightly below the state average of 83.6%.

In the spring of 2024, the percentage of students on track for college-level learning without needing remedial classes was below the Washington state average in all categories: 37.4% in English language arts, 29.8% in math and 34.9% in science. When it came to foundational grade knowledge, the district also fell short of the state average, with 61.3% in ELA, 54.9% in math and 54.1% in science.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We want to continue to strive for more students to meet our standards, and we are pleased to see an overall gain over 2022 to 2023, over prior years in language arts, math and science," MLSD Director of Public Relations Ryan Shannon said.

For the 2022-23 school year, 67.5% of students attended 90% or more of school days, which was below the state average of 69.7%.

The average student expenditure for the 2022-23 school year was $17,729, with an average class size of 19 students. The district employed around 491 classroom teachers, who had an average of 14 years of teaching experience.

Othello

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Othello School District enrolled 4,721 students for the 2023-24 school year, making it the second-largest district in the two counties. Of these students, 83.1% came from low-income backgrounds, and 42.4% were English language learners.

For the 2022-23 school year, the district achieved a four-year graduation rate of 87.2%, surpassing the state average of 83.6%.

"There's a lot of things at play right now with that," Assistant Superintendent Jessica Schenck said. "I guess it would be hard to pinpoint just one thing, but I know that our high school team, both the administrators, counselors, teachers, work really hard at helping students identify different pathways that interest them for what they want to do with their lives, and so that definitely increases engagement."

By spring 2024, the percentage of students meeting college-level learning standards without needing remedial classes was below the state average: 29.8% in English Language Arts, 25% in math, and 20% in science. Furthermore, foundational grade knowledge was also below the state average with 57.3% in ELA, 48.6% in math, and 46.7% in science.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Regarding attendance, 76.8% of students attended 90% or more of school days in the 2022-23 school year, exceeding the state average of 69.7%.

"But we really see it as a challenge, because there's still a lot of room for growth there," Schenck said. "Our goal is that 100% of our kids would be attending school on a daily basis. So, we see it as a challenge to continually work better, to serve all of our kids."

The average expenditure per student for the 2022-23 school year was $16,890, with an average class size of 9.5 students. The district employed approximately 281 classroom teachers, who had an average of 10.6 years of teaching experience.

Quincy

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During the 2023-24 school year, there were 3,206 students enrolled in the Quincy School District, making it the third-largest school district of those surveyed. Of these students, 78.9% were from low-income backgrounds and 42.8% were English language learners.

In the 2022-23 school year, approximately 85.4% of students graduated within four years, surpassing the state average of 83.6%.

"As far as graduation rate, we have amazing high school staff, amazing counselors that work really hard to ensure that we're looking at graduation readiness, just not from the standpoint of a student being a senior," Superintendent Nik Bergman said. "But that work starts in freshmen to make sure that families are aware of (their) graduation status, to make sure that you know all the way through whether or not they're on track to graduate."

In the spring of 2024, the percentage of students on track for college-level learning without needing remedial classes was below the state average in all three subjects: 34.5% in English Language Arts, 19.9% in math, and 26.3% in science. Additionally, the district fell below the state average for students demonstrating foundational grade knowledge, with 59.7% in ELA, 45.9% in math, and 50.9% in science.

Moreover, 63.5% of students attended 90% or more of school days in 2022-23, which was lower than the state average of 69.7%.

"So, one thing that we are doing is we're trying to engage all of our families at conferences," Bergman said. "We had a really high attendance rate at the conference. And you know, attendance is part of every single child's student-led conference. We had, just recently, individual conversations with each family about their child's attendance. Right now, we're sitting at about 70% attendance rate in the district, so we're monitoring that very, very closely."

For the 2022-23 school year, the average expenditure per student was $18,799, and the average class size was 18.4 students. The district had 204 classroom teachers with an average of 10.1 years of teaching experience.

Ritzville

During the 2023-24 school year, the Ritzville School District had an enrollment of 407 students. Among these, 51.1% came from low-income families, and 0.5% were English language learners.

In the 2022-23 school year, 70.8% of students graduated within four years, which was lower than the state average of 83.6%.

In spring 2024, the district's students performing on track for college-level learning without remedial classes scored below the Washington state average in two subjects: 46.8% in English Language Arts and 34.9% in math. However, they exceeded the state average in science, with 47.8%.

For foundational grade knowledge, Ritzville was above the state average in ELA at 71.6% and in science at 67.8%, but below in math, at 66.1%.

In terms of attendance, 71.6% of students attended 90% or more of school days in 2022-23, surpassing the state average of 69.7%.

During the 2022-23 school year, the district spent an average of $19,174 per student. The average class size was 7.9 students, and there were approximately 58 classroom teachers, each with an average of 12.9 years of teaching experience.

Soap Lake

There were 557 students enrolled in Soap Lake School District for the school year of 2023-24. Of those students 87.1% were low income and 25.3% were English language learners.

In 2022-23 around 80% of them graduated in four years, which was slightly lower than the state average of 83.6% of students.

The percent of students in the spring of 2024 on track for college-level learning without needing remedial classes was below Washington average in all three with 18.4% in English Language Arts, 9.3% in math and 13.8% in science. For students showing foundational grade knowledge, the district was below Washington average again with 36.7% in ELA, 29% in math and 27.6% in science.

In 2022-23 56.5% of students attended 90% of school days or more, which was lower than the state average of 69.7%.

There was an average student expenditure in 2022-23 of $20,656 with the average class size of 15.8 students. There were around 35 classroom teachers in the district who on average had 8.6 years of teaching experience.

Wahluke

During the 2023-24 school year, Wahluke School District had 2,485 students enrolled. Of these, 74.5% were from low-income families and 53.6% were English language learners.

In the 2022-23 school year, about 84.5% of students graduated within four years, slightly outperforming the state average of 83.6%.

In spring 2024, the percentage of students on track for college-level learning without needing remedial classes was below the state average in all three subjects: 25.3% in English language arts, 17% in math, and 18.2% in science. For foundational grade knowledge, the district was also below the state average, with 49.1% in ELA, 41% in math, and 43.3% in science.

In terms of attendance, 74.4% of students attended 90% or more of school days in 2022-23, surpassing the state average of 69.7%.

During the 2022-23 school year, the district spent an average of $20,756 per student. The average class size was 18 students, and there were approximately 162 classroom teachers, each with an average of 9.7 years of teaching experience.

Warden

There were 943 students enrolled in Warden School District for the school year of 2023-24. Of those students 80.2% were low-income and 29.6% were English language learners.

In 2022-23 around 80.3% of them graduated in four years, which was slightly lower than the state average which is 83.6% of students.

The percent of students in the spring of 2024 on track for college-level learning without needing remedial classes was below Washington average in all three with 32.9% in English language arts, 22.9% in math and 28.6% in science. For students showing foundational grade knowledge, the district was below the state average again with 58.7% in ELA, 47.4% in math and 53.3% in science.

Warden had 64.9% of students attending 90% of school days or more in 2022-23 which was lower than the state average of 69.7%.

Average student expenditure for Warden in 2022-23 of $19,538 with an average class size of 17.1 students. There were around 58 classroom teachers in the district with an average of 8.7 years' teaching experience.

Wilson Creek

During the 2023-24 school year, Wilson Creek School District, the smallest district in the local area, had 117 students enrolled. Of these students, 53.8% came from low-income families, and 1.7% were English language learners.

No data was available on four-year graduation rates.

In spring 2024, the percentage of students on track for college-level learning without needing remedial classes was below the state average in all three subjects: 43.9% in English Language Arts, 38.6% in math, and 23.1% in science. For foundational grade knowledge, the district was above the state average in English Language Arts, with 71.9%, but below average in math and science, with 61.4% and 57.7%, respectively.

In terms of attendance, 73.3% of students attended 90% or more of school days in the 2022-23 school year, exceeding the state average of 69.7%.

During the same school year, the district spent an average of $32,422 per student. The average class size was 6.4 students. There were about 15 classroom teachers, with an average of 15.8 years of teaching experience.
In September, a spokesperson for Cambodias Defense Ministry announced that construction work to expand and upgrade Ream Naval Base, located on the Gulf of Thailand, is nearing completion. China has been redeveloping the site since reportedly signing an agreement with Phnom Penh in 2019 allowing the Peoples Liberation Army Navy, or PLAN, to use the facility for an initial 30-year period, with the possibility of renewal. Five years later, the base now boasts a new 1,200-footlong pier, alongside which two Chinese warships have been berthed on a regular basis for much of the past year.

Cambodia insists Ream is not a Chinese overseas base, pointing to its constitutional prohibition on the permanent stationing of foreign troops in the country to back up its claim, and attributes the frequent presence of the Chinese warships there to a training mission for Cambodian sailors. Indeed, China is planning to give Cambodia two newly built Type 56 corvettes, the same model as the PLAN ships sighted at the base. Phnom Penh also maintains that naval vessels from other nations are welcome to dock at Ream. But to date, only Chinese ships have been present, with those from other countries routed to the nearby port at Sihanoukville.

Some neighboring states, like Vietnam, are uneasy about the implications of regular Chinese access to Ream, especially as Beijing has been more assertive over its territorial claims in the South China Sea in recent years. The United States, too, has voiced concerns over a perceived lack of transparency about the Chinese presence at the base. Observers have also noted that Ream could be used as a potential staging ground by China in a future conflict over Taiwan. But given the U.S. military footprint in the region through its own bases and access rights, Ream may move the dial for Beijing significantly enough to matter.

Ream Redevelopment

To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since the deal to redevelop Ream was first reported in 2019, neither China nor Cambodia have confirmed the specifics of the agreement. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed construction at the outset, but work accelerated from mid-2022. Now, the new pier, which has been in operation since late last year, is capable of berthing any ship in Chinas fleet, including its 980-footlong Fujian aircraft carrier, which is much longer than anything currently in Cambodias navy.

In addition, a dry dock and maintenance facilities are still under construction on reclaimed land at the southern end of the base, replacing a smaller U.S.-built ship-repair facility that was bulldozed at the start of the project. At the northern end of the site, the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative reported that warehouses and living quarters have been constructed, along with office buildings, a security fence and watchtowers.

The vast rebuild comes at a time when Phnom Penh appears to be fully in Beijings orbit. During the nearly four-decadelong rule of former Prime Minister Hun Sen, Cambodia aligned closely with China, deferring to Beijing politically in return for infrastructure spending on a grand scale. This policy has remained unchanged under Prime Minister Hun Manet, who took over the premiership from his father in a carefully managed handover last year, though the elder Hun continues to wield significant power and influence in Phnom Penh.

Beijing already has extensive naval assets positioned along its southern coastline off Taiwan. The addition of access to Ream doesnt significantly enhance Chinas regional naval capabilities.

China has filled the gap left by Western nations, many of which limited their engagement with Cambodia as Hun Sen oversaw severe democratic backsliding over the past decade, including a crackdown on opposition parties, the press and civil society. Beijing now has significant sway over Phnom Penh, with an unspoken expectation that it will back Chinas interests in the region. Logically, that may entail allowing regular naval access to facilitate Chinas strategic ambitions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bilateral military cooperation, including at sea, is already being ramped up. In May, for the first time, the annual Golden Dragon joint military exercise between Cambodia and China included a significant maritime component, with 14 warships and 2,760 personnel taking part in 12 days of sea drills off the coast of Cambodias Preah Sihanouk province, where Ream is located. The closing ceremony, held at the base, was attended by senior Chinese and Cambodian officers.

Although Beijings presence at Ream is not permanent in the sense of it being an official overseas baseBeijings only such facility is in DjiboutiChina will likely retain preferential access to Ream, and the PLAN may even exercise a degree of operational control, given Cambodias deferential relationship with China.

Strategic Implications

The potential strategic implications of regular Chinese access to the Ream naval base are two-fold. First, at the regional level, several countries are concerned about Beijing having easier access to waters in Southeast Asia. In particular, Vietnam fears that China could effectively encircle its coastline, an especially acute concern for Hanoi, which fought off a Chinese border incursion in 1979 and lost 64 sailors in a maritime skirmish with Chinese naval forces at Johnson South Reef in 1988. Vietnam also contests Chinas claims to the Paracel and Spratly islands off its eastern coastline.

Adding to Hanois concern is another Chinese-funded project in Cambodia: the Funan Techo Canal. The planned 330-foot-wide waterway is meant to connect Phnom Penh with Cambodias southern coast, easing trade. But the canal could also theoretically be used to transport military forces southward toward Vietnams Mekong Delta region, which is vital to its economy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A regular Chinese presence at Ream may also provide China another access route to more effectively exercise dominance in the South China Sea, where it has ongoing territorial disputes with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan, in addition to Vietnam. China claims the entire body of water, plentiful in fish stocks and with potentially lucrative energy resources, and has already built military installations on reclaimed land in several locations. Incidents at sea between Chinas ships and those of other claimants, particularly the Philippines, have become increasingly regular, raising tensions and fueling suspicion of Beijing.

Second, at the global level, Taiwan is at the heart of broader concerns. Access to Ream means China could pre-position vessels and more easily resupply its naval forces from the south, and potentially even thwart a response by U.S. warships in the event of an invasion of the island. A presence on Cambodias coast would also position Chinese naval ships closer to the Malacca Strait, a tight, congested maritime corridor through which around 30 percent of global seaborne trade passes. That would enable Beijing to challenge U.S. control over vital routes for commerce in the event of a conflict over Taiwan. It is already assumed that China would be able to block trade via the Taiwan Strait in such a scenario. But the potential for Beijing to berth its naval vessels at commercial ports run by Chinese state-owned companies in Gwadar, Pakistan, and Hambantota, Sri Lankanodes along its Belt and Road Initiativeheightens these fears.

U.S. Naval Presence

These concerns are understandable. At present, though, the strategic gains for China of regular access to Ream are actually quite limited, considering the existing balance of military forces in the Asia-Pacific. After all, Beijing already has extensive naval assets positioned along its southern coastline off Taiwan. The addition of access to Ream doesnt significantly enhance Chinas regional naval capabilities.

Meanwhile, the U.S. has its own network of permanent military bases in northeast Asia, with 55,000 U.S. troops stationed in Japan and another 28,500 stationed in South Korea. In addition, the longstanding U.S. partnership with the Philippinesunderpinned by a 1951 mutual defense treaty with its former colonywas considerably upgraded last year, with the U.S. securing access to four more military sites in addition to the five it already operates on a rotational basis. Of the four new bases, three are on the northern island of Luzon, less than 250 miles south of Taiwan. The other is on Balabac Island in Palawan, located at the southeastern edge of the South China sea.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The upgraded U.S.-Philippines defense partnership was enabled by warming ties under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is much warier of Beijing than his predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who left office in mid-2022. Chinas rapid rebuild at Ream, along with its more assertive policy in the South China Sea, has only sharpened Manilas perception of Beijing as a threat.

Although Thailand and Vietnam are more keen to balance ties between the two powers, both have strong enough partnerships with the U.S. to present Washington with more options, at the very least to dock its warships. Port visits by the U.S. military to both states are becoming more regular amid Chinas assertive policies. The U.S. can also count on traditional allies Australia and New Zealand, which regularly join its regional naval exercises. In September, ships from both nations sailed through the Taiwan Strait with a Japanese destroyer, irking China.

So, while there is little the U.S. or Phnom Penhs concerned neighbors can do about the Chinese naval presence at Reamor, for that matter, Cambodias effective status as a Chinese client statethis new reality must be placed in the wider context of Beijings already significant naval capabilities, to say nothing of Washingtons own well-established presence in the region.

Michael Hart is a writer and researcher covering conflict and postwar issues in Southeast Asia. He has researched for the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), and has contributed to publications including World Politics Review, The Diplomat, and Asia Sentinel. He is Editorial and Social Media Coordinator at The Pacific Review journal, based at the University of Warwick.

The post An Outpost in Cambodia Isnt a Game-Changer for Chinas Navy appeared first on World Politics Review.
Nov. 25New Mexico lawmakers are proposing a groundbreaking expansion of Medicaid that, if passed this legislative session, could extend affordable comprehensive health care coverage to most New Mexicans under 65.

That proposed plan, Medicaid Forward, could decrease the uninsured population by 48%. It has gained increasing support from health professionals and has been championed by the coalition New Mexico Together for Healthcare.

The incoming administration of President-elect Donald J. Trump added urgency to the issue. The incoming House Majority Leader, Reena Szczepanski, D-Santa Fe, told lawmakers on the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee that she plans to introduce a bill for the Medicaid Forward program  which could add a projected $88 million in administrative costs in state and federal dollars  in the upcoming 60-day session.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Responding to Szczepanski and other health care officials speaking at the event, committee member Albuquerque Democratic Rep. Liz Thomson lamented that they "don't know anything" about what to expect from Trump's "nontraditional administration" on Medicaid.

Medicaid Forward would remove income requirements and use a sliding-scale system for premiums and out-of-pocket costs for those above a certain percentage of the federal poverty level. Like the state's existing Medicaid program, it would be funded largely by federal dollars.

How the program works

The program could extend Medicaid coverage to 59% of uninsured New Mexicans, some of whom forgo coverage because of associated costs. That can lead to one of the lowest uninsured rates in the country, with estimates ranging from 5.4% to 6.1% of residents who would be without coverage if Medicaid Forward were enacted, according to a fact sheet from the health coalition.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That would also mean that residents priced out of the state's current Medicaid program  particularly those above 200% of the federal poverty level  could join on a sliding-scale system that would cap premiums and out-of-pocket costs at 5% of income depending on a household's financial status.

The proposed program is partly a byproduct of the Affordable Care Act, which gives states the option to set income eligibility, according to a recent Medicaid Forward study commissioned by the New Mexico Health Care Authority.

The study, conducted by New York-based Mercer , came out last month and looks at the feasibility of implementing such a program in New Mexico. Made possible through legislation signed by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, in 2023, it follows another study released late last year commissioned by the state Office of the Superintendent of Insurance.

Both reports offer a bullish outlook for the implementation of Medicaid Forward.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The latest HCA report noted that with increased Medicaid Forward enrollment, BeWell, the state's ACA health insurance marketplace, would see corresponding reductions of up to 89% and up to 22% for employer-sponsored insurance if workers choose to waive insurance plans offered by their companies.

But the report also "anticipates that some people will remain uninsured, including individuals ineligible for Medicaid based on immigration status."

About 200,000 New Mexicans can't afford health insurance and half of the state's population forgoes needed care and medication because of associated costs, health officials said Friday.

Those numbers are "dangerous statistics," Szczepanski said. "With Medicaid Forward, we can take real action today to bring down the cost of living for New Mexicans and provide them coverage that will have health and financial benefits for their entire lives."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While the program will take some time to get set up, officials estimate Medicaid Forward could cost up to $88 million in recurring administrative costs. The state share would account for about $44 million of those costs, according to the recent HCA report, which includes staffing, contracting and IT system changes. If passed next year, the program would start to phase in coverage by 2028.

That may seem like a lot of money, but reduced spending by the state for employee coverage, amongst other matching funds and subsidies, could offset that, said Arika Sanchez, health care director for the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty.

'Overwhelming support'

The program has gained popular approval from health officials in the state, who acknowledged reimbursement rates for providers in the past have not always been up to par.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The program could land New Mexico in the top two or three states in the U.S. "looking at taking the income cap off of Medicaid," Dr. Anjali Taneja, executive director of Casa de Salud, told lawmakers.

The reimbursement rate for Medicaid right now is 120% of Medicare and in January will increase to 150%, Taneja said, which helps "cover costs and break even for clinicians."

"Medicaid Forward could increase that even more," Taneja said, adding that there is "overwhelming support from on-the-ground health care providers for this bill and for the idea of expanding health insurance overall to all New Mexicans."

"This is a very creative bill that helps health care, that helps patients, that helps the economy, that helps the state," Taneja said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dr. Caryn McHarney-Brown, a retired family practitioner who has worked in rural New Mexico and high-poverty areas in Albuquerque, told lawmakers that Medicaid Forward would make insurance "more equitable, more affordable and more accessible."

Provider burnout could decrease under Medicaid Forward, noting it is "an expansion of a trusted and established system," McHarney-Brown said. "There's decreased paperwork ... fewer prior authorizations and a more stable drug formulary."

Looking forward

The proposed state program could face an uphill battle in the upcoming session because of fears about how Trump's team might handle Medicaid  like slashing the program's budget  at the federal level. A main concern from lawmakers is how federal funds  if they somehow changed  could impact the program in the coming years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The committee's chair, Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, an Albuquerque Democrat, and Rep. Alan Martinez, R-Bernalillo, both questioned if federal funds could cover enrollees above 200% of the federal poverty level.

"What I'm afraid of is the sustainability of a program like this," Martinez said. "I think in a perfect world, is it a great idea that we can just give insurance to everybody but insurance costs, and somebody's going to have to pick up that cost."

But for the bill's supporters, Trump's potential reaction is a driving impetus to see the bill passed, not in the least because of a recent Supreme Court decision striking down Chervon Inc. v. the Natural Resources Defense Council that largely strips federal agencies from interpreting laws.

"We're actually coming forward with the bill to establish this in part because the federal authorization is in statute. It is not in regulation," Szczepanski said. "In this case, I think this will be a benefit to actually making this program happen."
OZARK, Mo.  With the rise of social media, cyberbullying is impacting kids not just across the world, but right here in the Ozarks.

26% of American teens were the victim of cyberbullying last year according to a study done by the Cyberbullying Research Center. Thats an increase of nearly 4% from 2021.

A recent cyberbullying case was handled in the Ozark School District this month.

He just said if it happened over the weekend, theres really not much we can do about it, said a parent of a child who was recently bullied. And I said, Well, I think its still relevant.'

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The mother of an Ozark Junior High student tells OzarksFirst an Instagram page was made to harass her daughter.

I shared it on social media just so people would report it, so they would delete the account, she said. And I think it took about two days and then it was taken down.

Ozark growing with holiday additions along with current traditions

Over 77% percent of cyberbullying victims experienced mean or hurtful comments posted online, according to the Cyberbullying Research Center.

Its very different from when were all in school, said Dr. Erin McAninch, the Ozark High School Assistant Principal. We cant even parent like our parents parented. We dont even know what all our kids are going through because its all on those devices.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Senior Izzy Rickard says Instagram was the main problem but its mostly seen at the junior high level.

I dont know if theres much the school can do since its an outside page, but I mean, I know its taken once the students identify it, its removed as quickly as it can be, Rickard said.

The mom of the bullied student tells OzarksFirst that she doesnt allow her younger children to have social media.

Which I think is a benefit because she did know about it and it hurt her feelings, but it wasnt like she could interact and go back and forth, she said.

Construction on track for new Pipkin Middle School

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The mom said the assistant principal told her he would talk to who they thought was behind the page.

Be diligent and be an advocate for your children, she said. And again, just know that theres always two sides to every story. So if something happens, dont take the stance of My child would never. Maybe, like I said, maybe there was some instigating going on, maybe there wasnt. But at the end of the day, nobody deserves for that to happen.

After the mom posted the page to get it reported, she said several other moms came together and gave her daughter a gift basket.

It was so sweet, she said. Just tons of gift cards and I mean, you name it, blankets and makeup and just the sweetest thing and made me cry. And she was super thankful.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ozark Schools has a tipline that you can access online at any time.

(Students will) see something, theyll not feel comfortable about it, and theyll get on the tip line and report it right away and we can take care of it immediately, McAninch said.

Springfield mayor leads letter urging Gov.-Elect Kehoe to tackle youth gun violence

McAninch tells OzarksFirst that the motto at Ozark Schools is If you see something, say something.

Were just scared to speak up and were scared to tell on people or, if somethings happening to us, were scared to tell others, Rickard said. But really, our teachers here and our admin, they are amazing and they will handle it. So report it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

McAninch says they encourage students to report, and it can be anonymous.

We feel that every student deserves to feel safe and comfortable, McAninch said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
State Sen. Tracy Pennycuick stopped by the Berks Career and Technology Centers west campus last week to check out the centers cutting-edge training for students preparing to enter the workforce.

Pennycuick, a Montgomery County Republican who represents parts of Berks County, helped the school last year secure a $150,000 job training grant from the state.

During her visit to the Bern Township campus Thursday, she got a chance to see the impact of that funding, including specialized climbing gear used in the centers electrical occupations program.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That equipment introduces students to essential lineman skills, including rigging and climbing techniques that are foundational for careers in the utility and energy sectors. By simulating real-world utility work, the program exposes students to the demands of maintaining and repairing electrical systems, preparing them for further training or entry-level opportunities in the industry.

In a statement about Pennycuicks visit, BCTC officials thanked her for her ongoing support.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Sen. Pennycuick for her unwavering support of career and technical education, said Dr. Michael Stauffer, BCTC executive director. Her leadership in securing this funding is more than an investment in equipment  its an investment in our students, their futures and the industries they will serve.
PAHOA, Hawaii (KHON2)  A 77-year-old Pahoa man remains in custody and was charged with attempted murder after he tried to kill his wife, according to Hawaii Police Department.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

Police responded to a domestic incident shortly before 10:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22 at the Nanawale Estates home of Lowell Thomas Pofahl and his wife.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dispatch received the call from a male identifying himself as Pofahl who stated he attempted to kill his 76-year-old wife.

Aiea attempted murder suspect turns himself in to police

Upon arriving at the scene, Pofahl was arrested and taken into custody without incident.

Officers entered the home to Pofahls wife lying in a pool of blood with severe life-threatening injuries.

Police and the Hawaii Fire Department aided the victim before transporting her to Hilo Medical Center Emergency Room then later transported to the Queens Medical Center on Oahu.

According to police, she suffered a fractured skull, brain bleed, concussion, partial thumb amputation, puncture wounds and lacerations around her body. She remains hospitalized in stable condition.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The next day, a shotgun and other various weapons were recovered from the home. The weapons were reportedly used to beat and injure the victim, said police.

Prosecutors charged Pofahl with attempted murder, assault, abuse of a family/household member and carrying or use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony.

Check out more news from around Hawaii

Pofahl appeared in his initial court appearance on Monday, Nov. 25 at Hilo District Court. His bail is set at $1,655,000.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
The News

At least six people were killed in violent clashes between Pakistani authorities and supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan who stormed the capital Tuesday. The country has been on a days-long lockdown amid intensifying protests demanding Khans release, with officials imposing internet blackouts, closing schools, and reportedly giving police shoot-on-sight orders.

In Pakistan, protests usually set the stage for a weakening of a government rather than prove to be the final blow, a columnist wrote for Dawn. The lockdown alone hurts the government, because it puts paid to its claims of a healthy economy with interest from investors abroad. But in this case, she argued, Khans supporters may simply try to use the protests as a bargaining chip for his release.
As Americans prepared for this weeks Thanksgiving holiday, on Monday Donald Trump was given something for which he could be especially thankful. Jack Smith, the federal special prosecutor appointed in 2022 by Joe Bidens Justice Department to investigate aspects of Trumps conduct during his previous administration, effectively ended both federal criminal prosecutions against the once and future president.

In Washington, DC, where Smith had charged Trump with crimes associated with attempts to reverse the results of the 2020 election, the prosecutor filed a successful motion to have the case dismissed. In Florida, where Trump stood accused of illegally retaining official documents, Smiths office withdrew its appeal from a July 2024 court ruling that dismissed the governments case. Smiths argument is that legal precedents dating back to Richard Nixon in 1973 and Bill Clinton in 2000 prevent the prosecution of a sitting president, which Trump will soon be again.

Along with two languishing state-level prosecutions in New York and Georgia, the federal criminal cases against Trump have been widely seen as politically motivated. Indeed, now that Trump has won re-election, Smiths decision to end the prosecutions are only likely to confirm long-held suspicions about their true motivations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Smith, who faces investigation by the House of Representatives judiciary committee for his conduct in his handling of Trumps cases, was appointed special prosecutor by Bidens attorney general Merrick Garland only three days after Trump announced his 2024 re-election bid. He then waited until the summer of 2023 to indict the former president, just weeks before the Republican primary race began in earnest.

If the intent was to embarrass Trump or remove him from the presidential contest through legal action, the timing could hardly have been better. It would also have been part of a trend. Both former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and perennial French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen are currently facing legal measures seemingly designed to keep them off future ballots.

If anything, however, the cases appear to have consolidated political support behind the president-elect, who denounced them as an outrageous abuse of power amounting to lawfare. He has also called for an end to the weaponisation of law enforcement to achieve political objectives, a task he planned to give to former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz as attorney general. Gaetz withdrew from the nomination due to lingering personal controversy, but his replacement  former Florida state attorney general Pam Bondi  appears just as willing to reform the Justice Department in line with Trumps vision.

Cases backfire

The state-level cases against Trump appear to have similarly backfired. Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, who was accused of campaigning on a promise to get Trump, indicted the former president on misdemeanour business record falsification charges that he magnified into felony offences on the basis of an untested legal theory. In May, Trump was convicted on all counts. The prosecutions naked partisanship, however, proved too obvious to harm his campaign. At present, Trumps New York case may be dismissed before sentencing, which has been indefinitely postponed. Fani Willis, a Georgia district attorney who filed racketeering charges against Trump over the 2020 election, also campaigned on a promise to prosecute him, but has been mired in an ethics controversy and may also see her case fail.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is all very good news for Trump, but he may not be completely in the clear. Smiths Washington case could theoretically be refiled after Trump leaves office. The charges carry a five-year statute of limitations, yet it is unclear whether the clock will stop while Trump serves his next term. In Florida, Smith did not withdraw his appeal from the July ruling with respect to Trumps two co-defendants, employees who allegedly abetted his document retention and could still face a trial focused on past actions of the future president.

Nevertheless, it is now unlikely that the Justice Department will escape reforms that would remove prosecutors who might again be tempted to take on Trump, who will be 82 when he leaves office in 2029. He could also issue presidential pardons for his Florida co-defendants and, possibly, himself, which he will have the constitutional authority to do upon returning to office in January.

In any event, Donald Trumps legal troubles are probably over  and in the eyes of his allies, Pam Bondi will have all the ammunition that she needs to end the weaponisation of American justice.

Paul du Quenoy is a historian and president of the Palm Beach Freedom Institute

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.
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  A Panama City man is facing child sex charges after being accused of molesting a young girl.

According to the Panama City Police Department, 34-year-old William Yancey entered the 15-year-old victims bedroom and sexually assaulted her while she was lying in bed.

House fire in Panama City under investigation, no injuries reported

Officials said the alleged incident occurred on November 1st at a home on Bonita Avenue. At this time, Yancey is charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation on a child between 12 and 16 years old.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hes currently being held in the Bay County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com.
The parents of a 1-year-old girl who died earlier this month have been arrested and are facing abuse and murder charges in the infants untimely death.

The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department announced Monday that Leslie Garcia, 20, and her boyfriend Jonathan Salazar, 21, were arrested in the death of their daughter.

On the evening of Nov. 9, LASD Deputies responded to a home on the 2600 block of Strathmore Avenue in Rosemead after receiving a call about a baby not breathing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The girl was rushed from the home to a local hospital, at which point hospital staff informed deputies that the baby had multiple injuries consistent with abuse.

The investigation was handed over to the LASD Special Victims Bureau and Garcia was arrested on Nov. 12.

Days later on Nov. 15, nearly a week after having arrived at the hospital, the little girl was pronounced deceased.

The investigation was then transferred again to the Sheriffs Department Homicide Bureau.

Over the days that followed the infants death, detectives uncovered evidence linking Salazar to the crime. On Saturday, he was also arrested in connection with the girls death.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Garcia and Salazar are expected to face charges for child abuse, including abuse causing comatose or paralysis. Salazar is expected to be charged with the girls murder.

Sheriffs Department officials said the girl had an older sibling who has been placed in protective custody.

The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact the LASD Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be submitted online or by calling 800-222-8477.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WSAV)  After the decision was made to stop cruise ships from docking on Beauforts waterfront, the American Cruise Line is now stationed at Safe Harbor Dock in Port Royal.

Guests from the cruise are being shuttled directly to downtown Beaufort, but small business owners were upset over the shuttles skipping over Port Royal as a whole.

Mayor Kevin Phillips says the town is now working with the American Cruise Line to create packages for guests, allowing them to explore both downtown Beaufort and Port Royal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

City of Beaufort to offer free holiday parking

So when the cruise ships are here, when people get off, theyll have that option of, Do you want to go to the city before or do you want to go to Port Royal or do you want to do both? So thats all in the works now, Phillips said. Were really excited about that.

The mayor said theyll be docking periodically through May.

Well also see the cruise walking around and hopefully they just enjoy and see what makes Port Royal. So, you know, cool, coastal and far from ordinary.

Phillips said the partnership is in effect now, and theyve already seen the shuttles unloading cruise guests around town.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
(KRON)  The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) is investigating the citys 22nd fatal pedestrian crash of the year after a man was struck by a driver in the Mission District on Sunday.

Deadly Antioch hit-and-run leaves family with place at table this Thanksgiving

Walk SF, a city watchdog for pedestrian safety, reported the number of incidents is up already from 2023 where 18 out of 26 traffic-related deaths were victims walking in San Francisco. The organization is calling for more to be done by city leaders.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

SFPD released details in its accident log that the collision happened at 2:45 a.m. at the intersection of 16th Street and Rondel Place. The victim was a middle-aged man, according to Walk SF.

According to Walk SF, 16th Street is listed on the citys high-injury network. The organization said in the last four years there have been three other pedestrian deaths along 16th Street, all contained within the four-block stretch between Valencia Street and Harrison Streets.

Walk SF is asking the city to step up its commitment to Vision Zero, a proactive approach to pedestrian safety that was adopted a decade ago to help end severe and deadly traffic crashes.

San Francisco adopted Vision Zero ten years ago, said Jodie Medeiros, executive director of Walk SF. While important progress has been made to redesign our streets to prioritize safety, these all-to-common tragedies continue to remind us of how far San Francisco still has to go. San Francisco must pass an aggressive, time-bound plan to accelerate Vision Zero progress, with the accountability and funding to get it done.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Nov. 17, San Francisco recognized the 10th Annual World Day of Remembrance for Traffic Victims where Walk SF painted 300 pairs of shoes white to honor lives lost.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
The Public Employees Insurance Agency is proposing increasing premiums by 14% for state employees and by 16% for local government employees during the 2026 fiscal year. (Lori Kersey | West Virginia Watch)

Public employees in West Virginia are upset about another health insurance premium increase, and rightfully so.

The West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency increased rates in 2023, but lawmakers passed Senate Bill 423 to provide $2,300 across-the-board pay raises for educators and State Police troopers to offset the costs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When Gov. Jim Justice signed the bill into law, he said, We now have as close to a permanent fix to PEIA that we havent had in the past.

Now, not even two years later, PEIAs finance board has proposed increasing premiums by 14% for state employees and 16% for county employees. Retirees premiums would increase 12%.

Sen. Eric Tarr, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, said that Justice had held PEIA premiums flat for six years, and now members are seeing the increases that were suppressed during that time.

So theyre realizing it all at once, when it should have happened all along so its not such a blow all at once, Tarr said, But the reality is, suppressing it for those six years is whats caused that.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To understand the situation better, I talked to a retiree of the state  my dad, who worked for the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protections Division of Water Resources from 1971 to 2004.

He said PEIA is great health insurance, and even now that he has Humana Medicare Advantage, which is what PEIA provides to state employees, hes really happy with the coverage.

The issue, he says, is that while the premiums continue to increase, retirees pay remains the same. Retired state employees in West Virginia havent had a cost of living increase since 1989. Thats 35 years. The entire 20 years of my dads retirement, he has been paid the same amount while the cost of everything has increased.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index, things today cost 2.55 times higher than what they did in 1989.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 1989, a car was $12,000. Now the average car costs more than $47,000. Gas was $1.12 in 35 years ago, and on Friday, it was an average of $2.95 in West Virginia.

West Virginia teachers  the lowest paid in the nation  are also dealing with the PEIA increase.

One teacher I talked to agreed that while the coverage is great, teachers arent getting cost of living adjustments. She said as a single person, shell be OK, but higher rates will hit teachers with spouses and children hard.

The proposed increase includes more than doubling the monthly spousal surcharge from $147 to $350.

In 2018, West Virginia teachers and school personnel held a strike over low pay and high health care costs. As a result, the PEIA Task Force was formed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

[The 2018 PEIA] task force made recommendations and created a bill thats been introduced every year, and its never seen the light of day, said Dale Lee, president of the West Virginia Education Association. So be serious about going to the table and making recommendations.

According to the Task Forces website, its last meeting was held in 2019.

On Thursday, PEIA held its final public hearing in Charleston for members to express their feelings on the proposed increases.

I hope your grandkids feel the weight of the dishonor you have put upon them, said one teacher.

There is not a corner of hell dark enough for people who do this, said another person.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lawmakers have no solid plans on how to address the issues.

I think theres a lot of discussions going on right now, said Sen Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha, who chairs the Legislatures Joint Committee on Insurance and PEIA. I think [PEIA director] Brian Cunningham is doing a tough job of trying to look at every angle and turn over every stone he can to come up with some good solutions, but its going to take some time.

There also seems to be no consensus on why premiums need to be increased.

Takubo said most health care spending is coming from the older population that is sicker as they age.

Meanwhile, Cunningham said rising drug costs are a big driver of the need for an increase. Specifically, GLP-1s that treat diabetes and are used for weight loss accounted for $53 million in net costs for PEIA last year. The agency had a pilot program that covered the cost of the drug, but suspended it earlier this year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While its expensive to pay for the drugs, weight loss will result in less health issues in the future for those people  hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, etc.

PEIAs high costs arent a new issue. The 2025 legislative session starts on Feb. 12, 2025. Lawmakers and Governor-elect Patrick Morrisey have about three months to work on fixing things for public employees.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
BRISTOL TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WHTM)  A Pennsylvania man is facing new charges for allegedly drugging and raping women he met on dating websites.

The Bucks County District Attorneys office announced in September that Andrew Gallo of Bristol Township was arrested for allegedly meeting women on SugarDaddyMeet.com, drugging them by placing meth or other drugs in their drinks, then raping them.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

This Week in Pennsylvania

The District Attorneys office announced this week that Gallo is facing new charges for allegedly drugging six additional victims and raping five of them. The newly discovered victims are between the ages of 18 and 35 and their victimization happened between June 2018 and June 2024.

Gallo now faces 10 counts of rape by causing impairment, 12 counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, eight counts of strangulation, five counts of selling or furnishing liquor or malt or brewed beverage to minors, and one count of corruption of minors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pennsylvania man drugged, shot mother before locking her body in a shed

The District Attorneys office says a search of Gallos online history found he had searched for pornography involving drugged women. Lab tests of the victims found they had methamphetamines or amphetamines in their systems. A search warrant at Gallos home led to the recovery of a tequila bottle that tested positive for methamphetamine, according to the DAs office.

Officials believe there may be more victims and are asking those with information to come forward.

I applaud the victims for having the strength to come forward and putting their trust in the process, District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said. I also want to thank the media. Without their efforts, we may not have identified these additional victims.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Anyone with information should contact Bristol Township Detective Emilyann Maialetti at 267-812-3024 or Bucks County Detectives at 215-348-6354. You can also contact Bucks County Detectives at bucksda.org, or the BucksCrimeTips submission email, buckscrimetips@buckscounty.org.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  A Pennsylvania man has pled guilty to killing his mother after drugging her, fatally shooting her, and locking her body in a shed.

Sean Rivera, of Morrisville, pled guilty to second-degree murder for the death of his 72-year-old mother Carol Clark. The Bucks County District Attorneys office says on April 8, 2023, Rivera put fentanyl in his mothers iced tea and drove her to Philadelphia where he shot and killed her.

Clarks body, which was shot multiple times, was left in a shed locked with a padlock. Police learned of Clarks death after Rivera told his brother that their mother was dead but did not say where her body was. Detectives later found a Home Depot receipt, a padlock, an empty padlock package, and bolt cutters as part of the investigation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last week Rivera entered guilty pleas to second-degree murder, kidnapping to facilitate a felony, kidnaping to inflict terror or injury, aggravated assault, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of an instrument of crime, possession of a weapon, false imprisonment, unlawful restraint, and recklessly endangering another person.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Breaking News Alerts

Rivera was sentenced to life in prison for the murder charge with a concurrent sentence of 28 to 56 years on the remaining charges.

The facts of this case are horrific, Common Pleas Judge Stephen A. Corr said in accepting a negotiated plea from Rivera.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This defendant has such a coldness of heart, District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said. He took the life of the woman who gave him life all because she became care-dependent and a burden to him. Its senseless. The loss that the victims other children and grandchildren suffered is unimaginable.

This case was investigated by Detectives from the Falls Township Police Department and the Bucks County District Attorneys Office, with assistance from the Philadelphia Police Department, Homicide Unit. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Monica W. Furber and Deputy District Attorney Christine Sassane.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Nov. 25WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) led a letter with Congressmen Mike Flood (NE-01), Cory Mills (FL-07), John Curtis (UT-03), and Andy Ogles (TN-05), to the newly installed Haitian Prime Minister, the Honorable Alix Didier Fils-Aime, imploring the Haitian Government to expedite processing and departures for approximately 70 children being adopted by American families. This is the latest in a series of letters led by Congressman Pfluger urging action by the Government of Haiti, Department of State and Department of Homeland Security in response to the rapidly deteriorating security environment in Haiti. Mounting gang violence is placing these vulnerable adoptees at grave risk as they await processing of administrative requirements in the capital city, Port-au-Prince.

The lawmakers wrote, "We are reaching out to you to ask for your consideration and approval for the evacuation of the approximately 70 Haitian children currently in the adoption process with American families, a dozen of whom are being adopted by their Haitian-American blood relatives. Under the Hague Convention for the Protection of Children, the regulations allow for the adoption to be finalized in the sending country or the receiving country confirming that there is a legal pathway for this to be accomplished. We respectfully petition for your involvement in the collaboration between Haitian authorities and the U.S. government to facilitate this evacuation immediately. This request is made with the utmost consideration for the safety and well-being of the Haitian children, allowing them to complete the adoption process from the United States.

Read the full text of the letter here.
Marcos pushes back: In a video statement released on Monday, Marcos described Dutertes remarks as troubling and vowed to fight back against such threats. He criticized the reckless use of violence and profanities, stating, If planning the assassination of the president is that easy, how much more for ordinary citizens? The Presidential Security Command has since heightened safety measures for Marcos and his family, calling any threat against the president a serious national security matter. Duterte dismissed Marcos response and claimed her statements were maliciously taken out of context. She then went on to accuse the Marcos family of orchestrating political violence, including the assassination of opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr. in 1983.
Philippine investigators on Tuesday summoned Vice President Sara Duterte to answer questions about her public threat to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr assassinated if she herself were killed.

The National Bureau of Investigation served the subpoena at Dutertes office, and asked that she appear before the bureaus director on Friday.

The subpoena said Duterte was being summoned to shed light on the investigation for alleged grave threats under [the Cybercrime Prevent Act] and possible violation of [the Anti-Terorrism Act].

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Duterte on Saturday said she has already spoken with someone who has agreed to kill Marcos, the first lady, and the speaker of House of Representatives, who is the presidents cousin, if she were to get murdered.

The NBI said it has also started a manhunt for the possible assassins that the vice president has hired, the Department of Justice said in a statement.

Today, the NBI has begun conducting a manhunt operations to search for the alleged assassin/s hired by the self-confessed mastermind, Vice President Sara herself and make them accountable, the department said in a statement.

In a statement before the subpoena was issued against her, the vice president said her statement was taken out of its logical context.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Marcos administrations insistence that the presidents life is under active threat is ominous, she said. There is absolutely no flesh on the bone, and despite the absence of a reliable investigation, authorities were quick to consider this a national security concern.

Common sense should be enough for us to understand and accept that a supposed conditional act of revenge does not constitute ... an active threat, she added. This is [a] plan without ... flesh. I am confident that an honest scrutiny would easily expose this narrative to be farce, imagined, or nothing at all.

Marcos on Monday expressed alarm over Dutertes threat and said she should be held accountable for it.

If its that easy to plan the assassination of a president, how about ordinary citizens? he said in a video statement. Such criminal attempts should not be ignored. I will not condone it. As a democratic country, we need to uphold the rule of law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Legislators said the statement appeared to be an attempt by Duterte to divert attention from the investigation on the alleged misuse of 612.5 million pesos ($10.4 million) worth of Education Department funds.

Duterte resigned from her post as education secretary in Marcos Cabinet in June, indicating a crack in the political alliance that propelled the duo to a clear victory in 2022.

She is the daughter of Marcos predecessor, who was notorious for his crude language and a controversial war on drugs that left thousands dead during his six-year term from 2016.

The growing rift between the Marcos and Duterte political families and their allies is happening ahead of mid-term elections in May, when Filipinos are to vote for new members of the House of Representatives, half of the Senate and thousands of local officials.

It will be a litmus test of Marcos popularity and an opportunity for him and his political allies to consolidate power.
(NEXSTAR)  An underwater exploration company has regretfully announced that an image they previously believed to show Amelia Earharts lost plane was actually just a big rock.

After 11 months the waiting has finally ended and unfortunately our target was not Amelias Electra 10E (just a natural rock formation), the company, Deep Sea Vision, wrote on its Instagram account earlier this month.

Earlier this year, the company had thought they may have solved the 90-year mystery into Earharts disappearance in late January, after capturing a sonar image of an underwater object that they estimated to be the same size and shape of her Lockheed Electra E-10 aircraft, and in the location where it is believed to have gone down.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Foreigners trapped in violence-torn Haiti wait desperately for a way out

In July, Deep Sea Vision Project Manager Lloyd Romeo told NewsNation that they had since spent months scanning the ocean floor with underwater drones at a depth of about 16,000 feet.

Well go down even closer and of course its really dark down there, as dark as it gets, so you laser, a very powerful laser, of course, you laser the plane and then you have the camera scan the area around it, Romeo said.

In this undated file photo, Amelia Earhart stands next to a Lockheed Electra 10E, before her last flight in 1937 from Oakland, Calif., bound for Honolulu on the first leg of her record-setting attempt to circumnavigate the world westward along the Equator. (AP Photo/File)

Deep Sea Vision has yet to give up its efforts to find Earharts plane, the company said this month.

As we speak DSV continues to search  now clearing almost 7700 square miles the plot thickens with still no evidence of her disappearance ever found, reads their latest Instagram post on the subject.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Back in 1937, Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan left Miami in a Lockheed Electra 10-E plane on a journey that would make Earhart the first woman to fly around the world. But with just 7,000 miles left on the trip, Earhart and Noonan lost radio contact near the Howland Islands, nearly 2,000 miles southwest of Hawaii.

Earhart, Noonan, and their plane were never found, despite extensive searching in the area, according to the National Womens History Museum.

American Airlines expanding line-cutting deterrent ahead of holiday travel

There have been numerous attempts to locate Earharts plane over the last few decades. Last year, a forensic imaging specialist began analyzing an underwater photo taken in 2009 near Nikumaroro Island that many speculated to show an engine cover from Earharts plane. There are also theories that Earhart didnt crash into the ocean at all, but instead landed on an island in the South Pacific; some researchers claim that bones found on the island are likely Earharts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But speaking with Nexstars NewsNation, science journalist Jeff Wise urged caution about jumping to conclusions, saying, People are just really hungry for any kind of clue; theyre so hungry that maybe theyll look at random pictures and see a shape that maybe reminds them of some part of an aircraft.

NewsNations Zaid Jilani 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 PIX11.
Pierce County will pay $4.5 million to the family of a man shot to death by a deputy after the man tried to flee a welfare check in a minivan parked outside a Spanaway auto parts store.

Jerome Holman, 39, was struck in the shoulder, back, chest, stomach and forearm when deputy Jordan Williams fired six bullets into the minivans window on Jan. 27, 2022, court records show.

Deputies said they were scared for their lives after the van reversed, knocking a deputy to the ground, and struck a patrol unit as it performed a U-turn. An attorney representing Holmans parents and son in a wrongful-death lawsuit argued that evidence showed the deputies were not in danger and unnecessarily escalated what should have been a routine call.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More than two months after the lawsuit was filed, the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorneys Office determined that Williams was justified in using lethal force and found there was no reasonably effective alternative to preventing the threat posed to deputies by Holmans operation of the van.

The county has since agreed to pay $4.5 million to settle the lawsuit brought last year by Holmans parents and 15-year-old son. The settlement  which typically assert that a defendant is not admitting to liability  was finalized on Nov. 15, according to court records.

There was a measure of justice that comes with a settlement like this, and that  (the plaintiffs) feel good about, but the hope is that they can stop these unnecessary shootings from occurring in the future, attorney Jack Connelly, who represented Holmans family, said in an interview Monday.

Sheriff Ed Troyer told The News Tribune that he had only learned of the settlement on Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The deputies followed their training, Troyer said.

Troyer expressed relief that no deputies were killed or injured and noted that body-worn cameras, which captured the incident, were the best thing that ever happened to law enforcement because they capture what occurs from a law enforcement perspective. He said that the county had to weigh what a jury might have thought, particularly any jurors who were unfamiliar with police work. Troyer acknowledged the incident could be seen as quite upsetting.

Its not nearly as sanitized as television, the sheriff told The News Tribune, adding that deputies encounter dangerous situations nightly.

A spokesperson for the Prosecuting Attorneys Office declined to comment on the cases resolution. In a court filing last year, the county denied all allegations of wrongdoing.

Jerome Holman

Call turns deadly

The encounter began as a welfare check that led deputies to learn Holmans driving privileges were suspended, find apparent drug paraphernalia and suspect the van was stolen due to mismatched license plate and vehicle identification numbers, according to authorities. Connelly previously said there was no clarity on whether the van was stolen and, even if true, it didnt warrant what occurred.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The manager of an OReilly Auto Parts in the 14900 block of Pacific Avenue South reported to the Sheriffs Department that Holman was lingering in his van with his head slumped over. He had been sleeping after exchanging text messages with his father between roughly 4:40 p.m. and 5:16 p.m, including about buying items for an oil change, the lawsuit said.

Holman was awakened by knocks on the driver-side door. Three deputies shined flashlights inside the vehicle. For five minutes, until roughly 5:56 p.m., Holman and deputy Devin Ditsch had a peaceful verbal exchange, the lawsuit said.

Holman was unarmed, according to the lawsuit. Authorities said there was a pocket knife clipped to Holmans pants pocket and a hammer beside him in the van, but it was not alleged that he grabbed for either.

For reasons unclear, Holman started the van, attempted to close the driver-side door and began to back out of the parking lot. Ditsch, then a trainee, pried the door open, ran alongside the van, reached in through the open door and attempted to pull Holman out before tumbling to the ground and out of the path of the reversing vehicle, according to the lawsuit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The suit claimed Holman was trying to get away from the unreasonable and unnecessary inquisition.

The van backed up for 20 more feet and swiped a patrol unit as it nearly finished a U-turn. Holman was shot in rapid succession through a passenger window, causing him to fall out of the vehicle and onto the ground while guns-drawn deputies yelled for him to stop moving, the suit said.

Law enforcement investigators said shortly after the shooting that Ditsch had been dragged and thrown to the ground a distance of about 30 feet and that Holman had narrowly avoided hitting Ditsch.

He then positioned his vehicle in such a way that had he accelerated, the deputies were at risk of being struck, the Pierce County Force Investigation Team said in a statement in February 2022.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Holman was pronounced dead at a local hospital less than three hours after the shooting, according to the suit, which was transferred from King County to Pierce County Superior Court in June 2023.

Imminent threat?

Ditsch and Williams both said they were afraid for their lives, according to their written statements submitted through a union attorney before returning to work. Williams believed he was in the vehicles path and was unsure whether Ditsch was still in the path after being knocked to the ground, court records filed by Holmans family said.

In a July 2023 interview with The News Tribune, Connelly said that body-worn camera footage showed deputies were not in peril. The lawsuit claimed that Holman had distanced himself from the deputies and that Williams panicked as he fired without warning.

The News Tribune reviewed body-worn camera footage from the incident. It showed that Ditsch was not dragged and he almost immediately rolled back to his feet and ran behind a curb, The News Tribune previously reported. The footage also showed that no deputies appeared to be directly in the path of the van.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Troyer pointed to the prosecutors account, clearing Williams of wrongdoing. He also noted the dangers of the job. Two deputies have died in the line of duty in the nearly four years since he has been sheriff, and four others were killed during his time with the departments media team, beginning about 21 years ago, he said.

The Sheriffs Departments use-of-force policy, which notes that shooting at a moving vehicle is rarely effective, requires deputies to move out of its path, when feasible, rather than shoot at the operator.

A deputy may not fire upon a moving vehicle except when its deemed necessary to protect against an imminent threat of serious bodily injury resulting from use of a deadly weapon, the policy says. A vehicle is only considered a deadly weapon if the operator is using the vehicle as a deadly weapon and no other reasonable means to avoid potential serious harm are immediately available to the deputy.

A toxicology report after Holmans death showed he had methamphetamine and fentanyl in his system although investigative documents didnt show that deputies reported signs of impairment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A deputy on scene identified some tin foil with some brown stuff on it underneath Holman inside the van prior to the shooting, according to body-worn camera footage. Investigators reported recovering a glass pipe and foil but didnt document finding drugs.

Connelly said Monday he believed the settlement signaled that there was no reason for the shooting. He pointed to Holmans family and teen son who have been left behind to grieve and said that deputies should be trained so they dont so quickly resort to deadly force.

Asked whether he believed the settlement would effectuate any changes, Connelly replied: Theres hope.
The Pinellas State Attorneys Office has dropped a murder charge against a Clearwater man who killed another man in a drug-related shooting.

Raymond Christian Johnson, 29, mounted a stand your ground defense after he was charged with second-degree murder in October 2022.

Johnson shot Michael Hodges, 27, at least 10 times after Hodges robbed him earlier that day, according to arrest reports from the Clearwater Police Department.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pinellas state attorney Bruce Bartlett said his office decided to drop the charge after Johnsons lawyers produced a witness, Keyonna Harvey, who was present at the shooting and was pretty damn ironclad that Hodges opened fire at Johnson.

She was positive the victim shot first, Bartlett said.

On May 2, 2022 about 5 p.m., Johnson was selling a pound of marijuana to Hodges for $2,400 in the parking lot of OKeefes Tavern at 1219 S Fort Harrison Ave., arrest reports say.

When Hodges pulled out a gun to rob Johnson of his marijuana and fled with the stolen pot, Johnson shot his .40-caliber handgun at Hodges and missed, police said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Later that night, Johnson learned Hodges would be at an address on La Salle Street in Clearwater, so he went there to wait for him, investigators said.

Hodges asked a woman he knew to drive him there, but she told authorities she didnt know why he wanted to go to the house.

A search warrant at the time reported Johnson began shooting at Hodges out of his open driver-side door when Hodges arrived.

But Harvey, who was in the car with Johnson, later testified that Johnson was fired upon first.

When Harvey and Johnson arrived at La Salle Street, the driver of a gold car pulled in front of Harveys maroon Acura and blocked her from pulling out, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Then she saw a man pull out a handgun and point it at Johnson. She ducked under the steering wheel and heard bullets shatter the Acuras windows, Harvey testified.

When she looked up again, Johnson was gone and the gold car was pulling out of the street, she said.

I never saw him pull a gun out, Harvey said, referring to Johnson.

Harveys deposition, alongside those of three other witnesses who corroborated her statements, were pivotal, said Johnsons lawyer, Jerry Theophilopoulos.

Finally, the depositions were able to come through, and they were very favorable, he said. Theres not one person out there that could debunk the fact that this was a pure self defense, stand your ground case.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The case took a long time to wrap up, in part because Harvey was never approached by police investigators following the shooting.

She was surprised at that, especially since she had bullet holes in her vehicle, Theophilopoulos said.

It wasnt until Theophilopoulos hired a private investigator to find Harvey that her statements were officially recorded. When asked whether homicide investigators were to blame for overlooking Harvey, Theophilopoulos said police were under a lot of pressure that night.

There was a rush because they had a dead body on their hands, he said. I wish they would have taken more time to investigate it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a statement emailed to the Tampa Bay Times, Clearwater police deputy chief Michael Walek said detectives had been thorough.

There was no rush to judgment on our part, Walek wrote. The name of this witness was never provided to us throughout our investigation.

During the exchange, Hodges shot Johnson and left him with injuries that were not life-threatening, according to police and search warrant records.

Hodges was taken to Morton Plant Hospital, where he died from his injuries, police said. Johnson was treated at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, where detectives later contacted him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Johnson had been held without bail since his arrest in October 2022. He was released late last month after the state attorneys decision to dismiss the case, records show.

Theophilopoulos said Bartlett is typically very hard on crime and pursued the case aggressively. He applauded the state attorneys decision.

I tip my hat to Mr. Bartlett for authorizing the dismissal, because it was warranted, he said. Once we got there, Im pretty sure everybody was on the same page.

When Theophilopoulos broke the news to Johnson that the charge had been dropped, his client became very, very emotional, he said.

Hes a very quiet individual and a deeply religious person, Theophilopoulos said. Hes very thankful to God.
PEARL RIVER, La. (WGNO)  The right lane of Interstate 59 in Pearl River has reopened after three pipes shifted into the cab of an 18-wheeler on Tuesday, Nov. 26.

New Orleans artist re-creates infamous $6.2 million banana art piece

The St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 11 reported that an 18-wheeler driver avoided injury after three solid pipes shifted through the trucks cabs and into the engine.

(Courtesy: St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 11) (Courtesy: St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 11) (Courtesy: St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 11) (Courtesy: St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 11) (Courtesy: St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 11)

St. Tammany Parish fire officials said the driver had to make a quick stop to avoid hitting other vehicles.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An A1 wrecker and the Pearl River Police Department assisted with the response and traffic as the right lane was closed.

Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

Latest Posts

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  This years holiday travel season is poised to break records with thousands of travelers heading to the airports over the next few days. If youre planning to fly this Thanksgiving, heres what you need to know.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

The busiest travel days of this Thanksgiving holiday are Wednesday, Nov. 27, and Sunday, Dec. 1. If theres one travel tip that cant be emphasized enough, its plan to be early.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Elmer and Stacy Esmerelda, who are traveling to Sacramento to visit their son whos away at college, followed this exact advice.

How to avoid spending all day in the kitchen this Thanksgiving

We wanted to get out of here soon and give us plenty of time to relax before the holidays, they said.

All of the states airports are expected to be extra busy this week. The State Department of Transportation recommends traveling around the peak hours at the airport, which is between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Travelers should also plan to arrive two hours before mainland or international flights and 90 minutes early for interisland flights.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Local people should plan accordingly and call their airline, first of all, to ensure that their flights are on schedule for the kamaaina coming to the airports. If they plan to park, do plan accordingly, advised Curt Otagury, DOT Airport Deputy Director.

Dot said the airport lots are already filling up, particularly at Lihue and Hilo and the new parking rate is $25.

If you can get dropped off whether that be taxi, ride share or your relative whos not traveling with you, we would highly advise that, said Shelly Kunishige, HDOT spokesperson.

Dot said CLEAR is available at the airports and TSA is bracing for the influx of travelers and reminding travelers of the rules.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Holiday treats such as jams or gravy count as liquids, so pack those in checked luggage. As for that pie? Its okay to bring it on board, as long as it doesnt have a liquid filling that exceeds the 3.4-ounce limit.

A travel tip from the Esmereldas is to pack light.

Always carry on if you have access to a washer and dryer where youre gonna go. Go wash your clothes but do not check bags in.

Dot said their ongoing renovation projects shouldnt impact travelers and plan on arriving early to enjoy the amenities at the airports.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Jim Salter

Associated Press

ST. LOUIS  What is now St. Louis was once home to more than 100 mounds constructed by Native Americans  so many that St. Louis was once known as Mound City. Settlers tore most of them down, and just one remains.

Now, that last remaining earthen structure, Sugarloaf Mound, is closer to being back in the hands of the Osage Nation.

The city of St. Louis, the Osage Nation and the nonprofit Counterpublic announced on Thursday that an 86-year-old woman who owns a home that sits atop Sugarloaf Mound has agreed to sell it and eventually transfer the property to the tribe.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen plans to pass a resolution in January recognizing the Osage Nation's sovereignty, Alderman Cara Spencer said. Eventually, the goal is to develop a cultural and interpretive center at the site that overlooks the Mississippi River a few miles south of downtown.

One step for our tribal sovereignty is reclaiming the lands that we inhabited for hundreds of years, said Andrea Hunter, director of the Osage Nation Historic Preservation Office in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. "And to be able to at least salvage one mound in St. Louis, on the west side of the Mississippi River  it means a lot to us, to regain our heritage.

But a sticking point remains. A pharmaceutical fraternity owns the only other house on the mound, and it remains unclear if it is willing to give up the property.

Native Americans built thousands of mounds across the U.S. in the centuries prior to colonization. All were sacred ceremonial sites, but some also were used for housing or commerce. Many were burial sites. Tribal elites sometimes lived on them, Hunter said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The mounds in the St. Louis area are believed to have been built from roughly 800 to 1450. Even today, many mounds remain in nearby Cahokia, Illinois. Experts believe that at one time centuries ago, Cahokia was home to up to 20,000 people.

Sugarloaf Mound and Big Mound were among the most prominent of the human-made structures in what is now St. Louis, said James McAnally, executive director of Counterpublic, a St. Louis nonprofit that works to affect change through art-based projects and helped facilitate the new land acquisition.

They were built on the river specifically to be signal mounds, McAnally said. Native Americans on the western side of the Mississippi could send smoke signals visible to those in Cahokia to let them know if people were seen coming down the waterway, Hunter said.

Mounds still stood prominently in St. Louis at its founding in 1764. Visitors  even members of European royalty  made the trip to the fledgling city just to see them, said Patricia Cleary, a U.S. history professor at California State University, Long Beach, and author of the book Mound City: The Place of the Indigenous Past and Present in St. Louis.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Eventually, removal treaties forced Native Americans away from St. Louis. Settlers had little use for the mounds.

They used them to build up the bank of the Mississippi River and used them as fill for roads and railroads with total disregard for our ancestors' graves that were in many of those," Hunter said. "There are even accounts that as they were taking Big Mound down, they were simply throwing the bones into the Mississippi River.

Today, St. Louis landmarks dot locations where mounds once stood, including several places in Forest Park, where mounds were demolished to make way for the Worlds Fair in 1904. By the early 20th century, only Sugarloaf Mound remained.

In 2009, the Osage Nation purchased the first section of the mound, dismantled a home and began work to stabilize it. But two homes remained in private hands.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One of those homeowners, 86-year-old Joan Heckenberg, has agreed to transfer ownership to the Osage Nation once she either moves or dies.

Heckenberg has lived in the house 81 years, since her grandfather bought it and convinced his skeptical wife to move the family there.

But they fell in love with it, Heckenberg said of her grandparents.

The agreement with Heckenberg leaves just one other private house on the mound, a building owned by Kappa Psi, a national pharmaceutical fraternity. Heckenberg said students haven't lived there for years, and homeless people sometimes stay there.

A spokeswoman for the fraternity said a limited liability company manages the house and that selling it would be up to the LLC. She didn't have the name or contact information for the LLC. McAnally said the fraternity has been approached about selling the home, but so far they haven't taken any action.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Spencer said the mounds are an important and overlooked part of St. Louis, and preserving Sugarloaf is vital.

This is a really special place to the Osage history and to our Native American heritage in this country, which has largely been erased, Spencer said.
Bostons Logan International Airport saw two separate plane collisions on Monday as Thanksgiving travel ramps up.

The first incident happened Monday afternoon, when an American Airlines flight clipped the wing of a Frontier Airlines plane waiting to leave the gate with 200 passengers, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The American Airlines flight had just landed from London, and all passengers deboarded shortly after the incident. No one was injured.

The aircraft has been removed from service for inspection by our maintenance team, an American Airlines spokesperson said in a statement. We apologize to our customers for any inconvenience this caused.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

No injuries were reported among passengers or crew on the Frontier aircraft, a Frontier spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, all 200 passengers on the Frontier flight to Texas had to re-book after the flight was canceled, NBC Boston reports. Frontier will give all passengers involved a $100 future travel credit, the spokesperson said, as well as the option to either rebook with the airline or receive a full refund.

The JetBlue desk at Bostons Logan International Airport. A tug vehicle towing an empty JetBlue plane struck a Cape Air plane on Monday afternoon. (Getty Images)

The collision happened in an area thats not under air traffic control, according to the FAA.

Later that day, a tug vehicle towing an empty JetBlue plane struck a Cape Air plane that had just landed from Nantucket, the FAA said in a statement. Two pilots and three passengers were on board the Cape Air plane.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Out of an abundance of caution both pilots and one passenger were transported to the hospital, treated and released shortly afterwards, a Cape Air spokesperson said.

JetBlue released a statement confirming none of their crew members were injured.

The tug has been removed from service, and the JetBlue aircraft will undergo a thorough inspection, a JetBlue spokesperson said. Safety is JetBlues first priority, and we will investigate this incident.

The FAA is investigating both incidents. The Independent has contacted all airlines involved for comment.

Nearly 30 million of travelers are expected to fly this Thanksgiving week, putting pressure on airports. Almost 70 flights into, out of or within the US were canceled on Monday, with another 4,300 delayed, according to FlightAware.

Airports could exceed those figures Tuesday, with 53 flights already canceled as of mid-morning, FlightAware reports.
Nov. 25FROSTBURG  The Parris N. Glendening Recreation Complex, one of the most popular recreational areas in the city of Frostburg, is getting an upgrade.

New playground equipment will be installed at the park in January and should be ready for play as soon as the work is complete, according to city officials.

The old equipment, which was removed last week, was nearly 20 years old and nearing "maximum life" for such equipment, Brian Vogt, the city's director of parks and recreation, said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Playground equipment is typically replaced after 20 years of use due to deterioration and new safety standards.

"It was the oldest playground in town," Vogt said.

Plans for new playground equipment from the company GameTime Inc. were finalized during October's mayor and council meeting.

Funding came from Program Open Space, which is administered by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Additional money was pulled from COVID-19 relief funding and matched by GameTime Inc.

"That allowed us to basically double the amount of playground equipment we could get," said Vogt.

The new playground will look drastically different and provide more physical activities for children due to its larger size.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Definitely an upgrade," Vogt said. "Playground equipment has changed quite a bit in 20 years."

Much of the new equipment will provide a safer space for children to climb and exercise.

Vogt said that safety concerns for children were the No. 1 concern for getting the playground replaced.

"(The children) will have a new playground that we don't have anywhere else in town," said Vogt.

The playground will also have several new slides and state-of-the-art climbing gyms.

In the future, Vogt said that there aren't many big projects planned for Glendening, however, several small projects focused on maintenance and upkeep will keep the area looking fresh.

Andrew Creelman is a reporter for the Cumberland Times-News. To reach him, call 304-639-4403 or email acreelman@times-news.com.
Nov. 25The Public Service Company of New Mexico wants to introduce new energy resources in 2028 to meet an anticipated increasing demand for electricity, which the utility said will make it 77% carbon free by 2028.

The new resources include 430 megawatts of new solar energy and battery storage to its system and permission to continue buying energy from a natural gas-fired power plant for another decade.

PNM submitted its 2028 resources request to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission on Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The need for additional power to serve growing customer needs is clear," PNM President and CEO Don Tarry said in a statement.

The only project the utility is requesting ownership of is the "Sunbelt" project. That would allow PNM to start construction on a 100-megawatt solar energy and 30-megawatt battery energy storage system in northwestern New Mexico's San Juan County.

There's also an option to increase the project's battery storage to 50 megawatts  to add 20 megawatts of storage to the Central Consolidated School District.

It's an area that's economically struggled since the massive coal-fired San Juan Generating Station fully shut down in 2022, and residents and energy advocates have repeatedly voiced concerns that PNM has neglected the area since. The Sunbelt project would be located just south of where the San Juan power plant once was, according to PNM.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"This plan specifically calls for energy investments in the Farmington area as part our commitment to continue supporting the region's economy, while ensuring the ongoing transition to carbon-free energy for all of our customers by 2040," Tarry said.

The battery storage proposals don't end there. PNM also wants to establish energy storage agreements to set up two four-hour battery storage systems with a cap of 150 megawatts each in Bernalillo County  the Sun Lasso and Corazon projects.

All three projects add to at least 430 megawatts in new renewable energy resources in 2028.

PNM is also seeking permission to continue obtaining energy from a fossil fuel-generated power plant.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The utility's current agreement to buy energy from the natural gas-fired Valencia Power Plant expires in May 2028, so PNM is also asking the PRC to approve extending an 167-megawatt purchase agreement through 2039.

However, the utility would still meet clean energy standards set in the state's Energy Transition Act. PNM would be 77% carbon-free in 2028 if the PRC approves its plan, according to the utility.

PNM is asking for state approval of the plan within the next nine months.
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)  A 21-year-old woman was found dead early Tuesday morning in what officials describe as a domestic violence incident after police were called to a disturbance on West Street in Chicopee.

Chicopee city councilor responds to death threats, urges civility

A 911 call reported a disturbance in the 0-100 block of West Street. When officers arrived, they found a man in a bedroom suffering from a neck laceration. The Chicopee Mayor described the incident as a horrific crime scene.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The man, identified as a 28-year-old, was brought to Baystate Medical Center. His condition has not been released.

The Hampden District Attorneys Office says that during a sweep of the home, officers found the body of a 21-year-old woman with conclusive signs of death. Police believe the incident was not random, and there is no threat to the public.

Chicopee Mayor John L. Vieau confirmed the death was the result of domestic violence, stating, This was not a random act of violence, and police are not seeking additional suspects at this time. He extended condolences to the victims family and lamented the prevalence of domestic violence, calling the situation a senseless act of violence.

Mayor Vieau also praised the professionalism of first responders, saying, Our police officers and firefighters conducted themselves with the utmost professionalism when faced with the most difficult of circumstances.

MAP: West Street

A portion of West Street in Chicopee was closed as police investigated the incident overnight.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Chicopee Police Department states that this is an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public. The investigation is being conducted by the Hampden District Attorneys Office State Police Detective Unit in conjunction with the Chicopee Police Department.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  A man is recovering from a gunshot wound after an incident Monday morning on Rockfords east side.

According to the Winnebago County Sheriffs Office, deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 8900 block of Bluegrass Drive, around 10:15 a.m.

Authorities found a male gunshot victim at the scene.

Police said the wound was thought to be non-life threatening.

Details were scarce, with police saying the incident is under investigation but there is no threat to the community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

No suspects or arrests were announced.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  A suspicious device was removed from an east Wichita apartment Monday afternoon.

The Wichita Police Department announced around 3 p.m. that officers were investigating the report of a suspicious device at an apartment complex in the 1000 block of S. Woodlawn St.

The WPDs Explosive Ordnance Disposal team safely removed the suspicious device, and residents who were temporarily evacuated were permitted to return home.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thank you for your cooperation and patience during this time, said the WPD.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
A man has been arrested after stealing $1700 worth of merchandise from Lululemon.

According to police, officers responded to the area of 800 Boylston Street for a report of a larceny in progress at the Lululemon located at the Prudential Mall.

Upon arrival, officers observed the suspect, Michael Gouthro, 52, of Malden walking down a staircase towards the exit. Officers were able to stop the suspect and could see that his arm was pinned to his body as he was attempting to hide something.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After further investigation, officers recovered the stolen merchandise which still had the store tags on them. Officers were able to return approximately $1,770 in stolen merchandise back to the store manager.

Gouthro was arrested and charged with shoplifting by concealing.

He is expected to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (WOOD)  A man was arrested after police said he threw Molotov cocktails at a home in Battle Creek overnight Monday into Tuesday.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, Battle Creek police and fire departments were called to a home on Piper Avenue for reports of gunfire and a house fire. Arriving officers found a smoldering Molotov cocktail on the front porch, the Battle Creek Police Department said.

A resident who lived in the home said a suspect had thrown a Molotov cocktail at the home earlier that night, which did not catch fire and was not reported. Then the suspect returned around 2 a.m. to throw a second Molotov cocktail. Thats when the resident, a legal gun owner, fired several shots at the suspect and called 911. The suspect was not shot, police say.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Around 3 a.m., police saw the suspect driving past the home and pulled him over. The Calhoun County Prosecutor identified the suspect as 26-year-old Mylik Williams of Battle Creek. Williams was arrested for arson and attempted arson, as well as five counts of assault with intent to murder from an unrelated case, the prosecutor confirmed. He said Williams was out on bond at the time and the judge has since revoked Williams bond on pending cases.

The family inside the home were not injured. The front doorway was damaged but police said it was minor.

Officers believe this was an isolated, targeted attack.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Poland's Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski has held talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha, after which he announced that Kyiv assured there are no obstacles to carrying out exhumation works for victims of the Volyn tragedy in Ukraine. [The Volyn (Volhynia) tragedy was a series of events that led to the ethnic cleansing of the Polish and Ukrainian populations in 1943 during World War II. It was part of a long-standing rivalry between Ukrainians and Poles in what is now Ukraine's west. Poland considers the Volyn tragedy a genocide of Poles  ed.]

Source: Sikorski at a press conference in Warsaw, as reported by European Pravda, citing PAP, a Polish press agency

Details: Sikorski stated that he discussed Ukraine's future in the EU with Sybiha, and a declaration regarding exhumation efforts in Volyn will be adopted following their meeting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Quote: "Ukraine confirms there are no obstacles for Polish state institutions or private entities to collaborate with relevant Ukrainian authorities in conducting search and exhumation efforts on Ukrainian territory in accordance with Ukrainian legislation. Ukraine also expresses its readiness to positively consider applications on these matters."

For his part, Sybiha stated that both Kyiv and Warsaw are interested in resolving misunderstandings regarding historical issues.

Quote from Sybiha: "Every family has the right to honour the memory of their ancestors with dignity, and through the joint Ukrainian-Polish working group under the ministries of culture of both countries, we are developing practical mechanisms for conducting search and exhumation efforts."

The events in Volyn from 1943 to 1945, referred to as the Volyn tragedy in Ukrainian historiography and the Volyn massacre in Polish historiography, remain a contentious issue in bilateral relations.

Background:

Warsaw has previously stated that resolving historical disputes will be one of the preconditions for Ukraines EU accession.

The Ukrainian Institute of National Memory recently announced plans to include the search and exhumation of the remains of Poles in Rivne Oblast in 2025, responding to requests from Polish citizens.

Support UP or become our patron!
Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D) exchange greetings at the Committee for Montgomery breakfast Friday. Photo by Joe Andrucyk/Governor's Office.

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D) may have effectively gotten the boot from his voters earlier this month when they overwhlemingly supported imposing two-term limits on county executives. But he got a mouthful of unanticipated public praise Friday from Gov. Wes Moore (D) at the annual Committee for Montgomery legislative breakfast.

Moore, who stylistically could not be more different from Elrich, and comes from a younger political generation than the county executive, nevertheless described him as a visionary on a number of fronts. This was a lead-in to a broader discussion by Moore on the state governments response to former President Donald Trumps pending return to the White House, and especially to its potential impact on Montgomery County, where the federal government is so prominent.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theres a phrase, Im a man of my times but the times just dont know it yet  thats Marc Elrich, Moore said. He went on to hail Elrichs work on adopting a living wage in Montgomery County, promoting bus rapid transit, and helping to turn the county into a biotech hub, extending thanks on behalf of the entire administration.

Of course, Moore continues to pronounce Elrichs name El-RICK, rather than the preferred El-RICH. But we suspect Elrich has been called worse. In fact, we know he has.

Elrich seemed truly stunned and grateful for the governors shout-out. Montgomery County has a (largely outdated) reputation for its political politesse, especially compared to the rest of the state. In fact, though, politics in the county can be a seething cauldron of factions, resentments and pent-up ambitions, and Elrich is rarely hailed by any of his fellow politicians.

Wow, that was a nice introduction, he said after following Moore on the program. And Elrich returned Moores praise.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I cant tell you how different it is to work with this governor compared to working with the previous governor, he said. Moore, he added, possesses a drive to really make Maryland something.

Even though Elrich wont be able to seek reelection in 2026, he is anticipating another run for a seat on the county council, where he has already served three terms.

A second term for Nicole Beus Harris

Maryland Republican Party Chair Nicole Beus Harris was elected to a second two-year term Saturday at the state GOP convention at the BWI Westin.

Beus Harris was expected to face a tough challenge from her predecessor, Dirk Haire, which would have pitted members of two of Marylands premier power couples against one another. (Beus Harris is married to U.S. Rep. Andy Harris (R-1st), while Haire is married to former Anne Arundel County Councilmember Jessica Haire, a former and possibly future candidate for county executive). But Haire folded his campaign in the middle of last week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Joining Beus Harris as officers of the state party are Richard Osborne, the chair of the Talbot County GOP, as first vice chair; Kathleen Smero of Baltimore County, who ran unsuccessfully for a House of Delegates seat in 2022, as second vice chair; Richard Collins, a member of the Carroll County Republican Central Committee, as third vice chair. Longtime Secretary Mark Uncapher and longtime Treasurer Chris Rosenthal were reelected.

Attention Maryland history buffs

C-SPANs Book TV program will air a discussion of the 2023 book Self-Destruction: The rise, fall, and redemption of U.S. Senator Daniel B. Brewster, twice this coming Saturday, at 10:40 a.m. and 10:40 p.m. on C-SPAN 2.

Brewster (D), a close ally of Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, was Marylands U.S. senator from 1963-1969, after serving four years in the U.S. House and another eight years in the House of Delegates. His young Senate staffers included two Marylanders who would later reach the highest echelons of power in the U.S. House: Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer.

But Brewsters career was largely done in by alcoholism and various legal and personal troubles, and he lost his bid for reelection in 1968. He later found redemption working as a farmer and as an alcoholism counselor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The C-SPAN 2 broadcast is of a conversation about the book and Brewsters life that took place earlier this year the Maryland Center for History and Culture, featuring the author, John W. Frece, along with moderator and historian Charley Mitchell and members of the Brewster family.

Names in the news

 U.S. Rep.-elect Johnny Olszewski Jr. (D-2nd) has been elected the freshman representative to the U.S. House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, defeating Rep.-elect Herb Conway (D-N.J.) in a vote last week.

The Steering and Policy Committee is responsible for appointing members of the House Democratic Caucus to committee seats and helps shape caucus priorities. The panel is considered an extension of House Democratic Leadership and also vets candidates for committee leadership posts and votes to provide recommendations to the full caucus.

 Cornerstone Government Affairs, a national lobbying firm with an Annapolis office, is expanding its Mid-Atlantic operations, with two new lobbyists becoming part of the Maryland team.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cornerstone, which is based in Washington, D.C., and has operations in 14 states, is opening a Delaware office and a practice focusing on the D.C. government. As part of that expansion, the firm is adding Manny Geraldo and Derron Parks, who will represent clients in both Maryland and D.C.

Geraldo is a former manager for government relations and public policy at Washington Gas. He has also served as the assistant general counsel to the Department of Energy and Environment in D.C., and also worked for two D.C. city council members. Parks is also a former top D.C. city council staffer. He worked as head of government and industry affairs for Rad Power Bikes, and has also done legal and lobbying work for tech companies, including Meta and Samsung.

Their experience and relationships are outstanding, and we are excited to have them join us, said Cornerstone President Campbell Kaufman in a statement.
(Graphic by Troy Becker/The Forum)

Republicans in North Dakota appear to be souring on the states 2023 law banning abortion, a new poll indicates. Only 54% of Republicans polled support the law now compared to 71% who supported it one year ago.

The poll, commissioned by the North Dakota News Cooperative, also shows overall support has slipped. Total support among adults in the state now stands at 38%. A majority are now opposed to the law at 55%.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In NDNC polling done last November, 44% supported the ban and 48% opposed.

The law, passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Doug Burgum in April 2023, is in legal limbo and awaiting a ruling by the North Dakota Supreme Court. South Central Judicial District Court Judge Bruce Romanick struck down the law in September, arguing it infringed on medical freedoms and is unconstitutionally vague.

The ban had made abortion illegal in all cases, with exceptions for cases of rape or incest  but only when a pregnancy is under six weeks  or when a pregnancy posed a significant risk to a mothers life.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Violations of the law by health professionals include potential penalties of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

On Nov. 21, North Dakota solicitor general Phil Axt called for the states Supreme Court to reinstate the law until the final determination is made.

Currently no clinics provide abortions in North Dakota. Red River Womens Clinic, previously based in Fargo, moved to Moorhead, Minnesota, in 2022 after Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.

In 2023, state legislators strongly supported the ban, with the Senate voting 42-5 and the House voting 76-14 in favor of the law banning abortion in the state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The new poll also shows support for an expansion in the number of weeks where abortion would be legal. A total of 52% believe the number of weeks should be expanded while 36% oppose expansion.

Overall, 28% of surveyed adults strongly support the states abortion law and 45% strongly oppose it, according to the poll.

The North Dakota Poll surveyed 500 adults between Nov. 17-19, and has a margin of error of +/- 4.4%. The poll surveyed roughly equal numbers of men and women, as well as equally from the eastern and western halves of the state. The poll was conducted by national research firm WPA Intelligence.

The North Dakota News Cooperative is a nonprofit news organization providing reliable and independent reporting on issues and events that impact the lives of North Dakotans. The organization increases the publics access to quality journalism and advances news literacy across the state. For more information about NDNC or to make a charitable contribution, please visit newscoopnd.org.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A months-long investigation led to the arrest of several people believed to be involved in a crime ring that involved illegal gun possession, identity theft and property theft, according to the Portland Police Bureau.

Investigators say more crimes could be linked to the group of seven people  three of whom were underage  after officers discovered the crime ring had developed a method of operation.

Local woman missing for days in Mt. Hood National Forest

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to police, the group would prowl the suburbs of Portland, Newberg, Sandy, Damascus, Happy Valley, Hillsboro, Washington County, Silverton, and Oregon City to search for vehicles that were left unlocked.

They go through the vehicles to look for car keys, valuables, firearms, and credit cards. Within hours of the theft, the subjects go to a Safeway, QFC, or other stores to purchase Visa Gift cards, PPB said. They load the gift cards with anywhere between $100-$350 and purchase the gift cards with victim credit cards that were stolen from the car prowls. They continue to purchase the gift cards until the transactions are denied. In addition, there have been multiple vehicles that were stolen from the neighborhoods because the car keys were left inside of them.

Police served two search warrants Friday, Nov. 22 and arrested the group, though they believe there could be others involved and more crimes left unaccounted.

Anyone with information about these crimes is encouraged to contact PPB.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)  Mass eviction notices that were being handed out at London Oaks Apartments in Portsmouth days before Thanksgiving apparently was a mistake, according to a spokesperson for the Property Management Company that manages the apartment community.

A notice that should have only been sent to specific households with large (rent-owed) balances was sent out property wide, in error, according to a statement from PK Management. Management is working diligently to correct this error and sincerely apologize to any household who received a notice for eviction in error.

PK took over as the managing agent in August 2024. The property is a project-based Section 8 community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Notices were going up Sunday, and by Monday morning, there was lots of confusion and unanswered questions.

One renter said she was told she owed $9,000 as confused residents were lining up outside the London Oaks Apartments office waiting to talk to management on their rent status.

We found Kevin Riddick out here, looking out for his mother,

They told my mom she owes close to $1,500, Kevin Riddick said. Thats not true. She owes no money because I take care of her. Its not only her, they are doing it to a lot of people out here.

There was never an explanation on how the mistake was made, but it impacted scores of tenants at the complex that serves the Section 8 community.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is not clear how many people in the apartment community received the notice, but many on Sunday did. It said:

You are getting this for failing to pay rent. You have 5 days to pay rent, or we will terminate your rental agreement, and then you have 30 days to vacate the property

One renter said I dont know whats going on. Ive been given the runaround. We have no property managers, no maintenance. We have mold, rodents.

10 On Your Side spoke with a social worker who has clients living in London Oaks Apartments.

They are getting put out in five days, the social worker said. They got to pay it in five days, and they dont even know whether they owe it or not. They want receipts from two years ago. Who has receipts from two years ago?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Another person said that I went to court on 9/19 so they tried to evict me. We went to court and nobody from their side showed up. London Oaks, their lawyers, no one. Then the bailiff came out and said all you from London Oaks, your case is dismissed.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  President-elect Donald Trumps popularity is on the rise and the voters who went against him think World War III is likely.

A post-election poll by Emerson College Polling/8 News Now/The Hill reflects the nations attitudes in the weeks following Trumps wide victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, with Republicans riding high and Democrats bemoaning the loss they didnt see coming.

But along with opinions on Trumps cabinet nominees, the poll also found some common ground: Americans value family, friendships, and their health.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shared values among Democrats and Republicans suggests that, despite political divides, the holidays provide opportunities for unity, as these core priorities transcend partisan lines and highlight our shared human experiences of togetherness, Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said. The poll found 54.5% ranked family and relationships at the top of their priorities, followed by health and wellness (19.4%). Faith and community both ranked above concerns for financial security and food.

And a whole lot of people believe Earth has been visited by aliens. The belief is on the rise: 36.7% of voters believe aliens have visited the Earth, a 12-point increase from 2022. On the other side, 35.8% do not believe aliens have visited the Earth, down from 39% in 2022, the poll found.

Mostly, the poll stuck to politics. The survey of 1,000 voters found 53.7% view Trump favorably (34.4% very favorable, 19.34% somewhat favorable), while 46.3% view Trump unfavorably (37.6% very unfavorable, 8.7% somewhat unfavorable).

The national poll surveyed a sample consisting of 34.2% Independent/other voters, 33.7% Republican voters, and 32.1% Democratic voters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trumps favorability varies significantly by gender, race, and age, Kimball said. Men view Trump most favorably at 61%, compared to 48% of women. White voters view Trump favorably at 59%, Hispanics at 53%, and Black voters at 28%.

President-elect Trump arrives to speak at a meeting of the House GOP conference on Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (Alex Brandon/The Associated Press)

Trumps strongest age cohort is among voters in their 40s and 50s, with 60% viewing him

favorably, compared to 48% among those over 70. Notably, his favorability has risen among

younger voters, with 55% of those under 30 expressing a favorable opinion. Voters were asked how surprised they were, if at all, by the 2024 election results. Overall, 46.4% were surprised, while 53.6% were not surprised.

Questions about Trumps cabinet choices showed the public agreed with the decision to move away from the choice of Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Gaetz had relatively little strong support  less than half of the strong opposition. And while Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has some strong opposition for the post of secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, he has strong support from a nearly equal number of voters.

Trumps choices of Marco Rubio for secretary of state, Tulsi Gabbard for director of National Intelligence, Pete Hegseth for Defense secretary, and Dr. Mehmet Oz as Medicare and Medicaid administrator were viewed as less controversial.

Looking ahead to potential candidates in 2028, the Emerson Poll found 23% of Republicans named Trump, despite his ineligibility for a third term. The poll classified those responses as undecided. That meant that 51.1% of Republicans are undecided, with 29.6% supporting Trumps running mate, U.S. Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio). Others who received support included Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (5.2%), businessman Vivek Ramaswamy (2.8%), former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley (1.7%) and Robert Kennedy Jr. (1.5%).

Democrats (36.5%) aligned behind Kamala Harris, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom (6.6%) and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (3.5%) also drawing attention. Another 34.7% remain undecided, and some are supporting Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (3.2%), Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (2.6%), former first lady Michelle Obama (1.7%) and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) (1.6%).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A plurality of registered voters, 39.3%, believe there will be another world war, while 25.5% do not. Another 35.2% are not sure. The poll found 46% of Harris voters believe it is likely, compared to 33% of Trump voters.

President Joe Bidens approval rating in the Emerson Poll dropped to a four-year low of 36.0%, while his disapproval remained steady at 51.9%.

The economy remained the dominant issue for voters after the election (34.5%), followed by immigration (15.5%), threats to democracy (13.3%), health care (7.4%), and housing affordability (6.6%).

The poll, conducted Nov. 22-24, had a credibility interval, similar to a polls margin of error (MOE), of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
VICTOR, N.Y. (WROC)  Monday at Eastview Mall, Ontario County Sheriff David Cirencione laid out OCSOs plans to keep Eastview Mall safe, which includes an increase in personnel and patrols.

Cirencione says that the mall is expecting two million shoppers in the next 30 days.

When you bring 2 million people into one location, there will also be a certain number of people up here that are looking to commit criminal activity, mainly theft, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cirencione adds the mall is one of the safest places to be to shop in the Greater Rochester area.

OCSO also reminded people of their new Prepared Live technology. Installed in March, deputies say it has been used about two to three times a week.

If you call 911 in Ontario County, the dispatcher can send a link to your smartphone, which will give them access to your camera, like a Facetime call. Chief Stephen DeChick said that the tech can even change from the front camera to the back.

Prepared Live is not something you have to do, and the sheriff says no personal info is accessible. The evidence can be relayed to officers and deputies in real-time, and can be recorded for evidence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cirencione says prepared live will be most helpful at the mall if you see a car robbery in progress, or a car accident on property.

As far as keeping yourself safe, Cirecione says that the basics like making sure your valuables are within sight while you are in the mall, or hidden in your car, go a long way to prevent crimes of opportunity.

We as law enforcement cant emphasize this enough, if you say something, see something, Cirencione said.

Both OCSO deputies and mall security can escort you to your car if you need it. Their office by JC Penney.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
President Joe Biden announced that Israel and Lebanon's Iran-backed militia Hezbollah agreed to a United States-brokered ceasefire. Biden said civilians will be able to safely return to their homes after the conflict killed thousands and displaced over a million.
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden had an early Thanksgiving celebration in New York City on Monday, traveling to Staten Island for a four-hour visit and feast with service members and their families.

Father Capodanno Blvd. closed from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. so the Bidens could enjoy a Friendsgiving dinner at Fort Wadsworth shortly after 6 p.m.

The dinner gathering was part of the first ladys Joining Forces initiative to support the families of service members and veterans, caregivers and survivors. Jill Biden and former First Lady Michelle Obama started Joining Forces in 2011. The groups work focuses is on Employment, Education, Wellness for military families, according to an archived press release from the Obama White House.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A sitting president last visited Staten Island when Barack Obama surveyed damage done by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, according to the Staten Island Advance.

Air Force One landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport around 5 p.m. before heading to Miller Field in New Dorp. The Bidens planned to head home to the White House by 9:40 p.m.

While some Staten Island residents groused about travel delays triggered by a presidential motorcade, others found the visit exciting.

Whatever your views, its still the president and not something you see every day, Donna Curatola told the Staten Island Express.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2020, Staten Islanders reportedly picked Republican candidate Donald Trump over Biden by nearly 15 points. They voted for Trump over Kamala Harris by double that number earlier this month.

Hundreds of people turned out to greet the Bidens on Monday. The U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York brass provided the soundtrack.

Biden, who served as Obamas vice president from 2008 to 2016, started his Thanksgiving week in Washington, D.C., with the traditional presidential pardoning of two turkeys named Peach and Blossom.

Well, fellas, your prayer is going to be answered today, Biden joked to the birds who will head to a sanctuary rather than a dinner table.

The president, who turned 82 last week, will spend Thanksgiving Day with his family in Nantucket, Mass. According to the Cape Cod Times, that Biden family tradition reportedly dates back to 1975. This will be Bidens final Thanksgiving as the nations commander-in-chief. He leaves office Jan. 20.
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden had an early Thanksgiving celebration in New York City on Monday, traveling to Staten Island for a four-hour visit and feast with service members and their families.

Father Capodanno Blvd. closed from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. so the Bidens could enjoy a Friendsgiving dinner at Fort Wadsworth shortly after 6 p.m.

The dinner gathering was part of the first ladys Joining Forces initiative to support the families of service members and veterans, caregivers and survivors. Jill Biden and former First Lady Michelle Obama started Joining Forces in 2011. The groups work focuses is on Employment, Education, Wellness for military families, according to an archived press release from the Obama White House.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A sitting president last visited Staten Island when Barack Obama surveyed damage done by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, according to the Staten Island Advance.

Air Force One landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport around 5 p.m. before heading to Miller Field in New Dorp. The Bidens planned to head home to the White House by 9:40 p.m.

While some Staten Island residents groused about travel delays triggered by a presidential motorcade, others found the visit exciting.

Whatever your views, its still the president and not something you see every day, Donna Curatola told the Staten Island Express.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2020, Staten Islanders reportedly picked Republican candidate Donald Trump over Biden by nearly 15 points. They voted for Trump over Kamala Harris by double that number earlier this month.

Hundreds of people turned out to greet the Bidens on Monday. The U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York brass provided the soundtrack.

Biden, who served as Obamas vice president from 2008 to 2016, started his Thanksgiving week in Washington, D.C., with the traditional presidential pardoning of two turkeys named Peach and Blossom.

Well, fellas, your prayer is going to be answered today, Biden joked to the birds who will head to a sanctuary rather than a dinner table.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The president, who turned 82 last week, will spend Thanksgiving Day with his family in Nantucket, Mass. According to the Cape Cod Times, that Biden family tradition reportedly dates back to 1975. This will be Bidens final Thanksgiving as the nations commander-in-chief. He leaves office Jan. 20.

_____
Nov. 25 (UPI) -- President-elect Donald Trump vowed Monday to slap punitive tariffs against Canada, Mexico and China, citing allegations that drugs and undocumented immigrants were entering the United States via those countries.

Trump announced the measures in two separate statements on his social media platform, Truth Social.

Regarding the North American allies, Trump said on the first day of his administration -- Jan. 20 -- he will sign executive orders to impose a 25% tariff on all imports from Canada and Mexico.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!" he wrote in the statement. "Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem."

Border security was a key focus of Trump's re-election campaign. He often spouted derogatory rhetoric and misinformation on the topic during rallies, but he seemingly tapped into national security concerns held by the American public, paving the way for his return to the White House.

Among his campaign promises was the imposition of tariffs on China, upward of 60% on all imported goods.

In his statement concerning the Asian nation on Monday, Trump said he would impose "an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs," on all Chinese imports over Beijing's alleged facilitation of drugs entering the United States.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He said the tariff would remain until the flow into the United States stops.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, China is a main supplier of chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl, which is often produced in Mexico, before the drugs make their way into the United States.

The Biden administration has repeatedly prosecuted and sanctioned Chinese companies and individuals over their involvement in fentanyl production, as well as opened communications with Beijing to combat money laundering associated with drug trafficking.

The Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C., told UPI that Beijing rejects Trump's characterization that it is knowling allowing fentanyl precursors into the United States. It described the accusation as being "completely counter to the facts and reality."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It pointed to ongoing U.S-China counter-narcotic efforts spearheaded following the meeting of President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in November 2023 as proof.

"The Chinese side has notified the U.S. side of the progress made in U.S.-related law enforcement operations against narcotics. China has responded to U.S. request for verifying clues on certain cases and taken action," it said.

On Trump's threat of tariffs, the embassy told UPI that the current trade relationship between the two countries is "mutually beneficial in nature."

"No one will win a trade war or a tariff war," it said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a joint statement, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland of Canada and Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc responded by pointing to the importance of the Ottawa-Washington relationship in terms of trade and border security.

They described the relationship as "balanced and mutually beneficial, particularly for American Workers" as Canada buys more from the United States than China, Japan, France and Britain combined.

They also highlighted Canadian law enforcement's collaboration with their U.S. counterparts "every single day to disrupt the scourge of the fentanyl coming from China and other countries."

The Canada Border Services Agency "is continuously strengthening its ability to detect opioids through enhanced inspections at ports of entry, detector dogs and emerging technologies, preventing opioids from entering and leaving Canada," they said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Premier Doug Ford of Ontario said on X that Trump's proposed tariffs "would be devastating to workers and jobs in both Canada and the U.S."

The Conservative Party premier called for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to call an "urgent meeting" with all provincial leaders in response.

"The federal government needs to take the situation at our border seriously. We need a Team Canada approach and response -- and we need it now," he said.

Premier Francois Legault of Quebec similarly warned that Trump's punitive measures pose "an enormous risk" the economics of his province and Canada.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We must do everything possible to avoid 25% tariffs on all products exported to the United States. Border integrity must be the federal government's priority. I offer the full cooperation of the Quebec government to Prime Minister Trudeau," he said on X.

U.S. imports in 2022 from Canada totaled $436.6 billion, From Mexico $454.8 billion and from China $536.3 billion, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

UPI has contacted Mexican foreign ministry for comment.
The Prince of Wales joined the Welsh Guards for a morning of training

Samir Hussein/WireImage Prince William, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, visits the regiment in Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, on Nov. 26, 2024 Prince William, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, visits the regiment in Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, on Nov. 26, 2024

Prince William suited up for a special outing visiting troops in western England. But it wasnt just his military role that had people talking  it was his appearance in full uniform, complete with his new beard.

Sporting a sharp military uniform and a rugged, scruffy beard that's quickly become a fan favorite, the Prince of Wales captured attention during the outing on Tuesday, Nov. 26. The soldiers of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards are currently preparing for new duties on Salisbury Plain, the vast training ground where the British Army conducts critical military maneuvers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Prince William aging like a fine wine!" one social media user commented. Another quipped, "We are here for military Prince William."

The Welsh Guards have been switching from ceremonial duties that, in the past two years, have meant undertaking roles such as the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth and the coronation of her son (and Prince Williams father) King Charles, 76. They also took the lead role in Trooping the Colour, the official birthday parade of the King, in 2023.

Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Prince William on Salisbury Plain, during his visit to the Welsh Guards on Nov. 26, 2024 Prince William on Salisbury Plain, during his visit to the Welsh Guards on Nov. 26, 2024

The regiment has also been carrying out overseas operations in the Falkland Islands, in the south Atlantic and Oman. Now, they are updating their skills and talents and specialist weapons capabilities to help in their work abroad and in the U.K, in the Field Army.



Related: Prince William Visits with Welsh Guards After Kate Middleton Misses Big Event for Her Irish Guards

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As part of this, Specialist Platoons within the Welsh Guards have been carrying out live firing training on Salisbury Plain, using different weapon systems to ensure safety, competency and knowledge of these systems in realistic scenarios.

Prince William began his visit with a briefing on the work the regiment has been carrying out before spending time with the battalions personnel from the Specialist Platoons as they carry out different live-firing exercises. There, the soldiers were practicing with a sniper rifle, GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun) and Small Uncrewed Aerial Systems (sUAS) drones.



Samir Hussein/WireImage Prince William during his visit to see the Welsh Guards during their training on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, on Nov. 26, 2024 Prince William during his visit to see the Welsh Guards during their training on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, on Nov. 26, 2024

William then spoke to the Specialist Platoons about their different roles within the Welsh Guards and how they are finding the transition back from their ceremonial roles.



Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

William became Colonel of the Welsh Guards in 2023, a fitting role as King Charles named him the Prince of Wales following his accession, the traditional title for the heir to the British throne. He last spent some time with them in March when he visited them at Combermere Barracks near Windsor.

Samir Hussein/WireImage Prince William visiting the Welsh Guards, of which he is Colonel, on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, England on Nov. 26, 2024 Prince William visiting the Welsh Guards, of which he is Colonel, on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, England on Nov. 26, 2024

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A post with pictures of the visit shared on social media was captioned, "As Colonel, Welsh Guards, its always a pleasure visiting the barracks to speak with the soldiers, hear plans for their future and witness the great work the Battalion does with physical and mental rehabilitation."
(Bloomberg) -- A little-known pro-Russian candidate won the first round of Romanias presidential election after an unprecedented backlash against establishment candidates eliminated Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, the presumed frontrunner, from the contest.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The result is one of the biggest shakeups in Romanian politics since the collapse of Nicolae Ceausescus communist regime 35 years ago and adds fuel to Europes lurch to the political right. Next Sunday, the European Union member state holds parliamentary elections, which now threaten to break the hold of Romanias traditional parties.

Calin Georgescu, a fringe politician who ran as an independent and promoted himself on social media platform TikTok, secured 23% of the votes, according to a preliminary tally. Opposition leader Elena Lasconi edged ahead of Ciolacu in a late surge, erasing the premiers initial lead, to take 19.2%. The top two will face a runoff on Dec. 8.

Its clearly a vote against the system with a split between the pro-western views and the anti-western ones that rings the alarm bell about the level of dissatisfaction in the population, said Cristian Pirvulescu, an analyst and professor at the Romanian University of Political Studies in Bucharest.

The biggest blow came to the Black Sea nations two largest parties, Ciolacus Social Democrats and the Liberal Party. In response, Ciolacu resigned from the leadership of the party but said he will stay on as premier until after the parliamentary election on Dec. 1 to ensure a smooth transition of power. He also said he wont challenge the results of the presidential elections and congratulated Lasconi.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its the first time the long-dominant Social Democrats havent fielded a presidential candidate in a final round since 1990. The Liberal candidate, Nicolae Ciuca, secured less than 10% and is also expected to step aside.

Disaster

The result spells disaster for parliamentary election, above all for the ruling parties, likely complicating post-vote coalition building, Pirvulescu said.

Although unexpected, the outcome underscores growing unease about support for Ukraine and a broader rebuke against a perceived political elite, falling more in line with Donald Trumps decisive victory in the US this month and the rise of right-wing forces in Italy, France and Slovakia over the past year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Georgescu, 62, a former ally of the ultranationalist Alliance for the Unity of Romanians party, has questioned military support for Ukraine. Hes called for an end to the war and cast doubt on the benefits of Romanias NATO membership.

In a 2020 interview, Georgescu called Vladimir Putin one of the worlds few true leaders, saying that the Russian president loves his country regardless of the means he uses.

His victory caught markets off-guard. Romanias dollar bonds were the worst performers among emerging-market peers on the day. Yields on domestic debt also jumped and the BET stock index fell and headed for the lowest close since April.

Romanias two main parties, once rivals, have led the country in a grand coalition over the past three years. Although the unity government has yielded a measure of calm in Romanian politics, the parties are now likely to confront amplified discontent over their handling of the countrys finances and economic woes in the parliamentary contest. Polls so far have shown the Social Democrats in the lead.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Romania, like other countries bordering Ukraine, has faced intense hybrid attacks from Russia, from cyberattacks to drones breaching its air space to test military responses.

Tonight the Romanian people shouted peace  and they were very loud, Georgescu told supporters Sunday evening.

Romanias president holds a largely ceremonial office, but is the commander-in-chief of the military and represents the country at NATO and EU summits. The head of state also nominates the prime minister in consultation with political parties.

(Updates with details about party leadership resignation in fifth paragraph)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  A judge warned a prolific shoplifter to stay out of trouble because she wouldnt get any more breaks in court, but shes reportedly back at it, and it didnt take long for police to catch her.

Officers arrested 38-year-old Melissa Owens and 31-year-old Blake Scott Montgomery at a Target in northeast Albuquerque.

The two are accused of stealing nearly $2,500 worth of goods on Thursday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Albuquerque police said security at the store told APDs Organized Retail Crime Unit about a female repeat shoplifter she recognized.

Story continues below

According to the criminal complaint, police were on scene as the pair walked out of the store. Montgomery was with a bike, and Owens had a cart full of items.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For Owens, its not her first run-in with police. Court records show in 2018, she pled guilty to stealing a car, damaging property, and assaulting an officer. She then received a conditional discharge.

Later in 2019, court records show she violated her probation on multiple occasions.

This is the last time there will be a plea agreement, said the Judge at her hearing in 2019.

Yes, she replied.

The detective who searched Owens on Thursday said she had fentanyl pills and crystal meth in her possession.

Owens and Montgomery are facing felony shoplifting and conspiracy to commit shoplifting charges. Owens is also facing a drug charge.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mayor Tim Keller and APD are expected to announce plans for the upcoming holiday shopping season on Tuesday afternoon, highlighting organized retail crime laws that have helped in shoplifting cases.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
BOSTON (WPRI)  A new proposal in Massachusetts could eventually ban nicotine and tobacco products for those born after a specific date.

Sen. Jason Lewis and Reps. Tommy Vitolo and Kate Lipper-Garabedian plan to file legislation in January permanently blocking those who are not yet old enough to buy tobacco and nicotine products from ever doing so legally in the Bay State.

The Nicotine-Free Generation bill would replace the states current law that prohibits the sale of nicotine or tobacco to anyone under the age of 21. It would not take away the right from anyone who is already legally able to do so.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tobacco use among middle and high schoolers has reached its lowest point in 25 years.

Massachusetts banned the sale of all flavored tobacco products in 2019.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily Roundup

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
(Getty Images)

GRAND ISLAND, Neb.  Prosecutors intend to appeal the dismissal of criminal charges against a notary for Nebraskas medical cannabis petitions who asks them to stop playing games and embrace voter approval.

A spokesperson for the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office, which is coordinating with the Hall County Attorneys Office in the criminal case, said in a Tuesday text that prosecutors intend to appeal Hall County Judge Alfred Coreys dismissal of all 24 charges of official misconduct against Jacy Todd of York.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prosecutors have accused Todd of improperly notarizing petition pages on 24 dates for petition circulator Michael Egbert, alleging that both men were not in the same room while the pages were notarized. Todd has denied those allegations.

A Monday statement from Todds Grand Island attorney, Mark Porto, states that Todd is an Army medic veteran who served in combat during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm and experienced significant bouts of post-traumatic stress disorder from service.

A series of politically orchestrated (and false) Class II misdemeanors are among the least scary and intimidating things Mr. Todd has ever encountered, the statement reads.

Porto said Tuesday, upon learning of the expected appeal, that its disappointing, but not particularly surprising.

Unprecedented criminal charges

Corey, in his opinion, pointed to the U.S. Supreme Court and said that while notaries greatly assist others, notary publics are not public servants who are performing governmental functions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He noted that the Nebraska Secretary of States Office already has an administrative process for malfeasance allegations.

The State attempts to differentiate what criminal activity would be as opposed to noncriminal activity, Corey wrote. The Court rejects this argument.

Multiple attorneys defending the campaign and other notaries for the ballot measures have said the criminal charges against Todd are brand-new in Nebraska. Attorney George Dungan, a state senator, described the charges as relatively unprecedented, if not entirely unprecedented. A state official who oversees notaries, David Wilson Jr., testified under oath to the same.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Corey said he couldnt find any Nebraska cases similar to Todds criminal charges.

Pending Lancaster County court case

Egbert was accused of a Class IV felony but, upon testifying against the Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana campaign in Lancaster County District Court and cooperating with law enforcement, his charge was reduced to a Class I misdemeanor and a $250 fine.

Egbert, who is also a veteran, has said he used a phone book to illegally add voters and later forge their signatures.

During the Lancaster County trial, Egbert said that he has a mental condition that affects his memory but that prosecutors told him that whatever he said wouldnt be used against him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The ballot sponsors attorneys last month presented an affidavit from Porto that the states civil attorneys had not affirmatively said that Todd would benefit from cooperating but instead suggested that Todds cooperation could aid his criminal case. Todd said he had no interest in cooperating and requested that the AGs Office not contact Porto on his behalf again.

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)

Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong heard arguments on those allegations and said no ethical violations had occurred.

Strong has not yet ruled in the broader case seeking to invalidate the measures to legalize and regulate medical cannabis. The case is built upon allegations of widespread notarial malfeasance to invalidate tens of thousands of petition signatures that got the measures onto the ballot.

The ballot sponsors had no comment on the Egbert or Todd criminal cases.

Stop playing games

The legalization measure passed with 71% voter approval, while the regulatory measure passed with 67% approval in the Nov. 5 general election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The results are set to be certified in December; the measures would take effect within 10 days of certification.

Portos statement says that based on Todds service and that of fellow soldiers, Todd has seen firsthand the benefits that medical cannabis can provide and has been a tireless advocate for legalization.

We are grateful that Judge [Alfred] Corey saw this case for what it was and promptly dismissed the case because notary malfeasance, even though false in this instance, is not even a crime under Nebraska law, Porto said.

The voters in this state have now spoken overwhelmingly in favor of medical cannabis and it is time that our elected leaders respect the voters enough to stop playing games and instead see to it that their clear and unambiguous demand for medical cannabis is quickly implemented through appropriate laws and regulations.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
The Pinal County Attorney's Office declined to press charges against a former Arizona State University police chief who was under investigation for his handling of pro-Palestinian campus protests in Tempe in April.

Michael Thompson, a 16-year ASU police veteran who served as chief since 2014 before an expected Aug. 24 retirement, was on paid leave in May related to multiple complaints school officials received regarding his conduct. Multiple ASU campus protesters said they saw Thompson during an April 26 protest destroying tents with a knife in an incident circulated on video.

An official with the Pinal County Attorney's Office confirmed to The Arizona Republic on Tuesday that there were no forthcoming charges against Thompson. The official did not explain how the decision not to prosecute was reached.

Advertisement Advertisement

According to a Scottsdale police report, an investigation on Thompson was prompted by a complaint ASU Police Lt. Larry Fuchtman filed against the chief on suspected criminal damage and assault from April 26 to 27. Investigating police spoke with at least four law enforcement members, the report showed.

"The university community appreciates his years of dedicated service to ASU and wishes him well," an ASU statement read at the time of Thompson's retirement announcement.

An ASU spokesperson told The Republic on Tuesday afternoon that complaints against Thompson had been forwarded to Scottsdale police for investigation.

More than 70 people were arrested during the late spring semester protests where tents and structures were forcibly removed after reported curfew violations. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced in early October that her office intended to prosecute 68 people charged with the class 3 misdemeanor offense of third-degree trespassing.

Advertisement Advertisement

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating ASU police for possible civil rights violations involving four women who were arrested during the protests and who accused officers of removing their hijabs without their consent.

The Republic reporter Helen Rummel contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ex-ASU police chief avoids charges in pro-Palestinian campus protests
Hundreds of immigrant rights advocates and others participate in rally and demonstration at the Federal Building in lower Manhattan on June 1, 2018 in New York. In coordinated marches across the country people gathered outside U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field offices, U.S. attorney's offices, and the Department of Justice headquarters in Washington, D.C. (Spencer Platt | Getty Images).

The week before Thanksgiving, I spoke with an immigration attorney in Madison, Grant Sovern, who helped found the Community Immigration Law Center (CILC)  part of a flurry of new services created in the wake of the 2018 ICE raids that terrorized Dane County during President-elect Donald Trumps first administration. No one knows what the immigration crackdown Trump has promised for his second term will look like. But advocates are once again meeting to try to prepare.

Sovern told me about desperate calls from friends of his college-age daughter  students who are worried about losing their protected status under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). While he has been offering them hope that the new administration wont start by targeting Dreamers, who grew up in this country and just want to continue to study and work here, he added that the easiest targets for mass deportation are other people whove followed the rules. Asylum-seekers and those with temporary protected status and work visas  like the Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, that Trump and incoming Vice President J.D. Vance falsely accused of eating their neighbors pets  will be the easiest to find.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What an ominous holiday season. We need the warmth of gatherings with friends and family more than ever. But its a weird time to be celebrating the arrival of our nations first immigrants and the mythical meal where they bonded with Native Americans before swiping their land and wiping them out. Talking about colonialism, genocide and how our society is built on historic injustice is quickly dismissed as woke and out of fashion these days. But its unavoidable if youre trying to understand the rise of right-wing authoritarianism here and around the globe.

The same week I spoke with Sovern about preparations in Dane County to counter Trumps mass deportations, Israeli peace activist Rotem Levin came to Madison with his Palestinian peace movement colleague Osama Iliwat to speak out against the war in Gaza and to discuss their vision for a path to shared safety, justice and liberation, according to the promotional materials from Jewish Voice for Peace, Vets for Peace and a handful of local religious groups that brought them to the Presbyterian church near my house.

I met Levin at the home of a neighbor who hosted the pair (Iliwat was resting, feeling unwell after their trip). Levin said their goal was to get people to stop being sleepy about the occupation and the hopelessness of the seemingly endless war on Palestinians by his country, supported by the U.S.

Were not like you  you genocided all the Native Americans and now they have to accept you, Levin said with startling Israeli frankness. Were in the Middle East. There are Muslims all around us. The only way to guarantee safety and security is by building trust.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Of the recent U.S. election, he said, I want to encourage you. We have been living with dictatorship for 20 years. You will be OK.

People who have been living comfortably with the thought that they are part of a democracy, protected by the rule of law, are not the ones who need to be afraid, he added. In the U.S., people without papers are the most vulnerable, like the Palestinians in Israel, he said. His parents, among other Israelis, have been shocked by his countrys rapid slide into fascism under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu and his right-wing cabinet. For his mother, who suddenly doesnt recognize her country, and for his father, who was beaten at a protest march, the shift to militarism and the crushing of free speech was unthinkable until recently. For his Palestinian friends, however, repression is a familiar fact of life. His message is that security depends on justice for everyone.

Levin was not keen to talk about the daunting project of finding a political solution to the conflict. He didnt want to get bogged down in arguments about the details, he said. Focusing on the small things, building personal, humanizing connections between Israelis and Palestinians, is critically important, even if there is no big-picture solution on the horizon yet.

The same approach applies here, on the cusp on the next Trump administration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Community leaders and immigration attorneys have been meeting in Madison to try to figure out what to do. Local funding has dried up since the first Trump term. CILC lacks adequate resources and doesnt have enough volunteer lawyers to respond to the crisis advocates see coming. And they dont even know what shape that crisis will take. The prospect that the Trump administration will likely do away with its own practice, in the first administration, of not conducting raids in churches and schools sends shivers down everybodys spine, Sovern said.

Mass raids like the 2018 ICE operations that shut down local restaurants could be scaled up, and could cause huge economic harm, especially for Wisconsin dairy farms where an estimated 70% of the workforce is comprised of undocumented immigrants.

But raiding isolated farms in rural areas of the state wouldnt make the kind of news splash Trump is probably seeking. To achieve that effect, Democratic cities like Madison could be in the crosshairs. Instead of dropping busloads of migrants off in liberal northern cities, the publicity stunt gleefully executed by Republican Govs. Greg Abbot of Texas and Ron Desantis of Florida, the Trump administration could send in buses to round people up, crashing local economies by emptying out restaurants and other businesses that depend on an immigrant workforce.

According to The Hill, Texas has offered the incoming Trump administration 1,400 acres to build a mass deportation detention camp.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In Madison, immigrant rights groups and local officials have begun trying to calm people down.

After the 2018 ICE raids, advocates hosted an information session to offer legal advice and the only thing anyone wanted to ask was, Who will pick up my kids from school if Im deported? Sovern recalled.

There is a lot to worry about, including the bill that recently passed the U.S. House allowing the federal government to designate U.S. nonprofits terrorist supporting organizations and strip them of their tax-exempt status.

But its also important to remember that, under current law, they cant do all the bad things they want to do all at once, Sovern said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He pointed to an evaluation of the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project, the nations first public defender system for immigrants facing deportation. (CILC, in Madison, was the second such effort.) The project provided lawyers to all low-income immigrants facing deportation proceedings in New York City. Before the project, only 4% of those challenging deportation were successful. Once they were provided with attorneys, the rate of success rose to 48%.

And despite polls showing increasing public support for mass deportations, even in the current amped-up anti-immigrant climate, most Americans (about 64%) say undocumented immigrants should be allowed to stay in the country if they meet certain conditions including applying for citizenship, working, paying taxes and not committing crimes.

People are more sympathetic if they hear the stories of real people who are affected by deportation threats, not just the lies about violent criminals who are eating pets.

Its also important to spread the word that there are good people trying to hold up a light in the darkness. As Sovern puts it, What we can do are little bits of tons of hard work.

Even if its impossible to solve the big problem all at once, brave people are doing their best to lead us to a better future.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Over the weekend, the Salt Lake County Health Department issued 14 warnings to illegal vendors selling food outside the Delta Center.

The Salt Lake City Police Department said it receives multiple complaints each year from community members and businesses about illegal vendors around the arena. So, on Sunday, Nov. 24, the SLCPD officers worked alongside the Salt Lake County Health Department during the Christian Nodal concert at the Delta Center to crack down on illegal vending.

LDS Church reaches agreement with Texas town over proposed temple

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But while 14 warnings were issued over the weekend, officials are reminding Utahns about the dangers of buying food from these street vendors.

Food vendors without a valid Salt Lake County Health Department permit havent been inspected and may not follow essential food safety practices like regular hand washing and maintaining food at proper temperatures, said Rachel Black, an environmental health scientist for the Salt Lake County Health Department Food Protection Bureau.

Vandals caught on camera defacing ancient Utah petroglyphs, investigation underway

Salt Lake Police Chief Mike Brown aside from undermining health and safety standards, the illegal vending also challenges legitimate businesses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While we recognize and encourage community members who want to share their goods and talents, its essential to follow the established processes of licensing and inspections that help ensure fairness, safety, and a thriving community for everyone, said Brown.

During Sundays operation, police did take a 37-year-old man into custody after he allegedly refused to identify himself. SLCPD said the man, who has not been identified, faces charges of failure to disclose identity, operating without a business license, and intentionally providing false information to a public officer.

When attending events in and around Salt Lake City, police say community members should look for health and business permits displayed on their carts, vehicle, or booth. However, potential customers should still be wary of individuals selling merchandise or food outside of a known business.

Anyone with questions or suspect a business is possibly conducting illegal sales is encouraged to call the Salt Lake City Police Department at 801-799-3000.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
A phamacy student in California administers a TDaP vaccine to prevent whooping cough. Wisconsin public health officials are recommending people check their immunity status and get a vaccine as pertussis cases surge. (Justin Sullivan | Getty Images)

Cases of pertussis  whooping cough  have surged in Wisconsin this year, prompting public health officials to reiterate the importance of vaccination and prompt attention to signs of illness.

Wisconsin has reported 1,887 confirmed cases of pertussis as of Nov. 22 this year, according to the state Department of Health Services (DHS)  compared with 51 for all of 2023, and more than three times the states last peak year in 2019.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its not unusual to see a spike in cases in any given year, but this is a significant jump, DHS spokesperson Jennifer Miller said Tuesday in an email message. We are encouraging people to get pertussis vaccines and to use good hygiene habits to avoid catching and spreading the illness.

Pertussis is a bacterial upper respiratory illness that spreads easily. It tends to start with a runny nose and a scratchy throat, but after about a week patients develop a persistent cough that can last for weeks.

Pertussis case counts often run in cycles, so well have years with high case counts and years with fairly low case counts, Miller said.

In Dane County alone, there have been 281 cases through Monday, Nov. 25, Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) reported Tuesday. Since 2000, Dane County has reported two peak years for the respiratory illness, with 436 cases for all of 2004 and 302 cases for all of 2012.

Pertussis information sources

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

By contrast, the county has had case counts as low as 7 for all of 2018, 13 for all of 2019, 0 for 2021 and 2022 and 4 for 2023, according to PHMDC records.

With the holidays approaching, many families will be traveling and gathering with friends and family, said Amanda Kita-Yarbro, the county health departments public health epidemiologist. This could increase the spread of all respiratory illness, including pertussis, which has been primarily impacting teenagers and college-aged people in recent months.

Wisconsins last peak year for pertussis infections was 2019, when there were 535 cases reported across the state. This year both the state and the county first reported a sharply higher number of cases in July.

Ajay Sethi, faculty director of the Masters in Public Health program at the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, said Tuesday several factors underlie this years surge in cases.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One is lagging rates in pertussis vaccinations. Under-immunization  was the main reason for our vulnerability for the outbreak we have had this year, Sethi told the Wisconsin Examiner in an email message.

While pertussis vaccines are available and recommended for people of any age, in October, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a downturn in childhood vaccination nationwide and particularly in Wisconsin.

According to the report, the rate of childhood vaccination with the DtaP shot  providing combined protection from diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis  was 85.7% for the 2023-24 school year in Wisconsin  second to lowest among all states. The CDC has set a target for vaccination rates of at least 95% for children entering kindergarten.

The CDC reported that 8% of Wisconsin kindergarteners were granted an exemption from the states vaccine requirements overall.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sethi said the bacteria responsible for pertussis is highly contagious and difficult to stop from spreading. Adults who become infected may think they just have a cold, so they dont seek health care immediately, if at all, and spread it to other people (who are likely not up to date on their vaccination), he added.

There isnt a rapid test for pertussis, and test results take a couple of days to confirm a diagnosis, Sethi said. Physicians may rightfully be hesitant to prescribe antibiotics without confirming the cause, he added.

In July, Dr. James Conway, a UW Health specialist in childhood infectious diseases, told the Wisconsin Examiner that the signature whoop coughing sound that gives pertussis its nickname is generally confined to young children, who are also the most vulnerable to the illness.

People of any age can become infected, however, and public health specialists are advising people to take precautions to help prevent its spread, especially to children. Those precautions include getting vaccinated for pertussis, washing hands and covering coughs and sneezes.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
(PUEBLO, Colo.)  A 51-year-old man from Pueblo was charged and convicted of drug, felon in possession charges after being caught with methamphetamine.

In May 2023, Dominick Jesus Salazar, 51, was arrested outside of a Pueblo hotel room where he was staying after the Pueblo Police Department (PPD) observed him interact with multiple people in a manner consistent with hand-to-hand drug sales.

When police arrested Salazar, he had a loaded pistol in his pocket along with drug proceeds, and inside his hotel room police found 184 grams of 98% pure meth.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We will do our best to send convicted felons who continue to repeat their criminal behavior back to prison, said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch. Our communities are safer with two more repeat offenders off the streets.

This case is a 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 neighborhoods safer.

Salazar was convicted by a federal court on one count of being a felon or possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
The purple curbs throughout the City of Pittsburgh are here to stay just as the holiday shopping season gets underway.

The city council voted to extend the controversial parking program indefinitely on Monday. The decision to keep the painted curbs comes after they claimed the pilot program worked to move drivers quickly in and out of parking spots.

The purple-painted curb is in front of businesses where traditional loading zones used to be, but theres still some confusion about how it works.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I wasnt exactly sure what they meant, said Gurudev Dutt of Squirrel Hill. We know about the yellow curbs but not the purple so I wasnt sure if it meant I couldnt park there, or if Im allowed to park there for a few minutes.

Drivers can park in the spots for 15 minutes for free. After that, theyre charged the hourly metered rate and if a driver is parked there for up to an hour, the rate is doubled. The purple parking sign alerts drivers that theyre being monitored by cameras.

City officials have said the purple curbs make it easier for delivery drivers or pick-ups and cut back on double parking.

Some business owners along Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill argue the program is nothing more than a money grab from the city telling Channel 11 deliveries can sometimes take 30 minutes to an hour to unload. They believe the curbs and surveillance cameras are keeping customers away.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I can certainly see why for a business it would seem unfair to have to start suddenly paying for it when they were previously not having to pay, but I can also see the citys viewpoint that they want to get some revenue from that space, Dutt said.

Several drivers believe the city should get rid of the purple curbs.

I say go back to the way it was, said Dutt.

Michael Hoffman of Squirrel Hill agreed.

It seemed like if things were fine without them and additional ways of taxing people arent always necessarily good just because they provide tax, Hoffman said.

City council members said there was a 75% increase in people parking for less than 15 minutes in the spots and a 95% reduction in double parking.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Two Democratic lawmakers have reintroduced a bill ahead of the upcoming legislative session that would take a bite out of your grocery bill by eliminating the states grocery tax.

Tennessee charges a 4% tax for groceries, making it one of 13 states that have a grocery tax.

Rep. Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville) and Sen. Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville) will reintroduce a bill from last session to eliminate the states grocery tax.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

PREVIOUS: Democratic lawmaker wants to eliminate state grocery tax

Behn told News 2 many of her constituents are seniors on fixed incomes and are struggling to afford groceries. One showed up to her home in tears over the issue last fall.

This is something that impacts every single Tennessee family. We have Tennessee families that are driving across state lines to Kentucky to buy groceries, Behn said. Last year, we calculated that a Tennessee family would save over $400 a year, but I imagine that number would be even greater, and thats more money back in their pockets and more money back in the Tennessee economy.

Rep. Behn hopes Republicans can get on board. While some conservative lawmakers liked the idea when it was introduced last session, they didnt support the portion of the bill that would raise taxes for some corporations to make up for the lost revenue.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were not going to support a bait and switch, because this particular bill that we gave a neutral recommendation reduces taxes on one side then raises taxes significantly on the other, House Majority Leader Rep. William Lamberth (R-Portland) told News 2 in March.

However, Behn argues the bill would close corporate tax loopholes and help working Tennesseans.

Read the latest from the TN State Capitol Newsroom

We have a Department of Revenue letter showing that almost 60% of businesses in the state are not paying excise tax, Rep. Behn said. We have tons of companies using their lobbying muscle to remove themselves from the tax base; meanwhile, were not passing any tax cuts for working Tennessee families.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Behn pointed out multiple Republican-led states, including Oklahoma, have recently passed legislation eliminating the grocery tax. In addition, Mississippianother conservative statewill consider it during its upcoming legislative session.

I think folks are really hungry for it, Behn said. I have seen leadership, both Speaker [Cameron] Sexton and Leader Lamberth have intimated, perhaps, there will be some cutting back on groceries, but I think the time of grocery tax breaks is over, and we need to eliminate the tax in totality.

If the bill passes, state taxes on groceries could be removed by July 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 WKRN News 2.
The Putnam County Sheriffs Office is searching for 81-year-old Virginia Ellen Munch.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

According to deputies, she has a history of depression and is believed to have symptoms of dementia but is undiagnosed.

Munch was last seen around 5 p.m. on Monday.

According to PCSO, she left the area of 2311 South State Road 19.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

She was driving a maroon 2013 Chevrolet Silverado with Illinois plates. The truck has a Leer brand topper.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Munch was last seen wearing a grey t-shirt with Alaska on it, grey tights, and white shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to call 386-329-0800.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
When Joseph Ladapo was appointed the surgeon general in Florida in September 2021, the vaccination rate for routine injections for kindergartners was 93.3 percent. Now, its at 90.6 percent  the lowest it's been in over a decade. Some point to Lapados actions as a contributor to the decline.

For example, amid a measles outbreak in Florida, Lapado contradicted widespread medical guidance, failing to direct parents of unvaccinated children to get them their shots or keep them home. He advised not to vaccinate children against COVID-19 in 2022 and called for a halt to using mRNA vaccines for both adults and children.

Pediatricians now fear that national vaccination rates, which are already on the decline, will follow a similar trend as Florida if Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is confirmed as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services. But its not just how a reduction in vaccination rates could affect kids, but an overall decline in trust in science and medicine that could be devastating to childrens health.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Positions on vaccines represent a discounting of medicine and science, and that discounting of medicine and science goes beyond vaccines, to include, as an example, his support for hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID, Jeffrey Goldhagen, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Jacksonville, Florida, told Salon in a phone interview. The issue with RFK goes far beyond vaccines, vaccines are the tip of the iceberg  an iceberg that represents a nihilism or denial of medicine and public health.

In other words, Kennedy represents a dismantling of the public health system. In a way, this is what Trump has instructed Kennedy to do. As Trump recently said, Kennedy will restore public health agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research to Make America Great and Healthy Again. But such a restoration could lead to the loss of key programs that are vital to childrens health.

Kennedy is infamous for pushing health-related conspiracy theories. He opposes drinking water fluoridation and has been a vocal skeptic of vaccines for decades. If confirmed, he would steer the massive public health agency that includes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Health. Goldhagen said he fears for the future of the Vaccines for Children program that provides vaccines to kids whose parents might not be able to afford routine vaccinations.

His vaccine stance represents a denial of medicine and science and public health, Goldhagen said. And we saw the impact of that with the situation in Samoa.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Many point to what happened in Samoa in 2018 and Kennedys involvement in the crisis. Two infants died when nurses accidentally prepared the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine with an expired muscle relaxant. This caused the local government to suspend its vaccine program briefly. At the same time, Kennedy and his anti-vaccine nonprofit Childrens Health Defense spread falsehoods about vaccinations across the island, which led to a decline in vaccination rates. One year later, a measles outbreak infected 57,000 Samoans and killed 83 of them, including children.

In a way, it's a return to the first two decades of the 20th century when measles deaths occurred by the thousands in the United States. But by 2000, measles was declared eliminated from the United States, and no deaths were reported until 2015 when a woman in Washington was the first to die in 12 years due to complications from the disease. Measles cases rise rapidly because the virus is so contagious. It can be easily spread by coughing, talking or simply being in the same room. It is estimated to infect 90 percent of unvaccinated people who are exposed.

Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes.

But it doesn't have to be this way. The MMR vaccine is extremely effective and safe. After two doses, nearly 99 percent of people will be shielded against infection. While the vaccine was first developed in 1963, it wasnt until 1980 that all 50 states had laws that required measles immunization for school enrollment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But since then, the so-called Wakefield effect has unraveled this progress. This effect refers to a thoroughly discredited British doctor, who claimed to document changes in behavior in children given the MMR vaccine, suggesting it could cause autism. This has seemingly contributed to the decline in vaccination rates. Kennedy has said he believes autism comes from vaccines. Salon reached out to Kennedy and did not receive a response. The problem with a decline in MMR vaccines is that for a population to have herd immunity, in which when a sufficient number of the population are immunized, about 94 percent people needs to have the shot.

Even a small drop in immunization rates for MMR vaccine can increase the risk of community transmission of measles, which is very risky for those who are not immunized, but also increases risk of infection for those who are immunized, Dr. Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases and associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of California, Davis, told Salon. Vaccines decrease the risk of infection, but are not 100 percent effective.

Notably, childhood vaccination rates nationwide are declining  not only for measles.

I and a number of colleagues are very concerned that there could be the potential spread of polio to the U.S., Goldhagen said. If in fact, we don't maintain our levels of vaccine coverage that provide herd immunity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In response to the possibility of Kennedys nomination, Benjamin Hoffman, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, emphasized in a statement that vaccines are the safest and most cost-effective way to protect children, families and communities from disease, disability and death.

Vaccinations prepare childrens immune systems to recognize and respond to serious diseases, helping them stay healthy so they can learn, grow and thrive, Hoffman said. Immunization prepares children for long-term health, well-being and development into adulthood.

Hoffman also said that a national investment in vaccines is absolutely essential to support healthy communities.

But as Goldhagen said, the concern about vaccines is just the beginning. Blumberg elaborated that he fears that vaccine misinformation can snowball into a distrust for other routine care in early childhood, too.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The more vaccine misinformation is spread, parents then question other routine care, such as the newborn vitamin K [shot], which is not an immunization, Blumberg said. And this can lead to a more contentious relationship with their childs health care provider as they question mainstream care; this risks physician burnout, and then less access to care for children.

Blumberg added a distrust in public health and science will ultimately lead to more children being hospitalized, and dying and add pressure to an already-strained healthcare system.

And then more public health resources trying to contain outbreaks, less safe environments for everyone in the community. Its sad, everyone loses, Blumberg said. Its frustrating to see a decline in the health of children because people with fringe beliefs are promoted to high-profile platforms where they can spread their conspiracy theories.

When asked if there were reasons why many people resonated with Kennedy, Goldhagen said its important to remember that a majority of parents are pro-vaccine.

The problem is that the science behind vaccines requires a vaccine rate to ensure herd immunity, Goldhagen said. If 10 percent of parents choose not to vaccinate their children, it places 100 percent of children and people to whom children are exposed, at risk.
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  The Peoria Public Schools Board of Education unanimously approved its plans for the former Quest Charter Academy buildings during Mondays meeting.

The plan for the middle school is to be an extension of its dual-language program, which involves classrooms of half English speakers and half Spanish speakers. Its currently located at Valeska Hinton Early Childhood Education Center and Whittier Primary School.

As for the high school, three separate alternative programs for students would be housed there.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rise Academy is currently based at Trewyn School for K-5th graders who need a more therapeutic environment to learn, while Day Treatment is for 3rd-12th graders with similar needs to Rise students. Its also housed at Trewyn.

The third program is called PAT, which stands for Peoria Adult Transition Academy, based at Jamieson School. The program is for young adults who have finished high school but need additional support and life skills training.

PPS Board expected to vote on plans for Quest buildings

District Superintendent Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat said it would provide a centralized location for these programs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theyre spread out throughout various buildings throughout the district so now theyll have their own dedicated space, time, and staff so that would be fantastic, Kherat said.

Some parents spoke up during public comment about the lack of a cost estimate and their concerns about that. One man said he didnt want the board to approve a blank check.

Board President Paris McConnell said what was approved tonight was to move forward with the plans. She promised the board will be transparent with the public.

As we define it, we will make sure that information is shared and that families know what their options are, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

McConnell added that the cost will be minimal, due to the district already owning the buildings. The costs would go towards making sure the buildings are ready for use.

The plans for the school buildings will take effect next school year.

What Led up to this

Quest Charter Academy and Middle School officially closed earlier this year when the State Board of Education voted in May to accept the state superintendents recommendation to close Quest.

The PPS school board voted in January to stop funding the charter schools and to fold the nearly 400 students into their system. Their rationale was that Quests appeal was that Quest leadership failed to meet eight of the 11 benchmarks set by the district. Among those benchmarks were:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

not receiving a commendable rating for the middle school through the state report card process.

not meeting an acceptable four-year graduation rate.

not having an acceptable attendance rate for its students.

Student discipline and declining enrollment were also brought up as reasons to deny.

Quest appealed that decision and in March, a hearing officer sided with them, saying the school district here shouldnt close the two schools. However, State Superintendent Tony Sanders recommended the state board ignore the March ruling.

Other approved items

Also approved was the purchase of four electric wheelchair-capable school buses from Midwest Transit Equipment. They cost just over $1.6 million, but the district is receiving a rebate of $1.3 million, lessening its cost to $230,148. It will be depreciated over a five-year period.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com.
Nov. 25A wintry mix of precipitation that fell overnight around Anchorage was making for slick conditions at the start of the Thanksgiving week.

The National Weather Service in an alert early Monday warned that rain, snow and freezing rain that fell overnight from Anchorage north to the Matanuska Valley could make for slick roads. The forecast Sunday evening initially called for several inches of snow. It was raining and 35 degrees at the agency's headquarters in Sand Lake as the morning commute got underway. Anchorage police reported slippery surfaces for driving and walking, with 12 crashes and 17 vehicles in distress by 11 a.m.

Several inches of snow were also in the forecast for the Matanuska Valley, where a weather service advisory said to 2 to 5 inches of additional accumulation was possible on Monday until midafternoon. The highest amounts were expected in the areas of Hatcher Pass, Sutton and Chickaloon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With slippery road conditions, drivers were advised to slow down and travel with caution.

The Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center said in a Facebook post that up to a foot of snow in the forecast could increase avalanche danger in that area, popular for winter recreation.

"Expect conditions to change and avalanche hazard to rise on Monday as a quick-hitting front passes through the area," the avalanche center said.

The forecast in Anchorage changed overnight after southeasterly winds off Turnagain Arm pushed temperatures above freezing Sunday night, according to meteorologist Shaun Baines.Just as significantly, Baines said, the upper atmosphere where snow crystals would develop over the city is dry. Just to the north over the Matanuska Valley, the upper atmosphere is saturated, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Baines said little if any snow was expected at sea level in Anchorage.

The Parks Highway was briefly closed in both directions Monday morning at Mile 275 just south of the Nenana River due to a jackknifed semitruck blocking the road, Alaska State Troopers said. Troopers described road conditions in the area as "extremely hazardous" and warned drivers to travel with caution.
Tuesday: The rain is already moving out before sunrise this morning. Expect some patchy fog and low clouds to start the day. Then it will become sunny in the afternoon with cooler high temperatures in the upper 50s to lower 60s.

Wednesday: An area of high pressure will move across the state on Wednesday, warming us up with a partly cloudy sky and high temperatures climbing into the upper 60s.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wed Night  Thanksgiving: A cold front will move into Alabama Wednesday night and continue into Thursday, Thanksgiving Day. There is still a disagreement among the models regarding the timing of the front. If the front moves through earlier, we will get rain/storms ending on Thanksgiving morning. If it is a slower front, we will have rain/storms throughout Thursday. Additionally, there will be a chance for strong to possibly severe storms with gusty winds and hail from 10 PM Wednesday to 10 AM Thursday.

We will have to watch to see how this plays out the next few days. High temperatures will be in the lower to middle 60s.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Black Friday: It will turn MUCH cooler on Black Friday with a breezy. Expect plenty of sunshine with highs in the upper 40s. Friday night will be clear and cold with lows in the upper 20s.

Weekend Outlook: A reinforcing shot of colder air will arrive this weekend. Saturday will be sunny and very chilly with highs in the upper 40s. Saturday night will be mostly clear and cold with lows in the upper 20s to lower 30s. Sunday will be mostly sunny and chilly with highs in the middle 40s. More cold air arrives Friday night with lows back down into the 20s for Central Alabama. It will be chilly and dry for the Iron Bowl this year.

Be sure to follow the CBS 42 Storm Team:

Follow Us on Facebook: Chief Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum, Meteorologist Michael Haynes, Meteorologist Alex Puckett, and Meteorologist Jacob Woods.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
From outerwear to military tactical pants to boots, Ralphs Army Surplus in Monroeville has been offering these specialty items for decades. Next month, the owner will close his doors for good.

Since 1955, Ralphs Army Surplus has been a fixture along Route 22 in Monroeville. The current owner, Bruce Silverblatt purchased the business from the Bonn family in 2001.

My friends family owned this business and Ralph was their grandfather and my friend passed away at the young age of 42 and one of my other friends kicked me in the butt and told me to go talk to his father because he was gonna sell the business, Silverblatt said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Silverblatt speaks fondly of his 23 years owning and operating Ralphs Army Surplus.

Im going to miss the employees and the interaction with the customers, he said.

The same goes for longtime employees like James Long.

My mother and my grandmother worked here. Its part of the family, Long said.

Hes worked here since 2009.

We would see like I said about 300 to 400 people a day and as the years went by the numbers just started dropping and then COVID really took a bat to us, Long explained.

About a year ago, Silverblatt says he made the decision to close by the end of December. Hes slashed prices on a lot of items.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Silverblatt said, Eventually, hopefully, there wont be anything left in the store except for memories.

Silverblatt says that anyone who still has a gift card needs to make sure that they use it by the end of December.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Starbucks' payment and scheduling system has been hit with a ransomware attack.

The coffee company issued guidance for workers about how to handle pay disruptions caused by the outage.

The outage at Blue Yonder, which makes the software, also impacted grocery stores and Fortune 500 firms.

The software company behind Starbucks' payment and scheduling system has been experiencing a dayslong ransomware attack, causing outages that are disrupting employee pay.

The attack on Blue Yonder, the company that makes the software, began on November 21 and has caused outages in Starbucks's system for tracking employee hours and payments.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to documents reviewed by Business Insider, Starbucks has issued guidance to its employees about how to handle pay disruptions caused by the Blue Yonder outage. Starbucks told its employees that payment for the period ending on November 17 would be unaffected, but there may be discrepancies in the following pay period.

"We will ensure partners who receive less than their worked hours or intended sick and/or vacation time will be paid correctly, as soon as possible," the internal documents read.

The outage has forced employees to track their shifts using pens and paper, according to Bloomberg.

The documents viewed by BI indicate that employees who are missing pay from their checks should notify their store managers as soon as possible. Any underpayment will be resolved in the next pay period. Any payment overages resulting from an employee being paid for a scheduled shift from November 18 through November 24 that they did not report to work for will not be required to be paid back, the documents say.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A Starbucks partner in the South said their manager told them on Monday that employees who had paid time off planned for the affected weeks won't be paid for that time until the outage has been fixed.

That's "potentially very bad for some partners taking vacation around the holidays," the partner told Business Insider.

A spokesperson for Starbucks told Business Insider that the company is working to ensure its partners are paid for their hours worked with limited disruption, and indicated the outage has not disrupted customer-facing technology or service in any of its locations.

Blue Yonder's software is also used by major grocery store chains and Fortune 500 firms, CNN reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Similar cyber attacks have previously left companies like Sony and car dealerships across America using pen and paper for administrative tasks and sales transactions.

"Blue Yonder experienced disruptions to its managed services hosted environment, which was determined to be the result of a ransomware incident," a spokesperson for the company told Business Insider in a statement. "Since learning of the incident, the Blue Yonder team has been working diligently together with external cybersecurity firms to make progress in their recovery process. We have implemented several defensive and forensic protocols."

The software company does not currently have a timeline for resolution of the issue, according to a webpage the company has published for customers impacted by the attack.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A 28-year-old rapper has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting two women who sought him out as a tattoo artist, the Los Angeles Police Department announced, and authorities believe there could be more victims.

Charles Wayne Wilkerson IV, an L.A.-based tattoo artist who goes by the rap name "Franko Khalifa," was arrested on Oct. 29, the LAPD said Monday in a news release. He's known on Instagram as "frankokhalifa" and also uses the name "Franko," according to police.

Investigators released Wilkerson's photo in the hopes of encouraging other possible victims to come forward.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wilkerson is accused of sexually assaulting two 25-year-old women on separate occasions. According to the LAPD, the first alleged assault happened at Wilkerson's tattoo shop in Koreatown on Dec. 18, 2023, and the second alleged assault was at a home in the Southwest area of the city on Feb. 16 of this year.

Read more: British rapper and YouTuber Yung Filly charged with raping woman in Australia

On Nov. 20, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office charged Wilkerson with four felony sexual assault charges, including two counts of rape of a drugged/intoxicated victim; one count of forcible oral copulation; and oral copulation by anesthesia or controlled substance.

Wilkerson is still in police custody awaiting a preliminary hearing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He preyed upon young women who hired him for his tattoo artistry, LAPD Det. Robert Smey, a sexual assault investigator, said in a statement. Once he gained their trust, the assaults occurred. Now that these brave young women have told their story, hopefully more will be encouraged to step forward and seek justice.

Anyone with information that could lead to the identification of additional victims or witnesses can contact the LAPDs Southwest Division at (323) 290-2976 or (877) 527-3247. Anonymous tips can be made with L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477 or at lacrimestoppers.org.

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.
MYSTIC, Conn. (WPRI)  The rare hooded seal spotted eating rocks in Providence earlier this year has returned to the ocean.

The female seal, now named Nova, was released Tuesday morning at Blue Shutters Beach in Charlestown.

Nova (Courtesy: Mystic Aquarium)

Mystic Aquariums Animal Rescue Program first received reports of Novas presence in the capital city back in September.

Sarah Callan, who manages the Animal Rescue Program, said the hooded seal is an Arctic species that is used to eating packed ice and snow.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Callan said Nova became stressed and, in lieu of packed ice, started eating rocks. Thats when the Animal Rescue Program brought her to Mystic Aquarium for critical care and rehabilitation.

Nova was severely dehydrated with a stomach full of rocks and dangerously low sodium levels. Callan said Nova has since passed the rocks and is ready to return to her natural habitat.

The hooded seal has been outfitted with a satellite tag and acoustic tag, which will allow Mystic Aquarium to track her movements.

This case has been incredibly special and unique for our team, Callan said. Not only did we have the rare opportunity to work with such an extraordinary species, but the data well gather from the satellite and acoustic tags will be vital in understanding how our ever-changing environment impacts species both locally and globally, especially because this was an Arctic species found so far down south.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Callan said this was the first time the species was spotted in Rhode Island since 2013.

(Courtesy: Mystic Aquarium) (Courtesy: Mystic Aquarium) (Courtesy: Mystic Aquarium) (Courtesy: Mystic Aquarium) (Courtesy: Mystic Aquarium) (Courtesy: Mystic Aquarium) (Courtesy: Mystic Aquarium) (Courtesy: Mystic Aquarium) (Courtesy: Mystic Aquarium) (Courtesy: Mystic Aquarium)

NEXT: Mystic Aquarium celebrates historic quadruple seal release

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily Roundup

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
Gov. Eric Holcomb delivers remarks during an announcement and groundbreaking ceremony for Google's new data center in Fort Wayne, on April 26, 2024. (From Holcomb's official Flickr)

Ratepayer advocates are celebrating a Friday settlement with three of the states largest incoming data centers and Indiana Michigan Power (I&M)  touting new protections for Hoosier bills and the states electricity supply.

Amazon Web Services plans to spend $11 billion on a data center near New Carlisle, while Google is working on a $2 billion data center in Fort Wayne  and both need plenty of power from I&M.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Also included in the settlement was Microsoft, which has announced a $1 billion data center project in La Porte. Thats in Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) territory.

The three data center signatories agreed to each provide $500,000 annually for five years to the Indiana Community Action Association. The money will support low-income Hoosier customers, like weatherization efforts.

I&M looks forward to working with some of the leading technology companies in the world that have chosen to locate in northeast Indiana. It is an exciting time for our region and I&M is committed to doing our part to support these customers as they bring investments and jobs to Indiana, President and CEO Stever Baker said in a news release. I&M has the responsibility to serve the new customers, while also protecting existing customers, including residential, small business and those within other industries, from impacts related to necessary infrastructure improvements required to serve these customers.

The agreement sets out new contract, payment and other requirements. But its terms dont stop there.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If state regulators approve the nondiscriminatory settlement, itll also apply to new industrial customers with large electric loads.

Indiana Utility Consumer Counselor Bill Fine  whose agency advocates for all utility customers  said data centers will have a critical role in Indianas future economic development, but require substantial increases in power generation and transmission infrastructure.

The terms in this agreement will ensure a balanced approach as those investments are made, he said in a news release. (Theyll) protec(t) residential, commercial, and industrial customers from bearing the costs of new infrastructure necessary to serve new, large-volume customers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kerwin Olson, leader of utility watchdog Citizens Action Coalition (CAC), highlighted the agreements significant protections and transparency provisions. Program Director Ben Inskeep, meanwhile, lauded the landmark arrangement on X.

An industry membership organization, the Data Center Coalition, was another party to the accord.

Timelines, minimums and collateral

The terms applies to industrial customers that need a lot of electricity from I&M to power their efforts: contract capacity of at least 70 megawatts at an individual plant or 150 megawatts in aggregate. Theyre dubbed large load customers.

The settlement starts by stretching out contract timelines. The minimum for a large load customer on I&Ms Tariff Industrial Power would be 12 years. They could choose to add an additional load ramp period of up to five years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thats much longer than the current minimum of two years, according to Inskeep. He wrote that the change provides greater certainty that big users will stay longer and pay for costs.

The companies also agreed to several payment-related changes.

Monthly billing demands are taken monthly, as the energy consumed during the single-highest 15-minute peak demand period. But monthly billing demand cant go under 80% of the large load customers contract capacity or 80% of the companys highest monthly billing demand from the last 11 months. Thats up from the current 60%, Inskeep said.

Big users also face higher minimum charges monthly.

Need to get in touch?

Have a news tip?

CONTACT US

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Inskeep said that a very large data center demanding 1,000 megawatts would expect to pay $492 million for power annually. Under the settlements formula, he estimated that theyd pay a minimum of $332 million, regardless of electricity usage  versus the current minimum of $173 million.

The boosted minimum ensures that data centers and other big users will be paying back the costs of the very large investments I&M is making to serve them, even if (they) use much less power than originally planned, Inskeep wrote.

The settlement goes on to establish collateral requirements.

The money is proof that big customers can pay their bills, and acts like insurance for I&M in case one cant.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During a contracts first year, large load customers would have to hand over 24 times their maximum expected monthly non-fuel bill. After year one, it would be 24 times the previous maximum.

Collateral would get recalculated annually, and customers would have to supply the updated amount if its 10%  or more  higher than the current amount held by I&M.

Theyd have three ways to provide collateral:

A guarantee from the customers parent company or corporate affiliate for the full amount, as long as the entity has high credit ratings and lots of money  at least 10 times the collateral requirement. A standby irrevocable letter of credit for the full amount, issued for at least a year by a bank with high credit writings. The customer would need to renew it at least 30 days before expiration. The full amount, in cash.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Large load customers with high credit ratings and lots of money are exempt. Those without the credit ratings but enough liquidity are half-exempt  up to $250 million off the requirement.

Downsizing, exit fees and more

The settlement does let big users reduce their contract capacity after five years  without facing penalties.

Large load customers would have to give I&M at least 41 months written notice prior to the delivery year in which the reduction would occur. Theyd be capped at a 20% reduction unless they and I&M agree on something higher.

Theres room for more extreme actions, but at a cost.

A large load customer could end its contract after five years, or reduce its contract capacity by more than 20% as long as it gives 42 months written notice and pays potentially hefty exit fees.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The settlement also includes smaller provisions:

A prospective big user would cover the costs of a full planning study necessitated by its addition to the grid.

Collaboration on a potential clean transition tariff letting participants support investment in carbon-free electricity resources. It would be covered by participants themselves.

At least one meeting on I&Ms emergency response procedures  like last-resort power cuts  and if the utility needs to make changes to its procedures because of big users.

Semi-annual reports from I&M to state regulators with information on how much the utility has spent to serve big users, contract termination fees, notices of reduction to contract capacity, and so on. Some data would be confidential, but the settlement parties agreed to collaborate on public versions of the reports.

I&M is set to conduct a study evaluating the potential of technologies that maximize electricity transmission.

I&M will meet with stakeholders to talk about interconnecting its large load customers.

Olson, of CAC, highlighted the settlements unanimous nature.

We know legislation regarding data centers and large load customers will be discussed during the upcoming legislative session, especially in the context of ensuring they pay their fair share and other ratepayers are protected, he wrote via email. Considering this is a unanimous settlement between the utility, large load customers, and consumer advocates, we would hope that the legislature would use the terms in this settlement as a template to inform that policy discussion.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
After a nearly two-week trial, former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor was found liable for sexual assault in Ireland stemming from a 2018 incident.

A jury ruled against McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) in a civil trail after he was accused of raping Nikita Hand in a hotel room, resulting in him being ordered to pay roughly $250,000 in damages. Although McGregor claims he intends to appeal the result, there's an argument that the hit to his reputation in the public sphere cannot be undone.

The fallout from the situation is still ongoing, with many potential layers at play with McGregor both in terms of his personal life and his future as a fighter under the UFC banner.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The panel of Mike Bohn, Nolan King and Dan Tom joined host "Gorgeous" George Garcia on this week's episode of "Spinning Back Clique" to discuss the aftermath of McGregor losing his civil case, and what the future holds for the biggest star in MMA history.

Check out the video above to see the segment, or watch Monday's complete episode of "Spinning Back Clique" below.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Reaction: Conor McGregor found liable in 2018 sexual assault case. Now what?
The entrance to the All Ways Caring office in Midtown Anchorage, with signs in the window encouraging job applicants, is seen on Nov. 22. Home care workers employed with All Ways Caring and with Consumer Direct have approved their first union contracts. Demand for home care workers has increased as Alaska's population has aged. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

The first home care workers in Alaska to join a union specializing in their industry have approved new contracts that set higher starting wages and establish a series of other benefits.

Nearly 1,000 employees of the states two largest home care companies, Consumer Direct and All Ways Caring, agreed to the contracts through their union, the Service Employees International Union 775.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The workers approved the contracts earlier this month, SEIU 775 said. The contracts set starting wages at $22.25 an hour, rising to $23.50 in July. There are higher wages for more experienced caregivers, a premium for those in areas with higher living costs and other benefits, including establishment of a grievance process.

I helped fight to win this contract because it means my family and I wont have to choose which bills we can pay. We wont have to struggle like that anymore. Its going to make a big difference for us, Essie Frank, a Fairbanks caregiver and member of the All Ways Caring bargaining team, said in a statement released by SEIU 775. It also means well get more people who want to do caregiving working as caregivers because we can afford to do it.

Among Alaskas approximately 5,660 home health and personal care aides, the mean hourly wage was $18.53 in 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That average put Alaska in fifth place among states for pay in the sector.

The contracts approved by the Consumer Direct and All Ways Caring workers raised pay rates by $3 an hour, said Elana Rhys, a union spokesperson. Starting pay had been below $20 an hour at both agencies, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Employees of Consumer Direct joined SEIU 775 in the summer of 2023 and the All Ways Caring workers joined the union the months later, in winter, Rhys said.

They are the first Alaska workers to join SEIU 775, she said.

Including the Alaska employees, SEIU 775 now represents more than 53,000 long-term care workers in three states: Washington, Montana and Alaska.

Other Alaska health care workers are members of different unions. Anchorage-based Alaska Laborers Local 341, for example, represents nurses and service workers at Alaska Regional Hospital and nurses and certified nursing assistants at PrestigeCare, operator of a facility in Anchorage.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Alaskas need for home care workers and long-term care workers is increasing as the states population ages, with demand outstripping supply, state officials have noted.

Growth in the direct care workforce has not kept pace with the growth in the senior population, said the most recent Alaska State Plan for Senior Services.

Worker shortages have plagued both home care services and assisted living facilities, according to the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority.

While the percentage of elderly residents in the state is one of the smallest in the nation, that population segment is growing faster in Alaska than in any other state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Representatives of Consumer Direct and All Ways Caring were not immediately available late Monday afternoon to comment on the newly approved contracts.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KELO)  As the holiday travel season gets underway the Rapid City Regional Airport is already celebrating a busy year.

This year traffic at the Rapid City airport is up more than 20% from 2023.

Pennington County broke 2 open-meetings laws

2024 has been a fantastic year for our airport. Weve already exceeded all of last years numbers. Last year was a record for us and were probably going to hit close to 400,000 if not exceed 400,000 enplanements for 2024, Rapid City Airport Director Patrick Dame said.

The new additions to the airport have been a contributing factor to this success.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One of the great things about this small airport is theyre expanding their services. So now you can fly to many places that werent available before and its easy to drive here and its more convenient for all the passengers, local traveler Paul Schweitzer said.

Sunday kicked off the busy traveling season for the holidays.

You know were finding that the planes are almost all full but its a smooth process and no problems so far as weve been traveling, Schweitzer said.

The Rapid City Regional Airport is currently working on phase one of its terminal expansion, which should bring in even more travelers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Whether its building more parking lots, or building a parking garage in Sioux Falls. You know, both and all of that by getting more destinations and more passengers is what leads to the need for further development of the facilities in the state of South Dakota, Dame said.

South Dakota is expected to hit over one million boardings this year between Rapid City and Sioux Falls.

With the increase in air travelers Rapid City Regional is preparing for a busy holiday season.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Police officers were instructed by bosses to record non-crime hate incidents, even in cases where the supposed victim did not believe a hate incident had taken place.

Lancashire Constabulary briefed officers in April 2019 that any interaction could be recorded as an incident if any one person perceived it as motivated by prejudice or hostility.

The internal briefing  released under freedom of information (FoI) laws  said this could be a relative, a neighbour or the attending officer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) could therefore be recorded, the force indicated, even if the alleged victim did not think it was one.

Police forces have come under increasing pressure over hate speech laws following the now-abandoned investigation into Allison Pearson, the Telegraph journalist.

Pearson was being investigated for an alleged hate crime, but the row prompted widespread criticism of the concept of non-crime hate incidents, which do not meet the threshold of criminality but are still recorded by police.

Victim may not understand

Under a section titled investigation tips, the Lancashire Constabulary briefing read: Does anyone perceive the incident/crime to be motivated by prejudice or hostility?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The perception may come from anyone (family member, neighbour, support worker, comms operator, attending officer etc).

The victim may not understand what a hate crime is or may have become used to being verbally abused.

The briefing went on to tell officers that incidents could be recorded even if there was no evidence of hostility or prejudice.

Where no evidence of hostility or prejudice exists, explain where the perception comes from, it read.

This may be your perception on dealing with the job. Record the crime but ensure you add the relevant hate included classification and state perception/rationale.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The FoI request also revealed that the Lancashire force recorded more than 1,000 non-crime hate incidents in just three years.

Between 2019 and 2022, it recorded 1,077 incidents. More recent data is not publicly available.

An extract from Lancashire Constabularys 2017 external hate incident and hate crime policy, which is no longer in use, was also released under FoI laws.

The recording of hate incidents is based on the perception of any person, and does not need to have any evidence to show that the incident is motivated by hate, it read.

If any person believes that an incident is hate-related, the Constabulary will record it as such.

Kevin Moore, a retired detective chief superintendent with Sussex Police, told The Telegraph that NCHIs should be scrapped.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In my opinion, the whole issue of NCHIs needs to be reconsidered, he said. The current policy lends itself to a wide interpretation as regards what constitutes a NCHI.

The police need to be able to focus on preventing and investigating actual criminal offences, and not have to bother with those matters that cause people to be upset or offended.

I believe that the concept of NCHIs should be scrapped.

Diverting officers from core duties

On Tuesday, Sir Peter Fahy, the former chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, said NCHIs were dragging police officers into politics and diverting officers from their core duties of investigating and solving serious crimes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pearson was visited by Essex Police officers at her home who told her she was being investigated for allegedly inciting racial hatred with a post on social media from a year before.

But the force dropped its investigation last week after a major backlash, including from Boris Johnson, who called the inquiry an appalling attack on free speech.

On Monday, a former commissioner of the Metropolitan Police became the most senior policing figure to date to criticise the recording of non-crime hate incidents.

Lord Hogan-Howe urged ministers to review their use after a report by the Policy Exchange think tank found that 60,000 hours of police time was spent recording them every year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A spokesman for Lancashire Constabulary said: Lancashire Constabulary adheres to the Home Office policy and we have introduced guidance and training to our staff to ensure that incidents are recorded accurately.

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.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Fifteen years after it was built, a recreation center in Youngstown has a new name in honor of two community leaders.

The Richard W. and Eugenia C. Atkinson Recreation Center is named in honor of the late Richard W. Atkinson, the former Youngstown Board of Education president and city councilman, and Eugenia Atkinson, the retired director of the Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority (YMHA).

It would mean a lot to him, he would be so happy because he loved the North Side, Eugenia said of her late husband.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In appreciation of the honor, the Atkinson family has established a new fund  the Richard W. and Eugenia C. Atkinson Fund. It is the first grant fund to be established by an African American family in the 106-year history of the Youngstown Foundation, according to the Youngstown Foundation.

The family plans to make annual contributions to the fund, and one of the Atkinson children said it was a way to continue the familys legacy.

In everything we do, the most important thing we do is make sure that were giving back and dedicate our time and our services back to the community, said Omari Atkinson.

The renaming of the recreation center and the establishment of the fund were celebrated at a dedication event Tuesday at the center, which is located in the citys Arlington Heights neighborhood.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Two of the couples children spoke at Tuesdays event, as well as Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown.

He was funny and he was about family, and the deacon was about faith, Brown said.

Richard Atkinson, who passed away in February, served on several boards in the area and as a member and president of the board of education and councilman for the citys Third Ward, as well as president of the North Side Citizens Coalition and board chair for the Mahoning/Youngstown Community Action Program.

Eugenia Atkinson retired from the YMHA in 2007 after more than 20 years with the agency, last serving as its executive director. Among her accomplishments was the planning and development of The Homes of Arlington Heights, a public housing development that now features more than 200 homes, according to the news release.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In addition to her role at YMHA, Eugenia served as a member and chair of the board of trustees at Youngstown State University and as a director of Home Savings Bank and its parent company, United Community Financial Corp.

As kids played in the adjacent gym, the family hopes that legacy will continue.

They still have a place to call their community center, and thats what this is, Eugenia said.

Chelsea Simeon contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Passenger traffic hit its second-highest monthly total ever in October at Harry Reid International Airport, officials said Tuesday.

Las Vegas remained on pace to beat record numbers of arriving and departing passengers for the year, 1.7% ahead of last years numbers at the end of October.

The counts were released Tuesday by the Clark County Department of Aviation. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it expects to screen 18.3 million people nationwide as holiday air travel surges from Nov. 26-Dec. 2. Officials said it would be the busiest Thanksgiving ever.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last month, 5,288,741 passengers were counted, second only to October 2023, when that number hit 5,479,904.

Busiest year ever for Las Vegas airport, but where does it rank worldwide?

Four out of Reid Airports top five carriers are ahead of their 2023 pace, with No. 1 carrier Southwest Airlines at 18.1 million arriving and departing passengers so far this year. Thats 5.2% ahead of last years pace. Only Spirit Airlines saw a year-to-date drop (-3.4%). The October numbers for all five:

Southwest Airlines: 1,880,143 passengers (18.1 million through Oct. 31, up 5.2% over last year at the same time) Spirit Airlines: 761,778 passengers (6.8 million, down 3.4%) Delta: 439,986 passengers (4.4 million, up 6.0%) American Airlines: 413,609 (3.7 million, up 6.0%) United Airlines: 399,528 (3.5 million, up 4.7%)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Overall, passenger totals for domestic carriers were 1.1% ahead of last years pace.

Comparisons to October 2023s record numbers were down for the top 5 except for United, which increased 3.1%.

International passenger traffic has been stronger through 2024, with 3.0 million arrivals and departures at Reid Airport so far this year. Thats a 13.3% increase over last years pace for the year.

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Airlines ranked No. 8 among carriers at Reid Airport with 170,851 passengers. Thats down 6.5% compared to last years pace at the end of October.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
JOLIET, Ill.  A relic tour was canceled in the Joliet area after an incident between an out-of-town priest and students.

On Thursday, the parish of Queen of Apostles in Joliet hosted the visit of the relic of St. Jude for public veneration.

According to the Diocese of Joliet, an incident between a priest hosting the event and some students took place at Queen of Apostles Church. No further information was provided on the circumstances.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The diocese said they immediately contacted the police and the priest, identified as Fr. Carlos Martins, was confronted.

Martins ministry was temporarily suspended by Companions of the Cross, who is based out of Canada and ran the tour.

Bishop Hicks canceled the tour of the relic scheduled at two more parishes this week.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Holiday safety is top of mind for officials in San Diego after an Escondido man was electrocuted while hanging Christmas lights on a clients home in a tragic incident.

The San Diego Medical Examiners report said 24-year-old Antonio Pascual Mateo died of electrocution after reportedly throwing lights over a high voltage power line Thursday morning.

Father of Maui woman who vanished in Los Angeles found dead near LAX

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fire crews had to wait for SDG&E to shut off the power in the area before the man was rescued. Officials said he was hanging upside down in the tree while waiting to be rescued.

First unit arrived on scene and found a worker suspended in the air via a waist harness, it appeared that he had come in contact with some high-power tension lines, Escondido Battalion Chief said on the scene of the incident Thursday morning.

Father and son arrested in fatal Grant Hill stabbing

He was a brother, a son and a uncle. His name was Antonio Pascual. He had so much to live, only 24 years old. He had been working on putting up Christmas lights around the tree. Something that we always did for our client. It always came out beautiful. He always took care of his mother and family. Sadly he was electrocuted by the power lines, as he was fixing the Christmas lights. He fell down and stayed in the tree, trapped for an hour. Rescue team was forced to wait until the power company had to turn off power. To late to save, forever young he will remain. Christmas lights forever having a meaning to us, he will remain in our hearts for eternity, the familys GoFundMe set up reads.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Christmas Light Installer Emelio Linares, the owner of SD Light Guys, said this tragic incident has been a big topic of discussion among light installers nationwide.

Menendez brothers resentencing request hearing pushed back to January

If youre ever in doubt when it comes to electrical, take a second, reassess, Linares said.

Jay Hobson, owner of The Holiday Lighters, said never hang up Christmas lights while they are plugged in.

Organize your stuff. Taking your time is the best, Hobson added.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help his family with funeral expenses.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Hispanic Cultural Day attendees place papers on the door to the Governor's Office to oppose HB 4156. The papers read, "You chose politics over people. You broke my heart." Hundreds gathered at the Oklahoma State Capitol on May 15 to protest the new immigration law, which creates the criminal offense of impermissible occupation. Immigration policy could be at the forefront of Oklahoma politics again this upcoming session. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  Immigration policy could once again be a top issue at the Oklahoma Capitol this upcoming legislative session.

As President-elect Donald Trump pledges his own federal crackdown, Oklahoma Republicans have unveiled their own ideas that they believe will position the state to quickly expel undocumented immigrants next year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Critics of the states latest anti-immigration efforts though said that Oklahomas elected officials dont appear interested in enacting meaningful policy reforms that make communities safer. They only seem interested in passing extreme policies that garner attention from the Republican president-elect.

They said the Oklahoma is already embroiled in a federal lawsuit related to its last anti-immigration effort, and that deportation is a responsibility of federal agencies, not states.

State plans

Earlier this month, Gov. Kevin Stitt unveiled his plan.

He said Operation Guardian would deport undocumented immigrants from Oklahomas correctional facilities. He tapped Commissioner of Public Safety Tim Tipton to consult with law enforcement, the Trump transition team and the Department of Homeland Security to create and present a plan by Jan. 15.

Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks during a roundtable discussion at the Bixby Ninth Grade Center on Nov. 13. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

The Oklahoma Department of Corrections houses 526 undocumented immigrants in Oklahoma jails which cost Oklahoma taxpayers about $36,000 per day, according to the Governors Office.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As law and order returns to the White House, Oklahoma will lead the charge with a comprehensive plan to deport those who have committed crimes in Oklahoma while in the country illegally, Stitt said in a statement Nov. 15.

The Governors Office and the Department of Public Safety did not respond to a request for comment on how this initiative could interfere with the rights guaranteed to crime victims.

Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, said he has submitted language for legislation to create a new charge for undocumented immigrants who commit a crime in the state. This additional charge would carry a sentence of life behind bars or the option of deportation.

He said his plan will save taxpayers money because the state is already paying to educate undocumented immigrants and to care for those participating in Oklahomas welfare system.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Humphrey said his idea was well received and that he didnt get any pushback at the interim study where he first mentioned it in October, although he said the study was not highly attended.

Still, he said he expects the support of law enforcement on this bill.

He said he is not sure if the bill is still necessary given Stitts proposal, but he is going to hold onto it and decide later whether to file it or to find someone else to file it.

Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, speaks after a legislative committee hearing in January. He plans to push immigration policy in the Legislature this upcoming session. (Photo by Carmen Forman/Oklahoma Voice)

Humphrey said hes concerned about Stitts consistency on immigration policy, referencing an immigration task force created by the governor. He said Stitt had presented mixed messages.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Stitt created the Oklahoma State Work Permits and Visa Task Force to make recommendations that would allow immigrants to have the visas, permits and documentation to pursue the American Dream. The task forces recommendations included creating an Office of New Oklahomans, issuing qualified migrants Driving Privilege Cards and pilot programs to issue more work permits and visas to non-citizens.

After the recommendations were released in September, a spokesperson for Stitt said on social media that the governor would not implement the recommendations.

Nicole Maldonado, vice president of Oklahomas chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, said state officials seem to be focused on passing the most extreme and crazy policy ideas instead of reasonable solutions to reduce the taxpayer burden. LULAC advocates for the rights of Hispanic Americans.

I think that this is just another tactic for them to be part of the show and not actually to create reasonable solutions to the issue, she said. I think that its just more to be like, Hey, look at us. Were trying to do this. This is to receive Trumps attention. But I dont think that theres going to be a meaningful solution or policy that is going to come out of this.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Maldonado said Humphreys idea seems to do the opposite of what Stitt wants to do by bringing more undocumented immigrants into Oklahomas correctional facilities.

In 2022, over 89,000 undocumented immigrants in Oklahoma contributed about $227.5 million in state and local taxes, according to a report by a nonprofit, nonpartisan tax policy organization.

This amount does not include what undocumented immigrants paid into Social Security and Medicare despite not being able to access these benefits themselves.

Cindy Nguyen, policy director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma, said policies like Humphreys create fear in immigrant communities and are not realistic solutions for the state.

Hundreds of people, most of them Latino, protested House Bill 4156, which creates the criminal offense of impermissible occupation at a Hispanic Cultural Day rally outside the Oklahoma State Capitol on May 15. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

(This) will only cause communities to live in constant fear as we saw with a lot of the anti-immigration bills that were introduced last legislative session, Nguyen said. We know that many victims of violence are now going to be even more afraid to speak out and report this crime because they are afraid of the consequences of that. And now  theyre even more afraid to report it, because they see that they might get a life sentence if theyre undocumented.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She said that Oklahomas prisons and jails are already overcrowded and this will create even more of a burden on taxpayers.

It is not a great solution to address immigration or address the fear of our undocumented communities in Oklahoma, who are also taxpayers, who go to our schools, who are our neighbors, who contribute to making the state even greater and more diverse, Nguyen said.

The last attempt to pass immigration policy by Oklahomas GOP is currently in legal limbo.

House Bill 4156, signed by Stitt in April, creates a crime called impermissible occupation for willfully entering the state without legal authorization to be in the United States.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A first offense would be a misdemeanor punishable by one year in county jail, a fine of up to $500 or both. The person would be required to leave the state within 72 hours.

A second offense would be a felony with up to two years in prison, a fine of $1,000 or both.

Multiple parties, including the ACLU and the federal government, have sued to prevent HB 4156 from taking effect.

Implementation was put on hold by a federal judge, pending legal challenges. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has appealed.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
The magical space created by the restoration of Michigan Central Station in Corktown has officially opened its doors to the public for a month of winter celebration and holiday shopping with gifts unique to the historic site.

Over the weekend, more than 3,000 visitors stopped by to check out the holiday display that was promoted on Michigan Central Station social channels, station spokesman Dan Austin said.

Two dozen vendors are featured inside, some staying long-term while others bring the pop-up presence known to attract so many shoppers to Detroit every holiday season.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It may look and feel  for families who remember the 1913 Beaux-Arts Building in its heyday  like the sparkling Detroit of decades ago. To walk through its grand halls and shops, filled with uniquely designed items ranging from handmade Christmas ornaments, childrens clothes with tiny train insignias and jewelry inspired by the classic architectural space to leather goods, furniture and Michigan Central Station photography books, is simply breathtaking.

Detroit's Michigan Central Station is decorated for the holidays and offers pop-up shops, shown here on Friday, Nov. 22.

Glass Christmas ornaments have been commissioned from as Poland while Michigan businesses play a key role. Popular Detroit brands Shinola and Carhartt and Pewabic are included, too.

For many visitors, it may be hard to believe the building just opened this summer after six years of restoration and reconstruction. But its easy to see why travelers from all over the world are coming through now.

Hours and tickets

Families from around Michigan and throughout the region will want to take guests from New York to Los Angeles to the iconic 15th Street site for coffee or lunch or just to take in sights that look and feel like stepping into a storybook. (Those of us who used to go to Hudsons downtown as children feel a special kind of nostalgia for our city during this season.)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Winter shopping hours run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Saturday, Dec. 28, The station is closed Sundays and Mondays.

Glass ornaments depicting Michigan Central Station are among the items for sale during holiday shopping through Dec. 28, 2024, at the station.

Fridays and Saturdays feature special Winter at the Station events, and crowds are expected to be large, so tickets are required. Live music is part of every Friday during the 5-10 p.m. public hours, which require a $10 ticket. Saturday hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. are free but do require tickets for entry. Tickets are available at michigancentral.com

Parking is available at lower cost during the holidays at the Bagley Mobility Hub parking garage a couple blocks away at 1501 Wabash St.

The woman quietly making it happen

Behind every spectacular experience is a curator, and the visionary behind the scenes is Roslyn Karamoko, 39, of Grosse Pointe, a retail and brand strategist who established the global clothing brand Detroit is the New Black.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Her focus over the past two years has been bringing to life the immersive shopping experience and partnerships that exist today and will continue to evolve in the springtime.

They include Yellow Light Coffee, whose owners also run Johnny Noodle King and Green Dot Stables in Detroit. Neighbor x Folk, one of the retail concepts within the train station, will host book clubs, candle making and other community programs, Karamoko said. She held up a wrist to show a delicate forever bracelet like the kind that will be sold in the Shops at Michigan Central.

Karamoko, a fashion merchandising graduate of Howard University and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, worked at Nordstrom in Seattle and later as a buyer and planner for Saks Fifth Avenue in New York. Later, she moved to Singapore to be an international buyer and learned about Hong Kong, the Philippines, Australia and global cultural trends and branding and pricing and all the logistics involved.

It has been incredible preparation for now.

'If you had an idea here, it was really possible'

So much life has happened since she moved to Detroit in 2013.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was a different city for sure.  I was, like, this is downtown? Karamoko said. My friends and family were all confused, asking, Why Detroit? What are you doing there? I was so inspired by it. There was such a vibe here that felt untouched (less commercial than other cities) and it felt quite raw. It was like if you had an idea here, it was really possible.  There was a freedom to the city  just an energy that felt like you could do and say and be anything.

Roslyn Karamoko, 33, founder and CEO of the retail store, Detroit is the New Black, in Detroit on Wednesday, August 29, 2018.

The Michigan Central team recruited Karamoko in February 2023.

"I was minding my business and Josh (Sirefman), the CEO of Michigan Central, reached out to me. He sent me an email and said, Hey. Toby from Lafayette American introduced him to me, not the coney but the ad brand agency. Toby Barlow  Ive known him through my previous work. Josh was looking for retail or creative expertise in the city and Toby threw my name in the hat.

At the time, Karamoko confessed, she didnt understand what Michigan Central was going to be. Then she took a private tour. There was so much at stake.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Now she handles every imaginable detail related to products and branding and design. Wrapping paper depicts the train station floor plans. A candle maker out of New York designed a scent specifically for Michigan Central.

They loved Detroit.  We developed the Porters Daughter candle, thinking about the station, Karamoko said, holding the candle. Its like grapefruit, cedarwood, paper, eraser, salt. Kind of has that Old World feel with that fresh grapefruit as a future-facing note.

She then tells about a young woman she met at an art fair on Belle Isle, shopping for her young son. So Karamoko reached out to ask the artist to design a childrens railroad line of overalls, backpacks, hair clips.

Detroit's Michigan Central Station, shown on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, is decked out for holiday celebration and shopping through Dec. 28.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Past meets present meets future

Looking out over the city, Karamoko explains how the products reflect the city, its people, their creativity and Detroit's past and future.

We really wanted to tap into the heritage of Ford and interpret it in a contemporary way, she said, using different kinds of historical imagery and highlighting a range of artists. Theres a good mix of a bit of old and new, thinking about contemporary Detroit and future-facing and heritage craft, which is the most exciting for me.

Karamoko is a Seattle native who never imagined being in Detroit one day. She is the daughter of blue-collar parents  a retired mail handler for the U.S. Post Office and a city worker.

I really come from work, she said, proudly. I really know how to work.Raised in the AME (African Methodist Episcopal) church, singing in the choir, Karamoko went on to become an athlete in track, swimming, karate and gymnastics. She grew up thinking about diversity and perspective.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

My mom is a little person, shes a dwarf, she said. Just having a different mom, proportionally, even, just trained my eye and my ability to connect with people that were different than me  and see everyone as the same. I think that dress and how people clothe themselves is such an obvious way to communicate who you are. So thats how I always thought as a small child. I always knew what I wanted to wear, and how I wanted to feel.

Her older sister is a Ph.D. nurse and educator, while Karamoko has always focused on fashion, she said. I can remember as early as 4 years old knowing what color stockings I wanted to wear with my church dress.The family would shop Sears to JC Penney to Macys. As a child, she would go home with fashion ideas and her mother would sew it. She later would write up tailor orders in the mens suit department at Nordstrom, as the Nordstrom brothers strolled the floor.

I would take the tickets for the tailors. They would come down to fit the men, and I would just, like, write it, like 2 off the hem, she said. I felt like I was in Paris.

The beauty of Detroit  the brand

A passion for immersive shopping is what Karamoko brings to Michigan Central.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Through retail I want to have a conversation, she said. Create a space for people to respond, and create product for everyone in a way they feel seen and welcome.

Being in the space of Michigan Central, the architecture, it's majestic feel brings an honesty and experience unlike any other, she said. It makes you think of what the city was at its best, and just who has come to the city and how. People were coming up from the South for jobs in Detroit, and people were going off to war. You see how class and race and opportunity and economic mobility intersected. I think thats the beauty of Detroit, as just this iconic American city. This is the place where all of that was born. That is Detroits brand  its carried through in innovation in music and automotive and all the exports from the city. This is, like, the physical manifestation of the American Dream, for better or worse.

While her coming to Detroit shocked her family, Karamoko brings her family to the city to see its evolution up close. She cant imagine leaving now.

I dont know where I would go, she said. Detroit is the right fit for me. I always want the underdog to win. And I always just see the beauty in the origin of what something is  the architecture here, the people here, the spirit here. Its inspiring, and I dont know that there are a lot of cities that still feel that way.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Detroit, too, rarely gets credit for all it deserves.

Theres such a fabulous piece of this city that I want the world to see again and know again, Karamoko said If I can do that, in the smallest way through retail, I want to do it.

People not in Detroit can shop for Michigan Central Station merchandise at shop.michigancentral.com.

Phoebe Wall Howard, a Free Press auto reporter for nearly seven years, covers cars, culture and sailing on Substack at phoebewallhoward.substack.com Contact her at phoebe@phoebehoward.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Central Station open for holiday shopping: Hours, tickets
Michigan Pride at the Capitol in Lansing, June 25, 2023 | Angela Demas

Michigan is a shining example of forward progress on improving LGBTQ+ equality on a local level, Cathryn Oakley of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) said, reflecting on the groups annual assessment of local government support for LGBTQ+ equality released last week.

More than half of the cities the HRC evaluated in Michigan for the 13th Municipal Equality Index, or MEI received 100 out of 100 in an assessment for LGBTQ+ equality. According to the report, cities examined in the index reached a higher scoring average than ever before, with over a quarter of cities scoring 100.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is really the story that we see year after year its not just blue states [or] red states that do well, truly, we are seeing cities across the country in all kinds of different sorts of political configurations who are really investing in this work, because they know that means investing in their community, and that LGBTQ folks are part of their community, Oakley said.

The index ranked 506 municipalities across the country including all 50 state capitals, the 200 largest cities in the country and each states five largest cities or municipalities, the cities where each states two largest public universities are located, 75 cities and municipalities that with high proportions of same-sex couples, as well as 98 other cities chosen by HRC and Equality Federation stakeholders.

11 Michigan cities were included in the Municipal Equality Index

Ann Arbor: 100

Detroit: 100

East Lansing: 99

Ferndale: 100

Grand Rapids: 100

Kalamazoo: 100

Lansing: 100

Pleasant Ridge: 64

Sterling Heights: 99

Traverse City: 89

Warren: 83

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Oakley noted that Michigan has a good track record with having multiple cities score perfect scores for implementing non-discrimination policies in employment, housing and access to public goods, as well as employing and welcoming members of the LGBTQ+ in positions of leadership and education. Coordination with local law enforcement to better handle instances of hate crimes and ensuring LGBTQ+ members enjoy the same protections all other residents enjoy is a key tenant of how municipalities are scored.

Detroit leaders in particular take pride in maintaining a 100 rating, celebrating the citys 9th consecutive perfect score when this years report came out.

Detroit is a city that welcomes and values all people and it is more important than ever for members of the LGBTQ+ community know Detroit is a safe place for them, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said in a news release. This has been and will continue to be a priority for our city.

Welcoming LGBTQ+ residents is a key component in growing a municipality so more people put down roots, Oakley said as cities want residents to feel like theyre a part of a community so see the city as a place worth investing in.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kalamazoo, which received a 100 score this year, was a featured city in the index this year for codifying a permanent Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Department in the city last year. Additionally, liaisons for LGBTQ+ residents were placed in the City Managers Office and the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety to inform agencies on how to best serve the community.

Michigan on a state level has made some exciting moves to support LGBTQ+ residents in recent years, Oakley remarked, most notably when it expanded its human rights laws last year to specifically protect against discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. The changes passed mostly along partisan lines, with a handful of Republicans joining Democrats in passing the changes in the legislature before Michigans Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed them into law.

LGBTQ+ rights are often politicized, especially on a national level Oakley said, as members of the community have expressed fears over what another presidency under Donald Trump will mean for marriage equality and rights for transgender Americans.

But even as a purple state, Michigan local communities have been on an upward trajectory for LGBTQ+ rights through differing political party leadership, Oakley noted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sometimes the politics piece can be a little bit of a mixed bag in Michigan and sometimes LGBTQ issues can end up falling on the side of a partisan divide, which is strange, because honestly, the overwhelming majority of Americans, including an overwhelming majority of Michiganders, support nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people, Oakley said.

And what the index reflects and what makes it representative of hope during times of political divisions in the U.S. is that cities are clearly interested in doing better for their LGBTQ+ residents, Oakley said. People by-and-large care about the people they know, their neighbors, the families their kids play with and that connectivity solidifies community interest in caring for all members of the community
Amelia Schafer

ICT + Rapid City Journal

On Monday, my five-month-long investigation into the Catholic boarding school Immaculate Conception was published on ICT. Its been a long, emotional ride, and one that Im especially proud of as its also made me think about my own familys history.

Children stand outside in the 1930s at the Immaculate Conception Mission School. (Photo from Marquette University)

Five months ago I was asked to help out with ICTs larger story on the Department of the Interiors final boarding school report. The first tribal leader I reached out to for comment was Peter Lengkeek, chairman of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I asked Lengkeek for his thoughts on the report, which he told me, but then he told me something I wasnt expecting. Not long before, he said, the tribe had found more than 30 unmarked graves at Immaculate Conception Mission in Stephan.

Lengkeek told me the tribe had been taking some measures of their own to identify graves at the former Catholic boarding school and theyd been struggling to get records. Between the Catholic church and the National Archives, they didnt have much. I told him Id look into things and see what I could find.

After our conversation, I sent a series of Freedom of Information Act requests to Marquette University and other entities. From those FOIAs and conversations, I was able to obtain a series of microfilm records and a dissertation written by a former nun in 1965 about the schools history. I wouldnt have been able to access those records without the help of the Rapid City Public Library, to whom I owe a ton of thanks for helping me with interlibrary loans and teaching me how to use a microfilm reel.

I spent countless hours looking at microfilm, reading the nuns history book and searching and searching for who these 38 graves could possibly belong to.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As a 24-year-old gen-Zer, I had to ask my dad, Scott Schafer, to help me read the old cursive on the microfilm documents more times than Id like to admit.

What I found was a detailed description of life at the school and its growth, but also not a single one of these documents contained any mention of children dying at the school. The history book did detail numerous natural disasters and fires but never made any mention of a student's death.

Students at the Immaculate Conception Mission school in the 1930s. (Photo from mission correspondence letters, Marquette University)

The Catholic Church and other religious institutions are not legally obligated to release their boarding school records as the documents are considered private. Therefore, the church has significant control over who can access these documents, and I was unable to acquire them.

An archivist at Marquette University, where most of the Bureau of Catholic Indian Mission records are held, told me the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe would be able to access detailed student records but that I could not because they contain blood quantum information (the amount of Indian blood someone has) and because of this the records are private.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Marquette did, however, tell me that I may have luck obtaining death records from the Immaculate Conception Parish  except it doesnt exist anymore. In this situation, I was told the Sioux Falls Diocese would have them, but the diocese ignored my emails and phone calls.

It was also a challenge finding survivors. Many have died now (Immaculate Conception closed in 1975), and some people arent comfortable speaking to someone hundreds of miles away on the phone who they dont know and may never meet.

So I decided to look for people whod already somewhat spoken about their experiences publicly in one way or another. This is where Facebook became an incredible tool for me.

Through Facebook, I was able to find Susan Paulson, a matriarch from the Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Nation who graciously shared her story with me and connected me to Roberta Crows Breast, who had also attended the school.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Sept. 30, Orange Shirt Day, hundreds of Indigenous people shared stories online of surviving boarding schools and through this, I was able to meet Zachary King, whod posted about his mother, Alta Bruce, and how she attended Immaculate Conception.

King, who lives on the Turtle Mountain Reservation, shared his late mothers story with me and information about other survivors in the area. After the turn of the century, the school began bringing hundreds of students in from North Dakota.

Not long after, Lengkeek shared with me that everything had finally fallen into place and the tribe would be hosting a ceremony for the graves on Nov. 9. I asked him if I could invite some of the individuals whod shared their stories with me, which he agreed to, so I texted Paulson and King and asked if theyd come.

Paulson agreed but King was unable to make it due to schedule conflicts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Nov. 9, the day of the ceremony, I met with Paulson and Crows Breast in person for the first time. I cant begin to describe how thankful I am that these women came to the school for the ceremony and spoke with me.

Photo from the 'History of Immaculate Conception Mission' the caption reads: "Reverend Justin Snyder O.S.B. 1931-1943 entertained by Alex Thunder Horse."

We met at the Lode Star Casino in Fort Thompson for breakfast alongside Paulsons daughter Jennifer YoungBear. I could tell we were all a bit anxious  none of us ate much. We chatted for almost too long and before we knew it was time to go to Stephan for the ceremony.

Eventually, we all made it to Stephan and waited for the ceremony to begin. The three Mandan Hidatsa Arikara women met with Chairman Lengkeek, who was driving around in his truck checking on everyone, and I laughed as YoungBear described her mom as still being a cowgirl. With a smile, Paulson told Lengkeek about the time she fought back against the nun who had terrorized her for years.

After the ceremony, I said goodbye to the women and broke off to take photos of the old campus.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Finally standing at the school was an eerie, almost nauseating feeling. Id been investigating it for so long that seeing the locations discussed and standing in front of these massive Catholic statues made me feel something I cant quite describe  a mix of anger and sadness.

Standing outside the abandoned church near the school building, I thought about Paulson and Crows Breast and what the two women had shared with me, not just that morning but a month prior in our initial phone interviews. I thought about the children whose hidden graves Id just seen. I thought about how their families must have felt, and I wondered where they may have been from  theres a chance some of them are from Fort Berthold, just like the women Id met.

I laid tobacco down on the grounds and proceeded to take pictures of the old campus  the abandoned remaining buildings and the crumbling eerie statues of the Virgin Mary and Infant of Prague. Lengkeek told me sometimes community members think they see these statues move at night, I could see how that would happen.

I didnt take pictures of the ceremony or of the site following the ceremony. And while I did get a photo of the plot of land the graves are hidden under, later on I did not feel it was appropriate to share. The tribe, along many other tribes, has been hit by grave robbers over the years, most notably the Crow Creek Massacre site where hundreds of Arikara were murdered alongside the Missouri River. It was hit by grave robbers not long after its discovery.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I thought about that history and decided some things are better left unseen. While I described the location in the article, I decided that showing the actual location was unnecessary.

When I left, I broke down and cried in the Journals work truck for a good five minutes, but I felt a sense of relief. Im a descendant of the Brothertown Indian Nation and a long time ago my ancestors attended boarding school on the East Coast where were originally from.

My ancestors on my Montauk side attended one of the first Indian schools in the US, the Moors Indian Charity School at what is now the famous Ivy League Dartmouth University.

This story reminded me of the ongoing journey to reconnection my family has been on for the past few years and my own struggle to identify what schools my ancestors attended. I cant ask them about their experiences but I can speak with other elders. In some way, that makes me feel better about the situation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Im incredibly grateful and honored to have been able to tell this story. Im especially thankful to the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe and Chairman Lengkeek for trusting me to tell the story. Thank you for inviting me to the ceremony and letting me join the conversation afterward.

Im proud of all the work Ive done over the past year-and-a-half during the partnership between Lee Enterprises and ICT and am thankful to my editors for trusting me with the hundreds of stories Ive pitched  especially this one.

Thank you Kevin Abourezk, Mike Brownlee and Darsha Dodge for editing the story.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This story is co-published by the Rapid City Journal and ICT, a news partnership that covers Indigenous communities in the South Dakota area.

Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICTs free newsletter.
The Israeli security cabinet has approved a US-brokered ceasefire deal with Lebanon's Hezbollah group, Israel's Channel 12 and the news site ynet reported on Tuesday evening.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had called on the cabinet to back the deal to end the fighting which has been ongoing for more than a year.

Reports said the deal is to come into force on Wednesday morning, after which fighting would stop for 60 days.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The agreement is based on the United Nations resolution 1701 that marked the end of the last Lebanon War in 2006 but was never fully implemented.

According to reports, the deal states that during the 60-day ceasefire, Israel is to withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah fighters are to return behind the Litani River, about 30 kilometers north of the de facto Israeli-Lebanese border.

A total of 10,000 Lebanese army troops, which are not involved in the war, are to be stationed in the border area in parallel with the Israeli withdrawal. Of this total, 5,000 are already in place.

The agreement is to be monitored by a group of states led by the United States, along with France, Lebanon, Israel and the UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Around 10,000 UNIFIL peacekeepers are already stationed in the country, but have allegedly repeatedly failed to monitor the border area.

The monitoring is also to ensure that the militia does not rearm. In a later step, Israel and Lebanon should also negotiate contentious border issues, the reports said.

Tens of thousands of people in both countries are waiting to return to their homes once the fighting has ended. Around 800,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon, while hundreds of thousands more have fled across the border to Syria.

An estimated 60,000 Israelis have been evacuated from the north as a result of heavy fire from Lebanon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Coalition partners in the Israeli government previously criticized the proposed deal, with the far-right Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir calling it a "serious mistake," saying the country was missing an opportunity to crush the weakened Hezbollah.

In the end, however, Ben-Gvir backed down from his threat to resign from the government in the event of a ceasefire.

In an address to the nation earlier on Tuesday, Netanyahu warned that Iran-backed Hezbollah would face retaliation for any violations of the deal.

"With the United States' full understanding, we maintain full freedom of military action. If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to arm itself, we will attack. If it tries to rebuild terrorist infrastructure near the border, we will attack. If it launches a rocket, if it digs a tunnel, if it brings in a truck carrying rockets, we will attack," he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The ceasefire does not refer to the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which has been ongoing since October 7, 2023.

Israel has been fighting for more than a year on several fronts.

Hezbollah has struck northern Israel almost daily since the beginning of the Gaza war more than a year ago. Israel responded with massive airstrikes and, at the end of September, a ground offensive into southern Lebanon.

The war between Israel and Hezbollah has killed almost 3,800 people in Lebanon over the last year, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
The Israeli security cabinet approved a US-brokered ceasefire deal with Lebanon's Hezbollah group, Israel's Channel 12 and the news site ynet reported on Tuesday evening.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had called on the cabinet to back the deal to end the fighting which has been ongoing for more than a year.

He said in an address to the nation that the length of the ceasefire "depends on what happens in Lebanon" and warned that Iran-backed Hezbollah would face retaliation for any violations of the deal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reports said the deal is to come into force on Wednesday morning, after which fighting would stop for 60 days.

During this time Israel would withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon and Hezbollah fighters would return behind the Litani River, about 30 kilometers north of the de facto Israeli-Lebanese border.

The Lebanese army, which is not involved in the war, is reportedly to be stationed in the border area in parallel with the Israeli withdrawal.

The agreement is to be monitored by a group of states led by the United States, along with France, Lebanon, Israel and the United Nations peacekeeping force UNIFIL.

The monitoring is also to ensure that the militia does not rearm. In a later step, Israel and Lebanon should also negotiate contentious border issues, the reports said.
Supporters gather in front of the U.S. Capitol in September of 2024 to celebrate the introduction of a resolution declaring abortion a human right. (Photo: Courtesy of IPAS)

Ipas, a global reproductive justice organization, has been on the front lines of many of the legal battles and wins around the world where abortion has been liberalized. Our driving force is our belief that abortion is a human right, and our work is firmly grounded in a human rights frame  the right to health, nondiscrimination, gender equality, the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, and many others.

Human rights are universal  they transcend borders. Seeing how local legislators here in North Carolina and many other states are using this frame to change the narrative and demand more for their communities and constituents gives me hope that we will build back a legal doctrine that is much stronger than what we knew before, and one that will stand the test of time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The U.S. has ratified three human rights treaties and has distinct obligations under each of them. State and local governments play an important role in ensuring these obligations are met and that everyones human rights are protected. In fact, when I listened to the United Nations Human Rights Committee question the United States delegation in Geneva, Switzerland during its review of the U.S.s compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights last year, I heard this theme ring true loud and clear and it was echoed in the recommendations it issued to the U.S. government.

Now, one year later, and just two months before the Trump-Vance administration takes office, this strategy has never been more important. And in fact, building legal frameworks rooted in human rights locally and at the state level is a critical solution to the public health crisis that will undoubtedly become exponentially worse under the incoming hostile federal administration. The threats of Project 2025 are no longer a distant possibility, but our reality and pregnant people and those who support them, will face greater surveillance and threats of criminalization. That is why Ipas US is partnering with local organizations and working in towns, cities and counties in North Carolina, Texas, Louisiana, and Maryland to recognize abortion as a human right, and to implement the recommendations from the Human Rights Committees and other human rights treaty monitoring bodies to increase access to care and to mitigate harm.

Health care providers and facilities must guarantee access to life saving abortion care in emergency situations as part of the human right to health. Human rights principles require governments to ensure fair access to health care and to include womens rights to equal application of the law and access to life saving services, as part of the right to be free from inhuman and degrading treatment. These principles ground abortion as a human right and they do not change depending on who controls the White House or Congress.

Hospitals cannot be allowed to turn people away when they desperately seek care in emergency situations when abortion is a human right. Doctors cannot be forced to wait until a patient has sepsis before they can intervene when abortion is a human right. People cannot be criminalized for pregnancy outcomes and circumstances surrounding their pregnancies when abortion is a human right. Our human rights are non-negotiable. The United Statesand officials at every level of governmentmust uphold and protect them. If there was ever a time to stand up and take action, it is now.
A California Republican penned a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken with concerns the State Department held therapy and listening sessions for employees devastated by president-elect Donald Trumps November victory.

These therapy sessions in question, however, were stress management webinars organized before the election, a State Department spokesperson told The Independent on Tuesday morning. Sessions like these have been offered to employees for over a decade.

Representative Darrell Issa penned the letter on November 19, citing The Free Beacon, a conservative media outlet that reported the State Department offered stress management webinars on November 8 and November 13 to employees following Trumps victory.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At least one of the sessions was titled "Managing stress during change and offered tips and practical strategies for managing stress and maintaining your well being, according to the Beacon.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks on November 13. Issas letter to Blinken included a request for more information on the reported sessions, including their cost and agendas (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

"Change is a constant in our lives, but it can often bring about stress and uncertainty," an email to employees advertising a webinar read, according to the Beacon. "Join us for an insightful webinar where we delve into effective stress management techniques to help you navigate these challenging times.

The Beacon also reported that members of the State Departments Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs held an informal meeting earlier this month, which one unnamed source with knowledge of the discussion said was a cry session over Trumps victory.

Now, in his letter, Issa says he is concerned these reported sessions are catering to employees personally devastated by Trumps win  even though the stress management webinars were scheduled and designed ahead of the election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As a Senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I write to you regarding reports of official post-election State Department therapy and listening sessions, Issa wrote, citing the Beacons article. I am concerned that the Department is catering to federal employees who are personally devastated by the normal functioning of American democracy through the provision of government-funded mental health counseling because Kamala Harris was not elected President of the United States.

It is disturbing that ostensibly nonpartisan government officials would suffer a personal meltdown over the results of a free and fair election, something the United States champions around the world, Issa continued. It is unacceptable that the Department accommodates this behavior and subsidizes it with taxpayer dollars.

The mental health of our foreign service personnel is important, but The Department has no obligation to indulge and promote the leftist political predilections of its employees and soothe their frayed nerves because of the good-faith votes of  and at the personal expense of  the American taxpayers.

Issa requested a meeting no later than November 22 with the appropriate officials to learn more about the sessions, including their agenda, their cost and whether they were held overseas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Issas spokesperson Jonathan Wilcox told The Independent on Monday night that The Free Beacon report is very reliable. Issas letter relies on media reports and our own sourcing and contacts, he added.

When asked to provide more information on Issas own sourcing, Wilcox responded, The Free Beacon has this story cold.

The State Department had not replied to Issas letter as of Monday evening, Wilcox said.

When asked to respond on Tuesday to the State Departments confirmation that these sessions were developed before Election Day, Wilcox said that the Biden-Harris administration burned through its credibility a long time ago.

Thats why our commitment to top-to-bottom reform has never been stronger, he added.
ST. LOUI S- Two men are dead and three others are injured after a shooting erupted in the Columbus Square neighborhood Sunday night. Police discovered a massive crime scene upon arrival, and FOX 2 crews saw at least 77 evidence markers.

Chaos unfolded around 10 p.m. Sunday on Carr Street, just blocks from The Dome at Americas Center. Two men, ages 26 and 20, were fatally shot. Three others were injured, including a 25-year-old man who is in critical condition, a 26-year-old man who is in stable condition, and a 24-year-old woman who was grazed by a bullet.

When I heard it was over 80 shell casings, Im not numb to it, but it does not surprise me thats when I say we have to look at where the weapons are coming from? Vice President of Public Safety of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis James Clark said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Second man arrested in womans St. Louis death after Clayton abduction

Neighbors claimed the violence stemmed from a domestic dispute between two women and a man, which escalated into gunfire. The neighbor claimed one of the women, who lived nearby, fired shots at the man and the other woman.

FOX 2 spoke with residents off-camera, and they expressed fear, many saying they are reluctant to comment publicly out of concern for their safety.

Police are asking anyone with any information to call the Homicide Division at 314-444-5371 or submit an anonymous tip to CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS and a cash reward may be available.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Following multiple resident complaints and city code violations, Charlotte officials are shutting down the Lamplighter Inn.

The rundown motel off Freedom Drive and Interstate 85 is home for approximately 70 people, but they will have to be moved out by Dec. 11, city officials said Friday. In addition to city citations for unsafe plumbing and trash piling up, the property owner has also reportedly blocked access to the site for repairs to the boiler, meaning theres no hot water on site.

Former housing civil rights attorney provides possible remedies to Lamplighter Inn

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The city and partner agency staff have been on-site at the motel for the past three weeks to conduct household assessments necessary to tailor assistance and connect residents to resources. Crisis Assistance Ministry placed utility services in its name during this time in order to restore service as on-site staff worked with residents to assess and develop next steps.

The city offered the following statement:

Due to these issues, as well as a lack of cooperation with city staff and community partners by the owners, the Lamplighter Inn has been deemed unsafe for residents. The situation has become unsustainable requiring further action be taken. On December 11 the Lamplighter Inn will be closed and all utility services will be disconnected due to safety issues. All residents must leave at that time. City of Charlotte

On Nov. 22, residents were informed that all utility services will be disconnected on Dec. 11. Without power and water, the Fire Department will close the facility, and all residents must evacuate at that time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The city estimates that on Friday there were approximately 35 occupied rooms at the hotel, housing approximately 68 people, while noting is is difficult to pin down the exact number. Other complaints have included the presence of flooding, mold and rats.

Transitional services for those who still need them will continue to be provided to residents, just not on site at the Lamplighter Inn. Partners involved include Crisis Assistance Ministry, the Housing Collaborative, Legal Aid of North Carolina, Action NC and more.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Five more men have been charged in a wide-ranging investigation into a prostitution ring operating out of an apartment on Milwaukee's near west side.

The men were each charged with one misdemeanor count of pandering-solicitation on Monday, days after a prominent former public defender was charged in the same investigation.

The defendants are George H. Easton, 76, of Pleasant Prairie; William H. Green, 59, of West Allis; David E. Ornstein, 50, of Milwaukee; Christopher G. Riegg, 55, of Greenfield; and LeRoy E. Stewart III, 53, of Racine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The men hold public positions in the community. The complaint identifies Easton as a retired municipal judge, Green as an attorney, Ornstein as a firefighter and Stewart as a funeral director. Riegg is an investment banker, online records show.

Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski said the department was aware of the allegations and has an open internal investigation.

"We take these things extremely seriously," he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Monday.

The criminal complaint indicates that Ornstein may have been tipped off to the investigation, citing Google searches he made the day before his arrest in March that included "how to beat a solicitation charge."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As part of the same investigation, Travis Schwantes, a public defender who ran for judge in 2020, was charged Thursday with two felonies  solicitation and making a false statement to qualify for a public defender as a party to the crime  and two misdemeanors related to prostitution as part of the investigation.

Among the allegations, Schwantes is accused of falsifying paperwork to represent one of the women he paid for sex and continuing to pay her for sex during his representation. Schwantes resigned from the State Public Defender's Office on Sept. 27. As of Monday, he was listed as remaining in good standing on the State Bar of Wisconsin website.

The allegations against the men date from 2019 to this past April, and all are scheduled for an initial court appearance on Dec. 20.

Human trafficking task force investigated case

The investigation began in April 2022, when a woman came forward to report prostitution activity out of a near west side apartment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That woman told authorities she was addicted to cocaine and began sex work under the guidance of another woman she had met, referred to in the criminal complaint as Victim 1. The woman said she would perform three to four sex acts for money each day in Victim 1's apartment, giving the money to Victim 1 in exchange for cocaine, court records show.

Victim 1 was arrested about a year ago and told investigators there were five women, including the one who made the initial report to police, who engaged in prostitution in her apartment, the complaint says.

She said she had a list of clients that included several attorneys, a prominent businessman and a municipal judge, according to the complaint. Prosecutors noted that Victim 1's attorney later described her as a victim of sex trafficking in a separate court case.

Detectives searched phones and online records, finding evidence that corroborated the women's accounts, the complaint says.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The investigation was conducted by the Milwaukee Police Department's Human Trafficking Task Force and investigators with the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office. A misdemeanor pandering charge has a maximum potential penalty of nine months in jail and a $10,000 fine.

Dana World-Patterson, a longtime advocate for trafficking victims and founder of Foundations for Freedom, Inc., said the case showed how prevalent the crime is.

"What's important for the public to know is that human trafficking has no borders," she said. "No one, absolutely no one, is off limits when you consider perpetrators and those who are victimized."

Ashley Luthern is a reporter and deputy investigations editor at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be reached at ashley.luthern@jrn.com.

This story was updated to add a video.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former judge, banker and others charged in alleged prostitution ring
Chances are, you've been pulled over by a police officer. For many, that can be a frightening situation.

It can be comforting or empowering, though, to understand your rights ahead of time. And while it may be harder for some to access or assert their rights, everyone living in the U.S., regardless of legal status, has them.

Information about your rights when being questioned by police is available from the ACLU of Tennessee in several languages other than English, including Arabic, Spanish and Urdu.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Heres what you need to know.

You can remain silent

If you are pulled over, you dont have to answer law enforcements questions. This includes questions about where you are going, where you are coming from or your immigration status, according to the ACLU of Tennessee.

If you choose to exercise your right to remain silent, attorneys recommend you assert out loud that you are doing so. But know that you must provide your drivers license, registration and proof of insurance upon request. If you are not a citizen, you must also show police your immigration papers if you have them on you if police request them. Never give police fake immigration papers.

A Metro Nashville police officer visits residents along 27th Avenue North on Monday, April 1, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn.

The right to remain silent has its origins in the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protects against self-incrimination. If you are arrested, law enforcement officers must inform you of the right to remain silent as well as other rights, such as to be represented by an attorney, before questioning you.

You do not have to consent to a search of your car

Police may ask you during a traffic stop if you consent to a search of your vehicle. You have the right to deny consent to a search.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, denying consent does not mean police are not allowed to search your car. While the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution generally protects against searches without a warrant  an order signed by a judge authorizing law enforcement to lawfully search a space  police dont need a warrant if they have probable cause that a crime has been or is being committed or if the driver is arrested.

If you consent to a search, whatever is found is generally admissible in court, whereas police would have to prove to a judge that the search was reasonable if you did not consent.

You can record the police

You can record a police officer during a traffic stop in Tennessee. Every U.S. appeals court  the second highest courts in the nation besides the Supreme Court, which has not yet addressed the issue  that has heard the question agrees the First Amendment protects residents rights to film police officers engaged in the performance of their public duties. Just be careful not to obstruct what the officers are doing. Additionally, you should not try to hide that you are recording, according to the ACLU.

The right to an attorney

If police arrest you as a result of the traffic stop  or any other situation  you have a right to an attorney, even if you cant afford one.

Tips for safe interactions with police

Metro Nashville police officer Chris Dickerson, left, assists a fellow officer during a traffic stop on Monday, April 1, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn.

The ACLU recommends staying calm during interactions with law enforcement. Other guidelines for dealing with police either during a traffic stop or after an arrest include never providing false documents to officers, not signing any papers without an attorney and keeping your hands in plain view of the officers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If you were injured during your interaction with police, write down everything you remember, including the officers agencies, and badge and patrol car numbers.

Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him at emealins@gannett.com or follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @EvanMealins.

This story has been updated to add video.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What are your rights during a traffic stop in Tennessee?
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB)  Get ready to say goodbye to fall and welcome Santa Claus into town, the 9th edition of Beach Home for the Holidays is this weekend at Aaron Bessant Park in Panama City Beach.

Gates open on Friday, November 29th, and Saturday, November 30th to this free event at 3 p.m.

Throughout the festival, you and your entire family can watch Christmas movies, roast smores, and shop at Santas Village.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This annual celebration is put on by Visit Panama City Beach, and staff say this particular event serves as a great way for families to begin a new holiday tradition.

Tips and tricks to ensure you enjoy a safe Thanksgiving

We really focus on making events that are great for the whole family, as well as events that allow families to start new traditions, said Visit Panama City Beach Marketing Manager Sydney Clifton. This is one of those traditions that you can keep doing year in, year out, and enjoy after every Thanksgiving.

Some other big events taking place over the course of the weekend include the lighting of the Christmas tree at 5:55 p.m. and fireworks at 7:30 on Friday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Then on Saturday at 6 p.m. you can enjoy a performance by the Panama City Symphony Orchestra who will be joined by the Panama City Ballet.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com.
Its something we all encounter these days: paying more for just about everything.

Now an idea is circulating in the restaurant industry to counter that trend.

The concept is for restaurants to serve slightly smaller portions and reduce the price of those menu items.

Using high-quality ingredients and keeping costs down is challenging for restaurants today.

Its almost an impossible needle to thread, said Seth Gerber. He owns four MIDA restaurants in the Boston area. He also teaches in the hospitality program at Boston University.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You have rising costs of food, rising costs of labor, Gerber explained. The cost and producing and getting something on the plate is higher and has been rising consistently, but in the past few years, it has been rising almost exponentially.

This happened as Americans were accustomed to being Super-Sized, basically being coaxed into restaurants at all price points with massive servings.

In the United States, portion sizes are 30%-50% larger than anywhere outside the United States, said Dina Tanvuia, the program chair for the hospitality program at Lasell University.

I think its a waste. A waste of a lot of food and a waste of money, said one woman in Westwood when Boston 25 sampled opinions about the restaurant industry.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a recent survey, the National Restaurant Association found that 75% of diners would prefer to get a smaller portion and pay less.

Another woman told us she liked that premise. Everyones trying to watch their weight and they dont want big portions and then the extras to take home.

Ann Marie Casey, the manager of Olivadi in Norwood, said its important for the restaurant industry to evolve and she thinks changing up portion sizes might be appealing to some customers.

With smaller portions, youre opening a door to a whole new statistic of people that are health conscious and not looking to have those pounds of pasta on their plate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some restaurant goers think this approach could be good, as long as its legitimate.

One woman is concerned they will make the portions smaller without reducing the prices. Thats often referred to as shrinkflation.

Another said, You have to be suspicious about who is doing this research and who benefits from this project, so yeah, you should naturally be suspicious.

Another reason to reduce serving sizes is waste.

Around 40% of the food is wasted after it makes it to the plate, said Tanvuia.

Wasted food is an unsavory side of the restaurant business. Its bad for the environment and for the bottom line.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Especially right now, younger consumers are looking more into sustainability. They want to see restaurants that are actually offering better packaging, sustainable packaging, added Tanvuia.

Since it doesnt look like food prices are coming down at any point soon, Gerber hopes diners understand the choices in front of them.

There are only one or two things that can happen. People can pay more for food which is not a popular vote, or they can have slightly less on their plate. The third option is they could have a lower quality item on their plate, and I dont think people want to go in that direction.

The idea of paying less for smaller portions is most appealing to millennials according to the survey by the National Restaurant Association.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The group also found millennials are the most likely to look for daily specials or other discounts when deciding where to go out to eat.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Press Release

November 26, 2024 Co-sponsorship of Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada on SRN 1223 honoring Juan Ponce Enrile Mr. President, my dear colleagues, Today, we gather to honor a man whose name is permanently etched in the history of the Philippinessomeone whose wisdom, resilience, and contributions to our nation have established him as a monumental figure in public service. It is with great pride and deep gratitude that I stand before you to celebrate the legacy of my mentor, a statesman par excellence, the one and only Juan Ponce Enrile. His storied career, spanning over half a century, is a testament to his unparalleled dedication to the Filipino people. His widely recognized initialsJPEstands for more than just a name. To me, they signify three defining qualities: Judicious lawmaking, Professional excellence, and an Enduring legacy. My father, former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, once said, "Juan Ponce Enrile is a tough act to follow" and he truly is. Few can match his extensive experience, sharp intellect, and significant contributions to our nation. His remarkable career in public service over the past fifty years showcases his courage, wisdom, and dedication to the Filipino people. During our time together in this august chamber, I was the Senate President Pro Tempore during his tenure as Senate President from 2008 until 2013. I have personally witnessed his tireless work ethic and his sharp legal mind at play. Whether debating on the floor, crafting laws, or leading in times of crisis, his presence has always been a source of strength and inspiration. Hindi matatawaran ang ipinamalas na pamumuno ni Manong Johnny sa impeachment trial ni dating Chief Justice Renato Corona. In Senate Resolution No. 89 based on a privilege speech that I delivered in this august chamber in May 30, 2012, we commended "his resolute, diligent, impartial and just leadership as presiding officer of the Senate sitting as an impeachment court in the matter of the impeachment trial of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court." Sabi nga ang aking ama, "Chief Justice Corona is very fortunate than me, because the presiding officer, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, is very impartial." Hindi naging madamot si Manong Johnny sa pagbibigay payo at paggabay lalo na sa mga neophytes na kagaya ko noong unang termino ko dito sa Senado. Siya ang naging pamantayan ko sa pagiging mambabatas. He was not just my mentor; he was a father figure in many ways, imparting lessons on governance and life. He taught me the importance of staying true to one's principles, standing firm even in the face of adversity, and always putting the nation's welfare above all else. His advice often resonates with me, especially during challenging times. One of his most memorable lessons was about the importance of courage in leadership. He once told me, "Jinggoy, public service is not for the faint of heart. Matuto ka na maging matibay sa gitna ng mga kritisismo; magsakripisyo kung kinakailangan at manindigan para sa tama, gaano man kahirap." Today, Mr. President, as we honor former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, we celebrate more than his accomplishments; we celebrate his enduring legacy. He is a reminder to all of us in public service of what it truly means to lead with integrity, wisdom, and an unrelenting dedication to our people. Manong Johnny is not just a legislatorhe is an institution. To Manong Johnny, as many of us fondly refer to him, thank you for being a mentor and an inspiration. We appreciate your sacrifices and lifelong dedication to the Filipino people. You have established a standard of public service that is a tough act to follow, but one we will strive to emulate. Manong Johhny, mabuhay ka! At gusto ko, happy ka! Thank you, Mr. President.
Donald Trumps rise to power as an elected authoritarian was not preordained or an act of destiny. Since at least 2016, there have been multiple moments when the American people and their institutions and leaders could have made different choices that would have prevented Trumps rise and return to power. Perhaps the most obvious such moment was Trumps failed coup attempt on Jan. 6, 2021, and the larger plot against American democracy.

The walls never did close in; Trump was in fact above the law (and the Jan. 6 funders and other high-level organizers and agents as well); the right-wing extremists on the Supreme Court made him a de facto king and he will likely never face serious consequences for his coup attempt or other wrongdoing. The far more likely scenario is that Trump will fulfill his threat and promise to use all means available to him to punish those members of law enforcement, the government, the news media, civil society and the public who dared to try to hold him accountable under the law.

Instead of being his downfall, Trump and his propagandists and other MAGA people would create a fiction and alternate reality around the events of Jan. 6 and the Big Lie that reimagined one of the greatest betrayals in American history as being an act of democracy, civic virtue and love. To that end, the Jan. 6 convicts have been elevated into political martyrs, heroes and saints by Trump, the MAGA movement and the right-wing disinformation propaganda machine. Trump has promised to pardon the Jan. 6 convicts; in all probability, the Jan. 6 convicts will repay Trump with their absolute loyalty as they take on the role of being his personal enforcers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On the centrality of Jan. 6 to Trumps fascist power and MAGA personality cult, historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat explains in her newsletter how:

Jan. 6 radicalized the GOP, accelerating its transformation into an entity dependent on lying, corruption, and the threat and reality of violence against internal enemies. But it is fear, as well as fanaticism, that has kept the GOP disciplined in the years since the insurrection, no one wanting to be a target. Because Donald Trump won the 2024 U.S. election, we did not see the expected waves of political violence from below in November. Nor was it necessary to stage some form of replay of the Jan. 6 coup attempt. Instead, we are bracing for the start of institutionalized violence from above. On Day One, mass deportations of undocumented people will supposedly start, assisted by the U.S. military or so the incoming administration hopes. Authoritarianism is the conversion of the rule of law into rule by the lawless. It makes perfect sense that a convicted felon and the man who sent the violent mob into the Capitol on his behalf would initiate an American autocracy. Fascists believe you have to destroy to create, and Jan. 6 has already been canonized because of its violence as a foundational moment of the New Era of Trumpism. If authoritarian history is any guideline, Jan. 6 could become a holiday one day.

In an attempt to make better sense of Trumps surreal second election, how the events of Jan. 6 led to Trumps return to power and what the American people can do to protect their democracy and society, I recently spoke with Alan Jenkins and Gan Golan. They are the co-writers of 1/6: The Graphic Novel. (Issue number 3 is available now.)

Alan Jenkins is a Professor of Practice at Harvard Law School where he teaches courses on Race and the Law, Communication, Law, and Social Justice, and Supreme Court Jurisprudence. Before joining the Harvard faculty, he co-founded and led The Opportunity Agenda, a social justice communication lab that harnesses the power of media and popular culture to move hearts, minds and policy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gan Golan is an artist, bestselling author, grassroots activist, organizer and one of the lead designers of The Peoples Climate March, which was one of the largest climate mobilizations in history. Golans works include the bestselling Goodnight Bush, Goodnight Trump: A Parody, and the critically acclaimed The Adventures of Unemployed Man.

Golans work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Forbes Magazine, BBC, CNN, MSNBC, The Guardian, and Wired Magazine.

This is the second of a two-part conversation.

Donald Trumps Jan. 6 coup attempt was one of the most successful such efforts in modern history because there were no real consequences and it was all just a trial run for the future. Trump didnt need to repeat Jan. 6. He took power at the ballot box.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

AJ: Its important to remember that the insurrection was not just the attack on the Capitol, but also the fake elector scheme in swing states where Joe Biden won, as well as intimidation of election officials and strong-arming Vice President Pence. It was unsuccessful in that it failed to fraudulently re-install Trump in 2021, but it deeply injured our democracy in ways that well be grappling with for decades. And the Big Lie that he spread helped to sow the seeds for his victory in 2024.

GG: I think the DNA of the next Trump administration was clearly visible in the January 6 insurrection. The use of violence by his supporters to try and intimidate people, the gross manipulation of the system behind the scenes to take power at any cost, but also the incredible chaos and incompetence. As Hannah Arendt said, Totalitarianism in power invariably replaces all first-rate talents, regardless of their sympathies, with those crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty. This administration will likely be unable to deliver on the fundamentals and buyers remorse will set in, despite the daily attempt to distract people. It will be bread and circuses, only with no bread.

Trump has promised to free the Jan. 6 MAGA convicts, a group he has elevated as heroes and political prisoners.

AJ: Its stunning that Trump would consider pardoning Jan. 6 rioters who injured over 100 law enforcement officers, contributed to the deaths of others, called for the murder of Mike Pence and tried to overturn the results of a free and fair election. Its fully consistent, however, with the Big Lie (that he won the 2020 election), which he continues to perpetuate and with a perspective rooted in loyalty rather than decency or the rule of law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

GG: It sort of feels as if the Joker were releasing all the inmates at Arkham Asylum. In our own comic, we actually have this absurd moment where January 6 is being officially celebrated in DC, all the facts of what happened are covered up, and the violence we all saw MAGA commit is explained away by conspiracy theories. A version of that is now very likely to happen in reality. But the message these pardons will send is clear: If you have wealth and power you are entitled to be above the law and any followers who do your dirty work can act outside the law. Its basically a green light to engage in criminal behavior at all levels, now sanctioned by the state.

What if Jan. 6 and the obvious crimes of that day had been responded to properly by the Department of Justice and Attorney General Merrick Garland? With the urgency and great importance they merited? The foot soldiers were punished, to varying degrees, but the leadership was not. Moreover, what if the Supreme Court had correctly judged that Trump did in fact engage in an act of insurrection and was disqualified from public office per the Constitution? The law matters  but only to the degree it is enforced properly. Where would we, as a nation, be now?

AJ: We will, of course, never know what would have happened if the FBI and Justice Department had immediately investigated and pursued the political leaders who played crucial roles in the insurrection in the way that they rather quickly pursued the rioters. It certainly seemed prudent to us at the time, which is one of the reasons that we created 1/6: The Graphic Novel.

GG: There is a real-life counterexample in Brazil. Their very Trump-like far-right president Bolsonaro lost an election and his followers attacked their Capitol building, imitating what they saw in the US. In contrast to the US, those involved were arrested on the same day. Bolsonaro was then banned from ever running for President again. The penalty for explicitly trying to use violence to undermine democracy was that you dont get to run for office again to give you another chance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You could not make up the things that have happened in the Age of Trump and have any reputable publisher or studio buy it. Yet, we are living it. How are you making sense of this surreality?

AJ: When we began writing 1/6: The Graphic Novel, it felt like science fiction. Now, it feels like a prediction. So much of what we depicted in our fictional story is now being planned or threatened by the incoming President of the United States.

Fortunately, our story is also one of hope, resistance and reconstruction. We are gratified that readers are finding our graphic novel poignant and entertaining, but it is also a roadmap on how everyday people can work to restore and improve our democracy. For those who want to get more deeply involved, we created a free Education and Action Guide with Western States Center that includes tips on addressing authoritarianism, disinformation and bigotry at the community level.

GG: It certainly seems surreal, but moments like this have happened before. Not only is our fictional story full of heroes  everyday people who find solidarity and hope in dark times  but real history is full of them, too. Our ancestors and predecessors saw and endured incredible hardships and yet ushered in new eras of progress amidst the worst conditions. As Rep. Keith Ellison said during a webinar we hosted: Do you think it wasnt harder during MLKs time? Right now, we should find hope in the fact that there are millions of people who feel exactly like we do. Many of us will step up to protect the communities most in harms way and be ready to mobilize to make forward progress as the opportunities arise, which they will.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

What do you want to prepare the American people for in these upcoming weeks and then years of Trumps rule and his MAGA successors? How do you explain the denial from the mainstream news media and political class about how Jan. 6 never ended and Trump and the other enemies of democracy were serious and a great danger? As a group, the mainstream news media, especially the centrists, mostly normalized this disaster.

AJ: Our series is a historical marker, a cautionary tale and a call to action. In writing it, weve spoken with individuals across the country and globe whove been part of successful peoples movements for democracy and justice. They managed to prevail through creative strategy and collective action rooted in shared values. We can do the same.

GG: Theres been a stunning amount of denial by the mainstream news and establishment, a kind of it cant happen here American Exceptionalism that has left us unprepared every step of the way. But this is deeper than one election. The pillars of American democracy have not just been under attack for the last four years, but for at least the last four decades and the present moment is a culmination of those strategies.

Politically, the Southern strategy mobilized racism to lock in white support for undemocratic policies. Economically, we saw Reaganomics and neoliberalism concentrate extreme wealth into corporate hands. Legally, Citizens United translated that money into political power. The last line of defense was the media, but corporate media and social media found tools to bypass fact-checking and truth-telling, a bedrock of democracy. Next, we are likely to see targeting of the education system and civil society institutions like non-profits. Its dire.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So, wheres the opportunity?

We need to be making the argument that democracy isnt just valuable for its own sake. Democracy is what can best ensure greater rights and dignity for everyone, create a more prosperous and equitable society that gives everyone greater opportunities and keep our institutions from only serving the interests of a wealthy few at the expense of the many. Finally, it gives the space for everyday people to have a voice in pushing for a better future, like a safe climate to protect our children. The reality is that our democracy had become so compromised it was unable to function properly. We now have a chance to re-affirm what democracy should be and fight for it.

Dr. Kings remembrance day is the same day as Trumps second inauguration. Why is the nations trajectory and the timing of these events so cruel? Dr. King must be rolling over in his grave.

AJ: Dr. King predicted that if America did not address the cancer of bigotry, it would metastasize and bring down the nation. If America does not respond creatively to the challenge to banish racism, he said, some future historian will have to say that a great civilization died because it lacked the soul and commitment to make justice a reality for all men. With the caveat that we would today say all people, I think Dr. King was, once again, spot on. But its also important to remember that America is all of us, not just a politician or a party or regime. We have the power to build a just nation, despite the man who leads it. And we must start now.
(NewsNation)  As President-elect Donald Trump assembles his incoming administration, there are questions about what role Vice President-elect JD Vance will play in the new White House.

Vance has kept a lower profile since the election, returning to the Senate recently as part of a failed effort to block the confirmation of a handful of President Joe Bidens remaining judicial nominees.

He also lobbied GOP senators to support two of Trumps most contentious cabinet picks, one of whom, Matt Gaetz, dropped out a day later.

Best Prime Day Deals for 2024:

 Best Black Friday deals already live

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

 Top holiday discounts under $100

 Apple products marked down for Black Friday

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission.

Special counsel moves to dismiss election interference, documents cases against President-elect Donald Trump

On the campaign trail, Vance often played a role that was part attack dog, part defender of MAGA policies. When the campaign rolled out a controversial policy, Vance would often be the No. 1 voice defending it.

He may reprise that role in the White House, just as he was sent to the Senate to try to usher through the nominations of Gaetz and Pete Hegseth, a Fox News commentator who Trump has nominated for secretary of defense.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Trump administration is going to have big agenda items they want to get forward through Congress come January, and it may rely on Vance and his connections in the Senate to muscle things through.

Another question is whether Vance will become the heir apparent to the MAGA movement. Trump only has one term left, leaving a space open for his successor in the party.

On the campaign trail, Trump suggested that wasnt set in stone, with Trump suggesting it could be someone else who takes the reins.

Trumps mass deportation plans create anxiety among immigrants

What will be interesting to watch will be the dynamics between Trump and those who have his ear, including Vance and billionaire Elon Musk.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Based on his first term, theres an expectation that Trump will rely on the opinions of people around him beyond the vice president.

Whether Vance will remain front and center as the administration takes form or is relegated to a behind-the-scenes role remains to be seen.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(Bloomberg) -- Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu called for an investigation into a campaign of his pro-Russian ultranationalist opponent following his shock defeat in the first round of the countrys presidential election.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ciolacu questioned the legality of the massive social media outreach of Calin Georgescu, whose unexpected victory on Sunday eliminated the premier from the race and prompted him to resign from the leadership of his Social Democratic party just days before the Dec. 1 parliamentary ballot.

Speaking to reporters in Bucharest on Tuesday, Ciolacu raised the prospect of foreign sources of funding for the Georgescu campaign, which included videos on social media platform TikTok. Georgescu, a fringe politician who ran as an independent, hasnt addressed the accusation.

There is a system and Im not so sure how legal it is, Ciolacu said, adding he was against censorship of social media platforms. Such a successful campaign requires a lot of money.

Georgescu refused to answer questions at a press conference on Tuesday. As a candidate, he insisted that he had no campaign funding and that he relied on unpaid volunteers. A campaign spokesman didnt respond to a request for comment on Ciolacus accusations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The results of the ballot stunned observers, since Georgescu was polling at the bottom of the rankings just weeks before the election. But two million Romanians in the European Union nation of 19 million voted for the candidate, who has spoken out against aid for Ukraine, signaling the countrys pro-western consensus is more fragile than previously understood.

With Ciolacu out of the race, Georgescu will face center-right, pro-European opposition leader Elena Lasconi in a run-off on Dec. 8.

The prime ministers concerns were echoed by European Parliament lawmaker Valerie Hayer of France, who on Tuesday called on TikTok Chief Executive Officer Chew Zi Shou to explain the role his platform has played in the Romanian election. Romanias media watchdog also called on the European Commission to investigate the Chinese-owned company.

An investigation by G4media, a local news website, revealed that Georgescus profile was heavily promoted online and offline by a network of so-called volunteers who were encouraged to distribute his messages in exchange for undisclosed rewards.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a video released on Monday, he rejected claims that he was an extremist, describing himself instead as a patriot who sees neither east nor west, only Romania. He advocated for the Black Sea countrys neutrality in the war in Ukraine.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
A professor at the Royal Society has quit in protest over Elon Musks fellowship at the institution, accusing the billionaire of modelling himself on a Bond villain.

Prof Dorothy Bishop, a scientist at the University of Oxford, said she had resigned her fellowship because of Mr Musks use of social media for political propaganda and his stance on climate change and medicine.

Mr Musk, who owns Tesla and SpaceX, was made a fellow of the Royal Society in 2018. His official biography praised the entrepreneur for having galvanised true ambition and a spirit of adventure in space travel, green transportation and solar power.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a blog post, Prof Bishop said that as long as Mr Musk remained a fellow at the institution she would be unable to abide by its code of conduct, which highlights the need for fellows to treat each other with courtesy.

She wrote: Im not willing to treat Elon Musk collegially and with courtesy.

Any pleasure I may take in the distinction of the honour of an FRS [Fellows of the Royal Society] is diminished by the fact it is shared with someone who appears to be modelling himself on a Bond villain, a man who has immeasurable wealth and power which he will use to threaten scientists who disagree with him.

Mr Musk is a keen James Bond fan, buying the fictional spys submarine car from the 1977 film The Spy who Loved Me. In 2013, he paid $1m (790,000) for the modified Lotus Esprit, dubbed Wet Nellie on the film set, which was used for underwater scenes.

Elon Musk bought James Bonds submarine car from the 1977 film The Spy who Loved Me - Tim Scott/Reuters

At one time, the Tesla bosss Twitter profile picture featured him stroking a white cat, reminiscent of the Bond villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prof Bishop said Mr Musk had breached the Royal Societys principles in 2022, when he tweeted: My pronouns are Prosecute/Fauci in reference to Anthony Fauci, who headed Americas response to the Covid pandemic and was made a Royal Society fellow earlier this year.

She said Mr Musk had managed to simultaneously offend the LGBTQ community, express an anti-vaxx sentiment and put Fauci, already under attack from anti-vaxxers, at further risk.

In August, 74 fellows wrote to the President of the Royal Society questioning whether Mr Musk was a fit and proper person to hold a fellowship. Previous fellows of the Royal Society, which was founded by Charles II in 1660, include Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein.

The letter questioned Mr Musks stewardship of X, previously Twitter, and alleged he had used it to make unjustified and divisive statements during far-Right rioting in Britain in August.

My pronouns are Prosecute/Fauci  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 11, 2022

Prof Bishop, an emeritus professor of development neuropsychology at Oxford, said the Royal Society had hired a lawyer to consider Mr Musks behaviour. However, the lawyer found Mr Musk had not breached the academys rules. No fellow has been expelled from the body in 150 years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prof Bishop said some academics were unhappy with this response and had worked on assembling further evidence of behaviours incompatible with the Royal Societys rules.

She said the Royal Society now planned to look again at Mr Musks fellowship but that she felt more comfortable to be dissociated from an institution that continues to honour this disreputable man.

Prof Bishop pointed out that while there are procedures in place to allow a fellow to be removed from the Royal Society, she said this has not happened for over 150 years.

A Royal Society spokesman said: In the event of any concerns raised about the behaviour of a fellow, the Society has a clear set of processes described in our code of conduct, which is published on our website along with relevant disciplinary regulations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Any issues raised in respect of individual fellows are dealt with in strict confidence.

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.
One of the distinguished judges had a bit of a conniption when her favorite was eliminated, but 6-year-olds will do that, and she quickly got back to helping pick winners.

The youngest judge, 4-year-old Harper Sakwa, was likewise unhappy when the other wise arbiters dismissed the blue princess doll with the sparkling tiara, but she played the long game. Once the judging was done and the pictures had all been taken Monday, while the grown-ups did boring grown-up things, she quietly found the doll and a place on the floor and began having a conversation.

Kennedy Sawka, right, 6, of Oxford, and Isabella Watkins, 6, of Westland, hold a couple of the winning dolls they helped select from a grouping of seventy while judging dolls and their outfits at the Comerica Bank headquarters in downtown Detroit on Monday, November 25, 2024. Volunteers dress thousands of dolls each year to be given to needy kids by the Old Newsboys Goodfellow Fund of Detroit.

The occasion was the mostly annual and highly informal determination of which dolls are the best dressed among the 9,000 to be distributed to income-impaired households next month by the Old Newsboys' Goodfellow Fund of Detroit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was the rare competition in which entering is more important than winning, a notion reinforced by the dresser whose doll was judged best of all.

"You don't do it to be chosen," said Patty Upton, 64, of Lake Orion.

Rather, she dresses a dozen dolls a year, and mails a dozen dolls to her sister in Mississippi to do the same, because "I love to think about the little girls opening Christmas presents. I try to look at it through little girls' eyes."

See for yourself

Four of the six judges at Comerica's Michigan headquarters on West Lafayette Boulevard near Cass are using those eyes, and the fifth, radio personality Alisa Zee, can at least remember gazing in awe with hers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The sixth was me, so I mostly deferred to Harper and her sister Kennedy, 6 ("and a half," she emphasized), of Oxford, Ariyah Small, 6, of Detroit, and Isabella Watkins, 6, of Westland.

They were playing their part in the 110-year-old tradition of the Goodfellows living up to their motto, "No kiddie without a Christmas."

It's the hundredth year of dolls being part of the package for 4- to 9-year old girls, boxed with warm clothing, socks, underwear, assorted toys, books, games, and a dental kit.

The dolls arrive from Santa's offshore workshop wearing only briefs, socks and white Mary Janes, and the Goodfellows determined ages ago that it makes for a far more festive holiday morning if the dolls are wearing pretty outfits  which, of course, the girls will immediately remove, but that's part of the fun.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It falls to swarms of volunteers to make or buy the ensembles, and the Goodfellows are so grateful they held a luncheon for the crafters on Belle Isle in July. There, said board president Rick Pacynski, "I met a woman who dresses 700 dolls a year."

At least a few of those, I hope, were among the hundred or so selected at the Goodfellows warehouse for the judges' consideration. All of the contenders will be on display at the Comerica building through Dec. 3, a yearly reminder for me that the world is awash in artistic ability and I don't have any of it.

A group of seventy five dolls dressed by volunteers wait to be judged at the Comerica Bank headquarters in downtown Detroit on Monday, November 25, 2024. Volunteers dress thousands of dolls each year to be given to needy kids by the Old Newsboys Goodfellow Fund of Detroit.

It's the little things that matter

All told, the Goodfellows will distribute 26,000 gift cartons to children in Detroit and six other cities.

The cost for that is $1.2 million, and they haven't quite raised it yet. This is an organization with only 1  employees and no pinky rings, and if you're inclined to donate, try detroitgoodfellows.org or P.O. Box 44444, Detroit, MI 48244-0444.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If you're inclined to dress dolls, the parameters are on the website, and the tips for dressing for success were evident on the Comerica display.

Details are important. One doll wore Crocs, and several wore sneakers in colors that matched vests or jackets. One wore a silver gown, a Miss USA sash and pearl earrings. A doll I didn't notice until too late  sorry, unknown dresser  had a gray handbag made of the same faux fur as its coat collar and leggings, and a skier with a white vest had a matching white dog.

There were at least four dolls with Detroit Lions themes, two with the Tigers, and even one with the Pistons, whose 2023-24 season was seven months of coal in our stockings.

The third-place doll had red flower buttons on a blue knit cardigan that matched the border of her skirt. The runner-up had a fuzzy pink jacket atop a pink dress, playing off her rosy cheeks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Upton's winning entry wore a rainbow skirt, a neon green shirt, a flowery cardigan, sparkly teal shoes and a knit cap imprinted with the nose and whiskers of a cat.

She had crocheted most of the outfits for her dozen dolls. Don't tell anyone, but she ran out of time and purchased what turned out to be the winner, embellishing it with a couple of hair ribbons.

That's a rarity. The winners tend to be hand-crafted. But these discerning judges were more interested in playability than pedigree.

Having settled on seven honorable mentions and the three ribbon-winners, they hunkered down for a closer inspection.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In short order, all of the shoes from the top three were hither and the kitty-cat cap was yon.

"What did I love when I was a little girl? All the little pieces," Upton said. "A hat, a purse, maybe a little shawl or something."

She wound up raising two boys, so her expertise was wasted for a very long time. But come Christmas morning, some lucky little girls will be thrilled that she remembered.

Reach Neal Rubin at NARubin@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Young judges confirm: Goodfellows' Christmas dolls dressed to impress
NEW YORK - Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani appeared in court Tuesday to face questions about his payments in the Georgia election defamation case.

In a surprise outburst during the hearing, Giuliani claimed he's out of money.

Giuliani owes $148 million to Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Moss, the Georgia election workers who successfully sued him for defamation over false claims connected to the 2020 presidential election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The judge said Giuliani has failed to surrender assets, including his 1980 Mercedes and funds from a Citibank account.

Giuliani officially dismissed his previous counsel Tuesday. His new attorney claimed that 90% of the required assets have been turned over. A motion to delay the trial was denied.

"It went exactly as I expected. He ruled against us on everything," Giuliani said. "The reality is I have no cash. It's all tied up. If I wanted to call a taxi cab, I can't do it. I don't have a credit card. I don't have a checking account. I have no place I can go take cash out except a little bit that I saved, and it's getting down to almost nothing."

The judge warned Giuliani could not speak out again in court unless testifying under oath, adding there is no higher priority than complying with court orders.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The trial resumes in January.

Woman donates kidney to twin sister

Some North Carolina homeowners still can't return home after Helene landslides

New White House rule would make weight loss drugs available for people on Medicare and Medicaid
A federal judge scolded former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani on Tuesday after Giuliani had an angry outburst during a court hearing as he tries to comply with an order requiring him to turn over most of his assets to two Fulton County election poll workers who won a libel case against him.

The outburst came as the judge questioned Giulianis lawyer about why Giuliani has not yet provided the title to a car he has relinquished in his effort to satisfy a $148 million defamation judgment won by two former Georgia election workers.

Your client was the U.S. attorney for this district, the judge said, referring to Giulianis years in the 1980s as the head of the federal prosecutors office in the Southern District of New York, as he suggested it was hard to believe that Giuliani was incapable of getting a duplicate title to the car.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Giuliani leaned forward and began speaking into a microphone, telling the judge he had applied for a duplicate copy of the cars title but that it had not yet arrived.

The implication Ive been not diligent about it is totally incorrect, Giuliani said in a scolding tone. The implication you make is against me and every implication against me is wrong.

Giuliani went on: Im not impoverished. Everything I have is tied up. I dont have a car. I dont have a credit card. I dont have cash. I cant get to bank accounts that truly would be mine because they have put ... stop orders on, for example, my Social Security account, which they have no right to do.

RELATED STORIES:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Liman responded by warning defense lawyers that the next time Giuliani interrupts a hearing, hes not going to be permitted to speak and the court will take action.

The judge said Giuliani could either choose to represent himself or let lawyers do so, but you cant have hybrid representation.

If Giuliani wants to speak in court again, he can be put on the witness stand and be sworn as a witness, Liman added.

The exchange came at a hearing in which the judge refused to delay a Jan. 16 trial over the disposition of Giulianis Florida residence and World Series rings.

Those are two sets of assets that Giuliani is trying to shield from confiscation as part of Limans order to turn over many prized possessions to the poll workers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Earlier in the proceeding, defense attorney Joseph M. Cammarata asked Liman to delay the trial, which will be heard without a jury, for a month because of Giulianis involvement in inauguration planning for President-elect Donald Trump.

My client regularly consults and deals directly with President-elect Trump on issues that are taking place as the incoming administration is afoot as well as (the) inauguration, Cammarata said. My client wants to exercise his political right to be there.

The judge turned down the request, saying Giulianis social calendar was not a reason to postpone the trial.

Giuliani was found liable for defamation for falsely accusing Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss of ballot fraud as he pushed Trumps unsubstantiated election fraud allegations during the 2020 campaign.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The women said they faced death threats after Giuliani accused them of sneaking in ballots in suitcases, counting ballots multiple times and tampering with voting machines.

Just last week, the women asked a federal judge to penalize Giuliani even further, saying he continues to falsely accuse them of tampering with ballots in the 2020 presidential election.

In the filing, it said Giuliani has been violating a consent injunction and has continued to defame the women on the show that he hosts on X, formerly known as Twitter.

It took only six months for Mr. Giuliani to resume his defamatory campaign, the document said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During a recent episode of Americas Mayor Live, Giuliani is quoted as saying: Judge Liman and the Biden people who are behind the case of the two womenYou didnt have $145 million in damages. In fact, theres video of you doing what I said. We can play it for you if you want. You framed me. You had a judge whos a bloodthirsty January 6 sentencer.

So far, there has been no decision on Freeman and Moss request.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Runners across several forms of social media and all over the United States are pushing for more safety for runners while honoring a Georgia murder victim.

Nursing student Laken Riley was killed in February while out on a jog on UGAs campus.

Its 17 minutes of audio before her death that runners are focusing on.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Theyre running 17 minutes and posting video of the run on social media to remember Riley and encourage people to run in groups.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Channel 2s Veronica Griffin spoke to runner Valerie Sterrett, who lives in Utah.

She posted her 17-minute run for Laken Riley on Facebook, while she was out with her run group.

After hearing her story it was just so heartbreaking, Sterrett said. I cant imagine what she was going through in that 17 minutes. I definitely think she was fighting for life.

Sterrett and so many others from Facebook, like Adrian Lopez of Houston, Texas, and other runners on TikTok and Instagram posted with the heading 17 minutes for Laken.

Last week, Rileys killer, Jose Ibarra was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

TRENDING STORIES:

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Electric car in charging. (Getty Images)

Rural electric cooperatives are joining in on the deployment of electric vehicle charging stations statewide, after Virginia Energy announced $1.1 million in awards to two co-ops last week, as well as an EV charger developer.

A&N Electric Cooperative, which serves the Eastern Shore, will receive $274,290 for two charging stations in New Church and Capeville. Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, through its subsidiary Vividly Brighter, will get $121,974.40 for three chargers, including two in Caret and one in Doswell. Electric vehicle charging station developer Blink Charging will net $542,444 for five stations in Cape Charles, Norfolk, Suffolk and Petersburg and two stations to be built in Salem.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The funds stem from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Electric Vehicle Charging Assistance Program and are being administered by the Virginia Department of Energy. A lack of available charging stations has been a challenge for EV infrastructure development across the state, a concern from major auto manufacturers amid declining sales projections, and a chief argument of opponents of policies aimed at spurring electric vehicle sales.

The charging stations will complement the network of charging stations the federal government is also funding through the BIL and the Virginia Department of Transportation, being deployed along interstates and state highways. Del. Rip Sullivan, D-Fairfax, has introduced measures to expand EV charging stations in rural areas to benefit the tourism industry, but they have failed to pass the past three years legislative sessions.

Transportation emissions constitute about one-third of the states and the countrys climate changing greenhouse gas releases, which are trapping heat in the atmosphere and leading to more intense and frequent storms.

In a statement about the latest awardings, Virginia Energy said the chargers will attract more visitors to tourist destinations and support local businesses. The tourism industry in the state brought in $24 billion in 2023, the most ever, according to the statement, which added that more electric vehicle infrastructure in these rural areas will only increase those dollars.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

EV charging stations have the potential to boost revenue of nearby businesses by $1,500 annually, keeping Virginia competitive in the evolving tourism industry, said Glenn Davis, Virginia Energy director.

A study by Massachusetts Institute of Technology released in September found that opening charging stations boosted annual spending at nearby businesses by an average of about $1,500 in 2019, and about $400 between January 2021 and June 2023. The decline was due to more EV charges being available, leading to less utilization, and a decrease in spending at businesses after the pandemic and a lower number of businesses served by each charger.

Editors note: This story was corrected to say transportation emissions constitute about one-third of the states and countrys greenhouse gas releases.
The Russian Federation's Ministry of Defence has acknowledged that on 23 and 25 November, three ATACMS long-range missiles launched by Ukraine's Armed Forces reached their targets in Kursk Oblast.

Source: Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti

Details: RIA Novosti, referencing the Russian Ministry of Defence, claims that during the last three days, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have attacked targets in Kursk Oblast twice using long-range Western weapons.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Five ATACMS missiles entered the village of Lotarevka, in the vicinity of a S-400 anti-aircraft missile battalion's position on 23 November. Two of them reportedly struck the target, while three were apparently destroyed.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces launched an ATACMS missile attack on the Kursk-Vostochny airfield on 25 November. Seven missiles are said to have been shot down, while one reportedly made it to the target. According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, falling missile fragments caused "minor injuries" to two servicemen.

Additionally, it is stated that "it was confirmed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked with American-made ATACMS missiles" after the site of the attack was examined.

Russias Defence Ministry stated that it was "preparing actions in response to the ATACMS attacks in Kursk Oblast."

Background:

Earlier, the General Staff of the Armed Forces said that on the night of 23-24 November, Ukrainian forces hit a radar station of an S-400 anti-aircraft missile system in Russia's Kursk Oblast. The type of ammo used was not mentioned.

In addition, OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) analysts found that Ukraine has, for the first time, struck a military airfield in Russias Kursk Oblast with cluster warheads attached to US-made ATACMS ballistic missiles.

Support UP or become our patron!
Russia has attacked Ukraine with an unprecedented number of drones, the Ukrainian air defence announced on Tuesday.

It posted on its Telegram channel that Moscow had attacked the country with 188 drones and four Iskander-M ballistic missiles during the night.

The Ukrainian news portal Ukrainska Pravda reported that this was the largest number of drones launched by Russia in one night. In the capital, Kiev, the air raid siren sounded for more than five hours, according to official reports.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the morning, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that it had shot down 76 drones in 17 regions of the country. The flights of 95 drones were aborted, presumably due to electronic countermeasures. Five drones are said to have flown in the direction of neighbouring Belarus.

According to the information provided, the power supply in Ukraine was once again affected by the attacks. In the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil, a critical infrastructure facility was damaged by drone attacks, the military governor of the area, Vyacheslav Nehoda, wrote on Telegram. The power supply in Ternopil and other places had been disrupted, he said.

Ukraine has been defending itself against the large-scale Russian invasion with Western help for more than two and a half years. Moscow has repeatedly attacked the country's energy infrastructure during the war.
Russian forces are advancing in Ukraine at their fastest rate since the start of the war, capturing an area half the size of London in one month.

Agentstvo, a Russian news agency, estimated the Kremlins forces had captured 91 square miles in the past week and 232 square miles altogether in November.

Russia has set new weekly and monthly records for the size of the occupied territory in Ukraine, it said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These estimates for November reinforce a trend of accelerated Russian advances on the front line since September.

Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, has ordered his forces to intensify their attacks ahead of possible peace talks Donald Trump has said he wants to impose as soon as he is sworn in as US president in January.

Although Russian forces have captured more ground in the past few weeks, it has come at a terrible cost.

The latest assessment by Ukrainian intelligence officials is that Russia is losing 1,500 soldiers every day, dead or badly injured.

Russian tactics are little changed from the Second World War, relying on swarm infantry charges to overwhelm Ukrainian defenders.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ukrainian soldiers have described waves of Russian infantry attacks marching into their guns, backed up by regular volleys of artillery shelling.

The main thrust of the Russian attacks has been in Ukraines Donetsk region, towards the towns of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove in the southern section of the front line.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said Russian forces found vulnerabilities in this section they are now exploiting.

Vladimir Putin has ordered his troops to intensify attacks - Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Pool Sputnik Kremlin

Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, has described the military situation in the southern Donetsk region as the most challenging and said there were efforts underway to strengthen our positions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Russian forces have also been advancing towards Kupyansk in the northern section of the front line and last week reportedly breached the citys defences.

On Tuesday, though, Sergey Markov, a pro-war Russian commentator, reported a Ukrainian counterattack had pushed the Russian soldiers out of Kupyansk.

The Russian army was forced to abandon the bridgehead that it unexpectedly captured a few days ago, he said. This indicates the intensity of the battles.

Kupyansk straddles the Oskil River, considered a natural defensive line that runs north-south through the Kharkiv region to the Don River.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So important is the Oskil River that DeepState, a Ukrainian military blogger, said Russian forces had launched a surprise ambitious landing on the western bank.

This is not just overcoming a water obstacle for the sake of a photo because the enemy has taken the positions held by one of our brigades, it said.

Russian soldiers preparing to be deployed to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions - Anadolu

On Tuesday, the Russian Ministry of Defence said it had captured another village in the Kharkiv region. Kopanky lies to the south east of Kupyansk. Its capture highlights Russian progress.

An analysis by the Meduza Russian language news website which opposes the war in Ukraine, said one of the Russian armys most effective tactics was to attack in several different places at once, overstretching Ukrainian defenders.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The armed forces of Ukraine still do not have enough forces to stop the Russian offensive in several directions at once. If it is possible to slow down the advance of the Russian armed forces in one area, a breakthrough in the neighbouring one immediately follows, it reported.

It highlighted speedy advances by the Russian army by reporting on a breakthrough near Kurakhove that allowed the Russian army to advance by seven miles in one week, whereas previously it took a year to cover the same distance.

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.
Russian authorities confirmed on Nov. 26 the capture and detention of James Scott Rhys Anderson, a U.K. national fighting for Ukraine in Russia's Kursk Oblast.

The Russian Investigative Committee charged Anderson with "terrorism" and "mercenarism," following its long-standing practice of persecuting foreign volunteers that end up in Russian captivity.

A video purportedly showing the captured volunteer surfaced on Telegram channels on Nov. 24. Speaking with an English accent, the man identified himself as Anderson, a 22-year-old ex-British army signalman who, in his own words, came to Ukraine and joined the International Legion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Russia often presents foreign volunteers fighting for Ukraine as "mercenaries" and claims they are not entitled to protection as prisoners of war.

Scott Anderson, the 22-year-old's father, told the Daily Mail that he "was in complete shock and in tears" when the fighter's commander sent him the video.

"I could see straight away it was him. He looks frightened, scared, and worried," Scott Anderson said, voicing fears that his son would be tortured in prison.

Two other Britons, Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner, were captured by Russian forces in Mariupol in 2022 and sentenced to death before being released in a prisoner exchange.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Russia has ramped up pressure in Kursk Oblast to dislodge Ukrainian troops holding positions there since early August. Reuters reported on Nov. 23 that Ukraine had lost over 40% of territory previously captured during the incursion.

Read also: UK national reportedly captured by Russia while fighting for Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russia has failed, for the second year in a row, to secure a seat in the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). This decision will remain in effect for the 2025-2027 term.

Source: Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The ministry highlighted that for the second consecutive year, Russia was unable to join the OPCW Executive Council.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Quote: "It is yet another proof of an ongoing international isolation of the aggressor state."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised that the vote reflects the principled position of the international community: as long as Russia continues its aggressive war against Ukraine, including the use of dangerous chemicals on the battlefield, it lacks the moral authority to be part of governing bodies in international organisations.

The ministry also noted that evidence recently submitted by Ukraine  namely, a Russian RG-Vo hand grenade and corresponding soil samples  served as a crucial argument in ensuring Russia's exclusion from the OPCW Executive Council.

In its statement, the ministry congratulated the Czech Republic and North Macedonia on their election to the council.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The results of the vote by 140 member states are as follows:

Czech Republic (in): 128 votes;

North Macedonia (in): 86 votes;

Russia (out): 56 votes.

Background:

It is worth noting that last year marked the first time in history that Russia was not elected to the OPCW Executive Council.

In early October, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on three Russian entities and one individual over the use of chemical weapons by Russian forces against Ukraine.

Support UP or become our patron!
The Russian Federal Security Service has announced the revocation of accreditation for Wilkes Pryor, the second secretary of the political section at the UK Embassy in Moscow.

Source: European Pravda, citing Interfax

The diplomat is set to be expelled for allegedly providing false information about himself when applying for entry into Russia.

Quote: "It has been reliably established that Wilkes Edward Pryor, the second secretary of the political section at the UK Embassy in Moscow, was sent to Moscow by the UK Foreign Offices Directorate for Eastern Europe and Central Asia. He replaced one of six British intelligence officers expelled from Russia in August this year. When applying for entry into Russia, he deliberately provided false information, thereby violating Russian law," the FSB Public Relations Centre reported on Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The FSB also stated that "evidence has been found suggesting that the diplomat was involved in intelligence and subversive activities threatening the security of the Russian Federation".

"As a result, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with relevant agencies, has decided to revoke Wilkes Edward Pryors accreditation, and he has been ordered to leave Russia within two weeks," the FSB PR Centre added.

Background:

Recently, the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to close the Russian Consulate in Poznan. The decision was explained by Russia's ongoing hybrid warfare and attempts at sabotage on Polish territory.

Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski did not rule out the possibility that, if Russia continues its hybrid war against Poland, the Russian ambassador could be expelled from the country.

In July 2023, it is worth recalling, Russia decided to close the Polish consulate in Smolensk.

Support UP or become our patron!
(Bloomberg) -- Russia expelled a British diplomat and summoned the UK ambassador, amid a fresh flare-up in tensions over Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Russias Federal Security Service, or FSB, said in a statement on Tuesday that the diplomat had provided false information to obtain a permit and conducted intelligence work. The Russian Foreign Ministry gave the diplomat, who worked in the political department, two weeks to leave the country and summoned British Ambassador Nigel Casey to lodge a formal complaint.

The UK government rejected the allegations and said it was weighing its response. This is not the first time that Vladimir Putins government has made malicious, baseless accusations against our staff, Prime Minister Keir Starmers office said in a statement.

The exchange comes amid increased strains over Russias invasion of Ukraine and British military and diplomatic support for the government in Kyiv. Russias ambassador to London, Andrei Kelin, said last week that the UK was now directly involved in the war, after Ukraine conducted strikes inside Russian territory with British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles.

While Moscow and London have been accusing each others diplomats of spying for generations, claims have escalated in recent months. In May, the UK expelled a top Russian envoy and imposed new restrictions on the countrys diplomats, in one of the most high-profile responses yet to what allied officials described as a coordinated espionage campaign to weaken support for Ukraine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Russia separately in September stripped six diplomats at the British Embassy in Moscow of their accreditations and accused them of spying and sabotage. The diplomat marked for expulsion on Tuesday replaced one of those expelled earlier, the FSB said.

Russia Moves to Expel Six UK Diplomats It Accuses of Espionage

The UK government is unapologetic about protecting our national interests and will now respond in due course, and our embassy in Moscow will continue its important work in Russia to support UK interests, Starmers office said.

--With assistance from Alex Wickham.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Russia expelled a British diplomat who worked at the embassy in Moscow Tuesday, accusing him of spying, marking the latest blow to the two countries worsening diplomatic relations.

Russias Foreign Ministry alleged that the British diplomat intentionally provided false information to enter the country as a cover for espionage work, thereby violating Russian law.

Russian security authorities identified signs of his conducting intelligence and subversive work on the territory of our country, the Foreign Ministry said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Foreign Ministry subsequently revoked the diplomats diplomatic accreditation and ordered him to leave Russia within two weeks, state media TASS reported.

A British Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement: This is not the first time that Russia has made malicious and baseless accusations against our staff. We will respond in due course.

Russias FSB claimed the diplomat was sent to Moscow to replace one of six alleged British intelligence officers that Russia expelled this summer.

In August, Russia revoked the accreditation of the diplomats, also on allegations of espionage. At the time, Britain described the accusations as completely baseless.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Later on Tuesday, Russia barred 30 British citizens from entering the country, in response to the incessant aggressive anti-Russian rhetoric of the UK authorities, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The list named several UK government ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, as well as journalists from British newspapers, including The Times and The Daily Mail.

As a response to the hostile actions of the British side, a decision was made to include a number of representatives of the political establishment, the military bloc, high-tech enterprises, and the British journalistic corps who have demonstrated themselves in the anti-Russian field, to the Russian stop list, the Russian ministry said in a statement.

In response to Russias list of barred British citizens, a spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office said in a statement: While we do not comment on Russian designations, we cant see any member of this government traveling to Russia anytime until Putin rolls back his tanks and ends his illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Relations between the UK and Russia have been increasingly strained as Russia continues its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The UK has joined the heavy sanctions imposed by Western nations against Russia and pledged billions of dollars of military and economic support to Ukraine since 2022.

Rescuers work at the site of a Russian drone strike in Ternopil, western Ukraine, on November 26, 2024. - Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Ternopil region/Handout/Reuters

Last week, Ukraine launched the British-French-made Storm Shadow missiles at targets inside Russia for the first time, according to a Russian military blog and Reuters, a day after Ukraine fired US-made ATACMS missiles into Russia.

That prompted direct condemnation from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said the Kremlins launch of a new medium-range ballistic missile last week was a response to the reckless decisions of Western countries in supplying weapons to Kyiv.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Tuesday, the Russian Ministry of Defense said two other recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian facilities in the Kursk region used US-made ATACMS longer-range missiles.

Longer-range missiles targeted the position of a Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile division near the village of Lotarevka on Saturday, northwest of Kursk, causing casualties and damaging a radar system, according to the defense ministry. Kyiv launched an incursion into Russias Kursk region in August, taking Moscow and even its own allies by surprise.

A second attack using ATACMS missiles targeted a Russian airfield on Monday, the ministry added. One reached the target, wounding two servicemen and lightly damaging infrastructure.

The Ukrainian military said last week it successfully hit a Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile system, but it did not specify the type of weapon used for the attack.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, Russia launched a record 188 drone attacks on Ukraine overnight, according to the Ukrainian Air Force on Tuesday.

Russia fired four more Iskander-M ballistic missiles at Ukraine, the Air Force said. The attack damaged critical infrastructure in the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil, causing power outages, according to the local military administration.

In the Kyiv region, air defense interceptions could be heard operating throughout the night. Several residential homes were damaged by the downed drones, which shattered windows of houses, Kyiv authorities said.

In Sumy, at least two people were killed following a Russian attack on a service station, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his daily address on Tuesday evening. A rescue operation is still underway, he added.

Clare Sebastian, Maria Kostenko, Daria Tarasova-Markina, Katharina Krebs and Caitlin Danaher contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
GUEST OPINION: In 2024, social media remains a powerful force, enabling consumers to share their opinions and experiences with brands while companies use the platform for direct and impactful advertising. For businesses looking to excel in digital marketing, analyzing social media sentiment reveals key metrics and benchmarks for success, making it essential for engaging with customers and enhancing their overall experience.

By monitoring social media platforms for customer sentiment, trends, and discussions, companies can respond proactively and improve their brand engagement. In this article, we will explore how businesses can track online consumer opinions to stay ahead in a competitive market. We will also cover key strategies for utilizing this information to tailor marketing efforts, address customer concerns, and build stronger relationships with the potential client base. For accurate results, modern businesses need to automatically extract real-time or frequently updated data from multiple sources. This approach helps them gain the most precise understanding of customer sentiment. To achieve this and avoid roadblocks, businesses use cheap proxies for private connections that change the internet access point for your data collection tools, disconnecting them from digital identity. Stay tuned to learn more about the effects of social media sentiment on brand and marketing strategies, and we'll return to the discussion on cheap proxies in a moment.

Social Media Sentiment Explained

Social media sentiment refers to the opinions and emotions expressed by internet users and potential clients about a brand, product, or service on social media platforms. It involves analyzing the tone of comments, posts, and interactions to understand whether the general perception is positive, negative, or neutral. This insight helps businesses gauge public opinion and make informed decisions to improve their offerings and customer relationships.

Social media sentiment is a valuable indicator of public perception and can significantly impact a brand's reputation. By tracking it, businesses can gain insights into how their brand is perceived and identify areas for improvement.

For businesses interested in diving into sentiment analysis, using cheap proxies offers an affordable and reliable method to gather information from various social media platforms and locations. His approach allows companies to diversify their data collection efforts by capturing variations influenced by different conditions.

By using these proxies, businesses can access social media data from around the world, effectively overcoming geographical restrictions. This approach ensures they gain a comprehensive view of global sentiment, allowing for a more thorough and insightful analysis. Alternatively, it can also provide a detailed overview of an important local market, helping businesses tailor their strategies to specific regional needs.

Identifying Trends and Discussions

Keeping up with trending topics and discussions about your brand or industry is key to staying relevant and connecting with customers. By really understanding the context and nuances of social media conversations, businesses can find great opportunities to engage with their audience.

Tracking trending topics and discussions related to a brand or industry is crucial for staying relevant and engaging with customers. By grasping the context and nuances of social media conversations, businesses can spot opportunities to connect with their audience. For example, if a company observes a growing interest in remote work solutions, it might decide to highlight flexible work-from-home products or services in its marketing efforts to appeal to the demand.

To effectively keep an eye on trending topics and discussions about your brand or industry, businesses use social media monitoring tools. These tools work by scanning platforms for relevant keywords, hashtags, and mentions that are important to your business.

For example, a company might track the sentiment metrics related to customer service by monitoring phrases like "customer support" or "help desk" alongside their brand name. By analyzing whether these mentions are positive, negative, or neutral, the company can gain insights into how their customer service is perceived and identify areas for improvement.

Understanding the context and nuances of these conversations is equally important, as it allows businesses to tailor their messaging to align with their audience's values and concerns. By doing so, companies can enhance their brand image, foster stronger customer relationships, and ultimately drive growth and success.

Tools and Techniques for Monitoring Social Media

There are several tools available for social media sentiment analysis, each offering unique features to help businesses monitor and analyze data. Popular tools like Hootsuite, Brandwatch, and Sprout Social provide comprehensive solutions for tracking sentiment across multiple platforms. These tools collect data from social media channels, analyze it, and present insights in an easily digestible format.

When choosing tools, businesses should think about their specific needs and goals. For example, if a company wants to track sentiment in any location, having cheap proxies protecting your data collection tools will ensure uninterrupted access. Intermediary connections allow businesses to get around regional restrictions and gather a broader range of data, giving a clearer view of social media sentiment.

Responding to Customer Sentiment

Proactively addressing customer sentiment is crucial for transforming negative experiences into positive interactions. When businesses respond to feedback quickly and genuinely, it shows customers that their opinions matter. This kind of engagement helps build trust and loyalty, making customers feel valued and more likely to stick around.

If people are saying bad things about a product, a brand can use technology to find out what's going on. Sentiment analysis tools, which use natural language processing (NLP), can scan through customer reviews, social media posts, and other feedback to identify common themes and issues. These analyze words and phrases people use to express their feelings about the product. By quickly identifying problems and their scale, the brand can make changes to the product or service, helping to turn negative experiences into positive ones.

Integrating Sentiment Insights

To fully benefit from social media sentiment analysis, businesses should integrate these insights into their overall strategies. This involves cross-department collaboration, where marketing, product development, and customer service teams use sentiment data to identify trends, address customer feedback, and refine product features.

For example, a business might use sentiment analysis to scan social media comments and reviews, identifying frequent customer complaints about a product feature. By pinpointing recurring issues like dissatisfaction with durability or functionality, they can share these insights with the product development team, who can then prioritize these concerns in their design improvements.

Conclusion

While social media sentiment documents opinions and emotions that are difficult to measure, the collection of these insights gives businesses a powerful tool for enhancing brand engagement and improving customer experience. By using sentiment analysis tools and techniques, companies can gain valuable insights into public perception and respond proactively to customer feedback.
Russia has expelled a British diplomat for alleged espionage.

An employee of the British Embassy in Moscow has been stripped of his accreditation for providing false information when entering the Russian Federation, the TASS state news agency said, citing the FSB security service.

The FSB alleged that there were indications that he had been carrying out intelligence and subversive activities that threatened Russias national security. He has been ordered to leave the country within two weeks

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Russias foreign ministry said it had summoned the British ambassador in relation to the diplomats expulsion.

Diplomatic rows and expulsions have become increasingly common since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Senior British diplomats appeared to be harassed by a mob at a Moscow airport in October in a reported FSB-staged stunt.

In September, Britain summoned the Russian ambassador over the expulsion of six British diplomats from Moscow.

The Foreign Office has been contacted for comment.

03:23 PM GMT

Todays live coverage has ended

Todays live coverage has ended. Heres a roundup of the days events:

Russia pledged a retaliatory response to the latest Ukrainian Atacms strikes.

Sir Keir Starmer sent dozens more Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine since becoming PM, it was revealed.

David Lammy ruled out sending British troops to Ukraine at this time.

Footage showed Russian troops storming the centre of Kurakhove, a key town in Ukraines Donetsk region.

Russia launched a record 188 drone attacks on Ukraine overnight, Kyivs air force said.

03:09 PM GMT

Your views: Readers on David Lammy ruling out sending British troops to Ukraine

02:06 PM GMT

Pictured: Russian tank encased in turtle armour

Improvised armour added to a Russian T-80 tank. Image released on Nov 26 - Russian Defense Ministry Press Service

You can read more about Russias turtle tanks here.

01:57 PM GMT

Russia pledges retaliatory response to latest Ukrainian Atacms strikes

Moscow has promised retaliatory actions after Ukraine again fired US-supplied Atacms missiles at targets in Russia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Russian defence ministry said on Tuesday that Ukraine had carried out the fresh strikes on November 23 and 25.

It warned that retaliatory actions are being prepared in a post on its Telegram channel.

The US gave Ukraine permission to use the weapons to hit Russia earlier this month after months of requests from Kyiv.

The Kremlin launched a nuclear-capable ballistic missile at Ukraine in response to Kyivs first use of Western missiles in Russia.

A Russian-released photo of what Moscow says is a fragment of an Atacms missile fired at an airport in the Kursk region - Russian Defense Ministry

01:26 PM GMT

Starmer sends dozens more Storm Shadows to Ukraine

Britain has sent dozens more Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine since Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister in July, the Telegraph understands.

The long-range weapons were sent to Kyiv as stockpiles ran short and before Joe Biden gave permission for Western missiles to be fired into Russia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Ministry of Defence declined to comment on exactly when or how many missiles were sent to Ukraine.

Ukraine fired Storm Shadow missiles into Russia last week for the first time, sparking threats from Vladimir Putin to strike Britain with Russias new intermediate range ballistic missile.

Storm Shadows have a range of 155 miles and are considered highly accurate.

Each air-launched missile costs roughly 2 million. The Government has not revealed how many it has given to Ukraine since the start of the war.

11:54 AM GMT

Ukraine accuses Russia of using landmines for genocidal activities

Russia is carrying out genocidal activities by laying landmines, a Ukrainian defence official said a week after the US announced it would give Kyiv landmines to use against Russia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Moscows forces were planting landmines in cities, farming households, public transport stations, remotely by means of artillery, helicopters, multiple rocket launch systems and drones, Oleksandr Riabtsev of Kyivs defence ministry told a landmine conference in Cambodia.

Another Ukrainian defence official told the conference Kyiv will not fulfil a commitment to destroy a stockpile of around six million landmines left over from the Soviet Union because of Russias invasion.

Last week the US announced it would send anti-personnel landmines to Kyiv to help its forces battle Russian troops, a decision immediately criticised by human rights campaigners.

11:28 AM GMT

Lammy rules out sending UK troops to Ukraine at this time

David Lammy has said the UK is not sending troops to Ukraine at this time, after reports that Britain and France were discussing the option.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We stand ready and continue to support the Ukrainians with training particularly, but there has been a longstanding position that we are not committing UK troops to the theatre of action, the Foreign Secretary said.

That is certainly the UK position, and remains the UK position at this time, he added.

On Monday, French newspaper Le Monde, citing unnamed sources, claimed that the UK and France had reactivated talks over sending Western troops and private defence companies to Ukraine.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman also said there are no plans to send troops to Ukraine.

It comes after tensions spiralled when the US and UK allowed Ukraine to use Western-supplied long-range missiles for strikes on Russian territory.

11:20 AM GMT

Russias nuclear arsenal was placed on full combat alert in 2022, deserter says

Russias nuclear arsenal was placed on full combat alert immediately after the Kremlins full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, an officer who deserted from the Russian army has said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The unnamed officer who had guarded Vladimir Putins nuclear weapons before fleeing Russia said that before the invasion soldiers had only run through drills with the nuclear weapons.

On the day the war started, the weapons were fully in place. We were ready to launch the forces into the sea and air and, in theory, carry out a nuclear strike, he told the BBC at a secret location outside Russia.

The officer also described the tightly controlled regime that soldiers guarding the nuclear missiles worked under.

Mobile phones were banned from the base and if a soldier wanted his parents to visit, he needed to apply to the FSB for permission three months in advance.

11:13 AM GMT

Zelensky considers sacking head of Ukrainian intelligence

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Volodymyr Zelensky is considering sacking Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov as head of Ukraines military intelligence section, Ukrainian media has reported.

The NV portal quoted unnamed sources within Ukraines security services as saying that the Ukrainian president wanted a more loyal person to head the unit.

Speculation that Mr Zelensky was considering firing Gen Budanov first surfaced in September.

Gen Budanov has become one of the most high-profile Ukrainian commanders, earning a reputation for pulling off daring assassinations and other military operations against Russia. But he is also known to have irritated Mr Zelensky for sometimes operating beyond his remit.

10:51 AM GMT

UK has sent dozens more Storm Shadows to Ukraine since election

Britain has sent dozens more Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine since Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister in July, according to Bloomberg News.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It quoted people familiar with the situation as saying that the resupplies were sent to Kyiv before Joe Biden gave permission for Western missiles to be fired into Russia.

They were ordered after Ukraines Storm Shadow stockpiles ran short.

Ukraine fired Storm Shadow missiles into Russia last week for the first time, triggering an angry response from Vladimir Putin who threatened to strike Britain with a new intermediate range ballistic missile.

Storm Shadow missiles have become one of Ukraines most potent weapons. They have a range of 155 miles and are air-launched. They are considered highly accurate.

10:21 AM GMT

Watch: Russian troops storm centre of key Donetsk town

Geolocated footage shows Russian troops storming a building in the centre of Kurakhove, a town in southeastern Ukraine that had a pre-war population of around 20,000 people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kurakhove lies in the path of Russias main advance, with Moscows troops encircling the town and advancing at a rate not seen since the beginning of the war.

The Ukrainian general staff said on Monday night that 45 different battles were raging along the Kurakhove sector of the front.

Russian war bloggers said that if Kurakhove falls, Moscows forces will be able to push on to the city of Zaporizhzhia while securing their rear for an assault on Pokrovsk.

@SU_57R/X

10:00 AM GMT

Russia captures village in Kharkiv

Russia said its forces have captured the village of Kopanky in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine.

The Russian defence ministry said on Tuesday thar military units... have liberated the settlement of Kopanky, a village near the Ukrainian-held city of Kupiansk.

It comes one day after Ukraines third assault brigade said it had cleared out Russian troops from Kopanky and taken several prisoners from Russias first tank army.

Kupanky is on the northern edge of the frontline in eastern Ukraine, an area that has been quieter than the southeastern sector where Russian forces are advancing at their fastest rate since 2022.

09:46 AM GMT

Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer and defence chiefs attend Downing Street stocktake meeting

General Sir Roly Walker, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin attend an Armed Forces chiefs stocktake meeting at 10 Downing Street, London, Nov 26 - Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror/PA

09:11 AM GMT

Russian attacks cuts power to 70% of Ukrainian region, local officials say

Overnight Russian drone attacks on Ukraine cut the power to around 70% of the western region of Ternopil, local officials said.

The consequences are bad because the facility was significantly affected and this will have impact on the power supply of the entire region for a long time, governor Vyacheslav Nehoda said.

The attack also cut off water and disrupted heat supplies, Serhiy Nadal, the head of the regional defence headquarters, said.

Russia launched a record 188 drone attacks at Ukraine overnight, damaging buildings and critical infrastructure in several regions, Kyivs air force said on Tuesday.

09:01 AM GMT

Pictured: Aftermath of Russian strike on Odesa

Rescue workers help residents in Odesa after a Russian air strike that injured 11 people and damaged buildings, Nov 25 - Anadolu/Anadolu

08:57 AM GMT

Russia advancing at fastest rate since early 2022

Russian forces are advancing in Ukraine at the fastest rate since the early days of the 2022 invasion, taking an area half the size of London over the past month, analysts and war bloggers say.

The war is entering what some Russian and Western officials say could be its most dangerous phase after Moscows forces made some of their biggest territorial gains and the United States allowed Kyiv to strike back with US missiles.

Russia has set new weekly and monthly records for the size of the occupied territory in Ukraine, independent Russian news group Agentstvo said in a report.

The Russian army captured almost 91 sq miles in Ukraine over the past week, a weekly record for 2024, it said.

08:02 AM GMT

Russia launches record 188 drones at Ukraine, Kyiv says

Russia launched a record number of drone attacks at Ukraine overnight, damaging buildings and critical infrastructure in several regions, Kyivs air force said on Tuesday.

During the night attack, the enemy launched a record number of Shahed strike unmanned aerial vehicles and unidentified drones, the air force said, referring to Iranian-designed drones and putting the figure at 188.

The Ukrainian military said it shot down 76 out of the 188 drones.

It added that it lost track of 96 of the drones, likely due to active electronic warfare, and that five drones were headed towards Belarus.

There are no immediate reports of any injuries.

08:00 AM GMT

Welcome to our live coverage

Welcome to our live coverage. Well be keeping you up to date with days events as they happen.

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.
Russia launched overnight what officials in Kyiv have described as the biggest drone raid on Ukrainian territory since the start of the conflict. Only hours later, Moscow said it was preparing retaliatory actions after Ukraine again used U.S.-donated Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short-range ballistic missiles to strike targets within Russias borders.

You can read our initial report on the latest use of ATACMS to attack targets within Russia here.

Kremlin officials say that Ukraine has now used ATACMS to strike targets within Russia twice in the last three days. Russia claims that, on both occasions, Ukraine attempted to hit air defense systems in the Kursk region. While Russia says that one or two missiles reached their targets, most were shot down. Still, this was a rare admission by Moscow that Ukrainian strikes of any kind had successfully hit their targets.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Russian Defense Ministry confirms Ukrainian strikes with ATACMS missiles on the S-400 air defense position near Bolshoye Zhirovo in Kursk Oblast on November 23.



The Russian side says that three ATACMS missiles were intercepted during the attack, while two reached its target. https://t.co/cYVkgPdUtV pic.twitter.com/MGYp7v5kJF  Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) November 26, 2024

The first of these targets appears to have been an S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile battery near the village of Bolshoe Zhirovo, on Nov. 23, while the second was the airfield at Khalino, also hosting air defense systems, which was struck yesterday morning. Khalino airfield is around 60 miles from the Ukrainian border, while Bolshoe Zhirovo is around 20 miles farther northwest. Satellite imagery of Khalino obtained by TWZ is inconclusive as to what damage was inflicted on the base.

Photos published on social media by unofficial Russian sources show the wreckage of one of the missiles in the aftermath of the ATACMS strike on Kursk-Khalino Air Base, as well as a Pantsir short-range air defense system in an elevated location in the background, as seen at the top of this article.

The remains of ATACMS missiles found in the vicinity of Russia's Kursk Khalino Air Base following Ukrainian strikes there in the early hours of Monday. pic.twitter.com/IA3wJ1dq1G  Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) November 26, 2024

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Before that, Ukraine had targeted an ammunition depot in the Bryansk region of southwestern Russia last week, in what was the first use of ATACMS within Russian borders.

Its unclear what kind of retaliatory measures Russia now has in mind, but overnight it already subjected Ukraine to what appears to have been an unprecedented series of strikes involving long-range one-way attack drones.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the Russian strikes overnight involved 188 drones. Of these, the service claims its air defenses shot down 76, while it lost track of 96, which it claims was likely as a result of electronic warfare measures. Another five drones were noted headed toward Belarus, the Ukrainian Air Force said, presumably after guidance malfunctions.

Last night, Russia attacked Ukraine, launching a record number of strike drones188against our people. I want to thank our defenders of the sky for repelling the attack. Around 80 drones were shot down, and more than 90 were lost due to location disruption.



Unfortunately, there pic.twitter.com/o701zePjHd  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) November 26, 2024

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The enemy launched a record number of Shahed attack UAVs and unidentified drones, the Ukrainian Air Force said.

Russia is now also making increasing use of long-range Gerbera drones, used as decoys during mass Shahed drone attacks, as you can read about here.

An example of a Gerbera drone, which came down overnight in the Sumy region of Ukraine. Ukrainian Ministry of Defense

The results of the drone strikes included power outages across around 70 percent of the western region of Ternopil and damage to residential buildings in the Kyiv region, Ukrainian officials said.

Unfortunately, there were hits to critical infrastructure facilities, and private and apartment buildings were damaged in several regions due to the massive drone attack, the Ukrainian Air Force said, adding that no casualties had been reported.

An Iranian-designed Shahed-136 one-way attack drone. AFP via Getty Images Photo by ANONYMOUS/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

The governor of the Ternopil region, Vyacheslav Nehoda, said that the attacks had significantly affected the power grid there and that this will have an impact on the power supply of the entire region for a long time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Ternopil region also saw disruption to water and heat supplies, with local authorities reportedly gearing up for planned power cuts.

In the Kyiv region, damage to four private residences, two high-rise apartment buildings, and other infrastructure was blamed on falling debris. Regional governor Ruslan Kravchenko said that local air defenses brought down more than 10 Russian drones.

Meanwhile, in Sumy, civilians are not paying attention to the downed Shaed drone. pic.twitter.com/3A9X383tlq          (@TheDeadDistrict) November 26, 2024

An uptick in drone strikes across Ukraine  especially targeting energy infrastructure  was to be expected as the country gears up for winter. In the last two winters, Russia has also specifically launched attacks on critical infrastructure in an effort to cause maximum disruption and break Ukrainian resolve. Indeed, almost exactly a year ago, Russia launched what Ukrainian officials described at the time as the largest drone attack on their country so far, involving a reported 75 one-way attack drones. These were mainly launched against Kyiv and the surrounding region.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Record number of drones launched by Russia into Ukraine tonight188. Theyre also rapidly advancing drone tech, making them deadlier and ramping up production to hundreds per week. Starting to look like theyre building these capabilities for a reason, doesnt it? pic.twitter.com/r6yYXxyhT9  Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) November 26, 2024

Last night saw most of Ukraine under air raid alert for several hours, according to the Air Force, and there are fears that this may just be the start of a more intense campaign of nighttime bombardment.

Thanks to its Iranian-designed one-way attack drones, Russia has a much cheaper means of keeping up a relentless assault on Ukrainian targets far beyond the front lines, compared to the ballistic missiles and cruise missiles that were used at the beginning of the campaign and then more sporadically as time passed. With the production of Shahed-type drones now also underway in Russia, there is also a more immediate source of these weapons.

A view inside a Russian factory building Shahed-type drones, under the local name Geran, and understood to be in Yelabuga, in Russias southeastern Tatarstan region. via X



This winter, the drone attacks also coincide with a major push by Russian forces along the front lines in eastern Ukraine. This has led to some of the most significant Russian territorial gains since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, as you can read about here. At the same time, Ukraine has also kept up the tempo of its own long-range drone strikes on Russian territory.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theres also the backdrop of uncertainty around how the course of the war might change once Donald Trump takes office in January. The potential implications of this are something we have also examined in depth.

As for Ukraines ATACMS strikes, these were approved on targets deep within Russia earlier this month, primarily in support of the Kursk offensive, which is now facing a major Russian counterattack, which also involves North Korean troops.

As well as ATACMS, Ukraine has now received permission to use British-supplied Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles to strike targets deep in Russia. Permission to use the French-supplied SCALP EG, otherwise identical to the Storm Shadow, had previously been granted.

A Storm Shadow missile under the wing of a Ukrainian Su-24 strike aircraft. Ukrainian Air Force screencap Ukrainian Air Force

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Today, Bloomberg reported that the United Kingdom had recently sent dozens more Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine, although the U.K. Ministry of Defense has so far not commented on this.

While Russias President Vladimir Putin has made very clear his anger over these decisions from two of Ukraines Western allies, the Russian Ministry of Defense has so far only stated that retaliatory actions are being prepared.

It remains to be seen what form these will take, but Russia has already employed an experimental ballistic missile against the Ukrainian city of Dnipro last week, a response to the first use of ATACMS on Russian territory. You can read our initial analysis of this unprecedented event here, as well as our analysis of the intermediate-range ballistic missile of which a variant was likely used.

Another video of the ruSSian ICBM's multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles https://t.co/maEa5qFcQi pic.twitter.com/88fEGZHy1r          (@TheDeadDistrict) November 21, 2024

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Putin has also previously declared that countries that provide Ukraine with long-range weapons used to strike targets within Russia are themselves now at risk of attack. Moscow has also warned that the use of Western-supplied long-range missiles by Ukraine against Russia could trigger a nuclear response after Russian nuclear war plans were updated.

Increasingly, however, there are signs that Russia and Ukraine might now be engaged in something of a new phase of the conflict, with tit-for-tat missile strikes across their respective territories, using longer-range and ever more capable weapons. However, with Trump less than two months from taking office, it remains to be seen just how much further this will escalate.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
Russia launched a record number of 188 Shaheds and other drones against Ukraine in a single night on Nov. 26, the Air Force said.

Ukrainian air defenses reportedly shot down 76 drones across 17 oblasts, while 95 were "lost," presumably thanks to electronic warfare means. Five drones flew to Belarus, according to the Air Force.

Russia has deployed cheap "kamikaze" drones, like the Iranian-made Shaheds, against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure since the first year of the full-scale war. Moscow has intensified the drone attacks in recent months, with air raid alerts sounding daily in major cities like Kyiv.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read also: Russias Iranian Shahed drone strikes on Kyiv, other Ukrainian cities surge

"During the overnight attack, Russia launched a record number of Shahed-type attack drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles of an unknown type from the directions of Orel, Bryans, Kursk, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia," the Air Force's statement read.

Moscow launched more than 2,000 strike drones against Ukraine in October, breaking the previous record set in September by nearly 700, according to Ukraine's General Staff.

Talking to the parliament on Nov. 19, President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had set a goal of developing an effective countermeasure to Shahed-type drone attacks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ukraine was also attacked by four Iskander-M ballistic missiles overnight on Nov. 26, the Air Force said. At least two people were killed and over 40 injured in Russian attacks over the past day.

Read also: We are exhausted  how Ukrainians cope with nightly Russian drone attacks

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Ukraine hit Russia with U.S.-produced ATACMS missiles twice over the last three days and Russia is preparing retaliatory measures, Russia's defence ministry said on Tuesday.

It said both strikes targeted Russian forces' positions in the Kursk region. The first one took place on Nov.23, and two out of five missiles launched at a Russian S-400 air defence system hit the target, damaging its radar system.

In the second attack, on Nov.25, eight missiles were aimed at the Kursk-Vostochny airport, which also hosts a military airbase. One missile reached the target, wounding two soldiers, the ministry said in a statement.

"The ministry... is in control of the situation, and retaliatory measures are being prepared," it said.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Peter Graff)
(Bloomberg) -- Russias seaborne crude exports saw their biggest drop since July, with shipments sliding to a two-month low, as flows to key buyer India fell sharply.

Four-week average volumes declined by about 150,000 barrels a day in the period to Nov. 24, slipping for the fourth time in five weeks, even as weekly exports were up slightly from the previous seven days.

The drop in shipments was concentrated in Russias western ports, where flows in the past two weeks are down by about 25% from their average level last month. In the latest week, a five-day gap in the loading program for Novorossiysk, likely maintenance-related, hit cargoes from the Black Sea.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With the majority of cargoes from export terminals in the west destined for India, the drop in four-week average shipments from the Baltic, Arctic and Black Sea was reflected in a reduced amount of crude heading to the South Asian nation. Initial flows in the period to Nov. 24 were below 1 million barrels a day. Though that will rise as discharge ports become clear, it will still be at least 500,000 barrels a day down on the amount shipped in the four weeks to mid-October.

The overall reduction comes ahead of discussions among OPEC+ oil ministers on Sunday amid expectations that they will delay for a third time their plan to start adding barrels back into the market. Russia pledged to make deeper output cuts in October and November to make up for past over-production and the lower exports may, in part, reflect efforts to meet that promise. Output last month was close to Russias OPEC+ target, according to government data.

Separately, the UK has added two more Russian insurance companies, AlfaStrakhovanie Group Plc and VSK, to its list of sanctioned entities, where they join three fellow insurers. Four of the companies are currently approved by the government of India to provide P&I insurance to vessels calling at the countrys ports. The authorities in London have also added another 30 tankers to a list of vessels sanctioned for carrying Russian oil. Fourteen of them were already sanctioned by either the US or the European Union.

Crude Shipments

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A total of 27 tankers loaded 20.5 million barrels of Russian crude in the week to Nov. 24, vessel-tracking data and port-agent reports show. The volume was up modestly from 19.8 million barrels on 26 ships the previous week.

Daily crude flows in the week to Nov. 24 rose by about 100,000 barrels to 2.93 million. The increase was driven by higher flows from the countrys Arctic ports, while shipments from the Pacific remained unchanged.

Less volatile four-week average flows moved in the opposite direction, dropping by the most since mid-July to average 3.12 million barrels a day, with a decrease of 150,000 from the period to Nov. 17.

Crude shipments so far this year are about 60,000 barrels a day, or 1.7%, below the average for the whole of 2023.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Two cargoes of Kazakhstans KEBCO crude were loaded at Novorossiysk on the Black Sea and one at Ust-Luga on the Baltic during the week.

Russia terminated its export targets at the end of May, opting instead to restrict production, in line with its partners in the OPEC+ oil producers group. The countrys output target is set at 8.978 million barrels a day until the end of December, after a planned easing of some output cuts was delayed for a second time.

Moscow also pledged to make deeper output cuts in October and November this year, then between March and September of 2025, to compensate for pumping above its OPEC+ quota earlier this year.

Export Value

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Kremlins oil income rose with an increase in weekly-average prices for Russias major crude streams adding to the effect of the small uptick in the weekly export volume. Together they pushed the gross value of Moscows exports up by about $75 million to $1.33 billion in the week to Nov. 24.

Export values at Baltic ports were up week-on-week by about $2.30 a barrel. Prices for Black Sea loading Urals rose by about $2.10 a barrel and key Pacific grade ESPO increased by about $0.90, compared with the previous week. Delivered prices in India were up by about $2 a barrel, all according to numbers from Argus Media.

Four-week average income moved in the opposite direction, dropping to about $1.4 billion a week, from $1.47 billion in the period to Nov. 17.

On this basis, the price of Russias shipments from the Baltic in the four weeks to Nov. 24 was down by about $0.10 a barrel from the period to Nov. 17. Prices for key Pacific grade ESPO were lower by about $0.20 a barrel. In contrast, prices for Black Sea shipments rose marginally, as did the delivered price for shipments to India.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Flows by Destination

Observed shipments to Russias Asian customers, including those showing no final destination, fell to 2.76 million barrels a day in the four weeks to Nov. 24.

About 1.43 million barrels a day of crude were loaded onto tankers heading to China. The Asian nations seaborne imports are boosted by about 800,000 barrels a day of crude delivered from Russia by pipeline, either directly, or via Kazakhstan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Flows on ships signaling destinations in India averaged 960,000 barrels a day, down from a revised 1.29 million for the period to Nov. 17 and 1.39 million in the four weeks to Nov. 10.

The Indian figures, in particular, are likely to rise as the discharge ports become clear for vessels that are not currently showing final destinations. Most of those heading from Russias western ports through the Suez Canal end up in the south Asian nation.

The equivalent of about 270,000 barrels a day was on vessels signaling Port Said or Suez in Egypt. Those show up as Unknown Asia until a final destination becomes apparent.

The Other Unknown volumes, running at about 100,000 barrels a day in the four weeks to Nov. 24, are those on tankers showing no clear destination. Most originate from Russias western ports and go on to transit the Suez Canal, but some could end up in Turkey. Others may be moved from one vessel to another.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Greek naval exercises that have been running since May and have forced ship-to-ship cargo transfers out of the Laconian Gulf and nearby waters, were extended for a sixth time and will now continue until mid-March. Russia has found a new location close to Greek shores to carry out cargo switches, though this has so far been limited to refined products.

Russias seaborne crude exports to European countries have ceased, with flows to Bulgaria halted at the end of last year. Moscow also lost about 500,000 barrels a day of pipeline exports to Poland and Germany at the start of 2023, when those countries stopped purchases.

Turkey is now the only short-haul market for shipments from Russias western ports. Flows in the 28 days to Nov. 24 rebounded to about 370,000 barrels a day, equaling the three-month high theyd set in the period to Nov. 10.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

NOTES

This story forms part of a weekly series tracking shipments of crude from Russian export terminals and the gross value of those flows. The next update will be on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

All figures exclude cargoes identified as Kazakhstans KEBCO grade. Those are shipments made by KazTransoil JSC that transit Russia for export through Novorossiysk and Ust-Luga and are not subject to European Union sanctions or a price cap. The Kazakh barrels are blended with crude of Russian origin to create a uniform export stream. Since Russias invasion of Ukraine, Kazakhstan has rebranded its cargoes to distinguish them from those shipped by Russian companies.

Vessel-tracking data are cross-checked against port agent reports as well as flows and ship movements reported by other information providers including Kpler and Vortexa Ltd.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If you are reading this story on the Bloomberg terminal, click for a link to a PDF file of four-week average flows from Russia to key destinations.

--With assistance from Sherry Su.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Russia launched a record-high 188 strike drones into Ukraine on Monday night and Tuesday morning, expanding its long-range campaign against Ukrainian infrastructure to coincide with the onset of winter.

Ukraine's air force said on Telegram that it downed 76 drones. Another 95 were lost in flight -- possibly due to jamming efforts -- and five flew into Belarus.

Russia also fired four Iskander-M ballistic missiles as part of the assault, the air force said. None were shot down.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Unfortunately, critical infrastructure objects have been hit, and private and multi-apartment buildings have been damaged in several regions due to a mass attack by UAVs," the air force wrote.

PHOTO: Explosions are seen in the sky over Kyiv, Ukraine, during a Russian drone strike on Nov. 25, 2024. (Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

MORE: Russia increases Ukraine drone attacks by 44% since Trump election

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram that the strikes caused "damage to our critical infrastructure."

Each Russian drone, Zelenskyy added, "contains 85 foreign components. That's almost 16,000 components without which they wouldn't fly. Such attacks are possible only because the criminal circumvents sanctions, Russia circumvents sanctions through various schemes."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Thanks to everyone in the world who is blocking such supplies, but we need more work together to make the sanctions work and force Russia to stop this war," Zelenskyy added.

Recent weeks have seen a clear intensification of Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukraine, with the scale and regularity of such attacks on the rise. The previous largest attack of 145 drones occurred on Nov. 10.

As in previous winters, Russia is attacking critical energy infrastructure in a bid to deny Ukrainians power and warmth through the coming freezing months. Temperatures in Ukraine have already fallen below freezing and will remain low until early spring.

Monday night's drone attack damaged energy infrastructure in the western city of Ternopil, Serhii Nadal -- the head of the local regional defense body -- said on Telegram.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, reported the downing of at least 40 Ukrainian drones over multiple Russian regions on Monday night. The ministry reported no damage or casualties.

The ministry also on Tuesday claimed that Ukrainian forces launched two separate strikes using the U.S.-made MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System -- known as the ATACMS -- targeting S-400 anti-aircraft systems in Kursk in recent days.

"Retaliatory actions are being prepared," the ministry wrote on its official Telegram channel.

PHOTO: Pedestrians walk past the statue of Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko, covered to protect it from shelling, in a park in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Nov. 26, 2024. (Roman Pilipey/AFP via Getty Images)

ABC News' Patrick Reevell contributed to this report.

Russia sets new drone attack record in overnight Ukraine barrage originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Russia launched 188 drones on the night of 25-26 November, marking a new record number. Air defence forces have downed 76 UAVs, while 95 drones have disappeared from radar due to electronic warfare actions.

Source: Ukraine's Air Force

Quote: "The occupiers attacked Ukraine with Iskander-M ballistic missiles from Voronezh and Kursk oblasts on the night of 25-26 November (from 19:30 on 25 November). The enemy launched a record number of Shahed drones and UAVs of unspecified type from Russias Oryol, Bryansk, Kursk and Primorsko-Akhtarsk during the nighttime attack."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Details: It is reported that the Air Force's air surveillance troops detected and tracked 192 aerial targets:

4 Iskander-M ballistic missiles;

188 Russian UAVs.

As of 09:00, air defence forces had downed 76 Russian drones within Kyiv, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Poltava, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Vinnytsia, Chernivtsi, Ternopil, Rivne, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa and Mykolaiv oblasts.

A total of 95 drones disappeared from radar, likely due to the defence forces active EW measures, while five UAVs flew towards Belarus.

Quote: "Unfortunately, hits to critical infrastructure facilities were recorded. Houses and high-rise residential buildings were also damaged in several oblasts due to the large-scale drone attack. Early reports indicate that there were no casualties.

The information is being updated."

Support UP or become our patron!
Russia has been deploying Tu-160 strategic bombers, which Ukraine transferred to Moscow in 1999 in exchange for clearing debts for Russian gas supplies.

Source: investigation by Schemes, an investigative journalism project of Radio.Liberty

Details: Journalists compared the serial numbers from an archived agreement, international aviation registers and serial numbers of bombers used by Russia, as documented by Ukraines Defence Intelligence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Schemes identified ten Ukrainian strategic aircraft transferred to Russia, including Tu-160 bombers renamed in Russia as Nikolai Kuznetsov (formerly with the Ukrainian tail number 10), Vasily Senko (11), Aleksandr Novikov (12), Vladimir Sudets (15), Aleksei Plokhov (16), Andrei Tupolev (18) and Igor Sikorskyi (22).

At least six of these bombers remain operational within Russias armed forces.

The Schemes discovered an agreement in the archives, signed in Yalta, Crimea, in 1999, between Ukraines Cabinet of Ministers, led by Valerii Pustovoitenko and the Russian government under Vladimir Putin. The agreement indicates that Kyiv transferred eight Tu-160 bombers, three Tu-95MS bombers, and 575 Kh-55 cruise missiles to Moscow in exchange for settling Ukraines gas debt of 275 million hryvnias (approximately US$ 6.6 million), the estimated value of the equipment.

The journalists note that the transfer of the aircraft and missiles occurred without parliamentary approval by Ukraines Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The investigation further highlights that the value of the transferred weaponry was underestimated by a factor of ten, according to conclusions by a Temporary Investigative Commission of the Verkhovna Rada, which investigated the misappropriation of military assets and undermining Ukraines defence capability between 2004 and 2017.

Former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma commented to Schemes that retaining the strategic bombers would not have significantly enhanced Ukraines defence capabilities against Russia.

Quote from Kuchma: "Russia has air defence systems capable of countering Kh-55 class missiles, while the large and relatively slow bombers would have become easy targets for Russian weapons in the air or on airfields in the early days of the war.

Strategic weapons were unlikely to aid Ukraine's strategic objectives and did not align with Ukraines scale. We lacked testing ranges for the missiles and even the territorial expanse required to operate such equipment  strategic weaponry requires strategic space."

Support UP or become our patron!
Sunshine Coast, NEXTDC and Google will partner on developing a new landing point in Australia for the Tabua trans-Pacific subsea cable that will connect the United States and Australia to Fiji.

The partnership to develop the landing point has been desribed by trhe three companies as a major win for connectivity and economic growth and an initiative to further the reach, reliability and resilience of digital connectivity in Australia and the Indo-Pacific. This is predicted to land at NEXTDCs SC1 data centre in Maroochydore, Sunshine Coast, in 2025, the project and will offer enhanced cable connectivity with faster, more resilient internet infrastructure for businesses in previously unconnected markets.

Australia Connect will deliver new subsea cable systems and build on the Pacific Connect initiative.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the initiative was an outstanding win for the region and the benefits extended far beyond just improved connectivity.

Australias entire digital landscape is changing thanks to the vision of the Sunshine Coast community, Mayor Natoli said.

Creating a point of difference by investing in digital infrastructure is helping to develop a thriving, tech-enabled future.

We are excited to partner with Google and NEXTDC on this project, to help improve digital resilience across the country and the new Pacific.

The additional cable complements a range of existing technology capabilities including WIFI 6 and will be strategically located in the 100 per cent uptime Tier III facility owned and operated by NEXTDC.

This project builds on the significant progress being made to establish Maroochydore City Centre as one of Australias fastest growing innovation hubs.

Mayor Natoli said Maroochydore City Centre was an ideal investment destination for both international and Australian-based businesses.

It offers excellent domestic and international connectivity through both the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane airports and premium A-grade offices being delivered as part of Sunshine Coast Councils $2.5 billion agreement with Walker Corporation, Mayor Natoli said.

Maroochydore City Centre also offers a highly skilled workforce in key targeted economies such as the digital economy, world class schooling options, an enviable lifestyle and a Council committed to partnering with businesses to grow the regional economy.

The initiative also cements the Sunshine Coasts position as a prime location for technology-related investments in Australia following Councils multiple Gold awards received from the International Economic Development Council in the United States.

The Tabua subsea cable system will enhance our regions already enviable digital infrastructure, making it even more attractive to international businesses and investors who are already viewing the region with interest.

Mayor Natoli said the system was a welcome addition to the existing Sunshine Coasts International Broadband Network which provides the fastest international connection point from Australias East Coast to Asia.

For the Sunshine Coast to be chosen for this investment is clear evidence that we have a reputation as a leading player in the Asia-Pacific technology environment, she said.

The Tabua subsea cable system will play a crucial role in continuing to shape the Sunshine Coasts future, ensuring the region is a burgeoning investment destination of choice for technological connectivity, advancements and economic prosperity.

NEXTDC Managing Director and CEO Craig Scroggie said NEXTDC was proud to be a longstanding partner with Sunshine Coast Council and Google, collaborating to establish key cable landing facilities within our Sunshine Coast Data Centre and across Australias digital infrastructure.

Were thrilled to expand this strategic partnership with Sunshine Coast Council and Google in support of the Australia Connect initiative, enhancing Australias internet connectivity and delivering faster, more secure and reliable digital services, Scroggie said.

This initiative strengthens the Sunshine Coasts position as a hub for investment and further fortifies Australias digital economy.

Google Cloud Global Network Infrastructure Vice-President Brian Quigley said Google was pleased to collaborate with Sunshine Coast Council to bring a new landing for the Tabua subsea cable in Eastern Australia.

This project will help increase the reliability and resilience of digital connectivity in the Indo-Pacific by improving reliability, adding capacity and reducing latency, Brian Quigley said.
Kyiv law enforcement detained a man who had installed a tripwire with an F-1 grenade in a rented apartment in Kyivs Pecherskyi district in a sabotage attempt against police officers. The resident of Kyiv Oblast, 43, was served a notice of suspicion of committing a terrorist act.

Source: Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office; National Police of Ukraine; Security Service of Ukraine

Details: The investigation revealed that the man, convicted several times, received an offer via Telegram to earn money by completing certain orders.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The first test task was to set fire to a Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) wardrobe in Kyiv Oblast. For this, he received US$100 and a new task  to install an explosive device in a rented apartment. For this, he was promised to be paid US$2,000.

For this purpose, he rented an apartment in Kyivs Pecherskyi district for four days. Following the instructions provided, the suspect manufactured and installed an improvised explosive device in the form of a tripwire with an F-1 grenade, which was to detonate at the right time. The explosion and its aftermath were to be filmed by cameras installed in the apartment.

A surveillance camera hidden in a flowerpot.

Photo: National Police of Ukraine

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After that, an unidentified woman called the police and stated that her boyfriend had beaten her. Two police officers arrived at the scene, and the woman told them over the phone that the door was open and they could come in. No one was in the apartment at that moment.

The opening of the door caused the grenade to detonate, but law enforcement officers managed to run out of the apartment.

The man who had planted the explosive device and the cameras was found and detained.

Under the procedural supervision of the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office, a resident of Kyiv Oblast, 43, was served a notice of suspicion of committing a terrorist act.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The court remanded him in custody without the right to be released on bail.

Background: Ukrainska Pravda wrote about the increasing frequency of sabotage against Ukrainian law enforcement officers, including the use of explosives.

Support UP or become our patron!
Russian attacks against Ukraine injured at least 45 people and killed at least two over the past day, regional authorities reported on Nov. 26.

In Kharkivs Kyivskyi city district, a Russian S-400 missile injured 26 people and damaged more than 40 buildings and five cars, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on his Telegram channel.

In the town of Kupiansk, a Russian drone injured a 66-year-old man after crashing near an educational institution building.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

An air raid alert in Kyiv lasted for seven hours last night while Ukrainian air defenses downed Russian drones over the city. No casualties were reported, the regional military administration said.

During a night attack on Ternopil Oblast, a critical infrastructure facility was damaged, causing blackouts, the regional military administration reported.

One person died, and four were injured as a result of the Russian militarys attack on critical infrastructure and residential areas of Kherson Oblast, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported on his Telegram channel.

One person was killed and another injured in Donetsk Oblast, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported on his Telegram channel.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a 48-year-old woman and a 54-year-old man were injured in Nikopol due to a kamikaze drone strike, Governor Serhii Lysak reported on his Telegram channel. A gas station and a car were also damaged in the attack.

In Odesa, the Russian military struck the center of the city, injuring 11 people and leaving one woman in a serious condition, Governor Oleh Kiper reported on his Telegram channel. 

The missile strike damaged residential buildings, cars, a dentist's clinic, a beauty salon, shops, and cars. Two educational institutionsa school and a university gymwere also damaged.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a 74-year-old man was wounded following a Russian strike, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported on his Telegram channel.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Overnight on Nov. 26, the Russian military attacked Ukraine with four Iskander-M ballistic missiles from the Voronezh and Kursk regions.

During the night attack, Russia also launched 188 Shaheds and other unidentified drones, Ukraines Air Force reported.

Air defense shot down 76 drones over 17 oblasts while 95 drones were lost across the country, and five of them left Ukraines airspace to Belarus, the Air Force said.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones reportedly hit oil depot in Russias Kaluga Oblast

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russia's Defense Ministry admitted on Nov. 26 that Ukraine had targeted Russian S-400 air defense systems and an airfield in embattled Kursk Oblast with U.S.-made long-range ATACMS missiles over the past three days.

The statement is the first public confirmation of the attacks by Russia, following multiple reports of strikes after Washington permitted Ukraine to use its ATACMS missiles to strike against targets on Russian soil.

According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces launched five ATACMS missiles on Nov. 23 near the village of Lotarevka, some 37 km northwest of Kursk, with three of them shot down. The other two missiles hit the positions of an S-400 surface-to-air missile division.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The strike damaged a radar. There are casualties among the personnel," the Defense Ministry said.

Previously, Ukraine's General Staff also claimed that Ukraine had struck a Russian S-400 radar in Kursk Oblast.

Ukraine also fired eight ATACMS missiles on Nov. 25 at the Kursk Vostochny airbase in the town of Khalino in Kursk Oblast, seven of which were allegedly shot down by Russian air defenses, the Russian ministry claimed.

One of the missiles "reached its target," injuring two soldiers and damaging infrastructure, the ministry said.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While OSINT analysts earlier reported the strike against the Russian airbase, the Ukrainian military has not commented on the attack.

Russia's Defense Ministry threatened with "retaliatory actions" to Ukraine's strikes.

Moscow's forces launched a missile attack on the city of Dnipro on Nov. 21, reportedly using a new type of ballistic missile. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the attack a response to Ukraine's strikes on targets inside Russia with Western-supplied missiles.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones reportedly hit oil depot in Russias Kaluga Oblast

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A group of Russian lawmakers submitted a bill that would allow the Taliban Islamist movement to be removed from Russia's list of terrorist organizations, the State Duma's website said on Nov. 25.

This comes as another step toward normalization of relations between Russia and the Taliban since the radical group seized power in Afghanistan following the U.S. withdrawal in 2021.

If approved, the legislation will allow the Taliban to be delisted as a banned terror group if it "stops carrying out activities aimed at promoting, justifying, and supporting terrorism."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill was submitted by seven senators and five Duma members from the ruling United Russia party and the ultranationalist Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR).

Taliban is recognized as a terrorist group by the U.S., Canada, United Arab Emirates, and other countries. Its rule, which is not recognized by the international community, has been accompanied by a harsh crackdown on civil liberties and women's and minority rights.

Russia has maintained contact with the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan without officially recognizing the new authorities. Russia's Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu visited Afghanistan on Nov. 25, saying that the removal of the Taliban from the list of terrorist groups is in its "final stage."

"Let me confirm our readiness to establish a constructive political dialogue between our countries and among the goals would be providing an impulse for the process of a settlement among Afghans," Shoigu reportedly said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We have tried to ensure conditions for a growth in exports of Afghan goods and a growth in foreign investment."

Read also: Russian government proposes to remove Taliban from list of terrorist organizations

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russian forces apparently shot five unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war (POW) in Donetsk Oblast earlier this November, the Prosecutor General's Office said on Nov. 26, launching a war crime investigation.

According to the statement, Russian troops captured five Ukrainian defenders during an assault in the Pokrovsk sector. After forcing them to lay down their weapons and lie down on the ground, they are said to have shot them with automatic weapons.

"An investigation is currently underway to establish all the circumstances of the crime and the persons involved," the prosecutors' statement read.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reports of murders, torture, and ill-treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war are received regularly by Ukrainian authorities and have spiked in recent months. Most cases were recorded in the embattled Donetsk Oblast.

Ukraines Ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, said he had notified the United Nations and the Red Cross regarding the latest case from the Pokrovsk sector.

"I emphasize that the killing of prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and is qualified as a serious international crime," he wrote.

Last week, the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office reported two other Ukrainian POWs killed by Russian troops in the Pokrovsk sector.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Law enforcement officers are investigating 53 criminal proceedings over the executions of 177 Ukrainian soldiers, while 37 proceedings of 109 executions were registered in 2024 alone, the Prosecutor General's Office said on Nov. 22.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russian troops continue to make tactical advances in the west of Donetsk Oblast, moving closer to encircling Velyka Novosilka and threatening Ukrainian supply lines leading to Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: Analysts report that Russian forces continue to achieve significant tactical successes in western Donetsk Oblast, nearing the encirclement of Velyka Novosilka and threatening Ukrainian communication lines. According to geolocation images published on 24 November, units of the 5th Tank Brigade of Russia's Eastern Military District advanced to the eastern outskirts of Velyka Novosilka.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Russian milbloggers claim that Russian forces are also advancing northeast and southeast of this settlement, attempting to force Ukrainian forces to retreat.

Additionally, Russian troops are conducting attacks in the southern direction. Geolocation data indicates that Russian forces have taken positions along Peremoha Street in Kurakhove and have approached Romanivka, northeast of Vuhledar.

Moreover, Russian forces continue efforts to eliminate a small "pocket" east of the O0510 road connecting Kurakhove and Velyka Novosilka (southeast of Kurakhove and northeast of Vuhledar).

Geolocation data shows that Russian forces have taken positions along Peremoha Street in Kurakhove and advanced towards Romanivka, northeast of Vuhledar, reaching Peremoha Street in central Kurakhove.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Several Russian milbloggers reported on 25 November that Russian forces had captured Romanivka (northeast of Vuhledar) and secured new positions in fields near this settlement. While ISW currently lacks confirmation of Russian forces operating within Romanivka, geolocation footage published on 24 November shows two separate mechanised platoon attacks east of Romanivka near Illinka and Antonivka, indicating their advance towards the settlement.

Russian milbloggers note that Russian forces in this area are focused on forcing Ukrainian troops to retreat westward towards Kostiantynopil (northwest of Vuhledar).

Earlier, on 24 November, ISW assessed that Russian military command had several potential courses of action in this sector of the front, and Russian successes on 24-25 November align with two of these: attempts to advance westward from Kurakhove along the N15 road towards the Andriivka-Kostiantynopil line and efforts to bypass Velyka Novosilka, creating a threat to Ukrainian forces in eastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Analysts say that Russian forces have already captured positions along the N15 road east of Kurakhove and are likely to use their new positions along Peremoha Street (which runs south, perpendicular to the N15 road) for further advances westward through Kurakhove and along the N15 towards Dachne and Andriivka (both west of Kurakhove).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The recent advance of Russian troops to Peremoha Street in central Kurakhove suggests they are approximately 15 km east of Andriivka. Both Russian milbloggers and Ukrainian military observer Kostiantyn Mashovets have identified Andriivka as a Russian operational target west of Kurakhove, as its capture would provide Russian forces with a stronger position to envelop the chain of settlements along the O0510 road northwest and northeast of Vuhledar.

Analysts note that Russian forces may continue advancing west along the N15 motorway towards Andriivka while simultaneously attacking the "pocket" northeast of Vuhledar along the Uspenivka-Hannivka-Romanivka line to force Ukrainian troops to retreat westward and avoid encirclement.

Such a manoeuvre could allow Russian forces to gain tactical positions in this area and straighten the line of contact from Sontsivka (northwest of Kurakhove) to Kostiantynopil, positioning troops approximately 23 km east of the border of Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts.

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 23 November:

Russian forces continue to make significant tactical advances in western Donetsk Oblast and are coming closer to enveloping Velyka Novosilka and advancing towards important Ukrainian ground lines of communication (GLOCs) supplying the rest of western Donetsk Oblast and running into eastern Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

Russian advances in western Donetsk Oblast may become operationally significant if the Russian command properly exploits these recent tactical successes, which is not a given. Russian advances in western Donetsk Oblast do not automatically portend the collapse of the Ukrainian frontline.

Ukrainian forces struck a Russian oil depot in Kaluga Oblast and an airbase in Kursk Oblast on the night of 24-25 November.

Ukrainian military officials continue to warn of potential Russian ground operations against the city of Zaporizhzhia, though the timeline and scale of this offensive operation remain unclear due to the operational constraints imposed by ongoing Russian operations in Kursk and Donetsk oblasts.

North Korea is reportedly expanding a key weapons facility likely used to supply Russia with ballistic missiles.

The Kremlin signalled that it would remove the Taliban from its list of prohibited organisations amid intensified Russia-Taliban rapprochement.

Russian forces recently advanced in southwestern Toretsk and south and southeast of Pokrovsk.

Russian command posts are reportedly relying on Chinese-made radios for internal communications because Russia cannot domestically produce enough quality radios for the Russian military.

Support UP or become our patron!
The Russians struck Ternopil on the night of 25-26 November, causing disruptions to the city's power and water supply.

Source: Viacheslav Nehoda, Head of Ternopil Oblast Military Administration; Suspilne Ternopil, a Ternopil-related branch of the Ukrainian public broadcaster

Details: Explosions were heard in Ternopil at 01:00, leading to power outages in the city and nearby settlements.

Quote from Nehoda: "We are working to assess the extent of the damage and address the aftermath."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Details: Correspondents of Suspilne reported hearing another explosion in Ternopil at 01:47.

Background: Russia launched drones to attack Ukraine in the evening of 25 November.

Support UP or become our patron!
The National Communications Authority (NCA) of Ghana is currently engaged in negotiations with relevant stakeholders in fellow West African nation The Gambia to implement free roaming under the umbrella of the ECOWAS Free Roaming Initiative.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is made up of fifteen member countries that are located in the Western African region.

The announced free roaming initiative aims to reduce the cost of telecommunications services for citizens traveling between Ghana and The Gambia, fostering seamless communication and strengthening economic and social ties.

Currently, there is an existing agreement among Ghana, Benin, and Togo under the ECOWAS Free Roaming Regulations.

According to the NCA, Ghanaians traveling to Cote dIvoire, Benin, and Togo now benefit from the following:

- Affordable Rates: Citizens use local rates in these countries for SMS and voice calls, eliminating exorbitant roaming charges.

- Free Call Reception: Receiving both local and international calls is free, as roaming fees for call reception have been abolished.

- Internet at Local Rates: Ghanaians can now access the internet at the same rates as residents in Cote dIvoire, Benin, and Togo.



The ongoing discussions in The Gambia aim to extend these benefits to citizens traveling between Ghana and The Gambia, further promoting regional cooperation and enhancing affordability for all.

A meeting, which commenced on November 19, 2024 and concluded on November 21, 2024, with the signing of a MoU to pave the way for MNOs to start technical and regulatory discussions which will eventually lead to the implementation and launching of ECOWAS Roaming Regulations later in the first half of 2025.

During opening remarks at the meeting, Prof Ezer Osei Yeboah-Boateng, the Deputy Director General (Technical Operations) of the NCA and leader of the Ghana delegation, emphasised that the meeting represented a major step toward regional integration.

He noted Ghanas leadership in promoting regional connectivity, citing existing bilateral roaming agreements with Cote dIvoire, Togo, and Benin.

"This collaboration with The Gambia marks the next phase in extending affordable telecom services across the region," he said.



Prof. Yeboah-Boateng further highlighted that beyond reducing costs, the partnership symbolises a collective resolve to create a West Africa where communication is inclusive, seamless, and fosters economic growth, tourism, and unity.



The Deputy Director General of The Gambia Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), Solo Sima, present at the meeting, said the ECOWAS Free Roaming Initiative would contribute significantly to connecting Africa and creating employment and business opportunities.
Ukrainian law enforcers have uncovered another war crime by the Russians and opened an investigation into the execution of five Ukrainian prisoners of war on the Pokrovsk front in Donetsk Oblast.

Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office; Ukraines Prosecutor Generals Office

Details: Early reports indicate that in November 2024, the Russians attacked Ukrainian defence forces near the village of Petrivka on the Pokrovsk front. During the assault, five Ukrainian soldiers were forced to retreat and sought shelter in a house.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After surrounding the building, Russian forces captured the Ukrainian defenders, ordered them to leave the shelter unarmed, and lie face down on the ground. In blatant violation of international humanitarian law, the Russians then executed the prisoners using automatic weapons.



Quote: "Investigators are working to determine the full circumstances of the crime and identify those responsible.

The execution of prisoners of war is a severe breach of the Geneva Conventions and constitutes a serious international crime.

The pre-trial investigation is being led by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts."

Support UP or become our patron!
The Russian military leadership has appointed Lieutenant General Alexander Sanchik as acting commander of the Russian Federation's Southern Military District, replacing Gennady Anashkin, who had held the post since May 2024.

Source: Russian media group RBC

Details: A source in the Russian Ministry of Defence claims that the decision was made as part of a planned rotation.

At the same time, Russian so-called milbloggers claimed that Anashkin could have been removed from his post because of the situation on the northern front and his unwillingness to "bring the true state of affairs to the higher command".

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is noted that Sanchik had served as the commander of the 35th Combined Arms Army of the Eastern Military District since 2020, and on 15 May 2024, he attended a meeting with Vladimir Putin as acting commander of the Eastern Military District.

For reference: The Russian army's Southern Military District is leading an offensive on Kurakhove in Donetsk Oblast.

Background: Oleksandr, the press officer for Ukraines 46th Separate Airborne Brigade operating in the city and an interlocutor on the Kurakhove front, reported that the Russian army had come close to Kurakhove in Donetsk Oblast and was even entering the town with military equipment. However, the town is fully under the control of the Ukrainian defence forces, particularly the 46th Separate Airborne Brigade.

Support UP or become our patron!
Russian troops attacked the city of Sumy on 26 November, damaging a service station. Two people have been killed, and another is probably under the rubble.

Source: President Zelenskyy's address on 26 November

Details: The President said that a search and rescue operation is underway in Sumy. Unfortunately, two people were killed, and there is probably another person under the rubble. A house and a kindergarten were also damaged.

Aftermath of the Russian attack on Sumy

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Sumy Oblast

Aftermath of the Russian attack on Sumy

Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Sumy Oblast

Aftermath of the Russian attack on Sumy

Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Sumy Oblast

Quote: "According to early reports, it was an attack from a multiple-launch rocket system. The only way to defend against this is to destroy Russian weapons and Russian launchers on Russian territory. That is why the ability to strike at Russian territory is so important to us. This is the only thing that can limit Russian terror and Russia's ability to fight in general. I am grateful to all our partners who understand this and explain it to others."

Support UP or become our patron!
The advance of Russian forces in Ukraine continues to gain pace, reaching a new weekly and monthly record, the independent Russian outlet Agentstvo reported on Nov. 25, citing its analysis of the DeepState monitoring group's data.

Russia has captured 234.79 square kilometers (90 square miles) in the past week, which is the highest number in 2024, according to the analysis.

Russian forces have taken 600 square kilometers (232 square miles) since the start of November, which is more than in the entire October, setting a new record since early 2022, Agentstvo wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The development comes at a critical moment as Ukraine faces the prospect of decreased U.S. support under Donald Trump's administration. As the president-elect pledged to bring both sides to the negotiating table, battlefield losses are likely to put Ukraine at a weakened position.

The advance is reportedly the fastest near Velyka Novosilka, a village in southern Donetsk Oblast close to the administrative border with Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Ukrainian officials have increasingly raised concerns about a possible new Russian push in Zaporizhzhia Oblast in the south, just as Russian forces continue to advance in the east, focusing their efforts near Pokrovsk and Kurakhove.

According to Agentstvo's analysis of DeepState data, Russia captured around 187 square kilometers (72 square miles) in the south.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Moscow's troops have also reportedly advanced 33 square kilometers (12.7 square miles) near Pokrovsk, a key logistics hub in Donetsk Oblast, 10 square kilometers (3.8 square miles) in the east of Kharkiv Oblast, and 4 square kilometers (1.5 square miles) near Chasiv Yar.

The Kyiv Independent could not immediately verify the claims.

Russia's advance has picked up pace over the past months as Ukraine's military struggles to replenish its ranks, and Western arms were not flowing in as fast as Kyiv would have hoped.

The outgoing Biden administration seeks to speed up materiel deliveries before Trump takes office. Washington has provided Ukraine's forces with new capabilities to stall the Russian advance, such as long-range strikes on Russian territory or anti-personnel mines.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones reportedly hit oil depot in Russias Kaluga Oblast

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A spectre is haunting Europe  the spectre of Russophilia. All eyes in the West are focused on whether the incoming Trump administration will force Ukraine to submit to the Carthaginian peace proposed by Vladimir Putin.

But Ukrainians dont only need to worry about American isolationism. Just as big a concern for Volodymyr Zelensky is the rise of pro-Russian political parties across the European Union, demanding an end to arms supplies to Kyiv and even undermining Nato itself.

Most commentary on the rise of far-Right parties in Europe has focused on reducing immigration, but halting arms to Ukraine is no less of a common denominator. All too often, the peace parties are motivated by the love that dare not speak its name: Russophilia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last Sundays presidential election in Romania was only the latest sign that populist politicians are turning pro-Russian sentiment into votes. Calin Georgescu is a TikTok influencer who likes to pose on horseback or as a martial arts fighter. But he is also an ultra-nationalist who admires Putin, denounces Nato and calls for peace in Ukraine on Russian terms.

In his bid to become Romanian President, Georgescu won the first round, knocking out the pro-Western Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. He now has the momentum to defeat the liberal Elena Lasconi in the run-off.

Strategically, Romania matters: it has a 400-mile border with Ukraine and hosts one of Natos largest air bases. Georgescu gained his upset result with just 23 per cent of the vote; his victory in the second round is not assured. But Romania is not immune to the Russophile politics of its neighbours Serbia and Hungary. Slovakia is also firmly aligned with the pro-Putin peace camp, whose unofficial leader is Viktor Orban, the Hungarian PM.

Austria, too, is tiptoeing away from Ukraine following Septembers general election. Then the pro-Russian Freedom Party (FPO) triumphed over its social democratic and conservative rivals, which have been trying to form a coalition ever since. Last Sunday the FPO captured the state of Styria, which includes Graz, the countrys second city.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As in Romania, the Austrian Russophiles are led by a charismatic, anti-establishment populist: Herbert Kickl. He appeals to Austrians who fear being dragged into war on behalf of Ukraine, but as interior minister he was accused of being the weakest link in Western intelligence.

The Russophile wave sweeping across the nations of Central Europe is also washing over Germany. There the extremes of Left and Right converge in their demands for an end to military aid to Ukraine and a resumption of cheap energy supplies from Russia.

The most striking example of this Faustian pact is at the regional level. Three states in the former East Germany  Saxony, Brandenburg and Thuringia  are struggling to cobble together coalition governments, after big gains by the hard Right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the far-Left Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW).

While the far-Right is still ostracised by the mainstream parties for historical reasons, the Leftist firebrand Sahra Wagenknecht has emerged as the kingmaker in all three states. As the price of her support, she insists that coalition partners sign up to her pro-Russian agenda. Her promise of cheap gas and anti-war rhetoric has proved to be a potent cocktail. Even debates about loosening Germanys fiscally conservative debt brake have been hijacked by Wagenknechts demand to cut off aid to Ukraine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The German states have no control over foreign policy, but the surge in regional Russophilia could prove decisive in next Februarys federal election. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, often seen as Putins useful idiot, is expected to lose office, but his main rival, the Christian Democrat Friedrich Merz, has also been cautious on the war.

A big vote for Sahra Wagenknechts peace party is likely to make a future Chancellor Merz no less reluctant than Scholz to offer Ukraine the whole-hearted support it needs to survive.

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.
Alec Baldwins legal troubles arent over yet.

The prosecutor in the Rust cases has filed a notice of appeal, seeking to overturn a judges decision to throw out his manslaughter charge.

More from Variety

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The one-page filing did not articulate the grounds for the appeal, but prosecutor Kari Morrissey has previously argued that the judge was misled and confused by Baldwins defense team. The filing was submitted to the court last Thursday, and made public Tuesday morning.

Baldwin went on trial in Santa Fe, N.M., in July, on the allegation that he was criminally negligent when he pointed a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and pulled the trigger.

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer threw out the case with prejudice on the third day of the trial, after learning that the prosecution had failed to turn over a cache of bullets to the defense. The judge affirmed her ruling in October, rejecting the prosecutors argument that the bullets were irrelevant to the case.

Baldwins defense is expected to argue that the prosecution has no right to appeal. Marlowe Sommer found that Baldwin was in jeopardy once the trial began, and that therefore the prosecution could not refile the charge.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The next step for the prosecutor would be to file a docketing statement with the Court of Appeals, indicating the questions to be decided. That must be done within 30 days.

Rust premiered last Wednesday at the Camerimage Festival in Torun, Poland, though Baldwin was not in attendance. Director Joel Souza, who was wounded in the shooting, said at the festival that it was important to finish the film to pay tribute to Hutchins work.

In an interview with Variety at Torino Film Festival, Baldwin said he doesnt want to see the films final cut, but hopes it gets released so that Hutchins family can benefit from the money made. This is obviously the most difficult thing Ive ever dealt with in my life, he said.

Baldwin is also facing several civil suits in connection with the shooting, including one from Hutchins parents and sister, who did not attend the premiere. Baldwins lawyers have asked that those cases be put on hold pending the resolution of the states appeal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed remains in prison, after being convicted in March of involuntary manslaughter for loading a live bullet in Baldwins gun.

Best of Variety

Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
(FOX40.COM)  A 46-year-old man is behind bars after multiple sexual assault accusations against a child as young as 14 years old, according to the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office.

On Nov. 22, Scott Ervin Bezona, of West Sacramento, was arrested after a sexual assault investigation by the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office. The victim reported that Bezona sexually assaulted her and provided her with controlled substances multiple times between 2020 and 2023, while she was still a minor.

Hummer rams into several patrol cars during pursuit, Northern California police say

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bezona was arrested and booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail and faces several charges including lewd acts on a child aged 14 or 15, oral copulation, unlawful sexual intercourse, and adult furnishing a minor with controlled substances. He is in police custody with no bail and is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
(FOX40.COM)  A Sacramento man is facing charges related to a series of armed postal carrier robberies in July, according to the United States Department of Justice.

The 36-year-old man is facing two counts of armed robbery of a postal carrier and possession of mail keys.

Granite Bay man arrested for alleged involvement in Capitol riot

On July 11 and July 31, the man is alleged to have threatened the carrier with a pistol and ordered them to hand over the postal keys.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With keys in hands, the alleged robber then left on a bike.

If the man is convicted he will face up to 25 years in prison for each robbery and 10 years in prison for each count of possession of a mail key.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A San Francisco jury convicted a man of sexually assaulting two women after strangling them.

Sergio Barillas Perez, 32, was convicted of rape by force, assault, false imprisonment, attempted rape, and criminal threats. The convictions stem from two separate incidents.

According prosecutors, on December 11, 2021, Barillas Perez lured a woman into his garage in the Excelsior District where he strangled and raped her. On February 2, 2022, after Barillas Perez followed a woman out of a bar in the Inner Sunset, he strangled her to unconsciousness and attempted to rape her, prosecutors said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I would like to thank the jury for their service on this trial and the survivors for their courage

and resilience, said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. Every day we walk into courtrooms at

the Hall of Justice to ensure that there is justice for victims of sexual violence and brutality.

San Francisco watchdog Ricci Wynne arrested, suspected of pimping

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Katherine Wells.

I stand in awe of the two survivors who courageously shared their terrifying and painful

stories, Wells said. They have not only delivered justice to this predatory sexual offender, but helped ensure the safety of other women in our community. I thank the jury for their careful consideration of the evidence and for validating the survivors experiences.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Barillas Perez remains in custody and he is scheduled to be sentenced on January 16.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
An Upstate South Carolina GOP activist who once ran a special needs students scholarship program and later filed libel lawsuits against fellow Republicans is facing 90 days in jail if he doesnt pay the defendants legal fees.

Jeff Davis, of Greenville County, was ordered to pay nearly $40,000 in attorneys fees for the more than 45 people he sued in 2020 in Newberry County for libel.

A judge in 2022 threw out Davis case against former S.C. GOP Chairman Chad Connelly, GOP communications strategist Dave Wilson, former Exceptional SC board member Tom Persons and others, after it was determine the defendants did not publish any libelous or slanderous statements of Davis or anything false about him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Davis was ordered Monday to pay $39,443 in attorneys fees for the defendants within 10 days. If Davis doesnt, he will be sent to Newberry County Detention Center for 90 days.

Its great someone is holding him accountable for these frivolous lawsuits, Connelly said in a phone call with The State.

Davis did not return a phone call seeking comment.

In a court filing in October, Davis said he has been under going treatment for colon cancer, including surgery in March and chemotherapy. He said additional surgery may take place next year.

Because of the financial costs related to the medical issues, I am currently not able to pay the court ordered legal fees, Davis wrote. I have substantial medical fees which are currently not covered by insurance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Davis has been at odds with Republicans over the states private school scholarship program for children with special needs. The S.C. Department of Revenue investigated Palmetto Kids First, the nonprofit ran by Davis and his wife, Olga Lisinska, after the agency received complaints that the nonprofit pressured parents into donating in exchange for tuition grants.

Lawmakers later made changes that kept the couple from running their nonprofit school choice scholarship program. Since, Davis has filed several lawsuits against the Exceptional Ed scholarship program and its leaders, including Connelly.

Connelly and Wilson are no longer doing work for Exceptional Ed, which is the only organization in the state allowed to collect donations eligible for a special state tax credit that are used to help private school students pay tuition.

Davis in recent years served as chairman of the Greenville County Republican Party. He has led the My SCGOP movement, which advocated against COVID-19 precautions, such as wearing masks or vaccine requirements. In response, local GOP members launched the Fourth District Republican Club for mainstream Republicans in Greenville and Spartanburg counties.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Davis was censured and barred in 2021 from future state GOP meetings, and was kicked out of a state executive committee meeting after clashing with party members, the Greenville News reported.

In 2023, Davis challenged Drew McKissick for the S.C. GOP chairmanship.

McKissick won reelection.
Nenba Village (Photo by Miyuki Takiguchi)

Autumn is one of Japans most beautiful seasons as the landscapes transform into fiery crimson and orange hues.

Recently my family and I headed to Fuji Five Lakes, about a two-hour drive from Yokosuka City looking for the overwhelming fall foliage in its full glory.

Beautiful trees in seasonal colors line the lakes offering nice photo ops. It was cloudy during our visit, so Mt. Fuji wasnt visible. We settled for the views of stunning leaves as we enjoyed a refreshing stroll around the lakes.

A must-visit attraction in the area is Nenba Village, on the west side of Saiko Lake, because it features traditional folk houses and (usually) a great view of Fuji. Inside the folk houses, visitors can check out art galleries, shop local crafts, or grab snacks like ice cream while enjoying a taste of old Japan.

In the evening, the Momiji Kairo, or Autumn Foliage Corridor, and its 400-500 maple trees are illuminated during the fall season through late November.

Although the illumination ends in late November, you can still enjoy autumn foliage in the area until early December, so dont miss the chance to see the unique autumn view that the surrounding areas of Mt. Fuji have to offer!

Nenba Village near Lake Saiko (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi) Lake Saiko (Photo by Miyuki Takiguchi) Lake Yamanakako (Photo by Miyuki Takiguchi) Lake Yamanakako (Photo by Miyuki Takiguchi) Lake Yamanakako (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi) Lake Kawaguchiko (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

Things to know:

The Fuji Five Lakes are in different areas surrounding the foot of Mt. Fuji. The two largest are Yamanakako and Kawaguchiko. The other three are Saiko, Shojiko and Motosuko.

Read more about the area.

Fuji Five Lakes in autumn colors
An Upstate South Carolina GOP activist who once ran a special needs students scholarship program and later filed libel lawsuits against fellow Republicans is facing 90 days in jail if he doesnt pay the defendants legal fees.

Jeff Davis, of Greenville County, was ordered to pay nearly $40,000 in attorneys fees for the more than 45 people he sued in 2020 in Newberry County for libel.

A judge in 2022 threw out Davis case against former S.C. GOP Chairman Chad Connelly, GOP communications strategist Dave Wilson, former Exceptional SC board member Tom Persons and others, after it was determine the defendants did not publish any libelous or slanderous statements of Davis or anything false about him.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Davis was ordered Monday to pay $39,443 in attorneys fees for the defendants within 10 days. If Davis doesnt, he will be sent to the Newberry County Detention Center for 90 days.

Its great someone is holding him accountable for these frivolous lawsuits, Connelly said in a phone call with The State.

Davis in a text message said he plans to appeal the decision.

In a court filing in October, Davis said he has been under going treatment for colon cancer, including surgery in March and chemotherapy. He said additional surgery may take place next year.

Because of the financial costs related to the medical issues, I am currently not able to pay the court ordered legal fees, Davis wrote. I have substantial medical fees which are currently not covered by insurance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Davis has been at odds with Republicans over the states private school scholarship program for children with special needs. The S.C. Department of Revenue investigated Palmetto Kids First, the nonprofit ran by Davis and his wife, Olga Lisinska, after the agency received complaints that the nonprofit pressured parents into donating in exchange for tuition grants.

Lawmakers later made changes that kept the couple from running their nonprofit school choice scholarship program. Since, Davis has filed several lawsuits against the Exceptional Ed scholarship program and its leaders, including Connelly.

Connelly and Wilson are no longer doing work for Exceptional Ed, which is the only organization in the state allowed to collect donations eligible for a special state tax credit that are used to help private school students pay tuition.

Davis in recent years served as chairman of the Greenville County Republican Party. He has led the My SCGOP movement, which advocated against COVID-19 precautions, such as wearing masks or vaccine requirements. In response, local GOP members launched the Fourth District Republican Club for mainstream Republicans in Greenville and Spartanburg counties.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Davis was censured and barred in 2021 from future state GOP meetings, and was kicked out of a state executive committee meeting after clashing with party members, the Greenville News reported.

In 2023, Davis challenged Drew McKissick for the S.C. GOP chairmanship.

McKissick won reelection.
MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  The Johnson County Board of Education discussed transferring the county director of schools on Monday night but ultimately did not make a decision.

Concerns were expressed about the availability of mental health resources in schools.

During the work session, school board member Kimberly Kleine talked about a number of grievances for why she believes Director of Schools Michelle Simcox should not be in her position.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Simcox confirmed at the meeting that three middle school students had died by suicide, one during summer break and two during the school year.

What were doing now with the National Center for Crisis Improvement, I think will be a step forward, Simcox said. Weve been in constant communication with them. Theyre going to be coming up in a few weeks and not only providing training for our employees, our board, local officials but also for parents.

Simcox said mental health counseling has been put into place as well as working with other agencies since the beginning of the school year.

Pamela Mejia, a parent, believes removing Simcox from her position is a personal attack and unnecessary.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You dont tear the roof off of the house when its raining, Mejia said. Weve already been through so much. If she needs to make changes and not so much her, but administration in general, then give them the opportunity to do that. If the changes arent made, then do what needs to be done. But I think Dr. Simcox cares about the  Im sorry, I know Dr. Simcox cares about these children. Ive seen it firsthand.

Emilee Stonecipher, another parent who attended the meeting, said she believes the discussion about transferring the director needed to be better organized.

This is probably the third board meeting weve had about this issue and again, its being put to another one, Stonecipher said. Its all the same. Stepping forward, its hard as a parent to understand where were going to move forward because we do have other issues in this county, especially following the disaster that weve had this year that need to be addressed. This will be resolved one way or the other, and it needs to be moved on.

Simcox said a grant is being written so that a full-time mental health counselor will be available to the entire school system.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Our counselors do a good job, Simcox said. They are trained, but theyre school counselors.

And, again, they do a wonderful job and they have been trained in that area. But a mental health counselor could give more specific, strategies and resources.

Kleine also raised concerns about Telehealth services and the contract for the School System Nurse Practitioner. Additionally, Kleine expressed concerns about the need for clearer bullying policies.

Simcox said current bullying policies are found in students handbooks. Parents have access to that through their Skyward portal. They can also contact the central office to receive a hard copy.

No decisions were made at the work session. Simcox told News Channel 11 that she is unsure if an item about her position will be on the next school boards meeting agenda on Dec. 12. A 15-day notice to the public has to be made before changing the directors contract.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You can watch a full recording of the Johnson Countys BOEs work session and special called meeting from Monday night 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Florida Department of Juvenile Justice HQ in Tallahassee. (Photo by Michael Moline/Florida Phoenix)

This is part one of a two-part series.

Kids in juvenile detention facilities are using state-provided laptops intended for educational use to post on Instagram, screen movies, and view pornography, according to agency disciplinary reports and people who worked in the system.

Theres an overall lack of appropriate supervision for the hundreds of incarcerated youth in 38 residential centers under state oversight and their misbehavior is being underreported, Alyssa Richardson, a behavior analyst who works in facilities housing at the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) youth, told the Phoenix.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Every kid got put on a computer at taxpayer dollars, Richardson said.

The first thing we started noticing  was the use of those computers. We noticed that the kids were watching movies all day, they were on social media, they were talking about social media, they were talking about what they were talking about on social media, she continued.

Since the department launched a new model in July to educate incarcerated students, Richardson said, she has seen unprecedented access to technology but lack of attention to the kids, including to personalized education plans for students with learning disabilities or other needs.

Essentially, if there was no teacher, no computer, or the kids chose to watch a movie or pornography or message their friends all day, thats what theyd do, Richardson said, talking about classrooms without sufficient staffing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When asked about students accessing unauthorized content, program administrators at the Florida Virtual School (FLVS), which oversees the program, said via email, We take this very seriously and are working closely with our partners to ensure a distraction-free learning environment. We investigate all allegations of misuse and have taken  and will continue to take  additional security measures to ensure our network remains secure, but due to the confidential nature of cybersecurity, we cannot disclose any specifics.

Last year the state reorganized education programs for juvenile offenders. SB 7014 created the Florida Scholars Academy, a program administering online instruction to each of the 38 residential centers housing students for the Department of Juvenile Justice.

The academy, operated by Florida Virtual under the direction of Superintendent Julian Cazanas Jr., delivers instruction remotely and in person in classrooms year-round within the facilities. Students may study toward a high school diploma or its equivalent, a college or university degree, or earn industry-recognized credentials of value.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Before the 2023 legislation, residential facilities relied on local school districts to educate incarcerated students. The new program was applauded for bringing uniformity to a system that previously had inconsistent delivery.

Florida Virtual provides accredited K-12 distance learning curricula to public, private, charter, and homeschool families and school districts.

Whats on the computers?

The Phoenix submitted a request to the DJJ for incident reports describing access by incarcerated students to sexually explicit material or social media websites. The request was submitted on Aug. 13. The department complied on Oct. 18, attributing the delay to hurricanes and the need for its legal team to review the documents.

The records captured the first month of the Florida Scholars Academys operation, from July 10 through Aug. 13. A request for the incidents reported between Aug. 13 and October remains unfulfilled.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The documents provided describe students accessing and posting pictures of the inside of the secured facilities to Instagram and watching movies on school-issued laptops. Students were written up for using the laptops to watch pornography and to access unauthorized or explicit websites.

For example, at Deep Creek Youth Academy in St. Johns County, two 14-year-olds, two 15-year-olds, three 16-year-olds, and three 17-year-olds accessed pornographic websites on their school-issued computers, according to a report. FLVS IT [information technology] is investigating the incident and how the breach occurred, the report reads.

A group of students locked administrators out of the online system at the Palm Beach Academy.

It is assumed one of the youths ended up taking this notebook, ripping the page with the password out of it, an incident report filed with DJJ reads. The staff password was then used to access the user account and then the youth changed the password locking out the staff.

Okaloosa Youth Academy, a facility of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, via DJJ.

The records dont reflect the whole picture, said Richardson, who worked in facilities in Kissimmee, Orlando, Ocala, and Okeechobee before and after imposition of the new education model.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Documentation from the facilities that go to DJJ are completely controlled by the facility, Richardson said. If the facility does not want DJJ to see it, DJJ is not going to see it.

In the two months before the Florida Scholars Academy launched, there was one reported incident involving a student in DJJ residential facilities of computer misuse. That student was using a facility computer. In the first month of FSA, there were eight incidents explicitly mentioning school computer use, some involving several students.

Services were very questionable when the [local] districts were in charge, but I think there was some managing, more so, Richardson said. Educators used computers for instruction then, too, she added.

However, I did not hear of kids getting on pornography sites when the [local] school district was in charge, Richardson said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Again, they had more limited access to these computers, as well. They werent just given to them all day. So thats, I think, another difference, she continued.

Even if Florida Virtual is trying to block [unauthorized websites] or do whatever, these kids still have access all day with these laptops with very little supervision and eyes on actually in the room on the computer.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Broad age range

Youth in DJJ facilities can be as young as 10 years old and as old as 21. Exposure to porn while under the states watch is worrisome, said Heather Beaven, CEO of the Florida Endowment Foundation for Floridas Graduates, which has a presence in the DJJ system to help prepare students for the working world.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its not like youre talking about a bunch of 16-year-olds who have already engaged in sex or, you know, have already seen porn or whatever, Beaven said in an interview with the Phoenix. Youre talking about somebodys baby being exposed to this, which is just all kinds of interesting given everything else going on in Florida.

Indeed, Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Florida Legislature, and local school boards have led efforts through laws and policies to remove books and other content they refer to as pornographic. The battle over books has prompted lawsuits, been the focus of political campaigns, and enlivened activists to call into question school librarians judgement.

Human supervision

The program was serving about 1,900 students across Florida at the start of October. Residential juvenile detention facilities are operated by nonprofit and for-profit contractors but subject to state law. Since education was and remains largely separate from the responsibility of the facilities staff themselves, they may not be equipped to oversee classroom operations, as classroom teachers are hired by Florida Virtual.

The 14 months between the bill signing and the first day of classes were not enough to prepare, according to Beaven. She said the department left out important planning, which has led to uncertainty between providers and instructors when it comes to reporting bad behavior and managing classrooms.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the classrooms, Richardson said, it is unclear who is supposed to enforce discipline, even when there is adequate staff.

In minimum security facilities, Richardson said, The floor staff in the room, who are employed by the facilities, from what Ive seen, its a very black and white line  We are floor staff, we dont do school, so if theres nobody here doing school were going to make sure nobody gets hurt to the best we can but were not going to monitor anything else.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

Staffing

When the program launched, FLVS told the Phoenix, it had hired 186 teachers, instructional leaders, paraprofessionals, school counselors and registrars. The expectation was of a 15:1 student-to-teacher ratio and 30:1 student-to-paraprofessional (supporting the teachers) ratio, despite reporting that about 60% of its students have learning disabilities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In October, FLVS reported that it had filled 85% of the positions, mostly teachers and paraprofessionals, or 138 of 163 positions. In August, the school reported having 84% of positions filled.

The school projects it will spend nearly $7 million more than its $23 million budget this year, the difference mostly coming from personnel costs.

FLVS told the Phoenix that in-person instruction happens in all residential facilities. The expectation is that each classroom has an online teacher, in-person teacher, and a classroom assistant, and adjustments are made to ensure proper supervision when vacancies arise.

Kissimmee Youth Academy via DJJ

At Kissimmee Youth Academy, theres six units that each house 16 kids, so you have a scale of that. If you walk into one unit with 16 kids, I would say on average you probably see maybe one to two actually trying and doing something, Richardson said of students working on school assignments. Those would most likely, I would say 90% of the time, be your GED kids, not your school-tracked kids.

GED kids are students pursuing a general educational development certificate, a high school diploma equivalent.

A mother worries

According to Nyitecka Burden, a mother of a 17-year-old who lived in Kissimmee Youth Academy, her sons education would have been better outside the facility.

She described a lack of supervision in her sons classroom such that the boy was emailing me, emailing to other people. They wasnt doing no schoolwork.

Hes been angry for a long time, honestly, because he wasnt learning, he wasnt getting the things that he needed.

 Nyitecka Burden, mother

Burden has focused closely on her sons education while he is in detention, she said, and for the nine months her son was in the facility he didnt receive his individualized education plan accommodations until the final weeks.

He received 3.5 high school course credits during his time at the academy, she said, although he expected to receive between nine and 12.

Hes been angry for a long time, honestly, because he wasnt learning, he wasnt getting the things that he needed, Burden said, adding: They dont have the proper staff there, theyre understaffed.  If it was staff in the classroom, these kids would be doing what they need to do.

Richardson said Burdens son is one of many.

Florida Vitual acknowledged to its board of trustees that it has seen out-of-date and non-existent individualized education plans in the facilities.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Computer supervision

When teachers are not available to supervise computer use, monitoring is meant to be done using filters and content screeners, like at most schools. In fact, its mandated by the DJJ and FLVS contract that there are necessary filters and web-screening applications to mitigate risks associated with accessing inappropriate content for websites that may violate student confidentiality or policies associated with online access for youth.

The school touted its roots when asked to defend its firewalls, saying it is constantly monitoring our systems, but, citing cybersecurity concerns, cannot disclose any specifics.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

Educational malpractice

Beaven said DJJ Secretary Eric Halls eagerness to implement the program resulted in educational malpractice.

Not only do I call [Florida Scholars Academy] a flop, I call it, I mean, to be honest, its educational malpractice is what it is. Because those kids deserve better, Beaven said. Eric [Hall] is the father of those children right now  when you take custody of another persons child, you become their parent, and Eric would not treat his own children like this.

Hall did not respond to a question from the Phoenix about the effects on students who have misused technology in the new program, but the department previously provided a statement regarding the program.

Safeguarding the students in the care of our department is a top priority, DJJ officials said in the written statement to the Phoenix. In the vast majority of cases, students in DJJ programs use school-issued computers responsibly, and we have firewalls in place.

DJJ said it takes immediate action to investigate and ensure both the student and staff involved are held accountable when incidents are passed along to its central reporting center.

We continue to work with our contracted providers and local school districts to enhance protections and confirm they have taken additional security measures to ensure students are unable to access unauthorized internet and social media sites, the statement concludes.

Note: Following publication of this story, the DJJ issued the following statement:

The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice is proud to offer educational opportunities for thousands of students in our care through the Florida Scholars Academy. We are unwavering in our commitment to improving the future of each child and dedicated to providing the best possible education for these students.

By partnering with Florida Virtual School, a statewide public school district, we can collaborate with proven leaders in education while ensuring accountability through our robust oversight and monitoring process. As a new statewide school system, we have invested funds to upgrade outdated infrastructure in our facilities, to enable access to fiber-optic internet. It is important to note that funding from last years budget is available to help offset these expenses.

As we stated previously, in the vast majority of cases, students in DJJ programs use school-issued computers responsibly, and we have firewalls in place. When incidents are reported through our Central Communications Center, we take immediate action to investigate and ensure both the student and staff involved are held accountable. We continue to work with our contracted providers and local school districts to enhance protections and confirm they have taken additional security measures to ensure students are unable to access unauthorized internet and social media sites.

Tomorow: Juvenile Justice education program having trouble figuring out finances.

This report was updated to include that residential facilities can be operated by for-profit contractors.

Let us know what you think...
Polar bears have been facing new survival challenges in recent years. That includes melting ice spurred by record global temperatures and increased exposure to plastic pollution.

In a concerning development, scientists revealed the threatened species' risk of contracting dangerous pathogens is also rising, as the BBC detailed.

What's happening?

A study published in the scientific journal PLOS One compared blood samples of polar bears in the Chukchi Sea from 1987 to 1994 with ones from 2008 to 2017 to unearth clues about the changing climate's impact.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As polar bears contend with melting ice in the Chukchi region between Alaska and Russia, they will have to venture more on land or face starvation. Scientists fear that will expose them to a new range of diseases.

The results confirmed the researchers' fears. The blood samples of the 2008-2017 cohort showed the bears had considerably more exposure to viruses, bacteria, or parasites.

Fortunately, wildlife biologist Karyn Rose of the U.S. Geological Survey told the BBC that "bears are pretty robust to disease."

Rose cautioned, though, that the study demonstrates "things are changing."

Why is polar bears' increased land use concerning?

Polar bears venturing more to the land comes with a number of risks for them, their ecosystem, and humans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This year, Alaska announced the first recorded case of a polar bear dying because of bird flu.

Additionally, wandering polar bears' exposure to dangerous pollutants like plastic could come with health risks, and possibly be linked to more aggressive behavior.

Along those lines, Alaska saw its first fatal polar bear attack in 30 years in January 2023, with a bear fatally mauling a mother and infant son.

While it's unclear if the pathogens uncovered in the study negatively impacted the bears' health, increased exposure to diseases like bird flu conceivably could, and more interactions with humans come with dire consequences.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Polar bears are key predators in the Arctic ecosystem, and if their numbers dwindle, it could upset the natural balance.

What's being done to protect polar bears?

The biggest thing that can be done to protect polar bears is slowing the melting of ice that pushes them further and further inland and fosters exposure to new diseases.

To achieve that, a ton of work by governments, corporations, and individuals needs to be done.

Shifting to clean energy sources like wind and solar that dramatically cut down on the planet-heating pollution created by burning dirty fuels can play a major role.

Holding countries and companies accountable to climate goals and reigning in the warming of the planet will be critical to turning the tide.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, individuals can reduce their reliance on dirty energy by switching to an EV, investing in a heat pump, or installing solar panels.

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.
On Monday, the Seattle Public Schools Superintendent announced that he is withdrawing his preliminary recommendation which puts an end to talks about school closures.

After much deliberation, reflection, and engagement with our community, it is clear there is no longer a pathway for this approach for the 2025-26 school year. I am withdrawing my preliminary recommendation, and we will not pursue school closures and consolidations for the upcoming school year. The Board will vote Tuesday to formally approve this direction, said Dr. Jones.

The decision comes after months of community meetings, objections from parents and back-and-forth with the board.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Although the closure would have saved the district an estimated $5.5 million, the superintendent listened to the community and plans to make ends meet through legislative and levy renewals.

I extend my gratitude to the community for its valuable engagement, feedback, and courageous conversations over the past year. Your voices have underscored our collective commitment to the students in Seattle Public Schools, said Dr. Jones.

This story is developing and will be updated.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is expecting the holiday traffic to ramp up beginning Tuesday ahead of Thanksgiving.

The busiest travel days are expected to be Wednesday and Sunday, said Perry Cooper, spokesperson for The Port of Seattle.

Both days are expected to see around 177,000 people, which is well below the record number of 198,000 travelers set during the summer and the average daily number of travelers during summer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To make matters more complicated, Cooper said checkpoint five is currently closed for construction.

Families are encouraged to arrive at least two hours before their domestic flights and three hours before their international flights.

We rather have you be here early and get through security checkpoints and check-ins of your bags before you got plenty of time left than being stuck in one of those lines and gosh, and say, I got to hustle my way in here, said Cooper.

KIRO 7 News spoke with travelers on Monday who were trying to beat the holiday rush.

Always avoid the rush, if at all possible. It makes life easier for me. It makes life easier for everybody working here. Its better for all the way around, said Jonathan Bidermin, who is traveling to Washington, D.C. for the holiday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I came mainly on a Monday because my sister is off that day and I was hoping there wouldnt be much traffic, said Amy Cannady, who flew from Atlanta to Seattle to visit her family for Thanksgiving.

However, many people, including Bryce Scharf, are not able to leave early and are forced to travel during the peak travel days.

Im a little nervous about it. I already get travel anxiety as it is. Im going to show up extremely early. I want to say close to four hours before my flight leaves, he said. I rather get through TSA, the checkpoint, and then just relax at the gate, get some food, coffee. I dont care if I spend over an hour there.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is expected to have two additional lanes at checkpoints two and three to help with the holiday rush.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The airport is also scheduled to open a new checkpoint near the International Arrivals Terminal during the peak travel days.

Well open that for our peak days to add some additional lanes to get people through security too, said Cooper.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  A second suspect has been arrested in Kentucky for a shooting that happened on Lakeview Drive in Huntsville on November 17.

Huntsville Police said that after an extensive investigation and consultation with the Madison County District Attorneys Office, an additional murder warrant was issued for Erica Lashawn Baker, 31, of Huntsville on Monday.

Judge says Belle Mina quarry can go forward, vacates temporary restraining order

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

HPD said that the shooting left 35-year-old James Grays dead while he was leaving a party in the 3000 block of Lakeview Drive.

Authorities said Grays was pronounced dead on the scene.

Baker was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals in Lexington, Kentucky on Friday, November 22.

Baker is being held in the Lexington-Fayette County Detention Center and is awaiting extradition back to Huntsville.

On Nov. 23, Huntsville police said 34-year-old Kiarah Donque Jones was charged with murder in the shooting. HPD said Jones had also been taken into custody by U.S. Marshals in Lexington, Kentucky just like Baker.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
VERNAL, Utah (ABC4)  The Tooele man who was identified earlier this month as the second suspect in the 1972 murder of 21-year-old army veteran Gregory Dahl Nickell has been arrested, the Uintah County Sheriffs Office said on Tuesday.

Uintah County Deputies issued the arrest warrant for Darrel Eugene Choate, 74, on Nov. 1. Due to medical issues, however, Choate was not taken into custody at that time. Now, 52 years to the day after the murder, Choate is behind bars at the Uintah County Jail.

Choate was charged at the start of November with first-degree felony murder for his alleged role in the death of Nickell, as well as the kidnapping and rape of Nickells date. While the murder case went cold shortly after the 1972 murder, both Choate and his alleged accomplice, Daniel Arthur Bell, were identified with the help of advancements in DNA technology.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bell was first identified in 2022. However, investigators confirmed Bell had died in Yakima, Wash., and his body was cremated in 2019.

BACKGROUND: Tooele man charged with murder in 50-year-old cold case

Now, as the investigation into Nickells murder continues to unfurl, the Uintah County Sheriffs Office is asking for the publics help in gathering any additional information.

We are interested in speaking with anyone who may have known Darrel Eugene Gene Chaote personally, or who may have information related to this case, the Uintah County Sheriffs Office said in a statement. He has criminal and residential history in Uintah, Carbon, and Duchesne Counties, as well as the states of Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At the time of the murder, Choate was 22 years old, about six foot tall with bluish/hazel eyes and brown hair. The Sheriffs Office said throughout his life, Choate has been a horseman, a marksman, a truck driver, a ranch hand, an oil field worker, and a worker in the mining industry.

The Uintah County is hoping to find anyone Choate may have confided in or had conversations with where he shared even the most minor details that could be crucial to the case.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Uintah County Sheriffs Office at 435-781-6700 or email coldcase@uintah.utah.gov. The Sheriffs Office said any information provided will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
An infrared composite image of the two hemispheres of Uranus obtained with Keck Telescope adaptive optics. (NASA JPL)

AUSTIN (KXAN)  The ongoing search for oceans in our solar system is taking us to Uranus. A new computer model, designed by researchers at the University of Texas, could help a future NASA mission locate liquid water on the icy worlds moons.

A new paper, published in Geophysical Research Letters, revealed how the model could use Uranus moons wobble to detect the oceans.

Small wobbles of the worlds moons occur as they orbit the planet. Based on that wobble, the model can determine how much water, ice, and rock are on the moon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The moons of Uranus, like many other moons in our solar system, are icy. Scientists theorize that many of these moons might actually have oceans beneath the surface. Liquid water is a key ingredient to life, experts say.

Aggies plant flag on future of lunar travel at Space Institute groundbreaking

The model was developed by a team at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, a unit with the Jackson School of Geosciences.

Wobble with ya

Uranus moons orbit at the same speed it takes for them to orbit the planet. Earths moon does the same thing.

This means that one side of the 28 moons around the ice giant always faces the surface. According to NASA, all of the planets inner moons are made of half water and half ice. The outer moons are all likely captured asteroids.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, while their orbit appears locked, they wobble back and forth. Scientists believe the greater the wobble, the more water is beneath a moons icy surface.

This August 1989 image provided by NASA shows the planet Neptune photographed by the Voyager 2 spacecraft, processed to enhance the visibility of small features. The International Astronomical Unions Minor Planet Center announced Friday , Feb. 23, 2024, that astronomers have found three previously unknown moons in our solar system  two additional moons circling Neptune and one around Uranus. (NASA via AP)

For instance, a 300-foot wobble results in a 100-mile deep ocean with a 20-mile thick icy shell.

Analyzing a moons wobble to determine the composition of other moons in our solar system, is a technique used to discover an ocean on Saturns moon, Enceladus.

UTIG planetary scientist Doug Hemingway developed the model for UT.

Discovering liquid water oceans inside the moons of Uranus would transform our thinking about the range of possibilities for where life could exist, Hemmingway said in a press release.

Visiting Uranus

NASA is in the planning stages on a mission to visit the icy world and its moons. This model will help with that planning, helping determine which moons a spacecraft will need to visit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gravity holes: How UTs experimental mission uncovered secrets of our planet

A new Uranus mission was listed as one of the highest priority objectives in the Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032, according to NASA.

The only time a mission visited Uranus was Voyager 2. That mission gathered much of what we know about Uranus, including data on its icy moons.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)  U.S. Senator Tim Kaine applauded the unanimous Senate passage of a bill to help combat Alzheimers disease.

The bill, also called the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimers Reauthorization Act, would reauthorize funding from across the country to help combat the disease and to preserve brain health. This follows the original BOLD Act, which was successfully signed into law in 2019.

Alzheimers disease has impacted millions of families, including my own, Kaine said. Im glad the Senate unanimously passed my bipartisan legislation to reauthorize public health initiatives that have improved prevention, treatment, and care for those living with Alzheimers. I urge the President to sign it as soon as possible.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the National Institute of Health, nearly 7 million Americans aged 65 and older are currently living with Alzheimers, with the number expected to almost double by 2060.

The reauthorization of funds over the next five years is anticipated to support the following:

Alzheimers Disease and Related Dementias Public Health Centers of Excellence  To promote effective interventions and educates the public on the disease

Public Health Cooperative Agreements with CDC  To be awarded to State Health Departments to help meet needs in promoting brain health, risk of cognitive decline, improving care and other key public health activities

Data Grants  To improve the analysis and timely reporting of data on Alzheimers, cognitive decline and caregiving

The bill now heads to President Bidens desk to be signed into law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
State Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott is a Democrat from West Des Moines. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Trone Garriott)

A recount in Iowa Senate District 14 shows that incumbent Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-Waukee, has maintained her lead over Republican challenger Mark Hanson.

Dallas County Auditor Julia Helm reported that Trone Garriott came in 29 votes ahead of her opponent as the recount concluded at 20,467 votes to Hansons 20,438.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That is a slight increase from the 24-vote lead Trone Garriott held after the Dallas County absentee and special precinct board met earlier in November. The additional five votes came from five different precincts that had single instances of an undervote, causing specific reporting issues, Helm said.

The recount was conducted by a board consisting of representatives from each campaign, as well as a neutral member who was agreed to by both parties.

Trone Garriott said in a statement that she was grateful to her supporters, volunteers and staff for their efforts during the election and recount process.

This has been a very long election for us, and Im grateful to the Dallas County Auditors office for all of the effort they made to make sure every vote was counted, she said in a video Monday after the recount results were announced. Its exciting to go back and be able to continue to serve my district.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hanson conceded the race late Monday, congratulating his opponent and thanking his supporters and staff for their efforts during the election season and recount process.

A full and thorough recount of Senate District 14 has concluded, and I am confident every vote was counted in the closest election in the state of Iowa. It was a hard fought race, and I have reached out to Senator Trone Garriott to congratulate her on her re-election. I am deeply grateful to my family, friends and the thousands of people in Dallas County who supported me over the past few months. I am also appreciative to Dallas County Auditor Julia Helm, her staff and the recount board for their time and dedication during this important recount process.

As a member of the Dallas County Board of Supervisors, he and other board members will hear the official results report from the recount at the supervisors meeting Tuesday.

Trone Garriotts victory to represent Waukee, Adel, Van Meter and parts of Clive and West Des Moines, was one of the few legislative races up for a recount in Iowa. On Friday, Sen. Nate Boulton, D-Des Moines, conceded his race to Republican Mike Pike in Iowa Senate District 20 after a recount showed his opponent maintained a 44-vote lead.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Another recount, between Rep. Monica Kurth, D-Davenport and Republican Nathan Ramker for House District 98, began Monday, with Kurth leading in the initial count by 45 votes.

The results of the recounts will not affect Statehouse control heading into the 2025 legislative session. Republicans expanded to a supermajority in the Iowa House and held its supermajority in the Senate in the November general election, maintaining the GOPs standing trifecta control alongside Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.

The recount for Iowas 1st Congressional District, brought by Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan in her race against incumbent U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, is also still being conducted. As of Friday, Bohannan remained 800 votes behind Miller-Meeks with nine of the 20 counties in the congressional district completing the recount process.

Mike Marinella, a spokesperson with the National Republican Congressional Committee, the House GOP campaign arm, called for Bohannan to concede in a statement Friday. The organization said that the recount, funded by the state because of the margin of victory, has cost more than $11,000 to conduct.

Christina Bohannan refuses to admit shes a two-time loser because Iowa voters have rejected her extremism once again, Marinella said. Election Denier Bohannan must finally concede and save Iowa taxpayers their hard-earned money from being spent on her phony recount.
What is U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz most thankful for? What is the recipe for U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul's wife Linda's Thanksgiving jambalaya? Which congressman brought $73 million in federal money back to his district?

This Thanksgiving, the American-Statesman asked members of Congress who represent Austin-area residents about their favorite dishes and what they're grateful for, both in the places they represent and in their personal lives. We also asked them for their favorite Thanksgiving recipes, if they wanted to share them.

Here are their responses:

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is most thankful for Republicans' wave of victories in the election and his success in winning the Hispanic vote statewide.

Favorite Thanksgiving dish: Turkey and stuffing

What are you most thankful for that happened in the area you represent in the past year?

The big red wave & especially my winning the Hispanic vote statewide.

What is another thing you're thankful for that happened in your life this year?

My two daughters, who are both teenagers and are becoming amazing young women.

District 10: U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin

U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul and his wife, Linda, meet the Dalai Lama. That meeting and one with Pope Francis were profound and spiritual experiences, McCaul said.

Favorite Thanksgiving dish: My wife Lindas homemade jambalaya!

What are you most thankful for that happened in the area you represent in the past year?

Im very thankful for the success my CHIPS for America Act has brought to my district  especially the Austin area. This year, it has spurred hundreds of millions of dollars in investments in Texas, created thousands of new jobs, and continued to cement Texas leadership in this crucial technology sector. The Lone Star State is truly leading the charge to protect U.S. national security and boost our economy through semiconductor chips!

What is another thing you're thankful for that happened in your life this year?

As Foreign Affairs Committee chairman, I had the privilege of meeting Pope Francis in Rome and the Dalai Lama  along with many Tibetan people  in India, two deeply profound and spiritual experiences. The Dalai Lama and his people have faced so much persecution at the hands of the CCP, yet His Holiness continues to preach peace and forgiveness. I hope to take everything I gleaned from these spiritual leaders and use it to become the best leader  and representative for Texas-10  that I can be.

Recipe: Linda's homemade jambalaya

Ingredients:

2 cups real wild rice; rinsed, cooked in chicken stock, drained.

Sweet and spicy Italian sausage  every palate is different so do this according to your guests.

Onion  I combine purple and sweet onion

Garlic  fresh

Yellow bell pepper, red bell pepper and orange if you want extra color

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Instructions: In a separate pan, saute sausage. Then combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Enjoy!!

District 21: U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Hays County

Favorite Thanksgiving dish: Fried okra, cranberry sauce (canned is best!)

What are you most thankful for that happened in the area you represent in the past year?

Boerne Little League World Series run was special and finally securing a nonstop flight from San Antonio to DCA (Washington, D.C.) for the people of San Antonio.

What is another thing you're thankful for that happened in your life this year?

Getting time with my 89-year-old grandmother who passed away this past spring.

District 31: U.S. Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock

U.S. Rep. John Carter is thankful that all of his kids and grandkids live nearby and he can see them regularly.

Favorite Thanksgiving dish: Turkey and dressing

What are you most thankful for that happened in the area you represent in the past year?

Over $73 million in federal funds came back to Texas 31 in 2024 through my work on the Appropriations Committee. This money helps communities with road improvements, water infrastructure, public safety equipment, higher education opportunities and health care resources. That funding has a direct improvement on the quality of life of my constituents. I'm looking forward to bringing home more wins in the FY2025 bills for Texas' 31st district in the next couple of months.

What is another thing you're thankful for that happened in your life this year?

My wife and I have been blessed to spend 2024 as grandparents to seven! Our seventh grandchild was born in late 2023, and my grandkids bring such an immense joy to my life. With all of my kids and grandkids living nearby, I'm incredibly thankful to see them regularly. The holidays are always a full house, and I couldn't ask for anything better.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Note: U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas; U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin; and U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, did not respond.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Here are Austin-area Congress members' favorite Thanksgiving dishes
We write to express concern regarding reports that the Government of Colombia is considering a subsidies investigation that could lead to countervailing measures on imports of U.S. corn.

Maintaining market access is critical to the interests of American farmers as Colombia consistently ranks among the top five export markets for U.S. corn year over year. In 2023 alone, the U.S. exported over 4 million metric tons of corn to Colombia, equivalent to $1.14 billion in sales.

American farmers cannot afford to lose such a vital export market, especially when access to the top U.S. corn export market, Mexico, is already at risk.

We urge you to raise these concerns with Colombian officials and ensure full alignment under our trade agreement. We appreciate your prompt attention to this issue and stand ready to assist you as needed
Senate prospects appeared dim Monday for a controversial bill that recently passed the House that many civil liberties groups and nonprofits said could be used to retaliate against them for their activities.

In an email to HuffPost on Monday, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said that Schumer is opposed to the provisions to strip accused nonprofits of their tax-exempt status.

Combined with the dwindling time lawmakers have to pass a bill to keep the government open past Dec. 20 and Schumers intent to spend precious Senate floor time on confirming federal judges, the outlook for the bill was already cloudy before the disclosure of Schumers position. As majority leader, Schumer decides what bills get consideration by the full Senate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill passed the House Thursday on a 219-184 vote, with 30 representatives not voting. Only one Republican, libertarian-leaning Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), voted against it, while only 15 Democrats voted in support.

The bill would allow the treasury secretary to more quickly take away the tax-exempt status of groups that have provided support for groups listed by the government as terrorist organizations.

The nonprofit groups would have to be notified of their designation as terrorist-supporting organizations at least 90 days beforehand and would have that time to make changes to prevent being stripped of their exempt status. They could also challenge the exemption with the IRS and in federal court.

Despite those safeguards, many groups spanning the ideological spectrum, from the American Civil Liberties Union to the libertarian Cato Institute, worried they would not be enough to prevent the new authority from being abused.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Critics also found a receptive audience among House Democrats. Fifty-two supported the bill in an initial vote on Nov. 12, many more than the 15 who supported it in the final vote. The prospect of a Donald Trump administration having that new power, after Trump has said publicly he was entitled to take revenge on his political enemies, concerned many Democrats.

The GOP wants to give the new president Orwellian powers to impose a Kafkaesque nightmare on Americas nonprofits, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said in a social media post, adding, What could go wrong with the new administration having the power to designate groups as terrorist-supporting with no judicial determination and no due process?

Republicans said the fears of abuse were unfounded and an overreaction to Trumps election. They also touted the other part of the bill, language that would ease tax penalties assessed on people unable to file their taxes because they are being held hostage abroad.

Congress must act to stop this abuse of our tax code that is funding terrorism around the world. We must act to end the unfair tax treatment of Americans who have already suffered enough  and whose families have suffered enough  from being held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad, said Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said in a statement Thursday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If the bill fails to be passed by both the House and Senate by the time the new Congress is seated in early January, advocates will have to start all over again with a new bill.

However, the bill, or only portions of it, could still be tucked into other legislation that is expected to pass before Congress adjourns, such as a temporary spending bill or a huge defense policy bill.

Related...
Nov. 26 (UPI) -- A new Senate panel report highly critical of "junk fees" used by major airlines to charge passengers has lawmakers ready to question airline executives at a hearing in Washington, D.C., next month.

"Our investigation has exposed new details about airlines exploiting passengers with sky high junk fees," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., chair of the U.S. Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, said Tuesday in a statement.

It discovered American, Delta, United, Frontier and Spirit had raked in an accumulated $12.4 billion in just seating fees alone from 2018 to 2023.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Senate's PSI launched its investigation last year. It sought to extract information from the three major air carriers American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines and the two budget-friendly carriers Frontier and Spirit Airlines.

Blumenthal says the report "pulls back the curtain" on business tactics used by the airlines like dynamic pricing that "burden travelers and boost airline revenue," he added.

"As we head into the Thanksgiving weekend," Connecticut's Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal (seen in June on Capitol Hill) said in part on Tuesday in a statement. "We regret that travelers will be charged millions of dollars in fees that have no basis in cost to the airlines but simply fatten their bottom lines." File Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI

It arrived as roughly 6 million Americans are prepping to travel this Thanksgiving holiday via plane.

The majority report revealed that major U.S. airlines increasingly have used ancillary fees -- more popularly known as "junk" fees -- in order to boost company revenue but which have resulted in higher costs and bad experiences for travelers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the Senate report, Frontier workers have the option earn as much as $10 in commission for each bag a passenger is forced to check at the gate. It says Frontier and Spirit had paid out nearly $26 million to gate agents from 2022 and 2023 to catch passengers allegedly not following bag policies and often forced passengers to pay a bag fee or to miss a flight as a result.

In a statement, Frontier stated the commission structure for its gate agents is "simply designed to incentivize our team members to ensure compliance with bag size requirements so that all customers are treated equally and fairly, including the majority who comply with the rules," CNBC reported.

Spirit, however, claimed the airline is "transparent" about its products and pricing, adding that "our airport policies ensure guests are treated fairly and equally, and we comply with all tax laws and regulations."

The report suggests, among other things, the airlines have been leveraging "advanced technology" and specific customer data to set and constantly adjust prices which varied from customer to customer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Federal law requires a 7.5% tax on what is charged to passengers for air transport, according to the panel, which some carriers had allegedly classified as "optional" in order to skirt a tax on the charge. It's said that Frontier, Spirit, and United may have avoided paying the federal transportation excise tax by labeling some items as "nontaxable."

But Airlines for America -- a trade group that represents the largest of America's air carriers -- pushed back on the Senate report, saying it serves as "just another holiday travel talking point."

"The report demonstrates a clear failure by the subcommittee to understand the value the highly competitive U.S. airline industry brings to customers and employees," the group stated. It argued that the Senate subcommittee failed to "recognize that under the one-size-fits-all pricing scheme that we had before deregulation, only the wealthiest Americans could fly."

The Biden administration took a number of steps over the last four years to successfully eliminate so-called "junk fees" on U.S. consumers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I know that some airline CEOs have expressed hopes that [Trump] administration will be less passenger-friendly and more corporate-friendly than [the Biden] administration," Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said last week.

Meanwhile, top executives at American, Delta, United, Frontier and Spirit will be in the nation's capital to face lawmakers at the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations' hearing on Dec. 4 inside the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The outgoing transportation secretary had previously said the passenger protections put in place by Biden's administration "deservedly enjoy broad public, bipartisan support," Buttigieg added.

Blumenthal's office says the Connecticut Democrat will seek to have them to justify business practices during testimony at a hearing titled: "The Sky's the Limit -- New Revelations About Airline Fees."

"As we head into the Thanksgiving weekend," Blumenthal's statement added, "we regret that travelers will be charged millions of dollars in fees that have no basis in cost to the airlines but simply fatten their bottom lines."
(Bloomberg) -- A US Senate investigative panel blasted airlines for increasingly charging so-called junk fees to help boost their bottom lines, saying the practice has increased costs and complexity for consumers.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations led by Senator Richard Blumenthal said it found airlines use algorithms to set seat fees that can change from one flight or one customer to the next, and that some deploy gate agents to catch passengers not complying with baggage policies, subjecting them to additional fees.

Carriers have made billions of dollars from extra fees over the last several years, the panel led by the Connecticut Democrat found.

This report pulls back the curtain on tactics like dynamic pricing that burden travelers and boost airline revenue, Blumenthal said in a statement Tuesday following a probe the committee started last year.

The panel will hold a hearing Dec. 4, where executives from five airlines  American Airlines Group Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc., United Airlines Holdings Inc., Frontier Group Holdings Inc. and Spirit Airlines Inc.  will respond to lawmakers questions about the trends.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Spirit Airlines has a long history of offering affordable, low-fare flights, which has made travel more accessible for the public, the carrier said in a statement. We are transparent about our products and pricing, our airport policies ensure guests are treated fairly and equally, and we comply with all tax laws and regulations.

The discount airline, which recently filed for bankruptcy protection, said its time to discuss meaningful initiatives that would even the playing field between larger and smaller airlines to benefit all travelers.

Delta said its committed to offering a choice of fare products, and that it has provided the committee with documents and information for its probe for more than a year. Frontier said its a la carte services model has induced other carriers to reduce their fares and introduce new, lower-priced products. United declined to comment. American didnt respond to a request for comment.

The staff report provided recommendations on how Congress might respond, including mandating that the Transportation Department collect and publish revenue from seat fees  the same way it does for bag charges  and requiring airlines to make more upfront disclosures to customers about fees.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Transportation Department published final rules earlier this year on fee disclosure, but the regulation is currently stalled due to a legal challenge from several airlines and industry trade group, Airlines for America.

In a statement, Airlines for America said its deeply disappointed by the report, which it said assumes the industry should revert to a one-size-fits-all pricing model that existed before deregulation and favored only the wealthiest travelers.

This isnt the first time the Senates investigative panel has waded into the aviation space. The subcommittee has has also been probing Boeing Co.s safety culture and digging into whistleblower complaints against the company since a near-catastrophe in January where a door-sized fuselage panel blew off one of its planes mid-flight.

(Updates with airline comments in eighth paragraph.)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A scheduled sentencing for the man who attacked a Las Vegas judge earlier this year was delayed Tuesday.

In January, Deobra Redden, 31, attacked Las Vegas District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus as Holthus was sentencing him to prison in another case, the 8 News Now Investigators first reported.

During his trial for attempted murder in September, Redden pleaded guilty but mentally ill after Holthus and her law clerk testified. Reddens scheduled sentencing on Tuesday will be rescheduled because he was not transported from prison to the court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prosecutors were expected to ask for substantial prison time while Reddens attorneys suggested probation, documents said.

In this image from video provided by the Clark County District Court, Judge Mary Kay Holthus is seen cradling her head after a defendant launched over her desk during his sentencing in a felony battery case, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024 in Las Vegas. (Clark County District Court via AP)

Redden, a three-time felon, was in Holthus courtroom on Jan. 3 for sentencing on a charge of attempted battery with substantial bodily harm. Holthus, who was 62 at the time, was sitting behind the bench, which she described as four feet high, when Redden ran up to her, jumped over the desk and attacked her, video showed. Several other people, including Holthus courtroom marshal and her law clerk, then fought with Redden before throwing him to the ground.

Holthus marshal was also substantially injured and was out of work for several weeks as a large cut to his forehead healed.

Redden appeared in front of Holthus several times before Januarys attack. He was previously in front of Holthus on charges of malicious destruction of property.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Redden pleaded guilty to another charge of attempted battery with substantial bodily harm in November 2023. Holthus later issued a bench warrant for his arrest in December after he missed a court appearance. That hearing, his sentencing, continued on Jan. 3.

Before the attack, Reddens attorney asked Holthus to sentence his client to probation. Holthus then said, I think its time he get a taste of something else. In court Thursday, Holthus said she was concerned about Reddens history of violence and his two previous attempts at mental health court when sentencing him.

While testifying during the trial, Holthus told the judge she was aware Redden was diagnosed with schizophrenia but said she had no concerns about his competency heading into sentencing. She also said she was not aware Redden was not on his medication.

In the minutes after the attack, officers took Redden to a holding cell and then to the Clark County Detention Center, which is connected to the Regional Justice Center via a tunnel. During the transition, Redden allegedly told an officer he had a bad day and was trying to kill Holthus. While at CCDC, Redden allegedly spit in a corrections officers face, police said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Under Nevada law, defense lawyers must prove their client is mentally ill when pleading guilty to the stipulation. The language means a judge could add mental health treatment as part of sentencing.

The sentencing was rescheduled for Dec. 10.

Redden was serving prison time on the attempted battery charge, which Holthus sentenced him to as the initial hearing continued on Jan. 8.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
At least four people have been killed by what is believed to be Ukrainian mortar fire in the Russian-occupied city of Nova Kakhovka in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson.

Another seven people were injured, according to the region's Moscow-appointed governor, Vladimir Saldo, who posted a message on Telegram. He shared a picture of a destroyed minibus.

The Ukrainian prosecutor's office for the Kherson region has in turn launched an investigation into "enemy shelling of occupied Nova Kakhovka."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the office, the bus was shot at by the Russian army at a bus stop.

Nova Kakhovka is located on the Russian-controlled southern bank of the lower reaches of the Dnipro River, which forms a de facto front line in the war.

The city became known because of the blowing up of the nearby Dnipro dam in the summer of 2023, allegedly by Russian troops.

Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion for more than two and a half years.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (DC News Now)  Virginia State Police (VSP) said one person was flown to the hospital and several others were injured after a car crashed and burst into flames during a police chase in Alexandria.

Around 11:20 p.m. on Nov. 25, state troopers were called to assist Alexandria police officers with a traffic stop on a Hyundai Elantra, reported stolen from Prince Georges County, Maryland.

Officials said as state troopers arrived, the Hyundai refused to stop for Alexandria officers and the chase began along Van Dorn Street.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During the pursuit, VSP said the Hyundai rammed into a state troopers cruiser. The impact caused the trooper to collide with a power pole and wires fell onto the street.

Montgomery County police: FBI special agent arrested for sexual assault allegations

The Hyundai then continued and ran a red light at the intersection of Route 1 (Richmond Highway) and Fort Hunt Road, according to VSP. Thats when the car hit a Chevy Silverado Electric Pickup Truck and a Toyota Corolla.

The Hyundai came to a stop and then went up in flames.

VSP troopers and two Fairfax County police officers pulled the suspects from the Hyundai and began providing aid.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Amtrak trains damaged after fire erupts at maintenance yard in DC

One person in the Hyundai was flown to the hospital for treatment. State police said three others were taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

According to officials, no one in the Toyota was hurt and the driver of the Chevy was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

The trooper who crashed into the pole went to the hospital to be checked for minor injuries after providing first aid. They have since been released.

During the investigation, authorities recovered a stolen gun from a person who was in the Hyundai.

The investigation is ongoing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
New hope for earlier treatment might be on the horizon for people suffering the most severe form of depression.

In a study of patients watching emotionally evocative movies, the responses of people with a form of depression known as melancholia were distinctly different from those of patients with a less severe form of the depression.

This discovery could lead to a diagnosis of melancholia sooner, helping patients get the right treatment quickly to avoid the more invasive interventions that might be required if the diagnosis is delayed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"For basically as long as depression has been recognized as a condition, as far back as the times of the ancient Greeks, it's been noted that there are some people with depression that seem to get a very physical presentation," neuropsychiatrist Philip Mosley of QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Australia told ScienceAlert.

"So they stop eating, they lose the ability to sleep, they seem slowed down as if they're walking through concrete. Their speed of thought reduces markedly, and they are often very sick."

Called melancholia, this sub-type of depression often fails to respond well to psychological treatments. Mosley describes the research as an effort to create a toolbox that allows specialists to diagnose types of depression with a degree of precision that permits a prompt, tailored approach.

Dr Philip Mosley. (QIMR Berghofer)

Melancholia affects around five to 10 percent of all people with depression, and it can often be challenging to diagnose. The later it is diagnosed, the more likely it is the patient may need a stronger treatments such as electroconvulsive therapy or transcranial magnetic stimulation. These treatments are very effective, but also can feel intimidating and invasive.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For early diagnoses, medication can be quite effective, and that is what Mosley and his colleagues are trying to achieve.

Other studies at QIMR Berghofer involve the use of emotional videos to study the responses of people with various neurological and psychological conditions. Since one of the manifestations of melancholic depression is a flat affect, Mosley wanted to investigate whether the condition could be gauged by observing emotional responses, or lack thereof, in depressive patients.

Their study involved 70 patients with depression: 30 with melancholic depression and 40 with non-melancholic depression. These patients were shown two videos, a funny video of a comedian's set carefully edited to remove offensive material (Ricky Gervais' Animals, for the curious), and a short film about a traveling circus called The Butterfly Circus that, Mosley said, is "quite moving" and elicits a lot of brain activity.

The difference in responses observed between melancholic and non-melancholic depression. (Mosley et al., Mol. Psychiatry, 2024)

While the patients watched the videos, their facial and brain activity was recorded, the former with a camera to track every minute muscle twitch during the Gervais set, the latter with the patient in an MRI machine while watching The Butterfly Circus.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The difference between the two patient sets was stark. For the Gervais video, although the patients with non-melancholic depression were still depressed, they did respond with facial expressions and giggles. Meanwhile, the patients with melancholic depression were completely impassive. Mosley describes them like "statues" with "no facial movement at all, no smiling, no chuckling."

Something similar happened in the MRI machine. The brains of patients with non-melancholic depression lit up, particularly in the cerebellum, which is involved with automatic emotional responses.

"With people with melancholic depression," Mosley said, "those emotional regions of the brain  the ones involved in detecting and responding to stimuli with an emotional tone  were just doing their own thing, disconnected, not integrated with the rest of the brain, not involved in processing with other regions of the brain that are relevant in these tasks."

Some of the muscle movements monitored in the study. (Mosley et al., Mol. Psychiatry, 2024)

This clear difference between the two levels of response could be an extremely useful diagnostic tool that can be performed quickly and non-invasively, without needing to wait months to see a psychiatrist. Instead, those precious months could be used obtaining the right treatment for the kind of depression the patient suffers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But this research could have longer term implications. We don't know why some people get depression, and why that depression can occasionally be severe enough to be life-threatening. Learning about the differences between the forms depression can take on a mechanistic level can ultimately help direct the right treatment to everyone who suffers from it.

"In this study, we've shown that melancholia, which has long been considered a separate type of depression right back through literary times and even even the ancient Greeks wrote about it, really does differ in terms of the brain and physical manifestations of depression," Mosley said, "which then leads us to think, well, maybe we should be approaching this in a different way to get people better quicker."

The team's findings have been published in Molecular Psychiatry.

If you think you may have melancholic depression, the best option for diagnosis is still currently a psychiatrist. Please talk to your doctor about seeking an appointment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If this story has raised concerns or you need to talk to someone, please consult this list to find a 24/7 crisis hotline in your country, and reach out for help.

If you wish to participate in the Genetics of Depression study currently underway at QIMR Berghofer in Australia, you can find contact details on its website.

Related News
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  A convicted sex offender, with a lengthy criminal history in at least two states, is headed to federal prison for making child pornography with a ten-year-old girl.

Monday a judge sentenced 38-year-old Thomas Tatar to 30 years behind bars, followed by five years of supervised release.

Update: 14 Sioux Falls homicides mapped in 2024

The Hartford man also faced child pornography charges in Minnehaha County.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That case was dismissed after the federal charges were filed. Tatar has also been convicted of sex crimes in California.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
In the third year of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the sham nature of the civilised world's sanctions is becoming quite obvious.

This is as obvious as the fact that if the sanctions policy of our Western partners were principled, Russia's economy would not have survived three years of war. Especially a war of such intensity involving so many missiles and other means worth billions of dollars. In fact, such economic levers were used to deter Russia's military aggression.

It is also clear that Russia is a petrol station country, and the lion's share of its budget is provided by money from the "black gold". This means that it is oil that ensures Russia's ability to continue its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Russia's military budget for 2024 was about US$112 billion and will be increased in 2025. According to Bloomberg, spending on national defence and internal security will increase by almost a third to US$142 billion.

This disappointing state of affairs for the civilised world is explained by the fact that despite all the restrictions and bans written on paper, millions of tonnes of Russian oil continue to flow directly to the European Union.

According to the Financial Times, in the first year of the full-scale invasion, the EU paid Russia about 140 billion for oil and gas, which is more than the EU provided to Ukraine in aid in two years. About 80 of this 140 billion is for oil.

How is this possible? Watch our new Ukrainska Pravda investigation.

The video is available with English subtitles.
ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  A man described by law enforcement as a serial scammer has been arrested once again.

According to Anderson County Sheriffs Office, Christopher Spear, 45, has been arrested on charges of obtaining property under false pretenses.

The sheriffs office first encountered Spears in May when he and a Deathra Watson allegedly attempted to scam their way into a home they did not buy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Deputies: Couple moved into a home they didnt buy

Last week, detectives said they were notified by Hampton Furniture on Whitehall Road that Spear had an unpaid balance of $3,400 for several pieces of furniture.

According to the sheriffs office, Spear promised to pay for a sectional, armless chairs, an ottoman and a cocktail table as soon as Hampton Furniture delivered it to his home.

As the furniture was being delivered Spears reportedly said he was driving a check to the business, but he never showed up. He reportedly then told employees hed dropped the check off in a drop box, and when one didnt materialize, he claimed it was stolen.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The sheriffs office said employees attempted to collect payment by taking Spears debit card information over the phone, but the payments were declined each time.

Spears was booked into the Anderson County Detention Center

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
Nov. 25While some wake up on Thanksgiving morning to holiday traditions like family turkey trots or squeezing on the couch to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Chris Bohrer follows his usual routine before heading to dinner  a 4 a.m. wakeup call to check on his turkey farm.

"I tell people in November, I generally only work half days  about 4 in the morning 'til 4 in the afternoon," Bohrer said. "It's half of the day."

A flock of turkeys huddled under a barn at Sho Nuf Turkey Farm on Thursday while barn dogs Missy and Buddy barked as they kept watch for predators. Turkeys clucked as they roamed, occasionally pecking at each other or turning their heads in unison with one swift "gobble" as a reaction to a sound or something else in the environment. The toms displayed upright feathers, showing their protection over the hens.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bohrer's been working at the farm for 37 years, taking on a more full-time role after retiring from being a Montgomery County police officer about two years ago. The Fulton farm began raising turkeys in 1938 after Bohrer's wife's grandparents received turkeys as a wedding gift. Now, Bohrer's daughter Izzy, who stood at the front table to help customers, is the fourth generation in the family to work on the farm.

"It's nice to see that they want to do it because they want to work hard. Hopefully, we've taught them a good work ethic that they want to work hard," Bohrer said. "I think it gives you a better appreciation for hard work."

But the fate of the farm appears uncertain as the developers of the Maple Lawn community across the street own the land, Bohrer said. The landowners have been renewing the farm's lease for one year, or sometimes two years at a time. Bohrer said he thinks they'll have a few more years at the farm, adding "I'm not ready to go yet."

The land is a great place for houses to be built, Bohrer said, but he's unsure if the farm will move due to the cost of infrastructure and government regulations that are tough for small farms.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"That'll be the toughest part for me when they start building. I don't care about the houses but not being able to cook a turkey that I've raised or had a hand in raising, that'll be the toughest thing when we stop doing turkeys here," Bohrer said.

Cooking a Sho Nuf turkey traditionally in the oven is Bohrer's preferred method, while other families might grill or deep-fry their bird. Picking up a turkey has become a family tradition for many customers, Bohrer said, with some people traveling from two to three hours away or even as far as South Carolina.

The farm raises 20,000 turkeys each year with sales split about equally among wholesale to grocery stores or markets, bulk retail for companies that provide turkeys as a gift to employees, and retail for individual customers. Bohrer said the farm is slated to have about 3,000 customers lined up the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

What makes the farm unique is that the turkeys are never caged or carted around as they are on other farms, Bohrer said. A few years ago, the farm received a 100% score on an animal welfare audit, "so we feel pretty good about the way we treat the animals," he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While there's always been an appeal for the farm's free-range turkeys, there are newer customers who are "very interested," Bohrer said. Generally, people like to know where their food is coming from, he said, which is what draws them to strawberry fields, Christmas tree farms or pumpkin patches.

"You don't really pick your own here, but you're not going to get much fresher than this," Bohrer said. "Unless you do it yourself."

The days leading up to Thanksgiving are the busiest, but sales continue through New Year's. Then the coolers are turned down to freezing, and frozen turkeys are sold throughout the year, Bohrer said. After visiting the farm on Thanksgiving, Bohrer will fill up on turkey and relax.

"Generally, it takes me to about Sunday after Thanksgiving to really sleep in," Bohrer said. "But I'll be ready to sleep."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Have a news tip? Contact Kiersten Hacker at khacker@baltsun.com or @KierstenHacker on X.



Chris Bohrer and his daughter Izzy discuss the operations inside a turkey barn at Sho Nuf Turkeys on Thursday. (Brian Krista/Staff)



Chris Bohrer and his daughter Izzy inside a turkey barn at Sho Nuf Turkeys on Thursday. (Brian Krista/Staff)



A flock of turkeys gather outside a barn at Sho Nuf Turkeys on Thursday. (Brian Krista/Staff)



Chris Bohrer and his daughter Izzy inside a turkey barn at Sho Nuf Turkeys on Thursday. (Brian Krista/Staff)



A flock of turkeys are seen inside a barn at Sho Nuf Turkeys on Thursday. (Brian Krista/Staff)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement



A flock of turkeys gather outside a barn at Sho Nuf Turkeys on Thursday. (Brian Krista/Staff)



A flock of turkeys gather inside a barn at Sho Nuf Turkeys on Thursday. (Brian Krista/Staff)



A hen, left, and tom turkey are seen inside a barn at Sho Nuf Turkeys on Thursday. (Brian Krista/Staff)



A flock of turkeys gather inside a barn at Sho Nuf Turkeys on Thursday. (Brian Krista/Staff)



A flock of turkeys gather outside a barn at Sho Nuf Turkeys on Thursday. (Brian Krista/Staff)



A flock of turkeys gather inside a barn at Sho Nuf Turkeys on Thursday. (Brian Krista/Staff)



A tom turkey is seen at Sho Nuf Turkeys on Thursday. (Brian Krista/Staff)

1 of 12

Chris Bohrer and his daughter Izzy discuss the operations inside a turkey barn at Sho Nuf Turkeys on Thursday. (Brian Krista/Staff)

Expand
STOKESDALE  The Triads blossoming advanced manufacturing sector is being headlined by supersonic aircraft, electric vehicle and hybrid batteries, high-tech rail cars, commercial ventilation fan, biopharmaceuticals and lithium-ion battery pouches.

And then theres the private-label diapers being made in Stokesdale by Ontex Operations USA, the subsidiary of a Belgian manufacturer of personal hygiene products. Ontex was founded in 1979.

Before you chuckle at the product comparisons, Ontex North America president Paul Wood said consumers have little realization of the complexities involved in producing 600 diapers per minute at the 24/7 facility.

Its so fast you cant visually see the individual diaper being produced, Wood said.

A warehouse filled with diaper boxes can be cleared out in as few as three days, Wood said.

We are 100% focused here on diapers, Wood said, with its adult incontinence products made in Europe.

Since the 250,000-square-foot plant in South Rockingham Corporate Park opened in July 2022, it had grown to supplying retailers in 32 states.

Although Ontex officials declined to identify specific retailers, they acknowledged several of the nations largest Big Box retailers are customers.

Ontexs decision to focus exclusively on private-label diaper production in Stokesdale is part of what Wood calls building trust with retailers with your supply volume, manufacturing quality.

Can we match and exceed the brands? he said, referring to such competitors as include Huggies, Luvs and Pampers.

During a media tour of the facility Wednesday, Wood showcased production lines that operate in a clean environment reminiscent of a biopharmaceutical company.

Its a fascinating, complicated process, Wood said. At first, you think how hard can it be, but there all a different recipe for every (diaper) size.

Its so fine-tuned. Each machine can run up to three sizes, but each has its own nuance, just like a car.

In order to make diapers ranging from size 0 newborns to size 7 (children up to 41 pounds), Wood said the machinery requires tweaks in tension strength, dealing with different materials bamboo or cotton, adhesives, staging.

Wood said the most sizes in demand are 4 through 7, with size 7 also used individuals with special health needs.

Wood said Ontex prides ourselves on being North American made. All of our products are available on wheels. Our products dont need to be put on water to arrive here, we dont have port issues or delays.

The retailer who makes the sourcing decision want a surety in supply. Coming out of COVID, thats more important than innovation.

If we have additional tariffs coming, they want to know if they are protected or not since some retailers are buying diapers from Asia.

Why focus on private labels?

Gustavo Calvo Paz, Ontexs chief executive, said there are several appeals to producing private-label products for both Ontex and its Big Box customers.

One is cost-conscious customers turning to store-branded diapers.

Wood said Big Box retailers want to build out their private-label products because they are only available from them. Most Big Box retailers want their private labels to represent 25%-30% of their total business.

Paz said Ontex had a period recently when it attempted to commercialize its own brand, but the strategy didnt work out. We restarted in 2021 very clearly stating we are a private label manufacturer.

Paz said the biggest hurdle to becoming a successful private-label company is you have to develop a huge amount of trust with the retailer who is putting their brand on your products.

In many instances, private label in the U.S. has been about providing cheap products to the retailers, instead of partnering. Thats why we see a big opportunity for us in the U.S.

We help them bring new-to-market products that perform as well, if not better, than the brands with a lower production cost than those brands, Paz said.

Wood said Ontex has quickly earned the trust of the Big Box retailers in part because of its willingness to collaborate with each retailers requirements through its innovations department.

We give them almost like a menu that they can choose from  the images, the softness, the thickness, pretty much anything out in the market, Wood said.

Its then up to them to market the brand, and we dont have any of that responsibility.

Hiring strategy

Wood said the Stokesdale plant is in the bulls eye of its primary retail customers along the East Coast and Southeast.

Nonwovens production is huge in the Carolinas, and youre looking at roadways, commuting patterns, wage expectations, cost of doing business and a site with room to grow, Wood said.

Ontex projects to approach 300 employees by the end of 2024  about 75% toward its 403 workforce goal that would make it a top-five private employer in Rockingham County.

Available jobs have included auditors, engineers, forklift operators, machine operators and maintenance technicians. Many of the available job positions run on a 12-hour day or night shift on a two-day on, two-day off, three-day on, three-day off pattern.

Ontex accentuates the potential for same-day hiring at its job fairs. Other application options includes Indeed.com and LinkedIn.com and emailing to hr.usa@ontexglobal.com.

Callie Patterson, talent acquisition specialist for Ontex Operations USA, said part of its hiring strategy includes being heavily focused on strengthening our partnerships with local career centers, community colleges and billboard advertisements on streets and highways in Forsyth and Guilford counties.

From a general perspective, we do not have challenges attracting candidates. Since January, our turnover numbers have decreased per quarter.

I strongly believe that is due to a few factors: hiring the right people in leadership roles to guide their team in achieving the same goal; the team has revamped how we conduct our new hire orientations, being more thorough with going over topics, making it more engaging and evolving multiple leaders in departments to participate when their specific topics are covered for the day.

Also, our on-the floor training has improved greatly since January. People cannot succeed in something new or different unless the training they received is strong and memorable.

Wood said the next phases of growth will come primarily from stablishing additional production lines.

Our growth is limited by how fast we can scale this plant up, Wood said. We cant get the lines here fast enough to hit the capacity of what weve already sold.

Weve got to balance between what our sales teams are doing, and we can only produce so much at a time.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  The Christmas holiday is just around the corner and to celebrate, festive markets are popping up all across the city of Rockford.

Rockford City Market is hosting a Merry Market during the downtown Stroll on State event on Saturday, November 30th, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Indoor City Market building, at 116 N. Madison Street. The event will feature two floors of vendors, live music, seasonal drinks, and holiday cheer.

City Market will also host a Vintage Holiday Popup on Saturday, December 7th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring vintage holiday items, live music, holiday cookie decorating, and a second Merry Market at the Indoor City Market building on Friday, December 13th from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Swedish Historical Society will feature the Julmarknad: Swedish Christmas Market at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, at 3300 Rural Street, on Saturday, December 7th, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. There will be Swedish woodworking, textile and embroidery items, Scandinavian clothing, gifts, and more. A pancake breakfast including Swedish pancakes from the Stockholm Inn, will be available for $10.

The Redeemer Church Christmas Market will take place Saturday, December 7th, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 5501 Windsor Road, in Loves Park. Each year, the church partners with Gospel-centered organizations worldwide that provide products based on fair-trade practices, and donates the proceeds to the charity group Compassion International.

The Holiday Hustle Craft Show will occur at Midway Village Museum, at 6799 Guilford Road, on Saturday, December 7th, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Over 40 vendors will present an array of items for sale.

Wolf Hollow Oddities is hosting its annual Krampus Yule Market, based on the legend of the Germanic Anti-Claus. That will take place Saturday, December 7th from 12 p.m to 6 p.m. at 3800 E. State Street Suite 103. Guest vendors will be selling their witchy wares, and You may wish to bring a baby doll to appease the Krampus desire to steal your naughty children, the store says.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Womanspace will host its annual Theres Something About Merry Holiday Artisan Market featuring more than 50 vendors from Rockford and the surrounding areas at its campus, at 3333 Maria Linden Drive. The event will be open on Thursday, December 5th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, December 6th, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, December 7th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, December 8th, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Prairie Street Brewing Co., at 200 Prairie Street, will present a Winter Handmade Market on Sunday, December 8th, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The event will feature local and regional vendors selling crafted and handmade goods, including housewares, art, jewelry, toys, candles, soaps, clothing, and more.

The Norwegian, at 1402 N. Main Street, will host its annual Snomarket on Saturday, December 14th from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. The free event is open to the public and recreates the atmosphere of a Swedish fishing village, with horse-drawn carriage rides, herring toss and molkky games, and Viking stories told around the fire pit.

Did we miss a Christmas market? Email us at webmaster@wtvo.com!

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  This Thanksgiving, the Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission will feed 1,300 people in need in our community.

Officials say that 300 of the meals will be prepared on Thanksgiving Day and will be served on site to guests at the Mission. The remaining 1,000 will be delivered into the community to neighbors in need. Community Renewal assists the Mission in finding families most in need in our community, and meals are boxed together by volunteers from Purpose Church in Bossier City.

How TSA plans to handle busiest Thanksgiving ever

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This past year has been incredibly difficult for many in our cities. Thanks to our great community, no one in need has to go hungry this Thanksgiving, says Pastor Larry Otwell, Executive Director.

This Thanksgiving meal is truly a community effort. Giving BAK Foundation is smoking turkeys for all 1,300 plates and the remainder of the feast is provided thanks to the generosity of our community.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  A man born in Shreveport in 1869 grew up to write the history of black education and the organization of the Baptist faith in Shreveport and across the entire state of Louisiana.

Here is a short biography about William Hicks, A. B., D. D.

William Hicks childhood

William Hicks was born in Shreveport on Apr. 9, 1869, to Square and Jane Hicks. He was an intelligent child and attended school in Shreveport before leaving for New Orleans in 1887, where he enrolled at Leland Universityone of the most prestigious Black schools in that period of Louisiana history.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At Leland, Hicks graduated with honors on May 9, 1893, receiving the Normal and College Preparatory diplomas first, which was the equivalent of todays high school diploma.

Hicks founds a school

Hicks founded the 13th District Normal and Collegiate Institute in Shreveport in 1894, which was the successor to Providence Academy. The 13th District, sometimes spelled out as the Thirteenth District, was an association of Baptists in Shreveport. By 1916, the 13th District Association was the largest and wealthiest organization of African American Baptist churches in Louisiana. As of that year, it owned seven lots on Hamilton Terrace, a 120-acre farm seven miles outside of town, and had more than 9,000 members and 40 pastors in 80 churches. The Shreveport Times estimated in 1916 that 60% of the teachers in the Caddo Parish African American schools were graduates of the Thirteenth District Academy, which was one of the districts ways of giving to the community.

The (Shreveport) Times, Fri., Aug. 25, 1916, pp. 11

Hicks also organized the School Land Saving Association, which secured more than 120 acres of property for the school district.

Marriage and entrance into clergy

William Hicks married Olivia Josephine Madison, a fellow Leland graduate, on Dec. 27, 1897. They had nine children as Elder Hicks became known as one of the most scholarly brethren in his circle.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hicks worked as the Principal of the Thirteenth District Academy, which underwent a series of name changes. He worked at and for the school for nine years and upped enrollment to approximately 300 students. In 1889, the school moved from an old, one-story frame building that leaked when it rained to a nicely painted, reasonably-equipped two-story building valued at $3,000.

Hicks was ordained at Evergreen Baptist Church in Shreveport on Apr. 28, 1899, by Bishops I. A. Carter, J. M. Carter, L. W. Canfield, Robert Taylor, C. S. Shelton, H. R. Flyy, and A. T. Sumpter. He was said to be as meek as a child. He did not dress extravagantly and he wore a constant expression of thoughtfulness. He was also said to have an iron will and nerves of steel.

Hicks went back to Leland for his B.A. degree in 1902 and then accepted the Deanship of the Theological Department at Coleman College in Gibsland, Louisiana. He realized, as the new Dean, that he did not know enough about the Bible, so he returned to Leland again and graduated a third timethis time with a B.D. degree.

Girls dormitory at Coleman College as printed in Hicks history book about Louisiana and American Baptist churches.

Hicks was known as a deep and thoughtful professor and a widely-known preacher. His arguments were described as being convincing and conclusive. He was an accurate thinker, a clear scholar, and a ready speaker, according to W. B. Purvis of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hicks then left for Atlanta, Texas, where he was the pastor for two Sundays a month. He pastored the other two Sundays a month in Junction City, Arkansas, not far from the Louisiana/Arkansas line in Claiborne Parish. Junction City is the only Louisiana town that straddles state lines.

After two years, Hicks left for Meridian, Mississippi, where he began pastoring at El Bethel Baptist Church. He later moved to Uniontown, Alabama.

In May of 1913, he was awarded a D. D. degree at Selma University.

Hicks writing career

William Hicks as he appears in the history book that he wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The National Baptist Publishing Board asked him to write articles for a publication called the National Baptist Sunday-School Teacher and the National Baptist Union-Review. He also wrote for a Bible Teachership in the National Baptist Sunday-School Congress, which was formed from approximately 14,000 Sunday schools.

Dr. Booker T. Washington personally asked Hicks to speak to students at the Phelps Bible Training School at Tuskegee, Alabama.

Booker T. Washington also traveled to Coleman College, where Hicks was once a department head, to speak in 1915.

Hicks later wrote History of Louisiana Negro Baptists and Negro Baptist Beginnings in America and explained, in the book, what it was like for him to research, write, and publish a history of Louisiana Baptists.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I could not tell everything, nor have I tried. I have simply humbly endeavored to answer the questions in part as a denomination: From whence have we come? What have we done? To what have we attained? What are the possibilities before us? Being aware of the fact that we are denominational young, a voluminous history should not be expected. I simply pray that this may serve as a nucleus of Louisiana Baptist history. Other writers more able than I will tell the Baptist story more fully.

Hicks wrote that as early as 1783, Elder George Lisle went from Georgia to Jamaica as the slave of an English officer. At the close of the Revolutionary War and at the death of his master, he was left free. He preached the Gospel here without telling effect and organized the first Baptist Church on the island. One of Lisles contemporaries whose name I cannot obtain was hung for preaching and baptising.'

Hicks wrote that because of Lisles work, by 1887 there were 31,000 members of the Baptist church in Jamaica.

Hicks wrote at least two additional books during his lifetime: Bible Thoughts, With Questions and Answers; and Things Necessary for the Preacher, Deacon and Layman to Know.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is not currently known where or how he died or where he was buried.

Sources:

The (Shreveport) Times, Fri., Aug. 25, 1916, pp. 11

History of Louisiana Negro Baptists and Negro Baptist Beginnings in America by William Hicks, National Baptist Publishing Board, Nashville, Tenn., 1914

Jaclyn Tripp took the lead on this article.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
A Greenfield man who worked professionally as a clown was sentenced a 30-year prison term for killing his infant daughter more than three decades ago.

Circuit Court Judge David Swanson handed down the prison sentence for Ronald Schroeder on Monday, but he may be eligible for parole and mandatory release after serving two-thirds of that time because of the age of the case.

Schroeder, 55, was charged three years ago with first-degree reckless homicide and physical abuse of a child in his infant daughter's Aug. 25, 1991, death.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Catherine Schroeder was just 7 weeks old when she died.

Prosecutors promoted the theory during Schroeder's seven-day trial that Catherine, known by her family and loved ones as "Katie," was violently shaken just moments before her death.

Suspicion fell almost immediately on Schroeder, who worked professionally as Silly the Clown and performed around southeastern Wisconsin for many years, and he was investigated. He also was investigated, but never charged, in the suspected abuse of a girlfriend's son in 1998 and of another daughter in 2005.

A jury convicted Schroeder in Katie's death in October, despite the fact CT scans and other medical evidence once available in the 1990s couldn't be located. Several key witnesses and investigators associated with the case have died.

What is Wisconsin's 'Truth-in-Sentencing' law and how does it factor into this case?

Schroeder was given 20 years for the homicide and 10 years on the child abuse charge. The sentences are to run consecutively.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When the crime occurred played a role into why Schroeder may one day be eligible for parole.

Currently in Wisconsin, judges operate under a system that's known as truth in sentencing." That's where a judge specifies exactly how many years someone will spend in prison, known as initial confinement, and how many years a person will be monitored in the community, known as extended supervision.

It requires all prisoners to serve every day of a sentence ordered by a judge.

The truth-in-sentencing law was approved in 1998 and has been in effect since 2000.

Ronald Schroeder doesn't take responsibility for his daughter's death

At his sentencing, Schroeder maintained his innocence and attempted to draw parallels between his case and that of Jakob Ivy, who faced up to 60 years in the death of his 2-year-old son. In that case, prosecutors dismissed Ivy's case without prejudice after conceding they could not meet their burden of proof.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I don't know what happened to our beloved Katie. But I did not cause her death," Schroeder said.

Swanson, who also was the judge in the Ivy matter, said the cases weren't similar.

The National Center for Shaken Baby Syndrome estimates that between 1,200 and 1,400 children in the United States are injured or killed by abusive head injuries each year.

Schroeder has 1,188 days pf pre-trial credit that he can apply to his sentence. He can appeal the sentence in 20 days.

Schroeder also has an open case in Waukesha County. There, he is accused of three felony counts of child abuse, recklessly causing great harm.

A hearing there is scheduled for Dec. 2.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 'Silly the Clown' heads to prison for killing daughter in 1991
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  Council members are taking another step toward permanently repealing a six-month moratorium on the establishment of new automobile sales locations in the city.

Mondays 3-2 vote sends the ordinance change to a third and final reading at the next city council meeting.

Sioux City officials approve change orders for utilities field office project

Mayor Bob Scott said he wants to hear if there are other plans to consider.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Well as I told, the two council members, if they have a different plan they should at least present it to us and we can look at it and maybe make some changes but if nothing changes, then the moratorium will end, Mayor Scott said.

During the moratorium that ended on November 9th, city staff said that they had identified 26 zoning violations among the citys 67 auto sales dealers.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Sioux Falls Police are optimistic about the case involving the citys latest homicide. Officers responded to a stabbing near 14th Street and South Duluth Avenue Saturday morning, in the central part of the city. Police say the stabbing happened  in the parking lot of a small apartment building shortly before one in the morning on Saturday. As police were rushing to the scene, the victim was being driven to the hospital by friends. But the stab wounds were too severe and 25-year-old Aidan Ray Quick Bear died. Police are waiting for an autopsy and they have recovered some evidence. No arrests have been made however, they do have a person of interest.

A closer look at homicide numbers with SFPD Chief Thum

We spent a lot of time this weekend interviewing witnesses and friends in regards to the incident and I feel like we are in a strong position in regards to this case, said Captain Mike Cowill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Captain Cowill says they are discussing the evidence with prosecutors and are waiting on testing from the state crime lab.

I would expect within the next few days, hopefully, we will be in a position to make an arrest.

Cowell says they are not sure of the relationship between the victim and the person of interest.



This brings the total number of homicides in Sioux Falls for the year to 14, which is a record.

The previous record was 13, some of these can be explained by different types of domestic relations, but there is really no rhyme or reason to the homicides. There is not one common thread that we can say this is why all of these are happening, said Police Spokesman Sam Clemens.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
ST. LOUIS  A federal indictment accuses six people of installing skimming devices on St. Louis-area ATMs to obtain bank account information from customers.

Among those facing federal charges include

Laurentiu Miguel Ivan, 33

Venera Isabelle Dumitru, 28

Mihai Florin Marinescu, 37

Ianus Nita, 52

Mihai Vlaicu, 47

Nelu Nae, 36

Marinescu, Vlaicu and Nae appeared in court Monday and pleaded not guilty.

Ivan and Dumitru pleaded not guilty on August 13. A FOX Files report from June identified both as criminal suspects with reported ties to Romanian organized crime.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nita has not yet been arrested.

Automaker spying on drivers, reporting data to insurance companies

According to a federal indictment, all six are accused in a conspiracy to install skimming devices on bank ATMs to steal customer account data and PINs that they then used, or attempted to use, to defraud financial institutions.

The scheme involved installing skimmers at various locations, using cloned cards to withdraw cash, and retrieving devices from compromised ATMs. Law enforcement intercepted one skimming device from an ATM on May 28, preventing any further efforts at theft and leading to several arrests.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its not uncommon for some skimmers to be hidden inside an ATM or gas pump, so theres no

way for a victim to know. To help protect yourself, review your bank or credit card statements

regularly for unauthorized transactions, said Special Agent in Charge Ashley T. Johnson of the

FBI St. Louis Division. You can also avoid a hidden skimmer by not inserting your card.

Instead, go inside to pay or withdraw money with the merchant or teller.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily News

Ivan, Dumitru, Marinescu are not in the United States legally, while Nita has overstayed his visa, according to court motions seeking to hold them all in jail until trial.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ivan, Dumitru, Marinescu, Nita and Vlaicu all face federal charges of one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of access device fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, while Nae faces one federal charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Sixteen people are missing after a tour boat capsized Monday during a five-day diving expedition and sank off of Egypt's Red Sea coast.

The Sea Story yacht, which was carrying 44 people, sent a distress call at 5:30 a.m. local time, before contact with the 144-foot vessel was lost, according to the governor of Red Sea province. Of the 13 Egyptian crew and 31 tourists on board, 28 were rescued.

The Egyptian Meteorological Authority had forecast rough seas Saturday, including waves up to 13-feet through Monday. The boat departed the port near Marsa Alam on Sunday. Marsa Alam is a popular tourist destination and is surrounded by coral reefs, which draw divers from all over the world.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While a cause for the sinking has not been determined, survivor accounts say a wave hit the boat and caused it to capsize.

The Sea Story was "hit by a wave in the middle of the night, throwing the vessel on its side," according to one of the survivors.

Medics and people wait for possible survivors after a tour boat sank off Marsa Alam, Red Sea Governorate, in Egypt on Monday. Red Sea Governor Major Gen. Amr Hanafi reported they have successfully rescued 28 people after the "Sea Story" sank north of Marsa Alam. Searches are still underway to locate the other 16 passengers. Photo by STR/EPA-EFE

"The situation unfolded rapidly, taking only five to seven minutes, and some passengers were trapped inside cabins, preventing their escape," added Red Sea Governor Major Gen. Amr Hanafi.

Many of the survivors, who were located in the Wadi el-Gemal area, received medical care as the Egyptian Navy and military aircraft continued to search for the missing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Among the passengers on board were two Americans, four British divers, four Egyptian tourists, five Spanish and four Germans, among other nationalities.

The British Foreign Office said they were "providing support to a number of British nationals and their families following an incident in Egypt," according to the BBC.

"A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Egypt said two Chinese citizens "were in good health" after they were rescued.

Finland has confirmed one of their nationals is missing, while authorities say four Egyptians are also unaccounted for.
WASHINGTON, N.C. (WNCT)  Skeletal remains found in Beaufort County have been positively identified as 55-year-old David Batz Aguilar.

The remains were found in February of 2024 in a wooded area. Aguilar was found to had traveled from Guatemala to Washington where he had been living with his sister before his disappearance.

Aguilar was identified through DNA profiling and no foul play is suspected in his death.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT.
A Boeing 737 crash near the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius made international headlines yesterday, November 25, 2024. The cause of the crash is being investigated, but German officials are concerned that "hybrid warfare" was used, according to CNN.



The cargo plane, operated by international shipping company DHL, crashed into a residential neighborhood roughly a half mile short of its intended landing strip at the Vilnius airport. The plane was operated by four crew members. One passed away in the incident, and miraculously, is the only fatality thus far.



The crash was captured by various webcams across the city of Vilnius, but the footage captured by a camera positioned at the summit Liepkalnis, a ski area located near the Vilnius airport, will certainly be used as investigators works to determine a cause of the crash. The video of the crash has been embedded below. Viewer discretion is advised

Video: Boeing 737 Crash, Liepkalnis Webcam, November 25, 2024:

Images have emerged of the shocking scene shortly after the crash. The 737 allegedly crash landed in a residential district before skidding hundreds of meters through a wooded area and slamming into a two-story building. As seen in the footage, the fireball from the crash illuminated the early-morning sky, temporarily blinding the webcam.



The webcam above has been temporarily disabled as crews work to clean up the wreckage.



Lithuania's intelligence agency, the State Security Department, has said it's still too early to determine a cause of the crash. POWDER will continue to update this story as more details are made available.



Our thoughts and condolences are with the friends and family of the deceased.

Related: Colorado, California Expecting 20+ Inches of Snow Before Thanksgiving

Be the first to read breaking ski news with POWDER. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of skiing. From ski resort news to profiles of the worlds best skiers, we are committed to keeping you informed.
(Bloomberg) -- Slovakias ruling coalition now controls only a razor thin majority in parliament, a development that may complicate governance for Prime Minister Robert Fico over the rest of his term.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Voting in parliament on Tuesday showed his coalition has the support of only 76 out of 150 lawmakers after it lost the backing of three deputies. That trio had made their continued cooperation conditional on being represented in the government and adopting proposals to change the planned 2025 budget.

Fico failed to reach an agreement with the three legislators, adding he wont tolerate political blackmail. Earlier this month he said for the first time he may not be able to stay in power through 2027.

If the situation in parliament remains unchanged, the prime minister may decide to reshuffle the government or even resort to a snap election to recalibrate power. The popularity of the ruling parties has started to decline slightly in recent polls and may drop further next year when a consolidation package kicks in.

Fico may not want to govern in these difficult times for the next three years, said Radoslav Stefancik, a political analyst at the University of Economics in Bratislava, the Slovak capital. While his popularity is still somewhat intact, he might see early elections as an opportunity to secure another four years in power.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Still, the administration can rule with a thin support in parliament as no party has signaled it wants to exit the coalition. Future work may be tested in December when lawmakers are expected to vote on next years budget.

I hope we can hold out until 2027, Fico told his party congress earlier this month. But lets also be realistic and prepare for other possible political developments in Slovakia other than regular parliamentary elections.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
The SNP is prepared to approve a Chinese-owned wind turbine factory despite misgivings over national security and unfair competition, Scotlands deputy first minister has suggested.

Kate Forbes indicated that Chinas Mingyang should get the green light for its planned Scottish factory.

Mingyang, a wind turbine manufacturer, is said to be close to reaching a deal with Britains Cerulean Winds to construct potentially hundreds of floating wind turbines in the North Sea.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Mingyang deal has generated widespread criticism partly because China is deemed to be a hostile state and because of the subsidies it gives to energy companies, which allows them to undercut rivals.

Denmarks Vestas, another manufacturer, has separate plans for a factory in Leith, Edinburgh.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Ms Forbes said: I think there is room [for Mingyang and Vestas]  I think if you look at the ambitions right now for the transition, the transformation required in our supply chain needs to be enormous.

Ms Forbes said due diligence and an element of caution would be needed when weighing up its decision, but said that Scotland would work carefully on a case-by-case basis with any inward investor.

Deputy first minister Kate Forbes said Scotland would work carefully on a case-by-case basis with any inward investor - Andy Buchanan/AFP

Earlier this month Conservative MP Nick Timothy asked energy minister Michael Shanks for assurances that he would not allow turbines controlled by hostile states.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr Timothy told the Commons: Chinas largest offshore floating wind turbine company, Mingyang Smart Energy, plans to build its first manufacturing plant outside China, in Scotland.

Mingyang benefits from huge subsidies in China but there are serious questions about energy security and national security.

The Secretary of State says he wants to end reliance on foreign autocrats, but when he was asked about this on the radio this morning, he had no answer. Will the ministers rule out allowing any turbines that might be controlled by hostile states?

Mr Shanks replied: We are encouraging investment in the UK to build the infrastructure that we need in the future.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in London said such deals presented opportunities for both countries.

They said: China and the UK have broad space for cooperation in clean energy. Such cooperation produces substantial benefits, and can support the UK in achieving climate goals.

Chinas modernisation constitutes no threat to any other country, but will bring new opportunities to global growth, including to the UK economy.

The two sides should follow up on the common understanding reached between the two leaders on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, and work together to create a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for cooperation between their enterprises.

Cerulean Winds is planning to build a North Sea Renewables Grid (NSRG), an offshore integrated green power and transmission system powered by floating wind farms.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its customers would be the UKs hundreds of offshore oil and gas installations, which could plug into the NSRG to access clean power and cut the emissions generated by oil and gas extraction.

Such emissions account for about 4pc of all UK greenhouse gas emissions.

Cerulean was offered the lions share of seabed leases in the Crown Estate Scotland Innovation and Targeted Oil & Gas leasing round, which was aimed at encouraging offshore wind projects that will directly reduce emissions from fossil fuel extraction.

The water around many oil and gas installations is too deep for fixed wind turbines, so Cerulean plans to install hundreds of floating wind turbines across three sites, with a capacity of up to six gigawatts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Creating that much capacity would need an estimated 500-plus floating wind turbines to be installed at a predicted cost of about 20bn  making it one of the sectors largest infrastructure investment projects.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
A 22-year-old social media influencer on TikTok with nearly 300,000 followers has been arrested after using fake barcodes to steal from Target and filming herself getting ready before the alleged theft, police say.

The Cape Coral Police Department in Florida responded to a Target branch located at 1890 NE Pine Island Road in Cape Coral last Wednesday regarding a past retail theft that occurred on Oct. 30, according to a statement from the Cape Coral Police Department.

MORE: 22 rescuers recover body of 44-year-old hiker after 'significant fall in icy terrain'

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Loss Prevention at Target stated that on October 30, 2024, an unknown female entered the store and selected items listed for sale, police said. Once at the self-checkout register, the female suspect did not scan the items barcodes, instead scanning a false barcode with cheaper prices.

In total, 16 items of miscellaneous household goods and clothing were stolen with a total retail value of $500.32, which was verified by officers via Targets security cameras.

MORE: Woman dies after being thrown from golf cart near private members-only club

PHOTO: A 22-year-old social media influencer on TikTok with nearly 300,000 followers has been arrested after using fake barcodes to steal from Target and filming herself getting ready before the alleged theft, police say. (Cape Coral Police Department)

MORE: Boy says mother 'ran him over' and left him on side of road before she falsely reported kidnapping: Police

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In an attempt to help identify the suspect through public assistance, the Cape Coral Police Departments Facebook and Instagram accounts posted the females picture, describing her as appearing to be approximately 20-35 years old, had long black hair, and was wearing a tan shirt, tan pants, and glasses.

An anonymous caller who saw the post on social media subsequently contacted the police and gave the possible identification for the suspect as Marlena Velez and informed them of her social media profiles.

MORE: Driver hurt after car plummets from edge of mall parking lot to the street below

Officers then found Marlenas TikTok account, which documents her getting ready on October 30, 2024, in the same outfit and glasses and going to Target, police said. Marlena documents herself picking out items inside the store and placing them in her car after exiting the store. Marlena appears to be a content creator with almost 300,000 followers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Velez has since been arrested and taken to the Lee County Jail and charged with petit theft of less than $750.

The investigation is currently ongoing.

Social media influencer arrested after filming herself getting ready to steal from store using fake barcodes: Police originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 65-year-old man was killed in a crash involving a motorcycle and another vehicle on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 24, Socorro Police said in an update issued on Monday night.

Jose Guillermo Gamero, 65, who was riding the motorcycle, was the man who was killed in the crash, Socorro Police said.

A GoFundMe has been created to help cover funeral expenses. That GoFundMe can be found by clicking here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

UPDATE: Motorcyclist killed in crash in Socorro

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

The crash happened just before 1:45 p.m. Sunday near the intersection of Socorro Road and Lisa Diane.

Socorro Police said that the other vehicle, driven by a 52-year-old woman, was stopped facing south on Lisa Diane Road. The driver then attempted to turn east onto Socorro Road when her vehicle was struck by the motorcycle, police said. No one in the vehicle that struck the motorcycle was injured, Socorro Police said.

Socorro Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has additional information to contact them at (915) 858-9237.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
A man in South Korea has been found guilty of trying to dodge the draft by gaining an exorbitant amount of weight, The Associated Press and The Korea Herald reported. South Korea requires all able bodied men to serve in the countrys military for a minimum of 18 months.

The unidentified man was sentenced on Nov. 26 in Seoul, South Korea, for violating the Military Service Act. The scofflaw was accused of gaining 44 pounds so that he would be made exempt from more difficult military duties. The defendant did so by doubling his daily caloric intake and drinking massive amounts of water before each physical exam. He had the help of a close friend who crafted nutrition and meal plans designed for his friend to gain weight.

Because of his weight, the defendant was only eligible for non-combat military duties which would see him employed with a government agency and largely working remotely from home.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The defendant was sentenced to one year in prison, while his accomplice was sentenced to six months deferred for two years. That means if he commits another crime within those two years, hell be remanded to prison to serve his full six-month sentence. Anyone in South Korea who attempts to "evade their mandatory military service without justifiable cause can be punished by up to three years in prison.

However, the unidentified defendant has since expressed his intention to fulfill his military duty sincerely.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Mom is the sole provider of a family of five and is finding times especially difficult because of a recent diagnosis.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

Mom is 48 years old and provides for her four daughters. Their dad is incarcerated.

Recently, Mom was diagnosed with stage two uterine cancer and just finished a round of chemotherapy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lahaina family of 5 in need of laulima for holiday season

She was on family and medial leave, which was helpful, but that meant a decrease in income, making it hard to keep up with bills.

She went against her doctors recommendation and went back tow work earlier than planned.

All the girls, ages eight, 10, 13 and 16 could use clothes, shoes and slippers, plus bedding and a twin-sized bed. The two older girls would love a little makeup.

Mom could use household items, from laundry and dishwater soap to towels and toiletries. Gift cards would also help a lot.

This family is Samoan and they would love Samoan cultural items.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the spirit of laulima, our many hands working together, we can help this mother as she heals to lessen some stress and worry for her while helping her and her girls have a happy holiday season.

Check out more news from around Hawaii

If you would like to help, visit the Laulima Giving Programs website HERE. Select Adopt A Family and fill out the submission form with the family code H240083-5.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
WASHINGTON  After outperforming Kamala Harris in South Texas on Election Day despite being vastly outspent by Republicans, U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, has a message to his fellow Democrats in Congress. Actually, he has a few of them.

No. 1: Dont tell him how to handle his business, hes going to represent his district the way he knows is best. And No. 2: Clean up your own act.

In a recent interview with The Texas Tribune, the four-term Democratic congressman, with a penchant for going rogue, took a shiv to the Democratic playbook. He said the partys fixation on abortion this cycle was lazy and out of touch with his majority-Catholic district. He urged the party to, in some cases, soften its defenses of transgender rights, even if that means voting against the Democratic base. He said Democrats had insufficiently attacked Republicans on economic issues. And he said the Democrats were plagued with incompetence in gauging the driving issues for voters in districts like his.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Their messaging is off. I also believe their polling is off. Democratic polling has been consistently off beyond the margin of error for the last two or three cycles, Gonzalez said in his Capitol Hill office. Its incompetence, at the end of the day. I think they need to get rid of people.

Gonzalez won his competitive South Texas district  which runs from the Mexican border in Brownsville to Corpus Christi along the Gulf Coast  by less than 3 percentage points this year, fending off Republicans biggest offensive effort in the state. He outperformed Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost to President Donald Trump in every county in his district.

Gonzalez is one of the most conservative Democrats in Congress, at times voting with Republicans on issues related to energy and the border. He caused House Democratic leadership headaches as he pushed back on President Joe Bidens climate and infrastructure agenda before eventually supporting the legislation, citing concerns it would negatively impact his districts energy interests.

Gonzalez said his ability to see the social conservatism of his district and knowing when to break from the national party helped preserve his place in Congress.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I told the entire caucus, dont ever try to whip me again because I know my district better than anybody in this room, Gonzalez said. Having me 97% of the time is better than having my opponent 100% of the time. We need to give that leeway, especially to frontline members. Nobody knows our districts better than us.

Republicans poured millions of dollars into supporting their candidate, former U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores, this cycle, viewing Gonzalezs proclivity for off-color comments  including comparing Latino Trump supporters to Jews for Hitler in March  as a major vulnerability.

The race was among the most expensive U.S. House races in Texas this year. Flores, who previously represented the district for a few months in 2022 after winning a special election, spent over $5.7 million in the race as of mid-October.

Vicente Gonzalez's supporters watch the televised debate live between him and Republican challenger Mayra Flores in Rancho Viejo on Oct. 17, 2024. Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the House Majority PAC, the partys two biggest outside spending groups for House races, spent over $1 million with ads supporting Gonzalez.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Gonzalez has serious issue with the way both groups operated in his district. Neither group responded to requests for comment.

Gonzalez said it was an error to focus so heavily on abortion in a region that is overwhelmingly Catholic. He said the strategy showed congressional Democrats dont know the region and they get lazy about it, leaning on the issue because it was salient in the 2022 midterms. Abortion was a central issue in TV ads aired in his district to help him by national Democrats, which Gonzalez said was out of touch with voters more concerned about the rising cost of living.

The ad was hitting my opponent on abortion in an 80% Catholic community. Somebody needs to get fired for that, Gonzalez said. Whoever was the decision maker to do that in South Texas should be gone, because they clearly don't know the district.

A photograph of Gonzalez, his wife Lorena Saenz, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden is displayed with other memorabilia in his office at the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C. Credit: Shuran Huang for The Texas Tribune

Gonzalez saw some room for abortion to be an effective element to a winning strategy, but he said the messaging should be targeted on digital platforms to young women rather than blasted on television ads. Gonzalez still went after Flores on abortion when the two shared a debate stage in October.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gonzalez said Democrats focused too much on TV ads generally in Texas and should have spent more time door knocking and talking to voters.

Gonzalez also lamented that Democrats dont have a winning strategy to counter anti-trans attacks that Republicans used through the latter part of the cycle. The National Republican Congressional Committee and Sen. Ted Cruzs reelection campaign both poured money into ads attacking Democrats as wanting to use taxpayer money to fund gender transitions for children and to allow boys to play in girls sports. Democrats and LGBTQ+ rights activists denounced the ads as spreading dangerous misinformation about trans youth.

Gonzalez was among the few Democrats to tackle the ads head on, issuing his own counter ad rebuffing the Republicans claims, saying he never supported tax-funded sex changes. He said more Democrats should feel comfortable following his lead, even if it leads to pushback from the progressive base.

I think we need to protect every community in America, Gonzalez said. But there are issues that I don't agree with, like boys and girls bathrooms, or boys competing in girls sports, and I think we should be outspoken about it. I don't think Democrats should have to hide from a message like that.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gonzalez has supported pro-trans legislation in the past, voting in 2021 for the Equality Act, which would protect trans people from discrimination.

Republicans are poised to continue their attacks on transgender rights, emboldened by voter response to their ads nationwide. And Democrats are already being confronted with the issue as the first transgender member of Congress, Rep.-elect Sarah McBride of Delaware, is set to be sworn in in January. Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina introduced a bill that would ban McBride from using the womens bathrooms or locker rooms in the Capitol complex.

When asked if he would vote for Maces bill, Gonzalez said: That's a very, very tough conversation that needs to be had by Democrats. And I think at the end of the day, we got to vote our district and vote what we really believe. And I don't believe that boys should be in girls' bathrooms. He did not specify how he would vote on the bill.

McBride has agreed not to use womens restrooms and stressed she does not want her gender to become a distraction. All members of Congress have private bathrooms. She did not respond to a request for comment on Gonzalezs remarks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gonzalez said Democrats should have invested in attack ads targeting Republican candidates who want to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Title I funding for schools in low-income communities, as Republicans have cast Democrats as supporting measures to defund the police. South Texas Republicans deny they want to cut funding for the programs.

Gonzalez also suggested he was not impressed with Democrat Michelle Vallejo's campaign, who challenged U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz in the 15th Congressional District. She lost both in 2022 and 2024, by double digits despite support from the DCCC and investment from the House Majority PAC. She ran in 2022 on a progressive platform, focusing on reproductive rights and expanding access to health care. She moderated her tune this cycle, but was unable to close or even shrink the gap.

Gonzalez said the district needs a moderate Democrat to win. It's a tough district, especially for somebody who initially campaigned as a progressive. It's kind of hard to turn the clock back, Gonzalez said.

Still, Vallejo made positive strides. She outperformed Harris in her district by seven percentage points. Vallejo declined to comment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gonzalez formerly represented the 15th Congressional District for six years before switching to the 34th district in 2022 following redistricting. Then-DCCC Chair Sean Patrick Maloney preferred Gonzalez, a well-funded incumbent, stay in the more competitive 15th District to give Democrats a better shot at holding onto all of their South Texas seats, Gonzalez said. But Gonzalez defended the move, saying his home was drawn into the new 34th district and he had to prioritize his own race.

Gonzalez is optimistic that Democrats can continue holding on to South Texas despite the heavy investment from Republicans, saying Republicans have a low quality of candidate, including Flores and De La Cruz.

De La Cruz, who outperformed Trump in her district, shot back at Gonzalezs comments in a statement. Its funny hed say that, considering I chased him out of this district and hes underperformed in the last three elections, De La Cruz said. He can focus on pettiness  Ill keep picking up his slack and delivering results for South Texas.

Gonzalez called Flores victory in a 2022 special election a fluke, saying she got elected solely because Republicans poured millions of dollars into a special election that national Democrats did not pay much attention to.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We welcome Vicente Gonzalezs self-delusion as the ground shifts underneath him. Donald Trump romped across South Texas,  said Delanie Bomar, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, House Republicans campaign arm. Its only a matter of time before those same voters toss Gonzalez from office, too.

The Texas Tribune answering reader questions about 2024 elections. To share your question or feedback with us, you can fill out this form.
Press Release

November 26, 2024 ZUBIRI HAILS PH-JAPAN PACT AS GAME-CHANGER FOR DEFENSE, DISASTER RESILIENCE The Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan has received the approval of the Committee on Foreign Relations, chaired by Senator Imee Marcos, upon the motion of Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri. The agreement is set to not only bolster defense and security programs of the country but also revolutionize disaster management collaboration between the two nations. This was the assertion made by Zubiri during the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing on the landmark agreement, where he described the efforts of both nations in formulating the RAA as a "game-changer" for the Philippines. "I thank Senator Imee for her swift action on this agreement, which is truly a game-changer. I am almost certain that this will build up our resilience and foster a partnership that prioritizes peace, stability and the safety of our people," Zubiri, a champion of the RAA, maintained. "Japan has always been a strategic partner, and this agreement deepens that bond significantly," the former Senate President added. The RAA establishes a legal framework to facilitate cooperation between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). This framework allows for joint exercises, disaster response coordination and logistical support, providing both nations with enhanced capabilities to address security challenges and natural disasters. Zubiri highlighted the Philippines' strategic alignment with Japan in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, a critical global trade hub. "The RAA strengthens our shared commitment to uphold freedom of navigation and to counter security threats in this vital area," Zubiri explained. However, Zubiri noted that the agreement extends beyond defense into disaster preparedness - a pressing concern for both countries. "Like the Philippines, Japan is one of the most disaster-prone nations in the world. Their expertise in disaster response, honed over decades, offers valuable lessons for us," Zubiri said. "The deployment of their self-defense forces in disaster management has become a global benchmark, and under this agreement, we can work closely to adapt those practices to our own needs," he further explained. The agreement has roots in years of diplomatic efforts, where Zubiri recalled engaging with former Japanese Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko and former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to push for the agreement's realization. "This agreement has been a long time in the making, forged through consistent dialogue and mutual trust," he said. The Bukidnon senator also underscored the symbolic importance of former Prime Minister Kishida's historic address before the Philippine Congress last year. "That moment signified the commitment of both nations to deepen cooperation. The RAA is a testament to that pledge," Zubiri said. The Senate committee hearing saw Zubiri leading efforts to secure the agreement's approval, with Majority Leader Francis Tolentino backing the motion. The agreement's swift endorsement reflects the legislature's recognition of its strategic importance. "The RAA is truly a lifeline for disaster-prone nations like ours. It reflects our vision for a resilient Philippines that stands shoulder to shoulder with allies in addressing challenges, whether man-made or natural," he stressed. "This is a step toward a stronger Indo-Pacific alliance, ensuring that our region remains a beacon of peace, progress, and cooperation," he added. With committee approval secured, the RAA moves closer to ratification, paving the way for deeper ties between the Philippines and Japan.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Thanksgiving is about food, family and tradition; but choosing the right wine to pair with the meal can often feel daunting.

KHON2.com caught up with Mark Cartland, Sommelier and Wine Director for Island Vintage Wine Bars, who believes selecting wines for the holiday is easier than most people realize.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

Thanksgiving is a time for conviviality. Its about bringing people together, Cartland said. Wines that are food-friendly, those that enhance the flavors of the meal rather than overwhelm them, are ideal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Cartland suggested that wine should never overpower the complex flavors of a Thanksgiving meal which often features turkey, stuffing and an array of sides like sweet potatoes, casseroles, cranberry sauce and desserts.

He advocates for wines that are balanced and not too brash. With such a variety of flavors at the table, youll need wines that are versatile enough to pair with almost anything.

For those looking to start the meal with something celebratory, Cartland has a simple piece of advice:

When in doubt, go with champagne or a good sparkling wine. Champagne, especially, is a great choice because it pairs well with almost everything. You can start with it, enjoy it throughout the meal; and its just an easy, wonderful wine to drink with a festive vibe, he explained.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One of Cartlands top picks for Thanksgiving is the Pierre Peters Champagne Cuvee de Reserve.

This Grand Cru Champagne is made from 100% Chardonnay and offers elegance and minerality with fine bubbles and citrus notes that provide a refreshing start to the meal.

For a slightly different take on sparkling wine, Cartland recommends Champagne Marie Courtin Efflorescence.

Made from Pinot Noir, this extra brut Champagne brings vibrant acidity and subtle red fruit undertones; its perfect for pairing with dishes that include both turkey and cranberry sauce.

For a more adventurous option, Cartland suggests a rose from Sancerre from a region in France famous for its food-friendly wines.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Cuvee La Croix Poignant Rose is made from Pinot Noir and offers crisp acidity, notes of red currants and a hint of minerality typical of the regions terroir.

Rose is a great option because its lighter and adds a touch of brightness, Cartland explained.

He also recommends Beaujolais, especially 2024 Beaujolais Nouveau which is a fresh and fruity wine made to celebrate the harvest.

Beaujolais is the ultimate Thanksgiving wine, Cartland said, its malleable with almost everything on the table, from turkey to stuffing.

If youre looking for something with a bit more structure, Cartland suggests Lagrimas de Bhilar from Rioja, Spain.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Made from the Graciano grape, this medium-bodied red has fresh acidity and herbal notes which makes it an excellent match for the savory richness of roasted turkey and side dishes like mashed potatoes.

Another great choice from Rioja is R. Lopez de Heredia  Vina Tondonia Reserva 2012. This traditional Rioja has complex flavors of leather, dried fruits and spice, thanks to its long aging process.

It has a classic, earthy story thats just perfect for the Thanksgiving table, Cartland added.

For those who prefer white wines, Cartland highlights the Henri Bourgeois Pouilly-Fume from the Loire Valley in France.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Made from Sauvignon Blanc, it offers flinty minerality, citrus zest and vibrant acidity which pairs beautifully with lighter dishes like roasted vegetables or a salad.

Another great option is a Pinot Grigio from Slovenia, Giocato Pinot Grigio. It provides a refreshing acidity and notes of green apple and citrus to make it ideal for those who enjoy a crisper white wine.

No matter what you choose, Cartland encourages you to think about the balance between the wine and the flavors on your plate.

The goal is to enhance the meal and bring out the best in both the food and the wine, he said.

Here are the details for the wines Cartland suggests that will elevate your meal to heights of sophistication and satisfaction.

Lindquist Family Wines  Syrah (Central Coast)

Producer : Lindquist Family Wines.

Region : Central Coast, California, U.S.A.

Varietal : Syrah. This wine is likely a bold and flavorful red, typical of Syrah, with dark fruit flavors like blackberry, hints of pepper, and earthy undertones.

Vintage : 2020. Syrahs from the Central Coast often have a balance of ripe fruit and cool-climate characteristics due to the regions coastal influences.



R. Lopez de Heredia  Vina Tondonia Reserva (2012)

Producer : R. Lopez de Heredia.

Region : Rioja, Spain.

Type : Reserva Red Wine. Rioja Reservas are aged for a minimum of three years, with at least one year in oak barrels. They typically feature red fruit notes like cherry and plum, alongside vanilla, tobacco, and earthy flavors.

Vintage : 2012. This wine has likely developed complex, tertiary aromas like leather, dried fruits, and spice from bottle aging.

Style: Traditional Rioja with a reputation for long aging potential and elegant structure.

Muga Reserva (2020)

Producer : Bodegas Muga.

Region : Rioja, Spain.

Type : Reserva Red Wine (Unfiltered). Known for full-bodied, balanced wines, Mugas Reservas often showcase dark fruit, spice, and smoky oak notes from meticulous winemaking.

Vintage : 2020. This is a younger Rioja Reserva compared to the Vina Tondonia, with fresher fruit flavors and vibrant acidity, complemented by oak influence.



Beaujolais Nouveau

Producer : Domaine Dupeuble Pere et Fils, imported by Kermit Lynch.

Region : Beaujolais, France.

Type : Red Wine (Gamay).

Description : A young, fruity, and vibrant red wine made to celebrate the harvest. Its known for its fresh red berry notes and lively character, intended to be enjoyed shortly after bottling.

Vintage : 2024. This Beaujolais Nouveau is lively and fresh, offering vibrant fruit flavors, making it a delightful and easy pairing for turkey and stuffing.



Cuvee La Croix Poignant Rose

Producer : Domaine Clairin

Region : Sancerre, Loire Valley, France

Type : Rose (Pinot Noir)

Description : A delicate rose from Sancerre, offering crisp acidity, notes of red currants, and a hint of minerality typical of the regions terroir.

Vintage : NV (Non-Vintage). With its fresh, light body and balanced fruitiness, this rose is an ideal pairing for lighter dishes such as salads and roasted vegetables.



Pierre Peters Champagne Cuvee de Reserve

Producer : Pierre Peters

Region : Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Champagne, France

Type : Blanc de Blancs Champagne (Chardonnay)

Description : A Grand Cru Champagne showcasing fine bubbles, citrus notes, and a creamy texture. Its renowned for its elegance and minerality.

Vintage : NV (Non-Vintage). This champagne offers a refined, balanced profile with bright citrus flavors and a smooth, creamy mouthfeelperfect as an aperitif or throughout a Thanksgiving meal.



Champagne Marie Courtin Efflorescence

Producer : Marie Courtin

Region : Champagne, France

Type : Extra Brut Champagne (Pinot Noir)

Description : A terroir-driven, single-vineyard Champagne with a focus on purity and expressive minerality. Expect vibrant acidity and subtle red fruit undertones.

Vintage : NV (Non-Vintage). This champagnes focus on the vineyards unique characteristics brings forward fresh, earthy flavors, making it an excellent complement to Thanksgivings diverse dishes.



Lagrimas de Bhilar

Producer : Bodegas Bhilar

Region : Rioja Alavesa, Spain

Type : Red Wine (Graciano)

Description : A medium-bodied wine highlighting the unique qualities of the Graciano grape, with fresh acidity, herbal notes, and dark fruit flavors.

Vintage : NV (Non-Vintage). This wine is perfect for pairing with turkey or any roasted meats, offering an elegant and fresh balance that complements the rich flavors of a Thanksgiving feast.



Chateau des Jacques Clos des Thorins (2020)

Producer : Chateau des Jacques

Region : Moulin-a-Vent, Beaujolais, France

Type : Cru Beaujolais (Gamay)

Description : A structured and age-worthy Beaujolais with layers of cherry, violet, and earthy complexity. Reflects the serious side of Gamay from one of the top crus.

Vintage : 2020. With its structured body and layered complexity, this Beaujolais is a perfect match for more robust Thanksgiving dishes, offering a sophisticated touch to the meal.



Giocato Pinot Grigio

Producer : Aleks Simcic (Giocato)

Region : Goriska Brda, Slovenia

Type : White Wine (Pinot Grigio)

Description : A refreshing Pinot Grigio with bright acidity, notes of green apple, citrus, and a clean, mineral finish.

Vintage : NV (Non-Vintage). This wines crisp, refreshing profile pairs wonderfully with lighter appetizers and dishes like roasted vegetables or a fresh salad, offering a clean finish to balance heavier holiday fare.



Henri Bourgeois Pouilly-Fume (2025)

Producer : Henri Bourgeois

Region : Pouilly-Fume, Loire Valley, France

Type : White Wine (Sauvignon Blanc)

Description : A classic Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc with pronounced flinty minerality, citrus zest, and vibrant acidity.

Vintage : 2025. This wines bright acidity and flinty minerality make it a fantastic pairing with roasted poultry or any dish featuring creamy sauces, elevating the meal with its refreshing character.



You can click here to learn more about Island Vintage Wine Bars. You can watch Cartlands full interview in the video above.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8

By picking wines that are versatile and food-friendly, Thanksgiving can be a celebration of flavors; family; and, of course, good wine.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
The Duchess of Edinburgh will follow in her late father-in-law's footsteps by backing an organization that's at work in over 80 countries

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh attend the annual National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph on November 10, 2024 in London, England. Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh attend the annual National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph on November 10, 2024 in London, England.

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh is adding a role to her royal resume to support a charity previously backed by her late father-in-law, Prince Philip.

On Nov. 25, Plan International UK announced Sophie, 59, as its new royal patron, taking over a post that the late Duke of Edinburgh held from 2015 until his death in 2018. The news was further circulated by King Charles and Queen Camilla's team on social media and the update came on the UN Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Were delighted to announce our new Royal Patron, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh," Plan UK wrote on X. "As a champion of womens rights, The Duchess has witnessed first hand the impact conflict and crisis can have on young women and girls. We look forward to working with The Duchess to raise awareness of the barriers facing girls around the world."

Related: Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh Visit Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's Malta Home

The announcement featured a photo of Sophie sitting with young women during her recent trip to Chad in October. The visit was significant as it marked the first time a member of the British royal family officially visited Chad.

She made the trip to the Chad-Sudan border to witness the impact of the conflict firsthand, and meet with young women and girls supported by Plan International UK. According to the organization, over 10 million people have been forced to flee Sudan, with women and children comprising a high proportion of those arriving as refugees to Chad.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The Duchess is committed to continuing her work in this area, as part of her new role as Patron of Plan International UK. Her Royal Highness will support the charitys work to end violence against women and girls in conflict and crisis settings and help to raise greater awareness about the barriers facing girls around the world," Plan UK said in a statement.

The news comes just weeks after Sophie stepped in for Queen Camilla, who was sidelined with a chest infection, to join Kate Middleton on the balcony for Remembrance Sunday on November 10. In a touching display of solidarity with Kate, who is gradually returning to public duties after completing chemotherapy, Sophie placed her arm around the Princess of Wales as they left the balcony together.

Chris Jackson/Getty Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh stand from the balcony during the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph on November 10, 2024 in London, England. Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh stand from the balcony during the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph on November 10, 2024 in London, England.

The royal family's website describes Sophie as a "global champion" for the United Nations' Women, Peace and Security Agenda and a supporter of the United Kingdom's Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI). Raising awareness around the disproportionate impact of conflict on women and girls has become one of her close causes in recent years, and her new role with Plan UK will further this work.

Chris Jackson/Getty Sophie and Prince Philip attend a Christmas church service at Sandringham on Dec. 25, 2016. Sophie and Prince Philip attend a Christmas church service at Sandringham on Dec. 25, 2016.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Related: Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh Follows Kate Middleton's Lead with Rare Media Appearance

The global children's charity works in over 80 countries to ensure every child is safe and receives an education, with girls safeguarded from violence and confident that their voices are heard.

Prince Edward's wife clocked 108 engagements so far in 2024, and was ranked as the fifth "hardest working royal" by SEO agency Reboot Online. The annual list was calculated by count of official engagements recorded in the Court Circular, and issued earlier in November.

Sophie's new patronage of Plan UK marks another charitable cause she has taken on that is linked to her late in-laws. In October, Girlguiding announced the Duchess of Edinburgh as its new patron, a change from her previous role as president.

We're proud to announce that HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh is our new patron.



The Duchess has been a passionate supporter of Girlguiding for many years since taking over the role of president from Princess Margaret in 2003.



Read our statement in full: https://t.co/Mmkzp4k45l pic.twitter.com/lhwEXkQ53p  Girlguiding (@Girlguiding) October 3, 2024

The U.K. scouting group for girls was memorably supported by the late Queen Elizabeth starting in 1953, and the late Queen was a scout when she was a young girl. The new patronage connected Sophie to her mother-in-law in another sweet way, as her Duchess of Edinburgh title is what the future Queen Elizabeth was styled by following her marriage to Prince Philip in 1947 and before her sudden accession in 1952.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In May, Buckingham Palace announced a "major review" of 1,000 patronages and presidencies following the death of Queen Elizabeth and the accession of King Charles in 2022.

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Queen Elizabeth and Sophie at Royal Ascot on June 18, 2019. Queen Elizabeth and Sophie at Royal Ascot on June 18, 2019.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

The palace said that King Charles and Queen Camilla would continue the patronage of many of his late mother's charities and organizations, while others would be undertaken by fellow members of the royal family. It was understood then that a few of the late Prince Philips patronages were involved in the process, perhaps linking to Sophie's new role.


The entire police department of a small South Carolina town resigned en masse, leaving the area without its own dedicated police force.

Chief Bob Hale of the McColl Police Department announced his resignation on November 21 in a social media post, citing a hostile work environment perpetuated by a specific Councilman.

For months, I have endured unwarranted and malicious behavior aimed at undermining my integrity and leadership, Hale wrote. These actions have not only affected me personally but have also created a toxic atmosphere that has hindered the departments ability to function effectively.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The chief also said his departments resources had been severely cut. The four officers under his command quickly resigned as well.

At the end of the day, I have a family. And when my job is constantly getting threatened and certain things are getting said Im not going to stay somewhere and tolerate that, former McColl investigator Courtney Bulusan told WRAL.

Im not going to stay where Im tolerated, Bulusan said. Im going to go where Im celebrated.

As the town seeks new officers, the Marlboro County Sheriffs Office will fill in for the department police force, according to South Carolina Public Radio.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The town has gone through six chiefs in the past four years. Hales tenure in the position lasted little over a year.

"I feel unsafe. Very unsafe, resident Lisa Bowen told local outlet WPDE. Because anytime anybody could do anything."

They jump ship back and forth all the time, Mayor George Garner told the Post and Courier newspaper. This is nothing new.

The paper reported that the councilman in question denied he had harassed any of the officers and told the paper the allegations were hearsay.

Such mass resignations, while uncommon, are not unprecedented.

The entire police force of Geary, Oklahoma, resigned earlier this month, Fox News reports.
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP)  Brian Camp, who was charged with manslaughter after shooting a man who broke into his girlfriends home, has been acquitted.

Food and clothing drive held for veterans and their families

The not guilty verdict was read in Hampshire Superior Court in Northampton. Prosecutors said Camp shot 27-year-old Jonathan Letendre when he showed up unannounced at Camps girlfriends home in Chesterfield in December of 2022.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The woman with whom Letendre had previously had a relationship was upstairs sleeping with Camp and her two young children. The news release from the DAs office says that the woman and Camp woke up when they heard Letendre coming up the stairs to the second floor.

During a fight between Camp and Letendre, the woman called the police for help when gunfire was heard while talking with dispatchers. Approximately eight and a half minutes later, another shot was fired. At around 1 a.m. officers found Letendre, who was shot in the torso and the back of the head, on the kitchen floor.

Camp is from Southampton and he wouldve faced 20 years in state prison if he was convicted.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
A 24-year-old San Diego County man died by electrocution while installing Christmas lights on the roof of a home last week, officials said.

The accident happened on Thursday, Nov. 21, in Escondido. According to the San Diego County Medical Examiner, Antonio Pascual Mateo was hanging Christmas lights near a high-voltage power line.

The decedent threw the lights over the power line resulting in electrocution, the medical examiner said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Someone called 911, and paramedics arrived at the home on Skyline Drive to find Mateo hanging upside down from a tree. He was transported to Palomar Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

A GoFundMe to help Mateos family had raised more than $8,200 as of Monday afternoon.

He had so much to live for, wrote the GoFundMe organizer, Jual Pascal. He always took care of his mother and family . Forever young he will remain. Christmas lights will forever have a meaning to us. He will remain in our hearts for eternity.

Pascal said the money raised would help the family pay for Mateos transport and burial in his native Guatemala.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
(FOX40.COM)  Southwest Airlines said it will add new daily flights to four destinations next year from the Sacramento International Airport.

The airline said it would have daily flights to Maui and Kona in March, though it noted the flights to Maui would only be daily in March, June and July. The company said will only fly from Sacramento to Maui on weekends in April and May.

Professional baseball returning to historic Marysville field

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Southwest already has daily flights to Honolulu.

Southwest will also add a daily redeye flight to Baltimore in March and Orlando in June.

According to the company, more than 100 Southwest flights will leave from SMF daily next summer.

In July, SMF announced that Alaska Airlines would also be adding four new seasonal flights starting in January, including two to Mexico.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
Elon Musks SpaceX has been roped in to launch NASAs ambitious Dragonfly mission in 2028.

The powerful Falcon Heavy rocket will launch the Dragonfly spacecraft on a multi-year journey to Saturns largest moon Titan.

This $3.35 billion mission will send a nuclear-powered rotorcraft lander to Titan to investigate its habitability.

The Dragonfly mission currently has a targeted launch period from July 5, 2028, to July 25, 2028, on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the US space agency announced in the statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For this, NASA has awarded a firm-fixed-price contract of $256.6 million to SpaceX. This deal covers the cost of launching the Dragonfly mission on a SpaceX rocket, as well as other related expenses associated with the mission.

Rotorcraft lander mission

The mysterious moon is a world unlike any other. Titan is the only moon in our solar system with a significant atmosphere. As per NASA, beyond Earth, Titan is the only world known to have liquid rivers, lakes, and seas.

Titan has the potential to harbor life in various forms. Its subsurface water could support life while its hydrocarbon lakes and seas might host exotic life forms with different chemical processes. However, it's also possible that Titan is a lifeless world.

Once it arrives, Dragonfly will become the first rotorcraft to fly on another world. This rotorcraft lander will both fly and land at diverse locations to collect samples and analyze them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This innovative approach will allow it to explore a variety of terrains, from icy plains to towering dunes.

The car-sized Dragonfly will look for signs of Titans prebiotic chemistry, searching for the building blocks of life. It will explore specific areas on Titan where conditions might have been favorable for the development of life.

These areas are likely to have a mix of carbon-rich materials and liquid water, which are essential ingredients for life as we know it.

The mission will analyze the chemical composition of these areas to look for signs of past or present life.

Six years to reach Titan

But the journey to this fascinating natural satellite of our solar system will be a long one. Earth and Titan are separated by a distance of 746 million miles (1.2 billion kilometers). Therefore, it will take roughly six years to reach Titan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Upon arrival, it is expected to spend at least two years exploring Titan. The spacecraft will have various scientific instruments to collect and send data to its Earth-based mission controllers.

"With contributions from partners around the globe, Dragonflys scientific payload will characterize the habitability of Titan's environment, NASA stated in the press release.

Ultimately, it will help us understand the potential for life beyond Earth.

The mission was originally scheduled for a 2025 launch but faced delays due to budgetary constraints.

Apart from sending and returning astronauts from the International Space Station, NASA has trusted SpaceX with several high-profile space missions.

Previously, the same rocket launched NASA's Psyche asteroid probe in October 2023 and the Europa Clipper spacecraft in October 2024.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  President-elect Donald Trump is declaring a legal victory.

The Department of Justice is dropping its criminal case connecting the former president to the January 6th riot at the Capitol.

Special Counsel Jack Smith, the attorney who was leading this case, filed a motion to drop all charges Monday afternoon.

On Truth Social Trump wrote, the cases were forced, empty and lawless, and should never have been brought.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the motion filed Monday, Special Counsel Jack Smith cites long-standing department policy that bars sitting presidents from criminal prosecution.

He writes, as a result this prosecution must be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated.

Smiths motion is the final nail in the coffin for Trumps January 6th case which was delayed for months after the Supreme Court ruled presidents had legal immunity for official acts.

Trump was indicted in August 2023 on four felony counts for his alleged role in trying to interfere with the 2020 election.

The DOJ is also abandoning felony charges alleging Trump unlawfully took and refused to return classified documents after he left the White House.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Photos showed documents stored throughout Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate.

Team Trump is elated.

In a statement Trumps spokesperson says, the DOJs decision ends the unconstitutional federal cases against President Trump.

In a tweet Vice President-elect JD Vance said the prosecutions were political and quote, if Donald J. Trump had lost an election, he may very way well have spent the rest of his life in prison.

The DOJ emphasized that their actions do not vindicate Trump.

In his motion, Special Counsel Smith writes the government stands fully behind the proof and merits of the case.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
The Tymur Special Unit of Ukraine's Defence Intelligence carried out an unusual operation in which they evacuated 15 cats from Zmiinyi Island. Frost threatened animals' carefree lives as winter arrived.

Source: Ukraines Defence Intelligence on Telegram

Details: The animals were moved safely from the island in the Black Sea to the mainland. All 15 cats were sent to one of Ukraine's largest shelters, Sirius, in Kyiv Oblast.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The photographs posted by the soldiers show cats of all sizes and colours that were carefully arranged in animal baskets and brought ashore by boat.

A rescued cat

Photo: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine on Telegram

Those rescued from the Zmiinyi Island can be adopted by families; they will be ready to receive a new home once the adaptation period at the shelter has ended.

Rescued cats

Photo: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine on Telegram

Previously: At the end of October, Ukrainian emergency workers rescued a cat from a burning apartment that was hit in a Russian drone strike on Kyiv.

Support UP or become our patron!
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  SPEEA members accepted a new four-year contract with Spirit AeroSystems Monday night.

A total of 478 members voted on the contract. The final tally showed that 249 accepted it and 229 rejected it.

SPEEA represents over 1,000 engineers.

The agreement will increase the amount of money available for wage increases for Spirit engineers by at least 23%, including the promotional fund, over four years  with a provision for greater raises if needed to match labor-market conditions.

Previously: Union representing Spirit AeroSystems engineers announces tentative agreement

Spirit provided KSN with the following statement after the announcement was made:

We are pleased that our SPEEA-WEU-represented employees have accepted our proposal of a new four-year contract. We value our partnership with SPEEA, and our WEU-represented engineers play a vital role in our goal to provide safe, compliant, and quality products for our customers and the flying public.

The new four-year contract will take effect on Monday, Dec. 2 and continue through Dec. 1, 2028.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
I spent about $120 on a round-trip ferry ride from Boston to Provincetown, Massachusetts, and back.

The ferry, which I booked through Boston Harbor City Cruises, had lots of seating and a snack bar.

The ride was easy to book, and I loved exploring Provincetown's beaches and main street.

Cape Cod, known for its pristine beaches, seafood shacks, and sand dunes, consists of a handful of towns, including the artsy Provincetown.

Known as P-town by locals, the seaside spot located at the tip of Cape Cod has been a haven for artists and the LGBTQ+ community for generations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A friend and I recently decided to take a day trip to P-town from Boston via a 90-minute ferry ride on Boston's Provincetown/Cape Cod fast ferry through Boston Harbor City Cruises.

Including taxes, fees, and ticket insurance, my round-trip ticket cost about $120. Here's what the ferry ride and day trip to Provincetown were like.

We boarded the ferry at about 9 a.m. in Boston.

My friend and I boarded the ferry in Boston's waterfront area. Natalie Gale

The ferry boarded at the Long Wharf pier in Boston's waterfront area.

We showed up for our 9 a.m. ferry about 15 minutes early and quickly walked onto the vessel after showing an employee our mobile tickets.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Once on board, I noticed various indoor and outdoor seating arrangements.

Some passengers chose to sit on an outdoor deck. Natalie Gale

Our ferry had three levels and a mix of indoor and outdoor seating options.

When we boarded, the seats along the windows on the first level were all taken, so we sat toward the center.

The ferry had a few on-board amenities as well.

I saw a snack bar while exploring the ferry. Natalie Gale

The first level had a snack bar, a few decently sized bathrooms, and a deck space where some passengers put their bikes.

I also spent some time on the 2nd-level deck, though it was chilly with the wind.

We had beautiful ocean views on the way to Provincetown. Natalie Gale

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was a little chilly outside, but I was glad to spend time on the second-level deck.

The trip took a little over an hour and a half, and we had nice views of the Boston skyline and the vast ocean.

Pulling up to P-town, I felt as though I was a world away from Boston.

Provincetown's Commercial Street was full of shops and restaurants. Natalie Gale

Disembarking onto Provincetown's MacMillan Pier took a few minutes.

We walked past artisan shacks lining the pier to Commercial Street, P-town's main drag, where we stopped at a cafe for coffee and a bite to eat.

Next, we boarded a shuttle to a nearby beach and hiking spot.

Race Point Beach had pretty dunes and ocean views. Natalie Gale

During a previous visit to P-town, I remembered seeing shuttle buses to a nearby beach. After a quick Google search, I learned a bus picked up passengers hourly at MacMillan Pier, so we headed back there.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bus stop was marked and easy to find. We rode for about 10 minutes and got off at Race Point Beach, the northernmost beach on the Cape Cod National Seashore. Despite the chilly weather, there were plenty of beachgoers in the area.

The dune and ocean views were worth the trip, and we even noticed a few seals in the water.

Back in P-town proper, we stopped for lunch.

I grabbed a lobster roll for lunch. Natalie Gale

We had a late lunch at The Canteen, an elevated seafood shack with outdoor seating and harbor views, where I grabbed a lobster roll.

No Cape Cod trip is complete without ice cream, so we also got a scoop at The Nut House, a quaint candy shop and ice-cream joint.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We originally planned to return on the 9 p.m. ferry, but we decided to head home early.

I rode back to Boston on the 5:30 p.m. ferry. Natalie Gale

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Though there's plenty to do on a rainy day in Provincetown  see a drag show, eat at one of the many restaurants, or catch a movie at the theater  I was ready to head back on the 5:30 p.m. ferry.

Because I purchased ticket insurance, the attendant on the wharf was able to change my original 9 p.m. departure time in seconds.

Even with rain rolling in, the ride home was almost as smooth as the first trip. The sunset poked through the clouds as we pulled up to Boston's Long Wharf just after 7 p.m.

Overall, the ferry ride was worth it.

I enjoyed my trip on the Boston City Harbor Cruises ferry. Natalie Gale

The fast ferry is a great option for carless tourists or Boston residents who want to experience Cape Cod for a day or weekend.

The $120 price tag might be more than I'd typically spend, but I think it was worth turning a three-hour drive into a 90-minute ferry ride.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Matthew Marcinez hasn't celebrated Thanksgiving in five years. No turkey, no friends, no family.

This year, with the help of St. Mary's Food Bank, he's able to cook in an apartment surrounded by the friends he's made in the seven years he's lived in Phoenix.

"I've struggled since I've been out in Phoenix, digging myself out of homelessness," Marcinez said. "I have an apartment, so I'm actually able to have my first Thanksgiving."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

St. Mary's Food Bank hosted their 30th annual turkey drive in Phoenix on Monday. Marcinez visits the food bank twice a month, but this time meant more than all the others.

"My mom taught me (how to cook a turkey) when I was a kid, so I get to carry on the tradition and show what it means, the spirit of Thanksgiving," he said.

Marcinez, one of thousands expected to receive a Thanksgiving dinner from the food bank, hopped in the walk-up line around 8:30 a.m. and waited 15 minutes to get his food.

Others waited hours in the drive-up line that stretched along Thomas Road from 31st Avenue to 53rd Avenue and down to the Interstate 10 exit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On average, St. Mary's feeds around 1,700 people per day between their two locations in metro Phoenix. Over the next three days, the organization expected to feed 13,000.

"Last year, we distributed to a record number of people, more than we ever saw during the pandemic in 2020," said Jerry Brown, the director of public relations at St. Mary's. "This year, that number is up an additional 10-15%."

St. Mary's distributed food in the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe in northeastern Arizona, giving out around 10,000 turkeys over two weeks.

Planning for the turkey drive started in March when St. Mary's placed an order for the turkeys they needed to purchase. Then, came the volunteer effort and organization.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"It takes an army," said Milt Liu, president and CEO of St. Mary's Food Bank. "We have over a thousand volunteers that are going to be here over these three days."

Volunteers are the cornerstone of the operation, Liu said. People volunteer by themselves, with family or even companies that donate time and money to St. Mary's, including Dutch Bros.

"As a kid, we grew up in a family that didn't have a lot, and so I know what it feels like," said Josh Hayes, an operator of 29 Dutch Bros locations around the Valley. "Coming out here and seeing people's reactions, wishing them a happy holiday, for me, it reminds me of my childhood and people that helped me, so I want to give back and do the same thing."

WWE wrestler Rey Mysterio loads food into a vehicle during the St. Mary's Food Bank annual turkey distribution on Nov. 25, 2024, at the Knight Center Client Services Center in Phoenix.

Alongside hundreds of volunteers, WWE wrestlers Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee, Zelina Vega, Cruz del Toro and Joaquin Wilde handed out turkeys and food boxes during Monday's distribution.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"It really opens up your eyes and let's you realize how hard it is sometimes out there," said Mysterio. "I'm amazed."

WWE donated $10,000 which will translate to 50,000 meals, Brown said.

People who want to pick up a turkey dinner can go to the distribution center near 31st Avenue and Thomas Road, and no appointment is necessary. You must bring an ID, utility bill or something that has your name and address on it.

St. Mary's provides a turkey, fresh produce and baked goods. The food bank is giving out dinners from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

St. Mary's was still short on turkeys, as of Monday afternoon. You can drop off a turkey or other food or monetary donations across the street from the food bank. Donations will be accepted through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: WWE stars, volunteers help out St. Mary's Food Bank turkey drive
Florida and Tampa Bay endured a historic hurricane season in 2024, weathering landfalls from a trio of storms  Debby, Helene and Milton.

The storms brought record-breaking storm surge, heavy rainfall and powerful winds that wreaked havoc across the region. These events led to widespread power outages, overwhelmed wastewater systems and thousands of tons of contaminated debris.

As the region continues to grapple with the aftermath, the Tampa Bay Times, in partnership with Tampa Electric Co., will host a Dec. 5 community conversation thats part of a Spotlight Tampa Bay Sustainability Series.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Beyond the Storm: Strengthening Tampa Bays Resilience will convene local thought leaders to discuss strategies for building a stronger and more resilient Tampa Bay in the wake of one of the most active and devastating hurricane seasons ever.

After the unprecedented challenges our region faced with recent hurricanes, bringing this conversation to Tampa Bay is not just timely  its essential, said Times Chairman and CEO Conan Gallaty. By convening experts, civic leaders and our community, we can exchange critical insights and build resilience for storms that are an inevitable part of our future.

The conversation will explore how Tampa Bay can adapt its infrastructure, enhance emergency response and mitigate environmental impacts in the face of a changing climate.

The panel includes:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Carlos Aldazabal, vice president of energy supply at Tampa Electric

Josh Bellotti, P.E., department director of engineering and operations at Hillsborough County Public Works

Sharon Arroyo, Floridas vice president of government and community relations at Duke Energy

Cara Woods Serra, director of resiliency at the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council

Maya Burke, assistant director at the Tampa Bay Estuary Program

In these times of increasingly unpredictable weather, resilience is a necessity. Tampa Electric is committed to fostering a conversation on how to prepare, respond and recover from severe storms, Aldazabal said. Were pleased to provide this opportunity for our community to hear from leaders who are on the frontlines of this vital issue.

Justine Griffin, the Tampa Bay Times economy and health editor, will moderate the panel discussion.

The forum takes place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5, at the Shanna & Bryan Glazer JCC, 522 N. Howard Ave., Tampa, FL 33606.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Doors open at 5 p.m. The panel discussion, which will include questions from the audience, will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Attendees should register at tampabay.com/spotlight. Admission and parking are free.

  

Tampa Bay Times hurricane coverage 2024

What to know about FEMA checks, other federal Florida aid after Milton

Could Tampa Bay flood insurance rise after a hurricane? A warning from Hurricane Ian

11 ways to help struggling Tampa Bay businesses after Milton and Helene

How to handle fires, tree limbs and other hazards after Hurricane Milton

Checklists for building all kinds of storm kits.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  The Diocese of Springfield has issued an update to its list of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing a minor.

The Springfield diocese added a credible allegation against the late Rev. Ronald Lussier on Tuesday. He was a member of the diocese from 1952 until 2002. He died in August 2002 at the age of 74. The alleged misconduct took place between 1975 and 1978 when Lussier was pastor assigned to St. George Church in Chicopee.

Chicopee city councilor responds to death threats, urges civility

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lussiers assignments in the Diocese of Springfield:

Parochial vicar at St. Thomas Aquinas in Springfield 6/28/52 to 6/11/66

St. Rose de Lima Church in Aldenville 6/11/66 to 7 /6/68

Notre Dame Church in Adams and Notre Dame Church in Pittsfield 7 /6/68 to 8/2/75

Pastor of St. George Church in 1975, where he served until his death

New credible findings have also been added by the diocese against the late Father John Koonz and three additional findings of credibility against the late Franciscan Father Placid Kaczorek, OFM Conv, both of whose names had already been placed on the list.

The diocese encourages anyone with information on misconduct to report it directly to law enforcement, as well as to their Office of Safe Environment and Victim Assistance at 413-452-0624, 1-800 842-9055, or email reportabuse@diospringfield.org.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  Its National Native American Heritage Month and cities across the country are paying tribute to all they do, including here in western Massachusetts.

Union Station prepares for busy Thanksgiving travel week

A special day for native Americans was held here in western Massachusetts as the City of Springfield held a flag raising to honor them.

Since the early 2000s, The City of Springfield has been recognizing Native Americans, as the first shepherds of the land. Mayor Sarno and City Councilor Delagado gathered the community for a flag-raising to honor them during National Native American Heritage Month.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It gives us recognition for our cultural continuity here and as a minority were given that representation so that were all seen, says Jus Crea Giammarino of Springfield.

Gloria Peeler with the Native American Inter-Tribal Council says it is important to never forget their history, There are over 500 distinct native American nations across the entire United States we have been here for over 14,000 years. We acknowledge this place and the Indigenous people from here, Connecticut is also an Abenaki word in our language that connects us to this Abinacki sense of place.

November is a reminder to honor the traditions, languages, and stories of Native Americans. Fight for liberties and fight for the country you grew up in, its time for a new type of conservatism. Conserving air, water, and the freedoms we grew up with, Peeler adds.

If you ever get the chance to visit Washington DC, locals encourage people to check out the Native American Museum. They say it is one of a kind and full of history.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  In the wake of sex abuse allegations against several employees over the last couple of weeks, the St. Helens School Board selected an interim superintendent on Monday night.

Dr. Steve Webb was unanimously selected to lead the district for the next 90 days.

The board acknowledged the magnitude of the current crisis and the challenges facing the district following recent allegations of employee misconduct and concerns about the lack of transparency from some district and school leaders, the school district said in a press release.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Webb previously served as superintendent of Vancouver Public Schools from 2008 to 2021. In 2021, Webb and the Vancouver School Board mutually agreed to part ways months before he was set to retire from the district.

He is also a senior consultant for the American Association of School Administrators.

Steve Webb is the new interim superintendent for the St. Helens School District.

We know that it will take concerted effort and significant time to address the trust that has been broken between our community and school district, said Trinity Monahan, acting chairperson for the board. We are pleased that Dr. Webb, a veteran superintendent and a highly regarded educational leader, has joined us to help our district and community come together, heal and move forward.

A total of seven staff members with the St. Helens School District are under investigation by the Oregon Department of Human Services and St. Helens police in an ongoing sex abuse scandal involving students as well as allegations of school administrators turning a blind eye to these crimes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

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.

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.

Following the investigation, Eric Stearns was charged with seven counts of second-degree sexual abuse and one count of third-degree sexual abuse, and Mark Collins was charged with two counts of second-degree sexual abuse and one count of attempted second-degree sexual abuse.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Both men were lodged in the Columbia County Jail on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

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)

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. The state department also said Superintendent Stockwell is under investigation for neglecting to report child safety concerns.

Officials also announced that school board chair Ryan Scholl had resigned from his position.

The following Thursday, Nov. 21, the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) announced that Wagner was under investigation for allegedly failing to report safety concerns to law enforcement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

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. Officials also announced Friday that a St. Helens Middle School teacher was under investigation for offensive physical contact.

The district says Webb will focus on stabilizing district and school leadership, listening to stakeholders, and recommending actions that are needed to address the districts current crisis and long-term needs.

Our shared goal is to set St. Helens School District on a path toward a successful future, ensuring that the appropriate policies, procedures, systems and personnel are in place for a safe, respectful, and professionally ethical learning environment. Every student should feel safe, secure, and supported in our schools. We must do significant work to begin rebuilding community relationships and trust, said Webb.

Christina Phillips, the parent coordinator for Empowered Saint Helens,  a group aimed at holding the district accountable  attended the board meeting and said that she plans to hold Webb accountable.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ill be there every month, every meeting. And Im going to keep after you, she said. Im gathering questions that you have for the school district. I am gathering contact info for parents and community members that want to help and find an area that they can help with.

Webb plans to release a tentative plan of action for the district in the coming days.

The next district board meeting is set for December 11.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 customer who was shot outside a bar on St. Paul's North End last month was watched and targeted before a violent robbery, according to criminal charges filed against the establishment's bartender and a man allegedly involved in the attack.

Officers were called to a shooting at Born's Bar at 899 Rice Street around 5:45 p.m. on Oct. 30 and arrived to find the victim, a 42-year-old man, lying on the ground outside the bar, according to the criminal complaints.

The victim told police an unknown man had tried to rob him before he was shot. He was rushed to Regions Hospital, where he underwent surgery immediately.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the charges filed last week, the victim later suffered cardiac arrest and was placed on life-support.

The St. Paul Police Department on Tuesday learned the man has died, a spokesperson said.

Edward G. Robinson, 43, of St. Paul, is facing multiple charges in connection with the attack.

Another St. Paul resident, bartender Erica Ruth Hampton, is accused of aiding Robinson.

Victim describes the attack

Investigators were able to speak with the victim at the hospital on Oct. 31, according to the criminal complaint.

The victim said a short man outside the bar asked him for a cigarette, and the victim noted the other people with the man had their hoods up even though it wasn't cold outside.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the charges, the victim told investigators he decided to put his Apple visual reality goggles safely inside his vehicle.

"The short man said to [the victim], 'This ain't what you're looking for,' and the fight was on," the complaint reads.

The victim told investigators around four to six people were involved in the fight and he had about $4,500 in cash on him because he planned to buy a "little bike," charges state.

He said he was down on the ground when someone yelled to "pop" him and he was shot, with a burning sensation felt in his stomach.

Born's Bar via Google Streetview.

Next, investigators asked more about what happened inside Born's Bar.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Charges state the victim said he'd been having drinks and the bartender, 42-year-old Erica Ruth Hampton, "was overpouring the drinks she made for him."

The victim said he would pull his cash out to pay for drinks and that his wallet and wedding ring weren't recovered after the attack.

At the hospital, a wallet recovered from the scene was stored in a plastic bag.

The victim said the wallet didn't belong to him, charges state. Inside, police found a driver's license belonging to 43-year-old Edward G. Robinson, of St. Paul.

Police search Robinson's phone

Officers searched Robinson's iPhone, which was found at the scene.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the criminal complaint, Hampton, the bartender, placed a five-minute phone call to Robinson about an hour and 45 minutes before the shooting.

Charges state that Robinson received a phone call from a 44-year-old man about 40 minutes before the shooting. A few minutes later, Robinson called a 39-year-old man on FaceTime.

At 5:18 p.m., less than a half-hour before the shooting, Robinson called a 24-year-old man.

Then, just a few minutes before police were called to the shooting, the 44-year-old man Robinson had spoken to over the phone sent Robinson a text that read: "He acting like he scared to come out."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The man was "apparently keeping tabs on [the victim's] location and movements," the criminal complaint reads.

Surveillance footage

According to charges, surveillance footage shows the victim enter Born's Bar around 3:43 p.m.

He ordered and paid Hampton with cash before taking his drinks to the patio, where he drank, smoked and used his phone and virtual reality goggles.

According to charges, the 24-year-old man and a man wearing a pink sweatshirt arrived at the bar at 4:25 p.m.

About 20 minutes later, the victim bought another drink from Hampton with cash and returned to the patio. Hampton then followed the victim to the patio and texted on her phone, charges state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The 24-year-old man and the man in the pink sweatshirt left the bar around this time, walked north on Rice Street and drove Hampton's Toyota Corolla back to the bar.

The 24-year-old man went into the bar for a minute around 5:30 p.m. and then returned to the vehicle.

At 5:37 p.m., Robinson and the 39-year-old man he'd called on FaceTime appear "posted up on the sidewalk outside Born's Bar", charges state.

Two minutes later, the 44-year-old man who sent Robinson a text about the victim's movements exited the bar and shook hands with Robinson.

The 24-year-old man and the man in the pink sweatshirt then exited Hampton's Corolla and joined the other men on the sidewalk.

Victim leaves the bar

The victim left the bar at 5:42 p.m., charges state. Robinson greeted him and fell in step with the victim, who went to his Durango.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The victim opened his passenger door as Robinson leaned on the Durango and spoke to him, charges state. Then, Robinson began the assault.

The 24-year-old man, the man in the pink sweatshirt and the 39-year-old man who'd been on the FaceTime call all closed in on the fight, according to charges.

Robinson and the man in a pink sweatshirt punched the victim as the 39-year-old man produced a handgun and swung it at the victim's head, charges allege.

The 24-year-old didn't participate in the assault, but he pulled items from the victim and picked up money from the ground as it fell from the victim's pocket.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At one point, Robinson and the 39-year-old man pinned the victim up against a vehicle while the man in the pink sweatshirt picked up money from the ground.

The 39-year-old man then put his handgun on the victim's torso and fired.

[The victim] fell to the ground, and everyone involved in the robbery and shooting scattered," the complaint reads.

According to charges, the 39-year-old man who shot the victim has ties to the Milwaukee area, and analysis of the casing collected at the scene showed that it was fired by the same gun involved in a 2022 Milwaukee shooting.

Robinson is charged in Ramsey County District Court with two counts of aggravated 1st-degree robbery.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prosecutors on Tuesday amended a 1st-degree assault charge also filed against Robinson to 1st-degree riot resulting in a death.

Hampton is charged with one count of aiding an offender. According to the complaint, Hampton has denied involvement with the incident.

The status of criminal charges against the other suspects remains unclear as of Tuesday. The Pioneer Press reports charges against two of the suspects remain under seal pending their arrests.


"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."



Some Starbucks workers were left frazzled and frustrated following a ransomware attack on one of the coffee chain's software vendors this week. CNBC reports that as a result of the cyberattack, baristas are having trouble viewing and managing their schedules. And that's not the worst of it.

While Starbucks works with the vendor on a resolution to the attack, managers have to manually calculate employees's pay, instead of relying on their vendor system.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Wall Street Journal reports that Starbucks is compensating employees for their "scheduled shifts," which could possibly lead to overpayment or underpayment depending on the actual hours worked. The company stated that it is dedicated to fully compensating employees once the issue is resolved, but that isn't soothing many workers.

Across Reddit, workers taken aback by the mayhem have turned to each other in order to find answers.

"So are we getting paid this week? And how, when half my hours are in the time clock and half are in the book?" one Redditor asked.

Their question was met with nearly a dozen answers from those hoping to offer some assistance. One user provided some insight via a message their manager received from Starbucks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"If we dont have access to SPH on Monday, Starbucks will process payroll for all stores and there will be no additional steps for SMs to process payroll on Monday 11/25. This will give our SMs some flexibility to continue supporting partners and building schedules," read the alleged note from Starbucks.

In a separate Reddit post, one worker asked if it was legal for the coffee shop to not pay on time for hours worked

"This impacts my financial stability and progress on my financial goals. To me this just isn't acceptable. I worked, I want my full paycheck...I just do not accept getting paid for fewer hours than what I worked. This isn't my fault at all," they wrote.

In response, one person pointed out that it's "physically not possible" for Starbucks to modify time cards for that many workers manually.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So far, Starbucks says the attack hasn't affected customer service, but here's hoping this gets resolved for the workers faster than it takes to make a grande oat milk latte!

You Might Also Like
(Bloomberg) -- Keir Starmer risks another battle over his Labour governments controversial first budget, as the UK prime minister sets out his plan to reduce welfare spending by getting more people into work  at the same time as companies are warning of job cuts due to higher taxes.

The government will publish its Get Britain Working white paper on Tuesday, a strategy Starmer said would help lower the 137 billion ($172 billion) benefits bill by tackling economic inactivity. Measures to be announced by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall include more support for job seekers and the removal of welfare payments from people who refuse education or training.

The changes are part of the Labours promise, first announced in July, to increase the employment rate to 80% from 74.8%. Economic growth has long been held back by economic activity, while taking aim at the welfare system also illustrates how the Labour government is following through on 3 billion of welfare spending cuts budgeted by the previous Conservative administration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But its a plan Starmer is trying to deliver against a backlash from businesses over job creation, and a crackdown on welfare also risks triggering disquiet from Labour MPs on ideological grounds. On Monday, the head of the countrys most influential business lobby said firms are in damage control after Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves tax-raising budget, and that nearly half are planning to reduce the size of their workforce.

Tax rises like this must never again be simply done to business, CBI head Rain Newton-Smith said at the lobby groups annual conference in London. When you hit profits, you hit competitiveness, you hit investment.

Such rhetoric has been a significant post-budget headache for Starmer, who came to power on a pro-enterprise promise to boost growth and living standards. Instead, sentiment declined as Reeves revealed more than 40 billion in tax rises, which she blamed on a fiscal black hole left by the Tories.

The bulk of the money raised came from an increase to national insurance, a payroll levy, and the scale surprised many firms. In a CBI survey with 185 responses, about six in 10 businesses said the budget would not make the UK more attractive for investment, and many said they were not willing to invest, expand or take a chance on new people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its becoming harder to understand what the case for investment is, Salman Amin, chief executive officer of snacks company Pladis Foods Ltd., the parent company of McVities biscuits, said at the conference.

Defending her budget, Reeves said shed registered the critical feedback but argued that repairing public finances would give companies the stability needed to invest. She also said she hadnt heard any viable alternatives, and tried to reassure the audience that future budgets would not resemble her debut one.

We have now drawn a line under the inheritance I faced, she said. You can be confident about the tax rates that weve set for this Parliament.

The risk for Starmer and Reeves is that so much of their policy agenda hinges on improving the economy. The chancellor said Monday she should be judged on whether she delivers growth, while the welfare plan to be set out on Tuesday also relies on jobs to be available for people to enter the workforce.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The challenge is stark. The government estimates 9.3 million working-age adults are economically inactive, 700,000 more than before the pandemic. Long-term sickness in the UK has reached a record 2.8 million people, while one in eight young people are not in education, employment or training.

Some of Kendalls proposals rely on previously-announced investment in the National Health Service to tackle long-term sickness. She will also announce plans to reform job centers so they have a renewed focus on skills and careers - instead of a narrow focus on monitoring and managing benefit claims.

Yet while a carrot-and-stick approach fits how Starmer and Reeves presented Labour as fiscally responsible ahead of the election to blunt Tory attacks, it also risks angering MPs sensitive to cutting back benefits  especially if jobs dont materialize. The government has already faced fierce criticism over his refusal to end a cap on child welfare payments introduced by the Tories, and over Reeves decision to scrap winter energy assistance from most pensioners.

We will get to grips with the bulging benefits bill blighting our society, Starmer wrote in an op-ed for the Mail on Sunday newspaper. We will crack down hard on anyone who tries to game the system, to tackle fraud so we can take cash straight from the banks of fraudsters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Though the welfare cuts wont be announced until the spring, the risk is that the government faces battles on multiple fronts after a rocky start in which its poll ratings have plummeted. Both Starmer and Reeves have called for patience after campaigning on a promise of a decade of national renewal.

But a petition on Parliaments website calling for another election has been signed by more than 2.3 million people, suggesting impatience is building.

I remind myself that very many people didnt vote Labour at the last election, Starmer said on ITVs This Morning program on Monday. What my focus is on is the decisions that I have to make every day.

--With assistance from Sabah Meddings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

(Updates with details of governments plans from second paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
PHILADELPHIA  You dont have to search long and far to see what workers are complaining about: The first level of Whole Foods' flagship location in the city  a sprawling 62,000 square feet situated about halfway between City Hall and the statue of Rocky Balboa, complete with fast-casual dining options and a bar  contains no food nor anything else available for purchase. Instead, customers are hit with visuals more akin to an Amazon warehouse: a bustling floor of harried employees scrambling to fulfill orders that were placed online, surrounded on both sides by refrigerators filled with bags of groceries waiting to be picked up or delivered.

And if you bought a sweater off Amazon.com and it didnt fit quite right? You can return that here, too. The actual grocery store requires climbing another flight of stairs.

Ed Duprees been working in the produce section since 2016, when the store first opened and a press release emphasized the in-person shopping experience, including a roving cocktail cart and a curated selection of drinks to imbibe while picking out fruit. Since then the company has been acquired by Amazon  a $13.7 billion acquisition was completed in 2017  and there was a pandemic that accelerated a shift toward consumers paying other people to pick up and deliver their food.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ive been here for a while, Dupree said in an interview, and Ive seen a lot of changes.

The sum of those changes has led to this: Dupree and his coworkers trying to join a union. On Nov. 22, the National Labor Relations Board confirmed receipt of a petition seeking to organize some 300 employees at the Whole Foods by Center City, Philadelphia, with NLRB spokesperson Kayla Blado telling Salon that it is currently being processed by the regional office.

An election could happen soon: A rule issued by the Democratic-led NLRB last year slashed the bureaucratic delays between filing such a petition  which requires signatures from at least 30% of a stores employees  and holding a store-wide vote on whether to form a union, meaning ballots could be cast in the next few months, if not weeks.

If the drive is successful, it would be the first time any workers at a Whole Foods enjoy collective bargaining rights. The demands, per Dupree, are typical: Better pay, benefits and security from a company whose parent reported more than $30 billion in profits last year, as well as accommodations for those who may struggle with the physical demands of the job. (We have some older coworkers with us who cant stand all day, they have disabilities and stuff like that, and they give people s**t for just trying to get a chair at the register, he explained.)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While each employee may have their own reasons for seeking union representation, the ones with the most obvious workplace issues are those who, prior to 2017, would never have worked at Whole Foods: those on the first level, fulfilling online orders for Amazon.

They work those people like theyre in a warehouse, like its a completely different ball game, Dupree said. They got those people just running, sprinting throughout the store. And if they stop and talk for a second, its a problem.

Its a problem because of the metrics by which they are judged. As Business Insider reported in 2022, Whole Foods parent company is subjecting workers there to the same warehouse-style metrics it employs elsewhere, judging those who fulfill online orders based on how many items they pick up each hour.

This is one example where were starting to see the learnings that were developed in warehouses spill over into other industries, Beth Gutelius, research director at the Center for Urban Economic Development at the University of Illinois Chicago, told the publication. Amazons main competitive advantage has been its ability to monitor its workforce and prod it to work faster.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Amazons advantage exacts a personal toll, workers say.

The worst of it goes to the Amazon shoppers, Frankie Ziegler, who works in customer service at Whole Foods, told Salon. Theyre really held down to this numerical value that theyre assigned. It seems like theyre just constantly worrying about and its not good  I dont think for anybody, for their mental health or anything.

But theyre not the only ones at Whole Foods now subject to Amazons metrics-based assessments. As a cashier, Ziegler said they are judged on the number of items scanned per minute, which eliminates any incentive to go above and beyond for the customer  or even just to talk to them.

Everybody knows that its basically total bulls**t, Ziegler said. It doesnt really give a good idea of cashier performance at all because theres so many things that cant be tracked by a number, they said. If were not busy and Id like to have a nice conversation with a customer and make a genuine human connection, were discouraged from doing that by our [metrics]. That just seems antithetical to the mission of Whole Foods.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a statement, a Whole Foods spokesperson said the company, which employs around 100,000 people at more than 500 stores, is willing to hear out its employees.

[W]e remain committed to listening to our Team Members, making changes based on their feedback, and treating all of our Team Members fairly in a safe, inclusive working environment, the company said. Whole Foods also recognizes the right of our Team Members to make an informed decision on whether union representation is right for them.

In person, however, Whole Foods is discouraging its employees from unionizing. At a recent team huddle, at the start of a shift following news of the NLRB petition, a representative from corporate addressed staff.

They came in and basically were like, Hey guys, weve heard about this, but we just want to you all to be quote-unquote informed, Spider Basso-Davis, who works as a cashier assistant at Whole Foods, said in an interview. And then they gave a lot of discouraging facts, and no encouraging facts, while claiming to be neutral. It was very obviously disingenuous and I think a lot of people who were in that meeting felt that way because it got kind of heated.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Attendance for the anti-union part of the meeting was not mandatory, according to Basso-Davis, which is notable because the NLRB only just this month issued a decision banning employers from holding such captive audience events. The reaction he described also suggests, mandatory or not, the talking points are not finding a receptive audience.

From his perspective, working at Whole Foods is not the worst thing in the world: it is a job, which at $16.50 an hour pays more than twice Pennsylvanias minimum wage of $7.25 (the states Democratic-led House voted to raise it to $15 an hour by 2026 but the legislation was blocked by the GOP-controlled Senate). But, like a lot of jobs, it could also be better  for all parties  if workers had more input on their workplace environment and if addressing their concerns was a contractual obligation.

Theres an insane amount of turnover at this store, Basso-Davis said. Lots of people come in and then immediately leave. Theres just not a big enough group of people who are consistently here to make sure the store runs as smoothly as possible and minimize the stress that all the employees are under.

Enter the United Food and Commerce Workers International Union, Local 1776. Wendell Young IV, the locals president, told Salon that his union began conversations earlier this year with Whole Foods employees looking to organize, offering them advice along the way. He credits Whole Foods parent company with getting the union drive this far.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I got to give the credit to Amazon and to the workers who have decided theyve had enough and that its not the way people should be treated, Young said. Everyones pretty much had enough.

Young, whose union represents workers at several other local grocers, specifically credited Amazons warehouse mentality being brought over to its public-facing operations. Workers are being pushed to accomplish more than is reasonable, realistic or what our bodies are meant to take, he argued. Theres a reason their turnover is so high. Its not the image the company wants to project about being warm and fuzzy and caring and considering and sharing in the huge profits. None of thats actually true.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Several workers said their effort to organize was about more than just their own material conditions, but demonstrating that action can still be taken to improve peoples lives, no matter what may or may not be happening at the national level. A union is also a legacy, as they see it; a way to leave a workplace a little bit better than one found it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I think about unions as an institution, Dupree, who works in the produce section at Whole Foods, told Salon. Theyre for working class people and I think for a long time weve neglected them. They fall apart. They fall into disarray, he said. By forming a union, or improving one that already exists, what youre doing, in the long run, is leaving a structure for other works so that they arent put in bad situations  there can be something for the future so that they dont have to suffer the way you did.

For Ziegler, who works in the customer service department, the intent is also to inspire.

I think a lot of us are doing this, or at least I am, because I want to see more people in more workplaces doing what were doing, they said. Ive been working grocery for my entire adult life and its never been good  none of the places Ive worked have been good in the ways that were trying to improve Whole Foods. And I just want our little project that were doing to start a big wave.

I want more workplaces and more grocery stores to be organizing, Ziegler added. I think that is the best resistance we can have to people who are trying to exploit us.
This article has been revised to reflect the following clarification: A 2022 Department of Tourism request was ultimately denied by the Board of Finance.

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO)  Finance officers throughout South Dakota state government have received notice that they will need prior approval from the office of State Auditor Rich Sattgast before spending any public dollars for employees or non-employees meals or refreshments that exceed state per diem rates, or for hosting conferences or training events, or for recruiting and promotional items.

Noem signs executive order for state employee training

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

THIS GOES INTO EFFECT FOR ANY EVENT JANUARY 1ST 2025 OR AFTER,, the offices audit supervisor, Jenna Latham, wrote in red ink on the email that went out Monday afternoon.

The new directive requires estimates of costs, expected number of attendees and explanations, along with a signed approval from the agencys head, to be submitted in advance for clearance from the auditors office. It comes amid criminal investigations into corruption allegations in several state government departments and follows years of expense requests submitted afterward to the state Board of Finance for reimbursement.

The auditor office has a seat on the eight-member board. So do the offices of governor, state treasurer, secretary of state, attorney general, commissioner of school and public lands, commissioner of finance and management, and commissioner of human resources and administration.

Together they set rules regarding allowances for lodging, meals, per diem rates and household moving for employees of state governments executive branch. The board meets monthly to consider requests that exceed amounts set in the rules.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Last month, for example, Latham on Sattgasts behalf questioned some $4,000 of expenses associated with the state Bureau of Human Resources and Administrations annual leadership conference on September 5. The board however eventually agreed to pay them.

In December 2022, expenses for a party that the state Department of Tourism held for welcome center employees and their spouses, including overnight lodging, were submitted. The boards minutes show the members tentatively approved it but sought more information. It was ultimately denied.

Its really hard for the Board of Finance to deny things after the fact, because its already been done, its already been paid for, Latham explained in a recent interview.

We want to work with state employees. We dont want to hang them out to dry. But we are the watchdog of state tax dollars, she added. Thats an expense that certainly adds up. I dont think people see that unless youre sitting in my chair.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The office of the state bar counsel, in its effort to discipline Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones, filed a complaint in February 2024 and another in October where it alleges Jones violated several rules of professional conduct, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators have obtained.

Attorneys for Jones, commissioner of the countys District F, and the state bar counsel met for over three hours Thursday to discuss these complaints and to argue motions related to a hearing set for March 2025. That hearing, bar counsel told the 8 News Now Investigators, could result in discipline resulting in Jones losing his law license.

Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones faces disciplinary hearing

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Together, these complaints detail how Jones made false statements of facts to in federal District Court and Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nevada. The complaints say he deleted text messages on his personal phone related to a development involving land near Red Rock Canyon, and that he then lied about it.

In October 2022, a federal judge magistrate held a hearing and ultimately sanctioned Jones, determining he appears to have carefully chosen words that were not out-and-out misrepresentations of the truth, but were also not truthful. That judge also said he deleted his texts for the improper purpose of attempting to prevent discovery of his conduct.

The state bar uses these and other findings to support their claims that Jones violated the states Rules of Professional Conduct. In one instance, the complaints outline what they a deal with then-county-commissioner Steve Sisolak, who successfully ran for governor of Nevada and served from 2019-2023.

The complaint says in 2018 Jones  at the time an attorney representing a group that called itself Save Red Rock  emailed an offer to Sisolak wherein if Commissioner Sisolak would commit to vote against a legal maneuver Gypsum was attempting, then Save Red Rock would promote Commissioner Sisolaks support to its entire email list, promote it on social media, and, if desired, appear with Commissioner Sisolak to support his gubernatorial candidacy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

2024.10.31-ComplaintDownload

That offer also promised that Save Red Rock would dismiss its claims against Clark County in the ongoing legal dispute over the land.

The complaint includes the transcript of a text message after Jones offer to Sisolak, where Jones told the then head of the Nevada Conservation league, well, Im doing my part. If Sisolak doesnt want to play, then its going to blow up in his fact [sic] tomorrow.

Sisolak and Jones both won their elections for Governor and commissioner, respectively, in November 2018.

In June 2024, the Clark County Commission approved $80 million with the developer, Gypsum Resources. The threat of losing in court with more than $2 billion on the line forced the county to look hard at what it could afford to do, the commissioner reasoned at the time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Clark County approves $80 million payment to Red Rock developer

Daniel Hooge, the bar counsel, told the 8 News Now Investigators 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.

2024.02.16-ComplaintDownload

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.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jones did not answer a message seeking comment Friday from the 8 News Now Investigators, and a spokeswoman for Clark County declined to comment on Friday afternoon.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

Credit: Brandon Bell / Getty Images

State capture comes in many flavors. When Donald Trump won the election on a promise to punish his enemies, I expected him to follow the Hungarian model. MAGA Republicans have spoken admiringly of dissident-turned-strongman Viktor Orban, after all, and some of the elements of his transformation of Hungary into an "illiberal democracy" are already in motion here: politicize the courts, quiet the press, reward favored oligarchs.

But just days after the vote came word that Trump planned to actually follow through on the most radical measures in Project 2025. He will attempt by executive order to fire en masse "rogue bureaucrats"  aka the thousands of experts at federal agencies who keep our food unsullied and our transactions trustworthy. Worse, he will create a "warrior board" of retired officers to identify "woke generals" for sacking. That's far beyond what Hungary ever did; now we're in the realm of Turkey, where in 2016, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan used the pretext of a small, easily overpowered coup attempt to launch a mass purge. Hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs: everyone from teachers and lawyers to newspaper and TV reporters to generals and admirals. Those left in government must be slavishly obedient to Erdogan's every whim, whether legal or not.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The U.S. turning into Turkey overnight would be bad enough. It gets worse. Both Orban and Erdogan take their roles seriously. They favor their corrupt friends, sure, but they are still intent on governing. Trump is stocking his administration with unqualified cronies whose characters stand in opposition to their agencies: Pete Hegseth, champion of war criminals, at Defense; Matt Gaetz, accused sex trafficker, at Justice; Tulsi Gabbard, propagandist for America's enemies, at Intelligence. He's even trying to skip FBI background checks and turn these lightweights loose unvetted, to annihilate their departments. Trump is keeping his promise of retribution. But it's now apparent that what he sees as his enemy is the entire U.S. government.
Nov. 25ANDERSON  The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority has denied an application for $1.1 million in tax credits for the Anderson Housing Authority to renovate the Lincolnshire Apartments.

Kevin Sulc, development director for the housing authority, said Monday the state agency is focused on rural communities for the tax credits.

"The emphasis was on rural communities, of which Anderson is not considered," he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sulc said the housing authority is looking at two other options to finance the projected $4.5 million project to convert the Lincolnshire Apartments, built in 1927, into 21 one-bedroom apartments and nine studio apartments.

"We're still looking to start construction in the first quarter of 2025," he said. "One option is financing through a bank and to apply for other grants."

Sulc said another option would be to reapply for the tax credits, which would delay the project.

He said the housing authority is applying for a $1 million grant through the Federal Home Loan Bank.

Sulc said he was not surprised by the denial for the tax credits, but he had hoped the project would win approval.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kim Townsend, executive director of the housing authority, said the organization had submitted a thorough application for the tax credits.

"We will regroup and see where we go from here," she said. "We're still planning to start work in March."

The agency is partnering with BWI, an Indiana-based construction management and real estate development company, on the project.

BWI has opened two apartment complexes in the area surrounding the Wigwam complex, and a third is currently under construction on the site.

Fredericks Inc. has been retained as general contractor for the remodeling project and has assisted in reducing costs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Anderson Redevelopment Commission is providing $770,000 toward the project, using tax increment financing money to pay off a bond for purchase of the building.

Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.
President-elect Donald Trump and his allies have vowed to radically shift American policy from Day 1.

From mass deportations to eliminating the Department of Education, Trump's policies could impact millions of people and communities across the country. However, experts say there is a big obstacle that will make it harder -- if not impossible -- for the incoming administration to implement these plans: States and municipalities.

PHOTO: In this Sept. 6, 2024, file photo, Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump looks on during a press conference at Trump Tower in New York. (David Dee Delgado/Reuters, FILE)

Alison LaCroix, professor of constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School, told ABC News that the power to regulate and implement key laws lies strictly within the states and many local leaders have already been working to prepare for a possible future Trump administration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The states have a lot of levers in the constitutional system, legal system and other systems," she said. "This usually comes as a lot of shock to people who don't know how much power they wield but we're going to soon find out how valuable they are."

MORE: How Democrats are planning to fight Trump's mass deportation plan

Other experts who have focused on some of the biggest sectors targeted by Trump, such as public health and immigration, agreed but said they are likely gearing up for a legal and policy fight that could last a long time.

Immigration

For example, Trump and his allies have been very open about their proposals to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump has said he aims to remove at least 1 million immigrants living in the country illegally from the U.S. as soon as possible.

Elora Mukherjee, the director of Columbia Law School's immigration clinic, told ABC News that states can't outright act as immigration enforcement for the federal government without an agreement.

"It is the principle that the federal government cannot order local law enforcement to enact federal priorities," she said.

Democratic governors like Gavin Newsom of California and JB Pritzker of Illinois have vowed not to assist Trump with any mass deportation plan, and Mukherjee said their claims are not empty words.

PHOTO: In this June 19, 2018, protesters march in New York against ICE's actions and the president's support of separating families. (NurPhoto via Getty Images, FILE)

She said states already showed their power during the first Trump administration by blocking Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from entering courthouses for potential raids and denying the agency detainers that would have kept jailed immigrants in custody longer without an arraignment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She added that any attempts by the Republican-controlled Congress to change immigration and deportation laws to take away rights from the states will take some time and likely be met with resistance even among Republican members who think it is too extreme.

"The Trump administration will issue many executive orders, but a large number that will be illegal and unconstitutional," Mukherjee added.

At the same time, Mukherjee said that conservative states and municipalities may bolster anti-immigrant policies and make it harder for migrants and asylum seekers to gain a path to citizenship.

Sixty counties and police districts, many of them in Florida, have entered into 287(g) agreements with ICE, in which local law enforcement can conduct immigration policies on behalf of the federal government such as executing warrants and detaining undocumented immigrants, according to Mukherjee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Florida also passed SB 1718 last year which cracks down on undocumented immigration with several provisions, including making it illegal to transport undocumented immigrants and requiring hospitals to ask patients for their immigration status.

Mukherjee stressed that states cannot try to enforce their own laws in other jurisdictions due to the 1842 Supreme Court case Prigg vs. Pennsylvania. That case, which overturned the conviction of a man convicted under a state law that prevented slave-catching, held that while federal law supersedes state law, states are not required to use their resources to uphold federal laws.

"It's extremely difficult and illegal for one state to impose their laws onto another," Mukherjee said.

Even when it comes to executive orders, Mukherjee said the laws are mostly on the side of states and municipalities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trumps "border czar" choice Tom Homan has already threatened to go after states and cities that refuse to comply with the president-elect's deportation plans, including arresting mayors.

Mukherjee said there is no legal mechanism or modern legal precedent that allows the federal government to incarcerate local leaders for not adhering to an administration's policy.

"Sanctuary city laws are entirely allowed within the U.S. Constitution," she said. "The 10th Amendment is extremely clear. The powers not given to the federal government are reserved to the states or the people. This is a bedrock principle of U.S. constitutional law."

Public education

State education officials are in the same boat when it comes to federal oversight, experts said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

MORE: Can Trump deliver on his promise to ax the Department of Education?

Although Trump and other allies have made it clear that they want to eliminate or weaken the federal Department of Education, funding for schools and education programs lies mostly in the hands of state legislatures and local school boards, according to Alice O'Brien, the general counsel for the National Education Association.

"Those campaign promises in reality are much harder to achieve," O'Brien told ABC News. "They would require federal legislation to accomplish."

Federal oversight has little control over local school curriculum policies, she added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

O'Brien noted that much of the federal oversight on public schools lies outside of the jurisdiction of the Department of Education. For example, state school districts must adhere to laws set forth at the federal level such as non-discrimination against race and religion and disabilities.

PHOTO: Stock photo of a teacher giving a lesson to a class. (STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images)

"States and school systems can not run in any way that conflicts with the federal Constitution," O'Brien said.

When it comes to funding, although the federal DOE does provide funding as a floor to many school districts, it is a small fraction compared to the funding that comes from city and state coffers, O'Brien explained.

Public health

"It really comes down to a state-by-state basis in terms of how much dollars are allocated to the schools," she said. "Ultimately it really comes down to how much money the state budgets have."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dr. Georges C. Benjamin, the executive director of the American Public Health Association and former Maryland health secretary, told ABC News that state public health offices operate under the same localized jurisdiction and thus would have more autonomy on health policies.

Trump's pick for the head of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been a staunch promoter of anti-vaccination policies and has pushed for the end of fluoride in water supplies.

Benjamin said he is worried about the effects of having someone with no professional health experience and public dismissiveness of proven health policies, however, he remarked that states and municipalities still hold immense power in implementing policies.

PHOTO: In this Aug. 6, 2021, file photo, a man gets a Covid-19 vaccine at the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399 union hall in Chicago. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images, FILE)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Georges noted that fluoride levels in the water supply are dictated at a local level, and many counties have chosen not to implement them. Federal health agencies can make recommendations but cannot block a municipality from implementing fluoridation, he said.

"There is no fiscal penalty for not following it," Benjamin said of federal recommendations.

The same rules govern local vaccination requirements, he added.

"[The federal government does] control vaccine mandates at the federal level, with the federal workforce, but they don't control the bulk of childhood mandates," Benjamin said.

MORE: Boom, now bust: Budget cuts and layoffs take hold in public health

He noted that the country saw the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of state-run public health systems during the two years that COVID-19 hit the nation and the rollout of the vaccines. Republican and Democratic states all instituted shelter-in-place and social distancing rules during the peak of cases, Benjamin said.

"I do think we have a wait-and-see attitude," he said.

In the meantime, several states have taken measures to bolster their state health policies, particularly when it comes to reproductive rights, through legislative action and ballot measures.

Power in state prosecutors

One of the biggest ways that states will be able to "Trump-proof" their laws and policies is through state prosecutors and the courts, LaCroix said.

"We will see a lot of arguments in local government and what they can do," she said.

Mukherjee said several state attorneys general were able to take Trump to court during his first administration and push back against immigration proposals such as his ban on residents from Muslim countries and deportation plans.

PHOTO: In this June 1. 2017, file photo, demonstrators with the organization CASA protest President Donald Trump's immigration and deportation policies during a rally outside the White House in Washington, D.C. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

Mukherjee said despite the increase in Trump-backed judges in the federal courts, there is still the rule of law when it comes to immigration. For example, earlier this year, a federal judge struck down the provision in Florida's SB 1718 that threatens felony charges for people who transport an undocumented immigrant.

U.S. District Judge Roy Altman, a Trump-appointed judge, issued an injunction against that provision stating that immigration-related enforcement was not in the state's power.

"It will be harder this time around to win sweeping victories for immigrants and non-citizens ... but federal judges across party lines reined in the worst abuses of the Trump administration the first time around," she said.

MORE: Trump confirms plan to declare national emergency, use military for mass deportations

LaCroix echoed that statement and said that partisanship can only go so far, especially when it comes to laws enshrined in the state and federal constitutions.

"Judges still have to give reasons for what they do and 'because our party is in charge' doesn't hold weight," she said.

State and local governments could be a roadblock for some of Trump's more radical policies originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Nov. 25The state of New Mexico is getting millions of dollars that will go to help low-income people stay warm during the winter.

On Monday, the New Mexico Health Care Authority received $18.6 million from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, a federal program that assists eligible lower-income people with their heating and cooling costs.

"No New Mexican should have to choose between staying warm and putting food on the table," said Niki Kozlowski, director of Income Support Division, in a statement. "This funding ensures that many families with limited income won't have to make that choice."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

LIHEAP contracts with the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority to assist individuals with weatherization costs that include weather stripping, windows, furnaces, stoves and insultation, Health Care Authority spokesperson Marina Pina said.

"We're grateful that this funding is coming to New Mexico to help families pay their heating bills and weatherize their homes," Albuquerque Mayor's Office spokesperson Staci Drangmeister said. "More resources to help folks who are struggling (are) always appreciated."

People can use the LIHEAP eligibility tool, a user-friendly resource that allows people to identify whether they are eligible, Pina said.

People who qualify for LIHEAP may qualify for additional support through the New Mexico Gas Company's heating assistance fund, HEAT New Mexico.

For more information or to apply, people can go to Yes.NM.gov, call 1-800-283-4465 or visit their local HCA field office.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  A state representative who seems to have been defeated in the Nov. 5 election has filed to have the ballots recounted.

The Michigan Board of State Canvassers certified the election results Friday. State Rep. Jim Haadsma, D-Battle Creek, and his attorneys had 48 hours to ask for a recount, which they filed before 9 a.m. Monday.

State vote certification starts clock for possible recount request

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The initial unofficial results for the 44th Michigan House District race showed Republican challenger and current Calhoun County Commissioner Steve Frisbie with nearly 1,400 more votes than Haadsma. But the Calhoun County clerk quickly realized that about 2,800 absentee ballots from battle Creek had not been counted, The Detroit News reports, and revised the unofficial results. The updated figures had Frisbie up by only about 60 votes.

Frisbie sued to try to stop a recount of those absentee ballots while the county canvass was underway, but a judge threw out that suit. After the count was finished, Frisbie still appeared to be the winner. Thats the vote that was certified last week.

Report: Lawsuit trying to stop Battle Creek recount thrown out

In a Monday statement to News 8, Haadsmas attorney Chris Trebilcock said that the recount would confirm the data transfer error involving absentee ballots and all write-in candidates.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Calhoun County canvass was not transparent so a hand recount will remove any doubt around it. This is a standard request when a race is this close. We trust that the hand recount will reach the correct result, Chris Trebilcock, Haadsmas lawyer, told News 8 in a statement.

No matter the outcome of a recount, Republicans will still claim a majority of seats in the House in January.

News 8 reporter Demetrios Sanders 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 WOODTV.com.
CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS)  WorkForce West Virginia announced a Statewide Virtual Job Fair date that will take place at the beginning of December.

The virtual job fair will be on Wednesday, December 4, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and is open to both job seekers and employers.

State Fair of West Virginia to host inaugural Wild Trails Festival

With WorkForce West Virginias virtual job fairs, job seekers can take advantage of a seamless and convenient way to meet employers, ensuring they never miss out on employment opportunities in the Mountain State. Since the launch of these events, nearly 11,000 West Virginia job seekers have attended to learn more about more than 17,000 posted jobs from West Virginia employers located all around the state. Scott Adkins | Acting Commissioner of WorkForce West Virginia

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To participate in the Statewide Virtual Job Fair at the beginning of December, employers and job seekers will need to register for the event.

Ice skating and other holiday events make their way to Raleigh County in 2024

Job seekers who attend the event are advised to have a clutter-free background and to dress professionally. The job fair portal will include a list of participating employers, channels for attendees to register and log in, and a Job Seeker Training video.

More information about WorkForce West Virginia and the Statewide Virtual Job Fairs can be found by emailing wfwvvjf@wv.gov or by visiting WorkForce West Virginias website.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
STEELTON, Pa. (WHTM)  One thing is clear: Mayor Ciera Dent  questioning what she says is nearly a half-million dollars in annual spending with a consulting firm and law firm linked to the same person  wants a forensic audit of the boroughs finances.

Equally clear: The boroughs council president, Vanessa Bowers, disagrees.

But the other six council members?

Two of them  Denae House and Julianna Paioletti  released a statement late Monday morning agreeing with Dent that a forensic audit is not only necessary but essential to restore trust and integrity within our local government.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The statement, under the headline Official Statement from Borough Council Members, initially caused some confusion among media, who mistook that the statement was on behalf of a council majority; in fact, although it was indeed on behalf of council members  plural  it was signed by only House and Paioletti.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

abc27 Evening Newsletter

Then, at about 4 p.m. Monday, Kathy McCool, the boroughs manager, released a statement  with the headline Steelton Borough Council issues statement on fiscal integrity  strongly disagreeing with Dent, whose only responsibility is oversight of the Steelton Borough Police Department. The councils finance committee, the statement said, declined to pursue the forensic audit, citing the expense and redunancy with an annual audit already conducted by a CPA firm.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But moments later, McCool issued a corrected statement with what appeared to be the same text in the body but a new headline, Steelton Borough Council President issues statement on fiscal integrity, adding the world president.

House replied to McCools message  copying the mayor, other council members and local media  saying, Kathy: Im not sure who gave you the directive to send this without ALL of Council reviewing your statement. I have asked for numerous Forensic Audits as well as the Vice President, Natashia Woods, who initially brought it to our attention.

Based on all the messages Monday, three of seven borough council members  House, Paioletti and Woods  appear to agree with Dents demand for a forensic audit; Bowers, the president, continues to disagree with it; and three other council members  Brian Proctor, Michael Segina and Willie Slade  havent indicated their positions Monday.

abc27 News has sent messages to all council members inviting them to clarify their views.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urged the alliance on Tuesday to deliver greater support for Ukraine after a record Russian drone attack during the night.

Rutte said NATO support was critical for upholding Ukraine's defence against the Russian invasion but that the alliance needs "to go further to change the trajectory of the conflict."

The alliance must supply the air defences that Ukraine needs as well as deliver on military aid commitments already promised to Kiev at a NATO summit in Washington, Rutte said.

To underline the importance of military aid support in the Ukraine war, Rutte noted that Russia gets "North Korean weapons and troops, Iranian drones and Chinese dual use goods for its defence industry."
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL)  A new member was sworn into the Washington County, Tennessee Commission on Monday night.

David Stout was elected to the District 9 seat in the Nov. 5 general election after serving as an interim commissioner.

PREVIOUS: Washington County, Tenn. Commission fills vacant District 9 seat with pushback

Stout was appointed as the interim commissioner on Sept. 23 following the death of commissioner Suzy Williams, who he previously said was a longtime friend of his.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Stouts interim appointment ahead of the election drew ire from Washington County Democrats, who claimed it interfered with the upcoming election.

Stout, a retired major in the United States Army Reserve, was sworn in before the commissions regular November session, a news release from the county government states.

He has lived in District 9 with his wife for more than 30 years.

Stout graduated from Carson Newman University and the Economic Development Institute-University of Oklahoma. He also retired from being a division manager of United Telephone/Spring and was the Director of Corporate Health Services for Mountain States Health Alliance for 15 years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Small drones have appeared in the area around three U.S. Air Force bases in the United Kingdom this week, nearly one year removed from when similar activity happened at a base on American soil.

U.S. Air Forces in Europe shared a statement with Military.com that said that "small unmanned aerial systems were spotted in the vicinity of and over RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell."

Col. David Herndon, a spokesperson for U.S. Air Forces in Europe, told Military.com in an email that the drones were spotted between Nov. 20 and Nov. 25.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read Next: Former Navy Officer 'Driven by Greed' Steals over $850,000 in Military Gear, Feds Say

"The number of systems fluctuated, and they ranged in sizes and configurations," the statement said. "To safeguard operational security, we do not discuss specific force protection measures; however, we retain the right to protect our installations."

U.S. Air Forces in Europe added that the drones "were actively monitored, and installation leaders determined that none of the incursions impacted base residents, facilities or assets."

CNN reported Monday that there were an estimated five to six drones that appeared to be operating in a coordinated way.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A spokesperson for Britain's Ministry of Defence told CNN, "We take threats seriously and maintain robust measures at defence sites. This includes counter-drone security capabilities."

RAF Lakenheath is home to the 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Feltwell houses service members and provides support for the 48th Fighter Wing, and RAF Mildenhall hosts the 100th Air Refueling Wing.

These latest drone sightings come after it was reported in The Wall Street Journal that mysterious drones swarmed the area around Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, in December 2023 for 17 days.

They also come amid heightened concerns about surveillance on American soil, such as when a Chinese spy balloon floated across North American airspace between late January and early February 2023.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Retired Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr. -- who served as the head of United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, from 2007 to 2010 -- told Military.com in an interview Monday that the use of drones near American bases, whether flown by hobbyists or foreign adversaries, is cause for concern.

"I'd say, first and foremost, they're safety concerns," Renuart said. "You have a balance of safety and then national security, certainly as well, that the local installations and the NORAD staff all pay attention to every single day. I can tell you, they probably get 100 reports of drone activity every day, and maybe more."

As drones become more popular and accessible, Renuart said these incidents are likely to mount.

"It's something that we're going to have to deal with more routinely," Renuart said. "It goes anywhere from nuisance to real safety to real national security concerns, depending on what the source and the intrusion really looks like. But it's certainly something that we deal with every day."

Related: Despite Deadly Attack, US Military Still Grappling with How to Handle Enemy Drones
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Some local projects will share in a nearly $11 million grant from the state.

Forty-five Ohio counties, including Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties, will share in the latest round of community development grants through the Ohio Department of Development.

The biggest chunk of money this time locally will go to Austintown with a $672,000 county grant that will go toward sidewalk improvements. The county will also improve streets in Beaver Townships Woodworth Neighborhood as well as in Milton Townships Pickering Neighborhood.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Niles is getting $150,000 for sidewalk improvements along Sherman Avenue and to replace six fire hydrants in locations around the city.

Columbiana County will receive $490,000 for various street resurfacing in Lisbon, Wellsville and Salem. The money will also be used to install ADA-accessible ramps in Salem.

The funding comes from the Federal Community Development Block Grant. Senator Cutrona said it will benefit thousands of residents in the Valley.

Improving our infrastructure is critical for residents to access school, work, healthcare and much more, he said. I look forward to seeing these projects completed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.


"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."



Unlocking the mystery of hibernation could improve medicine and support our ambitions for deep-space travel.

A new study analyzes the blood cells of bats (of both the hibernating and non-hibernating varieties) and humans to understand the role these cells play in keeping mammals alive during prolonged bouts of torpor.

The results showed that all three species cells became inelastic and viscous as temperatures dropped, but human cells eventually stopped this transformation, while bat cells continue to change as temperatures dropped even further.



If humanity has any hope of becoming a star-traipsing civilization, we either need to develop some kind of a warp drive (an idea that dances along the very edge of known physics) or develop some way to hibernate effectively. NASA knows this, and has looked into the idea for years even studying the hibernating habits of arctic ground squirrels. And over the course of that prolonged study, they found that while it isnt necessarily biologically impossible, any human hibernation would likely be medically induced.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Now, a new study from scientists in Germanyled by Gerald Kerth at the University of Greifswaldhave turned elsewhere in the animal kingdom for inspiration and studied the hibernating prowess of bats. Through their research, they discovered that a type of red blood cell called an erythrocyte could play a major role in inducing hibernation. The results of their study were published last month in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Hibernation is a handy biological tool. If you cant snowbird somewhere warmer in the winter, its best just to hunker down, conserve energy, and wait for the spring when resources are more plentiful. Many mammals (including some primates) hibernate, and the strategy can be seen across the animal kingdomeven occurring in the summer in a process known as estivation.

Considering that the closest star is 4.24 light-years away, even if humanity could somehow travel through space approaching the speed of light (a big if), itd still take years off of our human existence just to visit our stellar neighbors. In other words, falling asleep for big chunks of time while the universe ticks on could be a necessity of future space travel.

There are benefits of putting humans at low temperature during interstellar flight, Kerth told New Scientist. Were not saying this is going to happen in the next three years. But its really a first step.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In this study, Kerth and his team analyzed hundreds of thousands of erythrocytes from hibernating bats (Nyctalus noctula) and non-hibernating bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus), as well as samples from humans. Knowing that hibernating animals still need their blood to supply oxygen, the scientists goal was to discern how critical red blood cells survived as internal temperatures plunged. The team knew that blood cells change shape to adjust to different pressures and blood vessel sizes, and this led to the question: could blood cells be responding to hibernation conditions as well?

The team eventually discovered that when the internal temperature dropped from 99F to 73F, all three species showed a blood cell transformation resulting in the erythrocytes becoming less elastic and more viscous. Interestingly, however, as the scientists continued plunging the temperature down to 50F, the bat cellsfrom both the hibernating and non-hibernating speciescontinued this cellular transformation, while the human blood cells just stalled out.

Although deep-space travel is a far-future application, the team notes that changing the mechanical properties of human blood cells could help optimize blood circulation for pharmaceutical means in the much nearer future. For example, surgeons already employ a method known as deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) in order to stop brain function and circulation for certain types of major surgeries.

Whether arctic ground squirrels or hibernating bats, the animal world still has a lot to teach us when it comes to the subtle art of entering a deep and long sleep.



You Might Also Like
The U.S. militarys plans to build up its forces on the island of Guam received some added firepower Tuesday with the arrival of the Virginia-class attack submarine USS Minnesota (SSN-783), the first of its class to be forward-based at the United States vital outpost in the Western Pacific.

Billed as part of the Navys strategic laydown plan for naval forces in the Indo-Pacific region, the Minnesota will fall under the command of Submarine Squadron 15, which is currently comprised of the Los Angeles-class submarines USS Annapolis, USS Asheville, USS Jefferson City and USS Springfield  elder boats that were all commissioned in the early 1990s.

Minnesota  which had been based at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam since 2022  has the ability to take on anti-submarine, anti-surface and strike warfare, along with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. It will bolster what is a rapidly expanding array of U.S. military offensive and defensive capabilities on the 30-mile-long, nine-mile-wide island.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The security environment in the Indo-Pacific requires that the U.S. Navy station the most capable units forward, the sea service said in a statement announcing Minnesotas new home port. This posture allows flexibility for maritime and joint force operations, with forward-deployed units ready to rapidly respond to deter aggression and promote a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

The Virginia-class attack submarine Minnesota arrives at its new home in Guam. (U.S. Navy) Petty Officer 1st Class Justin Wolpert

The boat will certainly bring fresh capability to the islands submarine roster. In addition to its 12 individual Vertical Launch System (VLS) tubes that pack Tomahawk cruise missiles, as well as the ability to employ dozens of torpedoes, Virginia-class submarines can support special operations missions.

The Virginia-class also features a fly-by-wire control system that makes it easier to handle the submarine in shallow water and other complex littoral environments. This is especially advantageous for operating in areas like the South China Sea.

Minnesotas home port shift to Guam adds a next-generation attack submarine with advanced capabilities to the forward-deployed naval force, Lt. Cmdr. Rick Moore, a Submarine Force Pacific spokesperson, told TWZ Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The arrival of the 11-year-old Minnesota also provides another real-world signal of the workhorse Los Angeles-class fast-attack fleets continuing retirement, as more Virginia-class submarines come online to replace those aging boats.

The Virginia-class attack submarine Minnesota returns to Groton, Connecticut, in 2021 after deployment. (U.S. Navy) Chief Petty Officer Joshua Karsten

There are now 23 Virginia-class submarines on active duty, one more than the current 22 in the Los Angeles fleet, Navy officials told TWZ.

While Virginia-class submarines operate throughout the Pacific, having one permanently stationed at Guam, with the infrastructure to support that basing, means that the Navy will be able to better sustain the classs operations from there. This development could play a role in the trilateral agreement between the U.S., U.K. and Australia  known as AUKUS  to eventually get Canberra Virginia-class subs of its own.

Guam is also already serving as a hub for submarine activity, as well as some maintenance and repair work. For instance, when the Seawolf-class submarine Connecticut struck a seamount while operating in the South China Sea in October 2021, it made a prolonged emergency stop in Guam before heading to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington state.

The Seawolf-class attack submarine Connecticut undergoes repairs following its collision with a seamount in 2021. (U.S. Navy) USN

The Minnesotas home port shift comes as debate has resurfaced about arming the Virginia-class fleet with nuclear cruise missiles. As TWZ reported last week, supporters of the Sea-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM-N) program argue that it will give the president another nuclear response option against adversaries, while detractors contend that the program is a waste of finite Navy resources. President-elect Donald Trump began the program in 2018, and it was marginalized by the Biden White House, even as Congress continued to fund the effort and the Navy proceeded. Whether the effort will receive extra focus after Trump is inaugurated remains to be seen.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Still, the inclusion of SLCM-N could give forward-deployed Virginia-class boats a much greater strategic weight that is simply not a factor now. They would also pose a far greater risk to the enemy and would be prioritized even higher for targeting.

And as the Minnesota gives INDOPACOM greater Guam-based undersea capabilities, the island is also shaping up to become the most heavily defended piece of turf on the planet in the coming years.

Among those initiatives, TWZ reported in October that the military had released images of a Mk 41 vertical launch system (VLS) for the Aegis Ashore air defense system that had been installed there. Those land-based launchers are part of a broader effort to shore up the defenses of U.S. military bases, particularly when it comes to an attack from China, which has directly referenced such a scenario should full-blown war break out in the region. In addition to Naval Base Guam, the island hosts Andersen Air Force Base and Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz, which is taking on Marines from Okinawa.

We likely wont ever learn much about what missions the Minnesota undertakes while stationed in Guam. The so-called silent service isnt big on public disclosure. But the submarines basing in the West Pacific undeniably offers another arrow in INDOPACOMs quiver, and signals the importance the island and its assets will play should war with China erupt.

Contact the author: geoff@twz.com
SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCBD)  Several people across the Lowcountry are reporting a similar experience after paying to have their roofs replaced on their homes, handing over the money, and then hearing nothing back.

After a strong storm moved through the area of the summer, homeowners in Summerville were told their roofs were damaged by hail. It came after severe weather moved through Dorchester and Berkeley counties in June, damaging homes, knocking over trees and leaving behind a path of debris.

Ellen Davis said the storm clean-up brought sales representatives from several roofing companies to her door.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Just wanting to do a free estimate of potential hail damage from the storm, she explained.

Davis said her roof had other issues and she decided to call the company Orange Elephant Roofing, after seeing her neighbor speaking to them.

I spoke to the salesman, he came back the very next day and he asked if he could please get on my roof and do a free inspection, she said. Since I already had this other damage I finally allowed him onto the roof and thats when he found the hail damage.

A claim was filed with her insurance company and at the end of August she gave Orange Elephant Roofing the insurance check which totaled a little more than $20,000.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Davis said the general manager and sales representative came back to get the check. They told her they would begin the work in October. However, in mid-September, Davis said she started to see some red flags.

i reached out to my salesperson and he then informed me that he no longer worked for the company, she recalled. He also proceeded to send me a text showing me that their HR Department said we would not be making payroll this week.

Davis said the last time she heard from the company was in early November.

The general manager spoke to me he told me that my roof would be being done on November 1st, she said. Shortly after that, I did get a text from him didnt work for the company anymore, so sorry  that would probably be the last time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As it turns out, Davis wasnt the only one. She found out that her neighbor, Lachelle Brooks, was dealing with the same problem.

We turned a check over to them and we have not heard anything since then.

Brooks said her insurance company agreed to pay for half of the work upfront and the other half once the job was complete. She handed over a check for $6,500, and like Davis, has not heard back.

August is when I should be ready to hear from everyone about the new roof, I contacted someone late August and they were like Oh no, we have you on the schedule for February 2025, Brooks explained. I was like I wouldnt have went with you guys  can I get my money back? And he goes I understand your frustration but we are gonna try to work it out so you can get everything done in September. But didnt hear anything after that.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Davis and Brooks said their insurance companies are not getting involved, and they have not been able to contact Orange Elephant Roofing as several employees have left the company.

News 2 tried calling two numbers listed for Orange Elephant and neither call went through. We are told no one is available at their King Street location either.

However, Orange Elephant is currently being sued over debts they owe. On October 31, Gulfeagle Supply, a roofing and building product distributor, filed a lawsuit for breach of contract accusing Orange Elephant of failing to pay for materials totaling nearly $18,000.

As for Brooks and Davis, they are frustrated and hope they can get their money back. Davis said the situation will also change the way she does business moving forward.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Probably let my guard down by letting someone come to my front door and I probably shouldve reached out to a roofing company myself and maybe looked around more around my neighbors and asking them who they used, Davis said. I really want my money back and I want to get somebody else to do my roof.

Another roofing company is now stepping up to help those who are in similar situations with Orange Elephant Roofing. Patriot Roofing said they will do the work at cost for anyone who can provide proper documentation.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  This Thanksgiving Sun Metro will be offering free rides all day, making it easier for El Pasoans to travel, according to the City.

The City says buses will operate on a Sunday schedule throughout the day and no passes are required for boarding. Riders can easily plan their trip by clicking here: https://sunmetro.net/.

At Sun Metro, we deeply value our customers and the role they play in our community, said Anthony DeKeyzer, Director of Sun Metro. Providing efficient and affordable transportation is at the heart of what we do. With around 500,000 rides delivered each month, we are proud to show our gratitude by offering free rides on Thanksgiving. Its our way of saying thank you to our loyal riders and encouraging others to experience the convenience of public transit, Sun Metro said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For additional information about Sun Metros services and ongoing improvements, click here: www.SunMetro.net or call (915) 212-3333.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)  Sunset Police Chief Luis Padilla pleaded not guilty to a civil rights violation on Tuesday in connection with an alleged incident that occurred last December.

Padilla was arrested Tuesday, Nov. 26, after being indicted by a Lafayette federal grand jury. Hours after being arrested, Padilla appeared in court where he pleaded not guilty to a charge of deprivation of rights under the color of law.

As of 4:50 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, Padilla was released from custody. He declined KLFYs request for a comment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to a news release from the Department of Justice, Padilla is accused of a federal civil rights violation for willfully using unreasonable force against an individual during an investigation and detention in early December 2023.

The indictment further alleges that without legal justification, the individual was restrained in handcuffs, and Padilla forcefully twisted the individuals thumb and wrist in a manner intended to cause pain, which resulted in bodily injury to the individual, the news release read.

If convicted, Padilla faces up to 10 years in prison.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This report will be updated as information becomes available.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

KLFY Daily Digest

Latest news

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.
The conservative group Judicial Watch is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a case filed by U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, challenging Illinois law allowing mail-in ballots to be counted 14 days after the election.

Under Illinois law, ballots postmarked by Election Day can be counted as late as 14 days after the election as they arrive at local election authorities. Bosts case argued that Illinois law violates the federal law establishing Election Day by allowing votes to arrive and be counted for two weeks after the polls close. Two Illinois delegates at the Republican National Convention for President-elect Donald Trump, Laura Pollastrini and Susan Sweeney, are also part of Bosts lawsuit.

Two lower courts have already ruled against Bosts 2022 case against the Illinois State Board of Elections. The U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago ruled in August Bost lacked standing to sue in the case.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the legal fight is not over for Judicial Watch, which filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court on Nov. 19 asking the court to take up the case in hopes justices might strike down Illinois law.

Specific holdings in this case will tend to make the next electoral cycle as fraught as 2020, the group argues.

The filing cited numerous cases from 2020 challenging election laws and outcomes, some of which Judicial Watch was a part of, in efforts to block the counting of mail-in ballots.

Many other states also allow late-arriving mail-in ballots to be counted in the days after the election. Federal law regulates counting military ballots.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Judicial Watchs central argument to the U.S. Supreme Court is that the court of appeals in Chicago erred in its ruling that Bost lacked standing. The court ruled it was Bosts choice to spend campaign resources to monitor post-election counting while on his way to a large victory. Bost argued he suffered damages by extending his campaigns operation for two weeks beyond the election to monitor counting.

The appeals court made a major error by treating candidates likely electoral prospects as relevant to the standing analysis, where a challenged statute inflicted real costs on their campaigns, Judicial Watch argued.

Apparently, judges in pre-election cases must now try to predict electoral outcomes, the group said.

A State Board of Elections spokesperson declined to comment on pending litigation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bost, who has represented the 12th Congressional District in southern Illinois since 2015, was reelected this month with nearly 75% of the vote, according to preliminary results. Judicial Watch said it worried illegal votes could diminish his margin of victory and make it appear that he is growing more unpopular with his constituents. Bost himself argued his races have seen more mail-in ballots in recent campaigns.

Judicial Watch also argued Bost filed this case to preemptively correct perceived issues with the vote by mail law, which they believe gives him standing in federal court cases and is something the nations high court should be interested in addressing.

The group called Bosts challenge an ideal vehicle for the court to rule on vote by mail. The need to have that issue resolved, and outside of emergency litigation, is great, the group said.

Judicial Watch also pointed to largely unfounded concerns about the reliability of elections because of late counting of mail in ballots as another reason the U.S. Supreme Court needs to get involved.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is important that courts hear and resolve well-pleaded challenges by federal candidates to state time, place and manner regulations affecting their elections, the group said. Aside from the interests of the litigants, it is important that the public conclude that elections are run in an orderly, not arbitrary, fashion.

Republicans in Illinois and at the national level embraced mail-in voting in the 2024 election cycle after pushing back against it in recent years. The Illinois Republican Party joined the Republican National Committees bank your vote initiative, which encouraged reliable Republican voters to vote early or by mail so campaign resources could be focused on turning out people on the fence about voting or who were undecided.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
Members of the state Board of Elections learned of Griffins motion to disqualify during their Tuesday canvass, causing them to defer discussion of his protest to more than 60,000 ballots in his contest. (Screengrab from Board of Elections canvass broadcast.)

This story has been updated.

Republican North Carolina Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin on Tuesday filed a last-minute motion to disqualify a State Board of Elections member from hearing his protest to thousands of ballots cast in the race.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the motion, Griffin called on Siobhan Millen, one of three Democrats on the board, to be removed from any discussion of the judicial contest protest, citing her husband Pressly Millens position as a partner in Womble Bond Dickinson, a law firm representing Griffins Democratic opponent, Associate Justice Allison Riggs.

Board members learned of the challenge  filed just 15 minutes before they convened for the state election canvass Tuesday  during the meeting, causing them to postpone their planned discussion of Griffins protest to a later date.

Obviously, it came so close that no one has had a chance to even review it or respond to it, said Paul Cox, the state boards general counsel, during the hearing. The issue that you would be considering is encompassed within the motion to disqualify.

Griffin accuses Millen of conflict of interest

In the motion, attorneys for Griffin, a judge on the state Court of Appeals, argue that because Millens husband represented Riggs in the past and remains a partner of the firm that is handling the justices election litigation, she must be disqualified from the hearing on Griffins election challenges.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A reasonable observer would question the objectivity of Ms. Millen, who is the wife of the long-standing leader of Justice Riggs [sic] legal team, counsel for Griffin wrote. A reasonable observer would also conclude that Ms. Millen stands to benefit financially from this litigation through Mr. Millens ownership of a partnership share at Womble.

Griffins attorneys claim that Millens husband held himself out as Justice Riggs lead attorney and only declined to make an appearance for Griffins election protests. In the motion, they argue that that is insufficient to avoid Millens disqualification.

In an interview with NC Newsline, Pressly Millen said much of the motion is factually incorrect and the claims of a conflict of interest are unfounded.

My representation of Justice Riggs was limited to pre-election matters related solely to advertising issues, he said. I have not performed any legal work for Justice Riggs since before the election. I have had absolutely no involvement in the firms post-election representation of her at the board of elections.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He added that his firm uses an ethical screen to shield him from contact with the attorneys representing Riggs in the election litigation and prevent him from accessing any of the materials in that case  a standard practice at large law firms that he said the attorneys representing Griffin should be well-aware of.

North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin is challenging more than 60,000 ballots in his race to overcome a deficit in the state Supreme Court race.

No race in North Carolinas 2024 elections has been more of a rollercoaster than the state Supreme Court contest. The morning after the election  before the counting of provisional ballots  the board of elections unofficial tally showed Griffin with a nearly 10,000 vote lead over Riggs.

But after accounting for the record number of provisional ballots cast this year  with more than 60,000 applications filed  that apparent lead was reversed. Riggs held a 722-vote lead with the last of the county reports on Nov. 20, causing her opponent to request a recount and challenge tens of thousands of ballots, relying largely on theories advanced by the state Republican party that state and federal courts previously rejected.

Certification proceeds as planned

At Tuesdays meeting, the board unanimously certified the results of the states 2024 elections, with the exception of races undergoing recounts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The certified results show a record number of ballots in North Carolinas 2024 election, with more than 5.7 million cast this year from over 73% of registered voters. That reflects a slight decrease in turnout from 2020, which saw 75% turnout, though from a smaller voter registration pool.

North Carolina also broke its record for early in-person votes, with more than 4.2 million voters going to the polls prior to election day. Mail-in ballots fell from roughly 1 million in 2020 to just under 300,000 this year, which still reflects an increase of more than 100,000 from 2016, the last pre-pandemic presidential election.

Siobhan Millen commended board of elections executive director Karen Brinson Bell, pictured, on navigating the challenges of the 2024 race. (Photo: Screen grab from virtual press conference)

A statewide voter history audit  which compares voter check-ins and absentee ballot applications with the number of physical ballots cast  found no evidence that vote totals or ballots cast were manipulated.

As part of its election security measures, the state board also alerted counties to any instances where a North Carolina ID was linked to multiple votes, where voters whose registration had been removed or denied appeared to cast votes, and where individuals listed as felons or as deceased appeared to cast votes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Millen commended board of elections executive director Karen Brinson Bell and state election staff for overcoming the challenges presented by Hurricane Helene. Emergency election changes adopted by the board and expanded by the General Assembly greatly increased voting access in the western part of the state to prevent residents from being unable to cast ballots due to the storm.

The credit goes to definitely the staff and the 100 county boards staff members, Brinson Bell said. I think theyre all still working, in many cases, 1416-hour days and have been since the start of early voting to keep this going.

Recounts hold major implications for balance of power in North Carolina

The state did not yet certify the results of several races still undergoing recounts, including the state Supreme Court race, two races in each chamber of the North Carolina General Assembly, and five close races at the local level.

North Carolina Democrats have identified holding onto Riggs seat as a vital step as they seek to win back control of the state Supreme Court  where they currently hold just two of seven seats  ahead of whats expected to be another highly contentious redistricting fight in 2030. To win a Supreme Court majority, they would need to win at least four contests from a list that includes Riggs race, her Democratic colleague Anita Earlss 2026 election, and three Republican-held seats up for election in 2028.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Republican-controlled state Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that the political makeup of legislative districts in the state is not a matter for the courts amid challenges to partisan gerrymandering that has entrenched large Republican majorities in the General Assembly.

Rep. Tricia Cotham (R-Mecklenburg) leads in one of four North Carolina General Assembly races that went to recounts.

At stake in the recounts is not just the long-term future of the General Assembly, but also its composition come next January.

The four General Assembly races still undecided and for which recounts were requested are Senate Districts 18 and 42 and House Districts 32 and 105. All but the latter House race, where Democrat-turned-Republican Tricia Cotham holds a 206-vote lead over her opponent  showed narrow Democratic wins at the conclusion of the initial tally. All three Democratic wins are the subject of election protests.

The recounts in Cothams race and House District 32, where Democrat Bryan Cohn leads by 233 votes in the unofficial tally, will determine whether Republicans maintain their current supermajority in the state House. The GOP would need to prevail in both races to reach a supermajority of 72 representatives. Should Democrats win one or both, the supermajority will be broken.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With 60 counties in and 40 with results outstanding, the recounts impact on the final tally in the Riggs-Griffin Supreme Court race has been marginal. Riggs lead has fallen by about 67 votes, leaving her with a margin that is still above 600.

Should Griffins protest fail, it is unlikely the recount will change the outcome of the race  the nonpartisan election advocacy group FairVote found that since 2000, just three statewide recounts have reversed election outcomes, all with a margin of less than 300 votes. Recounts generally widen the gap between candidates rather than reducing it.

Griffins motion can be read here:

Griffin_-_Motion_to_Disqualify
Ukraine's Supreme Court on Nov. 26 upheld earlier rulings on nationalizing Ukraine's largest bank and dismissed an appeal of its former owner Ihor Kolomoisky, ending a years-long case.

Kolomoisky, one of the country's most well-known and controversial oligarchs, co-founded PrivatBank in 1992 but lost ownership to the state in 2016 after his management left a $5.5 billion hole in its balance sheet.

The oligarch was later charged with embezzling $220 million from PrivatBank and has been in detention since September 2023 pending trial over multiple charges of fraud, illegal property acquisition, money laundering, and a murder plot.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kolomoisky is the richest businessman to be imprisoned in Ukraine's independent history.

"The Commercial Court of Cassation of the Supreme Court... rejected the cassation appeals of the former shareholders of PrivatBank Ihor Kolomoisky and the Cypriot company Triantal Investments Ltd." and upheld earlier rulings of the Commercial Court of the City of Kyiv from May and the Northern Commercial Court of Appeal from September, the statement read.

The decision ended proceedings that had been ongoing for almost five years.

Read also: Opinion: Ukraines oligarchs were once kingmakers. Where are they now?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Susan Lorincz, 60, found guilty of manslaughter in last year's deadly shooting of her Black neighbor through a closed door, was sentenced Monday in Florida to 25 years in prison. Before sentencing, Lorincz said she felt "horrible for my actions" and insisted it "was not about race." Photo courtesy of Marion County Sheriff's Office

Nov. 25 (UPI) -- A 60-year-old White woman, found guilty of manslaughter in last year's deadly shooting of her Black neighbor through a closed door, was sentenced Monday in Florida to 25 years in prison, as the judge ruled the shooting "was based more on anger than fear."

"I find that the shooting, when I listened to every aspect of the trial and every aspect of the sentencing here, the facts don't rise to a murder charge, but they are very aggravated manslaughter," Judge Robert Hodges said before sentencing Susan Lorincz, who faced a maximum of 30 years for one count of manslaughter with a firearm and one count of assault.

Lorincz expressed little emotion as the judge announced the 25-year sentence, but she cried earlier as she issued a statement to 35-year-old Ajike Owens' family.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I am profoundly sad. Not only did a mother die, but a daughter and a sister. I so wish I could go back and change things so that she could be here," Lorincz said.

"I feel horrible for my actions. Please accept my sincere and humble apology for this tragedy," Lorincz added, as she insisted the shooting "was not about race."

Lorincz was convicted in August for shooting through the front door of her apartment following an ongoing dispute over Owens' children who had been told to "get off her land" after she called "them racial slurs," according to Owens' family attorney Ben Crump.

"It never happened," Lorincz insisted Monday during her sentencing statement. "I never called anyone the 'N' word."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Owens was knocking on Lorincz's door on June 2, 2023, when she was shot from the other side. Owens later died from her injuries.

"I was terrified of this woman," Lorincz claimed Monday, after listing dozens of health issues she faces to explain her fear. "When she was banging on that door, it was so loud. This woman kept coming after me, calling me crazy. This woman was terrorizing me."

But Judge Hodges said he found "the shooting to be based more on anger than fear."

"Although she was knocking loudly, she was not attempting to get into the residence. She was behind a door. The door was locked and police were on their way," Hodges said, adding that Lorincz inflicted the greater injury that will affect Owens' family for the rest of their lives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"They will live their whole lives without their mother, which is a significant harm inflicted upon them by Lorincz," the judge said.

Earlier Monday, Owens' family said Lorincz deserved "the maximum penalty under the law."

"There is not a day, not an hour, that I do not mourn for my daughter," said Pamela Davis, Owens' mother, who spoke on behalf of her daughter.

"I also mourn for my grandchildren. I weep for them. Every tear from my eyes is for Titus, Africa, Ezra and Isaac," Davis said. "I see the pain in their eyes. Even when they seem like they're happy. I recognize it because I carry that same pain."
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A suspect accused of fatally stabbing someone near the Embarcadero BART station this month was arrested on Sunday, the San Francisco Police Department said.

Johnathon Calvin Wright, 36, was arrested by BART police, and SFPD took custody of him early Sunday morning.

The stabbing happened at about 5:49 a.m. on Nov. 13 at Market Street and Main Street. The male victim died at the scene.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The suspect fled downstairs into the Embrcardero BART station after the stabbing and escaped, according to witnesses. An SFPD investigation identified Wright as their suspect. He was booked into jail for murder, according to the San Francisco jail log.

According to police, there was an interaction between the victim and suspect before the stabbing. The attack was not believed to be random.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Providence police are searching for the suspect in a deadly North End shooting, marking the citys 11th homicide this year.

The victim, identified as 49-year-old Keith Singleton, was shot and killed Sunday night on Monticello Street, according to police.

My heart goes out to the family, again, just before Thanksgiving, to have to go through such a difficult situation of mourning a loved one, Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Detectives returned to the scene Monday morning to continue their investigation.

Mayor Brett Smiley said that although the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident, any act of violence is unacceptable.

We dont believe that this was anything other than an isolated incident, and I dont believe that the North End for any reason is being targeted or somehow less safe than any other neighborhood right now, Smiley said.

Smiley: Providence cuts wont come out of snow removal budget

Police revealed that Singleton had been shot in the same area last year during an officer-involved shooting that began as a pursuit spanning Johnston, North Providence and Providence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Former state Rep. Marcia Ranglin-Vassell emphasized the need for resources to address those affected by violence.

To add support for intergenerational trauma, community trauma and violence, and to really make sure that we have more support for students, teachers and families, she said.

The Ward 4 city councilor organized an emergency community meeting for Tuesday to address rising violent crime in the North End.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Breaking News

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Sweden is asking a Chinese vessel to return to Swedish waters to help facilitate an investigation into recent breaches of undersea fibre-optic cables in the Baltic Sea, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Tuesday, but stressed he was not making any accusations.

Two subsea cables, one linking Finland and Germany and the other connecting Sweden to Lithuania, were damaged in less than 24 hours on Nov. 17-18, prompting German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius to say he assumed it was sabotage.

Sweden, Germany and Lithuania all launched criminal investigations last week, zeroing in on Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3, which left the Russian port of Ust-Luga on Nov. 15. A Reuters analysis of MarineTraffic data showed that the ship's coordinates corresponded to the time and place of the breaches.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The ship now sits idle in international waters but inside Denmark's exclusive economic zone, closely watched by Danish military vessels.

"From the Swedish side we have had contact with the ship and contact with China and said that we want the ship to move towards Swedish waters," Kristersson told a press conference, adding it would help facilitate the investigation.

"We're not making any accusations but we seek clarity on what has happened," Kristersson said.

China's foreign ministry said the communications channels with Sweden and other relevant parties were "unobstructed", when asked about Sweden's request.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I would like to reiterate China's consistent support working with all countries to maintain the security of international submarine cables and other infrastructure in accordance with international law," ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters at a regular news briefing on Wednesday.

Western intelligence officials from multiple countries have said they are confident the Chinese ship caused the cuts to both cables. But they have expressed different views on whether these were accidents or could have been deliberate.

U.S. Naval Intelligence assesses that both incidents were an accident, according to a U.S. official, but officials from other countries have said sabotage cannot be ruled out.

Katja Bego, Senior Research Fellow at Chatham House, told Reuters that, while between 150-200 such breaches occur every year and the overwhelming majority are accidents, geopolitical tensions in the region meant an investigation was probably warranted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Investigating incidents like this can take a long time, and even if the culprit is found, as appears to be the case here, proving intent is incredibly difficult," she said. "Neither sabotage nor an accident can be ruled out at this point."

Russia last week said suggestions it had anything to do with the breaches were "absurd".

Kristersson said he was hopeful that China would respond positively to the request to move the ship to Swedish waters. China's foreign ministry said on Monday that Beijing has maintained "smooth communication" with all parties involved.

Last year a subsea gas pipeline and several telecoms cables running along the bottom of the Baltic Sea were severely damaged, and Finnish police have said they believe the incident was caused by a Chinese ship dragging its anchor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the investigators have not said whether they believe the damage in 2023 was accidental or intentional.

(Reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen in Copenhagen, Essi Lehto in Helsinki, Johan Ahlander in Stockholm, Andrew Gray in Brussels and Nerijus Adomaitis in Oslo; additional reporting by Laurie Chen in Beijing; writing by Stine Jacobsen and Johan Ahlander; editing by Terje Solsvik, Philippa Fletcher, Jonathan Oatis, Alex Richardson, Bernadette Baum)
(Bloomberg) -- Swedens authorities have requested that the Chinese vessel linked to broken data cables in the Baltic Sea move closer to its waters, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bulk carrier, Yi Peng 3, is currently anchored just outside of Denmarks territorial waters, with vessels from Sweden, Denmark and Germany monitoring it.

We have been in contact with the ship and with China, and have stated that we want the ship to move toward Swedish waters, Kristersson said at a news conference in Stockholm on Tuesday, adding thats a wish to enable better cooperation and implies no accusation nor criminal investigation.

Swedish authorities have not yet received an answer, he said.

A high-speed fiber optic cable connecting Finland and Germany was cut just over a week ago by what was likely an external impact and a nearby link between Lithuania and Sweden was also damaged. The Chinese ship was in the vicinity of the two cables when the incidents happened.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its not the first time weve suffered a cable break with a slightly unclear basis, Kristersson said. It was the second such incident in the Baltic Sea in just over a year.

--With assistance from Anton Wilen.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Turkiye is negotiating with the United States to ease sanctions against Russia, which would allow it to continue using Gazprombank to pay for natural gas imports.

Source: Bloomberg

Details: Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said that without US permission, "we wont be able to pay Russia".

"If there is no exemption, it may amount to something very big for Turkiye," the minister said. He recalled previous instances when sanctions related to Iran were eased by granting special permits.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Russia is the largest gas supplier to Turkiye, accounting for about 42% of imports in 2023.

In general, Turkiye is heavily dependent on Russia in the energy sector, including importing about half of its oil and building a nuclear power plant with Russian assistance.

Turkiye and Russia are planning to establish a gas hub in Turkiye and are considering the possibility of laying new underwater gas pipelines.

Background:

In 2022, the United States introduced a new package of sanctions against Russia. The sanctions included approximately 2,600 visa restrictions for Russian and Belarusian officials, as well as the first sanctions against Gazprombank executives.

In June 2022, former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called on partners to disconnect Russian Gazprombank from SWIFT.

On 27 January 2023, Russian Gazprombank stopped cross-border transfers in US dollars.

The United States imposed sanctions on Gazprombank, one of the few major Russian lenders not yet blacklisted, to limit the Kremlin's ability to finance its military efforts.

Support UP or become our patron!
Taiwan lowered the threshold to trigger air raid alarms in case of a Chinese incursion, raising concerns that the revised system might leave citizens with less time to seek shelter during conflict.

Taiwanese defence minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung said the change was necessary due to the repeated and escalating hostilities by China across the Taiwan Strait.

But he assured that China will not remain unchallenged within Taiwans vicinity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Taiwan has been issuing air raid alerts if the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft or vessel breached the 70 nautical miles limit of the Taiwanese coast. However, that limit has been revised in recent years and now the air raid alert is triggered at 24 nautical miles.

Chinas repeated provocations across the median line and escalating hostilities around Taiwan have necessitated this adjustment, Mr Koo was quoted as saying by the South China Morning Post.

A woman walks past a Taiwanese national flag at Maritime Plaza in Keelung on 22 October 2024. China's military began a live fire exercise near Taiwan, maintaining pressure on the self-ruled island after staging large-scale drills and President Xi Jinping called for troops to prepare for war (AFP via Getty Images)

The military will respond by closely monitoring and analysing the situation to discern PLA intentions, ensuring they cannot operate unchallenged within Taiwans vicinity, he said.

Beijing views Taiwan, an island of 23 million people which is about 160km (100 miles) off Chinas east coast, as a renegade province that must come under its control.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The median line refers to the unofficial maritime boundary in the Taiwan Strait, a 180km-wide body of water separating Taiwan and mainland China. The line was first delineated in the 1950s by the US during the Cold War but Beijing has repeatedly refused to accept it and disregarded it, raising tensions.

Image released by China Coast Guard on Sina Weibo show drill route around Taiwan (China Coast Guard)

The Taiwanese government has accused China of intensifying its military harassment of the island in recent years, sending military vessels and aircraft near it almost daily. Beijing has also been flying balloons  which are feared to be used for surveillance  near the island despite Taiwans complaints.

Military officials in Taiwan have reportedly said the decision is to better align its defences with the PLAs strategies, possibly to avoid issuing warnings too early or unnecessarily.

However, the concern raised is that this adjustment could reduce the amount of time civilians have to seek shelter in case of a real threat during a potential cross-strait conflict.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Tuesday, Taiwans Ministry of National Defense (MND) said it detected five PLA aircraft and seven PLA navy vessels operating in the strait with at least four of the aircraft crossing the median line.

It came as Taiwan said it detected a Chinese balloon over the sea to Taiwans north, the first incident since April and in the days leading to the presidential election in January.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Officials are warning about fire dangers amid a recent cold snap and uptick in house fires.



As the temperatures drop, firefighters across the Tampa Bay area are investigating several weekend house fires including one of that claimed a life.

Rays must decide fate of stadium deal by Dec. 1, Pinellas commission chair says

In Polk City, the state fire marshal is investigating a deadly house fire. Fires also broke out at homes in Clearwater, Safety Harbor, Tampa and Valrico.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fire officials in Citrus County warned about chimney safety after a chimney fire over the weekend.

Electrical fires, accidental fires, kitchen fires, and now moving into the holiday season were going to start seeing unattended cooking which ends up being the number one reason why fire departments get called out to homes, said Vivian Shedd with Tampa Fire Rescue.

In the winter months, one in every seven fires is caused by heating equipment, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.



According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the most common reason is space heaters.

Space heaters need to be plugged directly into the outlet because they heat up really quickly and that includes the cord, said Shedd. You do not want to have blankets, or candles or anything thats flammable near your space heater because thats a fire hazard.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shedd is urging people to think about safety, as more house fires happen in the colder months than any other season.

While were together we want to have fun and have a good time, but safety should be above all else, said Shedd.

Shedd also urged people to check smoke detectors in their homes.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Tampa Bay Area Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor in downtown St. Petersburg on Nov. 26, 2024. (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix)

Donald Trumps promise that he will sign an executive order charging a 25% tariff on all products coming into the United States from Mexico and Canada is causing unease among some Democrats.

Reacting to published reports of a caravan of approximately 1,500 migrants making their way through Mexico hoping to reach the U.S. border before Trumps inauguration, Trump said on Monday that the tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump is so chaotic its very difficult to know what is real from him and what is not, Tampa Bay area Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor told the Phoenix Tuesday following a news conference in St. Petersburg celebrating small local businesses ahead of the holiday season.

Were a couple of months before hes inaugurated, and Im really focused on hurricane recovery. Thats what people are talking about. How they can rebuild and repair their homes. How we get small businesses back on their feet. That kind of chaos that Trump brings is not helpful to a small business owner or an economy like ours that relies on our small business owners.

Castor, who was re-elected for a 10th term representing constituents in both Hillsborough and Pinellas counties earlier this month, said it obvious to her that the economy was the biggest issue in Trumps triumph over Democrat Kamala Harris in the presidential election.

Immigration was another top issue cited by the voters in exit polls, Castor said, adding that shes heard from a number of her constituents worried about Trumps plan to enact mass deportations immediately upon taking office on Jan. 20.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Although data show that from the time that Joe Biden took office in January 2021 through June 2024 there were more than 10 million encounters at all U.S. borders and ports of entry, a dramatic escalation from previous years, Castor argued the incoming president deserves criticism for opposing a border security bill proposed by a bipartisan group of legislators earlier this year  a familiar talking point by Democrats when asked about immigration during this election cycle.

People want people to come here in a legal manner and so we need to fix our immigration laws, she said.

Donald Trump bears a lot of responsibility for killing a bipartisan proposal that would have strengthened border enforcement. That would have laid the groundwork for a path to citizenship for many people who came here legally.  Like I said, hes just an agent of chaos, and if I thought that there was some path forward to really make sure that people who have worked here, played by the rules, are here legally, got a path to citizenship while we beef edup border security  I think thats what most people are talking about.

Ozempic

The Biden administration proposed a rule change Tuesday that would allow millions of Americans with obesity access to weight-loss drugs like Ozempic through Medicare or Medicaid, at a cost of as much as $35 billion over the next decade, as reported by the Associated Press.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Weve got to examine it because theres got to be a balance on what helps keep people healthy and well versus the overriding costs, Castor said. Thats always the challenge when it comes to Medicare.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Castor invoked a just-released movie when asked whether Cabinet choices nominated by Trump in the past week give her pause before they go before the U.S. Senate for confirmation.

I saw Wicked over the weekend and a lot of these people are defying gravity, she said, referring to one of the songs from the hit Broadway musical included in the film, specifically the lyric that goes, I hope youre proud how you would grovel in submission to feed your own ambition.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There are a lot of people like that right now defying gravity and defying common sense, and I really hope the Senate stays strong in making sure that they vet all of these Cabinet picks, she said, choosing not to mention by name any of the more controversial picks. Thats their constitutional duty and they should take it seriously.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Tampa dentist pleaded guilty to sending multiple threats from 2019 to 2024 to multiple victims, some of which were racially charged and praised President-elect Donald Trump, the Department of Justice announced Monday.

Court documents show Richard Glenn Kantwill, 61, sent over 100 threats to various public figures from September 2019 to July 2020. The victims were chosen based on their political commentary and were sent through social media, email, and texts.

The FBI interviewed Kantwill on Oct. 15, 2019, after someone complained about threatening messages and warned him to stop, according to a pre-trial motion for detention.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite the FBIs warning, Kantwill spent the next ten months sending threats to over 40 victims via social media and email, prosecutors wrote, noting that theyre aware of a violent threat as recently as February.

(Pinellas County Sheriffs Office)

The victims included an author, a religious persona, and a television personality, the DOJ said.

Some of the messages seemed to include racial slurs, which were redacted.

You, sir, are a degenerate piece of s. read your article about The Great Donald Trump. It is so blatantly prejudiced that you dont even attempt to be impartial, you [redacted]. You are gayI can tell. F you. I love what Trump does and where he stays. You ignorant [redacted] never cared about how the great ghetto [redacted] Obama and how he got rich, but your going to get a hard-on about where Trump stays. So blatantly ignorant, and liberally immoral. God bless the Great President Trump and his family. F you and yours. Hire extra securityyoure gonna need it. I plan on f- you upjust for the fun of it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Another message called a victim a fake Reverend.

We are going to kill you. Torture first, then death. You will deny Christ, just like Judas because you are a coward. Either wayprepare to die. You wont see Christ.because you as re an immoral degenerate.

Kantwill also allegedly sent a threatening message to a politician, also containing an apparent racial slur.

You are a degenerate c and you are now the target of our own investigation. Take note because liberal [redacted] like you get raped in alleys, by really big black guys that serve our cause. So, you [redacted] are going to get raped by at least 5 [redacted] and do nothing. You are the number 1 target, you degenerate [redacted].

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kantwill also sent a text message to investigators after refusing to speak with the FBI.

God bless America!!! F Biden!!!! Kantwill wrote, followed by another middle finger emoji.

Kantwill also sent at least seven more threats to four public figures via Facebook from April 2022 to April 2024, including to an election official in another state.

With this plea, the Justice Department is ensuring that Richard Kantwill faces accountability for targeting an election official and other public figures with over 100 heinous threats, said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. In the three years since I created the Departments Election Threats Task Force we have worked to aggressively combat the dangerous increase in violent threats against the public servants who administer our elections.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Todays action is yet another warning: the Justice Department will not stand for threats of violence that endanger peoples safety and endanger our democracy.

Kantwill pleaded guilty to four counts of interstate transmission of a threat. He faces up to five years in prison for each count. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled for a later date.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Oklahoma lawmakers want to cut personal income taxes, ban certain ingredients from food and drinks and place new requirements on where wind turbines can be built. Those ideas and others are among the earliest bills proposed for the 2025 legislative session.

Legislators have until Dec. 6 to submit their ideas for new laws. The proposals then have to meet one or two key deadlines before the session starts Feb. 2. Its likely a number of the bills filed will be shell bills  measures that are mostly filled out during the session as lawmakers set their priorities.

Only a fraction of the bills submitted by lawmakers will become law. In 2024, legislators filed more than 2,000 bills for consideration  not counting joint or concurrent resolutions. About 430 of those measures passed both chambers and were sent to Gov. Kevin Stitt to be signed into law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Here's a closer look at the first five measures lawmakers want to take up this year:

Newly elected and reelected senators are sworn in to office at a Nov. 13 ceremony at the Capitol. The legislative session formally begins in February.

Senate Bill 1 would reduce personal income taxes

The first bill filed in the Senate may also be one of the most debated. Senate Bill 1 seeks to reduce the personal income tax rate starting next year, then keep decreasing the rate every year by a quarter of a percentage point until it equals zero.

Cutting the personal income tax has long been a goal of Gov. Kevin Stitt and other Republican lawmakers, but critics have said Oklahoma doesnt have enough to cover a major reduction.

The latest proposal, introduced by Sen. Michael Bergstrom, R-Adair, includes certain revenue benchmarks the state must hit in order for the reductions to take place in any given year. The tax rate would not be reduced if the state has a revenue failure or shortfall.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bergstrom said in a statement that he considered his proposal a way to support "hard-working Oklahomans."

This measured, step-by-step approach ensures that our state remains on a sound financial footing while giving families and businesses more of their hard-earned money back, he said.

Be the first to know: Sign up for breaking news email alerts

Stitt and House Republican leaders have embraced prior proposals to cut income taxes, but the measures came up against a brick wall in the Senate, led by then-President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City. Treat left office earlier this month and will be replaced by Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While tax cuts will likely be a big topic of discussion in 2025, it's unclear how much traction Bergstrom's proposal will gain or if lawmakers will throw their support behind a different idea.

Last year, lawmakers did agree to cut Oklahoma's 4.5% portion of the grocery tax, which was estimated to save Oklahomans about $3.38 on an $85 grocery bill.

Senate Bill 2 would address wind turbine concerns

The first in a pair of bills introduced by Sen. Grant Green, R-Wellston, Senate Bill 2 would require wind turbines to be a set distance from homes. Specifically, the turbines would need to be at least 0.25 nautical miles or three-tenths of a mile away from residences. The set-back requirements also would apply to any piece of land used for oil or mineral production.

Grant's proposal follows concerns about the increasing number of wind turbines in his district, which became a hot-button local issue during primary elections earlier this year. Though Green himself was not up for election, incumbent Republican Rep. Kevin Wallace, who also represented parts of Lincoln County, lost his seat to challenger Jim Shaw amid the controversy over green energy efforts.

The first bills introduced for consideration during the 2025 legislative session include Senate proposals to cut income taxes and require wind turbines to be a certain distance from homes.

Senate Bill 3 would halt farms from using biosolid fertilizer

Greens second bill also seeks to address a local controversy in his district. The measure would place a moratorium on biosolid fertilizer use on land and revoke active applications until July 2028.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Biosolid fertilizer is made from processed sewage and can sometimes include chemicals that harm the environment and human health. It may also include PFAs, often called forever chemicals, according to reporting by Investigate Midwest, an online agricultural news outlet. The organization analyzed state records and found Oklahoma has an extensive biosolid fertilizer program, with more than 80% of the state's wastewater sludge ending up on crop fields.

Some Lincoln County residents have worked to block companies from applying the fertilizer, which they called "humanure."

Senate Bill 4 would prohibit some ingredients from food, drinks

A proposal filed by Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, would prohibit 11 additives from being used in food products, including four colors of dye. Some of the additives have been shown to have adverse health effects, while others are not harmful after the food is prepared properly. California has already banned several of the ingredients targeted in Thompson's bill.

In addition to certain types of dyes, the bill also seeks to block substances such as vegetable oil with bromine, potassium bromate and propylparaben.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the Food and Drug Administration, vegetable oil with bromine, which is also called brominated vegetable oil, is used as a stabilizer in fruit-flavored beverages. The agency revoked its use in August after studies deemed the substance was unsafe and could cause thyroid issues. The rule will be fully enforced by August 2025.

Potassium bromate can help improve flour in baked goods such as bread. It is also considered a carcinogen that can be harmful if inhaled or absorbed through the skin, but when consumed in properly heated baked goods at normal levels, it does not cause harm, according to Michigan State Universitys Center for Research on Ingredient Safety.

Propylparaben is found in many foods, including pastries, jams and jellies, olives and pickles, and soft drinks. The FDA rates the additive as generally recognized as safe, but critics say it can disrupt the endocrine system.

House Bill 1001 is named for Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman

Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, filed the first House bill, and its one hes tried to pass before. The bill would add accessory to murder in the first or second degree to the list of criminal convictions that would require an offender to serve 85% of their prison sentence before being considered for parole.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill is named for two 16-year-olds, Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman, both of Welch, who were kidnapped, tortured, raped and killed on New Years Eve 1999. Officials believe their bodies were left in a mine pit in Picher, but their remains have not been recovered. Danny and Kathy Freeman, Ashleys parents, were shot and killed in the crime, and their remains were found in their mobile home that was set on fire.

The proposed law comes as a result of the prison time served by the man charged with accessory to felony murder in relation to the crimes. Ronnie Busick received a 10-year prison sentence with five years probation. He earned time for good behavior and received time credited while in a county jail, which allowed him to serve three years and be released.

A similar bill passed the House last year with an overwhelming majority, but the bill was not considered in the Senate.

"I made a promise to the Bible family that I would continue to fight for justice for victims like Lauria and Ashley," Bashore said in a statement announcing that he was refiling the bill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lorene Bible, Laurias mother, has said the family would never have agreed to Busick's sentence had they known he would not have been required to serve at least 85% of his sentence.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Bills filed by Oklahoma lawmakers would cut taxes, ban ingredients
Medicare Advantage  the commercial alternative to traditional Medicare  is drawing down federal health care funds, costing taxpayers an extra 22% per enrollee to the tune of US$83 billion a year.

Medicare Advantage, also known as Part C, was supposed to save the government money. The competition among private insurance companies, and with traditional Medicare, to manage patient care was meant to give insurance companies an incentive to find efficiencies. Instead, the programs payment rules overpay insurance companies on the taxpayers dime.

We are health care policy experts who study Medicare, including how the structure of the Medicare payment system is, in the case of Medicare Advantage, working against taxpayers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Medicare beneficiaries choose an insurance plan when they turn 65. Younger people can also become eligible for Medicare due to chronic conditions or disabilities. Beneficiaries have a variety of options, including the traditional Medicare program administered by the U.S. government, Medigap supplements to that program administered by private companies, and all-in-one Medicare Advantage plans administered by private companies.

Commercial Medicare Advantage plans are increasingly popular  over half of Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in them, and this share continues to grow. People are attracted to these plans for their extra benefits and out-of-pocket spending limits. But due to a loophole in most states, enrolling in or switching to Medicare Advantage is effectively a one-way street. The Senate Finance Committee has also found that some plans have used deceptive, aggressive and potentially harmful sales and marketing tactics to increase enrollment.

Baked into the plan

Researchers have found that the overpayment to Medicare Advantage companies, which has grown over time, was, intentionally or not, baked into the Medicare Advantage payment system. Medicare Advantage plans are paid more for enrolling people who seem sicker, because these people typically use more care and so would be more expensive to cover in traditional Medicare.

However, differences in how peoples illnesses are recorded by Medicare Advantage plans causes enrollees to seem sicker and costlier on paper than they are in real life. This issue, alongside other adjustments to payments, leads to overpayment with taxpayer dollars to insurance companies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some of this extra money is spent to lower cost sharing, lower prescription drug premiums and increase supplemental benefits like vision and dental care. Though Medicare Advantage enrollees may like these benefits, funding them this way is expensive. For every extra dollar that taxpayers pay to Medicare Advantage companies, only roughly 50 to 60 cents goes to beneficiaries in the form of lower premiums or extra benefits.

As Medicare Advantage becomes increasingly expensive, the Medicare program continues to face funding challenges.

In our view, in order for Medicare to survive long term, Medicare Advantage reform is needed. The way the government pays the private insurers who administer Medicare Advantage plans, which may seem like a black box, is key to why the government overpays Medicare Advantage plans relative to traditional Medicare.

Paying Medicare Advantage

Private plans have been a part of the Medicare system since 1966 and have been paid through several different systems. They garnered only a very small share of enrollment until 2006.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The current Medicare Advantage payment system, implemented in 2006 and heavily reformed by the Affordable Care Act in 2010, had two policy goals. It was designed to encourage private plans to offer the same or better coverage than traditional Medicare at equal or lesser cost. And, to make sure beneficiaries would have multiple Medicare Advantage plans to choose from, the system was also designed to be profitable enough for insurers to entice them to offer multiple plans throughout the country.

To accomplish this, Medicare established benchmark estimates for each county. This benchmark calculation begins with an estimate of what the government-administered traditional Medicare plan would spend on the average county resident. This value is adjusted based on several factors, including enrollee location and plan quality ratings, to give each plan its own benchmark.

Medicare Advantage plans then submit bids, or estimates, of what they expect their plans to spend on the average county enrollee. If a plans spending estimate is above the benchmark, enrollees pay the difference as a Part C premium.

Most plans spending estimates are below the benchmark, however, meaning they project that the plans will provide coverage that is equivalent to traditional Medicare at a lower cost than the benchmark. These plans dont charge patients a Part C premium. Instead, they receive a portion of the difference between their spending estimate and the benchmark as a rebate that they are supposed to pass on to their enrollees as extras, like reductions in cost-sharing, lower prescription drug premiums and supplemental benefits.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Finally, in a process known as risk adjustment, Medicare payments to Medicare Advantage health plans are adjusted based on the health of their enrollees. The plans are paid more for enrollees who seem sicker.

The government pays Medicare Advantage plans based on Medicares cost estimates for a given county. The benchmark is an estimate from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of what it would cost to cover an average county enrollee in traditional Medicare, plus adjustments including quartile payments and quality bonuses. The risk-adjusted benchmark also takes into consideration an enrollees health. Samantha Randall at USC, CC BY-ND

Theory versus reality

In theory, this payment system should save the Medicare system money because the risk-adjusted benchmark that Medicare estimates for each plan should run, on average, equal to what Medicare would actually spend on a plans enrollees if they had enrolled in traditional Medicare instead.

In reality, the risk-adjusted benchmark estimates are far above traditional Medicare costs. This causes Medicare  really, taxpayers  to spend more for each person who is enrolled in Medicare Advantage than if that person had enrolled in traditional Medicare.

Why are payment estimates so high? There are two main culprits: benchmark modifications designed to encourage Medicare Advantage plan availability, and risk adjustments that overestimate how sick Medicare Advantage enrollees are.

High risk-adjusted benchmarks lead to overpayments from the government to the private companies that administer Medicare Advantage plans. Samantha Randall at USC, CC BY-ND

Benchmark modifications

Since the current Medicare Advantage payment system started in 2006, policymaker modifications have made Medicares benchmark estimates less tied to what the plan spends on each enrollee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2012, as part of the Affordable Care Act, Medicare Advantage benchmark estimates received another layer: quartile adjustments. These made the benchmark estimates, and therefore payments to Medicare Advantage companies, higher in areas with low traditional Medicare spending and lower in areas with high traditional Medicare spending. This benchmark adjustment was meant to encourage more equitable access to Medicare Advantage options.

In that same year, Medicare Advantage plans started receiving quality bonus payments with plans that have higher star ratings based on quality factors such as enrollee health outcomes and care for chronic conditions receiving higher bonuses.

However, research shows that ratings have not necessarily improved quality and may have exacerbated racial inequality.

Even before fully taking into account risk adjustment, recent estimates peg the benchmarks, on average, as 8% higher than average traditional Medicare spending. This means that a Medicare Advantage plans spending estimate could be below the benchmark and the plan would still get paid more for its enrollees than it would have cost the government to cover those same enrollees in traditional Medicare.

Overestimating enrollee sickness

The second major source of overpayment is health risk adjustment, which tends to overestimate how sick Medicare Advantage enrollees are.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Each year, Medicare studies traditional Medicare diagnoses, such as diabetes, depression and arthritis, to understand which have higher treatment costs. Medicare uses this information to adjust its payments for Medicare Advantage plans. Payments are lowered for plans with lower predicted costs based on diagnoses and raised for plans with higher predicted costs. This process is known as risk adjustment.

But there is a critical bias baked into risk adjustment. Medicare Advantage companies know that theyre paid more if their enrollees seem more sick, so they diligently make sure each enrollee has as many diagnoses recorded as possible.

This can include legal activities like reviewing enrollee charts to ensure that diagnoses are recorded accurately. It can also occasionally entail outright fraud, where charts are upcoded to include diagnoses that patients dont actually have.

In traditional Medicare, most providers  the exception being Accountable Care Organizations  are not paid more for recording diagnoses. This difference means that the same beneficiary is likely to have fewer recorded diagnoses if they are enrolled in traditional Medicare rather than a private insurers Medicare Advantage plan. Policy experts refer to this phenomenon as a difference in coding intensity between Medicare Advantage and traditional Medicare.

The same person is likely to be documented with more illnesses if they enroll in Medicare Advantage rather than traditional Medicare  and cost taxpayers more money. Samantha Randall at USC, CC BY-ND

In addition, Medicare Advantage plans often try to recruit beneficiaries whose health care costs will be lower than their diagnoses would predict, such as someone with a very mild form of arthritis. This is known as favorable selection.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The differences in coding and favorable selection make beneficiaries look sicker when they enroll in Medicare Advantage instead of traditional Medicare. This makes cost estimates higher than they should be. Research shows that this mismatch  and resulting overpayment  is likely only going to get worse as Medicare Advantage grows.

Where the money goes

Some of the excess payments to Medicare Advantage are returned to enrollees through extra benefits, funded by rebates. Extra benefits include cost-sharing reductions for medical care and prescription drugs, lower Part B and D premiums, and extra supplemental benefits like hearing aids and dental care that traditional Medicare doesnt cover.

Medicare Advantage enrollees may enjoy these benefits, which could be considered a reward for enrolling in Medicare Advantage, which, unlike traditional Medicare, has prior authorization requirements and limited provider networks.

However, according to some policy experts, the current means of funding these extra benefits is unnecessarily expensive and inequitable.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It also makes it difficult for traditional Medicare to compete with Medicare Advantage.

Traditional Medicare, which tends to cost the Medicare program less per enrollee, is only allowed to provide the standard Medicare benefits package. If its enrollees want dental coverage or hearing aids, they have to purchase these separately, alongside a Part D plan for prescription drugs and a Medigap plan to lower their deductibles and co-payments.

Medicare Advantage plans offer extras, but at a high cost to the Medicare system  and taxpayers. Only 50-60 cents of a dollar spent is returned to enrollees as decreased costs or increased benefits. AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The system sets up Medicare Advantage plans to not only be overpaid but also be increasingly popular, all on the taxpayers dime. Plans heavily advertise to prospective enrollees who, once enrolled in Medicare Advantage, will likely have difficulty switching into traditional Medicare, even if they decide the extra benefits are not worth the prior authorization hassles and the limited provider networks. In contrast, traditional Medicare typically does not engage in as much direct advertising. The federal government only accounts for 7% of Medicare-related ads.

At the same time, some people who need more health care and are having trouble getting it through their Medicare Advantage plan  and are able to switch back to traditional Medicare  are doing so, according to an investigation by The Wall Street Journal. This leaves taxpayers to pick up care for these patients just as their needs rise.

Where do we go from here?

Many researchers have proposed ways to reduce excess government spending on Medicare Advantage, including expanding risk adjustment audits, reducing or eliminating quality bonus payments or using more data to improve benchmark estimates of enrollee costs. Others have proposed even more fundamental reforms to the Medicare Advantage payment system, including changing the basis of plan payments so that Medicare Advantage plans will compete more with each other.

Reducing payments to plans may have to be traded off with reductions in plan benefits, though projections suggest the reductions would be modest.

There is a long-running debate over what type of coverage should be required under both traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Recently, policy experts have advocated for introducing an out-of-pocket maximum to traditional Medicare. There have also been multiple unsuccessful efforts to make dental, vision, and hearing services part of the standard Medicare benefits package.

Although all older people require regular dental care and many of them require hearing aids, providing these benefits to everyone enrolled in traditional Medicare would not be cheap. One approach to providing these important benefits without significantly raising costs is to make these benefits means-tested. This would allow people with lower incomes to purchase them at a lower price than higher-income people. However, means-testing in Medicare can be controversial.

There is also debate over how much Medicare Advantage plans should be allowed to vary. The average Medicare beneficiary has over 40 Medicare Advantage plans to choose from, making it overwhelming to compare plans. For instance, right now, the average person eligible for Medicare would have to sift through the fine print of dozens of different plans to compare important factors, such as out-of-pocket maximums for medical care, coverage for dental cleanings, cost-sharing for inpatient stays, and provider networks.

Although millions of people are in suboptimal plans, 70% of people dont even compare plans, let alone switch plans, during the annual enrollment period at the end of the year, likely because the process of comparing plans and switching is difficult, especially for older Americans.

MedPAC, a congressional advising committee, suggests that limiting variation in certain important benefits, like out-of-pocket maximums and dental, vision and hearing benefits, could help the plan selection process work better, while still allowing for flexibility in other benefits. The challenge is figuring out how to standardize without unduly reducing consumers options.

The Medicare Advantage program enrolls over half of Medicare beneficiaries. However, the $83-billion-per-year overpayment of plans, which amounts to more than 8% of Medicares total budget, is unsustainable. We believe the Medicare Advantage payment system needs a broad reform that aligns insurers incentives with the needs of Medicare beneficiaries and American taxpayers.

This article is part of an occasional series examining the U.S. Medicare system.

Past articles in the series:

Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: sales pitches are often from biased sources, the choices can be overwhelming and impartial help is not equally available to all

Grace McCormack receives funding from Arnold Ventures and Commonwealth Fund to study Medicare Advantage.

Erin Duffy receives funding from Arnold Ventures and provides expert testimony on matters in the health insurance and hospital sectors.
ROBERTSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  A Millersville man faces statutory rape and sexual battery charges following an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).

Back in September, the TBI said they received a request from the 19th Judicial District Attorney General Robert Nash to investigate allegations that a child had been raped by 37-year-old Joseph Maynard.

Byrdstown man accused of using Snapchat to send child sexual abuse material

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During the investigation, special agents reportedly learned that Maynard had sexual contact with the juvenile at a Goodlettsville home in July.

A Robertson County Grand Jury returned an indictment on Oct. 17, charging Maynard with one county of sexual battery, one count of rape and one count of aggravated statutory rape.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

According to the TBI, Maynard was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Wells, Minnesota on Nov. 14. He was later returned to Tennessee and booked into the Robertson County Jail on Nov. 24, the agency added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

No additional details were immediately released.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Perrysburg High School has placed a teacher on leave after they mistakenly provided ammonia instead of vinegar for an experiment, according to a release from the school.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Some students ingested a small amount of the substance and had symptoms that were checked by the school nurse, the school says. After calling Poison Control, the students families were advised to seek further medical attention as a precaution, according to the school.

TRENDING STORIES:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The teacher has been placed on leave as the school investigates the incident.

The school contacted the families of students in the class with information about what happened.

We want to extend our deepest apologies to the students and families impacted by this error. This incident is unacceptable and does not reflect the high standards of safety and care that we uphold in our schools, the school said in their news release.

Read Perrysburg High Schools full statement below:

Dear PHS Families,

We are writing to inform you about a serious incident that occurred during a science lab activity at Perrysburg High School on Monday, November 25, 2024. During the activity, a teacher mistakenly provided ammonia instead of the intended vinegar for an experiment. This error resulted in several students ingesting a small amount of the substance, leading to some of those students experiencing symptoms that required evaluation by the school nurse. After consultation with Poison Control, those families were advised to seek further medical attention as a precaution.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Our priority is ensuring the health and safety of the affected students. The PHS staff contacted the families of all students in the class, provided details about the incident, and offered guidance for next steps. We are committed to maintaining open communication with these families and supporting the students.

We want to extend our deepest apologies to the students and families impacted by this error. This incident is unacceptable and does not reflect the high standards of safety and care that we uphold in our schools.

The faculty member has been placed on administrative leave pending a full investigation, which is underway, to understand exactly how this mistake occurred.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support as we address this matter.

Sincerely,

Thomas L. Hosler

Superintendent

Perrysburg Schools

[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]




Milana Li, 13, was found dead in a stream after 16-year-old Daniel R. Gore raped and killed her

Beaverton Police Department/Facebook Milana Li (left); and Daniel Ryan Gore. Milana Li (left); and Daniel Ryan Gore.

An Oregon teenager obsessed with the eponymous serial killer from the TV series Dexter lured a 13-year-old girl into the woods before he raped and killed her in 2022, a jury has found.

Milana Li, 13, was found dead on May 10, 2022, in a stream in Washington County, Ore., the Beaverton Police Department said at the time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Daniel R. Gore, 19, is now convicted of raping, sexually assaulting and killing her, the Washington County District Attorneys Office announced in a statement last week.

During the two-week-long trial, a jury heard that Gore, who was 16-years-old at the time of the killing, took advantage of Milanas trust, according to the DAs office's Friday, Nov. 22, statement.

Related: Teen Charged with Murdering Ore. Girl, 13, Who Could 'Brighten Up a Whole Room'

Gore reportedly lured the child into the woods on May 8, 2022, prosecutors said. He murdered her near a tent where he was living at the time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On May 9, Milana was reported missing from her Beaverton home, per police. A massive search effort ensued, per The Oregonian, and led investigators to the sixth graders body the following day.

Investigators determined, through cell phone data and security footage, that Milana was last seen alive with Gore on May 8, according to the DAs office.

As they investigated the killer further, they learned of his obsession with violence, per The Oregonian.

In a journal discovered in Gore's tent, detectives found an entry that read: "I feel like Dexter, referencing the serial killer on the TV series.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was his choice to take a vulnerable girl who trusted him and followed him into the woods ... and act out his fantasy," Senior Deputy District Attorney John Gerhard told the jury, per the The Oregonian.

Detectives also found photos of violent sexual acts on Gore's phone.



Beaverton Police Department Milani Li

In a GoFundMe that was set up following her killing, Milana was remembered as "a light, a true friend who opened up her warm heart to everyone and truly listened. She was a wonderful daughter, her parents (Assel and Andrey) could trust and depend on her."



Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Gory, who was tried as an adult, faces a mandatory minimum of life in prison with the possibility of parole in 30 years, The Oregonian reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

His sentencing has been scheduled for Dec. 2, per the outlet.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  As more people in Tennessee move to forested areas of the state, the Department of Agriculture is pushing to create a new team to train first responders how to fight wildfires.

According to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA), Tennessee has one of the fastest-growing wildland urban interfaces in the country. In recent years, the area where humans and nature meet has increased around 2 million acres in the state. Those areas are more prone to wildfires.

SEE ALSO | TN Department of Agriculture warns that homes built too close to tree lines could spark fires

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As urbanization and people build residences, some of them build within the trees and [there is] not much access, said Dr. Charlie Hatcher, TDA Commissioner. Some of them are not fire-ready.

Experts say many people have built new homes along a forest or treeline in Tennessee, which can create serious challenges for first responders during a fire.

What that does for us in wildland fire fighting is it makes it infinitely more complex to fight those fires, because now were not just dealing with trees and plants, were also dealing with peoples homes and communities, Megan Carpenter with the TDA said.

Lonely road: The counties in Tennessee where people drive to work alone the most

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The TDA recently requested $245,000 to create a wildfire resiliency team pilot program, which would train paid and volunteer fire departments to respond to wildfires. The three-person crew would be based in the Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Crossville areas.

These individuals will be directed towards making sure theyre trained because they are oftentimes the first on the scene and we need them to be safe, State Forester Heather Slayton said. We need them to understand how small fires in that wildland urban interface can exponentially increase into wildfires, and then we need them to be able to integrate into our complex wildland fire operations.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The $245,000 request is part of the TDAs overall more than $24.5 million budget increase request for fiscal 2025-26 year. Governor Bill Lee will reportedly consider the request when drafting his budget proposal, which the General Assembly will have to approve.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Former Tennessee State University President Glenda Glover has been paid nearly $511,000 by the school since she retired on June 30.

Documents obtained by The Tennessean showed that Glover was set to receive two $425,000 payments in an $850,000 transition agreement with the university. Additionally, she was set to draw $212,500 a year for four years in an advisory role for the school.

TSU Board Chair Dakasha Winton said that, as of Nov. 23, Glover had been paid $425,000 as part of the transition payment, along with $85,746.11 from her advisory salary  or roughly five months of pay. Glover told The Tennessean she postponed the second $425,000 transition payment because the university was pressed for cash.

Now-former Tennessee State University President Glenda Glover speaks during the school's graduation ceremony on Dec. 9, 2017.

All this comes as the historically Black university faces a dire financial situation and as advocates continue to call for the restoration of $2.1 billion in underfunding by the state. That figure was revealed by the federal government last year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It's not clear if the school will make any additional payments to Glover, or if her contracts are still active.

More: How the state underfunded Tennessee State University by $2 billion

"Please note that this board has not approved any agreements with the immediate past president," Winton said during a board meeting Friday. "Full transparency on these matters is essential for restoring trust."

On Tuesday, Winton confirmed that Laurence Pendleton, the university's general counsel, was fired over the weekend. That came after the board urged interim President Ronald Johnson to end Pendleton's contract, along with Glover's, in a unanimous vote Friday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Here's what to know about where things stand.

From Friday: TSU board pushes to end $1.7M compensation deal with former President Glenda Glover

TSU board pushes to end $1.7M agreement with Glenda Glover, requests more information

Glover retired on June 30, a few months after the state legislature ousted the previous board of trustees following years of scrutiny of the school's leadership, management and finances. Glover told The Tennessean that state lawmakers encouraged her to retire.

The new board, appointed swiftly by Gov. Bill Lee, took their seats in April and halted a previous search for a new TSU president. They appointed Johnson to a one-year term on July 1.

Interim President Ronald A. Johnson gives his remarks to the public at the TSU Board of Trustees meeting at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.

Documents obtained by the Tennessean show that the previous board chair, along with Pendleton, signed off on two agreements with Glover before she left: An $850,000 buyout package that covered the cost of the remainder of her contract as president, along with an additional agreement to serve as president emeritus for the school over four years at $212,500 a year, or $850,000 total.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That brings the total cost of her buyout and payment agreement to $1.7 million over the next four years.

Under the president emeritus agreement, which began July 1, Glovers duties could include fundraising, guest lecturing, hosting and attending events, and maintaining relationships with stakeholders. It also provides her an administrative assistant, designated parking and access to the university suite at Nissan Stadium for TSU and Titans games as part of her duties.

During its Friday meeting, the TSU board requested to see all documents and payments tied to former President Glenda Glover since she retired in June, along with the outcomes of her work . That information was delivered to the board late Monday night, according to Winton.

Can TSU terminate Glover's contract?

Terminating Glover's agreement may be a challenge.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If the board or the board's designee decides to terminate it, the agreement states that Glover shall be paid the remainder of the amount owed to her in the deal unless she is fired for "gross malfeasance or fraud," as defined by university policy. If she resigns, she also would be owed money.

The document spells out a role for Johnson, the interim president, to decide Glover's duties in her role as president emeritus and charges him with reviewing and potentially changing her emeritus salary.

It's not clear if Pendleton, the now-fired general counsel, had a contract. As of 2023, records obtained by The Tennessean showed he made an annual base salary of $208,985.

Tennessee State University: A timeline of events that led to board ouster, new leadership

New TSU leadership works to correct financial issues

In a meeting on Thursday, TSU's current leadership pushed forward with a plan to avoid a $46.1 million shortfall.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It comes a few months after the school revealed years of financial mismanagement at the hands of previous leaders, and instituted layoffs, budget cuts and a freeze on nonessential spending and hiring. While the plan only gets the university through the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, Johnson assured concerned board members that his team is working on plans for what comes next.

The university's enrollment has fluctuated wildly in recent years. State data released in October said TSU saw a 50.2% drop this fall in first-time freshman enrollment  the sharpest decline among the state's public colleges and universities  along with a 23% drop in overall enrollment compared to fall 2023.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee State University has paid $511K to former president
A juvenile bald eagle has been rescued by wildlife officers in Sumner County after it was shot, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency announced in a Monday release.

The bird was found after TWRA Sgt. Nathan Karch and Robertson County Officer Jason Shapton responded to a "distressing call about a possibly injured juvenile bald eagle," according to the release.

We were able to locate it and eventually catch it after a short foot chase, Shapton said in the release.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The eagle was taken to Waldens Puddle, a wildlife rehabilitation facility in Joelton that provides care and treatment to sick, injured and orphaned native Tennessee wildlife.

Officials later confirmed the eagle had been shot.

Though wildlife officials expect it to survive its injuries, the bird wont regain the ability to live on its own in the wild, the release said.

It will be rehomed to a sanctuary upon recovery, where it will live the rest of its life.

More than 175 nesting pairs of bald eagles reside primarily in Tennessee year-round, the release noted, adding that the significance this shooting sheds light on the ongoing need to protect bald eagles and other migratory bird species.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bald eagles are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Shooting one is a felony offense, punishable by up to a $250,000 fine and two years in federal prison.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 works to ensure the sustainability of protected migratory bird populations.

It prohibits the killing, capturing, selling, trading and transport of hundreds of protected migratory bird species, like bald eagles, without prior authorization by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Similarly, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act is a federal law that protects bald and golden eagles, their parts, nests and eggs. Criminal penalties are awarded to anyone who violates the act.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is not clear when exactly the Sumner County eagle was shot.

This case is under investigation, the TWRA said.

Katie Nixon can be reached at knixon@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee wildlife officers rescue bald eagle, learn it was shot
A convicted terrorist who was a friend of the Manchester Arena suicide bomber has been freed from prison amid concerns that he remains a high risk to the public and may radicalise others.

Abdalraouf Abdallah was jailed for nine and a half years in July 2016 after being convicted of helping people travel to Syria to join the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).

The 31-year-old, who is a paraplegic after being wounded while fighting in Libya, was initially released from jail in 2020.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After he was wounded in Libya, Abedis father praised him, calling him a cub and praying for his recovery.

Despite his disability he continued to engage in terrorist activities, helping jihadists travel to Syria.

An inquiry finds that Abalraouf Abdallah played a significant role in radicalising Salman Abedi, the Manchester Arena bomber - AFP

One of those he assisted was Stephen Mustafa Gray, a former RAF veteran, who was arrested in Turkey trying to reach Isil territory.

Despite being jailed in 2016, Abdallah used illicit mobile phones to communicate with Abedi and organise visits.

He initially refused to co-operate with the Manchester Arena public inquiry but when he finally appeared in November 2021, Abdallah condemned the terror attack and denied any knowledge of its planning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However the inquiry chairman, Sir John Mitting, concluded that contact between him and the bomber in 2016 and 2017 made a significant contribution to consolidating Salman Abedis ideology as he was contemplating the attack, and stiffened his resolve to carry out the atrocity.

However, he was recalled to prison in 2021 and ordered to complete his full sentence after breaching the terms of his licence.

Radicalising Salman Abedi

Just two months ago, the Parole Board refused to release him early having concluded he posed a high risk of serious harm to the public and had a propensity to radicalise others.

But the wheelchair-bound terrorist was released from Full Sutton Prison in East Yorkshire on Tuesday after completing his full sentence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As well as helping terrorists travel to Syria to join Isil, Abdallah was suspected of having helped groom Salman Abedi, who murdered 22 people when he detonated a suicide bomb at Manchester Arena after an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017.

Abedi was known to have visited the fellow Libyan in prison in the months before the terrorist attack and an inquiry later concluded that Abdallah had played a significant role in radicalising the Manchester Arena bomber.

The inquiry also said there was no evidence that he was involved in the attack itself or had any pre-knowledge of it and he has always denied any role.

High risk of serious harm

While in prison Abdallah took part in anti-extremism courses designed to tackle the motivations behind his offending.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But his probation officer, prison staff and a psychologist still did not support his release, with assessments determining he posed a high risk of serious harm to the public.

Psychologists concluded Abdallah continued to show levels of engagement with extremism and intent to commit terrorist-related offending, according to the Parole Board report.

Abdallah, who was born in Libya, grew up in the same part of Manchester as the Abedi brothers and travelled to Tripoli in 2010 to join the uprising against Colonel Gaddafi.

He was shot and paralysed and returned to the UK in order to undergo life-saving surgery, although he remains in a wheelchair.

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.
TEXARKANA, Texas (KTAL/KMSS)  The Texas Department of Public Safety says that a man was killed on the shoulder of US-82 and CR 3111.

Officials say on Monday at 5:45 a.m., Texas State Troopers responded to a collision near the intersection of US-82 and CR 3111, just west of Malta.

Evidence gathered at the scene indicates that a 44-year-old man was pushing a motorcycle along the shoulder, heading west towards DeKalb when he was struck by a westbound vehicle. Police say he was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The vehicle involved fled the scene and remains unidentified. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Texarkana Highway Patrol Communications Office at 903-255-5701.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against a south Austin homeless navigation center for operating as a common nuisance in violation of Texas law, according to an Office of Attorney General press release.

The Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center is located near Menchaca Road and Ben White Boulevard. It offers services like connecting people experiencing homelessness to food and housing help.

PREVIOUS: City looks at solutions as concerns grow over homeless activity near elementary school

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the centers website, staff helped nearly 11,000 clients last year, served almost 80,000 meals and answered roughly 30,000 hotline calls.

It is regrettable that the Attorney General Paxton took this route, especially during the week of Thanksgiving, but Sunrise intends to keep offering services to people in our community who need them, said Mark Hilbelink, Executive Director of Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center. We are committed to being a good neighbor. We will continue to work, every day, to support Joslin Elementary School, our neighborhood, and our entire community.

Hilbelink also noted that the Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center operates out of and through Sunrise Community Church, which is protected under the First Amendment and the U.S. Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, as well as the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Meanwhile, the OAG said it did an investigation which found the center to be a magnet for drug and criminal activity. The OAG also highlighted how close the center is to a nearby elementary school.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Drug activity and criminal behavior facilitated by this organization have hijacked an entire neighborhood, Paxton said in the release. By operating a taxpayer-funded drug paraphernalia giveaway next to an elementary school, this organization is threatening students health and safety and unjustly worsening daily life for every single resident of the neighborhood. We will shut this unlawful nuisance behavior down.

Paxton asked the court for a temporary injunction which would prevent Sunrise from continuing to operate, the release states.

Work being done with the city of Austin

I think weve all known that the location of Sunrise is not ideal, and certainly there is activity around there that is really difficult for the neighborhood, said Council Member Ryan Alter, the representative for District 5, where Sunrise resides. Its something that Ive been working on forwell, since the moment I got into office, to try to help alleviate the pressure in that neighborhood and were actually making some real progress. So I understand where the lawsuit came from.

Alter says hes fielded complaints from community members about Sunrise, which is why hes previously held meetings to better understand how to move forward. One of those community meetings was referenced in the OAGs lawsuit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

From those meetings came a budget amendment from Alter that will create alternate locations across Austin for people to receive walk-up homelessness services to alleviate some of the congestion in this south Austin neighborhood. That budget amendment was approved and those locations are being worked on right now.

So real progress is being made, but I understand where the community is. Were looking for action right now, Alter said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
What is Gov. Greg Abbott thankful for this year? What recipes are treasured in state Sen. Judith Zaffirini's family? What does Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick or state Rep. Ellen Troxclair most look forward to eating on Thanksgiving?

This Thanksgiving, the American-Statesman asked state elected officials who represent Austin-area residents about their favorite holiday dishes and what they feel grateful for, both in the areas they represent and in their personal lives. We also asked them for recipes, if they wanted to share them.

Education and child care was a major theme in officials' responses. Abbott counted among his blessings the recent electoral success of candidates supporting school vouchers, a plan that would use public money to pay for students' private school tuition, while Austin Democrats celebrated local voters' approval of tax rate increases to fund teacher pay raises and child care for lower-income families. State Rep. Lulu Flores, D-Austin, said she is grateful that the Austin, Manor and Del Valle school districts implemented a federal program that gives students access to free meals.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lawmakers also shared their secrets for making homemade cranberry sauce, shortbread cookies, creamed peas, rhubarb custard pie and apple pie.

As for Thanksgiving spread choices, stuffing or dressing was a runaway favorite. But could you guess which state House representative from Austin prefers Tofurkey above all else and which one looks forward all year to "smoked turkey with a dry rub blend of Tony Chacheres, brown sugar, pepper, and salt"? And who said Costco mashed potatoes are the best?

To learn the answers, find some new recipes and to get to know our state's leaders better, read on.

Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas

Favorite Thanksgiving dish: Pecan pie

What are you most thankful for that happened in the area you represent in the past year?

This year, I am most thankful for the millions of Texans who made their voices heard in their support for school choice. An overwhelming majority of Texans from all walks of life support expanding school choice to all Texas families  including minorities, Republicans, Democrats, independents and people across rural Texas. Because of their advocacy and efforts, Texas is poised to deliver school choice, and we will not rest until school choice is the law of the land.

What is another thing you're thankful for that happened in your life this year?

Around Thanksgiving last year our daughter, Audrey, got engaged to her college sweetheart. I am so proud of the woman shes become and cant wait to see what the future has in hold for the happy couple.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, R-Texas

Favorite Thanksgiving dish: Stuffing with a little brown gravy

What are you most thankful for that happened in the area you represent in the past year?

I am thankful every day for Jesus, who died for us, so that we may live with him in eternity.

What is another thing you're thankful for that happened in your life this year?

Im blessed to serve as lieutenant governor of the greatest place on earth, Texas.

Optional: Please share a favorite Thanksgiving recipe if you'd like to!

I dont cook very often. I just eat great food!

SD 14: State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin

State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt speaks about how insurance and Medicaid reproductive services could play a major role in helping the people of Texas during a March 2023 news conference at the Capitol.

Favorite Thanksgiving dish: Cranberry sauce

What are you most thankful for that happened in the area you represent in the past year?

Passing child care proposition.

What is another thing you're thankful for that happened in your life this year?

My kids called me regularly from their respective adventures.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Recipe: Homemade cranberry sauce

Boil fresh cranberries until al dente, add sugar to taste and finish it off with orange peel. When you have leftovers, use them to make biscuits or oatmeal cookies with dark chocolate chips.

SD 21: State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo

Favorite Thanksgiving dish: My sister's mashed potato casserole

What are you most thankful for that happened in the area you represent in the past year?

I am particularly thankful that we didnt have a major storm like Uri or had to endure districtwide power outages.

What is another thing you're thankful for that happened in your life this year?

After 16 years as the Dean-in-Waiting, I became the first woman dean of the Texas Senate, succeeding 24 men who had the title since 1909 and moved into a new Capitol office that is decorated as a tribute to Texas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Recipes: See photos below!

When they were in high school, state Sen. Judith Zaffirini and her now-husband would help her sister, Sara, make scotch shortbread cookies. Sen. Zaffirini shared the recipe with the Statesman this year.

State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, who became the first woman to be named Dean of the Texas Senate in January, shared her family Thanksgiving recipe for creamed peas with the Statesman.

SD 25: State Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels

State Sen, Donna Campbell greets families who lost loved ones to fentanyl during a June 2023 bill-signing ceremony. Campbell sponsored House Bill 3144, which designates October as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Favorite Thanksgiving dish: Chocolate pie and sweet potatoes

What are you most thankful for that happened in the area you represent in the past year?

I am thankful that more people participated in the election process this year!

What is another thing you're thankful for that happened in your life this year?

I am personally thankful to have friends that were able to overcome illness.

HD 45: State Rep. Erin Zwiener, D-Dripping Springs

Favorite Thanksgiving dish: Stuffing

What are you most thankful for that happened in the area you represent in the past year?

Im so thankful for the Texas State students who rallied together to stand up to hate speech. A few weeks ago, outside agitators came to campus with hateful messages targeting women and LGBTQ folks. The students spoke back, loudly but with love, to support each other. It was beautiful.

What is another thing you're thankful for that happened in your life this year?

My daughter struggled in kindergarten last year, but she turned a huge corner and is thriving in first grade. Im so grateful to her for finding her way and to her entire educational team for guiding and supporting her.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Recipe: Rhubarb custard pie

Ingredients: Three eggs; two cups of sliced rhubarb (frozen is fine); a cup of sugar; a pint of heavy cream; pie crust.

Beat the eggs and the sugar and pour into the pie crust. Spread the rhubarb out on top of the egg mixture. Pour the cream on top. Bake at 400 degrees for approximately 30 minutes. This pie is traditionally served with a lattice top, but I usually cut corners and do a crumble topping with brown sugar, butter and flour. Add the crumble top and then cook an additional 15 minutes or until cooked through.

HD 46: State Rep. Sheryl Cole, D-Austin

State Rep. Sheryl Cole speaks at a 2019 rally for public education at the Capitol.

Favorite Thanksgiving dish: Prime roast

What are you most thankful for that happened in the area you represent in the past year?

On top of the Bartholomew Municipal Pool being free to the public from November to April, Im thankful to continue serving the constituents of House District 46 and that theyve entrusted me to continue fighting for and representing them.

What is another thing you're thankful for that happened in your life this year?

Im thankful for the continued health of my family and for my mom who turned 86 this past year.

HD 47: State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin

Favorite Thanksgiving dish: It's the mixture of all the good dishes together that makes Thanksgiving so special, and I can't choose just one dish. OK, the pumpkin pie with whipped cream, if I have to choose!

What are you most thankful for that happened in the area you represent in the past year?

I am thankful that people in my district come visit with me during my monthly constituent coffees so I can learn what they are doing and what they are concerned about.

What is another thing you're thankful for that happened in your life this year?

I am thankful for my kids' health and happiness, and my son's recent engagement to a wonderful person.

HD 48: State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin

State Rep. Donna Howard greets state Rep. Andrew Murr in July.

Favorite Thanksgiving dish: Tofurkey

What are you most thankful for that happened in the area you represent in the past year?

This past year, Opportunity Austin named the Austin region as the top city in Texas for venture capital investments and the life sciences industry. As a lifelong Austinite, I take great pride in the recognitions Austin has received this year and am thankful for the opportunities this economic boom will continue to bring to our community.

What is another thing you're thankful for that happened in your life this year?

My 95-year-old mom recently died, and I am very grateful for all the years I was blessed to have her in my life. Im also grateful that she passed doing her daily NY Times crossword puzzle and without any pain.

HD 49: State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin

State Rep. Gina Hinojosa speaks during a Texas House Committee on Public Education hearing in 2023.

Favorite Thanksgiving dish: Not just one thing: turkey cooked right (breast side down, of course), roasted veggies, my stepfather's dressing, and, honestly, you can't beat Costco mashed potatoes.

What are you most thankful for that happened in the area you represent in the past year?

So thankful that our community confirmed their support for our public schools by voting for the tax rate increase for teacher pay raises; and the efforts at both ACC and UT to make higher education attainable for all kids.

What is another thing you're thankful for that happened in your life this year?

My son went to college and is doing well.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Recipe: Apple pie

I take Martha Stewart's pate brisee (butter crust) recipe and pair it with the "Joy of Cooking" Apple Pie 1 recipe, p. 873 for the best of both worlds. Been making it for 20 years, at least!

HD 50: State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin

State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, expresses his disapproval at a news conference in February for a state program for religious chaplains to provide counseling services in Texas public schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Favorite Thanksgiving dish: Dressing

What are you most thankful for that happened in the area you represent in the past year?

The closest thing we have to a silver bullet in education is access to well-funded, high-quality early childhood education. Last November, Texas voters approved Proposition 2  the constitutional amendment I wrote to reduce the cost of child care through property tax relief. Building upon this work, Travis County voters approved Proposition A this month  investing historic new resources in child care. These measures give me hope that we will do right by our tiniest Texans.

What is another thing you're thankful for that happened in your life this year?

My sister, brother-in-law and 1-year-old niece moved back to Texas this year! Now they live just a few minutes away from me in Pflugerville. Babysitting has been a nice distraction from politics and seminary!

HD 51: State Rep. Lulu Flores, D-Austin

State Rep. Lulu Flores reacts to a response on House protocol from Speaker Dade Phelan in 2023.

Favorite Thanksgiving dish: My favorite Thanksgiving dish is pretty much always the mashed potatoes and gravy!

What are you most thankful for that happened in the area you represent in the past year?

This year, I am incredibly thankful that every student enrolled in public schools now have access to free, nutritious breakfast and lunch every school day this year at very nearly every campus in House District 51, thanks to Austin, Del Valle, and Manor ISDs each implementing the federal Community Eligibility Provision program. This program minimizes barriers students of all backgrounds face to accessing food and healthy meals so that no child has to learn on an empty stomach.

What is another thing you're thankful for that happened in your life this year?

I'm thankful to have been reelected to a second term representing my constituents in House District 51 and for the opportunity to see the positive impact of our Austin delegation's legislative work in the lives of people in our community  it reminds me every day why I serve!

HD 19: State Rep. Ellen Troxclair, R-Lakeway

State Rep. Ellen Troxclair speaks with Rep. Claudia Ordaz on the House floor in 2023.

Favorite Thanksgiving dish: Stuffing!

What are you most thankful for that happened in the area you represent in the past year?

As water supply continues to be a pressing issue, any day that brings rain is one to be especially grateful for!

What is another thing you're thankful for that happened in your life this year?

In between running my business, winning a decisive election and preparing for the upcoming legislative session, I'm thankful for the quality time I have been able to spend with my favorite people  my husband and three precious children!

HD 136: State Rep. John Bucy III, D-Austin

State Rep. John Bucy III, with oldest daughter Bradley, addresses the crowd at the Round Rock Pride Festival 2023.

Favorite Thanksgiving dish: Smoked turkey with a dry rub blend of Tony Chacheres, brown sugar, pepper and salt

What are you most thankful for that happened in the area you represent in the past year?

Im thankful for some of the amazing, new things coming to HD 136 and Williamson County  especially the opening of the new Cedar Park Library and Penfold Theatre getting a permanent home in Round Rock.

What is another thing you're thankful for that happened in your life this year?

Im thankful for my beautiful children and family. And for the people of HD 136 giving me the opportunity to continue to serve them in the Legislature as we work together to make Texas as good as its promise.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Note: State Rep. Caroline Harris Davila, R-Round Rock, and state Rep. Carrie Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, did not respond to the survey.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: What Austin-area elected officials are grateful for this Thanksgiving
TYLER, Texas (KETK)  U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran, who serves much of northeast Texas, introduced DETERRENCE Act, a bill that could protect Americans from violence by foreign powers.

Recent assassination attempts and threats against President Trump and other U.S. citizens by Iran underscore the urgent need for strong and practical deterrence against all foreign regimes who seek to harm Americans on our soil, Moran said.

Rep. Moran looks ahead to Republican trifecta, aims to extend tax cuts

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The U.S. Department of Justice unsealed an alleged Iranian plot to kill President-elect Donald Trump earlier this month. In those documents, Farhad Shakeri allegedly told FBI agents he was tasked to assassinate Trump by Iranian officials in September, and is now charged with murder-for hire.

As foreign adversaries like Iran grow brazen, Moran said the U.S. must send a clear message, that any attempt to harm Americans will be met with swift and decisive punishment.

The DETERRENCE Act, also known as Deterring External Threats and Ensuring Robust Responses to Egregious and Nefarious Criminal Endeavors Act, would allow for an increased criminal sentences for individuals who commit crimes at the direction of, or in coordination with, a foreign government.

Morans legislation, met with bipartisan bicameral support, would protect Americans by permitting enhanced criminal sentences for those who commit crimes at the direction of a foreign government.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Gov. Abbott pushes for school vouchers following state, national Republican win

Murder-for-hire sentences could increase by 10 years if death or injury results, with a 5-year increase for attempted murder-for-hire.

Murder of federal officers and employees, including military, sentences could increase by 10 years.

Kidnapping sentences could increase by 10 years, with a 5-year increase for attempted kidnapping.

Stalking sentences could be increased by 2.5 years or 5 years if injury results or a deadly weapon is used and 10 years if death results.

Threats of violence against current and former U.S. officials and their families sentences could increase by 10 years for use of a dangerous weapon during threat.

Violent crimes against current and former U.S. officials and their families sentences could increase by 10 years for murder, assault with injury, or use of a dangerous weapon; sentences could increase by 5 years for assault without injury.

Violent crimes against the president, vice president, president-elect, or vice-president elect sentences could be increased by 10 years.

Moran was joined by Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Vice Chair of House of Foreign Affairs Committee and a companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH).

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
Ashley Grayson, 35, offered a couple a total of $60,000 for murdering her ex-boyfriend and two business rivals

Ashley Grayson/Instagram Ashley Grayson. Ashley Grayson.

Texan influencer Ashley Grayson is set to serve 10 years in federal prison after attempting to pay someone for the murder of three individuals.

Grayson, 35, earned notoriety on social media with her online business and lessons offering to teach others how to turn their skills into courses as well, per a press release about the case issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Western District of Tennessee.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Acting U.S. Attorney for the Tennessee district Reagan Fondren announced that Grayson was found guilty in the murder-for-hire conspiracy case on Monday, Nov. 18.

The press release states that in September 2022, Grayson offered to pay a Memphis-based couple to kill three people, including her ex-boyfriend. The other two intended victims included a woman who criticized Grayson on social media and a Mississippi woman who operated a similar business model. The convicted influencer suspected the latter person of creating fake social media profiles to criticize Grayson's work.

The Tennessee U.S. Attorney's office states that "each one of these killings had a value to Grayson of at least $20,000." During a recorded video call between Grayson and the Memphis couple, the content creator asked that the Mississippi woman be killed as soon as possible and "offered an extra $5,000 for the murder to be carried out in the next week."

Getty Stock image of a police cruiser flashing red and blue emergency lights. Stock image of a police cruiser flashing red and blue emergency lights.

Related: Mom Influencer Ruby Franke and Business Partner Jodi Hildebrandt Formally Charged with 6 Counts of Child Abuse

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Using police car photos from an unrelated incident, the couple convinced Grayson that they had unsuccessfully attempted the murder-for-hire plot. They demanded half of the promised payment and flew to Dallas to meet with Grayson and her husband. The Memphis pair received $10,000 for their fabricated "attempt."

In July 2023, a grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee issued a "one-count indictment for Use of Interstate Facility in Commission of Murder-for-Hire" against Grayson and her spouse, Joshua Grayson," reads the U.S. Attorney's office press release. United States District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker gave Grayson the maximum sentence of 120 months in prison on Oct. 31, 2024.

This was a twenty-first-century crime where online feuds and senseless rivalries bled into the real world," said Fondren, as quoted in the press release. "The defendant tried to hire someone to murder a woman over things that happened exclusively on the internet."

He continued, "Fortunately, no one was physically hurt in this case, but the victim and her family still felt a severe and emotional impact as the result of the defendants actions. The proactive response from the investigating agencies and our prosecutors prevented an even more serious crime from occurring.
"It could have been prevented," said Hope Ngumezi after his wife Porsha died following a miscarriage

Porsha Ngumezi was 11 weeks pregnant when she suffered a miscarriage and experienced heavy bleeding for six hours

The 35-year-old from Texas required a D&C but doctors avoided the medical procedure, which is also used for abortions, due to the state ban

She died hours later in the hospital, leaving behind her husband and their two children

A Texas woman died after not receiving proper medical care for a miscarriage due to the states strict abortion ban  the 5th case that ProPublica has reported where a death occurred as a direct result of the overturn Roe v. Wade.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On June 11, 2023, Porsha Ngumezi, a 35-year-old mother of two, suffered a miscarriage at 11 weeks pregnant and was experiencing heavy bleeding. Nurses reported that she was "passing large clots the size of grapefruit."

According to the outlet, she bled so much over six hours that she required two blood transfusions in the emergency room at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.

Porshas husband, Hope Ngumezi, called his mother, a former physician, and she told the couple that Porsha needed a dilation and curettage procedure (D&C).

Dilation and curettage is a surgical procedure where the cervix is dilated and an instrument called a curette is used to suction or scrape the uterine lining, removing the baby from inside the uterus. D&C is done during the first trimester for miscarriages and abortions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Related: Texas Teen Suffering Miscarriage Dies Days After Baby Shower Due to Abortion Ban as Mom Begs Doctors to 'Do Something'

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.

Despite the advice from his mother, Hope and Porsha were told by their doctor that the hospitals routine was to provide a drug called misoprostol to help her body fully miscarry.

"The mindset I had that day was, 'They're the experts, right?' I know they have seen miscarriages many times, so they are well equipped to know what to do," Hope told KVUE.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, Porsha died three hours later.

"It could have been prevented, Hope added. It felt like everyone turned their backs on us during that day.

ProPublica reported that dozens of doctors reviewed Porshas case and agreed that her case was preventable. Experts claim that misoprostol is too risky to use when the mother is experiencing such heavy bleeding, and a D&C should have been performed.

Misoprostol at 11 weeks is not going to work fast enough, Dr. Amber Truehart, an OB-GYN at the University of New Mexico Center for Reproductive Health, told the outlet. The patient will continue to bleed and have a higher risk of going into hemorrhagic shock.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The medical examiner for the case found that Porshas cause of death was hemorrhage.

Related: 'Mothers Against Greg Abbott' Campaign Ad Criticizes Texas Governor's Abortion Ban

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

The near-total ban on abortion in Texas states that doctors cannot perform the procedure unless the mothers life is deemed at risk. Any doctors who violate the law face up to 99 years in prison, which has led to many medical professionals to avoid the D&C even in cases of miscarriage, out of fear of punishment.

Stigma and fear are there for D&Cs in a way that they are not for misoprostol, said Dr. Alison Goulding, an OB-GYN in Houston, ProPublica reports. Doctors assume that a D&C is not standard in Texas anymore, even in cases where it should be recommended. People are afraid: They see D&C as abortion and abortion as illegal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dr. Gabrielle Taper, an OB-GYN in Austin, added that after the state abortion went into effect, There was much more hesitation about: When can we intervene, do we have enough evidence to say this is a miscarriage, how long are we going to wait, what will we use to feel definitive?

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital declined to comment on Porshas treatment and noted that each patients care is unique to that individual.

All Houston Methodist hospitals follow all state laws, including the abortion law in place in Texas, a spokesperson for the hospital told the outlet.

Hope said he feels a lot of anger knowing laws impacted his wifes care. Now, his children have no mother.

"Kids were young at that time, they were 3 and 5," he told KVUE. "They just barely started life. And now they gotta go through life without their mom."


STARR COUNTY  Texas officials sent a clear message during twin events in the Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday that they would be a willing partner to the incoming Trump administration and its immigration crackdown.

First, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham announced the state will continue to offer up more land to them for mass deportation facilities, stating that her office is identifying property to be ready for when the new administration takes office in January.

Then during a pre-Thanksgiving visit to service members involved in Operation Lone Star, the state's own border security initiative, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signaled strong cooperation between the state and federal government now that President-elect Donald Trump is returning to the White House.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"There's help on the way," Abbott said to members of the Texas National Guard and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

"The cavalry is here, quite literally with us here today," Abbott said before introducing Tom Homan, whom Trump picked to lead his immigration enforcement efforts. Homan pledged support from the federal government to the Texas servicemen and women.

"Hopefully, we get enough help to you where some of you, men and women, go home with your families," Homan said, adding that the administration would run an interior enforcement operation involving mass deportations.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to state troopers and National Guard troops at a Thanksgiving dinner event in Edinburg on Nov. 26, 2024. Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune

Buckingham started the day at the 1,402-acre Starr County ranch she offered to Trump last week to build a deportation facility and where the state is currently constructing a border wall.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We have 13 million acres around the state, and if theres something that meets the federal governments needs, we want them to be able to utilize that, Buckingham told the Tribune.

The new project is called Jocelyns Initiative after Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old girl from Houston who police say was killed by two Venezuelan men who were in the country illegally. Jocelyns mother and grandmother, Alexis and Jackie, joined Buckingham to announce the initiative during a news conference.

Our goal is to ensure that no other parent has to, unfortunately, experience what Alexis has experienced, Buckingham said.

[Uncharted territory: Trumps anti-immigration plans could take center stage in Texas]

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With a population of approximately 65,934 people, Starr County is about 13 times smaller than neighboring Hidalgo County. Undeveloped land stretches on for miles. Even within the countys largest city, Rio Grande City  where city officials celebrated the opening of its first Starbucks in 2022  an open field is only a few blocks away.

Starr County is also unique in the Valley in that it is home to sprawling hills unlike the flatlands that characterize the rest of the region. On one hill overlooking the city, stands a white cross that evokes the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue of Rio de Janeiro.

Its here where the Texas General Land Office newly acquired the 1,400 acres of property in October. Last week, Buckingham offered it up to the incoming Trump administration as a site for detention centers.

In a letter to Trump, Buckingham said the General Land Office was "fully prepared" to enter an agreement with the federal government to allow a facility to be built there for the "processing, detention, and coordination of the largest deportation of violent criminals in the nation's history."

Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham speaks at a news conference held at a state-acquired ranch in Rio Grande City on Tuesday. Buckingham promised Texas would provide the incoming Trump administration more land to stage mass deportations. Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune

Under the state constitution, the land office must lease property it owns to raise funds for the public schools. The land in Starr County is currently leased to a farmer who has planted rows of green onions that can be seen growing for acres.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If a detention facility is to be built there, flooding might be an issue, said Jason Smalley, a land office manager. He noted any facility might need to be built closer to the main road to avoid inundation.

A car wash operates off that road, Farm-to-Market Road 1430. A group of employees who were working on Tuesday declined to be interviewed at length and identified. But they suggested heavy rains brought water right up to the road.

Immigration detention facilities are already a familiar presence in the Valley.

A processing center in McAllen, dubbed the Ursula Central Processing Center after the street it is located on, became infamous for its chain-link detention cells and the cold temperatures inside the facility that led to the nickname "la heilera" or "icebox."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The chain-link fencing was removed as part of a renovation from October 2020 to March 2022. During the renovation process, CBP opened a facility in Donna which remains open.

While those facilities were set up to process migrants coming into the U.S., the detention center in Starr County, if built, would be alone in being used to process migrants being deported out of the country.

Reporting in the Rio Grande Valley is supported in part by the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Disclosure: Texas General Land Office has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
Nov. 25Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso (collectively "the HSCs") are providing notice of a recent incident which may impact the information of certain individuals. This notice explains the incident, the measures taken and the steps potentially affected individuals can take in response.

In September 2024, the HSCs identified issues that resulted in a temporary disruption to some computer systems and applications. Immediately after identifying these issues, the HSCs took steps to ensure the security of the network and began an investigation. The investigation confirmed that a cybersecurity event caused the technology issues, resulting in access to or removal of certain files and folders from the HSCs' network between Sept. 17 and Sept. 29, 2024. As a result, the HSCs conducted a detailed review of the systems involved to determine what information they may contain and to whom it belongs. The information varies by each individual, but may include name, date of birth, address, driver's license number, government-issued identification number, financial account information, health insurance information and medical information, including medical records numbers, billing/claims data and diagnosis and treatment information.

The HSCs are in the process of notifying individuals directly whose information may be involved in this incident. Out of an abundance of caution and as part of the direct notification, the HSCs are providing potentially affected individuals with access to complimentary credit monitoring services. Individuals seeking additional information about this event can contact the toll-free dedicated assistance line at 1-866-902-1996 available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time, excluding major U.S. holidays. Additional information can be found at ttuhscinfo.com and ttuhscep.edu/elpaso/outage-updates.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To help prevent a recurrence, the HSCs are reviewing existing security policies and procedures as part of the investigation and are implementing additional safeguards to enhance system protection and monitoring.

Individuals whose information may be affected by this incident are encouraged to remain vigilant against identity theft and fraud, review account statements and monitor their credit reports, as well as health care and health insurance billing statements, for suspicious activity or errors. Individuals may further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes and the steps they can take to protect their personal information by contacting the three major credit reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission or the state Attorney General. Instances of known or suspected identity theft or fraud should also be reported to law enforcement, the state Attorney General and relevant banking or financial institutions.
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  Some Texoma families will have one more reason to be thankful this year, thanks to the collaboration of Herb Easley Motors and Texoma Community Credit Union.

On Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, several meals were delivered to the United Way of Wichita Falls. Herb Easley Motors and Texoma Community Credit Union teamed up to help provide those who might go without this holiday with a prepared Thanksgiving meal.

Our Blood Institute invites community to give back with blood donations

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Texoma Community Credit Union marketing director Lauren McKechnie said this is a wonderful way to give back to the community.

For the folks who will be receiving this. It means so much because Thanksgiving gets more and more expensive. Groceries get more and more expensive every year. So were really pleased to be able to present them with a really happy Thanksgiving.

The effort is to help ensure Texomans will be able to celebrate with full plates and full hearts. Forty meals were prepared by United Market Street and will be distributed by United Way. This is the third year for this event.

Close

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily News

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com.
ELIZABETH, N.J. (PIX11)  When most people think about Thanksgiving dinner, a turkey with lots of side dishes usually comes to mind.

The cost of that meal can be out of reach for many families in our region, which is why the Salvation Army here in New Jerseys fourth-largest city joined with the Elizabeth Community Food Bank, and the Acme grocery store chain to make a full Thanksgiving Day meal available for nearly 100 families.

More Local News

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The strength of the need for affordable food was apparent by the long line of people waiting at the gate of the Salvation Army Elizabeth headquarters. They showed up early, at the building on Route 9 and East Jersey Street, and waited.

Then, right on time at 1 p.m. on Monday, the gate opened to the headquarters rear parking lot, and local residents filed in. Their line was orderly, and snaked across most of the lot, to a box truck loaded with the holiday ingredients: turkeys, as well as boxes filled with green beans, cranberry sauce, and seven other sides to go with the meal.

Each family who signed up to wait in line ended up receiving one bird and one box. Thats basically an $80 gift to each of the 92 families whod signed up to receive it.

Brenda Nieves was one of the recipients.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its great to share with families, and with people that they try to help, she said. Its really good.

Turkey, clothing giveaways held in NYC ahead of Thanksgiving

Irina Chaplyk, another local resident, said that she was grateful. They give to us some food on the table for Thanksgiving if we [cant] afford it, she said.

Each make-at-home meal was the result of a combined effort by the Salvation Army, the Community Food Bank, and Acme Supermarkets. While it will make the Thanksgiving holiday for hundreds of people more gratifying, the need to ensure food security in North- and Central Jersey is real and year-round.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

[Its] every day, every day, said Derson Reyes, a food worker at the Salvation Army, about the hunger prevention work that the organization does.

The Elizabeth Salvation Army headquarters has a variety of food programs, including a soup kitchen 10 days a month, and a food pantry for 10 other days monthly.

NJ moms curbside coat collection attracts hundreds of donations

As the commanding officer of the Elizabeth headquarters, Capt. Walter Droz coordinates the food programs firsthand.

Were finding families that used to help us are now coming for help, Droz said in an interview. [Theyre] two-income families, he continued. Now theyre stretching their dollar.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Salvation Army captain said that support for organizations like his and the Community Food Pantry is vital for reducing food insecurity in the community, year-round.

It also helps to feed hungry people at holiday time, which is greatly appreciated by local residents like Enocer St. Pierre, whod picked up a Thanksgiving dinner from the Salvation Army on Monday.

It makes everybody happy, she said about the giveaway. A lot of food.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Nov. 25Will your Thanksgiving turkey come with a side of snow?

It's possible, but it's too soon to tell for sure if Maine will get hit with a blast of wintry weather for the holiday.

Meteorologists are keeping their eyes on a potential storm later in the week, but there is uncertainty in the models for how that weather pattern will play out, according to Jon Palmer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Gray.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One model suggests a winter storm with several inches of snow in the interior and mountains, and rain at the coast, while the other model shows the weather pattern staying far offshore, with no precipitation on Thanksgiving. It's also possible there would be a bit of snow Friday and Saturday, Palmer said.

Palmer said people should keep a close eye on the forecast this week, especially if they are traveling for the holiday.

"This week is looking like a potentially very active week," he said. "I think a lot of people are going to be thinking about the potential Thanksgiving storm, but I would be more focused on what could happen on Tuesday."

Palmer said a light glaze of freezing rain is possible across interior Maine and New Hampshire, creating conditions that could be extremely dangerous for driving by midday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Michael Ekster, senior forecaster at the Gray station, said the weather service was more confident by 7 p.m. than earlier Monday that there would be a Thanksgiving snowfall, but he said a more definitive forecast would likely come Tuesday afternoon. He said the coast would likely be "a touch too warm" for snow to accumulate.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for parts of western Maine, including Oxford, Franklin and Somerset counties, that will be in effect from 1 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday.

"Although ice amounts will be light, the freezing rain is expected to fall on cold bare pavement. This will lead to potential for glaze ice formation on untreated roads, leading to extremely dangerous travel conditions," the advisory says. "Even light snowfall amounts can accumulate on roads and cause dangerous driving conditions due to snow covered roads."

The forecast for Thursday through the weekend should become much more accurate in the next day or two, Palmer said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"With Thanksgiving arriving, it's important for people to stay up to date on the forecast, especially if they're going to be traveling this week," he said.

Officials at the Portland International Jetport are keeping an eye on the weather as they prepare for the busiest travel week of the year nationwide.

The jetport is expecting 17% more travelers this week than around last Thanksgiving. That means about 7,000 passengers are expected to pass through the jetport on Sunday.

That's far less than the 13,000 passengers per day during the peak summer travel season in August, but it will be important for passengers to check for updated flight information, said assistant airport director Zach Sundquist.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"While travel through the Jetport should be pretty easy, the major hubs will all be quite busy, and we are monitoring a few weather systems this week across the country that could lead to some flight interruptions depending on your destination," he said in a statement.

Any precipitation will be welcome in areas of Maine that have seen abnormally dry conditions.

New England has experienced drought conditions this fall. Most of the region was still abnormally dry or in a moderate, severe or extreme drought as of Thursday, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Roughly 70% of Maine was experiencing drought conditions last Thursday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Much of northwestern, western, central and southern Maine, including Cumberland County, has been experiencing moderate drought, and much of the rest of the state has been abnormally dry. The southern tip of York County is in a severe drought.

Staff Writer Daniel Kool contributed reporting.

Copy the Story Link
Californians traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday will face frustrating crowds and congestion, whether they drive, fly or take a train to get away.

Officials expect record-setting holiday crowds. Here are nine things to know:

1. Wednesday will be the worst

The worst place to be in California on Wednesday night will be driving northbound on Interstate 5 between Los Angeles and Bakersfield, where travel time is expected to double to almost four hours, the transportation analytics firm INRIX said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Automobile Club of Southern California predicted that 6.6 million Californians will travel more than 50 miles for the holiday, a 2.8% increase from the 2023 travel season, and 3.3% more than 2019, before the pandemic. INRIX expects traffic in Southern California to spike Tuesday from 1 to 7 p.m., with an average of 38% increase in travel time, the auto club said in a release.

Roads are expected to clear up on Thanksgiving Day until travelers hit the road again after the holiday.

2. Other days will bring challenges

Nationally, AAA projects almost 80 million Americans will travel between Tuesday and next Monday, setting a new record, it said in a release. AAA extended its usual holiday travel period to include the Tuesday before the holiday and the Monday after, breaking from past holiday estimates that looked only at Wednesday through Sunday.

Read more: Traveling in California ahead of Thanksgiving? Expect rain

3. Be aware of the weather

A rainy start to the week from the remnants of an atmospheric river storm that surged across the state may turn roads slippery for motorists driving throughout Southern California on Tuesday. A National Weather Service meteorologist said travelers could avoid the rain by leaving Wednesday or Thursday morning instead, when roads and skies will be drier.

4. Check out your car

The California Department of Transportation suggested motorists check their vehicles for maintenance issues before leaving, avoid distractions like texting, allow extra time to reach your destination and bring a phone charger for the drive.

5. Trains will be busy

Amtrak also expects to welcome a surge of travelers at train stations ahead of the holiday. Last year, more than 50,000 people traveled through Los Angeles Union Station between Nov. 18 and 26, a 35% increase from 2022, it said in a release. The busiest day to take a train will be Sunday, based on the 132,000 people who rode Amtrak last year. Amtrak didn't predict the number of train riders for this holiday weekend.

6. LAX will be packed, especially Sunday

LAX expects more than 2.2 million passengers to fly through it between Thursday and Monday, with the busiest travel day expected to be Sunday, airport officials said in a release. Passengers should arrive two hours before their departure time, or three hours if traveling internationally, and book parking ahead of time to ensure a spot on days when parking structures are expected to reach capacity.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But for those who got an early start to the holidays, the scene at the nation's second busiest airport was more hectic than usual Monday as unionized workers who clean planes and handle baggage held a demonstration at LAX to demand higher wages. The protest at the airport Monday was followed by a food drive for workers who the union says can't afford quality groceries or holiday meals because of low wages. The L.A. City Council punted a pay raise decision to December over worries that increasing pay for hotel and airport workers might hurt the city's tourism industry.

7. Some tips for surviving at airports

Here are some key points from LAX:



Arrive at least two hours before departure time



Plan ahead before arriving. Check the status of a flight before arriving at the airport. If the reservation allows, utilize online check-in options.



Meeting someone? Check the status and arrival terminal of the flight before heading to the airport.



Take advantage of various aids, including cellphone waiting areas and relaxation centers.

Here is the airport's full checklist.

8. Be a good guest  and host

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers some tips for getting through the holidays safely. Here are a few key points from its checklist:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For guests:



Make a plan: Schedule a rideshare in advance or call a taxi.

Have a sober friend pick you up.

Use public transportation.

If you see a friend who is about to drink and drive, take their keys and let a sober driver get them home safely.

For hosts:



Be responsible and take action to make sure guests get home safely.

Prepare to call taxis or rideshares, provide sleeping accommodations, or  if youre sober  drive guests home yourself.

Collect car keys from guests who are drinking.

Provide nonalcoholic beverage options.

9. Thanksgiving dinner safety

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.
A messy spell of winter weather continued to dominate Thanksgiving forecasts, with a mix of rain and snow materializing in different areas across the United States. Storms could potentially impact travel plans, particularly for people in eastern parts of the country and parts of the Mountain West. The latter began the holiday feeling the effects of an "Arctic blast" that broke out overnight Wednesday into Thursday.

Map of the Thanksgiving weather forecast for 2024

The weather system that earlier in the week caused chaos across western states had traveled eastward, as expected, and arrived on cue Thanksgiving Day with heavy snowfall in interior sections of the northeastern U.S. Some places in upstate New York had already received more than half a foot of snow by mid-morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"A mix of rain, snow and sleet are slated for most of the day across the Northeast," said CBS News meteorologist Nikki Nolan early Thursday.

Nolan had said Tuesday that forecasting models indicated the Interstate 95 corridor, which runs along the East Coast from Miami to the Canadian border with Maine, would likely see varying amounts of rain as the storm system closed in on the East Coast. In New York City, the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade went ahead as scheduled despite the forecast, and packed crowds of spectators donned ponchos and umbrellas as they gathered to watch the show.

The storm was on track to pick up throughout the day Thursday. Forecasters predicted it would bring between 1 and 3 inches of rain to the Northeast and between 5 and 10 inches of snow to certain areas through Sunday. The Great Lakes region were bracing for much more significant buildup  potentially as much as 2 feet of snow.

Winter storm warnings, storm watches and weather advisories were in effect across the interior Northeast and parts of the Midwest on Thanksgiving, with each set to remain in place until at least the end of the week and many through the weekend. Forecasters said parts of Maine and New Hampshire could see as much as 10 inches of snowfall between Thursday and Friday, potentially interrupting travel.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Persons should delay all travel if possible. If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution and be prepared for sudden changes in visibility," the National Weather Service office in Gray, Maine, said Wednesday afternoon. "Leave plenty of room between you and the motorist ahead of you, and allow extra time to reach your destination. Avoid sudden braking or acceleration, and be especially cautious on hills or when making turns. Make sure your car is winterized and in good working order."

/ Credit: Nikki Nolan for CBS News

Temperatures were expected to drop across a majority of the U.S., with northern places like Minneapolis preparing for extreme cold.

Although chilly conditions were initially forecast to spare southeastern states, Nolan said Wednesday a cold front attached to the wintry storm system was threatening most of that region with possible tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail.

The storm is expected to move out after the holiday, but lake-effect snow showers were forecast to linger in the Northeast through the weekend.

Where will winter storms hit hardest for Thanksgiving?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Winter weather advisories were in place for northern Michigan where forecasters at the National Weather Service warned Thursday up to 13 inches of additional snowfall could accumulate in some places over the next few days. Advisories were set to remain active through Sunday morning.

"Travel could be very difficult to impossible at times," the weather service in Marquette, Michigan, wrote in an advisory issued on Thanksgiving Day. "The hazardous conditions will impact Thanksgiving holiday travel."

/ Credit: Nikki Nolan for CBS News

Warnings were also issued in upstate New York, where forecasters in Buffalo said up to one foot of snow could accumulate in the coming days, potentially interrupting travel. In Michigan, forecasts showed up to 7 inches of snowfall in northern parts of the state, and advised people to prepare for slippery roads that may make for hazardous travel on Friday.

Will winter storms impact Thanksgiving travel?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Winter storms affected multiple interstate highways Thursday, including I-95, I-91, I-90, I-89, I-86, I-81 and I-80.

Estimates suggest an unprecedented number of people are crowding roads and airports because of the holiday, as figures reported by AAA showed 80 million were expected to travel at least 50 miles in a seven-day period that started Tuesday. If the calculation holds up, it would set a new Thanksgiving record.

How weather forecasts could complicate the anticipated congestion became a focal point of Thanksgiving news coverage, as the major storm tied to an atmospheric river originating in the West affected huge chunks of the country, from the western Rocky Mountains to the East Coast.

/ Credit: Nikki Nolan for CBS News

"We've been talking about it basically on repeat since Friday: storms on the West Coast, storms in the Northeast, and now a storm in the Mountain West," said CBS News senior transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave, reporting from LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York, on Tuesday. "So airports from San Francisco to Las Vegas, Salt Lake, Denver, and here in the Northeast, D.C. to Boston, could all see delays today as these various storm systems are moving around. A lot to watch."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Federal Aviation Administration said 50,000 flights were scheduled Tuesday, Van Cleave reported, noting the agency expects air travel to be even busier Wednesday and Sunday.

Where will it snow on Thanksgiving?

Forecasters said below-average temperatures in the Northeast  especially in interior areas  and in the Northern Plains could determine whether individual locations in the region are hit with rain or snow. Meanwhile, arctic air was settling over the western two-thirds of the country after weather service records suggested sections of central and northern Colorado, as well as southern Wyoming, received upwards of 2 feet of snow Wednesday into Thursday.

Leading up to Thanksgiving Day, forecasters at the Weather Prediction Center said heavy snow across the southern Sierra Nevada, Intermountain West and Central Rockies earlier in the week will be followed by snow showers across the Great Lakes toward the Northeast.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As temperatures ticked downward over the Northern Plains ahead of the holiday, the weather prediction center said a series of disturbances over the Central U.S. would "facilitate an arctic outbreak across the region" overnight Wednesday into Thanksgiving.

Grateful Dead members reflect on Phil Lesh's impact on the band, their lives

Former Navy secretary says Trump's Defense Secretary pick will make the military "weaker"

Iowa man decorates neighbors' homes to honor wife's love of Christmas
People around Florida are mourning the tragic loss of three deputies in Palm Beach County.

The Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office reported last Thursday that three of its motorcycle deputies were struck by a driver who lost control.

Two of the deputies died at the scene, and a third, Deputy Ignacio Dan Diaz, was critically injured.

Original report: Driver crashes into 3 motorcycle deputies, killing 2 in South Florida

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The sheriff announced Monday that Diaz passed away in the hospital after fighting for his life over the weekend.

Officials said the deputies were on the side of the road conducting traffic enforcement when a driver lost control and slammed into all three.

Read: Its horrific: Lake County deputies mourn the death of one of their own

So far, no charges have been filed against the driver.

Officials plan to hold a memorial event for the fallen deputies on Dec. 3.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.




Deputy Ignacio Diaz succumbed to his injuries following the Nov. 21 crash that killed two colleagues, authorities said

Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office/Facebook Deputy Ignacio "Dan" Diaz Deputy Ignacio "Dan" Diaz

Deputy Ignacio Dan Diaz, one of three officers from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PSBO) who were hit by a car on Nov. 21, has died

Corporal Luis Paez and Deputy Sheriff Ralph Butch Waller were previously killed in the collision

"We stand together, honoring their memory and supporting their families, friends, and colleagues through this time of immense sorrow," the sheriff's office said

A third Florida deputy who was critically injured following a traffic crash that killed two other fellow deputies has died.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) announced that Deputy Ignacio Dan Diaz, succumbed to his injuries on Monday, Nov. 25.

Despite his courageous fight, Deputy Diaz lost the battle due to the injuries sustained by the tragic crash that also claimed the lives of Cpl. Luis Paez and D/S Butch Waller, the sheriffs office said in a statement. Once again, we find ourselves mourning the loss of another hero who dedicated his life to serving and protecting Palm Beach County.

We stand together, honoring their memory and supporting their families, friends, and colleagues through this time of immense sorrow," officials added. "Let us remember their courage and commitment to duty as we pledge to continue their legacy of service. To serve and protect was their oathhonoring them is our duty."

He has been a valued member of our motor unit for over 10 years, authorities said in a news release before Diaz's death.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Related: Ariz. Police Officer Is Killed 18 Years After Father Also Died in Line of Duty

Ayerim Lopez, Diaz's cousin, previously told ABC affiliate WPBF that she was stunned by what happened.

It's just a feeling of numbness and heartache and pain, Lopez said at the time as Diaz was fighting for his life. I couldn't even go to work today. I just felt back pain, stomach pain, problems with my heart, it's just a shock.

According to authorities, Diaz, Paez and Waller were conducting traffic enforcement on Southern Boulevard when a car crashed into them on the side of the highway on Thursday, Nov. 21. In a press release obtained by PEOPLE, the incident occurred in the vicinity of State Road 80 west of Seminole Pratt Whitney Boulevard at 9:29 a.m. local time.

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.

Paez and Waller were killed, and Diaz was left in critical condition following the collision, authorities said at the time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said during a Nov. 21 press conference that the crash occurred after one officer couldn't get his motorcycle to start after making contact with a motorist. He called on the assistance of his two colleagues and assumed he had a dead battery.

"All three [of them were] on the grassy area of the shoulder of the road, and they were going to wait for another PBSO vehicle to come with some battery cables," said Bradshaw.

Related: Mom of 6 Killed During High-Speed Pursuit While on Duty as Missouri Police Officer: 'Unspeakable Tragedy'

The three deputies were then hit by a vehicle after the driver came across a slower car in the center lane, before swerving to the right and striking the deputies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"She overcompensated, got off the road and then struck all three of the motor officers  at which time all three went airborne in different directions," Bradshaw said at the time.

The sheriff added that, based on a preliminary investigation, the driver didnt appear to be impaired. He described what happened as a horrific accident.

"It just looks like one of those things where she overcompensated and got off the road," he said.

PEOPLE contacted the PBSO on Tuesday, Nov. 26. A Florida Highway Patrol spokesperson said criminal charges aren't currently pending against the driver as she is still under investigation, according to CBS affiliate WPEC.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Investigators said that the driver, who is from Pennsylvania, was cooperative at the scene of the crash, NBC affiliate WGAL reported.

Related: Police Officer and 'Devoted' Father Dies in Crash While Coming Home from Fellow Cop's Funeral

Both the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and Florida Highway Patrol are investigating the incident.

Following the announcement of Diazs death, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis offered his condolences in an X (formerly Twitter) post.

".@CaseyDeSantis and I are saddened by the passing of Deputy Ignacio Dan Diaz, who was critically injured in last weeks crash that took the lives of two other @PBCountySheriff deputies. Our prayers are with his loved ones and the entire PBSO, DeSantis wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Monday, Nov. 25, the sheriff's office said it will say their final goodbyes to the officers on Dec. 3, with additional details to be announced. The department also thanked the community for its support.

We are grieving, authorities in a statement, and as Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said, When you lose a law enforcement officer, you lose a little piece of the community. Palm Beach County is mourning.


A third Palm Beach County deputy has died after he and two other deputies were hit by an SUV on Thursday.

The deputies were off on the side of the road when a driver trying to pass a slower-moving vehicle lost control and hit all three.

Action News Jax told you last week when Corporal Luis Paez & Deputy Sheriff Ralph Butch Waller died after being hit.

Deputy Ignacio Dan Diaz was also hit and critically injured. All three were on motorcycle patrol in Loxahatchee at the time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Monday, the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office announced that Diaz died:

It is with heavy hearts that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of our third motorman, Deputy Ignacio Dan Diaz, at 12:42 pm today. Despite his courageous fight, Deputy Diaz lost the battle due to the injuries sustained by the tragic crash that also claimed the lives of Cpl. Luis Paez and D/S Butch Waller. Once again, we find ourselves mourning the loss of another hero who dedicated his life to serving and protecting Palm Beach County.

We stand together, honoring their memory and supporting their families, friends, and colleagues through this time of immense sorrow. Let us remember their courage and commitment to duty as we pledge to continue their legacy of service. To serve and protect was their oathhonoring them is our duty. #PBSOFallen

RELATED: Northeast Florida deputies offer prayers after SUV hits, kills 2 Palm Beach deputies, injures a 3rd

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It is with heavy hearts that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of our third motorman, Deputy Ignacio Dan... Posted by PBSO - Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office on Monday, November 25, 2024

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

PBSO said it would honor the deputies on Dec. 3 and share more details later.

After the news of Diazs death, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis shared the following on his social media accounts:

@CaseyDeSantis and I are saddened by the passing of Deputy Ignacio Dan Diaz, who was critically injured in last weeks crash that took the lives of two other @PBCountySheriff deputies. Our prayers are with his loved ones and the entire PBSO. Heres how you can help the deputies families: https://pbcpba.org/pbso-motormen-donations/

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Nov. 25MASSENA  The American Red Cross is assisting a family of three that was displaced following a Sunday morning fire on Route 420 in Massena.

The Red Cross is providing financial assistance which can be used for necessities such as shelter, food, and clothing to the three adults. Volunteers also offered health services, comfort kits containing personal care items, and blankets.

Massena Fire Chief Patrick M. O'Brien said the department responded at about 8 a.m. to a report of a structure fire at 2257 Route 420.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Upon arrival, crews encountered heavy smoke and fire conditions. The blaze was brought under control through coordinated efforts between responding firefighters," he said.

He said all three adult residents were able to evacuate safely, and one dog and one cat were also rescued. No injuries were reported among the residents or responding personnel.

"The residents have been displaced due to extensive damage to the property and are being assisted by local resources, including the American Red Cross," O'Brien said.

He said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

"The St. Lawrence County Fire Investigation Team is actively investigating the incident to determine the origin and cause," he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Massena Fire Department was assisted at the scene by the Massena Rescue Squad, state police, Massena Electric Department, and the municipal Water Department.

"We extend our gratitude to all involved agencies for their support during this emergency," he said. "We remind the public to ensure working smoke alarms are present in all homes and to have a fire escape plan in place."

O'Brien said further updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
Four bodies have been found after a yacht capsized in the Red Sea.

Two British tourists were thought to be among 16 people missing after the sinking of the diving vessel, called the Sea Story, on Monday.

Major General Amr Hanafi, the Governor of the Red Sea area, said naval forces had rescued three people alive  two Belgian nationals and one Egyptian.

In addition, four bodies have been recovered, though their identities have yet to be confirmed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Governor said the search continues for nine individuals who remain unaccounted for. One Finnish national, one Swiss national and four Egyptians are believed to be among them.

Distress signals were sent out shortly before dawn on Monday morning after reports of a huge wave hitting the boat.

A search and rescue operation coordinated by the Egyptian military had recovered 28 survivors by Monday night  with some airlifted to safety and others transported to shore by warship.

All 13 of the yachts crew members are Egyptian. The Chinese embassy in Egypt confirmed two of its nationals were in good health after being rescued.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Others said to be onboard include five Spanish, four Germans and other passengers from Poland, Belgium, Slovakia and Ireland.

A search and rescue operation coordinated by the Egyptian military had recovered 28 survivors by Monday night - STR/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The rescue operation was paused at 5pm on Monday evening (3pm GMT) after the 44-metre timber-hulled boat was thought to have capsized near Shaab Satayah, a popular coral reef often visited on diving trips.

Two Britons are among the missing, according to the BBC. The Foreign office confirmed it was supporting a number of British nationals in relation to the incident.

Took only five to seven minutes

Maj Gen Hanafi said the sinking unfolded rapidly following a large wave.

This was the preliminary cause of the incident, according to accounts from both foreign and Egyptian crew members, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The situation unfolded rapidly, taking only five to seven minutes, and some passengers were trapped inside cabins, preventing their escape.

A diving resort manager close to the rescue operation told journalists the Sea Story was hit by a wave in the middle of the night, throwing the vessel on its side, according to an account by a surviving crew member.

Officials said the vessel had embarked on a five-day diving trip, having left the eastern town of Marsa Alam on Sunday.

The Sea Story had embarked on a five-day diving trip after leaving the eastern town of Marsa Alam on Sunday - Red Sea Governorate

Maj Gen Hanafi said the boat had passed its last safety inspection in March 2024, with no technical issues reported.

The boat, owned by an Egyptian national, was 34m long and had received a one-year safety certificate from the Maritime Safety Authority.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident, which occurred during rough weather.

The 28 survivors were rescued with minor injuries and none required hospitalisation.

The 28 survivors were rescued with minor injuries and none required hospitalisation - AFP

The Egyptian Red Sea Ports Authority reported waves of up to 4m and wind speeds of 34 knots (40mph) in the area on Sunday, leading to the closure of maritime traffic.

The Red Sea, renowned for its coral reefs and marine life, is a hub for Egypts tourism industry, which plays a critical role in the countrys economy.

Sea Storys sinking comes a year after three British tourists died when their Egyptian diving boat caught fire off the coast of Marsa Alam.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Videos showed some of the 29 people on board the Hurricane yacht diving into the water to escape flames after a suspected electrical fault in the engine room in June 2023.

In February 2024, the yacht Sea Legend caught fire in Egypt with 17 dive guests on board, resulting in the death of one tourist.

A separate vessel suffered severe damage from strong waves in the area in June this year, although no casualties were reported.

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.
Rescue workers have recovered three bodies from the water after Monday's boat accident in the Red Sea.

The governor responsible for the region, Amr Hanafi, confirmed to dpa on Tuesday that the bodies had been found but could not provide any information on the nationality of the three fatalities.

These are the first confirmed deaths in the accident. Of the original 44 people on board, 13 are still missing, while 28 survivors have been rescued.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hanafi said earlier that four Germans and two Swiss people were on board, as well as around 20 holidaymakers from other European countries.

The German Foreign Office confirmed that Germans were among the missing, but did not give a number. The search continues with an Egyptian military frigate and helicopters, Hanafi told dpa.

The vessel - The Sea Story - sank on Monday morning off the Egyptian coast. It appears that it was struck by a large wave and capsized, the governor said, citing accounts from the crew and tourists.

Some passengers did not make it out of their cabins in time. The boat, which underwent an inspection in the spring, had no technical defects.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"All rescued passengers are fine," Hanafi said. They were being accommodated in a hotel in the coastal town of Marsa Alam. With the help of various embassies, they are working to get them replacement travel documents for the journey home.
A TikTok influencer was arrested after an incident involving the theft of $500 of goods from Target.

Police say they identified Marlena Velez, who has 360,000+ TikTok followers, through a video she posted.

The video showed her at Target, wearing the same outfit as in the security footage, police said.

A TikTok influencer with over 360,000 followers who posts aspirational videos of her life as a stay-at-home mom has been arrested after police accused her of stealing about $500 worth of items from Target.

Authorities said the momfluencer later posted a video of the 'shopping' haul to her followers, which they said helped to identify her.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to a news release, the Cape Coral Police Department in Florida responded to a report last Wednesday about a theft at a Target store in Cape Coral that occurred on October 30.

Target's loss prevention team said that an unidentified woman entered the store, selected items, and scanned false barcodes with lower prices instead of the items' actual barcodes at a self-checkout register.

Police said the woman stole 16 items, including household goods and clothing, worth $500.32.

The Cape Coral Police Department shared photographs of the woman on social media to help identify her.

According to the press statement, an anonymous tip received in response to the photos provided officers with information on 22-year-old social media influencer Marlena Velez and directed them to her Instagram handle.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It said that officers subsequently found Velez's TikTok account, which included a video showing Velez wearing the same outfit and glasses as the woman in the photos.

In the video, which is no longer available on her TikTok account, police said it showed Velez going to Target, selecting items, and loading them into her car before leaving.

Mercedes Phillips, a Cape Coral Police Department spokeswoman, said in a subsequent video that: "Everything was documented, even the outfit that she wore."

Phillips added, "It shows her getting ready with the outfit, and even her glasses, and all of that matches in her TikTok with the attempt-to-identify photo that we put out."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Velez did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Lee County Sheriff's Office records show that a woman identified as Marlena Valez, with a different spelling but the same birthdate, was booked last Thursday morning.

Records show that she was released later that day on a cash bond of $150.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(WSPA)  With Thanksgiving right around the corner, many people will choose to celebrate the night before with a bunch of friends and beverages. Sadly, one of the biggest party nights of the year also happens to be one of the scariest nights for driving.

Titled Blackout Wednesday, Thanksgiving Eve regularly sees a massive jump in car accidents every year. According to The South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS), there were more than 1,000 collisions during the 2023 Thanksgiving period, resulting in 11 deaths. Four of those deaths were due to impaired driving.

Here are some tips to practice mindful drinking so you and your loved ones can make it home safe this Thanksgiving Eve:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Slow Down, Savor the Beverage  Drink slowly to give your body and mind time to register the effects of alcohol. Enjoy each sip and savor the experience rather than rushing through your drink.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate  Alternate alcoholic drinks with water or other non-alcoholic beverages to stay hydrated. Take a moment to check in with yourself between drinks to see if you really want another one.



Choose Quality over Quantity  Choose higher-quality drinks and savor them rather than consuming large quantities of lower-quality beverages.



Mindful Engagement  Focus on the people around you and the event you are engaging in, rather than just focusing on the alcohol. Engage in meaningful conversations and enjoy your company and the activities you have planned.

Mindful Breathing  Take a few moments to center yourself, or even take a minute in the middle of a party to breathe. This can help you stay centered and aware of your body and emotions.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
Alexis Garcia, 28, is charged with two counts of murder

GoFundMe Neveah and Alinah Neveah and Alinah

Two toddlers were killed this week in a car crash allegedly caused by a speeding, drunk driver in a pickup truck, who then fled the scene, authorities in California said .

Police in Rialto, Calif., a suburb of San Bernardino, have charged a man with murder for allegedly causing the deaths of the two small children late Sunday night, the department announced in an Instagram post.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officials say the driver of a Dodge Ram pickup truck blew through a red light at Riverside and Walnut avenues at about 11 p.m. on Nov. 24, striking the Honda carrying the two kids and their parents, and causing that vehicle to smash into a tow truck.

The two sisters were both in car seats, their parents told ABC7 Eyewitness News, but one was ejected from the vehicle. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

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 did not identify the deceased girls, but their parents, Marky Flores and Valencia Avilez, identified them as their "beloved angels" Neveah, 4, and Alinah, 3, in a GoFundMe fundraiser.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The driver of the vehicle fled the scene, but was later caught and found to be under the influence of alcohol, police allege. The motorist  identified by ABC7, NBC Los Angeles and Fox 11 as Alexis Garcia, 28, of San Bernardino  was arrested and charged with two counts of murder.

It's not immediately clear if Garcia has entered a plea or retained an attorney.

The girls' father, Marky, sustained a broken femur and required surgery, and will not be able to work until completely healed, the parents wrote on their fundraising appeal, which is seeking money to cover Marky's medical bills and funeral expenses for the two girls. The couple had raised just shy of their $28,000 goal as of 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
(NewsNation)  The nations incoming border leader Tom Homan is heading to Texas, wheres expected to tour the southern border with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

Theyll be in Eagle Pass on Tuesday, which has been a focus of the states Operation Lone Star program.

Trump pledges Mexico, Canada, China tariffs over border, fentanyl

Abbott says Homan is the man for the job  and so does President-elect Donald Trump, who appointed him Homan to the position.

Touring the border

Homan and Abbott will begin their tour at a Texas military base along the banks of the Rio Grande.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Border officials say migrant crossings are down thanks to seasonal trends, federal executive action and Operation Lone Star.

Priorities for the mass deportation operation are public safety threats and national security threats, Homan said.

Hell be visiting National Guard soldiers and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers stationed on the border in areas like Edinburg. Its a region Ron Vitello, a former U.S. Border Patrol chief and retired Immigration and Customs Enforcement director knows firsthand.

Its well known for drug trafficking, Vitello said. It has, for generations, been a place where cartels have elected used to smuggle a lot of drugs.

Land for mass deportations

In that same well-known area, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham is hosting a border wall construction kick-off event.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Buckingham is offering a 1,400-acre ranch to the incoming Trump administration for mass deportation facilities.

We think its so important for our communities to shut down this trafficking this mass migration of illegal immigrants and get our community safe again, she said.

Homan has promised drastic changes in U.S. border security, including mass deportations on day one of the Trump administration.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
Vandalia police chased down three teens in a car that had been reported stolen last week, just one instance of an uptick in car thefts across the Miami Valley.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

News Center 7s Mike Campbell spoke with authorities and victims about the impact of these thefts.

TRENDING STORIES:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Deidre Harvey and her husband Justin had both their calls stolen out of their driveway.

He said, wheres our cars? And I was like stop playing with me, its not funny. I walk over and both cars are gone. Deidre said.

Deidre had recently bought a 2024 Hyundai and her husband had a pickup. The couple contacted Clark County deputies and tracked Deidres vehicle.

They saw that the car had stopped moving, parked outside an apartment.

The Vandalia Police went to the apartments and located the car, following it to a car wash down the street. Three juveniles got out of the car and ran.

Fortunately we had a number of detectives and uniformed officers in the area that we were able to apprehend the teens, Chief Kurt Althouse said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Harveys are now driving a rental, fearing they may be targets of the car theft ring again. They are preparing to pay thousands in repairs to the cars, and are missing personal items from both vehicles.

All my grandmas stuff was gone. It was all in my trunk, Deidre said. They took everything.

Of the juveniles arrested, one was 15, the other two were 16, according to Vandalia detectives.

Detectives believe these same teens were involved in at least a half-dozen other car thefts.

[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]




Australia's House of Representatives passes bill that would ban young children from social media

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)  Australias House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that would ban children younger than 16 years old from social media, leaving it to the Senate to finalize the world-first law. The major parties backed the bill that would make platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic failures to prevent young children from holding accounts. The legislation passed 102 to 13. If the bill becomes law this week, the platforms would have one year to work out how to implement the age restrictions before the penalties are enforced.
(Bloomberg) -- Mozambiques Constitutional Council said its judges received death threats as it considered validating the outcome of last months disputed election that sparked protests in which dozens of people have died.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The threats were issued by private messages as well as posts on social media, Lucia Ribeiro, president at the nations top court, said in a statement Monday, without saying who made them.

Mozambique is facing its most precarious post-election period since embracing democracy three decades ago. While the electoral commission announced the ruling Frelimo party and its presidential candidate secured more than 70% support, opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane rejected the result and called for demonstrations that have rocked the gas-rich nation.

At least 67 people have died in post-election unrest, according to Plataforma Decide, a local observer group. Mondlane fled the country claiming to be in fear of his life, and its unclear whether hell return to attend a meeting on Tuesday that President Filipe Nyusi requested with opposition presidential candidates.

Mondlane had on Nov. 22 laid out his terms of reference for talks with Nyusi, including that various religious and civil society leaders participate. The former lawmaker and evangelical pastor also said the state must terminate judicial proceedings against him, and that he should be allowed to attend the meeting virtually.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He didnt respond to messages on Tuesday asking whether hell join the talks.

Results Deadline

Lutero Simango and Ossufo Momade, the two other opposition presidential candidates, conditioned their attendance on the others being there. Frelimo, which has held power for the past 49 years, said its candidate, Daniel Chapo, would participate.

Ribeiro said the Constitutional Council is obliged to seek electoral truth and justice and  because its ruling cannot be appealed  it must be fair and constitutionally valid.

While the court has no concrete deadline to announce the validated results, the current legislature that took office on Jan. 12, 2020, has a five-year term. The constitution requires the new parliament to sit within 20 days of the final results announcement, Ribeiro said. That implies a Dec. 23 cut-off for the validation  the same date the council announced the 2019 election outcome.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mondlane and Podemos, the opposition party that backed him, have challenged the vote outcome with the council. Local and international observer groups have raised concerns over election irregularities, including ballot-box stuffing and the manipulation of results.

The unrest has led to border closures, port terminal suspensions, and fears that a $20 billion liquefied natural gas project led by TotalEnergies SE in the country will face further delays.

A gas and energy investment conference scheduled for this week will now take place in February, to allow for a secure and productive environment, the organizers said Monday.

--With assistance from Matthew Hill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

(Updates with Mondlanes demands from the fifth paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
A top aide to Donald Trump has been accused of asking Cabinet hopefuls for $100,000 in exchange for promotions.

Boris Epshteyn, a long-time adviser to Mr Trump, is alleged to have requested payments in exchange for supporting candidates for high-level roles or connecting industry figures to the new administration.

Mr Trump reportedly asked his lawyers to conduct a review into the claims against Mr Epshteyn, which concluded that his proximity to the president-elect should be terminated. The 42-year-old denies the allegations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Among the figures he is said to have approached is Scott Bessent, who was named as the new Treasury Secretary last week despite apparently declining his services.

Sources told CNN that Mr Epshteyn had requested as much as $100,000 in exchange for his backing.

Mr Epshteyn has been a senior adviser to Mr Trump since his 2016 campaign, was involved in crafting the Republicans legal defence to his four criminal indictments, and has recently emerged as an influential figure in the transition team.

Heated exchange between Bessent

He is said to have asked Mr Bessent in February for $30-40,000 a month to promote him around Mar-a-Lago, the president-elects Florida resort and power base.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr Bessent reportedly turned him down, and called Mr Epshteyn several months later on Nov 14 to ask if he was criticising him to people in the president-elects orbit.

Mr Epshteyn is said to have responded that it was too late to hire him.

Treasury secretary was one of the final cabinet positions to be filled, and the two candidates, Mr Bessent and Howard Lutnick, were locked in a tight battle for the post.

Scott Bessent is Donald Trumps pick for Treasury Secretary - Jonathan Drake/REUTERS

Two sources told CNN that Mr Epshteyn and Mr Bessent had a heated exchange in the lobby of Mar-a-Lago last week, which was said to have been started by the Trump adviser.

A defence contractor claimed that Mr Ephsteyn asked him for $100,000 a month following Mr Trumps election victory this month, claiming he was do or die for the individuals prospects.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They did not take him up on the offer and The New York Times reports he is fearful of retaliation.

Epshteyn a Trump original

Allegations concerning Epshteyn were reportedly brought to Susie Wiles, the incoming White House chief of staff.

Mr Epshteyn was brought into the campaigns circle by Eric Trump, the president-elects son, with whom he studied at Georgetown University.

Mr Trump told Fox News on Monday that his former classmate was a good human being but added: I certainly hope the reporting is false and I can also tell you if its true, you know, the person will probably no longer be around.

However, an official in the transition team said Mr Epshteyn was a Trump original who always stuck around despite these petty skirmishes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr Epshteyn was reported to have clashed with Elon Musk, the Tesla billionaire and a new figure in Mr Trumps circle, this month, with the pair having a stand-up row at Mar-a-Lago.

Mr Musk is said to have criticised Mr Ephsteyns influence over top appointments. It has previously been reported that the Trump adviser had pushed for the appointment of Matt Gaetz as attorney general, who last week removed his name from contention.

In a statement issued through the transition team, Mr Epshteyn said the claims were false and defamatory and will not distract us from making America great again.

Steven Cheung told CNN: As is standard practice, a broad review of the campaigns consulting agreements has been conducted and completed, including as to Boris, among others.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We are now moving ahead together as a team to help president Trump Make America Great Again.

The Telegraph has independently approached the Trump transition team and Mr Epshteyn, via his private equity firm, for comment.

The Telegraph has approached Mr Bessent for comment via his investment management company, Key Square Capital.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
A top adviser to president-elect Donald Trump is facing allegations he solicited payments from potential Cabinet appointees in recent months, CNN first reported Monday.

The Trump team completed an internal review of Trump aide Boris Epshteyn, and said they found Epshteyn had attempted to benefit financially from his position in Trumps orbit and his connections with top Trump transition officials. Per CNN, Epshteyn allegedly requested payments from multiple individuals interested in positions in Trumps Cabinet, promising to advocate on their behalf. One of the individuals Epshteyn allegedly approached was Scott Bessent, Trumps nominee for Treasury secretary, but Bessent declined Epshteyns request.

According to The New York Times, the internal investigation found that Epshteyn approached Bessent and proposed $30,000 to $40,000 a month to promote Mr. Bessent around Mar-a-Lago, Mr. Trumps estate in Florida.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a statement to CNN, Ephsteyn denied wrongdoing. I am honored to work for President Trump and with his team, Bessent wrote. These fake claims are false and defamatory and will not distract us from Making America Great Again.

Steven Cheung, Trumps incoming White House communications director, acknowledged in a statement to CNN that a broad review of the campaigns consulting agreements has been conducted and completed, including as to Boris, among others. We are now moving ahead together as a team to help President Trump Make America Great Again.

Ephsteyn has long been a top aide in Trumps orbit. He worked closely with Trumps lawyers in the 2020 effort to overturn the results of the presidential election. He faces felony charges in the Arizona fake elector case for his role.

He has also been heavily involved in Trumps transition efforts. He sat in on key meetings and candidate briefings, CNN reported, and has traveled with Trump.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Earlier this month, Politico reported that Ephsteyn was largely responsible for Trumps since-abandoned nomination of former Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. While traveling together, Ephsteyn lobbied Trump to pick Gaetz, Politico reported, while incoming White House chief of staff Susie Wiles was in a different, adjacent room on the plane, apparently unaware.

On Monday night, Eric Trump  son of the president-elect  said on Fox News that hes known Ephsteyn for years, and Ive never known him to be anything but a good human being, he said. That said I will tell you my father has been incredibly clear, you do not do that under any circumstance. I certainly hope the reporting is false. ... If its true, the person will probably no longer be around.

The Times reported that the Trump teams internal investigation  led by attorney David Warrington  concluded that Ephsteyns proximity to Trump should be terminated.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Topeka police have released the identity of the citys latest deadly shooting victim Tuesday.

Rosie Nichols with the City of Topeka said the Topeka Police Department (TPD) has identified the Nov. 24 shooting victim as Jessie L. Grahnert, 32, of Topeka. The investigation into Grahnerts death is ongoing.

Police were called around 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 24 to the 2000 block of North Kansas Avenue on reports of a shooting in the area. Officers arriving at the scene found one person, later identified as Grahnert, dead at the scene.

Police identify pedestrian killed in east Topeka crash

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Grahnerts death is being investigated as the 19th homicide case in Topeka for 2024. People who have information related to this investigation can contact police at telltpd@topeka.org or call 785-368-9400. You can also reach out to Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007 or leave an anonymous tip online by clicking here.

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

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
AGAWAM, Mass. (WWLP)  The Agawam Fire Department has rescinded its open burning ban that was put into place due to dry and hazardous fire conditions.

Crews continue to monitor Butternut wildfire in Great Barrington

The temporary ban was initially put into effect on November 4th. Agawam Fire Chief Alan Sirois told 22News that the recent rainfall, combined with seasonal temperatures returning to normal, were the main factors in their decision to reverse the policy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

All previously restricted activities are being allowed again. Residents and businesses are being reminded to still follow state fire safety regulations.

Burning of yard waste is only allowed with a permit between January 15 and May 1, however you

are permitted to start and maintain a cooking fire at any time without a permit provided that conditions are safe and that the following requirements are met:

The fire is contained in a non-flammable enclosure

It is located away from combustible materials

It does not create a smoke condition that is a nuisance

It is tended at all times by someone who is 18 years of age or older

Keep in mind that you are also never allowed to burn the following materials:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Leaves

Combustibles from commercial or industrial land clearing

Grass, hay, stumps, pallets or tires

Construction material or demolition debris

Trash

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Minister of Justice, speaking to journalists at an evening of support for victims of violence, said that it was only a matter of time before EU instructors would conduct training missions for Ukrainian soldiers on the territory of Ukraine.

Source: Stefanishyna in an interview with Ukrinform

Details: Stefanishyna said that they are discussing with European partners the conduct of exercises for the Ukrainian military. She explained that they see this as an element of equipping Ukrainian brigades so that they are properly manned, trained and equipped. Stefanishyna expressed her opinion that it is only a matter of time before European instructors conduct exercises on the territory of Ukraine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She said the goal is to train and equip more than a dozen Ukrainian brigades, so it is an absolutely pragmatic solution that they are moving towards.

Background:

In May 2024, Kyiv asked the EU to conduct some exercises on Ukrainian soil, but there are many sceptics among member states who warn that the bloc could be drawn into a war and question Kyiv's ability to protect training sites from Russian attacks, given the acute shortage of air defence equipment.

At the end of November, Major General Christian Freuding, Head of the Planning Staff and the Special Task Force for Ukraine at Germany's Federal Ministry of Defence, said that he saw no practical advantages in holding military exercises on the territory of Ukraine.

The general believes that training in Ukraine is more risky, as the Russians will try to attack any training facilities where NATO troops are present.

He also noted excellent training facilities in Germany and other European NATO countries, offering much better training conditions. Freuding added that holding the training in Germany or Europe would be a better solution, as it would allow them to be more efficient, invest in instructors, and increase the level of training without worrying about security.

Support UP or become our patron!
Casella Waste System's Bethlehem landfill had hundreds of violations within a year. (Department of Environmental Services)

When it rains over a landfill, water trickles through the waste, picking up contaminants in the trash and forming a polluted liquid called leachate.

Lawmakers will consider a bill next session that would create more comprehensive requirements around the leachate management plans in permit applications for new landfills, including adding a new requirement that these plans contain details about handling leachate after the closure of the landfill, according to its sponsor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The move comes after several landfills in the state had recent issues handling the so-called trash juice that can contain heavy metals, PFAS, and other harmful substances, according to the Department of Environmental Services. Failing to properly manage leachate can pose grave safety and environmental risks.

So far, this is a problem that has not really received anywhere near the attention that it deserves, Rep. Nicholas Germana, a Keene Democrat who is leading the legislation, said of leachate management.

This legislation would put the requirement for leachate management plans into statute, in addition to creating stricter requirements. It would include language that requires DES, before issuing a permit, to make a positive determination that the permit application includes a detailed leachate management plan. It would also make it so those seeking landfill permits would have to demonstrate that their contracts for transporting and processing leachate are enforceable under law.

Its one of several landfill issues lawmakers seek to address when they convene early next year. Other bill requests would put a moratorium on new landfills until 2030, require DES to set site-specific setback distances for future landfills, and mandate those applying for permits to submit a report outlining the potential harms and benefits of their proposals. Bills for the next legislative session are still in the drafting stage.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Advocates say more detailed requirements for handling leachate are necessary in light of the issues that have cropped up at landfills around the state and the challenges posed by intense rain events.

The existing rules regarding leachate management cover basically what happens on the site of the landfill, said Eliot Wessler, a Whitefield resident involved in solid waste advocacy, but theres virtually no rules about how the leachate is transferred off site and how certain the disposal  of the leachate is, so thats the genesis of it (the bill) is, you know, to strengthen the states rules.

He added: Were hopeful that therell be bills  that cover leachate management at existing landfills, but at least at the margin for any new landfill, there should be a lot more attention paid to how the leachate is going to be managed, how its going to be stored on site, but mostly how its going to be removed from the site, and how its going to be treated before it goes into our ecosystem.

The state currently requires landfills to: have at least two locations for leachate disposal; estimate how much leachate they will generate; and describe how leachate will be handled at the landfill before being shipped somewhere else for disposal, according to DES. They must also have procedures in place to bring down leachate levels to a foot or lower within a week of a 100-year storm event. Regulations also include details about on-site leachate management systems.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As part of the facilitys operating plan, DES said in a statement, the leachate management plan must provide sufficient detail to allow the certified operator and other trained facility personnel to operate the facility in compliance with RSA 149-M, the facilitys permit, and the solid waste rules without further explanation or guidance.

DES found failures to properly manage leachate at several landfills around the state this year. One facility that has attracted particular scrutiny is the landfill in Bethlehem operated by Vermont-based Casella Waste Systems, which failed hundreds of times within a year to keep leachate to its required levels and to file mandatory reports, data, and investigations with the state.

The Bethlehem landfill on hundreds of occasions had leachate levels above 1 foot, the maximum level the state requires landfills to maintain except in certain heavy rain events. Once, leachate stood at 116 inches, almost 10 times higher than it should have been per state requirements.

In the foreground of solid waste conversations in the state is Casellas bid to build another landfill in the northern part of the state just half a mile from a pristine lake. Those pending permit applications have also shrouded proposed updates from DES to the states landfill regulations, which a group of lawmakers recently sent the department back to work on.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Though the Bethlehem landfill outnumbered others in terms of its sheer quantity of violations, it was not the only facility where DES found leachate issues.

A city-run landfill in Lebanon had leachate breakouts in 13 areas, including five releases beyond the facility and into the environment. It did not immediately notify DES, as required, and at least some of the issues were not handled in a timely manner, the department said. And in Rochester, a landfill run by Waste Management of New Hampshire had at least 13 leachate discharges between December 2022 and late April of this year, presenting an ongoing operational issue, DES wrote in May.

Tom Tower, vice president of the North Country Alliance for Balanced Change, a citizen group that has rallied against Casellas new landfill and for solid waste reform, said heavy rain events put increased stress on landfills, pointing to Bethlehem in particular.

We need to be prepared for not just what  is considered ordinary, but also what are considered to be somewhat the extremes of the goal posts, Tower said of the weather events, because weve seen what can happen when you get an inordinate amount of rain like this, and it doesnt appear to be changing anytime soon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Germana  who said he expects the bill to attract a bipartisan group of sponsors  raised a similar point.

Certainly as were seeing a higher frequency of these kind of 50-year or 100-year storms and floods, our landfills throughout New England are just not really equipped to deal with the creation of such large quantities of leachate so quickly, he said.

This legislation aims to make sure landfill operators are adequately prepared, Germana said.

Rather than requiring kind of a micromanaged, top-down approach, Germana said, it is saying to these operators, you need to think about all these things in advance and come up with a comprehensive plan to deal with them.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A trial date has been set for a man accused of brutally beating a Campbell man who died.

R-Trell Miller was arraigned Tuesday morning in Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas. He pleaded not guilty to all charges, including murder and felonious assault.

Police say Miller is the suspect in last months death of 76-year-old James Mszanski, who the coroner said was beaten to death.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Investigators have not commented on a motive for the crime.

Millers trial date is set for December 16.

Millers bond was also set at $500,000.

Jon Rudder contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Trillium Health is celebrating its 35th anniversary as it gears up for a World AIDS Day fundraiser.

Dec. 5, Trillium will be honoring World AIDS Day while also emphasizing the work done to help end the HIV and AIDS epidemic.

Trillium was founded in 1989, originally as an HIV and AIDS clinic. Its since expanded to serve everyone. Decembers fundraiser is expected to honor and remember those who have lost their lives to AIDS, while also celebrating the progress made in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lifespan warns of holiday scams targeting older adults

We make sure there are no barriers, such as ability to pay. It could be  you have housing insecurity. So, we find ways to eliminate that. Or food insecurity. So, thats where the fundraising goes. It feeds our patient care fund. And that allows us to pay for things that our regular insurance wouldnt cover, said Jason Barnecut-Kearns, president and CEO.

Tickets for the event can be found here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  The driver of a truck in which federal agents found 44 pounds of cocaine was sentenced Friday to 30 months in federal prison.

Read next: Man sentenced in wrong way Youngstown police chase

Javier Eduardo Guiterrez-Quintana, no age given, received the sentence from Judge David A. Ruiz in the U.S. Northern District Court of Ohio.

He pleaded guilty Aug. 7 to a charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Guiterrez-Quintana has been in detention since he was arrested on June 3 shortly after a criminal complaint was filed against him the same day in federal court.

That complaint was a result of a May 31 investigation by police and troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol of prostitution at an 1150 N. Canfield Niles Road truck stop, according to the affidavit attached to the criminal complaint.

Guiterrez-Quintana was the driver of a commercial vehicle at the truck stop, and as he was being questioned, a police dog was able to smell the odor of drugs inside.

When asked if he had any drugs in the vehicle, reports said Guiterrez-Quintana told police he sometimes found strange bags inside his truck and he gave police permission to search the truck.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Inside the truck, the officers found three duffel bags, and inside the bags was a total of 20 taped packages that resembled the way drugs are packaged, the affidavit said.

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration was then called and Guiterrez-Quintana was questioned, the affidavit said. The affidavit said he admitted driving the drugs from El Paso, Texas to the Youngstown area, where he was supposed to meet with someone who would take the drugs.

The weight of the packages was 20 kilograms, which is just over 44 pounds.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday he had a good call with President-elect Trump following the incoming U.S. leaders pronouncement that he would impose a 25 percent tariff on Canadian goods when he takes office.

I had a good call with Donald Trump last night again, Trudeau told reporters Tuesday. We obviously talked about laying out the facts, talking about how the intense and effective connections between our two countries flow back and forth.

We talked about some of the challenges that we can work on together, he continued. It was a good call.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trudeau signaled a sense of optimism at working with Trump, even though the Canadian official acknowledged that the relationship between the two countries takes work.

This is something that we can do, laying out the facts, moving forward in constructive ways, Trudeau said. This is a relationship that we know takes a certain amount of working on, and thats what well do.

Trudeau advocated for a bipartisan approach to dealing with the U.S., adding in his remarks to reporters, One of the really important things is that we be all pulling together on this. The Team Canada approach is what works.

Trump said Monday he would levy tariffs of 25 percent on all Canadian and Mexican goods, and add another 10 percent tariff to all Chinese goods  many of which are already under tariffs imposed by Trump during his first term.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump said the new tariffs are meant to push all three nations to make stronger efforts to bolster border security and crack down on fentanyl exports to the U.S.

Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price! Trump posted on Truth Social.

Trump pledged during his campaign to impose import taxes of 10 percent to 20 percent on all foreign goods, with tariffs of up to 60 percent on Chinese goods. Canada, Mexico and China are the U.S.s largest trading partners.

Trumps threat comes days after he announced he would nominate investor Scott Bessent as his Treasury secretary. If Bessent is confirmed by the Senate, the role would make him a key player in implementing Trumps trade agenda and attempting to keep markets calm amid the expected disruption.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Bloomberg) -- Aluminum and steel will be the most impacted metals under President-elect Donald Trumps threat to impose 25% tariffs on imports from top suppliers Canada and Mexico, according to Citigroup analysts.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The two US trade partners are the biggest providers of the metals to the US and Trumps plan to levy tariffs on imports of the metals will result in higher steel and aluminum prices across the US, according to analysts led by Alexander Hacking. The US gets about 70% of its aluminum from abroad, with 60% of that from Canada. Steel imports account for 24% of the American supply, with Canada providing a quarter of the amount and Mexico about 15%.

A 25% tariff as announced by Trump on Monday would likely cause steel prices to rise by $100 to $150 a short ton, the analysts said in a Nov. 26 note. For US aluminum prices, the Midwest premium over that of the London Metal Exchange could more than double to as much as 50 cents more  a move that could benefit six US smelters. Still, the analysts warned it could take years to reconfigure this supply chain.

Equity investors would likely be cautious in pricing duration on any windfall profits  assuming that this is seen as a negotiating tactic/temporary impact, in our view, the analysts wrote. During Trumps first term administration, we saw steel buyers stockpile on tariff headlines and would expect something similar this time around.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has suggested her country could respond to Trumps threatened tariffs with levies of its own, warning the economic consequences would be dire. Given that the US is a net exporter of steel to Mexico, Citigroup said any retaliatory tariffs would hurt the US mills more, especially in sheet products.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Canada counts the US as its biggest export market for metals and minerals, with aluminum, iron and steel making up almost half of metals shipments, according to the Canadian government. The northern neighbor exported about C$59 billion ($42 billion) of metal ores, minerals and metal-and-mineral products to the US in 2022, according to Statistics Canada data.

--With assistance from Jay Zhao-Murray.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- Big US utilities climate goals are in peril as artificial intelligence turbocharges electricity demand and Donald Trumps reelection signals policy shifts that would favor fossil fuels.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These companies all have ambitious targets to cut their carbon emissions, most often to reach net-zero by 2050. But the surprising growth in power consumption led by data centers, combined with Republican electoral victories, has some utilities delaying the retirement of coal-burning plants and planning a massive buildout of natural gas generation.

The AI revolution, along with increased demand from new factories and the electrification of everything from vehicles to home heating, has forced power companies to tear up their projections for consumption. Meanwhile, president-elect Trump has repeatedly vowed to terminate a suite of federal rules that stifle power-plant pollution and encourage the closure of units generating electricity from coal.

Electric companies are rushing to meet power demand that's suddenly surging after more than a decade of sluggishness. While utilities continue to add renewable power to their systems, some are are reluctant to shutter dirty plants that still can provide reliable electricity.

Trump will definitely slow down climate progress, said Andy DeVries, an analyst for CreditSights Inc. The power demand from data centers, however, will have an even bigger impact, he said. It just comes out to math. If these data center demand figures are anywhere near realistic, you dont have the ability to retire coal plants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Republican control of the White House and Congress will shift US energy policy away from decarbonization goals, according to a report this month from energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie. So far, the utilities that have indicated plans to delay or reconsider climate goals operate primarily in Republican-led states and swing states. President Joe Bidens already lofty target for a carbon-free power system by 2035 is increasingly in doubt.

The net-zero targets get sacrificed on the altar of economic growth, Ryan Sweezey, director of power and renewables for Wood Mackenzie, said in an interview. If a utility has a corporate net-zero target, and its not tied to some state law, its really not worth the paper its written on.

Electricity generation is the second-biggest source of carbon emissions in the US after transportation. The following companies have recently changed their climate goals, made plans that delay progress on those targets or said they are considering changes.

American Electric Power Co. will begin taking direction from the states where it operates, which may lead to a change in the utilitys 2045 net-zero carbon target, CEO Bill Fehrman said in an interview. When 10 of our 11 states are red states, to go into those states and tell them we want to discontinue burning coal and natural gas because AEP has a carbon target, that isnt well-received, said Fehrman.

FirstEnergy Corp. scuttled its 2030 target for slashing greenhouse-gas emissions because coal plants cant be replaced in time. Weve identified several challenges to our ability to meet that interim goal, including resource adequacy concerns, FirstEnergy Chief Executive Officer Brian Tierney said during a conference call in February.

Southern Co. is considering extending the retirement date of one of its coal plants, Chief Executive Officer Chris Womack said in an interview this month. Rising power demand provides a rationale to push back coal retirements, while the potential elimination of certain power-plant emissions rules under a Trump administration could make it easier to run those facilities longer into the future, he said. But the company has so far said its sticking to its climate goals.

Duke Energy Corp. said last month it plans to extend the life of its largest coal-fired power plant after demand climbed, sidelining its target to shutter all facilities that burn the dirty fuel by 2035. The utility also said it would reexamine plans to convert some coal-fired units to also run on natural gas if Trump axes the plant emission rules, adding that its moving through the transition to cleaner forms of power and all its coal plants will reach the end of their useful lives in the 2030s. Like Southern, Duke has said its net-zero targets are unchanged.

Dominion Energy Inc. provides power to Virginias Data Center Alley, the global center of the industry. To meet huge demand increases, the company has proposed investing in new gas generation and is weighing whether to delay retiring some gas plants and one large coal facility. Anything thats driving demand is going to make it harder to retire existing fossil units. Thats just sort of basic physics, Chief Executive Officer Bob Blue said in an interview.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc.s PacifiCorp sees its carbon emissions dropping 63% from 2005 to 2030, compared to an earlier projected reduction of 78% over the same time period, after demand forecasts rose. The company also plans to extend the life of coal generation and add significant new natural gas generation while canceling renewable energy projects over the next two decades, according to an analysis by Bloomberg Intelligence.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

--With assistance from Anne Riley Moffat.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
(NewsNation)  President-elect Donald Trumps attorneys are investigating allegations that one of his top aides asked potential appointees for payment in exchange for a spot in the incoming administration, multiple outlets have reported.

Adviser Boris Epshteyn, a lawyer and longtime strategist for Trump, sought out retainer fees from people looking to join Trumps team, three people briefed on the matter told The New York Times.

According to Times reporting, attorney David Warrington conducted an internal review of the claims, finding that Epshteyn proposed payment in return for promoting candidates or offering industry connections.

Best Prime Day Deals for 2024:

 Best Black Friday deals to shop from home

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

 Top holiday discounts under $100

 Apple products marked down for Black Friday

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission.

Democratic overspending disqualifies Harris forever: Megadonor

Epshteyn allegedly asked for payment from at least two people. One of them was Scott Bessent, Trumps choice to lead the Treasury.

In February, the adviser proposed $30,000 to $40,000 per month to promote Bessent at Mar-a-Lago. According to sources, Bessent declined  and later reported concerns to the Trump transition team.

One instance included a request of up to $100,000 per month from a defense contractor, who did not hire Epshteyn.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Trump transition team confirmed the review occurred but emphasized its plan to move on from the accusations, CNN first reported.

As is standard practice, a broad review of the campaigns consulting agreements has been conducted and completed, including as to Boris, among others, transition spokesman Steven Cheung told CNN. We are now moving ahead together as a team to help President Trump Make America Great Again.

Is US military ready for war under Trump presidency?

I am honored to work for President Trump and with his team, Epshteyn said in a statement to the Times. These fake claims are false and defamatory and will not distract us from Making America Great Again.

Who is Boris Epshteyn?

Epshteyn is a lawyer who has been coordinating with Trumps various legal teams and a longtime aide to Trump who was a key surrogate in his 2016 campaign. Epshteyn briefly served as an adviser in Trumps White House and as an on-screen political analyst for Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After Trump refused to accept his loss in 2020, Epshteyn worked with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani on efforts to overturn the result. He was accused of carrying out a scheme with Giuliani to submit fake electors for Trump in Arizona and obstruct the certification of the results by Congress. He has pleaded not guilty to nine felony charges in Arizona related to the case.

Epshteyn has also appeared at Trumps side during his court appearances.

Trump pledges Mexico, Canada, China tariffs over border, fentanyl

Hes remained at the president-elects side following his victory, advising on Trumps choices for Cabinet and administration positions. He reportedly butted heads with billionaire backer Elon Musk over some of the picks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Epshteyn was also one of the Trump advisers who supported the president-elect choosing former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., to serve as attorney general, despite a House Ethics Committee investigation of alleged sexual misconduct and illicit drug use by the former Florida lawmaker.

Gaetz has since taken his name out of the running.

The Associated Press and NewsNation partner The Hill contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
President-elect Donald Trumps pick for border czar, Tom Homan, has threatened to jail Denvers Democratic Mayor Mike Johnston should he obstruct Trumps immigration agenda.

During a Monday night interview on Hannity, Homan cited a federal statue that prohibits bringing in and harboring certain aliens.

Me and the Denver mayor, we agree on one thing: Hes willing to go to jail. Im willing to put him in jail, Homan said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The wild threat is a response to remarks Johnston made last week. In an interview published Wednesday with local outlet Denverite, Johnston described how the city might resist Trumps plans to conduct mass deportation operations with federal forces. More than us having [the Denver Police Department] stationed at the county line to keep them out, you would have 50,000 Denverites there, he said. Its like the Tiananmen Square moment with the rose and the gun, right? Youd have every one of those Highland moms who came out for the migrants. And you do not want to mess with them.

In comments to 9News two days later, Johnston walked back his comments, saying he probably wouldnt have used that image. But he affirmed his support for and willingness to participate in civil disobedience if our residents are having their rights violated or things are happening that are illegal or immoral or un-American in our city.

Asked if he would be willing to go to jail for standing in the way of the Trump administration, Johnston said, Yeah, Im not afraid of that, and Im also not seeking that. I think the goal is we want to be able to negotiate with reasonable people how to solve hard problems.

Johnstons remarks drew the ire of many on the MAGA right. Elon Musk, for example, posted on X, Those who break the law will be arrested and that includes mayors.

Homans threat Monday marks an escalation in his vows to iron-fistedly conduct mass deportations despite the preferences of state and local officials. In a Fox appearance earlier this week, the prospective border czar said, I guarantee  President Trump will slash federal funds to sanctuary states.
President-elect Donald Trumps pick for border czar has threatened to throw the Denver mayor in jail if he doesnt comply with mass deportations.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has voiced resistance to Trumps campaign promise to conduct mass deportations and last week said he would even go to jail to stand up for the cause. Tom Homan, Trumps border czar nominee, said both he and Johnston think he should be behind bars if he doesnt abide by what could be a federal policy.

Look, me and the Denver mayor, we agree on one thing: hes willing to go to jail, Im willing to put him in jail, Tom Homan said Monday on Fox News. His comment comes one day after Homan threatened to slash federal funds to states with leaders who dont cooperate with immigration authorities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He pointed to a statute that says its illegal to knowingly conceal, harbor or shield an illegal migrant from detection or attempt to do so. Its also a felony to impede a federal law enforcement officer, he added.

So if we dont help, thats fine, he can get the hell out of the way, Homan said. But were going to go do the job.

Trumps border czar pick Tom Homan says hes willing to put the Denver mayor in jail for resisting mass deportations while sitting next to Governor Greg Abbott (right) on Fox News (Fox News)

Trump has a mandate of the American people. We gotta secure this country. We gotta save American lives, he said.

Homan still has to be confirmed by the Senate before assuming the Trump administration role.

On Sunday, Fox News host Mark Levin asked Homan would use the very powerful weapon of slashing federal funds if a governor doesnt cooperate. Homan agreed: Thats going to happen. President Trump will do that.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He continued: President[-elect] Trump has made it clear, were going to prioritize public safety threats and national security threats right out of the gate because they pose the most danger to this country. What governor or mayor doesnt want public safety threats and national security threats out of their neighborhoods, out of their communities? Thats their number one responsibility.

When asked about whether Denver police would comply with immigration enforcement, the Denver mayor told Denverite Wednesday: Absolutely not. We wont do it.

He said he would be willing to be put behind bars for the cause.

Yeah, Im not afraid of that, and Im also not seeking that, Johnston told 9News Friday. I think the goal is we want to be able to negotiate with reasonable people how to solve hard problems.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said he would be willing to go to jail to stand up to mass deportations in his home city (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert)

He also encouraged locals to protest the deportations: I think things are happening that are illegal or immoral or un-American in our city, I would certainly protest it, and I would expect other residents would do the same.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The mayor clarified that he has a clear line for who should be deported: We think if you are a violent criminal that is committing serious crimes like murder or rape in Denver, you should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and you should be deported.

Johnston emphasized he hopes to have a good working relationship with the next administration: We believe in a democracy you should be able to change administrations and change parties and still serve all of your residents.

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul also warned of the consequences if Johnston doesnt comply, telling Face the Nation on Sunday: I would say that the mayor of Denver, if hes going to resist federal law  which, theres a long-standing history of the supremacy of federal law  hes going to resist that, it will go all the way to the Supreme Court.

Paul clarified that he opposes Trumps idea to use the military for mass deportations.

The Republican Senator supports plans to deport the 15,000 murderers and 13,000 sexual assault perpetrators but only through the normal process of domestic policing. But, he added: I will not support and will not vote to use the military in our cities. I think its a terrible image.
President-elect Donald Trumps border czar claimed Monday that he will throw the mayor of Denver, Colorado in prison if his city resists Trumps efforts to deport millions of immigrants from the United States.

Me and the Denver mayor, we agree on one thing: hes willing to go to jail, Im willing to put him in jail, Tom Homan said in an appearance on Fox News' Hannity.

Homan was responding to an interview last week in which Mayor Mike Johnston told Denverite he would summon local police to block federal forces mobilized by Trump to round up immigrants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He also suggested the community would rise up against them.

More than us having [the Denver Police Department] stationed at the county line to keep them out, you would have 50,000 Denverites there, Johnston said.

Its like the Tiananmen Square moment with the rose and the gun, right? Youd have every one of those Highland moms who came out for the migrants. And you do not want to mess with them.

Johnston added that he would explore the creation of city work authorizations if Trump follows through on a pledge to block immigrants from working.

His remarks immediately became fodder for conservative cable news and MAGA sycophants like Elon Musk, who tweeted, The mayor of Denver hates his constituents.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During an appearance on CBS Face the Nation, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) accused the mayor of advocating for a form of insurrection.

Johnston later softened his stance on city police blocking federal agents, but reiterated his support for mass protests against any deportation efforts.

Homan, meanwhile, pledged to have federal officers carry out deportations, no matter what Johnston thinks.

I dont know what the hells going on in Denver, but we are going to go fix it, he said. If he dont want to fix it, if he dont want to protect his communities, President Trump and ICE will.

Homan is a rough and tumble former Border Patrol agent who led the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on an acting basis under Trump from January 2017 to June 2018.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He was not confirmed by the United States Senate, while his new role doesnt require confirmation.

During Trumps second term in office, he will be in charge of the U.S. land and sea borders, including the enforcement of the President-elects pledge to mass deport millions of people with the use of federal or even military personnel.
Incoming border czar Tom Homan says he's willing to throw Denver Mayor Mike Johnston in jail over his protests about mass deportation.

"But look, me and the Denver mayor, we agree on one thing -- he's willing to go to jail, I'm willing to put him in jail because there there's a statute. It's Title 8 United States Code 1324 (iii). And what it says is it's a felony if you knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien from immigration authorities. It's also a felony to impede a federal law enforcement officer," Homan told Hannity during an interview on Fox News last night.

Homan's comments come after Mayor Johnston said he was willing to go to jail to stop possible mass deportation efforts under the incoming Trump administration.

PHOTO: Denver Mayor Mike Johnston speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 18, 2024, in Washington. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images, FILE)

"I'm not afraid of that and I'm also not seeking that," he said during an interview with a local NBC affiliate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

MORE: In Trump's mass deportation plan, the private prison industry sees a lucrative opportunity

Johnston did walk back comments he made about stationing police officers at the county line to stop federal forces from coming in to deport undocumented immigrants. In an interview with local news outlet Denverite he likened those efforts to the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests in China.

Homan and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who were both interviewed by Hannity on Monday night, said they plan to make two stops along the border to feed National Guard troops and DPS troopers who have been vital to Texas' mission to stop immigrants from coming to the border.

Trump border czar Tom Homan says he's willing to jail Denver mayor over mass deportation protest originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
President-elect Donald Trump named his remaining Cabinet picks on Friday, rounding out his nominees who appear to be an ideologically diverse group of people ready to take up the Make America Great Again banner.

Trump asked Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a lifelong Democrat turned independent, to lead the Health and Human Services Department, and tapped former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who switched her party affiliation to Republican this year, to be his director of national intelligence.

Entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are tasked with shrinking the federal government through a new efficiency department.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trumps incoming Cabinet also represents a few historic firsts  including the first female chief of staff and the first GOP Cabinet member who is openly gay  as well as an overall generational shift.

As the president-elect sets the record for being the oldest man elected to the highest office, he is also ushering in a new generation of politicians who might change the Republican Party for good. Here are the historic firsts of the Trump Cabinet 2.0.

J.D. Vance

Trumps right-hand man, Sen. J.D. Vance is representative of the generational change within his party as he becomes the first millennial to be elected to the office of vice president.

The 40-year-old is the third youngest vice present in American history, behind John C. Breckinridge, who was 36 when elected under President James Buchanan in 1857, and Richard Nixon, who was 40 years and 11 days old in 1953 when Dwight D. Eisenhower won office, as PBS News reported.

Karoline Leavitt speaks to the news media across the street from Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump's criminal trial in New York, May 28, 2024. | Ted Shaffrey

Karoline Leavitt

At age 27, Karoline Leavitt will be the youngest White House press secretary to ever hold this position. She interned at Fox News and the Trump White House while still in school and began working for Trumps first administration after graduating from Saint Anselm College, a Catholic college in New Hampshire.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She briefly served as the communications director for Elise Stefanik, a GOP representative Trump picked for the role of United Nations ambassador, and Leavitt also unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. House of Representatives seat in New Hampshire.

Pam Bondi

Trump originally chose former congressman Matt Gaetz for attorney general, but following scrutiny from Republicans over the Florida representatives ethics report, Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. Trump replaced him with another longtime ally, Pam Bondi.

The 59-year-old was the first woman to become Floridas attorney general. At the time, Bondi received former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palins endorsement, which helped her seal the win.

Bondi served as a state prosecutor for nearly a decade, where she attempted to overturn Obamacare in the state and took on the case against former New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden, who, in 2006, faced a year in prison for violating his probation.

Marco Rubio

If confirmed, Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, is set to become the first Latino to hold the office of secretary of state. His job will entail overseeing the U.S. foreign service.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Rubio, the first Cuban-American senator, will head the State Department amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine conflicts. In the Senate, he is the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Intelligence Committee and a member of the Foreign Relations Committee.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, left, listens as investor Scott Bessent speaks on the economy in Asheville, N.C., Aug. 14, 2024. | Matt Kelley

Scott Bessent

The billionaire hedge fund manager, who has been well received as the incoming Treasury Department head, is the first openly gay Cabinet member in a GOP administration. He shares two children with his partner.

In a certain geographic region at a certain economic level, being gay is not an issue, Bessent told Yale Alumni Magazine in 2015. If you had told me in 1984, when we graduated, and people were dying of AIDS, that 30 years later Id be legally married and we would have two children via surrogacy, I wouldnt have believed you.

So far, Wall Street is celebrating the news of Bessents likely appointment, with Yale Chief Executive Institute Jeffrey Sonnenfeld saying he was reasonable and pragmatic, as CNN reported.
The judge overseeing Donald Trumps election interference case has dismissed the case, after special counsel Jack Smith asked the judge to toss the case due to a long-standing Justice Department policy that bars the prosecution of a sitting president.

Smith earlier Monday moved to dismiss Trumps election interference case and the appeal of his classified documents case due to the DOJ policy and not because the charges lacked merit.

Smith also asked that the appeal in the classified documents case against Trumps two co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Olivera, be allowed to continue.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nearly 16 months after a grand jury first indicted Trump over his alleged efforts to unlawfully overturn the results of the 2020 election, Smith asked U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to throw out the case ahead of Trumps impending inauguration, according to the motion filed Monday.

That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Governments proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind, Smith stated in his motion.

The country have never faced the circumstance here, where a federal indictment against a private citizen has been returned by a grand jury and a criminal prosecution is already underway when the defendant is elected President, the motion said. After careful consideration, the Department has determined that OLCs prior opinions concerning the Constitutions prohibition on federal indictment and prosecution of a sitting President apply to this situation and that as a result this prosecution must be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated.

Smith moved to dismiss his appeal of the charges against Trump in his classified documents case, in which Trump pleaded not guilty last year to 40 criminal counts related to his handling of classified materials after leaving the White House, after U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case in July over her finding that Smith was improperly appointed to his role. Smith appealed that ruling to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that legal precedent and history confirm the attorney generals ability to appoint special counsels.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mondays filing asks the court to dismiss that appeal  but it requests to keep the appeal in place for Nauta and De Olivera, two Trump employees who pleaded not guilty to obstruction charges.

The appeal concerning the other two defendants will continue because, unlike defendant Trump, no principle of temporary immunity applies to them, the filing said.

In a statement, John Irving, a lawyer for De Oliveira, said, The Special Counsels decision to proceed in this case even after dismissing it against President Trump is an unsurprising tribute to the poor judgment that led to the indictment against Mr. De Oliveira in the first place. Just because you can doesnt mean you should. If they prefer a slow acquittal, thats fine with us.

Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung, in a statement, called Smiths motions a major victory for the rule of law and said, The American People and President Trump want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the election interference case, Trump last year pleaded not guilty to federal charges of undertaking a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 election by enlisting a slate of so-called fake electors, using the Justice Department to conduct sham election crime investigations, trying to enlist the vice president to alter the election results, and promoting false claims of a stolen election during the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, all in an effort to subvert democracy and remain in power.

Smith subsequently charged Trump in a superseding indictment that was adjusted to respect the Supreme Courts July ruling that Trump is entitled to immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts undertaken as president.

Earlier this month, Judge Chutkan cancelled the remaining deadlines in the election interference case after Smith requested time to assess this unprecedented circumstance and determine the appropriate course going forward consistent with Department of Justice policy following Trumps election.

Judge Chutkan had been in the process of considering how the case should proceed in light of the Supreme Courts immunity ruling.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Smith had faced filing deadlines of Dec. 2 for both the election interference case and the classified documents case, after Smiths team requested more time to determine how to face the unprecedented situation of pending federal cases against someone who had just been elected to the presidency.

Getting Mondays filings in a week ahead of schedule now raises the question of whether Smith will be able to beat the clock to officially close his office down and submit his final report to Attorney General Merrick Garland  as is required of him per the DOJs special counsel regulations  before Inauguration Day.

The final report will have to go through a classification review by the intelligence community, a process that can sometimes take weeks before it is approved for any kind of public release.

Garland has made clear in appearances before Congress and in public statements that he is committed to making public the final reports of all special counsels during his tenure, which included reports by special counsel Robert Hur following his probe of President Joe Bidens handling of classified documents before assuming the presidency, and by special counsel John Durham following his probe of the 2016 Russia investigation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Special counsel David Weiss is still continuing his investigation of FBI informant Alexander Smirnov, who pleaded not guilty to charges of lying about President Biden and his son Hunter Biden, and is set to take the case to trial in California next week. Its unclear whether he will formally close his investigation down and submit a final report prior to Trump taking office.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com.
Special counsel Jack Smith set out to prove in the United States of America v. Donald J. Trump that even presidents are not above the law.

Instead, his failed prosecutions ended up making Trump even more powerful as the ebullient president-elect prepares to return to office on January 20.

Smiths decision to bow to the inevitable and shelve his cases over Trumps alleged election interference and hoarding of classified documents represented a momentous victory for the 45th and 47th president.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The federal elections case led to a Supreme Court ruling granting a president limited immunity for official acts. This is likely to reinforce Trumps belief that he will have almost unchecked authority and will therefore reverberate through the next four years and generations to come.

And a president  who refused to accept the will of voters, the bedrock principle of democracy, after he lost an election and then told supporters to fight like hell before they invaded the US Capitol  will pay no lasting legal price.

An unprecedented circumstance

Smith, in his downbeat legalese, sketched the enormity of Americas reality.

The Department and the country have never faced the circumstance here, where a federal indictment against a private citizen has been returned by a grand jury and a criminal prosecution is already underway when the defendant is elected President. He added that Justice Department policy means the case cannot go ahead because the Constitution prohibits the indictment or prosecution of sitting presidents. But he also made clear that the outcome is not based on the merits or strength of the case against the defendant.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In other words, voters have elected a president under federal criminal indictment even though he is still accused of one of the most serious crimes against democracy in American history. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.

And by voting the way they did, Americans effectively exonerated him in the federal cases  on charges that could have landed him in jail. Ironically, the very democracy that Trump had tried to subvert produced his legal deliverance.

The cases were doomed anyway since Trump vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office.

But Smiths move on Monday validated Trumps high-wire legal and political strategy, which involved repeated delays, sometimes with the help of conservative judges, and an absolute imperative to win the presidential election  a feat that looked unlikely when he was first charged.

Special counsel Jack Smith delivers remarks on a recently unsealed indictment including four felony counts against Donald Trump in Washington, DC, on August 1, 2023. - Drew Angerer/Getty Images

What the thwarting of accountability means

There will be short- and long-term consequences from Trump escaping accountability.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

His second term, which he already pledged to devote to retribution, has the potential to unfold in an even greater atmosphere of impunity than his first one. After all, Trump enters office for the second time having seen that his method of testing the rule of law to its limits had little downside, aside from the symbolism of his second impeachment by the US House.

For Donald Trump, his strategy of delay, delay, delay and then win the election to do away with the litigation, proves to be one of the ultimate success stories, James Sample, a law professor at Hofstra University, told Julia Chatterley on First Move on CNN International. Its certainly a win in terms of avoiding accountability, which means it is a loss for the rule of law that it took so long to bring these cases to trial that they never in fact got to trial before the election.

Smiths inability to bring the president-elect to account  for the most flagrant attack on the integrity of elections of modern times  will also echo down the ages.

Many Republicans are convinced by now that Trump was unfairly targeted. But some future president, decades from now, might decide to meddle in the result of an election that they lost in the knowledge that a predecessor got away with it.

Smiths gamble has failed

In Washington, Judge Tanya Chutkan, who was set to preside over the political trial of the century in the federal election interference case, quickly agreed to Smiths request to dismiss the case without prejudice  meaning that theoretically Trump could face the same charges again when he leaves office. But the chances of a revival of the trial in four years are far-fetched, even if a Democrat is in the White House.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The folding of the federal prosecutions also poses searching questions for Smith and the Justice Department.

Democrats have long complained that Attorney General Merrick Garland waited too long to appoint a special counsel to investigate Trump for his election meddling in 2020. After all, a congressional select committee under the previous Democratic House majority spent months probing the issue. The case might have come to trial had Garland moved more quickly. Certainly, there would have been more time for Supreme Court appeals to play out that Democrats thought were tainted by politicized delaying tactics by the conservative majority.

There has all along been another profound consideration hanging over the case. Despite the horror of what unfolded on January 6, 2021, and the shock of a president using his vast powers to try to steal an election he lost, a decision to prosecute was always going to rock the nation and its tortured politics.

Smith followed the evidence where he thought it led and secured indictments through grand juries who were convinced there was probable cause that criminal activity had occurred in both cases. That is standard prosecutorial practice.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But even some legal scholars sympathetic to the idea that Trump should face accountability for trying to overturn an election wondered whether the legal theories on which Smith relied were somewhat novel. But how could they not be? No president before dared to do what Trump tried.

And the business of putting a former president on trial was always going to raise a more acute dilemma: Was it really in the national interest to try to bring a former commander in chief into a courtroom trial, given the tumult such a crossing of the historic Rubicon was always destined to cause?

At the same time, however, failing to act against an attempt to steal an election and the alleged unauthorized storage of classified documents would have enshrined an un-American principle that presidents can break the law but every other citizen cannot.

It was not Smiths job to consider the political implications of his indictments. But charging Trump in two separate cases ahead of the election year, when the ex-president was already a candidate, was always going to stoke partisan uproar. Theres a good argument that this course revived Trumps political career.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The impact of the two federal cases  and two other prosecutions in a hush money case in New York, in which Trump was convicted, and another election interference matter in Georgia that is still awaiting trial  was to unify the Republican Party around Trump in the primary. By the general election, millions of Republican voters bought his argument that he was not only innocent but was effectively a dissident persecuted by a weaponized justice system. Im being indicted for you, he had said.

Donald Trump appears in court for his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, in New York City. - Steven Hirsch/Getty Images

Perhaps Smiths cases would have been less politically radioactive had Trump not also faced multiple other cases. Trumps mug shot in the Georgia matter, for example, was a galvanizing moment for his supporters. And the spectacle of FBI agents searching his Florida club for classified documents provided a powerful image for a former president who declared he was unfairly prosecuted.

The once-and-future president put the cap on his reality warping narrative that he was the victim, rather than the perpetrator, of election interference. It was a political hijacking, and a low point in the History of our Country that such a thing could have happened, and yet, I persevered, against all odds, and WON. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!, Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday.

The Capitol will be the backdrop to Trumps validation

Four years ago, a nation sickened by a once-in-a-century pandemic was being put through another ordeal because of one mans inability to face up to the fact that he lost the 2020 general election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So, its worth going back to Smiths original indictment to recall the grave and unprecedented conduct that was charged in the election interference case and for which Trump will now almost certainly not be held accountable.

The Defendant lost the 2020 presidential election, Smith wrote. Despite having lost, the Defendant was determined to remain in power. So, for more than two months following election day on November 3, 2020, the Defendant spread lies that there had been outcome-determinative fraud in the election and that he had actually won. These claims were false, and the Defendant knew that they were false. But the Defendant repeated and widely disseminated them anywayto make his knowingly false claims appear legitimate, create an intense national atmosphere of mistrust and anger, and erode public faith in the administration of the election.

Even Trumps own Justice Department ruled that there was no meaningful fraud in the 2020 election that would have altered the result. Almost all of Trumps legal challenges failed, and Joe Biden was duly inaugurated, two weeks after his predecessors crowd tried to halt the congressional certification of his victory.

Rep. Dan Goldman, a New York Democrat who served as a lead counsel in Trumps first impeachment trial, said he understood why Smith had followed Justice Department guidance. But he also portrayed Trumps evasion of a trial as a dark day for America. I think this is a shame for justice in this country. It establishes that Donald Trump is above the law, he told CNNs Boris Sanchez.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump will prove that assessment in less than two months on the West Front of the Capitol, when he swears to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States on the ground over which his mob swarmed on January 6, 2021.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
President-elect Trumps favorability climbed by 6 points after he was elected president earlier this month, a poll released Tuesday found.

The president-elects favorability rating hit 54 percent postelection, which is up from 48 percent preelection, according to an Emerson College poll. Trump is viewed most favorably by men, at 61 percent, while 48 percent of women view him favorably.

Among white voters, 59 percent view him favorably, compared to 53 percent of Hispanic voters and only 28 percent of Black voters, the poll found.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fifty-five percent of voters under 30 expressed a favorable view of Trump, according to the poll. He is viewed most positively among Americans in their 40s and 50s, with 60 percent viewing him favorably, while 48 percent of Americans over 70 years old view him favorably.

The poll also asked Americans if they didnt expect the final results of the 2024 race and found that 46 percent of voters were surprised that Trump beat Vice President Harris. Among those who voted for Harris, 67 percent said they were surprised by the results, while 71 percent of Trump voters said they were not surprised.

The poll was conducted two weeks after Election Day, from November 20-22, amid the Trump transition back into the White House. The president-elect has named most of his nominees for Cabinet posts and choices for senior staff positions, who will help carry out his agenda.

The poll looked ahead to 2028, and 37 percent of voters said they would support Harris for the Democratic nominee, while 35 percent said they were undecided. Meanwhile, 51 percent of voters said they were undecided about the GOP nominee in 2028, and 30 percent said they would support Vice President-elect JD Vance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The poll included 1,000 voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(The Hill)  President-elect Donald Trumps favorability climbed by six points after he was elected president earlier this month, a new poll on Tuesday found.

The president-elects favorability rating hit 54 percent post-election, which is up from 48 percent pre-election, according to an Emerson College poll. Trump is viewed most favorably by men, at 61 percent, while 48 percent of women view him favorably.

Among white voters, 59 percent view him favorably, while 53 percent of Hispanics and only 28 percent of Black voters view him favorably, the poll found.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fifty-five percent of voters under 30 expressed a favorable view of Trump, according to the poll. He is viewed most positively among Americans in their 40s and 50s, with 60 percent viewing him favorably, while 48 percent of Americans over age 70 view him favorably.

The poll also asked Americans if they didnt expect the final results of the 2024 race and found that 46 percent of voters were surprised that Trump beat Vice President Kamala Harris. Among those who voted for Harris, 67 percent said they were surprised by the results, while 71 percent of Trump voters said they were not surprised.

5 takeaways as Trump rounds out his second Cabinet

The poll was conducted two weeks after election day, from Nov. 20 to 22, amid the Trump transition back into the White House. The president-elect has named most of his nominees for Cabinet posts and choices for senior staff positions who will help carry out his agenda.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The poll looked ahead to 2028 when 37 percent of voters said they would support Harris for the Democratic nominee, while 35 percent said they were undecided. Meanwhile, 51 percent of voters said they were undecided about the GOP nominee in 2028 and 30 percent said they would support Vice President-elect JD Vance.

The poll included 1,000 voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
President-elect Donald Trump lashed out at Maggie Haberman on Tuesday, hurling a string of insults at the New York Times journalist and her employer.

Magot Hagerman, a third rate writer and fourth rate intellect, writes story after story, always terrible, and yet I almost never speak to her, the Republican posted just after midnight, accusing the newspaper of getting its coverage of him so wrong.

They do no fact checking, because facts dont matter to them. I dont believe Ive had a legitimately good story in the NYT for years, AND YET I WON, IN RECORD FASHION, THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN DECADES. WHERE IS THE APOLOGY?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump has called Haberman names in the past. He also referred to her as Maggot in August, when he raged at her for her coverage of a dubious story hed told about once being in a dangerous helicopter landing; and in October 2023, when he fumed over her reporting on his civil fraud trial.

Haberman has covered Trump extensively for years. Shes the author of a biography about him and won a Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for her reporting on his first administration.

As an independent news organization The New York Times doesnt produce stories that are good or bad, only reporting that is true, a New York Times spokesperson told HuffPost in a statement.

Maggie Haberman and her colleagues have an unrivaled record of providing deeply-reported and authoritative coverage. Every president has complaints about coverage but this work has been widely recognized as fair, accurate and unflinching.

Donald Trump's post on Truth Social. Truth Social

Its not clear what set off Tuesdays tirade. Haberman and her colleague Jonathan Swan authored two articles about Trump that were published by the Times on Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One was about Boris Epshteyn, a top Trump adviser who allegedly tried to profit from his role in the president-elects orbit. Multiple reports suggested he sought retainer fees from potential appointees in order to boost them for jobs in Trumps administration.

Reached for comment by the Times, Epshteyn called the allegations false and defamatory.

Another article focused on Natalie Harp, a Trump aide and former far-right cable host who reportedly writes the president-elect devotional letters and acts as an instant enabler of his impulses.

The Times also approached Trumps team for comment about that report. The campaign provided several character references about Harp, and Trumps spokesperson Steven Cheung said Harp was a trusted and valued member of the team.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Haberman also appeared on CNN Monday night, where she speculated about how Trumps Justice Department might seek to investigate prosecutors who worked with special counsel Jack Smith, who led two federal investigations against the president-elect.

Related...
New York Judge Juan Merchan faces a choice of freezing President-elect Trumps hush money case in place until he leaves the White House or tossing it entirely, underscoring how Trumps election win has changed the dynamic of his legal travails.

Legal experts agree Trumps election victory changes the trajectory of the prosecution and dooms the possibility he will serve punishment, while Trumps team is fighting to dismiss the case entirely.

Merchan has indefinitely adjourned what was to be the president-elects Tuesday sentencing, after delaying the date multiple times, while the judge stares down the conundrum of the cases future.

Merchan faces uncharted waters

Merchans decision to punt Trumps sentencing until after the election now forces the judge to decide how to react to the former presidents White House victory.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I think weve said it about 100 times in the last two years, but were in uncharted waters, trial attorney Chris Timmons said. Nobody knows exactly whats going to happen.

Legal observers said that, at minimum, the case cannot move forward during Trumps presidency. But it remains to be seen whether Merchan will toss the jurys 34-count guilty verdict and the entire case.

Merchan gave Trumps lawyers until Monday to file their motion to dismiss the case in the interests of justice, known in New York as a Clayton motion.

Catherine Christian, a former Manhattan special assistant district attorney, said such motions are rare and unusual.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ive only seen it in cases where, in a nonviolent case, someone who is addicted to drugs then gets to go into a drug treatment program for a year, maybe more, and then, in the interests of justice, now the indictment is dismissed, she said.

Merchan must now decide whether the court can apply to Trumps extraordinary circumstance and also confront whether he is entitled now to the prosecutorial protections hell receive upon his inauguration due to timing factors.

Donald Trump actually, technically, is not president-elect, constitutional law expert Robert McWhirter noted. Hes not going to be president-elect until Dec. 17, when the Electoral College meets.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) is staking out opposition to dismissing the case, instead suggesting freezing the proceedings until Trump leaves office. Bragg is due to file his written arguments by Dec. 9.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Braggs approach marks a contrast from special counsel Jack Smith, who on Monday moved to outright dismiss his prosecutions of Trump on accusations of subverting the 2020 election and mishandling classified documents.

[T]his prosecution must be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated, Smith wrote Monday.

In a footnote, Smith noted the Justice Department opinions barring prosecution of sitting presidents do not apply to Trumps state cases.

Likely appellate battle

If Merchan does not dismiss the charges and moves to sentence Trump, the president-elects team is expected to quickly appeal.

Trumps attorneys are prepared to fight to the death to put the case to an end, if needed, a source with knowledge of the president-elects legal strategy said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Legal experts predicted any appeals would fail unless Trump is sentenced, which would trigger the final judgment in his case and open up his options.

Trump could try to appeal in state court before sentencing, but judges rejected Trumps previous interlocutory appeals aimed at delaying his trial.

Once he is sentenced, then he can then take all of his appeals, Christian said. And then he can appeal in everything he can.

Trump could also take the battle to federal court, where he for months has mounted an appeal seeking to remove the case from Merchans hands. No ruling is expected soon, as the district attorneys offices written brief opposing Trumps effort isnt due until Jan. 15, but Trump could look to shake up the battle by citing his political victory.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ultimately, Trump could seek intervention from the conservative-majority Supreme Court, which already handed him a major win by carving out broad criminal immunity for former presidents.

Gregory Germain, a Syracuse University law professor, suggested appellate courts wont intervene if the judge agrees to delay the sentencing during Trumps presidency.

Trump can certainly make the argument that having this sword of Damocles hanging over his head for four years is going to make his life difficult in performing his duties. And maybe some appellate court will agree with that. Maybe itll get to the Supreme Court and theyll agree with that. I kind of doubt it, though, Germain said.

Landscape will change

Even if Trumps case is paused with the possibility of a postpresidency resumption, the legal landscape four years from now will look drastically different than today.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2029? I mean, really? Christian said. That whole prosecution team will probably be in private practice or someplace else. I mean, to have this just sort of hanging there into 2029 in many ways seems ridiculous, but here we are.

Between now and then, Bragg must win his reelection next year and, if he wishes, in 2029 again to resume his prosecution of Trump. The president-elect would be 82 years old  a year older than President Biden was when pressure from Democrats over his age resulted in his exit from the presidential race.

The same is true for Fulton County (Ga.) District Attorney Fani Willis (D), who must also win at least one more reelection to pick up her prosecution of Trump in 2029. However, she may have an advantage.

While experts agree Trumps criminal cases must be paused while hes in office, the same is not so for Trumps many co-defendants in Georgia. Willis could take her racketeering case against the former presidents allies to court in preparation for an eventual Trump trial.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You get a dry run, Timmons, a former Georgia prosecutor, said. You get to see what works and what didnt work. So, its a huge advantage.

In New York, Trump has already been tried. State law requires defendants be sentenced without unreasonable delay, raising the possibility Trump could argue punishing him in 2029 would violate his rights  even though his legal strategy caused the delay.

And putting all that aside, Trumps case would still eventually have to withstand the Supreme Courts landmark decision carving out broad criminal immunity for former presidents.

At the end of the story, this conviction wont stand, because the Supreme Court will just erase it if Judge Merchan doesnt. But thats a while away, Christian said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President-elect Donald Trump promised Monday to enact new tariffs on all imported goods from China, Mexico and Canada - Americas three largest trading partners. The incoming president said the moves would come on Inauguration Day through executive order, cementing a longtime campaign promise that threatens to roil global trade and raise prices on American consumers. Trump said the taxes would remain in place until Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!

- - -

Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The facts

Trump announced tariffs of 25 percent on Mexican and Canadian goods. Chinese goods would face a 10 percent levy.

Those tariffs would affect roughly $1.5 trillion worth of goods moving through North America, plus about $600 billion in trade between the United States and China.

It is unclear what precise effect these policies would have on Americans pocketbooks. But economists warn that prices could go up for basics like groceries, cars and electronics.

- - -

What would the tariffs affect?

Once enacted, the tariffs would affect huge swaths of global trade.

Mexico is the United States top trading partner. Most goods exported here from Mexico last year were manufactured goods, including cars, machinery and electrical equipment. Mexico also supplied more than half of U.S. fresh fruit imports in 2022, according to the Agriculture Department.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Canada supplies crude oil and petroleum, along with machinery and parts. The United States also imports plastics, pharmaceuticals, lumber and agricultural products.

Imports from China include electronics like phones and computers, sporting equipment, plastics and furniture.

- - -

Can Trump act unilaterally?

In his social media posts Monday, Trump said that he would enact the tariffs as one of my many first Executive Orders and that he would sign all necessary documents to make it happen. Legally, he could have an open door to act unilaterally. Laws passed over the past few decades give presidents plenty of authority on tariffs, especially when it comes to protecting industries harmed by global trade. But its unclear whether blanket tariffs on all foreign goods would hold up.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Still, Trump has made far-reaching tariffs fundamental to his agenda since his first term, along with lower taxes, increased energy production and deregulation.

- - -

What happened last time?

Trump employed tariffs frequently during his first term, targeting imports from China, Mexico, Canada and the European Union. Over that time, the overall trade deficit widened, from $792.4 billion in 2017 to $901.5 billion in 2020, according to the Census Bureau.

Still, back then, Trumps rhetoric and promises around tariffs didnt always translate into specific policy. Sometimes threats spurred by immigration disputes or other economic issues never materialized or were delayed indefinitely, as happened with a final round of tariffs on Chinese goods after a partial trade deal was reached with Beijing in 2019. Other proposed tariffs were announced haphazardly and without much detail.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

- - -

What about USMCA?

Some experts already argue that the tariffs would violate existing trade agreements, namely the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which took effect in 2020 after Trump negotiated it. Goods moving between those three nations can cross borders duty-free. Massive tariffs implemented through executive action would sidestep that agreement.

Mexico and Canada have vowed to retaliate: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her country would impose its own tariffs if Trump moved forward. Mexicos top exporters included U.S.-based automakers General Motors and Ford Motor Company, which have built sprawling modern production facilities around the country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a joint statement following Trumps posts, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said the relationship between the United States and Canada was balanced and mutually beneficial. The head of Quebec, one of Canadas largest provinces, said the decision poses an enormous risk to Canadas economy, and pressure mounted on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to cushion the impacts for the countrys workers.

- - -

David Lynch, Jeff Stein, Niha Masih and Mary Beth Sheridan contributed to this report.

Related Content

How a change in rice farming unexpectedly made Indias air so much worse

Trinity Rodman has learned how to fail. Shes better for it.

RFK Jr. weighs major changes to how Medicare pays physicians
AUSTIN (KXAN)  President-elect Donald Trumps incoming border czar will visit the Texas border Tuesday alongside Gov. Greg Abbott, the governors office shared in a release.

Trump named Tom Homan as his border czar earlier this month  a position the president-elect said will focus on policymaking at the northern and southern borders alongside maritime and aviation security, per reporting from CNBC. Homan previously served as the director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Trumps first term.

State of Texas: State offers land to assist future deportation efforts

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During his visit to Texas Tuesday, Homan and Abbott will meet with Texas National Guard soldiers and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers stationed alongside the border in Eagle Pass and Edinburg. The two will serve meals to the soldiers and troopers ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Other attendees at Tuesdays event include National Border Patrol Council President Paul Perez, DPS Director Steve McCraw, Adjutant General of Texas Major General Thomas Suelzer and Texas Border Czar Mike Banks.

The Eagle Pass visit is set to begin at 12 p.m. Tuesday, while Homan and Abbott will join others in Edinburg around 3:15 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Matthew Brown and Jack Dura

Associated Press

BISMARCK, N.D.  Donald Trump assigned Doug Burgum a singular mission in nominating the governor of oil-rich North Dakota to lead an agency that oversees a half-billion acres of federal land and vast areas offshore: Drill baby drill.

That dictate from the president-elect's announcement of Burgum for Secretary of Interior sets the stage for a reignition of the court battles over public lands and waters that helped define Trump's first term, with environmentalists worried about climate change already pledging their opposition.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Burgum is an ultra-wealthy software industry entrepreneur who grew up on his family's farm. He represents a tame choice compared to other Trump Cabinet picks.

Public lands experts said his experience as a popular two-term governor who aligns himself with conservationist Teddy Roosevelt suggests a willingness to collaborate, as opposed to dismantling from within the agency he is tasked with leading.

That could help smooth his confirmation and clear the way for the incoming administration to move quickly to open more public lands to development and commercial use.

Burgum strikes me as a credible nominee who could do a credible job as Interior secretary, said John Leshy, who served as Interior's solicitor under former President Bill Clinton.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hes not a right-wing radical on public lands, added Leshy, professor emeritus at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco.

Frictions over lands

The Interior Department manages about one-fifth of the country's land with a mandate that spans from wildlife conservation and recreation to natural resource extraction and fulfilling treaty obligations with Native American tribes.

Most of those lands are in the West, where frictions with private landowners and state officials are commonplace and have sometimes mushroomed into violent confrontations with right-wing groups that reject federal jurisdiction.

Burgum if confirmed would be faced with a pending U.S. Supreme Court action from Utah that seeks to assert state power over Interior Department lands. North Dakotas attorney general has supported the lawsuit, but Burgums office declined to say if he backs Utahs claims.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

U.S. Justice Department attorneys on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to reject Utah's lawsuit. They said Utah in 1894 agreed to give up its right to the lands at issue when it became a state.

Trump's narrow focus on fossil fuels is a replay from his 2016 campaign  although minus coal mining, a collapsing industry that he failed to revive in his first term. Trump repeatedly hailed oil as liquid gold on the campaign trail this year and largely omitted any mention of coal.

About 26 percent of U.S. oil comes from federal lands and offshore waters overseen by Interior. Production continues to hit record levels under President Joe Biden despite claims by Trump that the Democrat hindered drilling.

But industry representatives and their Republican allies say volumes could be further boosted. They want Burgum and the Interior Department to ramp up oil and gas sales from federal lands, in the Gulf of Mexico and offshore Alaska.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The oil industry also hopes Trumps government efficiency initiative led by billionaire Elon Musk can dramatically reduce environmental reviews.

Bidens administration reduced the frequency and size of lease sales, and it restored environmental rules that were weakened under Trump. The Democrat as a candidate in 2020 promised further restrictions on drilling to help combat global warming, but he struck a deal for the 2022 climate bill that requires offshore oil and gas sales to be held before renewable energy leases can be sold.

Oil and gas brings billions of dollars of revenue in, but you don't get that if you don't have leasing," said Erik Milito with the National Ocean Industries Association, which represents offshore industries including oil and wind.

Trump has vowed to kill offshore wind energy projects. But Milito said he was hopeful that with Burgum in place it would be green lights ahead for everything, not just oil and gas.

Conservation, drilling and grazing

It is unclear if Burgum would revive some of the most controversial steps taken at the agency during Trumps first term, including relocating senior officials out of Washington, D.C., dismantling parts of the Endangered Species Act and shrinking the size of two national monuments in Utah designated by former President Barack Obama.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officials under Biden spent much of the past four years reversing Trump's moves. They restored the Utah monuments and rescinded numerous Trump regulations. Onshore oil and gas lease sales plummeted  from more than a million acres sold annually under Trump and other previous administrations, to just 91,712 acres (37,115 hectares) sold last year  while many wind and solar projects advanced.

Developing energy leases takes years, and oil companies control millions of acres that remain untapped.

Biden's administration also elevated the importance of conservation in public lands decisions, adopting a rule putting it more on par with oil and gas development. They proposed withdrawing parcels of land in six states from potential future mining to protect a struggling bird species, the greater sage grouse.

North Dakota is among Republican states that challenged the Biden administration's public lands rule. The states said in a June lawsuit that officials acting to prevent climate change have turned laws meant to facilitate development into policies that obstruct drilling, livestock grazing and other uses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Oil production boomed over the past two decades in North Dakota thanks in large part to better drilling techniques. Burgum has been an industry champion and last year signed a repeal of the state's oil tax trigger  a price-based tax hike industry leaders supported removing.

Burgums office declined an interview request.

In a statement after his nomination, Burgum echoed Trumps call for U.S. energy dominance in the global market. The 68-year-old governor also said the Interior post offered an opportunity to improve government relations with developers, tribes, landowners and outdoor enthusiasts with a focus on maximizing the responsible use of our natural resources with environmental stewardship for the benefit of the American people.

Under current Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the agency put greater emphasis on working collaboratively with tribes, including their own energy projects. Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe in New Mexico, also advanced an initiative to solve criminal cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous peoples and helped lead a nationwide reckoning over abuses at federal Indian boarding schools that culminated in a formal public apology from Biden.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Burgum has worked with tribes in his state, including on oil development. Badlands Conservation Alliance director Shannon Straight in Bismarck, North Dakota, said Burgum has also been a big supporter of tourism in North Dakota and outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing.

Yet Straight said that hasn't translated into additional protections for land in the state.

Theodore Roosevelt had a conservation ethic, and we talk and hold that up as a beautiful standard to live by," he said. We haven't seen it as much on the ground. ... We need to recognize the landscape is only going to be as good as some additional protections.

Burgum has been a cheerleader of the planned Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota.
Donald Trump wants to slap tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada on his first day in office, which would have devastating effects on supply chains and drive up costs on many companies that do business in the United States.

The president-elect made the announcement Monday on Truth Social, saying that he would institute a 25 percent tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico until drugs and migrants stopped arriving at the border.

This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country! Trump posted. Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!

In a separate post, Trump complained about China sending illegal drugs to the United States and threatened that country with a 10 percent tariff.

I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United StatesBut to no avail, Trump posted. Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before.

The three countries are Americas biggest trading partners, and many industries rely on exporting goods to them in addition to imports. These include car companies, farmers, and food packagers. In all, Canada, Mexico, and China make up more than a third of all U.S. imports and exports, with millions of jobs depending on them. Last year, the three countries bought over $1 trillion of U.S. exports and the U.S. imported nearly $1.5 trillion of goods and services from them.

These tariffs, added to the costs of goods in the U.S., would cause prices to skyrocket as companies would pass their costs to the consumer. Other countries would likely retaliate with tariffs on American products, hurting industries stateside. By all accounts, his plan would cripple the economy, and it has been criticized by most economists. Companies would be far more likely to take their business elsewhere rather than pay tariffs or shell out the high cost of relocating their operations to U.S. soil.

Plus, the U.S. is currently part of a free-trade agreement with Canada and Mexico that Trump bragged about renegotiating during his first term. Tariffs would be a blatant violation of that agreement and also set off a trade war in North America. For a president who is riding a wave of economic dissatisfaction, however unjustified, into office, this will not bode well.
Donald Trump Jr. claims his fathers White House Briefing Room could potentially swap out traditional journalists for podcasters and other content creators they consider our friends.

Speaking on the latest episode of his Triggered With Donald Trump Jr. podcast, the president-elects eldest son claimed talks have been underway to load the deck with friendly faces better known for supporting than questioning Donald Trump.

The topic came up when Trump Jr.s co-host, Michael Knowles, suggested it was time to take away some peoples seats.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump Jr. revealed the very matter was discussed during a recent flight with his dad and Elon Musk.

We were talking about the podcast world and some of our friends and [Joe] Rogan and guys like you, Trump Jr. said. Given how the media has behaved we had the conversation about opening up the press room to a lot of these independent journalists.

Trump Jr. went so far as to suggest that maybe he should be in the White House Briefing Room, but quickly decided that might not be allowed. Either way, he said a change that could blow up some heads isnt out of the question.

The independently run White House Correspondents Association has traditionally dealt with press credentials for journalists covering the Oval Office. The organization, founded in 1914, doesnt typically fill the 49 seats in the White House Briefing Room with comics like Rogan, whos the nations top-rated podcaster.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its not clear whether the freewheeling Rogan would consider leaving his cozy Austin, Texas studio for Washington, D.C. to report on the White House. How much control the incoming Trump Administration will actually be able to assert over the press room is also unknown.

One night each year, The White House Correspondents Association organizes a dinner where comics roast the sitting president. In his first term in office, Trump did not attend that event.
Donald Trump haslashed out at the failing New York Times in an overnight Truth Social rant, demanding an apology for its junk coverage of him and singling out its correspondent Maggie Haberman for particular criticism.

Will the failing New York Times apologize to its readers for getting years of Trump coverage so wrong, the president-elect wrote in the post.

They write such phony junk, knowing full well how incorrect it is, only meaning to demean.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Pivoting to Haberman, Trump mockingly misspelled the reporters name as he wrote: Magot Hagerman, a third rate writer and fourth rate intellect, writes story after story, always terrible, and yet I almost never speak to her.

They do no fact checking, because facts dont matter to them.

I dont believe Ive had a legitimately good story in the NYT for years, AND YET I WON, IN RECORD FASHION, THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN DECADES. WHERE IS THE APOLOGY?

The Independent has reached out to The New York Times for comment.

Contrary to Trumps allegation, the newspaper has a long history of rigorous fact-checking and has been at pains to explain its methods to readers in the interests of transparency.

Donald Trump (left) hit out at Maggie Haberman (right) calling her a third rate writer (Getty)

It is not clear what specifically rattled Trump on Monday night.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, the rant came shortly after the publication of a new NYT report, from Haberman and her colleague Jonathan Swan, which revealed Trumps aide Natalie Harp had sent him a series of passionate letters, declaring in one: You are all that matters to me.

Harp, a former right-wing cable television host, had been on Trumps radar since 2019 after her story of cancer survival caught his attention and he invited her to speak at the 2020 Republican National Convention (RNC). She later joined his staff in 2022 as a devoted aide, though she has no official title. It is also uncertain what role, if any, Harp will have in the forthcoming administration.

Sources told the Times that Harp, 33, sent a series of letters to Trump in 2023 which raised eyebrows among some in Trumps camp. I dont ever want to let you down, read one of the letters, in which she also thanked Trump for being her Guardian and Protector in this Life.

Steven Cheung, Trumps spokesman, told the Times that Harp was trusted and valued and credited her work ethic and dedication for helping Trump win the 2024 election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The same night the report came out, Haberman also appeared on Kaitlan Collinss CNN show The Source, where she speculated about the prospect of Trump seeking revenge on Special Counsel Jack Smith once he enters the Oval Office in January.

Natalie Harp follows Donald Trump into Manhattan criminal court for his hush money trial. Sources said Harp sent a series of letters to Trump in 2023 which raised eyebrows (The Washington Post)

Smith dropped the two federal cases accusing Trump of election interference and illegally retaining classified documents on Monday.

On Monday nights show, Collins asked Haberman how Trumps attorney general nominee Pam Bondi might respond if the incoming president called upon her to investigate Smith, as she previously threatened would happen during an interview with Fox News last year.

I think you can expect that Pam Bondi and everybody else who has to go through a confirmation hearing are going to be asked by the Democratic senators about those comments, Haberman answered.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

And itll be very interesting to see what she says.

I mean, to your point, there was a lot of celebration about Matt Gaetz not being in that role anymore  and with reason. Matt Gaetz was investigated by that department and has all kinds of baggage. But its not as if the Im gonna clean this all out vow from Pam Bondi is especially different.

She continued: There are so many unanswered questions, Kaitlan. But if the idea is that theres lots of people around Trump and the White House who are gonna try to prevent him from doing this, I think people are sorely mistaken.

Haberman has had many run-ins with Trump in the past and has often been the subject of his Truth Social attacks due to her reporting. She recently claimed he had no sense of who he was in front of or who he was talking to when he rebuked presidential rival Kamala Harris at a dinner for billionaire donors and suggested he was suffering from anxiety in the aftermath of the attempt on his life in Butler, Pennsylvania, this summer.
(Bloomberg) --

Most Read from Bloomberg

If President-elect Donald Trumps first-term playbook is any guide, his latest threat to slap tariffs on major US trading partners is the start of negotiations rather than the end.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a gambit familiar to adversaries and allies alike, Trump said in a social media post Monday evening he would slap 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada and additional 10% duties on China, unless they clamp down on migrants and illegal drugs coming to the US. Those three countries account for about 40% of all US trade.

It all had a familiar feel to a flurry of threats in his first term. In May 2019, Trump announced on social media that hed impose a 5% tariff on Mexico within 10 days, and gradually increase it, unless the country stopped migrants from reaching the US southern border. Mexico complied and the tariff was never imposed.

Im feeling a lot of deja vu, said Juan Carlos Baker, who helped Mexico negotiate the current trade deal with US and Canada.

Trade partners during Trumps first term did learn something, and that experience comes in handy, Baker said. But I would warn against supposing that just because we have Trump 1.0, we know exactly what is happening and how to deal with it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One challenge this time is that Trump wont take office for almost two more months. How far hes willing to go, including damaging his own economy, is another big unknown.

Trumps threats to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement led to its replacement, the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. And those duties threatened on Mexico if it didnt use its national guard to stop migrants came as that new deal was being sealed.

He also hit China with a raft of tariffs, which were ratcheted back after a deal with President Xi Jinpings government. He imposed levies on steel and aluminum from around the world, including from Americas biggest trade partner, the European Union.

Making these announcements two months before youre in power is certainly signaling that youre ready to begin negotiating, Daniel Tannebaum, a partner at consulting firm Oliver Wyman, said on Bloomberg Surveillance Radio on Tuesday. Well have to see what the new administration team actually does as they get on board.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Two big things will be different in the new term.

First, Trump is more familiar with the levers of power. This time around, he plans to use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to quickly impose tariffs by declaring a national emergency, the same law he used to get funding from a reluctant Congress for parts of his border wall in 2019, according to people familiar with the plans, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations.

His first tariffs, by comparison, took about a year to impose as necessary investigations crept through Americas trade bureaucracy.

The tempo of this will be fast, said Dan Ujczo, a senior counsel at law firm Thompson Hine in Columbus, Ohio, who has worked on North America and China trade issues. The tariffs announced on Monday night are tactical and transactional, he said, designed to achieve targeted results.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Second, gone are some of the market-friendly, impulse-restraining officials from the first administration like Steven Mnuchin, his treasury secretary, or Gary Cohn, the former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. executive who reigned in Trump when he threatened to withdraw from Nafta, or even Rex Tillerson, the former Exxon Mobil Corp. chief who was his first secretary of state.

Among most of the other recently announced nominees for this cabinet, the most important trait appears to be loyalty to Trump and his establishment-bashing approach.

One major exception may be Scott Bessent, his pick to the lead the Treasury Department. The hedge fund manager has called for a gradual approach to trade restrictions and has appeared open to negotiating the exact size of tariffs.

Americas neighbors were quick to respond to Mondays threat. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Trump to discuss border security and trade, according to a government official with knowledge of the matter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called for collaboration, but also hinted that her country would retaliate. Thats because tariffs would be a violation of the USMCA, leaving Mexico and Canada only to hit back with tariffs of their own.

Trumps impact on trade with China has endured. At one point he raised tariffs on practically all of the $500 billion-plus annual goods imports, showing a willingness to accept a cost on American consumers, who most economists estimate ultimately pay for the tariffs.

Those duties were lowered as part of a 2020 trade deal with Beijing, when it promised to buy more American goods and stop intellectual property theft. The levies on about $300 billion of goods that Trump left in place were sustained by President Joe Biden, who even raised some of them earlier this year, a testament to the staying-power of some Trump decisions.

Jan Hatzius, chief economist at Goldman Sachs, said that its important not to conflate Trumps tariff threat with the larger 60% tariffs on China and 10%-20% on the rest of the world that he promised on the campaign trail to rebalance trade toward the US. In other words, this may be just the beginning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
The American university system has been at the center of our countrys intellectual innovation and technological and financial prosperity over the past century. The reason for that success is the academic freedom that has been rigorously maintained in higher education, despite changes in the countrys political winds.

But with the reelection of Donald Trump, academic freedom, freedom of thought and freedom of expression on college campuses are under threat. He has vowed to root out Marxist maniacs from colleges by using the accreditation process as his secret weapon. He has vowed to punish students who protest against Israels war in Gaza.

In Idaho, weve already seen how this can play out. The mixture of political extremism, corruption and incompetence on the board of North Idaho College provides a preview of what could be coming. It was such a mess that even in one of the most conservative parts of Idaho, this year voters gave the board the boot.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Imagine that corrupt mess playing out at all of Idahos colleges and universities, and youll have some idea of what could be coming. Because the vision Trump has outlined for universities is to become instruments of state ideology.

One of the standards Trump has outlined is that universities will have to defend the American tradition and Western civilization. That sounds good. What could be wrong with American values?

But when words like that come from the mouth of the government, its best to be wary.

Take the word Juche, a Korean word which translates as self-reliance. Self-reliance is something that everyone would want to cultivate in young people. But in North Korea, Juche means the official state ideology  the ideology everyone has to adopt or fear punishment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

All authoritarian governments have some kind of newspeak like this.

This wide-ranging attack on intellectual freedom has been building steam throughout the country for years now. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis effectively dismantled one public university to impose ideological censorship. There have been major efforts around the country to ban access to books that include LGBTQ+ characters.

(This is clearly an effort at censorship, not to protect children. The way you can tell is to see that attempts to limit childrens access to actual pornography have been blocked by the same people pushing for book bans. Sen. Kevin Cooks bill to enable pornography filters on cell phones sold to children was opposed by most far-right senators last year, and the House refused to give it a hearing.)

There have been escalating political efforts to ban measures to make Idaho universities more hospitable to minority students.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the face of all this, its more important than ever that universities fight to maintain autonomy and independence from political control.

The intellectuals in the MAGA movement are largely following the lead of Hungarian dictator Viktor Orban  even inviting him to give lectures. Vice President-elect J.D. Vance is a particular fan.

Orban has led his country into authoritarianism justified by attacks on many of the same official enemies as MAGA: academia, immigrants, gay people and the press. At the same time, he has led his country into unprecedented levels of corruption.

Idahos university administrators, professors and students should be ready for the coming assault. Draw red lines now that you will not cross when government pressure is brought to bear. Stick to those red lines, even if the consequences are significant. Thats the only way our higher education system will maintain its status as a center for real inquiry, learning and innovation, rather than becoming a mouthpiece for an increasingly authoritarian government.

Bryan Clark is an opinion writer at the Idaho Statesman.
US President-elect Donald Trump on Monday said that, once he returns to the White House, he will impose high import tariffs on all goods from Mexico and Canada as well as additional tariffs on Chinese imports.

Trump said on Truth Social, the social media platform he co-founded, that he would sign an executive order to that effect on his first day in office.

"On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders," Trump said, adding that the tariff would remain in place "until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!"

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem," Trump added. "We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!"

The president-elect also said that additional tariffs of 10% are to apply to goods from China until drugs stop "pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico."

"I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States  But to no avail," Trump said.

"Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before."

China says 'no winner in a tariffs war'

Shortly after Trump's social media posts, China said there are no winners in trade wars.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"There is no winner in a tariffs war or a trade war. Nor will the world benefit from it," Chinese Embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said on social media platform X.

Liu added that China "stands ready to work with all parties to uphold true multilateralism, build an open world economy, support sustainable development, and brings countries together to address challenges, achieve common prosperity and build a community with a shared future for mankind."

Outgoing US President Joe Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the fringes of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru just over a week ago. There, Xi assured Biden that Beijing was willing to work with the new US administration under Trump.

During his first term in office between 2017 and 2021, Trump took a hard line on China, imposing duties on Chinese imports as part of his America First policy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

China responded with some countermeasures, such as export controls on key raw materials, but observers say it is now better prepared should Trump make good on his campaign promise to introduce far-reaching new tariffs on goods from China.

Biden, who succeeded Trump in the White House, also embraced protectionism. Not only has he largely retained Trump's levies on Chinese imports, but he has also imposed new tariffs, for example on electric cars. While Biden has focused on specific industries, the tariffs announced by Trump are broader in scope.

Canada stresses its importance to the US

Canada meanwhile stressed its importance to the United States, shortly after Trump's social media posts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Canada and the United States have one of the strongest and closest relationships-particularly when it comes to trade and border security," said Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Canada's Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc in a joint statement, without mentioning Trump nor his posts from a couple of hours earlier.

"Canada places the highest priority on border security and the integrity of our shared border."

The ministers stressed the "balanced and mutually beneficial" relationship between the north American neighbours: "Canada is essential to US domestic energy supply, and last year 60 percent of US crude oil imports originated in Canada."

The statement also highlighted the cooperation between Canadian and US law enforcement "to disrupt the scourge of the fentanyl coming from China and other countries."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We will of course continue to discuss these issues with the incoming administration," the ministers added.

During his first term in office, Trump had imposed tariffs on some products from Mexico and Canada including steel and aluminium. He repeatedly clashed with the two countries over the levies.
President-elect Donald Trump said Monday he will impose a 25% tariff on all goods from Mexico and Canada and an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods, effective from his first day in the White House.

On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders, he wrote on Truth Social. This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!

He went on to say his punitive tariffs on China were also linked to his concerns with fentanyl, accusing the country of not following through on instituting severe penalties  including the death penalty  on drug importers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before, Trump wrote. Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Trump has long advocated for sharp tariffs on imports  effectively, a fee on foreign products brought into the country  to help American manufacturers. But many economists say those plans will likely make inflation worse and increase costs for U.S. businesses and consumers alike. Theyre also very likely to be seriously damaging to many of Americas major trading partners.

The president-elect has claimed foreign companies will pay the brunt of those additional costs. But U.S. companies would pay more to import goods, and studies on similar tariffs imposed during Trumps first term found most of those increased costs were passed on to American consumers.

The Associated Press also notes that tariffs weaken competition from foreign goods, so manufacturers in the U.S. are able to raise their own prices in return.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Businesses have already warned about the potential impacts of Trumps plans. The chief financial officers of Walmart and Lowes recently said prices will probably go up in the near future.

Trump suggested the tariffs would force countries to resolve several of the topics he made central to his campaign: Undocumented migrants crossing the U.S. border and the fentanyl crisis. He claimed that Mexico and Canada could easily solve those longstanding issues.

Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem, he wrote Monday. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Related...
(NewsNation)  When he is inaugurated in January, President-elect Donald Trump will most likely inherit ongoing conflicts in Israel and Ukraine.

In the Middle East, Israel continues carrying out airstrikes in the north, even as it says it is close to a cease-fire agreement with Hezbollah. The same may not be true for Hamas, even as many demand more be done to secure the release of hostages who have been held for more than a year.

Multiple phone calls have been taking place between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump. Publicly, they both say they are on the same page, with Trump saying Israel will continue to have a friend in the U.S. and get the support it needs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Special counsel moves to dismiss election interference, documents cases against President-elect Donald Trump

Trump has stated the end game is a total conclusion to the war, including bringing hostages home. Every weekend in Israel, demonstrations have been taking place with the hopes that Trump will push for a deal to bring hostages home even before he makes it to the White House.

There have been hopes in recent days from U.S. officials that a cease-fire deal could be brokered between Israel and Hezbollah. But on Monday, the two exchanged fire, with rocket barrages from Hezbollah followed by a series of Israel Defense Forces strikes.

In Ukraine, nuclear fears are growing after Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed the use of a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile in Ukraine, warning the West that U.S. air defenses would be powerless against it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Now, NATO leaders are on high alert, set to hold emergency talks with Ukraine on Tuesday.

There has been an uptick in tension in Europe, as leaders watch what is happening after the U.S. gave the green light for Ukraine to use American-made weapons on Russian targets.

Trumps mass deportation plans create anxiety among immigrants

Russias use of advanced weaponry has raised concerns and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was at Mar-a-Lago on Friday with Trump to talk about security around the globe.

In Ukraine, troops are entrenching as they anticipate a change in situation with the new administration as Trump has made it very clear he wants the war to end.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump has suggested stepping in and aggressively finding a solution. When pressed on details publicly, Trump has kept his cards close to his vest, though he has previously suggested negotiations that would cede some of Ukraines territory to Russia in exchange for an end to the fighting.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
President-elect Trump boasted on Monday about special counsel Jack Smiths move to drop the federal cases against him.

These cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought, Trump said on his Truth Social platform, shortly after news broke that Smith moved to dismiss both his election interference case and his classified documents case against Trump.

Over $100 Million Dollars of Taxpayer Dollars has been wasted in the Democrat Partys fight against their Political Opponent, ME. Nothing like this has ever happened in our Country before, Trump added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Smith cited the Department of Justices (DOJ) long-standing policy against prosecuting a sitting president on Monday, moving to dismiss the two criminal federal cases against Trump.

After careful consideration, the Department has determined that OLCs prior opinions concerning the Constitutions prohibition on federal indictment and prosecution of a sitting President apply to this situation and that as a result this prosecution must be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated, Smiths team wrote in the Jan. 6 case, referencing the Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel.

That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Governments proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind.

In Trumps documents case in Florida, where he is facing charges for violating the Espionage Act and obstructing justice, Smith also moved to dismiss an appeal to a motion tossing the case  a move that would likewise end that prosecution.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Justice Department will continue pursuing charges in the case against Trumps two co-defendants, Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira. Smith noted in the filing that neither of them have immunity.

Smith moved to dismiss both cases without prejudice, leaving the door open to potential future charges. Prosecutors down the line could seek to argue that the statute of limitations for charges related to those crimes should essentially be on hold while Trump is in office and unable to be charged.

Smith is planning to resign from the DOJ ahead of Trumps inauguration, after which Trump has said that he would fire the special counsel within two seconds.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Bloomberg) -- Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland was wrapping up a meeting of a special cabinet group on US relations on Monday evening in Ottawa when a fresh crisis emerged: Donald Trump made a tariff threat on social media.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Soon after, Justin Trudeau was on the phone with Trump. The Canadian dollar was sinking  it hit a four-year low  in response to Trumps post that he would impose 25% tariffs on all goods coming from Canada and Mexico unless those countries curb the flow of fentanyl and migrants into the US.

Subscribe to the Bloomberg Daybreak podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen.

The prime minister was trying to assure the president-elect hed heard the message.

We talked about some of the challenges that we can work on together. It was a good call, Trudeau told reporters on Tuesday on his way into a cabinet meeting where Trump was again high on the agenda. This is something that we can do  laying out the facts, moving forward in constructive ways.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The imminent return of Trump has upended Canadian politics and business, with most of the focus now turning to his plans to stifle trade in the region soon after hes inaugurated in January.

Trudeau re-established the special cabinet committee on Nov. 7 and stocked it with his most important ministers, led by Freeland and Dominic LeBlanc, a trusted ally whos in charge of border security.

Canada and Mexico are the two economies most at risk from a broader trade war. And while encounters by US officials at Americas northern border have risen, problems there are of a different scale than those at the southern border. Encounters at the US-Canadian border totaled 198,929 during the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, compared with more than 2.1 million at the US-Mexico border, according to data from US Customs and Border Protection.

Mexicos early reaction to Trumps pronouncement struck a notable contrast with Canadas, with President Claudia Sheinbaum suggesting her country could respond with tariffs of its own.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Still, Canada is not ruling out that option either. Freeland, speaking to reporters Tuesday afternoon, pointed out her government responded dollar-for-dollar when Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum during his first term.

The important thing is we got through it, and our response was successful, Freeland said. The reason we were able to do that is we were smart, we were united, we were strong. At the end of the day, the economic relationship between our two countries is balanced and mutually beneficial, and that is what drove us to a positive outcome.

The largest numbers of encounters at the northern border in October were reported by the Buffalo, Seattle, Boston and Detroit offices, as well as stations in the so-called Swanton Sector, which covers the US-Canada border in New York, Vermont and New Hampshire according to CBP data.

Marc Miller, Canadas immigration minister, said the government has been considering a number of measures, and this absolutely includes additional resources for police who patrol border areas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We have shared interests in here in making it something that is manageable and controlled  and those that are not authorized to cross the border are promptly returned, Miller said.

In the meantime, Trudeau has called a meeting of the countrys provincial leaders for Wednesday to discuss how to handle the incoming Trump administration. The countrys two largest provinces are most exposed: Ontario, the auto-manufacturing hub, and Quebec, a powerhouse of the aluminum and aerospace industries, represent more than half of gross domestic product.

Trumps tariff comments have stirred some outrage  This is no way to treat your closest ally, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Tuesday  but also a sense that its a negotiating position from a famously transactional president-elect.

William Pellerin, an international trade lawyer and partner at McMillan LLP in Ottawa, said he was stunned by Trumps announcement on Monday night. But while he interprets the threat as real, its also one that can be resolved through improved border security.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I think thats what Trump has always done quite well, is impose the tariff and have everyone come hat in hand begging for their exclusion from the tariff, Pellerin said. Absolutely, there should be a way here to give Trump a win, save face, and not have that 25% tariff apply.

--With assistance from Randy Thanthong-Knight.

(Adds comments from Freeland on retaliation in ninth and 10th paragraphs.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose massive tariffs on goods imported from Canada and Mexico in an effort to get them to crack down on illegal immigration and drug smuggling. But how many actually cross the U.S.Canada border illegally?

In the Swanton Sector, which stretches across eastern New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire, the number of illegal crossings has shot up, from around 7,000 arrests during fiscal year 2023 to around 19,000 during fiscal year 2024  about the same as the total number for the last 17 years combined, WBZ noted.

Similarly, across the whole of the northern border, agents recorded nearly 199,000 encounters in fiscal year 2024, compared to around 110,000 two years previously.

There is no love lost between Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau (AP)

But these are small figures compared to the southern border where the number of illegal crossings can be measured in the millions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In March, the Border Patrol Agent in Charge of the Beecher Falls Station in Vermont told WBZ, It was a flood we had not seen before. It was an exponential shift.

The border between the U.S. and Mexico was a top issue during the 2024 election campaign, as Trump bashed the Biden administrations record on immigration. However, the northern border received little attention even as the number of crossings skyrocketed. Customs and Border Protection has said that the number of encounters has gone down by 52 percent since the top numbers in June.

Trump said in a Truth Social post on Monday: On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders.

He added: This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!

Trump has threatened to impose tariffs to tackle illegal immigration (AFP via Getty Images)

Human smuggling remains a major problem, with Lavallee telling WBZ in October, We have multiple identified transnational criminal organizations that are transporting people away from the border.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More terror suspects are encountered at the northern border compared to the south, but most are found at ports of entry. As many as 358 suspects on the terror watchlist were detained at ports of entry on the U.S.Canada border during the 2024 fiscal year, compared to 155 suspects on the southern border.

Border Patrol told WBZ that most of those they encountered in the spring came from Mexico, with the agency believing that Mexicans, who did not need a visa to enter Canada, flew to the U.S. northern neighbor before crossing into the U.S. illegally. Canada has since changed the policy, and fewer people from Mexico are now encountered crossing the border.

More people are now crossing from East Asia and India, according to Border Patrol.

Trumps border czar Tom Homan has threatened a tough crackdown on immigration on day one (AP)

Michael Barutciski, a professor of international affairs at Torontos York University, told WBZ that Indian nationals do require a visa to enter Canada but there was apparently a decision by the government to not be as strict in processing the visa applications. For example, no longer asking for proof that the visitor will be returning to their country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its actually quite striking that Canadas immigration minister has admitted that the security screening overseas is unreliable, he added.

The government has since adopted new policies such as limits on temporary foreign workers and international students and a complete stop on allowing people to apply for work permits inside Canada.

Many will end up considering illegal options. Either theyre staying undocumented in Canada or theyre crossing the border illegally into the U.S., Barutciski noted.

Trump border czar Tom Homan has spoken out about illegal immigration from the northern border and has shared plans on how to restrict the flow of unlawful migrants.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Canada is preparing for a rise in the number of immigrants coming to the country if the second Trump administration imposes its strict new restrictions and aggressive mass deportation policies.

Homan called the northern border an extreme national security vulnerability, when speaking to a local New York TV station earlier in November.

The northern neighbor cant be a gateway to terrorists coming to the United States, Homan added.
Donald Trumps team are seeking assurances that the controversial deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius will not be completed before his inauguration in January.

The Independent recently revealed that the president-elect is looking for ways to veto the agreement because of concerns over its security implications in the Indian Ocean with the crucial joint UK/US base on Diego Garcia.

There are also concerns that the deal struck by Sir Keir Starmer and foreign secretary David Lammy will allow China access to the islands to build their own rival base.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The deal, which has the blessing of outgoing US president Joe Biden, was not meant to be completed until the spring. But the UK prime ministers envoy Jonathan Powell, who is set to be the national security adviser, is flying to Mauritius today for talks with its prime minister to complete the deal.

Chagos islanders protest against the deal (AP)

The talks are being described as a crucial working meeting with the objective of deepening the discussions and finalise the ends of the Anglo-Mauritian treaty on the Chagos Archipelago, as well as the details of the 99-year lease for the American military base in Diego Garcia.

Both Chagossians and Trumps team fear it is also an attempt to fast track the deal to get it completed before Mr Trump could try to veto it.

It comes as figures preparing to be part of the Trump administration team have set up discussions with UK critics of the deal who helped organise the initial legal advice to provide grounds for the president-elect to veto the deal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While the initial concerns were raised with Trump by Nigel Farage, it is understood that Tory shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel, another hardline Brexiteer, is being kept in the loop to try to help the Trump team scupper Sir Keirs Chagos plans.

The Diego Garcia base is the main cause for concern (Getty)

The Trump team members have been asking about parliamentary timetables to see if the deal could be pushed through quickly but also looking for off ramps, solutions to allow Starmer to drop the deal but save face at the same time.

A source told The Independent: There are many options in this regard.

One of the options is to use the recent change of government in Mauritius as a reason to rethink the deal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A Brexiteer parliamentary researcher working directly with the Trump team told The Independent: They couldnt understand why it was agreed and whether it was Biden or Starmer.

Trumps team are said to be relieved that it would be very hard using the parliamentary timetable to push the deal through early.

However, the meeting between Mr Powell and the prime minister of Mauritius Navin Ramgoolam today is raising concerns.

Added to that, Chagossian islanders, who have been excluded from the process, are furious that they continue to be kept out of the talks by the Labour government.

They have launched a judicial review into the deal which is set to be heard on 5 December and could also potentially hold it up.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A spokesperson for Chagossian Voices said: Both sides seem to be moving at speed, and both governments are keeping Chagossians away from the treaty. Weve had no involvement at all. The Chagossian community is asking to be involved in the future of their own islands.

Mr Lammy recently defended the deal in an interview with The New Statesman where he pointed out that it guaranteed use of the base for at least 99 years.

He added: Im very confident that when the new administration looks at the detail of this deal that they will stand behind it because Donald Trump knows what a good deal looks like [a reference to his 1987 book The Art of the Deal]  and this is a good deal.

However, the government has resisted publishing the costs of leasing back the base.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Independent has contacted the Foreign Office for comment.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: We are working with the new Mauritian government to progress a landmark deal that protects our base; it secures the long-term protection of the base.

Our position remains unchanged. Were finalising the details of the treaty, which will come forward for scrutiny as part of the ratification process next year. There has not been any change to the timelines.

They added: We look forward to working with the incoming administration on a wide range of priorities including on national security and on economy and defence.
President-elect Donald Trump is poised to pull the plug on President Joe Bidens yearslong push to cancel student debt for tens of millions of people as Republicans sweep into power in the coming months.

Trump transition advisers and outside allies have been discussing ways to quickly unwind the various Biden-era initiatives that offered new or easier paths to loan forgiveness for borrowers, according to two people familiar with the discussions.

The move would be the culmination of nearly four years of attacks by GOP lawmakers and attorneys general on Bidens student debt relief policies. On the campaign trail, Trump slammed the loan forgiveness efforts  which total hundreds of billions of dollars  as vile and illegal. Yet his team faces a daunting challenge: A series of recent court decisions has left the federal governments $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio in disarray, with millions of borrowers stuck in limbo.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump has nominated Linda McMahon, the former head of the Small Business Administration, to be Education secretary. McMahon has been co-leading the presidential transition and chairs the America First Policy Institute, an outside group that's been preparing for a second term. The group has blasted Bidens loan policies as unlawful, counterproductive, and deeply unfair.

Jonathan Pidluzny, who directs higher education issues at AFPI, is also working on student loan and education issues for the transition, according to people familiar with the discussions.

Its going to be insanely complicated, said Michael Brickman, who was a senior Education Department official during the first Trump administration. You really cant overstate the mess that this new administration is inheriting.

A federal judge has blocked Bidens second attempt at mass debt cancellation after the Supreme Court rejected his first plan last year. Federal appeals courts have frozen Biden's loan-repayment program that offered lower monthly payments, setting off confusion over the amount that millions of borrowers must pay. And the Trump administration will have to decide how to resume the collection of defaulted student debt thats been suspended since the beginning of the pandemic.



Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Brickman, now an adjunct fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said the Biden administrations misadventures around loan forgiveness that were repeatedly rejected by courts have created a really chaotic situation thats going to have to be fixed.

Dismantling Bidens most sweeping plans for erasing debt is likely to be relatively straightforward, but other programs that affect millions of borrowers will be harder to undo. The Trump administration is expected to act quickly to stop defending some of those policies in court, where theyre already under legal challenge from Republican attorneys general.

Addressing Bidens signature student loan repayment program, known as the SAVE plan, will likely be more difficult.

The plan, which the president finalized last year, caps monthly payments at 5 percent of income for undergraduate borrowers, offers more generous interest subsidies and allows loan forgiveness in as few as 10 years of repayment for some borrowers. Republicans have criticized it as an overly expensive program that operates essentially as a back-door route to mass loan forgiveness.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Roughly 8 million borrowers were enrolled when judges froze the plan earlier this fall. As a result of the court orders, the Education Department has suspended monthly payments for those taking advantage of the program. But reverting those borrowers back to earlier, less generous repayment plans presents both legal and operational hurdles.

Trump transition advisers have been looking at ways to rescind the SAVE plan while also figuring out how to replace it with other repayment options for borrowers, according to the same people familiar with the discussions.

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, Karoline Leavitt, a Trump-Vance transition spokesperson, said in a statement. He will deliver.

The loan-servicing companies that manage federal student loans say theyre bracing for changes under the new administration. But they caution that any major overhaul of the federal student loan system will take time to implement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Scott Buchanan, who heads the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, a trade group for loan servicers, said the coding and technical work to unwind the Biden-era SAVE program and recalculate millions of borrower payments under a new system could take months.

It certainly wouldn't be an overnight sort of reversal, Buchanan said. It's not a simple fix if that's where the next administration goes.

The Trump team also faces a decision on when to resume the Education Departments collection of defaulted federal student debt, which has been paused since the beginning of the pandemic.



In the run-up to the election, the Biden administration said it would delay garnishing the wages, tax refunds and Social Security benefits of nearly 6 million defaulted borrowers until 2025. But the Education Department hasnt provided details on how that would work.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite legal setbacks, the Biden administration has granted forgiveness to nearly 5 million borrowers, totaling more than $175 billion, more than any other administration. The bulk of that loan forgiveness was the result of the Education Department expanding the rules of existing relief programs aimed at helping specific groups of borrowers, such as public service workers and those who were cheated by their schools.

President Biden has worked to fix the student loan system, make college more affordable, and give Americans a bit more breathing room since he came into office, White House spokesperson Angelo Fernandez Hernandez said in a statement. Republican elected officials have repeatedly attempted to block their own constituents from getting lower payments and receiving the relief they are eligible for.

Trump frequently denounced Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on the campaign trail for failing to deliver on their broad student debt relief promises. It ended up being a total catastrophe, he said at the September presidential debate, criticizing Harris for being all talk when it came to student debt. All these students got taunted, he said.

Beyond reversing Bidens student loan policies, Trumps second-term student loan agenda is less clear.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During his first term, he proposed an income-driven repayment program for borrowers that would cap payments at 12.5 percent of income and discharge remaining balances after 15 years of repayments. He also signed an executive order forgiving the student debt owed by severely disabled veterans.

And when he couldnt persuade Congress in August 2020 to extend the pandemic pause on student loan payments, Trump invoked executive action to extend the moratorium, setting the stage for the Biden administration to repeatedly extend the policy for another 2 years.

Any major overhaul to federal student loans is likely to come from Congress.

Republicans on Capitol Hill have for years weighed bills to streamline and scale back some of the benefits of the federal student loan program and allow private lenders to better compete with federal loans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Theyve also proposed capping federal student loans for graduate school  among the fastest-growing class of borrowers  and ways to stick colleges and universities with the cost of federal student loans taken out by their former students that end up defaulting.

A. Wayne Johnson, who was the federal student loan chief during the first Trump administration, has embraced some student debt relief for borrowers who engage in national service. But he took issue with what he called the "weaponization" of student loan policy under the Biden administration, which he said canceled student loans based on "invented reasoning."

"The Trump administration understands the difficulty with which students and families are having to deal with this incredible amount of debt thats been placed on their backs, said Johnson, who most recently was a Republican congressional candidate in Georgia. The question is: What is the appropriate policy? Its not all about debt cancellation.

Rebecca Carballo contributed to this report.
Trump transition lawyers have conducted an internal investigation into whether longtime top adviser Boris Epshteyn shook down officials seeking jobs in the next Trump administration, according to reports.

And subsequently, Trumps legal team did find evidence suggesting that was indeed the case, five unidentified sources told The New York Times.

The review, according to the Times, came after Trump was personally warned that Epshteyn was asking for cash from potential administration picks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The newspaper, which said it had seen the review, said two people were pressed by Epshteyn, including Scott Bessentwhom Trump recently picked to lead the Treasury Department. The report claimed Epshteyn and Bessent met in February and Epshteyn suggested a $30,000 to $40,000 monthly fee to promote the billionaire hedge fund chief around Mar-a-Lago. Bessent declined the offer at the time.

The other figure involved in the Times report was a defense contractor from whom Mr. Epshteyn sought $100,000 a month during the transition period. The person was not named, but they also reportedly turned down the offer.

However, at least one Republican politician accused Epshteyn of trying to profit personally from his close connections to Trump and ability to influence the president-elects Cabinet choices, according to CBS News.

Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens submitted a sworn declaration to the transition team alleging that Mr. Epshteyns overall tone and behavior gave me the impression of an implicit expectation to engage in business dealings with him before he would advocate for or suggest my appointment to the President.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the declaration, which was first obtained by Just the News , the former governor said that he felt a sense of unease and pressure and he said he was concerned about the ethics of what was happening.

Very specifically, I was concerned that there was an offer to advance a nomination in return for financial payments, Greitens said.

Greitens, who reportedly approached Epshteyn about the position of Navy secretary, told CBS News in an interview that he came forward in order to protect the president because I was concerned about the ethics of what was happening.

Very specifically, I was concerned that there was an offer to advance a nomination in return for financial payments, Greitens told the network.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Epshteyn has denied the allegations. These fake claims are false and defamatory and will not distract us from Making America Great Again, said the Russian-born Trump confidant.

The row over Epshteyns activities had earlier been reported on by CNN, which said that Epshteyn had allegedly requested as much as $100,000 per month in exchange for his services. Epshteyn has not been accused of illegal behavior.

During the conversation, despite the absence of an explicit offer, Mr. Epshteyns comments and demeanor suggested that he might entertain offering a position in the administration in exchange for financial consideration, but such an offer would happen in a subsequent discussion, Greitens wrote in his declaration to Trumps transition team. He stated that there would be time for that later and that it was not time for that yet.

A Trump spokesperson said the internal investigation was not limited to Epshteyn.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As is standard practice, a broad review of the campaigns consulting agreements has been conducted and completed, including as to Boris, among others, Steven Cheung, whom Trump has named as his White House communications director, said in a statement to CNN. We are now moving ahead together as a team to help President Trump Make America Great Again.

Part of that review, according to CNN, focused on claims that Epshteyn proposed that Bessent pay him to promote his name in Trumps orbit. Bessent did not make payments to Epshteyn, CNN reported.

Epshteyn and Bessent wound up in a heated argument last week in the lobby of Mar-a-Lago, where Epshteyn raised his voice at Bessent, according to CNN.

Just days ago, billionaire Elon Musk reportedly accused Epshteyn of leaking the names of Cabinet picks to the media, an encounter at Mar-a-Lago that was described as a huge explosion.
(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trump fired an opening shot in his tariff battle with Beijing by promising an additional 10% levy on Chinese goods. The question that now confronts President Xi Jinping is how much more is coming.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to the Bloomberg Daybreak podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen.

The threat by the US president-elect, made on his Truth Social network on Monday, was in retribution for what he said was Chinas failure to stop drugs pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico. It wasnt clear from the post whether the 10% tariff level was an additional levy to an earlier warning of 60% or represented a climbdown.

This is an early test of Xis willingness to play ball with the new Trump administration, said Neil Thomas, a fellow for Chinese politics at the Asia Society Policy Institutes Center for China Analysis. Agreeing to Trumps demands could avoid a painful tariff, but might encourage him to impose more tariffs to try and extract more concessions.

Trumps gambit risks setting in motion a standoff between the worlds two biggest economies following an election campaign that already brought fears over a new wave of protectionism to the forefront. In related posts, Trump said hed slap 25% tariffs on all products from Mexico and Canada, citing concerns over illegal immigration and the flow of drugs like fentanyl.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trumps transition team is now readying an announcement of Jamieson Greer as US Trade Representative, people familiar with the matter said, which would put in place a veteran negotiator who has called countering Chinas trade policies a generational challenge for the US.

China responded on Tuesday by defending its track record and refrained from mentioning any planned retaliation.

While calling fentanyl the USs problem, the Foreign Ministry praised the achievements of counter-narcotics cooperation between the two countries, saying in a statement that China has provided support to fight the trafficking.

China is willing to continue anti-drug cooperation with the US on basis of equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect, it said. The US should cherish Chinas goodwill and maintain the hard-won good situation of China-US anti-drug cooperation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Liu Pengyu, spokesman for the Chinese embassy in the US, earlier said Beijing had informed Washington of the progress made in counter-narcotics efforts and described as mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation between both countries. No one will win a trade war or a tariff war, he wrote on X.

What Next

The biggest uncertainty now centers on whether Beijing would reprise a playbook used during the first trade war started by Trump, when Xis government initially embraced a strategy of strategic composure that sought to avoid escalating disputes and generally waited for the US to act before any retaliation.

Later, it switched gears by adopting a more aggressive style of conducting international relations referred to as Wolf Warrior Diplomacy  an approach its since backed away from.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

China will likely respond cautiously at first to Trumps threats, until it gets a better sense of the balance between Trumps taste for confrontation and dealmaking in his second term, according to Thomas. The fragile state of Chinas economy is another constraint on its leadership that may forestall escalation, he added.

For Beijing, it amounts to a confirmation of a challenge looming ahead and the near certainty that China will have to contend with 60% tariffs  at least, said Deborah Elms, head of trade policy at the Hinrich Foundation. This latest salvo from Trump is just a reminder to take him seriously, she said.

Trump accused China of failing to follow through on promises to institute the death penalty for traffickers of fentanyl. For China, it was a surprise hed focus on a rare area of cooperation and where headway has been made in bilateral relations.

US-China ties have deteriorated significantly since Trumps first term in power and through the current Biden administration.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Facing another round of trade tensions, China needs to respond more wisely, in asymmetrical ways, said Zhu Junwei, a former researcher in the Peoples Liberation Army who is now director of American research at Grandview Institution in Beijing.

According to one line of thinking in China, Beijing should step up its offer of win-win cooperation to countries in the face of Trumps America First policies, she said. Instead of a tit-for-tat response, a better option for China might be to become more successful and make friends with others, Zhu said.

China has already tread carefully in recent times, refusing to be drawn on its preferred candidate during the November elections for US president for fear of being seen as interfering in domestic politics of another country and risk becoming a target itself of Trumps ire.

Josef Gregory Mahoney, a professor of international relations at Shanghais East China Normal University, said China will resist reflexive actions and real-time responses to Trumps provocations in favor of what he called a sober, professional approach to international relations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While Beijing has demonstrated in the past that its willing to cooperate on fentanyl, I dont think China will allow itself to be bullied into action by the US, he said. Beijing is also loathe to be held responsible for Americas drug abuse problems.

 Colum Murphy, Josh Xiao, James Mayger, Philip Glamann and Li Liu

--With assistance from Josh Xiao, James Mayger, Philip Glamann and Li Liu.

(Updates with report on new US Trade Representative in fifth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
It appears that the American whiskey industry was right to be nervous about Donald Trumps tariff threats. The president elect announced on Monday that he would institute a new round of 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico on day one of his presidency, a move that is sure to drive up the cost of tequila and Canadian whisky here and could possibly spark a new trade war in the spirits industry.

Trumps declaration came via Truth Social, where he said the tariffs were a response to his claims of illegal immigration and drugs coming over the border into the country. Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem, he wrote. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price! He also said he would impose a 10 percent tariff on all goods coming from China.

More from Robb Report

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is exactly the kind of move that the American whiskey industry feared would happen, as we reported shortly before the election. Tequila is an incredibly popular category here in the U.S., and has even surpassed sales of American whiskey. Canadian whisky is also very popular, with brands like Crown Royal doing big numbers across the country. These tariffs will very likely lead to retaliatory tariffs on American whiskey, although that remains to be seen, and they do nothing to quell fears about the return of tariffs that could be imposed by the E.U. on bourbon and rye at staggering 50 percent next March.

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States was quick to respond, noting that the U.S. imported $4.6 billion worth of tequila last year and Mexico was the third largest export market for American spirits, while we imported $537 million worth of Canadian spirits and Canada was the second largest export market. After setting the stage with some appreciative language about Trump wanting to protect American people and jobs, DISCUS CEO Chris Swongers statement reiterated whats at stake. Our industry has been weighed down by retaliatory tariffs as part of unrelated trade disputes since 2018, which crashed our exports harming thousands of distillers and their farmers across the United States, he said. Imposing a tariff on tequila and Canadian whisky from two of our largest trading partners could kick off more retaliatory tariffs on American spirits to Canada and Mexico. Under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), tequila and Canadian whisky are designated as distinctive products, similar to bourbon, where they can only be made in their country of origin. Slapping a tariff on tequila and Canadian whisky will not boost American jobs simply because they cannot be produced in the United States.

Of course, its not just about spirits, because there are goods and issues at stake that are arguably much more important like car parts and crude oil. But the reality is that these tariffs will likely have a real negative impact upon the lives of the thousands of people who work in the spirits industry, as well as consumers looking to purchase a bottle, on both sides of both borders. We will have to wait until January to see how this all plays out, but we will report on any further developments as they happen.

Best of Robb Report

Sign up for RobbReports's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
Donald Trump has vowed to impose tariffs of 25 per cent on all goods from Canada and Mexico in response to crime and drugs.

The president-elect said the measures would be introduced on his first day in office with an additional 10 per cent tariff slapped on imports from China.

As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing crime and drugs at levels never seen before, Mr Trump posted on his Truth Social account on Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25 per cent tariff on all products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous open borders.

He went on to promise additional tariffs on China which he said were in response to the countrys failure to clamp down on the fentanyl trade.

Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10 per cent tariff, above any additional tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America, Mr Trump added.

Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our country, mostly through Mexico, he wrote.

Tariffs will boost US economy

As he campaigned for re-election, the president-elect often spoke about imposing tariffs on other nations, most frequently China.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He also claims the tariffs would help boost the US economy, though Democrats and some economists pointed out that tariffs would ultimately have to be absorbed domestically, either by companies importing such items, or by US customers.

Last week, Mexicos top trade official downplayed concerns about such tariffs, saying the impact on American companies could give Mr Trump reason to rethink.

Mexicos negotiation power is relevant, Marcelo Ebrard, Mexicos economy minister, said at a press conference, pointing out there were a number of multinational firms that had set-up shop there.

Any action that you take to put at risk (the US-Mexico trade relationship) means thousands of companies [will be impacted]. Theres hardly an important US company that doesnt have money here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr Trump has previously pledged to end Chinas most-favoured nation trading status and impose tariffs of more than 60 per cent on imports from Beijing, which would be much higher than the 7.5 to 25 per cent imposed during his first term.

The first Trump administration imposed tariffs on most countries as part of an America first economic policy.

Promising to reduce a longstanding trade deficit with China and boost manufacturing in the US, Mr Trump announced an array of tariffs on a wide range of Chinese imports in January 2018.

The move sparked a trade war, with Beijing retaliating by raising tariffs as high as 25 percent on many US goods.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Although critics said Mr Trumps actions ultimately cost the US billions in revenues and failed to produce more jobs, the Biden administration has kept many of Mr Trumps tariffs in place.

Hudson Bay Capital Management, the US investment firm, said that Mr Trumps policies showed tariffs can be used to successfully raise revenue.

In a November 2024 study, Hudson explained that Mr Trumps tariffs caused the dollar to move higher by close to the exact amount the tariff rate went up, offsetting the levies.

China effectively paid for tax cuts for American families and businesses, it said.

Chinas economy is in a much more vulnerable position than during Mr Trumps first term.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2018, Chinas booming property market allowed it to ride out of the worst effects of the trade war.

Since 2021, real estate has been in a severe downturn and local government revenues have plunged.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Incoming border czar Tom Homan says he is willing to send Denver Mayor Mike Johnston to jail if he follows through with threats to use Denver police to block deportations.

"Me and the Denver mayor, we agree on one thing," Homan told Fox News host Sean Hannity Monday night. "He's willing to go to jail [and] I'm willing to put him in jail."

Homan said federal law makes it a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an undocumented migrant from immigration authorities and it's a felony to interfere with the duties of a federal law enforcement officer.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Homan is President-elect Donald Trump's nomination as director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and would be in charge of deporting undocumented migrants who illegally entered the United States.

Some state and local officials, such as the Denver mayor, have said they'll resist deportation efforts.

Incoming Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Tom Homan said he is willing to jail Denver Mayor Mike Johnston if the Colorado official interferes with the deportations of undocumented migrants in Denver. Photo by Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Johnston on Wednesday told the Denverite news outlet he would protect undocumented migrants against federal efforts to deport them.

Johnston said he doesn't believe Colorado Gov. Jared Polis would call up the Colorado National Guard to assist with federal deportations and mobilizing Guardsmen from other states to "invade Colorado" would be unlikely.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"More than us having [the Denver Police Department] stationed at the county line to keep them out, you would have 50,000 Denverites there," Johnston said. "You'd have every one of those Highland moms who came out for the migrants, and you do not want to mess with them."

When informed of Homan's comments about jailing him, Johnston on Tuesday told The Hill Denver officials won't help Trump "break the law and abuse his power" and would "do everything in our power to protect those who live here."

During the interview with Hannity, Homan said Trump has a "mandate from the American people."

"We gotta secure this country," Homan said. "We gotta save American lives."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When asked if ICE would go into resisting states and cities to uphold federal law no matter what respective local leaders say or do, Homan said they will "enforce the law."

"They're not gonna stop us," Homan said.
Public health officials in California detected bird flu in a sample of raw milk this month. The virus first spread to dairy cattle in the US in March.

The discovery comes amid an increasingly heated public debate about the merits and drawbacks of raw milk. Robert F Kennedy Jr, the anti-vaccine activist and Donald Trumps nominee for secretary of health and human services (HHS), is a proponent of raw milk and has claimed that as HHS secretary, he will support farmers who sell it. At the same time, public health experts have continued to advise against drinking raw milk, which is more likely to contain an array of harmful bacteria.

Heres what you need to know.

What is raw milk and why are people talking about it?

Raw milk comes straight from the cow (or sheep or goat) and has not been pasteurized. Developed by Louis Pasteur at the end of the 19th century to help kill harmful bacteria in wine, pasteurization is the process of heating liquids in order to eliminate harmful pathogens and make them safe to drink.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Raw milk has been a popular topic in social media wellness circles for some time. Take one TikTok video posted in 2023 by a supplement company called Heart and Soil. In it, three young people toss a gallon of (presumably raw) milk to each other, take a deep swig, and say things like, Raw milk is generally misunderstood by most people, and Unfortunately, most of the milk you find in grocery stores is pasteurized.

In another, Paul Saladino, a popular fitness influencer also known as Carnivore MD, shirtlessly sings the supposed praises of raw milk, saying, This is nothing like that pasteurized, homogenized milk you get in the store, guys.

In these videos, the word pasteurized is uttered with a sneer that suggests its a dangerous byproduct of humankinds gluttonous perversions, the way you might say microplastics or Mountain Dew Code Red.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This negativity seems to tap into the anxiety many consumers feel about ultra-processed foods. We regularly hear that the modern grocery store is a repository of food-like substances, and that one must practice constant vigilance to avoid them. But pasteurization does not reduce milks nutritional value to that of a soda.

Related: I tried face yoga. I hate that I spent any of my wild, precious life on it

Is raw milk safe to drink?

Food safety experts are absolutely horrified by the growing raw milk trend, says Dr Marion Nestle, the Paulette Goddard professor emerita of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University.

Pasteurizing milk is one of the great public health achievements of the 20th century, Nestle says. Drinking cows milk used to kill babies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nestle adds that she thinks the embrace of raw milk goes beyond an anxiety about ultra-processed foods  which pasteurized milk, she underscores, is not. Its part of the whole anti-authoritarian, anti-science, anti-expertise waves that were seeing in this country right now.

Raw milks adherents claim it has more vitamins and minerals than pasteurized milk. The CDC disputes this, saying scientists do not have any evidence that shows a nutritional benefit from raw milk, and that raw milk can carry harmful germs, such as campylobacter, cryptosporidium, E coli, listeria, brucella, and salmonella.

These germs can lead to food poisoning and symptoms such as diarrhea, stomach cramping, vomiting, fever, headaches and body aches.

A popular rejoinder from raw milk fans is that humans were drinking untreated milk for centuries before Pasteur came along. But as the FDA notes, while most healthy people will recover from an illness caused by harmful bacteria in raw milk  or in foods made with raw milk  within a short time, some can develop symptoms that are chronic, severe, or even life threatening.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Per the CDC, the serious conditions associated with consuming unpasteurized dairy include Guillain-Barre syndrome, in which the bodys immune system attacks the nerves, and hemolytic uremic syndrome, which affects the kidneys and the bodys blood-clotting functions.

Drinking cows milk used to kill babies Marion Nestle

Still, more than two dozen states including California, Idaho, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Utah have legalized the sale of raw milk. According to studies conducted by the CDC, between 1998 and 2018, outbreaks linked to raw milk led to 2,645 illnesses and 228 hospitalizations.

It is possible to drink raw milk with no issues. But as Dr Yvonne Maldonado, a professor of pediatrics, infectious diseases and epidemiology at Stanford Medicine, told the New York Times: Well, yeah, you can also drive around without a seatbelt or ride a motorcycle without a helmet. The implication: these behaviors are risky nonetheless.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The consequences of drinking raw milk are so serious, Nestle says. But while these consequences are rare, she says, the probability of getting sick from raw milk is higher than the probability of getting sick from pasteurized milk.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  An increasing number of Americans have taken to Google to ask how they can get a Canadian work visa.

The surge in the number of Americans showing interest in Canadian Work Visas happened in November after the presidential election, according to CasinosHunter.

More Local News

Americans search how to move to Canada an average of 9,400 times per month, and as the interest continues to increase, Canadians could feel the impact. American searches for pros of living in Canada have also surged for the first time in three months, said Mike Hunter, Founder of CasinoHunter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Americans who want to move to another country must navigate their immigration process.

Canadas process has several screening materials that applicants will want to look into if they apply for a work permit. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements, including having enough money to care for themselves, being in good health, having a medical exam if necessary, and being eligible to apply for a workers permit.

How can I get a work permit in Canada?

The Canadian government asks several questions to applicants interested in two types of work permits. Theres a questionaire on the government website that helps people determine what work permit they might need.

What are the two types of work permits?

An employer-specific work permit lets you work in Canada but contains certain conditions. An open work permit enables you to work for any employer in Canada, according to the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship website.

How can I apply for a work permit in Canada?

Applicants can apply here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Relocating to Canada is not easy, as it involves navigating immigration policies and job markets. However, the combination of political stability and publicly funded healthcare makes Canada an attractive option for some Americans, Huner said.

Americans who still want to work in our neighbor up north might also consider looking into alternative permits, such as ones designated for business people, agricultural workers, and temporary workers. More information on other permits can be found here.

Additional work permit information

Under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), American citizens can also apply for temporary work permits for certain occupations, including Engineers, scientists, accountants, and IT professionals. A complete USMCA / NAFTA professional list can be found here.

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
(PINPOINT WEATHER)  This Thanksgiving week, its all about a couple of cold fronts and rain chances.

The first front comes in late tonight/early Tuesday, but only with a small amount of rain. After midnight, some showers will move into the mountains first, then cross over the Charlotte metro & east by 7-9 am. Most of the rain is done early in the morning, then its back to some sunshine and dry weather through Wednesday.

Thanksgiving Day is when the more potent cold front is set to move in. The shower chance will start early in the morning, and linger right through the afternoon and evening. Rain in the morning looks like itll be on the lighter side. Late afternoon and evening is when it could get heavier, with a few strong storms in the mix too, packing some gusty wind. Highs are in the 60s, so not too cool yet!

But get ready for a blast of cold as we kick off the month of December. Starting Saturday morning, lows will drop into the 20s around the Charlotte area, with teens in the mountains. Highs will struggle to warm through the 40s! Winter is coming

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tonight: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers moving in. Low 55.

Tuesday: Shower possible early, then partly cloudy and dry. High 68.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Mostly Cloudy skies and spotty showers kick off this Tuesday with 50s locked in across the Carolinas. An approaching cold front will bring partly cloudy skies and warm temperatures for this afternoon ahead of Thanksgiving showers and potential storms.

Click here to see our latest Pinpoint Weather forecast! 

Look for rain to taper off throughout the morning as a cold front sweeps east through the Carolinas. Cloudy skies will make way for sunshine from this morning into the afternoon as mid to upper 50s warm up into the upper 60s through the peak heating hours of the day.

After a relatively warm and sunny afternoon, clear skies will make way for a chilly evening as mid to low 50s settle in for tonights Tree Lighting Festival at Bank of America Stadium.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Overnight lows will dip into the 30s heading into Wednesday making for a cold morning. Highs will rebound into the low 60s which is near normal for this time of year. Look for another front to approach the Carolinas bringing rain and potential storms for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving starts off cool and chilly with low 50s locked in and scattered showers. Highs will aim for the mid to upper 60s with a chance of thunderstorms through the peak heating hours of the day. Showers taper off quickly Thursday evening as much colder temperatures funnel in.

Friday starts off in the low 40s with highs only hitting the mid-50s to finish off the week. The steep drop off in temperatures will be felt with overnight lows in the 20s and highs in the 40s.

Well keep the well below normal temperatures and frigid mornings coming as we head into Monday of next week.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Today: Morning Showers Ahead of Mostly Sunny Skies and Warm Temps. High: 68.

Tonight: Mostly Clear & Chilly. Low: 39.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Since the 1980s, Laura Turner has made it her mission to properly educate others about a Thanksgiving staple: The turkey.

Turner's humane education lesson, featuring two live animals, has become a tradition in the Franklin community over the years.

I had been doing some human education programs in the schools, but after seeing people bowling with frozen turkeys and things of that nature, I wanted educate children on having respect for their food, she explained of the program's start.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nicknamed the turkey lady, Turner usually visits area schools around the Thanksgiving holiday. Her lesson includes many fun facts about the animals and their history in the United States.

Due to his love for turkeys, Benjamin Franklin's woven into it along with a science factor which explains a year in the life of a turkey," she said. "The students get to see a turkey egg along with other things, and we close with the Twas the Night before Thanksgiving story.

Turkey's Betty and White visit Williamson County schools ahead of Thanksgiving

As an added bonus, children are also able to interact with White, a Royal Palm gobbler, and a rescued bronze turkey hen named Betty.

When the students see these birds, its more wonder and awe. They get to come up and two finger touch the turkey and learn about how the Native Americans used every single part of the bird, Turner said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She said the program has been labor of love for generations.

One of the teachers at a recent visit saw me previously bring the turkeys when she was a student, so you can tell that I just really love doing this, she said, adding that she will continue the initiative for as long as she can not only for the educational value, but the joy it brings to each classroom.

I think we lose the attitude of gratitude sometimes," she said. "So I also think that if you can put a little wonder and awe in a living learning lesson, its important because as you can see, its something the kids will always remember.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Turkeys visit Middle Tennessee schools, educate ahead of Thanksgiving
Nov. 25BISMARCK, N.D.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has given out almost $12 million in grants and loans for rural and tribal communities in North Dakota, a press release said.

The investments have been made to support the non-profits and small businesses in the communities, as well as improve infrastructure.

"From servicing and transportation vehicles, to quality water and renewable energy systems, to new economic development opportunities, the resources made available through USDA Rural Development will continue to expand opportunities and improve the quality of life for our families and friends living, working and serving in some of our most rural areas throughout North Dakota," said Erin Oban, USDA Rural Development North Dakota state director.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The largest piece of funding was $9,392,500 to the Turtle Mountain Public Utilities Commission, the combination of three grants through the Water and Environmental Program to repair and replace existing water distribution systems for the Turtle Mountain Band. Some of the work includes water treatment plant electrical improvements, well field improvements to existing wells and replacing non-working water meters. The booster station will also be repaired, as it is unable to provide enough water pressure to the water distribution systems, the release said. The work will "bring this area of the system up to current standards and increase the quality of service to customers," it said.

The Turtle Mountain Animal Recovery Center received a $42,000 grant through the Community Facilities Program for the purchase of a generator, scissor lift, computer and utility task vehicle for Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue. The new 80-kilowatt generator will be used to provide backup power to the rescue's building during power outages; the scissor lift will be used to help reach high areas when storing large items and to maintain or repair equipment that is in the higher areas; the computer will replace the rescue's aging one to more efficiently work with its software and outside systems; and the utility task vehicle will be used to traverse small and remote areas for rescues and moving equipment and supplies, the release said. The rescue, which provides service to Rolette County and the Turtle Mountain Reservation, rescues about 70 to 100 animals per month.

The Turtle Mountain Band received a $1,056 grant through the Community Facilities Program, which will be used to purchase and install solar panels for the Dunseith Fire Department. As utilities are a major part of the department's expenses, the project could help lessen the expense and make the department more sustainable, the release said. The Turtle Mountain Recovery Center received a $24,900 grant also through the Community Facilities Program to purchase a transportation vehicle, which will be used to help patients travel to and from the center.

The North Central Planning Council, a Devils Lake non-profit that serves Region 3  Benson, Cavalier, Eddy, Ramsey, Rolette and Towner counties  received a $500,000 loan through the Intermediary Relending Program. The council will use the loan to create a revolving loan fund to "promote small businesses, create or retain jobs and provide economic and social development opportunities for rural areas in North Dakota," the press release said.
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

We sit down with family medicine physician Jennifer Tillman to explore the transformative journey from early academic struggles to a fulfilling medical career. Jennifer shares her personal story of overcoming a pivotal setback in organic chemistry and defying discouragement to achieve her dream of becoming a doctor. We discuss the true essence of practicing medicine, beyond tests and paperwork, and the enduring human connection that keeps physicians returning to their patients every day.

Jennifer Tillman is a family medicine physician.

She discusses the KevinMD article, The essence of medicine: genuine connections in practice.

Our presenting sponsor is DAX Copilot by Microsoft.

Do you spend more time on administrative tasks like clinical documentation than you do with patients? Youre not alone. Clinicians report spending up to two hours on administrative tasks for each hour of patient care. Microsoft is committed to helping clinicians restore the balance with DAX Copilot, an AI-powered, voice-enabled solution that automates clinical documentation and workflows.

70 percent of physicians who use DAX Copilot say it improves their work-life balance while reducing feelings of burnout and fatigue. Patients love it too! 93 percent of patients say their physician is more personable and conversational, and 75 percent of physicians say it improves patient experiences.

Help restore your work-life balance with DAX Copilot, your AI assistant for automated clinical documentation and workflows.

VISIT SPONSOR  https://aka.ms/kevinmd

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST  https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast

RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD  https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

GET CME FOR THIS EPISODE  https://www.kevinmd.com/cme

Im partnering with Learner+ to offer clinicians access to an AI-powered reflective portfolio that rewards CME/CE credits from meaningful reflections. Find out more: https://www.kevinmd.com/learnerplus

Transcript

Kevin Pho: Hi, and welcome to the show. Subscribe at KevinMD.com/podcast. Today, we welcome Jennifer Tillman. Shes a family physician. Todays KevinMD article is titled The Essence of Medicine: Genuine Connections in Practice. Jennifer, welcome to the show.

Jennifer Tillman: Thank you, Kevin. Good to be here.

Kevin Pho: So lets start by briefly sharing your story and journey.

Jennifer Tillman: My background is that Im from Long Island, New York. Originally, I grew up in Southern California, went to undergraduate school at UC Davis, and then took a few years off to work at the City of Hope in a cancer lab. I went to medical school at New York Medical College and completed my residency at East Tennessee State University.

After residency, I spent three years in an FHQC in Wenatchee, Washington, and then came back to Davis, California, where I worked at Kaiser for the last 25 years.

Kevin Pho: Wow. And youre a primary care physician. As you know, theres a shortage of primary care physicians. For those medical students who may be listening, what kept you going in primary care?

Jennifer Tillman: Thats a great question. Actually, I retired about nine months ago.

What kept me going all that time was something I puzzled over for quite a while. Im one of those people who gets all my ideas and realizations while driving to work. I dont know why, but I do.

What I thought about most was that no matter how efficient or productive I was, no matter how many patients I saw or diagnoses I made, the most meaningful thing for me was that one-on-one interaction with patients. That gave me the most rewards in the long run.

Kevin Pho: Wonderful. Your KevinMD article is titled The Essence of Medicine: Genuine Connections in Practice. For those who didnt get a chance to read it, tell us what its about.

Jennifer Tillman: Its about that same questionlooking back on my career and asking, why did I keep going when times were hard?

In the beginning, I was discouraged from going into medicine. The reason I kept going at that point was my passion for being a doctor. But that passion came from wanting to learn everything I could about the human body. I didnt really understand yet how much my experiences with patients would shape me. That came later.

Over the years, I started to see that you cant know everything or learn everything, but you can give patients care and compassion. Its not quantifiable, but its the most rewarding part for me.

Kevin Pho: In terms of that reflection on your medical career, did the reality of medicine meet your expectations when you were a premedical and medical student?

Jennifer Tillman: Yes.

As a premed and medical student, I felt overwhelmed. I thought I could never learn everything I needed to know. I dwelled on that too much, and I think its a common issue among medical students. They worry and feel frightened that they cant learn everything.

But I began to realize that were all in the same boat. We have each other to rely on.

Kevin Pho: In your article, you mentioned that your premed advisor discouraged you from going into medicine. Why was that?

Jennifer Tillman: I didnt have the grades. I had a 3.2 GPA. My MCAT scores were above average, but nothing stellar. I was in a hard majorgenetics. My advisor told me to switch to biological sciences because it was easier, but I liked the hard stuff.

My grades in the hard courses were Bs and Cs, and my grades in English were As. So, I was kind of backwards that way.

Kevin Pho: Did you have second thoughts about going into medicine even though your advisors discouraged you?

Jennifer Tillman: Sure, I had some really difficult times when I thought, Is there anything else I can do with my life that will have meaning and challenge me?

I thought about being a genetic counselor. I even took the GRE to apply for a masters program in genetic counseling or something similar. But I kept getting pulled back toward medicine.

Kevin Pho: Back then, when you were exploring other paths, what kept pulling you back to medicine?

Jennifer Tillman: Im not sure. I think its just a lifelong desire to learnalways to be learning something new.

I knew when I was six that I wanted to be a doctor. I remember finding my mothers nursing books and being enthralled by the anatomy drawings. Ive always felt driven in that direction.

Kevin Pho: Thats an example of resilience, and resilience certainly grows as you progress in your medical career. Tell us about that role of resiliencehow overcoming those obstacles and difficult courses shaped the physician you became.

Jennifer Tillman: Overcoming difficulties gave me resilience and grit, which you need to get through medical schoolespecially 30 years ago when there was a lot of hazing and pimping. It was kind of crazy.

For example, wed be asked questions in front of a patient. If we didnt know the answer, the attending would say, Well, you just killed that patient because you didnt know that.

That resilience helped me get through those challenges and the difficulties of being a primary care physicianthe lack of time and the overwhelming competing agendas of patients and doctors.

But now, as Im retired, some of those skills are less helpful to me. Being so focused and driven makes it hard to have downtime. If my Google Calendar says nothing planned, I panic a little, wondering what Im going to do.

Kevin Pho: I hear that a lot from other physiciansthe adjustment to having an empty calendar after such a demanding medical career. You mentioned youve been in primary care for over 20 years. How different was it when you retired compared to when you started?

Jennifer Tillman: When I started, it was, in a sense, more lovely in my memory.

I did a preceptorship in the Appalachian Mountains with a family physician. He would see two or three patients hed known for 20 years, then go back to his office and read a journal. He had time to read journals during the day.

He would write a few handwritten notes, and that was it. He never seemed to be in a huge hurrythough Im sure he had days like that.

Now, the density of the work is so different. Theres so much data coming at you from all corners. Some of it is clinically relevant, but a lot isnt. Youre constantly trying to weed out whats most important to address today. Its a lot of pressure.

Kevin Pho: And in terms of all that data coming at you and the bureaucratic burdens, how did it affect your relationship with patients?

Jennifer Tillman: For a while, it felt very negative. I felt like I was rushing through my time in the exam room so I could get back to my computer and manage my inbox.

I thought, This is upside down. This is wrong. This isnt what I sacrificed for. So, I started spending more time with patientsnot a lot because there isnt much time, but I made sure that during the time I spent with them, I was 120 percent present.

For those 15 or 20 minutes, nothing else mattered. We could have been on the Titanic sinking, and I wouldnt have noticed. It was just me and the patient. That mindset helped me because it reminded me why I was there.

I wasnt there to just refill medications, answer emails, or meet productivity metrics. I was there for the patients.

Kevin Pho: How difficult was it to maintain that focus? As you know, Im a primary care physician too, and were constantly distracted by electronic medical records, urgent patient messages, and even text messages. How did you manage to stay present with patients despite all those distractions?

Jennifer Tillman: It was difficult. Part of it was that I rarely responded to texts in the exam room. Most of the time, those texts werent clinically urgent. If I saw one come in, Id glance at it to ensure it wasnt urgent and then say to the patient, Sorry about thattheyre bothering me again. Then Id get back on track.

It wasnt perfect, but I tried to compartmentalize as much as possible to stay focused on the patient in front of me.

Kevin Pho: You stayed in primary care for over 20 years. We hear so often about primary care doctors burning out and leaving medicine. What kept you going despite everything else?

Jennifer Tillman: A few things kept me going.

First, I had drive. I knew that if I could work until I was 60, Id have a good retirement. Being a single parent for much of that time, I needed that financial security.

Second, my colleagues were everything. I had great people to work withpeople I could trust, talk to, and share tough days with. We had good specialty support too, so I could call a GI or neuro doc, ask a quick question, and get what I needed to move on with my day.

Having a supportive environment made all the difference.

Kevin Pho: You mentioned youve been retired for nine months now. Do you miss medicine?

Jennifer Tillman: I do. Sometimes, I miss it a lot.

Im still doing a little bit of medicine. I work with the MAVEN Project, and I occasionally volunteer at a free clinic near me, precepting medical students.

Teaching and mentoring the next generation gives me a lot of joy. Its nourishing for me, and I enjoy helping the younger set grow.

Kevin Pho: Do you see interest in primary care among the medical students you work with?

Jennifer Tillman: Yes, I do. The medical students I work with are genuinely interested in primary care, which is encouraging.

Kevin Pho: For premedical students who might be strugglingthose whose grades arent where they want them to bewhat lessons can they take from your story?

Jennifer Tillman: I think the biggest lesson is that you dont have to fit the mold to succeed.

I wasnt the premed student at UC Davis with a fancy multicolor pen, sitting in the front row and taking meticulous notes. I wasnt the first in line to talk to the professor. I thought, If Im not like that, I wont make it.

I felt like a failure for getting a B in a genetics class, but it turns out there are many pathways to achieving what you want. If you want it badly enough, youll find a way.

Kevin Pho: Were talking to Jennifer Tillman. Shes a family physician. Todays KevinMD article is titled The Essence of Medicine: Genuine Connections in Practice. Jennifer, lets end with some take-home messages youd like to share with the KevinMD audience.

Jennifer Tillman: My take-home message is to remember what gives you the most fulfillment in medicine and savor it.

If youre with a patient who shows you kindness, respect, and trustqualities that arent as common as they used to besavor that moment. Write it down, reflect on it, and hold onto it.

We need that nourishment to sustain us in medicine.

Kevin Pho: Jennifer, thank you so much for sharing your story, time, and insight. Thanks again for coming on the show.

Jennifer Tillman: Thank you, Kevin.
EASTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP)  Two family dogs died after accidentally turning on a stove, causing a kitchen fire in Easthampton on Monday afternoon.

Victim identified in Easthampton drowning incident

According to officials, the fire, which originated in the kitchen, was caused by combustible materials left on a stove that was accidentally turned on by the pets.

Courtesy of Easthampton Fire Department Courtesy of Easthampton Fire Department Courtesy of Easthampton Fire Department Courtesy of Easthampton Fire Department Courtesy of Easthampton Fire Department Courtesy of Easthampton Fire Department Courtesy of Easthampton Fire Department

Easthampton Public Safety received a call about the fire at approximately 3:15 p.m. Easthampton Police and Fire crews arrived to find smoke coming from the building. Firefighters entered the home and located evidence of a fire in the kitchen that had self-extinguished.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Using heat detection equipment, firefighters identified fire extensions in the attic. Crews removed the kitchen ceiling to fully extinguish the fire. Despite the efforts of first responders, two family dogs died from smoke inhalation.

An investigation conducted by Easthampton Fire and Police determined the fire began when the stove was accidentally activated by the pets, igniting materials left on the appliance. Mutual aid was provided by Northampton Fire Rescue, Southampton Fire, and Barnes Aire National Guard, who assisted in containing and extinguishing the fire.

Please keep this family in your thoughts during this time, Easthampton Public Safety said in a statement. All of us at Easthampton Public Safety are extremely sorry for the losses that this family experienced.

Officials reminded residents of the importance of keeping stoves clear of flammable materials and ensuring that pets cannot access appliances.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
Nov. 25Two men were recently arrested after allegedly beating a man who had escaped from a trunk of a vehicle, then shooting him "8-10 times" in Northeast Albuquerque in 2021.

Christopher Tkach, 40, of Albuquerque is charged with an open count of murder, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and tampering with evidence in the 2021 shooting death of Raymond Ortiz, Jr., 29.

Shamon Pacheco, 33, of Albuquerque is charged with an open count of murder, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, tampering with evidence and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tkach and Pacheco are being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center. Their attorneys could not be reached for comment. According to court records, a detention hearing for Tkach has been scheduled for Tuesday while Pacheco's arraignment is slated for early December.

Prosecutors filed a motion to detain Tkach until trial, saying, "the victim was killed because he owed money for drugs, and according to the (informant), he had also stolen a firearm from one of his killers.

"There is no possible justification for the killing, except some 'law of the jungle,' which is not a legal basis and is not acceptable to the community," according to the motion.

Police were able to identify Tkach through supermarket video surveillance and a witness, according to a criminal complaint filed at Metropolitan Court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On June 20, 2021, the Albuquerque Police Department received a call of a man being chased on foot by two men and another person driving a vehicle in the area of Chico and Pennsylvania. The caller said two men were "hitting him and shooting" the victim before saying "they killed him," police said.

A witness saw a car stop in the street and a man  later identified as Ortiz  jump out of the trunk and start running. Two men caught up with Ortiz, then hit him with a bat and punched him, the complaint states.

The witness told police she heard Ortiz "crying out to stop hitting him." Later, one of the men  later identified as Pacheco  took out a handgun and gave it to another man  later identified as Tkach  who reportedly shot Ortiz, Jr. multiple times. The men then ran north, police said.

The Office of the Medical Investigator said Ortiz had been shot "8-10 times," including once in the head, the complaint states.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The case ran cold until Sept. 9, when detectives spoke with a friend of Ortiz at a hearing for an unrelated case. The friend told police two people known as "Stunner" and "Smokey"  later identified as Pacheco and Tkach, respectively  admitted to kidnapping, beating and killing Ortiz. Ortiz had reportedly stole a "handgun and money or dope" at Pacheco's house, police said they were told.

The friend identified the suspects in a photo, the complaint states.

According to an online memorial, Ortiz, Jr. was "the most loving person one could meet."
OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY)  Two Alexandria men have been arrested and charged in connection with the Oct. 20 murder of Jaleel Guidry in Opelousas, authorities said.

Isaiarion Warden, 17, and Deshawn Hickman, 17, both of Alexandria, have each been charged with one count of first degree murder, one count of assault by drive-by shooting and five counts of attempted first degree murder.

Previously, Alexziah Joseph, 22, Gerard Jevaris Griffin, 23 and his mother, Finecia Renee Draper, 49, were arrested in connection with the case.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Investigators said additional arrests may follow.

Bond details for Warden and Hickman were not released.

Deshawn Hickman (left) and Isaiarion Warden

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

KLFY Daily Digest

Latest news

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.
IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Two men have been charged for breaking into a Duke Energy substation and trying to steal aluminum wire, according to the Iredell County Sheriffs Office.

On Friday, Nov. 22, deputies responded to the substation at 2618 Island Ford Road in Statesville about a breaking & entering and larceny call. Duke Energy employees said the suspects cut a hole through the fence and attempted to steal a large spool of aluminum wire. The wire was found pushed through the hole in the fence and was found in a nearby field. Duke Energy valued the spool of wire at about $7,500.

Mecklenburg County sheriff addresses allegations of running office like a third-world dictatorship

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Detectives set up surveillance equipment around the area and put a GPS device on the spool of wire because they believed the suspects would return to get it.

The surveillance equipment alerted detectives in the early morning of Monday, Nov. 25, that the suspects returned to the property, officials said. When authorities arrived, they found and arrested 38-year-old Nash Arthur Reidlinger and 26-year-old Patrick John Lail.

Both suspects were booked into the Iredell County Detention Center under $25,000 bonds for:

3 counts of first-degree trespassing

Felony larceny

Felony possession of stolen property

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Nov. 25A Spokane jury convicted two men Monday of all charges related to the October 2022 killings of siblings Jeremy Neal and Gale Neal in Keller, Washington.

Zachary Holt, 24, and Dezmonique Tenzsley, 35, were quiet as they clasped their hands in U.S. District Court when Judge Thomas Rice read each verdict.

Holt is guilty on two counts of first-degree murder and 13 other counts, including assault and attempted murder of a federal officer. Tenzsley, 35, also known as "Privilege," is guilty of two counts of felony murder in Indian country and 10 other charges.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Their crime spree began with assault and robbery on and near the Nez Perce Indian Reservation in Idaho and continued with the murders of the Neals during an attempted robbery for money and drugs. During a high-speed chase, Holt shot a Colville Tribal Police officer in the arm. The two men were arrested the next day on a different part of the Colville Indian Reservation.

Holt is a member of the Nez Perce Tribe.

After the jury was dismissed, Holt tilted his head back and exhaled. Tenzsley took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

Their sentencings are scheduled for Feb. 6.

"The victims in this case, Gale and Jeremy Neal, were senselessly and brutally murdered by two men on a violent crime spree," U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref said in a statement. "Nothing can ever replace what the Neals' family and loved ones have lost. My office is deeply committed to promoting public safety on Native American reservations and addressing the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, and this verdict demonstrates that those who commit violence on Tribal lands will be held accountable."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jarred-Michael Erickson, chairman of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, said in a statement, "These murders were frightening and tragic events that impacted many people in our community. My prayers go out to the family and friends of the deceased, who I know still grieve today. There is now some comfort in knowing that those who committed these acts of violence have been convicted of serious federal felony offenses."

Sentencing for their getaway driver, Curry Pinkham, who signed a plea deal and testified against Holt and Tenzsley, has been rescheduled for Jan. 9.

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.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Acting Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon announced a shakeup in his new administration on Tuesday, parting ways with two senior staffers at City Hall who oversaw development.

Director of Real Estate Howard Grynspan was fired. Brendan Mehaffy, Executive

Director of the Office of Strategic Planning, will resign effective Dec. 16.

These decisions were made after much thought and consideration and in-line with my

well-known management approach to improve departmental functions, hold

administration leadership accountable, and make city government function more

efficiently and cost-effectively, Scanlon said in a statement. I want to thank Brendan and Howard for their years of dedicated service to the City of Buffalo, and I wish them well in their future endeavors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The departures are the first major changes in Scanlons administration since he stepped into the job last month after five-term mayor Byron Brown resigned to lead Western Regional Off-Track Betting. Previously the Common Council president, Scanlon is serving out the final year of Browns term.

Mehaffy stood behind Brown for years on many city projects.

Who is running for Buffalo mayor next year?

Grynspan told WIVB News 4 he plans to return to his private real estate practice in Western New York and downstate.

It has been my honor and privilege to serve the people of the City of Buffalo as the Director of Real Estate over the past 2 1/2 years, Grynspan said. We got a lot accomplished and Im very proud of the work and the dedicated, brilliant staff I led in the Division of Real Estate.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is a developing story

Latest Local News

* * *

Nick Veronica is a Buffalo native who joined the News 4 team as the Digital Executive Producer in 2021. He previously worked at NBC Sports and The Buffalo News. You can follow Nick on Facebook, Twitter and Threads. See more of his work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Kansas City police are investigating a double shooting that left one woman dead and another woman hurt Monday night.

The shooting happened just before 8:30 p.m. near Chavez and West Bluff, according to KCPD.

View the latest headlines from Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas at fox4kc.com

Police said they found a car on Chavez with two women shot inside. Both of them were taken to the hospital.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One of the women died at the hospital, and the other is listed in stable condition.

The victim killed has been identified as 26-year-old Michelle Donato.

Investigators said an argument involving several people outside an apartment on West Bluff escalated into a shooting when more people arrived at the scene of the argument.

At this time, no arrests have been made. If you know anything, you can call the tips hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
President-elect Donald Trump said he plans to use executive orders when he takes office in January to institute tariffs of 25 percent on all products imported from Canada and Mexico, and 10 percent on those from China. The tariffs on the United States three largest trading partners would be retaliation for the flow of fentanyl and migrants across U.S. borders, he said.

More than $1.3 trillion worth of goods came from the three countries in 2023, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, including gas, cars and smartphones.

Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The proposed tariffs could have a seismic effect on all four countries. They could raise the price of everyday items for U.S. consumers, if companies add the additional cost to sale prices. They could change the playing field for local producers, and other nations that trade with the United States, if their products are not hit with tariffs. They could also result in retaliatory tariffs against U.S. businesses, John Veroneau, who was a trade negotiator under President George W. Bush, told The Post.

The details of Trumps plan are yet to be released, however, such as whether raw materials such as crude oil as well as manufactured goods such as cars would be included as tariff targets.

Heres a guide to which goods the United States imports from Mexico, Canada and China.

- - -

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mexico

The United States conducts more trade with Mexico than any other country. It imported $475 billion in goods from Mexico last year and exported almost $323 billion.

About 80 percent of Mexican exports go to the United States, and the vast majority of those last year were manufactured goods, according to bank BBVA. The United States imported more than $400 billion worth of manufactured goods, compared with about $20 billion of products from the Mexican agriculture, forestry and livestock sectors; and about the same from the oil, gas and mining sectors, according to the bank. Goods included cars and car parts, computers and other electrical equipment, beverages, medical instruments and household appliances.

- - -

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Canada

Canada is the United States second-ranked trading partner: The United States imported more than $418 billion in goods from Canada in 2023, and exported $354 billion.

The top goods that the United States imports from Canada are crude oil and related products such as petroleum gas; vehicles such as cars and car parts; and machinery such as turbines, engines and construction equipment parts, according to global research firm Trading Economics.

The United States also imports billions in plastics, pharmaceuticals, metals such as aluminum, iron and gold, wood and paper, and agricultural products from Canada.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A significant change in U.S. trade policy could have serious ramifications for Canada: More than three-quarters of Canadian export goods go to the United States, and almost half Canadas import goods in turn come from its southern neighbor.

- - -

China

China is the United States third-largest trading partner. The United States imported almost $427 billion in goods last year and exported almost $148 billion.

The top goods the United States imported from China last year were electronics, including phones; machinery such as computers; toys, games, and sporting equipment; furniture; and plastics, according to Trading Economics. It also imports billions in a wide variety of items such as medical equipment, clothes and shoes, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The United States buys about 15 percent of Chinas exports and is its largest destination market, according to Trading Economics.

Related Content

How Kristi Noem, Trumps homeland security pick, became an immigration zealot

Hark! The Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce holiday TV movies are here!

Notre Dame is a pipeline for Supreme Court clerks, magnet for justices
Two weeks ago, U.S. President Joe Biden met with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, for the last time before he leaves office on the sidelines of the APEC Summit held in Lima, Peru. At the meeting, Xi offered up four red lines in U.S.-China relations that Beijing insists must not be challenged. Some of them, such as Chinas perennial concern over Taiwan, are familiar. But others are less so, and they are significant, because they express much greater concern for defending Chinas domestic sovereign interests, including its right to economic development, but also its own vision of democracy, human rights and its political system.

Though delivered to the outgoing Biden administration, Xis warning was really addressed to the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump and the U.S. more generally. Most importantly, it covers a comprehensive range of concerns: not just over territory and sovereignty, but also regarding the threat of U.S. economic sanctions and export controls that might limit Chinas development, as well as other actions that might undermine domestic political stability under Communist Party rule.

Xis remarks set the stage for renewed contention and conflict with the Trump administration as the incoming presidents team working on China policy comes into shape. So far major appointments include Sen. Marco Rubio as secretary of state-nominee, Rep. Mike Waltz as national security adviser and Alex Wong as his principal deputy national security adviser. These picks indicate continuity between the two Trump administrations and a continued emphasis on ideological differences between the U.S. and China. For all the talk about Trumps proclivity for a transactional approach to foreign policy, he seems intent on appointing people with strong ideological views who are not easy to bargain with.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As in his first term, Trumps team is likely to emphasize how Chinas authoritarian political system undermines the U.S. and the liberal international order, with the goal of U.S. policy being to change China. In 2020, at the tail end of Trumps first term, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo clearly articulated this emphasis on regime differences and the need for domestic political transformation in China in a speech at the Nixon Presidential Library. More recently, in an April 2024 essay, Matt Pottingerwho served as Trumps national security adviser for China until Jan. 6, 2021and former Rep. Mike Gallagher, who chaired the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, stated plainly, The United States shouldnt manage the competition with China; it should win it. The two defined winning as a change in Chinas leaders resulting in more social and political openness. Finally, writing for the Hudson Institute in October 2023, Wongthe incoming deputy national security adviserargued that domestic political transformation in China will be necessary to end Beijings abuse of the liberal international order. As he noted, this goal goes much further than the Cold War-era containment policy adopted by the U.S. toward the Soviet Union and as such will be far more difficult to realize.

To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter.

To be clear, this focus on regime differences between the U.S. and China is not only a Republican Party talking point. Biden also made what he called the global battle between democracy and autocracy a central narrative of his early presidency, pointing to the threats emanating from Chinas authoritarianism as a reason to shore up democracy worldwide. However, the Biden administration did not openly call for the transformation of Chinas political system and instead adopted a strategy of managed competition. Wong rejects that approach, arguing that in defending its own interests and those of the liberal international order, the U.S. will inevitably threaten the Chinese Communist Partys domestic legitimacy.

Making political transformation and regime change in Beijing a major U.S. foreign policy goal is likely to undermine Washingtons long-term desire to see China move toward democracy.

It is perfectly valid for Wong and other policymakers to express Washingtons long-term desire to see China move toward democracy and freedom of speech and religion. However, making political transformation and regime change in Beijing a major U.S. foreign policy goal is likely to backfire and undermine those goals. There are two main reasons to not say the quiet part out loud. First, it needlessly antagonizes a regime that is already insecure. Second, U.S. support for domestic political and social change in China taints the actors pushing for those very changes within China, opening them up to accusations of being insufficiently patriotic at best and pawns of foreign hostile forces at worst.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In short, this approach increases the regimes paranoia around domestic political reform while undermining the legitimacy of those who advocate for domestic political reform in China. Its a lose-lose formula for China hawks in Washington and liberals in China.

The U.S. could still advocate for democracy by decentering its focus on Chinas domestic political situation, which the U.S. will have great difficulty in affecting in any case. Chinas civil society is weakened and much better monitored now than it was a decade ago, when people-to-people diplomacy, educational exchange and civil society engagement between the two countries were at an all-time high. Instead of trying to change China from the outside, the U.S. and other Western democracies should focus collectively on the negative effects of Chinese mercantilism and overcapacity on their own internal politics.

The first China Shock, referring to the rise in import competition after Chinas accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001, is associated with rising political polarization in regions negatively affected by the resulting shifts in trade flows. In the European Union, rising import competition with China in key sectors such as automotives is now also leading to widespread popular dissatisfaction with mainstream political parties. And the political beneficiaries of the emerging second China Shock from Beijings dominance in cutting-edge green technologies have so far been the far left and the far right.

In the end, the policies needed to make democracies more resilient are the same ones put in place by Trump during his first term and bolstered by Biden over the past four years. These use high tariffs on key sectors to protect Western workers from further dislocation and disenchantment, while pressuring China not to export its domestic economic malaise through excessive production and dumping.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In the face of these policies, Xi may be forced to do more to stimulate domestic demand and improve the social welfare and security of Chinas aging population. A more secure and prosperous Chinese middle class may indeed demand greater rights and participation, but it would do so not because the U.S. government demanded it, but of its own impetus and needs.

Mary Gallagher is the Marilyn Keough Dean of the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame.

More China Coverage:

Explore all of WPRs China coverage here.

The post A U.S. Policy of Regime Change in China Will Backfire appeared first on World Politics Review.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  U.S. officials say theyre optimistic about a ceasefire that would stop at least some of the fighting in the Middle East.

An agreement between Israel and the group Hezbollah in Lebanon could come within days the Israeli ambassador says.

Israels cabinet is supposed to meet Tuesday to discuss the ceasefire deal with Hezbollah.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is at a meeting of foreign leaders hoping for a deal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were standing togetherhoping to bring a lasting peace to the Middle East, said Blinken.

Hamass October 7th terror attack on Israel killed 1200 people. Since then, Israel has fought Iran-backed groups on two fronts-Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Hezbollah and Israel have exchanged rocket attacks since October 8th, escalating into an all-out war over the last two months even as the parties inched closer to a ceasefire.

500 rockets rained down on innocent families, schools and homes, said Israeli U.N. Representative Danny Danon.

Fighting in Lebanon has killed 3500 people according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In Israel rockets, drones and missiles killed 87 soldiers and 50 civilians according to the Israeli government.

U.S. officials are less optimistic about a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas despite months of trying.

More than 400 days into the war some families of hostages taken on October 7th blame Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for dragging his feet.

It is because of Netanyahu our 101 loved ones are still held captive in Gaza, said father of kidnapped soldier Yehuda Cohen.

Israels fighting with Hamas has killed 44,000 people according to Gazas Health Ministry.

The worlds top war-crimes court has issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu, accusing Israel of starving Gazas population.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The U.S. State Department says it doesnt agree with that assessment.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
The U.S. Air Force on Tuesday said that there had been more sightings of drones flying near bases used by U.S. forces in the United Kingdom, adding it had not yet identified them as hostile.

"We can confirm there were sightings yesterday (Monday) during nighttime hours and can only confirm that the number fluctuated, and varied between the bases over the night," a USAF in Europe spokesperson said in a statement sent to Agence France-Presse by the 100th Air Refueling Wing, which is based at the Royal Air Force base in Mildenhall, eastern England.

Mildenhall is one of three bases where drones have been spotted intermittently since November 20. The other two are the nearby RAF Lakenheath and RAF Feltwell.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The USAF said in a statement Monday that "small unmanned aerial systems were spotted in the vicinity of and over Royal Air Force Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell between Nov. 20 and Nov. 24."

A U.S. Air Force (USAF) F-15C Eagle fighter jet is pictured on the tarmac at RAF (Royal Air Force) Lakenheath, in eastern England, June 15, 2020. / Credit: CHRIS RADBURN/AFP/Getty

The drones ranged in sizes and configurations, it added. In Tuesday's update, the USAF said there had been no impact to the bases' residents or infrastructure, and that the drones "have not been identified as hostile."

"However they are still continuously being monitored to ensure the safety and security of the installation," it added.

"I can confirm the situation is still ongoing and our units continue to monitor the airspace and are working with host-nation authorities and mission partners to ensure the safety of base personnel, facilities, and assets," a U.S. Air Forces in Europe spokesperson told CBS News on Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A spokesman for the UK's Ministry of Defense said that it took "threats seriously" and was supporting the USAF response. CBS News' partner network BBC News said the U.K. military had deployed about 60 additional British troops to the bases to help aid in U.S. efforts to determine who is responsible for the drones.

The personnel have been sent to assist the US Air Force (USAF) in its investigation, the BBC understands.

While no entity or third nation has been named as a possible source of the unexplained drones, several major U.S. adversaries, including Russia and Iran, have been accused of increasing their espionage and sabotage activities in Europe this year.

U.S. fighter jets based at Lakenheath were part of the American effort to help shoot down missiles launched by Iran at Israel on April 13  the first of two Iranian missile attacks on Israel this year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tension between Russia and the U.S. and Britain has also been extremely high amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, with British fighter jets scrambled only a week and a half ago to monitor a Russian reconnaissance aircraft that was flying close to U.K. airspace. That came just days after NATO jets were mobilized when Russian aircraft were spotted over the Baltic Sea and off the coast of Norway.

Lowrider cars celebrated as cultural symbol among Mexican Americans | 60 Minutes

UATX says it fights college censorship culture with a focus on free speech | 60 Minutes

Homan visits U.S.-Mexico border as Trump threatens Mexico with tariffs
Representative Lauren Boeberts Cameo page disappeared just one day after it went up amid questions over whether it broke congressional rules.



The Colorado congresswoman was charging $250 for personal advice or a pep talk on the celebrity video service, she explained in a welcome video. But questions quickly came up about whether her Cameo gig violated House rules prohibiting honoraria, or a payment of money or thing of value for an appearance, speech, or article.



Now, Boeberts Cameo page is gone, returning a 404 error, and she may have managed to avoid an investigation from the House Ethics Committee over the whole thing. Members of the House are prohibited from earning more than $31,815 in outside income, and the only way she could have legitimized her Cameo income would have been to funnel it into her campaign account. However, that would have violated Cameos terms of service.



Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Boebert managed to stay in Congress during the past election thanks to switching to a safer, more conservative district after barely surviving Democratic challenger Adam Frisch in 2022. It seems that merely retaining her seat wasnt lucrative enough for her, so she tried to copy her old colleagues Matt Gaetz and George Santos by launching a Cameo page.



But Boebert failed to realize that the two have ethical violations of their own that made them former members of Congress: sexual misconduct for Gaetz and various corruption charges for Santos. Despite her own numerous theatrical missteps, Boebert has yet to join Gaetz and Santos in breaking federal law or attracting attention for ethical shortcomings. But, seeing as how her congressional career has gone thus far, it may only be a matter of time.


BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WBOY)  November is lung cancer awareness month, and this year, the WVU Cancer Institute at United Hospital Center became the first in the state to offer CYTALUX to help identify cancer in the lungs.

In 2023, West Virginia native Dr. Nicholas Baker became the first surgeon in the world to use the CYTALUX technology commercially after it received FDA approval to detect more cancer tissue in the lungs in real-time during surgery.

Dr. Baker himself has performed about 50 surgeries with the technology, 10 of which were in West Virginia when he came back to work in his home state this year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its a standard B vitamin analog that we eat every day, and this medication binds to those receptors in the body, so lung cancers and other cancers of the body express a large amount of these receptors, so the medication will bind there, and that medication has a fluorescent imaging tag on it. So, you get an accumulation of the medication onto the cancer, and the camera is specifically designed to see that wavelength. Then it lights up green or one of the settings is almost like a rainbow, which actually shows us concentration, said Dr. Baker.

South Harrison High Schools FFA program collecting deer donations for food bank

Example of CYTALUX working at highlighting cancerous tissue. Courtesy: WVU Medicine.

Example of CYTALUX working at highlighting cancerous tissue. Courtesy: WVU Medicine.

CYTALUX is administered through an IV about an hour prior to surgery and helps surgeons detect ovarian cancer and lung cancer lesions. Dr. Baker said in the surgeries done, 8% more lesions were found that were not originally seen on pre-operative imaging on some of the patients.

While this technology does not necessarily reduce recovery time, it is a game changer for surgeons and patients alike.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Allows me to really pinpoint where we need to cut. So instead of taking a whole lung out or a whole lobe of the lung, I can take out a segment of the lung, which saves lung function for the future, said Dr. Baker.

The lung is like a large tree, is you can cut off a few small branches so that you dont hit your car when youre going down your driveway, thats great, you still get to keep your tree. But if you cant cut those small branches, and you have to cut off the large branches or you have to cut the whole tree down, then you dont get the benefit of keeping that tree, added Dr. Baker.

Regardless of whether or not CYTALUX is used, the surgery remains the same. These are video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries (VATS), which are small incisions that doctors can use to see what theyre doing through a camera. CYTALUX highlights the points to see the highlights from the drug that the naked eye cant see.

It also helps with margin assessment, so whenever I take out the lesion, the margin is the rim of normal tissue around the cancer, which as a cancer surgeon, you have to make sure that you take out a rim of normal tissue, said Dr. Baker.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dr. Baker said there are currently 25 states in the U.S. that use this technology and that it was first commercially used in Pennsylvania at the institution he worked at.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The U.K. has delivered dozens of Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine, Bloomberg reports, marking the first major arms transfer under Prime Minister Keir Starmers leadership.

The unannounced shipments carried out weeks ago, were ordered after Ukrainian forces faced shortages of long-range missiles, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Officials speaking to Bloomberg, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the information, confirmed that the missiles were supplied before the U.K. and the U.S. authorized Ukraine to target locations inside Russia with long-range weapons. The exact timeline and quantity of the shipment remain undisclosed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We do not comment on operational detail, to do so would only benefit [Russian President Vladimir Putin]," the Ministry of Defense told Bloomberg. The ministry reiterated the U.K.s "ironclad" support for Ukraine in its war against Russia.

Ukrainian forces recently used the Storm Shadow missiles to strike Russian targets in the western Bryansk region, one day after deploying U.S.-made ATACMS in similar operations.

At the G20 summit in Brazil on Nov. 20, Starmer said his government was "doubling down" on its support for Ukraine but avoided disclosing specifics. Ukraine had previously used Storm Shadows against Russian forces in the Black Sea, though the U.K. government has not confirmed the total number supplied since the war began.

The missiles, manufactured by MBDA, a defense company that provides missile systems for each branch of the armed forces, are precision-guided and boast a range exceeding 250 kilometers. Equipped with advanced navigation systems, they are designed to fly close to terrain at high speeds, enhancing their effectiveness in striking critical targets.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones reportedly hit oil depot in Russias Kaluga Oblast

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
David Lammy has vowed 100 per cent co-operation with the International Criminal Court (ICC) after it issued an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu.

In his first intervention on the matter in the Commons, the Foreign Secretary said Britain would help to ensure the court was able to carry out its work without obstruction.

The remarks appear to raise the prospect of an arrest on British soil, given that the UK is jointly responsible for enforcing warrants issued by the court, based in The Hague.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Downing Street last week refused to rule out that the Israeli prime minister would be arrested if he was to come to the UK, saying it respected the independence of the ICC.

The Foreign Office has since deferred the matter to the UK courts, claiming any decision on whether to arrest Mr Netanyahu would be a matter for the judiciary rather than ministers.

Mr Lammy said before the election that a Labour government would comply with an order to arrest Mr Netanyahu, but has refrained from repeating the message since the ICC issued the warrant last week.

Addressing MPs on Tuesday, he was asked whether the Government would recognise and support the ICCs jurisdiction and co-operate fully with the court to ensure it can carry on its work without obstruction.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The question did not make reference to Mr Netanyahus case by name, but echoed similar queries put to the Government on the Israeli prime ministers arrest warrant.

The Foreign Secretary replied: Yes. 100 per cent.

The ICC said there were reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, his former defence minister, and Mohammed Deif, the Hamas commander, bore criminal responsibility for crimes during the war between Israel and Hamas.

However, the arrest warrants for the Israeli politicians have split Europe  where countries are signatories to the ICC  and the US, which is not. It means any pledge to detain Mr Netanyahu in the UK would put Britain on a collision course with the US.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr Lammy, who has been highly critical of Donald Trump, the US president-elect, in the past, also hinted at a potential conflict with the incoming president over his Nato obligations.

Asked whether he would take every opportunity to impress on the incoming president the vital importance of the Article Five guarantee, whereby the United States would come to the aid of any Nato country which was attacked, he said: Yes, yes, yes, and more yes.

Speaking in the Commons on Monday, Hamish Falconer, a foreign office minister, said any decision on whether to arrest Mr Netanyahu would be for the UK courts.

We will comply with our international obligations, he said. There is a domestic legal process through our independent courts that determines whether or not to endorse an arrest warrant by the ICC, in accordance with the ICC Act of 2001.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This process has never been tested, because the UK has never been visited by an ICC indictee. If there were to be such a visit to the UK, there would be a court process and due process would be followed in relation to those issues.

There is no moral equivalence between Israel, a democracy, and Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah, two terrorist organisations. This Government has been clear  Israel has a right to defend itself in accordance with international law, that right is not under question, and the courts approval of the warrants last week do not change that.

Id like to just be clear that what I have said is not that the Government will uphold arrest warrants. What I have been clear about is that due process will be followed. These are questions for independent courts in the UK, and it is independent courts that would review the arrest warrants if that situation were to arise.

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.
London is not planning to deploy its military personnel on the ground in Ukraine, U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy told journalists at the G7's ministerial meeting on Nov. 25.

Lammy's comments came after the French outlet Le Monde reported that the U.K. and France have been discussing deploying soldiers or private defense contractors in Ukraine following Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. election.

"We are not committing U.K. troops on the ground to Ukraine, but we continue to support Ukraine with training and military assistance, and we have been absolutely clear that we will continue to do that for as long as is required and is needed," Lammy said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"That is certainly the U.K. position and remains the U.K. position at this time."

French President Emmanuel Macron previously suggested deploying military trainers to Ukraine, but the idea has met strong opposition among several key allies, namely Germany.

Le Monde wrote, citing undisclosed sources, that the matter was brought up during British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to France on Nov. 11. The U.K. and France are reportedly considering taking the lead in the pro-Kyiv coalition in the light of Trump's reelection.

Trump has criticized military support for Ukraine and pledged to bring a quick end to the war, sparking fears he might withdraw Washington's crucial backing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Responding to a question about France deploying its troops in Ukraine, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told the media that France would "not discard any option."

While the G7 foreign ministers were meeting in Italy, the defense ministers of the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, and Poland met in Berlin in a new "E5 format" to discuss increasing defense spending and supporting Ukraine.

Speaking at the meeting, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius pledged to keep the Ukraine Defense Contact Group "alive," while his British counterpart, John Healey, said that Europe must "double" its support for Kyiv.

Read also: Ukraine aid key to battling Russian invasion  Can Europe fill the gap if Trump pulls the plug?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Bloomberg, citing its sources, reports that the UK government has recently delivered dozens of Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine without public announcement, even before the decision to allow Ukraine to use Western missiles to hit targets in Russia.

Source: European Pravda, citing Bloomberg

Details: The delivery was made for the first time under Prime Minister Keir Starmer who has promised Ukraine further support in its war against Russia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The supplies, which were not publicly announced, took place several weeks ago. They were ordered after Kyiv ran out of long-range missiles.

The missiles were shipped before the recent decision by the US and UK to allow Ukraine to fire long-range missiles at targets in Russia.

The sources declined to say when the missiles arrived. Nor did they give an exact number, citing the need for operational security.

Background:

Last week, Ukrainian troops used British Storm Shadow missiles to strike targets in Russia for the first time, a day after the launch of US-made ATACMS against Russia.

At the G20 summit in Brazil on 20 November, UK PM Keir Starmer said that his government was doubling its support for Ukraine but declined to provide specific information.

Earlier, Western media confirmed the strikes by Storm Shadow missiles on a military facility in Kursk Oblast.

The target of the strike was reported to be the Baryatinsky Estate in Maryino, which might have been the command post of Russian and North Korean troops operating in Kursk Oblast.

Support UP or become our patron!
(Bloomberg) -- The UK government recently supplied Ukraine with dozens more Storm Shadow cruise missiles, according to people familiar with the matter, a first under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has pledged continued support for the countrys war against Russia.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The deliveries, which were not publicly announced, took place several weeks ago and were ordered after Kyiv ran low on the long-range missiles, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing security issues.

They were sent before the recent decision by the US and the UK to allow Ukraine to fire long-range missiles at targets inside Russia. The people declined to say exactly when they arrived or give a precise number, citing the need for operational security.

We do not comment on operational detail, to do so would only benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Ministry of Defense said in a response to questions, adding the UKs support for Ukraine is ironclad.

Ukrainian forces fired the British Storm Shadow missiles at targets inside Russia for the first time last week, a day after launching US-made Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS, a military facility in the western Bryansk region.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The decisions by London and Washington to allow the strikes, which Kyiv had long requested, came in response to the Kremlin deploying North Korean troops to fight against Ukraine, according to officials from both governments.

Yet the move has also been seen as a way for outgoing President Joe Biden and allies to strengthen Ukraines hand in any negotiations with Moscow, which are are possible next year as President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end the war quickly.

Starmer said at the Group of 20 summit in Brazil on Nov. 20 that his government was doubling down on its support for Ukraine, but declined to give specifics.

Storm Shadows are precision-guided, air-launched missiles with a range of more than 250 kilometers (155 miles). They fly close to the terrain at high speeds, using a combination of so-called inertial navigation with Global Positioning System and terrain-reference navigation, according to a fact sheet on the website of their manufacturer MBDA.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The UK government hasnt said how many Storm Shadow missiles it has given Ukraine during the war, and doesnt regularly announce transfers. Ukraine had previously used them against Russian forces in the Black Sea.

The last time the Ministry of Defence confirmed a consignment of the missiles to Ukraine was in April, under the administration led by Rishi Sunak.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
The day Russia invaded Ukraine, Ivan Kaunov watched from his 23rd-floor Kyiv apartment in disbelief as rockets came down on his city. He was 30, married, and running a fintech startup that was seeing remarkable traction.

The scion of a Kyivan family that had gotten wealthy on construction and IT, Kaunov had gone to university for marketing, doing a student officer training program to satisfy Ukraines theoretically mandatory but half-heartedly enforced nine-month military requirement  training he never expected to use.

I said Ill go fight if theres ever a war, chuckled Kaunov. I never thought it would happen. I was sure there would be no invasion. I was thinking, Its the 21st century.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In mid-March 2022, he joined. Leading 150 fresh recruits to defend a village east of Bakhmut, he would find himself blown up by a rocket as his unit was pulling back from Russias advance on the Donbas that May.

A head injury meant rejoining infantry assaults was a no-go, but with drones, he could return to the fight.

After spending around a year piloting mostly reconnaissance drones, Kaunov recognized the need for a more perfect guidance system. He assembled a wishlist of the best gear to put into a Ukrainian drone that would be meant for long-term, deep surveillance usage.

He rallied enough interest to translate into funding for a prototype of the Buntar-1, the basis for his current company, Buntar Aerospace. Rather than fall to Russian jammers or a kamikaze attack, the envisioned Buntar  the Ukrainian name for the Star Wars: Rogue movie  would live to fly another day.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Over the past year, Buntar has armed itself with nearly $3 million in investment from Ukraine, the EU, and the U.S. and is building what Kaunov hopes will be the Cadillac of Ukrainian surveillance drones  high-cost, premium quality, and repeat usage  in a major divergence from the cheap one-time kamikaze drones that have become symbols of Ukraines resistance to Russias invasion.

Going rogue

The company's latest model is the Buntar-3, a sleek machine to be sold in kits of two for some $200,000, decked out with Western components with the exception of Chinese wiring. The Buntar Aerospace team is currently taking the Buntar-3 along the front line for testing.

Ukrainian drone pilots typically rely on cheap models  initially Chinese-made consumer models like DJI Mavics  but today, mostly analogs made in Ukraine. The assumption remains that most will fall in flight.

Buntar says it is different in that it aims squarely for the top shelf of the market. The radios on the Buntar 1 are, for example, U.S. imports, a trio of high-end models from L3Harris, Persistent Systems MQ5, and Silvus. And the cameras, if including night vision, can run up to $75,000  the most expensive part of any recon drone.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Buntars premium drones recently started probing the front lines. But as with many of the most ambitious Ukrainian drone firms, the guiding light is not just to win the war, but, ultimately, the West, specifically a Western arms market thats been following the war in Ukraine raptly.

The team recently began front-line tests on the Buntar-3 and boasts a connectivity time of 98%  a massive improvement over the 30% of more rank-and-file drones that they attribute to the quality of components, which hail from the U.S. and U.K. in addition to Ukraine.

Its the biggest war since WWII. Lots of new technology, lots of electronic warfare, says Bohdan Sas, Buntars Chief Technology Officer. Drones that were designed by civilian engineers for a civil environment before the war dont work in this war. So this is all custom.

"Drones that were designed by civilian engineers for a civil environment before the war dont work in this war."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Beyond his experience at the front, the highly extroverted, heavily tatted, and always clean-shaven Kaunov is a convincing ambassador for the Buntar brand. His is a classic story of Ukraines current generation of military tech startups: A soldier with a background in IT and Western financing who managed to blend the three into his own drone project.

Kaunovs drone work lines up closely with the emergence of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as a game changer in Ukraines resistance to Russia. By 2023, the Ukrainian government understood it had a unique development on its hands and started pouring money into the domestic drone industry.

That industry has grown rapidly and by many accounts is producing the majority of drones Ukraine is using on the front these days.

The Buntar-1 in flight on June 29, 2024. takeoff at a test site in an undisclosed location, Ukraine on June 29, 2024. (Kollen Post / The Kyiv Independent)

Given the ad-hoc means by which many drones make it to the front, hard numbers are tough to come by. President Volodymyr Zelensky said in mid-October that the government had already achieved its goal of one million Ukrainian drones produced in 2024. The Royal United Services Institute, a U.K.-based think tank, last year estimated Ukraines drone losses at 10,000 units per month.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Very few Ukrainian drones cost even the $20,000 that Buntar is asking for its cheaper recon drone, the Skyhopper.

Buntar counts tens of its fixed-wing Skyhoppers already sold to the front. Each unit completes dozens of missions, maintaining high altitudes to avoid being shot down, says Kaunov.

Read also: Battle-tested in Ukraine  How US drone makers turned Ukraine into a tagline to sell west

Thus far, Kaunov says only one Skyhopper has gone down  due to friendly fire. I know exactly the tree its in in no-mans land. Not worth trying to get, he says.

The Buntar units 1, 2, and 3 are still in testing, with Buntar-1 seeing some performance at the front lines. Kaunov says the Buntar-3 has achieved a flight time of three hours  putting it up there with the German Quantum Systems Vector and the Estonian Threods EOS VTOL, two drones that Kaunov sees as future competitors, which similarly run nearly 200,000 euros per system.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

CoPilot, the companys navigating and auto-piloting software, is likely the most marketable of Buntars products right now, provided it can readily adapt to new drone hardware and be brought on board new mission types. Software is easier to scale up than physical factories and the Ukrainian government maintains strict controls on the export of military goods.

With its software registered abroad, CoPilot is theoretically free to go into the drone systems of foreign militaries.

Introducing official

merch from the Kyiv Independent

Shop now

Western skies

But here, Buntar has a leg up. Part of the firms success is thanks to Kaunovs connections to the West, and, particularly, his knowledge of Western business financing. Prior to the full-scale invasion, his last project was FinMap, a still-functioning company selling B2B budgeting software.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kaunovs FinMap co-founder Oleksandr Solovei continues running FinMap today. As is typical of startups, Buntar remains a much more public-facing company than many of the massive drone makers who are at this point well-established in Ukraine but who keep relatively low profiles.

Like FinMap, Buntar Aerospace operates via a U.K. company that has eased the process of getting Western investment and, Kaunov hopes, sales.

Buntar has managed to gather up $2.7 million in funding in just 13 months of existence. By the standards of Silicon Valley, its not a massive sum, but among the young generation of Ukrainian military tech startups, its one of the larger publicly acknowledged war chests.

Other leaders include drone software company Swarmer and disinformation startup Osavul, both using AI, who announced similar funding rounds in September. For comparison, many defense startups in Ukraine rely on $25,000 government grants to get off the ground.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In addition to new drone models and workshops, Buntar has used the new funds to staff up, employing some 60 people, including Kaunovs father, Serhiy, and three brothers.

Several of Buntars investors remain unidentified. Buntar received a grant from Brave1, a government program for miltech, as well as various government awards. Private investors include several founders of Uklon, a Ukrainian equivalent to Uber. The funding allowed Buntar to acquire a smaller UAV manufacturer over the summer.

Read also: Despite hype around Ukrainian weapons tech, foreign investors remain gun-shy

Despite Buntars financial savvy, questions remain about the battlefield readiness of Buntar drones. The Belgium-based Seven Capital is another early investor concerned about the core product.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

About Buntar, weve had a lot of great feedback from investors. But not from the polihon (drone testing field). Not from soldiers. Not from our engineers, Brent Christiaens, founder and managing partner of Seven Capital, tells the Kyiv Independent.

Buntar has already expanded rapidly, currently working on several updates to the Buntar-1, continued production of the Skyhopper, and a new line of kamikaze drones. The firm is currently working out production in the U.K., which would allow them to avoid the export controls currently holding more or less all drones made within Ukraine inside the country.

Getting around those controls is, however, a controversial proposition during wartime.

While the war guarantees local demand, its tough to build a drone that can compensate investors and keep staff fed within Ukraine, where the Defense Ministry caps profits on military hardware at 25% over cost.

"Its tough to build a drone that can compensate investors and keep staff fed within Ukraine."

Whether Western buyers will be open to a Ukrainian drone competing on equal footing with those built by German, U.K. or Israeli companies is a question that may well go unanswered until after the war.

The Buntar team watch the Buntar-1 take off on June 29, 2024. takeoff at a test site in an undisclosed location, Ukraine on June 29, 2024. (Kollen Post / The Kyiv Independent)

Buntar is in a fairly unique situation in that it has money and staff that allowed the project to draw eyes even before getting their first planes to market, thanks in no small part to Kaunovs marketing acumen. He anticipates the Skyhoppers, which Buntar prices at around $20,000, receiving a contract from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry before the end of this year, and says that the Buntar-3s just passed tests critical to securing such a contract of its own.

But if the higher-end planes currently under testing dont pass muster, Buntar could well flounder.

Kaunov anticipates a ceasefire of sorts in the next year but sees Ukraine continuing to buy up weapons for its arsenal afterward on the assumption that Russia will be back.

Like many of his peers building defense tech in Ukraine, hes hopeful that before a ceasefire Buntar will prove itself in battle enough that Western militaries will clamor for it on the basis of quality, rather than cost.

Read also: Better late than never: Israeli companies finally reach out to Ukraine to help fight Iranian drones

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine-NATO Council convened at the ambassadorial level on 26 November, to discuss Russias launch of an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) last week.

Source: European Pravda, citing NATOs press service

Details: During the meeting, held via video link, representatives of Ukraines military command delivered updates. Participants "reaffirmed their support for Ukraine".

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Quote: "The attack, which targeted Dnipro, is seen as another attempt by Russia to terrorise the civilian population in Ukraine and intimidate those who support Ukraine as it defends itself against Russias illegal and unprovoked aggression."

NATO also reiterated its stance that Russias use of an experimental ballistic missile "will neither change the course of the conflict nor deter NATO Allies from supporting Ukraine."

Background:

The Ukraine-NATO Council was convened last week in response to Russias first use of an experimental ballistic missile, dubbed Oreshnik, against Ukraine.

Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs, earlier expressed hope for "concrete and substantial results" following the meeting.

After the Oreshnik strike, Kyiv appealed to its partners for additional support to strengthen its air defence capabilities against such ballistic missiles.

Support UP or become our patron!
Key developments on Nov. 26:

Russia launches record 188 drones against Ukraine overnight, Air Force says

Russian Defense Ministry admits that Ukraine hit airbase in Kursk Oblast with ATACMS

Russia's advance in Ukraine fastest since early 2022, analysts claim

Russian soldiers suspected of executing 5 Ukrainian POWs near Pokrovsk

UK boosts Kyiv's arsenal with more Storm Shadows amid Starmer's support pledge, Bloomberg reports

Russia launched a record number of 188 Shaheds and other drones against Ukraine in a single night on Nov. 26, Ukraine's Air Force said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ukrainian air defenses reportedly shot down 76 drones across 17 oblasts, while 95 were "lost," presumably thanks to electronic warfare means. Five drones flew to Belarus, according to the Air Force.

Russia has deployed cheap kamikaze drones, including Iranian-made Shaheds, against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure since the first year of the full-scale war. Moscow has intensified the drone attacks in recent months, with air raid alerts sounding daily in major cities like Kyiv.

"During the overnight attack, Russia launched a record number of Shahed-type attack drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles of an unknown type from the directions of Orel, Bryans, Kursk, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia," the Air Force's statement read.

Moscow launched more than 2,000 strike drones against Ukraine in October, breaking the previous record set in September by nearly 700, according to Ukraine's General Staff.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Read also: Ukraines drones have a reputation for low cost. Buntar Aerospace wants to make them boutique

Russian Defense Ministry admits that Ukraine hit airbase in Kursk Oblast with ATACMS

Russia's Defense Ministry admitted on Nov. 26 that Ukraine had targeted Russian S-400 air defense systems and an airfield in embattled Kursk Oblast with U.S.-made long-range ATACMS missiles over the past three days.

The statement is the first public confirmation of the attacks by Russia, following multiple reports of strikes after Washington permitted Ukraine to use its ATACMS missiles to strike against targets on Russian soil.

According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces launched five ATACMS missiles on Nov. 23 near the village of Lotarevka, some 37 km northwest of Kursk, with three of them shot down. The other two missiles hit the positions of an S-400 surface-to-air missile division.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The strike damaged a radar. There are casualties among the personnel," the Defense Ministry said.

Previously, Ukraine's General Staff also claimed that Ukraine had struck a Russian S-400 radar in Kursk Oblast.

Ukraine also fired eight ATACMS missiles on Nov. 25 at the Kursk Vostochny airbase in the town of Khalino in Kursk Oblast, seven of which were allegedly shot down by Russian air defenses, the Russian ministry claimed.

One of the missiles "reached its target," injuring two soldiers and damaging infrastructure, the ministry said.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While OSINT analysts earlier reported the strike against the Russian airbase, the Ukrainian military has not commented on the attack.

Russia's Defense Ministry threatened with "retaliatory actions" to Ukraine's strikes.

Read also: Ukraine can strike Russian territory with ATACMS missiles, White House confirms

Russia's advance in Ukraine fastest since early 2022, analysts claim

The advance of Russian forces in Ukraine continues to gain pace, reaching a new weekly and monthly record, the independent Russian outlet Agentstvo reported on Nov. 25, citing its analysis of the DeepState monitoring group's data.

Russia has captured 234.79 square kilometers (90 square miles) in the past week, which is the highest number in 2024, according to the analysis.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Russian forces have taken 600 square kilometers (232 square miles) since the start of November, which is more than in the entire October, setting a new record since early 2022, Agentstvo wrote.

The advance is reportedly the fastest near Velyka Novosilka, a village in southern Donetsk Oblast close to the administrative border with Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Ukrainian officials have increasingly raised concerns about a possible new Russian push in Zaporizhzhia Oblast in the south, just as Russian forces continue to advance in the east, focusing their efforts near Pokrovsk and Kurakhove.

According to Agentstvo's analysis of DeepState data, Russia captured around 187 square kilometers (72 square miles) in the south.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Moscow's troops have also reportedly advanced 33 square kilometers (12.7 square miles) near Pokrovsk, a key logistics hub in Donetsk Oblast, 10 square kilometers (3.8 square miles) in the east of Kharkiv Oblast, and 4 square kilometers (1.5 square miles) near Chasiv Yar.

The Kyiv Independent could not immediately verify the claims.

Read also: Ukraine pushes back Russian troops from Kupiansk, military says

Russian soldiers suspected of executing 5 Ukrainian POWs near Pokrovsk

Russian forces apparently shot five unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war (POW) in Donetsk Oblast earlier this November, the Prosecutor General's Office said on Nov. 26, launching a war crime investigation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the statement, Russian troops captured five Ukrainian defenders during an assault in the Pokrovsk sector. After forcing them to lay down their weapons and lie down on the ground, they are said to have shot them with automatic weapons.

"An investigation is currently underway to establish all the circumstances of the crime and the persons involved," the prosecutors' statement read.

Reports of murders, torture, and ill-treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war are received regularly by Ukrainian authorities and have spiked in recent months. Most cases were recorded in the embattled Donetsk Oblast.

Ukraines Ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, said he had notified the United Nations and the Red Cross regarding the latest case from the Pokrovsk sector.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"I emphasize that the killing of prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and is qualified as a serious international crime," he wrote.

Read also: UN has recorded 376 sexual violence cases related to Russian war against Ukraine

UK boosts Kyiv's arsenal with more Storm Shadows amid Starmer's support pledge, Bloomberg reports

The U.K. has delivered dozens of Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine, Bloomberg reports, marking the first major arms transfer under Prime Minister Keir Starmers leadership.

The unannounced shipments carried out weeks ago, were ordered after Ukrainian forces faced shortages of long-range missiles, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Officials speaking to Bloomberg, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the information, confirmed that the missiles were supplied before the U.K. and the U.S. authorized Ukraine to target locations inside Russia with long-range weapons. The exact timeline and quantity of the shipment remain undisclosed.

"We do not comment on operational detail, to do so would only benefit [Russian President Vladimir Putin]," the Ministry of Defense told Bloomberg. The ministry reiterated the U.K.s "ironclad" support for Ukraine in its war against Russia.

Ukrainian forces recently used the Storm Shadow missiles to strike Russian targets in the western Bryansk region, one day after deploying U.S.-made ATACMS in similar operations.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A Ukrainian delegation headed by Ukraines Defence Minister Rustem Umierov will visit South Korea on Wednesday to ask for aid for Ukraine in providing the necessary weapons.

Source: news outlet South China Morning Post, citing an unnamed source

Details: The source reports that the Ukrainian delegation is intending to present a list of necessary weapons, which includes anti-aircraft missiles and artillery pieces.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Analysts expect Seoul to take a cautious stance on the request after Donald Trump's election victory and Moscow's repeat warnings against such actions.

A spokesman for the South Korean Defence Ministry declined to comment.

"The government is expected to adopt a wait-and-see approach, monitoring Russias military cooperation with North Korea before deciding its next steps," said Doo Jin-ho, a research fellow at the Korea Institute for Defence Analyses.

For reference:

Earlier, Bloomberg wrote that Donald Trump's victory in the US election was forcing South Korea to reconsider sending weapons directly to Ukraine, but there is no decision yet.

In early November, Trump held a telephone conversation with his South Korean counterpart, Yoon Suk-yeol, during which, among other things, they raised the issue of the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia to assist in the war against Ukraine.

It is also known that South Korea's leadership is considering sending a group of observers to Ukraine in response to the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia.

Background:

On 7 November, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that there had already been losses among the North Korean troops fighting on the side of Russia in Kursk Oblast.

A record number of North Korean citizens arrived in Russia in the third quarter of 2024, citing "training" as their reason for travel amid reports of North Korean troops being deployed to participate in the war against Ukraine.

The US Department of State said that Russia's success on the battlefield using the North Korean military will depend on the level of their integration into the Russian army.

Last week, the United States confirmed that North Korean troops had recently participated in hostilities in Kursk Oblast for the first time.

In addition, according to The New York Times, 50,000 Russian and North Korean troops are preparing to launch a large-scale counteroffensive in Kursk Oblast.

Support UP or become our patron!
An interdepartmental commission is investigating the supply of faulty 120 mm mortar shells to Ukrainian forces after multiple reports of them misfiring, the Defense Ministry announced on Nov. 26.

The statement comes following complaints and videos shared on social media that show the mortar shells not exploding or failing to hit their targets.

The ministry said it had withdrawn the batches of ammunition in question and would instead provide Ukrainian forces with imported shells.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Dzerkalo Tyzhnia news outlet reported in its investigation that this concerns 100,000 shells that would last for six months of front-line use, causing delays before the imported shells arrive.

Artillery and mortar shells are crucial items on the front as Ukraine already struggles to match up with the better-stocked Russian forces.

According to Dzerkalo Tyzhnia, the supply of the shells in question was a result of a deal between the Defense Ministry and the Strategic Industries Ministry to purchase ammunition from a domestic producer and thus decrease dependence on foreign supplies.

Read also: Old guard pushback continues to haunt Ukraines arms procurement cleanup

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The outlet did not name the factory commissioned to manufacture the shells but said it was part of the state-owned defense conglomerate Ukroboronprom and was often targeted by Russian attacks.

The media investigation highlighted the Defense Ministry's supposedly inadequate quality control process. Warnings raised by some officials regarding the plant's ability to produce detonators for the shells "disappeared" during the process, and military officials failed to report initial problems with the shells that surfaced in September.

In its statement, the Defense Ministry stressed that the Strategic Industries Ministry was responsible for carrying out the order. Preliminary conclusions named low-quality charges and poor storage conditions as possible causes.

The State Bureau of Investigation has launched a criminal investigation, and "appropriate personnel decisions will be made regarding the responsible officials," the statement read. The ministry promised new measures to improve quality control and improve the inspection process at all stages.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ukraine's defense sector has been plagued by several major procurement scandals throughout the full-scale war.

The two most notorious scandals, one regarding inflated prices for food supplies and the other connected to low-quality winter jackets, prompted the dismissal of former Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov.

Read also: Investigative Stories From Ukraine: Another procurement scandal spotlights Defense Ministry contractor

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Ukrainian defence forces have pushed back the Russians from the town of Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast, and are now controlling the situation on the outskirts of the town.

Source: Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesperson for the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group of Forces, on air with the 24/7 national joint newscast, reported by Ukrinform

Quote: "They are trying to infiltrate small assault groups and then accumulate. This is without the involvement of a large number of armoured vehicles. We managed to stabilise the situation on that front, and the enemy was driven back from the city [of Kupiansk  ed.]. The enemy's equipment and attempts to cross to the other side are immediately destroyed by our firepower and FPV drones. Everything there is under the control of our defence forces. Even if some groups are crossing with 8 or 10 people, about 2-3 of them make it ashore. That is, the enemy is destroyed there [in the river] as well."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Details: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, said that Russian troops are crossing to the right bank of the Oskil River in Kupiansk district by boat, but Ukrainian defenders are destroying these groups.

Quote: "Yes, there were such cases. Sabotage and reconnaissance groups are constantly testing the defensive positions of our military and using different tactics. They cross Oskil by boat, and actually walk through minefields. And our soldiers detect all these cases and try to destroy the enemy as much as possible on the approaches to Kupiansk and other areas. Active fighting has been going on in that area for two days now."

Background: On the night of 25-26 November, DeepState analysts reported that the Ukrainian defence forces had completed a mop-up operation in the town of Kupiansk.

Support UP or become our patron!
Oleksandr Merezhko, a top MP from President Volodymyr Zelensky's party, has nominated U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, according to his letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee seen by the Kyiv Independent on Nov. 26.

Merezhko's move is at odds with the statements of many opinion leaders in Ukraine who have criticized Trump for praising Russian President Vladimir Putin and questioning further U.S. assistance to Ukraine. Trump has also promised to broker a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine, and there is speculation that he could pressure Kyiv to cede territory to Russia or agree to Putin's terms.

However, some Ukrainian politicians and analysts argue that Trump may be swayed to Ukraine's side and help Kyiv reach a peace deal with Russia from a position of strength.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"It is my belief that Trump has made considerable contributions to world peace, and that he can make more in the future," Merezhko, an MP from Zelensky's Servant of the People party and chairman of the Ukrainian parliament's foreign affairs committee, wrote in his letter.

The lawmaker mentioned Trump's mediation of agreements between Israel and Muslim countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan, during his first presidential term.

"Trump also laid the foundations for today's international coalition of support for Ukraine by demonstrating global leadership in supplying weapons to resist Russia's brutal and illegal war of aggression," Merezhko said in an apparent reference to Trump's decision to supply Ukraine with Javelin anti-tank missiles during his first term.

When asked by the Kyiv Independent about his motivation for the nomination, the lawmaker said he wants to use it "as an opportunity to attract Trump's attention so that he could help Ukraine to survive."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Merezhko expressed hope that "in his attempts to stop Russia's aggression against Ukraine (Trump) will be searching for a solution on the basis of international law, including such principles as territorial integrity, respect for the sovereignty of Ukraine, and non-use of force."

Merezhko said in his nomination letter that Trump could help Ukraine achieve "just, comprehensive and sustainable peace based on the UN Charter and principles of international law."

On the campaign trail, Trump promised to end Russia's war with Ukraine if elected, saying in September that he would negotiate a deal "that's good for both sides."

Trump's election has intensified uncertainty around Ukraine's war effort at a critical time, as Russian forces make their fastest gains in months and North Korean troops are stationed in Russia's Kursk Oblast.

Read also: Frozen Russian assets face uncertain future under Trump

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russia's sabotage activities to recruit Ukrainian citizens through Telegram channels are one of the main factors of destabilisation in Ukraine: 179 arsonists have already been detained in 2024.

Source: Andrii Niebytov, Deputy Head of the National Police of Ukraine, quoted by the press service of the National Police

Quote: "These are arsons of military vehicles, railway infrastructure, and state-owned companies. The task of the criminal police is to quickly identify and bring the perpetrators to justice to prevent further crimes. In ten months, police have detained 179 people who committed arson attacks which were requested by Russian secret services."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Details: Niebytov noted that the National Police maintains a stable crime situation in the context of war. Police officers in the east are working under missile attacks and targeted FPV drone attacks, solving crimes and rescuing people.

Support UP or become our patron!
Rich nations pledged $300 billion a year in aid, but developing countries that need help building out renewable energy and adapting to climate impacts say they again felt bullied to accept an inadequate agreement.

After spending two weeks making vague statements about challenging geopolitics, but no explanation of why they spend trillions of dollars per year on fossil fuel subsidies, developed countries at COP29 finally said they would increase climate spending to help developing countries from the current commitment of $100 billion annually to $300 billion a year by 2035.

The money will help developing countries build renewable energy capacity and adapt to increasingly severe climate impacts on an overheating planet. But its far from what they asked for, and far from whats needed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A landmark 2021 report from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change showed developing countries need a total of at least $5.8 trillion by 2030 to keep up with global warming impacts they did little to cause.

The agreement on climate financing was finalized at 3 am Sunday morning in Baku, long after the 6 pm Friday scheduled end of the conference, and after some participants had already left the negotiations at the Olympic Stadium. Other delegates arrived for the final day of discussions with their suitcases, freshening up in public restrooms and looking for food as supplies dwindled. It was the third year in a row the talks went into overtime, once again raising questions about whether the current format is suitable.

At COP last year in Dubai, the talks were extended as countries wrangled over the exact wording of a phrase about transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, the first time in 30 years that fossil fuels were mentioned directly in a formal UNFCCC document. The year before, at COP27 in Egypt, it also took extra time to reach agreement on a loss and damage fund aimed at compensating developing countries for economic, cultural and environmental damages that are already happening  separate from this years money to prepare for the future.

In a statement after the closing gavel in Baku, UNFCCC Secretary-General Simon Stiell called the new finance goal an insurance policy for humanity, amid worsening climate impacts hitting every country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But, he added, like any insurance policy, it only works if premiums are paid in full and on time. Promises must be kept to protect billions of lives.

Stiell also said the final agreement shows that the UNFCCC continues to make progress on the global climate action goals set out in the Paris Agreement, which includes a section specifying the expectations that rich countries, which have caused most of the climate damage with their greenhouse gas emissions, will help developing countries address the growing challenges.

Some outside experts said the final result merely avoided complete failure. Developing countries had asked for much more money, faster: as much as $1.3 trillion per year by 2030.

The climate summit in Baku was not a success, but at best the avoidance of a diplomatic disaster, said Ottmar Edenhofer, a climate economist and co-director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany. He said the strained COP29 talks show that additional negotiation formats are needed to tackle the climate crisis.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The $300 billion goal is too little, too late, added Johan Rockstrom, an Earth system scientist and the Potsdam Institutes other co-director. With global emissions still increasing, he noted, climate costs are about to surge even higher.

We cannot wait for public climate finance another 10 years, by which time loss-and-damage costs will have gone through the roof, he said. Averting some of the worst-case climate and social breakdown scenarios requires full focus on climate finance and emissions cuts, and redirecting the entire global economy away from fossil-fuel based growth.

Reactions from developing-country leaders and allied civil society groups were even more critical, with some saying they felt coerced into accepting the COP29 outcome. The promised funding is woefully inadequate to address the gravity of our global climate crisis, said Harjeet Singh, the global director of engagement with the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, which has been exploring diplomatic channels outside the UNFCCC process to speed the needed phaseout of fossil fuels.

Victor Menotti, who closely tracked U.S. involvement in the talks as an observer with the Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice, said the outcome reflects a continuation of a my way or the highway brand of climate diplomacy practiced by the U.S.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

U.S. State Department officials demanded more mitigation from developing countries but refused to deliver what those countries said is needed to lower emissions. He also said the United States continued to diminish the countrys legal obligations under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, leaving a shameful legacy of global climate injustice by the Biden presidency.

A prepared statement attributed to a senior United States official at the talks said its been hard enough to meet existing finance goals, and that the new target will require even more ambitious and extraordinary reach, including bilateral finance deals, more money from international development banks and greater efforts to mobilize private funding.

But the U.S. will likely have nothing to do with that over at least the next four years. President-elect Donald Trump has said he will pull the country out of the Paris Agreement again, after doing so in his first term.

Marshall Islands climate envoy Tina Stege said small island nations came to COP29 in good faith, with the safety of their communities and the well-being of the world at stake.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Yet we have seen the very worst of political opportunism here at this COP, playing games with the lives of the worlds most vulnerable people, she said, accusing fossil fuel interests of trying to block progress.

We are leaving with a small portion of the funding climate-vulnerable countries urgently need, she said. It isnt nearly enough, but its a start, and weve made it clear that these funds must come with fewer obstacles so they reach those who need them most Countries seem to have forgotten the reason why we are all here. It is to save lives.

The urgency to accelerate climate aid was underscored by an unprecedented series of six tropical storms that hit the Philippines and killed at least 171 people during the course of the Baku talks.

Mary Lyons, an Ojibwe elder and spiritual advisor from Minnesota who attended COP29, said she thinks it will be hard for the world to make progress until people rethink fundamental concepts about their relationship with nature and with each other.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As a spiritual leader, Id have to say the four elements do not have any type of prejudice on anyone, anything within this planet, she said.

We all have one address. Its called Mother Earth. We all entered through the water when we were born. We took our first breath of air. We felt the fire with the warmth. We planted and are nourished by the Earth.

So one of the things we have to really start looking at is the segregation, the separation, and this playing of people against people, property against property, economy against economy, she said. You cant really buy into that. You have to be the one that stands in the middle, staying in balance and saying, This is not OK.

Bob Berwyn, Inside Climate News

ALSO ON YALE E360

Whats Causing the Recent Spike in Global Temperatures?
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. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Trevor Hawkins, an attorney at Legal Aid of Arkansas, remembers how busy his job got when the state for a time imposed work requirements on Medicaid recipients: His office was swamped with frantic phone calls from people who said they couldnt comply with the new rule because they werent healthy enough to work or had to care for sick relatives.

A whole heap of folks, after a month or two, started getting notices saying, Hey, youre out of compliance, and youre going to lose your coverage, Hawkins told Stateline. For many people, he said, keeping their coverage was absolutely vital to maintaining their health or getting better so they might work again.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In June 2018, Arkansas became the first state to require some Medicaid recipients to work, volunteer, go to school or participate in job training to receive benefits. By the time a federal judge halted the policy in April 2019, 18,000 adults had lost coverage.

Arkansas was one of 13 states that received permission to impose work rules on at least some Medicaid recipients during the last Trump administration. Nine additional states requested permission to enact Medicaid work requirements during Trumps term but had not won approval by the time it ended.

When the Biden administration came into office, it rescinded all the approvals. But now that Trump is coming back, many of those states will try again  and theyll have a supportive U.S. Congress in their corner.

Republicans on Capitol Hill are eager to find ways to pay for extending tax cuts enacted during Trumps first term in office, and Medicaid  funded jointly by the federal government and the states  is in their sights. Requiring states to establish Medicaid work rules, as many Republicans would like to do, would cut federal spending by an estimated $109 billion over a decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Thats because the cost for about 900,000 people would shift entirely to states, while another 600,000 people would become uninsured, CBO estimated. About 72.4 million people are enrolled in Medicaid.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Arkansas renewed its efforts even before Trumps victory. Last year, Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders requested federal approval from the Biden administration to apply work rules to able-bodied adults who are covered through the states expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, and who are enrolled in health plans that Arkansas Medicaid purchases for them on the states health insurance exchange. That application is pending.

Georgia, after prevailing in a legal fight with the Biden administration, already has work requirements in place for people covered by its partial expansion of Medicaid. And Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Tennessee have pending requests to require at least some of their Medicaid recipients to work.

Meeting requirements

Supporters say requiring Medicaid recipients to work, study or train for a career gives them a boost toward self-sufficiency and financial stability. Kristi Putnam, the secretary of the Arkansas Department of Human Services, said in a statement announcing her states latest request that it would challenge people to embrace economic opportunities that can lead to true job advancement.

Meaningful work connects people to purpose  and through the pandemic we have seen negative mental health impacts from people feeling disconnected, Putnam said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Critics, however, say such rules end up hurting far more people than they help. In a 2020 study examining how the Arkansas work requirements played out, researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found no evidence that the policy succeeded in its stated goal of promoting work and instead found substantial evidence of harm to health care coverage and access.

More than 95% of the Arkansas beneficiaries the researchers surveyed already met the work requirement or should have qualified for an exemption. The main reason people lost coverage, the researchers found, was because they had trouble verifying that they were complying with the rules. Many of those who lost their coverage stopped taking their medications, delayed care and fell into medical debt.

Our results should provide a strong note of caution for federal and state policy makers considering work requirement policies in the future, the researchers concluded.

Under the rules Arkansas put in place during the first Trump administration, Medicaid participants under age 50 had to report that they spent at least 80 hours each month working, attending school, in job training or volunteering. The rule only applied to people who became eligible after Arkansas expanded Medicaid under the ACA to cover adults making up to 138% of the federal poverty level. And people were exempt if they were pregnant, had a child under 18 at home, were disabled, had to care for a person unable to care for him or herself, were in alcohol or drug treatment, or were in school or job training full time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

About 70,000 of the roughly 270,000 Arkansans on Medicaid were subject to the new rules, and about 1 in 4 of those lost coverage.

Unlike Arkansas, Georgia has not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. But its Pathways to Coverage program, launched in July 2023, allows people with household incomes up to 100% of the federal poverty level who arent already eligible for Medicaid to enroll in the program if they fulfill work requirements. Georgias qualifying activities and exemptions are similar to the ones Arkansas had.

Fiona Roberts, a spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Community Health, told Stateline that as of Nov. 15, there were 5,548 people enrolled in the program and that a total of 7,518 people had been enrolled at some point  evidence, she said, that the program is helping people move from Medicaid to private insurance.

But in its first year, Pathways to Coverage only enrolled about 4,200 people  many fewer than the 25,000 the state had predicted. The cost of the program as of the end of 2023 was $26.6 million, and more than 90% of that went toward administrative and consulting costs, according to KFF, a nonprofit health research group. If Georgia had opted for a full expansion under the ACA, the federal government would have picked up 90% of the tab and the state would have covered about 359,000 people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Leah Chan, director of health justice at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, said work requirements are particularly challenging for people living in rural areas.

If you dont have broadband internet at your house, youre not going to be able to upload the documentation and your pay stubs, Chan told Stateline. Even eligible people cant keep up with it, particularly in rural areas where there are additional barriers to participation.

Learning from mistakes

Benjamin Sommers, a professor of health care economics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and one of the authors of the Arkansas study, said the experience with work requirements there and in Georgia should give other states pause.

All that ended up happening was people lost coverage due to red tape, became uninsured, and in some cases, we saw that they had worse access to health care, Sommers said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Arkansas Republican state Rep. Aaron Pilkington, who serves on the health committee in his chamber, said Medicaid work rules are 100% on the table and something well look to ask for from the Trump administration.

They can find work and get better health insurance through their employer, said Pilkington. He said the volunteering and education options make the rules even more attractive.

Meanwhile, in some of the 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the ACA, the inclusion of work requirements might be the only way politically to get expansion over the finish line.

Most of the Democrats Ive spoken to did not want the work requirements, but to get it passed through the Mississippi legislature its most likely going to have one, Mississippi Republican state Rep. Sam Creekmore told Stateline.

Weve looked at Georgias plan. We recognize the pitfalls and are hopefully learning from mistakes.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Union Health is withdrawing its Certification of Public Advantage application to the Indiana Department of Health.

Union Health plans to submit a new application outlining additional benefits to the community of its proposed acquisition of Terre Haute Regional Hospital, according to an email sent by Regional to its employees.

Union Health provided the following statement late Monday morning:

Union Hospital file photo

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Union Hospital on the Terre Hautes north side is seen here.

Recognizing the COPA process is a very complex, innovative approach to improving access and quality health care for area residents, we believe it is best to withdraw the current application to allow time for Union Health and Terre Haute Regional to continue to work with IDOH, to ensure the benefits, including improved access, quality, prevention and early intervention, are outlined in the new application.

Union Health and Terre Haute Regional recognize the significance of a final approval, and the ongoing review process will continue to align with the principles of accountability and thoroughness as outlined by the COPA, Unions statement continued.

The Union statement further says that the Certificate of Public Advantage will foster an unprecedented opportunity to improve the health and wellness of the Wabash Valley.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Approval of the COPA application by the state is required to move forward with the acquisition.

Earlier Monday, Mark Casanova, Regionals chief executive officer, sent a communication to employees informing them of Unions intent.

We will continue to work closely with the Department of Health to make sure they have the information needed to make an informed decision regarding the healthcare needs of Vigo County and the Wabash Valley, Casanovas email stated.

We will share more information as it becomes available, he stated. For now, we will continue serving our patients, as we have for over 140 years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On Aug. 6 of this year, the Indiana Department of Health began a 120-day review period that would have ended Dec. 4.

IDOH was notified Monday morning by Union Hospital and Terre Haute Regional that the COPA application is being withdrawn, according to an email from Lisa Welch, IDOH media relations coordinator.

In September 2023, Union Health announced that it had signed an agreement to acquire Terre Haute Regional Hospital.

The deal would have included Regionals related businesses, physician clinic operations and outpatient services.

At the time, Steve Holman, Union Health president and CEO, said the acquisition would help change the trajectory of the health of the community, lowering costs, increasing access and improving quality.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Through legislation passed in 2021 and 2022, the Indiana General Assembly established a Certificate of Public Advantage process pertaining to the merger of trauma hospitals within rural counties.

The legislation provided the statutory authority for the Indiana Department of Health to issue a Certificate of Public Advantage for certain hospital mergers.

It was geared specifically toward the hospitals in Vigo County.

A certificate requires the regulation of a merged hospital system by IDOH in place of regulation by the Federal Trade Commission through anti-trust laws.

IDOH can issue a certificate only if it finds that there is clear evidence that the proposed merger would improve the health outcomes, healthcare access, and the quality of healthcare provided to the population currently served by the hospitals. Those benefits must outweigh any potential disadvantages that result from the proposed merger, according to state law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Federal Trade Commission has asked the Indiana Department of Health to deny the COPA.

According to FTCs submitted comments in September, the COPA could shield the proposed merger from antitrust scrutiny, leading to a deal that would likely impose higher costs and could lead to worse healthcare outcomes for Indiana patients, as well as lower wage growth for hospital workers.

Gloria Sachdev, president and CEO of the Employers Forum of Indiana, a nonprofit and employer-led health care coalition, advocated against COPA legislation when it was being deliberated in the Indiana General Assembly.

She cautioned early this year that hospital consolidation that creates a monopoly can lead to higher prices, reduced quality and decreased access.
SCHOOLCRAFT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  The Kalamazoo County Public Housing Commission is celebrating the first of ten new affordable housing units at a mobile home park near Schoolcraft.

A ribbon cutting was held Tuesday at the Sugar Loaf Mobile Home Park off Shaver Road near US-131. The homes will go to ten families with school-aged children whove experienced homeless and are at 60% the area medium income or below.

The community was built with funds from the 2015 Kalamazoo County housing millage. The homes were manufactured in Indiana then moved to the site near Sugarloaf Lake. Families will pay rent adjusted to their income.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There are so many families that are working. We have many families who are not working and just everyone in between who are trying to make ends meet, trying to do the best they can with the resources that they have and unfortunately right now we just do not have enough housing that is affordable to people at multiple income levels and while there are steps that are being take to create those, this being one of them, we know that we need more, said Patrese Griffin, president of the KCPHC.

Sugar Loaf Mobile Home Park near Schoolcraft. (Nov. 26, 2024)

Sugar Loaf Mobile Home Park near Schoolcraft. (Nov. 26, 2024)

Sugar Loaf Mobile Home Park near Schoolcraft. (Nov. 26, 2024)

She said the idea of using manufactured homes will get families into housing sooner.

Its a unique idea. I mean, we are in times where we need creative solutions and were willing to take chances on all opportunities that present themselves. We are in dire need. Again, we have families who are living in cars, who are living in places that arent meant for human habitation and we needed solutions that werent going to take us years and years to come up with, Griffin said.

The first units will go to families who are already connected to homeless liaison through their schools in Kalamazoo County.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  Police in San Francisco are looking for a man caught on video spray painting hate graffiti on the office of San Franciscos Urban Alchemy.

San Francisco watchdog Ricci Wynne arrested, suspected of pimping

Urban Alchemy released surveillance footage of the suspect whos wanted in connection to a swastika being painted on the exterior of the SF safety ambassador nonprofit, which is located near Market and Sixth streets.

Urban Alchemy suspect (Courtesy of Urban Alchemy)

The hate graffiti went up early Monday morning. Officials say it was one of two racist incidents that happened over the weekend. Police are asking the public for any information that could lead to identifying the suspect.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
DES MOINES, Iowa  Urban Dreams is helping families this holiday with a Thanksgiving food bag giveaway.

The first 200 people in line at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Wellmark Urban Dreams Community Center will receive a free Thanksgiving bag filled with various Thanksgiving meal ingredients and a $25 Fareway gift card.

Metro homeless outreach organizations gear up to provide potential record-breaking holiday help

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Broadlawns Medical Center staff will also be on-site administering free flu shots.

If youd like to help with monetary donations for the project or future holiday giveaways, you can donate 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 who13.com.
SPRINGIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  World War II veteran and Urbana firefighter Jim Kelly, Sr. was remembered in the Illinois House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Kelly was honored during Veto Session for his unending commitment to his country and community in House Resolution 873 presented by State Representative Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville). He graduated from Urbana High School and worked for the P & E Railroad Company when the United States entered World War II.

Urbana Police Chief recognized for leadership, reducing gun violence

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jim Kelly gave his entire life to public service for his country, and for his local community, Halbrook said. We were honored to recognize his courage. He has set an amazing example for future generations.

Kelly immediately attempted to join the service but was initially denied because his job was deemed essential. He was finally granted a release by railroad and immediately joined the Marine Corps where he fought the entire 36-day battle of Iwo Jima.

Jims family told me that some of his fondest memories were caddying for Horton Smith, the first Masters Champion, and getting a beer from his favorite actor, John Wayne, Halbrook said. His was a life well-lived, and honor well-deserved.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Unidentified drones have flown over three U.S. Air Force bases in the U.K. in the past week, U.S. officials said on Nov. 26.

"Small unmanned aerial systems were spotted in the vicinity of and over RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell from Nov. 20 to Nov. 26," a spokesperson said in a statement to Reuters. The three bases, located in Suffolk and Norfolk, are leased by the U.S. Air Force from the U.K.

Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder addressed the incidents, emphasizing the U.S. militarys serious approach to the situation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Installation leaders have determined so far that none of these incursions impact the base residents, the facilities, or the assets that we have on those bases," Ryder said. While noting that small drones are a common occurrence, he stressed it remains too early to determine whether the flights originated from hobbyists or another source.

A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, indicated the drone activity appeared coordinated rather than the work of casual enthusiasts. The official added that investigations into the incidents are ongoing.

The U.K.'s Ministry of Defense acknowledged the reports and expressed its commitment to security at defense installations.

Read also: UK prepared to fight Russia if it invades Eastern European NATO member, British general says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will work with the Lebanese army to deter potential violations of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah, but there will not be U.S. combat troops in the area, a senior U.S. official told reporters on Tuesday.

The official called the ceasefire deal "a game-changer" that would show Hamas militants in Gaza that the conflict there and in Lebanon were delinked.

The ceasefire will take effect on Wednesday after both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the United States and France, U.S. President Joe Biden said earlier on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Eric Beech, Jeff Mason and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Chris Reese)
Unions must be given legal powers to block employers decisions, Mick Lynch has said.

The general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union told ministers that worker representatives should be able to seek injunctions against companies they believe are breaking the law.

Speaking to the Employment Rights Bill committee alongside business groups and other union leaders, Mr Lynch said: We have got to have the power as trade unions, as representatives of the workers, to intervene where we know theyre [employers] breaking the law.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

They can injunct me personally, they can injunct my trade union, they can close us down for making clerical errors on ballots. And they will do it, if they get any chance.

We get no power to injunct them on behalf of our members it seems, so I think that needs to be considered.

Mr Lynch was giving evidence on the Employment Rights Bill, which hands significant new powers to workers and unions at the expense of companies. Despite this, the union boss argued the legislation did not go far enough.

He said the new Fair Work Agency, which will oversee the Governments package of employment reforms, should be at the level of injunction to stop these rogues getting away with it in the future.

He highlighted P&O Ferries sudden mass sacking of 800 staff in 2022 as an example of a decision that unions would have sought to block had they had adequate protections.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr Lynch said: Wed like to see the power for unions to get redress  injunctive power against people like P&O.

We were told that if we took action against P&O we could be liable for all of their revenue loss for every day of their trading, which could have been up to 15-20m a day  thats impossible for workers and their organisations to take forward.

Ms Rayner has previously said her employment rights bill would prevent another P&O Ferries scandal, describing the ferry operators decision to replace 800 staff with lower paid agency workers as outrageous.

Sir Keir Starmer was forced to distance himself from comments made by Louise Haigh, the Transport Secretary, last month after she called P&O Ferries a rogue operator, prompting a row with its owner DP World over a 1bn port expansion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mr Lynchs call for even greater union power comes despite business leaders warning about the cost and burden of Labours existing plans, which have been spearheaded by Ms Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC), an independent body tasked with scrutinising whether policy decisions are based on accurate evidence, this week found that impact assessments of the bill were not fit for purpose.

The Government wants to allow unions to be able to bargain with employers even if just 2pc of staff are members. It also wants to ditch a 40pc turnout requirement for ballots, meaning unionised workers could go on strike even if less than half of members back action.

Jane Gratton, the deputy director for policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, told the committee that making it easier for unions to call strike action doesnt mean the union is representative of the workforce and it doesnt improve the relationship with the employers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

From our members point of view, it simply makes it easier to reach an end point that nobody wants, she said, adding: We dont think there should be any change to union access or ballot thresholds.

Andrew Griffith, the shadow business secretary, warns Labour to rethink the workers rights overhaul - Yui Mok/PA

Andrew Griffith, the shadow business secretary, said: Labours union paymasters are licking their lips at the prospect of these measures becoming the law.

They will hand massive powers to the unions, making it easier for them to hold organisations and their consumers to ransom and take us back to the 1970s.

Everyone will pay the price of these extreme laws through higher prices, more strikes and job losses. Labour must think again.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Paul Nowak, the general secretary of the Trade Union Congress, told ministers it was very likely that Britain will see increased unionisation as a result of the bill.

Ministers were warned on Tuesday that the reforms could backfire and make companies less likely to take on new staff.

Alex Hall-Chen, the head of policy at the Institute of Directors, said companies would be much less likely to take a risk on a borderline candidate because the cost of getting a hire wrong would be far greater than it is now.

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.
ATLANTA  As she checked into a recent flight to Mexico for vacation, Teja Smith chuckled at the idea of joining another Womens March on Washington.

As a Black woman, she just couldnt see herself helping to replicate the largest act of resistance against then-President Donald Trumps first term in January 2017. Even in an election this year where Trump questioned his opponents race, held rallies featuring racist insults and falsely claimed Black migrants in Ohio were eating their neighbors pets, he didn't just win a second term. He became the first Republican in two decades to clinch the popular vote, although by a small margin.

Its like the people have spoken and this is what America looks like, said Smith, the Los Angeles-based founder of the advocacy social media agency, Get Social. And theres not too much more fighting that youre going to be able to do without losing your own sanity.

After Trump was declared the winner over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, many politically engaged Black women said they were so dismayed by the outcome that they were reassessing  but not completely abandoning  their enthusiasm for electoral politics and movement organizing.

Black women often carry much of the work of getting out the vote in their communities. They had vigorously supported the historic candidacy of Harris, who would have been the first woman of Black and South Asian descent to win the presidency.

Harris' loss spurred a wave of Black women across social media resolving to prioritize themselves, before giving so much to a country that over and over has shown its indifference to their concerns.

AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters, found that 6 in 10 Black women said the future of democracy in the United States was the single most important factor for their vote this year, a higher share than for other demographic groups. But now, with Trump set to return to office in two months, some Black women are renewing calls to emphasize rest, focus on mental health and become more selective about what fight they lend their organizing power to.

America is going to have to save herself, said LaTosha Brown, co-founder of the national voting rights group Black Voters Matter.

She compared Black womens presence in social justice movements as core strategists and core organizers to the North Star, known as the most consistent and dependable star in the galaxy because of its seemingly fixed position in the sky. People can rely on Black women to lead change, Brown said, but the next four years will look different.

Thats not a herculean task thats for us. We dont want that title.  I have no goals to be a martyr for a nation that cares nothing about me, she said.

AP VoteCast paints a clear picture of Black women's concerns.

Black female voters were most likely to say that democracy was the single most important factor for their vote, compared to other motivators such as high prices or abortion. More than 7 in 10 Black female voters said they were very concerned that electing Trump would lead the nation toward authoritarianism, while only about 2 in 10 said this about Harris.

About 9 in 10 Black female voters supported Harris in 2024, according to AP VoteCast, similar to the share that backed Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. Trump received support from more than half of white voters, who made up the vast majority of his coalition in both years.

Like voters overall, Black women were most likely to say the economy and jobs were the most important issues facing the country, with about one-third saying that. But they were more likely than many other groups to say that abortion and racism were the top issues, and much less likely than other groups to say immigration was the top issue.

Despite those concerns, which were well-voiced by Black women throughout the campaign, increased support from young men of color and white women helped expand Trumps lead and secured his victory.

Politically engaged Black women said they dont plan to continue positioning themselves in the vertebrae of the backbone of Americas democracy. The growing movement prompting Black women to withdraw is a shift from history, where they are often present and at the forefront of political and social change.

One of the earliest examples is the womens suffrage movement that led to ratification in 1920 of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which gave women the right to vote. Black women, however, were prevented from voting for decades afterward because of Jim Crow-era literacy tests, poll taxes and laws that blocked the grandchildren of slaves from voting. Most Black women couldnt vote until the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Black women were among the organizers and counted among the marchers brutalized on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama, during the historic march in 1965 from Selma to Montgomery that preceded federal legislation. Decades later, Black women were prominent organizers of the Black Lives Matter movement in response to the deaths of Black Americans at the hands of police and vigilantes.

In his 2024 campaign, Trump called for leveraging federal money to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs in government and discussions of race, gender or sexual orientation in schools. His rhetoric on immigration, including false claims that Black Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating cats and dogs, drove support for his plan to deport millions of people.

Tenita Taylor, a Black resident of Atlanta who supported Trump this year, said she was initially excited about Harris candidacy. But after thinking about how high her grocery bills have been, she feels that voting for Trump in hopes of finally getting lower prices was a form of self-prioritization.

People say, Well, thats selfish, it was gonna be better for the greater good,''' she said. Im a mother of five kids.  The things that (Democrats) do either affect the rich or the poor.
Is US military ready for war under Trump presidency?

(NewsNation)  Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., is concerned about military readiness in the United States.

Youre either fit to deploy and do your job, or were gonna find someone thats willing to do the hard work being physically fit, Issa said during a Monday appearance on NewsNations On Balance. Its hard because America is overweight.

Issa stated, If we take people who are ready to serve, well be fine. He also highlighted the need for reform in military procurement, noting, We can do the military procurement better. But were only going to do it by recognizing that business as usual isnt going to work. And Ill tell you, Trump is very fortunate that hes had eight years looking at this system.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

How could Trump influence military policies?

One of the top Pentagon leaders for personnel said a recruitment crisis is the biggest challenge the military has faced since its inception.

Challenges have included a low unemployment rate, competition from private companies that can offer better pay and benefits and the eligible publics fewer ties to friends and family members who have served.

Before this past cycle, the Army fell short of its recruitment goals for two consecutive years, including a 25% shortfall in 2022.

New enlistments have also declined. 2023 saw about 30,000 fewer enlistees than 2019.



We need to remain cautiously optimistic about the future recruiting operations as we continue to recruit in a market that has low youth propensity to serve, limited familiarity with military opportunities, a competitive labor market and a declining eligibility among young adults, Director of Military Accession Policy Katie Helland said in an official statement.

Trump may renew a ban on transgender service members

President-elect Donald Trumps upcoming inauguration in January could mean some changes for the United States military.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Among those possible changes is a renewed ban on transgender service members. Trump announced the ban during his first term but President Joe Biden lifted that restriction.

Other possible changes under Trump

Another policy thats potentially on the chopping block provides paid leave and reimbursements for service members who travel to another state for an abortion.

The U.S. military implemented that policy last year. The Defense Department says it was used 12 times across all military branches from June to December, costing $45,000.

Trump pledges Mexico, Canada, China tariffs over border, fentanyl

Trump has also pushed to cut back on what he considers wasteful government spending, which could potentially lead to cuts in defense spending.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The official 2024 Republican platform includes plans to invest in military research and advanced technology and supports higher pay for troops.

NewsNations Tom Dempsey 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.
The US Justice Department on Monday moved to drop the two major federal criminal cases against Donald Trump, marking a major success for the former president shortly before he returns to the White House.

US special counsel Jack Smith, who has been leading the two federal cases against the president-elect, filed a motion to dismiss the case against Trump in Washington over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

The motion was swiftly granted by the presiding judge.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Smith also withdrew his appeal against the dismissal of a criminal case in Florida in which Trump was accused of illegally storing classified documents from his term in office at his private Mar-a-Lago resort.

Smith justified the move by citing Justice Department policy that the United States does not investigate sitting presidents.

Trump's spokesman Steven Cheung called the end of the proceedings "a major victory for the rule of law" in a statement, again describing the cases as "unconstitutional."

"The American People and President Trump want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system," Cheung wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Smith had already revised the indictment for the election interference case over the summer, following the Supreme Court's ruling to grant US presidents broad immunity for official acts.

If convicted in that case, the former president would have faced decades in prison.

However, as the proceedings were at federal level, Trump would have likely halted them after taking office on January 20.

It was initially unclear whether the proceedings are to be resumed after his second term is over, but experts consider it possible that the Republican could pardon himself once in office.

In the motion to dismiss the case, Smith wrote: "The Government's position on the merits of the defendant's prosecution has not changed. But the circumstances have." He emphasized that the decision was not based on the merits of the prosecution, which he said "the Government stands fully behind."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Smith still intends to proceed with the cases against two of Trump's co-defendants in the documents case - the former president's assistant Walt Nauta and lawyer Carlos De Oliveira.

Trump was criminally charged several times after his first term in office. In addition to the proceedings in Washington and Florida, he was found guilty in a hush money trial at the state level in New York, but sentencing in that case was postponed indefinitely last week.

Further proceedings in Georgia are also currently paralysed due to legal manoeuvring.

Trump is scheduled to be inaugurated on January 20 after winning the presidential election against Democrat Kamala Harris at the beginning of November.
Israel has agreed on a cease-fire deal aimed at ending nearly 14 months of fighting with Hezbollah.

The cease-fire is expected to begin Wednesday morning local time and stop the fighting in Lebanon.

The much-sought-after deal does not put an end to Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza.

Israel and Lebanon have agreed on a cease-fire to end nearly 14 months of devastating fighting between the Israeli military and Hezbollah, President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday.

Speaking from the White House, Biden said Israeli and Lebanese leadership have accepted a proposal to end the conflict between Israel and its bitter enemy, the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Biden said the cease-fire, designed to permanently end fighting across the Israel-Lebanon border, will take effect at 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday. The agreement does not stop the conflict in Gaza.

The deal will see Israel's military gradually withdraw from Lebanon over a 60-day period while Hezbollah moves its forces north and the Lebanese army deploys to the south. The White House said it will help ensure that the arrangement is fully enforced.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the country's security cabinet had approved the US-backed cease-fire arrangement in Lebanon. In a statement, the office said, "Israel appreciates the US contribution to the process, and maintains its right to act against any threat to its security."

Netanyahu outlined several reasons for the cease-fire in a televised speech earlier. He said Israel needs to "focus on the Iranian threat," give its forces a break from fighting in Lebanon, replenish stockpiles of weapons and munitions, and isolate Hamas in Gaza.

Smoke billows above Beirut's southern suburbs following an Israeli airstrike on November 26. Israel and Hezbollah have fought against each other for nearly 14 months. Fadel ITANI/AFP

The Israeli leader said his country maintains "full freedom of military action" and will attack Hezbollah if it violates the agreement or gives any indication that it is preparing to carry out a new assault.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shortly after Netanyahu's speech, the Israel Defense Forces said it struck several Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, including in the capital, Beirut, in what is likely a last-ditch effort to degrade the militant group before fighting stops.

Earlier Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed several people and wounded dozens more.

Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, began attacking Israel in solidarity with Hamas shortly after the latter carried out its October 7, 2023, massacre. Fighting between the two enemies has steadily escalated and has displaced tens of thousands of people in northern Israel and southern Lebanon.

Israel dramatically increased the military pressure on Hezbollah in September by targeting the militant group in Beirut with airstrikes and killing its senior leadership. At the end of the month, Israeli forces launched a ground invasion into Lebanon  its first in nearly 20 years.

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has raged in the weeks since, leaving thousands of people dead across Lebanon.

Read the original article on Business Insider
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that the United States will ensure Ukraine has everything it needs to "fight effectively in 2025".

Source: Blinken's statement following a meeting with G7 foreign ministers in Italy, as reported by European Pravda, citing Sky News

Details: Blinken emphasised that the G7 and its partners are "determined" to ensure Ukraine has the financial resources, ammunition, and manpower required to effectively combat Russian aggression or negotiate peace from a position of strength in 2025.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He highlighted the US's ongoing efforts to enhance security assistance aimed at bolstering Ukraine's defences in the east.

Blinken also expressed "great concern" among G7 members over Russia's deployment of North Korean troops in its war against Ukraine.

Quote: "The reality is that Ukraine is fighting for us. It is not only fighting for itself; it is fighting for us."

He added that the reason "so many countries are committed to Ukraines defence" is that "the aggression carried out by Russia is not just aimed at Ukraine".

"This is aggression against the very principles that are in the heart of the international system, which are necessary for trying to maintain peace and stability," Blinken concluded.

Background:

During the Ukraine-NATO Council meeting at the ambassadorial level on 26 November, the parties discussed Russia's recent launch of an experimental medium-range ballistic missile targeting Dnipro.

Recently, John Kirby, Strategic Communications Coordinator for the US National Security Council, confirmed that Ukraine has used ATACMS long-range missiles against targets on Russian territory.

Support UP or become our patron!
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT)  Graduating seniors at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (MSMS) have been offered full-tuition academic scholarships over four years to the University of Southern Mississippi (USM).

The announcement was made November 19 during a ceremony held at the MSMS campus in Columbus, where 117 students in the graduating Class of 2025 were presented with tuition scholarship certificates.

MUW, MC partner for accelerated law degree program

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These students, who will graduate from MSMS in May, will receive an eight-semester award for full tuition, with a requirement that they enroll for the fall of 2025.

The MSMS consistently produces high-ability graduates with bright futures, said USM President Dr. Joe Paul. They have shown maturity and grit by going away to high school to seek the very best education available and in the process, have learned how to do college. They are students with big goals, and the passion and persistence to pursue them. We want students like this at Southern Miss, and I look forward to welcoming them this fall.

MSMS is the states only public, residential high schoolwith an emphasis in science, technology, engineering, and mathematicsspecifically designed to meet the needs of Mississippis most academically gifted students in grades 11 and 12.

Close

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily News

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV.
President-elect Donald Trump increased his vote share in Utah by over 5% in the days following election night, according to final results, giving him his biggest winning margin ever in the state.

The state board of canvassers, including State Auditor John Dougall, State Treasurer Marlo Oaks and Attorney General Sean Reyes certified statewide and multi county election returns from the 2024 general election on Monday.

Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, whose office oversees Utah elections, conducted the meeting while her director of elections, Ryan Cowley, presented vote totals and winners of the states major general election races to the board.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Utahs final election figures show the state is as Republican as ever, even as the Republican Party was somewhat split in the gubernatorial race, with Phil Lyman winning over 13% of the vote as a write-in candidate.

Trump secures biggest win ever in Utah

The presidential race was called in Utah when Trump led with 54% of the vote on election night, Nov. 5. Based on these initial results, Utah was reported as being one of only two states in the country that did not shift toward Trump from 2020 to 2024.

But as counties updated their vote totals, it became clear that Utah had actually delivered Trump his biggest winning margin in the state ever, with an increase of more than 1 percentage point from four years earlier.

Trump secured the Beehive States six electoral college votes with 883,818 votes to Vice President Kamala Harris 562,566, beating his Democratic opponent by 21.6 percentage points with 59.4% of the vote, compared to his 20.5-point win in 2020 with 58.2% of the vote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

While the state as a whole shifted a darker shade of red this year, a majority of Utah counties, including Davis and Utah counties, saw Trumps support shrink slightly relative to his Democratic opponent from 2020 to 2024, bucking national trends.

Trump was outperformed among Utah voters by most other statewide and congressional Republicans, including Sen.-elect John Curtis, who received 62.5%, Rep. Blake Moore, of Utahs 1st Congressional District, who received 63.1%, Rep.-elect Mike Kennedy, of Utahs 3rd District, who received 66.4%, and Rep. Burgess Owens, of Utahs 4th District, who received 63.4% of the vote.

Utah Director of Elections Ryan Cowley, left, responds to questions by concerned citizen Fred Hayes, right, after a State Board of Canvassers meeting at the Utah State Capitol Complex in Salt Lake City on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

Cox wins by large margin, Lyman receives write-in support

Rep. Celeste Maloy, of Utahs 2nd District, slightly underperformed Trump, receiving 58%, while Utah Gov. Spencer Cox underperformed Trump by 6.5 percentage points statewide with unsuccessful GOP primary candidate Phil Lyman running as a write-in candidate.

On election night, the race for Utah governor was called in Coxs favor with Cox leading with 56% of the vote, to Democrat Brian Kings 31.4% and Lymans 8%. As counties updated their election results over the following days Lymans vote share slowly increased. Then, over the last week, Lymans share of the vote jumped to 13.6% as Utah County uploaded its write-in results.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The final results for Utahs gubernatorial race show Cox with 52.9% of the vote, totaling 781,431 votes; King with 28.5%, totaling 420,514 votes; and Lyman with 13.6%, totaling 200,551 votes.

Natalie Clawson, Lymans running mate, told the Deseret News, the results of this election show there is a significant number of people in Utah who support Phil and my efforts to protect conservative values, and bolster election integrity and transparency.

During an event on Friday, Lyman told supporters he plans to run for governor again in 2028, as reported by the Daily Herald.

Gabi Finlayson, Kings campaign manager and a senior partner at the Democrat-leaning Elevate Strategies, said Lymans relative success as a write-in candidate points to division within the Utah Republican Party that Democrats can exploit to shift the state their way.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Governor Cox may have won reelection, but his lackluster performance in critical areas and the unexpected surge in support for Phil Lyman show that the GOPs grip on our state is starting to slip, Finlayson said. We remain hopeful for a future where Utahs government is balanced, representative, and focused on getting back on track  free from corruption and cronyism.

When asked for a comment, the Cox campaign referred back to the governors statements on election night where he said the results put an exclamation point on the work his administration had accomplished in his first term.

Why do Utah elections take a long time to count?

When asked why Lymans vote share increased from around 8% to over 13% multiple weeks after the election, state elections director Ryan Cowley said Utah County delayed updating its write-in ballot totals while every other county had updated most of theirs on election night.

Utah County Clerk Aaron Davidson told the Deseret News that the ballot tabulation software used by the county, ES&S, requires election workers to adjudicate all ambiguous ballots before they can move on to assigning write-in ballots to candidates.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As the second largest county in the state, Davidson said he and his employees were unable to assign the write-in ballots to Lyman until they had completed all of their adjudications. The states largest county, Salt Lake County, uses Dominion machines and likely does not encounter that same problem, Davidson said.

No state finalizes its election results on election night. But many observers noted how in the 2024 election Utah lagged behind the rest of the country in uploading vote totals. Only California appeared slower in updating its election results on Election Day and the days that followed.

Utah Director of Elections Ryan Cowley reads off election results during a State Board of Canvassers meeting at the Utah State Capitol Complex in Salt Lake City on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

Following the canvass on Monday, Cowley said that 96% of ballots had been counted by the Friday after the general election. Some of the delay came from the large number of provisional ballots this year, Cowley explained. Provisional ballots are the ballots cast by previously unregistered voters in-person on Election Day.

If an individual fails to meet the deadline for online voter registration in Utah, they can register in-person at a voting center on Election Day if they fill out a provisional ballot. However, these ballots require election workers to go through additional voter registration information, sometimes in difficult-to-read handwriting, before the ballots can be counted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2024, there was 85.3% turnout of registered voters, Henderson shared on Monday. Of these, 87% chose to return mail-in ballots via the postal service or drop boxes. Of the remaining voters who chose to vote in-person, 3% voted through provisional ballots, Henderson said.

Davidson also pointed to the states paper provisional ballot process as something that slows down vote counting. Davidsons Utah County office received over 11,300 provisional ballots on Election Day, he said. Davidson called for an online pre-registration process to save election workers time going through voter registration forms on Election Day.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has thrown his support behind President-elect Donald Trumps policies on illegal immigration, announcing on Tuesday a targeted effort by the Utah Department of Public Safety and the Utah Department of Corrections.

The effort will reportedly enhance coordination between federal, state, and city agencies to help identify, jail, and deport illegal immigrants who have committed crimes and been deemed to pose a threat to public safety.

When it comes to immigration policy, the safety of Utah residents is my top priority, said Gov. Cox. Utah will continue to welcome refugees and immigrants who enter the country lawfully, and we will continue pushing for reforms to the asylum process and for more visas to support our workforce needs. We have zero tolerance, however, for those who demonstrate a threat to public safety while in the country illegally.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to Gov. Coxs office, illegal immigrants make up over 4% of Utahs prison population, reportedly costing the state $16 million per year. Utah authorities reportedly already turned over a large number of convicted illegal immigrants for deportation.

LDS Church reaches agreement with Texas town over proposed temple

However, Coxs office says states need more federal assistance to hold illegal immigrants who have been arrested and held in county jails accountable.

Utahns shouldnt have to bear the substantial financial burdens or public safety impacts associated with individuals who are here illegally committing crime, said Brian Redd, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Corrections. As we develop more confidence in federal policy, it makes sense to be more aggressive in deporting those who commit crime and victimize our communities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On the other side of the aisle, Utahs Democratic leaders criticized Coxs initiative, saying it raises serious concerns about equating immigration with criminality.

While we want to hold criminals accountable and ensure public safety, this approach risks creating fear and misrepresenting undocumented individuals, many of whom contribute significantly to Utahs economy, culture, and workforce, Utah Senate Democratic Leader Luz Escamilla and House Democratic Leader Angela Romero said in a joint statement. In these conversations, we must distinguish between those who commit crimes and those seeking better lives for themselves and their families.

Utahs Democratic leadership said policies should build trust between law enforcement and the immigrant community. Escamilla and Romero said a law enforcement approach overlooked the need for comprehensive solutions that address the roots of crime, using poverty, addiction, and mental health challenges as examples.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Gov. Spencer Cox at his monthly news conference in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 19, 2024. (Pool photo by Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune)

Utah is gearing up to assist the incoming Trump administrations plan to ramp up deportations, with Gov. Spencer Cox on Tuesday announcing a set of priorities to identify, incarcerate and deport undocumented migrants in Utah who have committed crimes.

Immigration was central to President-elect Donald Trumps campaign rhetoric and in the weeks since his victory, policies are starting to take shape.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

That could include plans to use National Guard troops to help with deporations, build or expand existing detention facilities, reinstate the program known colloquially as remain in Mexico, which required asylum seekers to stay in Mexico until their U.S. court date, and scaling back humanitarian parole and other visa programs, according to CNN.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Trumps immigration policies will also likely lean on state and local governments for enforcement, Stateline reports. Cox on Tuesday signaled his willingness to help.

Were grateful to have an administration coming in who will take these problems seriously, Cox said in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a news release, the governors office highlighted several priorities:

Identify undocumented immigrants in the criminal justice system.

Train and provide guidance to local and state authorities so they can better identify and turn over undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

Work with the states newly created fentanyl task force to identify long-term solutions to stop undocumented immigrants engaged in drug trafficking.

Work with the Utah Legislature on a variety of policy enhancements associated with criminal behavior by illegal immigrants.

Work with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to identify undocumented migrants in the criminal justice system and reduce unreasonable federal regulations and detention standards that interfere with the ability to house criminal detainees.

Cox said the state would continue to welcome refugees and legal immigrants, while advocating for immigration reforms, including increasing visas.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We have zero tolerance, however, for those who demonstrate a threat to public safety while in the country illegally. Federal immigration authorities have failed in their duty to the American people and theyve left states and localities to independently manage the fallout of those failures, Cox said.

The announcement drew swift condemnation from the Utah Legislatures top Democrats, who accused the governor of scapegoating undocumented communities and equating immigration with criminality.

While we all want to hold criminals accountable and ensure public safety, this approach risks creating fear and misrepresenting undocumented individuals, many of whom contribute significantly to Utahs economy, culture, and workforce. In these conversations, we must distinguish between those who commit crimes and those seeking better lives for themselves and their families, said Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla and House Minority Leader Angela Romero, both representing Salt Lake City.

Escamilla and Romero instead encouraged policies that build trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities to encourage victims to report crimes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A focus solely on enforcement overlooks the need for comprehensive solutions that protect public safety while respecting the rights and dignity of all Utahns, the statement reads. This includes humane comprehensive immigration policies and processes and addressing the root causes of crime  such as poverty, addiction, and mental health challenges  without unfairly targeting entire communities. Immigrants, regardless of status, deserve to feel safe and valued in Utah.

The nonprofit Comunidades Unidas, which advocates for immigrant rights and connects people to social service programs, echoed the sentiment from Escamilla and Romero, telling Utah News Dispatch in a statement that the governors rhetoric perpetuates stereotypes and generalizes immigrant communities.

Governor Coxs statements threaten to further marginalize and dehumanize the broader immigrant community, which is both unacceptable and inhumane, the group said on Tuesday, accusing the governor of spreading fear and division. Deportation does not equate to making our communities safer; instead, it undermines the very communities that Utah depends on to flourish.

Immigration has long been a part of Coxs rhetoric. The governor was a staunch advocate for admitting Afghans and Ukrainians migrants fleeing war, while urging the federal government to increase visas and streamline the current processes to make legal immigration easier. In 2023, he apologized after calling Congress imbeciles for their inability to pass immigration reform; in February, he visited the U.S.-Mexico border with 14 other GOP governors, and deployed the Utah National Guard to help Texas authorities; and in May he told reporters ICE should build a detention facility in Utah so the agency doesnt have to transport detained migrants to Las Vegas, which can create a backlog.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The governor recently announced a new task force aimed at curbing fentanyl distribution, a crisis he argued was fueled by the Biden administrations immigration policies. Nearly 90% of fentanyl seizures at the border happen at legal ports of entry and about 85% of convicted smugglers are U.S. citizens, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

That task force will now be used to help the federal government deport criminals in the state illegally, including members of a Venezuelan gang called Tren de Aragua that Coxs office said now has a presence in the state, engaging in drug trafficking, sextortion and other violent crimes.

After the governors announcement, House Majority Whip Karianne Lisonbee, R-Clearfield, said there will be immigration-focused legislation during the upcoming legislative session, hinting at a package of bills to support our local communities and address the public safety impacts of the southern border crisis on Utah.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The bill package will prevent future victims by working to stop human and drug trafficking and deter other criminal activity that endangers Utah residents, Lisonbee said in a statement posted to X.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
The University of Wisconsin-Madison rose in national rankings on federal research activity after slipping for nearly a decade.

The state flagship ranked No. 6 in research spending among more than 900 institutions, according to the latest figures released Nov. 25 by the National Science Foundation.

UW-Madison's research ranking has been a sore spot on campus since 2016, when the university fell out of the top five for the first time in nearly 45 years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We in Wisconsin cant claim were in the top five on many things, but this is one where weve consistently been able to demonstrate to the world that UW-Madison is a premier research institution," Mark Bugher, retired director of University Research Park and former secretary of administration under Gov. Tommy Thompson, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel at the time of the ranking drop. "To lose that distinction is unacceptable, in my opinion."

The university dropped to eighth in 2018. UW-Madison officials attributed the drops to state budget cuts and the loss of senior faculty members.

The rankings may sound like simply bragging rights, but they are closely watched by those in academia. The higher a university ranks, the easier it is to attract top professors, build better facilities and compete for the biggest grants.

UW-Madison spent more than $1.7 billion in the 2023 fiscal year, a 14% increase from the previous year. Nearly half of the money comes from federal awards grants from agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

UW-Madison has been a research powerhouse for generations, UWMadison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin said in a statement. The rise in ranking and increased spending is "further evidence of our deep commitment to bringing incredible UWMadison expertise across disciplines to the grand challenges of our time and to translating our discoveries to improve lives at home in Wisconsin and beyond.

Five institutions spent more than UW-Madison in the most recent survey that covered the 2023 fiscal year: Johns Hopkins University, the University of California-San Francisco, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan and the University of Washington.

Contact Kelly Meyerhofer at kmeyerhofer@gannett.com or 414-223-5168. Follow her on X (Twitter) at @KellyMeyerhofer.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: University of Wisconsin rises up in national research rankings
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  A Virginia Beach man who was previously imprisoned for a bomb plot at Landstown High School is going back to prison for possession of child sexual abuse material.

Convicted Virginia Beach school bomb plotter released from prison

On Nov. 26, Philip Charles Bay, 33, was sentenced to serve 100 years in prison with 80 years suspended, leaving a total time served of 20 years, for charges of possession of child pornographyfirst offense and 19 subsequent counts of possession of child pornography.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to a release, in October 2022, Synchronoss Technologies, Inc., a cloud-based storage site for Verizon Wireless customers, submitted 13 reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) of a user uploading child sexual abuse material on their account.

Man found guilty of child sex abuse material possession in VB

After an investigation, 120,000 images were found from the account connected to Bays phone number, 33 of which depicted child sex abuse. Bays drivers license, social security card and a resume were also found within the images.

Bay was arrested on June 22, 2023, after several investigators conducted surveillance at Bays house between April and June.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Bay has previous convictions related to plot to bomb Landstown High School in 2009, including possession of a sawed-off shotgun, possession of a firebomb and possession of a weapon of terrorism with intent to terrorize.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
1700 Year-old Assyrian Church Desecrated in Turkey

An interior view of the historic Mor Yuhanna Church in Mardin, southeastern Turkiye, May 6, 2023. A yoga session held at the 1,700-year-old Mor Yuhanna Syriac Church in southeastern Turkiye's Mardin has sparked backlash from members of the Syriac community. The session, organized by a Turkish yoga instructor, drew criticism after its images were shared on social media.

Seda Deliormanl, who led the session in the church, apologized following the reactions, emphasizing that she had obtained all necessary permissions beforehand. "I sincerely apologize to the Mor Yuhanna Church and anyone I may have offended. If I had anticipated that even one person would be disturbed by the brief yoga session, I would have never done it," she said in her statement.

The yoga session, which took place in the Syriac village of Dereici, also known as Kllt, was initially permitted by the church officials, who reportedly misunderstood Deliormanl's request to meditate as a form of prayer.

The social media post from Deliormanl, captioned "Incredible," quickly attracted negative comments, with many questioning the appropriateness of conducting a yoga session in a sacred place. Deliormanl responded, assuring the public, "I would never disrespect any faith, value or culture. The event was inspired by experiences from religious sites abroad, and I deeply regret any unintended offense caused."

The incident has sparked a broader discussion about cultural sensitivity and respect for sacred spaces.

The church, which has been registered as a cultural asset by the Culture and Tourism Ministry, is one of the oldest churches in Turkiye, with a history spanning over 1,700 years.

This historical and cultural monument is deeply revered by the Syriac Christian community, serving not only as a place of worship but also as a significant symbol of their heritage.

It consists of two separate rooms and worship areas, as well as the tombs of three priests and three tunnels.
UPDATE (3 p.m.): Officials with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency shared that Interstate 65 in Conecuh County is reopened after a vehicle fire on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for ALEA said, The roadway is now open and, the scene is clear.

ORIGINAL STORY:

CONECUH COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG)  Drivers traveling in Conecuh County may experience some delays and closures as a commercial motor vehicle is on fire on Interstate 65, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

ALEA troopers said the commercial vehicle fire happened around 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday in the right southbound lane of Interstate 65 near the 85-mile marker.

1 dead after Monday morning crash involving dump truck in Baldwin County, witness says

The vehicle fire has caused a roadway blockage, according to officials.

The right southbound lane of Interstate 65 near the 85-mile marker, in Conecuh County, is currently blocked and will be for an undetermined amount of time, the ALEA release said.

Troopers with the ALEA Highway Patrol Division are monitoring 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 WKRG News 5.
RAY COUNTY, Mo.  Two Venezuelan nationals were arrested in Kirkwood, Missouri, after they were accused of using card skimmers at ATMs across Missouri and Kansas.

According to court documents, Darwin G. Moreno-Conde, 24, and Yorbin Y. Allen-Hernandez, 44, were arrested on November 15 at the Kirkwood Police Department and taken to Ray County jail for allegedly using a skimmer at Bank Midwest in Richmond, Missouri.

Bank Midwest received several reports of fradulent activity at their ATM, and their fraud department found the skimmers were being placed on ATMs along Interstate 70.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The skimmers were confirmed to have been used at the banks ATMs located in OFallon and throughout the St. Louis area. Fraudulent transactions were also reported to have occurred at a Phillips 66 in St. Charles at 3601 Harry Truman Blvd. and another Phillips 66 in St. Louis at 100 Lake St. Louis Blvd.

Moreno-Conde and Hernandezs vehicle were caught on camera via the ATMs surveillance video, and Hernandezs ID was connected to the vehicle, leading to their arrest.

Moreno-Conde was charged with stealing and first-degree property damage to a teller machine. Both are being held with a $250,000 cash-only bond. Moreno-Conde is scheduled for an initial court appearance on November 26.

Hernandez has been ordered to be deported by an immigration judge in Detroit, Michigan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
VERMILION PARISH, La. (KLFY)  Vermilion Parish School District celebrates a win by maintaining its A District status, leading Acadiana in school performance by being the only A District in the area.

Vermilion Parish Superintendent Tommy Byler said there are 11 A Districts in Louisiana and being one of the districts is exciting and a huge accomplishment.

Every year about this time, the school performance scores come out. We were right there on the bubble. We werent sure if wed remain in A or not. We were very excited. I mean, its the hard work of our teachers and students and the support of our stakeholders, Byler said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

KLFY Daily Digest

The school performance score is a combination of various tests, such as the LEAP test, how much students improve each year, and how students score on the ACT, among other things.

We tell people all the time, kids are more than a score but when you do get that score, the result of the hard work is exciting, he said.

We teach more than just the test but when it all comes to fruition and the kids see success and all of our schools can celebrate that, thats always a big thing for us and were excited as a district to keep moving forward and to lead the Acadiana area for the 12th year in a row. Were excited, Byler continued.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Twelve of 20 schools improved in performance, including Eaton Park Elementary, Cecil Picard and Meaux Elementary.

Erath High ranked No. 4, North Vermilion High ranked No. 7 and Kaplan High ranked No. 8, which were three of the parishs five high schools in the top 10 of traditional schools.

This story continues below the image.

Byler said traditional high schools means you take everybody who walks into the front door.

Its not a magnet school. Its not a not a program to early college academies. Therefore it was a huge achievement, Byler said, although they saw a slight drop in their score, which was disappointing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It actually did drop a little bit, not because of the academics and testing. We had a couple of areas where some graduation rates werent as high as we normally used to and some other things and people dont realize that happens,  he said.

Youre recovering from COVID. I mean, last years graduating class was the group of freshmen when COVID started. So, you know, we lost a lot of kids and lost track of some kids. So all those factors together, he continued.

He said the 2025-2026 school year will begin with a new accountability system, which is different from their current system.

You wont see as many A districts, you wont see as many A schools and thats part of the reason Bese Board changes and so we want to go out with a bang on this accountability system before we start working on the new accountability system for 25, 26, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were going to continue doing what we do. We feel like we have a strong curriculum process in place. Our leaders need to transform that information to our teachers. Our teachers need to transform it to our students, he continued.

Latest News

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.
VICKSBURG, Miss. (WJTV)  A Vicksburg man was sentenced for a crash that killed two people in Warren County.

Vicksburg Daily News reported Baron Meeks, 32, was sentenced to 25 years with 15 years to serve in the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC).

One injured in shooting on Cliffwood Drive in Jackson

Meeks pled guilty to two counts of aggravated DUI last week.

The crash happened on Halls Ferry Road in April 2023. Investigators said Meeks vehicle collided head-on with another vehicle, driven by 48-year-old Jeffery D. Harris.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Harris died in the crash. The passenger in Harris vehicle, 55-year-old Dwayne L. Williams, was transported to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson. Williams died several days later due to his injuries.

Meeks turned himself in to authorities a few months after the crash occurred.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily News

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV.
HARTFORD, CT. (WWLP)  A vigil will be held in Hartford on Tuesday to remember the young mother and her four-month-old baby from Springfield who were murdered in a triple shooting last week.

Thanksgiving travel season being at Bradley International Airport

The group Mothers Unite Against Violence will host the vigil at 6:00 p.m. at 380 New Britain Avenue in Hartford.

Jessiah Mercado, 20, and her four-month-old baby Messiah Diaz were shot last Tuesday at around 2:47 p.m. on New Britain Avenue in Hartford in Mercados car when someone pulled up next to them and opened fire, according to the Hartford Police Department.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The suspect has been identified as 23-year-old Lance Morales aka Macho from Waterbury, Connecticut and police believe the motive was a dispute over a vehicle. He is being charged with murder in their deaths. He was arrested over the weekend in Puerto Rico and will be extradited to Connecticut.

Lance Morales (Hartford Police Department)

The state Department of Children and Families said Messiah Diaz was in foster care in Massachusetts at the time of Tuesdays shooting. In a statement to 22News, a DCF spokesperson said DCF is investigating this tragic situation and working in collaboration with law enforcement.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
The Vigo County Education Foundation awarded $40,061 in school-wide grants to 17 schools Friday during its semiannual Business and Bagels event.

Sponsored by Labor Link, the event celebrated educational excellence and highlighted VCEFs commitment to enriching educational opportunities for Vigo County students

The grants will fund a range of initiatives, including author visits, theater productions, literacy programs, enriching field trips, and academic and attendance incentives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Each program is designed to enhance learning experiences and foster a love of education among students across the district, according to a VCEF news release.

During the event, the Leadership Giving Award was presented to Indiana State University President Mike Godard on behalf of the university. Godard spoke about the meaningful collaborations between ISU, the Vigo County School Corp. and the foundation.

ISUs unwavering commitment to the growth and development of our educational community is a shining example of what it means to be a true leader in giving and service, said Alex Allen-Hodge, VCEF board president.

Several notable projects received special recognition during the event:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

* Elanco Clinton Laboratories sponsored Bens Book Vending Machine Continues to Change Lives, One Book at a Time at Franklin Elementary; Book Nook at Sugar Grove Elementary; and Feeling Sensate-tional at Hoosier Prairie Elementary.

* Thom and Cathy Foster of Foster Wealth Management sponsored A.C.E.D. (Attendance Counts Every Day) at Lost Creek Elementary.

* The Larry Paul Fleschner Foundation funded Ouabache Elementarys musical, Ouabache is Tiggerific.

* A fund created by Alternatives for Living and Learning supported Booker T. Washingtons Social Emotional Learning Beyond our Four Walls initiative.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since 1984, the VCEF has awarded over $3.7 million to schools and programs within the Vigo County School Corp.

This incredible milestone reflects the generosity of our communitys businesses and individuals and their shared belief in providing the best educational opportunities for our students, said Jane Templeton Nichols, VCEF executive director. The VCEF is grateful and proud of this support.

For more information about the VCEF and its programs, visit www.vigocountyeducationfoundation.org
The operator of Vilnius Airport in Lithuania closed the runway for an hour on Tuesday as part of the investigation into the crash of a DHL cargo plane the previous day.

Police used drones to film the area where the plane crashed.

An airport representative confirmed to dpa that the closure had begun as planned at 10 am (0800 GMT). The time period was chosen because it would have the least impact on flight operations, with three or four flights affected and cancelled, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The aircraft belonging to Spain's Swift Air, which was flying from the eastern German city of Leipzig to Vilnius on behalf of German logistics giant DHL, crashed near Vilnius Airport early Monday morning, just next to a residential building. One person was killed.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has called for an end to speculation about the cause of the crash.

The suspicion of a possible act of sabotage should not be overemphasized, Nauseda told Lithuanian radio on Tuesday morning, but at the same time, he said, it could not yet be ruled out.

"Of course there is a possibility of sabotage, we cannot rule it out. Therefore, this is being investigated with all seriousness," said the Lithuanian president.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Lithuanian authorities are leading the investigation, in which German experts are also involved.

According to police chief Arunas Paulauskas, the circumstances of the accident showed that the incident was probably not caused by an external influence.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  Every January, city officials and volunteers trek through Virginia Beach in search of unhoused people. It is called a Point-in-Time Count, and it aims to provide a snapshot of unhoused people in the city.

Because Virginia Beach received federal funding for homelessness programs, it is required to conduct the Point-in-Time Count each year. The city uses the count to learn how many people are homeless, where they are located, how they became homeless and what services they need.

Ahead of the 2025 Point-in-Time Count, city officials want to know where Virginia Beach residents have seen people living without shelter. Signs to look out for are personal belongings left behind, a structure resembling a bed or seeing a person there on multiple occasions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To report where you have seen people living unsheltered, complete the survey on SpeakUpVB.com. The survey closes on Dec 1.

If you would like to volunteer to help with the count, it will be from 3:30 to 7 a.m. on Jan. 23. Volunteers will find unhoused people, and hand out information on resources and hygiene kits. You must be at least 18 years old and attend one of the training sessions to volunteer.

To volunteer for the count, you have to sign up online.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)  The Virginia NWTF State Chapter is providing funds to enhance wildlife enforcement across the state of Virginia.

The Virginia NWTF State Chapter is providing $68,000 to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Law Enforcement Division to allow officers to obtain QuietKat e-bikes, Flock Falcon Flex surveillance cameras, and other cutting-edge equipment to patrol and monitor the states landscape.

Funding will aid Virginias four patrol regions with two QuietKat e-bikes and multiple Flock Falcon Flex cameras. This will enhance VDWRs enforcement in combatting turkey poaching and other violations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Limited patrol hours have made it difficult for officers to detect and find violates, and the funding will allow officers to be provided with tools to work against the challenges.

DWR warns of increase of Bird Flu in Virginias bird population

Enforcement of game and access laws goes hand in hand with other conservation practices, said Cully McCurdy, NWTF district biologist for Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. Kudos to the NWTF volunteers in Virginia for supporting the Law Enforcement Sections effort to protect our natural resources in the state.

E-bike training will be provided by the manufacturer to provide skills and how to operate the e-bikes.

Photo Credit: Stephen Ritchie, Virginia DWR Photo Credit: Stephen Ritchie, Virginia DWR Photo Credit: Stephen Ritchie, Virginia DWR

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and the National Wild Turkey Federation have maintained a longstanding partnership with a shared mission of enhancing and protecting wildlife habitats and populations, said Major Ryan Shuler, who oversees all law enforcement operations for VDWR. This most recent investment in our law enforcement operations by the NWTF will further our ability to enhance resource protection by apprehending those who violate our wildlife laws in the Commonwealth. The Flock camera systems serve as a force multiplier by constantly monitoring an area when a conservation police officer is not available. The QuietKat E-bikes will be instrumental in allowing our officers to patrol vast areas more quickly and quietly, while also leaving behind a minimal physical and carbon footprint. We are very grateful to the National Wild Turkey Federation for their investment in our Law Enforcement Division and look forward to putting this equipment to work for wildlife for years to come.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

With the partnership, VDWRs Law Enforcement Division will gain resources to protect Virginias wildlife.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Police in Montgomery County said the woman killed in a single-car crash last week was from Reston, Va.

The woman, identified as 42-year-old Alyssa Marie Clark, was driving a blue 2007 Toyota Camry on Nov. 21 just after 10:30 p.m. in the Darnestown Road and Bondy Lane area when she crashed.

First responders from the Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) and the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service responded to the 13300 block of Darnestown Road.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Alleged drunk driver arrested for crash that killed WSSC Water employee in Montgomery County

During the investigation, MCPD determined that Clark was driving westbound on Darnestown Road when her car left the road and crashed into a utility pole.

MCPD said the crash is still under investigation and anyone with information is asked to call (240) 773-6620.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  New Mexico authorities have worked to recover human skeletal remains and personal items from one site in the desert west of Santa Teresa, which volunteer group Battalion Search and Rescue (BSAR) said is one of over 20 sites they have discovered and reported on multiple occasions to the Dona Ana County Sheriffs Office (DASO) with nothing being done.

Just over a week ago, volunteers of Armadillos Search and Rescue (ASR), a humanitarian group based in San Diego, California, that supports migrants and does similar work to BSAR, flew into El Paso to observe one of the sites BSAR had reported.

During the morning of Nov. 17, Cesar Ortigoza  a co-founder of ASR  said he and other volunteers walked approximately 3 miles into the desert to the site, where they were able to observe the same remains and personal items our KTSM crews captured back in September.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ortigoza said they made the trip after James Holeman from BSAR told him that they had found an identification card by the remains, which seemed to match the description of a woman ASR had listed as a missing person.

So we went out there and we happened to find the IDs, the birth certificate and some clothing that she was wearing when she was coming through the desert, Ortigoza said. Her sister told us that when Ada Guadalupe was crossing she was wearing Adidas pants.

Courtesy: Armadillos Search and Rescue

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

ASR had listed Ada Guadalupe Lopez Montoya, a migrant from El Salvador, as a missing person through their social media platforms since the summer of 2023, when they began helping her family try to locate her.

Courtesy: Armadillos Search and Rescue

Lopez Montoyas family informed them that she last communicated with them on June 27, 2023, as she crossed the border through Ciudad Juarez en route to El Paso.

Ortigoza said he and other ASR volunteers arrived at the site at approximately 10:30 a.m., and reported it to local authorities at around 11 a.m.

He said that a deputy from DASO arrived at the scene about an hour and a half later who informed them that they would have officers from the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI) en route in approximately an hour and a half.

It was not until eight hours after they reported the remains to police, at approximately 7 p.m., that authorities arrived at the scene to recover the remains, Ortigoza said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We wanted to make sure that the remains didnt just stay there. We wanted to make sure they were picked up, Ortigoza said. This lady, the last time her family knew about her, was back in June 2023. So if the remains belong to her, she has been there almost one year and a half. Its been a long time for her family to be waiting for her.

During an interview with KTSM earlier this month, Dona Ana County Sheriff Kim Stewart responded to the allegations that her office was ignoring the multiple reports of these sites.

Stewart said at the time that they were not going to take these reports very seriously if BSAR volunteers were not going to wait at the sites for her deputies to respond, and that her office did not have the requisite resources to attend to all the reports.

KTSM reached back out to Stewart to inquire if her office would reconsider changing their approach if the remains recovered by the OMI do in fact lead to identifying the missing woman.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We do respond when we have specific (information) to find bones or body parts, ID, etc. Bear in mind, they are usually decomposed. Sometimes, our detectives cant go out for a while and if the parts have been there for weeks or months or years, not much is going to change in a few hours. You said we responded, but it took several hours. If we are talking about other groups calling in coordinates, that is a hit-or-miss effort at best. I have 16 detectives and 3,800 square miles and 125,000 people to serve. How should we handle it differently, do you think? Stewart said.

Any investigation into the remains that were recovered over a week ago now lands in the hands of the OMI since it was not reported as a crime, Stewart said.

This info is in possession of OMI. There is a process through the State Department to report back to the presumed country of origin as to their citizens remains being discovered in the U.S. Absent evidence of any crime, other than federal crimes, we would not continue any investigation in matters like this, Stewart said.

Now that they wait for the OMI to conduct their work, Ortigoza said he is hopeful that if in fact the remains do belong to Lopez Montoya, that it can bring her family closure.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I know nobody wants to hear that their family members passed. But if its her, I hope she goes back home. And she can finally rest in peace. And then she gets out of this in a decent place so their family can go out there and at least, bring some flowers and talk to her,  Ortigoza said.

KTSM submitted a records request to the OMI to confirm if the remains they recovered match the Salvadoran woman.

We will update this story as soon as we receive a response.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
CHICAGO  A majority of Chicagoans believe Mayor Brandon Johnson is being irresponsible and uncollaborative in the ongoing budget talks, according to the findings of a public opinion poll commissioned by a group of the citys alders.

The 14 City Council members shared details of their findings in a Monday letter to the mayor that carried the subject line: Spirit of Collaboration.

The members say that roughly one in six Chicagoans believe the mayor is taking a collaborative approach this budget season and that it would be his fault if no budget deal is reached. They also cite the unpopularity of Johnsons latest proposal to raise property taxes by $150 million.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We know there are many ways we can collaborate and approve a budget that works for all Chicagoans, they wrote. We stand ready to tackle this critical task head-on with solutions and ideas that we know will be supported by our residents.

Deeply concerned: Mayors budget risks compliance with CPD consent decree

Chicago mayor proposes lower property tax hike after first effort killed by City Council

Budget officials: Mayors plan to balance budget with property tax increase prudent

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th Ward) said voters are watching and want to see collaboration, leadership and results.

There will be consequences to be had for anyone who doesnt meet that mark right now, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Mayor Johnson insists hes taken a collaborative approach and has been holding briefings with groups of alders, at one point calling himself the collaborator-in-chief, but Lopez said thats not true.

One briefing, he told WGN. And that was after we shot down the property tax.

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th Ward)

The 14 alders, who call themselves the Group of 14, said theyre working on a list of cuts they expect to release Tuesday.

Also from the poll: concern among Chicagoans that the city is spending too little on mental health services, homelessness, education and health care.

As the mayor and council do battle, outside experts urge a balanced approach with a mix of cuts and new revenue to close the nearly $1B budget deficit.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We cant cut our way out of it. We also cant tax our way out of it, either. On both sides of the equation, were in a tough place because since the work wasnt done over the course of the past year, we have really limited options, said Joe Ferguson with The Civic Federation.

Meanwhile, the city will need to find a way to pay for one reversal of proposed cuts to the city budget. Johnson announced Monday that he was restoring 162 police department positions responsible for enforcing the consent decree. The mayor had faced harsh backlash for slashing the vacancies to save money.

The City Council has until the end of the year to approve a budget for 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 WGN-TV.
Members of the Washington Public Employees Association voted down a tentative agreement containing the state's last, best offer. Members may have to go without a wage hike for a year absent a new deal (Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard)

A 5,000-member public employee union in Washington that overwhelmingly rejected a new two-year contract in September is accusing the governors office and several community colleges of bad-faith bargaining.

The Washington Public Employees Association filed a lawsuit on Friday alleging the state Office of Financial Management engaged in unfair labor practices by refusing to resume bargaining on a full, two-year deal. Gov. Jay Inslee, in his official capacity, and 11 community colleges are also named as defendants. The contract now in place expires next June.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The suit reveals the contention between the union and the state since association members voted down the contract offer, largely because they considered the states proposed 5% pay hike inadequate to keep pace with rising costs of food, housing and health care.

By law, the union had to approve a new contract by Oct. 1 for Inslee to include money to pay for it in the two-year budget he will propose in December. Inslee was not involved in the negotiations.

In the lawsuit, the union asserts that the Office of Financial Management, which conducts contract talks on behalf of the state and the colleges, is still required to negotiate a full two-year contract.

But the Office of Financial Management disagrees. It contends that as a result of the vote the provisions in the existing contract  and no raises  are in effect for one year beginning July 1, 2025. Any negotiations would be on an agreement for the second year beginning July 1, 2026.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Association attorney Kathleen Phair Barnard said state negotiators have repeatedly mischaracterized the implications of the Oct. 1 deadline to coerce employees to accept subpar contracts.

This lawsuit is not just about missed deadlines, she said in a statement. Its about the states duty to bargain in good faith and to respect the democratic decision of our membership.

Michaela Doelman, state chief human resources officer, said the department could not comment directly on the legal action. She noted in an email that the state reached agreements with all of the other unions with whom we bargain, either through bargaining or arbitration  27 agreements in all.

In search of deal

The Washington Public Employees Association represents workers at 13 community colleges and nine state agencies. Among them are the Department of Natural Resources, Department of Revenue, the Liquor and Cannabis Board and Department of Agriculture.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Employees, by rejecting the tentative agreement Sept. 30, put themselves in a position union leaders described as uncharted territory.

Union negotiators sought to immediately restart talks, figuring if a new agreement was negotiated and ratified, they would lobby the Legislature and the next governor to fund it in the 2025 legislative session. Initially, the state didnt want to start up again until February, according to the lawsuit.

Gina Comeau, the states chief labor negotiator, said the state would meet for a limited number of sessions with the Washington Public Employees Association in December and January  though not the quantity sought by the union. She rebutted assertions from the union that the state sought to limit the scope of negotiations, according to email excerpts cited in the suit.

Bargaining sessions are planned Dec. 4 and 17, Doelman said.

We have communicated on numerous occasions our willingness to consider all proposals the [union] has to present to us and stand ready to bargain, Doelman said.
WAGENER, S.C. (WJBF)- NewsChannel 6 continues to follow the ongoing situation in Wagener, South Carolina.

Last weekend, 19 firefighters resigned from their positions, with two more doing the same at last Mondays town council meeting.

We caught up with the Mayor Mike Miller as he was fixing a water leak.

Its a small issue he says is nothing compared to the bigger problems facing him and the town.

Most of all our troubles started in January. The medical center shut down, and now the fire department, said Miller.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This was sparked by a 4-page resignation letter sent to the mayor and city council by former Fire Chief Tillman Rushtona letter Miller claims is fake.

Ive approached people that know what theyre doing about the letter, and they said it was mostly A-I generated, and I know who was behind it, Miller said. The truth will come out, and I dont hate women. I love my mother, and where that came fromonly God knows.

In the letter, one of the first reasons Rushton says he resigned is because of poor financial management.

Its the same reason that former Councilwoman Taylor Wooten called it quits last December, along with lack of support and mistreatment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In response to this accusation, the mayor points to the financial issues within city leadership.

Weve gone through this before, said Miller. Is there something in the past? I think yes, there probably is. But a small town is intermeshedI dont even have an office. We lost our town hall to a hurricane. I gave my old grandfathers house to the town, they remodeled it, and thats what theyre in now. Whoever has done wrong, if theyve done wrongmyself includedthey need to pay the penalty.

Rushtons frustration with city leadership was the resounding reason that led to his resignation.

In that portion of the letter, the former Fire Chief claims Miller has a history of misogynistic hostility, particularly involving the closing of the Wagener Medical Center earlier this year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to Rushton, several reports came to him about Miller exhibiting threatening behavior to former medical center employees, which lead to those employees resigning as well.

He mentions another situation that reportedly happened just two weeks ago, when Miller verbally attacked a female firefighter for cleaning the towns cemetery.

When asked if he hates women or is misogynistic, the mayor denied all accusations.

Instead, he pointed to negativity he claims has come to city council since Councilwoman Nyia Adams stepped into her role in January 2024, after serving as town clerk in Salley, South Carolina.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Since the new council member took office, there has been nothing but negativity. Everythings wrong, nothings going right. Since she came to Wagener, Ive heard many, many people say from Salley various complaints, and were seeing the same thing here, said Miller.

He claims hes working to get the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to investigate assault in the situationthe same department that investigated him for nearly 2 years.

I plan on going forward to explore my options, and some of the options may be of a criminal nature, the mayor added.

Then last Tuesday, Aiken County Council voted unanimously to terminate the contract between the fire department and the town.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Miller says he was blindsided by the decision.

They told me that there would be no vote, and would only be a discussion in executive session. Theyve done it before. Its politically motivated primarily by one of our state representatives, and a close ally here in town, the mayor said.

To add to the chaos, a structure fire destroying a nearby mobile home late last week, just days after losing his entire fire department.

The mayor says despite what it looks like, its not a coincidence.

I dont think it was a coincidence at all. Immediately, I learned it was a space heater that ignited the fire, and I feel bad for her, he added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As for concerns from other town residents, the mayor says he plans to address them one-by-one, but believes some (in the form of emails) have also been generated by Artificial Intelligence.

I dont know what prompted this, said Miller. We had to do this, we had to do that, and he hates womenits very similar to many of the emails that myself and other council members have been getting since January. Theyre probably A-I letters using Google.

He says he plans to go as far as asking everyone involved to take a lie detector test to uncover the truth.

I am going to ask all of the council members and the former fire department members to volunteer for a polygraph. I know a polygraph is not admissible in court, but it works pretty wellIve seen them work. The SLED agents have told me from the onset to not talk to anybody, and not to discuss it with anybody. Here Ive been going all these years, and Ive not been able to defend myself openly and in public. But thats all changedIm going to tell the truth, and Ill be the first one to sit down and do that polygraph test.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The mayor also confirmed that the town will get help from nearby fire departments in New Holland and Salley as this hiatus continues.

The town council have more discussions on that at their next meeting on Monday, December 2nd.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
For weeks, David Burke couldnt shake the haunting images of small mountain communities in western North Carolina unexpectedly pummeled by a historic storm.

He felt their suffering as if it were his own. Even though he was 300 miles away, he couldnt bear the thought of watching his home being swallowed by floodwaters, losing friends or family to a sudden disaster, or spending Thanksgiving alone, staring at an empty table that should have been surrounded by loved ones.

So the 59-year-old father of two quietly devised a plan.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He would make the six-hour drive down from Seaboard in northeastern North Carolina, where he lives, to Avery County with his family, a few friends and enough supplies to cook 1,000 meals they could distribute to people in need.

Then, his community got wind of the idea.

What was originally planned to be 1,000 meals turned into 5,000 and rather than carrying out his mission alone, Burke now has an army of more than 200 volunteers following him to Newland, to help feed victims of the storm who will not be able to have their own Thanksgiving celebration this year.

You would be amazed at just how many people have shown up here to come help this little old guy when all he really wanted to do was go out there and cook 1,000 meals and come home and nobody would ever know a thing about it, Burke told CNN. The experience has already has changed me, theres no question about it. It confirms for me any doubts I ever had in my own faith.

David Burke grilling pork for a Thanksgiving feast that will feed more than 5,000 people in North Carolina after storms devastated their communities. - Angie Acree and Michael Keeter

Bringing relief, one plate at a time

After Helene roared across the state, causing historic flooding, downing trees, snapping power lines, decimating water infrastructure and leading to the deaths of at least 42 people in Buncombe County alone, small towns and their neighbors in the countryside are still shaking off the shock of a storm they never thought could touch these mountains.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Helene hit western North Carolina as a tropical storm on September 27, dumping so much water over the southern Appalachians in three days, it became a catastrophic, once-in-1,000-year rainfall event for the region, the National Weather Service said. Many residents did not have power or clean water for up to seven weeks.

At a Sunday service just two days after the hurricane, Burke heard a sermon about community service. Moved by the message, the experienced cook resolved to bring a Thanksgiving miracle to some of the hardest-hit areas.

He would put together a feast of turkeys and hams, served alongside southern Thanksgiving classics like stew, collard greens, potatoes, dressing, cornbread and an assortment of homemade desserts.

Every plate would be filled to the brim, he decided.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ive seen the devastation these people have been faced with. We know that there are people still living in tents and trying to stay warm. People dont have anything. Some people had their homes being washed away in the river, and then theres so many people still missing in certain places, Burke said. What do you do about that? All we can do is go out there and do what we know to do and try to help people as much as we can.

The next day, as he scrolled through Facebook, he came across posts from fellow community members who were also interested in supporting the victims. Slowly, their efforts joined into one, and Operation Thanksgiving Blessings was born.

Every Sunday afternoon, they would meet and plan the next steps, including fundraising and collecting donated necessities like winter clothing, baby items, toiletries, first aid kits, and childrens toys, which are still being delivered to the victims.

Operation Thanksgiving Blessings volunteers stand in front of a truck filled with necessities donated to victims of the storm in North Carolina. - Angie Acree and Michael Keeter

The volunteers are neighbors from across eastern North Carolina, and more than $3,000 has been donated to the effort by supporters from all over the country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I have a better perspective that there is still good in the world, and that giving back is even more important than ever, Angie Wade Acree, one of the organizers of Operation Thanksgiving Blessings, told CNN.

Our hope and prayer is that people with will read the story and realize that they can step up and help people in their own community, and that it takes starting with your neighbors to help each other.

Volunteers began driving trucks full of food and supplies on Saturday to Cranberry Middle School in Newland, one of the most severely damaged areas, where they will begin preparations for Thanksgiving and will be cooking all throughout the night on Wednesday. Anyone who wants a meal will be able to come by the school to pick up food, and volunteers will be delivering meals to nursing homes and families who are unable to travel.

When Burke tries to speak about the emotional effect of the initiative, his voice trembles.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I cant talk to you much about that, he said, trying to hold back tears. I have seen a community of people come together for a common goal, just because they wanted to be a part of what we were doing, and that has just been overwhelming to me.

Locals help take care of their own

While support continues to come from beyond the mountains of western North Carolina, help is also happening close to home, as neighbors help neighbors get back on their feet.

In Asheville, North Carolina, local restaurants and nonprofits are banding together, ensuring everyone has a meal and a place to be on Thanksgiving.

Asheville was especially hard-hit by the storm. Many took refuge on roofs, even as some collapsed into the floodwaters. Roads and bridges crumbled. Helene turned their beloved city into a mess of sludge, floating debris and toppled vehicles. Officials described it as biblical devastation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The emotions are all over the place, Ben Williamson, executive director of the Asheville Poverty Initiative, said. Were thoroughly exhausted and shocked still. At times, you feel defeated and devastated and sad, because just moving around the county every day, youre just constantly reminded of the scale of the devastation.

View of the storm damage in Asheville, North Carolina from Hurricane Helene on November 21, 2024. - mpi34/MediaPunch/IPX/AP

The Asheville Poverty Initiative distributes about 12,000 pounds of food a month through its community cafe in the form of hot lunches and groceries. In addition to donating turkeys to families, the initiative hosts a sit-down dinner every Thanksgiving, which is anticipated to be particularly busy this year due to the increased need following the storm.

Were not going to make it through Helenes recovery, and I dont think were going to make it as a country moving forward, if were not connected, Williamson said. Each meal that we have at the cafe, and especially on Thanksgiving, the goal is to become more connected, to be a little bit closer as humans to each other.

Some restaurants in the area, such as the Blue Mountain Pizza and Brewery, are also hosting a free annual Thanksgiving dinner for anyone who doesnt have a place to go for the holiday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In previous years, about 400 people would show up. This year, they anticipate the number will double.

Its heartbreaking to see the destruction in our area, but the one bright light in all this is just seeing how well the community has come together, Blue Mountain Pizza and Brewery co-owner Stephen Hartsell said. With technology, you usually talk to people on the phone or through emails, but the face to face aspect of just seeing your neighbors and bringing everybody together has been incredible.

Before the storm, more than 30,000 people in Buncombe County were already struggling with food insecurity, according to Williamson, and Helene has only worsened an already challenging situation. Asheville also has the highest cost of living and the lowest wages on average in North Carolina, he said.

While the outpouring of love and support from both local neighbors and strangers like David Burke from hundreds of miles away has given a renewed sense of hope, there is also a lingering fear they may be forgotten.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As relief organizations start to peel off and leave, I think we will have an emerging crisis of poverty and food insecurity and homelessness that is on the horizon, Williamson said. The struggle to find basic needs and resources and housing and restrooms and water is something thats normal for a lot of the folks that we spend our days with.

The emergency of poverty existed long before Helene and will be here long after.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Walmart is cutting back its diversity programs after a conservative activist threatened to call a boycott days before Black Friday.

Robby Starbuck, a former music video director who campaigns against corporate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, said on Monday that he had persuaded the US retail giant to end a raft of "woke policies" such as providing racial equity training to its workers and funding anti-racist non-profits.

The company will review all funding for LGBT+ Pride events, remove all "transgender products" marketed to children from its stores, and stop participating in the Human Rights Council's LGBT+ equality index.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It will also stop using the terms "DEI" and "LatinX" in official communications and stop requiring its suppliers to provide "certain demographic data" as part of its supplier diversity program.

The Arkansas-based retailer will review grants to Pride events to make sure it is not financially supporting sexualized content targeting kids. For example, the company wants to makes sure a family pavilion is not next to a drag show at a Pride event, the company told the Associated Press. The company said it will no longer consider race and gender as a way to increase diversity when it offers supplier contracts.

It is only the latest big company to bow to similar pressure from Starbuck and other conservative activists, following Boeing, Harley Davidson, and tractor maker John Deere.

Harley Davidson has also distanced itself from DEI policies (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

A spokesperson for Walmart confirmed that it had made changes in a statement to The Independent, saying it was committed to being "a Walmart for everyone.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"This is the biggest win yet for our movement to end wokeness in corporate America," said Starbuck in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

"Companies can clearly see that America wants normalcy back. The era of wokeness is dying right in front of our eyes. The landscape of corporate America is quickly shifting to sanity and neutrality. We are now the trend, not the anomaly.

"We are winning, and one by one we WILL bring sanity back to corporate America."

Like many US corporations, Walmart  which is the country's biggest single employer with a workforce of around 2.1m  launched many new diversity programs in the wake of the George Floyd protests in May and June 2020.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But since then, Donald Trump and his supporters have made DEI initiatives a primary target, hoping to roll back corporate America's support for progressive causes.

"Shoppers have very few large retail brands they can spend money with who arent pushing woke policies," said Starbuck.

"Companies like Amazon and Target should be very nervous that their top competitor dropped woke policies first. I think Target specifically will suffer serious sales problems as a result and Walmart will benefit."

A Walmart spokesperson told Bloomberg News that it was already reviewing some of the programs named by Starbuck, including the supplier diversity program.

"Weve been on a journey and know we arent perfect, but every decision comes from a place of wanting to foster a sense of belonging, to open doors to opportunities for all our associates, customers and suppliers and to be a Walmart for everyone," a spokesperson told The Independent.
Walmart is scaling back some of its DEI efforts.

The company was under pressure from anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck.

A spokesperson said some of the changes had been in the works for a long time.

Walmart is the latest American company to reverse some of its diversity, equity, and inclusion or DEI initiatives.

Robby Starbuck, an anti-DEI activist, said in an Instagram post Monday that Walmart agreed to a list of changes, including not extending its nonprofit Center for Racial Equity and eliminating the use of the terms "DEI" and "Latinx" from its official communications.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A spokesperson for the company confirmed the changes to Business Insider. They noted several changes had been in the works for a long time.

The company said in a statement it was "willing to change alongside our associates and customers who represent all of America."

"We've been on a journey and know we aren't perfect, but every decision comes from a place of wanting to foster a sense of belonging, to open doors to opportunities for all our associates, customers and suppliers and to be a Walmart for everyone," the statement said.

Walmart established the Center for Racial Equity in 2020 with $100 million in funding for five years, and the spokesperson said the company was fulfilling that commitment but not renewing it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Some of the other changes included ending preferential treatment to suppliers based on diversity, such as those primarily owned by women, minorities, veterans, or members of the LGBTQ community; discontinuing racial equity training through the Racial Equity Institute; and no longer sharing company data with the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy group.

The company will also stop selling some LGBTQ-related products sold by third parties on its website marketed to children, like some books and chest binders, the spokesperson said.

Walmart is not the first company to roll back DEI initiatives, nor is it the first to be scrutinized by Starbuck.

Ford, John Deere, Tractor Supply Company, Molson Coors, Lowe's, and Harley-Davidson are among the US companies that have backed down on DEI.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Starbuck did not respond to a request for comment from BI.

In his Instagram post, Starbuck said Walmart reached out to him after it found out he was looking into the company. He said he and Walmart had "productive conversations to find solutions."

"No retail company wants a story about them from us ahead of Black Friday," he told The Wall Street Journal.

Read the original article on Business Insider
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KNWA/KFTA)  A jury in California found Walmart defamed a truck driver with false claims of workers compensation fraud and will have to pay the former worker more than $34 million in damages.

The San Bernardino County jury awarded Jesus Jesse Fonseca $25 million in punitive damages and an additional $9.7 million for future non-economic losses on November 20, which included enjoyment of life and mental suffering.

Fonsecas attorneys said the jury found Walmart falsely accused him of violating the companys integrity policy under its statement of ethics, CBS News reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fonseca worked for Walmart for 14 years before he was fired, his lawyer David deRubertis said in a post on X after the verdict was announced.

We believe the evidence at trial showed that Walmarts defamation of Jesse was part of a broader scheme to use false accusations to force injured truckers back to work prematurely or, if not, terminate them so that Walmart can cut down workers compensation costs, deRubertis said.

Fonseca was injured in an accident when a semi-truck collided with his Walmart truck in June 2017, according to the lawsuit.

Walmart executive says some prices might rise if Trumps tariffs take effect

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

After the accident, he filed a workers compensation claim and was told by doctors to refrain from pushing, pulling or lifting anything over 10 pounds and to stop driving commercial vehicles.

The lawsuit, filed on March 28, 2019, alleged Walmart failed to accommodate those restrictions.

Fonseca was placed on medical leave but was eventually terminated after the company surveilled him and found he had driven his personal vehicle. He said that he was only restricted from driving commercial vehicles.

Walmart also said it saw Fonseca bending for a matter of minutes, according to deRubertis.

The notion that someone possibly performing daily activities outside of their work restrictions amounts to fraud is preposterous, the complaint said. Yet, even if an employee with work restrictions inadvertently violates them, this does not amount to fraud in the workplace.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Walmart called the verdict outrageous in a statement to KNWA/FOX24.

This outrageous verdict simply does not reflect the straightforward and uncontested facts of this case. Accordingly, we will pursue all available remedies, a spokesperson for the retail giant 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 KNWA FOX24.
Walmart has become the latest company to make changes to its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, known as DEI.

The nation's largest private employer also said it would not renew a racial equity center it created following the 2020 murder of George Floyd.

Company DEI initiatives have come under attack by conservative activists, according to The Associated Press.

The company also said it would no longer participate in an annual benchmark index from LGBTQ+ advocacy group the Human Rights Campaign.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Here's what you should know about the company's actions.

What did Walmart have to say about the DEI changes?

"Weve been on a journey and know we arent perfect, but every decision comes from a place of wanting to foster a sense of belonging, to open doors to opportunities for all our associates, customers and suppliers and to be a Walmart for everyone," the company said in an emailed statement.

Walmart rolls back DEI. What does that mean?

Corporate diversity efforts have faced growing scrutiny in the courts and in statehouses across the country as right-wing foundations, think tanks and political operatives push race-neutral policies.

In 2023, the Supreme Court banned the consideration of race in higher education, which prompted more attacks on workplace programs

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Public sentiment also has shifted. Consumer boycotts that slashed sales forced some brands like Bud Light and Target to retreat from marketing campaigns to the LGBTQ+ community. Major brands like Ford and Lowes have abandoned initiatives and overhauled teams.

What is DEI?

DEI stands for diversity, equity and inclusion.

In education, DEI typically refers to strategies, policies and practices that provide all students equal access to educational opportunities, regardless of their background, identity or abilities.

 What is DEI? DeSantis' new law defunds DEI programs in Florida state universities

When put into practice, implementing DEI strategies in education can include updating a curriculum to reflect diverse perspectives, providing teachers with training on bias and cultural competency and making efforts to increase diversity among staff. Creating an educational environment where all students can succeed is the overall goal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Proponents say DEI programs help companies hire and retain diverse talent and create environments that boost innovation.

Walmart DEI policies

"The changes, confirmed by Walmart on Monday, are sweeping and include everything from not renewing a five-year commitment for an equity racial center set up in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd, to pulling out of a prominent gay rights index," according to the Associated Press.

"And when it comes to race or gender, Walmart wont be giving priority treatment to suppliers."

The Associated Press also reported Walmart said it will better monitor third-party items to make sure they don't feature sexual and transgender products aimed at minors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer will also be reviewing grants to Pride events to make sure it is not financially supporting sexualized content that may be unsuitable for kids," according to NPR.

Walmart's Culture, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, 2020 report

In May 2021, Walmart posted on its website its 2020 Culture, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report "that details our progress to create greater racial equity across society and in our company."

Who is George Floyd?

George Floyd was killed in May 2020 while in the custody of Minneapolis police officers. A viral video of Floyd's death sparked outrage and protests across the nation.

After Floyd's murder, businesses pledged to make their workforces and their leadership better reflect the communities they serve.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Employees of color are underrepresented at every level of power in corporate America, according to USA TODAY data investigations. One analysis in 2023 found that white men account for 7 in 10 executive officers in the nations largest companies. About 1 in 7 of these companies had executive teams made up only of white men.

What time does Walmart open?

Most Walmart stores open at 6 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. but check your local store.

How many Walmart stores are there in Florida?

Walmart's "footprint" in Florida:

Supercenters: 232

Neighborhood markets: 98

Discount stores: 9

Sam's Club: 46

Fulfillment centers: 2

Distribution centers: 9

Number of Florida "associates": 118,696

Average wage: $18.71

Is Walmart open on Thanksgiving Day?

No. Walmart stores will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

What time does Walmart open on Black Friday?

Walmart will open at 6 a.m. on Black Friday.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Walmart rolls back DEI policies implemented after George Floyd death
"Wokeness" killers claimed Walmart as their latest victim.

Walmart agreed to roll back its key diversity, equity and inclusion programs, focused on racial equity and reporting progress on LGBTQ+ rights.

The nation's largest private employer caved to political pressure from Middle Tennessee conservative activist and former congressional candidate Robby Starbuck who has hunted and shamed big targets via social media campaigns including Tractor Supply and Harley-Davidson. By all measures, he has been highly successful at scaring executives into abandoning principles they once claimed essential to a productive, profitable and healthy environment for stakeholders, customers and employees.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Fear is at the heart of these decisions. Boycotts could lead to lower profits which could lead to layoffs which could lead to closing their doors and losing out to competitors.

It did not have to be this way though. These companies could have been more transparent about why they adopted these programs in the first place. They could have chosen to adapt them to reflect data-informed changes in consumer habits and social attitudes.

Instead, these decisions create the impression that they will sway the way the political winds go rather than sticking to their moral compass.

MASSIVE news: Walmart is ending their woke policies. I can now exclusively tell you whats changing and how it happened.



Last week I told execs at @Walmart that I was doing a story on wokeness there. Instead we had productive conversations to find solutions.



Below are the pic.twitter.com/BD02xJQ0X2  Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) November 25, 2024

Promises of equity after George Floyd's murder were short-lived

As a leader of The Tennessean's DEI task force and a longtime recruiter for our parent company Gannett, I have seen the value of working to reflect the whole community in our coverage and in our newsrooms.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

These efforts build bridges, connect citizens and lead to greater understanding among community members. Employees feel seen and heard in the workplace through equity policies and employee resources groups. Community members feel represented in coverage. It is ongoing work that requires careful attention and nurturing to be sustainable.

Unfortunately, the U.S. has a history of discriminatory laws that kept certain people from being able to participate fully and equally in society because of their race, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, social class and other factors.

In our 248-year-old history as a nation, it's only been 60 years since the Civil Rights Act passed, and yet our nation is still fight about who gets access to housing, bathrooms and educational opportunities.

The murder of George Floyd on Memorial Day 2020 sparked a national awakening, black boxes on social media to signify solidarity and protests for racial equity and justice, but it was short-lived. Then, the pendulum swung hard and the pushback began.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The pushback manifested itself in school library book bans, prohibitions on health care for trans youth, and the end of affirmative action in college admissions thanks to a Supreme Court ruling.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti used the court's decision as the rationale for telling corporate executives that race-based employment practices were unconstitutional. Never mind that the ruling narrowly focused on higher education not corporate America.

Companies have reopened the door to discrimination

This latest pendulum swing indicates that Americans will never be ready for a reckoning that addresses the mistakes of the past from slavery to segregation.

However, short of that, companies like Walmart should be intentional about creating experiences that are respectful to all they serve. This is not a political consideration; this is about creating a pro-human healthy environment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The pity is rather than being a check on overzealous polices, the anti-woke movement has given license to discriminate.

Indexes on LGBTQ+ inclusion and racial equity programs were meant to show a public commitment to being better employers.

Will employees now be afraid to report harassment, insults or abuse? Will they fear losing opportunities because someone is uncomfortable with their particular background?

America is taking a big step back. This doesn't have to happen. We should learn from what works and doesn't, and adapt correctly while moving forward.

David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. He is an editorial board member of The Tennessean. He hosts the Tennessee Voices videocast and curates the Tennessee Voices and Latino Tennessee Voices newsletters. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@tennessean.com or find him on X at @davidplazas.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Walmart DEI policies shouldnt have been destroyed | Opinion
Walmart's decision to roll back some of its diversity, equity and inclusion policies nationwide is designed to "ensure every customer, every associate" feels welcome and like they belong, according to John Furner, president and CEO of Walmart U.S.

"Like many companies all across the United States, we've been on a journey and we continue to be on a journey. And what we're trying to do is to ensure that every customer, every associate feels welcome here to shop. And to feel like they belong," Furner said in response to questions about the DEI policy decision in an exclusive interview Tuesday with "CBS Mornings."

The changes, confirmed by Walmart on Monday after Wall Street Journal earlier reported on them, represent the end of a five-year commitment for an equity racial center set up after the police killing of George Floyd, as well as the retailer's decision to phase out the term DEI. Walmart will also no longer give priority treatment to suppliers based on race or gender diversity and will halt sellers from listing some transgender-related or themed items on the website.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Furner said Walmart is undergoing the changes to help foster inclusion.

"We're going to continue to make the best decisions we can that makes everyone  our customers, our associates  feel like this is an environment they can shop in and thrive in," he said.

Even so, Walmart's decision comes amid growing pressure from conservatives to halt corporate DEI policies, which ramped up after the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in June 2023 ending affirmative action in college admissions. Some conservative groups have filed lawsuits making similar arguments about corporations, targeting workplace DEI initiatives as well as hiring practices that give boosts to historically marginalized groups.

Other corporations that have recently backed away from DEI policies include Ford, Lowe's, Tractor Supply and Harley-Davidson.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When asked if diversity among suppliers remains important to Walmart, Furner turned the focus to small businesses and small suppliers.

"We'll continue to do the things we can do to ensure small suppliers have a path to be successful," he said, noting that Walmart started in 1962 as a single store in Rogers, Arkansas.

Walmart is also committed to selling American-made goods, which make up about two-thirds of what the company sells, Furner said, adding, "We're going to continue to lean into ensuring that we provide the very best pathways for small businesses, our supplies to be successful here in the store."

How Walmart's preparing for Trump's proposed tariffs

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Walmart will be ready for President-elect Donald Trump's new trade policies, as the retailer's products are mostly made within the U.S., Furner said. Even so, he acknowledged customers may see some impact on prices.

On Monday, Trump doubled down on his campaign promise, threatening to impose sweeping new tariffs on imported goods from Mexico, Canada and China  America's top three suppliers, according to the most recent Census data  as one of his "many first Executive Orders."

Trump said he plans to add a 25% tariff on all Mexican and Canadian goods, as well as an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports, which he described as part of his crackdown on drugs and immigration. He said the tariffs would stand "until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country! "

"We'll adjust to any environment. We've been in an environment with tariffs now for the last seven years," Furner said, adding that they have a team of people who are responsible for managing changes in trade policy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Furner said Walmart will do everything possible  between the suppliers and supply chain  to keep prices low and help people save money.

"We're going to focus on products and values," Furner said, noting the company continues to monitor and evaluate the incoming Trump administration's potential plans.

Trump's "border czar" Tom Homan wants deportations to start on day one

How airlines are handling Thanksgiving travel

Why Trump wants to tariff goods from Canada, China and Mexico
Local and federal agencies are seeking information on two people who were observed and photographed defacing ancient petroglyphs at a cultural site in Kane County, Utah.

The Bureau of Land Management has offered a $1,000 reward as authorities investigate the incident that occurred Saturday near the confluence of Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch, a remote area near the Utah-Arizona border, KSL TV reported.

Investigators are currently looking for the persons pictured in the attached photos for questioning, the Kane County Sheriffs Office stated on Facebook on Sunday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

On November 23, 2024, the Kane County Sheriffs Office received a report that the individuals in the photoswere observed defacing ancient petroglyphs.

One of the persons appear to be carving something into the canyon wall.

From KSL TV:

Buckskin Gulch features about 16 miles of unique formations and undulating sandstone walls within the northwest boundary of the scenic Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, as noted by the Bureau of Land Management. Many centuries ago, Native Americans carved bighorn sheep, snakes and other symbols into the canyon walls there, as noted by Geotimes, which featured the area in 2004. These petroglyphs are why the area is a protected cultural site. Bureau officials on Monday began offering a reward for information leading to a successful prosecution in the case. Anyone with information about the incident or the two people photographed is encouraged to call the Kane County Sheriffs Office at 435-644-2668 or the BLM at either 435-644-1215 or 435-690-9573.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Harry Barber, District Manager for the Paria River District, told KUTV that this vandalism behavior is not normal.

This is unique and I do want to point that out, he said to KUTV. The area where this happened in Wire Pass is a popular area. These people were writing their names on the panel, whatever, and members of the public actually went to them and told them Hey, you shouldnt be doing this and these individuals blew them off and basically ignored those members of the public."

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Wanted: Tourists who thought it was OK to deface ancient petroglyphs
Utahs mountains received a nice coating of fresh powder over the weekend, but thats just the beginning as an even larger storm heads toward the state, potentially disrupting Thanksgiving holiday travel.

The National Weather Service issued a series of winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories across Utah's mountain ranges, where 1 to 2 feet of new snow is forecast by Wednesday evening. Some mountain ranges could receive closer to 3 feet of snow, while most valley communities will get rain.

"This is a really potent storm system," said KSL meteorologist Devan Masciulli. "It's going to bring a lot of moisture to Utah that will translate to some heavy valley rain and heavy mountain snow."

Storm timing

The storm that arrived in Utah over the weekend delivered about 7 inches of snow at the National Weather Service's Alta site on Sunday, while Salt Lake City got more than a quarter-inch of precipitation  some of which fell as snow.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But that was just the first wave of an atmospheric river coming from the Pacific Coast. The second wave  packing a strong punch  will make its way by Monday evening.

Moisture will begin to trickle into southwestern Utah, with possible showers in the afternoon, before more widespread showers impact the western half of the state Monday night.

Masciulli explains that higher terrain areas will likely receive rain and snow first, but valley communities will start to get heavier precipitation later in the night and into early Tuesday morning.

"That's when this band really begins to fill in, especially from central through northern Utah  heavy rain at times throughout the morning commute (and) heavy snow showers in our mountains," she said.

Good Monday morning! We have a pretty strong storm on the way tomorrow that will bring valley rain and mountain snow to the entire state. Here's the latest forecast! Stay safe if you plan on traveling ahead of the holiday! pic.twitter.com/iTCHPD4830  KSL Weather (@kslweather) November 25, 2024

Scattered showers, ranging in intensity, are forecast throughout Tuesday as the system fills in across the state. That will continue into Wednesday, impacting central and southern Utah more ahead of Thanksgiving.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The system is expected to clear up by the Thursday holiday.

Accumulation projections

The winter storm warning covers the central, southern, Wasatch, Wasatch Plateau/Book Cliffs and West Uinta ranges that fall under the National Weather Service Salt Lake City office's jurisdiction.

The agency says 1 to 2 feet is possible across the ranges between Monday and Wednesday evenings. The Tushar mountains and parts of the central mountains  areas expected to receive precipitation over the next three days  could receive closer to 3 feet of snow.

The agency also issued a winter weather advisory for the Castle Country region of central Utah, where places like Price, Emery and Castle Dale are forecast to receive 2 to 4 inches of snow  possibly even up to 6 inches  by noon Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Central Utah is the bullseye of this storm ... (but) it's a really good storm coming in for our ski resorts," Masciulli said.

While not included in the alerts, decent snow accumulation is also anticipated in the Wasatch Backcountry. Weather service models project Park City will receive 2 inches of snow, but there's a 10% chance it could get more. Masciulli said some parts of the backcountry could see 4 to 8 inches of new snow.

Some snowfall is possible  if not likely  across other communities, but the system is forecast to be warm enough that precipitation will fall as rain in most valley areas.

Masciulli said up to a quarter-inch or more of precipitation is forecast across the state, even up to 0.75 inches in parts of the Wasatch Front, northern Utah and southern Utah. Between rain and snow, over an inch of precipitation is possible across central Utah.

Storm impacts

This year's Thanksgiving holiday season is projected to break travel records, but the storm could impact some of that. AAA estimates Tuesday and Wednesday will generate the brunt of the pre-holiday travel, but Utah roads could be slick throughout Tuesday and, in some places, Wednesday morning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Utah Department of Transportation officials said drivers should prepare for delays of up to 20 minutes on southbound I-15 in Salt Lake County from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, just from holiday travel. Delays of 10 to 15 minutes are expected on I-15 Wednesday afternoon as well.

The weather service warns that travel through any high-elevation areas or mountain passes "could be very difficult at times." Traction laws could be enforced at times in those areas. Drivers are urged to slow down and pay attention to the conditions.

This map shows projected weather-related travel impacts in Utah from 6 p.m. Monday through noon Wednesday. | Utah Department of Transportation

UDOT also issued a travel alert from Monday evening through noon Wednesday, which encourages drivers to use "high caution" while traveling through most mountain routes because of "heavy mountain road snow" expected between late Monday and early Wednesday.

A section of I-70 east of its I-15 junction is included in UDOT's high-caution zones, while it says drivers should use "moderate caution" traveling on I-15 from Scipio to Cedar City, I-80 from eastern Salt Lake County to the Utah-Wyoming border and I-84 east of Weber County.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most of the Wasatch Front road snow is expected after a cold front arrives Tuesday evening, which is also by the time storms are expected to become more scattered in the region.

"While snow may not be widespread Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, at least areas of road slush will impact travel where temperatures are colder, particularly across higher bench routes and along I-15 in southern Utah," the agency wrote.

Airline officials said last week that storms in any part of the country could create longer-than-expected security lines because of potential delays, which could also happen as the system moves through the country this week.

Avalanche danger is currently low or nonexistent, but crews are gearing up for those conditions on the slopes. Utah Department of Transportation closed parts of Big Cottonwood Canyon Monday night through Tuesday morning for avalanche mitigation artillery testing.

The rest of the week

The holiday and travel afterward won't be as wet. Masciulli said cool and dry conditions are anticipated to set up by Thanksgiving.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Highs may only top out in the upper 30s and low 40s across the Wasatch Front on Thursday  and could remain in the low 30s across northern Utah. Temperatures are forecast to remain in the 50s near St. George. Similar conditions are expected to persist through the weekend.

Full seven-day forecasts for areas across Utah can be found online, at the KSL Weather Center.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz has said that Warsaw is planning to host the next meeting of the defence ministers of five countries to discuss support for Ukraine, similar to the one that just took place in Berlin.

Source: press service for the Polish Defence Ministry, reported by European Pravda

Details: Kosiniak-Kamysz noted that a meeting in this format could take place in Warsaw in early 2025.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Quote from Kosiniak-Kamysz: "We will meet in Poland early next year. This is a good place to discuss aid to Ukraine because this aid comes primarily through the territory of Poland. It's a good place to discuss the security of NATO's eastern flank and to increase defence spending  Poland already spends 4.2% of GDP."

Details: On Monday, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius hosted his counterparts from France, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom in Berlin. The meeting was held in a new format, which UK Defence Secretary John Healey called the E5.

All five ministers insisted on the need to continue providing military assistance to Ukraine. Healey even called for "doubling" support for Kyiv.

Background: The foreign ministers of Poland, the UK, France, Germany and Italy also recently met in Warsaw.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Following the meeting, the Polish foreign minister said that the largest EU countries are ready to provide financial and military assistance to Ukraine should the US cut its support under the new administration headed by Donald Trump.

Support UP or become our patron!
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A portion of a major road in Chula Vista is closed Monday after a water leak caused significant damage to the road late Sunday evening.

The City of Chula Vista and the Chula Vista Police Department put out a traffic alert Monday morning after a water leak around 10:30 p.m. Sunday caused major damage to Olympic Parkway at the intersection with Brandywine Avenue in Chula Vista.

Oceanside road partially closed due to sinkhole

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the police department, westbound Olympic Parkway is closed at Heritage Road Monday and isnt expected to reopen for at least another day, however they said the closure could last longer.

Water leak causes major damage to Chula Vista road, prompting closures (Photo: Chula Vista Police Department)

City of Chula Vista Public Works was at the scene Monday morning.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Nov. 25WATERFORD  Four people were displaced from their home Monday afternoon after a kitchen fire, officials said.

Firefighters were dispatched at approximately 2:39 p.m. to 19 Ellen Ward Road for a report of smoke coming from the eaves of the raised ranch, Oswegatchie Fire Company Chief Chris Paffias said.

He said the fire was extinguished within 10 minutes.

Four residents were able to escape with their cat. There were no injuries and the fire marshal's office is investigating the cause of the blaze, Paffias said.

He said the Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents. In addition to Waterford, firefighters from New London and Poquonnock Bridge departments responded.
Reporters have long sought Milwaukee County's closely-guarded list of law enforcement officers with a history of dishonesty, bias or past crimes.

Its known as the Brady list, and for years, the Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office resisted efforts to release the full list publicly.

But after pressure from local news organizations, the District Attorneys Office has released a list of nearly 200 names. Now, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is teaming up with TMJ4 News and Wisconsin Watch to investigate the officers who are  and arent  on the list.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Brady list comes from a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said prosecutors must disclose material that can help defendants prove their innocence, including any evidence that police may not be credible witnesses.

But there's no consistency to how prosecutors in Wisconsin maintain Brady lists, making it difficult or impossible for people charged with crimes to know if the police testifying against them have a history of dishonesty.

"This isn't a story where we're trying to do gotcha journalism or anything like that; this really is about transparency and telling Milwaukee residents what they should know about the credibility of their police officers, said Jim Malewitz, managing editor at Wisconsin Watch.

"The hope is that by teaming up and working together, we can better serve our viewers and readers," added Tim Vetscher, news director at TMJ4. "For far too long, Milwaukee Countys Brady list has remained a mystery.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ashley Luthern is the deputy investigations editor at the Journal Sentinel and an investigative reporter focused on public safety, crime and policing.

"This reporting is about accountability," Luthern said. "Police officers are public employees, and their word carries enormous power, from justifying arrests to testifying against people accused of wrongdoing."

What is the Brady list?

The Brady list is a list of law enforcement officials who have lied, broken the law, or acted in a way that erodes their credibility to be a witness. Its also known as the do-not-call list or the Brady-Giglio list.

The name comes from the 1963 U.S. Supreme Court case Brady v. Maryland, which ruled that prosecutors cant withhold material that might help the defense at trial.

Where can I find Wisconsins Brady list?

In Wisconsin, there is no single Brady list. District attorneys offices in each county are responsible for maintaining their own lists.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In an investigation earlier this year, Wisconsin Watch filed records requests with prosecutors in each of the states 72 counties. Seventeen denied the records request or said they didn't keep track. Another 23 said they had no names on file. The other counties disclosed a list of about 360 names.

Similarly, a USA TODAY investigation in 2019 found a widespread failure by police departments and prosecutors to track problem officers, making it challenging for those accused of crimes to properly defend themselves in court.

Why hasnt Milwaukee Countys Brady list been public until now?

Until recently, the Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office had denied records requests from news organizations for the full Brady List, citing the need to protect prosecutors investigatory files and attorney work product.

The office released a partial version of the list that only included officers who were charged with a crime or forfeiture action. Officers who were investigated internally but never charged were excluded.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, the Journal Sentinel and other news organizations continued to push for the entire list. In August, TMJ4 threatened to sue the county if it continued to keep the full Brady list a secret.

The following month, the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office released the full copy of the list to TMJ4 and the Journal Sentinel. In a letter, the office noted that it could not guarantee the accuracy of the list.

The Journal Sentinel, TMJ4 and Wisconsin Watch are working to confirm the accuracy of the list so that it can be released publicly.

How many people are on Milwaukee Countys Brady List?

Nearly 200 current and former law enforcement officers are on the list, which goes back around 20 years. Some are accused of multiple offenses.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Of those on the list, the majority are from the Milwaukee Police Department.

The list is believed to be incomplete, given that thousands of law enforcement officers are employed across the county by more than two dozen agencies.

What kind of behavior gets you on the Brady List?

The type of misconduct that can land a law enforcement officer on the Brady list is broad, ranging from violent crimes to workplace issues. An officer does not have to be found guilty of a crime or even charged with a crime to be placed on the list.

Of the names on Milwaukee Countys Brady list, the majority involve criminal cases. Roughly a quarter involve internal investigations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The offenses range from crimes like domestic violence or drunk driving to integrity issues like falsifying police documents or cheating on police training tests.

I have a tip about a Brady List issue. How do I get in touch?

The Journal Sentinel, TMJ4 and Wisconsin Watch are working to confirm the underlying offenses related to each officer on the list.

Readers with questions, tips or feedback about officers who should be on the list are encouraged to contact the Journal Sentinels investigative team at wisconsininvestigates@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigating secretive police Brady List
JAMESTOWN, Ky. (FOX 56)  Two Western Kentucky University students are fortunate to be alive after falling off a large cliff at Lake Cumberland. The incident happened early Sunday morning.



FOX 56 spoke with rescue crews who said they are certain the outcome would have been different without one key component.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

Josh Knight said he was out on the water to fish when he heard a faint cry for help in the distance.



I didnt know what exactly I was hearing, but I went on fishing, you know, and then I kept hearing it a couple more times, Knight said.



He said he had a strong feeling something was wrong.



All of a sudden, he finally said, Someone, please help me. Ill never forget it. It was just plain as day. And I was like, OK, somebody is needing help.'



He followed the noise to a cliffside in the low-gap area of the lake.



And I look up, and theres just a tree hanging over the water. And he is wrapped around that tree and holding on to it.

LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thats where Knight found a young man stranded on a cliffside, in pain, begging for help. He had fallen about 150 feet. He called 911, and Russell County Search and Rescue quickly swooped in to help.



We knew exactly what we had to do, said the rescue team chief, Chris Money. We knew that we had very little time to do it. And we all worked as a team to make sure we got it done.



When they got there, the rescue team found a second victim unconscious behind a boulder. They say he fell between 200 and 250 feet and was in critical condition.



He was, like, 15 feet from the water, said Kight. He fell down on like a flat slab of rock. And there was a big boulder out there where he fell. And luckily, he landed behind that boulder, because if he wouldnt have, he would have gone into the lake.



A rope system was set up by the rescue crew to lower the victims into waiting boats. From there, the one in critical condition was airlifted to the hospital, and the other was treated for a broken ankle and facial trauma.



It was almost divine intervention that he was there at that time, because if it had been too much longer, the boy toward the bottom of the rocks probably wouldnt have made it, said Money.



Although the names of the college students are not being released for privacy reasons, Money said they are both stable and recovering well. He credits the knights heroic intervention for the positive outcome.

Latest central Kentucky weather forecast

He stayed with us the entire time. But before he left us, I thanked him and let him know that the reason these boys are alive is because of him.





Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Western powers responded defiantly to Moscow's missile and nuclear threats on Tuesday, after a record Russian drone attack on Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urged the alliance to deliver greater military support for Ukraine, saying the alliance needs "to go further to change the trajectory of the conflict."

The alliance must supply the air defences that Ukraine needs as well as deliver on military aid commitments already promised to Kiev at a NATO summit in Washington, Rutte said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The military alliance also said that Moscow's launch of an experimental ballistic missile against Ukraine last week will not deter it from supporting Kiev.

Senior Ukrainian military officials briefed NATO via video link at a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, a consultation forum, on the Russian missile attack which targeted Dnipro.

NATO said in a statement the attack was another intimidation attempt against "those who support Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia's illegal and unprovoked aggression."

The Russian military has said that the new medium-range missile it fired at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro last week can hit targets across Europe and cannot be stopped by air defence systems.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) leading economies condemned Russia's nuclear threats in their final declaration at the end of their two-day meeting in the Italian town of Fiuggi.

"We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia's irresponsible and threatening nuclear rhetoric as well as its posture of strategic intimidation," the ministers wrote in their closing statement.

"We will never tolerate threats to use nuclear weapons, let alone any use of nuclear weapons," the statement continued.

Moscow last week revised its nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for the use of such weapons. It now regards aggression by a state that does not have nuclear weapons itself, but that is supported by nuclear powers, as a joint attack on Russia.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The G7 includes Italy, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, France and Germany.

Record number of Russian combat drones used overnight

Russia launched a massive wave of overnight drone attacks at Ukraine, included 188 drones and four Iskander-M ballistic missiles, the Ukrainian air defence posted on Telegram on Tuesday.

The Ukrainian news portal Ukrainska Pravda said this was the largest number of drones launched by Russia in one night. In the capital, Kiev, the air raid siren sounded for more than five hours, according to official reports.

In the morning, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that it had shot down 76 drones in 17 regions of the country. The flights of 95 drones were aborted, presumably due to electronic countermeasures. Five drones are said to have flown in the direction of neighbouring Belarus.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the information provided, the power supply in Ukraine was once again affected by the attacks. In the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil, a critical infrastructure facility was damaged by drone attacks, the military governor of the area, Vyacheslav Nehoda, wrote on Telegram. The power supply in Ternopil and other places had been disrupted, he said.

Further deaths in southern and north-eastern Ukraine

At least four people were killed in Ukrainian mortar fire in the Russian-occupied city of Nova Kakhovka in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson on Tuesday, the Moscow-appointed leadership in the city said.

The Ukrainian prosecutor's office for the Kherson region has in turn launched an investigation into "enemy shelling of occupied Nova Kakhovka."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the office, the bus was shot at by the Russian army at a bus stop.

Nova Kakhovka is located on the Russian-controlled southern bank of the lower reaches of the Dnipro River, which forms a de facto front line in the war.

At least two people also died in a Russian missile attack on the north-eastern city of Sumy, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on Tuesday.

The missiles were fired from a multiple rocket launcher and hit a car repair shop, also damaging a nearby kindergarten.

"Protection against this is only really possible by destroying Russian weapons and Russian launch pads on Russian territory," he said. "I am grateful to all partners who understand this and explain it to others."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kiev has only recently been able to use more long-range Western weapons systems from the US, United Kingdom and France against targets on Russian territory.

US-made ATACMS missiles used in attacks in Kursk, Russia says

The Russian Defence Ministry said on Tuesday that Ukraine used US-made ATACMS long-range missiles in attacks on the Kursk region in western Russia over the weekend.

It wrote on Telegram that at least three of the missiles could not be intercepted. The Russian military is preparing a response to the missile strikes, it said.

In the first attack, five ATACMS missiles were fired on an S-400 anti-aircraft missile system on Saturday, according to the Defence Ministry. Three missiles were reportedly destroyed, while two hit their target, wounding staff and damaging a radar station.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In another attack on an airfield, it said seven of the eight ATACMS missiles were shot down. The attack injured two soldiers and damaged infrastructure.

Moscow does not typically admit that Ukrainian attacks have hit military targets.

Germany announces 65m for Ukrainian energy infrastructure

Germany made further funds available to repair Ukraine's energy infrastructure, allocating 65 million ($68 million) to the international Ukraine Energy Support Fund, Germany's Economy Ministry announced.

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck stressed that Ukraine's civilian energy infrastructure continues to be the target of massive Russian air strikes.

"A collapse of the energy supply in the third winter of war would have catastrophic consequences for the Ukrainian economy and population," said Habeck.
WESTFIELD, NJ - A Westfield man admitted his role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain a Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan on Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Joseph McKeon, aka "Jay McKeon," 54, of Westfield, pleaded guilty before Judge Julien Xavier Neals in Newark federal court to an indictment charging him with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering.

From February 2021 through February 2022, McKeon submitted fraudulent PPP loan and forgiveness applications for $900,000 on behalf of a New Jersey company he owned, according to documents filed in this case and statements made in court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

McKeon also lied about the number of employees the business employed and the income the employees earned, according to authorities.

McKeon also reportedly submitted forged documents, including fake payroll information, bank statements, tax return documents.

After the victim lender funded the loan, McKeon withdrew a significant amount of the loan proceeds as cash and made several large transfers between bank accounts, including one transfer for $315,504, that was sent to an Indiana title company, according to documents filed in this case and statements made in court.

The wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain to McKeon or gross loss to the victim, whichever is greatest.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The money laundering conspiracy count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain to McKeon or loss to the victim, whichever is greatest.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 1, 2025.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justices National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Westfield Man Admits Wire Fraud, Money Laundering originally appeared on the Westfield Patch
The Texas-based chain is expanding almost as quickly as Buc-ee's.

Courtesy of Whataburger

It's official: Whataburger is coming to east Tennessee. The burger chain's first-ever restaurants in this part of the Volunteer State will open in Chattanooga and Knoxville sometime in 2025, according to a franchisee's website.

Exact locations have yet to be announced, but this will bring Tennessee's total number of Whataburgers to 25. Most are currently located around Memphis and Nashville, with a few in Clarksville.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

MWB Restaurants LLC also lists new locations coming to Jasper, Gadsden, and Owens Cross Roads in northern Alabama. There are currently 39 restaurants in that state.

Of course, nothing beats Whataburger's home state of Texas, where you'll find 759 locations of the 24-hour chain. In 1950, Harmon Dobson opened the first Whataburger stand in Corpus Christi to "serve a burger so big that it took two hands to hold, and so good that after a single bite customers couldn't help but exclaim, 'What a burger!'"

Today fans can enjoy Whataburger's Spicy Ketchup in 16 states, but that's about to change. The company has filed plans to build two new locations in Raleigh, according to CBS 17. This would expand Whataburger's footprint into North Carolina.

If you're new to Whataburger's supersized, fresh-not-frozen patties, the Jalapeno Double Cheeseburger is a favorite. In true Texas style, they also offer patty melts, onion rings, and breakfast burritos. We also have a few tips on ordering off the secret menu. And during the holiday season, make sure to order a White Chocolate Peppermint Shake.
Wauwatosa recently passed its $78 million budget, with a lengthy discussion over what some officials called transparency issues and others called misinformation.

Here's what to know about the meeting and the newly passed budget.

Tosa residents will pay $15 vehicle fee annually to lessen reckless driving

The budget's approval set into motion a $15 vehicle registration fee effective April 1, 2025, paid for annually by vehicle owners. Also known as a wheel tax, the fee will pay for initiatives to help combat reckless driving.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wauwatosa Finance Director John Ruggini previously told the Journal Sentinel that officials estimate 32,000 registered vehicles in Wauwatosa are eligible for the $15 fee, according to Wisconsin Department of Transportation data.

No staffing changes for municipal court despite judge's concerns

At the Nov. 19 Common Council meeting, Ald. Joseph Makhlouf made a motion to amend the budget to include Municipal Judge Krista LaFave's request to include a 0.6 FTE, or part-time, position, however the motion failed 12-4.

LaFave has been vocal in written letters and in public meetings about her need for a part-time employee dedicated solely to the court, rather than using the current system which splits existing city employees' time between the city clerk's office and the municipal court.

City staff including Mayor Dennis McBride said in their crafted budget that the court can make do with resources already available.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the executive budget summary, the city received requests to fund positions from various department directors, but could not fully fund any new positions. Some needs were filled by reallocating existing funding within the budget, while others could not be funded entirely.

Wauwatosa will get part-time sustainability manager thanks to reallocated funds in Public Works

The Department of Public Works was able to reallocate funding in its budget to pay for a part-time sustainability manager. This employee will be responsible for implementing the citys Sustainability Plan, Climate Adaptation Plan and carbon neutrality initiatives.

Wauwatosa alders and members of the city's Sustainability Committee have pushed for the city to fund a sustainability manager position for multiple budget cycles.

Wauwatosas Common Council adopted a resolution of sustainability goals in 2020 including:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Reducing municipal emissions to 50% of 2010 levels by 2030.

Sourcing at least 25% of all energy from local renewable sources by 2025.

Achieving municipal and community carbon neutrality by 2050.

The city also pledged to track progress by collecting and publishing basic data annually on the city's and community's energy use.

Wauwatosa Police Department loses vacant positions as part of agreement between city and police union for raises

The Wauwatosa Police Department will eliminate three vacant, full-time police officer positions to afford pay increases for union and sworn officers, as agreed upon in a contract between the city and the police union.

According to the contract, officers will get a 3% raise for the first six months of 2025 and another 1% for the second half of the year.

How will the budget affect Wauwatosa property taxes?

The average Wauwatosa home's city tax bill is estimated to increase by about $120, or from $2,018 to $2,137, based on the average assessed value of $274,000, according to the executive budget.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite a 1.2% property tax levy increase, the city's tax rate is growing 5.5%, according to the executive budget summary.

Officials attributed that growth to decreased assessed value, which is falling 4.1% due to the retail industry following the COVID-19 pandemic and brick-and-mortar businesses competing with online businesses.

Wauwatosa budget passes following discussion over 'misinformation' claims

The Wauwatosa Common Council approved the executive budget in a 14-2 vote, with alders Makhlouf and Andrew Meindl voting no.

Both made or supported motions that failed to amend the budget. Meindl's motions echoed concerns he voiced in a Facebook post regarding the vehicle registration fee and the future of affordable housing funds.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During the meeting, other officials called out recent social media posts like Meindl's as "misinformation," including Mayor Dennis McBride, who defeated Meindl in the run for mayor earlier this year.

Meindl wrote on Facebook following the meeting he was dismayed the budget passed on a motion to "call the question" and that when claims of misinformation came up around his posts, "he encourages his colleagues to correct the record."

Makhlouf also posted his concern over the call-the-question way the council came to vote on the budget, saying that the governing body violated its own rules and cut off opportunity for him to propose an amendment regarding the way the city handles special assessments.

City Attorney Alan Kesner said in an email to council members Nov. 22 that he consulted with outside counsel who confirmed a "harmless" procedural mistake was made when using the verbiage motion to call the question rather than motion to close debate."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Additionally, he said in the email that during the meeting he mistakenly advised a simple majority is needed in order to pass that motion, when in actuality a two-thirds majority is needed, or 11 votes when all 16 members are present and voting.

"It is unfortunate that this mistake was made, but this is considered a minor procedural issue, since the vote was not on the actual topic under consideration, but only on the process to get to a vote on the main motion," he wrote.

"Once the final vote on the substantive motion has been taken, with a supermajority voting in favor, the procedural error has been rendered moot," Kesner said.

Makhlouf said he disagrees with the attorney's finding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Eva Ennamorato, communications manager for the city, said residents with questions about the government process or information can reach out to city staff or sign up for the Wauwatosa News in Brief email.

Bridget Fogarty reports on Wauwatosa, Brookfield and Elm Grove for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be reached at bfogarty@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about Wauwatosa's newly passed $78 million 2025 budget
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)  Several locations throughout western Massachusetts will be offering free Thanksgiving meals for those in need.

Tracking Massachusetts storm system Thanksgiving week

Open Pantry

The Open Pantry will be serving meals in Springfield. They will begin serving free meals at noon at the High School of Commerce located at 415 State Street in Springfield. There are no eligibility requirements, the dinner is open to anyone.

Edwards Church

Edwards Church located at 297 Main Street in Northampton is offering free Thanksgiving meals for dine-in or pick-up on Thursday. Doors are open from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Kates Kitchen

Kates Kitchen, located at 51 Hamilton Street in Holyoke, offers free dine-in meals from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Knights of Columbus

Knights of Columbus will open their dining room at the Castle of Knights in Chicopee from noon to 2:00 PM on Thanksgiving Day to serve a free, hearty Thanksgiving dinner. Meals will also be delivered to individuals who cant leave their homes from 8:00 a.m. to noon.

St. Pauls Church

St. Pauls Church, located at 485 Appleton Street in Holyoke, will be hosting its annual free Thanksgiving Day Lunch for Veterans and their immediate family from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
President-elect Trumps legal strategy of delay is paying off, with his election victory changing the trajectory of his four criminal prosecutions.

Special counsel Jack Smith on Monday moved to dismiss his two cases against Trump, and the former presidents team believes his state cases must similarly be tossed as he prepares to return to the White House.

Heres the latest on where all of Trumps criminal cases stand.

Hush money

Trumps New York case, which stemmed from a 2016 hush money payment to an adult film star, was the furthest along and the only one to reach trial and end in a criminal conviction.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its now in limbo.

The former president had successfully delayed his sentencing on his 34 felony convictions of falsifying business records multiple times, eventually punting it until after the election. That sentencing was set to take place Tuesday, but the hearing was called off upon Trump becoming president-elect.

New York Judge Juan Merchan now must confront whether to heed Trumps lawyers demand that his return to the White House compels the immediate dismissal of the jurys guilty verdict and the entire case in the interests of justice.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D), who prosecuted the case, wants the verdict to stand but expressed openness to putting the case on ice at least until Trump leaves the Oval Office in 2029.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Next, both sides will lay out their arguments in writing before the judge decides. Trumps dismissal motion is due by Monday, and Braggs response is due by Dec. 9.

Separately, Merchan also has yet to decide whether the verdict can stand in the wake of the Supreme Courts presidential immunity ruling. Merchan was set to hand down his ruling ahead of the sentencing but similarly sidelined the decision after the election.

Georgia election interference

In Georgia, Trump and more than a dozen of his allies face racketeering and other charges over accusations of a months-long conspiracy to subvert President Bidens 2020 win in the state.

It is the only of Trumps four criminal prosecutions where neither the defense nor prosecutors have filed court documents yet seeking to slam the brakes in the wake of the election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The trial proceedings were already frozen well before Election Day as Trump mounted an appeal seeking to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) over her romantic relationship with a top prosecutor she appointed to the case, Nathan Wade.

The trial judge condemned Willis over the prosecutorial romance but allowed her to move forward with the case once Wade stepped aside.

The Georgia Court of Appeals had scheduled oral arguments for Dec. 5 on Trumps appeal. But earlier this month, the court without explanation canceled the argument.

It remains unclear if the cancellation stems from Trumps election win or some other reason. Before the election, Williss office had requested the court dismiss the appeal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The trial proceedings will not resume until the appeal is resolved.

Though legal experts agree the case will, at minimum, be paused while Trump is in the White House, the prosecution could still move toward trial for his co-defendants.

Federal election interference

Special counsel Jack Smith moved to dismiss Trumps Jan. 6 case now that he is set to return to the White House  an ask that was swiftly approved by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan.

That brings to an end the election interference case that targeted all of Trumps actions to thwart the transfer of power that culminated with the attack on the Capitol.

Smiths team wrote that the decision was not based on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Governments proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind, but rather an internal Justice Department memo which bars bringing charges against a sitting president.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The charges were dismissed without prejudice, leaving the possibility of a prosecutor bringing charges in the future after Trump leaves office.

Federal classified documents case

Smith also filed a similar motion in Trumps Florida documents case, asking to drop an appeal he brought after a lower court judge tossed the case.

That appeal is not focused on the merits of the case but rather seeks to overturn a ruling from U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon that found Smith was unlawfully appointed  a decision that countered 50 years of precedent surrounding special counsel appointments.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals signed off on Smiths motion Tuesday in a one-sentence order, formally bringing an end to Trumps prosecution on Espionage Act and obstruction of justice charges related to his retention of more than 300 documents with classified markings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Like in his election interference case, Smith moved to drop the appeal without prejudice.

But while the case comes to a close for Trump, the charges remain for Trumps two co-defendants  valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos de Oliveira.

This story was updated at 4:45 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A white Florida woman who fatally shot a Black neighbor through a closed door was sentenced Monday to 25 years in prison.

In August, a jury found Susan Lorincz guilty of manslaughter with a weapon in the shooting death of Ajike "AJ" Shantrell Owens.

Owens had gone to Lorincz's home to confront her about her behavior toward Owens' children. Lorincz fired the shot from inside her home; it went through the locked front door and struck Owens in the chest.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Owens' family had asked the judge to impose the maximum sentence of 30 years. Guidelines had called for a prison term of between 11.5 years and 30 years. "We believe that standing on the right side of history requires holding those who commit racial violence fully accountable for their actions," the family said earlier this month.

Pamela Dias center, Ajike "AJ" Shantrell Owens mother, breaks down in tears after a jury found Susan Lorincz guilty of manslaughter with a firearm of her daughter, Friday afternoon, August 16, 2024, in connection with the June 2023 death of her neighbor Ajike "AJ" Shantrell Owens. The trial was held in Judge Robert Hodges' courtroom in the Marion County Judicial Center in Ocala, Fla. [Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner]2024

The defense had asked the judge for a sentence below the minimum. In a legal filing, the defense said such a "downward departure" is appropriate because Lorincz "requires specialized treatment for a mental disorder that is unrelated to substance abuse or addiction, or for a physical disability" and is "amenable to treatment."

The defense also argued that "(The) victim was an initiator, willing participant, aggressor, or provoker of the incident" and that Lorincz "acted under extreme duress or under the domination of another person."

During the sentencing hearing Monday, Lorincz told the court she was scared of Owens that night. She denied using racial slurs.

Susan Lorincz, in yellow, at her sentencing hearing on Monday (Nov. 25, 2024)

Owens' mother, Pamela Dias, said in emotional testimony that she is consumed by grief and "a mere shell of the person I once was."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"Our pain and suffering will last a lifetime," she said.

Background of the case in death of AJ Owens

Owens was shot once in the right side of her chest with a .380-caliber handgun while standing outside Lorincz's locked front door the night of June 2, 2023. The victim leaves behind four children, ages 4 to 13.

Owens was knocking on the front door, hoping to speak with Lorincz, 60.

Bailiff Brandon Boucher removes Susan Lorinczs apartment door that contains the bullet hole where the bullet pass through killing Ajike "AJ" Shantrell Owens in 2023, from the courtroom Friday August 16, 2024. Lorincz is on trial manslaughter with a firearm trial in connection with the June 2023 death of her neighbor Ajike "AJ" Shantrell Owens. The trial was held in Judge Robert Hodges' courtroom in the Marion County Judicial Center in Ocala, Fla. [Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner]2024

Lorincz earlier had scolded Owens' children for making too much noise and playing in what Lorincz described as an unauthorized area of their neighborhood.

Lorincz has been accused of using racial slurs when addressing the children, but she has denied the accusation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lorincz said she was acting in self-defense. She was not arrested immediately after the shooting. The Marion County Sheriff's Office investigated, and then took her into custody on June 7.

Susan Lorincz stands as the jury leaves the courtroom Friday August 16, 2024, after the jury listened to two 911 calls placed by Lorincz in 2023. Lorincz is on trial manslaughter with a firearm trial in connection with the June 2023 death of her neighbor Ajike "AJ" Shantrell Owens. The trial was held in Judge Robert Hodges' courtroom in the Marion County Judicial Center in Ocala, Fla. [Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner]2024

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Those supporting the victim's family wanted prosecutors to charge Lorincz with second-degree murder. There were rallies and protests after the shooting, demanding prosecutors upgrade the charge.

But the State Attorney's Office said manslaughter was the appropriate charge. Several other charges, including battery, ultimately were not pursued by the state.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Susan Lorincz sentenced in killing of Black neighbor Ajike AJ Owens
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The latest numbers show MATA provides rides for just over 318,000 passengers a year, but those trips arent always smooth.

WREG Investigators met Laura Hunter at a bus stop next to a Midtown grocery store on a Wednesday afternoon.

Shed left her home in South Memphis at 9 that morning.

I made it up here about 11, she said. I have to ride the bus to take care of my business and grocery shopping. Doctors office sometimes.

Laura Hunter

Around 1 p.m., she had finished her grocery shopping and errands. She had been waiting at the stop for an hour.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The plan was to take the bus to Cleveland Street, where shed hop on another to get back home.

I have to ride the bus to take care of my business and grocery shopping. Doctors office sometimes, she explained. I just be stuck here and have to wait in a rain, storm, whatever, until one show up.

The 74-year-old is disabled and relies on public transportation. She said this is the worst its been since moving to Memphis nearly two decades ago.

One of my grandsons came down with leukemia. We had to come to St. Jude, she said. I love Memphis. I love Memphis, but I just hate the way things are.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We then said goodbyes as we saw a bus pull up to the stop. It never stopped though and left us all confused.

Hunter chased after it in her motorized wheelchair, but the driver refused to let her board or the other man whod been waiting at the stop.

Laura Hunter tries to catch up to a MATA bus in her motorized wheelchair. The driver wouldnt let her board.

You see? You see for yourself we deal with drivers, she told us as the bus drove off. He said he saw me at the stop, but I wasnt there. I was talking.

Hunter said this has happened before, and shes used to it. She decided to journey three-quarters of a mile to her next stop to make sure she caught the next bus to get home even though there was concern her wheelchair could run out of battery.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Thankfully, she made it to the stop at Cleveland and Union safely.

Again, she waited. Buses were seen going every other direction.

It wasnt until 3 p.m. a glimmer of hope was spotted in the distance. That quickly faded when the buss sign read out of service.

It still pulled up to the stop, but refused to let anyone else on. One rider yelled this was messing with lives.

It was out of service, so now we are still waiting, Hunter said.

Hunter was waiting for the Crosstown Route, also known as the 42. More than 4,000 people board it during the weekdays. According to MATAs website, its one of their more popular routes. It runs from Frayser Boulevard to East Holmes, and buses should be passing each stop every half hour.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She waited and watched countless car pass her that Wednesday evening. Cars that were headed home, to their families or to somewhere warm.

I feel bad. I feel bad. Im not angry. Im just so disappointed in the system. I know it could be better in this, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We asked what happens on the days she needs perishable items. She told us she prays the bus comes a little sooner. On that day, she wanted ice cream, but said she knew it would never make it.

At 4:45 p.m. that Wednesday, as the sun started to set, a bus finally pulled up and let Hunter board. She was hungry, cold and exhausted. It had been three and a half hours since we met her.

She spent more than six hours waiting and riding a bus just to get groceries at a store less than three miles form her home.

For most, patience would have run out. Hunter has no choice.



Laura Hunter finally catches a MATA bus after hours of waiting.

What did MATA have to say?

We showed Hunters story to MATAs Interim CEO Bacarra Mauldin to see what she had to say.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ive been that person waiting for a bus and relying on them to get from point A to point B. it makes me very sad, Mauldin said. I dont know if that customer is listening, but I definitely apologize for that experience. That is not the MATA standard.

She went on to say, Hunters story validates why MATA needs more investment, especially for training and supervision.

MATA staff followed up with WREG Investigators. They asked for Hunters number, so they could call and apologize. They also asked for more information about that first bus that passed Hunter, so they can follow up and investigate.

 WREG Investigators have spent months digging deeper into the transit authority and its $60 million deficit. We pored through records, listened to hours of meetings and pressed for answers as we work to find out what went wrong. Hear from riders and our top leaders who fear what would happen to the entire community if its not fixed.

See all the stories in this series:

 Why a 3-mile trip to the grocery took this woman 6 hours on MATA

 Fewer buses = more poverty and crime, expert says

 MATA says maintenance facility is sinking

 The economic impact of MATA transit troubles

 MATAs deficit took years to get here. How do we get out?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
It seemed only logical after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade that abortion rates would go down and births would go up.

Instead, the opposite happened: Abortions went up last year and the countrys fertility rate hit a historic low.

More than 1 million abortions were recorded in the United States in 2023  the highest in a decade, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion access. So far this year, abortion rates have remained about the same as in the last six months of 2023, preliminary data show.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The post-Dobbs world wasnt as bad as we expected, said Diana Greene Foster, a reproductive health researcher at the University of California, San Francisco. It happened that people were denied abortions before Dobbs. Its likely happening after Dobbs, but not to the extent that I, at least, was worried about.Foster predicted in 2022 that a quarter of women who wanted abortions in states with bans would give birth instead. Now, she thinks the share might be somewhere in the low single digits.

What happened to keep the abortion rates from falling?

To answer that question, NBC News sought out the people and systems behind the trend  spending a day at an Illinois Planned Parenthood clinic, meeting with the Dutch doctor whose work was crucial to preserving access to abortion pills in the U.S., and speaking with key players from all corners of the abortion rights landscape: providers, researchers, abortion fund directors, advocates, lawyers, policy experts and anti-abortion groups.

An abortion rights advocate cries outside the Supreme Court after it overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022.

Much of the story, it turns out, comes down to a small network of medical providers who found ways to prescribe and ship abortion pills around the country from places where theyre still legal. That was only possible because of significant action taken by the Food and Drug Administration during the pandemic, which allowed the pills to be dispensed via telemedicine. Then, in the wake of the ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, eight states passed laws that protected providers from being sued for prescribing abortion pills virtually to people from other states.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The obstacles are actually lower than before Dobbs, said Dr. Rebecca Gomperts, the Dutch physician who founded Aid Access, an organization that mails abortion medications to individuals who request them. For people that didnt have the financial resources or the infrastructure, the logistical structures in place to go to a clinic  I think the landscape now is much better.

Outrage over the Dobbs decision also spurred a wave of donations and educational campaigns that helped expand access to in-person abortions at clinics. Funds that provide financial support to people seeking to end their pregnancies used that money to help discount or cover the cost of abortions, including travel and lodging for those who crossed state lines. Abortion providers, meanwhile, got an influx of funding that enabled them to set up new clinics and extend hours in states where abortion is still legal.

It was kind of all hands on deck after Dobbs to get people the information and access to make sure that these abortion bans were not going to stop people from being able to access care, said Serra Sippel, executive director of The Brigid Alliance, a service that provides abortion seekers with support for travel, food, lodging and child care.

Donald Trumps election victory, however, could change that new status quo. Abortion pills are a target for anti-abortion activists, who hope the incoming administration might revoke provisions that allow the medications to be prescribed via telehealth and mailed nationwide. When asked about that possibility, Karoline Leavitt, a Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman, told NBC News that President Trump has long been consistent in supporting the rights of states to make decisions on abortion.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Still, advocates on both sides of the issue said they are gearing up for a fight.

We were under no illusions that Dobbs was going to solve the problem, said Randall OBannon, director of education and research for National Right to Life, an organization that opposes abortion. The work is still very much going to need to be done, and we dont expect that the other side is going to give up or quit trying.

How pills preserved abortion access

Raised in a harbor town in the Netherlands, Gomperts has dedicated her life to preserving abortion access. Over coffee during a visit to New York City, she spoke about the subject with a clinical sensibility  perhaps because of her background as a physician, perhaps because of how often she has to assert her viewpoint.

In 1999, Gomperts founded an organization that transported women from places with restrictions to a ship in international waters to obtain abortions. She launched a global telemedicine abortion service six years later, then in 2018 started Aid Access, which is headquartered in Austria.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We know that people are scared, Gomperts said. Because of all the misinformation out there, they think that theyre breaking the law, which theyre not. Its legal for women to do their own abortions.

Dr. Rebecca Gomperts in New York on Oct. 14.

To obtain pills via Aid Access, people fill out a questionnaire, sign a consent form, email an image of their ID and pay $150  though the bill is adjusted on a sliding scale. The pills usually arrive within five days of being prescribed.Since the Dobbs decision, Gomperts said, Aid Access has seen a tenfold increase in demand.

The groups operating model relies on several FDA policies. In 2016, the agency enabled mifepristone  one of the two pills used in medication abortions  to be used up to 10 weeks gestation instead of seven. Three years later, it approved a generic form, which increased supply.

Then came the biggest change: In 2021, the FDA eliminated the requirement to dispense mifepristone in person.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

By last year, medication abortions accounted for 63% of abortions nationwide, up from 53% in 2020, according to the Guttmacher Institute. The institute does not disclose which providers are represented in its estimate, but some medication abortions are left out, including in states with bans, so the numbers are likely an undercount.

The pharmaceutical company that makes mifepristone, Danco Laboratories, said it does not publicly share its sales data. GenBioPro, the company that makes the generic version, also declined to provide such numbers. At the time of the Dobbs decision, 19 states banned or restricted telehealth prescriptions of abortion pills. Aid Access bypassed those laws because it was based overseas  physicians in Europe prescribed the pills to patients in the U.S. via a pharmacy in India.

Once post-Dobbs shield laws protected some providers who prescribe pills to patients in states where abortion is banned, Aid Access switched to partnering with a U.S. pharmacy and providers. Other telemedicine groups also began offering the pills nationwide, including A Safe Choice and the Massachusetts Medication Abortion Access Project, both of which said most of their patients are in states with abortion restrictions.

Aid Access created and provided a model for other providers to replicate  not just replicate, but to expand upon, said Dr. Remy Coeytaux, a representative for A Safe Choice.

Mifepristone and misoprostol pills.

Had this small network of physicians not done this, there wouldnt be access to telemedicine abortion in states with bans, he added.Its no surprise that anti-abortion groups are keen on stopping this work, and want to see the FDA changes rolled back.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The ability of women to get these drugs online now, without an in-person visit, because of what the FDA did has essentially circumvented any law that a state might pass, said Dr. Christina Francis, the CEO of American Association of Pro-Life OBGYNs, an anti-abortion group.

A surge in interstate travel for abortions

Although procedural abortions are harder to obtain post-Dobbs, out-of-state travel is another reason why abortions rose last year.

Nationally, more than 171,000 people crossed state lines to obtain an abortion in 2023  roughly double the number in 2020, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Illinois has seen more out-of-state abortions than any other state, a 71% increase from 2020 to 2023.

Nekia, 25, traveled to Illinois from Whitestown, Indiana, to obtain an abortion last year; she asked that her last name not be published because of privacy concerns.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nekia said she found out she was pregnant just after her states abortion ban took effect in August 2023. At the time, she added, she was pursuing a masters degree and working full-time in marketing, and money was painfully tight.

The last thing I could afford to do was to have a pregnancy, she said. That was a big motivating factor for me. I was like, Regardless of how hard it is to figure this out, Im going to get it figured out, and Im going to make sure that I get to Illinois so I can get this done.

Not being able to afford a child is the most commonly cited reason for seeking an abortion, and the majority of women who do so are mothers already. About half are below the poverty line.

Nekia traveled to a Planned Parenthood clinic in Champaign, Illinois, about 2 hours away, but said coming up with the money for gas and the procedure was a struggle.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It was just stressful, she said. It was a lot of thinking, a lot of anxiety.  Maybe I shouldnt do this. Maybe I should just carry to term, because it just feels like theres so many obstacles.

To her relief, she said, Planned Parenthood gave her a prepaid gas card and discounted her procedure.

Abortion rights demonstrator Amanda Herring and her 1-year-old son, Abraham, outside the Supreme Court on June 24, 2022.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Donations to abortion funds and clinics have helped enable travel for people like Nekia. Last year, abortion funds provided more than $36 million in aid to those seeking abortions, according to the National Network of Abortion Funds.At the same time, a new public spotlight on abortion has helped advocates promote resources for people seeking them.

One of the positive consequences of the horrific decision overturning Roe, was that people became more aware of their rights, even as these rights were taken away, said Julie Kay, executive director of the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine Access.

However, leaders of abortion funds and networks said donations have waned significantly in the last year, raising questions about whether interstate travel for abortions will continue at the same pace in the future.

To be able to remain open to serve multiple people, we have to put limitations on the amount that we support per client, said Stephanie Loraine Pineiro, executive director of the Florida Access Network, an abortion fund.

What the data hides

The nationwide rise in abortions can obscure the reality that some people who want abortions still cant get them  particularly low-income women of color.

Dr. Amy Whitaker, chief medical officer at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Flossmoor, Illinois, said the Dobbs decision has made it significantly harder for patients to reach her.

Even the ones who make it to care, they just have had to go through so much more, she said.

Indeed, the waiting room at her clinic was packed on a Friday morning in September. Many patients travel long distances to get there from states with abortion restrictions  the clinic estimates they make up about 22% of its abortion patients.

An examination room at a Planned Parenthood Health Center in Louisville, Ky., in 2022.

Data isnt available on how many unwanted pregnancies have been carried to term since the Dobbs decision, but an April study found that abortion bans had resulted in a 2% average increase in births in the states that implemented them.You can clearly see that there is a little bit of an increase in childbearing relative to the nonban states, said Sarah Miller, a health economist at the University of Michigan.

Whitaker is known for her exuberance among her staff  sometimes dancing in the hallways between appointments  but the aftermath of the Dobbs decision has changed her demeanor.

When you know your patients are struggling and suffering, it affects your day to day, she said. I cry more often. Im just so sad.

What comes next?

Advocates on both sides of the abortion rights issue dont think a federal ban is likely after Trump takes office, but they anticipate that the new administration could restrict abortion in other ways. One avenue they described is for the FDA to rescind the licensing of mifepristone or roll back the changes that expanded its access.

My expectation would be that his FDA would re-evaluate the Biden FDAs decision to authorize mail-order abortion and determine that it was unlawful and dangerous to do so, said Erik Baptist, senior counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom, an anti-abortion legal group.

The attorneys general of Idaho, Kansas and Missouri also filed a lawsuit last month challenging the FDA actions that expanded mifepristone access. The case was filed in a federal court in Texas where the sole judge, Matthew Kacsmaryk, is a Trump appointee.

Misoprostol tablets at a family planning clinic.

Kacsmaryk previously ruled in favor of abortion opponents who challenged mifepristone, but the Supreme Court said the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue. Reproductive rights lawyers said that this time, Trumps Justice Department could choose not to appeal if Kacsmaryk sides with the attorneys general.Additionally, the lawyers raised the possibility that the next attorney general could try to enforce the Comstock Act, an 1873 law that prohibits mailing and receiving obscene materials and those designed or intended to procure an abortion.

The Center for Reproductive Rights and the American Civil Liberties Union  the legal groups behind several major abortion rights cases  said they have strategies to counter any future changes to FDA rules or enforcement of the Comstock Act. The Center last year also filed a lawsuit challenging some remaining FDA restrictions on mifepristone. Planned Parenthood, meanwhile, has said it will continue fighting for abortion rights via state ballot measures.

To Gomperts, whose organizations have managed to skirt abortion restrictions around the world for decades, the election results arent cause for panic.

Whatever happens, people will get their abortion pills no matter what, she said. I dont think that is ever going to go away.

This article was produced in collaboration with the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalisms 2024 National Fellowship Fund for Reporting on Child Well-being.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Doorbell cameras have been a game changer in helping police solve all kinds of crimes and the City of Columbus wants more residents to have this line of defense.

The city is giving away 700 Ring Doorbell cameras to eligible residents to help reduce crime, calling it the Porch Protection Program.

The program will be funded by the American Rescue Plan and would give residents the ability to have real-time video of their property.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Columbus data leak could affect 500,000. Only 3% of them are getting protection

Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein said this is a great way to deter porch pirates this holiday season.

Not only does it frustrate the heck out of people, but it costs people a lot of money, Klein said.

He said having a clear picture of a criminal can make all the difference for prosecutors.

This is a great way for us to have accountability for people that are, you know, really terrorizing neighborhoods, that are interrupting quality of life crimes that are, you know, causing problems for the folks in the City of Columbus, Klein said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He said its not just porch pirates they are trying to stop. Klein said doorbell cameras have helped Columbus Police identify suspects all around the city.

It could be drive-by shootings, he said. It could be, you know, stolen vehicles, and this is a way, because of the high-resolution cameras that exist, for people to catch evidence that can be used in the prosecution of crimes so that we can get bad people off the streets, Klein said.

Brutus statue vandalized near Ohio State campus

Residents can apply to be a part of the lottery until Dec. 9. You must be 18 years or older and must earn up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Residents must own their home or have written notice from their landlord that it is OK to install a camera at their home.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In order to be eligible to receive the camera you must live in one of 10 zip codes identified by Columbus police that have the highest crime: 43201, 43204, 43207, 43211, 43219, 43223, 43224, 43228, 43229, 43232.

We want folks to have a great holiday, a great Christmas, and we dont want it to be interrupted by a bunch of grinches, Klein said.

Klein said the city would not have access to the footage captured by the camera. If a crime occurs near you, it will be your decision on whether to share the footage.

To enter the citys lottery for the cameras, 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  When it comes to overall child well-being in New Mexico, the state ranks 50th in the nation according to a Kids Count report. But that ranking doesnt even include child abuse and neglect data.

What sort of indicators are used to measure child welfare? And how can New Mexico move out of last place?

This week on the New Mexico News Insiders podcast, Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office Lieutenant Amy Dudewicz and KRQE Investigative Reporter Ann Pierret join Chris and Gabby to discuss the complexities of the states system of holding child abusers accountable. Lt. Dudewicz has had a long career in local law enforcement dealing with cases of child abuse, and shares some of the biggest challenges for law enforcement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Watch Anns investigation: Inside the complex system of holding child abusers accountable

Often times what we find when we look into a Victoria Martens or an Omaree, or a James Dunklee, is that this was happening over and over again, explained Lt. Dudewicz. So potentially this task-force-type mentality, or larger agencies getting together and trying to come together or to the table with a solution  might be a better answer.

She argues more stakeholders, including community members, law enforcement, CYFD, and lawmakers should invest in solutions to improving child welfare. These cases should be special, said Lt. Dudewicz. They should be.

Listen to the full discussion above for a full breakdown of the topics.

Story continues below

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Download new episodes of the New Mexico News Insiders every Tuesday, starting around 5:30 a.m., Mountain time. Episodes are available on most podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Podbean, among others.

You can now watch our podcasts in video form both on-air or online. Tune in to an abbreviated version of the New Mexico News Insiders podcast on broadcast television every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. on Fox New Mexico. Full video episodes are posted on KRQEs YouTube page at youtube.com/krqenews13.

Having trouble finding the show? Try searching your favorite podcast player with the term KRQE or New Mexico News Insiders (without the quotes). You can also use the links above to find the podcast on each service or listen to the audio player at the top of this post.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for who should be interviewed on the podcast, let us know! Email your hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Curious about TikToks future in the United States as the app faces a looming ban? With ByteDance under pressure to divest ownership by mid-January or see TikTok banned, recent developments have drawn attention. Reports of TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew reaching out to tech mogul Elon Musk have sparked speculation about efforts to navigate the apps uncertain fate.

So, why is TikTok engaging with Musk? Heres everything you need to know about the ban, the potential role of Musk in these discussions, and what this means for the apps millions of U.S. users.

TikTok CEO reportedly reaches out to Elon Musk amidst US ban

The CEO of TikTok, Shou Zi Chew, has reportedly reached out to Elon Musk to discuss the potential U.S. ban on the platform. ByteDance, TikToks parent company, faces a mid-January deadline to divest from the app or face prohibition. Musk, a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump, could provide insights into the new administrations tech policy. Sources indicate their discussions have covered broad topics, including potential regulatory challenges under Trump.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Earlier this year, President Joe Biden signed a law mandating a TikTok ban unless ByteDance divests ownership. The move cites national security concerns due to the apps Chinese origins. TikTok responded with a federal lawsuit, claiming the ban violates users free speech rights. These developments increase the urgency for Chew to secure TikToks future in the U.S., one of its largest markets. Musk, as the owner of rival platform X and a key figure in tech, is seen as influential with the incoming administration.

ByteDance sees Musks involvement as a way to navigate the challenging political climate, given his ties to Trump. Critics, however, worry that Musks stake in X may lead to biased advice not in TikToks favor. Musks influence on Trumps tech policies could heavily affect TikToks chances of staying active in the U.S. under the new administration.

As the January deadline approaches, TikToks outreach to Musk underscores the platforms high-stakes effort to mitigate geopolitical risks while safeguarding its operations. Whether this dialogue will bear fruit or further complicate the tech giants challenges remains uncertain.

The post Why Is TikToks CEO Seeking Elon Musks Help? Report Explained appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
TikTok influencer Marlena Velez, known for her fashion and home decor videos, was recently arrested, shocking many fans. Naturally, they are wondering the reason behind her arrest. Did she commit a crime? Were any laws violated by her?

Here is what we know on TikTok influencer Marlena Velezs arrest.

TikTok influencer Marlena Velez arrested for alleged shoplifting

Marlena Velez was arrested on Wednesday, November 21, 2024 after she was allegedly caught shoplifting. This was connected to a past retail theft at Target, located at the 1890 NE Pine Island Road in Cape Coral, according to a statement from The Cape Coral Police Department.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the statement, Loss Prevention at Target revealed that on October 30, 2024, a woman walked into the store and picked several items that had been on sale. Later, at the checkout counter, the woman did not scan the items barcodes. She instead scanned false barcodes to get cheaper prices for the items.

The statement mentioned that sixteen items of miscellaneous household goods and clothes had been stolen. Following verification with Targets security cameras, the authorities concluded that items worth $500.32 were stolen from the store.

After obtaining the womans photo, Cape Coral Police Department posted it on their Facebook and Instagram handles to help identify her. In the picture, the female appeared to be somewhere between 20-35 years of age. She had long black hair, wore a tan shirt, tan pants and glasses. Later, an anonymous caller reached out to Cape Coral Police and identified the woman as Marlena Velez. The caller also provided them with Velezs official Instagram account.

Cape Coral Police Department then checked Velezs TikTok account, which included a now-deleted October 30 video of her documenting herself getting ready to go to Target. In the video, she was seen wearing the same attire and glasses as the woman in the picture the police earlier shared on social media. Additionally, she could also be seen buying items like a Stanley mug and mini cosmetics bag.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Velez was later isolated by Cape Coral Police Department and arrested on the following charges:

1 count in violation of F.S.S. 812.014(3a)

Petit theft more than $100 and less than $750.

Velez has a notable criminal history. In 2019, she was arrested for stealing her friend Amanda Santanas car and crashing it into a ditch. Santana confirmed this in an interview with NBC2-Fort Myers, Florida.

The post Why Was TikTok Influencer Marlena Velez Arrested? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
When Donald Trump inked a new deal with Americas two largest export partners at the start of 2020, he hailed it as a colossal victory for US workers.

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) was the largest, fairest, most balanced and modern trade agreement ever achieved, Trump said. Theres never been anything like it.

However, almost five years after the USMCA was signed, the president-elect has blown up the deal with a new wave of promised tariffs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Overnight, Trump took to his social media site, Truth Social, to say he would unveil an extra 10pc levy on China and hammer allies Canada and Mexico with proposed tariffs of 25pc.

On Jan 20, as one of my many first executive orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25pc tariff on ALL products coming into the United States and its ridiculous open borders, he said.

This tariff will remain in effect until such time as drugs, in particular fentanyl, and all illegal aliens stop this invasion of our country.

While tariffs were fully expected as part of Trumps economic programme, the scale and nature of his latest announcement shocked markets  largely because they go far beyond the 10pc blanket tariffs that he touted on the campaign trail.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He has immediately gone for his biggest trading partners and he has gone for 25pc, says Prof Stephen Millard, deputy director at the National Institute for Economic and Social Research. He adds that the announcement should serve as a wake-up call for Europe.

You can be sure that Europe will be hit pretty quickly. He said 10pc on the election campaign. But if hes gone with 25pc on Mexico and Canada, why not 25pc on Europe?

According to Vicky Redwood, a senior economic adviser at Capital Economics, Trump has sent a warning shot to the rest of the world.

However, as well as posing a threat to Europe and Asia, Trumps tariffs present two major risks for Britain.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

First, it is apparent that Americas closest allies are not out of bounds. Second, Trumps willingness to go further than what he said during the campaign trail paves the way for an escalating global trade war.

Trump is known for using tariffs as a bargaining tool and he has made clear that he wants to extract concessions from Mexico on immigration and drugs.

Therefore, Millard says the tariffs on Mexican goods are unexpected but not wholly unsurprising. However, he remains baffled by Trumps decision to target Canada.

It just makes absolutely no sense to me, says Millard. Canada is a big ally of the US and there is a lot of trade that goes both ways.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A total of $793bn (631bn) in goods trade, according to figures from the Office of the US Trade Representative. Of this, $356.5bn of goods are exported from the US to Canada.

Therefore, Trumps decision to immediately attack one of Americas closest allies and trading partners is a signal that no country is off-limits, including Britain.

Its all an attempt to achieve other policy objectives, says Redwood. In the case of Europe, for example, his aim is to try and get them to spend more on defence.

Trump may also want to extract concessions on how we trade with China, she adds.

However, the UK does have something of a safety net, says Ben May, the director of global macroeconomic research at Oxford Economics.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The economies that are probably most at risk from tariffs are economies that run big trade surpluses with the US, says May, who points out that Britain buys more from the US than it sells  unlike the EU.

In 2020 Trump said the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) was the largest, fairest, most balanced and modern trade agreement ever achieved - SAUL LOEB/AFP

According to Redwood, Vietnam, Germany and Japan are among the countries with the largest trade surpluses with the US, excluding China and Mexico.

Should Trump seek to expand his wave of tariffs, Millard says the big question will be how other countries respond.

The worry is that things could ratchet up, he says. If the US does something and then theres a lot of retaliation and then the US goes further and the other countries retaliate further  that is what I would call a trade war.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, analysts believe the reaction from Mexico and Canada will be muted, at least for the time being.

I could be proved badly wrong on this one, but I dont think Canada would retaliate, says Millard. I think they would be inclined to negotiate with Trump. The same with Mexico.

Theyll have to say: can we work out how to get this 25pc back down? They would realise that retaliating would probably hurt them just as badly.

Where youre more likely to see the retaliation is, of course, from China.

Although the US is Chinas largest export market, China is much less dependent on the US than Canada or Mexico. The US makes up around 15pc of Chinas exports, whereas that figure is closer to 80pc for both Canada and Mexico.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

If China responds in kind with stronger tariffs and the US expands its levies to other countries, as expected, then there is a risk that Britain would be caught in the middle.

If Europe is hit with tariffs from both the US and China, then it is likely that it will be pushed to impose its own, sparking price rises for households across the board  including in the UK.

We could be in a position where those three, very large blocks have cut themselves off from each other, says Millard. That would be a very, very bad outcome.

Tariffs mean price rises for households. The stuff you import is more expensive. If you stop importing, then you have to produce things domestically and that is more expensive.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We really do not want to get into a trade war because everybody loses.

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.
EWELL, Va. (WAVY)  A fire continues to burn in part of a parking lot of a major shopping center in James City County. Smoky conditions also persist, and nearby residents have expressed concern about the ongoing blaze.

WAVY returned to the scene in a parking lot of the Williamsburg Premium Outlets in James City County Monday afternoon to find smoke continuing to billow out of the ground from a fire that began around 9 a.m. Saturday.

A WAVY viewer John Morgan Massa sent in drone footage from the scene.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I just hope that its resolved soon and that people maybe take a little bit better precaution, said resident Genevieve Pietrzak. This is like a busy shopping outlet and everyone was just really happy to just get back to business as usual.

A section of the parking lot collapsed, leaving a landscape of ruptured concrete. The blaze has no end in sight.

Because the location of the fire is underground, [it] would make that very difficult to do, said Renee Dallman, a public information officer with James City County, talking about putting out the fire. So really, the best bet for our firefighters now is to just keep it contained and to let it burn itself out.

Dallman said the fire is in an underground stormwater detention facility.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its very similar to milk crates stacked up and the stormwater from the front of the parking lot runs off and goes into those crates, Dallman said, and then it eventually goes from there, and so the plastic the crates are made out of have caught on fire.

Fire crews also stated that, due to the potential for toxic run-off, they cannot attempt to extinguish the fire with water.

James City County said safety is the priority as the fire continues to burn.

All air monitoring that they have done has been within normal limits for a fire, Dallman said. We have the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Office of Pollution Response. They were notified and asked to come as part of our normal procedure that we do here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Along with DEQs pollution response office, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management have also been on the scene investigating the fire.

The local sewer system and cemetery are not involved in the fire. Pietrzak said seeing the fire in her own backyard is concerning.

I was very shocked, she said. This is the sort of things that you see on the news and never really expect to actually happen where you frequent. I also live around the block from here so its concerning, and the fact that its still going on is a little bit more concerning that everything is business as usual when this is less than a mile away.

The cause of the fie remains unknown and may never be determined. The James City County Fire Department says it is monitoring the fire 24/7.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
WINCHESTER, Ky. (FOX 56)  A Winchester man was arrested on Sunday after allegedly running a camera through his floor into his neighbors apartment.

An arrest citation said 50-year-old Benny R. Vires was arrested and charged with video voyeurism and resisting arrest after police responded to his apartment to serve a warrant.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Vires was accused of running a borescope camera through his floor into an apartment below him where a juvenile lived.

According to an arrest citation, Vires told authorities when he stuck the camera through the floor he didnt see anyone.

Police reportedly obtained video from the borescope, which showed the camera above the juveniles shower and the person who made the initial complaint removing the camera from the ceiling.

LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

During a search of Viress home, police located a borescope box, two cell phones, and a bag of tools with a drill inside, according to the citation.

Vires were lodged in the Clark County Detention Center.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
The Israel-Lebanon ceasefire announced on Tuesday is essentially a rerun of UN Resolution 1701, the deal that ended the 2006 Lebanon war and ushered in 18 years of something approximating peace.

No one dares hope the new arrangement will last that long  and it may not even survive the week  but it has been agreed now because the timing works for all the main parties involved, including Israel, Lebanon, Iran, the US and Europe.

Israels defence establishment is the biggest winner. The IDF has lost more than 50 soldiers and a vast amount of ordinance since it rolled over the border two months ago but it has significantly degraded Hezbollah as a fighting force.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Iran-backed terror group has been decapitated, its vast arsenal of missiles reduced by half, its tunnel systems in southern Lebanon destroyed and its finance systems and supply chains seriously disrupted.

Credit: IDF

It is not clear if the IDF has done enough to allow Israels 60,000 displaced citizens to return to their border homes but Israels generals will see that as a political promise made rashly by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and not their problem.

For them, the priority was to remove Hezbollah as an existential threat to the state of Israel and that has been done  for the moment at least.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

It has, in the language of the generals, been an epic mowing of the terrorist lawn.

For Mr Netanyahu and his ruling coalition, the win is less emphatic. The displaced are not yet back in their homes, with opposition politicians saying on Tuesday that only half the job had been done.

Despite his debatable claim to have sent Hezbollah back decades, a snap poll on Tuesday night of his coalition voters found only 20 per cent supported the ceasefire deal.

Withdrawing forces now will create a dynamic that will make it difficult for us, and make it easier for Hezbollah to regroup, said Benny Gantz, the National Unity leader. We must not do only half the job.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Hezbollah still has its stockpile of tens of thousands of rockets, added Naftali Bennett, the former prime minister. An impressive military achievement  is being translated into a total security-diplomatic failure.

The new agreement replicates UN resolution 1701, requiring Hezbollah to pull back north of the Litani river and Israel to stop flying over Lebanese airspace.

As before, it is to be policed by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil). The US, France and others will form a committee that the two sides must consult before taking action over alleged breaches.

The agreement replicates 1701 rather than providing anything more ambitious because, under Lebanons constitution, any new deal would have to have been approved by the Lebanese parliament, which Hezbollah is a part of.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Which brings us to Hezbollah and its master, Iran.

For the terrorist group, survival  politically and militarily  is the reward of the new agreement. Despite bombing Israel for more than a year and pushing some 60,000 Israelis off their land, it will live to fight another day.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The group will explain away its losses and those of the Lebanese people  more than a million of whom have been displaced  through the self-serving prism of martyrdom and resistance, just as it has always done.

Iran too has reason to be pleased. Hezbollah is its ace card in the region which, just a month ago, looked like it might lose entirely.

By separating the war in Gaza from the fight in the north and agreeing to a ceasefire, it has won a reprieve that will allow it to continue to project power from Lebanon across the region.

Joe Biden, the US president, presented the deal as a victory for US negotiators but it will be president-elect Donald Trump who has most to gain.

He won in November promising to end wars and it is that commitment which several were saying last night brought Israel and Iran  the two principal parties in this agreement  to the negotiating table.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Everyone is coming to the table because of president Trump, said Mike Waltz, Trumps pick for national security adviser, on Tuesday night.

His resounding victory sent a clear message to the rest of the world that chaos wont be tolerated. Im glad to see concrete steps towards de-escalation in the Middle East.

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.
Millions of Americans are set to hit the skies over the Thanksgiving holiday in record numbers.

KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/Getty Images Travelers line up at the security checkpoint at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, on November 22, 2024, ahead of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday Travelers line up at the security checkpoint at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, on November 22, 2024, ahead of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday

Travelers are heading to the airports in droves this Thanksgiving, but they may need to pack their patience thanks to a combination of bad weather and air traffic controller shortages.

Millions of Americans are set to hit the skies over the Thanksgiving holiday period in record numbers, but wet or snowy weather from the Rockies to the Midwest and the Northeast may slow things down.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A cross-country storm is expected go from dropping multiple feet of snow in California's Sierra Nevada to then hitting the Denver area where it could dump up to a few inches, according to AccuWeather. The storm was then forecast to move East, gathering more moisture along the way and gaining strength from Wednesday night into Thursday night, resulting in moderate to heavy snowfall over northern New England and the higher elevations in central New England. The storm is also predicted to make for a rainy Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City.

The South wont escape the wet weather either, with AccuWeather warning of locally severe thunderstorms from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama on Wednesday night to Georgia and South Carolina on Thursday.

"We are tracking a storm moving ashore in Northern California into Tuesday that will have rainy and snowy implications in the East two days later," AccuWeathers Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said in the report. "There are many variables we are still analyzing with this storm with track and intensity being the keys to where the rain and snow line will set up and the amount of snow that will fall in the Midwest and Northeast."

Beyond weather, shortages in air traffic controllers in the Northeast threaten to wreak havoc ahead of Turkey Day. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) warned travelers may experience delays due to FAA staffing issues, and recommended they check their flight status and get to the airport extra early.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been dealing with an ongoing air traffic control staff shortage for years.

No major delays had been reported out of the airport as of Tuesday morning, according to flight tracker FlightAware.

Elsewhere in New York, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey warned travelers headed to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to avoid driving directly to the terminals if possible due to an ongoing major construction project. Overall, an estimated 1.34 million travelers are expected to head to the airport between Nov. 25 and Dec. 2, the agency told Travel + Leisure.

We would like our customers to spend as much time as possible with family and friends on this Thanksgiving holiday and as little time sitting in construction-related traffic at JFK, Port Authority Chairman Kevin OToole said in a statement shared with T+L. Leave extra time, use public transportation, pre-book parking if you absolutely have to drive to JFK and visit our website for the latest travel advisories before you leave for the airport.
There was no indication that she did not understand what she was doing," the judge said of Susan Lorincz of Florida

Doug Engle/Ocala Star-Banner via AP, Pool Susan Lorincz at her sentencing hearing on No.v 25. 2024 Susan Lorincz at her sentencing hearing on No.v 25. 2024

Susan Lorincz, the White woman who was previously found guilty of fatally shooting her Black neighbor Ajike AJ Owens through a locked door in Florida, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.

On Monday, Nov. 25, Judge Robert Hodges called the crime completely unnecessary at the sentencing hearing, where Lorincz, 60, was facing a 30-year sentence for the June 2023 death of the 35-year-old mom of four.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I find that the shooting was completely unnecessary, the judge said at court in Ocala, Fla., as reported by ABC News. In this case, Ms. Lorincz was behind the door. The door was locked. She had already called law enforcement. They were en route. She knew they were en route.

She was in a relatively safe position, the judge continued. For some reason, she went into her room and found a gun. She could have stayed in the room and put another locked door between her and Ms. Owens, but she came back out, put herself in front of the door, and at the time she fired the gun through the door, she was safe."

Marion County Sheriff's Office Susan Lorinczs mugshot Susan Lorinczs mugshot

Related: Fla. Mom Ajike Owens' Kids Feel Guilt Over Her Death After Neighbor Killed Her, Grandmother Says

There was no indication that she did not understand what she was doing, [or] that shooting a person was against the law, Hodges added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Lorinczs attorney offered no comment to PEOPLE.

At the time of the shooting, Lorincz told a 911 dispatcher she felt threatened and was fearing for my life at her Ocala home following a dispute with neighborhood children. She also told the dispatcher that none of the minors  several neighborhood kids, including Owens children  had any firearms.

Just screaming, yelling, just being absolutely obnoxious, Lorincz said, according to the 911 tape obtained by PEOPLE. I went and threw the roller skate over to the other side, the kid says hes going to beat me up for that, and hes mouthing off to me. I feel threatened in my own home.

Facebook Ajike 'AJ' Owens Ajike 'AJ' Owens

Asked if the child was still present, Lorincz responded: There are several kids out there right now, she said. Im fearing for my life. Im very scared.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Soon after, Owens knocked on Lorinczs apartment door to ask about the skates being thrown at her children. When she did, Lorincz shot through the door and killed Owens in front of Owens now 10-year-old son.

I am so sorry I took AJs life. I never intended to kill her, Lorincz said in court on Monday, per CNN.

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.

Her defense previously cited Floridas Stand Your Ground law, which allows people to use deadly force without retreating if they are: lawfully present, perceiving an imminent threat and not engaged in criminal activity.

I stand before you not only mourning the loss of my daughter, but also the loss of our hopes, dreams and the future that we often spoke of, Owens mother, Pamela Dias, said Monday. Our plans and promises to one another as mother and daughter will never come to light. They all died the night Susan Lorincz killed my daughter."


A woman was found dead in her car after a fatal medical episode in Atascadero on Monday morning.

At 7 a.m., the Atascadero Police Department received a call to check on the driver of a car stalled in the parking lot of the Chevron on San Anselmo Road, Officer Jeff Wilshusen told The Tribune.

Officers arrived on the scene within minutes and found an approximately 50-year-old woman unresponsive in the driver seat of the vehicle, Wilshusen said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The vehicle showed signs of a damage from a minor, low-impact traffic collision, and officers deduced that the vehicle had rolled forward and crashed into a metal storage container that holds propane tanks at the gas station, he said.

Officers attempted CPR on the woman, but efforts to resuscitate her were unsuccessful.

She was announced dead on the scene, Wilshusen said. Her identification is pending notification of next of kin.

Wilshusen said the cause of death was a medical episode while the woman was operating the vehicle, likely causing her to release her foot from the brake, which in turn caused the car to roll forward into the metal storage container.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

However, there were no witnesses or video surveillance footage of the incident.

The collision did not cause the medical emergency, Wilshusen said.

Drugs or alcohol were not suspected to have played a factor in the womans death at this time, but the final report was pending on the autospy and toxicology results, Wilshusen said.
CHICAGO  An 18-year-old girl was hit by a car and killed after running into the street late Monday night in the Ashburn neighborhood on the citys Southwest Side, according to police.

Child dead after being hit by car in Schaumburg

A 48-year-old man was driving west in a white SUV in the 3800 block of West Columbus Avenue around 11:30 p.m., police say, when he struck the teen who ran into the street.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

She was taken to an area hospital in critical condition with trauma to the body and later pronounced dead.

The medical examiner has identified the victim as 18-year-old Tru S. Butler.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Police say the driver of the white SUV remained on the scene, and a citation is pending.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
UPPER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (PIX11)  Police are asking for help locating a Florida woman who was reported missing on the Upper East Side.

Joslyn Garrido, 40, of Kissimmee, Florida, was last seen at 12:30 p.m. on Monday in front of 1300 York Ave., police said. Garrido is in New York City visiting her sister, sources told PIX11 News.

More Local News

Police described Garrido as a Hispanic woman with brown hair, brown eyes, and approximately 56 and weighs 150 pounds.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Police say she was last seen wearing blue scrubs and gray sweatpants. The NYPD shared the following picture of Garrido.

Joslyn Garrido was reported missing Monday afternoon (Courtesy of the NYPD)

Anyone with information is asked to contact the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline.

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
The stereotypical story of the American West conjures images of unforgiving terrain, rugged masculinity and a cowboy and ranching culture. But despite these Western tropes it also has a surprising history of offering women a way into political life long before it became the norm.

Every western state except for New Mexico gave women  though typically only White women  the right to vote before the 19th Amendment, which enfranchised women in 1920. Still some women were left out. Native American women, for example, could not vote until 1948. As with Black women in the American South, laws like literacy tests and poll taxes made it difficult for them to cast ballots.

But even before they were granted suffrage, women were making political history as elected officials. Colorado became the first state to elect women to a state legislature in 1894, while Utah elected the first woman state senator in 1896. Jeannette Rankin of Montana became the first woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1916, and Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming became the first woman to serve as governor in 1925.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A lot of the western states just really led the way, said Jean Sinzdak, associate director for the Center for American Women and Politics. That sense of new frontiers, it really spills out into womens representation.

Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming became the first woman to serve as governor in 1925. (Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)

So it should come as no surprise that the West also has broken records this election, with New Mexico and Colorado joining Nevada to become the only three states in the country where women make up the majority in state legislatures.

This pattern stems from back when western states were being formed. As newer states, their governments were being built in more fluid environments and were less entrenched in the longer standing governance of the eastern colonies, Sinzdak said. The times offered more room for experimentation. They were literally being formed as people were moving out there, she said.

And because the number of people living in the West was so small, there was a greater need to include women as a formal part of the population for voting and elected office, and to earn statehood, which required proof of a functioning government. You want to count everybody you possibly can to say we have enough people. And so oftentimes youre going to say, Well, women, yeah we need you over here, and we are going to need to have a convention, and we need to have somebody being in charge of education or Congress is not going to recognize us, said Sondra Cosgrove, a history professor at the College of Southern Nevada. There literally was no one else. And so, its like, OK, I guess its you guys.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Having women in these positions so early on normalized their leadership, making it less of a barrier for future generations. You can now have a good old girls network, where you can have mentoring, and you can have people who are in power, bringing people on, Cosgrove said.

A historical flyer with the title "Votes for Women a Success - The Map Proves It." The map of the United States is divided by states with different shading patterns to denote levels of women's suffrage: white for full suffrage, dotted for presidential suffrage, crosses for primary suffrage, and black for no suffrage. Below the map, a list of states with the years suffrage was granted is provided, ranging from 1869 to 1917. At the bottom, it states, "These States Control 172 Electoral Votes!" The flyer is from the National Woman Suffrage Publishing Company, dated June 1917.

While womens political wins in the West are the foundation to todays record-breaking numbers, an uptick in representation can also be attributed to a more recent concerted effort nationwide to elect women to office. The number of women running for office skyrocketed in response to the 2016 election, in which Hillary Clinton was poised to break the gender barrier for representation as president and was instead defeated by Donald Trump.

Before then, the story of womens representation in the state legislatures was one of complete stagnation, Sinzdak said. The 2018 midterms were just astonishing, and thats when the needle, in a meaningful way, actually jumped. Women previously held about 25 percent of seats in state legislatures. Today, they fill 33 percent of seats, though this year, the increase in representation was marginal, with an additional 19 seats so far (results continue to roll in).

We would like to see a little less incremental change, and more big jumps, Sinzdak said. We do not see that this year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In addition to reaching gender majority status in Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado, women already hold a majority in the Arizona Senate. California will join them as a result of the 2024 election. Oregon will return to gender parity in the statehouse in 2025.

Organizations like Emerge America, which supports Democratic women candidates, have been part of the reason why more women are running and winning elected office. According to their latest report for the 2024 election, of the 550 women they supported, 70 percent won their races, including women in New Mexico who now make up the majority of legislators. They also aided in the election of the first Black woman to Oregons congressional delegation, who joins the first Latina they helped elect. Sixty-six percent of Oregons congressional delegation are Emerge-supported candidates.

While Republicans are also making gains, they are far behind Democrats in electing women to office. According to the latest tally, 1,580 Democratic women will hold state legislature seats compared to 857 Republican women next year.

It comes out of two things, one, which is that the party has just been more receptive to the idea that identity plays a role in how you legislate, Sinzdak said. But the other piece of it is the support infrastructure has been much bigger overall, nationally, and then in various states, much more robust for Democratic women. And it started decades ago, when you had groups like Emilys List,

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Its so much smaller on the Republican side, but potentially growing. Newer [organizations] have been cropping up, but they are much, much smaller, she said.

Whether having a majority of women in state legislatures makes a difference in terms of what bills get passed remains up for debate, according to Cosgrove, who has been studying how this dynamic plays out in Nevada.

When this all started, we were all very hopeful that there was going to be noticeable change. And I do believe that there are bills that relate to women and children that have definitely gotten a better ability to be heard in our legislature, she said. But ultimately, what Im seeing right now is theres not systemic change, the women are still operating within a system thats controlled by donors.

They still have to worry about who is going to sign checks for their campaign, and the casino and mining industries have big pockets to influence candidates, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

One solution, according to Cosgrove, is a move away from closed primaries, which limit voters to register with a political party and then vote for that partys candidates. This often means that candidates have to toe the party line in order to win, Cosgrove said. In an open primary, candidates can court voters from other parties.

Cosgrove used Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski as an example. Alaska now has open primaries and ranked choice voting, and if you watch her, when shes being interviewed about whats happening, she speaks her mind and she does what she wants, she said. She is accountable to her voters, but she knows that over 20,000 Democrats helped her get through.

For that reason, Cosgrove sees a move to open primaries as a feminist issue. Women cant act independently if they cant act independent of the parties.

The post The women of the west are making political history  and have been for 130 years appeared first on The 19th.

News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter.
Thanksgiving week is here, and theres a good chance your plansfor the food-focused holiday are already in place. But if your plans to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine well before the holiday fell through, you may be wondering if its too late to get the shot before getting together with family and friends. Should you even bother?

Health officials have advised people to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine ahead of the holidays  at least two weeks before. However, if youve missed that deadline, it might still be beneficial to get the jab before you head off to your gatherings  for multiple reasons.

For starters, there was a worldwide surge in COVID infections this past summer, and some health experts predicted that there might be another wave in the fall and winter months.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The fall and winter months typically see a higher rate of respiratory viruses like [COVID-19] and influenza, as people are indoors and respiratory viruses like [COVID-19] seem to be able to survive or persist in the cooler temperatures, lower rates of humidity allow for the virus to be spread further, Dr. Matthew Binnicker, the director of clinical virology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, previously told HuffPost.

And last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report estimating that COVID-19 infections were growing, or likely growing, in eight states across the country.

Additionally, a majority of people in the U.S. may be feeling less and less inclined to get vaccinated. An October Pew Research Center survey found that 60% of Americans say they probably wont get an updated 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine. That means there may be a lot of people who are less protected from newer COVID variants this season.

All of those factors are reason enough to consider still getting the shot. But theres a lot of important information to keep in mind when it comes to the updated vaccines, surges in infections and the constantly changing SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19. So if youre still deciding whether or not its worth it to get the vaccine days before Thanksgiving, heres what to know.

The most recent shot targets variants that have been infecting people this year.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved three 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccines in August: the vaccines by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, and the Novavax vaccine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The updated COVID vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer target the KP.2 variant, which is one of several variants referred to as FLiRT variants that began spreading across the U.S. in the spring. The Novavax vaccine targets the JN.1 variant, which is the parent variant to the KP.2 strain. JN.1 was first detected in the U.S. in September 2023, according to the CDC.

The CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older receive an updated 2024-25 COVID-19.

The Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are authorized for use from 6 months of age, but Novax is only authorized for people ages 12 and over.

Typically, it takes the vaccine two weeks to kick in, but itll last you a while after that.

Dr. David Wohl, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of North Carolinas School of Medicine, previously told HuffPost that it can take a good two weeks to get the full effect of the vaccine.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

So ideally, you wouldve gotten the updated COVID-19 vaccine by at least Nov. 14 this year to reap its full benefits before the Thanksgiving holiday.

But research also suggests that the shots effectiveness lasts for months after you receive it. The vaccines are most effective during the first three months post-vaccination, according to John Hopkins Medicine. And CDC data from early this year found that people who had received an updated COVID-19 vaccine were 54% less likely to get the disease during a four-month period after getting the shot in September 2023.

You should still get an updated COVID-19 vaccine, even if its a few days before Thanksgiving.

While you wont get the full effectiveness of the vaccine in time for Thanksgiving, you can still benefit from getting vaccinated now.

Jennifer B. Nuzzo, professor of epidemiology and director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University School of Public Health, pointed out that getting the COVID-19 vaccination now will likely provide extra protection during the end of December holidays.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The only downside I can think of to getting boosted now is if you typically experience normal but unpleasant symptoms after getting vaccinated, it could dampen your Thanksgiving cheer, she told HuffPost. But otherwise, Id say you might as well get it done.

This is, of course, assuming you havent already had COVID this fall. If you did, then theres probably [a] benefit to waiting three more months, she added. (The CDC recommends waiting about three months after you had COVID-19 before getting vaccinated.)

Dr. Onyema Ogbuagu, a Yale Medicine infectious diseases physician and associate professor at Yale School of Medicine, also told HuffPost that while its a bit too late at this point to benefit from full protection for the upcoming Thanksgiving period, there is no harm with getting the vaccine, as [the] post-Thanksgiving period still matters as we are in respiratory viral season.

Ogbuagu emphasized that he feels particularly strongly that people ages 65 and older, as well as people with moderate to severe immunocompromising conditions, receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine, as they stand the most to lose if they dont and most to benefit if they do.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Dr. Amesh A. Adalja, a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, also acknowledged that the immune system takes some time to develop high enough antibody levels to prevent infection after a person gets a COVID-19 shot, but recommends that individuals who are considered high-risk get the vaccine as soon as possible regardless, he told HuffPost.

You should also try to take some other healthy precautions.

Adalja said his recommendations for avoiding COVID depend on an individuals risk factors for severe disease.

COVID is an endemic respiratory virus, and it will be with us this Thanksgiving and future [Thanksgivings], he said. We have many tools to limit its impact, including home tests, antivirals, and updated vaccines.

Ogbuagu added that while he knows everyone is fatigued with masking, its important that healthy people and younger adults who are sick stay away from vulnerable groups such as elderly people, people who are immunocompromised or those with underlying conditions like lung disease or asthma.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He recommended that people in the vulnerable category consider masking in congregate settings (like a Thanksgiving gathering in someones home). But he warned that masking without also including other protective measures, such as hand-washing or not eating in a closed and crowded space, would provide limited benefit.

The most important thing you and your loved ones can do is stay home if you arent feeling well, Nuzzo said. To reduce your likelihood of picking up an infection en route, you may want to wear a mask when traveling by crowded plane, train or other mass transit.

If a large crowd is gathering indoors, making sure the space is well-ventilated can reduce the likelihood of spreading illnesses, she added.

Related...
WOODBRIDGE, Va. (DC News Now)  Police arrested a brother and a mother who are accused of allowing their family member to die.

The Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) said that officers arrested 69-year-old Katharine Mary Thompson and 31-year-old Jonathan Lee Thompson on Nov. 22 for a death that happened in April.

Officers were first called to their home at the Bayvue Apartments on Fisher Avenue in Woodbridge on April 2. PWCPD said that the victim, a 32-year-old man with cerebral palsy, was receiving treatment at a hospital after suffering from extreme neglect.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

First responders found the man unconscious on the floor with open wounds.

Maryland dispatcher helps deliver baby girl during 911 call

At that time, Katharine Thompson, the victims mother, was charged with felony neglect as she was identified as his primary caregiver.

The victim died in the hospital on April 15. An autopsy determined that his cause of death was homicide due to sepsis in the setting of cerebral palsy and neglect.

Police later determined that Jonathan Thompson, the victims brother, also lived with the victim and helped in his care, which made him responsible.

Both of them were arrested and charged with felony homicide and abuse and neglect of a vulnerable adult.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
A grocery store worker filed a proposed class action lawsuit against Kroger and Albertsons in Colorado state court on Monday, accusing the two supermarket giants of colluding against striking employees to keep pay and benefits down.

Valarie Morgan, who works at a Kroger-owned King Soopers store, alleges the two competitors reached an illicit agreement not to poach employees or customers during a 2022 work stoppage. Doing so, she claims, gave Kroger an upper hand against its employees union during contract talks.

As a result, Morgan says, Kroger workers ended up with a worse deal than they should have.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The anticompetitive agreement was successful, she alleges. It artificially reduced the unions bargaining power during negotiations, while increasing the leverage of Krogers management.

The suit alleges that this ultimately benefited Albertsons as well, since the terms of the Kroger deal would impact the contracts Albertsons would later negotiate with the same union.

Albertsons did not respond to a request for comment. Kroger denied the allegations in a statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

There were no non-solicitation or so-called no-poach agreements between Kroger and Albertsons, a spokesperson said via email.

Morgan said in a statement through Towards Justice, the workers legal aid group representing her, that she wanted to stand up for all the workers who were harmed by this corporate abuse.

These companies rigged the system against us, undermining our right to fight for better pay and fair treatment through our unions, she said. Hardworking Coloradans deserve better.

Colorados attorney general filed a lawsuit earlier this year with similar allegations, citing emails between Kroger and Albertsons officials just ahead of the King Soopers strike that hit 78 stores and involved thousands of workers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We dont intend to hire any King Soupers [sic] employees, and we have already advised the Safeway division of our position, and the division agrees, Albertsons senior vice president of labor relations was quoted writing in an email to a Kroger official.

Workers at Kroger-owned King Soopers went on strike in Colorado in 2022. Michael Ciaglo via Getty Images

That email is cited in Morgans lawsuit, along with others suggesting Albertsons agreed not to solicit Kroger customers to switch their prescriptions to Albertsons during the strike. Such an agreement could have helped Kroger hang onto shoppers through the work stoppage.

Kroger and Albertsons are two of the largest grocery companies in the U.S., and now they are trying to merge in a $25 billion deal. Opponents have held up the alleged collusion during the strike as evidence the merger would hurt workers and consumers by pushing pay down and prices up.

The Federal Trade Commission, joined by several state attorneys general, went to court in hopes of blocking the merger from moving forward earlier this year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The antitrust case is now in federal court, though it faces an uncertain future following President-elect Donald Trumps victory. Trump will have the opportunity to reshape the FTC following an aggressive antitrust agenda under President Joe Biden.

Both Kroger and Albertsons have defended the proposed merger and claimed it would lead to lower prices for shoppers. Kroger has also disputed the collusion allegations, telling HuffPost in February that there was not then, and there is not now, non-solicitation or so-called no-poach agreements between Kroger and Albertsons.

Unionized Kroger and Albertsons employees in Colorado are represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7, which has come out in opposition to the merger. Its president, Kim Cordova, previously told HuffPost she believed the union was harmed by the alleged no-poach agreement.

We will never know what concessions we could have got from these employers, Cordova said. We did well [with our contracts] but we could have done even better.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This story has been updated with comment from Kroger.

Related...
John Alfred Tinniswood died on Monday at 112 years old at the Hollies Rest Home on Mornington Road in Southport on Englands west-central coast. Photo by Kiray Rodriguez/Wikimedia Commons

Nov. 26 (UPI) -- The world's oldest living man has died, his family said Tuesday.

John Alfred Tinniswood died Monday at age 112 at the Hollies Rest Home in Southport on England's west-central coast.

His family said Tinniswood was "surrounded by music and love" in his final days. He is survived by daughter, Susan, grandchildren Annouchka, Marisa, Toby and Rupert, and great-grandchildren Tabitha, Callum and Nieve.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He was born Aug. 26, 1912, to Ada and John Bernard Tinniswood in the reign of King George V -- the great-grandfather of King Charles III and grandfather to the late Queen Elizabeth II.

A widower, he met his future wife, Blodwen, at a dance in Liverpool. They married in 1942 and were together 44 years until her death in 1986.

He "had many fine qualities" and he was "intelligent, decisive, brave, calm in any crisis, talented at math and a great conversationalist," a statement by his family read in part. . "His last day was surrounded by music and love.

"I can't think of any special secrets I have," he said at the celebration of his last birthday. "I was quite active as a youngster; I did a lot of walking. But to me, I'm no different. No different at all.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Tinniswood was just over 4 months old when the Titanic sank and 6 months old when Arizona became the 48th U.S. state. He spent a career in finance and saw military service in the Royal Army Pays Corps during World War II.

In April, then at 111-years-old, Tinniswood was officially named by Guinness World Records the world's oldest living man after the death of a 114-year-old Venezuelan, Juan Vicente Perez.

The former second-oldest living man, 112-year-old Japanese man Gisaburo Sonobe, died March 31. Meanwhile, the world's oldest living woman -- 116-year-old Tomiko Itooka of Japan -- was honored in September on Japan's Respect for the Aged Day.

Tinniswood had attributed his longevity to "pure luck."

"You either live long or you live short, and you can't do much about it," he told Guinness in April. He previously said how if "you drink too much or you eat too much or you walk too much; if you do too much of anything, you're going to suffer eventually."
Former U.S. Attorney Harry Litman on Monday spelled out how Justice Department staff are feeling ahead of Donald Trumps return to the White House.

And its not good, he told CBS News Ed OKeefe.

Multiple criminal cases against the president-elect have been tossed following his election victory over Democratic rival Kamala Harris, sentencing in his hush money case was postponed and Trump has picked loyalist Pam Bondi as attorney general after acolyte former Rep. Matt Gaetzs (R-Fla.) nomination fell through amid increased scrutiny over sexual misconduct allegations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

OKeefe asked Litman, Whats it like for the career attorneys at the Justice Department who see these cases falling apart? Are they demoralized by this, or are they kind of like, Well, thems the rules. We just gotta do what the rules say?

Litman said, No, this is not a thems the rules as usual kind of situation.

You know, its not simply these cases falling apart, but the assertion of the power just from the president to make them fall apart and other things that are contemplated for the DOJ, he added.

Litman highlighted really demoralized career staff, people putting their resumes on the street, people being really afraid of what Trumps entry will mean for the storied DOJ function of doing justice without fear or favor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This is the worst crisis Ive ever seen in DOJ history, he added.

OKeefe suggested its exactly how the president-elect wants it to some extent.

Hes trying to disrupt the federal government. Might as well start with the Justice Department, he added.

Watch the full exchange here:

The Department of Justice has a "really demoralized career staff" ahead of President-elect Trump taking office, says former U.S. attorney Harry Litman, with employees "really afraid of what Trump's entry will mean for the storied DOJ function."



"This is the worst crisis I've pic.twitter.com/8H6qDuxmfq  CBS News (@CBSNews) November 25, 2024

Related...
Nov. 26Washington State Patrol troopers will be conducting emphasis patrols until Sunday on Washington State Route 26 and U.S. Highway 195, as well as Interstate 90 near Snoqualmie Pass.

District 4 troopers in Whitman, Spokane and Adams counties as well as District 6 troopers in Grant and Kittitas counties will focus on speed, distracted or impaired driving, and other collision-causing violations during the emphasis, the agency announced in a news release.

Motorists should monitor posted speed limits and be prepared for changing road and weather conditions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Drivers are encouraged to prepare their vehicles for winter, including checking all fluids and tires, and making sure the vehicle's battery is in good condition. The agency also advises including a small emergency kit equipped with water, snacks, blankets, winter clothing and emergency flares. Chains may be required when traveling over mountain passes.

WSP's main focus is to ensure everyone arrives at their destination safely and without incident, according to the news release.

Current road and weather conditions on all state highways can be found by visiting the Washington State Department of Transportation's website at wsdot.com/travel/real-time.

Four WSP vehicles struck by suspected impaired drivers

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Daily headlines, straight to your inboxRead it online first and stay up-to-date, delivered daily at 7 AM

It was a busy weekend for WSP troops when four of its cruisers were struck by suspected impaired drivers.

The agency said in a news release Sunday the incidents occurred within a four-hour period in King County.

The first happened around 11 p.m. Saturday when a trooper noticed a driver, who appeared asleep, rolling into the intersection of Washington State Route 516 and Military Road. Unable to get their attention, law enforcement drove in front of the car to prevent it from creeping further.

The driver was arrested for supposed impaired driving.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The next three patrol car crashes were right before 3 a.m. Sunday on southbound Interstate 5. Troopers were investigating a hit-and-run collision when a vehicle came onto the scene and hit one cruiser, which was pushed into another.

The driver was apprehended for alleged impairment.

Shortly after, another squad car was struck responding to the scene to assist with traffic control. The motorist was also arrested for supposed impairment.

No troopers were hurt during the incidents, and the suspects didn't sustain any serious injuries.

The agency is urging motorists to drive cautiously as holiday travel begins.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Wichita State University is ranked in the top 10 for Engineering research and development expenditures in the National Science Foundations Higher Education Research and Development Survey for the first time in its history.

The university is ranked No. 8, just behind Purdue. The rankings are for the fiscal year 2023. WSU is also ranked No. 1 for aerospace engineering R&D expenditures for the first time in its history, with a total of $327 million of all funding sources for aerospace research and development.

That puts Wichita State first, ahead of Georgia Institute of Technology with $294 million, Utah State University with $271 million, Johns Hopkins University with $196 million, and the University of Colorado with $90 million.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In recent years, Wichita State Universitys National Institute for Aviation Research has seen increased investment from both private industry and the federal government, and university officials expect that to continue.

SPEEA members accept contract with Spirit AeroSystems

This achievement is a historic milestone for Wichita State and a testament to our unwavering commitment to innovation and industry collaboration, said Wichita State President Rick Muma in a news release. This accomplishment reflects the outstanding work of our research teams, who push the boundaries of technology and address the real-world challenges faced by our partners in the aerospace sector and beyond. Together, we are advancing our mission to drive economic growth through groundbreaking research and applied learning.

To learn more about Wichita State Universitys engineering programs, click here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY)  For many people, the annual Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade is a November tradition, one the Mountaineer Marching Band will soon be a part of, including many West Virginia natives.

12 News spoke with two West Virginia students in the Pride of West Virginia who talked about what marching on such a big stage means to them.

As a West Virginian, its a prime chance to display that the stereotypes of the state are just wrong. Were great people, fantastic people, and I think the Pride exemplifies that better than any other organization, and its a great way to display that to the rest of the world, Head Trombone Section Leader and Lincoln High School alumnus Ian McIntyre said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

To me, its representing the state of West Virginia, which nationally, getting that kind of recognition, getting that kind of representation is important for our state. And, with the band having been in 2016 and now in 2024, I think it says a lot that we are, as a band, not just ambassadors to the university, but for the entire state of West Virginia, as well, Trombone Section Leader and Washington High School alumnus Evan Miller said.

McIntyre said he and the rest of the band are very excited about the parade and can step off the parade right now.

In the past few weeks, whenever weve put more of a spotlight on practice for the Macys performance, the emotion of the entire group is amazing, McIntyre said. Were just really excited.

Did you know the Mountaineer gives opposing mascots gifts?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Miller said the band has put a lot of additional effort into practices for the bands Herald Square performance, including battling the elements.

Weve been marching all over the Coliseum, our practice field. Weve been using Milan Puskar Stadium. And, even this week, I mean it was sideways rain and sideways snow, but we were still playing, Miller said. I think its going to be a good show.

Miller told 12 News the band would be the group leading Santa in to finish up the parade, so pretty much dead last. He added that the band will be performing a medley that incorporates themes from the bands pregame show, such as Country Roads and Simple Gifts.

12 News asked McIntyre what hes excited about the most while performing on such a large stage.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Wanting to represent the state of West Virginia. As someone who comes from Shinnston, population of 2,400 people, I think its a great way to put the City of Shinnston, Harrison County and the state of West Virginia on a pedestal, and its a fantastic place to do that, McIntyre said.

Miller, who is in his 5th year in the program, told 12 News he initially was unsure if he wanted to continue in the band, but that the opportunity to march in this parade was too good to pass up.

Its one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that Im going to think about for the rest of my life, Miller said. I think its kind of just a grand finale of my marching career since Ive been marching since my freshman year of high school. This is my ninth year in marching band, so I think this will be the ultimate grand finale.

The band first received word that it would be marching in this years parade in 2023, with Director Cheldon Williams arranging their attendance in secret and announcing it prior to WVUs home matchup against Pitt.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

You can watch the Mountaineer Marching Band in the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade this Thursday on WBOY-NBC. Step-off is set for 8:30 a.m. and an encore airing is set for 2 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Oregon Democratic Senator Ron Wyden join KOIN 6 News on Monday afternoon to talk about a myriad of different issues, including PGE rate hikes, potential tariffs from the incoming Trump administration, and more.

Although hes a Democrat, Wyden said that he is strongly considering supporting Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) as Trumps selection for Secretary of State.

Local woman missing for days in Mt. Hood National Forest

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I am giving some serious thought for supporting Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, Wyden said. We have worked on a number of projects, particularly with respect to foreign surveillance of our soldiers. Our soldiers are some of the most courageous people I know, and yet, overseas, sometimes, you have these hostie foreign countries doing surveillance on practically their every move. Senator Rubio has helped me with this. So I am going to listen carefully. We have done a lot of work together.

Watch the full interview with Senator Wyden in the video player above.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Nov. 26A Yellow Springs man who pleaded guilty to one count of assisted suicide has been sentenced to five years probation.

Thomas Macaulay was charged in April with two counts of assisted suicide in the death of his wife, 75-year-old Ardis Macaulay. He pleaded guilty to one of those counts in September.

Macaulay will also pay $1,200 to the court as part of his probation fees.

Defense attorney Jon Paul Rion previously told the Dayton Daily News said that the outcome of the court case was expected to have "minimal impact" on his client's life, adding that Macaulay "has obviously been through a lot already."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"This couple has been together for many, many, many years," Rion said. "They were both in education, and both gave a lot to our community. They're two wonderful people who tried their best in this life."

Around 3:20 a.m. on March 28, Yellow Springs police responded to Aspen Court after Macaulay reported that his wife died from a nitrogen-induced suicide. He said she chose to end her life, according to a call log.

Macaulay, a retired Wright State University sculpture professor, told officers he had been with his wife. He said he did not participate in the suicide but that they had been planning it, according to the police report.

Inside the house officers found a suicide-type note on the table next to his wife's recliner, and instructions on how to die by suicide through nitrogen gas poisoning, the report stated.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ardis Macaulay retired as an art teacher from Mechanicsburg High School and previously taught art at Bethel and Tecumseh high schools, according to her obituary.

State law states that assisted suicide is "providing the physical means by which the other person commits or attempts to commit suicide" or; "participating in a physical act by which the other person commits or attempts to commit suicide."

Dayton Right to Life reported to Cincinnati Right to Life that it was Ohio's first assisted suicide case and that the Macaulays lived in a senior community. The organization chapters celebrated Macaulay's indictment earlier this year, saying they are "proud of the research, work and advocacy that went into this legislation," which went into effect in 2017.
ALFRED, Maine  Dump trucks rumbled across the road to the construction site, where heavy machinery smoothed the dirt in preparation for new buildings designed to transform lives and make a difference.

Within 18 to 24 months, two new facilities will rise on the recently cleared space on Layman Way. One will be a substance use recovery center, offering a lifeline to those grappling with addiction. The other will be a training center for first responders, providing ongoing education and new skills to law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, emergency managers, dispatchers, and more.

York County Commissioners and others got together Thursday, Nov. 21 to officially break ground on a new county government-owned and operated recovery center and a new first responders training center. The buildings are expected to be completed in 18-24 months.

On Thursday, Nov 21, 35 days after site preparation began, York County Commissioners and others each scooped up a bit of dirt in their shovels  symbolically breaking ground on the new projects. In so doing, they were also breaking brand new ground in Maine, with the first two projects of their kind in the state initiated by a county government.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Board of York County Commissioners said they wanted to invest in people  to make a generational impact, said York County Manager Greg Zinser. They said we want to invest in something that is going to make a change.

This is an architects rendering of the new substance use recovery center to be built and operated by York County government.

Making a change was something Kennebunk Police Chief Robert Mackenzie sought to do as he began his law enforcement career 36 years ago when he would talk with those he arrested for driving under the influence.

It was important to me to find out what was going on with them, a member of the Recovery Center Committee, told those assembled. That compassion continued through the years and intensified as opioids became prevalent across the country and across the county, touching many, including family members.

When people are struggling and need help, you want to seize that opportunity, said Mackenzie, noting that services have not always readily available, especially in York County. That opportunity may not be there in an hour; this facility will change that; it will save lives.

York County Commissioners and others celebrated the start of construction on a new substance use recovery center and a first responders training center on Thursday, Nov. 21.

York County Sheriffs Office Chief Deputy Jeremy Forbes said the training center will provide officers with the latest tools, the most current training methods, and the kind of real-world scenarios that cant be replicated in the classroom. He said it will aid recruiting efforts and in retaining those already employed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ultimately, the people it will benefit the most are the citizens of York County this facility will ensure that our first responders are better trained and better equipped to handle whatever challenges arise, Forbes said.

The training facility has been a dream for my lifetime, and it is finally coming to fruition, said York County governments Roger Hooper, who has been coordinating plans for the training center. Instruction learned there, in partnership with other agencies like York County Community College, will make for a better, more competent first responder, Hooper said.

More: York Housing Authority declines courthouse for affordable housing

The projects together are expected to cost about $44 million, much of which is funded through the countys allocation from the American Rescue Plan Act, congressionally designated spending, grants, and other funds. York County government will own and operate the two buildings and will hire staff to operate them, said Zinser.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The county recognized two significant needs and addressed them, said York County Sheriff William L. King. I am honored to be part of this innovative approach ensuring our first responders have first class, up-to-date training in a facility designed especially for that purpose, as well as filling a crucial gap in accessible treatment options for those struggling with addiction.

The buildings were designed by Lassel Architects, and Landry French Construction is providing design-build services. Oak Point Associates and Sebago Technics have been involved in the projects.

More: Kennebunks explore options to save Dock Square and Lower Village from coastal flooding

U.S. Senator Susan Collins, (R-Maine) through aide Pam Buck, noted that she and Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) worked together to secure $1.8 million to equip a state-of-the-art training center and noted more than $1.9 million will help people struggling with substance use disorder receive the services they need to improve their health and wellbeing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I applaud the elected officials and staff of Maines First County for their success in addressing two critical needs in the 29 towns and cities they serve, said Collins in a statement. These two projects are outstanding examples of communities working together to plan and build for the future.

In a statement, King welcomed the countys two initiatives.

Maine is one big community, and we have an obligation to one another to ensure we not only survive but thrive, said King. I am excited that York Countys leadership is demonstrating their commitment to the community by constructing a new substance use disorder recovery center and first responder training facility. These two projects are an important step forward in working together to take care of one another and create a brighter tomorrow for all Maine people.

The training center will ensure that those working as first responders  where safety really counts  have the latest and best training around, York County Commission Chair Richard Dutremble told those on hand to witness the groundbreaking.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He pointed out that the recovery center will provide 50 detox, short- and long-term residential beds for those looking to change their lives, along with eight observation beds, ensuring immediate care.

It will provide hope, healing, and tangible recovery, said Dutremble.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: York County government breaks ground on recovery and training centers
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Six new firefighters are now on duty with the Youngstown Fire Department.

Mayor Tito Brown swore them in Tuesday morning at Station Number One downtown.

Taking the oath of office are Jenna Deer, Hannah Warzla, Andrew Golubic, Bryan Ramos, Joe Chiofolo and Jesse Szmara.

This brings the fire department up to full staff.

Fire Chief Barry Finley says he is overjoyed with these new young men and women and their commitment to serve.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We have three turns, and every turn, every station has four people assigned to a truck now, so well have far more than we had before, so Im hoping this makes a significant difference in what we do and how we operate, Finley said.

The mayor said he is always impressed when brave young men and women step up to serve.

We continue to talk about our next generation, that they always continue to give me hope for tomorrow when I see them, get a chance to talk to them, get a chance to meet em and where their aspirations are. I think at some point, we are going to find we are in good hands with the next generation in the City of Youngstown, Brown said.

Also at the swearing-in Tuesday morning were several family and friends of each new cadet.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Brian Oehlbeck contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Youngstowns years-long battle with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State of Ohio could be finally coming to a close.

An entry in federal court Monday shows that the parties have come to an agreement that could save the city millions of dollars.

We dont know a lot of the details going forward, but we know that a lot of things we asked the judge to consider for the city of Youngstown and this long evolution of this issue with the consent decree we got a lot of things that will benefit the city in the long run, said Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The case has been going back and forth since December 2000 when the U.S. EPA filed a complaint about how the city discharges its raw sewage in violation of the Clean Water Act.

The case was expected to be resolved in March 2002 with an agreement that the city would spend $12 million in short-term improvements and then $100 million over the next two decades and develop a long-term sewage discharge control plan.

The plan had an enforceable schedule and included elimination of sewer overflow at Orchard Meadow near Mill Creek Parks Lily Pond, replacing two pump stations and significant improvement to the operation and maintenance of the sewer system.

Over the years, the city has been able to address many details of the plan that was laid out in stages. Renovations at the Poland Avenue treatment plant are complete and an interceptor that addresses runoff in Mill Creek is ongoing, but cost and the enforceable schedule have been a challenge.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A motion was filed by the city in March 2024 to modify the consent decree as to the implementation schedule because of a significant change in circumstances  mostly costs.

For instance, an updated estimate on the proposed Wet Weather Facility (WWF) that would reduce the overflows during heavy rain from an outfall in the collection system had an initial estimated cost of $62 million. That estimate has increased to $240 million. The city also said that the overflow data that was collected when the decree was filed has substantially changed.

The city also showed the EPA that a costly new treatment facility ordered in the original decree could be completed cheaper and smaller.

We recognized that it didnt have to be that large scale as originally said, and we got them to consider a smaller scale but continue to provide the service that we need but also a cost savings to the city of Youngstown, Brown said. Ive been advocating that for the citizens, although this is an unfunded mandate, as much or least restrictive as we can to put the burden on the backs of the citizens  we didnt want to do that. And any less money we can put into this project the less money the taxpayer has to spend.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The city also lists other details of the decree that have since changed over the years.

While details of a new agreement were not filed in court, the judge said that all sides need to have the details hammered out and filed by February 26, 2025.

Coming to a compromise is a reasonable piece for us as a city, Brown said. Weve been dealing with this for years, and we had to figure out how to settle it.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
The longest criminal trial in state history is near the end.

On Monday night, prosecutors and defense attorneys wrapped up their closing arguments in the Young Slime Life gang trial. Now, a Fulton County jury will decide the fate of the last two defendants: Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick, the rapper known as Yak Gotti.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The jury began deliberations on Tuesday afternoon. They had not reached a verdict by the end of the day and will return on Wednesday morning.

Channel 2s Michael Seiden has been following the trial for over a year and will be in the courtroom for updates on Channel 2 Action News at Noon.

Prosecutors claim that YSL members have committed violent crimes across Atlanta. They accused Stillwell and Kendrick of killing Donovan Thomas Jr., also known as Big Nut, in drive-by shooting because he was in a rival gang.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Prosecutors have argued that tattoos, social media postings and other evidence supports their claims that YSL is a gang.

The defense said thats not true and argued that Kendrick and Stillwell are part of a record label and not a gang.

Being signed to a record label, even a rap record label, is not a crime in the U.S., attorney Doug Weinstein said.

RELATED STORIES:

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The YSL case began initially as an indictment that charged 28 people, including rapper Young Thug, with conspiring to violate Georgias Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

Nine people took plea deals before the trial began, including rapper Gunna. Other defendants had their cases severed and their cases are still pending.

The most prominent defendant was Young Thug. The rapper pleaded guilty as part of a non-negotiated plea in the YSL RICO case.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Former Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel and his wife, Ellen, have donated $200,000 to YSUs Kilcawley: Centered on the Future campaign.

Read next: Update on possible Thanksgiving storm

The campaign is raising money for renovations to Kilcawley Center, which serves as the student center at the university. The fundraising campaign officially kicked off earlier this month, when other major donors were recognized.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to the university, the Tressels donation is significant as their lifetime contributions to the university have exceeded $2 million.

In addition to the donation, the Tressels are serving as active members of the Kilcawley Renovation Campaign Leadership Cabinet, where they are involved in advancing the project.

We are excited to support the renovation of Kilcawley Center, a place that has served as the heart of student life for so many generations of Penguins, said Jim Tressel. This project will offer a modern, collaborative space where students can engage with one another and their community, creating opportunities for personal and academic growth for years to come.

The Tressels $200,000 gift will fund the naming of two key spaces in the revamped Kilcawley Center. The first-floor meeting room will be named in honor of Jim and Ellen Tressel. The second-floor lounge will be named in honor of Ellens parents, Frank and Norma Watson, who had also supported the university.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Kilcawley Center is an iconic part of YSUs history, and it will continue to be the heart of student life for generations to come, said Ellen Tressel. My parents were passionate about supporting Youngstown State University, and this is a fitting tribute to their legacy. We are honored to be part of this exciting chapter in the universitys history.

Planned enhancements to Kilcawley Center include a new black-box theater for performances, a revamped Chestnut Room for larger gatherings, and improved connectivity to the Andrews Student Recreation and Wellness Center. Additionally, the design will integrate indoor and outdoor spaces, according to YSU.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Whales in the south Pacific have historically found themselves washed up on New Zealand's shores in large numbers. After the latest major beaching event, local residents and conservation workers wasted no time in helping save their big, beautiful friends.

According to The Associated Press, more than 30 pilot whales were found stranded on Nov. 24 at Ruakaka Beach near the city of Whangarei on New Zealand's North Island. The Department of Conservation commended the hundreds of locals who sprang into action to help save the beached animals for the "incredible" work.

Its amazing to witness the genuine care and compassion people have shown toward these magnificent animals," Department of Conservation spokesperson Joel Lauterbach said of the joint effort. "This response demonstrates the deep connection we all share with our marine environment."

Residents and conservation department workers lifted the whales on sheets to help get them back into the water. Sadly, four of the pilot whalesthree adults and one calfdied while on shore. Because of whales' hallowed place in Maori culture as a "taonga," or sacred treasure, some local Indigenous people performed a cultural ceremony to honor their deaths.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Related: 55 Whales Wash Up on Beach in Scotland

New Zealand might be home to some of the most world-famous whale-watching sites in the world, but that doesn't mean you'll see them all in the ocean.
Long a model for climate action, New Zealand is taking heat for letting up on its goals to decarbonize.

What's happening?

The island nation in the South Pacific Ocean is moving toward climate adaptation rather than mitigation. Part of the problem is that neighboring Australia is rowing in the other direction, NBC News reported.

A new, more conservative government in New Zealand is looking to open up offshore oil and gas exploration and sidestep environmental studies for major development projects, according to the outlet. The country stopped offering electric vehicle subsidies and "delayed the introduction of world-first agricultural emissions pricing to the next decade, despite almost half of the country's emissions coming from agriculture."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"We're not the poster country that we used to be," Massey University professor of sustainable energy Ralph Sims said.

New Zealand Climate Change Minister Simon Watts told NBC that the country has earmarked $400 million over the next four years to manage such pollution with a technology-based approach. He added that the country would still reach net-zero carbon pollution by 2050, though one expert was skeptical.

"It's going to be very challenging for New Zealand to meet its obligations without being much more stringent on reducing its domestic emissions," Sims said.

Why is this important?

The Asia-Pacific region is threatened by natural disasters, perhaps more so than any other area. With more than 64 million people affected, it is the site of 80% of climate-induced displacement, according to the United Nations. New Zealand is home to 5.2 million people.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The rising global temperature is making extreme weather more common and more severe. That's because polluting gases such as carbon dioxide and methane heat up Earth. Warmer air holds more moisture, so water vapor accumulates as well, trapping more heat and creating a positive feedback loop.

The biggest resulting risks in New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific come from monsoon rains, floods, tropical cyclones, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides, according to the U.N. The Pacific Islands are facing catastrophic sea level rise over the next three decades, and their officials and citizens are asking for help from neighbors and other more powerful countries that are most responsible for the climate crisis.

What's being done about New Zealand's pollution goals?

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has said the government remains committed to developing renewable energy. But critics want it to do more.

New Zealand is among the worst per-capita polluters of the 38 countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, according to NBC. It must reduce its gross pollution by at least 44% by 2030 to remain on track to help the global need to keep warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius from preindustrial levels, per the Climate Action Tracker.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"In August, a coalition of Australian and New Zealand [nongovernmental organizations] called on the two countries to declare their support for a new goal of $1 trillion a year to help Pacific Island and other lower-income countries mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change," NBC reported.

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.
Google is removing a number of offers from its hotel search results in an experiment in parts of Europe, eight months after the entry into force of the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA).

So far, when searching for a hotel, three paid results from specialist search engines and comparison portals such as Booking.com or Check24 are displayed first. Below this is an interactive map with hotel entries, on which the price for an overnight stay can be seen at a glance, the so-called free booking links. Below the map, further hotel entries follow that have not been sponsored.

In the test run in Germany, Belgium and Estonia, the map and the free booking links are now to disappear. At least for the time being, Google is complying with the demands of competitors who want to prevent travellers from booking a hotel directly via Google search results.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The test will remove the map showing the location of hotels and the hotel results displayed below it, Oliver Bethell, head of Google's legal department, wrote in a blog posted on Tuesday.

"We think the latest proposal is the right way to balance the difficult trade-offs that the DMA involves," Bethell wrote. "Were very reluctant to take this step, as removing helpful features does not benefit consumers or businesses in Europe."

After the test is completed, the results will be displayed normally again. Google did not say exactly how long the test would last.

According to the provisions of the DMA, large online platforms must not favour their own offers.

Google Search is one of the services that the European Commission identified as a so-called "gatekeeper" under the DMA. Rules apply to them that are intended to enable more competition.
A teenager from Zimbabwe wants to prove energy comes from the most unexpected places  like discarded peanut shells. The 19-year-old student, Kudzaishe Chole, used peanut shells, water, and a good understanding of electrochemistry to impress at her high school science fair. Your science fair project definitely didn't look like this.

Chole told The Herald of Zimbabwe that she was struggling to land on an idea before thinking about the peanut shells she had been collecting for years without a clear reason.

"Pressure prompted me to come up with this project," she told the paper. "I believe I work best under pressure."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

For her project, Chole first removed ions from water and then soaked her peanut shells in this deionized water to extract useful chemical components, according to the report. Chole then used the principles of electrochemistry to create electricity, similar to a battery's.

Chole was inspired to create the project due to her interest in sustainable alternatives to dirty energy sources polluting the planet.

Currently, batteries used in many technology applications use carbon-based materials such as graphite, as well as minerals and materials that can be costly and damaging to mine.

The student project echoes existing research on peanut shells being a valuable source of renewable energy. Research dating as far back as 2014 used peanut shells to harness energy using electrochemistry.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A recent study documented a process for creating lithium-ion batteries using ferric oxide derived from peanut shells. The research uses electrochemistry principles like in Chole's study. Peanut shells have also been proposed as an ideal component for biofuel.

Peanut shells are an important source of renewable energy around the world, especially in regions with high poverty levels. A peanut farm in Argentina, for example, burns excess shells in a water boiler to power its production operations. The Argentinian town of Ticino is entirely powered by burning peanut shells, thanks to a similar power plant.

Will America someday get all its energy from renewable sources?

Click your choice to see results and speak your mind

Argentina is the largest producer of peanuts in Latin America. Pablo Margiaria, Ticino's secretary of management and communication, told El Pais an estimated 45,000 tons of peanut shells in Argentina are discarded every year.

Researchers working with peanut shells to create power say they make ideal energy sources because peanut shells are low-cost, easy to source, and have little commercial use. Discarded peanut shells mostly end up in landfill sites as food waste, which releases potent plant-warming gases like methane as it decomposes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

"As environmental concerns grow, there is a push for sustainable, eco-friendly alternatives from traditional energy sources," Chole told The Herald of Zimbabwe. "People are more open to learning about innovative solutions that address energy shortages and reduce waste."

She says, however, that widespread adaptation of such technology often "depends on awareness, accessibility and affordability." It may be a while until peanut shells power your home.

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.
Juan Armando Valencia-Rocha, 19, appears in Yakima County Superior Court via Zoom Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. Rocha is charged with first-degree assault in connection with an August shooting that left a man wounded in Toppenish. (Donald W. Meyers/Yakima Herald-Republic)
The opposition Socialists have proposed the government should set up a fund for the prevention of violence against women and to include the fight against domestic violence as a subject in the national curriculum, the party's parliamentary deputy group leader said on Monday, marking International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

In Hungary, between 10,000-12,000 instances of domestic violence are reported to the police each year, Zita Gurmai told MTI in a statement, adding that more than one-fourth of the women become target of physical abuse even if they are pregnant.



"It is shocking, but still a fact that one woman dies in Hungary every week because of domestic violence."



Authorities often attribute less than required importance to violence against women, said Gurmai. As regards sex crimes, investigations too often turn into "blaming the victim" with the authorities focusing their attention to "how the victim's behaviour could have motivated the crime".



According to the United Nations" website, women's rights activists have observed 25 November as a day against gender-based violence since 1981.



This date was selected to honour the Mirabal sisters, three political activists from the Dominican Republic who were brutally murdered in 1960 by order of the countrys ruler.



Official: 'Pro-immigration' policies have made women targets of violence

"Pro-immigration policies" pursued by Brussels and the left wing have led to a rise in violence against women, the parliamentary state secretary of the prime minister's cabinet office said on Monday, marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.



Cities that have welcomed masses of migrants have seen a sharp rise in assault and violent crimes committed against women, Balazs Hidveghi said in a video posted on Facebook, adding that there was a clear link between mass immigration and the number of assault cases.



He noted that Hungary has been warning of the dangers of immigration from the start.



"We said that unleashing migrants of different cultures onto Europe would have unforeseeable consequences," Hidveghi said. "Yet they still did it and want to continue doing it. Brussels, the left, and the entire Soros network are constantly attacking the nationally minded government for not letting migrants in."



"They want to install a puppet government [in Hungary] that would carry out Brussels' orders and settle migrants in the country," the state secretary added.



Source:

MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881.

*********************************

You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page:

Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary



You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters



Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? Then just contact us here.
Friendship is the key part of life. It goes beyond time, location, and culture. In Hindu mythology, we see many remarkable friendships that reflect loyalty, sacrifice, and strong connections between people. These relationships not only shape the characters involved but also influence the larger stories in Hindu epics.

Here are some of the most inspiring friendships from Hindu mythology:

1. Lord Rama and Sugriva

One of the most well-known friendships in Hindu mythology is between Lord Rama and Sugriva, the monkey king. In the Ramayana, Rama and his brother Lakshmana are sent into exile and meet Sugriva, who is also hiding after being overthrown by his brother Vali. At first, Sugriva is unsure, but after Rama helps him defeat Vali and reclaim his kingdom, they become close friends. Sugriva stands by Rama as he tries to rescue his wife, Sita, from the demon king Ravana. This friendship shows how true friendship relies on trust, support, and a common goal. Sugriva's loyalty to Rama is key to their victory over Ravana, making this bond one of the most important in Hindu mythology.

2. Lord Rama and Vibhishana

Another significant friendship in the Ramayana is between Lord Rama and Vibhishana, who is Ravana's brother. While Ravana is full of pride, Vibhishana is righteous and good-hearted. When he sees that Ravana is making wrong choices that harm his people, Vibhishana decides to leave him and go to Lord Rama for help. Despite Vibhishana being related to his enemy, Rama welcomes him warmly, showing compassion and forgiveness. This story teaches us that true friendship can rise above family ties and is rooted in goodness. Rama's acceptance of Vibhishana is a powerful reminder that kindness can transform lives.

3. Karna and Duryodhana

The bond between Karna and Duryodhana in the Mahabharata is one of the most intense and layered friendships in Hindu mythology. Karna, with a complicated background, is cast aside by his mother Kunti. Duryodhana, the eldest Kaurava, embraces Karna and makes him the king of Anga, even though he isnt of royal descent. This gesture deepens the friendship between them. Even when Karna sees Duryodhana's jealousy and malice toward the Pandavas, he remains fiercely loyal. Karna's sacrifices for Duryodhana show the complexities of loyalty and moral choices.

4. Lord Krishna and Arjuna

The friendship between Lord Krishna and Arjuna is one of the most admired ones in Hindu mythology. In the Mahabharata, Krishna is not just Arjuna's charioteer but also his spiritual guide, and their relationship runs deeper than that. They share mutual respect, love, and understanding. When Arjuna hesitates to fight against his own family and friends, Krishna helps him find his purpose. In the famous Bhagavad Gita, Krishna shares profound wisdom with Arjuna about duty and righteousness. This friendship illustrates how a friend can guide someone through tough times, providing support and wisdom.

5. Lord Krishna and Draupadi

Another touching friendship in the Mahabharata is between Lord Krishna and Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas. Draupadi, known as Panchali, shares a unique bond with Krishna that goes beyond just being friends. Krishna is her protector and also someone she confides in. When Draupadi faces humiliation in the Kuru court, Krishna steps in to help her, providing her with endless cloth to protect her dignity. This act of kindness strengthens their friendship. Krishna admires Draupadi, and her trust in him reflects their strong bond, showcasing the power of support and loyalty, especially in hard times.

6. Lord Krishna and Sudama

The friendship between Lord Krishna and Sudama is one of the most heartfelt in Hindu mythology. Sudama, a poor Brahmin and Krishna's childhood friend, goes to Krishnas kingdom in Dwarka to ask for help, though he feels too humble to voice it. He brings a small gift of rice, along with his love. Krishna welcomes Sudama with open arms, treating him like royalty. This gesture reminds us that true friendship isnt about wealth or status; its about love, respect, and caring for one another. After his visit, Sudama finds abundance, showing that a true friend looks after you, regardless of your situation.



Friendships in Hindu mythology are varied and deep, showing values like loyalty, duty, sacrifice, and respect. From Lord Ramas connections with Sugriva and Vibhishana to the bond between Krishna and Sudama, these stories reveal different aspects of human relationships and their impact on our lives. Whether grounded in righteousness, compassion, or loyalty, these friendships continue to inspire, teaching lessons that resonate across ages and cultures. They remind us that genuine friendship is built on love, understanding, and a commitment to doing what is right.

(This article is intended for your general information only. Zee News does not vouch for its accuracy or reliability.)
NewDelhi: Essar Group co-founder Shashi Ruia passed away after a prolonged illness in Mumbai. He was 80.

Ruia died on November 25 around 23.55 hrs in Mumbai, family sources said.

Ruia was receiving treatment in the US and returned about a month ago. His mortal remains will be kept at Ruia House from 1 pm to 3 pm on Tuesday. The funeral procession will depart from Ruia House at 4 pm and head to the Hindu Worli Crematorium.

Ruia is survived by his wife Manju and two sons Prashant and Anshuman.

Ruia, a first-generation industrialist and entrepreneur, started his career in 1965 under his father, Nand Kishore Ruia. In 1969, he and his brother Ravi built an outer breakwater at Chennai Port, laying the foundation for the metals-to-technology giant Essar. The group diversified into several industries, such as construction, telecom, power, oil refining, steel, and exploration and production.
New Delhi: At most, how much would you spend on a cup of tea? One hundred rupees? Maybe Rs 300? And, if you are sipping tea at a five-star hotel, perhaps Rs 700. However, that is nothing compared to what people in Dubai are paying for a cup of tea. A cafe in Dubai serves gold karak tea, which costs Rs 1 lakh. But, what makes it so pricey? Well, the unique part about the gold tea is that it is served in pure silver teacups and topped with 24-carat edible gold leaf.

What is gold tea?

Indian-origin Sucheta Sharma is the brain behind the Gold karak tea served at Boho Cafe owned by her. The tea costs 5,000 AED ( Rs 1.1 lakh approximately). Alongside the tea, patrons are given a gold-dusted croissant and silverware that they can keep and take home.

Customers who wish to experience a taste of gold sip without breaking the budget can choose gold tea without the silver cups. They will have to pay 150 AED, or about Rs 3,500, for this.

For those who enjoy coffee, the cafe also sells Gold Coffee which is priced similarly.

Dual menu

Since its opening last month at the DIFC's Emirates Financial Towers, the cafe has drawn attention online for its unique offerings. There are two menus at the cafe. Visitors have the choice of enjoying its more upscale selections or its more reasonably priced Indian street cuisine options.

We wanted to create something extraordinary for those seeking luxury while also catering to the wider community," Sucheta Sharma told Khaleej Times.

The unique menu also includes gold-infused water, gold burgers, and gold ice cream.

Response to gold tea on social media

A food blogger posted a video of the cafe and its golden treats, which went viral and received interesting reactions from social media users.

"Never thought in my wildest dreams that I would say 'bhai chai peene ke liye EMI leni padegi," commented one social media user.

Now why in the world would I want to eat gold in my coffee and croissant? said another.

Do I have to declare to customs before going on a flight after having this? another user commented.
The 2008 Mumbai attacks, often called the 26/11 attacks, were a series of deadly terrorist strikes that deeply impacted India and drew global attention. Ten armed men from the Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) launched a planned attack on several key locations in Mumbai, leading to the tragic loss of 175 lives and leaving over 300 people injured. The attacks focused on major landmarks in Mumbai, such as the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), and Nariman House.

Mumbai, Indias financial capital, had faced several terrorist attacks before 2008. In 1993, a series of bomb explosions shook the city, claiming 257 lives and injuring many others. More attacks followed, such as the 2006 Mumbai train bombings, which took 209 lives. These attacks were often connected to terror groups like Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). The 26/11 attacks were a major escalation in violence, as the terrorists carried out one of the most well-planned and complex assaults in Indias history.

How The Attacks Were Planned and Carried Out

The attackers, trained in marine warfare and urban combat, hijacked an Indian fishing boat and travelled from Karachi, Pakistan, to Mumbai. After killing the crew on the fishing boat, the attackers used inflatable boats to reach Mumbai. Once ashore, they split into groups to launch attacks across the city.

They carried AK-47 rifles, grenades, and other powerful weapons. The terrorists were trained in Pakistan, where they received intense combat and marine warfare lessons. Their training was led by experienced military instructors, including those linked to Pakistans army and intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The preparation also included thorough research and planning of their targets, such as the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, and Nariman House.

26/11 Mumbai Attacks: Targeted Locations

Taj Mahal Palace Hotel

The attacks started around 9:30 pm on November 26, 2008, with the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, a famous landmark, being the main target. The attackers entered the hotel, took hostages, and had fierce gun battles with security forces. Six explosions occurred at the Taj Hotel, with blasts reported in the lobby, elevators, and restaurants. Security forces and firefighters worked nonstop to save hostages. The crisis lasted three days, during which intense fighting took place. It was only after the last attackers were killed that the situation was finally brought under control. The attack led to the deaths of 32 hostages, including some foreign nationals.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus

Two attackers, Ismail Khan and Ajmal Kasab, entered the crowded Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). With AK-47 rifles, they fired aimlessly at passengers in the busy station. The attackers killed 58 people and injured 104 others before leaving the station and continuing their attack on the streets. Kasab was later captured alive after a shootout with the police.



Leopold Cafe

The Leopold Cafe, a famous tourist destination on the Colaba Causeway, was one of the initial targets. Two gunmen, Shoaib and Nazir, fired at the cafe, resulting in 10 deaths and several injuries.

Oberoi Trident Hotel

The Oberoi Trident Hotel was another target of the planned attacks. Like the Taj, the attackers took hostages and engaged in gunfights with security forces inside the hotel. The hostages were saved, but the hotel suffered heavy damage during the attack. Thirty-two people, including hotel staff and guests, lost their lives, and over 100 others were injured.

Nariman House

The attackers also took control of Nariman House, a Jewish community centre. Two attackers entered the building and took several people hostage, including Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, his pregnant wife Rivka, and four others. After a long standoff, commandos from the National Security Guard (NSG) entered the building and freed nine hostages. Sadly, the Rabbi and his wife lost their lives in the incident.

Function Of National Security Guard (NSG)

The National Security Guard (NSG), which is India's top counter-terrorism unit, was essential in the rescue efforts. NSG commandos were sent to the Oberoi Trident and Taj Mahal hotels to assist in the operations. The commandos encountered strong resistance from the well-armed attackers, but by using strategic operations, they were able to overpower the terrorists and save hundreds of hostages. The last operation at the Taj ended on November 29, 2008, when the remaining attackers were killed and the hotel was secured. The NSG commandos showed incredible courage, with some officers making the ultimate sacrifice while performing their duties.

The Aftermath: Tales Of Heroism And Sacrifice

The attacks claimed the lives of 175 people, including nine of the attackers. More than 300 people were injured, with many in critical condition. This tragedy exposed how major cities can be targets for terrorist attacks, but it also showed the strength of Mumbai's people, who united to help the victims and support the security forces in the aftermath. Many people showed incredible bravery during the attacks, including Mumbai Police, firefighters, and everyday citizens.

Railway announcer Vishnu Zende acted quickly and saved many lives at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus by warning passengers to leave the area.

Hemant Karkare, the head of Maharashtra's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), was one of the most remarkable heroes. Sadly, he lost his life in a gunfight with the terrorists at the CST station.

Another hero was police constable Tukaram Ombale, who managed to capture one of the terrorists alive but tragically lost his life in the effort. His courageous act gave Indian authorities vital information that helped stop more attacks.

After the attacks, Indian authorities quickly confirmed that the attackers were linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a militant group based in Pakistan. Ajmal Kasab, the only attacker caught alive, was arrested and later found guilty. His capture provided important details about how the attacks were planned and carried out. Pakistan acknowledged that Kasab was one of its citizens.

The 2008 Mumbai attacks served as a stark reminder of the global danger of terrorism and the importance of staying alert and working together to combat extremist violence. The attacks brought great pain and loss, but they also highlighted the courage of security forces, first responders, and everyday people. Many risked their own lives to protect and save others, showing true bravery in the face of danger.

(Girish Linganna is a Defence and Aerospace Analyst based out of Bengaluru. He is also Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. The views expressed in this article are of the author only.)
Bangladesh Hindus Under Attack: Hours after a Bangladesh court ordered the imprisonment of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a leader of the Hindu group Sammilita Sanatani Jote, India has urged Dhaka to ensure the safety of all minorities including Hindus. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs expressed concern over Krishna Das' arrest and denial of bail to him.

"We have noted with deep concern the arrest and denial of bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is also the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote. This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. There are several documented cases of arson and looting of minorities' homes and business establishments as well as theft and vandalism and descretation of deities and temples," said the Ministry of External Affairs.

The ministry further termed it unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, 'charges should be passed against religious leaders presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings'. "We also note with concern the attack on minorities protesting peacefully against the arrest of Shri Das. We urge Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression," said the MEA.

Earlier, a court in Bangladesh ordered to send to jail Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a leader of the Hindu group Sammilita Sanatani Jote, to turn down his bail appeal. The court of Chattogram Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate Kazi Shariful Islam issued the order around 11:45 am on Tuesday, BDNews24.Com said.

The followers of the Hindu priest began to chant slogans in protest at the court premises as he was not granted bail. Bangladesh police on Monday arrested Das from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area in Dhaka.

Das was detained in line with a request from (regular police)," spokesman of the Police's Detective Branch Rezaul Karim said. However, the arrest was made without giving details of the charges.

Earlier, on October 30, a case was filed against 19 people, including Das, at Chattogram's Kotwali Police Station, accusing them of disrespecting Bangladesh's national flag in Chattogram's New Market area during a rally of the Hindu community. (With PTI inputs)
A Bangladeshi court on Tuesday denied bail to prominent Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, arrested on alleged "sedition" charges, and sent him to prison, amid protests by community members in the capital Dhaka and the port city of Chattogram.

Bangladesh police on Monday arrested Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a leader of the Hindu group Sammilita Sanatani Jote, from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area in Dhaka while travelling to Chattogram. He was then brought to Chattogram.

A case was filed against Das and 18 others on October 30 at Chattogram's Kotwali Police Station leader on the complaint of a leader of former prime minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which accused them of disrespecting the national flag in the city's Laldighi Maidan during a rally of the Hindu community on Oct 25.

During the hearing of Das' case, Chattograms Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate Kazi Shariful Islam rejected his bail petition.

The judge said since Das was arrested from outside the port city, as per law he is required to be kept under judicial custody for 24 hours.

The court then ordered that Das be taken to jail and directed the prison authorities to allow the Hindu priest to practice his religious rituals as per the Jail Code.

Officials said Das was escorted to the court amid tight security as a number of his supporters, including lawyers, chanted slogans protesting his arrest.

Witnesses said Das greeted his supporters gathered at the court premises with folded hands as they chanted slogans and asked them to refrain from chanting religious slogans at the scene.

Local government affairs adviser and Anti-Discrimination Students Movement leader Asif Mahmud said Das has been arrested not as a leader of any community but for sedition.

"If someone is involved in any incident like sedition, he will not be spared, he told reporters following a public rally in northwestern Rangpur city.

If Bangladeshs sovereignty and independence are endangered or the country is exposed to dishonour or contempt, the government will definitely take steps, Mahmud said.

Das' arrest triggered street rallies in Dhaka and Chattogram by Hindus.

Hundreds of people from the Hindu community on Monday took to the streets at the Cheragi Pahar intersection in Chattogram, demanding his immediate release. Similarly, the Hindu community members in Dhaka blocked the Shahbagh intersection, protesting the arrest.

Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council also protested Das' arrest and demanded his immediate release.

Das was also a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), which recently expelled him.

ISKCON leaders in Bangladesh were not immediately available for comments.

Meanwhile, India on Tuesday noted with "deep concern" the arrest and denial of bail to Das, and urged the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said, "This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh."

There are "several documented cases" of arson and looting of minorities' homes and business establishments, as well as theft and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples in Bangladesh. "It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings," the statement said.

Bangladeshs minority Hindus, which constitute only about 8 per cent of the 170 million population, have faced over 200 attacks in 50-odd districts since the fall of Sheikh Hasinas Awami League government on August 5.
The controversy over Citizenship of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a new turn on Monday when the Allahabad High Court directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to decide upon a petition questioning his Indian nationality by December 19, Bar and Bench reported. The petition has been filed by one S Vignesh Shishir. The petitioner has alleged that the person holds dual citizenship and is a citizen of the United Kingdom as well, and the CBI should probe this matter.

The bench of Justices Attau Rahman Masoodi and Subhash Vidyarthi passed an interim order, enquiring from the MHA to inform the court about their decision by the next hearing. "The plea has been received by the Centre and is currently under process," said Deputy Solicitor General of India SB Pandey during the hearing. The case has now been adjourned till December 19, when the MHA is likely to report back to the court.

This is the latest controversy where Gandhi is accused of being a British citizen as the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha. Shishir's plea calls for an in-depth investigation into the citizenship status of Gandhi, seeking cancellation of any existing foreign citizenship Gandhi may possess. It has also now raised questions about whether he was eligible to become an MP for India, as foreign citizenship could disqualify an individual from sitting in Parliament under the Constitution of India.

The issue is not new. In 2022, a similar petition was filed by VSS Sarma, asking the British government for details regarding Rahul Gandhis citizenship. While the British government had not yet responded, the issue gained momentum when Shishir brought it to the Indian courts.

Shishir's plea also cited BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, who had filed an identical plea before the Delhi High Court. Swamy, notorious for his trolling of Gandhi, had earlier raised questions about the citizenship status of the Congress leader in question. However, the Delhi High Court decided to put the subsidy scheme of Swamy's plea on hold till its clarification received from the Allahabad High Court.

The issue is grave enough as it had drawn the storm of politics. This prominent politician in India, Gandhi, has often been attacked by political rivals, and the case of his citizenship arose again from a debate that was involved in ongoing debates. For the Congress leader, this was another chapter in a long history of legal and political battles.

On the other hand, Gandhis supporters have dismissed these allegations, suggesting that the petitioners are merely trying to distract the public from more pressing issues. The matter has not only become a legal dispute but also a political one, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continuing to challenge Gandhis legitimacy on various fronts.
Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde resigned as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Tuesday, just days after the ruling Mahayuti alliance secured a landslide victory in the assembly elections. His resignation comes amid ongoing uncertainty over who will be the next Chief Minister of the state. Shinde met with Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan on Tuesday morning to submit his resignation. The governor has asked Shinde to continue serving as the caretaker Chief Minister until a new CM is appointed.

The current Chief Minister had previously posted on X, urging his party workers not to gather or congregate in Mumbai to show their support for him. Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde was joined by his deputies, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, when he resigned. The Maharashtra assemblys term will end on November 26.

Devendra Fadnavis from the BJP and Eknath Shinde from Shiv Sena are both hoping to become the next chief minister of Maharashtra. The BJP's chance of securing the position has increased due to its strong performance in the election, where it became the largest party, winning 132 out of the 148 seats it contested.

Shiv Sena, the BJP's ally, won 57 seats, while Ajit Pawar's National Congress Party secured 41 seats. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance had a major loss. Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) won only 20 seats, Congress got 16, and Sharad Pawar's NCP(SP) won just 10 seats.

Earlier, Devendra Fadnavis said in an open letter to the people of Maharashtra. Fadnavis thanked the people for their trust in the alliance. "This victory of the Mahayuti has given a new direction only because of your support. This success will continue to inspire our Maharashtra to realize the dream of a developed India with a developed Maharashtra under the leadership of Hon. Modiji with a progressive and inclusive future. Devendra Fadnavis said in an open letter to the people of Maharashtra. Fadnavis thanked the people for their trust in the alliance.
Maharashtra Government Formation: It has been three days and the Mahayuti is yet to reach a consensus on the Chief Minister's face after registering a thumping majority in Maharashtra. The formation of a new government in the state has thus been delayed as Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena has been insisting that he be allowed to remain the CM. What is interesting is that the Shiv Sena is drawing a Bihar parallel to get the CM post.

In Bihar, the BJP has allowed Nitish Kumar to remain the Chief Minister despite the JDU having fewer MLAs compared to the BJP. Now, Shiv Sena spokesperson Naresh Mhaske has cited the Bihar model to assert that Shinde should continue as the chief minister. "We feel Shinde should be the chief minister, just like in Bihar where BJP did not look at the numbers but still made JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar the CM. Senior leaders of the Mahayuti (in Maharashtra) will ultimately take a decision," said Mhaske.

Maharashtra minister Deepak Kesarkar also met Shinde at the latter's residence in Mumbai on Sunday and batted for his continuation as CM. "Shiv Sena MLAs feel Shinde should continue in the post because under his leadership the Mahayuti worked very well and performed spectacularly in polls," Kesarkar told reporters.

However, BJP MLC Pravin Darekar batted for Devendra Fadnavis for the CM's post, saying the deputy chief minister is the most capable candidate to lead the state. In a boost for the BJP, Ajit Pawar-led NCP has already supported Fadnavis' candidature for the CM post, thus spelling trouble for the Sena's CM ambitions.

The Mahayuti has won 230 seats and has the support of two more MLAs - Shivaji Patil a BJP rebel who won as an independent and Gutte Ratnakar Manikrao, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha's lone MLA backed by the Mahayuti in the polls. Thus the total strength of the Mahayuti is 232. The BJP has won 132 seats alone, 13 short of the majority mark of 145. The BJP is capable of forming a government with the support of the NCP which has 41 MLAs, in case, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena chooses to go the Uddhav way.

Shinde's Shiv Sena has bagged 57 seats while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi has won 48 seats. Even if Shinde joins hands with MVA, it won't be able to form a government as it will fall short by 40 seats. In that case, it might need the support of the NCP-Ajit Pawar faction. CM Shinde is likely to resign today and will continue as caretaker CM until a new CM takes the oath. The oath-taking ceremony date will be decided after the Mahayuti leaders reach a consensus on the CM post.

On the other hand, the BJP leaders and MLAs have also staked claim to the CM post saying Devendra Fadnavis should become the CM once again.
Maharashtra CM Race: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies - Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, tendered their resignation on Tuesday as the government formation process gains momentum. If reports are to be believed, Eknath Shinde is not willing to play the second fiddle behind Devendra Fadnavis. The BJP is pushing for Fadnavis as CM and Shinde is reportedly not happy with the move.

Sena MPs May Meet Modi

According to the Zee News report, Shiv Sena MPs have sought an appointment to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reports suggest that the MPs plan to request the Prime Minister to allow Shinde to continue as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

RSS Backs Fadnavis For CM

On the other hand, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat held a crucial meeting with the BJP's central leadership in Delhi on Monday, according to reports. Later in the evening, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also met with senior leaders connected to the BJP high command.

The reports further revealed that the RSS is in favour of appointing Devendra Fadnavis as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, even if it is for a limited tenure. However, the final decision on the matter rests with the BJP's central leadership. So, there may be a possibility that Fadnavis and Shinde may share the CM post alternatively.

President Rule In Maharashtra?

However, amid the tussle, the government formation has been delayed as the state awaits a new Chief Minister. Amid this, there are speculations of temporary President Rule in the state. However, it is unlikely as there have been two precedents in the past when the government formation was delayed. The Maharashtra government may ask Eknath Shinde to continue as caretaker CM until the government formation.

A President Rule is also unlikely because the Election Commission of India on Sunday submitted copies of the gazette with names of the newly-elected members of the state legislative assembly to Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan, thus formally commencing the 15th assembly. As per Section 73 of the Representation of the People Act about the publication of results of the state assembly, 'after submission of the notification of the names of the members elected, it shall be deemed that the House has been duly constituted.'
Even though the BJP has not yet opened its cards with regard to the Chief Ministers post in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena on Tuesday took aggressive postures, saying that it has conveyed to the Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that party chief leader Eknath Shinde should continue as the Chief Minister following MahaYutis landslide victory in the Assembly election.

BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP fought the Assembly election as a grand alliance and recorded a stellar performance. All of us Shiv Sainiks and voters want a government under the leadership of whom we got this success, under whose leadership the MahaYuti contested the elections, said senior Shiv Sena leader Shambhuraj Desai. He added all the MLAs of Shiv Sena want Eknath Shinde to head the government one more time.

We discussed this at the Shiv Sena meeting and on behalf of our party, some prominent members met Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and conveyed to him the feelings of the party legislators and leaders (that Eknath Shinde should become the chief minister, Desai said.

He clarified that there is no contest and tussle for the post of Chief Ministers post among MahaYuti partners, adding that a decision for the post of Chief Minister will be taken through mediation. The Shiv Sena legislators have authorised Eknath Shinde to take decisions with regard to the government formation and the Chief Ministers post.

Therefore, if any decision is to be taken as the Shiv Sena party, it will be taken only by Eknath Shinde and it will be acceptable to all our leaders, MLAs, workers, and office bearers, he, however, hinted that the party has not given up its claim over the Chief Ministers post.

Meanwhile, Eknath Shindes close confidant Naresh Mhaske said that the MahaYuti can adopt the Bihar model in Maharashtra whereby the BJP can give the Chief Ministers post to Shiv Sena and to Eknath Shinde, despite the party winning 57 seats against 132 by BJP.

Shiv Sena Minister Deepak Kesarkar said that the government will be formed as per the suggestions of BJP party leaders.

Every activist has a feeling that their leader should be the Chief Minister. But all three parties have said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will take a decision with regards to the Chief Ministers post, Kesarkar said.

He added that Eknath Shinde has also said clearly that they all will accept the decision taken by PM Modi and Amit Shah regarding the post of Chief Minister.

On Tuesday, Eknath Shinde resigned as the Chief Minister after the term of the 14th Assembly expired but Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan has asked him to continue as a caretaker Chief Minister till the new Chief Minister takes oath.

However, Shiv Sena Minister Deepak Kesarkar has downplayed Shindes resignation saying it was a formality as he had accepted the charge of caretaker Chief Minister.

Eknath Shinde is not angry at all. There is no discontent in Shiv Sena. Eknath Shinde has already told BJP leaders in Delhi that the decision taken by them regarding the Chief Ministers post will be acceptable to him and the party. So I think a good decision will be taken in Delhi, said Kesarkar.

He added that this is the first time that Maharashtra has given so much love to a party and also to any alliance, adding that earlier under the leadership of Yashwantrao Chavan Congress had won 222 seats in this state.

His record has been broken this time by our grand alliance. We are very happy about it. Also, the state will soon get the Chief Minister of this strong grand alliance. The Chief Ministers post will be decided in Delhi and we hope that the party leaders in Delhi will take a good decision, said Kesarkar.

Meanwhile, BJP sources said that Fadnavis will take over as the next Chief Minister in the next two to three days at the grand swearing-in ceremony is likely to take place at Wankhede Stadium or at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and a couple of central ministers, BJP Chief Ministers and the chief ministers of NDA-ruled states are expected to attend the swearing-in function.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday criticised the electronic voting system and demanded a return to the ballot paper mechanism earlier in use for elections. He also called for a Bharat Jodo Yatra like campaign led by Rahul Gandhi for return to the ballot paper.

"SC-ST votes are being wasted, let Narendra Modi keep EVMs in his house or in Ahmedabad godown," Kharge said at the party's Constitution Day event at Talkatora Stadium here.

Kharge also claimed that PM Modi is afraid of the caste census because then everyone will start demanding their share. "If you really want unity in the country, you should stop spreading hate," he said, referring to the BJP which rules the Centre.

Big announcement by Congress President @kharge Ji 



A Bharat Jodo Yatra like movement led by Rahul Gandhi Ji will b organised demanding elections through ballot papers.



SC-ST votes are being wasted, let Narendra Modi keep EVMs in his house or in Ahmedabad godown. pic.twitter.com/gBiRQkDeaa  Shantanu (@shaandelhite) November 26, 2024

"Babasaheb Ambedkar ji had said 'If political parties put religion above country our freedom will again be endangered or possibly lost forever'. We must all counter this eventuality with determination," the Congress President added further.
CHANDIGARH: Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who was to begin a fast unto death to press for farmers' demands, was taken to a Ludhiana hospital for a checkup on Tuesday after allegedly being forcibly removed from the Khanauri border point. Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher alleged Dallewal was forcibly taken away by police early on Tuesday from the Khanauri border point.

A senior Punjab Police officer said Dallewal was taken to the private Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMC) in Ludhiana. Deputy Inspector General of Police Mandeep Singh Sidhu said the administration was concerned about Dallewal's age and health in the wake of his fast-unto-death call. "Considering his health and seniority, the administration decided that his proper medical checkup was important. We are getting his medical checkup done at DMC, Ludhiana," said Sidhu.

Dallewal announced on Monday that he would begin a fast unto death on Tuesday to demand a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops. He had also asserted that he was ready to sacrifice his life to get the farmers' demands accepted. Claiming that the police forcibly removed Dallewal from the spot early on Tuesday before he could begin his hunger strike, Pandher said he strongly condemned the act and demanded his immediate release.

Farmers said a police team of 250 reached the Khanauri border at 2:30 am and forcibly took Dallewal away. Initially, the farmers were not aware of Dallewal's whereabouts but later learned that he had been taken to DMC. Farmer leader Guramneet Singh Mangat said they were informed that Dallewal had been taken to the hospital on health grounds.

Mangat, however, said they would continue with their fast-unto-death plan. Another farmer leader will now sit on the fast. Meanwhile, Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu accused the Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab of orchestrating Dallewal's "detention". "Detention of farmer leader Dallewal ji is orchestrated by the Bhagwant Mann government. No central agency is involved in his arrest. It is purely the work of the state police, aimed at shifting the blame onto central agencies to divert attention from the real issues. The central government always works for the welfare of farmers and does not engage in such tactics," Bittu said in a post on X.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had earlier announced plans to intensify their agitation in support of farmers' various demands, including a legal guarantee for MSP, by starting a fast unto death. Farmers have been camping at the Shambhu and the Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces.

The protesting farmers have accused the Centre of not taking steps to address their demands, stating that it had not held any talks with them regarding their issues since February 18. Besides a legal guarantee for MSP, the farmers are demanding implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21.
CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government has purchased a new helicopter replacing the existing one which was 15 years old. Minister for Civil Aviation and Urban Local Bodies Vipul Geol on Monday said the state's Civil Aviation Department had long back recommended buying a new chopper.

A 'puja' ceremony was performed here on Monday before the helicopter, Airbus H145-D3, was put into operation by the Haryana government. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, minister Goel and another minister Rajesh Nagar were also present on the occasion.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines, Goel said the present helicopter which was being used by the government was an old one. "The (Civil Aviation) Department had over a year ago recommended that it (old chopper) should be changed. We had given the order for a new one and now we have got the delivery of this helicopter," Goel said.

With the new chopper stated to have cost the exchequer Rs 80 crore, Goel, however, said the purchase cost will be worked out once the old helicopter is sold. "But the new one was needed because the existing helicopter was 15 years old..." he further stated.

The state government had been presently using a twin-engine helicopter, purchased in 2009 during the erstwhile Congress regime at a cost of nearly Rs 33 crore. Nearly six years ago, the BJP government had acquired a fixed wing aircraft -- a Beechcraft King Air 250.
In what is being called India's biggest sea drug find, nearly 6,000 kg of Methamphetamine-worth a huge Rs 36,000 crore-was caught near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It has shocked many in the global drug network. The drugs were found on a fishing boat with six crew members from Myanmar, and they were headed for Thailand. However, a technical problem made the situation very tense.

Daring Operation In Andaman Sea

On November 23, the crew of a routine Coastal Dornier plane was tasked with patrolling the distant Andaman Sea. The plane spotted unusual movement from a fishing boat near Barren Island  a notorious place for illegal sea activities. "The boat was moving in a very suspicious manner. Our team raised an alarm and reported it to their higher authorities," news agency PTI quoted a Coast Guard officer as saying. Soon, the response came speedy and organized.

As the speed boats sped to catch the fishing boat, the crew of the suspicious boat, which seemed to have gone off track, remained unaware that their illegal goods were going to be found. The Coast Guard in moved its troops, and by November 24, it had brought the fishing boat back to Port Blair along with one of the biggest drug finds ever seen in India's waters.

The size of the operation is astounding: nearly 6,000 kg of Methamphetamine sealed in tea bags and ready to be sold throughout the world. The drug  a highly addictive stimulant often associated with enjoyment and increased performance  is highly sought after, particularly during the festive periods of the region. "The demand for drugs like Methamphetamine is at its peak when festivals come on in Thailand, and this consignment was headed there," added a senior police officer who is part of the probe while speaking to PTI.

This isn't just the arrest of a few sneaky smugglers, however. An operation of this magnitude and sophistication points to involvement from one of the big boys: either perhaps by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, led by the notorious El Mencho, or by the Chinese version of the Chapo gang, police sources believe. These cartels have been associated with other shipments arrested in the Andaman Sea recently.

As the officials sift through the wreckage of this adventure, the tale of what brought the trawler to its latest adventure is slowly coming to light. The six Myanmarese crew members, who have been put behind bars on charges of violating India's Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) and Foreigners Act, haven't been forthcoming much either.

"They're not cooperating with our investigation," said a police official, hinting that the crew might just be pawns in a larger international play. The sailing route of the fishing boat and the satellite telephone discovered onboard are significant hints to understand the work intricacy of the network.

"We are scanning the phone calls very closely for any leads," said an officer. The presence of the waters of Myanmar, closeness to Thailand, and very smart hiding of the drugs together indicate that this was not a mere attempt at drug smuggling-that it was a well-thought-through operation by strong international drug networks.

India's War On Drugs

Srijan Hazra reports that with this massive drug haul, India seems to be emerging as an important milestone in the fight against transnational drugs crimes. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, once considered way away, have recently emerged as a hub for illegal sea activities.

Rohingyas boats and Myanmarese boats engaged in poaching have also spotted out there. Amid this scenario, the police and Coast Guard have intensified combined efforts to curb these issues.

"This is the biggest single seizure of drugs in India's maritime history," declared Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal, the Director General of Police for the archipelago. "The recent increase in drug activities in this region is a matter of concern, but we are committed to enhancing our vigilance and taking firmer steps."

The heightened vigilance, joined with increased international cooperation, has begun to yield important fruit.

Thailand's Role In Drug Trade

The link of this drug haul is not coincidental with Thailand's drug market. Thailand is known for its vast illegal drug trade, especially in Methamphetamine, and has seen a greater percentage of demand during peak times.

The peak period, particularly that of Christmas and New Year, increases the trafficking and use of drugs. By concealing Methamphetamine in packets of tea, smugglers attempted to pass through customs check while hoping that the drugs would go unnoticed in Thailand's illegal market.

The authorities are now working to break down the larger network of drug cartels and international smuggling routes that connect Southeast Asia, Myanmar, and India. If the link to Thailand is true, this seizure could seriously hurt the region's drug trafficking activities.



Indian authorities send international drug cartels a clear message as the investigation goes on: India will not sit back in the global fight against drugs. "We have shown that India will not accept this kind of illegal activity in our waters," Dhaliwal said, indicating that this seizure is just the start.

(With PTI Inputs)


Two days after violence broke out during a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque, life in Sambhal was gradually returning to normal on Tuesday with schools reopening and several shops selling daily essentials resuming operations. However, internet services in the district continued to remain suspended.

Members of both Hindu and Muslim communities have called for unity and pledged to rebuild communal harmony even as police and administration officials were continuing to closely monitor the situation, with personnel deployed at key intersections and Rapid Action Force teams stationed in sensitive areas.

The authorities have imposed restrictions on the entry of outsiders and public representatives into Sambhal until November 30. Although the situation in most parts of the district appeared calm, the area around Shahi Jama Masjid in city's Kot Garvi neighbourhood remained deserted.

Tension had been brewing in Sambhal since November 19 when the mosque was first surveyed on the court's orders following a petition claiming that a Harihar temple had stood at the site.

On Sunday, a large group of people gathered near the mosque and started shouting slogans as the survey team resumed its work. They then clashed with security personnel, torched vehicles and pelted stones.

According to official figures, four people have died because of the violence, which has left around two dozen others, including security personnel and administration officials, injured.

Divisional Commissioner (Moradabad) Aunjaneya Kumar Singh on Tuesday said, "The situation is normal in Sambhal and most of the shops are open. Some shops are closed in the area where the violence broke out, but in that area too there is no tension as such. There is security deployment and the situation is under control, moving towards normalcy."

On the legal action after violence, Singh said as police continue to gather evidence, several FIRs have been registered and more could be filed in future. He also warned action against those spreading rumours and engaged in arson.

"The local MP and the son of the local MLA have also been booked for provoking (the crowd). Further probe is ongoing. CCTV footage are being checked. It was a spontaneous action. It was the second time that the survey was being carried out. "Everyone had a chance to present their side in the court, or they could take it up in higher courts. But that was not done...instead such an act was done, which spoiled the atmosphere. No guilty would be spared of strict action," he said.

DIG Muniraj G said there were no untoward reports from anywhere in Sambhal on Tuesday. "Normalcy is being restored, shops are opening, there is no problem," he said. Muniraj said the number of arrestees stood at 25 while investigations are on to identify violence suspects.

Haji Ehtesham, a Peace Committee member and leader of the All India Traders' Association, claimed the violence was instigated by outsiders, and what happened was deeply unfortunate.

"We must move on and restore peace. I have been a part of the Peace Committee for years and had also helped resolve tensions in 2013. During the initial survey, I was part of the five-member team, and we cooperated fully with the process," he said, appealing for calm.

Principal Shiv Shankar Sharma of Saraswati Shishu Mandir noted that such incidents disturb the environment.

"The survey was being conducted as per government orders, there shouldn't have been any issue. However, the people of Sambhal will rebuild communal harmony and work together again," Sharma said.

Deepak Kumar, a trader, said Sambhal has always been a peaceful place.

"I don't understand what happened that day to cause such unrest. Incidents like these also lead to economic losses, but the situation is now normal. I've reopened my shop, and soon, Sambhal will return to how it was before. Many of my friends are from the Muslim community, and our relationships remain unchanged," he stressed.

Seema Arya, president of the Women's Upliftment Committee, said, "The Muslim community should understand that the survey was conducted under court orders, and such extreme reactions were unnecessary. I have many friends from the Muslim community, but self-respect is paramount. Now, peace has been restored," Arya added. Chanchal Verma, BJP ward 18 councillor, said the poor have suffered the most due to this conflict.

"But we will all work together to take Sambhal forward again. The Hindu-Muslim unity here will once again set an example. People in this area have always been a model of communal harmony and will continue to be so.

"I have strong ties with many Muslim families, we participate in each other's events. Incidents like these have happened before, but now we must leave them behind and move forward together," Verma said.

Police have arrested 25 people so far and registered seven FIRs, naming the Samajwadi Party's Sambhal MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq, and Sohail Iqbal -- son of the party's local MLA Iqbal Mehmood -- and 2,750 unidentified individuals as accused.

Meanwhile, Sohail Iqbal said that he was not present at the site of the violence, and refuted the charges levelled against him.

"I have never worked for something which vitiates the peace in Sambhal. We believe in spreading love and serving the people. What has happened is unfortunate, should not have happened. My name has been drawn in it even though I have nothing to do with it, nor did I make any hate speech," Iqbal told PTI Videos.

While a magisterial probe into the violence is ongoing, Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Vishnoi said on Monday that the situation was under control and emphasised that "strict action will be taken against those responsible for the unrest".

He had added that the police were analysing drone footage, CCTV camera recordings, and mobile videos to identify the suspects and apprehend them.

On Monday, District Magistrate Rajendra Pensiya said that the survey was conducted under court orders.
SC Dismissed PIL Seeking Reintroduction Of Ballot System: The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking directions to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to introduce ballot paper in place of EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines). A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and P.B. Varale rejected the prayer to return to the ballot system due to the alleged manipulability of EVMs.

When you lose, EVMs are tampered with; when you win, EVMs are fine, remarked the apex court, when the petitioner referred to the statements made by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and his predecessor Jagan Mohan Reddy on EVMs.

It said, When Chandrababu Naidu or Mr Reddy lost, they say that EVMs can be tampered with; when they win, they don't say anything. We are dismissing this. This is not the place where you argue all of this.

Earlier in March, the Supreme Court had refused to entertain a similar PIL seeking directions to conduct the Lok Sabha polls through ballot paper.

How many petitions shall we entertain? We cannot go by assumptions. Every method has its plus and minus points. We cannot entertain this, it told the petitioner, the General Secretary of the Congress' Mathura District Committee.

In her plea, the petitioner-in-person Nandini Sharma said that "concerns of the Opposition parties about the EVMs must be first addressed by holding elections via ballot paper, in place of acting at the pleasure of ruling BJP."

Nandini Sharma prayed to set aside Section 61A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 empowering the ECI to conduct elections through EVMs.

"The extra love and support of the ruling party towards EVMs creates doubts about the functioning of the EVM machines because the election results are supposed to remain the same, irrespective of EVMs or ballot paper," the PIL had contended.

In April this year, rejecting a batch of petitions seeking mandatory cross-verification of the votes cast with Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips, the top court said that raising repeated and persistent doubts on EVMs, even without supporting evidence, can have the contrarian impact of creating distrust and can reduce citizen participation and confidence in elections.

In his verdict, Justice Sanjiv Khanna (the incumbent CJI) said, The suspicion that the EVMs can be configured or manipulated for the repeated or wrong recording of the vote(s) to favour a particular candidate should be rejected.

We acknowledge the right of voters to question the working of EVMs, which are but an electronic device that has a direct impact on election results. However, it is also necessary to exercise care and caution when we raise aspersions on the integrity of the electoral process", he said.

Repeated and persistent doubts and despair, even without supporting evidence, can have the contrarian impact of creating distrust. This can reduce citizen participation and confidence in elections, essential for a healthy and robust democracy, he added.

The apex court had said that while it acknowledges the fundamental right of voters to ensure their vote is accurately recorded and counted, the same cannot be equated with the right to 100 per cent counting of VVPAT slips, or a right to physical access to the VVPAT slips, which the voter should be permitted to put in the drop box.

It added that giving physical access to VVPAT slips to voters is problematic and impractical, and will lead to misuse, malpractices and disputes.

Saying that the weakness of the ballot paper system is well-known and documented, it rejected the submission to return to the ballot paper system as foible and unsound.

We would be undoing electoral reforms by directing reintroduction of the ballot papers. EVMs offer significant advantages. They have effectively eliminated booth capturing by restricting the rate of vote casting to four votes per minute, thereby prolonging the time needed and thus checking the insertion of bogus votes", apex court said.

EVMs have eliminated invalid votes, which were a major issue with paper ballots and had often sparked disputes during the counting process. Furthermore, EVMs reduce paper usage and alleviate logistical challenges. Finally, they provide administrative convenience by expediting the counting process and minimising errors, the SC said.

Association for Democratic Reforms, one of the petitioners, had sought directions to return to the paper ballot system, or that the VVPAT slip be given to the voter to verify and put in the ballot box for counting, and/or there should be 100 per cent counting of the VVPAT slips in addition to electronic counting by the control unit.

The PIL litigants contended that there exists a possibility of manipulating the EVMs and, therefore, the apex court should step in to instill confidence in the voters as they have the right to know that their franchise has been correctly recorded and counted.

Justice Dipankar Datta -- who authored a separate opinion, but whole-heartedly concurred with Justice Khanna's verdict -- said the prayer to revert to the paper ballot system reveals the real intention of the petitioning association to discredit the system of voting through the EVMs and thereby derail the electoral process that is underway, by creating unnecessary doubts in the minds of the electorate.

I have serious doubts as regards the bona fides of the petitioning association when it seeks a reversion to the old order. Irrespective of the fact that in the past efforts of the petitioning association in bringing about electoral reforms have borne fruit, the suggestion put forth appeared inexplicable, Justice Datta said.

In conclusion, he said the petitioners' apprehensions were misplaced and they have neither been able to demonstrate how the use of EVMs in elections violates the principle of free and fair elections nor have they been able to establish a fundamental right to 100 per cent VVPAT slips tallying with the votes cast.
Amid ongoing speculation about who will be the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat has assured that clarity on the issue will emerge by Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.

The uncertainty surrounding the appointment continues after the recent state assembly elections, with several key political figures involved in the decision-making process.

Decision to Be Made by Key Leaders

Sanjay Shirsat, a spokesperson for Shiv Sena, revealed that the final decision on who will take the top political post in Maharashtra will be determined after discussions among prominent leaders: Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar.

The trio is expected to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and other top BJP leaders to finalize the matter.

Shirsat emphasized that the trio would meet in the evening and announce the outcome either by tonight or by Wednesday morning, putting an end to the growing speculation. He further added that the decision would be communicated directly to the media by the leaders involved.

Shindes Leadership and Popular Expectations

Earlier in the day, Shirsat expressed that since the Shiv Sena contested the assembly elections under the leadership of Eknath Shinde, there is a general public sentiment favoring his continuation as Chief Minister.

However, he acknowledged that he was unaware of the stance of top BJP leaders regarding Shinde's position and whether they would support his continuation at the helm.

Uncertainty Over CM Post

The political situation has remained uncertain since the results of the Maharashtra assembly elections were declared. The ruling Mahayuti alliance, consisting of BJP, Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, retained power with the BJP securing 132 seats in the 288-member legislative assembly.

Shiv Sena won 57 seats, and the NCP under Ajit Pawar gained 41 seats.

This leaves the question of who will lead the statewhether Shinde will retain his position or if former CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, who played a key role in the partys victory, will be given the top job. Despite the alliance's significant win, the leadership question remains unresolved.

Shinde Resigns

In the midst of this political ambiguity, outgoing Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met with Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan on November 26 and tendered his resignation. The Governor has asked Shinde to continue as a caretaker CM until the new Chief Minister is sworn in.

As the deadline for the assembly's term passed, all eyes are now on the forthcoming discussions and decisions by the key leaders, which will likely provide the much-awaited resolution to the leadership crisis in Maharashtra.

With Inputs From PTI
Facing severe backlash from Hindus all over the world over the shocking arrest and jailing of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha and head of Pundarik Dham in Chittagong, the Bangladesh government headed by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus went into a face-saving mode, asserting that it remains committed to "upholding communal harmony" in the country.

After being taken into custody by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 4:30 pm Monday, Das was produced before Judge Kazi Shariful Islam of Chittagong's 6th Metropolitan Magistrate around 10:30 am local time on Tuesday.

The judge, after rejecting his bail plea, sent the Hindu priest - associated with International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) - to jail. Condemning the shocking developments, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday that it has noted with "deep concern" the arrest and denial of bail to Das, who is also associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Bangladesh.

Highlighting the broader context of continuing violence against minorities in Bangladesh, especially Hindus, the MEA added, "This incident follows multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. Documented cases of arson, looting of minority homes and businesses, theft, vandalism, and desecration of deities and temples are deeply troubling.

"It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings. We also note with concern the attacks on minorities protesting peacefully against the arrest of Shri Das," the ministry stated. India also urged the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right to peaceful assembly and expression.

Reacting to MEA's statement late Tuesday evening, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said that it is a "matter concerning internal affairs" of Bangladesh. "It is with utter dismay and deep sense of hurt that the Government of Bangladesh notes that the arrest of Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das has been misconstrued by certain quarters since Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das has been arrested on specific charges.

The Government of Bangladesh maintains that such unfounded statements not only misrepresent facts but also stand contrary to the spirit of friendship and understanding between the two neighboring countries," read a statement issued by the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry. It mentioned that India's statement does not reflect the harmony that exists among the peoples of all faiths and the commitment and the efforts of the Bangladeshi government and the people in this regard.

"Bangladesh reaffirms in the strongest terms that every Bangladeshi, regardless of his or her religious identity, has the right to establish, maintain or perform respective religious rituals and practices or express views without hindrance. Ensuring safety and security of all citizens, particularly the members of religious minorities remains a duty of the Government of Bangladesh.

This was yet again vindicated by the peaceful observance of Durga Puja throughout Bangladesh only last month," it mentioned. Meanwhile, the local authorities in Chittagong are claiming that a lawyer was killed during a clash between police and followers of Das in the Chattogram Court Building area.

The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry stated that the interim government is deeply concerned over the "brutal killing" of 32-year-old advocate Saiful Islam Alif and the authorities have stepped up security in the port city to ensure that religious harmony is maintained at any cost. However, local media quoted Hindu leaders denying any involvement in the lawyer's death.

"Kanchan Acharjee, a central leader of the Sammilita Jagaran Jote, denied the involvement of their organisation in the violence and the killing of the lawyer in Chattogram. He also demanded the authorities concerned carry out proper investigation into the killing and bring the culprits to book," reported Bangladesh's Daily Star. --IANS as/
Four paramilitary personnel and two police officers have lost their lives, while over 100 security personnel have been injured as protests by supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan turned violent. In response, the federal government deployed the army in the national capital and issued shoot-at-sight orders on Tuesday. The clashes occurred when protesters entered Islamabad late Monday, despite efforts by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs government to control the nationwide unrest. The protest march, led by Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi, started on Sunday and reached Islamabad by Monday evening. The demonstration continued into Tuesday, with protesters resuming their march toward D-Chowk, an area near several key government buildings in the capital.

According to Radio Pakistan, a vehicle collided with Pakistan Rangers personnel on the Srinagar Highway in Islamabad late Monday night, resulting in the deaths of four Rangers officials. Additionally, five other Rangers and several police officers sustained serious injuries in the incident.

On Sunday, PTI supporters, led by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Imran Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, began their march from the militancy-affected province. Their goal was to reach D-Chowk in the national capital, but they encountered numerous roadblocks along the way.

Educational institutes closed in Islamabad

According to the reports, all educational institutions in Islamabad were shut down for security reasons, as per a notice from the local administration quoted in a Bloomberg report. The report also mentioned that mobile phone services were suspended in certain areas, and gatherings of more than five people were prohibited in the capital.

Section 144 imposed amid protest

Authorities had blocked highways with shipping containers to slow down the protestors. However, the demonstrators, equipped with lifting tools and heavy machinery, managed to clear the obstacles, although the delays disrupted their speed and plans. The convoy entered Islamabad through the Sangjani toll plaza, and the party shared footage showing the KP convoy within the city limits.

The government had already imposed Section 144, a colonial-era law banning public gatherings and rallies, citing the visit of a high-level delegation from Belarus as the reason for the restrictions.

Numerous cases against Imran Khan

Since his government was ousted through a no-confidence vote in 2022, Imran Khan has faced numerous legal cases, with over 200 charges against him. He has been held in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, since last year.

Despite contesting February's general elections as independents after being denied an election symbol, Khan's party still won the most seats. Khan has accused the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its coalition partners, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), of "stealing the mandate" to seize power at the federal level.
Washington DC: A US federal judge overseeing the case that alleged former president Donald illegally sought to overturn the 2020 election, has agreed to dismiss the charges following a request from special counsel Jack Smith, local media reported. Smith also told a US court of appeals that the special prosecutors are withdrawing their challenge against an earlier dismissial of the case regarding the illegal handling and retention of hundreds of classified documents at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence.

Trump had pleaded not guilty in both cases. This brings to an end the prosecution of the US 45th and 47th president. Trump was charged with conspiring to subvert the 2020 election. He is the President-elect after winning the November 5 US presidential election against Democratic candidate and US Vice President Kamala Harris. He will be inaugurated as the country's 47th president on January 20, next year.

Special Prosecutor Jack Smith asked for the charges to be dropped citing Justice Department policy that says prosecution against an elected president cannot continue during the presidential term, reported Politico. In the Washington DC case, Trump, was accused of pressuring state officials after the 2020 election to change election results that showed Democrat Joe Biden had defeated him and of spreading lies that Biden won only because of massive vote fraud and election irregularities.

Smith first asked US District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on Monday to dismiss the charges against Trump for allegedly trying to block Joe Biden's 2020 victory, saying that he "stands fully behind" the allegations but that Justice Department guidelines made clear the case could not go forward as per the Washington Post.

"After careful consideration, the department has determined that [the Office of Legal Counsel's] prior opinions concerning the Constitution's prohibition on federal indictment and prosecution of a sitting president apply to this situation and that as a result this prosecution must be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated," Smith wrote in his filing. "That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the government's proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the government stands fully behind."

Smith said in motion filed in the court that he conferred with Trump's lawyers, and they did not object to the request to drop the case. The special counsel has sought to dismiss the case without prejudice, which means prosecutors could decide to charge Trump again after he leaves office in January 2029.

In another court filing, Smith asked an appellate court in Atlanta to remove Trump from a pending appeal. The prosecutor had originally filed the appeal seeking to reinstate dismissed charges that Trump hoarded hundreds of classified national security documents at his Ma-a-Lago resort in Florida when he left the presidency in 2021 as per the Voice of America.

In response to Smith's request to drop the charges, Steven Cheung, Trump's spokesman, said in a statement, "The American people re-elected President Trump with an overwhelming mandate to make America great again. Today's decision by the DOJ ends the unconstitutional federal cases against President Trump and is a major victory for the rule of law. The American people and President Trump want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country."

Taking to his Truth Social media platform, Trump said, "These cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought." He said that more than USD 100 million in taxpayer money "has been wasted in the Democrat Party's fight against their Political Opponent, ME. It was a political hijacking, and a low point in the History of our Country that such a thing could have happened, and yet, I persevered, against all odds, and WON."

The CNN, however, reported that as president, Trump will not have the power to interfere with the prosecutions brought against him by state authorities in Georgia and New York. However, the courts in those cases will still have to work out immunity questions and issues raised by his return to the White House.

Last week, the judge overseeing Trump's criminal hush money case in New York postponed his sentencing indefinitely. A jury in the state convicted Trump earlier this year on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment made during the 2016 campaign to adult-film star Stormy Daniels, who alleged a prior affair with the president-elect. Trump has denies the affair.

The US broadcaster's report further said that Trump is still working to stave off prosecution in Georgia, where he is a defendant in a sprawling case that accuses him and several allies of trying to overturn his 2020 election loss in the Peach State.
The deadliest place for women is at home and 140 women and girls on average were killed by an intimate partner or family member per day last year, two U.N. agencies reported yesterday.

Globally, an intimate partner or family member was responsible for the deaths of approximately 51,100 women and girls during 2023, an increase from an estimated 48,800 victims in 2022, UN Women and the U.N. Office of Drugs and Crime said.

The report released on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women said the increase was largely the result of more data being available from countries and not more killings.

But the two agencies stressed that Women and girls everywhere continue to be affected by this extreme form of gender-based violence and no region is excluded. And they said, the home is the most dangerous place for women and girls.

The highest number of intimate partner and family killings was in Africa  with an estimated 21,700 victims in 2023, the report said. Africa also had the highest number of victims relative to the size of its population  2.9 victims per 100,000 people.

There were also high rates last year in the Americas with 1.6 female victims per 100,000 and in Oceania with 1.5 per 100,000, it said. Rates were significantly lower in Asia at 0.8 victims per 100,000 and Europe at 0.6 per 100,000.

According to the report, the intentional killing of women in the private sphere in Europe and the Americas is largely by intimate partners.

By contrast, the vast majority of male homicides take place outside homes and families, it said.

Even though men and boys account for the vast majority of homicide victims, women and girls continue to be disproportionately affected by lethal violence in the private sphere, the report said.

An estimated 80% of all homicide victims in 2023 were men while 20% were women, but lethal violence within the family takes a much higher toll on women than men, with almost 60% of all women who were intentionally killed in 2023 being victims of intimate partner/family member homicide, it said.

The report said that despite efforts to prevent the killing of women and girls by countries, their killings remain at alarmingly high levels.

They are often the culmination of repeated episodes of gender-based violence, which means they are preventable through timely and effective interventions, the two agencies said. EDITH M. LEDERER, UNITED NATIONS, MDT/AP
Chairman of the Legislative Assemblys Second Standing Committee, Chan Chak Mo, said yesterday that lawmakers are concerned about the significant increase in the number of workers in government services, according to the committees analysis of the 2025 budget. The committee plans to send an opinion and request a written explanation from the different government services, regarding this increase. Health service workers, who represent the largest increase in hiring, will be personally contacted to explain this increase.

Related
The government reported a fiscal revenue of nearly MOP6.65 billion from gaming taxes in October, as disclosed by the Financial Services Bureau. This latest monthly figure brings the total gaming tax revenue for the first 10 months of 2024 to over MOP73.04 billion. Notably, gaming taxes accounted for 82.1% of the governments total current revenue, which reached MOP88.99 billion during this period. Under the 2024 budget plan, the government projected gaming tax revenue to approach MOP83.61 billion. The revenue collected in the first 10 months represents 87.4% of this anticipated amount.

Related
The Hengqin Port has achieved a significant milestone, surpassing 20 million passengers for the first time since its opening in August 2020.

As of Nov. 21, the total number of travelers crossing the port reached 20 million, reflecting a remarkable year-on-year increase of 38.2%, according to data from the Hengqin Border Inspection Station.

Among the total, Macau residents accounted for over 4.35 million trips, which is approximately 22% of the overall traffic.

Regular cross-border travelers played a crucial role in this surge, making up nearly 70% of the total with 13.33 million trips, marking a 38.8% increase from last year.

The introduction of the Hengqin-Macau Group Tour policy in May has further heightened this growth.

This policy allows Chinese mainland tourists in organized groups to travel back and forth between Hengqin and Macau multiple times within a week, significantly enhancing visitor numbers. Data indicates that mainland visitors alone totaled 5.42 million this year, up 31.4% from the previous year.

During peak holiday periods, single-day passenger records were shattered on five occasions, with Oct. 3 seeing an all-time high of 103,500 travelers.

In addition to domestic traffic, Hengqin Port is becoming a gateway for international visitors as well.

Approximately 210,000 foreign travelers utilized the port this year for various purposes including business and tourism, representing a staggering 97% increase compared to last year. Streamlined travel processes and expanded visa options have bolstered Hengqins status as a hub for global exchanges, paving the way for future developments in tourism and trade. Nadia Shaw
Rescuers in Indonesia recovered 16 bodies under tons of mud and rocks or that were swept away in flash floods that hit mountainside villages on Sumatra Island, officials said Monday.

Six people are still missing, officials said.

Mud, rocks and trees tumbled down a mountain after torrential rains over the weekend and rivers burst their banks, tearing through four hilly districts in North Sumatra province, washing away houses and destroying farms.

Police, soldiers and rescue workers used excavators, farm equipment and their bare hands to sift through the rubble looking for the dead and missing in Semangat Gunung, a resort area in Karo district, said Juspri M. Nadeak, who heads the local disaster management agency.

Rescuers recovered six bodies after a landslide hit two houses and a cottage late Sunday, he said. Nine injured people managed to escape, he said. Rescuers on Monday were still searching for four missing people, including two children.

Rescuers on Sunday pulled two bodies from a river after flash floods swept away at least 10 houses and damaged about 150 houses and buildings in villages in South Tapanuli district, said Puput Mashuri, who heads the local disaster management agency.

Dozens of people were injured by the flash floods, which also destroyed more than 130 hectares (321 acres) of agricultural land and plantations.

Flash floods on Sunday left four people dead in Deli Serdang district and rescue workers on Monday were searching for two people who were swept away by flash floods and are still missing.

A landslide hit several houses in Harang Julu, a mountainside village in Padang Lawas district, said Mustari, the chief of the local search and rescue agency, who like many Indonesians goes by a single name.

Rescuers late Saturday pulled out the bodies of a four-member family, including two children, and rescued at least three injured people from the devastated village, he said.

Television reports showed relatives wailing as they watched rescuers pull mud-caked bodies from a room at a buried house in Harang Julu village.

Seasonal rain from about October to March frequently causes flooding and landslides in Indonesia, an archipelago of 17,000 islands where millions of people live in mountainous areas or near fertile flood plains.

Last December, 12 people were swept away to Lake Toba or buried under tons of mud after heavy rains triggered flash flood and landslide in mountainside villages in North Sumatra province. Only one of them was found dead and 11 others remain unaccounted for.

The 1,145-square-kilometer Lake Toba, formed out of an ancient super volcano, is a popular sightseeing destination on the island of Sumatra and an area the government aims to develop as a magnet for international tourists. BINSAR BAKKARA, KARO, MDT/AP
The Russian military have captured a British national fighting alongside Ukrainian troops in Russias partially occupied Kursk region, state news agency Tass reported yesterday, citing unidentified sources in law enforcement.

The man was identified by Tass and other media as James Scott Rhys Anderson. Tass quoted him as saying that he had served as a signalman in the British army for four years and then joined the International Legion of Ukraine, formed early on in Russias nearly 3-year-old war against its neighbor.

In Ukraine, Anderson reportedly served as an instructor for Ukrainian troops and was deployed to the Kursk region against his will. Tass published a video of the man saying in English that he doesnt want to be here.

The report couldnt be independently verified, but if confirmed it could be one of the first publicly known case of a Western national captured on Russian soil while fighting for Ukraine.

The U.K. Embassy in Moscow said officials were supporting the family of a British man following reports of his detention but provided no further details.

The Russian Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The soldiers father, Scott Anderson, told Britains Daily Mail newspaper that his sons Ukrainian commander had informed him that the young man had been captured.

Scott Anderson said his son had served in the British military for four years, then briefly worked as a police custody officer before going to Ukraine to fight. He said he tried to convince his son not to join the Ukrainian military, and now he fears for his safety.

Im hoping hell be used as a bargaining chip, but my son told me they torture their prisoners and Im so frightened hell be tortured, he told the newspaper.

The UK Foreign Office said it was supporting the family of a British man following reports of his detention. MDT/AP
South Korea paid tribute to wartime Korean forced laborers at Japans Sado Island Gold Mines in a memorial ceremony yesterday, a day after boycotting a similar event organized by Japan, as tensions over historical atrocities continue to strain relations between the two sides.

Mondays ceremony at a former dormitory near the 16th century Sado mines, which were listed this summer as a UNESCO World Heritage site, was organized by South Koreas Foreign Ministry and attended by nine family members of Korean wartime laborers, the countrys ambassador to Japan and other officials.

Japan on Sunday held a memorial service for all workers at the Sado mines, including Koreans. It thanked them for their contributions at the mines but did not acknowledge their forced labor or issue an apology.

At the Korean-sponsored memorial on Monday, participants in dark suits observed a moment of silence and offered white chrysanthemums in honor of the South Korean laborers, along with offerings such as dried fish, sliced apple and pears.

In a short speech, South Koreas Ambassador to Japan Park Choel-hee offered his condolences to the forced laborers and their families, expressing hopes that the memorial would bring comfort to families. He said South Korea and Japan should both make efforts to ensure that the painful wartime history is remembered.

We will never forget the tears and sacrifices of the Korean workers behind the history of the Sado mines, Park said.

I sincerely hope that today will be a day of remembrance for all the Korean workers who suffered indescribable pain under harsh conditions, and that this memorial service will bring comfort to the souls of the deceased Korean workers and their bereaved families, Park added.

At the mines, about 1,500 Koreans were forced to labor under abusive and brutal conditions during World War II, historians say.

Sundays ceremony, which was supposed to further mend wounds, renewed tensions between the two sides. South Korea announced Saturday its decision to not attend the Japanese-organized ceremony, citing unspecified disagreements with Tokyo over the event.

There was speculation that the South Korean boycott was related to parliamentary vice minister Akiko Ikuinas attendance at Sundays ceremony.

Ikuina reportedly visited Tokyos controversial Yasukuni Shrine in August 2022, weeks after she was elected as a lawmaker. Japans neighbors view Yasukuni, which commemorates 2.5 million war dead, including war criminals, as a symbol of Japans past militarism.

The Sado mines were registered as a UNESCO 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 annually, after repeated protests from the South Korean government.

Signs, including one at the site where South Koreans held their ceremony, have been erected indicating former sites of Korean laborers dormitories. A city-operated museum in the area also added a section about Korean laborers, but a private museum attached to the main UNESCO site doesnt mention them at all.

The site of South Koreas memorial was the former Fourth Souai Dormitory, one of four dorms for Korean laborers without families. A newly erected sign there reads, Workers from the Korean Peninsula lived here during the wartime.

On Saturday, the families visited a former housing site where Korean laborers lived. They also briefly saw the city-run museum and an exhibit on the Korean laborers as they listened to explanations through a translator. MARI YAMAGUCHI, SADO, MDT/AP
The U.S. leads the world in developing artificial intelligence technology, surpassing China in research and other important measures of AI innovation, according to a newly released Stanford University index.

Theres no surefire way to rank global AI leadership but Stanford researchers have made an attempt by measuring the vibrancy of the AI industry across various dimensions, from how much research and investment is happening to how responsibly the technology is being pursued to prevent harm.

The gap is actually widening between the U.S. and China, said computer scientist Ray Perrault, director of the steering committee that runs Stanfords AI Index. The U.S. is investing a lot more, at least at the level of firm creation and firm funding.

The California-based universitys Institute for Human-Centered AI  which has ties to Silicon Valleys tech industry  released the report Thursday as government AI officials from the U.S. and several allies met in San Francisco this week to compare notes on AI safety measures.

Heres which countries made the top 10:

United States

The U.S. ranks No. 1 on Stanfords list and has consistently held that position since 2018 when it overtook China. It has far outpaced China in private AI investment, which hit $67.2 billion in the U.S. last year compared to $7.8 billion in China, according to the report. It also leads in publishing responsible AI research. Its no surprise that the home of commercial AI powerhouses such as Google and Meta, along with relative newcomers like OpenAI and Anthropic, has produced many notable AI models that have influenced how the technology is being developed and applied. The U.S. also gets some points for having a number of AI-related laws on the books, though Congress has yet to pass any broad AI regulations.

China

China has requested far more patents than any other country regarding generative AI, the U.N. intellectual property agency said earlier this year. Stanford researchers counted that as one measure of Chinas strong growth in AI innovation but not enough to lead the pack. Still, the report says that Chinas focus on developing cutting-edge AI technologies and increasing its R&D investments has positioned it as a major AI powerhouse. Chinas universities have produced a large number of AI-related research publications and it has commercial leaders developing notable AI models, such as Baidu and its chatbot Ernie.

United Kingdom

Coming in at No. 3 is the UK, which also ranked high in research and development, and educational infrastructure due to top computer science universities churning out a skilled AI workforce. Its also home to Googles AI subsidiary DeepMind, whose co-founder recently won a Nobel Prize; and had more mentions of AI in parliamentary proceedings than any other country. Last year, the UK hosted the worlds first international AI safety summit.

India

Close behind the UK was India, thanks to a strong AI research community, improvements in economic investments tied to AI and a robust public discourse about AI on social media, according to the report. MATT OBRIEN, MDT/AP
The exchange period for four previously issued Zodiac Banknotes will conclude Dec. 6, the Monetary Authority of Macao said in a statement yesterday. Holders of the Rat, Ox, Tiger, and Rabbit Zodiac Banknotes are encouraged to exchange their notes at their previously selected banks before the deadline. The bureau urges registrants who have not yet conducted the exchange to do so before the exchange period ends.

Related
Jacob Washingtons brand-new townhouse at Bayview is unlike anywhere else he has lived.

Washington, his wife and their three young children shared a single room at a family shelter before the townhouse became available at the Downtown low-income housing complex this fall. Now they have three bedrooms, two bathrooms and far more space to themselves.

Coming from a shelter, locked up in that room, my kids are joyous, Washington said. The poverty forced my kids to age, he said. At Bayview, theyre free to be kids again.

But what stands out most to Washington isnt Bayviews facilities. What really feels different, he said, is the community.

People want to be involved here, Washington said. Its not some type of place where people are trying to get rent from you and dont care about you. They build and work every day for the kids sake. They really do. And thats amazing to me because, literally, I never had this in my life.

Washingtons family is one of about 50 that will join the community by early next year as the Bayview Foundation finishes replacing the flat, brick-and-beige townhouses that had long sat at the corner of West Washington Avenue and Regent Street with one of the most vibrant developments Madison has ever seen.

Seven years since the foundation began planning its overhaul of the eastern end of the Triangle and three years since it broke ground on the first of 11 colorful buildings, the nonprofit that has housed low-income families there since the early 1970s is nearing completion of its 130 apartments and townhouses.

Construction is set to end in December. Most of the remaining move-ins will take place in January.

The completion of the $60 million redevelopment project  one that, unconventionally, was shaped in almost every way by the people who already lived there  is a big moment for Bayview. It is also a time of transition, said Alexis London, Bayviews executive director.

It feels like were just at the beginning of a new chapter in terms of community cohesion and family stabilization, London said. And that will take as much work and thought and creativity as this took.

The version of Bayview that exists today is the product of years of discussion  in English, Spanish and Hmong  with the community. Residents, many of them refugees who have been at Bayview for decades, told staff that they were afraid of being displaced, again. But they recognized that their housing was falling into disrepair, and they wanted cleaner, more accessible places to live and a more welcoming space to gather.

The new Bayview, rebuilt in stages without displacing any of its residents, has all of that and then some.

Bayview also has space for another 28 families on top of the 102 that could live there before. It ended up with almost as many additional openings due to residents moving out over the course of the redevelopment. For a community with a turnover rate of less than 10% per year, incorporating so many new people in such a short period has been a process of its own.

We all know that moving to a new community, no matter what your circumstance ... is stressful. It is difficult, London said.

Some of the people who are moving into housing at Bayview are coming out of really hard situations, London said. Families that are leaving unstable and sometimes unsafe environments, such as living with relatives, in shelters or on the street, may need a while to find their footing again, she said.

Bayview anticipated facing more challenges, from noise complaints to police calls, during that adjustment period.

Bayview is doing everything we know to do to provide support, London said. And yet it takes time.

Its about growing here

Bayviews efforts to support its newest residents begin the moment they walk in the door.

Veronica Vega, the family support coordinator Bayview hired to oversee its expanded services, meets with families right away to determine their most pressing needs. Do they have dishes? Furniture? A doctor? Health insurance? Have their kids started school, or do they need to be enrolled?

Staff members give families that need groceries access to the food pantry and supply essentials that have been donated, such as kitchen tools, towels and bedding, to those that dont have them yet. They familiarize parents with the after-school programming and try to get kids involved early on.

Adjusting tends to happen in stages, said Nate Schorr, Bayviews program director. First, people have to settle in. Once their basic needs are met, they can begin to catch up on the rest, such as going to the doctor for the first time in years or making sure their kids are attending school regularly.

You need to land here. You need to stabilize here. And then its about growing here, Schorr said. How do you take on leadership in the community? How do you start planning for the future?

Washington said he grew up in a place of poverty and spent time in prison before moving to Madison in April for an opportunity that didnt pan out, then found a job as a machine operator while staying at the family shelter. Now, as a Bayview resident, hes experiencing that forward momentum firsthand.

Im ready to establish a foundation, Washington said. Hes motivated partly by the opportunities available to his kids at Bayview, such as after-school activities and field trips, and partly by the bonds among the people working and living there. His passion is writing music, he said, and he plans to set up a studio in his townhouse.

This community is a place thatll build you up, he said.

More than an apartment

At the heart of Bayview is its $9 million community center, which is part of Madisons network of city-supported neighborhood centers. The community center  like the rest of Bayviews buildings  is designed to save energy. Its set to be outfitted with solar panels and an emergency battery so that critical systems, like heating and cooling, can stay operational during power outages.

In addition to providing year-round youth programming, the center regularly puts on recreational and educational activities for adults and seniors, ranging from art and yoga classes to English as a second language and financial literacy courses. Bayviews resident chef serves hot lunches every weekday and makes dinner for the kids three times a week, all for free.

Vega wants families arriving at Bayview to know from the start that they are not just moving into a housing unit but are instead moving [in] with all of us as a community, she said. Its all of us working together.

K.S., who moved in earlier this month with four of her grandchildren, ages 1 to 17, and asked to be identified by her initials to protect her grandchildrens privacy, said she had been looking for a safe place to raise them.

I didnt know it was a community, she said. I just thought you get an apartment.

Shes beyond satisfied with her new housing so far. The family had three bedrooms where they lived before, she said, but the space was smaller and more cramped than the three-bedroom, three-bathroom townhouse that theyre settling into at Bayview.

I was just shocked when I saw this place, she said of the townhouse, which has a large kitchen and living room on the ground floor and bedrooms upstairs. All of the units at Bayview come with high ceilings, lots of windows, a washer and dryer and free Wi-Fi. Most, including hers, also have a porch or balcony.

Staff members offers to help with anything her family needed came as another surprise.

She hasnt had time yet to think about much besides unpacking, but shes looking forward to going back to work at a nonprofit that supports homeless and poor people for the first time since she got custody of her 1-year-old grandson.

Im used to giving, she said. Im not used to people doing a lot for me.

In high demand

Bayview opened its waiting list for three weeks this spring. In that time, it received over 500 applications.

I knew it would be a lot, London said. I didnt know it would be that much.

Almost all of the units at Bayview are reserved for low-income households. Most residents pay 30% of their income for rent, no matter how much  or how little  they make.

Some of the more than 500 applicants seeking housing they could afford were referred to Bayview by partner organizations, such as the Salvation Army or the Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin, London said. But she was surprised, she said, by the number of families that were not connected with those sorts of support services.

London suspects that a lot of families fell through the cracks, she said, and they somehow found Bayview, and theyre desperate for housing, and theyre so hopeful that they get the call that they got a place here.

When families find out they made it in, theres lots of tears, and theres lots of joy, London said. To see these new families come, its bringing a whole new energy, a whole new life, a whole new positivity.

E.B., a young mother who also asked to be identified by her initials, was pregnant and living at home with her mother and younger sisters when she applied for a place at Bayview. About a week after giving birth to her daughter, she got the call shed been waiting for. The two moved in a couple months later.

The first night in her new one-bedroom unit was calming, she said. I was happy to be here.

When E.B. first toured Bayview and after she moved in, she was struck by how much there was to do. She has since returned part time to her job, where she works with survivors of domestic violence. But she takes her daughter to the play-and-learn sessions put on at Bayview by the Madison School District, and people dote on the baby wherever they go.

Everybodys just so welcoming, she said.
A huge fire erupted Tuesday at a Japanese rocket testing station, sending flames and smoke soaring into the sky, in the latest mishap for the countrys ambitious space programme.

There were no reports of any injuries in the incident, in a remote area of Kagoshima in southern Japan, where a solid-fuel Epsilon S rocket was being tested.

- Advertisement -

Footage on national broadcaster NHK showed towering balls of fire and white fumes rising from the Tanegashima Space Center.

Journalists stationed around 900 metres (yards) away reported a large explosion shortly after after the combustion test began at 8:30 am (2330 GMT).

There was an abnormality during todays combustion test. We are trying to assess what happened, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) told AFP in a statement.

No injuries have been reported at this point. The cause is also under investigation.

The Asahi Shimbun daily reported that the agencys plan to launch the Epsilon S  the successor to the Epsilon  by March was now nearly impossible.

In July 2023 one engine of an Epsilon S exploded during a test around 50 seconds after ignition.

In that incident a piece of metal from the ignition melted and damaged the thermal insulator covering the engine, allowing fuel to catch fire, Kyodo News reported.

That was one in a string of setbacks for Japans space programme, including launch attempts for its next-generation H3 launch system.

JAXA managed a successful blast-off in February this year for the H3, which has been mooted as a rival to SpaceXs Falcon 9.

But that followed a failed attempt in February 2023 when the ignition process failed. The following month a destruct command was issued shortly after blast-off.

Including the Epsilon S, the development of flagship rockets is extremely important for the independence of Japans space development programme, top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters at a regular briefing on Tuesday.
On Thursday 21 November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) finally issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, Israels prime minister and former defence minister respectively, for war crimes.

This merely confirms what has been clear for a long time  that Netanyahu and his murderous regime are a gang of criminals with blood on their hands.

The real significance of the warrants, however, lies in their exposing of the utter hypocrisy of the western imperialists, and the impotence of international law to bring about real justice.

Embarrassment

The warrants claim that during the period from 8 October 2023 to 20 May 2024, there are reasonable grounds to believe that both Netanyahu and Gallant bear criminal responsibility for:

the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and

the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.

This charge sheet is putting things mildly, considering the scale of the genocide being committed against the Palestinians, and now the extension of the war into Lebanon and beyond.

Nevertheless, the ICC warrant is extremely embarrassing for the Israeli regime and its imperialist backers. It is indeed the first time that leaders of a state aligned with western imperialism have been charged by the court.

Predictably, the Israeli regime responded with outrage to the suggestion that their leaders actions could be called into question. Netanyahus office quickly dismissed the warrant as antisemitic, which is of course their term for anyone that dares to criticise Israels murderous exploits.

In fact, ever since the ICC announced in May that it was seeking an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, the Israeli state has pulled out all the stops to have the court stopped in its tracks. Indeed, the US House of Representatives even passed a law that seeks to block the entry into the US of any ICC official involved in the case.

The courts credit is pressing ahead with the case, despite the overwhelming pressure to have it dropped. Yet really it was a case of damned if it did, and damned if it didnt. To do nothing would have made a mockery of the idea of the court as an independent legal body, in light of the overwhelming evidence of Israels crimes.

Hypocrisy

US President Joe Biden was quick to declare that the ICC issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous. Whatever the ICC might imply, Biden thundered, there is no equivalence  none  between Israel and Hamas.

US President Joe Biden was quick to declare that the ICC issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous / Image: US Embassy Jerusalem, Flickr

The implication that Biden refers to is presumably the fact that the ICC warrant also calls for the arrest of Hamas military leader, Mohammed Deif, who Israel claims to have killed in an airstrike. The court likely included this precisely in order to diffuse the anticipated claims of antisemitism against it from the Zionists and their friends.

Its true that there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas, but not for the reasons Genocide Joe imagines.

The former possesses one of the most sophisticated militaries in the world, and is armed to the teeth and financed by western imperialism. The latter stands at the head of an impoverished people subject to decades of ethnic cleansing, armed with only the most basic of weapons.

We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security, Biden continued. Indeed Bidens ironclad support for Israel is precisely why Netanyahu and his gang feel they can act with complete impunity against the Palestinians.

Despite Bidens bleatings about protecting civilians and humanitarian aid, he continues to provide the Israeli regime with all the material support it needs to continue its wars in Gaza and now Lebanon.

Note also that when Vladimir Putin was accused of war crimes in Ukraine, Biden eagerly called for the ICC to issue an arrest warrant with the maximum haste, which it of course did.

Now, when it is an important ally of US imperialism facing trial, the court is accused of rushing the process, and its jurisdiction is called into question.

As always, it is a case of one rule for the allies of US imperialism, and another for its enemies.

In any event, the arrest warrant will change precisely nothing in terms of the relationship between the US and Israel. The US  given its long and continuing history of crimes against humanity  is not a member state of the ICC. It is therefore outside the courts jurisdiction, and has no obligations to carry out its warrants.

Not only that, but the US passed a law in 2002 colloquially known as The Hague Invasion Act. This allows it to pursue any action  including military  to bring about the release of any US or allied personnel being detained by the ICC, anywhere in the world.

US Senator Tom Cotton, in true gangster fashion, wasted no time in taking to X to give any would-be enforcers of this warrant a friendly reminder of this provision.

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

Key partners

Things are a little more awkward for the western imperialist powers that are members of the ICC.

The British, French, German, and Italian governments have all sought to distance themselves from the court. Unwilling to upset their allies in the Israeli regime, they have all either refused to comment on the appropriateness of the warrant, or gave evasive responses when questioned.

For example, when British Prime Minister Keir Starmers spokesman was asked whether Netanyahu would be detained by UK authorities, he replied that he refuses to comment on hypotheticals. When pressed, he coyly added that the UK government would fulfil its legal obligations, but that Israel remains a key partner across a range of areas.

In plain language this means why let a few war crimes get in the way of good business among friends.

We can confidently predict that the ICCs arrest warrant will make no impact at all to the imperialists provision of weapons and support to their key strategic partner / Image: Hudson Institute, Flickr

Indeed we can confidently predict that the ICCs arrest warrant will make no impact at all to the imperialists provision of weapons and support to their key strategic partner.

It does however help expose the rottenness of bourgeois democracy, where wanted criminals are praised as key partners, whilst those who stand in support of its victims are wanted as criminals.

For good measure, US Senator Lindsay Graham warned that the US will crush the economies of any states that enforce the ICCs warrant. To any ally, Canada, Britain, Germany, France, if you try to help the ICC, were gonna sanction you, threatened Graham.

In a remarkably frank admission, Graham then stated We should crush your economy because were nextWhy cant they go after Trump or any other American president? Indeed!

Lest we forget, this is the same Graham who in 2023 stated:

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 endeavours to hold Putin accountable for the brutal invasion of Ukraine.

Of course, to such defenders of democracy, invasions are only brutal if theyre carried out by those outside of the international community, i.e. states in conflict with US imperialism. Such is the reality of the so-called rules-based international order.

Justice

Whilst the ICC warrant against Netanyahu is somewhat of a blow to his already shady reputation, unfortunately it will not lead to him being held to account for his crimes. At the end of the day, the ICC possesses no means to actually compel his arrest.

Indeed, the entire history of Israel proves precisely the impotence of so-called international law when it conflicts with the interests of imperialism.

Decades of UN resolutions, orders, and judgements have been routinely ignored by the Zionists in their brutal oppression of the Palestinians. We should be under no illusions that this arrest warrant will be any different.

Whilst Netanyahu and his government are clearly guilty of the most heinous crimes, we must point out that he could only carry these out with the direct support of the imperialists of the West.

Missing from this arrest warrant are the names of Joe Biden, Keir Starmer, Rishi Sunak, Emanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, and all the other imperialists who aid and abet the Zionist regime. Without their support, Netanyahus war machine would collapse within weeks. They should all be indicted!

Ultimately, the only way to bring all these gangsters to account is for the working class and revolutionary youth of the world to overthrow imperialism  which is the root cause of all these crimes  and establish a worldwide socialist federation.
Three weeks ago, to the horror of the liberal establishment in the USA and internationally, Donald Trump was elected President of the United States for the second time, defeating the hated and discredited Democrats. The capitalist media is filled with hysteria about a dire threat to democracy and the rise of fascism posed by Trumps presidency just like in 2016! Communists need to cut through all the noise and understand what is really happening here.

The US is facing a deep crisis of the regime, following half a century of capitalist decay. After four years of Joe Biden and the Democrats running in the interests of the rich at home, while facilitating war and genocide abroad, people have had enough. They have lost all faith in official institutions like the state, the courts, and establishment politicians, and a growing layer is looking towards (self-proclaimed) alternatives.

The liberals have nothing to offer, as they preside over a discredited system. Attempts to sell Kamala Harris through identity politics failed to wash. Reformists like Bernie Sanders have also animated millions of workers and young people with class struggle rhetoric, only to betray and disappoint. The labour movement leaders remain slavishly attached to the Democrats.

Despite being a billionaire elite himself, Trump poses himself as a scrappy, unapologetic enemy of the establishment, and has been able to skillfully (albeit cynically) capitalise on some of the angry mood. Another dose of Trumps fire and fury, coupled with a war on federal institutions, will only intensify the polarisation of US society, and further expose the limits of the so-called democratic regime, which will create huge opportunities for revolutionaries! Trump will inevitably disappoint, leading millions to question the entire capitalist system like never before.

This weeks episode of Spectre of Communism Podcast welcomes Antonio Balmer, a leading member of the Revolutionary Communists of America  the US section of the Revolutionary Communist International  who explains why it has never been a better time to be an American communist!

For more from Antonio on the implications of Trumps victory, we recommend his recent talk on this topic at the Revolution Festival in London: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cz_JGRVDOY

For further analysis of what Trumps return to power means for the establishment, we recommend this article by Alan Woods: https://marxist.com/trump-victory-2024.htm

Check out the website of our US comrades in the RCA: https://communistusa.org/

New episodes of the Spectre of Communism podcast are out every Tuesday! Subscribe and listen at your preferred platform, and find us on social media, here: https://linktr.ee/specom

Listen and subscribe below

Youtube

Spotify

Apple Podcasts

Marxist.com Podcasts:

https://podcast.marxist.com/2024/11/26/trump-and-the-crisis-of-liberal-democracy/
Commitment to Morocco-EU partnership needs to be shown through acts instead of words, foreign minister Nasser Bourita said.

Bourita made the statement in a news conference with EU neighbourhood commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, who pays his first visit to Rabat since the European Court of Justice issued its politically-motivated verdict on the fisheries and agricultural deals with Morocco.

It is necessary that everything said in European capitals about the importance of the European Unions partnership with Morocco be translated into actions and concrete solutions in the face of provocations and harassment, which take political and legal forms and attempt to harm this partnership, Bourita said.

Today, Morocco expects the European Union to state how it intends to address the provocations. Morocco expects the EU to send signals and material proposals that reflect its commitment to this partnership and respond to the challenges at hand, he said.

He reiterated that Morocco will not sign any agreement that violates its national unity, adding today the ball is in the EUs court.

EU Commissioner on his part said Morocco is a reliable partner and a pillar of stability in the region, hailing the actions carried out jointly with the Kingdom, particularly the successful reform of the Kingdoms social security project.

In my opinion, we now need to redouble our efforts to figure out feasible solutions to overcome the difficulties, he added. We are committed to all the achievements we have made together and we would like to extend them, said Mr. Varhelyi, announcing an upcoming agreement aimed at supporting the populations affected by Al Haouz earthquake and backing post-quake reconstruction efforts.
Madagascar authorities announced on Monday November 25 that they had rescued 48 Somali nationals from two boats found adrift off the islands coast, following the tragic death of at least 22 people from the same group at sea. The incident highlights the dangers faced by migrants attempting perilous sea journeys in search of better opportunities.

Fishermen discovered the survivors on Friday and brought them to Nosy Be, a northeastern island in Madagascar. According to a statement by the Madagascar Maritime and River Port Agency (APMF), seven people were found dead aboard one boat, while 15 others perished on the second vessel.

The two boats, initially carrying 70 passengers, had departed Somalia on November 2, bound for the Comoros archipelago and the French overseas department of Mayotte. Both vessels reportedly experienced engine failures, leaving them stranded at sea.

The survivors are now receiving medical attention and care under the supervision of health officials in Nosy Iranja and Daresalam Nosy Be. The survivors are currently housed in a gymnasium under the surveillance of Malagasy law enforcement, confirmed Jean-Edmond Randrianantenaina, Director General of the APMF. He added that Somali authorities are expected to organize the repatriation of their nationals soon.

While APMF stated that 25 individuals had died in the incident, other reports maintain a figure of 22 fatalities.

The tragedy underscores the risks associated with human trafficking and unauthorized migration in the region. Mayotte, the poorest French department, faces significant challenges from high levels of illegal immigration, particularly from the Comoros and mainland Africa. Earlier this month, another devastating incident occurred when at least 25 migrants, including women and children, drowned after traffickers intentionally sank their boat off the Comoros.

These incidents continue to highlight the urgent need for coordinated international efforts to address the root causes of migration, improve search-and-rescue operations, and combat human trafficking networks that exploit vulnerable populations.
King Mohammed VI has sent a message of thanks to the President of Panama, Jose Raul Mulino Quintero, following his countrys wise decision regarding the Sahara issue, the Kingdoms first National Cause.

I would like to address my most sincere thanks, following the wise decision undertaken by your friendly country on November 21, 2024, relating to the Kingdom of Moroccos first National Cause, the King wrote in his message, describing this decision as highly significant as it reinforces Moroccos legitimate rights, falls in line with international legality, and is consistent with the ongoing global momentum.

I am pleased that a new page is being opened in the bilateral ties between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Panama, the King said, stressing that the Kingdom is driven by a genuine desire to strengthen the ties of friendship and cooperation with Panama, in all fields, for the benefit of our two peoples.

On November 21, Panama announced that it had cut all ties with the self-proclaimed Polisario entity.

The Republic of Panama, prioritizing national interests and adhering to the core principles of its foreign policy, reaffirms its commitment to the objectives and values that underpin multilateralism, the countrys foreign ministry had said in a statement.

Panama reiterates its commitment to dialogue and multilateral cooperation, in full compliance with a constructive foreign policy aimed at strengthening international peace and security, the statement added.
Authorities in Cote dIvoire have confirmed the dismantling of a terrorist network in July 2024 in Abidjan, marking a significant security operation with international implications. According to French newspaper Le Monde, six individuals of Iraqi and Syrian origin, linked to the Islamic State (IS), were arrested in the Ivorian capital while allegedly planning to reach Europe.

On November 25, an Ivorian government source discreetly confirmed that the countrys anti-terrorism unit had arrested the six men in the Koumassi Commune of Abidjan on July 28. This operation, made possible through intelligence provided by U.S. security services, uncovered a network with potential plans to target high-profile events, including the upcoming Paris Olympics.

The suspects reportedly had connections extending as far as Madagascar, where other members of the same network were also apprehended with the support of French and American intelligence agencies.

During the raid, authorities seized false identity documents and approximately 30 SIM cards from the suspects apartment. The individuals were interrogated by Ivorian authorities in coordination with their American counterparts.

Simultaneously, another operation unfolded 6,250 kilometers away in Antananarivo, Madagascars capital. Malagasy authorities, supported by Frances General Directorate for External Security (DGSE), arrested two additional members of the same network.

Le Monde reports that American and French intelligence had been tracking these suspects for months due to their alleged ties to IS. While Abidjan and Antananarivo are already grappling with jihadist threats from the Sahel and Mozambique, this marks the first acknowledgment by Ivorian authorities of individuals linked directly to terrorist groups originating from the Middle East operating within their borders.

These arrests highlight the growing complexity of global terrorism networks, the transnational nature of their operations, and the critical need for international collaboration in counter-terrorism efforts. The involvement of intelligence agencies from Cote dIvoire, the U.S., and France underscores the importance of partnerships in addressing threats that cross continents.
The Mozambican Constitutional Council (CC) announced on November 25 that it is working hard to ensure electoral truth regarding the October general elections, with final results expected by December 23.

In a rare and exceptional statement, CC President Lucia Ribeiro addressed the current moment of social alarm and high societal expectations. While no legal deadline exists for the validation and proclamation of electoral results, the Constitution mandates that the new Assembly of the Republic convene within 20 days after results are proclaimed. Given the current legislatures January 12, 2020 start and five-year term, the Council must finalize results by December 23 to meet constitutional obligations.

The CC urged citizens to exercise restraint while emphasizing its commitment to transparency. The Council also reported threats, including death threats, against its judges via private messages and social media, which it condemned as criminal acts that undermine democracy.

Since October 21, post-election demonstrations have escalated into violence, vandalism, and restrictions on individual freedoms, resulting in loss of life and property destruction. Opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane has called for protests against the results announced by the National Elections Commission (CNE) on October 24, which gave Daniel Chapo, the Frelimo-backed candidate, 70.67% of the vote. The results remain subject to CC validation.

The Council acknowledged domestic and international calls for electoral transparency and reaffirmed its dedication to upholding democratic principles.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighboring Rwanda signed a key document on Monday (25 November), which they hope will pave the way for the advancement of the peace process in the DRCs troubled east, ceasefire-broker Angola has said.

This key peace document signed by both sides, with Angolas mediation, aims to address the conflict in eastern DRC that has displaced thousands since 2021, creating a humanitarian crisis. Despite ceasefire violations by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel militia that has seized swathes of the eastern DRC, diplomatic dialogue has continued between the two central African neighbors to date amid efforts to stabilize the unfolding humanitarian crisis. In early August, Angola managed to mediate a fragile truce that stabilized the situation at the front line. But two months later, the rebel group was on the march again, as it re-launched its localized offensives.

In early November, the DRC and Rwanda set up a committee to monitor ceasefire violations, led by Angola and including representatives from both neighboring countries. In the latest move to secure a lasting cease-fire, Kinshasa and Kigalis foreign ministers approved a key document featuring a concept of operations, aiming to set out the terms by which Rwandan troops will disengage from the DRC territory, according to a statement by Angolas foreign ministry. In August, the two central African neighbors drafted a plan that provided for the dismantling of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), one of the militias fighting alongside the DRC armed forces against the M23, which was created by former ethnic Hutu leaders involved in the Rwandan genocide in 1994, as a precondition for Rwanda withdrawing its troops.
Kenyan police deployed tear gas against peaceful demonstrators in Nairobi during a march commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The confrontation highlighted tensions between security forces and activists demanding action against rising gender-based violence.

Protesters criticized the police response, with demonstrators like Waithira Karanja pointing to the irony of law enforcement disrupting a protest against violence toward women. Official statistics reveal 97 reported femicide cases during the past three months, though activists maintain many incidents remain undocumented.

The demonstration coincided with the launch of the global 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence. Despite President William Rutos recent condemnation of increasing femicide cases and call for collective action, social justice activists question the governments concrete steps toward addressing the crisis, particularly regarding prosecution of perpetrators.

United Nations data paints a gloomy picture, with 85,000 women and girls intentionally killed worldwide in 2023. Sixty percent of these deaths involved intimate partners or close relatives. Africa records the highest regional toll, with 21,700 victims among 51,100 family-related killings, representing 2.9 victims per 100,000 people.

The protests disruption underscores broader concerns about law enforcements approach to public demonstrations and the governments commitment to addressing gender-based violence in Kenya.
King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, addressed a message to King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, addressed a message to the Chairman of the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Cheikh Niang, on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, celebrated on November 26 .

Here follows the full text of the Royal Message

Praise be to God,

May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, His Kith and Kin

Your Excellency Cheikh Niang, Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As we commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, it gives me pleasure to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to you and to the Committee members for the untiring efforts you have been making to defend the cause of the Palestinian people and their just, legitimate, inalienable rights.

I should like to take this opportunity to reiterate the Kingdom of Moroccos firm position on the just cause of the Palestinian people. The settlement of the conflict is crucial for peace, security and stability in the Middle East region, and it should be based on the internationally agreed two-state solution, under which the Gaza Strip would be an integral part of the independent Palestinian territories.

The Kingdom of Morocco reaffirms its full solidarity and unconditional support for the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent State, based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The tragic situation in the Palestinian territories, especially in the Gaza Strip, and the related regional and international challenges call out to the conscience of the world and require decisive action for the achievement of an immediate, comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire. They also require greater joint action to support and protect human rights in the Palestinian territories, implement relevant UN resolutions and ensure full compliance with international law and international humanitarian law.

In view of the serious, unprecedented developments in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, the Kingdom of Morocco expresses its deep concern over the tragic conditions resulting from the continued Israeli invasion, which has so far claimed the lives of tens of thousands of innocent, defenceless civilians. Millions of Palestinians have been deprived of their basic rights to housing, food, health, clean water, education and security; they have been forcibly displaced or made to migrate due to massive, wide-ranging destruction of infrastructure in the region.

In light of these difficult and unacceptable circumstances from a human, legal and moral standpoint, and consistent with its usual policy in various regional and international forums, the Kingdom of Morocco reiterates the following:

 First: the need for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and for an end be put to the repeated attacks on the defenceless inhabitants of the West Bank and al-Qods;

 Second: the need to make sure that civilians are protected, that they are not targeted and that there is no further bloodshed in the entire Palestinian territories;

 Third: the need to open all crossings immediately, permanently and unconditionally, without any restrictions, so as to ensure the unhindered flow, in sufficient quantities, of humanitarian and relief aid as well as medical supplies to meet the basic needs of the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip and the other Palestinian territories;

 Fourth: the need to preserve, strengthen and support the role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA);

 Fifth: the need to reject any displacement of Palestinian citizens and ensure full compliance with international law and international humanitarian law;

 Sixth: the need to start serious, meaningful negotiations to revive the peace process, in accordance with United Nations resolutions and international legitimacy.

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The past few years have seen an important qualitative leap in the work of this esteemed Committee as it continues to carry out its mission regarding the Palestinian cause and the defence of the rights of the Palestinian people through the implementation of the annual programs and projects planned for this purpose.

The commemoration of International Solidarity Day against the backdrop of the confrontations that have unfortunately plagued the region for more than a year now, and the continuing Israeli military invasion of the Gaza Strip require the international community to take urgent, immediate action to stop the war, compel Israel to lift the siege imposed on the Strip, and allow the return of displaced people as a prelude to starting the reconstruction of what was destroyed by the war.

Given the impasse in the Middle East peace process and the difficult conditions currently prevailing in the region, I call once again on the international community, especially the influential countries which can have an impact on the conflict, to undertake fresh, intensive and effective diplomatic efforts with a view to bringing back the parties concerned to the negotiating table. The aim is to achieve a just, comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue and build a common future for upcoming Palestinian and Israeli generations, within the framework of the two-state solution.

The Kingdom of Morocco supports all constructive initiatives aimed at finding practical solutions to achieve a permanent and effective ceasefire, and address the humanitarian situation. My country will keep up its unstinting, customary efforts and use its influence as well as its special relationship with the parties concerned and with the influential international powers to bring about conditions conducive to a return to the negotiating table. That is the only way to put a final end to the conflict and achieve security and stability in the Middle East region.

I wish to seize the opportunity of this Committee meeting to commend and encourage all national Palestinian reconciliation initiatives that serve our Palestinians brothers lofty goal of establishing their independent state. In this regard, I would like to express my full support to the Palestinian National Authority, under the leadership of my brother, His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas, as it seeks to fulfil the aspirations of our Palestinian brothers and sisters to gain freedom and independence, and achieve security, unity and prosperity.

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Israeli unilateral measures and repeated provocations in the city of al-Qods are undermining all efforts to achieve a return to calm and ruining all international initiatives designed to stop the violence and put an end to tension in the region.

As Chairman of the Organization of Islamic Cooperations al-Quds Committee, I have personally seen to it that all possible efforts are made, and all ways and means available leveraged to preserve the legal, historical and demographic status of al-Qods as the city that brings together the followers of the three monotheistic religions.

In this regard, the Kingdom of Morocco will keep up its untiring efforts to defend the holy city, politically and diplomatically.

As the executive, action-oriented organ of the al-Quds Committee, the Bayt Mal al-Qods Agency will continue to implement tangible programs and projects essentially designed to preserve the cultural identity of the holy city, improve the social and living conditions of the inhabitants of al-Qods, and support their steadfastness.

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Considering the humanitarian calamity befalling our brothers and sisters in the Gaza Strip, I have, on three occasions, ordered the dispatching of urgent medical and humanitarian aid to the Strip. That special aid, which also included equipment for treating burns, surgical and emergency supplies as well as basic medicines, was delivered using an unprecedented crossing. As we all know, the medical sector in Gaza is in a state of near collapse due to the scarcity of medical supplies and medicines.

The efforts and initiatives undertaken by the Kingdom of Morocco to support the cause of Palestinians attest to a continuous, genuine commitment backed by tangible measures on the ground that are appreciated and praised by the Palestinian people and their leadership.

I commend the Committees sincere, continuous efforts and wish to reiterate our full support for its praiseworthy action in backing the legitimate, inalienable rights of Palestinians, as well as for its action to contribute to international efforts to achieve peace, stability, coexistence and prosperity for all peoples in the region.

I wish you every success.

Wassalamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh.
The tragic situation in the Palestinian territories, especially in the Gaza Strip, and the related regional and international challenges call out to the conscience of the world and require decisive action for the achievement of an immediate, comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire, His Majesty King Mohammed VI stated.

They also require greater joint action to support and protect human rights in the Palestinian territories, implement relevant UN resolutions and ensure full compliance with international law and international humanitarian law, the Sovereign stressed in a message to the Chairman of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Cheikh Niang, on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, celebrated on November 26 this year.

Expressing His regret regarding the continuing Israeli military invasion of the Gaza Strip, HM the King took the opportunity to call on the entire world to take urgent, immediate action to stop the war, compel Israel to lift the siege imposed on the Strip, and allow the return of displaced people as a prelude to starting the reconstruction of what was destroyed by the war.

Likewise, given the impasse in the Middle East peace process and the difficult conditions currently prevailing in the region, the Sovereign called once again on the international community, especially the influential countries which can have an impact on the conflict, to undertake fresh, intensive and effective diplomatic efforts with a view to bringing back the parties concerned to the negotiating table.

The aim is to achieve a just, comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue and build a common future for upcoming Palestinian and Israeli generations, within the framework of the two-state solution, HM the King wrote in this message.

The Sovereign also stressed that in view of the serious, unprecedented developments in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, the Kingdom of Morocco expresses its deep concern over the tragic conditions resulting from the continued Israeli invasion.

The invasion has so far claimed the lives of thousands of innocent, defenceless civilians. Millions of Palestinians have been deprived of their basic rights to housing, food, health, clean water, education and security; they have been forcibly displaced or made to migrate due to massive, wide-ranging destruction of infrastructure in the region, HM the King added.

The Sovereign also noted that the Israeli unilateral measures and repeated provocations in the city of al-Qods are undermining all efforts to achieve a return to calm and ruining all international initiatives designed to stop the violence and put an end to tension in the region.

Commending the sincere and continuous efforts of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, HM the King reiterated His full support for its praiseworthy action in backing the legitimate, inalienable rights of Palestinians, as well as for its action to contribute to international efforts to achieve peace, stability, coexistence and prosperity for all peoples in the region.

This Committee meeting is, to the Sovereign, an opportunity to commend and encourage all national Palestinian reconciliation initiatives that serve our Palestinians brothers lofty goal of establishing their independent state.
The Kingdom of Morocco supports all constructive initiatives aimed at finding practical solutions to achieve a permanent and effective ceasefire, and address the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories, His Majesty King Mohammed VI stressed.

By using its influence as well as its special relationship with the parties concerned and with the influential international powers, Morocco will keep up its unstinting, customary efforts to bring about conditions conducive to a return to the negotiating table. That is the only way to put a final end to the conflict and achieve security and stability in the Middle East region, the Sovereign said in a message to the Chairman of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Cheikh Niang, on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, celebrated on November 26 this year.

HM the King added that, in light of these difficult and unacceptable circumstances from a human, legal and moral standpoint, and consistent with its usual policy in various regional and international forums, the Kingdom of Morocco reiterates the need for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and for an end be put to the repeated attacks on the defenceless inhabitants of the West Bank and al-Qods.

The Kingdom, which also reiterates the need to make sure that civilians are protected, that they are not targeted and that there is no further bloodshed in the entire Palestinian territories, insists on the need to open all crossings immediately, permanently and unconditionally, without any restrictions, so as to ensure the unhindered flow, in sufficient quantities, of humanitarian and relief aid as well as medical supplies to meet the basic needs of the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip and the other Palestinian territories.

Morocco, the Sovereign added, reaffirms the need to preserve, strengthen and support the role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), to reject any displacement of Palestinian citizens and ensure full compliance with international law and international humanitarian law and to start serious, meaningful negotiations to revive the peace process, in accordance with United Nations resolutions and international legitimacy.

HM the King recalled that as Chairman of the Organization of Islamic Cooperations (OIC) al-Quds Committee, the Sovereign has personally seen to it that all possible efforts are made, and all ways and means available leveraged to preserve the legal, historical and demographic status of al-Qods as the city that brings together the followers of the three monotheistic religions.

HM the King reaffirmed, in this regard, that the Kingdom of Morocco will keep up its untiring efforts to defend the holy city, politically and diplomatically, adding that as the executive, action-oriented organ of the al-Quds Committee, the Bayt Mal al-Qods Agency will continue to implement tangible programs and projects essentially designed to preserve the cultural identity of the holy city, improve the social and living conditions of the inhabitants of al-Qods, and support their steadfastness.

Underlining the humanitarian calamity befalling the population of Gaza, the Sovereign recalled having on three occasions, ordered the dispatching of urgent medical and humanitarian aid to the Strip.

Delivered using an unprecedented crossing, the special aid included equipment for treating burns, surgical and emergency supplies as well as basic medicines, at a moment when the medical sector in Gaza is in a state of near collapse due to the scarcity of medical supplies and medicines, HM the King said.

The efforts and initiatives undertaken by the Kingdom of Morocco to support the cause of Palestinians attest to a continuous, genuine commitment backed by tangible measures on the ground that are appreciated and praised by the Palestinian people and their leadership, the Sovereign stated, reaffirming His full support to the Palestinian National Authority, under the leadership of my brother, His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas, as it seeks to fulfil the aspirations of our Palestinian brothers and sisters to gain freedom and independence, and achieve security, unity and prosperity.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

With legacy media cutting staff in the face of unprecedented financial challenges and critical science and health information scattered among unfamiliar digital platforms, how can people keep up with medical issues that might affect them?

Researchers in the Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine in the University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine are tapping into another way to share such data: podcasts. Their new study, "Like and Subscribe: A Compendium of Infectious Diseases Audio Podcasts," appeared in Open Forum Infectious Diseases.

The two lead authors are Richard Oehler, MD, professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine; and Ju Hee Katzman, MD, FACP, assistant professor and program director for the division's Infectious Disease Fellowship Program.

Their paper is the first ever peer-reviewed guide to audio podcasts dedicated to the topic of infectious diseases. Essentially, the study strikes a blow against medical misinformation by providing an expert guide to credible podcast sourcesan especially valuable tool in infectious disease, where a host of conflicting and unreliable information circulates about COVID-19, vaccines and other topics.

"The only way that we in the medical community can combat misinformation is to put more credible voices into social media, which includes podcasting," Oehler said. "By now having a scientific article that identifies the most credible podcast offerings in infectious diseases, we know that podcast listeners will benefit from our study."

While medical podcasts need to be held to high professional standardsespecially when it comes to questionable or misleading datatheir effectiveness in reaching millions of listeners makes them a powerful tool, the authors said.

"Podcasts enable the sharing of medical information in a conversational format that can be enjoyed at the convenience of the listener, whether while driving in a car, walking or running," Oehler said. "Podcasts can also be listened to in shorter segments and then picked up and finished whenever it's convenient."

Reading scientific journals or newspapers requires dedicated time and attention, the authors note, which is less convenient for many medical professionals or students. Publications also require subscriptions or have paywalls; most podcasts are freely distributed and can be listened to on a smart phone, tablet or computer.

"Podcasts can reach learners anytime and anywhere," Katzman said, adding that this form of asynchronous learning "is important given the increasing amount of information that needs to be shared in a timely and efficient manner."

Findings in scientific journals can be summarized, explained and discussed in a more digestible form on a podcast. Although podcasts aren't meant to replace traditional forms, such as scientific journals, "they're presented more understandably," Katzman added.

In less than 15 years, the podcast format has gone from being virtually unknown to a multibillion-dollar industry with an estimated 500 million listeners worldwide, according to the study. Medical podcasts began with a desire among journals and academic institutions to share information on new clinical trials or publications, and among those committed to promoting a free and open access model of online education.

The COVID-19 outbreak led to an explosion in the availability of podcasts about infectious diseases, due to the need for regular information about SARS-CoV-2 and the pandemic-driven preference for virtual learning. However, many infectious disease experts and students have not yet been introduced to available infectious diseases podcast resources, the authors said.

But what about misleading data and information? Aren't podcasts susceptible to the flaws or ethical fluxes of any other medium? Podcasts aren't peer-reviewed, even though many provide references on their pages or websites, as well as podcast author credentials and their affiliations.

"Podcasts are no different from other broadcast media," Dr. Oehler said. "The user can review a series' descriptive information, listener ratings and seek peer-reviewed sources to help them determine whether a podcast is likely to provide credible information free of questionable data.

"In fact, it was our purpose in putting together this article to review a variety of different podcasts to be able to recommend the programs we mentioned. We also made sure to publish the paper in an open-access medical journal, making it accessible for anyone to freely download."

In their study, the authors highlight 38 of the most popular infectious diseaseoriented audio podcasts, including:

The widely distributed "This Podcast Will Kill You," featuring episodes about deadly infectious diseases.

"Osterholm Update," a regular podcast by noted epidemiologist and public health expert Dr. Michael Osterholm, which updates listeners on current disease outbreaks across the country.

The list also includes a new USF Health series called Contagion: An Infectious Diseases Podcast, co-hosted by USF Health Infectious Disease faculty and clinicians Vivian Vega Rodriguez, MD, and Jacqueline Sherbuk, MD. In the series' first five episodes, the program has tackled diverse topics such as mosquito-borne infections, brain-eating amoeba disease, Influenza, RSV, COVID19 and food-borne outbreaks.

The study notes a number of advantagesand disadvantagesof the podcast format:

Impact of COVID-19: The pandemic spurred a surge in infectious disease (ID)-focused podcasts, with 71% of reviewed shows launching post-COVID, highlighting the rising demand for accessible, timely medical information.

Audience reach and diversity: Among 38 ID-focused podcasts analyzed, audience sizes ranged widely. Popular shows like This Podcast Will Kill You drew nearly half a million listeners per episode, while others had fewer than 25.

Broad topic coverage: The podcasts address a variety of subjects, from current outbreaks and immunology to public health and infection control, catering to a range of medical and public interests.

Educational value: Podcasts provide an efficient way for the medical community to stay current, as medical knowledge doubles every 73 days. They are easily accessible, cost-effective and adaptable to listeners' schedules.

Challenges in podcast learning: Despite benefits, issues remain with content retention when multitasking, variable episode lengths and quality standards for accuracy and source verification.

Future opportunities: The study suggests growth in podcasts combating misinformation and promoting careers in the infectious diseases field, adding depth to the educational resources available to medical professionals and students.

More information: Richard L Oehler et al, "Like and Subscribe": A Compendium of Infectious Diseases Audio Podcasts, Open Forum Infectious Diseases (2024). DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofae583
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:

Chemical structure of TME and the RUBICON workflow. Credit: Nature Methods (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41592-024-02507-z

Scientists at La Trobe University have created a world-first method to investigate "disordered" proteins in living cells, in research that could change how we understand and treat Parkinson's disease.

Published in Nature Methods, the research used a cutting-edge chemical tag called TME, which binds with the proteins and makes them light up, allowing scientists for the first time to detect and capture them for analysis while in their unstructured, or disordered, state.

The research also showed that using TME with existing investigative methods offers critical new insights into Parkinson's disease by revealing how the proteins behave in living blood cellsa breakthrough that could help scientists better understand the causes of the disease.

Lead researcher Associate Professor Yuning Hong said the new chemical tool marked a significant advance in biological and biomedical research, and a crucial step towards the development of better treatments and eventually a cure for Parkinson's disease.

"In nearly 85% of cases of Parkinson's disease, the causes are unknown, but we do know that abnormal clumps or 'aggregates' of these proteins are a marker of the disease in its advanced stages," Associate Professor Hong said.

"Not much is known about these proteins as previously they couldn't be identified in live cells using traditional methods. With our TME chemical tag, researchers can now analyze the proteins' behavior directly in living cellscritical information for Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases."

Disordered proteins differ from other protein types as they are not neatly folded to have a three-dimensional structure, giving them a unique flexibility which is key to their function and how they interact with other molecules.

However, abnormal behavior in these proteins can lead to neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease, dementia and Huntington's disease.

La Trobe University researcher Dr. Shouxiang Zhang, the paper's first author, said current methods to analyze disordered proteins' behavior required scientists to first kill the cells they were housed ina process that could change the proteins' natural state.

"Disordered proteins are highly dynamic and heterogenoustheir structure changes shape depending on their environment and killing the cell could alter their behavior," Dr. Zhang said.

By using TME to chemically tag disordered proteins, scientists can for the first time track their behavior directly inside living cells.

When used in combination with other existing workflows, the tag helps scientists capture and concentrate the proteins for analysis on a large scale, giving crucial insight into how they change over time under different conditions.

For this study, the research team used TME to identify disordered proteins in Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease.

They found it was better than traditional methods in differentiating the blood cells of Parkinson's disease patients from healthy individuals. For Huntington's disease, it revealed the mechanism of how affected cells trap disordered proteins in clusters.

Associate Professor Hong said understanding this mechanism was crucial information which opened new avenues of research to investigate the causes not only of Huntington's, but also Parkinson's.

"What leads to the proteins forming aggregates in the first place? Is it protective or is it detrimental to the cells? Using TME, we hope that researchers can answer these questions and design new treatments based on what they learn by observing the proteins' behavior in live cells over time," Associate Professor Hong said.

In the future, Associate Professor Hong hopes to create similar tests to help scientists investigate other diseases.

"More than 50 human diseases have been linked to abnormal protein behavior and disordered proteins, including Alzheimer's disease, cystic fibrosis, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers," Associate Professor Hong said.

"It was clear that there was a need in disease research for the kind of test we have developed and we hope in the future it can help scientists uncover more about the role of disordered proteins in a wide range of diseases."

More information: Shouxiang Zhang et al, Global analysis of endogenous protein disorder in cells, Nature Methods (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41592-024-02507-z Journal information: Nature Methods
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:

Monthly counts of intentional exposures by age category and sex. Credit: Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry (2024). DOI: 10.1177/00048674241291321

A new study reveals a 37% increase in deliberate self-poisonings among female children and adolescents over the last four years. The increase is strongly correlated with COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

Published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, the study found rates of deliberate self-poisoning were 84% higher among those aged 514 years, and 36% higher among those aged 1519 years between March 2020 and December 2023 compared to 201819. There were only minor changes among males and older Australians.

Within the 5- to 14-year-old cohort, self-poisonings rose particularly among adolescent females aged 11 to 14. The researchers say the rise in self-poisoning by adolescent females appeared to be driven by lockdowns rather than COVID-19 infections.

This marked increase occurred between March 2020 and December 2021 coinciding with widespread lockdowns during that period. Following the relaxing of restrictions in early 2022, there was a sudden drop and then slow decline; however, rates remain well above pre-pandemic rates.

Self-poisoning is the most common form of hospitalized self-harm among children and adolescents and had increased in the decade prior to the pandemic.

"These findings suggest the pandemic lockdowns severely and disproportionately impacted the mental health of female adolescents," said senior author Professor Nicholas Buckley from the University of Sydney's School of Pharmacy.

"Factors such as social isolation, family conflict, and perceived educational impact may have had more impact on female adolescents than other groups," he said.

Over the six years, there were 201,755 self-poisonings documented in Australia, with females constituting 64% of all poisonings.

Of these, 22% were adolescents aged 1519 and almost 10% were children aged 514. There was a steep increase in the rate of deliberate self-poisoning among female children and adolescents (37%) compared with males (11%).

There were also substantial jurisdictional variations, with larger increases in Victoria, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.

"This may have been a result of more severe lockdowns in Victoria, and the possible impact of interstate travel restrictions in Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory. However, all states had significant increases," said Professor Buckley.

"Ongoing real-time surveillance of self-harm and mental health service use should be part of our national preparation for the next pandemic or health crisis," he said.

While the study did not measure the health outcomes of deliberate-self poisonings among the studied groups, the researchers note that while most deliberate self-poisonings do not result in fatality, a previous study found that self-harming behavior in adolescence increases the future risk of suicide.

"Nevertheless, these findings are very concerningan increase in non-fatal self-harm may lead to increases in future suicide rates for this age group," said Professor Buckley.

The researchers used 20182023 data on phone calls to all Australian poison information centers, made by health care professionals and members of the public. The researchers say it is the most comprehensive and up-to-date Australian data on intentional self-harming behavior.

More information: Nicholas A Buckley et al, Self-poisoning in young Australians: The impact of COVID-19 and recent trends following easing of restrictions, Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry (2024). DOI: 10.1177/00048674241291321
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:

Surgical instruments and supplies lay on a table during a kidney transplant surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington D.C., Tuesday, June 28, 2016. Credit: AP Photo/Molly Riley, File

People with HIV who need a kidney or liver transplant will be able to receive an organ from a donor with HIV under a new rule announced Tuesday by U.S. health officials.

Previously, such transplants could be done only as part of research studies. The new rule, which takes effect Wednesday, is expected to shorten the wait for organs for all, regardless of HIV status, by increasing the pool of available organs.

"This rule removes unnecessary barriers to kidney and liver transplants, expanding the organ donor pool and improving outcomes for transplant recipients with HIV," said U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra in a statement.

The safety of the practice is supported by research, including a study published last month in the New England Journal of Medicine. That study followed 198 organ recipients for up to four years, comparing those who received kidneys from HIV-positive donors to those whose kidneys came from donors without HIV. Both groups had similar high rates of overall survival and low rates of organ rejection.

In 2010, surgeons in South Africa provided the first evidence that using HIV-positive donor organs was safe in people with HIV. But the practice wasn't allowed in the United States until 2013 when the government lifted a ban and allowed research studies.

The Department of Health and Human Services building is seen in Washington on April 5, 2009. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File

At first, the studies were with deceased donors. Then in 2019, a team at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore performed the world's first kidney transplant from a living donor with HIV to an HIV-positive recipient.

All told, 500 transplants of kidneys and livers from HIV-positive donors have been done in the U.S.

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Pills. Credit: Public Domain

Researchers are warning against the increasing use of antipsychotics, particularly in patients without ongoing psychiatrist review or physical health monitoring to detect early signs of heart disease and diabetes.

Antipsychotics are effective medications, but long-term use increases the risk of developing life-limiting conditions and should be regularly monitored. A new study by researchers at the Universities of Liverpool, Glasgow, and Powys Teaching Health Board, found that 1 in 69 adults in the U.K. are using antipsychotic medications long-term, yet more than half of them (56%) may not receive adequate health monitoring.

The paper, "Antipsychotic management in general practice: serial cross-sectional study (20112020)," was published in the British Journal of General Practice.

Antipsychotics are licensed in the U.K. for the management of psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorderconditions for which GPs receive funding to undertake annual physical health checks. However, 56% of antipsychotics are now being used long-term for patients with non-psychotic illnessessuch as depression, anxiety, personality disorder and dementia conditions that are not funded for physical health monitoring.

Virtually all antipsychotics are initiated by psychiatrists, who are the specialists in the management of mental illness. However, the study also found that 48% of patients taking antipsychotics in primary care are no longer under a psychiatrist's care. It's estimated approximately 360,000 patients across the U.K. are at risk of becoming "trapped" on antipsychotics in primary care without psychiatrist review.

Researchers suspect this is due to patients being discharged from pressured psychiatric clinics for GPs to manage, but GPs do not have the necessary training to know whether it is safe to change, reduce or stop antipsychotics.

Dr. Alan Woodall, Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool and Clinical Lead for Integrated Care, Powys Teaching Health Board said, "Our study shows that more patients on antipsychotics are managed by GPs without ongoing psychiatrist review and are not on monitored disease registers.

"They are therefore less likely to undergo physical health monitoring, miss opportunities to optimize or deprescribe antipsychotics by psychiatrists most capable of undertaking reviews, and become effectively trapped on this medication. These trends pose risks for patients and need to be addressed urgently.

"We are calling for policy changes so that all patients on regular antipsychotics have funded physical health reviews by GPs and regular medication reviews by psychiatrists to ensure their care is optimized, and they don't find themselves stuck unnecessarily on these medications long-term.

"For patients who are on antipsychotics, we advise you to talk to your prescribing health professional before making any decisions on how you are using them."

Senior author, Professor Iain Buchan, W.H. Duncan Chair in Public Health Systems and Associate Pro Vice Chancellor for Innovation, University of Liverpool said, "This concerning trend in prescribing of antipsychotic medicines and lack of wrap-around care to mitigate the risks of common side effects is the latest in a series of analyses of NHS records from the Civic Health Innovation Labs (CHIL) and Mental Health Research for Innovation Center (M-RIC).

"We are working with mental health service-users and caregivers to incorporate their experiences of living with combinations of conditions such as schizophrenia and obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease that may be caused by antipsychotic medication. We are combining multiple perspectives on this problem to find innovative ways in which services might prevent the most serious side effects of antipsychotic medicines while maximizing their benefits for patients."

More information: Alan Woodall et al, Antipsychotic management in general practice: serial cross-sectional study (20112020), British Journal of General Practice (2024). DOI: 10.3399/BJGP.2024.0367 Journal information: British Journal of General Practice
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:

While boosting T cell cancer-fighting ability, checkpoint inhibitors may reduce the body's production of protective antibodies that fight common infections. Credit: Dr. Ofir Shein-Lumbroso

A multinational collaboration co-led by the Garvan Institute of Medical Research has uncovered a potential explanation for why some cancer patients receiving a type of immunotherapy called checkpoint inhibitors experience increased susceptibility to common infections.

The findings, published in the journal Immunity, provide new insights into immune responses and reveal a potential approach to preventing the common cancer therapy side effect.

"Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies have revolutionized cancer treatment by allowing T cells to attack tumors and cancer cells more effectively. But this hasn't been without side effectsone of which is that approximately 20% of cancer patients undergoing checkpoint inhibitor treatment experience an increased incidence of infections, a phenomenon that was previously poorly understood," says Professor Stuart Tangye, co-senior author of the study and Head of the Immunology and Immunodeficiency Lab at Garvan.

"Our findings indicate that while checkpoint inhibitors boost anti-cancer immunity, they can also handicap B cells, which are the cells of the immune system that produce antibodies to protect against common infections. This understanding is a critical first step in understanding and reducing the side effects of this cancer treatment on immunity."

Insights to improve immunotherapy

The researchers focused on the molecule PD-1, which acts as a "handbrake" on the immune system, preventing overactivation of T cells. Checkpoint inhibitor therapies work by releasing this molecular 'handbrake' to enhance the immune system's ability to fight cancer.

The study, which was conducted in collaboration with Rockefeller University in the U.S. and Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan, examined the immune cells of patients with rare cases of genetic deficiency of PD-1, or its binding partner PD-L1, as well as animal models lacking PD-1 signaling. The researchers found that impaired or absent PD-1 activity can significantly reduce the diversity and quality of antibodies produced by memory B cellsthe long-lived immune cells that 'remember' past infections.

"We found that people born with a deficiency in PD-1 or PD-L1 have reduced diversity in their antibodies and fewer memory B cells, which made it harder to generate high-quality antibodies against common pathogens such as viruses and bacteria," says Dr. Masato Ogishi, first author of the study, from Rockefeller University.

Professor Tangye adds, "This dampening of the generation and quality of memory B cells could explain the increased rates of infection reported in patients with cancer receiving checkpoint inhibitor therapy."

Co-author Dr. Kenji Chamoto, from Kyoto University, says, "PD-1 inhibition has a 'yin and yang' nature: it activates anti-tumor immunity but at the same time impedes B-cell immunity. And this duality seems to stem from a conserved mechanism of immune homeostasis."

New recommendation for clinicians

The researchers say the findings highlight the need for clinicians to monitor B cell function in patients receiving checkpoint inhibitors and point to preventative interventions for those at higher risk of infections.

Co-senior author Dr. Stephanie Boisson-Dupuis, from Rockefeller University, says, "Although PD-1 inhibitors have greatly improved cancer care, our findings indicate that clinicians need to be aware of the potential trade-off between enhanced anti-tumor immunity and impaired antibody-mediated immunity."

"One potential preventative solution is immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IgRT), an existing treatment used to replace missing antibodies in patients with immunodeficiencies, which could be considered as a preventative measure for cancer patients at higher risk of infections," she says.

From rare cases to insights to benefit all

"Studying cases of rare genetic conditions such as PD-1 or PD-L1 deficiency enables us to gain profound insights into how the human immune system normally works, and how our own manipulation of it can affect it. Thanks to these patients, we've found an avenue for fine-tuning cancer immunotherapies to maximize benefit while minimizing harm," says Professor Tangye.

Looking ahead, the researchers will explore ways to refine checkpoint inhibitor treatments to maintain their powerful anti-cancer effects while preserving the immune system's ability to fight infections.

"This research highlights the potential for cancer, genomics and immunology research to inform one another, enabling discoveries that can benefit the broader population," says Professor Tangye.

More information: Masato Ogishi et al. Impaired development of memory B cells and antibody responses in humans and mice deficient in PD-1 signaling, Immunity (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2024.10.014. www.cell.com/immunity/fulltext  1074-7613(24)00495-3 Journal information: Immunity
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A genetic predisposition to having lower insulin production and less healthy fat distribution are major causes of early-onset type 2 diabetes in British Asian people. According to new research from Queen Mary University of London, these genetic factors also lead to quicker development of health complications, earlier need for insulin treatment, and a weaker response to some medications.

The findings, published in Nature Medicine, reinforce the need to understand how genetic variation across different population groups can influence the onset of diseases, treatment responses, and disease progression.

Queen Mary researchers used data from the Genes & Health cohort, a community-based study of more than 60,000 British-Bangladeshi and British-Pakistani volunteers who have generously provided their DNA for genetic research.

The researchers securely linked genetic information to NHS health records in 9,771 Genes & Health volunteers with a type 2 diabetes diagnosis and 34,073 diabetes-free controls to understand why South Asians develop type 2 diabetes at a younger age and often with normal body mass index, compared to white Europeans.

In contrast to previous studies which included very few people of South Asian heritage, this research used partitioned polygenic scores (pPS) to reveal the underlying genetic signatures causing type 2 diabetes specifically in people with South Asian ancestry.

Key discoveries from the study include:

Genetic signatures in South Asians: The younger age of onset in South Asians is strongly linked to genetic signatures that lead to both lower insulin production and unfavorable patterns of body fat distribution and obesity. The most significant genetic signature influencing whether a South Asian person develops type 2 diabetes, and at a young age, is a reduced ability of pancreatic beta cells to produce insulin. This genetic signature also increases the risk of gestational diabetes and the progression of gestational diabetes to type 2 diabetes after pregnancy.

Treatment responses: The genetic signatures identified in the study provide vital clues about how different people may respond to type 2 diabetes treatments. For example, individuals with high genetic risk for low insulin production were less likely to respond to common medications such as sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors and were more likely to require insulin therapy.

High genetic-risk group identified: The study identified a subset of people with extreme genetic signatures for both low insulin production and unfavorable fat distribution. These individuals were found to develop type 2 diabetes an average of eight years earlier and at lower body mass index. Over time, these individuals were more likely to need insulin treatment and were at higher risk for diabetes complications such as eye and kidney disease.

Sarah Finer, Clinical Professor in Diabetes Honorary Consultant in Diabetes at Queen Mary University of London, said, "Thanks to the participation of so many British Bangladeshi and British Pakistani volunteers in Genes & Health, we have found important clues as to why type 2 diabetes may develop in young, slim individuals.

"This work also tells us how important it is to move away from a 'one-size-fits-all' approach to managing type 2 diabetes, and we hope that this will allow us to find ways to offer more precise treatments that treat the condition more effectively and reduces the development of diabetes complications."

Dr. Moneeza K. Siddiqui, Lecturer in Genetic Epidemiology at Queen Mary University of London, said, "We don't yet know whether genetic tools will be needed to deliver precision diabetes medicine in south Asian populations, or whether we can better and more widely use existing laboratory tests such as C-peptide which can be measured in a simple blood test.

"Genes & Health will contribute to future efforts to ensure that precision medicine approaches are developed and bring real benefits to south Asian communities living with, and at risk of, type 2 diabetes."

People with South Asian heritage are underrepresented in genetic studies. Queen Mary's Genes & Health is a community-based cohort of more than 60,000 British-Bangladeshi and British-Pakistani volunteers who have provided their genetic information and linkage to NHS health data for research. The study has so far led to major discoveries that improve the health outcomes of British South Asians.

More information: Genetic basis of early onset and progression of type 2 diabetes in south Asians, Nature Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-03317-8. www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03317-8 Journal information: Nature Medicine
A Chinese song competition recently held in Yangon offered Myanmar students an opportunity to enhance their language skills while celebrating cultural exchange.

The event was organized under the supervision of the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar and the Center for Language Education and Cooperation.

The competition supports Myanmar students' Chinese learning and gives them a chance to showcase their talents, Kyi Shwin, rector of the Yangon University of Foreign Languages, told Xinhua on Sunday.

Competitions like this provide students opportunities to engage beyond the classroom, allowing them to connect with a broader audience, which greatly benefits their development, he said.

"I hope to see more of these competitions organized in the future," he added.

Cho Cho Myint, principal of Bowen Chinese School and organizer of the event, said: "This is the first time a Chinese song competition has been held in Myanmar and it is an incredible opportunity for students."

They can see that learning Chinese goes beyond lectures; it can also happen through music, she said.

"I am delighted to see so many Myanmar students participating alongside Chinese students. Music brings people closer together, and I am truly happy to witness this connection," she added.

The competition attracted over 100 students from Chinese schools across Myanmar. Participants were divided into three groups based on age -- children, teenagers and youth -- with 45 students receiving awards.

A first-prize winner, Nan Phyusin, 18, expressed her excitement. "This competition allowed me to showcase my talent on stage. Singing is both my happiness and therapy, and this event gave me the opportunity to share that with others."

"During the event, I also witnessed how Myanmar people can sing Chinese songs very well, which helps strengthen the cultural relationship between the two countries," she said.

17-year-old Aung Thiha Han, who won third prize, shared his experience. "This competition gave me the chance to make friends with students from schools across the country, including those who traveled from other regions and states."

"Speaking Chinese continuously while preparing for the competition helped me improve my language skills. When studying becomes dull, I find learning through music a highly effective and enjoyable way to progress," he said.

Myintzu Han, 21, who earned a special award, said: "I listen to Chinese songs every day, which helps me improve my tone, pronunciation and word arrangement. Singing makes me happy, and I never get bored with learning Chinese this way."

"At the competition, seeing so many talented competitors, even those younger than me, motivates me to improve and aim higher. I truly admire their skills and was inspired by them," she said.

The competition showcased the benefits of learning Chinese through music while fostering cultural exchange and building confidence among participants, said the principal of Bowen Chinese School.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The October 7, 2023, terrorist attack in southern Israel forced the evacuation of countless individuals, placing intense demands on health care personnel. Primary care clinicians, who are at the forefront of treating severely traumatized evacuees, are often exposed to secondary trauma, which can affect their mental health and job performance.

A study appearing in The Annals of Family Medicine investigates the levels of burnout, well-being, and resilience among health care staff working in primary care clinics in Israel during the aftermath of the attack.

The paper is titled "The 2023 Terror Attack on Southern Israel: Well-Being and Burnout Among Health Care Personnel Treating Traumatized Evacuees."

This cross-sectional study was conducted from October 15 to November 20, 2023. Electronic questionnaires were distributed to 600 medical professionals, including family physicians, nurses, medical secretaries, and social workers from urban and rural clinics serving both Jewish and Arab sectors. The questionnaire included demographic questions and two validated questionnaires measuring burnout and positive mental health.

A total of 129 health care professionals completed the survey, 78% of whom were female. The average age was 49 years, most were family physicians (68%), Israeli-born (82%), secular (78%), and Jewish (90%).

The study results indicate that health care professionals experienced a sense of significance and self-efficacy in treating evacuees, which positively contributed to their well-being. However, prolonged daily exposure, spanning over a month, to traumatized patients led to increased levels of depersonalization among the professionals.

Health care professionals with more professional experience had better well-being scores and lower levels of mental exhaustion. Older health care workers experienced lower levels of emotional detachment from their work; and males reported higher levels of well-being than females.

According to the authors, the well-being of health care personnel is critical to maintaining the quality of care provided to trauma survivors.

More information: Dikla Agur Cohen et al, The 2023 Terror Attack on Southern Israel: Well-Being and Burnout Among Health Care Personnel Treating Traumatized Evacuees, The Annals of Family Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1370/afm.3171 Journal information: Annals of Family Medicine
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The 2024 American Lung Association's "State of Lung Cancer" report, released on Nov. 19, reveals that lung cancer is the most lethal cancer in Florida. The more localized state report shows only a quarter of Floridians with lung cancer get diagnosed early, which lowers their five-year survival rate.

"With lung cancer, the symptoms can be masked as a common cold," said Ashley Lyerly, Senior Advocacy Director at the American Lung Association. "That's why we need to increase screenings, to find it early."

Miami oncologist Dr. Estelamari Rodriguez says several factors contribute to Florida's lung cancer toll: The population is older, the screening rate is low, and people relocate to the state from countries where smoking is prevalent. Florida's large Hispanic population may be a factor, too.

"Nationally, the lung cancer rates for Hispanics are highest of the ethnic groups," said Rodriguez, a thoracic medical oncologist at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami. Hispanics also are less likely to receive treatment. "Maybe it's insurance problems or stigma, but they are less likely to seek care."

Getting screened is getting easier

Lung cancer diagnosis usually starts with an imaging test called a low-dose CT scan to look at the lungs. The report shows that only about 15% of at-risk people get screened in Florida. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the five-year survival rate for lung cancer is 64% when the cancer is detected early, but only 9% for late-stage lung cancer. Early treatment is often surgery to remove the cancer in the lung before it spreads.

Smoking is a well-known risk factor for lung cancer. Although adult smoking rates in Florida are 11%, slightly below the national average, youth vaping in Florida has increased over the past few years, according to Tobacco Free Florida.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines recommend annual lung cancer screening for anyone 50 to 80 years old who has a heavy smoking history, currently smokes or has quit within the past 15 years. Other risks are a family history of lung cancer or radon exposure.

Lately, researchers have seen an alarming increase in the number of women ages 55 and younger being diagnosed with lung cancer, and no one yet knows why.

Rodriguez doesn't understand why more people are willing to do a colonoscopy for colon cancer than a CT scan for lung cancer, which is a much simpler test.

"People are presenting to me with advanced disease," said Rodriguez at Sylvester Cancer Institute. "Maybe they don't recognize the symptoms, which are shortness of breath, back pain, and cough."

Some Florida hospitals, such as Moffitt Cancer Center in Pasco County, are entering communities with new mobile lung screening units. And UHealth's Sylvester is allowing anyone at risk to schedule a CT scan without seeing a physician first.

Across the state, a coalition of health organizations is offering eligible primary-care patients the FirstLook Lung blood test to aid in early detection. If the test returns "Elevated," the individual gets referred for a CT scan.

New treatments for lung cancer

In an advancement, Florida oncologists are using biomarker testing to create a personalized treatment plan with fewer side effects. A new Florida law requires Medicaid and state employee health insurance plans to cover biomarker testing.

Florida hospitals are using robots

At Delray Medical Center, after a lung nodule shows up on a CT scan, specialists use a robot to biopsy it, regardless of its size or location within the lobe. Even a nodule the size of a Cheerio can be biopsied. They can also use a specialized scope to learn whether the lung cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.

"With this advanced biopsy procedure, we are able to diagnose patients earlier to get them to treatment faster," said Dr. Stephen Milan, an advanced bronchoscopist and pulmonologist at Delray Medical Center.

At Baptist Health in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, specialists are using robots and technology in three ways, said Dr. Manmeet Singh Ahluwalia, chief scientific officer and chief of Medical Oncology at Baptist Health South Florida.

They are using robots to help remove lung cancer during surgeries. They are using artificial intelligence with X-rays to determine when lung cancer tumors are malignant or benign. And when a CT scan looks suspicious, they use special blood tests to find DNA fragments that indicate if a nodule is cancerous.

"We are using technology in all these ways for better detection and treatment, " Ahluwalia said.

Aware that screening rates are low, he wants to use these new blood tests to screen those at high risk in South Florida communities in the near future.

This 2024 State of Lung Cancer report highlights an area of progress: Nationally, the lung cancer survival rate has improved 26% in the last five years. "It's an improvement but we still have a long way to go," said Lyerly of the American Lung Cancer Association. "Now that we have better treatment for advanced disease, we need to detect it earlier."

2024 South Florida Sun Sentinel. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Globally, the rates of common sexually transmissible infections (STIs) are increasing among people aged over 50. In some cases, rates are rising faster than among younger people.

Recent data from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that, among people aged 55 and older, rates of gonorrhea and chlamydia, two of the most common STIs, more than doubled between 2012 and 2022.

Australian STI surveillance data has reflected similar trends. Between 2013 and 2022, there was a steady increase in diagnoses of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis among people aged 40 and older. For example, there were 5,883 notifications of chlamydia in Australians 40 plus in 2013, compared with 10,263 in 2022.

A 2020 study of Australian women also showed that, between 2000 and 2018, there was a sharper increase in STI diagnoses among women aged 5574 than among younger women.

While the overall rate of common STIs is highest among young adults, the significant increase in STI diagnoses among midlife and older adults suggests we need to pay more attention to sexual health across the life course.

Why are STI rates rising among older adults?

STI rates are increasing globally for all age groups, and an increase among midlife and older people is in line with this trend.

However, increases of STIs among older people are likely due to a combination of changing sex and relationship practices and hidden sexual health needs among this group.

The "boomer" generation came of age in the 60s and 70s. They are the generation of free love and their attitude to sex, even as they age, is quite different to that of generations before them.

Given the median age of divorce in Australia is now over 43, and the internet has ushered in new opportunities for post-separation dating, it's not surprising that midlife and older adults are exploring new sexual practices or finding multiple sexual partners.

It's also possible midlife and older people have not had exposure to sexual health education in school or do not relate to current safe sex messages, which tend to be directed toward young people. Condoms may therefore seem unnecessary for people who aren't trying to avoid pregnancy. Older people may also lack confidence negotiating safe sex or accessing STI screening.

Hidden sexual health needs

In contemporary life, the sex lives of older adults are largely invisible. Aging and older bodies are often associated with loss of power and desirability, reflected in the stereotype of older people as asexual and in derogatory jokes about older people having sex.

With some exceptions, we see few positive representations of older sexual bodies in film or television.

Older people's sexuality is also largely invisible in public policy. In a review of Australian policy relating to sexual and reproductive health, researchers found midlife and older adults were rarely mentioned.

Sexual health policy generally targets groups with the highest STI rates, which excludes most older people. As midlife and older adults are beyond childbearing years, they also do not feature in reproductive health policy. This means there is a general absence of any policy related to sex or sexual health among midlife or older adults.

Added to this, sexual health policy tends to be focused on risk rather than sexual well-being. Sexual well-being, including freedom and capacity to pursue pleasurable sexual experiences, is strongly associated with overall health and quality of life for adults of all ages. Including sexual well-being as a policy priority would enable a focus on safe and respectful sex and relationships across the adult life course.

Without this priority, we have limited knowledge about what supports sexual well-being as people age and limited funding for initiatives to engage with midlife or older adults on these issues.

How can we support sexual health and well-being for older adults?

Most STIs are easily treatable. Serious complications can occur, however, when STIs are undiagnosed and untreated over a long period. Untreated STIs can also be passed on to others.

Late diagnosis is not uncommon as some STIs can have no symptoms and many people don't routinely screen for STIs. Older, heterosexual adults are, in general, less likely than other groups to seek regular STI screening.

For midlife or older adults, STIs may also be diagnosed late because some doctors do not initiate testing due to concerns they will cause offense or because they assume STI risk among older people is negligible.

Many doctors are reluctant to discuss sexual health with their older patients unless the patient explicitly raises the topic. However, older people can be embarrassed or feel awkward raising matters of sex.

Resources for health-care providers and patients to facilitate conversations about sexual health and STI screening with older patients would be a good first step.

To address rising rates of STIs among midlife and older adults, we also need to ensure sexual health promotion is targeted toward these age groups and improve accessibility of clinical services.

More broadly, it's important to consider ways to ensure sexual well-being is prioritized in policy and practice related to midlife and older adulthood.

A comprehensive approach to older people's sexual health, that explicitly places value on the significance of sex and intimacy in people's lives, will enhance our ability to more effectively respond to sexual health and STI prevention across the life course.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

In wars and conflict, family physicians are frequently called on to serve in expanded roles and are witnesses to the enormous mental and physical suffering of individuals, families, communities, and populations.

A special report in The Annals of Family Medicine, titled "Family Medicine in Times of War" examines the role of family physicians in the IsraelHamas conflict and other current wars to inform future practices in family medicine.

Family physicians must share timely, accurate information with colleagues on all sides of the conflict while acknowledging the narratives of patients and other health care workers to foster understanding and reconciliation.

Family physicians are urged to prepare for wartime service through expanded training in trauma care and mental health interventions, research, and social action to help shape policies that improve health outcomes during and after conflicts.

This report highlights the need for family physicians to be prepared to handle both the immediate and long-term effects of war, including physical injuries, psychological trauma, and the disruption of health care systems.

More information: Jeffrey M. Borkan, Family Medicine in Times of War, The Annals of Family Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1370/afm.3172 Journal information: Annals of Family Medicine
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

British lawmakers on Tuesday voted in favor of a world-leading ban that aims to gradually phase out smoking by preventing young people from ever being able to buy cigarettes.

In the first parliamentary vote on the proposals, 415 MPs voted in favor of progressing the bill to the next stage of the legislative process, with 47 MPs voting against.

The UK's Tobacco and Vapes Bill would prevent anyone born after January 1, 2009 from legally smoking by gradually raising the age at which tobacco can be bought.

The government has said it is aimed at creating Britain's first "smoke-free generation".

The proposals come after New Zealand revoked plans to introduce a so-called "generational smoking ban" that would have stopped sales of tobacco to anyone born after 2008.

The UK legislation is similar to a bill proposed by the last Conservative administration, which was shelved earlier this year when then-prime minister Rishi Sunak called a general election.

Sunak's successor Keir Starmer's new Labour government, however, has revived the proposals, which are part of a drive to ramp up preventative health measures and ease long-term pressure on the UK's state-funded National Health Service (NHS).

It also gives the government powers to extend an indoor smoking ban to outdoor spaceswith children's playgrounds, outside schools and hospitals all being considered in England, subject to consultation.

The bill will introduce restrictions on vape advertising and sponsorship, as well as restricting flavors, displays and the packaging of e-cigarettes to reduce their appeal to children and young people.

It also proposed a ban on the manufacture and sale of the oral tobacco snussmall pouches to be placed under the lipin line with European Union countries other than Sweden.

The government has also announced that disposable e-cigarettes will be banned next year under separate legislation.

"The Tobacco and Vapes Bill provides the protection that children and young people need to avoid a life imprisoned by addiction," said health minister Wes Streeting.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland outlawed smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces in 2007 following a similar ban in Scotland in 2006.

 2024 AFP
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Graphical abstract. Credit: Cell Stem Cell (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2024.10.012

Efforts to develop a gene therapy for Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA)a rare, life-threatening disorder in which bone marrow cannot make mature, functioning red blood cellshave been hampered by the fact that at least 30 different genetic mutations can cause the disorder.

A team led by researchers at Harvard Medical School has now cleared that obstacle by developing a universal gene therapy for DBA, one designed to correct the bone marrow defect no matter the patient's specific mutation.

The experimental therapy is ready to test in clinical trials, the team reports Nov. 11 in Cell Stem Cell.

"This is one of the first examples where we can develop a gene therapy that can target dozens of mutations with a single vector," said senior author Vijay Sankaran, the HMS Jan Ellen Paradise, MD Professor of Pediatrics at Boston Children's.

The work provides proof of concept that gene therapies can treat rare or complex blood diseases not by correcting individual mutations but by targeting a problem that all the mutations lead to, the team said.

All roads lead to GATA1

Children with DBA, which was first described in 1938 at Boston Children's, have few treatment options. A handful who have well-matched donors can be cured with bone marrow transplants, but most rely on steroids, which have side effects, or regular blood transfusions.

Most of the gene mutations known to lead to DBA were discovered at Boston Children's over the past 15 years by Sankaran and Hanna Gazda. These mutations mostly affect ribosomes: structures within cells that play a key role in building the body's proteins.

But in 2012, as an intern in pediatrics, Sankaran found that a few patients instead had mutations in a gene called GATA1, a key regulatory factor that controls the earliest steps of red blood cell production.

Sankaran subsequently found that the ribosomal mutations reduce the number of functional ribosomes in cells, which prevents GATA1 protein from being produced.

When Sankaran added GATA1 protein back to blood stem cells taken from patients with DBA, the cells were better able to differentiate into red cells.

These findings suggested that raising GATA1 levels could treat DBA in patients with mutations in the GATA1 gene itself and in patients with the ribosome-related mutations.

Developing a gene delivery system

Sankaran's team then set about developing a vectoran engineered, non-infectious lentivirusthat could deliver the GATA1 gene into patients.

But there was another big challenge: When the team delivered GATA1 into blood stem cells in a lab dish, they immediately differentiated into mature red cells and didn't engraft in bone marrow.

"We only wanted the gene to be expressed after the stem cells differentiate," Sankaran said. "That problem was not trivial."

In the new workled by Richard Voit, then in the Sankaran Lab and now at UT Southwesternthe researchers devised a way to control GATA1 expression so the gene could be inserted in blood stem cells that travel to the bone marrow but would turn on only in progenitors of red blood cells.

Lab experiments showed increased production of mature red blood cells, while the stem cells themselves retained their stem cell activity.

The researchers also found that the gene therapy vector inserts GATA1 only at the intended location in the genome, allaying concerns about unintentional insertion near any cancer-causing genes.

"As far as we can tell, this approach is very safe," Sankaran said.

The team is now filing an Investigational New Drug application with the FDA in hopes of starting a clinical trial.

Broader implications

In lab tests, the therapy stimulated markedly greater red blood cell production than other treatment methods explored to date. However, only a clinical trial will demonstrate whether this remains true in patients.

The team hopes that if the gene therapy proves safe and effective, it will help alleviate racial and ethnic health disparities associated with lack of bone marrow transplant donor matches for people with DBA.

Sankaran is also excited about the implications for other gene therapies.

The work demonstrates for the first time how "the reach of any hematopoietic gene therapy could be broadened if you target the downstream mechanism rather than each of the individual components," he said. "This could open up avenues for a whole other set of blood diseases."

More information: Richard A. Voit et al, Regulated GATA1 expression as a universal gene therapy for Diamond-Blackfan anemia, Cell Stem Cell (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2024.10.012 Journal information: Cell Stem Cell
A staff member assembles an aircraft at a hangar of a high-tech industrial park in Binzhou, east China's Shandong Province, Oct. 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

The first edition of China's low-altitude economy expo has unveiled cutting-edge tech innovations and demonstrated new directions for industry development.



Held by the China Air Transport Association in Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, from Saturday to Monday, the exhibition showcased over 500 drones, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and helicopters, according to the association.

The low-altitude economy is an economic concept that relies on low-altitude airspace, involving low-altitude flight, air tourism, passenger transportation, general aviation services, and scientific research and education.

Among the new products and technologies displayed at the expo, a tethered drone drew attention. Due to its ability to hover for a long period of time, the drone, powered by a hundred-meter-long tethered cable, has the potential to be used in emergency communication, lighting and traffic assistance.

According to its developer, the product has achieved a maximum tethered height of about 300 meters and a maximum endurance of 24 hours, and can operate stably under special conditions, such as 4,000 meters above sea level and strong winds.

"With the rapid development of drones, BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, 5G communication and artificial intelligence technologies, China's low-altitude economy has entered a new phase of widespread application," said Xiang Jinwu, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering at the expo.

The size of China's low-altitude economy as of the end of last year was estimated at more than 500 billion yuan (about 69.52 billion U.S. dollars), with its scale expected to rise to 2 trillion yuan by 2030, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
Kenya ranks among the bottom ten countries in Africa for offering visa-free entry, according to the 2024 Visa Openness Index (AVOI). With a score of 0.113, Kenya placed 46th out of 54 African nations on the list.

The AVOI measures how accessible African countries are to travelers from other African nations. It is calculated by aggregating individual visa policy scores for each countrys treatment of citizens from all other African nations.

This index evaluates factors like the ease of obtaining visas, the number of countries that can be visited without a visa, and the efficiency of visa processing systems.

Kenyas visa processing times were notably slower than its regional neighbors, who have optimized their systems for quicker approvals. High visa fees also contributed to Kenyas lower ranking, deterring many potential visitors.

In contrast, Rwanda ranked first in East Africa due to its progressive visa policy, which allows African Union (AU) members, Commonwealth, and La Francophonie citizens to receive free visas upon arrival for stays up to 30 days. Benin, Seychelles, Rwanda, and The Gambia maintained top spots as the only fully visa-free countries for all African nationals.

The ease of navigating visa applications also impacts a countrys openness. In the bottom-ranking countries, applicants often struggle with unclear guidelines and insufficient support, making it harder to complete the process smoothly.

Kenyas neighboring countries have adopted more favorable visa policies, enhancing their appeal as travel destinations. Rwanda, for instance, offers an efficient e-visa system, allowing travelers to apply and receive approvals online. Uganda has also improved its visa process by introducing electronic visas and reducing waiting times significantly.

Of the 54 African countries, 17 have improved their AVOI score this year, building on the 15 countries that showed progress in the previous edition.
Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) CEO Ezekiel Mutua has denied reports claiming he has been suspended from office, calling them baseless and fabricated.

Over the weekend, a false notice circulated on social media, alleging that Mutua had been barred from conducting MCSK business. The notice further stated that the company would not honor any contractual obligations tied to him.

On Monday, Mutua addressed the claims, dismissing them as malicious attempts to undermine his leadership and efforts to enforce compliance within the Society.

I have been inundated with calls and messages by many people who thought the rumours were true. I managed to scan the social media platforms was shocked at how the falsehoods had spread despite the fact that the Chairman of the Board had actually issued a statement on the matter, Mutua stated.

Let me clarify: I am still in office. I have neither been sacked nor suspended. The bloggers spreading these lies would be better off visiting my office to confirm my status. CEOs are not suspended on a weekend, he added.

Internal Disputes Within MCSK

Mutua acknowledged internal disputes within MCSK but stressed that all disciplinary actions must adhere to established procedures.

The leadership wrangles only involve elected non-executive Directors, not the CEO or staff, who are subject to specific disciplinary protocols. The only crime I have committed against these people is to bar them from getting into the office without following the right procedure, Mutua explained.

When people recklessly breach these procedures, they end up occasioning huge losses on the company. For example, we are currently paying a former CEO Ksh 23 million for wrongful dismissal, and he wasnt even a substantive CEO. Imagine how much I could claim if I decided to sue those spreading these reckless and baseless claims made in a bar and on social media, he remarked.

MCSK National Chairperson Lazarus Muli had earlier condemned the notice, labeling it as insidious propaganda aimed at discrediting Mutuas administration.

Muli accused individuals with malicious intentions of creating and spreading the document. He highlighted the positive reforms Mutua and his team have introduced, which he said had disrupted the status quo in an industry once dominated by self-serving interests.

Muli noted that such transformative changes inevitably attract resistance. He added that MCSK is pursuing legal action against the authors of the defamatory notice to ensure accountability.

In the meantime, members and stakeholders can rest assured that Mutua remains in charge, with the full backing of the MCSK leadership, Muli stated.

He urged members to dismiss the false claims, emphasizing, Let us treat this propaganda with the contempt it deserves.
You are here: China

China's National Immigration Administration's 12367 immigration service hotline has expanded to include Russian, Japanese and Korean language support starting Nov. 26, adding to its existing Chinese and English services, the administration said on Tuesday.

Callers to the 24/7 hotline can select their preferred language through the voice navigation system.

The hotline serves as an integrated customer service center handling immigration administration-related inquiries, suggestions and reporting of illegal activities.

Launched in April 2021, the service platform has handled over 14 million inquiries from both domestic and international users across 156 countries and regions by the end of October 2024.

The platform maintains a 99.9 percent first-call resolution rate and a 98.6 percent satisfaction rate, according to official data.
The High Court in Nairobi has suspended the special privileges and immunities granted to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

On Monday, November 25, 2024, Justice Bahati Mwamuye issued a conservatory order, barring the Foundation and its officials, including directors, from enjoying any privileges or immunities under the Privileges and Immunities Act.

The ruling states that the suspension will remain in effect until the inter partes hearing and determination of an application filed on November 22, 2024. The conservatory order suspends the Privileges and Immunities (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) Order, 2024, issued as Legal Notice No. 157 on September 19, 2024, by the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs and published in the Kenya Gazette on October 4, 2024.

The court also prohibited the Foundation, its directors, officers, staff, and agents from enjoying any immunities or privileges under the Privileges and Immunities Act [Chapter 179 of the Laws of Kenya] or the Cooperation Agreement between the Foundation and the Government of Kenya, as outlined in the impugned order.

The Privileges and Immunities Act provides legal protections and exemptions for certain organizations, especially those engaged in international cooperation. These privileges include immunity from legal processes related to official duties, tax exemptions on salaries, and protection from immigration restrictions.

In October 2024, the Kenyan government granted the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation special privileges, recognizing it as a charitable trust under the Privileges and Immunities Act.

The gazette notice described the Foundation as a charitable trust fighting poverty, disease, and inequality across over 140 countries globally. The Foundation was granted the status of an organization to which section 11 of the Act applies.

This designation allowed the Foundation to engage in contracts, manage property, and defend legal actions, similar to diplomatic entities. Non-Kenyan staff of the Foundation would enjoy legal immunities and tax exemptions while performing their duties in Kenya. However, local citizens would only benefit from these privileges if exclusively employed by the Foundation.
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has unveiled a bold and transformative agenda for Kenya, should he succeed in winning the presidency in the 2027 general election.

On Monday, November 25, Omtatah presented a detailed roadmap for addressing critical issues facing the nation, promising sweeping reforms to uplift Kenyans and ensure sustainable development.

Omtatah committed to prioritizing constitutionalism, vowing to enforce the rule of law equally for all citizens. The law must apply to everybody and in all transactions, he declared, emphasizing the need for a fair and just society.

To restore fiscal stability, Omtatah proposed strict fiscal discipline aimed at curbing corruption and eliminating wastage. We want to make sure that public money is controlled and used for the benefit of the common good, he explained.

He also plans to reduce government spending by limiting the cabinet to 14 ministers, a move he believes will cut unnecessary costs.

In a bid to enhance financial governance, Omtatah announced plans to establish the National Treasury as an independent institution.

The Treasury must operate like the Central Bank, run by experts, with no access for politicians, he stated. He further advocated for separating the Treasury from the Ministry of Finance, ensuring its independence and restoring the budget as a key governance tool.

The 2027 Presidential Hopeful underscored the importance of recovering stolen public funds and leveraging the countrys mineral resources to secure Kenyas economic future.

The ultimate purpose of a leader is to convert resources into wealth, he affirmed.

Healthcare reform featured prominently in Omtatahs agenda. He argued that Universal Health Care (UHC) cannot depend on private hospitals and pledged to revitalize public hospitals while addressing challenges faced by medical professionals.

To combat theft in healthcare facilities, he proposed rebranding government stores and committing significant investments to make public hospitals comparable to private ones. That is when you can begin talking about UHC, he emphasized.

Omtatah also identified transport as a critical factor hindering Kenyas development, criticizing the government for leaving the sector to private entities. He promised to make public transport a strategic priority and improve affordability, including domestic air travel.

We need to be able to fly from Nairobi to Mandera, transact, and return the same day. Why not have a basic airstrip in every county? he suggested.

In addition to transport, Omtatah announced plans for radical reforms in state corporations. He pledged to professionalize their management, accusing current boards of focusing on looting public funds.

On agriculture, Omtatah committed to liberating the food industry from cartels by empowering farmers through restored institutions. He envisions agriculture primarily serving as a source of food for Kenyans, while the service sector drives economic growth.

The ultimate goal is for agriculture to support food security, not remain the economys main pillar, he explained.

With his comprehensive plan, Omtatah hopes to reshape Kenyas governance and economic landscape, promising a future of equality, accountability, and prosperity.
President William Ruto officially launched the University of Nairobis Silicon Savannah Innovation Park at State House, Nairobi, on Monday. This launch follows the unveiling of the Big 5 initiatives by the university, which aim to transform the institution into a leader in innovation, leadership, and sustainable development in Africa.

During the launch, President Ruto encouraged the youth to take advantage of the opportunities the government is creating to help them thrive. He emphasized that the Silicon Savannah Innovation Park represents a significant investment in Kenyas youth and the countrys digital economy.

Ruto addressed the youth directly, saying, Your government is shaping the future, working for you and delivering opportunities for you to learn, work, create, and innovate your path to the future, and for Kenya. The Silicon Savannah Innovation Park is your platform to define the future of Kenyas digital economy.

He went on to say that the project is more than just an infrastructure initiative. The Silicon Savannah Innovation Park is not just an infrastructure project; it is an investment in our people, our future, and our global standing. Our message is clear: Kenya will not merely participate in the 5th Industrial Revolution; we will lead it. Let us seize this defining moment to turn our vision into a legacy of inclusive transformation that endures for generations.

Through this newly launched project, President Ruto aims to address Kenyas high youth unemployment rate by creating job opportunities and boosting the countrys digital economy. He stated that the projects goal is to reshape Kenyas economic landscape.

This project is not just about creating jobs; it is about reshaping Kenyas economic DNA. By anchoring a robust technology and innovation ecosystem within a leading institution of higher learning, we strengthen links with industry and forge partnerships regionally and globally, Ruto explained.

The president also underscored the importance of international collaboration. He highlighted the University of Nairobis Engineering and Science Complex, which received a 35 million (KSh4.7 billion) investment from the Government of France. The complex, in partnership with prestigious institutions such as Universite Paris-Saclay and CentraleSupelec, exemplifies the future of visionary international partnerships.

We have succeeded in establishing a world-class platform that affirms Kenyas credentials as Africas foremost tech capital, Ruto added.

The Silicon Savannah project originated from the Chancellors Partnership Forum earlier this year, where government officials, university leaders, and high-level partners gathered to launch the Big 5 initiatives.

In addition to the Silicon Savannah Innovation Park, other key projects from the Forum include the Kenya Green Jobs Center, which will equip Kenyan youth with the skills to drive the green transition, and the Nairobi School of AI, which will cultivate top-tier AI talent.

The Africa Leadership Institute will train the next generation of East African leaders in the public sector, while the Nairobi Advanced Health Research Programme aims to expand the universitys lab and research capabilities, supporting vaccine development and biotech innovation.
Kenyan senators have strongly rejected the Public Fundraising Appeals Bill, 2024, which aimed to regulate participation in harambees.

The Bill, introduced by President William Ruto through Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, sought to bar political aspirants from participating in harambees for at least three years before a general election.

Harambee, derived from the Kiswahili phrase meaning all pull together, is a long-standing tradition in Kenya that embodies community self-help. This practice has supported development projects and provided financial assistance for essential needs like education and medical bills.

The senators argued that the Bill would erode the spirit of unity and brotherhood that harambees have fostered for decades. They emphasized the critical role these fundraisers play in building schools, churches, and other community facilities.

Exemptions and New Regulations

While the Bill proposed significant restrictions, it exempted certain forms of fundraising. Tithes and offerings collected under the authority of registered religious organizations were excluded, as long as the funds were directed toward developmental projects benefiting the association.

Similarly, funds raised through raffles, lotteries, or activities authorized under the Betting, Lotteries, and Gaming Act were exempted.

Private fundraising appeals conducted by close family members to support their relatives were also allowed under the proposed law.

However, the Bill introduced stringent regulations for harambees. Organizers would be required to obtain a permit, with the state responsible for vetting the venue and individuals leading the fundraiser. They would also need to declare the purpose of the Harambee and specify the target amount to be raised.

Additionally, organizers would be mandated to submit financial reports to the government every three months after the event. The state would have the authority to inspect the financial records of beneficiaries to ensure transparency. Contributors would also need to disclose the sources of their donations to curb corruption.

Strong Opposition from Senators

Senators criticized the Bill, claiming it would unfairly punish vulnerable Kenyans who rely on harambees for survival. They highlighted the traditions role in addressing pressing needs, such as paying school fees and covering medical expenses.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale shared a personal testimony, illustrating the importance of harambees. I would be the last person to fight the harambee spirit because, without the Sh100 contribution from Mwilista Lihalanganga in 1976, I would not have completed my education at Musingu High School, he said.

Narok Senator Ledama Olekina also condemned the Bill, describing it as ill-advised. Regulating this kind of fundraising ensures we condemn this generation to poverty. I completely detest that approach, he stated.

Conclusion

The senators rejection of the Bill underscores the importance of harambees in Kenyas socio-economic fabric. By opposing restrictions, lawmakers defended a tradition that embodies community spirit and provides a lifeline for many.

While concerns about corruption persist, the overwhelming sentiment in the Senate reflects the belief that harambees remain a cornerstone of Kenyas identity and a vital tool for uplifting communities.
Liu Liange, former chairman of Bank of China, was on Tuesday sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for bribe-taking and illegal issuing of loans.

He was found to have accepted bribes worth over 121 million yuan (about 16.8 million U.S. dollars), according to a court in the city of Jinan, east China's Shandong Province.

Liu was deprived of political rights for life, all of his personal property will be confiscated, and all his illegal gains must be recovered and turned over to the state treasury, the court sentence read.

The court found that Liu had taken advantage of his various positions at the Export-Import Bank of China and Bank of China, respectively, to provide assistance to others in matters such as loan financing, project cooperation and personnel arrangements -- while illegally accepting bribes in return.

Moreover, he was found to have knowingly facilitated the issuance of loans totaling more than 3.32 billion yuan to unqualified companies in violation of legal rules, resulting in a principal loss of over 190.7 million yuan, the court said.
On Nov. 18, the heart failure and transplantation team at Emory University Hospital (EUH) made history, performing the first-ever surgical implantation in the United States of a brand-new type of ventricular assist device (VAD), which provides crucial care to patients with failing hearts.

An expert team led by veteran cardiothoracic surgeon Mani Daneshmand, MD, successfully implanted a novel magnetically levitated pump, a VAD that has been specifically designed for patient ease and long-term health. The BrioVAD System, made by BrioHealth Solutions Inc., was authorized by the FDA to begin clinical trials earlier this year. Emory became the first site enrolled in the trial to perform the procedure.

As part of the INNOVATE clinical trial, Emory will participate in gathering data on patient experience with the device, joined by other leading medical institutions across the country, including Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Duke University and University of Chicago.

The entry criteria for joining the study were rigorous. Emory qualified because of its high quality and extensive VAD experience. Emory has long led Metro Atlanta and the region in number and success rate of VAD implantations. Since the program began, Emory Healthcare has completed almost 1,000 VAD implants between EUH and Emory St. Joseph's Hospital.

Were honored to be the first implanting site in this study, Daneshmand says. The BrioVAD is a promising heart assist pump, designed from the ground up with focus on patient safety and quality of life. With this study, we continue our long history of innovation in pursuit of our mission to bring compassionate, quality care to every patient who arrives at our doors seeking care.

First used in the 1960s, VADs have been an effective treatment for patients with advanced heart failure, often providing an alternative for patients who dont qualify for a transplant  which can mean the difference between life and death.

The lifesaving device, which has evolved significantly over the decades, works by providing mechanical circulatory support and helping to pump blood from the lower chambers of the heart to the rest of the body. Because the device is almost always placed on the left side of the heart, the device is frequently referred to as an LVAD.

The BrioVAD system is composed of a hemocompatible blood pump, meaning that it interacts with the blood in a way that may have fewer side effects. The new VAD also includes a fully magnetically levitated rotor and two small, lightweight, patient-worn components.

The BrioVAD shows great promise to improve on the current, excellent LVAD technology we are using every day, says Daneshmand, who is the Andrew J. McKelvey Professor at Emory School of Medicine and Director of Thoracic Transplant and MCS Surgery.

The hope is that the new VAD may be used as life-long destination therapy, meaning that the VAD is used instead of transplant, or as bridge therapy to transplant or even for supporting recovery of the heart. The INNOVATE trial will assess the system performance in both the short term, with a six-month endpoint, and in the long term over the course of the next 24 months.

Note: The BrioVAD System is an Investigational Device limited by Federal Law to use in the INNOVATE Trial.

About the INNOVATE Trial

The INNOVATE Trial is a prospective, non-blinded, randomized, controlled study that will enroll patients for both short-term and long-term Mechanical Circulatory Support indications.

About BrioHealth Solutions

BrioHealth Solutions is a medical device company headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts. It develops, produces and commercializes devices to treat patients suffering from advanced and persistent heart failure.
SIU officials discuss the economic impact of the Carbondale campus. (Photo by Russell Bailey)

SIU Carbondale has nearly $2.7B impact on state of Illinois, supports 18.6K jobs

by Kim Rendfeld

CARBONDALE, Ill.  The economic impact of Southern Illinois University Carbondale can be summed up in two numbers:

Almost $2.7 billion  statewide impact from the universitys operations, student expenditures, visitor spending and alumni incomes.

18,601  jobs in Illinois supported by SIU Carbondales economic activity.

SIU Carbondale Chancellor Austin Lane, SIU System President Dan Mahony and others today (Nov. 25) discussed a new analysis that quantifies the universitys benefits to Illinois economy in the past fiscal year, which ended June 30, as well as the return on investment for students and for the State of Illinois. A research team, led by SIU Carbondale professors Jebaraj Asirvatham and Scott Gilbert, examined spending by the university, its students and visitors and the ripple effects, including the supply chain, new incomes and job creation.

At SIU Carbondale, we have always known we serve as an economic engine, Lane said. We prepare students to pursue a lifetime of careers, conduct research that solves problems and leads to innovation, and serve as a major employer in our region, with about 5,000 faculty, staff and administrators.

Researchers found that SIU Carbondale students on average get almost a triple return on investment  $2.74 for every $1 they spend in tuition and fees  while every state tax dollar yields a 15% return.

The State of Illinois and our students are seeing a significant return on the investment in benefits for the regional economy and the long-term impact on Salukis income  not to mention the great discoveries and wonderful creative works that influence and change lives within and outside Illinois, Lane said.

SIU Carbondale is part of the SIU System, which employs more than 7,000 faculty, staff and administrators who serve about 23,500 students through campuses in Carbondale, Edwardsville and Springfield.

The SIU Systems economic impact in fiscal year 2023 was an astounding $4 billion, and the systems economic activity helped support 45,075 jobs in Illinois, Mahony said. We are proud that SIUs impact has grown tremendously in our 155-year existence; we know this trend will continue with so many outstanding students, innovative faculty and staff members.

The SIU Carbondale report is available here.
SIUs Paul Simon Institute to examine parents role in civic education, promoting citizenship

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Political science professor and author Lindsey Cormack will join Southern Illinois University Carbondales Paul Simon Public Policy Institute on Tuesday, Dec. 3, for a virtual discussion on parents roles in teaching civic education to their children.

Cormack, author of How to Raise a Citizen (And Why Its Up to You to Do It), will also discuss with John Shaw, institute director, her research that analyzes strategic political communication and the challenges and responsibilities of promoting citizenship.

The discussion, via Zoom at 1 p.m., is free and open to the public, but registration to view the conversation is required. The discussion is part of the institutes Understanding Our New World discussion series. Visit paulsimoninstitute.org/events to register.

Cormack is an associate professor of political science and director of the Diplomacy Lab at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. Her book, released in August, explains how and why parents must help their children to learn about politics and government.

Professor Cormack is a thoughtful, engaging and passionate advocate for a renewed effort to elevate the idea and the responsibility of citizenship in the United States, Shaw said. She believes that we all need to do more to inspire and educate coming generations of Americans about our special role as citizens. She believes that parents need to assume greater responsibilities in this regard and not rely on schools to do the work of building citizens.

Cormack has an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Kansas and graduate degrees in politics from New York University. Cormack runs DCinbox, a project she began in 2009 that archives and provides to the public all official e-newsletters sent by members of Congress. She is also author of Congress and the U.S. Veterans: From the GI Bill to the VA Crisis, published in 2018.

Attendees are encouraged to submit questions for Cormack on the registration form or email questions to paulsimoninstitute@siu.edu.

More information, a list of the institutes upcoming events and past speakers and events are available.
Pakistanis in large numbers are marching towards the capital city of Islamabad in response to the protest call issued by the party of incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). In a post on X, PTI shared that "Thousands and thousands of Pakistanis are peacefully marching in Islamabad." PTI noted that the demands of the rallying citizens include three agendas. These are, "Revocation of the 26th Amendment and restoration of the Constitution, return of the stolen mandate, release of political prisoners". https://x.com/PTIofficial/status/1861099655972389052 As per Dawn, the protest was originally scheduled to be staged on November 24, but the convoys took a breather the previous night. PTI leaders said they were in "no hurry" to reach the federal capital for their "do or die" protest, as workers and supporters from across the country attempted to defy arrests, baton charges and tear gas to participate in the agitation. Dawn reported that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) last week ruled that PTI''s planned protest was unlawful and directed the federal government to take all necessary measures to maintain law and order in Islamabad while ensuring public life was not disrupted. The Pakistan Punjab government extended the imposition of Section 144 across the province for three more days, until Thursday. Dawn noted that the provincial government had originally imposed Section 144 from Saturday to Monday (today) due to the "law and order situation" in the province. It was also reported that the Islamabad administration issued a notification on Tuesday about all public and private educational institutions remaining closed. Senior leaders from the PTI are on their way and some have already entered into Pakistan ahead of the protests. These include the sisters of Imran Khan, Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan. The details were shared on X by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). "Imran Khan''s sisters, Aleema Khan & Uzma Khan have reached Islamabad, where hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis are converging to demand the release of political prisoners, restoration of stolen mandate, upholding of the law & constitution, and an end to the fascist reign of terror by the illegitimate, authoritarian, military-backed regime", the post by PTI noted on X. https://x.com/PTIofficial/status/1861127690939781448 Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan has been detained for over 470 days now, PTI noted. On Monday, Imran Khan''s wife Bushra Bibi demanded her husband''s release as his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party''s convoys moved toward the capital, Islamabad in the wake of ''Final Call'' protests, Dawn reported. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), founded by Imran Khan, has launched a nationwide protest, demanding the release of its leader. As per Dawn, Bushra Bibi told the supporters that the march would not end till Khan was freed. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on Tuesday on the demise of Shashikant Ruia, the co-founder and chairman of Essar Group. The prime minister termed Ruia as the colossal figure in the industry. PM Modi, in his post on social media X, added, "Shashikant Ruia Ji was a colossal figure in the world of industry. His visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence transformed the business landscape of India. He also set high benchmarks for innovation and growth. He was always full of ideas, always discussing how we can make our country better. Shashi Ji's demise is deeply saddening. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones in this hour of grief. Om Shanti." Confirming the demise, the Ruia family, in a post, added, "It is with profound grief that we inform you of the passing of Shashikant Ruia, patriarch of the Ruia and Essar family. He was 81." "An iconic industrialist, Shashikant Ruia, Chairman, Essar Group, played a significant role in redefining India's corporate landscape. He laid the foundation of the Essar Group and made it a global conglomerate," the family added, expressing its grief over the demise of Ruia. The Essar Group Chairman passed away on November 25 in Mumbai at the age of 81. Ruia started his journey in the industry in 1965 and, along with his brother, founded the Essar Group in 1969, as per the publicly available information. According to information from the family, Ruia's mortal remains will be kept at Ruia House from 1-3 pm and the funeral procession to the Hindu Worli Crematorium will leave at 4 PM. The Essar Group, commonly known as EGFL, has expanded in sectors such as energy, infrastructure & logistics, metals & mining, technology, and retail. The group is known for its companies such as Essar Oil UK, Essar Ports, Essar Oil & Gas Exploration & Production, Essar Shipping, Essar Power, and Essar Projects. The Assets Under Management (AUM) stood at USD 9.5 billion as of 31 March 2023, as per the company. The Essar Group Chairman was a part of the managing committee of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). He was also the chairman of the Indo-US Joint Business Council. He acted as the president of the Indian National Shipowners Association. In addition to that, Ruia was also the CEO of the Prime Minister India-US CEO Forum and the India-Japan Business Council. (ANI)
VMPL New Delhi [India], November 26: Dr. Mustafa Barbhuiya, an esteemed expert in clinical chemistry and pathology, has been named one of The Pathologist magazine's Top 100 most influential people in pathology for 2024, earning a special mention as one of the Top 20 Heroes of Pathology. This achievement is the latest in a series of recognitions for Dr. Barbhuiya, whose life journey from a remote village in Assam, India, to a prominent position in global pathology and healthcare has inspired many in the scientific community. Dr. Barbhuiya currently serves as the Medical Director of Clinical Chemistry and Point of Care Testing at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, and is an Assistant Professor of Pathology, Healthcare Delivery, and Population Sciences at UMass Chan Medical School's Baystate Regional Campus. His work in pathology is not only influential in clinical practice but also in pioneering research, specifically in liver and biliary tract cancer mechanisms and biomarkers. An Inspirational Journey from Assam to Global Pathology Born and raised in a village without electricity, Dr. Barbhuiya's early education took place under the light of kerosene lamps, giving him a deep appreciation for resilience and resourcefulness. His remarkable journey, shaped by a humble beginning and a tenacious drive to overcome adversity, eventually led him to the United States, where he pursued advanced studies and established himself as a leader in pathology. After earning a Doctorate in Biochemistry from Jiwaji University in Gwalior, India, Dr. Barbhuiya continued his postdoctoral studies at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His dedication and academic prowess quickly garnered attention, and he was recognized as the Young Scientist of the Year by the Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology in 2010 and received the Best Science Researcher Award from Jiwaji University in 2012. A Pioneering Career in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Dr. Barbhuiya's professional expertise spans clinical biochemistry, cancer biomarkers, and clinical laboratory sciences. He is a board-certified clinical chemist and a high-complexity clinical laboratory director certified by CMS-USA. His exceptional contributions were recognized in 2019 when he was named to the American Society for Clinical Pathology's 40 Under Forty list, which celebrates young leaders advancing pathology and laboratory medicine. Dr. Barbhuiya's professional affiliations are extensive; he serves on various committees of leading professional organizations, including the Association of Clinical Scientists and the American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC). His work and influence have earned him Fellow status in the Association of Clinical Scientists and Associate Fellow status with the AACC Academy, formerly known as the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry. Advancing Global Health through Essential Diagnostics In addition to his professional accomplishments, Dr. Barbhuiya is a passionate advocate for accessible healthcare diagnostics worldwide. In 2018, he founded the Foundation for Advancement of Essential Diagnostics (FAED) in India, followed by an extension in the USA in 2020. The organization supports the implementation of the World Health Organization's Essential Diagnostics List to improve global public health through increased diagnostic accessibility. Dr. Barbhuiya's story, marked by resilience, dedication, and a commitment to better global healthcare, is a testament to what can be achieved through determination and vision. His journey continues to inspire young scientists and healthcare professionals, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds, to pursue excellence and make a difference in the world. This year, Dr. Barbhuiya was named in 'The Pathologist' magazine's Power List as one of the Top 100 most influential people in pathology in 2024, specifically, as one of the Top 20 Heroes of Pathology. (https://thepathologist.com/power-list) Dr. Barbhuiya set up a global non-profit organization the Foundation for Advancement of Essential Diagnostics (FAED) in India (www.faed.in ) (2018) and subsequently in the USA (www.faedint.org) (2020). The overall goal of this foundation is to promote and further augment the 'essential diagnostics list' published by the World Health Organization in the context of global public health. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
India has signed the final act of the Riyadh Design Law Treaty (DLT), reaffirming its commitment to fostering inclusive growth and ensuring equitable access to intellectual property protection, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Tuesday. The DLT seeks to harmonise the procedural frameworks for industrial design protection, improving the efficiency and accessibility of registration processes across multiple jurisdictions. After nearly two decades of negotiations, the member states of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) adopted the landmark Design Law Treaty during a diplomatic conference in Riyadh. According to the WIPO, the current draft text with the working title Design Law Treaty would make it significantly easier for designers, especially smaller-scale designers and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to register their work. In a separate release issued by WIPO, Director General Daren Tang expressed his enthusiasm and said, "For 19 years, we have worked toward this moment. Now, the finish line is in sight. To cross it, we must be prepared to build bridges, find areas of convergence, and be creative in achieving the needed compromises." "In so doing, we will empower designers to create even more amazing designs that will delight us, spark creativity, and unleash innovation," he added. The DLT would deal with the procedures for obtaining design protection, not with questions such as the legal definition of design or the conditions for protection, which would remain within the purview of the contracting parties, as per the WIPO. By standardising procedural requirements, the Design Law Treaty (DLT) reduces administrative burdens, thereby promoting global creativity in design. Its goal is to ensure that the benefits of streamlined design protection are accessible to all stakeholders, with particular emphasis on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), startups, and independent designers. Similar treaties already exist in other intellectual property (IP) categories, including patents and trademarks. The DLT aims to fill the gap in the area of design. The DLT will overcome the obstacles faced by designers by simplifying protection procedures and eliminating red tape. (ANI) (ANI)
BusinessWire India New Delhi [India], November 26: India's digital marketplace is massive. With hundreds of millions shopping online, it's a place where convenience and commerce blend into an irresistible promise. But beneath this booming economy, there's a less glamorous side--a quiet frustration simmering in countless homes across the country. For every quick delivery, there's a faulty product, an unexpected charge, a delayed refund, or a deafening silence from customer service. This is where Shikayathai.com comes in, like an uninvited but necessary guest at the dinner table of India's consumer economy. Founded by Alexander Turilin and Alexander Eroshkin, two Russian entrepreneurs who know their way around a startup, Shikayathai.com wasn't built to just register complaints. It was designed to reshape the balance of power in the Indian marketplace, one claim at a time. The story begins not with Shikayathai.com but with Turilin and Eroshkin's journey into India. After selling one of Russia's top EdTech companies to the Russian media giant, the duo found themselves on Indian soil, building Coding Invaders--a professional education platform that raised millions and taught over 25,000 students. They came to understand not only India's appetite for digital progress but also its vulnerability. They noticed something strange: a resigned acceptance among consumers when things went wrong, a sense that companies were too big, too distant to be held accountable. That unshakeable belief--"Nothing will change"--is precisely what they set out to challenge. When the Little Guy Wins Take Siddhant Mehta, for instance. Siddhant was a tech enthusiast who decided to splurge Rs.70,000 on a laptop from a popular e-commerce company. The laptop arrived, but the excitement didn't last. It was defective. Siddhant did what any rational consumer would do: he contacted customer service. But his emails went unanswered, and his frustration grew. Days turned into weeks, and he began to feel like he was talking to a wall. Then, Siddhant stumbled upon Shikayathai.com. Without any legal jargon or complicated procedures, he filed his complaint. And then, something magical happened. The e-commerce company, which had previously ignored him, suddenly responded. Within days, Siddhant had his money refunded. "Your portal worked wonders!" he exclaimed. In that moment, Siddhant experienced something new: the realization that even a single complaint could make a difference. It wasn't just Siddhant who felt empowered. Shikayathai.com had handed him a new kind of power--a simple, direct way to demand accountability. Siddhant's success wasn't just his own; it was proof that Shikayathai.com's model was more than theory. It was real. The Power of a Platform But it wasn't just about Siddhant. Shikayathai.com's impact was felt by Haroon Rasheed, too, who found himself stuck with the wrong size shoes. He'd ordered size 10 from an online grocery shop, but size 7 arrived. Weeks of silence from customer service left Haroon frustrated, convinced he'd wasted his money. Yet, just days after filing his claim with Shikayathai.com, Haroon saw his refund. The online grocery shop, once silent, was suddenly responsive. The process was so seamless that Haroon was left wondering why he'd ever tried any other way. Then there's Maria Sophi, a professional looking for a new home. She had paid a popular brokerage-free proptech company for a property search service, expecting a smooth experience. But the service was never activated. Calls, and emails--all ignored. Maria felt like she'd paid for air. Turning to Shikayathai.com, she lodged her complaint. Within days, that popular brokerage-free proptech company activated her service. Maria didn't need a lawyer, didn't need to understand complex legal terms; she just needed Shikayathai.com. The Bigger Picture These stories aren't isolated anecdotes; they're chapters in a larger story about India's evolving consumer landscape. According to the National Consumer Helpline, over 500,000 e-commerce complaints were registered between 2017 and 2021. Yet, for every complaint logged, there are countless others that go unreported. Issues with defective products, hidden charges, unkept promises, and unresponsive customer service are so commonplace that many people have stopped expecting results. The government has made strides, enacting the Consumer Protection Act of 2019 and introducing platforms to streamline complaints. But with 67% of grievances still unresolved long after they're filed, these initiatives struggle to keep pace with consumer needs. Shikayathai.com's role in this environment is clear. It provides a direct line of communication that cuts through red tape and bureaucratic delays. Consumers don't need legal expertise or patience; they only need to be willing to take a chance on a platform that, for many, has already delivered results. A Mission to Change the Culture For Turilin and Eroshkin, Shikayathai.com is more than just a platform--it's a cultural shift. Each success story, each refund, each apology from a company is more than just a win for the consumer; it's a crack in the wall of corporate indifference. They want to show India's 800 million internet users that they don't have to accept poor service, that a complaint isn't just a cry into the void. In Siddhant's case, that Rs. 70,000 wasn't just money--it was a principle. For Haroon, it wasn't just about getting the right shoe size; it was about being respected. And for Maria, the property service wasn't just a transaction; it was a reminder that she mattered. With every resolved complaint, Shikayathai.com isn't just helping individuals--it's pushing back against a system that's been tilted in favor of big business for too long. It's a reminder that the smallest voices can still make the biggest companies listen. And for Turilin and Eroshkin, that's not just a business goal; it's a mission. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
 Flash

A total of 28 survivors, including two Chinese tourists, have been rescued from a boat sinking incident in the Red Sea, Egyptian and Chinese authorities said on Monday.

The Egyptian Red Sea Province announced on its official Facebook page earlier in the day that a safari boat carrying 45 people sank off the northern area of Marsa Alam city in the Red Sea.

Amr Hanafy, governor of the Red Sea Province, told Xinhua that 28 survivors have been located and transported by air for medical care.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Egypt said in a statement that it had immediately activated its consular protection emergency response mechanism after the incident. It also verified details through the Egyptian ministries of defense and interior, among other channels.

According to the embassy, two Chinese tourists were rescued by other vessels passing through the area where the incident occurred. The embassy has contacted the two tourists, who are reported to be in good health.

The embassy further stated that it has urged Egyptian authorities to provide the rescued tourists with proper assistance and accommodation.

Egyptian authorities reported that the boat, named Sea Story, departed from Port Ghalib in Marsa Alam on Sunday with 31 tourists and 14 crew members. It was scheduled to arrive at Hurghada Marina on Friday.

The Red Sea Province's control center received a distress signal from a crew member at approximately 5:30 a.m. local time (0330 GMT).

Hanafy confirmed that "intensive efforts are underway to search for the missing, in coordination with the armed and naval forces."

He added that the frigate El-Fateh and aircraft are continuing search operations in the area.
Union Home Minister, Amit Shah on Tuesday expressed his condolences on the demise of Shashikant Ruia, the Co-Founder and Chairman of Essar Group. The Union Minister in a social media post on X, commended the power of will that paved the way for the innovation. "Deeply saddened by the demise of Shashikant Ruia Ji, co-founder of the Essar Group. As a business leader, Ruia Ji paved his path forward with the sheer power of his will and innovation. His life journey will remain a source of inspiration for young entrepreneurs. My sincerest condolences to his bereaved family, friends, and admirers at this hour of grief," the Union Home Minister said in the post. Confirming the demise, the Ruia family, in a post, added, "It is with profound grief that we inform you of the passing of Shashikant Ruia, patriarch of the Ruia and Essar family. He was 81." "An iconic industrialist, Shashikant Ruia, Chairman, Essar Group, played a significant role in redefining India's corporate landscape. He laid the foundation of the Essar Group and made it a global conglomerate," the family added, expressing its grief over the demise of Ruia. The Essar Group Chairman passed away on November 25 in Mumbai at the age of 81. Ruia started his journey in the industry in 1965 and, along with his brother, founded the Essar Group in 1969, as per the publicly available information. According to information from the family, Ruia's mortal remains will be kept at Ruia House from 1-3 PM and the funeral procession to the Hindu Worli Crematorium will leave at 4 PM on Tuesday. The Essar Group, commonly known as EGFL, has expanded in sectors such as energy, infrastructure & logistics, metals & mining, technology, and retail. The group is known for its companies such as Essar Oil UK, Essar Ports, Essar Oil & Gas Exploration & Production, Essar Shipping, Essar Power, and Essar Projects. The Assets Under Management (AUM) stood at USD 9.5 billion as of 31 March 2023, as per the company. The Essar Group Chairman was a part of the managing committee of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). He was also the chairman of the Indo-US Joint Business Council. He acted as the president of the Indian National Shipowners Association. In addition to that, Ruia was also the CEO of the Prime Minister India-US CEO Forum and the India-Japan Business Council. (ANI)
PRNewswire Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], November 26: IBSAT 2024, the proctored online aptitude test conducted by The ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education, is MBA aspirants' gateway to premier MBA, PGPM offered at nine ICFAI Business School (IBS) campuses. With applications closing in the third week of December, this is the perfect time for the candidates to secure their future with IBS and explore its Rs. 10 crore scholarship program. Why is IBSAT 2024 unique? IBSAT is designed to reduce the stress on aspirants unlike CAT, XAT as the test does not have negative markings or sectional time limits, allowing candidates to focus on their strengths. This two-hour online computer based remote-proctored test assesses applicants through multiple-choice questions in Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude, and Data Adequacy and Interpretation. As a practice opportunity, IBS is offering National Mock Tests on November 30th and December 7th, 2024, enabling aspirants to familiarise themselves with the IBSAT pattern and improve their performance. Scholarships: A path to rewarding education Writing IBSAT is mandatory to be eligible for scholarships worth Rs. 10 crore. The Top 500 IBSAT scorers will receive Rs. 2 lakh each, adjusted against the first and second installments of their program fee. Additional scholarships are available for wards of IBS alumni, physically challenged candidates, and wards of Defence and Paramilitary Forces personnel, reflecting IBS's commitment to nurturing talent and promoting inclusivity. IBS Hyderabad: A benchmark in management education * NIRF Ranking 2024: Ranked 39th in the Management category, IBS Hyderabad stands out for its excellence in Teaching, Learning Resources, and its commitment to fostering an inclusive and outreach-driven educational environment. * AACSB Accreditation: IBS Hyderabad is among a select group of institutions worldwide accredited by AACSB International, a prestigious recognition of quality and continuous improvement in business education. * Leadership in Case-Based Learning: The IBS Case Research Center (IBS-CRC) sets global standards in management education, with eight authors featured in the 2023/24 'Top 50 Best Selling Case Authors' list by The Case Centre--the highest representation from any single institution. * Business Today Ranking 2024: IBS Hyderabad secured the 22nd position with an impressive score of 743.3/1000, reaffirming its reputation for delivering academic excellence and well-rounded management education. Important dates IBSAT Application Deadline: 3rd Week of December 2024 Test Dates: December 28-29, 2024 Result Announcement: January 1st Week, 2025 Selection Briefings: January 10th-19th, at 70 locations across India Selection Process: February 15th-24th, at IBS Hyderabad, Hyderabad A legacy of placement excellence With over 25 years of legacy, IBS continues to excel in creating industry-ready leaders. In 2024, 95% of students from IBS campuses have been placed in top companies across banking, finance, IT services, consulting, and manufacturing. The institution's alumni network of over 70,000 professionals, including 10% in global roles, speaks volumes about its success in providing a world-class education. For further details on IBSAT 2024 or the admissions process at IBS ICFAI Business School, please visit https://ibsindia.org/ or contact the Admissions Office. ICFAI Business School Admission OfficePlot No. 65, Nagarjuna Hills,Punjagutta, Hyderabad - 500082,TelanganaPh: 040 - 23440963 (5 lines)Email: ibsat@ibsindia.org Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1023356/IBS_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 26: BillMart Fintech Pvt. Ltd., India's new age digital lending platform was awarded the "The Dominant LendTech of the Year" at 2nd LendTechX 2024 conference, held at Radisson Blu, Mumbai. The award highlights BillMart's achievements in advancing digital lending solutions tailored to the needs of MSMEs. The selection process involved an expert panel assessing nominees based on their innovative use of technology and overall business impact, with BillMart standing out for its contributions to the lending industry. The company has disbursed more than Rs 1250 crores in the last 16 months. This year's LendTechX event, themed "Beyond Boundaries: The Evolution of Digital Lending," brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss the latest trends in fintech. As a part of the conference, BillMart's MD & CEO, Mr. Ashok Mittal, participated in a panel discussion titled "Harnessing AI and ML for Next-Gen Lending Solutions." During the panel discussion, Mr. Mittal highlighted the advanced AI tools offered by BillMart that are transforming financial solutions. These include AI-Driven Deep-Tier Financing, Autonomous Lending Decision Engines, and AI-Based Early Warning Systems to streamline processes and mitigate risks. He also discussed Blockchain-AI Integration for Smart Contracts and AI-Powered Credit Scoring for Micro-Segmentation, enabling secure transactions and personalized credit analysis for underserved sectors also. On this development, Mr. Ashok Mittal, MD & CEO of BillMart Fintech said, "Receiving the 'Dominant LendTech of the Year' award, emphasize company's commitment to empowering MSMEs with innovative, technology-driven lending solutions. He highlighted BillMart's focus on fostering growth and innovation in digital finance, making access to capital more transparent, efficient, and impactful for businesses across India. He further added, "BillMart's AI-powered grading model evaluates supply chain data, such as invoice patterns and payment histories, to assess the creditworthiness of small manufacturers with limited credit history. By identifying low-risk profiles, this approach enables trade financing for SMEs without traditional financial records. BillMart continues to drive digital inclusion, supporting underserved businesses and strengthening India's economic backbone." The conference highlighted significant developments in India's financial landscape, driven by digital transformation and supportive regulatory policies. BillMart stands out as a leading digital lending platform, driven by a seasoned leadership team with over 100 years of combined experience. Through a fully digital, secure, and streamlined process, the company provides businesses across India with quick and easy access to essential trade finance and liquidity solutions. With advanced AI-powered analytics, businesses benefit from precise, data-driven lending decisions tailored to their needs. About BillMart Fintech: BillMart is a cutting-edge digital lending platform connecting businesses and financiers to meet liquidity needs for Corporates and MSMEs. Offering a range of financial products, including Vendor Finance, Purchase Invoice Financing, and Supply Chain Finance, BillMart enables streamlined, digital financing at competitive costs. Leveraging AI and cloud-based technology, BillMart provides scalable, secure, and compliant solutions, backed by ISO 27001 and SOC2 certifications. With advanced analytics and AI-driven insights, BillMart empowers precise decision-making for trade finance and working capital needs. The platform's upcoming innovations include India's first AI-based co-branded grading solution for MSMEs. For company details, please check: https://www.billmart.com/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
The implementation of the PAN 2.0 project, announced on Monday by the Centre, is expected to lower costs for fintech companies, according to industry experts. Sanjeev Mehta, former Managing Director at Standard Chartered Bank and now leading a Greenfield startup venture, praised the Cabinet's approval of PAN 2.0 project. "This is a transformative move that will help fintech and other companies reduce costs while streamlining operations," he said. Mehta emphasized the importance of consolidating databases currently maintained by two authorities--Protean eGov Technologies Ltd (formerly NSDL) and UTI Infrastructure Technology and Services Limited (UTIITSL)--into a unified system. "The project will enable a single source of truth and a unified identity for consumers. With a single interface and integration, it eliminates the complexities of maintaining multiple systems. This has been a long-standing demand from the industry," he said. At present, both Protean and UTIITSL are authorized to issue PAN cards and offer online and offline services for new applications, corrections, updates, and tracking. Under PAN 2.0, new PAN cards will be issued using the upgraded system, and existing PAN data will be merged into a centralized database. Mehta highlighted that fintech companies and banks rely heavily on PAN for authentication, database monitoring, and underwriting processes. "From a credit perspective, this single system will streamline integrations and ensure reliable verification of PAN credentials, enhancing the overall credit ecosystem." He also clarified that while existing PAN cards will remain valid, individuals can upgrade to a new PAN card featuring added functionalities such as QR codes and updated designs. "The PAN number will remain the same, but users can opt for a refreshed version with modern features. The migration to the new system will happen automatically for all existing PAN holders," Mehta said. Dr. Vimal Joshi, a corporate lawyer and Supreme Court advocate, said the PAN 2.0 project is expected to address the issue of PAN card duplication effectively. "With a single authority issuing PAN cards, instances of duplication will be eliminated. This will also help reduce litigation, as many court cases currently involve individuals using multiple PAN numbers." Joshi said that the PAN 2.0 project marks a critical step in enhancing India's financial infrastructure, streamlining processes, and boosting efficiency for businesses and individuals alike. On Monday, the Cabinet approved PAN 2.0 Project of the Income Tax Department. The financial implications for the PAN 2.0 Project will be Rs. 1,435 crore. PAN 2.0 Project enables technology-driven transformation of taxpayer registration services. (ANI)
NewsVoir Pune (Maharashtra) [India], November 26: The demand for feature-optimised phones mimicking flagships at an affordable price has led to brands focusing extensively on the mid-range segment. The best mobile phones under Rs. 30,000 boast stunning designs, flagship-level performance, and incredible shooters. One such model is the OnePlus Nord 4 5G, which was launched in July 2024 in the Indian market. Smartphone users thinking about purchasing a new handset can get their hands on the best models, such as the Nord 4 5G, on Easy EMIs by shopping on the Bajaj Finserv EMI Network. The OnePlus Nord 4 5G lives up to the 'flagship killer' monicker the brand is known for. Equipped with AI features, such as AI Article and Audio Summary, the device elevates user experience. It runs on the impressive Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 chip, manufactured using 4nm process technology. This chipset boasts an AnTuTu score of 1,503,829, making it one of the most powerful processors on the market! Compared to the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC, this chipset offers 65% faster CPU performance and up to 130% graphics improvement. This device also harnesses the power of artificial intelligence, as the processor supports Qualcomm AI Engine to deliver unparalleled performance. Paired with up to 12GB of RAM, this model makes gaming and casual scrolling buttery-smooth and enjoyable. The Nord 4 5G, at the time of its launch, was the only mobile on the market with a metal unibody design, lending it a premium look and appeal. It is also the slimmest Nord phone to date, with 0.14cm thin bezels and 8mm ultra-thin body, making single-handed usage convenient. Coming to its display, users are guaranteed stunningly deep visuals thanks to a 120Hz OLED display with Aqua Touch technology, which offers precise typing and swiping, even when the user's hands are wet. In terms of the imaging system, the OnePlus Nord 4 5G houses two cameras at the back-a 50MP Sony "True-light" main camera with OIS and a Sony ultra-wide lens with 114 degrees FOV. Tapping into the power of Snapdragon image processing, these cameras let users click incredible photos, regardless of the surrounding environment. In addition, AI features like AI Best Face and AI Clear Face ensure the subjects look radiant and sharp. OnePlus has also equipped the Nord 4 5G with a large 5,500 mAh battery that offers up to 17 hours of YouTube streaming time. This cell is accompanied by 100W SUPERVOOC charging support, which refills the tank from 0% to 100% in just 28 minutes! OnePlus Intelligence also sustains the battery capacity for four years, ensuring the device's optimal performance. Smartphone users can purchase arguably the best mobile phone under Rs. 30,000 on Easy EMI by shopping on the Bajaj Finserv EMI Network. The OnePlus Nord 4 5G guarantees uncompromising performance while bringing flagship experience to the mid-range segment. Why shop for a new smartphone on the Bajaj Finserv EMI Network The Bajaj Finserv EMI Network is a hub of 1.5 lakh+ partner stores offering 1 million+ products. Besides online partner platforms, you will find 4,000+ offline partner stores located across the country, including tier 2 and tier 3 cities. Here are some of the main benefits of shopping on the EMI Network: * Competitive prices: Regardless of the model you choose to purchase, you can find it at a competitive price while shopping on the Bajaj Finserv EMI Network. This ensures enhanced convenience and the best deals. * Easy EMI: You can split the cost of the smartphone into nominal monthly instalments. With tenures going up to 60 months, you can choose a duration that is convenient for you. * Exclusive offers: You can also enjoy exclusive offers, such as zero down payment on select models and free home delivery while shopping on the EMI Network. Upgrade your handset today by shopping on the Bajaj Finserv EMI Network. With financing options like Easy EMI and zero down payment schemes, you can enjoy a hassle-free shopping experience at any of the Bajaj Finserv partner stores. Bajaj Finance Ltd. ('BFL', 'Bajaj Finance', or 'the Company'), a subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv Ltd., is a deposit taking Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC-D) registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and is classified as an NBFC-Investment and Credit Company (NBFC-ICC). BFL is engaged in the business of lending and acceptance of deposits. It has a diversified lending portfolio across retail, SMEs, and commercial customers with significant presence in both urban and rural India. It accepts public and corporate deposits and offers a variety of financial services products to its customers. BFL, a thirty-five-year-old enterprise, has now become a leading player in the NBFC sector in India and on a consolidated basis, it has a franchise of 69.14 million customers. BFL has the highest domestic credit rating of AAA/Stable for long-term borrowing, A1+ for short-term borrowing, and CRISIL AAA/Stable & [ICRA]AAA(Stable) for its FD program. It has a long-term issuer credit rating of BB+/Positive and a short-term rating of B by S&P Global ratings. To know more, visit www.bajajfinserv.in. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
NewsVoir Pune (Maharashtra) [India], November 26: OnePlus, one of the global leaders in smartphone technology, is set to launch the OnePlus 13 in the global markets by December 2024 or January 2025. Recently launched in China, the flagship will soon make its way into the Indian market. Early reports indicate that it will give other notable flagships like the iPhone 16 and Samsung Galaxy S24 a run for their money. After its official launch, shoppers looking to upgrade their handsets can buy the OnePlus 13 on Easy EMIs by shopping on the Bajaj Finserv EMI Network and enjoy exclusive perks. OnePlus 13 looks to build on the legacy of the OnePlus 12, retaining certain design elements, such as the circular camera island and a 6.82-inch display. However, users can expect key additions, such as the ability to operate the device even while wearing gloves! Moreover, the mobile phone is powered by the latest--and most powerful Snapdragon chip, Snapdragon 8 Elite, while housing a larger battery pack (6,000 mAh) compared to its predecessor. This model also gets 100W wired charging support, along with 50W wireless charging support for faster refills. The most advanced model among the latest OnePlus mobiles, the OnePlus 13 also gets an upgraded imaging system. While the device retains the 50MP LYT-808 primary camera from the OnePlus 12, it also houses improved 50MP telephoto and ultrawide sensors. These cameras have been co-engineered with Hasselblad, thus leveraging the brand's legendary colour science while mimicking the look of some of its highly desirable lenses. The cameras are optically image-stabilised, resulting in smoother footage, especially while zooming. The 6.82-inch display of the OnePlus 13 gets QHD+ resolution, along with a local high refresh rate feature. The adaptive refresh rate of 1-120Hz ensures a smooth gaming and casual scrolling experience, while a peak brightness of 4,500 nits guarantees enhanced convenience, especially while using the phone when standing under direct sunlight. Moreover, the device will run on OxygenOS 15, and the company claims that the latest OnePlus mobile will offer a smoother experience. Based on the previous version, the smartphone may get 4 years of major Android OS support and 5 years of security patches. Users can also rest easy in terms of device protection, as the upcoming flagship will get IP68 and IP69 ratings. While the former implies the device can be submerged in water up to 1.5 metres for up to 30 minutes, the latter means that the smartphone can withstand high-pressure water jets and steam cleaning. In addition, the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor offers greater convenience and reliability compared to the optical fingerprint scanner. OnePlus 13 is expected to come with up to 24GB RAM and 1TB UFS 4.0 storage. The base variant will likely come with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage and can carry a price tag of around Rs. 55,000-Rs. 60,000. The top-spec variant, on the other hand, can command a price of Rs. 85,000. However, users can buy the handset on Easy EMIs while availing of exclusive offers and discounts by shopping on the Bajaj Finserv EMI Network once the model becomes available for purchase. Benefits of purchasing OnePlus 13 from Bajaj Finserv partner stores Buying expensive items like the OnePlus 13 becomes simple and convenient when you shop on the Bajaj Finserv EMI Network. You can avail of several benefits, some of which are highlighted below: * Pay in Easy EMI: Purchasing any big-ticket item becomes easy and hassle-free, thanks to Easy EMIs. With tenures between 1 and 60 months, you can split the price of the product and pay in nominal monthly instalments. * Exclusive offers: While shopping on the Bajaj Finserv EMI Network, you can benefit from exclusive perks, such as a zero down payment offer on select models. This allows you to buy items like the OnePlus 13 without putting down a deposit. * Wide range of products: With more than one million products on the EMI Network, you can shop for your desired item. Moreover, you can visit any of the 1.5 lakh+ Bajaj Finserv partner stores spread across the country to shop for the device. Once the OnePlus 13 is officially launched in India, you can buy it on Easy EMI by shopping on the Bajaj Finserv EMI Network. You won't have to break the bank to purchase the device. Simultaneously, you can benefit from lucrative discounts and exclusive offers! Bajaj Finance Ltd. ('BFL', 'Bajaj Finance', or 'the Company'), a subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv Ltd., is a deposit taking Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC-D) registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and is classified as an NBFC-Investment and Credit Company (NBFC-ICC). BFL is engaged in the business of lending and acceptance of deposits. It has a diversified lending portfolio across retail, SMEs, and commercial customers with significant presence in both urban and rural India. It accepts public and corporate deposits and offers a variety of financial services products to its customers. BFL, a thirty-five-year-old enterprise, has now become a leading player in the NBFC sector in India and on a consolidated basis, it has a franchise of 69.14 million customers. BFL has the highest domestic credit rating of AAA/Stable for long-term borrowing, A1+ for short-term borrowing, and CRISIL AAA/Stable & [ICRA]AAA(Stable) for its FD program. It has a long-term issuer credit rating of BB+/Positive and a short-term rating of B by S&P Global ratings. To know more, visit www.bajajfinserv.in. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Das was admitted to Apollo Hospital in Chennai earlier for observation.

"Reserve Bank of India Governor Shri Shaktikanta Das experienced acidity and was admitted to Apollo Hospital, Chennai, for observation. He is now doing fine and will be discharged in the next 2-3 hours. There is no cause for concern," the spokesperson had stated this morning.

Shaktikanta Das, a former Secretary of the Department of Revenue and the Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance, assumed office as the 25th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India on December 12, 2018.

Before his current role, he served as a Member of the 15th Finance Commission and as India's G20 Sherpa.

Das has over four decades of extensive experience in governance, holding key positions in the Central and State Governments across areas such as Finance, Taxation, Industries, and Infrastructure.

During his tenure in the Ministry of Finance, he was closely involved in the preparation of eight Union Budgets.

Shaktikanta Das is a postgraduate from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University. (ANI)
BusinessWire India Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 26: The DBS Foundation announced that it will deploy SGD 88 million in initiatives that drive inclusion and enable better access to essential needs among vulnerable communities. The funding will go towards multiple initiatives including those that focus on improving 'living spans' in ageing societies across the region. The multi-year efforts are expected to uplift the lives and livelihoods of two million low-income and under-privileged individuals in the bank's key markets1 by 2027. This was announced at the inaugural DBS Foundation Impact Beyond Summit held in Singapore earlier this month. Centred on ageing, one of the most pressing systemic and societal issues of this generation, the Summit convened businesses, longevity experts and the social sector - including bestselling author and producer of the Emmy Award winning docuseries 'Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones' Dan Buettner - to work towards redefining the ageing narrative and unlock the socio-economic opportunities of ageing societies. The discussions culminated in a closed-door fireside chat between President of the Republic of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam and DBS CEO Piyush Gupta, during which they shared their views on changing mindsets to address ageing. Karen Ngui, Head, DBS Foundation and DBS Group Strategic Marketing and Communications, said, "Even as people today are living longer, 'living' spans - namely quality of life - should also be improved in tandem. As Singapore and many markets in Asia are fast becoming super-aged societies, we need to spark a paradigm shift to tackle ageing holistically because it should not be an issue that is confined only to seniors. An ecosystem-wide effort, which involves the public, private and people sectors, is what we hope to catalyse. This includes improving inter-generational connections; building more accessible communal spaces; encouraging employers to embrace a more inclusive workforce; helping people to kickstart their savings and retirement planning earlier, to name a few. We are excited that many businesses have expressed interest to join us on this journey. Together, we believe we can do well by doing good." 15 new programmes to uplift the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable communities DBS Foundation is deploying SGD 88 million to launch 15 new initiatives for society's vulnerable, in collaboration with like-minded partners in its key markets. Guided by the Foundation's dual focus on providing essential needs and fostering inclusion, these initiatives seek to provide short-term relief for those in need, whilst equipping them with the know-how, tools, and opportunities to build towards a better future over time. The Foundation also works closely with its partners to ensure that they are designed with each market's unique needs and circumstances in mind. The new initiatives include: * Providing essential needs: Nine initiatives aimed at enabling those in need to access essential needs such as healthcare (including mental health), basic education and food security. Initiatives range from helping young children to get a better start in life by improving their home conditions, to enabling seniors to enjoy a better quality of life in their golden years. * Fostering inclusion: Six initiatives designed to help vulnerable communities to build towards a more financially resilient future. These include improving their access to financial services, financial and digital literacy skills, and upskilling opportunities to boost employability. This is part of the efforts to ramp up support for vulnerable communities, with a commitment of up to SGD 1 billion and 1.5 million employee volunteering hours over ten years from 2024. It also augments the Foundation's decade-long work in creating societal impact by catalysing the growth of businesses for impact and supporting the community through various programmes. With the inclusion of these 15 new initiatives, DBS Foundation's suite of efforts to date are projected to impact over 9.8 million beneficiaries by 2027. DBS Foundation 'Impact Beyond' series The Summit was part of the DBS Foundation's 'Impact Beyond' signature programmes, which seek to harness the power of collective thinking and action to tackle pressing societal issues. To begin, the Foundation is focusing on ageing. Earlier in September, the Foundation gathered key members of the business community for its first dialogue on the topic, and launched a new Impact Beyond Award - offering prize money of up to SGD 1 million per winner, mentorship by DBS' seniors leaders, and more - to support visionary businesses with innovative solutions that could improve 'living spans' and enable everyone to age with dignity and purpose. Submissions are ongoing till 30 November. DBS Foundation Honourees At the summit, the DBS Foundation showcased and celebrated the impact of 10 social enterprises it has supported over the years. These honourees have positively transformed vulnerable communities through their innovative solutions. Among them were two purpose-driven businesses from India: S4S Technologies and Haqdarshak. S4S Technologies has significantly grown its revenue from USD 2 million in 2018 to USD 25 million in 2023. It has empowered 3,500 women micro-entrepreneurs, a significant increase from 200 in 2018. S4S also received 'The Earthshot Prize' in 2023. The enterprise supports DBS Bank India's programme in partnership with the Savitribai Phule Mahila Ekatma Samaj Mandal, which aims to improve the livelihoods of farmers and their families. With women micro-entrepreneurs as the primary beneficiaries, the programme promotes gender inclusivity and equality. Haqdarshak has expanded its operations to 24 states in India, serving over 6.5 million citizens and unlocking social entitlement benefits worth USD 2.2 billion. In 2018, Haqdarshak received a DBS Foundation Social Enterprise Grant for its digital platform. In 2020, during the pandemic, DBS Foundation further supported the enterprise and other past grantees with the Business Transformation and Improvement (BTI) Grant to help them navigate a challenging year. 1Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia and India (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Cooperation from all, welfare for all, and equitable profit distribution are three key principles that should underpin the cooperative sector. Without these, achieving the intended goals would be difficult, Home Minister Amit Shah said during the diamond jubilee celebration of the National Federation of State Co-operative Banks Ltd (NAFSCOB). Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) form the foundation of state and district cooperative banks, emphasised Home Minister Shah, who also oversees the Ministry of Cooperation. Shah stated that unless PACS are computerised and made administratively efficient, district and state cooperative banks cannot function effectively. "If district and state cooperative banks are to remain robust, we must ensure PACS are strengthened. After establishing the Ministry of Cooperation, the government computerised almost all PACS. The software operates in the language of the respective state and is available in eight languages," Shah said. He further explained that PACS are now connected with district and state cooperative banks, as well as the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). PACS serve as the grassroots arms of the short-term cooperative credit structure. They interact directly with rural agricultural borrowers, providing loans, collecting repayments, and handling distribution and marketing activities. These societies occupy a pivotal position in the cooperative credit structure, forming its foundation. They act as the final link between ultimate borrowers and higher financing institutions, such as Scheduled Commercial Banks, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and NABARD. NAFSCOB maintains data on district and state cooperative banks and PACS, which form the basis for agricultural sector financing. The National Federation of State Co-operative Banks Ltd. (NAFSCOB) was established on May 19, 1964, to facilitate the operations of State and Central Co-operative Banks and to promote the development of cooperative credit. During his address, Shah expressed concern over a decline in the cooperative spirit in some PACS and cooperative banks. "This is a matter of concern. The value of cooperation must be reinforced. All issues in a village should concern PACS, those at the district level should be addressed by district cooperative banks, and similarly, state cooperative banks should focus on state-level problems," he said. "Cooperation from all, welfare for all, and equitable profit distribution are three essential practices that must guide the cooperative sector. Without these, achieving the envisioned goals is not possible," he reiterated. Shah also underscored the importance of transparency, describing it as the most critical aspect of the cooperative sector. (ANI)
India's culinary culture is the result of thousands of years of historical and cultural development and the distinct flavours are the result of the coexistence of people from many cultures, religions and regions. With time lot of evolutions have happened when it comes to taste of people and choices of food, however certain places have created a space for themselves and matched the time span. In the 70s and 80s, the Indian dining landscape was largely dominated by a limited variety of Indian food, with a focus on Mughlai, Punjabi, and North Indian cuisines. Introducing lesser-known regional flavours and ingredients was a challenge. And Sunil Kapur who also is the man who, for many years, led the growth of brands like Travel Food Services (TFS), Copper Chimney, Blue Sea among others, decided to launch Bombay Brasserie. "Our founder Sunil Kapur's vision was to create a culinary destination that celebrated the incredible diversity of India's regional cuisines. The idea was to introduce diners to authentic and distinctive flavours, ingredients, and culinary techniques from across India, elevating them in a way that resonated with modern sensibilities," said Karan Sunil Kapur, Executive Director, K Hospitality. Bombay Brasserie was designed to offer an immersive dining experience that went beyond the plate, showcasing India's rich regional cuisines in an elegant, yet approachable brasserie-inspired setting. However, in the earlier years, it was challenging to introduce diners to India's diverse regional cuisines, as they were often hesitant to experiment with new flavours. "Educating guests about the origins, stories, and nuances of these dishes required creativity and persistence. Sourcing authentic ingredients from remote regions of India also posed logistical challenges, but these efforts laid the groundwork for Bombay Brasserie's reputation as a pioneer of regional Indian cuisine as originally envisioned by Sunil Kapur, by offering a total food service experience that integrated food, service and ambience," added Karan Sunil Kapur. The restaurant became a pioneer in introducing diners to the vast diversity of Indian cuisine from the coastal flavours of Kerala to the robust dishes of Rajasthan. After a brief hiatus, the brand made a comeback in 2014, driven by a renewed vision to modernize regional Indian dining while staying true to its roots, and expanded to multiple cities across India. When Bombay Brasserie made its comeback in 2014, it evolved to meet the changing demands of diners who were seeking more than just great food, they wanted experiences. Karan Sunil Kapur was clear on the vision to 'have the menu reimagined to highlight regional ingredients and nostalgic flavours, presented in modern, innovative ways that appealed to contemporary tastes.' While talking about the role innovation play in menu development, and how they balance traditional flavours with contemporary trends, Kapur shared, "Innovation was at the heart of our founder Sunil Kapur's vision for menu development at Bombay Brasserie. While the brand stays true to the essence of traditional recipes and regional ingredients, it constantly explores ways to reinterpret them for today's diners." "Whether it's through creative plating, modern cooking techniques, or reimagining traditional pairings, Bombay Brasserie ensures that each dish tells a story while appealing to evolving tastes," he continued The ambiance was also transformed, blending brasserie-inspired design with vibrant touches of Indian artistry to create a space that felt fresh yet familiar. "With an expanded focus on signature cocktails, small plates, and all-day dining, Bombay Brasserie positioned itself as a leading Indian cuisine destination for every occasion, staying ahead of culinary and cultural trends, and leading the way in building a national brand in the regional Indian cuisine category. Over the past decade, Bombay Brasserie has achieved remarkable milestones, earning numerous prestigious accolades," said Karan Sunil Kapur. Among these is recognition from the globally renowned chef Marco Pierre White, alongside multiple awards celebrating the brand's exceptional food, ambiance, and overall dining experience. The ambiance of Bombay Brasserie reflects its blend of traditional and contemporary elements, "Evolving from the original upscale design envisioned by Sunil Kapur, today's ambiance at Bombay Brasserie is a thoughtful fusion of Indian architecture, art and contemporary design, creating an inviting and vibrant space. The decor at Bombay Brasserie in Colaba, Mumbai, for example, celebrates India's cultural diversity through elements like a stunning kite lighting installation inspired by the harvest festivals, a textile wall showcasing handwoven Indian fabrics from the south, and antique tiffin boxes paying homage to Mumbai's iconic Dabbawallas," shared Kapur. Karan Sunil Kapur also spoke about environmental sustainability and how important it is in Bombay Brasserie's operations and sourcing of ingredients. "Environmental sustainability is an important aspect of our operations. Sunil Kapur's original vision across all the businesses he previously led, including TFS, Copper Chimney, and others, believed in the importance of sustainability and having a positive impact in the community. The brand is committed to sourcing ingredients responsibly, focusing on seasonal produce and working with local suppliers whenever possible. The bar program emphasizes sustainability through in-house fermentation, tinctures, and minimal-waste practices. Additionally, Bombay Brasserie aims to reduce its environmental footprint through best practices in waste management, eco-friendly packaging, and energy efficiency." Starting with the first outlet launched by Sunil Kapur, the brand evolved and now has 10 outlets across Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Guwahati, with openings planned across Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru over the coming years. Recently, Bombay Brasserie has also opened a store at Bengaluru Airport Terminal 2 via a franchise agreement with another business that Sunil Kapur had previously led, Travel Food Services (TFS). Bombay Brasserie is now poised to remain a loved name in India's national restaurant scene, a celebration of the country's rich and varied culinary traditions. (ANI)
 Flash

Displaced people receive food donations from the World Food Program (WFP) at Akuom Boma, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, South Sudan, on Feb. 28, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

In his first field visit, the new UN relief chief appealed on Monday to the authorities in war-torn Sudan to increase access for relief and humanitarian workers.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher, who replaced Martin Griffiths last week, said in a letter from Port Sudan to the humanitarian community that his first mission was to Sudan and neighboring Chad.

"The top objectives are to scale up access to those we need to support, increase the visibility of the crisis, back our HCs (humanitarian coordinators) and teams in country as they grip coordination of vital aid and listen and learn," Fletcher said. "The crisis is dire, with over half of the Sudanese population in need of help, and 20,000 people displaced every day, on average."

Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said Fletcher met with Sudanese authorities, including General Burhan, president of the Transitional Sovereign Council.

Dujarric said that in Fletcher's meetings, "he discussed ways to address constraints to the delivery of aid; the need to increase the presence of humanitarian personnel in areas worst affected by the crisis to scale up the response; and how to increase the delivery of aid across borders and across conflict lines."

The spokesman said Fletcher also wants to bring attention to the suffering of civilians nationwide. The new relief chief found the crisis "one of staggering proportions and it demands the world's attention."

On Sunday in Kassala, Dujarric said, Fletcher visited a center for children without parental care who had to be evacuated due to the violence. He also visited a camp for displaced people.

Dujarric added that the World Food Programme has a second domestic line for the UN Humanitarian Air Service. The first flight from Port Sudan to Dongola, in Northern State, was completed on Sunday.

"This new flight will enable humanitarian workers to expand their presence in northern Sudan and travel more quickly to Al Dabbah, a key transfer point for sending aid," he said.
In the latest episode of Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi announced the National Youth Festival 2025 - the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue.

The event will take place on January 11 and 12, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi.

To participate in this historic event, youth aged 15-29 can join the Viksit Bharat Challenge by taking part in an online quiz. The quiz is open from November 25 to December 5, 2024. Selected participants will get an opportunity to present their vision for a developed India before PM Modi.

Both Ayushmann Khurrana and PV Sindhu encouraged youth to take part in the initiative via their social media accounts.

Ayushmann wrote on X, "Quiz Khelo, PM Saab se milo and share your ideas of a strong Bharat at the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue. Participate in the Viksit Bharat Quiz from November 25 on the My Bharat Platform and start your journey to be selected for the Viksit Bharat Dialogue."

https://x.com/ayushmannk/status/1861093039336472947

PV Sindhu also shared details on X and wrote, "To give an effective platform to the leadership talent of the youth, in today's episode of Mann Ki Baat, Hon'ble Prime Minister has announced National Youth Festival 2025- The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue in Bharat Mandapam in Delhi on 11th and 12th January, 2025."

https://x.com/Pvsindhu1/status/1861029431642370112

Earlier, during his Independence Day speech, PM Modi announced plans to induct 1 lakh young leaders into politics, with a focus on those without a family background in the field. The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue is designed to provide a platform for young minds to contribute to this vision. (ANI)
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan is set to honour the brave heroes of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in a special episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati 16, as the nation marks the 16th anniversary of the tragic day. The episode, scheduled to air on Tuesday, will feature frontline warriors Shri Vishwas Nangre Patil, Additional Director General of Police, and Sanjay Govilkar, Additional Superintendent of Police, who will recount their harrowing experiences from that fateful night. In a promo released by the show's team on Tuesday, Shri Vishwas Nangre Patil, who served as the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for South Mumbai during the attacks, shared details of the intense operation at the Taj Hotel. Recalling the night of the attacks, Vishwas said, "That night, I received a call reporting grenade blasts and AK-47 firing sounds at the Taj. Without waiting for a bulletproof vest, Amit and I went inside first. As we approached the staircase, we saw three terrorists carrying haversacks and armed with AK-47s. I took a battle-ready position and fired three rounds, sir. One of the bullets hit a terrorist named Abu Ali. Each of them had an AK-47, six double magazines, 50 bullets, and 20 to 25 grenades. Their plastic bag contained 8 kg of RDX bombs, sir, which they detonated." Describing the challenging conditions inside the Taj, he added, "The lights went out, the cameras were damaged, and we had to decide to step out. It was completely dark and filled with smoke, making it impossible to see each other. Then Rahul Shinde, a 21-year-old boy with me, came carrying a .303 rifle. My bodyguard, Amit Khetle, was shot in the stomach, and Rahul was also shot. I went to retrieve Rahul's martyred body, sir." https://www.instagram.com/reel/DC1NVsKMk8S/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== "I saw his eyes were open, sir--just a 21-year-old boy. The butt of his .303 rifle rested on his shoulder, the gun pointed upwards, and his finger was still on the trigger guard. Fighting until the very end, he became a martyr," Vishwas added. Today marks the 16th anniversary of the 26/11 terror attacks. One of the first places targeted was Leopold Cafe, followed by the Taj Hotel, Nariman House, Oberoi Trident Hotel, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, among others. The attacks were carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists. Notably, at least 174 people, including 20 security force personnel and 26 foreigners, lost their lives, and over 300 were injured in the attacks. (ANI)
Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh, who is often known for doing positive roles in Bollywood, has taken on a new challenge as the antagonist Mickey Mehta in 'Hisaab Barabar', which premiered at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on Tuesday. Directed by Ashwni Dhir, the movie revolves around corruption and systemic injustice, with a gripping story about a common man's fight against financial fraud. Neil shared his thoughts on playing negative roles and how he balances his performances between positive and dark characters. Speaking to ANI, the actor said, "I enjoy both positive and negative characters equally. I try to balance them as much as possible. Some films, like 'Players', had a very dark, edgy negative role for me. Sometimes, the character finds themselves in unavoidable situations, like in 'Johnny Gaddar', where despite not wanting to, the character does something wrong. And then there are characters like 'Mickey Mehta', who exist in society and believe that money is power, and power is everything." Describing his character 'Mickey Mehta', he added, "The character of Mickey Mehta that I am portraying is someone who drives a corrupt system. The story follows the journey of a common man, Madhav Ji's character, and how he brings down this corrupt system, which is the essence of Hisaab Barabar. Mickey Mehta, my character, is very interesting and layered. This is the first time I am playing such a role on the big screen, so I am a bit nervous." As per the makers, in the film, Madhavan plays "Radhe Mohan Sharma, a meticulous railway ticket checker who discovers a small yet inexplicable discrepancy in his bank account. What starts as a minor issue soon spirals into a larger investigation, leading him to uncover a massive financial fraud orchestrated by a powerful banker, Micky Mehta (Neil Nitin Mukesh). As Radhe battles against systemic corruption, he also faces the complexities of his own life, realizing that relationships, unlike balance sheets, cannot be fixed with numbers alone." The film, which is directed by Ashwni Dhir, also stars actress Kriti Kulhari. Jio Studio presents an SP Cinecorp Production, Hisaab Barabar. Directed by Ashwni Dhir and Produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Sharad Patel and Shreyanshi Patel. (ANI)
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], November 25: Star Health Insurance, India''s leading health insurance provider, today announced the launch of its transformative CSR initiative ''Star Arogya Digi Seva'' in collaboration with the Center for Chronic Disease and Control (CCDC). This innovative program combines telemedicine technology with Mobile Health Units, to revolutionize healthcare delivery in underserved communities. The initiative will serve underserved individuals in 5 Aspirational Districts across Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, in 74 villages spanning 10 districts, focusing on addressing non-communicable diseases and preventive healthcare. * Combines telemedicine with Mobile Health Units for doorstep healthcare services * Program targets 5 Aspirational districts in TN & AP & TG in 74 villages in 10 districts, focusing on non-communicable diseases * Focuses on diabetes, hypertension management, and iron nutrition awareness Anand Roy, MD & CEO of Star Health Insurance, emphasized the initiative''s significance: "Star Arogya Digi Seva is more than just a CSR project -- it is a commitment to making quality healthcare accessible to everyone, regardless of their location or circumstances. By combining technology with on-the-ground services, we are creating a healthcare model that empowers communities, prevents diseases, and transforms lives. At Star Health we are deeply invested in keeping people healthy and are thus driving initiatives in preventive health care and wellness. Also, we are aligned with IRDAI''s mission of ''Insurance for All'' and are committed to drive awareness on adequate health cover in rural India." Through this technology-enabled solution, Star Health aims to bridge the critical healthcare gap in rural India, bringing quality medical care directly to those who need it most. The program''s innovative approach integrates cutting-edge telemedicine technology with fully-equipped Mobile Health Units. These specialized units will provide comprehensive diagnostic services and testing, real-time consultations with healthcare professionals, immediate treatment and care, and regular follow-up services. A particular emphasis will be placed on diabetes and hypertension management, along with iron nutrition awareness and education programs. A key strength of Star Arogya Digi Seva lies in its patient-centric approach. The telemedicine component enables remote consultations and follow-up care. Meanwhile, the Mobile Health Units ensure that physical examinations and treatments are available at people''s doorstep. The initiative will initially focus on three key regions in Tamil Nadu: Ramanathapuram, Manapparai, and Chennai. It is Star Health Insurance''s vision to ensure quality healthcare is accessible to all Indians, particularly in underserved communities. Through this initiative, Star Health reinforces its position as a leader in innovative healthcare solutions, while making a meaningful difference in the lives of thousands of individuals. About Star Health and Allied Insurance Star Health and Allied Insurance Co. Ltd. (BSE: 543412) (NSE: STARHEALTH) is a market leader in standalone health insurance in India. The Company commenced operations in 2006 and is India''s first standalone health insurance Company. Star Health Insurance provides health, personal accident and travel insurance to customers. The Company has grown to emerge as one of the preferred private health insurance companies in India, with several pioneering products and services to its credit. With customer-centricity at its core, the Company has superior and innovative product offerings, service capabilities and a seamless claims management process. Star Health offers tailor-made products to cater to the needs of customers across cancer, diabetes, cardiac illnesses and senior citizen, women and children specialized suite of health insurance offerings. Star Health is India''s first health insurance Company to settle over 1 crore claims. Star Health Insurance has a strong multi-channel distribution network, with 902 offices, with 14,000+ network hospitals, over 7,42,000 licensed agents, robust bancassurance and financial institution partners, and 17,000+ employees. In FY24, Star Health''s gross written premium stood at INR 15,254 Cr, with its net worth at INR 6,339 Cr. For more information, visit www.starhealth.in Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2566375/Star_Arogya_Digi_Seva.jpgLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2401495/4977585/Star_Allied_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
After a clash broke out on Monday night between two factions of the royal family of Udaipur, District Collector Arvind Kumar Poswal reassured the public, stating that the situation is now under control. Speaking to media persons, District Collector Arvind Kumar Poswal said, "The law and order situation is well under control. Talks were going on with palace representatives as well as the society representatives. We have agreed on certain issues, while talks are still going on for certain others." District Collector Poswal further mentioned that the district administration has taken the disputed Dhuni Mata Temple site into receivership. "The district administration has moved to take the disputed site of Dhuni Mata Temple into receivership. If either of the two groups wants to register a case, it will be registered," he added. Earlier on Monday night, a clash erupted between two factions of the royal family of Udaipur, leading to stone pelting outside the City Palace. BJP MLA from Rajsamand and newly crowned Maharana of Mewar, Vishvaraj Singh Mewar, and his supporters camped outside the City Palace after they were stopped from entering the palace. The situation escalated into a standoff between Vishvaraj Singh Mewar and his cousin Dr Lakshay Raj Singh Mewar, along with their uncle Arvind Singh Mewar, at the gates of the City Palace. Vishvaraj Singh, who is the 77th Maharana of Mewar, was reportedly refused entry into the palace. Following the refusal, Vishvaraj Singh Mewar's supporters began throwing stones and attempted to force their way into the palace. Those inside the palace retaliated, further escalating the situation. The row in the erstwhile royal family reportedly erupted after the coronation of BJP MLA Vishvaraj Singh Mewar as the 77th Maharana of Mewar. (ANI)
The Prime Minister launched the PM Surya Ghar Yojana earlier this year marking a significant milestone in the drive towards sustainable energy and reduced electricity consumption. This initiative is designed to provide households with solar power systems that function like mini-generators, allowing residents to generate clean energy right at home. In alignment with the government's mandate, the Surya Ghar Yojana has been also rolled out successfully in Tripura, and the implementation phase is already well underway. Although there were initial challenges in helping residents understand the new system, a series of awareness campaigns and information sessions have brought clarity, resulting in an enthusiastic response from the public. Efforts to expand the program have been extensive, with Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) taking a leading role in promoting the initiative. Information has been disseminated through social media and direct messaging to ensure that every household is informed about the scheme. The campaign has reached all corners of the state, including every subdivision and circle, to empower residents to adopt clean energy solutions. This project aims to significantly reduce electricity bills and contribute to a greener environment. TSECL's Managing Director, Biswajit Bose, has been a driving force behind the project. In an exclusive interview with ANI Tripura, Bose emphasised his commitment to the success of the PM Surya Ghar Yojana "I am convinced of the benefits of this scheme and have taken it as a personal challenge to make it a success," said Bose. He urged citizens to understand the initiative, embrace it, and take full advantage of the benefits it offers. Bose also set ambitious targets for the scheme, intending to collect 50,000 applications by March 2024. So far, 10,000 applications have been received, and with a target of achieving 1 megawatt of commissioned solar power, 0.27 megawatts have already been commissioned. As Tripura faces challenges as an energy-deficient state, Bose highlighted the importance of citizen participation: "Come, apply, and install - this is beneficial for you and for the state. Overall, it will be good for the nation," he said Sujata Sarkar, the Nodal Officer for the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, echoed Bose's optimism, pointing out the project's growing acceptance. "The main objective is to reduce electricity consumption by installing a system in every home that works like a generator. Processing is ongoing, and the response has been positive," she said. Sarkar emphasised the ongoing efforts to provide support and guidance to residents, noting that information campaigns have ensured widespread awareness. TSECL has played a pivotal role in driving the initiative forward. The state-wide campaign involves continuous communication and engagement, aiming to reach every resident. With the leadership of MD Biswajit Bose, TSECL is striving to make Tripura a leading example of solar energy adoption in India. The PM Surya Ghar Yojana aligns with the government's broader vision of creating a self-reliant and sustainable India. By empowering citizens to generate their own energy, the initiative not only promises economic benefits for individual households but also supports national energy goals. The government and TSECL remain committed to expanding the scheme to all sectors, ensuring that the benefits of clean energy reach every corner of Tripura. Notably, PM Surya Ghar Yojana was officially launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 13, 2024. As per an official release, its main objective is to reduce electricity consumption by installing a system in every home that functions like a generator. (ANI)
Gulfisha Fatima, Abdul Khalid Saifi and several other accused in the larger conspiracy case related to the Delhi Riots have sought bail on grounds of parity and their prolonged incarceration in custody. Their bail pleas are pending before the Delhi High Court. A division bench comprising Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur heard partial arguments from the defense counsels of Gulfisha Fatima, Abdul Khalid Saifi, Shifa Ur Rehman, and others. The lawyers focused their arguments on the grounds of parity and prolonged custody. Their pleas have been listed for further hearing on December 6. The plea of Sharjeel Imam has been listed on December 12 for hearing. The Delhi Police was represented by ASG S.V. Raju and Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appeared for Gulfisha Fatima. He argued that Fatima should be granted bail based on parity with Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita, both of whom had been granted bail under similar circumstances. "There is nothing on record regarding the actual involvement in riots," Sibal Submitted. Senior advocate Sibal submitted that the Plea of parity is very narrow and the broader plea is that Gulfisha Fatima is in jail for 4.5 years. Senior advocate Rebecca John appeared for Abdul Khalid Saifi. She submitted that there are more than 700 cases. This case of larger Conspiracy is stand-alone. There are separate cases against every individual. Rebecca John pointed out that Saifi had been discharged in a previous riots case in 2020, and no challenge had been made to that discharge. Two more cases are pending against him. Senior advocate John submitted that there was a delay caused by the Delhi police. It filed One charge sheet and four supplementary charge sheets. With every charge sheet, they arrayed new accused and copies were supplied to each accused. There are 897 prosecution witnesses in the larger Conspiracy case. The senior advocate further submitted that There is a parity of Abdul Saifi with accused Natasha, Devangana and Asif Iqbal Tanha. "It was submitted that it is alleged that Abdul Saifi organised the Khureji protest site. Khureji protest site was not the site of violence," she added. I (Saifi) was associated with UAH. There were no riots at the protest site. The role given to two women and gentlemen was much higher than me," the Senior advocate submitted. There was no recovery of any weapon. Saifi was mercilessly beaten by the police, she added.It is alleged that the Khajuri protest site had the potential to become Shahin Bagh of east Delhi.Ironically, the Master mind has not been arrested, the people relied upon have not been arrested. Much delay was caused by the police by filing supplementary charge sheets. Any accused in custody has any gain by delaying the trial. My right to bail and speedy trial has been infringed, a senior advocate submitted. Senior advocate Salman Khurshid appeared for accused Shifa Ur Rehman who is former president of Jamia Mililia Univesity. Khurshid emphasised that Rehman's only association was as the president of the Jamia Millia University Alumni Association, and he had no participation in the alleged meetings or actions linked to the larger conspiracy. Salman Khurshid said, "Asif and Devangana are on bail. Asif was a member of JCC, the Association of Old Students. Shifa was a member of JCC. He was added being president of Alumni but had no right to participate." "Asif was a member of ISO, he had a meeting with Sharjeel and Umar. Shifa Ur Rahman had No meetings with them and had not supplied any SIM cards to other accused persons. No money trail has been found against Shifa ur Rehman," he added in his submission. The senior advocate also submitted "Whether there was any larger conspiracy or not, is a subject of trial. Shifa had no participation in secret meetings." Counsel for Mohd. Saleem Khan argued that he was granted Interim bail thrice but has not been a threat to witnesses." There are allegations against him that he turned the camera, and have a separate FIR for that, counsel argued. While the court heard the arguments, it acknowledged the gravity of the larger conspiracy allegations. However, the defense argued that many of the accusations were still subject to trial and that prolonged incarceration was unwarranted. The Delhi Police has alleged that the 2020 riots led to the death of 53 people, with hundreds more injured. (ANI)
Four people belonging to the Bishnoi gang were arrested by Jaipur police after information was received about them following the social media handles affiliated with notorious gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Rohit Godara. Jaipur police said on Monday that the four people were following social media accounts affiliated with gangsters Bishnoi and Godara, and were contacted through social media. They also got multiple illegal weapons from Madhya Pradesh and were going to carry out the orders at the behest of someone allegedly affiliated with the gang. The police acted on the information from Jaipur's Commissionerate Special Team (CST). "We got an input from CST, that a social media activity of a man is suspicious. Upon investigation, it was revealed that he used to follow the handles of Lawrence Bishnoi and Rohit Godara gangs. He got in touch with them (four arrested) and on their instructions, he brought some weapons from MP. They were going to carry out some incident at his behest," said Jaipur Assistant Commissioner of Police Anoop Singh. According to ACP Singh, the people were doing some courier work for the gang, and were arrested before they could get orders for doing further illegal activities. "The people were doing some courier work for now. But before they could get further orders such as being told to collect some money from a businessman or some other illegal work needs to be done," the ACP added. The officials also recovered multiple weapons from the accused. Earlier on Monday, Mansarovar police station in Jaipur also recovered a large cache of illegal weapons. Jaipur South Deputy Commissioner of Police, Digant Anand said that the weapons were seized after a person, namely Hemraj, was suspected of supplying illegal weapons. "After following a person who had already been apprehended regarding illegal weapons and was out on bail, we got to know that he got multiple weapons from Madhya Pradesh. We followed him at Mahima Alinga building, where he called for the supply of weapons to be delivered, we caught him red handed there," said DCP Anand. The police seized 7 automatic pistol, 8 live ammunition and 1 magazine from the accused. The police also got the information that in Gandhwani village in Madhya Pradesh there are multiple weapons being made to be sold to various people. Investigation into both cases is currently ongoing.(ANI)
Taking to social media X, Scindia wrote in a post "Good news !There are cries of joy in Kuno National Park once again. Female cheetah Nirva has given birth to her cubs. This success is a major achievement for Prime Minister Shri Narendra modi ji's ambitious 'Cheetah Project'. On this happy occasion, my congratulations and best wishes to the entire team of Kuno administration and forest department."

Project Cheetah was launched to revive the presence of the almost extinct Cheetah in the country.

In 2022, eight Cheetahs - brought from Namibia - were introduced in India under Project Cheetah.

Subsequently, twelve cheetahs from South Africa were also translocated and released in Kuno National Park in February 2023.

Since their arrival, the project has faced challenges, with eight adult cheetahs--three females and five males--dying. Despite these setbacks, there has been some success in breeding, with 17 cubs born in India and 12 of them surviving, bringing the current cheetah population in Kuno, including cubs, to 24.

Beyond Kuno, India has plans to expand the cheetah population to other suitable habitats. Discussions are also underway for introducing cheetahs to the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, where preparatory measures are being finalized.

The Environment Ministry is currently in negotiations with South Africa and Kenya to bring in additional cheetahs.

"We are in negotiations with South Africa and Kenya in this regard and we are also looking to augment prey and remove species which might be dangerous for them," said senior official. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid tribute to the martyrs of the attack.

https://x.com/AmitShah/status/1861245184920420722

"On this day in 2008, cowardly terrorists shamed humanity by killing innocent people in Mumbai. I pay my emotional tribute to the soldiers who attained martyrdom while fighting terrorists in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and salute those who lost their lives," said Amit Shah in a post on X.

Calling terrorism a 'blot on the entire human civilisation', he highlighted how India has become a world leader in anti-terrorism initiatives.

"Terrorism is a blot on the entire human civilization. The Modi government's 'zero tolerance' policy against terrorism has been appreciated by the entire world and today India has become a world leader in anti-terrorism initiatives," the post added.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also paid homage to all the security personnel who were martyred during the 26/11 terror attack.

https://x.com/rajnathsingh/status/1861243997240598895

"On the anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the nation remembers who lost their lives that fateful day. We pay homage to the security personnel who fought with utmost courage and made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty," Rajnath Singh said in a post on X.

"We remember, and we will never forget those wounds," the post added.

Today is the 16th anniversary of the 26/11 attacks, a series of coordinated terror attacks at the Taj Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Leopold Cafe, Mumbai Chabad House, Nariman House, Cama Hospital and Metro Cinema by ten Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists.

Notably, at least 174 people, including 20 security force personnel and 26 foreigners, were killed and more than 300 injured in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008.

Ten Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists came to Mumbai via the sea route from Pakistan and carried out a series of coordinated attacks on India's financial capital. (ANI)
 Flash

The Communist Party of China (CPC) in Dialogue with Political Parties of Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) 2024 event was held in Beijing on Monday, with China and CEEC agreeing to advance cooperation between political parties and improve ties.

Noting that the 2021 China-CEEC Summit outlined a blueprint for the development of China-CEEC relations, Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, said that the CPC is willing to work with CEEC political parties to deepen strategic and theoretical communication, tap into the potential of relevant cooperation platforms, and promote the quality and effectiveness of China-CEEC cooperation.

The foreign attendees said that China's development path has provided an alternative approach to development for the world, and that they are willing to strengthen exchange and dialogue with the CPC to enhance mutual understanding, and to promote the development of Europe-China relations.

The event was themed "China's Modernization and New Opportunities for China-CEEC Relations: Contribution of Political Parties" and attracted nearly 50 representatives of 19 political parties in 12 countries across Central and Eastern Europe.
Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday, extended the greetings of 'Constitution Day' and attended the Constitution Day celebration of the Supreme Court Bar Association. Addressing the significant day, he emphasised the role of the Constitution in Indian democracy post-independence. He described the Constitution of India as a "transformative approach & a way of life." "India, since independence, has had a transformative journey from a nation which under the aftermaths of the horror of partition, widespread illiteracy, poverty and hunger, lack of a robust democratic system of checks and balances resulting in self-doubt has emerged today as a mature and a vibrant democracy, a self-assured nation, a geopolitical leader..," he said. "But at the back of it is the Constitution of India which has helped this transformation. It is today a way of life that has to be lived up to...My tenure as a member of the Bar is certainly longer than my tenure as a judge. Judges come from the bar and go back to the bar. We belong to the bar, the better the bar, the better the judges.," he added. CJI further urged the bar members to come up to the principles and ideals set out in the Charter of the Constitutional Day. "Indian Supreme Court has had a very strong, good legacy. We have decisions right from environmental laws, privacy laws, fundamental rights, and the basic structure doctrine. Many of these decisions, I do not think would have been possible without the contribution and the efforts of the member of the bar. We therefore require the members of the bar to come up to the principles and ideals set out in the Charter of the Constitutional Day. We have made various attempts since I took over the chief justice. I have made various attempts to look into the issues and problems which we are facing as members of the bar we have now allowed," he said. Meanwhile, he also mentioned getting the requests related to the re-circulation of letters of adjournment and that it won't be possible to revert to the old system. The CJI also mentioned that the new system has reduced the number of applications significantly, from 100 per day to 100-50 per month and said that he is open to suggestions for improvements to the current system. "I have one request to make and I hope it will be taken in the right spirit. I have been repeatedly getting requests for re-circulation of letters of adjournment. I have looked into the data. The data shows that there were about 9,000-10,000 applications or letters for adjournments being circulated every 3 months which is more than 1,000 applications or letters for adjournment every day, so it is not going to be possible for us to go back to the earlier system," he said. "Whatever system we have now adopted, we can. If you look, if you come up with some suggestions for improvements, we look into it but going back to the earlier system may be counterproductive, I can share them with you. We received about 1400 odd applications during in the new system. In the last 11 months, you can see the difference from 100 applications a day to about 100 and 50 applications a month," he added. (ANI)
"On the anniversary of cowardly terror attacks in Mumbai on 26th November 2008, I join the entire nation in paying homage to the bravehearts who lost their lives and expressing solidarity with their families," said the President in a post on X.

She also reiterated India's commitment to combat terrorism.

"A grateful nation salutes its valiant security personnel who made ultimate sacrifice while protecting our people. It is also the day to reiterate that India remains firmly committed to defeating terrorism in all its forms," the post added.

Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh also paid tribute to the security personnel who died during the attacks,

"Terrorism is a blot on the entire human civilization. The Modi government's 'zero tolerance' policy against terrorism has been appreciated by the entire world and today India has become a world leader in anti-terrorism initiatives," Union Home Minister Amit Shah's post said.

"We remember, and we will never forget those wounds," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's post said.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal also remembered the sacrifice made by the people in a post on X.

"Respectful salute to the brave soldiers, policemen and innocent citizens who made the supreme sacrifice to protect the motherland in the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack. Their bravery, sacrifice and martyrdom will always be remembered," the post said.

Today is the 16th anniversary of the 26/11 attacks, a series of coordinated terror attacks at the Taj Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Leopold Cafe, Mumbai Chabad House, Nariman House, Cama Hospital and Metro Cinema by ten Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists.

Notably, at least 174 people, including 20 security force personnel and 26 foreigners, were killed and more than 300 injured in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008.

The ten Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists came to Mumbai via the sea route from Pakistan and carried out the attacks. (ANI)
Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar and state's governor C P Radhakrishnan also paid tributes at the Martyrs' Memorial on the premises of the Commissioner's Office today.

Notably, at least 174 people, including 20 security force personnel and 26 foreigners, were killed and more than 300 injured in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008.

Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu and several union ministers also paid tributes to the martyred security personnel who bravely fought against terrorists.

"A grateful nation salutes its valiant security personnel who made ultimate sacrifice while protecting our people. It is also the day to reiterate that India remains firmly committed to defeating terrorism in all its forms," the X post by the President read.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also said that Terrorism is a blot on the entire human civilisation, calling India a world leader in anti-terrorism initiatives.

"Terrorism is a blot on the entire human civilization. The Modi government's 'zero tolerance' policy against terrorism has been appreciated by the entire world and today India has become a world leader in anti-terrorism initiatives," Amit Shah's post on X said.

Today is the 16th anniversary of the 26/11 attacks, a series of coordinated terror attacks at the Taj Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Leopold Cafe, Mumbai Chabad House, Nariman House, Cama Hospital and Metro Cinema by ten Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists.

The ten Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists came to Mumbai via the sea route from Pakistan and carried out the attacks. (ANI)
Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ram Gopal Yadav on Tuesday launched an attack against the administration in the stone pelting incident in Sambhal and alleged that the administration had deliberately created unrest. "Whatever the administration is doing in Sambhal is 100 percent wrong. The administration has deliberately spread unrest there. If someone does not get justice, what will he do? If a person does not get justice, he will do something or the other.. If the administration allows, our delegation will go there to meet the people. The administration is trying to cover their mistakes. Why is there no FIR being filed against the police? We will raise the issue of Sambhal in Parliament.. it is our priority and we will not leave it," Yadav said while speaking to ANI. Meanwhile, opposition members have been keen to raise the issue in the House and have targeted Yogi Adityanath government over the violence. Akhilesh Yadav alleged earlier on Monday that party MP Zia-ur-Rahman Barq has been booked even though he was not present in Sambhal. "Our MP was not even in Sambhal during the incident and despite that, an FIR was lodged against him. It is very unfortunate to know about the young people who have lost their lives in this incident. From all the videos we have, we know it was a riot by the government. The government was looting votes, playing with the EVM machines.. they did riot in Sambhal," he alleged. Akhilesh Yadav said that the order was passed by the Court without even listening to the other party and questioned the state government. Yadav demanded action against concerned police officials.A stone pelting incident occurred in Sambhal on Sunday when an ASI team arrived at the Shahi Jama Masjid to conduct a fresh survey of the mosque, as per officials. The survey was part of a legal process following a petition filed by senior advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who claimed the mosque was originally a temple. (ANI)
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed prosecution sanction against 30 public servants on Tuesday. The sanction against one public servant is awaited. Prosecution sanction against former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav has already been filed by the CBI. Special judge Vishal Gogne was informed that prosecution sanction against 30 public servants has been received from a competent authority. The same has been filed. One sanction is awaited. Thereafter the court adjourned the matter till December 23. On November 7, the court directed the competent authority to grant sanction within one week to prosecute public servants accused in the CBI case linked to the land for job case. On September 20, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed sanction to prosecute former Railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. On June 7, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a conclusive charge sheet against Lalu Prasad Yadav and 77 other accused in the land-for-job case. The charge-sheet also included 38 candidates. The court on May 29 directed CBI to file its conclusive Charge sheet/Charge sheet in land for job case. The court had also expressed its displeasure over non-filing of conclusive charge sheet despite giving time. In this case, Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members are also accused. Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi and Tejaswi Yadav are arrayed as accused in Land for Job Scam. On October 4, 2023, the court granted bail to former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, Rabri Devi and others in relation to fresh chargesheet in the alleged land for job scam case. According to the CBI, the 2nd chargesheet is against 17 accused including then Union Minister of Railways, his wife, son, then GM of West Central Railways(WCR), then two CPOs of WCR, private persons, private company etc. in a case related to Land for Job Scam The CBI filed a chargesheet in Land for Job alleged scam case against former Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav including Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav and others . CBI had registered a case on 18.05.2022 against then Union Minister of Railways and others including his wife, two daughters and unknown Public servants and Private persons. It is alleged that then Union Minister of Railways during the period 2004-2009 had obtained pecuniary advantages in the form of transfer of landed property in the name of his family members etc. in lieu of appointment of Substitutes in Group "D" Post in different Zones of Railways. It was further alleged that in lieu thereof the substitutes, who were residents of Patna themselves or through their family members sold & gifted their land situated at Patna in favour of the family members of said Minister and a private company controlled by his family members, which was also involved in transfer of such immovable properties in the name of said family members. It was also alleged that no advertisement or any public notice was issued for such appointments of substitutes in Zonal Railways, yet the appointees who were residents of Patna were appointed as Substitutes in different Zonal Railways located at Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur and Hazipur. Searches were conducted at multiple places including in Delhi & Bihar etc, said CBI. During investigation, it was found that then Union Minister of Railways with intent to acquire the land parcels situated at the places where his family was already owning land parcels or the places which were already connected to him entered into conspiracy with associates & family members and allegedly derived a design to grab the land of various land owners by offering / providing group D employment in Railways, CBI said. The accused had allegedly collected applications and documents of such candidates through associates and then sent those to West Central Railway for processing and providing jobs in Railways and the General Managers of West Central Railways under the influence /control of accused accorded approval for engagement of candidates. For providing jobs in Railways, they allegedly devised an indirect way wherein the candidates were engaged firstly as Substitutes and subsequently, were regularized. A hard disk containing lists of candidates (who were engaged) was also recovered during searches. It was further alleged that a land parcel was purchased in the name of a private company at Rs 10.83 Lakh during 2007 and subsequently, the said land along with some other land parcels purchased by the said company, were brought into the ownership / control of his wife & son of then Union Minister of Railways by way of transfer of shares at Rs One Lakh only. At the time of transfer, the company was allegedly owning land parcels purchased at a total cost of Rs 1.77 crore(approx) and it was transferred for a mere Rs 1 Lakh(approx) only, however, the market value of the lands were much more. Earlier, a chargesheet was filed on 07.10.2022 against 16 accused. (ANI)
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) winning candidate from Mumbra-Kalwa assembly seat, Jitendra Awhad said that he is 'unable to find any reason' for the Maha Vikas Agadhi(MVA) coalition losing the election, and questioned the claims of Ladki Bahin Yojana being the reason for Mahayuti landslide victory. "We are unable to find any reason (for our loss) because things have only gone bad after the Lok Sabha elections, prices have risen, unemployment has increased, we find it hard to believe that Ladki Behna Yojana has made them win," Awhad said on Monday. He further said that many of the winning MLAs have also claimed Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) being faulty. "Even our winning MLAs have said that the EVMs were faulty," he added. He also said that a "mass movement" will arise out of these problems, claiming that many villages are already seeing protests. "A mass movement will rise in the state. Many villages are already seeing an uprising, the villagers are saying that 'we did not vote so where did this vote come from?' In one house there were 32 votes, all those went to one candidate. Whereas the house's own candidate is shown as zero votes," the NCP SP leader said. Earlier on Monday, Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole also raised doubts over the results of the assembly polls, and said they got calls from all over the state in which people expressed their apprehensions about the outcome. He alleged rigging in elections and said he had come to meet Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. "All of our leaders were in the elections field. Our party workers were also there with all their power. Everyone was hopeful that the election results would be in the favour of Maha Vikas Aghadi. For eg, our candidate for Nanded Lok Sabha bye-election won but all our Vidhan Sabha candidates lost. How can there be so much of a difference?" he asked. "The people on social media are also saying that their votes have not formed this government. This is our biggest concern. That is why I came to meet our National President Mallikarjun Kharge... We are also worried because we are getting phone calls from all over the state. People are saying that this is wrong and it is not good for a democracy," he added. On November 23, the incumbent Mahayuti alliance won a landslide victory in the assembly polls, with MVA not even able to get 50 of 288 seats. (ANI)
Odisha Assembly speaker Surama Padhy and Union Minister Sanjay Seth on Tuesday visited the Odisha Pavilion at the India International Trade Fair (IITF) being held in New Delhi. Padhy said that there was a separate stall for each district attracting people from all over the country which would help in the economic development of Odisha. Speaking to the media, Padhy said "I came here to see the Odisha unit. People from Odisha working in different self-help groups have come here. There is a separate stall for each district. It has been able to attract people from all over the country. This will help in the economic development of Odisha. We hope people carry the pieces of traditional pieces of Odisha with them.." The 43rd edition of the trade fair is being organized by the India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) at Pragati Maidan in the national capital from November 14 to 27. Earlier on Monday, the Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the 'Uttarakhand Diwas Samaroh' at the IITF. On this occasion, CM Dhami said that wherever the people of Uttarakhand go, in the country and abroad, they always keep alive their culture, folk tradition, food and sense of belongingness. He said that this international fair gives us an opportunity to bring and present our culture, handicrafts and rich heritage on the global platform. "The best products of the state have been brought in various stalls set up in the fair. It has also been decided to constitute the Uttarakhand Pravasi Parishad so that Uttarakhand migrants can contribute to the development of the state," Dhami said. CM Dhami said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resolved to make the country a developed India by 2047, on which our country is moving forward rapidly. "The country is setting new records due to the farsighted thinking of the Prime Minister. In the last 10 years, the country has progressed rapidly in every field. Many schemes like 'Make in India', 'Startup India' have established India as a hub of startups, which is creating employment and self-employment in the country. Today, India has become the 5th largest economy in the world," Dhami said. (ANI)
On Constitution Day, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday, speaking to ANI appealed to all parties to celebrate the 'historic moment' to honour the Constitution. "Today is a historic moment. Today members of both Houses of Parliament will be present in the Samvidhan Sadan. The President, Vice President and Prime Minister, everyone will celebrate Constitution Day together today. I would like to appeal to all the political parties that this is a holy day, no one should comment on the Constitution from a political point of view and celebrate Constitution Day together," he said. Congress MP K Suresh stated that the Congress party is committed to protecting the Constitution and emphasized that it is a day to commemorate B.R. Ambedkar's contributions. "We are remembering those who worked for the beautiful Constitution of our country. We are remembering Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and other members. So the Congress Party is committed to protecting the Constitution.," he said. BJD MP Sasmit Patra described it as a "momentous and historic occasion" for the country, stating that the Constitution can never be killed. He further said that the Constitution is the soul of democracy. "I think it's a momentous and historic occasion for the entire country. The world's largest democracy is celebrating 75 years of completion of its enactment of the Constitution. Constitution is the soul of the nation. Today, not only the Parliament, but every citizen is celebrating Constitution Day because it provides the rule of law... I believe democracy, and the Constitution can never be killed. Constitution is the soul of democracy," he said. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings of the 75th anniversary of 'Constitution Day' to the people of India on Tuesday. In a post on on X, PM Modi said, "Happy Constitution Day to all countrymen on the auspicious occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution. #75YearsOfConstitution." Home Minster Amit Shah also extended a greeting of 'Constitution Day', he affirmed that the Constitution is a 'mantra of national unity and integrity by ensuring justice and equal rights. '"Heartiest greetings on 'Constitution Day'. Today India is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Constitution with great enthusiasm. To commemorate the contribution of all the architects of the Constitution, including Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, Modi ji started celebrating 'Constitution Day'. The strength of the democracy of a huge country like India is our Constitution, which gives the mantra of national unity and integrity by ensuring justice and equal rights to every person. We believe that the Constitution is not just a book to be displayed on stage, but it is the key to make the highest contribution to public life by internalizing it with full devotion. Come! On this Constitution Day, let us pledge to build a strong, prosperous and self-reliant India. #75YearsOfConstitution", Home Minster Shah posted on X. (ANI)
As the term of the Maharashtra Assembly ends today, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde tendered his resignation to Governor C P Radhakrishnan. Deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis also reached the Governor's office today morning to tender their resignation. Shinde has been appointed the caretaker Chief Minister until the state's government is formed. After a decisive Mahayuti alliance win, and Bharatiya Janata Party emerging as the largest party by winning over 132 seat, the alliance is yet to decide on a Chief Minister to lead the government. Earlier, BJP leader and former Maharashtra Assembly speaker Rahul Narvekar said that when CM Shinde resigns, he will be appointed as the caretaker CM till the new government is formed. "Today the term of the assembly is ending. If he (CM Shinde) resigns today, he will be requested to work as a caretaker CM till a new government is formed. The leaders of the three parties, our parliamentary board, will decide on this (CM) matter. And soon the government will be formed in Maharashtra," Narvekar told ANI. The Mahayuti alliance is yet to decide on its Chief Ministerial candidate after its huge win in the state. Two time Chief Minister and current Deputy CM, Devendra Fadnavis is also seen as a choice for the position, as he is part of the BJP, the single largest party in the assembly. The current Chief Minister said earlier in a post on X told his party's workers to not congregate or gather in Mumbai to show support for him. "Out of love for me, some congregations have appealed to everyone to gather together and come to Mumbai. I am deeply grateful for your love. But I appeal that no one should come together in my support in such a manner. Once again it is my humble request that Shiv Sena workers should not assemble at Varsha bungalow (official residence of CM) or anywhere else," said the X post by Shinde. He also reiterated the strength of the Mahayuti alliance, saying that after the decisive victory, the alliance will stay together. "After the great victory of Mahayutti, our government will be formed once again in the state. As a grand alliance, we contested the election together and are still together today," the post said. "The grand alliance has been and will continue to be strong for a strong and prosperous Maharashtra," Shinde added. Earlier, Devendra Fadnavis said that the victory of the alliance will "inspire our Maharashtra." "This victory of the Mahayuti has given a new direction only because of your support. This success will continue to inspire our Maharashtra to realize the dream of a developed India with a developed Maharashtra under the leadership of Hon. Modiji with a progressive and inclusive future," Devendra Fadnavis said in an open letter to the people of Maharashtra. Fadnavis thanked the people for their trust in the alliance. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the Directorate of Education (DoE) to decide on a representation challenging the Circular dated November 11, 2024, issued by the Director of Education, which allegedly creates separate admission timelines for children from weaker sections, disadvantaged groups, and the general category. The bench of Justices Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela after noted down the submissions at length from all sides, disposed of the plea and asked the concerned authorities to decide the representations within 4 weeks, made by the petitioner The petition sought direction to quash the circular and urged the Delhi Government to strictly comply with the binding guidelines issued on 26.10.2022 to prevent discrimination. The petition also called for the implementation of a unified admission schedule in accordance with Section 15 of the RTE Act, 2009, and Clause 4(i) of the notification dated 7.1.2011 issued by the Lt. Governor of Delhi. A plea was moved by Justice for All NGO, represented by Advocates Khagesh Jha and Shikha Sharma Bagga, addressing the concerns of over 1,50,000 prospective applicants for around 50,000 seats in various private schools across Delhi. The petition challenges the Director of Education's circular dated 11.11.2024, which the NGO argued undermines the principle of inclusiveness, a foundational element of the RTE Act. The circular, according to the plea, unlawfully exempts schools from the provisions of Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act, along with the statutory rules for EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) admissions, as notified by the Lt. Governor of Delhi. The petition contended that this exemption, granted without legal authority, disproportionately affects children from weaker sections, who lack the means to voice their concerns or access constitutional protections. The plea further highlighted that the circular segregates admission timelines for the EWS category from the general category and makes EWS/DG (Disadvantaged Group) admissions contingent on the general category schedule. This practice, the petition argued, conflicts with the core objectives of the RTE Act and violates the right to education guaranteed under Article 21A of the Constitution of India. (ANI)
 Flash

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met with Senior Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong on Monday in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province.

He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the two sides should focus on the new positioning of bilateral relations, make full use of cooperation platforms such as the Suzhou Industrial Park, and work together to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries.

Noting that Singapore-China relations have been deepening with strong development momentum under the guidance of the two countries' top leaders, Lee said Singapore is willing to work with China to push for new development in major cooperative projects, and further consolidate and upgrade bilateral relations.

The two senior officials also attended the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park High-Quality Development Forum on Monday. The two sides comprehensively reviewed the achievements of the park in the past 30 years, and mapped out the direction and focus of cooperation for its next stage.

They agreed the two countries should give better play to the pioneering role of the park, deepen institutional reform, and work together to build a world-class science and technology park that is open and innovative.

They also witnessed the signing of cooperation documents.
Amid ongoing tensions in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, a 12-member delegation from the Samajwadi Party is scheduled to visit the affected area on Tuesday. LoP Uttar Pradesh Assembly and Samajwadi Party leader, Mata Prasad Pandey said that they will go there to see the "atrocities caused by the Police." "We will also meet the family members of the youth who lost their lives in the incident. Do Police ever take responsibility for their actions? ...These days Police keep both illegal weapons and the govt issued weapons. The Police use the other (illegal) weapon to fire," Pandey said. Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ram Gopal Yadav also launched an attack against the administration in the stone pelting incident in Sambhal and alleged that the administration had deliberately created unrest. "Whatever the administration is doing in Sambhal is 100 percent wrong. The administration has deliberately spread unrest there. If someone does not get justice, what will he do? If a person does not get justice, he will do something or the other. If the administration allows, our delegation will go there to meet the people. The administration is trying to cover their mistakes. Why is there no FIR being filed against the police? We will raise the issue of Sambhal in Parliament. it is our priority and we will not leave it," Yadav said while speaking to ANI. Earlier today, the market in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal opened after violence following the stone pelting incident which took place when a team arrived to survey Shahi Jama Masjid on November 24. Deputy Inspector General of Police Moradabad Range, Muniraj G said that the situation is normal in Sambhal today. "The situation is normal in Sambhal today. The markets are operational and functionally normally. People should not worry; those innocent will not be penalised. Till now, 7 FIRs have been filed. We are identifying people based on video footage," DIG Muniraj said. Meanwhile, opposition members have been keen to raise the issue in the House and have targeted the Yogi Adityanath government over the violence. The survey was part of a legal process following a petition filed by senior advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who claimed the mosque was originally a temple. (ANI)
Calling on the government to invest "much more" in infrastructure to handle the caseload in the judiciary, Former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud highlighted that about 21 per cent of the posts are laying vacant in district judiciaries. In an interview with ANI, Justice DY Chandrachud, who recently retired from the post of the CJI, pointed out that the Judge to population ratio in India is amongst the lowest in the world. "We do not have the number of judges which you require in the district judiciary to handle the kind of volume of caseload which is coming into the district judiciary. So first and foremost, you have to increase the judge-to-population ratio by appointing more judges," he said. The former Chief Justice also emphasised on the need to identify and appoint more qualified people. "Governments have to invest much more in infrastructure, which is not being done. Third, today, there is about 21 per cent of posts in district judiciaries that are lying vacant. The 27 per cent is a vacancy in the staffing pattern of the district judiciary. Now, that is something in a federal polity, which is handled by the high courts and by the public service commissions in certain states," he said. The former CJI also called for an "All India Judicial Service Examination" to fill the vacancies in the district judiciary. "Speaking for myself, I feel that one solution for the vacancies in the district judiciary is to have an all-India judicial service examination where the states would recruit, but there will at least be one all-India examination yearly, which will be held on schedule and the people on that, in that order of merit and applying reservations, of course, as applicable to every state would be selected by the states. So we have to find innovative solutions," Justice Chandrachud said. He also pointed out that this will require a constitutional amendment because, the recruitment and conditions of service of the judges to the district judiciary are, controlled by the governors. Further, Justice Chandrachud emphasized that the Supreme Court is a court that deals with the problems of the poor and highlighted that in over the last two years of his tenure, the Apex Court had disposed of more bail applications than what was filed. "The Supreme Court is not a court for the resourced. It's not a court for the rich. It's a court which deals with the problems of the poor. You have bench after bench of the Supreme Court dealing with bail applications of the smallest persons. In the last two years when I was a judge of the Supreme Court, 21,000 bail applications were filed. These are bail applications of common citizens. We disposed of 21,358 bail applications. Much more than what was filed. And those are bail applications involving small, many of them very ordinary citizens who have cases of cheating, cases under the NDPS Act, cases involving assaults," he said. Asked about the perception that people don't get a fair hearing because of religious reasons, Justice Chandrachud said that it is not a correct perception. "If you see the number of people across communities who are granted bail, and that has nothing to do with the religion of a particular person. But as I said, whether to grant bail in an individual case is for that bench or that judge to take at that particular point of time," he said. He also raised concerns about the reluctance to grant bail by district courts. "The concern which I have, however, which I have made clear earlier, is that district courts today, there is a reluctance to grant bail. And the reason for that is this culture of mistrust in our society. Because district judges are worried about the fact that if I grant bail, will there be an allegation against me that I have done it for extraneous reasons? And I've always said that, we as judges of the superior courts have to protect our judges at the lowest of the pyramid," Chandrachud said. "If a judge in the district judiciary grants bail incorrectly, obviously it's capable of correction by a higher forum. But let's not then target judges who have granted bail," he added. (ANI)
Remembering the victims of the 26/11 terror attack, Consul General of Israel for Midwest India in Mumbai, Kobbi Shoshani paid his tribute to the martyrs on Tuesday at Nariman House in Mumbai. Remembering when he came to Colaba a few days after the attacks, he told ANI, "I was sent here at Nariman House in Colaba 2-3 days after the event took place here. I still remember the ammunition smell. It was very terrible." He further said that the terrorists wanted to create fear and break the economy, however as he sees the bustling restaurants, he sees a victory against terrorism. "When I see full restaurants and people walking, buying, shopping and roaming freely, I feel this is the biggest victory against terrorism. The aim of the terrorists was not to kill people, they wanted to create fear and break the economy but when I see restaurants, shops and people at the train stations and other places, I fully understand that we won against terrorism. India won against terrorism," he told ANI. Shoshani also paid his tribute to the martyrs at Leopold Cafe in Mumbai earlier, one of the places of the attacks. Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar, Devendra Fadnavis and Governor C P Radhakrishnan also paid floral tributes to the bravehearts at the Martyrs Memorial in Mumbai. Eknath Shinde, in a post on X highlighting the tribute made by him and DyCMs earlier today. "Remembrance of Sacrifice.. Salute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the terrorist attack on 26 November 2008 by offering floral wreath at the Martyr's Memorial," read his post on X. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar in his post said, "In Police Commissioner's office area in Mumbai. Governor C P Radhakrishnan, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and along with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, paid tribute to the martyred police officers and enforcers in the 26/11 terror attack, and saluted their memory." Union Home Minister Amit Shah also called Terrorism a blot on the entire human civilisation, and said that India a world leader in anti-terrorism initiatives. "Terrorism is a blot on the entire human civilization. The Modi government's 'zero tolerance' policy against terrorism has been appreciated by the entire world and today India has become a world leader in anti-terrorism initiatives," Amit Shah's post on X said. Today is the 16th anniversary of the 26/11 terror attacks, one of the places of the attacks was Leopold Cafe. Taj Hotel, Nariman House, Oberoi Trident Hotel and Chhatrapati SHivaji Terminus were some of the other places which were targeted by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists. Notably, at least 174 people, including 20 security force personnel and 26 foreigners, were killed and more than 300 injured in the attacks. During the attack on Leopold Cafe, atleast 10 people were killed and many others injured when the terrorists fired indiscriminately. Soon after the attack, the cafe even resumed its operations, serving their signature dishes and drinks to locals and tourists alike, showcasing the popularity of the spot. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court extended the period of investigation on Tuesday in the Al Qaida in the Indian subcontinent (AQIS) Jharkhand Module case till December 2. Last week, the High Court granted an interim stay on the order passed by the trial court which had declined to extend the period of investigation. Delhi police moved to the High Court seeking an extension of the investigation period up to 180 days. A division bench of justices Rekha Palli and Saurabh Banerjee on Tuesday extended the period till December 2. "The interim order will continue till the next date of hearing," the High Court said. The matter has been now listed before the concerned bench. The High Court on November 19 had passed an interim order staying the order of the trial court. The Trial court had refused to extend the period of investigation on November 18. On the last date, a notice was issued to accused persons on an appeal by Delhi police against an order of the trial court refusing to extend the period of investigation for a further 90 days. A counsel for the accused appeared before the court and opposed the Delhi police plea. Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Lakshay Khanna for Special Cell of Delhi police. On the last date, after hearing the submissions the bench had said that the trial court was not convinced with the report of the Prosecutor. Thereafter issued notice to respondents. Delhi Police had moved the High Court against a trial court order declining the extension of the period of Investigation. Patiala House Court on November 18, dismissed a plea of Delhi police seeking an extension of the investigation period for 90 days to complete the investigation in the AQIS Jharkhand Module case. In this matter 11 accused including Dr. Ishtiyaq of Ranchi are in custody. A module was busted in a joint operation of Delhi police, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and UP police. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Dr Hardeep Kaur dismissed the plea of Delhi police seeking an extension period of investigation for a further 90 days to complete the investigation after considering the report of the prosecutor. On September 12, the court remanded 11 accused arrested in Al Qaida in the Indian subcontinent (AQIS) module case in judicial custody after police interrogation. They are members of a training module allegedly headed by Dr Ishtiyaq of Ranchi Jharkhand. Accused persons in judicial custody are Anamul Ansari, Shanaz Ansari, Altaf Ansari, Hasan Ansari, Arshad Khan, Umar Farooq, Ishtiyaque Ahmed, and Mohd. Rizwan, Motiur Rehaman, Rehmatullahi and Faizan Ahmed. They were arrested in August. Accused Hasan Ansari, Anamul Ansari, Altaf Ansari, Arshad Khan, Umar Farooq and Shahbaz Ansari are natives of Jharkhand. They had stayed in Rajasthan for days. Thereafter five more people were arrested from Ranchi in Jharkhand. They were identified as Dr Ishtiyaque Ahmed, Motiur, Rizwan, Mufti Rahmatullah and Faizan. In a coordinated, intelligence-based operation, conducted by the Special Cell of Delhi Police in association with State Police forces of Jharkhand, Rajasthan and UP, an AQ-inspired module was busted, Delhi police said. The module allegedly was being led by one Dr Ishtiyaq of Ranchi and was aspiring to declare Khilafat and execute serious terrorist activities within the country, the police said. The members of the module have received indoctrination and weapons training at various locations. Six individuals were detained from Bhiwadi, Rajasthan, while actually undergoing weapon-handling training. Apart from this about eight suspects were detained from Jharkhand and UP for questioning. Police have also recovered arms, ammunition, literature etc., from several locations. Police recovered one AK-47 rifle, one .38 bore revolver, 6 live cartridges of .38 bore, 30 live cartridges of .32 bore, 30 live cartridges of AK-47, One Dummy Insas, One Air rifle, One Iron Elbow pipe, One hand Grenade, One Key remote control mechanism, Some wires, One AA size 1.5-volt battery, One table watch, Four ground sheets, One target, One camping Tent, Some biscuits, one chips packet and one water bottle. (ANI)
Former Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud has cleared the air about recent allegations by Shiv Sena (UBT), which has sought to blame him for the drubbing of the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections. The Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut had alleged that Justice Chandrachud had removed the fear of law from politicians in the state by not deciding on petitions over the disqualification of MLAs, which kept doors open for political defections and subsequently led to the defeat of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the polls. Raut said this in a press conference after the declaration of results adding that "history will not forgive them." In the November 20 Assembly elections the Sena (UBT) was able to notch up a mere 20 out of 94 seats it contested as part of the MVA alliance. Its other allies in the MVA also fared poorly with Congress winning only 16 out of 101 seats and the NCP (Sharad Pawar) managing to win only 10 out of 86 seats it contested. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Justice Chandrachud responded to criticism by the Sena's Uddhav Thackeray faction stating, "Well, my answer is very simple...Throughout this year, we were dealing with seminal constitutional cases, nine-judge bench decisions, seven-judge bench decisions, five-judge bench decisions. Now, should any one party or individual decide what case the Supreme Court should hear? Sorry, that choice is for the Chief Justice." In the year 2022, the undivided Shiv Sena suffered a split after a rebellion by Eknath Shinde which toppled the then-ruling MVA government led by Uddhav Thackeray and led to the formation of the Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti government. Thackeray then filed petitions in the Supreme Court on the disqualification of MLAs who defected from the party along with Eknath Shinde. The Shinde faction also filed counter petition. The Supreme Court asked Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar to decide on the disqualification petitions of the rival factions. In January this year the Speaker declared the Shinde faction as the "real" Shiv Sena. Justice Chandrachud in the interview with ANI highlighted that cases have been languishing before the Supreme Court for 20 years. "You point out to us that we are not working even for a minute of the time that we are assigned to do our work. And such a criticism would be valid. Important constitutional cases are pending before the Supreme Court for 20 years. Why is the Supreme Court not taking up these 20-year-old cases and dealing with some recent cases? And then if you take up old cases, you are told that, you didn't take up this particular case. Well, you have limited manpower and you have a given complement of judges, you have to draw the balance," the former CJI said. Asked about Sena UBT allegation over the "delay" in the decision on Sena case, the CJI stated, "You see, this is the problem. The real problem is this, that a given segment of the polity feels that, well, you're independent if you follow my agenda... That, you know, you pursue my agenda, which is inclusive of cases, which I think, I think you should be deciding. "We decided electoral bonds. Was that any less important?, Justice Chandrachud said. "We decided recently the Aligarh Muslim University case, the closure of the madrasas under an order of the Allahabad High Court. We have dealt with issues pertaining to the disability rights of individuals. Is disability in any way less significant? than any of these cases that we are referring to. We have decided critical issues pertaining to the federal structure. This year, and these are all cases which we have decided this year, we decided the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, which gave citizenship to certain people who had migrated from Bangladesh prior to 25th of March 1971. Was that less significant?," the former Chief Justice said. "We dealt with a case on whether a constitution bench case on whether lakhs and lakhs of individuals belonging to not the highest strata of society, but the lowest state of society question was whether a person who has a license to drive a light motor vehicle can drive a transport vehicle below 7,500 kgs. Now that would have affected the livelihoods of lakhs of people. We delivered judgment on that just before my term came to an end. Are these cases that we have decided, in fact, we decided 38 Constitution Bench references during my tenure, including this year itself, are these cases any less significant than a particular case which we didn't decide or we couldn't decide?" he added. "Now, the cases which we decided this year, any of these cases which I have referred to earlier, are these cases less significant? Or do we then follow an agenda which others set for us that, well, you have to decide this case for me today. If you don't decide my case, then, well, you are not independent." "This is something which is unacceptable." the former CJI said. "And the real problem today is this, and that's why, you know, I must say this. It's because we have refused during my tenure as a Chief Justice. We have refused to be dictated by any third party on which cases to decide. Sometimes, you know, very highly resourced persons come to the court and they try and they try and, you know, suborn the system by saying, well, my case should be heard first," he added. "And this was a matter of concern to me as Chief Justice. Should we be listening to those cases only because the most resourced in terms of lawyers, in terms of the clients whom they represent, come to court and say, well, here, my case first. Sorry, we are not going to give that priority to people who are merely because they have resource and they have the ability to afford the best in terms of legal representation. When you sort of take cudgels for the system, for the ordinary Indian and say, this is not going to be how the court will work. Obviously, there's going to be a backlash," the former Chief Justice of India further said. On being asked whether there is any political pressure on the Supreme Court to take up certain cases by the ruling party, Chandrachud replied in the negative. "On Article 370, on Ayodhya, on Sabarimala, all these very important cases. Look at Article 370, it was pending before the Supreme Court for a long time. So if there was pressure, why did the Supreme Court wait to take such a decision on that case? I mean, the decision came in 2019. The case was heard much, much later, several years later," he said. Justice Chandrachud retired on November 10 after his two-year stint as the Chief Justice of India. (ANI)
BJP leader Kailash Gahlot on Tuesday met Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in New Delhi. This meeting came after, the BJP appointed Former AAP leader and minister Kailash Gahlot as a Member of the Delhi Assembly Election Coordination Committee. He was appointed as a Member of the Delhi Assembly Election Coordination Committee on November 23. After joining the BJP, former AAP leader and minister Kailash Gahlot said that over a prolonged period, he mustered "Courage" to quit after seeing dilution in values and principles in the AAP party. Speaking to ANI, Gahlot earlier said, "It doesn't happen overnight, it happens over a prolonged period. It takes time to understand a few things. I am repeating this again and again that we are connected to some values and principles. If we see some dilution in the same, I think I mustered the courage to quit. There are several others like me who are unable to muster courage. I think they will continue." Kailash Gahlot resigned as Delhi Transport Minister and also from AAP on November 17 and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) the next day. The appointment was made by Delhi BJP Chief Virendra Sachdeva with the approval of the party's senior leadership. Gahlot earlier also met Union Health Minister and BJP chief JP Nadda and discussed the preparations regarding Delhi assembly polls expected early next year. He described the meeting with Nadda as a "courtesy meeting". "During the discussion, guidance was received on various issues related to the organization and public service," Kailash Gahlot said in a post in hindi on X on November 22. "It was also discussed during the meeting that a BJP government should be formed in Delhi so that the national capital gets world-class development and people get very good public services," he said. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to inaugurate the sanitation and safety initiatives on Wednesday implemented as part of the upcoming Mahakumb 2025 in Prayagraj. According to a government release, the projects include state-of-the-art equipment aimed at enhancing cleanliness and safety at Mahakumbh. A significant highlight will be the unveiling of a newly constructed control room in the Municipal Corporation, which is expected to streamline operations during the event. In a move to empower workers and volunteers, the Chief Minister will distribute uniform kits to sanitation workers and Swachhagrahis and provide life jackets to sailors, reinforcing their critical role in maintaining the event's standards. Additionally, CM Yogi will launch various schemes to benefit these frontline workers. During his visit, he will also review the ongoing security arrangements ahead of Mahakumbh 2025 in Prayagraj. Prior to reviewing Mahakumbh preparations, the Chief Minister will inspect developmental works at key religious sites, emphasizing the government's commitment to preserving the spiritual essence of the region. During his visit to Prayagraj, the Chief Minister will participate in several important programs. He will first inaugurate a newly constructed control room at the Municipal Corporation office, designed to monitor cleanliness projects. Along with this, CM Yogi will also unveil other projects and sanitation equipment, with a total cost of approximately Rs 14 crore, the release said. Additionally, the Chief Minister will inaugurate advanced sanitation equipment, including tippers and compactors, at a program in the Parade Mela area. These projects are valued at Rs 50.38 crore. Furthermore, CM Yogi will unveil fire safety, water police, radio, and traffic equipment worth Rs 173 crore. In total, the Chief Minister will launch projects worth Rs 237.38 crore aimed at ensuring cleanliness, security, and support for Swachhagrahis and Ganga Seva volunteers during Mahakumbh 2025. While strengthening cleanliness and security for Mahakumbh 2025, the CM will also extend benefits to sanitation workers and Swachhagrahis through various welfare schemes. As part of this initiative, around 20,000 Swachhagrahis and Safai Mitras will receive uniform kits, and life jackets will be distributed to boatmen. Under the Swachh Kumbh Fund, over 15,000 personnel--including 10,000 workers, 3,000 boatmen, and others--will be linked to more than five schemes aimed at improving their welfare. These schemes will also include the distribution of insurance certificates to the workers, ensuring their safety and well-being. On this occasion, CM Yogi and other dignitaries will take a pledge to realize the vision of a clean Mahakumbh and a cleaner Prayagraj, reinforcing their commitment to a hygienic and secure event for all devotees and visitors. During his visit to Prayagraj, the CM will review various development works and participate in several significant programs. Alongside attending an event at Allahabad University, he will offer prayers at the Nagvasuki Temple. The Chief Minister will also inspect key projects, including the Dashashwamedh Ghat, the Ganga Riverfront, dredging activities in the Ganga River, and the construction of pontoon bridges. In preparation for the Prime Minister's upcoming visit, CM Yogi will examine the proposed event site at Sangam Nose. Additionally, he will oversee the signing of an MoU with Google, marking a groundbreaking collaboration. For the first time, Google will integrate the temporary city being set up for Mahakumbh into its navigation services. This initiative will enable visitors to easily locate major religious sites, ghats, and akharas within the fair area using Google Maps, significantly enhancing their experience, the release mentioned. (ANI)
Congress MP Malikarjun Kharge on Tuesday said that there should be a two day discussion on the Constitution Day so that people can know about the importance of the Constitution and are aware of their fundamental rights. Speaking to ANI, Kharge said "Constitution Day was celebrated earlier as well, it is celebrated today as well and we want that there should be a two-day discussion on it so that people can know about the importance of the Constitution, their fundamental rights, secularism, socialism, equality. We can explain all these things to people through the Parliament, that is why we have written a letter and have also demanded that there should be a two day discussion in the Parliament. Rahul Gandhi has written to the Lok Sabha Speaker. I have written to the Chairman..." Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Kangana Ranaut also congratulated the citizens on the Constitution Day and said that the top leadership had expressed their loyalty towards the Constitution of India. "I congratulate all the Indians on Constitution Day. It has been released in Sanskrit language today. The youth today is taking an interest in knowing the Constitution and their rights...Our top leadership has expressed their loyalty towards the Constitution of India..," Raut said. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also congratulated the countrymen on the day and said that the Constitution was in safe hands. "On Constitution Day, many congratulations to all the countrymen that we are safe because of this Constitution and the Constitution is also in safe hands. Today it is a matter of happiness that today the booklet of the Constitution has been released in Sanskrit, the mother of all languages of the world. The Constitution is now available in all the languages of India...," Chouhan said while speaking to ANI. Further, he said that the whole country had faith in the Constitution. "This has nothing to do with the elections. An attempt was made to create a false narrative by showing a copy of the Constitution, the whole country has faith in the Constitution. It is Prime Minister Narendra Modi who started celebrating Constitution Day. The Constitution is our most sacred book and the country is running and will run with this Constitution," Chouhan said. (ANI)
Maharashtra Pradesh Congress President Nana Patole refused to accept the Maharashtra Assembly election results on Tuesday, saying that the "EVM issue" is not being taken seriously. "Whatever election results have come, they are not acceptable to anyone, not even to the people of Maharashtra," Patole told ANI. "So we have brainstormed on this issue and if you see social media in Maharashtra today, the public says that the government has not come with our votes, so the Congress party has always respected the sentiments of the public," he told ANI. He said that no one is listening to the problems raised by the people of alleged mismatch of votes, leaving a mass movement to be the only option left for them. "No one is listening on this (EVM issue), we also went to the Supreme Court, they said to prove it. Public sentiment says that we give our vote to X but it is being marked in the name of Y, so no one is listening to the problems. So it seems except a mass movement there is no other way," he added. Nana Patole also met with Congress President Rahul Gandhi and party's MP Ravindra Chavan from Nanded, to discuss the performance of state's assembly election, and the bypolls. In Maharashtra, Congress won the Nanded Lok Sabha by-poll. But, surprisingly the party lost all the six assembly segments in the Nanded Lok Sabha seat to the BJP and Shiv Sena. Ravindra Chavan of Congress trounced BJP's Santukrao Hambarde by 1,457 votes after a recount. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Ravi Shankar Prasad criticised Congress, saying that Rahul Gandhi and his party should "learn to accept defeat." "On defeat in Maharashtra, they are blaming the EVM. When the Lok Sabha elections happened and that gathbandhan won so many seats, were the EVMs okay then? And now 4-5 months later it became faulty?" Prasad said. "They won in Jharkhand, so EVMs are fine? Repeatedly they are using the excuse of EVMs to run away from their defeat. Rahul Gandhi should learn to accept defeat with humility," he added. (ANI)
Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav on Tuesday held the Uttar Pradesh administration responsible for recent violence in Sambhal and alleged that the people are being harassed continuously in Sambhal by filing false cases. "The administration is responsible. People are being harassed continuously in Sambhal by filing false cases, our MP was not even present, he was in Bengaluru at the time of the incident, but his name has also been included," Dimple Yadav told ANI. She further said that the people of the Bharatiya Janata Party do not want this country to be run by the Constitution. "We want that every day should be celebrated like Constitution Day and the kind of incident that we have seen and the way our elections which have just been completed and the kind of incidents that we have seen in these elections, the Sambhal incident as well, somewhere these BJP people do not want this country to run by the Constitution, that is why we have not gone inside today but we have taken the oath of the Constitution today in the office," she added. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly LoP Mata Prasad Pandey said that he was scheduled to visit the affected area of Sambhal but the DGP asked not go to their for the next three days. "Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had formed a delegation under my leadership so that the information about the Sambhal incident could be obtained correctly. I was about to leave at 10 am today for Sambhal, but I spoke to the DGP over the phone. He said that a fair investigation would be conducted and I should not go there for 3 days. So, I stayed here today on the DGP's request and assurance," Pandey said addressing a press conference. RJD MP Manoj Jha said, "What about the Places of Worship Act? Did the court not know about it?" Earlier, Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Akhilesh Yadav opposed the celebrations of the Constitution Day and questioned on how one could celebrate the day considering the kind of work the government did which had taken lives in Sambhal. Speaking to the media, Yadav said "I want to congratulate you for the Constitution Day. True celebration is only when you follow the path of the Constitution. How can celebrations be held in the shadow of grief? Celebrating at a time when the kind of work the government has done in Sambhal when it has taken lives and justice is not being served.. False cases are being filed against the MP there, the MLA and his son. The market in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal opened after violence following the stone pelting incident which took place when a team arrived to survey Shahi Jama Masjid on November 24. Deputy Inspector General of Police Moradabad Range, Muniraj G said that the situation is normal in Sambhal today. "The situation is normal in Sambhal today. The markets are operational and functionally normally. People should not worry; those innocent will not be penalised. Till now, 7 FIRs have been filed. We are identifying people based on video footage," DIG Muniraj said. Opposition members have been keen to raise the issue in the House and have targeted the Yogi Adityanath government over the violence. The survey was part of a legal process following a petition filed by senior advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who claimed the mosque was originally a temple. (ANI)
 Flash

The Confucius Institute at Makerere University, Uganda's premier institution, celebrated its 10th anniversary Monday, marking a decade of fostering cultural and linguistic exchanges between China and Uganda.

The vibrant ceremony, held at the university, featured cultural performances such as Chinese songs and dances. Delegations from China, university faculty and students, and representatives of Uganda's Chinese community attended the event.

Uganda's State Minister for Higher Education John Muyingo praised the institute's role in strengthening Uganda-China ties through language and cultural exchange over the past decade, in a message delivered by education official Ismail Mulindwa.

Muyingo highlighted the institute's instrumental role in introducing Chinese language instruction in Ugandan secondary schools and supporting its integration into higher education curricula.

He noted that with the Chinese language now being taught and examined at higher levels, including universities, the ministry aims to establish a Bachelor of Arts in education program featuring Chinese language as a teaching subject. This, he said, would support efforts to train enough teachers to meet the growing demand for Chinese language education.

"I urge all stakeholders to continue advancing cross-cultural understanding, innovation, and cooperation as we look to the future to strengthen the bond between Uganda and China, harnessing the transformative power of education and cultural extension for the betterment of our nations," said the minister.

Fan Xuecheng, minister counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Uganda, commended the institute's teachers, volunteers, and students for their dedication, which has deepened the friendship between the two nations.

"The pragmatic cooperation between China and Uganda sets a fine example for developing countries to seek development through unity and cooperation. Cultural exchanges and mutual learning have always been an integral part and vivid characteristics of China-Uganda cooperation," Fan said.

Deng Guojun, vice president of Xiangtan University, which co-established the Confucius Institute at Makerere University, said the two universities have forged a close bond through the China-Africa Universities 20+20 Cooperation Plan initiated by China's Ministry of Education. This program connects 20 African universities with 20 Chinese counterparts, fostering collaboration and mutual development.

Deng emphasized the strong bond forged between the two universities, expressing pride in their shared achievements. "These achievements fill us with pride, and we look forward to the continued success of the Confucius Institute in the years ahead."

Vice Chancellor of Makerere University Barnabas Nawangwe noted the growing interest in Chinese language studies, driven by expanding economic ties between the two countries. He called for continued investment in infrastructure and programs to meet the increasing demand.

"In the next decade, we envision the Confucius Institute at Makerere University becoming the leading center for Chinese language and cultural studies in East Africa," Nawangwe said.

The event also marked the launch of two new associations, namely the Alumni Association of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University and the Uganda Chinese Language Teachers Association.

The celebrations also coincided with the 20th anniversary of the Confucius Institute globally, highlighting its broader impact on promoting cultural and educational exchanges worldwide.
Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday called the Constitution the book of "truth and non-violence" which contains the ideas of social empowerment of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, social reformer Jyotirao Phule, Lord Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi. "The idea of social empowerment of Dr Ambedkar, Jyotirao Phule, Lord Buddha and Gandhi ji is inside this (referring to the Constitution). I want to ask you, does this have the voice of Savarkar ji? Is it written somewhere in it that violence should be used, people should be killed or that the government should be run by using lies? This is a book of truth and non-violence," Rahul Gandhi said while addressing a Constitution Day program at Talkatora Stadium here. He further said that he can "guarantee" that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must have not read the Constitution. "Narendra Modi ji and BJP government organised a function in the Parliament on the occasion of Constitution Day. This is India's Constitution and I guarantee you, Narendra Modi ji has not read it. Had he read this book, he wouldn't be doing what he has been doing every day," he added. The LoP said that the caste census is being carried out in Telangana, it is a historic step, adding that they will do the same wherever we form government "A few days ago we started the work of a caste census in Telangana and it is not a bureaucratic exercise. For the first time caste census has been made a public exercise in Telangana. The questions that are being asked are not being chosen by 10-15 people in a closed room, they are lakhs of people including Dalits, tribals, backward class people, poor, general caste people, minority people, everyone and the people of Telangana have designed the census...Wherever our government comes in the future, we will carry out caste census there," he said. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi faced a technical glitch as his microphone went off in mid-speech at Talkatora Stadium during the Constitution Day program. After which, LoP said that no matter how many times his microphone is switched off, he will continue to talk about the issues. "In this country for the last 3,000 years whoever talks about Dalits, tribals, backward classes, poor, his mic gets switched off. When the mic was switched off, a lot of people came and told me to go and sit. I said I will not sit, I will stand, switch off the mic as much as you want, I will speak whatever I want to. Here is Rohith Vemula's photo behind, he wanted to speak but his voice was taken away," he said. Earlier today, President Droupadi Murmu released a commemorative coin and stamp to mark the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of India on the occasion of the 'Samvidhan Diwas' celebrations at Samvidhan Sadan of Parliament. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi among other leaders attended the Constitution Day celebration event at Samvidhan Sadan. The event commemorates the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949. The Constitution formally came into effect on January 26, 1950. (ANI)
Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday expressed concern over the declining standards of decorum and discipline in Parliamentary discourse. Addressing the Constitution Day in 'Samvidhan Sadan', he said, "In contemporaneous times, with decorum and discipline cliff-hanging in parliamentary discourse, this day we need to resolve by reiterating pristine glory of our Constituent Assembly embellished functioning. Disturbance as a strategy threatens democratic institutions. Time to restore the sanctity of our democratic temples through constructive dialogue, debate, and meaningful discussion to serve our people effectively." "This masterpiece is a tribute to the profound foresight and unwavering dedication of the founding fathers of our Constitution who in about three years shaped our nation's destiny, exemplifying decorum and dedication, navigating contentious and divisive issues with a focus on consensus and understanding", he added. Stressing the role of division of power among the organs of the state and the need for a structured mechanism to resolve issues among them, Dhankhar said, "Our Constitution ingeniously establishes democracy's three pillars--the Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary--each with a defined role. Democracy is best nurtured with its constitutional institutions being in sync, tandem and togetherness adhering to their jurisdictional area. In the functioning of these organs of the state, domain exclusivity is the quintessence to making optimal contributions in steering Bharat toward unprecedented heights of prosperity and equity. Evolution of a structured interactive mechanism amongst those at the helm of these institutions would bring greater convergence in serving the nation." Referring to the opening words of the Constitution- "We the people of India" underlining the sovereignty of the people, he added. "The Constitution's opening words, 'We the People of India', carry deep meaning, establishing citizens as the ultimate authority, with Parliament serving as their voice". "Preamble promises every citizen - Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. It is our "North Star" when it comes to fructifying people's aspirations and "Light House" in daunting situations", he added. Emphasising adherence to fundamental duties he said, "Our Constitution assures Fundamental Rights and ordains Fundamental duties. These define informed citizenship, reflecting Dr Ambedkar's caution that internal conflicts, more than external threats, endanger democracy. Time for us to fully commit to our fundamental duties--protecting national sovereignty, fostering unity, prioritizing national interests, and safeguarding our environment. We must always put our nation first. We need to be on guard as never before. These commitments are crucial for achieving our vision of Viksit Bharat@2047: a nation that exemplifies progress and inclusion". Stressing on the duties of the members of parliament, he said, "All citizens, particularly Members of Parliament, must amplify our nation's resonance on the world stage. May this honoured chamber resonate with democratic wisdom, maintaining the bond between citizens and their elected representatives." Recalling the dark period of emergency, Dhankhar said, " As guardians of democracy, we bear the sacred duty to honour our citizens' rights aspirations and ceaselessly pursue their dreams, by making optimal contributions inspired by national welfare and public interest. It is for this reason that June 25 is now set to be celebrated every year reminding us of the emergency-the darkest period when fundamental rights of the citizens were suspended, people were detained without any reason, and civil rights were violated." Emphasizing the need to place the nation first, quoting Dr. B R Ambedkar, Dhankhar said, "I seek to refer, in conclusion, Dr Ambedkar's reflections in his last address in the Constituent Assembly on November 25, 1949: "What perturbs me greatly is the fact that not only India has once before lost her independence, but she lost it by the infidelity and treachery of some of her own people. Will history repeat itself? "It is this thought which fills me with anxiety. This anxiety is deepened by the realization of the fact that in addition to our old enemies in the form of castes and creeds, we are going to have many political parties with diverse and opposing political creeds. Will Indian place the country above their creed or will they place the creed above the country? I do not know. But this much is certain that if the parties place creed above country, our independence will be put in jeopardy a second time and probably be lost forever. This eventuality we must all resolutely guard against. We must be determined to defend our independence with the last drop of our blood." (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the authorities to consider modifying the existing guidelines in accordance with the international norms to deal with unruly air passengers. A bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan said something creative will have to be done. During the hearing, Justice Viswanathan cited an incident involving drunk passengers on a flight he had taken along with another Supreme Court judge, Justice Surya Kant. The apex court asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, to instruct the concerned authorities to examine and suitably modify the guidelines on unruly passengers in line with international norms. The bench now posted the matter for hearing after eight weeks. The court was hearing a plea filed by a 72-year-old woman who was urinated on by a man on board an Air India flight in 2022. The woman, who was urinated upon in a New York-Delhi Air India flight in November 2022 by an allegedly inebriated passenger, seeking direction to DGCA and all airlines to frame mandatory SoP and zero tolerance rules to deal with unruly passengers and onboard sufferers. Hema Rajaraman sought direction that the Directorate General Civil Aviation (DGCA) to include in the CAR an explicit zero-tolerance policy with respect to "unruly/disruptive behaviour", which would mandate reporting to it and to law enforcement, failing which action would be taken against the airlines in all cases. "Direct the Respondent No.2 (DGCA) that the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) dated May 2017 of the DGCA should consider "drunkenness" or "inebriation" on its own to be considered unruly/disruptive behaviour on an aircraft," the plea said. Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA to solicit the SoPs and the Operations Manuals as required under the law from the airline companies laying down procedures for handling unruly/ disruptive behaviour in airports and on aircraft, and to ensure that the same comply with the DGCA norms," it added. Accused Shankar Mishra was arrested from Bengaluru on January 6 for the incident of November 26, 2022, for urinating on a woman in the business class of the flight. The accused was granted bail later. The plea said that in fact, the cabin crew "facilitated" the handing over of her mobile phone number to the man in order for him to "reimburse the cost of shoes, dry-cleaning, etc." She was made to sit on the "very same seat that was wet and smelled of urine," it added. The plea also mentioned that her suffering was compounded when the crew "coerced her to enter into a settlement with the passenger who urinated on her". "She continues to deal with the trauma of the incident," it said. The plea sought direction from the Ministry and DGCA to "set guidelines on alcohol policy on international flights of Indian carriers to protect passengers and airline staff, including setting limits on the quantity of alcohol served, without any discrimination based on the class of travel." "Direct DGCA to amend its Passenger Charter to include the rights and recourse for passengers subject to any sort of abuse by staff passengers, which should include redressal mechanisms for victims via an Ombudsman and also parameters of compensation," added the plea. The petition referred to the statistics tabled in the Rajya Sabha on February 6, which show that only 63 unruly passengers were put on the 'No Fly' lists. "There would be numerous more incidents with no action taken, said the plea, adding, "With the world's third highest air traffic, and with 132 airports, India needs to ensure that its passengers, both domestic and foreign can travel with a minimum of safety and security. Particularly with 150 million senior citizens forming a sizeable vulnerable group, positive steps need to be taken to make flying safe." The plea also highlighted how media reports on the incident concerning her were "full of conjectures and surmises". She asked the court to consider how media reports based on conjectures may affect sub-judice cases in the absence of clear guidelines. (ANI)
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting is expected to focus on the party's electoral defeats in Maharashtra and Haryana, along with the current political situation.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a major setback in Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, won only 20 seats, while Congress managed 16, and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) secured just 10 seats.

The BJP emerged victorious with 132 seats, while its allies--the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the NCP faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar--secured 57 and 41 seats, respectively.

Under the seat-sharing arrangement within the MVA, Congress contested the majority of the seats (101) and was expected to drive the alliance forward. However, the party managed to win only 16 seats.

In Haryana, the BJP formed its third consecutive government after winning 48 seats in the 90-member assembly. Congress secured 37 seats.

Earlier today, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee blamed Congress for the alliance's poor performance, expressing disappointment in its inability to meet expectations.

Speaking to ANI, Banerjee said, "The Congress has failed to achieve the desired results in either Haryana or Maharashtra. We had tremendous hope that Congress would perform better. The INDIA alliance is in place, but the expected outcomes were not achieved. There is a significant failure on Congress's part."

Banerjee also highlighted the need for a unified leadership within the INDIA bloc to challenge the BJP effectively.

"If the INDIA alliance wants to fight against the BJP, it must become stronger. And to achieve that, a single leader is essential. Who can be that leader is the core question. Congress has tried all experiments, but they have failed," the TMC MP added. (ANI)
Following the INDIA bloc's poor performance in the Maharashtra elections, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee on Tuesday held the Congress responsible for the alliance's results, stating that they had "tremendous" hopes from the Congress, but it failed to deliver the desired outcomes. Speaking to ANI, Banerjee said, "The Congress has failed to achieve the desired results either in Haryana or in Maharashtra. We had tremendous hope that the Congress would perform better. The INDIA alliance is there, but the expected results could not be achieved. This is a significant failure on the part of the Congress to meet expectations." He further emphasised that the INDIA bloc requires a strong leader to effectively challenge the BJP. "Today, if we aim to fight against the BJP, the INDIA alliance needs to be stronger. To make it stronger, a single leader is required. Now, who can be that leader? That is the core question. Congress has tried, and all experiments have been conducted, but they have failed," the TMC MP added. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a major blow in Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, won only 20 seats, Congress secured 16, and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) managed just 10 seats. The BJP emerged victorious with 132 seats, while its allies -- the Shiv Sena, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, secured 57 seats, and the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) won 41 seats. In Maharashtra, according to the seat-sharing arrangement within the Maha Vikas Aghadi, the Congress contested the majority of seats--101--and was expected to lead the alliance. However, the party managed to win only 16 seats. Notably, in West Bengal, the ruling Trinamool Congress swept all six assembly constituencies. In Jharkhand, the Hemant Soren-led JMM guided the INDIA bloc to victory, securing 56 seats in the 81-member Jharkhand assembly. The JMM won 34 seats, while its allies collectively secured 22 seats. Among them, the Congress won 16 seats, the RJD bagged four, and the CPI-ML secured two seats. In contrast, the BJP-led NDA managed only 24 seats in Jharkhand. The BJP won 21 seats, while its allies -- the AJSU party, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), and JD-U -- secured one seat each. (ANI)
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday criticised the Congress for its performance in the recent Maharashtra elections, stating that people across most states in the country have completely rejected what he called the Congress' "shop of illusion, lies, and deception." In a post on X, Pradhan pointed out that Maharashtra has become the 17th state where the Congress holds less than 10 per cent of the legislative assembly seats. "The people of most states in the country have completely shut down the Congress' shop of illusion, lies, and deception. Maharashtra has become the 17th state where the Congress has less than 10 per cent of MLAs. The people of many states, including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bengal, Delhi, and Tripura, have completely rejected Rahul Gandhi and the Congress," he said. The Union Minister also criticised Congress leaders for what he described as their divisive tactics, which, he claimed, had failed. "The Congress' attempts to divide people along North-South lines have been decisively rejected. People from every region have united to crush the Congress' divisive thinking. To save itself, Congress has resorted to low-level politics, even on issues of national interest. The party now lacks both policy and direction. It has become a platform for empty promises and the preservation of a single family's reputation. The people of India have made their decision--Congress in opposition is the way forward for the country's progress," Pradhan added. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a major defeat in Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, secured just 20 seats, Congress won 16, and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) managed only 10. The BJP emerged as the biggest winner with 132 seats, while its allies--the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the NCP faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar--won 57 and 41 seats, respectively. Under the MVA's seat-sharing arrangement, Congress contested the majority of seats (101) and was expected to lead the alliance's efforts. However, it secured just 16 seats. Meanwhile, in Haryana, the BJP formed its third consecutive government, winning 48 seats in the 90-member assembly, while Congress secured 37 seats. (ANI)
The Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday scheduled a hearing for November 28, in the plea filed by Delhi's former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has claimed that he has not received a copy of the sanction order in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case against him. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja granted the ED additional time to file its reply and fixed the matter for a detailed hearing on the scheduled date. On November 23, the court issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate in response to Kejriwal's request. In his plea, Kejriwal pointed out that during a recent hearing in the Delhi High Court, the Solicitor General representing the ED stated that the required sanction had been obtained when the chargesheet was filed. Advocate Mudit Jain, appearing on behalf of Arvind Kejriwal, stated that the documents, both relied upon and unreleased, provided along with the chargesheet did not include any copy of the required sanction. On November 21, the Delhi High Court issued a notice on Aam Aadmi Party's Chief Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging the trial court's decision to take cognizance of the Enforcement Directorate's chargesheet against him in the alleged excise policy scam. The bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri, however, did not grant any stay on the trial proceedings at this stage. The Court scheduled the matter for a hearing on December 20, to consider arguments on both the stay application and the plea seeking the quashing of the trial court's order. Appearing for the Enforcement Directorate, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed Arvind Kejriwal's plea, asserting that the proper sanction had been obtained when the prosecution complaint (chargesheet) was filed. Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has approached the Delhi High Court, challenging the trial court's decision to take cognizance of the Enforcement Directorate's prosecution complaints in the excise policy case, citing lack of sanction. The plea argued that the trial court judge, in the impugned order, erred in taking cognizance of the offence under Section 3 of the PMLA, punishable under Section 4 of the PMLA, without obtaining prior sanction under Section 197(1) of the CrPC for the prosecution of the petitioner. This was particularly relevant as the petitioner, Arvind Kejriwal, was a public servant (the Chief Minister) at the time of the alleged offence. Arvind Kejriwal is currently out on bail in both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases related to the now-scrapped excise policy. According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the excise policy was deliberately designed with loopholes to benefit AAP leaders and foster cartel formations. The ED accused AAP leaders of receiving kickbacks from liquor businesses in exchange for preferential treatment, including discounts, license fee waivers, and relief during the COVID-19 disruptions. The ED further alleged that the "scam" involved awarding wholesale liquor distribution rights to private entities with a fixed 12% margin, in return for a 6% kickback. Additionally, AAP leaders were accused of influencing the outcome of elections in Punjab and Goa in early 2022. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh BJP President Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary on Tuesday criticised Samajwadi Party (SP) over Sambhal incident, saying that circumstances in Sambhal are in some way or the other caused by the Samajwadi Party's internal fight for supremacy. "The circumstances in Sambhal are in some way or the other caused by the Samajwadi Party's internal fight for supremacy. It is because of the feeling of competition between the two families to gain leadership of the party. They provoked the people and caused this incident... However, the alertness of our party and the police made sure that the Samajwadi Party was not successful in their agenda... UP CM has announced an investigation into this matter. That will make it clear who is at fault and action will be taken against them..." said Chaudhary. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak ensured that fair action would be taken against the guilty. "Fair action will be taken against anyone who is guilty and whoever has suffered will get justice," he said. Earlier today, Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav held the Uttar Pradesh administration responsible for recent violence in Sambhal and alleged that the people are being harassed continuously in Sambhal by filing false cases. "The administration is responsible. People are being harassed continuously in Sambhal by filing false cases, our MP was not even present, he was in Bengaluru at the time of the incident, but his name has also been included," Dimple Yadav told ANI. Deputy Inspector General of Police Moradabad Range, Muniraj G said that the situation is normal in Sambhal today. "The situation is normal in Sambhal today. The markets are operational and functionally normally. People should not worry; those innocent will not be penalised. Till now, 7 FIRs have been filed. We are identifying people based on video footage," DIG Muniraj said.Opposition members have been keen to raise the issue in the House and have targeted the Yogi Adityanath government over the violence. On Sunday, a stone pelting incident occurred in Sambhal when an ASI team visited Shahi Jama Masjid to conduct a fresh survey of the mosque, as per officials. The survey was part of a legal process following a petition filed by senior advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who claimed the mosque was originally a temple. (ANI)
Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad on Tuesday congratulated people on the occasion of Constitution Day and said that party promised to stand for the rights of the Dalits, backward and poor. "I congratulate people on this occasion. On this occasion, we Samajwadis promise to stand for the rights of the Dalits, backwards and poor," he told ANI. Hitting out state government, Prasad said, "The Constitution made by Babasaheb Ambedkar gives fundamental rights to the citizens. But this government is torturing the people in the name of religion...This government wants to end the preamble but we won't let it happen." Reacting to the Sabhal violence, he said that Samajwadi Party will fight and action will be taken against those involved in the incident. "The incident in Sambhal is painful. The government is responsible for this... The action will be taken against the officials, including the police and those who are involved. The FIR that has been registered (against MLA and the people) is completely wrong. The FIR has been filed so that the conduct of police should not be disclosed to the people. Samajwadi Party will fight and serve justice to the MLA and people there (in Sambhal." Earlier SP MP Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday opposed the celebrations of the 75th Constitution Day and questioned how one could celebrate the day considering the kind of work the government did that had taken lives in Sambhal. Speaking to the media, Yadav said, "I want to congratulate you on Constitution Day. True celebration is only when you follow the path of the Constitution. How can celebrations be held in the shadow of grief? Celebrating at a time when the kind of work the government has done in Sambhal when it has taken lives and justice is not being served. False cases are being filed against the MP there, the MLA and his son." Deputy Inspector General of Police Moradabad Range, Muniraj G said that the situation is normal in Sambhal today. "The situation is normal in Sambhal today. The markets are operational and functionally normally. People should not worry; those innocent will not be penalised. Till now, 7 FIRs have been filed. We are identifying people based on video footage," DIG Muniraj said. Earlier today, the market in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal opened after violence following the stone pelting incident which took place when a team arrived to survey Shahi Jama Masjid on November 24. (ANI)
West Bengal Assembly Leader of Opposition and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari, along with his party members, held a protest on Tuesday outside the Legislative Assembly against the arrest of ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das at Dhaka airport in Bangladesh. Earlier, speaking to reporters, Adhikari urged Hindus to protest against the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das. He added that the Hindu Jagran Manch has called for a mass protest on Thursday regarding the incident. "Yunus should step down. It is an illegal government there. All Hindus should take to the streets. This is not just a protest but a fight for the survival of Bangladeshi Hindus. BJP MLAs will gherao the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission at 3 pm. Hindu Jagran Manch has given a call for a mass protest on Thursday," Adhikari told reporters. Chinmoy Krishna Das, arrested on Monday, was presented before a Chittagong court on Tuesday. The court denied his bail plea and sent him to custody. According to the Dhaka Tribune, Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari appeared before Judge Kazi Shariful Islam of the Chittagong Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate's Court at 11 am on Tuesday. His lawyers filed a bail petition, but it was rejected, and he was ordered to be sent to jail. A case has been filed against Chinmoy Krishna Das on charges of sedition, accusing him of raising a flag on a stand displaying Bangladesh's national flag. However, the complainant has since expressed unwillingness to pursue the case, a minority leader stated. The Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC), the largest minority group in Bangladesh, expressed concerns on Tuesday over the arrest and called on the interim government to release Chinmoy Krishna Das immediately. "We strongly condemn the arrest of Prabhu Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson of Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, from the Dhaka airport area on Monday afternoon," said Manindra Kumar Nath, Acting General Secretary of BHBCUC. Speaking to ANI, Nath added, "As a result of this arrest, Bangladesh's international image of freedom of expression and human rights will be tarnished globally." (ANI)
Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi on Tuesday defended Party President Mallikarjun Kharge statement "We do not want EVMs, we want ballot papers", saying that if trust of a "larger section of voters in voting machines starts shaking then the Election Commission should listen to it." Speaking to the media, Imran said, "When the trust of a large section of voters in this country on EVMs, on election process starts shaking, and when the Opposition is saying that we should return to ballot papers instead of sticking to EVMs, Election Commission should listen." "Kharge ji has given a suggestion regarding this. He is a senior leader of the country...If he has said something, the Government and Election Commission should take note of it," the Congress MP added. Earlier today, addressing Constitution Day event at Talkatora Stadium in the national capital, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge pressed to conduct elections on ballot papers instead of EVMs. He said, "Votes of people from SC, ST, OBC, and poor communities are going to waste. Set aside EVMs. We do not want EVMs, we want voting on ballot paper...Let them keep the machine at their home, at the home of PM Modi or Amit Shah. Then we would know where you (BJP-NDA) stand." "We should start a campaign on behalf of our party. We would like to urge everyone and all parties, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi that we should take out (a rally) just like Bharat Jodo Yatra that we want ballot paper," Kharge added. Notably, the Supreme Court dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) petition on Tuesday seeking the reintroduction of the physical paper ballot voting system in elections in India. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and PB Varale dismissed the plea filed by evangelist KA Paul seeking physical ballot voting in India. During the hearing, the petitioner said that even leaders like Chandrababu Naidu and YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had questioned Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) tampering. To this the bench said what happens is, if you win the elections, EVMs are not tampered. "When Chandrababu Naidu or Mr Reddy lost, they say that EVMs are tampered and when they won, they don't say anything. How can we see this? We are dismissing this. This is not the place where you argue all of this," said the bench. (ANI)
Over 1,700 school students attended a series of 'Rhino Goes to School' programmes organised at various schools near Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, a renowned habitat of the one-horned Indian rhinoceros, in Morigaon district, Assam, on Tuesday. Aaranyak, a leading biodiversity conservation organisation, conducted these sensitisation programmes in collaboration with the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary (PWLS) Authority and with support from the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF). The initiative aimed to instil in young minds the importance of conserving the one-horned rhinoceros, the state animal of Assam, which holds significant ecological value. The first programme in the series took place at Mayong Higher Secondary School on November 21, drawing approximately 450 students. The primary goal of the programme was to raise awareness among students about the importance of conserving one-horned rhinos and their habitats. Participants were provided with detailed information about the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros, encouraging them to contribute meaningfully to rhino conservation efforts. The programme included presentations on the rhino's biology, habitat, and ecological significance, underscoring the need for conservation. Arif Hussain, Manager of Aaranyak's Rhino Research and Conservation Division (RRCD), led the session. The event was inaugurated by Dhrubajyoti Nath, Additional SP of Morigaon district, who spoke about the importance of wildlife and urged students to play an active role in conservation. Pranjal Baruah, Range Officer of PWLS, highlighted the rich biodiversity of the sanctuary. The Headmaster and teachers of the school, along with Dharma Nath, Secretary of the Mayong Thana Committee, were also present. The second 'Rhino Goes to School' programme was held on November 22 at Shankardev Shishu Niketan and BuraBuri Higher Secondary School, with about 850 students in attendance. Arif Hussain delivered a detailed and engaging presentation on rhino conservation, emphasising its environmental importance and encouraging students to take leadership roles in protecting the species. Pranjal Baruah once again addressed the gathering, providing insights into the rich biodiversity of PWLS. An open quiz was also conducted to keep students engaged. Headmasters, teachers, and Mitul Das, Forester-1 of PWLS, were present during the event. The third programme in the series took place on November 23 at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi High School, located near the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. The event focused on creating awareness about rhinos and fostering future wildlife conservation stewards. Around 400 students participated in the session, which included a PowerPoint presentation on rhinos, interactive discussions, and an open quiz. Arif Hussain served as the primary resource person, while Pranjal Baruah spoke about the biodiversity of the sanctuary. The Headmaster and teachers of the school were also present. Aaranyak field officials Ujjal Bayan and Rahul Das contributed to the successful execution of the 'Rhino Goes to School' programmes. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the country's Constitution is a vibrant, constantly flowing stream that is a guide for the present and future of the country. Speaking at the Constitution Day celebrations in the Supreme Court, PM Modi said his government has taken steps for the welfare of people in line with the spirit of Constitution and is focusing on ensuring the ease of living for citizens. PM Modi also said referred to the Mumbai terror attack in 2008 on this day and said the terrorist organisations challenging the security of India will get befitting reply. "This is the 75th year of the Indian Constitution - it is a matter of immense pride for the country. I bow to the Constitution and all the members of the Constituent Assembly. We cannot forget that today is also the anniversary of the terror attack in Mumbai. Those who lost their lives, I pay my homage to them. I also want to reiterate the resolution of the country - every terrorist organisation challenging the security of India will get befitting reply," he said. He said there was a time when senior citizens had to prove by visiting banks that they are alive. "The country is focusing on ensuring the ease of living for its citizens. Once, the senior citizens who used to get pensions were supposed to prove in the bank that they were alive. However, today, senior citizens have the facility of a Digital Life Certificate from their home. Around 1.5 crore senior citizens have benefited from this facility," he said. PM Modi urged people to live by the spirit of 'Nation First'. "Dr Rajendra Prasad in his speech in the constituent assembly said - India needs nothing but a group of 50 honest people who keep The country's interest ahead of theirs...I tried to follow the dignity that the Constitution has asked from me, I haven't tried to do encroachment," the Prime Minister said. PM Modi also referred to the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana which now also covers citizens above 70 years of age. "Today it looks easy that people have access to tap water, but even after 75 years of independence, only 3 crore houses had this facility... in the original copy of the constitution, lord Ram, mother Sita...have their images in it. The images symbolising Indian culture are there so that they can keep us reminded about human values. These human values are the foundation of policies and decisions of today's India," he said. PM Modi referred to challenge to the Constitution through Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi government. He also referred to scrapping of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir by his government in 2019. "We have seen the Emergency in the country - our Constitution has faced this challenge that arose before democracy. It's the power of the constitution, that today, in Jammu and Kashmir, Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution is fully implemented," he said. PM Modi said India is going through a huge phase of transformation, and the Constitution of India is showing the path. "Our Constitution has lived up to every expectation and need of the country. It's due to the power of the Constitution that, today, the Constitution of Baba Saheb has been implemented completely in Jammu and Kashmir. For the first time, the Constitution Day was celebrated in Jammu and Kashmir Today, India is going through a huge phase of transformation, and the Constitution of India is showing us the path. It has become a guiding light for us," he said. "During the constituent assembly's debate - Babasaheb Ambedkar had said - 'Constitution is not a mere lawyer's document. Its spirit is always the spirit of age'," he added. Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna presented a painting made by a prisoner, lodged in Tihar jail, to PM Modi during the Constitution Day celebrations. The Prime Minister also released the Annual Report of Indian Judiciary 2023-24, on the occasion. (ANI)
In a move to combat the rising menace of drug abuse, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has announced the launch of a comprehensive one-month anti-drug campaign, set to commence on December 1. This aggressive initiative is part of a larger plan to make Delhi drug-free within the next three years, much ahead of the target set for making the country drug-free, according to a press release from the LG's office. During the 9th review meeting of the State-Level Committee Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD), Saxena underlined that the drug menace, apart from having its direct social effect in terms of the health of the youth, also had a wider international angle to it whereby drugs are being used strategically to weaken the youth of India and thereby the nation itself. He directed the Delhi Police, in collaboration with other relevant agencies, to intensify their efforts to curb drug trafficking and consumption. The campaign will involve a multi-pronged approach. During this one-month campaign, LG directed the Delhi Police and other stakeholder agencies to thoroughly check and sanitise at least 200 hostels, 50 colleges, 200 schools, 200 pharmaceutical stores, 500 paan shops, all shelter homes, 200 bars and restaurants, all railway stations, all ISBTs and other public spaces. To ensure a drug-free campus environment, nodal officers will be designated and wardens will be made accountable for ensuring drug-free hostels in educational institutions. He directed that advisories should also be sent to teachers and parents by engaging the Social Welfare Department. The Social Welfare Department will actively engage with schools and parents to educate them about the dangers of drug abuse and encourage them to monitor their children's activities. Saxena asked the Delhi Police to widely advertise and announce attractive awards for informants while keeping their identities confidential. He also directed that slogans, posters and banners should be prominently displayed all over the city and also in the DTC buses, auto-rickshaws and taxis against the harmful effects of the use of drugs and psychotropic substances. Extensive public awareness campaigns will be launched through various channels, including television, radio, social media, and outdoor advertising. Slogans, posters, and banners will be displayed prominently across the city and in DTC buses and other public transport systems to sensitise the public about the harmful effects of drug abuse. The Director of the Forensic Science Laboratory, Delhi, has been directed to expedite the disposal of pending cases, which will significantly contribute to the prosecution of drug-related offenses. The FSL, which had 1260 pending cases for the last 9-12 months, has been able to bring down the cases to 290 with active intervention of the LG. Saxena today directed the FSL that the analysis in the remaining 290 cases be completed and disposed within a month and zero pendency be ensured. According to the press release, by implementing these stringent measures, the aim is to dismantle drug networks, reduce drug demand, and create a healthier and safer society. This proactive approach demonstrates the LG's commitment to addressing the issue of drug abuse and safeguarding the future of Delhi's youth. (ANI)
On November 28, the President will address the faculty and student officers of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the release informed.

On November 29, the President will interact with the members of Tribal Women Self-Help Groups and the prominent members of the Tribal Community in Nilgiris District at Raj Bhavan, Udhagamandalam, it added.

On November 30, the President will grace the convocation ceremony of the Central University of Tamil Nadu at Thiruvarurm, the release added. (ANI)
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kerjirwal on Tuesday said that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has given the country a model of governance and hit out at the BJP saying it was doing "slum tourism" in the national capital ahead of assembly polls early next year. Addressing a gathering on AAP's foundation today, Kejriwal said AAP was born on the day the country is celebrating Constitution Day. He said AAP has completed 12 years and the day marks its 13th birthday. "It's no coincidence that on Constitution Day, a new party was born. God must have thought that the Constitution was in danger and decided that this party would save it. The name Aam Aadmi Party reflects its purpose--serving the common people. God gave the broom as the election symbol so that the entire country could be cleaned. Picking up the broom stirs up dust and dirt, there will be struggles but in my opinion, our biggest achievement is that we have given the country a model of governance," Kejriwal said. He said AAP has shown that a government run "honestly" can also be comfortable in terms of internal resources. AAP was founded by Arvind Kejriwal and his colleagues on November 26, 2012, following the 2011 anti-corruption movement against the then Congress-led government at the Centre. The AAP supremo asserted that they provided free electricity, free water, quality education and healthcare to people of Delhi while ensuring infrastructure was not neglected. "We increased the metro network from 200 km to 450 km, built 10,000 km of roads, and constructed 38 new flyovers. Despite delivering all of this, we kept the budget in surplus. Those who used to criticize us are now emulating us. Even the Prime Minister had to visit a fake school in Gujarat for optics," he alleged. He said people living in slums should not trust BJP leaders visiting them and alleged that bulldozers will be brought later to demolish their homes. "Just like people go on vacations to places like Goa, BJP leaders go on "slum tourism. Today evening, some BJP leaders will go and stay in slum areas. This is a mockery of poverty. If they really want to live there, they should stay for three to four months. I spent 10 years of my life in slums. Slum dwellers should beware of these people--they will come back with bulldozers to demolish your homes a year from now," he said. Kejriwal also urged party MLAs and leaders to invite sanitation workers to their homes for tea. "I am inviting the sanitation workers from the New Delhi area to my house tomorrow for tea. From the day after tomorrow, all MLAs and councillors should invite them to their homes. Visiting their homes is easy, but it is important to invite them to our homes," he said. (ANI)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday took part in the 75th Constitution Day celebrations organized by the Assam Government's Parliamentary Affairs Department at Lok Seva Bhawan in Guwahati. Speaking on the occasion, CM Sarma reflected on the significance of this event, noting that it was officially recognized on October 11, 2015, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that November 26 would be observed annually as Constitution Day. On this auspicious day, CM Biswa Sharma extended heartfelt tribute to the distinguished members of the Drafting Committee, particularly the eminent freedom fighter and jurist who chaired the Committee, Dr BR Ambedkar. He also paid homage to the innumerable freedom fighters whose steadfast dedication and sacrifices secured India's independence. CM Biswa Sarma recounted that the formal process of drafting the Constitution commenced during the third meeting of the Constituent Assembly on December 13, 1946. He highlighted that, following extensive deliberations and reports from various committees, constitutional expert BN Rao prepared the draft of the Constitution by October 1947. After it was submitted to the Drafting Committee, the draft underwent rigorous scrutiny, ultimately taking a definitive form in 1948. The CM stated that the draft addressed all vital aspects of governance, including the structure of the government, the relationship between the central and state authorities, and the rights of the citizens. He noted that, following extensive debate and discussion, the Constituent Assembly formally adopted the final draft of the Constitution on November 26, 1949. CM Biswa Sarma emphasized that India's Constitution reflects the dreams and aspirations of its people, asserting that as the world's largest democracy, India places the welfare of its citizens at the heart of its governance. He noted that the Constitution ensures that people from all sections of society enjoy freedom, equality, and justice. He reiterated that while the Constitution grants various rights and protections to citizens, it is also the responsibility and duty of each citizen to preserve the core values and principles of the Constitution. The CM reflected on the numerous challenges our Constitution has faced at various moments in history. He cited the 1975 declaration of emergency, which threatened the very fabric of constitutional integrity. Despite this setback, he commended the judiciary for its efforts to uphold the fundamental rights of Indian citizens. CM Biswa Sarma further remarked that the Constitution is not merely a legal document but the culmination of over 5,000 years of Indian civilization and culture. During a period of divisiveness and communal tension, the Constitution emerged as a beacon of unity and justice. The CM praised the foresight of the Constituent Assembly in crafting a Constitution that embodies the essence of Indian civilization, ensuring the creation of a just society. He underscored India's uniqueness, stating that despite 90 per cent of the population being of one religion, the Constitution was framed as secular. This was a remarkable achievement, as it was created at a time when there was an opportunity to establish a religious basis for the nation's governance, yet the Constitution was deliberately framed to be inclusive and secular, he added. CM Biswa Sarma emphasized that the Indian Constitution is not a borrowed Western idea, but rather a reflection of India's ancient and rich cultural heritage, which has championed global peace and the welfare of all people for over five millennia. He recalled that the Constituent Assembly had made it clear that there was no need to prove that Indian civilization was secular, as its secular nature was already inherent. He also referred to BR Ambedkar's final speech, stating that listening to it offers profound insight into the core values of the Constitution. On this momentous Constitution Day, CM Biswa Sarma called upon everyone to dedicate themselves with sincerity and commitment to enriching the Constitution's foundational principles and philosophy During the event, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs etc. Pijush Hazarika, also delivered a speech. The event was attended by the Minister of Environment & Forests etc. Chandra Mohan Patowary, the Minister of Revenue & Disaster Management etc. Jogen Mohan, the Minister of Labour Welfare etc. Sanjoy Kishan, Additional Chief Secretary BR Samal, and other officials and dignitaries from the Assam government. (ANI)
Meghalaya Governor CH Vijayashankar on Tuesday highlighted that the Constitution serves not only as a legal document but also as a guiding light for building a progressive, inclusive, and resilient nation. The Governor made these remarks during the 75th Constitution Day celebration at the Durbar Hall in Meghalaya Raj Bhavan. Addressing the gathering, Governor Vijayashankar urged the youth to study the Constitution closely and take pride in its values. He emphasised that the Constitution is not merely a legal framework but a beacon for fostering progress, inclusivity, and resilience, as stated in an official release. Constitution Day, or Samvidhan Divas, is observed annually on November 26 to commemorate the adoption of the Indian Constitution. This year marks the 75th anniversary of its adoption. To promote constitutional values among citizens, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment announced on November 19, 2015, that November 26 would be celebrated as Constitution Day every year. On January 24, 2024, President Droupadi Murmu launched the "Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Samman" campaign. This yearlong initiative aims to raise awareness about the Constitution's significance in shaping Indian society and to educate citizens about their legal rights, ensuring the foundational principles resonate with every Indian. The campaign focuses on fostering awareness and respect for the Constitution. The Indian Constitution, adopted on November 26, 1949, and coming into effect on January 26, 1950, serves as the foundational document defining India's democratic, secular, and egalitarian framework, according to a release by the Ministry of Law and Justice. Over the past seven decades, the Constitution has guided the nation through political, social, and economic transformations, upholding justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity--the core principles of India's governance. These values are celebrated annually on Samvidhan Diwas or Constitution Day, the Ministry of Law and Justice added. (ANI)
The Chief Minister toured all 16 stalls set up by the HP State Handicrafts and Handloom Corporation, as well as various self-help groups, Him-Ira, and HPMC. These stalls showcased a range of products, including horticultural and agricultural items, Himachal honey, shawls, handicrafts, and woollen goods.

Sukhu commended the Industries Department for its efforts in highlighting the state's unique products in the national capital.

Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan informed the Chief Minister that the pavilion has attracted over two lakh visitors and recorded sales worth Rs 40 lakh so far.

Director of Industries, Yunus Khan, welcomed the Chief Minister and provided details about the exhibits and activities during the fair.

Political advisor to the Chief Minister, Sunil Sharma, Resident Commissioner Meera Mohanty, and senior state government officials accompanied Sukhu. (ANI)
The DRDO Industry Academia-Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE), IIT Delhi demonstrated quantum communications technologies in New Delhi. It has been developed by their collaborative initiative of the entanglement-based quantum key distribution approaches for robust and secure communication, demonstrating entanglement distribution and quantum key distribution (QKD) over a 50 km fiber link in laboratory. A separate field test has demonstrated entanglement distribution and QKD over 8 km of optical fiber in IIT Delhi campus, said the Ministry of Defence in a press release on Tuesday. In another initiative of quantum research, Free-space Entanglement distribution was demonstrated using the BBM-92 protocol, a key QKD method, between two tables separated by 20 meters in the lab and 80m in the open space. This experiment demonstrated short-range quantum communication in a free-space setup. In an innovative experiment, Hybrid entanglement has been demonstrated in a free-space environment, achieving a Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBER) of around 6 per cent in the laboratory over a distance of 10m in the lab. In addition, QKD systems supporting multiple independent channels driven by a single source are also being explored with promising results. These open the door for more flexible, multi-protocol quantum communication systems, said the release. In achieving the above breakthrough, an all-fiber heralded photon source with second-order correlation function (g2 ~ 0.01) at rates reaching hundreds of kHz is developed. This innovation is vital for single-photon generation, a critical requirement for secure quantum communication. An all-fiber entangled photon source has also been developed with high visibility. The Bell test parameter for this source is more than 2.6, exhibiting strong quantum entanglement, which is essential for protocols like BBM-92. For free-space quantum communication experiments, Free-space heralded single-photon source has been demonstrated with a heralding rate of over 4 million counts/sec. This development enables robust free-space quantum communication, added the release. Following India's First Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) demonstration between the cities of Prayagraj and Vindhyachal, separated by 100 km, by DRDO labs and IIT (D) in February 2022, many new initiatives have been taken by DRDO and IIT (D). In addition, indigenisation of various components like quantum sources and detectors are initiated. These include single photon sources on LNOI, SNSPD and periodically poled non-linear crystals. These projects are launched at IIT Delhi in collaboration with DRDO labs like DYSL-QT and SSPL and are funded by the Directorate of Futuristic Technology Management under its deep tech initiatives aimed at fostering cutting-edge innovations in defence technology, said the release. Through its projects at the DIA-CoE, IITD, DRDO have created a strong national footprint in QKD with breakthroughs in fibre and free space areas. Quantum communication holds significant potential for enhancing security in strategic sectors, such as defence and finance, by providing robust and tamper-evident communication channels. The DRDO Industry Academia-Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) is a collaborative initiative between DRDO and IIT Delhi, established at IIT Delhi. The CoE is developing various quantum communication technologies like development of fibre and free-space (polarization/hybrid photon) based Quantum Key Distributions Technologies, Quantum Sources, Quantum Detectors and Non-linear Crystals, according to the Ministry of Defence press release. (ANI)
In a daring and meticulously executed mission, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) achieved its largest drug bust to date, seizing over 6,016 kilograms of methamphetamine from a Myanmar fishing boat in the Andaman Sea. The operation began on November 23, 2024, when a routine surveillance flight by an ICG Dornier aircraft detected an unidentified fishing boat in India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Recognising the potential threat, the ICG swiftly launched a coordinated response. The fast patrol vessel ICG Ship Aruna Asaf Ali was dispatched from Sri Vijaya Puram under adverse weather conditions. Tracking the suspicious boat for hours, the ICG maintained surveillance through the night, preparing for boarding at dawn. On November 24, at 6:30 AM, the crew intercepted the vessel, later identified as 'Soe Wai Yan Htoo', registered in Myanmar. The fast patrol vessel ICG Ship Aruna Asaf Ali was dispatched from Sri Vijaya Puram under adverse weather conditions. Tracking the suspicious boat for hours, the ICG maintained surveillance throughout the night, preparing to board at dawn. On November 24, at 6:30 AM, the crew intercepted the vessel, later identified as Soe Wai Yan Htoo, registered in Myanmar. Aboard the boat were six crew members and a suspicious cargo of gunny sacks, raising immediate red flags. The vessel was towed to Sri Vijaya Puram harbour for a thorough investigation, where authorities uncovered a staggering 222 bags filled with crystalline methamphetamine, weighing a total of 6,016.87 kilograms. Additionally, the ICG seized an INMARSAT satellite phone and Myanmar currency worth 633,850 Kyat. This monumental seizure, valued at several thousand crores in the international market, marks the largest drug haul in the ICG's history. It brings the agency's total drug confiscations to an impressive 12,875 kilograms since its inception. The operation underscores the ICG's capability to disrupt global drug syndicate supply chains and their reliance on maritime routes. "This seizure is a testament to the vigilance and expertise of our personnel. It highlights the strength of our maritime enforcement efforts in keeping Indian waters safe," said an ICG spokesperson. This operation is the third major anti-drug trafficking success in the Andaman Sea in recent years. In September 2019, the ICG apprehended a Myanmar vessel carrying 1,160 kilograms of ketamine worth Rs300 crore. Three months later, another boat was intercepted with 371 kilograms of methaqualone valued at Rs185 crore. The record-breaking haul reinforces India's growing role in combating transnational drug trafficking and highlights the complexities of safeguarding the nation's maritime borders. These operations reflect the increasing reliance of drug cartels on maritime routes to evade land-based enforcement. In response, the ICG has intensified surveillance and enhanced coordination between its air and sea units to detect and intercept illegal activities. The success of this operation demonstrates the critical role of maritime law enforcement in countering organised crime. As smuggling syndicates adopt more advanced tactics, the ICG continues to upgrade its technology, training, and assets to stay ahead. The Indian Coast Guard's commitment to maritime security extends beyond drug interdiction. By preventing trafficking, the ICG helps curb the spread of addiction, violence, and instability often associated with the narcotics trade, significantly supporting the Government's Nasha Mukt Abhiyan. Their efforts send a strong message to crime syndicates that Indian waters are no safe haven for illegal activities. With this historic operation, the ICG has once again proven its mettle in safeguarding the nation's maritime interests and ensuring the safety of its citizens. This record-breaking seizure is not just a victory against drug trafficking but a milestone in India's broader fight against organised crime. India's strategic location between the Golden Crescent (Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran) and the Golden Triangle (Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand)--two of the world's largest illicit opium-producing regions--has made it both a transit and consumption hub for drug trafficking. These regions fuel transnational crime syndicates that use land and maritime routes to smuggle contraband across borders. The maritime domain, with its vast stretches of unpatrolled waters, poses unique challenges for enforcement agencies. Smugglers exploit these routes using advanced techniques and technology, such as satellite communication and unregistered vessels, to evade detection. (ANI)
A person who derives economic advantage out of scheduled offence can be prosecuted for Money laundering under Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Jacqueline Fernandez was not part of any criminal activity for economic advantage; therefore, she can't be prosecuted for money laundering, her counsel argued before the Delhi High Court on Tuesday. Now the Enforcement Directorate (ED) will make its submissions in the plea moved by Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez against the charge sheet filed against her in a money laundering. Justice Anish Dayal listed the matter for hearing submissions by the Special Counsel for ED. Next date for hearing is December 3. Senior Advocate Siddharth Agarwal, along with Advocate Prashant Patil and Shakti Pandey, appeared for Jacqueline Fernandez. Advocate Zoheb Hossain appeared for the Enforcement Directorate. A senior advocate submitted that a person who derived economic advantage out of criminal activity, which is a scheduled offence, can be prosecuted for money laundering. Jacqueline Fernandez was not a part of criminal activity. It was further submitted that she had no knowledge that the gifts she was getting from Sukesh Chandrasekar were out of proceeds of a crime of Rs 200 crore. As the offence of extortion came to light once the FIR was registered by Aditi Singh. "Knowledge is necessary to show involvement in criminal activity, the senior advocate argued. She had no knowledge of the criminal activities of Sukesh Chandrasekar and the gift he was giving was out of money extorted from Aditi Singh. The senior advocate also referred to the judgement in the case of Vijay Madanlal Chaudhary and submitted that it is not necessary that all attached property during the investigation be part of the proceeds of crime. It was further submitted that two cases can't be prosecuted on the same facts. An offence of Extortion from Aditi Singh is being prosecuted under MCOCA. The petitioner is a witness in that case. She can't be made accused of money laundering as she is not part of crime syndicate and didn't derive economic advantage out of that. Jacqueline Fernandez has challenged the charge sheet filed against her in the money laundering, in which Sukesh Chandrasekar is also an accused. (ANI)
Slamming the arrest of former priest of ISKCON Bangladesh Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari by Dhaka Police, Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar on Tuesday said that he was arrested under false allegation, and demanded his immediate release. Sukanta Majumdar said, "Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested yesterday in Bangladesh--who was raising the voice of all the organisations linked to Sanatan Hindu Dharma. Because, after the political turnover in Bangladesh, the places related to the Hindu faith have been continuously attacked. He has raised his voice against it. Dhaka police have arrested him under false allegation that ISKCON and Chinmoy ji are involved in activities against the government. No sanatani can do this. I think that the Bangladesh government should think about his health and should release him at the earliest." He further said that the External Ministry has raised his concern about it. "I have spoken to MoS Pabitra Margherita, who comes from the North-East region. The people of Bengal are very worried. We want his immediate release," he added. Earlier, Suvendu Adhikari, along with his party members, held a protest outside the Legislative Assembly against the arrest of ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das at Dhaka airport in Bangladesh. Speaking to reporters, Adhikari urged Hindus to protest against the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das. He added that the Hindu Jagran Manch had called for a mass protest on Thursday regarding the incident. "Yunus should step down. It is an illegal government there. All Hindus should take to the streets. This is not just a protest but a fight for the survival of Bangladeshi Hindus. BJP MLAs will gherao the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission at 3 pm. Hindu Jagran Manch has given a call for a mass protest on Thursday," Adhikari told reporters. Chinmoy Krishna Das, arrested on Monday, was presented before a Chittagong court on Tuesday. The court denied his bail plea and sent him to custody. According to the Dhaka Tribune, Chinmoy Krishna Das appeared before Judge Kazi Shariful Islam of the Chittagong Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate's Court at 11 am on Tuesday. His lawyers filed a bail petition, but it was rejected, and he was ordered to be sent to jail. A case has been filed against Chinmoy Krishna Das on charges of sedition, accusing him of raising a flag on a stand displaying Bangladesh's national flag. However, the complainant has since expressed unwillingness to pursue the case, a minority leader stated. (ANI)
Hemant Soren said after meeting Amit Shah that there will be more meetings in the days ahead.

"Greetings to all of you. There will be meetings even in the days ahead.There are a lot of things. We have to form our government. We came here for blessings," Hemant Soren told ANI.

Hemant Soren will take oath as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand on November 28, after JMM-led alliance won majority in the Assembly elections. This is first time in Jharkhand that an incumbent government, which has completed five years in office, has returned to power.

Hemant Soren has tendered his resignation as Jharkhand Chief Minister to the Governor Santosh Gangwar and staked a claim to form Government, at the Raj Bhawan.

"We have started the procedure to form the (INDIA) alliance government and in that series, we have staked a claim to form Government in front of the Governor. I also tendered my resignation to him...Congress and the RJD in charge were also present here...On 28 November the oath ceremony will take place," Soren had said earlier.

Hemant Soren-led JMM steered the INDIA bloc to victory with 56 seats in the 81-member Jharkhand assembly.

The JMM won 34 seats, while its allies secured 22 seats. Among the allies, the Congress won 16 seats, the RJD won four, and the CPI-ML won two seats.

The BJP-led NDA won only 24 seats in Jharkhand. The BJP secured 21 seats, while its allies the AJSU party, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), and JD-U winning one seat each.

Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha won a seat with its chief, Jairam Kumar Mahato, emerging victorious in the Dumri constituency. (ANI)
"We have just started. It is currently at the proposal stage. We need at least another 2-3 weeks to provide further details. Andhra Pradesh lacked a capital. Every state has one, but Andhra Pradesh didn't. So, we are fully committed," Pawan Kalyan said when asked about the Amaravati capital city development.

"We aim to create a world-class capital that integrates every part of the Andhra region. We want to make it welcoming for the entire country, attracting entrepreneurs from all states. Anyone should be able to contribute and be part of this growth," he added.

Pawan Kalyan also met Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar and several union ministers.

"The Hon'ble Vice President of India, Sri Jagdeep Dhankhar, hosted a cordial dinner for the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, @PawanKalyan, as a gesture of courtesy and affection. The event was attended by the Hon'ble Kakinada MP, Sri @uday_tangella, the Hon'ble Machilipatnam MP, Sri @VBalashowry, and Sri Lav Agarwal, IAS, Resident Commissioner of AP Bhavan," Pawan Kalyan's office posted on X.

Pawan Kalyan met the Union Minister for Tourism and Culture to discuss "transformative tourism projects for the state."

https://x.com/APDeputyCMO/status/1861413846847574414

He also held discussions with Union Panchayati Raj Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, focusing on key aspects of the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA).

"Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, @PawanKalyan, had an insightful meeting with the Hon'ble Minister of Panchayati Raj, Sri @LalanSingh_1 Ji. Discussions centred on RGSA's key aspects, including funding support, capacity-building programmes, rural infrastructure enhancement, technology integration for Gram Panchayats, strengthening APSIRDPR, and human resource development to empower local governance in Andhra Pradesh," Kalyan's office posted on X.

Additionally, Pawan Kalyan held a crucial meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

"This afternoon, Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, @PawanKalyan, had a significant discussion with the Hon'ble Union Finance Minister, Smt. @nsitharaman Ji, concerning the Andhra Pradesh Rural Roads Project (APRRP), supported by the Asian Infrastructure & Investment Bank @AIIB_Official," Kalyan's office posted on X. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the Constitution Day programme at the Supreme Court here and said the Constitution has lived up to every expectation and need of the country. PM Modi remarked that it was a matter of immense pride of the 75th year of Indian Constitution. He paid tributes to the members of the Constituent Assembly and the Constitution on the occasion. He said every citizen has only one goal, to build a Viksit Bharat. The Prime Minister remarked that when we are celebrating the Constitution Day, it cannot be forgotten that today was the anniversary of Mumbai Terror attacks as well. He paid tribute to the victims of the terror attack. The Prime Minister reiterated that India will give a befitting reply to every terror organization which threatens the security and integrity of India. PM Modi said the framers of the Constitution had provided people with the liberty to interpret the Constitution from time to time by taking appropriate decisions according to the country, time and situation. He added that the makers of the Constitution were well aware that the dreams and aspirations of India will scale new heights with time and the needs of the people of Independent India will also evolve along with the challenges. Therefore, he said, the constitution makers did not make the Constitution as a mere document, but a living, continuously flowing stream. "Our Constitution is a guide to our present and our future," he said and added that the Constitution had shown the right path to tackle the various challenges that have cropped up in the last 75 years of its existence. He further noted that the Constitution even encountered the Emergency and underscored that the Constitution had met every need and expectation of the Country. He added that Constitution framed by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was in force in Jammu and Kashmir today. Highlighting that India was going through an important phase of change, the Prime Minister said that the Constitution was showing us the right path as a guiding light. Emphasizing that now the path of India's future was of achieving big dreams and big resolutions, PM Modi remarked that "today the goal of every citizen was to build a Viksit Bharat". Prime Minister stressed that many steps were undertaken to ensure socio-economic justice in the past few years like opening more than 53 crore bank accounts of the people, in the last decade, who did not have access to the banks. He added that in the past decade, four crore people were ensured of pucca houses, 10 crore gas cylinder connections were given to women of the household. PM Modi noted that there were only 3 crore houses in India which had household tap connections even after 75 years of Independence. He added that he was pleased that his Government had given more than 12 crore household tap water connections in the last 5-6 years which had eased the living of citizens and women in particular. He remarked that the Original copy of the Indian Constitution had pictures of Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, Lord Hanuman, Bhagwan Buddha, Bhagwan Mahavira and Guru Govind Singh. He added that these symbols of Indian culture were given place in the Constitution to ensure that it constantly keeps us aware and mindful of human values. "Human Values are the basis of today's Indian policies and decisions," he said. PM Modi said that Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita was enforced to ensure speedy delivery of justice to the citizens and that the punishment based system has now changed to a justice based system. Underlining that India is laying a lot of emphasis on the ease of living of citizens, PM Modi remarked that Digital Life Certificates were given to senior citizens at their doorstep, the benefit of which was availed by around 1.5 crore senior citizens till date. He added that India was one of the countries which gave free medical treatment upto Rs 5 lakh to every poor family and India was one such country which gave free healthcare facilities to senior citizens over 70 years of age. He noted that across thousands of Jan Aushadi Kendras in India, the medicines were being sold at a discount of 80 per cent of prices. PM Modi said he was pleased that today the immunization coverage among children was nearing 100 per cent through the Mission Indradhanush as against less than 60 per cent coverage in the past. He added that the children in the remotest villages were being immunized today. These efforts, he said, had reduced a lot of the woes of poor and middle class families. The Prime Minister exhorted that the Government was leaving no stone unturned to remove the difficulties in the lives of citizens. He noted that more than 2.5 crore households were electrified through the Free Electricity scheme which had no electric connection until a few years ago. He also noted that the Mobile towers were installed in the remotest areas to ensure mobile connectivity to the people through 4G and 5G technologies. He further added that high speed broadband connection was now available in the islands of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep through Underwater Optical Fiber connections. \ The Prime Minister remarked that India had taken a lead over the developed nations in ensuring land records of houses and agricultural lands in India. He added that under the PM Swamitva Yojana, drone mapping of the land and houses of the village and legal documents were issued on its basis. PM Modi remarked that rapid development of modern infrastructure was a great necessity for the development of the country. He added that the completion of infrastructure projects on time ensured saving of money as well as ensuring the utility of the project itself. He said that infrastructure projects were regularly reviewed using the PRAGATI platform, chaired by the Prime Minister himself, and more than Rs 18 lakh crore worth of projects were reviewed and the obstacles facing them were removed. The Prime Minister aid that the timely completion of the infrastructure projects had a multitude of positive effects on the lives of the people. He added that these efforts were ensuring the progress of the country as well as strengthening the basic spirit of the Constitution. In his remarks, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the Constitution is the fundamental base of unity, integrity, and development of India. "It's a living document of the ideals of democracy in the biggest democracy - termed as the mother of democracy," he said. PM Modi released Annual Report of the Indian Judiciary 2023-24. Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Judges of the Supreme Court and Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal were among those present. (ANI)
The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is set to hold a meeting on Wednesday. The opposition members in the Joint Parliament Committee on the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024 had requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for an extension to the panel's tenure. The Winter Session of Parliament commenced on Monday morning but faced early disruptions, leading to the adjournment of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for the day. In the Rajya Sabha, proceedings were stalled as Opposition MPs demanded a discussion on allegations of bribery involving the Gautam Adani group. The Upper House was initially adjourned until 11:45 am, but continued protests from Opposition MPs for a discussion on the Adani issue led to its adjournment for the rest of the day. In the Lok Sabha, the session began with Speaker Om Birla reading out obituary references before adjourning the session until noon. Shortly thereafter, the Chair adjourned the House for the day, with both Houses scheduled to reconvene on Wednesday. Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader V Muraleedharan on Monday criticised the opposition parties over the Waqf Amendment Bill, accusing the Congress and the Communist parties of playing a "double game" on the issue. "The Congress and Communist parties are playing a double game on the issue of the Waqf amendment bill. In Kerala and in Cochin, where the Christian and fisherman community is on an agitational path for establishing their rights, where the Waqf board has given an unjustifiable notice to the owners of their land, the CPM and Congress leaders come and support them. But when they go to Delhi, they oppose the rightful authority of the people holding their property..." said the BJP leader. Meanwhile, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi called the bill a "grave violation of Article 26 of the Constitution." Owaisi made the statement after meeting with other opposition MPs and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday, to raise their demand for an extension of the Joint Parliament Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. Highlighting the drawbacks of the bill, AIMIM chief Owaisi alleged that the government is bringing this bill to eradicate the Waqf Board rather than strengthening it. He questioned the "intention" of the government behind this bill. Since August 22, the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, has held several meetings, reviewing the work of six ministries and around 195 organisations. Of these, 146 organisations were heard across the country, and the secretariat received nearly 95 lakh suggestions related to the Waqf Bill. It is worth noting 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)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav held talks with businessmen from the UK to boost investments in his home state. The businessmen expressed confidence in India's growth trajectory and the investment opportunities available in Madhya Pradesh. On meeting with Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav, a Member of the UK's House of Lords, Raminder Ranger expressed happiness on meeting the Chief Minister. In an interview with ANI, he said, "I am very happy to meet the Chief Minister today. He had a meeting with us and told us about the ample opportunities for investment in Madhya Pradesh". "The future belongs to India. Economies in Europe and America are stagnating. The only place where the economy is growing is India," he added. Commenting further on the Indian economy, Raminder Ranger praised India's impressive growth rate, noting, "In India, 7-8 per cent growth is phenomenal given the size of the country". He noted that since India is a very secular, democratic country, with the "rule of law is at the heart of governance", they (businessmen) are confident to work with India as the country offers stability, is away from fundamentalism and there is no fear of a coup thus the investments will be safe, he told ANI. Raminder Ranger also said that it is the Indian DNA to work hard and move forward. He cited the example of Indians leading blue-chip companies across the world as a testament to their hard work and loyalty. "The returns of investments into India will be very quick and very big". He remarked. He noted that the British Businessmen received a lot of encouragement that CM Mohan Yadav had come to make the case of his state, which has got opportunities". Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is currently on a week-long visit to the United Kingdom (UK) and Germany from November 24 to November 30 to attract investment to the state. The visit underscores the Madhya Pradesh government's commitment to advancing industrial development and fostering meaningful collaborations beyond investments. (ANI)
Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Yadav, marked a significant and productive day in strengthening Indo-British relations through a series of strategic engagements in London, emphasising the growing partnership between Madhya Pradesh and the United Kingdom. During his first official visit as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Yadav had an engaging day interacting with industry leaders, members of parliament, and people from the Indian Diaspora. Mohan Yadav is currently on a seven-day visit along with a senior delegation of state officials to promote investment opportunities offered by Madhya Pradesh. The day commenced with a prestigious reception at the British Parliament, where Baroness Verma, President of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on India (Trade & Investment), welcomed the Chief Minister to Westminster. During the comprehensive tour of both Houses of Parliament, CM Yadav engaged in substantive discussions on enhancing economic cooperation between Madhya Pradesh and the UK, laying the groundwork for future collaborative ventures. In a moment of profound significance, the Chief Minister paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue in Parliament Square, Westminster. Reflecting on Gandhian principles of peace and progress, CM Yadav emphasised how they align with the state's vision for sustainable development and global cooperation. The diplomatic engagement continued with a high-level parliamentary luncheon, where CM Yadav presented Madhya Pradesh's compelling vision for sustainable growth and development. The Chief Minister highlighted the state's leadership in India's renewable energy revolution and its commitment to fostering an investor-friendly environment. A significant announcement during the luncheon was the formal invitation for the UK to participate as a Partner Country in the upcoming Global Investors Summit scheduled for February 2025 in Bhopal. In pursuit of urban development excellence, CM Yadav, accompanied by senior officials, visited the prestigious Kings Cross redevelopment project. The delegation engaged with Tom Goodall of Related Argent, gaining valuable insights into sustainable urban renewal and heritage preservation. This visit was particularly relevant to understand the perfect model to achieve public-private partnership to develop large-scale redevelopment models which can be done sustainably, this strongly demonstrates the state's commitment to learning from global best practices in urban development. The day culminated in a momentous diaspora engagement event organised by CII and Friends of the MP Chapter of the UK. The gathering served as a vital platform for connecting with the Indian diaspora in the UK, where CM Yadav presented the myriad investment opportunities available in Madhya Pradesh. The Chief Minister's address highlighted the state's rich cultural heritage and robust economic growth, encouraging the diaspora to participate in Madhya Pradesh's development journey for sustainable growth and a secure environment. CM Mohan Yadav emphasised the changing face of Madhya Pradesh and showcased the state's robust policy in pharmaceuticals, energy, renewable, automobile, education, medical tourism and other manufacturing opportunities in various sectors offered by the state. He made an impassioned presentation about Madhya Pradesh's unique identity as a cultural and spiritual haven. "Madhya Pradesh is not just an investment destination; it is the heart of Incredible India, where ancient traditions meet modern aspirations," remarked the Chief Minister. As quoted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the diaspora is a living bridge that connects two nations. He extended a heartfelt invitation to the diaspora and international community to experience the state's rich tapestry of attractions first-hand. The event successfully fostered stronger bonds between the state and its global community while highlighting Madhya Pradesh's potential as a premier investment destination. These engagements reflect Madhya Pradesh's proactive approach to international cooperation and its commitment to sustainable development. The activities have set a strong foundation for enhanced collaboration between Madhya Pradesh and the United Kingdom, particularly in areas of trade, investment, urban development, and cultural exchange. The delegation's visit continues to build momentum for exploring substantial investment opportunities between Madhya Pradesh and British businesses, while further strengthening the cultural and social ties that bind our communities together. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav engaged with businessmen from the UK to promote investment opportunities in his home state. The businessmen lauded India's growth trajectory and expressed confidence in the potential for investment in Madhya Pradesh. On meeting with MP CM Mohan Yadav, a Member of the UK's House of Lords, Kulveer Ranger shared his thoughts stating, "We've had a fantastic session with the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and the delegation that are all here". He said that they are looking forward to the Global Investment Summit that Madhya Pradesh will be hosting next February. In an interview with ANI, Kulveer Ranger emphasised that the meeting helped to build upon the understanding of Madhya Pradesh. He remarked, "Madhya Pradesh has so much to offer!" Highlighting the areas of investment in Madhya Pradesh, Ranger made a note of sectors. He said, "Investment into solar energy, its (Madhya Pradesh's) ecosystems around technology, its higher education successes, the amount of the population that is there and working and has huge opportunities in agriculture and health tech as well". Ranger said that it was great to hear from the Chief Minister about the opportunities MP has to offer. Echoing the sentiment of Prime Minister Modi calling the Indian diaspora as "living bridges", Ranger said that the All Party Parliamentary Group for India in the UK will see what it can do to "help build those relationships, make those connections, and the potential investment between us and Madhya Pradesh". Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is on a week-long visit to the United Kingdom (UK) and Germany from November 24 to November 30 to attract investment to the state. The visit underscores the Madhya Pradesh government's commitment to advancing industrial development and fostering meaningful collaborations beyond investments. (ANI)
One person died and dozens were injured in Islamabad during a protest organized by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party of incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Express Tribune reported. As per the Express Tribune, a police constable has died from severe injuries, and over 70 officers were injured during violent clashes with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protesters in Islamabad. The PTI, in a post on X, said, "Around 20 people have been directly shot by the current fascist government, which is using brute force to prevent citizens from reaching Islamabad for a peaceful protest against the regime". https://x.com/PTIofficial/status/1861132783030280230 It also noted, "The government has employed every means of repression, including expired tear gas shells, rubber bullets, and stun grenades. They have resorted to every tactic imaginable to suppress dissent because this military-backed regime is clinging to a stolen mandate, which the people of Pakistan are demanding be returned to its rightful winner, Imran Khan. With Pakistan virtually under lockdown, the situation continues to deteriorate". The party gave a call to the international community to take immediate notice of the situation unfolding in Pakistan and raise its voice to restore democracy and protect human rights in Pakistan. https://x.com/PTIofficial/status/1861148938956329145 In a post on X, PTI shared that thousands of Pakistanis were peacefully marching in Islamabad for the fulfilment of three agendas, namely, the revocation of the 26th Amendment and restoration of Pakistan's constitution, return of the stolen mandate, release of political prisoners". https://x.com/PTIofficial/status/1861099655972389052 In light of the protests, the Chairperson of PTI, Gohar Khan and Saif held a 90-minute meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, the Express Tribune noted. Following the meeting, Gohar Khan described the discussion as significant, confirming that Imran Khan's call for a protest remains final and that rumours about it being cancelled were untrue, according to the Express Tribune. Speaking to the media after the meeting, Gohar Khan emphasised that the PTI founder's stance on the protest was unchanged, and the movement would proceed as planned. The meeting focused on strategic discussions regarding the ongoing political situation and the party's future course of action, the Express Tribune reported. (ANI)
The Indian High Commission in London hosted the inaugural and first sessions of the 2nd Indo-Pacific Conference, where Foreign Office Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West delivered the keynote address. The event was co-hosted with the Australian and Singapore High Commission in London on Monday, in partnership with IISS News. The Indian High Commission in London said in a post on X, "Hosted the inaugural and first sessions of the 2nd Indo-Pacific Conference this morning at Indian High Commission in London. Honoured by the presence of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West who delivered the keynote address. The dialogue continues with a session each at Arundel House and Australia House. This event was co-hosted with Australian High Commission in London and Singaporean High Commission in London, partnered by IISS News. Together, we aim to foster deeper cooperation for a secure, resilient, and prosperous Indo-Pacific." https://x.com/HCI_London/status/1861102494291538201 https://x.com/HCI_London/status/1861105555865055542 "We know that the Indo-Pacific is crucial for the UK, for three reasons. Firstly, boosting economic growth, secondly, tackling climate change, and thirdly strengthening national and global security. And these are shared challenges, where progress is in our mutual interest," West said. West said that she visited the Indo-Pacific region four times since they won the General Election in July this year. "When we won the general election in July this year... I've visited the region four times, covering 10 countries, and the Foreign Secretary travelled to the region in his first three weeks. Of course since then, last week at the G20, [the Prime Minister was] enhancing the relationships and having a deep conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi," she said. West said that the UK wants a rules-based international system in the Indo-Pacific. "For us, this is a generational mission, a long-term strategic posture, not just a short-term shift for the sake of soundbites. We want a free and open Indo-Pacific underpinned by the rules-based international system. Because rules matter. They matter for trade and growth. They matter for good governance, and they matter for our collective security, which also explains why our engagements are guided by four key principles. To promote peace and security in the Indo-Pacific, to support growth and create economic opportunities for all, to seize opportunities for clean energy transition, and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals while building more resilient economies," she said. (ANI)
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) reported an increase in Chinese military activity around the island, detecting five People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, seven PLAN vessels and one official ship operating in the vicinity of Taiwan as of 6am on Tuesday. Four of the detected aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, entering Taiwan's southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). In a post on X, the Taiwanese MND said, "5 PLA aircraft, 7 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 4 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1861213280779542819 In recent times, Chinese incursion has increased in Taiwan. In response, Taiwan has stepped up security on its maritime borders. On Monday, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) detected 12 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, and seven PLAN vessels operating in the vicinity of Taiwan. Eight of the detected aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, entering Taiwan's southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). In a post on X, the MND stated, "12 PLA aircraft, 7 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 8 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1860850899435868349 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/1860536319677726848 Last week, 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 Defence Lloyd Austin III reaffirmed their commitment to regional security. (ANI)
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on Tuesday urged India to speak to Bangladeshi government regarding the detention of Chinmoy Krishna Das, one of the prominent leaders of ISKCON Bangladesh. Calling the allegations baseless', ISKCON condemned the detention of by Dhaka police and said that it has nothing to do with terrorism anywhere. In a post on X, ISKCON stated, "We have come across disturbing reports that Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das, one of the prominent leaders of ISKCON Bangladesh, has been detained by the Dhaka police. It is outrageous to make baseless allegations that ISKCON has anything to do with terrorism anywhere in the world. ISKCON, Inc. urges the Government of India to take immediate steps and speak to the Government of Bangladesh and convey that we are a peace-loving Bhakti movement. We want the Government of Bangladesh to release Chinmoy Krishna Das immediately. Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the protection of these devotees." https://x.com/IskconInc/status/1861095455465316393 BJP leader Dilip Ghosh from West Medinipur, West Bengal told ANI that there is an attempt to suppress Hindu people in Bangladesh. "Atrocities are happening on the Hindu community in Bangladesh. Das opposed the suppression, hence he was detained. No one knows where he is. There is an attempt to suppress Hindu people there." Chief Priest of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Acharya Satyendra Das condemned the act by the Dhaka police. "This is absolutely wrong. I believe Bangladesh is also treating Hindus the way Pakistan used to treat them. The people who take a stand for Hindus are arrested like this, which is wrong. Our government should intervene in this. If government does not say anything, atrocities against Hindus will continue." Chandan Kumar Dhar, also known as Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, former leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), was arrested on Monday afternoon from Dhaka airport, The Daily Star reported. The arrest was made by a team of detectives in the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area of Dhaka in connection with a case filed in Chattogram, according to Rezaul Karim Mallick, additional commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police and chief of Detective Branch. A sedition case was filed on October 31 against 19 people, including Chinmoy, former divisional organising secretary of the ISKCON, Chattogram, with Kotwali Police Station, as per The Daily Star. Firoz Khan, then general secretary of Mohora ward Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), filed the case alleging disrespect to Bangladesh's national flag in Chattogram's New Market area during a rally of the Hindu community on August 25. (ANI)
The US Government, in partnership with The Tibet Fund and the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), announced a new program to support Tibetan communities in India and Nepal, an official statement said. The new five-year program, "Strengthening Economic, Social, and Cultural Resilience of Tibetan Communities in South Asia," led by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), builds on decades of collaboration to support Tibetan communities, reflecting a shared commitment to their welfare, self-reliance, and cultural preservation, the statement said. Elected Tibetan leaders and officials of Central Tibetan Administration of Tibetan Government in-exile gathered at Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) in upper Dharamshala to welcome the US officials for the launch of this programme on Monday evening, the statement said. As per the statement, this initiative seeks to empower Tibetan communities by fostering sustainable livelihoods, enhancing social resilience, and preserving Tibetan cultural heritage. It places the Central Tibetan Administration at the forefront of development efforts, supporting its leadership in delivering locally driven solutions for its communities. Key program activities include job training, entrepreneurship support, and skills development to promote economic independence, as well as preserving Tibetan language, arts, and traditions. USAID Mission Director Steve Olive said, "The US government's commitment to preserving Tibetan culture and fostering economic independence is unwavering. This new initiative strengthens community bonds, deepens economic opportunities, and celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Tibetan communities. By working closely with the Central Tibetan Administration and The Tibet Fund, we aim to empower Tibetans to build resilient and self- reliant communities for generations to come." Officiating Sikyong Dolma applauded USAID's support and said that USAID has been a longstanding, steadfast partner to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) for many years, playing a pivotal role in our development efforts. This new initiative is a powerful step forward, poised to strengthen the economic, social, and cultural resilience of the Tibetan community in South Asia. It will not only strengthen our efforts towards preserving our rich cultural heritage and traditions but also empower future generations to thrive and shape a brighter, more sustainable future. This initiative underscores the longstanding partnership among the US government, The Tibet Fund, and the Central Tibetan Administration. By advancing economic opportunities, promoting sustainable development, and safeguarding cultural heritage, it reflects a shared vision for a future where Tibetan communities can thrive and maintain their unique identity. (ANI)
The East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) on Tuesday issued a powerful statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, condemning the systemic violence faced by Uyghur, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Turkic women under China's oppressive rule in East Xinjiang. https://x.com/ETExileGov/status/1861155064632746143?t=eqXOe_5z_1psYPRpLwu19Q&s=08 In a post on X, ETGE expressed its outrage, stating, "The East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women by condemning and exposing the widespread and deliberate genocidal violence faced by Uyghur, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Turkic women under China's brutal occupation of East Turkistan. For decades, East Turkistani women have endured forced abortions, sterilisations, systemic sexual violence, state-sponsored rape under the guise of forced "marriages," and torture--heinous crimes against humanity aimed at erasing their identity and humanity, along with the future of our nation." The ETGE called for immediate international attention and action, urging governments, women's rights organisations, and activists to take decisive measures to stop the atrocities and hold China accountable. It stated, "The ETGE unequivocally condemns these atrocities and calls on the international community, including governments, women's rights organisations, and activists, to take decisive action. Restoring East Turkistan's independence is not only a moral imperative but the only path to safeguarding the freedoms, human rights, safety, and very existence of the East Turkistani people--especially its women." The ETGE stressed that the violence faced by women in Xinjiang is a direct consequence of China's occupation and ongoing genocidal policies. ETGE stated, "Violence against women in East Turkistan is a direct consequence of Chinese occupation and genocide. On this day, we demand an end to China's prolonged genocidal violence against East Turkistani women." The ongoing atrocities against the Uyghur Muslim minority in China's Xinjiang region continue to draw widespread international condemnation as reports of large-scale human rights abuses persist. The Chinese government has been accused of carrying out a systematic campaign of repression, involving mass arbitrary detentions, forced labour, forced assimilation, religious persecution, and cultural suppression aimed at eradicating the Uyghur identity. According to reports, Uyghur women have been detained in "reeducation" camps along with men and children. These camps, which the Chinese government claims are vocational training centres, have been the sites of widespread abuse, including forced labour. Women are often subjected to hard labour, such as manufacturing goods under oppressive conditions, with little to no rights or protections. Many report physical and psychological torture during their detention. (ANI)
Former Ambassador of Israel to India, Naor Gilon commemorated the 16th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack, drawing a tragic connection to the recent incident of the murder of Israeli-Moldovan Rabbi Zvi Kogan in the United Arab Emirates. Taking to social media platform X on Tuesday, Gilon pointed out that Kogan's wife was the niece of Rabbi Gabi Holtzberg, who was killed during the 26/11 attacks on the Chabad House in Mumbai back in 2008. "As we commemorate 16 years to the horrific Mumbai attacks, terror sends another sad reminder. The wife of Zvi Kogan, the Chabad Rabbi who was murdered in the UAE last week, is the niece of Rabbi Gabi Holtzberg, who was murdered in the 26/11 attack on Mumbai Chabad house," the former ambassador of Israel to India said. https://x.com/NaorGilon/status/1861239175657169259 Kogan, an outreach rabbi with the Chabad movement who worked in Abu Dhabi, was found dead in the UAE on Sunday. He had been reported missing since Thursday in the Arab nations. In addition to his outreach, the 28-year-old Kogan also ran a kosher grocery store. He is survived by his wife, who is a US national. Notably, at least 174 people, including 20 security force personnel and 26 foreigners, were killed and more than 300 injured in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008. Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu and several union ministers also paid tributes to the martyred security personnel who bravely fought against terrorists. "A grateful nation salutes its valiant security personnel who made ultimate sacrifice while protecting our people. It is also the day to reiterate that India remains firmly committed to defeating terrorism in all its forms," the X post by the President read. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also said that terrorism is a blot on the entire human civilisation, calling India a world leader in anti-terrorism initiatives. "Terrorism is a blot on the entire human civilization. The Modi government's 'zero tolerance' policy against terrorism has been appreciated by the entire world and today India has become a world leader in anti-terrorism initiatives," Amit Shah's post on X said. Today is the 16th anniversary of the 26/11 attacks, a series of coordinated terror attacks at the Taj Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Leopold Cafe, Mumbai Chabad House, Nariman House, Cama Hospital, and Metro Cinema by ten Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists. The ten Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists came to Mumbai via the sea route from Pakistan and carried out the attacks. (ANI)
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally on Tuesday entered Pakistan's capital cityIslamabad under the leadership of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur marking the start of a significant 'do-or-die' protest for the release of PTI founder and the country's premier Imran Khan from prison, ARY News reported. The rally, which includes convoys from Hazara Division, DI Khan, and Balochistan, merged with Gandapur's motorcade at the Hakla interchange, ARY News reported. Alongside Gandapur, Bushra Bibi, the wife of Imran Khan, and other senior PTI leaders are participating in the protest. This move follows reports that earlier negotiations between the government and PTI failed to yield any agreements. According to ARY News, citing sources, discussions took place at the Minister's Enclave, with representatives from both sides unable to come to a resolution. The government's delegation included Amir Muqam, Ayaz Sadiq, and Mohsin Naqvi, while PTI was represented by Asad Qaiser, Shibli Faraz, and Barrister Gohar. Meanwhile, Barrister Gohar visited Adiala Jail twice on the same day to deliver an important message to Imran Khan, ARY News reported, citing sources. The government has reportedly suggested relocating the protest from Peshawar Morr to Sangjani for better management. Additionally, they proposed the formation of a committee to discuss the release of detained PTI members, warning that failure to comply could result in a targeted operation to disperse the protest, ARY News reported, citing sources. Concerns about public safety and security were raised, with reports suggesting the presence of wanted individuals and Afghan terrorists within the PTI protest. Earlier in the day, a meeting was held at Adiala Jail involving Imran Khan, Barrister Gohar, and Barrister Muhammad Ali, during which discussions took place about engaging in further talks with government representatives and considering alternative protest locations, including D-Chowk. (ANI)
Spiritual guru and founder of the Isha Foundation, Sadhguru, on Tuesday came out strongly and expressed grave concern over the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a prominent ISKCON leader in Bangladesh. Taking to social media platform X, Sadhguru highlighted the shift from a democratic to a theocratic and autocratic system in Bangladesh, stressing the importance of understanding the value of an open democracy. He pointed out that persecution based on religion or demographic weaknesses is not in line with democratic ideals. Sadhguru also called on the citizens of Bangladesh to take responsibility for rebuilding a democratic nation where all individuals can exercise their rights and live according to their needs and beliefs. "It is disgraceful to see how a democratic nation is disintegrating to become theocratic and autocratic. It is the responsibility of every citizen to understand the value of having an open democracy. Persecution on the basis of religion or weakness of demographics is not the way of democratic nations. Unfortunately, our neighbourhood has slipped away from democratic principles," he said. "It should be the responsibility of every citizen of Bangladesh to build back a democratic nation where all citizens will have the needed rights and ability to fulfil their lives as per their requirements and beliefs," he added. On Monday, Chandan Kumar Dhar, also known as Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, leader of ISKCON, was arrested at Dhaka airport, the Daily Star reported. The arrest was made by a team of detectives in the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area of Dhaka in connection with a case filed in Chattogram, according to Rezaul Karim Mallick, additional commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police and chief of the Detective Branch. A sedition case was filed on October 31 against 19 people, including Chinmoy, former divisional organising secretary of the ISKCON, Chattogram, with Kotwali Police Station, as per The Daily Star. Firoz Khan, then general secretary of the Mohora ward of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), filed the case alleging disrespect to Bangladesh's national flag in Chattogram's New Market area during a rally of the Hindu community on August 25. Meanwhile, ISKCON today urged India to speak to the Bangladeshi government regarding the detention of Chinmoy Krishna Das, calling the allegations "baseless". ISKCON condemned the detention by Dhaka police and said that it has nothing to do with terrorism anywhere. Notably, Sadhguru had consistently voiced his support for the safety and dignity of Bangladeshi Hindus. Earlier, on X, he said, "The atrocities being perpetrated against Hindus is not just an internal matter of Bangladesh. Bharat cannot be Maha-Bharat if we do not stand up and act at the earliest to ensure the safety of minorities in our neighbourhood. What was part of this nation, unfortunately, became a neighbourhood, but it is our responsibility to protect these people--who actually belong to this civilisation--from these shocking atrocities" while condemning the attacks on Hindu houses and businesses back in August 2024. (ANI)
Responding on the arrest and denial of bail of Chinmoy Krishna Das the Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday urged Bangladeshi government to ensure the safety and security of Hindus. "We have noted with deep concern the arrest and denial of bail to Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is also the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote", the statement said. https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1861326702414106960 "This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. There are several documented cases of arson and looting of minorities' homes and business establishments, as well as theft and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples", the statement said. "It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings. We also note with concern the attacks on minorities protesting peacefully against the arrest of Das. We urge Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression," the statement added. Chinmoy Krishna Das who was arrested on Monday was on Tuesday produced before a Chittagong court that reused to entertain his bail plea and sent him to custon. The Dhaka Tribune reoported that Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was presented before Judge Kazi Shariful Islam of the Chittagong Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate's Court at 11am on Tuesday. Chinmoy Krishna's lawyers filed a bail petition, which was rejected by the court, ordering him to be sent to jail. Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Additional Deputy Commissioner Kazi Md Tarek Aziz said Chinmoy was brought to Chittagong by road at night. He faces a sedition case at Kotwali police station, and he was arrested in connection with that case and brought to court. A handle on X, Voice of Bangladeshi Hindus that has been documenting alleged attrocities against minority Hindus in Bangladesh, quoted Chinmoy Prabhu as saying from the court premises, "Whatever happens to me, you don't stop the logical movement.... we call upon all the Hindu monks of India to stand against it. All Hindu monks of India should organize a protest rally against Islamist Jihadi Yunus." https://x.com/hindu8789/status/1861291790516793824 Earlier in the day, International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on Tuesday urged India to speak to the Bangladeshi government regarding the detention of Chinmoy Krishna Das, one of the prominent leaders of ISKCON Bangladesh. (ANI)
The US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti on Tuesday paid his respects to the victims of the deadly 26/11 terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai. Today, on the 16th anniversary of the attack, Garcetti said that the US pledges to continue the fight against acts of terror with India. In a post on X, he said, "Today marks the 16th anniversary of the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. We honor the memory of the victims lost and pledge to continue the fight against acts of terror together with the Government of India." https://x.com/USAmbIndia/status/1861276459718905889 Earlier in the day, remembering the victims of the 26/11 terror attack, Consul General of Israel for Midwest India in Mumbai, Kobbi Shoshani paid his tribute to the martyrs on Tuesday at Nariman House in Mumbai. Remembering when he came to Colaba a few days after the attacks, he told ANI, "I was sent here at Nariman House in Colaba 2-3 days after the event took place here. I still remember the ammunition smell. It was very terrible." He further said that the terrorists wanted to create fear and break the economy, however as he sees the bustling restaurants, he sees a victory against terrorism. "When I see full restaurants and people walking, buying, shopping and roaming freely, I feel this is the biggest victory against terrorism. The aim of the terrorists was not to kill people, they wanted to create fear and break the economy but when I see restaurants, shops and people at the train stations and other places, I fully understand that we won against terrorism. India won against terrorism," he told ANI. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday paid floral tributes to the bravehearts at the Martyrs Memorial in Mumbai on the 16th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar and state's governor C P Radhakrishnan also paid tributes at the Martyrs' Memorial on the premises of the Commissioner's Office today. (ANI)
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday strongly condemned the attack on Rangers and police officers by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf protesters in Islamabad, ARY News reported. In a statement, Sharif called for the immediate identification and accountability of those responsible for the incident. The Prime Minister emphasised the need to provide the highest level of medical care to the Rangers and police officers injured in the attack and stated that assaults on law enforcement personnel, masked as peaceful protests, are entirely unacceptable, ARY News reported. He reminded that the police and the Rangers are responsible for maintaining law and order in the city. Sharif described the group responsible for the attack as anarchistic, suggesting that their actions reflect a desire for violence rather than legitimate protest, and labelled it as extremism, ARY News reported. He stressed that Pakistan cannot tolerate any form of chaos or violence, condemning bloodshed fuelled by malicious political motives. Earlier, during the ongoing Tehreek-e-Insaf protest demanding the release of Imran Khan from Adiala Jail, at least four Pakistan Rangers personnel were killed when a vehicle ran them over on Srinagar Highway. In addition, five others, including police officers, were injured in the incident. According to ARY News, citing security sources, 25 policemen have been killed, and more than 100 others have been injured in the violent protests since they began on November 24. The incident prompted the deployment of the Pakistan Army in Islamabad under Article 245 of the Constitution, with shoot-at-sight orders reportedly issued, ARY News reported, citing sources. Meanwhile, the Tehreek-e-Insaaf rally entered Islamabad today under the leadership of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur marking the start of a significant 'do-or-die' protest for the release of PTI founder and the country's premier Imran Khan from prison, ARY News reported. The rally, which includes convoys from Hazara Division, DI Khan, and Balochistan, merged with Gandapur's motorcade at the Hakla interchange, ARY News reported. Alongside Gandapur, Bushra Bibi, the wife of Imran Khan, and other senior PTI leaders are participating in the protest. (ANI)
Sophie Primas, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, will be in India on a three-day official trip from November 27-29 to boost Indo-French business and innovation ties, an official statement said. Primas will begin her India trip on November 27 in Delhi, where she will meet Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry. She will seek to enhance ease of doing business and investment flows between France and India, the goal being to not only increase French investments in India but also invite more Indian FDI into France, Europe's leading FDI destination, the statement said. Primas and Goyal will open the France-India CEOs Forum concluding session co-chaired by Paul Hermelin, Chairman - CapGemini Board of Directors, and Hari Bhartia, Co-Chairman - Jubilant Life Sciences Limited, the statement said. In the afternoon, Primas will address the 2024 Asia-Pacific Forum of Foreign Trade Advisers of France and give away the Grand Prix VIE Asia-Pacific, awarded to young business professionals (VIEs). On November 28, Primas will travel to Chennai, Tamil Nadu, where French companies bring numerous jobs and skills and contribute to the dynamic State's economic success story. She will meet T R B Rajaa, Minister of Industry, Investment Promotions and Commerce to discuss ways of further increasing France's flourishing economic and business ties with the state. In Chennai, Primas will also visit the R&D Centre of Saint Gobain, leading French manufacturer of glass, and light and sustainable construction materials. Located at the IIT Madras Research Park, the R&D centre has developed an ecosystem remarkable for fostering innovation by linking academic researchers with the industrial sector and partnering with start-ups, as per the statement. On November 29, Primas will inaugurate the new French international school in the presence of the Mayor of Chennai, Priya Ranjan. Offering a bilingual track, this international school brings the excellence of the French education system to Chennai, the statement added. Primas will be in Puducherry on November 29, where she will pay a courtesy call on the Lieutenant Governor, M K Kailashnathan. She will also lay a wreath at the French War Memorial in tribute to those who laid down their lives for France in World War I. Lastly, she will visit the Lycee francais international de Pondichery to interact with students, teachers, parents and alumni. (ANI)
Dubai [UAE], November 26 (ANI/WAM): The UAE's Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office, in partnership with the Emirati Human Resources Development Council (EHRDC) in Dubai, has launched the pioneering initiative to train 5,000 Emirati students in future technologies over the next five years. The move is under the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, and Chairman of the Higher Committee for Future Technology and Digital Economy. This initiative aligns with Dubai's strategic vision to equip Emirati talent with the skills required to enhance the digital economy, position the nation as a global leader in innovation and sustainability and empower youth for leadership roles in rapidly evolving technology sectors. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, stated that the UAE government continues to work to implement the leadership's directives by investing in national talents and empowering them with the tools and skills necessary to enhance their role in shaping the future. He pointed out that the government, through its plans, strategies, and initiatives, seeks to empower individuals and national talents, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed for active participation in the comprehensive digital development journey, focusing on innovation and developing national talents. Al Olama further added that equipping national talents and young generations with digital skills aligns with the UAE's approach, aiming to ensure a promising digital future where every individual in society contributes to driving positive change and shaping a more innovative future. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Chairman of the EHRDC, stated, "This initiative demonstrates our unwavering commitment to empowering Emirati talent to lead in the digital economy. These partnerships reflect the Council's leadership in bridging academia and industry, ensuring our youth have the skills and tools to thrive in the technology sector. This aligns with Dubai's vision of fostering innovation and achieving sustainable economic growth." As part of the 5000 Digital Talent initiative, the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office, in collaboration with the EHRDC, signed an MoU to enhance partnerships with technology companies. The initiative aims to develop talent and train 5,000 students over five years, ensuring a future-ready workforce. The Council also signed MoUs with LinkedIn, SAS and universities, including the University of Dubai, Zayed University, and Higher Colleges of Technology, to enhance students' skills and readiness for professional roles in the technology sector through digital development, industry-specific training, mentorship, and practical learning opportunities. Targeting third and fourth year university students, the initiative provides mentorship, practical training, and access to leading industry partners. The launch ceremony, attended by high-ranking officials, industry leaders, and university students, highlighted the strategic importance of these partnerships in shaping the UAE's digital future. (ANI/WAM)
Dubai [UAE], November 26 (ANI/WAM): The Union Coop has begun studying the transition from a consumer cooperative society to a public joint-stock company (PJSC). The decision was announced during the Board of Directors meeting on Monday and forms part of the cooperative's strategy to enhance its financial resources, boost competitiveness, and meet its long-term goals, including expanding its reach, developing projects, and improving services for shareholders, customers, and the community. This transformation aligns with Union Coop's efforts to keep pace with the developments in the UAE's retail sector, in line with the leadership's vision. If realised, the transition is expected to contribute to the local economy while strengthening transparency and governance systems. The Union Coop would operate under the regulations governing public joint-stock companies, subject to stringent regulatory oversight. This would enhance transparency, improve credibility in financial transactions, and increase shareholders' confidence in the company's operations. The move to a PJSC would offer several benefits, including new investment opportunities for shareholders, who would benefit from the company's performance and financial results. Shareholders would also have the chance to diversify their portfolios through stock trading on the financial market, potentially increasing long-term returns. The transition would also enable Union Coop to expand into new regions, providing services to a wider customer base and implementing best corporate governance practices. Following a request by the 2023 General Assembly, Union Coop appointed Al-Tamimi Company to conduct a comprehensive study on the feasibility of this transformation. The study will assess the legal and financial implications, along with a review of relevant regulations, and will be presented to the relevant authorities and the General Assembly for a final decision. (ANI/WAM)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav paid tribute to Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar at Ambedkar House in London on the occasion of Constitution day of India on Tuesday. CM Yadav is on a six-day visit to the United Kingdom (UK) and Germany, with a focus on boosting investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh by engaging with industrialists, business leaders, and government representatives in both countries. "I offer my humble tribute to Babasaheb Ambedkar and I remember the incredible constitution given to us by him. Everyone including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah is not only celebrating Constitution Day but also remembering Dr BR Ambedkar," CM Yadav told ANI. He further mentioned that he was on a London visit to meet investors and it was his good fortune that he got the opportunity to go to the residence of Ambedkar where he stayed for almost two years for studies. "I am here in London to meet investors for the Global Investor Summit to be held in Bhopal next year and it has been a fortune that I got the opportunity to come to the residence of BR Ambedkar where he stayed for almost 2 years for studies. Today, we have also taken a pledge and along with this, the Madhya Pradesh government will also organise programs so that the people of the state will get aware of the values of the constitution. I extend my best wishes to everyone," he added. Additionally, the Chief Minister office wrote on X, "CM extends greetings to the people of state as well as the people of the country on the occasion of Constitution Day. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India is running a campaign to make people aware of all the articles of the Constitution." The post further read that the Madhya Pradesh government was organising various programs on the occasion of Constitution Day in the state. Meanwhile, on the occasion of Constitution Day, President of India, Droupadi Murmu released a commemorative postage stamp on the occasion of 75 years of the Constitution of India at Samvidhan Sadan. President Droupadi Murmu also released two books related to the Constitution of India on the occasion of 75 years of the Constitution of India at Samvidhan Sadan. The book titled, "Making of the Constitution of India: A Glimpse" and "Making of the Constitution of India & its Glorious Journey" were released. Additionally, President Murmu released the Sanskrit and Maithili copies of the Constitution. President Droupadi Murmu, joined by other prominent leaders, collectively recited the Preamble to the Indian Constitution. The event commemorates the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949. The Constitution formally came into effect on January 26, 1950. (ANI)
In the light of protests in Pakistan by the Tehreek-e-Insaf party headed by the country's former premier Imran Khan, defence expert Anil Gaur has opined that the country is now reaping what it sowed and that the recent demonstrations indicate that democracy cannot be suppressed. Gaur noted that Imran Khan was removed by various forces, which triggered massive unrest in the country. "Pakistan is reaping what it sowed. Basically, Imran Khan was removed by... the regime change, George Soros and others. Because Imran Khan was perceived to be going closer to China and Russia, and therefore they wanted him removed. And this is a direct result of that. The way Imran Khan was removed on corruption charges and now he's been exonerated. There is no judgment against him that he has done any act of treason or anything at all. We saw when he was imprisoned, removed, how the public anger against the army, where the corps commander's house was also burned down and others and all took place. Now this is in continuation to that," he said. Gaur said that Pakistani people are fed up of army and the ISI, which has resulted in a civil war-like situation in the country. "You cannot suppress democracy anymore in Pakistan because Pakistan public is now fed up with the dictators of the army and the ISI and the deep state. And therefore, we see there's a civil war-like situation. We see what is happening in Balochistan. We see what is happening in the Pakistan-occupied Jammu-Kashmir. And we see what is happening in Peshawar, where recently there have been about five to seven rangers killed over there by these militants. No one wants a regime which is suppressive. And this Pakistan leadership must realize and have proper elections and get back Imran Khan," he said. Meanwhile, in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf rally, which demands the release of incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan, at least four Pakistan Rangers personnel were killed when a vehicle ran them over on Srinagar Highway. In addition, five others, including police officers, were injured in the incident. According to ARY News, citing security sources, 25 policemen have been killed, and more than 100 others have been injured in the violent protests since they began on November 24. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday strongly condemned the attack on Rangers and police officers by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf protesters in Islamabad, ARY News reported. (ANI)
A former US telecom employee who provided information about Chinese dissidents and members of the Falun Gong religious movement to Beijing was sentenced to four years in prison on Monday. Ping Li, 59, from Florida, admitted to acting as an unregistered agent of the Chinese government under a plea agreement. Ping provided sensitive corporate information to China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) and disclosed personal details of a Falun Gong member living in Florida, as reported by Voice of America. The Falun Gong movement, a spiritual group, is banned in China, where it has been labeled an "evil cult" since 1999 after a peaceful demonstration by 10,000 members outside a government building in Beijing. According to reports, Li, who immigrated to the US from China, worked for major US telecom and information technology companies. According to the Justice Department, Li acted at the direction of MSS officers, providing information from as early as 2012. The data he gathered included details about Chinese dissidents, pro-democracy advocates, Falun Gong members, and US-based non-governmental organizations. Li's actions highlight a broader effort by China to target dissidents, particularly Falun Gong practitioners, who are subject to harsh persecution. In a separate case, a 71-year-old Chinese man named John Chen from Los Angeles was sentenced to 20 months in prison the previous week for alleged his role in a plot targeting Falun Gong members in the US. Chen was also convicted of acting as an unregistered agent of the Chinese government. Cases like Ping Li's and the conviction of John Chen highlight China's increasing reliance on human intelligence agents and covert operations to suppress critics abroad. Both Li and Chen were convicted of acting as unregistered agents of the Chinese government, reflecting a growing trend of Chinese nationals and immigrants being used as intermediaries in espionage campaigns targeting foreign countries. These cases underscore persistent concerns over Chinese espionage activities in the US, particularly against groups like Falun Gong, which the Chinese government views as a threat to its control. Such efforts are part of China's broader strategy to extend its influence and suppress political opposition worldwide, a campaign that has become more sophisticated and far-reaching in recent years. (ANI)
Balochistan witnessed a complete shutdown on Monday as protests erupted over the kidnapping of a 10-year-old boy in Quetta, exposing yet again Pakistan's governance failures and inability to ensure basic security. A road blockade, called by political parties, traders, and civil society, disrupted life across the province, halting schools, courts, and transportation. According to Dawn, the boy, the son of a jeweller, was abducted on November 15 by armed men who intercepted his school van near Patel Bagh. Despite the passage of 10 days, law enforcement agencies have made no progress in recovering him, sparking public outrage. Schools and universities across the province remained closed, while even the Balochistan High Court could not function as judges were absent, disrupting hearings, including those related to the abduction. The protestors blocked major highways connecting Balochistan to Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with barricades and boulders. In Quetta, vehicles remained off the roads, and railway services, including the Quetta-Chaman passenger train, were suspended. Dawn reported that transporters ceased operations across the province in solidarity with the strike. Opposition lawmakers in the Balochistan Assembly strongly criticised the provincial government and security forces for their failure to ensure the boy's recovery. Nasarullah Zerey of the Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party, along with other protest leaders, called for continued demonstrations until the child is safely returned. Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, speaking to reporters, claimed that all available resources were being used to resolve the case, but his assurances were met with scepticism. The growing unrest highlights public frustration over the worsening law and order situation in resource-rich but neglected Balochistan. As Dawn noted, the strike paralysed life in the province, exposing the state's inability to address mounting security issues. Despite heavy security deployments to prevent violence, the incident raises questions about Pakistan's priorities, particularly its focus on political manoeuvring over public safety. The protests concluded without violence, but the systemic failures in addressing such crises remain glaring. For the people of Balochistan, Islamabad's indifference continues to deepen the divide between the province and the central government. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav extended his best wishes to everyone on the occasion of India's Constitution Day. The Chief Minister remarked that everyone, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, is not only celebrating Constitution Day but also honouring Dr BR Ambedkar's contributions. CM Yadav is currently on a six-day visit to the United Kingdom and Germany, aiming to attract investment opportunities for Madhya Pradesh by engaging with industrialists, business leaders, and government representatives in both nations. "I remember the incredible Constitution given to us by Babasaheb Ambedkar. Everyone, including PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, is celebrating Constitution Day while paying tribute to Dr BR Ambedkar," CM Mohan Yadav told ANI. He further noted that during his visit to London to meet investors, he had the privilege of visiting the residence of Dr BR Ambedkar, where Ambedkar stayed for nearly two years while pursuing his studies. "I am here in London to meet investors, and it has been a privilege to visit the residence of BR Ambedkar, where he stayed for almost two years during his studies. I extend my best wishes to everyone on this auspicious occasion," CM Yadav added. Earlier in the day, CM Mohan Yadav paid homage to Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar at Ambedkar House in London on the occasion of Constitution Day. The Chief Minister's Office also posted on X, "CM extends greetings to the people of the state as well as the country on the occasion of Constitution Day. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India is running a campaign to raise awareness about all articles of the Constitution." The post further mentioned that the Madhya Pradesh government is organising various programmes to mark Constitution Day in the state. Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu released a commemorative postage stamp at Samvidhan Sadan to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Constitution of India. President Murmu also unveiled two books related to the Indian Constitution, titled "Making of the Constitution of India: A Glimpse" and "Making of the Constitution of India & Its Glorious Journey." Additionally, Sanskrit and Maithili copies of the Constitution were released. The event concluded with President Murmu, joined by other prominent leaders, collectively reciting the Preamble to the Indian Constitution. This occasion marks the 75th anniversary of the Constitution's adoption by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949. The Constitution formally came into effect on January 26, 1950. (ANI)
A pastor in Russia could face six years in jail or a fine of 1 million rubles ($9,583USD) for preaching on the basis of Holy Scripture that the invasion of Ukraine was wrong and Christians should not fight in it, a religious rights outlet reported.

Authorities on Oct. 18 arrested the Rev. Nikolay Romanyuk, senior presbyter of Holy Trinity Church in the Moscow Region town of Balashikha, according to Forum 18. It was not clear which investigative agency was involved.

Romanyuk, a father of nine children, was accused of publicly calling for actions against state security during a sermon in September 2022. Russian authorities objected to him condemning the invasion of Ukraine from a religious perspective, Forum 18 reported.

Romanyuks sermon in 2022 had been livestreamed and uploaded to his churchs YouTube channel. YouTube footage headlined, For this sermon they arrested a pastor, records Romanyuk comparing being called to combat to drinking alcohol, according to Forum 18.

When you are offered a hit, when you are offered a bottle of alcohol or you are given a summons to send you to combat  this is the same sin, and the same drug, and the same Satan, Romanyuk said, translated from Russian. Find me in the Old Testament even a hint that we could somehow participate. And it does not matter which tsar calls for this  [whether] the Ukrainian tsar, the American tsar, or our tsar calls for this. I would like this to be a vaccination, at least in some way. This is not our war.

In the sermon, Romanyuk reminded listeners that Russian Federation doctrine notes that Russians are pacifists, and cannot participate in this.

It is our right to profess this on the basis of Holy Scripture, he added. We do not bless those who go there [to war]. [Those] who are taken by force, we do not bless them, but we pray that they are rescued from there. There are different legal ways to do this.

Romanyuks arrest happened as part of a series of early morning armed raids on the homes of church members the same day.

The Rev. Roman Zhukov, another pastor at Holy Trinity Church, described the early morning house raids on his Telegram channel on Oct. 24.

Special forces soldiers arrived at 6:20 a.m. on Oct. 18 in Romanyuks family home, and the home of another church family identified as the Repins. The church building was also searched, as was land in Volokolamsk District used for childrens camps, the rights group reported.

Armed men broke into the house of Romanyuks adult sons Sergey and Ilya, Forum 18 reported, noting, [They] broke in and put the guys on the floor, where they lay for 12 hours, one-and-a-half of which they spent in light indoor clothes and barefoot on the ground outside. At gunpoint.

The raiders used armored shields for the other raids, breaking door frames and forcing other men to lie on the floor with hands behind their heads, according to Forum 18. They seized digital devices and documents, including Maksim Repins bank cards, his mothers pension card, and foreign travel passports.

Romanyuk refused to give a statement on camera. The raiders took him away for interrogation at 6 p.m.

The entire family has gone through great psychological trauma today, but such searches and arrests in modern Russia are predictable and expected  to our great regret, wrote a Ukrainian pastor, the Rev. Vladimir Franchuk, in a blog post on Oct. 20. One of the main accusations against Pastor Nikolay Romanyuk is that he expressed his disagreement with the bandit-like and cruel war that the Russian Federation is waging on the territory of Ukraine. Honorable and just people in Russia (believers and non-believers) suffer  and will suffer!  for their position as an honest person, which is deeply and consistently based on biblical truth and the Christian worldview.

On the same day as the blog post, just two days after the raid, a closed court ruled that Romanyuk be kept detained for two months. The unnamed judge at Balashikha City Court ordered custody until Dec. 16. Romanyuk tried to appeal on Nov. 12 but was unsuccessful.

Romanyuk is jailed in Investigation Prison No. 11 in Noginsk, 50 kilometers (31 miles) east of Moscow.

It is unknown whether Romanyuk has yet been formally charged or when his case is likely to come to trial, reported Forum 18.

Romanyuk remains under investigation under Criminal Code Article 280.4, Part 2, Paragraph V  Public calls to implement activities directed against the security of the Russian Federation, or to obstruct the exercise by government bodies and their officials of their powers to ensure the security of the Russian Federation using mass media or electronic or information and telecommunications networks, including the Internet.

He is the first religious figure to be charged under this criminal code, according to Forum 18.

The rights group pressed authorities to answer in what way Romanyuks sermon threatened state security, why he had been placed in detention, whether any criminal or administrative cases had been opened against any other church members, and why it had been deemed necessary to carry out armed raids on their homes.

No response was known at this writing.

A small number of other Russian Christians opposing the war for faith reasons were being prosecuted under Administrative Code Article 20.3.3, Public actions aimed at discrediting the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

They also face charges under Criminal Code Article 280.3, Public actions aimed at discrediting the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in order to protect the interests of the Russian Federation and its citizens, [and] maintain international peace and security, and Criminal Code Article 207.3, dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces, according to Forum 18.

Romanyuks brother, Vasily Romanyuk, had been pastor of the Holy Trinity Pentecostal Church before his death in 2015. Moscow city authorities bulldozed the building in 2012, but the church built again on a new site in 2016.
The United Kashmir National People's Party (UKPNP) has called on the Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) government to immediately repeal the presidential ordinance that requires individuals to obtain permission from the administration in order to hold any public protest. The demand was made during a gathering held in London on Monday, where party members gathered to pay tribute to party leader Sardar Altaf Khan. During the event, UKPNP Chairman Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri strongly condemned the ongoing crackdown on political activists and nationalist leaders in PoJK. He called for an immediate end to the suppression of these activists, specifically demanding the release of Ali Shamraiz, a leader from the UKPNP's student wing, who has been detained by the authorities. Kashmiri stated that the UKPNP would not stand silent in the face of such repression, emphasising that Kashmiri communities across the globe would not tolerate the crackdown. He announced plans for widespread protests in front of Pakistani embassies worldwide in solidarity with Shamraiz and other political detainees. "We will not surrender," Kashmiri declared, affirming that the movement for the rights of Kashmiris would continue unabated. In addition to protesting the detention of activists, Kashmiri also demanded the repeal of the Act of 1974, a payment of water royalties owed by Islamabad to Muzaffarabad, and an end to the interference of Pakistan's establishment in the internal affairs of the disputed region. The gathering also featured remarks from UKPNP Secretary General Raja Sarfraz, party Foreign Affairs Secretary Faria Attique, and several other key figures, all of whom reiterated the party's commitment to the struggle for the political and civil rights of the Kashmiri people. The region of PoJK has increasingly faced concerns over restrictions on freedom of expression, particularly regarding political and social dissent. In recent years, individuals, media outlets, and political activists who criticise the government or ruling authorities have been subjected to harassment, intimidation, and even legal action. These crackdowns typically involve heightened surveillance, arrests, and censorship of media that challenge the government's stance on key issues such as governance, human rights, and the political status of the region. Political activists and opposition groups, particularly those advocating for greater autonomy or highlighting human rights violations, often find themselves under significant pressure. Their activities are closely monitored, and they may face legal or extrajudicial repercussions. Furthermore, this suppression extends to curbing the freedom of speech and limiting the activities of civil society organisations, which play a critical role in holding the government accountable. (ANI)
Thousands of people in Bangladesh's port city of Chittagong gathered in the court premises on Tuesday, demanding the release of Hindu priest Chinmoy Brahmachari. The protesters blocked the prison car after a court rejected his bail plea and ordered his arrest. "Thousands of followers lied down to block the prison car," a local reporter told ANI over the phone. A case has been filed against Chimnoy in charge of sedition, accusing him of hosting a flag on the top of a stand of Bangladesh's national flag. But the man who filed the case has now disagreed to continue the case, a minority leader said. Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC), the largest minority group in Bangladesh, on Tuesday expressed concerns over the arrest of Chinmoy Brahmachari. The group condemned the atrocities and urged to the interim government for his release immediately. "We strongly condemn the arrest of Prabhu Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson of Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, from the Dhaka airport area on Monday afternoon," said Manindra Kumar Nath, Acting General Secretary of BHBCUC. "As a result of this arrest, Bangladesh's international image of freedom of expression and human rights will be damaged in the world," he exclusively told ANI. "Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari is a Hindu saint," Manindra said. He was organizing Hindu community to place 8-point demands for the minority. The members of the minority community protested across Bangladesh, including capital Dhaka immediately after the arrest of Chinmoy Prabhu. ISKCON Kolkata Vice President, Radharaman Das also condemned the arrest and said Chinmoy Krishna Das has become the face of the protest. "The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu is a very unfortunate incident. He has become the face of the Bangladeshi protest. For more than 100 days now, the minorities of Bangladesh have been attacked; their women's getting raped and kidnapped. In this situation, the Bangladeshi minorities gathered together, and Chinmoy Krishna Das became the face of the protest. The Bangladeshi government is trying to somehow indict different people who have become the face of the protest... The police have not said why they have arrested him. It is very unfortunate," he told ANI. Meanwhile, International President of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), Alok Kumar, also expressed his concerns over the arrest and said that ISKCON is a peaceful organisation and is not involved in terrorism. "It is a concerning matter. ISKCON is a peaceful organisation. It spreads love among the people through Lord Krishna and his teachings...Such an organisation and people associated with such an organisation can never be involved in any terrorism...If someone asks for the safety and welfare of their community and people, they cannot be charged with treason," he told ANI. (ANI)
Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Tuesday condemned the arrest of ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das by the Bangladesh authorities and said that it is not going to do any good to the country or its image. Stating that the Hindu priest was merely raising the issue of atrocities against minorities, Ravi Shankar said the arrest is "unbecoming of a Prime Minister." He further stated that he expected "much more" from the Noble Peace Prize laureate and the chief advisor to the interim Bangladesh government, Muhammad Yunus. "It is unbecoming of a Prime Minister of a neighbouring country to arrest a spiritual leader. He is not taking weapons, he is not taking guns, he is caring for his people. He is just standing up for the rights and wants the government to hear the atrocities that are happening to the minorities there. Arresting religious priests is not going to do any good to them or to the people or to the country or even to the image of Bangladesh," Ravi Shankar said. "We expect much more from Professor Mohammad Yunus who has got the Nobel Peace Prize for bringing peace and security to people and that's why he has been put there as a Prime Minister. We will not expect him to take such action which would further create more tension between the communities and fear," he added. Sri Ravi Shankar further urged the Bangladesh government to take care of the minorities and control the "radical elements" in the country who are "ransacking" their own country and its image. "We request the government of Bangladesh to please take care of their minorities and control the radical elements that ransacking your own country and its image. Bangladesh has been known as a very liberal and progressive country. Do you want to take the country backwards? It's a very sorry state of affairs," he said. The spiritual leader also urged the Indian government and international community to put pressure on Bangladesh for the security of minorities. "I hope the government of India also puts pressure, and I call for the international community to not let this go the way it is going and put pressure to bring security and safety to the minorities and make people safe there," he said. Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was arrested on Monday, was produced before the Chittagong court that refused to entertain his bail plea and sent him to custody on Tuesday. Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was presented before Judge Kazi Shariful Islam of the Chittagong Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate's Court at 11am on Tuesday. His lawyers filed a bail petition, which was rejected by the court, ordering him to be sent to jail, as reported by The Dhaka Tribune. Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Additional Deputy Commissioner Kazi Md Tarek Aziz said Chinmoy was brought to Chittagong by road at night. He faces a sedition case at Kotwali police station, and he was arrested in connection with that case and brought to court. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that for any Chief Minister, the greatest support comes from the Centre. He emphasised that once PM Modi makes a statement, it remains unwavering. Speaking at an interactive session on 'Investment Opportunities in MP', CM Yadav remarked on the clarity in governance, possibilities, and policies under the Prime Minister's leadership. "It is the nature of our Prime Minister that once he speaks, his words remain unaltered, no matter what. As a Chief Minister, I can affirm this. For any CM, the Centre is the biggest support, and it guarantees that sound decisions are implemented. His (PM Modi's) words are not mere promises but assurances as solid as Mount Everest. This is exactly what an economy needs. While Europe's effects are being felt in Asia, trade and confidence continue to grow. And if there's a voice of peace from anywhere, it comes from one country alone," he said. Highlighting Madhya Pradesh's achievements, Yadav said, "Investment plans worth Rs10,000 crore from a state like West Bengal have moved to Madhya Pradesh after approving our proposal. We are now number one in mining. I had the opportunity to meet several key figures, and they too have shown interest. The availability of land in Madhya Pradesh today surpasses even Maharashtra." CM Yadav is on a six-day visit to the United Kingdom and Germany, aiming to attract investments by engaging with industrialists, business leaders, and government representatives in both nations. Earlier today, he interacted with members of the Indian diaspora and overseas supporters of Madhya Pradesh and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during his UK visit, encouraging them to invest in various sectors in India. In his comprehensive address, Yadav touched on several topics, including the recently concluded elections in various states and the role of digital public infrastructure in strengthening the last-mile delivery of services. He also underscored the transformative impact of Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), highlighting how it has ensured funds reach beneficiaries directly and effectively. The visit reflects the Madhya Pradesh government's commitment to driving industrial development and fostering meaningful collaborations beyond financial investments. (ANI)
Moldova is looking to strengthen and diversify its education partnership with India, focusing on attracting Indian students and fostering collaborative research across diverse fields, said the country's Education Minister Dan Percium here on Tuesday. Percuim also highlighted that Moldovan universities could consider the possibility of setting up off-shore campuses in India over the long term. On his first visit to India, Percium held discussions with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and other academic representatives. In an exclusive conversation with ANI, Percium outlined Moldova's ambitions in education sector, emphasising its commitment to offering high-quality, affordable, and safe higher education opportunities for Indian students. "This is our first visit to India, and it's a very important one. Moldova offers a modern and safe environment for students, coupled with quality and affordability in higher education. We currently host around 3,000 Indian students, primarily in our medical universities, and are keen to diversify this by adding technical courses like software engineering and business management," Percium said. The Moldovan delegation explored possibilities for joint programs, student exchanges, and research collaborations. Discussions also revolved around creating opportunities for Moldovan students to study in India and gain practical experience through internships. Highlighting Moldova's long-term vision, Percium added, "The current focus is on attracting Indian students. However, in the mid to long term, we can consider establishing Moldovan university campuses in India. This is still in the early stages, but this first visit has been highly productive. As the momentum builds, more opportunities will materialize." Percium also detailed plans for collaboration, stating, "We envision programs where students spend part of their studies in Moldova, part in India, and perhaps even in a third European country. Such initiatives can provide students with diverse cultural and practical experiences, including internships to develop international skills." He also pointed out Moldova's access to extensive European research networks and funding, which could complement Indian universities' expertise. "By working together, we can establish joint research funds and access larger European resources. Moldova's traditional strengths, such as veterinary medicine and winemaking, can also find a place in collaborative efforts," he added. Percium is accompanied by four Moldovian university representatives. The delegation included: Victoria Belous, representing State Pedagogical University; Vladimir Dolghii, Deputy Director, Moldova State University; Nina Putuntean, Head of the International Relations Office, Moldova Technical University; and Tatiana Gaugash, Head of Marketing Department at Academy of Economic Studies. Victoria Belous, representing the State Pedagogical University, shared that her university is keen to collaborate with Indian universities, not only in attracting students but also in areas like faculty exchange, teacher training, and research "We represent one of the oldest universities in Moldova, with over 80 years of experience. Our university offers innovative programs in fields such as animation, arts, and psychology, along with eight faculties, including one dedicated to languages," she said. "We are keen to collaborate with Indian universities, not only in attracting students but also in areas like faculty exchange, teacher training, and research," Belous noted. Meanwhile, Nina Putuntean, Head of the International Relations Office at Moldova Technical University, highlighted the university's focus on fostering international collaborations. "We are here to promote the internationalisation of our university, not only by attracting students but also by enhancing research cooperation. Exchange programs for students and staff, as well as joint research projects, are our priorities," she said. Putuntean also emphasised the importance of step-by-step progress in building relationships with Indian universities. "We are taking a phased approach, starting with joint research and academic exchanges, and will continue to strengthen these collaborations to benefit both countries," she said. (ANI)
A significant forum, titled "Symposium on Finding Common Ground," was held at National Chengchi University in Taiwan on November 23-24. The event focused on the impact of US legislation on Tibet, the evolving global political landscape, and the growing authoritarianism under China's President Xi Jinping. Organised by the Tibet Religious Foundation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the symposium explored Tibet's international status, democratic movements within China, and the rising tensions between Western democracies and authoritarian regimes. As per the information provided by the Central Tibetan Administration, key attendees included Tibetan leaders, scholars, and activists from Tibet's allies such as Taiwan, East Turkistan, Hong Kong, Southern Mongolia, and China's pro-democracy movement. Secretary Karma Choeying of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) delivered a key address emphasising Tibet's historical context and advocating for dialogue between Tibet and China based on the Middle Way Approach. He also highlighted the growing influence of US legislation, particularly the Promoting a Resolution to Tibet-China Dispute Act, which asserts Tibet's independence from China and recognises the CTA as Tibet's legitimate representative. In the morning session on November 23, experts such as Representative Kalsang Gyaltsen Bawa and Akio Yaita, CEO of the Indo-Pacific Strategy Think Tank, discussed the significance of US legislative action and its impact on international support for Tibet. They stressed China's continued human rights violations and religious repression against Tibetans, calling for global solidarity in protecting Tibet's cultural heritage and religious freedoms. The afternoon session focused on Tibet's global support and CTA outreach efforts. Prominent speakers including Jamyang Tsering, Tsultrim Gyatso, and Tenzin Phentok addressed the internal divisions within Tibet, particularly the separation between the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and other Tibetan provinces. They argued that these divisions undermine Tibetan unity and complicate efforts to secure international support. The speakers urged for stronger international coordination to combat China's cultural erasure of Tibet and to ensure a unified global response to protect Tibet's identity. The symposium concluded with a call for enhanced international cooperation to support Tibet's autonomy struggle. Attendees stressed the need for decisive actions from global governments to resist China's efforts to isolate and suppress Tibet's unique cultural identity. This event underscored the growing international support for Tibet and the critical importance of continued advocacy for its autonomy and cultural preservation. (ANI)
Sardar Akhtar Mengal, leader of the Balochistan National Party (Mengal), has launched a scathing attack on the Sindh government over what he described as its "discriminatory" treatment of Baloch residents in Karachi's Lyari, Malir, and other areas. His remarks highlight long-standing grievances of the Baloch community, who feel increasingly alienated and marginalized in Pakistan. According to 'The Balochistan Post', Mengal criticized a recent Sindh government policy that requires hosts to register their guests' details at local police stations. He slammed the measure as a deliberate attempt to harass Baloch visitors and cause undue mental distress. "It seems as though the Baloch are not considered citizens of this country," Mengal remarked, emphasizing that the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to live freely across Pakistan without such oppressive restrictions. The Balochistan Post quoted Mengal, noting his frustration with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which he accused of stripping the Baloch of their fundamental rights. Despite the Baloch community's sacrifices for the PPP, including during the Karsaz tragedy, Mengal lamented that they remain deprived of basic human rights and continue to live in extreme backwardness. Mengal also directed sharp criticism at Pakistan's former President Asif Ali Zardari, who claims Baloch ancestry, accusing him of contributing to the community's mistreatment. "Today, the Baloch of Karachi is made to feel like a subjugated nation," he stated. The report further highlighted Mengal's condemnation of the PPP's governance, which he said perpetuates systemic oppression of the Baloch in Sindh. The policy requiring police approval for hosting guests, coupled with difficulties faced by Baloch visitors at hotels, has drawn widespread criticism from human rights groups and activists. Mengal called for the immediate repeal of these draconian measures, labeling them blatant violations of human rights. He urged the Sindh government to end its discriminatory behavior and respect the rights of the Baloch as equal citizens. This latest episode reflects the deepening discontent among the Baloch community, who view such policies as part of a broader pattern of marginalization and exclusion orchestrated by the Pakistani state. (ANI)
This development comes after India committed to invest USD 2 million in new solar projects in these Indo-Pacific countries under Quad Climate Working Group initiative

Following the signing of the agreement, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal took to social media platform X to highlight India's commitment to renewables and just energy transitions in island nations of the Indo-Pacific.

As per a study undertaken by the ISA, the countries under consideration for solar projects have energy issues related to the perishability of agriculture products, unreliable electricity supply in health centers, and irrigation purposes in remote areas where grid power supply or solar mini grids are not available yet, the release stated.

Solar projects in these countries are focused on the areas of cold storage, solarization of health care facilities, and solar water pumping systems are under consideration, the release stated.

The successful execution of these projects is expected to enhance energy access, create employment, and provide reliable and quality power supply in these Indo-Pacific countries, the release stated.

Solar energy is a viable solution to help these countries address climate change-related challenges.

"The latest round of clean energy investments by India in these countries strengthens the nation's commitment of the Quad to address the challenges posed by climate change and facilitate their transition to a clean energy economy for the people, planet and our shared prosperity," the MEA release added. (ANI)
A lawyer was allegedly killed on Tuesday after clashes in Bangladesh's port city of Chittagong over the arrest of ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das by the autjhorities, lawyers said. "Saiful Islam Alif, a lawyer, was killed in Chittagong," Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, President of Chittagong Bar Association, told ANI over the phone. The motive of the killing, however, is not clear. "Saiful Islam Arif was brutally hacked to death," said Ashraf Hossain Razzak, General Secretary of the Chittagong Bar Association. "Chittagong Bar Association has decided to suspend the court activities on Wednesday in protest of their member killing," Razzak added. The law enforcement agencies are on high alert across the country amid tensions in Chittagong. Bangladesh has deployed extra forces in Chittagong and capital Dhaka. Thousands of people in Chittagong have gathered in the court premises demanding the release of Chinmoy Brahmachari, a Hindu priest. The protesters blocked the prison van after a court rejected his bail prayer and ordered to send him jail. Police and other law enforcing agencies fired tear shells and sound grenades to remove them out. After two hours of clashes, Chinmoy Brahmachari was landed in jail, witnesses said. "A case has been filed against Chimnoy in charge of sedition, accusing him of hosting a flag on the top of a stand of Bangladesh's national flag. But the man who filed the case, now he is not attached to the case. He is now disagreed to continue the case," a minority leader said. Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC), the largest minority group in Bangladesh, on Tuesday expressed concerns over the arrest of Chinmoy Brahmachari. The group condemned the atrocities and urged the interim government for his release immediately. "We strongly condemn the arrest of Prabhu Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson of Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, from the Dhaka airport area on Monday afternoon", said Manindra Kumar Nath, Acting General Secretary of BHBCUC. "As a result of this arrest, Bangladesh's international image of freedom of expression and human rights will be damaged in the world," he told ANI. Nath said that the Hindu saint Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was organizing Hindu community to place "8-point demands" for the minority. The members of the minority community protested across Bangladesh, including capital Dhaka, immediately after the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das by Bangladeshi authorities at Dhaka airport. Chief Advisor to the interim Bangladesh government, Muhammad Yunus condemned the murder of a lawyer in the port city of Chittagong. He has also ordered an investigation into the killing and an appropriate legal course. He has urged people to keep calm and stay away from participating in any untoward activities. He has also ordered law enforcement agencies to step up security in the port city, including in all the vulnerable neighbourhoods. "The Interim Government is committed to ensuring and upholding communal harmony in Bangladesh at any cost," Yunus said in a statement. (ANI)
Stating that the Free Trade Agreement is an "ongoing process," Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Vikram Doraiswami, said on Tuesday that the new government, under the leadership of Keir Starmer, is ready to restart negotiations. Following a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of G20 Summit in Brazil, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the relaunch of FTA talks between United Kingdom and India in 2025. Speaking to ANI, Doraiswami said, "The FTA is an ongoing process. The government that came to power here in the UK in July completed their internal review and is now ready to restart negotiations. We welcome that. Let's not prejudice what happens in the negotiations because the negotiations have to restart. Let's see what happens beyond that." He noted the increasing bilateral trade between both countries and affirmed hope of a positive outcome from the negotiations. "The movement of goods and services between us continues to grow and our investments continue to be significant in each other's economies," he said. Earlier on November 22, Richard Heald, Chair of the UK-India Business Council (UKIBC), said that the FTA between India and the UK holds transformative potential for businesses and bilateral trade. He stated that the FTA will make a difference by making the commutation between both countries easier. "If you look at those companies who are not here (India), then the FTA will make a difference. It (FTA) will make it easier and more comforting to come here to India and to get embedded into the economy, be that through a joint venture or be it actually through investment directly," he said. Further speaking about Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav's visit to the UK to attract investments for the state, Doraiswami expressed his happiness and highlighted the special relationship between the two nations. "We're very glad that the Chief Minister decided to make his first visit outside the state in his current capacity here to the UK because we think it's an important opportunity - the India-UK relationship is a very special one. It has its long history, it has its long contributions to both countries' development and of course, the role of people of Indian origin has been one of the important binding factors between the two nations and the two economies," he said. "Chief Minister's focus has really been on trying to explore ways in which the strengths of the UK can be dovetailed with the opportunities that are emerging in Madhya Pradesh. These are primarily around areas of the UK's strength in things like education, technology and the IT sector in particular," he added. Notably, CM Mohan Yadav is on a six-day visit to the United Kingdom and Germany, aiming to attract investments by engaging with industrialists, business leaders, and government representatives in both nations. (ANI)
Authorities in Indonesia are allowing two years of uncollected garbage to pile up next to a church building and a Catholic university, sources said.

The unhygienic and foul-smelling garbage  bagged, spilling out of broken bags or unbagged  in Yogyakarta city, capital of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Central Java Province that has not been collected for two years is becoming increasingly unhealthy for members of St. Antonius Padua Catholic Church and those at the nearby Jesuit campus of Sanata Dharma Catholic University.

The garbage problem has been around for a long time, since the 1980s, causing disturbing stench during the rainy season, when the garbage mixes with rainwater to become mud, congregation member Susi Sasmita told Morning Star News by phone. This situation has worsened in the last few years and is very disturbing to the congregation. Imagine if this case happened at a mosque  the situation could be chaotic.

She expressed regret that Christians tend to accept arbitrary and discriminatory treatment.

We have done it without protest  as a result, it gets worse, Susi said. In addition to being disturbed by the pungent smell of garbage, churchgoers also find it difficult to park their vehicles on the 75-80 meter stretch of this road.

A priest and lecturer at the Catholic university, the Rev. Andalas Mutiara, staged a protest on Oct. 24 captured in a widely circulated video. Lying in a cross-like position atop a large pile of rubbish next to the campus, he appealed to officials to address critical waste management issues.

We dont want to normalize garbage, let alone embrace a garbage culture, Andalas said. The garbage Golgotha is a prophetic call from the Catholic Church that wants us not to crucify God in the garbage, nor all creation in the garbage that we produce.

In apparent response, the Yogyakarta Special Region Government reported on its website (jogjaprov.go.id) that the Minister of Environment/Head of the Indonesian Environmental Control Agency, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, made a sudden inspection of the citys waste disposal site on Nov. 18.

We ask the governor and the head of the Office of Waste Management to make and build waste banks in upstream units immediately and then increase the number of environmental educators to educate the public about sorting and selecting waste, Hanif stated. That is the only temporary step that should be taken while waiting for the local government to prepare the final technology.

The governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, asked the mayor and regional secretary of Yogyakarta the next day to write to or meet Minister Hanif and explain the condition of the waste depot in the area he leads, according to jogjaprov.go.id.

Muslims account for 83.3 percent of Indonesias population, while 11.43 percent identify as Christian, with the evangelical population estimated at 3.23 percent, according to the Joshua Project.

Service Disrupted

In East Java Province, members of a Catholic church in Surabaya on Nov. 20 faced a threat of a different sort.

A young woman wearing a hijab and carrying a knife showed up at St. Stephens Catholic Church as a 5:30 a.m. Mass was about to begin and disturbed parishioners by continually babbling incoherently, as seen in video posted by Holopis.com.

Two women sitting beside her closely guarded her in an attempt to prevent her from disrupting the service even more. At one point the visitor vomited.

Congregation members later asked the local head of the neighborhood association and residents association to investigate and handed her to local police. Lakarsantri Police Chief M. Akhyar told detik.com that the woman had a mental disorder.

The incident occurred two weeks before local elections including the posts of governors, regents and municipal mayors, and special interest groups have been known to disturb church services or attack Christians at such times to create social unrest, Agustinus Marsup, an activist and lecturer, told Morning Star News.

Indonesia ranked 42nd on the Christian support organization Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. Indonesian society has adopted a more conservative Islamic character, and churches involved in evangelistic outreach are at risk of being targeted by Islamic extremist groups, according to the WWL report.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party's protests, demanding the release of its leader Imran Khan, took a violent turn on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of four security personnel and two PTI supporters, the Dawn reported. The PTI protestors were met with intense tear gas upon reaching Islamabad's D-Chowk following which the clash between protestors and security forces broke out. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned what he said was an "attack by protesters," while Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi informed the deaths of at least four security personnel in the clash, Dawn reported. Meanwhile, PTI alleged that the security personnel fired live ammunition at the protestors, killing two and injuring four others. Condemning the attack on Rangers and police officers by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf protesters in Islamabad, PM Sharif called for the immediate identification and accountability of those responsible for the incident. The Prime Minister emphasised the need to provide the highest level of medical care to the Rangers and police officers injured in the attack and stated that assaults on law enforcement personnel, masked as peaceful protests, are entirely unacceptable, ARY News reported. He said that the police and the Rangers are responsible for maintaining law and order in the city.Sharif described the group responsible for the attack as anarchistic, suggesting that their actions reflect a desire for violence rather than legitimate protest, and labelled it as extremism, ARY News reported. He stressed that Pakistan cannot tolerate any form of chaos or violence, condemning bloodshed fuelled by malicious political motives. Meanwhile, the Tehreek-e-Insaaf rally entered Islamabad today under the leadership of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur marking the start of a significant 'do-or-die' protest for the release of PTI founder and the country's premier Imran Khan from prison, ARY News reported. (ANI)
Abu Dhabhi [UAE], November 26 (ANI/WAM): Under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, Global Food Week officially began today at ADNEC Abu Dhabi and will run until 28th November. The event underscores Abu Dhabi's pivotal role in leading global dialogue on food security challenges and opportunities, aiming to strengthen global food security and unify international efforts. The week features four main events: the Global Food Security Summit, Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition, Abu Dhabi Date Palm Exhibition, and Abu Dhabi Coffee Festival. The summit, the highlight of the week, was inaugurated by Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment. Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, stated that the UAE has adopted several impactful food security initiatives as part of its pioneering strategic vision, driven by a resilient framework supported by wise leadership. He announced plans to implement over 30 initiatives in partnership with the private sector, research centres, academic institutions, and government entities, focusing on R&D and value chain integration. Al Marri stressed the importance of collective responsibility to address the global food crisis. The summit brings together 21 ministers and government officials to discuss sustainable solutions, international collaboration, and strengthening efforts to combat hunger and bolster global food security systems. Over 80 global experts will share insights on climate-smart agriculture, agri-tech, and supply chain resilience, with the aim of building sustainable food systems and fostering global partnerships to address common challenges. ADNEC Group, the organiser of the Global Food Security Summit, has committed to reducing food waste during the event. The initiative aligns with the group's sustainability goals, which include innovative measures to eliminate food waste, establish new consumption standards, and host environmentally friendly events, contributing to global food security efforts. The Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition 2024 showcases over 660 exhibitors from more than 70 countries, featuring leading brands and the latest advancements in food technology and sustainable food industries. The exhibition hosts discussions on global food systems, sustainable production, health-focused systems, and consumer trends towards health, wellness, and value. The Abu Dhabi Coffee Festival, held at ADNEC Abu Dhabi, is a first-of-its-kind event in the region, offering coffee enthusiasts, professionals, and curious visitors an immersive experience. Organised by the UAE Specialty Coffee Association, the festival blends food culture with coffee exploration. It celebrates the UAE's growing coffee culture, offering visitors live competitions, interactive workshops, and a vibrant social atmosphere. The "Coffee Market" features a variety of coffee-inspired products, from cosmetics and food to accessories, providing a multifaceted coffee experience. The 10th Abu Dhabi Date Palm Exhibition, held in collaboration with the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, offers a global platform for producers, suppliers, and experts in the date palm industry. With participants from over 20 date-producing countries, the exhibition focuses on advancements in sustainable farming practices. The Hosted Buyer Programme connects food and beverage suppliers with key buyers across sectors such as aviation and hospitality, creating unparalleled business opportunities during Abu Dhabi Date Palm Week. University students and academic institutions will lead sessions and discussions during Global Food Week, inspiring and empowering future leaders in food security innovation. On the sidelines of the event, the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council, in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, launched the "Nutrition Label" initiative - the first of its kind in the region. This new front-of-pack labelling system aims to help consumers make informed and healthier food choices. Global Food Week 2024 represents a collective effort to secure food for future generations. Abu Dhabi's strategic role as a hub for agricultural innovation and global trade underscores its commitment to addressing food security challenges worldwide. (ANI/WAM)
Following the arrest of ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said in an official statement that the government is firm to uphold 'religious harmony' in the country, irrespective of religious affiliation. "Bangladesh government is firm to uphold religious harmony in Bangladesh, irrespective of religious affiliation, and uphold rule of law for every Bangladeshi, without distinction, under the laws of land." the statement read. Bangladesh Foreign Ministry stated that the arrest of spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das is being "miscontructed." The foreign ministry expressed also expressed concern over "unfounded statements" that are'misrepresenting facts and "stand contrary to the spirit of friendship" between India and Bangladesh. "It is with utter dismay and deep sense of hurt that the government of Bangladesh notes that the arrest of Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das has been misconstructed by certain quarters since Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das has been arrested on specific charges. The government of Bangladesh maintains that such unfounded statements not only misrepresent facts but also stand contrary to the spirit of friendship and understanding between the two neighboring countries", it said. "The statement also does not reflect the harmony that exists among the peoples of all faiths and the commitment and the efforts of the government and the people in this regard", Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said. "It also completely disregards that the government of Bangladesh is determined to conclusively end the culture of impunity to the perpetrators of gross human rights violations against the people of Bangladesh, thus treating the religious majority and minorities alike," it added. Bangladesh reaffirmed that every Bangladeshi has the right to perform religious rituals. They noted the "peaceful observation' of Durga Puja throughout the country last month. "Bangladesh reaffirms in the strongest terms that every Bangladeshi, regardless of his or her religious identity, has the right to establish, maintain, or perform respective religious rituals and practices or express views without hindrance. Ensuring safety and security of all citizens, particularly the members of religious minorities, remains a duty of the government of Bangladesh. This was yet again vindicated by the peaceful observance of Durga Puja throughout Bangladesh only last month," the statement said. The statement from the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry further reaffirmed that the judiciary is independent and the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das is being dealt with by the court of law. "The government of Bangladesh would like to reiterate that the country's judiciary is fully independent and it does not interfere in the work of the judiciary. The matter under question is at present being dealt with by the court of law," the statement said. "The government of Bangladesh is also committed to upholding communal harmony in the country. The government of Bangladesh is deeply concerned over the brutal killing of Advocate Saiful Islam Alif this afternoon in Chittagong. Authorities have stepped up security in the port city to ensure that religious harmony is maintained at any cost," Bangladesh Foreign Ministry statement added. Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was arrested on Monday, was produced before the Chittagong court that refused to entertain his bail plea and sent him to custody on Tuesday. Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was presented before Judge Kazi Shariful Islam of the Chittagong Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate's Court at 11am on Tuesday. His lawyers filed a bail petition, which was rejected by the court, ordering him to be sent to jail, as reported by The Dhaka Tribune. Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Additional Deputy Commissioner Kazi Md Tarek Aziz said Chinmoy was brought to Chittagong by road at night. He faces a sedition case at Kotwali police station, and he was arrested in connection with that case and brought to court. (ANI)
As Cuba has grappled with electricity failures and natural disasters, Americans with family on the island and tourists considering visiting have been mobilizing to provide much-needed aid. For both groups, the situation has been cause for worry, extra precautions and planning.

In the past few weeks, Cuba has struggled with nationwide blackouts, two major hurricanes and a 6.8 magnitude earthquake  blows to an already weakened infrastructure. Residents have been left without power for hours a day, and access to food, medicine, water and fuel  already scarce  has become even more of a challenge.

Now, just about a month after the initial grid collapse, both tourists and family members are channeling their frustration and concern into action  sending supplies from both overseas and in person.

A street is lit by car lights during the third night of a nationwide blackout in Havana on Oct. 20, 2024.

Marissa Diaz, a Cuban American content creator, and her husband, Yoel, are a primary provider of aid to their family in Cuba, and during the first round of blackouts weeks ago, their family struggled to preserve food and medicine without any power.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Electricity blackouts are certainly not uncommon in Cuba, said Diaz, who's based in Phoenix; her family lost power for up to eight hours a day following the power collapse. Its just to the degree that it was at this point.

Though the couple regularly pay for cellular data for their family to prevent communication losses during regular, shorter power outages, recent packages to the island have included nonperishables like coffee, instant noodles, dried seasonings, powdered milk, first-aid items like ibuprofen and bandages, and solar-paneled flashlights and phone chargers.

Its really hard for Americans to try to understand the quality of life in Cuba, she said. Theres so much scarcity.

I think all of that has a negative effect on the tourism sector of Cuba, added Diaz, whos critical of the countrys government. Americans are reminded that, yes, there is a dictatorship in Cuba. Yes, Cuba is a communist country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Stephanie Herchak, from Orr Lake, Canada and a frequent visitor to Cuba, recently returned from a trip despite travel advisories against going from Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, citing shortages, the effects of the storms and increased crime.

Aware of the increasingly dire conditions, Herchak brought food and sanitary items to hand out to locals, though she didnt stray far from the resort where she was staying with her partner.

All the houses and things that weve driven by are just shambles with no windows or anything, people with no power, she said.

Herchak, who stayed at the Sanctuary by Grand Memories in Santa Maria, said she didnt experience power outages at the resort while she was there. In a phone call with NBC News, resort staff confirmed they have not had blackouts and use their own generators.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But Herchak said she heard from many locals and hotel staff she spoke with that power was still out for hours at a time in residential areas.

Reddit pages and several Facebook Cuba travel groups have become home to conversations on the situation in Cuba; some share concerns regarding upcoming trips and others share rare glimpses into current conditions, even encouraging visitors to reconsider their vacation. Many ask for advice on which goods are most needed by locals.

Cuba's energy grid suffered a complete blackout after Hurricane Rafael made landfall.

Over the last few years, more and more people who are going to Cuba are looking for ways to help, said Rebecca Shoval, program director for Not Just Tourists New York City, a volunteer effort that has connected underserved countries with hard to find resources for over 30 years. This year, theyve sent a "record number" of shipments to Cuba, according to the organization.

Avi D'Souza, executive director of Not Just Tourists Toronto, said the organization has sent 475 suitcases of supplies this year  62% more than in 2023 and the majority of it to Cuba. In bulk, they've sent 298,000 lbs of medical supplies and equipment via container, 24% more than last year, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Shoval explained that tourists are given suitcases filled with medical supplies to bring to drop-off locations on the island.

Anthony ImBoden, of Ontario, is one of many who expressed concerns and asked questions on a public Reddit forum regarding his upcoming vacation to Cuba. A diabetic whose insulin needs to be refrigerated, ImBoden asked for tips on how to travel with  and preserve  his medication through the power outages.

A vacationing couple brings a suitcase of medical supplies to a drop-off location in Cuba.

Even though a Canadian travel advisory encourages visitors to exercise a high degree of caution in Cuba due to shortages of basic necessities including food, medicine and fuel," ImBoden said hes taking [the concerns] with a grain of salt.

While some people told him not to go, Imboden said his diabetes is well controlled and its a risk he's "willing to take.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Cuban government has blamed U.S. sanctions as well as the effect of the pandemic on tourism for the tougher economic conditions on the island, while the U.S. has blamed Cubas centrally planned, communist economy. Cubas lack of hard currency has affected its ability to import basic necessities.

Recent travelers like Monica Joseph  who stayed at an Airbnb in Cuba just before the massive outage  noted a feeling of safety in more tourist-centered areas like Havana, the capital. Though she did not experience blackouts herself, she did speak to many residents who described an inability to find goods like soap or sanitary products.

Monica Joseph recently came back from a visit to Cuba.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Joseph, who lives near Washington, D.C., said she was told that it was a bit better to be in the city" but would have "issues" outside of Havana.

The conditions outside of cities and tourist areas are a source of frustration for Cuban Americans like Mailen Rodriguez, 23, a kindergarten teacher from Houston who emigrated from Cuba when she was seven years old.

It was bad in 2007, but now its even worse.  Back then, I dont ever remember sleeping without any light. Now, when I went in October, the [blackouts] were four to five hours every single day, Rodriguez said, asking why tourists arent affected.

Why is it only affecting the people in the provinces that are scared to speak up and protest?

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Cuban government didnt respond to a request for comment on whether tourist areas are being given priority for electricity power and on countries' travel advisories warning of current conditions on the island.

When Rodriguez visited Cuba in October, she brought her family basic necessities like toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoos, razors, clothing, shoes, and cooking seasonings  emphasizing that this was a luxury not afforded to many Cubans.

The people that have relatives over here, thankfully, they have a source of income, they have money for food, for any necessities, Rodriguez said. But if you dont have family outside of the island, youre kind of stuck  its really hard to get any resources.

Carl Eaton, director of the Orange County California Chapter of Not Just Tourists, has become more aware of the needs in Cuba through his work.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

People who live in Cuba love Cuba, and they want to stay there because they love the island. However, a lot of people are reaching the end of the rope, Eaton said, mentioning that more people are trying to leave; the country has seen record migration out of Cuba.

For tourists who want to help, Cuba is probably one of the easiest countries in the world as far as aid warrants. They need the help, and theyre not going to discourage anybody from bringing supplies into the country, Eaton said. The big thing is to get through to the traveler that this is something that they can do, where they can make a difference.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A DHL cargo plane crashed near the Lithuanian capital early on Monday, killing one of four people on board, local officials said.

The plane, which had been traveling from Leipzig, Germany, crashed in Liepkalnis, on the outskirts of the capital, Vilnius, the Lithuanian airport authority said in a statement posted on social media. The flight had been expected to land at Vilnius Airport, officials said.

PHOTO: The wreckage of the DHL cargo plane is seen at the crash site near Vilnius International Airport, Lithuania, on Nov. 25, 2024. (Lukas Balandis/BNS via Reuters)

"City services are currently on-site, along with a fire truck and a command team from Vilnius Airport," the short statement said. "Airport operations are not disrupted at this time."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The jet was a Boeing 737-476 operated by Swiftair, according to Flightradar24, an aircraft tracker.

PHOTO: The wreckage of the DHL cargo plane is seen at the crash site near Vilnius International Airport, Lithuania, on Nov. 25, 2024. (Lukas Balandis/BNS via Reuters)

Emergency responders were notified at 5:28 a.m. that the plane had crashed near a building, the Vilnius Fire and Rescue Department said. Photos and videos taken near the crash site appeared to show a residential area.

First responders reached the crash location, which is a little more than half a mile from the airport, within about six minutes, according to Bozena Jerenkovic, a medical doctor who was part of the emergency team on site.

One of the pilots was pronounced dead at the scene and the other was transferred to a local hospital in critical condition, Jerenkovic told ABC News. It appeared that the cockpit had been separated from the plane's fuselage, she added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Lithuanian National Crisis Management Center confirmed to ABC News that the pilot is in critical condition. The other two people who were injured in the crash are doing OK, the National Crisis Management Center said.

PHOTO: Lithuanian Emergency Ministry employees work near the place where a DHL cargo plane crashed into a house near the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, Lithuania, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (Mindaugas Kulbis/AP)

Thirteen people were evacuated without injuries from a nearby residential building, she said.

It appeared to be "nothing short of a miracle" that there were survivors of the crash, which was followed by a huge fireball, said Vidas Kaupelis, an aviation expert in Lithuania.

Kaupelis, who listened to a recording of the pilots communicating with on-the-ground controllers prior to the crash, said there was also a clear indication that there was no sense of emergency. The pilots and the controllers appeared to run through a simple approach routine during the approximately five minutes they spoke, according to Kaupelis.

PHOTO: Smoke billows following a DHL cargo plane crash in Vilnius, Lithuania, Nov. 25, 2024. (Andrius Sytas/Reuters)

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He speculated that the crash may have come as a surprise to even the pilots, as it appeared to have happened just seconds after their communication with the controllers. If they had been dealing with major issues, like a fire or technical problems, they likely would have communicated about it with the flight controller, he said.

As emergency crews worked in the area near Zirniu Street, which the airport identified as the crash site, departures were delayed at Vilnius Airport, according to a statement. One incoming flight was diverted to Riga, Latvia, officials said. Air traffic resumed by about 7:20 a.m., the statement said.

ABC News has reached out to DHL, which is based in Bonn, Germany, for comment.

The National Transportation Safety Board said Monday it's sending a team of U.S. investigators to Lithuania to assist in the investigation, which is being led by Lithuanian authorities.

ABC News' Jessica Gorman and Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.

DHL cargo plane crashes in Lithuania, killing 1, local officials say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
One person was killed when a cargo plane crashed early Monday morning as it came in to land at Lithuania's Vilnius Airport.

In a press release, the airport confirmed the crash, which it said was reported at 5:30 a.m. local time. Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuania's minister of foregin affairs, confirmed on social media site X that one crew member was killed.

Three others aboard the aircraft survived the crash, including the pilot, according to reports. The crash sent debris flying into a nearby house, but no one on the ground was reportedly injured, officials told Reuters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The cargo plane, operated by airline Swiftair on behalf of DHL, had taken off from Leipzig, Germany, and was due to land at Vilnius Airport.

Officials were still investigating the cause of the crash and had not yet ruled out that it may be sabotage, Reuters and others reported.

"We cannot reject the possibility of terrorism," Lithuanian counter-intelligence chief Darius Jauniskis told reporters, "but at the moment we can't make attributions or point fingers, because we don't have such information."

World news: Iran's Khamenei demands death sentence for Israeli leaders after ICC warrants

1 killed, 3 injured after cargo plane crashes into home

The plane, a Boeing 737-400, crashed while approaching Vilnius Airport to land, a spokesperson for Lithuania's National Crisis Management Center told Reuters. Flightradar24 data showed the flight had departed from Leipzig early Monday morning.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Security camera footage shared by CNN showed an aircraft descending behind a warehouse, followed by an explosion of bright red and orange lighting up the night sky and plumes of thick smoke. Rescue services told Reuters the plane hit the ground and split into pieces, with some debris hitting a house.

A Lithuanian police spokesperson said one person onboard, a Spanish citizen, was killed, Reuters reported. Three others were injured, including a Spanish, German, and Lithuanian citizen. At a press conference, police said 12 people were evacuated from a house hit by debris but that no one on the ground was killed.

A spokesperson for the National Crisis Management Center said police and prosecutors are investigating the crash.

Cause of crash near Vilnius Airport under investigation

USA TODAY left a message Monday morning with both DHL and Swiftair seeking comment.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A DHL spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY that the plane that crashed was contracted by the company, but provided no other details.

A spokesperson for DHL, which has reportedly launched its own investigation, told Reuters that the cargo airplane was carrying "regular parcels."

The crash led to the delays of several departures at the airport, while one incoming aircraft was diverted to Latvia's capital of Riga, the airport said in its statement. Aircraft has since been cleared for landing and departure at Vilnius.

Contributing: Reuters

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 1 killed in DHL cargo plane crash near Vilnius Airport in Lithuania
A pro-Russian critic of Nato has taken the lead in the first round of Romanias presidential elections, in a shock result that could upend its support for Ukraine.

Calin Georgescu, an ultra-nationalist who campaigned heavily on the Chinese social media network TikTok, came in first place with 23 per cent of the vote.

He now faces a run-off against Elena Lasconi, of the liberal Save Romania Union (USR), who finished in second place with a 19 per cent vote share.

Mr Georgescu has largely campaigned on TikTok

Clips on TikTok depict Mr Georgescu as a horseback riding, martial arts fighting anti-establishment figure

The first-round result is an earthquake for post-Communist Romanian politics because the polls had suggested that the incumbent centre-Left party led by Marcel Ciolacu, the prime minister, would easily win the race.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Instead, Mr Ciolacus pro-EU Social Democrats party was knocked out after coming third.

Mr Georgescu, 62, said: Tonight, the Romanian people cried out for peace.

He added: And they shouted very loudly, extremely loudly. We are strong and brave, many of us voted, and even more will do so in the second round.

Romanias electoral authority last week urged Mr Georgescu to take down his clips that were clearly intended as campaign ads, but not labelled as such on TikTok

Mr Georgescu, a former UN human rights special rapporteur, has described Vladimir Putin as a man who loves his country.

Before Sundays election, he had been widely considered a fringe independent candidate who would only secure about 5 per cent of the vote.

The role of president in Romania grants significant decision-making powers on national security and foreign policy, meaning a victory for Mr Georgescu in the Dec 8 run-off would cause concern in EU and Nato circles.

Elena Lasconi, of the liberal Save Romania Union, finished in second place in the first round - Robert Ghement/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Romania shares a 400-mile border with Ukraine and has been a key player in support for Kyiv. It provides transit routes for Ukrainian grain supplies and has donated a Patriot air defence battery. Its Nato airbase is set to become the biggest in Europe.

Mr Georgescu, in addition to praising Putin, has described Romanias Nato missile defence shield in Deveselu as a shame of diplomacy.

Though he has not explicitly stated whether he supports Russias war, he has said that Romania should heed Russian wisdom when dealing with geopolitics.

There were suggestions that many Romanians cast their vote for Mr Georgescu as a protest against traditional parties - Andreea Campeanu/Reuters

Shortly before the vote, he launched a campaign on TikTok, where he has 285,000 followers, to call for an end to support for Ukraine and voiced scepticism of the benefits of Nato membership.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In a 2021 interview, he claimed the alliance would not defend its members in the event of a Russian attack.

TikTok has been banned on British government devices over possible cybersecurity risks and for its links to Beijing, which has grown increasingly close to Moscow.

In response to the result, Cristian Pirvulescu, a political scientist, said: The far-Right is by far the big winner of this election.

Referring to the discrepancy between Mr Georgescus polling performance and the first-round result, Radu Magdin, an analyst, said: Never in our 34 years of democracy have we seen such a surge compared to surveys.

Marcel Ciolacu, the Romanian prime minister, had been a clear favourite to win the first round but was dumped out by voters - Andrei Pungovschi/AFP

The result was also a disaster for Romanias two incumbent parties, as Mr Ciolacus Social Democrats (PSD) and the centre-Right National Liberal party (PNL) were both knocked out in the first round. There were suggestions that many Romanians cast their vote for Mr Georgescu as a protest against traditional parties.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The December run-off will be the first occasion in Romanias post-Communist history where the PSD does not field a presidential candidate.

Ion Marandici, an international relations expert at Rutgers University, said it was unlikely that TikTok was to blame for the shock result because of the age of its users.

He said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter: Georgescus rise is not due to TikTok as some have suggested [because] TikTok is mostly used by young people, who usually are not active voters and are not as conservative as Georgescu either. Georgescu did appear on several popular podcasts, though.

He also suggested that Mr Georgescus frequent appeals to traditional Christian values resonated with Romanian voters.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

He added: Georgescu adopted a mystical-religious discourse combined with anti-Western populism to appeal to a broad base of disillusioned voters seeking spiritual reassurance and simplistic solutions after the pandemic ended. He was also more eloquent than his opponents.

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.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  The supreme leader of Iran, which backs the Hamas and Hezbollah militants fighting Israel in Gaza and Lebanon, said Monday that death sentences should be issued for Israeli leaders, not arrest warrants.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was commenting on a decision last week by the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense chief and a Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri.

"They issued an arrest warrant. That's not enough. ... Death sentence must be issued for these criminal leaders," Khamenei said, referring to Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Secretary Yoav Gallant.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More: Huckabee as Trumps pick for Israel ambassador is a win for Christian Zionism. Heres why.

An anti-Israeli billboard with a picture of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is displayed on a building in Tehran, Iran November 24, 2024.

In their decision, the ICC judges said there were reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Gallant were criminally responsible for acts including murder, persecution and starvation as a weapon of war as part of a "widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza."

The decision was met with outrage in Israel, which called it shameful and absurd. Gaza residents expressed hope it would help end the violence and bring those responsible for alleged war crimes to justice.

Israel has rejected the jurisdiction of the Hague-based court and denies committing war crimes in Gaza.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

More: ICC issues arrest warrants for Israel's Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas leader

The warrant for Al-Masri lists charges of mass killings in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that triggered the war on the long-blockaded Palestinian enclave, plus charges of rape and taking hostages.

An estimated 1,200 Israelis were killed in the 2023 Hamas attack, and 43,000 Palestinians have died in the war in Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry.

Israel has said it killed Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, in an airstrike in July, but Hamas has neither confirmed nor denied the claim.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Iran's supreme leader wants death sentence for Netanyahu and Gallant
The News

Russia has recruited hundreds of Yemeni mercenaries to fight in Ukraine, the Financial Times reported, as the Kremlin increasingly looks to foreign troops to limit the impact of the war on the domestic population.

The men were seemingly recruited by a group linked to the Iran-backed Houthis, which promised them lucrative jobs and Russian citizenship, but they were instead sent to fight in Ukraine, some of the men told the FT.

Both Russia and Ukraine have struggled to recruit enough troops to replace their battlefield casualties; to avoid a costly and unpopular mobilization effort at home, the Kremlin has instead used more foreign fighters, including those from Nepal and India, as well as an estimated 12,000 North Korean soldiers.

The US special envoy for Yemen said Russia is discussing weapons transfers with the Houthis that could allow the group to more accurately target ships in the Red Sea. Since Israels war in Gaza began last year, the Houthis have attacked at least 90 merchant ships in an apparent show of solidarity with Hamas, another Tehran-backed group.
The ballet community is mourning the loss of Vladimir Shklyarov who passed away at just 39 years old.

Shklyarov was a principal dancer at the Mariinsky Theatre since 2011 and dedicated more than 20 years to his craft. His performances in ballets like "Sleeping Beauty," and "Swan Lake."

The St Petersburg company officially announced and said in a statement over the weekend, "Tonight, the favorite of the public, the star premier of the Mariinsky Theater, Honored Artist of Russia Vladimir Shklyarov, tragically died. This is a huge loss not only for the theatre's staff but for all of contemporary ballet."

"Our condolences to the artist's family, loved ones, friends and all the numerous admirers of his work and talent."

Authorities are reportedly looking into the circumstances surrounding his death. Representatives of the dancer informed the press that he tragically fell from the fifth floor of a building while under the influence of painkillers.

As recalled by witnesses, Shklyarov went to the balcony for fresh air, but unfortunately, his footing reportedly faltered on the slim edge.

Russian news agency RIA Novosti has stated that the incident is currently classified as an accident pending further investigation.

Hailing from Leningrad, Russia, Shklyarov's journey into the world of ballet began at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, where he completed his studies in 2003.

Over the years, he has been recognized with various awards, such as the Leonide Massine International Prize in 2008.

Unlike Olga Smirnova, the ballerina who left Russia for Europe, Shklyarov chose to stay in Russia and focused on his performances without making any additional statements regarding the ongoing conflict.
PANAMA CITY BEACH  Gov. Ron DeSantis has awarded $2.1 million in grants to support military-supporting infrastructure projects in Florida. Two of those projects involve Bay County.

According to a Tuesday morning press release from the governor's office, these grants come from the state's Defense Reinvestment Grant Program. "This program provides grants to support infrastructure projects and economic growth in Floridas military communities," the release says.

One grant, for $90,530, will go to the Bay Defense Alliance. According to the news release, the money will be used "to leverage the volunteer talent of Bay Defense Alliance and its community partners to continue development of existing missions and pursuit of new, next-generation defense missions."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

According to its website, https://baydefensealliance.org/, the alliance formed in 1993 "and is organized with Air Force, Navy and U.S. Coast Guard teams dedicated to ensuring the long-term stability of missions at Tyndall AFB, Naval Support Activity Panama City and US Coast Guard Station PC."

"Like many defense support organizations," the website says, "BDA was formed with a clear understanding that defense installations benefit from the full support of the communities around them and the ongoing commitments of both military and elected leadership."

The second grant, for $220,000 will go to Bay County government for use in creating an area development plan for the Barefoot Palms property, which is adjacent to Naval Support Activity Panama City.

"The primary mission of NSA Panama City is to provide, operate and maintain facilities; provide defense and physical security of critical infrastructure; (and) provide operational support to the fleet, fighter and family and supported commands," according to its website, https://cnrse.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NSA-Panama-City/. "Major tenants include Naval Surface Warfare Center-Panama City Division, Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center, Navy Experimental Diving Unit and U.S. Coast Guard Station Panama City."

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Holiday events: Parades, concerts and more: Christmas and holiday events in 2024 for Panama City and Bay County

Nine other grants were announced Tuesday, with the recipients located throughout the state.

Since 2019, according to the news release, DeSantis has awarded nearly $6.3 million to Floridas military communities through the Defense Reinvestment Grant program.

Florida is committed to investing in our militarys capacity and in military communities, DeSantis said in the release. These funds continue my mission of making Florida the most military-friendly and veteran-friendly state in the nation.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Gov. Ron DeSantis awards two grants to help military in Bay County
A top adviser to President-elect Donald Trump allegedly tried to profit from his relationship with the new administration, asking potential appointees for large retainer fees in exchange for promoting them to get plum jobs, according to multiplereports on Monday.

An internal investigation by Trumps own attorneys concluded Boris Epshteyn  a longtime aide who coordinated Trumps criminal defenses in recent years  had asked at least two people for the monthly payments. One of those people was Scott Bessent, a billionaire hedge fund manager who was recently tapped to be the next treasury secretary.

The Washington Post notes Epshteyn invited Bessent to lunch at a Palm Beach hotel in February, where he asked him to pay a monthly stipend of at least $30,000 to promote his reputation around Trumps Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. Bessent, who was gunning for the Treasury Department job, declined, but Epshteyn later asked him to invest $10 million in a basketball league. Bessent also declined that overture.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Later, Bessent told Trumps attorneys he believed he was being criticized to those in the president-elects orbit after the November election. Epshteyn, The New York Times reports, told the billionaire it was too late for him to be hired for a cabinet position while allegedly calling himself Boris Fucking Epshteyn.

The pair also had a heated confrontation in the lobby at Mar-a-Lago last week, CNN added.

Boris Epshteyn, seen during this year's Republican National Convention, has been a close adviser to Trump for years. Tom Williams via Getty Images

Epshteyn has denied the allegations.

I am honored to work for President Trump and with his team, he said in a statement to media outlets. These fake claims are false and defamatory and will not distract us from Making America Great Again.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Times went on to detail further allegations, however. A second person included in the report compiled by Trumps attorneys was a defense contractor, who told them Epshteyn asked for $100,000 per month during the ongoing transition. The report said the contractor felt hiring the man was do or die for their prospects.

They did not hire him and have feared some sort of retaliation, the report found.

A third person  former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens (R)  also submitted a declaration to the Trump transition team saying he felt similarly in his own dealings with Epshteyn.

Mr. Epshteyns overall tone and behavior gave me the impression of an implicit expectation to engage in business dealings with him before he would advocate for or suggest my appointment to the President, Greitens wrote, according to reports from Just the News and CBS News.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The document concluded with findings that Epshteyn should no longer be as close to the Trump orbit. Its unclear what will be done.

Steven Cheung, a spokesman for the president-elect, said the review was standard practice on Monday and said it was now completed.

We are now moving ahead together as a team to help President Trump Make America Great Again, Cheung said.

Related...
Gov. Phil Scott will not call Vermont legislators in for a special session before the start of the next biennium despite a push from Vermonts Progressive Party which wants to pass additional protections for marginalized groups before President-elect Donald Trump returns to federal office.

The Vermont Progressive Party is just one of many groups to voice concerns that Trumps administration might attempt to strip rights from women, migrants, members of the BIPOC and LGBTQIA communities and religious and cultural minorities. Other state legislatures  including California, which will hold its own special session in December  are already considering ways to prevent these outcomes on a state level.

Scott, however, said last Wednesday during his weekly press conference that he would not be following suit, telling Vermonters the legislature will wait to see what happens before taking any decisive action as they dont yet know which of Trumps promises have legs.

Gov. Phil Scott at a press conference in June 2024.

I think were getting ahead of ourselves, Scott said, arguing that Trump hasnt even assumed office yet. I think we need to tamp down on some of the controversy and so forth. We cant be in a state of emergency so to speak over four years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Scott added that lawmakers will need some time to take this in, take a deep breath and figure out what we can do, what we can live with, what we cant. But should policies form the Trump administration start to negatively impact Vermonters, including vulnerable communities, then lawmakers will act, he said.

Weve done it before and well do it again, Scott said about making it through a Trump presidency.

More: 'Voters cleared up the confusion': Here's why Vermont saw a 'Red Wave' in Election 2024

Scott, a moderate Republican, has publicly criticized Trump many times during the president-elects previous administration. He also notably voted for Trumps Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, in the November election.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

When asked if he thinks Trump will target Vermont  which overwhelmingly voted to elect Harris this year  for past criticisms, Scott said he isnt too worried.

I think were a blip on the screen, he said. I think theres bigger fish to fry in his world, I would imagine, but well see.

Vermont Progressive Party executive director says Scott's decision is a "mistake"

The Vermont Progressive Party, however, is not mollified by Scotts reassurances.

Josh Wronski, the partys executive director, told the Free Press in an interview that Scott is making a mistake by not immediately calling a special session, which he said should have happened yesterday.

Theres so much at risk right now, Wronski said, which he said is evidenced by the attacks Trump spent last year engaging in against minority groups, the freedom of the press and certain government entities, such as the Environmental Protections Agency (EPA).

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Trump has proved hes a vindictive person, he said. We could see him cutting a lot of funding from Vermont because of the states consistent opposition to him.

Scott wants to give him the benefit of the doubt, Wronski said, but we should take him at his word, that he intends to do what he wants to do.

Wronski added that he thinks Scott is trying to have it both ways, where the governor says he opposes Trumps rhetoric but isnt willing to oppose what Trump is talking about doing.

Were calling on the governor to put his money where his mouth is, Wronski said.

Should Scott change his mind about the special session, Wronski said the progressive party would encourage the legislature to consider how to lawfully ensure access to gender affirming care, rights for transgender students, the continuation of Fair and Impartial Policing in Vermont, protections for undocumented immigrants and environmental and health protections if EPA regulations are eliminated  to name a few.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

At this point, however, Wronski said the progressive partys next step is to appeal to Senate Pro Tempore Phil Baruth (D/P-Burlington) and House Speaker Jill Krowinski (D-Burlington) to hold committee hearings in both chambers prior to the start of the regular legislative session on Jan. 8. Although lawmakers will not be able to pass legislation during committee hearings, they will be able to start those conversations, as Wronski put it.

Our values are with the people whose rights are threatened, Wronski said, adding that the progressive party is going to do whatever we can to protect people and ensure Vermont remains a place that is welcome to everybody.

Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Governor Scott won't call special session to prep for Trump presidency
Western allies are reported to be adopting the "Danish model" to fund Ukraine's arms industry.

Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Lithuania have provided money in this way, The Wall Street Journal said.

Those in favor say it will help make Ukraine self-sufficient in the long term.

Ukraine's European allies, hampered by low military production capacity, have been struggling to produce the weapons needed for Kyiv to fight against Russia.

An increasing number are now financing Ukrainian government contracts with Ukrainian weapons manufacturers to make up the shortfall, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The move has been termed the "Danish Model" after Denmark began giving Ukraine aid to boost its defense manufacturing capacity earlier this year.

Those in favor of the model say Ukraine is able to create weapons better suited to its needs at a lower cost than Western countries, the Journal reported.

Ukraine already has a strong weapons manufacturing industry. An Institute for the Study of War report said Ukraine's defense industry employed 300,000 workers within about 500 different companies in 2023.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last month that the country's defense companies could now produce 4 million drones annually.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

By contrast, Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier this year that Moscow intended to ramp up drone production tenfold to about 1.4 million a year.

"Ukraine was the heart of the Soviet defense industrial base, so they have a lot of know-how when it comes to manufacturing complex systems," Eric Ciaramella, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment's Russia and Eurasia program, told the Journal.

Supporting Ukraine's defense industry lets the West help ensure Ukraine is self-sufficient, he added.

Last week, Denmark made a new donation of $138 million for the development of Ukraine's arms industry, Reuters reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Sweden, Lithuania, and Norway have also recently provided money in this way, and other nations could soon follow, the Journal reported.

Zelenskyy has repeatedly expressed frustration with delays in military aid from Ukraine's Western allies, on whom it's dependent for advanced weapons such as Patriot and Storm Shadow missiles.

"Every decision to which we, then later everyone together, comes to is late by around one year," he told Reuters in May.

As Business Insider's Sinead Baker reported earlier this week, the West has focused on the quality of military equipment over stockpiles, prioritizing high-tech and specialized gear over volume.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But the Ukraine war has shown that both are needed. That has prompted a surge in weaponry manufacturing that some experts fear will still fall short.

Russia has also sourced weapons, troops, and ammunition from allies, with North Korea having provided about 8 million artillery shells and about 10,000 soldiers.

The US has meanwhile accused China of providing dual-use goods for Russia's military industry to overcome sanctions. Reuters reported in September that Russia also had a drone factory in China for the war.

Russia's advantages in manpower and equipment have enabled it to make slow but important gains in east Ukraine in recent weeks.

Read the original article on Business Insider
FUKUOKA, Nov 26 (News On Japan) - A man in Fukuoka Prefecture who was arrested for breaking into aafter admitting to trespassing over 1,000 times, citing the adrenaline rush as the primary motivation.

The incident occurred around 1 p.m. in Dazaifu when the suspect entered the property of a couples home. The 48-year-old husband detained him while his wife called the police.

The suspect, 31-year-old Sugawara Yuta, told investigators that he derived excitement from sneaking onto private properties, describing it as a "stress-relieving thrill." He admitted to trespassing over 1,000 times, citing the adrenaline rush as the primary motivation.

Source: ANN
Efficient logistics and global trade depend on precise and standardized systems for identifying locations. Without such systems, errors, miscommunication, and inefficiencies would hinder the seamless flow of goods and services across borders. The UN/LOCODE database provides a universal solution, offering a standardized coding framework for identifying thousands of locations worldwide. From ports and airports to postal regions and freight terminals, this database plays a pivotal role in simplifying international commerce.

In this article, we explore the features, applications, and benefits of the un/locode database along with its relevance in emerging trends like digitalization and sustainable logistics. Whether youre in logistics, trade, or technology, understanding this system is essential for staying competitive in a globalized economy.

What Is the UN/LOCODE Database?

The UN/LOCODE database (United Nations Code for Trade and Transport Locations) is a standardized coding system developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). This system assigns unique alphanumeric codes to thousands of locations worldwide, enabling the seamless identification of places involved in trade and transportation activities. Whether its a port, airport, railway station, inland freight terminal, or postal area, the UN/LOCODE database ensures consistency in location identification.

The importance of such a database cannot be overstated. It eliminates ambiguity, reduces errors, and promotes efficiency in logistics, making it a critical tool for businesses, governments, and organizations worldwide. To know more about this, visit https://www.geopostcodes.com/unlocode-database/.

Applications in Logistics and Trade

The UN/LOCODE database has a broad range of applications in the logistics and trade industries, helping companies operate more efficiently, reduce errors, and improve supply chain visibility. Its standardized structure ensures that businesses, governments, and organizations worldwide can collaborate seamlessly and reduce the complexities associated with international operations.

1. Streamlining Global Trade

Efficient trade relies on accurate documentation, and the UN/LOCODE database provides a standardized language for identifying locations. When filling out customs declarations, shipping manifests, or trade documents, using UN/LOCODE ensures that location details are accurately interpreted across borders.

2. Enhancing Supply Chain Visibility

Supply chains today span continents, requiring precise tracking and management. By using standardized location codes, companies can track shipments in real-time, make informed decisions, and enhance customer satisfaction. This visibility also helps in identifying bottlenecks and optimizing routes.

3. Facilitating Intermodal Transport

Switching between transport modessea, air, rail, or roadrequires clear communication about cargo destinations. The UN/LOCODE database provides a universal reference system, reducing delays and miscommunication during these transitions.

4. Improving Data Accuracy

Errors in identifying locations can result in shipment delays, financial losses, and disputes. By leveraging the UN/LOCODE system, businesses can reduce these risks and ensure smoother operations in their logistics processes.

Why Should Businesses Leverage the UN/LOCODE Database?

Incorporating the UN/LOCODE database into business operations offers a range of advantages, from improved operational efficiency to compliance with international standards. As global trade grows increasingly complex, adopting this system becomes not just a convenience but a necessity for businesses aiming to stay competitive.

1. Standardization Across Platforms

The UN/LOCODE database is compatible with various logistics platforms, ERP systems, and customs software. This standardization ensures consistency across systems, enabling businesses to collaborate more effectively, even with partners using different technologies.

2. Compliance with International Standards

The use of UN/LOCODE codes is mandated or recommended by many international organizations and trade agreements. Businesses that adopt this system align with global standards, fostering trust and credibility among partners and regulatory authorities.

3. Cost Savings

Errors in location identification can result in costly delays, penalties, or even lost shipments. The accuracy provided by the UN/LOCODE system reduces these risks, enabling businesses to save time and money.

4. Future-Proofing Operations

As logistics and trade become increasingly digital, having a standardized system for location identification is crucial. The UN/LOCODE database positions businesses for success in a world that demands accurate and interoperable data.

The Role of the UN/LOCODE Database in Emerging Trends

The logistics and trade industries are evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements, growing e-commerce demands, and sustainability goals. Heres how the UN/LOCODE database supports these emerging trends:

1. Digitization of Supply Chains

Technologies like blockchain, IoT, and artificial intelligence are transforming supply chains. The UN/LOCODE database provides the structured data necessary for these systems to function effectively, enabling real-time tracking, automated processes, and smarter decision-making.

2. E-Commerce Growth

With the explosive growth of e-commerce, the demand for fast, efficient, and reliable logistics has skyrocketed. The UN/LOCODE database facilitates cross-border shipping and last-mile delivery by providing accurate location data, ensuring that goods reach customers on time.

3. Sustainability and Green Logistics

Sustainability is becoming a priority for businesses and consumers alike. Accurate location data helps companies optimize their logistics operations, reducing fuel consumption and minimizing carbon footprints.

Challenges and Opportunities

While the UN/LOCODE database is a vital tool, maintaining its accuracy and relevance presents challenges. With over 100,000 locations included, constant updates are necessary to account for new locations, changes in trade routes, and evolving logistical needs. Gaps in coverage or outdated entries can lead to inefficiencies.

However, these challenges also present opportunities for innovation. By integrating emerging technologies like machine learning and crowdsourcing, the database can become more dynamic and accurate. Businesses and governments can also contribute to its development, fostering a collaborative ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders.

Accessing the UN/LOCODE Database

For businesses and logistics professionals, accessing the UN/LOCODE database is straightforward. Comprehensive platforms like GeoPostcodes offer an intuitive way to explore this extensive resource. These tools often include features like advanced search capabilities, API integrations, and data visualization, making it easier for users to leverage the database for their specific needs.

Conclusion

The UN/LOCODE database is a cornerstone of modern logistics and trade, providing a standardized framework for identifying locations worldwide. Its ability to streamline operations, enhance accuracy, and support emerging trends makes it indispensable for businesses navigating the complexities of global commerce.

As the logistics and trade industries continue to evolve, the importance of tools like the UN/LOCODE database will only grow. For professionals, businesses, and researchers looking to stay ahead in this dynamic landscape, exploring and utilizing the database is a strategic step.
Online reviews have become a cornerstone of effective local SEO strategies. Backspace Marketing, a trusted name in digital marketing, emphasizes the value of customer feedback in shaping a businesss online visibility and reputation. By leveraging reviews strategically, businesses can enhance their search rankings, attract more customers, and build trust in increasingly competitive markets.

Harnessing Online Reviews for Better Rankings

Customer feedback on platforms like Google, Yelp, and Facebook holds significant weight in determining local SEO performance. Reviews help search engines assess a businesss activity, credibility, and relevance to user queries. According to Backspace Marketing, actively managing reviews can make or break a businesss ability to stand out locally.

Claiming and optimizing profiles on key review platforms is the first step toward success. Ensuring that a businesss name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across platforms not only builds trust but also improves rankings. Inconsistent details confuse search engines and potential customers, leading to missed opportunities.

Why Reviews Matter for Local SEO

Reviews are more than endorsements; they serve as signals to search engines that a business is active and engaging with its audience. Businesses with more positive reviews tend to rank higher, as they appear trustworthy and relevant. Even negative reviews can work to a companys advantage if handled professionally.

Backspace Marketing highlights that responding to feedback, whether good or bad, showcases transparency and dedication. Engaging with reviewers publicly allows businesses to demonstrate accountability and commitment, which resonates with both customers and search engines.

Building Engagement Through Review Responses

One of the most impactful ways businesses can maximize the value of reviews is by engaging with them actively. A timely response to customer feedback not only enhances brand reputation but also encourages more reviews.

Backspace Marketing suggests the following best practices for managing reviews:

Respond to all feedback promptly, preferably within a couple of days.

Maintain a professional and polite tone, especially when addressing criticism.

Show appreciation for positive reviews, reinforcing customer loyalty.

Use negative feedback as an opportunity to improve by acknowledging concerns and outlining solutions.

Such engagement helps businesses establish a solid relationship with their audience, fostering trust and encouraging repeat customers.

Tapping Into Keywords Hidden in Reviews

Online reviews serve as an unexpected but powerful SEO asset. Customer-generated content often includes phrases and keywords directly aligned with popular search queries. By analyzing the language used in reviews, businesses can identify terms that resonate with their audience and incorporate these into broader SEO strategies.

For instance, recurring phrases like best pizza in town or affordable car repair services can inform keyword strategies for website copy, FAQs, and blog posts. This approach not only aligns with user intent but also enhances the chances of ranking higher for relevant searches.

Monitoring Trends to Stay Ahead

Proactive review management involves regular monitoring to identify trends and insights. Businesses that track metrics such as review volume, frequency, and average ratings can fine-tune their strategies for better results.

Tools like Google Alerts or review management platforms, as recommended by Backspace Marketing, can simplify the process of tracking feedback. Analytics dashboards that integrate review data with website traffic and conversion metrics offer a comprehensive view of how reviews impact overall performance.

Turning Negative Reviews into Opportunities

No business is immune to criticism, but how a company responds to negative reviews can make all the difference. Backspace Marketing advises using critical feedback as a learning opportunity and a way to demonstrate accountability.

Responding publicly to negative reviews shows transparency, while private follow-ups offer an opportunity to resolve issues discreetly. Addressing concerns effectively can even turn unhappy customers into loyal advocates, highlighting the importance of active engagement.

A Holistic Approach to Local SEO

While reviews are crucial, they are only one piece of a larger puzzle. Backspace Marketing emphasizes the importance of integrating review management with other local SEO efforts. Optimizing on-page content, maintaining a mobile-friendly website, and producing localized content all contribute to digital visibility.

For example, a blog discussing common customer questions or sharing success stories can complement the review strategy. Combined efforts like these create a robust local SEO plan, ensuring businesses thrive in competitive environments.

Encouraging Reviews to Enhance Visibility

Encouraging satisfied customers to leave reviews is an essential part of local SEO strategy. Simple steps, such as sending follow-up emails or including a review request on receipts, can significantly increase feedback volume. By consistently encouraging reviews, businesses not only boost their credibility but also ensure a steady flow of fresh content to support SEO efforts.

Closing Thoughts

As Backspace Marketing highlights, online reviews are indispensable in todays local SEO landscape. Businesses that actively engage with feedback, optimize their profiles, and leverage customer insights will see improvements in both visibility and reputation. By making review management a core part of your strategy, you can position your business as a trusted and reliable choice for local customers.

Embrace the potential of online reviews to strengthen your local SEO efforts and build lasting trust with your audience. With a thoughtful, proactive approach, your business can achieve greater visibility and long-term success.
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has directed the management of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company, Limited, NNPCL, to expedite action towards the scheduled reactivation of the second Port Harcourt refinery and the Warri and Kaduna refineries.

This is as the President has extended his heartfelt congratulations to the NNPCL on the successful revitalisation of the Port Harcourt refinery, marked by the official commencement of petroleum product loading on November 26, 2024.

President Tinubu acknowledged the pivotal role of former President Muhammadu Buhari in initiating the comprehensive rehabilitation of all our refineries and expressed gratitude to the African Export-Import Bank for its confidence in financing this critical project.

A statement issued by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, further added that Tinubu commended the leadership of NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mele Kyari, whose unwavering dedication and commitment were instrumental in overcoming challenges to achieve this milestone.

The statement said, With the successful revival of the Port Harcourt refinery, President Tinubu urges NNPC Limited to expedite the scheduled reactivation of both the second Port Harcourt refinery and the Warri and Kaduna refineries.

These efforts will significantly enhance domestic production capacity alongside the contributions of privately owned refineries and make our country a major energy hub, with the gas sector also enjoying unprecedented attention by the administration.

The President underscores his administrations determination to repair the nations refineries, aiming to eradicate the disheartening perception of Nigeria as a major crude oil producer that lacks the ability to refine its own resources for domestic consumption.

Highlighting the values of patience, integrity, and accountability in the rebuilding of the nations infrastructure, President Tinubu called upon individuals, institutions, and citizens entrusted with responsibilities to maintain focus and uphold trust in their service to the nation.

In alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda focused on shared economic prosperity for all, the President reaffirms his administrations commitment to achieving energy sufficiency, enhancing energy security, and boosting export capacity for Nigeria, it added.
Morocco has sent a clear and straight forward message to the European Union, telling the European bloc to defend bilateral partnership with tangible actions not words.

Morocco expects the EU to prove its commitment to partnership through deeds, not words, said Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita during a joint press briefing Monday in Rabat with EU neighborhood commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, who pays his first visit to Rabat since the European Court of Justice issued its ideologically-motivated verdict scrapping fisheries and agricultural deals with Morocco because they included goods from the southern provinces: the Sahara.

It is necessary that everything said in European capitals about the importance of the European Unions partnership with Morocco be translated into actions and concrete solutions in the face of provocations and harassment, which take political and legal forms and attempt to harm this partnership, Bourita said, alluding to the politically-motivated ruling issued by the European Court of Justice.

All what has been said in European capitals about the importance of the EUs partnership with Morocco must be translated into actions and concrete solutions against blackmail and legal & economic harassment, said Bourita, alluding to the politically-motivated ruling issued by the European Court of Justice regarding Morocco-EU fisheries and farming accords.

Today, Morocco is waiting to see how the EU will respond to the provocations. Morocco expects the EU to send signals and make tangible proposals reflecting its commitment to this partnership and respond to the challenges at hand, underlined Bourita, citing in this regard King Mohammed VIs firm stand as voiced in his latest Green March speech saying that Moroccos partnerships and legal obligations will never be at the expense of its territorial integrity or its national sovereignty.

Morocco will not sign any agreement that violates its national unity. Today the ball is in the EUs court, Bourita said.

EU Commissioner on his part said Morocco is a reliable partner and a pillar of stability in the region, hailing the actions carried out jointly with the Kingdom, particularly the successful reform of the Kingdoms social security project.

In my opinion, we now need to redouble our efforts to figure out feasible solutions to overcome the difficulties, he added. We are committed to all the achievements we have made together and we would like to extend them, said Mr. Varhelyi, announcing an upcoming agreement aimed at supporting the populations affected by Al Haouz earthquake and backing post-quake reconstruction efforts.
Morocco plans to launch in 2025 the first tenders for the initial phase of a major gas pipeline that will connect Nigeria to the Kingdom, state hydrocarbons and mines agency ONHYM said.

The tenders will cover the Moroccan part of the pipeline, Asharq Bloomberg reported citing an official document.

The first phase of the pipeline will connect Morocco to Mauritania and Senegal, giving a much-needed export outlet for newly found gas offshore the two west African countries.

Morocco, Senegal and Mauritania are expected to sign final agreements to launch the project next year.

The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, expected to be achieved at an estimated cost of 26 billion dollars, will enhance energy security in 13 West African states.

The project has the full backing of the Nigerian government and the West African regional grouping, the ECOWAS.
Security cooperation between Morocco and Belgium were at the center of talks held Monday in Rabat between Abdellatif Hammouchi, Chief of national police & domestic intelligence agency and Head of Belgium State Security (VSSE) Francisca Bostyn.

They discussed ways of countering terrorist threats regionally and internationally, particularly in the Sahel region. The two parties stressed the importance of expanding cooperation between the two countries domestic security services, facilitating the exchange of information, experience & expertise to strengthen security partnership between the two countries.

The VSSE Administrator General hailed the security cooperation with the Moroccan security agencies in the fight against terrorism and extremism, expressing her countrys willingness to consolidate this cooperation.

Her visit to Morocco is a recognition of the trust and credibility the North African Kingdom enjoys on the international scene in the fight against terrorism for the sake of regional and global security and stability.
The EU has pledged 190 million euros in a new financial contribution to Moroccos post-quake reconstruction efforts.

An agreement was signed in that respect by the EUs commissioner for the neighborhood Oliver Varhelyi and minister in charge of the budget Fouzi Lekjaa.

The Commissioner said the EU has injected 5 billion euros in the Moroccan economy in recent years, adding that the EU would like not only to save this partnership but also to expand it.

The European Commission and the Council have expressed attachment to the partnership with Morocco following a political verdict by the European Court of Justice that threatens to sap the close economic ties between them.

Morocco had said that it was an issue for the EU to resolve and called for giving its partnership legal certainty.
The Alliance of Sahel States (AES), comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, has announced plans to harmonize travel and identity documents to facilitate free movement for their citizens and goods across their shared borders. This initiative marks a significant step toward deeper regional integration among the three nations.

Security ministers from the AES countries convened in Bamako last week to advance discussions on this proposal, according to a joint statement shared on November 25 via social media.

The meeting focused on finalizing harmonized technical specifications for travel and identity documents, including passports and national ID cards, to promote the free movement of people and goods in the AES region, the statement detailed. It also highlighted that this initiative builds on earlier deliberations held by experts in Bamako on October 23.

The ministers emphasized the importance of concrete measures to enhance mobility within the AES framework. The harmonized travel and identity documents will be submitted to the Heads of State for final approval, the statement added.

This initiative comes in the context of the three countries decision to exit the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 2023. The withdrawal was a response to ECOWAS sanctions imposed after political transitions in the member states. In place of ECOWAS membership, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso established the Confederation of Sahel States on July 6, 2024, during the alliances inaugural Summit in Niamey.

The harmonization of travel documents is expected to strengthen economic and social ties within the AES while reducing barriers to regional trade and cooperation. This step also reflects the alliances broader commitment to achieving greater self-reliance and regional solidarity amid geopolitical challenges.
Egyptian authorities announced on Monday, November 25, that 28 individuals were rescued after a tourist boat capsized off the Red Sea coast, with search efforts underway to locate 17 others still missing. The vessel, identified as Sea Story, was carrying 31 tourists from various countries and 14 crew members when it sent out distress signals, early in the morning, according to a statement from the Red Sea Governorate.

The Sea Story, a diving cruise ship, had departed from Port Ghalib in southeastern Egypt on Sunday for a multi-day expedition. It was scheduled to reach Hurghada, a popular tourist destination 200 kilometers (125 miles) to the north, by Friday.

Amr Hanafi, the governor of the Red Sea region, stated that the rescue operations involved a combination of air and sea efforts. Survivors were airlifted to safety, while others were evacuated via a military ship. The search is actively continuing in collaboration with the navy and armed forces, Hanafi confirmed in a press release.

The incident underscores the allure and risks associated with Egypts Red Sea region, renowned for its pristine waters and vibrant coral reefs, which attract millions of tourists annually. The area is a cornerstone of Egypts vital tourism industry, which employs approximately two million people and contributes over 10% of the countrys GDP.

This tragic event comes at a critical time for Egypt, as the nation of 105 million grapples with an economic crisis and seeks to revitalize its tourism sector. Authorities have emphasized the importance of swift rescue operations and a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the capsizing to ensure the safety of future maritime activities in the region.

Search operations, led by the Egyptian navy and armed forces, are expected to continue around the clock until all missing individuals are accounted for. Local officials have also called for increased safety protocols and inspections for vessels operating in the region to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Brokering a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon was high on the agenda of a Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers meeting in the Italian city of Fiuggi on Monday (25 November).

Signs emerged of progress on a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah as foreign ministers from the worlds leading industrialized nations met in Italy, with reports suggesting a US-led proposal could soon be accepted by the warring sides two months after Israel launched its ground invasion of Lebanon. Italys foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, who hosted the G7 meeting, expressed cautious optimism, saying that we are maybe close to a cease fire in Lebanon, lets touch wood and lets hope its true, and there is no reverse gear at the last moment. Ministers from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Jordan, as well as the Secretary General of the Arab League, also joined the meeting.

The heightened diplomatic efforts in both the Mideast and Ukraine wars come amid mounting pressure ahead of the new Donald Trump administration taking office in the United States. The draft proposal to end the fighting calls for an initial 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. A ceasefire deal to end fighting between Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah could be reached within days, Israels ambassador to the US, Mike Herzog, told the media on Monday.
As the Horn of Africa is facing multiple and complex challenges, two important forums have recently brought together experts, politicians, diplomats and traditional leaders to discuss ways to strengthen regional stability and security.

The Horn of Africa is currently experiencing high levels of instability and political violence, from the civil wars in Ethiopia and Sudan, to escalating tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia, to the al-Shabaab insurgency in Somalia. Scholars, politicians and traditional leaders from across the Horn of Africa gathered in Djibouti on Monday (25 November) for an annual three-day forum on strengthening regional stability. Organized by the Mogadishu-based Heritage Institute for Policy Studies, its executive director, Mursal Saney, said the forum is providing an opportunity for Somalis from across the region to discuss issues of concern. This years forum comes amid growing tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia over a port deal Addis Ababa signed in January with Somaliland, a breakaway region.

Meanwhile, the East Africa Security Forum (EASF) was held from 21-13 November at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti. The forum, hosted by Combined Joint Task Force  Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), aimed to enhance US collaboration with regional partners and address complex security issues. It brought together senior leaders and distinguished guests from US government agencies, military and diplomatic missions, as well as representatives from partner nations. Panelists explored strategies for building a more collaborative approach to East African security, emphasizing how the private sector can contribute to broader, long-term stability. The forum also highlighted how US government agencies are managing inter- and intra-state conflicts in the region, focusing on security challenges linked to tribal and national affiliations.
Security cooperation between Morocco and Spain was crucial in dismantling a terrorist cell linked to ISIS in the Sahel, the Spanish National Police Directorate said this Tuesday, noting that the cell was composed of nine members, six of whom were active in Madrid, Ibiza, and the enclave of Sebta.

The collaboration of the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST), which arrested three members of the cell in Tetouan and Fnideq, was crucial to the dismantling of this group, the Spanish police said in a statement.

Thanks to this security cooperation, the authorities were able to neutralize a real threat to the security of both countries, the statement emphasized, noting that the cell was made up of highly radicalized individuals, adhering to terrorist ISIS ideologies, and showing a willingness to commit violent acts.

After thorough surveillance, the authorities revealed that these individuals were engaged in belligerent jihadist activity, making direct threats against people from the west populations and the Jewish community, and inciting violent acts, the Spanish police stated.

The searches conducted at the homes of the suspects, as part of this joint and simultaneous security operation between Moroccan and Spanish authorities, led to the seizure of bladed weapons and computer equipment.

On Monday, the investigating judge of the Spanish National Court ordered the detention of six arrested individuals, including former detainees in terrorism-related cases in Spain.
A French national of Algerian origin, who was subject to an international arrest warrant issued by French judicial authorities, was arrested in Marrakech on Monday.

The arrest of the suspect, aged 38, was conducted on the basis of accurate tips provided by the National Security and Territorial Surveillance (DGST) services, a security source said.

The DGSN checked the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) database and identified the suspect as being subject to an international red notice issued at the behest of Interpols central office in Paris, for his alleged belonging to a criminal network involved in money laundering.

The suspect was remanded into police custody, pending his referral to the public prosecutors office, the same source stated. Moroccos national central office Interpol Office in Rabat was commissioned to notify its French counterpart of this arrest under the extradition procedure.

This arrest is part of strengthening ties of international security cooperation, as well as Moroccan security services efforts to track down persons wanted internationally for cross-border crimes.
King Mohammed VI has deplored the tragic situation in Palestinian territories, which requires a decisive action for achieving an immediate, comprehensive, and Sustainable ceasefire.

The tragic situation in the Palestinian territories, especially in the Gaza Strip, and the related regional and international challenges call out to the conscience of the world and require decisive action for the achievement of an immediate, comprehensive, and sustainable ceasefire, King Mohammed VI stated in a message to the Chairman of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Cheikh Niang.

They also require greater joint action to support and protect human rights in the Palestinian territories, implement relevant UN resolutions and ensure full compliance with international law and international humanitarian law, the Sovereign stressed in a message sent to Cheikh Niang on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, celebrated on November 26 this year.

The Monarch, who expressed regrets regarding the continuing Israeli military invasion of the Gaza Strip, called on the entire world to take urgent, immediate action to stop the war, compel Israel to lift the siege imposed on the Strip, and allow the return of displaced people as a prelude to starting the reconstruction of what was destroyed by the war.

Likewise, given the impasse in the Middle East peace process and the difficult conditions currently prevailing in the region, the King called once again on the international community, especially the influential countries which can have an impact on the conflict, to undertake fresh, intensive and effective diplomatic efforts with a view to bringing back the parties concerned to the negotiating table.

The aim is to achieve a just, comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue and build a common future for upcoming Palestinian and Israeli generations, within the framework of the two-state solution, the King wrote in this message.

The Monarch also stressed that in view of the serious, unprecedented developments in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, the Kingdom of Morocco expresses its deep concern over the tragic conditions resulting from the continued Israeli invasion.

The invasion has so far claimed the lives of thousands of innocent, defenseless civilians. Millions of Palestinians have been deprived of their basic rights to housing, food, health, clean water, education and security; they have been forcibly displaced or made to migrate due to massive, wide-ranging destruction of infrastructure in the region, the King added.

King Mohammed VI also noted that the Israeli unilateral measures and repeated provocations in the city of al-Qods are undermining all efforts to achieve a return to calm and ruining all international initiatives designed to stop the violence and put an end to tension in the region.

As Chairman of the Organization of Islamic Cooperations al-Quds Committee, I have personally seen to it that all possible efforts are made, and all ways and means available leveraged to preserve the legal, historical and demographic status of al-Qods as the city that brings together the followers of the three monotheistic religions, the King pointed out, reasserting that Morocco will keep up its untiring efforts to defend the holy city, politically and diplomatically.

As the executive, action-oriented organ of the al-Quds Committee, the Bayt Mal al-Qods Agency will continue to implement tangible programs and projects essentially designed to preserve the cultural identity of the holy city, improve the social and living conditions of the inhabitants of al-Qods, and support their steadfastness, the King stated further.

He also commended all national Palestinian reconciliation initiatives that serve the Palestinians lofty goal of establishing their independent state and expressed full support to the Palestinian National Authority, under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas, as it seeks to fulfil the aspirations of the Palestinians to gain freedom and independence, and achieve security, unity and prosperity.

The King, who commended the sincere and continuous efforts of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, reiterated full support for its praiseworthy action in backing the legitimate, inalienable rights of Palestinians, as well as for its action to contribute to international efforts to achieve peace, stability, coexistence and prosperity for all peoples in the region.
King Mohammed VI has pleaded for a return to the negotiating table between Palestinians and Israelis, as the only way to put a final end to the conflict and achieve security and stability in the Middle East region, while reiterating that Morocco supports all constructive initiatives aimed at finding practical solutions to achieve a permanent and effective ceasefire, and address the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories.

By using its influence as well as its special relationship with the parties concerned and with the influential international powers, Morocco will keep up its unstinting, customary efforts to bring about conditions conducive to a return to the negotiating table. That is the only way to put a final end to the conflict and achieve security and stability in the Middle East region, the Monarch said in a message to the Chairman of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Cheikh Niang, on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, celebrated on November 26 this year.

The Monarch condemned as serious and unprecedented the developments in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, and expressed Moroccos deep concern over the tragic conditions resulting from the continued Israeli invasion, which has so far claimed the lives of tens of thousands of innocent, defenseless civilians.

Millions of Palestinians have been deprived of their basic rights to housing, food, health, clean water, education and security; they have been forcibly displaced or made to migrate due to massive, wide-ranging destruction of infrastructure in the region, the King deplored.

In light of these difficult and unacceptable circumstances from a human, legal and moral standpoint, and consistent with its usual policy in various regional and international forums, the Kingdom of Morocco reiterates the need for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and for an end be put to the repeated attacks on the defenseless inhabitants of the West Bank and al-Qods, the King wrote part of his proposals to end the Palestinians ordeal.

The Kingdom, which also reiterates the need to make sure that civilians are protected, that they are not targeted and that there is no further bloodshed in the entire Palestinian territories, insists on the need to open all crossings immediately, permanently and unconditionally, without any restrictions, so as to ensure the unhindered flow, in sufficient quantities, of humanitarian and relief aid as well as medical supplies to meet the basic needs of the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip and the other Palestinian territories, he added.

Morocco reaffirms the need to preserve, strengthen and support the role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA); to reject any displacement of Palestinian citizens and ensure full compliance with international law and international humanitarian law; and to start serious, meaningful negotiations to revive the peace process, in accordance with United Nations resolutions and international legitimacy.
Photo: Ting Shen/Bloomberg/Getty Images

A few hours after Donald Trump was re-elected, Brian Schatz conducted an experiment. Upset, tired, and uncertain about what should come next, the Democratic senator from Hawaii pulled up ChatGPT and prompted it to produce an analysis of what had gone wrong for his party.

Schatz, who is 52 and a few years into his third term, asked for a response in the voice of The Atlantic and free of opinions that might offend any particular groups of voters. He wasnt expecting actually useful solutions, but he was curious to see what the program would spit out. Votes were still being counted and already his news feeds were awash in grimly predictable recriminations and ideologically driven finger-pointing among depressed and furious Democrats. Pressure was already building on him and his fellow senators to dramatically reshape their party after such a devastating loss, and the suggestions for how and why to do so already varied widely.

ChatGPTs answer was a confident but generic four-paragraph summary of his partys failings. It plausibly sounded like half the crap Im reading online, Schatz recalled. He deleted it and promptly forgot its specifics. The limp analysis was an indictment of the AI, but also of the chatter that was beginning to engulf the Democrats.

It took just hours after Trumps win for the Senate to turn into an arena for the partys internal debate about its future, driven largely by recognizable figures whose immediate diagnoses and prescriptions were predictable to anyone with a passing knowledge of their previous work. Less than half a day after the election was over, Bernie Sanders released a statement declaring the result unsurprising and accusing the Democrats of abandoning working class people and being controlled by big money interests and well-paid consultants. The next day Elizabeth Warren published an op-ed in Time detailing her recommended plan to fight back, which included resisting Trumps every move in Congress and the courts and refusing to compromise with his administration. Before long, John Fetterman was blaming Democratic losses on all of the very hard-left, kind of woke things that safe-seat liberals and progressives had embraced and that Republicans had used to to tag swing-state candidates as extremists. Soon after that, Chris Murphy began circulating polling insisting that Democrats focus more on a populist message to reclaim our identity as the party of the working class as part of an overdue divorce from neoliberalism.

Its not too soon to start thinking through, for instance, what kind of information environment we are now operating in and how we go about communicating with our constituents. I also think the normal left-right recalibration that happens after a loss is a perfectly reasonable conversation to have, Schatz told me about two weeks after Election Day. But, he warned, I happen to be wary of anybody who thinks this result vindicates their particular policy worldview, whether people think we were too far to the left, or not populist enough, or not pro-Israel enough, or not pro-Palestinian enough. I am deeply suspicious of anybody who uses this result just to advocate for what they wanted all along.

To take Bernies statement, theres a reason it didnt stick, because it did feel like a kind of scold, and it felt like a rather convenient explanation for the results, Schatz said. You have to admire Bernies consistency, but every event in the world is not a reason that hes right.

A low-key character whos mostly popular among fellow Democratic senators, Schatz since the election has, for the most part, avoided seeking out public fights or direct disagreements with his louder colleagues. (Murphy is among his closest friends in D.C.) But he is perturbed by how quickly Democrats debates about their future are moving and has been using one-on-one chats with colleagues to become the Hills most prominent advocate for taking a very deep breath, learning way more about what went wrong, and cooling it ASAP with the hot takes. In his view, the party is at risk of going down a series of unproductive paths, and of fighting unhelpful fights, if it commits to any one course before it fully understands what just happened.

What I worry about is something where the way everyones mind works is they want a discrete, elegant, one-to-two sentence thing they can say during the holidays to sound smart about politics, he said. I think we owe it to everyone to address the challenges and not just sound like a ChatGPT version of a Democratic pundit.

While some have been receptive, other Senate veterans basically asked me why they should care what Schatz thinks when I put his position to them last week. Many of his colleagues have already made the case that their partys flaws (theyre out of touch with blue-collar workers, theyre too woke, theyre too pro-Israel) are obvious and that there is little time for self-reflection in a world where Trump poses immediate threats.

This could become a delicate moment for Schatz, whose future profile within the caucus may depend in part on how his colleagues receive his recommendations to take a breath; he is regarded by some close Senate watchers as a possible future leader. (Chuck Schumer brought him into the leadership fold by adding him to his team in 2017 and promoting him last year.) In recent years, he has earned a reputation among his colleagues and many party strategists as a nimble communicator both in person and online. He posts on X way more than your average elected official, and its very obviously him doing the typing; one top Democratic operative told me he wished more senators would learn from this, and another agreed but warned that this might drive their press secretaries to early retirement or to drink.

His frustration has been most visible online. Two days after the election, Schatz quoted on X a story about how incumbent leader after incumbent leader fell in elections around the world this year and added, We have a lot of reorganizing and soul searching to do as a Party, so this is not to dismiss the need for fundamental changes. We need them desperately. But this context is relevant for those who feel like this defeat is structural and permanent. Nothing ever is. When a user responded demanding specifics because the base is calling for one direction and the consultants are calling for a different one, Schatz quickly replied, Im not doing this here or now. The user replied again, Gotta wait for the consultants to consult? At that point, Schatz shot back, Im just not trying to have a hot take on something so important. This will be my last response fyi. The next day he reposted a Semafor article arguing Democrats should just wait, since so little was yet known about the elections fundamentals and the issues defining future elections would look little like those that dominated 2024s.

What Schatz does want is a careful process of trying to understand the Democrats problems. I asked if he was proposing some sort of listening tour with Trump voters, but he said even that would assume too much about who, exactly, they need to be talking to. Rather than blame the people who have decided to reject us, we might want to inquire as to why, for example, a bunch of people voted to ratify abortion rights and then put Donald Trump in charge of the country. And Im not suggesting we should take the next year staring at our belly buttons or climbing a high mountain and meditating on this, he said. Im just suggesting we are all still in the rubble of what happened and that there are two ways to approach this. One is some deep reflection and strategic thinking and the other is to participate in the race to crystallize the conventional wisdom.

Thats not to say hes entirely against criticizing how Democrats campaign  just that he thinks the solution to their problems may be harder to find than many of his colleagues believe. There are lots of people who voted for Obama, then Trump, then Biden. Lots of people who are pro-choice who voted for Ron DeSantis. People do not fit into neat categories, and one of the problems of the Democratic coalition is we are making a series of assumptions about people and their voting tendencies that dont always turn out to be true and also manifest as an insult to them  that they are expected to think a certain way, they are expected to talk a certain way, he said. That means some groups of voters have long been taken for granted and others have received plenty of condescension. We should start from a blank sheet of paper, as if we know nothing about anyones voting tendencies, and just try to figure out what we can say and do for people across the country and not think about these folks as demographic and geographic categories that can be algorithmically expected to have a certain kind of voting behavior, he said. Republicans are talking to people, and were talking to groups and tendencies and categories.

That may be a heavy lift, but beginning it is clearly an urgent necessity. Schatz believes one opportunity for Democrats to redefine themselves will surface soon next year, when Trump and congressional Republicans begin talking about economic policy  with Trump eager to impose tariffs and with his old tax cuts due to expire at the end of 2025. The tax fight is going to be a defining moment because the leader of the Republican Party wants to increase the price of stuff regular people buy through tariffs, then use that money to finance tax cuts for billionaire corporations, and I think thats a fight we can and will win, Schatz said.

His theory is that the fight is an optimal chance to reframe how people think about the two parties. It lines up very nicely with two things: our need to win back working class voters, but also our need to speak plainly about the actual impact of Republican policies as opposed to treating everything like its an emergency for the democracy itself.

If the Democrats are successful in that goal, he thinks, it might even coax everyday citizens to actually pay attention to Washington rather than continuing to disengage from news entirely  a dynamic that helped doom Democrats this fall. But that will require Schatzs party to learn a new vocabulary.

We have to fight for families, not our own prerogatives, and if anyone says the fucking word norms again, Im going to throw up, he said. Its not that I dont think norms are important or institutions arent worth protecting. Its just that if you are a regular person, you dont know what the fuck that means. You are just trying to survive economically.

Sign Up for the Intelligencer Newsletter Daily news about the politics, business, and technology shaping our world. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us.
The Hearst Tower, soon to be a bit less populated by editors. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

At 8 a.m. on November 21, exactly one week before Thanksgiving, Debi Chirichella, president of Hearst Magazines, sent an email to employees: In order to better position our organization and respond to ongoing changes in our industry, a bunch of them would soon get the ax. Those affected would receive a private meeting invitation from HR by 9 a.m.

As 9 a.m. came and went, staffers who didnt receive a meeting request sighed a breath of relief. But then at 9:35, Chirichella sent another email telling staff that, due to a technical difficulty, there was a delay in the deployment of calendar invites to some impacted employees.

Some staffers didnt get an HR meeting invite until an hour or more later. And by then, many already knew, since they couldnt sign into the company Slack. All told, 192 people were laid off across all categories of editorial, ad sales, product, and PR, according to Zach Lennon-Simon, a senior video editor and co-chair of the companys union who was laid off in last weeks culling.

No editor-in-chiefs lost their heads  although Elle Decors editor Asad Syrkett preemptively quit in September. Especially hit hard were Elle, which lost six people; Harpers Bazaar, which lost eight (and is also dropping print frequency to nine issues a year from ten), and Cosmopolitan, which let go 11, though this also coincides with the arrival earlier this fall of new editor Willa Bennett, who came over from Highsnobiety (she also oversees Seventeen). She will presumably be making various changes to create her own team; Cosmopolitan fashion director Cassie Anderson has quietly departed the magazine, as Brandon Tan  previously fashion director for GQ, where Bennett used to work  was named fashion director for Cosmo and Seventeen.

After years of downsizing, many Hearst publications were already run by a skeleton crew. Take the onetime supermarket checkout-line powerhouse Womans Day, which before the cuts had four people solely devoted to its print product (with others from across Hearst pitching in part-time). Only the editor-in-chief, Meaghan B Murphy, remains. So maybe it makes more sense to call it Just This One Womans Day.

The glitchy rollout of the executions made for a particularly cruel process, but Hearsts cuts dont exactly come as a surprise. Last year, it had three different rounds of layoffs  in February, July, and November  though none as large as this pre-Thanksgiving massacre. The force behind these moves, Im told, is Lisa Howard, the global chief revenue officer who joined from the New York Times in October 2022.

And while these cuts are unsurprising, given the humbled state of the once-mighty magazine industry, those left are wondering how exactly this winnowing is going to help create the sort of content people will want to actually pay to subscribe to. Hearst was never as enviably profligate as the old Conde Nast (now reduced to being a brand extension for Anna Wintour), or as Establishment-dude powerful as what was once known as Time Inc. (now sold for parts; most of it is now owned by something called Dotdash Meredith, which also announced layoffs last week). But it kept its costs down and its focus on Middle America with Good Housekeeping and O, the Oprah Magazine until  well, until that didnt work so well anymore. Joanna Coles made a bid to be some sort of bootleg Tina BrownWintour throwback editrix, but she lost out to the content-farm-worker era, which, again, worked until it didnt. There are titles like Town & Country that still seem somehow to be having some fun, but fun is in short supply in general in the glossy world these days.

And critics of the companys management are in no short supply. Theyre in the business of chasing trends after those trends have ended and then wondering why theyre not making more money, the fired union leader Lennon-Simon told me. The problem is that they are just trying to cut their way into profitability and dont actually have a strategy for growth, carped another Hearst insider. Hearst has forgotten the power and allure of brands and wants the easy route of selling to a low-cost audience, they added. Which is the race to the bottom, and is just not going to work.

On Thursday afternoon, as the HR hangman meetings were underway, the company sent out another email recognizing the difficulty of parting with colleagues and friends. But the company had a plan to help them move forward. Fifteen-minute virtual counseling sessions would be available over the next two days. There were no plans to give out free turkeys to soften the blow, however.
Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photos: Getty, Wikimedia Commons

This article was featured in One Great Story, New Yorks reading recommendation newsletter. Sign up here to get it nightly.

During one of our phone calls in mid-November, Chase Strangio mentions that its officially Transgender Awareness Week. He isnt particularly feeling it. Im like, Oh my God, please less awareness, less visibility, he says. I think we all need to take a break from thinking and talking about trans people.

Its lightly off message coming from the co-director with the ACLUs LGBT & HIV Project, who, on December 4, will become the first openly transgender attorney to argue a case before the Supreme Court. United States v. Skrmetti is a challenge to Tennessees ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors, contending the law is unconstitutional.

And yet what else could there be but weariness  if not anguish  weeks after Donald Trump won the presidential election with a campaign that spent tens of millions of dollars on ads declaring, Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you, while Harris was conspicuously silent on the issue? And at a moment when centrist pundits are blaming the Democrats loss on her being overly deferential to both trans-rights claims and nonprofit advocacy groups, including the ACLU, and when many lawmakers are already preemptively bargaining with conservative forces about which so-called social issues to cede, with trans rights atop the chopping block? Republican-led states have already unleashed a torrent of laws targeting trans people across the country, with 16 states adding 47 new laws this year alone  focused on restricting health care, participation in sports, library books, and beyond  with many more in the pipeline.

The choice to take the bans on transgender care for minors all the way to the Supreme Court despite public anxiety and conservative momentum was made by the ACLU and its partners. (They were joined by the Biden administration, whose petition the Court accepted.) Its hard, I say to Strangio, to imagine doing anything more visible, at least in the world of law.

To go not only to the Supreme Court but to this Supreme Court  the one stacked with three Trump appointees, plus Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and John Roberts, all of whom voted to overturn Roe v. Wade  to ask for the constitutional recognition of trans peoples humanity at a time of bipartisan backlash and a month before the MAGA party takes over the legislative and executive branches? As Kate Redburn, an academic fellow at Columbia Law School and co-director of its Center for Gender & Sexuality Law, tells me, Its understandable to some extent why the case was brought up. In their view, the bans on trans health care for minors are blatantly unconstitutional. But now the question is, What will the Court do? they ask. I cant tell the future, but I think the signs are bad.

Depending on how the Court justifies itself and how far it goes, a loss for the plaintiffs  young trans patients, their parents, and a doctor  could have sweeping consequences. The lower-court opinion thats being appealed, Strangio points out, is written in a way that makes it easier for states, or even the federal government, to ban gender-affirming care for adults as well. Further, the specific question the Court has agreed to hear is whether these bans authorize unconstitutional sex discrimination, which means its ruling could very well chip away at existing protections based on gender and sexuality. The Court could even quietly dilute decades of precedent that have barred many other forms of discrimination, including on the basis of race. Or it could choose to reinforce them.

Its a high-stakes bet heightened by the fact that, when Trump takes over, the government is expected to literally switch sides in the case, joining Tennessee to argue for the constitutionality of its ban. Some allies of the trans-rights cause have expressed worry to me privately about bringing the case this far, fearing unintended consequences, but none wanted to discuss their concerns publicly when the movement is up against so much. When the right has captured the courts, the presidency, Congress, and many statehouses, the options can look like either doing nothing or going down fighting.

Strangio, for his part, argues there was little choice but to bring this case. The consequences of these 24 state laws banning medical care for trans young people are so drastic and so severe, he says, and the lower federal-court decisions upholding these laws so far open the door to so much more. From his perspective, the question is, How do we minimize that harm? Like it or not, Strangio says, the issue was headed up the legal chain, and if they hadnt brought it, opponents could have selected and brought a case with a set of facts more in their favor.

Am I scared? Of course. Its terrifying, he says. Do I think we had a choice? No.

The young plaintiffs in the Tennessee case are named as L.W., Ryan Roe, and John Doe. For years, the ACLU brief on their behalf says, in terms that seem carefully chosen to emphasize deference to parents and medical experts, these young people experienced debilitating distress because of gender dysphoria. It was only after careful deliberation with their parents and doctors that they were prescribed puberty-delaying medication and hormone therapy that finally alleviated their suffering.

Until very recently, there were no laws barring such treatments for minors. The first categorical ban was introduced in 2020 in South Dakota. Strangio admits to having been taken aback by this relatively aggressive and quick pivot; anti-trans legislators had previously focused their energy on laws banning trans people from using the bathrooms that match their gender identity. Then Arkansas passed a health-care ban for minors in 2021. Even then, the states governor, Asa Hutchinson, himself no liberal, vetoed the bill on the grounds that it was legislative interference with physicians and parents as they deal with some of the most complex and sensitive matters involving young people. (After the statehouse overrode his veto, the ACLU successfully blocked the law in court on a temporary basis.) A barrage of identical laws followed, soon blanketing half the country with restrictions that subject doctors to ruinous fines and the potential loss of their licenses for treating minors with hormones or surgery. And so, Strangio says, we go from zero in 2020 to half the country by the end of 2023.

The official question up for consideration by the Court is whether discrimination against trans people qualifies as sex discrimination, thereby entitling them to protection. If it does, the laws will likely fall.

American anti-discrimination law has been built by scaffolding new claims onto accepted ones. For generations, the Supreme Court did not recognize that treating men and women differently was unlawful under the Constitution, allowing states to keep women out of jobs and civil responsibilities  from bartending to jury duty. The queer attorney Pauli Murray found a way through in the 1960s, proposing that the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, which had been adopted during Reconstruction, could be a tool to strike down sexist laws and policies. In a series of cases in the 1970s, thenACLU attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg persuaded a much more moderate Supreme Court to agree. Then, as a justice in 1996, Ginsburg wrote the majority opinion in United States v. Virginia ( 7-1, with Scalia dissenting and Thomas recusing), ruling that government classifications on the basis of sex deserved heightened scrutiny. It wasnt that the government could never treat men and women differently, as they categorically could no longer do on the basis of race, but that courts needed to look closely at whether the laws relied on overbroad generalizations about the different talents, capacities, or preferences of men and women.

Tennessee and the other states that have passed bans on trans health care for minors argue that because both trans boys and trans girls are denied the treatment in question, there is no sex discrimination: Everyone is cut off, no one sex is favored. Both the Biden administration and trans advocates counter by drawing on their one big win at the Court  one authored by, of all people, Trump appointee Neil Gorsuch, in what turned out to be the halcyon days of 2020. In Bostock v. Clayton County, Gorsuch and Chief Justice John Roberts joined four justices appointed by Democrats in arguing that the 1964 Civil Rights Acts prohibition on employment discrimination because of sex had to protect people targeted on the basis of gender identity and sexuality, too. They rejected the argument that a fired trans funeral-home director wasnt experiencing sex discrimination because the bosses would have fired both a trans man and a trans woman. It is impossible to discriminate against a person for being homosexual or transgender without discriminating against that individual based on sex, wrote Gorsuch.

There are previous examples of the Court recognizing unconstitutional discrimination even as it is told that everyone is being treated the same. Loving v. Virginia, which struck down bans on interracial marriage, found that even though all races were prohibited from marrying outside their race, the prohibition was still unconstitutional.

The ACLU argues that the Tennessee ban enforces a government preference that people conform to expectations about their sex assigned at birth. (That preference is self-evident but is also made close to explicit in the laws language describing its purpose as encouraging minors to appreciate their sex.) Meanwhile, there are exceptions in the law for the same treatments for different purposes  surgery on intersex infants or medication for early puberty and polycystic ovary syndrome. One of their clients, Strangio says, would in theory be able to access puberty blockers and hormones to conform his body to a typical male puberty. Its prohibited because he has the birth sex of female. If he had a birth sex of male, he could do those things under Bostock, under this courts equal-protection cases, he says. The statute turns entirely on whether medical treatment is gender conforming and nothing else.

A few lower courts agreed with this reasoning, extending the logic of Gorsuchs Bostock decision, but the victory was short lived. By the beginning of the fall, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals robustly upheld the law, rejecting the sex-discrimination argument entirely. (In a dissent, Judge Helene White, a George W. Bush appointee, wrote that such laws texts effectively reveal that their purpose is to force boys and girls to look and live like boys and girls.) Earlier this month, the Seventh Circuit followed suit by ruling Indianas ban on trans health care for minors wasnt sex discrimination: The law does not create a class of one sex and a class of another and deny treatment to just one of those classes.

These are fierce headwinds. The Supreme Court has been known to read the national mood to intuit how far it can go, and the political backlash against trans rights is far fiercer than it was in 2020 with Bostock. Following Trumps appointment of Amy Coney Barrett to fill Ginsburgs seat, there are now only three liberals, meaning at least two Republican appointees  perhaps Gorsuch and Roberts again  would have to agree to extend Bostocks logic in order to rule the Tennessee ban unconstitutional.

A loss could be catastrophic to trans rights. But the Sixth Circuit opinion seemed to potentially threaten more, spooking scholars of sex-discrimination law by using some language from the Dobbs decision (striking down Roe v. Wade), which claimed, almost as an aside, that abortion bans did not discriminate on the basis of sex. The inclusion of this language seemed to open the possibility that governments could discriminate on the basis of sex if they justified it on health grounds.

If cases like Skrmetti provide a vehicle for conservatives to expand how much the government can discriminate on the basis of sex, says Redburn, thats a continuation of a decadeslong project to undermine anti-discrimination law. That the right-wing has had some success in this regard in federal courts, wrote Katie Eyer, the legal scholar who helped craft the winning arguments in Bostock, suggests the potential of a very dark future: More widely adopted, such arguments could profoundly limit the reach of anti-discrimination law  for all protected classes, from race to disability to age to sex.

Not challenging these laws offers its own bleak outcome: allowing the bans patchworking the states (and lower-court opinions ruling against care for trans minors) to stand. Our hope is that the Court will do what its actual function is in our legal system, which is to engage in error correction where necessary, says Chinyere Ezie, senior staff attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights. Were very wary of returning to a model where the state you live in determines the extent to which you enjoy full personhood. Without legal protections, she adds, trans people are further thrust into the poverty, lack of housing and employment, and criminalization that are disproportionately their reality.

For a brief moment on December 4, trans people will have the full force of the U.S. government behind them at the Supreme Court. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, considered one of the most dazzling oral advocates of her generation, will stand before the justices to argue for their rights.

Next will be Strangio. Imara Jones, an advocate and journalist who founded TransLash Media, an independent news organization specializing in telling trans-focused stories, remarks to me that the paradox is typical of this moment. The fact that Chase is there arguing this case is historic, she says. Full stop, period. Its historic. And it represents so much incredible change. At the same time, the reason he has to be there is deeply disturbing. You have these things happening at the same time  trans people breaking barriers and virulent backlash.

Strangio himself doesnt want to say too much about the significance of his own participation. I am not thinking about that part of it because at the end of the day, the stakes are the same regardless of if Im trans or not, he says. And this fight has been a fight that almost every lawyer in every big LGBT org has been working on for the last four years. Its a collective effort on behalf of our community.

In the Supreme Court cases that struck down sodomy laws and same-sex-marriage bans, much was made of the presence of actual gay and lesbian people in the courtroom, whether in the form of lawyers arguing cases or clerks who were close to the justices. Perhaps, I say, it will be harder for some of the more hostile justices to be openly bigoted to his face. Strangio points out that gay people being in the room didnt stop casual prejudice from surfacing in the past. But then he offers one way that his identity could matter.

If nothing else, Ive lived this health care. It has enabled me to stand before them at that lectern, he says. So that is a truth that is undeniable, that will be present in the courtroom, that certainly the other trans people who will be present in the courtroom will understand.

Hes preparing for the case in all the traditional ways  practicing with his colleagues in moot courts, rereading opinions, and playing back those oral arguments. But he is also getting ready in ways the justices wont be able to see. Recently, he got a quote from a 1969 Murray poem, Prophecy, tattooed on his back: I have been cast aside, but I sparkle in the darkness. / I have been slain, but live on in the rivers of history. / I seek no conquest, no wealth, no power, no revenge; I seek only discovery / Of the illimitable heights and depths of my own being.

Queer friends have been dropping off meals for him as the trial approaches. I see all around me, trans people taking care of each other, helping people get their documents changed, getting people the tools they need, helping people figure out plans if they have to leave the country, Strangio says. And all of those things are so bleak and so hard, and yet people are managing them collectively. Win or lose, he says, that work will continue.

And if they lose? In our conversation, Redburn cited a 2011 article written by Yale Laws Douglas NeJaime, called Winning Through Losing, on the political gains that can counterintuitively come when a movement faces defeat in court. The clarity of a loss can generate new energy and strategies.

A court decision that guarantees rights is, of course, what youre always after, says Redburn. But you may be under conditions where that might not be possible. Losing the case is not the same as the movement losing. The question  one of many, really  is how much may be lost in the meantime.

One Great Story: A Nightly Newsletter for the Best of New York The one story you shouldnt miss today, selected by New Yorks editors. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us.
Russell Vought. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

During his 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump and aides repeatedly dismissed the idea of any association between them and Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation effort to draft a transition plan and detailed policy blueprint for Trump to use should he win the election. At least 140 members of the first Trump administration helped with the plan, and multiple former Trump Cabinet members wrote much of Project 2025s 922-page Mandate for Leadership manifesto  including top Trump adviser Russell Vought  but the whole thing became an election-year liability when Democrats began associating the Trump campaign with the extreme policies Project 2025 proposed. Now that Trump and Team MAGA are headed back to the White House, they clearly arent keeping their distance anymore. Trump has named several Project 2025 authors and contributors to his White House Cabinet, and despite the fact that Trump transition co-chair Howard Lutnick vowed in September that I wont take a list from them, transition officials are reportedly consulting Project 2025s personnel database in search of staff to hire.

Below is an updating list of everyone with ties to Project 2025 who is currently set to serve in the second Trump administration.

. Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the next FCC chair. Carr authored the FCC chapter of Project 2025s Mandate for Leadership, which argues the agency should prioritize reining in Big Tech, promoting national security, unleashing economic prosperity, and ensuring FCC accountability and good governance. Among a number of proposals, the chapter proposes eliminating the immunity big tech firms have for third-party content hosted on their platforms under Section 230, and targeting them over alleged censorship. It also calls for adopting a more hawkish FCC approach to foreign adversaries, such as China, like banning TikTok on national-security grounds. And Carr writes that the FCC should make it easier for Elon Musks Starlink and other space companies to launch more communication satellites.

. Pete Hoekstra is former representative and current Michigan Republican Party chairman who served as U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands during the first Trump administration. Trump has nominated him to be the next U.S. ambassador to Canada. Hoekstra is listed as a contributor to Project 2025s Mandate for Leadership. Its not clear how he contributed, but the Department of Education chapter cites a critical report he authored in Congress on the Department. In 2011, Hoekstra was also named a visiting distinguished fellow with the Heritage Foundation where he focused on education reform.

. Tom Homan was the acting director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during the first Trump administration, in which he was one of the key players implementing Trumps family-separation policy and other hard-line anti-immigration measures. Homan stepped down in 2018 after his nomination to become ICE director stalled in the Senate, and this time around, Trump has named him his border czar  a new role Trump created that does not require Senate confirmation. Homan is one of the many people listed as contributors to Project 2025s Mandate for Leadership, but its not clear how he contributed. The proposals Homeland Security chapter calls for a number of dramatic reforms, including pushing for legislation to dismantle DHS and to carve out and combine all immigration-, customs-, and border-security-related federal agencies into a stand-alone border and immigration agency at the Cabinet level. Among a number of hard-line border-security and anti-immigration policy proposals, it also calls for legislation to fund the addition of 20,000 ICE agents as well as expand ICEs detention capabilities.

. Karoline Leavitt was an assistant press secretary in the first Trump White House, then national press secretary for Trumps 2024 presidential campaign, and will be White House press secretary to start off Trump 2.0. Though the 27-year-olds resume will be among the shortest in the administration, she, too, has ties to Project 2025. In August, ProPublica and Documented reported on a series of previously unpublished videos from Project 2025s Presidential Administration Academy, instructional clips intended to train potential future members of an incoming conservative administration. Leavitt appears in a 30-minute video entitled The Art of Professionalism. As a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, Leavitt frequently fielded questions on Project 2025 and consistently tried to distance Trump and the campaign from the controversial initiative. Project 2025 is not related to our campaign and does not reflect official campaign policy, she said earlier this year.

. Stephen Miller, the architect of some of the first Trump administrations most extreme anti-immigration policies  including the Muslim travel ban and the forced separation of migrant families who crossed the southern border  will next be Trumps deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser. In between administrations, Miller founded and led the conservative nonprofit America First Legal, which both planned policy for a future Trump administration and filed numerous lawsuits in support of right-wing causes. AFL is one of the organizations that initially advised Project 2025, and Miller appeared in a video promoting Project 2025s Presidential Administration Academy. After Project 2025 attracted negative publicity earlier this year, Miller distanced himself from the initiative and had AFL removed from the list of Project 2025 advisory groups. After Trump nominated Russell Vought, one of the Project 2025 architects, to return as OMB director, Miller praised Vought as the guy for the last four years whos been developing the plan to take down the deep state.

. John Ratcliffe is a former representative who served as Director of National Intelligence in the first Trump White House, and Trump has nominated him to be the director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his second administration. Ratcliffe is listed as contributor to Project 2025s Mandate for Leadership, and a 2022 interview with him was listed as a source in the blueprints Intelligence Community chapter. That section was written by Dustin J. Carmack, who twice served as Ratcliffes chief of staff, in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and beforehand in Ratcliffes congressional office.

. Throughout the campaign, Vance attempted to distance the ticket from Project 2025, but the vice-president-elect is a prominent ally of the Heritage Foundation and a longtime friend and collaborator with foundation president and Project 2025 architect Kevin D. Roberts. Vance wrote the foreword for Robertss upcoming book, Dawns Early Light: Taking Back Washington to Save America. In the foreword, Vance has nothing but praise for Roberts and the Heritage Foundation, calling the think tank the most influential engine of ideas for Republicans from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump: As Kevin Roberts writes, Its fine to take a laissez-faire approach when you are in the safety of the sunshine. But when the twilight descends and you hear the wolves, youve got to circle the wagons and load the muskets. We are now all realizing that its time to circle the wagons and load the muskets. In the fights that lay ahead, these ideas are an essential weapon. In October, a Vance spokesperson insisted that the foreword has nothing to do with Project 2025, and Vance has said that there are some good ideas in the proposal as well as some things I disagree with. Vance additionally has ties to Project 2025 co-author Oren Cass and project contributor Elbridge Colby. He also wrote the introduction for a 2017 report from the Heritage Foundation that put forward an expansive policy agenda to restrict sexual and reproductive freedoms.

. Trump has nominated Russell Vought to return the role he held in the first Trump administration, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget. Vought is one of the architects of Project 2025, and he wrote the Mandate for Leaderships Executive Office chapter, which proposes a sweeping transformation of the federal bureaucracy to eliminate the independence of federal agencies and consolidate and expand the presidents executive power. The introduction of the chapter has a revolutionary tone, explaining that The overall situation of the executive branch is constitutionally dire, unsustainably expensive, and in urgent need of repair. Nothing less than the survival of self-governance in America is at stake. Vought believes that Trump can and must quickly seize an unprecedented amount of power in order to achieve his goals, and he has called for pushing legal boundaries and even reinterpreting the Constitution to facilitate that. Vought also envisions OMB (and thus himself) playing a central role in that effort, arguing that OMB should be an enforcer for the president in all White House policy processes and help bend the federal bureaucracy to the presidents will, no matter what. Vought is a proponent of slashing, impounding, or reallocating government spending without congressional approval, as well as firing scores of career government employees and replacing them with political appointees. The think tank Vought founded, Center for Renewing America, has put out numerous proposals recommending authoritarian presidential power grabs, including using recess appointments to avoid congressional oversight, ending the Department of Justices tradition of political independence, and deploying the military to quell social unrest on U.S. soil. The think tank is also one of Project 2025s advisory groups.

This post has been updated.
Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photo: Getty Images

Democratic congressman Pat Ryan has been here before. In the 2022 midterms, the Army vet and former Ulster County executive won both a special and general election to represent New Yorks 18th district in Hudson Valley, even as Republicans in the state managed to flip an unprecedented four House seats. This year, Ryan won again, defeating his challenger, Alison Esposito, by more than 13 points while outperforming Vice-President Kamala Harris in his district by double digits. He campaigned heavily on the economy and protecting reproductive rights while also challenging his own party on congestion pricing and the border crisis. Ryan offered an explanation for his success in an election postmortem thread on social media. Ive made clear over and over again to my constituents that I fight FOR them and AGAINST anyone who would do them harm. Period, full stop, he wrote.

I spoke to Ryan about what lessons Democrats can take from 2024, and why the party should adopt his brand of patriotic populism.

In 2022, you won a tight race during a difficult cycle for the Democratic Party nationally. Earlier this month, you did it again, expanding your margin from last time. How did you approach this years race in comparison to the midterms?

We approached the race the same way, which was just showing up everywhere over and over and over, and being obsessively focused on affordability. I tied everything we did to lowering costs for folks over the last entire two years, and we especially prioritized going to the parts of the district where we didnt win in 2022 to make sure we listened to people and engaged. We just kept hearing about the affordability crisis, so everything we did was focused on that. Our closing message was really about making the community more affordable, more safe, and more free, and I think that that won the day, both on substance and style. It still really matters in a House race to show folks  not tell them, but show them  that youre fighting for them by consistently showing up and engaging. Rather than getting stuck in a lot of these kinds of ideological frames  moderate versus progressive, liberal versus conservative, any of that  just being very clear who is for the people and explicitly against elites, whether thats in big corporations or political elites that have been in power a really long time. So, I think that connected with folks.

Theres been a lot of postmortems and a lot of finger-pointing since Trump won. What are the lessons that Democrats need to take from this loss?

Ive really been focused on what we did well, rather than the finger-pointing and the back-and-forth and the blame. To me, thats never been an effective thing, whether in an after-action review as an Army officer in combat or in my startups. So Ive tried to put some thoughts out into the universe around that  what we did well in our race, where we did very much over-perform, and what a lot of my colleagues did in similar tough House districts where they over-performed. And I think a big part of it is showing independence. I was one of the very first to call on President Biden to step aside. I know from conversations with a lot of my constituents that it mattered a lot to show my willingness to speak truth to power. I stood up to my own party in New York on the issue of congestion pricing, which I think would be a regressive taxation on working people that are coming in and out of New York City, and I called them out early and often on the failure to secure the border. On a bunch of issues, I really showed that I was from a different kind of Democrat, willing to speak up to anyone in any party or any place that was hurting my constituents.

So I think, again, its about rejecting these ideological frames and being very clear who are the heroes and who are the villains. In Trumps worldview, he is the hero. He is the only one who can solve these problems in a very autocratic, dictatorial way. He is the only solution in his story. What Im working on and thinking through  my working title is patriotic populism, where the villains are greedy and corrupt elites. Whether thats like the oil executives that sat in a room with Donald Trump when he said, If you give me a billion dollars, Ill essentially give you whatever you want, or Jeff Bezos, who pays zero in corporate taxes and pays not enough to his workers, or the local utility in my district, Central Hudson, which was a centerpiece of our campaign in terms of our focus on economic security and lowering costs. Those are the villains. The hero, and this is the big difference and the important difference, has to be the American people. Scrappy, hungry innovators are the hero of the story. To me, they are the patriots, and thats the operative word in patriotic populism. It reminds people of that patriotic component and why we formed the country in the first place.

Exit polling and other data show that the economy and other kitchen table issues were top of mind for voters this cycle, but clearly there was some kind of disconnect between voters and the Harris campaign, which did run on some of these issues. Is it simply a problem of messaging, or something else?

I think its substance and style. Both substance and style, to me, feed into the brand of the Democratic Party, so we have to look at both elements to fix our brand. On the substance, I certainly think its being much more clear economically that were fighting for working people and against both greedy and corrupt corporate elites and political elites. I think calling that out with more specificity and authenticity is important for people to understand that were with them. That manifests policy wise and in a bunch of ways, but it has to start on the values level. And then on the style: In my race and in my district, I essentially ran as a different kind of Democrat. Which is a nice way of saying the Democratic brand is not very popular in my district. And thats just structurally unsustainable, if our best candidates have to run against the core party brand. So I think we have to stylistically get back to being normal, being of the communities and districts that were representing. And thats certainly something that I think made a difference for us in our race.

Trump greatly expanded his voter base, increasing his support in Latino and Hispanic communities as well as among working-class voters overall. Do you see this realignment as something specific to this cycle and candidate, or are there larger warning signs for Democrats?

Inequality has been getting worse and worse for my entire lifetime. Im 42 years old. Especially in districts like mine, the affordability crisis is so urgent and so heavy on everybody, and thats been building for decades and neither party has effectively addressed it. The old Republican Party fully sold out to corporate interests and it perpetuated the problem. And I think the Democratic Party wasnt able to fully speak to or resolve it, but we made big headway on a lot of the inequality issues. So people are frustrated with both parties and thats been building for a long time. I think what we saw this year is not an anomaly, but a continuation of a trend. The good news to me, and the reason Im optimistic looking forward for the Democratic Party, is I think this is a wake-up call, and that Trump is going to show his true colors as the corrupt and bought-off wannabe dictator that he has told us he is and showed us he was in his first term. That creates a vacuum, and the Democratic Party has an opportunity to provide an alternative. Thats what Im very focused on helping to build and lean into.

Trump and the Republican Party made significant inroads throughout the state, particularly in parts of New York City, where that wouldve been hard to imagine even a few years ago. Is the Democratic Party taking the state for granted?

I havent spent enough time looking at results outside of my district and the competitive House seats in New York, so Id want to really think more about that in terms of the city. I do think its important to look at what happened in the New York House battleground seats, where we were the anomaly in a bad way in 2022. I was the only Democrat to win a tough race. This time, we flipped four back as a result of a very deliberate, early and aggressive, coordinated campaign that Governor Hochul, Hakeem Jeffries, Senator Gillibrand, our state party chair Jay Jacobs all said, Were going to do this. We all invested. We all worked together. I was part of that from day one, before we even knew who our other candidates were going to be. Im really proud that we bucked all those trends, both nationally and in other parts of the state, at least based on what Ive seen. I think theres a lot of positive lessons to be taken from in tight, competitive seats. I know in our race, we knocked on like 220,000 doors, and it was over a million in battleground seats across the state. And that matters, when we show people we give a shit and we come to their home and we listen and we engage them as humans and not just as votes. I think its an important lesson to be drawn, that no party should and certainly the Democratic Party shouldnt, take anybody for granted. We certainly didnt in my district and in the other House seats we won in New York.

Since the election, weve seen some Democrats, including some of your House colleagues, start to stake out positions that put them more to the right on issues like immigration and trans rights. How can Democrats try to meet voters where they are without ceding their own views or the views of the party?

I think this is really important and, and what I tried to speak to in that thread. I campaigned with AOC in my district and talked about clean water in the Hudson River and cleaning up corporate pollution and lead pipe remediation. I campaigned with the governor. Many times, people would ask me about Republicans. I talked about both Mike Lawler and Marc Molinaro, my immediate neighbors to the north and south, and all the work we did together in a bipartisan way. But I also talked about a bill I did with Elise Stefanik. I agree with her on almost nothing, but we co-sponsored a bill about quantum computing and the Department of Defense, because the worlds biggest quantum super computing data center is being built in Poughkeepsie, New York in my district, and that matters a lot to both the country and my community. We have to think about building coalitions, rather than dividing people into narrow groups and pitting them against each other. That has to be the model: Were not all going to agree on every single thing, but were going to focus on the areas where there is agreement in what were hearing from people on the ground. So as others take out sort of ideological positions, I think we have to go back to listening to our voters and our constituents and the American people and continue to stay grounded there.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
They called her speech one sided afterwards and that it ignores Hamas and the right of Israel to defend themselves.



I swear, they all got drilled to repeat the same thing.



Reply

Thread

Link

By very definition, Israel are the occupying state and they cannot defend themselves from the people they are occupying. Its like saying a kidnapper has the right to defend themselves against the kidnapped person whos desperately trying to get away. God forbid you try to explain this to Israelis or Pro-Israeli people though.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Thank you for saying this and keep repeating it far and wide.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

This worked for George Zimmerman.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

yes, this is the biggest issue I have with this stupid statement like ... they don't legally acknowledge the occupied territories of the West Bank as part of Israel but at the same time they are saying Israel has the right to defend themselves (there) when it is not even their territory??? why do people of the West Bank not have the right to defend themselves from Israel?



With that logic Russia had the right to defend themselves in its occupied Crimea territory

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link



Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ

Reply

Thread

Link

Nan 

Reply

Thread

Link

She's right and she said it.

Reply

Thread

Link

Queen shit !!!

Reply

Thread

Link





https://www.972mag.com/german-jews-antizionism-censorship/ I've read that at least 30% of the arrests Germany has made recently on charges of "antisemitism" are of actual Jewish people criticising Israel. The laws there are a farce, Germany hasn't learnt shit from its wartime history.

Reply

Thread

Link

This is a false equivalency used to maintain the occupation of Palestine and to suppress those who speak out. The word antisemitism has been weaponized; its lost its meaning, Goldin continued. In declaring all criticism against Israel as antisemitic, it makes it harder to define and stop violent hatred against Jews.







This is exactly why Netanyahu claiming antisemitism because of his arrest warrant made me so angry. Well said.

Reply

Thread

Link

She said what needed to be said. This is why a lot of creatives are leaving Berlin; there's a lot of fucked up censorship happening concerning art related to Palestine and people are like "nope."

Reply

Thread

Link

I have so much love for you and this comment especially. All of your previous comments linking resources, as well. I can't remember if it was you that linked the insta account that showed me where I could donate esims, but I wanted to let you know that after months and months, I finally got an alert that one of the esims is being used!!! I got to top it up yesterday and I cannot begin to explain that hope.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I really appreciate that! That probably wasn't one of my links-- I don't have Insta-- but I am so glad to hear that an eSim you submitted is being used!! I'm still waiting for mine to see use but I can imagine the feeling.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I live in a liberal East Coast city, and in the rich suburbs every single yard has an I stand with Israel sign. My job is full of Zionists and I was asked to stop wearing my Palestine lanyard at work. Im quitting this job and moving to another city because I cant stand to be the lone Muslim person in a sea of bloodthirsty white people who just want Arabs to burn.

Reply

Thread

Link

I recently watched the documentary about her. It was interesting.

Reply

Thread

Link

I loved All the Beauty and the Bloodshed. She's such an amazing activist. She's been on the right side of history every time.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

she's incredible. really recommend 'all the beauty the bloodshed' to get to know her work as an activist. it felt pretty amazing to see some of her photos in person too.

Reply

Thread

Link
The resumption of oil exports from Iraqs semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan through the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline (ITP) to the Turkish port of Ceyhan was discussed in detail last week by Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdul-Ghani and the countrys Parliamentary Finance Committee, a senior energy sector source who works closely with the Oil Ministry told OilPrice.com. These flows were stopped on 25 March 2023 after the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) ordered Turkey to pay the Federal Government of Iraq (FGI) in Baghdad damages of US$1.5 billion for unauthorised oil exports organised by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil. The ICC had ruled that Turkey had broken the terms of a 1973 agreement by allowing the oil exports from the Iraqi Kurdistan region without the consent of the FGI. However, some big issues remain between the two sides [the FGI and the KRG], and restoring the oil flows [through Kurdistan to Turkey] depends on how these are dealt with in the coming days, he added.

At the heart of any new agreement between the FGI and KRG is precisely the same basic trade-off that underpinned the original November 2014 deal struck between the two sides. This involved the Iraqi Kurdistan region effectively transferring oil produced in its region to the Iraqi governments State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) for onward export as it saw fit, in exchange for which the Iraqi government would send the Iraqi Kurdistan a monthly dispersal of funds from the central Iraq government budget. Specifically, for the first year of the deal taking effect (2014), 17 percent of the FGIs budget after sovereign expenses (around US$500 million at that time) was to be dispersed over the year on a monthly basis in exchange for the KRG organising the export up to 550,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil from the Iraqi Kurdistan oil fields and Kirkuk to SOMO. This time around, the FGI Cabinet ordered the KRG on 5 November to immediately transfer its oil output to SOMO in one part of the new iteration of the old deal. On the other part of it, the Cabinet announced that it had approved a budget measure to pay the KRG for production and transport costs incurred in this process and had set a US$16 per barrel rate for international oil companies (IOCs) operating in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Related: Russia-Ukraine Escalation Reignites Oils War Premium

The devil is in such details and the scene is set for a repeat performance of the long-running saga of the failure of the previous deal of 2014. Barely three months into that agreement, and accusations began from both sides, with the KRG accusing the FGI of not paying the full amount promised, and the FGI accusing the KRG of not supplying the full amount of oil agreed. After that, matters between the two sides became progressively worse, and took a nosedive in 2017 after two seismic developments in the country. The first was the huge vote in favour of Kurdish independence in September, as analysed in full in my latest book on the new global oil market order. After this, the very basis of the deal became null and void when FGI and Iranian forces took back control of the oilfields in Kurdistan, including the major oil sites around Kirkuk. The FGI argued that the Kirkuk fields had been occupied illegally in the first place, having been under Kurdish control only since 2014 when the Iraqi army collapsed in the face of Islamic State. From that point onwards, the starting point of any negotiations for the FGI in Baghdad over budget disbursements to the KRG was that they should accord with the percentage share of the Kurdistan population in the overall population of Iraq. This, according to the FGI, was 12.67 percent  a long way from the 17 percent of the federal budget after sovereign expenses that had been the cornerstone assumption of the November 2014 deal.

The second huge event was Russias subsequent insertion of itself between the KRG and FGI, having effectively taking over Iraqi Kurdistans oil sector in late 2017 through three main means, as also detailed in my latest book. Russia provided the KRG with US$1.5 billion in financing through forward oil sales payable in the next three to five years. Second, it took an 80 percent working interest in five potentially major oil blocks in the region. And third, it established 60 percent ownership of the vital KRG pipeline by dint of a commitment to invest US$1.8 billion to increase its capacity to one million barrels per day. Consequently, Moscow considered itself well-placed at that point to leverage this presence into a similarly powerful position in the south of the country, particularly by striking new oil and gas field exploration and development deals with Baghdad as part of Russias role in intermediating in the perennial dispute over the November 2014 budget disbursements-for-oil deal. Russia not only challenged the percentage involved in the budget payments but also insisted through the KRG that oil flows that had been suspended in Iraqi Kurdistan following the September 2017 Referendum result would not restart fully until pipeline transit fees and pumping tariffs were paid to the Russian oil giant, Rosneft. By that time, the firm had a 60 percent stake in the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline. Moscow also wanted the FGI to look again at its decision to deem invalid the assignment to Rosneft by the KRG of the five exploration blocks in Kurdish territory in which it had secured an 80 percent stake. These were estimated to have aggregate 3P reserves of 670 million barrels.

None of these key parameters for the 2014 were ever fully and finally agreed by both sides, which is one reason why the FGI looks to have definitively shifted its focus to a different resolution of its Kurdish problem  removing its last vestige of independence and rolling into a unified Iraq as just another province. The other reason is that neither of Baghdads two key sponsors  Russia or China  want a fractious semi-independent region that had close ties to the West disrupting their plans for Iraq. Ultimately, these plans are to maintain a client state in the very heart of the Middle East that together with neighbouring Iraq has the worlds biggest oil and gas reserves and considerable influence over the Shia Islamic states of the globe. This is why so many of the key questions surrounding the possible new deal between the FGI and KRG remain unanswered, despite last weeks long meeting on the subject in Baghdad. The main concern for any who think a workable resolution to the current oil export impasse is likely any time soon is the wording of the amendment to the Budget Law announced on 5 November that deals with compensating the KRG. It states clearly that, Production and transportation costs for each field will be estimated fairly by an internationally specialized consulting entity, as agreed upon by the Federal Ministry of Oil and the KRGs Ministry of Natural Resources, within 60 days of the laws enactment. Crucially though, it adds, If no agreement is reached within this period, the Iraqi cabinet will select an international consultancy party without returning to the Kurdish authorities.

Ultimately, according to the Iraq source spoken to by OilPrice.com last week, the FGI has no interest whatsoever in agreeing to any deal that empowers Iraqi Kurdistan in any way at all. On the one hand, independent oil sales by the region jeopardise the oil flows that are meant to be sent to Baghdad to sell, and there is no upside to that for the FGI, he said. On the other hand, Baghdad does not want to send money to the region either as this will delay its being rolled into a unified Iraq, he added. This longer-term intention was more than hinted at on 3 August last year, when Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Al-Sudani, clear stated that the new unified oil law -- run, in every way that matters, out of Baghdad -- will govern all oil and gas production and investments in both Iraq and the Kurdistan region and will constitute a strong factor for Iraqs unity.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
In May of 2014, during President Vladimir Putins state visit to Beijing on May 21, China and Russia signed a 30-year gas supply agreement worth $400 billion. At the time, Russia was staging a war with Ukraine and faced increasing economic sanctions from the West. Then, in 2022, Russia signed yet another 30-year agreement to supply natural gas to China just before launching its invasion of Ukraine.

At the time of the initial 30-year agreement, Putin claimed that the $80 billion worth of new production and pipeline infrastructure needed to implement the deal would represent the largest construction project in the world over the next four years. In reality, the project has taken over ten years to complete and has faced stops and starts over the years as China showed signs of wavering on the agreement.

But as of this month, the 5,111 km-long gas route is now complete, and Russian gas could power the city of Shanghai  which lies 12,000 kilometers away from Moscow  by the end of the year. The South China Morning Post reports that the pipeline represents a signature project underscoring tightening economic ties between China and its resource-rich neighbour which will provide a reliable natural gas supply for 130 million Chinese households each year.

Chinese national television reports that the pipeline, which allegedly boasts the largest single-pipe capacity in the world, will make important contributions to optimising Chinas energy consumption structure, promoting green transformation, and helping to achieve the dual carbon goals. This refers to Chinas ambitious pledge to reach peak carbon emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060.

China and Russias energy sectors have been getting increasingly cozy since Western sanctions on Russian energy  introduced in response to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine  have forced the Kremlin to look for new buyers of its prodigious fossil fuel exports. Chinese natural gas pipeline imports from Russia climbed by a whopping 61.7 percent in 2023 to reach US$6.4 billion. Shipped Russian crude to China has also ballooned by 24 percent over the same period to reach its current levels of 2.14 million barrels per day according to figures from Chinas General Administration of Customs.

And this relationship is set to grow stronger in the coming years, according to the terms set by Russias dual 30-year agreements with China. The more recent of these deals requires Russian gas giant Gazprom to supply the China National Petroleum Corporation with an additional 10 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas annually by 2026, as well as several pipeline expansions yet to come. These will link two existing Russian pipelines with additional Chinese markets.

The timing of China and Russias repeat 30-year agreements has led international experts to question whether Beijing is at an advantage in these large-scale agreements. While China has become an increasingly important economic partner of Moscow, this has made Russia unnervingly reliant on the Chinese market. By the same token, China has shown signs of reluctance to become dependent on Russian imports and has vetoed similar pipeline expansion over price disagreements.

Beijing has been careful to structure the partnership to maintain the upper hand and now clearly boasts greater influence in price negotiations. Indeed, as the war in Ukraine rages on, and sanctions on Russia show no sign of budging, a Jamestown Foundation expert expressed that Russia is showing signs of becoming a subordinate economic partner to China rather than an equal.

China is already getting discounted Russian natural gas and supplies through the completed pipeline will continue at a significant discount, according to a Jamestown Foundation expert, Semafor reports. Furthermore, the International Institute for Strategic Studies contends that Chinas increased leverage over Russia means that Russias efforts to divert gas exports eastward following its energy divorce with the European Union will achieve limited gains, leaving potentially 150 billion cubic meters of production capacity stranded for the foreseeable future.

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Tesla Inc. produces its Cybertruck and Model Y SUV at its factory and headquarters in Austin. Tesla Tesla last week announced its first "release candidate" Cybertruck unit produced at Gigafactory Texas. Tesla A robotic arm lifts a Tesla Model Y on a production line at the EV makers Austin factory and headquarters. Tesla Inc. A Tesla Cybertruck at a charging station outside the Holiday Inn Resort South Padre Island on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer Tesla Model Y electric vehicles on a production line at the companys factory and headquarters in Austin. Cybertruck is the other main product built at what Tesla calls Gigafactory Texas. Tesla Inc.

Tesla Inc. is facing fines from federal safety regulators for exposing employees to hazardous chemicals on its Cybertruck production line in Austin.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors found the electric vehicle maker exposed four workers to hexavalent chromium, a carcinogen, multiple times without proper monitoring or training. It issued two citations, each carrying a fine of $3,457.

They appear to be the first OSHA fines for the 10 million-square-foot factory where Elon Musks Tesla is headquartered and produces the Model Y and Cybertruck and is developing new battery technology.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Chromium is added to alloy steel to make it tougher and more corrosion resistant. Its a key component of the stainless steel that forms the angular pickup trucks body. Welding and other hot work such as laser cutting on stainless steel can release the toxic hexavalent chromium.

Exposure to the chemical can harm the respiratory system, kidneys, liver, skin and eyes, according to OSHA.

OSHAs report said Tesla did not determine the 8-hour time-weighted average exposure for each employee exposed to chromium working in the Cybertruck body area of the sprawling factory in unincorporated Travis County. It also said the company failed to assess the employees for exposure they received while performing clean-up tasks at the Prima Laser.

Inspectors cited the automaker for not adequately communicating workplace hazards on the Cybertruck production line. Their report said Tesla also failed to provide effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

On or about July 5, 2024, and at times prior thereto, employees performing clean-up tasks at the Prima Laser were not provided effective information on the hazards of hexavalent chromium, it said.

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment this week.

OSHA is still investigating the August death of a worker at the Austin plant, which it calls Gigafactory Texas.

The carmaker has a track record of safety violations in the U.S., with 27 OSHA violations since the beginning of 2023 at its other sites across the country. Twenty-one of those stemmed from operations at the companys Fremont, Calif., factory. Others were found in plants in Massachusetts, Illinois, Nevada and Texas.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

In September, the agency fined Tesla $23,560 for an accident resulting from unspecified serious safety concerns at the companys Fremont, Calif., factory in March.

A 2022 Forbes investigation found Tesla had more safety infractions and fines over three years than all other auto makers in the U.S. combined.
U.S. oil and gas supermajor Exxon does not expect American producers to gear up in a drill, baby, drill mode once Donald Trump becomes U.S. President, as companies will maintain the spending discipline of the past few years.

We're not going to see anybody in 'drill, baby, drill' mode," ExxonMobil Upstream President Liam Mallon said at the Energy Intelligence Forum conference in London, as carried by Reuters.

A radical change (in production) is unlikely because the vast majority, if not everybody, is focused on the economics of what they're doing, Mallon added.

Producers will maintain discipline and drive quality assets, which will limit growth rates, according to the executive.

Incoming President Trump is expected to prioritize oil and gas from day one, in an energy package to expand domestic oil and gas drilling on federal lands and offshore lease sales, and to accelerate LNG export permits.

President-elect Trump has vowed on the campaign trail to support the oil, gas, and coal industries and repeal some of President Bidens environmental-oriented measures, including a pause on new LNG permitting and the minimum possible offshore oil and gas lease sales mandated by Congress.

Although President-elect Trump is chanting drill, baby, drill, the priorities of the U.S. oil industry have drastically changed since Trumps first term.

Trump will encounter a very different mindset from shale industry executives in 2025 compared to the late 2010s when he was last president.

The U.S. shale patch is drilling, but it is drilling because it wants to distribute more of the profits to shareholders. It has made huge progress in capital discipline and efficiency gains and is getting more bang for its buck. Priorities are now returns to investors and financial frames capable of withstanding oil price volatility.

Chevron, for example, sees its capex in the Permian probably peaking this year. Chief executive Mike Wirth told the Q3 earnings call, just a few days before the U.S. presidential election, that I think what you'll see is this year is probably going to be the peak in Permian CapEx.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Russia overnight launched 188 drones and four cruise missiles at targets in Ukraine -- a record number of projectiles in a single attack, Kyiv's air force said, as NATO and Ukrainian envoys prepared to gather in Brussels to assess Moscow's launching last week of an experimental missile at a Ukrainian city.

Ukrainian air-defense systems "tracked 192 air targets -- four Iskander ballistic missiles and 188 enemy drones," the air force said in a message on Telegram.

It added that 76 Russian drones were shot down over 17 Ukrainian regions, while another 95 drones "were lost in location" after their navigation systems had been jammed by Ukrainian electronic warfare systems. Five more drones changed course and flew toward Belarus, it said.

No casualties were immediately reported in any of the 17 regions targeted, but critical infrastructure facilities such as the country's power grid and high-rise apartment buildings were damaged in several regions, officials said.

During the attack, the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil was temporarily left without electricity.

For the past several months, Russia has been battering Ukrainian cities with increasingly heavy drone, missile, and glide bomb strikes, causing casualties and damaging energy infrastructure as the cold season settles in.

In Brussels, a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council (NUC) is to discuss on November 26 Russia's launching of an experimental hypersonic intermediate-range missile at Ukraine last week.

The NUC was established at a NATO summit in Vilnius last year to step up the alliance's collaboration with Kyiv and support Ukraine's aspirations for NATO membership.

The NUC meeting of envoys from Ukraine and the 32 member states of the alliance was called by Kyiv after Russia on November 21 struck the Ukrainian city of Dnipro with what President Vladimir Putin said was a new missile called Oreshnik.

Putin said the move was part of Moscow's response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian soil with U.S.-supplied ATACMS and British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles.

Putin said the Oreshnik is new and not an upgrade of previous Soviet-designed weaponry. The United States said the new missile is "experimental" and based on Russias RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

Ukraine initially accused Russia of having used an ICBM in the Dnipro attack. An ICBM has never been used in a war.

By RFE/RL

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Oil markets are fully focused on this Sunday's OPEC+ meeting after top officials from the three biggest producers in the alliance met on Tuesday.

- European gas prices have surged almost 45% this year and forecasts for cold weather threaten to add pressures on gas supply, further aggravated by US sanctions on Gazproms very own banking subsidiary, Gazprombank.

- For most of November temperatures in Northwest Europe have been trending along the 30-year average line or below, marking the first cold winter since 2021, and leading to gas inventories draws to 87.7% of capacity.

- There is very limited LNG supply capacity increases coming this winter, mostly from Plaquemines in the US, however production disruptions across the globe could offset those increments, with Woodside halting LNG liftings from Australias Pluto due to an unplanned outage.

- Front-month TTF natural gas prices reached their highest in a year on 21 November, reaching 48.3 per MWh (equivalent to $16.1 per mmBtu), whilst JKM lagged behind European prices, pricing only slightly above $15 per mmBtu.

Market Movers

- US midstream major ONEOK (NYSE:OKE) signed an agreement to purchase all remaining publicly held units of EnLink Midstream in a $4.3 billion transaction, boosting its 50,000-mile pipeline network.

- The US leading natural gas producer EQT (NYSE:EQT) will be forming a JV with US investment firm Blackstone, with the latter getting a stake in the Mountain Valley Pipeline in return for $3.5 billion in cash.

- Mining major AngloAmerican (LON:AAL) agreed to sell its remaining coking coal mines in Australia to Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU) for up to $3.78 billion in cash, as part of its large-scale divestment drive.

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

A potential Israel-Lebanon ceasefire deal is looming large on the geopolitical front, but as we get closer to December 1, OPEC+ is becoming the main focus of oil markets. After the energy ministers of Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Iraq met in Baghdad on Tuesday, unannounced, the pendulum has swung towards postponement of production increases, with ICE Brent so far rangebound at around $73.50 per barrel.

OPEC+ Meeting No Longer Happening in Person. OPEC+ will hold its much-anticipated policy meeting online rather than in person, as the oil markets are speculating about Saudi Arabia and Russia considering postponing output increases indefinitely amidst weak global demand.

China Issues Extra Quota for Independents. China has issued an additional crude import quota of 5.84 million tonnes (equivalent to almost 120,000 b/d) to independent refiners so that they can boost refinery runs in the remaining weeks of 2024, particularly independent major Hengli (SHA:600346).

Oil Service Firms Crank Up Pressure on Pemex. Oil service providers across Mexico are demanding that state-owned oil firm Pemex pay its overdue debts totaling $5.1 billion, just as the new Sheinbaum government has simplified taxation for Pemex, merging three duties into one.

Venezuela Braces for Shortages After Gas Meltdown. Propane production plunged 97% since an explosion at the Muscar gas complex debilitated Venezuelas gas separation complex, drastically cutting the availability of cooking oil over the next four to five months until Muscar is fully repaired.

Diesel Backwardation Widest Since April. The time spread between M1 and M2 of ICE gasoil futures has moved to its widest since April, at a $7.5 per metric tonne premium, indicating that backwardation is steepening amidst lower Saudi and US incoming volumes and lower European availability.

Bangladesh to Open Exploration Next Month. Bangladesh will open its international bidding process for offshore gas exploration next month, concurrently liberalizing its LNG market, allowing any commercial entity to import LNG from the spot market.

Russian Pipeline Gas Still Flowing to Austria. The Gazprom-OMV arbitration row seems to be having no impact whatsoever on physical supplies of natural gas to Europe as this weeks nominations have been stable at 42.2 MCm/day, with Austria-bound deliveries returning to levels seen last week.

Adani Collapse Impacts French Major. French energy giant TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) announced it would stop any financial contributions to Indias Adani group of companies after the US SEC charged Indias second-richest businessman Gautam Adani with bribery, jointly developing 4 renewables-focused assets.

Exxon Sees No Future in Suriname. US oil major ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) has relinquished its 50% non-operated interest in deepwater Block 52 in Suriname, just across the border from its prolific Stabroek block in Guyana, with Malaysias Petronas taking over the entire acreage.

Coffee Prices Soar to 27-Year Highs on Shrinking Supply. Coffee futures skyrocketed to their highest since 1997 on weak crop concerns, with Arabica prices hitting $3.1 per pound, up almost 65% this year, as continuous drought conditions in Brazil are set to drastically reduce next years output.

Turkey Asks for Russia Sanction Waivers. The Turkish government is reportedly in talks with the United States to secure a Russia sanctions waiver to continue paying for its natural gas supplies through the recently sanctioned Gazprombank, with Gazprom supplying 50% of its gas imports.

Saudi Arabia Goes All In on Metals. Saudi Arabia signed 9 investment deals in metals and mining worth more than $9.3 billion with Asian mining majors such as Vedanta or Zijin Group, seeking to boost domestic capacity with a new copper smelter in Ras al-Khair, zinc and platinum smelters.

Brazil Gets The Dividend Mojo Going. Brazils national oil company Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) approved the payout of an additional $3.4 billion in extraordinary dividends to shareholders, withheld previously under the previous management, concurrently lowering the minimum cash level to $6 billion.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
One of President-elect Donald Trumps key achievements when first in office was keeping the benchmark oil prices within a very carefully managed range  The Trump Oil Price Range. The lower part of this is US$40-45 per barrel of the Brent benchmark, which is the price at which the bulk of U.S. shale oil producers can breakeven and make a good profit on top. The upper part is US$75-80 per barrel, which ties into historical data showing that a gasoline price of under US$2 per gallon has been most advantageous for U.S. economic growth. This US$2 per gallon level has historically equated to a West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil price of around US$70 per barrel. And as WTI has also historically traded at a discount of between US$5-10 per barrel to the Brent oil benchmark, this US$70 per barrel of WTI price equates to around US$75-80 per barrel of Brent. Judging from Trumps comments on the campaign trail and in his Agenda47 blueprint for a second term, his view that oil prices should continue to be heavily influenced by the U.S. in such a way has not changed. And given these factors, his handling of the OPEC members of the OPEC+ oil cartel, and their de facto leader Saudi Arabia, will be much the same as it was in his first term in the top job.

There are two vital reasons, to begin with, why the Trump Oil Price Range so rigorously enforced in his first presidency is so critical to the interests of Trump personally, his Republican Party, and the U.S. more broadly, as fully analysed in my latest book on the new global oil market order. One reason is economic and the other political, although as ever the two elements are closely related. The economic rationale revolves around the close correlation between oil prices and the wider health of the U.S. economy. Historical data highlights that every US$10 per barrel (pb) or so change in the price of crude oil results in around a 25-30 cent change in the price of a gallon of gasoline, and for every 1 cent that the average price per gallon of gasoline rises, more than US$1 billion or so per year in consumer spending is lost. The second  political reason -- is that since 1896, the sitting U.S. president has won re-election 11 times out of 11 if the economy was not in recession within two years of an upcoming election. However, sitting U.S. presidents who went into a re-election campaign with the economy in recession won only one time out of seven. The same pattern broadly applies to the re-election chances of candidates of any sitting presidents party in U.S. mid-term elections as well, the outcome of which affects the ability of the incumbent leader to push ahead with their legislative agenda for the last two years of their presidency. In any event, the statistics make sober reading for incumbent U.S. presidents and the senatorial, congressional and gubernatorial candidates of their party when considering how to handle domestic and international policies related to the oil price. Consequently, it is not surprising -- as Bob McNally, the former energy adviser to former President George W. Bush put it  that, Few things terrify an American president more than a spike in fuel [gasoline] prices.

Related: Exxon: Dont Expect Drill, Baby, Drill Under Trump

Trumps preferred method of dealing with any attempts to disrupt this closely-managed and crucial oil price range was demonstrated early in his first presidency. Saudi Arabia and its OPEC brothers had just fought and lost the 2014-2016 Oil Price War aimed at destroying or at least severely disabling for years the then-nascent U.S. shale oil sector, as also as fully detailed in my latest book on the new global oil market order. This had left the Kingdom and its OPEC followers in devastated financial positions, which could only begin to be resuscitated by orchestrating OPEC-led rises in oil prices, which is what the cartel began to do, with the help of its new-found ally, Russia (which by that time had become the + in OPEC+). These efforts pushed oil prices up over the key US$80 per barrel Brent ceiling of the Trump Oil Price Range in the second half of 2018, whereupon Trump warned Riyadh to stop doing this in a speech before the United Nations General Assembly, saying OPEC and OPEC nations are, as usual, ripping off the rest of the world, and I dont like it. Nobody should like it. He added: We defend many of these nations for nothing, and then they take advantage of us by giving us high oil prices. Not good. We want them to stop raising prices. We want them to start lowering prices and they must contribute substantially to military protection from now on. Following Trumps direct and clear warnings to Saudi Arabias Royal Family in the third quarter of 2018 of the catastrophic consequences if the Kingdom continued to keep oil prices higher than the US$80 per barrel Brent price ceiling, Saudi Arabia increased production and oil prices came down again. That period was the only part of Trumps presidency that saw his Oil Price Trading Range breached to the upside.

Over this period, oil prices stayed well below the US$84 pb or so level that the Saudis needed to breakeven on their national budget, never mind attempting to replace the hundreds of billions of dollars it had lost in fighting the 2014-2016 Oil Price War. Given this, it was little surprise to many that the Kingdom tried its luck again in the later part of the Trump presidency, with yet another Oil Price War in early 2020. It and its fellow OPEC members dramatically overproduced oil again, crashing oil prices and pushing WTI into negative pricing territory at one point, aiming as it did before to destroy the economic viability of as much of the U.S.s shale oil sector as possible for as long as it could. Trumps reaction to this was even more direct than before, with a telephone call made on 2 April (according to a very senior source in the White House spoken to by OilPrice.com at the time) in which he very clearly told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that unless OPEC started cutting oil production  so allowing oil prices to rise (above the danger zone for U.S. shale oil producers)  that he would be powerless to stop lawmakers from passing legislation to withdraw U.S. troops from Saudi Arabia. It was also made very clear by Trump that the next time the Saudis tried the same thing it would be the end of the 1945 Agreement between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia that had laid the foundation for their cooperation since that point, as also analysed in full my latest book on the new global oil market order. This, said Trump, would involve the immediate withdrawal of all U.S. military assistance from the Kingdom, without further notice. Following that, Saudi Arabia and OPEC gradually cut oil production to bring prices back up.

Despite this, Trump ordered that the No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels (NOPEC) Bill be made fully ready to be passed into law at minimal notice, as a further deterrent to be used against Saudi Arabia. The NOPEC Bill would make it illegal to artificially cap oil production or to set prices, as OPEC does under the leadership of the Kingdom. The Bill would also immediately remove the sovereign immunity in U.S. courts for OPEC as a group and for every one of its individual member states. This would leave Saudi Arabia open to being sued under existing U.S. anti-trust legislation, with its total liability being its estimated US$1 trillion of investments in the U.S. alone. The U.S. would then be legally entitled to freeze all Saudi bank accounts in the U.S., seize its assets in the country, and halt all use of U.S. dollars by the Saudis anywhere in the world (oil is denominated in U.S. dollars, of course). It would also allow the U.S. to go after Saudi Aramco and its assets and funds, as it is still a majority state-owned production and trading vehicle. This would mean that Aramco could be ordered to break itself up into smaller, constituent companies that are not deemed to break competition rules in the oil, gas, and petrochemicals sectors or to influence the oil price.

Consequently, although oil prices are likely to trend to the downside under a Trump presidency given his pledge to Drill, Baby, Drill, any attempts by Saudi Arabia and OPEC+ to push them above the top of The Trump Oil Price Range are likely to be met with an extremely robust response from the Presidential Administration.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
U.S. natural gas producers are preparing for stronger demand and higher prices for their product as data center proliferation accelerates further and years of depressed gas prices become a thing of the past. They are not letting it all happen by itself eithergas executives are in talks with data center developers to build them where the gas is.

Expectation of a step change in power demand has created opportunities for increasing dialogue around the potential for power generation and data projects within the Permian Basin, the co-chief executive of Permian Resources said recently, as quoted by Reuters.

Also recently, Black & Veatch, the EPC and construction major, wrote that natural gas was just about the optimal power option for data centers, which made it quite appealing for data center developers.

Enterprises eager to make an environmental impact through greener strategies and energy innovation that lessen their carbon footprints get reliable, accessible and cleaner power from natural gas, Black & Veatch wrote. Natural gas supply and delivery are extremely reliable, given that pipelines typically are below ground and protected from natures elements. Natural gas also is cheaper than diesel, and widely available generators now can meet the industry standard of a 10-second startup time for emergency power.

Related: High Energy Costs Continue to Plague European Industry

In anticipation of more demand, gas producers are already preparing to boost productionafter they just cut it for the first time in four years this year. The Energy Information Administration said in its latest Short-Term Energy Report that it expected natural gas production in 2025 to inch up to 114 billion cu ft daily from 113 billion cu ft daily this year, or 1%, led by a 6% increase in output in the Permian. This happens to be where gas executives are trying to convince data center developers to build their new facilities.

Rather than continuing to get low margins on our gas... we're trying to figure out a way to be creative on ways to turn some of that natural gas into more value for our shareholders, the chief executive of Diamondback Energy said, as quoted by Reuters last week.

There is more, however. Grid supply is not unlimited, even in Texas and New Mexico with their abundant natural gas supply, which means that a new mechanism of power supply may be applied for the needs of data center operators, again per the above Reuters report. It cited analysts as saying data centers, power utilities, and gas producers could negotiate some sort of a three-way agreement to secure the supply necessary for data centers needs.

What all this means is what many analysts have been forecasting: the AI race will be powered by natural gas, and not wind and solar. The reason is simple enough: natural gas supply is more reliable than the supply of weather-dependent energy sources. Interestingly, the EIA does not seem to care about AI electricity needs. In its latest STEO, it said it expected power generation next year to increase by 3%, mostly to supply increased air-conditioning demand compared with last year, driven by hotter summer temperatures this year.

There is always a chance that next summer will be less hot than this summer was, but with data centers, the trajectory of demand will continue higherjust like LNG export demand. The combination of growing LNG exports, increased electrical generation demand, and the prospect of winter weather suggests a tighter supply-demand picture for natural gas in 2025 and beyond, the chief executive of Coterra Energy said at the companys third-quarter analyst call, as quoted by Reuters. And that picture suggests higher prices and higher outputbut not too high.

Oil drillers found out the hard way why drilling at will was not wise and took a more disciplined approach to production. Natural gas drillers have also had to learn this lesson the hard way, even if it wasnt them who drove the surplus supply situation but those shale oil drillers with their associated gas in the Permian. In any case, when the industry sees a stronger case for supply growth, it will not unleash all available supply. It will likely pace itself.

Enverus recently estimated the remaining reserve situation for one of the biggest gas-producing shale regions, Haynesville, and found that it depends on the demand. We estimate the Haynesville has 12.5 years of sub-$3.00/Mcf inventory at last years turn-in-line (TIL) cadence, Enverus analyst Jimmy McNamara said. This drops to 10.5 years when modeling EIRs 2026 TIL cadence that increases Haynesville supply by 2.0 Bcf/d to match incoming LNG demand.

Some companies have better inventory than others and would be able to produce cheap gas for longer, but all in all, the price rise seems inevitable when factoring in both the rise in LNG demand, especially in Europe, and the demand surge expected from the tech industry for its data centers. And so does the production increase, cementing the position of natural gas as the optimal power generation fuel.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Triggered by incoming US President Donald Trump, the next four years could prime the liquefied natural gas (LNG) markets for a golden era. Based on his campaign pledge, the returning presidents expected policies are likely to accelerate US LNG infrastructure expansion through deregulation and faster permitting, bolstering global supply. This could strengthen the sentiment around global LNG supply after years of uncertainty, helping to unleash long-term demand. Even so, an untimely supply boost will heighten the risk of a medium-term market glut, which would put downward pressure on prices.

President-elect Trumps pro-energy agenda includes fast-tracking permits for stalled LNG projects, reversing Biden-era regulatory pauses and increasing leases on federal land for gas production. If implemented, US LNG export capacity could nearly double from 11.3 billion cubic feet per day (Bcfd) in 2023 to 22.4 Bcfd in 2030, with major projects like Texas LNG and Calcasieu Pass (CP2) moving forward despite environmental pressures. This expansion is crucial for the US to remain a major player in the global LNG market, with demand expected to reach almost 600 million tonnes (Mt) in 2030. Based on currently producing and under-development projects, a supply gap of 140 Mt will materialize in 2035.

Trumps accelerated LNG approvals could further strengthen the US position in the global energy market, meeting critical demand as the world transitions away from other energy sources. However, this rapid expansion risks oversaturating the market, potentially driving down prices and profitability for producers. The key challenge will be balancing domestic growth ambitions with global stability to ensure long-term market share and competitiveness, said Emily McClain, Head of North America Gas & LNG Research at Rystad Energy.

The geopolitical implications of expanded US LNG production are also substantial. The Trump administration could leverage LNG as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations with Europe, Russia and other major economies. Europe is still searching for reliable, long-term alternatives to Russian piped gas and LNG supply, while China-US LNG trade is likely to be affected by tariffs.

Trumps history of imposing tariffs during his first administration raises concerns about the potential impact on LNG infrastructure costs and trade. A 25% steel tariff implemented in 2018 led to significant price increases for LNG projects, a trend that could repeat under Trump 2.0. Additionally, another trade war with China could disrupt the flow of LNG between the two countries, just as it did in 2019 when LNG exports were halted. Such tariffs would not only elevate capital expenses for LNG projects but also risk slowing contracting activity with key buyers like China, jeopardizing long-term export growth.

While Trumps policies aim to bolster US energy independence and dominance, the global LNG market is highly sensitive to supply-demand fundamentals. The risk of oversupply looms large, especially if multiple new US LNG projects move forward simultaneously. An oversaturated market could erode prices, disadvantaging US producers compared to competitors like Qatar and Australia. However, reliable US supply would also unlock new demand, particularly from price sensitive markets in Asia, if executed strategically.

Europe stands to be a significant beneficiary of Trumps LNG expansion policies, particularly as the EU strives to further reduce reliance on Russian gas. European leaders have already hinted at using US LNG purchases as a bargaining tool to avoid potential trade tariffs under Trumps administration. By aligning energy policies and prioritizing US imports, Europe could secure a stable energy supply while fostering stronger transatlantic relations.

By Rystad Energy

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
In just a few short years, Guyana has become a factor to reckon with in global oil. The country is on track to hit the 1-million-bpd mark before this decade is over. It would only make sense that it would seek to capitalize on its gas reserves as wellbut its facing challenges.

Guyana has become notorious for its vast offshore oil reserves, but there is natural gas there, too. For now, this is being injected back into the wells operated by Exxon, Hess, and CNOOC, to maintain pressure. Yet the authorities in Georgetown have plansand these plans feature LNG.

Earlier this year, the government of Guyana launched a tender for companies interested in developing its gas reserves. It would have been easier to bet on the Exxon-led consortium again, but the authorities in Georgetown have made it clear they would like some diversification. The tender, however, ended in a somewhat odd way. Of the 17 companies that submitted proposals, Guyanas government picked one called Fulcrum LNGset up by a former Exxon executive just a year earlier. Now, doubts are emerging that the company is solid enough to help Guyana develop its gas reserves.

The founder of Fulcrum, Jesus Bronchalo appears to be the only person associated with the company, according to Reuters. The companys website only has one press release; on the news of Fulcrums selection by Guyana as partner to Exxon to develop natural gas resources. And it was competing with much larger LNG developers with much longer track records, Reuters noted in its report on the selection back in June.

Related: Don't Underestimate Trump's Impact on U.S. LNG

According to the Guyanese government, Fulcrums was the most comprehensive and technically sound proposal. The idea is simple enough: send the associated gas from the Liza 1 and Liza 2 fields to the shore, process it, and use it for power generation and LNG exports. The capacity of the project was set at up to 50 million cu ft daily. Interestingly, nothing has been finalized yet, Reuters reports.

No project has been awarded to anyone. We're in an exploratory phase, Guyanas vice-president told the publication in October. The walkback on the initial enthusiasm appears to have coincided with criticism of the governments pick by opposition politicians. Fulcrum LNG lacks requisite experience and a demonstrated ability to raise the type of multi-billion-dollar finances required, an economist and adviser to a Guyanese opposition party, the Peoples National Congress, told Reuters.

Indeed, there is very little information about the company besides the fact its founder and CEO spent 20 years at Exxon before striking out on his ownafter spending the three years between 2020 and 2023 in Guyana as regional executive. The companys website has a lot of information about expertise in the oil and gas industry but with no details about specific projects.

According to skeptics who spoke to Reuters, the problem with such small companies is that they lack the means to find the financing necessary for projects of the scale that the Guyanese government wants to develop. According to the government, Fulcrum plans to get funding from the U.S. Export-Import Bank, private equity firms, and an environmental partner. The company has not divulged any details on the identity of these firms, only saying it would partner with Baker Hughes and McDermott on the construction work.

It is a somewhat strange situation, for sure, and it may mean that Guyana takes longer than desired to tap its natural gas reserves, which could reduce energy costs for its population and propel it to the global LNG scene in the future. Exxon is already working on the first part of the plan: it is building a gas pipeline to the shore for a 500-MW power plant that should be operational by the end of next yearbut it is running behind schedule. It seems repeating its oil success with gas may be a bit of a challenge for Guyana.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Global natural gas markets are tightening this heating season, leading to higher costs of LNG supply to Europe in what could be a colder winter than the two previous mild winters.

Europe has stepped up imports of liquefied natural gas in recent weeks, especially LNG from the United States, where the benchmark gas prices at Henry Hub are significantly lower compared to the European benchmark, the Dutch TTF Natural Gas Futures.

With peak demand season in the northern hemisphere approaching, Europe is competing with Asia for LNG supply, which is driving prices higher and already discouraging some price-sensitive buyers in south Asia from buying LNG cargoes on the spot market.

European Prices Jump to Two-Year High

But Europe doesnt have much choice. It has to step up purchases to meet its rising natural gas demand as colder temperatures settle in while geopolitics adds another layer of uncertainty about near-term supply.

The European natural gas market has been on edge for weeks with the start of the winter heating season, a massive lull in wind speeds in northwestern Europe, a dispute over deliveries between Austrias OMV and Russias Gazprom, and the end of the gas transit deal via Ukraine which expires on December 31, 2024. Ukraine has said it would not pursue talks about renewing the agreement with Russia.

As a result of the combination of all these factors, the front-month Dutch TTF Natural Gas Futures, the benchmark for Europes gas trading, have rallied in the past three weeks to hit a two-year high at the end of last week.

Related: Don't Underestimate Trump's Impact on U.S. LNG

In the two months since September, Europes benchmark gas prices have jumped by about 40%, with the November 22 price topping $51.35 (49 euros) per megawatt-hour (MWh). That equals $14.97 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), nearly five times higher than the U.S. benchmark.

The widening premium of European prices to U.S. benchmark prices has incentivized more U.S. exporters to direct their destination-flexible cargoes to Europe. The huge premium of European prices against U.S. prices is set to further incentivize LNG exporters to ship more cargoes to Europe this winter season.

The higher European prices are also diverting LNG cargoes initially bound for Asia, as Europe currently commands a price premium.

In the past weeks, at least 11 cargoes have been diverted from either Asia or Egypt to Europe, Argus reported last week, citing vessel-tracking data from Vortexa.

But spot LNG prices to north Asia are also rising amid heightened competition from Europe. Last week, the Asian price hit the highest so far this year, at $15.30 per MMBtu.

Some Asian buyers, most notably India, have reduced imports due to the rising prices.

But Europe doesnt have a choiceit needs LNG, and more of it, this winter, amid uncertainties about whats left of the Russian pipeline gas supply after January 1, and weather forecasts pointing to a proper winter compared to two milder winters at the peak of the energy crisis in 2022 and 2023.

Therefore, Europe is boosting LNG importsand paying more for them.

In November, Europe is on track to import 9.16 million metric tons of LNG, the highest volume since February, and much higher than in September and October, according to data from commodity analysts Kpler cited by Reuters columnist Clyde Russell. A large part of these would be imports of U.S. LNG, estimated at 4.32 million tons by Kpler.

Asia, for its part, is poised to import a lower overall volume of LNG and of U.S. LNG in particular, as the price-sensitive buyers in south Asia are retreating from the spot market amid higher prices, while China has comfortable inventories.

Tighter Market Balances

This winter, global natural gas supply balances could tighten, leading to elevated natural gas prices and potential price spikes, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Monday.

One or more regions in the northern hemisphere may experience colder winter temperatures this year, as weather models point to a possible shift from El Nino to La Nina, which is generally associated with colder, drier weather in much of the Northern Hemisphere during the winter. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts predicts a colder winter in Northwest and Central Europe, the EIA noted. The last two winters were exceptionally warm, contributing to relatively low natural gas consumption in Europe, higher end-of-season storage inventories, and lower natural gas prices.

As of the end of November, weather forecasts point to this winter in Europe being colder than the previous two mild winters. Colder temperatures and the looming end to the gas transit deal via Ukraine would tighten the market and force Europe to pay up for LNG supply.

While there havent been any alarming warnings of a natural gas shortage for the 2024/2025 winter, Europes energy security will come at a higher cost.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
China is on track to import this month the highest volume of thermal coal, the one used in power generation, since at least 2017, as electricity demand is rising with the colder weather.

Chinese thermal coal imports are set to be at 37.5 million metric tons for November, according to data by commodity analysts Kpler cited by Reuterss columnist Clyde Russell. This estimated volume would be significantly higher than the 32.12 million tons of thermal coal imported in October and the highest level in data compiled by Kpler going back to 2017.

China is also boosting its domestic coal mining and supply as it looks to ensure enough supply. The soaring domestic output in recent months has been capping seaborne coal prices for exports out of Indonesia and Australia, the two biggest exporters of thermal coal in the world.

So, despite record-high coal imports in China, thermal coal prices havent spiked.

In October, Chinas coal output increased by 4.6% from a year earlier, to 410 million tons, data from the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics showed earlier this month.

Coal imports jumped by 28.5% in October from the same month last year, the data showed.

China has been ramping up thermal power generation, which is mostly coal, since the beginning of the autumn, when hydropower generation began to ease.

Last month, thermal power generation went up by 1.8% from a year earlier, per official Chinese data. At the same time, hydropower generation slumped by 14.9% in October from a year earlier, marking the second annual decline in two consecutive months.

Although the share of coal in Chinas electricity generation has been declining in recent years with the renewables boom, Chinese coal power generation and demand remains strong.

Coal still accounts for about 60% of Chinas power generation. Hydropower saw a sharp decline in September, which boosted the use of thermal coal for power generation amid surging power demand in the worlds second-largest economy.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Fitch Ratings has put some of Adani Groups bonds on watch in preparation for a potential downgrade amid a bribery scandal that shook one of Indias largest industrial conglomerates.

Last week, U.S. prosecutors and the Securities and Exchange Commission launched probes into the company on allegations Gautam Adanis renewable energy arm had been giving bribes to local Indian government officials to secure solar power purchase contracts.

As alleged, the defendants orchestrated an elaborate scheme to bribe Indian government officials to secure contracts worth billions of dollars and Gautam S. Adani, Sagar R. Adani, and Vneet S. Jaain lied about the bribery scheme as they sought to raise capital from U.S. and international investors, stated Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

Since then, Kenya has canceled deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars with Adanis companies and TotalEnergies has suspended any new investments in joint energy projects with Adani Group.

Now, Fitch is downgrading the companys debt. Indeed, the ratings on senior unsecured dollar bonds issued by four Adani subsidiaries were downgraded to negative from stable because of the U.S. indictment, Reuters reported today.

The Fitch move follows a similar one by S&P Global Ratings, which on Friday downgraded three Adani Group companies, flipping its outlook for them to negative from stable.

According to the allegations made against the Indian billionaire, his nephew and several others, they had spent $265 million on bribes for local government officials to secure commitments for purchasing solar power from Adani Green Energy. The commitments would have generated estimated profits of about $2 billion over the next two decades.

Further allegations said that Adani and the rest of the group secured some $3 billion in funding from investors and bondholders for the advancement of their solar power plans without disclosing the bribery scheme.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Gov. Greg Abbott visits NASAs Johnson Space Center in March to introduce the Texas Space Commission board of directors and the Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium executive committee. With him from left are Rep. Greg Bonnen, Speaker Dade Phelan and, at his right, NASAs Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche. The consortium came to San Antonio for its first-ever workshop on how it should invest in the states space industry. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer After his first meeting with the Texas Space Commission, Executive Director Norman Garza Jr. laughs with Nancy Currie-Gregg in the Greer Building on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Austin, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

The Texas Space Commission is seeking public input for its strategic plan to strengthen the states space industry.

Since being launched earlier this year, the commission has been hiring staff and organizing to oversee millions in state funding and develop a plan to ensure Texas is well-positioned for the quick-growing space economy.

Part of its effort includes learning what the state needs and where the commission should focus its attention, so its developed a 10-question survey for public comment thatll be open through mid-December.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

It can be found online at https://exne.ws/tsc.

More than 150 people, including community leaders and industry professionals, have weighed in so far, Andres Ramos, a commission spokesman, said Monday.

After the public comment period ends in mid-December, the board will package up their final product and send it to the Legislature by Dec. 31, he said in an e-mail.

The survey asks open-ended questions about what to include in the plan, which aspects of space exploration to focus on, gaps in Texas space-related economy, regulatory and legal hurdles, which market segments should be included, goals for the commission, ideas for a seal or logo, other state agencies that should be involved and big opportunities on the horizon.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

People are really putting thought and careful consideration into the feedback they are providing, Ramos said. Ideas have ranged from how to play a larger role in deep space missions, new approaches to investment and leasing, innovations in safety and healthcare technology and sustainable energy systems critical in orbit and here on earth.

Highways too

Earlier this month, the commission partnered with TxDOT to gather public input on state highway infrastructure needed to support the space industry. That survey closed Wednesday.

The need for adequate roadways to support space operations has come into stark focus along Texas 4, the two-lane highway from Brownsville to Boca Chica Beach and SpaceXs South Texas rocket operation.

The commercial space company has brought heavy traffic to the narrow road. Heavy equipment, a constant flow of semis and more tourists have left Texas 4 full of potholes and susceptible to frequent backups as crews move equipment and rocket parts.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Starbase and local government leaders have been vying for improvements.

In April, Kathy Lueders, Starbase general manager and member of the Space Commissions board of directors, spoke about Texas 4s importance to Starbase and the need to improve it during a TxDOT Border Trade Advisory Committee meeting in Brownsville.

Were also getting our utilities in place for us to be able to minimize some of that traffic, but Highway 4 is still our major artery for our materials coming in and out, she said.

TxDOT is working several projects to improve and eventually expand Texas 4.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Its unreal, the amount of traffic, Pedro Pete Alvarez, TxDOTs Pharr district engineer, told the Rio Grande Guardian at the time. And its not just regular vehicular traffic. Weve seen an increase in overweight, oversize, large trucks, rocket ships, all sorts of things that are coming into the area.
Europe is losing and will continue to lose competitiveness and jobs if it doesnt tackle its high energy costs compared to other regions, Morten Wierod, chief executive of Switzerland-based engineering giant ABB, told Bloomberg.

The cost for energy intense industries like chemical, steel production, cement is a challenge, and investments will go elsewhere than Europe if this continues, Wierod told Bloomberg in an interview published on Tuesday.

This predicament would hinder job creation in Europe, which, the executive said, is a clear concern. Bureaucracy is also weighing on the industry and job creation, Wierod said.

Major European companies are already moving to cut costs and retain their competitive edge.

For example, Thyssenkrupp, Germanys largest steelmaker, said on Monday it would slash 11,000 jobs in its steel division by 2030, in a major corporate reshuffle.

Urgent measures are needed to improve Thyssenkrupp Steel's own productivity and operating efficiency, and to achieve a competitive cost level, the German industrial giant said.

As Europe is bracing for the winter, wholesale electricity prices have jumped in November to the highest level in 20 months, additionally burdening the key industries in major economies that had just started to recover from the 2022 energy crisis.

The highest spot-based electricity prices in Europe since February 2023 threaten industrial production in key economies and loom large over business sentiment.

Earlier this month, falling wind power generation tightened power markets in Europe, with electricity prices in Germany hitting their highest since the peak of the energy crisis in 2022.

The rising energy costs threaten major European economies, just as Germany, the biggest economy in Europe, narrowly avoided a recession in the third quarter of the year. Eurozone GDP grew by 0.4% in the third quarter, Eurostats flash estimate showed earlier this month. That was higher than expected as the two top economies, those of Germany and France, outperformed forecasts.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Top officials from the three biggest producers in the OPEC+ alliance  Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Iraq  met on Tuesday to discuss the state of the global oil market, days before the group is set to meet on December 1 to decide how to proceed with the production cuts.

Iraqs Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani held on Tuesday a joint meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak and Saudi Arabias Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, the Iraqi Prime Minister Media Office said.

The meeting focused on discussions regarding global energy market conditions, crude oil production, and its flow to markets to meet demand, the office said following the meeting in Baghdad today.

The participants emphasized the importance of maintaining stability, balance, and fair pricing, highlighting the vital role played by the OPEC+ group in achieving these objectives, the office of the Iraqi prime minister noted.

The three biggest producers in the OPEC+ alliance and the two de facto leaders, Saudi Arabia and Russia, discussed the global oil market just days before the group is set to meet on Sunday to decide whether it would begin easing the production cuts from January, as currently planned.

Weak fundamentals could prompt the OPEC+ group at the December 1 meeting to delay  once again  the output increase currently planned to begin in January, according to recent market speculation.

The most recent signal of a possible delay came from non-OPEC producer, Azerbaijan.

OPEC will likely remain committed to production curbs for yet another month, the energy minister of Azerbaijan told Reuters ahead of the groups Sunday meeting.

OPEC+ could or couldn't discuss oil output rollover at its next meeting. It is difficult to prejudge, Parviz Shahbazov told the publication.

OPEC has been under pressure from the market to stick to its production cuts because of depressed prices, with any decision to reverse any part of the cuts seen as extra-bearish for the commodity.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
OPEC will likely remain committed to production curbs for yet another month, the energy minister of Azerbaijan told Reuters ahead of the groups Sunday meeting.

OPEC+ could or couldn't discuss oil output rollover at its next meeting. It is difficult to prejudge, Parviz Shahbazov told the publication.

OPEC has been under pressure from the market to stick to its production cuts because of depressed prices, with any decision to reverse any part of the cuts seen as extra-bearish for the commodity. Indeed, even news reports about the possibility of a rollback have pressured prices substantially, even if the reports were not followed by the respective OPEC decision.

The producer group was supposed to bring back some 180,000 barrels daily in supply from December but it had conditioned that move on the price environment. If oil prices were right, they would bring back the supply. If prices remained depressed, as they have, the return of output would be pushed backand it was.

There has been speculation that not all OPECand OPEC+members are happy with the current policy, which seems to be cementing the output cuts as permanent, or at least longer-term than initially expected. Indeed, some OPEC nations heavily dependent on oil revenues have been in favor of a rollback, seeking to compensate for lower prices with higher sales volumes.

Meanwhile, oil demand keeps surprising to the upside, BPs chief executive said this week, which suggests a brighter future for oil producers may be on the horizon when traders acknowledge the demand reality. Meanwhile, analysts continue talking about weak demand, per a recent Reuters report, which said OPEC+ would likely roll over its cuts to the first quarter of 2025.

I can't say it's popular in the group but there would be no strong objection to a delay until the first quarter, one source from the extended group told Reuters last week.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
It is unlikely that Russian gas giant Gazprom, a shareholder in Nord Stream 2, would agree to hand over ownership of the pipeline to a U.S. investor, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday, commenting on a report that a U.S. businessman plans to bid for the pipeline.

U.S. businessman Stephen P. Lynch, who has lived in Russia for two decades and has done business there, has sought a U.S. license to try to buy Nord Stream 2, The Wall Street Journal reported last week.

Lynch has sought a license from the U.S. Treasury to negotiate buying the pipeline infrastructure for Russian gas supply to Germany that was never used, the Journal reported.

Nord Stream 2 is currently under bankruptcy proceedings in Switzerland and if these lead to an auction of the gas pipeline, Lynch wants to be able to try to buy it.

The American businessman, who left Russia in 2019 and now lives in Miami, argues that American ownership of the pipeline would be in U.S. and European interests.

The bottom line is this: This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for American and European control over European energy supply for the rest of the fossil-fuel era, Lynch told the Journal in an interview.

Commenting on the report today, the Kremlin spokesman Peskov said I have not heard that all shareholders are in favor of putting this critical energy infrastructure facility up for auction. I have not heard that the Russian side, represented by Gazprom, would like it sell, either.

I havent heard of Gazprom wanting to put gas transportation infrastructure in the hands of the USA, Peskov said, as quoted by Russian news agency Interfax.

According to Lynch, many investors would not bid to buy Nord Stream 2 if it comes up for sale, due to the tangled geopolitical optics. But bidders will likely include Russian proxies, Chinese companies, and entities from other jurisdictions not aligned with U.S. interests, Lynch has said, according to the Journals sources.

Nord Stream 2 was never put into operation after Germany axed the certification process following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Russias crude oil exports by sea fell in the four weeks to November 24 compared to the previous four-week average by the steepest volume since July, amid lower shipments to India, tanker-tracking data monitored by Bloomberg showed on Tuesday.

Russia is estimated to have shipped from its oil export terminals an average of 3.12 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil during the four weeks to November 24, down by 150,000 bpd compared to the previous four-week average to November 17, according to the data reported by Bloombergs Julian Lee.

Most of the decline in shipments over the past month was seen at Russias Western ports on the Baltic and Black Sea, from where the majority of shipments to India depart.

Bloombergs estimates point to at least a 500,000-bpd decline in Russian crude shipments to India over the past weeks compared to the four weeks to the middle of October.

Still, there are a lot of cargoes traveling without a final destination, which are most likely to end up in India.

The Russian exports are now at around a two-month low and come as the OPEC+ group, including Russia, will meet on Sunday to discuss production levels and supply to the market.

Separately, Russia could soon lift its gasoline export ban earlier than planned, which could boost refinery rates at domestic refiners and leave lower volumes of crude for exports.

Russias government plans to lift the gasoline export ban earlier than current plans at the end of the year, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told reporters on Friday.

It is difficult to say whether the export restrictions will be lifted on December 1 or [from another date], Novak said, as quoted by Russian news agency TASS.

Earlier this month, Russian Energy Minister Sergey Tsivilyov said that Russias energy ministry believes it could be possible to lift the gasoline export ban, considering that domestic fuel prices are stable.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
President-elect Donald Trump said on social media Monday he would slap import tariffs on products from China but also Mexico and Canada, sending shockwaves across the Canadian economy.

Crude oil is the top Canadian export to the United States and any tariffs would interfere with flows and revenues.

In posts on his platform Truth Social, Trump said he would impose a 10% additional tariff on Chinese imports and a much heftier, 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, Bloomberg reported, citing the president-elect as saying the tariffs would help stem the flow of illegal immigrants and drug trafficking.

President-elect Trumps announced plans to impose a 25 percent tariff on products imported from Canada is obviously concerning given the level of integration between our economies, Wendy Wagner, partner and head of international trade at law firm Gowling, told Bloomberg in comments on the news.

In particular, where Canadian exports are used as inputs in American manufacturing, the imposition of tariffs of that magnitude can be expected to have a serious negative impact on American jobs and the competitiveness of sectors of the U.S. economy and seems antithetical to the stated objectives of the new administration.

The Canadian oil sands are essentially the only source of heavy crude for Gulf Coast refineries because of the sanctions on Venezuela and Russia, and the simple fact of Canadas proximity to the United States. Indeed, this essential nature of Canadian oil imports became reason for many to doubt Trump would go as far as to impose tariffs on Canadian imports.

Canadas energy exports to the United States back in 2022 were worth close to $160 billionmost of that in the form of crude oil, refined products, and natural gas. A year later, crude oil exports alone hit a record of some 4 million barrels daily. Of those, 97% went to the U.S., the Canada Energy Regulator reported this August.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Turkey is seeking a U.S. sanctions waiver to continue using a now-sanctioned Russian bank for paying for its energy imports from Russia, while also talking with Russian officials about the future of energy trade and payments.

Last week, the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Gazprombank in what the Treasury said was another major step in implementing commitments made by G7 leaders to curtail Russias use of the international financial system to further its war against Ukraine.

The latest sanction measures include the designation of Gazprombank, more than 50 internationally connected Russian banks, more than 40 Russian securities registrars, and 15 Russian finance officials.

Before November 21, the U.S. Treasury had refrained from imposing sanctions on Gazprombank, which has been used by Russias European customers to pay for the natural gas they still receive from Russia.

Turkey is using Gazprombank and it is also importing more than half of its natural gas purchases from Russia. Overall, Turkey currently imports nearly all the natural gas it consumes, and most of it comes from Russia.

Thats why Turkish officials have been busy discussing the implications of the sanctions on Gazprombank on it energy security.

These sanctions will affect Turkey. We cannot pay, if we cannot pay we cannot buy the goods. The foreign ministry is in talks, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said, as carried by Reuters.

Turkey would need a waiver similar to the one the U.S. has granted the country for Iranian energy imports, according to Bayraktar. Now Turkey needs a waiver to ensure its energy supply, the minister said.

In addition, Turkey is also talking with Russia to discuss the implications of the latest U.S. sanctions on the Turkish-Russian energy trade.

We discussed with the Russian delegation what can be done to prevent Turkey from being subject to sanctions during this process and what the effects of this will be, an anonymous Turkish official told Reuters, referring to private talks.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
()

Mermaid Grotto in Onna Village is a popular diving spot known for beautiful sights. But, as beautiful and serene as the area may be, the water can quickly become dangerous.

In the past, a servicemember was swept out to sea while swimming in the area, also known as Apogama, and had to be rescued by a Japanese coast guard helicopter. With a high-seas warning reportedly in effect that day, the servicemember was fortunate to have not sustained any serious injuries.

In an interview with Stars and Stripes, Matt Lewis, a diving instructor at MCCS Okinawas Tsunami Scuba, described the views at Mermaid Grotto as alluring. But, he also described the potential for risk.

Where it becomes dangerous is the way the coral is structured, Lewis said. When the tide is coming in or going out, it can cause significant rip tides.

While Okinawas great swimming, snorkeling and diving spots and amazing marine life may be calling adventurous minds, first things first  water safety.

Know your own limit

The most common mistake is overconfidence, said Gary Joyce, the scuba program manager of Tsunami Scuba and has more than 30 years of experience as a diver.

The most important thing to stay safe while diving is to know your own limits and use good sound judgment within those limits, Joyce said. Those limits are internal to your own comfort level, but there are also limits based upon the amount of training you received and adhering to the information youve learned.

Dave Burrows, a scuba diving coordinator with Destiny Charters, an off-base diving shop, noted the importance of diving with a reasonably small group, and also with an experienced person.

If you have five people, a good thing to do is to break it into two groups of three and two. This way, you can put the most inexperienced person with the most experienced person, said the veteran diver with over 30 years of diving experience.

Decompression sickness

A common threat to divers is decompression sickness, or DCS.

According to the Divers Alert Network (DAN), the largest association of recreational scuba divers in the world, decompression sickness is thought to result from bubbles growing in tissue and causing local damage, which happens if pressure on a diver reduces too rapidly.

The DAN cites joint pain and numbness as common symptoms. Lack of treatment can lead to permanent damage such as bladder dysfunction, sexual dysfunction and muscular weakness.

According to the DAN, exceeding or coming close to diving table limits too quickly is the most common cause of DCS.

These days, people rely on computers, but they often forget to pay attention to the depth (dive computers indicate), said Aaron Burrows of Destiny Charters. He said, Staying within your decompression limit is important. There are also apps that are helpful.

DCS is defined by DAN as one of the two kinds of Decompression Illness (DCI). The other type of DCI is arterial gas embolism (AGE). The DAN explains that AGE can happen if a diver ascends without exhaling air. The ascend makes air in the lungs expand, which can break lung tissue and send gas bubbles to the arterial circulation. This can lead to brain damage. The networks website says the key to AGE prevention is to always relax and breath normally during ascend.

Rip currents

When swimming or diving off Okinawa, be cautious of rip currents. Because coral reef surrounds the island, locations where the currents occur are thought to be predictable. But, what if you get caught by one?

You are not going to be able to swim against it. If you get caught by one, you are going to have to ride it out, Joyce said. Once it dissipates, you swim perpendicular to it to get out of it. Then you transition back to shore.

Before you visit a dive site in Okinawa, get as much information about the currents as possible as this could better help you to avoid these dangerous conditions.

Dangerous marine life

Beyond the risk of open seas on the surface, there is also a long list of marine life that can pose potential danger to swimmers and divers. Box jelly fish, lion fish, moray eels and sea snakes may be enough to discourage some from testing the waters, but experienced dive instructors have a different view.

The biggest problem with dangerous animals in the water, is typically caused by divers themselves - either inadvertently or on purpose, Joyce said. Most sea creatures will avoid competition. Fight or flight syndrome. Most of them are going to take off. If they come to you, they are basically there to check you out. If you just ignore it, it is going to be aware of (you) but ignore (you). It will go away.

Be cautious

Several diving instructors refer to the 10-second rule as a rule of thumb.

Before you take anything out of the car, look at the water. If it takes longer than 10 seconds to decide, Yes, this is a good time to dive, you should not dive that day, a Tsunami Scuba instructor added.

Sometimes, being cautious may require listening to your gut and going against all the time and effort you put into making the trip out to the diving spot.

Equipment is also a vital component to ensuring safety. A Torii Scuba Locker employee advises rental gear is not always well-maintained. We tell our customer to make sure that they check their gear as they were taught. If your gear is not good, that could get you killed.

The employee also noted that social media is a very useful tool when it comes to getting information on diving safety.

There are many communities of divers on social media. If you go on Facebook and type Okinawa divers, it will give you many divers communities, he said. If you ask questions there, you will get many answers. Sometimes, you find someone (with good experience and skills) who is planning to go to a dive site that you want to go to.

Monitoring sea conditions prior to and during a dive or swim is yet another component to keeping safe. Some locations offer live webcams to show the current conditions and there are also flags at some dive spots and beaches. At Maeda Point, blue means there are no problems, yellow means OK to swim only with diving companies and instructors, and red means NO Swimming.

On-base dive shops

Tsunami Scuba DSN: 645-3385 Website

Kadena Marina DSN: 966-7345 Website

Torii Beach Scuba Locker DSN: 644-4290/644-4263 Website

Off-base dive shops

Reef Encounters International Tel: 098-995-9414, Email: info@reefencounters.org Website GPS Coordinates: 26.325706 127.748318

Okinawa 39ers Tel: 080-2085-9138, Email: info@okinawa39ers.com Website

GPS Coordinates: 26.329671, 127.750628

Aloha Divers Okinawa Tel: 080-9168-0902, Email: alohadiversokinawa@hotmail.com Website GPS Coordinates: 26.365728 127.743193

Destiny Charters Tel: 090-9569-4080, Email: reservations@okinawadiveboat.com

Facebook

GPS Coordinates: 26.320331 127.841007

Piranha Divers Tel: 080-4277-1155 Website GPS Coordinates: 26.524913, 127.926251

English Empire Divers Tel: 090-8777-1983, Email: englishempiredivers@outlook.com Website

Sun Kissed Divers Okinawa Tel: 098-953-9831, Email: info@sunkisseddivers.com Website GPS Coordinates: 26.417458 127.731467

Useful sites

Divers Alert Network

Sea conditions by Shogun Weather

MCCS Dive site list

Cape Maeda

Hazardous marine life found in Okinawa
San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama recently settled a lawsuit that accused an Austin man of using the player's nickname without authorization on the website wembysworld.com. Darren Abate/Associated Press Austin's James T. Glodich had submitted this drawing to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as part of his unsuccessful effort to trademark "El Wemby." Spurs star Victor Wembanyama sued Glodich over the use of "El Wemby" and "Wemby's World." The two sides settled the case this month. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

A federal lawsuit filed by Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has been resolved just a month after it was filed.

Wembanyama has dismissed his claims against James T. Glodich, an Austin businessman accused of using the players nickname and likeness without authorization to sell branded merchandise, after the two sides reached a settlement. No details of the agreement were disclosed in court papers.

Neither Wembanyamas Austin lawyer nor Glodich responded to requests for comment Tuesday.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The case was closed Nov. 15 by U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman in Austin.

Glodich never filed an answer to Wembanyamas complaint.

The towering Frenchman sued him alleging invasion of privacy and false endorsement over unauthorized use of his Wemby nickname on coffee mugs, sweatshirts and other items.

Wembanyama was seeking unspecified financial damages and an injunction directing Glodich to cease using the players name and likeness and invading his privacy. The suit says Glodich never responded to demands from Wembanyamas lawyers that he stop his activities.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Glodich registered the domain name wembysworld.com, where he was selling merchandise. Visitors to the site Tuesday were greeted with the message Coming Soon. Last year, though, it was peddling $40 coffee mugs, $115 hooded sweatshirts and other items bearing Wembanyamas likeness and nickname.

At the time, the San Antonio Express-News reported on how a range of businesses and individuals  including Glodich  were swarming to capitalize on Wembanyamas rising popularity by trying to trademark the Wemby nickname or incorporating it in branding.

Glodich unsuccessfully sought to trademark Wembys World and El Wemby.
No fewer than three thousand food vendors in Oyo state under the Federal Government Home Grown School Feeding Programme embarked on a peaceful work around Ibadan, the Oyo state capital city to declare their support for the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The said the peaceful walk became imperative to show solidarity for the president on the heels of the postponement of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The food vendors who prepares meal for the school children from across the 33 local governments areas of the state said the school feeding initiative has not only helped them for means of livelihood as parents, it has also helped improve school attendance by school-age children in the state.

The vendors, mostly women also commended the All Progressive Congress (APC) led initiative as time-saving for farmers across the various sectors as the feeding programme has been helping to mop up farm produce that used to be in excess and discouragement to farmers.

Speaking at Oke-Ado were the vendors converge before hitting the street, the Oyo state coordinator, Mrs Ajobo Toyosi said they decided to endorse and declare support for Muhammadu Buhari because of the impact the Home Grown School Feeding Programme is having on their lives as well as on the children in promoting good education.

She also thanked the Oyo state governor, Abiola Ajimobi for agreeing to let the state be used as a pilot for the scheme.

Ajobo said, We want to thank President Muhammadu Buhari that we are so grateful and we wish him good health. We the food vendors in Oyo state are so grateful for his kind gestures.

As parents, we got the job to take care of our families and it is also good for our children from Primary 1 to 3, the school children numbers are increasing and they all happy staying in school as they eat free food.

With all these, we are sure that President Muhammadu Buhari wants to increase and progress for all Nigerians. With this food, children come to school early and even stay in school and we are grateful, as parents and as the ones preparing the food for them.

We the food vendors in Oyo state decided to use this rally to declare our support for PMB for his second term bid because we believed in him.

We have over 3,000 vendors who are participating in the rally so that the whole world will know that we are solidly behind this government and President Buhari who has helped us to stabilize our lives.

Agriculture is improving. Before now, when farmers in the farm make their product the excess that they dont sell ends up as waste which often discourages them from farming. But when the FG started the initiative, farming has gone to another level and all farm produce are now in abundance and selling fast.

We patronize the farmers and poultry producers who are always happy for creating the market to help mop up their farm produce. We are grateful to PMB for the efforts. We also want to thank Governor Abiola Ajimobi for allowing the state to be part of the first batch to accept the programme. We are really grateful because we are better for it.

Also, the state financial secretary of the group, Mrs. Bola Ajagbe, expressed happiness that despite not been a politician or card-carrying member of any party, she was shortlisted to be a beneficiary of the scheme.

She noted that the transparent and non-partisan nature of the selection of the vendors makes the initiative a truly national project in the interest of developing the people and the country as a whole.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday at the Plateau state Governorship Election Tribunal made fresh accusations against the Peoples Democratic Party, accusing the counsels of stalling tribunal proceedings.

Recall that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Sen. Jeremiah Useni, had dragged Lalong before the tribunal challenging his competence and victory at the 2019 gubernatorial elections.

According to the counsel to APC, Garba Pwul (SAN), apart from tendering documents before the tribunal, the PDP were not ready to continue with the proceedings, expressing his dissatisfaction at what he called the lackadaisical attitude the petitioners were showing on the matter.

It is frustrating that it is the petitioners who are complaining, they are the ones who have dragged us before the tribunal to challenge the election, yet, they are the ones derailing the proceedings, Pwul said.

We are ready to continue with the proceedings and we advise that the petitioners become serious because they are not up and doing, we want a serious change of attitude, Pwul said.

Mr. Pius Akubo, counsel to Governor Lalong, on his part also expressed sadness that the petitioners counsels were not ready to proceed with the case. He however, advised the petitioners to put their house in order and come ready to continue with their case.

By nature this case is time sensitive, therefore, we dont have time, we have made our point to the tribunal and it was well taken, we advise that the petitioners put their house in order and come ready tomorrow, he said.

Counsel to the petitioner, Mr. Mike Ozokheme (SAN), however, denied trying to stall proceedings stating that they had so far called 66 witnesses and tendered over 106 documents before the tribunal.

Ozokheme said that they were able to achieve this feat in just 10 days stating that they were ready to continue with the case immediately their witnesses were ready to testify before the tribunal.

Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Halima Salman had since adjourned the matter to July 11, to enable the petitioners present their additional witnesses before the tribunal.
There were indications last night that the federal government was contemplating reporting Justice Taiwo Taiwo, to the National Judicial Council (NJC) on account of his decision to grant bail to the convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Mr. Omoyele Sowore.

Justice Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja admitted Sowore to bail on Tuesday and dismissed the objection raised by the Department of State Security (DSS) to the bail.

The Nation gathered last night that a shocked Nigerian security and intelligence community met on the matter yesterday and resolved to appeal the judgement.

It also decided to petition the NJC on the issue.

A top government source, who spoke to The Nation, on the condition of anonymity, said that anyone standing trial for treasonable felony is not entitled to bail.

He said :Sowores bail is likely to bring trouble for that judge. A report has been prepared to report him to NJC in view of the fact that, as far as this country, it is known that a person charged treasonable felony has no bail option.

So, the security and intelligence community in the country is shocked by the judgement.

And there is a consensus that the judgement should not only be appealed, but that the NJC should be petitioned about the conduct and abuse of power by the judge.

Sowore was arrested and kept in the custody of the DSS since 3rd of August, 2019, for allegedly calling for revolution through the groups protest fixed for 5th of September 2019.

Sowore on Thursday, commenced a contempt suit against the Director-General of the DSS,Yusuf Bichi, for allegedly disobeying the order granting him bail.

On Wednesday his lawyers submitted his passport to a Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.

Meanwhile Sowore remained in the custody of the Department of Security Service (SSS) last night, 72 hours after a Federal High Court granted him bail.

His lawyers claimed yesterday that the DSS refused to comply with the court order even after his bail conditions had been met.

It was gathered that a court bailiff bearing the documents confirming that the bail conditions had been met was not allowed into the DSS premises Abuja yesterday morning.

He was asked to come back at 12 noon which he did.

This time,the document was collected from him and Sowores lawyers at the gate,yet he was not released.

Sowore is facing trial for treaons -related charges.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo ordered the release the convener of #RevolutionNow protest on Tuesday on the condition that his lawyer , Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), will produce him for arraignment whenever he is required.
A Texas woman identified as "Jane Doe" is suing a Wells Fargo unit and one of its executives alleging he sexually assaulted her at an event last year in Austin. Wells Fargo said it will defend itself against the lawsuit. Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

An anonymous Texas woman is suing a Wells Fargo & Co. affiliate and one of its San Antonio executives she says sexually assaulted her while they were attending a work-related event last year in Austin.

The woman, who started her career as a Wells Fargo financial adviser in 2022 and filed the complaint under the pseudonym Jane Doe to protect her identity, seeks more than $1 million in damages from Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC and executive James D. Rhodes.

She alleges that Wells Fargo knew or should have known of Rhodes propensity for excessive drinking and likelihood of sexual assault, but nevertheless failed to institute any reasonable protections for its female employees, including Plaintiff. As a result, Wells Fargo is responsible for Plaintiffs sexual assault.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

LAWSUIT SETTLED: Wells Fargo Bank reaches settlement with 17 Hispanic workers who accused it of discrimination

Wells Fargo issued a brief statement in response to the lawsuit.

Wells Fargo takes all allegations of misconduct very seriously, it said in an email. The company will defend this lawsuit and is not providing further comment.

Jay Ellwanger, an Austin lawyer, represents the woman.

Our lawsuit alleges that Wells Fargo put profits over people when they ignored our clients claims of sexual assault, he said in an email. Employee safety needs to be taken seriously. Our hope is that this lawsuit brings about positive change at Wells Fargo.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Rhodes describes himself on his LinkedIn page as a senior vice president of investments at Wells Fargo Advisors San Antonio wealth management group. Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services.

Alleged encounter

According to her lawsuit, the woman and Rhodes attended an annuity and retirement market meeting on Nov. 13, 2023, in Austin. The complaint was filed in Travis County District Court exactly one year after the event.

Both were part of a group that attended a dinner at J-Prime Steakhouse with a client. Rhodes sat across from the woman and repeatedly made lewd comments to and about her despite her repeatedly asking him to stop, the suit says. He temporarily stopped his harassment after other Wells Fargo employees intervened, the complaint adds.

The group left the restaurant after dinner, but the woman had to return to retrieve a coat she left behind. She later encountered Rhodes, who pressured her to have a drink with him at the Driskill Bar.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The woman says she became disoriented and blacked out after taking a sip of the drink Rhodes gave her.

A few hours later, Plaintiff awoke from her unconsciousness to find herself in Rhodes room, completely naked, and with Rhodes having sex with Plaintiffs unconscious body, her lawsuit alleges. It adds she had no memory of going back to his room or removing her clothes.

After she awoke, Rhodes completed what she said was unprotected sex. When he rolled over, the woman immediately began dressing and left the room.

HR complaint

In March, the woman phoned Wells Fargos human resources department to lodge a complaint about Rhodes sexual assault. Wells Fargo confirmed receipt of the complaint via email five days later. But the suit says the woman responded to human resources by saying the confirmation omitted details from her account and identified her by Rhodes surname.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The woman also disclosed that Gregory Metz, a senior branch manager for Wells Fargo Advisors in San Antonio, told her that Rhodes had a history of drinking too much at company events and making inappropriate, unwanted sexual advances against younger female employees. In one instance, according to the suit, Metz escorted a female colleague home to protect her from Rhodes.

Despite its knowledge of the danger Rhodes posed to female employees, Wells Fargo failed to implement any reasonable precautions to prevent Rhodes sexual assault of Doe, the suit adds. He was allowed to continue to attend events with female employees without supervision.

The woman is suing for assault, unsafe workplace, negligence and negligent hiring, supervision or retention.

Rhodes has been with Wells Fargo since 1998. Hes been the subject of three customer complaints, though its been almost 15 years since the last one.

BrokerCheck, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authoritys website, shows Wells Fargo and Rhodes agreed to settle a 2000 dispute for $118,000. The customer alleged there was excessive trading, known as churning to generate commissions, and unauthorized trading of unsuitable options.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The next year, Rhodes and the company agreed to a $177,000 settlement after an attorney for the client accused them of excessive trading. In both cases, the matters were settled without Wells Fargo admitting liability.
 - AlgaEurope 2024 in Athens

AlgaEurope is a unique opportunity to learn and understand all about algae production and commercialization and interact with over 400 key players from more than 45 countries. One of the key success factors of AlgaEurope is the close cooperation between EABA - European Algae Biomass Association and DLG Benelux.

For years AlgaEurope has been one of the most global comprehensive conferences about science, technology and business in the Algae Biomass sector organized by industry professionals.

This year organisers introduced - Industry Insights, a significant shift towards enhancing

industry engagement. The decision to launch Industry Insights underscores the organiser

commitment to providing enhanced exposure and opportunities for industry players.

Recognizing the pivotal role of industry collaboration in driving innovation and progress

within the algae sector, this new concept aims to catalyze partnerships, exchange expertise, and foster a culture of innovation. Industry Insights will include the following: Industry Abstracts, Trade Show and Site visit to Solmeyea.
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:

Left: DECam r-band image of the vicinity of the radio transient, with its 1 localization regions by MWA (dashed magenta circle) and MeerKAT (solid cyan circle) overplotted. Right: SOAR (4m-class) low-resolution optical spectrum of the optical counterpart (blue solid line) overplotted on an example M3V star (gray line; flux and extinction renormalized to match). The Swift-UVOT limits are shown with downward-pointing arrows. An AR Sco-like WD with T = 11,500 K, M = 0.8 M  is shown with the dotted pink line, and the summed WD+M3V spectrum is shown with a solid pink line. Credit: The Astrophysical Journal Letters (2024). DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ad890e

Researchers from the Curtin node of the International Center for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) have made a record-breaking astrophysical discovery while simultaneously uncovering a possible explanation for the rare and extreme astrophysical event known as long-period radio transients.

The study is published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Associate Professor Natasha Hurley-Walker, along with Csanad Horvath, a Curtin University undergraduate student at the time, discovered a pulse of bright energy coming from deep space among archival low-frequency data from the MWA (Murchison Widefield Array), a precursor radio telescope to the SKAO (Square Kilometer Array Observatory). The energy pulse occurs every three hours and lasts 3060 seconds, making this the longest-period radio transient ever detected.

Long-period radio transients are relatively new to science, and it has been an ongoing mystery how they generate radio waves. With this discovery, researchers believe they have also identified the probable source of the energy burst, potentially shedding light on the long radio transients.

All other previously discovered transients have been deep within our busy galaxy, surrounded by stars, making it challenging to determine precisely what is generating the radio waves.

Associate Professor Hurley-Walker explains the possible cause for mystery signals. Credit: ICRAR

Associate Professor Hurley-Walker explains, "The long-period transients are very exciting, and for astronomers to understand what they are, we need an optical image. However, when you look toward them, there are so many stars lying in the way that it's like '2001: A Space Odyssey.' 'My god, it's full of stars!'

"In a stroke of good fortune, the newly discovered transient, named GLEAM-X J0704-37, was found on the outskirts of our galaxy, in a much emptier region of space in the Puppis constellation, around 5,000 light years away.

"Our new discovery lies far off the Galactic Plane, so there are only a handful of stars nearby, and we're now certain one star system, in particular, is generating the radio waves."

The signal was detected in a less crowded part of the sky, within the constellation Puppis, which allowed the team to pinpoint its source in the sky. Credit: Stellarium

The team was able to pinpoint the location of the radio waves to one specific star using another SKA precursor, the MeerKAT telescope in South Africa. Following up with the SOAR observatory in Chile, they determined the star's spectrum, finding it was a low-mass star, an "M dwarf."

This finding both created and answered some pressing questions. Associate Professor Hurley-Walker explains, "An M dwarf alone couldn't generate the amount of energy we're seeing.

"The M dwarfs are low-mass stars that have a mere fraction of the sun's mass and luminosity. They constitute 70% of the stars in the Milky Way, but not one of them is visible to the naked eye.

"Our data suggests that it is in a binary with another object, which is likely to be a white dwarf, the stellar core of a dying star. Together, they power the radio emission."

The team is working on follow-up observations that will conclusively determine the nature of the system, and the explanation of this extreme astrophysical event.

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.

Upon digging through the MWA archives, the astronomers found that GLEAM-X J0704-37 has been active for at least 10 years since the MWA started observing; however, it could have been active and undiscovered for even longer, implying there are still many more to be found in archives around the world.

MWA Director, Professor Steven Tingay, said, "These long-period radio transients are new scientific discoveries and the MWA has fundamentally enabled the discoveries."

"The MWA has a 55-petabyte archive of observations that provide a decade-long record of our universe. It is like having the data storage equivalent of 55,000 high-end home computersone of the biggest single collections of science data in the world. It is an absolute gold mine for discovering more phenomena in our universe, and the data are a playground for astronomers," Professor Tingay said.

More information: N. Hurley-Walker et al, A 2.9 hr Periodic Radio Transient with an Optical Counterpart, The Astrophysical Journal Letters (2024). DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ad890e Journal information: Astrophysical Journal Letters
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Bullying in schools is widespread, and it has consequences that can last through childhood and into adulthood. Research has found that children who are frequently bullied are more likely to self-harm, and being bullied in childhood has been linked with a higher risk of depression as an adult.

Bullying is preventable, but schools need more help in tackling it. While schools in England and Wales are required to have an anti-bullying policy, rates remain high. A 2023 report from charity the Anti-Bullying Alliance found that nearly a quarter of the over 65,000 children surveyed said they had been frequently bullied in the previous few weeks.

Generally, school policies seek to address the issue of how to tackle bullying when it occurs. However, there is evidence to suggest that an approach that encompasses the whole school to prevent bullying, as well as clear strategies to address confirmed bullying, are most effective.

Our research has tested the effectiveness of one of these whole-school approaches, the Kiva program. This was a study with more than 11,000 children and found a 13% reduction in reported rates of bullying.

The Kiusaamisen Vastaan or "Kiva" program was developed by researchers in Finland with government funding. Kiva is built on the social architecture model of bullying, which emphasizes the significant roles played by bystanders in supporting or standing against bullying.

Bystander behavior

This goes beyond seeing bullying as something that happens between a bully and their victim to also include those who help bullies, audiences that reinforce the bullying, silent observers who behave as if unaware of what is happening and those who help victims. The program aims to change bystander behavior towards helping victims, and stop bullying being a way for bullies to gain social status.

A large research study of more than 8,000 students in Finland showed significantly reduced bullying and victimization among students aged seven to 11, including reduced cyberbullying. It also showed reduced rates of anxiety and depression. Since 2009, the program has been rolled out nationally across Finland.

Our research has focused on exploring the effectiveness of the Kiva program in the UK. Kiva was introduced to Wales in 2013; our study, carried out in 2021 and 2022 with 118 primary schools across Wales and England, is a rigorous evaluation of its effectiveness in the context of the UK school system.

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.

We compared the Kiva approach with existing school practices to address bullying. Schools in Wales, Birmingham, Oxfordshire and Devon were randomly allocated to deliver Kiva or to continue with their usual practice.

The children at schools taking part in the Kiva trial had 20 45-minute lessons using this approach across the school year, which involved presentations, role play and group work. These class lessons cover how to make school a happy place, and to identify and stand against different forms of bullying. They also had access to educational online games to play at school and at home.

Staff members received training, including on scripted strategies to address incidents of bullying. These include information gathering from the victim, engagement with the bully or bullies to get them to commit to supporting the bullied child in some way (with or without requiring an admission of guilt) and work by the child's class teacher to ask children who had not engaged in the bullying to support the victim. These strategies and decisions are reviewed after two weeks.

The Kiva program was delivered to children aged between seven and 11, but involves elements that incorporate the whole school. These included posters on the walls, tabards worn by staff at break time to remind pupils that this is a Kiva school, and resources for parents.

We found a 13% reduction in reported victimization after one year for those pupils on the Kiva trial as compared to those in schools with their usual policies. The trial also showed that children in the Kiva schools reported higher levels of empathy and reduced peer problems. The approach was equally effective across socio-economically diverse schools, and in schools ranging in size from small rural to large urban schools.

Our results show that the use of the Kiva program can have the same positive effect in the UK as it has in Finland, and that the approach is a proven way for schools to reduce bullying and its harmful consequences.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Elizabeth Zavala covers federal courts for the Express-News. She can be reached at ezavala@express-news.net.

Zavala is a veteran reporter who has been a journalist for nearly 40 years. She joined the Express-News in 2013 and covered the Bexar County criminal courts for nine years. Liz grew up on the near West Side. She graduated from Fox Tech High School and Texas Womans University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in journalism.

Liz has worked in various reporting and editing positions at five daily newspapers in Texas, including The Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the Denton Record-Chronicle.
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:

Texas A&M University researchers say a free-flight training method has proven successful in introducing captive macaws back into the wild, offering hope for global conservation efforts. Credit: Chris Biro

Researchers at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) are working with parrot free-flight experts and partners in Brazil in an effort to increase the success rate of releasing captive parrots into the wild.

In a study recently published in the journal Birds, the team successfully released a small flock of blue and yellow macaws using gradual exposure to the birds' natural environment and exposure to trained adult birds to prepare them for survival in the wild.

Two years later, all six birds in the study flock are alive and have even survived a forest fire in the region.

"Parrots are one of the most endangered groups of birds in the world," said Dr. Donald Brightsmith, a professor in the VMBS' Department of Veterinary Pathobiology (VTPB). "For several species, the best hope we have for increasing their numbers is to raise them in captivity and release them.

"But some programs spend thousands, even millions, of dollars raising parrots in captivity, only to find that these birds are not able to survive in the wild because they don't have enough 'real-world experience.'"

While blue and yellow macaws are not endangered, the researchers hope to apply their techniques to populations in desperate need of conservation help.

The new method uses free-flight training, a technique developed to allow pet owners to fly macaws and other large parrots in open areas, similar to falconry.

Though the technique has been used with parrots for a couple of decades, this team of researchers has only recently introduced free flight as a conservation tool.

"We facilitate young macaws learning to fly, join flocks and evade predators by carefully exposing them to situations they would normally encounter anyway, all at the right stage of development," said Chris Biro of Liberty Wings Freeflight Training, an expert in free flying parrots who helped develop the technique back in the early 2000s.

"Using this method, the macaws in this study gradually learned to fly outside their cages in a controlled environment, which helped them be ready to fly freely in the wild."

"This method is incredibly efficient because it doesn't require generations of a species learning how to survive in a specific environment by trial and error," said Dr. Connie Woodman, the program manager for the USDA Conservation Innovation Grants program at Texas A&M University and a VTPB faculty member.

"By fledging into the release environment and watching the trained adults, our released birds can quickly learn key survival skills and significantly increase their chances of survival."

Learning to fly

Preparing captive macaws to survive in the wild begins when the birds are young, about the time that they begin to get curious about the world outside the nest.

"Before a baby parrot begins fledgingthe process of learning to fly and leave the nestit will start climbing up and looking out at the world outside," Biro said. "Already, that chick is creating a mental database of what's normal for its world. If they see a predator, that would be out of the ordinary, so the chick learns to react to threats."

At a later developmental stage, the chicks are encouraged to walk onto a perch and then to jump to nearby perches. From there, they begin learning to fly.

"To help the chicks learn to fly as a flock, we even train them together with other chicks and the trained adult birds, so they learn to go from 'point A' to 'point B' together. Before long, they learn to fly in beautiful, tight flocks," Brightsmith said.

At night and in between training sessions, the parrots rest safely in the aviary, where they receive food and water. But over time, the young birds spend less and less time in the aviary and with the adult birds, learning to find food and water on their own.

"A key part of the process is actually breaking the bond between the parrots and the humans that have been feeding them," Brightsmith said. "In his work with parrots, Chris actually discovered that when the chicks are around 8 months old, they begin to move away from their parents and become independent. We make sure to wean the birds off hand feeding by this time so they transition to being independent wild birds, just like they would with their parents."

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.

Combining free flight with conservation

Free flying is a promising conservation strategy because it takes advantage of macaws' natural development while allowing researchers to control certain variables, like location.

"In many traditional releases, once you open the cage, the birds get only one shot at success," Brightsmith said. "Often, they fly off in one direction for 10 to 15 kilometers (6 to 9 miles) until they're exhausted; then they land and have no idea where anything is. They get hungry and thirsty and become easy for predators to pick off.

"But by doing free flight training in the environment where the birds will be released, they gradually learn the landscape, where to find food and water, and how to find their way home."

Releasing macaws in groups also increases the chances of creating new populations that will grow over time, increasing their numbers in the wild.

"With those traditional releases, the parrots might fly off in completely different directions and not be anywhere near a potential mate," Brightsmith said. "That's not very helpful for increasing the numbers of an existing population or starting a new one."

Surviving a forest fire

The ultimate test for the researchers' study flock came the day after their article was published.

"A forest fire ripped through the area," Woodman said. "To survive a natural disaster like that, animals have to have very good skills. We were very worried, both for the flock's survival and for the effect it would have on our research. Without good evidence of our method's success, it was less likely that other researchers would believe that it works."

For about 36 hours, the team waited anxiously for news of the flock's survival.

"We finally received word from the field project leader, Dr. Humberto Mendes of the Universidade Federal de Alfenas, that all six birds were found sitting in the trees outside the fire zone," Woodman said. "Not only did they survive, but they reunited as a flock. That means they've survived now for two years without human help, and they're skilled enough to survive a disaster like this."

As humans continue to encroach on parrots' natural habitats and droughts become more common due to climate change, disasters like the fire may become a more common challenge, making it vitally important that conservationists help animals learn to adapt to new situations.

"I think a lot of us probably remember those nature documentaries for kids that stress the importance of not interfering with nature, that it's important to let something take its course," Woodman said. "The problem is that we've already interfered so much with the changes we have made to our climate and ecosystems worldwide. The good news is that with techniques like free flight training we can also help put species back and rewild our damaged ecosystems."

The future of free flight research

Free flight conservation research is tricky to do because it involves so many different organizations.

"We call it a trans-boundary partnership," Woodman said. "That's because it involves academia, government and private industry, and they all have their own boundaries and rules to follow. Not only are we having to cross boundaries to make the research happen, but the birds themselves cross boundaries literally when they fly into other countries."

With the success of their recent study, the team is hopeful that other conservationists will begin applying free flight techniques, especially to species that are endangered or threatened.

"There's room to believe that similar techniques might be possible with other kinds of animals," Biro said. "What's important is that whoever is using this method understands the reason behind each step."

More information: Donald J. Brightsmith et al, Free Flight Training as a Tool for Psittacine Reintroductions, Birds (2024). DOI: 10.3390/birds5030035
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:

Researchers from Japan experimentally demonstrate how perovskite quantum dots contained in a crystal lattice can reach temperatures of about 10 K below room temperature via optical cooling, paving the way for energy-efficient cooling technologies. Credit: Dr. Yasuhiro Yamada / Chiba University, Japan

Cooling systems are an integral part of many modern technologies, as heat tends to wear down materials and decrease performance in several ways. In many cases, however, cooling can be an inconvenient and energy-intensive process. Accordingly, scientists have been seeking innovative and efficient methods to cool substances down.

Solid-state optical cooling is a prominent example that leverages a very unique phenomenon called anti-Stokes (AS) emission. Usually, when materials absorb photons from incoming light, their electrons transition into an "excited" state.

Under ideal conditions, as electrons return to their original state, part of this excess energy is released as light, while the rest is converted into heat.

In materials that undergo AS emission, electrons interact with crystal lattice vibrations called "phonons" in such a way that the photons emitted are of higher energy than those in the incident light. If AS emission efficiency is close to 100%, these materials could theoretically cool down, rather than heating up, upon exposure to light.

In a study published on August 29, 2024, in Nano Letters, a team of researchers led by Professor Yasuhiro Yamada from the Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Japan, delved deep into this phenomenon in a promising perovskite-based material structure.

This team, which included Takeru Oki from the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Chiba University, Dr. Kazunobu Kojima from the Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, and Dr. Yoshihiko Kanemitsu from the Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, sought to shed light on the optical cooling phenomena in a special arrangement of perovskite quantum dots (extremely small CsPbBr 3 crystals) embedded within a Cs 4 PbBr 6 host crystal matrix (indicated as CsPbBr 3 /Cs 4 PbBr 6 crystal).

"Efforts to achieve optical cooling in semiconductors have encountered several difficulties, primarily due to challenges in reaching nearly 100% emission efficiency, and true cooling has been elusive," explains Yamada.

"Though quantum dots are promising for their high emission efficiency, they are notoriously unstable, and exposure to air and continued illumination degrade their emission efficiency. Thus, we focused on a stable structure known as 'dots-in-crystals,' which may overcome these limitations."

Using semiconducting quantum dots presents an unsolved problem. When light irradiates a semiconductor, it generates excitonspairs of electrons and positively charged "holes." When excitons recombine, they typically emit light.

However, at high exciton densities, a process called Auger recombination becomes more prominent, by which energy is released as heat instead of light. In semiconductor quantum dots, irradiation with high-intensity light often leads to heating instead of cooling because of this process.

Thus, the researchers used time-resolved spectroscopy to determine the conditions under which Auger recombination occurred more frequently. These experiments showed that heating was unavoidable even at moderate light intensities, implying that experiments under low-intensity light were required to observe true optical cooling.

Unfortunately, at low intensities, optical cooling becomes less effective. Under the best conditions, their sample demonstrated a theoretical cooling limit of approximately 10 K from room temperature.

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.

Another focal point of the study was to make more reliable temperature measurements than in previously reported efforts. To this end, they developed a method to estimate the temperature of samples with high emission efficiency by analyzing the shape of their emission spectrum.

True optical cooling was observed in multiple samples, and the researchers noted that a transition from cooling to heating occurred as the excitation light intensity was increased.

"Previous reports of optical cooling in semiconductors lacked reliability, primarily due to flaws in temperature estimation. Our study, however, not only established a reliable method, but also defined the potential and limitations of optical cooling through time-resolved spectroscopy, marking a significant achievement in the field," said Yamada.

This study paves the way for future research focused on minimizing Auger recombination to improve the cooling performance of dots-in-crystal arrangements.

If optical cooling improves significantly to reach widespread practical use, it could become the foundation of several energy-saving technologies, contributing to global sustainability goals.

More information: Yasuhiro Yamada et al, Optical Cooling of Dot-in-Crystal Halide Perovskites: Challenges of Nonlinear Exciton Recombination, Nano Letters (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c02885 Journal information: Nano Letters
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

In a new experiment, light beams carrying orbital angular momentum caused electrons in graphene to gain (blue beam) and lose (red beam) angular momentum, transporting them across the sample and generating a current that researchers measured. Credit: Mahmoud Jalali Mehrabad/JQI

It's hard to tell when you're catching some rays at the beach, but light packs a punch. Not only does a beam of light carry energy, it can also carry momentum. This includes linear momentum, which is what makes a speeding train hard to stop, and orbital angular momentum, which is what the Earth carries as it revolves around the sun.

In a new paper, scientists seeking better methods for controlling the quantum interactions between light and matter have demonstrated a novel way to use light to give electrons a spinning kick. They reported the results of their experiment, which shows that a light beam can reliably transfer orbital angular momentum to itinerant electrons in graphene, on Nov. 26, 2024, in the journal Nature Photonics.

Having tight control over the way that light and matter interact is an essential requirement for applications like quantum computing or quantum sensing. In particular, scientists have been interested in coaxing electrons to respond to some of the more exotic shapes that light beams can assume.

For example, light carrying orbital angular momentum swirls around its axis as it travels. When viewed head-on, a light beam with orbital angular momentum contains a dark spot in the middle, a vortex opened up by the beam's corkscrew character.

"The interaction of light that has orbital angular momentum with matter has been thought about since the 90s or so," says Deric Session, a postdoctoral researcher at JQI and the University of Maryland (UMD) who is the lead author of the new paper. "But there have been very few experiments actually demonstrating the transfer."

Part of the challenge has been a size mismatch. In order for electrons to feel a tug from a light beam carrying momentum, they have to experience the way that the beam changes as it passes by. In many cases, the length over which a light beam changes dwarfs the size of the matter that researchers are interested in manipulating, making it especially challenging to pick out electrons as targets.

For instance, atoms and their orbiting electronsmainstays of quantum physics experiments and favorite targets for precise manipulationare roughly 1,000 times smaller than the light beams that researchers use to interact with them. Light travels as repeating waves of electric and magnetic fields, and the length that a light beam travels before it repeats is called the wavelength.

In addition to being an important characteristic size, the wavelength of light also determines the amount of energy carried by individual particles of light called photons. Only photons that carry particular amounts of energy can interact with atoms, and those photons tend to have wavelengths much bigger than the atoms themselves.

So, while atoms as a whole will happily absorb energy and momentum from these photons, the wavelength is too big for the internal pieces of the atomthe nucleus and the electronsto notice any relative difference. This makes it very difficult to transfer orbital angular momentum solely to an atom's electrons.

One way to overcome this difficulty is to shrink the wavelength of light. But that increases the energy carried by each photon, ruling out atoms as reliable targets. In the new experiment, the researchers, who included JQI Fellows Mohammad Hafezi and Nathan Schine, JQI Co-Director Jay Sau and JQI Adjunct Fellow Glenn Solomon, pursued an alternate approach: Instead of shrinking the wavelength of the light, they puffed up electrons to make them occupy more space.

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.

Electrons bound to the nucleus of an atom can only roam so far before they are liberated from the atom and useless for experiments. But in conductive materials, electrons have more latitude to travel far and wide while remaining under control. The researchers turned to graphene, a flat material that is one of the best known electrical conductors, in search of a way to make electrons take up more space.

By cooling a sample of graphene down to just 4 degrees above absolute zero and subjecting it to a strong magnetic field, electrons that are ordinarily free to move around become trapped in loops called cyclotron orbits. As the field gets stronger, the orbits become tighter and tighter until many circulating electrons are packed in so tightly that no more can fit. Although the orbits are tight, they are still much larger than the electron orbitals in atomsthe perfect recipe for getting them to notice light carrying orbital angular momentum.

The researchers used a sample of graphene wired up with electrodes for their experiments. One electrode was in the middle of the sample, and another made a ring around the outer edges.

Earlier theoretical work, developed in 2021 by former JQI and UMD graduate student Bin Cao and three other authors of the new paper, suggested that electrons circulating in such a sample could gain angular momentum in chunks from incoming light, increase the size of their orbits and eventually get absorbed by the electrodes.

"The idea is that you can change the size of the cyclotron orbits by adding or subtracting orbital angular momentum from the electrons, thus effectively moving them across the sample and creating a current," Session says.

In the new paper, the research team reported observing a robust current that survived under a wide range of experimental conditions. They hit their graphene sample with light carrying orbital angular momentum that circulated clockwise and observed the current flowing in one direction.

Then they hit it with light carrying counterclockwise orbital angular momentum and found that the direction of the current flipped. They flipped the direction of the applied magnetic field and observed the current flip directions, tooan expected finding since changing the magnetic field direction also swaps the direction electrons flow in their cyclotron orbits. They changed the voltage across the inner and outer electrodes and continued to see the same difference between currents generated by clockwise and counterclockwise vortex light.

They also tested sending circularly polarized light, which carries an intrinsic angular momentum, at the sample, and they found that it barely generated any current. In all cases, the signal was clear: The current only appeared in the presence of light carrying orbital angular momentum, and the direction of the current was correlated with whether the light carried momentum that spun clockwise or counterclockwise.

The result was the culmination of several years of work, which included some false starts with sample fabrication and difficulties collecting enough good data from the experiment.

"I spent over a year just trying to make graphene samples with this kind of geometry," Session says. Ultimately, Session and the team reached out to a group they had worked with before, led by Roman Sordan, a physicist at the Polytechnic University of Milan in Italy and an expert at preparing graphene samples.

"They were able to come through and make the samples that we used," says Session.

Once they had samples that worked well, they still had trouble aligning their twisted light with the sample to observe the current.

"The signal we were looking at was not quite consistent," says Mahmoud Jalali Mehrabad, a postdoctoral researcher at JQI and UMD and a co-author of the paper. "Then one day, with Deric, we started to do this spatial sweep. And we kind of mapped the sample with really high accuracy. Once we did thatonce we nailed down the very peak, optimized position for the beameverything started to make sense."

Within a week or so, they had collected all the data they needed and could pick out all the signals of the current's dependence on the orbital angular momentum of the beam.

Mehrabad says that, in addition to demonstrating a new method for controlling matter with light, the technique might also enable fundamentally new measurements of electrons in quantum materials. Specially prepared light beams, combined with interference measurements, could be used as a microscope that can image the spatial extent of electronsa direct measurement of the quantum nature of electrons in a material.

"Being able to measure these spatial degrees of freedom of free electrons is an important part of measuring the coherence properties of electrons in a controllable mannerand manipulating them," Mehrabad says. "Not only do you detect, but you also control. That's like the holy grail of all this."

More information: Deric Session et al, Optical pumping of electronic quantum Hall states with vortex light, Nature Photonics (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41566-024-01565-1 Journal information: Nature Photonics
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:

Sperm length and female SR length have co-evolved across the drosophilid tree of life. Credit: Nature Ecology & Evolution (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02587-2

Sperm are the most diverse and rapidly evolving cell type. Why sperm have undergone such dramatic evolution is a mystery that has stumped biologists for more than a century.

To solve this evolutionary puzzle, researchers at Syracuse University's Center for Reproductive Evolution (CRE) have spent decades studying the mating biology of fruit flies. These small and outwardly unremarkable insects conceal a grand reproductive secret inside: giant sperm.

Fruit flies show more variation in sperm length than do the remainder of the entire animal kingdom combined. For example, males of one species of fruit fly, Drosophila bifurca, inseminate their partners with only a couple dozen sperm, each one being a gargantuan 5.8 cm long (about 20 times longer than the female's body) and rolled up like a ball of yarn.

Investigations by SU's Center for Reproductive Evolution members, including Weeden Professor of Biology Scott Pitnick, Professor of Biology Steve Dorus, Assistant Professor of Biology Yasir Ahmed-Braimah and their students have revealed that longer sperm have been favored by sexual selection, for which the theoretical groundwork was laid out by Charles Darwin in 1871 in his seminal book, "The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex."

Essentially, long sperm tails have evolved because they are better equipped than shorter sperm for the battle to fertilize eggs and because female reproductive tracts are designed to bias fertilization in favor of longer sperm.

In other words, long sperm tails are the cellular, post-mating equivalent of peacock tails. In fact, a previous publication from the Center for Research Evolution in the journal Nature showed that fruit fly sperm tails rival pheasant tail feathers, deer antlers, dung beetle horns, lizard dewlaps and others from the hitlist of nature's sexiest ornaments and most intimidating weapons.

The ability to test the foundations of sexual selection theory, and to develop new hypotheses about the evolution of sexual traits, has been hampered by limited information about the genetics underlying such traits.

However, in a new study by the Center for Reproductive Evolution, in collaboration with scientists from Stanford University, Cornell University, Virginia Tech, and the University of Zurich shines a light on the genetics of fruit fly sperm length and of the female reproductive organ responsible for its evolution.

Their findings, published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, may advance our understanding of all mate preferences and sexual ornaments. The research team first measured sperm length and the length of the female seminal receptacle (SR), which is the anatomical basis of female "sperm choice," in 149 species of fruit flies.

After sequencing the full genomes of every one of these species (published in PLOS Biology), the investigators mapped traits onto the fruit fly tree of life to reveal how these interacting male and female traits have coevolved over the last 65 million years.

Next, the investigators conducted a "genome-wide association study" approach to identify candidate genes underlying variation in sperm and SR length in the lab model fly Drosophila melanogaster. Surprisingly, only about 19% of the genes determining variation in sperm length showed biased expression in the testes and are known to code for spermatogenesis.

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.

Most of the identified genes that code for sperm length are primarily responsible for the development and functioning of the central nervous system, in addition to vision and olfaction. Sperm length genetic variation was also correlated with female lifetime fecundity, starvation resistance, and the ability to find food.

In other words, through the evolution of reproductive tracts designed to give males with longer sperm an advantage in the competition to fertilize their eggs, sexual selection has provided females with a means to comparatively shop around for "good genes"those enhancing survival and reproductionto pass on to their offspring.

Finally, a complex algorithm (and approximately 15 million hours of computing time on Syracuse University's OrangeGrid computing network) was used to identify genes for which the rate of nucleotide sequence evolution significantly correlates with sperm and SR length evolution across the species tree. This approach reinforced the genetic overlap between sperm length and nervous system development and function.

This highly integrative approach holds great promise, not just to expand researchers' understanding of the evolutionary genetics of sperm, but of fundamental aspects of biodiversity.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

How does a nearly century-old study on employee productivity still influence our management thoughts? Jesse Kajosmaa's dissertation in Public Management at the University of Vaasa challenges established perceptions about the foundation of management.

In the 1920s and 1930s, the effects of illumination and working conditions on employee productivity were studied at the Hawthorne industrial complex in Chicago. According to soon-to-be-famous researcher Elton Mayo, these studies proved that instead of external factors, productivity was more significantly enhanced by addressing employees' social needs.

This groundbreaking finding formed the foundation for the human relations school, which still today remains a part of management theory and education. In his dissertation, Jesse Kajosmaa highlights a contradiction regarding the scientific basis of Mayo's findingsand, by extension, the basis of the early human relations school. While its inherently valuable message was quickly embraced by the scientific community, it was based on unscientific claims.

"For many, Mayo's conclusion is self-evident, and it has been regarded for generations as scientific fact. In reality, these are not firmly proven scientific findings, but rather a matter of storytelling and even scientific deception," says Kajosmaa, who is defending his dissertation at the University of Vaasa.

A critical look at Mayo's interpretations and their long-standing influence

The social network supporting Mayo, which ensured the triumphant spread of the human relations school's message, included members of the business elite as well as academic influencers. According to Kajosmaa, their ideological interests alongside Mayo's affected the interpretation of the results.

Mayo's perspective created an impression that simply fulfilling employees' social needs explained the increase in productivity. Many other factors, such as economic incentives, were omitted from the official narrative of the Hawthorne Studies.

"Mayo's aim was to solve the societal problems of the era, such as growing unrest among the working-class. Mayo offered his supporters management perspectives aimed at ensuring a cooperative and compliant workforce. The underlying idea was a fascinating notion that employees do not need to be paid more to be more productive," Kajosmaa points out.

The Hawthorne studies were conducted during the historical development of management thoughts, when management as a discipline, profession, and social activity was still seeking direction and legitimacy. According to Kajosmaa, it is essential for HR managers, organizational researchers, and management educators to understand how the thoughts behind current management practices have been shaped and what power and economic interests they serve.

"This knowledge can support the development of management in a genuinely more transparent and ethical direction, which benefits the renewal of working life structures," Kajosmaa states.
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:

Regression analysis of Fel d 1 across the Felidae lineages. The Fel d 1 sequences and orthologs from domestic and exotic cats were aligned with the GenBank DNA or protein references for Fel d 1. A) The exotic cat species analyzed, representing the eight lineages of Felidae. B) Simple linear regression of the mean pairwise identities (mean  SEM; %) of the Felidae lineages (N = 154 cats per lineage) and modern domestic cats (N = 140 cats) over the approximate evolutionary timeline of the cat family (36). R2 values: 0.93, 0.82, 0.57, and 0.51 for CH1 DNA (orange), chain 1 protein (yellow), CH2 DNA (green), and chain 2 protein (blue), respectively. Credit: PNAS Nexus (2024). DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae447

Gene editing could create hypoallergenic cats, according to a sequence analysis of the protein that triggers allergies to cats. Some 15% of people are allergic to cats, and symptoms can be severe. Martin D. Chapman and colleagues investigated CH1 and CH2, genes that code for the allergen, Fel d 1. The work is published in the journal PNAS Nexus.

Cats produce Fel d 1 in their sebaceous, salivary, perianal, and lachrymal glands. The function of Fel d 1 is unknown but comparisons of Fel d 1 sequences and homologs from 276 domestic or exotic catsincluding cougars, cheetahs, lions, tigers, and jaguars, among otherssuggests that CH1 and CH2 have been under active selection, and thus potentially confer some fitness advantage.

Fel d 1 may be involved in immune regulation, skin protection, or chemical communication among cats. However, cats genetically modified to lack CH2 seem healthy and low levels of conserved sequences between species suggest that the allergen is either nonessential or that the function of Fel d 1 varies among cat species.

Two of the analyzed catsa cougar and a black-footed cat, a small wildcat from Southern Africahad mutations that likely prevented Fel d 1 expression, further indicating that the allergen may not be essential for cats. According to the authors, using CRISPR technology to delete CH1 and CH2 could create hypoallergenic cats.

More information: Clifford W Cleveland et al, Genetic diversity of the major cat allergen, Fel d 1, PNAS Nexus (2024). DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae447 Journal information: PNAS Nexus

Provided by PNAS Nexus
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Kirk Nelson walked outside recently to check on the honeybees he'd been tending for about six years, and got a stark surprise.

One of the two colonies in his backyard in Orono, Minnesota, had buzzed out of its hivethe queen, workers and drones alikeleaving nothing behind but honey.

"We had been out in the hive two weeks before that and it looked like it was doing great, and all of a sudden they were just gone," Nelson said.

Nelson isn't the only Minnesota beekeeper who's missing their prized honey makers. He said he spoke with two others who had lost hives in the same way. And similar reports have come in to the University of Minnesota's Bee Lab, according to Marla Spivak, a professor in the department of entomology.

Asked what the cause might be, Rebecca Winkels, a beekeeper with the West Metro Bee Club, guessed the pervasive varroa mite.

"[My bees] did the same few years back," she wrote in an email. "Mites were crazy this fall."

Varroa mites are present in every honeybee hive across the United States, Spivak said. The parasites suck bees' blood and spread viruses from bee to bee. Spivak agreed mites and the viruses they spread were the likely culprit in Nelson's case. In late fall, if viruses are rampant, bees often fly away suddenly when they are about to die, she added.

Mites are a well-known problem to beekeepers, who cited the parasites as the biggest single impact on bee health in a survey conducted by the Bee Lab. Nelson said he had treated his hives this September.

An additional factor made the mites worse this year, however: a warm fall that has allowed queen bees to keep laying eggs long past when they usually would, Spivak said. If the brood keeps growing after a mite treatment, the mites will keep reproducing tooand the beekeeper might not know it's happening unless they check. Apiarists should always check after a mite treatment to make sure it has worked, Spivak added.

"We don't have any way of knowing how many people this is happening to," Spivak said, because Minnesota has no beekeeper registration or tracking program.

The mite infestations do not qualify as "colony collapse disorder," a phenomenon first reported in 2006 where hives would similarly disappear, but leave their queens behind. In those situations, bees disappeared in the summer. Scientists still don't know the exact cause of that situation, Spivak said. Annually, 30% to 40% of U.S. colonies die every winter, mostly from mites and viruses.

The Washington Post recently reported that the number of American honeybee colonies had surged, with the USDA reporting 3.8 million hives nationally in 2022. Much of that growth, however, came from Texas, which has changed its tax code to apply lower property tax rates to land where bees were raised.

Nelson said he and his niece, who tend the bees together, don't plan to give up their backyard operation. Their original hive is still going strong, and feeding on honey the other bees left behind. They will likely start a new hive next spring, he said.

2024 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Another private company will soon try its hand at sticking a landing on the moon for NASA.

Cedar Park, Texas-based Firefly Aerospace was one of several companies that won contracts under NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, which aims to pay companies to provide a ride to the moon for its experiments.

Astrobotic Technology of Pittsburgh was the first company to launch under the program with its Peregrine lunar lander this past January atop a United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket. That spacecraft ultimately didn't make it to the moon.

A month later, though, Houston-based Intuitive Machines completed the deal with a mostly successful landing of its Nova-C lander Odysseus, making it the first commercial company to ever land on the moon.

Both of those companies have more missions planned to the moon under NASA's CLPS program, but Firefly is likely to be next up with Blue Ghost lander, which completed environmental testing at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory last month.

"Blue Ghost aced environmental testing and proved the lander is performing 100% as expected, which is a testament to the incredible Firefly team," said Firefly Aerospace CEO Jason Kim in a press release. "This team has gone above and beyond with innovative testing approaches to ensure Blue Ghost is flight ready."

It had since been moved back to the company's Texas facilities and is prepping for shipment in mid-December to Florida where it will get processed for a launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket aiming for a six-day window as early as mid-January from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-A.

The company has dubbed this mission "Ghost Riders in the Sky," the first of three task orders under CLPS so far.

It will take a 45-day trip to the moon, and aim for a landing at Mare Crisium, located on the northeast quadrant of the moon as seen from Earth. There it will operate its payloads for 14 days. It has 10 payloads lined up for NASA, including experiments around lunar subsurface drilling, sample collection, lunar dust mitigation and X-ray imaging of Earth's magnetic field.

Once the vehicle loses daylight, it will measure how the regolith acts during lunar dusk, and then the spacecraft will attempt to remain active several hours into the lunar night as temperatures drop.

NASA awarded Firefly $93.3 million for this initial CLPS contract in 2021.

It's up to each commercial lunar provider to line up their own rocket ride to space and provide the mission support including communication. They can line up additional customers beyond NASA as well to help defray costs.

"While we know there will be more challenges ahead, I'm confident this team has what it takes to softly touch down on the lunar surface and nail this mission," Kim said.

2024 Orlando Sentinel. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Examples of spectral intensities produced internally and then amplified by internally reflected photons (white). The photons transmitted from each incident I(f,T) are refracted while reflectance is subject to the internal critical angle C* at each frequency. The intensities I(f,T) flow in both directions and fill a hemisphere at each frequency. They experience no net attenuation unlike like those from environmental external sources shown on the right. The (white) intensities are amplified in equilibrium due to reflected photons generating new hybrid pairs. Credit: Journal of Physics Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1088/2399-6528/ad8f11

Accelerating rates of heat uptake by oceans that don't fit current climate models can now be explained by quantum physics, according to an Australian scientist.

In a recent paper published in the Journal of Physics Communications, Emeritus Professor in Applied Physics at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Geoff Smith puts forward a new "quantum thermal physics paradigm" to better understand the impact of global warming on oceans and thus on climate and weather.

Professor Smith said accumulated data over 70 years showed an accelerating rise in ocean temperatures and the total energy stored in oceans, with the world earlier this year passing what was described as a "foreboding milestone"a record global average sea surface temperature of 21.1C.

"Current scientific models in the presence of ongoing rises in atmospheric greenhouse gases do not predict this threatening acceleration," Professor Smith said.

"The solution to this conundrum is that the energy being stored in oceans is a combination of heat with energy which is nature's source of information on material properties.

"When ocean water is heated by radiation from the sun and the sky it stores energy not only as heat, but as hybrid pairs of photons coupled to oscillating water molecules.

"These pairs are a natural form of quantum information, different to the information researchers are pursuing in the development of quantum computing. This extra store of energy has always been present and aided ocean thermal stability prior to 1960.

"But now the average heat dissipated overnight from each day's heating is no longer stable as extra heat input from Earth's atmosphere raises both forms of stored energy."

Professor Smith said the apparent role of non-thermal energy in accelerating ocean temperatures now needs to be factored into climate models.

"Our current models for the thermal responses of built and natural outdoor systems may also need refining for improved comfort, less use of supplied energy, and better human, plant and animal health in a warming climate," Professor Smith said.

"In the end, though, the only way to slow, then stop an alarming temperature acceleration is to stop the rise in atmospheric greenhouse gases."

More information: G B Smith, A many-body quantum model is proposed as the mechanism responsible for accelerating rates of heat uptake by oceans as anthropogenic heat inputs rise, Journal of Physics Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1088/2399-6528/ad8f11
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 paper is the first direct demonstration of the transverse thermoelectric generation in WSi 2 , and the results could pave the way for more efficient thermoelectric devices. Credit: Ryuji Okazaki / Tokyo University of Science, Japan

Thermoelectric materials, which convert heat into electricity, are valuable tools for capturing waste heat and turning it into usable electricity. These materials are especially useful in industries and vehicles where engines produce a lot of waste heat, improving energy efficiency by converting it into additional power. They also exhibit potential for portable power generation, in remote sensors and satellites where traditional power sources may be impractical.

Traditional thermoelectric devices, known as parallel thermoelectric devices, generate a voltage in the same direction as the heat flow. These devices typically use two types of parallel materials, namely p- and n-type, which generate voltages in opposite directions.

By connecting them in series, a stronger voltage can be generated. However, this also leads to a greater number of contact points, which increase electrical resistance and consequently, power loss. In contrast, transverse thermoelectric devices do something unique: they generate electricity perpendicular to the heat flow.

This allows them to use fewer contacts and, hence, achieve a more efficient thermoelectric conversion. Materials with "axis-dependent conduction polarity (ADCP)" or goniopolar conductors, that conduct positive charges (p-type) in one direction and negative charge (n-type) in another, are promising candidates for transverse thermoelectric devices. Unfortunately, a direct demonstration of the transverse thermoelectric effect (TTE) has been less studieduntil now.

A research team from Japan, led by Associate Professor Ryuji Okazaki from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Tokyo University of Science (TUS), including Mr. Shoya Ohsumi from TUS and Dr. Yoshiki J. Sato, from Saitama University, achieved TTE in the semimetal tungsten disilicide (WSi 2 ).

Their study was published online in the journal PRX Energy on November 13, 2024.

Although previous studies have shown that WSi 2 exhibits ADCP, its origin and the anticipated TTE have not been detected in experiments.

"Transverse thermoelectric conversion is a phenomenon that is gaining attention as a new core technology for sensors capable of measuring temperature and heat flow. However, there are only a limited number of such materials, and no design guidelines have been established. This is the first direct demonstration of the transverse thermoelectric conversion in WSi 2 ," explains Prof. Okazaki.

The researchers analyzed the properties of WSi 2 through a combination of physical experiments and computer simulations. They measured the thermopower, electrical resistivity, and thermal conductivity of a WSi 2 single crystal along its two crystallographic axes at low temperatures.

They found that the ADCP of WSi 2 originates from its unique electronic structure, featuring mixed-dimensional Fermi surfaces. This structure reveals that electrons and holes (positive charge carriers) exist in different dimensions. A Fermi surface is a theoretical geometrical surface that separates occupied and unoccupied electronic states of charge carriers inside a solid material.

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.

In WSi 2 , electrons form quasi-one-dimensional Fermi surfaces and holes form quasi-two-dimensional Fermi surfaces. These unique Fermi surfaces create direction-specific conductivity, enabling the TTE effect.

The researchers also observed variations in how these charge carriers conduct electricity from sample to sample, consistent with previous studies. Using simulations based on first principles, the researchers showed that these variations were due to differences in how charge carriers scatter due to imperfections in the crystal lattice structure of WSi 2 .

This insight is key to fine-tuning the material and developing reliable thermoelectric devices. Further, they demonstrated direct TTE generation in WSi 2 by applying a temperature difference along a specific angle relative to both crystallographic axes, resulting in a voltage perpendicular to the temperature difference.

"Our results indicate that WSi 2 is a promising candidate for TTE-based devices. We hope this research will lead to the development of new sensors and the discovery of new transverse thermoelectric materials," says Prof. Okazaki.

By elucidating the mechanism of TTE generation in WSi 2 , this study takes a step further toward advanced materials that can convert heat into electricity more efficiently, leading to a greener future.

More information: Shoya Ohsumi et al, Transverse Thermoelectric Conversion in the Mixed-Dimensional Semimetal WSi 2 , PRX Energy (2024). DOI: 10.1103/PRXEnergy.3.043007 Journal information: PRX Energy
Annasofia Scheve covers trending news for the Express-News. She can be reached at Annasofia.Scheve@express-news.net.

Annasofia has bachelor's degrees in journalism and political science from the University of Missouri. She is an Ohio native, and wrote for Cincinnati Magazine and the Cincinnati Enquirer before joining the Express-News in 2023.
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:

Claudine Hauri and her industry partners prepare to take measurements of carbon dioxide and other ocean chemistry parameters from aboard the research vessel Nanuq in 2022. Credit: Heather McFarland

Scientists around the world rely on ocean monitoring tools to measure the effects of climate change. Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and their industry partners have advanced the technology available to measure carbon dioxide in the ocean. Their design, published in the journal Ocean Science, is now available to the scientific community.

During the past six years, a team from the UAF International Arctic Research Center and private companies developed a way to equip an unmanned, underwater vehicle called a Seaglider with a sensor that monitors carbon dioxide. The sensor communicates with a satellite to provide high spatial and temporal resolution data for weeks at a time. This continuous flow of data gives scientists a clear picture of ocean chemistry, but it took some ingenuity to bring the project together.

IARC's industry partnersAdvanced Offshore Operations and 4H JENA Engineeringmade the Contros HydroC sensor lighter and more compact so it would fit the Seaglider.

The sensor is still larger and demands more power than those typically used on a Seaglider. So the team had to carefully account for its effects upon buoyancy and adjust by using weights and 3D-printed materials.

Monitoring carbon dioxide levels in the ocean creates the information needed to develop climate change adaptation plans, said Claudine Hauri, an oceanographer on the team and IARC's deputy director.

Carbon dioxide, released when humans burn coal, oil and gas, is called a greenhouse gas because it traps heat in the atmosphere and contributes to climate warming. The ocean has slowed the effects of climate change by absorbing about a third of carbon dioxide emissions since the industrial revolution began. But that has led to ocean acidification.

"When carbon dioxide from the atmosphere dissolves into the ocean, it decreases the pH, leading to ocean acidification," Hauri said. "These conditions make it difficult for some marine organisms to build and maintain their shells and can even affect fish."

After their technological success with the carbon dioxide sensor, the team decided to monitor a different greenhouse gasmethane. They equipped a Seaglider with a methane sensor, and the addition is now in the testing phase.

Methane doesn't stay in the environment as long as carbon dioxide, but it traps more heat. Humans produce roughly 60% of methane emissions through agriculture, waste and fossil fuel industries. The rest occurs naturally, including in the ocean where it bubbles to the surface from the deepest parts of the Earth.

Frozen methane hydrates are trapped inside subsea permafrost and mixed with sediments across the deep ocean floor. Warming waters and rising temperatures destabilize the hydrates and release the methane into the water column. Once there, microorganisms can turn methane into carbon dioxide, potentially triggering ocean acidification events.

Hauri said there's one more challenge that the Seaglider team wants to overcomethe extreme conditions in waters around Alaska.

"The Seaglider we're using isn't really made for Alaska's coastal oceans," she said. "We're looking for an autonomous underwater vehicle that can withstand the elements. Then we'll integrate it with the carbon dioxide and methane sensors to collect data from some of the most remote spots on Earth, furthering our understanding of chemical processes in the ocean."

More information: Claudine Hauri et al, Expanding seawater carbon dioxide and methane measuring capabilities with a Seaglider, Ocean Science (2024). DOI: 10.5194/os-20-1403-2024
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Dominika Gregusova from Pexels

The increasingly complex and wide-ranging role of Members of Parliament, and the weight of expectations placed on them by voters, makes it harder for them to seek support for physical or mental health impairments, a new study warns.

This fosters a culture of "perseverance against all odds" and makes it harder for MPs to seek necessary support. This also reinforces the perception of the House of Commons as inaccessible for disabled parliamentarians.

But the research shows that there are extensive disability resources available and ongoing efforts to improve support and accessibility and facilitate the work of MPs and peers, as well as a changing culture of MPs and peers opening up about mental health and disabilities.

The report says that parliamentary and House staff have shown "outstanding" work in setting up and contributing to voluntary networks of accessibility champions and disability user groups.

However, a lack of coordination between different teams can make it harder for those seeking support.

Members of Parliament have to explain aspects of hidden or visible disability to many colleagues and officials repeatedly and this method of having to justify the need for adjustments is daunting for them. Having a single record that assesses the needs of members would make the process of making reasonable adjustments faster and less siloed. It would also remove pressure from individual members to push hard and repeatedly for them to be implemented.

The historic building increases the need for members to have very visible permanent assistance which may make them reluctant to request it. For the same reason, even aids as basic as infrared hearing loops are under-used.

The study, by Dr. Ekaterina Kolpinskaya, from the University of Exeter, is based on her Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology (POST) Fellowship research hosted by the Center of Excellence for Procedural Practice of the House of Commons from 2022 to 2024.

Dr. Kolpinskaya examined parliamentary documents and interviewed MPs and peers and staff from the House, Parliamentary Digital Service, Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.

A total of eight MPs (or 1.2%) declared having a disability in the 20192024 Parliament, with the number increasing to 12 MPs (just under 2%) after the 2024 general election.

Dr. Kolpinskaya said, "Most MPs have been reluctant since they were a candidate to declare disability for fear of electoral penalty, making disability almost invisible in the Commons.

"There is also an expectation that disabled politicians must adapt themselves to existing political cultures and processes. This creates a particularly difficult working environment that may be detrimental to the physical and mental health of members.

"It also leads to a greater variation in practices. Reforms are difficult because of a need for cross-party consensus and a significant amount of political will, costs and public image. But there is much good practice that the House of Commons and the UK Parliament can build on."

The report highlights the "complex patchwork of remedial measures" in place to improve the work environment for disabled MPs. Needs are addressed on a case-by-case basis, rather than systematically. The Houses of Parliament are excepted from the Equality Act, though both Houses aim to behave as if it applies.

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.

Dr. Kolpinskaya found there is a broad consensus within Parliament and between political parties regarding the importance of taking care of the health and well-being of Members.

The report praises the support services offered in Parliament, and from informal and partisan networks such as ParliAble and parliamentary parties. It says there is evidence of improvement with regards to physical access and infrastructure and procedural accessibility of the debating chambers and of the House of Commons Committees.

The report praises work by the House of Parliament Health and Well-being and Members HR Advice team and Members Services teams to encourage members to seek mental health support early before they reach a crisis point. It recommends better lines of communication between party whips and ParliAble and better highlighting of well-being and health services.

Dr. Kolpinskaya found whips offer support and encouragement, but MPs are often reluctant to disclose health and well-being issues to them. While there have been a few occasions when Whips have been in contact about concern for a colleague's health and well-being, this is not a regular occurrence. The report says this is a missed opportunity to help members develop good mental and physical health routines and manage their response to pressures coming from the media and public.

More information: Examining work environments for disabled Members of the House of Commons through the lens of parliamentary procedure and lived experiences. news.exeter.ac.uk/wp-content/u  lity-and-the-HoC.pdf
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Biologist Nataliia Machushynets felt like she was "looking for a needle in a haystack," trying to find new antibiotics to help solve the problem of resistance. During her Ph.D. research, she did find what she was looking for, in the soil beneath our feet.

The search for new antibiotics has slowed significantly in recent years, despite the urgent need for solutions. The World Health Organization (WHO) has created a priority list of resistant pathogens that require immediate attention. This decline in discovery contrasts with the "golden age" of antibiotic development in the 1950s, when nearly 70% of the antibiotics in use today were first identified.

Luckily, many new and potentially stronger antibiotics are still waiting to be discovered. They might be hiding right under our feet, Machushynets explains. Every gram of soil contains billions of microorganisms, which are a potential source of compounds that can kill bacteria. She calls them "nature's medicine makers."

Identifying the promising new compounds

During her Ph.D., under supervision of Gilles van Wezel at the Leiden Institute of Biology, Machushynets set out to find unknown antibacterial compounds capable of killing resistant pathogens. She says many compounds in the soil are already known or have proven ineffective. The challenge lies in identifying the promising new ones.

To avoid repeatedly finding the same compounds, Machushynets used a combination of innovative tools. This toolbox makes her research quite exceptional. Among other methods, she used bioinformatics to analyze the bacterial genomes.

DNA sequencing opened a whole new world of possibilities, she explains. "It made us realize we've barely scratched the surface of what bacteria are capable of producing. Current estimates suggest we know less than 5% of their potential."

By using a technique called MS-based metabolomics, Machushynets was able to identify promising compounds in the samples she examined. The combination of techniques she used is showcased on a platform called nanoRAPIDS, developed together with her colleague Isabel Nunez, which allows other researchers to build on her work.

In the footsteps of pioneering female biologist Balbina Johnson

One of the interesting antibacterial compounds Machushynets discovered during her Ph.D., is called paenitracin. It has a special meaning for her, as it is a new variant of bacitracin. Bacitracin was first discovered by the pioneering female researcher Balbina Johnson. Johnson isolated the bacteria that produces this compound from the wound of a little girl named Tracyhence the name bacitracin.

Machushynets says, "It's empowering to show it's still possible to discover new things."

The potential to make a real impact

Since arriving from her home country of Ukraine in Leiden in 2015 to pursue her master's degree, Machushynets has been trying to make a difference through her work. Beyond her research, she made a difference through social action, organizing a campaign in 2022 to collect essentials supplies for babies in Ukrainian hospitals.

Although her research is still in the "discovery phase" and many steps are needed to optimize these antibiotics for practical use, every new finding holds the potential to make a real impact. "It's something that truly inspires me, knowing that your work can actually be used to solve problems," she says.

More information: Thesis, Expanding the chemical space of antibiotics produced by Paenibacillus and Streptomyces: scholarlypublications.universi  /handle/1887/4082475
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A new guide has been launched today (Tuesday, 26 November) to help U.K. farmers reap the benefits of agroforestrya type of sustainable farming that involves planting trees and shrubs among crops or livestock.

"Tree Species Guide for UK Agroforestry Systems" was co-authored by agricultural scientists at the University of Reading and published by Forest Research as part of National Tree Week.

The guide provides an accessible overview of tree and shrub species for use in U.K. agroforestry systems. It lists the key attributes, both beneficial and detrimental, of 33 different species to help farmers, land managers and foresters select the right species for their specific needs. This information will enable farms to deliver as many benefits as possible from tree planting, boosting the resilience and productivity of farmlands.

Dr. Tom Breeze, Senior Research Fellow in Ecological Economics at the University of Reading's School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, said, "Farming with trees is a great way for farmers to meet environmental goals without compromising food production, but the barriers to entry can feel overwhelming.

"Drawing on years of research from the University of Reading, this guide aims to equip farmers with the practical knowledge and tools they need to get started.

"Our goal is to make farming with trees more accessible, increase awareness of its benefits, and spark a conversation about how agroforestry can transform agriculture in the U.K."

Forestry Commission Chief Executive Richard Stanford said, "Food production and environmental goals are under increasing scrutiny and the effects of climate change are becoming apparent to us all. Agroforestry can offer improved productivity from livestock and crops and help to build resilience to climate change.

"This indispensable guide outlines which tree species are most suited to farmers' needs and the conditions specific to their land.

"A wide variety of trees are suitable for a range of situations from livestock farming to arable; this guide will help farmers, land managers and foresters enjoy the whole host of benefits incorporating trees into farmland while maximizing food production."

Opportunities abound

While widespread adoption of farming with trees could transform the landscape and help the U.K. meet its Net Zero goals, many farmers hesitate due to high upfront costs and a lack of familiarity with agroforestry methods. This guide seeks to bridge that gap, helping farmers overcome these initial hurdles and realize the long-term rewards.

Trees in agroforestry systems offer several valuable benefits. They protect soil quality, which supports long-term farm sustainability, and can lead to a more diverse range of produce, from timber to fruits and nuts. They also provide shade and shelter for livestock, promoting animal welfare.

Furthermore, the setup costs of agroforestry systems are no longer as prohibitive as they once were. Research by Dr. Tom Staton, co-author of the guide and researcher at the University of Reading, has demonstrated how agroforestry can increase farm income long term. With a variety of grants now available to support tree planting on agricultural land, the guide further underscores the increasing viability of agroforestry for U.K. farmers.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

The California Nebula is seen in its entirety in this image from NASA's WISE mission, covering over 25 square degrees of sky. In this infrared view, the dust clouds underlying the nebula glimmer in greens and reds. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/IPAC

While NASA's NEOWISE telescope ended its journey through space on Nov. 1, 2024, the team at IPAC, a science center at Caltech, was working on one further gift from the prolific mission.

The final data release from NEOWISE was released to the astronomy community just two weeks later, on Nov. 14, encompassing over 26 million images and nearly 200 billion sources detected by the telescope. And today, IPAC is releasing six new images from the mission's archival data as a tribute to this landmark project, available here.

NEOWISE was launched as the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) in 2009 and then reactivated in 2013 as NEOWISE, the asteroid-hunting phase of the mission. The infrared space telescope studied the entire night sky and conducted 21 complete sky surveys during more than a decade of operation.

The mission focused on identifying and studying small objects in our solar system like asteroids and comets, also known as near-Earth objects (NEOs), but the infrared data collected by the telescope has proven to have countless applications throughout the field of astronomy.

The mission concluded operations in July 2024, and during its 15 years in space, scientists have been able to revisit the same areas of the sky again and again, with most being observed by NEOWISE at least 220 times. This repeated observation helps astronomers search for and study objects that change in brightness or location.

"Being able to watch the changing sky for nearly 15 years has opened a new avenue for time-domain science, for everything from the closest asteroids to the most distant quasars," said Joe Masiero, Research Scientist at IPAC and the Deputy Principal Investigator of the mission.

In recent years, NEOWISE has enabled scientists to study curious objects like brown dwarfs and discover patterns in large populations of comets. Over its mission lifetime, NEOWISE has characterized more than 3,000 NEOsapproximately 10% of the known population, and something that was only possible due to its long tenure scanning the sky.

The final NEO observed by NEOWISE, known as 2007 LV8, was seen more than 100 times in the closing days of the survey since it closely followed the telescope's scan pattern.

"Because of NEOWISE's extensive view of the sky, we get a more complete picture of the asteroids and comets in Earth's orbital neighborhood. The data provide a unique way of understanding factors like the size and rotation period of these NEOs," said Roc Cutri, NEOWISE Task Lead and Project Scientist at IPAC.

The team at IPAC was responsible for the ingestion and processing of raw data, production of final data products, and archiving mission science and engineering data. IPAC also distributes WISE/NEOWISE data to the community through the NASA/IPAC Infrared Science Archive (IRSA) and provides services such as powerful analysis and visualization tools. The IPAC Communications & Education team prepares mission images for public release in the AstroPix image gallery.

Skygazers have dubbed this region the "Gecko Nebula" for its resemblance to a downturned head with a pointed snout, though astronomers refer to the area as LBN 437. This cloud of dust and gas is a region of star formation, which is revealed clearly in infrared light by NASA's WISE mission. Near the "snout" of the gecko you can see a blazing star with a strong red tint, due to its brightness at longer wavelengths of infrared light. This baby star is in its final stages of formation, and while it gobbles up the last of its fuel, some is ejected away in jets of gas that are carving cavities through the surrounding dust clouds. These structures are known as "Herbig Haro" objects to astronomers, and the most prominent around this young star is called HH 398. This image uses data from the original cryogenic phase of the WISE mission. Infrared wavelengths of 3.4 & 4.6 microns are displayed in blue and cyan, respectively, and are dominated by the glow of stars. Light with a wavelength of 12 microns is displayed in green and traces the presence of carbon-rich dust known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The 22 micron light is rendered in red and is dominated by the thermal glow of warm dust. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/IPAC

At first glance this image might look like the glow of aurorae in the night sky, but it actually reveals patterns of wispy dust that fills the space between stars. This region of sky in the constellation of Aries covers a large swath of sky, about as wide as the span of 11 full moons. When viewed in visible light we see only a myriad of stars, but the infrared view provided by NASA's WISE reveals a delicate field of cloudy dust structures. This is an example of what astronomers dubbed "infrared cirrus" after its discovery 40 years ago by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS). And while its similarity to aurorae may only be coincidental, the patterns seen here are likely also influenced by the effect of magnetic fields in our galaxy. These dust clouds fill the spaces between stars. The faint glow of starlight that permeates interstellar space can excite the glow of carbon-rich dust molecules, known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are particularly bright at wavelengths of light around 12 microns, here represented as green. The wispy shapes trace out the flow of interstellar gas and dust. The dim linear band of infrared light running diagonally from the middle left to the lower right side of the field comes from a source much closer to home, within our own solar system. Known as "zodiacal dust," it fills the flat disk defined by the orbits of the inner planets and asteroids. This material is produced from collisions of asteroids and the passage of comets, objects that were the focus of the NEOWISE mission, the 2013 reactivation of the retired WISE spacecraft. This image uses data from the original cryogenic phase of the WISE mission. Infrared wavelengths of 3.4 & 4.6 microns are displayed in blue and cyan, respectively, and are dominated by the glow of stars. Light with a wavelength of 12 microns is displayed in green and traces the presence of carbon-rich dust known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The 22 micron light is rendered in red and is dominated by the thermal glow of warm dust. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/IPAC

Never-before-seen images from NEOWISE

During the original WISE mission, more than 100 areas of the sky were highlighted in public image releases, but they revealed only a tiny fraction of the full-sky coverage of the survey.

"The WISE and NEOWISE data releases are built for researchers, but they also embody some of the most amazing images of our infrared sky," said Robert Hurt, IPAC Visualization Scientist. "They are so easy to work with it's almost too easy to make a beautiful image from them! That's why I wanted to revisit the archive to locate some hidden gems we missed before."

To find new interesting areas of the sky, the positions of the previous images were overlaid onto maps of the sky using data from WISE and other missions. The new map revealed many zones that have not been highlighted for the public but contain fascinating regions of cosmic dust where stars are born. Six spots were selected, with many of them spanning large areas of the skya distinct advantage of an all-sky survey such as NEOWISE.

One image stands out as particularly meaningful to the IPAC community: NEOWISE's view of the California Nebula.

Named after the dust cloud's resemblance to the California coastline, Masiero says it commemorates the years of hard work and dedication of the NEOWISE data processing team at IPAC, located in Pasadena, California.

"I'm really grateful for all of the people at IPAC who have put so much effort into making this the best dataset possible, for today and for future generations," said Masiero.

The California Nebula is located in the Milky Way, about 1,000 light-years away, in the Perseus constellation. It is a dusty region illuminated by the nearby massive star Menkib, born just a few million years ago. The entire California Nebula stretches across 100 light-years and is fully captured in this wide-field view in the image above.

The new images pulled from the archives represent the billions of sources detected by NEOWISE waiting to be studied by future researchers.

"We know there are more things to discover in the NEOWISE data that we just haven't noticed yet," said Masiero. "As astronomers develop new tools and techniques and as new surveys are conducted, we can be sure the NEOWISE archive will be one of the first places we look for the data needed to better understand our universe."

This tadpole-shaped nebula is known as CG12. It is an example of a "cometary globule," where a denser region of dust trails off into thread-like strands. While challenging to see in visible light images, WISE easily shows the full extent of the globule's tail as it lights up at longer wavelengths of infrared light. The tip of CG12 is also known as NGC 5367 in the Centaurus constellation. This region is easier to see as a "reflection nebula" as the light of the bright stars scatters off of the enveloping dust clouds, showing up in visible light images as a blue haze. This image uses data from the original cryogenic phase of the WISE mission. Infrared wavelengths of 3.4 & 4.6 microns are displayed in blue and cyan, respectively, and are dominated by the glow of stars. Light with a wavelength of 12 microns is displayed in green and traces the presence of carbon-rich dust known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The 22 micron light is rendered in red and is dominated by the thermal glow of warm dust. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/IPAC

This infrared WISE image displays the Monoceros R2 molecular cloud, where stars are born. Most noticeable are the large glowing regions of dust, lit up and shaped by the brilliant glow of newborn stars in the area. But look more closely and you will see dozens of red-hued stars dotting the periphery of the vivid nebulae; these are much younger stars still in the process of forming, and they only peek through the dust clouds at longer wavelengths of infrared light. The very brightest region seen here is also known in visible light as NGC 2170, but in those shorter wavelengths of light, most of the stellar nursery is hidden behind dust clouds. Dust becomes increasingly transparent at longer wavelengths of infrared light, which is why astronomers turn to datasets like those from the WISE mission to peer more deeply into shrouded regions like this that harbor the earliest stages of star formation. This image uses data from the original cryogenic phase of the WISE mission. Infrared wavelengths of 3.4 & 4.6 microns are displayed in blue and cyan, respectively, and are dominated by the glow of stars. Light with a wavelength of 12 microns is displayed in green and traces the presence of carbon-rich dust known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The 22 micron light is rendered in red and is dominated by the thermal glow of warm dust. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/IPAC

These ghostly pillars span a large swath of sky about half the width of your outstretched hand held at arm's length, falling along the boundary between the constellations of Vela and Centaurus. However, they have no common name and are not identified in historic catalogs like Messier or NGC for the simple reason they cannot be seen in visible light. This region falls behind a veil of dust in the spaces between stars and can only be seen at longer wavelengths of infrared light, as seen here in data from NASA's WISE mission. At wavelengths of 12 and 22 microns, displayed here in green and red, respectively, the obscuring dust becomes more transparent, and denser clouds of dust begin to glow clearly under the light of neighboring stars. Pillars such as these are found in regions where there are clumpy, denser clouds of gas and dust falling under the illumination of nearby hot, bright stars. The dust particles are slowly destroyed by the stars' ultraviolet light, but denser regions erode more slowly than their surroundings, and even shield material behind them. This creates striking pillar-shaped structures like these. The tips of these pillars often serve as stellar nurseries, as the denser gas and dust collapse over time to form and nurture new stars. These can be seen as red-tinted spots of light in the two largest pillars in this image, glowing brightly at the longest wavelengths of infrared light. This image uses data from the original cryogenic phase of the WISE mission. Infrared wavelengths of 3.4 & 4.6 microns are displayed in blue and cyan, respectively, and are dominated by the glow of stars. Light with a wavelength of 12 microns is displayed in green and traces the presence of carbon-rich dust known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The 22 micron light is rendered in red and is dominated by the thermal glow of warm dust. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/IPAC

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.

NEOWISE's legacy is only just beginning

As astronomers continue to mine the NEOWISE archive at IRSA, there are many untold stories of comets, asteroids, nebulae, and more waiting in the data.

Yuna Kwon, a solar system astronomer and IPAC archive scientist, first joined as a postdoctoral fellow in 2023. Even though the NEOWISE mission ended not long after, her work with its data is only just beginning.

Along with Masiero, Kwon is leading a project called COSINE, Cometary Object Study Investigating their Nature and Evolution, cataloging and analyzing comets observed by NEOWISE.

"Together with my amazing colleagues at IPAC, we now have the largest-ever consistently analyzed comet database and are preparing publications based on our findings," said Kwon.

Kwon studies comets because they are some of the oldest and most primitive objects in our solar system. Their physical properties could tell us about the conditions during the solar system's formation.

"Comets are like catsthey have tails and do precisely what they want," said Kwon. "Thankfully, NEOWISE has a treasure trove of data to study these idiosyncratic objects."

Before working with NEOWISE data, Kwon said that it was hard to decipher large-scale trends from only a small number of comets. But now with COSINE and NEOWISE data, she is able to understand the big picture.

"I'm truly enjoying this exploration," said Kwon. "My experience with NEOWISE data has broadened my perspective and deepened my understanding of the comet population itself, putting the observations in a broader context of the formation and evolution of the solar system."

Going forward, Kwon hopes to combine the knowledge gained from NEOWISE with new data from upcoming observatories including NEO Surveyor and SPHEREx.

Provided by Caltech IPAC
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:

Regions where observed heat waves exceed trends from climate models. Boxed areas with the darkest red colors are the most extreme; lesser reds and oranges exceed models, but not by as much. Yellows roughly match models, while greens and blues are below what models would project. Credit: Adapted from Kornhuber et al., PNAS 2024

Earth's hottest recorded year was 2023, at 2.12F above the 20th-century average. This surpassed the previous record set in 2016. So far, the 10 hottest yearly average temperatures have occurred in the past decade. And, with the hottest summer and hottest single day, 2024 is on track to set yet another record.

All this may not be breaking news to everyone, but amid this upward march in average temperatures, a striking new phenomenon is emerging: distinct regions are seeing repeated heat waves that are so extreme, they fall far beyond what any model of global warming can predict or explain.

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences provides the first worldwide map of such regions, which show up on every continent except Antarctica like giant, angry skin blotches. In recent years these heat waves have killed tens of thousands of people, withered crops and forests, and sparked devastating wildfires.

"The large and unexpected margins by which recent regional-scale extremes have broken earlier records have raised questions about the degree to which climate models can provide adequate estimates of relations between global mean temperature changes and regional climate risks," says the study.

"This is about extreme trends that are the outcome of physical interactions we might not completely understand," said lead author Kai Kornhuber, an adjunct scientist at the Columbia Climate School's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. "These regions become temporary hothouses." Kornhuber is also a senior research scholar at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria.

The study looks at heat waves over the past 65 years, identifying areas where extreme heat is accelerating considerably faster than more moderate temperatures. This often results in maximum temperatures that have been repeatedly broken by outsize, sometimes astonishing, amounts.

For instance, a nine-day wave that hammered the U.S. Pacific Northwest and southwestern Canada in June 2021 broke daily records in some locales by 30C, or 54F. This included the highest ever temperature recorded in Canada, 121.3F, in Lytton, British Columbia. The town burned to the ground the next day in a wildfire driven in large part by the drying of vegetation in the extraordinary heat. In Oregon and Washington state, hundreds of people died from heat stroke and other health conditions.

These extreme heat waves have been hitting predominantly in the last five years or so, though some occurred in the early 2000s or before. The most hard-hit regions include populous central China, Japan, Korea, the Arabian peninsula, eastern Australia and scattered parts of Africa.

Others include Canada's Northwest Territories and its High Arctic islands, northern Greenland, the southern end of South America and scattered patches of Siberia. Areas of Texas and New Mexico appear on the map, though they are not at the most extreme end.

Researchers have identified meanders in the northern hemisphere jet stream that can suck hot air from the south and cause massive heat waves across widespread regions of North America and Eurasia. This image comes from a 2020 study. Credit: Kornhuber et al., Nature Climate Change, 2020

According to the report, the most intense and consistent signal comes from northwestern Europe, where sequences of heat waves contributed to some 60,000 deaths in 2022 and 47,000 deaths in 2023. These occurred across Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and other countries.

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.

Here, in recent years, the hottest days of the year are warming twice as fast the summer mean temperatures. The region is especially vulnerable in part because, unlike places like the United States, few people have air conditioning, because traditionally it was almost never needed. The outbreaks have continued; as recently as this September, new maximum temperature records were set in Austria, France, Hungary, Slovenia, Norway and Sweden.

The researchers call the statistical trends "tail-widening"that is, the anomalous occurrence of temperatures at the far upper end, or beyond, anything that would be expected with simple upward shifts in mean summer temperatures. But the phenomenon is not happening everywhere; the study shows that maximum temperatures across many other regions are actually lower than what models would predict.

These include wide areas of the north-central United States and south-central Canada, interior parts of South America, much of Siberia, northern Africa and northern Australia. Heat is increasing in these regions as well, but the extremes are increasing at similar or lower speed than what changes in average would suggest.

Climbing overall temperatures make heat waves more likely in many cases, but the causes of the extreme heat outbreaks are not entirely clear. In Europe and Russia, an earlier study led by Kornhuber blamed heat waves and droughts on wobbles in the jet stream, a fast-moving river of air that continuously circles the northern hemisphere.

Hemmed in by historically frigid temperatures in the far north and much warmer ones further south, the jet stream generally confines itself to a narrow band. But the Arctic is warming on average far more quickly than most other parts of the Earth, and this appears to be destabilizing the jet stream, causing it to develop so-called Rossby waves, which suck hot air from the south and park it in temperate regions that normally do not see extreme heat for days or weeks at a time.

This is only one hypothesis, and it does not seem to explain all the extremes. A study of the fatal 2021 Pacific Northwest/southwestern Canada heat wave led by Lamont-Doherty graduate student Samuel Bartusek (also a co-author on the latest paper) identified a confluence of factors. Some seemed connected to long-term climate change, others to chance.

The study identified a disruption in the jet stream similar to the Rossby waves thought to affect Europe and Russia. It also found that decades of slowly rising temperatures had been drying out regional vegetation, so that when a spell of hot weather came along, plants had fewer reserves of water to evaporate into the air, a process that helps moderate heat.

A third factor: a series of smaller-scale atmospheric waves that gathered heat from the Pacific Ocean surface and transported it eastward onto land. Like Europe, few people in this region have air conditioning, because it is generally not needed, and this probably upped the death toll.

The heat wave "was so extreme, it's tempting to apply the label of a 'black swan' event, one that can't be predicted," said Bartusek. "But there's a boundary between the totally unpredictable, the plausible and the totally expected that's hard to categorize. I would call this more of a gray swan."

While the wealthy United States is better prepared than many other places, excessive heat nevertheless kills more people than all other weather-related causes combined, including hurricanes, tornadoes and floods. According to a study out this past August, the yearly death rate has more than doubled since 1999, with 2,325 heat-related deaths in 2023. This has recently led to calls for heat waves to be named, similar to hurricanes, in order to heighten public awareness and motivate governments to prepare.

"Due to their unprecedented nature, these heat waves are usually linked to very severe health impacts, and can be disastrous for agriculture, vegetation and infrastructure," said Kornhuber. "We're not built for them, and we might not be able to adapt fast enough."

The study was also coauthored by Richard Seager and Mingfang Ting of Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, and H.J. Schellnhuber of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Sandy Dall'erba is on a mission to systematically complement his published scientific research with visual tools, so it can be seen and easily understood by lay people, including policymakers.

"I've had the feeling for a while that if researchers continue to simply publish their academic work in reviews, which are ultra specialized, where we are evaluated and read by our peers, we only do half of the job," said Dall'erba, Ph.D., a professor in the University of Illinois Department of Agriculture and Consumer Economics and Founding Director of the Center for Climate, Regional, Environmental and Trade Economics (CREATE).

"I really believe that on questions related to climate change, agriculture and food, we need to reach out to the general public."

Dall'erba studies environmental and agricultural economics in general and the economic impact of climate change on the agrifood system in particular.

His recent work involves examining the flow of agricultural commodities from country to country. He also aims to understand how we use natural resources to support the global supply chain of food and commodities, especially water resources, as climate change brings more drought to some agricultural regions around the globe.

"A visual tool is worth a million words when you want to translate complex academic work in a way that is palatable and exciting," he said. Dall'erba acknowledges he's more comfortable doing science than public outreach. Fortunately, he found David Bock, lead visualization programmer at U. of I.' National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), and an expert at creating scientific visualizations that bring science to life for general audiences.

Dall'erba and Bock teamed up after Dall'erba saw another scientific video by Bock depicting air flows across the Amazon. He found it easy to grasp the important concepts of that work, even though it was outside his field of expertise and knew he wanted to work with Bock.

In this video, Dall'erba's research team presents the trade of agricultural and food commodities worldwide. Each flow corresponds to the value of agricultural and food products.

Bock usually works with scientific data sets comprised of data from natural phenomena, for example, air temperature or water vapor in the air. Those visualizations are typically laid out in a three-dimensional grid. Each cell in the grid has a data value, and Bock's custom visualization renderer picks up the data values from each cell to create a "picture" of the data. By comparison, Dall'erba's data of 40,000 entries was unusual.

"He came to me with this big spreadsheet of every country in the world, exporting to every other country in the world," Bock recalled. "I've never worked with that type of data on a global scale. With 40,000 different flows, we obviously couldn't show them all at once. It made us both think outside of the box."

Bock and Dall'erba have developed two videos so far. One shows the movement of agricultural commodity exports across countries and continents. It depicts a 3D globe, with the flow of agricultural exports from the country of origin to their destinations represented as arrows.

The wider the arrow in its trajectory, the higher the value of the exported commodity. To prevent the visualization from looking too busylike a massive ball of string unwindingthe arrows fade out as the globe slowly spins to focus on different regions and continents.

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 second visualization uses the same spinning globe technique, but instead of illustrating the value of commodities and their export trajectories, it shows the amount of water used in the trade of agricultural and food commodities.

The two visualizations are also embedded into a longer video, in which Dall'erba discusses the global food supply chain, water resources needed for food production and how climate change could threaten water resources.

The demand for food from a growing world population has resulted in about 70% of water resources being allocated to agricultural uses such as irrigation, explained Dall'erba. The water use visualization shows the amount of water needed to produce and export agrifood products, with thicker trajectories representing greater embedded water exports, sometimes from places already suffering from water scarcity.

"At the end of the day, when you are growing crops, when you are feeding the livestock with those crops, or when you are manufacturing food, one of the primary and necessary components is water," said Dall'erba. "Whether it comes from rain or it's irrigated, like in the southwestern U.S., water is part of the story."

In this video, Dall'erba's research team presents the total amount of water embedded in the trade of agricultural and food commodities. The red and orange areas represent the water-scarce areas.

The visualization of the movement of exports presents Dall'erba's data from a global perspective, said Bock, capturing the big picture of food exports, what countries and regions are major exporters, and what regions and counties they export to. The second video underscores a problem that could get worse with climate change.

Translating the value of commodities into the water resources used to produce and export them shows that many dry regionssuch as the southwest U.S., Mexico, parts of southern Europe and Australiaare essentially exporting huge amounts of water.

"It's amazing the massive infrastructure and the energy it takes to keep this whole supply chain functioning," said Dall'erba. "I'm hoping we can make people more aware that the food we consume is actually resources, sometimes local resources, but sometimes resources from a faraway country."

Dall'erba included early versions of the videos in a presentation to his USDA funders at a Washington, D.C., event in summer 2023.

"They all loved it," he recalled. "They understood the value right from the first 10 seconds of the video. They didn't even need to see the full three and a half minutes to get it."

The videos are now available on the CREATE website and will be featured this November in a presentation by Dall'erba to several hundred economists and other social scientists during his Presidential address at the North American Regional Science Council conference. Now that Dall'erba has a tool that communicates his work more effectively than bar graphs and pie charts, he hopes to continue working with Bock to visualize a variety of supply chain phenomena.

In this video, Professor Sandy Dall'erba from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Economics of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign talks about the main challenges faced by the global agrifood supply chain and its water requirements.

He and Bock are submitting a new project proposal to Illinois Computes, which will focus on the food supply chain within the U.S. They'd like to visualize different segments of the supply chainfor example, the flow of wheat across the countryand the different processing steps needed to move agricultural commodities along the farm-to-fork journey.

"Obviously, we are not eating live chickens; that chicken goes through various steps before it ends up on our plate," said Dall'erba. "We'll be showing each of those steps, trying to get as close as we can to that farm-to-fork journey. I think people will be excited about understanding where their food is coming from."

Dall'erba said every showing of his videos is an advertisement for the University of Illinois and the unique resources offered by NCSA through Illinois Computes. Bock said his collaboration with Dall'erba demonstrates to other researchers that NCSA can be a resource even if they don't work with extremely large data sets or have the need for high-performance machines.

"Sandy was someone who maybe wouldn't have been drawn to a high-performance computing center like NCSA, but many fields can benefit from visualization," said Bock.

"I hope (researchers) realize that every field has its own visual language. We're able to work together to develop that visual language because of Illinois Computes. We've figured out how to speak visually with this kind of data."

Provided by National Center for Supercomputing Applications
Elizabeth L. T. Moore is a Hearst Fellow in San Antonio. She can be reached at Elizabeth.Moore@hearst.com

Elizabeth did her first fellowship year as a reporter with the New Haven Register in Connecticut. Moore has published bylines with Bloomberg News, The Virginian-Pilot and The Daily Tar Heel, the student newspaper of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Moore placed nationally in the Hearst Collegiate Journalism Program, and she is fluent in Spanish.
OCEAN CITY  Parents and community members called on the Board of Education to reject a proposal to offer Bible study during school hours, with some describing it as a violation of the principles of the separation of church and state.

There was no consideration of the proposal set for the Board of Education meeting, but a local organization had contacted school officials about bringing such a program to Ocean City, and from the discussion at the November Board of Education meeting, it appeared that at least one school board member has signaled likely support of the plan.

That was based on emails obtained by one of the speakers through a public records request. She said one board member, whom she did not name, had indicated support in an email to organizers.

The board did not discuss the matter after residents raised concerns, moving to adjourn the meeting immediately after the public comment portion.

Social issues, religion and questions of community values have become a regular topic of discussion at Ocean City school board meetings and in schools across the country, with flashpoints over gender identity, protections for LGBTQ students, what books are or are not available at various grade levels and the place of religion and parents in education.

A local steering committee is working with a national organization called LifeWise to establish the program, in which students with their parent or guardians permission would leave school property during the day for religious classes outside the school.

Some members of the steering committee are part of Landmark Church on Eighth Street, which has been active in other matters before the Board of Education, including those related to state health education standards that have faced challenges related to sex education and the handling of LGBTQ issues.

There were no speakers in support of the proposal during the public comment portion of the recent meeting.

Bible study proposed for Ocean City students In what could be the latest lightning rod for controversy in the Ocean City school district, a local group wants to offer Bible study to students during the school day, off campus. A 72-year-old Supreme Court decision says it is allowed.

Speakers who opposed the idea said the lessons appear aimed at proselytizing to students or could be exclusionary. One speaker asked whether the teachers would be certified and whether accommodations would be made for students with disabilities, such as Braille books for those with sight impairment or lessons for the hearing impaired.

Im sure that the intentions of the LifeWise community are honorable, said resident Pamela Womble. She said she looked into the material taught by LifeWise in other communities, with an emphasis on values such as gratitude, generosity, respect and compassion.

Values that can easily be addressed in a humanities curriculum at every grade level, she added.

Several people said they support religious education, but after school or on weekends, stating that the school day is already too short to cover what students need.

Another speaker, John Reed, said he likes a lot of what Jesus said, as presented in the Bible.

Theres a lot in there thats good. Im afraid youre not going to get that from LifeWise, he said. He described the evangelical churches as in decline, and seeking to reach out to young people.

And so theyre trying to groom the next generation of Christians, he said. Im happy to have them do that. I just dont want them to do that in school.

There is precedent for students to be released from their school day during elective classes to attend outside religious education.

Sex ed rules at issue, again, in Ocean City Parents and advocates again challenged state health education standards while criticizing Ocean City Board of Education President Sean Barnes at the most recent board meeting.

For many years parents of many faiths have given permission for their children to leave school for 30-60 minutes during the school day to receive religious instruction. In 1952, in Zorach v. Clauson, the Supreme Court held that the released time program neither constituted the establishment of religion nor interfered with the free exercise of religion, read a statement from the Ocean City group about the possibility of starting a local program.

There are efforts to bring LifeWise programs to several districts in New Jersey. The national organization has been growing rapidly, and has drawn opposition from critics in other states as well, with some describing the effort as eroding the separation of church and state.

Ocean City resident Donna Moore raised that objection in her comments to the school board, citing the First Amendment to the Constitution, which specifically prohibits the establishment of an official religion.

Supporters of the proposal see the matter differently.

We believe that the community and school district would benefit from such a program in many ways, reads the statement from the local LifeWise steering committee.

The LifeWise organization describes its beliefs as aligned with historic, orthodox Christian beliefs and says the LifeWise Academy maintains a high view of the authority of Scripture.

As proposed, parents could sign their children up to be excused from other classes during the school day to attend the Bible study. The organization says there is no cost to participating families, with the program funded by private donations.